A Bunny Tale Part Three

Revenge

"Lemon drop?" Albus offered the bowl as if he thought Severus would actually take one this time.

Having rejected the sweets every time Albus offered, Severus simply swept into the chair across from Albus's desk and said, "Harry was justified in biting Riddle."

Albus peered at him over his half-moon spectacles. "Am I correct in assuming Mr Riddle was responsible for the death of Harry's mother?"

Severus could not help blinking in surprise. He'd paid a visit to the Headmaster's office as soon as breakfast had finished and spent the entire morning before that with Harry. When had Harry told Albus about his mother's death? Why had he only told Albus?

"Harry informed me about what happened to his mother earlier this year," explained Albus. "He never mentioned names, but I assume from his reaction last night that Mr Riddle gave him that scar."

Nodding, Severus added, "While Harry was held at the Ministry, Riddle tortured him with the Cruciatus."

"Oh dear." Albus frowned. "I remember Mr Riddle as a student. He was a bright boy, although he never showed much empathy for other students or species. I believe he's in favour of the proposed new laws to restrict non-human rights. However, Severus-" Albus's normally bright blue eyes took on a stern glint. "I must ask you to refrain from seeking any sort of punishment on Mr Riddle, no matter how richly he deserves it. You know as well as I that Harry's secret is best kept hidden. Even asking him to no longer officiate during the examination period would require a valid excuse, and the less ammunition he has against you, the better, especially since Harry attacked him."

"I won't do anything to jeopardise Harry," Severus promised.

Never a man to be easily fooled, Albus didn't take the comment as a promise to leave Riddle alone, but he didn't try to press the issue as if he knew Severus had already made up his mind.

Selecting a candy for himself, Albus said, "The Board was impressed with Harry's aid to Hagrid, especially because of Hagrid's glowing recommendation. Remus also had nothing but favourable comments to share. I imagine Harry will be invited to join us as a full-time staff member next year. His primary duty will be to the Potions lab of course, but he'll also take on more duties with other staff members. I'm afraid that, due to budget issues, it doesn't appear that the Board will be able to offer anything more than his current salary."

"It is enough that he remains," said Severus with a sigh, although the news wasn't unexpected. The Board would undoubtedly be paying Harry less than a human would've earned due to his species. Still, Severus couldn't complain. Harry's small salary was enough for him to buy Harry clothes, books, and occasional treats. It wasn't as if Harry expressed desire for anything more than frequent buggering anyway.

Moving on to a safer topic, Albus smiled and said, "I see that you haven't given the Gryffindors as many failing grades this year."

"Ah, yes," replied Severus. "However, I haven't corrected the latest batch of essays yet." In truth, he hadn't bothered spending as much time finding every single little error in the essays. Harry kept him too busy to bother with it anymore and, after orgasm, it was difficult for even him to nitpick too much.

With a saucy smile, Albus said, "Perhaps this will be the first year that all the Gryffindors will pass your class without my help."

He'd certainly put a stop to that. "Unlikely," retorted Severus. "I've simply saved the hardest essays and potions for last to see how much they've learnt."

"A wise decision." Albus nodded sagely. "I look forward to seeing the final grades."

Severus would definitely step up his corrections.

~

Thankfully, Lucius had more practical advice to give than Albus. "I know someone who will handle this situation very discretely and without flaw."

They'd both been careful to avoid names and any explicit statements about what they planned to do, but they were the type of men that didn't need to be explicit with each other to perfectly understand what was on the other's mind. Severus swirled his scotch as he weighed his options. While murder had been the first thought to cross his mind (and was often the final thought in a long line of tortures), he wanted to be sure that there was no way any sort of blame could ever fall on him. Lucius had his contacts, but Lucius was also the type of man who always exacted a price in the end. A hitman didn't come free and, while Lucius seemingly offered him help out of pure generosity, Severus knew all too well that some day down the road, Lucius would demand a return for his favour.

Before, it wouldn't have been such a bad exchange. Lucius knew Severus's situation far too well to ever press for money, he was always careful to never request anything that Severus couldn't cover up, and his demands were never such that Severus couldn't meet them. However, Lucius saw Harry as a possession and, like any other of Severus's possessions, he could be used as a bargaining chip. When both Malfoy men desired something, they normally got it, and the longer it was denied to them, the more they believed they deserved it.

"I appreciate the offer," said Severus, raising his glass in toast. "However, I'd prefer to proceed slowly."

"Entirely understandable," answered Lucius, but Severus noticed a bit of tension underlying the tone.

After pouring his friend another drink, Severus asked, "Did your research yield anything illuminating?"

"Oh yes," said Lucius, his eagerness returning. "I wasn't able to remove the file from the Ministry, but I was able to take a peek at it. Apparently, Harry's mother, Lily, ran away from the family that owned her. They were the Dursleys, a family with no name or reputation, so I can't blame her." He gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "The Ministry tracked her down and sent Riddle and two others to collect her. The file reports an 'accident' and notes Riddle killed Lily. Since Harry was young and further abused by Riddle in the Ministry, the court ordered that he be re-educated and sold rather than put down. Riddle was demoted and given a desk job."

"That's it?" asked Severus, incredulous.

Lucius, who regarded all creatures that weren't Pureblood wizards as beneath him and therefore worthy of slavery, simply shrugged. "He had no other incidents on his record and Harry did injure him enough to make a visit to a Mediwizard necessary. Furthermore, it was Harry he was trying to kill when Lily moved in front of the spell."

Appalled, Severus could only ask, "Why would he want to kill Harry?"

