Chapter 13
The Monday after the trial brought the dreaded media coverage. The headline screamed, 'The Boy Lived To Be Abused By His Relatives!'
Harry caught sight of it as he sat down to breakfast and hit his head against the table in frustration while Sam slid off his shoulders. Severus snorted, "You knew that they would get hold of the story eventually, love. It doesn't give all the details although it does wax on about you being defenceless. I have no doubt that you will be receiving sympathy letters for a while."
"Great!" Harry announced, "That's just what I wanted. More publicity!"
Severus's prediction turned out to be more than correct. Within half an hour Harry had received one hundred letters from devoted fans. Many of who had described how they would like to hurt the Dursleys in retaliation. Harry burnt the letters without bothering to read any of them after the first ten.
Over the next two weeks Harry fed from Severus less and less and drank more pig's blood. He was no longer a fledgling. However, he still stayed in his Sire's room at night. Both found that they had fewer nightmares that way and it was comforting. As Harry matured further he often woke up with an erection, although usually so did Severus. Their relationship moved on from only being intimate when Harry fed to when they had time. Since the trial Harry become a little more confident, although only with those he trusted and very occasionally initiated kisses with Severus. It was as though a weight was gone from his mind. The Dursleys could never hurt him again and Harry finally began to accept that he was not to blame for their actions. 'He is healing nicely.' Severus thought to himself, as they lay entwined in bed.
Severus wanted, desperately, to take Harry as his mate. All his vampiric instincts yelled at him to make the green-eyed beauty his own forever. Mating for vampires was the equivalent of marriage to wizards. Vampires mated for life, which in their case was a very long time and felt drawn to their mate. Severus just wasn't sure if Harry was ready for such a large step although he did know that the young vampire wanted him too.
Harry was aware of his Sire's thoughts and also wanted to mate with him. He was nervous but knew that the raven-haired vampire would never hurt him. As he looked at his love lying next to him he decided that he would tell him that night.
After Transfiguration Ron and Hermione stopped Harry in the corridor. Draco saw what they were doing and backtracked to help his brother, Neville followed suit.
"We barely see you anymore, Harry," Hermione complained, "Now Ron tells me that you haven't spent the night in Gryffindor since the first night. What is going on with you?" She demanded to know.
Harry looked at her appraisingly as Draco and Neville took up protective positions on either side of him. They wouldn't do anything though. Harry needed to do this on his own. Ron and Hermione had attempted to talk to him when the Daily Prophet had published its story on the trial but he had managed to evade them so far.
As with Ron Harry could hear the girl's thoughts. He usually blacked people out but he wanted to know why they were trying to be his friends again. They hadn't spoken to him on the train home after sixth year and had been cold towards him for weeks before. 'He had better just tell me so I can sort it out and everything can get back to normal. If he keeps on hanging out with Malfoy and Longbottom there's no way I will get access those Ministry files this summer or that scholarship to the Department of Justice. Damn it! I need him to be my friend so that I can do this.' He heard from the Gryffindor girl. Her betrayal hurt Harry more than Ron's had. The redhead had abandoned him before but Hermione had always stuck by him. Now he knew why. "Why should you see me?" He asked coolly, "As for my sleeping arrangements. They are no concern of yours. Nothing is wrong with me. I am finally being myself. Now would you mind moving Granger you are blocking my way." He walked past the speechless girl but stopped halfway up the corridor when she began to shout after him, "Harry James Potter stop right there! What right do you have to talk to me like that? Do you know what I have done for you? All the times I have gotten into trouble?"
Harry looked at her incredulously, "You did all that for the fame of being The Boy Who Lived's best friend. So that you would get access to secret files and scholarships into programs that require more common sense than you obviously posses not for me." Her eyes widened in surprise 'How did he know that?' and she watched as her former best friend swept off in a manner eerily similar to Snape with Draco Malfoy and Neville Longbottom.
