Beta by Kristine Thorne
Warnings and story summary on the first chapter page
Answers to a few reviewers questions below.
Chapter Summary: It's the morning after and Harry and Sev prepare for the day ahead.
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Chapter Three - The Two Letters
Harry woke to find Severus lying asleep on top of the sheets, on his front and still completely naked. It was a sight that he could get very used to. He glanced up at the clock and found that, although they hadn't slept that long, they were still leaving little time to wash and get dressed before they had to present themselves in the great hall.
Harry reached up to his hair and found that it was a complete mess and felt uncomfortable to him after all the months that the cleaning charm had been in place. He leant over to touch Severus' hair and found that the flowing locks that were usually so fluffy and wavy, hung limply and lifelessly down over his neck.
The appearance part of the potion had only made some subtle differences, like the length of their hair, which was meant only to confuse somebody who might see them at a distance, rather than effect a complete change that would remain convincing at close inspection. It had been enough to complete the Muggle hippy look they were aiming for. The idea had been that they would be far enough away from anybody who might recognise them for it not to be necessary to be completely different. There had been no facial alterations to reverse; he had always been Harry close up. Harry sometimes wondered if Albus had only used the potions to make him more fanciable to Severus and vice versa, they seemed to have served little other purpose but had been very successful in that respect. Albus would have known about Severus and his swords, Harry was sure. If either of them had fallen in love with a complete illusion then it wouldn't have been enough for the Bond to work.
The effect of the potion still remained, even though they had taken the antidote, but their hair would now grow normally and would require cutting unless they wanted to let it grow longer. That wasn't so much of an irritation and would only become noticeable later.
The cleaning charm portion was a great loss however, Harry didn't know how he could ever have stood waking up feeling so disgusting, he had to assume it only seemed as bad as it was because he wasn't used to it. Of course, in addition, he had the effects of reversing the second potion Severus had given him to look forward to as well. At least, Harry thought in order to console himself, the reversing of that one might also mean he would be able to conceive sometime very soon and then he wouldn't have to put up with the more icky aspects of his Kin Bond more than a couple of times, before being free of it for at least nine months.
Harry shook Severus' shoulder a little to wake him. "Wake up love," He spoke gently at his Kin's ear. "We can't go sleeping all morning, we both need a nice hot shower."
Severus grunted in disapproval at having to get up, but he pulled himself up to sit on the side of the bed all the same. He ran a hand through his hair to straighten it out and grimaced in distaste at the feeling of it.
"You can have the shower first if you want," Harry offered.
"This is going to take some getting used to," Severus grumbled as he headed for the bathroom, grabbing two towels from a drawer as he went.
Harry didn't know what to do with himself, once Severus had gone into the bathroom. This was Snape's private bedroom, he should be able to snoop, but everything seemed to have been removed at some point during their absence. There were sheets and towels but nothing personal that Harry could get an impression from. Even the furniture seemed old enough to have been there for a very long time and wasn't necessarily Severus' choice.
Harry made a note to himself to ask what had happened to Severus' things even if the man himself didn't think of it. They needed to make the rooms a little more homely, even if it was with Potions books and professional grade cauldrons.
After a while Harry settled for straightening the bed sheets out, they were all over the place. Three times, Harry thought to himself, grinning to himself broadly as he pulled the under sheet before smoothing it with his hand, two of which counted towards 'you know what'. Harry felt very pleased with himself indeed, apart from the fact that it hadn't really gone as he had planned. He had envisaged and planned for he and Severus to have a conversation about what he wanted. He had wanted them to discuss it and decide together. He wasn't entirely happy with the way they had lustfully fallen together and had been spurred to recklessness and sudden consent partially due to a potion which was meant to help their fatigue. Harry wanted a child of his to be completely and totally planned, without doubt or question and he planned to have the conversation with Severus as soon as he could. If events at Hogwarts permitted that was, Harry knew that it was likely to be a very difficult first day.
Eventually Harry heard the bathroom door open and he turned with some idea of what he was about to see. Severus came out of the bathroom with his hair soaking wet and only a towel wrapped around his waist. Harry took in the sight with pleasure and a huge grin adorned his face. The muscles Severus had managed to develop, stood well defined on his chest and arms, maybe he was a little too thin otherwise, but to Harry it was a heavenly sight.
It was a shame he didn't have more time to give Severus some additional attention, Harry thought as he looked at his Kin. Looking like that, he really deserved to be thrown back into bed. Severus reached into the large drawer nearest the bathroom and handed Harry a couple of fresh bath towels. Harry sighed and headed for the bathroom already thinking up his plans for that evening, when they would once more be alone together.
Harry wasn't wearing anything but the sheet he had wrapped loosely round himself, he dropped it to the floor and un-bandaged the Talisman from round his waist and laid it on a small wooden chair which stood in the corner of the bathroom. As Harry climbed into the shower, an old enamel bathtub with brass taps and a showerhead, he could hear Severus moving around the bedroom and the opening and closing of cupboard doors.
