Pledges

Part 36

Snape looked at Harry incredulously. "They're having sex?"

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose high enough to dislodge the hat sitting comfortably on his head.
"Severus?"

Ron made a choking, wheezing sort of gasp, Hermione blushed beat red and Draco simply sighed
and said, "I don't know how you did it Potter, but I know that it was your fault."

Harry's eyebrows shot up past his hairline as well. "How I did what?"

Draco threw an accusing look in his direction. "Just because you like to be open and honest about
your sexual adventures doesn't mean that the rest of us are keen on airing our dirty laundry out
for the entire staff to hear."

Another choking sound from Ron, "Dirty laundry?" He asked with an irate yelp.

Hermione seemed to recover from her initial surprise and smacked the red head in the arm, "Hush
Ron, be indignant later and you," she turned to Draco, "calm down. There's no need to add insult
to injury just because you're uncomfortable."

The blonde straightened his shoulders. "I don't insult people because I'm uncomfortable, I do it
because I'm good at it." He announced proudly.

"No," Hermione shot back, "you insult people when you're uncomfortable BECAUSE you're
good at it-"

Before the young Slytherin could respond Harry interrupted with a nod of his head. "Just like
him." The nod was in Snape's general direction. He suddenly found himself facing four sets of
wide eyes, one amused headmaster and one glaring husband.

Husband.

The itching under his skin gave way to the roaring of his ears. Black spots danced before his eyes
and his knees threatened to give way. Then a warm hand settled on his cheek.

"Harry." A low voice rumbled through him. "Take a deep breath. Don't faint here. My back can't
take carrying you all the way back to my chambers."

He learned into the hand and wrapped his arms around the body attached to it. "Nice to know you
cared."

"Hold on." Draco interrupted the moment, "I still want to know why the professor said what he
said."

An exasperated sigh left Snape's lips. "I was merely repeating what Mr. Potter said, Mr. Malfoy."

"Said?" Hermione asked.

"He didn't say anything." Draco confirmed.

Harry watched Snape's eyes widen in realization and then close in resignation.

"What?" He asked.

Snape shook his head silently and touched their foreheads together for a moment before replying.
"My life is careening out of control at an alarming pace."

"What?" He asked again.

"Your verbal skills astound me as always. Attempt to tell me something, without speaking."

Harry fixed his eyes on Snape's and THOUGHT at him

/I think I could love you/

The black eyes widened again. The message was obviously received. "That was the most
singularly ridiculous thing I have ever had the displeasure of not hearing."

Hermione who had obviously been following the conversation, spoke up, "I take it this a new
development."

Draco spoke up before either of them could answer. "I thought that would have been obvious."

"Draco," Hermione chastised, "keep your snark to yourself or you're sleeping alone tonight."

"Hermione!" Ron's third indignant yelp for the day.

"Oh hush, its not like it's a secret anymore."

"Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said, "it's a bit late to be a prude."

Ron sputtered. "I'm not a prude," he began, arms waving, "its just that you're - you're teachers."

"And the moment we begin to work here as professors we lose all of our previous knowledge
regarding sex?" Snape obviously took great pleasure in making Ron flinch at his choice of words.

"But you always stalk the hallways ruining everyone's fun." Ron argued.

"But we don't actually enter the dormitories do we?" Snape continued on.

"No..."

"Oh." Hermione gasped. "They don't care what we're doing, as long we're not stupid enough to
get caught."

"I wouldn't go so far as to say we don't care," Dumbledore explained, "but in most cases, yes, we
overlook youthful indiscretions. But do not, for a moment think we don't know what's going on."

"But thhy..hy..."

"Did you manage to finally surprise your headmaster?" Dumbledore finished the question for Ron.

The red head nodded silently.

"There was no malice." Dumbledore explained. "Malice would have brought it to our attention
immediately"

"Oh." Harry thought it was nice to see that he wasn't the only one suffering from vocabulary
deficiency.

"Now I trust you three won't share that information" McGonagall chided.

Draco let out a slick smile. "As long as you don't mind if you use it to our advantage."

"I expected no less." Snape said. "It always amazes me how many students don't think to go to
their hiding places before curfew... at least that way if they get caught it will be worth it."

As the conversation had gone on, Harry had become increasingly aware of the long lean body that
was supporting him. Sending a low warmth through him. The heartbeat next to his and the gentle
movement of a chest as it took in air and expelled it again. "Um sir?"

"Yes Mr. Potter?"

"I think we should go."

Eyes locked with his and studied him for a moment, then he nodded. "Yes. Albus I believe we will
use your floo."

"Of course my boy. I will cing ing on both of you in a few hours and Severus," The headmaster
shot Snape a meaningful look, "I shall attempt to curb my horrible manners.

Harry was sure that the last sentence was some sort of jibe aimed at Snape. One look at the glare
that was being sent in the Headmaster's direction was all the confirmation he needed. A moment
later Snape spoke again, "Come along, there's no point in prolonging this."

They stepped up to the flames and with a flare that only Snape had, white powder was flung in the
general direction of the hearth and a low mumble was heard,"Professor Snape's study" were the
words he heard leave Snape's mouth and then a sharp tug as he was pulled into the fire.

* * *

Albus Dumbledore surveyed the room before him. The remnants of the most unusual wedding
were strewn about like litter, each person looking a bit more battered than the last.

He cleared his throat. "Now children. Go and enjoy the rest of your vacation. You've earned it.
Dr I b I believe we have an appointment the day after tomorrow. Is that still good for you
Th
The young man threw him a significant look and then nodded solemnly.

"Go then and rest up."

After the students left, he turned to Minerva. "You seem to be taking this better than yesterday."

She considered his statement carefully. "Yesterday I had not had a very important conversation."

"Ah. And what did Severus have to say?"

"It's not so much what he said, though that helped, but what he didn't say that convinced me."

