p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius said he was "a stubborn old bastard," but Harry called him determined and looked at him with such an obscene amount of pride that he couldn't even think of not walking to the balcony by himself./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Of course, that didn't mean that he was moving all that quickly, but he was making his way steadily to where his Harry was waiting for him and that's all that mattered./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He focused on the movement of his legs, wobbling but remaining upright before gripping the doorframe./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"It wasn't defeat… it was self preservation./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Dominus," he whispered, clearing his throat as he blushed and called out louder, "Harry!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The messy haired man appeared in front of him with a smile that could stop traffic, scooping him up into his strong arms like a bride to carry over the threshold./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You nearly made it all the way across the cottage, love," he informed him. "Soon I'll be able to take you out on the town, and then we can move into Potter Manor. Isn't that exciting?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry continued to ramble on about their future dates and life in the Manor as he guided his ward out onto the deck and set him in one of the cushioned chairs./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Beautiful out here, isn't it? I'll miss it, but the manor is much more suited for me to handle the estate and you to be able to make your potions."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus nodded slightly, breathing deeply to calm down his heart rate from his challenging walk./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry snapped his fingers, making their meal appear on the table—assumedly having been summoned from the kitchen. The older man sighed in slight awe of his casual show of power, his skin goosing in slight arousal before he took in the sight of dinner. His eyes shimmered./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"There on the blue clothed table was a gloriously minimal setting consisting of roast lamb, steamed carrots, and pease pudding. It was nothing special in anyone else's eyes, but it was Severus' absolute favourite meal, having been cooked for him by his mother each Friday night when Tobias was away at the pub. Everything looked perfect, including the small candle that waved between them, illuminating the darkening area with a golden light./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Dominus," he whispered, his voice wavering in unfettered happiness. Harry looked up at him in surprise, moving around the table to hold the man's jaw in his hands./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Yes, my cicaro? What is it?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus looked up into Harry's eyes with pleading, silently bringing his arms around his neck./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry smiled softly, lifting the potion's master up underneath his thighs to place him upon his lap and wandlessly rearranging the table to suit their new arrangement./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You need not fear giving yourself to me, pet. I will not treat this offering lightly. I will take care of you, darling, like the marvelous treasure that you are."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus rested against the savior, letting the warm security flow through him as his dominant partner started feeding the both of them. Small conversation battered between them before he got up the courage to acknowledge what was happening between him and the spawn of his childhood bully./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""How will our bond progress, Dominus? I'm afraid all texts regarding your race are without information on mating habits."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"A deep rumbling chuckle shook his seat, causing Severus to look up in confusion./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You are so formal in your speech about anything that causes you discomfort, my own," he explained, eyes twinkling even as he grew more serious. "Our bonding takes place through three steps, marked by leaps in trust between us. The first step is acceptance, which I feel you are very close to. Acceptance is not just of me as your partner, but of me as your dominant. This is marked simply by the words "I accept you, my dominant, and a kiss that both parties consent to. The second step is absolution. Absolution is represented by a 72 hour period in which we will remain in isolation. This is the step most other creatures do not know of, but it is by far the most important. After this step, our bond is more delicate. We must remain very close during the time between that and our final step, the bonding. This is marked by— "/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I know what a bonding is marked by, Harry," Severus nearly whined, his cheekbones turning light pink./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry chuckled, cuddling the man closer to him./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Our bonding will be marked by an exchanging of vows, permission given by your magical guardian, and the giving of our bodies to one another. We will be considered bonded by all magical creatures and married in the wizarding world by every law from that point on."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus nodded his understanding, nuzzling Harry's cheek./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And you want this? With me?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Of course, I want to always have you as my own, to take care of you as long as we live. And I will, my darling. You will want for nothing. You don't have to work another day if you don't want to. You could stay and make potions or take care of the children or read or belly dance for all I care, if you're happy."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus startled, sitting up abruptly to turn around in Harry's lap. He subconsciously straddled the other man to look him in the eyes./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Children?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry smiled, rubbing Severus' tummy with his thumb and cradling his hip with the other to keep him steady./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Yes, my darling, if you wish it. You will carry our children. We could adopt if you don't want to carry, or go without if you have no interest in parenting. If you're happy. I'll do anything for you to be happy." Severus smiled./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I've always wanted children."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry nodded, kissing his forehead as he tugged him close and wrapped him up in his arms./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And so, we will, someday. You will be a beautiful mother." Severus frowned, "But I will work. I am not some housewife." Harry jerked back./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You may if you wish it, but you will allow me to take care of you. I don't want you doing something every day that you hate."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus whined softly at the sharpness in his dominant's eyes, having never been on the receiving end of his anger since Harry's acknowledgement of their bond./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry hurriedly hugged him, soothing him with a circling thumb against his tummy. "Hush, pet. As adorable as those noises are, we both know I'm not going to hurt you." Severus settled then scowled at himself for doing so, causing Harry to laugh./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Oh yes. You'll be accepting soon. I am beyond pleased, my own."