Fic: Mo Anam Cara (My Soul Friend)

[alisanne]

Another way old 2007 repost. Move along... ;)

Title: Mo Anam Cara
Author: alisanne
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Severus has a reason for his actions in HBP. Now he just has to convince Harry of his motives. This story was inspired by the Cipher Summer Treasure Trove Contest.
Genre: Romance, Action/Adventure, Erotica, Drama, Comedy
Warnings: Graphic language, Violence, Character Death, Spoilers, Graphic Sex
Disclaimer: The characters herein do not belong to me in any way, shape or form. If they did there would be less talk and more action.
Spoilers: This is set post HBP. It’s the only way I can reconcile Severus’ actions with current canon.


~

Mo Anam Cara*

(*Translated: My Soul Friend)

~

Severus swore that what was left of his soul was weeping as he Apparated away from Hogwarts that last time. The look on Harry’s face... no! He couldn’t allow himself to think that way. That way lay madness. He had done as he was bid, as instructed, and now the boy would be set on his predestined path. Damn Dumbledore and Voldemort for putting him in this position.

They had retreated, as planned, to Voldemort’s hidden fortress. And then the plan had collapsed. Draco had been taken away before he’d had a chance to reassure the boy. Severus could only hope that he’d keep his wits about him. It had been over three days since he had seen the blond, and Severus was starting to get worried.

He’d been summoned tonight to speak with Voldemort, and he hoped to get an idea of where to find Draco. He suspected he was here, possibly being subjected to Bella’s tender mercies.

The tall, forbidding man strode commandingly down the hallway, Death Eaters scattering before him. He held all emotion in check, although a very few who knew him well would have known that he was upset. Fortunately, the person he was about to see did not know him well. Not really.

I just have to hold it together long enough to get Draco out of here, he reminded himself yet again. Damn that bitch, Bella.

He walked up to the door and, with a momentary pause to prepare himself, he pushed the double doors open and walked in confidently.

“Ahhh, Severusssss.”

Severus took precisely five steps into the room and bowed low before the noxious creature that was seated on the large chair at the end of the long room. “My Lord,” he said smoothly. “I have returned as requested.”

Voldemort smiled. “Come closer, my faithful sssservant,” he hissed.

Severus kept his eyes down and took three more steps, stopping a few paces from the makeshift throne. He sensed movement out of the corner of his eye and a quick glance identified Bella, lurking in the shadows. He sighed to himself and tightened his mental shields.

“What is the news, Ssseverusss?”

“My Lord, Dumbledore’s funeral was today. Their forces are in still in a shambles. Even now, they are not organized. Perhaps I could take Draco and investigate....”

“...impossible,” Bella hissed. “He could not do his last assigned task. Had it not been for the Vow, it would not have happened at all.”

Severus looked her full in the face. “I know you feel he failed us Bella, but Draco would have done it eventually,” he said firmly. “I was there to ensure it happened, and it did. In the end, it does not matter who did the deed, only that it was done.”

Voldemort chuckled. “Alwaysss practical, Ssseverusss,” he said. “Yesss, I agree that the fact that my chief nemesisss is gone is caussse for rejoicing, but Bella is also right. Young Malfoy did not do asss instructed, so he mussst be punished.”

Ducking his head in acknowledgment, Severus groaned inwardly. He needed to get the boy out of here, and now. His mind raced with possibilities as Bella made increasingly gruesome suggestions, all of which made Voldemort laugh with delight.

“I do not want him dead, though, Bella,” the creature finally said. “Jussst sssuitably chastened. I shall decide hisss fate soon enough. In the meantime I must reward my faithful ssservant.”

The Potions master waited patiently as the creature stepped off of the throne and walked towards him. “Come, Severussss, walk with me.”

As they left the room, Severus could feel Bella’s poisonous look piercing his back.

~

Voldemort did not speak as they walked. Severus was relieved, not sure he could manage small talk at this point. His mind screamed at him to find Draco and leave immediately. But the boy had been separated from the group upon returning, Severus suspected that Bella was responsible for that, and he had no idea where he’d been taken. The longer it took to locate him, the more likely that Bella would be “playing” and the less likely that Draco would survive, nephew or not.

Voldemort had brought him to a part of the fortress that he had never seen before. Stopping, the creature raised a hand and mumbled a complex spell. A door suddenly became visible and Voldemort pushed it open, gesturing for Severus to follow.

“Lumossss!”

Severus almost gasped out loud. The room was huge; the rough hewn stone walls stretched to a twenty foot ceiling. The walls had alcoves dug out of them, and in each alcove sat a gemstone. As he looked around, one in particular seemed to call to him. He walked, as if in a daze, up to a large onyx that seemed to glitter with inner fire.

“I sssee you have found it,” Voldemort said.

“What is it?” Severus had a sinking feeling that he knew, however. This was Dark Magic of a whole new level.

“It is your Sssoulssstone, Severussss,” the creature hissed, amused. “This room containsss the Sssoulssstones that I have created for all of my followersss.”

Severus shook inside. He had to maintain his calm, he reminded himself. If he tried to kill the creature now he would fail and he would never make it out of the complex anyway. The Potions master took a deep breath. Information, gather information...

“How was this accomplished, my Lord?” he asked, hoping that he sounded suitably admiring.

The creature smiled malevolently. “My dear, Ssseverusss. It is a part of every one of my Death Eater’s oathsss to me. A part of the ceremony that they do not remember, sssince I obliviate them after. Have you not wondered why you do not recall your own ceremony?”

Severus had wondered, but he’d chalked it up to the pain and trauma of receiving the dark mark. Evidently there was more to it than that.

“So you take a piece of every one of your follower’s souls?” he asked, hoping that his disgust was well enough hidden.

“Yesss. And only a few know,” Voldemort confided. “Even fewer are given their stonesss back for sssafekeeping. You have now earned that right, Severussss.”

Voldemort spread his arms as if embracing the room. “Not many know of thisss room,” he said. “But now you do, my trusssted advisor. I am aware that you are concerned about the Malfoy boy. His Sssoulssstone is here too. I will allow him to have it as soon as he bringsss me Potter.”

Severus nodded, dazed. “Which one is Draco’s?” he asked softly.

Voldemort snickered. “That isss for him to discover, Severussss. Here isss yourssss.”

The scaly, loathsome creature muttered a spell and, reaching towards the alcove, gently waved his wand and levitated the stone to Severus. When he touched it, the Potions master felt the missing piece of himself that had been returned. He clutched the stone convulsively.

As Voldemort led him out of the room, Severus looked around frantically. What would Draco’s Soulstone look like? From what he could recall, they typically took on the aspect of the windows to the soul, the eyes. He looked for a grey stone, an opal maybe or a.... A large, brightly sparkling diamond in an alcove high in the wall caught his eyes. That was probably it. Now, how in Merlin’s name could Draco get it back? Without it, he was in mortal danger not only in this world, but the next.

Clutching his own stone tightly, Severus gave thanks once again for Dumbledore’s foresight in binding him to his service in the name of the Light. That has probably been the only thing that had protected him all these years from such a separation from his soul. No wonder his personality had deteriorated so. Draco would not survive that long.

Dumbledore’s dying had set into motion certain events, events in which Draco had a part to play. But the boy needed his soul intact to do what must be done.

Only one person could help Draco regain the stone, and his soul, now. Severus sighed. If only that person didn’t hate both their guts.

~

Draco sat, huddled in the dark corner of his bare room. He wrapped his robe closer about his slight frame and shivered from both the cold and feeling of despair that was pervasive.

The room was sparsely furnished. A cot, upon which he sat, and a privy sitting in the corner were the only two things there. At least he wasn’t in the dungeons. Things could always be worse.

He’d been questioned by several Death Eaters, but so far no physical violence had been employed. He was still considered part of the fold, he supposed, but he wasn’t sure how long that would last.

The fact that he had been spirited away upon arrival, despite Severus’ attempted reassurances, was making him feel less than hopeful about current circumstances.

The Dark Lord had been filled in about his performance on the roof at Hogwarts. He closed his eyes and saw yet again the vision of Albus Dumbledore careening off into the night, blasted by the stream of malevolent green light of the killing curse.

He bit back a sob. Now was not the time for regrets. He was hardly out of the woods yet. The Dark Lord would need reassurances of his loyalty and dedication to the cause. He almost smiled at the memory of Severus repeatedly beating Harry back at the end.

Poor Potter! Little did he know that they were all on the same side.

As they had hurriedly Apparated away, Harry furious face had been all he could see. Draco actually laughed out loud before clapping a hand over his mouth to keep himself silent. What he wouldn’t give to see the Gryffindor’s face when he was told that Draco was working for the Order!

Gods! Severus will have my head if I ruin this now, he thought. Closing his eyes he centered himself, just as Dumbledore and Severus had taught him. A few deep breaths had him calmer and more ready to face the interrogation that he knew was coming. He had yet to see his aunt, after all.

As if summoned by his thoughts, steps sounded outside his door, and it swung open to reveal his aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, in all her glory.

Shit, Draco thought.

“Well, well. Hello, Draco,” Bella said, shutting the door behind her with a wave of her hand.

“Aunt Bellatrix,” he replied politely. He started to stand, but she waved him down.

“No formality between family, my boy,” she said. She was smiling but the look in her eyes was agate hard. She seated herself on the other end of his bench and just stared at him for a long moment.

“Are you all right?” she asked solicitously.

He nodded cautiously. He was unhurt if that was what she meant.

She smiled and he shivered. “So. Care to tell me why Severus Snape is so concerned about you?”

Draco dropped his eyes. Time to lie.

“Severus? I... Perhaps the Unbreakable Vow? He might still feel responsible for me, I suppose...”

“Yes, it was fortunate that he was there, else Dumbledore might still be alive,” she observed.

Draco sighed and looked down at his hands. “I tried to kill him, Aunt Bella, it just...”

She interrupted. “Do you love the Dark Lord, Draco?”

His gaze flew back to hers.

“Do not lie, Draco,” she warned. “I will know if you do.”

Draco braced himself for anger. “I... I don’t love him per se but I want to follow him...”

