Not much to say except to say that this story is nearing it's admittedly short end, it's always sad when a story ends...this isn't one of the longest or the most fulfilling but it has been in my archive for a while...I hope you enjoy it!

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 5

Severus woke slowly and let out a small growl pulling Harry closer briefly before frowning at the distinctly human form. He cracked his eyes open blearily and blinked as the light filtered into the room. He winced as his head pounded viciously in protest to his waking and when he shifted his body positively screamed in agony.

"Wow." Harry said softly his voice rough with disuse as he grinned shyly up at him. "I'll never doubt you again that's for sure." Harry said shyly. Severus let out a half hearted grumble and sneezed at the saw dust that tickled his nose- in fact as he thought about it the itchy crap seemed to be everywhere which was highly uncomfortable.

"Wha?" He managed before his mate slipped from the furs and rushed away for a moment before returning with a small wooden bowl filled with water. Severus drank greedily until it was gone and let out a small discontented sound at the empty bowl as Harry stood and rushed away returning with another for him. Severus drank this one too before feeling a mite better and leaning back into the furs…wait…furs?

"Dumbledore said you might get like that." His mate said retrieving the bowl and darting away again only to return with more water. The boy nuzzled him gently before moving across the large room to where an enormous stone fireplace sat. "When you left me in his office he said that we were going to revert to our creature forms. He said it didn't surprise him because I- well both of us know by experience how dangerous it is right now. I suppose I stopped feeling safe at Hogwarts the year before last though I didn't really notice until my instincts went haywire." As he spoke Severus noted that Harry was rushing about setting an enormous pot onto some hooks over the stone fireplace. Severus frowned as he watched Harry simply hold his hand over the pot for water to rise magically.

"Why didn't you do that when you were giving me water?" Severus asked quite content to stay where he was and not move- for a year preferably. Harry turned and smiled slightly in apology.

"Er…well you worked non stop for two months to build our home, you've depleted your energy levels a great deal. The moment I get near you your body starts using some of my energy to help heal- you've been asleep for two and a half days by the way." Harry muttered as he began to chop and grind and stir disappearing into the pantry and reappearing carrying a slab of meat that really should have been too big for him to carry, it nearly looked comical- though…his eyebrows went up and he was satisfied to note that his mate had put on several stone.

"You're eating again I see?" Severus said feeling distinctly proud of that fact.

"Call me fat and I might hex you." Harry said pouting slightly. "After you brought me home I regained my appetite, you wouldn't stop working to eat though- a lot of it is a bit fuzzy in my head, and pretty gross too but you kept hunting for me and you wouldn't eat, even the hearts- so I, well, I ate for you if that makes any sense. Dumbledore told me it might happen; he said that you would be taking energy from me somehow. I don't know how it worked only that considering the amounts I ate I should be at least six times this size." Harry said wrinkling his nose. Severus was having a hard time paying attention to the words; he was busy watching his mate who was moving confidently through the unfurnished kitchen.

-his fingers tingled at the slight urge to go out and find wood for furniture but his body seemed to laugh at his urge when it tried to make him move.

Still- it was good to see his mate content.

Safe.

He knew undoubtedly that Harry was safe in their den-

He smiled further at the thought of what Harry had called it- their home.

And Harry was well fed.

All was well.

"-but really you were a bit funny. When I asked you for a knife you gave me a hunk of metal, I had to make these from scratch. When I asked for some plates and maybe some bowls- you gave me a hunk of rock and a block of wood." Harry said grinning. Severus wondered if he'd ever seen anything more beautiful then that smile. "Still I had plenty of time to practice and some of this stuff came by instinct. Though I don't think I'll forgive you for bringing me several bags of wool when I asked for fabric to make you're clothes." Harry said before pausing and laughing outright. "I don't think the muggle shepherd who found his entire flock sheered will forgive you either not that he remembers it." Harry said grinning. Severus was briefly distracted by the enchanting sound of his mate's laughter before the words Harry was saying made sense in his brain.

"Oh dear Merlin…" Severus said in horror. Harry glanced at him and grinned. Severus forgot why he was horrified.

"It's alright, I got you to allow Professor McGonagall in and she taught me some spells, she gave me a load of books to help with other stuff too since she knew you might not let her back in." Severus was mortified. Harry was calm though, content as he scraped cut meat into the enormous pot which was beginning to bubble before turning back to the slab of meat and chopping another large piece off.

"How many people are you planning to feed Harry?" He asked curiously. Harry's green eyes sparkled slightly as they lifted and Severus felt his breath catch again.

