Reunited.
The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth as Harry’s footsteps echoed through the forest, the familiar silence surrounding him. It was a calmness he couldn’t quite find anywhere else—a peace that clung to him like a second skin. And it was this silence, the quiet hum of the woods, that brought him comfort.
He didn’t need the bustling world around him. He didn’t need the noise. He only needed this. The quiet. The woods. Teeth.
His heart pounded in his chest with every step, like it recognized the bond that tugged him forward. It wasn’t long before the familiar, looming silhouette broke through the misty trees.
Teeth.
Harry’s breath caught in his throat. The tall, humanoid creature with long, gangly limbs and smooth grey skin stood just ahead, its large, jagged teeth gleaming in the dim light. There were no eyes, but Harry could feel the intensity of Teeth’s presence. It was unmistakable, the kind of presence that made Harry feel like he was both seen and understood in a way no one else could.
Before Harry could take another step, Teeth moved.
In a blur of motion, the creature towered over him, its long arms reaching out with surprising speed. Harry gasped as Teeth’s strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. There was no fear, no hesitation—just warmth, as if Teeth had been waiting for this moment as much as Harry had.
For a moment, Harry could hardly breathe, overwhelmed by the sheer force of the creature’s closeness. But it was… comforting. Harry could feel the steady beat of Teeth’s unseen pulse, like the steady rhythm of the earth itself. It was grounding, reassuring. Teeth was here, and nothing else mattered.
Harry’s arms instinctively wound around Teeth’s body, fingers brushing against the creature’s smooth, cool skin. He buried his face against Teeth’s broad chest, letting the connection wash over him. It was everything he needed—comfort, safety, an understanding of who he truly was, far beyond what the world had ever tried to make him become.
Teeth’s long arms encircled Harry, pulling him even closer. And Harry let it happen. The tightness in his chest—the weight of everything that had happened in his life—began to loosen. For once, he didn’t feel the need to hide or guard himself.
“Teeth…” Harry whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling. The name felt like a promise between them, a vow of something deep, something unspoken.
Teeth’s body vibrated with a low hum, the kind of sound that felt like a gentle comfort. There was no need for words between them; the bond they shared spoke louder than anything Harry could say.
Teeth shifted, moving slowly as if to guide Harry. With a gentle tug, Harry found himself being lifted, not in a rush, but in a way that felt careful, protective. Teeth slid his back down, and Harry could feel the shift as he was settled on the creature’s broad shoulders, sitting like a child clinging to a protector.
The world outside the two of them ceased to exist. Harry leaned forward slightly, pressing his head against the smooth surface of Teeth’s neck. The creature’s long arms held him securely, and Harry felt a peace he hadn’t known in so long.
"Thank you," Harry whispered, though he knew Teeth didn’t need to hear it. The gesture alone was enough. Just being with Teeth, feeling the connection so strongly, was enough to soothe the storm inside him.
The sun had already begun to dip below the horizon, but Harry didn’t care. He wasn’t concerned with time, with the world outside of the woods. The only thing that mattered now was the steady presence of Teeth beside him, the warmth of the creature’s skin against his.
Teeth moved through the trees slowly, carefully, as though ensuring Harry was as safe as possible. They didn’t speak. Harry simply held on, resting against the creature’s back, feeling the rise and fall of its breath. It was as though they had all the time in the world.
When they stopped in a small clearing, Harry slid off of Teeth’s back. The creature knelt to the ground, curling protectively around Harry like a guardian in the shadows.
They sat in silence. Harry’s hand found its way into the rough texture of Teeth’s skin, fingertips tracing along the contours of the creature’s long limbs, the familiar smoothness of its grey skin grounding him even further. Teeth’s large, jagged teeth glinted in the dim light, a reminder of how far they had come together, and yet how far they still had to go.
But for now, it was enough. Harry leaned back into the creature’s embrace, his mind quieting, his heart slowing. This was home. This was where he belonged.
With Teeth. Always.