Chapter Twenty-One

Fate Will Keep Them Together

ONE

Harry turned when he felt Professor Snape touch his arm. He wanted nothing more than to be wrapped up in those long arms, feeling the strength and protection of Professor Snape's body. He knew he couldn't hope for more from a man with such strong convictions, but being sent away was torture. He was very pleasantly surprised when the professor pulled him into a fierce kiss.

The shock of power was incredible as Harry slipped his tongue into his professor's mouth, tasting the wonderful essence of the man he now knew he could never live without, no matter what. All of his pain and guilt melted away in the strong feelings of magic and caring that were rolling through his body in waves. He gasped when Professor Snape broke the kiss only to move across Harry's face and down his neck, increasing the feeling of magic and power, causing it to spread across his skin like an electric shock. Harry reached his hands up, tangling them in his professor's silky locks.

"God, Sev'rus, what is that?" he asked breathlessly, unconsciously using Professor Snape's first name.

Professor Snape grunted in reply as he unbuttoned Harry's robe and shirt to get at the skin underneath. "Incredible," the man muttered, trailing kisses down the small portion of Harry's chest that was visible. He tugged gently, pulling Harry clumsily across the room and into his bedroom.

"More," Harry whispered hoarsely, desperately wanting to feel more of Professor Snape's skin.

The professor made quick work of Harry's robe and shirt, tossing them aside carelessly as the two fell onto the bed, Snape on top. Harry's body felt like one big magical siphon as the professor trailed kisses all the way down his torso and began to tongue fuck his belly button. Harry gasped at the sensation, arching his back into Professor Snape's mouth. Harry tugged on the man's shoulders, bringing him back up to kiss his mouth again. As they kissed, Harry began to release the buttons on Professor Snape's outer robes, only to be confronted with the man's inner robes. "Too many buttons," he complained, beginning to work on the inner robes as well. Once he reached skin, he relished in touching it, eliciting gasps from his professor.

"Merlin, that's amazing!" Professor Snape gasped, pushing himself closer to Harry's already electrified body, sending ripples of power and pleasure through Harry's nervous system.

TWO

Severus banished the rest of their clothes impatiently, only wanting to be in direct contact with as much of Harry as possible. He felt like a teenager with more hormones that he knew what to do with, but none of his sexual encounters had ever felt anything like this. His whole body was pulsating with magic, Harry's and his own, and it was causing his self-control to dissolve into nothingness. Harry's hands were roaming his body freely, sending shocks through Severus' system. Severus wrapped his arms tightly around Harry as he felt his climax hit him hard, causing him to cry out Harry's name.

Harry hit his climax at the same time, gripping Severus to him tightly, moaning in pleasure as their seed mixed together on their stomachs, neither of their erections having been touched during the encounter.

As they lay in each other's arms catching their breath, Harry spoke softly.

"That was… incredible," he panted. "I've never felt anything like that before."

Severus nodded, unable and unwilling to speak, fearing his voice would not cooperate with him. He knew without a doubt that he needed Harry, but he also knew that he couldn't have the youth. What they had just done was against everything he believed yet he could not make himself feel sorry for it. What he felt sorry about was what he was going to have to do to Harry come morning. This could not go on, and he only hoped that Harry would be able to forgive him.

Severus pulled on his silk pajamas and then lay next to Harry again. The fabric cut off the intense feeling of magic created by skin-to-skin contact, allowing Severus' fogged brain to resume normal functions.

"Professor Snape?" Harry asked gently, sounding exhausted.

"Shh," Severus said. "Sleep now, Harry. We'll talk in the morning." They fell asleep together, and for the first time in a long while, Severus did not have nightmares.

THREE

Draco was woken up by the sounds of labored breathing drifting into his bedroom. He thought perhaps that Snape was injured, so he went to investigate. The noises were coming from Snape's bedroom, which had the door slightly ajar, causing Draco to believe that it might have been a nightmare causing Snape's distress. He froze when he heard Potter's voice drifting through the open door.

