Disclaimer: Do I even need to put one up after so many chapters?

Title: The Ties That Bind

Beta: ShadowFax999 She rocks, and that's that. If you like X-men, read her stuff.

Summary/ Warning: Dom/ Sub, HGRW, PPBZ, RLSB, LVBL …and of course HPSS.

Chapter 14: Conversations and Thoughts

:Parseltongue:

"Conversational thoughts"

Private thoughts, shared memories

The next day at breakfast, Dumbledore stood and silently commanded the students' attention, he smiled gently and spoke.

"As I'm sure some of you know, three of the Elite Magic Schools have instituted the International Young Wizard Exchange. Now, whilst I know that many of you wish to be involved in this activity, the twelve students we will be sending out- six to Durmstrang and six to Beaubaxtons- will be chosen based on grades and teacher recommendations. Of course, the students willingness to see new places and try new things will also contribute to the selection process."

Dumbledore paused as the students chattered amongst themselves. If the excited murmurs emanating from the house tables were any indication, the competition for this trip would be fierce.

"There is one very important factor which cannot be overlooked however, underage wizards are required to have their parents' magical seal of approval for their participation in this programme." Disappointed mutters filled the hall from the students who knew their parents would put up a fuss about their children going to foreign lands during the underlying threat of magical warfare.

"That being said, I beg pardon for the interruption once more and do enjoy your breakfast." Dumbledore sat and let the students talk amongst themselves.

Harry turned to his circle of friends and raised an eyebrow. Hermione- though she looked disappointed about having to turn down this trip- shook her head. She knew Ron's grades were no where near high enough to qualify him to go, and she wasn't planning on going anywhere without him. Dean and Seamus shook their heads as well. Neither of their grades were good enough, and neither of them were about to go around begging teachers to write them a 'Letter of Recommendation'. Neville shrugged, and resumed his 'Draco Watch'. Harry took that to mean 'no', and shook his own head.

Turning to look over his shoulder at the Ravenclaw Table, he saw Susan shake her head slightly as well. Harry inclined his thanks for the answer- now he didn't have to look over to Slytherin to see what Theo had to say. He knew he would find out about Pansy and Blaise later- they had another meeting in the Room of Requirement scheduled for breakfast on Thursday.

Dean broke into Harry's musings with a snort. When the four other students turned to look at him, he explained. "They'll be here probably right after Christmas. And the International Exchange traditionally lasts for a month, so they'll be here till the end of January. I just think that- whenever they get here- the students staying over for Christmas will be forced to play 'host' to the foreigners. And I'm not looking forward to that duty."

The pairs took it for granted that they would all be staying in the Castle for the Christmas holidays. No one wanted to leave their partner for that long.

Harry grimaced as he realized Dean was right. "We'll probably have no free time. Bugger!" he cursed softly, his anger at Dumbledore rapidly increasing. The old fool certainly knew how to manipulate circumstances so that he got his way!

Hermione shrugged. "We could just hide out in the Room of Requirement. Our House Common Rooms won't be safe- if I know Dumbledore, and I do- he will make it so that each of the Houses get three students."

Harry groaned, and thunked his head onto the table. "We'll never be free of them," he proclaimed dramatically. Weak chuckles met his theatrics, and he could hear Severus' curiosity in the back of his head. Leaving his head on the table as the conversation continued on around him, he started to fill his mate in.

"We were discussing the impending disaster that Dumbledunce is bringing down on us."

Severus chuckled into Harry's mind at the creative nickname the teen had bestowed on his boss. "It probably won't be so bad," Severus answered, and hid a smile as Harry snorted. "Well! That's the last time I try to comfort you," Severus said mock-testily

Harry immediately apologized, though he knew Severus was joking with him. "Sorry, love." Harry said, and froze when Severus went motionless mid-bite. "I'm sorry, it just slipped out- but I do love you, you know. Even though I've never said it. I just.. Um... Sev?" Harry's mind raced a mile a minute and his ramblings followed the same trend.

Severus forced the rest of his mouthful down his throat as he mechanically reached for his goblet. Washing down the eggs with the strong tea, he sat back in his chair. Even though he was not the one who could see into his mates mind, he knew that Harry was probably tense beyond any measure as he waited for Severus' response.

Slowly, Severus replied simply, "No one's ever said that to me before."

Harry froze in his chair again as he heard the words coming from his mate. He felt Hermione's worried gaze, felt Seamus and Dean watching him, but all he could think about was what Severus had just said.

