Chapter Seven

Harry groaned and wrapped his arms tighter around the two warm bodies pressed on either side of him, and when he concentrated and woke a little more he could feel a third body lying between his legs, resting their head on his stomach.

"Harry?" A familiar voice asked softly, fingers brushing his fringe to the side gently. He hummed tiredly, even though he could feel himself waking more.

"Pass that potion Dobby said he was to take," Someone whispered and there was shifting which made him groan unhappily as the warm bodies left the firm skin to skin contact he had been enjoying, his hands grasping for them. He heard giggling at the groan and could not stop the soft smile on his face at the sound.

He automatically opened his mouth when he felt the press of the vial against it and took the potion. He grimaced as he recognised the taste of the Pepper up potion when it slid down his throat, the gasps from around him as the smoke came from his ears was nearly worth it.

"I'm going to kill Severus for giving you that, I hate pepper up," He groaned opening his eyes and seeing three worried pairs staring back at him.

"You slept for a long time," Jason said softly.

"Sorry, how long was I out for?" He asked, grimacing at the hoarseness of his voice.

"76 hours," Nathaniel said exactly after a quick glance at the clock.

"That wiped me more than I thought," Harry groaned.

"Mr Snape said that a normal wizard would be wiped out and unconscious for at least a week, but you would be pig-headed and stupid enough to defy the normal laws of magic and wake up earlier and that we were to give you that potion as a boost when you did," Stephen recited, looking a little worried when he described Severus' rant.

"Don't worry, that's Severus' way of expressing how much he actually cares for me. Me and Remus are working on words expressing feelings with him like a normal human being," Harry chuckled reaching out and tugging Nathaniel back between his legs, before opening his arms for the other two who quickly crawled back against him. He was valiantly ignoring the fact that they were all half-naked, he wasn't sure his body could face the arousal that would cause.

"All the vampires have gone home, Damien has gone back to the Circus until we get this place sorted out," Jason explained.

"The others have all left too, it's just us, Richard and Rafael," Stephen nodded.

"They have been even more lovey dovey since the ritual," Jason snickered.

"How are you all doing?" Harry asked, looking them over concerned.

"We're fine, we didn't want to leave you by yourself though, so we have taken it in turns to go get a shower or bring food and drinks," Jason admitted. "Nagini and Hedwig both seemed to have been really worried about you too, they have barely left the room,"

"They are anchors for my magic as my familiars, they have been helping center me after using so much magic. You have all been helping do that too by being so close to me, thank you," Harry smiled at them.

"We didn't want to leave you," Stephen said softly, somehow managing to curl even closer to Harry, pretty blue eyes wide.

Harry wrapped his arm even tighter around Stephen and Jason, smiling when Jason pressed a kiss to his chest and Nathaniel nuzzled his stomach.

"How are you feeling?" Jason asked, concerned, his own blue eyes searching over Harry.

"A little kicked around, but not too bad, the wake up definitely helped," He grinned.

"The bond, it feels different than it did with Anita," Nathaniel said softly.

"In what way?"

"When we first bonded it was like a twisting pressure in my chest, and this constant pulling, hovering feeling. This is different, I can feel you and the others, I can feel the bond but it's gentle and...safe," Nathaniel hummed before stretching languorously and pressing closer to Harry.

"Good. That's because the intent behind the bond is different," Harry explained closing his eyes for a second.

"It feels good," Stephen sighed pressing closer to Harry and nuzzling his cheek. He let out a cute little squeak when Harry turned suddenly and caught his lips in a firm kiss, he tightened his arm around Stephen and pulled him closer until the werewolf had melted against him. When he pulled away and turned Jason was already there and pressing their lips together, playfully nipping at Harry's bottom lip before he allowed Harry's tongue into his mouth to kiss him thoroughly.

Lavender eyes were staring up at him hopefully from his belly, and when Harry grinned at him and gave the bond a little tug, Nathaniel crawled up the bed to meet his lips. He was quickly lying bonelessly on top of Harry as the young wizard kissed him possessively and passionately.