Unexpectedly, she smiled. “Not surprising,” she said. “It is not easy to love him as I do, but loyalty is enough to start. You will come to have the proper devotion in time.”

She continued to stare at him for a time, and he started to sweat in the silence. Finally she spoke. “Is Severus planning something?”

Draco blinked, confused. “I... don’t understand.”

She leaned in, her breath hot against his cheek. “I mean, Draco, is your mentor planning something to undermine me with Our Dark Lord?”

He looked up at her, letting her see his confusion. “Not that I know of, Aunt Bella,” he said.

She grunted and then stood up, clapping her hands. The door swung open and two robed guards were there.

“You had a task and you failed in it, Draco, so you must be punished. The Dark Lord has yet to decide your punishment. Your mother has asked me to intervene on your behalf and I shall see what I can do, but if you know of any plot against me, your family, you need to tell me. I will return soon.”

She walked towards the door and then turned back to him. “If I find that you are lying to me boy, nephew or no nephew, I will have your head!”

With one last look at him she swept from the room.

Draco sagged a bit when she left. Gods, I need out of here! Hurry up, Severus!

He shuddered as a wail sounded down the hall, and wished once again for his wand so he could perform a warming charm on himself. Well, and get out of there. He shook his head and curling up into a ball, willed himself to sleep.

~

The day after Dumbledore’s funeral, Harry found himself packed and ready to go to Godric’s Hollow. The prior few days had been a haze of activity. Hermione and Ron offered to come with him, but he refused to let them, citing the need to be alone with his thoughts.

Remus had pulled him aside and asked him if he wanted to talk, but Harry had refused. He realized they were all worried about him, but he had no time for that now. The betrayal was still too fresh.

He’d tried not to look at Ginny as he hugged Mrs. Weasley goodbye and promised to keep in touch. As he Apparated away, he tried to ignore the looks of pity on his friends faces.

The house at Godric’s Hollow was in dire need of repair and cleaning, which suited Harry just fine. The first thing he did was dump his bags into the larger of the two bedrooms and look around for cleaning supplies.

Pulling out an old mop, broom and some dust rags, he charmed them to clean the house, and then he sat and ruminated as they worked around him. Going over the events of that fateful night was one of his favorite pastimes lately. He was obsessed, and he knew it, but he simply couldn’t help himself.

Snape is a traitor, kept playing over and over in his mind. For all the man had been an arse to him, had lived to torture him and make him miserable, Harry had entertained thoughts that he’d eventually win him over. That looked to be impossible now.

And why does that matter so much? his inner voice asked. Harry snorted to himself and reflexively raised his feet to allow the broom to sweep underneath them. He needed to get over the man, and fast. There might come a time when he’d have to kill him.

And why was that such a hard thought to entertain? Perhaps because you saw him as a bit of a mentor towards the end, that annoying voice answered. Perhaps because you actually found him attractive?

Git or no, Harry had long ago admitted to himself that his Potions Professor was damn sexy. It was probably a good thing that he wasn’t friendlier, Harry thought. I’d probably have thrown myself at him ages ago if he had been. And his voice didn’t hurt either, he reminded himself.

His friends had all known about his crush and had kept his secret, of course. But this recent betrayal was beyond anything he could excuse.

One thing was puzzling him, however. Why hadn’t Severus killed him at the end? He didn’t buy that the Potions master wanted to “save” him for Voldemort. He’d had Harry at his mercy, wandless, defenseless and defeated. Why not just finish it?

Damnit! He was doing it again, trying to give the man excuses! Harry jumped to his feet and picked up a cloth to do something mindless. He needed to move and not think for a while. Thinking had only gotten him into trouble thus far.

He started dancing to an imaginary tune as he dusted. The sound of sardonic clapping made his head whip around.

Shock did not even begin to describe his reaction when he saw Severus Snape standing at the door.

~

Harry seemed to have grown up over the intervening days, Severus observed. Although he knew it was impossible, the boy’s shoulders seemed to be broader, his arms more sinewy, he even appeared a bit taller.

Severus had known all about Harry’s crush. He’d ignored it, of course, as all professors had to at times, but he’d been flattered, and then had found himself responding. He’d overcompensated perhaps in the last year, holding Harry to a higher standard than most, but the boy had met and exceeded all that Severus had set for him to do. Until the events of the past few days, Severus had honestly thought that he and Harry might end up colleagues in this war.

Then Albus had come up with this awful scheme. And now there was little chance that Harry would ever forgive him. And even if he did, forgiveness was one thing, returning romantic interest, quite another.

Most likely this was all wishful thinking, Severus realized, but he did allow himself the indulgence of watching the boy move his arse for a few moments before he made his presence known.

He is not for you, Severus reminded himself once more and then, steeling himself, he applauded, watching with amusement as Harry whirled to face him.

For a frozen moment the two looked at each other and then, with an inarticulate cry of rage, Harry launched himself at the older man.

Severus hadn’t expected a physical attack, so he wasn’t able to dodge completely. Harry managed to get a couple of good blows in before Severus’ shove landed him on the floor at his feet.

Harry snarled and went for his wand, and Severus smiled and wordlessly Accioed the piece of wood out of his hand.

“Stupe...!”

Severus narrowed his eyes and then Harry was immobilized and bound in rope. Harry glared at his former professor, speechless with fury, voice trapped in his throat.

Severus stepped away from the struggling form and seated himself on a chair. “Let me know when you want to talk,” he said conversationally. “I’m sure that even you realize that if I’d meant you harm, I could have done it by now, Harry.”

Had the man actually called him by his given name? Harry narrowed his eyes at his captor, but finally nodded. It was certainly true that Severus could have killed him at any time. Harry was still nowhere near mastering wordless or wandless magic, and the man in front of him was far better at it than most.

Watching Harry’s reactions carefully, Severus relaxed infinitesimally as Harry stopped struggling and looked up at Severus expectantly.

“First of all, let me say that things are not as they appear,” Severus said. “Yes, you saw me kill Albus...” the older man paused and cleared his throat then continued. “But what you saw was a planned event. Albus was dying, Harry, and it was his idea to use the event of his death to cement my position in the eyes of the Dark Lord.”

Harry’s eyes widened and he nodded slowly.

“He spent just about all of the summer chasing down those damned Horcruxes, and the last one nearly killed him. That was what happened to his hand and unfortunately, his hand was not the only thing affected. The poison was spreading through his body, eating him alive. He was in tremendous pain, and it was all Madame Pomfrey and I could do to keep him comfortable.

“That was when he decided that he was going to train you personally,” Severus said. “He wanted to tell you as much as he could, in his own way, but a lot of it you were not prepared to hear.” Shrugging, Severus stood up and started pacing.

“By the time you started understanding about the Horcruxes and about The Dark Lord’s ultimate plan, the thing with Draco was well under way, and Albus wanted to have him on our side of the War.

“Draco came to me at the end of last year, wanting to defect. His mother apparently wished to move up his Death Eater initiation ceremony and he wanted none of it. I almost had her talked into postponing it until after his graduation when we could have kept him secluded, but Bella had to intervene.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed in reaction to that name. Yes, that bitch had a lot to answer for.

“She talked Narcissa into getting him in early,” Severus rolled his eyes, “And then she managed to get the Dark Lord to charge him with the ‘honor’ of killing Dumbledore.”

“Draco was horrified, and wanted nothing to do with it, of course. Narcissa interpreted that as his being nervous about his first kill and begged me to make an Unbreakable Vow with him so that he wouldn’t fail, with Bella as the Witness. When I told Albus, he felt it was perfect for his plans. He orchestrated his death very carefully after that.”

Severus speared Harry with a look. “The rest I believe you know,” he said. “He taught you about Horcruxes, Draco plotted to sneak Death Eaters into Hogwarts to witness Albus’ death, and it was set up for you to see it because we needed your genuine reaction to make it all the more real. I’m sorry that it happened as it did, Harry, but it had to. I hope you see that now.”

A wave of the Potion master’s hand, and suddenly Harry was able to speak. “Why should I believe any of this?” he asked.

Severus smiled. “I anticipated that question,” he said. “As did Albus. He left a Pensieve. If you promise not to attack me before watching it, I will release you to view it. Do I have your word?”

“Yes.”

Another wave of Severus’ hand and Harry was free. He picked himself up off of the floor and brushed himself off.

Severus prepared a bowl and then pulled a bottle out of his robes. Tapping it gently with his wand he then poured the contents into the bowl and handed it to Harry. “This is partly my memory as well. Now that you are experienced with Pensieves, you will see that it has not been tampered with.”

Harry nodded and placed his face into the silvery liquid. The familiar falling sensation engulfed him and then he was standing in Dumbledore’s office, facing the headmaster.

“Severus, you must do as I ask,” Albus said. “I am already dying and no one can stop it. At least let my death mean something. This way you can be assured of a place in Voldemort’s Court so that you can help Harry to defeat him.”

“Albus...”

“This will assure Draco’s life as well, Severus. I know you feel responsible for his becoming a Death Eater, but you should not. It was beyond your control.”

Harry watched Severus shake his head. “If it were not for that bitch Bella...”

Dumbledore nodded. “Indubitably, Severus. But that aside, you must do this. Please. Not only will this win us the war, but it may even assure your happiness, which I am concerned about, my boy.”

Severus snorted. “I have given up on the concept of happiness long ago, Albus,” he said.

“There is still a chance,” the headmaster said gently. “I think if you but allow your heart to stay open....”

“I have no heart,” Severus said softly. “It belongs to another, as you know. And he is not for me. He has apparently been claimed.”

Dumbledore smiled. “He may yet be yours, and you his,” the old man said, a hint of his old twinkle present in his eyes.

Severus rolled his eyes and Albus patted his hand. “But come, I must make my statement to Harry,” and, to Harry’s astonishment, Dumbledore turned to him.

