Bonds of Affection

Author\'s Note: Thank you all, for your reviews. Some of you mentioned that Harry was a bit too quick to forgive Severus for what he had done – (some wondered if it was the slave-bond urging him to forgive). Well - I don\'t think it was all that fast... at least not unreasonably so. After all, as Severus explained, he did what he did only in order to save Harry\'s life in the moment, at the unspoken request of his mother. Granted, it wasn\'t exactly a great way to be rescued, and it did screw him up pretty good – but it also saved his life at the moment. Ok, back to the story:



Homecoming



Severus stood up and lifted Harry in his arms effortlessly. Harry threw his arms around his neck and his entire body relaxed in his embrace. He carried him out of the tiny bedroom, down the stairs, and towards the Floo, avoiding looking at either Ron Weasley, or the insufferable Hermione Granger. He left all of Harry\'s belongings behind – his friends could bring them over later. For now, he was just eager to get them both home.



When they Floo\'d in and emerged in the living room of the Prince Manor, Severus sat him on the couch and asked: “Are you thirsty? Miss Granger advised me of your self-destructive spree...”



Harry nodded with a sheepish smile.



Severus brought water, and a nutritional supplement potion, and eyed Harry with concern, while he drank both.



“Tired?” Severus asked gently. Harry just shook his head.



“I am sorry,” Harry said suddenly. He set the empty glass on the side table next to the couch. “For how I acted towards you.”



Severus saw the guilty expression on Harry\'s face and drew him into a tight embrace, pressing lips to his forehead. “Don\'t be. Everything is just fine. Trust me.” Everything was better than fine, Severus thought, the wonder of the realization seizing him and overwhelming him. He was forgiven. He no longer had to hide anything from Harry... he could hold him, and kiss him, without feeling he was deceiving him with every touch of his hand, and with every caress of his lips.



Harry sniffled a little, and then said, in a barely audible voice, “I think you should punish me.”



Severus drew him even closer. “Harry... I\'ve destroyed your life... from infancy ... and now you want me to punish you for getting angry? Do you even realize how horribly unfair that is?”



Harry was shaking his head stubbornly. “You saved my life... the only way you knew ... and I spat in your face,” he said quietly.



Stilling himself against the dreadful agonizing guilt, Severus held Harry in his embrace, stroking his hair. “No,” he whispered. As far as he was concerned, Harry hadn\'t done anything Severus hadn\'t deserved many times over. He could not even imagine meting out a punishment over something like this.



But Harry leaned against Severus, lips next to his ear, and asked, in a manner that was gentle and retiring: “Severus? Please...”



Leaning back to put some distance between them, Severus reached to Harry\'s shirt, and unbuttoned it, pulling out the tail of the shirt from the trousers. Harry smiled shyly and allowed him. When Severus took a hold of the collar of Harry\'s shirt, Harry planted a kiss against his fingers, as if to at once encourage and forgive the upcoming punishment. His hands sliding under Harry\'s shirt, Severus caressed his skin gently, working to ease the tension gathered underneath it. When he finally removed the shirt, Harry seemed to have barely noticed it, as his expression never changed, and the serene smile never left his lips.



Harry arched his body forward when Severus reached to unbuckle Harry\'s belt and pull it out of his trousers. Harry lifted himself slightly, allowing Severus to disrobe him completely, and then kicked off his boots. And then, Harry reached for his own belt, folded it in half, and handed it over to Severus.



Severus took the belt, patted the back of the couch with his hand, and said quietly, “Kneel up.” Harry knelt on the couch instantly, arching out his back, and then, Severus felt Harry\'s face press into the palm of his hand that was still resting against the back of the couch. Severus caressed Harry\'s face gently, and felt Harry\'s warm breath on his fingers.



“Harry,” Severus said quietly. “Everything and anything you may think you\'ve ever done wrong.... I forgive you. You know this, don\'t you?”



“Yes, I do...” Harry whispered into his hand. “But.. please...”



Gritting his teeth, and cursing the wretched unfairness of it, and most of all, loathing himself for enjoying the sight of the surrendered body in front of him, Severus delivered a lash against Harry\'s back, raising a red welt on the pale skin. Harry\'s entire body shuddered at the blow, but even though he moved his lips, he did not make a sound: Severus only felt a kiss press and linger against his open palm, still holding Harry\'s face. He caressed Harry\'s cheek gently, and looked at him with concern. Harry turned to face Severus and nodded to him slightly.



The belt rose and fell, over and over again, leaving weals on Harry\'s tender back, sides and buttocks. And Severus held out his hand, while Harry kissed it, with every lash that fell on his body. Severus caressed Harry\'s face, catching his muted cries in his palm, and finally, even the splash of tears that burst out of his eyes.



“Thank you!” Harry breathed out at last, and Severus looped the belt around Harry\'s shoulders, using it to draw him into a kiss. Harry\'s body trembled slightly, and his eyes were damp, but he yielded to the kiss easily and eagerly, opening his lips to the tongue that thrust into his mouth.



Their lips still pressed together, Severus wrapped his arms around Harry, and drew him to his chest.



“Why?” Severus asked gently, once their lips parted. “You must know that I was not angry with you.”



Harry nodded furiously, hugging back. “Was angry with myself,” he said quietly. “Too angry ... couldn\'t believe myself... How mean-spirited, how spiteful I\'ve been... and for what?”



Severus stroked Harry\'s cheeks, brushing away the tears. “I am worried about you,” Severus said softly. “I know you are not supposed to be able to tell the difference between the bond\'s urges and your own... but ... is this normal for you? To torment yourself this way? To grant forgiveness for something so horrid, so easily?”



Harry smiled a little through the tears. “I don\'t care if it\'s normal. I just know that this time, it\'s right.”



Without saying anything further, Harry slid to the floor and knelt down, wincing slightly against the obvious pain in his back and buttocks.



“May I?” He asked, looking up timidly.



With dread and wonder, Severus permitted for his robe to be opened, his trousers, to be unbuttoned, uncovering his arousal. Harry\'s moist, hot tongue caressed the length of his aching cock and circled the head, finally pausing to stroke the slit that was weeping with pre-cum. Harry then took him in, licking, sucking, caressing with intensity that was absolutely stunning. Severus found himself thrusting into the depths of the warm, young mouth that only welcomed every move, over and over again, without pausing or letting up, until finally, Severus emptied himself right into it with a low, almost painful groan.



Harry\'s lips released the member, but he did not look up. He lowered himself all the way to the floor, as if to express complete surrender. Severus stared down at his kneeling form, his young, slender body littered with marks of the lash, and felt Harry press his lips against his boots. Severus leaned down to stroke his back, finger trailing along Harry\'s spine. Harry\'s face only pressed firmer to his boots.



Severus reached for him, and lifted him up gently. Harry\'s face held a tranquil smile, as he stood before him. Severus run his hand over Harry\'s injured back and buttocks, and Harry issued a sigh of contentment.



“May I heal you?” Severus asked softly.



“Please... not yet,” Harry whispered, and looked down, blushing deeply. “The marks... they feel good when you touch them.”



Severus lay on the couch, on his back, and drew Harry into his arms, to lie on top of himself. Harry melted into him, pressing a flushed cheek against his chest – even through his shirt, Severus could feel the heat emanating from Harry\'s face. Severus threw his robe over him, and stroked his welted back and buttocks, over and over again, feeling Harry relax more and more under the touch of his hand.



“Good to have you home,” Severus told him, kissing his hair.



“Home,” Harry repeated blissfully, drifting off to sleep in his embrace.