Oh dear, Severus is rather a beastie in this chapter lol, he's having a bit of trouble accepting that he can't be the suave dungeon bat human any more and what is this? Hogwarts doesn't feel safe to Harry! le gasp! I wonder why?! And Dumbledore...is he up to something? Hmmm... Lol I hope you all enjoy this, thank you to the few people who are reviewing and again I understand if creature Sev and Harry aren't your cup of tea just wander away and read other fics, Ah, and thank you to those who reviewed your reviews are greatly appreciated!

By the way, this chapter is a series of moments in Severus' and Harry's current lives, right now as they struggle with their creature sides they find that their instincts take over quite frequently, however Severus is beginning to show that side of him that all us Snape fans knew he had since the beginning of JK's series. That side that was capable of loving Lily so completely that it outlasted her death- except I'm manipulating him and he loves Harry that way. Yay Snarry!

Mistress Slytherin

WARNINGS

CREATURE INHERITANCE AND FORCED CHANGE

CREATURES WILL HAVE MATES

CREATURES WILL AT TIMES HAVE MENTALITIES OF CREATURES

HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP (BUT NOTHING TOO SEXUAL..IT JUST GETS STEAMY)

IF YOU DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ, I DON'T NEED TO HEAR ABOUT IT

FORGIVE SPELLING AND GRAMMAR ERRORS-(ITS THREE IN THE BLOODY MORNING AND I CAN'T SPELL PAST MIDNIGHT)

BLOOD AND CORE- MOSTLY JUST MATES HUNTING FOR EACH OTHER BUT A BIT OF GORE AT THE START

SEVERUS EATS ANIMAL HEARTS- LITERALLY (JUST SKIP THAT PART IF IT MAKES YOU SQUEAMISH IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME)

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Well, I hope that warns you well enough, if you have questions send me a message if not, I hope you enjoy it!

REVIEW PLEASE!

Mistress Slytheirn

Chapter 4

Harry cracked his eyes open slowly upon feeling Ron tense the magic around their bed rippling. He yawned quietly before he could help it and reached up rubbing tiredly at the resulting tears. When he looked up his breath caught in his throat. His mate. Severus was standing there just outside the wards staring down at him with dark unhidden eyes; there were markings on his face and along the side of his neck and his hair floated about as though there was a breeze despite the still air of the infirmary. He looked powerful and a part of him purred at how capable he looked.

"If you want him back you'll have to prove to me that you can care for him." Ron said with narrowed eyes. "Not just physically but emotionally as well." He added lifting his chin and tightening his hold around Harry.

"You dare-" Severus started.

"Yes." Ron said his magic flaring. "I dare." He said coldly. "For once Harry is going to have someone in power that isn't out to use him, or to kill him! For once there will be someone who will stand up for him and keep git's like you from destroying him any more than you already have!" He shouted his face turning red. No matter his sudden heritage Ron was still Ron and his temper was still impressive.

"I didn't know he was my mate, if I had I would have never-"

"And yet," Ron said cutting him off "-I found Harry curled under the bed terrified of you." Ron said coldly. Severus flinched visibly.

"He was marked by another-"

"I don't want to hear your fucking excuses Snape, Harry was hurt when he shouldn't have been! Your place as his mate is to protect and comfort him not to terrify him to the point of a forced transformation!" Ron said his eyes glittering in fury.

"What's all this?! Ronald Weasley are you cursing at a- oh my…" Madam Pomfrey took a step back as Severus let out a soft growl in her direction.

"I'll make an oath." Severus said his eyes dark and flashing. "If that's what it takes then that is what I'll do but give me back my mate Weasley!" He said a nearly frightened look on his face.

"It'll take more than that Snape, you've hurt Harry too much and too often, I need proof and an oath that your slimy snake self can wriggle out of just isn't going to cut it. Harry is family; I have every right to keep him from you if I view you as a threat to him." Ron said tightening his grip around Harry who had begun to tremble.

"You would keep him from his mate? Do you have any idea how he would suffer?" Severus said horrified.

"I would, it would be better for him to suffer this way than to be trapped and abused!" Ron said his magic crackling around him.

"I wouldn't hurt him Weasley! I want to take care of him!" His mate said firmly. "I want to love him." He said his voice oddly tremulous. Both Ron and Harry startled at that. His mate wanted to love him- his heart soared at this fact but his mind drew a blank. Snape wanted to love him? The same Snape that had shouted and said cruel things? But as he looked up at the man he knew it was true, his mate regretted having hurt him, his mate wanted to love him.

