secret Love

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A few minutes before

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“And Remus how are you fairing? Is your ankle still bothering you?”

“No, thank you, it’s not hurting a bit. Poppy did a fine job.”

“I’m glad to hear that, although I understand she had a hard time to keep you in the hospital wing.” Albus remarked, his eyes twinkling.

“Yes, well Severus and I had some disagreements we needed to sort out.” Remus replied, staring ahead of him.

“And did you work everything out?” Albus asked casually.

“I frankly don’t know. We …” Remus started, before realising who he was talking to and what he was about to tell him. “Never mind.”

“I see, well always remember that not everything is as it seems by boy. Especially when one is talking about Severus. I hope you are careful with him as he has already been through so much.” Albus told him with a pensive look on his face. “I could write tons of books about that man. I don’t think I have encountered a person as selfless and strong as he is.”

Remus looked at him surprised. Of course he knew that Severus must have had a horrible youth and of course living as a Death Eater and now a spy mustn’t be a lot of fun either. But to hear Albus actually say that he was so strong and even selfless, made it more real somehow. It hit him that he didn’t know anything about Severus’s past, while he was supposed to be the love of his life. Who knew what kind of horrors he had gone through as a child. There must be good reason as to why he as built so many almost unbreakable walls around him.

When Remus thought about it, he had never seen Severus’ parents or heard him talking about them. “Albus, are Sev’s parents still alive?”

“I believe his father is still among the living, yes. But what his whereabouts are, I do not know.” Albus sighed before continuing: “And his mother passed away when Severus was 13. He also had a sister, or has. Sadly I do not know where she is either, we gave up searching a long time ago. She was a couple of years older than Severus is and once she finished Hogwarts, she decided that she never wanted to see her family again.”

“But I don’t understand, why would she want to do something like that?”

“Really Remus, I believe I have already said too much. I just want to see Severus happy for once, that’s all.” Albus spoke sadly.

“I’m trying my best to bring it to him. Trust me sir.”

“I know my boy, and you’re doing a fine job.” He added smiling. “So Harry now we are on the subject of relationships: are you in love with someone?” Albus asked with his oh so famous twinkling eyes.

“I .. uh..” Harry stammered., turning a lovely shade of red. “Well, yeah … sort of.”

“Meaning?”

“That yes I am seeing someone.”

Remus looked at him surprised: “Are you serious? Who is it? You never told me about this!”

“We wanted to keep it secret for now, but as the cat is out of the bag anyway I might as well tell you.”

They looked at him with anticipation. Well Remus that is, as Albus with his knowledge about everything of course already knew – not to mention seeing the scene in front of his office (what were Draco and Harry thinking of course he has all kinds of spells up, allowing him to see everything that goes on just outside his office.

“I’m in love with…”

“Yes?”

“Draco Malfoy.”

Remus halted his steps, staring at Harry in shock before bursting into laughter. The Boy-who-lived gave him a puzzled look waiting patiently for his second and adopted uncle (a/n: r u happy now Vana E *rolls eyes* : p) to explain himself.

“I’m sorry Har… it’s just what is it with us Gryffindors lately we all go for our Gryffindor enemies. Like Godfather, like Godson ey?!”

Harry grinned: “I suppose you’re right.”

“Gods it seems like everyone around us is gay. You, me, Severus. Draco, Aragorn, Legolas, don’t tell me you’re part of the gang as well Albus.” Remus joked.

“Well actually me and Gandalf…” he started, laughing at the shocked expressions on his companions’ faces. “Nah, I’m just kidding. I’m straight as uh… as this tin red line, which will lead us to a soul.” He added surprised.

Without truly realising it they had found a soul. Albus had been of course casting the spell from time to time and as it takes a while for it to search the proximity, they had not really been paying attention to it for the last couple of minutes.

They all stared at the beam for a while, before really grasping what this could mean. “Do you think we have finally found him?” Harry breathed.

“I sure hope so.” Remus replied. “And there is only one way to find out.”

They quickly started to follow the beam. “Maybe we should call his name. Let him know it’s us.” Harry suggested.

“Good idea, with his Elven hearing he should easily pick up our voices over the wind.”

The weather wasn’t agreeing with them tonight. A hard wind was blowing, which made it difficult to walk in a straight line and to understand each other properly. The sliver moon and stars were also blocked by hundreds of tiny clouds, making the night Skye look kind of spooky and the forest even darker than usual.

“I really hope this is him.” Remus yelled, as thunder could be heard followed by a strike of lightning. A minute later it started to rain. Heavy drops made it difficult for them to follow the beam. After they had walked, running was impossible now, for about 20 minutes the line became a darkish red.

“I believe we are very close my friends.” Albus told them, gesturing for them to stick closely together. “LEGOLAS, this is Albus Dumbledore. No need to be afraid! LEGOLAS!”