The green-eyed vampire led his friends to the Room of Requirement, as, luckily, it was lunchtime. He opened the door on a large training gym filled with all kinds of weapons and accessories. Neville watched in awe as Harry threw knives at a moving target, hitting the centre every time. Draco and Neville sat on the couch in one corner and waited for Harry to work out his frustration. They had all knew what would happen to him if he kept it all inside like he used to. It would eventually destroy him.
"Does he do this often?" Neville asked his companion.
"Yes, we trained together during the summer and Harry finds it relaxing." Draco replied. "Uncle Severus has a training room down in the dungeons and they use it practically everyday. It also has magical exercises. Harry is trained better than most Aurors." He said his voice revealing his pride at how powerful his brother was.
Neville cast a glance over to the vampire currently kicking the hell out of a golem. Yes Harry was definitely powerful. Perhaps even more powerful than Dumbledore if he continued to work on his abilities.
Harry continued to take out his frustrations for an hour before the bell rang for lessons. He turned to his friends and saw to his relief that they had eaten. He had not realised that it was so late. They left the Room to go to their next class.
Night came quickly after that and Harry was ready to tell Severus. The older vampire was sat on the couch reading a Potions manual of Slytherin's that Harry had translated. Nervously he approached the man. Severus put the book down while he raised his eyebrow questioningly.
Harry climbed into the vampire's lap and nuzzled his neck. "Severus?" He murmured.
"Yes, love?"
"I'm ready."
Severus's breath hitched. He did not pretend to misunderstand what his Childe was talking about, "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I want you. I want you to show me that it doesn't have to hurt. I want you to be my mate." Harry whispered against his neck.
"Alright. I love you Harry. If at any point you don't want me to continue then tell me to stop. I promise I will not do anything that you do not want me to. Do you promise to tell me if you change your mind?" Severus insisted.
Harry nodded mutely. He knew what they had to do to become mates. They had to bite each other during sex. Severus kissed him passionately while he moved his arms to encircle his younger lover. When his tongue asked for permission Harry granted it instantly. They remained in that position for sometime before Severus stood up and carried his Childe into the bedroom they shared.
Putting his love gently down on the bed Severus bent over Harry and kissed him soundly again. He began to remove Harry's robes, kissing every part of the pale skin he came across. Harry moaned and arched up into his lover. Severus continued to worship Harry's body as he moved lower. When he reached Harry's impatient erection he kissed the tip. Taking it all into his throat Severus hummed and Harry came with a shout. He moved back up to his lover's head and kissed him lovingly, "It is easier if you are relaxed, love. Do you want to roll over? That position is easier." He pointed out.
"No, I want to see you." Harry panted still coming down from the clouds.
Severus nodded and positioned a cushion underneath his love's hips. He summoned the jar of lubricant he had made especially for them and dipped his fingers into the viscous liquid. Locking eyes with the young vampire he carefully inserted one finger. He stretched his lover thoroughly before coating his straining erection with lubricant. Without breaking eye contact with Harry he gently eased into the relaxed but still tight opening. It was amazing! Severus felt like he was being welcomed home. Harry too was amazed. Severus was completely encased within him and it had not hurt at all. In face Harry felt whole, like something he had been missing his entire life was now back where it should be.
Finally Severus began to rock his hips. He nudged the sweet spot within his lover and Harry saw stars. Angling so he would hit the small bundle of nerves on every thrust he began to move in and out of his love.
Just before they both came Severus bit down on Harry's neck and felt Harry do the same. Orgasm hit them in a wave as they drank each other's blood. Marking the other as his for all eternity.
Once Severus regained his senses he gently slipped out of Harry and lay down next to him. Harry rolled over to snuggle up to his mate. Severus wrapped his arms around his love and Harry sighed contentedly, "I love you, Sev." He whispered sleepily.
"And I love you." Severus replied before kissing him. He had ignored the shortening of his name. In fact he actually liked it. No one had ever cared enough to give him a nickname. As there was no opposition to the name Harry decided that he would call Severus by it as often as he could, although not in public.
The next day was a Saturday so they had no need to get up early. When they did they showered leisurely together before drinking the goblets of blood the house elf brought for them. Sam slithered into the bedroom and flicked his tongue out. You have mated finally? He asked Harry.
