Story information, warnings and disclaimer can be found in the first chapter.

A/N: Before you read this chapter which deals largely with Snape and Fred's relationship, I just want to assure you that, yes, you ARE reading Snarry. As detailed in the warnings and pairings, this is a story about a threesome relationship. However, as Snape and Fred's relationship is already developed, the romantic plot of this fic is centered mainly around Snape and Harry. Having said that, I hope you continue to enjoy the story. Beginning with this chapter, that M rating will begin to kick into full force.

Thanks, and enjoy ;)

-poppypickford

CHAPTER 2

His master's grip on his hand was painfully tight as Fred promised Harry that he'd return later that closed the door behind him, and the lock clicked closed automatically. Immediately, Fred was pressed up against the wall and his master's hot open mouth was moving against his neck, sucking, biting, and kissing.

"What –" Fred gasped, "what do you need from me Master?" Fred smirked when his master gently bit him.

"You know what I want, don't tease me."

Fred moaned and ran his fingers up his master's back until he was gripping him around the shoulders. His master was rarely this eager. Usually he maintained himself in a controlled and dignified manner. Fred learned quickly that Snape made a point to weigh and calculate everything he said, and did. Their lovemaking was always passionate, but rarely spontaneous.

Fred gasped when his master's hand confidently gripped his growing hardness. It had taken most of his strength to keep his arousal in check as he'd helped bathe Harry's young agile body. The last thing he wanted was to scare or disorient Harry further. He and his master agreed that the best thing for Harry's transition was a friend, an ally, and to an extent – a protector. A keeper, even.

"Don't you want to talk about Harry, Master?" Fred asked huskily, entirely hoping the answer was no.

His master growled against his neck and thrust his hips into Fred's bare thigh. "I want to fuck you until you scream for me, and then we'll talk."

"Yes. Merlin, master. I've ached for you all day."

Snape gently stroked his slave through the short robes. "You've learned such pretty words to stroke my ego."

"They aren't pretty words." Fred's eyes were wide and honest. "I was hoping you'd come for me last night, but…"

"I was too distracted. I'm sorry." He brought his lips to Fred's mouth and pressed them gently to each corner.

"It doesn't matter. Just take me to bed."

By the time the two had stumbled down the hall and into the master bedroom, Fred had flung his robe off somewhere in the hallway along with one of his master's shoes and a black leather belt. Fred scrambled up onto the bed and opened his legs wide in eager invitation.

Severus shed the rest of his clothing and crawled up until his lips were pressed against the base of Fred's thick weeping cock. Fred tried to get a grip on the headboard as his master's mouth moved over him, and when he was finally swallowed just the way he liked, his eyes rolled back and he moaned long and low.

Severus sucked his slave eagerly, without any of the careful and meticulous skill Fred was used to. His master was acting more like Fred did after a particularly lonely weekend. When Severus was hobnobbing at some noble's house to keep up appearances Fred would wait like a lost puppy, alone in a house he couldn't leave with nothing to do but read, eat, sleep, and masturbate to fantasies of his master fucking him without trying so hard to be gentle. And then, when Severus would come home late Sunday night, Fred's desperation would be so intense that he'd fall to his knees at his master's feet and fumble for his master's cock until his mouth was latched on, his arms tight around his master's hips. And then, Fred would pull in and cling to his master, his life, his love. And he would moan when fingers gripped his hair too tight and he would keen like a parched man when the cock in his mouth would thrust and tremble and come.

Fred reached down and ran his fingers into his Snape's hair and held on until the pressure and heat was too much, and he came hard. Severus flopped down next to Fred and he rolled into his master's arms, burying his head under the crook of his arm where the strong sense of love and protection made him feel untouchable.

"Don't think I'm through with you." Severus smirked. "I still plan on fucking you."

Fred moaned and looked down at his master's still erect cock. He pressed their lips together and kissed deep, his tongue pressing in hotly. He wrapped his hand around the other man's cock and squeezed. Severus sighed deeply and pressed up into Fred's hand.

As soon as his master was so hard that his eyes were rolling back into his head, and he had minutes to last, Fred released him and crawled onto his hands and knees, his thighs spread open wide and his muscles taught and lean looking, aching to be fucked.

