Chapter Six: Day of the New Moon
Soon after they woke up, Severus knew Harry would be sore, so they started the day with some lovely oral sex, followed by a relaxing soak in the hot spring, which led to mutual handjobs.
Now, they were having breakfast at the two-person table behind the sofa nearest the lit fireplace. Severus leisurely chewed, enjoying his last bite of savoury pancake.
This feels like a honeymoon, Harry thought.
Did it? Severus asked himself, frowning.
He looked at Harry wearing the white silken dressing gown he'd made for him, his gorgeous collarbones and new neck scar on display, one shoulder more exposed than the other.
"I…I suppose it does," he conceded, his cheeks colouring.
Harry sipped his tea. He closed his eyes as he swallowed, sighing in pleasure afterwards. "Well, we have"—he cheekily glanced at his watch—"about twenty-eight wholes before the king comes to get us," Harry said, now using fae concepts with ease. "What do you want to do today?"
Severus thought for a moment, the idea of shagging the day away with Harry tempting him.
Grinning, Harry said, "I'm in."
Severus chuckled and shook his head. "There'll be plenty of time for that later. First, I should work on our robes. I want us to look appropriate for today's and tomorrow's celebrations."
He frowned.
Why do I feel the need to do this? Severus wondered, his brain matter struggling.
After bonding with Harry, he could more easily access the vast fae knowledge inside his head, but sorting it was challenging. Every attempt was like swimming through an ocean with no sense of direction. Once he regained complete control of his thoughts, he'd be able to better organise and navigate it all.
For the time being, all he could do was concentrate hard on a question and hope.
Severus proceeded to do so, and facts sluggishly started to float to the surface of his mind:
As one people, the Gealgar Leaidiá celebrate Óirysos' and Folaíma's cycles twice a year: when one's cycle starts anew, the other's ends and vice versa. It is a time of reflection, of beginnings and endings.
The court's schism must mean they now observe it separately, he reasoned.
"Severus," Harry said, "do you think you could make me some stone? Now that I have the time, I want to try transfiguring a chess set."
"Of course."
Severus summoned a rainbow of different types of marble and floated them onto a larger table.
They then both stood, but while Harry went straight to the other table, Severus first stopped at the wardrobe to collect the robes Lady Provaora had made for them. They would serve well as examples for his own work.
Once Severus sat across from him, Harry Summoned the tea service, positioning it between them.
Severus grinned. "Thank you, Harry."
Harry returned the smile, then playfully swished his wand for emphasis: "Gotta use it when I can."
A few minutes later, magic prickled at Severus' skin unexpectedly. Gasping, he jumped in his seat and clenched the fabric in his hands.
Noticing Severus' shaken expression, Harry rose from his chair and rushed to Severus' side.
"Are you alright?" he asked, laying a hand on Severus' cheek.
Severus took stock of his body. "I'm…fine." But I feel like someone just walked on my grave.
"Maybe you're having a reaction to the magic of the holiday," Harry said.
Frowning in thought, Harry glanced at the artificial, bright sky far above, then looked at his watch. "Isn't it around sunset outside the Hollow? It could be because of that."
Severus slowly nodded. "Perhaps."
He again checked his core before expanding his search, his magic feeling out their surroundings and trying to locate any unusual magical signatures.
Again finding nothing, he pecked Harry's lips. "Go sit back down. Everything's fine."
"Are you sure?"
Severus rolled his eyes. "Yes. Now return to your seat. I was making progress." He lifted the silken robes to show him.
Harry grinned. "Alright." He snuck a kiss before rounding the table and sitting back down.
In comfortable silence, they resumed their experimenting and creating.
"I think I like the red and ivory best," Harry announced, scrutinising the chessboard in front of him. He chuckled. "It fits with the lunar theme."
I like it, Severus thought, earning him a smile.
Severus also had to decide on colours for his own project. Since neither black nor white felt right for his attire, he decided on silver. Figuring out how to create the correct pigments to achieve it was challenging but enjoyable. For Harry's robes, Severus chose green for obvious reasons.
