How many times must I tell you to remove yourself from my person Miss Granger' Severus irked, side stepping away from the witch and shooting her a seething look.

Ignoring the look of contempt she was getting, Hermione walked over to Harry and removed the heavy tome from his knees and set it on the floor. Taking his hand in hers, she pulled Harry to his feet and gave him a warm smile.

'Harry I want you to go and touch Professor Snapes ear, just like I did' Hermione countered

Harry regarded his friend as though she had announced the Dark Lord himself wasn't really gone and all he had to do in order to destroy him was pinch his ear.

'Do you give your permission Professor Snape?' Hermione asked

'Very well' Severus muttered

Tentatively Harry walked over to Severus and pinched the tip of his left ear, just as Hermione had done, he too bracing himself for the explosion.

Jolts of electricity shot through Severus' body, every nerve ending coming alive a voice screaming at him to accept his mate. Knowing full well that Hermione would react or over react in this instance, Severus kept his face impassive. Harry's hand dropped to his side and he looked to Hermione as if asking what he was supposed to do next.

Give me strength Hermione screeched inwardly going to Harry's side she squeezed the tip of his ear, the witch had seen him try to control himself when she took Harry's hand and when he pinched his ear moments earlier.

'How dare you touch what is mine' Severus raged, with a wave of his hand Hermione hurtled across the room and landed with a thud on the floor near Harry's armchair.

'What did you do that for?' Harry roared, going to his friend and helping her up.

'I'm ok Harry' Hermione assured him 'I don't think Professor Snape meant to hurt me'

'I- I don't' Severus stammered turning his hand over and back again, then looking up to see blazing emerald eyes.

Hermione looked at Harry and saw him looking angry. 'Harry honestly it is fine, I am not hurt, I cast a cushioning charm as I knew something would happen. That wasn't Severus doing that'

'Of course it was, I saw him wave his hand'

'You misunderstand me Harry, it was the creature in him that saw a threat towards his mate'

'Mate? I don't understand'

'What Miss Granger here is failing at is, she is talking about something she thinks we are very much aware of because she is', Severus said as he glared at Hermione. 'First explain what you know and then we can all talk about it as we will all then know'

Hermione glared back at Severus. 'Fine!' she snapped before softening her features and looking at Harry. 'You have come into your creature inheritance which is an elf, hence the pointed ears. Severus here is also an elf but he has only just come into his because his has been lying dormant since he was seventeen. The creature in him is now awake because his mate has become of age. You Harry'

'Me?'

'Yes'

'But if all this is true then why wouldn't I throw you to the side when you touched Severus'

'Because Severus must be the more dominant one in you both' Hermione blushed.

When Harry frowned, Hermione cleared her throat. 'In muggle terms, Severus the pitcher, you the catcher?'

'Oh for Merlin's sake Granger!' Severus snapped. 'She means I am top in the relationship, the only hole your cock will go in will be my mouth where as mine will not only go in your mouth it will also go in your arse. You are the bottom in the relationship. That is why I reacted, my creature saw a threat and will continue to do so until we consummate but you being the submissive one you won't be as possessive as I'

'We don't even know if I am your mate though. My mate could be out there somewhere' Harry said waving his arm towards the window.

Severus started to walk forwards. 'Your mate is right here in front of you. I am to understand that you have spent your birthday doing something, how it has to be perfect and ready?' when Severus saw Harry bite his lip he lifted his hand up and using a finger, he freed the younger mans lip. 'Do not fight it... Harry, show your mate what you have been doing, what you have worked hard for to seek his approval' he whispered.

Hermione looking from Severus to Harry smiled and quietly left the room to use the fireplace to leave.

'How do I know you are my mate?'

'When Miss Granger touched your ear what did you feel Harry?'

'Nothing'

Severus reached up and gently caressed the shell of Harry's ears and smirked as he looked down and saw Harry's tented trousers. 'You will only have this reaction when your mate touches your ears'

'But you didn't when I touched yours'

'That is because we had an audience and I didn't want Miss Granger knowing just what I feel at your touch, I didn't want her knowing the creature in me fought to overtake me completely and take you in my arms and devour you as soon as I walked into the room and saw you standing here'

Harry felt electricity shoot through his body when Severus touched him, he gasped. 'Is it normal feeling like this when you touch me?' he whispered.

'It is. Do you want to show me what you have done for me?'

Harry smiled and gingerly taking Severus' hand, letting out a sigh of relief when the older man didn't pull away, he led Severus from the room and took him down to the potions lab. Harry opened the door and let go of Severus' hand and hurried inside.

Severus stepped just inside the door, his eyes did a quick glance around the room but as Harry babbled on and talked about all the things he had bought him and even tried to pronounce some of the harder ingredients. Severus didn't even try to hide his smile when Harry would pronounce it right and give him a beaming smile before moving on to the next part.

