Hiding Under the Ninth Earth
Book 03 : Epithalamium

Part One : Into Every Life a Little Strain Must Fall
Chapter Two : Trying Things on For Size

9 September 2003

Severus leaned his bare back against Harry's chest, savouring for the moment the slow hand idly tracing the sensitive skin on his upper chest, the other unconsciously rubbing his stomach. It was a pleasant distraction from both the task at hand and the lingering sharp pains in his arse. He closed his mind to the pain and decided the best way to control it was to ignore it, so he concentrated on the slowly moving hands, willing the resultant endorphins from the simple pleasure to help with his discomfort. When relief didn't seem evident, he went back to task, saying, "Let's see. We need at least nine for the ceremony."

Harry, sitting upright and resting easy on the headboard, sighed and shifted slightly to take Severus' weight. Lifting his hand from Severus' belly he started running it through the hair spread on his chest, still fragrant from their bath. Inhaling deeply the balsa scent, he commented, "Well, we have two sets of Weasleys, Moody and Remus, and Sprout and Hagrid, and Poppy. That's the nine we need, right? With us and Dumbledore, that makes an even dozen."

Severus closed his eyes relaxing in pleasure and lazily tapped the feather part of the quill in his left hand thoughtfully on Harry's knee, conveniently close to his side. "Mmmm--feels good." He could feel Harry's chuckle through the back of his head. Not really wanting to continue, he did so anyway if only to get it out of the way. They were on a schedule now. "Perhaps. Do we want to invite those who were so kind as to publish our Banns?"

The hand on Severus' chest hesitated in its stroking a moment before coming to rest right on the 'V' below his neck. "Oh. Good point. You know, that was so clever of Albus to post the Banns in Hana."

Severus laid his head back on Harry's shoulder. Harry took the hint and lightly ran his fingertips over his throat; he could feel the vibrations from Severus' larynx as he said slowly, without rancor, "Sly is more like it. One can always count on Albus to worm his way around any loophole in any law he decides he doesn't want to follow. Devious man."

Smiling, Harry continued his stroking; Severus was all but purring. "Well, it does say that our 'community' can be counted as anywhere one of us owns property in the midst of Wizarding folk. We do have a house and Hana qualifies."

Eyes slitted in pleasure, Severus blindly tossed the quill on the bed tray in front of him and chuckled. "Hmm--I hardly think the 20 or so witches and wizards in Hana count against the thousands in Britain, but who am I to complain when we benefited so greatly from it?" He tilted his head up to look at Harry and was rewarded by a soft lingering kiss.

After stealing a second one, his mind wandering to other things they could be doing, Harry murmured, "Somehow, I think that's the real loophole Albus finds--the sanction of his victims."

Severus snickered. Taking one final kiss, he said, "That's the truth." With a long sigh of resignation, he reluctantly pulled away, sat up and, picking the quill back up again, tapped the parchment sitting on the standing tray across his lap on the bed. "However, back to this list." Harry groaned and echoed his sigh. Severus twisted enough to barely see his almost pouting face out of the corner of his eye. "Later, love. We have to get this done if we don't want the old reprobate to do it for us." With Harry's grunt of acknowledgement accompanied by a terse nod, he continued. "If we add Kalani and Ben, and Malia and Kahealani, that makes thirteen--an odd number at best."

Harry thought on it a moment, shifting restlessly. "Then it seems to me we need to find seventeen and set them up in eight pairs with Poppy in the centre. They seem to be 'falling' that way in any event." With Severus sitting between his out-stretched legs, his choices of position were rather limited. Since he didn't want to move him--Severus had his own issues to deal with and he seemed at least reasonably comfortable this way--Harry bent his right leg, knee upright, in an effort to find a better spot for his own sore arse and back.

Jostled by Harry's movement, Severus set the ink pot firmly in the middle of the tray on top of the parchment he'd been writing on so it wouldn't spill. "Hmm. That's a definite possibility. So who would we want as the other four?"

Harry ventured, "Minerva?"

"Good choice." Adding her name to the list, Severus cast his mind over all the people they knew and with whom they were truly comfortable. It wasn't long. "Anyone else?"

"None come immediately to mind. But we can't just stop at fourteen. If we double some of the spots, we have to double them all, right?"

