Love Me Gently

Severus shifted beneath Harry as the boy continued to sleep on as Dom and him talked while Draco might as well been sleeping as well at how silent the boy had been. It’d been a while since him and his mentor had spoken and they had been close while the older man had been teaching him everything. He wished to be alone with Harry when he spoke with him when he woke but he didn’t feel the boy would be comfortable with it, he wasn’t comfortable with it when he thought about the last time they’d been alone together.



Severus was disappointed in himself, he’d done what he’d promised himself he wouldn’t do and fell prey to instinct something Dom had warned him about in the beginning when the topic had moved to mates. He’d promised himself in front of Dom and that only made matters worse as he sat here with the brunette, called here to get him out of his self loathing after what he had done. He didn’t know what was worse, that Dom knew he fell prey or that he’d fallen to a common human emotion when he usually let things slip passed him easily whether they upset him or not and that Dom had found him in that way.



He’d locked himself away for a simple reason, to stay away from Harry. The boy wouldn’t have been able to completely get over him, but enough that if they came within range of each other the boy wouldn’t have been feeling the same effects. He was making it easier for him and didn’t want to force himself on the boy after he hurt him so. Yet here he was sitting with the boy in his lap and having small talk with someone he hadn’t seen for years.



Looking down at Harry he hadn’t expected the boy to sleep very long but they were running out of things to talk about and Dom seemed to be getting tired but wanted to remain until things were sorted out. Draco was there presumably to keep Harry safe and the fact that so long as he was around Dom he was still feeling the effects even hours later because he still continued to smell the man’s scent rather than the pheromones he had once released.



“He hasn’t been sleeping very well,” Draco said speaking finally when he’d spotted the man watching the young brunette wrapped in a blanket. “Would lack of a sound sleep be the same sort of reaction as the sickness?”



“Could be the sickness that had been keeping him awake,” Dom said smiling down at the blond and looked at the subject they were talking about. “Or memories that bothered him..”



Severus’ frown deepened, he should probably move the boy to the chair before he woke in case waking in his arms would bother the boy. He knew the memories that disturbed sleep, he’d had little sleep for whenever he closed his eyes he’d seen the look of pain and fear that had been on Harry’s face, the scent of blood filled his nose remained locked in the memories. It wouldn’t be a leap if it bothered the boy more than it had bothered him, if not equally so.



A groan interrupted Severus’ thoughts and all three of them focused on the waking wizard as emerald eyes fluttered open to stare into Severus’ and widened, his body stiffening in his arms. Clamping down on the feeling of his stomach clenching painfully at the scent of fear that came from the boy he lifted him and carried him to his armchair sitting the boy down within it still covered in a blanket and returned himself to the couch before the boy could say anything with words.



Harry blinked at him though and shifted the blanket around him before seeming to relax some at the sight of Draco and Dom before returning those emerald orbs to Severus. “I’ve a question.. why was your room so damn cold?”



Severus’ lips twitched up into a smile while Dom laughed for the both of them, the tension was still there but it didn’t feel quite as palpable. His eyes flicked over to Dom before he responded when the man’s laughing quieted to a chuckle. “Vampires natural body temperature is significantly lower than a humans Harry, but in regular temperatures our bodies heat up causing us to expend more energy than needed. It’s best to be able to lower it back down to normal temperatures at night, or during the day, in a chilled room or a muggle freezer.”



“So some things in muggle media hints at the truth?” Harry said a little startled and spotted the confused looks from the three in the room. “In old movies vampires were found in cellars or places I’d imagine be rather chilly.”



“I would imagine then that the muggles got one thing correct,” Severus said blandly as he thought of the films portraying vampires inaccurately to the muggle populace. “Perhaps the creators of those know of someone who had some semblance of knowledge by someone who’d come across a vampire and lived to tell the tale.”



“You fed on me and didn’t kill me, is it rare for vampires to allow muggles to live?” Harry seemed to want to keep the topic away from what Severus was wanting to talk about, to perhaps put it off and Severus was willing to allow Harry that for a small while as he considered what should be said.



