Chapter 5
After Minerva and Poppy left, Harry started to treat Severus’ cuts and scars. He thought having Severus lie down would work better but Severus wanted to sit outside in the sun. So even though he was weak, Harry helped him sit and watched as Severus closed his eyes as he tilted his face up so he could feel the sun.
‘It’s quiet here.’
‘Yeah, it is Sev, I found out about this place from the documents the goblins gave me. My parents owned it, they bought it for Remus to use. There was a potions room set up with all the ingredients for the wolfsbane potion. I found some written notes from my mother to Remus, you said she was good at potions.’
‘She was, not many people could make that potion but Lily could,’ Severus turned to face Harry, ‘Where are your glasses, did you break them again from bumbling around?’
Harry sniggered, ‘No, I got muggle laser surgery done to correct my eyes, so no more breaking my glasses because no more glasses.’
‘Why the long hair?’
‘At first I didn’t want to bother getting it cut, I was too depressed. Then I didn’t want to go anywhere, especially near any magical towns, I only went into magical towns when I needed potion supplies, otherwise I stayed right away and shopped in muggle towns.’
‘It’s a wonder you never set your hair aflame.’
‘I’m not that stupid Sev, I would tie it back when I made potions. I think I learned a thing or two from you, especially since I wasn’t constantly being belittled,’ Harry smirked then smiled as Severus gave him a smile, ‘Tell me how you’re feeling?’
‘Better, this is real isn’t it Harry, this is not a dream?’
‘It’s not a dream love, you’re here with me.’
‘You said you don’t go into magical towns, why?’
‘I turned my back on the magical world after they sent you away, turned my back on everyone apart from Minerva. She was the only other person to support you and kept trying to have you released this whole time.’
‘What about your friends?’
‘I haven’t seen then once since the day they took you from me,’ Harry gently caressed Severus’ bruised face, ‘I was going to break you out then go into hiding.’
‘Then why didn’t you?’
‘If there was any chance that you could ever work with potions again I wanted to give you that chance. You know we never have to work Sev and even though you don’t like the fact that my wealth comes from my father’s family, we are together, what’s mine is yours, so we can live comfortably for the rest of our lives, it might be something you have to consider. But I will tell you this, I am going to pay a visit to every guard and give them a taste of my revenge.’
‘It was only two, the two that brought me to shore. When they got bored with hurting me they would put me in a cell with one of the other death eaters, Draco was subjected to the same treatment, it’s luck he survive, his mother was killed. Have you heard how he’s doing since he was released?’
‘I don’t have anything to do with anyone Sev, so no, I have no idea. I spend my days here, I work out every day, I swim everyday then I study up on potions or spells. This place is unplottable and has the fidelius charm, I didn’t need anyone from the ministry to do those.’
‘You swim?’
‘See those bushes down there?’ Harry pointed, Severus nodded, ‘There’s a small lake, so at first I mainly taught myself how to swim, once I was confident enough in the water I started to swim from one side to the other. There’s a family of snakes I became friendly with, so I sit and talk to them when I place food down there for them.’
‘Only Harry Potter would have snakes as friends, showing off how special you are.’
‘Sev, you know I hate the fact that I’m a parselmouth because it comes from Voldemort. If I was born a parselmouth then I wouldn’t mind it, but I wasn’t. The thing is though, that family of snakes kept me sane, kept me from going completely over the edge. So many times I wanted to go curse everyone in the ministry, I even thought of doing worse,’ Harry sighed, ‘I missed you so much Sev.’
‘I did too, even though admitting it makes me want to throw up,’ Severus smiled then put his forehead to Harry’s, ‘Do worse, you mean kill?’
‘Yes, those first few months I was in a bad way, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. But I knew you would need looking after when you got out so I forced myself to go on. I kept myself occupied with exercise, swimming, potions and practicing more spells. That picture I talked you into having was constantly with me. Whenever I thought I couldn’t go on I would talk to you,’ Harry closed his eyes but his forehead never left Severus’ forehead, ‘I can’t believe you’re finally here with me.’
‘I am, if this is not a dream I am having.’
‘You’ll believe it’s not a dream soon enough Sev. But soon I want to rub your body down with some body oils I bought, it’s so dry and rough.’
‘Tell me what’s been going on?’ Severus narrowed his eyes as he felt Harry stiffen, then move until he was looking away, ‘Tell me.’
‘Attacks daily, on everyone, Rolanda Hooch, Pomona Sprout and Filch was killed, that happened not long after you were sent away. Some of my so called friends were killed or hurt badly. One day I was stocking up on my potion ingredients and I figured I’d go to Diagon Alley since they have the largest range. Charlie Weasley saw me and said they could have used my help, Ron can’t walk properly anymore and Hermione’s face is badly scarred from fiend fyre, but I said they didn’t support me so I wasn’t going to support them and I walked away. I just don’t care about anyone Sev, anyone but you. If I didn’t have you during that time I wouldn’t have lived to finish off Voldemort, but all they saw was your act and a death eater, they didn’t care that you were the one that kept me alive, kept me fighting. I threatened the minister, then changed into my dragon and sent fire at him and the aurors, but I aimed off, it made me feel better to see the fear on their faces but I couldn’t kill them. I felt like my heart was drying up, like it was turning to dust, the constant ache was always there, always a reminder that you weren’t with me and none of them helped.’
‘Such romantic dribble and your still wearing your heart on your sleeve. How many times have I told you that will get you nowhere in this life?’
‘Do you love me Sev?’ Harry slowly turned around to face his love.
‘Yes I love you but I don’t need to show it with sappy looks or say it with romantic dribble.’
‘You don’t, I just wanted to hear you say you love me, now how about you lie back, relax and soak up the sun while you can. Then I am going to give you a full body massage and try to not embarrass myself while I’m touching your glorious naked body.’
‘If you can do a good job, which I am sceptical about, then soon I will be able to fuck you into the mattress. Now how about you close your mouth and give me some peace?’
Harry chuckled, ‘Yes Sev, and I love you too,’ Harry lay back but kept his head turned and his eyes on Severus, watching as the man he loved close his eyes letting the sun warm his body, from outside to in.