Simple

Chapter 9

For Mhairi, whose name spell check hates lol.

Under any other circumstance it would be terrifying to have a snake, slither over your body in such a manner, especially one so large. But Harry found the motions comforting as he easily conversed with the creature.

The other people in the room were not as confident, especially not Severus. The awareness that this snake could consume Harry cleanly in not too long a time, shook him a little. Dumbledore had informed him this snake was a magical variant of an Anaconda, slightly bigger and a lot more powerful. It could devour a slight man like Harry in seconds, leaving little time for action.

Of course this was necessary, Nagini needed to respect this snake fighting for the Order and she would not respect something that was not dangerous but that did not make the situation easier.

Severus did have to smirk himself about Longbottom. The boy stood, frozen in fear, his mouth agape. He knew that Neville was thinking more about the likelihood of the snake turning on him, Severus imagined. Draco could sense his fear and ghosted his hands over Longbottom's sides, reassuring him of Draco's prescence.

Harry looked concentrated, his forehead knotted as he hissed in various tones and lengths. Severus could slightly differntiate between sounds but he knew nothing of what it meant.

Harry nodded sharply and turned to the group.

"He says he will help us. There is one condition though," Harry said, smiling.

"Which is?" Severus said, calmly. Hoping it wasn't that he got to eat Longbottom, that would be awkward.

"No cages or enclosures."

"Well I am sure that can be managed. He cannot go wandering about the castle during the door or ever venture into the common rooms and the like but he can investigate late at night," said Dumbledore, smiling. "Now I believe it is time for me to be off, can never get enough sleep at my age."

Albus winked at Severus and took his leave.

A short time after, Neville also left. Accompanied by Harry and the snake, Neville appearing a bit more calm in the predator's prescence.

When they were finally alone, Draco cleared his throat. Desperately searching for the right thing to say. He deeply desired a chance to talk to Severus, he needed someone who would hopefully understand.

"You are too much like your father sometimes. What is it you wish to talk about? Or do I need to ask? Longbottom or the Dark Lord?"

"Dark Lord."

"I see."

"I hated it Severus…the whole time…the whole thing. I hate how my father looks, how my mother looks…All of it…"

"I know, I do. What was your test?"

"I had to kill a muggle…"

"And?"

"I did it, I would not be here otherwise."

"You know what I mean…"

"It was hard, horrible. But I did not feel sorry for him, I could not link the spell I had just done to the murder. It was although they were separate."

"Well, I do have to say you are exceptional."

"What do you mean?" Draco asked, suddenly frantic that Severus was going to tell him he was a heartless killer.

"You have done on your first time what took me years to realise."

"Huh?"

"You have to understand that you cannot put yourself there, you need to distance yourself from the whole incident or you will go insane with guilt. What you are doing is for the greater good, there would be no muggles left if the Dark Lord was allowed what he wants."

"I guess, but I killed him and the thing I have worried about so far is the fact I didn't care. Does that make me as bad as the Dark Lord?"

"Of course not, you do worry. He doesn't, in fact he enjoys Draco. You need your sanity more than you need your wand and more than you need your ability to think quickly."

"I missed you."

"You sound like Potter. I was gone six weeks."

Draco laughed.

"How are your mental walls?" asked Severus.

"I'll still here right?" Draco said easily.

"So what is going on between you and Harry anyway? I did not see you as the Griffyndor loving type," smiled Draco, leaning his head on his hand.

"Well I have to say that is a bit hyprocritical of you. Considering where Mr Longbottom sleeps."

"I never said I didn't love Griffyndors, I just thought you didn't."

"I did not exactly have a choice."

"Yeah to marry him, the love thing wasn't forced."

"It was not really optional either, the bond helped."

"It's sweet."

"Be quiet. You and Longbottom is worse…" Severus said, trying to conceal the mirth.

"At least he is my age!"

Severus growled but smiled, the creases round his eyes deep. The light in Severus' face and his laughter lines warmed Draco's insides, it was nice to see a trace of happiness in his godfather's eyes.

On the way back from Griffyndor Tower, Harry talked easily to the snake. Discovering, oddly enough, the snake was called Larry. This made Harry giggle a little as it seemed like an unusual choice for a deadly reptile but it softened the snake a little.

It was pleasant in a way, using his ability casually but actually knowing he was doing it. The first couple of times he had spoken Parseltongue he was completely unaware he was doing it so right now, conversing with a snake felt special.

Another pleasing thought was Larry's eagerness to help and to be free from his cage. He speared to be not be very fond of being imprisoned and Harry guessed this was reasonable.

When they arrived back at Harry's rooms, Harry found Draco splayed out across the sofa, his left leg twitching and his mouth hung unattractively open. Harry giggled softly to himself and went to find Severus.

Severus was also asleep, his body curled into a ball on top of the bed, his clothes and shoes still on.

Harry pulled the drawer from under the bed out and lined it with Severus' cloaks and robes. Then he cast a warming spell over it, hoping that would make Larry more at home.

But before letting the snake settle into it's new bed, Harry asked it a favour.

