Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Harry Potter.
Note: Alright first of all I'm so sorry that I took such a long time to update but my real life caught up with me. Now the most brilliant of news, we passed 700 reviews, woot, I'm so happy. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews to help me get to this goal and of course the wonderful ideas for the tattoo. Let's begin. On the spell for the tattoos, Voldemort invented a spell to create the dark marks and link them together so that when he pressed one, they would all feel it and come to his side. I have decided not to use this since the tattoos don't have a magical purpose other than to show feelings of love and attachment to one another and to show that Harry and Severus are married. I do believe that magic needs to be phrased very carefully to get the result you want so one small mistake may cause unforeseeable results.
The sweaty scent that clung to Snape's skin had never smelled more delicious to Harry. He snuggled into the older wizard's arms in obvious delight even as the slender hand stroked his hair away from his forehead. His eyes had closed on their own account but Harry wasn't asleep, his mind was far too energized for that.
It kept running in different directions, his thoughts leaping a mile a minute but Harry didn't mind. He didn't try to focus, as he just lay there, enjoying the feel of skin to skin contact and the delicious swirl of his magic as it traced the path Snape's fingertips made through his hair.
"What has taken up the vacant space in your brain that has turned you into a smiling fool?" Harry opened his eyes and smiling up at Snape. He knew in other circumstances he would probably feel hurt and annoyed but not this time. He traced his fingertips through the dark hairs on Snape's chest as he said.
"Nothing, I'm just happy, that's all." This had been the best birthday of his life and who would have imagined that he had spent it with his husband? Two months ago Harry certainly hadn't thought so. He would have choked on the words happy and Snape in the same sentence.
Apparently he wasn't the only one who had never considered these words. He glanced up to see a rare sight. Snape's mouth opened slowly and closed again with a snap as the dark eyes blinked before they locked with Harry's and Snape echoed dimly. "Happy?"
"Yeah, you know the feeling of being content. The feeling of wanting nothing more in the world than staying here and allowing this time or moment to continue and to commit it to memory so that you may never forget it and when you are sad you can call forth the memory and be happy again. I'm sure that you must recall some moments when you were happy…"
Harry was careful how he phrased it. He didn't want to ruin things by saying the wrong things. So many things from Snape's past were a grey and veiled territory and Harry could only tread carefully to make sure that he wouldn't wound his wizard further.
He did want happiness with Snape, or at least make a go for it. He wanted Snape to be able to trust him and he wanted to show the older wizard that Harry could be mature as well. That Snape could open himself up and not be ridiculed or hurt because of it. It was hard for him but Harry did really want to give it a try.
"Yes, sure, of course there have been moments when I have been…happy…it is just been a long time since I have connected the word with being in bed, naked with my lover. Though happiness would not be the word I would use. I would rather go for sated or for satisfied but I suppose teenagers would call this state happiness because they got off and had sex in one go."
Despite himself Harry laughed as he tried to muffle the sound against Snape's warm chest. The hands in his hair tightened in response but then Snape's deep laughter flowed forth and Harry was even more pleased at the sound. He lifted his face for a kiss, smiling brilliantly as he said.
"I'm just going to act stupid again just to hear you laugh like that. It is brilliant."
Snape's lips thinned in surprise and the dark eyes widened slightly before Snape said. "Are you pulling my leg, Mr. Potter Snape?"
"Nope, though I'm willing to pull something else." Harry said smiling, fingers lightly tracing the scars on the pale chest. Snape squirmed underneath his fingertips and for a moment Harry feared that he had made his husband uncomfortable but then, much to his surprise, hands grabbed hold of his own and Snape ground out.
"Stop that, you impossible brat! If you are looking for something to pull then you should not tickle me!" Snape suddenly rolled Harry over and pinned him to the bed. Harry's fingers were still dancing over the thin ribs underneath his hands but Snape wasn't squirming any longer. Something stirred deep within the black eyes and Harry was almost sure that it was hunger.
He stilled, wondering what would happen before suddenly there was magic dancing over his skin as Snape kissed him hungrily, passionately and Harry's arms wrapped around the broad shoulders as he tried to pull his wizard down even further on top of him.
He had wondered how he had survived for so long without this skin to skin contact as their magic danced and combined like it had never done before. Harry had never been so aware of Snape's very essence unless it had been the night that he had linked their magic. But then it had been accepted reluctantly before it had been robbed from him to help Snape but this time, this time they were both powerful and whole and the linking thrilled them both to the core.
