The Gulag

Chapter 7 The Gulag

Draco looked up from the bottom of the gallows at the thirteen steps that led to his death. Severus had moved in front of his godson, willing to go first, but was pushed back to the last of the group. He didn’t need to be told that this was Dumbledore’s doing and that he was being punished for some imaginary crime.

Draco was given a slight shove from behind, “I’m going. What’s the difference will ten seconds make?”

Draco growled when he turned and glared at one of Dumbledore’s Elite guards. He straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin in defiance as he ascended the gallows.

“I knew you back at Hogwarts, didn’t I?” Draco asked as he took a step.

“Just keep walking,” was the guard’s reply.

“I was in fifth year when you started. Everyone was surprised that you were sorted into Ravenclaw since you came from a long line of Slytherins,” Draco said. “Micah, isn’t it?”

“Keep your fucking mouth shut, Malfoy,” the guard looked around to be sure no one heard what Draco was saying. A fine bead of sweat formed on Micah’s lip.

“Scared someone’s going to hear me?” Draco taunted. “Afraid you’re going to join me on the chopping block?”

“I said shut the fuck up!” Micah shoved Draco, pushing him over the edge of the stairs to the hard ground below.

“Draco!” Severus screamed as he pushed past his guards to rush to his godson’s side.

“Is anything broken?” Severus asked as he gently ran his hand over the young man’s arm, feeling for any breaks.

Draco snickered, “Don’t worry Sev, once I loose my head I won’t feel a thing.”

That was too much for the Potions Master. He pulled Draco to him and started to sob quietly while he rocked Draco back and forth. Slowly, over the years, everything he had possessed was taken away from him. Now he had nothing left but those that he cherished, and they were being taken away too.

“Enough!” one of the guards prodded Severus with a stinging hex. “We don’t have all day to waste watching Slytherins die, so hurry up.”

It was then that the sky turned to fire. Flames of red and gold swirled and danced, blocking out the sun. It slowly formed into the shape of a bird, a phoenix, with its powerful wings spread wide as if ready to attack.

The crowd that had congregated to watch the executions started to run, seeking shelter from the heat the immense bird was producing. The guards found their hands and faces were blistering, the pain driving them from their duties. The twelve prisoners looked back and forth, dumbfounded, not sure what to do. They didn’t feel the sweltering heat or blistering rays from the majestic bird.

A black, shrouded figure floated down the streets of Diagon Alley, effectively scaring the remaining stragglers.

“Harry,” Severus whispered as he watched as the ominous figure touch the ground.

Dark Lord Harry Potter lowered the hood of his cloak and walked slowly up to Severus Snape. It was then that Severus realized how much the boy had grown--he had to lift his chin so he could keep eye contact with the boy wonder.

Severus wasn’t even aware of his fellow prisoners disappearing one by one until only the two of them stood alone in the middle of the street. Harry touched Severus’s face, his thumbs stroking the high cheekbones of his ex-Professor. Smiling, Harry leaned into Severus and brushed his lips over Severus’s dry ones.

A strong arm slid around Severus’s narrow waist as the two of them disappeared from view with a loud pop.


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Remus had heard the distinct sound of someone apparating into the garden. He looked out of the kitchen window to see Severus’s arms circling Harry’s neck, drawing the powerful wizard to him. The two men were lost to the world in a deep kiss.

Tonks joined her husband, holding his arm as she leaned into his strong body. She smiled when she saw the two men in the garden kissing.

“Do you think they’ll finally get together?” she asked as she leaned up to kiss Remus’s cheek.

“I doubt it. The two have a lot more of bickering and fighting to do before they see eye to eye,” he stroked Tonks’s hand.

“I don’t understand them. It’s obvious how much they care for one another, so why can’t they get along?”

“Think of it as two alpha wolves striving to be the leader of the pack. One has to back down before either one of them will ever be happy,” Remus explained, slipping his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to his side.

“Are they giving you any ideas?” Remus kissed the top of her head as his hand traveled down to cupped her bum.

“Let me think. All of the children are asleep. Ron and Hermione have gone to their room. Harry has arrived safe and sound and I’m wide awake,” she took her husband’s hand into hers and walked backwards, pulling Remus along and smiling coyly at him.

With a wolfish grin, he swept her up into his arms and rushed up the stairs to their bedroom.

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Severus pulled away from the kiss but remained in Harry’s arms. The older wizard’s face was flushed with desire. Harry smiled as he studied Severus face.

“You made the biggest mistake of your life when you let me go,” Harry stated.

“It was for the best,” Severus replied.

“Was it? You’re back where you were supposed to be…in my arms,” Harry leaned in and kissed the long, porcelain skin of Severus’s neck.

The Potions Master moaned as he cocked his head to the side, giving the younger wizard permission to continue, “You were to find someone worthy of your love, someone even-tempered, someone pleasant to be around, not your obnoxious ex-Professor.”