Severus quickly reached for the jar of lubricant he kept on the side table and Fred could hear him curse as he spread it over himself, before he reached forward and impaled his fingers in Fred, deep and probing - not gentle at all. Fred keened and pressed back urgently. His master's glorious wanton refrain from his usual careful attention was more erotic than anything Fred could imagine, and the sensation was making his vision black out. The lust was making his thoughts scramble, and his words turn into incoherent pleas of desire.

Severus pulled his fingers out and without hardly a moment's pause his thick cock was there instead, pushing in, ramming in hard and fast, thrusting eagerly. Fred screamed, as promised. His body was hot up to his ears and his freckled nose.

Severus fucked him longer than he thought he would last, and when he finally came with a growl and a cry, Fred felt his world tilt and twirl as he hit the bed. He took a few long breaths to force himself from passing out. He was always afraid that he would scare his master, and he certainly didn't want to discourage him from ever doing that to him again.

Fred rolled over as best he could in his present boneless state. "Master – Merlin Master, that was the most perfect, wonderful thing, ever!"

"Good. I'm not a terrible fuck then, am I?"

Fred propped himself up on one elbow and looked at him in the eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Now that you have that pretty Potter in your bedroom…"

"You're not jealous are you?" He sat up.

"No, not jealous. Just reminding you what I can offer."

Fred leaned down to kiss his master's smirking lips deeply. "You're daft, I love you too much. And besides, you love me too much for me to ever forget what you offer."

Severus smiled a little against Fred's lips but Fred couldn't pull away quick enough to see it. Smiles on his master were still rare, even now.

"But you know, I think – if it pleases my master, of course – that I might need to be reminded of what you offer more often." Fred moved to suck and bite his master's collarbone. "I love it when you're rough."

"I know." Snape whispered. "But I feel like I'm hurting you if I'm not too high on endorphins to care."

"You've never hurt me, master, not one time. And I know I can tell you if you are. But, really, that didn't hurt at all. That felt amazing – more than amazing." He kissed the reddening spot he'd created on his master's neck fondly. "Unless it really bothers you of course, I'd love it if you lost control more often."

Severus sat up and leaned against the head board. Fred crawled up and laid his head against his chest.

"I know you like it – harder, but I wish you'd have told me that it's something you need. I want to give you what you need."

"You always give me what I need. You're perfect."

"Well, apparently I'm missing something, or else you're keeping things from me. I wish you wouldn't do that."

Fred paused a moment before nodding in agreement.

"What else? What else do you need that you aren't telling me? I can tell your holding back."

Fred's shoulders must have been trembling from trying not to panic. Fred did want, things, had wanted them for a few years now. At this point he was beginning to think that he really did need them. But they were things that his master would never give him, and he would rather live celibate than shake what he had with this man whose kindness, protection and love meant more to him than anything. He was terrified of going back to living trapped in this house with nothing but a tense and secretive house-mate for company.

Fred shook his head. "Don't ask me any questions master, please. Let's just go to sleep."

Snape sat up straighter and pushed against Fred's shoulders until he was forced to look into his eyes.

"Why won't you talk to me? Don't you trust me? Haven't I earned your trust?"

Fred looked frantic. "Please master, I trust you more than I can tell you, you saved me! I would be dead without you, I know it, and you know it too. Nobody wanted me and they would have just thrown me out." His master looked saddened at the memory.

"Of course I trust you. It's just, sometimes I think about how it would feel if you did - certain things to me. But they're things you would never do, and I don't want to ask them of you. I just can't." His eyes grew large and desperate. "I won't."

Severus stoked his hair and pulled him down to rest against his chest again, his fingers running soothingly along his scalp until Fred began to calm and breathe evenly.

"Fred? Remember when we first had sex."

"Of course I do."

"Well, don't you remember how it happened?"

He laughed. "Yeah, you moped around all week looking at me like you wanted to crawl under my robe and eat me before you finally ended both our misery and went for it. Fuck, I wanted you so bad."

"Well. I spent much more than a week thinking about how much I wanted you. How much I needed you. But I was convinced that it was wrong of me to want you when I was supposed to be protecting you. I was convinced that you would never want me back and that it would ruin what little comfortable friendship we'd formed if I told you how I felt."

"But I wanted you just as much, you know that."

"Yes you did, so how do you know that what you want isn't something that I'll want too unless you ask me?"

Fred looked sad. "You won't. I know you."

"Okay, maybe I won't, maybe I will. But I promise you that there isn't a single thing you could ask me that I'd love you an ounce less for."

"But what if you get angry at me?"

