All That You Leave Behind

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Chapter 62



Sitting in the lecture theatre, Harry's eyes wandered lazily over his fellow Aurors. They were all engrossed in the lecture The Nature of Dark Spell-Casting, and, as fascinating as it was, he couldn't focus on it. All he kept seeing was the image from the previous night: himself and Ginny and Severus. It made his stomach churn to think his mind had lingered for so long on that thought; and more than that, it appalled him that he had even contemplated such a ridiculous and, frankly, disgusting notion.



His brain travelled again and again over the same ground it had already traversed. Ginny must never find out about himself and Severus. Even if she did, (and Harry devoutly hoped, as he had never hoped before, that she didn't) she would never agree to joining him and Severus in their romance. Most importantly, he wouldn't want her to join them, and he was fairly sure Severus wouldn't want that either. Severus was his. Yes, he loved and trusted Ginny, but in the way Harry meant, Severus was his.



"...the thing you must remember, the most important thing of all, is intent."



Harry was jolted out of his reverie, to find himself the focus of that black gaze, but there was no affection there. The man was clearly annoyed with him. He sat up straighter in his seat and fought off the flush he felt trying to flood his face.



"You are no longer an errant schoolboy, Auror Potter," Snape drawled at him sneeringly, "and I no longer have to waste my time trying to teach you something. If you find my lecture holds no interest for you, please, feel free to leave at anytime."



Harry seethed inside, face flushing in embarassment, and he felt as angry as he ever had when he'd actually been an errant schoolboy, although, admittedly, the man was justified this time. Still, it made Harry feel no less young and stupid to be humiliated in front of a roomful of his colleagues. Ron sent him a sympathetic look, but it only made Harry feel worse. He sank down a little further into his seat and wondered how Severus could be so loving toward him, and yet such a bastard as well.



For the remainder of the lecture, Harry sat in his place glaring at Severus and ignoring all thoughts of the man as anything other than his teacher. When it was over, he bolted toward the door, and was stopped short by the familiar voice commanding him to remain behind "for a moment of your valuable time." With a sigh and a resigned look at Ron, Harry reluctantly turned around.



"Mr Potter," Severus began, as the last few Aurors left, some shooting looks at Harry.

Sullenly, Harry awaited his scolding.



The doors closed and Severus sighed deeply. "Really, Auror Potter, I had hoped that my previous lecture had made clear to you that this isn't school, and therefore the old behaviours will not be treated, or punished, in the same way. I am aware that as an Auror, a lot of trust is placed in you, and large demands made of you; however, if I am to spend my time here trying to teach you, I would appreciate being given the respect of my positon, and of my knowledge. Knowledge, which I may add, could one day say your life."



Harry, feeling rather as though he were a flobberworm, wriggled uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, Severus," he began quietly, still feeling rather annoyed with how the man had publicly humiliated him, but seeing the truth of his statements, "what you were talking about was interesting, and very useful. I ..." he paused, knowing that to admit what had so preoccupied him was to invite disaster, "I wasn't listening to you, and that wasn't fair of me. I should have been. And I will do so in the future, regardless of whatever problems or concerns I may have."



Snape rubbed the crease between his eyebrows. "Thank you, Harry."



The change in address registered with the younger man, and he felt a little happier: Severus wasn't still annoyed with him.



Stepping into the hall, Harry found Ron waiting, just like old times, and he thought about how long it had been since he'd really spent any time with his best friend. Ron shot Severus a "go away , greasy git" look just like he had after classes at Hogwarts, which prompted an amused sneer from Severus as he strode off. Harry could almost see the batlike flap of his robes after him as he went.



"D'you fancy grabbing a drink before heading home?" Harry asked Ron.



Ron brightened momentarily at the suggestion, then his face fell as he informed Harry that he couldn't.



"Love to mate, but Hermione and I are having a date night."



Harry sent a baffled look his way before asking, "A date night? What the hell do you need to date for? You're married!"



Ron shifted, a little embarrassed. "Hermione suggested it." he said, "Her parents do it apparently. You know, take time to just be together, without any one else around to distract them? Well, her parents don't really need it, but they still enjoy it. We're taking this one last chance to be together alone before Junior is born."



Harry looked dubious, and Ron hurried on, "Seriously, it's a good idea. We spend time alone, and it's like before we got married, like we've just got together. It's great, you should try it. Get someone to look after James - not me!" he added hastily, "and you and Ginny can go out and be just a couple again."



Ron smiled and, glancing at his watch, said that he had to be off. "Maybe another time, though." he said as he made his way to a fireplace.



Thoughtfully, Harry too made his way home. He liked the idea of a 'date night', but wanted everyone important to him in his family to be there.

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The thought of a 'date night' stayed with Harry, and he planned to broach the subject with Ginny and Severus at dinner that night. He was afforded the perfect opportunity when Ginny commented that as it was James' first Christmas, she really wanted to make it special and spend it with just them and him.



"But Mum...you know, we'd never hear the end of it if we didn't show up at the Burrow for the family Christmas," Ginny sighed in resignation. "That means you too", she pointed out to Severus, who gave her a frown in return. "Oh no," she chuckled evilly, "if we have to go, so do you. You're part of the family too."



"Indeed", Severus muttered cryptically, glancing at Harry.



"I have an idea," Harry said, and his wife, and his lover turned to look at him. "Actually, Ron made me think of it. He and Hermione are having a date night tonight..." Severus cocked a brow at him, his expression silently asking if he'd lost his mind or not, and Ginny gave him a pleased look.



"Date night?" she said happily, "I like the sound of that! We haven't been on a date in ages!"



Avoiding Severus' gaze, Harry cleared his throat and said hastily, "Right, but well...I was thinking about a family date night. You know, just our little family. We could have our own little first Christmas with James. It doesn't have to be on Christmas Day. He won't know the difference what the actual day is. We can make it special, like you wanted, and we'll all get to just spend some time together. Just us. Our own family."



"Would that then de-obligate me from the chaos that a Weasley family Christmas must surely be?" Severus asked Ginny acerbically.



"Absolutely not," Ginny informed him gleefully, "for better or for worse, you're part of the clan now, Severus."



"Of course," Severus said sarcastically, "the pleasure/pain principle."



"Oh stop it," Harry said, "we hardly ever spend time together as a family, and Ginny is right, James' first Christmas should be special. In fact, if you find out when you're free, Ginny, with no matches to cover, we could make it a whole weekend."



"Well...I only have this coming weekend free," Ginny said, "all the rest I have a match to cover on either Saturday or Sunday. Could we do it this coming weekend?" Her brown eyes lit up in excitement, and it was contagious.



"That would be perfect," Harry enthused, "I'm really looking forward to our first family date night! With hopefully many more to come!"



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