It happened in a flash as the magic that bond that had laid dormant for so long, steadily growing stronger as they grew closer suddenly flared to life. They groaned together and within a moment Harry climaxed, followed closely by Snape. His magic continued to run wildly but it was a feeling that Harry had only experienced when he was a child and had, in hindsight, been his first bouts of accidental magic.
There were spots dancing in front of his eyes and Harry could feel the force of his climax rock through his body as his muscles clenched and unclenched in the last spasms. He tried to catch his breath, not aided by the heavy weight of Snape on his chest as the older wizard met his eyes.
"What just happened?" Harry finally managed to ask, breathing still a bit heavy.
Snape pulled away so that he could look Harry in the eye and after a long moment, in which the Potions Master searched Harry's face carefully he said. "It seems that our magic as it combined and we are particularly close to one another can offset certain things in our bodies."
"Well…it was bloody brilliant. I've never felt anything like it." Harry beamed and Snape smirked as he said.
"You have experimented with trying to coax an orgasm from your body with magic before I take it if you can make a comparison?" Blushing Harry shook his head and Snape's smirk turned deadly as he lowered his mouth to an erect nipple and nipped sharply, purring.
"Alas, another thing I shall be forced to teach you." And while Harry knew that he would gladly experiment trying to coax an orgasm from his body with magic again, he would rather do it while listening to Snape's wonderful voice.
Hp
"Now as wonderful as rolling around with you in bed in the nude is, I believe that we have business to attend to." Severus tried to force his voice into something that resembled normality, even when he felt quite deliciously shaken up by the unexpected and rather forceful climax that had happened a moment ago.
Harry's magic had drew him in completely and his own magic had responded likewise, even before Severus could utilize the magic for anything other than sex, as erotic and arousing as it was, the magic had seemed to guess their most subconscious thoughts and reacted instinctively, bringing them even closer.
Regretfully Severus pulled away from the warmth of Harry's body though he winced at the sticky semen coating both his stomach and that of his young lover. Harry was watching him with bright, wide eyes. Severus whispered a cleaning charm as he sat on the edge of the bed, shivering in the sudden cold air in the bedroom after the warmth from Harry's body.
Harry sat up as well after a moment and leaned against his side, Severus wrapping an arm around his waist as he said. "You remember my second gift?"
Harry nodded against his chin, butting his head against the sensitive skin on Severus' throat. Severus pulled back a little, wincing. Harry had tucked his head in underneath Severus' chin. He stroked the messy hair close by. For years he had secretly joked about Harry's height, knowing that the younger wizard was smaller than his father but now he began to understand that it had certain advantages as well.
"So how do we do this?" Harry looked at him, chewing on his lip for a moment. Severus watched him dispassionately, seeing the tell tale signs of nervousness in the younger male. Harry refused to meet his eyes but then he took a deep breath and glanced up, smiling at Severus.
"We do not have to do this, Harry, if you are uncomfortable with it." He could find Harry another gift if his young wizard didn't want it…
"No, I do want it! I want it more than anything else. I want to show people that I'm yours and that this may have started out as a convenience marriage but it isn't the case any longer! Rings can be destroyed and taken away but not what has happened between us! I don't know if these feelings will grow stronger in the future but if the war has taught me anything it is that I can make my own moments last and that is what I'm doing. This is how I feel about you now and that is what I want to remember!"
Harry's face looked glorious in his anger but Severus couldn't help but swallow thickly before he nodded and Summoned his wand to him. He may not have any clue about how Harry truly felt about him; he was too much of a coward to ask…
But is it cowardness to ask the question? Or can it just be that for the first time in my life I've something that is pure? What if I jinx it when I say it? I do know that Harry feels strongly about me and perhaps the time for words is not yet right so I can wait. I can wait and show him with actions how I feel about him, just as he shows me daily with actions how he feels about me.
"Very well, now you have to think very hard on the design you wish so that your magic will work together with mine and to take the shape that you desire. I'll touch my wand to the place where the tattoo should appear to guide it. This is tricky magic, Harry. It is almost like wish magic and it can be quite whimsical and none know how the magic can respond and bring about unforeseen things."
"So you will be focusing your magic on the intent behind it, so that the tattoo stays for as long as you love me?" Harry's voice was shaky.
