All That You Leave Behind

OK, this chapter has been a long time in coming because our muse abruptly went on holiday without our permission, and RL intruded rather painfully. Still, it's here now! And, more happy news, in case everyone hadn't seen it in the review section, dirty_darella has bestowed upon us a lovely piece of fanart! We were both so thrilled and honoured with this gift, and we want everybody to go have a look! You can find it here:


http://i535.photobucket.com/albums/ee355/dirty-darella/final.jpg


How awesome is that?! So a very, very special thanks to dirty_darella, as well as to everyone who reviewed. Please remember to review this chapter as well! Now, on to the story.......




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"Father?"



Lucius Malfoy was roused out of his own thoughts by his son's voice. He looked up to see his son, his son's wife, and his own wife peering at him with concerned looks on their faces.





"Yes, Draco?" Lucius enquired of his son, pretending not to see the confused look on his heir's face.





"You've been staring at me all evening long, Father," Draco said slowly, "you haven't heard a word I've said."





"And what have you said, Draco?" Lucius replied pleasantly. He hadn't been listening, but his thoughts had been on Draco nonetheless.





Draco huffed out an exasperated sigh. "I said Astoria and I will take our leave now. And I think you could do with some sleep, Father," he added with annoyance, "you seem to be off in your own little world this evening!"





Lucius said nothing, only rose to kiss the cheek of his daughter-in-law and smile benignly at his peeved son, who shook his head as he escorted his wife to the floo.





He returned to his chair and brandy in front of the library fireplace, barely aware of Narcissa's softly murmured goodnight and the kiss she brushed across his cheek. He sat deeply occupied by his own thoughts, sipping his brandy occaisionally, his long fingers tapping the the leather covered arm of the chair he was ensconsed in. It was the only outward sign of his inner agitation.





His mind kept returning to two things. The information Howard Fairncombe had given him about what he saw between Severus Snape and Harry Potter, and the thin scars that marred the face and chest of his only child. That they were barely visible mattered not. What mattered was that the visage of his son carried them, a lasting reminder that Potter had bested a Malfoy, and that Lucius could not forgive.





The traitor Snape would pay, Lucius had made it his own personal crusade to make sure, and along with him Potter must also be made to pay.





Killing was good, always, but Lucius wanted suffering. He wanted a constant, lifelong reminder that would torment and cause grief.





Besides, he couldn't very well kill Potter. "The Saviour". Even though he deserved it.





Lucius hadn't yet forgotten the humiliations and indignities he himself had suffered in Azkaban, the ruination of the Malfoy name, another scar Draco would have to carry.





More Malfoy suffering at the hands of Potter. And Snape, come to that. Potter never would have stood a chance without Snape behind him to cover his stupidity.





Lucius rose from his seat, took a pinch of powder from the ornate box on the mantle and threw it into the fire, calling out as he did. When Harold Fairncombe's face appeared in the green flames Lucius smiled evilly.





Yes, both Snape and Potter would pay.





Lucius would go to the grave making sure.







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Harry woke, feeling warm and loved and happy. Then he turned over and stretched luxuriously, drawing in a sharp breath as the burn of tortured muscles assaulted him.



The arm around him tightened slightly and he felt his face burn as he remembered the previous night. For long moments, there was stillness but for the soothing touch of calloused finger tips rubbing over his stomach. Harry began to wish that the digits would creep a little lower to where a certain part of his anatomy was beginning to become interested. He clenched his ass in longing, and bit back a gasp of discomfort.



Several things happened all at once then. Severus leaned in to kiss the back of Harry’s neck, as Harry himself turned over. The thunk of their heads hitting went a long way towards easing the tension Harry had felt growing within him.



“Good morning,” Severus said in a slow sexy voice that made Harry’s toes curl.



The younger wizard smiled, a little unsure of what to do. Of course, he knew what to do with women, but, in this situation, he was the woman, so what would Ginny have done?



Ginny.



The guilt came flooding back.



“Oh god!” he cried, struggling free of the arm. He rolled into a foetal position, welcoming the burn from overused muscles. He deserved this pain. Look what he had done!