Harry found that the water ran at a comfortable temperature and that there was a full complement of washing things, which didn't seem to be as if they had been standing unused for nearly a year. It was an easy enough thing to cast a preserving charm on something, if you expected to be away for a while and that appeared to be what Severus had done. Harry tried out the shampoo first and found that it smelled just like Sev had done for the whole of their adventure, it was what the cleaning charm had been mimicking. Harry's own charm scent, which had been different to the cleaning things he had used before, was now gone forever. He made a mental note to himself to ask Sev if he had known what it was, as he was missing it already.
Harry didn't waste any time in the shower, he washed, making sure to wash his hair twice, and then stepped out to dry himself. He wanted to spend as much time with Severus as he could before he had to face the rest of the castle again. He had only met three people so far, two of which were his friends and that had been traumatic enough.
Once out of the shower Harry approached the mirror and cleared it of steam with the corner of his towel. He had removed the Muggle dressing prior to getting in the shower and he wanted to see what the wound on his face now looked like. He couldn't see very well as the mirror wouldn't clear properly but Harry thought that he could make out a shallow indented line on his cheek, though the skin had been fully healed by Severus. Looking further up at his forehead, Harry confirmed to himself that at least the lightning bolt scar had gone.
It was with thoughts of scars and whether he would try to cover this new one up or not, that Harry entered Severus' bedroom with a towel wrapped round his head like a turban and the other around his waist, the Talisman clutched in his hand.
Harry looked across the room as he stepped into the bedroom and froze solid in the doorway, his blood instantly and instinctively running cold at the sight before him. "Oh shit!" Harry said quite clearly before he could think better of it.
Harry immediately regretted his words, Severus looked instantly hurt, not bothering to hide it and walked away into the living room. Harry rushed through the bedroom to join his Kin. He hadn't meant to hurt Severus but Harry hadn't thought that it might happen, it had never occurred to him that they would be wearing anything different, after all the months they had spent in the same clothes. Harry hadn't thought at all, he had just wandered out of the bathroom to find Severus dressed in his old school master's robes. All the old responses to the sight had gone rushing through him before he had had a chance to check them.
"If YOU are going to react in that way, what is the point of even leaving this room?" Severus asked of Harry as soon as he was by his side.
Harry placed a hand on Severus' arm, now he was close to him again it seemed very silly to be scared of him.
"I'm sorry Sev," Harry pleaded, feeling like a fool, "I wasn't expecting it." Harry stroked Severus' arm and he gradually relaxed a little. Feeling that the apology wasn't quite enough, Harry put a hand on Severus' neck and drew him into a hungry kiss, quickly becoming lost in it and proving quite adequately that he was managing to get his mind past the clothes. "I grew used to you in the other clothes, that's all it was," Harry added, as they eventually stood apart.
"We can hardly wear those now." Severus said, looking as if he had accepted the apology.
Harry looked into the bedroom and he couldn't see the pile of clothes lying on the floor where they had left them.
"Where have they gone?" Harry asked.
"I got some of the house elves to take them away for cleaning, they'll be back in a few days if you would like to keep them for anything," Severus explained.
Harry turned to Severus, "I don't have anything else to wear. All my things were in the trunk at King's Cross Station. I'll even have to put the Talisman back on with the same bandage."
"Oh," Severus replied, a slight smile on his lips. "You will just have to go to lunch wrapped in that towel then."
"You would love that, wouldn't you?" Harry said smiling too and hitting Severus playfully.
"Not as much as I would if you took it off," Severus responded.
"Seriously," Harry said trying to resist the temptation to fulfil Severus' wish immediately, "We have to go to lunch and I don't have any clothes."
"Well," Severus began, "That's not strictly true, follow me."
Severus went back into the bedroom and Harry followed him.
"Did you steal some of my clothes while you were in Gryffindor poking about in that Pensieve Sev? You bad evil man," Harry accused cheerfully as he went through the doorway.
Severus opened a wardrobe door and revealed a whole row of black robes, all identical, all Severus' old school master robes.
Harry froze solid, "You have got to be bloody joking."
"You are my Kin," Severus began, "What is mine is yours. It is only right that I should see that you are adequately clothed and you usually want us both to be dressed the same, you had me wear that bandana," Severus continued with a perfectly serious expression.
Harry struggled to not look quite so horrified, he wasn't sure if Severus was teasing him or not but he certainly couldn't see what else he was going to wear instead.
Severus took one of the knee length robes out of the wardrobe and laid it out on the bed, a few seconds later the matching pants and a white undershirt lay alongside it. It would appear that Severus hadn't been joking.
"They are very comfortable and I will make sure they fit you, wearing them too might even help you feel more comfortable with me. I do realise why you were so frightened, I would be a fool to forget it or deny you had good reason," Severus spoke as Harry stood staring at the bed and not saying a word, "Of course I will buy new robes for you in any colour you like, when we get the chance to go shopping."
Harry approached the bed slowly and laid a tentative hand on the fabric.
"That robe will go really well with your new cloak." Severus continued to persuade.
"There will be no mistaking that I am yours," Harry said smiling nervously. Harry picked up the shirt, pressing it to his cheek to feel the softness of the fabric that would be closest to his skin.
Severus breathed a sigh of relief. "I will sit in the living room while you get changed," He announced.
Harry suddenly remembered about something. "Meg gave me some letters from Albus," He announced, "There was one for you, we had better read them before we go up to lunch."
