So this is Love

Harry walked in and laid down on the couch, it had taken more out of him than he thought. After checking with Serenity that everything was ok, he quickly fell asleep.

Severus wake not remembering where he was. As he continued to fey sleep, the night came rushing back to him. Severus jolted up, looking down upon his bare arm. Harry had not only accepted his past last night, but saved his future as well. Severus got out of bed pulled on a shirt, and walked into the living room. He studied the room that he didn't have time to last night. The colors and feel seemed very relaxing and comforting, but he expected Gryffindor red everywhere. Severus had talked to Harry's friends a bit; but he had no clue about his mate, which was frustrating. He was therefore; very glad Harry wanted to get to know him. It would give him a chance to know Harry as well.

Severus soon noticed his mate lying on the couch. Harry lay in a deep sleep, cuddled into the back of the couch. Severus leaned over and kissed his cheek, Harry leaned slightly toward him. Severus smiled; maybe he unconsciously knew that he was his mate. Grabbing a blanket Severus covered Harry, and sat down in a chair to watch his mate sleep. Harry smiled in his sleep and let out a content sigh.

After an hour Severus noticed that Harry was beginning to wake up, he leaned back and waited. Harry, meanwhile, could feel another’s presence and after a quick scan realized it was his mate. Harry relaxed and noticed that he was covered. He didn't remember grabbing a blanket before, but figured it must have been Severus. Harry smiled, he was looking forward to getting to know the man, and not the mask.

"Thank you," Harry said to Severus as he turned to face him fully.

"Think nothing of it. I owe you a greater deal of gratitude, than a blanket can convey. He was using the mark to torture me; I could only tolerate it due to my heritage." Severus was watching Harry closely, while he answered.

"Severus, I'm fine. The Mark just put up a bit of a fight; it did more damage to you than it did to me."

Severus nodded, "I didn't realize that the Mark went that deep."

Harry shook his head, "The mark attaches itself to your soul and magic. When you are forced the mark is attached by little more than wire, which can be easily cut. But when you have agreed, even falsely, the Mark is attached by chains. The more unfaithful you are the more the chains rust. Bella, for example, is probably tied tighter to him than a sealed can."

Severus leaned back in the chair he was in, to think about what he heard. "So when he dies..."

Harry nodded, "All his followers will too. I know of at least 6 more students who were forced and I will rid them when they come back to school, but not until a couple of days before the battle. I figured you and Lucius would know of anyone else."

"I know of a couple of people who have been forced and are still in his service due to fear of death, and a couple of creatures that had been misled. But Lucius probably knows more, before him his father was the right-hand man."

Both men lapsed into a comfortable silence, lost in their own thoughts. Harry wanted to wait till the battle before removing the Mark from the students, they were more than likely pureblood. They, more than likely, would not know how to survive without their inheritance. The others, those older, he could do before hand. Voldemort would know the moment that he tried to remove the Mark, so he would have to do it as quickly as possible.

Severus was worried, he had just got his mate back, and he didn't want Harry to go off to fight the Dark Lord. It made his heart ache just thinking it about it. But he knew the prophecy and that Harry was the wizarding world's only hope. It doesn't mean he has to like it, but he knew.

Harry broke the silence after a few minutes, he could think about that later. "Severus, I said I would tell you where we are, we are in Salazar's chamber." Harry had to struggle not to giggle at the wide-eye look Severus was giving him. "I'll show you the library later, but it will be open to the staff and a select number of students. But I did really mean it when I said I wanted to get to know you."

Severus was a little shocked upon hearing where he was, but quickly became focused when Harry said he wanted to get to know him. "What do you want to know?"

"Well I have an idea, I'll ask a question then you can ask one. That way we both can get to know each other." Severus nodded in agreance. "You start."

Severus thought about it for a moment, "What are in those vials that you take after a vision?"

"You know about those?" Severus nodded "Oh well, I was planning on giving one to you, Lucius, and Draco later anyway. It's a variation of the anti-crucio potion you make. I found that be adding some lilac and pure vanilla to it, first it tastes better." Severus chuckled at the face Harry made while thinking about the taste. "And second, the way it reacts to the numbing variant while boiling creates a nerve healing tonic. I use it just after a vision, two vials if necessary, and I feel a hundred percent better. I don't even shake like crucio tends to do to its victims, which I have noticed has been a problem for Draco and Lucius recently."

