Having solved his problems with Severus, Harry felt more self-confident and ready to face his tasks related to the Wizarding World. After all, he had managed to "tame" Severus... All the other tasks seemed a piece of cake compared to that.

He had gathered his courage and finally had gone and talked to the Minister. Arthur had been thrilled to see Harry again, and had invited him to lunch at The Burrow. All the Weasleys had welcomed him. Harry had always felt guilty for Ron's death, and it had been comforting to know that the Weasleys didn't blame him and still loved him. After some negotiations, the Ministry had approved the reopening of Hogwarts with a minimum of interference. In addition to that, the Ministry offered to equip the school, help in the assembling of a new library and rebuild the Quidditch pitch. Arthur had suggested Tonks for the post of Transfiguration teacher, and Tonks had accepted. Grubbly-Plank had agreed to teach Care of Magical Creatures. While September had already begun, they decided to open the school immediately. The Ministry authorised them to make up for the lost days of classes by extending the term until the end of June and first week of July. The first term was going to be a little chaotic, but it was better to start working now than leave the children another year away from Hogwarts.

Now Harry, Severus, Remus, Sprout, Flitwick, Hooch, Trelawney, Binns, Grubbly-Plank and Tonks were assembled in the Great Hall. A heated debate has been going on for more than six hours. Harry was starting to fear that they might take more time to decide about the school rules than they had taken to rebuild the Castle. They had already decided that Sprout would be the Head of Hufflepuff, and Flitwick of Ravenclaw. The first point of divergence referred to the election of the Headmaster. Harry stated that Severus should be the Headmaster, since Severus had been the responsible for the Castle's reconstruction. Remus claimed that Harry would be a better choice. However, if Harry were to be Headmaster, someone else would have to be the Head of Gryffindor. And Severus didn't want Remus either as the Head of Gryffindor or the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

That was not the only disagreement. As a good follower of Salazar Slytherin, Severus defended the idea that Muggle-borns shouldn't be admitted to Hogwarts. In response to Harry and Remus's protests, Severus argued that those who were assembled there were struggling to preserve magical culture against its dissolution into Muggle culture, which was already in process. That Hogwarts should be a bastion of resistance against the Muggle culture.

Harry had to stop and think. Severus had a point there. But... hadn't they fought against Voldemort to stop that kind of prejudice? How could they ban the Muggle-borns now? No. If they wanted to preserve the Wizarding World culture, accepting Muggle-borns at Hogwarts would only help to spread their ideas and traditions. What was important was that they would be able to transmit their traditions.

Determined, Harry rose and made a passionate speech pleading for the acceptance of the Muggle-borns at Hogwarts. Everyone applauded him, except for Severus and Trelawney.

The Divination teacher said they were challenging Fate, because she had seen in her crystal ball that the Muggles were going to wage a war against the Wizarding World.

Severus left the meeting with a brooding face, grumbling, "You will see. History will repeat itself. Don't say I didn't warn you."

~* ~* ~

Later, in Severus's bed, Harry embraced him, pushing the whole length of their naked bodies together. "Are you angry?"

"Yes, I am."

"But you're not going to give up, are you?" Harry insisted.

"Don't worry, I will accept the decision of the majority. But don't ask me to keep silent. I want to have the freedom to voice my opinion that you are all fools."

"We are fools, but we are your fools."

Severus grimaced. "The only fools with whom I am willing to make the effort to work."

Harry smiled. "So, even believing it's not going to work, you're willing to begin again. Is that so?"

"Have you ever heard of Sisyphus, a king condemned forever to roll a huge stone up a hill in Hades only to have it roll down again on nearing the top? I understand his tragedy very well now. What else can I do? I accept my Fate. I am prepared, Harry. Yes."

'Yes' wasn't a word often associated with Severus. Harry brushed Severus's hair out of his face and stared at him silently, overcome by emotion.

~* ~* ~

Severus gazed at his young lover. How weird to want that now. Especially in such a delicate moment. Everything about this relationship was weird. First, that Severus could have fallen for a man - and twenty years younger than himself. Then, that Severus could have accepted him into his bed, without regretting it for a second. And now, just when he should be feeling humiliated because his political position had been defeated, he wanted to take a step further. He wanted it more than anything. "Will you do as you promised or not? I want to know the pleasure of being a bottom and having your hard cock in my arse. Fuck me."

Harry narrowed his eyes at him. "Language, Severus. And you got it all wrong."