As the hours passed, Harry intricately flicked his wand to add details to his chess pieces while Severus worked on the cut and embellishments of their robes. He embroidered snakes, lions, phoenixes, earthly plants, and even Hogwarts itself.
Severus was pleased with the results. But he wished he had a working knowledge of more techniques. He'd have to order a few books once they returned to Earth. Severus perked up. Or perhaps there was a library here he could use.
"I'm done!" Harry announced proudly, setting the finished queens in their places. "Do you want to play a game with me?"
Studying the completed set, Severus was impressed. Harry had done an admiral job.
"Thanks," Harry said, beaming.
"I'd love to play a game with you," Severus answered. "Let me go set these robes in the wardrobe first."
"Great! I'll move everything to the smaller table."
They battled four times, Severus playing as red and Harry as white. Since they could hear each other's thoughts, they had to move their pieces more on instinct than strategy.
The first time they stalemated. The second, Harry won. But Severus came out on top, winning the next two rounds.
Afterwards, Harry kept repeating, "I can't believe I won against you," doing so both mentally and out loud.
Severus finally got him to shut up about it with a good snogging. In the end, the only losers were the chess pieces that had fallen to the floor.
The appearance of food prompted them to stop their groping.
"How about we eat next to the fireplace?" Harry suggested, righting his dressing gown. "It'll be cosier and"—he grinned—"more romantic."
"You mean: move the table nearer to the fire?"
Harry laughed. "No. That's no fun. We have to be sitting on the floor."
Severus looked at him with scepticism. Typically, he wouldn't even consider such an idea: Respectable people ate at a table.
But Harry, with his swollen lips and blown-out pupils, looked too enticing to refuse.
He sighed and nodded in acquiescence.
Now sitting on a cushion in front of the hearth, Severus struggled to find a comfortable position. His plate lay at a slight angle on his crossed legs, a small puddle of liquid pooling to one side. After poking at an orange morsel with his eating knife, he deftly speared it along with other mystery pieces. He had no idea what he was consuming, but it did taste delicious.
After they finished, Severus found eating on the floor had its advantages. He and Harry made use of the nearby flat surface, sharing more kisses and caresses.
But Severus stopped before things became too heated. He wanted to take Harry—repeatedly, but a niggle of caution kept telling him to stay aware, to not lose himself. And if he did get another taste of Harry's tight arse, the world could be burning, and he wouldn't care.
Harry did not suffer from this feeling.
"Do you want to practise flying some more?" Harry asked, a calculating grin on his face. "Doing it on the bed would be safest, don't you think, in case one of us loses control."
Severus snorted. "You are not being subtle."
"What?" Harry asked, feigning innocence. "If you fell, wouldn't you rather hit a soft bed than a hard floor?"
Rolling his eyes, Severus grabbed Harry's hand and led him towards the bed—where they would only practise flying.
Harry mentally groaned.
At least there are no lakes around, Severus thought.
Hearing him, Harry started to laugh.
After about two hours, Severus could maintain a steady position a foot off the ground. Harry still couldn't fly directionally, but he could move upwards with no trouble, so much so that he had to have a rope tied around his ankle so he wouldn't float away.
Exhausted, they lay on the bed, their legs over its edge.
"Let's go out and join whatever festivities there are," Severus said, turning to look at Harry.
To Severus' amusement, he heard Harry's groan of resignation.
Harry sighed, then gave him a lopsided grin. "I'm guessing you want us to wear the new robes."
Severus nodded and called the garments onto the bed. "Dress. I'll search for the flower Lady Provaora used to tame your hair."
Together, they helped each other get ready: Severus tying Harry's belt artfully and Harry placing Severus' circlet on his head.
Harry took a couple steps back to see Severus' full frame better. "Wow…you look…stunning, Severus."
Feeling his face reddening, Severus inhaled a deep breath. "Thank you," he said brusquely. He cleared his throat. "You look stunning as well."
"You're just saying that because I'm your soulmate," Harry teased.
Severus stifled a grin. "You know I can't lie."
"I know," Harry said softly before placing a quick, sweet kiss on his lips.
Severus linked his arm with Harry's and led him to the doors.
With a thought, the stream instantly stopped, but when he compelled them to open, they remained firmly shut.
