After leaving the Malfoy's home, they made a quick stop at Harry's place so the man could change out of his work clothes, but then they went on to have dinner together at the first place they'd gone as a couple. Severus and Harry had a great dinner together, it went like it always did. They got to sit down, order their food and drinks, then talk while waiting and also during the meal. When the two were done, they paid and left the restaurant before ending up back at Severus's house. It had been pre-planned that Harry would be staying the night there, so after dinner at the restaurant, they stopped at Harry's again so he could grab his overnight bag. It had become a thing for them since January, random sleepovers at each other's houses.
Currently, Harry and Severus were relaxing together on Severus's bed in front of the fire. Both were already dressed in their night clothes.
"I don't know if I said it before," Severus pauses. "But that was a really nice thing you did for Delphini. Assuring her the same way Sirius assured you."
"Oh. Well, I think I was the only one who understood that feeling." Harry replied.
"Too right about that. You connect with her, just like you did with Voldemort on a fair and understanding level as to why." Severus admitted. "I think it was sweet of you to show her that memory too. I know it took me by surprise."
"Sirius being a father figure to me?" Harry glanced at his boyfriend.
"No, that was entirely expected from the moment he broke out of prison to protect you from Pettigrew." Severus chuckled. "The conversation you had with Hermione, though, was rather enlightening. I quite enjoyed your remark about me leading the teacher's charge. You are right, that had such a thing occurred back then to storm the base, I would have stood right alongside you to fight. But not before telling you it was reckless and absolutely something your father would have done." Severus said. "I believe the most surprising thing is what Sirius said about me, I never expected that."
"Well, try to remember that all kids eventually grow up. You knew Sirius as a boy from school, not a man later in life. Nor did you get the chance to. Sirius was imprisoned unfairly for twelve years, spent two in hiding, and then died. He grew up." Harry mentioned. "Would you have? Helped me if I came to you about Umbridge?"
"We may have never seen eye to eye back then, but…Yes, I would have. I was still your teacher, if not your head of house or any other position of importance." Severus stated. "I'm sorry if I ever gave you a reason to feel you couldn't come to me, no matter what kind of issues we had back then."
"Severus, even with the issues we had…I always trusted you. I never cared about the grudge you had because of my dad. I understood." Harry revealed. "You were bullied by him and his friends. I can't imagine it was easy for you to get away from him when you graduated, but then I show up years later and all that comes back." Harry added. "I don't hold it against you, Sev. I never have. How could I be upset with someone who had their life on the line for me every day? And you did. I meant what I said to Sirius and everyone else in that memory. Respect is earned, and you have had mine ever since that first time I faced Voldemort over the stone." Harry smiled.
"We may have challenged each other, but hey. Come on, you saw that with Wizengamot tonight. I rise to challenges. So yeah, maybe we weren't close like we are now…But you always had my respect, Severus. I have always trusted you to protect and be there for me. I've always known you cared deep down. I even know you apologized to me during my first year, that first potions class…" Harry chuckled.
"Realized that, did you?" Severus asked.
"Years later, after Hogwarts. When I was going over all my notes from school to study for the Potions NEWT. I found the one from that class, and looked up everything you'd asked me. I realized you were actually apologizing for my mother's death." Harry revealed. "There was always an unspoken level of care and trust between us, enough that this is where we've ended up. Something in the universe decided that we clearly needed to stay in each other's lives."
"I cannot dispute that fact." Severus agreed. "I find it ironic that we met again at the cemetery of all places."
"I said the same thing." Harry nodded. "How interesting it was that we started as teacher and student, seemingly hating one another. And at one time, before I understood the truth, I saw you as an enemy after you killed Dumbledore…But…I still trusted you. I still felt deep down that you weren't against us. Against me." He said. "I kept going over the years, everything you'd done for me. But what really stuck out was that night on the tower, when you had me stay quiet. You were protecting me,"
"I did that quite often." Severus reminded with a smile.
