Lilly's Secrets

16 - Bondings, Boons and Babbling Heads

Warnings: Graphic M/M, Angst…

Deep red eyes peered at Harry. He was standing amidst the desolation of Hogwarts and her allies.  Smoke from the ruins was rising higher and higher.  Standing opposite Harry was the Dark Lord. Triumph was written all over his face.  Then Voldemort slowly undulated his head, and it morphed into the face of Dumbledore, beard flowing, but the eyes remained malevolent.  When he spoke, it was with a voice that struck fear into Harry. "Freak, boy!" The voice of Vernon Dursley made the creature in front of him a complete picture of Harry's worst fear.  Voldemort's body, Dumbledore's head, and his uncle's voice.  "Look at all the damage you have caused since you were born, boy!  You are nothing,!"  Harry cringed at those words, looking around he could see the terrible damage, and lives lost in front of him.  The monster in front of him turned away to pick up a body and then turned back, the gruesome sight tearing into Harry's every fiber.  Severus Snape laid bloodied, skin torn away from his neck, hair matted and redden, robes in shreds, and flashes of ashen skin from under the tears could be seen.  Moreover, those eyes, the ones of black obsidian, opaque and grey with death.

"You are worthless Harry Potter.  Worthless!  No one could ever love you.  You do not deserve love.  They will all end up dead just like good ole freak number 2!"

Harry's insides twisted in pain.  He closed his eyes to the sight before him.

When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his room, shaking in a cold sweat.  Severus was gone.

Harry started to panic, feeling around for his glasses and pressing them onto his face as he jumped up out of bed, not caring that he was naked.  He rushed down the stairs, the tower confining him and burst out the front door at a dead run.  Not caring about his surroundings, he jumped into the Black Lake. He didn’t even try to swim, he let himself sink until he felt bottom underneath his feet. His whole body was glowing a dark red as his feelings struggled for release.  He opened his mouth not caring about the water and screamed his soul’s agony into the lake.

Severus returned to the bedroom after taking a leak in the loo, only to find Harry was gone. He looked briefly around and quietly went downstairs to see if he had gone to the kitchen.

“Severus, go to the lake, our savior needs saving.” Hogwarts spoke to him, her voice urgent.  Severus started to hurry and when he got outside he was unsure which way to go. Then a massive bubbling of the lake caught his attention, there was a glowing object under the water, and when one of the larger bubbles broke the surface, his heart broke.  The scream carried and the pain and agony in that sound shattered his heart.  He dove in to join his lover, in whatever fate had in store for them this night.

Harry’s pain was unmatched, his agony was his torture.  His grief was finally being released.  He knew that Severus was alive, he knew his friends were dead and buried.  He knew it was not entirely his fault, but he had not grieved for them.  He had not let himself cry, talk or acknowledge his own pain.  Tonight’s nightmare was the tortuous trigger to the valve of his sorrow.  He was holding his breath, unable to really cry underwater, he was about to surface when he felt arms around him pulling him close.  He entered a bubble and once again could breathe, and it was then he let the flood of tears and grief wash over him and sobbed into Severus’ waiting arms.

Severus ached as he watched his love fall apart in his arms.  The sorrow radiated from him, the red aura of pain and grief flowed around Severus as he just held on as tight as he could. Harry reached to loop his arms around Severus’ neck trying to stay upright, but Severus just took that as permission to scoop Harry up into his arms.  He floated them to the surface with his free hand, and dismissed the bubble charm once they were on the shore.  He didn’t have to open the door, Hogwarts welcomed them in.

Severus walked them to the nearby loveseat and sat down with Harry.

“Now let’s talk, Harry. You need to let it out.” Severus crooned.

Harry nodded, he turned his tear streaked face up towards Severus, looking for the recrimination he usually found on people’s faces when he showed a sign of weakness. There was none.

“For years I have carried this guilt inside me.  knowing that I was the reason my parents were killed.  I know not all the pain and events were my fault, your potion helped with that.  I miss them.  My parents, their friends, my schoolmates and others.  I have not had time to really cry for them.   They deserve that from me.” Harry spoke softly, tears still flowing. 

Severus brushed at them with the pads of his fingers, softly wiping them away as they fell. “It’s alright to grieve.  We all need that when we lose someone we love. Some are just better than others at grieving and moving on, and others get caught up and live in those moments for decades.” The conviction in the Potion Master’s voice was strong. 

