AN: So terribly sorry for the holes in the last chapter. There were some mistakes, and I completely skipped out on the reason behind Molly fighting Severus. That's what I get for typing a chapter on my phone, eh?

Anyway. When Severus disappeared right after Dumbledore's death, it was very suspicious. Then they didn't hear from him, and he didn't contact any of the order. They all assumed he was a traitor. That's why she was fighting him.

Now, on with the chapter.

After Effects

Harry slid into the shower, taking a deep breath. He was tired, yes, but he couldn't go to sleep without properly showering first. Charlie had gone straight to bed when they arrived, Draco was already asleep due to Severus's dreamless sleep, and he had given Severus a bath before sending him off to bed.

He stilled when he heard the door creak open, confused for a moment.

He felt along the bond, realising that his little mate was no longer asleep and was feeling a bit frightened. He forced himself not to say anything, seeing if Severus would reach out for him.

His will had nearly snapped when he finally heard his submissive call out softly.

"Dominant?"

Harry pulled back the curtain, paying no mind to the water that would be falling out onto the floor.

"What are you doing awake, pet? Is everything alright?"

Severus stood there in the doorway with his face turned down, but Harry could see that he was still bothered by the nightmare that must have brought him to the loo in the first place.

Harry took in the sight of his little prince in nothing but his nightshirt.

Mine, he thought, frowning when Severus still said nothing. He turned off the water, and then he could hear the man's soft mewls.

He was crying.

"Oh hey... Baby," Harry entreated, stepping out toward him. Before he could take another step, Severus had jumped up and latched onto him. His tears joined the shower water on Harry's neck, and the dominant could only rock him.

"It's okay, love. I'm right here. It's alright. It was just a nightmare. I'm right here."

Severus clung to him, and Harry gave up on finishing his shower, casting a spell instead.

Severus hadn't cried, at least in front of him, in months.

He carried him back to their bedroom, gently coaxing Severus to release him so that they could lay down.

As soon as Harry had laid back, Severus settled on his chest. His body was still shaking.

Harry wrapped him up in both his arms and his wings, bleeding his magic out to both warm and calm his chosen.

"What was your dream about, Severus?"

The older man clenched his fingers in his shirt, not looking up.

"They killed them," he whispered, breathing raggedly. "They were just kids!"

Harry held him tighter to his chest, the light of understanding dawning on him.

Severus had imprinted on Draco. He obviously cared about the children.

"Most of them got away, pet," he tried to reassure. "The teachers helped them."

Severus shook his head.

"So young," he whispered. "The girl. She was a second year. It wasn't her war."

Harry pulled Severus up so that he could properly hold him, having no words to help him.

Severus had seen a girl be killed? A student that he knew?

"It's over now, Severus. They won't be hurt anymore."

Severus nodded, but he did not relax.

"What do you need?" Harry questioned, trying and failing to stop his chosen's tremor.

"I want to see them," he gasped out.

Harry nodded.

"Of course."

He didn't bother dressing properly, instead pulling a pair of sweatpants over Severus's legs so that he would be covered and spelling clothes upon himself.

He picked Severus up and set him on his hip, and it was a testament to how far gone Severus was that he gave no sign of protest. He simply nuzzled Harry's neck and held on.

They disappeared with a pop, appearing in the Hogwarts infirmary.

"The wards must still be down. I will have to come help fix them tomorrow with the teachers."

Severus wasn't paying attention, wiggling to be put down.

There were many adults in the wing, but he could see a long row of students that had gotten caught in the crossfire.

"What are you doing in here?" A loud female voice demanded.

Harry held up a hand to Poppy, nodding at his little mate. She paused and gasped, seeing her coworker and friend show more emotion than he ever had before.

Severus was gazing at them, reassuring himself that they were all okay. A heavy magic rose in the hall, and Harry leapt forward to pull Severus into his arms.

"No, Severus! You cannot imprint on them all," he ordered.

Severus turned to him with frenzied eyes.

"Where are their parents? Where will they go!?"

Harry shook his head.

"Their parents will come, or we will find them a home, but you cannot imprint on them all.

"They will be okay?"

"Poppy is taking care of them, pet," Harry told him, lifting him back up. He needed to hold his Severus just as much as Severus needed to be held.

Severus nodded, letting Harry take him back home. It was only four in the morning, but it seemed that some of the house was still up.

"Draco?"

The blonde turned around at his name, leaping towards them. Harry released Severus just in time for his submissive to catch the boy.

Charlie looked up from his tea.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, yawning.

"Not really. You?"

Charlie shrugged.

"I heard this little guy banging around in the kitchen. That's why I'm up."

Draco blushed and shrugged.

Charlie winked at him, making Draco blush more and a low growl fill the room.

Make that two low growls.

Severus looked up in surprise at Remus, who was standing angrily in the doorway, before looking over at Harry, who was standing protectively over Draco.

"You are not his mate, Charlie," Harry said with conviction, causing Charlie to shrink back.

"I didn't realise that he had a mate," he admitted.

Severus turned to Harry.

"Me either."

He looked confused and frightened, and Harry realized that Severus was far too insecure for him to say things like that without explaining himself further.

"I felt him become part of my bond with Severus, so he is my young. I also felt him become part of my pack," Harry looked over at Remus pointedly.

Remus straightened, narrowing his eyes at Draco.

He growled, but it was not a threat. Harry simply held his hand up to Charlie and Severus, keeping them from running to Draco's defense.

Draco whined, turning his head to expose his neck in submission.

"Mine," Remus gasped, his wolf receding in time for Remus to fill with happiness.

"I have found you, my mate!"

Draco let himself be pulled into a hug and his forehead be kissed.

Harry sighed, looking down at Severus.

"It's too early for our day to already be this eventful."

TBC