"I mean…I was upset and angry when you killed Albus. You saw that, I came after you and the others. But…When I'd been laying in the grass, after you and the others left…I realized that your spell hadn't been the usual color. Killing curse is green…Yours was blue. You didn't really want to kill him, but you knew you had to. You killing him was…Mercy. He was going to die soon anyway from when he got cursed." Harry said.
"You figured all that out laying in the grass after I stunned you?" Severus asked.
"I had a long walk back to the base of the tower where everyone had gathered…Gave me time to think. I kept it to myself. To this day, I don't think anyone knows about the different color thing. When I spoke at your trial, I only brought up that Albus asked you to do it, and that he was already dying. And the various times that you'd saved my life over the years." Harry said.
"I seem to have misjudged your powers of observation." Severus remarked. Harry shrugged. "I must ask, Harry…Not to ruin the relaxing mood right now, but…Are you alright?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Sev." Harry responded. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm your boyfriend, I care about you and you revealed some rather heavy truths down to the Wizengamot earlier about having been tempted by the dark side more than once. It was more than telling them how things were for you before the war ended, but…All of that still affected you after the war was over too. Your friends saw it, and you told me. Everyone wanted to ask once they were gone, but we didn't want to upset you. I just thought I should ensure you're okay." Severus said.
"I'm alright. I appreciate the concern, and I understand why you and everyone else would feel I wasn't. But I'm way better now than I was when it all happened, and the after-effects." Harry promised. "I do know that it can come back at random. Certain days, holidays…Memories. I've been told it's normal."
"It is, and you know not to keep it inside if it becomes too much?" Severus hoped. "I know you have your friends, but…I'm here for you too now. I hope you know you can come to me and I'll do what I can to help. Even if it's just a hug,"
"Of course I know I can come to you, Severus." Harry leaned up a bit to kiss him. "I don't know if I ever told you, but a lot of those nights I spent thinking…You came to mind pretty often. I knew you were alive, but you vanished and no one knew where you went after the trial." He stated. "I always wondered where you ended up, if you were okay…I had worried if any of the Death Eaters we didn't catch after the war went after you."
"Never ran into any of them, but I can see why you'd consider the possibility. Plenty of them would have wanted me dead for being a spy against them all those years." Severus said. "I can't say I wondered about you," He chuckled. "Your achievements made the paper often, so I can say I was well informed about you between the paper and Draco."
"That does not surprise me in the slightest." Harry remarked. "But yes…I would come to you if things hit too hard and I couldn't handle it. I told you once before, I'm comfortable with you, Sev." He reminded. "As a student, I may not have come to you with problems, but…I always knew you were keeping an eye on me. For trouble. Whether that was me causing it or my life was at risk. I trust you, Severus. I have since the end of my first year, when I learned you were the one trying to save me from a jinxed broom."
"I'm glad to know you're comfortable around me. Might make this dating thing kind of hard," Severus chuckled.
"I've always been comfortable with you. Even when you were being a git because I look like my dad, and while younger, had a lot of the same knacks for trouble he did." Harry smiled.
"Indeed. Especially with that infernal cloak…" Severus rolled his eyes.
"Hey, that cloak kept you hidden from Voldemort in the final battle…And Death Eaters." Harry reminded. "I didn't just use it to move you to the hospital wing. I left it over you the entire time until the battle was over. I've never let that cloak out of my sight since I got it from Dumbledore during my first Christmas at Hogwarts in first year. Not even for Ron and Hermione. But…I left it with you to keep you protected so no one would see you until it was safe to do so."
"I appreciate what you did for me, Harry." Severus kissed him and they stayed relaxing on the bed. "More than you'll ever know. I had been prepared to die, but I'm glad I got a second chance. I've been able to follow my dream of opening a potion's shop, enjoy my life, but also find happiness…And love in you, Harry."
It took a moment for Harry's brain to register the words Severus had said. Find happiness and love in him. That meant Severus loved him. Harry desperately kept his nerves down, letting Draco's words run through his mind about not being afraid. And to tell Severus the truth that he loved him back. Harry slowly turned his head to look at Severus now, their eyes locked.
