47Chapter Five
Justinian woke slowly, still feeling exhausted, but then his memory washed back over him and he felt a ball of relief washing over him as he remembered that Voldemort was dead and gone, Harry and the others had revealed themselves as the Grey side, which meant that there wasn't any further need for them to hide their relationship, from the plans that they had all discussed the evening before he didn't think that they were going to need to be separated again.
Rolling over he couldn't prevent the smile that broke over his face as he saw in the light coming past the closed curtains Harry was fast asleep next to him, his arm was thrown over Justinian's waist and he looked as though he was ready to sleep for another 12 hours.
It was the first time that they had slept together that he had gotten the wake up with Harry next to him, it was the perfect start to this part of their life together and he couldn't help the warm feeling in his chest for what this meant for the changes that would be happening now as he reached out and stroked his hand down Harry's face.
Green eyes flickered open and a smile tilted Harry's lips almost right away as his eyes settled onto Justinian making his heart flutter in his chest at the way those green eyes looked at him.
"Morning," Harry licked his lips as he blinked more of his sleep away.
"I think it might be afternoon," Justinian laughed.
"We didn't go to bed till stupid o'clock, still tired," Harry grumbled.
"It isn't any surprise we were plotting late into the night," Justinian chuckled.
"You're sexy when you're plotting," Harry grinned sleepily. Justinian yelped when Harry gripped him tighter around the waist and tugged him against him, throwing the covers over their heads. The two of them laughed as they wiggled a little under the covers, able to pretend that they were cut off from the rest of the world for a little while.
Harry leaned forward and pressed their noses together, rubbing them together before he captured Justinian's lips in a sweet kiss that had the older man sinking into him happily, wrapping his arms around his waist and leaning into the kiss, more than willing to lose himself in Harry for a little while.
The two of them kissed under the covers as Harry slowly woke up properly, the sweet exchange of kisses carrying on until there was a knock on their door.
"Sorry Harry, but we need you downstairs," Kingsley called through the door.
"We will be down soon," Harry called back but he tugged Justinian into another kiss as he went to leave the bed, only then did he pull the covers off of them and got to his feet, gently pulling Justinian with him.
There were a few more kisses exchanged between them, Harry seemingly unable to help himself from catching Justinian around the waist and pulling him against him when they passed each other before they were finally making their way out the door and downstairs to the meeting room.
"Evening," Ron smirked.
"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, it is only three o'clock," Harry snorted.
"Sorry you guys need to eat on the go," Hermione said motioning to the food that was sitting under charms to the side.
"No worries, where are we up to?" Harry asked plating up for himself and for Justinian as his fiance poured them both coffee.
"You're a heathen Potter," Theo snorted.
"What have I done now?" Harry asked looking up from their plates. Theo just pointed to Justinian's neck where a large hickey was sitting.
"Nothing happened! We just kissed!" Justinian spluttered, reaching up to cover his throat as Theo started laughing.
"You should see what he looks like," Harry grumbled nodding to Draco.
"It is a Gryffindor thing," Draco nodded knowingly.
"Pft, never hear you complaining when we…"
"Don't want to know!" Molly said loudly. "You two have corrupted that poor boy,"
"Thank you," Draco nodded hurrying over to her and getting wrapped in a tight hug.
"Hey!" Hermione and Ron protested.
"Honestly, trying to keep you lot focussed is impossible," Peter groaned pinching his nose.
"You can focus on me if you like," Sirius grinned bursting into the room.
"Do you sense the chance for a pun and apparate to it?" Magdalene asked curiously.
"It is an instinct, an animal instinct you could call it," Sirius grinned wiggling his eyebrows. "Harry, Justinian, you're awake, how are you both feeling?" he smiled seeing the two of them.
"Still tired but coffee," Harry shrugged holding up his cup. "Ok, so what has Dumbledore done?"
"He is trying to say that Voldemort isn't really defeated and you are trying to lie about it to gain standing," Hermione and Harry perched on either side of the table that was covered in paperwork in a form of what Justinian assumed was organised chaos, it was funny how alike their mannerisms were, you would fully believe that they were siblings sometimes.
"What if we show the memory?" Harry asked the room but he turned to look at Ron as he asked.
"We would have to explain what we did, otherwise it would look worrying," Ron hummed.
"Would we release the information of what they are?" Harry asked.
"No, but we can release the reason for them," Hermione hummed.
"And use the taboo spell to locate if someone says the word," Ron added.
"That works," Harry nodded, he drained his coffee and tapped the cup to clean it before immediately drawing his memory and placing it inside the cup.
"The Dar….Voldemort's items?" Peter asked cautiously.
"They made him immortal," Harry said.
"Actually immortal?" Sirius frowned.
"Yes, it is why he didn't die that night, how he survived to bring himself back," Harry nodded.
"That will be the darkest of magic, but the fact you are concerned about someone imitating him, to put a taboo on the word would indicate that what he did was even worse?" Magdalene asked.
"Worse than you could imagine," Harry nodded. Everyone felt a shudder going through them.
"There could be some backlash from people seeing the memory of him dying," Kingsley said concerned.
"It wasn't done in a particularly violent way, I took it from our spell meeting rather than before when I blasted his arm off," Harry shrugged.
"Blasted his…" Kingsley let out a sigh that sounded as though it came from his boots while Mad Eye cackled behind him.
"I'm free!" They all blinked as Lola Yaxley burst into the room with a massive smile on her face, she swept over to Harry and grabbed his face kissing both his cheeks. "Oh Merlin, you should have seen his face when your aurors showed up to arrest him and I was able to tell him what I had done and what I planned on doing. It was simply marvelous! Oh, I will follow you to the ends of the earth for that expression on his face alone!"
"I am glad that you are happy," Harry laughed.
"Happy, I am ecstatic! And you didn't even wait 24 hours before keeping your promise!" Lola stepped back and bowed slightly to him. "I will be eternally grateful," She said a little more seriously.
"You're more than welcome, your divorce is also being processed as we speak," Harry smiled softly.
"Already, but the laws…" Magdalene blinked.
"Already snipped out, they were utterly ridiculous not allowing the 'submissive' partner to divorce, we set fire to such ridiculousness right away as soon as we announced Harry as the Grey Lord," Hermione huffed shaking her head.
"That will be in today's papers, we have moved extra people into the Divorce Department, we are fully expecting a flood of people making their way in," Ron said.
"Don't look at me!" Mad Eye declared when Magdalene looked over her shoulder at him.
"Well you don't have to worry about me bumping you off if I am not happy, I can just get a divorce now," Magdalene smirked.
"I don't have enough money for you to want to bump me off, my aurors pension is a drop in the ocean!" Mad Eye huffed.
"Well then, you can marry me,"
"Are you telling me or asking?"
"Telling, we will set a date, you will of course all be invited," Magdalene announced to the room.
"Hang on!" Mad Eye spluttered.
"Moving on," Magdalene waved her hand.
"Did you know?" Justinian walked over to Harry and settled onto the table in front of him, settling against his body.
"Yup," Harry chuckled. "Come on Mad Eye, you get a beautiful woman, a marriage and you can keep up your constant vigilance now till your dying day to make sure that you aren't about to become dead husband number 5,"
"Number 6, thank you," Magdalene sniffed.
"My apologies," Harry chuckled, wrapping his arm around Justinian's waist.
"I will think about it," Mad Eye huffed.
"I think he is more drawn to the idea of constant vigilance than Magdalene," Ron muttered making Justinian and Harry laugh.
