So here it is! My personal favourite chapter and also a VERY significant one!

Just a few facts:

1. I listened to Aragorns short song at his crowning ceremony in R.O.T.K and that is the tune the song is based on.
2. I listed to Kathleen Battle's 'lovers' song when Severus is running through the fields so if you want to look them up feel free. It would probably help. (no worries you will understand all in good time)
3. Hermione's standoffish phase WILL be explained!
4. I know I am focussing a lot on Severus at the moment but please bare with me, Harry will get his turn soon, promise.
5. I hope you all like it and YOUR ALL GREAT!

Enjoy!

Don't let me die here

Severus just couldn't help himself, the sight of Harry in just a towel, water dripping down his pale chest and firmly muscled legs, the flush across his cheeks and those almost fearful big green eyes all the clearer because his glasses were hanging loosely in his left hand, just made him want to jump him, which he did.

Flinging him on the bed, Harry hardly had time to get out a surprised, "Sev-" before his mate covered his mouth with his own and his towel was unceremoniously whipped from about his hips.

Shocked but not unhappy at this sudden turn of events Harry felt the exhilarating feeling of air breezing across his skin before that enticing scent made it self known once more and he lifted his arms to wrap them tightly about his vampire's neck.

Severus, feeling that he had entirely too many clothes on, felt one handed in his pockets for his wand and finally having found it, fumbled, also one handed, to get it the right way up before he spelled his clothes off with a muttered incantation between frantic and clinging kisses and, before setting it down, lowered all light as well.

And then the wand was lost in the increasingly twisted sheets as Harry wrapped a leg around him and Severus suddenly found himself on his back, looking into scarlet edged eyes and panting desperately as his mate's sinful mouth found its way to his neck, sucking and licking along his collar bone, down between his nipples and then – Oh Christ around his nipples, until each nub had been sucked and nibbled and even slurped as Harry looked up at him with a teasing glint in his eye before moving even lower to his pale, trim stomach, sucking, licking and creating patterns with his tongue.

Severus thought fleetingly that Harry must be feeling like his needs were being met already as his wings had not put in an appearance, before he lost his train of thought as a warm gust of air rippled through the tight curls above the base of his erection.

And then he was writhing, literally twisting and turning on the sheets in ecstasy as a teasing tongue ran over his length, completely coating it in saliva as Harry's curious nature encouraged him to discover his mate's penis in the most intimate way possible.

When he felt the tip of Harry's tongue press into the small opening at the tip of his cock Severus moaned and reluctantly brought Harry's head up and away from his cock. Moving swiftly he jack knifed up and pushed against Harry's chest, causing him to fall back on the bed leaving Severus in control, they were lying upside down on the bed.

Gently he lifted each of his mates legs so that they were bent, Harry's knees were practically touching his ears and after tenderly kissing the side of one calf he drove down to lick the head of his mates dripping member before moving his head down even further.

He was greeted with the sight of Harry's hole winking teasingly at him as Harry clutched his legs to his chest.

Without hesitation Severus leaned forward and firmly grasping his mate's cheeks and pulling them apart he thrust his tongue into the puckered entrance and made love to him relentlessly with his tongue alone before closing his mouth about his entrance and sucking on it strongly.

Harry keened and thrust his ass back against his mouth, moaning and groaning all the while.

When he'd manipulated Harry's most private place until Harry was arching and writhing and screaming quite pleasantly and without pause, Severus withdrew his mouth and promptly sunk his fangs into the inside of his mate's cheek.

Harry screamed at the top of his lungs and bucked uncontrollably off of the bed as the vampire drunk deeply from him.

Severus was keening himself as the crimson elixure flooded his mouth and burst over his tongue. Securing a firmer grip on his mate's hips he drew deeply from him, his eyes rolling back in pleasure as the salty, metallic fluid invaded his senses. He only just remembered to grasp his mate's member and pull on it hard several times. Extracting his fangs he continued to pull on his mate's cock as he leaned up to whisper in his mates ear, "Just to let you know, that bite mark is permanent."

With a lusty groan at this Harry threw back his head and came all over Severus's hand and his stomach.

Severus almost lost it right then, almost tore into Harry's virgin entrance and fucked the ass off him right then. But he held back…just.