"Harry?" Ron said quietly. Harry glanced at him cautiously. "If you ever feel like you're in danger with him, if you ever feel that something is wrong I want you to come talk to me." He said firmly. Harry felt himself nod automatically. "Go on then, go to your mate." Ron said nudging him slightly. Harry all but flew out of the bed and into Snape's arms. The man let out a contented growl and held him tightly.

"Mine." The man whispered harshly against his neck.

"Yours." Harry agreed happily.

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Getting used to living with Snape was no joke. Harry, for all that he was more creature than human now had held on to his personality. He was the same insolent, at times angsty and had a rather remarkable temper- and a perchance for getting into trouble of course. It had been two weeks since Harry had mated with Severus Snape, in that span of time, despite Harry's more subservient nature and the obvious care Severus allotted to him (and only him thank-you) they still got into their scrapes.

"Harry." Severus growled. Harry winced slightly.

"It didn't feel right." Was Harry's immediate defense.

"It didn't- oh for the love of Circe!" Snape hissed visibly trying to retain his annoyance. "It hasn't felt right the last three times you've moved the furniture around what makes you think it will feel right this time?" The man said his patience visibly tested. Harry felt his ears droop (his sharp feline ears hadn't retracted since he'd changed much to Severus' amusement.) Harry crossed his arms defiantly.

"I don't know why it doesn't feel right it just doesn't!" Harry said not willing to budge on this.

"My rug didn't feel right so you burned it, my china pissed you off so you charmed it to sing until I was so annoyed with it that I destroyed it myself, my clothes didn't suit you so you hexed them a different color and now my furniture doesn't feel right no matter how many times you switch it up and cause me to nearly break toes and crack my scull from running into it!" Severus threw up his hands in distress.

"I'm sorry." Harry said feeling his heart start to ache. He didn't really mean to be so troublesome honestly, but he had these strange urges these nervous little ticks that didn't seem to leave him alone. Severus let out one of his long patient biding sighs that Harry had come to hate. It meant that he was causing his mate stress; it meant that his mate was struggling to keep his temper at bay. Harry was such an awful mate! Tears dribbled down his cheeks and he tried to hide them but it was useless, his mate knew the moment he'd become upset and could smell his pain. Strong arms surrounded him and Harry sank into Severus' arms ignoring the scratchy raw feeling of the wool robes that chafed his skin.

"You frightened the elf this morning you know." Severus said sounding both amused and tired. "Do you even realize that you asked for a raw steak for breakfast?" Severus inquired. Of course that little fact only made Harry feel worse.

"I thought it tasted funny, it was good but…" Severus huffed.

"Let me guess, it didn't feel right." The man said pressing a kiss to his temple.

"I can't help what I am Severus!" Harry said clinging to the man's robes afraid that he would get tired of him, throw him away-

"Hush my love, no one is asking you to change." Severus soothed. "However you are obviously lacking something, something that I am apparently not providing for you, we simply need to figure out what it is." Severus said with a soft sigh.

"Hermione's been working on it for ages." Harry muttered. "She says that it's just like Dumbledore had warned- my blood changes too frequently to truly label me and decide what I need." Harry said sullenly. "I think she's just mad at me still." It all seemed very hopeless.

"I'll speak to the headmaster; I assume that he probably knows far more than he is letting on." Severus said dryly.

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"Ah, yes. Well Harry is a special case Severus we both know that." The headmaster said chuckling at Severus' expense. "However one trait is common enough in mated creatures- the submissive will rely on the dominant. Harry might not trust anything that you haven't personally procured for him." Severus stared at the man blankly for a moment.

"My aunt Piecies bought me that tea set." He said in understanding.

"And the furniture is standard Hogwarts issue." Dumbledore agreed.

"And someone else buys the meat- bloody-" Severus rubbed his forehead. And now that he had some idea of what was bothering his Harry he knew damn well that he was going to be trekking into a forest with an ax, not to mention learning how to properly butcher a cow- ah he supposed the food part made sense at least. He was the dominant in the relationship, which meant that he was expected to hunt and care for Harry like a proper dominant creature would. Dumbledore chuckled.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Harry had a bit of an aversion to the elves coming into your rooms as well though you haven't listed it as one of the reactions Harry's been having. Harry will probably feel that it is his place to do the cooking and cleaning around your living space- oh dear, now that I think about it he might even have trouble living in the castle since you weren't the one to put it together-" Dumbledore mused. Severus felt himself twitch slightly- all these needs that Harry hadn't mentioned, and he had no doubt that there were more. He grit his teeth and tried to suppress the low growl that threatened to slip out. It was his fault he supposed, he'd been so busy trying to maintain the stubbornly human side of himself that he blocked off much of what he needed to keep his mate feeling secure.

"There is more isn't there…?" Severus muttered darkly. Dumbledore chuckled lightly.