Leaning forward a bit. "And what didn't he say?"

An exasperated sigh. "Albus you know the answer to that as well as I do"

He added a bit of mischief to his expression. "Humor me."

She smiled just a bit. "I've been doing that my entire life, why should I stop now?"

"Well?" He pressed on. Not giving an inch.

She just shook her head in amusement. "He didn't tell me to shut up. He just let me berate him
into slipping up."

"I see what you mean. Hardly our Severus at all."

Minerva looked at him again and in an exasperated voice she continued. "Its no use talking to you
when you're in this mood."

"What mood is that?" Innocent as ever.

"Insufferably proud of yourself."

"But you love me anyway." He quipped letting a slightly more serious tone through.

She dismissed it with a wave of her hand, as if it were some unimportant fact."I blame that on the
irrational women in me." fac face was softening, letting some more warmth through.

"Minerva you are anything but irrational."

She stood up, walked around the desk and placed a quick but meaningful kiss on his lips. "As if
you're one to judge."

He chose to give her an enigmatic smile in response.

Minvera headed towards the door. "I have some work to finish. I still haven't given the ministry
the VERYaileailed report that they're demanding."

"Don't have too much fun." He called after her.

"It will be an effort, but I'll try."

"I'll see you tonight."

She simply nodded and left.

Albus took a few moments to enjoy the silence in the room before turning to the far corner of his
office. He lifted his wand and carefully undid the obscurus spell to reveal a silent unmoving Sirius
Black.

He leaned forward, taking a serious tone. "I'm going to remove the charm on your mouth my boy
and then we are going to have a nice little chat."

Part 37

Albus Dumbledore studied the tense, frustrated man in front of him for a moment before once
again waving his wand and ‘ungagging' his mouth.

"Albus! What in the hell was the meaning of that?!?!"

"One day, Sirius, I hope you find yourself in a place where you do no allow your emotions to rule
your reactions and you can appreciate what I've done for you."

Sirius looked at him like he'd just announced that he and Voldemort were going steady. "And
what have you done for me?"

"Forgetting all other circumstances, you just watched your godson get married. Trust me when I
say, in the long run, you will be much happier for it."

"I don't see how I could be happy at all."

He sighed. This was going to be harder than he had originally planned. "Sirius. You just watched
a momentous event in Harry's life. One, that you should have had some part in."

"There is no way that I could ever support something as... wrong... as what I just witnessed."

He closed his eyes momentarily, contemplating how best to go about smacking some sense into
the man sitting across from him. "Sirius, have you listened to a word that's been said?"

"Of course I have Albus!"

He smacked his hand down on his desk, eyes blazing, "Then why the hell have you been acting
like a 4 year old whose lollipop was stolen!"

"Albus?" Sirius looked confused.

"Do you have any idea what you'oingoing to him! You're making him the enemy! Your irrational
inability to see past the *past* is making this situation harder on him that it already is!"

"I just can't accept-"

"It doesn't matter what you accept Sirius. What is, is. Do you honestly think that I would allow
something to go on if it were hurting him? I'm old. Not senile, nor am I fool."

"I... I..."

"If you want to blame someone. Blame me. I'm the one that steered them in this direction without
telling them. I'm the one who took a chance with the spell. I'm the one who seized upon an
opportunity."

"Why?"

"Because we are fighting a war. A war, that unless we are willing to make sacrifices, we *will*
lose."

Sirius looked ready to pick up his argument again, but he cut him off.

"I did not force this. I merely gave it the opportunity to flourish. You underestimate me, You
underestimate Harry and you underestimate Severus."

"I don't understand." Sirius said.

"Then you really haven't been listening, this could not have happened, without BOTH of their
consents, whether it was conscious or subconscious is irrelevant, Harry is NOT in a situation that
he doesn't want to be in."

"That doesn't mean that I trust Snape. That still doesn't reassure me that he won't take advantage
of the situation."

He stood up and circled around his desk and kneeled down in front of Sirius, who was still under
the influence of a binding spell. "My dear boy, how do you know you can trust me?"

Sirius' eyes widened. "I... I just do."

"Why? I've already proven exactly how manipulative and conniving I can be. That I'm willing to
go behind people's backs and bend the rules to get my way."

Sirius was starting to look worried. "Because you've never... you've never hurt me..."

He smiled. "How do you know that?"

"I... I just do."

"So sure are you?" He took his wand out once more and waved it lazily in front of Sirius.
For the first time, Sirius looked at him with something akin to fear. He did not relish doing this,
but the problems with Gryffindors was that sometimes they needed reality shoved in their faces,
no matter how ugly it was. He pointed the wand in the direction of the portrait hanging over the
fireplace. A mumbled phrase and it began to change, instead of Hogwarts last headmaster, it now
showed a younger, version of its current headmaster. "That's a portrait that was painted in my
seventh year. Tell me Sirius, is it everything you expected?"

The younger man turned his head and examined the painting. "Its you. In your school uniform... I
always pictured you as a brunette though... But the red suits you. Uniforms different too. Older
looking. That never occurred to me... I mean the house badge is complet..." Sirius faded off.

"Go on. What do you see?" He prompted.

Sirius looked choked up. He obviously couldn't speak for a few moments. Finally he answered. "I
see... Slytherin."

* * *

Ron, Hermione and Draco walked slowly down the steps that led to away from the headmaster's
office.

Without looking up, Draco said, "My place."

"Why your place?" Ron asked.

"Because it's the only one you don't have to go through a common room to get to. Unless you
want me to follow you past an entire room of Gryffindors with big mouths?"

"Oh." Ron answered. "Right. OK then."

"Why are we going to your room?" Hermione interjected.

"Because I want to talk to you about something." Was the only reply he gave.

They walked silently down into the bowls of the castle. Draco obviously knew a back route, one
that was well out of the way of often traveled paths. Hermione idly wondered how often he made
use of it.

