Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 36

Quietly Harry padded down the darkened hallway, softly treading on his toes as he descended the stairs. A creaky stair had him frozen for a moment his eyes darting about the darkened house in case he’d woken someone. When he was sure the house was still sleeping Harry continued down the stairs and quietly crept into the living room. The warm fire was still burning low in the fireplace casting a shuddering shadow over the witches and wizards sprawled out on the various, chairs, sofas and transfigured mattresses. Harry had never seen the house so full and so quiet at the same time. Glancing about the room Harry looked at the shadowed faces as he crept between the bodies. Harry was sure Severus was down here, having sat on the top step of the staircase until he’d seen Severus finally exit Dumbledore’s study at the ghostly hour of 2am. Severus had certainly come into the living room. Harry had decided to wait a little while before joining his mate. Severus had told him quite clearly after dinner that they wouldn’t be sharing a bed while ever they were in the orders’ headquarters but Harry had other plans. It was terrible sharing a bed with Ron, and his elder brother Charlie. Admittedly Charlie was handsome and it was kind of kinky being sandwiched between two warm bodies, but Ron snored and Charlie drooled and neither of them could possible compare to Severus.

Harry paused as he drew up along side the day bed, a familiar black mop of hair sticking out from the blankets the potion master was wrapped in. Smiling Harry gently eased up the covers and slide effortlessly in beside his warm mate. Almost immediately the warm body beside him turned over strong arms coming up to wrap around Harry, who obligingly snuggled in. Surprisingly Severus smelled a little different tonight but Harry didn’t think anything of it and merely closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

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“Headmaster! Headmaster! Harry’s gone!” Harry was awoken by the frantic voice of Ron who came thundering down the stairs with his elder brother both still dressed in their silk boxer shorts. Cracking open an eyelid Harry smiled as he saw some members of the household come to Ron’s calling.

“Please don’t shout Ronald, he’ll be about I’m sure.” Mrs Weasley calmed her son and Harry closed his eyes again and snuggled back against Severus, the man’s arm tightening about him. Harry listened to the household searching for him content to remain unfound in Severus arms. Eventually though someone was bound to find him and Harry sighed heavily as he heard a gasp above him as he was discovered.

“Go away.” Harry mumbled as he snuggled back into his mate, squeezing his eyes shut in aid of remaining in his sleepy haze. The next voice he heard however made his heart skip a beat.

“Potter.” Severus voice cut through the silence and Harry’s eyes sprung open immediately to stare up into the face of his mate standing over him, his arms folded across his chest. Stunned Harry glanced over his shoulder only to recognise the face of the man he was snuggled against.

“Remus.” Harry breathed disbelieving that he’d been so stupid as to climb into bed with his godfather’s best friend. It didn’t help either that at present, what Harry had assumed was Severus morning erection pressed against his backside, turned out in fact to belong to the still sleeping werewolf. “Shit.” Harry swore and flung back the blanket all but tripping over his own feet as he stumbled up from the couch. “I didn’t know. I thought…it was dark…I just assumed…he looked like….” Harry stumbled uselessly over his own words hardly believing he’d done something so dumb as mistaking Lupin for Snape. Desperately hoping for forgiveness Harry glanced up at Snape, but the man’s expression was cold and he was glaring down at Harry. “We didn’t do anything. Remus, tell him!” Harry bent down and pushed Lupin hard on the shoulder waking the wolf from his sleep. A dopey looking Remus was shaken awake but despite Harry’s urging the wolf shrugged his shoulders unknowing what had just happened.

“What?” Remus whispered still foggy in his sleep, as he glanced around at the people staring down at him.

“Severus, please. I thought he was you.” Harry pleaded with Severus but the potions master merely turned in silence and strode out of the living room. Harry was stunned and ran after his lover uncaring of the chilly air that bit at his skin as he ran down the back garden path after Severus. Snape had come to a stop at the bottom of the garden the man leaning against the fence staring down at the little stream that ran down the back of the garden. “Sev.” Harry whispered cautiously as he came to stop a step behind his lover. Severus had his arms folded into his cloak and his features were schooled into the familiar blank mask he wore when teaching. “Please Severus, I didn’t mean to do that. I genuinely thought he was you.” Harry wrapped his arms around his exposed upper body as the chill wind whipped around him.

“I told you we wouldn’t be sleeping together in the house and yet as usual you didn’t listen to me. Had you followed my instructions to remain in your own bed I might have been spared this embarrassment of finding my husband in bed with a werewolf.” Harry went to protest that he and Remus hadn’t done anything but Severus cut him off abruptly. “…and I don’t care if you didn’t do anything or not, it still looks suspicious and tongues no doubt are already wagging.” Severus still had his back turned to Harry the man’s stiff shoulders and rigidly straight back reminiscent of when he’d caught Harry stealing potion ingredients from his cabinet during class in fifth year. Harry felt awful and swallowed back the familiar swell of sickness that penetrated his stomach. “Need I also remind you that it is a contractual condition of this union that you don’t take other lovers during and six months after your pregnancy?” Harry was stunned by the change in Severus’ attitude and could hardly believe he was hearing such harsh words.