"Oh I assume there is much more." The headmaster said lightly.

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Severus huffed at the pile of crates of books about building and hunting and god knows what else that he'd ordered. He twitched slightly as his fingers seemed to restlessly drum at his sides.

"…Severus?" Harry's voice was shy and a bit wary. Severus cursed himself for ever making his mate feel that he had to be at all hesitant around him.

"Come Harry; sit over there while I find what I need." Severus said mildly hardly noticing that He'd somehow managed to wrench the lid off the crate without even thinking about it. He turned to it and shifted the books around until he found the first of the beginners books. He knew intuitively now that until his den- shit- house was built and Harry felt safe and comfortable that he wasn't going to rest easily. What was it his great uncle Gregory used to say? –he didn't understand what being responsible was until he'd had to build a life from scratch for his family? Severus had assumed of course that the enormous estate he'd inherited would be more than enough to provide for Harry's needs.

As usual the boy challenged his assurance and proved him wrong.

He settled into the couch book in hand and let out a low rumble as Harry curled up against him. He glanced down and noted that Harry seemed to wince at the feel of his robes.

-household duties…

He made a mental note to hire someone to teach Potter how to sew.

Then again…the very thought of some stranger near his mate made him tense, which of course made Harry shirk away from him as though he was the reason for it.

"Nothing Harry, it wasn't you, I was thinking of-" Well he couldn't very well say he was thinking of someone else could he? Harry he'd discovered was ferociously jealous. "-a threat." He finished. There, that was safe right? He glanced down at Harry and cursed at the sight of wide terrified eyes. Of course- Harry was in a place that already felt unsafe and Severus had just mentioned a threat. "Rather a potential threat." Severus amended. "However I have already eliminated the possibility of there being a threat so there is no need to worry." He said pressing a kiss to Harry's forehead. Harry blinked slowly and some of the tension eased out of his shoulders. How many of these little signs did he miss on a daily basis…?

The thought did not sit well on his mind.

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"It's getting worse." Ron said his eyes dark, a heavy thrumming vibrating from his skin. Severus growled softly.

"I know, but it takes time, I need to go to the forest-" Weasley cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"Then do it." Ron snapped. Severus wanted nothing more than to tear Weasley's throat out. "He stopped eating; he won't even eat if I feed him." Weasley snapped obviously bothered by the fact. Severus twitched. He turned and strode out of the classroom not caring that he had another class. His mate was hungry.

Hunt

Seemed to be the only option on his mind.

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Severus grit his teeth and felt his jaw flex. It was really the only option he had.

"Headmaster I need to retrieve the wood for our den-" he cut himself off and twitched at the twinkle in the headmaster's eye. "I need you to look after Harry for the next few days." He said before promptly depositing his confused mate in the chair and all but storming out of the office. The headmaster chuckled at the mournful look Harry gave the closed door.

"I expect that he will return by morning." He said lightly.

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Severus was running at unnatural speeds his eyes flickering about dark and inhuman his nostrils flared his instincts honed.

There.

It took three blows to fell the tree which was possibly hundreds of years old. It emitted an enormous groaning thundering sound as it tipped to the side before crashing down. Severus grinned teeth sharp eyes glittering as he sensed that more than a few animals had suffered the fall of the ancient tree. Hunting and finding good solid wood for their home all in one blow- perfect. But he needed several more trees still. He took off with an inhuman leap little more than a blur as creatures hid away eyes wide with fear.

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"Oh my." Dumbledore said as yet another echoing BANG! Filled the air shaking the very foundations of Hogwarts. He stood slowly and chuckled at the morose Harry who was staring out the window with rapt attention. He glanced over the boy's head and let out a snort.

"Dear me how many children does he expect you'll have?" He said tutting lightly. Harry turned to him with wide eyes.

"Why?" Harry said. It was the first thing the boy had said in nearly four hours. The headmaster chuckled.

"Seven trees that size? By my estimates that makes at least fourteen rooms." He said with a nod. Harry's cheeks pinkened and the headmaster was amused to note the small but visible smile on Harry's lips.

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Students scattered with gasps and shrieks as Severus prowled through the hallways dragging a dead buck and several strings of rabbits and other little furry creatures behind him. He of course had a bit of a hard time getting it through the opening for the stone gargoyle and had to break the legs (much to a little girl's horror) but the look on Harry's face when he stepped into the office with his prizes in hand was well worth it. Albus looked at his pocket watch and let out a small chuckle.

"Six hours, impressive Severus, I take it he won't be needing to spend the night after all?" The man said chuckling. Severus however was quite happy ignoring him and was in fact more interested in the bright hungry look Harry had at the sight of the bloody animals.

