Chapter 10
By Inzilbeth
The Potions Master remained silent and motionless as he gazed into the depths of Harry's eyes. Those eyes were filled with only love and contentment. Severus vowed to himself he would do all he could to see that look directed at him many times in the future.
Remaining speechless, Severus raised his hand and cupped Harry's face gently; he tried to push forth his own feelings of love into the gaze he and Harry now shared. He knew words were not possible for him in their present company. Harry turned his head into Severus' hand, smiled, and kissed the palm softly. He gave Severus a look that said he understood what the dark eyes were saying to him. The clearing of a throat brought everyone's attention to the headmaster.
"Well my boys, since Draco is on the mend, let's move to my office. We'll floo there from the fireplace in your office, Poppy; if that is all right with you?"
Poppy replied "Of course Albus."
The headmaster turned to Ron and Hermione. "I am proud of you both for coming to the younger Mr. Malfoy's aide. You both may leave. I believe that you can still get some breakfast in the Great Hall if you hurry. I must also ask you to keep these events to yourselves." Hermione nodded in understanding, but asked another question.
"Sir, what will become of Malfoy and his father?" Draco cast a nervous glance toward the headmaster upon hearing Hermione's question.
"Miss Granger, I have already contacted Aurors Shacklebolt and Tonks to deal with Mr. Malfoy senior. Draco and I will be having an intense conversation after he recovers." Professor Dumbledore replied as his piercing gaze swept over a very nervous looking Draco.
Hermione knew from the names of Aurors coming to the school that Malfoy senior would be questioned by the Order, which could give them an advantage in the future over Voldemort.
"Minerva, I trust you'll remain here with the Malfoys until the Aurors arrive?"
"I will remain Albus." Turning toward Severus and Harry she said quietly, "I am sorry for my earlier reaction towards you both, especially to you Harry. I am now beginning to understand the true depth of your feelings and am glad to have been reminded of how my own once began." Harry was pleased that his Head of House seemed to have done a bit of soul searching and he favored her with a small nod and smile.
Severus bowed his head slightly at Minerva's words. He was still angry with her behavior earlier, for hurting Harry's feelings and trampling his trust. His reaction compared to Harry's made him realize once again how much he had misunderstood the younger man over the years. His capacity for love and forgiveness were inspiring to him.
Harry said to Ron and Hermione, "I'll see you later OK?" He was a bit worried about his friend's reactions to his new relationship with the Potions master.
Hermione brightly smiled and replied, "You come see us when you can Harry."
Harry returned her smile and looked towards Ron. Emotions were passing quickly through his eyes, finally settling on a look Harry recognized as Ron's 'I'll be by your side no matter what' look. Ron's words confirmed the look.
"That's right, Harry, we're here for you when ever you need us." Ron stated in a firm voice.
Harry was glad Ron had recovered from his initial shock and would stand by him. Harry's face split into a full smile. Ron reached for Hermione's hand as Harry and Severus left the room.
Albus led Harry and Severus into Poppy's office closing the door behind them. Grabbing a handful of floo powder he quickly vanished into the flames, but not before turning a twinkling eye in their direction. Harry reached his hand toward the pot, but was stopped Severus' grip on his wrist. As the floo powder fell through his fingers and back into the pot, Harry felt a small tug and willingly let himself fall against the taller man's firm form.
Severus was always a man in favor of taking advantage when an opportunity presented itself. So he reached am arm around Harry's waist pulling him closer, the other hand he used to cup the back of Harry's head. Harry looked up as Severus directed their mouths together.
The kiss started out gentle, and Harry sighed with contentment as Severus' tongue swept along Harry's lips before moving inside where he slowly explored the sweetness of Harry's mouth. The intoxicating taste caused him to deepen the kiss. Heat and light seemed to be traveling through their bodies and nothing and no one had ever felt like this to Severus and Harry instinctively knew no other could ever make him feel as he did in Severus' arms. He felt safe, warm, loved and for the first time like he truly belonged.
Severus tightened his hold on Harry to force their bodies closer together. Severus pushed his knee between Harry's legs. Instantly the pressure against his erection caused Harry to moan into Severus' mouth. His own hands held the Potions master tightly to him. One hand then reached up to tangle in Severus' hair to help deepen their kiss. The additional pressure brought forth a moan from Severus and made him remember where they were supposed to be heading.
