Hiding Under the Ninth Earth
Chapter Three : Walking a Fine Line

Part IV : Sssnakesss, Eggsss, and Sssocksss
13 February 2023 (Continued)

Harry sat on his heels by his husband's side and watched him carefully, his fingers gently stroking Severus' hair, ostensibly to keep it away from the memory strand draped across the bridge of his nose and eyes. While his vigil was mostly uneventful, there were sufficient twitches and gasps, grunts and mumbled incoherencies to startle him out of his thoughts as they wandered. One time in particular, when Harry once again was going over the events that had brought him here in the first place, Severus cried out quite clearly, "Harry! Watch out--the bastard means to kill you!"

Shaking his head, Harry tried to fathom what the hell it was he'd pulled from his mind; Severus' warning meant nothing to him now. He clearly remembered removing several memories earlier in the evening, two of which had given him pause. He recalled his fierce internal debate as to whether he should destroy just those two but had decided reluctantly to store them; evidently Severus needed to know their contents, so he couldn't very well get rid of them. However, he could still feel within him the profound relief he'd experienced when he'd finally placed them in the bowl. What they were, he hadn't a clue, but Harry suspected the active strand on Severus right now was one of those two. If so, he deeply regretted that Severus had 'seen' it in this manner, no matter how much he needed to.

A deep sigh drew his meandering attention back in time to see Severus' body go completely limp. Alarmed, he touched the silvered temple, seeking the cause. Breathing a sigh of relief, he withdrew; the memory had run its course. He wished he could have removed it before Severus had experienced it all, but he'd never heard of anyone 'seeing' a memory outside a Pensieve. He shrugged; it was too late to worry about it now. He deftly removed the fine filaments with his wand and after a moment's debate--in which he decided to deal with his crises one at a time--he placed it back in the Pensieve rather than in his head. Staring at it in the bowl, he realised it was brighter than all but one other; perhaps because it had been recently viewed?

When an image started forming on the roiling surface, he looked away quickly. Now was not the time for distractions; Severus needed him. How much he didn't know, so with little fuss, he made one more check of Severus' condition. His findings didn't really surprise him. While still unconscious, his spouse was mending well, his body busily healing on its own the small traumas remaining. With a lighter heart, Harry took Severus' hand and waited for him to wake up.

Given that Severus would be sore despite his best efforts, Harry summoned a bottle of pain potion from the lab's storage room. As it smacked into his palm, he felt a nudge at his hip. Setting the bottle aside, he looked down to see that Saganth had arrived. A beady stare his only greeting, the Kingsnake carefully tasted the air around him. Putting his head down submissively, he slithered up Severus' body and slowly coiled on his stomach, well away from his ribs, his eyes fixed on his master's face.

Sleave moved from her place by the fire and joined him, her attention wavering between her brother and the two men. She bumped Harry's hand in warning before climbing his arm until she rested on his shoulder. He turned his head to admire her shimmering scales. It never ceased to amaze him how she could change her colouring and, in the sixteen years she'd been his almost constant companion, he'd come to understand the meanings behind the seemingly endless combinations. When she was calm and happy, she wore a burnished gold, but when she wished to warn others of her venomous nature, she would change into a bright parrot green or blue, or a lurid purple. But for now, the rare iridescent rainbow subtly highlighting her scales indicated stress and anxiety.

He could sympathise.

Distressed, she weaved her head back and forth. "Brother isss worried about hisss Massster. Isss your mate going to be well?"

"Yesss, Little One, my mate will be fine. He wasss not hurtsss too badly, he isss--sssleeping--right now."

With his words, she calmed a bit, her long black tongue tasting the air. She canted her body in question. "If he isss sssleeping, Massster, why do you not takesss him to the Sssleeping Placcce?"

Harry chuckled. "It isss not that kind of sssleepsss. My mate needsss to wakesss up before he can sssleepsss."

"Ah, I underssstandsss. Brother'sss Massster isss in the Cold Sssleep."

Nodding, Harry answered her with a smile. "Clossse enough, Little One."

Sleave regarded him a moment and then hissed, :If your mate will be fine, then why do you ssstill tassstesss like worry? Will Brother'sss Massster be angry with him?"

