Chapter 20

"Draco!"

"Mum!" The blond whirled around to face his mother. His eyes widened at her frantic pace of approach. "Harry's gone into the forest! Dobby said Uncle Severus has gone after him awhile ago."

"Ms Granger." The usually unflappable lady of the manor greeted her son's companion, as she took stock of the situation. Addressing both teens even as she cast wary glances at the forest behind them. "Your father will be back shortly. We will both enter the forest to assist Severus in the search for Harry." Seeing the two teens about to protest, she hurriedly continued. "No, Draco. I need you both out here to make arrangements for help." Addressing the young witch. "Ms Granger, I trust you can coordinate with Dobby to prepare for medical supplies and various healing potions on standby, should they be needed?"

A nod.

"Good. Draco, I will need you to floo Professor Dumbledore for assistance if he is available. If not, the next best candidates will be either Professor McGonagall or Madam Promfey." Looking at her determined son. "I promise that we'll get them both back, but I need these arrangements as a precaution. The forest is dangerous. Even though you both have completed Hogwarts' curriculum, you are not yet very experienced with defense magic. I do not wish to worry about you both while searching for the other two."

"Yes mum." The blond finally acquiesced, as Hermione nodded her acceptance as well.

"Cissa!"

"Over here!"

The aristocrat rushed towards the small cluster just outside the forest. "What happened?"

"Harry ran into the forest. Severus went in to retrieve him awhile ago." She turned to the teens. "Go. Ready the stuff I told both of you about." Watching them run back towards the manor before turning back to Lucius. "Shall we?" She raised her wand in a tight grip.

Reaching out to clasp his wife's free hand even as he raised his own wand, he led the way determinedly into the forest.

"HARRY!!!"

He reached the younger wizard within several heart-stopping moments. Cradling the limp head in his lap, he frantically searched for a pulse. Finding a weak pulse calmed him marginally, enough to gather his thoughts and send out his patronus with instructions to seek for help from either Narcissa or Lucius. Hopefully, one of them would be back in the manor by now. He would hate for the teens to intercept his patronus message instead, and come dashing foolhardily into the forest. They had been lucky so far; lucky as it had only been wolves and nothing worse. He would not wish to tempt fate further.

Checking on the precious burden cradled in his arms, he set about healing the worst of the wounds as best as he could, before casting a lightening charm on the younger man, and hefting him into his arms bridal-style. While it hampered his use of the wand, it would be much safer and swifter this way rather than using a mobilicorpus on Harry. 'Not that you want to be assured of his presence," a snide voice whispered in his mind. He ignored it, pushing all other thoughts aside in favor of getting them out of the forest as swiftly as possible.

Checking their surroundings and taking a quick directional spell, he set-off at a brisk pace, taking small comfort from the warm body cradled against his chest. 'Harry, I'm so sorry.'

"Luc!" She took in the welcome sight of the silvery patronus heading towards them from between the dense foliage, even as she gripped her husband's hand tightly in her excitement.

Lucius all but suffered whiplash from turning around to see what had caught his wife's attention. He studied the patronus; no doubts about it, it definitely belonged to Severus. This was the first clue they had, since the initial signs of people plundering through the forest vegetation had stopped abruptly about almost an hour ago in their search efforts.

Coming to a halt before the Malfoys, the patronus delivered its message as bid. Lucius and Narcissa listened with growing trepidation. As the patronus turned upon the end of the message, both blonds followed the magical entity at a brisk pace. It was spelled to return to the castor, which would lead them to Severus and Harry's location, even if they were already on the move. Judging from the brief message that Severus sent them, he needed some help with Harry. They had no idea of the severity of Harry's wounds at this point, only that he was injured, and Severus needed their assistance in getting Harry out of the forest.

Feeling his wife shiver lightly, Lucius gave a light squeeze of their clasped hands. He was worried about Harry too.

"Quickly Severus, set him on the bed." The matron commanded the unusually subdued potions master as soon as he had entered the room, flowed closely by the lord and lady of the manor. Scanning the limp form for injuries with her wand, she glanced periodically at a list in her other hand. "Hmm…"

"How is he?" Both the lord and lady of the manor anxiously enquired. The potions master looked up at her in earnest.

"Aside from physical and magical exhaustion, his emotional state seems to be in turmoil." Here she looked up from her list, addressing the three of them. "The scrapes and bruises are just that, and he has no other major injuries internally and externally, except for overstrained muscles in particular areas. I believe Severus had taken care of the nastier open wounds earlier." Glancing back down at her charge. "I would advise that he refrain from excitement for the next few days, and be kept from using large-scale magic or doing strenuous exercises for a week." She turned to rummage through her medical valise. "Here." She passed a jar of salve to Severus. "Apply this salve topically over the newly healed skin, as well as over the sore areas, once you get him cleaned up. It should speed up his recovery and ease any remaining aches and pains." Shutting her bag, she nodded to the lord and lady of the manor. "I shall take my leave of you. It appears that Harry has no serious need of my presence. Severus should be well-able to handle things from here."