"Of course, do you think that I'll use this opportunity to bind you?" His very voice was cold and his demeanor stiff but he couldn't help himself. It struck at him like the lashing of a whip. He thought he had given Harry all the reason to trust him but it seemed that so many years of mistrust could not be easily erased…
"I was actually hoping that in a manner of speaking, yes, it would be. I know that you don't want that and I understand that, Severus but I just want to show everybody who I belong to. I want people to know instantly that none of us were forced into this union and to know the intent behind the tattoo. I want to show everybody who I belong to, so they don't question me or try to take me…"
Harry's breathing caught harshly but the green eyes were as honest as they stared up in Severus' own. He tried to place a hand against Harry's thigh to settle him but the younger male shook his head wildly as he said. "The intent behind the tattoo is so that I know how you feel about me. But I want other people to know that I'm a taken man and that they cannot persuade me to try and change my mind as long as the tattoo is around my wrist for all to see. I understand if you don't want anybody to see me as yours but…"
"Harry, would I have given Rita Skeeter an interview if I didn't want us to be seen in public together? Now stop getting these ridiculous ideas in your head and show me where you want the tattoo to be placed."
"I want it right here." Severus' grip on his wand faltered for a moment as Harry touched his wrist. He stared at the unmarked flesh and then glanced back up at Harry with an open mouth. Surely, his young wizard was wrong. Why would Harry want to display the tattoo so for everybody to see and to touch when they shook his hand?
He closed his mouth with a snap as he saw the look blazing in Harry's eyes. Harry was steeling himself for the rejection; he could feel it so his hand closed around the thin wrist as he said. "Are you absolutely sure?"
Harry nodded and Severus forced a smile to his face. He was oddly touched by the gesture that Harry would allow Severus to place his mark on his wrist, so that everybody could see. His throat had closed off with a lump the size of an egg but Severus knew he needed no words. He looked back up at Harry and softly said his voice a whisper.
"Focus upon the design and upon nothing else. Think of nothing else because it may end up wrong if your thoughts start to wander. I'll focus my subconsciousness upon the intent behind it, so that you know how I feel about you as long as the tattoo is there. Are you ready?"
Harry nodded and took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. Severus watched his lover's face hungrily for a moment before he looked to the unmarked skin of Harry's wrist. He couldn't deny Harry this gift even when it had shocked him that Harry had wanted to display himself so openly.
Severus took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He had to keep his attention focused upon his magic because this could go wrong. Slowly he guided his magic to his wand, keeping himself focused upon the intend behind the magic. Harry needs to know how I feel. As long as this tattoo is there, Harry will know how I feel and….
It wasn't even a conscious thought but the next moment Severus could feel the strain on his magic. There was a flash of light and he doubled over, panting as he heard Harry cry out. He tried to break the magic off but he couldn't. Harry groaned beside him but Severus could feel his magic tugging at him before with a sudden snap, it was done.
Severus struggled to open his eyes as his magic stabilized. He felt like he had just jogged a mile around Hogwarts but his first thought was for Harry. He sat up, ignoring the faint trembling in his limbs as his magic returned slowly to him, swirling about him. He reached out with a shaky hand to clasp the hand Harry had closed around his own wrist.
"How does it look? Let me see…." He murmured, unsure of what had happened. The Gryffindor's head was bowed and the beautiful green eyes hidden from his view but Severus feared the worse until Harry looked up as he said.
"It is just what I imagined…" Harry's lips eased into a smile and he glanced down. Severus' hands caught the slender ones in his own before he took a deep breath and looked down. His breathing caught in his throat at the dark green tattoo that stood out vividly against the pale skin. Severus had to look closely to see the shapes.
He glanced back up sharply at Harry who merely shrugged in response. His eyes narrowed as he hissed.
"A snake and a griffin?" The snake's tail was in the beak of the griffin that was a creature with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. They forced a perfect band but the skin around Harry's wrist was slightly red. Severus looked back up and he asked calmly.
"Why a griffin?" Harry shook his head before he shrugged and said.
"I don't know, I didn't pick this shape. I do know that griffins are the guardians of treasures but that was all that the Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them had written in it about them. But perhaps our magic combined and created this. I don't know. I just thought about snakes…"
"You will never seize to surprise me, Mr. Potter." Severus shook his head. The tattoo did look rather nice on Harry's wrist, the dark green offset the pale skin wonderfully. The next moment Harry molded himself against Severus as he lifted his face for a kiss. Severus obliged and then buried his face in Harry's sweet smelling hair, he was very lucky to have his brat.
