Disclaimer: Never was mine / Never will be mine I am making no money from this story. Everything belongs to JK Rowling and Warner Bros.
Beta read by the awesome JediCandy.
Chapter Twenty Nine – Happy 18th Birthday.
It was a hot and muggy night in July and the last thing Severus wanted to be doing was attend another Death Eater meeting where his Dark Lord did nothing more then complain about Harry Potter. The last three meetings had been a complete waste of time and he felt a bit of a fool returning to Albus with nothing more to report then Riddle's nonsensical rantings about Harry. The evil wizard was very close to going completely insane, Severus believed. The idea that he was only a step away from total insanity was not a comforting thought.
Severus walked down the hallway into what was once the dining room and knelt before his 'Master,' once given permission he turned and went to his position in the semicircle. He noticed a few gaps and knew instantly that at present one of the missing was dead and the other three were in Azkaban. That would soon change, it had been a while since the Dark Lord had raided the prison and was due another recruiting from within its walls. He just hoped that he would not be asked to go along, though he had only spent a few weeks in that place a long time ago he had no desire to ever repeat the experience. Ever! Severus watched dispassionately from behind his mask as the last few people to arrive took their places in the semicircle.
"I have come to a decision, my faithful. I have decided for the moment to forgo going after that little Potter brat. At the moment he is far to well protected by Albus bloody Dumbledore! Instead I have a new target, the Ministry."
There were a few murmurs around the room. While Severus was relieved and pleased that Harry was not going to be the sole focus of the Dark Lord's ire, he was worried because this meant that the evil bastard was now ready to launch a full-scale war.
"I hear a few of you have something to say about my decision." The tone left it clear he was not asking a question. "So far all we have been doing is playing around making small strategic hits against insignificant targets. I have grown bored with this. It is time to show the wizarding world that we mean business. This time my vision, my new world order will come to fruition."
Severus gulped as quietly as humanly possible, the Dark Lord meant business because he only paced when he felt he was having a flash of inspiration. Severus frowned behind his mask, slightly worried because he could not remember when he had started to read the Dark Lord's actions so well.
"We will not rush this, I will not be forced to show my full hand too fast. We will take our time starting first with the lower Ministry workers. If they can not be swayed into joining us and have no value then we will simply just kill them, but, if they have some value then we can place them under the Imperious Curse and make them do my bidding. Yes, this will work; we will worm our way in slowly like a cancer they won't even realise that we are in control before it is too late. Then we will strike! And take control, then all shall bow at my feet." He had a sickening grin on his hideous face. "Tell me... Lucius. What do you think of my plan?"
Severus saw Lucius puff his chest out at being asked his opinion, as if it would make any difference. "My Lord, your brilliance is as outstanding as is your power. It is a sure way to bring the world to its knees." Severus rolled his eyes behind his mask; Lucius was such a teacher's pet!
"Yes, you would say that wouldn't you, Lucius?" Severus smirked as he saw Lucius deflate. "Tell me your thoughts, Severus, you have a level of intelligence that even I can respect."
If Severus had been in any other company he would have snorted at such a comment, especially as he was sure he could detect an undercurrent of sarcasm in the Dark Lord's tone. Then an idea struck, but he knew he shouldn't say it; it was almost a cruel and most definitely evil thing to say. But, on the other hand he had had to sacrifice the few before to save the many and he knew that getting rid of that idiot could only benefit the wizarding world in the long run. "I believe, my Lord, that your plan has merit." Severus hoped that he would pick up on the unfinished sentence and without fail he did.
"But?" The Dark Lord gave him a steely look.
"But, if it were up to me I would go a slightly different route."
"Explain."
"After having taken down a few of the more worthless and lower level workers I would bypass the others and go straight for the top."
"Fudge! Tell me, Severus, though I do plan on removing that idiot from power permanently, tell me what is to be gained from taking care of him earlier then I had planned?" The tone suggested that Severus' answer had better be good or he would be punished for wasting time and contradicting his Lord.
"Fudge is a muggle loving incompetent fool who deserves everything he gets. Though for some reason that I am unable to fathom, the people to have faith in him. Take him out and the rest of the government will fall, the people will fall into a mass hysteria and everything will be in shambles. That is when you, my Lord, will be able to step in and claim what is rightfully yours." The Dark Lord actually seemed to be considering his point of view. Severus knew it was morally wrong to as good as place a death warrant on Fudge's head but he couldn't stand the idiot and was finding it hard to actually feel any guilt. It would be best if he was taken out of the picture and a better leader put in his place for he knew that Albus would never allow everything to fall into shambles if Fudge were to die, the wiley old coot no doubt had three successors lined up just in case something did happen to the esteemed Minister of Magic.