"Lily, a young doe, was worth far more money than Harry, a black-haired runt, and the Ministry is forced to pay for any coneys killed during recovery attempts. Riddle and the others realised she was refusing to surrender in an attempt to prevent Harry from being sold, and Riddle took matters into his own hands and tried to remove Harry so that she'd be easy to capture and return to the family. Riddle wasn't supposed to kill Harry, as the Ministry would have been fined, but he'd only have had to pay a small fine had he done so. Since he killed Lily and repeatedly cast the Cruciatus inside the Ministry, the court decided not to put Harry down for attacking Riddle, but to re-educate and sell him, in part to pay off the expenses of Lily's accidental death. The Ministry was far more concerned about Riddle's liberal use of the Unforgivables rather than any other action he undertook regarding Harry."

Sometimes Severus forgot what a cold-hearted bastard Lucius was when it came to non-wizard species. "I'm not concerned with his legal guilt."

"Of course not," said Lucius with a curving smile. "Where's the fun in that?"

A chime sounded and Harry tumbled out of the fireplace shortly after. "Hullo," he said when he saw Lucius, his tone polite and guarded.

"Harry." Lucius smiled.

Knowing better than to stay, Harry crossed the room, kissed Severus on the cheek, then disappeared into the bedroom. Lucius's eyes followed Harry's human arse until the door closed behind it.

It was too nice an arse to leave alone for long. Severus finished his drink and said, "I'll let you know when I've decided on a course of action."

Recognising the dismissal, Lucius stood. "At least allow me to have a little fun."

Severus couldn't help but smile. "Of course." He wasn't selfish enough to demand all of the revenge for himself. It would be hard enough deciding what to do with only two weeks time before Riddle would return to test the students.

At the door, Lucius said, "Bring Harry to my home for dinner the Sunday after. Narcissa misses you."

And Lucius would want to gloat. "We'll be there," Severus promised.

~

The poison took a week to brew and had to be carefully crafted. Not only did it need to be untraceable, but also applicable in such a way that Severus could be sure only his intended target would be affected. Short-term poisoning was far too detectable and generous, so Severus had settled on a poison that would slowly turn Riddle's immune system against him. It would be another ten years before any symptoms showed up and then another twenty or thirty years before the poison killed Riddle, but Severus was a patient man and Riddle's life would be utterly miserable the years he lived.

It might not be what Harry preferred to have done, but Harry had shown nothing but trust and belief in Severus to handle the situation, and Severus was sure he would enjoy the result in the end.

After the potion was brewed and bottled, Severus turned his attention to the other problem that was gnawing at him. When he had a spare moment, he called Granger to his office.

She arrived with an armful of scrolls and when Severus asked, "How have my nephew's lessons progressed?" she promptly produced a scroll from amongst the pile.

"Very well, sir. Here's a list of all the topics we've covered so far. I've also got future lesson plans, suggested reading, and the results of his latest tests."

She'd been sending him copies of Harry's scores all along, but he always threw them in the rubbish bin without reading them since it didn't matter in the end. Taking the lesson plans from her, he pretended to examine them, although he'd already managed to learn from Harry that law wasn't part of their official lesson plans.

Handing the scroll back to her, he said, "Add Wizarding law and medicine to this list."

Yanking out a quill, she feverishly scribbled down the words on a piece of parchment. "What would you like me to teach him about each, sir?"

Severus pretended to consider. "For medicine, he needs to know the basic differences in treatments in each world, as well as what Muggle treatments won't work when mixed with Wizarding ones and vice versa. For example, he should know better than to take an aspirin and a Pepper-Up potion at the same time." He kept Harry away from any Muggle drugs, but she had no reason to know that. "As for law, he should know the differences between crime and punishment in Muggle versus Wizarding world." He didn't add anything about animal rights, but he couldn't help but notice that Granger neglected to state that she'd already taught Harry some law. Either she knew about Harry's true species and was helping him figure out his rights, or she didn't know, and considered the lessons just something she and Harry did on her own time. Which one was it?

Leaning slightly across the desk to get a better look at her eyes. Severus cast Legilimency and asked, "Are you familiar with the law section of the library?"

The books she and Harry had acquired on animal rights swam into view. "Yes," she answered. "I've done some research for one of my own projects."

"Which is?" Severus pressed.

"House-elf rights," Granger said as books about house-elves swam into view. A page on coneys also appeared in her mind and she steadied her gaze before slipping into her know-it-all tone. "I feel that house-elves-" Coneys appeared in her mind along with house-elves. "-should be given the same rights as humans. In fact-"

Not wanting to receive a lecture, Severus said, "Then I'm sure you'll be able to draw up a lesson plan on your own." She was keeping the coneys hidden. If she didn't already know Harry's true species, she'd soon figure it out. She was too clever not to. Severus supposed it didn't matter if she knew or not anyway. Even if she did know that Harry was a coney, she knew better than to speak about it. Her attitude towards him hadn't changed in the slightest since the beginning of the school year, which meant, if she knew that Harry was his coney, she had no objection to it. A memory modification spell would be prudent, but would also prevent him from learning more about what Harry intended with his studies. He supposed he could always just drug Harry and pull the answers out of him, but that thought disturbed him.

What if Harry did want to be freed?

It was best to let this develop on its own and see where it led. Perhaps it was nothing and Harry was only curious in exploring his options. He had honestly believed he would be sold to a brothel when Severus had threatened, so perhaps he'd been prudently planning for a possible future in which he might be sold. To keep her busy, Severus added, "Select whichever texts you wish to use for the lesson. The more law he knows, the better."

It would take her months to read through the entire law section. She brightened, and Severus let her babble on a bit about the lessons, before dismissing her.

