So I've finally got a beta and I'd like to thank her for helping me :)

I would also like to thank Ella for encouraging me ;)

Now, back to the story...

Chapter 19

Harry gulped. He was in a trap. If he didn't confess, Severus would open the letter and see the remittent anyway. That would be even more humiliating, not to mention, Severus would get even madder for the fact he was incapable of answering his questions.

"My friends. I've been owling Ron and Hermione, but I haven't told them anything, I swear! They just know I'm receiving classes! They don't know why! They don't even know you are married!"

Harry had always thought Severus's eyes were the darkest he had ever seen. Somehow, they looked even blacker now. Anger must have tinted them like that.

Harry swallowed hard.

Shouts reached the Snapes' bedroom. Worried, Skyrah went downstairs, only to find Severus and Harry glaring at each other.

"Severus? What's happening?" she asked softly, not wishing to aggravate the situation.

Without breaking eye contact with the boy, Severus sneered, "The brat thought it was a bright idea to owl his friends."

"I needed to talk to them! This hasn't been easy for me!"

"You, insolent, ungratef-"

"STOP IT!"

Surprisingly, they obeyed Skyrah. She sighed and turned to her husband.

"Severus, the fact that a fifteen-year-old boy writes to his friends is understandable!"

Severus gaped. He had expected her to take his side, not the boy's. Harry, on the other hand, was grinning in victory.

"Don't you understand the implications of-"

"I'm not stupid, Severus. Of course I do!"

To prove her point, she turned her attention to Harry.

"As I said, I understand the need to write to your friends. What I do not get is why you had the nerve to hide it from us! Can't you see? Someone could find out you are living here! Questions you wouldn't like to answer would arise!" Harry's cheek faded. More softly, she ended, "For your sake, stop sending them letters."

"But I…"

"No buts," she said sternly. "I'm disappointed that you didn't let us know. We could have helped you to contact them safely."

"I thought you wouldn't let me."

Severus was about to snarl that he had thought right for once in his life, but Skyrah had already opened her mouth.

"We could have tried. I don't know if you deserve it now, though."

Harry said bitterly, "So I am going to spend the rest of the summer break enclosed in this house with no communication with my friends. Fantastic!"

"You had it coming, Potter," growled Severus.

"I don't see why owling my friends is a crime!" Harry lowered his voice. "I was going to ask you to give me permission to go to the Burrow to celebrate my birthday with Ron and Ginny. They invited me. Hermione will also be there, but I guess that asking for a decent birthday for once in my life is too much."

With that said, Harry stormed out and banged his bedroom door. Skyrah cringed. She made to go after him, but Severus's hand on her shoulder halted her.

"Severus, let me go."

"No."

"But-"

"I said no. So what if he gets angry? What he did was reckless. He should have told us what was going on. If it wasn't for his bird, we would still be clueless."

"He doesn't know the truth, Severus. He isn't aware of the danger he can be in if the bad people find out he's living with us. I'm fond of the boy and I don't mind him staying here, but I can't help but think he's at risk. Remember the Malfoys? It could have turned out to be a nightmare. What if they had realized he was with us? I don't even want to imagine what my father…" she trailed off.

He scoffed, "So what should we do? Have a tête-à-tête with him and tell him he's living with a Death Eater and You-know-who's daughter?"

She shook her head. "We should talk to him and make him understand that he cannot hide anything from us, without revealing our… secrets. He's just a boy. He needs to feel cared for and safe and we must provide him that, especially knowing how those brutes treated him." Severus stared at the floor. He didn't like to remember Lily's son had been abused. "We should let him go to his friend's house."

Severus snorted. "So he puts himself at risk and we reward him?"

"We're not rewarding him. He deserves to spend a happy birthday, even if he made a mistake. The Durlseys never gave him one. We'll make it clear that he won't be leaving our house without us again and that it is only an exception."

There was a long pause. Skyrah thought Snape wouldn't agree with her until she heard him murmur, "I don't think I should be there when the talk takes place. I am not good at showing support. He would not want to see me, anyhow."

Skyrah put a hand on his cheek, grinning ruefully.

"You have always supported me, Severus, even when you didn't know my story. You aren't bad at it, only a little awkward," she ended in a teasing tone. Her voice grew serious when she added, "Be there for him. That will be enough."

He really didn't feel like going, but his wife had him wrapped around her finger. He'd do anything for her.

He shut his eyes in frustration and groaned, "I didn't sign up for this…"

Skyrah gave a short laugh and hugged him. The gesture had been both unexpected and brief. Severus didn't process that she had embraced him until her arms were no longer around his neck.