Leaning forward he sunk his fangs into the previously made punctures and drew another tiny mouthful of blood from his mate.

Harry moaned weakly and Severus smiled, keeping the blood in his mouth he withdrew his fangs, savouring the taste for as long as possible, sweet elixir swilling in his mouth.

Then he gently leaned in and closing his lips about his mate's entrance, let his precious load pour inside.

Harry jumped in shock as something warm, wet and liquid trickled inside of him and he lifted his head in surprise.

Severus simply smirked at him before gently and carefully inserting a finger inside of him.

Harry gasped but didn't tense, it didn't hurt, just felt a bit strange and different. Seeing no discomfort on his mate's face Severus slipped another into the mix, twisting and scissoring them gently.

Harry did feel pain then and brought his knees up against the intrusion, hissing and trembling just a little.

"Shh," Severus said, the sound slightly slurred around his fangs. Bringing his hand up he stroked Harry back to hardness as to distract him from the pain.

It worked until he then added a third finger and Harry full on cried out and arched his back, trying to get away from the invading digits.

Immediately Severus stilled his finger and moved to lay over Harry, nipping at his skin gently and licking the lone tear that rolled slowly down his check.

"I'm here, shh, I'm here. It will hurt for only a little while Harry I promise and I shall hold you close the whole time." He said, distressed at the pain his mate felt.

Pursing his lips Harry nodded and slowly Severus completed the act of stretching Harry out with only a few small winces and hisses on Harry's part.

Then taking his fingers out of Harry he lined himself up and calmly entwined his fingers with Harry's, looming over him and staring deep into his eyes.

Then slowly, slowly he pressed forward, holding back a groan as inch by inch he was held in a warm, moist cradle of pleasure.

Stopping when he was balls deep he kissed Harry's cheeks and nose and eye lids, murmuring sweet words of comfort and smiling as his mate sought out his mouth.

Then quite suddenly he withdrew and angling his thrust he hit home hard and fast and smirked when Harry jumped and cried out in pleasure, throwing his head back, mouth open and panting his need.

After that Severus was steady but firm, keeping them at a speed between slow and fast and drawing on Harry's moans and whimpers of encouragement.

Feeling his orgasm coil like a burning snake in his lower belly, Severus slowly started increasing the pace, pistoning his hips faster and faster until Harry was wailing, thrashing, arching and almost crying with pleasure and suddenly after one particularly vicious thrust Harry erupted between them and Severus came hotly in the warm encasing of his mate.

They lay there for a few minutes, Harry panting harshly and the blood Severus had drunk settled as a warm weight in Severus's stomach.

After a while Severus rose and pulled his robes back on and gently waking Harry he cleaned him gently with a warm flannel, noticing with relief that despite the fact he'd lost control at the end Harry had not torn. Applying some cooling paste he urged Harry up and helped him dress. Then grabbing Harry's hand he pulled him out into the living room.

"Are you alright?" He asked still slightly concerned as he drew Harry into his lap as they settled on the couch before the fire.

"More than alright!" Harry enthusiastically intoned despite his obvious lethargy.

"Good, now I plan to cook some dinner, would you like some?" He asked gently brushing some hair away form Harry's face.

"Mm yes please," Harry confirmed, eyes still closed. "then bed?" He asked cheekily opening one of them.

Severus chuckled squeezing him closer, "Yes then bed, but only for sleeping. I want to keep your discomfort at a minimum."

"Oh!" Harry pouted.

This time Severus out right laughed, "Your insatiable!"

"Ahh but you love me anyway right?" Harry teased, meaning to simply peck Severus softly on the lips and moaning as Severus goaded the action into something more.

"Well, well, well, we have been a naughty vampire now haven't we?"

The occupants of the sofa jumped simultaneously and Severus froze, his arms instinctively drawing Harry, if possible closer to him as he recognised the cool tenor.

Leaning casually with his elbows on the mantel-piece behind him, stood Lucius Malfoy. His beautiful, if now a little gaunt, face arranged into an expression of polite incredulity.

It was at times like these that Severus wished he had not learnt legimency along side this man, so as he might have a chance to glimpse what was going on behind the deceptive features.

As it was he had no idea what Lucius was currently thinking, nor what he planned to do. But he did not like the idle threat that lay loosely in the form of a wand between the senior Malfoy's fingers.