At that, Narcissa inclined her head in acknowledgement and murmured her thanks, while escorting the matron to the fireplace downstairs so that she could floo back to Hogwarts.

Lucius stood in the room for a while longer, assuring himself that Harry is fine, before turning to leave as well. At the doorway, he paused. "I'll inform the kids that Harry is fine, but needs his rest. Do expect that they will come barging in first thing in the morning. I'll send Dobby up with some dinner for you later, shall I? Do try to eat a little something and get some rest." With that, he swept out of the room, leaving the potions master to his vigil by the bedside.

As the door shut gently after the blond, Severus once again turned to face the younger wizard occupying the bed. With a small sigh, he set about casting cleansing charms over the limp form, tenderly applying the salve to areas of newly healed skin, and changing the younger man into a set of comfortable pajamas. Finally, he sat by the side of the bed and gently carded his hand through the messy hair, letting his thoughts run riot through his mind. 'Oh Harry…'

pop

"Dobby is sorry, but master Lucius told Dobby to bring master Severus some dinner." The diminutive house-elf set a well-laden dinner-tray on a small table in a corner of the room. "Come, master Severus should eat now, while the dinner is still hot. Dobby will sit with master Harry while you eat." Saying thus, the house-elf approached the bedside and sat, peering slightly at the younger wizard ensconced in the bed. A small, gnarled hand sneaked upon the bedcovers to grip the young wizard's hand.

With a weary sigh, Severus moved to his dinner. He had not much appetite. 'Harry, I'm so sorry.'

It was later, when he awoke from a light doze by Harry's bedside. Glancing around the room blearily, he realized that Lucius had come by to check on Harry before bed.

As the blond aristocrat turned to leave, he noticed Severus awake. Looking at the Potions Master, he beckoned his friend along. "Come, Harry will be fine for awhile in his own room. You look badly in need of a hot shower and a fresh change of clothes."

"Now that you've cleaned up, care to tell me what it was all about?" The blond questioned his friend from his seat by the fireplace, nursing a glass of glistening amber. They were both ensconced in Lucius' study, a couple of doors down the corridor from Harry's rooms.

In the flickering light of the fire, Severus paced the length of the room, unsure of how to voice his thoughts. Eventually, he sighed, and slumped into the armchair opposite Lucius. Closing his eyes, he spoke. "We had a disagreement this morning."

"And…?"

"And I said something that I should never have." Severus looked imploringly at his friend. "You should know that I would never intentionally hurt Harry… I was too carried away by the disagreement, and everything tumbled out before I could even think!"

"Severus?"

"We argued over his extremist-style of training; both physical and magical. I felt it was too strenuous for him to keep to everyday, and told him to cut-back." Shaking his head lightly. "It didn't go over too well with Harry, obviously." Looking up to find Lucius listening intently. "He said that he knows his own limits, and that he should continue in that vein so that he could push himself to the limits when it was required." Severus sighed.

Lucius mulled over what Severus revealed. He knew there was more. 'Call it gut instinct.' He observed patiently, watching as the other man reached over for a glass of liquid courage and tossing it back in a single gulp.

"We argued over that for awhile, and I said… I said that he was behaving like a spoilt child, and if he expects me to refrain from treating him like I would a son, then he should grow-up." Burying his face in his hands. "Luc, nothing can be further from the truth! I've never been able to treat him like I would a son!" He choked back a mad half-sob. "I'd never seen him pale so fast; never seen him flee from an argument in such a manner!" He looked up at his blond friend once more. "He was out of the manor within moments of those dreaded words being uttered."

"Severus, it was said in the heat of the argument." The blond tried to placate his friend. "Surely Harry would understand, once you'd explained."

"Luc! You don't understand." The potions master smiled bitterly. "He ran from me." He turned away from the blond aristocrat. "He never ran away from anything before."

"Severus, Harry will understand once you explain the situation fully to him. He will see that it was your concern for his well-being that made you upset with him."

"No, he won't forgive me this time." The voice nearly cracked on that single word. "I've hurt him really deeply with those callous words."

"What happened before we found the both of you in the forest?"

"Harry…" The potions master swallowed around the lump in his throat. "He disappeared into the forest. I was trying to track him, but in my distraction, I was attacked by a pack of wolves. He came to my rescue at the crucial moment." Turning to stare directly into the blue-grey eyes of the blond. "Harry's a wolf-animagus. He took on the pack leader and killed it while in his wolf form. He collapsed within moments of changing back at the fight's conclusion."

"Harry's an animagus?" The Lord Malfoy sat stunned. "Truly?"

"He looked magnificent in his wolf-form."

