The Founder's Secret Garden
Chapter 7: Flirting and Fighting
Harry was just leaving the library after a smaller study session with a few members of his new-found family when he ran into Ron, Hermione and Ginny.
"Ah, Harry, there you are," Hermione smiled, though there was some concern in her eyes, "Where have you been, we've been looking everywhere for you?"
"Clearly not everywhere if you couldn't find me," Harry said, a small attempt at a smile on his face as he looked at them, "In any case, I was in the library with some friends of mine, doing some homework,"
"Harry, we are your friends," Ron said, clearly confused.
"Not really," Harry muttered, "Am I not allowed to have other friends? I didn't realise you three were in control of me, or who I am friends with,"
He walked past them and tried to speed down the hall, only for Ginny to run infront of him, causing him to stumble to a halt so as not to crash into her as she looked at him with blinking eyes.
"Harry, love, we are just worried, you have been rather distant lately. Maybe those new friends of yours are giving you potions or something to change you," she said, sounding wholly concerned as she tried to get close and touch him, only for him to flinch away.
"Love?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Well, yes, I hear there's a Yule Ball this year and I was hoping you could take me," she said, a bright smile on her face as she, again, batted her eyelashes.
"Erm, how about no?" Harry said, confused as he tried to move around her and the other two who had joined them.
"But, we… I love you," she said, pouting, her lip wobbling slightly.
"I, er, I don't love you. And I never will,"
"You're my soulmate, I was tested as a child and-"
"Where's your proof?" Harry said, again raising his eyebrow, "Because I have, in fact, been tested by the goblins, and I know who my soulmate is. I can provide goblin authenticated evidence that you are not my soulmate. You aren't even the right gender for me. I'm gay. But I suppose, perhaps, you wouldn't want to provide the evidence, would you, considering any inheritance test you take will show that you have been stealing from me," he whispered the last bit to her, and her eyes widened in shock, anger, and maybe a little bit of fear.
"You know?" she said.
"Indeed. You should be hearing from the goblin king soon, all of you. He is royally pissed at you all for hiding everything from me, and for stealing. So, yeah, have fun with that," he grinned and tried to walk away, only for Ronald to grab him and shove him against the wall, pinning him there with grips that were sure to leave bruises on his shoulders.
"How dare you break my sister's heart like that?" Ronald shouted.
"Ronald, at what point have I ever shown that I was romantically interested in your sister?" Harry said, attempting to remain calm, although that was rather difficult when all he could think about was the pain in his shoulders, and memories of his uncle were flashing before his eyes, and his heart was pounding too loudly in his chest.
"You saved her life-"
"I would save anyone in this castle, Ronald. Especially the little sister of my best friend. That doesn't mean I am suddenly in love with her. I'm gay. And I would really rather not date anyone who chooses to steal from me,"
Ronald punched him and he tried really hard not to let the memories take over.
"Nothing will happen to us," Ronald said, a grin on his face, "Dumbledore will keep us safe,"
"Not from the goblin King," Harry muttered as he tried to get out of the hold, and call for Severus through their bond.
"What's going on here?" Severus' stern voice said from the end of the hall as he looked at the scene with dark, foreboding eyes.
"No-nothing, sir," Hermione said, a smile on her face, "We were just talking,"
"It doesn't look like you were just talking to me," Severus said, raising an eyebrow, "Especially considering Mr Weasley is still pinning Mr Potter against the wall, and there seems to be a bruise forming on Mr Potter's cheek, "150 points from Gryffindor for fighting a classmate in the halls. And you three have a detention, with me, tonight at seven. Don't be late. Now hurry along whilst I take Mr Potter to get treated for that nasty bruise you've given him,"
"But, sir-"
"But nothing, Miss Granger. You have harassed another student, and lied to me about what you were doing. That is something very worthy of point loss and detention. Especially when said harassed student has been physically hurt. Now hurry along, before I start taking more point and assigning more detentions,"
Ron dropped Harry harshly to the floor and the three of them practically ran away at the glare Severus levelled them with. As soon as they were around the corner Severus rushed to Harry, kneeling in front of him and gently cupping his cheek, trying to ignore the pain that shot through his heart at the flinch. Though Harry was soon melting into his touch, breathing way too deeply, shakily even, his eyes squinted shut.
"Harry, it's okay, they're gone. It's just you and me now. Do you want me to take you to my rooms? I can heal you there," Severus said softly.