Yes. The young vampire blushed.
Good. You need a mate to look after you properly. I can not do it all myself. Sam said in typical snake fashion. He saw Harry as his human and his responsibility and no matter that Severus protected Harry as well. Snakes only accepted mates as an acceptable replacement.
Just as they were preparing to begin an experimental potion Severus had been working on a house elf popped into the lab, "Excuse me but professor Dumbledore says that he wants you to go to him now sirs. Bolly says to Professor Dumbledore that Bolly can do that and here Bolly is." A female elf told them.
Severus sighed and Harry replied to the elf, "Thank you. We will be there in five minutes."
Harry lagged behind Severus as though the professor was taking an errant student up to see the headmaster, as even though it was a Saturday there were still students around the castle.
They entered the headmaster's office, declined the offered tea and lemon drops and took a seat.
"Why have you called us here headmaster?" Severus asked with his usual bluntness.
Dumbledore smiled at the vampire fondly, "There are many reasons I wish to speak with both of you Severus although do you find it so impossible that I merely wished for your company?"
"Had you wished for our company you would have come down to the dungeons yourself or fire-called, Albus." Severus pointed out.
Harry grinned at the banter between the two older men. It was obvious that they cared for each other like father and son. Dumbledore looked over to Harry and smiled back, eyes twinkling.
As was usual for Albus Dumbledore he chatted aimlessly about a variety of subjects such as Harry's studies, how he was feeling, what was Voldemort doing at the moment before he got to the real reason he had asked for them. "I have recently gained possession of a prophecy that I believe mentions the two of you." He revealed levelly.
Harry and Severus caught each other's eye. (Another prophecy?) Harry asked.
Harry had told Severus about Trelawney's prophecy. To now have another one that included the two of them this time was not something he wanted to hear.
"What does it say? Who prophesised it?" Severus asked the older man.
Albus held up the piece of parchment and began to recite,
"A child wrapped in darkness but light,
Born in pain and suffering,
This is the Phoenix Child and only he has the power the Dark One knows not,
His other half must help him,
The dark to his light,
For without his Protector the Phoenix Child will fail
And the Darkness will reign forever."
He looked up to see Harry and Severus with their mouths open in shock. "It is a prophecy made my Merlin over a thousand years ago. I believe that the Phoenix Childe is you Harry, Severus you are obviously the Protector and Voldemort the Darkness."
(At least we are already mated love. It was our own choice. The prophecy does not dictate anything in our lives.) Severus insisted.
Harry nodded, (I know. But why is so much of my out of my control? How many people can say that their lives were being seen and planned out before they were even born?) He asked bitterly.
(In know love. It is not fair but that is the way it is. The only thing you can do is make the best out of what you have.) Severus soothed him.
Albus seemed to know that they were having a mental conversation as he merely waited for them to finish. They did very soon and turned back to the headmaster and blushed as they saw his amused expression. "I must ask. What is your current relationship? The prophecy implies that you will be romantically linked. I know that due to your Sire/Childe bond it is possible that you are either in a paternal or romantic relationship by now or will be quite soon." He was extremely curious. Harry had recently become even better at hiding his own emotions than he was before and that had been very well and Severus had always been impossible to read.
However both vampires thought of Albus like a father or grandfather and never lied to him. Harry's blush and Severus's smug smirk told the older man everything he needed to know. He smiled at them fondly and nodded congratulations to both of them. They had always wanted a family of their own, both of them, now they had one.
"Well at least now you will have help in defeating Voldemort Harry." Severus spoke up.
The trio continued to talk about possible means of destroying the plague of the wizarding world otherwise known as Lord Voldemort. Now they knew that Harry and Severus would need to work together. No doubt it would become clear at some point.
The two vampires left a few hours later. Severus acting the past of stern teacher leading a repentant pupil down to the dungeons for a detention. Harry on the other hand was playing the part of Gryffindor Golden Boy, although he had started acting like himself more it was still a well known fact that Harry Potter and Severus Snape hated each other so he was following his professor with a scowl on his face, glaring at the man every so often. They passed a Slytherin third year girl on their way down to their quarters but she paid them no notice. It was quite normal for the professor to have a detention on a Saturday. They managed to begin the experimental potion from that morning but halfway through Severus's dark mark began to burn as did Harry's scar. Severus cast a stasis charm on the cauldron so that they could go back to it later.
