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In the morning, Farid was still curled against him, heavy and pliant with sleep. Farid’s hair was in total disarray, one hand still rested on Severus’ chest, the other curled in a fist beside Farid’s cheek. Looking like this, all warm and dozy from sleep, he was just about irresistible and Severus couldn’t help himself; he kissed him gently on the head and then rubbed his own cheek against the boy’s dishevelled hair. He closed his eyes and just let himself feel the softness, smell the slight tang of strawberries left behind by the shampoo that Farid used.

When he next looked down, Farid was looking back at him solemnly.

“Hello, little one,” Severus said, “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

Farid smiled and nodded.

“Listen Farid,” he began, “I just wanted to say how sorr…” But he got no further, Farid’s hand had come up to Severus face and he placed a finger to his Master’s lips.

“Shh,” he whispered, “It all over Masteerr, all done now. Sshh!”

Severus smiled. That was his line, after all, wasn’t it?

“But Farid…” This time he was silenced by a kiss, a kiss that was so tender and so passionate that Severus felt his cock swelling in answer to it.

Farid started nibbling Severus’ lower lip next, something that was guaranteed to arouse his passion. He groaned and found that the boy’s hand was now trailing back and forth along his stomach, lightly brushing against his hard cock and sending shivers of anticipation coursing through Severus.

Farid released his mouth and ran a little trail of kisses down towards the swollen organ; Severus groaned again, and arched into the kisses. Farid giggled and Severus’ heart swelled with joy at the sound. Then he lost all track of rational thought, as Farid had reached his swollen penis and begun running his tongue gently around the tip. Then the boy took the end of his cock into his mouth and swallowed him deep. Severus yelled, he was writhing, he knew, babbling incoherently as Farid’s clever tongue teased and aroused him even further, repeatedly taking him to the edge of orgasm and back again until Severus couldn’t help himself; he began to beg almost incoherently for release.

Farid was chuckling now, and the vibrations in his throat finally sent Severus over the edge of control, shouting as it seemed almost like his cock had exploded; he came long and hard and loud.

He felt like a puddle of potion, his limbs were loose and felt like they did not belong to him any longer.

Farid smirked at his repletion.

“Dyou sorry, I know dis. Dyou are forgive, Masteerr,” he said. “It all over. All done now, jes? I love dyou wery much, ve is good jes?”

Severus was completely stunned; he had thought that it would take weeks, at the very least, for Farid to forgive him. That was, if he ever did. If their roles were reversed, he wondered how easy he would find it to forgive the things that he had done, the boorish, drunken behaviour so reminiscent of his own father. He raised himself with one arm, and gently pushing Farid down on to the bed with the other, he held him lightly in place and studied his face, looking deep into his eyes to judge his sincerity.

It was true, completely and utterly true. Farid held his gaze steadily, he did not turn away. All that Severus could see in those gorgeous green eyes was sincerity and love, albeit mixed with not a little sadness.

“You mean it, don’t you, my love?” he said. “You have forgiven me?”

Farid did not speak, his eyes glittered and reddened slightly and his lip trembled just a tad. He nodded though, emphatically. Then he swallowed deeply and whispered.

“Jes, Masteerr.”

Severus studied him for a little longer, still drinking in the expression in Farid’s eyes. He felt more love for the boy at this moment than he ever had before. He had been fully prepared to pay his penance for his behaviour, even if it had taken the rest of their lives, but Farid had surprised him once again.

It was Severus’ turn to smirk now. “Then, I suppose that it my turn to thank you, sweetheart, isn’t it?” he said as his smile widened and he went to work on Farid’s body, aiming to return the immense pleasure that he had just experienced.


They hadn’t had much time to enjoy a blissful afterglow, though. Farid had left his arms to tend to a loud and anxious kitten, and now they sat at the table enjoying a leisurely breakfast. Today was Saturday and Severus had no classes, so there was no need to rush anywhere and Severus was keen to just enjoy Farid’s company.

Despite their earlier lovemaking, and the obvious accord between them, Farid was still subdued, his expression still sad. He might have forgiven Severus, but that did not mean that he was somehow magically all better, he reminded himself. He wasn’t all over his experiences just like that. In fact, considering what Farid had been through in the last few weeks and months, not to mention all the years beforehand, it was a miracle that the boy was not a gibbering wreck.