Severus was flabbergasted; Harry acted like he didn't know anything about potions. "If you're this good in potions why do you do so horribly in my class?"

Harry smiled and shook his head "Nope, my turn. Why did you get into potions?"

"My Mother and Grandmother both loved potions. I just inherited their love for it as well I guess. Now answer my question."

Harry giggled at Severus' impatience, which caused Severus to crack a tiny smile. "After the first year I came to like potions. I started thinking of it in terms of cooking, instead of chemistry. But I knew what was going on; I had snuck off a couple of times to in Diagon Alley and had heard all about Voldemort. I knew that you worked for him, but also for Granddad. I knew that you a) might hate me and b) had to act like you hated me. It just seemed easier to act like I was horrible in potions, for both of us. But Sal taught me all he knows about potions from his time and the time in the school. So I was thinking of taking my potions mastery anyway."

Severus was amazed at the boy sitting in front of him. He had acted naive to protect him and give him an alibi. Severus sat in quiet contemplation for the next few minutes. "So is Mr. Weasley any good at potions or was that his natural ability?"

Harry smiled and tried to look forlorn, "No, I am sorry to say that was all him. But anyway my turn...."

They continued round about questioning game until late in the morning. When they finally did come to have lunch with the gathered Harry sat in between Severus and his Granddad. Severus received a few questioning looks which he shook his head too. He hadn't told him yet.

While eating lunch with all the staff and visitors Harry started talking about the changes he wanted to make to the school. After he finished there was a lot of excited chatter, mostly about the internship program. Harry saw that Lucius was looking worried and hadn't eaten at all. Looking over at Draco he saw both his hands were gripped tight in his boyfriends'. After asking them to stay after, everyone went back to eating their lunch.

Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, Fred, George, and Severus all sit around the table looking at Harry. Harry knew that the hands under the table by the two blond men were not due to nervousness. Dobby popped in a moment later with a rack of potions after handing it to Harry he bowed low, and then popped out of the room. Giving one to each of the three men he sat back. Lucius and Draco eyed Severus, who without hesitation popped the cork and downed it. The two men did the same.

After five minutes Draco was looking at his hands in his lap, with an amazed expression. Lucius was the same though you could tell that his hands were still a little shaky. Both men looked at Severus who shook his head and indicated Harry who was watching Lucius' hands. Harry pulled out another one and handed it to him. "Only take half, if it doesn't help in half an hour take the rest."

Narcissa, who had watched the whole interplay, had tears running down her cheeks. She quickly rushed over to Harry and gathered him in a hug. Not sure of what to say she just let her tears fall smudging her perfect makeup.

After a few minutes she pulled back and Harry looked into her eyes. "I don't see why you are surprised, you are my family now. If it was one of the Weasleys you know I would do it in a heartbeat you are no different." Harry smiled at her than looked at Lucius and Draco who both smiled at him. Harry than smirked, "Plus the way things are going with Draco, you might be Weasley yet." Everyone laughed at the horrified look of Lucius and the matching red faced of the three boys.

Later that day, Harry took the Malfoy's to the DADA corridor. Walking up to a blank wall Harry produced a knife and cut his finger open. Letting three drops fall onto the floor in front of him, Harry stepped back as an arch formed in the wall, opening to a set of stairs. Harry walked forward with the Malfoys halfway up the flight of stairs, and faced a portrait.

The portrait had a chair facing the fire, which was flaming merrily in the hearth. The walls’ surrounding the fireplace was lined with books. Three stacks of books, five or six books high, were placed around the chair. A small table placed beside the chair held a handful of quills and two pots of ink. A well worn Persian rug lay across the floor.

Harry stepped up to the portrait, but before he could speak the person in the chair began to chide him. "Harry James Potter, you are in so much trouble." A woman in a light blue gown got up from the chair. "We have been waiting for you for 2 days now and you still haven't been to the room. Now I want the reasons and I want them now." Rowena was now facing the four people glaring at Harry.

"But Ro, can't I let the Malfoys in first?" Harry whined to Rowena. Rowena began tapping her foot, and crossed her arms. "So I'll take that as a no then. Didn't Sal tell you?"

