'Really?' Harry asked his green eyes widening

'While we are different from most others who come into their inheritance, the principle remains the same, mates are chosen carefully and for a reason', Severus smiled 'I have cared about you for a great many years Harry'

'I cared about you too, just never knew how to say anything,' Harry confessed 'wasn't sure you would be receptive to the idea'

Severus set his cup on the tray and stood from his chair, pulling Harry from his chair and embracing the young man, the Professor looked deep into green eyes.

'As you can see I am very receptive to the idea and incredibly happy with who the fates have chosen to be my mate'

'Me too' Harry said softly, pressing a chaste kiss to thin lips

Kreacher came into the library later that evening to find his Masters on the sofa, the dusty old tome open between them. It did the old elf's heart good to see his Master Harry happy and smiling, Master Severus would be good for him. As long as sneaky Miss didn't interfere and make Kreacher tell lies again, he thought wryly.

'Dinner is ready Sirs,' Kreacher announced

'Thank you Kreacher', Severus replied 'we will be there in a few moments'

'Very well Master Severus', Kreacher squeaked and left the room

'Come my elf', Severus said taking the tome and snapping it shut 'I have a surprise for you'

'What is it?' Harry asked gleefully

'Wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now would it?' Severus gave him an amused look

'A hint then?' Harry prodded

'No, now behave and close your eyes please' Severus instructed

'Oh alright' Harry huffed, jamming his eyes shut

Severus took him by the hand and led him out of the room, checking every so often to make sure Harry's eyes were shut. He had asked Kreacher if he would serve dinner in the grand dining room that was on the same level as the library. The elf had been only too happy to accommodate the Professor and offered to decorate it for the occasion.

Coming into the room, Severus looked around and gave a nod of approval, Kreacher had outdone himself on the decorating.

'You can open your eyes now Harry' Severus whispered

Harry opened his eyes and a gasp of awe escaped his mouth, the room was covered in tiny little lights, shimmering away, the long table that adorned the room was gone and had been replaced with a smaller round table, with white cloth and candles in the middle. Soft music floated from a charmed gramophone in the corner.

'It's beautiful Severus' Harry breathed grinning from ear to ear when his mate pulled out his chair and gestured for Harry to sit down. 'No one has ever done anything like this for me before, I feel like I'm in an enchanted forest'

A tinge of sadness enveloped Severus and he made a promise to himself that Harry would experience so much of what he had been deprived of.

Harry carefully sat down at the table and smiled when Severus sat next to him, he smiled, a blush coming to his cheeks when he saw the look Severus gave him; he saw desire in those dark eyes. Clearing his throat, Harry looked at the table to see which to eat first; Kreacher seemed to have cooked all of his favorites.

'Hard to chose when all your favourites are laid out in front of you isn't it?' Severus said.

'It is.' Harry laughed.

Kreacher watched from the shadows as his master Harry and his mate talked and he even saw Master Severus laugh! His master Harry seemed more content and relaxed, happier than he had ever seen him. Once dinner was finished, Kreacher cleared the table and delivered dessert.

Harry gasped at the large slice of chocolate cake on his plate.

Severus watched as though mesmerised as Harry picked up a fork, broke off a bit of cake and put it in his mouth as he slowly closed his eyes at the taste, he swallowed hard, not being able to take his eyes away from the vision in front of him.

Harry hummed around the chocolate. 'You know,' he opened his eyes, 'until I had my first meal at Hogwarts I never tasted chocolate? I think that is why it is my favourite, next to treacle pudding.' Harry cleared his throat. 'Besides, now chocolate reminds me of something else, whenever I eat or see or think of chocolate I think of you, or you remind me of it.'

Severus raised a single brow. 'I remind you of chocolate? How?'

Harry smiled. 'Your voice.' he hummed. 'It's like rich, smooth chocolate.'

Severus took a bite of his cake and leaned towards Harry. 'And now I taste like it.' he said and joined lips with Harry.

After their meal they had both retired to the library where they Severus sat reading, with Harry laying across the settee, his head resting on Severus' legs as he stared into the fire. 'So peaceful, I really have enjoyed this night Severus.'

'As have I Harry.' Severus looked up when the clock chimed ten. 'I must be leaving.'

Harry sat up. 'So soon? If it is to take your potions, I have them here.' he looked closely at Severus. 'I was kind of hoping you would stay over tonight, stay, with me.'

'Harry, as much as I would like to, I don't think we should just yet, we need to get to know each other more and-'

'Severus, I meant to just sleep. Please?'