"You make some good points, Severus, I shall think about them. Now everyone leave, I have had enough of your idiotic company for one night. All be warned that I will wish to implement my plans soon so everyone should start to get into shape for I will not accept any failures with this. Failure will result in my displeasure with you." The last part of the speech was delivered in icy tones that left nothing to the imagination. Severus realised he was one of the few left and turned to leave when a cold hand grabbed onto the top of his arm. He had to use every trick in the book not to flinch at the touch he was currently receiving from the Dark Lord. "Not you Severus, I would like a word in private."
Severus bowed his head in submission. "Of course, my Lord." Severus hid his panic well and only felt slightly relieved when he saw Lucius look at him with pure loathing and jealously in his eyes.
***
The room was now empty except for Severus and the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord motioned for Severus to sit in a chair he had just conjured next to his. He did as he was told, truly perplexed at what was going to happen. This kind of thing did not happen often, not very many had been asked to stay behind for private chats. Severus could recall Lucius having been asked a few times but not often and he never said a word of what had happened. Then suddenly fear struck his heart, what if what the Dark Lord was after was a little more personal? Apart from the fact he would retch at the thought of that freak touching him, the idea of being unfaithful to Harry, even for the side of the light, was unthinkable. No, there were many things he would do in the name of the light but this was not one of them, he gently touched his bracelet that Albus had given him that was an emergency portkey back to Hogwarts.
"Remove you mask, Severus, let us talk as pure blood gentlemen should." Severus carefully removed his mask and placed it in one of his pockets. "Better. Now I think a drink is in order, now let me see if I can remember your favourite. Yes, red wine if I remember, French I believe. Am I correct?"
As if Severus would contradict him. "Yes, my Lord, you memory is as good as ever."
With the flick of his wand a dusty bottle of wine and two glasses floated into the room and settled on the small table between them. "Open it, Severus, and pour."
Severus did as he was told; once the glasses were filled he quickly glanced over to the Dark Lord and saw he was in deep thought about something. He wanted to cast a small purifying charm on the wine to make sure it was not drugged but couldn't risk a shift of magic in the room; the Dark Lord would feel it. He slowly slipped a hand into his robes and carefully uncorked a bottle of potion he knew would have the same results as the charm would. He dipped his fingers in it and re-corked it. Then dipping his fingers in the wine, making it look as though he had miscalculated and fumbled with the glass out of nerves.
"There is no need to be so nervous, Severus." It was all right for him to think that, Severus mused; he was not currently living in fear that he was about to be pounced on by his living nightmare. "Taste your wine, do you like it?"
After making sure what potion was on his fingers was all washed away in the wine he took a sip. "Very nice, my Lord, a Merlot if I am not mistaken."
"I will have to take your word for it, Severus, though I do enjoy the odd glass I am no expert. I am sure Dumbledore has no doubt filled you in on the kind of childhood I had. Not one filled with refinement like yours where I could grow accustomed to things like fine wines."
"Indeed." Severus could not think of anything else to say, he was still worried as to what exactly the he wanted with him. The Dark Lord turned to him with a smirk that made his flesh crawl and instinctively his fingers found his bracelet again, activation word on his lips.
"Do not worry so much, Severus. Though I am fully aware of your personal persuasion you are not my type, nor the right sex." Severus tried not to let the relief he felt show too much. "I did not ask you to stay so I could have my wicked way with you, I asked you to say because I have a job for you. You are smart, Severus, your intelligence is rivaled by few as are your potion skills and you are also in possession of something a lot of wizards lack, logic. And logic is what I will need at my right hand for my war efforts to go smoothly."
Severus could not believe what he was hearing. "My position at Hogwarts, my Lord."
"You will not get out of that that easily, Severus. No, you will remain there and keep an eye on Dumbledore and Potter, because no doubt that little brat will return there before the summer is out, also it will be to difficult to place another within the school. That old fool is getting far to cautious. No, he trusts you so you will remain there. Also I want to know the true story behind the Malfoy heir's deflection."
Severus' head shot up at hearing that. "Draco?"
"Yes, it seems as though he has decided to remain at Hogwarts. Pity really, he would have made a fine addition to my Death Eaters. Lucius claims that his heir is merely placing himself in a position as a spy on Dumbledore and Potter, but I do not trust him. My true spy at Hogwarts will remain you and only you. Everything the Malfoy heir tells us shall be taken with a grain of salt. But I do not want him to know that we may be on to him, watch him and see what he is up too, and report back to me."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Severus, your ideas tonight were good ones, you have proven yourself to me once again. I need a man that I can trust and rely on at my side and I have chosen that man to be you, Severus. When this is all over and I am in charge of everything you will be rewarded with your rightful place at my side."