"Teach me, then. What shall I say? 'Take my virginity. Make me a man.'?"

Harry burst in laughter. "Wrong again. No wonder you didn't have much success with women."

"What are you saying, brat?" Severus hadn't been insulted like that since the Marauders' time. "For your information, I used to be the Slytherin Sex God."

"Well, that must've been a long time ago. I'm going to teach you."

Severus pinned him against the mattress. "Arrogant brat. Tell me I'm not a good lover."

The way Harry looked at him, his eyes glazed with desire, was already an answer, but Harry cupped his buttocks gently and said, "I don't know about Slytherin, but you're my Sex God. Now just lie face down and let me take care of you."

~* ~* ~

Severus couldn't say anything else, because Harry was spreading his legs apart and pushing his tongue into his arsehole. Severus had never felt like that in all his life: so vulnerable and so loved at the same time. It was such an intimate caress, and Harry was so affectionate. Severus's cock hardened immediately. A soft moan escaped from Severus's throat as that wicked tongue started to press against the walls of his hole, stretching it, filling it.

When Harry removed his tongue, Severus felt empty and aching for more. Soon, however, Harry was sliding a finger coated in lube in and out of him, in smooth movements that Severus followed with tension, expectation and fascination. Another finger was added, opening him, going deeper and deeper. Suddenly, Harry flexed his fingers and a jolt of pleasure made him see stars, comets, galaxies... Ah... So that was how if felt. "Merlin's beard, Harry, that shouldn't be allowed."

Harry's smug laughter blended with the stars. "I think you're ready."

The magic fingers left him, but Severus knew there was more to come." Harry... I want to see your face while you fuck me." Severus turned around to face Harry, and saw his lover's cock pointed towards him, rock hard, its tip glistening with a drop of pre-come. Severus loved to see what desire was doing to Harry. Desire for him. Harry wanted him that much.

"Severus, your vocabulary continues to scare me," said Harry. Severus wasn't able to reply, because the rigid and silky flesh of his young lover was pressing against his entrance.

The first thrust seemed to squeeze all the air from his lungs. It seemed unbearable, too uncomfortable, but he wanted it to be good for Harry, he wanted it to work out. He wanted it so much that he thrust hard towards Harry.

"Severus!" Harry's hoarse voice seemed to hold Severus like an anchor. Watching Harry's concentrated look as he pulled out and thrust in again, Severus relaxed. Everything was going to be all right. He knew that. Now Harry was sliding in and out easily, and murmuring unfinished sentences as "God, you're..." and "I want..." and "Severus, please" whenever Severus thrust towards him. Severus was feeling powerful under his lover. How stupid were those who considered it humiliating to be the bottom. How could they think...

Severus couldn't think any more either, because Harry changed his angle and hit his prostate, making him see new twinkling stars and hear his own husky voice moaning and murmuring incoherent words.

He pulled Harry against his body, making their bellies touch, and Harry retaliated closing his fingers around Severus's cock. When Harry plunged in again, the combination of the two sensations, Harry pumping his cock and hitting his prostate, was too much for Severus: his release was deep and intense, and he let himself be taken, holding Harry fiercely while Harry spurted his hot semen inside him.

They lay there for a long time, basking in the afterglow. Harry's head was resting on Severus's chest, his dishevelled hair touching Severus's chin. Severus twined his fingers in his lover's hair; the other hand rested on Harry's back. A decision started to form in Severus's mind. He took a deep breath. "I drop my case, Harry. Lupin is right. We need a Headmaster who can attract students to Hogwarts. I am not that man. I will settle for being the Deputy Headmaster, and Head of Slytherin. Lupin can keep your insufferable Gryffindors."

Harry lifted his head to look at him. "I wanted you to be the Headmaster. I'd rather be just a substitute Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, or a Quidditch Assistant to Rolanda. Don't you think I'm too young and inexperienced to be the Headmaster?"

"You are more experienced than many wizards five times your age. Besides... whether you want it or not... I will be with you."

"Why did you change your mind so suddenly?"

"I am a Slytherin, and I have just discovered that being on top is not always advantageous," Severus mused.

Harry flashed a radiant smile, looking smug and embarrassed at the same time, and suddenly life, in its eternal recurrence, in its apparent futility, didn't seem so unbearable to Severus. Perhaps there was a chance that something good would remain of all that hard work and toil, of all that insanity.