Review replies posted in Voice Of Alexian review from 21st Aug am.
Beta by Kristine Thorne
Chapter Summary – Ron has a problem with Draco and Harry celebrates his birthday in style thanks to his Kin.
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Chapter Thirty-Two - Requirement
Ron looked desperately around him wishing now that the corridor wasn't quite so deserted, though he had been quite glad about it a minute earlier.
"This is not funny," Ron warned Draco who still lay on the floor completely unresponsive. He was panicking; this was so close to the perfect picture of his worst fear that he couldn't bear it. Although why his worst fear was suddenly like this, he had yet to figure out, it was too bizarre and inexplicable for words.
Ron was left with little option, he either had to go to the hospital wing on his own and fetch Meg back with him or he had to get somebody to floo a message up to Snape who was probably still getting all the gory details about their little altercation from Harry. Actually, he only really had one appropriate option, Severus had been dealing with the effects of Draco's curse up till now and it was most likely something to do with that, he had only thought about Meg because he hadn't just upset her.
Or he could deal with it himself, Ron considered. He placed his hands on Draco's head and began to sense just like he had seen Severus do the night that he had been brought up from the shrieking shack. The sensing confirmed that Draco was unconscious.
"That's a whole lot of help," Ron grumbled to himself.
He thought of trying to raise Draco's consciousness level with healing but he didn't know how to do that. He was pondering precisely how useless he was, when the first muscle spasm jerked Draco's head beneath his touch. Ron looked down at Draco, horrified to see that the spasm he had felt was only the start.
The tremors spread from Draco's neck, down his arms and through his torso till his whole body was convulsing. All Ron could do was sit and watch, he tried to think but his brain had turned to mush. Ron remembered that he had seen Harry in a similar state when he had had one of his more intense visions but that seemed like a long time ago and it had really freaked him out then too. This wasn't a vision though; it was most probably the effects of the curse. He tried to remember what he was supposed to do, what Hermione did when he had one of his turns. It seemed to involve nothing more than safe positioning and waiting for it to pass, if he remembered correctly.
Draco started to make gurgling sounds, like he was choking, Ron snapped out of his inaction and pushed him over onto his side.
Ron pulled Draco's now long dark hair away from his face and amid the continuing tremors he began to sporadically vomit onto the stone floor. It was different to Harry's visions; Draco didn't fling his arms around and didn't need to be restrained to prevent physical harm. It wasn't like something else was controlling his muscles it was as if there was little control at all; the movements were from random and rapid contractions and it seemed to go on forever but it could only have been a matter of minutes.
Ron looked up, scanning the corridor in both directions to see if anybody was there, listening out for anybody who might be close by. Despite everything that had passed between them he hoped that it wasn't going to be Hermione who found them. Not with Draco looking like a beaten up Oliver Wood even if she did know whom it really was. Maybe it was because he looked like Oliver Wood that Ron didn't feel angry anymore and began to stroke Draco's face with his hand in a soothing manner.
The tremors eventually ceased though Draco continued to lie still and unconscious on the floor. Ron didn't dare try to clean up the vomit with his wand as Draco was still lying so close to it, so he was thankful that he had quite a strong stomach for such things.
A young girl, who appeared to be old enough to be a student, though in the lower years, appeared at the end of the corridor. She took one look at Ron's battered face and the man on the floor and turned to go the other way. Ron had no choice but to shout after her.
The girl cautiously approached Ron and as she got closer she recognised him.
"I need you to use the floo system to talk to the Headmaster, I need you to ask him to come down here and bring a medicloak."
"I'll just get Meg," the girl offered instead.
Ron supposed that the girl must be at least a second year to be so reluctant to contact Headmaster Snape.
"It has to be Headmaster Snape," Ron explained looking as understanding and as apologetic as he could be, thinking that it was unfortunate for the little girl that Snape had just been put in a fowl mood. The girl looked like she would rather have lunch with Dementors but she nodded her head and ran off.
