Work Text:
Harry grunted when he walked into their rooms and found Draco seated in front of the fire talking to Severus. He narrowed his eyes dangerously at the blond hoping that he would be able to burn a hole into the side of his head.
"Stop glowering at me just because you want to sex up my Godfather," Draco glared right back at him. "And you still owe me a new wand,"
"I have told you I am not replacing your wand, you deserved it. And I could still sex him up," Harry huffed shoving gently at Draco's head before leaning down over Severus. His heart warmed when despite his narrowed eyes of displeasure for Harry's comment, he leaned up for the kiss that Harry was leaning down to give him.
Harry hummed into the kiss, sliding his fingers into Severus' hair and pressing just on the right place that made his lover hum happily back to him. He pulled back with a soft smile for his love, pressing a few fleeting kisses to his thin lips before stepping back and stripping out his robes.
"You are sickening you know that," Draco snorted.
"I beg your pardon?" Severus narrowed his eyes at his godson, ignoring the annoyed huff Harry gave at their kiss being broken.
"Sickening, sick…ening!" Draco repeated, grinning when his godfather glared even more. "You know that stopped working on me when I was 4 right?"
"I have regretted it ever since," Severus sighed, "stop pouting and sit down dear," he rolled his eyes at Harry, tugging his hand.
"How has your day been?" Harry asked making himself comfortable next to Severus, throwing his arm over the back of the sofa.
"Productive, Draco and I have worked through a lot of potions that we have been wanting to get around to," Severus smiled a little.
"You managed to find the best of the best of everything for Uncle Sev, really impressive," Draco hummed.
"Was that a note of respect that I heard?" Harry grinned.
"No," Draco sniffed.
"It really is impressive Harry, too much," Severus said softly.
"Not for you," Harry took Severus' chin gently in his hand and pressed a kiss to his lips.
"We will be able to create a great many potions," Draco said, but the soft look in his eyes when he looked between them made Harry happy. It had been a difficult month since his conversation with Lucius, the other man was still being incredibly difficult, and he had barely been speaking to Severus which Harry knew upset his lover, and made him furious, but he had promised that he would not interfere again. Narcissa and Draco had been the opposite though, and they seemed to have realised that if anything Severus had all the power in their relationship and not the other way around.
More than that though they seemed to have realised that Severus was truly happy and that more than anything else was what was important to them, and it had allowed Harry to move past the uncomfortable feelings, and their history and start again with them, especially for Severus' sake.
"Are you ok?" Severus asked concerned touching Harry's hand making him realise that he had zoned out.
"Hmm, just a little tired," Harry shook his head with a smile.
"I will get going and leave you to it," Draco said standing.
"Don't leave because of me, I am fine honestly," Harry said.
"I need to go and have a chat with Father and Mother anyway," Draco assured him.
"Everything ok?" Harry asked concerned.
"Yes, we need to have a chat about the fact that they plan to marry me off to Pansy," Draco rolled his eyes. "I came across the marriage plan yesterday,"
"Is there someone that you would rather marry?" Harry asked casually.
"How you managed to be as sneaky and discrete as you were I do not know," Draco shook his head.
"I am not bothering to be with you," Harry waved him off.
"Marcus Flint," Draco said, Severus and Harry blinked at him before it clicked what he meant.
"Flint really?" Harry hummed.
"Yes!" Draco said a little defensively.
"I can see it, I think that you would be a good match, and it would be easy enough to swing it around to being a political marriage, the Flints are well off and politically powerful enough that combining their House with the Malfoy name would be advantageous for the Dark Side," Harry nodded.
"If they give you any problems let us know and Harry will sort it out," Severus said firmly to his godson, standing and hugging him tightly.
"I will, will I?" Harry huffed.
"He will," Severus nodded to Draco letting him go.
"You're lucky I love you," Harry reached out and snagged Severus' robes, tugging him back so that he had to drop into Harry's lap.
"I know," Severus looked at Harry seriously, his lover just shaking his head with a wide smile.
"I will sort it," Harry said to Draco holding his hand out for the blond to shake.
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Draco took the hand.
"If you're happy Severus is happy," Harry said.
"And you like me!" Draco called over his shoulder as he made his way to the door.
"I will deny it to my dying day!" Harry called cheerfully.
"Thank you," Severus said as soon as the door closed getting Harry's attention on his lover sitting in his lap.
"For what?" Harry blinked.
"For making such an effort with him, I know that it is for me, and I want you to know that I really appreciate it," Severus said a little awkwardly, looking down at his potion stained hands.
"Severus, when I say that I would do anything for you that is within my power, I mean it, even if I was not coming to enjoy…alright enjoy Draco's company, I would still be polite for your sake because I want you to be happy, I want you to be happy with me," Harry said softly.
"I am you know," Severus raised his black eyes to look at Harry, taking in his green eyes that could be ice cold and deadly, but always looked at him with warmth and love, always watching him as though he were the most precious thing in the world. He turned in Harry's lap so that he was straddling him and leant forward to press gentle kisses to his lover's lips before he deepened it, groaning when Harry's arms wrapped around his waist and he took control of the kiss, taking Severus' breath away as he always did.
The potions master leant into Harry, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and pressing their bodies together as he lost himself into the kiss, soaking in the feelings and passion from the younger man.
"I mean it," Severus breathed against Harry's lips when they parted to catch their breaths.
"Mean what?" Harry asked a little breathlessly, licking his lips.
"I am happy, you make me happy, us, what we are making, I am happier than I think I have ever been in my life. I do not think that I have said that to you," Severus confessed. The bright smile that he got from Harry made him regret not saying it sooner, and mentally he promised himself that he would try and get out of the habit of holding his cards so close to his chest, and tried to open up a little more.
They were such simple words but Harry looked so overjoyed at them. Harry followed uncomplaining when Severus took his hand and pulled him from the sofa, leading his lover through their rooms to their bedroom. He followed as instructed when Severus drew him to stand in front of the fire, reaching up to start undoing the buttons of his shirt.
"I had a dream the other night," Severus said as he finished undoing the buttons and slipped the shirt off of Harry's body, stroking his hands over Harry's chest and stomach, walking slowly around him as green eyes watched him with growing interest. He carefully stroked his hand down Harry's back, over his strong shoulders, brushing his fingertips over the half-moon cuts on Harry's back that he had left the night before when they made love.
He swept his fingers along Harry side before coming to stop in front of him, reaching down he started undoing Harry's trousers, slowly and teasingly.
"A dream?" Harry licked his lips.
"Mmm. we were right here, standing in front of the fire, you were completely naked," Severus nodded as he finished opening Harry's trousers and slipped them down his hips just enough for Severus to pull out Harry's thick and heavy erection, stroking his hand over the hot flesh.
Harry groaned tilting his head back as Severus' clever fingers stroked him, leaning forward to press kisses to Harry's chest, kissing down his stomach.
"I dropped to my knees in front of you, and took you into my mouth," Severus said softly and listened hungrily to the groan that Harry let out. Green eyes watched hungrily as Severus dropped to his knees in front of him, drawing his trousers down his muscled legs.
"I want you to be naked as well," Harry said, his voice deep and rough with desire.
"Ok," Severus could not help but shudder at the partial request, partial order, and still kneeling in front of Harry he drew his robes over his head, feeling even more desirous, his lust building as Harry watched him unbutton his shirt before drawing down his underwear throwing them to the side to land with Harry's clothing.
"Perfect," Harry sighed, and Severus was beginning to believe it.
Leaning forward he licked teasingly over the weeping head of Harry's erection before taking it into his mouth and suckled hungrily, his eyes looking up to Harry to watch the pleasure crossing his face. He started bobbing his head, not taking Harry too deeply as he pumped the rest of Harry's erection with his hand, shuddering as Harry's erection grew harder in his grip and more fluid filled his mouth, the taste of Harry filling his senses.
Harry's hand slipped into his hair and gripped hold of it, not too tight, just with the potential there, and he looked at Severus questioningly. It was not a question that needed to be asked, Severus had discovered new things about himself since their relationship had started, his small sexual experience before Harry not allowing him to experiment, he had quickly come to realise that he enjoyed being submissive to Harry's desires most of the time, and while performing oral sex, he loved when Harry took control.