~

The day for examinations came all too quickly and Severus woke early to put the final touches to his plan. Like all the other officials, Riddle would share two meals with Severus. Lunch was to be held privately between Ministry officials and professors before the first round of examinations. Dinner would be held in the Great Hall, with added chairs for the guests. As Riddle's seat was predetermined and set before Severus's on the table, it would be easy enough for Severus to arrive for dinner, and discretely pour his odourless, tasteless, colourless potion onto Riddle's chair. If he was lucky enough to leave before Riddle stood, he could also apply more of it to the man's robes. A simple heating charm and the fumes of the potion would rise, sucked into Riddle's body through his breath, but dissipating before they could affect anyone around him.

If Riddle were ostentatious enough to refuse to eat dinner in the Great Hall, Severus's plans would not be for naught. As Riddle would be spending a lot of time with Hagrid, the half-giant would surely offer some of his intolerable food and drink to the man that evening. After secreting an antidote in some toffee he had Harry deliver to the towering dolt, he'd pay Hagrid a visit on the pretence of working out Harry's schedule for the next day and add some poison to the kettle. The poison wouldn't keep in the kettle for more than a few hours and Severus doubted Hagrid would have anymore guests that evening. There was always more antidote in case he would.

Far more nervous than Severus, Harry spent the morning asking a ton of questions about the schedule of the day and Riddle.

"You're sure he'll head to Hagrid's after lunch?" he asked for the fifth time that morning as they dressed.

"Yes." Severus petted the rather limp ears comfortingly. "Don't worry about it. He won't recognise you."

"Will you be going to your classroom after lunch?"

Severus knew what he wanted and was almost tempted to give it to him, but there was a new official overseeing the practical for the Potions N.E.W.T. and he didn't trust the man in his lab. "I will. You'll be fine. If he causes any trouble, run straight to me."

Nodding, Harry pulled Severus down for a peck on the lips before he headed out the door for breakfast.

At lunch, Severus could hardly stand to look at Riddle. How the man could be in a position of power after what he had done was beyond Severus. Still, there were appearances to maintain and he remained polite and cordial enough, although also cool to prevent raising any suspicion that he might be planning something.

As soon as he could, he left Riddle's insufferable presence to head to his lab. The Ministry official gave him a sidelong glance, but knew better than to ask him to leave. They were barely fifteen minutes into the examination when a pounding knock came at the door.

Sweeping over to tear whomever dared interrupt a practical a new one, Severus yanked open the door only to find Eric Sagan, a fifth year, red-faced and panting outside.

"Something- happened." He lifted an arm and pointed. "In the- store room- near the- trophies."

Harry.

Severus nearly flew to the store room. What had he been thinking? He should've demanded that Riddle be removed from the position even if it meant the revelation of Harry's secret! All he knew was that, if Riddle had killed Harry, he would kill the man himself then and there - Azkaban be damned.

A Ministry man stood outside the door, holding off a curious crowd. He opened it for Severus, a grim look on his face.

Inside the room, a crowd gathered over a figure on the floor at one end of the room, while a smaller crowd stood at the other end. Harry, missing his glasses; his shirt untucked, messed and spattered with droplets of blood, was leaning against a wall, facing Madam Pomfrey who waved a wand in front of his face. Draco guarded Harry's side, casting furious glares at the figure on the floor, while Albus stood by Pomfrey, the lines on his face deep as he gazed at Harry.

"Who did this?" Severus growled as he stormed across the room towards Harry.

Harry's head snapped over at the sound of Severus's voice and he pressed his lips together, his eyes thin slits. Severus didn't care what it looked like. He swept across the room and pulled Harry into his arms, pressing him tight against his body. Burying his face in Severus's chest, Harry trembled. Whether the tremors were due to fear or anger, Severus couldn't tell, but he ran his fingers through Harry's thick hair, trying to soothe the agitation from him, even as he felt he would explode with fury himself.

His blue eyes sombre, Albus said, "Tom Riddle apparently followed Harry into the store room and attacked him. Draco, who came to the room to help Harry collect supplies, stopped the attack and Stupified Riddle."

They both glanced over at the man who was being levitated out of the room, surrounded by Ministry officials.

For a moment, Severus could only just hold Harry, staring at Riddle's form. Was the man mad?

"He's healed," said Pomfrey gently. "Just a broken nose and some bruising."

Poison wasn't good enough for the bastard. Severus would peel his skin off slowly and feed it back to him as he screamed for mercy.

Scrimgeour strode into the room and Severus reluctantly released Harry and took a step back. He kept a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder and bellowed at Scrimgeour, "I want that man sent to Azkaban for life!"

"You can rest assured, Severus," said Scrimgeour, "that the party, or parties, responsible for this will be brought to justice."

Was the man a complete and utter idiot? "Do you really think anyone is responsible for this other than Riddle?" Severus snarled. Harry's body tensed and he realised he was probably squeezing his shoulder too tightly. Releasing Harry for the moment, he turned entirely towards Scrimgeour and said, "You're the one who sent a paedophile to a castle full of children!"

Scrimgeour's face tightened. "I had nothing to do with this!"

His voice soft, Albus broke in, "Severus, why don't you take Harry down to his rooms? He probably wants to clean up and it would be good for him to get some rest."

As much as Severus wanted to unleash his anger on Scrimgeour, Harry's tense back told of a kit who wanted to leave the room. Shifting slightly, Harry cast a pleading glance his way and Severus couldn't refuse him.

"Very well," he said, glaring at Scrimgeour to let the twit know he wasn't finished with him. "I expect charges to be filed within a week."

Harry led the way down to Severus's rooms. As soon as the door closed behind them, Harry turned to Severus and said, "He didn't- I wasn't-"

Sweeping him into his arms again, Severus said, "It's all right. It doesn't matter. You're alive. You're safe now. That's what matters. Don't worry about him. I'll make him pay for what he did."

Pulling back, Harry's troubled eyes met Severus's. "Please let the law handle it."