Harry dropped the shirt back on the bed and rushed to the living room and his rucksack, which was still propped up against the wall. He scrambled through his things as if it was now intensely urgent that he find them.
Severus had followed and Harry handed him the covering letter and the envelope that had been addressed to him alone.
"I see that Albus was ensuring that they fell into loyal hands," Severus commented, "Making sure that they were only to be given to Harry Potter should he return to Hogwarts alive."
"Read what it says before you start judging, maybe there was another letter for you if you came back alone, he might not have wanted to say the same things," Harry said, "I'll go get changed and give you some privacy."
Harry retreated to the bedroom, intensely curious to know what Albus had written to Severus, the letters were effectively the headmaster's last words to them after all. It was a sensitive time though and he would find out soon enough, Harry reasoned with himself, once more approaching the clothes that lay on the bed.
Harry slowly pulled each garment onto his body; the robes were a little too big but not enough to look ridiculous. Once dressed, Harry looked in the mirror and was surprised to find that once they were stripped of their bad associations, the black robes were quite elegant and dignified. They were incredibly comfortable and Harry was pleased with the way he looked in the long full-length mirror by the bedroom's fireplace.
Harry found that he rather liked the high collar and the long arms with the small quantity of white fabric protruding from the sleeves and at the neck. He loved the way the cut of the robes made them fitted at the body and generously skirted at the hips. Harry suddenly had thoughts of Severus taking him to one of the stone floored corridors and finding Tango music being played. Severus would take him in his arms and they would hear the tap of every step on the stone. Harry twirled round, watching himself in the mirror and smiled broadly. He looked just like his Kin and Severus was right, he did prefer it that way.
Harry retrieved his wand and put it away in his robes. He then picked up his sword and held it before him, watching the serpents curling round his wrist through the mirror, the black fabric of his robes providing the background colour. Harry held the sword before him in a pose and smiled to himself again. Maybe he would get his robes made up in burgundy fabric, the pants still black, he would have to think about that, but he was certainly going to keep the style of them just like his Kin's. Harry put his sword away in order to sort out the rest of his appearance. It was his first day back at Hogwarts and he thought that he ought to make an effort.
Harry drew his hair back away from his face with his hands, testing out the look of a ponytail. He then let his hair drop back down around his shoulders and parted it at the side so that it hung over his new scar, obscuring half his face. He then drew his hair back into a ponytail again and headed for the living room and the rucksack, hoping to find a band to hold his hair back with. His new scar was not a badge of shame but a badge of victory and he had just made the decision not to cover it up unless a situation required it.
Harry dropped his hair again as he entered the living room. Severus was slumped in the chair by the fire, his head in his hand, staring blankly into the flames. The letter lay discarded on the floor where it had fallen from his hand. All three sheets of parchment lay near the tips of Severus' fingers, his arm draped loosely over the side of the chair.
Severus looked up as he noticed Harry, Harry stood near the doorway wondering what on earth Albus could have written to make Severus look so troubled.
"I knew they would look good on you," Severus said, his voice filled with sadness. Severus reached into his robes and pulled out his wand, he waved it at Harry and the clothes suddenly became a perfect fit. "There, even more beautiful, if that could be possible," Severus commented with a weak smile.
Harry took his own wand out and waved it over Severus, lovingly drying his Kin's hair into its more familiar wavy and soft state.
"What is the matter?" Harry asked with concern, approaching Severus and kneeling on the floor at his Kin's feet.
Severus dried Harry's hair too. "I should have seen it coming," He said returning his gaze to the fire.
"This has something to do with the letter," Harry stated, reaching out for the abandoned parchments on the floor, "May I?"
"Yes," Severus said, "Read mine first, it concerns you too, then read your own, it should confirm what Albus seems to have intended for us both."
"Handing out the missions even from beyond the grave?" Harry asked, his heart filling with dread.
"Indeed," Severus replied.
"Oh, tell me we don't have to go on any more journeys just yet," Harry pleaded, now hardly daring to read the letter.
Severus laughed grimly, "No, Harry, we are not going anywhere, that is the point."
Harry held the parchments shakily in his hands.
'My Dearest Severus,
Harry has given you this letter and for that I must congratulate you both. I am of course assuming that you have found your new Kin and the Dark Lord has been defeated.
You may now be aware of the deception I instigated to protect your safety. Find enclosed, a full, signed statement releasing you from any responsibility for my actions during that time, this should satisfy even the most rabid of your critics.
It would have been my greatest wish to congratulate and reward you on your return myself, but alas, it was not meant to be. Find enclosed also, dearest Severus, my gift to you for everything you have done over the years, it is long overdue.
Knowing the power of the Kin as well as I hope I do, I have ensured that you will be able to remain close to your Harry, indeed you should be able to act and live as one, as will be your wish and should be your right.
Love always, Albus.'
"A gift?" Harry responded to the letter, "Finally, recognition of your worthiness."
"Read on," Severus said grimly.
Harry put the letter behind the others and moved onto the next page. It was as Albus had promised, a signed explanation of Severus' apparent Death Eater activities in the period before Christmas when Albus had been imitating him with Polyjuice Potion. Harry moved onto the next sheet.
