Warnings: none.
Summary: Severus and Harry talk about the curse and make strange discoveries about the house, their magic, and each other.
CHAPTER 8
A Symbiotic Relationship
After lunch, the boys retired to the library while Hermione cleaned up and informed Harry's team that they had found a way around the curse, at least for now. Harry enjoyed the chance to have a few minutes alone with Severus. Holding the man's hand soothed his fears, washed him clean of the ash of nightmares he had lived in for so many weeks.
Merlin, he'd been a fool to keep Severus away from him for so long.
"Severus?"
The man turned to Harry, a soft, hesitant smile on his face. "Hmm?"
Harry rubbed Severus' fingers and hoped he wouldn't pull away. "I'm really sorry."
"For what?"
"For keeping you away. I guess it was stupid. I just … I wanted you to be safe."
Severus squeezed Harry's hand. "As long as you do not do so again, I believe I can find it in me to forgive you."
Harry squeezed back. "Right. Well, I think I've learned my lesson."
"Then I see no problem."
Harry smiled and ducked to cover a blush. "T-thank you, Severus."
"Not at all." Severus went back to reading his book, his hand resting lightly in Harry's.
Harry hadn't been able to read in some time and had thus fallen out of the habit. Instead, Severus' hand drew his interest. Curious and bubbling over with tender affection, he traced his fingertips over every surface of the man's hand, committing each ridge and curve to memory. Gods, it felt good to hold Severus like this, even if it was only his hand.
Did it feel good to Severus?
Harry glanced to his friend's face to see Severus staring at his book, eyes unmoving, cheeks flushed, and lips parted slightly. He was supposedly reading a text on fifteenth century blood curses, but when ten minutes passed without him turning a page, Harry reckoned Severus had lost interest too.
Harry smiled to himself. Maybe this curse wasn't so bad if it brought Severus closer.
Hermione shoved aside a stack of books and dropped another pile on the table, and both men jumped.
"I just finished updating the team, boys," she said. "They're all ecstatic that you could help Harry, Severus. Draco, in particular, seemed pleased to know you were here at last and holding Harry together."
Severus gave her a smile, though he still looked a bit dazed. "Ah, t-thank you, Mi—Hermione." He cleared his throat and shook his head slightly. "We … we should get to work on healing Harry. What do you know about the curse so far?"
Harry forced his attention away from the shape of Severus' fingernails and onto the conversation. Curing the curse was far more important than seeing how much he could distract Severus just by touching his hands. Even if the idea was immensely tempting.
Hermione was all business. "To start, the actual words Bellatrix spoke were: Accipere Sanguis Animus. We can't find a reference to that particular incantation anywhere though."
"Receive blood souls." Severus rubbed his chin. "Hmm. What are the symptoms?"
"I hear … voices in my head," Harry said with a shudder. "I think you've noticed."
Severus switched hands with Harry, laying his far hand on Harry's and wrapping his closest arm around the younger man's shoulders instead. "So I have seen. Describe it, if you can. What happens?"
"They hurt me. Constantly degrading me and attacking me at every turn. Well, the cruel ones like Bellatrix do. And lately, I've started to lose control of myself. Bellatrix would take me over and make me … do stuff."
Severus stiffened. "What did she force you to do, Harry?"
Harry winced. "Things like hurt Hermione. Call her 'mudblood'. Hurt myself. She hadn't made me cast any spells yet, mainly because I locked away my wand a long time ago, but she was fighting me tooth and nail for control."
Severus shuddered. "Dear gods. We truly did cut it too fine." He shot Hermione a cold glare.
Hermione cringed and lowered her head. "I'm s-sorry."
Harry turned Severus' chin around to face him. [Severus, please. Let it go. You have saved me now and I cannot bear any more fighting.]
Severus sighed and relented. [For you, I will cease and desist. But she is getting off too easily.]
[We have both learned our lesson, Severus, and we will never keep you away again. Honest.]