“But you were the one I wanted, still do,” Harry continued to nibble on Severus’s delectable neck.

“Stubborn boy,” Severus mumbled.

Harry took Severus’s hand and placed it on the front of his trousers, “Does this feel like something a school boy would have?”

Severus’s eyes widened as he felt the very well endowed cock that lay beneath the fabric of his slacks.

Severus pulled his hand quickly back, not ready yet to further their union, and reluctantly stepped away from Harry, “So you are the new Dark Lord…Should I get on my knees and kiss your feet?”

Harry rolled his eyes, “Why must you turn a lovely moment into an argument?”

“We’re not arguing,” Severus replied.

“You know perfectly well that in a few moments we will be,” Harry stated, already getting a little riled.

“If we do get into a dispute, it will because you are too pigheaded to listen to someone who is older and wiser,” Severus growled.

“And you think of me as a child, incapable of making a rational adult decision. You, Draco and the other Slytherins would all be dead if it weren’t for me,” Harry pointed out, his voice rising slightly.

“My Slytherins,” Severus had forgotten about his Slytherins. The guilt ate away at his stomach.

“I left my Slytherins in the Gulag to face the wrath of Dumbledore. You must take me back. I can’t leave them there to face Dumbledore’s punishment alone,” Severus was becoming panic stricken.

“Severus,” Harry led the man he loved to a bench, “everything is fine.”

He tilted Severus’s chin up so their eyes could meet, “There is no Gulag anymore. I released those who had somewhere to go and put wards up to protect those who didn’t. Everyone is safe.”

“The children?” Severus asked, still slightly panicked.

“Your children are all bathed, fed, and sleeping peacefully upstairs…where we should be,” Harry informed him.

Severus’s eyebrows shot up.

“With as many people as we have here, there are no extra rooms available. You’ll be sharing a room with me,” Harry beamed.

“I think not,” Severus protested. “A couch should do nicely.”

“If you fall asleep on the couch, you will be inundated by a horde of children when they wake in the morning. You need your sleep. Come to bed with me and I give you a wizard’s oath that I will behave and not molest you,” he teased.

Severus wanted to argue, but the need of some comfort, of a warm body to wake up next to was too alluring for him. He was bone weary. He would take this evening to relax in someone’s arms. Tomorrow, he would worry about Dumbledore and his administration, his Slytherins, and most of all he would think about his feelings for Harry Potter.

“Perhaps a bath is called for before I join you in bed,” Severus tried to think back when was the last time he had a bath with hot water, instead of sponging himself clean in the nearby steam at Malfoy Manor, and he couldn’t remember.

“Come along, and I’ll show you the way. I think you will be impressed with my bathroom--I designed it myself. Always wanted a spectacular loo,” he grinned as he took the older wizards hand.

Harry’s bedroom and bathroom were off from the garden. The fourth wall that would close off the rooms was left open with only a charm from keeping the cold night air from invading the rooms. In the middle of the bathroom was situated a huge jacuzzi like bath tub with what looked like a waterfall continually pouring hot water into it.

“The water comes from an underground hot spring. You’ll find it soothing to the body. You may even doze off, but the tub is charmed not to let you drown,” Harry explained.

The room was rather sparse with clean lines, but the view of the garden was lovely. Harry waved the lights to go on in the garden and candles in the room.

“I’ll give you some privacy,” Harry smiled as he left Severus alone.

Severus slowly walked around the room, his fingers brushing across everything he came in contact with: the beautiful cold glass tile on the walls, the cozy warm bath towels, the soft robe that hung behind the door.

He quickly slipped off the rags he was wearing and tossed them unceremoniously to the floor. He jumped when his clothes went up in flames. Severus shook his head in wonderment--the room was charmed to destroy old clothes.

He held onto the railing as he took a step down into the tub. A soothing blue light started to glow as soon as his toes touched the water. He lowered himself into the heat of the tub and gave an audible sigh as he settled into the bath. At that moment, he doubted if anything could ever feel this good…even sex.

The smell of gardenias wafted throughout the room, and Severus started to drift to sleep. He was barely aware of the ripple of the water when Harry slipped into the tub next to him. Severus continued to doze as Harry took his time bathing the older wizard clean, all the while speaking softly to him.

“Don’t worry Sev, I have you,” Harry whispered into the Potions Master’s ear as he lifted him and carried the exhausted man to his bedchamber.

Severus slept as Harry dried him. He didn’t wake when the Gryffindor slipped a silk nightshirt over his body. Severus was snoring slightly when Harry climbed into the bed next to him and spooned the Slytherin’s thin body. The sleeping man smiled when he felt Harry’s arms encase him.

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*** WARNING***

Next chapter will be a short one. I had a request for Dumbledore and Percy together the evening that Slytherins escaped. If you don’t want to imagine Dumbledore and Percy together, please do not read. I’m hoping to make it rather kinky (I never have written kink and not sure if I can do it). I wanted everyone forewarned. I will give a warning again on the next chapter.