Harry carefully lifted the box that held the basilisk parts and walked over to Severus. 'This is a special gift to you. You can either use this for potions or sell them and keep the money.'

Severus ran his hands over the ornate box before opening it slowly. For the first time in his life, Severus was speechless. He looked up at Harry to see the younger man looking nervous. 'Basilisk, how-'

'The Chamber of Secrets, I went down there after coming to see you. I can take you there once well enough so you can get more, there is still plenty down there and it is all for you Severus. What do you think of it all?'

Severus placed the box down and cupping Harry's face he joined lips with the Gryffindor, a tender kiss that soon turned passionate, he smirked into the kiss when he heard Harry moan and hold on to him tight, he could feel Harry having a tight death grip on his clothes. Severus pulled back and looked at Harry's flushed face. 'No need to hold on so tight I am not going anywhere'

'Oh that is great! Come, I will show you your room'

Severus walked into the bedroom he had already seen and looked at everything before walking into the en suite, he opened the cupboard on the wall to see it full of different potions, and he smiled. 'I only have one fault'

Harry's face dropped. 'Oh I knew it. I thought it was too good to be true with you liking the lab, what is it that is wrong with the room?'

Severus cupped Harry's face. 'Harry relax, the only fault I have is that this room has been done to perfection to suit my needs and being mates and how we will now be, and we will be sharing a room. So our room needs to suit both our needs'

'Oh' Harry murmured blushing slightly at the thought of sharing a room with Severus 'I can bring some of my things from the room I've been using then'

'Why don't you go and do that then?' Severus smiled warmly

Harry moved from the older mans hold and started for the door, he hesitated and looked over at Severus, and not sure whether he would be there when Harry got back.

Sensing his uneasiness, the Professor went to his mate and caressed the side of his face; a shudder ran the length of Harry's spine. 'I will be right here when you get back my elf' he said

'Ok' Harry replied his voice raspy and barely audible, turning and heading to his room.

Once Harry was gone, Severus took in the room once more, sitting on the edge of the bed his mind whirling with all that had transpired in the last little while. A very unmanly and unseverus like giggle escaped from his mouth when the notion of life with Harry crossed his mind, to be certain it would never be dull, his elf would keep him on his toes.

There was one important thing that Severus considered Harry had a huge capacity to love and so Severus took comfort knowing he would be loved purely and fiercely for a long time to come.

Harry fussed about in his room, which had been Sirius' at one time, he had his old knapsack open on the bed and was haphazardly shoving things in there left and right. Taking a moment to control himself, Harry chuckled he felt giddy with happiness so much so it was overwhelming. Severus was his mate and they would have a life together. The creature inside him was doing a little dance, and so Harry joined in, spinning around the room a jumper clutched tightly in his hands.

'Kreacher' Severus called

'Yes Master Severus' Kreacher squeaked

'I would like you to make Harry's favorite meal for him tonight as a celebration' he told the small elf

'Thank you Master Severus' Kreacher bowed 'Kreacher be feeling lazy since Master Harry not let him do anything, Kreacher be happy to make all Masters favorites'

'You're welcome Kreacher oh could you bring us some tea and cakes please' Severus inclined his head and the little elf left with a resounding pop

Harry had been gone for some time, Severus went in search of his mate only to find him dancing around the room with what appeared to be a jumper in his grasp.

'Taking up dancing my love?' Severus laughed

Harry stopped mid spin and the jumper fell from his hands landing in a clump on the floor, he blushed furiously and attempted to busy himself with his packing.

'Just um exercising' Harry stammered shoving his dancing partner into the knapsack.

'I see' Severus smirked 'I thought we could have tea in the library?'

'Great I could use a cuppa' Harry replied

Severus held out his hand and Harry took it, together they walked to the library, where Kreacher was setting down the tea things. Sitting in the armchairs that flanked the large window, the house elf poured their tea and left the room quietly.

Several moments passed in silence, Harry stared out the window and Severus could almost hear his mind ticking over processing everything that he had learned.

'Something on your mind Harry?' Severus inquired gently

'It seems so surreal' Harry said softly 'I feel different'

'Good or bad different?' Severus asked

'Oh good different, I feel peaceful for the first time in my life, like nothing can hurt me now' Harry said trying his best to convey what he was feeling.

'That's the creature in you Harry or rather the Elf' Severus countered 'When gifted with this sort of magic it takes away the burdens we once had to bear, I too feel quite calm for the first time in a long time'

'Would you have chosen me even if we weren't Elves?' Harry asked quietly not wanting to ruin the moment but needing to know all the same. 'It said in the book that some mates reject the creatures'

Severus' heart did a flip 'That's true in most cases Harry, but you are forgetting that in most instances a creatures mate is human, you and I are different as we are both creatures a rare occurrence all on it's own, but to answer your question I believe I would have chosen you yes'