Harry opened his eyes and looked at his soulmate with pleading eyes, trying to forget everything, and desperate to stop the flashes of memories that were crossing his vision.
"Please," Harry said.
Severus nodded and helped Harry up gently, waving his wand around them to cover them with a powerful notice-me-not charm, along with a muffliato.
"My uncle isn't here, right?" Harry muttered painfully as he again, briefly closed his eyes against the cascade of memories that tried to flood his mind's eye.
Severus' heart broke as he heard the words, "No, Harry, he isn't here. You are safe from him, you won't be going back there, ever. I promise. I will do what I can to keep you safe, from everyone,"
"Thank you," Harry whispered as he leant into Severus' side.
Soon they were in Severus' quarters and Harry was lead to the sofa, where he sat and Severus covered his legs with a thin, forest green, fleece blanket which Harry promptly pulled up higher as he kicked off his shoes and tugged his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them under the blanket.
"I'll go and grab some potions, I'll be back in a minute," Severus said gently, and Harry nodded, watching Severus leave the room.
He was very grateful when Severus was, in fact, back in the living room and kneeling on the floor in front of him a minute later, setting the potions on the coffee table and looking up at him with worried eyes.
"Where are you hurting?" Severus asked softly.
"Shoulders and cheek," Harry whispered.
"Okay, I have a pain reliever for you, but to put the bruise balm on your shoulder you will need to remove your shirt. If you aren't comfortable with me doing it then I can get one of the others here-"
"N-no, Sev, it's fine. You can do it. I trust you," Harry said a tad nervously before Severus nodded and handed him the pain reliever, which he drank gratefully, sighing in relief as the pain began to dull.
Then he slowly, somewhat shakily, began to remove his shirt.
"You don't have to remove it all the way, just enough for me to get to your shoulders," Severus said gently, and Harry nodded in appreciation.
He let the shirt fall off his shoulders and wrapped his arms around his waist, tugging the shirt around his bony ribs.
The way Severus gently rubbed the balm into the bruises on his shoulders and cheek really did help Harry to feel more comfortable, and comforted. Although he didn't realise he was crying until Severus wiped a tear away with the pad of his thumb, a sad smile tugged at his lips.
"It's okay, Harry. I'll protect you as much as I can. If you ever need me just call for me like you did today, and I will come as quickly as possible," Severus said.
"I know. I trust you with my life," Harry said truthfully, "I just… I would like to be able to walk around on my own for a bit without being hounded by someone. Especially them. I want to be normal, is that too much to ask?" he said, chuckling darkly.
"It's not too much to ask, Harry, not at all. And I also wish that you could walk around on your own without being hounded by people, especially those that have hurt you, and want to continue doing so. But until we and our family are safe, truly safe, I don't think that will be happening. I'm sorry for that, but…" Severus sighed.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Sev. None of it is your fault," Harry said softly.
"And yet I'm rather used to blaming myself for everything," Severus said.
"Same," Harry said.
"How are you feeling?" Severus asked.
"Tired. But erm, okay, I think. The memories have stopped whirling now. It's just another one to add to the mess," Harry said solemnly.
Severus nodded in understanding, "Maybe all of us in our family could benefit from seeing a mind healer?" Severus suggested.
"Or, alternatively, just fucking shit up for everyone who has hurt us, and talking to each other on the side," Harry chuckled.
"Or all three of those things. When we are ready for the mind healer, that is," Severus said, smiling.
"Hm, when we are ready," Harry nodded, "We're not crazy, are we?"
"No, Harry. We just… Sometimes when you've been through a lot of crap, you need someone who isn't biased who can look at everything and help you through it in a more… constructive way. They can figure out what you need, what will help you heal mentally and emotionally, how to move on and live a better, more fulfilling life," Severus said.
Harry nodded again, "Maybe, one day,"
"One day," Severus nodded in agreement, "But we can still fuck shit up in the mean time,"
"Good," Harry chuckled again, "Because I really can't be arsed to deal with their shit anymore. But I feel like we will need the Founder's help before we do anything too drastic,"
"Indeed," Severus said, letting out a small chuckle himself.
Harry sighed, "We'll get through this, right? All of us?" he said, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.
