Ruby stepped into the potions lab, the letter from Harry still clutched in her hand. Severus stood at one of the extended tables, various ingredients lined up neatly beside a simmering cauldron. At the sight of Ruby's joyful expression, he raised a curious eyebrow.

"You look particularly... lifted," he remarked, setting aside a mortar and pestle. His dark eyes flickered to the parchment she carried. "I take it you've had good news?"

Ruby practically glowed as she approached. "Harry finally wrote back!" she said, holding the letter toward him. Her excitement spilled over, and she couldn't keep from smiling. "He explained why he hadn't responded before."

Severus received the letter, glancing at the familiar handwriting on the front before reading. Ruby stood quietly, shifting her weight between her feet, waiting for his reaction. The soft bubbling of the cauldron was the only sound broken by the occasional crackle of the fire underneath.

As Severus's gaze scanned the text, his expression changed from cautious curiosity to contemplative focus. He read each line carefully.

First, I'm so sorry this took forever. Someone was intercepting my mail...

I missed you, Ruby, and I'm sorry again for the silence...

Your best friend and husband, always and forever,

Harry

When Severus reached the closing words, his brow furrowed slightly. He recalled that by Wizarding custom, Harry and Ruby had some form of magical marriage or betrothal recognized due to the circumstances they uncovered at Gringotts. Still, seeing it in writing—the boy actually labeling himself as Ruby's husband—was a stark reminder of how unusual their bond was at such a young age.

He exhaled quietly, folding the letter and handing it back to Ruby. "I see," he said, tone reserved as always but with a gentler edge. "So, his letters were stolen by a house-elf named Winky?"

Ruby nodded, placing the letter against her chest. "Yes, but she returned them to him once he found her snooping around. He's alone in that house now, though. His relatives went off on vacation and... well, he's stuck."

Severus's dark eyes hardened for a moment. "Typical," he muttered, recalling the Dursleys' reputation. Then his gaze shifted to Ruby's bright face. "He also mentions visiting the Weasley family's home before the second year?"

Ruby's cheeks warmed. "Yes, Ron's family invited us all for a weekend. Harry's not sure how to get there, but he wants to come."

Severus inclined his head in thought. "If Potter runs into any trouble, he can send an owl. One of us will fetch him if necessary." He paused, then added quietly, "You realize that you and Harry—whatever your arrangement—are far too young for any conventional marriage." There was the slightest twist of amusement at his lips. "Still, I understand this is a unique circumstance."

Ruby's grin softened. She knew Severus didn't quite approve of the situation, but he wasn't forbidding it either. "We know it's not a typical marriage, Professor," she said, carefully rolling up the letter. "We're... doing our best to handle it responsibly. Right now, we're just best friends supporting each other."

Severus gave a slow nod. "Very well. I'm simply concerned for your well-being. And his."

He turned to the table, where a row of potion ingredients awaited him. "Now, if your excitement has been properly expressed," he said, gentling his usual sternness, "we have a lesson to begin. This potion requires absolute focus."

Ruby tucked Harry's letter into her robe pocket, stepping beside Severus at the workbench. Despite the swirl of happiness and relief in her chest, she composed herself, adopting the serious demeanor that Potions class demanded.

"Yes, Professor," she said, tying back her hair. "I'm ready."

A minor quirk at Severus's mouth suggested the closest he might come to a smile. "Begin, then. Tell me what you know about the properties of Fluxweed in advanced healing drafts."

Ruby took a breath, recalling the relevant texts and focusing on the present moment. Yet, her heart felt lighter than it had in a month—Harry was safe, writing again, and she felt renewed purpose in every step. Even as she carefully measured the ingredients, her soul hummed with quiet joy. How strange life could be that a single letter could lift her to such hope. But that was the magic of the friendships and bonds she'd forged: magic beyond any potion or spell that Severus could ever teach.

