Whatever Tom had been doing to activate Harry's scar pain stopped by Thursday morning, but thankfully, it had lessened through Wednesday. Slughorn was happy to give Harry a one-day extension on his assignment thanks to Severus's note explaining that Harry wasn't feeling ill with a migraine and potions didn't have the desired effect to let Harry be rid of the pain entirely.
Harry got his work done on Wednesday night and it was back to normal by Thursday. Harry had loved sleeping next to Severus; there was a lot of comfort in it but also nice for them to be able to spend time together. Harry and Severus hadn't shared a bed since the night they consummated their marriage, and even when returning from the Chamber of Secrets, Harry fell asleep on the couch.
Severus hadn't wanted to move Harry that night, but when he wasn't feeling well, Severus suspected that the bond was keeping Harry's pain minimalized, and that is why Severus suggested Harry work through it by being closer to him. Harry did admit that the only potions that worked during his scar pain was the stomach smoother, which meant he just didn't get nauseous.
The one for the headache, though, had been useless. The only other potion was a nutrient one, to make up for what Harry didn't get at dinner because he hadn't eaten due to feeling nauseous and tired. Wednesday night, Harry obviously slept in his dorm with the boys and no one had even suspected Harry wasn't there on Tuesday given the drapes were shut around his bed. Draco knew the truth because Harry had wisely left the male a letter about where he was.
Now, it was Friday, the 17th of January. Currently, Harry was in Potions with Slughorn and a few other notable students he'd been with over the years. Slughorn was passing back the work that had been due Wednesday.
"I am not surprised that many of you did not manage through my bonus question." Horace began as he walked the desks, giving essays out. "Not to worry, it wasn't required. Those of you who could not find the information were not graded negatively for such." He continued. "Those of you who did, however, automatically received a high mark and added five points to your houses."
Horace set Harry's down, patting the boy's shoulder. "Most impressed with your essay, Mister Potter. It is something I would have expected from your mother, to be honest. Or even Professor Snape. I dare say they were my top two students during their time at Hogwarts." The man chuckled.
"Thank you, sir." Harry replied. He really needed to thank Severus again later tonight.
"It's beyond me, with your work, how Professor Snape didn't pass you with an Outstanding while you were in his class the last five years." Horace remarked as Harry flushed a little. "Well done, my boy." The teacher returned to his place at front of the room. Hermione threw her hand up. "Yes, Miss. Granger?"
"Before we move onto today's work, may we know, those of us who did not answer your bonus question correctly or…At all, what the answer is for our learning?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, yes. Of course!" Horace informed. "Uh, Harry…Why don't you read off your answer? You are the only one who touched on all points I hoped for if anyone could reply."
"Unicorn Hair, Blood, and the Horn are considered to be among a group of the rarest potion ingredients known to wizarding kind, in line with Acromantula, Dragon, and Basilisk parts." Harry began to recite. "Potions prepared with these ingredients include a rudimentary body with the blood, a beautification with the hair, and the horn can be used in potions for antidote to most poisons, and Draught of Peace. The horn of a Unicorn is also an ingredient to the Wiggenweld potion, which is a powerful healing potion for injuries in addition to it being the antidote for sleeping draughts and Draught of the Living Death." Harry paused to take a breath.
"Unlike other ingredients for harvesting, the Unicorn ingredients have a certain degree of effectiveness that will alter your potion if not used at full power. The only way to properly harvest Unicorn parts is to receive them willingly from the creature itself. Taking without such threatens the potency of their use by more than half." He continued.
"In addition, drinking the blood of a Unicorn will save you even if you are an inch from death. However, from the moment the blood touches your lips, you will have a half-life. A cursed life for slaying something so pure and defenseless to save yourself. Information sources cited are from Magical Drafts & Potions by Arsenius Jigger, Book of Potions by Zygmunt Budge, and Untold Secrets of the Ingredients, author unknown." Harry informed.
"I've never heard of that book before," Draco said.
"It was in my godfather's library back home…" Harry replied. "I reached out to him to ask if he had anything on rare ingredients, then he sent it to me with his house elf." Severus had never given him anything to use as a reason for how he got the book from his godfather's place, so Harry had to come up with something believable.
"Nevertheless…Excellent work, Mister Potter." Horace smiled. "Now, let us get into the rest of our work."
Harry never would have gotten this grade without Severus. It was marked with the highest grade, and an additional ten points to Slytherin. Harry needed to thank the man later tonight, it was a Friday…Maybe they could have a little fun, if his husband was in the mood. Harry banished the idea deep in his mind for later, as in after classes ended. Harry didn't want to lose focus in Potions, Severus would never let him hear the end of it.
. . .
Harry's last class of the day was Defense Against the Dark Arts, which worked out because he could talk to Severus about maybe them having a quiet evening together. It was harder for them to meet up during the week with risks of there being a Staff, Order, or Death Eater meeting.
But usually on the weekends, it was fairly quiet and no one could bother them. Severus was known for locking himself away to brew or work on grading, no one would think twice if Harry disappeared for a little bit. The first part of class was the test that Severus promised them on Tuesday, now there was about ten minutes left of class.