Reading Severus' desire on his face correctly Harry tightened his grip on Severus' hair just enough for it to hurt in the right way, and he started thrusting into the hot, wet suction of Severus' mouth, thrusting at a steadier pace into Severus' mouth, pausing just when the head of his cock touched the back of Severus' throat, drawing slowly back before thrusting in again.
Severus whined at the tease, and with a smirk Harry thrust himself forward with no warning, burying himself into Severus' mouth and down his throat, using his grip on Severus' hair to keep him in place through his shock at the action as he kept Severus' face pressed against his groin.
It had taken some practice for Severus to be able to do this, especially with Harry's considerable size, and it was something that the two of them had more than enjoyed practising. Now he was able to take Harry down his throat, and as his eyes watered as he was only able to take shallow breaths through his nose, and he drooled around the thick, hot intrusion down his throat, he felt himself growing harder.
Harry pulled back and allowed him to cough and draw in deep breaths before he tugged his hair again, pulling him back into a position so that he could thrust himself back into Severus' mouth, using his lover's mouth to take his pleasure, thrusting down his throat completely randomly so that Severus could not predict when it was going to happen, driving Severus to more and more pleasure as he started stroking himself, unable to ignore his aching erection for any longer.
Panting Harry tilted his head back, pleasure flushing his face, and his grip tightening even further on Severus' hair and his thrusting become harsher until he pressed himself down Severus' throat one last time and spilt into his lover. With a soft, muffled cry Severus came himself at the feeling of Harry coming down his throat, and his stroking of himself pushed him over.
"So perfect," Harry panted dropping to his knees and wrapping, his arms around Severus, pressing gentle, loving kisses to Severus' bruised lips.
"I…" Severus started to say, but he stopped himself and leant forward to kiss Harry again, the two of them losing themselves in the kiss. Harry eventually lifted Severus from his feet, carrying the lightly grumbling potions master to their bed.
Severus grumbled to himself as he watched over his lover, watching and monitoring him carefully to make sure that everything was going smoothly. Voldemort was seated in front of the fire to their right, watching with a hint of amusement that made Severus want to hex him.
He knew that there was very little risk to this, and he had made the potions with Draco, going over them five or six, maybe eight or nine, times to ensure that everything had been done correctly. But as with everything, there was a danger and he could not help but cast another charm to check on Harry's vitals.
"He is going to be fine, he is too stubborn to die," Voldemort snorted.
"Do not be so casual about this!" Severus snapped before grimacing when he realised who he how he had spoken to and how. Voldemort just looked at him amused, and with something else on his features. "What?"
"Nothing, nothing," Voldemort waved him off. "He will be fine Severus, he will be awake in a few moments and your position will be even more assured,"
"I don't care about my position if it kills him!" Severus scowled.
"That is good to hear," Voldemort smiled.
"Ugh!" Severus turned to pour a glass of water for Harry considering he was supposed to be waking in the next few moments, keeping his eyes locked onto Harry's form.
"Sev?" Harry muttered roughly before starting to cough.
"Here," Severus helped him sit up and handed him the glass of water.
"How are you feeling?" Voldemort asked approaching the bed.
"Like I have been put on the rack, stretched and then squashed back down," Harry grunted once he finished the glass.
"That is why you are knocked out for it," Voldemort chuckled, "son," he added with an honest smile.
"Huh…well that feels a little weird," Harry grinned before grimacing as his muscles pulled when he shifted to try and sit further up the bed.
"Idiot!" Severus scowled but he plumped up the cushions behind Harry and helped him sit up more.
"It is all official now. Once you have rested and recovered we will announce it," Voldemort gently touched Harry and Severus' shoulder.
"You can sit down you know," Harry motioned to the bed.
"With the amount of sex I know that you two have I am terrified to sit on this bed," Voldemort snorted.
"We have had sex in that chair too a good few times," Harry grinned when Voldemort blanched even as Severus made a horrified noise and covered his bright red face.
"You had better give me a grandchild to make up for that!" Voldemort growled turning and grabbing his book.
"What do you think we're working on!" Harry laughed.
"We're on birth control!" Severus whined.
"Well, got to get the practice in!" Harry shrugged. "See you soon pops!" He called as Voldemort swept from the room.
"You are lucky that he has not crucified you to drooling," Severus shook his head.
"Ah, he cares about me too much," Harry laughed. "Do I look any different?"
"I think your cheekbones…and your nose are slightly different," Severus ran his finger down Harry's nose and across his cheek. "Your hair is a little blacker as well," He ran his fingers through the long black hair.
"Not much then," Harry nodded relaxing back into the cushions and linking their fingers together. They had been sure that there would not be too many physical changes, it was rare that a blood adoption in an adult changed many physical features, but it had been known to happen. "Well, it is done," Harry said simply.
"Harry, I…" Severus licked his lips.
"I am sorry that I worried you having to do this," Harry squeezed his hand when it seemed that Severus could not carry on.
"You don't need to apologise, I was just…I was worried. I have become somewhat accustomed to having you in my life now, and I am fairly sure that I would go into trauma having to go cold turkey from sex should you leave me," Severus coughed,
"From the man who squeaked the first time he saw my cock," Harry teased.
"I did not squeak!" Severus snarled at the now familiar teasing, standing storming over to where the potions Harry would need over the next couple of days were sitting waiting for him. "And I am still sure you have been taking potions and feeding them to that thing," He muttered making Harry laugh loudly before groaning when it made him jerk.
"Severus, is there something bothering you?" Lucius asked, it was a little awkward, they were struggling to find firm footing again, especially considering Lucius did not seem to be letting go of his dislike and suspicion of Harry. "Has Potter done something?" - case and point.
"No, he has not, aside from loving me and caring for me and that is the problem. I think…I think that I love him too, but I can not tell him and I am getting more and more frustrated with myself," Severus blurted out.
"You love him?" Lucius said incredulously.
"Yes, I do…I think…no I know I do, and want to tell him but every time I go to I get tongue-tied and…"
"Are you a fool Severus! This will be exactly what he will have wanted, and as soon as you tell him whatever it is he wants from you will come out!" Lucius snapped standing.
"Whatever he re… Lucius, he does not have any ulterior motive! He loves me!" Severus threw his hands up.
"He could have anyone! Why would he want…" Lucius sucked in a breath as he realised what he was about to say.
"Why would he want me?" Severus hissed, hurt clear on his face. "I came to you because you're my friend and I thought that you would put aside your dislike of Harry to help me! Not allow your jealousy to get the better of you and to say such horrible things to me! I know Harry loves me, why I don't know, but he does love me! And I want to tell him that I love him because I don't want him thinking that I am only with him for what he can give me as second to our Lord and his Heir!" Severus spat before turning and storming out.
He did not see the expression that crossed Lucius' face as he did so, too lost in his anger and hurt for his friend's words to notice it.
"What is wrong, baby?" Harry asked softly into the dark of the night, pressing his nose into the back of Severus' neck where they were laying spooning on their bed.
"You know that it is ridiculous that you call me that when I am older than you," Severus sighed linking their fingers together, "you're meant to be sleeping, you have a lot of meetings tomorrow," he added scoldingly.
"I don't care if you don't, I like calling you that, and I like that you like me calling you that, I think?" Harry asked.
"I do like it," Severus admitted, snuggling a little deeper into Harry's arms.
"I am worried about you, you have been off all night," Harry admitted.
"If I ask you something, will you promise not to get angry?" Severus asked after a few moments.
"Of course," Harry sounded concerned now as he hugged Severus.
"Why do you love me?" Severus asked what had been circling around in his head all day and night.
"Severus…"
"I know that you love me, I don't doubt that but why? You could have anyone you wanted, why would you choose me?" Severus held tighter onto Harry's hand as though worried that he would disappear.
