Disclaimer: I neither own, nor claim to own, any of the characters, places, settings, or semi-canon pairings that you see.
Beta: ShadowFax999!! Look- I reposted it! LOL, and hey- it's better this time... XD
Title: The Ties That Bind
Summary/ Warning: Dom/ Sub, HGRW, PPBZ, RLSB, LVBL …and of course HPSS.
Authours Note: Seduction via cooking!! LMFAO!!
Chapter 19:Unique Perspective
:Parseltongue:
"Conversational thoughts"
Private thoughts, shared memories
Harry slipped out of the Common Room a mere half an hour after the party began, and stood in his new bedroom rubbing his aching forehead. He wished he could be as carefree as the other students, but with everything that he had to deal with… it would probably never happen.
Walking over to the one bare section of wall, Harry placed a hand on it and thought hard about Severus' quarters. A moment later he was walking into Severus' living room and stretching before he flopped onto a couch. Settling in to wait for Severus- who was unceremoniously holed up in Dumbledore's office discussing Neville's upcoming detention- Harry kicked off his shoes and whispered into his mate's mind that he was waiting.
He was just falling into a light doze when Severus opened Sscazzs' door and slammed it shut. Ignoring the agitated snake writhing in the painting, Severus threw his wand at the far wall and cursed viciously. Shedding his teaching robes and shoes, Severus stormed into the kitchen and began searching through the cabinets. Harry sat up carefully, not wanting to anger his mate any more than he already was, and listened in on the Potions Master's thoughts.
… stupid annoying prat! That self-righteous jackarse! Who does the Psychotic old coot think he is? Trying to tell me what to do! What makes him think I'll obey him, anyway?
Severus slapped a potato on the counter and began chopping it methodically, as precise as he always was with a potion. Harry stood and walked softly over to the doorway to the kitchen, and leaned against the frame as he listened. …even Minerva doesn't try to tell me how to run my class- and Albus thinks he can tell me to fail Longbottom just because the stupid Gryffindor got into a fight?
Harry choked back the grin at Severus' Slytherin side, though he had to fight back the anger that was threatening to overwhelm him. Severus filled a pot with water and set it to boil with a whispered word. Throwing the chopped potato in, he produced thick hunks of meat and began dicing them. … I will not fail him, I'll see to that… even if the stupid child blows up the entire classroom and kills himself in the process he'll pass with an E! Harry watched as Severus added the meat and chopped carrots and celery into the pot, and threw in some string beans. Stirring the contents a few times, Severus reached into the cold cabinet and pulled out three heads of lettuce and four tomatoes. As he began to chop those as well, he gesture with the knife to the corner of the kitchen.
"Bring me that bowl." Harry looked over and saw an expensive crystal bowl sitting on a shelf, and went to get it. Placing it next to Severus on the counter, he peered into the pot and sniffed. Whatever it was, it smelled divine.
"What's that?" he asked, and Severus handed him a hunk of bread from the cold cabinet.
"Stew," he answered shortly, and gestured to the pot. Harry hesitantly dipped the bread into the pot, and bit the end gingerly. Though it was hot, it was delicious and Harry moaned in delight before he could help himself.
"Merlin, Severus. This is wonderful!" Severus let his lips twitch as he accepted the compliment, but he smacked Harry's hand away as he went to get more of the broth.
"No double-dipping, Potter," Severus informed the teen caustically, and hid his smile as Harry frowned and looked longingly at the contents of the pot. Remembering a previous Potions class, and needing to concentrate on something other than his fool of an employer, Severus frowned and looked at Harry. "Why do you hate cooking?"
Harry froze at the abrupt question, and turned to stare at Severus. He'd forgotten that he'd told Severus that. Harry debated whether or not to tell his mate the reason, but shrugged and went for it. "My aunt and uncle used to make me cook for them all the time. And whenever it didn't meet their standards, I went without for as long as they thought would teach me to cook better."
Severus stared at the Gryffindor, eyebrows almost in his hairline. "What?" he said incredulously, "They did what?"
Harry ducked his head, embarrassed to have told someone something that was so shameful to him, and shrugged. "Whatever," he said, trying to placate his increasingly infuriated mate, "It over and done with now, and I'll never have to see them again."
"We'll see about that," Severus muttered, and wrapped an arm around Harry's waist. Dragging the teen close until Harry was between Severus and the counter, he placed the knife in Harry's hand, covering the smaller hand with his own. Taking Harry's left hand in his and using it to hold the tomato in place, Severus began to cut the fruit.