"Ok that wasn't a good idea," Harry groaned, making Stephen and Nathaniel look at him with worried eyes, and Jason confused. "Increased blood pressure in the wrong places considering I have just woken up," He dropped his head back into the pillow while Nathaniel giggled on his chest and Stephen and Jason snuggled in again.

"When are you going to be able to move around a little more?" Jason asked gently.

"Give me a couple more hours sleep and I will be able to get up," Harry groaned.

"You pushed yourself so hard, for all of us," Stephen frowned, touching Harry's cheek.

"I think I got a pretty fair deal out of it," Harry grinned.

"No matter how much they get on now, freeing Richard from Jean-Claude using him is important," Stephen nodded.

"He was talking about us," Jason snorted amused, reaching across Harry to flick Stephen on the forehead.

"Oh!" The blonde blushed, but he ducked his head and pressed his nose into Harry's neck where his scent was strongest.

"Has there been any sign of Anita?" Harry yawned.

"Yes, she showed her face at the Circus. She hadn't realised what exactly had happened, she just thought that we had done something to try and freeze the bonds," Jason sighed.

"What happened?" Harry asked, waking himself back up a little more.

"Jean-Claude, Asher and some of the others tried to deal with her. She managed to do something with her magic to get away, they don't know where she has gone," Jason shuddered a little, in fact, all of them pressed closer to him. He reminded himself that each of them had thought that they were important to the disgusting woman, all of them had thought that they would have a future with her.

"How are you all doing?" He asked, rubbing Stephen and Jason's back and tangling his legs with Nathaniel's.

"I'm sad, I trusted her, and she betrayed us all. I think I am sadder for the person I imagined her to be," Jason sighed resting his head onto Harry's shoulder.

"I'm excited as well though, at this, what the four of us could have. You have proven already to be far better than her," Stephen added softly.

"I don't really want to think about her right now. I placed a lot of trust in her, and I thought that I had finally found someone that cared for me, someone that I could trust and could be happy with. And she betrayed that. I don't want to let another betrayal influence this, to darken it," Nathaniel murmured into the skin of Harry's stomach.

"How about I tell you a story then, from one of the places I visited?" Harry suggested.

"Really?" Jason brightened.

"A PG version, no fighting," Harry chuckled.

"Fine," Jason pouted. "Harry's stories are brilliant, he has been all over the place and seen lots of different people and beings," He told the other two who were looking a little confused.

"That sounds really interesting," Nathaniel nodded, wriggling a little to get comfy.

"Ok, so we were in China..."

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Richard smiled brightly hurrying over when he realised Harry was with the other three thropes.

"Still a little kicked around but much better," Harry grinned, accepting the hug Richard, and then Rafael, tugged him into. His three submissives were hovering around him, all with varying expressions of worry and disapproval on their faces.

They thought that he should stay in bed for a little longer, but he was going stir crazy lying still, even with three gorgeous men keeping him company, or perhaps that was the problem, he had three gorgeous men in bed with him, and they belonged to him, but he wasn't fit enough to do anything about it.

He desperately needed to get himself away from temptation before killing himself trying.

"Are you hungry?" Richard asked.

"I could make breakfast, I mean if you wouldn't mind, I liked doing it, but I understand if..."

"Could you make me some pancakes?" Harry asked, capturing Nathaniel's hand and pressing a kiss to it, stopping the nervous ramble.

"Yes!" The wereleopard practically glowed in excitement as he hurried behind the counters. Harry eased himself into one of the kitchen chairs, and tugged Stephen down onto his knee.

Grinning happily Jason sat next to him and pressed close to his side, his reproving scowl easing. Stephen wriggled a little unsurely, casting nervous glances at Richard, but when his Ulfric smiled reassuringly he snuggled a little closer.

"That smells amazing Nathaniel," Jason groaned.

"Thank you, I enjoy getting to cook," Nathaniel shrugged a little shyly.

Richard started telling the thropes in the room about the plans for the upcoming full moon, it was going to be a little different with so many of them bonded together now, he was listening absently – after all, this involved his bond mates – but mainly he was focussed on watching them.