Severus nodded and rubbed Harry's fingers. "Tell me what the other voices did."
Harry took a bracing breath and clutched tightly to Severus' hand. "Some are angry with me because I killed Voldemort. Most of them are dark. All but four: Sirius, Regulus, Remus, and Tonks." He lowered his head and blinked back tears. "And Sirius was driving me spare too. The only voice who really helped me was Regulus, and Remus and Tonks on occasion. Believe it or not, Sirius was so bad Tonks knocked him out once. And even Orion told him to shut his bloody mouth a few times. He knocked out Bellatrix for me a lot too—it was the only way to stop them when they got too horrid—but otherwise, it was always Regulus fighting for me."
Severus lowered his head. "And you have told me your godfather was hurting you on my account."
Harry gave a bitter laugh. "Seems he hates Slytherins more than he ever loved me." He closed his eyes against a wave of tears, but couldn't stop his lip from trembling. "And gays, too. He attacked me for liking men as much as he attacked me for l-liking you."
"Gods. What an …." Severus sighed and tentatively petted Harry's hair. "I know you have forgiven me, but I am still sorry. I did not mean to cause you such pain."
Harry buried his face in Severus' shoulder for a long moment, until he could control his emotions once more. "It was never your fault, Severus. Sirius abused you—and much worse. He's the one that should be apologising." He pressed his eyes shut tight. "C-can we just, maybe not talk about that right now?"
Severus squeezed Harry's hand. "Of course. We should focus on healing your curse for the moment anyway. Are there any other symptoms?"
Harry shuddered. "Bellatrix likes sending me dreams. Terrible dreams. Urgh." He jerked a hand over his mouth, struggling not to retch in front of Severus.
Severus cringed. "I'm not sure I want to know."
"You don't. You really, really don't."
Severus stroked Harry's cheek. "If you need to speak of them, I will listen."
Harry shuddered. "I'd rather gnaw off my own bits, thanks."
Severus grimaced. "Merlin. In that case, let us return to the subject of your voices." Harry nodded vehemently. "Very well. If I understood you correctly, you have identified the entire Black family among your voices as well as Bellatrix Lestrange. Are there any others?"
"Ted Tonks. He's beat the snot out of Bellatrix and Sirius too, now that I think of it."
Severus narrowed his eyes—an expression Harry recognised as a sign he had gone into analytical mode. Harry didn't mind. If anyone had the brilliance and experience to figure this curse out, it was Severus.
"Hmm. So that is three Black spouses you have identified. Do you hear Rodolphus?"
Harry shook his head. "No, thank Merlin."
"What about Draco?"
Harry gave a bitter laugh. "I wish I could hear Draco. He'd at least find the humour in the situation."
"Do not wish that." Severus gave him a piercing look. "If you hear Ted and Lupin but not Bellatrix's husband, then it seems the only Blacks you hear are those that are now dead."
Harry shuddered. "Good point."
"What about Andromeda?"
Harry winced. "Not Andromeda or Narcissa either. Like you said, I only hear dead Blacks, either by birth or marriage."
"Hmm. Other than fighting Bellatrix and Black—Sirius, I mean—what are the voices doing?"
"Sirius—you know what he's doing." Harry scowled. "Well, he also tears Regulus' heart to shreds every other moment. Mrs. Black screams at everyone but Regulus and her husband. Orion just … well, I guess he feels outnumbered. He doesn't talk much unless he's fighting Bellatrix or Sirius. It's the same with Ted. Bellatrix is as insane as always. You can imagine the shite she gets up to."
Severus cringed and nodded. "Unfortunately so. What of the others?"
"Well, there's Remus and Tonks—they help sometimes, but mostly they're just grieving for Teddy." Harry sniffled and choked back tears. "I tried to tell them he's happy and healthy, but they still miss him too much to really function. Regulus was the only one I could depend on to help me. He fought for me, encouraged me, and knocked out Bellatrix and Sirius as often as he could muster up the strength. Or tried to anyway. Sometimes they won, but he fought hard for me. And he was just as much of a broken mess as I was, no thanks to my lovely homophobic git of a godfather."
