To Teach

Disclaimer:The characters in this story are all JK Rowling\'s. I don\'t own a single one. I\'m borrowing them for a little debauchery, then, I\'ll give them back.

A/N: I know I\'ve been a bad author and haven\'t updated in like 6 weeks! It\'s all my muses fault! Yes, I\'m blaming her. She\'s been giving me snatches of plots like this:
\'Just effing great! I\'ve died and gone to Hogwarts! I knew that Rowling woman was the devil and now I\'m in Hell and I\'ll be a pawn just like the rest of you!!\'
and \'I need a cigarette,\' she said. \'Smoking is simply an oral fixation,\' Snape answered. \'No,\' she smirked, \'Wrapping your lips around a large purple cock is an oral fixation.\'

You see, my muse is giving me this stuff for OC\'s and I really don\'t want to start another fic right now. Not when I\'m also trying to write an original fic. I\'m sure my smart assed OFC will get her way and get a fic, but I\'m resisting the urge at the moment. (Would you guys read a fic full of comments like that??)

Ok, so I\'ve rambled on and on now. This story it appears is going to be much longer than I anticipated, so that means longer chapters for you!! This chappie is about double what the other ones are. Enjoy!!! Oh, and as always, satisfy the review whore muse and tell us what you think!!!


Disclaimer:The characters in this story are all JK Rowling\'s. I don\'t own a single one. I\'m borrowing them for a little debauchery, then, I\'ll give them back.

A/N: I know I\'ve been a bad author and haven\'t updated in like 6 weeks! It\'s all my muses fault! Yes, I\'m blaming her. She\'s been giving me snatches of plots like this:

Kaitlin: Definately not all happy fluff! I think from now on, it may be a bit darker, but then if I say that, my muse will turn up the WAFF, I\'m sure. LOL! I don\'t think you could be a war hero and not have some scars from that. More will definately come out as the story progresses. And, thanks for the blessing, I always write in hopes that I can capture my readers imagination and let it run away with them. =)

Angie/Les: *bows* Thank you muchly!!

Phoenix: I say why can\'t Hermione use that cleverness to HIDE her midnight rendesvous! Brilliant doesn\'t always mean goody-goody! LOL! Watch for some funny personality quirks from Sev when he gets stressed, like stealing Hermione\'s smoke. There may be more yet to come! =D

Eowyns elixure: Thanks! And, just for you, longer chapters!!

eve/roarke: Awww..thank you!! It really makes Hermione a great friend, doesn\'t it?

anyah_daoc: It\'s going to be a roller coaster ride now!! =D That\'s all I\'ll say! I think that HG/SS is my second fave ship to HP/SS, but I know what you mean.

wanessa: I hope I didn\'t kill you with the wait for this chapter!! Seriously, though, thanks for the review. If my reviewers are crazy, then they\'re just like me! =D

Papaya: We will get Sev\'s reaction, but the last chapter was just to fill in what happened between Harry and Hermione and why she was all touchy feely. LOL! We will get to Severus reaction and thoughts in the upcoming chapters.

Velvetina: I completely understand your need for some Snarry love! I do the exact same thing if I\'m away from my computer for a couple of days!! Glad you are enjoying it!!

Lain Iwakura: Thank you so much! i know it\'s been a long wait for this chapter, but I hope you enjoy reading it as I did writing it!!

Proprieter_of_Honeydukes: Thanks for the review, and your offer of Honeydukes finest made my muse Squeal in my ear. LOL! We gladly accept your offer of chocolate. After all, money may talk, but chocolate sings...beautifully. Oh, and I don\'t have a mailing list, but I don\'t have a problem shooting an email to anyoe who wants to know when I\'ve updated, so be ready for them!!

Now, ON WITH THE STORY!!

Last Time:

She noticed the look of horror on the wizard’s face and shook her head. “Look at his left shoulder. I know it’s scarred because he wouldn’t let me heal it. It’s the crescent shaped one that goes from practically the front of his armpit to the back, over the top. I doubt he’ll tell you what happened if you ask, but it won’t hurt to.”