Farid was eating a croissant and bravely trying to make conversation when Tariq pounced on his bare toe and bit it with his sharp little teeth. Farid squealed and Severus could not help himself, he laughed.

“That’s what you get for coming to the breakfast table with no shoes on, my love,” he said somewhat smugly. But his laughter quickly turned to a yelp of pain of his own, as the kitten decided to use Severus’ leg to climb up, making his way to the breakfast table.

Farid dissolved into giggles, he laughed and he laughed and Severus found his own lips twitching too.

It was truly wonderful to see the boy laughing, and Severus silently blessed Hermione for her timely gift, even as he prised tiny claws from his shin and placed the kitten on the floor, quickly transforming a piece of bread into a little yellow ball which he rolled across the floor for the kitten to pursue. The kitten could not get lost, since Farid had conjured a ward which allowed Severus and himself to come and go as they pleased, but restricted the kitten. Severus did not even want to think about how and where Farid had learned about such things.

Then Mercury, Severus’ Tawny owl, arrived, seemingly laden with post. Severus removed the letters and piled them in front of him, handing Mercury a nice fatty piece of bacon and gently stroking the bird’s feathers. Then the owl took to the wing, eying Tariq surreptitiously as he headed back to the Owlery.

Severus sorted through the pile. There were several business letters, and one from photographer Adrian Barnard. Probably just his usual gossipy note, since he had already sent Farid a get well note and a whole pile of Chocolate Toads (which were the American version of Chocolate Frogs). This last batch had contained some great cards for his Chocolate Toad collection - he now had quite a number of famous American Wizards including P.T. Barnum and Harry Houdini, but he was still looking out for L Frank Baum and Geronimo.

There was also a letter from Dumbledore.

He opened it carefully and saw Farid’s eyes widen with worry as Severus let out a deep sigh.

The boy was playing with the kitten; he had been rolling the ball around with his foot, just managing to lift his toes out of reach each time Tariq pounced.

Severus debated with himself for a moment or two, whether he would tell Farid what the letter was about. But hadn’t he told the boy, just last night, that he would allow him to discuss things with him? He couldn’t just make decisions for Farid anymore without consulting him first. He had to tell him what Dumbledore had said, so he took a deep breath, told Farid that a letter had arrived about him, and began to read it aloud.

By the time he had finished, he almost regretted his decision. Farid was trembling again, his eyes were haunted.

A final decision had been made about the boys who had assaulted Farid and Draco. They were indeed to be expelled, and an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot had decided furthermore, that they would all be sent to Azkaban. Colburn and Johnson would each do five years in prison, but Nott, the instigator, would do ten.

Farid sat very still; his breathing had increased rapidly whilst the letter was being read, and Severus sensed that he was barely controlling his panic. But slowly, very slowly, Farid got himself under control once more and then turned wide eyes to Severus.

“Masteerr, cwhen zey leave, may I go see zem?”

Severus was shocked. This was the very last thing that he expected Farid to say. He was very unsure that the boy was ready to face his attackers and certainly, certainly he could not be ready yet?

But Farid had set his jaw; he had a very determined look on his face. “Pleas Masteerr,” he said, “Never before, chave I chad chance to see men who rape me. Before, it was okay. I vant to look into zer eyes, I vant to tell zem vhat zey chave done.”

Severus said nothing, but he did nod grimly.

“I will come with you, Farid,” he said. “You shall not have to face them alone.”

The walk to the entrance hall felt like it was a thousand miles long. Severus walked beside his silent boy, watching the resolve that stiffened his shoulders, the slight tremor in his hands and his lower lip. He wanted to crush him in his arms, make it all better, make it all go away. But he had to see this as a first step. Confronting his abusers had been Farid’s decision and Severus, if he loved him, if he wanted him to grow, had to support him, so he did.

They stood by the doorway in the shadows. Severus thought that Farid could hardly be seen; his head was down and he was muttering something to himself, trying desperately, Severus knew, to steady his nerves.