He released Harry's arm and tried again, using more power.
Still nothing.
"We've been locked in," Harry said.
"Or others have been locked out," Severus added.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. He unsheathed his wand and aimed it at the doors. "Do you want me to try?"
Severus nodded yes.
Harry waved his wand: "Alohomora."
Severus attempted to open them once more, but they didn't budge.
For an hour, Harry cast a myriad of spells at them and the surrounding walls; Severus did the same but with the six remaining branches. Harry even performed a grey-leaning blood ritual that Severus knew.
But nothing worked.
Severus gnashed his teeth in frustration.
"Maybe we can fly out," Harry suggested.
Severus shook his head. "The sky is merely a magical construct; I felt it with my magic. If we tried, we'd only crash into the ceiling beyond."
Harry growled, then said, "We're living in a literal fairy tale. There must be something we can do!"
Sighing, he adjusted his glasses.
Pacing in thought, Severus recalled their experience in the King's Garden, how, with mere wishful thinking, he and Harry had caused their environment to change. Was it simply Harry assimilating to Danu, the garden's innate magic, or something else?
"You want to try something similar?" Harry asked, responding to Severus' thoughts.
Severus nodded and let his eyes roam across their bedchamber. "When I first used my magic to open our room's doors, I felt a connection establish. Now that I think on it, it's similar to the one I had with Hogwarts after I was named Headmaster."
His excellent sight focused on a shadowed, plant-free wall section on the far side of the room. The area was about five feet from the ground, two feet wide, and five feet tall.
"There," he said, pointing. "I'll try it there."
When they reached the blank spot, Harry chuckled. "I feel like we're trying to make a door to get into the Room of Requirement."
With slight humour, Severus glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "If not for seeing all your memories, I'd have no idea what you were talking about. But let's hope you're right and the Hollow listens."
Severus relaxed, letting magic freely flow through his core. The tiny fae fluttering about went to hide.
Suddenly, he felt a jolt, like he'd fallen through fire into an icy river. He inhaled a sharp, strained breath.
Harry took hold of his hand and wrapped an arm around him reassuringly.
Severus squeezed Harry's fingers in thanks.
Once he was steady on his feet again, Severus thought, A door out would fit nicely here, repeating the phrase like a mantra.
Gradually, all the hanging plants around them stilled.
When Severus saw the wall ripple, his heart leapt.
"It's working," Harry whispered excitedly.
Severus watched with wonder as a door appeared like a mould shaping a sheet of iridescent black glass.
For a couple seconds, they both stared, afraid to believe he'd succeeded. But it seemed the Hollow had heard him.
Severus closed his core, allowing only Air, and sent it out.
With ease, the door swung open, revealing a pitch-black passage.
"I'll go first," he said. "Wait here."
Severus gracefully jumped towards the opening, his ears immediately popping once inside. The passageway ahead was bare and narrow but didn't appear immediately life-threatening. He called Light, and crystalline glowing spheres appeared ahead.
Harry slowly rose into the air. Once he was at the right height, Severus encouraged his magic to nudge Harry closer, then pulled him in the rest of the way with an arm. Without needing to be asked, Harry quickly cast Noise-Suppressing Charms on their boots. He then lit his wand.
With a determined expression, Harry thought, Okay, I'm ready. Let's go.
Severus pounced, kissing Harry until he was breathless.
Breaking their embrace, Severus gazed at Harry's flushed face. He grinned. Now we're ready.
Cautiously, they made their way through the silent, seemingly endless tunnel. When his ears popped again, Severus deduced they were steadily travelling upwards. The gradual increase in temperature also clued him in. The air was changing, too, becoming drier.
About an hour had passed when Severus was reasonably sure he was catching whiffs of what could be charcoal.
After a few more minutes, Severus discerned a faint sound
I heard something ahead, he informed Harry.
Harry nodded and extinguished his wand. Severus did the same with his spheres.
Rounding a corner, Severus could clearly distinguish the murmur of voices and see a faint glow reflecting off the surface of the passageway. The light gradually brightened as they walked until they saw a rectangular opening.
They slowly approached.
Severus flattened his body against the side of the tunnel and looked out.
