A/n: I feel like I owe you all an explanation. I know those of you who have stuck around love this story, and I hate to do this but I have to end this story early. This is a wrap-up chapter. Everything that I had planned to happen is here, just in one chapter instead of four - five, and let's be honest, it would have probably ended up being longer than that. Something had to give; I just couldn't do it anymore, but I owed you all this at the very least.

I'm sorry it's come to this, and I hope I haven't let you down too much. Thank you all for coming on this journey with me. It has meant a lot to me.

Chapter Fourteen

Harry's training went… slowly. It was different for him. He reminded himself that it was normal because it was different. After all, what he had experience doing was fighting dark wizards. Being a Healer was something out of the ordinary for him, despite how much he wanted to do it. It also wasn't a job where he could just clock out. Being an Apprentice meant that there was still studying to do, work he was assigned by his current trainer to learn or get better at. Even though he wasn't in school anymore, he still had homework.

Harry's trainer had told him that he would be put in various departments throughout his training until he found what suited him. If he didn't choose, they would put him where he was needed most. Currently, he was in the Spell Damage Ward. Honestly, though, it didn't take him long to realize what he wanted - to be a Mind Healer. There was a severe lack of them in the Wizarding World; he had tried to explain to Severus one time how things worked in the Muggle World, but the older man didn't seem to really care. He understood why Harry wanted to be a Mind Healer.

Harry spent his time off with Severus, even if it meant he had to study. Hermione joked that he spent most of his time over at Severus's place instead of at his own; it meant that she had Draco over whenever the two of them had time off together. He was glad to see her happy. Even Ron seemed to be doing better. He was coming around more, trying to make up for some of the things that he had said and done. He and Hermione seemed to be slowly rebuilding their friendship, though Ron was still not happy about her choice in partner, nor was Draco thrilled anytime the redhead was around.

Harry wasn't sure how he felt half the time, but he was getting by, and right now, that was enough for him.

Harry still wanted sleeping potions on nights when things were bad. It happened. He slept a little better each night, but sometimes, when the nightmares got bad, it got hard to resist. On one occasion, when he was staying over at Severus's house, he got out of bed and walked over the cabinet where his potions were kept. It was Severus's voice telling him to get back in bed that stopped in. He hadn't gone back to sleep that night. After that, if he wanted it, he just held on tighter to Severus. The Potions Master seemed to sense when something was wrong because he would tighten his hold a bit. It wasn't perfect, but nothing ever was. It did help though.

~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~

The next few months passed without incident. Draco and Hermione were doing well, and while he and Severus had their fights, at the end of the day, they always managed to make up with each other. Severus invited him to a wedding, too - that of his former apprentice, Zacharias Monroe. He married his longtime fiance, Rhapsody, in a small and beautiful ceremony in April. Harry knew how big of a deal it was for Severus to invite him to something like this. Harry thought about it as practice for the trip to the Potions Symposium in July.

As time went on, Harry spent more and more time at Severus's place than his own. Draco spent all his free time at his home with Hermione, despite his parents continued objections to dating a Muggleborn. Hermione was doing well in her position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Nothing seemed to hold her down for long, and she was always pushing herself. Draco was a good influence in that regard because he could help her slow down a little bit.

The night before they were set to leave for the Potions Symposium, he and Severus had a row. He would never remember, later on, what the fight had been about. All he remembered was that he needed to leave, so he Flooed straight home without another word to Severus, leaving him standing in his living room.

As soon as he got home, Hermione came out of the kitchen. She saw the tears streaming down his face. "What happened?" she asked. "Don't worry, Draco's not here. He's working late tonight." She came over and guided him to the couch. "What happened, Harry? Talk to me."

Harry shook his head. "It doesn't matter," he said. "We had a fight, a bad one."

"Not the first time that's happened, Harry," she said in a gentle tone. "It's just been a while. Maybe you need a few days to cool off a bit, and then when you talk, I'm sure everything will be fine." She gave his shoulder a rub. He knew she was trying to be comforting, but she wasn't.

"Or a week." She gave him a confused look. "We were supposed to leave for the Potions Symposium tomorrow."

"Oh, right, I forgot that was coming up soon." She gave him a sympathetic look. "It'll be fine, you'll see. Besides, you wouldn't have much to do there, anyway. You're not a Potions Master, and you don't speak Italian. I know you wanted to go, but… maybe it's for the best. Besides, you never know. You did buy a second ticket, so maybe Severus will still come by and get you."

"He could have done that already, Hermione," he told her. He had been half expecting during their conversation for Severus just to show up and ask him to come back where he belonged. But he hadn't. Harry had been sitting here, and there was nothing.