"Thank you, my Lord, though the honour is all mine."
"I do not wish to keep you any longer then is necessary, I know that during the summer you like to retreat to your ancestral home and create new and wonderful potions. I only ask that you visit Hogwarts at least once a week to keep up to date with things and watch the young Malfoy for me."
"As you wish, my Lord."
"Leave, return to your home, Severus. I will call you when I am in need of you again."
Severus got up and bowed and left the room at once. Briskly walking out of the manor and beyond its wards. He apparated back to Hogwart's main gates and started his walk up to the Headmaster's office. He was truly bewildered at what had just taken place and the information he had learned. For starters, Draco was in the castle, under whose protection he did not know. There was also the fact that he was telling his father he was spying, what was Draco up to? He was not sure what to do with this little bit of information; maybe he would discuss it with Harry when he saw him. Harry had an odd way of looking at things but Severus did admit that he did have a good point a lot of the time. Then there was the almost laughable fact that the Dark Lord had in effect promoted him to his right hand man. Though the level of information he could gather for Albus would be invaluable, he just had to hope that his Slytherin side would not rear its ugly head and demand all the things he had wanted as a youth: power and fame, two very evil seductresses. He would have to speak to Albus about him maybe being able to see Harry sooner because he knew the young man would help him control that side of him, that and once he was back with Harry no other temptation would be able to take him away from his young love.
***
The boredom was killing him; it was worse then anything Voldemort could do to him. Maybe this was his new plan to kill him by making him live with his relatives forever and a day. He could see the headlines now 'Would be Hero, Harry Potter, Dies a Slow, Boring Death.' He could imagine the paperboys and girls yelling that out aloud up and down Diagon Alley the day after his death. Harry laughed to himself at his own stupid whiney attitude, it always happened when he spent too much time at Privet Drive. It was the same every summer, except this time it truly was his last summer here. He wondered if he would ever come back, if he would ever have cause to see his only living relatives again. Not that they wanted to see him again, but it was kind of sad. They were his blood, no matter how much they made it boil.
Maybe in time he would try and see them again, he doubted that but Harry refused to say never again. The thing that was making this summer worse then any other was that he didn't even have his homework to do to stave of the boredom and he kept thinking about all the fun his friends were having with their last days of freedom. Freedom, ha! That was a luxury not afforded to Harry, even when he got away from here and back to Hogwarts he wasn't free. He couldn't go to Hogsmeade when the mood suited him, he couldn't even go for a wander outside of the castle. No, he had no freedom. That just made him want to do something about Voldemort more then ever.
He had had a funny feeling that Voldemort had called a meeting the other night, and that made him think about Severus. Which was something he was trying desperately not to do, he didn't want to dwell on something he couldn't change for the whole month. He hadn't done bad, three and a half weeks had passed and he only had a four more days to go before someone was due to pick him up and he had only sunk a bit low twice. Once a few days after he had arrived back and he realised his family would never change and once after what he was sure was Voldemort calling a meeting.
Harry cocked his head to the side when he heard a scuffling noise outside of his door. Harry tiptoed over to the door and snapped it open. Dudley gave a startled squeak. "Dudley, what are you doing listening through my door?"
"My door, remember this is my second bedroom and if I want to listen at it I will." Came the petulant reply.
Harry eyeballed Dudley; he had again lost a few pounds since the last time Harry had seen him. He was still a fat pig though, always would be. "Fine, do whatever you want because you're going to anyway." Harry walked back to the windowsill and continued his favourite pastime from last summer, staring out the window.
Dudley seemed to take a tentative step into the room. "What's up with that hissing I have heard from here at night?"
"What? Oh, I was talking to my snake."
"You have a snake! I don't believe you."
"It's over there, underneath the green cloth." Harry watched as Dudley slowly walked over to the big cage currently covered by a green cloth. Dudley carefully lifted up one corner and peeked inside.
"Help us we are being invaded!" Harry instantly recognised the voice of the left head. Strangely it reminded him of Severus, snarky as hell but the heart was in the right place.
"Righty, what are we going to do?" Harry was sure that was the middle head.
"That snake is a freak, Potter, it's got three heads." Dudley looked shocked.
"Hey fatso, who the hell are you calling a freak." That was definitely Lefty again, Harry had to bite his tongue not to laugh. "You over weight pork rind!"