"I…" Severus tensed when Harry paused. "I don't really know how to put it into words, Severus. I have always been fascinated with you, I think I was probably in love with you before I understood what being in love was, my magic has always been pulled towards you, and you have fascinated me from that first lesson with you. When I realised that you weren't who I thought you were and that you were clearly wearing masks that were similar to the ones that I had to wear, I started trying to figure you out. I guess like can see like. Along the way of trying to work you out and watching you, I saw passed the prickly attitude and biting, sharp tongue, and I saw you. You are full of passion and full of power, you're confident and not at the same time in the strangest of places, you're intelligent and witty, sharp and your brain is just amazing. For the people that you care for you are kind, and loyal and would do anything for them, your voice does amazing things to me, and your body tortured me through my teenage years. There are a million and one things that I love about you, and trying to explain it is impossible. All I know, and have known for years now, is that I love you and I want you, only you," Harry tried to explain.
"That explains pretty well," Severus said a little awed.
"I love you Severus Snape, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Harry rolled Severus over and leant over him to kiss him tenderly, bracketing his lover into his arms.
"What if you see someone else that you want?" Severus asked, only finding the confidence because he could not see Harry in the dark of their bedroom.
"Because the only chance of that happening would have been when I got to sleep with you and got you out my system, and I have only fallen more in love with you since then. Severus, you are everything to me, you have worked your way under my skin, into my heart, and I know that you are there to stay," Harry's green eyes glittered down at Severus in the dark, he moved to take one of Severus' hands and rested it over his heart, "I can't fall in love with anyone else Severus because you have my heart in your hands completely, there is nothing left there for me to give to anyone else, there is only you, my love,"
"It seems you know quite well how to put things into words," Severus said, choking a little to try and prevent the tears that were building in his eyes from falling. He wrapped his arms around Harry's shoulders and drew himself down so that the larger man's body blanketed him, pressing him slightly into the bed, and he buried his face into Harry's throat.
"I love you, Severus, I could probably try and explain it for hours and still not feel that I have conveyed it correctly, or told you exactly how I feel for you. All I can simply say is that I love you," Harry kissed Severus' neck.
"I…" Severus licked his lips. "I understand, thank you," he hated that he could not say it, but he could not bring himself to say it. He reached up and pressed their lips together, gentle, fluttering kisses to those lips that he…
He combed his fingers into Harry's hair and moaned into his mouth when he felt Harry hardening against him, parting his legs and rocking up into Harry's body pinning him to the bed.
"Sev are you sure?" Harry asked, clearly confused by the turn of events and what was going through Severus' head, though to be fair the potions master wasn't sure what was going through his own head. All he knew was that he needed this.
"Make love to me, please," Severus begged, tugging gently on Harry's hair and rocking up into Harry again.
"Of course," Harry as he ever did gave in to his wants, and leaning down he kissed Severus deeply, drawing him into the kiss and pulled him into the lust of the moment, his touches along Severus' body as he pulled off his nightshirt were worshipping and gentle, reverent and helped quiet whatever doubts were left by Lucius' words that Harry's own words had not.
His lips swept over Severus' pale body, kissing and licking, nipping in just the right places to make Severus groan, and working him into a higher and higher state of desire. He panted when Harry nipped at his stomach, working his way down Severus' hip with teasing lips, pausing where thigh met groin and sucked what was going to be a dark hickey into that pale skin, marking him up as he loved doing.
The Potion's master tilted his head back into the cushion with a loud groan when Harry slowly and teasingly parted his thighs a little wider, resting Severus' legs over his shoulders and cast a spell that let Severus know exactly what was coming. Cleaning Severus with the spell Harry's lips drifted down under Severus' now heavy testicles before sealing his lips around Severus' entrance and thrusting his tongue into his lover.
As in the few other times that they had done this Severus went wild, he arched into Harry and his mouth as pleasure washed through him while his lover took him apart with his mouth, his fingers digging into the bed when Harry thrust his finger inside of him as well and worked to take Severus apart.
Just as he was about to spill over Harry wrapped his fingers around the base of his cock, stopping his orgasm and making him whine out loud.
"Shhh shhh, it is ok," Harry cooed lifting Severus' legs from over his shoulders and wrapping them around his waist, quickly slicking himself up and pressing himself to Severus' entrance.
"Please Harry," Severus panted and Harry could not deny him. He slid slowly into the man underneath him, both of them groaning as Harry filled Severus in the now familiar feeling of them joining together. Harry slipped one hand underneath Severus' dark head, cupping it gently before starting to rock into him at a slow and gentle rhythm, thrusting into Severus and pulling back so slowly that Severus felt every single moment of it.
As Harry started a gentle rhythm of rocking up into his lover's body he attached his lips to Severus' throat and sucked another mark into his pale skin, panting against Severus as he drove them both closer and closer to the edge of their pleasure, the dark of the room wrapped around them in much the same way as their quilts seemed to be hiding them away from the world, sealing them away into their own world as they made love.
"Harry," Severus panted pleadingly feeling himself getting closer and closer to the edge.
"Yes, yes Sev, baby, cum for me," Harry encouraged rocking a little harder into Severus' body, his lover crying out as he jabbed into his prostate, Severus lasted only a few moments longer before he spilt over their chests. Harry groaned as Severus tightened almost painfully around him in his orgasm and thrust himself as deeply as possible into Severus before spilling himself.
"Thank you," Severus panted turning to kiss Harry a little sloppily but hoping that it got across everything that he wanted.
"Yes, purely selfless of me," Harry laughed cupping Severus' face kissing him a little deeper.
They cleaned up quickly and settled back under the covers, Severus snuggling into Harry's arms spooning back into their favourite position to sleep in. Though his mind was still spinning he was able to fall asleep, Harry's words warming him through the night.
"Something the matter Dear Overlord?" Fred asked casually.
"Stop calling me that," Harry snorted.
"Our apologies, Dear Second Overlord," George grinned.
"Is everything ok? You have seemed a little distracted recently," Bill asked putting down his papers and looking at him seriously.
"I am concerned about Severus, there is something that is bothering him," Harry sighed placing down his own papers.
"Are you concerned about your relationship with him?" Charlie frowned.
"Yes and no, I feel as though our relationship is going very well, and I think that his feelings for me is growing, I am worried about what is going on with him though, he is worried about something to do with our relationship," Harry sighed. "And he asked why I love him, I was sure that he was confident in my feelings for him,"
"Being completely fair Harry, and please don't bite our heads off, but considering the position that you have, you could have had anyone, and Severus Snape was not the person that anyone expected you to choose by a long shot," Bill said and then held up his hands when Harry's face darkened and he opened his mouth. "We know why you chose him, and we know how you feel for him, but you have to admit looking from the outside in, it is a shock, perhaps he just needed a little reassurance?" Bill suggested.
"No, I am worried that someone has said something to him," Harry sighed shaking his head.
"I am not sure who would be stupid enough to do that after everything that you have done to punish those that have spoken badly to him. Though I am a little worried by how dense the side that you have pulled us over to is that it has taken them this long to make them realise not to insult him," George rolled his eyes.
"They do seem to be finally clicking onto the matter," Percy snorted.
"I just, I don't want him doubting me," Harry sighed.
"We can poke around and see if we can find out if anyone has said anything, but maybe a bit of romance tonight would help?" Charlie suggested.
"I have been a little wrapped up in planning this mission, maybe it wouldn't go amiss," Harry hummed.
"It is very adorable to see how in love you are with him, even if it is baffling sometimes,"
"You're lucky that I care about you George," Harry narrowed his eyes at the twin.
"You know what I mean, don't get your skull panties in a twist," George grinned.
"Just because I am second to Voldemort does not mean I were skull underwear, and I do not wear panties," Harry rolled his eyes picking up his papers again.
"Does Severus wear the panties?" Bill grinned.
"If he hexes you I am not stepping in," Percy said standing, "I am off to tell our Lord what we have found,"
"Harry?" Severus frowned when he stepped into their rooms and then sighed when he found the rooms empty, again. Harry had been busy over the last week with his latest mission for their Lord, and though he made sure that they had been having their meals together still, Severus was not seeing him as often as he had become accustomed to.
