Chapter 8 - Dessert

They held hands as Harry led the way to the nursery, where his sleepy son was more than ready for a daddy snuggle and kiss. Harry picked up Jamie, nuzzled into his little neck, and whispered the same thing he'd said to Jamie every night since his birth. "Mummy and Daddy love you, little man. Have sweet, sweet dreams." He kissed him on the forehead, lay him gently in the crib, and rubbed his little chest gently until Jamie's eyes drifted and stayed closed. Emotion welled up in him, some he couldn't name. Love, pride, joy-they all had a place here- but also, grief, pain, and something undefinable that may have been protectiveness. Nothing would ever harm his child if it was in his power to do something to prevent it.

"He's quite a lovely baby, Harry," Severus said quietly, feeling as if he was almost an intruder.

"Yes, he is," Harry said simply, then turned to Severus, breathing deeply. "May I lean on you?"

Severus recognized the gravity of the question, and answered in kind, not even needing to think about it. "Always."

Harry stepped toward Severus, then leaned into to place his head in the curve of Severus' neck, his hands at his hips, as he simply breathed him in. Slowly, Severus wrapped his arms around Harry, holding him as the emotions swept through the younger man. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, content to hold on, but as the storm passed, Harry's breathing slowed, Severus' arms tightened, then loosed, and the pair stepped back from each other just enough to look into each other's eyes.

Severus was the taller of the two by nearly six inches, but that just meant that Harry could fit his head under his chin if he wanted to. They were both slim, but Harry could feel the strength in the arms that held him, and he knew he could lean on him. Truly knew it, somewhere deep in his soul that he'd never felt before. Harry tilted his head up-an invitation-and Severus leaned slightly down to meet Harry's lips with his own.

Oh, Harry thought dimly. Oh, this is nice. This is...right. He closed his eyes and opened his mouth slightly. Unable to resist, Severus dipped his tongue along the open seam of Harry's mouth, and Harry met it. As their tongues met, something in Harry's very soul pealed, and Severus, staggered by the weight of the sound, felt his own soul reach for the source. Locked at the mouth, the couple tightened their arms around each other as a whisper of their magics floated over them, and the peal became a chorus as they blended together. They deepened the kiss, and their hips slotted together as the magics rose around them, encaging them in soft white light that pulsed with their joining. The cage glowed, then sank into their skins, and the two broke apart, gasping at the intense sensation.

Jamie slept on.

"What was that?" Harry asked quietly, stunned at the sensation of white light soaking into his skin.

Severus caught his breath, then said, "I've heard about this, but never seen it." He hesitated, then stepped toward Harry again, folding him back into his arms. Harry lay his head in the curve of Severus' shoulder, breathing deeply as Severus continued. "It appears to be a bond of some kind."

"I've never felt this way before," Harry said.

Severus swallowed. "This kind of bond light often happens at …"

"Yes?"

"Wedding ceremonies." Severus tightened his arms around Harry. "I've managed to avoid weddings, but I've heard this kind of light can occur at the end of the ceremony, binding hearts and magic. It occurs with mutual intent."

"That didn't happen at my wedding to Ginny," Harry whispered.

"Had you been ready, had she truly been the one for you, it would have," Severus murmured.

"Yet another sign that she and I were not meant to marry," Harry said sadly.

"That it's happened now, though," Severus continued, slightly shaky, "that means something."

Harry leaned back to look into Severus's eyes. "On my part, Severus, when I kissed you, I felt that I could truly lean on you. I gave you my trust."

"I kissed you because you needed me." Severus took another deep, shaky breath. "And I have loved you, in one capacity or another, for a very long time."

Silently, they held each other for another moment, listening to Jamie's quiet breathing, holding each other, thinking and feeling, until Harry said softly, "I think I could love you, too."

"Magic recognizes intent," Severus answered. "This kind of bond forms between two people who on some level already recognize the intent to be with each other. There should be mutual trust and love before such a commitment. Apparently, magic recognized something we hadn't yet." He tipped back to look into Harry's eyes again. "Maybe magic decided to give us a boost so we'd recognize it."

Harry laughed quietly. "Maybe." He withdrew, drawing back until just their hands touched. "But magic should also recognize that we need to learn about each other, too." He took Severus' right hand in his left. "Come. Let's go somewhere and talk."