Chapter 4 – Anger

Ice began to form on the arms of Harry's chair, a frozen mist sprouted sending the occupants in the room into a panic.

The 3 house elves leapt away shivering, and most of the others in the room sat stunned at the young boy's display of power.

The only two that had any clue of what to do were Luna and Severus.

They knew Harry needed to be calmed immediately before he hurt someone.

Luna wanted to comfort Harry but had no idea what you could say to someone that had been hurt the way he had. She didn't know how he'd been hurt but she knew.

The anger in those emerald eyes said enough.

Severus on the other hand knew exactly how Harry was feeling; he had felt it himself. Anger, hurt, and betrayal caused by the people that were supposed to care for you.

The temperature in the room dropped further, his breath forming small clouds.

He needed to do something, anything.

The room, sensing his need, formed another room and Severus knew he had to get Harry into it now.

He used the stealth he'd developed during decades as a spy, he moved around the back of the sofa, moving steadily towards the boy. Reaching the boy's chair, he noticed the tears sliding down his cheeks and the hissing.

The boy was a Parselmouth!

The only ones aware of this hissing were Granger and Weasley as they were closest to Potter.

Grabbing the boy by his arm, Severus hauled him towards the new room.

Harry kicked and screamed, but Severus had no choice, he could feel the boy's magic building.

Severus launched Harry and himself inside the room, the door slamming shut behind them as Harry's magic exploded, blowing Severus back. His head colliding with the wall, lights danced before his eyes. A wet warmth trickled down his cheek and he knew he was bleeding. Severus slumped dazed to the floor, the boy was hunched, trembling before him.

Minutes passed, Severus could hear Albus outside asking if they were okay but before he could reply wards shot up around the room, sealing them in.

Severus raised himself up, his ears ringing, head throbbing.

He turned his attention to the boy curled up whimpering on the floor, trembling fiercely.

Severus quickly assessed himself, there was no major damage, but he would need a pain reliever and something for his headache once they returned.

He moved towards the boy slowly, knowing he would be jumpy.

"Potter, are you okay?"

Silence apart from rasping breaths.

"Potter?"

Nothing again.

"Harry?" Severus' tone softened as he addressed the boy.

Ever so slowly the boy relaxed from his curled position, turning to face his professor.

"Sir?" Harry's voice was hoarse from screaming, his eyes red and puffy behind his glasses. Tear tracks painted his face as his lower lip trembled still.

"Are you okay?"

"I think so."

Harry met Severus' eyes, noting the blood running down his cheek. The boy shot up, latching onto Severus' chin, tilting his face to inspect the wound on his head. Severus hissed at the calloused finger prodding at the cut and the touch instantly softened.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

Severus sighed.

"It's nothing. I've had worse."

"I know."

Severus wondered how the boy could know, but then he knew Harry would react the way he did without knowing much about his life outside of school.

"It doesn't need stitches; it shouldn't leave a scar." Harry added shyly.

"Even if it did, it would only be another to add to my collection." Severus chuckled darkly.

"It shouldn't be."

Severus raised his eyes to Harry only to notice that his eyes were locked on the stone floor, tears threatening once more.

Severus reached out to clasp the boy's shoulder.

"Better me than someone else."

Harry gasped at the touch meeting Severus' gaze, a light blush staining his cheeks.

Severus thought it was rather cute before he stamped that thought down.

Since the incident with Lupin in the boy's 3rd year, Severus had come to admire his bravery and determination. Then last year in the tournament he had noticed the physical changes, Harry grew taller and began to fill out his lanky frame.

He was beautiful with his emerald green eyes, full lips and stained cheeks.

Severus could have controlled himself, but he found that he didn't really want to in this moment.

He knew that if Harry rejected him, he wouldn't never speak a word of it to anyone, that's just who Harry was.

For the first time since Lily's death, he was taking what he wanted.

The older man leant forward and connected his lips with Harry's.

The boy's eyes widened.

Harry registered the pressure of his professor's thin lips upon his own fuller ones. He didn't understand, he was stunned, unable to respond.

As those lips moved away, Harry blinked.

"I'm sorry."

His professor began to move away. Before he could think Harry's hand clenched fistfuls of those black robes pulling the older man back.

It was Severus' turn to be stunned as the lithe boy slid into his lap, fingers clenched in his robes bringing them chest to chest, able to feel each panting breath the other took.