Hermione cooked them dinner, and afterward, Harry went and unpacked his bags for the trip, which had already been done. Maybe she was right - she usually was - but somehow it still felt like a step back. He had been looking forward to this Potions Symposium for months. He had gotten the time off from his Apprenticeship - which was going well enough. Maybe he would just write them in a couple of days after he'd had some time to think and tell them he wanted to go in.

He just didn't feel good about it.

~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~

Harry didn't feel like getting out of bed the next morning. He heard Hermione bustling around, getting ready for work. She called for him, asking if he wanted breakfast, but he didn't respond. For a little bit, anyway, he didn't want to deal with talking to anyone. A sigh escaped his lips as he could swear he heard the Floo. He heard Hermione's voice, followed by another much deeper voice. The next moment, the door swung open, and Severus stood in the doorway.

Harry just blinked at him he asked. "Severus?"

"Who else would it be? Why are you still in bed? We need to leave. The portkey leaves soon." Severus looked around, seeing that he hadn't packed or anything. "You haven't even packed?"

"I unpacked. We fought, remember? I thought - " Harry's voice drifted off, sleepy and confused.

"Yes, we did. It happens. Couples fight. Never once did I say I was uninviting you."

"You never came for me."

"I figured you needed your space," Severus said, walking towards him. "What did you think? That I didn't come for you because I don't want you around? You fool. If I didn't want you around, I would have kicked your skinny arse out long before now." He came over to stand next to the bed. "Are you coming with me or not?"

A smile broke on Harry's face. "Yes!" It had just been a misunderstanding. Of course, Severus would still want him to come. They might have even talked about it if he hadn't left. Maybe they still should talk about their fight last night, but right now, he felt better about just moving on and going to the Symposium. Or rather, Severus would go to the Symposium while Harry just… took time off.

Harry basically threw himself out of bed. "Give me five minutes. Maybe ten."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Very well, but hurry, or we'll miss the Portkey."

~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~

As they arrived in Italy, Harry remembered how much he hated Portkeys, and this had been the longest one he'd ever been on. Severus allowed him to catch his breath before they made their way to the hotel that they were staying at. It was a Muggle hotel by the looks of it, though he had figured it might be since Severus had dressed in Muggle attire.

The two of them walked up to the front desk, and suddenly, Severus started speaking rapid and fluent Italian. Harry looked up at him, and while he had expected him to say a few words or something to check them in, he was not expecting the fluency with which his lover spoke. There was an exchange between him and the front desk agent before they got their keys. A bellhop came and led them to their room. Severus tipped him before they went into their room.

"You speak Italian?" It was the first thing on Harry's mind as the door closed behind them.

"Yes, one of several languages I speak," Severus said it with such a matter-of-fact tone that almost said that speaking that many languages were perfectly normal

That gave Harry pause. He stopped walking, turning to look at him. "Did you say several?"

Severus nodded as he made his way into the bedroom. "Yes, aside from English and Italian, I also speak French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Japanese. I am also conversational in German and Chinese, but I would not consider myself fluent in either."

Harry just blinked at him for a moment before following him into the bedroom. "How - how? And how did I not know this?"

Severus just shrugged as they began to unpack their things. "It did not seem relevant."

"Speaking seven to nine languages isn't relevant?"

"Not to me," said the older man with a smirk. He was enjoying this. Of course, he was enjoying this. He had to have known that by speaking fluent Italian without even mentioning he knew the language before would give Harry pause. "It only seems relevant when you don't speak any other languages."

"Which I don't."

"You could have asked."

"Who would think to ask that?"

~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~

The Symposium had an opening night event the day they arrived, so Harry and Severus washed up and made their way to the location nearby. Apparently, there was a host of things going over the next several days - competitions, evaluations, discussions, lectures… it was a potions lovers dream. Harry was out of his element; he was really just there for moral support. And for a vacation, which he sorely needed. He had been working hard at St. Mungo's, trying to learn as much as he could.

On their way back to the hotel that night, Severus went on explaining which events he was going to, and it seemed he would be swamped. He promised that he would spend as much time as he could Harry, who didn't plan on going to most of the events. He had a ticket, but as a guest and not a Potions Master, which didn't give him access to everything.

"I have finished my Potion, so I am most interested in putting that out there this week," Severus explained. "While I do not need the approval of the people here, having them makes it much easier to distribute your Potion. And I have the early results of the tests at St. Mungo's, as well."

Harry looked up at him. "Oh, you finished it?" he asked. "I knew you were you close."

