Hiding Under the Ninth Earth
Book 03 : Epithalamium

Part III : The Beginning of Forever
Chapter Forty Three : Ghost Rider

Edited for FanFiction-net: 125 sexy words were sacrificed on the altar of the rating gods. I apologise if this feels choppy in any way, but coitus writus interruptus is never a pretty thing. Remember, if you are of age, the full version is available at my site.

Saturday 1 November 2003 HST

"I tried teaching the house-elves how to make this," Severus said, swallowing the last bite of the fried rice Ben had brought for breakfast. "It was horrid, though; Dobby said they didn't have any of the right ingredients."

"If we have time, do you want to go to Kaneshiro's and buy some?"

"The idea is tempting, but I think not. Even with the proper stores, convincing the house-elves to use day-old rice is impossible."

"Got a soggy mess, did you?" Ben teased.

"Something like that," he replied, shuddering. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he set it aside, pushing his plate back out of the way. With a deft wand, he idly cleaned their dishes, stacking them neatly in the center of the table when finished. "I've not seen Poppy and Albus; did they leave already?" he asked, a bit put out they'd not said goodbye.

Tipping his chair back on two legs, Ben took a gulp of his coffee. "No. They're over at Malia's - should be back soon." He looked around. "Where's Harry?"

"Probably still in the shower; he tends to get carried away with his..." he cleared his throat "...vocal repertoire."

"That bad, eh?"

"You have no idea," he replied with a grimace, then added, "I think the next time we come out, I'm going to add a bathing pool to the house; I miss ours."

With a knowing grin, Ben asked innocently. "Miss what? Bathing? Or bathing?"

Severus sniffed, ignoring the jibe. "I'm surprised they went; I thought they wanted to leave about now."

"That was the plan, but Malia called Kalani last night and told him a crate had arrived there for Albus and, since you don't have a Floo or a phone, he was to bring them over first thing this morning to collect it before they left."

"I wondered where he'd got to," Severus murmured. Setting his cup down, he mused, "I suppose we should add a Floo next time as well." He fiddled with the napkin. "Did she say what it was?"

Ben shrugged. "Nope. Said it came by special Portkey from Arthur Weasley. Is that the same Arthur who was at your wedding?"

"I would assume so - he's the only one I know," Severus replied dryly. "Still, it's very strange; I can't imagine what..."

Head lifting, he heard it. Even after all these years, he'd know that sound anywhere. His bane - deep, throaty, the growl of a ravenous beast about to make a kill. Prowling closer, its voice changed to a muted roar, the powerful engine driving it onward. Standing, he could easily follow the progress - on the road, down the drive, near the house, until the huge, two wheeled, black and silver machine coasted to a stop at the foot of the stairs to the lanai.

His hair a crazed halo around his beaming face, his beard thrown recklessly over his shoulder, Albus laughed in sheer pleasure as he shut off the engine; Poppy, sitting wild-eyed behind him, smiled wanly. As he helped her off the deep seat, a similar machine, all cherry red and chrome, its noise overshadowed by the other, cruised to a stop next to them. Removing his helmet, Kalani hung it on the handle bars of his Harley before climbing off, careful not to dislodge his sister behind him. She shook her long hair out as she handed him her helmet, then taking his proffered hand, hopped off the old, but pristinely maintained, touring bike.

Ignoring the easy banter between Albus and Kalani, Severus stared hard at the first motorbike, taking in the gleaming black body unchanged by time; he closed his eyes against the intrusive memories. Without a word, he turned back to the house.

"Hey! Where you going?" Ben asked, his face a mask of confusion.

He supposed he should at least be civil. "To get Harry," he replied shortly, opening the screen.

"Why..." but he was already in the door. The house seemed dark after the bright sunshine outside, but perhaps it had more to do with the old shadows dogging him than any real effect of the lighting.

His eyes adjusting, he noticed Harry coming out of their bedroom, pulling his shirt over his still-damp, tousled head. Seeing him, a grin lit his face. "Ah ha - coming back for another... ?" And then it faded to concern. Tugging his shirt in place, he walked up to him, placing a hand on his arm. "Severus, what's wrong?"

Wrong? Nothing, except... "Albus wants to see you."

"Oh?" He hesitated. "Are we back to 'nothing' - again?" he asked seriously.

What? Nothing? Oh, right. "Not really. I..." he shifted uncomfortably "...I'm not certain what I'm..." He started again. "It has nothing to do with..." Damn. "Just go outside." Harry eyed him strangely, which he supposed he deserved, but refrained from further questions, for which he was grateful.

Damning his morbid curiosity, which quashed his baser desire to stay inside and hide, he reluctantly followed Harry out in time to hear him exclaim, "Wow! Wicked bike, Albus!" He moved to the edge of the lanai, looking down. "Where'd you get it?" he asked, his eyes shining like Christmas.

Severus half-expected Albus' enthusiastic reply. "Arthur found it by accident last week and sent it along. And it's not mine, my boy, it's yours. I just took it for a little spin."