You can't fool yourself any longer. You can't tell yourself it isn't really cheating anymore. It is; it always was! And now you can't deny it. You've cheated on your wife. With a man. You let a man fuck you, and the fact that you've fallen in love with that man doesn’t make it any better. In fact it only makes it worse.



His mind screamed at him as he lay on the comfortable bed.



You promised to love Ginny forever, forsaking all others. No where did it say that you could screw your closest friend, with her friend. You’ve betrayed her in the worst possible way. You’ve shared your heart and your body with someone else, to someone she trusts and respects.



"Oh God," he whimpered brokenly, "how did this happen!? How the fuck did this happen?!"



Severus spoke, interrupting his self-loathing. His voice was carefully neutral as he asked, “Are you regretting last night, Harry?”



He hoped not, he really hoped not. He had waited for Harry for years, and the wait had been more than worth it. Yes, he would have preferred to enter his love looking into those green eyes, but he had placed Harry’s comfort above his needs. And was he now going to be rejected? Told to leave?



Harry gulped before facing the man he had fallen for. He licked dry lips, keeping his eyes firmly on the bed, rather than on the taller man lying near him.



“S-Sev,” he began, chewing on his lower lip as he scrambled for something to say, “I…I…”



The older man sighed deeply, jaw clenching as he contemplated his next words, “Do you wish me to leave?”



“NO!” The vehemence in Harry’s tone reassured the older wizard. It also surprised him. It seemed to have surprised his partner too.



“No,” Harry repeated in a more normal voice, “Never leave me, but, but I don’t know what to do, Sev. What about Ginny? I can’t carry on like this, living a lie, cheating on her, wanting her to go out so that we can be together, but I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you.” He swallowed before whispering, “I can’t lose you.”



A strong hand touched his face with surprising gentleness and brushed away the wetness on his cheeks.



“You may have to, Harry,” Severus said softly, “I care too much for Ginevra to want to harm her. I care too much for you to want to harm you. If you are not strong enough to make the decision, I may have to.”



Even as he said it, he knew he would never willingly leave Harry.



The younger man seemed to realise this as he shuffled closer. “Leaving me would do more than harm me, Sev, it would kill me!” He leaned in and touched his lips to his lover’s. “Stay forever,” he whispered as he kissed Severus.



Severus returned the caress, his tongue swiping over red lips. He gave his full attention to the delightful creature sharing his bed, deciding to worry about the future at some other time.


And Harry seemed amenable to that. His response was quick and appreciated, opening his mouth in welcome to Severus' probing tongue, kissing back with fervor. It was as if they couldn't help themselves, despite their previous words. The hunger for each other was a living thing between them, and they partook of one another greedily.

Hands roamed over hot, firm skin, tongues lapped eagerly, and soon Severus was groaning as he slid once again into the hot, tight channel, avidly devouring the green gaze below him.

Harry hissed at the pain, but welcomed it nonetheless, caught up in the bottomless black gaze of his lover above him. He felt tears sting his eyes once again, tears of pain at the thought of ever giving up this man he felt such deep love for.

Severus thrust slowly, carefully, with devotion, and lowered himself toward his young lover, wanting to lose himself in the sweet warmth of Harry's mouth, to drown himself in Harry. Their mouths connected with passion, tongues probing and Severus tried to put all he felt into the actions of his body, willing Harry to understand how much he felt for him.

Harry whimpered helplessly at the sweet assault, the possession of his body, and the thought of it revved his desire. He wrapped arms and legs around Severus, pulling him as close as possible, revelling in the feel of the other man's body surrounding his, overtaking his senses, until he was crying out in gasping moans of pleasure, his cock, snug between them, coating them both with his release.

Severus let out a long, low groan, pounding his hips faster as Harry's body clenched all around him, impossibly tight. This is what he'd waited for, had wanted for so long. He felt the warm sticky spurts of Harry's come seep between them, and pulled away from the wet warmth of his mouth to gaze into the adored emerald eyes as he pumped his own release into the depths of Harry. His Harry. At least in this moment.

He withdrew slowly and then quickly rolled to the side, wrapping his arms around Harry and holding him close, raining kisses down on the beloved face and head, stroking the trembling body that clung to him.

I could die now a completely happy and fulfilled man, Severus thought as he ran his fingers idly through the mess of Harry's hair.

I love, and am loved.



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