p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"When Severus came to, he was lying against something firm but comfortable./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He made to sit up, but found himself restrained. Without thinking, he struggled against whatever was holding him back, confused further when a huge black blanket covered him and blocked his vision. He let out a soft whimper before feeling two strong arms snake around his waist and pull his black flush against a muscled chest./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"emDominus,/em his brain helpfully supplied, and he took a deep inhale./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The smell of parchment, summer, and clean cotton confirmed his thoughts./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Hush, Severus. It's alright."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The older man whined again, slightly mortified by the involuntary sounds he was making./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Hey, hey, hey, it's okay," soothed the deep voice. "Your body is reacting to an influx of emotion. Just follow your instincts, and you'll be calm enough for me to let you out and explain everything soon."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus frowned and moved to sit up again, but another whimper and subsequent tightening of the arms caused him to reconsider. He focused on his 'instincts' and found himself burrowing back into the chest behind him and turning slightly in the arms to place his ear against a steady heartbeat. It lulled him into a calm rhythm./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He must have succeeded in calming down because the blanket lifted away, and he found himself snuggled into the arms of Harry Potter./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"His creature and human nature made the connection. Of course, this is Harry. Harry is his dominant. Harry can be trusted. Harry is safe./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The man in question was nodding steadily in encouragement, as if he knew the steps his mind was making./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Your occlumency shields have completely fallen due to conflicting with the bond. Don't fret, for after we bond they'll be able to rise again. I believe that the connection was warring against the shield, and your body reacted by choosing the bond over your mental protections."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, Potter," he snapped./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Or rather, that's what he meant to say. Instead he emitted a high keening noise from the back of his throat./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"His mate reacted by turning Severus partly onto his side and rubbing his stomach. Oddly enough, the man felt his muscles release their tension. Harry sat them both up once he had calmed, and Severus found himself unwilling to let go of his hand./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He scowled down at the offending appendage, and Harry let out a rumbling chuckle./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It's just the bond reaffirming your place with me."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus shifted and stuttered, "But… I haven't accepted it, yet. I haven't taken the first step. H-have I?" Harry rushed to reassure him, pulling him up onto his lap./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""No, but you have recognized it. Apparently, you are ready to accept me, despite having not told me yet. Your magic is preparing you for bonding and trying to make you more open to me."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""But what if I don't want to bond?" he questioned, feeling terribly close to tears. He was supposed to have a choice in if he wants a romantic relationship with his Master, right?/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I'm so sorry, little prince. You have already instigated the bond. You have accepted my perusal. We will not be able to have a typical master/slave bond now, if that is what you wanted. If you reject the bond, our magic will only force it."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus shook his head in bewilderment, clutching at Harry's hand in his lap./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And… what if you reject me?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I can't reject you, pet," Harry told him, lifting his chin to look him in his dark eyes. "I wouldn't. There is no one in the world as right for me as you are. Don't let this change us, Severus. This doesn't have to be an uphill battle. We were going to give it a go anyway, yeah?" Severus nodded slowly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""So, the bond is…?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry shrugged./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It's forcing you to handle your emotions without occlumency. You broke down once we arrived back home last night and passed out. I promise I didn't know this could happen, I just finished reading about it. It's not unheard of in creature bonds, but very uncommon."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Of course, it is," Severus sighed, pressing into his dominant. "I accept you, Harry. I accept you as my dominant. Not that it means much now that my magic did it for me, but I want to begin this bonding with you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry smiled blindingly, leaning down to press a soft kiss to his submissive's forehead./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It may mean nothing to the magic," said Harry, "but it means the world to me, little one."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"-/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I have invited you here because, though it is traditional for me to travel to your place of residence, I cannot leave Severus here alone, and I wish to ask you for your blessing upon my courtship of your blood brother."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius frowned, gesturing to his son./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I wish to forward this responsibility onto my son, as he knows you better than I." Draco leaned back in his chair, eyeing Harry critically./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""With you being the puppeteer to all of these changes in the wizarding world, will you be able to give my godfather the attention and care that a burgeoning submissive needs?" Harry took a deep breath./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It's all flowing now, and I've left most of my time consuming responsibilities to Lady Black. Of course, I still pull the strings, but I've made it to where I can leave at any time to fulfill the needs of my mate. I only need to find a good defense instructor, and I will be free for the rest of the summer. Even so, Severus is and will always be my number one responsibility."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Draco smiled tightly and nodded once in acceptance, happy with the answer./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Have you considered yourself taking up the role of defense?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry shrugged./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I was actually thinking more along the lines of your father."