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A Most Trusted Soldier	By : Rettavex Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 58682 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-A Most Trusted Soldier
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9
- 10-10
- 11-11
- 12-12
- 13-13
- 14-14
- 15-15
- 16-16
- 17-17
- 18-18
- 19-19
- 20-20
- 21-21
- 22-22
- 23-23
- 24-24
- 25-25
- 26-26
- 27-Author's Note: update
- 28-Still getting reviews...
- 16
- 17
- 18
As promised, here is another chapter in apology for a long delay between posts. Thank you to all who reviewed Ch 16. I promise the smex will return, but give a little love to the plot :) Your reviews are really keeping me going towards the finish line with this fic.
Last, but never least, Slyth--what can I say? you drug me back from the brink of laptop suicide. Hugs!!

It had been just over three years, Severus mused as he stirred a large cauldron full of bubbling iridescent pink liquid, since he and Harry had first joined as a couple and the potion�s master found he had absolutely no regrets. The ensuing year since Severus had been given his bonding band had been a veritable flurry of activity. Not only had they gone through another round of breeding, albeit a less violent one, but also Severus had subsequently tendered his resignation at Hogwarts. For the first time in his life Severus was free to live as he chose, unequivocally and on his own terms, which he was proud to say included Harry in every facet of that life. It was yet another spontaneous change, precipitated by one of the gifts Harry had bestowed upon him the night he gave Severus the bonding band.
After they had completed a quick, but highly sensual round of lovemaking, Harry had kept Severus there on the floor, naked and sweaty, forcing the older wizard to complete the unveiling of the final two boxes. One of the boxes held a miniature model of a fully furnished nursery. Severus� stomach had flipped in anticipation when he saw the model nursery, but Harry had been quick to explain that it was a promise gift. With this gift Harry had promised that Severus would be the father of his children, removing any doubt about just how serious Harry was taking their relationship. The younger man had quietly pointed out that he was not yet ready for Severus to go off the contraceptive potion, explaining that he wanted them to spend a few more breeding cycles adjusting to Harry�s inheritance and also enjoying life with just them two of them a while longer.
The last gift had been the one that had truly blown Severus away. The normally hard to surprise wizard found himself on the verge of hyperventilating when he opened the final box to find a stack of parchment, the topmost being the updated deed to the farmhouse property, which had been altered to include Severus as co-owner. Harry had committed to Severus in so many ways already, but to have equal ownership rights to the home they shared filled Severus with so much love and pride that he had walked around barely speaking for the next three days, certain that if he opened his mouth for more than a syllable or two he�d embarrass himself beyond repair with saccharine words of thanks and adoration for his dom and that just would not do. Severus was a changed man�at least when it came to Harry, but by Merlin he could not allow himself to meander onto the path of the hopelessly besotted, living on nothing but chaste kisses and sickeningly sentimental poetry.
However, beneath the deed to the farmhouse property was another deed, but this one was Severus� name only. It was for commercial premises in Diagon Alley. For the first time since they began their relationship Harry was instigating a change for Severus that concerned his professional endeavors. This area was off limits in terms of their roles as dom and sub, but as lovers Harry explained that he had every right to encourage Severus to leave a job he did on autopilot, teaching children he barely tolerated. Harry knew that Severus would be happier as his own boss, and that the older wizard had been silently wishing for a chance to work hours of his own choosing, as opposed to being locked into a school day routine. And since Severus was no longer beholden the Hogwarts out of loyalty to Dumbledore or the protection the castle afforded him during his time as Death Eater mole, the potions professor tendered his resignation to a weepy Minerva and became Severus Snape, Potions Master and owner/proprietor of Hedwig�s Apothecary: specializing in rare, complex, and specialty potions & elixirs.
Severus had not felt bad about resigning from Hogwarts. In fact he found he felt relieved. He would miss Minerva and Poppy, but he could still see them as friends even though they were no longer colleagues. Besides, Hogwarts itself was changing. An entire new crop of teachers had been slowly filling gaps left by aging professors It was only a matter of time before only Minerva, Binns and the other castle ghosts remained of the �old� as it were. The news of Severus� departure was met with sadness but congratulations from all who mattered. In a fit of generosity Severus had agreed to take a contract with Hogwarts as their sole provider of medicinal-grade potions, which left Poppy greatly relieved as she had come to trust nothing on her student patients that had not come from one of Severus� cauldrons.
Which is where Severus was today, laboring over several cauldrons, two of which held the first of many pre-ordered batches of Pepper-up and Fever-Reducing potions which he had promised Poppy would be available three weeks before the next term began. Extinguishing the fire beneath the two cauldrons and placing a few other select potions bubbling nearby in stasis, Severus removed his dragonhide apron, one of his gifts from Harry after their first breeding, and draped it over a nearby hook. He was due to meet Harry for lunch in less that ten minutes and had almost let time completely slip away from him. He donned his summer cloak and cringed at the fact that he almost wanted to run up the stairs in an effort to get to Harry all the more quickly.
Severus felt young again, like a teenager discovering love for the first time. His mind was clear, his heart light with only the weight of Harry�s love in it, and he found himself falling deeper in love with each passing moment. He could hardly find the energy to even be embarrassed about the way he now blushed when Harry insisted upon watching him walk around nude; he cared little that Harry insisted upon undressing him at night as though he were some fragile, helpless child; nor did it bother Severus how since the end of the last breeding cycle he had become even more desperate for Harry�s undivided attention.
As he mounted the stairs that led from the cellar beneath the shop and into the Apothecary�s main floor Severus could hear his assistant moving about on the floor above. Severus knew he did not have the patience or disposition to deal with the public and was thankful that Webster �Web� Grunnings had applied for the all-in-one position of store clerk and apprentice.
The young man, a few years out of Durmstrang, was quiet, polite, efficient, and adept at potion making�all qualities that the older wizard preferred in an employee. Plus young Webster had willingly taken a confidentiality oath not to reveal to any source the inner workings of Severus� lab, contents of his potion recipes, or any other proprietary information, including facts about Severus� private life that he may inadvertently witness. After two months as employee and boss the two were getting along extremely well. It was a veritable coup for Severus, as his prickly demeanor was not one many could handle. These days Webster didn�t even flinch on the rare occasion Severus was in a particularly foul mood, which usually indicated that some potion had gone awry or some idiot had requested he make an elixir even a first-year could mix with a spoon, match and a teacup.
�Web, I am taking lunch. I shall be gone about two hours,� Severus stated in a clipped voice, already thinking of the side of Harry he�d be having in addition to food. Perhaps the two of them would book one of the hourly rooms above The Leaky Cauldron, which had been heavily renovated since the war. It was no longer a tiny, dark little pub. Instead it was a cozy, yet dimly lit tavern with well-furnished and tastefully decorated rooms. The food had been elevated a few levels as well in Severus� estimation.
�Very well, sir. Shall I have the owl wait, then?� asked Webster, pushing his glasses further up his button nose before pointing towards the little tawny owl perched atop the cash register.
Severus tsked and stalked over to the owl. �Argyle, I have asked you not to nest atop the register,� he admonished.
The little owl merely stuck its beak up snootily and stuck out the leg bearing a small scroll. Severus cut his eyes at the little owl, knowing full well that if Argyle were a person he�d be smirking with rebellion. Severus untied the scroll and shooed the little bird away, earning a nip to the back of his hand for his trouble.
�Do not make me renege on my promise, Argyle. Hector can always be returned to Hogwarts, you feathered ingrate,� Severus snapped, as he unrolled the note.

