Bonds of Affection

When they returned to the Manor, Severus and Harry stood together in the living room, holding hands, staring at each other in disbelief.



“We made it,” Harry said in wonder. He still could scarcely believe it. It had been less than a week since they closed down the Manor and departed in response to Voldemort\'s summoning, and yet, it felt like an eternity had passed.



Harry stepped even closer to Severus, and buried his face in his chest.



“Are you .. alright?” Severus asked hesitantly.



“I think so,” Harry said. “Just... I don\'t know. It seems so weird... that life should be so normal again. Almost feel like I don\'t deserve anything normal anymore. You know?”



“I know,” Severus said softly. “But that\'s not true. Just that... after spending so much time in the dark, it takes time to get used to sunshine again.”



Harry glanced at him timidly and smiled a little. “Then we should get started right away.”



They walked into Severus\' bedroom together. Harry shed his own clothing first, and then reached to undress Severus who protested slightly. Harry paid him no heed, and removed his robe, his shirts, and his trousers, revealing the disfiguring scars that had been inflicted by Lucius.



“Why was Lucius torturing you?” Harry asked with dread.



“Because he\'s a sadistic bastard,” Severus said with a wry smile. “But really.. I am well. It\'s nothing to worry about.”



“Tell me why,” Harry demanded, his fingers clasping around Severus\' wrist. “Please.”



“He had examined my wand... and became suspicious,” Severus said with reluctance.



Harry sat on the bed and stared at Severus guilty. “You\'ve ... gone through all of this, just to keep it a secret that I was still alive?”



Severus\' upper lip curled slightly into a familiar sneer. “You certainly do have a penchant for melodrama, Mr. Potter,” he said dryly. But Harry was already grasping his hands, and pulling him onto the bed, drawing him into embrace, and showering his face with kisses. He touched the scars where the metal tips of the Scorpion had ripped the skin apart and dug into the flesh – and shuddered in disbelief.



“Thank you,” Harry said simply, before the lump in his throat made it unable for him to say anything else. He looked down in shame, and when Severus started stroking his head, he both tensed, and pressed against his palm, as if he were a stray alley-cat, who was not used to affection, but who longed for it, just the same.



Under his gentle touch, Harry felt himself ready to cry, and he lifted his arm, pressing it against his eyes.



“I am sorry,” Harry whispered. “I am sorry that ..”



“Me too,” Severus said softly, his hands trailing the scars he had inflicted on Harry while in Voldemort\'s keep. Harry lowered his eyes, feeling mortified beyond all reason by that memory. He remembered Bellatrix taunting, Draco laughing at him when he cried, and he remembered Lucius directing everything.. playing both him and Severus as puppets for the Dark Lord\'s enjoyment. He winced at the memory of himself crying out and screaming.



Harry sniffled quietly and leaned against him. “Do you think we can ever be ... what we were to each other before, before any of this?”



“If that\'s what you still want. Do you?”



Harry nodded furiously. “Yes. Yes. I want to be yours. I want you to guide me, to correct me, to teach me. I want to do everything for you... I want to give you everything you need, or want. I want to belong to you....” He looked up at Severus timidly. “Want to know something else?” he asked with hesitation.



Severus nodded wordlessly.



“Back then... when... Lucius ordered it... I just almost died from embarrassment... and I was so scared... But then I thought – what if I could just keep myself together ... and make you proud of me. Proud to own me.” Harry smiled in embarrassment. “It didn\'t work out quite that way... I recall myself howling like a cat being skinned alive, but... it\'s the thought that counts, right?”



“You didn\'t howl like a cat,” Severus said quietly. “For what it\'s worth, you are the bravest person I have ever met. Proud to own you? Harry... I am proud just to know you.”



Harry blushed, then issued a deep sigh, and stretched himself on the bed face down, burying his face in his arms.



Severus went to stroke his back and sides with both hands, his palms mapping out his entire body. Soft lips descended on Harry\'s back, and delicate tongue ran along his spine, making him shiver and laugh. Silky hair trailed along his back as well, caressing his skin, delivering the subtle, tender sensations that his body had forgotten while in Voldemort\'s keep.



He felt his arousal awaken again, and gasped in wonder.



“I didn\'t think,” he whispered quietly... “Didn\'t think anything could ever feel this good again.”



The tongue continued it\'s path along his body, stopping to circle the small of his back, and Harry whimpered quietly at the sensation.



He felt strong hands take a hold of his hips and part them with gentleness, and he complied, opening himself obediently. He felt the fingers stroke the inside of his thighs, and then, knead his buttocks, and part them. The tongue stroked his cleft with gentleness, and Harry issued a plaintive sound, pressing his face deeply into the pillow. When the tongue began caressing his opening, Harry gasped loudly, and barely managed to hold himself still. But then, the tongue entered him, and proceeded to tease and caress the sides of his channel, and Harry issued an astonished gasp.



Severus lifted one of his hands from Harry\'s thigh and slid it under his belly, stroking his aching member, and Harry found himself thrashing furiously, in a torrent of pleasure, trapped between the tongue and the hand, until he finally spilled himself into that hand with a loud cry that echoed throughout the manor.



Severus laughed benignly, and patted his buttocks affectionately.



Harry turned over, and pulled the blanket over them both, and then, hugged Severus tightly, inhaling his scent – the scent of dried grass and autumn leaves, the scent of life and curse, mingled together as one.



“I love you so much,” Harry said quietly. “Tell me I am yours.”



“You are mine,” Severus said instantly. “I love you.”



... To be Continued....