Bonds of Affection

Severus and Harry spent the rest of the day, and the evening side by side. They ate dinner early, and retreated into the bedroom before their houseguests returned from their day trip. Once alone again, they undressed each other, with Severus pulling Harry into his embrace, running his fingers through his hair that had grown noticeably longer in the last few weeks. Harry reached for his collar, and traced it with his fingers, and then glanced at the brand that marked his left shoulder.



“Thank you, Master,” Harry said quietly, with astonishment in his voice. “Thank you for doing this.”



“You seem surprised,” Severus observed.



“I am,” Harry agreed, “But in a good way. I didn\'t think – you\'d want me that way.”



Severus frowned instantly. “Why wouldn\'t I?”



Harry shot him a shy glance. “Well, you know. You\'ve said it yourself. I am a bad slave. I escape from bondage, I push you around in the kitchen... I pull your hair...”



Severus laughed very softly, as his hand rested on Harry\'s hip. “Silly brat. Those are your most endearing qualities.”



Harry grinned impishly. “I was worried I was starting to annoy you...”



Severus was shaking his head. “Not in the least. Harry – you have no idea. When you are around, all is full of life. It\'s...” he paused for a bit, unsure how to explain, or describe the reckless joy of having someone like Harry in his life. “It\'s like sunlight. It irritates your eyes once in a while.. but you love it when it does – because there\'s just absolutely nothing better.”



Severus watched with a smile, as Harry was blinking furiously, and finally shutting his eyes – but his eyelashes still held traces of dampness on them. Severus stretched himself on the bed, lying on his back, and drew Harry to sit on top of himself, straddling his hips. Harry leaned forward, their bodies clinging against each other, the pressure awakening each man\'s arousal. Severus ran his hands over Harry\'s back, and then cupped his buttocks, massaging them, tracing the fading marks with his fingers. Harry issued a quiet moan, leaning forward even more.



Severus continued to stroke Harry\'s bottom, then finally parted his cheeks, and ran a single finger along his ring, causing it to quiver with anticipation. Harry\'s eyes opened wide, as he stared at Severus with a smile that was somehow both utterly wanton and endearingly shy. Severus reached with one hand to the nightstand, producing a lubricant, and proceeded to prepare his lover, driving two fingers deeper and deeper into him, striking against his prostate. He watched the young body shudder with pleasure at every push.



When Severus withdrew his fingers, without prompting, Harry, still facing Severus, lifted himself slightly, and positioned himself over his cock, sliding himself down on it with a quiet gasp. Severus lifted his knees slightly, and as Harry started moving, their bodies rocked, locked together in mutual pleasure. He stroked Harry\'s chest with one hand, and with another, the head of his cock, and Harry thrust himself into his hand, rising slightly and falling back down, setting the pace of their lovemaking with his own body.



Severus felt his own orgasm approaching and stroked Harry\'s member firmly, causing him to empty himself into his hand. Harry let out a deep furious breath, and his entire body went limp, just as Severus climaxed within him.



Harry climbed off and stretched on the bed next to Severus with a pitiful whimper. Noticing collected tension in Harry\'s legs and thighs, Severus leaned over him and began to massage his body, feeling Harry relax completely under his touch.



“Thank you- for everything,” Harry mumbled in a quiet voice. “This was... really... something... I mean...”



Severus run his fingers along Harry\'s spine. “To be the bottom – but have control over the experience? He offered wryly.



“Yeah,” Harry whispered. “I really didn\'t think you would want me to.”



Severus stroked the young, warm body with his hands. “Let\'s just say, it\'s a lot more fun to own someone when they have power and spirit – and some control. You think the chase has ended when you gave yourself to be collared and branded... but truly... it had only began.”



They fell asleep together, Severus feeling completely and utterly serene with Harry\'s head resting against his shoulder. But when Severus shut his eyes, and drifted off to sleep, nightmares broke through the shield of tranquility and invaded his mind.



In the dream, Severus was standing over an open grave. The gravestone at the head of it was unmarked. He stared down in dread, tears streaming from his eyes, as he knew he was expected to cover up the grave – but he could not bring himself to begin.



“Hello, Severus,” he heard a small, tranquil voice behind him. He spun around, coming face to face with Luna Lovegood, whose blond hair was cascading down her shoulders. She gazed at him calmly with an enigmatic smile playing on her lips.



“Miss Lovegood,” Severus said stiffly.



“Do you know where you are?” she asked.



“I am dreaming.”



“Of course you are,” she agreed. “But where is this place?”



“I don\'t know,” he said harshly. “Where?”



She sighed with regret. “I am just a shadow of your mind. I don\'t know anything that you do not know,” she whispered. “But maybe you should find out.”



“Why?” he demanded. “What does it matter? What does it matter where I am going to bury Harry?”



She gave him an odd look. “If he\'s already dead, then I suppose it\'s not important. Is he?”



He could not bring himself to answer her, and just stared into the grave, wondering if deep in his heart, he was already resigned to losing his beloved.



“Luna,” he begged. “Why? Why him?”



Standing behind him, she reached for his hand, and took it in hers. “You know how the prophecies are,” she said reluctantly. “No word is random, or superfluous. Make sure that no word is wasted, Severus – if you want to see sunlight again.”



She released his fingers with gentleness and walked away, her frail form disappearing amidst the tombstones littering the graveyard.





Severus woke up with a muted scream. Next to him, Harry was sitting up, looking at him with concern.



\'Nightmares again?” Harry asked quietly.



Severus nodded reluctantly.



“Same kind?” Harry prodded.



“Yes.”



“You should take some dreamless sleep potion,” Harry told him.



Severus just shook his head mutely. Perhaps if he dreamed long enough, he would find a way to prevent the destiny the dreams had suggested.



Harry stroked his hair absently, and then grinned wryly. “I keep telling you, it\'s nothing. We are going to live happily ever after, and have a herd of adopted Gryffindor brats running through the Manor.”



Severus nodded again, this time with a forced smile. Harry\'s playful denial was not easing his fears – if anything, it was instilling further dread into him; and making him feel utterly alone in his terror. He wished he could pour out his fears freely – but Harry had done enough to support him in his hour of frailty... and Severus decided not to burden him further.



Harry smirked at his grim expression. “Look, if I die – just promise you won\'t write anything stupid on my tombstone, okay?”



Severus gave him an unamused glare. “I shall make no such promises. In fact, should you die, I will go out of my way to erect the most tasteless, horrendous gravestone that is legally allowed. I may even decorate it with kitten images from Umbridge\'s old office. ”



Harry\'s expression morphed into something between a grin and a pout. “Why would you do such a thing?”



“To give you an incentive to stay alive,” Severus said harshly.



Harry nodded with feigned seriousness. “Thanks. With that kind of threat hanging over my head, how can I not?”



... To Be Continued ...