A/N: And here is another chapter for your visual pleasure. Please enjoy and review!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
'What are you doing here?' growled Harry, not dropping his aggressive stance.
Sirius made to step forward but Severus grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
'Idiot. You can't approach them, not when he's like this.'
'He's my Godson, I think I can-'
'Have you forgotten what happened with James?' challenged Remus.
Sirius paused for a moment, glancing at Harry. As he did, the light seemed to glint off the boy's wicked claws and he bared his teeth. Sirius paled and lifted his hands in surrender.
Severus rolled his eyes before ushering the other two back into his rooms and locking the door. He turned back and raised his eyebrows at Harry, crossing his arms.
'Are you quite finished with that little display?'
Harry growled again.
'Yes, yes. Grr. You're a big scary dominant protecting his submissive who, I would imagine, isn't feeling his best right now?'
It was like some switch inside Harry flipped. Severus saw the change and settled into an armchair to wait for Harry to deal with the situation. Harry's claws and teeth returned to normal and he slowly brought his wings forward, supporting Draco on them until the boy was in front of him. He carried Draco to the couch and nestled him into the blankets before fetching a glass of cool water and a couple of tissues. He held one to Draco's nose.
'Blow.'
Draco frowned for a moment before complying. Harry banished the cloths and held the water to Draco's lips.
'Drink.'
Draco gulped greedily, the water soothing his embarrassment. When Harry was satisfied he climbed behind Draco on the couch, settling the smaller boy in his lap and pressing his face into his neck. Draco started keening as Harry chewed gently on the tender skin. He managed to leave a ring of marks most of the way around Draco's neck. As he admired the result he caught sight of Severus' smirk and Draco's blush and looked more closely at what he was doing.
'Oh Merlin, I'm sorry little one, I-I just…gosh, I can heal it, if you want? I just…you look so good with it though but-'
'Sir,' interrupted Draco, 'I l-like it.'
Draco blushed harder as he spoke but Harry's answering grin was more than an ample reward. They were pulled from their reverie when Severus cleared his throat.
'I would like to apologise to you both. It is important during this stage that the mates should not be without their chaperone. Instincts are controlling you and it is easy for things to get out of hand. It was…remiss of me to not ensure your safety and then frankly imbecilic to barge into your rooms without warning. In my defence, however, I told those two…creatures not to come until I said.'
While Harry gaped at an actual apology, Draco was smirking.
'We made it through alright, but was it remiss of you, Sev? I think you were probably just too busy being distracted by those creatures. Although you might not want to call your lovers that, imagine if someone thought they really were animals.'
'Shut it, submissive.'
Draco pouted and looked pleadingly at Harry, but a quick kiss was all the compensation he received as Harry processed what had been said.
'Lovers?'
'You hadn't told him?'
'Well done, Draco.'
'Sorry.'
'Lovers?'
'Must you repeat that word, Potter? It implies emotions.'
'Because Merlin forbid you have any of those.'
'Lovers?!'
'Yes, sir. The three of them have been at it since you defeated V-You-Know-Who.'
'But I didn't tell you until a month ago?'
'A Malfoy always knows.'
'Lovers.'
Draco reached up to cup Harry's face in his hands and press a soft kiss to his lips.
'Lovers, sir. Just like you and me.'
Harry shot Draco another blinding smile and squeezed him tight.
'You and me,' he murmured.
Severus looked away as Harry laid Draco down on the cushions and finished the front of the love-bite collar. He then crawled down Draco's body and began sucking a row of them from hip to hip. He frowned at the hair brushing his chin and cast a quick spell to shave it off. Draco froze at the sensation and Harry realised what he'd done. Draco's cock looked so different without the nest of curls. It looked sort of innocent, crying out for his touch, but before he could there was a knock at the door. Instantly Draco found himself in Harry's lap and surrounded by Harry's wings.
'Is it safe yet? I'm bloody bored.'
Severus glanced at Harry and when the boy nodded he unlocked the door.
'Hello pup,' said Remus.