"Ok, so back onto serious matters, we're releasing the memory of Voldemort being killed," Kingsley sighed and Tonks reached out to pat him on the shoulder.
"Yes, we need you two in the Ministry as much as possible right now supporting our other people and making sure that the takeover is smooth from the Auror side of things, our other people are working their way through the Ministry Departments right now, and I will be taking control tomorrow," Harry nodded.
"I do like it when you're forceful," Draco smirked.
"I chose the wrong side," Kingsley groaned.
"Oomph!" Harry let out a startled noise when he found himself grabbed and tugged into a room, relaxing right away as he recognised Justinian's scent and the sound of his laughter. "Well this is a nice surprise," He smiled into the darkness of the room, wrapping his arms around Justinian and pulling him closer.
"Good, I wanted a moment with you," Justinian smiled against Harry's mouth as he pressed their lips together for a kiss.
"Everything ok? You're ok with everything you have on?" Harry asked concerned as they parted.
"Yes, honestly I am happy that you all trust me so much to take on this, and I enjoy the work," Justinian shook his head stroking his hand over Harry's face. "I know you trust me, but you know what I mean," He added, scrunching his nose up as he finished.
"I know what you mean don't worry," Harry smiled leaning down for a gentle kiss.
"I just wanted to grab a moment with you though while we were in the same vicinity,"
"It has been a mad day already since the meeting," Harry sighed.
"I fear we're going to be late to bed again," Justinian nodded.
"Harry put him down and come on," Remus called through the door after knocking on it.
"Seriously, how do you even know where I am!" Harry groaned opening the door and finding Remus standing there with a smug looking Fenrir. The two of them stepped out of the room, Justinian flushing a little at the implication of them being caught in a dark room together.
"I will buy you a whole new wardrobe of robes for Merlin's sake," Harry huffed at Fenrir rolling his eyes. He turned and wrapped his arms around Justinian's waist, pressing a firm kiss to his lips before pulling back with sparkling mischievous green eyes meeting Justinian's. "Also, bad doggy!" Harry thwapped Fenrir on the head with the newspaper that he conjured before racing off with a cackle as Fenrir snarled and took off after him.
"I swear between him and Sirius you have no clue how happy I am that you are joining us," Remus sighed with amusement shaking his head. "How are you settling in?"
"It is busy right now, but honestly it is nice, and it is nice to be working at Harry's side finally and not having to be away from him," Justinian admitted.
"It is," Remus smiled fondly after his godson.
"I am sorry that we did not get to see each other again after our meal, everything just moved so fast," Justinian said.
"Us too, but now we have time," Remus laughed. "It is so hard to believe that we are nearly there,"
"But we are, and then we all get to enjoy and live our lives," Justinian smiled.
"That we do," Remus patted Justinian on the shoulder with a warm smile.
"Harry?" Justinian yawned cracking his eyes open as he felt movement on the bed next to him.
"Yup, sorry I didn't want to wake you," Harry said sliding a little faster under the covers than he had been.
"I was only half asleep, I wanted to see you before I properly went to sleep," Justinian shook his head rolling over and curling against Harry, resting his cheek on Harry's chest as he curled his leg over Harry's thighs.
"Mm, I have been looking forward to this all evening," Harry sighed happily wrapping his arm around his fiance's waist.
"Me too," Justinian placed a kiss on Harry's chest.
"I can't believe that we don't have to be parted again the way we were," Harry said softly.
"It feels like a reward for…everything that has happened," Justinian admitted.
"You're right, it is," Harry hummed rubbing his hand up and down Justinian's back as his partner fell fully asleep this time, soft puffs of air filling their room. Harry smiled to himself as he settled his head onto the pillow and stared up at the canopy of the bed, his mind still running a little too fast to allow him to slip to sleep right now despite how tired he was, but just enjoying lying here with Justinian in his arms, holding him close, and thinking of the future that he, Hermione and Ron were building with everyone else right now.
It had been hard work, and a lot of sacrifice, but finally, they had made it to the point where they were nearly there. Despite the relief going through him Harry wasn't going to let him relax or become complacent, Dumbledore had been weakened a lot by their propaganda against him, but he was still out there and dangerous, and Harry wasn't going to relax until they had him in chains and he was behind bars. He hadn't come this far to lose at the last moment because he got stupid and relaxed too much, and he knew by the expressions on Ron and Hermione's faces that they were thinking the same thing.
One down, one to go.
"I demand to speak to the Minister!" Dumbledore drew himself up to his full height and stared down at the Witch in front of him, projecting every inch of being a teacher and Headmaster that he could, reminding the woman that she had been taught by him, that he had been her Headteacher towards the end of her school career without saying anything. And he could see the uncomfortable give in her as he did so.
People were easy to manipulate when you understood emotion, it was why he was a lot more subtle than Voldemort, Voldemort aimed at one desire only and didn't think about making people love him, making them respect him, making them want to please him. Well, that should be past tense, apparently, Harry really had killed him off going by the memory that was going around, along with the announcement that Harry was the Grey Lord.
He had obviously miscalculated there, but he and Harry had a bond, he had made sure that they did, and he would be able to manipulate the boy enough to catch him off guard he was sure. Harry may have started seeing through his manipulations recently without Dumbledore realising it, he had gotten too comfortable apparently, but he had made an impression on Harry in his formative years when the boy had come from being abused to a school where he was safe thanks to Dumbledore, where he got away with things because of Dumbledore that would have had other people expelled. They had those moments together that Dumbledore had crafted to create trust, reliance, and warmth between them, carefully staged to build that bond. He only needed to tug on it in the right way to distract Harry long enough so he could kill him.
"I…you have to have an appointment, I am sorry…there are a lot of changes that are being made," The Witch said uncomfortably.
"Ah yes, well that is handy because that is exactly why I am here," Dumbledore smiled gently at her, twinkling a little.
"So you can interfere?" Harry asked walking down the corridor.
"I do hope you didn't sneak in here Harry," Dumbledore said with fond exasperation seeing the invisibility cloak over Harry's arm.
"I didn't, my Aurors led me right past the entrance," Harry motioned to Kingsley, Tonks, and Michaels.
"Your Aurors?" Kingsley raised his eyebrow.
"Harry, you can't own people," Dumbledore nodded in 'commiseration' with Kingsley, clearly thinking that he could win the man back to his side.
"Something you haven't learned yourself though," Mad Eye snorted clunking over.
"Alastor?" Dumbledore sounded so shocked that Harry had to laugh. "You are with…" He glanced at Harry who just tilted his head smiling.
Hermione, Ron, Justinian, and Fenrir made their way over from one side of the atrium, and Remus, Sirius, Draco, Lola and Peter made their way over from the other side.
"Albus?" The confused and concerned voice had Harry turning and watching a very nervous-looking McGonagall and Snape walking over, along with Arthur, clearly expecting to find the ex-headmaster in a better situation.
"Arthur what…" Dumbledore asked, confused as Arthur carried on walking past him where McGonalgall and Snape stopped and moved to stand at Draco's side, throwing his arm around the young man's shoulders in a clearly affectionate way. Justinian glanced to the side when he saw movement and caught Ron pressing down a pleased smile as he looked at his dad and his lover.
"Where our children go, we go. Considering Ron, Hermione, and Harry are running the Grey side, there was no other place for us to be than supporting them," Arthur smiled. "And their side is a lot better than what you offered, more fair and even for everyone and not just your favourites," He added.
