Chapter 28

Weeks had passed since Harry's disappearance, and they were sure that the clues they had received were from Harry. Each time the clues allowed them to foil one of Harry's plans. Severus looked at the date and remembered that it was the last day of school. A few more weeks passed, and Severus looked, it was Harry's birthday. On the days, that Severus felt particularly alone, he slept in Harry's old flat feeling more of his presence there. Their order was getting stronger and better at surviving and succeeding in their missions and fights. Draco and Severus had not been back to the manor since Harry's disappearance. They felt that the sooner this war was over, they could all return. That night was different, Severus wanted to sleep in the manor and in the bed where Harry had almost made love to him. He walked into the bathroom where Harry used to barge in on him repeatedly. He felt almost silly at how embarrassed he was from Harry's presence. He felt the bed where they slept. The bedding and sheets had not been changed since that night. He laid down on the pillow and wondered if it still smelled like him. It did.

Severus's eyes welled up with the memories of that night. He walked to his closet and pulled out his pensieve. Extracting the memory from that night, Severus had been violated. He laughed as he struggled to put ointment in a place where he knew, he should have just trusted Harry to do it. Harry's back was turned as he watched at how exposed he was. Heat rushed to Severus's cheeks. Harry had slipped his hand under the towel to touch him in a place where no one had touched before. He could feel his body reacting. Continuing to watch, he didn't notice that there was another presence in the pensieve with him.

"That is also one of my favorite memories" Harry spoke. Severus jumped out of his pensieve to stare into the green eyes that he missed the most.

"Harry" Severus opened his mouth in shock. Emotion filled his heart, he turned away so Harry would not see his tears. Anger at having been abandoned, relief that he was back, and desire to be held again by the younger man. He finally managed to ask, "Where have you been?"

"I'm sorry, Severus." Harry slipped his arms around his waist and hugged Severus from the back, "I've missed you too, love"

Severus didn't know if this was real or a dream, but this moment needed to last a little longer. He turned around and pressed his lips to the younger man's. Wrapping his arms around the person he wanted more than anyone, he pressed his lower pelvis against Harry's own erection. Harry pushed him down on to the bed, and slowly began to undress him. When they were both naked, Severus wanted to be embarrassed, but he feared that if he didn't embrace this moment then it would be gone. He was embarrassed when their bare erections touched. Harry reached down and touched him. Severus threw his head back and arched up to meet his touch.

Harry slid down his stomach until Severus felt something wet and warm surrounding his member. He closed his eyes as the feeling intensive. It was more than he could handle, but Severus didn't want to lose the connection. Harry licked him, sucked on him, and engulfed him. When Harry stopped, Severus looked up missing the warmth. Harry pushed Severus's knees up so that he was completely exposed to the younger man. On instinct, Severus reached down to cover himself, but Harry stopped him.

"Please Severus, let me love you." Harry whispered softly and he reached down and rubbed that area where Severus kept all of his secrets. Severus felt such intensity that he couldn't take it. Harry took that opportunity to apply a little pressure. Severus could feel his thin finger slide in. There was discomfort, but it did not last long. He relaxed his body, and then the intrusion felt incredible. Harry added a second finger. This time there was more pain. Severus held his breath, but Harry reached up to kiss him. This helped him relax even more. Harry's other hand was on Severus's hard member. Whatever discomfort Severus was feeling from being stretched disappeared, and Harry removed his fingers.

He stared at Severus with lustful eyes, but it was Severus who responded first, "I love you, Harry"

Harry kissed Severus and entered him slowly. Inch by inch, Severus felt searing pain, but he wouldn't allow Harry to pull out, "Are you sure, love?"

"Don't move, let me feel you." Severus cried out. There were tears down his face, "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too." Harry made love to Severus several times that night, and in the morning, he was gone. Somehow Severus expected it. He couldn't even think. The pain in his heart hurt so much. Last night, he could have asked Harry anything, but instead he wanted to see him and feel him so much. Severus allowed Harry to make love with him, to take his first time in the forty-five years of his life, and then leave in the morning. How could he do something like that to him? After telling him that he loved him repeatedly. He knew he was being selfish, and the burden that Harry had to bear was excruciating. Watching people die was hard, but for Harry, he felt responsible. Severus felt incredible guilt that he couldn't protect Harry, and such helplessness that Harry wouldn't let him help him.

Severus returned to Grimmauld Place that day to find the place a mess. There were papers and maps everywhere. Every public building in London was spread out across the floor. It was clear that they were trying to figure out where to go next. Draco seemed relieved to see Severus, "Where were you? I was beginning to worry."

"I went to go get a change of clothes." Severus said, but Draco looked at him funny. Severus looked down. He was still wearing the same clothes. Severus blushed a little, and Draco let it go.

Draco must have realized what day it was, and sensed where Severus went, "Hey, he'll come back to us. We just need to do our part."

Severus nodded, "Let's get to work."

Oliver and Marcus had assembled what looked like a makeshift quidditch team, except there were only four instead of seven. They were running drills. George was there with a special earpieces for each of them to communicate with each other. There was beginning to have some organization. Marcus asked, "Where do you think the next target is?"

"It would be hard for the Dark Lord to keep attacking muggle places, but the wizarding places that attract the most attention is St. Mungo's where the security there is intense." Draco started.

"The ministry, but he has too many supporters and enemies in one spot. It would be a blood bath for no reason. No, he's going to go somewhere where he thinks he has the most advantage." Neville continued.

"So far, we've managed to defend the places that he's attacked. We haven't been able to launch a successful attack on our own. In the past we've stormed the prison with not enough people, but I was thinking perhaps we can try again." Mad-Eye suggested, "If we attack the one place where we know he has control over, he will pull back his attacks on other places, especially if we go in strong."

"It's not bad," Severus looked at it, "however, the Dark Lord has been doing this much longer than we have. We could lose a lot of numbers."

"Severus, this is a war. The differences are that we are all in this because we are friends. We would lay down our lives to keep each other safe. The Death Eaters fight because they are afraid. No one supports the Dark Lord because they care about him." Draco pointed out, "So far, we've suffered minimal casualties comparatively, but our casualties hit us harder. We won't get very far if we aren't a little more aggressive."

"Draco's right, but we need to run through this a few times. We might find a few more prisoners that we didn't know were there." Marcus spoke, "I know that I wasn't the only one in those cells."

"Let's practice the shrinking and enlarging spells so we can get the brooms in there easily." Oliver ordered. Neville spent several days working on his inventory of magical plants. They were almost ready. The night before they were assembled, Draco walked into Neville's room after everyone had gone to bed. Neville sat up and the comforter fell revealing his bare chest. He clutched the blanket around his waist a little tighter.

"Are you nervous?" Neville asked. He patted a spot on the bed, "Just don't lift up the covers."

"Okay," Draco sat down next to his new best friend, "Do you think…"

"Do you want to see if you can find his body?" Neville asked, "I can't promise you anything, but I can try to give you the chance to look."

"Thank you," Draco stood up to leave, he didn't want to look at Neville when he spoke his next words, "I'm not ready, yet."

"Okay," Neville answered already predicting the answer.

"I might be sooner rather than later. Thank you for being there." Draco answered with a small smile on his face.

"Let's finish this war first, and then we can figure out what we want." Neville said, "Let's focus on keeping our friends alive."

"Thanks." Draco said before leaving the room.