Severus Snape and the Stone Heart

by Apprentice08

When Severus is given a task by Voldemort he has no clue how to proceed. The task seems insane and for the time being Dumbledore has no answers. But why would the Dark Lord want Severus, of all people, to be the one to try for the impossible, what dark plan is up his even darker sleeves. And what makes the Dark Lord think that Severus Snape could ever make the chosen one love him?

13. Hello Darkness my old Friend

A/N: hey guys, thanks for the wonderful reviews! Bad news though, I messed up the calendar year. I think I am a week or two behind schedule. Sirius dies June 4th, and school ends each year in the third week of June. That should all line up with what I had written in the first chapter, when Harry said it had been two weeks since his death and he was already at his relatives, it would have been the end of the third week and the beginning of the final week of the month give or take a day or two.

This pushes Harry into July faster than I had recalled...he has been with Severus by this point a month and a half...which means we have already missed his birthday and are into August…..

So, I need you all to close your eyes REALLY tightly and imagine with me that I did not get confused by my own timeline like an idiot, that everything is as it should be and that Harry's birthday is a week away.

I promise to go back when the story is done and correct my timeline and the pacing so that it doesn't read like a time warped episode from Dr. Who. The month of August is coming which is the final plot set up and then Harry is heading back to school to shoot at things with his wand, have sex in a potions storage closet and finally learn what the devil is going on!

Enjoy the chappy, much love, Apprentice08.

WARNINGS: We have finally reached the first LEMOOOOON! FIGHTING AND A VERY MILD BIT OF ABUSE, GORE AND DIRT MOUTH WITH MILD ROUGH LOVE! IT'S ALL NEAR THE BOTTOM! READ BEWARE!

Chapter Thirteen

Hello Darkness My Old Friend

"Your body betrays you Severus. I see it's fatigue, it's weakness." comes a hissed voice from the darkness, black eyes staring at the floor in shock as the disapproving voice swirls around him.

"Forgive me my Lord...I don't know...I don't know why I am so inept...I will try harder, I swear it."

His fingers are splayed out over the floor, his knees are aching and his head is burning with pain. Since his arrival two days ago he has had little food and even less rest. His body isn't wanting to work for him, it gave up on him hours before. He is having trouble thinking straight and keeping his mind protected.

He misses Harry but must keep it far down and deep within, lest the monsters of his waking life find the truth and try to steal the boy away. They can't have him, Harry belongs to Severus.

"I do not tolerate weakness Severus...I do not tolerate failure. You have worked hard for me these last two days, you have done everything I have asked. Including learning a very complicated spell in such a short time, I am not an unfair Lord. I know and understand your body's need for rest, for sustenance, come to me and I shall grant you your reprieve."

Severus has heard this before, similar words have been spoken to those who are now dead for such crimes as weakness and hunger. Given his situation, he has no choice but to obey, if he does not he is dead anyway, his logical mind still somehow managing to function and help him preserver.

"Come to me, on your feet Severus Snape!" the voice hisses cruelty and hate but the Dark young man has no option but to move. Even has his body protests and his legs scream he manages to rise, nearly stumbling but he lets out an angry growl and forces what little energy he has left to press him forward and moments later lands before a man's bare feet.

His entire body is shaking, the exhaustion and neglect of the last two days finally getting to him. Severus has gone without food and sleep before for several days, normally he has no issues and can manage to work through it without such intense fallout, but this new spell, it was like learning how to breath underwater. It took such great amounts of energy and pushed and pressed it throughout his body, forcing magical bursts here and there, leaving appendages burning and nerves raw. Leaving the rest of the energy meant for his daily movements and existence near depleted.

He could barely lift a fork to his mouth right now, let alone his wand.

One would think Voldemort might have developed this spell a little more before he tried to teach one of his minions, but the man had been persistent that once Severus had learned it everything else would fade, the pain, the power surges and the abominable fatigue.

"Such a good man." the whispered compliment makes him feel sick, makes him want to pull his wand out and lash at this creature violently. But he remains, as ever, the devoted and devoured slave to a demon king born of hate, malice and sadism.

"Look me at Severus." and the man tries, but his body is shaking, his nerves not responding and his near traumatized eyes can do nothing but scan the ground as his jaw clenches and his fingers feel the smooth airy fabric of the man's black robe.

Then, those spider like fingers ever so gently take up his chin, help him to raise his head even as his neck muscles shriek in protest. The Dark Lord peers down at him with those red slits near glowing, jagged teeth showing the barest of smiles.

"You have done well." and he slowly slides from his throne, comes to kneel on the steps that Severus has been clinging to, "Such a good man, a great wizard...a loyal servant." as he continues to hold Severus's chin, his other hand comes up, palm running over a cheek and pressing his black locks back and out of his face, tucking it behind an ear, "A small reward for such a good boy-" and Severus's breath catches in his throat and this time the shaking in his body doubles from true fear as his eyes grow wide and his brow cranks up, lips part and then he feels serpent lips press to his own, a garbled growl of duress trying to escape as his heart jerks in his chest and a putrid tongue slides into his mouth.

He cannot stop himself, he grips at the man's wrists, tries to pull him away but it is like trying to remove a stone from a castle's wall. His body sags against the demon as he is pulled closer, laying like a doll across the man's lap as a single tear falls from the corner of his eye, those black orbs now staring wide and unblinking at the ceiling as his mouth is assaulted.

He tries once more to free himself, struggles as much as his broken body will allow and then to his horror as Voldemort pulls away he sees a small white ball of energy rise from his mouth, his very soul leaving his body and he starts to choke and seize as he realizes what has just happened.

Voldemort strokes his hair, staring down at him adoringly as he whispers against his lips, "Severus, I love you…"

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Severus jerked awake and looked around his room, the same room in spinner's end that he had been residing at for most of his adult life. The lights were dim, the fire washing red across the floors and the bedroom door imperceptibly cracked.

The instant he sat up so violently his arm wrapped around his torso, his ribs protesting against the sudden movement as his other hand came to his forehead. The dull ache still prevalent as he winced.

"Stupid, stupid fool...control yourself...absolute control...it was a damned dream, stop shaking." he says into the empty room, his hushed voice not hiding his upset at such a nasty vision.

Throwing his covers back he manages to get his legs untangled and rests them on the soft carpet, glad for such small conveniences as the cool wood would have been to much a shock for his destroyed nerves.

It was true, some of that dream was not far off from what he had faced while with the Dark lord. His body had been wrecked over the course of the last three days, but...to Severus's great satisfaction….he now held the skill of flight within his arsenal. His body had suffered for it, trying to learn such a complex skill in such a short amount of time, and Voldemort had been merciless in his training.

Though he had been allowed to rest and eat regularly, the feelings of malnourishment and fatigue that his dream had just provided him were no joke. Despite his regular intake of food and his scheduled rests this spell seemed to drain more energy than he could take in. He could have been eating the entire time he was learning and he would have felt famished.

Still, as far as Severus was aware only he and one other wizard on the entire planet had such a skill as this and despite his allegiance to Dumbledore he felt a certain amount of arrogant pride, one he was trying desperately NOT to feel. There was shame and guilt too, as he shouldn't feel so accomplished over something he could share with no one, especially when such a gift had been given by a crazy man.

Finally, he took a step and managed to make it to his wardrobe, opening it slowly to find the bottles he needed. All in all he had walked away from the lessons with his body intact and when it came to Voldemort that was all you could hope for.

Still, over the course of his three day trip, he had busted three ribs, broke an ankle, bruised his face and forehead and received a small hairline fracture to his left shin. His joints continued to throb and his back muscles continued to seize on and off. The remaining bruises were small save for one rather large mark in the middle of his back, last he tried to check it was purple and blue.

All these injuries coming from sudden falls or drops when he was unable to maintain his suspended hovering. Voldemort would urge him to try to float higher, every time he managed to comply but could not maintain it, gravity winning out. Still, it seemed the man was satisfied with the broken bones as a form of punishment because he did not attempt to render aid until the end of each lesson and even then he only helped heal the injuries half-way.

"Let these injuries serve as a reminder of your failure, do not attempt to heal them any further than I have already allowed. They will be your driving force to work harder and reach our end goal. You may go for the evening, return to me when dawn breaks and do not let me down."

Severus felt his heart accelerate slightly at the thought of the man, not a good acceleration either. It was laced with anxiety, anger and fear. He had yet to retrieve Harry from the burrow as he needed to heal further, to speak with Dumbledore and to meditate and go through his Occlumency practices.

Voldemort had assured him it would be some time until their next meeting, but Severus did not trust the man as far as he could throw him. He needed to get work done, focus his mind, clear it of garbage and prepare himself to be summoned again.

Still, as he sat down on the edge of his bed, took his potions, changed his bandages and tried to make a plan for the day, that dream came back to him over and over. Such a nasty and disgusting….so terrifying...he hated his fear. The fear he hid every day, the utter anxiety and desire to run away. But he was a man now, not a boy, Lily was dead and just a memory. He had no one to help or protect him but himself. He had to be strong, brave, resolute in his decisions. He chose this, to make it up to Lily for his betrayal, to show himself that he was more than just that scared abused boy hiding in a corner.

Everyone thought him emotionless, stoic and cold...he had to maintain...had to…

Harry knows the truth, Harry has seen your fear….he has not said anything...but he knows...he knows almost all of you now...you let him in...you had no choice...but he could be your lifesaver, he could be your-

"He is just a boy….a child...not a knight, or a dragon slayer...he is just a means to an end…"

Even as he said it Severus knew he was lying to himself, for Harry had become more to him than just a goal to reach, a heart to win over for nefarious purposes, even when Voldemort had asked him how things were progressing, when he had said the boy was under his thumb, completely enamored and he knew it was a lie...he wished it were true.