She was smiling when she said, "You are a good man."

He was about to reply that there was a big difference between being a good man and a whipped man. He didn't have the chance to do it though, as Skyrah was asking a question.

"Do you think we should talk to him now or give him some space?"

"Don't ask me. You are the specialist in emotional tantrums."

"You certainly are no help," she pouted, giggling softly.

Her dark brown eyes were shining with warmth while she leaned in, shyly, as if she wasn't quite sure this was the right moment to get a kiss. Realizing what she was pursuing, he bowed his head. Their lips were barely brushing each other. She took one final breath and closed the gap. The kiss was sweet, innocent. Her hands slid past his chest and reached his neck. Timidly, his hands found her waist and brought her closer to him. Their bodies were pressed together now and it made Skyrah smile into the kiss, ending it.

Her soft smile changed into a sly smirk as she teased, still embraced, "Do you think this kiss has given you the strength you need to confront Harry?"

Arching an eyebrow, he replied, "Was that the only reason you kissed me?"

"Perhaps," she said staring at his lips.

He decided to play along and whispered breathlessly, "I think I need another one, then, to gain the necessary strength, that is."

She kissed him again. This time, it was passionate, tongues involved, hands exploring. After a while, Skyrah rested her head on his shoulder, catching her breath. Severus had some trouble breathing as well.

"Was I your first kiss?"

He blushed and thanked the stars she wasn't looking up at him.

"Why?"

"You are a great kisser. If I was your first kiss, it means you are a natural." He smiled smugly. "So, was I?"

"My first kiss was a prank." She tensed. "You were my first real kiss, a kiss I wanted."

She knew he was not talking about their wedding kiss. That had been forced. Rather, he was referring to that kiss that tasted of pancakes and orange juice, after cuddling in the bed.

"That's everything that matters, Severus," she whispered, kissing him almost chastely. "Was our first kiss satisfactory? Did I live up to your expectations?"

"You surpassed them."

She grinned cheekily and headed to Harry's bedroom, followed closely by her husband.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Harry?" called Skyrah.

"Go away!"

"We just want to talk. Please."

There was no response. Skyrah was about to open the door anyway when Harry did it for her. He wasn't meeting her eyes. He sat down on his bed. Skyrah motioned for Severus to sit on the chair while she sat next to Harry, on the bed, much like they had done in Privet Drive. He was hiding his head behind his flexed knees. However much he tried to keep still, his shoulders shook, indicating he was crying. Severus stayed, even if he would rather be anywhere else. Skyrah had wanted him there and he didn't want to disappoint her now that their relationship was building up. Luckily, the boy didn't flinch when Skyrah put a hand on his shoulder.

Interpreting it as a positive sign, she said, "We are not here to judge, remember what I told you? Severus and I just want to talk."

The boy didn't speak, but he didn't kick them out either, so Skyrah continued, "We are not going to lie to you. If somebody found out you're living here, you would be in danger. They would question why exactly you are spending the summer with us… Not everybody believes Voldemort's back, but we know better. What if he found out?"

He raised his head. His nose was puffy and red and some tears could still be seen. Hints of fear and guilt tinted his eyes. He had understood her point.

Encouraged by this, she added, "When we discovered you had been owling someone, we got scared. Can't you see? We are worried about you. We care for you. If you wanted to talk to your friends, you should have told us. Keeping it secret was wrong."

Harry knew he should apologize, but something in her discourse had caught his attention and he found himself questioning with a quiet voice, "Do you mean it? Do you care for me?"

His insecurity broke Skyrah's heart. She took his hand.

"I do."

Harry looked at Severus, in search of reassurance. Deep down, Severus cared for the boy. He was Lily's son, after all. Saying it out loud though, was something he wasn't ready for.

As if reading his mind, Skyrah cupped Harry's chin and said, "My husband cares for you, too, even if he doesn't voice it. Don't hold it against him; he's still learning to show emotion. Do you see his blush? It means that he knows I'm telling the truth."

"Skyrah!" he choked, feeling more embarrassed by the moment.

She giggled and, to their surprise, so did Harry. After all, an ashamed bat wasn't something one witnessed every day. The atmosphere had lightened. Skyrah stood up and whispered something Harry didn't catch in Severus's ear. Whatever it was, it got Severus scowling.

"Absolutely not!"

"Severus!"

"I'm not doing it!"

"Yes, you are! You agreed!" Skyrah looked at Harry with a mischievous smile. "Severus has something to tell you."

