Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 32

“Come on, Potter this isn’t the time.” Harry was snapped from darkness by a foul smelling odour that assaulted his sense. Coughing and spluttering Harry blindly pushed the offending bottle being shoved under his nose away and blinked a little to clear his vision. Severus was leaning over him intensely his hand resting on Harry’s forehead and the other still clutching the awful smelling bottle of potion.

“Oh god I’ve just had the worst nightmare.” Harry whispered as he stared up at Severus. Severus grimaced a little as he sat up and re corked the bottle of potion.

“Unfortunately Potter, I do believe the nightmare in question is very much real.” Harry paled visibly at Severus comment. Instantly Severus leant forward again and gently cupped Harry’s cheeks with his hands preventing him from slipping into darkness a second time. “Hey don’t go again we haven’t got time.” Just at that moment Jasper ran into the room

“You guys have got to go, Alice just sent word that they’re on their way down here.” Severus swore and grabbing Harry’s invisibility cloak helped the boy up from the bed. Harry grimaced and bent over a little clutching at his stomach. He ached like he had earlier in the day when Jasper had hit him with the curse.

“Come on Potter deep breathes, I’ll give you a potion for the pain when we’re on the train.” Harry straightened a little as Severus pulled his cloak around the boys shoulder guiding him from the cottage and out the front door. Waiting at the top of the gravel road was Jaspers little car.

“Where are we going?” Harry whispered as Severus helped him into the back seat before climbing in next to him.

“Back to Surrey.” Severus whispered as he pulled Harry against him, and allowed the boy to lay his head in his lap. Severus hastily pulled the invisibility cloak up over the boy’s head just as Jasper started up the engine and pulled away from the cottage. In the darkness of the back seat of the car Harry rested his hands on his stomach beneath the safety of the invisibility cloak. He didn’t want to be pregnant; he hadn’t even finished school yet. He didn’t know how it had happened, well he did but that wasn’t what he was thinking about. It seemed a longer drive to Glasgow station than it had been when they’d arrived, and in the dark the world outside the car window blurred into nothing.

Not much was said between them until finally Jasper pulled the car up into the train station car park and looked over his shoulder into the backseat, where Severus sat with an invisible Harry.

“You’ve got a good ten minutes to be on the train, I’ll get the bags out of the back.” Jasper smiled at them and hopped out of the car. Harry sat up and went to take the invisibly cloak off but Severus pulled it back on.

“Not yet, if we’re seen it has to look like I’m travelling alone.” Harry nodded, not that Severus could see him but it seemed the right thing to do. Severus got out of the car and Harry followed sticking close to his mate. During the trip Severus’ hand had come to rest on Harry’s resting on his stomach and that touch alone had alleviated most of the ache he felt.

“Come on, platform 4 the train should be there.” Jasper and Severus carried the bags between them and Harry hung between the two brothers cautiously looking over his shoulder every five minutes in case someone was watching them. Surprisingly the train was full and it took them five minutes to find a compartment not occupied by muggles. Jasper stepped off the train just as the whistle blew signalling departure time was nearing. Harry stood beside Severus at the window as the two brothers hugged one another and closed the door into the carriage.

“Be careful little brother, he’s a sadistic son of bitch.” Severus nodded at Jasper the brothers smiling warmly at one another.

“You too, lay low and keep me up to date when you can.” Jasper touched his hand to his chest in silent acknowledgement and Harry was surprised to see Severus do the same.

“I’ll expect a owl when the little one arrives.” Jasper smiled at where he knew Harry was standing next to Severus in the window. Harry nodded again although knowing Jasper couldn’t see it.

“Take care.” Severus whispered as the train pulled away from the station. Severus waved at his brother for a moment before the image of the man dressed in the black leather coat disappeared from view, as the train pulled out into the darkened countryside. Moving into the compartment they’d found for themselves Severus warded the door and sealed it shut, pulling the blinds to the hall closed so that no other passengers could see in. Harry pulled off his invisibility cloak and folded it neatly on top of his case. Harry sat down quietly on the edge of the bench seat his hands folded neatly in his lap as Severus sat down opposite him. Carefully Severus reached across and placed his hands gently on top of Harry’s knees in comfort, feeling acutely the young boys distress through the bond.