Hp
"Alright, I just have to focus my magic upon the intent behind it and then guide it to the appropriate place?" Harry glanced back at Snape slightly uncertain. This was the first time that he was trying to do this complex magic and he hoped that he was doing it right.
"Yes, I'll focus upon the shape and you must focus upon the intent behind it." Snape's voice was soft but unless Harry was very much mistaken there was an almost inaudible quiver in it. He could understand Snape's reluctance. The older wizard was afraid that there was a catch but there would not be one, Harry would make sure of it.
He raised his wand and said. "Where do you want it?"
Snape looked at him for a long moment before he softly said. "If it is not too much trouble, my shoulder blade would do. I…" Snape looked away for a moment, his eyes focusing upon something else as Harry hastened to say.
"It is alright, Severus…I understand…"
"Do you really? Do you really understand why I cannot bear to wear this anywhere somebody can see and make fun of it? I want this to be private and only for your eyes. Nobody else has to see this…I can understand if you don't…"
"No, Severus, I want this. I'm honored that you'll even consider wearing my tattoo. And I don't care if you decide to have it on your shoulder blade or on your tongue, just as long as you're comfortable with it. Do you want to go ahead with this?" Snape looked at him as if Harry had surprised him greatly.
"When did you grow up to be so mature, Mr. Potter?" The remark was used to hide the feelings Snape was struggling with but the slight smile that twisted the thin lips made Harry sigh as he said.
"Well, I had to. I don't hear you complaining."
"Of course I'm not. I happen to like my mature wizard." The positively devilish leer that he got made Harry blush so he raised his wand again.
"Let's do this." Snape merely nodded, a little bit pale but he did turn around. Harry lowered his wand carefully and focused upon the magic as he thought. I want Severus to know how I feel…I need Severus to know how I feel…
There was a flash of light but there was only the faintest tug on his magic but Harry gaped at the tattoo that had appeared. He stammered for a moment as Snape asked his voice a bit shaky. "How does it look?"
"It…it looks fabulous actually…" Harry stuttered.
"It doesn't sound like it. What is it?"
"You really want to know?" Harry was treated to a glare as Snape rose and stalked to the bathroom to see for himself. Harry counted the seconds away until Snape snarled and marched back in the room.
"A phoenix? You branded me with a phoenix?" The older wizard's face was murderous as Harry held up his hands and said.
"Hey, this isn't my fault. I can't help that our magic responds to our desires as you pointed out earlier."
"Yes, but why a phoenix? Out of all the blasted birds it is…"
"It is because a phoenixes song inspires courage in the pure of heart. I think that the phoenix appeared to show that you were always that, pure of heart…" His voice didn't sound very strong but as Harry looked up, he saw a rare sight. He had managed to stun Severus Snape into silence.
Severus just stood there, gawking at him before the older wizard closed his mouth and looked away at once, one hand reaching out to touch the tattoo. Snape pulled back as if he had been branded and he looked at the pale fingers as if to see if the ink had worn off.
Harry looked away. He understood why Snape didn't want anybody to see the tattoo. Who in the right mind would want to be branded by the mark of another wizard when they had been bound for longer than their husband had been alive by the Dark Mark?
It obviously didn't matter that this mark was one of love, it was still a mark and why wouldn't Snape see it as anything different than being bound? Who in their right mind would see this as freedom instead of being enslaved; only the purpose was different. Harry had enslaved Snape with the ridiculous claim to love and to need him for the rest of his life. Hadn't he remembered that the people Harry loved tended to end up hurt because of him?
I am no different than Dumbledore. He too used love as an excuse to slave people…It is no wonder that Snape is so silent and enraged about this, who wouldn't be? He hasn't even been free for one day and I enslave him immediately with the stupid claim to love him…
Harry felt sick to his stomach as his thoughts churned and despite the fact that he hadn't eaten any dinner he could feel the bile rising in his throat. With a mumbled excuse he flew past the stunned Snape and into the bathroom to heave into the toilet.
The bile tasted sour in his throat and it made it eyes sting but the knowledge of what he had done stung even worse and Harry threw up, sick with the knowledge of what he had done and why. Severus has been right for all these years, I'm no better than Dumbledore, he too manipulated people and I do the same. I only use a different approach and pretend that I need people….The Dursleys were right, I'm a freak and I can't love anybody without binding them to me. Look at what I did to Snape… I didn't allow him to die but made him choose life, even when he didn't want to…
"Harry?" Snape's voice was a soft whisper but Harry flinched away as the elegant fingers brushed his hair away from his forehead.
