Chapter Text
It took Severus 1 hour to finish organising the bottles and vials to his liking, and once he was done, Harry went and prepared his bath.
He made sure there was hot water. He got Severus his pyjamas, and he placed Severus’ robes on the chair next to the bed. Then, he lit the sea salt scented candle, filled the tub with hot water and led Severus to the bathroom.
Once done, Harry went to the library to check on Sirius, who was still pouting after dinner. They talked for a while about many things. Harry asked about Sirius’ work and knew that Lucius Malfoy had been broken out of Azkaban, but he was not seen in public. And all the trail of Death Eaters just led to nothing. Sirius, in turn, asked Harry about schools, about his health, and his friends. They avoided the topic of Severus, and it was quite pleasant.
Harry never got a chance to really get to know Sirius in his past life, so now, he would like to try and know more about his godfather.
Everything was good, until Harry remembered Severus and he said, “I will go check on Severus.”
“Since when have you called him by his last name?” Sirius sighed, “It’s so strange.”
“Mn. Quite. He called me Harry now. I like it.” Harry smiled.
“Urghhh.” Sirius groaned, but Harry knew Sirius was trying, so he just shook his head. They would never be able to be best friends, but as long as they can co-exist in an environment, it’s good enough for Harry.
Harry checked the time. It had been more than an hour. Severus should either be in his lab or in his bed reading. Harry wondered if the man liked the blankets that he had bought.
Harry checked the lab first, when he confirmed that Severus was not in there, he checked the bedroom.
Severus was not in his room either.
Harry turned to find the bathroom door still closed.
Oh my…
Harry came and knocked.
“Severus?” He called.
There was no sound from the shower, and no sound from the man either.
“Severus, are you inside?” Harry called, and he knew the answer immediately, because there was a wave of magic inside the room. Severus was just not answering him.
Was he getting too comfortable?
So he was in the bath?
Oh my god was Severus falling asleep in the bath?
Harry immediately opened the door, and the room was so steamy he was actually blinded for a second.
Harry casted a charm on his glasses, and then, he found Severus.
The man was leaning on the edge of the bathtub, dozing off. He was not sleeping, per se, but he was not fully awake, either.
Yup.
He was getting too comfortable and did not want to leave.
Harry chuckled.
He walked to Severus, and the man looked at him.
Harry sat on the edge of the tub, touching Severus’ wet hair, “Are you comfortable?”
“Mn…” Severus leaned into Harry’s hand.
“Do you want to get out?” Harry chuckled.
“Nn…” It was a different sound, and Harry knew the answer.
“You have to get out, or you’ll faint from the heat.” Harry smiled, “And dehydration.”
Severus grumbled, but he nodded.
“Do you want my help?” Harry asked.
Severus shook his head, and Harry got out.
It took Severus only 2 minutes to dry himself, get into his pyjamas and get out. He must have used magic, because his hair looked a little bit fuzzy.
“Here, drink this.” Harry gave him a glass of cool water, and Severus downed it all.
“Sit on the edge of the bed, please. I’m going to apply some hair oil so that your hair won't get greasy if you stand in the lab for too long.” Harry smiled, and Severus just did it without question.
“Sit all the way on the bed and turn around for me, please.” Harry said as he reached for the oil.
Severus turned and folded his legs. Harry gave him the two soft blankets, and Severus made a really pleased sound.
Harry chuckled. He poured the oil on his hands, rubbed it so that it was distributed equally, then he slid his hands in Severus’ hair. The moment Harry’s fingers touched Severus’ scalp, the man shuddered, and he moaned .
Harry’s dick definitely did not explode.
Nope.
That was something else.
Maybe it was his sanity.
“dO… ehem… Do you like it?” Harry tried and failed to calm his racing heart, as well as his voice.
Severus didn’t answer, and he didn’t nod.
So Harry tried again.
This time, Severus leaned into it. And yes, he definitely liked it.