Once they were inside Draco's room, they sprawled comfortably on the sofa. Two Gryffindor
bookends surrounding one complex Slytherin book. Though, this time, they were all leaning on
one another.

After a few minuted of silence, Ron spoke up. "I thought we were supposed to be talking."

Draco threw a scathing glare in the red head's direction, "Not everyone finds spitting out intimate
details of their personal life as easy as you do."

She spoke up, "You're doing it again."

Thin shoulders shrugged. "Well its my prerogative. Deal with it."

Hermione laid a gentle hand on his arm. "What's making you so upset?"

Draco didn't look at either of. Instead he studied his hands. "My father's not dead."

"What?" Ron asked, surprised. He leaned forward and touched a shoulder.

Draco continued. "Professor Snape confirmed it. The man that I... killed... was not Lucius."

"Who was it?" Ron inquired lightly massaging the shoulder.

He shrugged it off. "Another death eater."

Hermione studied him for a moment and asked, "What else?" She allowed her hand to slide up
and tangle with the fine blonde hair.

"He wrote a letter to Professor Snape. He wanted to talk to him. Offer explanations."

"Explanations for what?" Hermione pressed.

With a small snort, Draco answered. "Why he's been such an ass all these years."

"Ah." Was all Ron could think of to say.

"Dumbledore is letting him onto school grounds." Draco finally finished.

"He's nutters." Ron commented.

He snorted again. "For once, we agree."

"When is it happening?" She asked.

"Day after tomorrow." He answered.

She moved forward and wrapped her arms around Draco, "You've asked to be there, haven't
you." Hermione stated, not needed to actually ask. He wouldn't have it any other way.

"I can't *not* be there." Draco confirmed.

Ron turned the pale face towards him and said, "We know." and drew him down for a kiss.

Hermione watched them kiss. It was a slow languid kiss. The kind that tried to express whole
paragraphs in between slick movements of swollen liphe mhe molded herself to the back of Draco
and began to nuzzle his neck.

When Ron finally released Draco they were both panting for air. She renewed her attach on his
neck, the blond closed his eyes and let out a small moan of appreciation.

Ron's voice was husky and low, "Let's say we try this in a bed this time."

Draco tensed up for a moment. "This isn't a pity fuck."

Hermione tightened her arms, "It will never be a pity fuck."

She felt Ron's arms wrap around both of them, "Because Draco Malfoy does not do pity fucks,
right Draco?"

"Right." Came the small voice from between both of them. Then stronger, "what are we waiting
for, the you know where the bed is."

The three of them untangled themselves and made their way to the bedroom, just before the door
closed, Hermione said, "I respect you too much for this to ever be pity."

"Thank you."

Part 38

They literally fell into the room and into each other. The younger of the two let out a gasp of
surprise and pleasure as friction was added to his already precarious situation. Harry lowered his
head onto Snape's shoulder panting. They stayed on the floor for a few moments, hips slowly
undulating.

"Please move." Snape ordered.

"I was trying not to, actually."Harry looked up and into his eyes, "After all that fuss you made last
time about the floor and your poor, old decrepit back."

Old. Of course Harry had to mention old. "Get off of me, Mr. Potter."

After a few moments of apparent debate with his own body, Harry rolled over and lay on the floor
taking deep breaths. "I supposed you want to have a conversation about what happened earlier."

He ran a hand over his face and through hair, before pushing himself up to lean on his elbows.
"No. I really don't"

Harry gave him a puzzled look. "You don't?"

He gave a tired sigh. "Aside from the fact that I want to all together forget that you have that sort
of access to my mind, its not such a wild leap of logic to think that whatever is happening to us is
about to change at least one more time."

Snape watched Harry's lips form a small circle. "Oh."

He noted that he was beginning an unhealthy obsession with Harry's lips. "If I'm going to be
forced to be stuck in your presence for an undetermined amount of time we are going to have to
do something about your vocabulary."

In as close to a sarcastic voice as Harry could manage, which was becoming threateningly close to
what Snape could accomplish. "I didn't know you cared."

"I don't." He corrected. "Its an act of self preservation."

"Oh." Harry had an obnoxious smile plastered on his face.

"Oh, for gods sake, wipe that grotesque thing of your face."

"Make me." Harry challenged.

"Mr. Potter, " he began with a glimmer in his eye, "take your off you clothes." The smile
disappeared from Harry's face so quickly he almost had whiplash. Snape quirked an eyebrow,
"Really, Mr. Potter, that was hardly any effort at all" he let his fingertips trail down Harry's face,
"you gave me the impression that I might have a bit of a fight on my hands."

Harry's eyes glazed over a bit at the contact. He licked his lips and whispered, "Sorry."

Snape was transfixed on those moistened lips "Finally," he murmured. "An apology."

Snape felt the pull tighten, there was an anticipation tugging at him and his body ached for some
sort of completion. He felt broken, torn, the itching had reached a fever pitch and it was over
taking his senses. As if now that there were no longer an practical impediments, the spell knew,
and it begged for the servants under its thrall to do something.

Snape's voice had dropped to a husky tone, "Come on, before we really can't hold out any
longer." He stood up and offered a hand to the young man. As the appendages slid together
something unclenched, it was as if it KNEW that they were so very close to satisfying its original
intent, its purpose.

They entered his bedroom and turned to face each other.

Harry looked up at him and said, "I would like to state, for the record, that this is weird."

"You have a talent for understatement that would amaze even the most simple creature"

They swayed towards each other. Like magnets drawn to polar opposites. Finally they both gave
up their battles and swept forward. Lips met in a desperate act to join. Hot, wet kisses was all that
he knew for an undetermined time. When he came back to his senses, he found his hands had
wound around Harry's hair, clutched desperately at it.

There were low, keening sounds echoing throughout the room. Who they were from Snape had
no idea. He didn't have anything left in him to feel ashamed at the loss of control. He was one
large mass of need.