Harry understood that. “I had a nightmare tonight.  It wasn’t like the others, it felt more like a real nightmare, and not a torture incident if you understand.” Severus nodded. Harry continued, his voice still quiet, and warbley, “It revealed to me the people who I took pressure from in my life, but thanks to you, It wasn’t so bad, but I couldn’t seem to keep everything in and needed to vent where I wouldn’t hurt anyone.  I guess it really helped to let go of my emotions and allow myself to fall apart.”

Severus put his finger under Harry’s chin and raised it so their eyes met. “Talk to me, about anything. We are together now, and coming to me with any problem, or issue is what I want.  We don’t need to hide from each other anymore.  Be open with me. Trust me. That is part of what this is.” he indicated between himself and Harry. 

Harry stared up into those black eyes.  His release of emotions felt so much like a loss of the world from his shoulders.  Harry laid his head on to the shoulder Severus offered and let go.  He let go of all his pain, let go of all his grief and sorrow, let go of all the burdens of responsibility he felt, and let go of all the negative influence he let hold him down for so long.  Those issues would always be there in the back of his mind, but now the pressure was gone.

Severus just held Harry, feeling his smaller body tighten and relax and flex continually.  At least this was something he could give Harry that no one else could.  He carried Harry to bed, when he felt sleep, finally overtake the savior of his soul. 

~~~~~~August 2~~~~~~

Dapper, decadent and dreamy would be the words that expressed the body ceremony between on Draco Malfoy and George.  For every expensive thing was used for the ceremony and celebration afterwards.  The shared love was seen by all, especially at the exchanging of the vows.  Narcissa was constantly fighting tears, Lucius was stoic as always, Molly was weeping constantly, Arthur just beamed proudly.  Severus watched Harry with a glint in his eyes, the man looked edible in the tuxedo.  So much so that he was fidgeting through the entire ceremony.  And when they danced during the celebration, it was all he could do to keep his hand at appropriate levels.  If only he had understood the pull of soul mates better, he might be able to dull the need, but as it were they both had to learn to ride the tide of the pull after years of denying it. 

Once George and Draco were away, the party started to settle down.  Severus pulled Harry towards the direction of the outside, wanting to head home.  Harry seemed to be of the same mind and picked up the pace heading for the path that lead to their cottage.

“Boys!... I have news about the second founder for you…” Hogwarts chimed in.

Severus and Harry both groaned at the same time.  She had perfect timing as usual.

“Harry, dear… how do you feel about a trip down memory lane?” She asked, her tone so sweet you would think she was oblivious to her timing.

Harry for his part knew she was… she was sentient, and wise, but that didn’t make her a good study of the obvious. “Depends on the memory.”

“You will find the second founder, in his tomb. It is the place of rebirth and fear.” She offered.

Severus looked quizzically at Harry.  He shrugged.  “Can you make it any easier, or are we to be guided by riddles?” Harry asked, he was tired, and at this point just wanted to be alone.

The feeling of ruffled feather’s played out inside their heads, “I am only repeating the words written to me by your mother, If you do not want my help, I can always stop guiding you.”  The last was said with a great sigh in the tone.

“So which founder’s tomb do we know of that is a place of both ‘fear’ and ‘rebirth’” Severus asked, hoping Harry’s ability to crack things was working right now.

Harry was thinking, Gryffindor’s grave was in Godric’s hollow, Hufflepuff’s he had no clue, nor Slytherin’s for that matter either. He couldn’t think of anything linking Godric’s hollow to rebirth.  He mumbled his though as they came out.   Severus was pondering.  “It was a legend that Slytherin could not be parted from Hogwarts and requested to be buried here, but no one knew where.” Severus offered.

Harry’s head came up and he grinned, “Care for an adventure professor?”  There was a gleam in Harry’s eye as he took hold of his lover’s arm and spun them around and apparated.

While they landed lightly, there was more crunch to their landing than Severus had expected, only to look down and see the floor covered in bones.  A few rats skittered out of the small area, and before them stood an open metal door with several snakes attached.  “I guess Ron never closed it.” Harry mused as he tugged Severus towards it. 

“Where are we?” Severus asked quietly, not sure what dangers may lay around the corner.  He drew his wand and lit it.  Harry looked up at Severus and grinned, leaned forward and whispered, “Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets.  The rebirth comes from the snakes skin shedding and being ‘reborn’ and the fear of course is easy to understand.  Though where the tomb is, I don’t know, we will explore.”  Severus shivered as the air passed over his sensitive ears, and his body came alive.  Harry moved into the chamber he had not seen since he was twelve.  The carcass was still there, though more degraded than he remembered.  The pool of water was almost empty as if it had been drained.  The face of Slytherin still stood prominently on the wall, ageless and foreboding as ever. 