"Hmm, yes." Severus hesitated. "How about Flitwick? He has proven to be a better friend than I would have ever guessed."

Harry pursed his mouth and nodded. "Flitwick is fine." He trailed his hand down Severus' back, lightly scratching. "Since we seem to be aiming for incongruity, maybe we should pair him with Hagrid." At Severus' wicked chuckle, he added, "Perhaps the last two from the Order?"

"All right. Tonks? Shacklebolt? Mundungus?" At the last, they both laughed, the motion making Harry move against the pillows on which he sat, which made his sore arse ache even more. He shifted again to try and ease the discomfort.

"Harry?" Severus asked, his voice strangled. He was holding onto the shifting bed tray, his hands wrapped around the ink pot and quill.

"Mmph?" he queried trying to find another new spot to sit.

"Will you please stop squirming? While this position is about as good as it gets, it's still uncomfortable and your constant shifting is--distracting, not to mention potentially messy."

Harry found a good spot and sighed with relief from the painful pressure. "Hmmm. Sorry, I'll try to sit still." Noting how stiff and straight Severus' shoulders were getting, Harry leaned forward, ignoring his own recent problem, and put his hands on them to lightly knead the knots he could feel under his fingertips.

Once again, Harry wished there was something he could do to help; he'd tried this morning when his healing senses had honed in on the sharp pains Severus had experienced upon awakening, but he'd quickly found the nerves were permanently damaged, both outside and inside; there was nothing he could do to stop them from misfiring, nor could he deaden them without causing his intended some real problems. Resigned, Severus had told him it happened every now and again and had for years, but Harry couldn't help wondering if his own recent injuries hadn't triggered it through their new bonds. Regardless of what had caused it, Harry was once again reminded why their 'decision' was a sound one. He didn't even want to think about how Severus had been injured this way in the first place.

Severus dropped his chin on his chest, willing his body to relax. Harry's hands were certainly helping and he grunted when he found an exceptionally tight spot. Sniffing, Severus continued, his voice muffled. "Shacklebolt seems to be the best of the lot."

Harry's hands stilled a moment and then resumed their ministrations. "Do we really want to include someone who's 'the best of the lot'?"

Chuckling, Severus said, "Well, we could invite Filch and Mrs. Norris if that makes you feel better."

Harry snorted, laughing. "Would they count as two?"

"If animals were allowed as witnesses, we'd be better off with Horatio. At least you know what he's saying. You could be a translator."

"Hardly. 'I represssentsss the sssouth'," he lisped. "Sounds like a drunk Frenchman. No, Shacklebolt is a good choice now that I think on it. He's always been in the thick of things and stood by our side more times than I want to think on." At the scratch of Severus' quill as he added the name to the list, Harry went on. "Tonks? I don't know. As much as I like her, I really don't know her all that well." Severus had started stroking the top of his foot, one of his favourite spots--he'd even permanently depilated them to rid himself of the 'pelt' there he'd always hated. Thinking that more was better, he'd tried shaving his legs once, but Severus had said that while the 'Hobbit fur' missing from his feet was an improvement, he really preferred the rest of him hairy.

"Hmph. I have to agree." Thinking hard, he placed the quill back on the tray and dropped his hand to unconsciously swirl the thick hair on Harry's knee and calf next to his thigh while the other continued to lightly stroke Harry's toes. Quietly he mused, "Someone either one of us knows well." He closed his eyes, content with the gentle hands on his neck and shoulders and back. Harry's back rubs were to be savoured, not squandered. He rested his hands where they were and just let himself relax into it. A few minutes later, almost limp, he asked quietly, "What about Quiesta?"

Harry's hands stopped a moment, and he smiled at the disappointed noise Severus made when he did so. Resuming, his hands sliding into Severus' hair, he said, "Quiesta? You wouldn't mind?"

Shivering slightly at Harry's light touch, Severus replied without irony, "No, as a missing link to an important part of your life, I think she would be a good choice."

Harry thought about it. "If you're sure you don't mind--perhaps she could stand with Shacklebolt to represent the community? One for our past work, the other for our future?"

"That would be appropriate. Minerva could stand with Pomona to represent our present endeavors."

"That sounds 'right'. We're done with the guest list?" At Severus' nod, Harry said, "Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. Seventeen it is?"

