A new chapter and new start! Enjoy!

The soft brown eyes stared at the door. It was puzzling to her, yet, unaware of this universe. Hermione faced Severus with a soft smiled, but worn for the wear.

"Alone for four years? It must be mad to do such way of living…" Her head shook, sighing, "How are you feeling about him, Professor…"

He picked up a fork, "Miss Granger, drop the subject and pick another." Slipped the food into his mouth.

"You're afraid…" She glanced at the door, "…I don't think there should be a reason."

The man lowered his eyes and continued eating. The young witch could see the fear in his eyes and grew weary. She decided to eat and think of another approach to help him.

"…eat, Miss Granger." Took a sip from his glass.

Her shoulders dropped, but the sight of the food made her stomach lurched for the betrayal. She decided to eat and think about it for a while.

"Was I interrupting something before I showed up?" She took a bite, looking at him expectedly.

Severus set the cup down, "He was trying to relax me, but I refused. He was about to tell me more to the story, but nothing much to learn."

She frowned, "More to the story…" Tilted her head, "I don't understand."

The dark eyes stared at her, "Has not spoken much to anyone on the battle against you-know-who. He had not spoken a single word of his disappearance other than defeated the dark lord and the war is over." Using his fork to cut up the meat on his plate and stabbed it before pick it up to his mouth, "Potter is only telling me because I am his mate." His lips twitched, "After all, he knows that I am too curious and that is his way to interact with me." Scowling.

The witch shook her head. Now she understood, but perhaps, she could help them in a way. They remained silent and eating. Hermione felt better than she had in months…the war was above a nightmare. It was the worries that she had to deal with on a daily basis and what she needed to depend on to eat to get by. To fear for her life and her friends' lives…how they all died. It broke her heart and there was nothing she could have done to change it.

It was not long for the Dark Savior to return with a child in his arms and easily handed the boy over to his mate. Severus held tight onto Elario and gave him food to eat. Harry sat down as a chair appeared immediately before he could fall. His plate popped and helped himself. Hermione saw the little boy, who had dark hair and eyes and such pale skin…the boy stared at her curiously and blinked.

"Hermione," Harry held up his fork with chicken in hold, "There are few options you can decide." He took a bite and finished chewing, "The first one is have you become an animagus and allow others believe you are our family pet." Another bite and a brief silence, "Second is you become one of Severus' unknown family member and lives with us. Third is we would transfigured your looks and claimed to adopt you to be our daughter. Fourth, Severus and I needed an assistance and babysitter, we hired you for the position. Lastly, I design a spell to make you invisible to others and only to those who are allowed to know your existence." He shrugged.

Severus was a bit staggered with his dominant to gather potential plans for the unexpected guest. He didn't think his mate would be so willing to include the young witch in their quarter. He mentally froze…their quarter? Merlin helps him now! His arms curled around Elario's waists and felt comforted by catering to a young one. A natural pull to care for someone so young and so beautiful as him. Perhaps it was a good thing he casted the spell or their situation with Voldemort might not be pleasant.

Hermione considered a few things and weighed her options. She glanced over to see the potion master caring for a child and softly smiled. How could she consider the last one would be sane? The others were considerable, but she still had needs to her own.

The witch fixated her attention onto the dark savior and brushed back her bang behind the ear.

"I like the third option…to become the daughter, but more. You already adopted Elario and I assume Professor Dumbledore still alive?"

Severus, "Quite and very much alive, Miss Granger."

"How aware is he about anything?"

The brow rose on the dominant, "Only our mating and that he believes Elario is adopted. He is aware I am dark partially, but nothing much. He is clueless like the rest," He took a quick sip, "Why?"

She smiled, "If no one knows who I am, but you both, it would allow me to be your teacher assistance."

Severus admired combining ideas and thought it would be best to do. After all, Albus knew he wanted a family and Harry would do anything to provide that. It would be beneficial to keep them all sane as much as possible. Harry nodded and took it into consideration. He glanced to his submissive and saw no reasons to reject her options.

"How old are you?" Harry tilted his cup and gulped a little.

She smiled, "Eighteen."

The savior was lost in his thoughts, "Now, you will be sixteen here. I will work on the spell to make you two years younger for ten years' worth. Another spell for changing your looks for the same years' worth."

Her brown eyes widen when he spoke about creating a spell, but two? She might as well faint to learn this Harry was capable of doing. Then, it had occurred to her…if he asked her of the age. Her thoughts theorized a few things, yet, she had to ask or she would be no Gryffindor.