On the ground, he saw a stone about three feet ahead blocking most of his view and above it was a lavender predawn sky.
I believe we are on the surface of Danu, Severus thought.
Let me cast Disillusionment Charms quick, Harry said.
Severus nodded and felt the distinct tingle of the spell laying upon his skin.
They took one another's hand to avoid getting accidentally separated and slunk out like thieves.
No longer having his view obstructed, Severus saw an impressive megalithic monument. The large circle was made of the same stone as the archway to the King's Garden. Thousands of fae stood, sat, or flew in and around the structure. Those clothed wore garments of black, crimson, and deep plum.
Glancing farther into the distance to either side, Severus discovered they were on a plateau like the one he and Harry first arrived on, but the vegetation here was more maintained. Towards the west, Aná was on the verge of rising.
"It is time to commune!" a familiar voice repeatedly shouted, magic carrying it across the crowd.
Many of the fae sat down, allowing Severus to see who and found that it was Lord Ypirnín. He stood in front of a large party of noble sídhe wearing ceremonial hooded robes.
Severus shuddered, the scene too closely reminding him of his time serving the Dark Lord.
"Silence!" Lord Ypirnín ordered a few moments later.
Everyone went eerily quiet.
Lord Ypirnín raised his arms in a beseeching manner, then started to rhythmically hum.
One by one, fae joined until the discordant sound made the hairs on Severus' body stand on end.
The stillness of the fae helped him and Harry navigate closer to the circle's centre in the hopes of speaking with Lord Ypirnín. But even minding their steps, they occasionally brushed against others to their confusion.
Magic built around Severus, the compulsion to stop and add his voice strong.
Suddenly, the loud greeting of "Blessings!" cut through the droning.
Severus and Harry looked up, recognising the voice.
The fae ceased their humming and replied, "Blessings, Your Eternal Luminousness."
King Cégirmir wore sleek black, his attire a mixture of the Day-of-the-Wise-One speaker's structural robes and formal armour.
"On this revered day," Cégirmir said, "we gather to celebrate the eternal cycle and our connection to it.
"Aná's brilliance obscures our vision, but we know our Sonúin, our beloved Folaíma, is above us, slumbering, resting before beginning anew."
Severus and Harry had the same thought at the same time: Isn't Folaíma the warring court?
As Aná peeked over the horizon, Cégirmir shouted, "Folaíma, let us rejoice! Óirysos has fled, and the new moon is above. Let us rejoice! For we are free until sunset and, by Sonúin's grace, will be evermore!"
The crowd cheered and waved their robes.
Severus and Harry were now only a few feet from where Cégirmir stood.
Harry squeezed his hand and asked, Should we go and demand answers?
With thousands of fanatical fae around? Severus replied.
But if we return to our bedchamber, we chance getting locked away again.
We can't risk angering Cégirmir, Severus thought. He's our best bet for returning to Earth. He said as such, and he can't lie.
What if—
Without a sound, pools of swirling Darkness suddenly appeared throughout the crowd, one of them right in front of Severus and Harry.
A split second later, the vortexes disappeared, and dozens of white-robbed sídhe warriors were in their places.
Fae screamed. Most then scattered, fleeing in terror.
The remaining fae were predominately sídhe, most already standing near Cégirmir. With practised ease, they unsheathed their swords and vanished their hooded cloaks, displaying their armour.
Harry's hand tightened around Severus'. Merlin, look at their fucking eyes, Harry thought.
Fae tended to have eyes of varying shapes and colours, and Severus had thought the same carried over to the sídhe.
But he'd been wrong.
Although the sídhe all had black sclera, their irises were red like the moon they worshipped, including Sirs Enason and Dýod, whose eyes had been solid black—except for Cégirmir; he still had white irises like Severus.
"You dare, brother!" Cégirmir screamed at the sídhe standing with his back to Severus. "This is our sacred day!" He sneered. "You are foolish to come while Danu blocks Óirysos and you are at your weakest."
A guileful smile curled Cégirmir's lips. "However…though I find having pets more trouble than they are worth, I think I would reconsider if I were to capture you. You have made it exceedingly tempting to try."