A gentle summer breeze wafted through the open windows of Prince Manor, carrying with it the distant chirping of birds. In the corridor outside the library, Ruby paused momentarily, letters clutched to her chest. She had just collected the post from Elijah, who grinned knowingly whenever he saw the familiar seal of Harry Potter on the envelopes. It had been a week since Harry resumed sending letters, and each day brought a new note filled with warmth and shared excitement.

Ruby made a habit of replying to Harry's letters the same evening they arrived. After wrapping up her daily lessons with Severus—and occasionally with Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco—she would retire to her room or the manor's cozy sitting nook. There, beneath the soft glow of a table lamp, she wrote her thoughts on parchment, answering Harry's questions and relaying small retellings about her progress. Their exchange had grown into a steady rhythm of affection and support.

Severus observed this renewed communication with measured approval. While he never pried into the letters' contents, he recognized the lifted spirits and renewed motivation in Ruby's demeanor. The difference in her attitude was unmistakable: she moved through each day's studies with extra energy and practiced her spells with unwavering dedication. When Severus saw Ruby smiling down at a newly arrived note—likely from Harry—he felt a quiet satisfaction that, for once, matters were going well for the both of them.

Despite her frequent letter-writing, Ruby's schedule remained as busy as ever. Each morning, she practiced advanced charms and defensive spells with Severus in the courtyard, the wards of the manor allowing her to cast magic without fear of Ministry repercussions. In the afternoons, Lucius tutored her in wizarding law, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes. Ruby found her mind surprisingly receptive to the logic of runic language and often spent extra time poring over translations.

Then, there were Narcissa's lessons: graceful posture, refined speech, the art of polite conversation, and more advanced dancing. Ruby had lost count of how often Draco teased her about stepping on his toes, but even he admitted she was getting better each day. The two of them grew more at ease in each other's company, their Slytherin-and-Hufflepuff dynamic becoming a supportive partnership.

Yet, no matter how packed her days, Ruby always found time to reply to Harry. She delighted in sharing details about her training or how she sometimes wore the dress robes he'd given her (robes embroidered with the Potter crest) for fun around the manor. In return, she listened to Harry's accounts of the odd peace under the Dursley roof, how he occupied himself studying advanced spells, and how he wished to see her in person—and soon.

Come nightfall, once her letters to Harry were sealed and ready for Hedwig to deliver, Ruby retired to her bedroom. Crookshanks would often curl up at her feet or hop onto her desk, contentedly observing. When the manor had quieted, and she had a rare moment to herself, she pulled out the black enchanted diary containing Tom Riddle Jr.'s teenage soul.

Within moments, Ruby found herself in Tom's world again, a replicated Hogwarts classroom that Tom had conjured within the diary. Dust motes drifted in the air as if they were back at school, though the atmosphere was more serene and timeless.

Standing at the front of the illusory classroom, Ruby would relay the day's lessons—new potions recipes from Severus, advanced Hex-Deflection spells from Defense, or even tidbits on wizarding politics from Lucius. Tom listened intently, occasionally asking questions with a sharp intellect that reminded her of how he excelled academically during his Hogwarts days.

"This knowledge is more valuable than you know, Ruby," Tom often says. She smiles and continues, showing him how the wand motions were supposed to go or the key points of theoretical Arithmancy. Sometimes, she demonstrates the stance for a dueling posture, describing how Draco or Severus has corrected her form.

Sometimes, Tom would encourage Ruby to push her boundaries and think beyond protecting someone else. "You have a gift, Ruby," he'd say. "I see it in your hunger to learn. Don't limit it to saving Harry alone—use it to make your own mark, your own name." Ruby nodded each time, absorbing his advice but never straying from her ultimate goal of safeguarding Harry. She wanted that knowledge for good and trusted that Tom would respect her stance.

As the week passed, Ruby was happier than she'd been in a long time—caught between her intense training at Prince Manor and her reaffirmed friendship with Harry. Even Severus seemed marginally more relaxed in her presence, though he remained his solemn self most of the time.