Harry's hands found their way under his robes. When had they been unbuttoned? The question
quickly fled his mind as Harry attached a hot mouth to his nipple.

The rough skin of that questing tongue nearly made his eyes roll back in his head. It was going
too far too fast. He gently pried Harry's head away from his chest and spent several moments just
running his thumbs in circles over the soft skin.

Harry's mouth formed a small circle as he let out small puffs of air.

"Slow, or it will consume us both."

Harry nodded blindly. "Right, slow."

They leaned in to kiss again.

Time ceased to exist once more. This time when awareness came back Harry's arms were
wrapped around his neck and he had pulled the younger man's body flush with his.

They leaned foreheads together, letting out panting breaths. "Going slow may be harder that I first
thought." Snape rasped.

"Uh huh." Harry was busy wrapping himself tighter and closer around Snape.

They took comfort in each other for a few moments.

"Slow." He repeated as he began to slowly remove Harry's robes to reveal his jeans and t-shirt
underneath. "You muggles and your clever clothes."

Harry blushed, "S'not like I have much of a choice."

He proceeded to remove Harry's t-shirt. "You can't buy your own clothes?" He began to softly
trace indistinct patterns on Harry's chest.

"My muggle," Harry's breath hitched in his chest, "my muggle relatives would never, oh," he
closed his eyes and lost his place as tough fingers found sensitive spots on his chest, "Um, they
would never spend any of their, ah" he lost himself when Snape leaned in and began feasting on a
the side of his neck..

"Go on." Snape prompted.

"They w-wouldn't spend any of their precious m-money on a f-freak like me." He finally managed
to get out.

Sliding his hands slowly around Harry's body, a more intimate version of the hugs they had been
sharing all week. Hands instinctively found the small of his back. "It never occurred to you to use
your own money to buy clothing during the school year." He pulled back slightly and looked into
green eyes, something he had been avoiding because of the intensity to which they affected him.
Harry's eyes were wide. He was surprised. "You mean it *never* occurred to you?"

Harry shook his head.

"Gryffindors." He responded lightly stroking a cheek.

They crushed themselves against each other. When had this become so natural? When had he
resigned himself to this? He was married.

Oh god, he hadn't even dealt with that and here he was, on his wedding night.

His wedding night. What a ridiculous notion.

There were moments in his life that he had envisioned, imagined, orchestrated and even practiced,
to make sure he could live them to their fullest. This was one scene that had died very soon after
it was born. Before he had even left Hogwarts. This one along wit the sham he had helped
perpetuate earlier. Were not even remote fantasies.

But here he was, in bed.

In bed?

When had they gotten there?

It was getting away from him again.

He was draped all over Harry, a leg wedged between two finely toned ones. Back to those
drugging kisses that made him tingle down to his toes. Their hips were slowly rocking back and
forth. He pressed closer, wanting to feel the other body next to his sensitized skin, wanting the
friction to send those delicious tendrils of pleasure shooting through him.

Somehow their pants had been removed. How, he didn't know, maybe wishful magic, maybe they
had done it and he simply did not remember.

He moved his hands away from the muscled he was massaging and the leg he was clutching
desperately.

Bracing his hands on either side of Harry's head, he removed his lips, braving another look into
those eyes. "We should make a decision before..." he gasped, their hips had not stopped moving
and they were sending little spark of shooting through him, "...before we get to the point where
we can't anymore."

Panting. "Decisions?"

He nodded, "Decisions."

"Professor the-"

He shivered. "Don't call me that," he snapped. Then calmer. "I think considering all of the
circumstances you can call me Severus. All in all, it would make me feel like less of a dirty old
man."

Harry looked poleaxe. "Not old and you know, that never occurred to me."

"Now that I think about it, I'm rather surprised it hasn't come up before."

"I think I've been pretty distracted."

"Hmm. Yes. Speaking of distractions..." He paused and reached into his side table to take out a
small bottle, "Here." He said, as he handed it to Harry.

"What's this?"

"Do I really have to spell it out for you?" He gave Harry a significant look.

"Oh!" Harry's eyes went wide. "You mean, you're... that is I..."

"What seems to be the problem?"

"I just didn't expect you to... to..."

"To what Mr. Potter?"

"You know. I could do without the extra kinkiness that's added by your using my surname while
we're half naked in bed."

The decision to hand Harry the bottle had actually been made as soon as he realized exactly how
little control he had. It disgusted him that part of his decision was based on the fact that the yong
man he had been molesting regularly was incredibly inexperienced and no one deserved to be at
the mercy of a man that out of control, let alone a virgin.

There wasn't enough water in the world that would make him clean again.

"Stop that." Harry's voice cut into his thoughts.

"Stop what?" He asked.

"Looking at me like you're about to defiling a holy relic."

"Some people might interpret it that way."

Shove. "Besides, if I caught your meaning I'm the one about to do the defiling."

Someone had certainly regained his equilibrium fast.

Annoying twit.

"Yes, speaking of the - please get on with it." He laid back there was no movement. "Well?" he
prompted.

Harry's slightly grumpy voice said, "You completely ruined the mood."

He what? "How on earth did I do that?"

"I don't know," Harry answered, "but you did."

"We've been... in the mood," he sneered," for nearly a week and NOW the urge too jump me and
melt every single bone in my body suddenly vanishes?"

"I make your bones melt?"

He briefly closed his eyes and cursed his loose tongue. "You thought you were the only one
affected?" That up until now I had been humoring you. Yes, of course you've figured it out
POTTER, this was all a plot to give you the worst case of blue balls in the history of the
Wizarding world."

"You know, you made you point near the end of your second sentence."

Petulant. "I like being verbose."

"Uh huh."

He had to shut him up. Severus sat up and took a long caress, starting from Harry's cheek and
ending at the tip of his cot boxer clad erection..