Hermione put her hand on Severus’ arm and smiled sadly. “If anyone can get the real Harry back, I’m certain it’s you. We probably should be getting back in or they might think I’ve kidnapped you.”


They walked toward the large doors at the front of the castle. “Oh, and one more thing, Severus. From what I’ve seen, Harry’s always been the dominant one in a relationship. I don’t think he’s ever bottomed.”

The older man smirked. “Oh, he’s bottomed at least a couple of times.”

His expressions became more serious as he added, “I’ll keep what you’ve told me tonight in mind throughout the rest of the summer as I am sure that Albus will insist we stay here until the week before September.”

The witch beamed at Severus’ admission. She was glad to hear that Harry was relinquishing a little control and learning to trust others again.

Severus opened the door and let Hermione in, in front of him, and she listened to the noise and made her way into the sitting room. Everyone had moved from the dining table for coffee and conversation. Harry was sitting on an extra long couch, which had obviously been conjured, by himself. He raised an eyebrow when she walked in grinning. Hermione nodded her head at him and scooted Harry toward the middle of the couch where she promptly stretched out and put her feet in his lap.

Severus watched the exchange from the door and walked around the overly large couch. He sat down next to Harry and draped his arm around him. The younger man looked at him questioningly for a moment before Hermione pulled her feet out of his lap. Harry leaned into the embrace and sighed.

Ron watched the exchange on the couch with a look of utter confusion. Hermione caught his eye and shook her head as if to say, ‘Don’t ask. I’ll explain later.’

Soon everyone was talking animatedly about what they’d been doing while Harry and Severus sat and watched. Snape had his usual mask of indifference on his face while Harry’s eyes were glazed over as he absently played with the older man’s free hand.

George threw a napkin at Harry. Pointing at Harry and Severus, he asked, “So, when did this happen?”
Immediately, Harry bushed a vibrant shade of red. “Er…” he said looking at his lover.

Severus rolled his eyes. “When this happened is none of your business, Weasley. All that you need to know is that it has happened.”

Harry elbowed his lover. Severus looked down and gave Harry a ‘what did I do’ look. Everyone in the room laughed at the interaction.

It was obvious to everyone there that they weren’t going to get anything from either man, so the conversation turned back to other subjects. Ron caught Harry’s eye and motioned toward the door of the castle. Harry grinned and got up, following the red head outside.

When Harry closed the large door, Ron snickered. “What was that, Mate?”

Harry chuckled and looked at his friend innocently. “What?”

Ron shook his head and flailed his arms about. “That, in there! Snape had his arm around you and you elbowed him!”

Eyes dancing with amusement, Ron got an answer that he wasn’t quite expecting. “Well, since being trapped here with him, I’ve discovered he’s more than just billowing black robes and a sharp wit. He’s genuinely funny, interesting, and not only can he play the piano, but he can sing like an angel.”

Ron’s mouth dropped open in an ‘O’ before he pulled his best friend into a bear hug. “Mate, you’re in love! Who’d have thought that the one person who made your life hell would be the same person you were going to spend the rest of your life with?”

Raising an eyebrow the dark haired man asked, “The rest of my life? Ron, what are you talking about? It’s only been two months since we quit trying to kill each other!”

“Oh, like that matters! Mate, you’re in love and you don’t even realize it.”

Harry just shrugged his shoulders. There was no way he was going to let Ron know he was right. It amazed him that Ron didn’t freak out, but he wasn’t going to dwell on that fact. Before long, Molly was at the door wondering where they’d gotten off to.

The young men walked back into the sitting room to see all of the guests saying their good-byes. Hermione sauntered up to Harry and Ron and hugged her dark haired friend. “Happy birthday Harry. It’s been a lovely party, but I’m afraid I must get back to the club. You should bring Severus one Saturday night before term begins and you find yourselves too busy to do anything!”

Hugging her back, Harry answered, “I’m thinking that a BDSM club might be a bit too much for him Herm. But, if I can convince him, I’ll floo you and let you know when we’ll be there. Thanks so much for coming. I think this birthday has been one for the record. I’ll see you guys when I get back to Hogwarts, I’m sure.”