Harry took his time, then. He rubbed the oil on Severus’ hair, then he massaged his scalp, pressing on different places gently. And slowly, he worked this way through every spot on Severus’ head. He found that Severus would react when Harry touched any spot he enjoyed. It would be near his forehead, near his temples, and at the back of his head.
The moment Harry’s fingers touched the skin of Severus’ neck, the man shuddered again, but he tilted his head forward, exposing his neck slightly.
And oh, the sense of satisfaction it gave Harry was so much more than what a drug could. Don’t ask how he knew.
Harry also found that Severus liked having his neck massaged, but he loved it when Harry just grazed his fingers across the skin, creating a tickling and feathery sensation.
Yup, he was going to read that book on autism and their fondness for texture and sensation again today.
Once he decided that he had had enough, Severus slowly moved away from Harry’s hand, and he pulled the new emerald green blanket to his face and inhaled deeply.
Harry chuckled, “I already cleaned it, so you can use it tonight. Do you want me to put away the normal blanket?”
Severus shook his head, and he made his way under the blanket, pulled one green blanket to his chest, then draped the other on his head, over his eyes.
Very quickly, he fell asleep, and Harry’s chest was full to the point of bursting.
He fought the urge to kiss Severus on the cheek and turned away with difficulties.
He casted a silent Nox in the room, then closed the door behind him.
Outside was Remus, and he was smiling, though, with an eyebrow raised.
“Have you seen?” Harry asked quietly, although he didn’t need to.
“Yes.” Remus hummed, still looked very amused.
“Don’t tell Sirius. He would tease Severus.” Harry said calmly.
“You care about him.” Remus said.
“I do.”
“Is it like a friend to a friend?” Remus asked.
“Does it look like it?” Harry chuckled.
“So you noticed it yourself.” Remus hummed.
“I made a conscious attempt to do so.” Harry smiled and walked into the library.
“You do realise you are his student?” Remus tried to sound unbothered, but failed.
“Does not mean I cannot look after him.” Harry made himself comfortable on an armchair.
“You are still a teenager and a child, Harry. We should take care of you.” Remus said, his voice sad.
“I should also be able to enjoy my school life instead of having to think of how to survive and kill a Dark Lord.” Harry scoffed, “But we can never get what we deserve, can’t we?”
“But why him?” Remus asked.
“Why not?” Harry smiled, “He saved my life multiple times. He put up with a job he hated to protect me, he risked his life to bring us information. My father, godfather, and mother, scarred him for life. He never got a proper childhood, and neither did I. I need to spoil someone in order to heal myself. I want to give someone things I never got a chance to have. And him, he needed someone to spoil him, to prioritise his need, to be by his side.” Harry looked directly in Remus’ eyes, “He heals me.”
“Oh…” Remus’ face fell, as if it was the first time he realised that Harry was doing this for himself as well. Like it was the first time he considered giving that kind of treatment for Severus was something Harry needed.
“Severus never asked anything of me, that makes me want to give him even more things. He was scared that I would change my mind, but he trusted me with his soft sides.” Harry smiled, “I am happy taking care of him, Remus.”
“Harry…” Remus looked like he didn’t know what to think, what to do. It went against what he knew, and he could not bring himself to accept that a teenager should take care of an adult.
“I’m happy.” Harry repeated.
“I know. But I’m worried. You…” Remus bit his lips, and Harry knew what he was thinking about immediately.
“Would it really be that bad?” Harry asked, “If we are happy that way?”
“You are young, Harry…” Remus frowned, “You don’t know…”
“I do.” Harry chuckled, “I don’t have to wait until a certain age to know. I know what makes me happy right now, and I take it. Because who knows, Remus, I could be dead tomorrow when that noseless bastard comes for me.”
At that, Remus finally stopped arguing, and he sighed.
“I just don’t want you to be hurt, Harry.”
“I will be if anyone tries to take him away from me.” Harry mumbled.
