Severus woke with the disconcerting feeling of it being too quickly and too slowly at the same time. His memory swept through him, Hogwarts under attack, Death Eaters everywhere, the students fighting back, the Order arriving, Aurors arriving, he heard word go out over the ridiculous Potter radio that Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas had started and suddenly adult witches and wizards that had hidden themselves away over the last year appeared and started padding out their numbers, helping them even out against the Death Eaters,

Potter had appeared with Weasley and Granger towards the beginning of the attack, he remembered the delight of the Order, the breath of relief that had gone through the defenders, the confidence that just having them there had caused, like a pebble being dropped into a still lake, making its own waves.

Severus had watched Granger, Weasley and Dumbledore exchanging tense words as Potter stood near them, whatever had happened between them to cause their rift, to cause Potter to separate himself from Albus discreetly, visible only to those closest to the two, whatever had happened was clearly set aside for that moment, and they reached an agreement for what needed to happen.

Molly Weasley had sobbed happily at having the three back, but Severus had seen even as they smiled and hugged her back tightly that they had changed, whatever they had done over the last year, wherever they had been running, it had changed them.

Potter's green eyes had swept over to him and locked on him. He had expected Potter to protest him being there, protest him fighting, the same way Black and a few of the other Order members had.

Potter had just nodded to him, a small incline of his head, but there, before he turned to Granger and Weasley, the two of them looking more determined than Severus had ever seen them before the three of them had split up and disappeared into the crowd, clearly they had a mission and they knew what they were doing, and they moved to do it.

The battle had been long and messy, Severus' mind swept over it, not able to cope right now with the faces he had seen, the people he had seen dying, the sightless eyes staring. The battle had gone on, and Albus had been buying time, time for Potter to do something Severus knew, and he helped, along with the others, even though they didn't know what was happening, even though they had not been outright told that this was what they were doing, they had bought Potter, Granger and Weasley time.

Severus' heart thumped as he remembered towards the end of the battle Potter was suddenly there, in the middle, in what had become no man's land, standing there by himself, upright and just staring at the Death Eater lines.

Granger and Weasley had suddenly appeared next, and they had ignored the screams and accusations, the shouts of betrayal when they dropped warding stones and formed a barrier behind Potter, locking him out, stopping the rest of them from being able to help him.

Even Albus had been confused and angry with them, shouting at them to drop the wards that they had quickly realised was tied to the two of them. But they had ignored everyone and they had held the ward in place while Voldemort had shouted taunts and jibes at Potter, mocking him for giving in.

Potter had just stood there, as though he was just waiting, he had done and said nothing. Finally the Dark Lord became enraged at the utter lack of reaction and had struck out, casting the killing curse.

Those on the dark side had laughed and jeered as Potter crumpled and hit the floor, the hero dead. Those on the light side had cried, screaming and shouting. Severus had felt as though his ears were ringing as he stared at the crumpled figure of Harry Potter lying on the dirty battlefield.

His mind had echoed.

He's dead.

He's dead.

He's gone.

Through the screams and shouts, the crying and the laughter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley had maintained the ward, they held it firmly, their wands glowing with the power they were forcing into it as the dark side launched spells at it. And slowly the light side calmed down with the unmovable force that the two of them were, they had calmed at the lack of reaction from the two closest to Harry.

Their eyes were locked on Harry Potter's body, but they didn't move, they didn't stop the flow of magic. Gradually the light side calmed, and they imitated Potter's best friends.

They seemed to be waiting.

And so the light side waited.

Voldemort became frustrated when no one surrendered at the death of the precious chosen one, and he cast the killing curse at the ward.

Granger and Weasley moved almost as one, impressively so, the ward seemed to fold around the curse as they directed it, and then it launched the curse at Potter's body.

Everyone gasped when the second killing curse hit Harry Potter in the space of what only could be ten minutes, both sides freezing at the sound of the gasp of breath that came from the still form before Potter was suddenly on his feet again, wand in hand.

The rest of the battle had been a blur, Severus remembered fighting Death Eaters, taking out Fenrir Greyback, he remembered ending back to back with Lupin of all people battling furiously to hold off Death Eaters while Tonks blasted her way through a bunch of them.

He didn't see the spell coming towards him, he felt it at the last minute, and he had tried to get a shield up in time to stop the curse but it had not been enough, and he had stared wide eyed into Bellatrix's eyes, her mad cackle filling his ears before everything went black.

He remembered the battle, everything swept through his mind, but as he slowly came too, his mind was surprised by the fact that he didn't appear to be in a cold prison cell in Azkaban the way that he had expected to be if he woke up, he wasn't lying on a hard cot with an excuse for a mattress under him, he wasn't in agony from basic healing to keep him alive so that he could be charged with being a Death Eater the way had happened last time.

He was on a comfortable bed, the scent of the Hospital Wing filling his senses as he became more and more aware.

He hadn't really stood a chance of getting out of prison this time, even with Albus vouching for him, he had had to be too visible as a Death Eater this time, sweeping through the Ministry with other Death Eaters.

But he wasn't in prison.

He snapped his eyes open and met burning green ones staring right back at him.

He blinked a couple of times and realised that Harry Potter was leaning over his bed, looking at him intently as he came back to himself, his dark eyes scanning over the Hospital Wing, assuring himself that his sense of smell was correct and that is where he was, before his eyes settled back onto Harry Potter, who was still watching him.

His expression was almost impossible to read, and Severus wondered if he had been waiting to have a chance to tell him exactly what he thought of him, of his actions, maybe get a curse in, but then Potter nodded minutely and touched his hand with the tips of his fingers so lightly that Severus barely felt it before he swept from the room.

Severus managed to sit up a little on the bed he was in, looking around he realising that he was in one of the few private rooms in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, but this was as far as he got in his observation before Poppy and another Healer came hustling in, well no, they were hustled in, by Potter.

"Yes, yes thank you Mr Potter, we will of course tend to him," Poppy said in bemused annoyance as the young man stopped in the doorway and crossed his arms.

"Shall we have a look Mr Snape?" The other Healer said, sweeping to his side and making him lean a little away from him. Potter let out a grunt from the doorway and the Healer paused. "My name is Healer Roberts, I am from St Mungo's, I have been brought here along with a few others to help the wounded. I have been treating you along with Healer Pomphrey while you have been unconscious," the Healer said to him, before glancing at Potter, who nodded satisfied and swept away again.