All Ron could do was wait and worry that he hadn't given a more comprehensive message considering the circumstances, he suddenly wasn't certain that Severus would come. He looked down at Draco who looked pale through all the scrapes and forming bruises and still lay motionless. He wondered guiltily if it might have been the fighting that triggered the attack, it probably hadn't helped. He wondered if he should try to lift Draco and turn him over, thus getting him away from the vomit now that the seizure seemed to be over. It seemed like a good idea after he imagined how much he would like to wake up to that himself. Draco still didn't have much weight and it wasn't too hard to achieve, as Ron completed the task Draco groaned weakly but noticeably.
"Draco," Ron whispered hoping that there really wasn't anyone there to hear him use his real name.
Draco didn't respond. Ron pulled up a sleeve and placed a hand on Draco's forearm, he attempted to sense after making sure that there were no bruises there. He could feel the transmission of pain, intense and all encompassing. He chose a few more areas where Draco hadn't been injured in the fight and got the same response.
Draco moved his head slightly but made no other movement, "Make it stop," he whispered without opening his eyes, he sounded drowsy, "Sev?"
"No it's Ron," Ron tried to inform Draco.
"Ron?" Draco began to smile and then grimaced in pain.
"Lie still," Ron instructed hoping that Draco would understand even though he didn't sound like he was feeling particularly coherent.
"Hold me?" Draco asked.
Ron began to hope that Draco wouldn't remember much about this when it was over, he took one of Draco's hands and held it firmly, he found that it seemed to calm him a bit.
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Harry and Severus were descending the stairs from the attic when they thought that they heard a voice coming from the fire in the living room. Severus went on ahead and Harry followed carrying the box with his new robes in it.
The girl in the fire looked like she was rethinking her resolve to give the message when she saw Severus standing by the fire looking down at her, he didn't look very happy at all.
"What is it?" Severus snapped.
"A message from Ronald Weasley he..." The girl began.
"Sending messages through one of the students, how cowardly of him, tell him I am not interested in any of his excuses," Severus responded before the girl had a chance to finish the sentence.
"He asked me to ask you to come urgently and to bring the medicloak," the girl blurted out, knowing what Professor Snape had been like the first year she was taught by him she had the sense to add the 'urgently' part herself.
"Where is he?" Severus asked.
The girl tried to explain the location but Severus wasn't sure that he understood exactly where she meant, "Meet me on the main staircase," He instructed.
The girl nodded.
"Thank you," Severus snapped then turned away from the fire, the girl didn't need a better excuse to disappear, she had delivered her message and was happy to leave the fire.
Harry joined his Kin, "What was that about?" He asked placing the box down on the sofa.
"Ron wanting the medicloak for some reason," Severus explained.
"Where is he?"
"I sent them both to see Meg, I certainly wasn't going to deal with them."
"Was he strong enough to walk that far?" Harry asked.
"Draco?" Severus sighed with irritation, "He was strong enough to fight with Ron."
"But he would be worn out after that," Harry added with more sympathy than Draco deserved.
"Well, I suppose I had better go find them," Severus announced going to find the medicloak.
Harry followed him, "Can I come?"
"Yes of course," Severus answered.
"Better take some potions too," Harry suggested.
Severus picked up a small case out of the potions room that he kept for the purpose and made sure it contained some of Draco's potion as well as the more regular things.
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Draco continued to mumble incoherently and Ron sat holding his hand while he waited, unable to do much else. He was relieved to see Severus, Harry and the young girl approaching even though Severus wore a face similar to thunder.
Severus did not greet Ron in any way but knelt down beside Draco and began to sense, Harry opened the potion case.
"What happened?" Severus demanded to know and Ron explained it to him as best he could.
Severus took a few potions from the case and lined them up on the stone floor, "Hold his head," He instructed as he took the stopper out of the first phial.
Ron had been in this position before and raised Draco's head up onto his knee, "We're going to give you some potions, you will have to swallow," He told Draco hoping that he would hear and understand.