Hermione winced and reached out as if to pat his hand, but pulled away at the last second. "Merlin, Harry. No wonder you were so miserable."
Harry shivered. "Let's just … move on."
"Right." Hermione straightened and addressed Severus in her usual no-nonsense tone. "We identified several other voices besides those Harry mentioned based on what they said, and you're right, at least about those we were able to verify. They're all part of the Black family, either born, married, or blood-adopted into it, and they're all dead."
Severus nodded and rubbed a finger over his lips. "Accipere sanguis animus."
"Yes. Receive souls and blood."
Harry sniffled. "Regulus told me what I'm hearing is bits of their souls, not the entire thing, but a reflection of them, maybe." He gave a bitter laugh. "I'm a living horcrux again, only this time it's for hundreds of people, and they're all already dead!"
"Harry …." Hermione held her arms around her chest as if she wanted to hug the man but wasn't sure she'd be welcomed.
"I … I'm sorry," Harry said in a small voice. "I'm really a mess."
Severus stroked Harry's hair. "You have a right to be. It's all right. Cope however you must. We will see you through."
Harry buried his face in Severus' shoulder and trembled. It was safe there. Severus held Harry's hand and ran gentle fingertips through his hair. The soothing touch eased the worst of his fears, and Harry soon relaxed into Severus with a sigh.
Above his head, Severus' low voice continued hashing out the mystery with Hermione. "Have you made any progress in discovering what kind of curse this is? It does not sound like a pure mind curse, not if there are truly bits of souls tied in. And if it is able to distinguish between living and dead people and people of a certain family line, then that also suggests there is more than mind magic at play."
"Yes," said Hermione, "so we thought too. We aren't sure exactly what kind of curse it is. Our best theory is that Bellatrix tried to curse Harry with her madness and botched it with soul magic somehow."
Harry sat up and frowned. "I don't think that's it, Hermione."
Severus shook his head. "Nor do I. If Bellatrix had tried to curse him with her own madness and made a mistake, it would only be her soul he heard, I think." He tapped his free hand on the table. "We are missing something. You are sure these are all the books in the Black library? The Order removed the most dangerous."
Hermione nodded. "All we could trace."
Severus frowned. "Trace how, exactly?"
She shuffled uncomfortably. "I … I'm not really supposed to reveal that."
"Unspeakable secrets?"
"Um …."
Severus' gaze sharpened. "Do you expect me to help Harry or not?"
"I don't see what that has to do—"
"It has everything to do with it, you foolish girl. I—damn." Severus choked his anger back and gave Harry and Hermione an apologetic look. "Merlin, forgive me. I am only afraid for him."
She gave him a wan smile. "I am too, Severus. Just tell me what you need, okay?"
He sighed. "It is simple logic, really. If you've truly searched every book in the library, then it is obviously not here. We are missing a book, and that means it is either still unaccounted for or somewhere else in this house. If I am to trace it, then I need to know what you have already tried."
Hermione blushed pink. "I … it's not that I don't want to …."
"But you don't have clearance?"
"Exactly. I'm under a modified Fi—damn it. I can't even say that much."
"A Fidelius, then." Severus sighed. "A moment." He Summoned his Patronus and spoke in an authoritative voice to the doe. "Go to Terpsichore Flamel. Let her know that I am assisting Hermione Granger on Harry Potter's case and we have found a possible lead, but are in urgent need of full Ministry clearance if we are to heal him."
The doe nodded and leapt away. Hermione stared at him, gobsmacked.
"H-how? She … she's the …."
Severus smirked. "Head Unspeakable? Yes, Albus introduced us years ago at her great-great-grandparents' funeral. It pays for a spy to have contacts in high places."
Harry reached over and pressed Hermione's jaw up, closing her mouth. "You're going to suck up a doxy like that if you're not careful."