After thanking everyone profusely for coming and promising not to be such a stranger once he got back to Hogwarts, everyone left. Harry threw himself down on the couch and sighed. “Now I remember why I made myself a hermit, Sev! As much as I love each and every one of the people who just left, they leave me totally drained and tired.”

“As much as I’d love to let you just drift off into the Land of Buggered and Nod, I have one thing that I would like for you to do for me this evening.” He pulled Harry up from the couch and looked deep into his eyes. “The Snape family has a tradition concerning one’s twenty-fifth birthday. It’s a bit of old magic that basically just affirms your place on the Earth and in the grand scheme, so to speak.”

Severus led him to the west side of the castle under the waxing moon. “Have you ever cast a protective circle, Harry?”

The younger man shook his head ‘no’. Motioning Harry forward, Severus smiled. “No worries love. I won’t be able to go with you, but I will cast the circle and wait if you’d like.”

Trepidation was evident in Harry’s features until Severus pulled him close. Kissing his forehead, Severus assured him, “It’ll be fine, Harry. I did it on my twenty-fifth and I discovered some pretty interesting things out about myself. I think a talk with the Lord and Lady could do you some good. It was a life changing experience for me,”

Harry smiled. “I trust you Sev. I think this might be a good thing. If you did it, then it can’t be that bad. Let’s go cast a circle.”

Harry hugged his lover one more time and sat down on the grass to watch the circle being cast. Severus took three deep breaths and faced north. Be lifted his wand and chanted:

Guardians of the watchtowers of the North and the element of Earth hear my plea!
I invite you into my circle to watch and keep.
May your presence bring forth all that is good and keep at bay all evil!

With that, a jet of green light shot from his wand and a small gnome appeared upon the back of a panther. Severus bowed to the creatures and they each nodded their heads. Keeping his wand pointed out, he turned to the east after the acknowledgment and the jet of light turned a striking white as it followed.

Guardians of the watchtowers of the East and the element of Air hear my plea!
I invite you into my circle to watch and keep.
May your presence bring forth all that is good and keep at bay all evil!

Again, a jet of light, this time yellow, erupted from his wand. A pair of doves fluttered to the ground and a sylph appeared. Again, Severus nodded and they nodded back. As he moved to face the south, the yellow light again turned a blinding white.

He paused for a moment before calling out to the south:

Guardians of the watchtowers of the South and the element of Fire hear my plea!
I invite you into my circle to watch and keep.
May your presence bring forth all that is good and keep at bay all evil!

At this, a jet of red light burst from his wand. A large snake slithered up followed by two bright red salamanders. Severus smiled at the serpent as he made his bow. Receiving a nod from the guardians, he proceeded on, with the light again turning white.

Guardians of the watchtowers of the West and the element of Water, hear my plea!
I invite you into my circle to watch and keep.
May your presence bring forth all that is good and keep at bay all evil!

The bright blue jet of light that erupted from his wand at this was almost blinding. An undine and a Raven appeared in the west and greeted the potions master.

He rotated once more to the north to close the circle and lifted his wand straight into the air. Raising his face to the heavens, he smiled as he chanted:

Our Lord and Lady, guardians of the Spirit, I invite you into this circle with a humble heart and perfect love.
May you bless and keep your children.
As above, so below.
So mote it be!

When he finished, there was a moment of complete stillness before the same blinding white light burst forth from his wand into the air splitting and arcing down in the four directions and grounding itself in the earth.

Harry could feel the raw power in the air and was awed by his lover’s circle. He did not notice the woman walking toward Severus until she spoke. Her voice was very matronly, but also smoky and almost erotic to listen to. “Severus, my child, it has been many years since you last called upon me.”
Severus dropped to his knees and took her hands, kissing her knuckles. “Great Mother, it has been entirely too long. I have called upon you on behalf of my friend, Harry.”

