Fic: Spoils of War - Epilogue
Epilogue: Victory
Later, Severus stirred.
‘What?’ His voice was gravelly.
Harry grinned at him over his shoulder. ‘Lucky for the wizarding world, then, that you and I fought on the same side during the war.’
Severus raised his head and frowned.
Harry’s grin became a smirk. ‘Slytherins know how to win. And Gryffindors go ahead and do it.’
Severus stared down at him for a long while. Just when Harry began to wonder whether the other man had understood him, Severus bent down and bit him on the shoulder, not gently but not as hard as he usually did either. A shiver ran through Harry, and he hardened again.
‘Indeed,’ Severus said silkily and kissed the bite-mark.
Harry laughed and, with a grimace of pain, turned around unto his back. He wrapped his arms around Severus’s neck and pulled him down into a fierce kiss. Severus kissed back, but after a moment raised his head. The wicked spark was back in his black eyes. He quirked one eyebrow.
‘What say you, shall we try the bed for a change?’
Harry rocked his hips, eliciting a groan.
‘Sounds good,’ he said with a broad grin.
Severus growled and kissed him again, and with a soft pop, they two men vanished from the living room.
*
Later that night, Harry stood at the tiny bedroom window and looked out through the grimy panes into the dark night. Behind him, on the bed, Snape was snoring softly. Harry smiled and absently rubbed a small bruise left on his wrist. No one else would probably call this a victory, but he did.
Yes, he had lost a lot in the war. He had lost so many people he loved, had lost part of himself, his innocence, and maybe even love. He could never be with Ginny, or anyone else who hadn’t seen the light in the abyss.
But still he called it victory. He had won the wars, both of them; the one against Voldemort and the one inside of him, the war with his own emotions and fears and nightmares.
Harry turned and glanced at the bed. He had won this from Voldemort. Not love, perhaps, but acceptance and understanding and a safe haven. It was truly ironic.
With a soft chuckle he returned to the bed, slid under the blankets and snuggled close to the warm body next to him.
‘Definitely a win,’ he murmured and closed his eyes.
FIN.