It frustrated him how annoyed it made him, and he disliked the feeling that he was pouted as he made his way into the room stripping off his robes and throwing them uncaringly over the washbasket before flopping annoyed onto the bed face first with a groan.
He did not even feel himself falling asleep until he came awake with a start when Draco poked him in the cheek again.
"Wha?!" He looked at his godson who was grinning at him.
"I would swear that you have that man under a love potion you know," Draco said cheerfully before holding out a strange looking bouquet to Severus. Sitting up he took it from Draco, it was absolutely massive, and had more plants than flowers in it, but as he looked it over he realised that the bouquet consisted of rare potions ingredients that he would be able to use.
"Harry?"
"Well, it isn't off of me," Draco laughed. "As much as I love you,"
"Why have you brought it, has he gone somewhere?" Severus asked confused.
"No, I am to help dress you and I will escort you to where he is waiting for you. I will warn you he seems to be indulging in his Gryffindor side and is being very romantic," Draco said.
"Really?" Severus perked up a little.
"He said that he wants to spoil you because he has barely seen you," Draco tugged Severus to his feet and took the bouquet back off of him, passing it to a House Elf and then held out the robes that he had clearly already chosen for his godfather. "I am going to put your hair up in a ponytail," he decided.
"But he has been working, he does not need to apologise for working," Severus allowed Draco to tow him to the dressing room and started quickly changing.
"Let him spoil you, he clearly wants to, I think that he enjoys it as well," Draco laughed pressing Severus down into a seat and started combing his hair up.
"But…he is the one that should be…"
"Let him, he wants to," Draco leant down and hugged Severus from behind. "I know I had my doubts at first, because I was worried about you and what would happen if he was not serious about this. But he loves you, anyone could see that, and I think that he truly loves doting on you, so let him, don't let your doubts and worries, and not being used to this come between you," Draco advised gently.
"Perhaps you are right," Severus sighed.
"Come on, let's get you to lover boy," Draco finished tying his hair up and tugged his now slightly amused godfather to his feet, pulling him out the room, looking nearly as excited as Severus felt.
They stepped out onto the roof of the manor house and Severus sucked in a breath when he saw how Harry had transformed it. There was a small tent sitting in the middle of the roof, soft golden and silver lighting was sparling around the whole roof gently lighting up the space, and in the centre of it, Harry was standing waiting for him.
Draco saluted to Harry who waved back before he pecked his godfather on the cheek and hurried away, leaving Severus to cross the space between himself and Harry. His taller lover laughed happily when Severus walked right into him and wrapped his arms tightly around Harry, tilting his head up for a kiss right away in which he tried to convey how much he had missed his lover.
He started when he felt something settling around his throat, pulling back to look down at the pendant now resting on his chest wide-eyed.
"Harry's this is…"
"Peverell, I have wanted to give you something as impressive as you," Harry smiled at him, rubbing his thumb over the pendant and then Severus' cheek.
"Harry," Severus felt the words that he wanted to speak choking up in his chest with all the emotion that he felt for Harry, looking up at him with black eyes that said everything. Harry smiled, leaning down to kiss him gently and sweetly.
"Come, I have a meal planned for us up here," Harry led him into the tent revealing the amazing meal that had Severus' mouth watering right away.
His lover looked at him a little surprised but happy when Severus quickly cast a charm that moved the two-place settings next to each other and moved the chairs next to each other so that he could sit next to Harry through the meal, sliding their fingers together at he looked at the stunning sapphire pendant shining around his throat, the Peverell coat of arms shining in black from inside of the sapphire as though it had been poured in like liquid.
Looking up at Harry he felt himself warming even more when he found green eyes already watching him lovingly.
"Well! If it isn't the plaything of our…." Severus smirked mentally when McNair's words faded out as he gazed stunned at the pendant around Severus' throat.
"McNair…is Potter around?" Rozier asked panicked glancing around, but then his own eyes caught the sapphire and his jaw dropped open.
"That isn't possible!" Georges gasped as she joined them.
"Lord Potter did try and get it through your thick skulls, the Weasleys are correct, it is a little worrying how slow on the uptake you all are and that it took a necklace for you finally click on," Rabastan rolled his eyes stepping up next to Severus, Rodolphus stepping up to his other side.
"A little embarrassing as well to be associated with them," Rodolphus agreed.
"Hey we…"
"Are already going to tell Lord Potter what you were about to say to Severus, I would cut your losses and move on, now," Rabastan narrowed his eyes.
The three of them hurried away before anything else could be said, and the brother turned to Severus bowing respectfully.
"Thank you for your assistance," Severus said. The brothers had not said anything at all in regard to Severus' new position, from the moment that it was announced that he was being given to the new ally, through the revelation of Severus' position with Harry, and the events of the last few weeks.
"Not that you needed it, but it was our pleasure," Rodolphus smiled.
"May we escort you to where you are going?" Rabastan asked.
"Thank you," Severus nodded and started down the hallway, feeling a little bemused but relieved. Perhaps things were looking up in regard to the Death Eaters finally.
"Severus," Voldemort said softly and dangerously, the hiss more pronounced than it normally was as his blue eyes narrowed dangerously on the potions master, his temper clearly fading away rapidly.
Especially when Severus just ignored him.
"Severus!" Voldemort groaned. "Will you sit down please!"
"I have…he is…I just.." Severus said before groaned and dropping down into a chair.
"Please calm down before you give me a heart attack," Voldemort sighed. "He will be fine, he knows what he is doing,"
"I just, something doesn't feel right and I can't work out what it is," Severus sighed.
"Doesn't feel right?" Voldemort sat up and placed his teacup to the side right away, narrowing his eyes onto Severus.
"I feel like something is going to go wrong," Severus rubbed his face. "I just can't get the thought or the feeling out of my head!"
"Greyback! Percy!" Voldemort called pressing his finger to his dark mark and seconds later the two of them popped in. "Harry took a team to the Department of Mysteries, I want you to gather three or four followers and go and check on him and his team,"
"Are we expecting something to have gone wrong?" Fenrir asked already sending a Patronus out to gather some of his wolves.
"Yes," Voldemort nodded without hesitation.
"I will gather my brothers, we will meet you there," Percy nodded.
"We will be able to sniff him out," Fenrir nodded and the two disapparated.
"My Lord?"
"I may be overreacting, but I would rather be cautious than not, there is something between the two of you, and you are a powerful wizard, I trust your instincts," Voldemort said.
The two of them sat in a strained and painful silence, the ticking of the clock filling the room, every ticking second feeling like it was an hour. They were both hoping that Harry would walk through the door annoyed that they had sent Death Eaters after him to check up on him.
But both of them had a sinking feeling that this would not happen.
"My Lords!" Rabastan flew into the room, panting and…
"Is that blood?" Severus asked feeling lightheaded as he looked at the man, this was meant to be a stealth mission, not a fight.
"Something went wrong, badly wrong, Lord Harry, he has been injured, we…"
"What happened can wait! I need to see him!" Voldemort snapped.
"My Lord but…"
"Not now!" Voldemort helped Severus to his feet and hurried from the room towards the medical room, Rabastan hurrying along behind.
There were several of the Death Eaters that had either gone with Harry or been sent after him laying on the beds being patched up by the Healers, but it was Bill and Charlie standing outside the private room that caught their attention, and they hurried through.
Harry was laying worrying still on the bed as the healers worked around him, too pale and with too much blood soaking into his robes, staining the bed.
"He was hit in the back my Lords," The healer said as they worked.
"He was hit from behind?" Voldemort frowned. "Rabastan, what happened?" he demanded.
"Everything was going as he had planned, we arrive and split up to try and find the chest, we were going through the individual rooms. We didn't even know that something was wrong until the others arrived. Just as we were getting close to the area Lord Harry was covering the Order of the Phoenix apparated in and attacked. They knew who was on Lord Harry's side, they went straight for the Weasleys working with us without hesitation. We just managed to force our way into the room in time to stop Granger from taking Lord Harry, he was already out and unconscious on the floor. Someone betrayed us," Rabastan said quickly.
