It was four days shy of a full month since Harry and Severus made love that night, and while they both knew they lived in a magical world, wielding magic of their own; there was something special about that night. Perhaps considered their true consummation from getting married/bonded in August 1996 because of how willing, accepting, and overall perfect it had gone.

Harry and Severus felt more energetic, closer, powerful and it was agreed the next morning that it must have been because they properly officiated their bond. Nothing else really explained why they would feel this way, but of course, they had an act to put on in front of other teachers and students. The only people who knew of the truth were the Malfoys and Remus; Harry had reminded his werewolf uncle not to tell Sirius because it would set the man so far back that he might not recover.

Eventually, Harry would reveal things to Sirius, but not a moment before knowing he had healed from losing James and Lily Potter, also his twelve years in Azkaban. It was for the best, at least, that's what Harry kept telling himself. Harry was still close to his friends, and kept up on his work for school. Harry made sure to have time for his husband too, they spent every few nights together just talking or sometimes playing chess.

A time or two, Harry did actually go to him for Potions help, and then, of course, the two were still training together. Severus and Harry would take off to the Chamber of Secrets a couple nights a week to practice far more advanced defenses against dark magic, and work on some dark magic too.

Severus hadn't been sold on the idea to teach Harry dark magic, but the teenager made a good point that light spells wouldn't always work in a duel and sometimes, you had to level the playing field. Aside from that, as long as they weren't the unforgivable curses, Harry was using the dark magic to protect the people he cared about.

Harry's argument was that magic was all about intended use and he wasn't going to use it for evil. Severus agreed after that, so now they worked on defense with both sides of the magical spectrum. Other nights, Harry and Severus still worked at Occlumency, however, Harry still struggled with it against his husband. Also, after training was over, typically the two would get showered and maybe have a little fun if they were in the mood.

It wasn't always sex, obviously, but foreplay and making out never hurt anyone. Yes, things were going great between them, and both were happy. Harry still worked in his free time to figure out the dark mark, and he still had his mission to get Slughorn's true memory about a conversation with Tom Riddle back when the boy had been in school himself. Harry tried once, earlier today; it didn't go well.

Right now, Harry was working with Severus in Occlumency; in the man's office because word reached Dumbledore that Harry was always working with Professor Snape, and their teacher/student relationship had never been good. Sometimes the lessons were under the guise of detentions, or so it was said and students reported that Harry never did anything wrong to earn them.

When the two got asked about their meetings, it was an easy response to use the Occlumency lessons. Albus, of course, had never been happier to hear that the two were trying again. There had been worry Albus might try to look into these, so Harry and Severus decided they would do that training in Severus's office of the dungeons. It was also Valentine's Day, so after this training, the couple planned to enjoy a mini dinner in Severus's quarters. The current time was 8:30 pm.

"Come on, Harry…We've been working at this for weeks now, and things held way stronger when you trained with Draco." Severus sighed. "What's going on? Is there a reason you let me in so easily?"

Harry was in the chair, breathing hard with a hand to his head. "I swear I'm not just letting you in, Severus."

Severus didn't understand. How was it that Harry did so well with Draco, but not him? There was something not adding up. "Alright, take a little break. I'm going to contact Lucius, maybe he'll have some insight. It doesn't make sense that your shields held when Draco was teaching you, but they don't hold with me."

"I tested your shields myself when we made the agreement to marry, they were solid." Harry nodded as he sat back and closed his eyes. Severus went over to his fireplace. "I'll be right back, wait here." Severus stepped into the floo. "Malfoy Manor, Main Room." Then he threw the powder down and disappeared in the green flames.

. . .

Severus appeared in the flames and stepped out to find Narcissa and Lucius sitting in their normal spots in the main room.

"Severus, what a lovely surprise." Lucius said.

"Has something happened at the school?" Narcissa set her book down.

"Draco is perfectly fine, Narcissa. I'm here for something with Harry." Severus stated.

"What's happened?" Narcissa inquired.

"His Occlumency training. I was hoping to get your insight on something, Lucius. Or perhaps you, Narcissa." Severus inquired.

"We'll give it a go. What seems to be the problem?" Lucius asked.

"That's the problem in itself. I don't know what the problem is." Severus sighed. "When I first tried to teach Harry Occlumency, there was too much hatred between us. Well, me to him because of James. I gave him a hard time on purpose, mentally and emotionally abused him. Not my finer moments and nothing I'm proud of. He failed because I failed to teach him properly like I taught Draco, for example."

"Obviously, this time around…You're not behaving that way with Harry, correct?" Narcissa questioned.

"Of course not," Severus assured. "Now…When Harry came to me at the end of fifth year to make the marriage request, he told me he knew I was a spy for the Order and not really a Death Eater. I told him to keep it out of his mind because of the link he shares with Voldemort."

"Harry told me Draco was teaching him Occlumency after the incident where Harry cast Protego and caused my Legilimens spell to rebound and he saw inside my mind, the day Black and Potter were bullying me and I called Lily a mudblood." He paused. "Now…I tested Harry's shield at that point and they were pretty solid from whatever Draco was teaching him on how to do it."