"How old are you, Harry?" Her hand with a fork lowered to the plate.

"Twenty."

She blinked, "Disappeared for four years, saved everyone's lives, and defeated your enemy. What about the Horcruxes?"

He smirked, "Taken care of."

"What about the ones inside of you?" Her head shook.

Severus jerked his head, "Horcruxes…inside of you, Potter?"

The emerald eyes rolled, "Rather getting further head here and no longer." A sigh, "Now, back to your decision. I do not tolerate changing topic for something that isn't necessarily important." Harry hasn't felt restraint on his irksome attitude in a long time.

The witch softly blushed and quickly sipped a glass of water. As a submissive mate, he was rather at lost…what did happen? What was he missing?

"Right. When should we do this?" Hermione glanced at both of them.

"Tomorrow," Harry stated, "Unless you have another time in mind, Severus?"

"I see no reasons to think another time. Isn't it her choice, Potter?"

She agreed, "Good point. Also, tomorrow would be better since class starts tomorrow." She grinned.

Harry hummed and gathered himself away from the table, leaving an uneaten meal, and his chair disappeared. Hermione frowned…did she miss something? Severus lowered his head and hid behind Elario's head. The boy looked back at the man since he felt him too close.

"What?" The witch demanded, "Is it summer or end of school year?"

The silence remained and it was puzzling the young witch with the way they were acting. She knew she showed up in another universe, but it did not dismiss a possible timing would be different.

"I will put Elario to nap," Severus stated and headed into the child's room.

The glare was sent over to Harry and he noticed. He questioned her expressive way and pondered if she was much the same after the war.

"I don't know what day it is, but not answering a simple question is suspicious and skeptical." Narrowing her brown eyes at the dark savior, "What are you hiding?"

The emerald eyes rolled and snapped his fingers to have a silent charm, "Almost a week ago, there was an attack against Severus and-"

She sighed, feeling less worried, "-Being a twin soul mate, you locked yourself into secure and protect the submissive mate." Her fingers slipped through her hair, "You can break that barrier, Harry."

Harry blinked and stared at the young witch. Had she gone mad?

"What are you on about?" Sitting at the table once more, curious what she would have to say…considering the Hermione in this universe hadn't said much about the breaking the barrier.

Hermione shook her head, "If you haven't started the courting ship, you can break the barrier by using courtship to lower it. If anything, I think professor deserves freedom and he enjoys that." The obvious look 'I-know-what-I'm-talking-about'.

Harry eyed her, but the way she brought it up felt proper and nothing to argue for.

"I supposed I could do that tomorrow." He leaned back, crossing his arms.

"Tomorrow?" She nearly shrieked, thank merlin for the silence spell, "Are you avoiding something, Harry James Potter!" She leapt up and slammed her hands against the table, "He deserves to be treated with respect and you are continuing to do so already."

Somehow, Harry did not think of his wording to reflect upon her. His lip curled into a sneer, almost growling at her.

"Watch it," His teeth gritted, "He is my mate and I choose to do what is best for him."

The witch huffed, "You don't scare me, Harry." Harry moved forward and his nose against hers', "Don't fool me either." Her eyes narrowed.

Harry hated the way she was going about it and gripped her upper arm, "He's not your mate. You do not understand-"

"-You want him to trust you, don't you? The first thing in a matinig relationship is trust." Not a single breathe wasted.

He lessened the hold of her and pulled a bit back. The dark savior thought of her words and that was one of the things he wanted from his submissive. He yearned for that starting relationship for a willing one. Releasing her had felt much at ease and not pleased to have someone here to understand exactly what to do in this situation.

"Fine." He pulled out his wand and whisked it a couple of times, "A courtship for the day," He smirked, "You're left to babysitting the child…Albus stated it was difficult to communicate with him."

Hermione rolled her eyes and couldn't understand Harry with this behavior. It was no different than who she dealt with back at home, only he happened to be a bit…harsher. She watched him strode over to Elario's room and the silence charm cancelled itself out.

For now, the witch decided to eat again and enjoyed having her stomach full. It had felt such a long time since she had eaten. Their voices were low, enough for her to hear their small conversation.

"Severus," A hum, "Would you like to visit the Salazar Slytherin's quarter?" Alluring had felt so kind to listen and easily drawn to.