Severus snorted. "Your sense of humour has not fallen to the wayside, I see."
Harry flashed him a bright smile. "That might be the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
Severus sobered. "If so, then I have done you more harm than I thought."
Harry squeezed Severus' hand and laced their fingers together. "Severus, I was only teasing. You know you're my … [best friend] …well, you know I forgave you ages ago."
Severus carefully wrapped Harry in a hug, being careful never to let his skin come out of contact with the younger man's.
"Thank you."
Harry held him tighter. "I think I should be thanking you. This is the first time I've felt safe in weeks. I only feel safe with you."
Severus smoothed a hand down Harry's back. "I am glad you do, especially considering how fearful these past few weeks have been for you."
"Me too." Harry buried his head under Severus' chin and dropped his voice to a whisper. He would have used Legilimency, but he couldn't make eye contact with his face pressed into Severus' chest. "Is it … do you feel safe like this too?"
Severus sighed against Harry's hair and whispered back, his voice barely more than a breath, "Yes. It is … much the same for me."
Harry nuzzled closer, his heart light and hopeful. "I'm glad about that, too."
"Hmm."
They sat in silence for several moments, Harry taking refuge in Severus' arms and feeling like he had finally come home, Severus wrapped around him and keeping Harry warm. This was right. It was where he was meant to be.
A feminine sigh arrested Harry's attention. "Oh, boys …."
Harry's eyes shot open to find Hermione watching them with a soft smile on her face.
"Oh Merlin," Harry muttered. "I knowthat look. Don't get any ideas, Hermione."
She chuckled. "Somehow, I don't think I'll need to."
Harry blushed and hid his face in Severus' neck.
Severus' breath caught. "H-Harry. Not there. Please."
Harry winced and jerked away, causing the voices to screech at him again, though they seemed quieter this time. "Gods, I—Sev'rus. Help."
"Damn it, Snivellus, get aw—"
Regulus cut him off, crying, "Harry, take hold of Severus and don't let go. Your souls are l—"
Severus caught Harry's hand and held it tight. "Better?"
Harry shook his head, trying to clear it. "Yeah. Merlin, I'm sorry, Severus. I didn't mean to hurt you."
A fierce blush coloured the older man's face. "You … I …." Severus glanced at the woman watching them with a knowing grin and looked away. "It was not—" He sighed and tipped Harry's chin up, meeting the younger man's eyes. [You did not hurt me. I was only embarrassed because we have an audience.]
Harry flushed. [Oh. I'm sorry, Severus.]
[Nothing to apolo—]
A raven Patronus appeared on the table and interrupted Severus. With a smile at Harry, he touched the bird's head. "Yes?"
The raven cawed and answered, "Clearance granted. Do whatever you must, my friend. The aurors miss their top captain."
Hermione gasped. "Mother of Merlin, Severus. How the bloody hell did you … gods. I'm impressed."
Severus smirked. "The books, Miss Granger?"
She shook herself. "Right. Well, besides checking the archive list in the library, we tracked their magical signatures. Even in the Muggle books, Black family magic is woven too tightly to ever be fully removed. So we followed the signature trails to their current locations and either retrieved them or paid off whoever had possession of them.
"There were three we couldn't trace, but they weren't going to be of much help anyway. We couldn't find a book on historical Black family bonds, a journal of Hieronymus Black, and one woman refused to sell a Black family cookbook no matter what we offered for it." She gave him a wry smile. "I doubt we'd find the answers in a cookbook, but we tried to get it back anyway, just in case."
"The one about the bonds might have had answers though," Harry said with a frown.
"I doubt it," said Severus. "This is a curse, not a bond." He rubbed his chin. "If you tracked the books via their signature, then you could not use the same method in this house."
Hermione nodded. "Too much interference, but we did Summon all Black family books back into the Library."
"Summoned them, Miss Granger? And what if there are books about that have charms against such basic magic?"
"Well, we also asked Kreacher to look for others," said Harry with a shrug. "He said he brought back all the ones he could find."