At this, she looked at the wide eyed man still sitting down. She smiled warmly at Harry as she strode toward him. “My child, it has been many, many years,” she said as she held out a hand for him to take.

He grasp her outstretched hand and she pulled him up, giving him an appraising look. “You were but a newborn last I laid eyes on you, little one,” she said with a smile. “I remember it as though it were yesterday. Your mother called upon me when you were three days old. She presented you to me and thanked me for bringing you to her and your father. She told me that she now understood the perfect love of the mother. It is my understanding that she never made it to her Crone aspect. For that, child, I am sorry. You have done both of your parents very proud.”

Harry had tears coursing down his face as the Goddess recounted the tale. She smiled and wiped his face. “Don’t cry little one. Your parents have watched over you all of your life. Not a day went by that they weren’t just a few steps behind you. Now, it is time that you and I take a short journey. We must go meet my consort he will also be pleased.”

She hugged Harry to her breast and looked to her left at Severus. “We shan’t be long, dearest. I’ll have him back before you know he’s been gone.”

With that, the Demeter and Harry disappeared. Severus lay down in the grass and watched the stars winking in the sky above. He was more content in that moment than he’d been in many years.

Harry arrived alone on a beach. He had no idea where he was or what the hell was going on. He looked out on the ocean and into the sunset. It appeared that the sun had caught everything on fire. The young man felt compelled to walk out into the surf. He waded chest deep and breathed in the salty air. Within moments, Demeter put her hand on his shoulder. He looked back and smiled. She took his hand and suddenly, they were walking on the water, out further into the ocean. When they stopped, she sat upon the surface and bid Harry to do so also. When he did, he looked down to see what he thought to be a mer-man rising to the surface. To his surprise, it was Poseidon, Demeter’s consort, and the Lord that had been called.

He only rose chest deep from the water as the Goddess leaned in to kiss him. He nodded at Harry and held out his hand for the young man to take. Taking his hand, Harry immediately noticed the webbing between the Gods fingers and smiled. Demeter put her arm around Harry and the three sat and watched the sun for a long moment. Finally, Harry spoke. “Great Mother, what is the purpose of this? I mean, what is the purpose of my being here?”
She ran her fingers through his long hair. “My child, it appears that you have a great many people who hold you dear. You are holding back, and you know it. I know that Severus is your lover, and neither of you deserve anything less than that perfect love. If you will let him in, he can love you like you deserve to be loved.”

Harry looked down into the crystal blue water. “But Mother, I do not deserve love, not a pure one. I am a murderer. Who would want to love me?”

She pulled him to her chest. “Little one, I love you. The mother loves all of her children. In killing Tom, all you did was fulfill your destiny. Yes, you were born, and given to your parents, to rid this world of Tom Riddle. Now it is time for you to learn about love. You must first love yourself. Let Severus show you how to. It was not very many years ago that he asked me the same question. Dear one, open yourself to him. He can help you heal. He can mend your heart.”

He lay there for a moment thinking about what she said. “There are things about myself that I do not want known, Mother. Should he know those things too?”

With the patience of only a mother, she sighed and smiled at the young man. “Harry, you are not as different from Severus as you might think. There is a reason he was marked as your antagonist and most importantly, mate, through all time. It is important that you remember that dear one. When no one else saw anything but your scar, Severus saw Harry Potter, son of James Potter. When everyone saw He-Who-Triumphed, Severus saw Harry, his friend and a sad young man. He loved you even then, but love was a foreign thing to him, much like it is to you. Now, he sees Harry, his friend, confidante, and lover. He sees through the scars, physical and emotional to simply see Harry. Let him see all of you. He will see himself reflected in there.”

Harry sighed. He did not want to hear this, any of it. He liked the fact that there were things that only Hermione knew, and even more things that he couldn’t bring himself to tell her. He did not want to open himself up, even if it meant living alone and lonely for the rest of his life. “Mother, I…”

Demeter put her finger to his lips and looked at her consort. “Harry, I believe it is time that you and I to be alone. My love, I will see you soon, but for now, I must take Harry back to the land. It appears that we have more to discuss than I thought.”