It was thirty minutes later when Harry, after taking care of his ablutions, was now staring in the mirror. 'Come on Harry, no need to be nervous, its just sleeping.' taking a deep breath, he left the en suite and walked over to the bed where Severus was currently laying, wearing only sleeping shorts. 'Sleeping shorts Severus?'

'Yes. Even this is too much.'

'How so?'

'I like to sleep nude Harry.'

'N-nude? I never have done.'

'You wouldn't having to share a dorm with four others, not only that but I only sleep in silk sheets, you ever tried sleeping naked in silk sheets Harry?'

'No.'

With a flick of his wand, Severus removed his shorts and changed the bedding to silk. 'I promise your virginity is safe from me tonight.' he saw Harry nervously fiddling with his sleep bottoms. 'Do not be so shy Harry.'

Harry nodded and removing his bottoms, he slowly walked over to the bed and gently climbed in. 'Feels cold.'

Severus wrapped his arm around the younger man, and pulled him against his chest, 'best way to get warm is body heat Harry, I will keep you warm.'

Harry hummed and felt his face heat up when he felt Severus' cock against his bum. 'Night Severus.'

'Night, my little elf.' Severus murmured into the back of Harry's neck, causing a hot air to blow across the Gryffindor's neck.

Harry woke the next morning in Severus' warm embrace and cuddled down further into the bed, he could wake every morning like this he decided, lacing his fingers with the older mans, he had such long slender fingers, thoughts of what those fingers could do to his body, caused Harry to shoot out of bed and into the bathroom.

Emerging sometime later, Harry noticed that Severus wasn't in bed nor was he in the room, ignoring the feeling of foreboding that settled itself in the pit of his stomach, the elf went into the grand dining room and found Severus seated at the table they'd used the night before, paper in one hand and cup of tea in the other.

'Morning Severus', Harry said cheerfully pecking the man on his cheek before taking the empty seat

'Morning Harry', Severus smiled, giving his hand a squeeze 'you were certainly up and about early'

'Nature called', Harry murmured, hoping Severus didn't catch on to the real reason he had shot out of bed like a rocket.

'What have you got planned for today?' Severus asked

'Just some more reading nothing much else I don't think' Harry replied 'what about you?'

'I have to go out for a time today' Severus answered

'Will you be back tonight?' Harry asked tentatively

'I expect so' Severus countered

Breakfast done and dusted, Harry went and had a shower and dressed for the day, Severus was gone when he came out and the Gryffindor did his best to distract himself while his mate was absent. Just before lunch the floo chimed and Hermione stepped out of the hearth. Harry was curled up in the armchair by the window, heavy tome open in his lap.

'Hi Harry how are you?' Hermione greeted him, kissing his cheek and sitting in the opposite chair

'Good Mione how are you?' Harry said quietly

'I am well, thought I would come by and see how things are going?' she smiled

'Alright, we had a romantic dinner last night, Severus stayed over which was nice and we had breakfast together this morning' Harry replied dejectedly

'That's wonderful Harry, but why do you sound so down?' Hermione asked

'I don't think he wants to be my mate' Harry cried 'he didn't want to stay last night, I had to near beg him to and this morning he was gone by the time I got out of the shower'

'Oh Harry' Hermione said moving to him and kneeling in front of him 'I'm sure Severus very much wants to be your mate, otherwise he would have rejected you when he first realised, he is probably seeing Poppy or doing something with Potions, there is no need to worry'

'The book says that can reject you even after they know you're their mate and have spent time with you, they will distance themselves from the other' Harry sobbed

'Don't believe everything you read Harry, especially not from some ancient dust old tome' Hermione said curtly

Harry looked at his friend as if she had suddenly gone quite mad and small smile crinkled around his mouth 'Never thought I would hear you say that'

'Memorise it, because it will be a very long time before I sat anything like it again' Hermione snipped 'I meant that you need to read something more current and more relevant to yours and Severus' situation, remember it isn't often that two Elves find a mate within the other, I have something that might help things make more sense'

She stood up and went to her own chair, on the floor beside it was a bag and from it she took a narrow spine book, sitting on the settee, she motioned for Harry to join her.

'This explains everything you need to know about Elvin mates and Inheritances' she explained opening the book and pointing to a passage.

'That makes more sense' Harry mumbled to himself

'Thought it might' Hermione smiled 'Harry books can tell you a lot of things and guide you in the right direction, but in this instance I think the best thing you can do is follow your heart and the creature within, let them guide and help you'

'A very long time just got a lot shorter' Harry chuckled

'Prat' Hermione huffed slapping his arm 'think I'd better stop in at St Mungo's on my way home'