"What is going on?" Snape snapped.
"Well, Dumbledore here is trying to get past this lovely security Witch to see the Priminister, but she is a little busy right now," Harry smiled at Snape.
"I have…she?" Dumbledore blinked.
"Yes, Prime Minister Bones is currently very busy," Harry nodded.
"One of your stooges!" Snape sneered.
"I would love you to call Prime Minister Bones that to her face," Harry laughed along with a number of the others around him. "And no, she is not actually one of my people, but the person that I believe is the best suited to provide a neutral and fair view going forward. My people will be checking her decisions, but she will not be pressured into anything unfair," Harry shrugged.
"You won't get away with this! How dare you spit in the face of the man who has done so much for you!" McGonagall hissed.
"What? Left me with abusive relatives? Left me to starve for most of my life and be treated worse than a House Elf? To be beaten purely because I have magic and my oh-so-loving family didn't like it, is that what you are referring to?" Harry's voice was icy as he spoke, and everyone in the area froze. "Perhaps you are talking of the number of times he pushed, pressed, encouraged, and shoved three children into dangerous situations, facing Voldemort, facing wizards that adult Wizards, and Aurors, would think twice about facing? Any of those times? Allowing Umbridge to carve words into our hands simply because he didn't want to deal with it and thought that it would make him even more of my saviour when he did step in?"
"Were those the times that you were referring to or not?" Hermione asked sharply when McGonagall just stood there with her mouth open.
"Harry, this isn't necessary," Dumbledore held his hands up appeasingly.
"You're right it isn't, Mad Eye," Harry glanced over his shoulder and the ex-auror smirked.
"Albus Dumbledore you are under arrest," Mad Eye growled.
"Alastor, my friend, come surely you are under some sort of imperio," Dumbledore looked so started that a few of them snorted in amusement.
"One, I can throw off Imperio, two I hate being called Alastor, if you were my friend you would know that," Mad Eye shook his head walking even closer.
"I am afraid that I can not allow this!" Dumbledore drew himself up as he drew his wand, looking at Alastor as he raised his wand.
The silence that echoed around the atrium when Dumbledore's wand did what could only be described as a sneeze when he tried to cast his spell, blue goo dripping from the tip of his wand onto the floor. Frowning Dumbledore lifted his wand to peer at the tip of it, before trying again, only for more goo to ooze out of it.
Flickers caught everyone's attention and they turned from staring bemused, confused, and dumbfounded at Dumbledore to look at where Harry was standing holding his invisibility cloak as flames ate up the material.
"What?" Dumbledore frowned.
"The youngest brother's gift," Harry said, watching with satisfaction as understanding crossed Dumbledore's face and he stared in horror at the cloak. "Yes, you had it in your possession for a decade,"
"That isn't…but the…stone," Dumbledore frowned.
"Gone," Harry tilted his head back.
"What have you done?" Dumbledore breathed out staring in disbelief at his wand.
"Made sure that people like you and Voldemort can't use these items for your own gain," Harry said waving his hand as the flames finished eating the invisibility cloak, the last piece fluttering to the floor as the flames greedily ate the last pieces of it until nothing was left, not even a thread.
"You are comparing me to him?" Dumbledore shook his head.
"You're right, at least Voldemort didn't hide who and what he was, and how he used people, unlike you," Harry nodded agreeably.
"How dare you!" McGonagall spluttered.
"How dare I do what? Tell the truth?" Harry laughed.
"Fawkes!" Dumbledore called out holding his hands up in the air. Hermione and Ron moved quickly, throwing a golden net between their wands and capturing the Phoenix that appeared over Dumbledore's head, the wizard being unable to reach past the net to grab the Phoenix despite his best efforts. Everyone looked on awkwardly as he actually jumped on the spot a couple of times to try and reach the magical creature, desperation clear on his face.
Hermione and Ron pulled on the net and pulled Fawkes away from Dumbledore, and over to where Harry was waiting. Dumbledore let out a slightly manic noise and tried to run at Harry, his wand drooling again as he clearly tried to cast a spell. Mad Eye moved quickly, much faster than you think he should have been able to move, and he had magic repressing handcuffs around Dumbledore's wrist and then the second one, and quickly snatched his hat off of his head and withdrew a second wand from inside of it.
"Forgot you had it huh? I didn't," Mad Eye smirked, throwing the wand to Tonks. "Really?" he snorted when she floundered about but managed to grab hold of the wand after it fell on the floor and it started rolling away, Tonks stuck her tongue out at Mad Eye as her hair went bright red.
"What are you doing!" Dumbledore demanded, his eyes wide as they were locked onto where Harry seemed to be holding onto something underneath Fawkes.
"You know exactly what he is doing," Hermione sneered at him, the look of disgust on her face taking those around them aback clearly.
Harry moved his hand through the air and seemed to tug something, both Dumbledore and Fawkes jerking where they were, Fawkes letting out a squawk of pain.
"I am sorry, just a moment longer," Harry said softly to the birds before he grabbed onto whatever he was holding with his second hand and then started murmuring what sounded like ritual words to those who could make out the sounds of them. Slowly from where Harry's hands were curled into fists a golden thread suddenly started to take form, the gold flowing like liquid from his hands and flowing towards Dumbledore and Fawkes.
Everyone's eyes followed the flowing gold, almost entranced watching as it swept towards Dumbledore and wrapped around the wrist of his wand arm, the thread showing just from underneath his handcuffs. The thread drifting to the other side wound its way into the net that Hermione and Ron had created and were holding, Fawkes quite still inside of the net, his black eyes fixed on Harry, the thread though also gold could somehow easily be seen as it flowed right through the feathery plumage of Fawkes' chest and went straight into his heart.
A few people around them gasped at the site, though they didn't know for certain what it meant, most of them had a good idea. A large crowd had formed at this point and they were all watching the exchange wide-eyed as Harry's chanting changed to something different as soon as the thread was glowing bright gold.
"No! You're not strong enough!" Dumbledore shook his head, frantically trying to move forward but Mad Eye locked him into place, not even trying to hide how happy he was with this outcome.
"Did you think that the Grey Side was all for show? Did you think that we were blagging our way through this?" Ron laughed at him.
"We hid right under your nose for two years, did you think that we would have been able to do that without having the power to back us up?" Hermione added.
"What are you doing? What is that?" Snape frowned looking cautiously at the golden thread.
"It is the visible part of the ritual that he used to force a bond on Fawkes and bound him to him," Newt Scamander said walking around the large crowd and over to stand by Ron, looking up in concern at the Phoenix.
"Newt…you can't surely believe that I would…" Dumbledore was wide-eyed as he looked between the white-haired man and Fawkes trapped in the net, then to Harry who was still muttering his ritual words, and then back to Newt. The other man didn't even look away from Fawkes where his gaze seemed to be soothing the Magical Creature a little more. "Newt…we are friends…"
"No we are not, I could never be friends with someone that does something like this," Newt shook his head.
"But…you're on HIS side then?" McGonagall spat, though she was looking a lot less sure than her tone would indicate, though the betrayal that she was clearly feeling was written across her face.
"When he is breaking such a disgusting bond as this and is going to make sure that Magical Creatures are properly respected and protected," Newt shook his head before cooing in a strange way at Fawkes but seemed to soothe the Phoenix as Harry had to tug on the thread a little.
