Disclaimer: -sniffle- Why do you keep making me say it!? I DON'T own them, and though I would sincerly love to have a Snape to snuggle with, only J.K. has that priveledge. -sniffle, wipes tear- you've made me cry, meanies. :P

Title: The Ties That Bind

Beta: The lovely, talented, totally superb ShadowFax999 has given me the honor of being my beta. You should love her... she's a very, very good beta and she makes everything I write readable...

Summary/ Warning: Dom/ Sub, HGRW, PPBZ, RLSB, LVBL …and of course HPSS.

Chapter 4: Establishing the Protocols

:Parseltongue:

"Conversational thoughts"

Private thoughts, memories

Harry shifted and snuggled closer to the warm body next to him, realizing as he did so who it was. He froze for a moment, remembering the things that he had done last night, and buried his face in his pillow as he flushed. He should be ashamed of the memories, but in reality a large part of him felt nothing more than smug contentment as he revisited the previous night, convinced that he had done a good thing by sleeping with his Professor. Well, not in the orthodox sense of the word, he thought, we didn't actually sleep much.

Harry sat up slowly to look at the man lying next to him. Severus was lying on his side facing away from Harry, one arm tucked under a pillow and the other covering his eyes. His pale skin shone in the darkness, and Harry took in a deep breath as he finally admitted that last night was real. That it had in fact happened.

But he couldn't seem to care that he'd broken about six hundred school rules or that he'd basically propositioned his teacher. There was a smug, sleepy part of him that recognized the man he was watching and murmured to him that everything was fine now, that he would never be alone again.

But Harry struggled with that as a miniscule, nagging feeling eroded his current pleasure. He'd hated Snape- Severus- for so many years that just having a crush on him had been enough to freak him out. Up until a few days ago he'd never even thought that this was practical, logical or even moral. That he would get to find out if his dreams were anything like the truth. He knew Severus hated him- had hated him since before he was born, thanks to his father, and that Severus was bound to be pissed that he was stuck with the one person he hated most for the rest of his life.

He didn't seem to mind last night, that smug part of him thought, and Harry shook his head to clear it. That might have been anything- it could have been this bond forcing itself on him. But he instinctively knew that wasn't the truth. Severus could never be forced to do something he didn't want, Harry knew that- and he remembered through the haze of lust and pain that had surrounded him all night that Severus had initiated most- if not all- of their contact. Harry shoved his internal argument aside as his body's needs caught up with him.

Laying back down, he shifted closer to the warmth beckoning to him even as his rational mind scolded him for the motion. A strong, lean arm reached out and wrapped around his waist, pulling him intimately closer, and tucking him flush against a pale side.

Harry sank into the embrace, refusing to listen to the ever- diminishing part of him that warned that this was a bad thing. The raven haired man next to him turned to look down on him, and Harry smiled as he greeted the older man shyly. "Good morning, Sev'rus. What time is it?"

Snape smiled down on the boy for a moment a sight that would have sent Harry to the Hospital Wing yesterday, then cast Tempus, and saw that it was seven in the morning. "It's seven. We should get up soon," but he trailed off as a small hand reached up to pull him down into his arms.

"But it's Saturday, Severus, relax and sleep in."

Severus cursed mentally as his body melted into Harry's embrace, and he was already more than half asleep as he thought I have to warn him about commanding things… and he casually slipped back into sleep.

Harry woke as the bed dipped and the warmth next to him moved away. "Where's da fire?" he asked drowsily as he slowly pushed the blankets off. A muffled snort was his only answer, but he thought he heard a soft voice say something funny. "Hunh?" he said, "I didn't catch that." Severus stilled as he searched through his closet. I don't think I said anything, he thought, and started when Harry rolled over and said, "Well, there's no need to be rude about it. If you don't want to answer my question, don't."