Cégirmir's brother sighed. "Why must you be like this, Técleas?" he said, his voice similar to his sibling's but sounding wearier. "You are sickeningly blatant in your attempt to circumvent the Royal Pact, but I care not.
"I only come to claim my son. Had I known of his existence sooner, I would have travelled to Earth myself. Now, where is Severus?"
As the kings traded barbs, Severus' insides roiled. But now he understood: My father's name is Cégirmir, but who I thought was my father is really my uncle Técleas.
But how is that possible? Harry asked. Fae can't lie.
Severus recalled his first meeting with the King of Folaíma at St Mungo's. His hands clenched when the truth hit him:
Técleas said he is known as Cégirmir, not that he is Cégirmir.
Well, fuck… Harry thought.
The clang of swords reclaimed Severus' attention. He looked towards the sound and blinked.
Now that the real Cégirmir—Severus' actual biological father—had moved, he could see the brothers were identical: the same build, the same height, and the same face.
"Técleas, I will not ask again," Cégirmir warned, pushing his sword against Técleas'. "Where is Severus?"
Técleas slyly grinned. "Worry not, Cégirmir. He is safely stored away. After the full moon rises as sunset, I will return him to Earth none the wiser."
"You would steal his birthright!" Cégirmir growled. "You would keep him from accepting his position as my heir!"
That must be why I felt the jolt at sunset earlier, Severus realised. I was being warned my time was running out.
Severus squeezed Harry's hand. Remove my Disillusionment Charm.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Okay.
"Finite," Harry whispered.
Before Severus could warn Harry not to do the same, Harry had already done so, materialising next to him.
The next instant, Severus felt power slam into his gut, and he was blasted into the air.
Swords clashed.
As he hurtled off the side of the plateau, he briefly caught a glimpse of Harry rising to his feet.
"SEVERUS!" Harry both verbally and mentally screamed.
Knowing that Harry still lived, Severus called upon his Air.
His velocity slowed, but he still landed hard.
SEVERUS!
He groaned. I'm alive.
Thank Merlin. You keep doing that.
Severus grinned at Harry's cheeky humour.
On shaky legs, he stood and sank knee-deep into Danu. He coughed. A grey powdery layer covered him, and he'd breathed some of it in.
Looking around, Severus frowned.
The ground wasn't made of sand or soil as he first thought.
It was ash.
With no warning, images of war, fire, and destruction inundated Severus' brain.
Gasping, he understood: They did it, the fae. They had destroyed everything. He wasn't simply in a desert part of Danu. The entire planet's surface was the same as here: ash with the barest of life.
A bright spell flash followed by a loud explosion let Severus know Harry had joined the fray. But Severus was terrified for him. Harry was battling beings who were hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. Although Harry's magic was more potent on Danu, Severus remembered how effortlessly Técleas had nullified Harry's charms at St Mungo's.
He needed to somehow return to Harry's side.
A soft sound from behind put Severus on instant alert.
Keeping his posture relaxed, he asked, Harry, are you behind me?
Er, no.
Severus immediately dropped while simultaneously turning and hurled a massive sphere of scalding water.
Without lifting a hand, Técleas evaporated it. "Severus," he sighed, "you do so disappoint."
Before Severus could react, magic pressed down on him from all directions, slowly suffocating him like a serpent. But Severus didn't panic. He'd known such torture before, be it Tobias' hands around his neck or the Dark Lord's Cruciatus.
Técleas roughly grabbed Severus by his robes. Smiling gloatingly, he lifted him into the air like a misbehaving pup. But as he opened his mouth to speak, his expression went lax.
Técleas stumbled. His grip on Severus slightly loosened.
Seeing an opportunity to escape, Severus violently twisted his body.
He broke free, falling, his arse slamming down first.
Covered in another layer of grim, he inhaled a deep breath, uncaring of the burning sensation of his oesophagus and lungs.
Severus glanced up and stilled.
Técleas' skin was…rippling, his hair changing from black to the same golden hue as Lord Ypirnín's, his brow growing heavier, jaw broader.
And his irises…they turned a poisonous red.
So this is my uncle, Severus thought as he cautiously rose to his feet, And he's been taking…Polyjuice Potion.