Each sunrise brought fresh training sessions and new letters from Harry, who was devouring his advanced textbooks and longing for the weekend invitation to the Burrow that Ron had proposed. Ruby's heart thrilled at the possibility of seeing him face-to-face—bridging the gap that letters could never fully close.

Meanwhile, whenever Ruby stepped away from her lessons to slip back into Tom's diary, the illusions of that Hogwarts classroom remained a haven for her curiosity. In those temporary moments, Tom soaked up every bit of knowledge she offered—Charms, Dueling Tactics, Wizarding Etiquette—occasionally adding observations from his own (secret) wealth of experience. The arrangement felt normal, even though she knew how unorthodox it truly was.

But within the beautiful walls of Prince Manor, it seemed nothing was quite "normal" by standard wizarding definitions—yet Ruby wouldn't trade it. She had a father figure in Severus, surrogate grandparents in Leopold and Margaret, dear friends in the Malfoys, and a best friend (and magical husband) sending her heartfelt letters from Privet Drive. And, in the enchanted diary, she had a curious bond with a teenage Tom Riddle who thirsted for the knowledge she brought from the outside world.

In that swirl of education, friendship, and unexpected connections, Ruby felt deeply contented even as she prepared for whatever awaited her next school year. She silently vowed to keep every one of these relationships strong—Harry's especially—and to face the looming challenges, armed with her newly honed skills and the unwavering magic of friendship.

The late summer sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawns of Privet Drive as Severus, Ruby, and Draco stepped away from the discreet Apparition point. The trio made their way along the silent street, neatly trimmed hedges and identical houses giving the place an unnervingly uniform look. Severus's black robes swished quietly; Draco glanced curiously about the neat suburban road while Ruby walked a pace behind them, her gaze uncertain.

In Severus's pockets, Draco and Ruby's belongings were carefully shrunk and secured, ready for their weekend stay at the Weasley's Burrow. Before that, however, they had one vital stop: to retrieve Harry from Number Four, Privet Drive.

As they neared Harry's relative's home, Ruby hesitated. Her eyes drifted across the street to an empty, overgrown lot surrounded by a meager wooden fence. Not long ago, a modest Muggle house was her old home. She could almost see it in her mind's eye. The worn-out living room curtains, the cramped hallway, the faint echo of her stepfather's angry voice.

Harry's accidental magic had torn that place apart a year ago, saving her from a violent end. The memory flickered through her mind: the flash of fire, the roar of flames, her stepfather's furious shouts, and Harry's desperate shout as he dragged her outside. Her Muggle stepfather and stepsister had not survived the blaze. It was an event that left a scar on her heart, even if she felt no sorrow for them. She merely felt relief that she was free.

"Ruby?" Draco asked, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. He noted how she'd faltered, staring at the plot of land across the street. His usual sneer softened; he knew her story and recalled Harry admitting to killing two Muggles—enough to guess why this place unsettled her.

Ruby swallowed, forcing herself to look away from the empty lot. "I'm okay," she murmured, though the tremor in her voice said otherwise.

Severus glanced at Draco and then stepped closer to Ruby's side. "We won't linger," he said quietly, his voice low and calm. He didn't need to ask what haunted her; he'd pieced together her story from her accounts and what Harry had shared. "Come," he added, touching her shoulder lightly. "Harry is waiting."

Ruby drew a slow breath and nodded, allowing herself to be guided onward. She cast one last glance at the vacant patch of ground, a swirl of complicated emotions tightening her chest. I'm alive, she reminded herself. I'm free. And Harry's alive and safe, too.

Draco slid his hands into his pockets, following silently. He'd never seen Ruby look so peaceful, so haunted by the past. The typical brightness in her eyes had dimmed momentarily, replaced by a somber reflection. But the moment soon passed—Ruby squared her shoulders, focusing on the road ahead, each step bringing her closer to Number Four, where Harry lived.