"Professor Snape, can we see a demonstration of the shield?" Asked one of the students.
"I suppose. Let's see now…Mr. Potter? Would you care to try your hand at blocking me with a shield?" Severus asked.
"I'll give it a go, Professor," Harry replied.
"Very well then. Come along," Severus invited as Harry got out from his desk and stood across from Severus a ways. It did not take long for Severus to start throwing hexes, jinxes, and curses at Harry. Nothing too horrible, of course, but Harry had a fairly easy time blocking them.
The interesting part was that Harry only actually spoke the incantation of Protego one time. All then rest, he didn't have to say anything; he did it all non-verbally. "The rumors of your shield work appear to be true." Severus remarked. "I heard quite a few stories that they held up against Death Eaters last year in the Ministry of Magic battle." He added.
"Professor Snape, my twin brothers have said that most adults, even those employed by the Ministry, can't produce functional shields. Is that true?" Ron wondered.
"Regrettably, it is very much true, Mr. Weasley." Severus nodded.
"But most can produce something that at least protects them for a quick moment, right?" Hermione inquired.
"Yes, but if you can't hold your ground; you might protect yourself from the attack and end up losing your footing and just get thrown back." Severus said. "Potter, how much do you trust your shielding capability?"
"You said it yourself, sir. I blocked Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. I have full confidence in my shield." Harry responded.
"Then may I use you for a demonstration of something stronger that may knock you back? I assure no harm will befall you." Severus asked.
"Give me your best, Professor." Harry told him.
Severus didn't even speak the curse he sent at Harry, but the teenager had his wand at the ready. What no one expected was for Harry's wand to get ripped out of his hand, and Severus realized it too late. Wandless magic was barely covered in sixth year, Harry admitted he could only do it with a few things.
Severus had sent a non-verbal cutting spell at Harry, just Diffindo, but without the wand, Harry stood no chance at blocking it. Oh God, what had he done sending a curse like that. Even if Harry was confident, he shouldn't have used this!
"Professor, cancel it! Harry doesn't have his wand!" Draco yelled.
"Potter, move!" Harry knew he only had seconds to react, so he threw his arms up in the form of an X to cover his face and chest. "Harry!" Severus shouted with definite worry and fear in his tone as the spell reached the teenager but the reflective properties of the shield charm lit up when the curse made contact, effectively protecting Harry's chest and stomach.
However, Harry didn't move from where his feet were planted firmly on the ground. Harry slowly lowered his arms and looked up to see Severus coming right towards him. "Harry? Harry, are you alright?" Severus asked.
"I-I think so?" Harry replied as he checked himself over. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good, Professor."
Severus was about to sigh in relief. "Harry, no, you're not…" Hermione frowned as she motioned to his face and Severus saw minor cuts appearing on the teenager's face, mostly his cheeks, one or two on his hands, then it was clear to see the rips in his robes around the arms and legs.
"Potter…Forgive me. I…Never intended you any harm." Severus said.
"Sir, it's fine. I told you to give me your best. I guess my shields aren't that good against you or I timed it wrong." Harry told him.
"No, it's not either of your faults." Draco remarked. "Harry, how'd you lose your wand?"
"I don't really know. I felt it get pulled out of my hand, like the disarming charm does." Harry admitted. "I didn't have time to think about it. Curse could have been way worse if I didn't focus on that."
"Here!" Pansy shoved someone forward. It was a Hufflepuff boy, Wayne Hopkins. "This one had his wand out, Professor Snape." She informed. "I heard him snickering with his friends to see if Harry was all that powerful then he could do it without his wand."
"Mr. Hopkins…Is this true? Did you purposely disarm Mr. Potter to underhandedly test his shielding abilities without a wand?" Severus stared the boy down, and of course, Wayne shrunk some. "I don't advise you to lie to me either. I have ways of checking the last spell performed on your wand." He added.
"Y-Yes, s-sir…I-I disarmed Harry to see if he could do it without his wand." Wayne confessed.
"You're a foolish boy! Do you have any idea what could have happened if Mr. Potter had not been able to erect a shield without his wand!?" Severus glared. "It was a cutting curse, and had he failed; he could have been severely injured. Now, his display was impressive to instinctively put up his arms and raise a shield without a wand and without speaking…But he did not escape unscathed, even if minor." He continued.
"Sixty points from Hufflepuff, Hopkins, for endangering a classmate, laughing as if it were a joke, and casting in my class without permission. A further ten more from each of you who went along with this and didn't stop him or speak up."
"Sir! That's eighty points!" Wayne argued.
"Arguing and talking back is another ten. Now you're at ninety points lost for your house, Hopkins. Do you wish to push my patience to make it an even one hundred?" Severus asked.
Wayne hung his head. "No, Professor…"
"A month's worth of detentions as well. Starting on Monday. You will be informed of when and where by then…" Severus added. "Class dismissed. Potter, stay behind if you please."