"He's fed you some lies about protecting Magical Creatures?" Dumbledore tried to smile softly and shook his head, blinking and looking around as the crowd mumbled in disbelief.
"I happen to believe that Harry, Hermione, and Ron will be true to their word," Newt shrugged.
"I am ready Mr Scamander," Harry said in a slightly rough voice.
"Newt is fine Harry, I have him, I will make sure that he remains as calm as possible," Newt turned to smile at Harry before completely focusing on Harry again.
"Ready?" Harry looked to Hermione and Ron who both nodded. He started chanting again before withdrawing an athame from his pocket, the golden blade clearly inscribed with runes that were a dark black on the blade.
"DON'T!" The shout startled everyone but Harry and Newt who just carried on with what they were doing. Harry held the blade to the thread as his chanting became deeper, rougher, and more hurried, and then he drew the blade through the thread like a knife through butter.
Fawkes let out an incredibly pained noise, the sound breaking through everyone's chest over and over as he carried on making the noise, Ron and Hermione let the net fade away as soon Harry cut the thread, Newt reaching up to catch Fawkes and started cooing at him right away, soothing his hands through his feathers as the pained sound eased up slowly as Newt put him into a deep sleep.
"You will take good care of him," Harry partially asked, partially requested.
"The best," Newt smiled a little at Harry.
"Get him far away from him please," Harry asked Newt.
"I will see you next week for the meeting for the Creature Laws, and I will let you know how he is doing," Newt nodded.
"Thank you for your help with this, and with the laws. I will see you…"
"What the fuck!" Mad Eye's splutter got everyone's attention, and then their attention was hooked on what they were watching in the same way that people couldn't look away from an accident. Even Newt froze and watched wide-eyed before he remembered what he was doing and hurried towards the fireplaces.
Everyone else stayed fixated on Dumbledore.
"I guess prison for life won't be as long as we were expecting it to be," Ron grimaced.
"What…" McGonagall and Snape both rapidly backed away from Dumbledore as he seemed to age by the millisecond in front of them until a wizened and stooped old man stood in front of them. People grimaced as his teeth popped from his gums and clattered to the marbled floor of the atrium.
"Well that was unexpected," Draco said and scrunched his nose, "I am going to have nightmares for months after this, I knew I should have stayed at home!"
"Told you wanting to see all the drama was bad for you," Hermione teased wrapping her arm around his waist.
"What…" Snape stared horrified, his expression becoming even more so when Ron walked over and threw his arm around Draco as well. "Your father…"
"Knows, and he can either choose to put up with it, sign over the Malfoy Lordship to me, and be under house arrest, or he and mother can go to prison for the things that they have done," Draco shook his head.
"You have betrayed them like that?" Snape stepped back.
"You mean the way you did? Being on the same side as them with V…Voldemort and all?" Draco snorted before looking pointedly at Dumbledore who was now being levitated slightly off of the floor by a grimacing Mad Eye.
"I…I chose the right side!" Snape snapped.
"And I believe that I chose the right side, as it is, your right side seems to have been keeping himself younger by somehow feeding off the Phoenix that he entrapped and enslaved. If that is the right side for you, well it is what it is, but it isn't for me," Draco shrugged.
"I…" Snape looked to Dumbledore just as McGonagall took several steps back from them with a look of growing horror on her face. "Will you arrest me then?!" He sneered.
"Not how this works, you haven't done anything illegal, I am aware that you working against Voldemort and so were not one of his Death Eaters, any actions that you took were coerced by Albus Dumbledore in his pressure of you to be his spy and using the vow you made against you," Harry shrugged.
"My vow?" Snape's black eyes moved from Draco and locked onto Harry.
"Your vow, I am aware of it," Harry inclined his head.
"Your mother would be ashamed of you!" Snape spat, his face scrunched in utter fury, actual spit flying from his mouth as said it.
"And what makes you believe that?" Harry just smiled.
"I knew her! I was her friend! I grew up with her! You never knew her!" Snape shouted.
"Eno…" Draco tried to step forward looking utterly furious but Hermione and Ron pulled him back.
"You were friends with her, she cut off your friendship, and you remained obsessed with her. If she was alive you would be classified as obsessed and a stalker, and you lost your friendship with her because of the side you chose, the choices you made, and the things you said. I believe quite strongly that my mum would prioritise my safety and happiness as long as it is not at the detriment of others, and especially believe that she would not want to be on the side of a man who allows children to be abused as an experiment, and who enslaves magical creatures for his own selfishness," Harry said calmly, watching Snape's eyes narrow in hatred before they widened and flicked to Dumbledore.
The crowd surged backward when Snape threw his first spell which Harry easily flicked to the side, even taking the time to make sure that the spell was deflected to an area where it couldn't hurt anyone. The flame spell that Snape threw at him was quickly doused out with water, and then Harry set fire to the vines that were thrown at him.
The cutting hex that slashed and thrashed its way to him was clearly a dark and vicious spell to those who were watching as it flew towards Harry who just stood there until the last moment, throwing up a shield that formed a huge mouth and swallowed the hex, it chomped for a couple of seconds before letting out a large burp, breathing out a dark smoke. A few people from the crowd let out startled laughs.
"Stupefy," Kingsley said dryly. "Stop showing off," he added to Harry who just grinned at him as Tonks and one of the other Aurors cuffed Snape before releasing the spell on him.
"Have some respect, I am your Lord remember," Harry smirked.
"Stop showing off," Kingsley said and then dropped into a deep and mocking bow, "My Lord,"
"More like it," Harry nodded.
"Are you going to be like You-Know-Who?" Someone shouted from the crowd and there was a still as breaths seemed to be held, Harry could practically feel all eyes turning onto him.
"Or like him," Someone else called a little quieter motioning to Dumbledore, who despite everything managed to make an affronted noise.
"No, and I know right now there is going to be very little to reassure you of that, especially as my side and myself are having to be heavy-handed with certain matters. Who wants to straighten things out, we want to make this a fair place for everyone to live, that means Witchers, Wizards, and Magical Creatures, so yes I am going to be shredding through some of the laws that, to be honest, are utterly shit, that restrict people unfairly, that treat people as other because of their circumstances and who or what they are. We will also be implementing things to try and make our world a better, fairer, safer place for everyone. We want to make this a country that will stand out in the entire Wizarding world as somewhere that is accepting, somewhere that is a good place to live, where we have choices. These decisions are not going to be made by me and my people only, we are going to be holding meetings where people are welcome to come along and discuss matters that concern them, put matters forward that they want to look at, and discuss laws that they are concerned about whether old or new. You can also write to us here at the Ministry. This will not be a dictatorship, but I will make it clear that this is no longer going to be a country that discriminates against others and benefits others, and if that is what you believe in and the country that you want to live in, then Great Britain Wizarding and Witching world is no longer for you,"
The silence was deafening after Harry spoke, and Kingsley, Tonks, and Mad Eye took the chance to remove Dumbledore away from the area, the old man muttering and mumbling, trying to kick Kingsley and Tonks in the face as they moved. Then a round of applause went up from the majority of the people standing there, some clearly more lackluster and forced than others, but on the whole people were looking hopeful.
Harry groaned as he dropped down onto the sofa in his and Justinian's rooms, tipping his head back and resting it tiredly on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes with a deep sigh, after the Ministry he had been pulled into meeting after meeting by Heads of Departments who had heard he was there and wanted reassurances, then Minister Bones had caught hold of him. He wasn't pouting but he hadn't been able to see Justinian since the Atrium considering Hermione had kidnapped him to go and help her, though Harry was pleased that the two of them were getting on so well and seemed to be forming some form of a power couple in the political world, the Muggleborn and the Pureblood forming an impressive image as the two of them made their way through the politics that they were attacking.