"If you are going to tag along with Voldemort be careful." Severus reminded his lover. He knew that Harry would watch the meeting even if he told him not to. The head of Slytherin summoned his Death Eater robes and mask and hurried out of the dungeons to the edge of the apperation wards before apperating to the Dark Lord's side.
"You are late, Severus." Voldemort hissed in disapproval.
"I am sorry my lord. I was brewing a potion and had to get it to a point where I could safely leave it before going to the edge of the apperation wards." Severus explained.
The rest of the Death Eaters were already there and arranged in the usual circle. Voldemort cast crutacius on Severus for being late before allowing him to join their ranks. Harry, inside the Dark Lord's mind, cringed at the pain he felt from both of his bonds.
Voldemort questioned his potions master, "Severus how is young Mr Malfoy's training progressing?"
"Very well my lord. Draco has made friends with Potter and turned him and Longbottom against Granger and Weasley." Severus twisted the truth.
"Well done Severus. He will be ready to join my ranks very soon. I have a plan for capturing Harry Potter finally. All other attempts have failed for various reasons. This time there will be preparation and Potter will walk into my trap willingly." The lizard-like wizard said cryptically.
The rest of the Death Eater's stayed silent. They knew that their lord would inform them soon and if anyone asked he or she would be punished severely.
"Severus you will bring the brat to me." Voldemort told the potions master.
"But Potter does not trust me my lord. He has seen my mark and would not follow me anywhere. If I attempted to take him forcefully the old coot would be alerted." Severus persisted.
"You will win the boy over anyway you can Severus. I happen to know that he favours men. Make him fall in love with you and then bring him to me." Voldemort ordered his follower.
"But it is well known that I am not the most handsome of men my lord." Severus pointed out slowly.
"If you take better care of your appearance you would not look quite so ugly. Then there is also your voice. You have a marvellous speaking voice Severus it is a pity that you waste it on teaching. Use your voice to seduce the brat." Voldemort informed him.
"Yes my lord. Might I ask how long I will have to seduce Potter?" Severus requested.
"You have until Christmas. There is a Winter Ball being held on the eighteenth of December just before Hogwarts breaks up for Christmas. Bring him to me then. The old man will be distracted and the brats go home the day after. By the time someone realises that he is gone it will be too late." The slightly insane wizard explained.
Harry laughed internally as he heard Voldemort's new plan. Had he not met the real Severus Snape that summer there was no way Voldemort's plan would have worked. He did not trust so easily. How stupid did he think he was? Now at least he had a deadline and the perfect opportunity to kill the monster.
Severus too was amused. He knew that Harry would never have trusted his sudden change of attitude not to mention that Dumbledore would have noticed Harry's disappearance very soon. The man loved the boy like a grandson and always had an eye on him. "Yes my lord. I will begin immediately." He answered the wizard.
Voldemort informed him that he could leave and Severus gladly apparated away. Back to Hogwarts and Harry.
Harry had left the Dark Lord's mind when Severus apparated away and met him as he came through the living room door, "So…you have until Christmas to seduce me. How will you ever manage it?" He teased his lover.
Severus smiled at him wickedly and captured his lover's lips in a kiss. A minute later he broke away, "Oh I think I'll manage it easily. I do after all have a marvellous speaking voice."
His lover shivered and smirked at the choice of words. Severus's voice was indeed marvellous as Voldemort said. Just hearing his lover speak could make Harry unbearably aroused. "We should tell Albus. And I need to step up my research. We only have until Christmas." Harry noted.
Severus nodded his agreement, "I always report to him after a meeting. Do you wish to come with me?"
Harry raised his eyebrow, an expression he had developed due to his time with Severus and Draco, and said, "Of course."