Harry gaped. "Mine? Arthur sent me a motorbike?"

"Not exactly..." Severus wanted to throttle him; did he have to dramatize everything? "...It belonged to your godfather."

Mesmerised, Harry walked down the steps right up to the bike. Running almost reverent hands across the leather seat, he asked quietly, "This was Sirius'?"

...Lord knew where he'd got the money, or who had been foolish enough to gift it to him, but on Boxing Day, Severus' fifth year, he remembered the sound of that engine over their house. Running outside to see what the hell was going on, he'd discovered Sirius and James flying over, dropping dung bombs in the yard. His father had been furious, but, looking back on it, he supposed he should be thankful they'd done it the day after he'd signed the contract for Narcissa and the day before she'd sent back her refusal; his punishment for their prank hadn't been as severe as it could have been...

"...kept it hidden when he was sent to Azkaban; when he escaped, he asked me to store it because he didn't want it confiscated by the authorities. Loved this bike, he did."

"I remember him talking about it..."

...His sixth year he'd slaved every weekend, four hours every Saturday and Sunday, for weeks at the beck and call of Filch doing every stinking, filthy job the squib could think of to make his life miserable. The fruit of his labours had been carefully purchased from the apothecary during a Hogsmeade weekend, some of it shrunk in his pockets, the more fragile and valuable components cradled protectively in his arms. For a brief time, as he'd walked back to Hogwarts, he'd been happy. That is until the growling sound of that engine, growing louder every second, bore down on him, the potion ingredients flying out of his arms when Sirius pushed him off the path in passing. Pulling himself up off the ground, where he'd landed face first in the heath, he'd winced at the squishy sounds coming from his robes and almost cried when he'd seen the rest of it, irretrievably splattered amidst broken glass and raucous laughter...

"...rode it to Europe the summer before your fourth year. He sent me a couple of postcards I'll give you when you get back."

"I'd like that - thank you. But where has it..."

...He'd been limping home to Mecadia from a hellish Death Eater meeting when, as cruel chance would have it, he'd heard that engine coming from behind him. Sliding into the shadows of a nearby building, he'd been unsurprised to see the dog flying down the middle of the road, the wind of his passing swirling the leaves to the side into a dizzy frenzy, dancing to the sparkling laughter of the pretty girl seated closely behind him. In that bitter moment he'd known despair, the futile anger at the unfairness of it all emptying itself out of his belly in sour waves to land squarely on the pavement near his aching feet. He'd made his somber way home soon after, not speaking for three days, but ensconced in his latest research, Mecadia had never noticed, nor asked...

"...disappeared when he fell in The Veil. I searched for it, but gave it up as lost. Then I got an Owl from Arthur on Monday that it had been found in a back storage room at the Ministry. I asked him to send it here." He glanced at Severus and away, but Harry didn't notice. "I thought it might be fun for you here in Hana."

"Oh, yeah," Harry breathed, his hand still on the seat. "I can't wait to..."

...Carrying the silent child wrapped in a warm wooly blanket, Poppy had shown up unexpectedly in his dungeons the night his Dark Mark had faded. The fevered emerald eyes (so much like his mother's) had stared at him almost accusingly as she'd explained the situation. Between his rarer potions and her healing they'd cured the tenacious curse sickness, but there was no helping the scar. Not daring to hope that Voldemort was truly gone, he remembered his shock at the sound of that engine as Hagrid had taken the crying infant from them at the hidden tunnel entrance before flying off to Surrey, the squirming child snug across his chest. He'd read about the explosions and Sirius' betrayal the next day, never doubting it could be true...

A hand on his shoulder broke his reverie. "Are you OK?" Ben whispered.

"I hate that..." he mumbled, stopping cold when he realised he'd said it out loud.

"Severus!" Harry called, his face flush with excitement. "Let's go for a ride."

Over his dead body. Severus gritted his teeth; what choice did he have? He didn't want to make an issue of it.

"Eh, Harry!" Ben shouted, moving away from Severus with a wink. "You ever ride one of those before?"

"Uh, not really. But it's enchanted - how hard can it be?"

Ben rolled his eyes while Kalani chuckled. "You shouldn't ride it around here without a license - for you and the bike. You're not as lucky as Uncle Albus - you'd get a ticket for sure."

"And that's bad?"

"It's not good." Harry opened his mouth to protest. "Aia! You're as stubborn as he is," Ben exclaimed, nodding his head at Severus. "Never mind, you can store it safely in the shed and the next time you're out here, you and Kalani can go to Lahaina, get the learner's permit and the bike licensed. Then he can teach you how to ride it. Once you take the driving test, it's all yours." Ben chuckled at Harry's disappointed frown, saying quietly, "There, that should cool his jets - for now."

Severus glanced sharply at him.

"Eh, it's all true, too," he said innocently, shrugging.