Severus very carefully made his way out of his closet, forgetting about the trousers in his hand. His skin is so pale, Harry thought briefly, but his attention snapped back to Snape when the other man asked, "What did you hear?" his tone conveying a slight fear of what Harry was going to say.

"You said something like 'It happened last night', or 'In my pants', or something. What's with the interrogation?" Harry was pretending like this was a normal occurrence, waking up naked in his Professor's bed with his naked Professor, and focused solely on what Severus was saying.

Severus hadn't moved through Harry's answer, and sat down hard on the bed when he registered what the man he said. He'd thought both those things right after Harry's sleepy remark, and he looked up into the concerned eyes of his mate as he thought, He can hear everything I think. Emerald eyes sparkled, and Harry sat back abrubtly as he felt the thought resound in his own mind.

"I can read your mind!?" he asked incredulously, "I forgot about that!" He shook his head in amazement and wonder. "Wow. And to think- you told me Fifth year that reading someone's mind was just a stupid way to phrase Occulmency."

Severus stood and tossed a pair of pants to Harry. "It seems you actually remembered something, after all. Come, we'd better get something to eat," and he led the way into his living room.

"Wait!" Harry said as Severus started to walk out the door. Turning around with a puzzled expression on his face, Severus waited as the boy to jumped out of the bed and came to him. Naked. Severus kept his eyes firmly above Harry's waist- he didn't need to deal with horny teenage boy first thing in the morning.

"I'm not horny, and turn around," Harry instructed, and Severus snorted as he remembered that the child could read his thoughts. As gentle hands ghosted along his back, he heard Harry mutter, "I'm no child," but before Severus could respond to the statement, Harry spoke under his breath and a low throbbing pain in Severus' back that he hadn't even noticed before disappeared.

Straining his neck to look over his shoulder, Severus saw nothing and raised an eyebrow at the flushing teen. "What did you do to me?" Severus asked, faintly astonished that he hadn't even realized he was hurt.

Harry flushed even harder at the question, and bent his head, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand as he answered. "Um, well, I got a little carried away last night, and I thought you'd appreciate not having to deal with the scars I would have given you."

Harry purposefully didn't add that he would have killed himself if he had been the one to leave a permanent mark on his mate. It was enough that he had to share Severus' flawless skin with the Mark of his enemy. Severus regarded him for a moment, and then turned around to fully face the boy. Placing one hand on Harry's shoulder and the other under his chin, Severus raised Harry's face so the teen had to look at him.

"Thank you," he said softly, and pressed a soft kiss to the surprised lips of the younger man. He pulled back after a moment, though, not wanting things to go further, and smiled at the expression on Harry's face. Bemused, but with no little lust thrown in.

"Come on," Severus said, as he let go of Harry and walked towards the dining room. "And put those pants on!"

Harry followed after he had pulled the pants on, faintly surprised that they were getting along so well, and listened to the new voice at the back of his mind, trying to follow the speed of the thoughts.

"You have got to slow down. You're going to make me sick." He complained as he sank into a chair, raising one hand to rub at his temple. Severus apologized, but his thoughts didn't slow. If anything, they sped up. Have to set up a procedure… He can read my mind… Do I tell Albus?… And where is my teapot?… Can this be seen through Occulmency?… How is this going to affect my class?… Harry forced his mind out of his mate's and looked at Severus in awe. That was a lot of things to think about at once. No wonder he complained about constant headaches.

The other man was getting breakfast ready (not wanting to disturb the House Elves), setting out utensils, plates, glasses, and napkins before going back for the food and the tea. When they were both settled, he filled their plates and said "We will discuss this after we eat," and nothing else. Harry didn't mind, as it gave him more practice at lowering the volume at which he heard the older man and more time to get used to the fact that he was eating breakfast with his Potions Master clad in only pajama bottoms while said Potions Master wore little else.