"I thought we couldn't until the time were up," Defeated the point of romance there…which Hermione shook her head for the way he responded.

"Consider it as courtship," So gentle to hear, "A perfect start." Almost heading to a whisper.

"…Fine." Muttering about something else.

The witch didn't know what was happening, but she knew it was a start. She saw them walked out of the bedroom and Harry nodded to signal her to be in charge of Elario. She followed along and watched them leave the quarter.

Harry led the way and Severus took in the fresh air while he could. To leave their quarter was not simple and did not have to beg to do so for today.

"I always did wonder…if I should have shown you Slytherin's quarter, what you would have done then." Harry chuckled softly.

The man's brow rose, "With the toad failing to educate the DADA, I would have arranged detention in there for our escape." He snorted, "After all, it is your territory."

Harry nodded, "True, but I would have shared it."

"Obviously," Sarcastically.

Harry almost smirked, seeing their conversation returned to normal…but it hadn't felt right between them. They turned left, went down the stairs, and through a door to the other side of the hallway. Severus noticed he had stopped Harry and Hermione five years ago before they could have passed the door. The entire time…he was so close. They stood in front a sculpture of the Slytherin's mascot and rarely touched in years.

Then, the young wizard hissed at the statue as a noticeable flinched upon the potion masters. The stone snake crawled up the wall to expose an opening door. Harry's fingers trailed the man's cheek.

"You weren't afraid of my Parseltongue, what changed?" He frowned, continuing to stroke the man's face gently as possible.

Severus nearly gasped at the touch of his dominant, unable to speak, and rather lost for words. His head curled over to his dominant's hand and yearned for more. His thoughts felt like potion dissolving when it should be producing familiar scent. The feeling of his body going completely numb and softly moaning escaped his lips.

Harry came closer to him and planted a kiss onto his forehead. He stopped relaxing his submissive mate into this state.

"What changed, Severus?" Looking into the onyx eyes.

Severus blinked, "The last meeting." He muttered, "Let's get inside the quarter before others discover the place."

Somehow, Harry held in his comment and let his mate into Salazar Slytherin's quarter. What Severus had in mind with the place was nothing to compare! It was large enough to have ten times of the Weasely family to live here. They were in large open living room, seeing two long hallways to lead somewhere else. The door closed behind them, keeping the place unknown to the rest of the school, and privacy to their own.

The living room strongly represented the house's colors, blend in perfectly together…only dusty and spider webs filled it up to speak its time that was abandoned. The sofa was rather long, yet, no longer appeared to be in shaped due to the worn for the wear and stains it gained over the years.

The walls were lined up with bookshelves, hardly any portrait in sight, and a few stained seaweed Victorian lace gas shade lamps. The bookshelves held several books that could have been twice the age of the quarter. Across the sofa, there was an elegant and traditional fireplace that pulled the room altogether.

"…rumors has it that Salazar Slytherin had books that could cure Devorabit Faeries' work." He awed at such sight of unread literature in the room.

Harry nodded, "Hermione said the same thing back in fifth year." His hand slid down the man's shoulder – Severus flinched- and soothed his arm, "Music," Modulated slowly, "May I have the dance?"

The dark savior stepped back, bowed his back, and offered his head. The harmonious tone entered into the living room, dismissing the silence, and slow tempo continues the classic luring. Severus stared at Harry as if he had gone mad, but the way he presented himself as a gentleman and offering to dance with him.

"…Just dancing with him made everything disappeared, enjoying the time, and relax a bit…The way he leads you, feels like hope again and it was going to be alright. He has everything under control, even if it isn't." Hermione's words echoed in his mind.

He sighed and accepted the offering. Harry smiled and pulled him closely to his chest. His free hand held the man's back while the other holding his'. The gentle swaying disappeared the worries and not a single word spoken among the two men.

Severus avoided looking at him directly and stared at the floor and their feet. The dark savior's feet moved to the side and the potion master would follow without a fight. Their robes clashed against each other slowly, brushing against their legs, and flowing nicely as they move. There was not a single rush, yet, so…peaceful as if the rest of the world did not exist and only them.

Harry leaned to rest his lips upon the potion master's cheek and smiled. They matched the music's pace to the sound of piano and violin, much what it would be playing at a ballroom dance. The warmth grew strong between them, feeling so much alive at once, and keeping everything the same.

"Am I hurting you," He whispered into Severus' ear.

The man shook his head, remaining silent, and following the lead.