"Angry at you for needed something from me? Have I ever?"

"No. But what if something changes, what if we change because I asked?"

"So what?" He ran his fingers through Fred's hair affectionately. "Something changed when I finally asked you for sex, didn't it?"

Fred smiled wide. "Yes. But that was a good change."

"Doesn't this have the possibility for a good change? I can't imagine you asking for a bad change."

"It'll be a bad change when you say no, and are angry at me for having asked it of you."

Severus sighed. "Fred. I can't promise you that I'll say yes, but I promise that I'll consider it before I say no. And I also promise that I will love you just as much, if not more, for being brave and telling me what you need." He stroked Fred's hair and the back of his neck again until Fred relaxed and molded back into the curve of his arms. His master who had always seemed so menacing and cruel had transformed into a man who, while shy and distant when he was at leisure to be, had more affection to give than Fred could have imagined. He silently believed that the lonely man had been storing it up, waiting for someone who he could bestow it on. Fred smiled, and kissed his master's chest. One thing he prided himself on and thanked his luck for was that somehow, he had accidentally fallen into this man's arms and been accepted as the lover he'd been waiting for.

Fred sighed deeply. The momentary peace the quiet had brought was enough to give him the strength to start talking. "It's just that, now that Harry is here I feel so confused."

"Why does having Harry here confuse you?"

"Because he's so scared. Of being punished."

Severus narrowed his eyes and Fred lowered his. His master was so quick that Fred doubted that he would need to elaborate much before being understood.

"You're not scared of being punished?"

"I- I don't know, master. I've never been punished before. At least, not in the same way as Harry was." He looked up at his master's still narrowed eyes. "I know that I'm scared of you being mad at me, or displeased with me. But, sometimes - sometimes I wonder what it would feel like." He stared hard at his master's expression, waiting for recognition, but he revealed nothing but guarded thoughtfulness. It didn't unnerve Fred, but it did worry him. That was the look his master gave his potions when he knew he'd done something wrong.

"You've wondered what it would feel like if I were to punish you?"

Fred nodded. "Sometimes I can't stop thinking about it. When I'm anxious or nervous or stir crazy, or just mad at the world, I think about misbehaving on purpose. I think about doing something really awful just to see if you get mad enough to hit me or something – whip me."

Snape flinched, but now that he'd started Fred couldn't stop. "And I think how it might feel good. It might make everything go away, for a while. And I think about how you'd take care of me, and I think about how much I love obeying you, and trusting you… and I just, wonder."

Fred let his eyes drop and waited to be yelled at. His master hated it when other masters hit their slaves, so why would he ever agree to this?

"I wasn't expecting you to ask me, that."

"I know."

He paused for a long time. "I promised you that I'd think about it, but, I just don't know how I could ever agree to this."

Fred nodded and hid his face under his master's neck. "Then don't, I don't care. I just don't want you to hate me."

Snape sighed. "You know I don't hate you. I'll never hate you." He was quiet for a moment. "I promised you I'd think about it, so I will."

"Thank you, master."

Fred returned to his room, just as he promised, late that same night. Harry had lain awake most of the time with his hands gripping the sheets as he struggled with his desire to submit to the comfort and false security he was feeling. It might be dangerous to fall asleep without Fred, whom he trusted to watch over him. For Harry, it was nearly impossible to dismiss the practiced alertness that he'd learned while living at Malfoy Manor.

It must have been after one o'clock when Fred slipped in through the door. Harry cracked one eye just enough to see. Fred glanced at Harry for a moment and then, deciding he was asleep he pulled his robe off over his head and walked toward the bathroom next to Harry's bed.

When Fred passed through a beam of moonlight that came through the window Harry spotted the glistening sheen of lubricant and sex on Fred's well spent cock. He stilled and his breath hitched. He had never gotten over watching his fellow slaves return from their master, fucked and raw. Their eyes were always tired, glassed over and defeated, and their bodies exhausted. Harry supposed he looked the same way after, but he learned early to just call the feeling submission. As if it was as natural and healthy to a slave as breathing.

However, Fred didn't look like any of those things. Fred just looked contented. He looked at peace, and sublimely satisfied. As he flicked on the dim light over the sink of the bathroom, he stretched his arms over his head and purred like a stroked cat.