"Plus Albus as officiator and us makes twenty. An odd number to be sure, but there's no helping it." A sudden, unexpectedly sharp pain lanced through him from his groin and he growled.

Harry immediately pulled him back against him and held him close while he rode out the pain, the shift in position helping Severus as much as Harry's fingertips massaging his temples. When he sensed it lessening, he said softly, "I'm so sorry, Severus. How's your bum?"

Sweating, Severus replied, huffing, "As good as it ever is when it gets like this."

Harry leaned over and kissed his temple, smoothing the damp hair from his face. "I know it hurts, can feel it, but unfortunately there's nothing I can do to help; the nerves are too damaged."

Severus let Harry take his weight for a moment, accepting the sympathy and comfort Harry was trying to give him. It was odd having someone share this with him. While it had bothered him many times in the past, he'd always hidden it from his lover, ashamed of not only the pain, but also of the memories it inevitably brought of how he'd got the injuries. Harry sensing it this morning had been a new, unwelcome thing, and he'd tried to minimize it, but Harry was not buying his explanations. Pain in the arse, it was, having a healer in his bed. He snorted at the inadvertent pun. "I know, most inconvenient and infinitely boring, but I'd always known there was nothing to be done for it when even my pain potions never worked." He raised his head and kissed right under Harry's jaw in apology for his petulant tone and murmured, "However, thank you for trying. Fortunately, it doesn't happen all that often."

"Liar." Harry dipped his head and gave him a serious kiss. Pulling back a little to look in Severus' eyes, he muttered, "You can't hide this type of thing from me anymore, Severus. I know what I found, and I know what it means." He laughed lightly. "Sorry, you're stuck with me now."

Chuckling, lost in Harry's gaze, Severus retorted softly, "Such a burden. Will I ever survive?"

Smiling, Harry replied, "Probably, but plan for a little more distress in the future. I know how much you love to share."

Giving Harry one last kiss, the pain faded to a dull ache; Severus sat back up and adjusted the tray which had tilted a bit at his movements. "We really need to finish this. I know it's a right pain in the arse--" He paused at Harry's snicker, and muttered, "Good gads, I'm marrying a comedian." Harry smacked him lightly in the ribs. Severus shook his head, saying, "So it was a poor choice of words--" Harry tickled his ribs. He squirmed away from his hand. "All right, a very poor choice of words. Stop that! We have to get this done for Albus tomorrow and I for one, do not want to have to explain to him why he can't read the list for the ink smeared half-way across the page."

Only half-contrite, Harry asked, "What else is there for us to do?" He pulled over a thick volume and propped it up against Severus' back so he could read from it. "Let's see what Shylock has to say about it."

"It's too bad that shyster's book is the only one available one can actually read awake."

Ignoring his grousing, Harry flipped to the bookmark he'd left to mark the appropriate place. "Ah, Chapter 69. I wonder if that was intentional?"

"What? The Chapter number? Potter, you have a dirty mind."

"Oh, and you're complaining? A little Quid Pro Quid has always been your preference, although I admit, last night was a bit 'different'."

"Just read the damn thing!"

Settling back against the headboard and adjusting his bum on the pillows, Harry said, "Hmmm. Closed Form. Let's see--free consent to the binding? Check." He ticked the points off on his hand. "Consent of the community with four Banns posted before the ceremony." He chuckled, again admiring the twisted mind of the Headmaster. "Check. Handfasting trial of more than 60 days." He clicked his tongue against his palate. "Check, although we barely make the 60 days. You know it bothers me that we won't know until after most of the ceremony is finished whether the binding will be finally permitted. You'd think we could prove the bond before we waste everyone's time."

"Worried?"

Harry set the book aside before replying, "Not really--it's just the handfasting has been--not--what I thought it would be." At the sudden hunching of Severus' shoulders, Harry scooted closer and started rubbing them to ease the tension he'd caused with his thoughtless words. When would he learn that Severus listened to everything he said and sometimes to what he'd not spoken out loud? "That's not what I meant, Severus. I have found it interesting, not obtrusive in the least--you have a very 'illuminating' brand of mental humour I wasn't expecting and while the bond has been strong at times, it has been easier to master than I thought it would be." Releasing some of the control he'd been exerting, so they could work this evening, Harry sent Severus a picture of him on his hands and knees in penitent rags looking under the bed. "I just can't always find the right words to tell you what I mean even when they're right under me."