'I Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, hereby bequeath the position of Headmaster of the aforementioned Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to Professor Severus Snape (formerly Potions and Psychic Healing Master of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry) and his Kin Bonded Harry James Snape (formerly Harry James Potter). On the one condition that the first action of their period of Office should be to assign the post of Professor of Defence Against The Dark Arts to Professor Severus Snape (formerly Potions and Psychic Healing Master of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry) and his Kin Bonded Harry James Snape (formerly Harry James Potter).
Accompanying salaries to be payable to Professor Severus Snape (formerly Potions and Psychic Healing Master of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry) and his Kin Bonded Harry James Snape (formerly Harry James Potter), from the date of acceptance of the above positions at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Signed Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster (retiring) of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (Note: Details of contract viewable once acceptance signatures are received.)'
"Oh," Harry responded after he had finished reading.
"Precisely," Severus said sighing. "Once our signatures are in place on the parchment, the declaration will be viewable to all and will be legally binding, a procedure which guards against fraudulent behaviour, only our signatures in the appropriate ink can activate the contract."
"Are you honour bound to accept this?" Harry asked.
"Yes, essentially it would be an insult to Albus's memory not to," Severus answered. "Which I am sure he knew when he decided to do it."
"What do you intend to do?"
"I don't know, nobody trusts me, they would all prefer it if I were dead."
"Though Albus didn't just leave this for you, it is mine too and it is a valuable gift," Harry pointed out.
"Hmm."
"He gave it to us both and everybody trusts me."
"I suppose."
"It is what you wanted once, to be the Defence master and there will be no other offer of employment which will enable us to work so closely together."
"You know why I have my reservations." Severus added.
"Yes," Harry said placing a reassuring hand on Severus' lap, "But together we could make this work. You have all the knowledge and I can get all the compliance and acceptance from the rest of the wizarding world, maybe in time it will all even out."
"I don't know Harry."
"Just think, you'll be able to order Hermione and Ron about, even though they have graduated and are no longer your students."
"You want this don't you?" Severus asked, at last smiling a little.
"Yes, is that enough?"
"To make me do it? Yes, it is."
Harry smiled.
"You do realise you are forcing another generation of children to suffer my tyranny?" Severus added.
"You will be fair," Harry stated.
"Will I?" Severus asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, you will," Harry insisted. "I will be watching you."
Severus reached out a hand to Harry's head and gently stroked his fingers through his hair.
"Read your letter then," Severus prompted Harry. "I cannot wait to see what else he has to say."
Harry nervously broke the seal on his letter and unfolded the parchment.
'My Dearest Harry,
I am presuming that if you are reading this then you have returned to Hogwarts following the defeat of the Dark Lord. May I also presume that you have accepted a Kin Bond with Severus and that you are both now together, reading your letters? I think I may, there wasn't a lot of hope left in the world, the day I let you go.
Let Severus read his letter first before you continue.
Have you calmed him down yet? Good, I hope he did not rant too much, do not take too much notice, it is what Severus always wanted and he knows it.'
Harry laughed at Albus's words and Severus looked over his shoulder to read what had caused such amusement.
'Good luck in your new employment.
I find I must apologise in advance about a slight Potion mishap whilst the two of you were gone, I hope nothing becomes of it, but accept my sincerest apologies anyway.'
"It would be a bit too reasonable of him to tell us precisely what he was apologising for, I suppose," Severus snapped with irritation.
"A Potion mishap? That could be anything," Harry commented.
'Severus' hand was a little hard to read with my failing eyes, even before I spilt Dragon's blood on the recipe parchment, however I nonetheless accept full responsibility for any consequences.'
"There is nothing wrong with my handwriting, if anything the school quills are to blame," Severus stormed.
Harry couldn't help smiling. "It is probably nothing to worry about, Albus would have told us if it was serious." He tried to reassure his Kin.
"When I find my possessions I will be able to see exactly which recipe parchment has Dragon's blood all over it, then we'll know whether it was serious or not," Severus continued.
'(this bit is written in ink so that only you can see it, Harry)'
Harry began to read quickly so that Severus wouldn't guess that there was more than he could see on the parchment.
'Severus has been a very lonely man for a long time, I do hope that he didn't try to kill himself too many times before you took his sword. In hindsight, perhaps I should have warned you about that. Don't let Severus tell you that he doesn't want a family. He may try to deny himself, but I know that he has yearned for it desperately ever since he made Kin with his brother. I always tried to give you a family here at Hogwarts, Harry, now you can have a real one. Look after him for me, you were both like sons to me.'
Harry folded the parchment up, put it down on the floor and got to his feet, he jumped into Severus' lap. "Don't worry, we'll find all your things and then you can sit in your lab and brew up a few batches of Pain Potion, and all will be right with the world," Harry said cheerfully, perhaps a little bit too cheerfully, snuggling against Severus' chest.
Severus wrapped his arms around his Kin, content to hold him on his lap despite the weight problem. Harry reached up an arm and drew Severus down into a long luxurious kiss, wishing it could last all day.
"I suppose we had better show ourselves in the Hall for lunch," Severus said eventually, more than reluctant to actually do it.
