Chapter 18

By the time Harry returned to Slytherin Castle, the sun had already started to set. He looked haggard as the weight of the day pressed down on his shoulders. When he entered his chambers, he removed the crown from his head and set it unceremoniously onto his desk. For a moment, he stared at it, the symbol of his reign. Then, with a sigh, he crossed to the side door that led into Severus's suite.

Harry knocked once, then twice, against the wood. The door opened, and Severus appeared, dressed in a black button‑down shirt and jeans, with glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. His hair was tied back loosely, and he looked every inch the intellectual-type Harry had the hots for.

Harry's mouth went dry as his brain betrayed him with a rush of thoughts. 'Oh Merlin, my husband looked devastatingly good like this, I want to climb that like a tree, No... bad brain... now is not the time... bad... but that wait... bad bad brain, reality might collapse, you can suck that later!' He berated himself silently.

"Severus," Harry said, steadying his voice. "Would you care to take dinner in my rooms tonight? There's something serious I need to discuss with you."

The Potion master studied him for a moment. His eyes flicked over Harry's tired face and the tension in his posture. He adjusted his glasses, then inclined his head. "Very well. I'll join you."

Harry stepped aside, allowing Severus to enter. Harry forced himself to focus on the matter at hand. Whatever amusement or distraction Severus's presence stirred in him, tonight was about something far heavier.

Harry ordered Zippy to bring dinner for two to his chambers. The little elf announced its arrival with an exaggerated flourish of titles: "Dinner for His Majesty, the Conqueror of Shadows, the Keeper of Crowns, and his Most Esteemed Consort!"

Harry groaned because he knew Draco had a hand in this. Ever since those two met, they had been conspiring. But Zippy was already bustling about, decorating the small table with candlelight and, Merlin help him, a single blood-red rose placed delicately before Severus's seat.

Harry flushed crimson as Severus picked up the rose, twirling it between his fingers with a raised brow. "Subtle," Severus murmured dryly, though the faintest smirk tugged at his lips.

Zippy once again had outdone herself. Roasted pheasant, buttered vegetables, and a carafe of sweet red wine sat ready for the night. Harry poured generously, drinking more than usual as he worked up the courage to speak. His nerves tangled with the warmth of the wine, and finally, the words burst out of him.

"I'm the Master of Death."

Severus blinked while his glass was halfway to his lips. He set it down slowly and asked, "As in... the Deathly Hallows?"

Harry nodded, "Yes. The cloak, the stone, the wand. I've got them all. And Death itself answers when I call."

"You've just casually admitted to wielding the most dangerous legend in wizarding history over dinner." Severus's expression was unreadable, and Harry gave a nervous laugh while rubbing the back of his neck.

"I didn't exactly plan to blurt it out like that."

"And what, precisely, does being the Master of Death mean for you? For us? For this kingdom?"

"I'm immortal," Harry stated, "and by marriage, you are as well. As my consort, you would also be able to call Death."

Skepticism could easily be seen on Severus's face. "So if I call 'Death', he'd come?"

The air shifted in the room, and then Death appeared, floating beside them with a grin on his skeletal face, which was far too chipper.

"Ah, Severus Snape! My favorite mortal after Master!" Mortem greeted brightly and extended a skeletal hand, startling the Potion Master out of his chair. When the Potion master noted that he wasn't in immediate danger, he shook the offered appendage.

"Nice to meet you..." Severus uttered while still bewildered.

"So, Harry, have you told him about you‑know‑who?" Death asked.

Severus's eyes widened. "Voldemort?"

Mortem waved a skeletal hand dismissively. "No, no, the other you‑know‑who. The scarier one. That cockroach's soul isn't even worth my time. I just use those for the foosball or ping pong table. I'm talking about Oberon."

"No, I haven't gotten to that yet." Harry groaned.

"Then why was I summoned?" Mortem asked, tilting his head.

"I didn't think it would actually work!" Severus blurted out.

"Right, gotcha," Mortem said cheerfully. He floated closer to Severus, leaned in, and whispered conspiratorially, "Master really likes his hair getting played with..." His tone was suggestive enough to make Harry bury his face in his hands with a groan.

Mortem winked, then vanished as suddenly as he had appeared, and Severus sat back down slowly, staring at Harry in shock.

"Immortality aside from now, what did he mean by someone scarier than the Dark Lord?" Severus questioned.

Harry exhaled, rubbing his temples. "It's a long story. One that stretches back to when I was fifteen, all the way to my rise to the throne."

Severus's eyes narrowed. "Does anyone else know?"

"Draco, Ginny, and Neville know parts of it," Harry admitted. "But not the full story. They don't know about Death. They thought the Hallows were more symbolic than literal. And I'd like to keep it that way. Imagine if the public found out."

"You are immortal, Harry. The public will find out at some point. So that is why you weren't worried about an heir. You knew you could stay in power for a long time."

"I've thought about it. I might one day blood‑adopt someone, or appoint a successor. I don't want the throne to fall into chaos if something happens." He hesitated as his cheeks colored. "And... the erectile dysfunction really did bother me. Not being able to... perform. I often wondered what was so good about it, hearing my friends talk. I couldn't understand until you and I shared our first night. Now I want no one but you."

Harry's blush deepened as his voice faltered when he realized how much he had revealed. He didn't see his husband blush as well at his confession. "But I digress." Harry cleared his throat, "This whole thing started when I was fifteen. I ran away from the Potter estate."

Severus leaned forward, "Then start there. If I am to understand what we are facing, I need the whole story."