HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

The escaped Death Eaters were also captured one after another, and the wizarding world seemed to have finally caught its breath. The crowds in Diagon Alley returned, and the joke shop launched fireworks to celebrate the anniversary of the disappearance of the mysterious man.

Kevin and Aris sent wedding invitations from France. The date was set for the summer, at an old garden near Beauxbatons Castle belonging to a distant relative of Aris.

Kevin's handwriting in the letter was flamboyant: "You two have to come! Be the best men! Don't even think about running away!" Aris added details about the safe route and how to obtain the temporary door key.

Ian replied in agreement, and Severus also signed the letter at the end.

Leah and John visited Hogsmeade once, bringing a large trunk of homemade jam and sweaters.

Leah examined Severus's magical stability and concluded that "he is recovering well, but the foundation of his mental depletion needs more time to be nurtured. He should stay up less and get angry less."

As she spoke, she glared at the student papers piled high on Severus's desk, which looked like they were about to collapse.

John and Ian were smoking pipes outside, whispering about the new personnel changes and undercurrents within the Ministry of Magic.

“Some people think the punishment is too lenient,” John exhaled a smoke ring, “but more people want to move on quickly, and the current minister… well, he just wants everything to look good.”

News of Regulus is scarce, but every piece of it carries weight.

On one occasion, an owl delivered a rare handwritten copy of a book about ancient runes and the sealing of objects. Tucked inside was a blank page, which Severus only saw with a revealing spell: "Gringotts defenses have changed. Proceed with caution. —RAB"

On another occasion, it was a small, colorless bottle labeled "Ecstasy," but it was clearly not a liquid. Ian tested it and found it to be an extremely sophisticated magical barrier potion that could temporarily confuse the detection of low-level curses. The effect was very short-lived and its purpose was subtle.

Dumbledore didn't go into detail about how he obtained the Golden Cup. Only during a brief meeting did the old man, slightly weary but with clear eyes, tell Ian, "We obtained the Hufflepuff's relic. The process... came at a price, but no one died. Thanks to the Black brothers' courage and wisdom."

He didn't say what the price was, nor where the Golden Cup was now, and Ian didn't ask either. Some things are weighty enough to be felt without needing to share the details.

……

At the end of June, while the Hogwarts term-ending bells were still echoing in the castle, Ian and Severus had already stepped into the sunny afternoon of southern France via the International Flood Network.

The wedding was held at an old estate belonging to the Aris family, nestled beside lavender fields. It was a low-key affair, with only the closest family and friends invited.

The air was filled with the warm fragrance of flowers, the aroma of toasted bread, and the whispering magic beneath the grapevines.

Kevin wore a well-tailored light-colored suit, and his hair was unusually neatly combed, but it couldn't suppress the spirited look in his eyes.

He was pulling Ian along, gesturing to the famous description of his "epic proposal"—though the version differed slightly from the one Ian knew, which "almost made Aris throw out a silencing spell."

Aris stood a little distance away, talking with several elders. His demeanor was as proper and composed as ever, but his gaze would always unconsciously drift toward Kevin. Whenever Kevin spoke excitedly and gestured wildly, a indulgent smile would flash across his lips.

Severus stood under the shade of a blooming jacaranda tree, holding a glass of wine that had barely been touched, and looked at everything before him.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light.

The bustling and bright atmosphere was out of place with his usual environment, but strangely, it didn't bother him.

Perhaps it was because Ian was just a few steps away, listening to Kevin's nonsense with a smile, glancing back at him every now and then, his gray eyes filled with the same relaxed light.

The ceremony was simple yet sincere.

Without Ministry of Magic officials or lengthy oaths, they exchanged rings under the guidance of a family elder. The aura of the magical contract gently enveloped their clasped hands, and then they kissed amidst cheers and applause from family and friends.

Kevin's kiss was passionate and direct; Aris's ears turned red, but he responded without hesitation.

The dinner was held at a long table in the open courtyard, with a sumptuous meal and a relaxed atmosphere.

As night deepened, the stars hung low in the sky, and dance music began.

Kevin pulled Aris into the center of the temporarily cleared dance floor, where they danced haphazardly yet with boundless joy.

Ian extended his hand to Severus, his eyes reflecting the starlight and lamplight: "Professor, would you do me the honor of dancing?"

Severus glared at him but didn't refuse. They didn't go to the center of the dance floor, but moved slowly along the edge of the shadows of the trees.

Severus's steps were stiff, and he relied entirely on Ian to guide him.

Ian didn't mind, he just put his arm around Severus's waist and whispered something in his ear. Severus's tense body slowly relaxed, and finally he almost gently rested his forehead on Ian's shoulder.

Towards the end of the wedding, Kevin had drunk a bit too much and hugged Ian, rambling on and on about "you two should take good care of yourselves," before Aris reluctantly pulled him away.

Aris raised his glass to Severus, his tone earnest: "If you need any theoretical support from Hogwarts, please contact us anytime." Severus nodded in acknowledgment.

Before activating the key on the way back, Ian took one last look at the manor, which was immersed in happiness and starlight.

Kevin was resting his head on Aris's shoulder, pointing at the stars and talking to them. Aris listened with his head tilted to the side, his fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of Kevin's hair.

Back in Hogsmeade, the fireplace was lit, and the familiar cool air replaced the warm fragrance of southern France.

Severus took off his coat and suddenly said, "They are lucky."

Ian hugged him from behind and kissed his hair. "We are too."

……

Days pass like autumn clouds, rolling by layer.

Autumn at Hogwarts is always noisy and vibrant.

The corridors were crowded with students running around, their robes fluttering in the wind. The auditorium ceiling changed from sunny to rainy, and the library's parchment and ink smelled as strong as ever.

Severus's life was filled with course schedules, lesson preparation notes, an endless stream of papers to grade, and pots of student potions that he needed to "keep a close watch on to prevent disaster."

Ian's little shop gradually gained some regular customers in Hogsmeade.

Business wasn't booming, but it was enough to sustain him. More importantly, it gave him the right to freely enter and leave Hogwarts, and also allowed him to spend a lot of time in the cellars.

Deep inside the cellar, the small room that was originally used to store miscellaneous items had been silently and completely transformed by Ian.

The thick wool carpet swallowed the sound of footsteps, and several simple bookshelves, salvaged from a flea market, were crammed with books: potions, herbs, Muggle botanical encyclopedias, and even a few Muggle novels, which Ian insisted "helped to understand the metaphors."

A large, old desk was placed with two chairs side by side, and a softly lit magic lamp hung above it.

In the innermost corner against the wall, there was even a soft couch big enough for two people to curl up and rest, covered with a thick blanket woven by Lia.

This place became their hideout.