"So what's the problem?" Lucius pushed.

"Harry's shields can't seem to hold with me teaching him. There's no resistance to me getting in his mind and all it's doing is hurting him, though, I'm not doing it intentionally. I just felt I could make his shields stronger if I taught him Occlumency, the strength I have against Voldemort, even Albus. But Harry can't seem to raise the shield when I am in his mind. I can't figure out why they were so strong before, but not now." Severus explained.

"Rather perplexing," Lucius stroked his chin.

"Perhaps not so much." Narcissa replied. "I believe the answer is right in front of you, Severus, and you're thinking too hard to find an answer you already have."

"What that might be because I don't see an answer to this." Severus muttered.

"The answer is that you and Harry are bonded, Severus." Narcissa claimed. "You two are bonded, and supposedly, soulmates."

"Yes, I'm well aware, Narcissa. I don't see what it has to do with why he can't block me." Severus commented.

"Severus, don't be stubborn. Can you really not see it yourself?" Narcissa sighed. The potions master blinked at her. "Think back on what you just told us. Before you and Harry got bonded, Harry's shields were strong. You tested them yourself, right? BEFORE you two bonded." The woman informed. "Harry can't block you, Severus, because you're his husband. His soulmate. Your bond doesn't want to block one another out, it defeats the entire purpose of being able to feel one another's emotions."

"But I can still block Harry from me." Severus argued calmly.

"I don't think you can, Severus. Narcissa makes solid reasoning. You may think you're blocking Harry out like you do to the dark lord, but in reality…Harry doesn't know how to look into the mind. He doesn't know Legilimency to do that and the only way he did before was because your spell rebounded when Harry used a physical shield to protect himself from your attack." Lucius stated. "I believe Narcissa is right on this. Harry can't block you because you two are bonded."

"I'd go as far to say that even if Harry's shields weren't like yours before the bonding, they are now because you are bonded. Your magic is meshed, remember? You two are protecting one another from outsiders, but not from one another." Narcissa mentioned.

Severus hadn't really thought about it that way. Could it be so? The reason Harry couldn't block him was because it would affect their bond? Well, it was the only thing he'd heard or considered that seemed correct. "I suppose that makes sense. I need a way to test it, how strong they are since I cannot see such now. Maybe Albus…" He thought.

"How are you and Harry, Severus?" Lucius inquired.

"We're…Doing quite well, actually. Harry suggested some weeks ago that as we're giving things an honest try as a couple, we…Date within our marriage." Severus told his friends.

"Aren't you already married?" Narcissa wondered.

"Yes, but how things started out and then we talked things out to make up from that fight has left us as getting to know one another better. Such being friends, but now…Dating, like a normal couple and the marriage is just for…Legality to protect him from being a minor with no guardian. It's odd, but no matter what, we're together." Severus tried to explained. "Harry's wise beyond his years and apparently, a romantic gentleman."

"We're just glad things are better for you. Does he visit you often after hours?" Lucius chuckled.

"Every few nights." Severus nodded.

"I see that those teenage hormones are ever active." Narcissa tried not to laugh."

Severus rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Yes, he comes by my room, but it's not always intimate meetups." He informed. "We venture down to the Chamber of Secrets and train. He asked me to teach him dark magic, to use it defensively and level the playing field when the final battle comes. I agreed. He made an argument I couldn't refuse."

"But you two…Have been intimate since making up from the fight?" Lucius asked.

Severus tried not to blush, or lose his composure at the question. "We have. Just a few weeks ago, for the first time since the wedding." He didn't know why he was revealing it to them, but they were his closest friends and there was no real harm. "Knowing what I do now, I think that's exactly why Harry can't block me, or we can't block each other…"

"How do you mean?" Narcissa inquired.

"Our magic didn't bond right the night we consummated the marriage. I admit I was nervous, as surprised and impressed I was by giving Harry my trust to…Top me. Lucius, you know my preferences in that area." The man nodded. "After it was done, I…Sent him away. We didn't spend the entire night together."

"You realized that did not enable your energies to mix properly, then all the harshness followed until the fight." Lucius stated. "The bond wasn't completed. Legally, yes, but not physically."

Severus nodded. "But I assume that things have…Corrected now? This last time you speak of a few weeks ago?" Narcissa questioned.

"Yes. Harry did try to go back to the dorm…I think just on his own as preparation that I'd send him off again. I told him to stay. Didn't ask, told him to stay with me that night." Severus informed. "I told him it had been amazing, he joked that he told me he would make it so. I called him a brat, teasingly, of course…But his response is what got me."

"What did he respond with?" Lucius invited.

"Your brat." Severus confessed. "He said your brat, referring to himself being mine. Then he said good night and drifted off to sleep."

"What was your response? You said it got to you, so there was…Some kind of reaction." Narcissa pushed.

