AN: Well, here we are with the next chapter! I have to be honest, this chapter was a real pain to write for a number of different reasons. One of the main is that the original chapter ended up being deleted due to a file issue on my old laptop. Luckily, I was able to salvage the first few paragraphs, but the rest of the original chapter is gone. That's okay though because I like how this one came out a little bit more :)
I hope you all enjoy :)))
"How did the questioning go last night, Harry?" Hermione asked when she saw that her friend had returned to Gryffindor tower the following morning, her eyes sharp despite the sleepiness in them.
"It went really well," He confessed with a small smile, but Hermione frowned when she noticed something was off with it. She came closer to sit beside him, the concern obvious on her features.
"What's wrong?" She asked, watching the way he hesitated, his expression shifting from slight guilt to anxiety in a matter of seconds. "Did something happen last night?" He shook his head quickly, dispelling her worry at that end.
"No, nothing like that. I guess I'm overthinking things right now," Her friend confessed with a small chuckle, his green eyes shining. "I am glad that I did the questions," Harry continued on, knowing that he needed to tell her what was on his mind. "A small part of me is simply afraid." He confessed. "At outright and publicly going against Dumbledore in this matter. Everything before has been tied to Hogwarts in some way. Besides the Board of Governors and the restraining order through Gringotts, I've never gone against him in public." Hermione was beginning to understand the dilemma.
"I understand now," She nodded. "For The Ministry and Wizengamot to learn of this is different." Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair as more thoughts swam through his head.
"It's not just that either. It's also the implications. Just because he's lost a lot of support doesn't mean he doesn't have loyal followers. I'd be an idiot not to acknowledge that." Harry shook his head. "And even if Dumbledore is out of the picture, who's to stop one of his devoted followers from taking it upon themselves to try and force me to fight? Not that it would work, but I can already imagine the upcoming confrontations."
"Something tells me Tom wouldn't let that happen," Hermione mumbled to Harry's surprise, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. She snorted at his look, opening her mouth to explain. "Yes, it is possible that some of Dumbledore's followers will try and coerce you to fight, but from how you've described the Dark lord, I can't imagine he would stand by and let this happen." Harry released a breath, knowing deep down that his friend was right.
"I know," He agreed. "Tom is working hard to bridge the gap between the dark and light. I don't know all of his plans politics-wise, but I know it will involve the removal of extremist views. On both sides," He was quick to say, wanting to clear that up before anything else. "With how unstable magic has become even among the pureblood families, he is suggesting that if they wish to continue their family lines, they need to stop inbreeding and select muggleborns or half-bloods to include in their lines," Hermione was unable to stop her eyes from widening at that.
"Seriously? That's…" She trailed off, blinking in shock. "That's wonderful. I don't imagine some of the families took it well though. Has he lost many followers because of it?" To her astonishment, he shook his head. "Really?" She asked, lips parting in shock.
"I won't deny that there were those who were displeased," Harry confessed with a shrug. "There are simply some people who are too set in their ways to change." The only thing that occasionally bothered him about the dark side was the elitist views of some. But as he had told Hermione in the past, many of the people who joined Tom did it for the betterment of dark magic, not for the blood purity. Hermione nodded at his words.
"Each side will have bad apples," She said, quoting a muggle saying they both knew all too well. "No matter which side you're on, there are always going to be a few people that you don't like," Harry nodded, thinking back to some of the Death Eaters who he had a low opinion of. "Do you ever bump into them when you visit Tom?" Blinking at the question, Harry shook his head.
"Not really? The only one I've seen around his estate is Lucius, but that's a given considering he is helping Tom with the Ministry plans," Harry paused. "And no Death Eater has access to his personal study unless he summons them in there. I don't even know if the Death Eaters live there half the time, or if they stay in their own manors," Hermione considered that.
"I was curious about some of them," She admitted. "I can't help but wonder what they will do after this war is over? Some of them were broken out of prison, so they can't exactly show their faces in public." Harry withheld a sigh, those same questions plaguing him as well. He hadn't asked Tom about it since he felt like those logistics didn't concern him, but there were times when the thoughts came when he allowed his mind to roam.
