A Bunny Tale Part Three

A Bunny Tale
Part 3
Chapter 3: The Man from the Ministry

With the end of the year came a lot of responsibility. In addition to the regular coursework, Severus examined potential clients in order to increase his earnings over the summer. His ploy at the conference had worked. All the Potions Masters were convinced that he owned a coney, and his denying it only fuelled their suspicions that he was accumulating vast amounts of wealth from some endeavour he refused to share. The holidays were still weeks away and already he'd received more requests for potions than he would have time to keep up with. He set Harry to work sorting through the post, eliminating the ones that were impractical, illegal, or a waste of his time. For those that remained, he sent a letter back stating that, due to the rising cost of potion supplies, he would have to charge more for his work than was customary. He was also careful to include vague denials that he'd recently come into large sums of money, and for those who asked about his coney, explicit denials that he was anything other than a poor man who could never afford such an ostentatious display of wealth. As he predicted, not only did all his potential clients agree to the increased prices, but quite a few offered more money than he'd quoted.

It was with that in mind that he kept his summer schedule as clear as possible for brewing. With Harry's help, he figured he would be able to complete more projects than ever before, maybe even save enough to take a little holiday before autumn term began.

Although Harry'd seemed indifferent to returning to Severus's home for the summer holidays, he grew more eager with each passing day, perhaps because he knew that all of his friends were leaving Hogwarts.

"We can have sex all the time!" he said one day as they got ready to head to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"I do have to brew," Severus reminded him.

"Half a day," declared Harry, a greedy gleam in his eyes and Severus started to suspect that he'd be getting very little rest during their holiday.

With a sigh, he patted Harry on the head and ushered him out the door.

At breakfast, Dumbledore reminded the students that the end of the year was fast approaching. The professors were also reminded that the testing officials from the Ministry would be over for a private gala that night. Severus, who'd forgotten about the event, had planned on spending the evening with Harry.

"Why don't you bring Harry along?" suggested Dumbledore as they both watched Harry laugh with the other Slytherins at a story Draco was telling. "If he is to be a full-time staff member, we should treat him like one."

He hadn't yet discussed with Dumbledore what would be happening with Harry in the coming years. Although the Board had approved Dumbledore's hiring of Harry for the year (mostly because the majority of Harry's salary came out of Severus's pocket), to have Harry permanently assigned would be a harder task. Not only would they have to convince the Board that Harry was essential (or at least low-cost), but eventually people would start to notice Harry's unusual rate of aging. At around thirteen years of age, Harry was roughly equivalent to a human boy in his late teens. In about seven years, he would be thirty years old in coney years. Coneys who had reached the human equivalent of thirty still looked younger than most humans at that age, and there were potions Severus could use to keep Harry looking younger, but in another decade or two, there would be no denying that Harry was rapidly catching up to Severus in age.

Since the concern would only be relevant in the far distant future, Severus could only hope that the Board wouldn't consider it a problem. Perhaps after Harry had been at his position for such a long time, no one would think twice at the revelation that he was actually a coney. It was impossible to say, and he would have to bribe Lucius as much as possible to ensure his friend did everything in his power to convince the Board to make Harry's position permanent.

Dumbledore's suggestion that Severus take Harry along to the staff and Ministry official gala was an excellent one and Severus nodded to show his appreciation. "He will be bored, but behaved."

"I do not doubt it," said Dumbledore, casting Severus a wink. "I'll be the same myself."

When Severus delivered the news to Harry, he expected a fuss (particularly since they'd both intended to spend the evening having lots of sex), but Harry only wrinkled his nose a little and said, "I don't suppose we can stay up after can we?"

"I'm afraid not," said Severus with a sigh. "It's best that you regard tonight as a test of your ability to become a full-time staff member. In addition to the officials, several members of the Board will be there, and you'll need to impress them if you want to remain here at Hogwarts."

Harry's eyes widened. "They might make me leave? I'd have to live at your house alone?" He looked as though he might be sick.

Smiling, Severus tweaked his ear. "No, of course not. They just might remove you from a staff position. If they did want you to leave the castle, then I'd purchase a home in Hogsmeade and spend each night with you."

Harry grinned. "We'd never have to worry about students interrupting us again."

The coney had a one track mind. Mussing up Harry's hair, Severus said, "Run along. You'll be late for helping Hagrid. Return to my rooms after dinner."