Suddenly a figure jumped out of the tree next to him.

“What took you so long?” the Elf grinned.

They all stared at him. “We- we have found him?!” Harry managed to say.

“Indeed you have. At first I was puzzled as to what that annoying red beam meant, but Uriël convinced me to wait and see whether it was you or not. And it is! Yaay!!” Legolas said smiling, bouncing around them, which made him get strange looks from the trio. “Does this mean that my friends are still here?”

“No the Fellowship has all but gone home..”

“Oh no!!” Legolas cried dramatically.

“I haven’t finished yet, my boy. Because Aragorn is still here.”

“He is?!” Legolas squealed in delight. “Where is he?? Oh Aragorn, yoohooo you can come out now.”

Remus cocked his eyebrows in puzzlement to Harry and Albus. Something seemed different about Legolas today. He thought to himself. Oh well maybe it’s just the excitement of seeing us again.”

“Aragorn is somewhere in this forest as well. Wait let me summon him and the others.”

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“Look professor, Blue Sparks.”

Severus quickly looked up. “You are indeed right Mr Weasley. Come on let’s go see them.”

When he realised that Draco wasn’t following, he gestured Ron to wait. “Draco are you coming with us or are you just going to stand there staring of in the distance, hmmm?”

“There is something out there, sir. I just saw bright light coming from somewhere around those trees over there, but now it’s gone again.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t just the lightning?”

“I’m sure professor.”

“Well alright, you two stay here, while I’ll go and check it out.” Severus sighed annoyed, while silently approaching whatever it was. Suddenly there was a bright flash a couple of meters to his left. In a few strides he had reached it, when he looked down on it he realised too late exactly what it was. Another bright flash of light appeared, causing him to stagger backwards and fall into the mud. He heard his students call out for him.

“Stay back you two.” He demanded before quickly standing up and trying to find his way back to them.

The thing he had found was no other than an egg from a Harpy. A creature which is also mentioned in the Greek mythology. It has a beautiful bird like body with a woman’s head. A couple of decades ago, wizards started to hunt them down as they like Hypogrifs sometimes attacked people, only they would do it for no reason what so ever. There also were their eggs and young who as a defence system, blinded everyone who looked upon them. Thankfully for Severus the eggs only temporarily blinded a person, whilst a young’s beauty literally blinded you for life.

Snape quickly amplified his voice with a simple spell, so the two boys could better understand him. “Guys you have to guide me back to you, as I can’t see at this moment.” Severus’ voice boomed through the woods.

“What’s happened professor?” Draco yelled back after he had also increased his voice’s volume.

“Not now Draco, just tell me how to get to you.”

“Oh alright, you have to take about uhm… six steps to your left… Okay one more step. Good! Now take three big steps forward. You will now find a big tree in front of you. Can you pass it by yourself?”

“I’m blind Draco, not retarded!” Snape remarked irritated, his voice making the two boys cringe. “Now what?”

“You have to go straight ahead for about six meters. Then there is another tree. After that you have to walk like ten meters and you’re there.”

When he had reached them, the two boys stared at him in shock.

“Your eyes sir, what happened?” Draco asked concerned.

Severus’ usual brownish black irises and pupils were now two white balls sitting useless in their sockets. “I’ll explain later first we have to get back to the others.”

“Should we call for help sir?”

“No Ron that won’t be necessary. I think we will be able to find our way back. Why don’t we appararate back to the place we all met tonight. I believe that spot was just outside Hogwart’s safety guards. You will be able to do that right? I know on our way here the Headmaster guided you, but doing it yourself won’t cause a problem am I right?”

The boys nodded.

“I’m sure you boys have been able to apparate long before you were allowed to do it on your own. Now one, two, three, go!”

In mere seconds they appeared behind Hagrid’s cabin. “What now, sir? Should we let the other know we’re here?”

“Yes, I shall let them know.” Severus quickly wrote with silver sparks in the air: Hagrid’s cabin

“Did I spell it the correct way?”

“Yes you did, professor. Now are you sure we shouldn’t ask the others for help?”

“I’m quite sure Draco. They can’t help me anyway. No let’s enter Hagrid’s cabin, before you two catch a cold.”

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a few minutes prior

“So how long before they get here?” Legolas asked impatiently, jumping from one foot to the other.

“That entirely depends on how far away they are. Now where are those unicorns you keep talking about?” Albus questioned him.

“Oooh once they realised I was safe they took off, just like that. I think they went back to their friends and families. They have not seen them in ages, you know they are really pretty horses. They are a shiny white, it is really quite lovely.”

“Uhm Legolas, did you maybe eat something wrong?” Remus asked worried.