Voldemort did not even hesitate before he uttered the words that made the walls of the manor flash red and a slamming sound resonated through the rooms of the manor.
"The manor is locked down," Voldemort snarled. "I want both you and Rodolphus in here in two minutes, Fenrir as well, and all the Weasleys. You will allow myself and Severus to search your minds and administer truth serum, once you are cleared you will lead the investigation into who betrayed us,"
"My Lords!" Rabastan bowed and hurried to collect those requested.
"Do you wish for me to be tested?" Severus asked without taking his eyes off of Harry and the healers hurrying around him.
"No, I know you love him and that you would not betray him," Voldemort said. Severus turned to him with black eyes that were filled with tears.
"I haven't told him though, I haven't been able to tell him,"
"You have time, he is going to be fine, if it is the last bloody thing I do," Voldemort snarled.
"I can't lose him without telling him, I can't lose him," Severus shook his head.
"We need to be strong for him, we're going to find out who did this to him, we are going to let the healers help him, and we are going to rip apart the person who did this!" Voldemort said firmly. "Have faith in him,"
"I will," Severus said, but he did not sound sure as he turned to look at his lover laying on the bed, the slightly frantic movement of the Healers telling him exactly how serious it was.
Severus wasn't sure how he had managed to get through testing those requested by Voldemort, it was only the knowledge that his Lord was sure that they were not the traitors and just needed to be sure that allowed him to get through it, and the desire to get back to Harry's side that allowed him to get it done.
The investigation was going through the manor with everyone that had been connected to the mission and knew Harry would be going having been summoned and contained in the manor. Voldemort had left him a few days ago to deal with it, returning regularly to check on Harry before leaving again, his mood growing fouler and fouler the longer the traitor went unfound, and the longer Harry remained unconscious.
It had been nearly three days since Harry had been returned to the manor with his back ripped open and three dark curses working through his body. The healers had managed to stop the curses and heal the damage that they had done as much as would possible, but the rest was simply on Harry and his body fighting to heal itself.
He had not left Harry's side as soon as he was able to return from testing the investigators, and he was becoming more and more scared the longer his lover stayed unconscious. Holding tightly onto Harry's hand between both of his own he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against it, pressing some of his magic into his lover as he had been doing regularly, hoping that it would help with the unseen fight going on inside of him.
"Uncle Sev?" Draco said softly startling Severis. He looked up and managed to summon a movement of lips for his godson that could hopefully consist of a smile.
"Draco," Severus said relieved to see his godson, at least until he caught the expression on his face. "Is everything ok?"
"How is he?" Draco asked side-stepping Severus' question and moving to pour Severus a cup of tea and settled down in the seat next to him.
"He is…hanging on, the healers are hopeful that he will wake, but they are concerned about the damage that was done before he was brought in, and they said…there is a chance…a chance that he won't make it," Severus sniffed. Draco watched horrified as his godfather fell apart, sobs wracking his thin frame as he pressed his forehead to where his hand was still holding Harry's, he moved to wrap his arms around Severus' shoulders to try and comfort him as his godfather finally let out his grief and fear.
They sat there once Severus had calmed down staring at Harry as though it would make him wake up for a few moments until the door opened and Voldemort swept in looking annoyed.
"What is this about, I am in the middle of interrogating those who knew about the mission, there are only a few left it has to be one of them!" He demanded.
"What?" Severus blinked.
"I asked Our Lord to come here as well. There is something that I need to admit to you both," Draco licked his lips.
Voldemort narrowed his eyes and slammed the door shut, all eyes going to Harry hopefully for a second and then turned away again when there was no reaction. Severus and Voldemort turned their eyes back to Draco who sat on the chair next to his godfather staring down at where he was wringing his hands in his lap.
"What is it Draco, do you know something about what happened?" Severus asked with a note of pleading and a note of command in his voice.
"I think it was my father," Draco said in a rush.
"But…Lucius was not involved in the details of the mission," Voldemort frowned.
"I…I think he managed to get the information from one of the Death Eaters that did, they wouldn't have considered anything wrong with it as Father is high in the ranks. I heard…"
"What?" Severus pressed.
"I heard him talking with a few other Death Eaters about how Harry was your heir now, and how it would lessen their power…he wants to be your second, he thought…he thought you would blood adopt him or me, or bother…I think…he didn't have supper with us the night of the attack, he wasn't with us in our rooms, and I checked…he told Mother that he was at Malfoy Manor, but I checked with the elves and he wasn't there. I think it was him," Draco looked up at them and they could see how much this was tearing him apart.
"Draco, please floo to my office, I wish to look into your memories to see the trail of events," Voldemort threw floo into the fireplace of Harry's room and muttered the password before motioning to Draco.
"I am sorry Uncle Sev," Draco said softly as he stood.
"You have done nothing wrong. Thank you for telling the truth," Severus squeezed his hand.
"I will follow in a moment," Voldemort nodded as Draco stepped into the fire. "It would explain why we have not been able to find the traitor, no one involved in the mission realised that they were betraying him,"
"And he has not liked that Harry has been your second from the beginning," Severus nodded.
"Severus if it is him…"
"I want you to kill him, and I want you to make it painful!" Severus snarled looking up from his and Harry's hands.
"Severus…" Voldemort's eyes widened.
"I want him dead! He did not care what he was taking from me, and all because he is jealous and greedy and… I love Harry! I love him and…I told Lucius that you were making Harry your heir because I trusted him, no one else besides us know! He betrayed my trust and he tried to take Harry from me! I…make it hurt," Severus said through gritted teeth.
"I will, I will make sure that he is guilty, and then I will make sure it hurts," Voldemort squeezed Severus' shoulder before flooing out.
The next two weeks were incredibly difficult. Voldemort had quickly broken Lucius and got everything that he needed. Lucius had informed the Order of the Phoenix about Harry's betrayal and told them where he would be. He had then apparated to the Department of Mysteries and had located Harry, attacking him from behind before he realised what was happening.
He had planned for the Order to arrive, find Harry and take him along with the Death Eaters that were there if need be. Harry would have been kissed by the Dementors and then Lucius was sure that he would just step into Harry's shoes at Voldemort's side.
Severus had not left Harry's side the whole time, unable to let him out of his sight for longer than it took to shower quickly. They had moved him from the healing room to their own for a bit more comfort. But it was a long few weeks and Severus felt sick the longer Harry did not wake.
He was lying asleep on the bed next to Harry, catching some shut-eye, mainly because Voldemort had threatened to shove dreamless sleep down his throat if he did not. He had been spending most of his free time - and some of his not free time - in the room with them, sitting by their bed to be near Harry as well.
Severus frowned a little when he realised something was wrong and it took his exhausted mind a second to realise what it was, someone was combing their fingers through his hair, and the only person that did that was…
He jerked upright and stared at Harry through tears as he took in the slithers of green looking at him, tired and looking a little clouded and confused, but open.
"Harry!" Severus cried spinning around and crowding closer to his lover, pressing kisses to his lips. "Harry!"
"Hey, hey," Harry managed to lift his heavy arm and wrap it around Severus' waist, rubbing his back gently.
"How are you feeling?" Severus asked concerned.
"Sore…confused…what 'appened?" He frowned.
"You were attacked on your mission. You have been unconscious for weeks!" Severus told him, gently brushing his hair from his eyes after sending a Patronus to the healer.
"Sorry," Harry frowned a little.
"Sorry…Harry, you have nothing to be…Harry, I was so worried that I would lose you without telling you I love you, I love you so much, I love you!" Severus sobbed resting his head on Harry's chest.
"I love you too," Harry managed to smile brightly at him. "Sev,"
"I love you, Harry," Severus cupped his face and placed gentle kisses over it. "I'm so happy you're awake,"
"I will remind you that you said that in a few weeks," Harry chuckled before groaning right away.
"The healer is on his way to check you over!" Severus assured him pressing a painkiller to his lips.
"He is awake?" Voldemort burst into the room ahead of the healer, hurrying over to the bed.