Smirking, Severus indulged his quirky humour and sent back Harry's picture only with himself leaning over the edge of the bed admiring the view while one hand fondled the, now bare, delectable bits of Harry sticking furthest up in the air. He was rewarded by Harry's bark of laughter and seductive, "Anytime, Sev." Severus just shook his head, more relaxed than he'd been with Harry's comment. He kept forgetting that Harry usually spoke the first words in his head and rarely meant anything bad by them.

Relieved that Severus was all right now, Harry stretched and yawned hugely; his arms, hands joined over his head, cracked as the joints popped. Severus winced and watched, fascinated, as Harry's legs seemed to lengthen as he tightened and loosened the muscles there. It was most erotic and he felt the tightening as Harry's legs gripped him hard. He was instantly aware of Harry's groin against his arse, the hardening length against the small of his back a welcome, but untimely, distraction of its own. "Down boy. Just a few minutes more and then we can set this aside. You were saying?"

Shifting to put some air between them, Harry ruefully continued. "If you insist, spoil-sport. Where was I? Oh yes, we now have the guest list, Poppy and 'The Girls' are working on the other bits of the ceremony, and we've registered our intent with the Ministry--that was quite a trip, wasn't it?"

"What I want to do everyday--converse with bug-eyed, bureaucratic, toadies. He pitched his voice higher. "'Y-You w-want t-to g-get m-m-married, s-s-ir?'," he stuttered. "If he'd asked us one more time about 'children', I was thinking about showing him how it was done. I certainly hope he's as discreet as Albus says he is."

"Oh, I don't see why not. He's all right--a Gryffindor a few years ahead of me. He was just scared spitless of his mean old nasty professor."

That reminded him. Severus grimaced; he'd forgot something they needed to discuss. Keeping it light, he drawled, "Hmph. Speaking of the 'greasy git', the Potions Master 'Snape' wants to know what name the Healer 'Potter' wants to take. We have to change them, you know."

Harry put his hand on Severus' shoulder, leaning forward. "Oh, Merlin. You're joking, right?"

Severus sighed heavily. "I wish I was, Harry. We got an Owl this morning, with the partially executed paperwork, saying that it was the last blank we needed to fill in--we have two weeks to decide. Your good fortune extended to you not being here when it arrived. I think I scared a life out of Cally." He shifted and tensed as another wave of pain washed over him.

"Come here," Harry said, pulling Severus back against him. The ache, which had been steadily growing worse even though he'd been trying to ignore it, eased off when his weight shifted. They sat there, both comfortable, Harry with his arms wrapped around Severus' chest while Severus idly stroked Harry's legs. They were 'together' for the moment.

Harry drew breath and said quietly, "This is most unfortunate. I'd hoped we could keep our respective names and that Albus would once again find another loophole."

Severus chuckled mirthlessly. "You are assuming of course that he really wanted it in the first place. For all we know the blighter might have pointed it out to them."

"Why would he do that? And why can't it be done? Poppy kept her name."

"No, actually she didn't. Pomfrey may be her maiden name, but its use is a convention. Her name is legally Poppy Dumbledore. I saw something on Albus' desk the other day with her name on it. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he left it there on purpose to give me some advance warning, but of course, I didn't think of it that way at the time."

"Sneaky bugger." Harry thought about it. "I suspect your ancestors would take a spin and come back to haunt us if we changed your name to 'Potter'. Sever-us Pot-ter. Hmmm. Sounds like the name of a guillotine."

"It's not even worth considering, nor is 'Harry Snape'--" Severus shuddered, "--sounds like some kind of lesbian thing."

"Or I could just call you 'Daddy'," Harry snickered, "you know how they say incest is best."

Severus was about to make a comment that he was not old enough to be Harry's father, but stopped himself in time when he realised he was. With a mental 'Ouch,' he asked, "How about Harry and Severus Potter-Snape?"

Harry laughed. "I'm starting to feel like one of those love-sick girls who used to write their prospective names in their notebooks in Binn's class or while studying in the library. You know, like 'Pansy Malfoy' or 'Ginny Longbottom' doodled in coloured ink in the margins, complete with pictures. Ginny could make hers move with these little exploding hearts--like fireworks. It was kind of cute."