"Let's have a look at how you are doing Severus, you have had us worried, it has been five days," Poppy sighed and started working.

Severus blinked between the two as they worked over him, before turning when Potter for some reason returned, this time hustling Granger into the room along with another Healer. This one just looked amused before stepping over to assist Poppy and Roberts after introducing herself as 'just Lauren'.

Granger looked as though she had been woken up considering she was yawning and stretching, and her normally wild bushy hair was in an even more wild state and dressed in rumpled leggings and a vest top.

"Yes, yes, demanding!" Granger grumbled when Potter poked her in the side. "Now you're awake, hopefully I can get a better night's sleep," Granger muttered, walking over and glaring at Potter who just stared back at her. She huffed amused but stepped next to the Healers and stood so as not to be in their way and listened carefully to what they were saying.

"It is all looking good, the previous damage has nearly all been erased, a little more rest and you will feel better than you ever have," Poppy smiled at Severus.

"What?" He blinked at her confused.

"While you were out the Healers not only healed the damage from the curse that hit you, but also previous damage that has been done to you. You have been on a mixture of potions, charms, rituals and healing spells for a few days now. You should feel a lot better than you have in a while, or hopefully will do soon," Hermione Granger was the one to explain.

"That type of healing costs a lot of money," Severus frowned. Now he was thinking about it, the aches and pains that he had felt for years from taking hexes, curses, Crucio, even from exploding cauldrons and fucked up potions hitting him, all of it seemed to be absent.

"That it does," Hermione Granger nodded and then looked at Potter who was still standing in the doorway.

"Why would you pay for all of that?" Severus frowned, utterly confused as the Healers carried on around him.

"Harry isn't speaking at the moment, it should right itself fairly soon, but for now, all I can do is say for him that he wouldn't allow anything less," Hermione Granger answered instead after Potter turned and looked at her intently.

"Isn't speaking…he is injured?" Severus frowned.

"No, he is all healed from the Battle," Hermione reassured him.

"Then why isn't he speaking?" Severus tried to sit up a little more, waving away the hands of the Healers who tried to stop him, he only stopped though when Harry stepped into the room further and held his hand out, indicating for him to stop.

"We will explain soon, let's allow the healers to finish," Hermione said softly.

Severus endured the fussing of the three healers, watching their magic flow over him, and listening to what they were saying about his healing progress, the long term damage that was being undone, but his eyes flickered to Hermione Granger who was also listening intently and kept flickering her eyes to Harry Potter.

His own eyes went to the other the most.

Harry Potter was definitely different. He wasn't the scrawny 16 year old that had suddenly disappeared from under their noses. The 18 year old had clearly been through a lot in the last year.

He was standing taller, how he had managed to grow from around 5,6 to what looked to be 6,2 in just over a year at his age Severus didn't know, he had filled out with it as well, strong shoulders, muscled chest, strong muscled arms that were currently crossed over said chest. His face while the same seemed a little more angular, stronger, his jaw set as he stood there.

His face and eyes said something of what he had been through in the last year, serious and determined, firm and almost unreadable except for those few emotions. He wasn't a boy anymore, and as glowing green eyes locked on Severus again, the potions master had no doubt that what had transpired in the last year for the other was more than he could ever imagine.

Long, dark hair fell messily around his face, only just touching his shoulders, and it swept around that angular face as he turned suddenly to look at the door.

"Severus, you're awake," Albus smiled relieved as he, Minerva, Kingsley and Lupin stopped in the doorway and looked in to see him sitting up.

"I am," Severus nodded.

"May we come in?" Albus asked uncertainly, but his eyes were on Harry. Harry however turned and looked at Severus, and everyone waited.

"Of course?" Severus said, confused, and watched green eyes narrow.

A tension suddenly picked up in the room as he watched Harry shake himself, almost as though he were a dog, a full body shake as something flashed through his eyes, and those in the doorway and the healers around his bed froze in place.

"I am afraid that you are going to need to sound a little more sure than that Professor. Would you like them to come in now, or not? If you wish for privacy, I am sure that they can return later," Hermione Granger spoke up and seemed to manage to break through the tension.

"Why do I need to sound more sure? What is going on?" Severus growled, confusion, concern and annoyance sweeping through him.

"Harry," Granger said in warning as Potter grunted again and flexed his shoulders.

"Oh for…they can come in," Severus waved his hand. Harry huffed but turned and nodded to the others, who all stepped into the room, all quite obviously aware of Harry who seemed to be standing guard.

"We're all done, we will be back in a few hours to check everything is ok, but call us if you need us," Lauren said, reaching to pat Harry on the shoulder as she passed. Severus narrowed his eyes at the contact, looking up and blanching a little when he met burning green eyes that were already watching him.

"Why aren't I in prison?" Severus said as soon as the healers were out of the room.

"Mr Potter made it quite clear, despite his lack of words, that that wasn't going to happen, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley just clarified that," Kingsley chuckled.

"I told you that you can call me Hermione, and Harry doesn't mind Harry either," Hermione said lightly, and Harry bobbed his head in agreement.

"But…why…you had far more important things to deal with surely? And why would you defend me?" Severus shook his head at Harry, whose eyes narrowed to almost slits before he looked pointedly at Hermione.

"Don't glare at me," Hermione huffed, before huffing again when Harry seemed to manage to physically shove her a little with his magic, from across the room. Severus stared wide eyed at this while Hermione seemed to just take it as normal, turning to see the shocked expressions on the others' faces eased him a little, though from their expressions this was something that they had an idea about or had seen something similar things happening.

"What is…"

"To Harry there is nothing more important than you, and he would never allow you to be taken to prison. It would also not be in the best interest of the Ministry to do so considering the damage that Harry would leave behind retrieving you," Hermione snorted.

"Are we going to get an explanation as to what has happened then?" Albus asked pleasantly, but Harry let out a low snarl, and Hermione's eyes narrowed at the older man in a way that clearly shocked them all.

"This is Harry and Severus' business, you had no right to know before Severus. If he wishes for you to be here for this, that is his choice, otherwise you hold no right to hear any of this, and Harry will remove you from the room," Hermione spoke lowly, and firmly, and with utter conviction.