"And what if there are books he could not find? There are charms against house elves just as there are charms against Summoning."
Harry frowned. "Um … well, we did search the house manually too, but between the Summoning spell and Kreacher, we couldn't find anything else besides a stack of old porn mags under Sirius' bed." He blushed. "We figured the answer wouldn't be in those."
"If they are actually pornographic, certainly not, but surely you have heard of glamours and concealing spells."
"We used revealers on them, Severus," said Hermione with a sigh. "Honestly. It's like we're first years again."
Harry laughed and rubbed Severus' hand. "What're you thinking? You're grilling us for a reason, but just consider us givens as dunderheads and tell us what's going on in that brilliant brain of yours."
Severus chuckled. "You are dunderheads. But I shall tell you what I think." His smile faded. "You mentioned that Regulus tried to destroy the horcruxes?"
Harry nodded, his eyes sad. "Regulus has been my only friend this whole time." He gave the others an apologetic look. "Inside my head I mean. He told me where to find his portrait in hopes that it would help me stay sane to talk to him outside my head, but it won't work. The portrait is still, like a Muggle painting. It doesn't even breathe like wizarding ones do when they're sleeping. Remus thinks it's because the portrait was taken after the curse started. And that it's a familial curse, which is bloody obvious but there you are."
Hermione chuckled. "By familial, he means it was established in one family and can only effect members of the same family, not that your family is all in your head, Harry."
"Oh."
Severus frowned. "I believe Lupin's information is sound, but the fact that he could provide it at all means it is soul magic. As well, that is a real piece of Regulus in your mind if he knew a portrait existed of him when we did not."
Tears flooded Harry's vision. "I wish Regulus had lived. I wish …."
Severus wrapped Harry back into his arms. "So do I. He was a friend to me as well. The only person who was kind to me in my dark days." He sighed and squeezed Harry's shoulders. "It was such a terrible way to die, and he was so young."
Harry shuddered and buried his face in Severus' shoulder. "Severus, if there's a piece of them all trapped in my head, does that mean they're all … stuck? They can't go beyond because of this curse?"
Severus shuddered. "Merlin, I do not know, but I certainly hope not."
Harry whimpered. "We have to break it, then. We have to. I can't let them suffer like that forever. Especially not Regulus. His life and death was gruesome enough without adding this to his suffering. And Remus and Tonks—gods, we have to get them out of there."
Hermione winced. "Yes. We're doing everything we can, Harry."
"I know." He nudged Severus' arm. "Why were you asking about Regulus?"
Severus frowned and dragged a fingertip back and forth across his chin. "It is … only a theory, but there is a possibility that if he turned against the Dark Lord in the end, he may have also turned against the dark in general. Since he has been an ally to you, I think this is more likely than not. And if he did, he would likely have taken measures to prevent the darkest books in the Black library from being used again."
"You think he hid them," said Hermione. "It's not impossible. But where? We've looked everywhere in the house."
Harry paled. "I … I could ask him."
Severus shook his head. "It is not worth the risk. The instant you take your hand away, you fall back into terror and the verge of madness. And we do not know how the curse will react regardless. No, I cannot allow you to risk your health when there is a much less dangerous way to answer your question."
Harry frowned. "His portrait doesn't work, Severus. I've already tried."
"If his soul is trapped in this curse, no, the portrait would not work. But nevertheless, that is not what I meant."
Hermione leaned forwards, palms laid flat on the table. "What did you mean then?"
"We will simply have to search the house the old-fashioned way. And this time with the benefit of a spy's help."
Harry sighed. "So we're back to square one."
Severus held up his hand, fingers still laced with Harry's. "Not quite."
Harry helped Severus and Hermione scan the house as best as he could, working with two hands between them. After hours of searching through various likely hiding spots—the library, the attic, the cellar—they continued the search in Regulus' bedroom. Harry had thought Regulus would have wanted a load of cursed books as far from his bed as possible. Severus then pointed out that a man willing to drink poison to ensure the Dark Lord's eventual defeat would probably want to watch over the books himself.