"I imagine he is thinking of something for them," Harry spoke after a moment, a thoughtful look on his face. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's having trouble with this as well. Before all of these plans came to fruition, I think we all had a different idea of how this war would end. Such as a huge battle with many people dead on each side. And for that reason, he's likely kept certain people around for it. I will always hate Bellatrix, but I know she is a skilled dueler. I think that was the reason she and a few others were kept around." Hermione considered that with a thoughtful hum, nodding. "And Tom has always respected loyalty,"
But now that he thought about it, there was nothing Bellatrix could help him with. His plans needed strategic minds, not unhinged and ruthless ones. It made him wonder what would become of her and a few others. He had a brief thought of Tom shielding them from the public, or relocating them away from society.
"I'm thankful that most of his followers are not like that," Harry spoke up, changing the course of the topic to force his wayward thoughts away. "Many of them are like Severus; cool and collected. Intelligent and cunning," Hermione smiled a bit at his wording, and then suddenly, Harry remembered that he needed to tell her the other information regarding Tom. "Merlin, I nearly forgot to tell you the important information I learned from Tom last night!"
"It must be important," Hermione teased, a soft grin on her face. "Your eyes lit up like they do when you hang around Fred and George," Snorting at her remark, he started to explain.
"Tom explained that the Ministry is worried about the change that is about to happen here," Harry informed. "They want to send someone in to keep an eye on things to ensure every student and professor is acclimating to the change, however," There was an amused look on his face. "They also don't want to repeat the disaster that occurred with Umbridge," Hermione grimaced at the name, a foul look on her face.
"No one needs to go through that again," She mumbled bitterly.
"For these reasons, the Ministry wanted a third-party official to represent them. This is where Tom comes in," Hermione felt her eyes widen at the direction the explanation was going. "He did a ritual and changed his name, which is now Julian Claudius Gaunt. He won't become the permanent headmaster, but he will hold the position until they elect a new one in the following months or next year."
"Merlin," Hermione mumbled, a look of awe on her face. "That's genius," She mumbled to herself, thinking of all the work that had gone into the plan.
"I don't know what he plans on doing after they find the permanent Headmaster, but my guess is that he will go back to gaining more presence in the Ministry, and with the attention he will gain from doing this, he might gain a lot of popularity."
"I can see why," Hermione agreed. "Part of the reason Dumbledore had once been so beloved is because he was the Headmaster here. With how precious children are in this world, it takes a lot of trusts to leave them in a school where you don't see them for months at a time," The words make him hum in agreement, nodding along.
"I don't know what your schooling was like before you came here, but most schools in the muggle world send you home at the end of the day. There were some academy-type schools where you were boarded like this one, but those weren't that common where I was from."
"I went to the typical school for my first few years in grade school," She commented. "My school started around eight and ended at three. Then we were sent home," Harry nodded, thinking back to his own time in school.
"Honestly, while I do love the knowledge we have here. I missed the other classes we took in muggle schools. Mostly science and maths. Arithmancy isn't quite the same," Harry chuckled with an embarrassed flush. "Sometimes I would take Dudley's school books when we came home from Hogwarts so I could try and teach myself what Hogwarts didn't." There was a grin on Hermione's face as she listened to Harry's words.
"I did the same thing. I was lucky that my parents made a good amount of money by muggle standards. They never had a problem buying me a book so I could keep up with the other children. I saw a lot of them during the summer break, and that first summer was hard on me. They asked me where I had gone and what my classes were like. I couldn't tell them anything," Harry frowned at that, knowing it must have been hard on Hermione and the other muggleborns to be dumped back into the muggle world, especially if you had friends waiting on you.
Harry didn't know if it was a curse or a blessing that Dudley had stopped him from making friends.
"I didn't have to deal with that," Harry admitted. "Everyone thought I was disturbed, and my relatives even concocted a fake school where troubled kids went. They never asked me about my schooling because of that," He could care less about that now because, in the long run, it had saved him from having to lie.
"I'm sorry, Harry." Hermione frowned, a distraught look in her eyes. It wasn't a secret what his home life had been like. Hermione was one of the few that knew how bad it was. "When I go home to see my parents before I go to visit Viktor, would you like me to owl you some of the muggle schoolbooks I plan on getting?" Harry smiled at the offer and nodded his head.
"If you don't mind," Harry spoke, tone conveying nothing but gratitude. "I don't exactly plan on going to the muggle world again anytime soon. I don't have friends or a family that cares. If I ever go back, it will be to visit their bookstores and their coffee shops, but I don't think I'm ready to go back," Not that he would ever have to see the Dursleys again, but there really wasn't anything left for him in that world besides the knowledge they had.