Jason was the most dominant of his mates, that was for sure. The older blonde was powerful and confident, he was forward and a survivor, but he was a submissive. He needed comfort and security and wanted someone there to guard over him and look after him. He was full of life and energy in a way that he needed someone there to guide him and put boundaries in place, but love him for who he was at the same time. He was not a traditional submissive and the wrong partner for him could have been seriously damaging.

Stephen was quite submissive, he was obviously hurt and had big trust problems, he wanted to be able to trust though, and he wanted someone to love him and look after him, Harry could feel that longing in every touch and caress that he had given the werewolf. He was still confused by Harry and what he wanted from him, that was obvious, and he was still suspicious of what Harry would take from him, but he longed to be loved and looked after, to be cared for and to have someone to be there for him, unmovingly, his life.

Nathaniel was definitely one of the most submissive people he had ever met, he craved and longed for guidance and control in his life, he wanted desperately for someone in his life to set his boundaries and rules for him to follow along with, but more than that he wanted someone who cared about him and loved him, he wanted to be looked after, protected and treated with love and care.

Really when it came down to it, that was what the three of them wanted, they wanted someone to love them and care for them, someone to make them their priority and look after them. It wasn't much to ask for but it seemed as though it was something that they had found impossible to find.

He pressed his nose into Stephen's neck, softly inhaling the scent of the werewolf as he started stroking Jason's side gently. He could feel his bond with them in his chest, settling and strengthening in place, and it made him feel content in a way that he had not experienced before, something that he had not been expecting to feel as strongly as he was. He needed them, to have them to look after and care for, to have them to focus his attention on. He needed people to care for and love, he needed someone that could love him back completely. They balanced him, and settled him in a way he had never felt before, especially since the war kicked into full force.

"Hmm?" He blinked when he realised that the table had gone silent around him and they were looking at him concerned.

"Are you ok?" Richard asked.

"I was just thinking about the bonds and my guys," Harry grinned dopily, making it clear how he was thinking about them.

Jason smirked happily pressing himself even closer as Stephen let out a small startled noise and pressed himself closer to Harry with a small blush, and Nathaniel was bright red and looking happy as he finished up their breakfast.

"While your head was in the clouds, we were asking if you will be joining us for the Moon?" Richard teased him.

"Oh, yeah I will be," Harry nodded.

"Will it be safe for you?" Jason frowned concernedly.

"Don't worry I will be just fine," Harry winked at him.

"But what if you get bitten or scratched?" Jason pressed.

"Been there done that, didn't turn," Harry yawned and then choked when he found all their eyes on him. "What?"

"You have been attacked by a thrope?" Rafael asked.

"Yeah, Voldemort had werewolves that fought on his side, the Alpha tried to take me out,"

"Where?" Jason sucked in a breath, his hands fluttering at Harry.

"My back," Harry motioned to his right-hand side and chuckled when Jason lifted his shirt and was looking at the scars intently, sure enough, hidden under what looked like he had also been slashed by a knife were claw marks, and under his shoulder blade in a manner that would have snapped the bone was a bite mark.

"Fuck Harry," Richard growled seeing the mess as he and Rafael hurried around the table to look as well.

"This must have hurt," Stephen frowned leaning against Harry so he could peer over his shoulder.

"Badly," Nathaniel agreed, stroking gentle fingers over the scars.

"It did," Harry shrugged, not going to sugarcoat the truth. "I healed pretty quickly though,"

"Here," Nathaniel placed a huge pile of pancakes in front of Harry seeing how uncomfortable he was becoming. Jason let his shirt fall back down but he and Stephen pressed their faces into his neck trying to give comfort as they sensed his discomfort.

"Wow, Nathaniel, these look amazing," Harry groaned looking at the perfectly fluffy pancakes in front of him. "I have to admit American pancakes are way better than British ones,"

"Thank you," Nathaniel blushed darkly as he hurried over to place more plates in front of the others, before quickly settling himself into the chair on Harry's other side.