They made their way along the wall with Harry leading.  He was looking for a chamber big enough to bury someone, but so far there seemed to be no openings leading towards another chamber.

 The room seemed almost completely enclosed, save for the large pipe openings Harry had crawled through many years ago.  They reached the right side of the figurehead, their shoes splashing in what remains of the puddle of water left behind. The face was made of a cold material, stone was an obvious conclusion.  Harry was a bit upset that they had not yet found a hidden chamber, Severus kept feeling along the face, looking for a lever or push activation piece.  Harry sat down abruptly on the mouth piece and it gave way under him, much as it did when the basilisk first emerged.  Harry almost tumbled forward face first into the puddle of water, had Severus not caught him.  Severus peered into the mouth as he caught Harry and smiled.  “Your luck proceeds you even now, Harry.” He said in tone of wonder. Harry turned to peer into the mouth and there was a small chamber beyond the lips of Slytherin.  Severus cast a pushing charm on the mouth to push it completely down.  And He climbed in, bending his head as he held a hand out for Harry.

Harry grasped the hand and leveraged himself into the small chamber behind Severus.  The taller man hunched to fit inside, crowded by Harry behind him.  They moved further and found that a tunnel led behind the figure head.  They crept close to one another as they crawled through the small passage.  Severus relied on the light from his wand to ensure his steps as darkness bled out from the passage.  The journey was not a long one, only the small space made the tunnel feel long.  At the end it opened into a rather large room about the size of the chamber they came from.  Severus sent flames to the sconces on the wall, and both stood in awe of the scene before them.

An entire library of dust bound books was lining the entire left wall up to the ceiling, which looked to be as tall as one of the towers. On the right side was a desk, A chair covered in cobwebs, occupied by a sleeping ghostly figure, whose face was a replica of that which they had just entered. Harry spied the slytherin bust on the desk, it was gold, and small, as if it were a small paperweight instead of a sculpture.  The head of the ghost came up slowly and the eyes, though grey seemed on fire as they turned on to Harry, then moved to sweep over Severus.  The face was hard lined, severe, menacing even, and the wild hair was just as wild as in the chamber figure head.

“Sso it seems I have been discovered at last. And by the head of my own house, and the Great Harry Potter too, no lesssss.” The ghostly tone was not ominous, but inviting, with a strong accent Harry attributed to the tendency of Parseltongue.

Harry stepped forward, putting himself in front of Severus, bowed low , put out his hand to stop Severus before he spoke out of turn, and responded in what he hoped was his best respectful tone.

“Sir, I apologize for disturbing your rest.  I have a quest of sorts, to join the busts of the four founders together, If I may but borrow yours for time, I will return it when the others are united and the quest complete.” Harry said after he had risen.

Salazar blinked then smiled, “I see my reputation precedes me.  No need, dear boy, for formalities. I know why you are here, the castle tells all, and she is after all my greatest legacy.  No need to ask, of course you can take it, I have no use for my seal now that I cannot even write letters anymore. And I pose no threat to your claimed...He is after all head of my house.”

Harry stepped to the side to allow Severus to move forward.  He too bowed, “It is an honor to meet you.”

Salazar chuckled, “Maybe you too will be able to set the record straight about me now, all these rumors about my bad nature… For shame…. and to think a part of my line ended up in that stupid idiot Tom… My one offering for Hogwart’s defense was used against her greatest hero...Poor Cura, she was to protect the school from harm.”

Harry flinched a little, “I am sorry, but it was self-defense.”

“I am aware of all that has gone on.  My body may be no more, but I still have stuck around, unlike my other friends, they were at least seen for who they truly were, My legacy was twisted by many a bad wizard. People fear snakes, and associate them with evils, but you Harry, know that evil is not born, it is made.  The part of Tom that was in you is completely dead, but your Parseltongue remains.  Do you wonder why?”

Harry blinked and stared at the ghost, “I had not thought about it, Sir.  I have not tried Parseltongue since that last day of the battle.”

Salazar’s face hinted at a smile, “It’s not gone, though I cannot yet reveal all, the quest of the busts when finished will make everything clear for you, son.  Severus, you have been good for the house of Slytherin, thank you.  Go both of you, get your quest over, then we can chat more before I join my friends for good.” 