Harry couldn't understand it, even if Fred had adapted to his life as a slave, even if he was comfortable, well treated, favored - pampered even. How could he ever be happy? How could the physical manifestation of his enslavement bring him joy? How could being fucked relax him? How could being ordered into service bring about contentment? Harry puzzled over this while Fred showered, dried off quickly, brushed his teeth and then turned and came back into the room.

Harry watched him return with open eyes. Fred flicked off the light switch and then smiled at Harry.

"I'm sorry I woke you."

Harry's eyes narrowed at Fred's broad smile. "Why are you happy?"

Fred's unconscious grin faltered. "What do you mean?"

"The master fucked you?" Harry knew he sounded accusatory, but he didn't care. He was ashamed of Fred. Even obedient slaves, even perfect slaves like George, didn't come back from a fucking with a smile on their faces.

Fred stared at Harry for a long moment, something in his eyes burning under the surface, and Harry knew that he'd crossed a line with his tone.

"Yes. I was with my master."

"Then how can you be happy?" His voice cracked as he whispered it. He just didn't understand.

The older boy's defensive posture relaxed as he sat down on the edge of Harry's bed, naked, but uncaring.

"Slavery isn't the same for me," he said slowly, carefully, "as it was for you, Harry."

"How isn't it the same? We're both slaves, we both obey a master."

"Yes, but, you learned to obey a cruel, hateful master. And I learned to obey - a different kind of master. I'm sorry this happened to us. It shouldn't have happened, we should be free, and we should be living the lives we planned to live after the war, with the people we love." Fred looked enormously pained at his last words. "But we can only do the best to live our lives as it comes. You were handed a cruel fate Harry. It was brutally unfair payment for all you'd suffered already. But I got lucky, and I found that what should have been hell wasn't so bad after all. I know it doesn't make sense to you, but it is possible to be happy again Harry." He squeezed Harry's knee affectionately. "I'm happy. Hopefully it's time for you to start finding happiness too."

Fred awoke early the next morning to the sound of the door creaking open. He glanced at the window and knew from the bluish light that it couldn't be later than 6:30. Gabbie must be coming in to get the laundry. Fred rolled over with a disgruntled huff. It was much, much too early.

"Fred. Wake up." Fred cracked an eye open and smiled at the unlikely sight of his master, dressed in his best black robe. Snape was certainly not a morning person either. When Fred was allowed to move in on his master's much needed rest for the night, they both woke up well after 9:00 on weekends like this, and even then they had a good hour of fucking before breakfast.

"You're awake!" He whispered. His master chuckled and then motioned to the bed. Fred happily scooted over to make room. They had never laid here together before. They would always go to the master's big bed to be together. But, this tight space was surprisingly nice, especially in the crisp morning cold.

"Did you miss me or something?" Fred asked.

"Something like that."

Fred looked over at Harry who was still sleeping peacefully. The poor boy was obviously exhausted.

"I shouldn't be here when he wakes up. I think it's better if I don't do anything out of the ordinary for a while."

Fred grinned. "Yeah, the fact that you don't want to hit him confuses him enough. We don't want him to know that you enjoy a good cuddle."

"I don't cuddle." Snape snapped. "And if you suggest otherwise, I may have to consider last night's request more seriously and redden that ass of yours for defiance."

"Of course, master." He said, his pulse beating a little at the thought.

"I'm here to tell you that I have to go to a meeting today. I just found out. I won't be back until this evening."

"Yes, master."

"Try to ease Harry into life here. Try to make him somewhat comfortable."

"I'll certainly give it a go. Although, I think it will take a long time. I can only imagine the defenses that he's built up."

"You're right of course. I also plan to see him alone tonight."

Fred looked at him startled. "But I thought…"

"No, not that. He's nowhere near ready for that. I just want him to get used to me. I thought it might be a good idea, when possible, for me to spend the evenings with you two together. Eating, reading, talking, something like that. And then I thought that he and I can spend an hour or so together, alone."

Fred nodded soundlessly.

"You don't mind?"

"Of course not, master. It's a wonderful idea. Being alone with you is my favorite thing to do." He shrugged. "How do you think I fell in love with you?"

"You are jealous."

"Not so much. He needs you too. And I know that you have feelings for him. You've always been honest with me about that."

Snape firmly lifted Fred's jaw until they were looking eye to eye. "You must know, you must understand Fred that what I feel for you is intense and true. I do harbor an old curiosity, but it may not amount to anything."

"And if it does?"

"It won't make a difference to what I feel for you. I will always want you. I will always love you."