“I insisted that Severus make this Pensieve and bring it to you, my boy,” he said gently. “I insisted because I knew that the way things would look, he would appear to be very guilty. Harry, remember how I told you that I trust Severus with my life? Well, I trust him with my death as well. I have asked him to kill me and he has agreed, albeit reluctantly. This has to happen in the way that it will. It has to be witnessed by the Death Eaters and by you, my boy. I am sorry that I cannot not prepare you more. Now, I want you to listen to Severus as if he were speaking with my voice. He knows the plan, he is your teacher and together you will prevail. He cares for you more than you know. Perhaps the two of you will even find happiness in the future.”

“Albus!” Severus was livid.

Harry wondered what had made Severus so angry and then turned back to Dumbledore as he started speaking again.

“I am sorry, Severus. I spoke out of turn and I apologize, but it needed to be said. I do want you both to be happy. Harry, when this is over, remember to keep your heart open. There is nothing so sad as a closed heart and mind.”

Harry nodded as if Dumbledore could see him, and the old man smiled, and for a moment it seemed as if none of it had happened.

Dumbledore held out his arms and Harry flung himself into them. A momentary feeling as if arms were around him and then, suddenly, Harry was pulled out of the memory and he found himself standing in the living room of his parent’s house at Godric’s Hollow. He swayed for a moment, slightly disoriented, and Severus quickly sat him in a chair.

“Are you all right?” the older man asked, concern lacing his voice.

Harry looked up, surprised at the solicitous attitude. “Yes, thanks,” he said.

Nodding, Severus backed away.

“What are we supposed to do now?” Harry asked after a few moments.

Severus shot him an amused look. “Now, Harry?” he asked. “Now, I teach you wandless and wordless magic.”

~

Chapter Two

~

They spent the rest of the day cleaning the house, and since he was supposed to be taking lessons from Severus, it only made sense that the man stay there. Harry said as much to Severus, who simply nodded and agreed.

Harry was pleasantly surprised to find that the snarky Potions master that he was used to was no longer evident. The new Severus Snape was actually soft spoken and hardly ever raised his voice. And that smoky voice was causing Harry all sorts of problems. Coping with a sarcastic, sexy Snape was one thing, but a pleasant, sexy Snape? Impossible.

By the end of the day Harry was entertaining thoughts of a distinctly carnal nature. The two men, unbeknownst to each other, had been surreptitiously checking each other out. Severus had some fine legs, Harry noted, and Harry’s washboard abs, that showed whenever he reached up to dust a high shelf, did not escape Severus’ keen vision.

Harry noted that Severus was wearing a brilliantly cut onyx gemstone suspended on a chain around his neck that he seemed to finger often. Having never recalled his professor wearing jewelry before, Harry made a mental note to ask about it later.

They finished cleaning at about eight and then prepared a light supper. Severus had, not surprisingly, a deft hand in the kitchen, and as he watched him, Harry found himself wondering what else those hands would be good at.

They had a pleasant dinner and then Harry asked his question, curiosity getting the better of him.

“Professor, I see you have a pendant that I have never seen before. Is it significant?”

Severus smiled. “I think that we are beyond the formalities now, Harry,” he said. “Call me Severus. Yes, this stone is significant. This is a conversation best had over a firewhiskey, however.”

Getting up from the table and cleaning up the dishes with a wave of his hand, Severus walked into the living room, followed by a curious Harry.

Drinks in hand, Severus turned to Harry and started to explain the concept of a Soulstone to him. Harry was predictably horrified.

“He did what?!”

The boy had a quick mind, Severus admitted to himself as Harry rapidly grasped the greater implications of Voldemort taking pieces of his follower’s souls.

“Is that why you’re nicer now?” he asked. “You’ve gotten your soul back?”

Severus smiled. “Am I nicer?” he asked. He grinned at the look on the Gryffindor’s face. “Probably,” he admitted. “You are not your true self without your whole soul, Harry. It may also explain why the Dark Lord’s followers have been getting more and more bloodthirsty. It certainly explains what happened to Lucius. I fear for Draco, since I know that he had made one for him as well.”

Harry nodded somberly. He found himself wondering what Bellatrix Lestrange had been like with an intact soul. When he asked, Severus snorted.

“She was always sadistic, Harry. Not much change there.” They both shuddered.

“So, what is the plan?” Harry asked, taking a sip of his drink. “What is it that Dumbledore intended for me to do?”

Severus smiled grimly. “Kill Voldemort, of course,” he said. “My purpose is to get you in there safely so that you can do it and then to get you out. Now that I am ostensibly a trusted member of his Court,” Severus snorted, “I have free access to the complex, and I can get in to see him relatively easily. No one will bat an eye if I want to talk to him alone.”

“So how do I get in?” Harry asked.

“Invisibly,” Severus said succinctly.

At Harry’s look, he laughed. “When I get the Dark Lord alone,” he explained, “you will be there, underneath your Cloak. I think it will require both of us to kill him, but Albus was convinced that you had to be there because of the prophecy.” He shrugged. “Once it is done, we have to find Draco quickly. The structural integrity of the place is such that it is held together by his sheer will, and the complex will collapse soon after he dies.

“I will probably need your help in getting Draco’s stone back,” Severus continued. “Once we find him we have to take him to the room so that he can recover it. The room should be easily visible once the Dark Lord is dead.”

Harry sighed. “Um, are you sure that Draco will, er, want to rescued?” he asked.

Severus speared Harry with a look. “He really is on our side, Harry,” he said. “He’s a very good actor and he’s not really the person that you think he is.”

Harry nodded and looked down. It seemed that Severus had some strong feelings for Draco. Maybe that was who Dumbledore was referring to in the pensieve memory, Harry thought. Could Severus be in love with Draco? The thought was not a happy one.

Draining his drink, Harry got to his feet. “Well, I’m tired, it’s been a long day. I think I’m going to bed now. I guess we have to start my wandless/wordless drill in the morning?”

Severus nodded. “Yes. First thing. I would like you ready to go by this weekend. I think Draco is all right for the moment, but I think Bella has plans for him and I would like to get him out of there before that.”

“Not to mention end this war,” Harry said.

Severus nodded. “There is also that,” he agreed.

Harry smiled shyly. “Goodnight, Severus,” he said, stretching out his hand for a shake.

“Goodnight, Harry.” Severus shook the boy’s hand briskly and then smiled as he left the living room. The older man’s smile faded as he heard the boy’s door close upstairs and he rubbed at his tingling hand. Merlin, he was in trouble.

~

Harry slept surprisingly well, considering that he had figured he’d end up lying awake to think. It was hard to reconcile the man today with the professor who had been the bane of his existence for six years. He’d had Severus with his robes off and sleeves rolled up in his thoughts when he’d finally drifted off to sleep.

He went from deeply asleep to awake in an instant, wand in his hand, when Severus woke him.

The Potions master blinked when he was confronted by Harry’s wand. “Good instincts,” he said, a smile hovering around his lips. “Time to get dressed, we need to get your lessons started.”

Harry sighed as he crawled out of bed. What a way to wake up, his wand trained on Snape.... He was still chuckling to himself as he came down the stairs.

“Something funny?” that smoky voice asked.

Harry shook his head. Explaining how much he wanted to point his other wand at his teacher was not the way he wanted to start the day. “No, Severus,” he finally managed.

The older man shook his head, but let it go. “Have some breakfast and then we need to get started,” he said.

Harry helped himself to toast and jam and poured a cup of tea, and then followed Severus into a room that they had decided had been the library. Severus had obviously been busy after Harry went to bed, since he’d moved the furniture out of the center of the room to make a clear space.

“This way we shouldn’t damage anything needlessly,” Severus said, seeing the way that Harry was looking around. “Accio wand!” he said, and now Harry was wandless.

“Defend yourself!”

It was a rough morning for the Gryffindor. As he found himself lying on the ground panting with exertion a couple hours later, he mentally catalogued his injuries.

He’d sprained his left ankle diving out of the way of a curse, his arm was scraped where he’s been thrown against the wall by a well placed Trip Jinx, and he was bruised all over from literally being thrown out of Severus’ mind a few times.

Severus held a hand out to him to help him up. “Let’s take a break,” he suggested. “I need to Heal you so we can try again this afternoon, and I think your blood sugar might be low.”

Harry nodded and grasped the older man’s hand. A quick pull had him stumbling straight into Severus’ sinewy arms. The older man automatically adjusted his stance to take the extra weight, but Harry still ended up cradled against the broad chest.

He looked up as Severus looked down, and they ended up with lips a scant inch apart. Harry licked his lips reflexively, and felt it when the older man shuddered and took a deep breath in response.

They both froze for a moment, and then Harry backed away quickly, but not before he’d gotten a whiff of Severus’ potent scent. His ex-Professor smelled like patchouli and tea with a spicy undercurrent that Harry couldn’t place, but that he wanted to keep smelling and that he really wanted to taste.

Severus sighed softly as Harry pushed himself away. The boy had fit into his arms absolutely perfectly, and he felt bereft when they were empty again.

“Sorry,” Harry mumbled, looking away. He missed the look of male interest and regret in Severus’ eyes.

“We should eat now,” Severus said, and the moment was lost.

Severus Healed Harry quickly and then they sat down and had sandwiches and soup for lunch.

“Why is this so hard for me to get?” Harry asked, after a few moments of silent chewing.

Severus shook his head. “Not sure,” he said slowly. “But let me test something.”

Directing a stare towards the Gryffindor, Severus said, “Block me. Legilimens.”

Harry tensed up and tried to put up a shield, but Severus’ mind slid around his defenses so fast that before he knew it he was on the floor again looking up and blinking in confusion.

Helping him back into his chair, Severus asked him, “Why are you tensing up before you try to block me?”

Harry sat and considered for a moment. “I’m trying to build a brick wall in my mind,” he said finally. “And I’m trying to make that wall as strong as I can, so I guess I just tense up before I do that.”

Severus sat back and regarded Harry over his steepled hands. “You think that your wall is the best thing to block me?” he finally asked. “What if I told you that I think of my thoughts as water? Do you still think that your wall would work?”

Harry shook his head. “I suppose not,” he said. “Maybe if I change my shield...”

“Block me,” Severus said, interrupting him.

Harry relaxed and put up a fluid barrier. Let’s see him break through that, he thought.