"Albus, the Dark Lord has given me until December the eighteenth to seduce Harry. That night is the Winter Ball and I am supposed to bring Harry to him whereupon he will kill him." Severus deadpanned.
Dumbledore showed barely any surprise but that was usual. They only knew that he was shocked by the minute widening of his eyes. He thought for a moment, "We should allow him to think that his plan is working Severus. It will buy us some extra time. Show him memories of you and Harry speaking pleasantly and as time goes on perhaps more intimate memories. Obviously Harry should go to the ball with you Severus but it would appear a little strange if you suddenly acted like lovers or even friends in front of the school. Perhaps you should slowly change the way you act towards each other over the next two months?" He suggested.
Harry and Severus agreed. They decided that Harry should stay behind after class when they had potions last lesson on Thursdays. Gradually their attitudes should change from 'hate' to love at least for Harry's part. Everyone, even the Dark Lord, saw Severus as a heartless bastard and thought him incapable of love so it would be more believable if he just began to be nicer to Harry during lesson and didn't take points.
By the time the two vampires left the headmaster's office they had planned what they were going to do about Voldemort's latest plan. "You know I'm actually pleased at this new plan of his. It means that I get to speak to you in public and go to the Ball with you. If that Finch-Fletchley keeps harassing you then he will find out just how possessive I can be." Severus threatened the absent Hufflepuff boy that had been flirting with Harry during Herbology lessons.
Harry just smiled at his lover. He loved it when Severus got possessive of him. It showed him that the other vampire really did love him. He had never had anyone who was so protective of him. It was nice. "You know I would never leave you, love. You are my mate. Forever."
Severus kissed him hard. Harry kissed him back just as hard and wrapped his arms around the man's neck for support. The taller vampire picked his mate up and carried him into the bedroom where he showed him just how much he did love him.
Finally they went back to their abandoned potion. It was a variation of what Salazar Slytherin had been making to cure lycanthropy by combining it with an animagus potion but they were having the same problems as the original Slytherin. The potion was extremely volatile and when they added a key ingredient it always exploded. Thankfully they had a containment charm around the cauldron so they were never hurt.
"Do you think that brewing it in a silver cauldron would do any good? I mean little flakes of silver would go into the potion and they are poisonous I know but it would be a very small amount. Muggles do that with vaccinations. They immunise people by injecting them with a dead or mild form of the disease. Or how people build up immunity to a poison by taking in very small amounts so that the body can get used to it so that it is no longer lethal." Harry wondered aloud as Severus vanished the last failed attempt.
The other's head shot up and stared at him but he wasn't looking at Harry, he was following the line of thought. Harry had seen his mate do that often enough to not be worried at the expression. Gradually his expression changed, "You know you might be on to something there. I never considered that before."
He summoned all the ingredients again and set everything up. They brewed the potion again but in a pure silver cauldron and when the key ingredient was added it didn't blow up. They had completed the potion. They had found a cure for lycanthropy. "Now we just need to test it." Severus stated.
"I think Remus would volunteer. I'll ask him the next time I see him. His lycanthropy is his greatest curse. He would do anything if it meant never having to change again." Harry knew.
Severus nodded, "But we will have to monitor him very closely. It could still kill him."
The next day when Harry saw Neville and Draco they were in Draco's private room. Harry was sat at one end of the bed and the other two were lying on it next to him. Harry had brought Sam with him as he had been neglecting the snake a little lately. He couldn't take him to most of his lessons so he only saw him at night and weekends. Sam did go in the potions lab and training room with him though and watched his owner. The snake understood why Harry was so busy. He watched with a smile as Draco's hand crept across the bed and took Neville's. The no longer timid Gryffindor looked up and smiled at the Slytherin. "Harry we have something to tell you." Draco announced pointedly.
The young vampire just laughed, "Finally! I've been waiting for ages for this. But I have something to tell you as well. I mated with Severus."
Neville's mouth dropped open and Draco applauded his brother, "I hope you have a very happy life together, Harry. You deserve it more than most." Draco knew how hard it was for Harry. He had been there during some of his flashbacks and at the start of their friendship Harry had often flinched when he came too close. His godfather was probably the best thing that had ever happened to his blood brother. Draco was glad that both men had found happiness and love finally.