They had scanned every inch of the bedroom walls, searching for a possible hiding place but finding nothing, when Harry had an idea. He moved in front of the bed and pointed to the floor.
"Severus, kneel with me, okay?"
The man gave him a bemused look but obeyed.
"Just, keep your hand on my back or something so I can use both hands to search."
With a blush, Severus slid his hand under Harry's tee and rested it at the small of his back. "Too familiar?"
Harry's cheeks were pink, but he gave Severus a warm smile. "No. It's you. It's okay."
Severus rubbed the man's back just a bit, a curious expression in his eyes, as well as a bit of fear. Harry shivered and arched into his hand, thrilling in the feel of his caress on his bare skin.
"Yeah, okay with me."
Severus swallowed hard and stilled. "Good. Is there a reason we're on the floor?"
"Maybe. We'll see in a minute." Harry bent and dug his fingernails into the seams of the floorboards beneath Regulus' bed, tugging at each one within his reach.
Hermione knelt beside him. "Harry, what in the world are you doing?"
He blushed. "Well, when I needed to hide stuff from the Dursleys, there was a loose floorboard under my bed and I'd shove stuff in there. I mean, it wasn't a lot of room, not for a kid using Muggle means …."
She gasped. "But for a pureblood wizard who had access to his wand and motivation, wizard space is always an option."
"Right." He frowned. "Severus, would that fail upon Regulus' death?"
Severus nodded. "Most likely, but if Regulus expected to die, then it is probable he took measures to prevent such an occurrence."
Harry shook his head wryly. "You know, he reminds me of you a bit. Intelligent Slytherin with a heart of gold."
Severus chuckled. "I will take that as a compliment."
"It was obviously meant as one, prat." Harry laughed. "Anyway, just check what you can reach without letting go of me, Severus. Hermione, you start at that end of the bed and we'll work towards the middle. Just see if the board is loose enough to come up."
She went to work where directed without a word. After a few minutes, she called, "Harry, Severus, found something."
"Wait," Severus advised her. "Do not lift it yet." He scanned the board for any kind of trap or ward he could think of and found nothing. "It is clear. If Regulus did use this as his hiding place, then he has placed the wards beneath the level of the wood so as not to draw undue notice."
Harry shook his head sadly. "He was brilliant. I really wish he'd lived." Severus' gentle caress at the small of Harry's back soothed him enough to keep him from crying. Again. "Okay, 'Mione. Go for it."
She lifted the board and frowned. "Nothing here but floor space, boys."
Severus peered into the hole. "Hmm."
Harry ran a hand above the empty floor and drew it back sharply. His palm was red from the burn of pure magic. Something was hidden here all right, and whatever it was had intense wards. He turned his burned palm up to show his friend.
"Severus."
"I see. Sanas." Severus healed the burn and shook his head. "There is nothing obvious here but floor space. Both of you, move back."
Harry and Hermione obeyed. Harry shielded them all for good measure and got a nod from Severus in return.
Severus held his wand tip just beyond the edge of the shields and aimed for the gap. "Obvia Revelare Totalis!"
The illusion of an empty hole faded away to reveal a massive hoard. What should have been a three-inch by three-inch tunnel was a cavernous archive, lined with stack upon stack of books and stuffed full of artefacts and precious heirlooms.
"Bloody hell," Harry breathed.
"I believe we have found our missing books," Severus said in a shaky voice.
"Apparently so," Hermione breathed.
Severus stared into the massive archive of dark books and artefacts, lamenting the loss of one so brilliant as to keep it hidden from some of the darkest minds in the war. Merlin, Regulus had died too young.
Harry was the first to shake himself out of his shock. "Right. We'll have to investigate this, but for now, everyone stay back. I have no idea what kind of wards or curses might be on this stuff but I'm guessing it's not pretty."