Severus smiled. The shield was more adaptable, more fluid and as he slipped around it, it got thicker and thinner in places as was appropriate. He made a spear with his thought and punched through, barreling into Harry’s mind. The Gryffindor’s mental shield collapsed, but he remained seated.

“Better,” Severus said, satisfied. “What did you do differently?”

“I started out with a fluid shield and I tried to adapt it to whatever you threw at me,” he said slowly. “I think I get it now. There’s no rule that I have to keep one type of shield, is there?”

“No, in fact, it’s recommended that you have several types, possibly layered, so that as I break through your first shield I should encounter another type. Has no one ever told you this?”

Harry shook his head. “No one’s ever told me about shielding,” he said.

Severus stared at him. “Don’t you have a constant mental shield up?” he asked.

Harry shook his head, no.

The older man resisted the urge to bang his head against the table. “Had they taught you nothing in DADA before I got there?” he asked. Holding up a hand he said, “Never mind. I’ll take care of it now. Shielding, lesson one....”

Harry got a crash course in mental shields over the rest of lunch. By the time they were clearing dishes, he was able to fend Severus’ mental attacks off for minutes at a time.

“You’re doing much better,” the older man praised. “And really, if you can defend your mind for longer than a few minutes, then the battle will likely be over before then. Remember that while you’re blocking your thoughts, you are also fighting.”

Harry nodded. Now that he was able to maintain a shield, his next offensive spell was not sitting in the front of his mind able to be seen by his opponent.

“Now,” Severus said. “Get your wand back.”

~

By the end of the day, Harry was not only able to recover his wand, but he was able to block Severus from taking it. The Potions master seemed pleased with Harry’s progress.

“A few more days of drilling and I think you shall be ready,” he said as he bustled around the kitchen preparing dinner.

Harry smiled. If anyone had told him a week ago that he would be in private tutoring with Snape and that the man would be praising his work, Harry would have had them immediately committed to St. Mungos. And now, here he was practically living in domestic bliss with the man.

They ate dinner quietly, talking about Hogwarts and the personalities there. Harry tried to get a bit of insight into Severus’ personal life, but the man would not cooperate, adroitly turning the conversation away from himself at every opportunity.

“When do you think that Dumbledore’s portrait will wake up?” Harry finally asked. He had tried to ask the portrait some questions before he’d left Hogwarts that last time, but the picture had been asleep, Dumbledore’s chest rising and falling with his gentle snores.

Severus shrugged. “It can take several years,” he said. “The fastest I have seen a portrait wake up after the person’s death is about a month, and even then, the person was out a lot and not really available for questions.”

Harry eyed the striking onyx stone that Severus was absently caressing. “Do you think he knew about that?” he asked, indicating the stone.

The older man looked at the gem. “Who, Albus?” he asked.

At Harry’s nod he looked thoughtful. “One can never be sure with Albus Dumbledore,” he said. “I have given up trying to guess what he did or didn’t know. He might have. He did seem to be very understanding when I had my ‘moods’.”

Harry grinned. “Knowing what I do now, your previous personality does make sense,” he said. “You are much more approachable now.”

Severus rolled his eyes. “Perhaps I should pretend to be my old self then,” he said. “Save myself the trauma of inane attempts to be social.”

“I hope you don’t.” Harry said, looking down. “I sort of like the new Severus Snape.”

Severus made a noncommittal sound.

“Did you like people being afraid of you?” Harry asked.

“Sometimes,” the older man admitted. “It made life simple. No one expected anything from me, certainly not politeness or social grace.”

“You won’t be able to get away with that now,” Harry said.

“That is assuming that I’ll survive this whole thing,” Severus said.

Harry nodded. That thought had occurred to him as well.

“Well, I think it’s time to retire,” Severus said. “Goodnight, Harry.”

Harry replied with a soft “goodnight”, and watched the older man leave to go to his room. He sat for a long time in the kitchen, the glimmer of an idea forming. Perhaps he could get Severus after all.

~

The next day was spent in more lessons. Harry’s response time and his wandless magic skills were improving significantly with the intense practice. The Gryffindor was beating Severus successfully about a half of the time, and they were both pleased with his progress.

Lunch and dinner were both relaxed meals, although Harry could tell that Severus was getting restless. The older man broke the silence after a few minutes.

“I would like to try to find Draco tomorrow evening,” he said. “Do you think that you will be up for that?”

Harry nodded. “As long as you think that I’m ready, I’m up for it,” he said. “I personally think that the sooner we go, the better.”

Severus nodded. “I am quite concerned about Draco,” he said softly, eyes distant.

“Do you really think that they will hurt him?” Harry asked.

Severus shrugged. “I am not sure. It bothers me that I have not been allowed to see him. Bella is suspicious of me and since he is my protégé, he falls under suspicion, no matter that he is her nephew. She is quite paranoid.”

Fixing an intense gaze on Harry, Severus said, “The bigger question, Harry, is, are you truly prepared to kill the Dark Lord?”

Harry sighed. He had been asking himself that question for a while now, several years, in fact. “I honestly don’t know, Severus,” he said. “When I think of my parents, Sirius, Cedric, Dumbledore.... I think that I am.”

“Technically, I killed Albus,” Severus corrected gently.

Harry shook his head. “I hold him responsible,” he said firmly. “The situation would not have come up had it not been for Voldemort.” He glanced again at the onyx Soulstone around the older man’s neck. “I still cannot believe that that monster did that to his followers,” he said in a low angry voice. “I have to kill him for their sake as well as all of ours.”

Harry glanced back up at Severus. “May I touch it?” he asked, pointing at the stone.

Severus nodded and Harry reached out and grasped the stone lightly. He gasped as light flared from it at his touch. He dropped it, but not before he felt a tingle.

“What was that?”

Severus stared at Harry for a long moment. No, it was not possible....

“I... I am not sure,” he finally said. “The making of Soulstones to bind others is a very ancient Dark Art not covered in your standard texts. Perhaps until we know more you should avoid touching it. I would hate to harm you any more than I already have.”

Harry shook his head. “You haven’t hurt me,” he insisted. “Yes, you’ve occasionally hurt my feelings and embarrassed me, but you’ve saved my life several times. Any harm you may have caused me I forgive you for.”

Severus looked down, suddenly overcome. Harry had forgiven him? He hadn’t thought that possible. He let out a deep, relieved breath and continued.

“I believe that you are prepared to do what must be done, Harry,” the older man said. “All you need is the determination, the will, to kill him, and you have that. I will help of course, and if I could do it for you I would, but Albus was convinced that you had to do it.”

“Do you really think we’ll survive this?” Harry asked softly.

Severus shrugged. “It is my job to see that you do,” he said.

“Severus?” Harry took a deep preparatory breath. Here goes, he thought.

The older man focused on Harry. “Yes?”

“I’ve never... that is I’ve kissed a couple of people but I didn’t really like it and it occurred to me that it might have been because they were girls and I’ve recently found I’m attracted to men, well a man, oh what the hell, you actually, and I’m not sure that we’ll ever get the chance to... well not that I’m just desperate to do it but it would be nice if I got to experience something before I might die... so do you think we could possibly...? Before tomorrow maybe, when it might be too late...?” He stuttered to an embarrassed stop.

Severus narrowed his eyes trying to follow the conversation. “Are you asking me to help you to experience physical pleasure, Harry?” he finally asked, once his mind had made sense of Harry’s babbling.

The Gryffindor nodded.

Severus sighed. “I am sure that is a bad idea, Harry,” he said gently. “You are going to make it. You don’t have to settle for your first time being with an old dried up Death Eater.”

Harry shook his head.” You’re not dried up, you’re certainly not old and you’re not even really a Death Eater,” he said, leaning forward earnestly. “And you’re to be my teacher in all things, Dumbledore said so, so why not this?”

Severus snorted. “The frightening thing is that Albus might have agreed with your reasoning,” he said. “Be that as it may however, I cannot in all conscience do this, Harry. Can’t you see that?”

“Even if I ask? Even if you’re the only one that I want?” Harry was determined to have Severus see his side.

“Gods, you’re tempting,” Severus said. “But I must say that under the circumstances, I cannot do as you ask. I have done you enough harm already.” The older man stood up from where they had ben sitting in the comfortable kitchen. “Time for bed,” he said. “Goodnight, Harry. Sleep well.”

Harry sighed as Severus walked out of the room and headed upstairs. He followed the man up the stairs a few minutes later and, with one last longing look at Severus’ door, closed his own.

Severus heard Harry’s door close and sighed. He thought back to what that scene in the kitchen had meant. It was impossible, yet he knew it was true. He looked down at his Soulstone almost accusingly. Harry Potter is my Soul Mated match, he said to himself. What on earth was he to do now?

~

Chapter Three

~

A scream split the silence of the night and had Severus sitting straight up in his bed. His feet hit the floor and he was moving before he was really conscious.

He burst into Harry’s room, wand at the ready, only to find the Gryffindor asleep, tossing and turning. The wards on the house had not been breached.

Severus walked over to the bed, intending to wake his student from the nightmare, when Harry sat up in bed and said in a voice not his own, “Come to me and die, Potter!”

Grabbing Harry by the shoulders, Severus shook him briskly. Harry woke almost immediately, his chest heaving. He appeared a bit disoriented until he looked up into Severus’ face. With an inarticulate cry, he threw himself at the Potions master.

Sitting down onto the bed and gathering the sobbing bundle into his arms, Severus soothed him, running gentle hands over his back until he appeared to calm a bit. Harry had had his head buried in Severus’ shoulder, and so when he pulled back, his lips brushed the Potions master’s cheek.

The Soulstone flared to life, bathing them both with a muted glow.

Both men froze, and then Harry deliberately pressed forward again, this time catching the edge of Severus’ mouth with his lips. A shy tongue came out to lick at the corner of his mouth and Severus was lost.

With a smothered moan, the man slanted his lips fully over Harry’s, his tongue begging entrance until Harry gasped and let him in.

Severus explored the sweet, moist depths for several indulgent moments and then he came to his senses. He pulled back, groaning at how Harry’s lips clung to his. The Gryffindor’s moan of disappointment echoed his own thoughts on the matter.

