A/N: Hey guys, thanks for all the reviews! much appreciated! I sort of felt this chapter should be two, but they would ave been really short chapters if i did that, so ive put them together! Hope this is what you all wanted!

Chapter 10

The next day seemed to drag and fly by all at the same time for Harry. He'd spent the previous night curled around his Severus like a limpet, just in case Severus never let him do so again. He stayed by his side throughout all the lessons and lunch time, only leaving his mates side to check on his kit when they weren't in the same room as her. He barely paid attention to the classes, students or even his food. He felt sick. Nervous with butterflies, butterflies that felt more like roaring dragons, in his stomach. He revelled in every touch Severus gave him, any time alone between classes he took to rubbing himself against his mates thigh asking for attention.

"What has gotten into you?" Severus asked perplexed as his mate rubbed against him begging to be pet, while he walked to the great hall for dinner. Ebony merely purred loudly and continued to cover his robes in fine black fur. Harry kept close to Severus' side when they entered the great hall, only briefly looking up to catch the eye of Neville who gave a slight nod.

Severus placed Ebonys usual meal of beef in front of the large feline, before turning to his own plate of beef and new potatoes. A few minutes later he turned to glance at his familiar, only to notice he hadn't touched his food.

"Ebony? Are you not hungry? Are you okay? You've been off all day… are you ill?" he whispered hurriedly to the cat, leaning over slightly so his wave of hair obscured his face from the hall. He wouldn't want students to think he could be worried or kind now would he?

Ebony merely shuck his head, and laid down gently besides Severus' chair. Severus pushed his chair away with a sigh, and muttered quickly to Ebony, "Come on then."

After they left the great hall they returned to Severus' office, as he always marked essays on Friday nights, leaving the weekend free for his mate and kitten. Severus sat behind his desk, and pulled a pile of 3rd year essays on a mild healing potion to him, and picked up his red self-inking quill. He observed Ebony pacing for a little while, confused as to what had agitated his mate so, before shaking his head and focusing on his marking.

Fifteen minutes later, Severus was disturbed by a timid knock on his door. He noticed Ebony instantly stiffening, and wondered as to who could be at the door to cause that response. After calling to whomever it was to enter, he saw Neville Longbottoms head slowly come around the door. Followed closely by Luna Lovegood.

"Well come on in then. What is it? I am rather busy you know."

They slowly shuffled forwards. Longbottom looked apprehensive, biting at his lower lip, whereas Lovegood appeared to be in another world. As far as Severus was concerned this was normal behaviour for the two. What wasn't normal however, was Ebony trotting slowly upto him licking his hand, before standing besides the Longbottom boy and nudging him gently.

"It's about Ebony, Sir" Longbottom said quietly.

"What about Ebony?" Severus practically hissed.

"We know who he is Professor." Lovegood piped up now.

"What? How! Who?" Severus was staring between them and his familiar now. His familiar who wasn't looking at him. Who was looking down at his own paws and seemed to be trembling slightly. 'Why would Ebony be trembling? Is he scared?'

"Tell me NOW!" he hissed. He refused to see his mate scared for any longer, and he needed to know who he was in order to calm him.

Longbottom murmered something unintelligible. "Speak up you foolish boy!" he snapped.

"Harry Potter Sir" spoke Lovegood.

Silence reigned over the room.

"Good luck Harry. Come along Neville, I think we should leave them to talk…" Luna gently nudged Neville from the room after petting Harry one last time.

Severus just looked at him. More like past him really. Harry kept glancing up at him through his eyelashes. Severus' face was blank. Even with all the practise he had, Harry couldn't read his expression and that worried him a lot. Without realising it he shuffled back and lowered his head more. He couldn't bear to bring himself to look at what must be rejection on Severus face. If felines could cry, he'd be sobbing by now. He lowered himself to the floor, and covered his eyes with his paws. He heard movement from Severus, and without looking up, backed away quietly once more.

"You back up from me. Are you that scared of me?"

Harry slowly shakes his head but still cannot bring himself to look at his mate. Nobody wanted Harry. They wanted Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, The Chosen One, Ebony, Youngest Seeker in a Century even, but never Harry. And he was certain Severus would be the same.

And then suddenly he felt a cool familiar hand scratch behind his ear. His head automatically moved into the movement, his eyes closing in pleasure as he purred. And then he suddenly jerked up and out of the caress. Looking with wide green eyes up at Severus, with an obvious questioning tilt to his head.

"I will not lie and say I am happy at this news," with this Harrys ears dropped and he looked down at his feet. Severus gently nudged his head up, forcing Harry to look at him, "I admit I was foolish to not make the connection, considering you appear and Harry Potter disappears within the same summer. And we have never gotten on. But you have stayed. And this must mean that you wish to stay? You've had many opportunities to leave." Harry nodded vigorously at this, gently nudging Severus hand, trying to convey his feelings. "I do not know you. I hated what I thought was you, but I have known since occlumency that was not who you were. But I do not know you. And while you have used this time to come to terms with me, I have not had the same opportunity. All I know of you, is you as my feline familiar." Harry noticed the avoidance of the word mate. Did Severus no longer want him to be his mate… "I know you are loyal, that you care for both myself and Angelica. That you apparently are better at potions than you have leaded me to believe in the past, since you've been helping in my classes. You hate being cold, you hate early mornings, and apparently love chocolate, even though it isn't a correct diet for a panther!" Severus seemed to be mumbling to himself now, but Harry was content to listen. It was the first time he had heard what Severus thought of him, "You want a family, you love freedom, you cuddle in your sleep, you love my rock music collection but hate my classic music. You love my Shakespeare books, which you're replacing by the way since you seemed to have chewed/clawed them to bits while attempting to read it. Your favourite colours are blue and silver, not red or green like people think. Your favourite meat is beef, although this explains why you wouldn't eat it tonight at dinner."

He trailed off as Harry gently nudged his knee. Severus coughed in a moment of vulnerability. "While it would seem I know more of you than I originally thought, I still do not know you as a boy," Harry growled lightly at the use of the word 'boy', "… young man then. It may take me a while to get used to this." Severus continued in his normal clipped tone. He straightened up and walked back into his private rooms. When Harry didn't immediately follow, he called back into the office, "Are you coming in or not?" Harry followed him sedately, still worried about being thrown out.

That night as they tried to sleep, Harry kept to the floor, assuming that Severus would not want him in the bed now he knew who he was.

"Come up here you foolish feline. It would seem I am accustomed to sleeping besides you."

Harry happily jumped up onto the bed, cautiously laying down besides his mate, wary in case he changed his mind. Slowly Harry began to relax, when Severus put his arm around the felines form, pulling him into his chest, as they normally slept. They fell asleep quickly after that, content to lie with each other, knowing they were going to be okay.