"Y-You…Love me?" Harry asked.
"I do." Severus nodded. "I understand that it's probably taken you by surprise, but I confess that I will not apologize for revealing how I feel, nor do I expect you to feel the same." He continued. "I can understand if you've been hurt too many times to feel more, or feel scared. I don't need you to love me back. I like our relationship as is, I don't need more. I'm content just having you in my life." He revealed.
Harry didn't want to cry, but this wasn't due to him being afraid of losing Severus; it was because that the man said had been so sweet. Of course, Severus noticed right away when tears began to form and then Harry turned his head away, feeling ashamed and embarrassed to be crying.
"I'm sorry." Harry breathed out, sitting upright to bend forward before taking off his glasses to wipe his eyes with his palms.
Attentively, Severus followed Harry's movements to put a hand on his back. "Whatever for? I should be apologizing. It wasn't my intention to make you cry."
"No. No, you didn't do anything, Sev." Harry reassured as he fixed his glasses, and reached over to hold Severus's other hand. He brought it up to kiss it and returned to leaning against the man. "Well, you did. But not in a bad way. What you said…It was really sweet. I didn't think it would bring me to tears. I'm not upset." He promised.
"It was only the truth, Harry." Severus stated. "And again, I don't expect you to return-,"
Harry craned his neck slightly and captured Severus's lips in a gentle, but deep kiss. Naturally, Severus returned it. The action held for a few moments before they broke it and Harry relaxed his forehead against Severus's.
"I'm glad you don't expect it…" Harry started before he pulled back a bit with a light smile. "But you didn't have to because I love you too, Severus."
"You do? A-Are you sure? I don't want you to feel like you have to say it just because I did." Severus said.
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it, Sev." Harry reminded. "I don't know when you fell for me, but it hit me that I started falling for you after the New Year's party. And I can't even tell you when I stopped falling and it was just loving you." He admitted.
"I can't tell you when it happened for me," Severus told him. "I just know one time I looked at you and I knew. I didn't want to say anything and make you think it was rushed. I was nervous to reveal how I felt because for the last few weeks, I sensed something was bothering you…But I didn't want to press you to talk about it if you weren't ready, didn't want to, or hadn't worked it out yourself yet." He admitted.
"Picked up on that, did you?" Harry looked down a little.
Severus lifted Harry's head back up by his chin. "I made it my business, Harry, way back when you were my student to always keep a close eye on you. That has not not changed since we entered one another's lives again." He informed. "The difference between then and now, is that I won't make you tell me. It's up to you." Severus smiled.
"I promised you no secrets, and given how deep the feelings run between us…I can't keep you in the dark about it." Harry said.
"I'm all ears, but I just want you to know now…Nothing you say is going to run me nor will it change how I feel about you." Severus vowed.
Harry smiled a little. He wished he could believe it, but only time would tell beyond tonight if what Draco theorized was true. That Severus was his true love and it broke whatever bad luck or curse was on him. "Okay…" Harry took a breath. "It's going to sound…Crazy."
"I assure you with all I've seen and done in my life, nothing is crazy anymore. And when you serve the Dark Lord, spy or not…Nothing is crazier in comparison to the inside of that man's head." Severus remarked. "Go on."
"I don't really know how to say it." Harry told him. "My past with relationships has been shit, for lack of a better word. You already know about the ones who used me, and those were the relationships I ended."
"With good reason." Severus added.
Harry nodded. "Then there were the ones who couldn't handle my extra baggage. The ones who couldn't others being jealous they didn't have me, or being attacked." Severus nodded, remembering what Harry said about all that. "But the others…Those ended because something always happened. Every one of those ended within, or by the six month mark. And they always ended after the first time we'd had sex, no matter what point it had been at, but six months being the longest."
"What do you mean something always happened?" Severus inquired.
"My last relationship was before I moved here. We'd been together for four months, kind of a drunken first time sex thing. Next day, we went flying…Her broom acted up and she crashed." Harry revealed.