Severus closed his eyes and took a deep slow breath to steady himself. Guilt washed across him as he realized he wanted Harry to covet him, he wanted the boy to want him as badly as Voldemort had commanded. The concept of Harry with him, under him, locked into his life and devoted to him so thoroughly that the very idea of leaving Severus's side made him ill, sent a shudder of need through his body.

He nearly gasped as emotions flooded his soul, an intoxicating heat pulsing from his groin as he realized that he truly could ensnare the boy to the point of complete and total devoted reverence… it made his mouth water.

You have always wanted to be loved…

"Shut up." Severus hissed out irritably, an image from the dream of Voldemort stroking his face adoringly coming to the forefront of his mind. He needed to focus, the summer was almost over and he didn't have time to dwell on the things he wanted.

Suddenly a noise came from behind and his slow burning embers burst into life and the flames turned blue, "Just what I need right now." he said sarcastically as he picked up his wand in a shaky hand and pointed it over his shoulder to the fireplace, the small thing transfigured and moments later someone stepped through.

"Come to pick my brain you old bastard?" he said, knowing it was horribly rude, knowing Dumbledore would let it run right off him and ask if he wanted a lemon drop, knowing he only said it because he was in extreme pain and immeasurably tired.

Severus remained facing away, still unwrapping his bandages and preparing to put salve on his injuries and bruises, not wanting to look at the old man behind him.

"hello Severus." and the man's eyes grew wide, his body jerking to a stand as he reeled around, his back popping and ribs aching from the sudden jerk. There, standing before his fireplace was none other than Narcissa Malfoy, her clothes, hair and makeup immaculate, but her eyes tired and filled with brimming tears and worry.

"Narcissa...too what do I owe the pleasure?" Severus said cooly catching his surprise quick and hiding it away, his body and mind instantly going into automatic, his face concealing itself behind a neutral but hard stone mask, eyes falling into an unimpressed and muted stare as a brow raised slowly.

"Severus….you...have been injured." she said, her eyes taking in his shirtless form, all half removed bandages and crippling bruises.

"You remain as ever, a clever and astute woman. Now, you've come to see me...uninvited but not unwelcome, how may I serve the noble house of Malfoy."

The woman looked at him a moment before a very small and mildly affectionate smile came to her face, ice blue eyes softening as she brought her hands together before her.

"You need hold no false pretense with me. I am not here to spy upon you, nor will I report anything to my sister or the Dark Lord."

Severus eyed her a moment, judged the sincerity in her open face and eyes and knew that she was speaking the truth. She was not here to deceive, she was here to bargain and Severus had a very good idea what she wanted to bargain for.

He let his straight and strong posture slump, his mask slide away ever so slightly before he dropped back down to his bed, his back to her and a shaky breath escaped his throat.

He heard her dress slide against itself as she moved round the bed to his side, kneeling down before him and placing a soft hand on his knee, her fingernails perfect, her skin flawless. Severus wondered of Lucius was actually aware of the secret woman who hid behind the cold name of Malfoy, if he was aware of how God damned lucky he was to have found a woman so perfect for his ancient house, but also so full of a compassion no one even knew of.

"Please, let me help?" she asked softly and Severus hesitated before giving a soft nod and the woman went to work.

The silence was heavy, the woman desperately trying to retain control of her emotions, something she had learned long before she had become a Malfoy. Neither said a word, the woman working slow yet efficiently to help rebandage his injuries and apply salve to his wounds. Her skills in this area should be lacking, but she seemed more than adept at such menial tasks. It made him wonder how she came to know such things that were normally left to servants and house elves.

"You have been with the Dark Lord." she said minutes later, her voice so soft yet her blue eyes begging no deceptions from him.

"Yes." Severus confirmed.

"Was he angry with you? What could you have done to warrant such a punishment?"

"Must we, his loyal followers, ever really do anything to warrant his rage and retribution?"

She swallowed thickly and Severus saw the tears swell though none dropped, "No, I suppose not. Was it...Draco...did he punish you for something Draco did during his-"

"No. Though, I am well aware I am the one who will take the brunt of the Dark Lord's anger if Draco should fail to appease. His father is in Azkaban after all, as his godfather that makes me the next in line to suffer should Draco displease that wretched demo-" and he stopped, looked down at the woman with worry as he realized he almost slipped.

"Fear nothing from me, speak your mind...you might be surprised how quickly I would tend to agree." Narcissa offered, a small smile floating at the corners of her mouth, her eyes urging him to finish his sentence so that she could know his thoughts.

"You should not be here." Severus said softly, looking away from those pleading eyes as he tried to backtrack on his words, but it was too late, she had heard him...she now knew of his unrest….after all these years...Severus Snape slipped up in all of ten seconds to a woman he had not spent so much time with in years.

"Severus….do you remember the first time Lucious brought you to his home over the summer? You'd not seen to such a home in your whole life...you marveled at it...spent time with like minded people...felt accepted for the first time in your entire life."

"What are you getting at Narcissa?"

"You've been apart of our family since those days long ago, you are my son's godfather, a welcomed friend of the family. One of the few with whom Lucius places complete trust. He entrust Draco's and my safety to you, trusts you to be a faithful friend and not step on his toes. You will always be welcome despite your thoughts to the later and I beg you to speak to me now as family and not as some distant relative."

Severus couldn't help the sigh that escaped his lips, "Your vague communication is very trying Sissy."

"The Dark Lord has forbid me to speak of it-"

"If the Dark Lord has forbid it then you must not speak of it." and Severus stood then, moving away from those pleading eyes, trying desperately to not get more involved than he already was.

"Please-" her voice was laced with fear and thick tears yet her face remained dry, her tone stopped him from walking away and he looked back to her with a stony face.

"Draco...he is...he is my only child...I would move heaven and Earth for him if I could."

"In this instance you cannot-"

"That is why I have come to you." and her tone was stoic yet resolute, he felt his chest tighten.

"He may not know how to show it, but Draco cares for you. You've done more for him over the years than his own father...he looks up to you...I dare say he even respects you and wants your opinion of him to be a good one. Please, help me protect him."

Severus eyed her carefully, knew he looked highly displeased at the prospect of taking on more responsibility but he would be lying if he said he didn't care for Draco. His preference for the boy in class was not just a show to irk the Gryffindors after all.

"I will do my best to help Draco in his endeavour….to protect him and make sure he sees his task through to the best of my abilities-"

"Swear it…" and he gave her a glare as she added softly, "Please...so that I may rest easy."

"You do not trust my word?" Severus pressed, knowing that if he were to follow through with this he would be unable to warn Dumbledore of Draco's up coming task. He wanted to kick himself for forgetting and then subsequently putting it off. If he did not agree Narcissa could make things much more difficult, the fury of a refused woman and all that rubbish.

"I do, but these are trying times….we have all found ourselves in rather dubious positions...forced to agree with wretched demons...even if we find their logic and morals flawed. Do not hate me for protecting my own, you would do the same if you had a young one...then again...I have heard through many dark whispers that you do." and Severus eyed her warily now, "Perhaps you understand my position more than you will be willing to admit."

The following silence was impregnated with loose threats and hollow hopes and Severus found his back against a wall, yet once again, he felt himself admiring this woman, this mother lion who only wished to protect her cub above all else...it was so very Gryffindor of her.

Standing up straight and pulling his wand from his pocket he held out a bruised palm, several fingers bandaged and tinted a soft pink from the blood that was still seeping through, "Give me your hand." and Severus saw the small smirk on the woman's lips and couldn't stop his eyes from narrowing, the burden on his back growing once more.

PAGEBREAK

When Dumbledore apparated on the edge of the burrow Harry felt his heart leap into his throat, he dropped what he was doing instantly, hearing the utensils he had been placing on the table for dinner clatter to the floor violently.

Hermione called to him but he did not look back as he raced through the house and out the front door, meeting the ancient wizard just at the edge of the protective wards.

There was little relief to his anxiety when the man greeted him with a soft smile and happy eyes, "Harry my boy! Wonderful to see you. I trust you are faring well?"

"Yes, sir. Is everything alright? Is Sever- Professor Snape okay?" and Harry nearly winced at the slip but was grateful when the man didn't seem to have taken any notice, "Quite alright, if not tired and in need of a well earned rest. I offered to come and retrieve you in his place as he received a few injuries while hunting down some ingredients for a potion I asked him to brew."

Harry knew the man was not being honest with him but at the moment he also knew the man did not know Harry was aware of the truth or the actual situation Severus had been forced to endure. He was well passed ready to get his things and return to Spinner's End.

"I'll grab my things-" Harry started but Dumbledore was quick to stall him, he raised a hand and placed it on Harry's shoulder, his blue eyes giving off a rather knowing sparkle, "There is no rush, as I left Professor Snape said he planned to work on his Occlumency and meditate a few hours. We would be best to wait a little longer. I have come to see you, I realize I have not been available to you, nor have I returned your letters, a thing which bothers me greatly and to no end."

Harry gave a soft smile at this and said softly, "It's fine, sir. The professor told me you've been busy traveling."

"I have, but I should not let such things keep me from you. Come, we shall have tea and talk, then I will return you to Severus."

When they got inside Dumbledore took a few moments to brief Ron's parents privately and then met Harry in the back garden, the two strolled around the yard in fading light and the cool summer breeze.