Severus smirked. "So you have learned a degree of caution then."
"Well, you did just warn us a moment ago," said Harry with a laugh. "Not to mention the wards already burned me. Besides, after the fifth or sixth time you get cursed for charging in blindly, you learn to cover your arse first."
"Fifth or sixth? I should think you would learn it after the first time."
Harry grinned. "Well, you know what they say about Gryffindors." His mirth faded. "Severus, I'm guessing you know more about these wards than we do. Do you want a go before I call in the team?"
Severus nodded. "Come kneel beside me and place your hand at my back, as I have been doing with you. I will need both hands free. Hermione, please shield us both and hold it unless I tell you otherwise."
Hermione nodded and stepped back a few paces. As soon as Harry wriggled himself into place behind Severus, calloused warm palm softly rubbing the older man's back, a purple-blue shield light shimmered around them and held. Severus moved forwards so just the tip of his wand poked out of the shield light. Harry's fingertips dipped under the older man's waistband, brushing the top of Severus' arse—as Harry was staring into the floorboards, Severus judged the move must have been subconscious.
"H-Harry," he gasped out.
Harry jerked his hand up the man's back and blushed crimson. "Merlin, Severus. I didn't even realise. I'm sorry."
Severus shivered. "It was not … I … I …."
"Ssh. It's all right. You don't have to make excuses for me. It was too familiar. Are you okay?"
Severus nodded and leaned close enough to whisper, "I need my wits about me, Harry. But it was not …" [It was not u-unwanted.] His mental voice was barely a breath on the last word. He froze and waited for rejection.
Harry's eyes went wide and his lips parted. [Merlin, Severus!] Cautiously, he smiled and stroked Severus' waist. [I didn't mind either, but we'll talk about that later, okay? I don't want to distract you right now.]
Severus struggled to contain his blush. "Be still. Steady." [Your touch is ….]
Harry gave him a smile that made Severus' breath hitch. [Yeah?] His hand stilled and lay just across the man's spine. "Okay. Is that better?"
"Much. Are you able to move back a pace and still keep your hand on me?"
"Let me …." Harry wriggled out of the way and nodded. "Like this?"
"Perfect. Stay there, stay still, and lend me some of your power if you can do so safely."
"Sure."
A steady stream of energy flowed into Severus through his spine, and the man gasped at the feel of it. Merlin, Harry's magic, his energy, was in perfect complement to Severus' own. He arched, panted with the intensity of sensation, and barely suppressed a low moan.
Harry did not manage to suppress himself, and his long, low groan of pleasure made it doubly hard for Severus to keep quiet.
"Oh gods, Severus!"
"Nnh." Severus bit down on any further revealing sounds and turned to give Harry a glazed look. "We will definitely need to discuss this later."
Harry shivered. "You feel it too, then?"
"That would depend on what you mean by 'it.' What are you feeling?"
Harry gasped and shivered. "Like … we fit. Gods. It's so bloody intense." He looked to Hermione and blushed. "It's like … um …."
Hermione said dryly, "Sex?"
Harry went crimson. "Y-yes. Exactly like."
Severus held Harry's eyes, and the flicker of heat within those emerald orbs sent an answering surge through Severus' groin. Gods, if this kept up, he would lose control—right in front of Miss Granger.
'Gods forbid!'
With a massive effort, he struggled to gather his wits.
"Ah … it … this is not sexual—what we are feeling is … magical symbiosis. A perfect blend of—hah—compatible magic." He shivered at another wave of sensation. "Ghn. Perhaps this has to do with why your curse s-stops when I touch you." Another wave left him panting. "Oh, sweet Merlin, Harry."
Harry was breathing hard too. "Y-yeah. Maybe. Maybe it's why we feel so …."
Severus' heart thumped as he read the meaning in Harry's eyes. "I think that is more than compatible magic working on us." He smiled softly. "You feel it too?"
Harry smirked. "That would depend on what you mean by 'it.'" He rubbed Severus' back. "But yeah. I do."