“Normally no, especially not in the past. It’s admitting there are magical creatures out there that need to remain hidden or fictional,” Dom responded in Severus’ place giving a small shrug at the look of disgust he’d received. “It’s not that I approve of it, many look for a donor within the magical community to get their blood, others like Sev have connections in the muggle blood bank if they don’t mind it not being fresh.”



Severus raised a brow at Dom knowing that it was only part truth but someone as steadfast as Harry wouldn’t like the third option some vampires such as Dom enjoyed for a meal if a donor wasn’t available. Severus returned to look at Harry and met those emerald eyes that were looking at him with a hesitant look to his gaze. Severus shifted away not wanting his scent to ruin any reasoning skills the boy had and to keep him from reacting to the scent of him as his mate.



“Harry, I know an apology doesn’t take back what had happened but I want to apologize again..” Severus began when there was a pause in the topic of vampires and he had to take it. He feared if he left the topic sliding to different areas that he’d never get to work things out properly and have Harry remain fearful of him.



“Domitan explained it to me, about why it happened,” Harry told him with a slow smile that looked sad. The gaze shifted and Harry was looking at his knees and Severus watched him fidget uncomfortably. “I still can’t consider it as anything but rape though, even if at the fault of your species.”



Severus frowned and gave a small nod, he’d gone without a mate for this long knowing he had one might be hard but if Harry didn’t wish to follow the pairing Severus wouldn’t fight it. It was only lust he’d felt for Harry nothing more he knew but it didn’t stop the thought of going on until Harry’s life ended knowing he had a mate but not being able to do anything about it, he didn’t want to force anything more on the boy.



“I have to accept though that I have to give this a try..” Harry said after a moment’s hesitation uncertain how to word it. Even after a week of not seeing the man he’d still felt the lure to see the man, no matter how much he’d hated what he’d done. Harry looked up to spot hope and confusion behind the half placed mask that had fallen and he gave a weary smile. “It doesn’t mean I want to have sex with you.. Not yet.. not after..”



Harry closed his eyes shaking his head, he didn’t need to end the sentence so he let it hang. Even though Dom had proven to him he might actually want it he didn’t want to fall into the same helplessness, he still feared the same thing would happen once more and he wouldn’t be able to stop it just like before. It was rather his fantasies he wanted after all, Snape was just the one that was part of them.



“No, of course not,” Severus murmured somewhat numbed by what Harry was saying. Perhaps over the years it was bravery the boy had been exhibiting, not stupidity with good luck that Severus had always thought of the boy and his adventures. To fear him but yet admit that he’d still push passed it would need the Gryffindor bravery even if the boy was originally supposed to be in Slytherin and was now in his proper place with Weasley’s stupidity. “Compatibility in mates does not include sex, it’s not a necessity and I don’t blame you.”



Harry nodded his gaze was still troubled. He still believed he wanted to be around Snape more than he wanted to fear him but he needed to try see if it could be possible to overcome that fear. He didn’t want to have sex, he’d survive with his fantasies for the time being. He pulled his feet up onto the chair his knees pressed to his chest as he thought about it, perhaps the fact he still wished to have the fantasies was because he still wanted to have sex. He’d have to let that thought settle and simmer while in private.



His eyes shifted back to the other vampire and the blond sitting in his lap. “Does this mean you two are mates now?”



“No Harry, not mates in the terms of you and Sev,” Dom answered as Draco’s cheeks turned a light pink. The blond seemed to stare at Dom further about the answer and Harry was curious by what that meant. Dom only chuckled and tweaked Draco’s nose. “You’re almost unaffected by the pheromone blast I’d given the two of you but you should still remember my question to you.”



“You weren’t only teasing? As you say, I’m not a compatible mate,” Draco said as Harry went from curious to confused. What exactly did he miss while he was asleep?



“No, I wasn’t teasing. Vampires don’t need to restrict themselves to compatible mates, but many do so,” Dom responded a smile brightening his face as he looked at the surprised look. He hadn’t thought Draco would have been willing and knew the Malfoy trait was possessiveness so he was curious how it would play out if the boy agreed. “Besides.. I think I know my type enough that if you lived long and whatever mate is out there passes away you’d have a chance at coming in line of compatible. I know you well enough to know this. I do have four other wives however, are you wanting to share a lover with that amount?”