"It's supposed to have three heads, Dudley, it's a Runespoor."
"I have never heard of one of those."
"That's because it's from my world."
"So it is a freak snake then, just like you."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes, Dudley, just like me."
"So you really are going then in four days?"
"Yes."
"Never coming back?"
"Not if I'm not wanted."
"Oh." Was all Dudley said and he walked out the room closing the door behind him. That was the most any of his family had spoken to him all holiday.
***
Two days and counting, Harry had pretty much packed all his stuff away, it hadn't taken long it was almost pitiful really. Everything he had accumulated in his eighteen years on the planet fitted into his trunk and knapsack. He was taking part in his renewed favourite pastime when he heard his uncle bellow at him from downstairs. "Boy, get down here now." Harry did as he was told, it made for an easier life and went downstairs and waited in the living room doorway waiting to be spoken to.
"I know it is only a few days before we are rid of you for good but you will still obey me while you are in my house, do you understand?"
"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Harry dutifully replied, holding all his natural reactions in so as not to roll his eyes.
"Good. Just you remember that. Now I have an important family announcement to make." Harry wondered if he should leave as he was not really considered a member of the family by Vernon, but he stayed where he was, not wanting to cause a scene. "You know that I have been looking for a new business investor to bring Grunnings right into the twenty-first century, I think I may have found my man. He will be coming for dinner tomorrow and I want everyone to be on their best behaviour. This man is worth millions! And what will you be doing?" He looked directly at Harry.
Harry had a strange sense of deja vu. "Staying in my room and keeping quiet."
"And I am warning you, if you get up to any funny business like you did last time you were here when we had guests I will throttle you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal, Uncle Vernon." Harry looked him directly in the eye; he hated being treated like a child.
"Good, now go back to your room and stay there until who ever it is coming to collect you on Thursday morning arrives." Harry turned and left heading up to his room. He had a sudden flash back of Uncle Vernon complaining about not being able to finish off his Japanese Golfer joke because of the banging coming from his room. Harry smiled and pitied the poor fool who was coming for supper, because he doubted Vernon had any new jokes.
***
It was Wednesday afternoon and he could hear Aunt Petunia rushing around downstairs cleaning the already obsessively clean house. Harry tried to pay her no mind, tomorrow he would be back home in Hogwarts where he belonged and hopefully it would not be to long until Sev came to visit him. He smiled thinking of his tall, dark and handsome partner. All right, so Sev was not classically handsome, Harry could admit that but he made Harry feel weak in the knees. Harry giggled out loud at that analogy, Merlin, now he sounded like some silly woman, all wind swept and weak in the knees for her man. He had definitely read to many of those romance books Hermione kept giving him. Harry's fingers fiddled with the chain hanging around his neck, it was a silly habit he had picked up since the day he had put it on. Dudley had taken the piss out of him claiming he wore more jewelry then a girl. Harry didn't think he did, he only wore two pieces, one was the row of beads Luna had given him and the other was the longer pewter chain and Celtic cross Sev had given him. He didn't think he looked like a girl, considering most of his tops covered the cross up. What did Dudley know about anything, Aunt Petunia still had to buy his clothes for him because he was too lazy to go into town and buy them himself. Now he had the Internet that was how he spent most of his day, surfing and buying junk and clothes online. The whole internet revolution had seemed to pass Harry by, he had read a few of Dudley's old magazines and he thought he had the idea down, he wasn't half bad at computers when he was in Primary School, but on the whole the internet boom had passed him by. Wizards didn't have much use for the Internet; they just apparated to where they needed to go to or they owled the person if they needed to speak to them.
***
Harry was lying on his bed with his window open waiting, or more hoping, something would arrive for him. Sev had told him the pain killing potions would arrive in time for him to take, it was nearing six o'clock, he was due to take his first one in about six hours. He heard Uncle Vernon's car pull up outside, the doors opening and shutting and Vernon doing his usual 'welcome to my lovely home speech' to his dinner guest. Poor fool, Vernon was only after his money and would attempt to bleed him dry this evening. Harry quickly got up and exited his room and speed across the hallway to use the bathroom before he was forced into total lockdown. While in the bathroom, Harry could hear the typical family welcome, this is my ever so wonderful son and my lovely wife, please do come in and have a drink. Harry mimicked to himself in the bathroom, though he was slightly caught out when he heard Vernon give his guest directions to the bathroom. Harry began to slightly panic, he couldn't pee any faster and he knew Vernon's guest would wonder why the hell they had a teenage boy upstairs and not sitting down with the rest of the perfect family. Harry finished peeing and pulled the flush and quickly washed his hands and left without drying. His luck was not to hold out as he ran smack bang into Vernon's guest in the small hallway.