"Oooh," breathed Harry, his ears perking.

"In order to get ready for the event," clarified Severus, and the ears dropped again.

~

That evening, Harry insisted on wolfing down his food and leaving the table early. He didn't once look at Severus when he did it, but Severus knew exactly what he wanted. After a suitable amount of time had passed, Severus finished his meal and excused himself. Dumbledore gave him a cheery wave, but he didn't care if the Headmaster knew exactly what he was doing.

As soon he reached his rooms, Harry pounced on him and he had to use magic to close the door.

"Can we be late?" asked Harry as his fingers flew over Severus's buttons.

Severus had to remind him, "The whole point of you being there is to impress upon the Board how useful you would be to have on staff."

"I can be useful in other ways as well," said Harry with a grin, and it was impossible to avoid not being a few minutes late.

By the time they arrived (Harry still smoothing down his robes), the room was full of people. After Slughorn had retired, parties weren't often held at Hogwarts, but Lucius and other Board members had been keen to change that, and recently the events had become more extravagant, which meant that there were even more guests whom the Board members could hobnob with. They'd not only invited all the officials from the Ministry who'd oversee the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, but also influential Ministry officials in general. Several members of the Knights of Walpurgis were in attendance and Severus knew that the up-coming Triwizard Tournament would be entirely in the Knights' hands before the night was over. Half of the Board consisted of Knights anyway.

Still unaccustomed to sights of magical luxury, Harry's head twisted this way and that as he gawked at the ceiling charmed to replicate dramatic sunsets, the tapestries designed to look like waterfalls, and the floating trays of food and drink.

All too used to such obnoxious displays, Severus strode over to where Lucius stood surrounded by Ministry officials.

"Severus!" said Lucius with a warm smile that was rarely genuine. The attention-loving man was in his element at these types of parties.

"Lucius."

Ignoring Harry for the first time since they'd met each other, Lucius turned back to the small crowd around him. "Allow me to introduce you to some acquaintances. Miss Bree, from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Miss Bree, a well-endowed witch with dark skin and a wide smile shook Severus's hand and turned to Harry to greet him as well.

"Jim Rose and Garry Trimble, from the Department of International Magical Cooperation." No sooner had Severus shaken their hands than Lucius motioned to the man beyond them, "Chris Daniels from the Department of Games and Sports."

This would be a long night. They were almost done with introductions when Lucius said, "And, from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures-" He moved past a few officials to motion to a man who had been engaged in conversation with another official. "-Tom-"

No sooner had the tall, dark haired man turned to greet Severus than Harry flew across the open space and bit hard into the offered hand. Reacting instinctively before he could think, Severus grabbed Harry's jaw, forced it open to free the trapped hand, said, "Excuse me," and marched off to a side room, dragging Harry with him.

He opened the door, threw Harry inside, and closed the door, setting up wards behind him.

Harry charged at the door, grabbing the handle and tugging it so hard, it would've ripped straight off had he been any stronger. "Let me out!" he yelled.

"You stupid kit!" roared Severus.

Ignoring him, Harry pounded his fists against the door, and kicked it hard.

Swooping forward, Severus grabbed him, wrenching his hands behind his back and holding his wrists in place with one hand while he pressed Harry's head into the wood with the other. Harry howled and, with a swift spell, Severus took away his voice.

"Now," said Severus, letting all his anger bleed into his voice. "You will calm down and then I will release you. I won't release you until you're calm. Do you understand?"

Closing his eyes, Harry nodded.

Releasing the kit, Severus stepped back and, with a flick of his wand, returned his voice. He couldn't believe it. Tonight was the night Harry was supposed to convince the Board that he was a valuable assistant! Of all the nights to pull such a stunt, Harry had to pick the worst one possible. If Severus didn't think of a way to correct this disaster - and fast - Harry would be thrown out of Hogwarts before morning, if not put down.

Turning all his anger on the kit before him, Severus said, "You are the most stupid, childish-"

Jabbing his finger at the door, Harry said, "He-"

"Shut up."

"But he-"

Severus pointed his wand at Harry's mouth. "I ordered you to be quiet."

Harry stared at the wand as he took a few steps back.

"I don't care what he did."

Harry's eyes widened.

"It doesn't matter. You were supposed to be convincing the Board that you would be a good staff member. Instead, you acted in the most animalistic, infantile nature I have ever seen. I've never been more ashamed of you. Don't you know what happens to coneys who bite people?"

