Cared For

Author’s Beginning Notes: Some of you may think that the romance has been rushed in this story, but it is also forgotten that Harry and Severus had spent the last year together training. I will be going more into detail of their desperation for each other in this chapter. It will begin to show you how deprived they both are.

Disclaimer: Not my characters. Not making money. But it\'s all good.


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Chapter Three: Starving
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Harry relaxed back against the silk-thread couch. Two days had passed since he had arrived at Snape manor and to say the least of it, those days had been very interesting. After what happened between them the first night Harry had arrived, Severus had made a task to finish off some potions that he had listed out on a paper. He was now always busy in his work room, so Harry most times sat and read or did something equally uninteresting.

Everything that happened in the day was usually planned. Waking up, wandering through the rooms, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and finally going to sleep. Any person would have found this to be a boring task, but not Harry. For all the times he had spent his summer at the Dursley’s, he was living the high life. No waking up at five in the morning to cook breakfast, and certainly was he never issued chores. He was enjoying his vacation, one might say.

Unfortunately, Harry was more prone to thinking than he was to reading so most times he caught himself thinking about Dumbledore and his lost best friends. Ron and Hermione had also died trying to protect him. Wasn’t it odd that those who had died were all protecting him? He knew that he was probably over thinking things, but he knew within his heart that something wasn’t adding up.

Harry removed his glasses, slowly massaging the irritated skin on his nose. His head was beginning to hurt and his body was slowly becoming unbearably hot. He turned to search out a way of cooling off. Nothing came to mind, that is until he turned to face the door. It couldn’t hurt to go outside, could it? It’s not like Sna-Severus expected him to stay inside all summer. It was still odd trying to think of his professor as Severus. It wasn’t a name you come by often.

Harry rose from his place on the couch. He had been sitting there too long since the indent in the seat was unmoving, as though it had always been that way. The fire was casting eerie shadows along the walls. The light was slowly being sucked through all of the corners and dissipating with the setting sun. Surely Severus was too caught in his studies to notice Harry gone for a moment.

Harry walked the distance down the hall and to the front door. It was a quiet night that echoed each footstep like in a hollow cave. Harry stepped outside of the house and received the first breath of fresh air he had had in the past two days. The wind prickled his skin leaving him begging for more and cooling his body. He closed his eyes and breathed in once more deeply.

When Harry opened his eyes, he noticed that something in the air had changed. A sort of dark presence emanated through the current of wind. His hand rested on the pocket of his jeans, preparing himself for whatever might jump out and attack him. It was quite possible that Death Eaters were still out and about, looking to kill the Boy-Who-Defeated-The-One-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Yes, a long title for a very small person.

The same instance that he had brushed his pocket, had he felt a pang against his skin and was thrusted back against the entrance door. A wand pocketed calmly at the point just under his chin. His eyes followed from his place on the floor to the tall figure of a man.

“Malfoy,” Harry said with a slight growl.

Lucius dropped his wand away from Harry’s neck and smirked vibrantly, “Mister Potter, so good to see you again.” The man’s presences alone made Harry become completely enraged. He wanted throw the man down and place the unforgivable curse on him over and over again until the façade of his fell through and he went crying home.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were on trail for being one of the Death Eaters,” Harry said with a moment’s hesitation. It was quite odd that Lucius had returned to Severus’s private home. Why would the man be there? He could feel the jealousy bubbled within him as he looked up into the defined face.

“I should be asking much of the same question, but as I’ve come without a moment to spare, I’m afraid I must rain check our little chat.” Lucius grinned down at Harry, running the tip of his wand down the front of Harry’s chest. Harry inwardly shivered, but withheld his anger. Severus would handle this, or would he? He caught the eye of Lucius and noticed the man’s eyes slowly running down to where his wand had stopped.

“Believe me…I do want to continue this…” The smirk never seemed to leave the man’s lips. Harry could sense something different, but the change was too subtle to be targeted. Before Harry could get a word out, he was pushed aside and left outside of the door. Harry turned on his heels after pausing to relinquish what had just happened and went through the door.

He saw Severus pointing his wand at Malfoy, and Malfoy smirking wildly at the tip of the man’s wand. Severus turned and looked at Harry who seemed to have gathered his bearings and took out his own wand, pointing it towards Malfoy.

“What are you doing here, Lucius?” Severus said with a biting tone. The man’s eyes looked furious and seemed to have raging fires burning within them. His hand was unmoving and outstretched straight towards Lucius.

“If you kindly put down your wand, I will answer your question.” Severus thought for a moment, but finally agreed by lowering his wand, but not completely ridding himself of it.

“I’ve come to let you know that Death Eaters are on their way towards this location. I was here to inform you so that you may leave without a moment’s hesitation.” Lucius’s voice did not lead belief that he was lying, but Severus questioned it none the less.