Severus couldn't escape it now. He muttered under his breath something along the lines of insufferable witch, to which she replied with a roll of her eyes, a sly grin and two words.

"Tolerable witch."

She was bantering, and he loved it. He lowered his head to hide his smile. She wasn't having any of it.

"Oh, no, you don't, Severus! Show that smile to the world!"

"I don't smile!"

Harry believed him. Skyrah didn't.

"Oh, come on! You look so handsome when you smile!" That got Harry grimacing and Severus snorting. He still had to assimilate she found him attractive. "In fact, you should smile more often. It is easier to smile than to frown. Did you know that, even when you are down, if you simulate a smile, you can trick your body into thinking you are happier? Smiling also boosts your immune system and relieves stress. It helps you live longer and-"

"How do you know all this?" interrupted Harry, thinking she sounded like an encyclopedia.

"Reading," she said with a shrug.

Severus shook his head, biting his bottom lip to repress a smile. "Know-it-all."

She frowned. "I think you mean Horned-Serpent."

"No. I mean know-it-all."

She pretended to be offended and poked her tongue out at him. Goofy sense of humour. It wouldn't amuse Severus if it didn't come from his wife. His bat of the dungeon facade cracked when his face broke into a sheepish grin. Skyrah hadn't lied about finding him good-looking when he smiled. She was staring at his mouth as if mesmerized.

Harry would have missed the grin if he had blinked. He felt like he had just witnessed the impossible. Snape smiled.

Fearing he would witness the couple snogging again, Harry asked, "What did you have to tell me, sir?"

Severus's gaze slowly shifted from Skyrah's eyes to Harry's. "You may go to the Burrow for your birthday."

Harry blinked in disbelief. He thought he had heard wrong, but the proud smile Skyrah wore told him otherwise.

Clearing his throat to sound more stern, Severus added, "Nevertheless, you will obey us and not hide anything else from us. What's more, you won't be writing to them anymore, so make the most of it."

Harry jumped out of bed and enfolded Skyrah in his arms.

"Thanks."

She hugged him back and kissed the top of his head in response. Harry felt his heart fluttering. He turned to Severus. Harry vacillated a bit but ended up extending his hand to him. Skyrah jerked her head to indicate that Severus should shake his hand, so he did. It only lasted for a second, but Harry couldn't stifle the grin upon his face.

"Thank you, sir."

Harry's birthday arrived. He had to leave at nine o'clock and return to Spinner's End at eight, using the floo network. When the Snapes got to the living room, the boy was already there, grinning from ear to ear. Skyrah smiled back at him and hugged him, congratulating him for his birthday. When they broke the embrace, Skyrah and Harry waited for Severus to say something. Severus stared at the boy, but said nothing until Skyrah subtly trampled his foot, snapping him out of his awkwardness.

Holding back a hiss and keeping a straight face, he said, "Happy birthday, Potter."

He hadn't shown much enthusiasm, in fact, he had used a neutral tone, but it was okay. Taking into account it hadn't come out as a snarl, Harry knew his Professor had made an effort, and for that he was grateful. He didn't even stay for breakfast. He went directly to the Burrow. Alone at home, Skyrah licked her lips. With a naughty grin, she approached Severus until they stood millimeters apart.

"We have the house to ourselves…" Lips nearly brushing, she added, "I wonder what we could do…"

Her right hand started to play with his hair while her left hand roamed up his torso.

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," he said breathlessly as her fingers began to unbutton his robes.

Next thing they knew, they were caught in a frenzy of kisses and touches which drove them to a world where only pleasure existed. They made love, then cuddled. Then made love again, then cuddled again. They only stopped the trend when they became hungry. Too late to cook, they decided to eat out in Diagon Alley (where Skyrah insisted on buying something for Harry).

They got home. Severus would have loved to teach her a new potion, but she said they should bake a cake first. Most smells of potions got her stomach lurching lately, anyway. Severus had been reluctant to let Harry spend so much time at the Burrow. Now he wished Harry would spend longer there, if only to enjoy quality time with Skyrah.

When Harry flooed back home, he found nobody was in the living room or the library. Confused, he scanned the house until he heard voices.

"I'm only doing this for you," a silky voice groaned.

"Keep telling yourself that," a smoky feminine voice replied in a teasing tone.

Sighing in relief, Harry made it to the garden. There they were, kissing close to the lilies. The sight didn't take Harry aback. Granted, he still felt awkward seeing them so affectionate, but he had started to see Severus as a human being. That was what happened when you discovered your father used to bully your teacher. He cleared his throat and Severus broke the kiss with a gasp.