“Don’t forget to include that after him there may be more added Domitan,” Severus added on concerned that his godson gets the entire truth from the older vampire, the man always found ways to keep from giving the full truth to get what he wanted. He didn’t want Draco to fall victim to heartache and knew the boy’s possessive gene as well.



“Not until a century or two later, he would have learned of it by then.” Dom said with a pout but looking at the two clad in black he knew it shouldn’t have been something to withhold from the boy at all, not in the least before turning him. He gave a weak smile to the boy in his lap who looked at him accusingly and sighed. “If it’s not something you can live with, don’t feel the need to say yes because I asked. I do admit by the time I’m ready to add another to my belt that I do allow you to search for another mate for yourself if you wish it.”



“So your wives have husbands or wives of their own?” Harry asked causing the three to look at him since he’d fallen silent when the new topic had started. He gave a weak smile, he now realized how Hermione might feel when she’s wanting to learn as much as she could on a topic.



“Yes Harry,” Dom said with a kind smile not minding the question at all. His gaze turned to Draco for a moment, his eyes questioning if the boy was alright with him talking of them. “Just because I’ve got a taste to find another mate I won’t leave them to watch me with others. I dote my time as equally, but the newest addition normally gets a lot more sexual time with me in a way of training and enjoying the new companion. They are free to have mates of their own outside me at that time and enjoy themselves, they’re married, not slaves.”



“You wouldn’t turn me right away would you?” Draco asked gaining Dom’s attention back with a hesitant smile. He knew the man had other wives, but he was attracted to him nonetheless. He would need to get used to the idea and see if he could get over the personality trait of possessiveness.



“Of course not Draco, you’re not yet fully developed and I will not stop your growth here,” Dom responded with another easy smile and slid his fingers through Draco’s blond hair lightly still enjoying the thought of having another mate finally. “Those born vampire grow as humans do until the age of twenty then their process slows down drastically, though can be altered depending on the type of life lead. Those turned vampire though are halted in aging at the time they were turned. You would still have a few years yet until I’d truly bind you to me, plenty of time to make up your mind if you’d like to truly be turned and bonded to me for eternity.”



“I’m willing to give it a try then, so long as I can back out if I find I can’t come to terms with sharing,” Draco said cautiously, he knew his mentor to some degree and knew the man could turn possessive as well. He smiled at Dom’s nod and leaned back against his chest wondering if he could learn to see Dom’s wives in similar positions with Dom. “Would I meet them before I’m turned?”



“If you wish it,” Dom conceded with a smile stroking the small of Draco’s back and heard the soft sigh. “During the summer I could bring them to the Malfoy manor for you to meet.”



Harry and Severus watched the two in silence both of them silently wishing it had turned out that easy for whatever relationship they could muster. Dom spotted the two and gave a soft smile towards them an arm curled under Draco’s legs and he stood carrying the small boy easily. “Professor Dumbledore said he’d added another bedroom to your quarters for me, I am tired and I believe the two of you would do well with some privacy.”



Severus blinked and nodded carefully looking to see Harry’s reaction. There was nervousness but the boy looked almost thankful that there would no longer be further distractions. Severus looked at the doors that lead off the main room and pointed to the newest. “That one there should be it. Though if you plan to keep Draco with you to make certain he has a comforter to huddle under.”



“Like I’d forget that Severus,” Dom said a hint of amusement to his voice. “I do not need my new mate dying of hypothermia.”



The man carried Draco through the new door and now Harry and Severus were alone since the incident that happened upon the couch Severus was sitting on. Harry shifted uncomfortably and Severus was wondering if he should just suggest that perhaps that Harry leave if he was too uncomfortable to be alone with him yet. He looked up and caught emerald eyes watching him and couldn’t help but wonder what was going on behind that guarded face.



“Are you wanting more than one mate?” Harry asked suddenly making Severus blink. Harry though it was an honest question before agreeing on even trying to make an attempt with the man.