"Hello, Severus loves me!" Harry grinned a little dopily at Voldemort.
"Well of course he does," Voldemort waved him off. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling like Severus loves me," Harry grinned.
"Oh dear Merlin," Severus pressed his free hand to his blushing face.
"My Lords I apologise, but might I check Lord Potter over?" The Healer cleared his throat.
"Severus loves me you know," Harry smiled at the Healer.
"I heard, does it hurt if I do this?" The Healer said professionally.
"Not as much as it would have if Sev didn't love me," Harry sighed happily.
"Right…on a scale of one to ten, without Lord Snape loving you, how much did it hurt?" The Healer checked.
"How is he?" Voldemort demanded as he and Severus took their places on either side of Harry once the healer stepped back.
"Aside from being a little high on the painkillers," The Healer smiled, "he is doing incredibly well, there does not seem to be any lingering damage, all his reaction times are correct and my diagnosis charms are coming back as showing nothing to be concerned about. He is still healing from his wounds, but they should heal fully within in the next week,"
"Thank you," Voldemort nodded.
"My Lord," The healer bowed with wide eyes for the thanks before turning to leave them in privacy.
Harry lay between the two of them as they fussed over him, a soft smile on his face as he just looked between them.
"Think I need sleep," He yawned as his eyes grew visibly heavy.
"Go to sleep then," Severus stroked his forehead gently.
"Be here…when wake up?" Harry asked.
"I will be right here," Severus promised, kissing Harry's forehead.
"Did he say anything about the attack?" Voldemort asked softly.
"No, he asked what happened," Severus sighed. "How are Draco and Narcissa?" he asked as he curled up on the bed resting his head on Harry's chest.
"Embarrassed and horrified I think would be the easiest way to describe it, the actual way that they are feeling is far more complicated than that. They knew what is going to happen to Lucius, what has to happen, and they are grieving for him for that, but the reality of his plans, how far into a betrayal he decided to go, and just how power-hungry and greedy he was has taken them by surprise. Not to mention his thoughts towards you,"
Severus screwed his eyes up, fighting back the feelings that welled to the surface, focussing instead on the feelings that Harry's happiness brought to him, how happy he had been to hear the words that Severus had struggled to hear.
"I will leave you to rest, I will come to have something to eat with you in a few hours," Voldemort gently squeezed Severus' shoulder before throwing a blanket over him and leaving the room. He had some meetings and he felt sorry for those that were in them, he had some anger to work out.
"Harry," Severus smiled when he saw Harry's eyes flickering open.
"Sev," Harry groaned.
"Here," Severus quickly helped his lover settle into a more upright position and helped him drink a glass of water. "How are you feeling?" He asked moving Harry's fringe from his face.
"Rough," Harry admitted resting back against the pillows with a tired sigh. "I woke up before, I think…you said…" he frowned a little confused and looked so hopefully at Severus that the words he had found so difficult to speak.
"I love you," Severus took Harry's hand and kissed it. "I am sorry that it took me a while to say it to you, but I love you,"
"I love you too," Harry said happily.
"I want to talk to you about something," Severus looked down at their joined hands.
"Of course?" Harry looked at him expectantly.
"Why have you…why have you not proposed to me?" Severus asked hesitantly.
"Because our relationship has been forced as it is, and I did not want you to feel as though I forced you into it," Harry shrugged.
"Will you marry me?" Severus asked shakily and green eyes snapped onto him stunned.
"Do you really mean that? I don't want you to be saying this because you got a scare from what happened, is it really what you want?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Yes, it is what I want. Nearly losing you has made me realise what I feel for you, and it has made me realise what I want with you. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to marry you," Severus blurted out.
"I would love to marry you," Harry smiled brightly, tugging Severus' hand gently so that he leant over him to kiss him. "Love you,"
"I love you too," Severus sighed. He lay on the bed and curled against Harry's chest, his lover wrapping his arm around him.
"I am sorry that I worried you," Harry said after a few moments.
"It is not your fault! I am just glad that you are ok. The Death Eaters will be as well, the twins have been taking out their nerves on your condition on pranks out on them," Severus snorted.
"Once I am healed, we could get married?" Harry suggested after a few more beats of silence and Severus started laughing against his chest. "What, I have been patiently waiting for you to fall in love with me, please say you're not wanting a long engagement!"
"Do not worry, I am not wanting a long engagement," Severus laughed happily.
"Something personal and small," Harry sighed contently.
"That sounds perfect," Severus smiled.
"Severus?" Voldemort motioned him in when he realised his…well son in law to be, was standing hesitantly in the doorway. "Is everything ok?"
"Harry…he has been distant with me the last couple of days. Everything seemed ok when he week, and he seemed honestly happy to marry and when I said I loved him, but for the last two days he has been…he has been distant and he doesn't really speak to me, just grunts at gives me one-word answers. He hasn't spoken anything about the attack, I don't know what is going on, and when I try and talk to him, he snapped at me just now," Severus clenched his eyes shut.
"Stay here, I will go and speak to him," Voldemort stood and patted Severus on the shoulder before making his way down the hall to his Heir's rooms. He had been concerned himself about how quiet and sullen Harry had been over the last couple of days when he had been visiting. Hearing that Harry snapped at Severus was of great concern.
He stepped into Harry and Severus' rooms and found Harry seated in his armchair in front of the fire looking brooding and unlike himself. He had not seen him looking like this since he had rescued Harry from the Dursleys and found a boy, beaten and angry.
"Severus has come to me concerned," Voldemort got to the point as he moved across the room and sat in the other armchair, looking at his Heir with worried red eyes.
"Hmm," Harry did not look away from the fire.
"You snapped at him,"
"And are you here to give me relationship advice? How I speak to my lover is my business and mine alone!" Harry's looked at him finally, and Voldemort was able to see the anger and fury on his face, but under that was sorrow and fear.
"You do not snap at him, others yes, but not him. If you carry on he will not be as understanding, or confused, and will become angry with you," Voldemort shook his head.
"Better that he is angry at me than he hates me," Harry muttered, turning back to the fire.
"And why would he hate you?" Voldemort frowned, confused.
"I know who attacked me, and I can either speak it and have Severus hate me for the rest of our lives, not hearing him say I love you again…or put up with it," Harry spat out furiously.
"Harry…we haven't discussed it with you, we wanted you to recover before we told you what we know, we didn't realise you knew who had attacked you. Harry, we know it was Lucius, Draco came to us with his concerns and we investigated, Lucius confessed everything under veritaserum," Voldemort shook his head.
"Severus will hate me then, Lucius will have to die for this, you will be unable to stand for anything less, and he will hate me…or…is that why he told me he loves me? And asked me to marry him, because he hoped I would intervene?"
"Self-pity does not suit you," Voldemort snorted standing, he clipped Harry around the head making green eyes look at him confused. "He wants to marry you for no other reason than he genuinely loves you. When we found out that it was Lucius, Severus told me that he wanted him dead, and he wanted it to hurt for what he had tried to take from Severus, for what he had done to you. Now you are going to stop feeling sorry for yourself, you are going to get yourself better and return to my side where you belong! I will send in your lover now!" Voldemort said, already moving towards the door.
"Hey! I…" Harry huffed staring at the closed door with narrowed eyes before he looked down at himself with a slight grimace. Maybe he had been brooding a little and not looking after himself. Grunting he managed to shove himself to his feet and shuffled with only a few grunts of pain to the bathroom to shower.
Feeling a little more human once he had showered and dressed in proper clothes instead of pyjamas he stepped into the living room and found Severus standing in front of the fire looking nervous.
It was an expression on his face that Harry disliked with a burning hatred, especially when he was partially the cause of it.
"I am sorry, he did it partially because of me! And because I told him that you had been made Voldemort's heir, he knew that he had to strike before it was announced, this is my fault and I understand if you…"
Severus' words were cut off when Harry wrapped his arms around Severus' waist and tugged him against his front, Severus going easily not wanting to jostle Harry's still healing back, and found his lips seized by Harry's, though the kiss started heated and harsh, it gentled quickly, and Harry kissed Severus tenderly, holding his lover to his chest.