Severus nodded. "I didn't want to say anything until I was sure that everything was going according to plan," he said as they reached the hotel, heading upstairs to their room. "It's a potion to help strengthen the heart of those who have injuries or illness that make that organ week." That shocked Harry. "I have given it to Draco, who has given it to terminal patients being observed at St. Mungo's, and he is reporting back to me the results."

Harry had to digest that a bit. "Because of me?" He put a hand up to his chest, the wound that he couldn't feel but knew was still there.

"I got the idea from you, yes. Before we were romantically involved," Severus explained. "While such things exist, as you well know, there is nothing really effective to strengthen the heart muscle if it is already weak. Anything we use is to stop further decay." Harry knew that full well; that was the very thing that he was dealing with. "Theoretically, this potion would help people like you gain more strength in their heart to live longer lives."

"I would have volunteered-"

"No." Severus's voice had a finality to it as they reached the door to their room. Before saying another word, the older man opened it and ushered Harry inside. "Absolutely not. Despite your health issues, you are still relatively healthy. Experimental potions are dangerous , Harry. Creating them is risky, taking them even more so. There is no guarantee, no matter how skilled I am, that the potion is perfected and without risk. The people who volunteered are terminal, and will likely die anyway. The potion may, if successful, by them some time, but it won't cure them. So far, things have been positive, but there's no guarantee that will last."

Harry nodded. Underneath Severus's words, he understood that the Potions Master was saying that he would not risk his life for an experimental potion. He could hear how much he cared, even if he wasn't saying the exact words. "Understandable. And you're hoping you can get validation here with what you've accomplished so far?"

Severus nodded. "Yes, but we shall see. There's no reason for them not to. The potion itself is useful, complex and so far, has been working fairly well," he explained as they went and sat down on the couch. "I don't have the best of reputations, though, and that counts for quite a bit here."

"I'm sure they'll see how good it is," Harry said encouragingly.

~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~

The rest of the Symposium passed in a blur for Severus, but for Harry, it was decidedly less so. Most of the Symposium's events he wasn't allowed in, and those he was were often still over his head. Potions had never been his thing. He enjoyed seeing Severus in his element, even if most of it was over his head. He was quite content to just walk around the city, even though he didn't speak a bit of Italian. Severus had been able to teach him how to say "Hi, I am British and I don't speak Italian," and "Thank you" but that was about it.

The final day arrived, which happened to be his birthday. Severus was gone for the last events that morning, only returning to fetch him for the Ending Banquet. It was pretty boring, some speeches were given, and Severus explained that his new Potion had gone over very well. Everyone who had examined it and his notes had thought it was quite brilliant - which he expected - and hoped that the trials could continue to go well. It seems they were eager to see the benefits.

At least the food was good, though. Everything he'd eaten since they'd been in Italy had been great. He might want to come back here for vacation - and have Severus help him with a bit of Italian. As they finished and headed back to the hotel. Severus sat down in the chair in the living room, while Harry proceeded straight to the bedroom and started packing for the return trip tomorrow.

"I wouldn't bother packing just yet if I were you."

Harry looked back at Severus through the open doorway. "Er, okay, why not? We leave in the morning."

"We don't actually," he said. "We don't leave until August Second." Harry paused, dropping his clothes and slowly walked back into the living room. "You didn't think I wasn't going to do anything for your birthday, did you?"

Harry smiled. "You extended our stay?"

Severus nodded. "Yes, and since you don't speak Italian, I wasn't worried about you understanding it until I wanted you to know."

Harry shook his head. "Very sneaky. I'm interested to see what you have planned, but I know better than to ask or you would have already told me." What did he have planned?

~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~

Severus had instructed Harry to dress nicely that night, but as a Muggle, so he did. He ditched the robe, dressing in a nice pair of slacks and a shirt. The older man led them to a nice restaurant not far from the hotel they were staying in. Apparently, he had made a reservation because they were led right into a nice table by the window, menus set in front of them before the host walked off.

While Harry didn't speak Italian, he knew enough about Italian food that he had managed while he had been separated from Severus during the Symposium to understand what the menu said. The waiter came to take their drink orders, and Severus ordered a bottle of wine for them - he knew that because it had been the only word he recognized.

"Wine, hmm?" Harry asked.

"It is an Italian wine, local. I've always wanted to try it," he said, "and since this is a special occasion…"

He nodded as the waiter came over to take their orders. Severus ordered expertly, while Harry stumbled through his. At least he had managed to order without help, and it seemed as if the waiter had understood enough. The food turned out to be just as good as the restaurant looked, the best Italian food he'd ever had by far. By the time it was over, he almost wished that it wouldn't end. He couldn't help but notice that once their plates had been cleared, Severus had almost looked… nervous. Which seemed a bit strange to him as that was not an emotion he was used to seeing from him.