"I know," Harry bit out. "I bit him before and-"

"You bit him before?!" Severus wanted to grab Harry and shake some sense into him. "Are you mad or do you just not have a single functioning cell in that thick head of yours?"

"He-!"

Severus waved his wand, cutting off Harry's speech with a silencing spell. "No! You will not argue with me. As I said before, I don't care what he did. If he deserved to be punished for some offence, then you should have reported him to me and I would have dealt with him. Now, since you've bitten him, you are at risk of being put down. Haven't I warned you about this before? Haven't I told you not to bite people?"

Harry's eyes flashed.

Pointing his wand straight at Harry's chest, Severus took two menacing steps forward, and Harry flattened himself against the wall. "Haven't I?"

His eyes on the wand, Harry nodded.

"Yet, you still disobeyed me. I warned you that I'd sell you if you proved to be problematic, and you just did the very thing I'd explicitly ordered you not to do! I didn't spend all of my savings to watch you be put down for being a complete imbecile!"

The anger faded from Harry's eyes, and he cast his gaze to the carpet.

Satisfied that Harry wouldn't try to talk back to him anymore, Severus returned his voice. "If you insist on behaving in a manner that would cause the Ministry to take you from me, then I'll be sure to make you pay back every knut I've ever spent on you before I rid myself of you."

Harry's head shot up in alarm. "Please don't," he begged. "I'm sorry. I won't ever bite anyone ever again. I promise."

It was too little too late and did nothing to soothe Severus's anger.

"Can I even trust you to hold to that promise? I doubt you have the intelligence."

"Please," Harry begged desperately, grabbing his robes in pale hands and twisting the fabric. "It won't ever happen again. Please. You have to believe me."

Severus stared down his nose at him. As much as he wanted to believe Harry, the kit was so irrational and impulsive. Still, he would do whatever it took to hold onto Harry.

"We will discuss this later. For now, you will go out there and apologise to that man." He'd blame a Weasley Twin product. No one would question if the pair of troublemakers were the sort to create such a thing.

Harry's face twisted. "I can't," he said, stricken.

How could he refuse to apologise after what Severus had just explained? Didn't he realise the danger of the situation? Furious, Severus said, "You can and you will." Jabbing his finger at the door, he ordered, "Go."

As if under the Imperius Curse, Harry took several faltering steps to the door. Halfway there he stopped.

"Go on."

Turning around and casting a desperate pleading glance at Severus, Harry said, "Please-"

His anger so hot and thick he had trouble speaking, Severus said, "If you don't apologise to that man then I will sell you. Don't think that I won't do it, because I will. I will leave this party to sell you this very instant unless you go out and apologise."

His white face turning away from Severus and to the door, Harry's fists twisted in his robes. Suddenly, he crumpled to the floor, buried in the weight of his robes.

Severus had no pity for his theatrics. "If that's what you want, then so be it." He marched forward, certain that Harry would cave in the moment he Apparated the two of them to Knockturn Alley.

"Please-" sobbed Harry, his voice thick with tears. "Please- just don't sell me to the brothel. Please."

Harry never cried, not even when he injured himself. The sight of it was enough to wash away Severus's anger. Harry wasn't in denial about the gravity of the situation, revenge on the man was just more important than anything else - even Severus himself.

Severus didn't know what shocked or concerned him more - that Harry was willing to give him up to avoid apologising, or that Harry truly believed that he'd be sold to the brothel.

Kneeling down, Severus lifted a hand to pet Harry's head. Harry flinched, cowering down. Sure to put his wand away and move slowly so as not to scare Harry, Severus pulled him into his arms. He restored Harry's ears and pet them softly.

"It's all right," he said gently as Harry cried against his chest. "I won't sell you to the brothel. I'd never do that. If I ever sold you, I'd place you with someone who'd be good to you."

Harry sniffed, his tears slowly drying. "I don't- want to- leave you," he said, his voice still hitching

Yet, he was willing to have that happen in order to avoid apologising. Why? What had the man done to earn such a reaction? Still stroking Harry's flaccid ears, Severus asked, "What did that man do to you?"

"He-" hiccupped Harry, remembered pain twisting his face. "He-"

Trying to help him out, Severus asked, "Did he hurt you after you bit him?"