"I am sorry, I was worried that you would hate me. It is not your fault," Harry combed his fingers lovingly through Severus' hair.
"It is though. I was a spy, I should have known that he was unstable, jealous and that he would do something, and I was the one that let it slip, I trusted him and I was wrong!" Severus shook his head. "You were nearly killed! You would have been kissed!"
"And that would have been completely on Lucius, not you. Never you. This is not your fault,"
"I nearly lost you, and it would have been because of something that I had said, it would have been because of someone that I thought was my friend,"
"But you didn't, I am right here, and we were going to be just fine," Harry froze when he felt his shirt becoming wet under Severus' face and realised that his lover was crying. Holding Severus to him he hugged him tightly as the stress and fear, the betrayal and the shock of what had happened spilt out from Severus.
As he stood comforting his lover Harry felt the anger growing inside of him for what had happened to them filling him.
"Severus, Lucius will have to…"
"I want him to die, he tried to take you from me, I want him to die," Severus shook his head.
"We will be fine," Harry assured his lover, holding him closer.
When Harry stepped into the room that Lucius had been held in the anger that he had already been feeling since he had remembered the events of the attacks were boiling even higher following the information that Voldemort had just provided him.
He had remembered making his way through the Department of Mysteries, searching out the object connected to Death that Voldemort needed. He had been confident in his plan and had been focused on finding the object as quickly as possible. The first spell had come from nowhere and taken him by surprise, Lucius had snuck up on him and attacked right away, hitting him in the back. Harry had turned as he had felt his back being ripped apart and seen the ugly snarl on the blond man's face, he had managed to get one spell off, but the pain going through him had been too great and Lucius had hit him with his dark hexes, three one right after the other slamming into his body.
Looking at the man now he could not help but smirk. Voldemort had been torturing him, he had cast a hex that made the Malfoy Lord see all his worst fears, he lived them, breathed them every single one of them feeling utterly real.
The hex had been lifted this morning in preparation of Harry coming in to finish the man off. He wanted to make sure that the Malfoy Lord was awake and aware of what was happening to him, and who was doing it.
Finding out just before he stepped into the room that Lucius had planned to make Severus be his own lover once Voldemort officially made him his second and named him his heir, finding out that he had not cared whether Severus was willing or not, finding out that he had been spying on Harry and Severus when they had made love, it boiled Harry's blood and he was furious as he looked at the snivelling man who would never have been Voldemort's heir, even if Harry had died.
"You saw things that should be for my eyes only," Harry hissed and with a wave of his wand had Lucius screaming right away as he clawed at his bleeding eyes. "You spied and looked upon what is mine, what was not yours to see!"
He watched calmly as spell after spell hit the man, watched as he writhed on the floor. He stood there for the next hour until Lucius was sobbing and pleading at his blood-covered feet.
"Please! I am sorry! I am sorry for attacking you! I am sorry for what I did, for selling you to the light side! I am sorry!" Lucius begged.
"Oh, I am not doing this for what you did to me, I couldn't really care, I would have just killed you right away for that. This is for Severus. You betrayed him, you hurt him! He thought of you as his friend and you betrayed that! You tried to take his happiness from him, you planned to use him, to keep him as the toy you accuse me of treating him as! Do you think I care what your jealous little mind made you do to me? No, this is for Severus!" Harry snarled.
An hour later he walked into his rooms with Severus and met his lover's red-rimmed eyes. "It is done,"
"Are you happy?" Harry asked softly.
"Incredibly. I did not think that I would ever be in this position," Severus smiled staring at the ring on his finger, Harry's hand was resting on his chest next to Severus' the matching ring shining there in the soft candlelight of their bedroom.
The beautiful emerald and diamond bands had been a gift from Voldemort for their wedding, coming from the Slytherin vaults having sat on the fingers of Salazar Slytherin and his husband. Severus had nearly swooned with delight when Voldemort had presented them to them, and even if Harry had hated them, he would not have been able to say no to them.
Severus would never have allowed him to.
"Married to me?" Harry grinned teasingly.
"Definitely not!" Severus snorted. "And married at all," he said softer.
"I love you," Harry kissed his temple. "Tomorrow we leave for our honeymoon, we have two whole weeks all to ourselves,"
"I hope you know Voldemort thinks that we planned this, just as all the paperwork part of things from defeating Dumbledore and taking over Britain happens we conveniently marry and disappear for two weeks,"
"You might not have planned it, I did," Harry laughed.
"Harry!" Severus scolded.
"Yes?" Harry grinned.
"You are terrible," Severus shook his head dropping it onto his chest.
"And yet you love me," Harry said contently.
"I am completely unsure why, but yes, I do," Severus shook his head. He groaned into the kiss that Harry stole from him as he rolled them over, pressing Severus down into their mattress and kissing his new husband breathless.
"Ah, well that makes sense," Severus nodded.
"Are you alright my Lord?" The healer asked looking a little concerned.
"No, yes, no, I mean, I am ok," Severus said a little shakily.
"Are you sure that you're ok to leave My Lord?" The healer asked concerned.
"Yes, yes I am fine," Severus made it to the door before he turned around. "I appreciate that you are hired by Lord Voldemort and my husband is his second, but this is information that I wish to give them myself,"
"I understand My Lord…erm…if you have not told them within a few days though…I really do apologise but I am going to have to tell them," The Healer grimaced, his Healers mind of patient confidentiality obviously warring with his concern over what Voldemort and Harry would do to him if something happened to Severus and it was discovered that he had been aware of the situation.
"I understand," Severus grit his teeth, turning and storming down the hallway. He was at first aiming for his rooms, but then realised that Harry would be returning for lunch soon. Spinning on his heel he turned and apparated, taking himself to the first place that his mind took him to.
Sighing he closed his eyes and took a breath as he pulled his cloak around himself against the snow coming down, and cast a notice me not charm before he started walking through the crowd in the Edinburgh wizarding shopping centre.
He wasn't sure how long he wandered around the shops, not really seeing anything, just walking, but eventually, he took himself to a cafe and ordered a cup of tea and something to eat. He spent more time staring at the items on the table than actually eating or drinking them, the food tasting like ash in his mouth and as though he was trying to swallow sludge he ended up pushing the plate away and settled for sipping on his tea.
It felt as though his mind was spinning and at the same time utterly numb, and he had no idea what to feel about what the Healer had told him, he had no idea how Harry would react, and he had no idea more than anything how it would affect their relationship.
He was finally happy, they had been married for 2 years now, they had been together for just under two and a half years, and he was happy. They had a beautiful home, a wonderful relationship where his husband truly loved him - something that he had doubted he would be able to have, he had doubted that anyone would ever want to marry him and if they did he had thought that his married life would be of the same path his mother and father's had been - he was terrified what this would mean.
He was terrified that he wouldn't be able to do it.
Though he felt guilty he sent an owl to Harry to let him know he was ok but would not be home that night and he made his way to the nearest hotel and booked himself in, using the key from his own vault that thankfully Harry had insisted he keep, and the one that he had to use very rarely and so had more than enough in to pay for the expensive hotel without Harry or Voldemort being able to track him.
He felt horrifically guilty about the short note and knowing that Harry would worry about him anyway, but he had enough thought to use their code word to let Harry know that he was really ok.
He just needed a little time.
He wasn't sure how long he sat on the sofa in the hotel staring into the fire before he managed to get himself to his feet, toe out of his shoes and get his robes off before he lay in the middle of the large bed, feeling cold and achingly alone as he realised with a sinking feeling that he and Harry had not slept apart since that first night that he had been left in Harry's bed by Voldemort, the only times that he had not gone to sleep in Harry's arms was when Harry had been healing from Lucius' attack, and Severus had either slept carefully on the bed next to him, or in the chair next to the bed holding his hand.
He cried himself to sleep that night, terrified about what he had to lose.
"Severus! Where the hell have you been! I have been worried sick!" Harry demanded, jumping to his feet from his armchair the moment that Severus slipped into their rooms in the early hours of the next morning.
