Severus awoke and knew someone was close before he even opened his eyes. He could smell perfume; he opened his eyes and found his vision was blocked by hair, bushy hair.

'Miss Granger please remove yourself from my personal space' he murmured.

Hermione backed back. 'It is waking up'

Severus frowned. 'What is?'

'The elf in you' Hermione answered as she touched the shell of Severus' ear.

Severus lifted his hand and pushed Hermione's away. 'Remove yourself from my person', he snapped before her answer registered with Severus.

'You said elf'

'I did'

'What made you say that?'

'Your ears', she said and handing Severus a mirror she watched as he lifted the mirror up and checked his ears.

'This is impossible. I shouldn't be coming into my inheritance this late, you come into it at seventeen, I didn't as punishment for joining the Dark Lord'

'Or it has laid dormant because your mate wasn't even born then let alone of age'

Severus glared. 'That Slytherin smirk does not suit your face Granger, start talking!' he snapped.

Harry groaned as he came to and opened his eyes to see Kreacher leaning over him looking worried. 'Kreacher? What happened?'

'I is not knowing Master Harry. I is coming to ask if you are ready for some food and is finding you on the floor' Kreacher lied. He hated to lie to his Master but if it was to help his master like Miss Hermione promised it would then he guessed it was okay.

'I'm fine Kreacher. I must have overdone myself today'

'Might I be the first in congratulating you on your inheritance Master Harry, the creature in you has now fully awakened'

'Creature?'

'You are an elf Master Harry, your ears have formed to a point and you can obviously see very clearly'

Harry frowned. 'What makes you say that?'

'You haven't been wearing your glasses since you came back from Hogwarts and washed your face master Harry'

Harry reached up and touched his face with his hand and found Kreacher was right, he could see better than before and he wasn't wearing his glasses. 'I'm an elf?'

Kreacher nodded. 'Kreacher be getting you books to read to understand your inheritance more'

Scrambling to get up off the floor, Harry raced into the bathroom and regarded himself in the mirror. Kreacher was right his ears had come to a point and sat nestled in the mayhem that was his raven hair. Turning in a slow circle Harry took in his surroundings, everything in the bathroom was clear, sharp and vibrant, who knew colours could be so bright he chuckled lightly.

Going back to the mirror he tentatively reached a hand up and touched his left ear, from his lobe to the very tip, he mapped out the changes, jolts of something travelled through his veins when he pinched the tip between his thumb and index finger. Harry gave a slight shudder and headed out of the bathroom to see where Kreacher had scampered off to.

Hermione sat down on the chair nearest Severus' bed and thought for a few moments how best to explain what she had learned in the last little while without giving everything away.

'I'm waiting Miss Granger' Severus snipped folding his arms across his chest 'What do you mean it has lay dormant until now?'

Straightening her shoulders Hermione sat forward on the chair and looked her former Professor dead in the eyes.

'I mean that perhaps the reason you didn't come into your inheritance is because your destined mate wasn't born at that time, and until recently hadn't come of age. I don't think it was a result of your taking the dark mark, after all Professor you helped us win the war, surely the fates see that as penance enough on your part' Hermione explained

'Are you insinuating you know who my destined mate is?' Severus quipped raising a brow

'I am not insinuating anything at all Professor Snape' Hermione said tersely, realising she was getting nowhere fast 'but I will say this' she added getting up to leave 'it seems strange how the elf in you awakens on the day Harry turns seventeen and becomes an elf himself'

With that she bid the Professor a mumbled goodbye and walked from the hospital wing, leaving the stoic man gaping after her. Deciding that she would need to make a pit stop before she went back to Grimmauld place and Harry, Hermione went in the direction of the library a place that had always held the answers to her questions.

Harry met Kreacher in the hallway, the small elf's arms laden with books, taking some from him, Harry went into the library and sat down in one of the armchairs, placing the books Kreacher had been carrying at his feet.

'You'll be needing to read this one first Master Harry' Kreacher countered coming into the room and handing Harry a thick tome. A Witches and Wizards Guide to Creature Inheritances by Grayson Quinn the elf waved his bony hand and the pages of the book fluttered in a flurry of blurred words, finally coming to rest on the chapter Harry would need to familiarise himself with.

'You start reading Master Harry and Kreacher be fetching you a cup of tea' he said leaving Harry to his tome.

'Thanks Kreacher' Harry said absently as he began to read.

Severus couldn't settle his mind to anything, no matter how hard he tried, Hermione's words continued to echo through his head. It wasn't the revelation that he was an elf that had the Professor so riled; it was her parting words about Harry Potter and his current situation.

Snapping up the paper again from the bedside cabinet, Severus looked closely at the date and sure enough it read the 31st July, indeed Potters 17th birthday, but what he failed to understand and was becoming increasingly frustrated at was what did the world's hero coming into his inheritance on the same day as Severus' suddenly makes itself known have to do with anything, Elvin mates were human not creatures. Resigning himself to the fact Granger didn't know what she was rambling on about; he settled back on his pillow and closed his eyes, willing sleep to take him.