"Don't...don't touch me…I'm a freak…" He choked out, pulling away from the comforting dark presence. His stomach rebelled again and Harry sicked up again, heaving into the bowl.
"Just take deep breaths and pull away if you can." Snape's voice was pitched low and gentle but Harry could feel the calculating black gaze on his face. He couldn't look at Snape, couldn't look his wizard in the eye and see the rejection and the redemption there. He couldn't bear to know that Snape was unhappy.
Harry managed to swallow thickly after a moment, accepting the glass of water Snape held out to him with a murmured thanks before Snape said. "Now what is going on? Something has taken up residence in your mind and I refuse to move until you tell me."
Harry glanced up. Snape scowled down at him, eyes narrowed in a glare and the silence deepened. Harry finally couldn't take it anymore; he couldn't possibly make things worse by staying silent so he blurted out. "I'm sorry for making you do this! I'm as bad as Dumbledore. I use love as a tool to bind you! I didn't let you die as you wanted to; no instead I linked your magic to mine and forced you to live without even asking for your opinion. And now I'm making you wear this tattoo even when I know that you don't want…"
"Have you even thought for a moment about what I may think?" Snape's voice was cold and Harry stopped in mid sentence, eyes wide as he stared up at the enraged wizard.
Snape's eyes were cold as he hissed. "You presume to know so much of what I think but your arrogance astonishes me. This is worse than your father, Potter! He never presumed to know what other people think as you do! Did you even think for a moment that you were so important and powerful that you could pull me from death simply because you wanted to? You are a great fool, Potter! A linked magic must work both ways! I had to accept your sacrifice for our magic to become linked, no matter how it may have happened! I'm utterly amazed that even after all these months you still know nothing of me!"
Harry looked away, chastened but his cheeks stinging before Snape continued, in a softer tone. "Harry, do you not truly know me at all? Did you really think that you could make me take a tattoo if I did not want this? You foolish Gryffindor, I gave you the gift, didn't I?"
"But I abused the love…"
"You are the only one who accepts me for who I am and who doesn't make any excuse for me or forces me to be anybody else than who I am. That is love, Harry. Dumbledore never accepted that and neither did Lily or the Dark Lord. You are the only one who truly knows me and I am the only one who truly knows you. You will sooner kill yourself then allow your love to abuse somebody, despite what happened in your childhood. Albus Dumbledore would have been honored if he had even a tenth of the understanding about love as you do and yet you still have enough love in you to teach it to somebody who has never known it and to show that person that he too, is capable of loving somebody."
Harry didn't have any words that could be said as Snape leaned forward and pulled him into a warm embrace. Snape's magic caressed Harry's skin but Harry barely felt it as he closed his eyes and allowed the magic to sooth and to calm him. Hands stroked his hair and the tattoo flared faintly against his skin but as the warm lips murmured against his ear, Harry fully relaxed, yes, Snape did truly understand him and he was very lucky to belong to this wizard.
"Come, we shall go to bed and tomorrow is the start of our new life."
Hp
Harry woke up the next morning with a sore arse, which he treasured and a sore head, which felt extremely heavy and disoriented. He shook his head firmly to try and clear the feeling of befuddlement he was feeling. He blinked as a feeling of dizziness passed and frowned as he moved to a more comfortable position.
It may just be him but he felt very similar when he had at first woken up when he had linked his magic to Snape's. But this time his magic was oddly calm and only the slightest twitch behind him as Snape moved made him realize that he was aware of the older wizard as he had never been before.
He sat up slowly and glanced back. Something strange was going on. He felt different, still half asleep even when his own mind was awake. He scratched the back of his head absent mindedly before shrugging. He knew something was different but he couldn't place his finger on it.
He rose from the bed, intent on making breakfast even as he stumbled when his magic lurched suddenly. He managed to catch himself in time before he slammed his head against the corner of the bed. He groaned when pain flared his arse and cursed softly when he realized that his stumbling through the room on the way to the loo without his glasses on had managed to wake up Snape who blinked up at him sleepily.
"I'm alright, I'm alright." He said, straightening up slowly. He narrowed his way to try and get Snape into focus when suddenly an odd emotion flashed through him.