"Is Harry able to share his thoughts with you?" Remus asked, confused, looking between the two at the way Hermione seemed to be speaking for Harry. Severus found himself frowning at this, something poking in his chest.

"Our bond is beyond needing something like that," Hermione smiled, looking amused and Severus definitely felt something in his chest clenching at that. A grunt had him lifting his eyes from where they had dropped to where his hands were resting on the bed, and he found green eyes watching him intently.

His own widened a little as he was held in them and Harry stepped a little closer to the bed before stopping and staying in place as though he were a statue.

"Harry and I's bond is deep and powerful, more than brother and sister," Hermione said, and Severus turned his eyes to her and found her watching in understanding, "but it is brother and sister in nature,"

"Same for me, though obviously brothers," Ron said walking into the room. "It is good seeing you awake, we have been worried,"

"What is going on?" Severus sighed.

"Are you happy for them to stay?" Ron asked when Harry swept his eyes over the group and then looked at Severus.

"Yes," He just sighed tiredly.

"Dumbledore felt that it would be a good idea to block Harry's magic when he was still young, or some of it, he thought that the Horcrux inside of him would influence Harry, and that by placing a block on his magic he would prevent that influence," Hermione said right away.

"You're launching right into it," Albus said wide eyed.

"We don't really believe in beating around the bush, time has been too short for that," Hermione snorted.

"You blocked his magic, Albus?" Minerva turned wide eyed.

"He thought that he was doing what was best, it wasn't, but he thought it would protect Harry, he threaded the block through the wards Lily Potter created around Harry," Ron explained.

"He accidentally blocked something else though, Harry's creature inheritance," Hermione said.

"But, the Potter's have no creature blood," Remus blinked.

"It has to have come from Lily Potter, we haven't had the time to work out how considering everything else, we will have time to look into it now, but where it came from wasn't really our priority, more getting a handle on it, along with you know, the war," Hermione shrugged.

"But…how did you find out?" Minerva asked.

"We snapped the block on Harry, and well, the reaction was pretty instantaneous," Ron snorted.

"It was a good job it was just the two of us around him, the Dragon wasn't impressed at being locked away," Hermione said.

"As it is, there is a fair bit of damage to where we were hiding out," Ron nodded.

"Dragon, as in….Dragon…" Severus breathed looking up and meeting those green eyes that hadn't moved from him. Everyone was looking at Harry, who slowly nodded.

"You're a…oh Merlin," Albus sank into the chair and covered his face.

"This might teach you not to meddle in things without others' permission and because you think you know better," Hermione said sharply.

"You will have a little respect, Miss Granger!" Minerva snapped before they all tensed and turned when Harry let out a low warning growl.

"Harry believes that you should have the same, Professor," Ron said lowly.

"After all, it is asking a lot for us to have respect for the man who fucked so elegantly, and repeatedly, with Harry's life," Hermione said, her tone low and dangerous.

"They are right," Albus said softly, removing his hands but not looking up from the floor.

Harry let out a noise that Severus could only describe as a chuff, and did that full body shake again before looking at Hermione and Ron.

"We trained, got control of the Dragon, Harry learned to meld with it, become one with it. We made sure of that before we did anything else so that we didn't have an out of control Draconid storming around the place," Hermione carried on.

"And we carried on what we had set out to do in the first place," Ron nodded.

"You destroyed all the horcruxes?" Kingsley asked, looking between the three with an even stronger level of respect than before.

"And the Deathly Hallows," Hermione said, and the room froze.

"You did what now?" Remus asked.

"Destroyed them," Ron nodded. "Voldemort wanted them, they were too dangerous to leave lying around, and they insulted Harry's delicate Dragon senses,"

Harry huffed and stuck two fingers up at Ron who just grinned back.

"Dragon's are sensitive to the balance and weight of magic in the world, something like the Hallows are wrong to be in this world, we hit two birds with one stone and destroyed the lot, which is how we came into contact with the Draconid colony who helped Harry with the rest of his control, and explained a few things, including why he can't speak at the moment," Hermione waved her hand.

"You have been mute for months now?" Severus frowned, concerned at Harry who managed a small smile and shrugged, motioning to Hermione and Ron.

"We have managed, our close bond has thankfully allowed for us to understand him and speak for him, until he claims his voice again. A couple from the Draconid community are on their way here now, they shouldn't be too long, Lauren would have let them know you're awake," Ron said.

"She is a Draconid," Hermione nodded.

"What…what does this have to do with me?" Severus asked slowly.

Harry made a grunting sound again, one that sounded terribly close to a word, one that Severus would never dream would be aimed at himself, one that sounded like…

"Mate," Hermione said. "You're his mate,"

The room stilled and went silent as they all took in what had just been said, but Severus couldn't look away from Harry, who was standing there, unmoving at the doorway to his room, guarding him, his green eyes steady as they met Severus' wide eyed stare, no revulsion showing on his face as Hermione announced what she did to the room.

"But…that isn't possible," Severus shook his head, and this time the grunt Harry let out sounded annoyed.

"It is, Harry knew, as soon as Arturus started talking about Draconids, and the fact that they would always have a mate, Harry knew it was you," Hermione said.

"It isn't…they're meant to match each other, compliment each other, balance each other, they're meant to be made for each other," Severus reeled off, and stared when Harry let out a pleased noise, and just nodded in agreement. "I am none of that for you!"

"You are. It isn't as black and white as it sounds, the balance, the complimenting each other, it isn't a case of being night and day to each other. It is far more complicated than that, the bond is far more complicated than that. But the creature is never wrong," Hermione explained softly while Severus couldn't take his eyes from Harry who stared back.

"But what the creature wants, and the human wants, that can be different," Severus said, and Harry narrowed his eyes again, growling low in his throat before flicking his eyes angrily to Hermione and Ron.

"They are one and the same, there is no line between them, Harry is the creature," Hermione said softly.

"No, it can't be, the creature may have decided that I am….but the human part of him would never want me!" Severus snapped. The snarl that went through the room froze everyone but Hermione and Ron who just snorted amused as massive black wings exploded from Harry's back, nearly seven foot the black wings flared out widely, displaying shining black scales that looked as though they were made from slithers of onyx and obsidian.

On the tips of the folds of the wings were emerald spikes, sharp and deadly looking, even as Harry folded his wings in around himself to make a little more room as with them out there was barely any space for them all.