"Two pain potions," Severus spoke as he handed the phials over one by one, "One muscle relaxant, one regeneration, some sedative and two of the nerve potion that I brewed especially for him."
Ron could tell from Severus' tone of voice that it was best that he didn't say anything unless he was spoken to first.
Severus levitated Draco an inch off the floor and spread the medicloak out beneath him, he then lowered him down again and wrapped the cloak around him being careful to secure it so it would not fall open again as they made their way back upstairs.
Draco began to drift to sleep as the pain and sedation potions began to work and Severus lifted him up off the floor. As they began to walk back to the Headmaster's quarters Harry looked back and gestured for Ron to follow them. He had assumed that he would have to continue on to see Meg but he trusted Harry to know what he was doing and followed him instead.
Ron remained silent all the way back up the stairs. Severus took Draco straight into his room and Harry followed them after pointing to the sofa. Ron took the hint and sat himself down.
While he waited Ron noticed the box on the sofa beside him and couldn't resist having a peak. He instantly regretted it since he had half known what it might be and when he saw what the present actually was, it made him feel worse than he already was. He was pleased for Harry, he really was, but he couldn't help thinking how he would never see anything like the robes Harry had been given by his Kin, and he certainly wouldn't have anybody to give them to either.
He thought of Harry wearing the robes for the evening that Severus had planned for him and thought about how Draco had nearly ruined it for them. He was surprised to find that he now felt angrier with himself rather than Draco, though he didn't know exactly why.
When Severus and Harry eventually emerged from the bedroom Ron could feel that Severus had noticed that he was there by the way the skin on the back of his neck tingled, he didn't look up. He hoped that Harry had had a soothing word with his Kin to support his presence back in their quarters.
"Now that the potion is working effectively the curse is having to fight for control, causing seizures to occur, it might have been partly triggered by today's exertion," Severus explained without addressing Ron directly, "Go get yourself cleaned up," He then added.
Although he hadn't mentioned his name, Ron knew by the tone of Severus' voice that he wasn't talking to Harry, he did as he was told and headed for the bathroom without meeting Severus eyes.
Ron didn't look at himself in the mirror but filled the sink with some warm water and gently bathed his face and washed his hands. When he emerged from the bathroom Harry was waiting for him in the living room but Severus had gone. The box had been removed and Harry beckoned Ron to sit beside him on the sofa.
"Close your eyes," Harry instructed.
Ron noticed that Harry had a jar of salve and he complied. He felt the cooling sensation as Harry gently smeared the stuff onto the bruises and cuts on his face with his finger.
"How is Severus?" Ron asked while he wasn't there.
"You mean, is he going to kick you all the way back down the stairs?" Harry said sounding amused.
"It's not funny," Ron grumbled.
"I told him that you were just trying to help, just keep quiet."
"Can I stay here?" Ron asked still not wanting to find anywhere else to sleep despite the awkward atmosphere.
"Yes," Harry replied, "You will have to, we are still going away and you are still looking after sleeping beauty in there."
"Sleeping beauty?"
"Yes, muggle fairy story, the princess who can only be woken by the kiss of a handsome prince."
"You're feeling better," Ron observed.
"Yes, I don't know what Severus has got planned for tonight exactly but it's going to be special."
"Hmm," Ron responded failing to refrain from sounding jealous.
"Have you told him yet?" Severus asked from the direction of the desk making Ron jump out of his skin since he still had his eyes closed and had had no idea that he had returned.
"Yes," Harry answered.
"Good," Severus said and Ron could hear the sound of quill on parchment, "I am writing your instructions down in detail on a parchment for you to follow, see if you can't both behave in a more mature manner while we are away. I don't think I need to mention what will happen if I find so much as a mark on either of you when I return."
"Yes," Ron agreed.
"And I will be asking Meg to report to me when we get back so that she can tell me precisely what healing she has been required to do in my absence, don't think of threatening her, she is more frightened of me than she could ever be of either of you two." Severus added, "Not that Draco is likely to be able to fight, not in his current state."