Sev,
Sorry to miss our lunch date. Something came up. See you at home tonight.
--Love, Harry.
P.S. Can you bring some of that salve you used on my back a few months ago? Seems Argyle was mad at having to make a trip all the way to your shop and gave me a good scratching on my forearm for the trouble. Thanks!

Severus felt his heart sink a bit. He had been looking forward to having lunch with Harry. They met at least once a week for lunch dates and Severus had to admit he took pride in being seen in public with his lover. Harry Potter was no less a star today than he had been the day he rid their world of Voldemort. Being the recluse that he was had only enhanced his mystique and popularity among everyday wizards. Severus, while respected in his own right now that his role in the war had come to full light, was not ashamed to admit that it boosted his ego and his own sense of attractiveness when people would stare at them walking hand in hand, or eating from one another�s plates, or sharing a small kiss. These were mundane gestures often ignored when performed by average people, but everything Harry did sparked interest; the fact that he was �doing� Severus was infinitely interesting, no matter it had been common knowledge for several years at this point.
Severus crumpled the note and burned it into ash. Even now he and Harry were in the habit of destroying all correspondence they received outside their home, for there was always someone lurking about wanting to get a bit of inside information to sell to a newspaper or magazine for a few thousand galleons.
�Well, it seems I have had a change of plans, Web. Would you like to join me for lunch?� Severus asked.
Webster, obviously shocked at being asked to lunch by his no-nonsense boss merely gaped. Severus, feeling let down and impatient sucked his teeth and barked, �Well, either you do or you do not. These are not hard questions, Web!�
�Oh�yes, certainly, sir. I�d�I�d, yes,� the sandy-haired apprentice replied, quickly locking the register and summoning his cloak.
As the two exited the shop Severus charmed the pewter owl in a likeness of the late Hedwig to inform customers that the proprietor was out to lunch and would return in approximately two hours and �wouldn�t you just love to know when that two hours began.�

*********************

Since Harry could not make their lunch date Severus made a quick change in his plans, deciding instead to treat his apprentice to lunch in Hogsmeade. After the two men both popped onto the cobblestone street in front of the Three Broomsticks, Severus beckoned his young assistant to follow him as they made their way through the sleepy little wizarding village. The streets of Hogsmeade were relatively quiet this time of the year, when students were away and Hogwarts was closed. Severus had come hoping to catch a glimpse of a colleague or two, and to eat at one of the newer establishments that was run by his old student Blaise Zabini and his wife, a beautiful and impossibly tall witch from Senegal, West Africa whom the former Slytherin had actually met while attending university in the United States. Blaise and his wife, Seine, operated Bricolage, which served a Lobster bisque that Severus was currently craving.
Blaise had come a long way since his youthful days as a Death-Eater-in-training. Severus was proud that the young man had not only survived the war, but had taken a torch to his family�s long-held belief in pureblood superiority. The young man had even lived a short time in Muggle America and learned first had what prejudice felt like from the receiving end. In Muggle America he was seen as just a black man, no matter his mixed ancestry, and had to endure all the subtle and blatant indignities that went along with having dark skin. It had changed the Slytherin profoundly. Blaise had returned and informed Severus over a bottle brandy that he no longer wanted to persecute people for something they had no control over, be it skin color or blood purity.
The Slytherin had added in all seriousness, � Especially when there were an endless number of good reasons to dislike people, like idiocy. Which by my estimation should cover at least half the population of wizarding Britain, and that�s being conservative.�
Severus had agreed wholeheartedly, despite teetering on the edge of sobriety.

The potions master and his apprentice were carrying on a quiet conversation about a recent article on the ethical use of Veritaserum in juveniles, when as they turned a corner to take the street that led to the restaurant Severus stopped on a dime and retreated back around the corner of the building they had just rounded, pulling Webster back along with him.

�Be quiet,� Severus said in a whisper, as he peered back around the corner to watch the two men standing in the mouth of an alley chatting animatedly. It was Harry and Wood. Severus saw red. He could not believe the scene before his eyes. Harry was leaning back against a brick wall with his arms folded across his chest, while Wood stood in front of him talking and intermittently pressing one hand up to chest as though to make whatever he was saying more sincere. Severus could not help but notice that while Harry appeared relaxed, the younger wizard�s jaw was actually tense. Even from his current distance Severus could tell Harry was grinding his back teeth a bit, a sure sign that his lover was terribly unamused.

Severus motioned for Webster to proceed down the street towards Harry and Wood, informing the young man to enter the restaurant and he would join him shortly. Webster looked warily from Severus to where Harry stood and back again. Webster did not want to speak out of place or appear nosy, but he felt compelled to speak in hopes of calming his boss, whom he could see was highly agitated.

�Sir?� Webster said with a little tremble, �Perhaps�I mean, well they are just talking.� The young wizard had the good sense to look down at his hands, not daring to meet those black eyes that had suddenly gone dead cold.

�I can see that. Thank you for that astute observation, Web. Now, if you care to eat before we return to the shop I would advise you to proceed to the restaurant as directed,� Severus spat in a voice that made the young wizard tense with fear.

Webster nodded and quickly made his way to the restaurant wanting nothing more than to be out of the line of fire between the two lovers.

Severus watched as Webster strode quickly inside the restaurant before returning his attention to Harry and Wood, who still had not noticed they were being watched from afar. Crouching down into a squat while continuing to peer at the two men, Severus cast a Notice-Me-Not charm before creeping a half block closer. Resettling in the entryway of a second-hand bookseller, Severus watched as Wood reached out and rubbed a hand down the length of Harry�s arm before leaning forward and whispering into his ear. He watched as Harry shrugged off the caress and laughed with an expression that looked a lot like incredulity. Despite the questionable circumstances in which he found his lover, Severus could not help but admire that winning smile. Even when he was being insincere Harry had a gorgeous smile. It was warm and inviting, appearing genuine even when it wasn�t, as was the case with Wood. Severus had no idea what the two were discussing, but he had a good imagination and would bet a year supply of dragon�s blood that Wood was once again attempting to seduce Harry.