Severus raised a brow. "That's--disturbing. Why would they do that?"

"You know, to try it on for size, see how it sounded. Almost every girl did it. Even Hermione--she tried Weasley on for size in our sixth year."

Severus turned slightly to face him. "What? No Hermione Potter?"

"Nah, she worked it out before I did. As far as I know, the only two who tried my name on was Cho Chang and Meghan Jones." He sounded almost wistful. "Cho cried it out; Meghan inked it out almost as fast as she wrote it."

"Hmmm? 'The' Hufflepuff?" Severus was back to writing on the parchment in front of him.

"Yeah, she's the one," Harry answered casually.

When he'd seen what he'd done, Severus snorted and murmured, "Unbelievable. Make that three--all that's missing is the artwork."

Looking over Severus' shoulder, he could see the names they'd just discussed written in a bold flourish along with 'Harry and Severus Snape-Potter' with a star drawn out by the side that Severus had started to fill in with idle decoration. Harry chuckled, kissing his neck. "Ooo. I'm flattered. Did you hear? Severus Snape has a crush on me."

Severus leaned his head back to look up at Harry. "Just because I wrote our names several times on the bottom of the parchment to see how they--this does not mean I 'have a crush on you'. Really, Potter!"

"That's soon to be Snape-Potter, to you." Harry teased.

Rather than give him more fuel, Snape pulled Potter's face down for a sloppy, sideways kiss.

Harry leaned into it, but pulled back almost as quickly, hissing. Severus opened his eyes and, noting his grimace, asked solicitously as he sat up, "Is your bum and back still bothering you?"

"It's all right. I forget about it most of the time, just every now and again, I move just the wrong way and--."

Severus moved one leg enough to face Harry better. His hand cupped his face. "I'm sorry. I guess I got carried away."

Harry turned bright red and looked away. "S'all right. I guess we're just a couple of sorry bums."

Severus laughed appreciatively. "I suppose we are at that, but--" he stopped when he saw the distressed tension in Harry's face "--Harry, what's wrong?"

Harry glanced quickly at him and then looked away just as soon, his hands playing with the hem of Severus' shorts.

"Har-ry. Talk to me," Severus wheedled, taking his hands.

"First time," Harry mumbled.

"First time?" Severus asked. This was as bad as trying to pull a coherent answer out of a first year. "Harry, don't make me 'look', please?"

"Um, well, all right--I've never been rimmed before--and, uh, it felt really good--bloody brilliant, in fact--and then I threw out my back and I didn't want you to feel bad, so--" He stopped when he heard the whine in his voice and noted the incredulous stare on Severus' face.

Severus could accept Harry was embarrassed by his departure from their normal routine, but couldn't understand why he would be 'upset' by it. Thinking that perhaps it was something else, he asked, concerned, "I can see you're still sore, but that's not what this is all about, is it?"

Harry shook his head, still not looking at him. "No, not really, not about the physical discomfort. I was just curious--was wondering--why?"

"Why? Why I did it?" At Harry's nod, Severus went on, "It just happened--I didn't really think about it." Severus tried to remember exactly what had happened. "You tripped over Cally and fell on the stone floor, and while I made the offer to 'kiss it and make it better' in jest--you smelled so fresh and your skin tasted wonderful and you seemed to like it and--well--" Severus eyed him. He recognized this look; this was Harry unsure of himself. Somehow he'd made Harry doubt himself. After some more thought and a few random pictures floating over to him, he began to suspect why and it bothered him. Finally deciding to tackle it at the heart, he asked, "Is it the rimming that bothered you or that I tried something different?"

Harry hesitated. "Both, sort of," he said quietly. "Oh, the rim job was amazing and quite a surprise, but--sometimes I still feel like you need or want more than I can provide and when you come out of the blue like that--I don't know, it's stupid, really."

"Hmmm. I see." And he did. Turning and sliding his leg back under the tray, Severus laid back to where he had been with his back leaning comfortably against Harry's chest, while commenting, "I'm actually quite content with plain vanilla, although a little 'hot fudge' on the side at times is never remiss. I'm usually more concerned you're going to get bored with me."

At Harry's noise of protest and before he could actually say anything, Severus took Harry's hands and settled them around his torso. Laying his head back on his shoulder, he opened the handfasting bond and his mind fully to him.