"Congratulations Harry." Neville recovered and told his friend. He had finally gotten over his fear of the foreboding potions master when he had seen him act so tenderly towards Harry.
'I never thought I could be this happy.' Harry sighed to himself as he watched Neville and Draco banter.
Next potion lesson Harry and Severus started to implement their plan. Severus was not as hostile towards Harry but in order to make it believable Harry still acted the same as always.
As Severus passed Harry's cauldron he peered into it, "Mr Potter why is your potion a different colour to Mr Malfoy's?"
Harry snuck a peek at his own blue potion and then over to Draco's green one. "Erm because I have already added the poppy seeds sir? He asked quietly, playing the part of scared student.
Severus smirked internally. His mate was a fantastic actor. No one would ever suspect that they were already lovers. "Surprisingly that is correct Mr Potter…Well done. Two points to Gryffindor."
The entire class went silent. Snape had just praised Harry Potter? And given points to Gryffindor? Was the world ending or had hell just frozen over?
Harry faked confusion and surprise and said, "Thank you sir."
Professor Snape didn't reply he just turned back to the class and glared at them. They quickly carried on with their work but once they left the gossip spread around the school in a matter of minutes. As Harry was leaving Severus sent him a mental wink and smirk. He sent back a smile and snigger. 'There will be some rumours going round now love.'
'I can't wait to hear them.'
Harry's prediction turned out to be correct. By the end of the day there were rumours of an impersonator, imperious and blackmail going around. Severus was very hard pressed not to laugh at some of the things the students had said to offer an explanation as to why he had praised Harry Potter, Gryffindor Golden Boy not to mention gave House points.
That weekend Harry invited Remus down to the dungeons. He had not spoken the man in a long time unless you counted Defence lessons. Remus knocked on the door at eleven and Harry opened it.
"Hi Remus."
"Hey cub. How have you been?" The man asked.
"I'm fine. Severus and I have a surprise for you." Harry announced unable to wait.
The amber-eyed man frowned in confusion, "What surprise?"
"Well we found a secret study and library down in the Chamber of Secrets. On the desk there were some journals. Written by Salazar Slytherin himself. Some of the journals were personal but the other were potions. He was a genius when it came to potions. Much like Severus really. Anyway just before he dies he had been working on a cure for lycanthropy. He was very close but his death obviously prevented further research and as he was a Slytherin he had told no one what he was doing so his research was lost in time. I translated it from Parsletongue and Severus and I have been working on a way to get the potion to work. We finally did it last week." Harry declared happily.
Remus stared at him in shock. While he was trying to digest all the information Severus came into the living room with a beaker.
Finally Remus spoke again, "A cure? For lycanthropy?" He couldn't believe it.
"Yes Lupin. Harry here came up with the idea of using a silver cauldron to brew the potion in and it seems to work. The only problem is that we have no way if testing it. I am almost positive that it will work as it is supposed to. The idea is to change the curse from being driven by the moon. You would not loose the wolf. It would become your animagus form." Severus explained.
Remus was in tears. He would finally be free of the curse. "I'll test it for you. I assume that was why you asked me here?"
Both vampires nodded. Severus handed the beaker to the werewolf who drank it quickly.
Nothing happened for a second but then Remus bent over in pain. It passed quickly and when he looked up his eyes were no longer honey coloured but hazel like they had been before he had been bitten. Harry saw the change and burst into tears. Remus had looked to Severus to check that it worked. The older vampire conjured a mirror and showed the former werewolf his eyes. Severus suddenly found himself being hugged by an emotional Gryffindor. He cautiously hugged the man back before letting go and pointing him towards Harry.
"Thank you. Thank you." Was all he could say.
"Try and change into your animagus form." Harry prompted his 'uncle'.
Remus concentrated and transformed into a large brown wolf. It came over to Harry and licked his hand. "Hello Moony."
"So I think we can market the potion don't you Sev?"
