FIC: Maybe Not by Accident (PG)
Title: Maybe Not by Accident
Type: Fic
Age-Range Category: Five
Pairing: Harry Potter/Severus Snape
Author: goddess47
Rating: PG
Note(s): This isn't where I planned on this fic going but it is where my muse went…
Summary: "As we cleaned up Grimmauld Place, the Black Library practically threw a copy of Farmakopoiós at me," Severus explained. "It is an Ancient Greek text that contains information purportedly from Merlin, that has been lost over time."
Harry looked at the stone that sat in a heavily warded velvet lined carved chest the size of a shoe box and then at Severus. The dull grey stone was the size of a child's fist, irregularly shaped, and utterly unremarkable.
They were in a high-security vault in Gringots. It was separate from the Black and Potter vaults, it had to have been something Severus set up. There were a handful of trunks on shelves fitted to the back wall but nothing else in the small vault. Their closet at home was larger than this vault.
"I assume it is special for a reason," Harry said.
"It is," Severus nodded. "Only Ragnok knows what is in this vault and he has taken an Oath of Secrecy. But it seemed important that someone besides us knows what is here."
"That sounds reasonable," Harry replied. "Depending on what it is."
"As we cleaned up Grimmauld Place, the Black Library practically threw a copy of Farmakopoiós at me," Severus explained. "It is an Ancient Greek text that contains information purportedly from Merlin, that has been lost over time."
"What sort of information?" Harry asked, eyes bright.
"How to create a Philosophers' Stone, for one," Severus said softly. While no one was about, it was not something to be spoken loudly about.
"Severus!" Harry breathed. "You did it?"
Severus nodded. "That is what is so special about this stone."
Harry reached out a hand, as if to touch the stone, then took it back. "What… what did you plan to do with it?"
"That is a discussion for us to have, together," Severus said. "Inside a privacy ward."
Harry nodded. "Definitely."
"I assume the book is here?" Harry asked waving a hand at the space around them. They had removed the Black library from Grimmauld Place after the War. It took three years and a series of cleanings, both physical and magical, for the home to be safe and habitable again. Harry had it turned over to Teddy, who was due to graduate Hogwarts this year, as his Heir to the Black fortunes. If Teddy wanted the Black library at some point, it would come to him as the Heir. But the Black Library now resided alongside the scavenged remnants of the Potter Library in their home in Cambridgeshire.
"Yes," Severus nodded. "Although the book is… magical enough to hide itself. If it does not want to be found again for another thousand years, then it will not be found."
"Ah!" Harry gave a small snort. "Did you get what you wanted from it first?"
"I did," Severus nodded.
"Then let us find some privacy and you can tell me all about it," Harry said.
"I think I promised you some dinner first," Severus said. "And a night out."
"Everything has waited this long, it can wait another day," Harry agreed.
They left the Bank and went out into Muggle London for the evening. Severus had reservations at an Italian restaurant they both enjoyed and tickets for a musical at a West End theatre. Theatre was something they discovered they both enjoyed and it was something they never got to do when they were younger. As a result, they went as often as they could.
After breakfast the next morning, they went down to the workroom that extended under the entire house. A block of obsidian sat on the mantle of the fireplace. It served as the ward stone for their home. Severus touched the block and set the extra wards on the workroom.
"What did you find?" Harry asked.
Severus reached for a sheaf of parchment. "The process I used to create the Philosopher's Stone can only be performed once. If one is successful, one has a Stone. If one is unsuccessful, you cannot try again.The rarity of some of the ingredients is what makes them expensive and the process is exacting."
"Interesting," Harry nodded. "It requires commitment to the process, if nothing else."
"There is also a shield that will stop the Killing Curse," Severus said as he handed Harry a parchment. "It takes personal power and conviction. If there's an iota of doubt, the shield will not work."
"Ah! About that…" Harry started.
Severus narrowed his eyes. "Yes?"
The air shivered around them. The woman - if she indeed was a woman - was difficult to look at. Severus' eyes slid off of her without thought. He focused on Harry, who was looking discomforted.
"Yeah, that," Harry sighed.
"Your consort has earned the right to know, my Champion." The words formed in the room, inside Severus' head, in his soul.
"I was just going to tell him!" Harry shot back. "Give me a chance!"
Severus winced. One likely should not talk to gods like that.