"I understand," Hermione touched his shoulder gently, giving a friendly squeeze. "Besides my parents, there is nothing tying me to that world either. The friends I had are either gone, or we drifted apart. You don't share much in common with someone anymore when you only see them for a few months out of the year if that." Hermione admitted. "Even during the summer holidays, I tried to visit the Weasleys and the Wizarding World in general. We both stayed with them for nearly two weeks a few summers ago," Harry nodded at that, thinking back to that time.
"I'm glad you took to learning everything you could, Mione," Harry spoke, thinking back to how many of the muggleborns their age were struggling now. "Justin's still clueless about what he wants to do. Deans luckily got something lined up for him after Hogwarts, but it's rare for a muggleborn to do that apparently. Being pulled between two worlds isn't easy,"
"Especially when you're not getting the schooling of the other," Hermione finished for him. "I can't speak on their behalf, but I don't know how many of them did what we did when we went back to the muggle world. If they haven't, then they're in trouble. They would only have primary school knowledge and nothing from secondary school." Harry didn't bother to withhold his grimace.
"I hope they can decide what they want to do if they remain in this world," Harry mumbled softly, feeling his heartache for those who were struggling to find themselves. He might have been able to, but that was after he had struggled as well. With Dumbledore trying to convince him to be an auror and with society always speculating what he was going to do after Hogwarts, it felt smothering at times. He felt like he was never able to catch a break.
But with the Twins and Hermione at his side, he had always been able to forget about the demands of the public. They all worked together and studied hard, the four of them ready to take on the world if it came to it.
"I miss Fred and George," Harry commented, unable to help it. It might have been random, but Hermione didn't care as she nodded along with him.
"Merlin, me too." She sighed. "Why don't we visit them this weekend? It's been too long since we've seen them face to face. Firecalling and writing just aren't the same," Harry grinned at her idea and nodded eagerly.
"You don't need to convince me, Mione."
Harry had been looking forward to seeing Severus all day. The meeting with Tom had lasted longer than he thought it would the previous night, so he had stayed over. He was also mentally drained after providing his statements, those emotional memories still fresh in his mind. It had been far too easy to fall asleep not long after he and Tom talked over the plans, despite wanting to go back to Severus and judge the potions with him.
When he finally came to Severus' rooms, he smirked at the separated potions on one of the brewing tables, knowing it was the failed batches and feeling gleeful at the opportunity to finally look them over.
"Have you settled the debate yet?" Harry asked, nodding to the horrendous attempts. The small smirk on Severus' face caused a wave of warmth to flutter through his stomach, settling in his chest.
"Excluding Parkinson's and Finch-Fletchley," Harry snorted at the disdain in his voice. "There is one which is almost pure poison," Harry winced at that, coming closer to observe the potion Severus was talking about. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the coloration of the one in the middle, which was like muddled water, with flecks of a putrid green mixed in. He withheld another wince.
"They must have not mixed the Joberknoll feather in well enough," He summarized, unaware of the dark gaze that was locked on him. "The green flecks in the potion came from the feather, not the beans. My guess is that they stirred clockwise and not counterclockwise when they added it in," When he did turn to look at Severus, he nearly flushed when onyx eyes stared at him appraisingly, just like the day before.
And just like the previous day, Harry felt his cheeks flush slightly.
"Perhaps you don't need further training for a potions mastery," Severus began, the words making the fluttering in his stomach intensify. "Besides myself, no other has been so quick to identify the cause of a potion turning into a poison." Harry swallowed, flushing more.
"I've done a lot of research about poisons these last few weeks," Harry chuckled, missing the look of intrigue on Severus' face. "I guess it stemmed from the conversation we had about poisons and the different climates for the ingredients." Severus gave a low hum, recalling that particular conversation as well. "I didn't get a good look at Pansy's potion," He withheld a smirk at the way Severus' lips twitched in displeasure. "But I think she might have won the 'worst potion' bet."
"Is that so?" Severus asked, raising an eyebrow. "Explain," So Harry did.
"Justin's was horrible, but despite the mess it would have caused, it was one of the least dangerous. His would have merely stained his skin for a few weeks, while Pansy's could have poisoned her, had it exploded." Harry explained. "Either she was barely stirring, or she was mishandling the Sopophorous beans." He paused. "And if she was barely stirring, it was likely causing air to become trapped in the potion, which would have created toxic gas bubbles." He could feel Severus' gaze on him, and he fought off his flush this time, but the fluttering in his stomach increased when the older wizard spoke up in a pleased voice.
"Those were my thoughts as well," Severus subtly praised. "Slughorn was truly blind last year to pass most of the students in your year," Harry snorted but agreed nonetheless.