Severus was flabbergasted. Just two days before, Harry'd demanded Severus list off all the ways in which Riddle would be tortured before he died. Now he was willing to let a lax Wizarding court handle it?

"The law won't punish him," Severus reminded him.

"I don't want you to get in trouble," said Harry.

"I won't," Severus promised.

The promise wasn't enough to ease Harry's troubled expression. "You'll go to Azkaban."

"I won't be caught."

"Please," pleaded Harry, holding fast onto Severus's robes. "Promise me you'll let the law handle it."

Bending down to kiss him, Severus promised, "I'll not do anything that would land me in Azkaban." It wasn't the promise Harry wanted, but it was a promise that the simplistic Gryffindor would be persuaded by.

It was enough to ease most of the tension on Harry's face and he gave a slight smile.

With a wave of his wand, Severus restored Harry's ears and tail. "You don't have any injuries remaining?" he asked as he inspected Harry's limp ears.

"I'm fine," Harry assured him. "I just want you." Grabbing Severus's robes, he pulled him down for a kiss, his body pressing against Severus's.

Severus was all too happy to give him what he wanted.

~

As Severus predicted, Lucius was just as furious as he was.

"You have nothing to fear," Lucius assured Severus as they enjoyed drinks in Lucius's den. "He will be punished. No one dares attempt to rape a Malfoy."

When Draco had burst in on the scene, Riddle had turned and started moving towards Draco. Severus doubted rape was on his mind in regards to Draco, but there was no need to correct the elder Malfoy on that fact.

Setting his glass to the side, Lucius said, "I must ask a favour of you."

It was only the second time Severus had ever heard those words from Lucius, the first when Draco had entered Hogwarts. Sitting up straighter, he regarded his friend evenly and asked, "What is it?"

"Do not press charges against Riddle."

Severus scoffed. "You can't be serious." Although he still planned to poison Riddle, it wasn't enough anymore. Riddle needed to have his entire life shatter to pieces. He needed to go to Azkaban.

"Hear me out," said Lucius, lifting a hand, his blue eyes cold. "I would like to handle his punishment entirely on my own in order to show the world what happens to an individual who threatens to harm a Malfoy. With my money and connections, I can hire the best solicitors. Trust me, he won't escape Azkaban."

"I can very easily see how this would benefit you," Severus said.

Lifting an eyebrow at Severus, Lucius said, "And you can't see how it would benefit you? Be reasonable, my friend. You'll not obtain a proper conviction. Harry is a coney. Even if he had been raped, the offence would have been nothing more than property damage. All of Harry's wounds were healed in minutes."

Severus had realised the same thing, to his dismay, the day the attack had occurred. The anger over that injustice had not faded. Stiffly, Severus said, "I could sue for pain and suffering, claiming that Harry is unable to function properly because of what Riddle did."

Giving a derisive laugh, Lucius retorted, "You can't convince a jury of that, just as a rapist can't be convicted when the 'victim' is a coney. No one will believe that a coney doesn't want sex. Severus, if you try to press charges, not only will you reveal to the entire Wizarding world that Harry is your coney, but you'll also enable Riddle to claim the defence that Harry wanted it."

"He broke Harry's nose."

"Maybe Harry likes it rough." Seeing the dark look in Severus's eyes, he hastily added, "I'm only saying what his solicitors will argue. Don't press any charges. Allow Harry to remain hidden at Hogwarts."

As much as Severus hated to admit it, Lucius was right. Still, it didn't feel right to allow Riddle to go so unpunished by the law, especially when they had so little to charge him with. Now that Riddle had attacked Harry twice, Severus would be a suspect should anyone discover he'd been poisoned. It was an outcome Severus was fairly certain he'd avoid, but he couldn't afford to do anything risky now that he had Harry. The poisoning would occur - but only alongside his lawful revenge. He reminded Lucius, "Riddle never touched Draco. At most, he can be charged with indecent exposure, but nothing more."

"I'm accusing him of attempted rape, sexual harassment, endangering the welfare of a minor, and inflicting emotional harm upon a minor. On behalf of the Board, I'll sue him for breach of contract, illegal use of spells inside Hogwarts, and creating a dangerous work environment. I'll press the Ministry to have him removed from his post and demand an investigation into his past."

Begrudgingly, Severus had to admit that it might be enough to keep Riddle in Azkaban for the rest of his life. Lucius had the money to hire the best solicitors who could probably tack on a few more charges of their own. Besides, allowing Lucius all legal revenge didn't preclude Severus from exacting his own vengeance. "Very well," agreed Severus. "However, since you are obtaining all the legal benefits, it is only fair that you pay all the legal costs."

"Of course," answered Lucius, although Severus suspected he'd been hoping to have it otherwise. No matter how much money Lucius had, he always wanted more.

The door opened and Draco strode into the room, followed by Harry.

"Have you decided what you're going to do to Riddle yet?" asked Draco as he dropped himself down onto a sofa. Harry glanced between the open sofa and the armchair Severus had chosen for himself. Choosing decorum over desire, he sat down on the sofa with Draco, albeit as close to Severus as he could possibly get.

In a bored drawl, Lucius said, "He won't be killed, if that's what you're asking."

Both men knew it would be otherwise, but such things could not be spoken around individuals who hadn't mastered the mental arts.

"He should be," said Draco, lifting his chin. "If I hadn't managed to duel him so successfully, who knows what he'd have done."

Draco's tale of how he rescued Harry got more and more fanciful with each passing day. Severus half-expected to hear Draco tell how Harry wouldn't even be alive today if Draco hadn't run in, won a fierce wand battle, freed Harry from magical confines, then healed his injuries, all before any additional help arrived. It was a good thing Lucius only pretended to believe it in front of Draco, otherwise, he might try to charge Severus for his services, stating that Severus owed Harry's survival to Draco.