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"TBC/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He made to sit up, but found himself restrained. Without thinking, he struggled against whatever was holding him back, confused further when a huge black blanket covered him and blocked his vision. He let out a soft whimper before feeling two strong arms snake around his waist and pull his black flush against a muscled chest./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"emDominus,/em his brain helpfully supplied, and he took a deep inhale./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The smell of parchment, summer, and clean cotton confirmed his thoughts./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Hush, Severus. It's alright."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The older man whined again, slightly mortified by the involuntary sounds he was making./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Hey, hey, hey, it's okay," soothed the deep voice. "Your body is reacting to an influx of emotion. Just follow your instincts, and you'll be calm enough for me to let you out and explain everything soon."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus frowned and moved to sit up again, but another whimper and subsequent tightening of the arms caused him to reconsider. He focused on his 'instincts' and found himself burrowing back into the chest behind him and turning slightly in the arms to place his ear against a steady heartbeat. It lulled him into a calm rhythm./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He must have succeeded in calming down because the blanket lifted away, and he found himself snuggled into the arms of Harry Potter./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"His creature and human nature made the connection. Of course, this is Harry. Harry is his dominant. Harry can be trusted. Harry is safe./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The man in question was nodding steadily in encouragement, as if he knew the steps his mind was making./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Your occlumency shields have completely fallen due to conflicting with the bond. Don't fret, for after we bond they'll be able to rise again. I believe that the connection was warring against the shield, and your body reacted by choosing the bond over your mental protections."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, Potter," he snapped./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Or rather, that's what he meant to say. Instead he emitted a high keening noise from the back of his throat./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"His mate reacted by turning Severus partly onto his side and rubbing his stomach. Oddly enough, the man felt his muscles release their tension. Harry sat them both up once he had calmed, and Severus found himself unwilling to let go of his hand./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He scowled down at the offending appendage, and Harry let out a rumbling chuckle./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It's just the bond reaffirming your place with me."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus shifted and stuttered, "But… I haven't accepted it, yet. I haven't taken the first step. H-have I?" Harry rushed to reassure him, pulling him up onto his lap./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""No, but you have recognized it. Apparently, you are ready to accept me, despite having not told me yet. Your magic is preparing you for bonding and trying to make you more open to me."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""But what if I don't want to bond?" he questioned, feeling terribly close to tears. He was supposed to have a choice in if he wants a romantic relationship with his Master, right?/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I'm so sorry, little prince. You have already instigated the bond. You have accepted my perusal. We will not be able to have a typical master/slave bond now, if that is what you wanted. If you reject the bond, our magic will only force it."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus shook his head in bewilderment, clutching at Harry's hand in his lap./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And… what if you reject me?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I can't reject you, pet," Harry told him, lifting his chin to look him in his dark eyes. "I wouldn't. There is no one in the world as right for me as you are. Don't let this change us, Severus. This doesn't have to be an uphill battle. We were going to give it a go anyway, yeah?" Severus nodded slowly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""So, the bond is…?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry shrugged./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It's forcing you to handle your emotions without occlumency. You broke down once we arrived back home last night and passed out. I promise I didn't know this could happen, I just finished reading about it. It's not unheard of in creature bonds, but very uncommon."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Of course, it is," Severus sighed, pressing into his dominant. "I accept you, Harry. I accept you as my dominant. Not that it means much now that my magic did it for me, but I want to begin this bonding with you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry smiled blindingly, leaning down to press a soft kiss to his submissive's forehead./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It may mean nothing to the magic," said Harry, "but it means the world to me, little one."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"-/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I have invited you here because, though it is traditional for me to travel to your place of residence, I cannot leave Severus here alone, and I wish to ask you for your blessing upon my courtship of your blood brother."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius frowned, gesturing to his son./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I wish to forward this responsibility onto my son, as he knows you better than I." Draco leaned back in his chair, eyeing Harry critically./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""With you being the puppeteer to all of these changes in the wizarding world, will you be able to give my godfather the attention and care that a burgeoning submissive needs?" Harry took a deep breath./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""It's all flowing now, and I've left most of my time consuming responsibilities to Lady Black. Of course, I still pull the strings, but I've made it to where I can leave at any time to fulfill the needs of my mate. I only need to find a good defense instructor, and I will be free for the rest of the summer. Even so, Severus is and will always be my number one responsibility."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Draco smiled tightly and nodded once in acceptance, happy with the answer./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Have you considered yourself taking up the role of defense?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry shrugged./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I was actually thinking more along the lines of your father."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"TBC/p