"I understand from your first letter you wanted to know why you were placed in Professor Snape's care to begin with." the old wizard started as they passed an herb garden, the smell of rosemary bringing forth fond memories and Harry breathed deep, his worry still prevalent but fading.

"It doesn't matter now sir. Professor Snape and I have reached an understanding...however unbelievable that may sound."

"Perhaps it does, but it is not unwelcome, the change in your relationship with Severus seems to have done wonders for you both."

Harry nodded and tried not to blush as he knew it was so much more, "It leads me to wonder if I should have done such a thing sooner. Perhaps it could have saved both of you years of trouble, and alleviated a certain level of mistrust. No doubt it must be comforting to have someone older to confide in, wisdom and experience are hard to come by these days."

Harry gave a soft smile in response but his eyes drew down, his small smile fading as he thought of Sirius, of his past experiences with the grumpy potions professor, of their possible future, of losing more people to this war, to Voldemort, thoughts of losing Severus just as he had his godfather making him feel sick.

"Harry, is there something the matter?" and Dumbledore drew out his wand and transfigure a few meandering garden gnomes into a small tea table and two chairs before conjuring a tray laden with the fixings for tea from thin air, biscuits included.

The two sat down and Harry placed a hand on the table, his fingers spreading out and his palm feeling the thin lacy cloth that lay over the top.

"It's about Voldemort, sir….I've been having trouble closing my mind to him. It feels different than before, like he is never really gone. I'm worried, worried he may be trying to...find something...to have a greater effect on me than he has been able to before. I can't seem to feel him as easily as before and my anger...my hate… I'm not sure I can control it for much longer. Professor Snape...I don't want to expose him..put him in danger…. I don't know what to do, how to stop him."

Dumbledore gave a thoughtful pause, thinking about it for a moment before he picked up the porcelain teapot and poured the steaming liquid into their cups.

"Professor Snape has informed me you have started to learn how to meditate, tell me, has it been helping you at all with retaining your control and shielding your mind?"

Harry nodded slightly, knowing though, that it still wasn't enough, "I haven't had any bad dreams, my anxiety has lessoned…. It's still hard for me to make it through without Severus's help…" and Harry looked up in sudden fear as he realized he had done it again but Dumbledore only smiled and said softly, "Do not worry Harry, Severus has informed me he gave you permission to address him as such while you reside with him. I have heard a first name basis can help a teacher and student form a stronger bond for meditation, I never imagined how true that was until now."

Harry relaxed and smiled again, Severus always thought of everything, "Yes, sir."

"I do recommend when school starts you resume addressing him as your professor, we wouldn't want curious minds to wander."

"Yes, of course, sir." and Harry understood completely, he didn't want anyone, student or staff alike to know, not yet anyway. They could take Severus away, or put his life in danger. It was their secret and he was happy to keep it that way.

"In regards to your shared feelings with Voldemort, there could be any number of reasons the Dark Lord isn't closing the link...he may not even be aware. I suggest you keep up on your meditation and perhaps even give Occlumency a second try. Severus told me he would be willing to resume your previous lessons, something I know you may find daunting but needless to say it may ease your burden."

And Harry felt a heavyweight settle in his chest, knew he did not want to practice Occlumency again despite Severus assuring him it would be different. He hated it, it felt wrong and often times left him feeling molested. Still, he had to do any and everything he could to keep Voldemort at bay, so he gave a reluctant nod and a "Yes, sir."

They spent a small time simply enjoying the tea and biscuits, talking of things that had occurred over the summer. August was right around the corner and in a week's time Harry would turn seventeen. He wanted to make sure he would still be at Spinner's End, wanted to make sure that he would be within the man's reach for Harry had no doubt that when he came of age a new form of tension would form between him and Severus, one the man would be hard pressed to ignore.

As if the man could read his mind Dumbledore cleared his throat lightly and said, "You're birthday is just around the corner, I have no doubts Mrs. Weasley will have prepared a magnificent birthday feast for you, cake and presents. I shall try my best to attend."

"Actually, sir, we haven't really planned anything. I think I might enjoy just spending a quiet night at home…" Harry didn't even register that he had referred to Severus's home as his own and went on with a small smile, "I think I might ask Professor Snape to take me to the cafe he likes to frequent in London. Maybe take the train, I like riding trains, helps me to think."

Dumbledore nodded his head and said, "I've frequented a few muggle cafes in my time, they have the most interesting decor, I'll admit I do have a fondness for their pastries as well. One in particular called an Apple Fritter. An odd name but most enjoyable."

Harry couldn't help but smile and give a small laugh, unable to imagine Dumbledore sitting in a muggle cafe without receiving some very interesting looks from the other patrons.

By the time their tea was done Mrs. Weasley had called them in for supper but Dumbledore had politely declined saying he needed to get Harry back to Severus so that he could be on his way. The woman was quick to spell together a couple parcels of food for both of them to take with them and then Harry was saying his goodbyes.

They apparated into Severus's backyard just as darkness fell and the two men looked at the old house a moment before Dumbledore spoke, "Harry… I may have need of you in the upcoming month, would you be willing to go on a little adventure with me near the end of August?"

"I'd love to, sir." Harry said and the man gave him a warm smile and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder, "Wonderful, I shall send an owl the night before. Now, go and see Severus, no doubt the man will need your assistance getting to bed."

Harry's face flushed profusely but he simply nodded as Dumbledore took a step back and with a wink of his eye disappeared.

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Severus heard the pop of Harry's arrival and he tried to control the flutter in his chest and the excitement in his stomach. He was in his room making more salve for his injuries and peeked out of the curtains to see the boy saying his goodbyes.

He couldn't stop the smirk that came to his face when, as soon as Dumbledore was gone, the boy turned and sprinted for the house. Severus went back to finishing his salve and prepared for the millions of questions that were about to pour from the boy's mouth.

His small satisfied smirk fading when thoughts of the previous few hours came to his mind. Narcissa's visit and the subsequent vow he had made, then a visit from Dumbledore which was short but had exhausted him more. He had had to take a Pepperup potion just to get out of bed and spend a half hour on both his meditation and his Occlumency.

Harry was back now and he felt dread and a certain amount of resentment fill his stomach as he knew he could tell the boy nothing of it all. How he longed to be able to confide in someone, anyone, his trials and tribulations. To ease the heavy burdens on his back. Knowing Harry as he now did the boy would jump through hoops to help him.

He heard the kitchen door slam open and closed, heard the footfalls pass through the sitting room and then come pounding up the stairs, all creaks and groans and then felt the instant his door was pushed open.

He tightened his grasp on the vial he was holding and slowly turned, knowing the look on the boys face at his battered state would be one of horror. He wasn't far off either, Harry's brow had disappeared up under his hairline, his mouth open in shock and his face drained of color.

Unable to put on his tunic, Severus's bandaged and bruised body was still fully exposed and he stood there with a hint of a smirk ghosting over his lips, his eyes watching the colorful array of emotions flit across the boy's face.

Harry crossed to him slowly, his body showing his uncertainty at the man's condition and whether or not a hug would be a good idea. But Severus simply opened his arms as soon as Harry was in range and gently took the boy up, noticing how feather light the boy's hug was.

"I'm bruised Potter, not broken." the man murmured and Harry squeezed him a little more firmly.

"What happened?" Harry asked as he pulled away just enough to look into Severus's face, seeing a few lighter bruises around his jaw line and one near his right temple.

"The end result of training under the Dark Lord. Nothing to be worried about, in a few more days I shall be better."

"That's not what I look awful." Harry said as he brought a finger to trace over the man's forehead, gently fingering a small set of scratches mostly hidden by Severus's eyebrow

"I feel worse." Severus teased but Harry did not appear amused.

Harry took the bottle of salve from the man's hand and read the handwritten label, "Are you sore?"

"Unbelievably so, but the salv helps. I was just in the process of making more actually."

Harry then took up his hand and gently pulled him towards the bed, Severus keeping his eyes on the youth before him.

Harry motioned with his hand, "Sit down, I will see if I can help."

Severus agreed and watched Harry kneel before him, not to far from the same spot Narcissa had, the thought of the woman twisting his insides with anxiety. He gently took up the man's hand and studied the pink bandages.

Over the next few minutes Harry painstakingly removed every bandage, including helping Severus out of his pants so he could rewrap the man's left ankle, right leg and both his knees.

"I'm not a doctor but your ankle….it doesn't look right...didn't you set it? It's swollen."

"No." Severus said, his eyes watching intently as Harry held the ankle with near expert finesse and studied it. His green eyes darted up to look at him and his lips grew thin, "He wouldn't let you, would he." The bitter tone in the boy's voice made Severus sigh as he knew there was no reason to be so annoyed. It was how the demonic man worked.

"His way of insuring I try my hardest, the sooner I accomplished my task the sooner I could go lick my wounds in private. A cruel and unusual punishment for certain, but it did give me the incentive I needed to focus and learn quickly."

"How could anyone focus with so much pain?"

Severus grunted as Harry gave a jerk to his foot and the ankle reset, "Ow." the man said softly though his ankle was now howling in pain.

"You get used to it I suppose." Harry said in response to his own question.

"You do." Severus confirmed, "Where did you learn to set a joint?"

Harry looked up from under his brow quizzically and the man frowned, "Right. I should hex your uncle from here to hell."

"I'd say the same to you about Voldemort but it's all just empty threats."

"For now." Severus said slyly.

Harry stood and took the old discarded bandages to the Bing, looking around he saw a fresh roll on the desk in the corner and grabbed it.