"Well, accidents happen, Harry." Severus reminded.
"There was nothing wrong with her broom. It was brand new, Sev. No hexes, jinxes, curses…Nothing. It was fine. And so was she when healers checked her over at the hospital, she told me that maybe it was a sign that we shouldn't stay together." Harry informed. "And if things like this happened just the one time, it wouldn't be a big deal. But it always happens, Severus. Every person I've been with since Ginny and I broke up back in 2000. We date, everything is perfect until we have sex, then something happens where they get hurt and then we break up." He said.
Severus would have laughed and said Harry was thinking too much about it, but the guy was bothered by this and Severus could understand the frustration or hurt maybe, that came along with it being a repeat situation. "So nothing ever lasted beyond six months because something would happen after you and whoever you were with had sex?" Harry nodded. "Not that I'm upset about the rule, as I told you when we began…But is this why you set the rule of not doing it early?"
"No. The rule is in place for the reason I set it. That's just a morals and preference thing. I feel doing it too early only lets the couple enjoy the physical side of things over getting to know one another. I rather take things slow to see how things go, let feelings develop more." Harry explained.
"Well, like I said…I respect it." Severus told him. "So what's so crazy about this six month thing with the others? Maybe it was just the universe's way of telling you that they were the ones for you."
"You know…Draco said the same thing to me earlier." Harry remarked.
"You two chat while helping him with the work thing?" Severus chuckled.
"There…Was never a work thing, Sev…" Harry admitted. "Draco knew I was nervous, he found the least suspicious way to get me out of the room to talk to me."
"What were you nervous about tonight?" Severus inquired.
Harry looked embarrassed. "Because today marks six months for us dating, Severus. And after all the failures of past relationships…"
"You were scared that this one wouldn't last either?" Severus questioned.
"I'm sorry…" Harry closed his eyes.
"Harry, why are you apologizing for that?" Severus held his hand.
"Because I doubted everything. This, us. Draco realized I fell in love with you and I told him that I wasn't going to tell you, just wait for the inevitable. I said I didn't want to tell you I loved you, risk you feeling the same, and then we both end up hurt because I'm obviously cursed to not have love or be happy…" Harry explained. "That's the part of all this that's crazy. I'm cursed. Ron, Hermione, and Draco believe it…That Voldemort cursed me before he died…" He paused.
"Stop, Harry," Severus ordered gently. "I'm not upset. You didn't doubt us, love." He said as he made Harry look at him. "If you believed that things would just go the same way, you wouldn't have agreed for us to try in the first place. Fear would have kept you from giving it another chance. But you didn't stay away. And we ended up together." Severus explained. "You have nothing to be ashamed, or sorry about."
"I can't help it. I feel bad, Sev." Harry sighed.
"About what?" The potions master inquired.
"Doubting, worrying that my curse would hurt you in some way…That we haven't had sex." Harry said.
"I told you I would never push that matter unless you told me you wanted it. And I'm mature enough to not be like all those others who probably got worked up you wouldn't sleep with them." Severus informed.
"But I know you want it. I've picked up on the silent questions after we mess around if I want to go all the way." Harry told him.
"It doesn't mean I'm going to get upset and leave you because you won't agree. I'm not that kind of man, Harry. I don't care about sex enough to let it determine choices I make in my life." Severus stated. "You're my first relationship, Harry, and I've cherished all the time we've gotten to spend together. I told you before when I admitted to loving you. I am content with just having you in my life. Sex is just a bonus, it's not why I fell for you and it's not necessary to maintain our relationship. Feelings, trust, communication, even friendship are the base." He explained. "Do not feel bad that we haven't done it, and do not apologize either."
"I feel bad because I know you want to and I've said no when I want to as well…" Harry confessed. "I've just refused because I don't want to lose you…"
"Harry, I'm not going anywhere after we have sex for the first time. Nor any time we do it. You're not just a notch in the bedpost for me. I didn't care about any of those other people I slept with. I care about you. I love you. It would have far more meaning to me to make love to you." Severus assured.