Holding his speculation to himself, Severus silently cheered when Kalani helped Harry roll the heavy bike into the outdoor storage shed, explaining the various controls as they went. Harry's eyes were glazed by the time he warded the door. Severus briefly wondered if there was a safe way he could banish the bike, but just as quickly discarded the notion; he was just going to have to adjust to its reappearance in his life, hoping the future would be better than the past.

Shortly thereafter, Albus and Poppy made their goodbyes and wistfully Portkeyed home. Although he almost felt guilty for doing so, Severus sighed in relief with their departure. Following Ben up on the lanai, Severus took a seat at the table; Harry brought out a tray with five glasses of the plantation ice tea he rather liked and Severus barely tolerated, finding the pineapple juice made it far too sweet (although it was not nearly as horrid as that 'lemonade' Malia and Joseph favoured).

Setting the tray on the table, Harry glanced around at the lack of seats and, with a grin, sat in Severus' lap, saying, "Can't exactly make the lady stand, now can I?" When Severus sniffed and adjusted his legs to distribute Harry's substantial weight, said heavy spouse leaned over and whispered, "Sorry, I'm not sure I've got this chair conjuring business down yet."

Severus snorted, but took advantage anyway, snaking his arm around the nearby waist, blatantly ignoring Harry's smug smile.

With everyone settled, Severus was about to ask what the schedule was for the remainder of the day when Kahealani leant forward and tapped his hand lying on the table. "Severus," she began in her quiet manner, "I don't want to bother you, but I was wondering if I can ask you a question?" She bit her bottom lip, hesitating. "I already asked Joseph and Ben and they didn't know, so..."

"What is it you want to know?" he asked cautiously.

"When people are transfigured into animals, do they retain their - humanity?" Before he could respond, she hastily added, "I mean, can they understand human speech, or are they turned into - dumb beasts?"

"How long would the transformation last?" he asked, intrigued.

"Oh, say a night, maybe longer?" Seeing his raised brow, she rushed on, "See, I'm - um - tired of being a ghoul at Halloween and I thought that maybe - since I can't ever be an Animagus - if Ben or Joseph were to transfigure me into something scary, like a black cat, or maybe a tiger," her voice grew wistful, "it could be a lot of fun to - scare the kids with, but not if I'm not - myself."

Severus sat back deep in thought a moment. "If I recall, Minerva has said it depends on the spell; I've only been turned into an animal once, so have little personal experience," his lips curled into an evil smile, "although as a bat last night, I had full control of my faculties."

While Ben chuckled, Harry held up a finger, staring at him. "Ah, actually, Severus, I think you ought to..."

"Good idea," he replied, pulling his wand. Before anyone could utter a word, he cast the spell. Silently, the man in his lap transfigured into a tiny, orange and black spotted pig.

"Oh! How sweet! He's so little," Kahealani cooed, patting his head. "Harry, can you understand me?"

In the meantime, the pig blinked, looking around in confusion. He sat back, snuffling up at Severus. "Squeee?"

Clutching his stomach, Ben lost it. Helpless, Kalani leaned against him, his shoulders shaking.

Severus bit back a smile. "I'm afraid that was not exactly the form I was aiming for," he said ruefully. Without thinking, he pulled on the little corkscrewed tail. "Cute bugger, though."

Harry butted Severus' belly. "Squeee!"

"Can you change him back?" Kahea' asked, worrying her bottom lip.

"Squeee?" Harry sat back on his bum, his tail wagging.

"I believe so; I just need a moment to think about it."

"Squeee!" Harry bumped his wiggling nose against Severus' wand. "SQUEEE!"

"Well, if you can't," Ben gasped out, shaking his head, "I've heard they make excellent pets - once they're domesticated."

Harry let out an outraged squeal and jumped off of Severus' lap. Stamping his hoof against the wooden deck, he stared up at his spouse accusingly. "Er, sorry," he muttered, "I told you I wasn't very skilled at Transfigurations." Well, he would never know unless he tried. He raised his wand...

"Squeal, squeee, grunt, squeak..." a flash of light "...now you bloody well tell me!" Harry exclaimed, picking himself off the lanai. Dusting his bottom off, he rounded on them. "I understood you all just fine, thank you very much." He turned back to Severus. "I am not cute, and if you ever pull my tail again..."

While the others stared blankly at him in shock, Severus struggled to grasp what he'd just witnessed.

"What?" Harry's eyes narrowed in irritation.

Kalani broke the silence. "Um, how did you do that?"

"Do what?" Harry asked, his face scrunching in confusion.

Severus cleared his throat. "I believe Kalani is referring to the, ah, inescapable fact that I did not change you back. You did."

Harry's jaw dropped. "Me?" He shook his head. "How could I possibly..."

Severus purposefully kept his gaze neutral. He slid a glance to Ben, relieved when his friend took the unspoken hint and stood, his hands outstretched as he quickly ushered Kalani and Kahea' off the lanai with a quiet, "We've not much time before the others get here; we need to unload the truck before they arrive."

Shoulders hunching, Harry sank into a convenient chair and whispered, "I did it again, didn't I?"