Worry
Harry's head automatically snapped up to meet the dark gaze as he saw the eyes widened. Wordlessly he summoned his glasses to him and hastily put them on. Had he been feeling this correctly? But these weren't his emotions, not at all. But then who was feeling worried for him?
Astonishment and shock…
Harry stumbled backwards with the wave of emotion that crashed over him. He looked back up at Snape to see the black eyes widening even more before Snape asked, his voice tight. "Am I the only one who is imagining this or are you feeling the same?"
Harry stammered for a moment. How could Snape be so calm? He had no idea what he was feeling. He shook his head, overwhelmed by the sudden impact of emotions that were crashing over it.
Anger, shock, regret annoyance, weariness, astonishment, resentment but above all regret
Once more staring into Snape's eyes as his own blurred with the force of his own emotions, Harry fled, slamming the door shut behind him, knowing that this new development between them was regretted by Snape and nothing could shake the feeling of sadness that rose in him.
Hp
Severus cursed, loudly. He rose from the bed, intend on chasing after his young husband. A feeling of sadness was rising through the bond, a part unburied and unaccepted that Severus now recognized as Harry and the bond that had laid dormant between them for so long.
He paced the floor, unsure of what to do until he could master his emotions. There had to be a solution for this. As if reminding him and mocking him the tattoo on his shoulder twitched and Severus flexed the muscles in his back irritably. What had gone wrong?
The magic used in the tattoos had finalized the bond between Harry and himself and carried it to a new level. In all his time of doing research Severus had never come across this sort of thing happening before. True, all cases of linked magic were unique and never before had somebody shared the magic with somebody who had been a horcrux for most of his life but surely something could be done about this.
Severus paced the bedroom again. He knew from experience that blocking the bond could be disastrous and somehow, he knew that Harry would resent him for it. Had this had something to do with the intent behind the magic they had cast last night or something else?
Severus wracked his memory to try and find some insignificant detail that would explain what was happening here. Wish magic was notoriously whimsical and it took one who had mastered the words and the meaning of them to master wish magic. Had they done something wrong?
I wanted Harry to know how I feel…
His blood turned to ice at the revelation. They had brought this on themselves and the bond and magic had simply reacted to this. Severus stood still in the bedroom, a feeling of relief rising up in his chest, emotions that were entirely his own. He was confused, yes, by what was happening but it made sense.
So if we made this happen then it must mean that it can be reversed…but is that what I truly want? I always wanted somebody who knew me and who cared for me and this is a golden opportunity. I mean, Harry will know me much more intimately than anybody else ever will and this is the kind of bond I always craved, for somebody to understand me. But can I nurture this with him?
Severus focused upon Harry, feeling the tell tale emotions of the younger man's upset state of mind.
Hurt and a feeling of sadness.
He could nurture this newfound aspect of the bond but right now, he needed to set things right with his bond mate. So after Severus tied his dressing gown around his waist, he went in search of Harry. He had things to explain and to make right.
Hp
Harry was in the kitchen, scrubbing furiously at a pan that had been left on the fire and whatever Snape had made for dinner had burned black in the bottom of the pan. He tried to ignore his tears of the emotions that were spilling through the bond. It was hard enough to try and focus on his own emotions until suddenly…
Relief. A huge feeling that rose to choke his throat and…
Harry wrenched himself away. He had no business trying to read Snape's emotions. The older wizard had made it regrettably clear when Harry could feel the regret spiking into him when they had realized that they could read each other's emotions…
"Harry?" He turned, more out of habit than conscious thought when he heard the sound of his name. Snape stood in the doorway and the blurred imagine of the older wizard made Harry choke up with new tears.
He knew his bond mate didn't want him but to know it so plainly was…
Arms pulled him against a firm, unyielding body as fingers stroked his hair soothingly as Snape murmured. "Silly brat, trust in a Gryffindor to jump to conclusions even before I had a time to proper examine what was happening and to check in my first response. I was as confused as you are, Harry so do not take offense at my first range of emotions. I may have regretted many things in my life but I have never regretted what has happened between us, anything of it, do you understand?"
Harry nodded as the gentle fingers curled under his chin. "You understand what has happened between us?"
Harry nodded again and said. "Yeah, something went wrong. We're able to read each others emotions and that wasn't supposed to have happened…"
"No, it wasn't supposed to but we made it happen. Do you remember what words you thoughts when you guided your magic to the tattoo? Do you remember the intent behind the magic that created the tattoo?" Snape's voice was pitched low. Harry lowered his eyes, thinking deeply before he remembered with a jolt as his eyes snapped back up to the dark ones.
