Disclaimer: Not mine.

Warnings: Slash: male homosexual relationships, violence, adult language.

Pairings: Various Slash Pairings including DMHP, FGRL, TMRSS

Un-Beta'd

The S Saga

Survival

Regulus Black/Harry Potter

There was nothing extraordinary about today, in Harry Potter's opinion. He had risen, left his bed unmade so Kreacher had something to do, stomped downstairs to make himself breakfast in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, clad only in sleeping pants, and was settling down to eat it when the day went from normal to strange.

All because of a simple thing such as the front door opening.

This wouldn't usually be an uncommon occurrence in a house, except for the fact that since the war had ended, Grimmauld Place had been deserted aside from Harry and Kreacher. And Harry liked it that way. The wards that were set in place, ancient and powerful, set in place generations back by the Blacks, only recognized Harry as the heir to the Black family, and refused to let anyone but him in, except on his express wishes.

So when the door opened, rather than going on the defensive, Harry stared at the door leading to the hallway, completely shocked.

Footsteps sounded in the hall, the sound of someone dropping a trunk, and then they stopped, not far from the entrance to the kitchen.

"Kreacher!"

The voice, lovely and deep, didn't shout for the house elf, but Harry heard it anyway. The voice was soft, quiet, obviously not used to sounding so loudly, and that alone intrigued Harry.

"Master! Master has returned! Master is here to throw the filthy half-blood out."

Harry had heard enough. Rising, ignoring that he was wandless and scantly clad, he stalked out of the kitchen, wanting to discover who the hell had broken into his home and bewitched his wizard-hating house elf into adoration.

He got his answer as soon as he stepped into the entrance hall. Kreacher lay grovelling at the feet of a tall wizard, practically salivating over his shoes. Harry eyed the intruder momentarily. He didn't have a commanding presence; in fact, he seemed to sink unnoticed into the shadows. The more Harry stared at the handsome stranger, the more he realized who he was reminded of.

'Sirius… he looks like Sirius…'

The stab of pain that accompanied any thought of his Godfather flashed through Harry before he shook it off. He wasn't about to dwell on that when he was standing before a stranger.

"Who are you, and why are you in my house?"

Oddly enough, the words didn't come from Harry's mouth.

"Your house?" Harry repeated as his eyes narrowed. "This is my house."

"I am at number twelve Grimmauld Place, am I not?" the man asked as he stripped off his cloak. Harry nodded. "Then this is my house."

"Who are you?" Harry demanded. "You barge into my house, early in the morning-"

"It's eleven o'clock."

"-early in the morning, stating that it's your house. Who are you?"

One perfect, dark eyebrow rose.

"Regulus Black."

Harry's eyes widened and he stepped back, shaking his head slowly. Yes, it explained why the man looked so much like Sirius, and why the wards let him in, and why Kreacher was practically worshipping his feet, but there was one giant flaw with that explanation.

"You're dead."

A chuckle sounded from Regulus as he threw the cloak to one side. Kreacher was there in an instant, gathering the cloak up and collecting the trunk.

"Obviously not," Regulus said with a slight shrug. "After all, here I am."

"Sirius said you were dead," Harry protested. "He said his brother is dead."

"Ah, you know Sirius," Regulus murmured in understanding. "How my mother would turn in her grave to learn that her disowned son sold her house to a half blood."

"He didn't sell it," Harry bristled, mostly at insult to his blood. "He left it to me when he died."

"Sirius is dead?" Regulus repeated, slight shock showing on his face. "Why would he leave it to you?"

"He was my Godfather," Harry growled. "Enough with the questions! If you really are Regulus, why are you here?"

"Because this is my house," Regulus drawled. "Now, we have a problem. I didn't intend for anyone to know I am alive yet, so you'll have to die."

"What?" Harry gasped. Regulus drew out a long, ebony wand, swishing it slowly before aiming at Harry. "Wait!"

"What?" Regulus asked. Harry stepped back from Regulus, wishing desperately he had his wand.

"You can't kill me!" he protested. "I'm Harry Potter!"

"And?" Regulus was obviously bored of his explanation. "What do I care if you are a Potter?"

"No, I'm Harry Potter," Harry was shocked that this man didn't know who he was. "The Boy-Who-Lived? Saviour of the Wizarding World? None of this ringing a bell?"

"No," Regulus said as he blinked slowly. "Saviour? Who did you save?"

"Everyone!" Harry exploded. "From Voldemort!"

With a soft thunk Regulus dropped his wand, his mouth falling open at the same time. Before Harry could even think about picking it up Regulus was right in front of him, a hand cupping his face.

"You… you were the one that killed him?" he whispered. Harry nodded. "You… you set me free…you saved me."

Before Harry could protest Regulus's arms were tight around him, pulling him close. His head bowed onto Harry's bare shoulder, Regulus held him tight. He seemed to be whispering something, but Harry couldn't hear him.