"Just you, I have no doubt that you'll finish this pot in no time. I baked some bread yesterday-" Severus cocked his head to the side as Harry darted back into the pantry and came back with two loaves of bread that looked almost as big as his small mate was. Severus was surprised to feel his mouth begin to water. Now that Harry mentioned it he was- famished really. He felt as though he hadn't eaten in- well…two months he supposed. It seemed an instant later that Harry placed a large wooden platter on the ground before him. Severus didn't look he just devoured noting that something seemed to settle in Harry as he did so. Severus was unaware of anything aside from his own gaping hunger and for what felt like a moment he was surrounded by a buzzing sound and his thoughts were mixed and confused.

When he came back from it he was licking the platter clean and there was a heady coppery scent in his mouth.

"What did I just eat?" Severus asked setting the plate to the side. Harry glanced up at him and frowned slightly.

"The hearts, I saved them for you." Harry said mildly. "Do you want more? The stew will be ready in ten minutes. Harry said cocking his head to the side.

"Yes." Severus rasped before he could quite grasp the concept. He knew he'd done it before and he knew that by human standards it should disgust him- but the moment Harry brought out the enormous glass jar Severus' mind seemed gone from him.

He was so hungry!

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Harry watched his mate sleep soundly. Severus hadn't come back after Harry had given him the jar, instead Harry was faced with the beautiful dark eyed mate he'd come to adore. It had freaked him out at first, the weird little quirks like Severus eating hearts and himself falling into a rhythm of cleaning whatever animal Severus brought back for him on those days when he seemed to sense that they needed more meat. But it was…peaceful. Even if he didn't have a bed or really any thing other than what he'd created in the kitchen and the few robes he'd managed to make once he had the spells down. He had his garden in the back, which took up a great deal of his time to maintain, and there was always some sort of work in the house to be done.

He was just Harry.

And Severus' mate.

There was a war brewing outside he knew, and Draco's expression grew grimmer with each visit he made though Harry happily set him to work to keep his mind off of things. Draco was thinner, Ron too though Severus hadn't allowed Ron past the front door.

But he was safe here.

For the first time in his life he felt completely safe and completely satisfied.

He crawled down onto the furs and slipped into his mate's arms unsurprised when they tugged him closer and teeth nibbled lightly at his neck.

He was home.

That's all that mattered now.

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"How many today Kingsley?" Albus asked softly his voice carrying through the room.

"Twenty nine dead, Sixteen seriously injured, eighteen missing." The seasoned Auror reported tiredly. Albus nodded slowly. Moral was low, attacks were wide-spread and the death toll rose with each passing day. On the upside he had found and destroyed five Horcruxes. The sixth, Nagini would be dead within the week if he had anything to say about it. The seventh…he refused to think about. He glanced down at his hand where the tips of his fingers shown black. Death was creeping in on him, he didn't have much time.

"We're almost there my friends, I know it doesn't seem like it, but the war is nearing its end and the dark lord will fall." He said with determination. "Focus on catching Nagini, she is the key." He said with a nod.

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Lucius Malfoy shivered as the dark lord whispered to his pet the soft hissing washing over him and sending chills up his spine. Lucius turned his gaze to the floor. His eyes were rimmed with dark bruising smudges and he hadn't eaten for a very long time but Lucius couldn't think of food, not when the dark lord had his mate hidden away from him! Not when the madman had taken over their home! His only consolation was that Severus had taken Draco somewhere though even that wasn't a sure thing. Rumor was that Draco was still at Hogwarts and Lucius knew that meant that Severus would be close by too- if the rumors were true of course. He hoped that Severus would have enough sense to know when to run for his bloody life and to take Draco too. Lucius shivered again as the dark lord's eyes moved around the room.

He was becoming more paranoid than usual.

And he hardly spoke a word of English any more- when he did it was to mutter the same things over and over again that Lucius suspected he muttered in Parstletongue as well.

"Where is he? Where is Harry Potter…"

Lucius prayed that this hell would end soon. He didn't know how long he could go on before he too was mad.

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Two weeks later…

Draco was silent as he entered. Harry stood immediately from where he'd been spelling cotton into sheets that he could use for their new beds. There was a look in Draco's eyes that sent a thrill of fear through Harry and before he could stop himself he was wrapping his arms around his child cooing softly as his wings fluttered and rustled around them.

He heard Severus enter and glanced up his gaze fearful.

"We received news this morning; in his madness the dark lord killed Narcissa. Lucius sent word of it along with his will and family ring. He did so with the very last vestiges of his sanity. I received a report a few moments ago that Lucius went mad and transformed into a full fledged Vela. He tore Nagini apart and then proceeded to attack the dark lord. He wounded him severely some say maybe even fatally however Lucius died before he could deliver a fatal blow- there was some sort of curse protecting the snake." Severus said softly as his own wings spread and he carefully climbed into the furs they'd been using while Severus built the beds and other necessities. Harry pulled an unresisting Draco to where Severus was curled up and settled in with a sigh allowing instinct to take over. When Draco had finally calmed and fallen into a fitful sleep Harry closed his eyes.