"Do you want me to.." Stephen started shifting on Harry's knee.

"If you want to move that is no problem, but I am quite happy where I am," Harry smiled gently at him. Stephen narrowed his eyes a little as he tested the bond between them, searching for something more than Harry was saying, but all he could sense was contentment but a stronger desire for Stephen to feel comfortable.

Pointedly the blond rested further back into Harry's stronger body, pulling his plate alongside Harry's and started eating. Harry felt slightly amused but he just started eating his pancakes himself.

"Merlin, Nathaniel, these are brilliant!" He groaned happily before taking an even bigger bite of his pancakes.

"They're nothing," Nathaniel muttered his face bright red.

"If these are nothing, I can't wait to taste something that you think is something," Harry hummed.

"You need to do a roast dinner for us Nathaniel, his homemade roast potatoes are to die for!" Jason enthused around his own mouthfuls.

"How are you two doing?" Harry asked, looking at his cousin and his bond mate.

"Good, really good," Richard looked at Rafael with what could only be called hearts in his eyes. "We have been worried about you though kiddo, it is good to see you up and about," he turned to look at his cousin.

"It was a real push at the end there," Harry admitted.

"A push? You have been unconscious for 3 days and you say it was a push," Rafael snorted.

"It was hell of impressive though Harry," Richard said awed.

"You're more powerful than you let on," Rafael nodded.

"Way more powerful," Jason sighed.

"Not that much more powerful," Harry muttered, to the amusement of them all blushing darkly.

"Harry we could taste your magic!" Jason laughed.

"And we can feel it now," Stephen added shyly.

"It's amazing, her magic felt cold, like swallowed you whole, your magic is like...electricity, it is bright and feels like it gives me energy," Nathaniel smiled shyly at him from under his eyelashes.

"Guys," Harry groaned pressing his face between Stephen's shoulder blades.

"Aww don't go all shy on us, after that display of power you were holding back on us, we're going to give you some teasing," Richard grinned.

"I think Jean-Claude went rock hard in seconds," Jason snickered.

"Ugh Jason, I am eating," Richard grumbled, when his wolf looked at him concerned the Ulfric smiled teasingly at him. "New house rule, no mentioning Jean Claude and sex, particularly his dick at the breakfast table,"

"Seconded!" Rafael chortled.

"Thirded," Harry laughed. "Sorry love, but I have a feeling he is going to be a pain in my arse without any of the fun or pleasure,"

"I…"

"Don't even think about it," Harry rolled his eyes covering Jason's mouth knowing something sexual was about to come out his mouth. "Don't you encourage him," He gave a gentle tug to Nathaniel's braid as the wereleopard snickered.

"We need to get going, the coalition is meeting today, are you guys going to all stay here today?" Richard asked.

"I would rather we all did," Harry said softly looking over the three of them.

"And if we don't want to?" Stephen asked even though his voice trembled slightly, tensing in Harry's arms.

"I would like to know where you're going and for you to check in with me, Anita is still out there somewhere, if I don't hear from you I will be apparating to check with you," Harry shrugged. He was aware of Rafael tugging Richard away.

"But you're recovering," Stephen frowned.

"Don't care, I won't risk you being hurt, just check in with me every hour wherever it is you want to go. Or is it that you just want to poke at my boundaries?" Harry raised his eyebrow settling back into his seat and watching Stephen with intent green eyes.

"I...don't want to leave you," Stephen admitted lowering his eyes.

"I don't mind you testing boundaries Stephen, especially while we are figuring all this out, I will get angry if you put yourself in danger to test those boundaries though, like going out for the sake of going out to push against me," Harry cupped the back of the werewolf's slender neck.

"Are you angry now?" Stephen asked with a lightly trembling voice, the worry he was feeling spilling over the bond.

Harry pulled him down by the grip he had on the back of his neck, tightening his grip slightly, and pressing feelings of calmness and understanding through the bond, not only to Stephen but to Jason and Nathaniel as well feeling their own concern and worry in their bonds. He pressed his lips to Stephen's plump red lips, keeping it gentle and warm, massaging Stephen's lips gently and slowly until he felt the other move against him, melting into his body and kissing him back, wrapping his arms around Harry's shoulders.