As his heart sped up, he noted that he had not been unaffected by the move. But judging by the
renewed harsh panting coming from his partner, it had not been to the same degree. "How's the
mood now?"

"Better?" Harry's unsure voice said.

"Not ruined then, just a but tarnished." He laid back down, "Do you need instructions?"

"No, Hermione told me the basics," there was some embarrassment in Harry's voice, "and then
Ron gave me some practical advice."

He took back every bad thing he'd ever said about Weasleust ust for getting him out of that little
scenario.

There was a brief silence before Harry asked, "Do you want me to... erm... take off your..." the
voice trailed off.

Take of his? Oh. His boxers.

Right. Nakedness was going to come into this somewhere. Silently he slid them off and motioned
for Harry to continue.

"Oh."

A tentative hand slid up his thigh, lightly massaging the muscle. It explored the area thoroughly
before tentatively laying touching... him.

A spark shot through him and his hips bucked. "I'm not as young as I used to be," he ground out,
"try to not waste this opportunity."

The hand disappeared only to reappear a moment later, covered in a thick slippery substance.

Good stuff. He was after all, one of the better Potions Masters in Britain.

The hand found what it was seeking and he felt a tentative invasion. Instinctively he widened his
legs. Something inside was gearing up, a strange anticipation, that had little to do with incipient
orgasm, was building in his body. It was as if he was coming into focus for the first time in a long
time.

There were two fingers now, gliding in and out and oh god did that feel good.

He heard two sets of harsh breathing and suspected that Harry was very close to his limits for self
control.

"Stop." When had his voice gotten so rough? He sat up and looked Harry into eyes. "Just... get
on with it."

Taking deep breaths, Harry answered him, "Be careful, you're on the verge of killing the mood
again."

Severus answered by wrapping his hand around Harry, rubbing the lotion into the smooth flesh.
As much as he tried to ignore the soft gasping sounds Harry was making, he found his body
couldn't and he hurriedly finished smoothing the lotion over Harry.

This time when he leaned back he drew Harry with him, "I trust you don't need a diagram."

"I think I can figure it out."

There was pressure. Then stretching, aching. Then slick sliding until- oh! He gasped and the
movement stopped.

"Are you ok?"

He opened his eyes, when had he closed them? A harsh whisper came from his mouth. "Keep
going. That was a good sound."

"Oh."

The movement continued until, some undeterminable time later, he could feel Harry flush against
him.

Harry's roughened voice came to him, "This is... this is... there are no words."

He understood. It went beyond the physical, which, in and of itself, was once again, making his
knees weak. There was something inside him, them, that was finally happy. He looked into green
eyes and something snapped.

Harry began to move.

Oh god.

Push and pull.

Sliding.

Sharp white-hot spikes started at the base of his spine and finished in bright colorful swirls behind
his eye lids.

So good. Glide. So very good.

A rush of power went through him. Them.

Hips started to work faster. His mind was awash in sensation.

More. Need more. We need more.

Good. Goodgoodgood.

Don't stop. Can't stop. Won't stop.

A sharp smacking sound.

Keep going.

Intoxicating pleasure. Building. Growing. Seeping into both of them.

Oh god. More. Moremoremoremore.

Need more.

The soft slide of sweat soaked skin and against sweat soaked skin was just another detail that
invaded their ravaged minds.

There was a crescendo escalating. A plateau they were trying to reach, desperate to reach.

Gasp. Pant. Pleading with each other.

Need more.

Tension mounting. Higher.

Behind their eyes, they could see a glimmer. A shining, twinkling, golden fire. They reached for it.

Closer... Closer...

Higher... Higher...

More....

Need...

Aching...

Wanting...

Stretching...

They touched the light-

-sharp pangs of pleasure arched through them.

Sweet, tingling waves kept them gasping, clinging tightly to each other. The shuddering was
beginning to subside when-

-something crashed through both of them. A string pulled taut and they were one. For one
moment they knew each others mind. Thoughts, feelings, emotions, sensations were all doubled,
then tripled. Fear, doubt, enjoyment, pain, and underneath it all, happiness and maybe... maybe
they felt love. Pleasure went crashing through them once again. Until finally, darkness.
rt 3rt 39

The first thing Severus became aware of was that he was in the same position as when he last fell
asleep. Flat on his back with a large lump of Harry settled on his chest.

He recalled flashes from the day *and* night before. Pieces of sensation really, skin against sheet,
skin against skin, lips against lips.

How many times? Two? No. Three. Three times. No wonder he hadn't moved.

He opened his eyes and immediately the rest of his body checked in. He felt hung over and strung
out. His arms, legs and head were so heavy, he thought it might take a gargantuan effort to lift
them.

He knew there were some potions in his night stand that might help, but first he actually had to
get to them. Taking a deep breath, he moved his right arm and-

Pain.

Coursing up through his arm to his shoulder blade and down his back. It wrenched an agony filled
moan from him. Harry moaned in sympathy from his chest. He looked down to see if he was
awake and was rewarded with another white hot flare.

"God, I think I pulled something." He murmured to himself. Then louder, "Harry."

The boy mumbled, but did not move. Damn it. He hated asking for help. Let alone desperately
calling for it. "Harry." He said more sharply.

"Whaa?" Came the mumbled answer.

"Can you move?"

Harry tried to lift his head to respond, but froze mid-movement and collapsed back down. He felt
the sympathy pain skitter across his neck and down his back.

"Whatever it is, it seems to be catching." He made a decision. "I have something that might help,
but I'm going to need to move to get it. Brace yourself."

He waited for Harry's slight nod before proceeding. He slowly rolled to his right and gingerly
reached out and opened the drawer. Face tight with pain, he realized that he wouldn't be able to
lift himself up enough to actually look in inside. So he simple stuck his hand in enough times to
remove all the bottles.

