Warnings: Male/male mild sexual content. Strong language

Chapter 9 - Truth Will Always Out.

Once an absurdity is accepted as truth, it will seem truer the more absurd it is shown to be. -Robert Brault.

Harry and Severus walked silently through the corridors of Hogwarts together. Their almost identical smirks did not go unnoticed by passing students, but neither Harry nor Severus cared less about the rumours whispered around them, they were both too deep in thought to notice.

They had just left another meeting with Dumbledore. They had been going to the Headmasters office almost daily for the whole term and Harry was beginning to feel he lived there, rather than in Gryffindor Tower; what with going there some evenings on his own for pensive viewings as well. He had learnt a lot about Voldemort and the evil man's life through viewings, but he wasn't sure how this knowledge was supposed to help him.

He and Severus had been through quite a few bad moments over the term, but overall they had been getting on well. Malfoy was up to something and Harry was convinced he had been responsible for Katie Bell almost dying although he didn't believe the girl had been the ferrets intended target. He had tried to explain his worries about Malfoy to Severus, but the stubborn man had refused to listen resulting in their first real argument. There had been regular minor episodes of irritation and snarky comments, but nothing too bad. The level of frustration and anger that had resulted from the conversation about Malfoy however, had been the worst so far to date and rather scary for both of them. At least now they both clearly understood how bonded couples could maybe kill each other if certain expectations weren't met. They had been slowly getting to know each other better; Harry felt closer to his unintentional soul mate every day. Severus had insisted they only see each other at the meetings with Dumbledore and Harry was getting a little frustrated at the lack of physical contact this afforded them, but he understood why Severus was reluctant to spend time alone with him anywhere else, he appreciated his moral standing on the matter. It didn't stop him wanting more though and he was starting to have extreme erotic dreams every night, which left him frustrated most of the time. Harry had a feeling that his potion textbook had something to do with the dreams; he could feel a strong connection to Severus when he held it and had taken to sleeping with it under his pillow. Ron was worried about him and thought the book held some dark magic which was giving him nightmares. Hermione had been giving him a hard time about it saying he was obsessed with the Half Blood Prince! He hoped the Half Blood Prince turned out to be Severus, but he hadn't had the nerve to ask him yet or show him the book, scared he would confiscate it from him.

Harry and Severus had told the Headmaster together that they both wanted more than just friendship immediately after the second meeting with the old man. It hadn't gone down well. Dumbledore had insisted they try for friendship first. Harry kind of agreed that it was probably for the best; he did want them to get to know each other better before getting too serious physically but also wanted a little more than just friendship whist doing so. This was the first hurdle and they still had to overcome it. Severus could not guarantee his control, should they even be in the same room together alone, so it had been decided that to address this issue, they would only spend time together under the constant watchful eye of Dumbledore. He had set them the task of exploring any magical benefits that may be present from their bond. He thought that if they could at least reconnect magically, then this would help heal the bond and potentially allow them to gain a combined strength; which could also prove useful in the war effort. Dumbledore had also hoped that it would give them something to focus on other than the sexual needs of the bond and minimise the negative emotions of separation anxiety. So almost every day, they had been heading to the Headmasters rooms at lunchtime to spend 45 minutes trying to combine their magic whilst casting various spells. They were then "allowed" 15 minutes to have a quick lunch together, in Albus' sitting room, alone. Albus had insisted that he set wards on them that would alert him if they became "too close". Severus had been less than pleased on two accounts with this, he felt like he was being controlled yet again by Albus and insulted that his mentor had thought he could not maintain enough control for even 15 minutes.

The plan had been working. Kind of.

The practice sessions did take their mind off the sexual tension between them for the 45 minutes they practiced, but in the 15 minutes when they were alone, it all came flooding back.

They indeed had managed to achieve a connection between their magic and the power behind any spell, when cast together, was now at least doubled, if not more so. They both believed that in time, they could increase it even further. Most of these meetings had ended with them both being magically drained and physically exhausted, but not enough to stop them testing the ward Dumbledore had set on them, a little in any case.

It had started after their very first practice session; they had collapsed into each other's arms on the small sofa and realised that they hadn't sent the Headmaster running to separate them. They had been pushing the boundaries ever so slightly every day since. It was great being together but it was getting more and more difficult not to push things too far too fast. Albus appeared to tolerate a little snogging and touching and they didn't want to spoil it for themselves.

But the boundary had been breached today.

