Bonds of Affection

The following day, Severus revealed the use for the harvested ingredients: they were necessary to create a Level-2 priming formula, that would predispose the scar tissue to become more malleable; and an ointment that would work in synergy with the potion to remove the scars. Harry glanced at Severus in awe and Severus rolled his eyes, and mocked him for being so ridiculously sentimental and needlessly melodramatic.



They retreated into the bedroom and undressed each other, their hands coming in contact with each other\'s scars, spreading the sticky substance on them – and then watching them fade away.



“We are free again,” Harry whispered in wonder, clinging to him.



Severus nodded slightly, hugging back – and then, to Harry\'s surprise, ended their embrace with a playful, but not particularly gentle swat to Harry\'s bottom. “I do believe you have work to do,” Severus said meaningfully.



“I do?” Harry murmured, and them remembered: “Oh yes. The greenhouse.”



“Oh yes,” Severus mocked. “The pitiful wreckage that used to be the greenhouse.”



“So, should I fix it, or just clear away the debris?” Harry smirked, and was rewarded with another swat. “Fix it,” Harry guessed, and departed promptly.



Taking only a few short breaks, Harry spent the entire afternoon, and part of the early evening repairing the damage, drying up the water spills, leveling the soil in the flower-boxes, and trying to rescue at least some of the uprooted plants. When he was satisfied that he had achieved all he could, he returned to Severus\' bedroom – but Severus was not there. Instead, a note waited on the bed, written in his minuscule, neat handwriting:



go shower



Harry\'s heart skipped a beat, and the word “discipline” crossed his mind. He shivered slightly and stepped into the shower, watching as the soil and traces of grass and leaves be washed off from his body. He found himself trembling from anticipation, and to his utter surprise, just the simple fact that he was receiving commands in such an impersonal, but also intimate manner, awakened his arousal. He blushed furiously, feeling made more vulnerable than ever – but liking the feeling just the same. He emerged back into the bedroom, wrapped in one of Severus\' enormous towels. By that time, the writing on the note had changed to say:



get dressed



Harry took a deep breath, picked up the note, and proceeded to his bedroom. He pulled out a set of clothing that Severus bought for him on their first trip to Diagon Alley together; and got dressed in the best formal outfit: black trousers, black polished shoes, dark green shirt, black blazer, and a dark tie.

His hair was still incredibly short, and required no brushing – and he surveyed himself in the mirror, hoping his appearance would be satisfactory. And then, on an impulse, he pointed his wand at his tongue, casting a spell to re-open the hole from the piercing. He pulled the barbell jewelry from his nightstand and inserted the it back in its place.



The note changed wording again, now saying:



leave your wand behind



Harry gulped. Even though the war was over, and even though he knew there were safety spells on the rooms of the Manor, it still made him nervous to part with it, even briefly. The mere thought awakened his greatest fears and insecurities.... he remembered the time in Voldemort\'s hideout, when he thought he had lost his wand for good... and shuddered slightly. But the note in Severus\' handwriting demanded obedience, and the pull of that simple order was irresistible, in spite of the anxiety it instilled... or perhaps, because of it. Harry complied, setting the wand on the nightstand.



The note changed again, one last time, to tell him:



come to me



Harry smiled slightly, and placed the note in his pocket. He walked through the Manor, checking Severus\' study, the living room, and the dining room, not finding Severus anywhere, but not being surprised by that either. Eventually, he headed downstairs, down to the \'Chamber of Secrets\'. As he descended down the spiraling staircase, the darkness that enveloped him became absolute. He completed the remnant of his journey by feeling the handrail with his hand.



When he reached the end of the staircase, Harry heard the massive doors open in front of him on their own accord. He stepped inside, guided only by sound. He heard the doors shut behind him, and stood still, helpless, without a wand, in absolute darkness, and in complete silence, with the only sound in the room being that of his own breathing.



“Flamma,” Harry said, remembering the incantation Severus had used for light in this room. Nothing happened.



“Severus?” he asked timidly.



Silence answered him.



For a moment, panic seized him – he was alone, somewhere underground, in complete darkness, doors locked behind him, and he had no proof that Severus was here – he had just followed his instinct.... But then, Harry just shut his eyes, and took a deep breath.



“Master,” he called.



And then, finally, he heard Severus speak. “Flamma.”



At the sound of Severus\' voice, the torches on the walls came to life, bursting into flames, illuminating the chamber, and casting long shadows. Severus stood in one of the corners, looking at him, reflections of the flames dancing in the obsidian-black eyes..



“Come to me,” Severus said.



“Yes, Sir.”



He walked to him, aching with need, anticipation, dread and thrill, and it seemed that it took forever to cross the chamber and close the distance between them.



He stopped before Severus who surveyed him thoughtfully. “I would have thought you\'d want to save these clothes for a special occasion,” Severus said calmly, his hand trailing the collar of Harry\'s shirt. His face was absolutely unreadable. Harry swallowed hard, unnerved more than ever.



“It is a special occasion, Sir,” Harry offered faintly.



“Indeed,” Severus said impassively. “Harry – do you understand why you are here?”



“To receive your discipline, Sir,” Harry barely managed to say out loud. He was certain that Severus could hear his heartbeat.



“Do you understand why?” Severus asked softly, with just a faint resemblance of a smile crossing his lips. His hand touched Harry\'s chin and Harry brought his lips down to kiss his fingers.



So many answers rushed through Harry\'s head, as he remembered all of his transgressions, real and imagined; but he knew that this was not about any of them. This went deeper than that, and he was here simply because Severus had decided it was time.



“Yes, Sir,” Harry said with conviction. “To be reminded that I am yours.”



To Be Continued....