(A/N: I am really on a roll with this story, but don't worry about anything, I have other stuff working, I am just in the drafting phase and it is taking a bit because the next few chapters of my other story are important. Anyway, no new warnings apply, but I hope by now you have stopped reading if you don't like what I've given you. Anyway, on with the show!)
A Cold Sleep
Part 9
"You wanted to talk to me Uncle Severus?" Harry said, his voice carried obvious fatigue as he stepped into the potions lab, his eyes were burning. He and Hermione and Draco had been up late drafting letter after letter, trying to get it perfect. They had gone to bed in the early hours of the day, still not satisfied with their efforts. They didn't want to reveal anything too important, but how else were they going to convince Ron and Ginny to come to the Shrieking Shack? The Ministry raid on the Burrow would not take place for a few days, but they were eager to have something ready to go as soon as possible.
"Yes. Come in, sit down before you fall down," Severus said and gestured to a bench seat near an unoccupied table. Harry obeyed, leaning his head into his hands briefly, stifling a yawn as best he could.
"Sorry, I don't know that I've ever taken anything this seriously," Harry said softly and accepted the mug of tea that Severus handed to him.
"I could make a comment about that, but I will let it slide. That's not what I wanted to talk to you about. It's about Tom," Severus said and though his voice seemed casual he looked serious when Harry chanced to meet his eyes.
"What about him?" Harry asked, tilting his head to the side and trying to determine whether or not he was about to get yelled at and if he should be ready to run for cover.
"He is a Dark Lord, I know you know that," Severus gathered his thoughts for a brief moment and Harry took a long sip of tea to calm himself. "I am his apprentice, even with the interruption that occurred due to his temporary death. And I know how things have worked in the past; I…want you to know that I have no intention of turning on him. He has my loyalty, he always will," Severus said and Harry blinked in confusion, this was not the conversation that he had expected when he sat down.
"Severus, I don't…" Harry trailed off.
"You don't realize what this means? Ah, but of course you don't. You've only really just begun to realize your place in the world, the strength of the Light within you. Voldemort has my loyalty, so too do you. Do you understand?" Severus said softly and Harry swallowed his next mouthful of tea wrong, leaving him to sputter and cough for a moment.
"You're recognizing me as the Light Lord, Tom was saying that I was…that..." Harry breathed and felt like someone had punched him in the chest, leaning forward and staring into his tea, searching for his answers.
"There hasn't been one in a long time Harry. Dumbledore has made sure of that, and I want you to know that you will have support. You will not be alone," Severus stepped around the table and gently tugged Harry's hands away from their death grip on the table, pulling the younger man against his chest. "It is a big responsibility, a title that I am sure you would wish away if you could. But you will not be alone, you have more people behind you than you realize. You and Tom, the two of you united will bring together the Light and the Dark and those who walk the line in between, there is power in that unity, trust me Harry," Severus said softly, stroking messy hair and letting shaking hands grip his robes tightly.
"You and Sirius and Remus," Harry stated, his eyes were still wide with fear when he looked up into his Uncle's face.
"Yes, our bond is stronger for the inherent balance within it. Remus in the Light, myself in the Dark, and Sirius somewhere between, but the bond would not work if there were not love, if there were not trust. I know that it can be hard to understand sometimes, that Darkness and Light should not love so readily. I know that some people believe that Darkness can only come from evil, but I think you have seen that that's not always true," Severus said softly and tried to smooth down the constant mess that Harry's head always seemed to have sitting atop it.
"I have, I know that," Harry gave a shaky nod and took a deep breath, doing his best to calm himself.
"I know this is all new to you, I know that everything seems to be moving rather quickly, but try not to let it get to you. We will be with you. All of us will be with you, not matter what. Now go take a nap, I'm sure that Tom could probably be convinced to let you share the couch with him again," Severus said and smirked when Harry blushed bright red. He ushered the younger man out of the lab with a pat on the back and watched until Harry turned the corner, how he wished that Lily and James could be there to see their son growing into such a wonderful person.
Harry made his way down the halls, learning the many turns of the Manor's layout had not taken him long with Draco's assistance. But the library was his favorite place aside from his own room. He liked the sunlight, the large windows, and the comfortable seating. It had none of the oppressive atmosphere of Hogwarts library, as much time as he'd spent in there with Hermione, he was pretty sure that he could tell the difference.
Just as Severus had predicted Tom was seated in the Library, his feet propped up on a coffee table that had not been there before. He was invested in a book that looked like it might have been older than Hogwarts, reading it without touching it so as not to destroy it. Harry waited to be noticed, even though he was falling asleep on his feet, but he didn't want to be rude.
"Come here Harry," Tom said softly and smiled when Harry obeyed without a word. He sat on the couch beside Tom, letting the light warm him outside as Tom's kiss warmed him inside. He had a tough time not wanting to kiss Tom; it was very tempting to spend all of his free time in the other man's presence. But both of them had other obligations, and they hadn't done much more than share a kiss on occasion. Sometime soon Harry hoped that he would get the opportunity to sleep curled up with the other man again.
"Severus said you'd be here," Harry said softly, sleep already clouding his voice as he settled into Tom's lap. The other man chuckled and summoned a blanket, throwing it over Harry to make sure that he was extra warm and comfortable.
"And I will be here when you wake up. Get some rest," Tom said gently, petting Harry's head until the tension left his body and he was well and truly asleep.
(A/N: I'm going to leave it here for now. I hope that you guys like it and will leave me some comments and reviews. Thanks for reading!)
