Chapter 17

Severus found himself and Harry a nice spot on the boat to watch the sun go down, Harry had seen it once, only from a room at the Dursley's, but had wanted to see its beauty properly.

Now that wish was coming true, and from a much better place. Out in the middle of sea it would look even more stunning.

"Would you like something to eat?" asked Severus softly, to his mate as they both sat down.

"Yes, go on please, I've not had the chance to enjoy a meal for a few days" replied Harry, smiling sheepishly at his mate.

"I know you liked fruit so I brought plenty with us." Severus tilted his lips, as he began putting foods on plates from the basket.

Sandwiches and fruit, as well as drinks, which were spiked with nutrition potions. Harry still had a bit of catching up to be properly fit as any other boy, however, he had come really far in the short while he had taught him, for that he was thankful.

His mate was a rabid learner and a good student, not that he thought of his mate like that, far from it. He called him student because there was no other word for people who are learning new things, he technically, was a student.

"Just the thought of them and look are having my mouth water!" said Harry, smiling as he was given a plate. Amused as he lay back, against the boat how strange, fun and amazing this summer was so far, and wondering if it could get any better.

"Right" said Severus thinking 'you make my mouth water,' he could not wrench himself away as he watched Harry eating the fruit, the pink tongue coming to wipe the juice away from his lips. Adjusting himself slightly he leant back and began eating too, thinking 'perhaps this was not the best of ideas'

He usually didn't notice those sort of things when he was training Harry, he had been concentrating on getting him fit and trained. Indeed Harry was trained, and would still be getting trained as well as getting to see some sights he wanted to show him. The special places he thoughts were wonderful during his trips.

"What made you want to live on a boat? Did you stay in it for the whole time you were away?" Harry asked curiously.

"I always liked boats, not many magical people know much about them, apart from Muggle borns, of course, even Voldemort wouldn't think of looking here, especially not for a Pureblood wizard" said Severus.

"I don't know, I mean-Voldemort was Muggle raised, and is actually only Half Blood, from his mothers half" said Harry frowning slightly.

"How would you know that?" asked Severus, his face full of curiosity.

"He told me, he thought he was going to kill me so he did, he doesn't half talk a load of shit, told me his pity story, how his father left his mother when he found out she was a witch. Telling me he killed his father, it was the house just above the grave yard" replied Harry, looking quite pained at the very words he spoke.

"What exactly happened?" asked Severus seeing the pain on his mates face.

"I don't want to talk about it" said Harry, shaking his head curtly.

"You need to talk about it, have you ever spoken about it to any body?" asked Severus, by the look on Harry's face he knew that the answer was no.

"No, nobody would understand," said Harry abruptly.

"You can tell me you know, I may not totally understand but I know what Voldemort is like, I have been in his presence. Before I left, I think when I refused, he was so enraged and that's why he wants to kill me the most" said Severus shifting closer to Harry.

"Nobody understood, they all think I was a hero for bringing a dead body back," said Harry choking softly.

"Dead body?" asked Severus, looking worried now, what on earth had happened?

"Yeah, there was a tournament held in Hogwarts, the Tri-Wizard tournament, my name ended up in the cup. It was all a plan to get me to Voldemort; I knew something was happening but not what. Me and Cedric Diggory got to the cup together…I knew it would be expected of me to share the cup, like any stupid Gryffindor would do, so that's what I did. Before we knew it we were in a grave yard, Cedric was killed, "kill the spare" that's all he said, "kill the spare" Harry whispered desolately, tears were now falling down his face, as he practically choked the last few words out.

"Come here, let it out Harry, otherwise it wont ever let go." asked Severus, now holding his mate close, tightly in his arms. Harry's head was on his chest, which was getting wet with tears.

"We didn't even have a chance; he was dead, gone, before I even got to comprehend what had happened I was locked on a tombstone which had been charmed to move. Peter Pettigrew the one who had betrayed my parents was there, brought Voldemort back, with bone of his father, blood of a servant and blood of the foe, unknowingly taken, willingly given and forcefully taken" said Harry.

Severus understood the last part, bone of the father unknowingly taking, blood of a servant willingly given or a better term willingly sacrificed, and then last but not least blood of a foe forcefully taken.

"He was back before I even knew it, he is disgusting, snake like skeletal figure, I was not sure what to expect but that was not it. He then went on to tell me about his past, and killing his father before calling his followers" said Harry.

"How many does he have?" asked Severus alarmed. Totally enthralled and horrified at the story that Harry was telling him.

"I think there was about fourteen fifteen there I didn't exactly count them." said Harry, still clinging onto Severus, loving the feeling of being held close.

He was that starved for affection, the only hug he had had was from Molly Weasley, someone pretending to like him. Severus wasn't pretending. He liked him for him, he wasn't awed by the Boy Who Lived crap.

He was thankful for that, thanking the very gods and Merlin himself.