There, those were the one's he needed. Carefully taking two of them he maneuvered himself back
into his original position. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths, attempting to calm the small
convulsions his muscles were having.

Harry let all gll groan, "I hope you got it right on that try, because I'm not really sure if your up
to that again." Not that Harry looked any better than he felt.

"Here, take this." He placed the bottle in Harry's hand.

Slowly he was able to remove the cork and bring the bottle to his lips. Two slightly painful gulps
later he felt the first signs of the muscle relaxant.

Harry took a bit longer but eventually managed it. "Oh... That's much better." Harry laid back
and enjoyed the feeling for a few moments, "What was in that anyway?"

"Slight muscle relaxant, pain reliever, anti-inflammatory."

"Useful stuff that is."

He recalled a number of previous times he had used that particular concoction. Spying had been a
treacherous game. "Yes. It is." The silence this time seemed deafening. "How are you feeling?"
He asked in an effort to make it less so.

"Buggered out."

"Are you even aware of the irony of that statement?"

"Somewhat."

"Good. Its nice to know that I'm not married to a complete dunderhead."

"That almost sounded like a compliment. Keep trying and one of these days you'll get it right."
Harry paused. "Oh god. Had almost forgotten about that."

"About what?"

"We got married."

"Yes, there were even witnesses."

"Ok, so you've confirmed that it wasn't a hallucination, now what?"

"Now I take a shower and then you take a shower and then we... talk."
_____

The shower had been very refreshing, easing out some of the aches that the potion had not been
able to take care of. Mostly those muscles he had used before the potion.

Harry appeared with tousled hair and a pair of sleep pants.

Severus eyed him warily. Too much smooth skin over defined muscle.

Harry shrugged "You said comfortable."

He watched the muscle play over the quick movement, before responding. "Those aren't mine."

"It seems the headmaster has taken liberties with your wards again."

His shoulders tightened in irritation and then his eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know
about that."

"I.." Harry frowned. "I... don't know."

"Another result of last night, I would surmise." Severus pursed his lips.

"Oh." Harry thought about it for a moment, "What's the password for the Marauder's Map."

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." He blinked. "Good lord that's atrocious. Let me guess.
Black came up with that."

Harry apparently decided not to answer him, instead saying, "Well, it goes both ways, whatever it
is."

"Oh good, that just makes this situation, that much more horrifying."

"Stop acting like you're the only one this is affecting."

He closed his eyes briefly, "Just come here."

Harry moved to stand to him, "What are we doing?"

"Stretches. Here," he placed his hands on Harry's arms and maneuvered them into his normal
starting position. "I usually do this every morning. All things considered, you should know what
to do now." He moved to stand beside Harry, waited and beat and began.

Harry reached in the air, wincing at a few aches, "When did you start doing this?"

"Lucius." Was all he was willing to say. "He had an infatuation with the East for a time. I found a
few of the routines... relaxing, as well as good for recovering from... strenuous activities."

Harry seemed satisfied, thankfully he didn't press the issue like normal. He seemed to have no
problem with the basic stretching, but as they slipped in the routine, Harry's normal grace failed
him. "It seems while you may know information, your form leaves something to be desired."

He moved behind Harry and gently lifted his arms, "Slow." They swayed together, bodies moving
in tandem. Their arms arched up, then left, then slowly arced in from of them, as if sweeping the
air out of the way. "Smooth, no jerking motions." The routine began again, adding waist
movements. He bent forward and took Harry with him, they swung in the air, bodies almost
touching. Again the routine began, this time adding legs, it was like a strange dance, they moved
around the room, agonizingly slow. Then again, faster. And once more, faster still, sharper,
quicker. They whipped about. Never breaking, moving, flowing, stretching and then-

they were done.

They stood there panting, unmoving, until Harry pressed back, Severus gave a startled moan and
firm flesh met hard.

His rough voice spoke, "Well, I guess that answers the question about whether this thing has been
sated or not."

"Where you always this observant, or did it develop over time."

Severus just wrapped his arms around the body in front of him and pulled it closer, "Shut up." He
dragged him to the couch.

Once seated he dove under the thin pants that had been taunting him the whole morning, riding
low in slim hips.

Harry's hand scrabbled for his own pants, sharp spikes of pleasure were already traveling all over
his body. There was no finesse in this. Quick pulls, leaving them both breathless. It didn't take
long. Around the fifth or the sixth, muscles spasmed and on the seventh, pleasure welled up in
both of them and exploded through their nerves.

Severus melted into the couch, feeling much more relaxed. Harry collapsed on top of him.

"I wasn't really expecting that."

He was actually getting used to discerning what the muffled voice near his chest was saying. He
made a note to be upset about it later. When he regained feeling in his legs.
______

Draco walked into the great hall and headed directly for his place. The Slytherin table was emptier
than normal. The casualties of war. Some had joined their parents, others had fought back twice
as hard, resentful of the manipulation of most of their childhood.

His side was almost empty, just a few stragglers. He moved away from them and sat down to
begin his meal.

He was mostly through, when bits and pieces of conversation began to hit his ears.

"...didn't show up..."

"...don't think he's studying..."

At first he was worried that they were talking about him, he didn't like rumors that he didn't first
start. They were uncontrollable that way.

"Can't believe Dumbledore..."

"...but a teacher??..."

But it soon became apparent that it was not him. It seemed that yesterdays rumor mill had not
quite finished chewing up and spitting out Professor Snape's reputation.

He surreptitiously looked around the room, trying to see if Hermione and Ron had noticed as
well. His eyes centered on them, they didn't look happy. Then they had heard the whispers also.
In fact, they were probably being outright questioned if the Gryffindor's held true to nature.

He didn't care what anyone said. Forthrightness was a pain in the ass.

Ron's eyes were scanning the room too. They met Draco's and locked, he gave a pleading look
that Draco was hard pressed to decipher.

Until those eyes somehow managed to look at him and then their owner and back.