“Harry, understand I hadn’t even been looking for one mate at all until you bumped into me,” Severus replied cautiously. He felt foolish for the answer but though he knew the affects a compatible mate went through around him he still had the feeling no one would want him anyhow. “I don’t believe I’d ever wish to look for a second either, but vampires are essentially immortal aside from fire and beheading that could kill us. So who’s to say what either of us would want in the future if you do decide to stay with me and allow me to turn you, which will be your choice as well. If you decided to live a human life and still be with me I wouldn’t hold it against you though would hope you’d change your mind before death.”



“I wouldn’t be willing to be that cruel to allow you to watch me die if we remain together,” Harry said the last part of Severus’ explanation hitting him the hardest, for the simple fact that if he had stayed with the man long it would be because he loved him and would not wish a loved one to watch him die if it could be prevented. He gave a small smile to the gentle one he received to his response. Harry shifted uncomfortably still rather uncertain about being alone with the man only a week after the rape.



“Harry, if you wish to leave I won’t take it negatively. I know you must be uncomfortable being alone here,” Severus said slowly hoping he wouldn’t have needed to make the suggestion but making it anyhow.



“No, I’m willing to stay for a little longer,” Harry replied as he considered the things he’d learned that night, wondering if there was anything else he had questions about vampires or Snape in general. Remembering idly about Sev getting his blood normally from the blood bank and how Dom had implied it wasn’t as good as fresh blood he gave another smile to the man. “Sir, would you prefer a donor rather than the blood you get from the blood bank?”



“You can call me Severus Harry, or the shortened term both Dom and Draco insist on using, Sev,” Severus said with a small smile even as he wondered if he’d rather enjoy the boy calling him derivatives of ‘master’ instead. He shifted as he considered Harry’s question, it was no question that he preferred fresh and after trying Harry’s he wondered if the blood he got from the blood bank would ever seem as filling again. If he turned Harry though, they’d both have to turn to the blood bank anyhow, and he wondered if it would be better to not spoil himself on fresh. “Why do you ask Harry?”



It was almost an answer to Harry already smiling briefly at the permission to use the man’s name. He remembered the times Severus fed off him vividly, and remembered the erotic thrill that had ran through him. He’d enjoyed being bitten and thought that so long as the man wouldn’t turn him or try anything else without permission he’d have no troubles. “I’d be willing to act as your donor so long as I remain human.”



“Are you certain Harry? Being a donor can be rather.. intimate,” Severus said shifting in his seat at the prospect of having a reason to touch Harry even for a few minutes to feed. He watched Harry nod though and smiled to himself realizing that maybe the boy had enjoyed it. “I could survive with feeding twice a week, but it might wind up daily if I become as addicted to your blood as I can tell I might wind up with the two feedings I’d already gotten.”



“Th-that’s fine,” Harry stammered slightly thinking about the prospect of being called to Severus daily to feed him. He’d already known from the two times it could be rather intimate and yet he already allowed him to feed after the incident, it would be rather hypocritical to say he wouldn’t be willing to be a donor for that reason. “I’ve one more question though Sev... How old are you really?”



A snort escaped Severus at the last question even as he relished the shortened name on Harry’s voice. A smile broke out on his normally frowning lips and he resisted the urge to reach out and pat Harry’s leg as he answered. “I would think you’d be able to guess, as I did attend school with your parents Harry, as you well know. I’m thirty-six however, and I was born a vampire if that becomes your next ‘last’ question.”



Harry smiled meekly wondering why he’d expected anything more to that answer if he’d remembered the reason Severus had hated him so much was because of his father, the man would have to have been a teenager then. He glanced at the door that Dom and Draco had disappeared behind and he heard a small chuckle from the older man. “Only Dom, and perhaps his first wife knows his true age. He’s much older than me but I cannot guess at how much, by this time no matter the age of his mate he’d be considered a cradle robber anyhow.”



Harry grinned even though he continued to wonder how old the older vampire was, in physical terms he’d looked no older than twenty-five. Harry squirmed with anxious energy, he should be tired but he’d already slept most of the evening away so he was far more wide awake than Sev seemed to be. “How’s this really going to work anyhow? Teachers aren’t allowed to date students are they?”



Severus frowned at the new question, until it had been asked he hadn’t considered it much passed the first time it’d crossed his mind. He still owed Dumbledore an explanation for the absences of last week, he couldn’t tell the entire truth to the old man but perhaps the old coot would allow reason. The man had been mentioning for a while he should attempt to find his mate, it would be fun to enjoy the look of surprise he would get from the man when he informed him he had. “No Harry, but Albus is smart enough to realize not to mess with a vampire and his mate.”