"I wanted you to know how I felt…"
Pleasure flowed through the bond
Harry blushed at the intensity of Snape's approval as the thin lips curled into a smile and Snape said. "Very good. I…"
"I'm sorry. I'm to blame for all of this! I messed this up! I can't do anything right. I'm such a freak…"
Anger, more powerful than anything he had ever felt before made him dizzy…
Harry recoiled as Snape leaned down as he hissed. "Stop saying that! You are not the only one who thought this! I'm to blame as well! I thought the exact same words and our magic responded to it. We are both to blame and you will get that ridiculous notion out of your head. Now dressed in something less scandalizing and we will talk about this new turn of events. Do not think for a moment that I'm angry with you or regret what has happened. If anything, I'm pleased with this new turn of events. Now hurry up."
And as Snape pulled away, Harry looked down and blushed red as he realized he was completely naked. He fled up the stairs, followed by a feeling of arousal and a dark but wistful chuckle.
Hp
Severus set about making tea and he slowly focused upon Harry's feelings, allowing them to wash over him as he examined each one in turn carefully. Harry's feelings were much like the younger male was, shy but expressive and Severus knew he had to go about this carefully.
He whistled a soft tune to himself, indulging in some lightheartedness that he rarely if never felt. He set the tea down on the kitchen table and picked a seat, stirring a lump of sugar into Harry's tea and added some milk. He wasn't entirely sure how sweet Harry liked his tea but Severus knew from experience that it was better to have something in their hands and to focus upon than the endless silence that would fall between them.
Who would have thought six months ago that he would be sitting at this table, sharing a bond with Harry Potter of all people that linked his magic and his feelings to the Savior of the Wizarding World? Nobody that was for sure, least of all Severus himself. But then again, who would have thought that he would be exonerated?
He had always assumed that he had been living on borrowed time, that he would not survive the war or if he survived it that he would be chucked into Azkaban, imprisoned for the rest of his life but not sitting here at the kitchen table, sipping tea with his husband?
Severus lowered his mug as the notion hit him. I'm a free man. I've all the time in the world to consider what I want to do…oh dear Merlin, I've never felt this freedom or this overwhelmed before…
He was glad that he was sitting down. Of course he had always indulged in plans, in dreams of future entirely his own with a lover by his side, a lover who knew and who loved him and who adored travelling. A lover who Severus could show the world and who he could teach about new cultures and things alike. A lover who liked to be shown new things…in short, Harry.
But now the time was truly here and Severus didn't even have a clue of what he was going to do with the time now. Sure, there were still things that needed to be done. He needed to recover and see what remained of his reputation and name. It probably wasn't much, even with Harry's support.
The sound of a chair scraping backwards made him glance up to see Harry's anxious eyes. The teenager's sensitive emotions shifted over Severus before the younger male got them under control but Severus allowed his expression to soften as he realized just how anxious Harry was.
He slowly extended his hand and allowed it to come and rest upon Harry's, relieved and much more confident when Harry didn't move to pull away or the pale hand even twitched slightly. Severus took a sip of tea before he said.
"By now you must have understood and worked out what has happened between us, haven't you?"
Harry only nodded, green eyes glancing down towards his mug of tea before picking it up and taking a quick sip, scalding his mouth by the sight of it. Severus hid a smirk before he continued.
"Do you know that during all the years when The Dark…Voldemort was in hiding or was rising to power, I used to daydream about a time like this? I do not mean me sitting at the table of my old and damp house with a snake bite that should have killed me and someone who linked their magic to me, no. I mean to be exonerated, which even in my wildest fantasies would never come to pass, and to even have a taste of what we have, that would have been agreeable to me. But instead, life, as it usually so happens, doesn't turn out the way one expects it to."
Harry's eyes slowly rose up to meet his own and Severus held them as he whispered, thumb brushing the tender skin underneath his own. "No, instead, I'm here in my old damp house with a snake bite that should have killed me, and having a lover who is completely mine and who has the chance to truly know me."
He took a deep breath and looked away before he continued. "I'm not making much sense but I think that you understand of all people, the overwhelming sensation of suddenly finding that you have all the time in the world to pursue your own fantasies and to truly be free. It is mind blowing. There is a lot that we have to discuss about our future but before that happens; I want to tell you something."