"No one?" He breathed carefully.

"No one." Severus affirmed, and watched the boy across the hall as Harry dealt with that information. Harry, even though he'd never met his parents, knew that they loved him. He had memories of his mother telling him she loved him. That Severus had never known such love- It didn't bear thinking on. Harry stood, and walked out of the Hall with his bag, ignoring the confused expressions on his friends face. Sitting in a little alcove off of the Great Hall, Harry sank himself into his mates mind and Severus welcome him gratefully.

He spent the last ten minutes of the breakfast hour making sure that his mate knew exactly how much he meant to Harry.

When dinner finally rolled around Harry let out a sigh of relief. The day had been no worse than any of the others, but with Severus in the back of his mind wondering how Harry could actually love him after so short a time period, and the other pairs setting up a schedule of meetings when they could all be together, Harry was mentally and emotionally exhausted.

So right now he was blowing off dinner to go and chat with Nikita.

He stood in the middle of the forest at the edge of the lake in the center, head titled back and eyes closed as he savored the sound of nothing. After so much time enclosed with hundreds of students and a dozen teachers, he relished the fact that here, no one could bother him. Harry lowered the volume at which he heard Severus until there was only a comforting stream of information in the back of his mind, and exhaled all of his worries with one single, gusting breath.

He didn't start when Nikita wound her tail around his waist and joined him in enjoying the night. Only when she spoke did he open his eyes and acknowledge her presence.

:Why are you not inside the human fortress with your mate?: she inquired, her hissing a comforting sound to his ears.

:I just needed time to be alone: he replied. :Besides, he is supervising a detention right now, and if he needs me, I am not so far away.: Harry slung an arm around the Manticore's shoulders and leaned against her warm bulk. She had filled out since he had seen her last. Though it was only two days ago Harry supposed a magical creature healed faster than a mortal one. The Manticore issued her gasping laugh as a thought struck her.

:You were going to mate with him right in front of us.: she hissed, still laughing.

Harry shrugged. :I knew that if you did not wish to witness a human mating ritual you would leave.: Harry smiled as the Manticore kept chuckling, and- somewhat reluctantly- joined her.

Their laughs died soon, however, and Harry sighed as all of his cares and worries came back to him. He was the unofficial leader of the group of mated pairs. He was certain that that was the case because he had not told any of them who his mate was, and therefore did not feel the need to block them out. He was perfectly content in his role, but for just a moment, he wondered what it would be like to be just Harry; no magic, no Voldemort, no mate.

But he rebelled against the mere thought of not having Severus in his life, and smirked sadly as he realized that, as shitty as his life was right now and as dangerous as it was with Tom on the loose, he would not trade it for anything.

And he would never give up Severus, even if it meant that he would be even more despised than normal when the truth came out, as it eventually would.

The truth always came out, but Harry couldn't bring himself to care that the truth of his relationship with his snarky, old Potion's Master would disgrace him in the eyes of most of the world. Hell, even Dumbledore had turned on him when he'd realized who Harry was bound to.

Harry wondered absently what Professor McGonagall would think about the scandalous relationship, but dismissed the thought immediately. The hate that Severus and Minerva had for each other was legend, though no one knew why it was so. Obviously, the vying for the House Cup had a lot to do with it, as was Severus' ability to turn a blind eye to the misdeeds of those in his House, but there had to be more. Harry resolved to ask Severus about it later, and banished the thought from his mind.

Thinking about Severus brought up another point, though, and one Harry was not going to dismiss so easily. He remembered breakfast, when Severus had let slip that startling fact about his life. Harry tensed in anger as he thought of the kind of people his mate's parents must have been to never have said "I love you" to their only child.

Harry's jaw tensed as he remembered the disbelief that had clouded his Severus' mind when Harry had made to reassure him of his love. Even with Harry's mind open to Severus, the man still had doubt! Harry seethed, eyes staring at nothing as he tried to reason with himself.

If no one had ever said "I love you" to you, Harry, would you believe it if the man who has been a part of your life for less than a week said it? Be honest- you would doubt it just as much as Severus is.

Harry hated that his conscience was so smart, but he had to agree with the point. He wouldn't have believed it himself. He absently started rubbing Nikita's neck as he searched for answers. As he saw it right now he had four problems.

He sighed and turned to look at Nikita. :So many things are going wrong right now, Nikita. Voldemort, Severus not believing me, everything else I have to worry about…:Harry sighed as Nikita rubbed her head against his hand.