“Eat? No, no I do not think so. They did give me some milk from their udders. It has the most amazing taste. It made my head buzz pleasantly and it almost seemed like I got halfway to the Dream Realm. I felt this huge burst of energy flow from my head until my toes. It made me want to go on and on. It was really quite useful.” Legolas told them smiling. “Anyway how long did you say it was going to take them to reach us? I really can’t wait to see Arry again.”

Albus looked at him strangely: “Do you mean Harry?”

“No of course not silly, I mean Aragorn of course, my one and only King.” Legolas chuckled.

“Well you’re in luck, their team is the closest to us. I think they should get here in about fifteen minutes. While it might take team one around 45 minutes or so. Here let me put a water repellent on you. You might catch a cold.”

Legolas grinned: “Remember, dear Albus, Elves do not get ill. So that will not be necessary. Thank you for offering though. Buttuh can we not meet them halfway?” he added pouting.

“That could be an option, but what if they have travelled a lot further than we have. It would only make it harder for them to reach us.”

“But I don’t think that would be the case for the other two teams, Albus. Remember they are further away and there is still a chance that they might get into trouble.” Remus told him, worrying about them and especially Severus of course.

“True, alright let’s start walking to the east. Uhm Remus could I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure Albus, what’s up?”

“I’m worried about Legolas. The milk of an unicorn can cause serious side-effects.”

“What’s that, did I hear my name?” Legolas asked, quickly approaching them.

“Yes, you did. The milk of an unicorn has all kinds of drug-like side-effects. How much did you drink?”

“Hmmmm..” Legolas started, biting his under lip as he thought hard about the question. “I was unconscious sometime, so I cannot tell you about that period of time. But what I do remember uhm… One, two, three.” He counted on his fingers. “Yeah I believe three times. Is that bad? Because I do feel great!! Is the weather not lovely tonight.” Legolas opened his mouth to catch some of the rain. “Hmmm the rain tastes funny.”

Remus turned around to look at Harry, who just shrugged.

The next five minutes were spend in silence, before Legolas motioned them to stop. Half a minute later the third team came storming into few. When Aragorn spotted Legolas, tears from happiness started to stream down his face as he took him into a massive hug. “Melamin I missed you so.” He said in a choked voice.

“Why are you crying, Estel? Are you not happy to see me again?” Legolas pouted.

Aragorn frowned at him. “Legolas are you alright? You seem different.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that? I feel fine, honestly!”

Aragorn looked at him strangely before embracing him again. Whatever it was, he was much too happy to see Legolas again, to worry about it right now.

The wizards and witch just stood smiling around them, not wanting to break this tender moment. The reunion between two good friends or so at least some of them thought. Flitwick and Trelawney gasped out loud, when they suddenly started to kiss each other with passion. Hagrid only grinned, while the others smiled widely.

When the two men finally released each other, Legolas started to tell them all that had happened to him the last couple of weeks. In return Aragorn told him his side of the story. In the meanwhile they of course still headed east. Legolas securely wrapped into Strider’s arms. The two groups looked up as once more the night Skye was lit by sparks.

“Hagrids cabin? Do you think that’s where one of the other two teams is?” Harry questioned Albus.

“Yes, I think that is the most plausible explanation. Also I believe that the other team will probably meet us there as well.”

“Do you think something might have happened?” Remus asked, once again worried.

“That’s possible, but they would have shot red sparks then, wouldn’t they?” Albus reasoned.

“Yes, but you know Severus, he’s stubborn as hell. The sparks were silver, one of Slytherin’s colours and I believe it was Sev’s handwriting. I know we can’t all apparate as we can’t take Aragorn and Legolas with us, but can I please go and check it out?”

“Of course, if you need our help you know what to do?”

“Yes, thank you Albus.”

“Oh sir, could I please go as well?”

“Sure Harry.” The Headmaster replied smiling.

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“Severus?” Remus immediately called out once they had reached their destination.

“Maybe they went inside?” Harry remarked, looking briefly at Remus before entering the cabin.

“Harry!” Draco exclaimed, quickly walking up to him.”

“Hey Draco, hey Ron!” Harry added, remembering Draco of the fact that his best friend still didn’t know anything about their relationship.

Malfoy’s shoulders slumped and he looked a little disappointed. His attention though was soon fixed on something else, namely Remus and Severus.

“Oh my God, Sev! What’s happened?”

“You know the Harpy?”

“Yeah isn’t that a woman with bird body or something?”

“Yes, well I found one of their eggs.”

“Oh my God!” Remus gasped, tears welling up into his eyes. “You – you’re blind?” he sniffed, approaching Severus and taking him into his arms.

“Only temporarily, my eyes should recover within a week, so not to worry.”

“Not to worry?! Baby, you make me worry about you all the time.” Remus sighed.