"Welcome, Severus Tobias Snape to knowing…" The woman evaporated in a shower of stars and not-merry laughter.
One star fell on the carpet and smoldered slightly. Harry went and stomped on it, to ensure it was extinguished.
"Keep your stars to yourself!" Harry said loudly, obviously frustrated.
"Does this happen frequently?" Severus asked.
Harry turned, startled. "Oh. Well, no. But once is too often."
"Perhaps if you go on with telling me whatever it is I am supposed to know, she will have no reason to come back for a long time," Severus prompted.
"Oh, yes," Harry sighed. "Let's sit for this. It's easier."
Severus took Harry's hand and they went to the small sitting nook in the room.
"The easy part is Dumbledore's wand," Harry said, bringing the wand from what Severus assumed was a dimensional store. Harry balanced the wand across the fingers of his hand.
"I thought that was destroyed after the battle," Severus said.
"It was," Harry nodded. "Then it came back to me. Stupid thing."
"The Elder Wand is not a stupid thing," Severus chided.
Ignoring the rebuke, Harry brought out a stone that looked as unremarkable as the Philospher's Stone Severus had created.
"The Resurrection Stone," Harry said baldly.
Severus held his breath for a moment.
A large, silvery cloak appeared. Harry swirled it about himself and disappeared for a moment. He took it off. "The Cloak of Invisibility."
"Harry!"
"The Deathly Hallows have been re-united and I am the Master of Death," Harry said softly. He sent the Hallows back to their storage.
"Can you die at all?" Severus asked.
"Not until I am ready," Harry said. "Or, if Death herself comes for me. But she's having too much fun right now. Evidently, this is the most fun she's had in centuries. So I don't see her coming for me any time soon."
Ah! That explained the irreverent tone earlier. Dealing with gods on a regular basis might jade one's life view.
"Now that you have done the work to create a Philospher's Stone, you can stay with me for as long as we both choose," Harry said softly. "You had to do that on your own, although I would have pleaded with Death to let me stay with you if you had not been successful."
"Oh, Harry," Severus said. He tugged on Harry's hand and brought Harry into his lap. Harry wound his arms about Severus and leaned in for a soft kiss.
"Oh, I do love a happily ever after!" a male voice said.
"Go away!" Harry said, dropping his head on Severus' shoulder. Harry didn't immediately move, so Severus had to assume this was another being Harry had dealt with at one time or another.
"But now there's even more fun to be had!" the voice said.
Severus looked to see a beautiful man sitting in the chair Harry had just vacated. He was tall, dark haired, and well-dressed in an old-fashioned sort of way. The musical, baritone voice added to the alluring sight.
"Just because your kid approved of Severus, doesn't mean you can just hang out with us whenever you want!" Harry protested.
Kid?
"My apologies for not introducing myself," the man said with a nod of his head. "I am Zirnitra."
Oh.
"Zir, get the hell out of my house!" Harry said. "And make sure you stay out of our bedroom!"
"But you're not in the bedroom!" Zirnitra protested waving a hand.
"Go. Away."
"You are no fun since you got married," Zirnitra complained with a small frown.
"I am not your personal entertainment," Harry said, turning to glare at the man. "Find someone else to annoy."
"But no one else will talk to me," Zirnitra complained.
"And whose fault is that?" Harry challenged.
"Oh, all right," Zirnitra said with a pout. "But call if you need anything."
At least this time the sparkles did not set the carpet on fire. Small mercies, Severus thought.
Harry sighed. "Sorry. But now that you've been approved of, so to speak, Zir will tend to pop in whenever he's bored. Which is too often for someone who is a god."
Severus shivered. Gods get bored? That could not be good.
"Death rarely comes around," Harry said. "So that will be fine. If Zir is bothering you, just tell him to go away."
Severus gave a small grin. "I can have him prepare potions ingredients. By hand."
Harry snorted. "Good luck with that."
"Anything else?" Severus asked. He wasn't sure he wanted an answer to that question.
"I think that is enough," Harry said with a nod.
Severus frowned. "Knowing this, I suspect that Farmakopoiós did not come to me from the Library. Your… friends likely had a hand in that."
Harry nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised." He leaned in for another kiss.
"Since you have barred Zirnitra from our bedroom, we should take advantage of the privacy," Severus purred as he brought Harry closer.
"You have the best ideas," Harry smiled.