"I'm so sorry, sir, I'll just get out of your way." Harry quickly mumbled looking at the floor and started to retreat to his room only to be grabbed by the collar of his t-shirt and pulled backwards, then pushed up against the wall.
"Do I not even get a kiss?"
Harry snapped his head up and for the first time looked at Vernon's guest. "Sev!" Harry whispered, and broke out in his award-winning smile. "What are you doing here?"
Severus leaned in to keep his voice low, "We could not risk sending these by owl, in case they were tampered with." Harry was handed ten small vials of pain killing potion. "There should be enough there but if not, I can always go back to my home and get some more."
"Does Dumbledore know you are here?"
"Yes, you dunderhead." Sev rolled his eyes at Harry. "The wards had to be adjusted to allow me entrance so I would not set any alarms off. Now I had better be returning downstairs before those stupid muggles come up to look for me, don't forget five to midnight then on the hour every hour." Harry shivered as Sev traced a finger along the outline of the chain as he smirked and leaned in to steal a quick kiss before turning to leave.
"Wait, will I be able to see you before you leave?" Harry grabbed onto his arm. Severus just gave him a wicked grin and left.
Harry returned to his room feeling his adrenaline pumping through him, that had been a bit of a shock seeing Sev like that. "Shit." He mumbled, he had forgotten to thank him for the necklace, but Harry didn't worry too much, he licked his bottom lip and smirked to himself. Severus was a sneaky bastard and he hadn't said no to them seeing each other again before he left.
***
It had barely been an hour and he already had a headache. These muggles just kept droning on about themselves and how wonderful their family was Severus was thanking Merlin for the single malt scotch. What he really wanted to was go upstairs and finish that kiss he had started with Harry, that was a much more interesting way to spend ones evening. It occurred to him that even though Harry had spent most of his life with these dunderheads he was not stark raving mad, Severus had barely spent an hour in their company and felt the insanity setting in. The fat child, Dudley, kept staring at him and offering to refill his glass every five seconds -- most annoying. He realised his father, Vernon, had put him up to it. It was the oldest trick in the book; get your target drunk so they will agree to almost anything. It would take a hell of a lot more then a few scotches to get Severus to agree to anything this muggle put forward. Then there was the horse-like woman with a long neck, Petunia. She kept smiling at him and batting her eyelashes at him. He felt like snapping at her 'Not a chance in hell, woman,' but refrained from saying anything, it was better off that way.
The horsewoman bustled off in the direction of the kitchen and asked her 'Diddikums' to help her. Severus had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud.
"So, Severus," Vernon smiled at him, Severus controlled his reaction to flinch at this idiot using his given name. He did not remember giving this oaf permission to use it but then again muggles never did have the same standards of manners as magical folk. "Now that the women and children are out of the way, we should get down to some business." Severus just gave him a raised eyebrow; he would love to have seen Minerva's reaction to such a sexist comment. She would have hexed him into next week, which made him smirk. "I see that you agree, Severus."
"Indeed."
"Severus, that is an unusual name, where did it come from?"
"It is an old family name, it derives from old Latin."
"Fascinating, an old family name you say."
Severus knew exactly what he was implying; old family equals old money. "Yes, I believe the first Severus in my family was around a thousand years ago." If he had been talking to a wizard he might also have informed then that it was a name created by one of the founders, Salazar Slytherin when he had been godfather to one of his ancestors. But he didn't think that would go down well, especially with what Harry had told him of his family's opinion of magic.
"So you are looking to invest in a serious business, I understand?" Vernon's sickly sweet smile made Severus want to retch.
"Yes. After my accounts were done my accountant advised me of a small fortune sitting there doing nothing. I have already invested in enough property and fancied something a little different."
"Property, you say. Yes I have always fancied doing that, buying a little winter home somewhere either in Spain or America. The winters in Britain are getting worse, greenhouse effect apparently."
"Indeed." Was all Severus could think to say. Greenhouse effect? Did the muggles want to live in greenhouses in the winter?
"Severus, tell me where have you chosen to invest in property?"
"France, Spain, Far East and the British Isles of course."
"Of course, as much as we Brit's complain about 'Ol Blighty we would never leave it all together."
"It is home."
"Dinner is served." The Petunia woman called from behind him in a counterfeit upper class accent. Severus followed her into the small dining room off the kitchen and sat in the chair she indicated. The food didn't smell too bad, nowhere near as good as Hogwarts though.
