Hey :) So this one is a little longer than the last few, and it has some snarry slashy goodness at the end. Well, I hope it's good anyway. I've never been hugely successful with writing sexy times. Anyway, if you are under the age of consent in whatever country you are reading from, you probably shouldn't read this chapter. Or any of the following few chapters for that matter.

So Yeah, Warning for Shmexy times at the end :)

Word Count Without A/N - 1744

"I've Created A Monster."

Harry felt awkward when he left Dumbledore's office. Severus was calmly walking beside him as though he hadn't a care in the world, but Harry had spent enough time with the snarky man to know when he was irritated about something. They walked in silence, Harry thinking about the Headmaster's advice and Severus biting his tongue to stop himself from asking what Dumbledore wanted from Harry.

Vowing to reread the book at the earliest available moment, Harry glanced at Severus.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine."

Harry sighed, shaking his head. Would Severus ever learn to communicate?

He walked down the corridor, failing to turn when Severus did, making his way across the castle instead of down to the dungeons. He could hear Severus calling his name, but he wasn't in the mood for an argument, nor did he much feel like playing ten guesses as to why Severus was in a bad mood. It could only be one of two things.

Either he didn't want Harry to move in with him after all, or he was irritated that Harry spoke to Dumbledore alone. Since Harry assumed it couldn't be the latter, because surely Severus would have just asked what it was about, he knew it must be the former.

Severus didn't want Harry to move in, but was too polite to say so. Well, if that was the case, Harry wouldn't force his company on the older man. He would stay in his room, and keep things the way Severus obviously wanted them to stay.

Rolling his eyes again, Harry made his way down the stairs, deciding to sit outside for a while. He would undoubtedly be the talk of the school again soon, it would be nice to have some peace and quiet before the shit hit the fan.

xxxx

Severus watched Harry walk away, a sinking feeling in his chest. Was the younger man giving up on him? Had Harry decided he didn't have the patience, nor the will to deal with Severus anymore? Slowly walking down to the dungeons, Severus refused to allow himself to let his emotions go, and he damn well refused to cry.

Why couldn't things be easier?

The stories he had heard, the things he had read, they all made out that once you found your mate, the relationship would go smoothly, love would blossom quickly, happiness would be the primary emotion running through him.

Lies. All of it, bloody lies.

Ah, but it's not lies, is it Severus? Not all of it anyway. You love Harry, and he loves you.

Severus sighed, trying not to listen to the sly voice in the back of his head. It would just give him false hope that things could work themselves out. Harry was difficult for Severus to work out. The young man said he loved Severus, but did he? Did he even know what love is? Did Severus know what love was?

Letting himself into his quarters, he was surprised to find himself looking at an extra door off the living room. He opened it curiously, surprised to find Harry's things all set up, his clothes in the wardrobe, a desk set up with his school work and the work Andromeda sent for him. A bookshelf in the corner held a surprisingly large collection of books, and the decoration was muted tones of cream and brown.

Was this what Harry had quickly discussed with Dumbledore? His wish for a separate room? Were things moving to quickly for Harry, and he didn't want to tell Severus for fear of insulting him?

Severus closed the door, sitting down on the settee he frequently sat on with Harry.

If things were moving to fast for Harry, that didn't really match up with what Severus himself had overheard him discussing with his friends. Not a little confused, and with a headache settling in, Severus closed his eyes, welcoming sleep as he fell into an unsettled slumber.

xxxx

Harry knocked on the door to the dungeon, a little surprised but happy to find it open at his first knock. He closed the door behind him quietly, smiling slightly to himself when he saw Severus asleep on the settee. Noticing the new door, he crossed the room silently, opening it a touch to peer inside.

Seeing his things all laid out neatly, he gave a reluctant nod to himself. He had been correct. Severus didn't wish for Harry to share his bed on a permanent basis, but he did want Harry closer. It was a step in the right direction, Harry supposed, and walking into the room properly, he pulled the Veela book from the bookshelf and made his way back into the living room.