Harry was stiff as Severus continued on as though he weren't there, but soon enough he began to relax. Severus' body heat was seeping into his back, and Harry sighed as he fitted his body into the contours of Severus' front. They fit perfectly, and Harry grinned slightly as Severus held a piece of the luscious fruit to up to Harry's lips. Taking the bit of tomato into his mouth, Harry smirked and drew one of Severus' fingers in as well.
He felt the gasp reverberate through Severus' body as he sucked on the finger hungrily, and smiled as Severus pulled the digit free with a pop. "Stop that," Severus berated gently, pressing the teen into the counter as he scooped up the chopped tomatoes and dropping them into the bowl.
Grabbing a head of lettuce next, Severus replaced his hands around Harry's and began the whole process again. Harry squirmed slightly as Severus started to move against his back, ostensibly to reach for the celery, or to dump the cut lettuce into the bowl. Harry bit back a needy whine as Severus leaned forward, passing his arms around Harry and mixing the salad. The hot, hard bulge that tortured Harry pressed into him as Severus pretended to be oblivious.
The Potions Master stayed in the one position for the remainder of the preparation time, Summoning the objects he could not reach without moving. Harry was biting his lip, drawing blood, attempting to prevent himself from pushing Severus into something he obviously didn't want quite yet.
Severus smirked as he felt Harry's self-control start to waver, and abruptly backed off of the teen. Ignoring the low mewl that emerged from Harry's throat, Severus stood before the pot and stirred it slowly, watching his mate out of the corner of his eye. Harry looked rather lost as he stayed were Severus had left him, but the Potions Master noted the precise moment Harry decided to stop playing this game.
"Sit down," Severus said suddenly, pointing to one of the chairs that bracketed the table, "the food is almost ready." Harry growled, a fierce look on his face as he wavered, then finally sat with a thump. Severus set the table around the sullen and frustrated teen, purposefully touching the Gryffindor on the shoulder, the arm, the hand.
Setting the steaming bowl of stew in the middle of the table next to the salad, Severus sat across from Harry and served both of them. Harry had calmed down enough to eat by now, and dug into his food eagerly, moaning as the delicious food filled his stomach. Severus was rather gratified by the obvious way Harry enjoyed his food- he had not had the occasion to cook for someone other than himself in a long time, and he found he quite enjoyed watching Harry's reaction.
They ate in silence but for Harry's sounds of pleasure, and once they were finished Severus sat back with a sigh. Harry kept eating, and the older man watched as his mate enjoyed the food he had made. Finally Harry was full, and sat back looking completely satisfied.
"Well?" Severus asked acerbically, "Did you like it?" Harry glanced up from under heavy lashes and smiled at the Professor.
"It was delicious," Harry said, licking his lips sensuously and peering up at Severus through his lashes, "How about dessert?"
Severus snorted, pushing back from the table and beginning to clear it. "I made dinner, imp, the least you can do is take care of dessert." Harry grinned and stood suddenly, his chair scraping harshly against the floor. Making his way over to his mate, he caught the Potions Masters hand and dragged him away from the table and into his arms.
Calling for Dobby with a wicked smirk and ignoring Severus' suddenly disapproving glare, he stroked the older mans side as Dobby appeared. The Elf's eyes went wide at the sight before him, and he bowed immediately with the reverence Hogwarts Elves reserved for the faculty.
"Professor Snape, Harry Potter, Dobby is here- what can Dobby do?" Harry chuckled as the House Elf stared at him with wide eyes- he imagined the poor creature thought he'd never see the sight that was before his eyes.
"Dobby, could you do us a huge favour?" Harry's smile widened as Dobby nodded ecstatically and grabbed onto his hats.
"Anything for Harry Potter and Professor Snape! What can Dobby do?" The huge round eyes stared up at Harry in adoration, and Severus couldn't stop the chuckle that rose in his throat. His earlier comment came to mind, and Harry said silently, "While I will be the first to admit that sometimes its a pain, at other times it is quite useful to be hero-worshiped."
"Please, Dobby," Harry began ignoring the deep rumbling from his mates chest that meant he was trying not to laugh, "Could you clean this up for us? I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important-" but Dobby cut him off. With a grand bow and a snap of his spindly fingers the mess was cleared away, the left-overs were placed in the cold cabinet, and everything was sparkling and clean.