A thrill nothing like compatible magic rushed up Severus' spine and settled in his racing heart. He couldn't hold back a brilliant smile.
"Merlin," Harry whispered. "Beautiful, Severus."
Severus closed his eyes and Occluded away the greater part of his joy and pleasure. As wonderful as it felt, it was too distracting. And revealing.
"Apparently we will have much to discuss tonight, Harry." Severus opened his eyes and gave Harry a soft smile. "I am looking forward to it, but for now, simply continue helping me with your power and I will attempt to dismantle the wards." He arched at a powerful wave of sensation. "A-assuming I can focus."
Harry nodded, serious again. "I'll help, Severus. Meditation might … dear Merlin … make it easier to control."
"Yes. Do it."
Harry closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them again, their expression steady and distant. The inferno under Severus' skin abated to a pleasant warmth.
"Ah, much better."
Harry nodded. "Are you ready then?"
Severus took a deep breath and gathered his magic in his hands. "Now."
Harry slid an arm under Severus' and guided the exhausted man to his bedroom. Severus had broken all the most dangerous wards on his own, but he could barely stand by the time he had finished. They both needed rest, as sharing his magic with Severus had all but drained Harry's energy too.
"I think we need a nap, Severus," Harry said through a yawn.
"Mhn."
"I'm going to take that as a yes."
"Mhn-hmm."
Harry chuckled and gently guided Severus to the bed, making sure to keep a grip on the man's hand at all times. "Okay, how much of your kit do you want left on?"
Severus jolted awake a bit when Harry unbuttoned his robe—using a spell, of course, as he couldn't do it manually with one hand.
"Oh."
He shivered as Harry eased one sleeve down and guided one arm through, then took that hand and repeated the process on the other side, leaving him in his shirtsleeves.
Harry gave him a wry smile. "I usually sleep in just the pants, but I think that's a bit much for both of us. Would you … maybe down to the trousers? Would that do?"
Severus' throat bobbed and a bright pink flush painted his cheeks. "Mhn, y-yes."
Harry brushed a hand down the man's cheek. "Severus, it's all right. I've seen you in less. You've seen me in less too."
Severus' eyes were already sliding shut again. "Yes, s'fine. Sleep now." He slumped into Harry's hip, half snoring.
"Gods, you poor man. I've never seen you so exhausted." Harry gave a low chuckle and eased a half-asleep Severus back onto the bed. "Just lie back, Severus. I'll take care of you. Only, I have to touch you to keep my mind. Please, don't be afraid."
Severus opened his eyes long enough to squeeze Harry's hand. "Touch me … however you need to. Trust you."
Harry smiled, happy to know he had earned so much of the man's faith. "Thank you. I won't take advantage."
"Mhn. I know." Severus closed his eyes and his breathing deepened.
Harry was tempted just to leave him as he was rather than disturb his rest, but knew the man would get uncomfortable like that quickly—and besides, it would be difficult to hold onto his hand when they were both asleep. He needed more of Severus' skin bare if he meant to get any real rest—and gods knew he needed it.
Trying not to disturb Severus more than necessary, Harry used a careful combination of methodical manoeuvering and spells to undress Severus and himself, then climbed into bed beside the sleeping man.
"Goodnight, Sev."
Severus turned into him and wrapped an arm around Harry's waist, pulling him close. "R'you well?"
"I'm all right." Harry kissed Severus' cheek. "Go back to sleep. I'll be right here."
"Mm, yes. Stay here. Talk later."
Harry chuckled. "That was the plan."
"G'night … Harry." Severus had almost fallen asleep before he finished talking.
Harry kept the thought that Severus was adorable when he was sleepy to himself. He doubted Severus would appreciate it. Besides, he didn't want to wake the poor man.
"Goodnight, my Severus."
With a contented sigh, Harry laid his head upon Severus' slowly rising chest and let sleep carry him away—the first free of screams and nightmares he had known in a long time.