“Mint Humbugs,” Severus stated to the gargoyle sitting guard to the headmaster’s office. The gargoyle jumped out of his way and Severus stepped onto the spiral staircase making his way with slow ease, only the mastering his nervousness from not showing for years of hiding his feelings. It was the afternoon of the first day he’d come out of his locked rooms and though Potions was not to start until tomorrow he still needed to give the man an explanation, especially when he’d learned that morning that Dom had practically kicked him out of his quarters.



“Severus, I’m glad to see Mr Hartrick managed to coax you out of your rooms,” Dumbledore said a pleased smile on his lips, presumably pleased with himself for thinking of inviting Domitan here. “Lemon drop?”



“You know I must decline Albus,” Severus said, folding his long frame into a seat without bothering to wait for the old man to tell him. He drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair watching the old man in silence, wondering what would come of his news.



“Of course Severus,” Dumbledore said with a nod and Severus wondered why the man kept up that appearance of being polite. “I hope there is a good reason for your unexpected vacation?”



Severus’ lips pulled back into a grim line at the polite phrasing, it was hardly a vacation and he’d preferred if the man had used different wording. Wetting his lips he gave the briefest of nods frowning more when the wording he’d though of escaped him. “It appears fate had agreed with you Albus when you’d been prodding me to find my mate. I’ve found my mate in the most unlikely of persons.”



Severus watched a look of surprise cross Albus’ features followed by a look of concern as the old man concluded what that would entail while stuck within Hogwarts walls until the end of the school year. “I hope you mean you’ve found them in Hogsmeade Severus, and why would that entail you to lock yourself away without feeding?”



“You know I rarely visit Hogsmeade Albus, so it is quite obvious that it has turned out to be a student,” Severus said in an even voice correctly guessing that the man would have a look of horror, he wondered idly how he would look when he told him the identity of his mate. He’d already prepared an easily, and believable lie about the week absence. The man didn’t know as much about vampires as he liked to believe. “I’d locked myself away in hopes of lessening the effects on the boy that my scent would hold over him, in hopes to wait until he was of age.”



“Who is it?” Dumbledore demanded sharply once Severus had fallen silent. The man was obviously in a panic he’d attack him and he was correct in that worry.



“Harry Potter.” Severus said in a soft voice tensing only slightly as he said his mate’s name. He didn’t know what to expect from Dumbledore who was always so protective of his favorite student. He didn’t have to wait long to see a flash of anger slip across the man’s face but the man was holding it in quite well.



“You are certain?” Dumbledore asked stupidly. Severus narrowed his eyes and Dumbledore caught himself with an anxious sigh. “Of course you’re certain. How long have you known?”



“Since the dance when the boy bumped into me,” Severus replied honestly. The man was taking the news well, even as he caught another look of anger within those eyes when he mentioned the length of the time. “I’d no intention of following with it, however the boy was making a lot of advances and it was getting hard to resist which is why I’d tried to keep out of the boy’s range by closing myself in my rooms.”



“Do you still intend on making a move once he’s of age?” Dumbledore asked standing up with the need to pace.



“He knows I’m a vampire now Headmaster, as well as the fact that he is my mate,” Severus said more cautiously now as he watched the man uncharacteristically pace, he had the strange feeling the two of them changed personas for it was normally him who paced. Severus pressed forward continuing the lie to try get the man to know the boy was able to think clearly in his presence, not from the week break but because of the rape. “The week did as I expected it would and the boy is able to think clearly around me. He’s willing not to wait when it comes to simple relationship building, and I’m not keen on doing so.”



“So what you are asking is to allow you to break the rules that prohibit teacher - student relationships?” Dumbledore asked, his voice losing the warmth as his feet stopped and he’d turned to look at Severus as if he were crazy. “What of the fact he is not of age?”