Harry slowly shook his head, the momentary amusement leaving his face. "No, Ssseverusss will not be angry with Sssaganth. He will know it wasss an acccident."

"Then I do not underssstandsss your tassste."

"My mate will be angry with me."

She pulled her head back in confusion.

Harry looked away and sighed. "It isss hard to explain, Little One, but I Hid The Eggsss from him and thisss will not make him happy."

"Oh! But hiding one'sss eggsss from one'sss mate is only prudent if one doesss not wantsss him to eatsss them."

"Ah, but it isss my Bad Fortune that he hasss already tasssted 'one' and now will want the whole clutch."

"Mmmm," she hummed, thinking. "Then you will jussst have to givesss them all to him now. Maybe if you givesss him the eggsss, you can ssstill sssavesss the nessst." She flicked her tongue, tasting his skin and, moving her body close, rubbed her face against his cheek, her humming purr tickling a bit. Pulling back, she stared at him.

"That isss my hope, Dear One." He huffed a small bit of air in her face, and her tongue flicked out to taste it. Running a gentle finger from her dainty head down her slender body, she purred in delight at his touch. Sidling closer, she looped her tail over his ear as an anchor and snuggled against his neck in loving contentment. Together, they waited.

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Severus took stock of what was left of him. His head floated freely in a bed of pain, thankfully separate from the rest of his aching body which had obviously been run over, perhaps by the Hogwarts Express. But that couldn't be right. He couldn't remember being in the station any time today and even if he had, it certainly didn't explain the heavy weight on his stomach which was moving slowly up his chest. He hissed in pain when it settled on his breast bone; the weight lifted and he sighed in relief.

With the tentative touch of a cool snake snout on his chin, Severus opened his eyes. Harry's face, hovering over his, swam into view in a haze of overly bright colour. "Turn the damn lights down," he croaked. He heard a chuckle as the room dimmed appreciably. Clearing his throat, he muttered, "Much better."

Harry's face disappeared from his view. Severus could hear him shifting, but he wasn't quite certain that turning his head, which had only reconnected to his neck in the last few seconds, would be a wise move. He certainly didn't want it to fall off again. Warm fingers grazed his temples and within moments he could feel Harry's gentle presence coursing through all the sore spots, easing them a bit; he was out as fast as he'd gone in. Soft lips kissed his forehead upside-down and wasn't that a strange feeling--Harry's breath in his hair, which he thought hurt almost as much as his brain.

Moving back to Severus' side, Harry placed a light hand on his shoulder and asked quietly with some amusement, "You ready to sit up, or do you want to loll around on the floor for a while longer?" At Severus' snort, he added, "Although I warn you, it could get pretty messy if I give you this pain potion in your current position."

"Prat. This just proves that your manners are better in bed than beside it," Severus muttered without any heat, smiling at Harry's laugh. "Is that Saganth on my chest?" At Harry's nod, Severus sighed. "He'll need reassurance, I'm sure. How badly was he hurt?"

"Just some bruising, nothing broken. He's fine now, but obviously worried." Harry lightly ran his finger over the heavy gold Ouroboros earring Severus had worn ever since Saganth was a hatchling. "Good thing this works or we'd never convince him you're all right; he still won't address me directly unless it's absolutely necessary."

"I'll speak to him again; there's no reason for his rudeness."

"Eh, don't bother; I've quite enough with Sleave." He looked between the two snakes. "Still hard to believe they're from the same clutch, though."

"Maybe he got his poor manners from Esmerelda," Severus said dryly as he raised his hands, placing them gently around the snake's smooth body. Saganth moved through his curled fingers, the flexing scales tickling his palms while his lower half straightened from its tight tangle. Graceful and fluid, he stretched until his pointed head rested against Severus' cheek, the tip of his tail loosely coiled atop his ankles. Soothed by the strong purr vibrating through the long body, Severus lightly stroked the younger snake so like his sire in appearance, and yet so different in nature.

Gathering his thoughts, he whispered the spell to activate their link. Almost immediately, Saganth broke the silence, his soft, worried voice filling Severus' head. "Is Master all right?"

Severus pulled his head back enough to see his familiar. "I'm fine, Saganth. Are you? Did I hurt you?"