"I already have my solicitors on the matter," Lucius reassured his son.

"It's a shame Harry isn't legally human," Draco said, casting a glance at his friend. "It's probably easy enough to forge papers and get rid of his coney records. If no one knew he is coney other than us, this wouldn't be a problem."

Severus knew that and didn't need to hear a lecture on it. No matter how much Draco thought he knew or could do, getting Harry to fully pass as a human was a near impossible task. Not to mention all that he'd have been at risk of losing had his treachery been uncovered. Thankfully, Lucius answered Draco, saving Severus the trouble of a waspish reply.

"Who says it is a problem?" asked Lucius with an eyebrow raised at his son.

Draco's eyes grew wide and he exclaimed, "You set Riddle up!"

Both Severus and Lucius maintained straight faces.

"They didn't," said Harry, "and you'll just get them in trouble if you spread that."

Draco scoffed. "My father never gets into trouble. If he wants to do something without being caught, he can."

Harry frowned slightly, glancing at Severus. It was unlike Harry to be so cautious or reserved, and Severus moved the conversation on to a safer topic - Draco's success at Quidditch.

Later that night, after they'd arrived home, Severus said, "You've been very quiet tonight."

Harry fidgeted with his robes. "I just want him to go away. I don't see why I have to show my memories. What if they figure out I'm a coney?"

"I'm sure Riddle has already informed his solicitor and the judge," Severus told him, only to watch the ears fall further. Quickly, he added, "It doesn't matter if they know. It won't keep him out of Azkaban. You'll be fine tomorrow. You won't even have to see Riddle, just his solicitor."

Still playing with his cuff, Harry asked, "Then after that, this will all be over?"

There was still the trial, but Harry didn't have to testify in that. "Yes," promised Severus.

Harry smiled slightly.

~

Although Harry acted normal for the rest of the week, during the morning of the Memory Reviews, he renewed his nervous questioning.

"They won't see all of my memories, right?" Harry's eyes were searching Severus's for confirmation.

Severus sighed and said, "Only the memories you care to share," for the thousandth time. He checked over Harry's outfit, and brushed imaginary dirt off his robes. "You'll be fine." Giving Harry a quick kiss on the forehead, he led him out of his rooms and to Dumbledore's office.

"Hullo, Harry," said Albus with a smile. "Such handsome new robes you're wearing."

"I picked them out myself," said Harry, smiling back. He'd chosen tighter robes than the ones Severus had originally bought for him, still in the bottle green Severus favoured, but with a Gryffindor gold trim. Severus had only tolerated the gold because it was sewn on the robes in serpentine patterns, but Harry had somehow managed to slip in a request that his buttons resemble Snitches. He brushed a finger over the one near his collar and it turned into a miniature Snitch and fluttered.

"Amazing," said Albus, admiring them. "They do such good work these days."

Impatient, Severus asked, "Are you ready to leave?"

"Of course," Albus motioned for Severus to precede him into the Floo. "It's set to take you straight to the Ministry."

Not only did Severus step out of the Floo to find himself in the Ministry, but in the very room where they would be reviewing Harry and Draco's memories. Lucius guarded his son with a pack of solicitors and a glare at Riddle's solicitor. Draco sneaked a smile at Harry who stared at the massive Pensieve in the centre of the room.

As Harry could not extract his own memories, Severus had to do it for him. "Think only of the attack," he instructed. "We don't want other memories to get in the way. Close your eyes and think of when he first approached you in the store room."

Closing his eyes, Harry's brow furrowed. Pressing his wand against Harry's temple, Severus carefully extracted the glowing silver strands and placed them in the Pensieve.

Everyone in the room gathered closer to the Pensieve. With a nod from the judge, they dove in and found themselves standing in the hallway outside the store room. Harry strode towards the room, seemingly unaware of Riddle following him at a close distance. Silently, so as not to miss any conversation, the observers followed Harry into the room, moving to the side. Heading for the rows of new parchment scrolls, Harry had just started amassing them in his arms when Riddle entered the room and closed the door. Glancing back to see who had entered the room, Harry's eyes widened and he stood, clutching the scrolls to his chest. "You're not supposed to be in here."

Riddle stared at Harry with a fascinated expression that had an odd hunger to it. "It is you."

"What?" Harry took a slight step to the side, confusion wrinkling his brow.

His eyes devouring Harry and with a sneer on his lips, Riddle said, "You're a coney."

Glancing at the door beyond Riddle, Harry said, "I don't know what you're talking about. I need to go deliver these scrolls to Professor Lupin."

His eyes narrowing, Riddle said, "I know what you really are."

Harry backed up until he hit the edge of a table. As if afraid that sudden movements would provoke Riddle, he slowly turned sideways, keeping his eyes on Riddle, and placed the scrolls upon the surface. "Leave me alone."

Riddle lunged and Harry ran. He didn't get far when Riddle stuck out a long arm, and grabbed the back of his robes, yanking him back. Twisting around, Harry struck with his fists and feet, landing several blows before Riddle shoved him over the table, slamming his face against the wood.

If Riddle had been in the room at that very moment, Severus would've struck him dead.

Momentarily dazed by the pain in his now-broken nose, Harry stopped struggling, one hand darting up to try to stop the blood streaming down his chin. His glasses, dislodged by the blow, ended up slipping to the floor and Riddle stepped on them with a loud 'crack' as he moved over Harry, grabbing him by the shoulders and pulling him up to take a deep sniff of his neck.

"You smell delicious."

Revulsion twisting his features, Harry sneaked a hand down into his robes, and removed a vial. Placing his thumb against the cork, Harry pushed on it to pop it off when Riddle grabbed his forearms and pulled them apart. Noticing the vial in Harry's hand, Riddle laughed and pressed Harry's arms against the table, sealing them there with a swiftly cast spell. Grabbing the vial, he tossed it to the side where it rolled under a low shelf.