Unsure how a gesture of sympathy would be received right now, Severus made himself relax back into his chair, even though he really wanted to pace. "It appears so."

"Damn it! I hate this!" Harry cried, putting his face in his hands.

Severus leant forward and gently stroked Harry's hair, running his fingers down the hands hiding his face. In slow degrees, Harry raised anguished eyes to him. "I was angry and it just happened," he choked out. "What if I can't ever control it?"

He took his cold hands, warming them between his own. "With your strong will, I am quite certain you will master it in time, Harry. That's all you need - a little time - and training."

Harry nodded, calming. "I guess so." He sighed. "I just have to keep my temper in check."

Severus chuckled. "Ah - now there's a challenge."

Good - there was the smile he wanted to see, small, but still there. He hid his own when Harry muttered, "Prat."

Drolly, Severus remarked, "I think you have that backwards. You're the prat; I'm the prick, remember?"

Harry may have laughed at the comment, but the bond told Severus a different story and, as Ben called out to the men arriving to help finish the roofing, Severus decided he would just have to wait and see.

.:0:. .:0:. .:0:. .:0:.

Harry rolled over on his side, evading his husband, the guilt he never did well with eating at him. It wasn't that he didn't want the comfort Severus offered - he just wasn't quite certain he deserved it right now. Maybe he needed time to wallow in it a bit, much as he'd been drowning in his unhappy thoughts all day.

He sincerely wished he could keep his fears as well contained as Severus did, but tonight, his less than stellar performance had proved him incapable. Embarrassment washed over him. He knew from his training it happened to every man at some point in his life, but did it have to happen to him? Tonight? Just when things were going so well? Couldn't it have at least waited until his second century when, with his luck, he'd be grateful he could get it up in the first place?

Feeling a tentative hand on his shoulder, he shrugged it off, not ready yet to face his lover's blatant sympathy. Instead he concentrated on forgetting it; one humiliation was more than enough without him replaying it over and over in his mind. He should be thinking instead about what had caused it.

All right. He could say it - at least to himself. He was afraid, plain and simple. Afraid of himself. Afraid of what he could do. Afraid of losing control, again. It was the control part he had problems with. Always had. Either he had none, which brought its own set of problems, like this morning, or he had too much, like tonight, which had frozen him into personal impotence.

Shit! He'd said he was not going to think about that. Damn. If he couldn't even control his thoughts, how could he possibly expect to...? He took a deep breath, trying to still the panic. Wonderful. Either he took the chance of hurting someone, or he would live without sex the rest of his life. He wasn't happy with either option. He was too distracted, didn't feel a part of his own skin for some reason. It was hard to put into words this feeling of disconnection from himself.

The hand was back, only not so tentative as it stroked his arm, finally resting on the point of his shoulder. "Harry?"

He couldn't very well say, 'Go away', now could he? Especially since he'd already subjected Severus to one disappointment already tonight. Thinking he owed Severus something, he blurted out, "What am I, Severus?"

The bed dipped as his mate turned to face his back. He could feel Severus' sigh ghost over his spine. "You're Harry."

That was not the answer he'd expected. "No. What am I?"

"All right, if you insist." Another sigh - of frustration? "You're my husband."

Mildly annoyed, Harry exclaimed, "Can't you be serious for just one moment?" feeling a bit foolish the moment the words left his mouth.

He could almost see that brow arching as Severus replied dryly, "You must be joking. I don't look anything like him." Harry frowned, belatedly realising the gesture was wasted. Severus' voice bore little contrition as he muttered, "All right, I admit my timing could have been better." Harry bit off a chuckle. "Well, actually, it wasn't all that terrible, was it?"

"It was awful, and you know it," he mumbled into his pillow, scooting back a little.

"I'm never 'off'," Severus rejoined, sliding close enough Harry could feel his body's heat on his back.

He knew what his husband was doing - it was his way of telling him everything was all right. It was hard to resist Severus when he was like this - playful and yet sincere, the dry humour meant to show affection - an attempt to cheer him up. It was quite thoughtful of him really, considering how high and dry he'd left him earlier this evening. Harry moved the inches necessary for them to touch, relieved when a strong arm snaked over his side to draw him close. He moved a leg back to hook one of Severus' between his until they were comfortably tangled.

"I'm sorry."

Soft lips nipped his shoulder. "Stop apologising - it happens."

"Not to me it doesn't," Harry whinged.

Severus stilled behind him. "Hmmm. I suspect we are addressing two different issues. I assume you are referring to this evening?" Harry nodded, miserable. "Ah. I am speaking of this morning." Harry looked over his shoulder as Severus continued calmly, "On further reflection, they're not so dissimilar. Did not one cause the other?"

"Maybe," Harry temporized. He really didn't want to talk about it. Which was just as well considering how closed off the bond was to Severus right now; it might be a bit difficult to communicate without whining.

Steeling himself for the inevitable questions, he was surprised when Severus commented quietly, "I'm not certain I'm ready to leave Hana just yet." His hand rubbed circles on Harry's belly. "Despite our initial - adjustment - to each other, it's been quite - pleasant."