Voldemort wasn't dead.

He could still feel him there just at the edge of his mind like a taint that he couldn't be rid of.

"Draco will live with us from now on." Harry decided nuzzling the pale neck. Severus let out a small grumble of agreement. Harry smiled faintly and pushed closer to the two holding them tightly.

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There were some aspects of their life; Harry thought mildly, that would never change. For example, when Harry had asked Severus to get him some soft yarn for Harry to knit a warm blanket with Severus had cocked his head to the side and pointed at the growing pile of furs. Draco had managed a smile at the look of patience Harry had given the man. Severus' argument was of course that Harry felt uncomfortable whenever he brought something that either he Harry or Draco had made into the house. He was right of course. But Harry had argued that he got used to it after a while, after all Severus certainly hadn't made the paper or the ink in the books that were slowly being added to the growing library in their home, nor had he written them and Harry was fine with the books.

After several days of sniffing around them of course.

Severus had simply rolled his eyes and decided that he was never building a house for Harry again if Harry could simply get used to living somewhere after a while.

Harry had pointed out that there was a distinct difference in the safety of their home and the threat of soft yarn that didn't involve sheering sheep or skinning rabbits.

Draco agreed if only because he was becoming a bit cabin feverish himself.

Harry smirked as he pulled out the patterns for blankets that Professor McGonagall had given him a week ago. They smelled like home now and Severus had already thoroughly examined them so Harry felt safe enough to look over his upcoming challenge. Severus would undoubtedly bring more than just yarn, it was in his nature to do so- and with Draco competing with him Harry had to wonder how shifty and anxious he would be over the next few days as he slowly got used to all the new things he knew the two would bring back.

Harry smirked slightly as he stood and moved to the stove to put on a kettle.

This kitchen was the success of Severus' last trip outside of their home. Harry had asked for some glass jars, the previous argument had of course sprung up and Severus had left in a huff only to return with all the bits and pieces he would need for the kitchen including a stove, wizards dish washer, cutlery, knives, bowls, cups, tea cups, tea saucers, pots, pans, an oven, a kettle, tea, fresh fruit, herbs that he didn't have in his garden- etcetera- needless to say Harry hadn't been able to enter the kitchen for two days before he felt safe enough to enter. Severus had rather amusedly eaten cold cut sandwiches and things that Harry could make up directly from the pantry.

He'd been rather smug.

Harry noted with a snort as he set the kettle to boil and retrieved the tea from the shelf. Guiltily he opened the tin and took a suspicious sniff before spooning some into the strainer.

"Harry?!"

Harry blinked in slight shock. No one came to their home; after Lucius Malfoy had attacked the dark lord Dumbledore had placed the house under the Fidelius charm in order to keep them safe. No one would expect them to actually be living on the back side of Hogwarts. Harry opened the front door as the weary headmaster stepped up the path.

"I came to look after you while Severus and Draco are away, it might be some time before they come back after all." The man said slowly climbing up the steps. Harry nodded slightly. He still found it hard to talk around people that weren't Draco and Severus but Severus had said that it was natural so he didn't think much of it.

"Tea?" Harry asked gesturing to the round table. The headmaster sat tiredly and nodded with a slight chuckle.

"Oh yes, yes my dear boy tea would be lovely." The man said. Harry noted that the man looked positively ancient, far older then when Harry had seen him only two weeks previous. He frowned but turned to the kettle adding a bit more water. "Oh what a lovely table cloth, did you make this?" The headmaster said fingering the white tablecloth. Harry smiled proudly. It was a tricky bit of work and Harry had nearly driven himself mad making it.

"Yes." Harry said softly as he pulled two tea cups from the cupboard.

"I must say Harry you've really brought the craftsman out of Severus, look at the detail in the woodwork on this table…" The headmaster said pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose idly. Harry flushed slightly hoping beyond hope that the man hadn't found- "Aha! What is this? 'To my beloved mate, may we soon find need of a bigger table' ohohoho!" Harry flushed brightly and turned to the kettle a happy smile on his face. "It almost makes me wonder what he's written on the bed!" The headmaster said brightly. Harry spun sharply his face flushed oh dear no! The headmaster couldn't see that-

He paled abruptly.

There was a wand in his face.

The headmaster was staring at him with such heart break in his eyes that Harry was distracted by his instinctive need to comfort the man.

"I'm so sorry Harry, so unbelievably sorry." The headmaster said a tear escaping his eye. "Adavra Kedavra." Harry didn't even have time to feel betrayed.

The world went black.