Pushing Harry gently from his lap, he stood up warily.

"Lucius, recovered and visiting so soon?"

Lucius smirked, "Hmm yes I thought I'd come and visit my oldest and dearest friend. However he seems to be quite preoccupied at the moment."

He smirked fingering his wand almost lovingly, a strange gleam in his eye. Harry wondered what kind of game he was playing and why, surely he wasn't really going to sentence his best friend to death by telling the Dark lord what he had seen.

"Tut tut Severus, I was under the impression that you informed the Dark lord that you had not found your mate… but what I just witnessed quite obviously suggests the contrary." He examined his nails briefly, "What will he do… I wonder upon discovering that not only did you lie to him…but that your mate is the golden boy himself?"

Severus turned and walked over to his refreshment cabinet, pouring himself a scotch he turned to lean against it, also nonchalantly.

"What do you plan to do with this information?" He asked almost casually taking a sip from his tumbler, though his eyes never left the blond Adonis.

Harry wondered how Severus could feel safe in turning his back on the dangerous death eater before him but kept quiet, he was pacified a little by the fact that his mate never strayed far from him and kept himself in between Harry and Malfoy at all times.

"Why Severus, you know what I have to do. The dark lord must be informed"

Severus seemingly placed his hand on the cabinet behind him and quietly said, "Indeed and by Merlin I hope you forgive me…for what I too, have to do."

It was so quick Harry almost missed it. Suddenly Severus brought his arm forward and with the words "Avada Kedavra" and a green beam of light, Lucius Malfoy, Voldermorts right hand man, lay slain on the carpet before him.

"You…you killed him…how…"

Severus ignored Harry's shocked stutters and stumbled blindly over to Lucius to fall on his knees beside him and reached trembling hands out to gently close his eyes.

"…Severus?"

The vampire didn't answer, he simply knelt with his hand resting upon his victims face and gradually the most beautiful sound Harry had ever heard reached out to caress him.

"Rãzboinic plecat, prieten eliberat, în tãrîmurile întunecate - cãlãtoria sã înceteze
(Warrior gone, friend released, into the dark lands – journey to cease)
Prietenul sã fie protejat, îngrijit de cãtre dânºii
(Friend be safe, looked after by they)
În tãrîmurile întunecate, faþa de-acum acoperitã
(Into the dark lands, face now veiled)
Deoarece el e deja mort
(For he is dead)
El e plecat
(He is gone)
Trimis pe tãrîmurile întunecate...
(Journeyed into the dark lands…)
N-ar fi trebuit sã cadã niciodatã, mortalitatea furatã
(Should never have fallen, mortality stolen)
Crimã comisã pentru a-i fura sufletul
(Murder performed to steal the spirit)
Amicului meu
(Of my kinsman)
Deoarece el stã culcat, rece
(For he lies cold)
El e mort
(He is dead)
Trimis pe tãrîmurile întunecate...
(Journeyed into the dark lands…)
...De cãtre propria-mi mînã
(…By mine own hand)"

There was silence, total and utter silence, Severus sat with his head bowed, his midnight black tresses falling softly over his face, hands folded demurely in his lap and Harry could swear he saw a tear drop fall silently onto his dark robes and seep into the fabric.

Time dragged on and Harry grew worried by his mate's quiet manner. He placed his hand on his arm gently, "Severus…?" The vampire shook him off in an irritated manner and turned his head away. After a moment his voice, husky but steady was heard behind his hair.

"I need to…dispose of the," He took a deep breath, "the body." Standing he scooped his former friend into his arms and headed towards the floo. Flinging some powder into the grate he said, "Stay here." Before stepping through the grate and disappearing in a billow of green flame.

Harry was left on the floor looking after his mate forlornly.

Severus flood to a tiny inn in Wales he knew well, the floo connection was thankfully in a separate room to the bar and before he stepped through into the main area he cast a glamour over Lucius's body to make him…it, look like a travelling cloak.

This done he moved into the bar and nodded a greeting to the innkeeper, ignoring his gestures for a more in depth conversation. Moving swiftly he crossed to the door and stepped out into the night.