“We do not plan to have such intimate relations until he is of age,” Severus replied in a calm voice. He rose to his feet now his hands smoothing the small wrinkles from his robes before he met Dumbledore’s too blue eyes once more, it was almost startling that the man was a human with the simple fact that he’d never seen that clear of blue on anything but vampires. “However I was not asking you, I felt obligated to inform you of it and I have. Harry is willing to speak with you outside my presence so you’d get clear answers from him, but you wouldn’t get anything different. If you would excuse me Albus I have some things to do to get ready for tomorrows lessons unless you mean to let me go because of these circumstances.”



“Very well,” Dumbledore almost sounded defeated when Severus thought about it. Severus raised an eyebrow as the man remained silent for a moment. “Send Harry up after he’s finished classes, I do wish to speak with Harry to be certain his agreement hadn’t been coerced by the pheromones you produce around him.”



Severus nodded and turned on his heel walking out of the office and down the spiral staircase with the impressive flourish of his robes. His tongue darted out over dry lips before he stepped out from behind the gargoyle and back to the hall on the seventh floor. Feeling rather triumphant he made his way back down to the Entrance Hall and after a moment of hesitation stepped outside onto the grounds to find Harry near the lake with Draco and Dom under the shade of a tree to share what had surpassed within the Headmaster’s office.



*~*



Harry sat before the headmaster anxiously, he’d never seen the man so bothered about something. He gave the briefest of smiles to the old man knowing it was the situation he was put in that had Dumbledore so bothered and almost angry. Harry didn’t know why the man would to angry so much as bothered, it was still Harry’s life this was happening to after all.



“Severus tells me the news you’ve learned he was a vampire Harry,” Dumbledore said starting things off slowly rather than jumping straight to the point. “How had you learned of it?”



“Since I bumped into Sev at the dance I’d had a strange attraction to him,” Harry said slowly. He hadn’t expected the question and fidgeted in his chair as he considered the truth that would underline his suspicions. “I’d been trying to find an answer to it, he’d caught me in the library after hours trying to find something and the locator spell I’d used had brought up books that pertained to vampires and he seemed almost nervous I’d found the answer. I’d had the suspicion since then.”



“How’d you find out your suspicion was correct?” Dumbledore asked and Harry realized the man was looking for a reason to deem the man unsafe to work rather than firing him at the reason of the fact he’d found a mate. Clenching his fists he gave a small shrug.



“I’d been taking private potions lessons with him, at some point his glamour fell.” Harry said cautiously, not pointing out the fact it fell while the man had fed on his blood. “After learning I was his mate I figured it was because he’d lost his concentration on the glamour while trying to ignore the urges being close to me put in his mind.”



“Had he attacked you Harry?” Dumbledore asked, his tone was serious.



“No, he didn’t.” Harry hoped that sounded as believable as it sounded to him, but he’d never quite lied to the old man before and he had to start now.



Harry shifted uncomfortably as he heard the man sigh but the man seemed to have run out of questions to try to get Harry to get the vampire into trouble. Harry was glad because he didn’t think he could continue to lie and keep it believable when the rape still bothered him. Dumbledore looked at him with a concerned look now. “Severus is wanting to follow through with this pairing. He’s assured me after his week of avoiding you that you could think more clearly around him to give an honest answer. He told me you had agreed to it in his presence, but are you so certain now that you’re not near him?”



“Yes Professor,” Harry told the man, holding his head still from nodding in case it went the wrong way and said ‘no’ in shaking his head. He was still nervous but he wouldn’t allow Dumbledore to know that.



“Alright Harry,” Dumbledore said, his tone defeated and Harry wondered if the man was so concerned he was being forced into the relationship. “You may go.”



“Thank you Professor,” Harry said standing up and smiled at the man, somehow he thought the man was having a harder time with this than he was. “You don’t need to worry sir.. after all the fact we were paired as mates, generally tells that we’d be good together.”



“Yes, but the lust in the beginning isn’t actually love Harry,” Dumbledore replied, and Harry knew all too well it was true. “Just the reaction your body has to the pheromones.”



“That’s how all relationships begin sir, even in humans though not quite as strong,” Harry said reasonably. He walked to the door and gave a small shrug. “The only thing a person can do is try something out and take things slow and get to know one another.”



“You’re right Harry,” Dumbledore said in a quiet voice, the boy already gone from his office.