Grinning, Harry watched as Larry travelled over to the bed and made a circle around Severus' snoring form. Harry chewed on his knuckles as the snake flicked his tongue out and tapped Severus' nose.

At first Severus made a soft moaning noise and tried to shift but Larry kept going until obsidian eyes opened and widened in horror.

Harry could hold it in no longer and ungracefully landed on his bottom as he laughed uncontrollably.

"Oh hilarious Potter!" he snapped.

"That was so funny," Harry smiled.

Larry looked unphased at Severus' fuss and curled up in his homemade bed. Harry leaned over and guided his finger down the reptile's back in a soothing manner to say goodnight.

Still chuckling slightly Harry sat next to Severus on the bed and hooked his arm around his waist, placing his head on the other's shoulder.

"Aw, I'm sorry. I didn't know you would be that scared."

"Okay, how about you wake up with a snake licking you?!"

"I probably will wake up with something worse in my face tomorrow morning now."

"You brought it upon yourself!"

"Okay, okay."

Harry gave up talking and pushed Severus onto the bed, shifting to straddle him. Severus opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind as Harry pulled his t-shirt off, his face feral.

Harry pulled his body up to meet his and fumbling, unbuttoned his shirt. Suddenly Harry went mad with lust. His mouth latching to every piece of Severus' skin he could find, kissing hungrily.

Severus head was blank, thoughts were a push too far. He could not comprehend anything but the bruising kisses of Harry and the straining in his underwear.

Hands ghosted over his skin, fluttering down to his groin. Harry's fingers glided down the mound in his trousers and along his thighs making Severus shiver with excitement.

"You okay?" Harry whispered in his ears, the feeling of Harry's warm breath in his neck increasing his inability to focus on anyting.

He nodded, shakily.

"You don't look okay, you look…distracted," Harry growled, suddenly taking hold of Severus' centre and squeezing it gently.

Quickly the idea of being so submissive at Potter's hands lost its appeal and Severus pushed him off, reversing their roles. Harry found himself being the one who moaned hopelessly while rushed kisses and lustful licks were placed all over his torso.

So consumed by Severus' actions, Harry did not notice Severus' new conquest to remove his trousers before they were being pulled from his legs.

Severus then began kissing up Harry's legs, from his ankles to his thighs, paying extra attention the to his inner thigh much to his partner's delight.

Fingers then slipped inside Harry's boxers, hooking underneath the waistband and gently tugging them down.

"Hmm…Sev…Please."

These words seemed to make something react in Severus' brain as he raced off the bed and into the bathroom. Locking the door behind him.

Harry lay on the bed, horrified. His erection deflating and his cheeks burning.

After a while, Harry gathered himself together enough to pull on his clothes and gently tap on the bathroom door.

"Severus? What did I do?"

No one answered.

"Severus? Please…Tell me. I'm sorry."

"Go to bed."

"Severus? Please? I won't do it again, just tell me what I did wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong. It was me…"

"What?"

"You're much too young for this…"

"What? No I am not."

"You're not legal…"

"Severus, I am pretty sure it's fine. We are married."

"That's not the point."

"Severus I am probably the only virgin in my year…"

"Still not the point…"

"Come out and let's talk about this."

"Are you dressed?"

"Yes," Harry sighed, wishing he could say no without repercussions. "So what is actually wrong with this? Really."

"You are too young…"

"I wanted it though and so did you…I mean we are married! It's practically part of the ceremony to do it but we still haven't."

Severus said nothing.

"Please?"

"It's late, go to sleep."

"Severus."

"I need to do something anyway. I will see you in the morning. Night."

"Severus!" Harry said uselessly as his husband vanished into his workroom.

Harry waited a short while, hoping Severus would reappear but time dragged on and his eyelids became heavier and heavier until he drifted off into sleep.

He tried to keep his mind focused on his task but Severus' hands kept shaking and his mind was unable to think about Harry's beautiful flushed face and his sinfully delightful skin.

Severus knew it was wrong though.

It could be nothing but,

The realisation that he could have something so heavenly seemed unnatural. Something had to be amiss and it was.

Harry was not legal. He could be arrested. He prayed their encounter was a moment of madness and Harry would never try to tempt him like that again, next time it would be harder to walk away. The astounding young man he would never be able to resist would haunt him forever if he let himself get carried away.

He was older and wiser.

He knew how fleeting affections were at this age too well. He would line himself up for another hurt if he like himself grow too attached. They may be married but that seemed to mean so little these days. Even marriage bonds could be broken, especially when Harry found someone he truly loved.

Love was so hard to understand at Harry's age and Severus was more sure of his love than Harry's. He did love Harry but Harry…

Well he did not really understand the attraction…

Finally, after pondering for far too long as always, Severus went into his bedroom. His chest struck with bolt of love as he saw Harry, snuggled into Severus' pillow and his face buried in the shirt Harry had removed hurriedly either.

Warmth seeped through Severus' finger tips and a smile graced his lips.

All he thought about for a while was Harry.

Another chapter done.

I would like to know how you find this chapter so review. Pwetty pwease.