Of course.

The rumors. At this point they'd only stop if they had something juicier to latch on to.

Why not.

His reputation was shot anyway.

Professor Snape was really his only family left. He had been trusted with a secret. A very
damaging secret, he should at the very least help keep it.

He finished a few more bites from his plate before pushing it away, suddenly not hungry. He stood
up and crossed the room to the Gryffindor table. Not many had noticed his trek, but those who
had, turned wide eyes on him.

He reached Ron's seat and placed a hand on the red head's shoulder. The table had turned
decidedly hostile, except for Hermione of course. She gave a him a quick, heartwarming smile.

"Ron?"

Ron made a show of looking startled that he was there and then presenting him with a friendly
smile. "Yes Draco?"

He could have heard a pin drop.

"You left your sweater in my room."

"I know, I figured since I was coming over again tonight, I'd just pick it up then."

He gave a sharp nod. "Good."

He didn't turn away. It still needed something, something that would make it positively the
juiciest thing they had the pleasure of hearing or seeing.

He gave the shoulder a tight squeeze and then let his hand wander up through red hair, caressing
it slightly and then let it linger as he pulled away. "See you then." He said, before turning and
leaving the room.

As the doors shut behind him, the roar of questioning voices was almost deafening.

Part 40

There was a pleasant tingling feeling all through his body, better than the pain from earlier. He
looked down, Harry looked similarly relaxed. They had shifted so that Harry wasn't half draped
all over him. Instead the young man was draped between his legs. Big difference.

He poked Harry in the shoulder. "That's enough after-glow. Do you think its possible to have a
conversation that does not end in an orgasm?"

Harry swallowed and turned glassy eyes on him, "Not if your voice stays like that."

He chose to ignore the comment. "First a little... experiment."

"Hrmm?"

"The... mess." He pointed at their laps. He closed his eyes and concentrated.

Harry interrupted his concentration, "How did you..." a surprised voiced asked.

He opened his eyes again. "That's what I thought. Wandless magic."

Harry's eyes widened. "Oh god. You're right. But I thought we needed to... I don't know.
Touch?"

He gestured at their current positions. "I thought we were."

"Oh."

"But you do have a point, last time we had to... we held hands."

"But last time was... a bigger... spell."

He nodded. "Get up. I want to try something." They got up. "Stand over there. I want no
opportunities for touching." He pointed to his desk. "I'm going to try and lift that book

He closed his eyes and gathered his concentration, opened them again and, "*Wingardium
Leviosa*"

The book wobbled and shuddered and slowly began to rise. It was like being a first year again.
But it was working and that was a miracle. He slowly let the book down. "You try."

Harry repeated what he had done and achieved similar results.

They both fell silent. Letting their actions speak for themselves. It became thick, with the
consequences of what they had just learned. Finally he said, "I have the feeling I'm going to have
another long conversation with the headmaster."

Harry looked at him. "Does this mean that eventually we'll be able to do any spell without a
wand?"

It was a possibility, but there were too many variables to say for certain. "Maybe. But in any
event, its going to take a lot of practice."

Harry grimaced. "Oh good, homework."

"Its nice to know you have priorities."

A sloppy grin appeared. "Well now that the scourge of the wizarding world is nice and dead, I can
concentrate on more mundane things."

"Just... Shut up."
______

Harry arrived for lunch with a lot of time to spare. After a morning of experimenting with magic,
he was ravenous. As he approached the doors to the Great Hall apprehension welled up in him, he
didn't want to deal with prying eyes and whispered accusations.

Standing outside the doors, he took a deep breath and went in. He was braced for it, ready for the
stares, the questions, th-

Wait a minute.

No one noticed he came in.

Not that he wasn't grateful, but...

He warily sat down at the table and leaned over to Ginny. "What's going on?"

"Gossip, as usual." She answered with an amused smile on her face.

Here it comes. "What is it this time?"

"Ron and Draco."

Blink. "What?"

"They made quite a scene this morning."

"Scene?"

She giggled. "Well, it was a scene for Malfoy, anyway."

"What happened."

She told him.

"You're not upset?"

"Hermione's not upset. That's good enough for me."

He always liked Ginny. She was a sensible one.

He noticed that the room had suddenly gotten quiet. Looking up he saw that everyone's eyes
were following Draco as he headed away from the Slytherin table. As one, the entire room looked
at Ron, who seemed to be obliviously chewing on a chicken leg, they turned back to Draco who
walked right past him and out the doors.

The room let out a collective sigh. No new news.

They turned to Ron and watched him eat his chicken with interest that bordered insane. Harry
chose follow Ron's example and eat.

He heard a small squeak come from the far corner of the room, he didn't have to look up to know
that it was Severus entering through the back door. He played with the ring on his finger and idly
noted that the itching was almost absent.

But considering how'd they'd spent the day... and the night... and the morning...

He shook his head, smiling a little.

"Hey Harry," Ron said, "why're you smiling."

Dean spoke up, "He obviously hasn't heard the latest gossip."

"Oh?" He asked, wondering what they were going to say.

"Oh hush Dean" Ginny interrupted. "Get over it."

Ron smiled again, "Speaking of gossip, I have to run." He got up and left.

Seamus elbowed Dean and whispered something in his ear. They got up also.

Hermione stared after them with a worried look on her face.

"Hermione?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, I think I'll go after Ron, I'll talk to you later Harry." And she was gone as well.
______

Draco was walking through the hallway when Ron came up behind him.

Ron gave him a beaming smile. "Thank you for that."

"For what?"

"This morning. At breakfast, what you did."

He studied Ron carefully and reached out grabbed a forearm, squeezed and then slid down until
his hand held another. "It wasn't a pity fuck."

Ron blinked. Then smiled again. "Right."

He was about to say more, but the breath was knocked out of him as he was tackled and shoved
against the wall. He was going to praise Ron for his inventiveness when he noticed it wasn't Ron.