"More," Potter whispered throatily. Intrigued, Draco moved to have a peek into the room, wondering what could possibly make Potter sound so wanton. What he saw made him open his eyes wide in surprise.

Potter was on his back on Snape's bed, with Snape laying over him, kissing every inch of skin he could find. Potter's hands were tangled in Snape's hair, and Potter was mewling and breathing heavily as Snape explored his body.

When Draco got over his shock, he gently closed the door, so as not to alert the two lovers of his presence, and the sound of their lovemaking was instantly cut off by the silencing charms on Snape's room.

"I never would have seen that coming," Draco said to himself as he moved back to his bedroom. "Who'd have thought? Snape and Potter." He shook his head in bemusement.

FOUR

Draco woke the next morning to the sound of fighting.

"How can you say that?" Potter was yelling. "How can you sit there and tell me that last night meant nothing to you?"

"Last night was a mistake that shan't be repeated," Snape replied coolly.

"Why was it a mistake?" Potter asked.

"You are nothing more than a child, Harry, and it was wrong for me to…"

Snape never finished his sentence, for at that moment the sound of flesh hitting flesh rang through the room, causing Draco to flinch. He'd been on the receiving end of Potter's anger before, and he didn't envy Snape the experience.

"Bastard," Potter said coldly. "Heartless, soulless bastard." Draco heard footsteps, and then the sound of a door slamming. After a few minutes, he thought it would be safe to enter the room.

FIVE

Severus leaned against the table, his head in his hands, and berated himself for being an idiot. 'Maybe I really don't have a heart or soul. If that were true, I wouldn't hurt as much as I do right now. Gods, why do I do these things to myself?'

"Professor Snape?" Draco said gently behind him. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," Severus replied shortly.

"You shouldn't have done that, you know," Draco commented, seating himself across from Severus. "It wasn't right."

"What are you talking about?" Severus asked, unsure of whether he should be having this discussion with a student. 'What difference does that make now? I've slept with a student, why not get advice from one as well?'

"It was difficult to ignore the two of you yelling at each other in here," Draco replied. "Why did you do that?"

"I did what I had to do," Severus said miserably.

"To what? To ruin his life for the rest of time?" Draco asked. Severus stared as Draco rolled his eyes irritably. "You really are dense sometimes, did you know that? All Potter wants is a chance to be happy. Do you really think that rejecting him now, after all that's happened to him in the last year and a half, is the best way to keep him around?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Severus muttered.

"Oh, I'm sure you don't. The next time you don't want me to hear your arguments, maybe you should conduct them in your bedroom. I'm sure the silencing charms will keep me from hearing them."

Severus' eyes snapped up to look at Draco fully. "How do you know about that?"

Draco smirked at him. "I'm in my sixth year, Professor! I can recognize the magical signature of a silencing charm. Besides, I came to the conclusion last night when I closed your bedroom door while you were busy attacking Potter's body on your bed."

Severus closed his eyes slowly, turning away from his student in shame. "I see," he said.

"Oh, relax," Draco admonished. "I'm not going to tell anyone. I will tell you this; throwing him out of here that way is only going to make things worse. I know you better than you know yourself, I think, and I know that you wouldn't have been with him last night if you didn't care for him. Father told me that you used to date one of the Death Eaters. He said you were with him for almost twenty years, without fail. Father also said that you never shared your Vents, and you never 'borrowed' someone else's. How could you think that I would believe you would just shag Potter without caring for him? You're an idiot if you think I'd believe that."

"I don't see how it's your business," Severus said, though the statement was lacking bite.

"I consider Potter a friend," Draco said sharply. "He's only looking for someone to accept him and care for him unconditionally. He's not looking for some random sex, and he definitely is not a child. If it had been me, I would have done worse than just slap you. By the way, you might want to do something about that bruise on your cheek."

Severus lifted his hand to his face. "It was for the best," he muttered.

Draco snorted at him. "I doubt that, but what do I know? It's not like you just crushed his heart or anything." Draco stood up, lifting his bag from the floor. "I have classes. Good day, sir." He left Severus dumbfounded, wondering what that last comment was supposed to mean.