Harry nodded. "He cast- a curse. Crucio."

Severus couldn't believe it. A Ministry official cast a curse on a coney? Even if Harry had bitten the man for trying to touch him, the Cruciatus Curse wasn't punishment - it was torture. "Are you sure?"

Harry nodded. He sucked in two deep breaths and said, "When they put me in the Ministry, everyday, he'd come by the cage, point his wand at me, and say 'Cruci-'. When he'd say 'Crucio' it hurt but not when he said 'Crucia' or 'Crucium' or anything else."

Multiple instances of the Cruciatus Curse inside the Ministry? No wonder Harry was so afraid of having a wand pointed at him.

"He did this to all the coneys?"

Harry shook his head. "Just me. There was another coney there - Sirius. He would try to protect me, but the man would just cast it on him as well."

Appalled, Severus asked, "Did the Ministry know about this?"

Harry nodded. "They got angry at him. They said that because he did that, they weren't going to put me down, but send me to be re-educated instead."

It was all too much to believe, but Severus had no doubt that Harry was telling the truth. "How long ago did this happen?"

Harry had to think. "Two years?" he guessed, his nose scrunched. "I spent half a year with the pink lady, then they sold me at auctions and I went into the shops."

"All because that man, a member of the Ministry of Magic, tried to touch you and you bit him-"

"No." Harry shook his head. "He never tried to touch me."

Exasperated, Severus asked, "Then why did you bite him?"

Harry jerked back out of Severus's arms, anger overwhelming his features. "He killed my mum! He shot a spell at us, my mum got in front of me, and the spell went through her and hit me." He pushed back his fringe, revealing his scar.

For a moment, Severus could only stare at Harry with shock. The Killing Curse was not how coneys were put down and it certainly wasn't proper to put down a female coney in front of her child. Harry must have been touching her for the spell to glance off of him as it passed through her. Confused, Severus asked, "Why did he cast that spell at your mother?"

"I don't know," Harry answered bitterly. "I don't know why you humans do what you do."

It was the first time Harry had ever emphasised the difference in their species. Pulling Harry comfortably back into his arms, Severus said, "If he killed your mother, he deserved more than a bite."

Harry leant against Severus's chest. "I broke his arm too."

Petting the still-lowered ears, Severus said, "You have the right to be angry. However, I wish you had told me what he did. I would've punished him for you. You shouldn't have bit him."

"I know," said Harry sadly. "I just got so angry when I saw him, I-"

"It's all right." Severus pet his ears. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you. Just let me deal with him. Don't go anywhere near him."

"What will you do?" Harry asked.

"Something so absolutely horrid, that he'll never even think of hurting you again."

Harry lifted his head and his ears pricked. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Severus said, leaning in to kiss Harry softly. Harry put his arms around his neck, melting into the kiss. When they broke apart, Harry whispered, "I don't think I can go back to the party. Every time I see him, I think of my mum and-"

"Don't worry," Severus assured him. "I'll take care of everything."

Harry's ears rose farther and Severus couldn't resist scratching behind them, making Harry shiver. After slipping Harry out of the side room, Severus took him back to his rooms where he made sure that Harry was comfortable and secure in their relationship before he left.

In the long walk back to the party he planned, and by the time he arrived, he knew exactly what to do. Dumbledore glided over and said, "I do hope Harry is feeling better. It's a terrible time of the year to be unwell."

"Thank you for your concern," said Severus. "I've put him to bed and he should be better in the morning."

"Of course," Albus nodded wisely. "Nothing like a good night's sleep to cure one's illnesses."

Breaking away from him, Severus found Lucius. "I'm afraid that I didn't get the name of the man from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures before Harry stepped in."

His eyes asking the questions he knew better than to speak in a crowded room, Lucius answered, "Tom Riddle."


~


As Ministry Officials were known to love to speak about themselves, Severus knew that he'd be stuck at the gala for hours. A few of the Board members approached Severus to ask how Harry was feeling, but most preferred to act as if the incident had never happened. Riddle's hand was healed by the time Severus returned and, when the two of them met again, Tom smiled and asked, "Is your nephew feeling well?"

"Better, thank you," answered Severus, sure to keep his face neutral and voice polite. "He's resting now. I had no idea he was capable of such a thing. I hope you'll forgive him."

Tom waved his hand airily. "In my work for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, I've seen all sorts of things. I hear that Harry often helps Hagrid with his work."