“Please,” Harry whispered, his eyes glittering. “Don’t leave me. Stay, please?”

Severus swallowed convulsively. “Harry, I don’t think that I can stay here and not make love to you,” he admitted hoarsely.

Harry pulled him down on top of him, and the warmth and the feeling of comfort called to Severus like a siren’s song.

“Then make love to me,” Harry breathed against the older man’s lips. “I want you to.”

With Harry’s body curled around his, it was difficult for Severus to think clearly. He moaned low in his throat as Harry’s nimble fingers started undoing his sleep pants.

“No! Clothes stay on,” Severus said, trying to stay Harry’s movements.

Harry sighed, but instead of arguing he simply cuddled closer. “Ok,” he said. “But will you just hold me then?”

Severus’ heart turned over in his chest. “Very well,” he said softly. Gathering Harry back into his arms, he willed his libido down and wrapped himself protectively around the Gryffindor. With Harry’s head tucked underneath his chin, he lay there as his precious bundle’s breathing patterns evened out. Sleep was a long time coming.

~

It was still dark when he woke disoriented and warm, very warm. Severus Snape was always cold; he had been miserable living in the dungeons at Hogwarts because of the damp. It explained why he inevitably kept a roaring fire in all of the fireplaces in his rooms when he was there, and why he wore layers upon layers of black clothing.

He instinctively turned towards the source of the warmth like a flower to the sun, and when the warmth shifted, he simply shifted with it, wrapping himself around it as if trying to absorb all that heat into himself.

A throbbing warmth was pushing insistently against his hip and Severus turned towards it, automatically thrusting his own pulsing erection against it. The resulting pleasure spiraled through him and before he was aware of what was happening he was rubbing frantically against satin skin.

Skin? His eyes flew open and he looked into jade pools that were filled with pleasure and heat.

“Harry,” he moaned, unable to stop the thrusting. The friction felt too good.

“Gods... Sev,” Harry muttered, hips moving in tandem with Severus’. He leaned forward and sucked a vicious kiss into the older man’s jaw. As his chest brushed against the onyx stone, Harry suddenly felt a wave of pleasure coming from the older man.

In response, Severus’ head flew back as ecstasy burst through him. He felt the amplification of both his and Harry's emotions that the stone facilitated, and he moaned. He was too close to stop now and he felt so good, so warm....

Uttering a broken cry, he spasmed, his essence spreading between them in seemingly endless spurts. Harry bucked against him a few more times and then he too came, his breath hitching on a long, low moan.

The two men lay there, spent until Severus whispered a cleansing charm.

“What just happened?” Harry finally asked.

“I believe that my Soulstone recognizes you as my Mate,” Severus said.

Harry smiled. “I could feel your emotions,” he whispered.

Severus nodded. “As I could yours,” he replied. “That was... quite intense.”

“Thank you,” Harry whispered.

Severus sighed. “I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he said.

Harry smiled and snuggled closer. “I meant for staying last night, although the other was great too,” he said. “It was a really bad dream and I needed you.”

Severus gathered his lover closer and sighed again. The whole thing was so complicated now he wasn’t sure what to do. He had a sneaking suspicion that Albus had known that Harry was his Soulmate. Damn him. A thought occurred to him.

“Harry?”

“Mmmmm?”

“Why are we naked?”

Harry blushed. “I... I guess I spelled our clothes away,” he said.

“You guess?” Severus sighed. “I suppose the good thing about that is that it means you are getting really good at wandless and wordless magic,” he said.

“Good enough to attack Voldemort tonight?” Harry asked. “You think I’ve had enough practice?”

Severus nodded. “It will have to be,” he said. “I think we can surmise from your dream that he knows you’re coming. We need to do this soon.”

Harry nodded and then, in a smooth move the left Severus breathless, he rolled on top of the older man, smiling at the look on his face.

“Can we agree that the horse is out of the barn now?” he said, settling in between Severus’ spread thighs. “I want to do this properly.”

Severus closed his eyes. Harry’s weight on top of him felt marvelous and the sensation of their cocks rubbing together was quickly becoming one of his favorite things. “Define ‘properly’,” he gasped.

“Can I suck you, Severus?” Harry asked.

Both men felt the twitch that his cock gave at that question.

“I think your body answered me,” Harry said, grinning wickedly. Ducking his head, he licked his way down Severus’ body, pausing at places that seemed sensitive to his exploration.

“Are you sure you’ve... ah... never done his?” Severus gasped, his hips bucking upwards of their own accord, hands clenched in the sheets as Harry continued his ministrations. His legs fell open, unconsciously granting greater access.

Harry’s tongue circled his navel a couple of times before he answered. “Never done this to anyone,” he said. “But I read a lot. And I have a pretty good imagination.”

Severus’ laugh turned to a moan when Harry chose that moment to grasp his reenergized cock and slowly lick the slit.

“Do you like that?” Harry whispered.

“Merlin...” Severus was quickly losing his composure. Harry’s mouth was hot, like the rest of him. His cock felt like it was encased in hot, tight, silk, and when Harry sucked, Severus saw stars.

A bitter tang burst over his tongue as he sucked Severus’ broad tip into his mouth and to Harry it seemed as if he was tasting Severus’ soul. Kissing the older man had been great, but this was sublime. The sounds that Severus was making were incredibly arousing, as were the writhing hip movements that the older man couldn’t seem to stop.

Harry’s cock throbbed in tandem and he grasped and stroked it lightly as he continued to suck.

Severus realized what he was doing and moaned. “Turn around,” he gasped.

Harry pulled off with an audible pop and looked up, confused.

Severus grasped his arm and tried to pull it towards him and then Harry got the idea. Shifting quickly, he settled again, this time with his groin near Severus’ face, his mouth still hovering over the older man’s weeping cock.

Severus grinned, and turning onto his side for better access, sucked Harry straight in, deep throating him.

Harry keened and his hips bucked against Severus’ face reflexively. His own mouth settled over the older man again and then all was lost in a haze of pleasure. The stone flared to life, opening the conduit between them.

Heartfelt sighs and moans of pleasure filled the room. Severus grasped Harry’s hips and held on, sucking and tonguing his lover into oblivion. Harry, in the meantime, was busy learning the differing textures of his lover. Moaning around each other, the two men came quickly, within seconds of each other.

Severus pulled off with one last suck and reaching down, pulled Harry back into his arms. A slow, deep kiss in which they traded tastes, and then Harry settled against Severus, content.

“Happy now?” Severus asked, slightly hoarse.

“Mmmm,” Harry replied sleepily.

Severus again watched over his love as he slept. It was the least he could do, given what was coming.

~

More practice that day, so much so that by the afternoon, Harry was making silly mistakes born of fatigue. Severus called a halt to the lessons.

“You need to rest and prepare for later,” he said.

“Will you rest with me?” Harry asked archly. He’d been flirting all day and Severus had been ignoring all of his double entendre’s.

Severus shook his head. “You have a one track mind,” he muttered. “No, I am not going to ‘rest with you’,” he said. “I will be contacting the Dark Lord’s fortress and letting them know that I will be there tonight. You will be resting.”

Harry had sulked a bit but fell asleep almost immediately when his head hit the pillow, indicating that he’d needed the rest.

When he woke up, Severus had the Invisibility Cloak laid out for him as well as Gryffindor’s sword and a vial with a few drops of Phoenix Tears gathered from Fawkes before he’d disappeared.

They went over the plan again, discussing options should the first and best plan fail. Severus reminded Harry to be careful about touching him now that their Soulbond was in evidence. It would not do to have the stone react at the wrong moment. Severus had placed it directly against his skin, hoping that it would not attract notice.

Finally, they could put it off no longer.

“Are you ready?” Severus asked for the fourth time that evening.

Harry nodded, looking up at his lover trustingly. He slipped on his Cloak and then stepped next to Severus so that they were touching.

Severus took a deep breath and, pulling Harry even closer to him, Apparated them to the outskirts of the Dark Fortress.

~

Severus walked confidently into the foyer, ignoring the Death Eater guards posted there. His cloak swirled dramatically around him and the eyes of all in the room were on him, and thus not seeing anything else that might be irregular.

Harry crept behind him, admiring his lover even as he was extra careful to avoid contact with anyone but Severus. They hoped to go unchallenged, but that was the best case scenario.

Just when Harry thought that they were home free, things went downhill.

“Severus!”

Bellatrix stepped into the hallway behind him and called out, making him stop mid stride. Harry immediately pressed himself flat against the wall in as small a space as possible.

“Bella,” Severus turned around and greeted her coldly.

“You’re back,” she observed, running her eyes over him suspiciously. “Business all done?”

“Not quite,” he said. “Still a few loose ends to take care of.”

She smiled and circled him. Harry sucked in a silent breath and pressed himself even flatter against the wall.

“Do you still need Draco to assist you on your... project?” she asked.

Severus shrugged. “If he is available then it is possible that he could help me, but if he isn’t, it matters not,” he said. “Excuse me, Bellatrix, but I must report to Our Dark Lord right away.”

She nodded. “Do not let me keep you then,” she said. “And, Severus,” she added as he turned away. “If you like, do fill me in on these... projects. Perhaps I can help.”

He bowed curtly and then continued towards the Dark throne room, hoping that Harry had slipped around the bitch and was still following.

Harry tiptoed away from his spot on the wall that was to Bella’s right just in time. She leaned onto the wall where he had been but a few seconds before and muttered under her breath, “What are you up to, Severus?”

Harry backed away from her slowly, keeping one eye on her and one on Severus. He breathed a bit easier when she turned away and walked back into the room she had come out of.

He hurried to catch up with Severus, almost running smack into the back of him when he stopped abruptly.

“Are you here?” the Potions master murmured under his breath.

Harry tugged lightly on his robe to confirm his presence.

Severus straightened up and walked around the corner to a door that had several guards. He walked by them confidently and, at the very last moment, the double doors opened. He walked in slowly enough to allow Harry to follow unobtrusively.