Harry pushed off the wall forcing Wood to stumble backwards a bit. It was then that Severus noticed just how unsteady the auburn haired wizard appeared. Wood was swaying slightly. After looking more closely Severus could see that the former Quidditch star�s face was flushed and his eyes were quite unfocused, leading the potions master to surmise that Wood was near drunk of not completely so.
Severus watched Harry slice his palm through the air in a gesture that implied something definitive before the dark haired wizard turned to walk away. Just as Severus was beginning to breathe a sigh of relief Wood reached out and pulled Harry back by the arm, his voice beginning to carry as he pleaded with Harry.
�Don�t walk away from me,� Severus heard Wood growl, his large hand wrapped tightly about Harry�s bicep.
Severus watched Harry try to wrench his arm out of Wood�s possessive grasp, all the while vigorously shaking his head in the negative to whatever Wood was saying. Then, out of nowhere, Wood pushed Harry back into the brick wall. What followed was a scene Severus would remember with agonizing clarity for years to come. As if in slow motion Severus watched as Wood descended upon Harry like a plague, covering the slightly shorter Harry with his large, muscular frame and capturing his lover�s lips in a fierce kiss before either Harry or Severus even had time to react. Severus was rooted to the spot as if under Petrificus Totalus, unable to move a single muscle or shout a single syllable of protest. The world froze, his breathing stopped, and his heart forgot to beat. Then, as if on cue, something inside him shattered.
In his state of shock Severus watched as Harry wiggled and struggled underneath the weight of Wood, trying to squeeze himself from between the brick all and the broad, muscled mass of the Quidditch Keeper. Finally realizing that Wood had him at a severe disadvantage in the weight category due to years of professional athletics, Harry settled for a tried and true method of clearing one�s personal space� he kneed the brash wizard in the groin. Wood dropped to the sidewalk like a stone, his hands automatically coming to cradle his nuts as he curled in upon himself like a babe in the womb.
�What the fuck, Wood?!� Harry bellowed, swiping the back of his hand across his abused mouth as if trying to rid himself of Wood�s kiss.
Before a groaning Wood could breathe well enough to respond a ghastly yellow light shot towards them, catching the former Gryffindor Keeper in the chest and wrenching a hollow scream from the man. Harry instinctively jumped back, throwing up a shield to protect both he and Wood from attack. What Harry did not expect was to see Severus stalking towards them in a cloud of billowing black, his face a mask of pure hatred. Harry�s eyes widened in shock as he watched his lover walk casually towards them. Harry quickly dropped his shield and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a single phrase Severus lifted his wand and Harry�s world went black.
The potion�s master followed up his stunning spell with a levitation spell, floating Harry off the main sidewalk and further into the alley. With Harry safely ensconced in the darkened alley, Severus turned his attention back to the writhing, screaming man at his feet. He stood above Wood, his black boots mere inches from the younger man�s face. For a fleeting moment Severus considered stomping Wood�s head into the pavement until it was nothing but mulch, but he felt a little tug in his heart and a sharp sting in his throat the more he considered that course of action. Blasted Right of Fides.
Backing off all ideas of manually putting an end to Wood�s young misbegotten life, the older man squatted down and yanked Wood�s head up by the hair bringing them nose-to-nose.
�Yes, Mr. Wood. As my lover so eloquently asked, �What the fuck� do you think you are doing?� Severus snarled in a mocking tone before letting Wood�s head fall unimpeded back to the ground.
The potions master dramatically flicked the ends of his cloak behind him to allow his long legs to squat more comfortably. The elegant gesture was in direct opposition to the callous nature in which Severus dug the tip of his wand into the jugular vein of a now trembling Wood, who was alternately panting in fear or moaning in pain.
Balancing effortlessly on the balls of his feet, Severus spoke quietly as though he were merely questioning some student about their homework. �Tell me Mr. Wood, what would you do if some arrogant, self-assured, egotistical little drunkard kept making a nuisance of himself by chasing after your lover? Hmm?
�Would you remind said person that it is not wise to continue to try to capture that which has already been caught? Or would you take the time to politely remind this person that it is not only in poor taste to attempt to insinuate themselves between two committed lovers, but it is also foolish to do so when one of the pair is a pardoned war criminal and former Death-Eater? Still, perhaps you are a true gentleman and would instead advise this� chaser� of another�s lover to seek his pleasures elsewhere?�
Wood sputtered and made a feeble attempt to withdraw from Severus� grasp. The angry ex-spy noticed with glee that Wood was careful not to shift his wand too much, wanting very much to keep his handsome head. Severus smiled evilly at the mixture of fear and hatred in Wood�s gray-blue eyes. He loved that look, because it meant that Wood was a fool, a defiant fool; one that Severus would have no remorse in grinding into nothing. The angry wizard could almost taste the panic steadily rising beneath Wood�s unconvincing attempt at indignation.
�Well, you see Wood, I am not like you,� Severus said in faux lament. �I on the other hand prefer a more� subtle� approach,� he continued, pushing his wand deeper into Wood�s throat. Severus smiled when he saw that the skin was already beginning to darken with a bruise.
�And here is my subtle warning. You kiss my lover again and I swear no one will ever find your filthy, maggot-ridden corpse. You see him, you disapparate. You hear about him attending a function, you make it your business to have an alternate engagement. I see you touch him and the entire wizarding world will wonder if Voldemort truly was the most evil wizard of the age,� Severus said in a sibilant whisper. �Stop chasing this dream, Mr. Wood. It will only lead you to a nightmare I assure you.�
Severus rose to a stand, lifting his wand as if to cast another spell at Wood when his wrist was grabbed and his wand yanked from his grasp.
�Professor, no!�
Severus turned casually, expecting to see a reawakened Harry. Instead he came face-to-face with Blaise, who was flanked on one side by a nervous looking Webster.
Blaise surveyed the quiet street, thankful for the first time since opening his business that they were located on a street that did not get an awful lot of foot traffic. It being summer they were blessed that many of the shops were actually closed for the season. �What the hell did you hit him with?� the Slytherin asked his former head of house, motioning to Wood who was now struggling into a stand.
�Nothing that can be traced without my wand I assure you,� Severus replied through clenched teeth.
�He�s drunk, Severus. For fuck�s sake you cannot go around hexing people in broad daylight,� Blaise yelled, as he watched Wood begin coughing up blood clots. �What is the hex so I can end it?�
Severus looked at Blaise as though he had lost his good sense. �Had he your lovely Seine pressed into the wall like some two-knut whore would you be so eager to ease his pain?� Severus asked his former student, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Blaise knew that flinty, empty look in Severus� eyes all too well. It meant bad things were on the horizon, very bad. Before Blaise could further calm his fellow Slytherin, Severus had wordlessly summoned his wand from Blaise�s fist and disappeared with a violent crack.