"Sev, I already told you the curse…Nothing else explains it, so that's what I'm calling it. And the curse is that no matter who I'm with, it never makes it past six months. It ends right after the first time sex is had." Harry repeated. "So I haven't given into sleeping with you because I don't want it to end. I don't want to lose you…I can't. It might just destroy me…Or break something in me from ever dating again. I told Draco this too, that I wouldn't do it again if I lose you because I never want to feel this way again." He looked down.
"Feel what way? In love with someone?" Severus asked.
Harry shook his head. "No," He paused. "That's the factor in why I don't want to go through this again…" Harry mentioned. "The others I've dated…I didn't love them. I liked them, but never loved. Even Ginny. I loved her…But I wasn't in love with her. I somehow, completely out of the blue, fell in love with you. And I don't want to lose it. So I've refused to give into sex with you because I don't want it to activate the curse, where we do it and then the next day, something happens to you. You don't deserve to be hurt by me, or anyone. Not for all you've done…I can't do that to you."
"Harry." Severus said. "You said before that all those relationships fell apart after sex, but you never loved any of them. This time, our relationship is different. We haven't had sex, and you fell in love with me as I have you." He remarked. "I don't think you're cursed. I think there's some force out there just making it known who you don't belong with and stopping it before you had a chance to develop anything more than like. Losing someone you didn't care deeply for hurts less than if you'd completely fallen." He added.
"Well, I've completely fallen for you…And Draco realized it because I cried at the idea of losing you." Harry said. "I didn't cry over anyone else. Not even Ginny. At the time we broke up, I had bigger problems."
"The downward spiral." Severus nodded.
"But this is what I've been nervous about. Even a couple months back when I realized I was falling, I told myself not to get attached. In case it didn't last." Harry enlightened. "It's pathetic, I know…That I even consider Voldemort cursed me to never find love or happiness. But after everything else he did to me…"
"Harry, it's not pathetic." Severus told him. "I mean, yes…Curse sounds pretty out there, but that doesn't mean it's not a possibility." Harry sighed a bit. "Listen to me…" The younger male looked at Severus again. "I know better than anyone how you feel. The nervousness, the fear of opening your heart. I never had, even as a boy, until I met your mother."
Severus paused for a moment. "As you know, was my best friend. And yes…I did love her. I had, at one point in our friendship, wanted more. But when I made that mistake in anger of calling her a filthy mudblood, it was over and I closed my heart. But I never forgot about her as a friend. When she was killed, I told myself the same thing you told Draco."
"What?" Harry asked.
"That I wouldn't open my heart again. I wouldn't risk getting close, and losing that person like I lost Lily." Severus told him. "I never wanted to feel the pain I felt when I learned your mother had been killed again." Another pause as Severus held Harry's hand, intertwining their fingers. "But somehow, you did whatever powerful magic you managed to get me to lower my guard, and the walls around my heart. Despite fear that it would just land me hurt again. Yes, I loved your mother, Harry, but I wasn't in love with her."
Severus stared into Harry's eyes now. "I'm in love with you. And that is a risk I took because I couldn't deny the points made by you after Draco made the suggestion we should date. You, Harry, are the one who talked me into the idea of giving us a try. And you did that despite fear of this ending up like all the others." He paused again. "So tell me why you had this belief in a curse that it would end no matter what, but still tried anyway?"
"I couldn't deny what Draco brought up." Harry admitted. "Either time…" He added.
"Well, I know I was there the first time. When the suggestion was made. What do you mean by either time?" Severus asked.
"What he said tonight." Harry replied. "Similar to what you said about taking the universal signs that the others getting hurt and leaving me as them not being the ones and following the signs that you and I are perfect and things will last."
"He makes a fair point." Severus mentioned. "What signs would these be?" Severus wondered.