"There, open your eyes," Harry instructed as he finished with the salve.
Ron opened his eyes but kept his head bent down, only catching a glance of Severus at work at the desk.
"Anywhere else need attention?" Harry asked.
"Ribs are a bit sore," Ron said quietly, he lifted up his clothes and pointed to the spot.
Harry quickly sensed the area and then gave him a phial of skelemend, "I would heal it straight away but Severus says I haven't to use too much strength on that sort of thing while I am pregnant." Harry whispered to explain himself.
"It's fine," Ron reassured Harry, "It'll mend in a day with that potion anyway."
"Go into the bedroom," Severus instructed sternly, "You will look over Draco while Harry and I have our lunch and finish the owls. You may order something from the fire for yourself."
Ron smiled at Harry and headed for Draco's bedroom without argument, he was determined not to do anything to cause Severus to change his mind about letting him stay.
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Ron found that unsurprisingly Draco had been cleaned up and had received salve for his wounds too. He still looked very unwell but he was sleeping instead of lying unconscious. Severus had got him out of his robes and he was dressed in a cotton nightshirt with the covers pulled halfway up his chest. Ron took a hold of his hand as he sat by the bed, he brushed the long blond hair away from his face with the other, Severus had turned him back into himself and he looked like Draco again.
Draco had started sleeping in the bed with just a normal mattress since he had been getting up every day but now Severus and Harry had put the quilted mattress on top again, the one that was used in the hospital wing to prevent pressure sores. It looked like he was going to be having more contact with Draco in the coming days than he had originally anticipated, Ron now realised.
Draco's hand was long, pale and thin. Everything about Draco was long, pale and thin, Ron observed as he felt over the protruding bones in the back of Draco's hand with his thumb. He had gained some weight since he had come to Hogwarts but not enough, he had never been chunky even at school but now it was probably possible to lift him without the medicloak.
If you were not pregnant, Ron thought, suddenly then reminded about having let the cat out of the bag on that little secret, well at least Harry's anyway. No doubt when Draco was feeling a bit better there would be a million questions about that. At least Harry was going away and wouldn't have to put up with the barrage of taunts about being a Kin, if Draco was THAT stupid to try it. Maybe the idea of Severus slicing his head off might make him shut up, nothing else had so far succeeded.
Ron found that he didn't mind Draco too much when he was either ill or asleep; it was when he started talking coherently that things went downhill. He wondered if he could manage to keep him sedated for the whole time Severus and Harry were away. He would be certainly be attempting something similar on himself with a nice bottle of whiskey in any case.
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Harry and Severus managed to finish the letters for the owls quite quickly between the two of them. They ordered lunch then called the owls back from the owlery since they had taken themselves off there when they had become tired of circling around outside waiting. Harry gave them all a bit of food to apologise as each one lined up for their mail to be tied to their leg.
Once the mail had been dealt with Harry then ordered their lunch.
As he ate Harry noticed that Severus seemed to be getting a lot calmer.
"Maybe you shouldn't be so hard on Ron and Draco," Harry began to persuade his Kin, "Draco is ill and he didn't ask to end up living with us, he's bound to be a bit angry and he is Draco Malfoy after all. And Ron always does have the best intentions."
Severus appeared unmoved, "I can hear every word Draco says in that room from my desk in the potions room, you designed it that way yourself."
Harry felt rather uncomfortable about forgetting that, "Ah."
"Ah indeed, I know a bit about how Draco has been treating you and Ron, I think I have shown remarkable restraint so far."
"Yes you have," Harry agreed, "But you've given them a good fright, we can leave it at that."
"No, I think I will let them stew till we get back," Severus said with something that could have been mistaken for an evil grin, "Haven't you noticed how wonderfully quiet it is now?"