A gasp of surprise came from Webster who had just witnessed his boss perform seriously advanced magic.

�Yeah,� Blaise said without emotion. �This is bad.�

The wizard ran a hand through his shiny mane of caramel colored curls before turning around and stalking over to where Harry lay unconscious. He pulled out his wand and revived his one-time school rival, who woke looking confused but none the worse for wear.

�Potter, that the hell happened?� Blaise asked in frustration, watching as Harry stood and dusted himself off. �Why the hell is Severus hexing Oliver Wood in broad daylight in the middle of Hogsmeade?!�

Harry ran out of the mouth of the alley with Blaise on him like a shadow, to find Webster tending to Wood, who had finally stopped spewing blood. The green-eyed wizard gave his former housemate a glancing once over, looking for injuries.
�Severus hexed Wood?� Harry asked the air, his eyes unfocused on anyone in particular.
�Yes, but he never told me with what. He only just disapparated a few seconds before I revived you. Care to tell me what�s going on?� Blaise asked, then thought better of it, holding up a hand to stem any response Harry was about to give. �On second thought, I don�t know what this is all about, nor do I really care. But I�d advise you to use some of that power of yours to obliviate the surrounding shops before word of this little squabble hits the grapevine,� Blaise offered. �Then, go find your mate and�calm him. He can scarcely afford to be seen by the wrong sort in his current state. Understand.�

Without being told Harry knew that Blaise was aware that Severus was Dark Sought. It would stand to reason. Purebloods were very observant when it came to magical inheritances, not to mention Severus was one of their own� a Slytherin. The news of his nature had likely not escaped the Malfoys or Zabinis during Voldemort�s reign over the purebloods. It was likely a well-kept secret amongst the most celebrated surnames.
Harry nodded. Severus was angry and he was feeling threatened, and if his lover left in a temper there was no telling what hell the man would wreak. Harry shut his eyes, took a deep breath and began walking along the street with one hand outstretched, pausing slightly at each establishment, casting broad range memory charms along the way.
Once finished he returned to the corner where Blaise, Webster and a very angry and embarrassed Wood stood. Blaise was glaring daggers at Wood while Webster was nervously standing between the two men, looking back and forth between them as if expecting one or the other to attack at any moment.
�Webster, please go back to the shop. If Severus is there ask him to meet me at home immediately. If he is not, close up the shop for the day. You can have the next two days off as well,� Harry ordered.
�I�m sorry, sir,� Webster said quietly. �I�m��
�You have nothing to be sorry for,� Harry interrupted. �You are a hired employee and apprentice. You are not responsible for whatever transpires outside your duties as an employee of Hedwig�s.�
Webster nodded gratefully. He liked Harry. The easy-going wizard had been good to him in the short time he had worked for Severus, even going so far as to take him aside and explain a bit about how Severus liked those under his direction to behave. Webster was grateful for the tips, which he was certain had played a great roll in helping he and Severus establish such a good working relationship so quickly. The last thing the young wizard wanted was to be disloyal, to either man, but he would do as Harry asked even if it felt a little like snitching on his boss should he find him back at Hedwig�s. He also knew that Severus was hopelessly devoted to Harry. That much he had surmised from the weekly lunches and how Severus always made sure that Harry�s potion�s were completed first whenever there was a need. He was not privy to much about the private life of his employer, nor did he want to be, but he knew love when he saw it and from where he stood Severus had a love that bordered on obsession and he honestly thought Harry was not much better. With a muttered �Thank you, sir�, Webster disapparated back to the shop, hoping the entire time that his boss would be fuming in the lab when he arrived.
Harry motioned for Blaise to walk a few paces away from Wood so that they could speak privately, but before Blaise could do so Wood strode over to Harry and began an angry tirade that had more to do with wounded pride than anything Harry had done. Wood began ranting that Harry could do better than an ex-Death Eater spy who was old enough to have fathered them both, not to mention a man who apparently had a jealous streak a mile wide.