SIX

Harry ambled into the Gryffindor common room, throwing himself onto the couch in front of the fire. He couldn't believe that Snape had done such a thing to him. He sighed heavily, wondering how he had allowed himself to be sucked in by another Slytherin. Hadn't he learned his lesson with Blaise? Apparently not.

"Harry?" Hermione asked gently, sitting next to him. "Are you all right?"

"Fine."

"Something's bothering you. I can tell."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Is it Snape?"

Harry turned to look at her, sighing as he did so. "Sort of."

"What did he do now? I assume he let you stay last night."

"He was being an ass, that's all. Back to the Snape we all know and… well, know at any rate."

Hermione chuckled lightly. "You can't expect anything else from him, can you?"

"I suppose I can't," Harry replied solemnly.

"What happened, Harry?"

"Do you ever wonder if perhaps I wasn't meant to have happiness? It just seems like it's too much to ask that I have something good in my life. Every time I find something that makes me feel good, it's ripped away from me. I don't understand why I have to suffer so much. What did I do to deserve this fate?"

"You don't deserve this, Harry." Hermione gently placed her hand on Harry's arm. "Whatever happened, or happens in the future, know that Ron and I will always be here for you. You'll never get rid of us, you know."

Harry smiled sadly at her, placing his hand over hers. "I know. Thanks."

Hermione returned his smile before standing. "We're going to be late if we don't hurry."

Harry nodded, going up to the dormitory to retrieve his books before joining Ron and Hermione at the portrait hole.

SEVEN

The week was not going well. Harry could hardly sleep at night due to nightmares, he couldn't concentrate in his classes because he was so tired, and now he could feel Snape watching him during lunch. "I feel like shit," Harry muttered, pushing his potatoes around his plate restlessly.

"Such language, Potter," Malfoy said across from him. "A gentleman would never use such a word."

"Oh yeah?" Harry asked, glaring at the blonde. "And just who told you that I was a gentleman? I. Feel. Like. Shit." He stood from the table slowly, his vision going slightly fuzzy before he could begin his retreat from the Hall.

"Maybe you should see the nurse," Hermione suggested tentatively.

"I don't need to see the bloody nurse," Harry snapped. "What I need is a full night of sleep." With that, he made his way from the Hall, unaware of the obsidian gaze that sadly followed his progress.

EIGHT

Severus sighed as Harry left the Hall. The youth looked worse for wear, causing Severus to wonder if he'd had any sleep at all since their night together. He wondered if Harry was still having nightmares, or if it was more serious than that. He wouldn't put it passed Harry to put silencing and notice-me-not spells around his bed to keep his roommates from worrying.

"Severus, are you quite all right?" Minerva asked, standing behind Severus' chair at the end of the table.

"I am well, Minerva," Severus replied. "Did you need something?"

"You've been rather distracted as of late, Severus. The headmaster and I are worried for you. Has something happened?"

"Nothing for you to concern yourself with, Minerva. I assure you that your concern would best be placed elsewhere."

Minerva sighed, squeezing Severus' shoulder gently. "Very well, Severus. Very well." She moved back to her seat, shaking her head slightly at Dumbledore. Dumbledore glanced briefly at Severus before returning his attention to the Great Hall at large.

NINE

Severus was dreaming of Harry and that feeling of magic and trust when a loud pounding at his chamber door awaked him.

"Professor Snape!" someone was calling frantically. From the sound of the voice, Severus was reasonably certain that it was student. "Professor, please come! Professor Snape!"

Severus threw the door open, his best glare in place, to find Granger standing there panting, her fist still raised. "This had better be important, Granger," he snarled.

"It's Harry, Professor!" Granger exclaimed. "He won't stop screaming! Please come!" She turned on her heal without waiting for a reply and began running back toward Gryffindor Severus at her heals.

"How long has he been screaming?" he asked urgently.

"Almost ten minutes, sir," Granger replied. "He's jerking around, scratching himself all over!"

"Have you called for Professor McGonagall?"