“He’s in a position of power over you, and…”
“You know, I never understood that term. Well, I do, but I don’t.” Harry chuckled, “Doesn’t it mean that he should be forcing me and I cannot refuse or don’t dare to refuse because he might abuse his power?”
“Well, yes…”
“Does it look like he was forcing me?” Harry raised an eyebrow.
“Well…” Remus titled his head.
“If anything, Remus, I’m using my advantages over him.” Harry scoffed.
“What is that?” Remus looked genuinely confused.
“My cooking, Remus. He likes my cooking.” Harry hummed, very satisfied with himself.
“Your cooking is very good. And the way you ask what he wants, it is true that it’s very hard to resist.” Remus hummed, and he finally looked more relaxed.
“Mn. I’ll go to bed now.” Harry smiled, “Goodnight, Remus. And please, keep this between us.”
“It’s not mine to share. I promise, Harry.” Remus nodded, and Harry turned around to leave.
Even though there was a heavy amount of wards around Grimmauld Place, when there was a House Elf on your side, there was nowhere you could not Apparate to.
Harry materialised in Gordric’s Hollow, and he casted a Notice-Me-Not charm around himself before walking to the cemetery.
There, he soon found 2 tombstones from his memories.
‘In loving memory of James Potter, a righteous man, Auror, and father.’
‘In loving memory of Lily Potter, a kind woman, healer, and mother.’
Who the fuck wrote this shit?
Harry felt his chest tingle a bit, thinking that these two people were his parents.
But then, he remembered why he was here, and he reached out to touch both tombstones before casting a Protego on himself. The moment he finished casting, the cracks of Apparition flooded the area, and Harry was soon surrounded by 20 Death Eaters.
“Oh my”
“Look at this?”
“Who is this?”
“The Dark Lord would be very pleased.”
The Death Eaters giggled and laughed maniacally.
“Morsmordre.” Someone called, and the sky shone with the Dark Mark.
Oh. I have not anticipated that.
Now Severus would know.
Severus was sleeping.
Oh these motherfucker!
Harry glared at the Death Eater who just casted the spell, and he gripped his wand.
“Scared, Potter?”
“Scared?”
“Don’t worry, we are taking you to the Dark Lord.”
“There are so many worse things waiting for you.”
Harry looked around, and all of the Death Eaters were having their wands out.
Harry looked at the Dark Mark in the sky again, and he groaned very dramatically.
“You guys would wake him up.” He said, and a Stupefy was shot straight at him.
Harry didn’t even budge. He didn’t dodge, didn’t move, and there was no counter curse casted. But the Death Eater who shot at him suddenly dropped to the ground.
The rest looked at the fallen Death Eaters, and they actually looked concerned. The leading Death Eater hissed.
“There’s only him here. He can’t fight this many. Hit him.” He screamed, and every Death Eater standing in the cemetery started to fire multiple different spells at him. They must have received an order, because there was no Killing Curse. Not like they were capable of it. They were all low-ranked.
“You know, I feel kinda insulted.” Harry hummed, and he smiled at them as the air around him sizzled.
None of the spells could even touch him, and the Death Eaters stared surrounding him, spells kept firing yet none actually hit. They were getting anxious, and another Death Eater started to call the Dark Mark once more.
“Voldemort would not like that. 20 of you against only me, and you called for more?” Harry raised his wand toward the Death Eater that was calling for help, and an orange light shot from the tip of his wand.
The Death Eater screamed, and under the horrified gaze of those who stood there, his skin started to melt off.
“Oh, that’s nice.” Harry chuckled, “I never tried it before. How about this?” He pointed his wand at another and casted a non-verbal. Without any clue of what Harry had casted, the Death Eater at his wand-point tried to deflect it and conjure a shield. But before he could, his teeth started to fall out of his mouth, and as he screamed, his tongue fell out as well, leaving him with a bloodied mouth.
“Oh, no more casting for you, I’m afraid.” Harry hummed, and from then on, it was a flurry of flying curses.