Harry was about a quarter of the way into the heavy worded tome, when Kreacher came back carrying a tray with a cup of tea and some assorted biscuits. Not wanting to disturb his Masters reading, Kreacher sat the tray on a small table and left the room. The elf was grateful for his Master being occupied it meant Kreacher could get on with his cleaning.

Once a witch or Wizard has come into their inheritance, they will begin to search for their mate, but fear not you will not require a map or any such tool, no a magical being will know when their mate is near. Creature mates are human and often haven't come into their own inheritance. Beware that when Wizards or Witches come into this wondrous inheritance and find their mate, they bond for life and in some cases that bond requires consummation to strengthen it. Elves are one of those creatures that will need to perform this act in order for the bond to be complete.

'Bond for life and consummate to make stronger' Harry muttered to himself, the words resonating in his mind

Severus awoke the next morning and groaned when the first face he saw was of the woman sitting in the chair by his bed. 'The last seven years I have to bite my tongue when teaching a know it all, it was stupid of me to assume I am now free of her' he mumbled.

Hermione sighed. 'I have spent most of the night in the library'

'And here I thought by now you would have read every book in there twice over'

Hermione stood up. 'I have talked to Poppy and she said as long as someone makes sure you rest and take your potions you can leave, so you are leaving with me'

'That will not be happening, I do not have to, nor will I go anywhere with you'

Hermione sighed and held a book out. 'Fine. I see you are a stubborn man and a fool, if you won't listen to me then at least read what I have found'

Severus reached out and touched the book and cursed when he felt a sharp tug at his navel. 'You bloody infernal woman!' he snapped as he landed on a soft bed, he stood up and froze he looked around. 'Where have you brought me?'

'This is the room you slept in when order meetings went on too long'

'No it isn't, the room I slept in had mould and was dark and damp!'

'Yes it was. Professor I need your help, Harry needs your help'

'I have helped Potter enough times'

'Yes and it looks like destiny has decided you will do it for the rest of your lives' Hermione answered before clearing her throat. 'Kreacher!'

The elf appeared and his eyes went wide when he saw Severus. 'Oh no! Master Severus is not to be seeing his room yet that Master Harry has done for him! Master Harry wanted to present it himself! Master Severus must act surprised when he is seeing it Kreacher thinks'

'Potter has done what exactly?'

Kreacher glared at Hermione. 'You be having Kreacher lie to master saying it was for his own good and to help him, Kreacher be thinking missy is sneaky and cunning'

Severus smirked. 'I actually like you Kreacher'

Hermione let out a frustrated sigh. 'Look, this is getting us nowhere nor helping Harry. This is your room Severus, this is what Harry spent his birthday doing, cleaning it all and the en suite and the potions lab downstairs'

'What missy be saying is true, Kreacher been worrying for his Master as he won't be letting Kreacher clean or help in the bedroom, en suite or lab, he be hearing his master say it is needing to be perfect, even snapping at me saying it has to be perfect for you because if it isn't only he is to blame'

'But why perfect for me? I no longer have a need to be here'

'No!' Kreacher yelled. 'You be needing to stay here and be helping master Harry. The creature in my master is now awoken and is needing his mate. Kreacher be thinking that because it is your name Master Harry keeps saying while cleaning and even in his sleep that you is being his mate'

Severus gave out a long sigh. 'Take me to him'

Kreacher led Hermione and Severus to the library where Harry was stilled curled up in the armchair, massive tome sitting on his lap.

'Master Harry, Miss Hermione and Master Severus to see you' Kreacher announced, bowing and walking from the room.

Harry looked up from his reading and jumped slightly when he saw whom Hermione was standing with, he tried his best to school his features and casually brush hair over his ears, but it was no use.

Severus was breathless and in awe of the beauty that radiated from Harry in his Elvin form, his own creature was chirruping and imploring the man to go to him, embrace him, claim him, but the Professor remained rooted to the spot. Out the corner of his eye he could see Hermione giving him a questioning glance. Straightening his clothes and doing the best impression of Professor Snape he could manage glowering at the witch.

'Harry can we speak to you a moment?' Hermione asked gently

'Sure' Harry squeaked not knowing where to look

'Professor Snape has been released from hospital and thought he would come and wish you a Happy Birthday' Hermione said cheerfully, shooting Severus a look

'Yes, Happy Birthday Potter' Severus intoned

'Thank you' Harry said in a small voice, taken aback at the use of his last name

Now it was Hermione's turn to let out a long sigh, never had she met a more stubborn man in all her life, taking matters and possibly her life into her own hands she moved closer to the Professor, reaching a hand up she pinched the point of his left ear, bracing herself for the hex, curse or ear bashing that was sure to follow.