A small smile grew on the savior, "I imagine," Making a turn to the right without feeling forced in the movement, "You would enjoy something so simple."

Disagreeing to the young man, "I merely do not tolerate touching. I only allowed it to merely stop this nonsense."

"Then tell me how to approach you better? To make you feel…" A soft hummed, "…safe. To make you happy. To be in love."

Severus glanced away, staring at the dusky room, and remained silent. The savior's heart panged…sympathizing his submissive mate. Slowly leaning to press his lips onto his mate's and drawing him to look at him. Severus felt cloudy and puzzled when their eccentric lips connected something unusual. Once it stopped, he stared into the emerald eyes and questioned him silently.

"Time. I need time, Potter…it is too soon. I-I…" Unable to continue what else to say.

A nod, "Of course."

Swirling added the adrenaline rushing through, giving the swaying to settle the mood down.

"…continue the story?" Severus hated the silence between themselves, despite of the instrumentals playing in the background.

Harry's hand moved from Severus' back to lift his mate's chin, "No need to question me." A smile as he returned his hand on the man's back, "I was hunting the death eaters. I used my new spells at the time-"

…Watching the tip of his wand waving the pale blue magic, but growing solid looking into a blue branch. It would slither up to its prey from the leg and squeeze while traveling upward to the neck. Harry's eyes glistened with joy to see the horror on their face and to know their death was nearing.

"-p-ple-please, I beg of you, Potter!" The man fell onto the dirt, gasping for air, "I…tell y-ou an-anything!" The tears were escaping, struggling to fight against the dark branch.

Harry held his head high and undid his spell, leaving his victim gasping for his life, "What is he planning?" His tongue clicked.

The deatheater stared at him petrified enough, "…he plans to send us to the Magic of Ministry's offices and kill them all. He believes you are hiding inside there. He plans to torture you…then kill you when he breaks you." Trying to soothe his throat from the pain, his voice was rough to speak.

Harry eyed him shortly enough and knelt down to his level. His wand pointing at the nose of his victim and scowled.

"…If I find this to be a lie, you will die for good. You wish to live?" Seeing the death eater nodded without a thought, "Then, you will live where I choose to put you and accept anything I do. I will allow you to live and that is it. However, only if you are to be found lying to me, I will kill you much worse." Pressuring the wand at the nose.

"Of course! I am at your mercy, Potter!"

"…I eventually took him into my hiding and designed a few spells to my benefits. I removed the dark mark for the first time on him." His thumb soothing the man's hand, "He didn't live long…he died with a wizard flu. He still thanked me for freeing him and sparing him." Noticing the wetness upon the cheeks and frowned to see such reaction.

The potion master's head was down, his hair covering his sight, and unable to look at his dominant. They stopped dancing and Harry cupped his face, while his thumbs wiped the tears.

"What's wrong?" Lifting his head up slowly.

His eyes sealed tightly closed, "You saved our lives…the last meeting…"

Quickly pulling him into a hug and comforted him, "You're safe now…he will never hurt you or threaten you again."

Severus buried his head onto his chest, "He demanded us to kill everyone. Interrogate to those who would know where you are. Demanded that I make truth-sermon poison potion…"

"He hiss so much, you were afraid he was going to kill you before you had a chance to defend yourself…" Whispering, "…but I still saved you, did I?"

Severus' knees gave in and Harry caught him before he could fall to the ground. Slowly, they sat down on the ground and Harry cradled the submissive mate in his arms. Severus clung onto him, unable to comprehend the one deatheater who saved their lives by telling Harry the plans.

"Shush, you are safe." Kissing on top of the man's head, "Always safe."

It seemed like it went on for hours and hours, but there was no rush at all. Harry kept his attention onto him and Severus wept until there were no more tears to shed.

"I…need to sleep." Severus glanced away, "Another time to explore here."

Harry accepted, "Come on." He pulled his mate up and kept his arms around him.

They slowly leaves Slytherin's quarter and headed to theirs'.

They arrived to their quarter and Severus went to preparing himself for sleep. Hermione was reading the books, but Harry was confused on how she even have it in the room. He approached to her and noticed the title.

"Advanced Survival…" His head tilted.

The witch looked up from her book, "Coping. It reminds me of Ron." The sadness easily picked up from the way she spoke.

Harry didn't know how to…comfort much of others, let alone his mate, "I see…perhaps, speaking about it would help?"