"Um… your welcome?" he said, patting the dark-clad back before him. Regulus peered up at Harry then, his eyes darkened with something Harry couldn't quite place. "Look, it's not that big a deal. I mean, you actually helped me, when you stole that Horcrux and left the note and all."

Regulus seemed to regain his composure all of a sudden. He rose, straightening quickly and stepping away from Harry.

"You are welcome here as long as you like," he said in a commanding voice. "The wards will not impede you, and Kreacher will obey you in everyway."

"Um… ok… I wasn't planning on leaving anyway…"

"Kreacher! Take my things to my room."

As Kreacher began to lug Regulus's things up the stairs the Black turned to look at Harry again, his eyes once more burning with that look. Harry had no idea what that look meant, but it sent little shivers down his spine.

"I have a question for you," Harry mumbled. "How… how are you alive?"

"I'm a Black," Regulus replied with a curl of his lip. "One thing we value over all others is Survival."

"How did you survive?" Harry asked as he stepped closer to Regulus. "I mean, everyone thought you were dead… Kreacher said- I thought…"

"I won't tell you now," Regulus said as he stepped towards the stairs. He paused as he came level with Harry, reaching out to brush a hand along his cheek. "But maybe I will one day."

Harry shivered again as Regulus vanished up the stairs, wrapping his arms around his bare body. He stood like that for a moment before realizing that Regulus was probably headed to his own room… the room Harry now occupied.

Swearing, Harry dashed up the stairs after Regulus, hoping to reach the room first.

--

Three weeks later, and Harry was ready to blow. After Regulus discovered Harry had chosen his room to stay in he hadn't been mad. He had actually suggested that they share the room and bed. Harry had hastily packed up his things before scrambling down to Sirius's old room. He hoped that he could forget that he was sharing a house with the Black and simply avoid him.

Unfortunately, Regulus kept seeking him out, asking strange questions while giving him the look. Unnerved, Harry finally stomped down to the Drawing Room to confront him.

"Ok, I've had enough!" he shouted as he entered. Regulus looked up from his book, a small smirk on his face. "What are you up to? Whenever I ask you simply say 'survival' and I'm sick of that answer! Tell me what you really mean!"

Regulus closed his book carefully before setting it aside. He reached over and picked up another book open to a marked page and looked up at Harry.

"You've been living here since you were eighteen, correct?" he asked. Harry nodded, irritated. "Five years. Since I'm not dead, I technically inherited this house when Sirius died, no matter what his will said. So you've been living in my house for five years straight."

"And?" Harry growled. Regulus's smirk grew.

"Well, Harry," he murmured as he looked down at the book. "You've unknowingly activated an old pureblood law."

"What?"

"Yes. As Lord of the House of Black I can choose to act on it if I wish," he continued, reading from the book. "As you have been here for five years I can claim you as anything I wish; a servant, consort, slave, anything."

"Who thought of that law?" Harry demanded as he stalked over to look at the book. "Who the hell would do that?"

"It doesn't matter," Regulus said as he slammed the book shut, setting it to the side. He rose, gripping Harry's hands in his own and looking into his eyes with that look. "Harry James Potter, who has been living in my residence for five years, as Lord Black I claim you as my bonded."

A blinding white light surrounded the two wizards before slamming into their bodies. Regulus slipped his arms automatically around Harry and held him close so he wouldn't fall. Harry swayed in Regulus's arms, feeling like he had just been shoved unceremoniously though a Floo.

"What did you do?" Harry croaked as he looked up at Regulus. Regulus smirked.

"Survival," he said simply. "I can't very well return to the wizarding world suddenly, when my last known appearances were as a Death Eater. But now, bonded with their Saviour, who can tell them how I helped you, they will have no choice but to accept me. Also, this way you can't have me taken away to Azkaban in order to have the house back. Survival."

"That's it?" Harry whispered, somehow exceedingly saddened by the thought that the only reason Regulus would bond with him would be for that. "You bonded yourself to me, a bond reserved for lovers, for survival? Nothing else?"

"Don't be stupid," Regulus actually looked slightly surprised. His eyes were suddenly filled with that look. "You freed me. I had to hide in order to survive, and when you defeated the Dark Lord, you set me free. I owed you a debt, and by bonding you to me the debt cannot take me away from you. When I realized you saved me, and you did save me, I would have done anything for you. You became more important to me than anything. Now we're bonded, you're mine."

"I don't understand," Harry mumbled as he tried to struggle free. "Why… you… I don't get it!"

Regulus leaned in, cupping the back of Harry's head as he brought their lips together softly. He eased his lips over Harry's gently, burying his hand in the soft hair at the back of his head. Harry let out a soft gasp against his mouth which Regulus used to his advantage. Sliding his tongue inside he took in the taste of the one who belonged purely to him.

When he drew back Harry was panting prettily, his green eyes dazed as his hands clenched at the front of Regulus's robes.

"I did it for Survival, Harry, for I can't survive without you now."

One more after this. SSTMR. Summoned.