Severus glanced at his clasped hands, recalling that night. "I knew he was asleep, but I had said mine you are indeed, as I am yours."

Narcissa giggled. "Oh, dear me! Severus, how wonderful."

"Narcissa, what are you giggling about?" Lucius sighed.

"Lucius, don't tell me you can't see it. What is it with men never seeing the obvious…Honestly." The woman sighed. "Severus is falling in love with Harry."

"I most certainly am not." Severus refused.

"Severus, please. You basically just admitted to it! Harry called himself YOURS, and you agreed to it while doubling to confess that you are his!" Narcissa pointed an accusing finger at the potions master. "You are falling for Harry! That's rather sweet." Narcissa smiled. "I dare say, Severus…Harry's bringing out the best in you."

"Narcissa, don't tease him. Severus…" The potions master looked at the blond. "Are you happy, with him?" Lucius asked.

"I…Believe I am, Lucius." Severus admitted. "I'll always have a place in my heart for Lily, but-,"

"Harry has made his own place within your heart?" Narcissa grinned. "You love Harry, Severus. Do yourself a favor and admit it. Even if not to us, but yourself, at least…"

"Even…Even if I do, Harry doesn't feel that way about me." Severus argued. "I know he likes me, he said he did right before we-,"

"SEE?! He likes you, Severus. He wants a real relationship with you, despite age and all others who are likely fiending for the boy. He chose you, Severus." Narcissa informed. "Maybe he already has fallen for you and just hasn't said it because he's unsure of the future, my friend. He told us all that during the wedding party, he never planned a future because he doesn't know if he'll have one."

"My wife makes a good point," Lucius agreed.

"He told me what he wanted for the future…" Severus sighed. "Little house in a peaceful, small neighborhood. Family of his own by being married and adopting some kids, working as an auror. He wants a normal life…Cracked a joke that he already got part of it, settling down with someone…Meaning me. It's how we got on the topic of wanting to give things a real shot as a couple…When he told me that he liked me."

"Severus, let him into your heart. Open your heart to the bond, to Harry. He makes you happy, he likes you…Wants to stay with you, have a future with you." Narcissa remarked.

"You're soulmates, Severus. Most people go through their life never finding theirs, so there's something strong within you both that made the higher power bless you. Accept it. Welcome it. Nothing could possibly go wrong to keep you apart." Lucius told him.

"I've already opened my heart to him, and the bond." Severus said. "I accepted we're meant to be in each other's lives, but I won't admit to any more until I know where Harry's feelings lie. Perhaps I am falling in love with him, but I don't wish to scare him off by throwing that confession when we agreed to give this a chance and see where it goes. Marriage aside, we're taking it slow." He enlightened.

"And that's perfectly fine." Lucius spoke before his wife could protest. "Now, get back to the school. I'm sure Dumbledore doesn't approve of you just departing from the school before curfew hits in case you are needed."

Severus stood up to leave, but it was at that moment when all three of them saw Death Eaters appearing in the room and the summons was felt. Severus's eyes widened, Harry was still in his office, waiting for him to get back and he had no way to pass the message along. Voldemort showed himself next.

"Ah, wonderful…You're already here, Severus." Voldemort remarked.

"I was informing Lucius and Narcissa of how well their son was doing in his classes when you summoned, my lord." Severus lied quickly. "There was supposed to be a staff meeting tonight in five minutes, would you permit me to return to inform Dumbledore that I will be unable to attend? I can tell him there's a situation to handle with the snakes."

"Go, quickly. This is an important meeting." Voldemort said firmly.

"Yes, my lord." Severus got into the fireplace and tossed the powder down. "Severus Snape's Office, Hogwarts." The flames took him away.

. . .

"There you are," Harry smiled. "I was getting worried. Maybe now we can enjoy that fireplace cuddling?"

"I'm going to have to reschedule, Harry…While I was at the Malfoys, Voldemort showed up for a meeting. I'm only back here on a lie to tell Albus I was summoned. You need to go back to the dorm." Severus told him gently.

Harry frowned. "Why don't you just take me through and I'll give the snake-faced bastard a piece of my mind?"

"Harry…Not the time." Severus gave the teenager a light kiss. "Go on now. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Harry sighed, but nodded. "Okay. Be safe, as much as you can?"

"I can only promise to try." Severus nodded.

"Alright. See you tomorrow, Sev." Harry smiled as he walked past Severus to exit the office and get back to the Slytherin common room.

Severus worried that Voldemort always interfering on nights they planned to hang out was going to get in the way. Harry was only going to work harder to remove the mark now, and then Severus wondered how exactly Harry was going to keep him safe when the dark lord learned Severus wasn't on his side.

The same went for Lucius and Narcissa. If Harry actually found the way to remove the mark, Harry was right, plenty of the Death Eaters with kids of their own in the school would probably want out. They already strove to keep Voldemort from recruiting them. Sighing, Severus composed himself and returned to the fireplace after sending word to Albus he was summoned, then he returned to Malfoy Manor for the meeting.