She leaned down and kissed the God and he nodded at Harry before he sank slowly under the surface of the water. The Mother got up and pulled Harry with her and they made their way to an outcropping of rock that overlooked the water. It was now drawing late in the evening and the stars shone brilliantly.

Demeter sat down with Harry beside her. She pulled his head down into her lap and he lay there looking up at her as she smoothed his long hair from his face. “My child, what makes you think that you do not deserve love? You saved your people from a great evil. You gave up your life for your people. You came here, gave up your family, gave up your childhood, and gave your all to rid the world of Tom. It’s time to rest and let everything go now. You mustn’t keep everything locked away inside your heart. It will eat away at you and eventually consume you and then Tom will win anyway.”

Again, tears were coursing down Harry’s face. “Mother, I don’t know how. It’s always been me. I’ve never had anyone to look out for me or to teach me about love. It’s hard to give up that kind of control, especially now that I am finally gaining it in my life. That’s the one thing I’ve never had over my life, control. It’s one of the reasons I have kept this stuff to myself. It was the one bit of control I had in my life. It’s not easy giving it up.”

“I think you missed my point little one. You can love and be loved in return without giving up control. You choose when and how much to open yourself up, but you must do it. I’m afraid I must leave, Harry. Let us go back to the circle Severus so kindly cast and you spend the rest of your birthday wrapped in his arms. If you want to know what love is and what it is about, watch him. Let him be your guide. Open yourself to him and the rewards you’ll reap will know no bounds.”

With this last bit of guidance, she wrapped her arms around Harry and in the blink of an eye; they were back in the protective circle. Severus was startled by their appearance. He sat up looking at the two. It was obvious that what she’d told Harry was not what he’d wanted to hear. Harry stepped back from her embrace. “Thank you Great Mother, I will remember your guidance. I will not wait so long to ask a visit next time,” he added with a smile.

She hugged him and cupped his face in a motherly fashion. “Don’t despair, little one. All will become clear eventually.”

With a kiss on the cheek for both men, she disappeared. Harry still looked down, and Severus pulled him into a loose hug. “You look like I did after my visit with her on my birthday.”

Giving him a half smile, Harry answered, “Well, I guess it’s usually the mother’s job to tell her children then things they don’t want to hear.”

“Indeed it is. Now, we must close the circle. While you were gone, I retrieved the gifts we need to give the guardians in thanks.”

Severus handed Harry a small bowl of salt and instructed him to lay it at the feet of the guardians while chanting:

Guardians of the North and element Earth
I offer this gift of salt in thanks


Harry got on his knees and bowed low to the ground as he presented the offering to the guardians. They nodded to him and he backed away back to Severus who handed him the next offering.

Guardians of the East and the element Air
I offer this gift of a bell in thanks.

Harry repeated the same process in the east as he did in the north. He also followed it with gifts to the guardians of the south and west.

Guardians of the South and the element Fire
I offer this gift of Dragon’s Blood in thanks.

Guardians of the West and the element of Water
I offer this gift of Lavender water in thanks.

Severus stood in the middle of the circle and pointed his wand in the air. “Guardians of the Spirit, for your infinite knowledge and compassion, I humbly offer myself in thanks. Though we now close the circle, never will it be broken! So mote it be!!”

At this, all of the elementals nodded one last time and vanished. Harry felt the circle release and was almost sad. “You want to talk about it?”

Harry looked up into the sympathetic eyes of his lover. “No, not tonight at least.”

Severus put his arm around Harry’s shoulder and gave him a bit of a squeeze. “Then let’s go to bed. It’s rather late.”


A/N2: Ok, so I\'m leaving the next chapter up to my readers. Would you rather have wonderful angst and maybe a nightmare or two? Or would have rather have 3,000 words of pure smut? Who do you want to have the nightmares or if you\'d rather smut, who do you want to bottom?!? I know, lotsa questions, but since it\'s been so long on my update, this next chapter is all for you guys!! I\'ll start writing it as soon as I get 4 reviews.