Their eyes locked. “You’re worth it Harry.”
The younger man shakes his head. “I am not!” He shouts.
Walking slowly forward, as if he is walking towards an injured animal, he whispers. “You’re worth it to me.”
—
During the war, many were displaced. When houses were ruined in the battles, when the humans attacked with their world destroying weapons. It wasn’t just people lost, it was homes too.
One such person was Doctor Harry James Potter. After his time in school, the young man decided to help people, and whilst he did train and pass the tests to be a healer, he also trained in muggle medicine too. Due to this, he became vital during the war, one of the most sought after people to help both sides. He held no bias and just did his job.
As he was walking down the street one day, the raid sound went off. He took off running. Dashing into the shelter, he helped everyone else come in and make sure they were safe. He helped check everyone off and anyone who had injuries were taken to the side for him to heal.
The last male to arrive, had a cut on his forehead, blood seeping down his face. Taking him to the side with him, Harry got to work. Over the next few hours, as the sound of things blowing up above them, and the roof shakes, Harry slowly heals everyone. Arriving at the man, the two start talking.
Harry sits beside him. They wait. And wait. And wait. The two talked all night. Eventually the sun rose and people scrambled out, like ants scrambling out their hole.
The duo walk around, checking the burnt houses, seeing if they can find missing people. After a while, Harry walks off for his day at work.
—
The next evening, the duo do it again.
—
The next day goes the same.
–
After a week, the duo felt closer, and they began getting excited to see each other. Despite the fact they saw each other in a bunker to stay safe from bombs, they were seeing each other, they were getting closer.
At the weekend, Severus invited Harry round to his house. He was worried Harry was working too hard.
Harry agreed.
–
Knocking on the door, Harry smiles wide. He was on a date! With Severus!
Severus was on the other side of the door, waiting. He didn’t want to open the door too soon, not wanting to seem over excited. However, he had been waiting for the last 5 minutes, trying to stop himself pacing.
Opening the door, the date began.
Walking into the kitchen, Harry laughs as he sees the ingredients for pizza set out.
“I thought we could cook together.”
“I would love to.”
–
Over the next week, the daily dates continued, the evening conversations, and the closeness grew.
The citizens of the town watched as the two men grew more comfortable together, they watched as they slowly became a couple. Smiling. It was lovely to see the town sweethearts become sweet on each other.
One day, they watched as Severus greeted Harry with a kiss.
A while later, they watched as Harry told Severus he loved him.
Despite the war, their love was blooming.
–
The day after the love confessions, everyone crawled out of the train station. Walking down the street Harry gasped. His house was gone.
Wrapping his arms around his boyfriend, Severus held him as he cried.
“It is okay, I am here. I am sorry.”
“What am I going to do?”
“You can move in with me?”
And that is what happened.
They went back to Severus', got into bed, and cuddled the day away.
A new tradition was started.
–
The duo would come out of the shelter, help tidy the streets, Harry would heal those he could, Severus would help put out any fires.
They would go back to their house, shower, slip into bed and cuddle each other before Harry had to either go to work, or the alarm would go off.
–
Winter came.
One evening, Harry forgot his coat as he ran to the shelter. He was shivering.
“You are cold.”
“I am okay.”
However, he regretted saying that an hour later.
“Okay, you were right, I am so cold.”
“Here, have my jacket then come cuddle.”
Blushing, Harry slips into his boyfriend's clothes.
–
Over the next few weeks, their family grew.
Adults began to protest going to the shelter every night. They stayed home, and paid with their lives.
Harry, with his empathetic heart, could not leave the young grieving children. He convinces Severus. The two take on the challenge of trying to care for the children whose parents left them behind.
They became a big family.
–
Summer came.
The war was still ongoing.
-
One day, Harry and Severus had an argument. Harry wanted to go to work when he was ill.
"You need to prioritise yourself."
"I cannot. People need me."
"Put yourself first. Please."
"I can't. There are others more important."
Their eyes locked. “You’re worth it Harry. You are just as important”
The younger man shakes his head. “I am not!” He shouts.
Walking slowly forward, as if he is walking towards an injured animal, he whispers. “You’re worth it to me. You are the one I care about. The most important. You are first to me.”
"Okay." Harry whispers. "I will stay. Cuddle?"
"Always."
—
One evening, there was no warning. A bomb dropped on the makeshift hospital. Harry was inside.
Severus ran.
Everyone began searching, moving wood, moving brick. Praying.
“I found him! I found dad!” Teddy, their first adopted child screamed.
“Harry.” Severus whispered as he kneeled beside his partner. “You are saved, we have you.Healers are on their way.”
“Severus.” Harry croaked. “Look after everyone, you cannot fall. I will wait for you.”
“Harry! No. no. stay with me. The doctors are here.” Turning on them, he screamed at them to save him. “SAVE HIM.” Overwhelmed with grief. He grabs Harrys’ hand again, stroking his face.
“Severus. I love you.” Harry whispers.
“6.38pm. Time of death. Fly high Doctor.”
“NOOOOO! We got him out, we rescued him. He was meant to be safe.”
“I am sorry.”
–
Everyone watched as the flames overtook Harry at the burial.
They had tried. They had watched a love bloom. They had washed as it ended. They tried.
They tried.
-
Eventually, the war ended. The kids grew up. Severus never got over losing his love... Or did he join him before trying?
The people shared their story. Their love frozen for ever. The beauty captured. The tender love.