Severus cocked his eyebrows in surprise, which made a funny sight as his expressive eyes were now gone.

“Is there anything we can do?” The wolf asked.

“I don’t think so. Maybe Poppy can help me out.” Severus thought out loud.

“Should I go and get her for you?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. She can’t take my blindness away.”

“Oh, alright.” Remus released him from his embrace, but still got a hold of one of his hands to let the other man know he was still close. When he turned to face the other three occupants of the room, he noticed the boys staring at them. Particularly Ron, whose eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets, while his mouth was wide open, making fish-like movements.

“Oh, uh right Severus and I are in love and we’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell anyone yet.” Remus said after a couple of minutes of a very uncomfortable silence. Harry and Draco grinned at this, while Ron still stared at them in shock.

“Not even Hermione?” He suddenly managed to croak out.

“Oh, I think we can make an exception for her, can’t we Sev?”

“Yeah sure, whatever. Might as well tell the entire school while you’re at it.”

“I’ll take that as a yes, so sure Ron you may tell her. I do hope you don’t have any problems with this?”

“It’s not that I mind people being gay. Hell my brother Percy is as well, but still you know seeing two teachers together. It’s just too weird.”

“Percy is gay?” Harry exclaimed.

“Well yeah, the whole Penelope Clearwater thing only made him realise more that he definitely is not into girls. But what do you expect? Seven kids coming from one family, it’s not surprising that at least one of them is gay now is it?”

Harry looked at him surprised. “If you look at it that way, I suppose you’re right. Statistically one on twenty does have at least bisexual feelings.”

“See, there you have it.”

“You know what Ron… I .. uh…I.” Harry started, slumping against the wall before taking a seat on the floor.

“Yes?”

“Damn, I can’t say it! You have no idea how hard this is for me.” Harry went on, forcing himself to continue. He just couldn’t seem to say the words, it was like they were forbidden to pronounce. “You have no idea how hard this is for me. You have got to remember this has absolutely nothing to do with our friendship … and I’ve been wanting to tell you this for such a long time now, but just every time I chickened out. Telling myself I wasn’t ready yet and wondering whether this would end our friendship or not.” Harry explained to him, still frustrated with himself that he couldn’t say the actual words. “I am uh……” He whispered.

“I am…”

“You’re gay?” Ron finished for him.

“You knew? You knew all along and you didn’t tell me?”

“Well actually I didn’t know before yesterday night. I picked up some stuff when Malfoy and professor Snape were talking to each other.”

“You’ve eavesdropped on us?!”

“Well yes.” Ron replied, glaring at Draco. “It’s not like I had to try very hard. Besides since you’re oozing with gayness, it wasn’t too difficult for me to put two and two together.” He finished with a humph.

“Me looking gay? Ha! Don’t make me laugh, Weasel!”

“I’m sorry to break it to you Drae, but you sometimes do have standard gay reactions to stuff. Like last time when suddenly that rat appeared in your room, I uh.. mean the classroom.” He quickly corrected himself glancing at Remus and Severus nervously, before going on. “You really squealed like a bloody girl.”

“I did not!”

“Not to mention the facial expressions you sometimes make, your voice and your body language.”

“What’s wrong about those things then?”

“There is nothing wrong with them love, it’s just you for instance walk like a gay man would do. You even do the hand thingy.”

Draco cocked both his eyebrows. “Yeah right, whatever. I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know sometimes you spot a gay person from miles away and well... it’s often the same with you.”

“Are you serious?” Draco asked astonished.

Harry and Ron nodded their heads in unision.

“Wow, that’s just too weird. Anyway, Harry and I are seeing each other as well. That’s why he wouldn’t go out with all those stupid girls who you either suggested to him or were throwing themselves at him.”

“You could have told me sooner, mate. Whatever made you think I was anti-gay or something?”

“I don’t know, it’s just hard to tell someone. You know, sometimes people say they are okay with it, but when one of their own friends, or son or daughter turns out to be gay they’ll go crazy and end the friendship immediately.”

“The point is: I’m fine with it. But did it have to be Malfoy?” Ron said in mock complaint, sticking out his tongue.

Harry gave his friend a hug. “You have no idea how much this means to me Ron.”

“So.. uhm Draco-like guys are your type huh. So what is it about him? His looks? His *ugh ugh* charm?”

“I don’t know, I think I like the entire package.” Harry replied, smiling lovingly towards Draco.

“Aha, well as long as you’re okay with it, I am. After all I’m not the one who has to snogg him.” The redhead joked, while pulling a face.

They all had to laugh at this.

“What’s so funny?” An amused voice suddenly asked.

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TBC

You know I actually picked some of my memories of my own coming-out in the last scene lol. It really was a living hell to say those bloody words! hehe