For the next two months Harry and Severus used their evenings and weekends to train and research possible ways to defeat Voldemort. They even went down to the Chamber of Secrets and looked in Salazar's private library. "Maybe I should take the sword of Gryffindor. He wouldn't expect such a physical form of attack."
"How would you conceal Gryffindor's sword?" Severus asked scathingly.
"Then I'll summon it. I've done it before. After all I am the Heir of Gryffindor." Harry argued.
"Alright. I have no doubt that you can do it love. I'm just worried. I don't want anything to happen to you. We may be immortal but we can still die if we are injured enough." Severus told his lover.
Four weeks later Harry's cry called Severus over to a barely used corner in the now brightly lit underground library. "What is it?"
"A soul banishing spell. All it needs is an incantation and a tremendous amount of power." Harry pointed out the passage in the book he was reading.
Severus read the page over his love's shoulder, "I think that would work. You'll have to practice the incantation though. This spell would appear to have been forgotten over time I believe. Voldemort won't know about it."
Harry spent the next few weeks repeating the spell so many times he thought his head would burst with the irritation. He knew he could say it in his sleep as Severus had informed him with great amusement that he had mumbled it the night before. "Ok that's it. I know the spell. I can perform it with no problem just stick the git in front of me and I'll do it right now but let me stop this, Sev. It's driving me insane. Please." Harry begged his lover.
"Alright. Do you feel confident about the eighteenth?" Severus stressed. He needed to know that his mate was ready. Perhaps he was being a tad demanding. They had been training almost every night for over a month. But he just wanted to know that they would succeed.
"I know I can do it." Harry had changed from a shy, self-depreciating boy to a confident powerful man over the last four months due to his new 'family'.
"I know you can too." Severus said and moved to kiss his mate.
"Can we try and become animagus Sev?" Harry asked.
Severus had always been intrigued by the idea but had never found the time to try it. "Yes. I have several books that should help."
It took a week before they managed to transform fully. Unsurprisingly Severus became a snake. A black mamba like Sam to be precise. While he was in snake form he was able to communicate with Harry's familiar with Parsletongue and Harry by Parsletongue as well as telepathy. Severus was impressed with his form and now often transformed when he was patrolling the corridors. It amused him to no end to see the students jump when he appeared from nowhere.
Harry became a black panther. He still had his stunning green eyes and there was a faint lightening bolt-shaped scar on his forehead under the fur. Harry loved his form. It wasn't very practical if you were sneaking out of the dungeons but it would be if he was in a battle.
As they still had over two weeks until the Ball Harry and Severus spent their time doing what they wanted. They made love, read and spent time with friends. Of course they still trained and studied but not as much. There was nothing else to do. They simply had to wait.
By the time the eighteenth came round they had the student population convinced that something was going on between the two of them.
Ron and Hermione had attempted to confront Harry about it but as soon as they insulted Severus he sent them flying across the room. "Do not try to speak to me again. I can't believe I ever considered you friends." He spat as they lay slumped on the floor.
The next day Harry received a letter from the Weasley twins.
Dear Harry
Our dearest Ronnikins sent mum a letter yesterday and told her that you sent him and Hermione flying across the room. She was a little annoyed but thinks that Ron probably deserved it after the kind of things he was saying about you during the summer. We are sorry that our brother is incapable of keeping his mouth shut. But we hope that will not affect our friendship with you. You are after all our silent third partner and we owe you much. Ginny is also ashamed to call Ron family. We are so very sorry that we did nothing about the Dursley's while you were still with them. We found it quite odd that you were locked in your room like that but you were so insistent that it was nothing. We should not have listened to you. We hope that the ton-ton toffee incident did not cost you anything. If you do not reply to this letter we will understand but it is our dearest wish to speak to you again. Please give our best regards to Professor Snape.
Gred and Forge
Harry laughed as he read the letter. The twins had always been friends with him and never judged him. They had never switched sides like Ron. He trusted them although not with his food. It was nice to know that not all the Weasley's hated him. They were after all the first real family he had met. He showed Severus and Draco the letter and wrote them a reply saying that he was still friends with them and would very much like to see them soon.