"I'll certainly try to make sure of that. We all will," Severus said, "You can pull your shirt back up now that the balm has set,"
"Thank you," Harry said, pulling his shirt back up, though he left the top three buttons undone to make it more comfortable for his shoulders.
"No problem," Severus said with a small smile, "I will always be around to heal you, and help you, and look after you,"
"I hope so. I don't know what I'd do without you now that I have you here," Harry said, "I will always be around for you, too,"
"I hope so," Severus said, "Do you want to go back to your dorm tonight or do you want to hide out either here, the Room of Requirement, or in the Founder's apartments? We can come up with an excuse for you in the morning,"
"Here, please," Harry said, not wanting to go back to where Ron, Hermione and Ginny would be… ever really, but just a night away would be amazing.
"Okay, you can take my bed, though. I want you to be as comfortable as possible, especially when the pain reliever wears off," Severus said.
"I don't want to take your bed from you," Harry said.
"Harry, I wouldn't offer you the bed if I wasn't fine with it. I will transfigure the sofa into a bed, but it won't be as comfortable as the one in the bedroom, so I want you to have that one, so it doesn't hurt your shoulders too much," Severus said, smiling at Harry.
"O-okay, if you're sure?"
"I'm sure," Severus nodded, "Now, do you want something to eat before I head off for the detention? I can cook us something if you would like?"
"Okay," Harry said, smiling down at the man who stood and headed for the kitchenette.
"What do you fancy? I can do a bolognese, a stir fry? Sausage, mash and onion gravy with some Yorkshire puddings?" Severus said.
"Whatever you fancy, Sev. I am fine with anything," Harry said, smiling as he leaned back against the sofa and watched his soulmate cook them a very tasty meal.
All the while hoping that the both of them and their family really did manage to get through this mess.
Hiya, how are you all today?
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, sorry for the slight delay but life is driving me a tad crazy at the moment, haha. Honestly I am exhausted and stressed and I am feeling a tad lost at the moment. Brain fog and all that jazz, ya know? But I will survive.
Anywho, I posted an essay/petition where I (un)officially explain why I think I should be cast as my favourite character, Severus Snape, in the new HBO series, despite the fact that I am a woman. It would mean a lot if you went and read it, but no pressure. It isn't going to lead to anything, unless, by some miracle, it goes viral, but it was fun to write. Feel free to go and check it out.
Also, I am working on some Spotify playlists for my fanfics, so if you can think of any songs you think work with the stories as they are so far, or where you think they are going, or songs that give you the vibes you get from the stories, then please do let me know and I will give them a listen, then potentially add them to the playlists. If you would like to go and give them a listen as they are now then you can find me on Spotify under the name Maraudering_Paige. They aren't that long at the moment, but we are making progress and I will continue adding to them the more music I listen to and when I have the time to do so. But still, if you can think of any relevant songs then do let me know.
I have a Facebook group called Maraudering_Paige which you are all welcome to join if you would like to and are able to. It is where we can talk about Harry Potter, fanfics, life, share memes and more. It is also where I have somewhat of an update schedule for my fics and will be keeping you up to date on what I am working on, in regards to fanfics, original works, and more things. So if you are interested in joining then I am more than happy to accept you all.
I also now have a TikTok and an Instagram for my fanfic writing escapades. The username is maraudering_paige on both of them so feel free to follow me, and we shall see how often and what kinds of content I can post when I can. But it is another way for me to keep you all up to date if you don't have Facebook and such, and for me to spread the word about other things I am working on and things I want to do and such. So yeah, feel free to join me on those if you are able.
And finally, if you like poems, then I write them and I have started a where you can read 1 or more poems every month depending on how many I have the time to post. You also get access to information about my original books I am working on before anyone else. And you get your name listed in the acknowledgements section of any book I publish whilst you are a Patron. For as little as £1.11 (plus VAT) a month. If you would like to join me over there and read some rants I call poems, and get updates on original work, then you may. My username over there is Paige_Makepeace. No pressure, by the way, you certainly do not have to if you can't or don't want to. I understand. I just thought it would be a cool thing to try. Any money made from this will go towards helping me write and publish the original novels I am working on. Including the one I am hoping to publish first which is a slow-burn, witchy, bisexual/lesbian enemies to lovers book. You will also be able to read the first draft of the first chapter of my book, so, if you are interested in doing that then feel free to go and subscribe if you want to.
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I hope you are having an amazing day!
Kind regards,
Paige xx