"You're the wrong Nott," Harry muttered, waking from sleep after taking the hand that had come to rest on his shoulders.
"It is a little weird and a little sweet that you know that simply by touching my hand," Theo snorted. Harry opened his eyes and grinned at him. "Justinian has set up something for you," Theo said, stepping back.
"For me?" Harry perked up.
"Merlin, you have it bad!" Theo laughed shoving Harry's shoulder. "Yes for you, go on he's in the solar room,"
"Left at the end of the stairs?" Harry squinted.
"Right," Theo snorted.
"I will get there eventually!" Harry grinned standing.
"What, when you and Justinian have grandkids?" Theo teased.
"Not that bad, kids maybe,"
"Go on," Theo rolled his eyes.
"See you later little bro!" Harry waved over his shoulder.
"Fuck off Potter!" Theo called cheerfully after him.
"Did you get lost?" Justinian smiled where he was standing outside of the solar room leaning against the wall.
"Wha?" Harry managed to make a noise that sounded vaguely like a word as he took in his fiance. Justinian was wearing a pair of black trousers and a white shirt, a light, sleeveless and open robe sat over the top, and instead of having his hair braided back in the way that he normally did, it was lying half up half down in a ponytail, making him look softer and more private.
"Did you get lost?" Justinian repeated with a mischievous smile, reaching out and reeling Harry in by the lapels of his robes as soon as he was close enough to grab, leaning up to press their foreheads together, looking into Harry's stunning green eyes.
"Totally, a house elf took pity and rescued me," Harry admitted with a grin. "You look stunning," He breathed out, twisting a lock of hair around his finger.
"Thank you," Justinian smiled shyly, still not used to feeling pleased with such a comment, but Harry meant it in so many more ways than just his looks. He curled his arms around Harry's shoulders and brought him in for a sweet kiss which Harry happily went into, curling his arms around Justinian's waist and pulling him against his warm body as he sank into the kiss contently.
"Hmm, I needed that," Harry sighed happily.
"You're working so hard," Justinian brushed his fingers over Harry's face.
"I am not the only one, you are amazing," Harry smiled proudly at him.
"Not nearly as much work as you," Justian shook his head before smiling, "which is why I thought you deserved a treat,"
"What type of treat," Harry leered making Justinian snort amused.
"Come on lover boy," he grinned taking Harry's hand and leading him into the room.
"Justinian," Harry breathed out looking around the room. The glass room had been converted into a small dinning room for the night, a round glass table sitting in the centre with rose petals decoratively scattered over it, a pillar candle was sitting in the middle of the table, while all around the room small flickering balls of flame floated at different levels around the room from floor to ceiling, just providing enough light so that they could clearly see each other as it was pitch black outside, but the light was low enough to immediately make the area feel intimate and private.
Harry smiled happily when Justinian pulled his seat out for him and seated him at the table before sliding into the seat across from him. The smile he got from Justinian as he tangled their feet together under the table seemed to make all the stress he had been feeling wash out of him, and he was able to fully relax.
"It has been eight months since we first met," Justinian said softly as a bowl of soup appeared in front of them.
"Eight months today?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Yes, in that bar, when I thought I was selling myself away, and you completely took me by surprise,"
"It feels as though it has been no time at all and forever that I have known you and you have been part of my life," Harry admitted.
"Me too," Justinian nodded. "I wanted to do something a little special for it, and to treat you after all your work,"
"Thank you, it means a lot. I missed you today," Harry admitted, taking Justinian's hand and kissing the back of it.
"I missed you too," Justinian tilted his head a little as he smiled at Harry. Then his smile turned a little more mischievous. "Hermione was telling me a few stories about you to keep me entertained though,"
"Oh Merlin, I knew it would be bad for me, you two getting along so well," Harry groaned, dropping back into his chair.
Theo yawned as he walked into Nott Manor and stepped around the debris of the redecoration that was taking place, needing to walk down the spell that was on the floor to protect the new tiles underneath. Justinian had used the excuse that they had had filthy Death Eaters stuck in the floor, and Voldemort ick all over it, as an excuse to replace it. Theo had no clue what either of those comments meant, and he didn't want to know.
He yawned again as he got to the stairs and was ready to head to bed, it had been a long day, and he had chosen not to go back to Hogwarts along with Harry, Draco, Ron, and Hermione. Theo had just finished taking his NEWTs after a lot of studying to be ready for them early, whilst also helping out in different areas of the Grey Side.
Harry had spoken to him about if he wanted a place within the Grey side and had offered for him to try out a few different things until he found what was right for him, before Theo had been able to say anything Harry had immediately assured him that while it had a small amount to do with Justinian, on the whole, it was because Theo was an intelligent, quick and thoughtful person that Harry truly believed could help them, if Theo wanted to work within the Grey side there would be a place for him if he didn't that was fine. He believed that he was finding his spot amongst the research teams, and being around some of the rarest books in the world was definitely something he was enjoying. Though it was tiring.
"HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU!" The shout echoed around the hallway just as Theo placed his foot on the bottom step of the staircase and after a millisecond of thought he moved to the side and hid behind a suit of armour, peering curiously from behind it at his brother's shout.
"Justinian!" Harry huffed sounding annoyed right before the two of them stormed into Theo's view, Harry in the front coming to a stop at the top of the stairs.
"Don't speak to me like that! I have asked you not to do it!" Justinian snapped.
"It is a small thing, you're blowing it out of proportion!" Harry snapped a little back.
"If it is a small thing then why is it so difficult not to do it!"
"I have a million and one things on my plate Justinian, I apologise for forgetting this one little thing!" Harry said with a slight snide tone and Theo's eyebrow rose in concern. He had never heard the two of them speak to each other except with almost sickly sweet caring and happiness in their tones, he hadn't heard them raise their voice even the slightest to each other, or snap at each other, never mind this. Concern bubbling in his stomach Theo turned to look at Justinian and found his brother looking furious.
"Being the leader of the Grey Side is not an excuse!"
"I think it is a pretty good excuse!"
"Well, it isn't! You can't use it as an excuse for everything!"
"I hardly use it as an excuse for everything! I am busy and I am tired, I am sorry if I forget about a small little thing because I am tired and just wanted to spend as much time with you as I could after a busy week!" Harry snapped before spinning on the spot and apparating out.
Theo watched Justinian blink several times, before to his horror his brother's bottom lip wobbled and tears sprang to his eyes. Without thinking he dodged from his hiding spot and hurried up the stairs.
"Justinian? What was that about?" Theo asked concerned making his older brother jump.
"Theo, you heard that? I didn't feel your magic," Justinian frowned as he dashed his hand across his eyes and tried to hide the tears.
"I learned years ago that you could sense my magic, and Harry can as well, I hid without magic," Theo shook his head as he reached his brother. "What happened?" He asked concerned. Apparently, that was the straw that broke the camel's back, and the next thing Justinian burst into tears.
Twenty minutes later they were settled onto the sofa in the drawing room, Justinian had stopped crying though his eyes were still red and puffy, and they were both sipping from glasses of wine with a large box of Honeydukes finest in between them, though that had led to a few more tears as Harry had apparently bought them for Justinian.
"What happened?" Theo asked concerned.
