Harry walked into the large room and looked around at all the decorations and smiled. The war was over. Those who died fighting for the light had a proper burial. Harry looked across the Ministry room and saw Draco standing, talking with his mother. He had defended Draco and Narcissa and they were free. Lucius had to spend a year in Azkaban before coming out and being under house arrest, for three years. Everything that Lucius had owned was now signed over to Narcissa who signed over half the Malfoy fortune to help those who had lost loved ones in the war.
He watched as Draco looked across and smiled at Percy Weasley who smiled back, making Draco leave his mother and go and join his boyfriend. Harry shook his head. War didn't change Draco much. He still walked around with his nose in the air. He was actually well suited to Percy, now that Harry thought about it.
Harry smiled when he saw Hermione and Charlie walk hand in hand to talk to Narcissa. She had changed after the war. The latest news he heard had surprised Harry. Narcissa had used the Malfoy fortune to buy two cottages, one for Draco and one for herself and Lucius to live in once out of Azkaban. She had signed the manor over to the war victims who now lived there after it had been searched and cleared of all dark magic and curses.
It had been a very hectic and hard nine months but everything was now starting to get back to some normality. The doors opening once more to allow someone in caught Harry's attention, he gave a little smile when he saw Severus walk in. He very much wanted to come together but Severus had said with everyone just starting to get back to normal it wasn't wise to throw another shock at everyone that the boy who lived was now in a happy relationship with a death eater.
Harry watched as Severus made eye contact with him, the corner of his mouth going up before making his way over to Narcissa and Hermione and Charlie.
A clearing of a throat made Harry jump and he turned to see Umbridge walking past him with her nose in the air. He glared at her. How she managed to get herself back in the ministry he'll never know. Watching closely, he saw that she was actually watching Severus closely. He frowned. He may have promised Severus they would wait to tell people but if anyone was to start tonight, then so was he.
Severus looked up when Harry came to a stop in front of then. “I saw you glare at Umbridge. Behave.” He warned.
“Only if she does.” Harry answered as he took a flute off a floating tray that passed them. He lifted it to his lips and emptied the glass. “Whoa! That's strong.” he said as he picked up another flute only to have it taken off him by Severus. “Hey!”
“I am not having you drunk here.”
Narcissa looked from Severus to Harry. “Why? What's Harry like when drunk?”
“He talks dirtier than any erotically aroused Slytherin.”
Narcissa allowed a small smile. “Still talking so proper Severus.”
Severus looked at Harry. “I see you with an alcoholic drink in your hand tonight. I will see to you later.”
“That sounds very kinky, Severus.”
Narcissa cleared her throat and placed her hand on Severus’ upper arm. “You've chosen a good one there my friend.”
“The chosen one himself.” Harry smirked before he saw Umbridge with Luna. He growled low in his throat and walked over to rescue his friend.
Charlie saw Severus watching Harry closely. “You won't calm Harry down around Umbridge Severus. He carries a lot of hate for that woman because of his hands.”
"If only I knew when it happened. He told me he told no one as he didn't want to give that woman the satisfaction. Gryffindor stubbornness.”
“Yes. Because you are not stubborn, are Severus.” Narcissa answered.
“Will you be letting everyone know you and Harry are together as well?” Hermione asked when she saw Severus glare at Narcissa. “I know Harry would have let everyone know by now.”
“I do know. But people are just starting to calm down and live their normal lives again after so long. Let's not throw too much at them by announcing the saviour is sleeping with a death eater.” Severus murmured as he took a sip of his drink, watching as Harry led Luna away.
“It's okay Harry, I suspect nargles are at work with her. Poor woman believing all she says.” Luna hummed as she came to a stop in front of Severus. “Hello sir. It's nice to see you, I would like to thank you for making my friend Harry happy. I was worried he wouldn't be after the war.”
Harry blinked before looking at Severus. “I didn't tell her.”
Luna looked at Harry. “You didn't, Harry. I can see with my own two eyes how happy you have been lately, especially whenever Severus is mentioned and how he watches you.”
“I don't watch Harry.” Severus denied.
Narcissa smiled. “Liar Severus. You never take your eyes off him.”
“It is probably a force of habit Narcissa, all the things Severus told the Headmaster we were up to he was probably right every time.”
Severus nodded at Hermione's words. “Even Minerva asked, whenever there was trouble, why was it always you three.”
Ron placed his arm across Luna's shoulders and kissed the side of her head. “Because trouble always seemed to find us.” He said, hearing what Severus had said.
Just then, Umbridge walked past with her nose in the air, talking to the person walking with her. “All the wrong people here, Snape claiming he was innocent to save own skin. Coward.”
Severus looked sharply at Harry, knowing what was coming. “No.” He warned.