Green eyes narrowed on Severus' wide eyed face before he motioned to the wings and then his chest and then back again.

"The creature and the human are one and the same, and the choices they made match," Hermione explained as Ron walked behind Harry and repaired his top so that the torn shreds of the back sealed back together around his wings.

"I can't be," Severus shook his head.

"And why is that? Harry knows his mind and heart well, and it is fairly settled," a new voice said, and they turned to see two men standing in the doorway, neither of them blinking at Harry's wings.

One was a taller man, fairly slender and standing with a proud bearing that spoke of Pureblood upbringing, his light blue robes contrasting with his deep olive skin, the second was smaller and more delicate standing in dark blue robes that highlighted his pale skin and blond hair.

"Arturus," Hermione smiled. "Everyone, this is Arturus and Luka, mates from the Colony, Harry's tutors,"

"I have been looking forward to meeting you," Arturus smiled brightly at Severus, chuckling when Harry ruffled his wings, the movement making sense now that his wings were out.

"Why?" Severus breathed out.

"Because Harry here is rather impressive, so the mate he chose had to be equally so," Luka smiled before tilting his head at the expression on Severus' face. "I believe that the rest of you should leave, this is private now," the light haired man said with a smile, but there was steel underneath as he looked at the others.

"I will leave it to Hermione, there shouldn't be too many of us here," Ron said, already moving, touching Harry on the shoulder before stopping in the doorway and staring at Albus, Minerva, Kingsley and Remus.

"It isn't your place to decide whether we stay or not," Minerva narrowed her eyes on the young man.

"It is when we are Harry's teachers and will guide Severus through this as well. Your presence here is not helping, and is not needed at the moment, so I suggest you leave," Arturus said politely, motioning towards the door politely.

"Severus, you don't need to feel pressured into anything," Minerva frowned, turning to him.

"A Draconid would never pressure their mate into anything, they would rather cut off their own wings than do that!" Luka snapped, stepping in front of his mate and glaring angrily at the woman.

Severus was aware of the conversation going on around him, but all he could focus on was the green eyes that had not left his face, it was as though Harry was drinking him in, as though he couldn't get enough of him, as though he was willing Severus to understand him, to understand what he was feeling.

"Leave, please," Severus said softly, and the arguing stopped.

"Very well," Minerva straightened and walked out the room, clearly annoyed, Luka's narrowed eyes following her.

"If you need to talk, either of you, you know where I am," Albus tried to say, and Harry's green eyes did leave Severus' face for a moment to settle onto Albus, and Severus realised the tiredness and distrust that Harry felt for the other man.

"Why did you allow him to stay if that is how you feel for him?" Severus asked as soon as the group had left, Ron being the last one out, clearly making sure they all went.

"Because he knows that you care for Dumbledore, and he means a lot to you," Hermione said from where she was leaning against the wall. "This conversation was never going to be an easy one for you, and he wants you to be as comfortable for it as possible,"

"Still not talking Harry?" Arturus grinned when Harry just grunted.

"Why can't he talk?" Severus asked concerned.

"The Dragon should have come out when he was 14, it was held back till he was 17, they have some catching up and balancing out to do, Harry is doing pretty well but one of those things is his speech. Hopefully being around you, and wanting to talk to you will encourage that part back to him," Luka explained, transfiguring the chairs into more comfortable ones for himself, Arturus and Hermione.

"You're not sitting?" Severus sighed at Harry, and watched him shake his wings in what seemed like protest.

"You have been in a bad way, everything in him is shouting for him to guard you right now," Arturus explained.

"I can't be…I can't be your mate Harry," Severus breathed out looking at his hands. Arturus and Luka sucked in breaths as though he had punched them in the stomachs and he turned to look at them quickly as they stared at him horrified.

"That wasn't him rejecting Harry," Hermione said with that odd calmness that she and Harry seemed to possess.

"No I wasn't!" Severus said quickly, turning to Harry. He knew what rejecting a mate without the proper preparations could do to a creature, especially one like a Draconid.

He found Harry standing watching him intently though.

"Harry knows you weren't," Hermione said.

"Oh thank Merlin, I think my heart just stopped," Luka groaned pressing one hand to his face and the other to his heart.

Harry grunted and ruffled his wings again, looking really annoyed for the first time since this whole bizarre conversation started.

"I know I know Harry, but be fair we have only just met your mate, and that didn't sound good!" Arturus said and Harry just huffed again.

"Do you believe that Harry has made a mistake on who his mate is?" Luka asked Severus concerned who managed to pull his eyes from the bright green eyes to look into sky blue ones instead.

"Yes," Severus nodded. "With what happened to him, with him being repressed, with the war, something has gotten confused," he nodded more firmly.

The noise Harry let out this time was definitely annoyance, and he stepped closer to the bed, his green eyes narrowed on Severus.

"The creature would never make a mistake like that, even given all of the circumstances, Harry has known for months now that it is you, and he has waited patiently as he did what he had to do, but who his mate is has not shifted once in his mind," Arturus smiled.

"I thought mates were drawn to be with each other," Severus picked up, "he managed to stay away for months so…"

Harry's wings snapped out again, flared wide in the room as green eyes almost felt as though they were burning their way into Severus this time.

"It has been torture for him, staying away from you, it is part of the reason we think he has not got his voice back yet. But he knew to be able to finish the war he had to stay away and finish what we were doing, he focussed on the fact to ultimately make sure that you were safe, he had to finish this," Hermione said softly, and then she sighed when Harry snapped his eyes to her as he folded his wings again and made a carry on gesture. "Harry also knew that he had to die to finish this, he wouldn't bind you two together for a few short months, because we did not know that he would be able to come back,"

"What?!" Luka and Arturus were on their feet, red wings snapping out behind Arturus as seafoam green ones quivered behind Luka.

"You knew you were going to die?"

"You didn't know that you would survive!"

"We could have come up with a different way!"

"There was no other way," Hermione said, and she sounded tired. "It was the only way,"

"You…you really died," Severus breathed.

"The horcrux in him had to die, it was the only way," Hermione said softly.

"But…"

Harry held his hand up to stop Severus and looked at Hermione before motioning around the room and then to himself and finally Severus.

"Such a Hufflepuff," Hermione teased him before looking at Severus. "He wants me to tell you, all three of you, that he came back for us, he came back for you," she said to him gently.