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Harry was shifty, silent and more twitchy than ever, not to mention that anything sexual was completely off the plate. Severus let out a slight growl.

Harry had skinned and butchered the animals he'd hunted, Severus had been half amused and half mortified to note that Harry had in a fit of starvation eaten most of the parts that would make normal human people retch at the thought of within the first few hours. Harry had saved the hearts for Severus though…Severus didn't quite know why but something told him it was right, ritualistic perhaps, but right.

But now Harry wouldn't eat again.

Severus tested the meat…it was fine. So why couldn't Harry eat?

But he knew. Harry had been starving before, but while Harry felt unsafe in his quarters Harry would be too damned frightened to eat.

Severus let out another growl and left his quarters leaving a frightened Harry tucked under the pelts from the animals he'd hunted. Severus needed to work on the den.

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"Harry." McGonagall greeted as she stepped through the entrance to their quarters.

Damn.

While it might be gentlemanly as a human to let the female enter a room first, it was utterly terrifying for Harry to have some perceived stranger enter his home without his mate around. Harry had grown increasingly skittish over the past weak and for the last two days hadn't spoken a word or left their quarters. Severus slipped by Minerva not caring that it was rude as a human. He scooped his trembling mate into his arms and allowed the frightened boy to burrow into his robes letting out a frightened sound.

"Hush my love she is a guest I would not let her hurt you." Severus said peppering kisses over the drawn face. Harry hardly ate either which was especially worrying since he was expanding so much energy just breathing. Harry nodded slowly against his chest but would not be let down when Severus loosened his grip slightly so instead he carried Harry to the couch and settled down rubbing soothing circles into the curled back.

"Hello Harry." Minerva said again this time her voice softer and soothing rather than the prim stern tone she normally used. Severus smirked slightly in amusement knowing that she spoke to her pet cats this way on a regular basis. She sat in the chair opposite of them and Severus realized rather belatedly that the furniture had been moved again.

"I thought you might like something safer than classes for a while Harry, the headmaster suggested that Minerva teach you how to sew and perhaps if you like that then to cook." Severus explained soothingly. Harry's ears perked slightly and twitched telling Severus that he was listening intently.

"My mother was a seamstress in her time." Minerva said helpfully. "She often sewed her husband's- my step father's clothes for him, and of course clothes for us her children." Minerva said kindly. Harry's head lifted at that and Severus smiled faintly. Minerva was intentionally using words that in Harry's mind would translate into something he naturally felt the need to do. Both he and Harry were becoming less and less like themselves and more like creatures driven by primal instinct every day.

"Minerva has agreed to spend a few hours with us every evening teaching you how to sew and cook. I will be here of course and always on hand. However since she is being so kind I will expect you to work hard. During the day when she is teaching I expect you to practice." Severus said his voice firm. Harry nodded his head eyes catching his. He noted that they were slitted again, the pupil elongated and the green a thick mesmerizing arch on either side of it. Harry was becoming more creature by day and it was driving him to distraction to know that his mate was unhappy.

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"Severus?" Dumbledore's voice was faint in the back of his head. His immediate reaction was to turn and snarl at the man his teeth elongated as he lifted Harry from where he was sleeping and threw him into what was the simple frame of the enormous house. It took him a moment to realize that the headmaster wasn't a threat.

"What?" His voice was more animal than human but he took no notice of it.

"I've recruited old professor Slughorn to look after your classes; I simply thought you should know, it has been three days since you've been inside the castle." The headmaster said calmly. Severus blinked.

"What the devil are you talking about I've only been her for a few hours." Severus said in shock. It took him a few moments to realize that it was dark out and that he was missing not only his robes but his shirt as well.

"No Severus, I'm afraid it's been three days. You've been working for three days and three and a half nights." The headmaster said gently. Severus dropped the hammer he was holding and let out a panicked sound. "Hush my dear boy, it is to be expected, Harry has been fighting his instincts bravely but both of you understand that you need your home. I've set up a barrier around this area to prevent students from being able to see the two of you so you needn't worry about them knowing that you aren't human- though there are some rather interesting rumors going on about the incident with the bloody buck you dragged through the castle…" He said chuckling merrily. Severus blinked slowly and glanced down at Harry only to realize that his mate had reverted to his animal form again.

Already the palms of his hands were itching to keep working.

"Go on Severus, I won't keep you I just thought you might like to know when you do come to your senses again." The headmaster said cheerily. Severus could feel a tug, a pull and the headmaster was suddenly foreign in his mind as he turned and scooped up his mate placing him contentedly on the pile of furs in their den before returning to his work.

The headmaster chuckled airily as he walked back to the castle.