Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Picking Up the Pieces	By : greenwizard11 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/James Views: 13165 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe does not belong to me, ergo, no money is being made from this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
James walked with Severus up to the Great Hall, but they split up as soon as they reached the top of the stairs. The Order members knew about them now, but they didn't want their secret to spread any further. They agreed it was still too dangerous for Severus to be associated with James. So Severus took his place at the teachers' table, and James found an empty spot at the Gryffindor table. There was lots of staring and whispering, but he tried to pay it no mind.
Dumbledore's death was already having an impact. Parents were arriving to take their children home. One boy had a screaming match with his mother because he wanted to stay for the funeral. Eventually his mother gave in and left.
There was tons of activity over the next few days. Dozens of witches and wizards flooded Hogsmeade, trying to get rooms. James did not see Harry except for a few glances from far away. James stuck to his promise not to force the issue, and tried to busy himself. Of course, one could only walk around Hogsmeade so many times before it became boring. His evenings were spent with Severus catching up on all they had missed in each other’s lives.
James woke the morning of the funeral and rolled over to snuggle up against Severus. "Feeling better?" he asked.
"No," Severus answered. "I didn't sleep well, and now I feel a little queasy. I think I might be coming down with something."
Just then there was a knock at the door. James threw on a robe and got up to answer it, finding Harry standing there in the hall. "Harry, it's good to see you." He gave a small smile and gestured for his son to come in.
Harry stepped into the room, and suddenly Severus dashed from the bedroom into the bathroom. "He hasn't been feeling well," James explained.
"I see," Harry said, turning to face his father. "I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past few days. I'm still angry at all of you; Dumbledore for devising the whole plan, you for not trying harder to come back for me, and Severus for treating me the way he did. But I decided I shouldn't let that stop me from getting to know you now."
"You don't know how happy I am to hear that," James said, playing with his hands awkwardly.
"Really? Because you haven't tried to make contact with me this entire time. I wasn't sure you really meant what you said."
James sighed and looked away for a moment. "I didn't want to push you, Harry. I know all of this has to be very difficult for you. As much as I wanted to say something, I figured it would be better to leave you to decide if you wanted anything to do with me. I guess I've made another mistake. I'm sorry."
"Maybe it was better for you to wait," Harry admitted. "I wasn't sure for a while there. But you are my dad, and I would only be cheating myself further to write you off. I feel cheated enough as it is."
"As do I."
"I didn't have anyone to go to growing up. I had to figure stuff out on my own. When I started liking girls, that was awful. The things a boy should have a dad to help him with I was left to figure out for myself. I spent my entire childhood wishing I had a family."
James reached out cautiously to put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'll do anything I can to make up for that."
Harry turned when Severus emerged from the bathroom. "Haven't you ever seen anyone get sick before?" Severus snapped.
"Are you going to be all right?" James asked.
"I'll survive. I'm going to make myself some peppermint tea."
"Prof—Severus," Harry said, the name feeling strange on his tongue. "I don't know if you heard anything I said, but I'm willing to be civil if you are. If you make my dad happy, then so be it. I certainly don't understand what he sees in you, but maybe I will one day."
The corners of Severus' mouth turned upward. "I'm glad to hear that. Sorry for snapping, I just . . . well, I don't know what's wrong with me lately."
"It's okay. You aren't feeling well. I hope you feel better."
"Thank you, Harry. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go get dressed for the funeral. Go to breakfast without me." He turned and headed into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
"Shall we?" James motioned toward the door.
Harry nodded and the pair made their way up to the Great Hall. It was decorated in black, much like it had been when Cedric died, and the mood in the room was very somber. Harry led the way over to where his friends were sitting and introduced them.
Ginny grabbed Harry's hand for a brief second, and James couldn't help noticing. "Harry, could I have a word with you?"
"Yeah, I guess," Harry answered, a little confused. He followed James over to a quiet corner. "What is it?"
"That Ginny girl, are the two of you . . . ?"
"Yeah," Harry answered. "We've been together for the past few weeks. Why?"
"From what I hear, you're very much like your mother, so I think it's time I offer some of that fatherly advice. You're going to want to protect her, am I right?"
Harry's jaw practically hit the floor. "Yeah, but how did you know?"
"It's something your mother would've done, but I'm going to advise against it."
"I can't let her get hurt because of me," Harry argued. "She was already used as bait once, and that was just because she was my friend's sister. You know what I have to do. If he finds out about us he'll use her to get to me."
"If you've been together for a few weeks the cat is already out of the bag, as they say," James pointed out. "I do know what you have to do, and you won't be doing it alone. You have me now, and from everything I've been hearing you'll have your friends, too. But I'm telling you now, take your happiness where you can get it. Severus and I, it has to be kept secret because of the danger, but it's well worth it. The happiness we feel when we're together overshadows the risk. Enjoy your time with her."
"I'll think about it," Harry answered.
They both looked toward the doors to see two elves enter the room. Both had corn-silk blond hair that fell a little past their shoulders, and they were dressed in formal-looking tunics. Harry couldn't help noticing that one of them had sparkling blue eyes and a nose that looked just like Dumbledore's, except not crooked. "Ah, Azrael is here," James said, motioning for Harry to follow him.