As the meal progressed it seemed as though they were desperate to strike up conversation again, Severus internally groaned and wished midnight would just hurry up and arrive so he could leave this manicured hellhole.
"So tell me, Severus, is there a Mrs. Snape?" Petunia asked him, he wanted to choke on his pasta for how ludicrous that idea was.
"No."
"No one special in your life?" Vernon smirked at him acting as though they were friends.
"As a matter of fact there is."
"Really, how come she is not here with you tonight? She would have been more then welcome." Petunia said.
Doubt that! Severus wanted to snap but decided now was not the time to get angry, well at least not visibly so. "She was unable to attend as she is visiting with family at the moment." He hoped Harry could not hear him referring to him as a her!
"Known her long?"
"Yes, Vernon, almost seven years now."
"Seven years, and no marriage?"
"We have only been together for about eight months of that time, we are still getting to know one another on a more personal level."
The rest of the dinner conversation was just as dull to Severus. He made the fatal mistake of starting to clock watch so time seemed to move slower than normal.
***
Harry was sitting up in his room nervously biting his thumbnail. He was happy to see Sev any way he could, but this was a little close to home, he knew Sev was a fabulous spy and could fit into almost any situation, but Harry was not so convinced he could fit into a muggle situation so well. His uncle was mean and devious but then again on the other hand Severus was the head of Slytherin for a reason. He to was sly, cunning and just as devious as anyone else. Unfortunately that did not mean he could handle muggles in the right way. Though Harry had never broached the subject with Severus, Harry kind of presumed he was a bit of an elitist, a milder version of say Malfoy. After all Slytherins were known for their dislike of anyone that was not pure blood and Severus was a Slytherin. On the other hand Sev was not your typical Slytherin, he was brave and courageous and on top of all that he was with Harry.
Harry was very aware that he was not pure blood; he was what was referred to as half-blood. It didn't matter that both his parents were both magical because his mother was muggle born. It was another thing he had in common with Voldemort, one parent muggle, the other magical. Severus had never brought this up as a problem with Harry, but it was something Harry had worried about. Would Severus be able to commit himself long term to Harry? Or would the old Slytherin pure blood expectations weigh down on him forcing him to leave to find a wife and sire an heir? Harry knew Severus was gay but that did not mean he would not leave him to do his Slytherin duties because, believe it or not, Severus was an honourable man. Sometimes Harry got a little frustrated at Sev's honour because the man lived by it like it was an unbreakable code, an old muggle saying came to mind when Harry thought of Severus this way, 'live by the sword, die by the sword.' Severus sometimes could see things very black and white, though Harry knew he would never admit it, he was far too stubborn.
These were the kind of things Harry dwelled on when left to his own inner voice to long. He rolled his eyes at his own insecurities; he was acting daft. The most embarrassing thing about the way he acted sometimes was that it was Ron who had pulled him up on it, claiming he was getting very possessive and a tad obsessive about Severus, or Snape as Ron preferred to call him. He couldn't help himself though, he felt as though he was falling further and further into a place that only he and Severus existed and he didn't want to be anywhere else, he was happy to drown in that place. Merlin! He was becoming obsessive; Harry shook his head to get rid of these thoughts. He heard someone coming up the stairs and held his breath hoping it was Severus. There was a light knock on his door and it opened and Severus slipped in. It was the first time Harry had actually looked at Sev tonight. Harry had to hope he was not drooling, standing before him was Severus wearing muggle black suite trousers and jacket and a red shirt. The first few buttons of the shirt were undone accentuating his long neck that was on show as his hair was neatly tied back at the nape of his neck. Harry didn't care what Ron thought, this man was his and he sure as hell was not going to let him get away from him. He lightly jumped off his bed and straight into Sev's arms and pressed their lips together. The kiss quickly became heated and hands starting to roam over their bodies. Severus was the first to pull away.
"Harry, I just came up here remind you that in a little over half an hour you need to take the first potion."
"How's it going down there?"
"In a word dull! How have you managed not to go insane spending the best part of eighteen years with these people?"
"We rarely spoke."
"After just one evening with these people I am starting to believe that may have been a blessing."
"Has my uncle not twigged yet?"
"No, I am a far better actor then you give me credit for. Also, Albus and I arranged for a fake muggle check book to be created. So all your uncle cares about is the check sitting in his back pocket for £25 000 with the belief there is more to come."
"I can't wait to see his face when it won't cash."
Severus smirked at him in an evil way. "I best be going or else they might grow suspicious." A quick kiss was placed on his forehead then he was alone again. Harry returned to his bed to clock watch.