When he returned he keeled back down and began applying the salve and wrapping the man's wounds.

"Aside from being tortured for three days, anything fun happen?" Harry asked casually.

Severus let out a soft noise that reeked of sarcasm, "Small talk isn't applicable to this situation, Potter."

The blush that erupted over the younger's cheeks made Severus's heart thump with desire and he closed his eyes and looked away.

This would be a new experience for sure, Severus had never had a back rub. In fact, there were many things Severus had never experienced, but he was quickly checking them off from his list.

It took him a moment to find a comfortable way to lay, but once he was down on his stomach he felt himself relax and moments later Harry's hands were very gently working over his sore muscles, the salve on his fingers spreading smoothly across Severus's back and tingling with a warm soothing sensation.

"I was worried...you were the only thing I could think about but I tried hard to follow your schedule. I think I did alright."

"That is good news, Potter. Though, I am sure that my presence at the castle helped. Voldemort was primarily focused on me and my training. I am not sure he slept at all the entire time I was there."

"Were you able to learn the spell?"

"Did you have any doubt I would?" the man mused in a rather humorous tone.

"None."

Silence followed and Severus felt himself relaxing even more. His body hummed with delight at the gentle message his abused muscles were getting and he found that this was something he could get used to. After a while, Harry cleared his throat and murmured softly, "Dumbledore came to visit me...wanted to spend time together… I am to go somewhere with him near the end of August."

Severus opened his eyes and digested this bit of information, scanning his mind for any indication that he had been informed of this earlier, but he did not recall the headmaster ever bringing such a thing up in their many tedious meetings.

"Did he say to where you would be accompanying him?" Severus asked suspiciously.

"No, sir. Just that he wanted me to go with him and he would send an owl ahead when he was coming."

Severus did not respond to this but made a mental note to ask the man about such a dangerous plan. Taking Harry out of this house without him could cause serious problems, not that the boy wouldn't be perfectly safe with Albus, but still, Severus wanted to protest.

"Sir, about Dumbledore-"

"A little lower Potter, and harder if you could." Severus moaned a little as the boy dug in under his right shoulder blade and savoured the burn.

"Sir, about Dumbledore…" the boy started again, obviously he was being stubborn.

"Yes, what is it Harry?" Severus asked though he missed the smirk Harry gave at the use of his name, an ongoing challenge to get the man to use it full time and not switch back and forth, made the little triumphs rather exciting for the boy.

"He asked about my birthday, about where I would be spending it, he thought I would be going to the burrow...I told him I was staying with you…"

"Potter-" Severus started with warning but Harry quickly pushed passed it, "I was wondering if we could go to that cafe you like to frequent. I've wanted to go before but EVERY time you go Ron and 'Mione are here."

Severus sighed and reluctantly rolled over, "That is not an accident, Potter. I leave on purpose so I do not have to deal with your friends and their constant idle prattle."

Harry looked at him a moment and then sighed before he slowly slid down from his knees to lay on the bed next to Severus, his hands slowly running up the man's stomach and over those bandaged ribs before stopping at his chest, "Even so, I want to stay here with you and go see the cafe… have dinner maybe...you know...something different."

Severus stared for a long moment before he sighed, "Don't think I don't know what you are up to. There is only one reason you want to be here on your birthday." and Severus realized he should have been more prepared to have this conversation. His birthday was next week, instead had had solely focused on his training with Voldemort and seeing Harry as soon as possible.

"I don't know what you are talking about, sir." Harry said as his fingers casually grazed over the man's lips and those dark eyes narrowed considerably in response. Severus caught Harry's wrist and pulled it to his chest, "The only reason you want to be in this house on your birthday is because you want your birthday present, the one you made me promise you. However, I do hate to rain on your parade, but I have no intention of letting you remain here where you might try to tempt me with some youthful and most likely pathetic seduction scheme. I've told you before, Potter, I won't cross that line with you. It will be a struggle no doubt to remain as prudent as we have, for both of us, but going any further is far too dangerous and it is wrong on more than one level."

Harry slowly adjusted himself and pressed Severus onto his back gently, "I will not renege on that." Severus reiterated sharply, but Harry was pleased to see that other than his verbal warnings the man was not resisting him.

"I'm not going to try anything professor, but you are right about one thing.." Harry leaned down then, bringing his lips to the man's ear and saying softly, "I want my present." and Harry took to gently nibbling at the man's ear before planting a kiss on his jaw, "But, I also want to spend my birthday with you. I've never done that before, had someone special to celebrate with. It always seems to be one or the other, either I don't get to have a birthday, or it's some big elaborate turn out. Might be nice to just, lay low."

Severus closed his eyes and let out a sigh, his hands coming to rest over his face before he slowly sat up and out of the boy's reach.

"I will make you a deal." Severus offered and Harry looked at him with questioning eyes.

"You write a letter to Mrs. Weasley, if she is alright with you skipping out on whatever colorful plans she has prepared for you than I will take you to my cafe. However, if she has even the slightest qualms about it, you will go to the Burrow."

Harry was about to protest when Severus held up a finger, "This is non-negotiable. After all, I would hate to be responsible for upsetting the one woman I fear more than Bellatrix Lestrange."

Harry couldn't stop the small chuckle that escaped him but he did sigh before he looked away to the window, noticing that the hazey day was slowly slipping away towards the night, "You're really trying to get out of it, aren't you." Harry said with a defeated tone, his eyes finally scanning back over to the man next to him, all bandages and bruises, those black eyes finding him and the look on his face showed a certain amount of thought, Severus was choosing his words carefully, still, Harry knew he wouldn't like what the man was about to say, no matter how he worded it.

"Do not take my resistance as disinterest, granted, I do not wish to cause a rift between us, but you must understand our position-"

"Professor-"

"No, Potter, it isn't enough for me to just want to have you...it isn't enough for you to want something like this to happen with me first...emotions...they are tricky...what one person can think is love is just lust...and love can feel so vivacious in its own right. We cannot rush this, we cannot compromise our positions in such a way that could spell disaster for our cause. I am your guardian and teacher, you are my student, how many times will I have to hit you over the head with the truth? Perhaps when this is all over, when the war is at an end-"

"I could be dead by then...you could be-" and Harry stopped, the look on his face a mixture of dread and worry. Harry didn't want to think about that, didn't want to admit that he might be rushing towards this intimacy because he felt his immortality hovering in the background, knew that Severus could be killed at any moment.

It was no doubt a guilty feeling, to think he could be using Severus to reach some goal of experience, some desire to taste a more deep and meaningful relationship with someone before his untimely end. Yet, he knew he had real feelings for this man, it wasn't just some imagined want.

It was a tangible desire, a longing that was stronger than whisky and more complex than a potion. It was real, and he wanted to explore it to its entirety, yet this man was fighting it tooth and nail. It made Harry feel sick with anxiety.

"Be that as it may-"

"I don't want anyone else, I don't care that you are my teacher, you are so much more than just a guardian… you are...everything to me." and this one statement seemed to take the man by surprise, his brow rising up sharply before he cleared his throat and looked away. That damn curtain of hair falling to hide his features and his true feelings on the matter.

Harry slowly shifted to move closer, reaching up through the man's hair and gently pulling that sharp face to look at him, "I like you professor, a lot...I know I am young...inexperienced….but...I care about you...so much….I want-"

"How can you know what you really want when all you've had is me….me and my grotesque way of life. You aren't thinking of the bigger picture, your perspective is skewed."

"My perspective is fine, I know what I want, you can't claim-"

"I can. You're not even of age, you're so very young-" Severus knew he had to make Harry understand, because if Harry couldn't see things from his point of view the boy was sure to keep pushing. Eventually, Severus knew, he would give in, be unable to resist the temptation of such intimate things. He just had to make it one more month. It would all be so much less traumatizing for everyone involved if he could just-

Harry pulled away from him suddenly and moved off the bed, he looked around the room trying to think of a way to make the man understand what he was trying to say.

"How can I make you understand...to accept what I feel for you...what do I have to say, how can I show you how I feel aside from giving myself to you completely."

Severus's face instantly sharpened, his eyes narrowing considerably and he stood slowly, an arm coming to wrap around his torso to give his side support.

"You think I need sex to comprehend how you feel for me? I am not some hormonal teenager, I do not need nor do I require from you some form of proof of your interest and commitment."

"That isn't what I am saying!" Harry snapped as he swung an arm wide and shook his head, "You're twisting my words...twisting my meaning."

"I don't believe I am. You just said as much, you want to show me how you feel about me, want to make sure I understand how serious you are for me. I can assure you… I do understand-"

"No, you don't. I think… I think I might-" but Harry stopped and looked away, his hands fisting at his side's and his heart hammering and he thought he might get sick.

"What is it Harry?" Severus asked gently, he brought a hand up and cupped Harry's chin, raising his face and asking softly, "What is it?" he repeated.

Harry shook his head and scrunched his eyes, pulling out of the man's hold and turning towards the window, he brought a hand to his eye, fingers digging in and trying to rub away his fatigue.

The professor seemed persistent though and he came up behind him and wrapped an arm around Harry's waist.

"Tell me, I will help you come to terms with your words...we can sort through it togeth-"

"I love you." Harry said softly. Instantly Harry regretted saying it because he felt the man holding him stiffen considerably. He felt panic spike through him and he turned around in the man's hold only to look up and see a face devoid of all emotion. It was completely unreadable and those black eyes stared at him with an intensity that Harry couldn't even begin to describe.