James walked right up to the elves and embraced one, giving him a quick kiss on the lips, then he did the same with the other. He turned to Harry. "Azrael, this is my son, Harry. Harry, this is Dumbledore's son, Azrael, and his father, Hezekiah."
"Pleasure to finally meet you." The one Harry assumed to be Azrael gave him a little nod and held out a hand. Harry reached out to shake it, unable to take his eyes off the elf who so closely resembled the deceased Headmaster.
He was about to apologize for his rudeness in staring when McGonagall stood to get everyone's attention. "It's nearly time," she said. "Students will follow their Heads of Houses."
Harry rejoined his friends and followed McGonagall out of the castle and across the grounds down to the lake. Rows of white chairs had been set up and the students filed into them. Harry scanned the crowd to find his father with the elves, sitting toward the front. Severus led the Slytherins, and Harry noticed how awful he looked. Harry couldn't help feeling a little sorry for him.
As soon as everyone was seated Hagrid appeared with a bundle in his arms. It took Harry a minute to realize it was Dumbledore's body. The half-giant walked up the aisle, his eyes puffy from crying. He laid the body on a table and took a seat beside Madame Maxime.
A white-haired wizard walked up to the front and began to speak about Dumbledore. Harry reached for Ginny's hand, thinking about what his dad had said. It was true that everyone already knew about the two of them. Right then he was glad to have the little bit of comfort he got from her hand in his.
The wizard finished speaking and stepped aside. Suddenly white flames erupted around Dumbledore's body, and when they died down the assembled crowd saw a marble tomb there. Harry thought it seemed like a fitting resting place for one of the world’s greatest wizards. People in the crowd stood and started to mingle, and Harry made his way over to James. "I wanted to ask you: am I staying with you, or going back to my relatives?"
James paused for a moment before answering. "I suppose that's up to you. They'll need to be warned because I imagine Voldemort will try to get to you through them. Personally, I don't care either way. But if you care what happens to them, you should go back until you're seventeen."
As much as Harry didn't relish the thought of going back to the Dursleys', he didn't want to see them get killed because of him. He owed them that much for taking him in. "All right, I'll go back. Where will you go?"
"I'll probably go to Grimmauld Place, if you don't mind. Word has it you're the owner now."
"No, I don't mind," Harry answered.
"That was a lovely service," Azrael commented, wiping a single tear from his eye. "I just . . . I thought we'd have more time. The curse was supposed to be slowed."
"You knew about the curse?" James asked, a little surprised.
Azrael nodded. "I dragged it out of Dumbledore when he visited me. I saw his arm, and I'm no fool. I know Dark magic when I see it. He told me he had a year at least, and now . . . ."
"These things happen, especially during a war," James said, shifting his weight back and forth.
"Knowing my mother as I do, he probably allowed it to happen for vanity's sake."
Harry and James exchanged quick glances. "You really think that's the case?"
The elf snorted and the corners of his mouth curled up. "I knew my mother better than anyone. He was always scheming;, trying to make everything better. He was also a very proud man. It bothered him that people questioned him because of his age. I suppose none of that matters now."
A man Harry recognized as the owner of the Hogs Head came over to them. "Uncle Aberforth," Azrael greeted the man."
"Good to see you, lad." Aberforth embraced his nephew.
"I'm hardly a lad," Azrael said.
Aberforth smiled at him. "You'll always be a lad to me. I still remember when you visited me as a child."
"Yes, well." Azrael cleared his throat, clearly getting uncomfortable. "Have you met Harry and James?"
"James I know well from his youth. And Harry and I have crossed paths."
"But I didn't know you were related to Dumbledore," Harry said with a frown. "If you're Azrael's uncle, then Dumbledore was your brother."
"That he was," Aberforth confirmed. "Hardly anyone knew it. I think he preferred it that way."
"Don't talk like that!" Azrael snapped. "He kept me a secret, and I know he loved me. He just didn't want his enemies coming after me. They couldn't if they didn't know I existed."
"Harry, why don't you go join your friends for the rest of the afternoon?" James suggested.
Harry nodded and scanned the crowd to find them. They had moved over by the lake. Harry also saw Scrimgeour headed right for him and he darted away, hoping to avoid the Minister. James, seeming to sense what he was doing, stepped smoothly into the Minister’s path and introduced himself to Scrimgeour, as did Azrael.
Harry sat down beside Ginny, whose eyes were red from crying. He'd decided to take his father's advice and enjoy what time he could have with her.
"So?" Ron looked at him expectantly.
"I'm going back to the Dursleys' one last time. Dad's going to Grimmauld Place. Did you know Dumbledore had a brother?"
"Really?" Ginny turned to him and wiped her eyes.
"Yeah, the owner of the Hog's Head. I'm beginning to wonder if I knew the man at all. Suicide by Snape came as a complete shock to me, but Azrael suspects something like that is what happened."
"Yeah, but Azrael is Dumbledore’s son, isn't he?" Ron said. "A family member would know more than a student."
"I guess." Harry sighed, not sure what to think of it all.
No one said anything more for some time. The small group of friends just enjoyed each others' company and the bright, sunny day. Their troubles could wait another day.
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Picking Up the Pieces