***
Severus was glad it was only a minute to go until five to midnight when Harry would be taking the first pain potion because he was bored out of his skull and he wanted to leave! He had never had to play nice for such a long time before in his life. Oh, he would get Albus for this. This was an evil, new kind of torture that if the Dark Lord found out about would have the wizarding world at his feet in only minutes. That image brought a smirk to his face, the Dark Lord using Harry's muggle relatives for world domination!
"Is everything alright, Severus?" Vernon asked him, bringing Severus out of his reverie.
Severus checked his pocket watch, which he had noticed the Dursleys eyeing with approval, after all it was gold with studded emeralds, and saw that it was now a minute after Harry had taken his potion. "It is now." Severus snapped and stood up and exited the room leaving the Dursleys gob smacked as to what was going on. Severus stood at the bottom of the stairs and yelled up them. "Potter, get down here now!" He heard quiet bangs come from what could laughingly be called Harry's room.
He was joined in the hallway by the idiotic muggles. "Wh-what is going on here?" Vernon asked him.
"Nothing that concerns you." Severus snapped back he looked up when he felt Harry was half way down the stairs. "You have five minutes to get your things together and get back down here." It looked as though Harry did not need telling twice.
"Just who are you?" Vernon asked in suspicious tones. "And how do you know Potter?"
"That, Mister Dursley, is none of your concern."
"You have come into my home, eaten the food my wife has prepared, drank my scotch and all along you knew that useless good for nothing little twerp?"
"Watch your tongue, Dursley, before you end up 'holding' it!" Severus said in a deathly quiet tone. It seemed to work because it shut the idiots up for the time being. "Potter!" He yelled up the stairs again.
Harry appeared on the stairs dragging his trunk, owl cage and snake tank. "Release Hedwig, put the snake around your neck and shrink everything else." Harry nodded at him and released his owl and quietly hissed something at the Runespoor and it twisted itself around his neck.
"What about the shrinking?" Harry asked him quietly.
"Are you not a wizard? Do you not have a wand?" Those words had caused his hosts for the night to gasp and take a few steps away from him.
"Yes but I'm not allowed to do magic..."
"Were you born a dunderhead or is it something you have practiced? You are of age, you could have used magic at any time."
"Oh."
"Oh, indeed." Severus rolled his eyes at Harry when he saw the slight blush creep across his face, then he gave him a smirk telling him everything was okay and he was not angry at him. He watched as Harry shrunk the two cages and trunk.
"You're one of them!" Severus snapped his head around to look at the other youth in the hallway. The word pathetic sprung to mind.
"If you don't want me to cause you any trouble then you will not attempt to cause me any. Do I make myself clear?" He used his teaching tone with them and it had the desired result. They nodded dumbly at him.
"Now what?" Harry whispered.
"Now we wait until the portkey is activated and it will take us back to Hogwarts. That should give us enough time for you to show me just how much you have missed me." Severus hated displays of public affection, finding them tacky and unnecessary, but he was going to allow his young lover the satisfaction of truly shocking his family before his departure if he wished to. By the very Slytherin smirk on that face, he guessed Harry was going to take him up on that offer.
"Oh, I think you know how much I missed you, Severus."
"Prove it."
He watched as Harry pocketed his belongings and run down the remaining few stairs and straight into his more than willing arms. Severus felt Harry's lips meet his as he tightened his grip on Harry's waist. He slid his tongue along Harry's lower lip seeking entrance, Merlin, he had missed kissing this brat! As the kiss deepened and a small moan escaped from Harry and Severus backed them up a few steps and pulled away from Harry's lips, giving him an amused, evil smirk. With enough force, but not enough to hurt, Severus pushed Harry back up against the hallway wall by the front door and dove back in to devour that willing mouth. In the background he could hear disgusted noises coming from the fat one about Harry's age and Vernon spitting in either rage or disgust. Severus really didn't care, he could handle anything they threw at him with one hand tied behind his back and probably blindfolded as well. He pulled back from Harry and gave a small genuine smile at the pout Harry was now giving him for the loss of contact. "Stop pouting, it is not becoming." He stoked Harry's cheek, and said in a low voice full of need and desire, "Say your good byes, we only have a few minutes until we must go." Harry gave him a small nod.
Harry turned a little to address his family. "Vernon, thanks I guess."
"I don't want your thanks you... you." He never finished that sentence because of the glare Severus gave him.
"Aunt Petunia, thanks." She didn't answer she looked to horrified to actually speak.
"Dudley, take care. I hope the world will not be too cruel to you if you ever decide to leave home."