TBC very soon
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Warnings and story summary on the first chapter page
Answers to a few reviewers questions below.
Chapter Summary: It's the morning after and Harry and Sev prepare for the day ahead.
________________________________________________________________________________
.
.
Chapter Three - The Two Letters
Harry woke to find Severus lying asleep on top of the sheets, on his front and still completely naked. It was a sight that he could get very used to. He glanced up at the clock and found that, although they hadn't slept that long, they were still leaving little time to wash and get dressed before they had to present themselves in the great hall.
Harry reached up to his hair and found that it was a complete mess and felt uncomfortable to him after all the months that the cleaning charm had been in place. He leant over to touch Severus' hair and found that the flowing locks that were usually so fluffy and wavy, hung limply and lifelessly down over his neck.
The appearance part of the potion had only made some subtle differences, like the length of their hair, which was meant only to confuse somebody who might see them at a distance, rather than effect a complete change that would remain convincing at close inspection. It had been enough to complete the Muggle hippy look they were aiming for. The idea had been that they would be far enough away from anybody who might recognise them for it not to be necessary to be completely different. There had been no facial alterations to reverse; he had always been Harry close up. Harry sometimes wondered if Albus had only used the potions to make him more fanciable to Severus and vice versa, they seemed to have served little other purpose but had been very successful in that respect. Albus would have known about Severus and his swords, Harry was sure. If either of them had fallen in love with a complete illusion then it wouldn't have been enough for the Bond to work.
The effect of the potion still remained, even though they had taken the antidote, but their hair would now grow normally and would require cutting unless they wanted to let it grow longer. That wasn't so much of an irritation and would only become noticeable later.
The cleaning charm portion was a great loss however, Harry didn't know how he could ever have stood waking up feeling so disgusting, he had to assume it only seemed as bad as it was because he wasn't used to it. Of course, in addition, he had the effects of reversing the second potion Severus had given him to look forward to as well. At least, Harry thought in order to console himself, the reversing of that one might also mean he would be able to conceive sometime very soon and then he wouldn't have to put up with the more icky aspects of his Kin Bond more than a couple of times, before being free of it for at least nine months.
Harry shook Severus' shoulder a little to wake him. "Wake up love," He spoke gently at his Kin's ear. "We can't go sleeping all morning, we both need a nice hot shower."
Severus grunted in disapproval at having to get up, but he pulled himself up to sit on the side of the bed all the same. He ran a hand through his hair to straighten it out and grimaced in distaste at the feeling of it.
"You can have the shower first if you want," Harry offered.
"This is going to take some getting used to," Severus grumbled as he headed for the bathroom, grabbing two towels from a drawer as he went.
Harry didn't know what to do with himself, once Severus had gone into the bathroom. This was Snape's private bedroom, he should be able to snoop, but everything seemed to have been removed at some point during their absence. There were sheets and towels but nothing personal that Harry could get an impression from. Even the furniture seemed old enough to have been there for a very long time and wasn't necessarily Severus' choice.
Harry made a note to himself to ask what had happened to Severus' things even if the man himself didn't think of it. They needed to make the rooms a little more homely, even if it was with Potions books and professional grade cauldrons.
After a while Harry settled for straightening the bed sheets out, they were all over the place. Three times, Harry thought to himself, grinning to himself broadly as he pulled the under sheet before smoothing it with his hand, two of which counted towards 'you know what'. Harry felt very pleased with himself indeed, apart from the fact that it hadn't really gone as he had planned. He had envisaged and planned for he and Severus to have a conversation about what he wanted. He had wanted them to discuss it and decide together. He wasn't entirely happy with the way they had lustfully fallen together and had been spurred to recklessness and sudden consent partially due to a potion which was meant to help their fatigue. Harry wanted a child of his to be completely and totally planned, without doubt or question and he planned to have the conversation with Severus as soon as he could. If events at Hogwarts permitted that was, Harry knew that it was likely to be a very difficult first day.
Eventually Harry heard the bathroom door open and he turned with some idea of what he was about to see. Severus came out of the bathroom with his hair soaking wet and only a towel wrapped around his waist. Harry took in the sight with pleasure and a huge grin adorned his face. The muscles Severus had managed to develop, stood well defined on his chest and arms, maybe he was a little too thin otherwise, but to Harry it was a heavenly sight.
It was a shame he didn't have more time to give Severus some additional attention, Harry thought as he looked at his Kin. Looking like that, he really deserved to be thrown back into bed. Severus reached into the large drawer nearest the bathroom and handed Harry a couple of fresh bath towels. Harry sighed and headed for the bathroom already thinking up his plans for that evening, when they would once more be alone together.
Harry wasn't wearing anything but the sheet he had wrapped loosely round himself, he dropped it to the floor and un-bandaged the Talisman from round his waist and laid it on a small wooden chair which stood in the corner of the bathroom. As Harry climbed into the shower, an old enamel bathtub with brass taps and a showerhead, he could hear Severus moving around the bedroom and the opening and closing of cupboard doors.