"Merlin Harry," Luka and Arturus dropped into their seats, disbelief on their faces.

"Harry had a choice to make, and he made it. And it was why he would not tell you you were mates before…everything. We had planned, and we were…mostly confident that it would work, but in case it didn't, you would never know that you were mates, you would feel as though something was missing, but you would never have had to go through life knowing that you had had and lost a mate,"

"That wasn't your choice to make!" Severus snapped, his mind flashing to green eyes sweeping over him before the battle, the other had been looking at him, looking at his mate, in case it was the last time.

"Yes it was, if he could save you one more pain in this world, then he was going to," Hermione said.

"Are you saying you want to be his mate now?! Luka asked softly.

"It isn't about want! It is about…" Severus cut himself off looking back at the bed. "There is someone better out there, if we do this safely and I reject the bond, I know Harry's creature can choose again, and it will be someone better, someone younger, someone less bitter and twisted, someone without the strains on their hands that I have, someone…"

The four others in the room jumped at the loud bang, they looked up to see Harry pulling back from where he had punched the wall in utter frustration.

"No….you!" Harry managed to snarl out, his voice sounding gravelly and rougher than sandpaper from disuse, but there.

"Welcome back!" Luka grinned.

"You!" Harry repeated.

"I know enough about creature inheritance to know you can choose again, we will do it safely, so as not to hurt you, and…" Severus sucked in a breath when hands slammed down on either side of his hips and suddenly Harry was there, not at the safe distance he had kept so far, and green eyes were blazing into him.

"No! You!" Harry snarled.

"Harry, be reasonable, you can…" Severus shook his head.

"Only you," Harry snarled.

"We're improving word by word," Arturus muttered as he and Luka stood and shuffled out the way.

"Harry, a creature bond is something special, amazing, a gift, anyone would be lucky to have it, you can find someone better," Severus shook his head.

"Yours!" Harry growled.

"Harry, I am not the partner the world is going to want to see at your side, you deserve someone that won't cause you grief or trouble, one that you don't have to defend from the Ministry taking because of what I have done, you don't deserve your mate to be so damaged!" Severus snapped.

"Don't…" Harry's mouthed moved a little before with an annoyed snarl he looked at Hermione.

"He doesn't want anyone else, he doesn't want someone 'publicly approved'. He wants you, you're his mate, you're his match, he wants to be happy, he wants to have peace and a love, and he wants that with you, not with someone else, he chose you, and he doesn't care what anyone but his closest friends think, because all that matters is us and you," Hermione said.

Harry nodded along, staring at Severus before looking back to Hermione and barring sharp teeth.

"He also said he will just terrify anyone who wants to say anything different," she snorted amused.

"The bond, there is a safe way to reject it, and for Harry to choose again," Luka said softly, but narrowed his eyes at Harry when the younger man turned to him with a snarl. "Don't get your tail in a twist, let me finish!"

Harry huffed and narrowed his eyes, pressing a little closer to Severus as though to shield him from the words, but he didn't interrupt.

"You can do that, but there is a misunderstanding about it. Choosing someone else is…second best, it isn't as though there are several matches out there and we can go through them like a tick list. The person we choose is the best match for us, you are the best match for Harry. If you safely reject the bond and he chooses someone else, they will not be as good for him as you are, they will not be the match for him that you are," Luka explained.

"But I am…" Severus looked at Harry confused as his mind spun.

"Not…want…me?" Harry managed to grit out as though forcing stones through his throat, and Severus reached out to grab the material of his shirt without real conscious thought.

"It isn't that! I want…I want what you're offering, this bond…you!" Severus felt tears filling his eyes. "But I am too…damaged,"

"Mine," Harry rolled out as Severus' eyes closed, and the younger man pressed his face into Severus' throat, inhaling him deeply.

"Harry lived with a soul piece of the Dark Lord inside of him for 18 years, he lived with a family that didn't love him, he has had to fight since he was 11, he is damaged too, he has had to learn to control his creature side of himself in a year, he is still fully learning to balance his instincts, he has known for 4 months now there is a chance he would have to die," Hermione said quietly.

Luka and Arturus made wounded noises at the words, their wings snapping out in a way that was clearly to form a shield around the group, though they could not protect Harry from what had already happened.

"Harry is damaged in his own way, he doesn't care that you are damaged, he couldn't be with someone who was not equally so, it is one of the reasons you match. You can understand him, you won't be scared of the wounds and the scars he carries, you won't be horrified by the things he has had to do. And you can help each other, you can heal that damage in each other. Harry wants you as you are," Hermione smiled before stepping back to the door.

"We will be sticking around," Luka said softly, resting his hand on Harry's shoulder, and then a little more cautiously Severus' before the two withdrew with Hermione, leaving Harry and Severus alone.

Severus after a few moments managed to convince his hands to stop fisting the material of Harry's shirt, releasing his hands from the fists they were in, and instead rested them on Harry's shoulders.

The younger man moved his own hands in response, moving them from the bed at Severus' hips and instead rested large hands on his thin waist, moving so his nose was pressed to Severus' throat.

The Potions Master pulled back just a little and before Harry grumbled in annoyance and pressed himself back in, he was able to see the peaceful, happy expression on the other's face. He had clearly felt something give in Severus, some crack in his argument, and the longer he was pressed close to Severus, the more he felt himself giving in.

Harry's body gave off a heat that could only come from the Dragon in him, and it seemed to seep into Severus, pressing away the cold and chill that he felt had haunted him since he was a child.

He sighed when large wings snapped out and seemed to encase him as Harry settled more comfortably onto the bed, but no…not encase…surround him, shield him. It felt as though Harry was shielding him from the world. It felt as though for the first time since he was a teenager and being pressed to join Voldemort, missing his best friend who had started getting close to the boy who bullied Severus, since the first time he remembered his father raising his fists to him and his mother looking the other way, it felt as though Severus could catch his breath.

"Mine…yours," Harry rumbled.

"Potter…Harry," Severus protested, but the Dragon just rumbled again in clear displeasure.

"No one…else,"

"We will speak…more," Severus warned, feeling tiredness slip through him as the darkness and heat around himself lulled his tired body to sleep.

"Mine," was the last grumbling complaint he heard before he slipped away.


"Harry, if you don't put the wings away you might as well be announcing to the world what you are, and who Severus is to you," Remus said gently.

