Neville sat at a desk in the library, the boy had grown into a young man, he hadn't been involved in much first year, in fact, the time had been hell, between Draco and godrick he had been really down, it was second year that things started looking up for him, he had met luna a rather unique girl he couldn't help but be nice to her and it was because of her that he joined up with Harry, he was so glad that he spoke to her, it had been the hardest thing he had done talking to a non-related girl for the first time, he hadn't been thinking of things like romance but looking at it now he was glad that they were dating, she was perceptive even if it didn't look like it and always knew when something was bothering him.

he was doing paperwork at the moment spelled to look like potions work, he wasn't the best at potions and everyone knew he was always having to rewrite papers, one of Harrys ravens was working to become an accountant or secretary he couldn't remember which, he had done up all the paperwork and was taking charge of stocks for the village having secured a nice small cottage in town, everything paperwork was going through them looked over and being sent to the right person, the general had to admire the efficiency harry had dropped the hint that he would like to have the boy on as his own secretary because having his work was a godsend, it did put Neville in this situation now though however it was better then trying to manually calculate everything, they had a muggle-born girl in seventh year who was a "math" student before coming to Hogwarts and an Arithmancy student since third year, she was teaching basic math to everyone and was aiming for a job at the bank.

Neville didn't know how Harry handled everyone and managed to make the big choices, he had brought it up with the boy once and Harry's response was curious.

"how do you do it harry?"

the young man had glanced at him and smiled.

"well apart from all of you to help me, let me ask you a question, how do you choose a leader?"

Neville was confused by the question.

"I don't really know smarts?"

the long-haired man smiled.

"smarts help but a leader is someone who can make the hard choices and live with the consequences, any old joe can be a leader but you have to make a choice be it moral or duty-bound and then watch the fall out from that choice you made"

Neville had stopped walking for a few seconds, he hasn't thought about that at all he figured it was because Harry was smart and cunning.

"you can't see it yet Neville but you are a leader too, you will have to decide what is best for your troops sometimes without my help or say and you will need to make the hard choices and live on even if it's a tragic end for hundreds of our people, I will never judge you on a choice not even to say I would have done something else, you need to be firm once a choice is made follow it to hell if you have to."

Neville had been left standing alone in the hallway thinking hard about what his leader had said.

harry skulked to meet his godfather, he didn't particularly want to be observed but it wasn't the end of the world if he was.

he suspected that this pissing contest between Dumbledore and Voldemort was being drawn out so both could play longer and he wanted to confirm a few things.

his godfather painted an interesting figure when not in public, the man still wore black harry doubted he wore anything else, but despite his muggle upbringing he was a prince and with his cousin's death from dragon pox his grandfather had come to him as a last resort there were no more young males in the family and as a prince, they couldn't hand it to a girl even if they wanted to, Severus was the only candidate with at least half-blood for the lordship, on the condition he pays an allowance to his cousin and allows her to live in the house gifted to her for as long as she lived, it wasn't any bother to him and set the automatic payments and left her to it, she was a quiet young woman preferring book and animals to people, he could almost say that got along, on the very few occasions they actually interacted.

he was always decked out in dress pants and some kind of fitted black shirt his room was decorated in paintings and books a nice sitting room for drinks, very rich looking and it fit his personality when at home, calm cultured and elegant, harry thought many he got his extravagant setup for his home from his godfather, it definitely wasn't from his family, they were tacky not refined.

he was currently taking rose tea in the sitting room, the man didn't even blink when harry sat down, the man knew everyone who approached his door and knew harry was coming before he got down the hallway, another glass was sitting across from the man with a small dish of sugar and a bigger one for cookies.

harry hugged the man happily, this was the person apart from Draco that he can get touchy and feely with, Severus didn't care and allowed it, harry thought as a child that he gave the best hugs always warm and firm to him, Draco now gave the best hugs but Severus came a close second.

"what have you done now?"

harry cheekily sat and poured some tea scrunching his nose at the smell.

"It is almost like you are drinking perfume"

Severus ignored him taking a sip then meeting his eyes.

"alright jokes aside, in the past few years apart from the big events has either side really been doing anything, or are they just extending this war because they are bored?"

the potions master put down his cup and cross his legs.

"My professional opinion is that they are bored and stretching this out to have the most fun, their laziness will work for you if you don't waste the time they are unwittingly giving you"

Harry took a sip after adding sugar studying the man.

"How is your husband, he has been a busy bee corrupting the young death eaters causing mayhem, I hear he pretty much has control of the Slytherin kingship in all but name, I hear it was a swift hostile takeover the current king is still reeling and doesn't know he has lost his power, the young man a laughing stock in the snake pit"

harry choked on his tea while Severus watched amused.

"I'm guessing he hasn't told you yet, I hear it was a pleasure to watch, with just a few words he stole control and will be starting his own little meetings at the same time the old king will be"

harry quickly put his cup down stifling a cough.

"no he hasn't informed me yet, if you are talking about our relationship it is going well, I admit at first I just saw him as something to gain now he somehow wormed himself into my black heart"

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"black heart indeed, harry for someone who says's they want to be cut off to avoid more heartache like what your family did, you sure have a big family now."

the young man froze about to argue but all the faces started to come to mind, every one of his people was his family and he would die for every single one of them.

"I see you finally realised, I'm relieved I was afraid for a moment there, that you would either become like me or worse like the dark lord or Dumbledore"

Harry made a face at the man but Severus didn't budge.

harry hadn't thought that he was acting that badly, on further reflection he was on that road, no family full of hate looking out for himself even helping that old man had been to his benefit and led to an inheritance because the man liked him.

the only one he connected to emotionally was Severus who wasn't the best role model for emotions.

"I"

Severus threw a potion to harry.

"I am relieved"

he got up and walked to another room leaving harry to his thoughts a clear potion in his grasp.