The ghost settled his head back onto his desk as if he had fallen asleep once again.  Harry reached for the small gold seal and put it in one of his pockets. Harry offered his arm to Severus who smiled down at him, and took Harry’s arm, he waved his wand to darken the room once again and Harry apparated them back home.

They made their way to the parlor, Harry put the gold bust on the mantel next to the one they had retrieved earlier.  Harry took a seat next to Severus on the sofa, and curled up into the man, breathing in the scent that was uniquely Severus. “Care for some brandy?” Severus asked, as he called a glass to him.  Handing one to Harry with his nod and calling a second one, he sipped slowly.  “Why have you not tried Parseltongue since?” Severus asked.  “I always associated it with being a part of Voldemort ever since I found out.” Harry replied, “I thought it would be gone once he was.”  Severus took Harry’s glass and set it with his on the side table, and turned towards Harry.  Those dark eyes were alight with a fire and a curious expression Harry had not seen before. “Try it, say something in Parseltongue.” Severus asked, his tone low and husky.  Harry’s body was immediately affected by that tone, as always that voice could make his body melt.  Harry leaned in next to Severus’ ear and whispered, “Ssssighteth heesssion sssimmowass si logesss.” Harry felt the tension in Severus disappear, and felt the man shiver and heard him groan in response.

Harry pushed Severus backwards to lay on the sofa as he continued in his speech, seeing that his words were alluring to his lover.

“I said, you have the most amazing voice. Ssi logesss essseth eth esssosss, your voice makes me hard” Harry pressed down his hard length into a Severus’ leg to demonstrate.  Severus moaned, his eyes locked on the face of his lover.  Harry moved lower, each enunciated word flowing from those lips seemed to seep into Severus’ blood and sing and tease.  Harry’s hands made fast work of the trousers before him, his hands held his prize and his mouth ached to taste it.  He lowered his mouth slowly, savoring the scent before letting his tongue taste the dew pearling on his lover’s cock.  It was perfect, Harry wanted more, his hands stroked as his mouth plunged deeper and he sucked upwards wanting to pull more nectar from his lover.  He was not disappointed, more flavor burst into his mouth, and he was lost in the sensation of silky skin inside his mouth, in his hands, and the unique taste that he could never get enough of.  For Severus it was a slow burning up with desire.  Words melted away into his senses, burning him with passion, physical sensations washed over him like a typhoon of pleasure.  He could only hold on, ride the waves, survive the flames, and shout his passion with each pull and stroke. Harry was lost in his own pleasure, for him giving the pleasure to his lover was arousing and intoxicating.  Harry felt his own body contract and stars dance before his eyes, and he applied more pressure, using his tongue to feather along the tight vein, and was rewarded with hot semen flowing down his throat, and his own bliss was released as Severus shouted his name, “Harry!” in that voice of pure lust and honey. 

Several hours later, sated, and comfortable in each other’s arms, they talked of how to use the information on Slytherin to form a better opinion of his House in the future.  A companionable silence fell after a while, leaving Harry to think further of the future.  Without looking at Severus, Harry tensed as he spoke next. “I’ve been thinking about the invitation from Professor McGonagall to return for another year as a student.” 

Severus could feel the nervous energy from Harry, it radiated like an incandescent light. “And…” He prompted.

“I’m not really sure what to do, and I don’t have much time left to decide.  I feel I have learned all I can, but to not get the diploma would sting.  On the other hand, I think I would enjoy returning for one last year and finishing out my education.  But I fear that my hope for a peaceful year is in vain, and most of all I fear being separated from you if you are to teach again.”  Harry buried his face deeper into Severus’ chest, holding just a bit tighter. 

In many ways Harry was grown and wise beyond his years, but with this, relationships with people he cared about, he was very vulnerable.  Severus closed his arms and held on tighter.  “Whatever you choose, we will work things out.  Our bond is not something that will be in the way.  For one, this upcoming year, I would not take you on as a student.” Harry’s head came up, “Why not?”

 “Because this would be the year for you to start an apprenticeship if you pursued Potions, no longer requiring a class structure like prior years.  An apprenticeship would be different, and conducive to our current arrangement.  If you choose a potions path that is an option for you to consider.” His tone was hopeful, but he would not push Harry in a direction that he did not want to go.

Harry sighed, his body relaxed into the warmth that Severus offered.  They fell asleep like that, on the sofa, contented.

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