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Later that afternoon Harry was sent to the bathroom for a bath with strict instructions to have a nice relaxing soak and then do his hair up nicely. Harry didn't really need to be told, he was really looking forward to his birthday treat and he wanted to look his best for Severus. When Harry was finished in the bathroom Severus went in after him and he was left alone in the bedroom to get dressed.
With Severus in the bath Harry concentrated on tying his hair up first. Severus wanted Harry to leave Ron on his own but he desperately needed his advice and risked going through to Draco's bedroom several times with his hair done up in various arrangements. Once Ron had given his approval on his hair and he had pushed an extra few grips in to make sure it stayed put Harry pulled his new clothes on and risked another visit to Ron.
Harry stood in the doorway to Draco's bedroom feeling very excited and nervous while Ron looked him over.
"If you didn't already have a Kin I would fancy you myself," Ron told his friend meaning every word.
"Don't be silly," Harry blushed, "You like girls."
"I know," Ron replied, "Even so."
Harry frowned at his friend playfully.
"Go have fun," Ron said shooing Harry out of the room, afraid that Severus would catch them talking.
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Ron pulled himself to his feet and went over to the door when he heard that Severus and Harry were ready to leave. Severus was taking Harry down to dinner first before continuing with his other plans and Ron had left the door ajar so that he could see them both together before they left. He opened the door a little more and saw Harry and Severus standing together. Severus said something to Harry and Harry leaned towards his Kin as he spoke.
Ron could see them both clearly, Harry looking stunning in the black fine velvet robes with the ebony trim, he could see it much better in the light of the living room. Severus was wearing a burgundy robe in exactly the same style, which didn't surprise Ron one little bit. What did surprise him was how tall, dignified and regal it made him look. It was quite breathtaking to see them like this together. Ron could have sworn that Severus looked younger than he had during all their school years at Hogwarts; maybe it was the glow of pregnancy and Harry's positive influence removing the permanent scowl.
Harry and Severus turned to face each other and Ron noted how the drape of their robes did nothing to hide their increasing size. If he had imagined this scene even a year ago he would have thought it to be quite a grotesque sight but when it came to actually seeing it, it was beautiful.
Harry stepped closer to Severus and Severus cupped his face with his hand. Harry put an arm round Severus' shoulder and Severus slid his other arm around Harry's waist. Severus leant down a little and Harry closed his eyes. Severus began to kiss Harry and Harry sank into it, it was gentle at first but grew deeper. After a number of minutes of watching them Ron began to wonder if they were ever going to make it down to the hall for dinner after all.
Ron turned away and went back to sit by Draco's bed, shutting the door behind him and casting the room into darkness. He took up Draco's hand in his again and wondered briefly why he did so, at the same time a feeling of sadness and loneliness washed over him.
"So you wanted to be Severus' special friend did you?" Ron said to the sleeping Draco, "Well you're far too late for that, well and truly far too late. I'm afraid you are stuck with me, that'll cheer you up won't it. Do you like whiskey? Great for softening the edges of just about anything, great stuff, not till they've gone though, think we've got into enough trouble for one day."
Ron leaned on the bed, so that he could stand up and take a look at his patient, Draco continued to sleep.
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Severus and Harry walked down the many staircases to the hall holding hands and taking their time.
"Do we have to go to dinner?" Harry asked, he really just wanted to move onto Severus' other plans.
"The whole wizarding world knows that it is your birthday today, we have to go there for a while," Severus replied.
"I know," Harry grumbled.
"Don't worry, I will be there to stop it from turning into anything too disagreeable," Severus reassured.
When Harry and Severus entered the hall however, all the residents assembled there for dinner launched up out of their seats and there was so much cheering and clapping that Harry thought that he would be deafened. He could feel Severus grimacing beside him but there was really nothing he could do after all, since even his voice wouldn't rise over the top of all the noise.
Harry was thankful that when they reached the teacher's table Hermione was looking as disapproving as ever and the noise gradually subsided. Harry stood facing the crowd and held Severus' hand tightly.