“Everything’s going to be okay Harry, I promise.” Severus leaned forward a little more and pressed a chaste kiss to Harry’s cheek where a single tear had leaked out from the corner of the boy’s eyes. Harry truly wanted to believe Severus but the way he felt at the moment, everything had turned to utter shit yet again.

“I didn’t want this, not yet, not now.” Harry was still trying to comprehend the fact he was pregnant without having to explain how he felt about it. Severus sighed and moved swiftly over to sit beside Harry, his arm coming up around Harry’s shoulders to hold him closely to his body.

“I know Harry, and this is unexpected for me too. It takes months even years for male wizarding couples to ever conceive, and both of us would have needed to take a potion. That’s why I asked you before if you’d taken a potion from my stock.” Severus rubbed his hand gently across Harry’s shoulders, his thumb ghosting the side of the boy’s neck and making him shiver.

“I didn’t take anything.” Harry whispered vehemently, to which Severus nodded firmly and pulled Harry tighter against him in reassurance that he believed him.

“I know that’s why this is complicated. You didn’t conceive through normal means Harry, this bond seems to have accelerated our relationship, either through need or some other emotion.” Harry frowned in confusion completely not understanding. Severus sighed patiently and began again. “A wizarding bond has a life of its own, it’s shaped not only by the people it’s connected to but the external environment and other factors such as age, emotional stress, situation. Something either emotionally or externally has triggered your body into conceiving, it’s just unfortunate it has picked such a time, but obviously the bond thinks there is a need for this.” Severus sighed and sat back against the seat his free hand coming up to worry his brow in concern. “This is all extremely frustrating. Had I known what I was getting myself into in the beginning, I might have just chosen one of the devotee’s Voldemort had selected for me and just accepted my fate as it was dealt.” Severus closed his eyes and slumped in the chair, his hand falling from Harry’s shoulder. Harry stared at Severus the man’s despair resting unchecked and unconcealed on his face. A strange emotion welled up in a Harry, a mix of hatred, sadness and fear, which swelled in his stomach and rose into his chest. Voldemort yet again had fucked with his life. Sitting before him was a man he’d hated up until his sixth year, a man he’d been forced to marry, and a man he’d unwittingly fallen in love with and was now carrying his child. Harry stood up abruptly from the chair and walked over to the window, startling Severus a little as the lights in the carriage flickered as if a surge of magic had interrupted the flow. “Harry.” Severus whispered concerned for his lover, only just realising what he’d said and how it had sounded to his mate. “I didn’t mean….” Severus fell silent as Harry spun around the boy’s scar burning an orange colour.

“I’ll kill him.” Harry whispered his voice not his own. “I’ll skewer him through with his own wand and shove my fist so far down his throat I’ll feel his very life slipping through my fingers and you know what?” Harry paused his gaze seemingly looking straight through Severus. The potion master shook his head silently, as a trail of blood ran down Harry’s forehead and nose and fell in a little droplet onto the boy’s jumper. “I’m going to enjoy every single minute of seeing him suffer, just like he’s made me suffer all these years…” Harry trailed off and closed his eyes. A second later Harry’s eyes opened again, the scar had stopped bleeding and Harry’s expression had returned to the normal passive one Severus had seen a few moments before. Stunned silent Severus watched Harry smile at him before gesturing to their bags. “Can I have a drink Severus, I’m thirsty.” Severus nodded dumbly and having grabbed a small amount of muggle change from his bag quickly exited the compartment in search of the drinks cart and to give himself time to think about what he’d just witnessed.