What? Harry said in confusion. Polyjuice? OH SHIT—
Harry? he asked in alarm. Are you—
A bolt of black energy just missing his head interrupted Severus' thought.
Técleas chuckled darkly. "Severus."
Severus continued to hear Harry's erratic, desperate thoughts intermixed with profanity. They made him feel both worry and reassurance: worry because of Harry's potential to be injured or killed and reassurance because he knew Harry was still alive.
"Severus!" Técleas repeated, his angry tone jarring him.
"Are you surprised?" He gestured at his recently revealed face.
Severus stared impassively. And although he was covered with ash, he looked as regal as the fae king in front of him. "Should I be?"
"No," Técleas said matter-of-factly. "Wizardkind has been part of our war for millennia, though…they are mostly unaware of it.
"They are a necessary evil, disposable like the robes on my back, unworthy to set foot on Danu: humans mixed with Gealgár or Folaíma. Tools of combat for either side and nothing more. Their potions and enchantments have their uses, but their cores, which lack an innate connection to The Seven Branches, would taint this world and destroy the balance even more. The truce that has given us the longest stretch of peace in centuries would become irreparable."
Clenching his jaw, Técleas showed his sharp teeth. "But, no! My brother would risk it all! Copulating with any witch that would spread her legs, hoping that a sídhe would breed true."
He sighed dramatically. "I thought Cégirmir was finally starting to see reason after so many failures. It had even become more of a game, like hide-and-seek. He would randomly hide his abominations, and I would find them."
Técleas smiled.
Severus' heart began to pound, foreboding gnawing at his spine.
Severus! Harry's beautiful voice filled his mind.
Yes? Severus eagerly replied, anxious to know if he was safe.
Your dad and the rest of us have got them incapacitated or on the retreat. It was like playing whack-a-gnome with Stunners. How are you fairing with your evil uncle?
We're reminiscing, he quipped.
Harry's lovely laughter filled his head.
A slight grin touched Severus' lips.
"Ahhh," Técleas said lightly, "you are speaking with him…"
He rubbed his chin. "Dear nephew, fae are known for their deal-making." His gaze became intense. "So here is mine: Vow to leave Danu before this day's sunset, never to return, and your soulmate," he spat the word, "will not be slain. If not, it may not be today or tomorrow, but I promise you, and you know I am not bluffing: I will use all that is within my purview to make it so."
Severus opened his mouth to counter that food from Danu would need to be provided to Harry on Earth when Cégirmir and half a dozen of his guards, one of which held Harry, landed behind Técleas.
"Stand down, Técleas," Cégirmir said in Danu'sa. "There is no point to this."
Técleas casually glided backwards until he could see Cégirmir to his left and Severus to his right.
When he spotted Harry, his nostrils flared and eyes narrowed. "There is a point, brother. Do you not see it? Like a piece of parchment, a line of flames has already begun to consume us. If we do not stop this now, all that will be left is ashes once more."
He regarded Severus. "You do so remind me of my brother,"—he turned to Cégirmir—"of happier times when he and I were still allowed to see each other. Before I was taken away. Before I learnt to hate him.
"Being Folaíma, I cannot love my own brother. I cannot kill him," he hissed. "But I can give him pain." He refocused his attention on Severus. "And now, I can do…have done the same for his son. Or is he more my son?
"Perhaps, I only need to change the phrasing to get my point across."
Técleas took a step closer to Severus: "If you're not goin' to mind meh, you'll have to mind meh fist."
Ice filled Severus' veins at Técleas' words, a perfect mimicry of what he'd heard whispered to him so many times during his youth.
Técleas glowed with pleasure. "Yes, Severus. I knew Tobias. I knew him quite well.
"Having found such a posh lass, he wanted to impress. And kind-hearted me, I was happy to help, my payment being, to his ignorance, access to and influence of his mind."
"But I did have my kingly duties, so I would frequently send him off for long periods." He grinned conspiratorially. "At times, while he was away, I would act in his stead. Wearing his face, I sometimes embraced you and pretended you were my brother. But most of the time, I showed you exactly what I thought of him and you. It proved very cathartic, actually."