Harry crept in behind Severus and immediately separated from him, sliding against the wall until he got to a corner where he could see everything in the room clearly. Then he got his first good look at Voldemort, and was shocked at the creature’s appearance.

He looked even more serpentine that he had previously. What could be seen of his skin was now covered in a series of tiny green scales, and his head appeared to have elongated to the point that he had the appearance of a rather large snake. Harry looked for ears and could not find them.

Severus was speaking.

“My Lord, have you considered my proposal?” he asked, bowing low.

Voldemort regarded Severus for a long moment. “Ahhh, Severussss,” he finally replied. “Yessss, I have considered your requessst that you might ussse the Malfoy boy to lure Harry Potter out of hiding. Bella isss not convinced, but I think it worth a try. You may take him and then go, Severusss.”

The creature clapped his hands and one of the guards came into the room.

“Bring Draco Malfoy to me,” Voldemort said.

The creature turned to Severus once more. “So, what have you done with your Soulstone, Severussss? Destroyed it, I hope. I have found thossse things to be a weakness. Bella destroyed hers and she hasss been an invaluable ssservant to me.”

Severus bowed low. “I have not yet done anything with it, My Lord,” he replied smoothly. “I have been researching if there is any way to get more power from it.”

Hissing laughter filled the room. “Excellent! I trussst you will keep me informed of your experimentsss? They might prove useful for the future.”

“Of course, My Lord,” Severus replied, looking for all the world like a dedicated Death Eater. Harry was amazed at what a great actor his lover was.

The door opened and Draco walked in, accompanied by a masked Death Eater and predictably, Bella. He looked tired, but healthy, with no visible marks. He looked carefully at Severus and then scanned the room seemingly casually.

“Come here, boy,” Voldemort said. “Severusss has a task for you. He shall explain it. Do not fail me thisss time!”

Bella sauntered in and, with a smirking look at Severus, sat at Voldemort’s feet. “Yes, Sev. Let’s hear the plan,” she said. “We are all interested.”

“I think that the fewer know about it the better, Bella,” he said mockingly. “I am, of course, planning to tell Lord Voldemort, but you do have this alarming habit of interfering. I think the less you know, the better.”

Voldemort hissed with laughter. “I so like to see healthy competition between my lieutenants,” he said. He laughed a bit longer at the look on Bella’s face and then he dismissed her.

“Go, Bella. I shall summon you soon. I would hear of Severus’ master plan now.”

With a furious look at both Severus and Draco, Bella stood up and almost trampled Nagini before she flounced out of the room. The snake hissed at her as she left and then settled down once more. The door slammed shut behind Bella with a clang.

With the wave of his hand, Voldemort put up a Silencing spell over the room that was so strong that it was visible, shimmering into place with a whispering sound.

Severus turned to Draco. “Are you ok?” he asked.

Draco nodded. “She didn’t do anything but threaten me,” he said.

Voldemort interrupted, impatient to hear the plan. “He isss fine, Severusss, asss I reassured you he would be. Now, what isss this plan?”

Severus turned to the loathsome creature on the throne. “The plan, Lord Voldemort,” he said, “is to have Harry Potter kill you so that we can end this war and free those poor souls that you have trapped downstairs.”

The room fell silent. Harry wondered if this was his cue, and then Voldemort started laughing. “Severussss, you are very amusing,” he hissed. “Were it not for the fact that I know you killed Dumbledore, I would not be so amusssed, however. Come now, the time for jokesss isss over. What isss this plan?”

Severus smiled and said, “Now, Harry.”

~

Chapter Four

~

~

Harry had been trying to stay as quiet as possible in the corner, not even breathing when Voldermort or Nagini seemed to sniff in his direction. So when Severus said ‘Now’, Harry was caught unawares.

He recovered quickly, though. Casting off his cloak, he aimed his wand and screamed, “Avada Kedavra!”

The sickly green fire flew towards the creature and then dissipated a few feet from him. For a moment, a look of fear crossed Voldemort’s face and then, when he saw the fire die, he cackled.

Grabbing his wand, Voldemort pointed it at Harry. “Poor pathetic Potter,” he spat. “I’ll deal with you sssoon. But first, I mussst take care of my betrayer.”

Severus narrowed his eyes at Voldemort and then bright lights flew between them thick and furious. Draco scurried to the corner, his back against the wall, watching with wide eyes.

Harry’s mouth dropped open as he watched his lover battle. He was amazing, an avenging angel, eyes blazing as he wordlessly fended off attack after attack. His robes flared around him as his Wizards power caused a cool wind to swirl around him. He had never looked so beautiful to Harry.

And then it happened. Voldemort uttered a flurry of curses and they flew towards Severus’ face, battering through his shields. Harry gasped as his lover was propelled backwards, driven by the force of the spells. Severus hit the ground with a crunch.

Harry screamed and a burst of hatred flared in him. “You... bastard!”

A gale force wind grew up in the room, whipping Harry’s robes around him. He glowed with his power, his gaze fixed on Voldemort.

“Well, well,” the Dark Lord murmured. “So you have sssome ssskill after all.”

Severus groaned and Harry glanced quickly at him.

A vicious curse bounced harmlessly off of his shields, making Harry refocus on Voldemort. A hissing laugh made him cringe.

“You ssstill cannot kill me, Potter,” Voldemort said. “You are weak. Jussst like that fool Dumbledore wasss.”

Harry seethed, his anger settling in his chest like a weight.

Severus moved and Voldemort directed a jolt of red light at him, making him scream in pain.

“No!” Harry cried out, feeling the pain as it slammed through his lover. Somehow the Soul Link was open and he could feel everything Severus felt, the cold floor under his back, the sharp pain in his left leg where he had fallen hard, even the throb of the Soulstone against his lover’s chest. Then, unexpectedly, he was inside the Potions master’s head.

Severus somehow knew Harry was there, in his mind. *I love you,* he thought clearly at the Gryffindor.

Harry gasped. He could see how long Severus had loved him, how the man had sacrificed for him. He also saw his lover’s intent.

“No!!!” Harry started across the room, but it was too late. Severus pointed his wand at Voldemort and screamed, “Finite Incantatem!”

And suddenly Draco was there pointing his wand and yelling, “Avada Kedavra, you bastard!”

Voldemort buckled under the double assault, staggering as his shields were bombarded by both Slytherins. He snarled, his aura flared, and suddenly Draco hit the wall and slid to the floor as Severus moaned and fell backwards, dropping his wand.

Harry moaned in tandem, feeling the life ebb out of his lover as he lay on the floor.

Voldemort smiled malevolently and started to raise his arms, and then Harry struck.

“Avada Kedavra!”

He channeled all of his pain, his rage and his grief at the loss of Sirius, Cedric, Dumbledore and fear of the possible loss of Severus into that spell. For a moment he was pure light, as if every bit of energy in the world was coursing through him, and then it was over. He sagged, suddenly exhausted.

Bracing himself for an attack, Harry looked around, puzzled as no counter attack was forthcoming. Where was Voldemort?

A puddle of goop was pulsing on the floor where Voldemort previously had been standing. Harry looked at it, incredulous for a moment. Could it be... ?

The sight of Severus pulled him out of his trance. Harry ran over to him and threw himself to his knees, gathering his lover’s broken body in his arms. Then he was pushing the long, dark hair back as he cried, bitter tears falling onto the pale, still face.

He can’t be dead, he can’t be....

“Gods, no! Breathe Sev, please! You can’t die....” Harry was openly sobbing now. The older man lay in his arms, unmoving.

Harry dropped his head onto Severus’ chest, his breaths coming in gasps. “Please,” he whispered. “Gods, Sev, I love you so much...”

As his face brushed the Soulstone, it pulsed, a flare of light coming from it and making Harry gasp. He pulled his head back and grasped the stone tightly in his hand.

Throwing his head back he screamed, “Severus!”

A sucking sensation and then he collapsed on top of his lover, trembling. Severus coughed and then a long fingered hand patted his hair softly.

“Severus?!” Harry was crying and smiling and started scattering kisses over his lover’s face.

Severus coughed again and tried to sit up. “What... what happened?” he rasped.

Harry pulled him deeper into his arms and hugged him gently. “I think we killed Voldemort,” he said, tears streaming down his face. “And you’re alive.”

A soft snort from the corner made them both turn their heads. Draco was sitting up, rubbing his head gingerly. “Lovely as this is,” he said. “We still have a few problems.”

“What?” Harry asked, still focused on the man in his arms.

Draco pointed behind him.

Harry looked and saw Nagini hissing angrily over the remnants of her master. Her gaze fixed on him and she advanced menacingly.

“Ssssslayed! Masssster!” she hissed.

“Ssssstop!” Harry said in Parseltongue, and to his amazement, she obeyed, swaying in place.

“He wassssss evil,” Harry said. “He had to be sssslayed.”

She reared back and hissed. Harry saw it coming and hadn’t a chance to even react before she was flying backwards, a high pitched scream coming from her throat. She hit the far wall with a splat, snake guts scattering everywhere.

Draco smiled with satisfaction. “Who needs a stinking wand?” he asked, smirking as he got to his feet. “Although, I wouldn’t mind getting it back.”

“We need to get Draco’s Soulstone and then get out of here,” Severus said. “When I cast ‘Finite Incantatem’ on Voldemort, it caused the dissolution of the magical bonds holding his body and this place together, and it should make it visible to the Aurors.” He struggled to stand up, Harry hovering over him anxiously.

Draco walked over to them. “What do we have to get?” he asked.

As Severus explained about the Soulstones, Harry looked around the room. “We need to get your wand back too, Draco,” he said. “You might need it.”

Draco nodded, still stunned at the news that a piece of his soul was floating around out there. “He might keep them in here, I don’t know,” the blond said. “This was the room where he took it away from me.”

Harry narrowed his eyes. “Accio Draco’s wand!” he cried, and a slim piece of wood buzzed by his head and into his outstretched hand. He handed it to the blond, smirking.

Draco took the piece of wood almost reverently, tucking it safely into his robes. “I see what you mean about his being too Gryffindor for his own good,” the blond said.