It was raining heavily and his boots sunk deep into the rough dirt track that served as a road away from the village. Ten minutes later and he was far away from the village, half running half stumbling in his haste and it was then he gave in to his grief, warm salty tears mixing with the cool rain running down his cheeks and though the sobs were torn cruelly from his throat, he stumbled onwards, heedless of the mud staining his robes and his hair flapping wetly about his shoulders.

It was utterly dark and he could see but vague shapes in the gloom, he knew only that the smelly Muggle contraptions named cars never came out this far, the ground being to volatile at the best of times.

Awkwardly he negotiated a sty to his right and half tripped his way into the field beyond. Vaguely making out the trampled strip of terrain masquerading as a path before him. His mind shied away from the enormity of his actions as he jogged onwards. If he thought too much upon it he was likely to kill himself and that was not an option, all this was in aid of the safety of Harry. If killing his best friend meant he could keep his mate safe then that was what he had to do…and had done.

Looking up he realised he was heading towards the forest he'd been planning to dump the body in and crashed gratefully into the trees. Taking a route he knew well he jogged through the foreboding trees and looming branches until he came upon a clearing not too far in.

Setting the bundle down carefully he removed the glamour and looking away from the angelic face upon which an expression of shock was still frozen in place, he stripped it gently of all clothing.

The moon shone brightly overhead and the body before him shone with the pale light of death, ethereal and beautiful as it had always been and Severus felt almost filthy as he sullied it with his traitorous hands.

Finally he stood and gathering the clothes took one last look at his long time friend, swallowing back the tears as they threatened to fall like the rain from the trees about him. He couldn't bear to leave him, open to attack from the elements and wild animals and so he cast a protection spell about him…it.

And with that he slowly turned…and left.

Harry looked up as the grate flared almost angrily and Severus strode through it.

"What…"

"Not now, wait!"

Without even hesitating Severus stalked to his drinks cabinet and picked up the fallen wand that lay beside it and then cast a strong cleaning charm upon the whole room, paying special attention to the area about the fireplace.

Then pouring himself a stiff scotch he downed it in one and hid it back in the hidden compartment he kept it in on the side of the drinks cabinet.

With that he collapsed back onto the sofa and placed his head in his hands…sighing deeply.

Crawling from his spot on the floor Harry placed his head on his mate's knee in sorrow. He felt a gentle hand being placed on his head and purred slightly as it ruffled his hair, caressing softly.

"I'm sorry Harry, it had to be done."

Harry sighed, "I know…but Lucius is a prominent person and if you're discovered you'll not only have to answer to the Ministry but Voldemort too."

"There is no way of hiding it, so I left him…the body, where it will be easily found. I used my other wand so that even if my own is checked for an unforgivable it will not be traced. I stripped him of clothing and burned them and have cleansed the room so that no fingerprints will linger. I have done all I can. Now we can but wait."

Silently Harry stood and held out his hand and after a moment of hesitation Severus took it and they went to bed.

A boy with golden locks tumbled about in the snow, red cheeked and glowing with happiness. "Come and play Severus." He said over the wind.

"I don't like it," Severus said, "it's cold and wet." The boy laughed and tumbled backwards, creating a snow angel with his arms and legs.

"Even Malfoy's can play in the snow, you're so uptight and proper, lighten up and have some fun!"

"No"

The boy frowned, "Always doing what's right aren't you?" His head turned and he pinned him with an icy gaze, "Was it right to kill me Severus? Was it right to kill you're best friend? Was it right? Was it!"

Severus felt tears clog the back of his throat, "I didn't mean to, I had to do it…I…"

"You HAD to do it? Why don't you ever ..."

Severus awoke with a start and flung the covers off of himself. Leaping from the bed he headed straight for his drinks cabinet and downed three stiff scotches in a row, pouring out his fourth he sipped more leisurely at it, his eyes falling reluctantly to the carpet before the fire.

Swallowing back the tears that again threatened to consume he turned and flung his glass at the wall.

The dream had been part memory and now a beautiful memory was ruined.

"Severus?" He turned to the bedroom door and saw Harry standing questioningly in the doorway. Sighing he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's ok…you did what needed to be done Severus, ultimately he would have killed you if you had not, even if it would have been indirectly. He would have told Voldemort and you would have died, you know it, I know it…and he knew it."

Severus nodded and the weight about his heart lifted marginally.

"Come to bed."

And he did.

There we go, your thoughts would be most humbly appreciated.