“Why are you telling us this?”

“As part of shortening my sentence with the Ministry, I am to watch the Death Eaters as a spy and keep protected members safe, such as you and Mister Potter. However, don’t expect me to do any more than that. This is only for the sake of my health.” Of course, it was always like a Malfoy to do whatever it took to keep them out of harms way. It’s only natural that Lucius would do something to shorten his stay at Azkaban.

Severus seemed to be thinking for a moment and then turned to Harry. “We’re leaving.” He left no room for argument and turned back to Malfoy who was on his way towards the door. The man was still smirking, but it didn’t carry the usual malice. Lucius turned to look at Harry and nodded his head. “As for you and I, Mister Potter, I will make sure that we meet again,” with that he left through the door and apparated from the area.

Severus turned his gaze once more to Harry who was blush only slightly. He tried to hide the blush but was caught just as he was turning his eyes away. Severus walked over to Harry quickly and grabbed his arm. “What happened between you and Lucius?”

“Nothing,” Harry said as he turned toward the man. “Where are we going?” Harry wasn’t trying to redirect the conversation, but they really didn’t have time to talk about Malfoy. If what Lucius said was true, then they would have to leave immediately. It didn’t seem beneficial to Malfoy if he told a lie about something such as that.

“A cottage I own just outside of London. We’ll be safe there.” Severus turned on his heels much as Harry had done earlier and made his way to his rooms to gather what he would need for the next few days. Harry rushed to his room and grabbed his trunk which hadn’t yet been completely emptied and began to fill it with anything of his he could find.

By the time they had finished, the clock was striking twenty minutes past eight. Severus pulled Harry close to him and sent them to the cottage with the soft sound of a ‘pop’. They appeared in the small living room, a drastic difference from the manor living room. Harry was breathing gently against the man’s chest. The closeness was causing him to be light-headed. They had seen each other, nor touched since the first day Harry arrived and he found that he had really missed the man’s strong touch.

All too soon, Severus pulled away and began to shuffle about. He made his way down the hall and pulled his finger out in a motion for Harry to follow. What Harry found was that the small cottage they had apparated to was only big enough for one person. There was only one of everything, including room and bed. The bed of course was big enough for two, but it also meant that they would be sleeping together. Harry didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that all Severus had to do was transform an item into a bed.

Severus turned to Harry, who was gazing into the room with his eyes slightly wide. The only problem was, even if they transformed something, the room wasn’t big enough for a bed, neither was the living room. Ultimately, they would have to share a bed, unless one of them was forced to sleep on the couch. No, the couch was too short for Severus and probably just crossing into uncomfortable for Harry. But, what was a few days?

Severus was watching Harry when their eyes met. “There’s…only one bed…” Harry said with his obvious statement. He couldn’t help it. He felt the need to say something about how the cottage was certainly only built for one person, one that liked being alone.

“I’ve gathered that, Mister Potter. Will you be able to stifle your vomit long enough to be in a bed with another man?” There was that smirk again. The man was simply too proper for his own good. This would be too much fun.

“Oh, but will you, dreaded lonely potion’s professor, hold your tongue long enough to be in a bed with a former student?” Harry held his hand to his chest dramatically. His eyes brightened as he did so.

“I’m sure that I’ll be able to manage Mister Potter,” his voice grew husky and laced with challenge. “Don’t complain when you know how it feels to be in bed with a real man.” Harry shiver involuntarily as Severus’s mouth made contact with his sensitive ear. He gasped slightly, having not felt his flesh touched so intimately in a very long time. Being the Gryffindor he was he took challenges without a second glance back.

“When I’m in bed with a real man, I’ll make sure to keep that in mind.” Harry pulled away and turned to walk down the hall way. He could feel the man gaping as he walked away. Good thing he knew a way with his words, otherwise, this seduction would never work.

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The night grew on as the tenth hour finally had arrived. Harry could feel his eyes drooping slightly at the exhaustion of a day well spent. Eventful days were the most exciting, but also the most tiring.

He rose from his seat on the couch, leaving Severus to his book by the fire. When Harry went into the room, he tore of his shoes and slipped beneath the covers. Warmth surrounded him with blankets. Fresh air flowed through the window and he was finally at a relaxing peace.

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Harry awoke to a soft touch to his face. He opened his eyes slowly and noticed the older man hovering over his body. Sensations rode along his skin causing a line of goose bumps to taint his arm. Severus’s eyes were deep and dark, completely intoxicating. He breathed out slowly as Severus neared his face. Unhesitant lips met his in a once more passionate kiss. A tongue prodded his mouth slowly, but sensually.