Reaching the driveway, they found the house much as it was: neat, tidy, and blandly suburban—nothing to hint at the extraordinary presence of the boy who had survived. Severus cast a discerning glance at the curtains, verifying no one was watching, before stepping up to the front door. He raised his wand discreetly, giving it a subtle flick so any Muggles passing by would fail to notice them.

At the threshold, Ruby breathed in, centering herself. Harry was waiting inside—her closest friend, who understood her better than most. With that in mind, the knot in her stomach loosened, and she felt the flicker of a smile return.

Severus knocked gently on the door. Whatever lay behind it, Ruby reminded herself, was their next step to a weekend at the Burrow—a chance for Harry to escape this place, if only briefly, and for them all to share time in an actual home full of warmth and acceptance.

I'll be all right, Ruby thought, as Draco hovered protectively nearby, and Severus stood like an immovable guardian at her side. We both will.

Harry lingered by the front door, every nerve on edge. He was showered, dressed, and had his trunk and Hedwig and Scabbers in their cages—ready to leave Privet Drive at last. The Dursleys were nowhere to be seen; they'd left him alone in the house, and he felt strangely liberated. Yet what truly set his heart racing was the knowledge that she was on her way.

Then came the knock. A moment that sent an electric thrill through him. He opened the door, seeing Professor Snape first—imposing and in dark robes—followed by Draco, eyeing the perfectly cut lawn with boredom. But then, Ruby stepped into view.

A month without seeing her in person felt like ages. The moment their eyes locked, Harry's breath caught. Something within him fluttered, like a gentle refrain pulsing in his mind: he didn't care what anyone else said or did; all he wanted was to be by her side again. Ruby looked different—poised and assured—but in a good way. It was the same girl he knew, yet her aura felt brighter, carrying a calm that promised everything would be all right. That look in her eyes whispered of home, reminding him of how her presence often dispelled the emptiness around them. Every time Ruby was near, he felt something in him come alive.

"Harry," Ruby greeted softly, her smile lighting the space between them. That particular smile made him believe in better tomorrows, the sort of warmth you might call a hometown glow—familiar and comforting in a world that was often cold. He thought of all the times they'd endured difficulties together, how they might fight to get through, but it never mattered because they always found their way back to each other. Any time Ruby left, the brightest places seemed dull.

"It's good to see you," Harry managed, swallowing a surge of emotion. He yearned to tell her that no one else's face compared to hers, that she was the heartbeat he clung to in the hush of life's chaos. But all of that stayed unspoken. Instead, he just smiled—relieved, grateful, and indescribably happy.

Ruby took a step forward, letting go of Draco's arm. Harry heard a faint rustle of her robes, and then she embraced him without hesitation. Her hug was brief but filled with quiet joy, the kind that said everything would one day be okay. He found himself breathing in the subtle scent of her deep red hair, marveling at this unexpected moment of closeness in the middle of Privet Drive's dull suburban front garden.

Behind them, Professor Snape cleared his throat, reminding them that they couldn't linger. Draco shifted impatiently, though Harry noticed even Draco's usual smirk was softened by the scene. Ruby lets go of Harry and blushes.

"All set?" Snape asked in his measured tone. His dark eyes flickered to Harry's trunk and caged pets. Harry nodded, stepping back and gesturing to his belongings.

"Yeah. Ready," Harry said. "I—uh—thanks for picking me up."

Snape inclined his head slightly, and Draco moved to retrieve Harry's trunk, or at least appear helpful. Harry gently handed over the cages containing Hedwig and Scabbers.

Ruby offered Harry one more encouraging smile. In her eyes, he saw that unspoken promise again: I'm here, and we'll face whatever's next together.

Harry felt his heart swell. He remembered how months ago they sat by each other in classes at Hogwarts, how he'd burned a house down to save her, how she'd now spent a summer learning to safeguard him in return. It was a comfort so profound it nearly took his breath away.

Yes, he thought, everything might just be all right. And if not, they would make it so—together.