He would have much rather have taken Harry to his chambers, but Albus was waiting. The old coot already knew they would be arriving a few minutes behind him if his parting twinkle was anything to go by and unfortunately it usually was.
Harry whimpered as Severus gently pulled back from the intense kiss. He sucked on Harry's lower lip in apology before finally pulling away to rest his head on top of Harry's and let them catch their breath. Harry leaned into Severus' strength and enjoyed the pleasant feel of the man's hands as one stroked softly through his hair and the other caressed his back.
Severus spoke even though he hated to break their momentary peacefulness. "We need to go now." Harry mumbled something into Severus' chest. He leaned back and tilted Harry face towards him.
"Do we have to go there?" Severus longed to say no, but he knew they were only putting off the inevitable.
"We will not be there long and then we will head to my chambers and back to bed where we were before we were so rudely roused from our sleep." Severus told the younger man in a voice full of promise.
Harry leaned up to place a chaste kiss upon the lips of the Potions master and fervently said, "I'll hold you to that and much more after Voldemort is gone. While I am relieved you are free of him, I want all those I love to be free from him as well. Voldemort and I may share a link through my scar, but there are countless people whose lives he ruins each day by his very existence."
The older wizard marveled at the passion and courage Harry put behind his words. He answered just as ardently. "Together we will fulfill the prophecy. I'll not allow you to face him alone." They locked eyes with each other as what they wanted to accomplish became a promise between them.
Keeping one arm firmly around Harry, he steered them to the floo. At Harry's questioning look he answered the unspoken question.
"I have heard of your success with the floo system and I do not trust you in it alone even as close as Albus' office." Harry just grinned in reply and followed Severus into the floo where he was enveloped by protective arms as soon as the floo powder ignited.
They stepped out of the fireplace together their arms still around each other. In front of the fireplace Severus and Harry absently brushed ash off of each other. As they finished they both noticed Albus seated at his desk. He tactfully did not question their late arrival or point out the well kissed look each was wearing. Albus was sure they were thankful for the cover of their robes as he often had been himself.
"Would you like some tea and breakfast?" He moved from behind his desk and indicated the chairs around the fireplace. As they settled into their chairs a table appeared between them having been summoned by the headmaster.
Severus was wary as he searched Albus' face. He knew there was a reason that he and Harry were there and he figured it had to do with the antidote to the potions they both had ingested. Meanwhile Dobby had appeared with a breakfast tray and as he placed it on the headmaster's desk the elf gave Severus a meaningful look. Severus noted that this was a house-elf he could trust with Harry's life as he could see the being's devotion to his Harry.
As the three helped themselves to breakfast the headmaster asked, "Now tell me what you know of your new bond?" Harry's fork clattered to the floor causing Severus to raise a questioning eyebrow. "Severus, you are aware that a permanent bond now exists between you both?"
Turning in his chair to look at Harry, he could surmise the younger wizard knew what Albus was talking about. Harry had the grace to blush and as concerned as he was about where this conversation was going, he still could not help thinking how endearing that blush made the green-eyed wizard.
Rousing himself from those thoughts he asked Harry, "What bond is the headmaster referring too?"
Harry looked at the headmaster who said, "Surely you did not think I would forget what happened with your wands? I choose not mention my knowledge of what had happened because I feared it would influence you both, but it seems, Harry, that you know of it do you not?"
Harry's deepening blush answered for him.
"Harry, tell us what Ollivander told you?" Harry's eyes snapped up to the headmaster who gently nodded to him.
Taking a deep breath Harry faced Severus as he told them what Ollivander had explained to him. As he repeated the wand maker's words, Severus began to panic thinking his feelings were just a result of the bond. He swiftly, but gracefully, stood up, turned, and strode toward the office door.
"Severus, this is not something you neither can nor truly want to turn your back from," said Albus calmly.
The headmaster's words had halted his progress across the room. He felt a hand on his back and the hand's owner stepped in front of him.
"Was it a bond that made me kiss you the night of our change? And was it a bond that made you kiss me the next morning?" Harry asked.
Severus looked into the liquid green of Harry's eyes and saw the truth there. He recalled his desire for the younger wizard and his thought of a possible future with Harry. Severus' hands gently cradled Harry's face.