�Harry, I am telling you, you deserve better. He doesn�t trust you. Don�t you get it, he can never trust anyone,� Wood spat, encroaching into Harry�s personal space. �I can give you what he never can, Harry. You need someone that is not tainted by years of mistrust. How can he love you when he does even trust you? He wants to own you. Use you for his own gains!�

Harry let out a sigh of exasperation. �Wood, I�ve told you before, you don�t know anything about Severus. And I haven�t the time or the inclination to explain our relationship to you. You brought me here on a lie and look at the result. Now we are officially done,� Harry replied, shoving his way past the angry ex-Quidditch star.

�Done. We�ll see how done you are with me when you realize just what a controlling piece of shit you�ve chosen for a mate,� Wood yelled at Harry�s back, causing the green-eyed wizard to stop dead in his tracks.

The sky began to darken and the air picked up as if a storm were coming. The temperature dropped five degrees as Harry spun around and began making his way back towards Wood, who looked around warily at the sudden change in the atmosphere.

�What the fuck did you just say? I don�t think I heard,� Harry said with little to no emotion, though the air spoke volumes about just what emotions Wood had sparked in the powerful wizard.

Blaise, no longer a thoughtless follower of the pureblood bigots but still a Slytherin to the core, assessed the situation as only going from bad to worse when he saw Wood�s mouth forming to spout a reply. The Slytherin pivoted quickly and before the former Gryffindor Keeper could utter the first syllable of his ill-conceived retort, Blaise punched him squarely in the jaw.

Wood�s head snapped back from the force as blood spurted out of his mouth. Blaise hissed and shook his fist, which smarted from the blow.

�Oh, dear me. I�m sorry, Wood. Were you going to say something? Well, it�ll have to wait I�m afraid. I think I�ve broken your jaw,� Blaise said with false contrition, as he grabbed the bleeding man by the collar and began dragging him toward Bricolage.

Blaise glanced over his shoulder to see Harry give him a short, stiff nod of thanks, before he too disappeared with a soft pop. The ebony-skinned wizard could only pray Harry got to Severus before Severus got back around to Wood. Slytherins could be frighteningly thorough when it came to satisfying their vengeance.

�Come on pretty boy, let�s see if my darling wife will heal your jaw,� Blaise sneered as he shoved a silent, scowling Wood across the street towards the restaurant. �Look at her with anything even remotely close to desire and I swear an oath I�ll wrap you in a bow and hand deliver your ass to Severus myself.�
*******************

Three days had passed since the incident in Hogsmeade and Harry had yet to see or hear from Severus. Harry had forgone using the bonding band to track his sub. That was an emergency feature and it just didn�t feel right to Harry for him to use it when Severus had purposely gone away. Yet, his heart was breaking every day the man was gone and with each passing moment Harry was becoming more and more fearful that his lover would not return. Canceling lunch and going to see Wood had been stupid Harry now realized. In hindsight he lamented not having explained to Severus where he was going and why. Though in the end that would not have mattered, as Wood�s entire agenda had been to proposition Harry out from under the watchful eye of Severus.

Harry sat in the kitchen slowly drinking himself into a stupor, mentally berating himself at having been taken in by Wood�s false invitation to discuss starting a summer semi-pro Quidditch League. Harry was not blind or stupid, he knew Wood was attracted to him, but he had truly thought his old housemate had taken his polite refusal at the ball to heart. Wood had always been such a decent bloke, but it seems life in the fast lane as a sports celebrity had inflated his ego and given him a bit of an entitled attitude. Professional Quidditch players were rowdy and used to getting what they wanted, when they wanted it. Seems retirement had not disabused Wood of that habit.