Harry clenched the sides of the sheets, it was all he could do for lunging up and pulling the man as close as their beings would allow. Slow intoxicating pleasure swirling with each twist of the man’s tongue; hot fingers running along his skin, torturing through their slow ascension towards his sensitive nipples; damnable sensations filling Harry to the brim with growing ecstasies of moans and groans, gasps and whispers. But most of all, the man’s slow low-key voice that almost by itself sent Harry over the edge and into climax.

The fingers lingered a bit longer at his stomach, but finally roused and began to twist and pull at overly sensitive nipples. Harry groaned into the man’s mouth, tasting all that could be described that Severus was - indefinable ecstasy. Harry was breathing so hard he had to pull away from the man’s kiss just to receive oxygen.

“Merlin, Severus.” He said between gasps of air. He received only another twist to his abused nub before the man ascended onto his jugular and began to tease and nip the flesh. Harry could all but gasp and coo into the dark night as Severus’s assault continued.

The other hand had found its way to Harry’s pants, pulling them down firmly to release his growing erection. Growing desperation, growing need filtered through Harry’s thoughts as he tried to relinquish what exactly was happening. What was happening?

“Wait,” Harry said breathlessly. Severus’s hand stalled at the area just above his erection and his eyebrow rose in a questioning manner. Things were moving at the speed of light with them, but why? Why were they both pushing into this relationship?

Harry breathed out an uneasy breath. “I think we should slow down a bit…” Severus watched him for a moment, his eyes inquiring as to what this sudden need for a slower pace. They had known each other for the past five years, but it seemed that only the past year had they really gotten to know each other.

Severus realized his hunger for Harry was beginning to wane him down; a starving unlike any other. All his life he had been deprived of affection from others, and soon became consumed in a miserable hatred for anyone who tried to get close to him. How is it that Harry Potter within only a year had brought all of Severus’s reserves? Of course the boy was beautiful, intelligent, and yes, the savior of the world, but ordinarily those things would in the end become his downfall. He was not good enough for a person carrying those traits, but why now? Was he that starved?

Harry noticed that the indifferent barrier was once more on the man’s face. He watched as Severus slid from on top of him and got up and out of bed. “You, for once Potter, are correct on your observation.”

Wait, what just happened? We’ve gone back to Potter? Seriously, this man had mood swings just like a woman – probably why Harry had never taken an interest in them. No, but Severus was different. He had always pushed Harry. Deep in an area of his heart, Severus was everything that Harry wanted.

But really, at least with woman a man could go about buying them gifts and telling them that they are beautiful to get them to be happy once again. Harry began to picture Severus blushing into a bundle of roses, having been told by Harry that he was even more glamorous and beautiful than one hundred roses. Hah, that was a thought. That was a thought for later; right now however, Severus was leaving the room completely and making his way to the living room. Insufferable man; he’d learned that word from Severus and was glad to finally be able to say it.

Harry sat up just as Severus left the room, sighing out his frustration. He hadn’t meant what he said in a bad way, it just seemed that everything since Dumbledore’s death had been rushed – his life, and everyone who occupied it. He felt for Severus, but couldn’t say he knew a thing about the man. Severus had been closed off most the time they spent with each other. Only when conversation went towards that incline, did Harry hear anything specific about the man’s life. He knew how Severus acted towards him versus others, but wasn’t aware just how deep each emotion went.

Was this way of Severus pitying him – making this a way to express a caring that superseded any other? The more Harry thought about it, the more he became confused about it. Severus was certainly more complex than he had thought the man was. ‘Just like a woman…’ Harry thought with a sighed, ‘…a very tall, dark woman.’

“For Merlin’s sake, I’ll never win!” Harry thumped back against the bed, holding his head his hands and groaning out the frustration. He was preparing himself for the long hull.

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Author: Okay, so I realized that this chapter wasn’t going to be long since I have been doing three other stories. I apologize. I want to get more into what I had planned next chapter. Who likes Lucius??? I do, I do. You’ll come to understand how the man, at the most obscure moments, can woo any person’s heart…including…uh oh. :P Oh, if there are errors, blame caffine and lack of sleep.

To my reviewers:

Katie K: I’m sorry the romance was rushed. I usually try not to rush the romance, but with this story, it was beginning to get rushed. It’s a new speed that most of my stories don’t see in the first few chapters. I hope the speed works out for you anyway ^.^

Missi: Thank you for reviewing. It’s always nice to see a new face.

Angie/les: I’m glad you have found the plot interesting. I’m sure you are going to be in for a few more surprises. Ideas are flowing from me like a waterfall, which is probably why plot has gotten rushed. But it’s about to get very, very interesting.

Amanda: Thank you for your comment. It’s always appreciated when someone takes time to review; makes me very happy to see a new face.

Myniephoenix: I hope that this update is a good one. I’m trying not to make it all about the sex, and put some romance in there, but you never know with these hot, steamy stories about Severus and Harry. *Drools*