"I am sorry for my doubt, I have told you that you may have very different feelings once we are restored to our proper ages, I am over twenty years your senior and the greasy git."
Harry was having none of that. "Sev, you can not retreat into your fortress anymore to hide behind its walls. You are in the light now and I will do anything I have to do to keep you there." As he said those words to Sev, he remembered the horrible childhood Sev had had and wanted again to take away those things that had made this man isolate himself. Remembering the mark now in place on Sev's arm, he pulled the arm between them and tugged up the Potions masters sleeve and ran his hand over the new mark.
"Ollivander also said that I replaced the darkness in you that Voldemort's mark placed in you with the light of my love. This mark is a sign of my love and respect for you. When I am restored to my proper age and you are restored to yours all that happened between us will still exist along with my love for you and this mark will remind you of that. It is the two of us twined together, forever. I want a mark from you as well in whatever form you wish me to wear. I want to know we belong to each other. That I am yours and you are mine," finished Harry passionately.
A hand to his cheek pulled Severus' gaze from the Light Mark to Harry's intense eyes, eyes that were begging Severus to believe him. Those beautiful green eyes belonged to his soul-mate, his soul-mate. How wonderful that sounded to him, to a man who always thought he would be alone. Severus had to close his own eyes as he pulled Harry into his arms. He tightened his hold and felt Harry's contented sigh against his throat.
"You are right, though it pains me to say it, brat." Severus said with much affection into Harry's soft hair.
Harry's shorter frame shook with suppressed laughter, he knew that the road ahead would be hard, but they would travel it together.
"My boys," said an amused voice behind them. They had completely forgotten about Albus during their intense conversation. "I can not tell you how pleased I am for both of you that you have come to love each other. It had been my hope that you would learn to trust one another and be friends. This far surpasses my hopes for you both."
Severus snorted as he and Harry returned to their seats, "Albus, you forget how long I have known you and you can not hide that you hoped it would result in more than a friendship."
The headmaster conceded the point to him by a slight incline of his head toward Severus that hid for a blessed moment those infernal twinkling eyes. "Meddlesome old coot," was mumbled by Severus which just caused Albus to smile and twinkle all the more. Harry laid a calming hand on the Potions Master's leg, which he could not help taking into his own hand and strumming his thumb over the back of, all the while still glaring at Albus.
Albus began again, "While I am happy for you both there is more for us to talk about. Now that Severus knows about the bond I want to talk about the benefits of such a bond for you both. Harry has severed your link to Voldemort. You are no longer subject to his usage of your magical power as you were before. I had always been concerned about your welfare once Voldemort is no more. Now you are bonded to Harry and the new Light Mark bears witness to this. When I witnessed the magical exchange between your wands I knew a bond had formed, but I did not know that Harry had cut your link to Voldemort. Harry, this is most impressive, it took a lot of power to do that."
"Just one more thing to set me apart from normal people," replied Harry sullenly.
"You misunderstand me, Harry. Do you not remember me telling you that love is a powerful thing? Your love for Severus was so powerful that you wanted him free from the darkness that is Voldemort. So you see, Harry, it was your love that broke the link, a powerful love. Love shared between soul-mates is very powerful and when soul-mates as magically powerful as you and Severus are joined together great things become possible. Have you felt anything of what I am speaking of?"
Harry suddenly found his robes very interesting and ran his free hand over the embroidery, Severus enjoyed Harry's latest blush and tightened his hand around his soul-mate's.
"Ah, I believe my question is answered." The Headmaster said into the silence. "But I have another one for you both to consider. When would you like to be restored to your proper ages? Before you answer there is more about your bond to consider. You both may think that Harry is physically stronger in his new body and this could be beneficial."
"So Albus, what specifically do find so extraordinary about our bond?" Severus questioned the older wizard. Knowing Albus as he did, he knew that the older wizard's mind was engaged in his usual machinations. It was not the first time Severus thought how fortunate it was that Albus was not a dark wizard and Voldemort a light wizard, or their world would have been lost to darkness long ago as Albus was far better strategist than Voldemort.
"Why only this my boy; you and Harry, together mind you, through your mutual love and the sharing of your magical power with Harry, now have the means to destroy Tom Riddle."