"Why did you do that?" Harry's voice was barely a whisper.

Severus swallowed.

"Because I wanted to."

Green eyes meet black as they gravitated towards each other once more, unable to deny this feeling growing between them.

This time when their lips met, Harry's eyes slid closed enjoying the light pressure. Moving himself closer so he was flush against Severus, Harry sighed giving Severus the perfect opportunity to insert his tongue into the teen's mouth.

Harry fidgeted as Severus' tongue swept through his mouth before slowly coaxing his own to come out and play. Harry lost track of time but when they broke away, they were both panting, chests heaving.

Neither spoke.

Severus cupped Harry's cheek, his thumb running over the boy's kiss swollen lips. Harry returned the gesture but avoided the man's injured forehead, instead he ran his hand through those strands of onyx hair. It felt baby fine and so soft, not greasy at all.

Severus sighed at the intimate gesture, his eyes sliding closed, just enjoying the closeness before it had to end.

"We shouldn't do this."

He hadn't spoken the words, but it didn't change the truth behind them.

"I know." Severus' heart hurt as he spoke the words. He was destined to be alone, after all he was a Death Eater and a spy. Love was for the weak and he couldn't afford to be weak, and neither could Harry.

"But…"

Hope fluttered in his chest as Harry spoke.

"But?"

Severus allowed himself to hope as his heart began to race.

"But… I don't care."

Severus' jaw dropped as Harry's free hand slid up his chest, resting over his racing heart.

"And neither do you, Professor."

Severus surged forward, wrapping his arms around Harry's waist, one hand sliding up to the boy's shoulder, the other to his hip.

"Cheeky. Impudent. Brat."

Each word was punctuated with a kiss.

"And you love it."

Harry froze at his own words.

"I do."

"What?"

"I do love it. I love how brave you are. I love how you defend your friends no matter the cost to you. I love the way you look after Quidditch practice, all windswept hair, and flushed cheeks. I even love the way you look when you cry, those emerald eyes flooding with tears. I love how broken and utter perfect you are, Harry Potter and I always will."

"Oh."

"That's all I get? 'Oh'?"

"I don't know what else I can say."

Severus buried his face in Harry's chest, hoping to hide the fear in his eyes. The fear of rejection, of humiliation, of losing someone else he loved dearly. He had loved Lily but in the way a brother loves his sister, but Harry he truly loved.

Harry he would die for, he had known it from the moment the boy set foot in the school 4 years ago.

"I do actually…"

Severus squeezed tighter.

"I don't know if I love you, I have never been loved before by anyone. But…"

"You were so loved Harry. Lily and James both loved you so much."

"I know. But I never got to feel it. The closest I've got to feeling that love is from Molly and Arthur, but they have their own children to worry about."

Severus stayed silent holding the boy close as he poured his heart out.

"I don't know if I love you, but I've always watched you. I've watched you protect so many people; not just your Slytherins. I've watched you take aside students who need more support than others. I know you care so deeply, and I want to see where this goes."

For the first time since he held Lily's body in his arms, Severus allowed himself to cry.

Severus trembled in Harry's arms, Harry buried himself in Severus' hair, breathing in his scent. Sandalwood, fire smoke and something vaguely spicy yet distinctly Severus.

For the time in the lives of either man they allowed themselves to be vulnerable in the arms of another, to give the hearts they had long since locked away to someone who would protect it with everything they had.

As tears dried, the embrace remained. Harry would have once feared long stretches of silence, he feared it no more in Severus' arms. Harry smiled into Severus' hair as the man sighed against his chest.

"Harry, we've got to go back."

"I don't want to."

"We can't stay here forever, love."

"I know. I know."

Harry reluctantly pulled back.

"Don't worry, Harry. I don't know what caused that reaction back there…"

Harry stiffened, but Severus' soothing hands relaxed him once more.

"I don't know what caused it and I'm not going to ask. You can tell me when you're ready but remember this Harry, I've been through it all too."

He laid his forehead gently against Harry's, mindful of his wound.

"You can trust me."

"I know." Harry breathed against his lips.

Harry quickly pulled Severus in for a chaste kiss before rising, holding his hand out for Severus to take.

"Let's go."

As quickly as the wards appeared, they fell. Harry entwined his fingers with Severus' as they stepped out into the reading room once more.