"He was far too lenient in the classroom," Harry recalled. "He was more about making connections instead of providing a decent education. He wanted to make potions more…exciting, I suppose?" He spoke slowly. "Instead of taking the care to explain the dangerous side of them," It was sad, but even Hagrid had been a better professor than that. Even if Hagrid wasn't qualified to teach, he had always gone over the danger of the magical creatures. He made the class lively, but he always explained the risks. Thinking of Hagrid made him think of the news he had to share with Severus.
"That reminds me, but Tom told me some interesting information last night after I provided my statements," He saw the way Severus' eyes gained a glint of interest, obviously expecting something extremely important. "The Ministry is being smart for once. With all the new professors and the change of the headmaster, the Ministry is worried about how students will acclimate to the change. They're also worried about the former professors and the new professors as well. They want to send in a third-party representative to keep an eye on things and report back to the Ministry if there are any issues." Harry smirked slightly.
"They want a third party because of the disaster with Umbridge two years ago. This person will hold the position as the temporary headmaster until they find a new one in the upcoming months." Harry explained. "And thanks to a ritual Tom found, he's going to take the position. I think by doing this, it makes his appearance in the Ministry and Wizengamot more well-known. This moniker will allow him to build his way up," Severus nodded, the glint increasing.
"Clever. With the war coming to an end soon, this will serve him greatly." Harry nodded in agreement.
"That's something me and Hermione were talking about earlier today," His emerald eyes were bright. "I told her that so many of us were expecting this to go differently. Even last year I would have expected a huge final battle, with a lot of people dead on both sides. I didn't want any part of that," He confessed with a frown. "But now it raises the question of what Tom is going to do with his followers whose only usefulness was their brutality," Even though he had this conversation with Hermione hours ago, he wanted to know what Severus thought.
"I imagine the Dark Lord plans on keeping them either away from the public or relocating them permanently," Severus spoke, his words soft and deep. "His more…volatile followers are rarely present for the strategic meetings. I know there's been talk about sending some to Saint Mungo's or Saint Mirabilis in Germany," Never hearing of that hospital, Harry tilted his head slightly.
"Saint Mirabilis?" He asked, growing more intrigued. "I've never heard of that one before,"
"It's reserved for mental illnesses," Severus explained, watching the emerald eyes dawn with understanding. "Unlike Mungo's, Mirabilis only deals with the mental aspect. Mungo's has a department, but it has fewer resources." Harry considered that as he nodded along, thinking about the possibility of Bellatrix being sent there, along with a few others.
"Has Tom discussed this with you before?" Harry asked, wondering if this was a debate that many of the other Death Eaters had before. It would make sense if that were the case. If any of the Death Eaters were about strategy, then having someone like Bellatrix on their side would cause issues.
"Partially. Lucius is the one who is most adamant," Severus explained. "He has grown tired of watching Narcissa run herself ragged trying to heal her sister's mind." Harry nearly winced, afraid to imagine what that was like. "What brought this on?" He took a breath, trying to form his thoughts.
"The fact that this war will be over soon," Harry mumbled softly. "We know the war is only between Dumbledore, his followers, and the Dark Lord. With Dumbledore about to be gone soon, it made me think of the plans Tom has next. He's going to make his way through Wizengamot and the Ministry, but as a new wizard. His side will know for the most part, but not all. It made me think of what would become of those who would be deemed impractical going into the future."
"The Dark Lord is likely planning something for them soon. He would see their impracticalities just as you have. If you advise him on it, I'm sure he would listen," Harry flushed at the words, unaware of the dark onyx eyes staring at the flush, an unreadable look behind them.
"I might eventually," Harry conceded. "Bellatrix in particular is too volatile to be kept around. I don't know if she's always been that way, or if Azkaban caused it." Severus gave a dry snort.
"A bit of both," The potions master confessed. "Not many come back unscathed," Harry considered that, but soon dislodged his thoughts, not wanting to dwell on them for too long.
"I'll talk to him about it the next time I see him," Harry mumbled. "Even if he doesn't agree with what I'll say, it would be nice to explain my concerns," When he looked back to Severus, he offered a small smile. "You think he would listen?"
"The Dark Lord regards your opinion quite highly," Severus' voice was dark, sending a slight shiver down his spine. "If you need to address something, he will listen. Especially to you," Harry felt himself flushing again, his embarrassment obvious as he swallowed. Severus watched him, his voice soft as he spoke up again. "There is something else bothering you," Sighing, Harry nodded, not surprised that the other wizard figured it out.