He covered his blush up by snarling, "Can't you see we're busy, Potter?"

The boy's cheeks turned bright pink. He was about to leave when Skyrah, who also appeared flustered, ignored the growl from her husband and wondered, as if nothing had happened, "How has your day been?"

Less exciting than yours, he thought amused, but said, "Brilliant. Thanks for letting me go."

"I'm glad. And I'm sorry you had to see us… er-well, you know what I'm trying to say," she stammered.

They really hadn't heard him coming home, they wouldn't have kissed otherwise.

Harry was feeling more awkward by the moment. It was then that he spotted what looked like a chocolate cake on the garden table. On the chair, there was a present and a little box. Harry's eyes widened.

"You… You've prepared this? For me?

"It's certainly neither Skyrah's birthday nor mine, Potter."

The snarls did not affect Harry. He was beaming. Skyrah gave him a piece of cake.

"I'm sure you've already eaten cake today, but you only turn fifteen once, right?"

Indeed, thought Harry, who couldn't wait to taste the cake. It looked home-made, which meant Severus had baked it for him. Harry couldn't believe it. He tasted it. Mrs. Weasley has a worthy cook rival.

"Here," said Skyrah once they were full, handing over the gift that had been on the chair. "Happy birthday, Harry."

He remained still, shocked. Snape's wife is giving me a gift.

"We don't have all day, Potter."

"Be nice! It's his birthday!" she muttered under her breath so that only Severus heard her.

Harry managed to unwrap it, revealing the book Quidditch through the ages. He had received some gifts from his friends, but getting one from the Snapes was something unexpected. Moved, he felt like hugging Skyrah and thanking Severus. He settled for whispering a soft thank you to both of them with tearful eyes.

"So you like it?" wondered an insecure Skyrah. "We saw many memories of you playing Quidditch, and I thought you would like it. Severus said reading wasn't something you usually do, but..."

"I love it. I will start reading it tonight."

Skyrah smiled at the boy and exchanged a knowing look with Severus. She winked at Harry and left, leaving him confused.

"I've got something for you."

Harry noticed he was trying to mask his nervousness, but his hands were slightly sweating. Severus grabbed the little box and gave it to him. Harry opened it and gasped. It was a muggle photograph, but not any photograph. It showed his mother and Snape. They appeared to be around ten years old. Lily was laughing and there was a shy smile painted on Severus's face, so similar to the one he gave Skyrah the other day. They seemed to be playing next to an old tree. He recognized the place. It was from a park next to the grocery store of the town.

"Your grandparents took the photo. That's why it's muggle. Your mother gave it to me on my eleventh birthday. I want you to keep it."

Tears blurred Harry's vision. Out of all the presents he had received, Severus's had been the most simple yet significant of all. It was kind of ironic that the person he thought despised him the most gave him the best gift he could have ever asked for. Without giving it much of a thought, the boy threw his arms around the wizard. Severus froze.

"Thank you. I'll treasure it, sir," he whispered, drawing back. "You knew my mother long before you attended Hogwarts..."

"Obviously."

"You were friends."

The lines that usually hardened his face softened. "Yes, we were."

"Can you tell me about her?"

"It may be your birthday, Potter, but don't push it."

"You promised."

"I did. If I recall correctly, I said I would tell you about her someday. Today is not that day."

Twenty days had passed since Harry's birthday. Everything went smoothly at the Snapes. Severus wasn't acting as grumpy as usual towards the boy. It might have had to do with the fact Harry did not come up with cheeky comebacks every two seconds. He kept remembering his mother had been friends with Severus, and Severus had helped him when he was most vulnerable. Skyrah and Severus still acted awkward every time Harry caught them kissing; but luckily for them, it had only happened two times more, and not snogging.

Skyrah was giving Harry an Occlumency lesson. She had seen the same images of Cedric Diggory's Death for half an hour and Harry hadn't been able to occlude yet. He was close to tears.

"It's useless! I want to stop!"

"Occlumency takes patience and practice. You have to do this. I believe in you. Come on, sweetheart, let's try again. 1, 2, 3. Legilimens!"

Skyrah saw Cedric's dead body for a second before Harry pulled her out of his mind. Her eyes were wide and Harry was confused. He had expected her to congratulate him, but she looked to be reflecting on something.

"Did I occlude?"

"You pushed me out, but you didn't occlude," she spoke slowly, assimilating her own words. "Stay here. I need to talk to Severus."

"But-"

"Harry Potter, you better do as I say," she warned him before leaving the room.