Harry found that the water ran at a comfortable temperature and that there was a full complement of washing things, which didn't seem to be as if they had been standing unused for nearly a year. It was an easy enough thing to cast a preserving charm on something, if you expected to be away for a while and that appeared to be what Severus had done. Harry tried out the shampoo first and found that it smelled just like Sev had done for the whole of their adventure, it was what the cleaning charm had been mimicking. Harry's own charm scent, which had been different to the cleaning things he had used before, was now gone forever. He made a mental note to himself to ask Sev if he had known what it was, as he was missing it already.
Harry didn't waste any time in the shower, he washed, making sure to wash his hair twice, and then stepped out to dry himself. He wanted to spend as much time with Severus as he could before he had to face the rest of the castle again. He had only met three people so far, two of which were his friends and that had been traumatic enough.
Once out of the shower Harry approached the mirror and cleared it of steam with the corner of his towel. He had removed the Muggle dressing prior to getting in the shower and he wanted to see what the wound on his face now looked like. He couldn't see very well as the mirror wouldn't clear properly but Harry thought that he could make out a shallow indented line on his cheek, though the skin had been fully healed by Severus. Looking further up at his forehead, Harry confirmed to himself that at least the lightning bolt scar had gone.
It was with thoughts of scars and whether he would try to cover this new one up or not, that Harry entered Severus' bedroom with a towel wrapped round his head like a turban and the other around his waist, the Talisman clutched in his hand.
Harry looked across the room as he stepped into the bedroom and froze solid in the doorway, his blood instantly and instinctively running cold at the sight before him. "Oh shit!" Harry said quite clearly before he could think better of it.
Harry immediately regretted his words, Severus looked instantly hurt, not bothering to hide it and walked away into the living room. Harry rushed through the bedroom to join his Kin. He hadn't meant to hurt Severus but Harry hadn't thought that it might happen, it had never occurred to him that they would be wearing anything different, after all the months they had spent in the same clothes. Harry hadn't thought at all, he had just wandered out of the bathroom to find Severus dressed in his old school master's robes. All the old responses to the sight had gone rushing through him before he had had a chance to check them.
"If YOU are going to react in that way, what is the point of even leaving this room?" Severus asked of Harry as soon as he was by his side.
Harry placed a hand on Severus' arm, now he was close to him again it seemed very silly to be scared of him.
"I'm sorry Sev," Harry pleaded, feeling like a fool, "I wasn't expecting it." Harry stroked Severus' arm and he gradually relaxed a little. Feeling that the apology wasn't quite enough, Harry put a hand on Severus' neck and drew him into a hungry kiss, quickly becoming lost in it and proving quite adequately that he was managing to get his mind past the clothes. "I grew used to you in the other clothes, that's all it was," Harry added, as they eventually stood apart.
"We can hardly wear those now." Severus said, looking as if he had accepted the apology.
Harry looked into the bedroom and he couldn't see the pile of clothes lying on the floor where they had left them.
"Where have they gone?" Harry asked.
"I got some of the house elves to take them away for cleaning, they'll be back in a few days if you would like to keep them for anything," Severus explained.
Harry turned to Severus, "I don't have anything else to wear. All my things were in the trunk at King's Cross Station. I'll even have to put the Talisman back on with the same bandage."
"Oh," Severus replied, a slight smile on his lips. "You will just have to go to lunch wrapped in that towel then."
"You would love that, wouldn't you?" Harry said smiling too and hitting Severus playfully.
"Not as much as I would if you took it off," Severus responded.
"Seriously," Harry said trying to resist the temptation to fulfil Severus' wish immediately, "We have to go to lunch and I don't have any clothes."
"Well," Severus began, "That's not strictly true, follow me."
Severus went back into the bedroom and Harry followed him.
"Did you steal some of my clothes while you were in Gryffindor poking about in that Pensieve Sev? You bad evil man," Harry accused cheerfully as he went through the doorway.
Severus opened a wardrobe door and revealed a whole row of black robes, all identical, all Severus' old school master robes.
Harry froze solid, "You have got to be bloody joking."
"You are my Kin," Severus began, "What is mine is yours. It is only right that I should see that you are adequately clothed and you usually want us both to be dressed the same, you had me wear that bandana," Severus continued with a perfectly serious expression.
Harry struggled to not look quite so horrified, he wasn't sure if Severus was teasing him or not but he certainly couldn't see what else he was going to wear instead.
Severus took one of the knee length robes out of the wardrobe and laid it out on the bed, a few seconds later the matching pants and a white undershirt lay alongside it. It would appear that Severus hadn't been joking.
"They are very comfortable and I will make sure they fit you, wearing them too might even help you feel more comfortable with me. I do realise why you were so frightened, I would be a fool to forget it or deny you had good reason," Severus spoke as Harry stood staring at the bed and not saying a word, "Of course I will buy new robes for you in any colour you like, when we get the chance to go shopping."
Harry approached the bed slowly and laid a tentative hand on the fabric.
"That robe will go really well with your new cloak." Severus continued to persuade.
"There will be no mistaking that I am yours," Harry said smiling nervously. Harry picked up the shirt, pressing it to his cheek to feel the softness of the fabric that would be closest to his skin.
Severus breathed a sigh of relief. "I will sit in the living room while you get changed," He announced.
Harry suddenly remembered about something. "Meg gave me some letters from Albus," He announced, "There was one for you, we had better read them before we go up to lunch."