Ron was sprawled on the floor being held there by Dean. Seamus had him by the collar.

Oh goody. A confrontation.

Dean. "I don't know what's going on-"

Seamus. "But we want an explanation-"

Both. "Now."

He snarled. "None of your business-"

Seamus shook him. "Not you."

"Seamus, put him down." Ron's angry voice came at them.

"Not until-"

"*PETRIFICUS!*" Hermione came from no where, like a blazing hero, eyes bright with anger.
"How *dare* you!" She stalked up behind a scared looking Seamus, "Put him down."

"But Hermione-"

Her knee came up in a sharp movement and his captor howled. "Put. Him. Down."

She hadn't needed to clarify... Seamus had already been sliding to the floor. But it added to the
affect.

She continued. "NEVER touch my boyfriends again."

God she was beautiful.

Seamus, simply because he was the one who could still move, opened his mouth in shock, though
that could have just been the pain.

"What in the HELL did you think you were doing? Assaulting him? I think he's proven that he
can be trusted." She somehow managed to convey the affect that she was stalking them while
standing still.

"We..." Seamus wheezed, "we were worried."

Hands on her hips. "And you couldn't ASK Ron? Didn't Harry just go through this?"

"...didn't think..."

"No apparently you didn't. Let me clarify, Draco saved Harry's life. That's more than enough for
me. What's your excuse?"

So beautiful.

"Draco, Ron? Come on. Seamus, I trust you can release Dean when you recover?"

He brushed invisible lint off his shoulders. "After you."

"Being a gentleman?"

"No," He gave her a sly smile, "I don't want to turn my back to you."
______

Severus was at his desk when the knock came.

Harry looked up from his work, slightly panicked.

"Take your things into the bedroom, I shall see who it is."

Harry nodded and quickly gathered his books and went.

He opened the door. And stared. "Black."

"Snape." Black shook his head. "Severus. Can I come in?"

"That depends. Are you going to assault me?"

"No."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Here," Black handed him his wand. "Take it. I promise, no fighting, no yelling. I just want to
talk. To both of you."

He eyed the stick in his hand for a moment before moving aside and allowing the mangy mongrel
in. Closing the door, he said, "Harry, you can come out."

Harry appeared, smiling, "I was worried, who was it?" his smiled faltered has his eyes found
Black. "Sirius."

"Harry."

"Look, if you're here to argue or yell or.. Whatever... I don't want to hear it."

"I'm not. Can we sit down?" They sat. "I want to... apologize."

He what? They blinked at him.

"I just."Black began, "I reacted badly. I got here, and you were hurt and part of this strange
relationship and it looked like things were spiraling out of control and that he was in the middle.
At least to me."

"He wasn't" Harry snapped.

"I know." Black agreed, "I just wanted someone to blame. For hurting you, for taking you away
from me."

A touching scene that he didn't want to witness. So he interrupted. "As touching as this is, why
the sudden turn around Black."

He laughed and shook his head a bit. "I recently had my prejudices shoved back in my face. You
learn a few things when that happens."

He snorted.

"I know. Understatement. I just wanted to say that, I've had the chance to look at the fact now.
And I'm not mad. I'm not going to try to hurt Sna- Severus. No more yelling."

"Thank you." Harry said quietly.

"I was there, by the way." Black added.

Harry looked confused. "You were there?"

"In the corner. Albus had me bound and gagged, but I was there."

Severus couldn't resist a small snort. "That is certainly Albus' style."

Harry gave a small smile. "I'm glad you were there."

Black added. "Me too."

And he thought his life was bizarre before.
______

They were once again safely ensconced on the Sofa in Draco's room. Draco between Ron and
Hermione.

"Well that was an interesting day." Draco began to tick off points with his fingers, "Ron comes
out of the closet. Hermione finally reveals her sado-masochistic tendencies..."

Hermione slapped the hand. "Oh hush you. You know you liked it."

"Watching you knee Seamus in the groin? Yes. It was immensely pleasurable."

Ron smirked. "I'll admit that I had fun watching it too."

Draco turned to the red head. "But you, what was that about at breakfast?"

He shrugged. "Well, ‘Mione and I talked about it, we knew the rumors were going to be out of
hand, so we came up with a plan. Distract them with something."

"How'd you pick you?"

Hermione asnwered. "We figured there would be a lot of people trying to forcefully defend my
honor."

He raised an eyebrow. "So what didn't work?"

There was a dark look on Ron's face. "Seamus and Dean are morons?"

"Actually," Hermione put in, "I think that if it had been me, there would have been more of a
mob."

Draco looked at her for a moment and then turned to Ron, "She's probably right."

"She usually is."

"Draco, please shut him up."

"Why me?"

"You're closer."

Ron was about to say something, but all he got out was a few muffled sounds, Draco had
effectivly captured his lips.

Hermione smiled. "Thank you."

When Ron had recovered from being shut up, he asked, "So why did YOU do it?"

Draco looked at both of them and let a sly smile appear on his lips. "I like to fuck with people's
heads."

He was hit soundly, from both sides, with pillows.
______

Severus was having a hard time understanding the situation, the three of them were... having a
conversation. He *almost* had the urge to use the dog's first name.

It had to be the spell.

"So," Black continued, "Slapped me."

"But I thought you said you didn't say anything." Harry asked.

"That's what I said, but Lilly just looked at me and said, ‘I know what you're thinking.'"

Harry's head rolled back as he let out a long laugh. They were sitting next to each other,
touching. Black had barely flinched when it had started to happen. But had said nothing. Another
reason to think that he was in an alternate universe.

Before anything more was said, there was a sharp knock at the door. Without asking Harry got up
and left the room.

He opened the door and there stood Lupin.

"Hello Severus, Albus said I should just come right here."

He really needed to have a talk with Albus.

A nice long talk.