"I- I just mean, I didn't mean...I love you but I meant...I think I might be...falling in love...no I just...forget it. It's stupid and so am I...just a stupid kid and I'm not thinking clearly." Harry rushed from Severus's arms, from the room and to his own, shutting the door behind him and locking it swiftly.

"Bloody stupid idiot." Harry cursed at himself as he slid down the door, his head hung and his hands rested on his knees, his heart ached as he realized that whether or not he loved the man in the room down the hall, it didn't matter. The look he had just received was confirmation enough that even though Severus Snape wanted him, he was most definitely not in love.

PAGE BREAK

Harry did not come down for dinner, he did not emerge for their nightly ritual of quietly sitting by the fire and he did not venture into Severus's bed when it was time to turn in. Severus had waited patiently, hoping the boy would elect to come down and clarify, would brave the cavernous hole he had just created and face the reality he voiced.

Severus was disappointed though, for it seemed Harry had decided to withdrawal. The house remained dreadfully quiet, and the potions professor heard not a word or whimper, not a shuffle or step. He was worried sick, filled with a toxic anxiety that the boy had shut down and turned away from him completely the instant he had admitted to having deeper feelings.

The truth was though, Severus himself was in fact both electrified and horrified by the omission. Harry Potter, might quite possibly love him. It was true Harry was still very young, too young to be stuck with just one person, having never experienced true love for anyone else. Severus knew he was a poor substitute for a real partner, knew by his own nature he was much to greedy to ever have something so meaningful.

But the instant Harry had said the words, even if he had fumbled to explain he had only meant he might be growing to love him, Severus had wanted to grab the boy instantly and feed such thoughts with any means he had. The very idea of being loved by someone, anyone, damn near addictive.

Severus had to pace himself now, things were getting too dangerous, much too dangerous. If Harry really was developing such strong feelings for him, Severus had to be on guard. He couldn't let it happen, could not go that extra step.

Deep down, Severus knew he was on the edge of falling over as well. Though he did not want to admit it to himself, he was beginning to have deeper feelings, twisted and complex feelings, but he had them under control, Harry most likely did not.

Sitting alone in the kitchen Severus looked to Harry's empty chair and his heart jerked a little in his chest and for a split second he felt an emotion he had not felt in a long time, he felt sad.

"Absolutely not!" he barked, standing suddenly and moving towards the living room. It was breakfast time, their routine was being set out of place, their easy flow of existence was coming to an end. Severus would not, could not have it. There was still a month left, he had a month that he could still be mildly content with his existence, a month before things got more complicated, he wasn't going to let this summer be ruined by a boy who might be in love.

No, Harry was going to have to man up to his little faux paux and deal with it like everyone else, he would have to face it. Severus stood outside the boy's door seconds later and knocked just a tad bit too hard.

"Potter! Potter, get up and open the door. It's time for breakfast!" when no reply came Severus grew angry and he banged on the door a little harder.

"Potter! Stop sniveling and come out!" still there was no reply and so Severus, letting his anger, frustration and fear carry him, pulled out his wand and went to spell open the lock only to find the thing not latched.

Panic flooded the man and he cursed, kicking the door open for good measure.

As he walked into the room he looked around and found, to his utter shock, it was completely empty.

PAGEBREAK

Harry sighed as he walked along a deserted road, far outside of Spinner's End. On his person was a satchel, filled with the few things he deemed important to him. Among them was his wand, some fresh clothes and food, a journal, his cloak and pictures of his friends and family. On his shoulder sat his owl, her narrow eyes scanning the landscape around them, though it consisted of mostly bramble, trees and tall grass.

He had been walking for hours, having slipped out the front door around four in the morning. It was nearing eleven now, no doubt Severus would be trying to get him to come out of his room any minute. When he found Harry gone he had no doubt the man would be livid, but he did leave a note so perhaps the man would just forget about him.

Your a bloody idiot if you think Severus won't try to hunt you down. No doubt he will call in the auroras, Dumbledore, the Weasleys, waste everyone's time and make them all worried sick. If they find you you will be on the bad end of a hurricane, Severus leading the gale force winds of anger towards your infinite annihilation for such immature behavior.

He sighed again, for he knew he was being incredibly selfish but after what had happened he needed some space. He needed to walk away from it all. The emotions, the caring, even the late nights of rutting in his professor's bed. Confusion, fear and depression were weighing heavily on his mind, and once again Harry found himself doing what he often did when he didn't have anything else he could do.

Harry Potter was running away. He was heading for London, heading for something other than a bleak future of death and despair. For the young man knew, suddenly and out of the blue, that he was in love with his professor. It wasn't a burning love of deep passion and desire, it was soft and gentle, filled with fondness and warmth. It was new, just beginning, he also knew that it could so easily grow. Harry knew it would grow, fast, uncontrollably fast.

He had made this realization when he had been left at the burrow this last time, worried sick, trying to meditate and calm himself only to realize his thoughts were consumed by his professor, if he was alright, if he was hurt, if Severus missed him. The ache was near unbearable and he barely slept with all the worry.

The few times he did sleep his dreams were raw with passion, I love you's and

Not knowing he had been looking for something like this for so long made it even more quick to spread, like an infected wound pouring it's poison into the bloodstream. No doubt, if he had stayed, by the time school started he would be fully gone, his heart completely captured.

He would be at the mercy of a man who was quick to anger, jealous, dark, and greedy….possessive...Harry felt his cheeks burning already with a fever at the very idea. He liked Severus, all his damn flaws, all his weaknesses towards the more forbidden ways, if he had stayed he would give in to it all.

Since it was highly apparent that Severus did not feel so strongly, it was best Harry not tempt fate, no matter how badly he wanted to. No matter how much he didn't actually care if Severus's licentious and dark nature corrupted him. He had to let it go and move on, it was the best option.

He wiped a tear from his eyes and set his jaw, determined to be stronger and win out over this thing invading his mind, soul and body. He would not tempt Severus, would not ruin the wonderful memories he already had with the possibility of losing even more.

After a while Hedwig swooped off his shoulder to go find a meal and Harry begrudgingly realized he too was hungry. Climbing up a large pile of rubble stones from what looked to be an old road he sat down and pulled from his satchel an apple, sandwich and bottle of butterbeer.

He ate quickly, his eyes studying the surrounding landscape, not really taking anything in but keeping an eye open for anything that might be a sign of danger. After a few more minutes of quietly sitting and eating he pulled from his pack the small leather bound journal he had grabbed, a gift from Hermione ages ago.

He had a muggle pen, far more practical considering he was hiking and he began the long process of sorting his thoughts.

I'm finally alone for the first time in my life, truly alone. Even when I was at my relatives, no matter how hard they tried to ignore me or keep me quiet, I knew I wasn't really alone. I was always too tense with fear and worry of the possibility of punishment to ever think I was alone. Sitting here, the quiet of nature surrounding me, I feel calm.

Satisfaction is a strange feeling.

I didn't want to leave him, but I realize that loving him is not an option. He doesn't feel the same, doesn't want to risk exposure of his position or feelings. I can't blame him though, truly I can't because his history is no better than mine. We are both lost souls wandering around in the land of the living, I feel dead half the time now, thanks to Voldemort. He takes me up and eats my insides, shreds my mind...but here I feel peaceful, relaxed...untouchable because I don't sense his presence and I don't feel like everyone one is watching and waiting for me to fail…

Harry looked up at the sound of movement to see Hedwig had successfully found dinner and had landed in a nearby tree to eat. It was a snake and Harry shivered and looked away. He packed up his remaining lunch and decided he wasn't really in the mood to write anymore. He climbed down from his perch and started his long walk towards London.

PAGEBREAK

"ALBUS! ALBUS IF YOU ARE HERE COME OUT!" Severus yelled as he burst through the man's fireplace and into the office.

Severus was relieved to see the man sitting at his desk looking over that blasted book. He had stood abruptly at the younger man's entry and looked at him in surprise, "Severus, what is-"

"He's gone, that blasted, selfish, confused little brat ran off!"

Dumbledore moved around his desk quickly and came to meet the man in the center of the room, "Gone? Was he taken?"

"No! He just...vanished in the night, foods gone, some of his clothes and his wand are missing as well. His bloody bird is missing too. He ran off! Saviour of the wizarding world indeed! The little brat just walked out the front door! When I get my hands on him-"

"Do you know where he went?" Dumbledore interrupted.

Severus hesitated, feeling the note the boy had left burning a hole in his pocket, "No, but my estimation puts him out the door around four as I went to bed at three. I would have heard him if he left sooner."

"What do you propose we do? Should I summon a search party?"

Severus thought a moment, his heart beating wildly in his chest, his fists clenching, when he got his hands on that boy Severus would make him pay dearly for walking out on him.

"No. The situation is a very delicate one. It needs to be me who finds him."

Dumbledore gave him a curious look and Severus growled as the man had yet to act, "Severus, what happened?"

His body twitched at the accusation and before Severus could stop himself he jumped and spun away in frustration, "Nothing, I just think it would be best if we didn't go on an old fashioned witch hunt. The boy is in a very delicate situation emotionally and I-"

"Severus." Dumbledore reprimanded smoothly as if to a child who had tried to steal a cookie, giving the man no room to make excuses or try and lie to him.

Letting out a growl Severus brought one hand to his hip and another to his face, trying to hide the blush on his cheeks as his emotions conti used to betray him.

"Potter...said...he said he loved me...or he thinks he might be falling in love with me." Severus finally admitted after a short pause.

The air was heavy with a tense silence for a long moment before Dumbledore asked softly, "Did you reciprocate his feelings?"