Harry dropped the shirt back on the bed and rushed to the living room and his rucksack, which was still propped up against the wall. He scrambled through his things as if it was now intensely urgent that he find them.
Severus had followed and Harry handed him the covering letter and the envelope that had been addressed to him alone.
"I see that Albus was ensuring that they fell into loyal hands," Severus commented, "Making sure that they were only to be given to Harry Potter should he return to Hogwarts alive."
"Read what it says before you start judging, maybe there was another letter for you if you came back alone, he might not have wanted to say the same things," Harry said, "I'll go get changed and give you some privacy."
Harry retreated to the bedroom, intensely curious to know what Albus had written to Severus, the letters were effectively the headmaster's last words to them after all. It was a sensitive time though and he would find out soon enough, Harry reasoned with himself, once more approaching the clothes that lay on the bed.
Harry slowly pulled each garment onto his body; the robes were a little too big but not enough to look ridiculous. Once dressed, Harry looked in the mirror and was surprised to find that once they were stripped of their bad associations, the black robes were quite elegant and dignified. They were incredibly comfortable and Harry was pleased with the way he looked in the long full-length mirror by the bedroom's fireplace.
Harry found that he rather liked the high collar and the long arms with the small quantity of white fabric protruding from the sleeves and at the neck. He loved the way the cut of the robes made them fitted at the body and generously skirted at the hips. Harry suddenly had thoughts of Severus taking him to one of the stone floored corridors and finding Tango music being played. Severus would take him in his arms and they would hear the tap of every step on the stone. Harry twirled round, watching himself in the mirror and smiled broadly. He looked just like his Kin and Severus was right, he did prefer it that way.
Harry retrieved his wand and put it away in his robes. He then picked up his sword and held it before him, watching the serpents curling round his wrist through the mirror, the black fabric of his robes providing the background colour. Harry held the sword before him in a pose and smiled to himself again. Maybe he would get his robes made up in burgundy fabric, the pants still black, he would have to think about that, but he was certainly going to keep the style of them just like his Kin's. Harry put his sword away in order to sort out the rest of his appearance. It was his first day back at Hogwarts and he thought that he ought to make an effort.
Harry drew his hair back away from his face with his hands, testing out the look of a ponytail. He then let his hair drop back down around his shoulders and parted it at the side so that it hung over his new scar, obscuring half his face. He then drew his hair back into a ponytail again and headed for the living room and the rucksack, hoping to find a band to hold his hair back with. His new scar was not a badge of shame but a badge of victory and he had just made the decision not to cover it up unless a situation required it.
Harry dropped his hair again as he entered the living room. Severus was slumped in the chair by the fire, his head in his hand, staring blankly into the flames. The letter lay discarded on the floor where it had fallen from his hand. All three sheets of parchment lay near the tips of Severus' fingers, his arm draped loosely over the side of the chair.
Severus looked up as he noticed Harry, Harry stood near the doorway wondering what on earth Albus could have written to make Severus look so troubled.
"I knew they would look good on you," Severus said, his voice filled with sadness. Severus reached into his robes and pulled out his wand, he waved it at Harry and the clothes suddenly became a perfect fit. "There, even more beautiful, if that could be possible," Severus commented with a weak smile.
Harry took his own wand out and waved it over Severus, lovingly drying his Kin's hair into its more familiar wavy and soft state.
"What is the matter?" Harry asked with concern, approaching Severus and kneeling on the floor at his Kin's feet.
Severus dried Harry's hair too. "I should have seen it coming," He said returning his gaze to the fire.
"This has something to do with the letter," Harry stated, reaching out for the abandoned parchments on the floor, "May I?"
"Yes," Severus said, "Read mine first, it concerns you too, then read your own, it should confirm what Albus seems to have intended for us both."
"Handing out the missions even from beyond the grave?" Harry asked, his heart filling with dread.
"Indeed," Severus replied.
"Oh, tell me we don't have to go on any more journeys just yet," Harry pleaded, now hardly daring to read the letter.
Severus laughed grimly, "No, Harry, we are not going anywhere, that is the point."
Harry held the parchments shakily in his hands.
'My Dearest Severus,
Harry has given you this letter and for that I must congratulate you both. I am of course assuming that you have found your new Kin and the Dark Lord has been defeated.
You may now be aware of the deception I instigated to protect your safety. Find enclosed, a full, signed statement releasing you from any responsibility for my actions during that time, this should satisfy even the most rabid of your critics.
It would have been my greatest wish to congratulate and reward you on your return myself, but alas, it was not meant to be. Find enclosed also, dearest Severus, my gift to you for everything you have done over the years, it is long overdue.
Knowing the power of the Kin as well as I hope I do, I have ensured that you will be able to remain close to your Harry, indeed you should be able to act and live as one, as will be your wish and should be your right.
Love always, Albus.'
"A gift?" Harry responded to the letter, "Finally, recognition of your worthiness."
"Read on," Severus said grimly.
Harry put the letter behind the others and moved onto the next page. It was as Albus had promised, a signed explanation of Severus' apparent Death Eater activities in the period before Christmas when Albus had been imitating him with Polyjuice Potion. Harry moved onto the next sheet.