Miserable, his head moving further to the side, he replied, "No more than this one deserves."

Gently tapping the snake on the head, Severus lightly scolded, "Stop abasing yourself. It was not your fault. I called you and you came. I am the one who did not watch where I stepped. This was a stupid Human mistake."

"If you say so, Master. This one--" he hissed in distress "--I will do as you ask. I am sorry I caused you hurt with my clumsiness."

"You are Forgiven, Saganth. And I am sorry I caused you pain with my inattention. It was not intentional."

"You are Forgiven, Severus." His tongue flicked out. "You say you are well and yet you still hurt," he said with a bit of reproach. "Was your mate unable to fully heal you?"

"Harry has done what he can, but the even warmest sunshine cannot make the grasses grow," he commented with mild censure. When Saganth nodded his understanding, Severus added, "The night grows long and I need to speak with my mate. I would ask that you and your sister wait for us in the Sleeping Place."

"Very well," Saganth said reluctantly. "Goodnight, Master." He rubbed his face against Severus' cheek.

"Goodnight, Young One." When the snake hesitated, Severus reassured him, "Do not worry so, I am well and will be to the Sleeping Place shortly. I merely need to talk with my mate for a while."

Rising to look Severus in the eye, Saganth flicked his tongue, hitting him on the bridge of his nose. "Talking and twining are not the same thing, Master."

"Impudent hatchling! Now off with you." While Severus chuckled, his snake slowly slithered off and waited by Harry's side for Sleave to join him.

Brow raised in inquiry, Harry asked, "Everything all right now?" When Severus nodded, he smiled. "He came and got me, you know. Bit me this time on the Achilles to wake me up." Harry chuckled, listening to the two snakes talking to each other. "You told him to go to the Sleeping Place?"

"Yes, it seemed best, and I told him to take Sleave off with him. We need to talk."

Harry nodded, the bright humour in his eyes belying his serious expression. "Good. I'll make certain she goes with him; they're both too stubborn by half." He grinned slightly, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. "Wonder how that happened, hmm?"

The soft hissing of the Parseltongue did to Severus' insides what it always did--damn, it was sexy. But he did have to admit the flood of endorphins in the wake of his body's reaction helped dull his headache. When the snakes departed, Harry slid his arm beneath his shoulders and helped him sit up, holding him steady as the initial dizziness passed. Popping the seal with a practised thumb, Harry handed him the pain potion. As expected, it tasted awful, like pureed sweaty socks, but given that it went to work almost immediately, he had little to complain about. The pain passing, Severus remarked smugly, "Ah, that's a fine potion, if I do say so myself."

Harry chortled as he replied, "Yes, Artemis does make them well, doesn't he?"

Severus sputtered. "Artemis?"

Harry laughed, turning the bottle so Severus could see the signature. "Yep, Artemis. The last of your batches was used two weeks ago on the Slytherin Quidditch team when they got creamed by the Ravenclaws. Douglas insisted. Only the best for your snakelings would do."

Chuckling ruefully, Severus said, "Ouch, don't remind me. Well, it's as good as I ever made."

"Fine praise indeed from The Potions master. Besides, these days you have more important brews to make than simple analgesics."

"True." Severus suddenly thought of what he'd just discovered about Harry's abilities. "Which reminds me. I need to talk to you about that; we may need to rethink our approach to the formulas."

Harry's puzzled frown only served to convince Severus they needed to wait before he revealed what he'd just seen. He needed to sort through the events and his own reactions to them before he could gain any objective perspective. Since Harry was oftentimes a bundle of emotions covered by skin, he suspected the lengthy discussions following the restoration of his memories would be highly charged; he didn't want them jumbled by his growing exhaustion and a lingering muzziness he was hard-pressed to dispel. They both needed a good night's sleep, one where he didn't have to fight Harry's adverse physical reactions to whatever else had happened. Selfish and petty of him, he supposed, but he sincerely wanted at least one night of uncomplicated pleasure; they both desperately needed a respite from the stress.

First, though, he needed to convince Harry, even if in a round-about manner. He really should feel guilty about such under-handed methods, but found himself unable to dredge up even one gram of remorse; if he approached it directly, Harry would stubbornly resist. To this most Slytherin end, he asked, "Were you planning on restoring your memories tonight?"

