CHAPTER 39

A/N: I am aware that the previous chapters and this chapter are quiet and...sappy, as some of you would call it :-) But you are all familiar with the calm before the storm...
Thanks for visiting my Snarry Files blog, by the way:-)

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Severus carried Harry all the way down to the dungeons. He shook his head exasperatedly when he saw that Nessa's portrait was again bulging with various subjects from the castle's portraits, and Harry laughed, his arms wrapped around Severus's neck as he was carried into their rooms. Severus set him down gently. Harry reached into his pocket and withdrew a vial containing their bonding blood. He walked over to the shelf where the first bottle was kept. He took Severus's hand in his, and the couple gazed at the two flasks, the symbols of their mutual bond. Their bond was a powerful one, for they were not only linked by a blood contract but also by profound love for each other.

Harry leant his head against Severus's shoulder.

"It will be our anniversary in another eighteen days," he said softly. Severus smiled.

"Yes, and we will celebrate it by having a honeymoon."

Harry had never thought that the word "honeymoon" would sound so sweet coming from Severus's lips. It sounded like one of the words Severus would prefer uttering with disgust and cynicism.

"Really? You want us to have a honeymoon?" he asked, his green eyes sparkling.

"Yes – but it would have to be here at the castle for security reasons. We cannot venture abroad or even beyond the perimeters of this castle with Voldemort and his followers preparing for war and for me to bring you in a supposedly tortured and brainwashed condition."

"We'll not be able to go abroad, then," Harry said wistfully.

"The Dursleys never took you abroad with them?"

"They never bothered to go abroad. They preferred sticking around within the country. I would liked to have gone abroad for our honeymoon, but here is also fine…and with Voldemort around, there's no other choice we've got, just like you said…"

Harry's eyes darkened. He stared at his feet for a moment; then he looked into Severus's black eyes.

"I'm scared, Severus," he said softly. Severus cupped his cheek in one hand.

"Harry, those who are truly brave always admit that they are afraid. But remember that you are protected and have been trained thoroughly. Minerva, Alastor and Kingsley tell me that you have all the qualities of an outstanding Auror."

"I'm scared for my friends…and…for you, Severus."

"You are my Protector," Severus said simply, "and I believe in all which holds us together and has created this bond between us, Harry."

Harry smiled; the clouds of doubt and anxiety moved on, and Severus could see the happiness return, undiluted and genuine. A year ago, Harry and he had loathed each other, Harry accusing him of claiming forcefully and Severus suffering the torture of guilt… And now they had found joy in their marriage. Thanks to both Voldemort and Dumbledore, Severus thought smugly.

"What shall we do on our honeymoon, Sev?"

"Anything that you want – as long as it does not involve those pranks the Weasley twins have developed or anything which might wreck our surroundings," Severus said.

"How about if we start with the preparations…now?" Harry asked breathily – something Severus had come to recognise as Harry's bedroom voice, so to say. A thrill rushed through his body. Harry's mouth approached his own mouth in a delicious kiss. Severus's tongue searched for Harry's. Harry curled up his tongue, playfully evading Severus's explorations; then, with smouldering passion, he uncurled it, launching it at Severus's tongue, making their full-mouthed kiss positively devouring. They kissed some more; their breathing became heavy.

"I want to feel you inside me," Severus panted into Harry's ear.

Harry took his hand; they went into Severus's bedroom, where the young man proceeded to worship Severus's body thoroughly with his lips and hands. He pressed a kiss against the dark-red bonding circle around his husband's left ankle. When they were naked, he took Severus in his mouth, firmly holding the jerking hips onto the mattress with his hands. Severus's breathing became increasingly erratic. He reached down and grasped Harry's waist, pulling against him.

"Take me, Harry. Now," he panted, kissing him hard on the mouth.

Harry, however, was somewhat hesitant about being "on top". Severus, understanding his anxiety, reassured him:

"I know you'll be very careful. I'll tell you if I am uncomfortable."

His tone set Harry at ease, and as soon as he was lost inside Severus's tautness, he forgot that he had been nervous and unsure. Severus's sounds and movements of pleasure took away any lingering doubts. Hands stroked and clutched; mouths whispered and kissed. Eyes blinked, locked, stared intensely and closed with pleasure.

Afterwards, Severus held Harry against him firmly, enjoying the warm arms around his neck, the tickle of untamed black hair against his chin and the whispered "I love you, Sev."

"And I love you, Harry," he murmured. He had never thought that he would utter those three words one day – or hear them spoken to him by another. Harry's fingers played with the chain around his neck. They lay like calmly in bed for a while until Harry noticed something as he happened to glance at Severus's feet.

"Sev! Look!" Harry exclaimed, pointing at both their left ankles. The circle was fading slowly. The circumstances of the first bonding had made him miss this moment. Severus smiled and kissed his shoulder. The circles were gone within a minute. While Harry still gazed at their feet with awe, Severus disengaged himself from Harry and opened a drawer of his bedside table. He slid back to Harry and put his arm around the youth, pressing something into his hand. Harry looked at it. It was a chain with a delicate square pendant set with a tourmaline. One half of the polished gem was flushed a delicate pink-red, and the other was a bright emerald green.

"It is for you," Severus said, taking the chain from him and putting it around Harry's neck.

"Sev…" Harry flung his arms around Severus. "Thank you so much!"

He kissed Severus and scooped up the pendant in his hand, admiring it.

"It's exquisite."

"I had it designed for you," Severus said, "and it has a charm on it to prevent chipping. You can wear it in the shower, climb mountains with it-"

"Climb mountains?" Harry smiled.

"I am surmising that a shower would be preferable…Or a bath?"

"A bath. That way we can lie in the tub together," Harry said; and when they were reposing in foamy water, Harry dozing with his cheek against Severus's shoulder, Severus wondered at the miracle of being able to find such sweet and beautiful moments in a world where war was about to break loose and a cold cruel hand was reaching out to take his husband away from him; and both he and Harry would do everything prevent it. They definitely needed a honeymoon. Harry would liked to have gone abroad for their honeymoon…They were in a magical castle with magical grounds, and Severus's mouth curved into a smile as an idea occurred to him. True, it wouldn't quite be the same thing, but it would be a good substitute…And he was sure that Albus and Hagrid would help him.

Two and a half weeks later, Severus led Harry across the grounds towards the Forbidden Forest; it was the day of their first wedding anniversary – an occasion which neither wizard would have ever thought of celebrating a year ago. Severus had been woken up in a rather ungentle manner; Harry had flung the sheets off him, smothered him with a hug and several kisses and announced that breakfast was ready. Though not a morning person, Severus had reacted affectionately by returning the embrace and allowing himself to be tugged out of bed.

"Where are we going, Sev?" Harry asked, wrapping his fingers more firmly around Severus's hand.

"You'll see," Severus said unperturbedly, now guiding him down a pebbly path which snaked its way through the trees. "Albus managed to extend the wards a little so that they reach beyond the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and Hagrid has cleared a small area just for our benefit. Albus will reduce the wards after a week, and Hagrid will restore the area to the Forest's inhabitants at the same time."

"Area? A week?"

"For our honeymoon."

"Sev, what exactly-"

"You'll see," Severus repeated, amused at Harry's impatience.

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