He listened in amazement to the voice behind his ears as Severus thought. There was almost no regret about last night present in any of the thoughts related to it, and Harry got the feeling that Severus hadn't had sex in a very long time. The beast that lived inside of him rumbled happily at the thought, and Harry ate his food mechanically as he basically lived his mate's life first hand.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Severus cleared off the table and called a parchment, inkwell, and quill over to the table, then sat back and regarded Harry.

"There are many things in this relationship that will be hard to bear. Since that is the case, I think it would be wise to set up a few ground rules. I have a few in mind already." Even though Harry already knew what Severus wanted, he agreed with his mate's choice to conduct this conversation aloud.

"For one, I do not wish to be forced to obey you. It has already happened once-" Harry flushed as he saw the scene replay in his mate's mind, and kept quiet- "and I would rather not repeat the experience." Unbidden a thought came to Severus, ...though I did sleep better than I have in a long time.

Harry straightened at that and in response to a prompting from his hidden demon said, "But sometimes it would be a good thing, right? Like if you can't fall asleep for some reason, or you've been overworking yourself? I could help you fall asleep, and you won't have to risk getting addicted to Dreamless Sleep, or something." Not that Severus particularly wanted to admit it, but the boy did have a point. Harry knew he had won for real when Severus wrote down 'There is to be no use of the ability to command obedience except in extenuating circumstances.'"

They spent the next half hour hashing out the rules, and the final list included:

1. There is to be no use of the ability to command obedience except in extenuating circumstances.

2. Possessive tendencies are to be kept to a minimum.

3. No digging through Severus' head for information for exams without express permission.

4. No digging through Severus' head for help with Potions.

5. If there is a need for physical contact, it shall happen only at appointed times and places.

Harry was a little annoyed with the fourth rule, but he had to admit that Severus had a point- he did need to learn Potions on his own. Other than that, they were both satisfied with the list, and Severus went to hang it on the back of his bedroom door.

When Severus came back into the living room, Harry was deep in thought. When he glanced up, it was to see Severus looking at him with concern. "Hey, no worries, I'm not regretting anything," he said in answer to the unspoken question, "I was thinking, but," he trailed off. He didn't want to seem silly, and this question could definitely be classified as 'silly'.

He heard Severus' interest in his thoughts and asked the question anyway. "Was it… was I… um… good?" Harry looked away as he spoke, his face burning as he heard his mate's answer to the question. A hand slid around his throat and Harry found himself face to face with Severus as the man pressed his lips to Harry's.

"Yes. It was." Harry opened his mouth instinctively and Severus slipped his tongue inside the hot cavern, pleased with how quickly Harry responded to the sensation. He explored the interior of his mouth, enticing Harry's tongue to dance with his, and let Harry take the lead.

He shuddered as the boy's inquisitive tongue stroked the sensitive areas of his mouth, and moaned deep in his throat when Harry pulled him between his legs and wrapped his arms around Severus' waist. Harry titled his head to deepen the kiss, reaching for better access, using his tongue to mimic the actions of his cock from the night before, and driving Severus into a higher state of arousal. Harry refused to listen to the small part of his mind that chided that he was molesting his teacher, instead concentrating on the smug part that had realized its victory.

Harry ran a hand down to cup Severus gently, and smiled into the kiss as he finally understood his affect on the older man. He listened to Severus as the man responded to the action, rubbing against the hand holding him carelessly, whimpering at the sensations. Shifting his hands to grasp the throbbing member slightly, rubbing gently at the tip, Harry massaged the hard cock in his hand slowly, feeling it become even harder as he touched it.

Severus could barely think for the ecstasy that filled his mind and clouded his thoughts. All he was aware of was Harry, Harry's hand, and Harry's mouth. He rubbed shamelessly against the hand holding his cock, needing the gratification- not caring that he was acting exactly as he feared he would. Harry squeezed his dick, dragging his hand up and down his mate's hardness and he lightly stroked the soft sacs at the base. His slender fingers moved deftly along the length, carefully manipulating the head of Severus's desire.