Severus chuckled and then sobered quickly when a tremor shook the ground. “We must get to the Soulstone room and then get out,” he said urgently. Limping slightly, he started towards the door.

He looked down in surprise when Harry suddenly appeared under his armpit to support him. The Gryffindor looked up defiantly. “Shut up and walk,” he said, and Severus smiled and did as he was told.

“Maybe we should use this?” Draco said, bending over to pick up Harry’s abandoned Cloak.

“It’s too small,” Harry said, “But you could use it.”

Draco rolled his eyes and, pointing his wand at it said, “Expando Infinitum!”

He held it up and then threw it over all three of them. Harry was amazed when it covered all of them with no difficulty. It had not looked any bigger.

“It’s magicked to cover any number of people now,” Draco whispered. “C’mon, let’s go!”

The sorry threesome made their way to the door covered by the Cloak. As they walked out into the hallway, they were met with chaos. Death Eaters were scurrying around clutching at walls as the fortress trembled on its foundations.

Severus directed them to the end of the hallway and down some stairs. They made their way carefully, several times having to stop and cower against the wall as a Death Eater staggered by. Finally, they came to the empty hallway where the Soulstone room was. The door was now clearly visible now that Voldemort, and his concealing spell, was gone.

Draco reached out and opened the door gingerly. It swung open soundlessly and the threesome slipped in, closing the door behind them.

Draco immediately slipped out from underneath the Cloak and looked around. Harry helped an exhausted Severus over to a corner and sat him down, rolling up the Cloak and putting it into his pocket.

“Do you see it?” Severus asked the blond. “It should be fairly easy for you to spot. It calls to you...”

Draco froze and then looked up at a large diamond, set in a nook about halfway up the twenty foot wall. “I think I see it,” he called softly. “How do I get it down?”

“There were spells set around them before, but perhaps a simple ‘Accio’ will work now that he is dead,” Severus suggested.

Harry looked at his lover worriedly. He was getting paler and paler by the minute, he really needed to get him to a Healer. He knelt down beside him. “Are you all right?” he asked, concern coloring his voice.

Severus simply nodded and, closing his eyes, leaned his head back against the wall.

Harry suddenly had a brainstorm. “Fawkes!” he said and rummaging through his robes, pulled out the vial with the phoenix tears. He opened it and bade Severus to open his mouth. He dropped two drops in and stoppered it again, slipping the vial into his lover’s hand.

“Harry, a bit of help here?”

As the Gryffindor turned around he was confronted by the sight of Draco, his wand out, pointing at Bella, who stood in the door. Before he could even react, the blond was flying backwards. He hit the floor with a thump.

Bella turned insane eyes towards Harry and Severus.

“Well, well, well,” she said, venom dripping from her voice. “What have we here? A traitor to his race and a filthy half-blood.” She flicked her eyes over Severus, noting his dirty robes and the scrapes on his face.

“Looks like someone gave you a good fight, Severus,” she said. “Makes it all the easier for me to finish you, once and for all.”

In a blink, Harry was restrained, spread-eagle against the wall, his arms and legs held there by invisible bonds. Bella smiled and slinked towards him.

“And Harry Potter,” she smirked. “You look the worse for wear.... Oh, but then you always look like that.” She laughed at her own joke.

Severus tried to stand but then his head fell forward and he seemed to collapse. Bella grinned.

“Poor Severus,” she cooed. “Looks like the big fight took it out of you. Don’t be concerned, I’ll take care of you soon enough.” She refocused on Harry. “Looks like I have some time to deal with you properly, boy,” she snarled.

She made a sharp movement with her hand and Harry gasped as a deep gash appeared in his cheek.

“Stings, doesn’t it?” she said. “The wounds will do more than sting by the time I’m done with you, Potter,” she cackled.

Pulling out her wand, she raised her arms. Before she could utter a word, however, she went flying backwards, and Harry was suddenly released from his bonds. The Gryffindor almost hit the floor but Severus, who had sprung to his feet, caught him in his now solid arms. Harry found himself lowered gently to the ground and soft kiss brushed in his hair.

“I’ve got this one, love,” the older man said, before he turned back around to face the witch.

Severus stretched to his full height, his robes billowing around him as his cool power manifested. Harry shivered as the Soul Bond allowed him to feel the power rushing into him, filling up the hurt, empty places.

“It is long past time you pay for your crimes, Belle,” Severus said in a low, menacing voice.

The witch struggled to her feet and faced Severus defiantly. “And who will make me? You, Severus? Don’t make me laugh,” she spat.

Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw Draco trying to get on his feet, but Bella didn’t see as she was focused on the dark and dangerous man in front of her.

Severus smiled grimly and struck, a blast of dark blue flame speeding towards her and enveloping her. She laughed madly and shrugged it off, sending back her own flame of malevolent orange magic.

Back and forth they went and the two young men watched. Harry knew that neither one of them could interfere, lest they throw Severus off his spellcasting and allow Bella an advantage.

Finally, Severus seemed to grow impossibly bigger and he screamed an incantation that barreled towards the evil witch. It bowled easily through her shields and knocked her over, and then Draco struck.

The blond had evidently been waiting for an opportunity to attack, and so attack he did. He jumped onto his aunt’s form and started pummeling her. She fought back, but he was too quick. He Accioed her wand away and then got a choke hold on her neck.

“Draco!” Harry stood up and went to try to stop the blond from strangling his aunt to death. Severus caught him up in his arms to prevent him.

“Shhh! She’s already dead,” Severus said. “She has no soul! Let him have this. He needs to do this.”

Harry gazed deeply into his lover’s eyes and then nodded once. Burying his face in Severus’ chest, he closed his eyes and waited until the awful choking sounds had stopped. He turned around to see Draco standing, looking down at her body in shock.

Severus set Harry aside and walked over to his Godson. “Are you all right?” he asked gently.

Draco looked up at him. “I... I feel nothing,” he admitted. “Why don’t I feel anything?”

Severus pointed silently to the diamond winking up in the alcove and Draco’s gaze followed his finger.

A quiet “Accio” had the stone flying into the blond’s hands and then it was as if all emotion came back to him. His face crumpled and he sobbed. Severus gathered him into a hug, while Harry looked around the room.

“Severus, what about the rest of these stones? They belong to people too...”

Severus shook his head. “They belong to Death Eaters, yes. We cannot take them, the stones themselves will not allow that. Only the owner can claim them.”

Harry glanced up as a bit of the ceiling crumbled with yet another tremor of the building. “But they will be buried here!”

Severus nodded and, still carrying Draco, started towards the door. “Yes, Harry, they will,” he agreed. “But there is nothing we can do. We have to leave now or else we’ll be buried with them.”

Harry nodded glumly. Severus was, unfortunately, right. He fell into step behind his lover and Draco.

In the hallway, no one was around. Severus led the way up the stairs once more and through the now deserted hallway to the grounds outside. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, casting a cool, blue glow over the world.

“Harry!”

Remus Lupin came running forwards when he spotted the Gryffindor. The werewolf glanced curiously at Severus and Draco and then hugged Harry.

“Since you are all together am I to assume that they were actually on our side and spying for us?” Remus whispered as he hugged the younger man.

Harry pulled back and nodded emphatically.

Remus sighed. “Ok, Then I’ll help you explain it to that lot,” he said, indicating with his head the crowd of Aurors and Unspeakables that were standing around.

Harry smiled gratefully, but before he could say another word, a bushy haired blur came barreling at him. Hermione practically ran him over as she hugged him. Then he was surrounded with Aurors and Weasleys. He cried and hugged everyone and told them Voldemort was dead, causing a spontaneous cheer to hit the chill air. By the time he managed to extricate himself from Molly Weasley’s hug, Severus and Draco were gone. He looked around wildly for a glimpse of either man, but in the crush he was unsuccessful.

Remus saw him looking around and took pity on him. “They went to St. Mungos,” he said. “Draco looked to be pretty hurt.”

Harry nodded. Yes, Draco would need at the very least, some counseling. He sighed, wishing that Severus was there. He needed a hug desperately.

~

Harry walked slowly into the house at Godric’s Hollow. He’d just spent yet another day at the Ministry trying to find out what had happened to Severus and Draco. They had disappeared and whenever he tried to ask anyone about their whereabouts he was met with blank stares.

Someone had been busy Obliviating.

Even Remus had been no help. When Harry had gone to him, the werewolf had simply told Harry that it would “sort itself in the end, not to worry.”

Harry snorted. His Soul Mate was out there and missing and no one cared. It had been three days and no one even knew if they were alive, much less where they were. He sank into a chair and let his head fall into his hands.

That was how Severus found him.

The Potions master watched him for a moment, seeing the dejected slump of his shoulders. He reached out a hand and almost laughed when Harry jumped up and looked at him wildly, wand in hand.

Severus saw several emotions wash over his lover’s face and then he had his arms full of exuberant Gryffindor. The older man sighed and gathered Harry close, squeezing him tightly.

“Where were you?” Harry finally asked, after they had shared a deep reunion kiss that still had Severus reeling, and were cuddled together on the sofa.

Running restless fingers through Harry’s sable hair, Severus answered slowly. “I was at the Ministry. They offered to pardon me for all crimes done in the performance of my duties on behalf of the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore, “ Severus choked for a moment and then continued. “Albus left irrefutable evidence that he was the one who insisted that I Avada him. It took them three days, but they finally agreed to drop all charges.”

Harry smiled and hugged him again. “Severus! That’s wonderful! So what does that mean for the future? Are you going to resume your teaching position?”

The Potions master shook his head. “I am not cut out for teaching,” he said. “I only agreed to it because Albus asked it of me. I ended up doing it far longer than I had planned.” He smiled. “Now that my name has been cleared, the Snape fortune has been restored to me, and it is considerable.

“There was even talk of an Order of Merlin, First Class, but I think I successfully discouraged them.” He rolled his eyes. “Can you see me up on a podium having to be polite to those idiots?”

Harry giggled. “You’d hex them into next week,” he said.

Severus looked at this man, who had become the center of his world. The Soulstone was throbbing its happiness at Harry’s nearness. That wasn’t the only thing throbbing. Severus’ body felt like a mass of nerves and it was all he could do not to simply throw Harry over his shoulder and carry him upstairs.