"I'd like to, if only because I've had some problems with disorientation in the past. When I checked my calendar for tomorrow, I noticed some patients I don't remember; I can only assume they're in the Pensieve. I'm obviously unsure about the others, though. I'm just sorry I forgot to remember to use the damn thing before I left for bed." He smiled, trying to seem unconcerned when in reality, he felt like a horde of Flobberworms had invaded his stomach.

Severus cleared his throat, ignoring for the moment Harry's increasing nervousness. "I think it slipped both our minds," he replied dryly. "However, I have a question." He paused, his gaze holding Harry's. "Have you ever retrieved a damaged memory?"

"No, is there a problem?" Harry asked, concerned.

Severus considered his answer carefully. "There could be, depending on how it's damaged. If you've no objections, I would like to be present when you do. For this I can use our bond to keep any impaired memory separate long enough for you to pull it out again. It's purely a precautionary measure, rather like a spotter when one fishes off the rocks."

"Are you feeling well enough?" Harry asked, thinking this was probably not a bad idea. However, he realised a tandem effort, taxing more than just his own resources, would be fairly demanding and time-consuming. It was already late; perhaps it would be best to wait until tomorrow. The thought brought immeasurable relief.

Severus eyed Harry's reaction, noting the slight relaxation of his shoulders. "Between you and the potion, I feel fine, if a bit tired, but since when is that anything new?" He pointedly glanced at the clock. "Hell, I have an hour before it's past my usual bed-time."

Harry followed his gaze. "It's actually two, but who's counting?" Standing awkwardly, Harry winced at the pins and needles of blood urgently filling his legs. Holding out his hands, he helped his husband to his feet. Watching with a professional eye the slight swaying Severus quickly controlled, Harry also noted the weary paleness starkly accentuating the black smudges under his eyes, making Severus look old and frail. Yes, waiting would be prudent.

Turning more serious, Harry continued. "I'd rather you watch, but not tonight. You look done in and I'm only awake by benefit of a snake bite."

"Are you certain?" Severus asked, forcing his face into an expression of concern; it wouldn't do for Harry to suddenly realise the direction into which he was steering him. "I'm quite capable of doing this now."

Harry insisted, "I know you are; however, I would rather do it in the light of day while we're fresh."

Stifling his sigh of relief, Severus nodded his agreement. "Very well. If you insist." He encircled Harry's waist loosely, dipping in for a kiss. "And, before I forget," he quipped, "thank you for seeing to my injuries. I'm sorry I caused you any distress."

You are Forgiven, Severus, Harry hissed.

Shivering as the Parseltongue worked its magic down his spine, Severus ignored his body's response; taking Harry's hand, they walked sedately towards their apartment, extinguishing the magelights as they went. "I'm fresh," he remarked drolly to Harry's earlier comment. "You're barely alive before noon."

"Ah, true, but you promised me pots of tea, if I recall," Harry teased.

"And toast with marmalade." He waved his free hand. "Yes, yes, I remembered." They reached the opening to their quarters. After walking through the tapestry, Severus turned to Harry. "What about your patients tomorrow?"

Harry gave it some thought as they walked down the ramp. "I didn't note in my schedule that I'd need any extra restorative; I do that if the case is going to be particularly demanding. I'll call Jed in the morning and ask him to take them; he's off tomorrow and he owes me one or four. That would probably be the safest way."

As they moved through the Rotunda, Severus checked the Loquarium for messages with a wave of his wand. Seeing none, he replied lightly, "Good. I was concerned that waiting would disturb your schedule."

Harry shrugged, walking into their bedchamber. "The only appointment I can't change is this Thursday when I'm meeting with Perrin and Carlotta. She is one busy lady; it took me weeks to settle on a date with her."

With mild surprise, Severus turned from his place at the wardrobe where he'd dropped his outer robe in the basket for cleaning. "Oh? How did you manage to draw Quiesta out of her ivory tower?"