'I Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, hereby bequeath the position of Headmaster of the aforementioned Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to Professor Severus Snape (formerly Potions and Psychic Healing Master of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry) and his Kin Bonded Harry James Snape (formerly Harry James Potter). On the one condition that the first action of their period of Office should be to assign the post of Professor of Defence Against The Dark Arts to Professor Severus Snape (formerly Potions and Psychic Healing Master of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry) and his Kin Bonded Harry James Snape (formerly Harry James Potter).
Accompanying salaries to be payable to Professor Severus Snape (formerly Potions and Psychic Healing Master of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry) and his Kin Bonded Harry James Snape (formerly Harry James Potter), from the date of acceptance of the above positions at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Signed Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster (retiring) of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (Note: Details of contract viewable once acceptance signatures are received.)'
"Oh," Harry responded after he had finished reading.
"Precisely," Severus said sighing. "Once our signatures are in place on the parchment, the declaration will be viewable to all and will be legally binding, a procedure which guards against fraudulent behaviour, only our signatures in the appropriate ink can activate the contract."
"Are you honour bound to accept this?" Harry asked.
"Yes, essentially it would be an insult to Albus's memory not to," Severus answered. "Which I am sure he knew when he decided to do it."
"What do you intend to do?"
"I don't know, nobody trusts me, they would all prefer it if I were dead."
"Though Albus didn't just leave this for you, it is mine too and it is a valuable gift," Harry pointed out.
"Hmm."
"He gave it to us both and everybody trusts me."
"I suppose."
"It is what you wanted once, to be the Defence master and there will be no other offer of employment which will enable us to work so closely together."
"You know why I have my reservations." Severus added.
"Yes," Harry said placing a reassuring hand on Severus' lap, "But together we could make this work. You have all the knowledge and I can get all the compliance and acceptance from the rest of the wizarding world, maybe in time it will all even out."
"I don't know Harry."
"Just think, you'll be able to order Hermione and Ron about, even though they have graduated and are no longer your students."
"You want this don't you?" Severus asked, at last smiling a little.
"Yes, is that enough?"
"To make me do it? Yes, it is."
Harry smiled.
"You do realise you are forcing another generation of children to suffer my tyranny?" Severus added.
"You will be fair," Harry stated.
"Will I?" Severus asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, you will," Harry insisted. "I will be watching you."
Severus reached out a hand to Harry's head and gently stroked his fingers through his hair.
"Read your letter then," Severus prompted Harry. "I cannot wait to see what else he has to say."
Harry nervously broke the seal on his letter and unfolded the parchment.
'My Dearest Harry,
I am presuming that if you are reading this then you have returned to Hogwarts following the defeat of the Dark Lord. May I also presume that you have accepted a Kin Bond with Severus and that you are both now together, reading your letters? I think I may, there wasn't a lot of hope left in the world, the day I let you go.
Let Severus read his letter first before you continue.
Have you calmed him down yet? Good, I hope he did not rant too much, do not take too much notice, it is what Severus always wanted and he knows it.'
Harry laughed at Albus's words and Severus looked over his shoulder to read what had caused such amusement.
'Good luck in your new employment.
I find I must apologise in advance about a slight Potion mishap whilst the two of you were gone, I hope nothing becomes of it, but accept my sincerest apologies anyway.'
"It would be a bit too reasonable of him to tell us precisely what he was apologising for, I suppose," Severus snapped with irritation.
"A Potion mishap? That could be anything," Harry commented.
'Severus' hand was a little hard to read with my failing eyes, even before I spilt Dragon's blood on the recipe parchment, however I nonetheless accept full responsibility for any consequences.'
"There is nothing wrong with my handwriting, if anything the school quills are to blame," Severus stormed.
Harry couldn't help smiling. "It is probably nothing to worry about, Albus would have told us if it was serious." He tried to reassure his Kin.
"When I find my possessions I will be able to see exactly which recipe parchment has Dragon's blood all over it, then we'll know whether it was serious or not," Severus continued.
'(this bit is written in ink so that only you can see it, Harry)'
Harry began to read quickly so that Severus wouldn't guess that there was more than he could see on the parchment.
'Severus has been a very lonely man for a long time, I do hope that he didn't try to kill himself too many times before you took his sword. In hindsight, perhaps I should have warned you about that. Don't let Severus tell you that he doesn't want a family. He may try to deny himself, but I know that he has yearned for it desperately ever since he made Kin with his brother. I always tried to give you a family here at Hogwarts, Harry, now you can have a real one. Look after him for me, you were both like sons to me.'
Harry folded the parchment up, put it down on the floor and got to his feet, he jumped into Severus' lap. "Don't worry, we'll find all your things and then you can sit in your lab and brew up a few batches of Pain Potion, and all will be right with the world," Harry said cheerfully, perhaps a little bit too cheerfully, snuggling against Severus' chest.
Severus wrapped his arms around his Kin, content to hold him on his lap despite the weight problem. Harry reached up an arm and drew Severus down into a long luxurious kiss, wishing it could last all day.
"I suppose we had better show ourselves in the Hall for lunch," Severus said eventually, more than reluctant to actually do it.
TBC very soon
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