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I have always taken care of myself," Severus said softly, the words coming out as more of an admittance than a protest./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry shifted to make him more comfortable before swallowing up his mate in his embrace./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You don't have to do that anymore, cicaro," he assured him. "I will always be here to take care of you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"TBC/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Of course, that didn't mean that he was moving all that quickly, but he was making his way steadily to where his Harry was waiting for him and that's all that mattered./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He focused on the movement of his legs, wobbling but remaining upright before gripping the doorframe./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"It wasn't defeat… it was self preservation./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Dominus," he whispered, clearing his throat as he blushed and called out louder, "Harry!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The messy haired man appeared in front of him with a smile that could stop traffic, scooping him up into his strong arms like a bride to carry over the threshold./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You nearly made it all the way across the cottage, love," he informed him. "Soon I'll be able to take you out on the town, and then we can move into Potter Manor. Isn't that exciting?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry continued to ramble on about their future dates and life in the Manor as he guided his ward out onto the deck and set him in one of the cushioned chairs./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Beautiful out here, isn't it? I'll miss it, but the manor is much more suited for me to handle the estate and you to be able to make your potions."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus nodded slightly, breathing deeply to calm down his heart rate from his challenging walk./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry snapped his fingers, making their meal appear on the table—assumedly having been summoned from the kitchen. The older man sighed in slight awe of his casual show of power, his skin goosing in slight arousal before he took in the sight of dinner. His eyes shimmered./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"There on the blue clothed table was a gloriously minimal setting consisting of roast lamb, steamed carrots, and pease pudding. It was nothing special in anyone else's eyes, but it was Severus' absolute favourite meal, having been cooked for him by his mother each Friday night when Tobias was away at the pub. Everything looked perfect, including the small candle that waved between them, illuminating the darkening area with a golden light./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Dominus," he whispered, his voice wavering in unfettered happiness. Harry looked up at him in surprise, moving around the table to hold the man's jaw in his hands./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Yes, my cicaro? What is it?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus looked up into Harry's eyes with pleading, silently bringing his arms around his neck./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry smiled softly, lifting the potion's master up underneath his thighs to place him upon his lap and wandlessly rearranging the table to suit their new arrangement./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You need not fear giving yourself to me, pet. I will not treat this offering lightly. I will take care of you, darling, like the marvelous treasure that you are."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus rested against the savior, letting the warm security flow through him as his dominant partner started feeding the both of them. Small conversation battered between them before he got up the courage to acknowledge what was happening between him and the spawn of his childhood bully./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""How will our bond progress, Dominus? I'm afraid all texts regarding your race are without information on mating habits."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"A deep rumbling chuckle shook his seat, causing Severus to look up in confusion./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You are so formal in your speech about anything that causes you discomfort, my own," he explained, eyes twinkling even as he grew more serious. "Our bonding takes place through three steps, marked by leaps in trust between us. The first step is acceptance, which I feel you are very close to. Acceptance is not just of me as your partner, but of me as your dominant. This is marked simply by the words "I accept you, my dominant, and a kiss that both parties consent to. The second step is absolution. Absolution is represented by a 72 hour period in which we will remain in isolation. This is the step most other creatures do not know of, but it is by far the most important. After this step, our bond is more delicate. We must remain very close during the time between that and our final step, the bonding. This is marked by— "/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I know what a bonding is marked by, Harry," Severus nearly whined, his cheekbones turning light pink./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry chuckled, cuddling the man closer to him./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Our bonding will be marked by an exchanging of vows, permission given by your magical guardian, and the giving of our bodies to one another. We will be considered bonded by all magical creatures and married in the wizarding world by every law from that point on."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus nodded his understanding, nuzzling Harry's cheek./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And you want this? With me?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Of course, I want to always have you as my own, to take care of you as long as we live. And I will, my darling. You will want for nothing. You don't have to work another day if you don't want to. You could stay and make potions or take care of the children or read or belly dance for all I care, if you're happy."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus startled, sitting up abruptly to turn around in Harry's lap. He subconsciously straddled the other man to look him in the eyes./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Children?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry smiled, rubbing Severus' tummy with his thumb and cradling his hip with the other to keep him steady./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Yes, my darling, if you wish it. You will carry our children. We could adopt if you don't want to carry, or go without if you have no interest in parenting. If you're happy. I'll do anything for you to be happy." Severus smiled./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I've always wanted children."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry nodded, kissing his forehead as he tugged him close and wrapped him up in his arms./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And so, we will, someday. You will be a beautiful mother." Severus frowned, "But I will work. I am not some housewife." Harry jerked back./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You may if you wish it, but you will allow me to take care of you. I don't want you doing something every day that you hate."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus whined softly at the sharpness in his dominant's eyes, having never been on the receiving end of his anger since Harry's acknowledgement of their bond./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry hurriedly hugged him, soothing him with a circling thumb against his tummy. "Hush, pet. As adorable as those noises are, we both know I'm not going to hurt you." Severus settled then scowled at himself for doing so, causing Harry to laugh./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Oh yes. You'll be accepting soon. I am beyond pleased, my own."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I have always taken care of myself," Severus said softly, the words coming out as more of an admittance than a protest./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry shifted to make him more comfortable before swallowing up his mate in his embrace./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You don't have to do that anymore, cicaro," he assured him. "I will always be here to take care of you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"TBC/p