Severus looked at him guiltily, his husband had clearly not slept, he was still dressed in the trousers and shirt that he had worn the day before, he had red eyes and his hair looked as though he had combed his fingers through it a million times.
"I'm sorry," He grimaced at how weak that sounded.
"Where were you? What happened?" Harry demanded grasping Severis by the shoulders and shaking him a little. "Are you ok? Severus!"
"Can we sit down please?" Severus licked his lips, the feeling of sickness rising in him.
"Severus you have been crying, please, I am worried," Harry trailed after his husband, his hands fluttering around him as though he would be able to figure out what had happened to Severus. "Have I done something wrong? Did I do something to upset you?" he fretted.
"Sit down please Harry," Severus sat on the sofa and took his husband's hand, tugging his hand to get him to sit down next to him. He felt guilty about how worried Harry was, and felt even more guilty when he realised Harry had probably spent a good part of the hours that he had been gone trying to work out if he had upset Severus or done something wrong. "You haven't done anything,"
"But you have been really quiet recently, and you have been distant. You haven't spoken to me as much as we normally do, and you have been short with me, if I have done something wrong I would rather you tell me so that I can fix it!" Harry was partially upset, and partially angry.
"You haven't done anything wrong Harry I promise! I…I have been feeling unwell for the last couple of weeks," Severus started hesitantly.
"Unwell? Why didn't you say anything, we should go to the healer and…"
"Harry, I have been to the healer, I went yesterday," Severus looked down at his hands as tears filled his dark eyes again.
"Oh Merlin, Severus what is it? Is it serious?" Harry sucked in a breath.
"The reason I didn't tell you was because I had an idea what was going on, I wanted to confirm it. I'm…I'm pregnant," Severus looked at Harry with nervous black eyes, watching as Harry's mouth dropped open.
"And…you're not happy about it?" Harry said slowly after a few achingly long moments.
"I'm…I don't know," Severus sniffed.
"Severus…if you don't want to have a baby then you don't have to," Harry said slowly reaching out to take his hands. "It is your body, your choice, there are other ways for us to have heirs, and more than anything I want you to be happy,"
"I don't know…I don't think that I will be good at this Harry, what if…what if I am like my father," Severus admitted the real fear that had been going through his head since the realisation had hit him as to what was 'wrong' with him.
"Oh baby, you're nothing like him, either him or your mother. Severus, you are a completely different person to them, and I have every faith that you will be a wonderful father. You have so much love in your heart Severus, just look how you are with Draco, he wouldn't be the health decent human being that he is now without you in his life,"
Harry moved closer to him and wrapped him gently in his arms, leaving his grip gentle to allow Severus to pull back if he did not want the comfort right now, but Severus realised he had been longing for this since he had heard the news from the Healer.
He collapsed against his husband's chest, and before he could stop himself he was sobbing into him while Harry rubbed his back gently, muttering gentle, soft and loving words that though Severus could not hear them through his sobs, but he relaxed more and more into Harry until his sobs calmed down.
"Nicky, please tell Voldemort that Severus has returned and is completely unharmed. We need a little time and I will not be available today or tomorrow for my duties, we need a little time together. Please assure him we are ok, and I will let him know what has happened as soon as possible. We will be at Potter manor," Harry said softly to Voldemort's House Elf as Severus sniffled into his chest, trying to wipe his eyes on his sleeve.
"Harry…" Severus sniffed.
"Shhh my love, I am going to take us to our bedroom at Potter Manor, we're going to get a little sleep, and then we are going to talk about this once we are both rested," Harry assured him. Severus said nothing when Harry stood and then lifted him from the sofa, carrying him with an arm under his knees and behind his back. He pressed his face into Harry's throat as he apparated them to their second home, right into the bedroom.
"Are you upset at me?" Severus asked tiredly.
"No, never Severus. I am concerned for you, and I am worried that you did not share your concerns with me, and that you disappeared when you found out. I completely understand that you needed time to yourself, but I would rather you had done it a little safer. But I am not angry, and I am not upset with you. Whatever happens, we are going to be just fine Severus, we will be ok," Harry assured him.
Severus said nothing as Harry changed him into a pair of pyjamas and then helped him into his side of the bed, quickly changing himself and sliding into his side. Severus quickly moved and pressed himself into the arms that he had spent the night longing for.
"You want children though," Severus said quietly after they had been lying there for a while in silence.
"I want to bring up children with you, if that is something that you do not want then that is fine, I love you Severus, and I want a life with you. As I said earlier, there are other ways that we can have heirs. We could adopt a teenager or a child around ten when we are ready. Severus, this is our life, shared, not mine and what I want, not yours and what you want, ours. We find something that works for both of us, something that makes us both happy," Harry said softly holding Severus closer.
"I want to have the baby, our baby, I want…I want to have a family with you, but I am terrified," Severus' eyes burned with the need to cry again.
"Oh Severus, do you trust me?" Harry asked, sliding his fingers into Severus' hair and tilting his head back so that they could look into each other's eyes.
"Of course I do," Severus hadn't been sure that he was going to be able to say that about anyone.
"Then trust me when I say I know you are going to be a good dad, that you aren't going to be anything like your parents, and that I am going to be right at your side with you the whole time. You wouldn't be alone in this my love," Harry smiled.
"I want to keep the baby, I want to do this," Severus said certainly.
"Then we will, and we will be a happy family," Harry smiled leaning down to kiss Severus gently.
"How can you be so sure?" Severus shook his head when they parted.
"I won't allow for anything else," Harry said, his green eyes steely and glinting in that way that Severus loved.
"We have to tell Voldemort," Severus sighed, he tucked his arms between them and snuggled closer into Harry's muscled chest, his husband's arms tightening around him perfectly.
"I will deal with that," Harry dismissed. "I love you, Severus, more than anything in this world I love you,"
"I love you too," Severus sighed happily, closing his eyes.
"I want the schools checked over again, make sure that there has been nothing missed, make sure that everyone is completely clear. I do not want anyone in Hogwarts or our primary school that are not definitely safe to be there," Voldemort said.
"Oh course my Lord, we also have several muggleborn wizards that we have found that are being abused, we need to look into hiring more mind healers for the children's department," Percy looked at his list.
"Do it," Voldemort waved.
"The additional cost?"
"Will be found," Voldemort narrowed his eyes.
"I will find it," Rabastan nodded.
Before any of them could carry on a note appeared on his desk that could only be from one person. Concerned about what had been happening with his son and son-in-law over the last 24 hours Voldemort grabbed the note, uncaring about those in the office with him, they were close within the circle of his and Harry's people, all ten of them were their most trusted.
"What?!" Voldemort shrieked jumping to his feet.
"What has happened, are they ok?" Draco asked concerned, already reaching for his wand.
"They…they…I am going to…oh…merlin…I…I am going to be a grandfather," Voldemort finally managed to get out, unable to take his red eyes off of the far too short note.
"WHAT!"
"Are you ready?" Harry asked wrapping his arms around Severus from behind.
"No," Severus sighed.
"They're going to be over the top aren't they," Harry snorted.
"Voldemort is going to wrap me in bubble charms and stalk me around the manor for the next six months," Severus huffed.
"Don't be silly, he will have Nagini follow you around for the next six months, and she will have orders to bite anyone that so much as looks at you funny," Harry laughed.
"Don't joke about it," Severus groaned. "At least our baby is going to be loved and protected," Severus smiled a little, resting his head onto Harry's shoulder as they looked out their bedroom window over the snow-covered gardens.
"Our baby," Harry smiled against his temple. He carefully slid his hands around until they were resting over Severus' slightly protruding stomach, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it, but there. He realised that this was the first time that he had done this and paused, the realisation that their baby was growing in Severus right now hitting him.
"Our baby," Severus smiled looking up at Harry, his smile growing even more at the look of awe on his husband's few.
"Our baby," Harry smiled wider.
Wrapped in each other's arms they sank into a kiss, the glow of the Christmas tree twinkling behind them as Harry pulled back to smile down at his husband, the love and reverence that he felt for him clear upon his face.