A/N: Thanks to all of you who have followed this story. This marks the end of this piece. I've left a few loose ends to be gathered, should there be interest in a sequel, but for now, our gentlemen will live happily ever after.

Chapter 32: Formalizing the Bond

Much to Harry's surprise, the bonding went off without a hitch, following Andromeda's prescribed "unfussy" schedule of events, and featuring Teddy Lupin as host and ring-bearer. The young boy took his duty seriously, kept very close track of the platinum bonding rings, and stepped up at just the right moment with them.

Harry and Even were proud of him.

The reception afterwards featured good food, good company, and peaceful, unfussy music. There was no official dance, but a few of the younger guests managed to do some dancing anyway. Jamie acted as unofficial mascot, cheerfully getting passed from friend to friend, and usually ending up in the arms of a Weasley or a parent.

"Nice spread," Draco Malfoy commented to Harry when he had a chance to corner the grooms. "Nice ceremony, too."

"I love how the food trumps the actual ceremony," Harry snarked.

"Well, it is pretty tasty," Ron, overhearing, commented as he walked by with an apple tart in one hand.

Evan shook his head. "We've been bonded for weeks; this just covered the needed public bases."

"Ah, yes, my Lords Prince-Potter," Draco said with a formal bow. "I have been remiss in addressing you correctly."

Harry laughed. "We don't need the formal address in our own backyard, Draco, but thanks."

"Will there be a honeymoon in the offing?" Draco asked.

Evan and Harry exchanged glances. "Not at this time," Evan replied. "We'll take the weekend at the cottage. Andromeda will take Jamie for us, so we can have these few days to ourselves, but otherwise, we'll wait on a trip."

Harry nodded. "I'd like to do a family trip at some point, but Jamie's a bit young to be left for so long. At least, I don't feel comfortable with being separated from him for that long, yet."

Draco nodded. "Reasonable. Let me know your plans. You're due for your annual check-up soon."

Harry laughed. "If someone had told me, first year, that Draco Malfoy would be my fussy Healer, I'd have laughed before calling them mental."

Draco smirked. "Oh, how things change. I agree though; if someone had told me I'd be Healer to the Boy-Who-Lived, I'd probably have thrown a hex."

"We were rather horrible to each other back then," Harry sighed. "Good thing we grew up."

Evan shook his head. "I never would have seen this coming, either, but I'm glad for it."

xxx

The night wore on. Numerous members of Wizarding nobility stopped by the couple's table to congratulate the pair, and if some noticed the distinct resemblance Evan bore to Severus Snape, no one mentioned it, out of politeness. The Prince heir, after all, could be expected to resemble his (supposed) half-brother.

The only hitch, as far as Harry could tell, was his own sense of loss.

He missed Ginny.

More than anyone else in the crowd, with the possible exception of Evan, Ginny would have understood just how much bonding with Evan made him happy. Beyond happy. Ecstatic, even.

It still hurt that she was gone, but so many good things had come about in the aftermath of her death.

Harry wished he could think of some way he could acknowledge his late wife without looking somehow like a pillock toward his husband.

"Knut for your thoughts?" Evan asked, leaning toward him and pouring another half-glass of Laphroig whiskey for each of them.

Harry gave a half-smile. "Sounds weird, but I miss Ginny. I wish she could be here to celebrate with us. And then I think that and get confused when I realize this couldn't have happened without her being gone. If you get what I mean. She was really my best friend. We went through so much together." He paused, and went on carefully. "I just wish I could find some way to acknowledge and honor her."

"Did you think I'd be offended by the thought?" Evan asked quietly. "Because I'm not. She was your wife, and remains the mother of your son. She gave her life to protect Jamie. I'd like for us to honor and acknowledge her, too."

"Us." Harry smiled wistfully. "I'd like that, somehow. If it wouldn't be too crass or something."

Evan sipped his whiskey. "There are any number of things we could do, Harry. We have significant funds between the two of us. Perhaps we could endow something in her honor?"

"What, you mean a named something?" Harry asked. "I did do that for Remus, didn't I?"

Evan nodded. "The charitable foundation that gives away free Wolfsbane to werewolves in need."

"But what would be a fitting memorial for Ginny?" Harry pondered. "She gave her life for Jamie, but I know she didn't want to be known only as a mother and Lady Potter. She wanted something more out of her life. You know, we were working on a way for her to free her time so she could train in a career of some sort."

"What did she want to do?"

"Originally? Quidditch," Harry said. "We knew that she wouldn't be able to get a tryout with any of the teams at her age, though. But she was interested in sports. And irritated by the lack of opportunities for young women in Wizarding sports like Quidditch, even though there are loads of equal opportunities in other careers. And what do people do after Quidditch? It's really a young person's career. I suppose there's coaching, but a lot of the players only have a limited number of years to play before they have to find something else to do."

"You know, in the mundane world, there are numerous careers surrounding sports," Evan smiled ruefully. "I confess to liking a bit of footie, though I've not gone to a game or seen one in some time. It was something my da liked to watch at the pub with his mates."

Harry loved how Evan's working-class accent popped out when he started talking about his father. "What kind of careers?"

"Oh, I'd have to look into it more, but trainers, coaches, players, those who deal with reporters, managers, business folks. I don't know how one would train for many of those positions," Evan replied.

Harry sat back. "What about a training school for magicals in sports-related careers? Do we have anything like that?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"For that matter, what kind of after-Hogwarts training does exist? I know I had apprentice-style training with Lucius to assume my role in the Wizengamot and manage my estates, but I would have had that much earlier had I been raised by my parents or another noble Wizarding family," Harry thought out loud. "Draco apprenticed at St. Mungo's for his Healer training."

"And most of the professions require certain NEWT scores plus a period of apprenticeship. With Quidditch, it's the tryout for players."

"And when players are too old or injured to play?"

"I think that's where apprenticeships as trainers, coaches or other staff come into play."

"So there's no centralized sort of uni for magicals?"

"No, not really. Though some mundane born study for entrance exams and go to regular university after Hogwarts," Evan said.

"Ginevra Weasley-Potter Postsecondary." Harry rolled the phrase around on his tongue.

"What are you thinking now, love?"

"Of a post-secondary school for magicals who need further training, or assistance in career planning."

Evan blinked. "We could certainly use one."

"Why hasn't it been done before?" Harry asked.

"I wouldn't begin to know. I suspect it's because apprenticeships have been more traditional," Evan replied.

"Well, and they'd have to continue, of course, but for the Hogwarts graduate who hasn't a clue about the rest of his or her life, a place to go to make connections, get assistance with career planning and advice, maybe get further training. That would be dead useful," Harry said.

"And it's a big project."

Harry nodded. "I'll have to hire another researcher."

Evan tipped his glass in Harry's direction. "There you go again, changing the world." He sipped. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Harry leaned forward, took Evan's glass, sipped himself, then slid into Evan's lap, setting the glass down. He leaned up and kissed Evan, tenderly, on the lips, then drew back. "I couldn't do it, or have done it, without you."

Evan tightened his arms around Harry. "You are an extraordinary young man, Harry James Potter, and I'm happy to be your partner."

-The End.