"Yes. Madame Pomfrey is there too, but she says that she needs you there." They reached the portrait, Granger yelling the password, and ran up to the boys' dormitory.

"Get out of my way!" Severus barked pushing passed the milling students. Harry's screams were resonating off of the walls in the dorm room. "Weasley, hold his legs!" Severus sat on the edge of the bed, pinning Harry's arms down forcefully. Harry was screaming and writhing uncontrollably, his back arching off of the bed in his attempts to get away from the pain.

"Make it stop!" Weasley cried, straining to keep Harry's legs from kicking. "He can't take anymore! Please, make it stop!"

"There's nothing I can do, Weasley!" Severus snapped irritably. "It has to stop on its own. Keep holding him!"

After what seemed like ages, the screaming finally stopped, but Harry continued to seize violently.

"Give him this, Severus!" Poppy exclaimed, pushing a potion into Severus' hands. Severus didn't even bother the check what it was, trusting Poppy's knowledge, and sat himself behind Harry to force the potion into the teen. A moment later the seizure stopped, along with Harry's breathing.

"Lay him down flat!" Poppy ordered, moving beside the bed. "Do you remember what to do, Severus?"

Severus nodded sharply, tilting Harry's head back in preparation for Poppy's breathing technique.

"One, two, three, four, five, breathe!" Poppy cried as she began compressing Harry's chest. Severus breathed out into Harry's mouth, praying that it would be enough this time.

"Harry!" Granger cried in the background, her voice choked with emotion.

"Breathe!" Poppy cried again. After several minutes, when Severus was certain that Harry would never wake again, Harry gasped and began coughing violently. Poppy fell back, sitting on the next bed. "Thank the gods!" she exclaimed.

"What do we do now, Poppy?" Severus asked, watching as Harry's hands shook slightly, though the teen was still unconscious.

"We need to get him back to your rooms so that I can administer the proper care," Poppy replied.

"Wouldn't he be better off in the infirmary?" Severus asked uncertainly.

"No," Poppy said. "It makes no difference now. I want him where he can be comfortable and away from prying eyes. It's best to put him in surroundings he's comfortable with."

Severus nodded sharply, lifting Harry into his arms. He moved briskly through the castle, careful not to jostle the precious cargo in his arms. Once he had Harry settled, he turned sad eyes onto Hogwarts' resident Medi-witch. "Will he be all right this time, Poppy?"

"I don't know, Severus," Poppy replied sadly. "I need to check him over to be sure, but I think there's nerve damage. I'll see what I can do, but I'm not sure I'll be able to reverse all of it."

Severus nodded sadly, knowing that Harry had already been through more than most people lived to tell about. He sat in his chair to wait as Poppy began her medical scans on Harry's body.

TEN

Harry groaned as pain assaulted his senses. Almost instantly, there was a soothing hand on his shoulder.

"Are you in pain, Harry?" Professor Snape's voice asked gently.

Harry nodded. "Please make it stop," he pleaded. Pain shot through him as Snape sat him up but was gone almost at once when Harry swallowed the potion Snape gave him.

"Better?" Snape asked softly.

"Yes, thank you," Harry replied sleepily. Snape lay him back down, and Harry promptly flipped onto his stomach. Several minutes later, he felt Snape's hand on his shoulder, the familiar magic soothing his damaged nerves.

"I'm so sorry, Harry," Snape said softly. "I never meant to hurt you. I was trying to keep you safe. I only wish I had the courage to tell you while you were awake." Harry felt Snape's cheek resting against his own. "Don't ever scare me that way again," the man whispered. "I almost lost you tonight." As he started to move away, Harry felt a panic rise within him.

"Please don't go," he muttered quickly. The receding hand paused on his shoulder.

"Harry?" Snape asked uncertainly.

"Just stay with me," Harry pleaded. "Please?" He wasn't going to beg though, so when he felt the contact disappear he said nothing. After a moment, a half-naked Severus Snape slipped under the covers with him, the magic soothing him greatly.

"Sleep now, my Harry," Snape whispered. "You need to rest."