Sirius just nodded and made sure to keep Rems between himself and Harry. Harry laughed and returned the greetings from his seat. Sirius flicked his wand at the chair Severus was on and it was transfigured into a couch. Harry grinned as he watched the two men squeeze themselves in on either side of the scowling Potions Master. They pressed a kiss each to his cheeks and grabbed a hand apiece before they settled, resting their heads on his shoulders. Harry was frowning for a moment, it didn't look like Severus enjoying their affections at all, but then he spotted it. Severus was the one entwining their fingers, Severus was the one gripping their hands like a lifeline. Severus was the one who hadn't moved so the other two would be forced to snuggle around him.
When Remus and Sirius turned to Harry with matching questioning looks he smiled.
'And when were you planning on telling me about this?'
'We-We weren't sure how you'd take it, pup,' said Remus.
'We knew you didn't like him, and I mean, neither did we at first.'
'We're sorry, we know we should have said sooner.'
'But he's really rather important to us, so please try to accept it.'
'Stop,' laughed Harry. 'Stop worrying, I'm not mad. You know I just want you to be happy, and, well, Severus isn't the worst person you could have chosen. Besides, if we're talking about unconventional relationships, I think mine takes the cake.'
Sirius and Remus both grinned and Harry could see Severus relaxing.
'So, would you both like to meet my mate?'
Remus nodded eagerly while Sirius looked a little more reticent.
'Oh buck up, Pads. You aren't going to try and hug this one in the middle of the most volatile stage, Harry isn't going to attack you.'
'You told me James was bloody safe, Mooney. Excuse me if I don't believe you this time.'
'I told you it was safe to approach James. You ran over to his mate and grabbed her.'
'I was being congratulatory!'
'Honestly.'
While they bickered, Severus glancing between them with something approaching a fond smile, Harry had gradually lowered his wings. Draco was sitting sideways on his lap, his long pale legs dangling over one of Harry's thighs. The bruises on his neck were blindingly obvious in the harsh light. His hands were folded in his lap and his hair was practically luminescent. Only the tips of Harry's wings were still touching him, one covering his groin and the other splayed over the small of his back. The red feathers were especially striking against the creamy skin. Sirius and Remus noticed the boy as he turned and graced Harry with a radiant smile.
'Merlin, pup, he's beautiful,' breathed Remus.
'It's the Black genes. We're all stunning. But I agree you picked a good one,' whispered Sirius.
Draco flushed when he heard the compliments while Harry rolled his eyes at Sirius.
'I'm glad you like him.'
'It's a pleasure to meet you both,' murmured Draco, lowering his eyes respectfully.
Harry reached out to cup his chin until he looked up again and pressed his lips to Draco's temple.
'You don't have to bow to them, dragon. They're family, they won't demand that of you. We love you just as you are.'
A smile quirked Draco's lips that Harry was quick to kiss away.
'You know James said almost exactly the same thing to Lily?' said Remus.
Harry shook his head, eyes wide.
'He said she would never have to bow to us, because we were her family now too and family love each other too much to ask that of each other.'
'And he was right, for once,' said Severus. 'Anyone who tries to treat you as less than equal because of your status in this bond is not worth your time.'
'Sev, what about Pansy and Blaise? Do they know where I am? And all the rest of our friends, do they know what's happening? What will they think of me? Oh Merlin, I-'
'Shh, pet, don't worry yourself,' whispered Harry, one hand stroking Draco's back and the other fingering the collar of bruises.
'The Headmaster has made several announcements about your situation. The students and staff are being kept informed and he has had separate meetings with your close friends to ensure their understanding.'
'Phoenix Sprites are rare, Draco, and being their bonded is a respected position. You will not face ridicule for your relationship,' said Remus.
Draco nodded slowly and leaned back into Harry. Harry took the hint and wrapped his wings around his mate, shielding him from the world. While the four men continued to chat quietly, Draco was swept away.
He smells like…
Honey ash fire, fast and cold and slick and blue.
He feels like…
Softer in the morning, ice and gold and true.
He burns like…
Harder, faster, more, more, take and give through and through.
He burns…