“What are your plans now, Harry?” he asked. “Now that the war is over.”

Harry smiled up at him from under his lashes and Severus caught his breath at the heat and love in those emerald eyes. “I will be wherever you are, Severus, go wherever you go. I don’t need to work either, so I think between the two of us we can keep each other in the style to which we’ve become accustomed. We’ll find something worthwhile to do.”

Harry’s lips were too tempting, so Severus did the only thing he could under the circumstances. He pulled those lips closer and slipped his tongue into Harry’s inferno of a mouth. The sweet lips parted on a gasp and then both men were lost in each other.

The kiss swiftly became carnal as they traded tongues in a sensual dance that left them both breathless and panting.

Harry shifted so that he was straddling Severus, their throbbing cocks lining up so that with every sinful, gliding movement of those hips beneath him, they rubbed together. The sensations were glorious, but Harry wanted more.

“Please,” he whispered against Severus’ lips as he thrust downwards.

Severus moaned at the sensations bombarding him. “Please what, my own?” he asked, gripping the slim hips above his with long fingers.

Throwing his head back, Harry ground down and gasped. “Make me yours!” he said, his voice breaking on the words.

“You are mine,” Severus rasped, his tongue snaking out to lick at the wildly fluttering pulse that he could see in Harry’s neck. The Soulstone flared in seeming agreement, appearing to envelop them in a pulsing light.

Cradling his lover in his arms, Severus concentrated for a moment and then they were in the bedroom with a pop, sprawled all over each other on the bed.

Another spell, this time by Harry, had them both naked, moaning at the silky sensation of skin on skin.

Harry was warm and Severus wanted so badly to be buried to the hilt in that warmth. Leaning over for another slow, deep kiss, the older man settled between his lover’s legs, sighing at the sensation of his cock’s against Harry’s.

The Gryffindor promptly wrapped his legs around Severus’ waist and wriggled to try to get closer. Severus levered himself up onto his elbows and gazed down at the beauty beneath him.

“May I taste you?” the older man asked, and Harry nodded, smiling up at him, face full of love and trust.

“Please,” he whispered, and so Severus did just that.

He feathered kisses over his eyebrows, kissed Harry’s cheeks and neck, he spent a long time tasting his nipples until Harry was moaning incoherently, his cock painting pre-come on Severus’ belly.

Severus tasted every inch of his lover, and when he got to the part of Harry that was begging the most, his lover moaned, “Gods, Sev, just....”

His words were cut off by a scream as Severus swallowed him in one go and sucked strongly. Harry’s hips came off the bed and his back arched deeply. Severus simply held the writhing hips to him and swallowed around Harry who was embedded in his throat.

Keening at the sensations assaulting his overwrought nerves, the Gryffindor tried to hold on, to enjoy the sensation of Severus consuming him, but he couldn’t last long.

Screaming again, Harry came and came and came in a series of long, hard pulses that seemed to emanate from his toes all the way up his body. Severus sucked it all down and then pulled off when Harry was whimpering at the over stimulation. A gentle kiss to the tip of his cock had Harry laughing weakly. He looked completely fucked out.

“Turn over, love.”

Harry tried to move but couldn’t, so Severus helped him turn over onto his stomach.

Harry groaned as his lover tasted him all over again. Taking his time, Severus mapped each of Harry erogenous zones carefully. It turned out that Harry loved being licked in the small of his back, and he was incredibly sensitive when the indentations in his hips were gently sucked. Severus spent a long time doing that, finding that he was addicted to the sounds his Harry made.

Finally however, his own body was making demands that he could no longer ignore. Harry had long since been reduced to a mass of moaning writhing flesh, but there was one place that Severus had not yet tasted.

The Potions master leaned over and kissed Harry’s shapely cheeks, then parting them, he gazed for a moment at the tightly furled opening to his lover’s body. A quick ‘Scourgify’ later and Severus was running his tongue over Harry’s hole, softening him up for a much bigger invasion.

Harry froze at the first swipe and then he shook. The liquid moan that came from him had Severus impossibly hard in an instant. Need, lust and overwhelming love flooded him and he settled, his face between Harry’s cheeks, determined to undo him.

Harry had no basis for comparison for what was happening to him. He already belonged to Severus, body and soul, what else did he have to give? He couldn’t breath, couldn’t think. He could only feel. Feel, as that wicked tongue lapped at his hole, fluttering against his inner walls, setting off depth charges of sensation. Harry felt as if he were melting from the inside. Speech had left him.

His instincts had taken over an all he knew was that he wanted more. He needed to be filled, completed. When Severus pushed a slick, lubricated finger inside him, Harry rocked back, trying to get more.

Severus coated himself quickly, not sure he would make it inside his lover before coming. The broad head of his cock nudged at Harry’s hole and both men moaned as Severus slid into Harry’s slick, tight heat.

The older man drove slowly and thickly into his love, watching the arousing sight of Harry’s perfect arse being impaled on his flesh.

Harry spread his legs and clutched at the sheets as he was driven into the bed. He sighed as he felt Severus throbbing inside him. He felt loved and wanted, and then their minds were joined by the power of their bonded souls.

*Love you so much*

So good

*mine mine minemineminemine*

Yes!

Severus could no longer tell where he stopped and Harry began. He was falling, falling...

“Love you!” Severus screamed as he pulsed inside Harry, bathing his insides with his essence.

Harry’s cock had hardened once more and he too came, screaming, a blast of overwhelming love flowing from him to Severus and then back again in an almost endless feedback loop.

They flew together, finally landing in a sodden heap of satiation, surrounded by the glow of a bond fulfilled. Severus closed his eyes and wallowed in love.

~

Severus opened his eyes and found himself on top of a snoring Harry. They were stuck together having evidently fallen asleep immediately after their lovemaking. He tried to shift but it wasn’t easy, fused together as they were. He froze as Harry moved and moaned.

“Awake?” Severus whispered, brushing back unruly locks to see jade eyes open and smile at him.

Harry wrinkled his nose adorably and then nuzzled Severus’ neck tenderly. “Hello,” he said, and reaching an arm up, pulled Severus’ head down to his for a wet, intense kiss that had the older man’s head reeling before it was over.

“Shower,” Harry said after a few moments of trying to find a comfortable position.

Severus agreed quickly, hating the sticky feeling of dried semen on his skin.

They walked into the bathroom hand in hand, and as Harry turned on the taps in the shower and got the water temperature set, Severus gathered towels for them. They stepped in together and Harry sighed as the hot water hit him.

Severus turned away to start soaping up a sponge and Harry grabbed the shampoo. Each man quickly cleaned himself off and then turned to the other. Harry reached out and poured shampoo into his hands and then spread it through Severus’ wet hair.

The older man leaned into Harry’s hands as they gently massaged his scalp. Eyes closed, he swayed, moaning under his breath at the sensual attention being paid to him. Harry smiled at the sounds his lover was making.

“Like that?” Harry murmured.

Severus nodded, eyes still closed as he reveled in Harry’s touch. “Feels so good,” he said softly.

“Hedonist,” Harry teased.

Chuckling and rinsing his hair free of soap, Severus gathered Harry to him and started to kiss him, the warm water cascading over them, enclosing them in their own little world. Harry melted into his arms.

“I’m the hedonist?” he asked, nipping at Harry’s berry-red lips.

Harry moaned and threw a leg over Severus’ hip as the older man backed him onto a slick tile wall. As Severus sucked water off of Harry’s neck and shoulders, the Gryffindor trembled under the onslaught.

“Love you so much,” Harry said, his head tilted back to give his lover better access.

Severus smiled and bit the fragrant skin in front of him lightly. “Love you too, Harry,” he rasped, his fingers gripping the younger man’s hips as he ground against him trying to get closer.

They thrust together, cock rubbing against each other in heated, frantic movement until it was all too much and they exploded with pleasure, bathing each other with their hot, creamy come.

They slid down the wall, legs too wobbly to hold them up, and huddled together under the cooling water, panting heavily. The Soulstone gave off a warm, comfortable glow that enclosed them.

“Never leave me,” Harry whispered.

Severus hugged him closer. “Never, my own,” he promised.

~

Draco looked up and smiled when he saw who was visiting him that day.

“Severus! Harry! Gods, it’s good to see you both!”

The blond looked good. He had gained some weight and had a calm, expectant expression on his face. He was fingering a beautiful diamond that was set in a striking pendant hanging around his neck.

Harry and Severus spent the day at St. Mungos visiting. They had Draco laughing loudly by the time they got ready to leave that evening.

When Draco excused himself for a moment, Harry turned to Severus. “When can he go home?” he asked.

Severus sighed. “He could go now,” he said. “But the Malfoy estate has been seized by the Ministry, along with all of his money. For the moment he has nowhere to go.”

Harry paused. “He could always stay with us,” he suggested quietly.

Severus looked at him for a long moment before replying. “I had not wanted to ask, love, but it would make the world of difference to get him out of here.”

Harry hugged Severus quickly. “Of course he can stay with us,” he said.

When they invited Draco to stay with them he was overjoyed. They had his things packed in short order and by later on that evening they all walked away from the hospital without a backward glance.

“What are your plans now, Draco?” Harry asked when they were all back in Godric’s Hollow.

Draco smiled and stared into the roaring fire.

“I had thought to go back and try to recover some other Soulstones,” he said softly. “There are many who were forced, like I was, to become Death Eaters, and they will never be the same until those are recovered.”

Harry looked at Severus. “It would be something worthwhile,” he said.

Severus rolled his eyes. He was Bonded to a Gryffindor. Of course his Harry thought it would be a good idea to risk life and limb digging for the buried Soulstones of Death Eaters.

He shook his head as he watched the two young men discussing their strategy, sighing at the loss of his life of leisure.

Harry, sensing his lover’s feelings from their increasingly close bond, simply smiled at Severus, reaching for his lover’s hand as he kept plotting with Draco. After all, he was loved and he knew Severus would never leave him. All was well with his world.

~Fin