Harry went still. The unexpected glimpse of Severus' desires showed him they were simple and strong, not requiring anything elaborate other than it had to be Harry and they had to be close. It had to be sharing and that Severus truly did not have any desire to 'take' him (as they called it) as had his other lovers. He had to admit, being able to 'see' these things went a long way to assuaging his lingering doubts about himself and his abilities to please Severus fully. Like the night after the handfasting. He and Severus had been making love when one or the other, he couldn't remember who--it had all run together by now--had been tempted to take it further. They'd both mutually backed away from the idea when, through the newly opened connection, they'd each seen the memories the other saw when they even thought about it; it had killed the notion immediately and both were reassured their 'decision' was a good one.

Seeing the memory Harry was envisioning through the still open link, Severus now realised that while the incident had upheld their 'decision', it had not quite stopped Harry's insecurity over the matter. Harry might not remember which one of them had brought it up, but Severus had no such problem, and it had not been him. At the time he'd recognized it for what it was--what they were discussing now.

Harry tightened his arms around Severus' chest. "Thank you, Severus--you always seem to know what I need when I need it. I don't know why I keep feeling this way; I should know better by now."

Severus pulled Harry's face to his and they shared a serious kiss, lips and tongues sliding in harmony despite the awkward angle. When they mutually ended it Severus murmured, "Hush. There are two of us now, each with our own 'concerns' and despite the longevity of our relationship, there are still things of which we both are unsure. There's so much of it still new, almost raw; we'll get through it in time. Nothing happens in a day--just always remember, I have no regrets and you are all I ever need. It's not the sex that matters; it is the sharing. And while I enjoy our loving, it's not what I love about you."

Harry nodded and kissed his cheek, pulling him close. They lay like this for some time, neither one much wanting to move, each lost in their own thoughts.

Severus' ruminations led him in a strange direction and, having a sudden insight, he chuckled and sat up, Harry releasing him reluctantly. His voice hinting at mischief, Severus stated, "Besides, while I admit my needs are simple, I must point out that a little healthy variety can't hurt. Last night was never meant to make you feel like I wanted 'more'; however, considering the lifespan of a wizard and our obvious good health due to our respective skills and life style..." He picked up the quill and started scratching on the parchment. Harry leaned forward to see what he was doing and was surprised to see a column of numbers rapidly appearing under the quill. When Severus was finished, he tapped the feather on Harry's leg. Harry could just make out a number on the foolscap.

"Hmmm, an almost daunting amount. Taking into account our declining stamina over the years and assuming no usage of certain potions, I calculate we have at least 65,700 orgasms ahead of us--each, although given your--youth--your number might be higher." He squeezed Harry's thigh. "However shall I cope?"

Harry sat stunned while Severus started laughing. Harry looked at the parchment again, saying, "One and a half times a day? Severus, you never do anything by halves."

Looking back at him, he chuckled. "One never knows what's going to happen in 120 years. A half may be all I'm capable of by then. Are you positive you want to live with such uncertainty?"

"In 120 years, a half may be all I want. Maybe we should start taking a tonic."

"Maybe we should just get started reducing the number." He leaned in for another kiss, this one meant to tease.

Harry just shifted forward and snugly set his groin in Severus' back. He was obviously interested. "Whatever will Albus think when he sees that number on the bottom of the list."

Severus smugly said, "Let him guess." He looked down at the now full page complete with lists, doodles, splotches, smears, and the number. "I have no intention of recopying this neater in order to spare his sensibilities. Might do the old codger good trying to figure it out and if he succeeds, I assure you he will be nothing less than amused."

"Well, if we're both going to fidget and squirm anyway--"

Severus turned his face to him again--"Mmmm hmmm," he murmured stealing a long kiss. "Let the squirming commence--in a moment."

"Huh, Sev? What are you doing? Where are you going? Surely that can wait?

"Mmmm?" Severus asked, getting out of the bed. As he picked up the tray to set it on the floor away from the range of any stray covers or pillows, he sent Harry a picture of what else could smear the parchment and the other 'impressions' that could be left on it should they spill the contents of the tray, and then a picture of Albus' face the next morning when he held the sticky mess by two fingers.

With that image in his head, Harry fell back into the pillows, murmuring, "Never mind. Carry on."

TBC