"What was in the vial?" Riddle's solicitor asked Harry.

Severus had been so concerned with Harry's injuries that he hadn't even wondered what was in the vial until the solicitor asked her question. Suddenly, several pieces came together: Harry's questioning Tom's schedule, his nervousness about the Pensieve, his determination that Severus avoid guilt, and most importantly, that vial, which he should not have had in his possession.

Acting swiftly, Severus lied for Harry. "It's a solution used to rinse cleaned cauldrons."

"Which was intended to be used to harm my client."

Glad to turn away from the scene before him - where Riddle was stripping Harry of his robes and Harry, more panicked than before, was struggling violently - Severus rounded on the solicitor. "Even if Harry had managed to hit your worthless, despicable client with that solution, it would not have done permanent damage. Harry had every right to defend himself from that disgusting paedophile."

Stiffly, she retorted, "And you think it's fine that a creature is allowed to carry around chemicals that could be used against wizards?"

In his most dangerous voice, Severus hissed, "The only creature here is that monster you're defending. He had absolutely no proof that Harry was anything other than a human boy and-"

"Harry isn't human," she stated as if Severus had convinced himself otherwise.

"And that's-" Severus jabbed his finger at the table where Riddle was putting his filthy, disgusting hand on Harry's bare arse while Harry cursed and kicked his legs. "-an acceptable thing to do to him? If you came across this scene, wouldn't you try to stop it?"

Her lips pressed thin, but she was saved the trouble of answering by the arrival of Draco, who opened the door in Harry's memory with an impatient bang. Draco took one look at Harry, still stuck to the table, his bottom half bared; one look at Riddle, standing there with a hard cock protruding from his lowered trousers; and whipped out his wand.

"Draco!" cried Harry, lifting his head and pulling hard on his bonds. "RUN!"

Instead of running, Draco whipped off a Stupefy with a skill and speed that was borne out of the countless dueling lessons Severus had given him.

Riddle moved to parry but, when he attempted to shift his stance to get in a better position to duel, his trousers fell completely to his ankles and the slight movement was enough to offset his balance and send him tumbling to the floor. Draco had an unerring Stupefy headed Riddle's direction before he even hit the ground.

Once Riddle fell, Draco cast Finite Incantatem on Harry's bonds, and Harry stood up, rubbing his bruised forearms.

"Are you all right?" he asked Draco, at the same time Draco said, "What a freak!"

As Harry pulled up his trousers, Draco marched over and gave Riddle a solid kick in the side.

The memory abruptly ended, and all of them were returned to the room.

"Where's the rest?" asked Riddle's solicitor with an accusatory glare at Harry.

"Rest?" asked Harry, and Severus couldn't tell if he was pretending or honestly puzzled.

Looking down her nose at Harry, she waspishly asked, "How do I know you didn't poison my client before the Ministry officials arrived?"

Severus moved between her and Harry. "Leave him alone. He did nothing." It wasn't entirely true, but Severus wasn't one to let facts get in the way of defending Harry. Besides, he was certain Harry had poisoned Riddle and he didn't want her learning that.

Draco spoke up. "I can include those parts in my memories." With a practiced, arrogant air, he pulled his memories out of his head and dumped them into the Pensieve before the solicitor could stop him. As they'd intended to examine his memories next anyway, they dove into them.

Draco's memories began with him and Harry taking lunch in the Great Hall.

After checking his watch, Harry announced. "I need to go help Professor Lupin," and stood. Suddenly, he turned and said, "I forgot the scrolls!" in an air that sounded just a little bit too forced to Severus's well-trained ear. "Draco, would you ask the Weasley twins to meet me in the store room by the trophies?"

"Yeah, sure," said Draco with a shrug.

"It's important," said Harry pleadingly. "I can't carry them all by myself and I know the twins are on the pitch now. It will only take a second."

"I'll do it," promised Draco, still focused on his food.

After Harry had left, Draco got up from the table. But, instead of fetching the twins, he marched to the store room himself. He tried the door, only to find it locked. A smirk crossed his lips and, with a few flicks of his wand, he had the door open.

The next memories were the same as Harry's. After his attack on Riddle and the kick, a group of giggling students passed by in the hallway, and Draco ran to the doorway.

"Oi! Pinheads!" The Hufflepuffs turned to look at him in disdain. "Harry's been attacked. I need Madam Pomfrey, any Ministry official you can find, and Professor Snape."

"Is he all right?" asked one of the girls.

Draco snapped, "He won't be if you imbeciles insist on gawking!"

They fled and he returned to the room where Harry was searching under the shelf the vial had rolled beneath. Severus's heart sank. However, if Draco was willing to show the memory, it shouldn't show anything too incriminating.

"Did you lose something?" asked Draco, bending down and peering under the shelves himself.

"A vial," said Harry as his eyes caught on something. "It's back there."

"Accio vial!" Draco caught the Summoned object and pressed it into Harry's hand.

"Thanks," said Harry, grinning. He turned back to Riddle, his grin melting, but then a Ministry official appeared in the doorway and, even if Harry had meant to poison Riddle, he could no longer do so now that an audience had appeared. He tucked the vial back in his robes and stood.

"Have you seen enough," Severus sarcastically asked Riddle's solicitor, "or would you like to return to the scene where your client held Harry down over a table and tore off his clothes? If you-"

Dumbledore interrupted with an amicable, "Do you need anything else?" and even Riddle's solicitor backed down.

"That will be all," she said with a huff as she shoved her note parchment in her bag and left the room with her nose in the air.

One of Lucius's lawyers turned to Severus and said, "If you wish to sue for harassment, send me an owl."