Rowena huffed, "I'm sure he did, but unfortunately for you, none of us understand parseltounge."

Harry groaned, he was so going to get back at that man. Harry knew there was no way that he was getting in that room without telling everyone present his reasons. He turned to face the Malfoy's. "I've got to ask you not to tell Severus, I want him to do everything on his own time." Though Narcissa looked a little confused the three blondes nodded. Harry turned to face Rowena again. "I don't want to go in there without Severus. I want to enter the room together, as a mated couple." Harry heard someone choking on air behind him. "Now can I please open your quarters."

Rowena looked at the people in front of her; she smiled when she saw that Lucius and Draco didn't look surprised that Harry knew about Severus. She almost laughed at the sight Narcissa regaining their breath after choking. "No, these are my heirs quarters now. You may open their quarters." Rowena smiled and stepped back to watch the family.

Harry again stepped forward and cut his finger letting three drops fall onto the corner of the portrait then held the knife out to Draco. "Cut your finger then let three drops fall into the corner of the painting then Cissa followed by Lucius. Before you go in you will have to set a password. The stairs will now be open, up the stairs you are just a corridor away from the hospital wing."

Everyone nodded and proceeded to do as Harry had told them. After Lucius was done, Rowena smiled. "It's about time these rooms were opened, but before I open I need a password. It doesn't matter if Harry hears it or not, he could open the door without it anyway."

Harry quickly added, "Which I won't."

Draco smirked and turned to Rowena, "I have the perfect one, 'Potter is a Malfoy.'" It seemed unanimous as the three blondes smirked at the raven haired boy. Harry shook his head and smiled, Rowena nodded to show her acceptance of the password.

The steps that they were on extended into a platform level with the portrait. Sconces in the shape of Ravens in flight came out on either side of the portrait. The portrait opened into a bright room. A window took up most of the wall showing part of the forest, the Gates of Hogwarts, and Hogsmeade. The oak wood floor was warmed by a large pale blue rug in front of the fireplace.

Three sofas arranged on the rug were a midnight blue, with an oak coffee table placed in the middle. The other three walls were a beige color, creating a warm feeling to the room. On the wall opposite of the window opened to a hall, with five doors.

The door at the end of the hall opened to the master suite. A pale green and blue duvet on a honey oak four post bed decorated the center of the room. The posts had carvings of various birds and winged creature like Pegasus and griffins, flying around them. The pale yellow walls left a comforting feeling to the whole room. A walk-in closet and large bathroom of the same pale colors and silver taps, finished the room.

The next door opened to a guest room. The room had black carpeting and blood red walls. The rosewood four poster bed taking up the majority of the room. The bed is decorated with a black duvet embroidered with a green vine that attaches red roses placed in the corner and sporadically throughout. Red silk sheets peek out under the duvet, to show the expense.

The third door lead to another guest bedroom decorated similarly to that of Salazar’s bed room. The only real difference is the bed is a little smaller. The two rooms are connected by a bathroom decorated in black and white.

The fourth door opened to another large bedroom. The room had stone walls similar to that found throughout the castle, and had a dark polished marble. The cherry canopy bed had a comforter with a forest embroidered on the front; various animals would peak out from behind the trees to view the family. Green silk sheets showed from under the comforter. The canopy poles had other animals and creatures running up and down them. The canopy itself was a vision of the night sky. The wall across the bed had a tapestry similar to that of the comforter. A bathroom attached to the room was done in similar earthy tones, creating a flow from one room into the next.

The last room was a large study about half the size of the library. Books lined the walls from top to bottom. Two large desks set facing each other set in the middle of the room. A large fireplace set on the opposite side of the room. The chair and table that had been painted with Rowena now set in the room. One door set in the corner hidden behind a statue of a raven. Harry went on to explain that, that door would open to his chambers when he opened them.

Cissa faced the young man, "And you, young man had better explain to me what's going on."

Similar to the portrait earlier Harry went on to explain what happened while in his rebirth, including his mother telling him about her and Severus. "I have to ask all of you not to tell Severus that I know. I want him to do everything in his own time."

Everyone promised and soon after Harry left to go to Sal's quarters, the eggs were supposed to hatch today.