"If I did do you think he would have ran off like some injured lion cub? I told him he was too young to know for certain, having been with no one else he had no basis for comparison."

Dumbledore mused on this a moment before he came closer to the fretting man who had finally slumped down into a nearby chair, his face placed firmly into his hands to hide his shame.

Severus felt the man kneel before him, old warm hands coming to gently take hold of his wrists and pull them away from his face, "This is very important Severus, you must answer me honestly, do you have feelings for the boy?"

Those black eyes slowly slid up from looking at his lap, meeting the watery blues of Albus Dumbledore and trying to fight back the tears that would both condemn him and expose the truth, "I… I do not know Albus, Harry is not the only one confused over such matters. That is why I must find him, why it must be me and me alone who confronts him."

Dumbledore nodded and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before standing and moving to his desk, "There is a way to find him, but only someone who has a special connection with the boy can do it. While I do hold close to his heart, if Harry does indeed care for you as he says, if there is even an inkling of love shared between you, it will pinpoint his location down to a few miles."

Severus sat up at this and watched as the older wizard moved about his office quickly, grabbing what appeared to be a large scroll, a gemstone on a metal chain and a smooth black stone about the side of a tea saucer.

"Severus, come." and Dumbledore held out an arm to invite the man over. The man stood and complied, realizing rather quickly what the man had gathered as he made room on his desk and laid it all out.

"You want me to Scry for him? That is an old wives tale, made up by muggles centuries ago. Is it not for trying to see the future? A discipline of divination?"

Dumbledore did not respond but did give a small smile. He spread the map out, placed the black stone in the top left corner and then handed the chain with the crystal to Severus, "Do you have something of Harry's, anything at all will do."

Severus reluctantly pulled from his pockets both the note and the boy's singular spectacle, the broken one they had retrieved from the pond.

Thankfully Dumbledore did not ask about either and placed them gently on top of the black stone.

"Now, grip the chain by the end and wrap it once around your hand, just like that, yes, good, gently now, in a clockwise motion, very good. Close your eyes and think of Harry, anything about him you find favourable, anything that might give you strong feelings, and when they are at their strongest simply say, 'Locatus'."

Severus did as he was told, thinking of Harry and the things that created a strong emotional feeling. He focused on their meditations together, on their most intimate moments, on his own desire to see the boy happy and satisfied and on the boys laugh when Severus said something witty.

To his surprise the map, which currently showed Hogwarts and the surrounding grounds started to glow a soft yellow, the topography of the Hogwarts grounds sliding away, the imagine of the surrounding mountains, lakes and rivers swishing by in quick succession.

"Now, slowly lower the crystal, keep your thoughts focused on Harry and when you feel a pull on your hand drop the crystal down to touch the map." Dumbledore instructed softly.

Severus complied and the closer the crystal got to the map the faster the thing moved. Finally, after a few more seconds Severus felt a quick sharp tug, almost as if there was a fish on the line of a fishing pole and he let the very tip of the crystal land on the map. Instantly, the shifting image stopped and the crystal's tip was standing as if impaled into the map, thirty-two miles outside of Spinner's end.

"My, he moves quickly." Dumbledore mused.

"He has had since four am, that's eight hours, on average a person can walk a mile in fifteen minutes...imagine if the brat had ran this whole time." Severus snapped as he dropped the chain and headed for the fireplace.

"I can send an owl ahead to help you locate him from the sky." Dumbledore offered.

"No need, I know that area well, he isn't the only person to run off from that miserable house, I will Apparate and be on him in minutes."

"Be gentle, his heart is in a very hard place, as is yours."

Severus just grunted in response, his mind completely focused on getting his hands on the nasty wretch, the youth having abandoned him like he didn't matter at all. He didn't realize he had left the note behind, nor the spectacles. He didn't think about what could happen if he came upon Harry quick and angry. All he thought of was dragging the boy back to his home, where he belonged, at Severus's side, never allowing him to venture off again.

There would be blood tonight, and Severus's heart would be avenged, his questions answered, so help him Harry would regret his actions.

PAGEBREAK

Harry had reached a very thick part of the woods, trees and thorn bushes on either side of the dirt road, the view of the sky obscured by the thick leaves of summer and shadows pervading the woods on either side. Hedwig had settled down somewhere a few miles back to nap through the brighter part of the day, and Harry had continued to walk knowing she would catch up to him when night fell.

It was going on noon and his feet were starting to ache but he refused to stop and rest as the more miles he put between himself and The End the better he felt. He tried not to think about his heavy heart, about the anxiety that was building up with every step he took.

He only hoped no one, Severus included, would be able to locate him. He had refused the idea of taking the train knowing he would have had to wait until six, and that was cutting it far too close to when Severus often woke up. His broom was out as well for he could be spotted far too easily. That left walking, anything else would leave a magical trace because he was underage and he didn't even want to try and attempt a fireplace jump.

In the distance Harry heard the rumble of thunder and the wind started to pick up, a chill running down his spine as he realized he was about to get dumped on. He was thinking of trying to find some shelter when he heard a loud crack ripple through the air. He would have assumed it was more thunder if he hadn't felt a swift flood of magic flow around him.

He spun around expecting to see Dumbledore but was utterly shocked to see Severus standing about ten yards away, his fists clenched, body stiff and his face showing such a raw rage Harry felt himself shuffle back in fear.

"Harry." He ground out from between clenched teeth, a boiling aura around him causing the air to fill with static and small popping noises.

Taking another step back Harry stopped at the sound of the man's enraged but deadly quiet voice, "Dont. You. Dare." The man hissed, his eyes narrowing dangerously small as his fists gripped tighter, his back hunching down as his rage infiltrated the air with a harsh potency.

"Professor, I can explain-" Harry started.

"Silence!" the man yelled, slashing a hand through the air and sending a small wave of that raw energy straight towards Harry. The boy felt the pulse as the energy hit him and he stumbled back, his heart exploded with fear as he realized he may have miscalculated how upset Severus would get at his silent departure.

"I do not want your pathetic excuses, your weak rambling explanations. All I want is for you to come to me. Right. NOW!"

The man stomped his foot down onto the firm earth, another wave radiating out quickly and knocking Harry back further.

"Professor, please, calm dow-"

"Do not! Do not say another word! I swear to the fates that be, if you are not by my side in the next thirty seconds, you will regret it beyond measure, now, COME!"

Harry had never been so scared in his life, so thoroughly petrified was he that he couldn't even manage to stand right away. It took him a moment to get his legs to work, his knees shaking from the aftereffects of the man's raw rage circling around them. A heavy shadow fell across them as the clouds moved in, more thunder echoing through the skies above.

"Come to me, now!" the man yelled again and Harry jumped a little as he began to shuffle forward. Severus slowly raised his arm, splaying his hand out, palm up, fingers extended as his dark eyes watched with a narrowed suspicion.

Harry glanced around them, trying to find a hole in the surrounding greenery that he could jump through.

"EYES ON ME!" the man bellowed and Harry jerked to a stop as his eyes shifted quickly back to the man who was burning holes through his chest with those black eyes.

In that second, Harry saw Severus shift forward, his fingers stiffening slightly as if to cast a spell. Logically the man could not without his wand, at least Harry assumed the man couldn't. He had seen Dumbledore do such a thing but did not know if Severus had the same skill set.

Harry's doubts aside when the man's hand twitched a second time his instincts took over and he dived to the side of the road. To his shock the ground where he had just been standing seemed to sink a little and he realized the man had transfigure the solid earth into quicksand, a sure way to trap Harry's feet and keep him from running.

Well Harry didn't plan to give the man a second chance to trap him, his body went into autopilot and he was leaping the thorn bushes and disappearing into the woods quick as a flash.

"HARRY!" The man yelled, he sounded absolutely livid, and Harry felt his panic intensify.

You just HAD to get emotionally involved with a rageaholic, you stupid-

The trunk of a tree exploded next to his head and Harry ducked quickly, moving to the side and trying to be as evasive as possible. He lungs were heaving, his heart racing and for the first time in weeks he felt that well known adrenaline rush, felt truly alive. He dug his heels into the forest floor and pressed forward, swishing his arms to give him momentum and he felt like he was nothing but a blur through the trees, a phantom unable to be seen save for a short glimpse out of the corner of your eye.

He chanced a glance back only to find no one was there but seconds later he felt another wave of magic and before him Severus apparated into view. Harry tried to put on the breaks but the damp floor of the forest gave and he slid to the ground, twisting about awkwardly as his fingers dug into the moss and dead leaves around him.

Desperate to get any sort of leverage to propel himself up he dug his nails into the ground and shoved forward, his wrist giving a painful scream at the sudden bad grip and onslaught of leverage. By the time he made it to his feet, which in reality only took seconds, Severus had lunged forward and grabbed onto him around the waist, causing Harry to fall again.

"Professor, wait!" Harry tried to reason but the man had him flipped and hauled up against a tree moments later, slammed him hard against the thick trunk twice before he stilled his actions, the bark biting at Harry's skin through his thin shirt.

"You selfish, arrogant, troublesome little brat! Always thinking of yourself and what You want! Never thinking of anyone else! Stupid! Ungrateful! Wretch!" each insult grew louder and louder, Harry thinking he might have finally pushed his professor over the line.

"You think You can just walk away from all of this? That you can just run off! You have responsibilities, Potter!"

Harry felt a sharp anger break through in his chest and he couldn't stop himself from fighting back, "I didn't ask for this! I don't want It! It's a ruined horrible life and I quit!"

Severus flung him to the ground and Harry stood quickly, his legs feeling like rubber, but his mind fired by rage.

"Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all just quit when he got tired of our lot in life! News flash, Potter, you can't! To many people are depending on You and your twisted sense of morality, your skewed sense of justice. The golden boy, always so damn clever at getting himself into trouble, always so ready to jump headlong into danger! What a fool, an immature nagging little brat! Dragging everyone else along for the ride and not thinking about the affects his actions could have!"

"Why do you care! You've never liked me, never wanted to have anything to do with ME! You of all people should be glad I am going! One less child to try and mold into something presentable, one less street urchin to try and save! I'm nothing to you, just a burden and deadweight, you wouldn't have cared two months ago, wouldn't have cared last year! You never cared at all until recently, amazing what a cock suck can do!"

Severus strode up to him then, fisting the boys shirt and jerking him close, "One would think you would have learned by now about looking before you leap! After all, this is the same type of thinking that got Black killed!"

The cut of that statement sent Harry into shock, his mind going completely blank for a moment before an anger unlike anything he had ever felt tugged at the back of his mind and fed a level of aggression he had never known before.

He shoved with all his might, jerking his body away as he did and Severus's hold was released, "Take it back." Harry said in a deathly quiet voice.

Severus eyed him with a sneer and said crisply, "No. I don't think I will. What's wrong Potter? Can't handle the truth?"

"Take it back!" Harry screamed as he felt the rain start to splatter down around them, lighting struck and then thunder rumbled and the boy wiped at his lip to find a small trace of blood.

"You killed him Potter! You sent Black to his death the moment you went off on your own and neglected to ask for help! It is your fault! You killed your godfather, not Lestrange or anyone else!"

"STOP IT!" and Harry charged forward, pressing the man harshly into a tree. He whipped his hand through and smashed the man across the cheek, "You're cruel, uncaring, mean, cold and have zero understanding of human emotion!" Harry yelled out as he continued to hit the man across the face. Severus managed to catch his last one, dragging Harry's arm down and around, forcing Harry to turn awkwardly lest his shoulder break under the force of Severus's twist. His knees gave a stab of pain as they were forced down onto the ground, sticks and stones digging into his skin.

"Down!" Severus yelled as he shoved Harry further, his face colliding with the muddy leaves on the ground.

"You think I am so uncaring of the pain and suffering of others, why don't we test that theory." The man hissed into Harry's ear and Severus started to push up.

Professor!" Harry tried to yell out, thinking his shoulder was well on its way to dislocating. The man didn't respond and Harry couldn't stop the next yell.

"I'm so uncaring, so inhuman, too dark and twisted to ever love anyone, no better than the filth under a rock, or the mud under people's SHOES!" and he pushed up with a mighty jerk, Harry hearing a pop from his shoulder.

"Severus! He shrieked and he clawed desperately at the ground to try and relieve the pressure in his shoulder, the screaming pain, "STOP! PLEASE! I'M SORRY! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!"

"You left me!" Severus yelled and Harry instantly stilled. The moment he stopped fighting Severus stopped pressing and he lay there beneath the man panting and waiting for him to continue.

"Why would you leave me! You have no right to go! Walk out on me like I am some passing fling, like I don't matter! Selfish, arrogant little brat! You're mine! Just mine, you promised!" and he released Harry's arm, but grabbed at his hair, pushing his face further into the dirt. He brought his mouth next to Harry's cheek, blood from his nose rolling down over Harry's lips.

"You can't leave! You can't possibly be like everyone else! My mother, my friends! You can't be like HER!" Severus yelled angrily, his face ever so slowly morphing from an unbridled rage to a utterly devastated and pain filled expression of fear.

"You c-can't leave!" he seemed to sob out, his grip in Harry's hair loosening and sliding down to the back of his neck.

"P-please….you can't leave me, don't leave me." and Harry heard tears in the man's voice. Still too stunned to move Harry tried to look at him, "I'm so alone, so desperately wanting to have something, anything to tie me to this disgusting plain of existance. Before you, I had no reason to continue, just a promise and my sheer force of will. But I am so tired, Harry, just like you, I do not want to do this anymore, I don't want to live this life. You made it bearable...you have made it worth all the suffering I have endured, will endure… if you leave me, I'll have no reason to exist, no point in my life. I need you, I want you...like a dying man needs absolution. I am...sorry...I cannot change who I was, or what I have become but I can do better now, please give me a chance to do better."

Harry finally managed to take a breath, his back protesting from the brutal attack he had just faced, "Severus-"

He was cut off then when the man rolled him over and brought his lips down on Harry's painfully hard, his hands holding his head in place as his tongue tried to force its way into his mouth, Harry at first not wanting to give in. He needed time to process, to adjust to this man's omissions, the man who always hid his inner most feelings. The spy that always had to be aloof and hide his true motivations, his intentions and meanings.

His own shock on the matter was put on hold, however, when Severus's tongue finally slid across his lips and lapped deeply into his mouth, the man letting out a soft groan and easing his tight hold to slide his fingers through Harry's hair.

Harry couldn't stop the moan, no matter how reluctant he was to give in when this man had just accosted him. The man's rough bandaged hand slid from the back of his neck to come to the bottom of his shirt and started to pull it up, fingertips grazing his skin, Harry let out a more obvious moan and his hand moved on its own to latch into the man's hair.

Severus moved his mouth away from Harry's lips and slid down to his throat, teeth latching on gently as lips started to suck. Harry was panting by now, his fists tightening into Severus's hair and pulling harshly, the man grunting in response before he grabbed the boy's wrists and shoved his arms above his head.

Harry let out a yell as the pain in his shoulder exploded but Severus didn't seem to notice, "My arm." Harry gasped as he turned his mouth away and Severus simply licked up his throat and murmured, "Roll over."

Harry complied and the man placed a hand on his spine, the other gripping his wrist and he gave a sharp yank. Harry felt the joint reset and gave a blast of noise at the pain of it, "No more complaining." Severus said softly but Harry managed to evade the man and stood up just out of his reach.

Severus remained on his knees, hands on his thighs looking at him with a blank and unemotional face.

"Everything that just happened, everything that was said...you can't just forget it." Harry said with anger.

The older man stood slowly, his bandages filthy, his body more banged up than it was before. He slowly approached but Harry stood his ground and when Severus stood right before him Harry looked up defiantly, "I've no intention of forgetting anything, we will talk about it, but right now, the only thing I want...is you...on your back...underneath me."

Harry's lips parted, his eyes growing wide and despite the enormity of what had just happened he felt something akin to lust and excitement ignite in his groin.

"I can't-" he started but Severus took Harry up in his arms and nestled his face into the boy's hair, "But you can, that is what you were trying to do before, right? You wanted to be intimate with me, I refused, so you left. I don't want you to leave, so the only logical conclusion is to take you home, wash you down and then keep you busy in my bed for the remainder of your stay."

Harry was about to protest when the man suddenly dropped down, grabbed up Harry's bag and glasses, and then placed a hand on his shoulder and before Harry could do anything Severus apparated them.

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Severus dropped the boy's bag onto the floor as soon as their feet touched down in his room. He spun to Harry took him up, stopping the boy's protests by way of his lips. He kissed Harry with such a passion, deep and meaningful, holding nothing back. His own heart was shrieking at him to keep going while his mind was begging him to stop. Though, at this point, his mind had long since lost the battle, the coming war long forgotten.

He plied Harry with attention, touching him, kissing him and holding him close. The boy trying to resist every few seconds but inching closer and closer to giving in as Severus touched him. He scooted the boy back towards the bed, the burning in his body overruling his logic, his cold and calculated mind.

When Harry buckled under him, falling onto the bed, Severus went with him, not waiting any time in trying to get the boy's belt undone and his pants off.

As Severus worked to finish of those pesky boxers Harry breathed out his name in hot pants of want, "Severus, we need to...stop...we can't just-"

"Shush, we can, we most assuredly can, just help me get these blasted things off!" Severus hissed in frustration.

"But, I am underage, what about...ah! you are my teacher and I am your student!" the boy moaned out as Severus finally got the boxers off and set to ripping bandages from his fingers and then saturating them in his mouth, "Does not matter, really does not matter, I do not care-" the man breathed harshly and then his knees spread the boys legs and he pressed his fingers inside.

Harry arched off the bed, his prick stiff as a rod and nearly red with want, "Severus! Wait, I, aha, we need to...god...wait!" but Severus could hear the desperation in the boy's voice, knew he was young and untrained, he could come any second, the protests would stop once Severus was inside him.

He pulled out his fingers and shoved back in, Harry's hips bucking harshly and his hands fisting the bedsheets till his knuckles were white.

Harry bit his lip, his eyes scrunched tightly closed as his body tensed, but Severus did not continue his work, he removed his fingers and spit into his hand, rubbing it up and down his shaft quickly.

"Po-professor, we mustn't… not until you are ready…" Harry tried, bringing his hands to Severus's chest and trying to push the man back. Severus simply took up the boy's hands, kissed those bloodied knuckles and shifted them out of his way.

"I have been ready for a very long time, and at this point, I do not really give a damn." His knees pressed Harry's legs apart and he lay down on top of the boy, pressing him into the bed and bringing his lips to Harry's ear, "This isn't going to feel good at first, but I will try to accommodate your discomfort."

Harry simply nodded, and Severus took that as good as permission straight from the boy's mouth. He positioned himself, gripped the sheets hard and started to push.

PAGEBREAK.

Harry was about to burst, his excitement, fear, desire and lust mixed with a very strong sense of completion swirled inside of him. He was finally getting what he wanted and at the moment his brain didn't care what the consequences were.

