"Where in the bloody hell have you been?" Severus demanded as soon as he saw the four sixth years come into their common room. They had disappeared early in the morning and no one had been able to find them. Severus hadn't told the headmaster because he didn't feel it was any of his business, but he had felt a mix of fear and anger when he realized that they'd gone off without telling him.

Surprisingly, it was Neville who stepped forward with one of the small clippings he'd taken. Since he and Blaise had kissed he seemed more confident. It was even apparent to Severus, who watched Longbottom with a partial glare. Reaching out, he handed a leaf-and-stem clipping and stepped back.

Severus looked down into his hand and all but turned white. "Where did you find this?"

"In Lady Helga's Garden, sir. It is one of many rare and/or previously thought extinct plants we found there." Neville answered before stepping back beside Blaise, who took his fingers and squeezed them with pride.

It took Severus many long minutes to speak, but when he did it was in a soft voice. "It was a dangerous and foolish quest I would expect out of you four... But please, next time, allow me to accompany you. Wandering into the Forbidden Forest is dangerous at best, deadly at worst."

Neville smiled largely enough his nose wrinkled adorably, making Blaise want to kiss it, but he held himself back while Neville spoke. "Sir, none of the trees in the Forest would let anything like that happen to me or to those who walk with me."

Harry and Severus exchanged looks. "Neville, would you say that the trees would answer to your every command?" Severus asked in a soft, but serious voice.

"Why would I command anything of them?" At this Neville looked confused.

"For curiosity's sake... Would they perform anything you asked of them?" Severus had been thinking about requesting Neville be tested for his loreist level, now he was wondering if he would even fit on their scale.

Neville thought about it for a moment before nodding. "I think so... But I would never command them to do anything. I ask nicely."

Harry smiled at that and glanced to Severus, who upon seeing his expression, nodded.

"Neville, I will be contacting some people to come in and test your abilities with plants... But I must ask you to tell no one about these abilities." Severus knew what power like that could do in the wrong hands and he certainly didn't want to see what Voldemort would do with them.

Blaise wrapped an arm around his boyfriend and glared a little at Severus.

After snuggling closer to Blaise, Neville nodded. "I know, sir. The last time I even tried to tell my Gram that I could talk to plants she'd sent me to bed without dinner for telling such tales."

"It is not a talent many people have... well at least not to the extent that you do. Anastasio has the same ability, but at a much lower level. In fact it will most likely be him that I contact about getting you tested for your loreist level." Severus walked by them and patted Neville on the shoulder and just giving Blaise a look before reaching out and taking Harry by the shoulder. "You will come with me."

Harry followed with a smile back at his friends before was pulled through the door leading to Severus' private chambers. When the door was closed behind them and they were seated on the couch, Severus pulled Harry into a tight hug. "Please don't scare me like that... I could not stop imagining all of the horrific things that could happen out there where I couldn't protect you."

"I'm sorry... I didn't even think about that. I was only thinking about how much help some of those plants could be... I'm so sorry." Harry crawled onto Severus' lap and snuggled close, reveling in the contact. He loved being close to Severus and the only explanation he could come to was that since he hadn't had much human contact as a child he was making up for it now.

Severus breathed in the minty-heather scent of Harry's shampoo as he held him.

"Severus... I know you want to wait... but please..." Harry looked up at him with large and begging green eyes. "I love you and I want to be with you... Because tomorrow I might not be here to."

The potion master's heart froze at the thought, but he nodded as he drew Harry even closer. "I understand... I just... I love you too... for how ever long we have." With that Severus tilted Harry's chin and kissed him softly.

Harry was soon leaning into the kiss and trying to work his hand into his robes. Growling, he pulled out of the kiss and started fighting with the robes.

Laughing softly, Severus took his hands. "Lets take this some where more comfortable. You might be a teen but I am an adult and I don't wish our first time to be barely more than groping on the living room sofa."

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Blaise and Neville had parted ways with Draco after Severus had lead Harry away. They had gone back to their room and for a while sat together on Neville's bed. Neville was deep in thought as he played with a lose string on his robes. He knew that what he felt for Blaise wasn't a crush. It was a little known fact, but like the Weasleys, the Longbottoms had a curse too. When ever their one true love kissed them, they would know that this person was their soul mate. Neville had never understood when his Gram explained it, but when Blaise had kissed him, it had just flashed before his eyes. It was as if someone had put up a large sign saying 'Soul mate!' right over Blaise's head. So now he had to say something. He just wasn't sure what. So, he did what he did best. He spoke without over thinking it.
"Blaise I'm going to be honest... I think love you." Neville blurted out and his turned deep red with a dark blush.
At first Blaise was going to say that of course he loved him... Like a friend but then he remembered their kisses. They had almost set him on fire from the lips inward. Taking a deep breath and after biting his lip distractedly Blaise looked deeply into Neville's eyes and said the first thing that came to mind. "I love you more." Neville cocked an eyebrow, his earlier nervousness gone. If there was one thing he was confident in, it was that Blaise was his soul mate. "Oh, really?" "Really." Blaise issued it as a challenge and was startled by how it was receive.

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