Harry nodded, wary of the subject change. "Yeah, we could have used more time. Seems like we just got here yesterday." He sighed, thinking over the last few days. "Too many ups and downs, though."

Severus nosed his nape, bestowing soft kisses once he had the hair out of the way. "True. Perhaps it's because here we don't necessarily exercise the same type of control we do at Hogwarts."

"Oh? How so?" Harry asked, interested despite himself.

"We are not the same people here that we are there; all the affectations we assume at Hogwarts in an effort to appear 'civilised' and 'proper' through someone else's artificial standards are unnecessary in Hana; there is little pressure to be whom we are not. Of course, once here, it takes a small while for us to - decompress - if you will, to shed the detritus we despise until all that remains are the people we could be. Or were meant to be."

The gentle hand on his stomach dropped, now concentrating on his hip and leg. He felt the first stirrings of arousal and leaned back to give Severus more room. Eyes closed, relaxing into his lover's touch, he murmured, "So you want to leave Hogwarts?"

Severus' voice was like velvet across his skin. "Perhaps. You must admit, there is a certain appeal in not being Harry Potter, 'Boy Who Lived' and slayer of Dark Lords, or Severus Snape, greasy Potions master and former spy. However, despite our respective notoriety, there is a certain anonymity gained by such titles as few look beyond them to see us. On the other hand, I rather like the notion that here I am Severus Snape, rider of horses, eccentric collector of centipedes, and owner of the 'Obake' house down on the beach."

Harry smiled, pushing back against the hardness matching his own. "And what does that make me?"

"Ah, Harry Potter, apprentice rock fisherman, kahuna lapa'au, and occasional cute house pig of one Severus Snape."

Harry started to laugh, then stopped abruptly as the last part of Severus' comment sifted into his consciousness. His recent good humour fled along with his arousal. He started to pull away, but found himself caught firmly around the waist as Severus murmured, "Thought so. Forgive me, love, but you wouldn't say."

He thought about leaving the bed, but as the import of Severus' statement dawned on him, he knew it wouldn't be right, for even though Severus had been his usual Slytherin self in trying to get him to open up, he had not violated his privacy by prying. He felt no small amount of shame that this was far more consideration than he'd given him over the last few days.

"Talk to me, love," Severus whispered.

"What is there to say? I lost control this morning, I gained it this evening. Neither one was pleasant." He bowed his head. "I am sorry."

"There is no need to be sorry," he said, kissing Harry's shoulder. "Let me help you."

"I'm not sure you can, Severus." He shrivelled inside at the plea in his lover's voice. "I can't even help myself. Everything is so - disjointed right now. How can I connect to you, if I can't even feel myself?"

"You're almost closed to me," Severus said raggedly. "I didn't realise until this evening how - lonely - it is."

He wanted so much what Severus was offering, wanted to feel again. Not just the strong arms around him, the physical presence surrounding him, but the inner man, the one who unstintingly gave him everything he wanted - needed - even at his own cost. Was it so hard to do what he asked of him now?

"Help me, Severus," he whispered. "I don't know what to do."

He felt Severus' forehead rest against his shoulder as the body behind him lost most of its tension. The arm under him came up to grip his waist, the other his chest, and in one fluid movement, Severus rolled them so that Harry lay on top, his back to Severus' front. Harry set his feet flat on the bed while warm hands took his, raising his arms over his head to rest on the pillow, leaving him stretched, his body wide open to the hands trailing random patterns across his stippling skin.

This couldn't be comfortable for him. "Severus, I..."

"Shush. Relax." The hands, as soothing as the voice, continued their leisurely trek down his body; undemanding fingertips tickled across the hollows of his hips, his thighs, only to slide languidly up to his belly, a single tip skating around his navel. Melting against the firm body beneath him, his head dropped back to lay next to his lover's as the fears and concerns began to fly away on the wings of his tranquil touch.

"Yes, that's it," Severus whispered. "Lean back..." the hand dropped "...I'll take care of you." Gentle fingers slid across his chest. "Let go, love."

His apprehensive thoughts of the future faded in the wake of their bond gradually flowing over him as softly as the hand skimming his shaft.

"Mmmm. Feels good."

The light chuckle vibrated through his frame. "It's supposed to feel good." The sensations were light and pleasant, but not overly arousing, more like a gentle caress on the face than anything else. "Even a little good is never bad," the silky voice whispered, making him shiver. As if waiting for the reaction, the hand slid lower, until Harry moaned quietly in pleasure. "That's right - enjoy it," Severus breathed, his face resting against Harry's, lips nuzzling his skin when Harry turned his head slightly towards him.

His thoughts scattered, until he suddenly realised he couldn't feel anything in the body beneath him.

Sensation vanished as his previous uneasiness returned. "But you're not..."