Severus' mind swirled; he felt ill. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
But everything made sense. He finally knew how Tobias, his mum's soulmate, could repeatedly harm her.
Técleas sighed. "However, as with all things, the game grew old." His eyes glittered with malice. "I shall never forget your face after I sent Tobias walking into that busy street."
Before Severus fully grasped what he was doing, he flew through the air faster than a falcon and landed a punch on Técleas' smug face.
Técleas laughed, blood trickling from his split cheek. "You cannot say I did not teach you anything, Severus."
At that moment, Severus couldn't care less if Técleas was his uncle or a king. He wanted vengeance for what he and his family had been put through. If not for him, Severus could have lived a life where Tobias felt pride rather than hatred toward Severus' magic, one where he grew up warm and healthy and loved.
But Severus would never be able to equal Técleas' skill in magic, and he didn't know how to wield a sword.
He did, however, know how to handle knives.
In one breath, he called silver and cooper, fashioning a long blade for each hand, then plunged them into Técleas' armpits where his armour didn't protect him.
All Técleas did was begin to chortle.
Severus gasped as he felt magic shoot out of him and towards Técleas.
The knives inside him slid out and fell to the ground with dull thumps. Then the flow of blood slowed to a stop.
"You cannot kill me, Severus," Técleas admonished. "The Royal Pact prevents familicide within the royal line."
Severus slowly walked backwards in horror.
Harry pointed his wand at Técleas' head. "But I can," he said in Danu'sa to everyone but Severus' surprise.
Técleas' pupils dilated, dread flashing in his eyes as Harry strode towards him. "No…" he breathed, shaking his head, his gaze fixed on the two crescent scars on Harry's neck, one pale and the other red. "It's…it's not possible."
Steadily keeping his wand on Técleas, Harry smiled and quickly glanced at Severus. "I learnt this from one of the most renowned professors to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts."
Warmth and fear filled Severus' chest.
Predicting Técleas would try to circumvent Harry's spell, he used Técleas' distracted attention against him and called Darkness to momentarily blind him.
As Técleas scrambled to throw off Severus' magic, Harry waved his wand: "Obliviate."
Green light smashed into Técleas' shocked face, throwing him off his feet.
"Whoops," Harry said, not sounding sorry at all, "that might have been a tad much. I've been having that trouble lately."
Just like Lockhart, Técleas rose with a dazed and confused expression.
"Oh," he said, smiling at everyone brightly. "Hello."
Severus tried to suppress his laughter but failed. As his body shook with relief and joy, he went to Harry and pulled him into his arms.
He didn't know why he'd worried; Harry wasn't a murderer.
"I love you just as you are," Severus said to him.
Harry stepped back so he could see Severus' face. "I reckon I've been waiting my whole life to hear those words."
"It's nothing but the truth."
Both grinning and thinking their sentimentality was a bit embarrassing, they shared a kiss.
Severus' father used Darkness to take him just outside the Haven: their underground home. Calling him his father was strange, but right now, it was preferable to using his name, which brought up memories of Técleas.
Soon after they arrived, it dawned on Severus that returning to Earth would require creating and travelling through a black hole of sorts, which would probably mean a lot of practice before attempting it himself.
Covered in grime, they all used magic to freshen up before they entered the Haven.
Inside, there was little resemblance to the Hollow. The walls were made of quartz crystals of varying colours but mostly a creamy white.
Eventually, they entered an enormous cavern. Snow gently fell from the ceiling onto a glittering, white landscape. A single cylindrical tower stood grandly in the centre, every one of its many floors circled by a columned exterior corridor. Fae lounged, slept, and even danced on its balustrades. None of the plants Severus saw appeared to be dormant. Flowers and fruits thrived, their innate magic shielding them from getting trapped inside snowy cocoons.
When they entered a large courtyard, instruments began to play, announcing their approach. Fae swarmed out of the tower by air or from the ground floor's main entrance.
His father led him and Harry onto an elevated stage. He then took them to a private corner.
"Severus," his father said, "I shall be introducing you to our people and claiming you as my son." He smiled warmly. "But there is something more. I can also announce you as my heir.