"That we ended up back in each other's lives after nine years. At the cemetery of all places. Both live in Godric's Hollow, next door neighbors and didn't know it for months. We hung out often, drank, talked…Became friends so easily despite how things were in the past." Harry mentioned.
"Well, I suppose it can't be argued." Severus agreed. "But my point is exactly that, Harry. Be it a curse or not, you didn't find love or happiness with any of them. You did with me, however."
"But what if you get hurt…" Harry said.
"That's a risk I take." Severus said. "If I get hurt by staying, then it was my own decision that it happened." Severus kissed the back of his hand. "I can't tell you what will happen, neither of us know that. What I can tell you is that we started this because we wanted to find out what could happen, and how far it would take us." Severus paused. "So I say we keep going and not worry about things that could happen. I will be right here with you and we can face the uncertainties together. I will not leave you over something small such as a flying accident, which we don't have to worry about because I don't use a broom."
Harry let a laugh out at what he said, smiling now. "Tripping, burns, cuts, bump on the head? Come on, Harry. I'm a potions master. I carry remedies for all that around in my pocket, daily." Severus stated, pausing. "You said you trusted me entirely, so trust me now when I say I'm with you because I want to be and I'm staying because I want to. None of that stuff listed above is going to send me running for the most remote place in the world." Severus told him. "And Harry…What you said before, about signs? There is another I just thought of because of the memory you showed tonight. Our patronus animals. You have a Stag for a patronus. I have a Doe, Harry."
The younger male's eyes widened a little, as if just realizing it. "My original patronus had been that of a bat. And I always thought I had the doe due to the love for your mother. I had it because of you. My patronus changed when you were born, Harry."
"I-It did?" Harry asked.
Severus nodded. "You know that I changed sides in June 1980, when I heard half of the prophecy and gave it to Voldemort. When he determined that the child in question must refer to you, I worried for my old friend's safety and I did beg Voldemort to spare your mother. He said he would try, but I didn't believe him, and went to Albus."
"He didn't actually try, did he?" Harry muttered.
"He did." Harry stared at Severus. "When I returned to the Death Eaters as a spy after he got his body back, at the first meeting he called, he told me that he tried to honor the request and spare Lily. He asked her three times to stand aside and let him kill you and she refused. Then even going as far as physically pushing her to the side, but she sacrificed herself by getting between him and you." The man explained. "But back to 1980…I had already joined the Order once Dumbledore agreed to put your family into hiding. When you were born at the end of July, Albus sent out his patronus to alert everyone that you'd been born. Imagine my surprise when I summoned my patronus to reply and found it had changed to a doe."
"Probably pretty shocking." Harry stated.
"But again…I believed it was because I obviously still loved your mother. Did you know I was the first one to the cottage after the attack?" Severus mentioned. Harry shook his head. "I had been at Malfoy Manor, visiting Narcissa, Lucius, and my godson when Lucius mentioned that Voldemort wouldn't be calling a meeting because he found out what he wanted, which was the information where you were hidden." He mentioned softly. "I immediately went to Godric's Hollow."
"Then Dumbledore obviously sent Hagrid to get me and put me with the Dursley's…" Harry sighed. It was clear he still hated the fact that happened.
"Hagrid didn't arrive until after Sirius did." Severus said. "I was there, I was holding you when Sirius's bike pulled up. I found myself unable to just leave you there, and it was a good thing I did because Pettigrew showed up to get Voldemort's wand. He must have had instructions to come to the cottage if Voldemort didn't return after a certain time. I kept us hidden under a notice-me-not until he was gone." He said.
"You sat with me as a baby?" Harry asked.
"You were crying, so I'd promised your mother and father I'd protect you the rest of my life and then I picked you up to calm you down. You were sleeping against me when I heard Sirius's bike pull up. I put you back down in the crib, and left unseen, but watched until I knew you were in safe hands." Severus explained.
"I…Never knew that." Harry said.
"No one knew I was there, Harry. Not even Dumbledore. Not that night, and never beyond it. I haven't told a living soul, except you just now." Severus informed.