Harry's soon joined it. "There's a couple of patients over at St. Mungo's who are used for teaching since they're so far gone," Harry replied, his voice partially muffled as he pulled his inner robe over his head. At Severus' raised brow, he said sheepishly, "That didn't sound right, did it?" He chuckled along with Severus. "Let me rephrase." He pulled on a dressing gown retrieved from the wardrobe, holding it closed against the room's chill. As Severus did the same, Harry moved away, saying, "We're testing Perrin on a couple of long-term patients singularly unreceptive to normal Sanos treatments." He looked over his shoulder. "Better?"

Severus just snorted, saying, "Hmm. Sounds like some of the Third Years. Dismal Class." He watched Harry shed his heavy dressing gown, dropping it neatly over the stand by his side of the bed. As usual, Harry wore nothing underneath; it amused him how quickly his husband slid under the covers.

"Damn, it's cold." Harry cast a warming spell over the bed. "Ah, that's much better." He snuggled under the blankets and peered at Severus over the duvet. "Socks, Sev. Don't forget socks. I'm quite certain my warm legs cannot stand the shock of your cold feet."

Dressing gown gaping, Severus groused silently to himself as he rummaged around in the top drawer. Where the hell were his socks? These all looked like they belonged to Harry. Soon he was methodically working his way through all the drawers and, with a huff, he turned from the wardrobe, dark green socks with bright yellow flowers in hand. His face thunderous, he barked, "Damn that elf! He took all my socks and replaced them with--these."

Harry snickered. "She did. Blinky replaced them this afternoon, saying they were a surprise thank you for the, ahem, gift you swore you'd never give them when their latest was born. She and Dobby were concerned your socks were too light since I'm always complaining how cold your feet are, so they made you new ones." Severus blinked. "Oh, come now, Sev. They're kind of cute and at least they match. Besides, what choice do you have? Those are the sanest in the drawers."

"Then I'm not wearing them. They're ridiculous!"

"Then you're not sleeping in this bed. Cold feet go in the sitting room."

"Harry!"

"Not joking, Sev," he said, his eyes sparkling. "No socks, no Harry. Which is more important? Your dignity or your sex life?" He laughed when Severus took time to consider the matter.

Severus groaned carrying the socks by two fingers. "It's a conspiracy," he grumbled, sitting on his side of the bed. Tugging one sock on, he continued, "Has to be, there's no other explanation." He pulled on the second sock and stared at his feet critically, wincing. "You're all trying to turn me into--into--Albus."

Harry choked out, "Hardly, although the periwinkle robes with the flying snitches are on order and should be in next week. I hear the matching cap is quite fetching and should go well with your eyes."

Severus growled, took the dressing gown off, and deliberately laid it over the horse next to the bed. Lifting the covers he slid in and laid on his side. His head on his hand, elbow firmly planted, he stared at his husband with one brow raised over a calculating eye. His free hand sneaked under the covers to land flat on Harry's chest.

"Oooo, they're very soft," Harry cooed in falsetto, rubbing Severus' socked feet with his own.

Severus lowered his voice until it was a low purr. "Ah, but you're not. And if memory serves, you gave me a choice..." Severus trailed his fingertips lightly down Harry's chest.

"Oh, it serves--" Around his navel. "--quite all right." Across his stomach. Ticklesss. Carded his short hairs. More. Rolled his balls. Pleassse. Slid up his cock. Yesss! Played with his foreskin. Don't ssstopsss! Grasped the shaft. Oh, godsss! Slowly stroked. Jussst like that--yesss!

Turning slightly, Harry snaked one hand out of the covers to pull Severus' head down to his, their lips nipping, sucking, biting. Severus moaned when Harry shifted a bit further to his side, still murmuring in Parseltongue, his other hand sliding over his side and hip and down, to unerringly grasp Severus' hard length firmly, matching his movements. Tongues tangled in an open-mouth kiss as they both picked up the pace, sliding, stroking, pulling. Close, Harry dropped his head back, needing more air, his head thrown back on the pillow, muscles clenched, his free hand gripping Severus' arm. Groaning, Severus dipped his mouth to the closest nipple, suckling and nipping it with his teeth as Harry bucked up with a SssoooGoodsss! Severus' answering climax followed a few heartbeats later, his hand clenched in the sheets by Harry's ribs.

Coming down from the rush, Severus rested his forehead on Harry's shoulder, catching his breath, relishing Harry's own erratic breathing. This was exactly what they'd both needed: the bond opened fully between them, removing the detritus of the last two days.