Today they had been trying to ascertain if their Occlumency and Legilimens ability could be doubled, if focussed on together. The main reason for this, was although it appeared both men were stronger in Occlumency than even Dumbledore or Voldemort, there was a continual fear that Voldemort would penetrate either Severus's or Harry's shields if either were too tired or stressed. They were also nowhere near as strong at Legilimency in fact only bordered slightly above average in this skill. Severus hoped that if he could increase his ability at this later skill, he could possibly gain access to Voldemort's mind without detection. Albus, although excited at the prospect of gaining an insight into Voldemort's plans, was a little worried at this idea. He didn't wish his mind to be an open book to either of the younger Wizards, so he had made them take a vow to never do so, without his prior permission. The session had gone well and they had indeed managed to enter Dumbledore's mind, albeit very briefly, before being roughly thrown out, but it was a start. However, something else had happened. Something neither wizard had expected. When the Legilimens, that entered Albus' mind, was cast, all of a sudden Severus knew that Harry was feeling an overwhelming anxiety surrounding this type of mind magic. Knowing this he also began to feel the same anxiety. He had never felt less comfortable about casting a Legilimens in his life. It was a foreign feeling to him, one that he didn't recognise at all. When the spell had broken, he knew Harry was relieved it was over and was hoping that they were finished for the day. Severus however, even knowing this, did want to try one more time. He looked at Harry and saw relief on in his face as he said "Well you surely can't want to try that again right now. Oh you do don't you?" and the look had changed to one of confusion. Severus knew then without a shadow of a doubt that something had snapped together between them.

He knew what Harry was feeling.

They did actually stop at that point and had retired to the living room for their usual "lunch", although they rarely ate anything in those 15 minutes. Severus had sat down first; Harry as normal curled up on his lap, both exhausted and drained. Harry had looked up into Severus' eyes and the desire that the older man normally felt had flooded him but it was doubled in its intensity as he realised Harry's own desire was as strong as his own. Severus had leant down to capture that amazing mouth in his, but rather than worrying about setting off the alarm and just pushing the boundary slightly from the previous day, it had ended up an extremely passionate kiss unlike any they had ever shared. It was almost animalistic. As the kiss continued Harry had changed his position and straddled Severus. They ground into each other's throbbing cocks through their robes, pulling at each other clothes roughly. Harry had managed to rip some of the buttons off Severus's and shrug out his own. They both had been crazy with desire, their own being magnified by the knowledge that the other felt the same. Severus had moved down away from Harry's mouth licking and biting as he went then sucked hard at the tender flesh of his neck, marking him. Harry had bucked his hips in response and pressed his rock hard cock into Severus's straining erection and groaned in pleasure. The intensity of the sensations ripped through both men as it built and intensified as one. They had been completely lost in each other and had not heard the alarm screaming in their ears. Just before both men felt they were about to reach a point that release was going to be a necessity, Harry had been lifted off Severus's lap and dropped unceremoniously in the armchair opposite. He had heard a shouted "reducere concupiscentia" and was immediately dowsed in freezing cold water. The Headmaster had stood between the two, now soaking wizards, who growled in pain and frustration and cast a quick drying spell. The headmaster proceeded to sweetly inform them, as if nothing had happened, that Severus was due in class in 5 minutes, so they needed to hurry along. They both had left feeling as if they had been wrung out and hung out to dry.

As they now walked in silence through the corridors, a peaceful yearning had replaced the painful frustration. Both men felt happy at just being together and knowing the other felt the same. I was an amazing sensation.

They stopped at the junction that lead to Gryffindor Tower and turned to look at each other. Harry still wanted to be in this man's arms but with not so much lust; just a calm yearning to be held. He was determined to make this work, to overcome the obstacles in their way, to achieve what the both clearly desired.

Harry unconsciously reached out and placed his hand gently, palm down, on Severus' chest and looked into those deep, black eyes that currently betrayed the same depth of desire and yearning within their inky depths as his own. Harry took a small intake of breath at the sight of such joint emotion. At the sound, Severus's eyes widened slightly as he turned away with a growl and strode down the corridor towards his classroom. Harry felt Severus's panic at the possibility of being seen with him like that.

"Shit" Harry said aloud as he realised that they were indeed in a public place. The interaction had only lasted 5 seconds, if that, but it could have been enough to cause them both problems, if witnessed. He quickly glanced around to see if anyone was about and his eyes immediately met with the dark hazel ones of his friend. Hermione was standing above him in the middle of the staircase that led to Gryffindor Tower. She looked a bit taken aback but gave him a questioning smile as she started walking down towards him. Harry sighed and closed his eyes briefly. Now he was going to have to lie to his friend and try to explain what she had just seen.

"Hermione, that wasn't what it might have looked like, alright". Harry said as his friend neared him.

"I haven't said I thought it looked like anything Harry" Hermione said still smiling at him.