One by one, he took down the Death Eaters, and every one of them who tried to Apparate away failed due to Harry’s Anti-Apparition wards. Yes, he casted multiple. Yes, he killed them all.
Once he was done, the cemetery was reek of blood, and he was standing in the middle of it. Since there was no one around, Harry could fire with ease. If there were someone around, Harry would have to reluctantly remove them, anyway.
Harry casted a spell to check if there was any person nearby, then he walked to the Potter’s monument and casted a Bombarda Maxima.
Fuck that monument.
The explosion would attract people, but when the Dark Mark was still in the sky, no one would dare to come out recklessly, so Harry returned to the cemetery and looked at the tombstones.
Suddenly, there was a crack of Apparition, and when Harry turned, he saw Severus. He was in his normal clothes, and he materialised on the corpse of a Death Eater whom Harry had cracked every bone in his body. Severus didn’t even bat an eye. He stepped on that Death Eater’s hand, causing a crunchy crack. The unfortunate Death Eater's hand was disfigured painfully, but neither care. And it's not like the death could feel pain.
He stopped in front of Harry and looked at the tombstones.
“Why are you out here alone?” Severus asked.
“I need to calm my mind.” Harry replied.
“It’s very…” Severus looked at the Dark Mark in the sky, then at the corpses of 20 Death Eaters, “dangerous.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Harry said unapologetically.
“You have the brain capacity of a sloth, and the sense of danger of a child, Potter.” Severus grunted, “You always create mess and bring with you problems.” He sighed, “How should this be dealt with? The Dark Lord would be furious.”
“Well. They were actually not very strong, and I think he would be pleased as I helped him clear his ranks of useless dunderheads.” Harry smiled at Severus, and Severus’ furious face twisted into something very, very complicated.
“How did they find you?” Severus asked, turning away.
“There were spells on the tombstones.” Harry said.
“Ah, and you fell into their traps. How predictable.” Severus scowled.
Harry didn’t say that he knew there were traps.
“I see that you have learnt a lot of curses in that book.” Severus clicked his tongue, “I don’t know if it was good or bad.”
“I am alive.” Harry chuckled.
“Well, I still don’t know.” Severus snarled, “You are such a headache.”
“Oh, you wounded me.” Harry smiled.
“Shut up. We need to leave, now!” Severus hissed, and he grabbed Harry and Apparated immediately.
They didn’t even clean the corpses.
When they returned, it was in Severus’ room. Severus looked confused for a moment before he turned and looked at Harry.
“Wound?” He asked.
“No.” Harry shook his head.
“Did you take any hits?”
“No.”
Severus blinked, and his shoulders loosened a little bit. He looked at Harry with still doubtful eyes, though.
“You have gotten stronger.”
“They are weak.” Harry smiled.
“Don’t be an arrogant prat, Potter. It will get you killed.” Severus snarled.
“Yes, professor.” Harry hummed.
Severus continued to glare at Harry for a moment, and when Harry thought he would be chased away, Severus sighed and closed the space between them.
They were chest to chest, and Severus hooked his fingers to Harry’s wrists. He titled his head a little, touching Harry’s, and he murmured.
“Don’t do that again.”
Harry hummed.
“I’m glad that you are not dead.”
Harry chuckled, and Severus sighed.
“But seriously, don’t do that again.”
“I can’t promise you that.” Harry pressed his head against Severus’, their temples touching, “I can’t sit idly when Death Eaters were out there, killing people.”
“It’s dangerous, and not your task alone.”
“Wanna go with me next time?” Harry chuckled.
“Unlike you, who can go and trample on every single rule ever written, Potter, I have a role I need to fulfil.” Severus grumbled.
“Mn. I have one as well.”
“Again, killing Death Eaters is not your own burden.”
“My burden is Voldemort?” Harry asked, and Severus tensed slightly at the name, “But even if he was dead, there would still be his followers left. And they could bring him back, somehow.” Harry murmured.