Harry tilted his head looking thoughtful where he was sitting next to Severus' hospital bed and Ron snorted.

"I don't think Severus would appreciate you announcing it to the world Harry,"

"No I wouldn't!" Severus said panicked, choosing to ignore Ron Weasley calling him by his given name as he and Hermione Granger had been the last two days since he woke.

"Mine," Harry grumbled.

"Still monosyllabic huh?" Luka grinned walking in with Sirius and Albus.

"Piss…" Harry managed before looking at Ron.

"Off," the redhead grinned.

"Could have figured that out," Luka snorted. "How are you feeling, Severus?" the delicate blond Draconid asked brightly.

"Fine," Severus said, and glanced to the side when Harry grumbled.

"He is worried you're feeling overwhelmed," Ron said.

"I am apparently his mate and have a revolving door on my door! I am allowed to feel a little overwhelmed!" Severus snarled.

"Mine…yours!" Harry growled back.

"You really focussed on the apparently part?!" Severus glared.

"Mine…yours!" Harry glared back.

"Well Harry does seem fairly determined," Sirius said, dropping into a chair.

"You should be talking sense into him!" Severus grit his teeth.

"Would I have preferred it to be nearly anyone else but you, yup!" Sirius said and then held his hands up when Harry's wings bristled. "Has he made his choice, and you are the person that will make him happiest? Also yup, and magic knows far better than anyone else these things, as much as I logically think that it can't be right, the magic can't be wrong," Sirius shrugged.

"Mine," Harry rumbled in agreement nodding.

"Yes yes, we know," Severus groaned, turning to see bright green eyes watching him with a warmth that matched the heat coming from his body and still feeling as though it were seeping into Severus.

"Lauren says you should be good to move tomorrow," Arturus said walking into the room. "It could help Harry's nerves and so speech to get you somewhere less open and where you're vulnerable,"

"Don't say it!" Severus pointed at Harry as he started the rumble in his chest that proceeded his limited words. The Potions Master yelped when Harry snapped slightly sharper teeth at the finger pointing at him.

"Mine," he said anyway smugly.

"You're impossible!" Severus snapped.

"Yours," Harry rumbled.

"Ugh!" Severus dropped back onto the bed and scrubbed at his face in frustration. He blinked when everything went a little darker, opening his eyes he found Harry's huge wing extended out and covering him like a screen from the rest of the room. The dark haired man was facing forward and not looking at him as he normally did, his favourite pass time seemed to be watching Severus. Instead, he allowed Severus the privacy he desperately needed at the moment with all these people in his room.

He took a breath and dropped back onto his cushions, and then took another couple of centering breaths to gain better control of himself.

Everything over the last two days had been…too much, and now that he was awake he just wanted to leave the Hospital Wing where he was feeling a prisoner despite the fact he could actually have been one, it was grating on him, and he hated being stuck in one place with nothing really to do. His fingers were twitching for his potions, and his mind was spinning over and over on everything.

It was spinning over and over on Harry.

The other had not left his side hardly, he disappeared to shower and change, but aside from that he was in Severus' room, he slept in here, he spent his time either reading, watching Severus, or having his odd one way conversations with Hermione, Ron, or Arturus and Luka.

Severus watched him go through some exercises to help control the Dragon inside of him with the other two Draconids, and he watched them teaching Harry some new aspects of his powers that they clearly had not had time to before, and he watched Harry work had to master and adapt to them, he watched him work hard to control himself and his new gifts.

They had had a steady influx of letters coming into the room for Harry as well, from fans, from thankful people, from reports, from people who hated him. Severus had watched Harry go through them all, answering some, burning others, grimacing at some of the fan ones.

He had nearly burst out laughing at the expression on Harry's face when he had opened one letter and a pair of worn underwear fell out. The Draconid had hissed and growled in surprised horror before throwing the letter and underwear into the fire in Severus' room and then spent five minutes scrubbing his hands under the tap.

Their mating had not been brought up since the first day, with the exception of Harry's few words being repeated steadily. Severus' mind and heart were spinning in circles and he was going around and around about what to do about the situation, and what would happen next. Part of him had thought that spending time in his presence would remind Harry who he was, and that he would realise that he had made a mistake.

Even though he knew it didn't work that way he thought maybe Harry's Dragon would realise what a mistake it was and pick someone else. But Harry sat by his side, and happily watched him when he wasn't dealing with any of the other things, looking at Severus with a warmth and heat that made Severus' heart thunder in his chest.

Every time he allowed Harry to do something for him, the smile on the others face would light it up, and Severus had felt his own smile touching his lips, far smaller but no less honest when Harry had handed him a few of the letter he had been sent, grunting in a way that was clearly asking for his opinion,

Harry had made the wrong choice in choosing him, but he had chosen him, and maybe…couldn't he have this one thing? Couldn't he be allowed to keep the gift that thousands of other witches and wizards would kill for?

Even if he thought he was being selfish, the words that Luka had spoken to him the other day also echoed, if he rejected Harry and he picked someone else it wouldn't just be another match for Harry, it would be someone who was second best for him.

He stared at the pattern of Harry's wings, the membrane was thick, with the faint outlines of scales on them, the black colour seemed the shine with an iridescent colour this close up, as though the rainbow of colours were caught within the darkness.

"What happened?!" Albus sat bolt upright at the sudden flurry of movement, the others in the room starting as Harry wings flew up and outward into the air.

"Did you touch Harry's wing Severus?" Luka asked through snickers as Severus watched Harry's face become bright red.

"I…sorry it was…right there and it…the colours were amazing," Severus stammered a little unsure if he had done something seriously wrong.

Hermione and Ron started laughing when Harry seemed to, well, preen at the words.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have just touched," Severus said embarrassed, he blinked when the wings were spread wide and Harry shook them a little, managing to get the light to glint off of them and enhance the colour inside of them, before he dropped them, the wing closest to Severus, the one he had touched, in front of him again.

"Yours," Harry grumbled.

"No, these definitely belong to you," Severus huffed.

"Yours," Harry argued.

"They're yours," Severus narrowed his eyes.

"Yours," Harry almost smacked him in the face with his wing when he shoved it closer, Severus had to reach up to stop it and then narrowed his eyes at the smug look on Harry's face once he had him touching the wing again. "Yours,"

"Our wings are incredibly sensitive, and only the most important people to us can touch them, that is why Harry startled so much at your sudden touch," Arturus explained from the doorway, looking highly amused.