"Sev'rus?" Harry asked after a moment.

"Yes, Harry?" Snape replied.

"Thank you," Harry murmured, closing his eyes. Snape said nothing, pulling Harry closer before falling asleep himself.

ELEVEN

Draco was extremely worried when Snape didn't emerge from Potter's room, so he went to check on them. When he opened the door, he found Snape and Potter wrapped around each other, both sound asleep. He smiled slightly as he closed the door, moving to sit on Potter's couch to make sure no one interrupted the two. After a while, Granger came in.

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you," Draco muttered softly, attracting his girlfriend's attention.

"Why not?" Granger asked softly, but she sat next to Draco nonetheless.

"He's sleeping for once," Draco replied, pulling her to his chest gently and running his hand through her hair. "You wouldn't want to wake him, would you?"

Granger began to cry gently against Draco's chest. "It was so frightening to see that, Malfoy," she cried. "He just wouldn't stop screaming! Oh God, why Harry? Why does everything have to happen to him?"

"Shh, my love," Draco cooed gently. "He'll be all right now. Snape knows how to help him."

"They had to do CPR on him," Granger cried. "I've never seen it done before. I thought he would die!"

"What's CPR?" Draco asked.

Granger chuckled lightly, sitting up to look Draco in the eye. "You're hopeless, you know that?" she said.

"Yes, but that's why you love me," Draco replied. He sat back as Granger began to explain the Muggle procedure to him, and he found himself amazed at the insight it must have taken to create such a thing. After quite some time, Granger fell asleep safely ensconced in Draco's arms. A while after she'd fallen asleep, Snape came out of the bedroom.

"Have you slept?" he asked Draco quietly, moving to the chair next to the sofa.

Draco shook his head. "Wasn't sleepy," he said. "You should really be more careful. If I hadn't been here, Granger would have seen you."

"I know," Snape sighed. "It's just… it's difficult to explain. I lose myself in him sometimes."

Draco thought of the magic that flowed between Granger and him when they touched skin to skin, and thought that he understood. "I know what you mean, sir."

Snape eyed the couple critically before saying, "I'm sure that you do." He rose from his seat, stretching his back and he did so, and proceeded to his sitting room. "I only got up for some water," he explained.

Draco pulled Granger tighter against him, thinking of what it would feel like to lose her. He didn't like the idea at all.

"You should try to get some sleep," Snape said as he returned, pausing at the bedroom door. "It wouldn't do for you to be sleepy in class tomorrow."

"I'll try sir," Draco replied. "Good night."

"Good night, Draco," Snape said. He moved into the room, closing the door gently behind him. After a few more minutes, Draco too drifted to sleep.

Author's Note: Many thanks to Victoria Ennis for her hard work on this chapter. Thanks also to…

Sliver of Melody

Quixotic-hope: Did I spell it right? I couldn't tell what the first letter was. Harry's reaction wasn't the one to worry about, unfortunately. Don't you just love Severus, even when he's being stupid? He's just so cute. Hehehehehe

Dracosbaby08

Kears: Thank you. No, it's not a figure of speech, but it will be explained later in the story… eventually.

Hikari-Aoi

Mariana: I'm glad you feel that way. More on the way!

Ktoddhim

Shiemi Shimabukuro: Hehehehehehehehehehehehe

Pure Black: He tried, but was we saw, it didn't work.

Itsasledgehammer

CogniDi: I wish that I could say I really do write this fast, but unfortunately, I do not. I finished this story over a year ago, but it took me nearly eight months to write. I had it all posted, then I deleted everything, so now I'm reposting. Works great for you guys, though. LOL

Sh'arra Rie: There are 32 chapters total, love.

Ruth

Chibi-Kaisie: Remus is hurting and doesn't want to see Harry in case he says something he'll later regret.

Renestra-Karay: I quite agree with that assessment, but someone has to do it, right? I figured I'd give myself a challenge with it, though it's terribly indirect. Hehehehe

Shadow Eclipse

Athena Iris

Thana: I'm glad to hear that.