"It is stupid," Justinian huffed sniffing.
"I am sure it is not," Theo reassured his brother. Justinian turned and gave him a slightly embarrassed expression crossed his face before he answered.
"He keeps leaving his wet towel on the bathroom floor," Justinian said so mournfully that Theo couldn't have stopped his laugh even if he had tried.
"That was about his towel?" Theo asked.
"I have asked him again and again not to do it, to fold it and hang it over the towel rail to dry, and he keeps doing it!" Justinian huffed, waving his hands around in an uncharacteristic way, so enthusiastically that he nearly threw his wine everywhere.
"I can get it being annoying," Theo hummed.
"I keep standing on it, and I have asked him so many times not to do it! And then…I snapped a little at him tonight and he snapped back at me, he's never snapped at me before," Justinian looked at his brother with wide blue eyes that were welling with tears again.
"He is probably tired," Theo offered trying to comfort his brother.
"That makes it worse, he said that he forgot because he was in a hurry to spend time with me, and I snapped at him and and…he stormed off, and I don't know where he is, we haven't slept apart since he defeated Voldemort, what if he doesn't come back home?" Justinian sniffed as the tears fell down his face again.
"He has probably just gone to calm down before this escalated further than it already had over a wet towel. He loves you, he isn't going to walk away after just one silly fight Justinian, couples that truly care for each other fight and argue, it is going to happen, it doesn't mean that everything is over," Theo shook his head.
"I feel so stupid now," Justinian sniffed.
"It was a silly argument, everyone has them, Draco said that Hermione and Ron argued last week before Hermione couldn't find her favourite quill and was sure that Ron had used it, they found the quill tucked away, kissed, and made up," Theo tried to reassure his brother.
Justinian curled up in the corner of the sofa, pulling his dressing gown over his legs as he took a swig of wine and popped a chocolate into his mouth, clearly thinking over what Theo had just said.
"He worships the ground you walk on, and loves you just as much, it isn't a surprise for this to be shocked that you have argued," Theo took his brother's hand and squeezed it before reaching out to grab the wine bottle and topped up their glasses.
They had been talking for about twenty minutes when Harry walked into the room, he looked tired and frustrated, and possibly still a little annoyed, though that all melted away as soon as he took in Justinian's still red and swollen eyes.
"Oh Justinian," Harry sighed fondly walking over to his fiance.
"I'm sorry," Justinian sniffed, tears filling his eyes again.
"Don't be silly, it was a stupid argument. I have found a charm that will make sure that all our towels automatically fold and hang themselves over the rail from now on, it won't matter if I forget, you will be happy and your socks will stay dry, all done," Harry shook his head dropping to his knees beside the sofa. Justinian sniffed and threw himself at Harry, surprising the other wizard as he threw himself into his lap and wrapped his arms and legs tightly around Harry. "Shhh it was a stupid argument,"
"I'm sorry though, you're working so hard and I am nagging you about a stupid towel," Justinian cried a little into Harry's shoulder. Harry stood with Justinian still wrapped around him and reached down to squeeze Theo's shoulder, winking to say it would all be ok and getting a small smile and nod in response before he turned and apparated the two of them to their bedroom.
"I'm not the only one working hard, and it was something that I kept doing that you asked me repeatedly not to do because it annoyed you. We're adjusting to living together, I believe the honeymoon period where we can do no wrong to each other is wearing off, we're going to find some things about each other annoying, and we're going to argue, it doesn't mean that we are breaking up," Harry reassured Justinian as he climbed onto their bed and settled against the headboard with Justinian still wrapped around him.
"Do I do something that you don't like?" Justinian asked softly.
"Hmmm, you drum your fingers on the table when you're thinking, sometimes I find it adorable, other times, mainly when I am trying to concentrate as well it can be annoying," Harry shrugged. "It doesn't mean I love you any less, just sometimes I stare at your fingers willing them to stop,"
"I'm sorry I got so wound up," Justinian pulled his face back and Harry took the chance to wipe the tears from his eyes.
"And I am sorry that I carried on doing it, and lost my temper," Harry smiled softly.
"I didn't like you just leaving," Justinian admitted quietly.
"Then I won't do that again I swear," Harry took Justinian's hands and kissed them before linking their fingers together.
"Can…can we cuddle?" Justinian asked.
"That sounds like the perfect thing," Harry nodded, shuffling with Justinian until they were curled up under the covers laying on their sides, Justinian's back to Harry's chest with the taller Wizard wrapped tightly around the smaller. They had been laying there for a good ten minutes when suddenly Harry pressed his mouth to Justinian's throat, and blew a massive raspberry on it, startling a laugh from his fiance as he tucked his shoulder to his ear trying to stop Harry from blowing a second one on his throat.
"I love you so much," Harry said, tugging Justinian close again.
"I love you too, so so much," Justinian sighed happily.
"Don't look at me like that, Justinian agrees with me," Draco huffed.
"Don't look at me like that," Justinian snorted when betrayed green eyes turned to him. "You said that you wanted this completely traditional,"
"I changed my mind," Harry grumbled.
"Too late now!" Draco scowled warningly at Harry.
"I've changed my mind about this," Hermione huffed, walking into the room and pulling at her robes.
"Don't you start as well! Honestly, you Gryffindors are heathens!" Draco threw his arms up in the air and started storming off, only to be caught around the waist by Ron and tugged down into his lap.
"I'm not complaining," Ron grinned.
"Only because this was your idea!" Draco pouted at him.
"Because it is a good idea," Ron looked to where Harry and Hermione were pouting.
"Fine!" Hermione huffed rolling her eyes.
"And it is nothing against you Draco, I really am grateful for the time that you have put into organising this. It just isn't my thing," Harry sighed.
"It will be fine," Justinian kissed his cheek.
"Promise you won't leave my side?" Harry groaned.
"Codependency can be an issue you know," Theo said strolling into the room.
"You're lucky Justinian loves you," Harry grumbled.
"And you like me," Theo laughed. "You look like you're about to run for it,"
"Don't tempt me," "Don't tempt him!" Harry and Justinian said at the same time.
"I won't leave your side I promise, a few hours and it is done," Justinian wrapped his arms around Harry's shoulders and buried his hand into Harry's wild hair, scratching his fingers slightly against Harry's scalp and watching Harry melting into him.
"Fine," Harry sighed planting his face into Justinian's shoulder as he wrapped his arms around his waist.
"Heathens," Draco muttered.
Justinian slipped his hand into Harry's and gave it a small squeeze even as they both carried on their conversations with separate people. Despite his nerves and dislike Harry was doing what he did best and he was charming his way through the variety of people here.
Draco had worked incredibly hard and the ball was incredible. The purebloods were enjoying the evidence of the continuations of their traditions under the new order, and the muggleborns and halfbloods were enjoying being able to finally be a part of it, to be allowed to participate in something like this. It was mixing well and there was a good feeling going around the ballroom.
"So, when will you be getting married?" someone was asking Harry, and Justinian glanced around to the Lord who had spoken, the man looking at Harry and Justinian's joined hands.
"When we are ready, there is no rush, we have no plans as of right now," Harry smiled.
"Oh," the Lord blinked.
"It is a different world, do catch up dear," Lola Yaxley said strolling over.
"Sorry?"
"The times of rushing to the alter as soon as you look at each other is gone!" Lola waved him off.
"I guess it will take a little getting used to," The Lord said, but there was something in his eyes that Justinian didn't like. Before he could think more into it however his attention was stolen back to those that he had been talking to, and he had to focus on them again to try and cover for his brief lack of attention.