:Tell me what's wrong, Speaker.:

Harry sighed again, and shrugged. :I have to lead all of the pairs without them finding out who I'm mated to.: Harry sighed and rubbed his hand across his face. :Dumbledunce mistrusts everything I do. It isn't very blatant, but the old man watches me at mealtimes far more often now than before. And I'm certain that without my Invisibility Cloak and the fact that Hogwarts itself obeys me, Filch would have caught me out after curfew by now.:

Harry scowled, and moved on to the next problem before he got too worked up over the previous one. :Severus doesn't believe that I love him after so short a period of time.: And Harry did; there was no doubt in his mind about that at all. The tingly-fluttery feeling Harry got whenever he so much as looked at the other man was a dead giveaway, and that not even taking into account the fact that Harry would cheerfully starve himself to death if it would save Severus.

Nikita was silent as Harry let his problems out into the air, providing a comforting bulk to lean against and draw strength from. She watched as Harry frowned in thought, and wondered what she could do to help him. But nothing came to mind, and she merely kept her peace.

Harry pondered the fact that Severus didn't believe him, but brightened as he remembered he had detention tonight. Even while he was checking the time to make sure he wasn't late, Harry was laughing at himself mentally for being happy about a detention.

Nikita cocked her head at her human as she felt his change in attitude. :What makes you so happy all of a sudden?: she asked curiously.

Harry grinned down at the Manticore and placed a smacking kiss on her scaly head. :I get to be with my mate soon!: It was barely seven o'clock, but Harry was too excited to care. He knew what he was going to do to make Severus believe him, and he couldn't wait.

Nikita laughed at him. :Over-eager puppy.: Harry didn't take offense to the term, he was well- aware of how juvenile he was behaving. He even had a theory about why he was so much more over-protective of Severus than the others seemed to be of their mates.

Harry believed that since he had to keep his relationship a secret from even the other mated pairs, he was getting too protective of Severus. Because he could not spend as much time with his mate as the others could, and knew that everyone he knew would use the information against him in some way, he had made it so that he trusted no one other than those who already knew who his mate was.

Harry snorted. It was a convoluted and paranoid way of viewing the world, but it was the truth. Instead of concentrating on it though, he turned his thoughts to Nikita, and smiled.

:So, Nikita. Have you found a nice young male to settle down with yet?:

Harry barely ducked in time to miss getting hit by the Manticore's paw. :What!? I just thought that since we were talking about mates, I would inquire as to your status.: He grinned. :It's only polite.:

Nikita hissed at him. :I think you've gotten confused somewhere along the line: she said as she lifted her lips at him. But Harry wasn't concerned. He'd read up on Manticore's, and was familiar enough with their methods of expressing themselves that he knew she was just playing around. :And to answer your question, no. I have yet to find my mate.:

Nikita let her tongue snake out of her mouth to swipe across his face, and Harry jerked away, laughing as he wiped the spit from his cheek. :Ew! Nasty!: Nikita was happy now, happy that her human had found his laughter again. It would not be good for him to loose his ability to laugh, and if times were to get harder, he would need that ability to survive.

Nikita smiled, and Harry relaxed against her again as they both recovered from the hilarity. :So are you settling into the forest well?:

Harry asked after a moment. :It's comfortable enough. Nowhere nears as comfy as that suit of rooms you and your mate share, but comfortable enough.:

Harry gave the Manticore a one-sided grin. :They're really only his rooms, and I just rent the space when I'm there.: he said, and Nikita shrugged.

:You are mates. Therefore what is his is yours, and what is yours is his. It is easy enough to understand.: Nikita snorted at Harry, and he pushed her gently as he began to unwind her tail from around his waist.

:I'm going to go inside now: he informed the Manticore. :They're probably trying to find me.: Nikita hissed under her breath, a derogatory comment about the rest of the Wizarding world, Harry was sure. :I'll see you later, Nikita. Good night.:

:Good night, young Master.:

Nikita responded softly as she watched her human walk away, a spring in his step as he went off to meet his mate.

okee-dokee! how are you all? i'm not gonna care abour my grammar right now, so sorry! lol- anyway, i hope you enjoy this chap, and i wanna let yuo know that ch15 is coming up, and thats the one with all the shmex i've been hiding from you! lol- and please thank my beta, k? She once gain saved this chap from the delete button, and if not for her you wouldn't have read this today.

k's, so i's gots ta go, so ttyall later!

love me,

your fav authour,

'Trixy (you likey my new nickname?)