As he poured his fourth tumbler of scotch Harry heard the front door shut.

�Severus,� Harry whispered eagerly, immediately standing and nearly jogging to the parlor. He came to a skidding stop at the threshold to the sitting room, his eyes landing on Severus, who was standing near the fireplace with his arms crossed over his chest, his face set in a scowl. Harry�s heart thudded unevenly. Was Severus leaving? Was his sub not happy to be home?

Before Harry could address his wayward mate, Luna came up the stairs from Severus� lab.

�Good evening, Harry,� Luna said airily, as though nothing at all was amiss. Harry watched as Luna walked over to Severus and handed the tall, angry-looking wizard a vial of pastel blue liquid. Harry immediately recognized it as Severus� contraceptive potion.

Severus downed the potion in one shot and was immediately handed another vial, this one filled with a cobalt blue liquid. It was a calming potion. Harry knew as he had been sipping on a steady supply of the substance for the last three days in order to retain his sanity as he longed for his missing mate.

After Severus had imbibed his potions, the man walked over to a cushy parlor chair and almost threw himself into the seat, looking utterly exhausted and defeated. Not since the heart of the war, when their side had been taking heavy casualties, had Harry seen the man look so forlorn. Severus leaned back in the chair and brought a hand up to cradle his forehead; his long black hair, peppered with a few thin streaks of gray, fell forward like a curtain shielding his face from view.

The silence was pregnant with anger, fear and sadness. Luna stood in the middle of the room looking between the two men she loved most aside from her father and decided enough was enough.

�How very Hufflepuff,� the blonde said with a sneer to rival Severus�. �Look at you two stubborn idiots. Acting like lovesick, temperamental adolescents.�

Her words had the desired affect as Severus� head popped up to stare at the witch, his eyes once again showing a little fire as his lips curled. �Humpf,� Severus snorted. �Hufflepuffs exhibit loyalty, Lovegood. I assure you, our dear Potter would not be sorted there.�

The lack of true wit in Severus� statement was enough to tell Harry just how hurt Severus was by his meeting with Wood. �Careful, Severus,� Harry snipped. He was happy the man was back, but they had both done fucked up things. He decided then and there that he couldn�t be the only one to acknowledge his mistakes, nor would he let Severus forget his place. They had come too far and risked too much for him to let that happen.

Severus had the good sense to stifle any reply. Yet, he gave Harry a death glare nonetheless.

�Luna, I want to talk to you. In the kitchen,� Harry growled, before storming off towards the kitchen, not bothering to wait to see if Luna would object.

Once in the kitchen Harry picked up his glass to take a swig, but as soon as the glass was in his hand he felt his anger erupt. He flung the full glass at the far wall, shattering the expensive crystal into a thousand shards that rained onto the floor in a tinkling cacophony. The liquid trickled down the wall like tears.

�I hope that was not part of a set,� Luna drawled in that maddeningly aloof manner that Harry normally loved but found in this moment he couldn�t detest more.

�Lunes, please,� the Gryffindor said with an exhausted sigh. �I am not in the mood.�

Harry waved a hand towards the range, setting the teapot to boiling and summoning a bright yellow mug, which flew towards Luna, who caught it lazily with one hand.

�You kept my mug?�

Harry nodded, turning his attention back to the teapot, which was already whistling. He was so busy steeping Luna�s favorite peppermint tea that he didn�t notice the blonde�s watery smile, followed by a single tear, which the young woman quickly wiped away.

Once Luna had her tea in hand and Harry had vanished the mess of glass and scotch from the wall and floor, he sat down opposite his friend to get answers.

�Where the fuck has he been?�

�With me,� Luna said, sipping the hot tea. �At least for the last two days.�

�Why won�t you look me in the eyes?� Harry asked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Luna looked up from the table defiantly, �I am looking at you, Harry.�

�You�re not telling me something.�

It was not a question and Luna knew she could not keep the truth from Harry. Their relationship was based on trust. Then again so was her relationship with Severus. The witch found herself in a sticky spot between her two best friends, one of whom was also her former lover. The whole damned situation was messy in the extreme.

�I will concede that there are things I am not telling you. But I will tell you on one condition,� Luna replied, her voice steady and determined. �You cannot under any circumstances punish Severus for what I tell you.�

�The hell I can�t,� Harry barked. He stood so swiftly in his anger that his chair toppled over and hit the floor with a loud crash.

Not at all used to seeing her favorite guy this angry, Luna flinched in shock at the wave of pain and bitterness she felt rolling off Harry.