An hour later Justinian smiled softly to himself as he took in his fiance again, he didn't allow it to show on his face though as he nodded to the others around him and turned fully to Harry who turned to him with hopeful eyes.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but may I steal you for a dance?" Justinian asked.
"Of course, please excuse me," Harry smiled and nodded to those around him and took Justinian's hand, leading him to the dancefloor at a sedate pace even though Justinian knew he wanted to hurry away. "Thank you," Harry sighed as he and Justinian stepped into a dance hold and swept them off across the dancefloor.
"You looked like you were reaching the end of your tether," Justinian chuckled.
"I was, if I get asked one more stupid and vapid question then I am going to start hexing people," Harry grumbled.
"That is because most of them are stupid and vapid," Justinian chuckled.
"I feel horrified for you that you had to put up with this in your childhood as well," Harry muttered pulling Justinian a little closer to his warm body.
"It is much more bearable now that you are at my side," Justinian looked up at Harry with burning blue eyes.
"Are you happy?" Harry asked quite unexpectedly making Justinian blink at him.
"Yes," He said surprised.
"I worry that all this isn't quite what you were expecting when you agreed to go on a date with me, and we are both so busy, sometimes it feels like the only time I see you for days is at breakfast and when we go to sleep,"
"And you are worried that I am not happy because of that?" Justinian asked.
"Yes," Harry sighed.
"I won't pretend that not getting to see you properly for a few days at a time doesn't frustrate me, but I know that it is temporary, and that gets me through. More than anything I am proud of what you are building, what we are building. I know that this will not last forever, and the time that we do have together makes me happy, along with the trust that you place in me to help create the world that you imagine, that means more to me than you will ever know," Justinian said softly as they swept around the floor.
"Good, all of this would be for nothing for me if it meant that you were not happy," Harry said with that intensity that always had Justinian's heart fluttering in his chest.
"I think as long as I have you, I will be happy," Justinian smiled softly, reaching up to brush his fingers along Harry's face.
"I could not have imagined when Hermione, Ron, and myself started all of this that this is where I would be standing a few years later," Harry chuckled, the concern that he had been carrying easing from his face.
"And is it as good as you were hoping for?" Justinian asked.
"Better," Harry said with a warm smile.
"It is a little painful to watch," Harry said quietly making Justinian have to fight not to show anything on his face.
"Painful, and a little embarrassing," Remus hummed.
"I thought he was meant to be charming," Draco frowned.
"He is," Remus nodded, "unless it is someone that he actually likes, and then you get…" he cut himself off and they all turned to look back to where Sirius was trying to flirt with Peter, trying being the operative word.
On his half, Peter looked utterly baffled himself as to what was going on and what it was exactly that Sirius wanted.
"Oh Merlin," Remus grimaced.
"I will be right back!" Harry groaned quickly hurrying across the floor to where Sirius and Peter were. Sirius smiled brightly at his Godson, his flirting attempt forgotten as he smiled proudly at Harry, he looked a little confused when Harry gripped his shoulder warmly before leaning in to whisper something to Peter. Those watching saw as Peter's face moved from confused, to baffled to understanding. Shaking his head amused he turned to Sirius and took his hand and dragged him onto the dancefloor, Sirius turned and grinned at Harry gratefully before he wrapped himself eagerly around Peter.
"That went better than I expected," Justinian smiled as he and Harry walked hand in hand through the halls of Nott manor to their bedroom.
"It did," Harry nodded. "I enjoyed it a little more than I expected as well,"
"Well, that is saying something," Justinian teased.
"It is indeed," Harry gently nudged Justinian, chuckling when his fiance gripped his lapels and tugged him with him as he allowed himself to fall back against the wall next to their bedroom, tugging Harry so that he was plastered along his front, the taller man was already leaning into him to press their lips together as Justinian reached up for him.
They groaned into each other's mouths as their hands grasped each other before Justinian fisted the back of Harry's robes and held onto him tightly as Harry cupped the back of Justinian's head and wrapped his arm around his waist kissing him desperately, kissing him with that hunger that never seemed to be sated, that always fired itself back up with this man.
Justinian groaned into Harry's mouth a little louder before biting his bottom lip as he urged them away from the wall and into their room, blindly waving the door open and dragging him through to their bedroom, the two of them somehow managed to make it through the living room without tripping or falling over anything, stumbling through the doorway and tumbling down onto their bed.
Justinian always felt heated for this man, always felt desperate for this man. He had never longed for someone the way that he longed for Harry, even when he was with him he felt as though he couldn't get close enough, couldn't get enough of him.
It reminded him of something that he had read once. 'If it doesn't set your soul on fire, it isn't worth the burn'.
He had never thought that that type of love would be something he would ever get to experience, and yet here he was.
"Make love to me," Justinian panted against Harry's mouth as they pulled apart.
"You mean?" Harry asked, pulling back a little further so that he could see Justinian.
"I want to feel you inside of me," Justinian nodded, and the groan that Harry let out had Justinian rock hard in seconds. The two of them quickly divested each other of their clothing, pieces being thrown carelessly away as they pressed kisses to each other's lips in between tugging at the material that was in the way of them being able to feel their skin pressing together completely.
Justinian parted his legs eagerly as soon as Harry tugged his trousers down and off of him, quickly stripping himself of his own trousers before he slotted himself between Justinian's legs and pressed their lips together again. The older man wrapped his arms tightly around Harry, humming into the kiss as their skin slid together pleasantly, erotically, and he grabbed his wand to cast the spells needed to open himself up and lube himself up before throwing his wand to the side and rolled his hips against Harry's desperately.
"I love you," Harry breathed against Justinian's lips.
"I love you too," Justinian said before they shared a groan as Harry slipped into Justinian's body for the first time. He slid into the warm, hot heat of Justinian, filling him and groaning at the tight heat surrounding him.
Justinian tilted back his head as his fingers bit into Harry's muscled shoulders at the pleasure washing through his body as he was filled by Harry, his lover slipping into him and making him feel as though he was opening Justinian up for him, making a place for himself inside of him.
They moved together, rocking slowly at first as they both got used to the feeling and adjusted to it before Harry started moving a little faster, pulling back and then slamming into Justinian's body with more and more power until the two of them were groaning in pleasure as their slick skin slid sensuously together, the sound of their lovemaking filling their room.
They pressed kisses against each other's lips, though it descended more into panting against each other as they moved together, pleasure winding around them in a way that made them feel as though they were in their own private world, as though it was just them in the world. Justinian groaned throwing his head back as pleasure wracked through his body when Harry hit that pleasurable place inside of him, sparks and liquid fire washing through his body, his weeping erection trapped between their stomachs, causing more pleasure to wash over him with every thrust and withdrawal.
Harry groaned loudly as Justinian's body clamped down around him, his already tight body embracing his erection and pulling heated pleasure through Harry's body from his stomach. He never wanted to stop, he never wanted this to end, he never wanted to have to leave the hot, fluttering walls around him, he wanted to stay here buried inside of Justinian, joined with him, he wanted to stay in their world here forever. He looked down at his lover and he had never looked more stunning to Harry, cheeks flushed with pleasure, eyes blown with lust, his hair was loose and lying haloed around his head on a circle of honey blond. Justinian tightened his legs around Harry's waist, letting out a noise of pleasure, his fingers digging into Harry's back in a feeling of painful pleasure that drove Harry on, drove him to try and draw more pleasure from Justinian, desperately wanting to feed him more pleasure, wanting to drive him insane with it, as insane as he made Harry with pleasure.