Her head shook, "No…I…will be fine. I better get some sleep now. I'll check on Elario," She smiled.

Harry didn't wish to argue with her and allows her. She set the book down and headed into the child's room. Severus was using the loo to freshen up for the night. Harry helped himself over to the kitchen and wrote a few things to Kreacher.

"I guess someone hasn't tried to sleep yet," Hermione came out with the boy in her arms.

Harry picked up his head, "And you're telling me because…" Not grasping her point here.

"He hasn't been napping long and made a lot of knocking noises until I got him. He refused to nap and will not state why." She shrugged, "I thought leaving him alone would help, but not so much." She sighed.

Severus came out, "Of course he won't. It is his second day here and natural to feel unsafe. Give me Elario," Extended his arms.

Hermione handed him the boy and watched Severus coddled the child with love and attention. She admired the bond he had and it was natural to witness.

"You're a good mother, Severus," She smiled.

He nodded, unable to respond something like that…but Elario became his whole world.

Crash!

They jerked their head to see Harry on the floor, clutching onto his head, and restraining himself from screaming. His body electrifying grew stronger and caused him to fall flat on his face. The blood splattered from the rough contact.

"Da da!" Elario began to cry, trying to reach out to him.

Severus jerked his head to the child and realized what was happening, "Hermione, hold Elario," As he immediately demanded.

Hermione nodded and readily got a hold of the boy, "What's going on?" Trying to deal with a fussy, full on kicking and pulling, and teary child.

"DA DA!" Weeping loudly with horror in his dark brown eyes.

Severus rushed over to the counter, quickly writing-

"-You're writing, Severus!? There is no time to do-"

"-Miss Granger, focus on my son and let me handle the situation," He sneered and returned to finish what he needed to write.

While Harry screamed, everything was growing worse to the point he was felt burned by fire. Almost choking on his breathe, trying to breathe once more, and losing control of his limbs. His head wouldn't turn to the other side. His magic no longer to his will and everything darkening to point his sight could not tell him what was happening in his surroundings.

The potion master saw the cup of tea and gathered it over to his dominant. He set it down on the floor and shifted Harry onto his back. The tremor was obviously noticed, but there was nothing to stop that right now. Severus placed Harry's head onto his lap. Slowly-

"-Is that safe to do?" Hermione frowned, struggling to keep hold of the boy who screamed the same thing, 'Da da'!

"Not now!"

He reached for the cup and forced his mouth open. Slowly, pouring the tea into his mouth and saw the responsive drinking. He kept pouring until every last drop was gone. Placing the cup aside and waited to see what would happen next.

A blink to draw the usual confusion upon the savior and seeing his submissive upward.

"…why are you flying over me?" He frowned, not registering the fact he was on the floor.

The brow raised on the man, "You're on the floor…"

Then Harry hit the brick.

"Oh…I missed tea."

His head shifted, "Oh," Faking his surprise, then immediately scowled and slapped the dominant's forehead, "Foolish Potter!" He withdrew and muttered, "Not keeping track of time and placing yourself into such state!?" Growling.

His head hit the floor, but he pulled himself up to dismiss the pain. He hadn't seen Severus so angry in a long time.

"Irresponsible! Idiotic Gryffindor! You cannot even take care of yourself, yet you say you wish to care for me?" Scoffed, "I failed to see how that would help," Sarcastically.

Somehow, it amused the dark savior as he watched his submissive barked at him for reckless action by missing his usual tea time. Hearing the hiccoughing and sniffle, he noticed Hermione and Elario were, and the child in tears.

"Why is the kid crying?" His thumb pointed.

Severus froze and glanced over to his son, "He was worried about you." He sighed and went to collect the child into his arms, "Called you da da." Brought the child over to Harry, "You will spend time with him tonight," He grimaced, making it looks like a punishment.

Hermione stood there. Completely shock to see this all happening. She watched Severus hand the boy over to Harry, who was rather lost at holding a child and this child nestling into his arms. Elario wasn't crying or fighting. Severus went over to the bed and buried himself under the sheet bitterly.

Harry stared at the child who started to fall asleep and clung onto him tightly. He was absolutely mortified…and somehow, Hermione decided to sleep in her bedroom and let them explain it tomorrow. Elario felt safe in his father's hold and those little fingers were quite strong that Harry did not wish to hurt. Now, he regretted his responsibility for lacking tea time.

Another chapter awaits~