Fingers circled caresses across his chest and throat. "Hush. There are no worries here." Was it the rich tone ghosting across his skin, or was it the hand, making a long, smooth sweep from his hip to the palm of his hand still held high above his head, that made him tremble? Liquid as warm honey, Severus' voice enveloped him. "It gives me pleasure to make you feel good."

The sincerity of the sentiment resonated through the awakening bond in a symphony of feather touches and smoky sultry syllables. Relinquishing control, he let Severus take over.

"That's right, surrender to it."

Slow, oh so slow, it spiralled through him.

"Surrender to us."

His cares and worries slipped away, leaving only the sensations rippling through him.

"Open for me, love."

He sank deeper into the bond, deeper into Severus.

"Let me feel you."

His lover's heart, felt through the muscles of his back, beat strongly. Severus' quickening breathing matched the rise and fall in his own chest.

"Through you, through me."

Through them. The hand on his chest fisted, then opened, pressing flat against his flushed skin, drawing him closer. The husky, "Almost there," rasped in his ear as his own hands, gripping the soft cotton beneath them, sought purchase, the pull making one body taut against the other.

Hotter and brighter they burned; wider and stronger the bond rejoined them.

"Ah, yes, that's it."

A tender, whispered command guided him over the edge - his lover, tightly bound, came with him. The heat flowed between them, out of them, the relief from the tension sharp. Spent, he fell limply against the boneless body beneath him.

A breathless chuckle tickled his ear. "See, wasn't that a bit of all right?"

Turning over, he settled in, kissing Severus. "I love you."

"I know," his lover murmured as he returned the gentle brush of pressing lips, light and uncomplicated. He pulled Harry down to lay half on top of him. "Do you understand now that all the rest doesn't really matter?" And something in the way he said it made Harry see a new resolve within Severus as well. A flicker of an image, gone before it even registered gave him the clue he needed to comprehend not only his mate's agitation earlier this morning, but how he could ensure Severus would never worry about it again.

Later, Harry slid into his spot. Eyes closed, the steady heartbeat under his ear made this last task a bit easier to do as did the warm arms holding him fast. He loved Severus; no thing was worth causing him grief, not if he could help it. "You know, I was thinking..."

"Always a dangerous thing..."

"Severus - do you mind?" he chided mildly.

"Very well - but it is." Harry drummed his fingers on his stomach. "Go on."

Mildly annoyed, Harry waited until Severus got restless. "Oh, all right. I'm-sorry-I-interrupted-you. There - satisfied?"

"It will suffice..." he said in his best Snape voice, chuckling at the snort he got in return "...for the moment."

"Picture me rolling my eyes. Now, did you, or did you not have something to say?"

"Yeah, I did," he said, sighing. This was harder than he'd originally thought. "We're not going to make it out here more than two, maybe three times a year, for short periods of time, are we?"

Severus ran a hand through Harry's hair. "No. Unless I can find some way to safely transport my potions long-distance, I will need to spend most of my summers at Hogwarts; however, that does not mean you couldn't come out here more often and longer."

"Without you? Hardly. Wouldn't be any fun." He chuckled wryly. "Besides, where would I sleep? On the couch? You know how this bed hates single sleepers." Severus snorted. "In any event, I can't leave my practice as it is any longer than you can leave your potions," he concluded, feeling oddly sad.

Harry snuggled in deeper. Severus took a breath and released it, saying nothing. Finally, he asked, "This upsets you?"

"Not exactly, except that - you know, with us not being here all that often, it's a pity that Sirius' bike won't get used all that often and with the weather being what it is - I'm just a little worried it will rust away in the shed." He ignored the slight stiffening in the body beneath him. "Anyway, I was just wondering..." the heart under his head sped up "...since it's special to me and I want to make certain it doesn't just rot away..." the stomach muscles clenched under his hand "...do you think Albus will be terribly upset if I gave it to Remus?"

Harry smiled to himself as Severus sank into the bed with an almost inaudible sigh of relief as he readily replied, "I don't think Albus will mind at all once you explain it to him, and he knows that it's going to someone who will care for it in the manner it should be."

With Severus not mentioning the variety of preservation spells available, Harry knew he'd made the right decision - for whatever reason. And, who knew, perhaps he could catch a ride sometime with Remus without upsetting Severus too much. "Good. I'll ask Remus when we get back. I can't imagine him turning it down, but if so, maybe Ben would like it so he can go cruising with Kalani."

Severus chuckled; Harry liked the feel of it rumbling under his hand. "I suspect Ben prefers his horses, but one never knows."

Harry suspected Severus preferred them as well.

A hand beneath his chin tipped his head up to receive the serious kiss Severus bestowed, his lips warm and pliable over his own. He never tired of Severus' kisses and scooted up a bit to deepen it, to pull his mate closer, revelling in the feel of his lover's hand splayed gently against his throat, the tug of fingers buried in his hair as their mouths joined their hearts in that special way they'd always had of sharing each other.

Pulling back reluctantly, the hand at his throat moved up to gentle his face. He could barely see the dark fathomless eyes searching his, but clearly heard the whispered, "Thank you."

