p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"It was a month before things took the leap from bad to worse between the members of Potter cottage./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry had decided to bring Severus and the Malfoys to the cottage when he realized that the manor was simply too large for the older man to be able to travel around before he was completely healed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Our favourite savior of the wizarding world had accomplished quite a bit over the course of the month, but not where it had most mattered—with his mate. The new curriculum for Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was going to be in effect by the next school year, and the prerequisite classes for all the muggle-raised students was to go into effect by the year after that. Hermione was showing her amazing intellect and quick wit with the challenge proposed to her. Every obstacle that got in their way was conquered by a combination of Harry's influence and determination and her poise and brainpower./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"But though Harry was making leaps and bounds politically, he hadn't made even a step with his mate. Severus allowed Harry to take care of him, sure, but he did so with great reluctance. Harry persevered with the mindset that it would only take time for him to earn the trust of the prickly man./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The first time the potion's master snapped at him took the boy wonder by surprise, but his step didn't falter./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I'd appreciate it if you'd stop pampering me, emsir/em. I'm a grown man."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry had shrugged it off once more when on the third week, Severus told him that "A couple servings of warm breakfast wouldn't make up for abandonment."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Of course they would falter. It was only expected that the man would hold a grudge against him for some time before realizing that Harry was there now and that was what mattered./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"However, on the 28th night, Severus broke Harry with his words—and it took the notice of everyone living there, including the two blondes that only left their rooms to speak to Severus or to visit the hearings at the ministry./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry raised his wand to cast a light cleaning charm on the man before lowering it to ask, "Would you like me to simply take you to bathe, my own? I can't imagine these charms feel too nice, and I wouldn't mind making sure you remained safe so that you could wash properly." Severus scowled./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Why don't you just take whatever you want and leave me be? It's not like I can actually say no." Brows furrowed in confusion as Harry stepped closer./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Whatever do you mean, Severus?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I mean that if you need to get off then just do it. Don't try to act like you actually care." Harry stepped back quickly, casting a harsh scourgify before swiftly exiting the room./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"SSHPSSHPSSHPSSHP/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Draco slipped into the room glaring across at his godfather as he plopped ungracefully in the armchair beside his bed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""What did you say to him?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus frowned, sitting up slowly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Actually, no. It doesn't even matter what you said. I want to know why you said it. That man is bending over backwards to make you comfortable, and you can't even have the decency to TRY trust him."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Bent over backwards?" Severus snarled. "He hasn't done anything more than help me heal, Draco, as is his duty as my keeper."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Draco stood angrily./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""His duty?! Is it his duty to extend an invite to a man that's tried to kill him and his school bully in order to make you more comfortable and happy? Is it his duty to relocate to a smaller home, simply so that once you start walking you can get wherever you need without too much trouble? He has done more for you than even I could have! I have every reason to hate Harry Potter, and yet I can't help but respect how he has treated you! He takes a bloody impotence potion every morning before he goes to see you to calm his impulses so that you don't feel pushed. He pardoned not only me, but my father as well because he thought you may want your best friend to be free. He cleared your name! He's even had his parents portraits removed from the dining hall back into the family tree room in order to not cause you any bad memories!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus looked away from the blonde that was basically yelling at him, suddenly feeling a surge of regret. He just… he felt so betrayed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I know you needed someone to stabilize you during the past year, hell, the past few years, but Harry was still a child then. He has been working so hard to become the man that he believes that you deserve."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"With that, Draco Malfoy exited the room, leaving Severus to contemplate what he had been told. Severus knew what Draco had told him was true, but the fact was that he didn't know how to apologize, or when he would get the chance. Harry had taken to leaving his meals under a stasis charm while he slept. Though he knew the man visited his bedside at night by the way his scent lingered in the room, he hadn't seen him in days. /p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus sighed heavily, falling into a fitful sleep./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"SSHPSSHPSSHPSSHPSSHP/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Later that night, an earth shattering scream echoed down the hall, heavy footsteps following it to the room of his ward. Harry rushed into the room and almost immediately took Severus Snape into his arms, bringing him to his lap to whisper soothing words to him. Great, black wings exploded from his back, wrapping firmly around the man./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Hush, little one. Hush. It was just a nightmare. You are safe. He can't hurt you anymore."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus responded in a way that he hadn't before, wrapping his limbs around Harry's body and burying his head into his strong chest./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Don't leave me, Alpha. Please."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry's heart broke and lifted at the words, him wrapping the other man up more firmly while rocking him back and forth./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I'll never leave you, my own. Never."