Harry raised his eyebrows.
“Don't do it.”
Harry put his wand to his throat and turned around. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to say something!” He said as he made his way to the front, where all turned and watched as Harry stepped up on a chair before climbing on to the table and looking at everyone. “Being the hero of the war as I have been branded I figured I'd have to make a speech tonight and just hearing what someone just said. I thought, why not now?”
“I would say we all fought in this war but there are some here who didn't and only claim that they did.” Harry said as he looked at Umbridge. “To kill Voldemort we had to destroy horcruxes, dark magic, it's objects that he hid pieces of his soul in, he couldn't die until they were destroyed. Of course me and my friends couldn't have done it without Severus Snape. He went deep undercover to even fool Voldemort and endure unbearable pain just to get information that would help us win the war. I'm not the hero here, all I did was kill a man. Severus Snape risked his life every day to get us what we needed.”
Harry looked at all the guests as they watched him in silence. “Severus fought, spied, got tortured and what did he think his reward would be at the end? Death. To be killed with everyone thinking the worst of him. Now I suppose you are all wondering why I am just talking about Severus when we all fought and risked our lives. It is because I have just heard someone call him a coward!” Harry snapped.
Severus stepped forwards. “Harry.”
“No Severus!” Harry snapped, looking at the older man before facing the crowd once more. “Now I mention horcruxes because one of the objects was a Slytherin locket. It hid part of Voldemort's soul. We actually had trouble getting that one as Umbridge wore it round her neck saying it was a family heirloom so she wouldn't be questioned, so she could turn it round and punish those that are just like her. Half blood! So she takes what isn't hers to hide behind it. Coward! Back in my fifth year before we went to the ministry, we were in the forbidden forest, the centaurs came and Umbridge who had a wand. Hid behind me and Hermione who were only fifteen at the time and wandless. Coward!” He snapped.
He looked at Hermione who smiled. “Now in our third year, me, Ron and Hermione were in the grounds and Remus Lupin in his werewolf form came towards us. And what did Severus do? He stood in front of the three of us having the werewolf attack him instead of us. And what did we three have that Severus didn't? A wand.”
Harry looked at Umbridge. “And you dare call him a coward! Why are you even here anyway? All you did through the war was torture and split up families to save your own worthless arse! This ball tonight is to celebrate all of us that fought and helped win the war. You did nothing!”
Kingsley stepped forwards. “She gave statements of all that she did in the war.”
“Me, Ron and Hermione have memories we would be happy to share with you that they were all lies. I would also like to report her for the torture of underage wizards. All of the DA are here tonight and all of us had to write lines with a blood quill, we all have the words scarred in the backs of our hands.” Harry told Kingsley.
Harry looked at Umbridge. “A half blood hiding behind what they are and claiming they are pureblood, everyone has to bow down to what you believe Dolores, marking people on their skins. Remind you of anyone?”
Umbridge gasped when Kingsley took hold of her arm. “Unhand me, I am innocent, I did nothing wrong. Potter is lying!”
“I speak the truth Dolores, you should know that. After all, it is you that taught me.” Harry said as he held his hand up. “I must not tell lies.”
As Kingsley led Umbridge away, Severus walked over to the table and held his hand out. “Down now imp before you cause any more trouble.”
Harry laughed and took Severus’ hand before jumping down and landing next to the older man. “Don't I at least get a thank you for sticking up for you?”
“Thank you.”
“I mean a proper one.” Harry smiled.
Severus looked into Harry's eyes. “In front of all these people and photographers? We will be front page news.”
“Nah we won't. Umbridge being outed for all she lied about and did during the war will be on the front page.”
“Alright, if we are on the front page for this, all my cauldrons in my shop need scrubbing, no magic.” Severus murmured.
Harry laughed. “Deal.”
Severus wrapped his arm around Harry and pulled him close so they were chest to chest. “Thank you my foolish Gryffindor.” He whispered before joining lips with Harry, both very aware but ignoring the flashes that went off along with people talking.
The next morning, Narcissa had to squeeze through a throng of people to get into Severus’ shop. She nodded at one of the assistants who was busy serving someone and walked into the back room and saw Severus leaning over a cauldron. “I've come to ask if you have seen the front page my friend, but it seems your packed out shop and those waiting outside will tell you that.”
Severus looked up and smiled at his friend. “May I help you Narcissa?”
“I thought Harry would be here helping you at least.”
Severus pulled a curtain, that was behind him, back to reveal Harry Potter on his knees, sleeves rolled up, hair a mess, a cloth in his hand and a bucket of soapy water at the side of him.
“Harry!” Narcissa gasped. “What are you doing?”
“I lost a bet.” He mumbled.
The end.