"Maybe that's why I'm so comfortable with you. You've been in my life for just about all of it. You comforted me as a baby, maybe that's why I could always trust you and feel safe. You're recognizable to me, energy wise. Even when I didn't know who you were during the sorting feast when I went to Hogwarts. I noticed you staring at me while talking to Quirrell, something felt familiar."
"It's possible, or it's the soulmate thing," Severus shrugged. "But…I realized the doe wasn't for your mother. I didn't realize it until your birthday party last year, when your Stag showed up at the manor. I never knew you had a Stag. I knew you could perform the charm…But not what your animal was."
"That was like…Two months before we started dating, Sev." Harry remarked.
"I know." Severus nodded. "But I did tell you before that one day I just looked at you and I knew there was something. It didn't hit me right away, the soulmate factor. Not until tonight when you showed that memory of what Sirius and Remus told you about having a Stag, so your soulmate would be someone with a doe. Which makes sense, it means I didn't have a soulmate until you were born because my patronus changed the day you were born. I just didn't make the connection until tonight." He explained.
"Suppose that can't really be argued, but…" Harry trailed off.
"I know you're scared, Harry. And you have the right to be with everything that's happened in your life, not just past relationships. But we said we would see where this went and how far…So, forget the fear and let's do exactly that, Harry. I'm not going to leave you." He promised. "You mean so much to me, Harry."
"I understand what you're saying, Sev. I do…And I want nothing more than everything to be okay. I just…Can't help but feel scared. I'm trying not to, but it's hard not to be with how things have been the last eight or so years." Harry said gently. "Hell, even before that. Nothing ever went the way I had wanted or hoped it would. I got used to disappointment. I got used to not having hope."
"Well, then until you see it for yourself, I'll have to hope for both of us. I told you…I'm not going anywhere. I'm right where I've always been, Harry. At your side. Always have been, always will be." Severus cupped his cheek and leaned in to kiss Harry deeply. "Don't give up on us, it's going to work out. Let me have the chance to prove that to you…" He stated.
Harry stared into Severus's eyes deeply, it was easy to see the nervousness, but there was hope beginning to spark. Harry had to have faith that this would be different and he wouldn't lose Severus. Harry was sick of being afraid and if he didn't quit being insecure, Severus was going to get annoyed about not getting this chance, and he'd leave feeling it was pointless. Relationships took communication, trust, and effort on both sides, so Harry had to try too. He and Severus didn't have a communication or trust problem. Harry had always been able to trust Severus, so he could trust him now. Harry faced too much in his life, even death itself, to get where he was now and he did it all without being afraid. He could do this.
"Okay…" Harry finally said. "Okay. You win, Sev. I believe you." He smiled softly.
"Good," Severus pulled him close again. "Then I say we pull a genuine Harry Potter move and just jump in head first, see what happens. I do recall that somehow, by whatever magic, everything always worked out when you threw caution to the wind." Harry couldn't resist laughing a little and nodded. "And you know the best part about this, Harry?"
"What?" Harry asked.
"It doesn't matter if you are actually cursed because there's just far too much evidence to support the theory that we're soulmates. I choose to believe this is real and be that the case, Harry…It means that this love we feel for each other is true." Severus revealed. "And you know first hand how strong love can be in any form."
Harry smiled, trying to will tears not to form at what Severus said. Harry leaned in and kissed Severus lovingly, and Severus returned the action in full. It didn't stop, the kisses only turned more deep and passionate. Eventually, after ten or fifteen minutes, Harry shifted a little to be laying down on his back and then grabbed the front of Severus's night shirt to yank the older male to be over him while the making out continued feverishly. Both males were into it enough to become aroused and impatient while working each other's clothes off. It didn't take long for the articles of clothing to be magically removed and that left them both nude, touching every bit of skin they could reach.
At some point, Severus slid his hand down Harry's front and wrapped around the younger male's hardened cock. The jolt of pleasure made Harry moan out into the kiss and Severus took this chance to move his lips along Harry's cheek, then down his neck while all the while using his hand to stroke Harry's length slowly.