"How on earth did you survive?! The men that serve him are hardly the sort of people who smack you on the hand for doing something!" said Severus, eyes widening slightly.

"Do you really think Voldemort wanted his Death Eaters killing the Great and Bloody Powerful Harry Potter? No…he wanted that for himself! He challenged me to a duel; I knew nothing I had only been in the Wizarding World for a couple of years. I know I would not have survived if it had not been for my wand or my parents" said Harry softly.

"Your parents? Your wand? I don't understand." said Severus now confused.

"My wand is the brother wand to Voldemort's, they connected, there was a bead starting in the middle of the pure magic it then made a dome, protecting me from the Death Eaters. Well, not from Voldemort, but as I fought the connection I noticed the bead going to Voldemort, I kept pushing, and finally got it to Voldemort's wand, then souls started coming out of Voldemort's wand. People he had killed, my parents, came out and told me to take the Portkey back to Hogwarts, Cedric asked me to take his body back." Harry swiped a hand over his face and continued

"All I wanted to do was stay with my parents, it was almost like they were really there, talking to me, but my mum shouted 'let it go sweetheart your ready' I did as I was told and the ghosts held Voldemort off until I got to the cup." said Harry.

"Amazing…" was all Severus could say, it was truly a fascinating story.

"Yeah, but did I get to rest heaven forbid? No I wasn't permitted." snapped Harry.

"What do you mean?" asked Severus.

"Dumbledore dragged me up to his office. I had just watched someone die, I was nearly killed again by the spy in Hogwarts, before then bitten by a spider and totally exhausted, and my arm was killing me." said Harry.

"Why?" asked Severus, what had Dumbledore wanted?

"He wanted me to tell him what happened. He wouldn't let me go until I had told him everything. I think I was in shock that night, all Dumbledore wanted was what happened, he didn't really care!" snarled Harry angrily.

"You should have been taken straight to the infirmary!" said Severus, shaking his head, angry with the old fool for even trying to hurt his mate.

"I know, the worst thing was no one believed me; they all just said I was a crazy attention seeker. I spent the whole of last year getting "I must not tell lies" carved into my hand, by a teacher no less! Umbridge, she was put there by the Ministry, only when they could no longer deny he was back, I was suddenly the hero again, all I want is to be normal, be able to do normal things. Without having watchers…or watching my back against Death Eaters." said Harry sighing softly he had gotten tired spilling the beans so to speak.

"One day Harry I promise you will have that luxury" said Severus softly.

"No I wont, don't make promises you cant keep" said Harry softly, his smile sad.

"I don't make promises I know I'm not able to keep, I will make sure you get what you want in the end. It will take a long time, planning and care to do it but we will get it in the end, or I will die trying" said Severus softly.

"Never say that, NEVER!" said Harry looking right at Severus.

"What?" asked Severus confused.

"That would you would die trying, you are all I have, my friends and my headmaster are using me for their own gain, without you I would have nothing. I need something, otherwise I will be alone like I've always feared" said Harry.

"You will never be alone Harry, you never have been, your parents are always with you, in your heart" said Severus softly.

"Do you think they have been watching over me?" Harry softly commented, saddened, but happy tears glistening in his eyes.

"Yes. I know they are proud of you, no matter what you do. as long as you don't become another Voldemort, but I know that wont happen" Severus positively replied.

"Thank you" said Harry, his eyes sparkling like emeralds, happiness dancing in them.

"Your welcome." Severus whispered, his lips automatically went forward, not totally sure if Harry would give him a chance. When he didn't pull away, Severus felt like smirking in success, he then softly kissed Harry.

Harry's beautiful green eyes closed as he let Severus lead him, gasping softly feeling his groin stir, opening his mouth to the begging lips. Which seem happy to map every centimetre of his mouth, moaning and shuddering softly, his eyes remaining closed. Breathing heavily, Harry and Severus broke apart, still kissing him softly until Harry got his breath back.

Severus had only meant for it to be a small kiss, but once he started he found he could not stop. The smell of his mate was intoxicating, as was the taste as well, even when they pulled apart so Harry could get air he continued kissing him, softly.

Severus was surprised when Harry returned the kiss, it was his turn to moan as a shy tongue entered his mouth trying to find out how Severus done it.

Severus then decided to help him, coaxing Harry into twisting tongues with him, before they had too pull away for air, Harry was flushed and breathless when Severus looked at him, there and then he didn't think he would ever find anyone as beautiful as Harry.

"You're beautiful" said Severus tenderly, eyes still staring into those of his mate.

"I'm not, I'm short and scrawny" said Harry, shaking his head in denial.

"You're not, you're beautiful, your eyes are just breathtaking, especially when you are happy and exited. I think you would put an emeralds sparkle to shame, your not scrawny you're a gorgeously fit young man, and nicely tanned, after all that training…" said Severus.

"Very well then." said Harry, easily convinced when Severus told him something.