A.N.: I'm really sorry about the long wait and the short length of this chapter. It's longer than any of the others I've written so far. I was having some problems with it. If you didn't know, I have no plot for this story and sometimes it's difficult to continue 'cause I have no idea what happens next. I'm really, really sorry about that. I'll try to improve on that front.
cara-tanaka, Chrwythyn1971, Miss Nailia, Lorna Roxen, megipegi, Lupinesence, Silvermane1, arisflame, HarryRemusSirius (of course I'm gonna put in Mpreg, later), Guest (It was mentioned in the first few chapter, I think), NoirxAnge, Sailor Sayuri, CrystalLuna13
Thank you all for the wonderful support you've shown for this pet project of mine. If I didn't answer one of your questions, it's cause we'd be here all night if I took the time to do that and we wanna read the story, right?
Special thanks goes to XxZessxX for helping me come out of my writing slump, by the way is your name in reference to Zess from Uraboku?
On with the story!
My heart bleeds for you
Chapter 7
Severus' P.O.V.
"Hmm...Granger...Maybe this Chris Granger is related to Hermione Granger?" Severus turned his gaze on Harry.
"Hermione Granger?" Harry thought for a moment, tilting his head cutely. Urgh, don't do that!
Severus felt the sharp gaze of his brother on Harry, he sent Onyx his patented death glare and readjusted his jacket around Harry's shoulders in a clear message: Mine, lay off. Severus' scent would mark Harry as his and protect him from any other Creatures lurking around.
"Hmm...Hermione and Ron are my best friends...yes, maybe they're related..." Harry finally stated taking no notice of Severus' fidgeting.
"Then, this was where you were before I found you...…We are not going to this party." Severus stated firmly.
"But I was invited! They went through all this trouble to write to me and everything. Please, please, please…." Harry begged pulling out the puppy dog eyes.
Severus sighed in frustration. Urgh, you impossible brat! I'm trying to protect you!
"I said no Harry!" Severus snapped.
Harry looked down and nodded quickly. "Okay." He said in a weak voice.
Severus sighed again. I didn't mean to order him, jeez, I have to control my temper or I could hurt him!
"In any case, we have an appointment with the Healer this morning."
Harry nodded miserably.
Seeing his mate in such a state tore at Severus' heart but he had to be firm. There was no way he was going to risk his mate's life. He'd already lived through a life without him and he was not eager to repeat the experience.
-sshpsshpsshpsshpsshp-
Time Skip (Evening time)
Harry's P.O.V.
Why won't Severus let me go to the party? I'm sure my friends wouldn't try to hurt me, he's just being so paranoid!
Harry almost growled in frustration but settled for turning over onto his side and snuggling deeper under the covers.
Creeeeak…..the door of Severus' room slid open and Harry closed his eyes in a feigned sleep. He really didn't want to see Severus right now….Harry would just explode and nothing good would come of it. Severus would demand that he stayed with him and there would be nothing Harry could do against his direct order.
Harry felt the bed at his side sink as Severus sat beside him and carded his hand through his hair gently. The scent that was purely Severus assaulted him and Harry tried to resist the urge to purr…..it felt so nice….
Severus sighed heavily and withdrew his hand. The sheets rustled as he shifted about and finally settled his body beside Harry's. Harry kept his back faced towards him stubbornly and resisted the almost overwhelming want to turn over and take in his mate's handsome visage. There was no way he was going to relent, Severus was the one who was at fault here. Harry hadn't done anything, he'd only wanted to greet the people that sounded so worried about him. He'd only wanted to assure them that he was okay and there was no need to worry because now he had Severus and he wouldn't let him get hurt…..was that too much to ask of the paranoid man that lay next to him?
"Harry." Severus called softly to him.
Harry lay still and didn't move an inch.
Severus sighed again.
"Harry, I know you're awake. Talk to me." His voice was gentle and had a slight pleading edge to it.
Harry was so startled by this uncharacteristic tone from the usually dour Potions Master that he turned over to stare at him with wide eyes.
A slight smirk lined the side of his mouth for a second before it was wiped away by his frown.
"Are you willing to listen to reason now?"
Harry nodded still slightly wide eyed.
"Harry….I don't mean to be so paranoid." Harry gasped and wondered if he'd read his mind.
Severus smirked and snorted.