The Grey Lord gripped tightly onto his fiance's shoulders and used the leverage to pull him down harder onto his cock as he thrust inside of him, listening to the noises that Justinian let out before he tensed in Harry's arms and spilled between their bodies, Harry not even managing one more thrust before he pressed himself deeply inside of Justinian and came inside of his lover, his moan of pleasure filling the room before he collapsed down on top of Justinian who somehow managed to find the strength to tighten his arms and legs around Harry's body.
"Stay inside of me," Justinian muttered sleepily when Harry moved to pull back.
"I'm going to squash you," Harry said concerned.
"Like it," Justinian shook his head, he grumbled a little when Harry shuffled them a little awkwardly, managing to twist them just a little so that he wasn't resting all of his weight on top of Justinian, but was still mostly blanketing his body, still deeply pressed inside of him even as he went soft.
Justinian managed to force his blue eyes open and turned his head to meet sleepy green ones that were gazing at him with all the love and happiness that Justinian was feeling as well. The two of them pressed their lips together in lazy kisses, pleasure still humming through their body, but joy and contentment even more so as they settled down to go to sleep.
"What the…" Hermione, Justinian, and Theo jumped to their feet at the feeling of the wave of magic washing over them, all of them recognising it as Harry's. They were moving without needing to say anything to each other, hurrying through Malfoy Manor to the Ballroom that had been converted to a space for Harry to hold an audience along with Ron to speak to different people who had requests and queries for him.
They bumped into Sirius and Fenrir along the way who were making their way from a different part of the manor, none of them saying anything as they made their way to the hall, Harry's magic still rolling and curling through the manor.
"...dare you!" The shout reached their ears, and as there was no sound of fighting or feeling of anyone else's magic they went straight through the door into the Ballroom to find Harry standing on the dais there looking absolutely furious, his magic almost visible as it snapped around him. Ron was standing to the side with Draco behind him, both of them looking almost as furious as Harry. The crowd in the room was all looking apprehensive, fear on some of their faces, curiosity at what was going to happen mixed in there as well. Considering the fact that the crowd had stepped away from the person that was the cause of Harry's anger, it was easy to locate the person, and Justinian narrowed his eyes as he recognised the man from the ball a few weeks ago.
"Harry?" Justinian asked walking up the dais and over to his lover, taking his hand and squeezing it gently.
"This idiot thought it would be a good idea to essentially call you a catamite and suggest that Harry had no intention of marrying you considering no marriage has taken place yet, and suggested that his son was just what Our Lord was looking for," Ron filled in as the others reached them.
"An idiot, and a presumptuous one," Draco snorted.
"But…but I thought…"
"Thinking would indicate that you have a brain, which you clearly do not! Especially when you seem to presume that you have the right to dictate my life and presume my choices for me! For those that don't seem to have two brain cells to rub together, I will clarify for you all. I love Justinian, he is the man I am in love with and the man that I will marry, we feel no pressure or need to rush to get married when we are both more than happy as we are. No one and no circumstance will dictate to us the pathway of our relationship, that will be decided by us and us alone, but make no mistake I am utterly devoted to Justinian and that is not going to change!" Harry snarled before turning and storming away, tugging Justinian with him, the other moving along more than willingly, smirking at the Lord as they passed them.
"Well done! Now we can't even speak to him ourselves you idiot!" Someone from the crowd hissed at the Lord.
"Do not worry, once Lord Harry has calmed down from the affront and attack to himself and his fiance he will rearrange this audience and you will get your time to speak to him, express any concerns, and put forward any requests and ideas that you have. Though, some will clearly not be welcome back," Draco reassured them, casting a dirty look at the Lord before Harry's group moved after him and Justinian.
As the doors closed the Lord's knees gave out and he fell to the floor as the fear that he had been feeling washed through him completely from where he had been frozen with it.
"We're getting married," The announcement took no one by surprise, but congratulations and warm words filled the room.
"I figured Ron and Hermione would convince him to elope so that they could escape the wedding planning and performance that the wedding itself would be," Harry murmured into Justinian's ear as they watched Molly hugging all three repeatedly, the other Weasleys able to get their hugs in between.
"Pft, Draco has them wound far too tightly around his fingers for that, there was no way that they were getting away with eloping. He has the chance to plan the biggest, loudest wedding announcing his marriage to the right and left hand of the Grey side, as well as planning his wedding," Justinian chuckled.
"Harry!" Draco hurried over to him. "I want you to perform the ceremony!" he announced.
"We, would like you to perform the ceremony," Ron clarified amused as Harry blinked at them surprised.
"I…would love to, I would be honoured," Harry blinked.
"I wouldn't have them if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you, it would mean the world to me, to us," Draco said wrapping his arms around Harry in a tight hug, one that was returned eagerly.
"I would like for you to stand for me," Hermione said to Justinian, bringing his warm smile from Harry to look at her surprised before a joyful smile crossed his face.
"I would be honoured to!" He nodded, stepping forward to embrace the woman who had become one of, if not his closest friend in the year that they had known each other.
"And now, we celebrate!" The twins called and fireworks exploded over their heads as music burst to life filling the room. Laughter and chatter echoed around the room as their main, key group partied and celebrated the announcement.
They had all stayed close to each other despite the battles really now being over, and their world was settling into its new way of being. There were still difficulties, there were still pushbacks and arguments, and there was still a fair bit of work to be done, there were still things to be ironed out, but on the whole, they were nearly there in beginning the creation of a better Britain. The chance to celebrate a happy moment together was grasped eagerly, and soon more than a few of them were a little tipsy.
Some of them started dancing in the middle of the room, others filled their plates from the table where the House Elves had outdone themselves in creating an emergency banquet for the impromptu party.
"Are you seeing what I am seeing?" Harry muttered to Justinian.
"I am, he has been gushing about him for a few months now," Justinian smiled as he watched Theo blushing slightly as he looked up at Charlie Weasley who was blushing deeply as they spoke.
"Has he?" Harry blinked down at his lover.
"You can be so insightful, and so oblivious sometimes," Justinian chuckled lovingly.
"Hey, that sounded much more of an insult," Harry grumbled, wrapping his arms around Justinian and tugging him against his front, snapping his teeth by a laughing Justinian's ear.
"It was meant with love," Justinian assured him wrapping his own arms around Harry's waist, and looked up happily at his lover, the mock scowl clearing quickly and that love that Harry never hid glowing through.
He reached up to stroke his fingers down Justinian's cheek, the forget me not charm on his bracelet glinting in the light of the room before he gently cupped Justinian's face and pressed their lips together.
"I love you, utterly and completely," Justinian said against Harry's lips, feeling them tilt up into a smile at the words.
"I love you utterly and completely too," Harry pulled back after another kiss and picked up two flutes of champagne, the second best from the Malfoy collection Draco had announced earlier, the best was being saved for the wedding to make sure the Malfoys truly rolled in their graves, and he passed one to Justinian.
"To the future," Justinian suggested the toast holding his flute forward.
"To the future, as bright and wonderful as it looks, especially with you in my life," Harry nodded, clinking their glasses together.
"To the rest of our lives together," Justinian smiled before they sipped from their glasses and then Justinian pulled Harry into another kiss, tasting the champagne on his lips, and the joy of his future.