"How are you doing?" Severus asked.
"I would rather face twenty Dementors," Harry answered trying to smile.
"There's a reporter from The Daily Prophet, I only allowed the one and he has to stay back till I allow him to come forward, are you ready?"
"Do I have to?"
"It will be good publicity for the school, we need the parents to send their children this year."
"Fine," Harry grumbled.
"They can't mess up a report on your birthday," Severus attempted to reassure.
"You don't think?"
"Shall I send for him? At least it isn't that Skeeter woman."
"Yes, go on then."
Severus used his wand to send a small symbol into the air above him and a reporter came forward from the back of the hall. Harry was pleased to see that he had taken Severus' order to keep back seriously at least.
There were photographs first of all, as one was being taken Harry smiled and then looked up adoringly at Severus, he hoped that that would be the one they chose to print.
"Can I ask a few questions? The reporter then asked, he was hoping for more than just an account of the birthday.
"Give us a moment," Severus replied sternly.
The reporter withdrew.
"Do you want to?" Severus asked Harry.
Harry turned to Severus so that the reporter couldn't see his lips as he talked, "I don't know what other story they could make from this but an interview with the Headmasters of Hogwarts so close to the beginning of the school term would present us in a good light."
"Just refuse to answer anything you don't feel happy about, they'll make up their own version anyway."
"I don't know why I'm worried about it, it's not like things have ever been any different."
"You never liked all this did you?" Severus said, it was more of a statement than a real question.
Harry suddenly had a thought, "What about this?" He suggested letting his hand fall gently on the as yet subtle evidence of Severus' pregnancy.
"Nobody wants to hear about that," Severus replied with an amount of irritation.
"I do," Harry said feeling suddenly sad for his Kin, "And as you said, publicity would be good for us now. Come the start of term it will be fairly obvious anyway, but mentioning it now could work in our favour. It could make you seem less harsh, more appealing as a Headmaster to young mothers, as you are obviously interested in having children yourself."
"I don't want to be seen as soft and pliable," Severus grumbled.
Harry smiled at his Kin, "I don't think anyone will ever make the mistake of thinking you are soft and pliable."
"I can't allow the students to take advantage of my weaknesses."
"Nobody will," Harry tried to reassure, "I think you're overreacting a bit but if anybody ever tries to take advantage of your good nature, I will kill them, you know I will."
Severus nearly smiled at Harry before he remembered where he was, "Shall we do this then?"
"Yes let's get it over with," Harry agreed, "I'm eating for two and we're both starving."
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After dinner Harry nearly felt like he wanted to run once they got outside the hall.
"Where are we going?" He asked Severus excitedly instead, "Have you got a portkey or something?"
"No," Severus answered calmly but with amusement at his enthusiastic Kin, "We're not going to leave the castle."
"Oh," Harry said feeling a bit disappointed but trusting in Severus enough to remain intensely curious.
"Upstairs," Severus instructed Harry.
They began to climb the stairs and Severus stopped about halfway up.
Harry recognised where he was, "The room of requirement."
Severus got them both inside.
"This takes no preparation at all, I just have to say what I want."
"What do you want?" Severus asked.
Harry suddenly felt a bit silly after a minute's thought, "I don't know," He had to admit.
"See, that's where my preparation comes in, as your Kin I must know your needs better than you do."
Harry grinned at Severus, "Take me somewhere!"
"Close your eyes," Severus told Harry.
Harry did as he was told, without a word from Severus he began to hear the chink of crockery as if he was in a café and he thought he heard some people talking gently in Spanish. He caught the smell of coffee in the warm air.
Harry opened his eyes and gasped, "How did you do this?"
"I've arranged it all in advance, just a flick of my wand takes us from one place to the other," Severus told him, not sure if Harry even realised where he was yet.
"Where are we?" Harry asked with fascination.
Severus took him to a table, the tables lined the edge of the hall and a band was setting up their instruments at one end. A Muggle came over to their table and served them coffee.