Harry cocked his head to the side and Severus could feel the curiosity coming from the younger male before Harry said. "Sure, yeah, of course, Severus."
Harry was trying to sound confident even when Severus knew that Harry wasn't feeling that. He held Harry's eyes, searching them for a long moment before he abruptly pushed his chair back and rose, startling Harry as Severus walked around the table and sank down upon his knees in front of his startled Gryffindor who watched the process unfold with wide eyes.
He reached forward until he could rest a hand against Harry's cheek and softly said, drawing the younger male's attention to himself. "For all those years as I have dreamed and fantasized, there was always one thing that was consistent, one thing I desired above all others. I always desired a lover, a companion who knew me and who knew my moods and my most sacred thoughts and feelings. I always desired somebody who loved me for me and who was not angry at me when I was in one of my moods but who took it in stride. But it is just that in recent months, ever since you linked our magic together, my fantasies have changed significantly. Do you wish to know how they changed?"
Confusion and curiosity
Severus had to smile at the emotions as Harry nodded eagerly. He rose up so he could look Harry in the eye as he jabbed a finger into Harry's chest. "It was you! You are the thing that changed! In the past it was a nameless face, and yes, I had my preferences, somebody who was younger than me and who was slightly submissive but as an equal even though the looks didn't matter. But now it is somebody I can put a name to. That person is you. It is your face and your personality that I envision when I see myself in the future, walking down an unknown street with you by my side, showing you the beauty of the world beyond Britain. You are the person I see myself making love to. You are the person I'm sharing a bed and a house with. You are the person who I'm sitting at the table with, eating my meals in a house that is our own. In short, I desire in my future you to love and to show you the world and all I know in it. I want you to be the one who kisses me goodnight at night and I want you to be the one to wake me up in the morning, sucking my cock, though I'm open to other options as well when you seek to wake me in the morning."
Severus fell silent at last, looking up into the pale looking face that was positively alight with something. Something that Severus couldn't quite decipher before Harry leaned forward and asked, hope in his voice as he breathed.
"Do you mean it?"
Severus couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he said. "Of course."
He made it sound as if he said this to somebody daily. As if he laid his feelings and emotions bare for all to see and then Harry sniffled once and leaned forward as he knocked Severus backwards on his arse as he slipped his arms around Severus' scarred neck and softly said. "Good, because you know…"
Shyly the green eyes looked away as Harry slipped into Severus' lap with an agonizing ease as Harry said. "I've never been one for having many fantasies or daydreams together but ever since we have gotten married, you do feature more prominently in them. You are my future, Severus, whether you like it or not and I for one think that this new aspect of the bond is brilliant."
"I cannot help but echo that sentiment, my brat." Severus murmured softly, his lips in Harry's hair before he lifted his legs slightly so he could trap Harry and promised in a silky whisper. "Let me see if I can get you to spill those fantasies of yours." And as Harry's delightful blush tainted his cheeks, the green eyes were aglow with happiness and arousal and Severus smiled, he knew he would quite like exploring his future with Harry Potter.
Hp
It was the sound of an owl tapping its beak against the window that caused Harry to glance up. He frowned at the unfamiliar brown owl that was sitting on the window sill. He rose, untangling himself from Snape who glanced up at him with a raised eyebrow.
Allowing the owl in Harry untied the thick envelope. He wondered who had sent them the mail. His fingers pried open the envelope. The next moment he hissed sharply even as his eyes scanned the parchment. Be prepared, this is just the beginning. You'll atone for your crimes, Snape!
And as Harry cried out as the strong smell of petrol hit his nose and his hands were suddenly inflamed in white hot pain, he was only dimly aware that Snape caught him and whispered harshly.
"Revenge?!"
Oh dear a cliffy. Well, you know me. I can never leave well enough alone, now can I? But misery means bonding for our heroes of course so fluffy moments perhaps who knows? So what did you think of my twist? Tell me of course what you want to see.
In the next chapter: More trouble in paradise for it seems that this was only the beginning of what Harry and Severus have to go through. What will happen when our heroes leave their house so that Harry can get better? Is their very house in danger? Or will these people stop at nothing when rumors in the paper about Severus buying his way out of prison start to appear? Will Harry feel better or only feel worse and can Severus deal with a sick bond mate or will he do as he always does in his nature and snarl at anybody who approaches. That and more in: Revenge.