He cautiously traced hi fingers along Harry's stunning wing as conversation around him moved to the plans to move himself, and Harry, from the Hospital Wing to Grimmauld Place without causing too much of a stir.

He huffed when warm green eyes settled on him as Harry's wing withdrew and he vetoed half the stupid plans that they came up with and put together a far more sensible plan.


"Where is Harry?" Severus asked concerned when he walked into the living room and found Arturus and Luka there as Hermione stepped in behind him.

"We managed to convince him to allow us to speak to you alone, he is spending a little time with Sirius, though pouting would be closer," Hermione explained, stepping around him and sitting down on the sofa.

"You are still hesitant, we are hoping we could help ease your mind as Dracanoids," Arturus explained.

"I am here to speak up on behalf of Harry, rather than for him," Hermione smiled.

"I don't know what you feel you need to say but…"

"You're hurting him, not accepting the bond," Luka said, and Severus froze in turning to walk away.

"What?" he turned and walked back into the room.

"He knows you're not accepting the bond even though you haven't said anything, and it is hurting him, it is like feeling an ache in your soul," Arturus nodded.

"He would be furious with us for telling you this, he doesn't want any pressure put on you, but the reason you're not accepting it, is because of your fear, not because of Harry himself, and that isn't fair on him," Luka said.

"I am not afraid!" Severus scowled at them.

"Yes you are, you think Harry will somehow realise that he has made a mistake and will change his mind, you're also scared that he won't, and he will be 'saddled' with a broken mate," Hermione said gently, but she might as well have slapped him.

"He chose wrong, somehow, the delay…" Severus breathed out.

"He's been obsessed with you for years you know," Hermione said, settling back in her seat. "Before all of this, before we even knew what attraction was, he felt a pull. I would catch him staring at you constantly, I thought at first it was because he was trying to work you out, work out what side you were on, but then he would say things, about your voice, the way you walked, the way you talked to him, how you brewed,"

"He…" Severus stared at her wide eyed.

"He's had a crush on you for years, even without the block, even if he had presented when he should have, I fully believe that he would have chosen you," Hermione nodded.

"We chose from deep within our souls, and we just know. It isn't something that we can explain or put into words, it isn't something that can be romantically summed up as to why someone is our mate, we just have this pull deep within and we know that person is our match," Luka explained.

"Harry isn't going to change his mind, and if you reject him, he will move onto someone else, because we have to have a mate for balance, but he will not just forget you and move on, he will still hold you in his soul and love you, and that isn't fair on him, or whoever else his Dragon might choose," Arturus said gently.

"You also know Harry, he is stubborn enough he would probably fight the pull to someone else, because he has settled his mind, heart and soul onto you," Hermione said.

"Unfortunately that is something that he would do," Luka nodded with a sigh.

"I can't be who he needs me to be to stand at his side," Severus shook his head.

"He doesn't need you to be anyone but who you are," Arturus said firmly.

"He just needs you," Luka nodded.

"Harry has lost, given up and sacrificed so much already, would you really take this from him too?" Hermione asked casually, too casually, when he turned to glare at her, she was glaring right back. "All I want is for him to be happy, and you make him happy!"

"I…" Severus opened and closed his mouth several times before turning and walking back up the stairs, he heard the three sighing behind him.

"They are equally as stubborn as each other, I can see why they're a match," he heard Luka huffing.


Severus took a breath before knocking on the door in front of him, opening it and stepping inside before he could change his mind.

Harry sat up from where he was lying on the bed, his green eyes sharp, searching Severus with concern right away.

"Wrong?" Harry managed to rumble out.

"Nothing is wrong," Severus held his hands up to stop Harry from searching over him over looking for a wound or a hair out of place. Harry stopped in front of him, his eyes narrowed as he scanned over him before deciding he hadn't lied. He tilted his head in question instead, his wings ruffling behind him in concern.

"Ok?" Harry asked.

"I have been thinking," Severus admitted, settling his eyes on Harry's chest, looking into those burning green eyes, and the way they looked at him would have him lost from saying what needed to be said. "I have been thinking about my conversation with Miss Granger, Arturus and Luka yesterday about me being…your mate," Severus said.

"Mine, yours," Harry bobbed his head in agreement with the statement, his hand reaching out as though he wanted to touch Severus but then pausing unsure of his welcome.

Taking another deep breath Severus reached out and took the hand, watching it close carefully over his, as though Harry were getting to touch something special, not his blood soaked hands.

"You have been through so much, you have lost so much, I feel…I feel as though fate is laughing at you again, deciding that I am your mate. You deserve better than me, you deserve someone else as your reward for everything that you have had to do," Severus closed his eyes and leant forward to press his forehead to Harry's chest, selfishly allowing his warmth to soak into him so he could keep talking. "I am also terrified that this is some dream, and if I accept I am going to wake up and you will be gone, what you are offering will be gone, and I will be left cold, alone and…and I will be left behind,"

A warm hand came up and cupped the back of his head, holding him firmly in place as Harry's other hand released his but quickly Harry wrapped his arm around Severus' waist and rested the hand on his back.

"Severus, I have walked with death, I have passed into Death's realm and walked back out. Even if you wake up from this, I will punch my way through to reach you and be with you. There is no one else for me but you, I will accept no one else," the rumbling voice had Severus shivering in his arms as it was breathed into his ear.

"Harry," Severus fisted the material of Harry's shirt in his hands as black wings swept forward and around them.

"You are my mate, Severus, you, and no one else. I have fought, and sacrificed and given up so much…too much…you are my reward, you are what I want, no one but you," Harry said.

Severus looked up and met green eyes, and he was lost as the heat, the love and the passion that were held in them seemed to break free of the confines that Harry had been holding them in, not wanting to scare him.

He gasped when Harry's lips found his and he was kissed with all the heat Harry's body held, he groaned as he was tugged against that strong body and Harry held him as though he were the most precious thing in the world.

He lost himself in the kiss, in the power and the taste of Harry as his senses became overwhelmed, and Harry was everywhere, his lips, his hands stroking everywhere that he could touch, his body pressing against Severus', his wings surrounding him.