"Oh, thank you so much Dobby!" Harry exclaimed, going overboard in his thanks as the Elf blushed from the praise, "You are so good to me!"
Dobby twisted his apron in in his hands, and looked up at Harry sheepishly. "Harry Potter," he began, looking extremely pitiful and lost-puppy-ish, "If you want, Dobby can take care of your rooms, these rooms and the other."
Harry stared at the House Elf, plans for ravishing Severus forgotten, for the moment. "Oh, no Dobby," he said, "I couldn't let you do that. You do so much for me already, and that would be too much to ask."
Dobby shook his head so fast the Gryffindor was afraid his little neck might snap. "Oh, no! It wouldn't be a trial at all! Dobby would be more than glad to take care of Harry Potter!" The wide eyes stared up at Harry pleadingly and he gave in.
"Alright," Harry said, grinning as Dobby beamed and bowed repeatedly, "If you want to."
"Thank you Harry Potter sir! Dobby will go now and make sure everything is perfect!" With another sharp crack! the Elf disappeared, and Harry stared at the spot Dobby had been for a moment, then shook his head.
"Right." Harry pronounced, "That was weird." Severus chuckled at Harry's statement, and took the teens chin in his hand. They gazed at one another for a while, Harry unconsciously rubbing the back of the hand he was holding with his thumb. Harry gently disengaged himself from his mate, and let his fingers twist with Severus'. He walked to the bedroom and tugged Severus along after him.
Harry led the way to the bedroom, turning once he was inside and pulling his mate into his arms. Severus went eagerly, meeting Harry's lips and moaning at the contact. Harry drew the older man down onto the bed, pulling his tunic up and over his head, and ridding Severus of trousers and socks afterwards. Muttering a spell against Severus' lips Harry was suddenly naked as well, and groaned as their skin met.
Severus rolled them over so that Harry was on top, and let the boy explore. The lithe Gryffindor roamed all over him, tasting his navel and shoulder and hipbone, nipping at his throat and his wrist and the back of his knee. Harry moaned at the taste of Severus, going back to those intoxicating lips and pressing small, reverent kisses to them. Severus sighed as Harry's hands performed magic against his skin, sending flickers of desire straight to his groin.
Dobby popped back into Professor Snape's suite once he had finished his other duties. He had told Merga, the Head House Elf, that he wanted to take over the care of Harry Potter and Professor Severus Snape. She had wanted to know why he wanted such a duty when even House Elves were afraid of Professor Snape, but he couldn't tell her why because of his promise to Harry Potter.
Eventually she had given in, mainly because Hetty, Professor Snape's current Elf, was scared to death of him. Merga had sighed in annoyance, but had switched the shifts and told Dobby that he still had to complete his other duties, but Dobby already knew that. So now Dobby was back in Professor Snape's quarters to finish cleaning, and he wanted to tell Harry Potter that he was here as he had said he would be.
When House Elves were not actively doing someone's bidding or doing their duty they utilized their ability to be invisible as Dobby was doing now. He walked through Professor Snape's rooms, scrunching his face up at the sight of the clothing strewn throughout the living room, and began to clean.
As he came to Professor Snape's bedroom Dobby heard strange noises coming from the room. Frowning and padding to the door, Dobby slipped through and looked for the source of the noise. Utilizing another little-known House Elf trick, Dobby raised himself off of the floor and stared at the sight before him. Harry Potter was beneath Professor Snape, legs wrapped around the older man and arms dragging the Professor down for a kiss. Snape went willingly, holding Harry tighter to his body and rocking harder against the Gryffindor.
Dobby watched the humans for a minute more, smiling dopily with his head cocked to the side. It was good to see his favorite people- for though Professor Snape had not been the nicest person to Dobby he was now Harry Potter's mate- happy and carefree.
Dobby left the room as quietly as he had entered, and finished cleaning the other parts of the flat. With his happy smile still firmly in place he popped back to the kitchen and began to help prepare tomorrows breakfast.
Maybe he would bring his people something special?
… … …
REPOSTED 9/18/08
Hello... I have reposted this chap, and now it is beta'd! Yay! Anywho- the answer to the question I asked ya'll last chap (The 'Invictus' thing) is here.
INVICTUS
OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
WILlIAM E. HENLEY
I thought it was an appropriate poem to describe some of what Harry and Sev are going through. Besides the fact that it is one of my favorite poems ever. K- ta's people!
Netrixie