Severus broke the kiss as he rutted against the hand caressing him, crying out breathlessly as bliss overcame his senses for a moment. Harry held Severus as the man convulsed from his orgasm, all of him smug, reveling in the effect he had on his mate. There was no room in his mind for misgivings right now, and he pressed Severus hard against him, feeling the last shudders go through the older man as the orgasm wore away. Severus put a hand on Harry's shoulder to steady himself, and leaned down to kiss Harry deeply.

"Oh, yeah," Severus murmured as he pulled away, "It was good."

Harry released his mate as Severus straightened, and suddenly shy, smiled at the older man uncertainly. Severus smiled back, and ran a hand through Harry's messy hair. He dropped a peck onto the boy's lips, and stepped out of the protection of Harry's embrace, forcing the part of him that resented his moving away to shut up, and cast Scourgify.

Harry blushed at the necessity of the spell, clearly not expecting Severus to be so open with him. Severus caught the blush and raised an eyebrow.

"What, Harry? It is a common spell." He chuckled as the boy's blush deepened. "Harry," he said again, and Harry's gaze shot to Severus' eyes- that was the voice that always figured prominently in his dreams. Dreams which have now become reality, he reminded himself, waiting for Severus to continue. "We are now a Bonded Pair. For better or worse, we are bound together until the end of time." Harry nodded- he knew that. "We need to be comfortable with each other."

Harry snorted suddenly, and explained the cause to Severus with a blush staining his cheeks. "You just came against my chest, then cleaned it up. I'd say that's comfortable with each other."

Severus' lips quirked in a little smile. "I'd say so, too." They sat in silence for a moment before Severus cast Tempus to check the time, cursing silently as he realized he only had twenty minutes to get to his meeting. Harry looked startled at his outburst- he'd never heard Severus so much as say 'darn' before- and listened to his mate's thoughts before saying tentatively, "I'm sure you'll make it."

Severus spared a look at the boy before he was off to the bathroom, intent on being able to manage a quick shower before getting dressed and making to the teachers meeting on time. He'd entirely forgotten that he had to attend a Saturday meeting, and no wonder. But he pushed images of last night out of his mind as he slid under the water and began lathering himself.

Ten minutes later he was dry, dressed, and walking to the door, saying to Harry as he went that he could stay or go as he willed. He was halfway out the door when Harry pulled him back inside, shut the door and began tidying him, brushing lint from his shoulders and smoothing his hair into place.

Severus wondered at the grooming, thinking that maybe it was another dominant tendency, before Harry said, "You'll make it on time, Severus," and reached up to tentatively place a kiss to his mates lips, placating the animal that had roared to life when Severus had tried to leave without it.

Harry groaned as Severus deepened the kiss and grabbed a handful of his mate's robes to press their bodies together. But he stepped back and smoothed Severus' robes again, before opening the door and watching Severus leave, savoring the fantasies floating in his mates mind.

"You'll get to try that later," he sent to Severus cautiously, and was rewarded for his first mind- to- mind contact with a vision of himself stretched out in front of Severus, watching as the older man sucked down every last drop of his seed.

"Evil, evil man," he said as he got a hard- on. An echoing laugh was his only answer.

Hello all! A little bit of a shorter chapter today, but I hope you all enjoy it! I really don't have anything important to say... I guess I just want to tell you all to leave a reveiw and tell me whacha think. Hey! I remembered! THANK ALL OF YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS!! I've never gotten this many reviews off of a four chapter fic!

Thanks again, and... review! LoL XD

Netrixie

P.S.: Me n' my snister ManhattanWitch have a combined account called Stop and Stare, and we're begin (albeit slowly) to start posting stuff there. We've got one fic so far, called Muggle Tales for Witches and Wizards that is the creepiest thing we've ever written. Check it out! hahahaha- I'll let you go now, swear.

Ta!

P.P.S: Sorry! But I've got to tell you- I LOVE the next chapter in this- and you'll see why... next week. Sorry- just had to say that!