Severus was staring down at the table, almost as if he was trying to figure out his next move. "Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," he said. "I just… We've been seeing each other for a while, and… You know how I feel about you, even though I don't say it. I do love you, and… You've become… important to me, and.."

Harry was confused. Where was he going with this? They practically lived together anyway so it couldn't be that. "Severus, what is it? What are you trying to say?"

Severus responded by not responding at all. He reached into his pocket, and set a small box on the table, opening it. Inside was a ring. Harry just stared it, not because he didn't love Severus or because he had any plans on leaving him, but… this was not what he had expected to happen. Nor would he have ever thought that Severus would be the kind of person to want to get married. He understood that and had known what he was getting into.

"I don't - I mean… are you serious?" Harry stammered, unable to take his eyes off the box.

"If you do not want to, I understand," Severus responded, reaching for the box.

Harry reached out a hand to stop him. "I didn't say that. I'm just surprised that's all. I didn't think you would ever want to."

"Neither did I." Severus lifted his eyes from the table.

He looked up at him, meeting his eyes and smiled. "Yes."

~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~

As soon as they got back into their hotel room, Severus pushed Harry up against the door and kissed him hard. He was glad that they were wasting no time. He had wanted to leave the restaurant faster, but it took time for them to pay the bill, and go home.

Severus's hands were on him, pushing his shirt over his head as Harry went for the buttons on his shirt. He didn't know he had a thing for buttons, but everything that man wore seemed to have more buttons on it than necessary. His fiance was already at the buckle of his belt when Harry finished with the shirt. Severus was easing him back towards the bed as they both kicked off the rest of their clothes, only pausing to grab their wands and set them on the bedside table.

Severus pushed Harry on the bed before capturing his lips in a searing kiss. He ran his hands down his chest as Harry reached around, running his nails down Severus's back. He continued moving his hands down to the older man's ass, gripping it as Severus rocked his hips towards him. Severus eased Harry's legs open, applying the proper spells before slowly pressing one finger in.

Harry moaned needily into their kiss. Severus just chuckled as he broke the kiss, kissing along his jaw before moving his lips down to his neck. Meanwhile, the older man slowly pressed a second finger inside him. Harry moaned again, rocking his hips into the fingers as they scissored inside him. All he wanted right now as to be as close to him as possible, and this was not close enough.

"Someone is needy tonight," Severus said as he kissed his neck. "I think you've earned it." Sitting up, he positioned himself at Harry's entrance, pushing himself in until he was fully seated inside him. The younger man moaned, eagerly rocking his hips into him as Severus set a steady pace. Never had Harry thought that they could be engaged, let alone married. Even though he knew his issues would never go away, right now, all he could feel was Severus. It wasn't perfect, but as they came together, he knew he would be okay.

Harry and Severus spent most of the next day in bed. Severus ordered room service for them, and it wasn't until later on that night that they stopped fooling around and started packing. "Hermione, Draco, and Ron are going to be very shocked when I tell them the good news," he said, putting his clothes into his suitcase as Severus did the same.

"I am aware. Please make sure I am there," Severus replied. "I would love to be there to see it."

Harry laughed. "I will. We can arrange a time, although you know they're going to go something is up if I say that we want to talk to all three of them."

Severus shook his head as he zipped up his suitcase. "You said you had some Slytherin in you. If that's true, then be a bit more clever about it so they won't. Besides, it will be more much enjoyable for us, too." Suddenly, he unzipped his bag, taking out something from the bottom and handing it to Harry. "Before I forget, please give this to Hermione. It's the first draft of my book. She would be interested in reading it; I believe it."

Harry smiled. "She would. I'll give it to her." He put it in his bag, along with the souvenirs he'd gotten. To him, it felt like the start of a new life, with someone who truly understood him. It was something he never thought he'd have, yet here he was, with someone he never thought he'd ever be with. "Maybe she and Draco will be next."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Severus said. "They've been getting along quite well lately, and seem to be quite close. I would love to see the look on his parent's faces when that happens."

Harry laughed because he couldn't blame him for that. It would be hilarious to see Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy being told that their son was marrying a Muggle-born. At least Draco had changed to see what a remarkable person she was, and Ron was finally moving on from their breakup, too.

Harry zipped the bag up. One part of your life ends, and another begins. For once, he was sure that he was going to be okay.

THE END