"Wow," Harry gasped, "I'm so glad you chose your sex life over your dignity." He felt Severus chuckle after mumbling their cleaning spell. "What does that make it?"

Severus rolled over on his back and pulled Harry with him, kissing him lightly as he did so. With some irony, he drawled, "I believe tonight makes it 47,684 for me--" he yawned "--and 46,188 for you."

Shifting to his side with an answering yawn of his own, Harry said, "Hey! That's not fair; you have more left than me." With Severus' laugh rumbling under his ear, Harry murmured, "I'm sure you'll share." He snuggled down in 'his' spot. "Was a bit of all right, though."

Severus settled Harry comfortably against his chest, his arms wrapped securely around his waist and shoulder. Kissing his forehead, he teased, "Saganth says you're very 'articulate' when you come."

Harry opened his eyes wide and lifted his head, only to discover Severus' wicked grin. "You discuss our sex life with your snake?"

Quite reasonably, Severus said, "From whom else am I going to get a translation? And if I recall he was just curious at the time. Besides, being far more practical about these things than humans, snakes are rarely embarrassed about 'twining', as I believe he calls it."

"No, I suppose not. Bloody odd thing to talk about, though." Harry grumbled good naturedly.

"Possibly." Severus chuckled, wondering what Harry would think if he knew just how often Saganth teased him about it. Turning his head to the side, he hid a huge yawn in his shoulder. "I don't think I'll be needing any potion tonight."

"Know what you mean; I'm knackered." Harry said, raising up to kiss him goodnight. Severus surprised him with a long, slow slide of lips, more like the serious kind of kiss they usually exchanged before bedding each other than after.

Their lips separating slowly, Severus' eyes tracked all over his face as if memorising it. "I love you," he said simply.

Suspecting what had brought on this unusual verbal expression of affection, Harry replied in kind, "I love you." With one final kiss, he settled back down. Severus doused the remaining candles with a mumbled spell, and they lay comfortably in the dark, each to his own thoughts.

Harry smiled, knowing full well that Severus had manoeuvred him into waiting until tomorrow to take his memories; he'd been with him too long not to recognise the subtle signs of his sneaky spouse in full Slytherin mode. Of course, the brief glimpses through the bond of Severus' telltale smugness hadn't hurt either. Not that he was complaining; there was a certain comfort to be found in knowing his husband cared enough about him to think about his general welfare, both physically and mentally. And he also suspected why; he was no fool and knew that, after the last couple of nights, they'd both needed a night of harmony before resuming what would most likely be an unpleasant, arduous task. The bond flowing open between them was proof enough of how beneficial this delay had been.

However, for every positive aspect of their bond, there was also the negative. Severus was more restive than he seemed. As he listened to the subtle changes in rhythm of his husband's heart, Harry also caught a few fleeting impressions of Severus' fluctuating emotions: frustration, resignation, an almost tangible disquiet, and through it all, an underlying quiet anger. But to whom was it directed? Him? Someone else? Or was it both? For several minutes, Harry debated the wisdom of saying anything, but soon found he couldn't rest easy without begging the question. It wasn't idle curiosity driving him, rather a gnawing fear within him that whatever he'd done was causing his husband to feel this way about him. A few more minutes passed before Harry drew the courage to ask hesitantly into the quiet, "Severus, may I ask you something?"

After several long moments, Severus replied, "Mmm-hmm."

A feeling of wary caution washing over him, Harry almost lost his resolve. Bracing himself, he asked, "Was it awful?"

Severus sighed softly, his arms tightening around him as he bestowed a tender kiss to his forehead. "No, love. It was a horrid situation with impossible choices. You did just fine."

There was a solid truth in his words and in the calmer feelings coming from Severus; he wasn't angry with him, only the situation. Relieved beyond words, the emptiness threatening to engulf him rapidly filled with Severus' loving reassurance. "Oh. Good. I was just curious. We can talk about it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Severus murmured, almost asleep. "After breakfast."

Harry nodded, lulled by the now-steady heartbeat under his cheek. Just as he was about to follow Severus into his dreams, he muttered, "With pots and pots of tea."

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TBC