"You know what I mean" Harry said "Please don't make this hard for me. I have had a bit of a strange and ehh... tiring morning. Dumbledore made S...Snape and I work together on something and it was ehmm...illuminating shall we say. I actually started to feel a bit sorry for... the greasy git. Anyway do you want to join me for a quick walk before our next class? I fancy getting a bit of fresh air".

Hermione knew not to ask him about his extra lessons with Dumbledore; she surely wouldn't push him on what she had seen. He knew she would though eventually.

"Yeah ok, I have a bit of a bad morning myself. Could do with a distraction" Hermoine replied.

Harry thought his friend looked and sounded a bit sad and hoped she was so wrapped up in her own emotions, that she would forget what she just saw completely.

"What's happened, are you ok?" Harry asked with concern in his voice.

"I'm fine, just being a silly girl apparently." She said with an angry grimace.

Harry started to laugh "Well Hermione, I might call you a lot of things but a silly girl isn't one of them!"

"Thanks Harry, but can I ask you something?"

"Eh... yeah" Harry hoped it wasn't about what she had just seen.

"Do you think I am attractive, I mean I'm not exactly very girly and I don't hang out with girls and I act more like a boy really, so yeah, I was wondering if that would, you know, put boys of me" Hermione blushed a little.

"Yes of course you are attractive to boys Hermione! Bloody Hell, you had every boy in the school drooling over you at the ball last year and you got a date with Viktor-bloody-Krum, remember him, you know the most sought after guy by women in the wizarding world, well after Gildaroy Lockhart that is, but he doesn't count" Harry was smiling at his friend and wondered why she was doubting herself.

He took her hand and started walking out the castle. "Come on, let's go. You can tell me what has made you think boys don't fancy you while we walk."

As they left the castle, Hermione, still holding Harry hand, quietly turned to Harry and asked

"Do you like me Harry?"

Oh Bloody Shittin Hell, where has this come from, Harry thought whilst desperately trying to appear calm.

"Yeah of course I like you, you are my best friend" he answered calmly.

"That's not what I mean and you know it" she retorted quietly, looking at the ground as she walked.

"'mione I think any boy or man would find you an attractive, intelligent witch but you are just my friend and anyway I thought you and Ron would have got together by now, he does fancy you, you know, even if he is with Lavender." Harry said hoping to get away from this weird topic of him and her.

"But what if I don't fancy him? Not anymore anyway, what if I told you I liked you?" Hermione's face was scarlet as she continued to look at the ground while they walked. Harry really wanted to remove his hand from Hermione's grasp, but didn't want to snatch it away either.

There was a brief silence as Harry composed his thoughts but spoke again quickly. He didn't want to give her any hope.

"'mione, listen I am truly flattered, if indeed you do like me, but I can't have a relationship with you. Not like that anyway" Harry said gently.

"See, not all boys think I am attractive. You obviously don't. You were just saying that to make me feel better!" Hermione snatched her hand away from Harry's and started to walk back to the castle.

Catching up with he quickly Harry grabbed her arm, making her stop.

"Please Hermione listen, that's not the reason I can't have a relationship with you. I am already sort of seeing someone ok."

Hermione turned fully and scowled.

"What? Who? When did this start?"

"It's complicated 'mione I can't really tell you, not yet anyway." Not ever, more likely thought Harry.

But you've just broke up with Ginny a few weeks ago you have not had the chance to even spend any time with your friends this term never mind a girl! Oh I get it your making up an imaginary girlfriend just to get me off your back!"

"No Hermione, I am not lying to you, I do have someone in my life at the moment and like I say it's a bit complicated but for your information...It's not a girl!" Harry had been a bit angry at Hermione's accusations of him lying, just to get her off his back, but now he visibly deflated and sat down where they stood on the grassy area between the castle and the quidditch pitch. He hadn't wanted to tell his friend he was gay not yet anyway. He was so emotionally rung out and wished he could just go to sleep and wake up in a different life; one where he and Severus would just be accepted.

Hermione sat down quietly beside him and took his hand again. "I am sorry I accused you of lying to me Harry, I am a bit emotional today and I suppose I am being a bit girly and stupid"

"Its fine 'mione. So you're not shocked or bothered that I have just told you I'm gay?"

"No Harry, of course not why would I!" It wasn't asked as a question.

"Oh it's just I haven't had the best morning either, in terms of emotions thought you might be disgusted or something. Maybe we can be "a bit girly" together today" Harry said with a weak tired smile.

Hermione choked out a laugh at that. "You might be gay Harry but I wouldn't describe you as girly! Well not that much" Hermione said, openly laughing.

"Oi! that better have been a joke or I will hex you into next week!" Harry said whilst pulling out his wand.