"That won't be necessary." With a nod at Harry to follow, Severus left.

~

When they were alone in their rooms, Severus walked to the sitting room and took a seat on the sofa. Looking at Harry for the first time since they'd left the Ministry, Severus asked, "What was in the vial?"

Harry ran his fingers over the top of the armchair opposite Severus. "Poison," he answered quietly.

"What type?"

His eyes fixating on the wandering path of his fingers, Harry said, "I made it myself. You said that the stuff we use to rinse vials was toxic, so I took that and mixed in a bit of foxglove." He pursed his lips, then met Severus's eyes. "I didn't mean for Draco to get involved. He never, ever wants to do work, so I thought he'd fetch the twins. I knew the twins could handle Riddle."

Having known Draco since he was born, Severus said, "You neglected to remember that Draco will use any excuse he can find to avoid doing work. I'm sure he planned on being late to his next examination with the excuse that he had to help you - even if his service to you had been completed a half hour before the start of the exam. Still, it's best if we keep this to ourselves. We wouldn't want Lucius to know your role in what happened." Motioning for Harry to sit, he asked, "How did you lure Riddle to the storeroom?"

Harry dropped into the chair as if he hadn't slept for days. "I told the twins that I wanted to play a prank and make a Ministry official get aroused by a piece of furniture. I got them to brew an infatuation potion - the kind where you feed the base to your target and then spray the activant on yourself. I said I was going to spray it on the staff table in the Great Hall. They gave me both parts of the potion, then I told them that you'd found out what we were plotting and confiscated the potion. I knew Riddle would be at Hagrid's that morning, so I slipped over there the night before and poured the infatuation potion into all of Hagrid's guest teacups. I knew that, even if it dried, the residue would be enough."

Nervously scratching his arm, Harry added, "Don't worry, I went in there after Riddle left and washed the tea cups. I made sure no one else had a chance to ingest the potion. Since I knew he'd be at lunch with you, I made an excuse to pass him in the hallway. I put the activant on myself, then walked straight past him. As I thought he would, he turned around and started following me. I was going to splash the poison on his face when he got close and had done enough that I could argue it was defence, but he was too strong."

His mind still slowly churning through all the shocking evidence, Severus said nothing.

Wincing, Harry said, "I know that what I did was reckless and dangerous. It was also stupid because he was just too powerful. I didn't tell you about it because I knew you'd try to stop me. Still," he held his chin up defiantly. "I'm not sorry I did it because now he's going to go to Azkaban for a long time."

Even though he considered Harry's plan to be utterly brilliant, Severus couldn't help but say, "You could've been raped."

His eyes steady, Harry declared, "I'd rather be raped than have you go to Azkaban."

Those words sent shivers of warmth through Severus's frame, but he still had to say, "You could've been put down had you actually harmed him - even with what he's done to you before."

Harry shrugged. "I'd rather be dead than have you go to Azkaban."

Although Severus knew that Harry was loyal and affectionate, he didn't believe that Harry cared about him that much. He couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

Giving Severus a look as though he'd asked a daft question, Harry said, "If you go to Azkaban, that means they'll confiscate all of your property. I know, I checked the law. I'll end up in a brothel or someplace worse." His voice softened as he said, "I'll spend the rest of my life wishing for the life I could've had with you."

Severus hadn't ever thought to set up a will to ensure that Harry wouldn't be returned to the shops should something to happen to him. Making a mental note to speak to Albus later that day, he promised, "You'll never end up in a brothel. Ever. If something should happen to me, Dumbledore will become your new owner."

Harry's eyes brightened and he gazed at Severus with hopeful eyes. "You're serious?"

"I promise," said Severus.

Smiling, Harry got up and crossed the distance between them, climbing onto Severus's lap. "You're not angry?"

Cupping Harry's chin in his hands, Severus pulled him forward for a kiss. "How could I be angry? Despite the fact that you didn't think your plan through, that was quite Slytherin of you."

Looking more confused than relieved, Harry reminded him, "But my plan didn't work."

"You've got too much Gryffindor in you," Severus teased. "You took on a powerful wizard that you know will use the Unforgivables on you, despite the fact that you have no magic yourself. You deserved to take your vengeance and you did. If I thought you would be attempting this again in the future, my only request would be that you involve me and allow me to help you plan it."

"So...." said Harry, wiggling enticingly on Severus's lap. "That means you'll help me make sure he stays in Azkaban?"

"Not only will he stay there," promised Severus as he restored Harry's ears and tail and ran his fingers through the fluffy black fur sticking straight up from Harry's head, "but he'll be poisoned as well."

Harry's eyes went wide and he grabbed the back of Severus's neck, pressing their lips forcibly together, and kissing Severus hungrily. He'd not yet removed his glasses and they dug cold and hard into Severus's nose. Pulling back from Harry long enough to pluck them off and toss them to the side, Severus comfortably wrapped his arms around Harry and kissed him on the nose.

"You're my coney," Severus explained, running a finger down the side of Harry's face. "Any attack on you is an attack on me. No one will ever hurt you without going unpunished while I'm alive."

"But you'll be careful, right?" asked Harry, pressing his body up against Severus's. "You'll never go to Azkaban?" Harry's eyes searched Severus's for confirmation.

"Never," promised Severus. "You'll be safe." Flipping them over on the sofa, Severus expertly undid Harry's buttons. "Even if something should happen to me which would land me in Azkaban, you'll stay here at Hogwarts."

Harry returned the favour, helping Severus out of his own garments. "But I can't have sex with you while you're in Azkaban! I'd have to sneak in there with you."

Chuckling, Severus pulled off Harry's shirt and bent down to nibble on his collar bone. When he'd had a taste, he lifted his head to say, "You'd probably like that. I'd have nothing to do all day but have sex with you."