"It seems as if I'm able to hear bits and pieces of your thoughts, you're not shielding any of them and I can't help but pick up on them. I don't think I've ever told you but I'm rather good at the mind arts; Legilimancy and Occlumency."
Harry's eyebrows furrowed, his ears flattened against his head and his tail stilled.
Severus chuckled, it was a rich sound that did funny things to Harry's stomach. Severus patted his head with a gentle hand and regained his breath.
"I'll explain later, I'm going to have to teach you Occlumency. I don't want anyone else inside that pretty little head of yours."
Harry felt his cheeks warm and he shifted his gaze to his mate's chest. He stared at one of the buttons on Severus' shirt and refused to look at his face. Severus thought he was pretty…..
"Harry, if I could be sure that nothing would happen to you there I'd let you go but as it is I do not know who did this to you and I cannot take any risks regarding your safety. You understand right?" Severus continued his earlier speech in a serious tone.
Harry didn't answer immediately. He took his time staring at Severus' transparent button and thinking through his mate's point of view.
Severus had been affected by their damaged bond too, what had it done to him and how long had he endured it? Harry wondered. And what did he mean this morning about bonding?
Harry debated with himself for a while before finally looking at his mate's face. Severus' eyes were glued to him lips and Harry realized belatedly that he had been chewing on them, lost in his thoughts as he had been. Harry shifted uncomfortably and fought to keep his rising temperature down.
"I understand…."
Severus blinked and relocated his gaze so that their eyes locked. The beginnings of a smile shadowed his lips.
"But I only wanted to let me friends know that I'm safe and that I have you now and you'll protect me….." Harry continued and the smile vanished from Severus' face as if it had never been.
"Harry….." Severus began in a warning tone.
"Please, just for five minutes…..we could pop in and pop back out so quickly nothing would happen! Please Severus, please!" Harry whined pathetically.
Severus looked away and all was silent except for the calm breathing of the two creatures.
When Severus finally looked at him Harry was sure his heart stopped. The anguish in his face was like nothing he'd ever seen before. Harry felt the whimper built in his throat.
"I've already lived without you once, Harry. Don't let me go through it again, I don't think I'd survive it this time." Severus was completely serious.
Harry keened and Severus' arms were around him again, holding him close, reassuring himself and Harry that he was alive. Nothing was going to happen to them, Severus wouldn't let anything happen to him again. Harry made a small mewling noise and snuggled closer to Severus, nuzzling his throat.
Sometime later Severus started to shift around uncomfortably. Harry frowned and stared at the pale neck presented to him trying to determine the cause of his mate's discomfort. There was a rapid pounding in his ear and it took him a few seconds to realize that it was Severus' heartbeat.
Was he nervous about something?
Harry felt his own heart pick up its pace in reaction to Severus.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked softly.
Severus shook his head against Harry's.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it."
Harry frowned but didn't protest.
"I have something for you." Severus was moving around again and Harry loosened his hold on him to give him some space to move.
"What is it?" Harry's ear twitched and brushed Severus' jaw.
Severus drew a deep breath.
"A talisman to protect you. I want you to wear it, never take it off."
Harry shifted and looked at his mate's serious expression. Whatever it was, Severus was absolutely firm in this regard.
"I'll wear it. Always." Harry nodded slightly perplexed.
Severus opened his hand and showed Harry a velvet box. Harry's wheels turned in his mind. A ring! I had no idea, Severus wanted to move so fast! I mean, I know that this bond thing is for all time but to move on to engagement so suddenly!
Severus opened the box and Harry peered curiously into his hand. He gasped in shock. It wasn't a ring. He'd been close but not close enough. It was a bracelet. A pair of Golden bracelets, one for each hand. They were paper thin and molded to Harry's wrists as Severus slipped them on. They must be some kind of magic, they were warm to the touch and not uncomfortable at all.
After a time, Severus sighed and pried Harry from him.
"I have research to do, remember what the Healer said? I have to find the cure before the poison becomes a threat." Severus walked over to the desk piled high with thick tomes at the corner of the room. "Why don't you rest for a while? I'll wake you for dinner."
Severus was already focused on one of the books at the top of the pile and didn't see Harry's nod.
Harry lay on his side facing Severus and watched as his mate perused book after book looking for the answers to some of their questions. Harry's mind wandered back to the meeting with the Healer.
