AN: So, I dropped a note (that I'm about to delete) in the reviews, but in case you haven't read it, I have an explanation. My laptop quit once, and I got it fixed. Then, after giving a small update of 2 chapters, my computer crashed again, this time for good. The guy I took it to said that it would cost more money than it was worth to fix it. So I had to cut my losses (as in, half the stories I've written in the last 3 years) and get a new laptop. I quite like it, but I've got my work cut out for me now. I had finished this story, and I know what happened, but I'm not going to be able to get it down quite so succinctly again, I'm afraid, as some details are fuzzy. I'm afraid I'm going to be wrapping things up for this story. The good news is that I have a few ideas brewing (that I did not have stored on my old computer, thankfully) for another story in this series.

As Severus and Harry enjoyed some tea by the fire that night, Harry broached the topic he'd been brooding over for the last several hours. "Sev? I need to talk to you about something," he said, looking up at his mate from where he was leaning against his solid chest.

"Of course, go ahead," Severus replied, glad that he was finally going to find out what had been bothering his omega all afternoon.

"I don't know if you've noticed or not, but my magic has been. . . off since Nathaniel took me. I mean, you saw me splinch, and that was after I nearly caught the house on fire and then almost flooded our kitchen. I also tried to use Accio and got the breath knocked out of me by a book. Then there was my nightmare, that accidental magic, which means I can't just stop using magic altogether. I spoke with Ethan, and he sort of suggested something I already suspected in the back of my mind that we needed to do. He said we should use the whole thing where an alpha can bind his omega's magic. I think it would do us all some good if I could just take a break from magic, and I trust you to keep me safe if I'm ever placed in harm's way and to let me have control back when I'm ready."

Severus stayed silent for a long time, mulling over what Harry had said. His immediate thought was wonderment that his mate truly did trust him that much, because he knew that Harry had very bad memories from the last time his magic had been bound. He knew Harry truly thought he needed this if he was volunteering for it. He also knew that Harry had a good point. It was dangerous for a wizard of Harry's strength not to have any control over his magic. He could hurt himself or Ivy without ever meaning to, and neither prospect was appealing to Severus. Harry was right. This would be good for them, and of course it would only be temporary.

"I believe that this would be best," Severus said. "Would you like me to do this now?"

"If you would, that would make me feel better."

"Then by all means, we will do so now." Severus nudged Harry, who stood up to face Severus, who was also standing now. "Your hand?" Harry offered his left hand, which Severus took in his own left hand. Circling his wand over where their hands were joined, Severus muttered an incantation that was loosely translated from Latin to mean 'I bind this magic by the ancient forces.' A chill swept over Harry as his control left him, and both he and Severus watched as a silvery mist seemed to exude from Harry's body.

"Thank you," Harry murmured.

"You do not need to thank me. I am happy to do anything for you, my Harry. Now, it is getting late and you seem tired. Shall we retire for the evening?"

"Sounds sublime," Harry said, making Sev chuckle.

Things went fine that night and the next day, until they got a surprise visit from Sirius and Remus, which wasn't all that uncommon. Sirius and Remus were happy to give the Snapes their space, understanding it was needed at times. However, they did visit at least every other week and rarely called ahead. So Harry wasn't too shocked when he heard a knock on the door after dinner that night and opened it to see his parents on the other side. "Hey, come on in," he welcomed them. "Have you already eaten?"

"Yes, have you?" Sirius asked.

"Just finished. How does tea sound?"

"Perfect," Remus answered enthusiastically.

Harry led them in through to the living room, where Severus already had some tea. He easily summoned two more cups and filled them with the dark liquid from the pot. "Sirius, Remus, how are you?" he asked.

"Fine, how about yourself?" Sirius replied.

"Alright. Have a seat."

The four of them talked amicably about nothing of import until long after Ivy had kissed them all goodnight. Things continued to go well until Remus arched his brow in an expression Harry knew to mean that the man had come to a dubious conclusion and was waiting for confirmation of the facts. Harry wasn't sure what was going on through Remus's mind, but he decided it didn't much matter. He'd learned long ago not to question those looks. All it ever got him was a glare that they would both feel bad for later.

Severus had just banished the tea service back to kitchen in preamble to sending their guests home when Remus suddenly rose angrily and pulled Severus to his feet by his collar. Remus may have been an omega, and Severus an alpha, but it mattered little to comparing their strength due to the fact that Remus was a werewolf and also, at the time, thought his cub was in danger. Severus didn't bother trying to fight Remus's grip - he knew from experience that it would only strengthen at the useless attempt.

"Remus?" Harry questioned, standing up as well as Sirius.

"How could you do such a thing?" Remus demanded of Severus, ignoring Harry in favor of getting his face closer to Severus's.

"I'm not sure I quite catch your meaning," Severus said hesitantly.

"Don't think I haven't noticed. Harry normally uses his magic as much as you do when it comes to the everyday tasks. I haven't seen him perform one simple spell since we arrived. It's quite obvious that you've bound his magic and now I want to know how and why you could and would do such a thing!"

"Is this true?" Sirius asked, looking just as murderous as his mate now.

"There is a perfectly reasonable explanation," Severus said calmly.

"I want to hear it from Harry," Sirius said with false calmness.

"After what happened," Harry began, "I was having trouble with my magic. I splinched myself, nearly caught the house on fire, and had a few bouts of accidental magic. I talked with my therapist and with Sev and we all agreed that it would be best if we put my magic on hold to give me time to recover without having to worry about accidentally killing someone when dinner plans go wrong. It wasn't his idea, and we're in agreement that as soon as I say the word, I get control back. I just can't handle that right now, so Sev is helping me out by doing that for me. Alright?"

Remus immediately let go of Severus. "My apologies, but the thought that..."

"You thought your cub was in danger. I do not blame you. I am glad you are so protective of him. It means that I won't ever be able to inadvertently hurt him, because you won't let me, just as you won't allow anyone else to."

Remus simply nodded. They fell back into easy conversation for the next 20 minutes before Sirius and Remus finally left for their own home.

The next months were spent with Harry making steady trips to have sessions with Ethan, though the frequency gradually dwindled down to once a month. After two months, Harry felt he was ready to take back control of his magic, only he wanted to do it a little at a time. So he took back control for an hour, without using any spells. Then he did an hour and a half two days later, then three hours in another two days. After a week, he tried for 10 hours and performed one Accio and one Alohomora successfully. After one month he had control back 24/7 and was using spells as normal. Ethan was guiding him on how to reach normalcy, and Severus held his hand and covered his back along the way, and his friends and family offered their silent support. Throughout it all, Harry was reminded that despite everything he'd been through to date, so long as he had people surrounding him who cared about him, he could survive it, and not only survive, but enjoy life.

The End

AN: Yeah, I've long since accepted I'm crappy at endings, but I just can't handle going through re-writing the last several chapters I had. You've got the gist of what was in the original ending. I hope it didn't completely suck. Until the next story...