"S-Sev…" Harry closed his eyes. Severus shifted downward, peppering kisses along Harry's chest, stomach, and landed on the tip of his leaking cock. Severus swiped his tongue over the slit before lowering his mouth over the appendage. "Oh, God." He moaned, almost instantly relaxing while his lover's mouth did wicked things to his prick. It really didn't take long for Harry to reach climax, Severus knew exactly what to do to get him there between the sucking and stroking; it was always the perfect pace and movements. This also meant that Harry never had to warn Severus when he was about to release, the man could read his reactions with ease.
With Harry's heart racing, Severus pushed him all the way into orgasm. Harry's body jerked and went rigid as his hips bucked and he came with a shout of pleasure. Harry lay there on the bed once his body loosened from cumming, and tried to catch his breath. Severus stayed where he was after swallowing to perform a non-verbal and wandless cleaning charm on his mouth before moving back up to capture Harry's lips. This, of course, gave Harry the opportunity to make out with Severus again, then find just the right moment to lock his leg around Severus's and flip them so he was now on top.
"You know, I don't know how I feel about the fact I'm older and stronger than you, but you have the ability to flip us." Severus admitted.
"Is that a bad thing?" Harry wondered.
"Not at all. I just find it intriguing, and hot." Severus stated.
"It's not hard to flip someone, Sev. Just need the right angle," Harry reminded. "I am a fully trained auror, in case you forgot. I know how to fight."
"I can see that." Severus nodded. Harry smiled and returned to kissing Severus. It wasn't long until Harry began to work his way down the man's body and envelop his mouth over Severus's cock. "Ha-Harry…" The older male sighed out before Harry started to bob his head up and down. Severus relaxed, combing his fingers through Harry's hair and letting out soft moans. Hand and blowjobs were nothing new to them to do, neither was rubbing their cocks together with Severus's hand wrapped around them. Nothing had ever gone farther than that.
Harry wanted more, though. He admitted to it, that he'd been saying no when he wanted it and the only thing that stopped him was fear of it activating the curse where they'd have sex and then something would happen to break them up. Harry had been terrified to lose Severus. But tonight, Severus made Harry understand that he didn't have to be scared because Severus wasn't like the others who would take a small accidental injury as a sign that things weren't going to work out. And Severus informed Harry that if he was cursed, they could break it with true love as there was too much evidence to support them being soulmates.
When Severus finally came, Harry cleaned his mouth and returned to straddling Severus's waist, but bending forward so they could make out a bit. "I love you, Harry." Severus said against Harry's lips.
Harry looked into the man's eyes and smiled. "I love you too, Severus."
"Come lay with me." Severus tried to pull Harry down against him with closed eyes.
"You too tired to keep going?" Harry inquired.
The surprise in Severus's eyes couldn't be missed, he immediately met Harry's and searched them for an explanation. "I'm not, but this is where we normally stop as far as intimacy goes." Severus replied.
"I don't want normal tonight." Harry told him.
He immediately sat upwards a bit. "Harry, are you telling me what I think you are?" Severus questioned.
"That depends on what you're thinking I'm telling you." Harry countered gently.
"That you want to go all the way tonight," Severus stated bluntly. He'd always been forward with Harry, he wouldn't stop now.
"Then you have assumed correctly. Come claim your prize," Harry invited.
"I told you I would not cross that line without your explicit approval to do so…" Severus paused. "Say it. I need you to say that it's what you want, Harry."
Harry leaned closer until his forehead was against Severus's, resting his hands on the man's shoulder. Harry gave him a light peck on the lips before smiling. "I want us to keep going. I want you, Severus. I want this." Harry gave him another kiss. "But I don't want sex…"
Severus arched his brow in confusion. "You just said you wanted sex tonight."
"No. I said you were correct in assuming I wanted to go all the way tonight." Harry repeated. "I don't want sex…I want you to make love to me, like you said you would."