“Talk to the dog, talk to Albus, or anyone. Don’t go off on your own.” Severus sighed, “You can’t die.”
“I won’t.” Harry nuzzled against Severus softly, “I won’t die.”
“You don’t know that.” Severus hissed.
“Are you worried?” Harry smiled.
Severus didn’t respond, but he nuzzled back.
“Come with me next time. They can’t talk if they are dead.” Harry hummed.
“And if they get away?” Severus asked.
“Then they get away, and you won’t have to risk your life again.” Harry said.
“The Dark Lord can always find me through the mark.” Severus said quietly.
“I can remove your mark.” Harry said, and Severus stepped back.
“What?” His eyes widened, and he looked frightened.
Harry sighed, and he looked into Severus’ eyes.
“I can remove the mark.”
“How?” Severus gasped, “You… I… It’s impossible.”
“It’s magic. Impossible is what magic does.” Harry chuckled. He looked at Severus, and slowly, he lied, “Remember when he tried to kill me and the spell backfire? Remember when I dreamt of what he was doing?”
“Yes.” Severus replied carefully.
“We had a connection, and he was a part of me, just like I of him. When I killed Nagini, I found out that she was also a part of him, and when I did, his magic inside me became my own, and I could feel the Dark Mark on you.” Harry touched Severus’ forearm, “When I touched it, I could feel the location of every single person with the Dark Mark, that makes hunting them so much easier. That’s why I asked you to come with me. And if things went wrong, I will remove it from you, and you will never have to live in the shadow of the past ever again.”
Severus was frozen for a minute, and then he gasped. It was a desperate sound, like someone who had just resurfaced after spending a long time in the water.
He leaned into Harry, and Harry took half a step forward to catch him. Severus’ forehead fell on Harry’s shoulder, and he started breathing heavily.
“All this time… All this time…” He mumbled.
Harry waited, and it took Severus two minutes to calm down and mumbled,
“Yes.” It was filled with certainty, and Harry’s chest soared.
“Yes?”
“Yes.” Severus nodded.
Harry hummed, and he tilted his head. Severus moved a little to meet him, and they stood there in quiet, forehead touching and breath syncing.
I love you .
Harry wanted to murmur.
But for some reason, he didn’t think he had to, not when they were so close.
Not when Severus trusted him this much.
Someday,
Someday he would say it.
But right now, he didn’t need to.
“Harry…” Severus murmured, and oh, he was calling Harry’s name again.
“Yes?” Harry hummed.
“Where’s the bear?” Severus asked quietly.
And Harry chuckled, “In my room.”
“Why is it in your room?” There was a frown in his tone.
“Because I want you to ask.” Harry said, smiling broadly.
“I want it.” Severus said.
“Of course.” Harry hummed, “And what else do you want?”
“Sleep. Then soup for breakfast.” Severus murmured.
“What kind of soup?” Harry asked.
“Brown rice noodles…” Severus mumbled.
“Does it have to be brown?” Harry titled his head, and Severus’ temple touched him.
“Yes.” Severus nodded.
“Why?”
“The texture and the size are different.”
“So picky.” Harry chuckled.
Severus made a really displeased sound.
“Alright, alright. I’ll cook brown rice noodles.” Harry surrendered, because he could never win.
“Mn…” Severus nuzzled against Harry’s temple.
“You are sleepy, aren’t you?” Harry asked quietly.
“Ask the one who woke me up.” Severus grunted.
“Alright. Back to bed, then.” Harry said, “Change back into your pyjamas.”
Severus hummed, and he used a simple spell to dress himself in his new pyjamas before returning to bed.
“Good night, Severus.” Harry murmured.
“Go to bed, Harry. Don’t run off.” Severus grumbled.
“Not again. Not without you.”
“Not without me.” Severus smiled, and he pulled a green blanket in his chest and turned away from Harry.
Harry chuckled and left the room.
He pressed his back to the closed door and sighed.
Now, where the hell could he buy brown rice noodles before 7 in the morning?