�Harry,� she pleaded in a whisper, her large eyes watering at what she was witnessing. Her best friends were both hurting so deeply and she wanted nothing more than to help them come back together, but she knew hard things had to be said. �Have I ever once lied to you?�

Harry, who had been pacing angrily like a feral beast stopped and gave the young woman a searching look before shaking his head slowly.

�Then believe me now when I tell you that you cannot punish him. His actions were vile and wrong, but he knows that. I know as much as I need to about your relationship. I also know that this situation will not get better for either of you if you act as both you and he desire at this moment. Severus is here to stay. He wants to come home and all that it entails, but he is too emotional to consent. Trust me.

�He wants to be punished and you want to punish him for leaving. Don�t deny it, I know and that�s okay. You are only seeking to fulfill what your nature and your heart dictate. He will push you beyond what is sensible. And if you don�t listen you could break him, Harry, and he won�t stop you� safe word or not�because in some ways he wants to be broken.�

Harry considered all Luna�s words for several minutes. He took a deep breath to center himself before reseating himself at the table.

�Fine. I won�t punish him now,� Harry said. �But I will when he is more settled.
Will that do for you?�

Luna nodded.

�Good. So, tell me Lunes, what�s he done?�
**********************

Bad idea, Luna. This was all the Ravenclaw could say to herself as she watched Harry loom over a seated Severus, ranting and raving at her upset friend. Who�d have thought Harry could loom, Luna asked herself. Must be Severus� influence.

Inhaling deeply Luna swept forward and pushed Harry back with a thin arm.

�Harry, You promised,� the blonde chided.

�I know what I bloody promised you! Do you see me punishing him?�

�Well, no, but��

�But nothing! I am not and will not punish him, but I am damned sure going to let him know that putting two strange Oliver Wood look-a-likes under a thrall to prove a fucking jealous point is not o-fucking-kay!�

Harry pushed Luna aside and stared down at his lover, who oddly enough had a strange, sick smile on his face. �Shit.�

�Shit is right,� Luna mocked. �I told you he is in no position to take your anger. Besides, from the story I heard he wasn�t the only one to make this mess.�

Harry�s shoulders slumped and the powerful wizard realized that not only had Severus not spoken a single word beyond what he had said in reply t Luna�s Hufflepuff comment, but Harry also had yet to even greet his lover before yelling. Shit.

Kneeling down between Severus� bent knees, Harry leaned forward and pulled his sub into his arms. He instantly felt better. A warmth that had been missing for days suddenly filled him. He squeezed Severus tightly, feeling the older man�s muscles slowly begin to relax. Before long Harry found himself rocking Severus back and forth as his lover buried his face in Harry�s neck, nuzzling and trembling a though fighting tears.

�It�s okay, Sev. I�m glad you�re home. I�I missed you so very much,� Harry whispered as he stroked his lover�s long, silky hair. He allowed his fingers to linger at the ends of Severus� locks, toying with the tips of that coal-black hair which felt so good against his skin. The Amoral in Harry was on fire with need to reclaim and punish his sub, but Harry contained it knowing that his lover needed compassion and love at the moment. He may have inherited some traits of the Amoral, but he was determined not to be ruled by them.
Fragile was not a word typically associated with Severus Snape, but Harry realized that everything they had built up until now had been leading them to a moment when Severus could be just that. In a twisted sort of way it was an emotional breakthrough. At the ball Severus had only showed possessive anger, but now Severus was also showing his fear and need outright in front of not only him, but also Luna. If that didn�t say trust Harry didn�t know what would.

�C�mon. Up you get,� Harry said, standing and pulling Severus up with him. The older man had yet to drop a tear, but Harry could see it was a near thing. Severus� face was white as a sheet and the man�s eyes were shadowed as though he had not been sleeping much. Harry also doubted the man had been eating much either.

Harry grabbed one of Severus� hands in his and began leading the man up the stairs.

�Lunes, you can stay tonight� if you want,� Harry said, releasing Severus� hand and giving the man a little push up the stairs. Once Severus was out of sight Harry strode over and snatched the svelte blonde up in a tight hug. Still holding her in his embrace he whispered softly, �You can sleep in either of the guest rooms. Call Dobby to get what you need, okay?�
Then he stroked a palm through her shiny, platinum locks and planted a lingering, warm kiss on her lips. It was full and loving, but held no hint of sexual need. It was a simple kiss of thanks.
Luna watched with a smile as her friend took the stairs two at a time, before he too disappeared beyond the second floor landing. Her heart was full to bursting with hope�for them all. There was no need to really weigh Harry�s offer. She would stay. Luna knew that Harry wanted her there, just in case, and she didn�t mind one bit. She was happy to stay nearby in case either man needed her. Besides, for some reason even she didn�t want to be alone tonight.
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A Most Trusted Soldier