“You don’t believe me that nothing happened?” Harry whispered, his anger suddenly growing that Severus didn’t trust him.

“All I know is that wasn’t Lupin’s wand in his pants this morning Potter, and what ever your excuse it is paltry in comparison to what everyone else saw and is now thinking. I don’t like being humiliated Potter.” Severus glanced disgustingly down over his shoulder at Harry who felt breathless as if someone had ripped out his lungs from his chest. Something was wrong. Severus had never talked to him in such a way; well okay he had but not concerning their marriage.

“I wasn’t trying to humiliate you, I just made a mistake.” Harry pleaded with Severus to be reasonable but the potion master was having none of it. With his back still turned to his lover Severus spoke coldly.

“Go back inside before you catch a chill Potter, your grovelling is solving nothing.” With tears stinging his eyes Harry turned and ran up the path bursting through into the kitchen, where everyone was sitting.

“Harry. I’m sorry I was asleep I should have known…..” A distraught Remus stood up abruptly from the table, where Sirius and Albus had just been telling him what had gone on. Harry ignored the werewolf and pushed his way past the crowd and ran towards the stairs.

“Harry!” Sirius called after Harry with concern but again the boy ignored them all and ran up to the room he shared with the Weasley’s. Grabbing his trunk Harry threw it open on the bed and took out a pair of jeans and a baggy jumper. Harry felt practically heartbroken, and for some reason his stomach churned restlessly like a thousand kicking butterflies had made camp in there. Pulling on his jeans Harry muttered to himself when he couldn’t do up the top button, so left it open and just pulled his baggy jumper down and over his belly. Grabbing his cloak and his wand, Harry tucked a small leather pouch of muggle money into his jeans pocket before storming out of the bedroom. Harry practically bowled Sirius and the headmaster over the two men waiting anxiously at the bottom of the steps for him.

“Harry, where are you going my boy?” Albus reached out to place a comforting hand on Harry’s shoulder but the boy shrugged it off and swung his fathers invisibility cloak about his body. With his head the only visible part of him, Harry easily dismantled the complicated wards on the front door with one single wave of his wand before he stepped out and disappeared down the path into the morning sun.

Harry wasn’t sure where he was going or what he was going to do, all he knew was that he had to go some space and think about what had just happened. Crossing the road at the corner Harry headed down the streets towards what he assumed was the high street where the shops were situated. If he remembered correctly there was a little coffee shop on the far corner. Walking down the street was easy especially once he dropped the invisibility cloak and shrank it into his pocket. Reaching a quaint little coffee shop Harry stepped inside and wandered up to the counter ordering himself a hot chocolate with extra marshmallows before taking a seat at the far end of the café near the window overlooking the street.

For the longest time Harry sat by himself watching the world go by and sipping his chocolate. Harry didn’t know what to think about Severus. One moment the man was unbelievably loving, caring and a cherished partner and the next he was a monster. The more Harry thought about it the more he questioned if Severus did truly love him or if it was all just a grand plan to serve Severus’ selfish needs. Harry sighed as he drank what remained of his chocolate, and got up feeling the need to walk in the fresh air. Before he could move however three figures sat down at his booth essentially blocking him in. Harry was about to politely tell them he was leaving and they could have the table to themselves when he glanced up and saw an extremely familiar blonde haired boy sitting opposite him a wand pointed directly at him.

“You’re not going anywhere Potter.” Draco spat nastily his eyebrow arching in a smug smirk just as he spoke a charm to prevent Harry from apperating. Harry was quicker though and just as the magic hit him Harry was already swirling through space before landing on his arse in the middle of a muddy field. Harry wasn’t sure where he’d apperate too his reaction more involuntary than he realised. Harry attempted to sit up from the mud but swore and clutched at his stomach in agony as a pain swept through his body. The pain robbed him of breath and Harry rolled over onto his hands and knees panting heavily as he clutched at his stomach. Knowing how easy it was to trace apparition trails Harry knew he had to get up and run but every time he moved the pain in his abdomen made tears spring to his eyes. Crawling helplessly Harry headed towards the trees he could see at the edge of the field. Harry barely made it to the trunk of the first tree he came to before there were three sharp pops of magic that crackled in the air. Slumping against the tree Harry clutched at his stomach with one hand and stuck out his wand with the other. He shook terribly both with pain and fear as he watched the three black cloaked figures walking towards him.

Weakly Harry threw a hex at the figures but a spike of pain made him drop his wand and curl up onto his side helplessly. The hex did little but bounce of the death eater’s block and Harry closed his eyes tightly and willed himself a million miles away. He had no idea how Draco had even found him. Three shadows fell over Harry’s body and the boy merely cowered his hands clutched around his stomach as Draco crouched down beside him and pushed his hood back in order to get a better look at his enemy.

“Pathetic. The wizarding worlds saviour cowering like a baby.” Draco spat before hitting Harry with a stunning spell and immobilizing him. Harry could do little but watch as Draco picked up Harry’s wand from the ground before gesturing for his beefy comrades to levitate Harry and follow him.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>