"I'm not angry," Harry promised.

"Sorry I…"

"Enough of that, nothing to apologize for," Harry shook his head combing his fingers through Stephen's blond hair.

"Write up a list of anything that you want bringing back," Richard said walking back in tugging his coat on.

"Am I ok to put some groceries down?" Nathaniel asked nervously.

"We would be stupid not to take advantage of your cooking when you're willing to do it," Richard laughed placing a pad and pen in front of the wereleopard.

Harry gently stroked Stephen's thigh feeling the lingering tension in his wolf while he turned to his other wolf. Jason was watching Harry with a slightly intense look that Harry couldn't read on his face, but a quick search of the bond found lingering arousal there. Rolling his eyes and chuckling he couldn't help but feel amused and a little aroused himself at the fact that Jason clearly found him being strict but gentle hot.

"Right that is us ready to go," Rafael tucked the list into his jeans pocket while Richard pouted at him for taking it before he could. "You always lose things from your pocket, don't pout at me," He snorted.

"Text when you get there and where you're leaving the Coalition and the shops," Harry requested.

"What but…"

"I will also apparate to you as well if I don't hear from you!" Harry warned.

"Ok, ok!" Richard huffed holding his hands up coming around the table to kiss Harry's forehead and touch the shoulders of the other thropes.

"See you guys," Rafael grinned at them.

Harry stepped into the bedroom and found his three guys sitting on his bed waiting for him. He couldn't help but feel a little proud and smug when their eyes widened a little at the sight of him completely naked and wet with only a small towel around his waist.

"We were...were...erm...we…" Jason stammered, his eyes watching a drop of water roll its way down Harry's chest.

"Worried I would slip and fall in the shower?" Harry grinned.

"Yes," Jason shrugged.

"I am fine, I promise, still tired and aching and a bit drained, but better," Harry promised before dropping his towel and reaching for his lounge pants.

"Holy fuck," Stephen breathed out eying Harry unashamedly.

"How tired are you feeling exactly?" Jason groaned licking his lips.

"Enough that with all the will in the world, and I am willing it, I am not going to be able to get hard," Harry said, eying the three of them sitting on his bed, their bed, watching intently as he tugged his pants over his thighs and covered himself.

"What are we doing then? Are you going to sleep some more?" Nathaniel asked hopefully.

"I know you want me to rest up more, but I can't lie in bed any longer, I will go mad," Harry cupped the Wereleopard's neck, stroking his tanned skin gently.

"Why don't we watch a film? You can rest but won't be bored to death," Stephen suggested.

"That's a good idea," Harry smiled.

"I will go get the living room setup!" Stephen jumped from the bed.

"I will get drinks and food sorted," Nathaniel said excitedly.

"I will make sure that we make it down the stairs in one piece," Jason snorted as the other two hurried from the room. He stood and stepped closer to Harry, chuckling when he wrapped his arm around his waist and tugged him against his tanned still slightly damp body and kissing him sweetly and firmly, humming happily as he wrapped his arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer.

"Ok?" Harry asked gently, brushing blond hair from Jason's eyes.

"I am glad that you agreed to the others, I think I would have gone mad the last few days without them here as well," Jason sighed pressing his face into the crook of Harry's neck.

"I am sorry I worried you," Harry stroked his back gently, holding him close to offer him the comfort that he was clearly needing.

"Harry, you saved us, you exhausted and wiped yourself out to help us all. You don't need to apologise for that!" Jason shook his head.

"I didn't mean to worry you though," Harry shrugged, combing his fingers through Jason's hair.

"It just made me realise how much I feel for you, and how much I want the future that you painted for us, all of us," Jason admitted.

"Well, we have that to look forward to now," Harry smiled contently.

"Stephen and Nathaniel really like you," Jason said smugly.