"I'm not selfish. I don't want to be the only thing you need." Fred ran his fingers through his master's hair. "I love you, and I only want a small piece of your heart if you're willing to give it."

Snape smiled. "You don't have to worry about your place here, with me. I love you too much to let you go."

Fred nodded as the sun began to stream in brightly through the window and onto his face. And during the several moments of sunrise the two warm bodies in Fred's bed quietly reminded each other of their love with kisses and touches and moans.

Harry woke up to the smell of something lovely, something that he's dreamed about recently.

He opened his eyes to the sight of a small house elf with very long ears and an old white doily on top of her head. It looked like she'd tried to tie a bit of newspaper into a bow and sew it to her hat. She was bouncing up on her toes to try and get a better look at the newcomer while holding a tray of bacon, eggs and oatmeal with something sweet smelling melting on top - molasses and sugar, perhaps. Harry sat up. Fred was standing behind her with folded arms and a grin.

"I must say Harry, that I have never had two meals in bed, in a row, without being sick or something. You are a very luck boy."

"I don't need all of this, really." Harry protested. "The master will think I'm spoiled. He'll think I'm too much trouble."

"No, he won't think anything at all because he ordered that you stay in bed and eat a good breakfast. He's at a meeting today, but he told me to take you for a walk after breakfast. And I thought that I could show you around the house." He took the tray from the joyful little elf and placed it on Harry's lap. Gabbie took the linen napkin, shook it out and laid it over Harry's lap with a happy squeak, then disappeared.

Honestly, Harry was still so satisfied from last night's meal that he could have easily gone the whole day. Maybe this was a dream. Maybe he would pinch himself and wake-up again on his mattress next to George and Lavender, with the knowledge that he had another painfully hungry day ahead. This could not possibly be a reality.

"Eat up. Master said you need to fill up as much as possible. You're too skinny." Fred poked him playfully in the ribs then picked up three vials from the corner of the tray. Harry had missed from behind the cup of…

"Tea!" He exclaimed.

"It's Sunday morning. Remember, we get tea with as much cream and sugar as we like today." Fred reached over and ruffled his hair a little. "And it's so good to see you smile about something that maybe you'll get it more often." He set the bottles down in front of Harry. "The master wants you to take these. They're for your health. I think he's worried about you."

Harry looked at them cautiously.

"They're not poison, I promise."

Harry was unconvinced.

"Harry, honestly. The master doesn't want to poison you, he wants you healthy. I know you don't like him, and that you don't trust him. But, you are going to have to take the potions. It's an order."

"I wouldn't presume to dislike, or distrust my master." Harry said automatically.

Fred nodded. "Well good, then you will take the potions without fuss." He popped the corks off and lined them up in a row to be taken. Fred suddenly reminded Harry of his mother, Mrs. Weasley. Harry had hardly had time or occasion to think of her in years.

Without thinking any more about it, Harry swallowed all three potions in quick succession, and was pleased to find that only one tasted foul. He took a glorious first sip of his sweet hot tea and immediately felt as relaxed and settled as he could ever remember feeling. Whether it was the tea or the potions, he didn't know.

Harry finished eating and then showered again. He dressed and had a simple hair cut from Fred – "your hair may be messy naturally, Harry, but there is no reason for it to be this bad. The master wouldn't stand for it."

Then, feeling delightfully fresh and at ease, Harry followed Fred down the long cherry wood staircase, through the entryway, and into a comfortable looking sitting room. There were a few plush chairs and a large sofa with fabric that seemed well worn-in. Perhaps this is where the master entertained his guests. Although, that seemed unlikely to Harry. Lucius Malfoy only entertained in stuffy state rooms. Harry doubted that he even had a room that could be described as comfortable.

"This is where the master and I sit some nights." Harry looked up at Fred wide eyed. "He said that he would try to sit with us together for a little while every night, at least while you're settling in."

Harry took in the shelves full of colorful books, novels maybe, a wireless sitting on a ledge against the wall, and even a small table with a deck of cards left abandoned, mid-game. It was like the cozy living room at the Burrow!

"What does the master do with us here?"

Fred looked confused. "Well I don't know. We can talk, or read, or listen to some music maybe?"

"We?"

"Yes, of course."

Harry just nodded and followed Fred through a few more rooms. A casual dining room, where Fred claimed that the master often ate with him! This, Harry thought, must be an outright lie just to impress him. The master might give his slaves strange luxuries like food in bed when they were sick, or whatever. But the thought of him eating his meals at the same table as them was more than improbable.