So as not to disturb the sleeping man, Harry took a seat on the chair, tucking his legs under himself as he settled into the book, concentrating more on the bonding ceremony than he had the first time. If the Headmaster thought it would be a good Christmas Present, it was certainly worth taking a second look through it.

xxxx

Severus woke slowly, blinking a few times when he saw Harry sat in the armchair, looking like he perfectly belonged there as he read a book. Severus spent some seconds committing the sight to memory, because to him, Harry had never looked more natural, nor had he ever looked more beautiful.

Apparently he felt the intense stare of Severus, because all of a sudden, Harry looked up, Emerald meeting Onyx. A tentative smile crossed Harry's face.

"I hope you don't mind me being here, the door was open. I didn't want to wake you," he said, his voice calm and relaxed. The walk had apparently done him some good, Severus thought.

"Of course I don't mind. You live here now, Harry, this space is as much yours as it is mine. The door wouldn't have opened to anyone else, you know."

Harry nodded, a wider smile on his face now.

"I like my room, did you do that?" He asked, and Severus frowned a little.

"No. I thought that was what you were discussing with the Headmaster? It was here when I got back."

"Oh. I wasn't talking to the Headmaster about a different room, why would you think that?"

"It was here when I returned, so I just figured that you had asked for it that way."

"No, not me. I was talking to the Headmaster about something...else. Nothing bad, I promise. And no, I'm not going to tell you, but you'll find out soon, alright?"

"Alright. I won't push you. If you need to talk, you know where I am."

Severus returned the smile Harry gave him, but he was still flummoxed about the second bedroom. If Harry hadn't asked for it, and he didn't want it, why was it there? Unless this was Albus' way of giving them the choice? If anyone turned up, it would look like they had seperate rooms, but they could decide between themselves if they actually used it.

Meddling old coot.

As Severus shared his thoughts with Harry, he could see Harry coming to the same conclusion he had. Severus sat up on the settee, patting the seat beside him for Harry to join him.

Harry did so, leaving his book on the arm of the chair, seating himself close to Severus and again tucking his legs up.

"You don't have to share my room, Harry. You have a perfectly good one there, and we can take our time. If, however, you want to share my bed, you will always be welcome."

"I thought you were in a bad mood earlier, because you felt that I had been pushed upon you by Dumbledore. I was going to ask if you'd prefer I moved back upstairs with the others."

"I love having you here. All the time. I'd love you to stay here with me forever. I do love you Harry, even if I don't show you that very often."

Harry leaned up, using a hand to maneuver Severus' face closer to his own, and pressed their lips together gently. It was a soft kiss, slow and full of the love they felt for each other.

Not moving his lips from Severus', Harry moved so he was kneeling up, leaning over Severus, one hand still on his cheek, the other threading through his hair.

Severus wrapped his arms around Harry's waist, pulling him in closer, tighter, so their bodies were almost pressed against each other.

The kiss went deeper, became a little more passionate, a little more intense.

Harry moved his leg over, so he was straddling Severus' waist. His own erection getting harder, he could feel Severus' own pressing against his. Gathering his nerve, he moved down a little, grinding them together, moaning into the kiss at the first contact.

He felt Severus' approval, both in the way he moved a hand down to Harry's arse, pushing his down harder, and also in their kiss, which was so intense, Harry was surprised they hadn't set on fire.

His moans swallowed by Severus' mouth on his, Harry ground down on Severus, the pleasure like nothing he had ever felt before, building and rising inside him. He knew he wasn't going to last much longer, and as he bit down on Severus' lip, he could feel the other man was getting close as well.

Harry fell over the edge, his head tipping back as he reveled in the perfectness of the moment, hearing Severus call Harry's name as their lips parted, he too, falling into the delightful oblivion of orgasm.

Harry rested his head on Severus' shoulder, waiting until his breathing calmed slightly to talk.

"Sev?"

"Yes, Harry?" Severus asked, as Harry looked up, glad to see the older man looking at him with a small smile on his face.

"When we share a bed, can we do that again?"

"When we share a bed, we'll do that and much, much more."

"Oh. Good," Harry replied, pressing his lips to Severus' cheek.

They sat in contented silence for a while, Harry getting comfortable in Sev's lap, the older man chuckling as Harry burrowed himself into his chest.

"Sev?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Are you ready for bed, yet?"

"Dear Merlin, I've created a monster."