Harry looked warily at his coffee.
Severus took a sip from his own cup, "Magically decaffeinated."
Harry began to drink too but he was puzzled by Severus' first choice of venue, "What are we doing here?" He asked.
"This is a milonga, or it will be shortly." Severus told him.
"A what?"
"You'll see," Severus replied, confident that Harry would be more than pleased when he realised.
Couples began to arrive, the women in knee length dresses and high heals, the men in suits. When there were around fifteen couples in what was quite a large wooden floored hall, the band began to play and the people began to dance.
Severus noticed Harry watching the couples dancing with fascination and knew that it was time.
"It's tango," Harry said brightly.
"And now," Severus said standing up and holding out his hand for Harry to take, "It is your turn."
Severus led Harry into the centre of the room and took him in a dance hold. They began to dance like they used to do in the hallway at Sgoil Dhubh except that they were at an Argentinean milonga now amongst Argentinean tangueros and dancing with proper tango music.
After the first few minutes Harry was hardly aware that the other people were there, Severus led him and he let himself dance following the lead and getting his head lost in the music, dancing with the music like the rest of the world had ceased to exist. Every time one piece of music ended Harry paused till the next piece started, he didn't want it to end.
"Are you not tired yet?" Severus asked when the musicians paused for a glass of water.
"No," Harry replied, "I could dance all night."
"I've got plenty more activities on my itinerary."
Harry suddenly felt guilty, "We'll go to the next one then."
Severus felt the disappointment and while it was true that he had several activities planned he didn't mind at all that Harry liked his first one best, "We can stay here a while longer if you want to."
Harry brightened, "I like it here, I like to dance."
Severus hugged Harry to him, "We'll dance a bit more, then we need to find ourselves somewhere to sleep, I have a few suggestions for you for that."
The music began again and Harry pulled Severus back onto the dance floor and danced till he felt he could hardly stand.
"Can we come back here sometime?" Harry asked as his feet ached and he had to admit defeat.
"This is the room of requirement, I think it can be arranged."
Harry smiled, "Then let's find us somewhere to sleep."
Severus waved his wand and suddenly they were standing at the front door to a muggle house, Harry pushed the door open and laughed when he saw the landlady from the Dunoon guesthouse they had been staying in exactly a year ago.
"No, please not her again," Harry protested.
Severus pretended to be hurt, "Fine, well that just leaves one other place," He said waving his wand again.
Harry found that they were standing in open ground with mountains rising up around them in the distance. The air was warm as a summer day and a light breeze blew, the sun was setting and Harry could hear the sound of sheep in the distance. He didn't recognise it at first, not in the sunlight. He looked around him and his eyes rested on their tent pitched at the bottom of a small incline, a familiar looking tree at the top.
"This is near to Culloden," Harry suddenly realised.
"Yes, the place the tent was pitched the first time we visited," Severus confirmed, "And that tree..."
"...Where I first learnt not to hate you," Harry added.
"We can go somewhere else," Severus offered.
Harry took Severus' hand and led him to the tent, "No this is fine."
Harry looked inside the tent where the blow up bed lay with the sleeping bag laid out over it, "We didn't have the inflatable bed at that point did we?" Harry asked.
"No," Severus admitted, "But I'm not having you sleep on the ground in your condition."
Harry shuffled inside the tent noticing the cooking things as he got settled, "I'll get ready for bed, you can make the Horlicks."
"Of course," Severus agreed, he took the little gas stove and pan from inside the tent, they also had a bottle of milk and a box of Horlicks sachets just like when they had been camping for real. He began to prepare their drinks, "Porridge for breakfast?" Severus called to Harry.
"I would love nothing better," Harry replied.
"Really?" Severus enquired, "You can't think of anything else?"
Harry smiled, "Hurry up with that Horlicks and get yourself inside this tent now!"
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TBC very soon
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Chapter Thirty-Three Summary – Harry and Severus are gone and Ron is left alone with Draco, how will he cope?