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"TBC/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"AN: Thank you so much for the reviews so far. I wasn't really sure how this story would take, but I'm happy to see that some of you like it. This chapter was more of a transitioning chapter than anything. I tried to get the boring stuff out of the way in it, and topped it off with some happy. Things will start to pick up in the next chapter, I promise, and I assure you that the fight isn't fully over yet./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry had decided to bring Severus and the Malfoys to the cottage when he realized that the manor was simply too large for the older man to be able to travel around before he was completely healed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Our favourite savior of the wizarding world had accomplished quite a bit over the course of the month, but not where it had most mattered—with his mate. The new curriculum for Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was going to be in effect by the next school year, and the prerequisite classes for all the muggle-raised students was to go into effect by the year after that. Hermione was showing her amazing intellect and quick wit with the challenge proposed to her. Every obstacle that got in their way was conquered by a combination of Harry's influence and determination and her poise and brainpower./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"But though Harry was making leaps and bounds politically, he hadn't made even a step with his mate. Severus allowed Harry to take care of him, sure, but he did so with great reluctance. Harry persevered with the mindset that it would only take time for him to earn the trust of the prickly man./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The first time the potion's master snapped at him took the boy wonder by surprise, but his step didn't falter./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I'd appreciate it if you'd stop pampering me, emsir/em. I'm a grown man."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry had shrugged it off once more when on the third week, Severus told him that "A couple servings of warm breakfast wouldn't make up for abandonment."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Of course they would falter. It was only expected that the man would hold a grudge against him for some time before realizing that Harry was there now and that was what mattered./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"However, on the 28th night, Severus broke Harry with his words—and it took the notice of everyone living there, including the two blondes that only left their rooms to speak to Severus or to visit the hearings at the ministry./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry raised his wand to cast a light cleaning charm on the man before lowering it to ask, "Would you like me to simply take you to bathe, my own? I can't imagine these charms feel too nice, and I wouldn't mind making sure you remained safe so that you could wash properly." Severus scowled./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Why don't you just take whatever you want and leave me be? It's not like I can actually say no." Brows furrowed in confusion as Harry stepped closer./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Whatever do you mean, Severus?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I mean that if you need to get off then just do it. Don't try to act like you actually care." Harry stepped back quickly, casting a harsh scourgify before swiftly exiting the room./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"SSHPSSHPSSHPSSHP/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Draco slipped into the room glaring across at his godfather as he plopped ungracefully in the armchair beside his bed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""What did you say to him?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus frowned, sitting up slowly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Actually, no. It doesn't even matter what you said. I want to know why you said it. That man is bending over backwards to make you comfortable, and you can't even have the decency to TRY trust him."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Bent over backwards?" Severus snarled. "He hasn't done anything more than help me heal, Draco, as is his duty as my keeper."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Draco stood angrily./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""His duty?! Is it his duty to extend an invite to a man that's tried to kill him and his school bully in order to make you more comfortable and happy? Is it his duty to relocate to a smaller home, simply so that once you start walking you can get wherever you need without too much trouble? He has done more for you than even I could have! I have every reason to hate Harry Potter, and yet I can't help but respect how he has treated you! He takes a bloody impotence potion every morning before he goes to see you to calm his impulses so that you don't feel pushed. He pardoned not only me, but my father as well because he thought you may want your best friend to be free. He cleared your name! He's even had his parents portraits removed from the dining hall back into the family tree room in order to not cause you any bad memories!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus looked away from the blonde that was basically yelling at him, suddenly feeling a surge of regret. He just… he felt so betrayed./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I know you needed someone to stabilize you during the past year, hell, the past few years, but Harry was still a child then. He has been working so hard to become the man that he believes that you deserve."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"With that, Draco Malfoy exited the room, leaving Severus to contemplate what he had been told. Severus knew what Draco had told him was true, but the fact was that he didn't know how to apologize, or when he would get the chance. Harry had taken to leaving his meals under a stasis charm while he slept. Though he knew the man visited his bedside at night by the way his scent lingered in the room, he hadn't seen him in days. /p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus sighed heavily, falling into a fitful sleep./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"SSHPSSHPSSHPSSHPSSHP/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Later that night, an earth shattering scream echoed down the hall, heavy footsteps following it to the room of his ward. Harry rushed into the room and almost immediately took Severus Snape into his arms, bringing him to his lap to whisper soothing words to him. Great, black wings exploded from his back, wrapping firmly around the man./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Hush, little one. Hush. It was just a nightmare. You are safe. He can't hurt you anymore."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus responded in a way that he hadn't before, wrapping his limbs around Harry's body and burying his head into his strong chest./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Don't leave me, Alpha. Please."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry's heart broke and lifted at the words, him wrapping the other man up more firmly while rocking him back and forth./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I'll never leave you, my own. Never."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"TBC/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"AN: Thank you so much for the reviews so far. I wasn't really sure how this story would take, but I'm happy to see that some of you like it. This chapter was more of a transitioning chapter than anything. I tried to get the boring stuff out of the way in it, and topped it off with some happy. Things will start to pick up in the next chapter, I promise, and I assure you that the fight isn't fully over yet./p