Harry nodded and with one final kiss, burrowed in, a smile of satisfaction on his lips. It didn't much matter what Severus was thanking him for, what was important was that he'd finally got it right, and with a lighter heart, he settled down to sleep.

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Sunday 2 November 2003 HST to GMT

"Shhh. Quiet," Harry whispered to Ben as he and Kalani walked up to the lanai in the early morning light.

Ben looked over Harry's shoulder, his eyes widening. He leaned over, setting down the covered basket he carried, and whispered back, "What the hell is he doing?"

Harry chuckled. "He found a bug he wants and he's trying to catch it. Damn thing's been eluding him all week." He smiled at the odd sight of his husband on his knees, half under the bench, his arse sticking far up into the air.

Kalani looked around Ben and, eyeing the back half, wolf-whistled softly. "Ho, Harry. I can see why you like him so much," he teased.

"Kalani!" Harry exclaimed just as Severus cried out in triumph, "Got the bugger!"

Unfortunately, he misjudged the distance and banged his head on the bottom of the bench With a yelp of pain, he sat back on his heels, holding something large, brown, and wiggly with his thumb and forefinger. Rubbing the back of his head with one hand, he turned the other this way and that, examining his hard-earned prize.

Excited, he stood and made his way over to the others standing stock still, the insect held out before him. "Look what I caught - it's absolutely perfect!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with delight.

When he arrived, the insect still gripped firmly, Harry pulled his head back in distaste. "Yuck. That is one ugly bug. What is it?"

Ben started chuckling and before Severus could reply, he answered, "Periplaneta Americana, also known as the American Cockroach. Nice specimen, by the way," he added, calmly studying the two inch long insect. "She's about ready to lay her eggs, so if you're careful, you can harvest the babies, too."

Kalani just sat down on the stair leaning against the rail. Ben glanced over at him, obviously trying to stifle a laugh and not quite succeeding. Severus eyed them both suspiciously and glanced over to Harry, who shrugged. "What, might I enquire, is so amusing," he asked, straightening.

"Sorry, Severus," Kalani chortled. "Eh, Ben. Centipedes, moths, crickets, and now cock-a-roaches. Maybe we should just open up a Potions supply business. We could make millions!"

"Not a bad idea. We could call it 'Chitin Chan's'." Kalani lost it, his eyes squeezed shut as he held his stomach, rocking on the step, his laughter shaking his whole body. Harry could tell Ben wanted to laugh just as badly, but his glances at Severus kept him from showing it.

Harry smiled to himself; he really didn't see the joke, but Kalani's silent guffaws were so infectious he could see Severus' lips twitching as he studied the flailing insect still in his grip. Harry moved his face in for a closer look. "Are those leg barbs as wicked as they look?"

Severus answered seriously, "Sting a bit like nettles, but not too badly. Almost looks intelligent, doesn't it?"

Harry straightened. "Nah. It just knows it's going to get parboiled in the near future, so don't anthropomorphise it any more than you have to."

He stuck his tongue out at Severus' raised brow, laughing outright when Severus muttered, "Drowned - it's a cold fire."

Wiping tears from his eyes, Kalani asked, "Eh, Severus. You want for us to get you some of those, too?"

Avarice won over pride as Severus said, "I can always use them. I usually import them a jar at a time; they survive our cold quite well and, in a good year, I can breed about half the supply I need. However, it would save me time if I didn't have to..."

"What are they used for?" Ben asked, curious.

"Finally, something I can answer," Harry said. "Never seen one quite like this before, not sure I really want to again, but the hard-shell roaches are a primary ingredient in a lot of the bone-mending potions, like Skele-Gro." He turned to Severus with a shudder. "You keep these in the dungeons?"

Severus shrugged. "In a specially warded aquarium in the back storeroom. They seem to thrive in dark, moist places and eat just about anything, although they're rather fond of parchment."

"So that's how you get rid of the essays. Remind me never to go back there," Harry muttered.

"Your wards are set to keep them out of the house," Ben remarked, "but that won't stop us from getting you some right now if you want." When Severus nodded, he asked, "You have a jar with a tight lid?"

"I think so - in the kitchen," Harry said, moving into the house. A few minutes later, after rummaging in the bin, he found an empty mayonnaise jar. A tap of his wand later and it was spotless. As an afterthought, he banished the remainder of the garbage. He brought it back out with him. "Is this all right?"

"Perfect," Ben said, handing the jar and lid to Kalani after Severus had dropped his specimen inside. "Just like we practiced," he murmured to his husband, who suddenly seemed nervous.

"Here, you hold the lid," Kalani said, handing it to Ben. Drawing his wand, he swallowed hard and closed his eyes. Ben placed a hand on his shoulder, his eyes glazing in concentration. Harry glanced at Severus, who was watching the scene intently.