He gasped as he was pressed down onto the bed, he had a moment to drink in the expression on Harry's face before lips were descending onto his throat, and he threw his head back in a moan when hot lips sucked at the pale expanse, jerking and groaning when sharp teeth nipped the flesh before warm lips were back to soothe the pain.

"Harry!" Severus groaned out as he felt his shirt being tugged off, looking up in time to see Harry just grip his own and rip it off, throwing it to the side.

"Easier, with the wings," Harry motioned behind him, looking a little sheepish as Severus blinked at him before his lips were wandering again. Severus waited nervously for a moment for him to withdraw and eye Severus' thin chest and slender arms, his too pale skin. But instead Harry seemed determined to lick, kiss and nip every inch of it that he could, not seeming to see what Severus saw.

Severus uttered a moan when Harry's lips and teeth latched onto his hip, and he knew he was going to be left with a mark there as Harry worked away while impatiently opening Severus' trousers and yanked them off.

"Ok?" Harry rumbled, and this close to his erection the vibration had Severus trembling.

"Yes! Please!" Severus cried.

"My perfect mate, so perfect," Harry rumbled and something bright seemed to have lit inside of him. The spy in Severus locked onto this, locked onto the sudden fire that he had caused in Harry to burn even brighter as Harry practically ripped his own trousers off and slicked his fingers.

"Please Harry," Severus tried, opening his legs a little, and he watched passion blaze through Harry as though Severus had cast Fiendfyre.

The simple words seemed to scorch through Harry, and Severus cried out in pleasure when Harry pressed a finger inside of him, humming with magic.

"Harry!" Severus cried out as the magic swept through him.

"Yes, mine!" Harry growled as his finger pumped inside of Severus before he finally added another. "Mine, my mate! Mine!" he snarled as though someone would come and take Severus away.

Or as though Severus would leave.

The thought had Severus clenching down on the fingers inside of him as his heart and soul sang for this man who wanted him so much.

"Your mate, yours," Severus agreed, and Harry stilled, becoming a statue as the words sank into him, green eyes snapping onto Severus' face.

"Mine?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Yours, take me?" Severus asked, and Harry groaned, the sound so lewd, so sexy, all for Severus.

"Severus!" Harry pressed a third finger inside of him and carried on preparing him, Severus panting as the pleasure and magic swirled inside of him.

"Yes, please!" Severus cried. "Enough, you, I need to feel you, just you!" he babbled a little bit.

"You have me, always," Harry rumbled, withdrawing his fingers, but quickly replacing them with the tip of his cock which kissed Severus' entrance. "Ready my love?"

"Make love to me?" Severus asked and Harry fell into him, pressing slowly, perfectly slowly inside of him until he was buried to the hilt.

"Made for me, so perfect," Harry managed to rumble out even as his body trembled with pleasure.

"Harry," Severus cried out at the feeling of being stretched open on Harry, feeling as though the other had carved a place for himself inside of Severus that would leave him feeling empty unless they were like this.

He threw his head back when Harry withdrew his hips, and then with aching slowness pressed back inside of him. He whined when Harry gripped his hair and forced him to look at them, his green eyes locking him in place so that he could see Severus' pleasure as his hips picked up pace and he started fucking into Severus in a rhythm that picked up speed until the sound of their flesh meeting, the lewd sound of Harry plunging in and out of him filled the room as their panting breaths mingled, the two of them too far gone to be able to kiss, too lost in the pleasure sweeping their bodies as Harry's powerful body took Severus apart.

"Harry! Mate!" Severus screamed into the room as he came apart on Harry's cock alone, spilling between them.

"Mate, yes, mate, mine, my mate, my Severus, yes!" Harry grunted as his hips seemingly impossibly picked up speed, and then as his wings snapped out above them he spilt himself inside of Severus.

The older man lay panting as he tried to pull his fractured, pleasure hazed mind back together as he stroked his hands over Harry's back, carefully along his wings and through his hair.

"Not hurting you?" Harry asked where he was lying on top of Severus still, still pressed inside of him, his nose pressed to his throat and pressed gentle kisses there.

"No, it is perfect, I feel…safe," Severus admitted.

"Good, I will move soon but…just a little longer," Harry said softly as he lifted his head and pressed their lips together again.


"What?" Harry grunted when they walked into the kitchen and found Hermione, Ron, Remus, Arcturus, Albus and Sirius all staring at them.

"As happy as we are that you are together, perhaps, next time, silencing charms?!" Sirius part growled, part whined.

"Our kind tends to be a little, showy offy with things like that," Luka laughed walking into the room.

"We like people to know we please our mates, it is a pride thing," Arturus nodded, sitting at the table and tugging Luka into his lap.

"Don't look at me like that Potter!" Severus snapped as Harry pressed his nose to his cheek and looked at him with big green eyes, the potion master's cheeks were burning red.

"Sorry," Harry muttered.

"I said don't look at me like that!" Severus groaned trying to push Harry's face away before yelping when the younger man nipped at his fingers and tugged his hands away before pressing their lips together.

"Harry put the poor guy down!" Ron laughed.

"I can put you down on my c…"

"Merlin I think it is a good thing that you couldn't talk if this is what was going through your head!" Severus groaned covering Harry's mouth to stop the words and hide his wicked smirk.

"I can tell you some of the things that were going through my head if you would like?" Harry offered, nuzzling into Severus' neck as he pressed his front to Severus' back and wrapped his arms around his waist.

"Harry!" Severus choked.

"My mate, my Severus," Harry crooned.

"Merlin, I thought he was bad before," Remus said through his laughter.

"He was seriously holding himself back," Hermione laughed.

"I am finding myself actually worried that Sn…Severus is going to survive this," Sirius blinked as he watched the potions master hustling Harry into a seat at the table, only to have Harry snag him around the waist and sit him in his lap, green eyes full of love and adoration not leaving Severus' blushing face.

"I haven't had enough tea for this," Severus groaned. He blinked when Harry waved his wand and a teacup floated to him, the tea made just how he liked it. "Oh, thank you,"

"My Severus," Harry grinned.

"Merlin," Ron started laughing again, relief and happiness filling the room, even as the slightly harassed looking potions master fended off Harry wanting to hand feed him breakfast, but the joy he was feeling couldn't be missed him his eyes or his face as he leant back against Harry's warm body and watched the Dragon battering his with friends in a good natured manner, their hands linked together and settled in Severus' lap.