"Out of all the Death Eaters that were incarcerated, it's the Lestranges that people have focused on the most. Those are the three that still have numerous Auror teams searching for them. They're also the three that are the most dangerous in the public eye. Even if the war fades into the background, people won't forget that the Lestranges aren't in prison. That sort of unrest won't fade away,"
"No, it won't." Severus agreed.
"I might be looking too far into the future," Harry admitted. "But I'd rather deal with it sooner rather than later. I think the longer it waits, the more damage could be done. It's likely that Dumbledore's followers will try and convince me to find them," He didn't need to say more, because Severus understood.
He always understood.
Harry found himself pressed against a warm chest, an elegant hand stroking through his locks in an act of comfort.
"There was no meeting today," Severus spoke up after a few moments. "If you want to talk to him now, you can," Harry hummed softly, melting more into the embrace on instinct.
"I'd rather stay here," He said quietly, soon flushing darkly at his words. "If that's alright," Harry added, shifting a bit. Before he could pull away, an arm tightened around him subtly as a voice like velvet drifted over him.
"Of course it is," Severus mumbled back. "I'd prefer to keep you here," The words were barely audible, but he heard them. His cheeks burned darkly with another blush as he closed his eyes, letting the moment sink in. Gathering his courage, he opens his mouth.
"During the summer I was terrified that I wouldn't find solace when I came back to Hogwarts," Harry mumbled softly, pressing into the warmth surrounding him. "Before I stormed Riddle Manor all those months ago, I briefly had the idea to say screw it, and not even come back because I was so fed up with Dumbledore. I was worried that I would never feel safe here again, but I was proven wrong." He takes a steady breath. "Thank you for making this place feel safe again," His words were spoken into the warm chest, heart fluttering when those arms tighten around him again, keeping him secure.
"I told you that you don't need to thank me," The tone held a hint of amusement, but his words were firm, yet soft. "I'm sorry you had to deal with the headmaster for so long," Severus whispered, hands lingering on the small of his back.
"You had the worst of it," Harry mumbled. "Between being a spy and a professor, you've had to deal with him the most out of everyone. Then you had to deal with me during those detentions too-" His breath stuttered quietly as the hold tightened yet again, words being spoken near his ear.
"You were never a burden," Severus mumbled, and Harry flushed more, his entire body burning. Green eyes shut as warm fingers landed on his nape, carefully tracing the sensitive spot. The other hand stayed at the small of his back, the warmth seeping into his already burning skin through the multiple layers. "Not for a moment, Harry," A lump lodges into his throat at the words, his fingers slowly grasping at Severus' robes, clinging to the material. "I would not change a moment of this," Severus breathed against his ear slowly, the warm breath and words spurring him on.
"I couldn't imagine getting through this year without you," Harry finds his voice after a moment, forehead resting on the sturdy chest, his cheeks blazing with heat. He takes a second to finally get the words out that have been in his chest for months. "You made this place feel like home again," Harry whispers softly, pressing further into Severus' chest, heart thudding in his ears. "I always feel at home with you," Harry whispers quietly, biting his lips at the sound of Severus sucking in a soft breath.
The hand resting on his nape stops moving, pausing for a moment before sliding along the warm neck. Once it reaches his chin, a finger tilts the chin upwards, green and onyx locking. Harry could swear that a jolt of magic passed through them.
The hand on the small of his back presses more, and Harry finds himself tugged into a warm lap, lips claiming his own.
A soft sound passes through as he wraps an arm around Severus's neck, lips moving together, melding against each other perfectly.
Their kisses were slow, testing the water and exploring the new sensations. Tongues teased and prodded, sliding forth to explore and taste. When they eventually broke apart, there was a dark flush on their cheeks, and their eyes heated.
"I've wanted to do that for a while," Harry mumbled, voice raspy as he regained his breath. He swallowed when lips pressed against his again, sweet and chaste.
"As have I," Severus mumbled, thumb stroking the flushed cheek. Harry leaned into the touch, closing his eyes with a small smile. When he reopened them and met Severus' warm gaze again, his chest exploded with warmth as he leaned forward to reclaim those lips in another kiss.
Warm hands splay across his hip, long fingers dipping below the waistband to touch the skin there, each touch leaving a trail of fire that causes Harry to gasp against the lips, a skilled tongue slipping past. He groans, one hand clinging to the dark robe as the other burrows in Severus' hair, arching as a hand slips under his shirt, a jolt going down his spine.