"You kissed him." Harry rolled his eyes at his cousin.
"No shit, Sherlock!"
"But he's old." It was said in shock more then anything else.
"He is not old. What will a few years difference mean when we are old and grey?" Severus tucked that piece of information away to be analysed at a later date. "Also he is rather good at it actually, I would suggest you give it a go, but I am a highly jealous young man and would be liable to kill you."
"Oh." Now he looked scared, that gave Harry some real satisfaction.
"You don't seem to disgusted though, just shocked."
"Potter, I went to private school."
Harry's eyes widened with realisation. "Are you...?"
There was a loud bang and everyone looked at the passed out form of Petunia Dursley.
"No!" Was the emphatic answer, "but I know boys that are or at least gave it a try." Harry merely nodded at this information.
Severus had had enough of this conversation though it was amusing to see that retched woman pass out at the thought of her son being gay, but it was time to go. "Harry, we must leave. It is time to go." He pulled out an empty tin of sherbet lemons that was their portkey and gently brought it into Harry's view. He did not want a repeat performance of what happened last time they had portkeyed together, it was almost a year ago that that had happened, Severus mused.
***
Harry gave one last look to his family, it was not full of hate or bitterness as he would have expected but one of pity and sorrow. He may not like them but they were his only real family and he doubted weather they would ever want to see him again. Just before the pull from behind his navel he saw his Aunt Petunia wake up, he gave a sad smile and held on tighter to Sev as the popped out of existence from his family's home.
After what felt like only a few moments later they were standing in the hospital ward in Hogwarts. "What are we doing here?" Harry groaned; he hated this place.
"Your vitals need to be monitored, I will stay if you wish me to."
"You better or I'll hex you if you try to leave." Severus smirked at him and led him to one of the beds in the infirmary and Madame Pomfrey bustled out to see to him. The first thing to happen was Severus removed the charm; Harry caught a look of something in his eye. Madame Pomfrey preformed her tests and told him she would be back in an hour. Harry waited till she was gone before he asked Severus about that look in his eye. "You prefered it when I look a little older, didn't you?"
"Not prefer, just find it a little more comfortable."
"I don't understand."
"Harry, when you and I started all this you looked as you do now, making me forget you were a student. Then when our relationship became more physical, again you looked older and it kept seeming to happen that way, allowing me to put my guilt of sleeping with a student aside and that was wrong of me to forget."
"It was not against the rules, Severus."
"I know, but I should not have allowed it to go as far as I did." Harry's face fell and Severus reached out to stroke his cheek. "Do not look so sad, I do not regret what happened, ever. But I should have been stronger and resisted you until you had graduated."
Relief was very much evident upon Harry's face. "Guess I didn't help by constantly throwing myself at you, did I?"
"You are hard to resist, Mister Potter."
"And stubborn. I refuse to let go of something I want. Sorry about that."
"There is no need to apologise, Harry. As I have said, I have no regrets." He leaned in and gently captured Harry's lips. "Besides, at least I know I can look forward to what you will look like in ten years."
"So you plan on sticking around then?" Harry asked him, trying his hardest to feign indifference.
He shivered a little as Sev once again leaned in to kiss him softly on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "As long as you'll have me."
***
As Harry had to stay awake through the night to continue taking his potions, he and Severus passed the time playing chess, which Harry lost every game, and catching up on what they had been up to for the last month. Harry also remembered to thank Severus for the necklace and the letter he had received from him on the train back to his relatives. That letter was now among one of Harry's most treasured possessions. Harry felt occasional pains shoot through his system as the change was taking place but it was nothing compared to the pain he had felt from falling off his broom during Quidditch, though Harry couldn't help but milk the situation a little just so Sev would continue to hold him for a little longer when one of the pains arrived. He had a feeling Severus knew this but didn't mind.
At five o'clock Harry took his last pain potion as the final parts of his transformation back to his natural age occurred. By five thirty he looked eighteen again without the help of any charms. Harry snuggled up to the side of Severus on the bed they were on and fell into a deep sleep.
Next Chapter: Harry is in for a shock and the war for the orphans begins. (Last Chapter.)
A/N: I am having to re-upload old chapters without all the authors notes and thank you's. I don't know if this will send out author alerts to those of you that have me on your list. If they do I am sorry, please ignore them. I don't like having to remove all the thank you's but has put out a small warning about A/N's please do not think I am ignoring anyone that has reviewed I am not.
Thank you so much to all of you guys that have taken the time to review.
Flack – Thank you very much for your review, I hope I managed to answer all you questions with my e-mail to you.
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