"Alright Cupid, come on," Harry snorted smacking Jason on the bum to get him moving, laughing when the werewolf's bond with him pinged with happiness.

"This looks brilliant," Jason grinned stepping into the living room with Harry and seeing Stephen had made a small nest with pillows, cushions, and blankets on the floor so that they could get comfy, and no doubt hoping that Harry would nod off.

Stephen stood nervously by the pillow pile eying Harry hopefully and reminding the Wizard of his submissive. He moved into the center of the pile and lowered himself down, mentally grimacing at how stiff and sore he was still, before he groaned happily as he sank into the comfy pillows and blankets.

Stephen brightened at the sound and dropped down next to Harry, plumping the cushions slightly, and fussing a little around him. Jason dropped down comfortably on the other side of Harry and stretched out, grumbling happily himself as he snuggled into the cushions.

Nathaniel walked into the room holding a small pile of food, quickly dropping it onto the table before hurrying back into the kitchen and coming through with a tray with a large jug of lemonade and four glasses.

He set everything in reach of either Stephen or Jason before standing hesitantly at the edge of the blankets, clearly trying to work out where he could lie. Harry parted his legs a little and held his hands out to the wereleopard, guiding him down so that he was resting between Harry's legs, his head pillowed on Harry's stomach.

He reached out and started combing his fingers through Stephen's longer blond hair, while his other hand started stroking Jason's back, drawing a happy hum from his lover. Stephen started the film, Indiana Jones, and Harry enjoyed it, but at the same time he was mainly enjoying the contact with his three bondmates, having them close and feeling the happy, warm buzz coming from each of them through their bonds to him.

"Hello," Harry looked up from his papers as Damien walked into the living room, the tall vampire looking unsure as he stepped in.

"I could hear three of you were asleep, I did not want to wake you," Damien muttered.

"This is to be your home as well, as soon as I have enough magic back to make the changes anyway. You don't need to knock, and you're always welcome here until I get things set up," Harry assured him. He motioned to the armchair near their pillow pile and Damien lowered himself in it a little cautiously.

"I thought they were supposed to be looking after you," Damien said nodding to the two werewolves and wereleopard who were all flat out sprawled over Harry.

"They have been so busy watching over me while I was unconscious that they have exhausted themselves, they didn't even make it through half of the first film," Harry smiled fondly at them.

"You are better?" Damien asked briskly.

"Mostly, I wiped out my core," Harry glanced at Damien to see if he knew what that meant, getting a small nod he carried on, "that just takes a bit of recovery. I feel a little kicked in and drained, but I am getting there, another day or so and I should be back to normal mostly,"

"It was impressive," Damien nodded.

"Thank you," Harry nodded back, watching the vampire intently as the vampire looked right back at him.

"What are you working on?" Damien asked curiously looking at the papers on Harry's lap.

"I have been hired by my government to do some work over here rounding up some left over criminals from the war I was a part of,"

"I heard about the war, from some vampires in the London Kiss. It was bad,"

"It was,"

"I worked out who you were, after seeing your magic," Damien met his eyes.

"Hmm, you have concerns?" Harry tilted his head.

"I could not protect him from Anita because I was also bound to her, I am not bound to you, but you are very powerful if you chose to hurt him and take advantage of him…"

"I have done some terrible things, and though I tell myself that they were for the right reasons, they were still terrible. I have a lot of blood on my hands, and that is something that will also haunt me. I am scarred inside and out, and some days I fear that I have made myself the monster I trained to defeat. But, all I want is to give them what they all deserve,"

"And what is that?" Damien tilted his head.

"To be treated with love and kindness, to know tenderness and care for them, and to be put first. To not be betrayed. I have every intention of making sure that they have that. And I think, I think having them will stop me from becoming that monster I have been worried about becoming," Harry answered honestly.

"Anita, what about her?" Damien asked.

"If I need to kill her I will, and I think it is likely that I will need to. I won't let her destroy the people I care about or the life that I am building here,"

"Treat him right, give him what he needs, and I will always be with you helping you," Damien said after a good ten minutes silence where Harry just sat and watched the vampire, the TV playing unwatched in the background.