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Severus sat opposite Harry, a small piece of paper sitting on the fold out table between them. For the past three hours they’d sat in relative silence playing a game of hangman, Severus managing to incorporate all the weirdest potions ingredients into his clues, making guessing the answers completely impossible for Harry. Since Severus had returned with some sandwiches and a drink for Harry neither of them had spoken of the incident. Harry it seemed hadn’t even noticed the blood trail running down his face and Severus had merely muttered a cleaning spell on the boy when he hadn’t been looking. Harry hadn’t acknowledged what had happened and Severus hadn’t either, but the potion masters mind had not once strayed from the issue. Never had he seen Harry acting like that, and the boy’s vehemence for revenge was almost identical to what Severus had seen in Voldemort during his time spying.

Harry was oblivious to his partner’s internal thoughts and made light conversation about seeing Sirius, Remus and his friends again. Severus strangely kept his answers as short and clipped as possible, all the while his brow furrowed and his gaze on Harry.

“Are you going to continue training me?” Severus couldn’t avoid Harry’s direct comment this time and was forced to answer his mate.

“No, you know mostly everything myself and Jasper could teach you. Admittedly there will have to be slight modifications to take into consideration your condition but it is only practice you need now.” Severus removed another line from the hangman on the paper in front of him as Harry lost another letter.

“Modifications?” Harry queried as he guessed another two letters and lost another two strokes on his hangman. Severus nodded and drew Harry a clue to the answer on the side of the paper.

“Yes, adjustments you need to make in your casting.” Harry frowned a little at his lover and when Severus made no attempt at explaining himself Harry threw his quill down onto the table in disgust.

“And, you’re being deliberately awkward, do I have to spell out the need for explanation? What adjustments?” Severus narrowed his eyes at Harry and put down his quill managing not to splatter the paper with ink like Harry had with his temper. Folding his arms across his chest Severus sat back on his chair and glared at the boy across from him.

“That for one, Mr Potter. Your mood swings are already becoming intolerable and I have only been back in your company a mere few hours, how my brother coped with you for two weeks like this is beyond me.” Harry opened his mouth to shout at Severus but the elder wizard cut in quickly. “One adjustment Mr Potter will be to learn to take three deep breaths and think about the consequences before opening your mouth, less you make matters worse with your volatile moods.” Harry closed his mouth quickly and instead glared at Severus with just as much conviction as Severus was staring at him with.

“And what else? I’m assuming that’s not the only thing to change, as nothing I ever do is bloody simple.” Harry looked pointedly at Severus who huffed a contemptible little snort.

“Back to the old ‘poor little me’ syndrome again are we Potter, I thought we’d progressed on from that but obviously I was mistaken.” Severus’ tongue was a sharp as acid but unlike when Harry had just been Severus’ student the sting of his comment made little affect on the boy who gave just as good back.

“You’re an utter bastard aren’t you Snape.” Harry paused his gaze narrowing to meet Severus’ one with one of his own. “They could dress you in pink, with frills and a bouquet, then coat you in honey and you’d still be the nasty, sarcastic son of a bitch you are.” Again Harry paused his gaze not flinching as he stared at Severus. “It’s a good job you fuck well or you’d have no redeeming features what so ever.” Harry never wavered as he watched Severus’ eyes flash with something akin to anger. For a moment Harry half expected another just as stinging remark from his lover but when Severus opened his mouth what came out was unexpected.

“You have to remember when casting spells, particularly blocking charms, that you are now no longer just protecting yourself, you are also protecting our child. You have to cast the ‘block’ to protect the two of you. This is why when Jasper threw certain, more complicated curses at you, your blocks were useless because they sought out that weakness. At all times you have to remember to protect the both of you.” Harry nodded silently and picked up his quill and pointed to where he’d only managed to guess a few letters of the hangman answer.

“It’s Aquavirius Maggot Juice.” Filling in the blank spaces Harry put the quill back down on the table and watched as a small smile twitched at the corner of Severus’ lips.

“Ten points to Gryffindor, for using your head, finally.” Severus whispered coolly as he flicked his wand at the table and made it and the paper disappeared back into its folded position.

“School’s not in professor, points don’t get counted.” Harry whispered back watching as the familiar dark smile graced the professor’s lips.

“Good job too, or my reputation would be shot to hell.” Severus smiled and Harry snorted in laughter.