*Flashback*
The lady with the young face who seemed so old was checking his insides with a spell that displayed his organs on a screen above his head. Harry tried to remain as still as possible but he had the sudden urge to use the bathroom that wouldn't go away. Something was wrong. He was sure of it. The nurse wouldn't stop humming under her breath that whatever she was seeing was interesting and she was taking so long to look at him that Harry could almost feel her eyes on the inside of his body.
Sweat broke out on his forehead and he stiffened his hands as they made a twitching movement to wipe it off.
A cool rug dabbed at his hairline and Harry blinked at Severus in thanks. The side of Severus' mouth twitched slightly and Harry stifled his chuckle before it could escape his clamped throat.
"Now then, I have some bad news for you Your Ma-" She cut herself off and looked away quickly.
Severus cleared his throat and asked the question Harry was dreading but that he really needed to know the answer to.
"What is it? What's wrong with him?" His throat sounded as if it had been clogged by some random ball of air.
"Your bond is intact. However, the dark magic that surrounds your link is trying to interfere with it. The bond is holding out and as long as you remain true to each other it will not break." She paused and took a deep breath.
That's good right?
"The problem is that if this magic is left untreated it could turn hazardous to your mate's body." She looked at Severus in the eye and Harry could tell that she was dead serious.
"A poison?" Severus questioned.
She nodded her blonde head and continued gravely.
"It has already started to take effect. He has a fortnight at the most. You must find something; a spell or potion or anything that can purify his body of this Evil Magic. There is nothing more I can do." She nodded and turned away, walking to a door at the back of the room.
Severus sighed heavily.
"I have some research to do then." He looked at Harry with an indescribable emotion in his eyes.
End Flashback
Harry must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing he knew, he was waking up to the sound of a door closing.
He sat up slowly and looked around about to call out to Severus until he realized that the man was not there. That must have been what he'd heard. Severus had left for whatever reason and Harry had been awoken by the sound of the door closing.
Harry made a split second decision.
He glanced around frantically and his eyes caught the small clock on the bedside table. It was five minutes away from the time Hermione's relative had specified for the activation of the portkey. Harry shot out of bed and began to search for the letter he had received that morning. Where could it be? Where could it be?
His heart threatened to burst out of his chest. Harry was sure that Severus would return before he found what he was looking for and then he'd be in trouble. The minutes dragged by and Harry began to doubt the idea that the letter was even in the room when his hand brushed a sheet of paper on the inside of Severus' discarded cloak.
Yes! Elation swelled within him and Harry glanced at the clock again to see that he had about five seconds before the portkey activated and he gasped in horror. It wasn't enough time. He'd meant to write a note to Severus so he wouldn't worry but he didn't have enough time.
A hook pulled at the back of his stomach and he was moving. He clenched his eyes shut and tried to keep his breakfast down. This was the worst feeling ever! Harry decided then and there that he would never travel by portkey ever again. He really liked his stomach where it was thank you very much and had no desire to have it ripped out by this insane method of transportation.
Bang! Crunch! Harry landed heavily on his side, his arm pinned under his body in an awkward angle. Pain shot through the limb as he tried to move into an upright position. Shoot! Severus is going to kill me! He thought in panic as he looked around the room he had landed in.
It looked like a kitchen with its island in the middle cluttered with mixing bowls and dirty wares. Harry's left eye twitched. It's so dirty! Urgh, maybe I should have listened to Severus and stayed home…..what the hell? Since when has Severus' house been home to me?
"Harry! You're safe. We were so worried!" Harry was distracted from his thoughts by the feminine voice. An old woman was standing in the doorway, her face filled with relief. She moved closer to him and Harry cringed away unnoticeably.
"Are you hurt?" She bent to look at him properly and Harry saw that she wasn't really as old as he had thought, she looked to be in her early 40s.
"I think my arm's broken." He spoke softly as he observed her face. She looked familiar but he couldn't remember if he had ever met her.
"Oh dear, I'll just go get one of the boys, we'll fix you right up. Don't you worry." The lady rushed out of the room and Harry began to feel the panic setting in. What had he done? He'd left his mate and ran to some unknown location to greet people he didn't even know.
Severus, what have I done?
To Be Continued...
Drop me a review, they're always helpful in the development of my plot. I'm gonna set a due date for the next chapter because I'm better at keeping deadlines when I state them publicly. You guys can expect an update in 2 weeks. On the 8th of March 2014. Let's hope I can stick to this due date!
How do you think Severus will react to this latest development? I'm curious.