Hermione started to run toward the castle shouting back at Harry over her shoulder "Come on then. Just try it, you girl!"

Harry sent a quick blasting charm, just to the right of her feet, causing the grass to explode beside her. She screamed but continued laughing. She quickly threw a tickling jinx back over her shoulder , which Harry deflected wordlessly, practically without thought and sent a Colloshoo straight back at her, directed at her feet, again wordlessly. They were in the courtyard now and Hermione almost managed to dodge the spell, but was not quick enough, and one foot became stuck to the flagstones. Harry advanced on her laughing "Still think I am a girl do you?" Hermione threw another tickling charm at him and this time it hit him straight in the chest, he dropped to his knees and was poorless with laughter. "Ah see, you even giggle like a girl!" Hermione said choking back tears of her own laughter.

"Mr. Potter, Miss. Granger! What on earth do you think you are playing at! I could hear your imbecilic antics from my classroom" a very stern looking Professor Snape shouted as he emerged into the courtyard, muttering "Finite Incantatem" with a wave of his hand, as he walked. The tickling stopped and Harry collapsed onto the flagstones panting. "Why on earth are you both acting like 1st year students, who have just received their first wand?"

Hermione had stopped laughing and stood stalk still as if her feet were still stuck to the courtyard. Harry's laughter however just got worse at the sight of a stern faced Severus and could hardly speak.

"Well... I... just told her... I am...gay Se...Sir and she said...I was a girl... so I said... if she called me that again...I would hex her and she said...

"Potter, stop your inane babbling boy, whatever Miss Granger said to you there is no excuse for firing curses and hexes at each other in the courtyard of this school. It is highly irresponsible and dangerous. As for you Miss Granger, I had thought you above this mindless type of behaviour and more intelligent to call a wizard a girl just because they prefer the same gender, it is highly insulting and rather narrow minded. Now both of you, detention my office 7pm and bring your potions books!"

With a strained scowl at both of them he turned and walked back into the castle in a billow of robes.

Harry was still sitting in the middle of the courtyard as he watched Severus stride away. He knew the man had been irritated by his behaviour but it had been lessened somewhat by knowing Harry felt more relaxed at being able to let off a bit of steam and had been trying not to smile himself. Harry looked at Hermione's shocked and indignant face and burst out laughing again.

"Harry it's really not funny. He was right we were being rather irresponsible. I am sorry I got us into trouble." Hermione said apologetically

"Get over it Hermione; it was just a bit of fun. Sev...Snape needs to learn to laugh more!" Harry got up from the ground not daring to look at Hermione or act like he had said anything strange. Shit, he hoped she hadn't noticed his slip.

They both started walking back into the castle but before they entered , Hermione quietly whispered in his ear.

"Don't worry, I had kind of guessed Professor Snape was your "complicated relationship" before you called him Sev just now".

"What? Are you kidding? Yeah right Hermione! Ha-ha, no way and I didn't call him Sev!" Harry bumbled in response.

"Please don't start lying to me now Harry. You did in fact call him Sev. Anyway, I know alright. I can't say I like it or even understand it but I think I have known there is something more between you and him for quite some time"

"Hermione, I am not lying to you. It's just that Dumbledore insists we try get on better and continuing to call each other insufferable brat or Greasy Git isn't allowed. We have to call each other by our first names when in meetings with the Headmaster, while he is earshot anyway"

"Harry, please stop. I know alright".

Harry closed his eyes, he didn't need this. Severus would be furious if the class know-it-all knew about this too.

"I won't tell anyone, I promise. I'm sorry I pushed you into telling me that you are gay. I haven't really had a bad morning and I don't really fancy you but when I saw you with Professor Snape I knew I had to get you to open up. You need at least one friend you can talk to about this. I mean he is Professor Harry and a Death Eater and you are the... well... you are Harry Potter"

He had snapped his eyes open when she admitted to being so devious, and when he thought his friend was going to call him The-Boy-Who-Lived or The Chosen One he had given her a warning look.

"You really are a devious, scheming no-it-all, aren't you?" Harry retorted but with no maliciousness. He just felt completely defeated. "I can't talk to you about this Hermione".

"Well I am here for you Harry, if and when you need someone, ok?" she said pushing her hand into his again.

Harry just nodded and if he was completely honest with himself, he was pleased that at least one of his friends knew he was gay and about his relationship with Severus, even if she couldn't know all the details.

"Come on we have a Defence Against the Dark Arts Class to get to."

Harry groaned. This was going to be an uncomfortable class. Hermione would now be watching and scrutinising every look and comment between him and Severus and he could do without it.

A/N Yeah I know this is a short chapter but will be uploading the next in an hour or so :-) will write more of a note at the end of the next chapter x