"Ronald, how long has it been since we're heard from Harry?" Hermione asked, noticing the lack of Hedwig.
"A couple days, I think," Ron said, after swallowing his mouthful of eggs. "Kind of odd, eh?"
"It is, she said, fetching a quill. "I'm going to write Professor McGonagall and see it we can visit for the weekend."
"Include Draco," Ron said. "He mentioned not having heard from Severus yesterday. I'll talk to him at work today."
"Okay," she said, writing the note to Minerva.
Once Pigwidgeon was out the window, the two apparated to work.
Sirius was on alert when Harry missed breakfast. It was highly unusual for his godson to skip a meal.
"Hey, Rem," Sirius said, gently poking the other man.
"Hm," Remus absently responded, buttering a roll.
"Where's our cub?" the other man asked.
"Remus perked up at the question, glancing around the Head table. Harry and Severus' seats were both empty.
"It appears that Severus is missing as well," Remus said, looking to Sirius. "They're probably still sleeping off the exhaustion from the full moon."
"Yeah, Harry looked pretty haggard yesterday," Sirius said.
"It happens when you deeply care for someone," Remus said, looking affectionately at Sirius.
"Hey, Draco!" Ron called, chasing the blonde through the Atrium.
"What's up, Ron?" Draco asked, slowing so Ron could catch up to him.
"Hermione wrote Minerva this morning, asking if we could stay at the castle this weekend," Ron said. "We included you, so the invitation is there."
"I was just thinking about doing that myself," Draco said. "I haven't heard anything from Severus since the day of the full moon."
"I'll let you know what she says, then," Ron said, smiling. "I better get back to work."
"Thanks, Ron," Draco said, smiling himself.
After around two weeks or traveling, Harry and Severus stopped to set up camp for the next couple of days.
"We are in need of drinking water, Harry," Severus said, after they had set up their tent.
"Couldn't we just magic some?" Harry asked. "I mean Aguamenti should be able to provide drinkable water."
"Aguamenti is an alternative," Severus said, smirking at the young man. "Although, I can hear a creek just beyond that hedge. It should be clear enough to drink."
"I'll go check," Harry said, grabbing their canteens.
After Harry left, Severus set about finding some meat for them to eat. He successfully trapped a couple of rabbits and set about cooking them.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry bellowed suddenly.
Severus froze, unsure if Harry would need his assistance. After a few minutes, a silver wolf cantered into their campsite just ahead of Harry.
"When did your patronus change, Harry?" Severus asked, thoroughly confused.
"The first time, or the second time?" Harry asked, as he let his wolf fade away.
Severus took several minutes to comprehend what he just heard.
"Your patronus has changed more than once?" Severus asked, extremely bewildered.
"Yep," Harry said, flopping on the ground.
"But that's..." Severus said, his thought trailing off.
"It's unheard of," Harry said. "I did a little research, and there were numerous reports of patronuses changing once, but never twice. Again, I'm something special."
"When did it change the first time?" Severus asked, having regained control of his speech.
"I'm unsure when it happened exactly, but I realized it on the Horcrux hunt. Apparently we decided to camp next to a colony of Dementors, and I went to clear them out while we were there," Harry said, tending to the rabbits. "That's when I noticed my stag turned into a snake."
"A snake?" Severus asked, confused again. "Why would it have turned to a snake?
"My heart belongs to a snake," Harry said, cryptically. "And my patronus changed to a wolf right around when my snake got attacked by a werewolf."
Severus sat in stunned silence as Harry finished cooking the rabbits. There were so many thoughts jumbled in his head.
"Harry was -no is- in love with a Slytherin who was attacked by a werewolf?" Severus thought. "How many other Slytherins had been attacked?"
Harry opened his eyes, smiling slightly. He always slept better when Severus was next to him. He glanced at the older man, smiling warmly.
Severus was lying on his side, slightly curled in on himself, except for one arm, which was thrown over Harry's torso.
"He's so handsome when he's asleep." Harry thought, gently carding his fingers through the older man's hair.
Severus stirred slightly as Harry's fingers moved through his hair. He cracked an eye and looked up at Harry, who still had a small smile on his face. He closed his eye and Severus feigned sleep, not wanting Harry to stop.
"I'm so lucky to have this chance," Harry said, softly. "This chance to be around you and get to know you. I'm sure there are very few people who have gotten to see you like this, and I'm extremely thankful that I can be counted in that small group.
"We may have had a rocky beginning while I was in school, but we've worked through our problems, and we've become so much closer than I ever thought possible.
"You are an astounding man, Severus. You've over some so much, and you're so far from the cold, hard man you once were. I hope you realize just how much you mean to me."
Severus moved closer to Harry, afraid that his voice would betray him. Harry welcomed the older man's weight into his arms. They sat together like that for a short while.
"Harry," Severus said, looking up to the younger man. "I'm starving."
"Let's go to the Hall, Sev," Harry said. "I'm sure dinner just started.
Ron, Hermione, and Draco met on the steps to the castle, each of them holding a bag.
"Ready or not," Draco said, nervously. He hadn't returned to the castle since he left after his 7th year.
"Here we go," Hermione said, clutching Ron's hand. They hadn't seen the castle since it was half destroyed in the final battle.
The trio climbed the steps and pushed the front doors open.
"Ron, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Draco?" Severus said, looking at his godson.
The couple had just emerged from the passage leading to their quarters and a spare apartment.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione cried, throwing herself into her friend's arms. "We've been so worried about you!"
"Sorry. I haven't really had a chance to write the last couple of days," Harry said. "I've been extraordinarily knackered."
"We had a rough moon," Severus said, after shaking hands with Ron and Draco. "Harry was most helpful though."
After Hermione composed herself, Harry stepped back to Severus' side and slipped an arm around the older man's waist. Severus, in turn, slid an arm around Harry's shoulders and smiled slightly. Hermione smiled a bit as she saw the small smile on her ex-professor's face.
"Are you guys just here for the night?" Harry asked.
"Professor McGonagall said we could stay for the weekend," Ron said. "Figured we could have a chance to just hang out and catch up or something."
"Sounds like a plan," Severus said, tightening his arm around Harry slightly. "However, may I suggest we go to dinner? I am absolutely starving!"
A/N: I know I don't update regularly, but I don't write regularly either. I write in the few short minutes at the end of my shift at work, usually, so it takes a few days, to a week or so, so complete a chapter. Hopefully you guys don't mind too much.
I know Sev is WAY OOC, but you know what? I don't really care. He's kind of fun to write like this. But if you like the harsh Sev, just wait. I'm sure he'll pop up eventually.
Thanks for sticking with me.
-SlytherinFreake