"Beautiful," Severus praises against his ear when they part, teeth nipping on a lobe before moving down to mouth at the flushed neck, leaving a pale mark.
"Severus," Harry whines, tilting his neck as lips explore every inch of his throat, followed by sharp teeth and a warm tongue. He groans again, shifting in Severus' lap and grounding down on the awaiting hardness. He takes delight in the soft sound Severus gives as he does that, pressing down again to hear the dark growl that he feels more than he hears.
"Harry," Severus' voice was darker than ever and the younger wizard was falling in love with it. "What do want?" The deep voice purred into his ear, fingers stopping in their exploration. Despite the heated words, Harry heard the gentleness in them and pressed closer, biting his lips.
Severus was always looking out for him.
"I want you to touch me," Harry whispered back, pressing back into the bulge under him, a shiver going down his spine. "I want to touch you too, Severus," He pressed into the heated neck, nipping at the skin there and mouthing at it, wanting to leave his own marks. "Please?" He whispered, gasping when a hand cupped his ass and scooped him up within seconds. On instinct, he wrapped his legs around the waist, fingers clutching the material of Severus' clothes, afraid that if he were to let go, he would once again wake up in his bed in Gryffindor tower.
Their lips find each other again and Harry loses himself in the passionate kiss, only aware that they made it into Severus' room when he finds himself laying on a mattress. He's flat on his back with Severus hovering over him and Harry wants to close that space between them, so he drags the older wizard into another desperate kiss, humming in appreciation when Severus presses into him, not an inch of space between them.
Long fingers have undone his shirt, pulling it free as those same fingers drag along his skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. He blindly reaches forward, huffing at all the layers in his way.
"You've got too many layers," Harry pants out, sucking in a breath as fingers land on a nipple, teasing the bud. The lips mouthing at his neck slowly smirks and hums in agreement, shifting to grab a wand.
"Perhaps you're right," With a flick of the wand, all of their clothes vanish to the nightstand, leaving a dark flush that spreads down Harry's chest. The younger snaps out of his surprise and reaches forward, touching the firm muscle as he tilts his head up to capture lips again, nipping on the bottom lip and tugging gently.
His body shudders at the soft growl, moaning when he's soon pressed back into the mattress, lips, and fingers taking him apart.
"Fuck," He curses, a soft moan flying past as a warm hand grips his twitching shaft, giving a long pump. "Severus," He wraps an arm around the man's neck, the other sliding down to wrap around the flushed member, brain short-circuiting at the sensation of the weight in his hand.
"You're perfect," Severus praises into his ear and Harry chokes on a moan, eyes shut as a deep shiver goes through him, a soft whine soon following. In all of his fantasies about Severus, nothing could have prepared him for the soft praises that were making him come undone as much as the warm hand stroking him. Harry can't stop from twitching in Severus' hand, pressing closer. "So perfect for me,"
"Only for you," Harry pants out, body blazing at the sound that comes out of Severus' lips, the man bucking into him.
"Is that so?" Severus' voice is raspy, with a broken edge to it that sends his every nerve on fire. "Only for me," Severus growls back, leaning down to press wet kiss after wet kiss on the marked neck, sucking a dark bruise on the pulse point. "I'm yours too," Harry whimpers at that, nails digging into the older wizard's shoulder as he bucks into the hand, meeting the deep thrusts.
"Please, Severus," Harry begs, holding tighter as he feels his gut coil in heat. "So close," He breathes out, moaning as lips capture his in a demanding kiss, their bodies rutting against each other as their need grows. "Fuck," Harry pants out, precum gathering as Severus thrusts against him, the fire in his gut tightening before it finally snaps and he releases between their chests, with Severus following not long after.
The pair regain their breath, a small smile forming on Harry's face when he feels Severus grab his wand and cast a cleaning spell on them, their mess vanishing.
"This better not be a dream," Harry mumbled softly, tiredness starting to settle in him as an arm wrapped around his body, pulling him into a warm chest. "Don't wanna wake up without you," Harry yawns, unaware of the gentle smile on his lover's face.
"Nor do I," Severus mumbles, smile widening when Harry presses into him more.
Neither had slept better in their life.
AN: SO YEAH, THAT HAPPENED.
In all seriousness, this was not how I planned it to go. I had the scene wrote out and everything. Once I finish the story, I might add a 'deleted scenes' chapter so y'all can see the stuff I was going to add and never did, or the original things I never ended up adding.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I hope it met your expectations :)