"Agreed. And Damien?"

"Yes?"

"You're a good man," Harry grinned when the vampire blinked at him shocked.

"Hmm...Damien?" Nathaniel stirred in Harry's lap saving the Vampire from having to respond to the comment.

Damien watched as Harry focussed in on him immediately, gently stroking Nathaniel's hair out of his eyes and then stroked down his side as he woke up properly.

"Harry!" Nathaniel gasped sitting up and turning to the wizard, blinking rapidly to clear the sleep from his lavender eyes. Harry chuckled lowly pulling Nathaniel forward enough so that he could scatter gentle kisses over his beautiful face, before capturing his lips in a slow, languid kiss that tasted of the wereleopard tired contentedness.

"Feeling better?" Harry asked gently massaging Nathaniel's neck.

"We were supposed to be looking after you," Nathaniel fretted a little.

"You were, you were right here if I needed anything, but you guys need to sleep as well. Damien is here," He added nodding to the chair. Nathaniel sat up and turned wide-eyed before smiling brightly at his friend.

"Damien!" Nathaniel went to move forward before looking at Harry.

"You never need my permission to interact with your friends, especially not Damien, go on sweetheart," Harry kissed him once more before nudging him.

He settled back against his cushions again, picking up his papers and went back to them, allowing some privacy for the two of them as they talked, though Nathaniel was definitely doing more nattering than Damien, but when he glanced over the papers he could see that Damien was happy being with the wereleopard, and was clearly enjoying Nathaniel's chatter.

"That had better not be work," Jason growled huffily making Harry glance down at him with a grin.

"It is," Harry chuckled when Jason huffed loudly and flopped around a little to sit up more, though he did capture his arm to make sure that he did not hit Stephen who was still fast asleep.

"How the hell did you even get these?" Jason growled narrowing his eyes at Harry. They were both aware of Nathaniel watching wide-eyed.

"Nagini went and got them for me," Harry shrugged. Jason turned and glared at Nagini who was curled up on the window seat in the sun, she hissed lazily at him and he turned to look at Harry with narrowed eyes.

"She said that she only brought them because I probably would have ended up trying to summon them. I tried to sleep but I couldn't and I was bored, and these were annoying me," Harry shrugged.

"You're terrible, how long have you been working for?" Jackson sighed.

"An hour," Harry said and then grimaced when Nagini hissed from her spot and Jason narrowed his eyes further.

"How long?"

"Three hours,"

"Harry!"

"Sorry!" Harry laughed.

"Ugh!" Jason batted away his hands when he reached out to tug him forward. "No you can't kiss and make me less annoyed," Jason shook his head, smacking Harry's hand away again. They both turned when Nathaniel sucked in a breath, Harry feeling the panic coming down their bond.

"Nathaniel?"

"Jason, you're going to get into trouble! You shouldn't do that," Nathaniel whispered. Harry glanced down when he felt a second thrum of worry and saw Stephen's blue eyes open and watching nervously.

"Woah woah woah! Nathaniel, come here please," Harry held his hand out.

"Are you angry at me?" Nathaniel shrunk in on himself even as he moved anyway.

"Come here," Harry urged taking the wereleopard's hands and pulling him down. "I want to know what you thought I would do to Jason?"

"Are you angry at me?" Nathaniel was wide-eyed now.

"I am not angry at you Nathaniel, look at our bond, what am I feeling?"

"You're worried and...you are angry," Nathaniel whimpered trying to show his throat but Harry cupped his neck and tugged him so he was sitting in his lap, Jason reaching out to rub his back comfortingly as Harry hugged him.

"I am angry at the people that have hurt you, Nathaniel, not at you. Now, please answer me, what did you think I was going to do to Jason?"

"He hit you," Nathaniel stammered, clinging tightly onto Harry.

"Yes, he did, we were bantering, what did you think I was going to do back?" Harry asked gently.

"He expected you to punch him," Damien spoke up and Nathaniel tensed in his arms.