"Hey, I'm sure you're not in trouble, Harry…I think he's just worried about you…" Draco assured his friend before leaving the room. Once everyone was out, Severus ensured the door was locked shut.
"Professor, really. I'm-," Harry didn't even get to finish the sentence before Severus pulled Harry into a tight embrace.
"You don't know how scared I was when I saw your wand get ripped out of your hand," Severus told him. "I'm sorry…Forgive me, Harry. I never should have used that curse as a demonstration. I'll understand if you report this to the Headmaster."
"Severus…" Harry lightly hugged his husband back, then pulled away and made Severus look at him by setting his hands on Severus's cheeks. "Sev, hey…It's alright." Harry told him. "It wasn't your fault that my wand was taken. You didn't disarm me, Wayne did. I still got the shield up in time to be spared from the spell."
"But if you hadn't, Harry…God, if you hadn't…" Severus looked down.
"But I did, Severus." Harry repeated. "I understand the what if, but that didn't happen. I got the shield up in time, and strong enough to protect myself from the full brunt of that curse." Harry reminded. "Yes, I got a few scratches. I assure you that I've been through far worse and survived in my last six years here. It was not your fault, Sev. If I had my wand, I could have blocked it entirely."
"I've never put the shield up without my wand before, I didn't even know if it would work. And if it hadn't, it still would not have been your fault." He said. "Do not blame yourself. I am all right. I know you were scared…You stopped using Potter and called me Harry. I heard it in your voice when the curse struck, and after it passed when you came over to me. I felt your fear in the bond."
"Harry, Draco is the only one who knows our true connection to one another. Anyone else who sees us only knows of the past where I was awful to you. Anyone can go to Albus and say I used this demonstration to attack-," Severus started.
"Hey, hey…I wouldn't let Dumbledore do anything to punish you for this. I accepted your request to be the one you showed off the shield with. I told you to give me your best, and everyone just saw the admittance that Wayne disarmed me. Everyone saw how concerned you were for me. Albus knows you wouldn't do anything to hurt me…You've been protecting me all my life since I came here, after all." Harry smiled.
"It's okay. No real damage done, not gushing blood…Just a couple scrapes. "I'm not going to report you, Severus. Please don't worry." Harry summoned his wand back to his hand from the floor and gave it a wave over himself as all the cuts disappeared, then another flick to repair the torn bits of his clothing. "See? Fixed. Just like you told me with the picture from your room. No harm done."
Harry leaned up a bit and captured the man's lips with his own, once Severus began to kiss Harry back, the teenager locked his arms around his husband's neck to draw him in closer. It went on for a good few minutes before they finally stopped making out, both trying to catch their breaths. "We should stop, for now…Or I'll be tempted to take you right here in the classroom." Harry told him. Severus flushed a little at the insinuation.
"P-Perhaps later, you could…Come by and we can pick it up again?" Severus wondered.
"I think we can arrange that." Harry nodded. "How about I meet you in your quarters after curfew?"
"Gives us both plenty of time to get our work done so it's not a hindrance to our plans." Severus agreed. "I am glad you're okay, Harry and I meant what I said…Extremely impressive shield work. Wandless and non-verbal. Your shields are very strong, now we just need to get your mental ones to the same level and then I believe the dark lord will have a very difficult time trying to toy with you." Severus said. "Now, we should get our work done. I'm sure your friends are waiting for you outside the room."
"More than likely." Harry chuckled. "Oh! Almost forgot…I had wanted to see you tonight anyway."
"Oh, what for?" Severus asked.
Harry dug through his bag and pulled out the Potions work he got back earlier in the day. "This is that essay I wrote for Potions that you helped me with…I wanted you to see the grade. Slughorn…He told me that it was work he was impressed with and hadn't seen since you and mum were his students." Harry said.
"Excellent job, Harry. I may have helped you with the bonus question, but everything else you did on your own. Take credit and pride in your own work." Severus kissed his husband's cheek. "I'm very proud of you, as a teacher and your husband." The potions master smiled.
"Thank you," Harry hugged the man and Severus gave the parchment back. "I'll see you tonight," Harry gave Severus another quick kiss before pulling away and heading to exit the room. Severus did flick his wand to unlock the door as Harry hurried out and instantly met up with his friends.
Severus relaxed himself. Despite what Harry said, Severus shouldn't have used such a dangerous spell against his husband. Yes, Severus knew his husband could shield well, but hadn't expected wandless and wordless, much less now learning it was a first attempt.
Thankfully, the culprit of why Harry had to resort to an unpracticed method was found out and would be punished properly. Severus was sure he would have to talk to Albus, the man would want to know how Hufflepuff lost ninety points in one sitting.
Regardless, as long as everything else went smoothly tonight; Severus very much looked forward to spending Friday evening into Saturday with Harry. Severus had a feeling they were going to end up having sex, and that was fine with him. Harry had done a great job as top, more than what Severus expected and he truthfully, wanted to experience it again. It seemed Harry wanted the same, so tonight would hopefully play out nicely for them both.