Kalani held the jar away from him and, with the requisite wands movements, he tapped the top of the open mouth, calling out, "Accio B-52." At first nothing happened and then, right on the edge of hearing, Harry heard a buzzing noise that grew louder with every second. Soon there was too much to watch as one by one, huge cockroaches flew into the jar, the noise of their wings quite offensive. At the same time he noticed Ben carefully removing his hand until his husband stood alone, the magic bringing the insects to Kalani all his own.

There was a simple pride and love in the act that made Harry's heart sing. When Severus unexpectedly took his hand, he could sense Severus felt the same and was moved by it. They watched the container slowly fill, the bugs inside crawling over each other, scrambling against the smooth glass trying to get out, only to be thwarted by the inverted lip of the jar. When it was about two-thirds full, Kalani dropped his wand hand as the last one sailed in; Ben clapped the lid on, screwing it tightly shut.

"Here you go - first order filled - on the house," Ben said, handing the jar to Severus. With his quizzical look, Ben chuckled. "It means free of charge."

"Ah, thank you." Severus pulled his wand and cast a ward around the jar and another spell Harry didn't recognize. "There, they can breathe now and we won't have to worry about them crawling in the luggage."

"You won't have to worry about it," Harry said, eyeing the roiling mass with a moue of distaste. "I am not unpacking, this time." He shivered. "Far too many creepies, this trip."

Severus chuckled as he opened one of the bags sitting off to the side on the lanai, carefully wrapping the jar in a shirt before placing it in next to a jar of centipedes Kalani had brought for them the day before.

"Hey! That's my shirt!" Harry cried, horrified.

Severus shrugged, a smile playing about his mouth. "It was handiest."

Harry marched over to the bag and opened it, looking over all the specimens Severus had packed. "These are all my shirts!"

Chuckling, Severus replied, "What can I say? It's your bag, too."

Harry shut his mouth; he would deal with this - him - later.

After a succulent breakfast, Ben checked his watch. "You said 10:00 o'clock, and it's almost that now."

Severus looked around at the ocean over the railing with a gusty sigh. "I'm going to miss this place," he murmured, standing from the table, "but we must be getting back. It will be after midnight before we get settled in, and I have classes to teach tomorrow."

"Well, we'll let you say goodbye in private," Ben said, offering his hand. Severus took it and unexpectedly drew Ben into a hug. "Thank you - for everything," he said, pulling back. Kalani and Harry had already said their goodbyes and, after Harry hugged Ben almost as fiercely as he'd hugged Kalani, their two friends left via Kalani's scooter. Standing at the edge of the lanai, Harry and Severus waved until the two were mere specks in the distance.

His arm around Harry's shoulder, Severus murmured, "I hope someday we can call this place home."

Harry could feel Severus' melancholy pulling at him. He'd never realised until now, just how much of him, of them, was tied to this place - from their reconciliation last summer, to their Banns, to the intents and wishes of their friends contained in their vows, to their home and the understandings reached therein this past week. All positive things on which they could build their future. But there was also their past with which to contend; until they found resolution between them, they would remain forever held by two places.

"It's already home, as is Hogwarts; both bear parts of us. However, the only real 'home' I've ever had was you, love, and you're all I'll ever need. As long as we're together, we carry our own light wherever we are. This just happens to be the best place of them all."

His eyes telling Harry a story of their own, Severus pulled Harry close into a serious kiss, the Portkey in his hand activating unnoticed at the appointed time just as he pulled Harry tighter to him. A few moments later, disoriented, they stumbled apart at the Apparation point at the edge of Hogwarts. Shivering hands dug into one of the bags, drawing out winter cloaks and scarves; with sighs of relief, they threw them on to ward off the crisp winter wind.

"Damn, that's rude!" Harry exclaimed, huddling into the heavy woolen garment. Severus chuckled, taking his hand, and the two of them walked briskly up to the castle, their bags floating obediently behind them. No one met them at the door this time; regretfully their hands parted as they reluctantly stepped into a world where most folk did not approve of their relationship, forcing them to conceal it from common view.

With few words other than a brief 'discussion' of what came first, they went to Severus' private lab where Harry insisted his spouse remove all the specimens, both plant and - other, from their bags. While Severus placed everything in the back storage room, Harry sat at his desk going through the pile of Owls awaiting his husband's perusal, separating them into piles to make it easier for him to read it all - or all that was relevant.

Not much later they arrived at their quarters.

Harry knew Severus would have a hard time sleeping; to them it was only 11:30 in the morning. "I'll unpack the remainder of our bags tomorrow; I have no appointments until Wednesday. We should try to sleep."

"All right, although I'm not certain I can. It's too early."

"Oh, I'm sure I can think of something to tire you out," Harry said, waggling his brows.

Severus snorted. "Indeed," he said, lowering the wards. He opened the door and, after hanging their cloaks on the hooks in the entry, they strode into the apartment - and stopped short, their bags clattering to the floor behind them.

Harry looked all around him - and up. And up. And up.

"What the hell?" Severus growled.

Harry knew exactly what he meant as he replied faintly, "Damn, that's twice in one week..."

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TBC