He felt Severus position himself at his entrance and then felt the sharp pain of being breached. If he wasn't so ready to begin with it would have been a lot worse. Comparatively though, Harry mused, it had hurt worse to have his shoulder dislocated.

Severus gave a small jerk and let out the most delicious moan as he pressed in further, his hands gripping and pulling at the sheets on either side of Harry's head. Sweat started to form on his brow and his breaths were coming in heaving gasps. After several more seconds Severus gave another thrust and Harry felt the man slid in the rest of the way.

The pain was more of a throbbing ache now, Harry's body making the adjustment quickly and he couldn't help feel he had Severus's wandering fingers to thank for such an easy first time.

"Gods, so good, so warm and good and tight." Severus whispered into his ear, his mouth seeking out the boy's throat to bite, suck and kiss and Harry's body finally seemed to break and his last remaining walls fell and he let out a groan that could make a nun blush.

"Professor, please...move."

"A tad bit impatient aren't we." Severus teased as his hands slid up the bedding, pressing Harry's arms up high, their fingers lacing and gripping solidly together.

"Please, sir...I want to feel-"

"You will." and Severus kissed him softly, their tongues twisting and fighting before the man started to move his hips in at a slow, rhythmic pace. He kept their skin touch, not pulling out or thrusting so much as rocking into him and Harry felt his body tremble and writhe in a wicked bout of pleasure and euphoria.

"Deeper." Harry breathed and Severus didn't bother to reply, he simply released a hand from Harry's and ran it down to cup around a thigh, lifting it up and giving him better access. He pressed hard and slow, gaining the depth Harry was craving and Harry was beside himself with need.

"You're not getting out of this bed for the rest of the time you are here. I want you in it, naked and ready, you'll not receive any mercy from me either." Severus breathed as he continued to debauch the youth below him.

"Yes, sir." Harry managed and Severus bit his lip before he asked, "Are you ready?"

"Ready? For what?"

Severus chuckled, "You've no idea what is about to happen to you do you." He said and Harry felt his heart rate increase as he looked at the man with wide eyes and a small frown, "I don't underst- aah- and."

"You are going to." and Severus moved up then and gripped onto Harry's hips, resting on his knees and sliding out of him. Harry gasped and shivered at the strange sensation of the man removing himself. Severus then flipped him and suddenly Harry understood, "I've warmed you up, giving you all the time you're body needs to adjust, now, for the next few hours, your body is all mine."

Harry swallowed, felt his arousal spark sharp in his gut and when Severus spread his legs Harry realized this new experience was only beginning.

PAGEBREAK

Severus had been kind, had held back his most basic desires, pushing his many fantasies away to try and make it easy on Harry during his first time, but now, the boy was as ready as he was going to be and Severus honestly couldn't wait anymore.

His body was howling at him to commit to this act of passion. After everything that had happened, between his pain filled days learning that spell from Voldemort, then nearly losing Harry he had had enough emotional upheaval. He had wanted this from the first time Harry had touched him, from the moment the boy had taken Severus's member into his mouth.

The more he had fought against Harry's determination the more he had fought against himself. They were both in agreement, this needed to happen, no matter what might come after. They could not exist in the same house anymore without dealing with the sexual tensions and the desires that were rushing around them and flooding their minds.

Severus was just a man after all, and hearing Harry moan and feeling the boy squirm underneath him was just too much. His right palm came into Harry's hair, his left gripping onto the boy's hip. He settled down on top and seconds later was pushing back in.

Harry gasped and groaned and for the second time Severus held back just enough to push in without more discomfort to the boy than was necessary.

However, when he reached the end, was totally inside he laid his head down next Harry's and swallowed, "You will tell me to stop if need be, otherwise, enjoy yourself." Harry's eyes were closed, his face utterly relaxed, and his swollen lips parted. Severus took it all in, the mud and trace amounts of blood from their fight in the woods, the sweat on his brow and the look of relaxed acceptance.

When Harry opened his eyes there was a stunning shine to them, and a certain amount of adoration, of love, and Severus felt his heart speed up and his mouth go dry.

Harry nodded but said not a word and Severus took this as his sign to begin. He tighten his hold in both Harry's hair and on his hip and then withdrew before he thrust back in, Harry's body jerking and his face twisting in a mixture of pain and pleasure.

Severus repeated the motion but didn't stop, his body going into autopilot and willfully beginning the descent into madness. He groaned deeply and quickened his pace, the boy beneath him panting and grunting with each thrust.

A thick haze had settled of Severus's mind, his body no longer his to control and with each thrust he grew more unaware, more vapid in keeping his mind on his actions and in turn was focusing solely on his feelings, something unheard of in a man like him. He went away from all thoughts of war, of espionage or death and anger and curled in on the emotions of love, happiness and satisfaction. His perception of himself and the act he was performing not having any effect as his body prepared to plunder the riches of such a youthful and hungry partner.

"Faster!" Harry gasped out and Severus couldn't stop the satisfied growl that escaped his throat. He wrapped his arms up under Harry, rolling to the side and holding him close, started to move in earnest.

Fire licked at his mind, heat warped his senses and for the first time in his life Severus felt what it was like to be completely connected to someone. His lips started to move, filthy loving words spewing from his mouth and into Harry's ear, his desire to keep Harry as lost in this as he was causing all kinds of things to slip past his lips.

"Mine, all mine." He whispered out, Harry agreeing with a shuttered, "Yes, sir."

His body spurred on, his hips slapping hard against Harry's backside and Harry started to make noise, "Severus, I can't stop it, I'm going to-"

"Don't stop it, cum for me!" the man growled out, his hold tightening further as Harry's body finally spilled over and his muscles clamped down around Severus's length. Severus cursed loudly, his body nearly unable to stop itself from following the boy down.

Harry's body was a tight knot of muscles, the cry of Severus's name from the boy's mouth so satisfying he urged Harry on, his hand coming to wrap around the youthful length as Harry's body trembled and shook, hot liquid rolling over his hand and his member pulsing.

Unable to help himself Severus rolled back on top of Harry, pinning the boy's hands underneath and he hoisted himself up, his hands gripping the boy's shoulders and pressing down as he took Harry in the most brutal way. The boy yelling out beneath him, in pain or pleasure Severus couldn't tell, part of him didn't care but there was enough coherency left in his mind to stop thrusting so deep. Choosing instead to simply speed up.

"Almost there Harry, be patient, almost...almost there, raise those hips for me, that's my boy, raise them up, I'm want to watch…" but he couldn't finish, for at the sudden sight of the boy's raised arse his excitement exploded and he saw stars and a bright white light. The radiating ecstasy of his orgasm knocking him for a loop and a hand strayed down to Harry's hip, nails digging in so harshly he felt the skin give and Harry jerk at the sudden pain.

Severus pushed in as far as he could go, feeling his seed spill out into Harry's body, his own reaction that of a shuttering and yelling mess. His teeth sank into the boy's shoulder, holding Harry still as he gave shorter thrusts, wishing he had had more time to savour the moment.

After, when both lay sweaty and panting Severus did not relinquish his hold, he didn't make to pull out. He did nothing but lay soft kisses onto the tenderized flesh of Harry's shoulder, his fingers stroking that spot on the boys hip where he had dug in much to hard.

"I love you." Harry whispered and Severus pressed his nose into the boy's hair, breathing deep before he sighed, "Harry, I am sorry but-"

Harry stopped him, "Don't...I know...okay? I don't want or expect you to say it back if you don't mean it. I know how I feel, if you don't feel the same, it's okay."

Severus held the boy tighter, wishing for a moment he could just melt into the naive youth, "You know what this means right?" Harry asked in a light hearted tone.

"Mmm?" Severus managed as he went back to licking and kissing at the boys shoulder and neck.

"We went through with it, there isn't anything else holding us back." Severus ran a hand down the boy's chest, broken fingers following a trail of hair downward and he breathed in Harry's scent. When his hand reached the boy's spent member he felt the mess that had been created.

Harry let out a small hiss as no doubt he was still somewhat sensitive, and Severus felt that familiar excitement stir.

"Far be it from me to go back on my word of promising you several hours worth of lessons, we need to bath. I need a large quantity of pain potions and slave and then I need to report my capture of you to Professor Dumbledore."

Harry groaned in dread, "You told him?"

"Of course, you know I had no choice. As soon as I realized you left I informed him, you shouldn't be surprised."

"I suppose not, he will want to speak with me." Harry mused, his tone obvious in its desire to do anything but.

Severus could see the boy's reluctance to take a verbal lashing from the Albus, Lord knew Severus would feel the same. He decided he might spare the boy such a thing and offered up an alternative, "Perhaps... if I tell the headmaster I have already elected a punishment for you, he will leave it to me."

"What punishment?" and this time Harry sounded worried but Severus only smirked as he brought his lips next to the boy's ear and said softly, "Three hours tied to a bed, with only my prick for company."

Harry's face erupted in red and his mouth parted in stunned surprise, "What, no smart comment? It seems I have finally found a punishment to which you won't protest, how lucky I am today."

Severus shifted so he could move Harry onto his back and ran a hand up the boy's throat before taking hold of his jaw between bruised fingers, "Perhaps he have time for one more lesson, Mr. Potter, do be a good boy, and spread those legs."

A/N: So there you go, they finally did it. I tried to hold off until Harry's birthday but it just didn't feel right. So, we can now move on to some more smutty waters as well as the plot device. Hope you enjoyed and sorry about the wait. R&R and let me know what you thought.