"Oooh," said Harry, although Severus wasn't sure if he really liked the idea or was just happy now that Severus's mouth had found a nipple to tease. "Sex all day."

Busy playing with the sensitive nubs, Severus had no response to give to that.

Moaning, his fingers massaging Severus's scalp, Harry could think of nothing to say either until Severus's mouth started moving downwards. "What would you have done if they'd wanted to kill me for biting him?"

About to reach the head of Harry's thick, full cock, Severus stopped. "If they'd wanted to put you down for biting Riddle?"

Harry nodded.

Pushing Harry's legs up and apart, Severus settled down to nuzzle the hairless bollocks. "I wouldn't have let them. As long as I'm not incapacitated, you have nothing to fear from the Ministry."

"Professor Lupin said that - ah! - the Ministry isn't always fair to non-humans and - mmm - if I should ever have trouble, I can- go to- him and he'll- he'll-" Severus decided to have mercy and let Harry finish his sentence, so he stopped licking and sucking on the soft sack long enough for Harry to say, "hide me. He'll hide me."

Although Lupin and Severus didn't exactly get along, he found himself not horrified by that idea at all. Lupin knew how to hide and, if his behaviour towards Harry at Hogwarts was any indication of how he would act outside of Hogwarts, Harry wouldn't have to fear molestation from him. There was the possibility of getting eaten, yes, but Harry had also shown himself to be surprisingly clever and industrious when he needed to be.

Before resuming the teasing, Severus said, "If you need help and I can't provide it, go to Dumbledore first, Lupin second, and Lucius only if you are about to be put down."

Scooting his bum out farther so Severus could stroke his tail as well, Harry said, "Draco said that I should give him a reward because he saved me."

Running his fingers through the puffed bit of fur made Harry's already tense legs twitch and shiver.

Snorting, Severus said, "Tell him if he wants a reward, he should come to me."

His eyes growing huge, Harry asked, "You're going to-"

Severus had just sucked a ball into his mouth and he had to spit it back out. "I'm not suggesting that. I'm not suggesting anything of that sort at all." Even if he were attracted to Draco and Draco were attracted to him, and the legal issues weren't in the way, Lucius would kill him. No, torture him for the rest of his miserable life. "I'd never do anything like that."

"Good," said Harry, relaxing back against the sofa and pushing his bum more towards Severus.

Taking the hint, Severus finally let his tongue swipe over the pucker and was rewarded with a groan. Teasing the tail with one hand, he did every single trick he knew until Harry was desperately begging for his cock.

Standing up, he raised the seat of the sofa with a wave of his wand, and fetched the lube he now always carried around in his pocket. As he smeared it over himself, he couldn't help but remember Riddle's hand fondling Harry's arse and how close Harry had been to getting raped. Trying to shove the memories from his mind, he said, "I'll make him impotent," as he pushed in through Harry's tight pucker.

"Mmmm.... Impotent?" Harry wrapped his legs around Severus and pulled him forward, eagerly taking more of him into his body.

"Riddle won't ever have an erection again." Slowly, enjoying every single second, Severus slid all the way into Harry.

"You can do that?" Harry's eyes shone with the sort of admiration that was dangerously addictive.

"Of course," said Severus, and then, remembering what had happened with the dragons, resolved not to let his pride get him in trouble again. "I just need a chance to poison him and he'll never get hard again for the rest of his life."

"Oh wow," said Harry, his gaze fixed on Severus's with a face flushed with lust and adoration. "I'd rather die than never get hard again."

Severus chuckled and pumped his hips faster, drawing a moan from Harry's throat as he fucked him harder. "Not everyone regards sex as the pinnacle of existence."

"But it's so good," Harry moaned, his hips thrusting back to meet Severus's. "If he got to feel your cock up his arse, he'd want to be able to come."

Just thinking of Riddle made Severus wish that he could take a cheese grater to the man's genitals. "If I had my cock up his arse, it would be to torture him."

"This couldn't be torture," declared Harry, his completely vertical ears swaying with each hard rock. "You'd have to use - ah - potions to make it horrid."

"No lube," Severus said, his thrusts picking up pace. "An Engorgement Charm."

Licking his lips as he stared down at the huge cock filling his arse, Harry suggested, "A lube that- itches him. Not you."

"He'll itch for days," agreed Severus.

"Oh, yes!" Harry propped himself up on his hands to fuck himself faster on Severus's cock. "One that- eats away- his flesh."

"I'd smear that on his cock." It was easy enough to channel his anger towards Riddle into fucking Harry as hard and as fast as he could, and soon Harry couldn't even speak, just cry out in pleasure as Severus slammed into him again and again.

Sliding down a hand between their sweaty bodies, Severus gripped Harry's wet shaft and stroked him in time to his thrusts. Harry's body tightened so hard around his prick that it hurt, but he kept thrusting and stroking as Harry came, spurting gobs of thick fluid over the two of them. The sight of Harry, his body glistening and covered in come, his flushed face filled with ecstasy and release, and his spent prick resting contentedly on his stomach was enough for Severus to come, even without Harry's tight arse encouraging him along.

Bending down to kiss Harry thoroughly after he'd spent himself inside the coney's tight arse, Severus held him tightly, Harry's heart beating sturdily against his chest. Returning the sofa to its natural state so they both could lie upon it, Severus cleaned Harry and himself of sweat and semen before snuggling him.

Yawning, Harry said, "I'm glad that he'll never hurt another coney."

"He'll never hurt another living creature."

"Mmm." Harry gave a quick kiss to Severus's chin, closed his eyes and pressed against Severus's chest. "You're the best," he said, before he drifted off to sleep.

There was no way in hell Riddle would ever leave Azkaban alive.



[Next chapter, Sirius Black coming soon!]