“Do we get to have make-up sex now our fights over?” Harry whispered colouring a little as Severus rolled his eyes and folded his arms over his chest.

“I would hardly call that a fight Potter, more a disagreement.” Severus raised an eyebrow at Harry in challenge but the boy merely shrugged his shoulders and smiled coyly.

“Still it’s got to classify for something, a kiss?” Harry paused and moved across the compartment to sit next to Severus on the bench, his nose coming up to press against Severus’ cheek and nuzzle. “Besides it’s been four weeks since we last did it and I do believe that would make our monthly scheduled rendezvous well overdue.” Harry nuzzled closer to Severus’ cheek the man’s resolve weakening as Harry trailed his hand down over Severus’ chest, flicking at the buttons of his jacket restlessly. “I’d have thought you’d have jumped at the change to mark your territory again after Jasper…” Harry instantly fell silent as Severus’ mood soured instantly.

“Not funny Potter, if my brother laid a finger on you, you better bloody well tell me now.” Harry realised his mistake and instantly shook his head.

“No I told you, he just kept me company while I slept this afternoon.” Harry paused but then continued quickly before Severus could say anything. “And I can’t believe you thought we’d done anything, it was so humiliating having you inspect me like you didn’t trust me.” Harry frowned at Severus waiting for answer but the potion master merely shook his head in concern.

“You have no idea what I was looking for when I did that do you?” Harry shook his head bewildered as Severus gestured to Harry’s neck and waist. “It wasn’t you I didn’t trust Harry, it was my brother and his associates.” Harry frowned again still not catching on to what Severus was saying. “The cottage we were staying at is situated on the boundary of a vampire colony, Jasper’s bar apart from being a watering hole for the unsuspecting muggles, also doubles as Jaspers’ black market trading house, and the colony’s feeding place.” Harry paled visibly his hand automatically straying to his neck as if to double check that all his flesh was in one place. “I wasn’t checking for signs of sex Harry, I was looking for a vampires tell tale feeding marks.”

“Fucking hell, why did you not tell me this. I could have been sucked dry in my sleep, I could be already infected.” Harry automatically bared his teeth, his fingers running uselessly over his top canine teeth looking for signs of fangs forming. Severus snorted and pulled Harry’s hands away from his teeth making the boy look down at him.

“Trust me you’re not infected Harry and the wards on the cottage were designed to deter members of the colony that strayed to close. However Jasper broke my rules by allowing you out unprotected into an alehouse where you would have made an easy target.” Stunned Harry slumped back down into the seat beside Severus, suddenly remembering the way Alice; Jaspers’ barmaid had stared at him, and what she’d said. Suddenly it all made sense.

“Is Jasper a…?” Thinking how he’d slept so soundly beside Jasper in bed earlier in the day Harry looked abruptly to Severus who silently shook his head.

“No he’s not. He used the colony as a hiding place after fleeing from Voldemort, not surprisingly the colony just accepted him as one of their own. Vampire’s do not pledge their allegiance to anyone accept their own kind, and contrary to popular belief are relatively peaceful creatures. They feed on the new moon each tri semester of the year, and while it is a violent and rather gruesome experience for the victim, the muggle or wizard is usually returned unharmed to their place of residence with no knowledge of what has occurred, save for the puncture marks, which fade with time. A colony such as the one we were staying with remain relatively undisturbed by wizards and muggles alike, and provide a perfect cover for those who wish to disappear and those like us who are hiding.” Harry still sat stunned on the bench staring at Severus who seemed undisturbed by what he’d just told Harry. After a few moments of silence Severus leaned in a pressed a soft kiss against Harry’s parted lips before drawing back a little and smiling at his lover. “We can have sex now.” Severus whispered against Harry’s cheek making the boy shiver a little.

“I should hope so, you’ve got some apologising to do having not told me we were living with blood suckers for the past four months.” Severus laughed out loud and pulled Harry onto his lap the boy’s arms coming up around his neck as they both leant forward and kissed passionately.

“Sorry.” Severus whispered before devouring Harry’s lips ravenously.

TBC>>>>>>>