"Yes, he's quite fond of caring for other species."

Nodding absently, Tom said, "You never know what you can pick up from those creatures. It's always best to be careful, especially with children."

Severus adopted an expression of concern mixed with curiosity and said, "I hadn't thought it would be an issue as long as he maintained proper sanitation. Are there really that many cross-species-transmitted diseases?"

"Of course!" Tom nodded. "It's getting worse now that more and more species are living in human homes. Even without that matter, Hagrid deals in the acquisition of rare creatures, and who knows what pathogens have been brought to Hogwarts along with them. We try to regulate such matters at the Ministry, of course, but we don't have the man power or time to test every species."

"Indeed," said Severus. "I've never been fond of Harry aiding Hagrid, but he's quite a stubborn child."

"I doubt it will happen again," said Tom. "Just keep him away from anything non-human or non-house-elf and he'll be fine in a week."

Either Tom was the best actor Severus had encountered, or he didn't know Harry's true species. "I'll keep that in mind," said Severus with a smile. Thankfully, Tom was shortly whisked away by another guest and Severus didn't have to tolerate him any longer.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the rest of his guests and he had to wait another two hours before he could make his good-byes and slip away.

As soon as Severus walked in the door, Harry jumped up from the sofa and darted to him. Before Severus could even close the door, a flurry of words burst from Harry's mouth, "What happened? Will I be kicked out of Hogwarts? How angry is the Board? What-?"

Severus silenced Harry with a kiss.

Harry melted against him, returning the kiss hungrily, eagerly.

Picking Harry up, Severus carried him into the bedroom, devouring him as he laid him on the bed and undid his robes.

"Everything will be fine," he said between kisses as he worked his way through Harry's clothes, Harry clumsily trying to do the same to him. "They assumed you were sick."

"That man-"

"Is gone. He won't be here in the morning."

"I'm sorry I-"

"Listen," said Severus, pausing in his undressing of Harry. He cupped Harry's face in his hands and met his worried eyes. "You were wrong to bite him. Not because he didn't deserve it, but because hurting him will only hurt you more. You're a coney. The Board lets you pretend to be human for the student's sake, but don't ever forget that hurting humans will only result in more punishment for you."

His ears wilting, Harry nodded. "I know that," he said sadly, "but I didn't care."

"I care," Severus told him. "I don't want anything to ever happen to you. Besides, I can hurt him worse than you ever could. I'll make him suffer."

"Horribly?" asked Harry, giving him a quick kiss.

Letting his anger seep into his words, Severus said, "He deserves death for what he did."

Harry's eyes widened and he clutched Severus's arms in a tight grip. "You'd really do that for me?"

For Harry, he'd do anything. "Of course." Severus nodded.

With surprising strength, Harry yanked him down for a fierce kiss and they tore at each other's clothes, not stopping until both bodies were bare and Severus had buried himself deep inside Harry. Harry held him so tightly it hurt, but Severus didn't care. He fucked Harry deeply but slowly, kissing him softly in between thrusts.

Harry's ears rose and rose, and when he came, moaning, "Severus," softly, they were as erect as possible. Holding Harry tightly as he came himself, Severus nipped at one of the ears and was rewarded with laughter and a playful squirm.

"Such delicious ears you have," Severus said, petting them softly.

Harry wrinkled his nose. "That tickles."

Capturing Harry in his arms, he continued to tease the ticklish ears until Harry was squealing with laughter and begging for escape.

He released Harry only to be promptly pounced upon, and soon they were rolling around on the bed, Severus trying to tickle Harry, and Harry trying to pin Severus. When Severus threw him off easily on each of his attempts, Harry changed tactics and dove for Severus's groin. Catching Harry, Severus threw him over his shoulder and stood.

Severus teased, "You're far too wild. I think you need to sleep in your own bed tonight."

"No!" Harry cried, playfully beating his hands and feet against Severus. "I won't go!"

Severus made it as far as the sitting room before Harry managed to twist around enough to deliver a playful bite to his shoulder. Throwing Harry onto the sofa, he lunged, only to have Harry roll him over, grab his dick, and give it a hearty lick. Giving in since Harry had grabbed his prize (literally), he leant back against the sofa, and stroked the perky ears as Harry set to work.

Riddle would regret the day he first laid eyes on Harry.