"You see, once a prince or princess fully manifests their magic, they have until the rising of the full moon to formally declare themselves as heir. To not do so is to forfeit the right forever. It is a stipulation in the Royal Pact.
"You do not need to decide right this second, but I wanted to give you the option."
"Does it mean I must be king?" Severus asked.
His father chuckled. "No."
Severus inhaled a slow, deep breath, thinking. He was a Slytherin, so ambition was one of his main traits. But he had to consider Harry.
Accept it, Harry urged.
Severus whipped his head around to stare at him. Harry— he began to protest, but Harry quickly stopped him.
Just because you agree to be heir doesn't mean you have to be king. Accept it if it's what you want. I want you to be happy.
Severus looked at him with concern. Are you sure?
Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes," he emphasised. "As long as you'll stick around for when I have Vanquisher-of-Voldemort duties."
You drive a hard bargain, Severus teased, but you have a deal. He kissed the top of Harry's hand.
Severus turned to his father. "I will claim it."
A broad, prideful smile appeared on his father's face.
After promising to protect Danu as heir, which included performing a blood oath, Severus' father led him and Harry to the front of the stage.
The pastel-donned sea of fae cheered as they approached.
"Children of the Moons," his father's voice carried, "may I present my son, Severus, Prince of Óirysos, Crown Prince and Heir Apparent, and"—he smiled at Harry Potter—"his soul-bonded"—the attendees murmured in wonder—"Harry Potter."
After his last word, Severus and Harry felt magic burst from their cores, coalesce, then expand like a shockwave.
Fae began to scream.
Panting hard from the expenditure of power, Severus and Harry looked at each other wide-eyed.
"The curse is broken!" fae began to shout, some weeping.
"Folaíma!" another cried. "I feel Folaíma!"
Severus turned to see his father and found tears streaming down his face. "What happened?" he asked, bewildered.
"We are reunited," his father said with pure joy and awe. "The Children of the Moons is whole once more. Óirysos and Folaíma are returned and, I would wager a guess, so too is the promise of soulmates."
"I thought fae didn't want soulmates," Harry said.
"When you cannot have something," his father replied, "is it not sometimes easier to scorn it than long for it?"
Severus knew what he meant all too well. That same thinking had kept him from getting to know Harry.
Until you got to know a little too much of me, Harry thought.
I promise you, Severus thought back, caressing Harry's bum suggestively. I still have much to discover.
To Severus' delight, Harry blushed.
Later, they returned to Danu's surface to celebrate the full moon of Óirysos. Both courts were miraculously in attendance after ages of separation.
As the sky further darkened, fae, including his father, who had been proclaimed the High King, would frequently glance at Óirysos' bright splendour or Folaíma's thin crescent smile.
Severus and Harry conversed with numerous interesting fae, such as the Day-of-the-Wise-One speaker, who had, indeed, been the intruder. She introduced herself as Sir Voithóir.
No longer on Polyjuice Potion, she looked completely different. But the wisdom in her eyes still hinted at her ancient age.
As Sir Voithóir walked away, she looked over her shoulder and said, "I hope you enjoyed my food selections, sires," giving them a wink.
They also pleasantly ran into Ambroise and Chorhtria, the willowy fae they'd seen at the amphitheatre. The sad yearning that had been in Ambroise's eyes was gone. Ambroise went on to proudly share that they and Chorhtria were soulmates.
By the look of Ambroise's bitten throat, Severus assumed as much.
Every time Ambroise gazed at her, they beamed: every single time.
Seemed excessive, Severus thought of Ambroise's behaviour after they parted ways.
You wear a similar expression when you look at me, Harry commented. You just don't grin like mad when you do it. Sometimes you even forget what you were thinking.
I am moonstruck by you, he admitted.
Harry chuckled and shook his head. I suppose I am, too, then.
Severus sighed with regret. When he and Harry returned to Earth, they would lose this ability to read each other's thoughts with such ease.
But Severus didn't mind it too much; he could always teach Harry Legilimency. Now that he knew how Harry's mind worked, it shouldn't be a problem.
Harry snuggled closer to him.
Severus kissed the top of Harry's head, feeling beyond happy.
He'd found his heart's desire.
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