Fred then showed him the formal dining area, which was much more familiar to Harry. Here the master would entertain government officials and important guests. Next to the head chair was a silk pillow. Harry smirked. Apparently Fred was also allowed to kneel on a cushion by his master's side. It might make the slave look like a lap dog on a bed, but Harry wouldn't mind sparing his knees the discomfort during the long six or seven course meals.

There was also a formal parlor, a kitchen, several down-stairs guest bedroom, a library, and finally a sunroom that led into the backyard through tall French doors.

"Want to go for a walk?"

"Outside?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Yeah! Sometimes I go flying, but -"

"Flying?" Harry asked, with a wild flutter in his chest. "The master lets you... but how do you do it? We can't do magic."

Fred looked at Harry sideways for a minute before answering. "Oh, you mean that we're not allowed to do magic. We don't need our wands to fly. Remember?"

Harry held his breath as he observed Fred's calm confidence. "Didn't your master give you the potion?" Fred looked confused and shook his head slowly.

"Why didn't he give you the potion?" Harry asked again.

"What potion?"

"The potion that -" Harry tried to calm his nerves before he said it. He had never talked about this particular experience with anyone before, not even George and Lavender after it had happened. They'd just waited out the sickness together. Harry and George had each taken turns holding back Lavender's long blonde hair. Harry didn't remember that first week of slavery too well, but he was pretty sure that he had blacked out through most of it. "The potion that erases our magic," he said finally.

Fred shook his head. "What are you talking about Harry?"

"Our master gave us a potion the first week. He said it was mandatory to remove our magic. We've been squibs for five years. He told us that all of the slaves are, because we're not allowed to be wizards anymore. We're not even people. Not really."

Fred's eyes were definitely wet when Harry looked up at him. "Oh Harry. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay."

"No. Harry, I'm sorry that he made you think this way." Fred wrapped Harry in a hug, but he pulled away sharply, afraid that his master might see them. He would never want Fred to be punished on his account.

"There isn't a potion like that Harry. There isn't a potion that you can take that erases your magic."

Harry blinked at him. "Yes there is."

"No, sweetheart. There isn't. Who would Lucius have gotten a potion like that from?"

Harry though for a second before answering. "Our master, of course."

"Harry. I help him with potions all the time. I know practically every potion there is. And besides, he would have told me if something that terrible had happened to George."

It was the first time Fred had acknowledged his brother and it made both of them pause. Fred was crying a little harder now. "Harry, I think he was just trying to make you feel powerless. You know?"

Harry shook his head. "No. You don't know."

"Harry, listen to me -"

Harry backed up until the backs of his knees hit a wooden table in the entryway. "You don't know anything. You've never been anything but the master's pet. You think he tells you everything but he doesn't. We're nothing but slaves. We don't have magic, we don't have anything anymore." Harry could feel his voice escalate, but he didn't care if he screamed. All of this was so disorienting that it might be a welcome relief if Fred told the master about Harry's disobedience. It might be a relief to be whipped. Harry desperately needed his understanding of rules and the basic laws of existence to be cemented and a whipping would at least allow him the opportunity to relax back into his role as a slave.

Harry refused to listen to the nonsense that Fred was dishing out from what was obviously too many years of pampered favoritism. "You think you know everything, but you don't. You're just his slave, Fred. He can lie to you all he wants. You never even leave this house, just like the rest of us." He was screaming now. "What do you know?"

Fred reached out for him as he stood and sobbed and shook with the power of Harry's outburst. Harry pushed against Fred's arms and when they didn't release he rammed his fist into the other man's side. As soon as Fred relented and let Harry go, he ran as fast as he could up the stairs and into their bathroom where he curled up behind the shower curtain, not caring that his lovely new robe was getting soaked from the morning residue. The tight space reminded Harry a little bit of a closet his old master would lock them in sometimes. They let him think it was a good punishment. But secretly Harry suspected that they all relished the opportunity to be alone, quiet, silent. Free to move without being watched. Free to rest and think without the pressures of their master's scrutiny. Even if he was in there for most of the day he preferred it to being with his master. Even the hunger pains didn't dampen the simple pleasure of solitude.

Harry cried himself out before slowly drifting off, comforted by the fact that he had at least a few hours before his master would come home and beat him.

You can expect another update no later than early next week.

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