They were supposed to be leaving at ten o’clock, the boys. That time had been chosen especially, so that the majority of students would be away from the entrance hall. Breakfast was well over by then and children would be in their dorms or outside on a nice day. Nott, Colburn and Johnson had been well hexed on their way back to the Room of Requirement the previous day, despite the presence of the aurors, so Albus had said in his letter. This time, he was taking no chances; the boys were being spirited away before anyone really noticed.

But they were late. There was no sign of them yet. Every so often, a group of children would walk past and say hello to Farid, and ask him how he was, and he would smile and tell them shyly that he was fine. Soon though, it was much quieter, and Albus appeared from the direction of his office with four aurors and the boys in tow.

Farid was shaking now; they had had to wait so long. Severus was sure that the boy would give up a couple of times, but he had not, and now, when he saw the party for which they had been waiting approach, he took a couple of deep breaths to steady himself and stepped forward into the light.

Albus stopped he looked completely nonplussed.

“Erm, Severus, my boy, and Farid too. What are you both doing here?” His eyes locked with Severus’; they were eloquent in their astonishment, their disapproval. Albus did not have to say a word for Severus to be able to know what Albus was asking, ‘Should you be here, Severus? What’s going on?’

But it was Farid who spoke. “I vanted to come, I vanted to see zem, Alboos Greybeard,” he said. “I vanted to ask zem vhy zey did it. I vill not be a wictim any more!”

The aurors watched him carefully as he walked towards the boys. He seemed so small, so fragile, amongst the others. But, like that day long ago, when Farid had first been sorted, he showed his Gryffindor bravery and challenged the ones who had hurt him.

He walked right up to them and peered into their face one by one. Colburn could not meet his eyes, but kept his own gaze locked on the floor in front of him.

Johnson started to cry. He was wringing his hands. “I’m sorry, Farid,” he mumbled, “so sorry.” And Farid answered him, with something that could have been a curse, but instead was a very short absolution, “I know, I can see, it okay now.” He had reached out to this boy and placed a hand on his arm. The boy seemed energised; he stood up straighter and looked directly at Farid, “One day I will make it up to you,” he said. “I promise.”

But Nott was defiant; his eyes held only hatred for Severus’ boy, and he was the one for whom Farid seemed to hold the most contempt.

“Vhy did dyou do it, Nott?” he asked. “Vhy did dyou ruin dour life and zers?”

“Fuck off, you little whore,” Nott hissed. “I should have hurt you more, I should have fucking killed you.” Then he launched into a litany of abuse. One of the aurors stepped forward, seemingly in an attempt to stop him, but Farid turned his dark green eyes on the man and shook his head, just once.

Nott had started threatening Farid now, but the abuse was cut short before it really began. Farid let loose his power; he let it dance around him, crackling in the air, silencing Nott, and amazing every one else with the amount of sheer raw power that he had available to him. The aurors all took a step backwards with stunned looks on their faces, but Farid merely drew back his hand and smacked Nott hard across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed around the Hall, but Farid’s next words were barely audible to anyone who was not standing closeby.

“I feel sorry for dyou. Dyou have thrown avay dour future for a qvick fuck. I hope it vas vorth it! Vhen dyou sit in dour cell for ze next ten years, remember zat I vill be living my life wiz people who love me. Vhile dyou rot! And if dyou ever come near me or ze people zat I love ever again, I vill kill dyou, I vill tear dyou apart viz my bare hands.”

The temperature seemed to drop significantly when Farid spoke. Nott appeared to be trying to reply, but he could not seem to open his mouth. Farid stared at him a moment longer and then he turned and strode back to Severus with his head held high.

Severus had a lump in his throat. He was so very, very proud of his boy, but he said nothing. He just took Farid’s hand and together they watched as the boys were led away, all of them looking rather fearfully at Severus and Farid as they passed.

Farid waited until they got back to their rooms before he broke down. He didn’t cry, he just started to tremble violently and, unable to control himself, he sank to his knees before the fire. Severus knelt beside him and held him close, kissing him gently on the head from time to time and rubbing idle circles on his back in an effort to comfort him. Slowly, oh so slowly, the trembling stopped, but they still sat entwined together for a long time afterwards. Catharsis never came easily did it?. Neither of them spoke; there was nothing right then left to say.