"He has learnt and grown so much in his time away from us." The Lord Malfoy shook his head lightly. "Lily would have been so proud." Standing, he walked towards the doorway. As he passed the potions master, he let a hand rest briefly on the black –clad shoulders. "Severus, go get some rest. It's been a long day." At the brief nod of acknowledgement, he left the room, knowing too well that the potions master would only return to Harry's bedside.

He blinked blearily, trying to get the bright room into focus. He could feel the warmth spilling in from the window to his left. 'I'm probably in my room then.' Shifting slightly, he could feel the aches and soreness in his body. 'Urgh. Guess I really over-did it.' The details of room slowly swam into focus. The curtains were drawn, showing an expanse of clear blue skies. Closer, he noticed a head of black resting upon the side of his bed. Immediately, his brain supplied the answer. 'Severus.'

As the rest of his thoughts caught-up, his emotions came furiously swirling. 'He has never loved you beyond that of a son. It will never be different. You will never be anything else to him. Why torture yourself with the impossible?' He clutched at his head and gave a soft whimper. 'If you expect me to refrain from treating you like I would a son, then grow-up!' His distress grew, and he whimpered again as he screwed his eyes shut, trying to shut-out the thoughts. 'If you expect me to refrain from treating you like I would a son, then grow-up! If you expect me to refrain from treating you like I would a son, then grow-up!'

He could hear whimpers, and the bed twitched slightly. Blinking to adjust his eyes to the bright room, the onyx-eyed man sat up abruptly when his brain processed the situation. 'Harry!' Turning to face the head of the bed, his eyes encountered the distressed form of the younger man, eyes tightly-shut, and body trembling lightly. Without a second thought, the potions master clambered upon the bed, taking the trembling form into his arms, and whispering soft nonsense to comfort the younger as he used to do countless times in the past.

Slowly, the body in his arms stopped shaking. Then, as the younger wizard regained his presence of mind, he scrabbled to get out of the tender hold. Severus could only tighten his hold. He prayed that the younger man would give him a chance to explain. "Harry."

At his name, the younger wizard increased his efforts to get away from the potions master.

"Harry, please stop. You'll hurt yourself." The potions master nearly begged.

"Let go of me." The voice a harsh whisper.

"No."

"Let go of me!"

"Harry, let me explain. Please." The body in his arms still struggled. "I'm sorry for what I said to you yesterday." The younger man struggled-on. "I did not mean it that way."

"Let go of me!" The younger wizard was panting from his exertions. "I know exactly what you do mean." He renewed his efforts to get free.

"Harry, please." The potions master was begging openly now. There was no other recourse. He tightened his hold on the younger man within his arms. "I love you. Please don't do this."

"Yeah, you love me like a son." The younger man was struggling with vigor. "I know that!"

Those words pierced his heart, leaving it in proverbial shreds. He snapped. With an anguished cry, he turned the younger man in his arms and pulled him close. Lips crashed upon the other's lips violently. Shocked, the younger stilled.

A new struggle shortly began. The battle for dominance left both wizards breathless with its intensity.

As they finally pulled apart for air, Severus rested his forehead lightly against Harry's. Then leaned back in to place a chaste peck upon the swollen lips. "Harry." His breath mingling with the younger's on exhale. Onyx eyes held emerald ones with its fathomless intensity. "I love you." Putting a slender finger against the lips opening in protest. "Not as a son; never that." Grazing fingers over the cheek before him. "I'm sorry for what I'd said yesterday. Please understand that I did not mean it that way, but that it came out as such in my anger and anxiety over your welfare." Leaning in to place a peck on the cheek, before pulling back to look anxiously into the emerald eyes once again.

"Severus…" The younger wizard nuzzled lightly against the crook of the elder's neck. "I love you. I always have, but I've only come to realize the difference of that love in my years away from home." He flushed slightly. "I apologize for my bratty behavior yesterday." He felt a light kiss upon the top of his head, even as he leaned more into the accommodating security of the potions master's body.

Well, here's chapter 20 ) Hope you have enjoyed this chapter. It is my first time writing a more physical romance scene, so do correct me if you feel that there are any major mistakes. It's hard to truly describe a kiss; I always get swept-up in the then-and-now of it that I've never truly given much thought to how to describe it. Haha. Sorry to disappoint, but I really don't think I would be doing any major smut in this fic. It is not my forte, and I would not risk spoiling it for you. Best leave it to your imaginations, when it comes to that point.

Perhaps you've noticed the different tempos in each of the longer chapters – that's because I write the different scenes over time, and then piece them together. I find that it works better for me this way. BUT this chapter's ending scene... now that was one that I never did expect, but somehow it ended that way... so we shall see how that goes.

Thanks again for the wonderful reviews and shows of support. You have kept me keen on continuing this fic. I've receive notifications of additional readers putting up for story alerts and favorite fic list. Now, if only I can get you to review more… )