"She punched you?" Harry closed his eyes, holding tightly onto Nathaniel.

"Yes, she did it a lot, if we didn't do as she asked," Stephen said softly from the cushions.

"Harry," Jason slid closer as anger burned through him like he had dragon fire in his veins.

"I am going to kill her," Harry growled.

"I'm sorry," Nathaniel grimaced.

"Why?" Harry asked confused, distracted from his anger.

"I panicked and reacted and you're angry now and…"

"Nathaniel, I told you that I wanted to look after you, all of you, yes?" Harry looked at the three of them, tugging Stephen up from where he was lying sitting up on his elbows pulling the two wolves against him as well.

"Yes," Jason answered for them.

"That means understanding what makes you happy, but it also means understanding what makes you upset, what makes you scared, what has hurt you in the past. I want to know, and I never want you to apologise for your reactions and fears,"

"But, you're angry," Nathaniel said softly.

"At Anita," Stephen shook his head. "You're angry at Anita right?"

"Yes, I am angry that you were treated like that, that she took advantage of the gifts that she had to act the way she did and to abuse you," Harry nodded rubbing Nathaniel's back.

"So you're not going to raise your hand to us?" Stephen challenged. Harry turned to meet his blue eyes, steady and challenging but filled with fear.

"I may punish you with a spanking if I feel that you have purposefully broken rules that we have put in place, but I will explain why I am doing it, and it will be a structured punishment. And you will all have individual safewords that you WILL use at any point where your boundaries have been passed, even in a punishment, and I will always stop and we will talk about it,"

"I…" Nathaniel started to say before clamming up and pressing his face into Harry's neck.

"What is it?" Harry encouraged.

"I don't know if I have boundaries," He muttered.

"I think you do sweetheart, but I think people haven't cared about them for so long that you don't think that they're there anymore. That is something that we can work on together, and I can monitor your well being through the bond as well,"

"We can work hard on figuring out what is right for us all, together, we're a family now, all of us," Jason pressed close to Nathaniel.

"Exactly, all five of us, and Richard and Rafael. We're going to be fine," Harry smiled kissing Nathaniel's cheek, pulling Stephen and Jason closer.

The three of them snuggled into him, and each other, getting comfortable and just enjoying the presence of the others and the soft, content hum of the bond in their chests, all three of them originating back to Harry as their center.

Damien sat in the armchair contently, enjoying being included in this moment, enjoying the hopeful, happy hum of his bond with Nathaniel, and appreciating that they seemed to understand that while he did not particularly want the physical closeness he enjoyed being included.

"Right, I think we're ordering in tonight," Harry hummed.

"I can cook," Nathaniel said softly.

"Hmm, if you want to, but I can feel how tired you are, you have all been busy looking after me, and everything that has happened has been exhausting. I think we should order in tonight,"

"Ok," Nathaniel nodded going limp against Harry again.

"I will call, just tell me what you want," Damien grunted tugging his phone out of his pocket.

"Hello," Richard tapped on the doorframe, leaning against it taking in the sight in front of him with slightly upturned lips.

"He made me stay," Damien huffed from the floor where the camp bed had been laid out for him.

"He's getting protective of him as well," Jason laughed softly so as not to disturb Harry, Nathaniel and Stephen who were fast asleep.

"I worry he is going to try adopting everyone," Rafael chuckled softly.

"How has he been?" Richard asked concerned seeing how deeply asleep his cousin was.

"Ok, not resting as much as we would like, but don't think that there is anything that we can do about that," Jason sighed looking down at Harry's sleeping face with so much care on his face that Richard could not help but smile.

"He's a stubborn bugger," Richard agreed.

"Family trait then?" Rafael said and then grinned when his lover turned to look at him affronted. "Come on, bed," He tugged Richard away from the door.

"Night," Richard waved.

"Night," Jason chirped, and Damien just raised his hand to them.

Damien lay back onto his bed and listened to the sounds of Jason falling asleep, mixing with the sleeping sounds of the four others in the room with him, guarding over them.

A family.

He had not had one of those in a long time.