Second Place - Action/Adventure

The charmed lights still hovered overhead, casting a warm glow over the darkened room. Harry lay on his side. His head was propped by one hand while the other traced lazy figure eights on Severus's chest. Severus was still asleep. Harry's mind churned with endless questions. "Closure" had been initially satisfying, but it left many unsettling questions in its wake. Where would they live? How would they continue to see each other? Would Severus continue to spy? Would he want Harry to? Would he make Harry move?

Then, there was the vampire issue. How often would Severus want to feed? Would he need to feed from others? Could he feed from others? Would Harry have to traipse after him for the rest of his life? Would Severus think himself Harry's Master? Would he leave Harry if Harry refused to recognize him as such? What if he and Harry didn't work out? Was he stuck being Severus's blood consort for life? Just what the hell had he signed on for? And, what would other vampires think of him? Speaking of other vampires, would Severus associate with another clan? Could he? Would he want to?

The scariest question of all, though, was would Severus turn him? Harry wasn't sure how he felt about that, but he knew the idea of growing old while Severus retained his relative youth was painful. He didn't want to grow old and useless. He wanted to be with Severus. Forever. In theory. Harry sighed.

"You're giving me a headache with all of that adolescent angst," Severus's deep, gravely voice rumbled.

"Sorry," Harry said, quickly removing his hand and shuttering away his thoughts.

Severus grabbed his hand and returned it with a gentle squeeze. Harry obliged him by returning to his gentle handwork. As if on cue, both of their stomachs rumbled. Harry laughed. Severus peered up at him. "Do you think you can make dinner without it exploding all over the place?"

"I think I can manage that. Anything in particular you'd like?"

Severus smiled, his fangs extended.

"Oh," Harry said startled. He hesitated. He still felt a bit woozy from before. "So, soon?" he asked.

"Just a little nip."

Harry swallowed thickly and sat up. "Yeah, okay," he said.

Severus sat up and pulled Harry to him so that he was, in essence, cradling him in his lap. "Relax, Harry," he whispered as he carded his hand through Harry's hair. "It won't always be like this. You'll get used to it and so will I. Right now I crave you more than ever and your body isn't used to me. I'll never take more than I absolutely need and I will always take care of you afterward."

Harry allowed himself to relax in Severus's embrace and nodded.

"Thank you," Severus said before dropping his head to Harry's shoulder.

Harry shivered as he felt Severus's ghostly breath skitter across his throat. The delicate point of his tongue was soothing and cold whereas before it had been arousing and hot. When Severus's fangs slipped in, Harry hardly felt them. Severus suckled gently for a few moments. Wonderful feelings of contentment swirled through Harry. This was far different from before. He relaxed further with a gentle moan. He could feel Severus's smile. Then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Severus's fangs slipped out, he laved the bite with his tongue and kissed Harry softly on the top of his head. The wooziness came back full force and Harry collapsed back into Severus's chest. He felt sated again, but in an entirely different way.

"I hope you're not hungry for real food," Harry murmured, finding it difficult to string his thoughts and words together.

Severus chuckled. "Shush. I'll take care of dinner. You just relax."

Harry nodded. An instant later, he was surprised to find himself picked up and settled into his leather chair. The ottoman was scooted under his feet and the blanket was carefully tucked around him. He glowered a bit, uncomfortable with the attention. "I'm not a fucking baby," he murmured.

"Fine, then. Off to the kitchen with you," Severus drawled.

Harry huffed and tried to get out of the chair, but found he lacked the coordination to do so. He flopped around for a few seconds before growling and settling back into the chair. "I don't like being helpless. You never told me this, this . . . feeding thing would make me helpless."

Severus dropped to his knees and took Harry's face in his hands. "It's temporary, Harry. Your body will begin to anticipate the drain and will make up for it. And, given your rather extensive stays in the Hogwarts' infirmary and at St. Mungo's, I rather assumed you might know the effect of blood loss on your body."

Harry opened his mouth to retort, but snapped it closed a second later. He shook his head and drew in a deep breath. "It's just hard for me to let others take care of me. I�I feel vulnerable and--"

Severus silenced him with a soft kiss. "I understand," he said. Severus gently brushed against Harry's mind, showing him how he felt. He would never exploit Harry's vulnerability after feeding. He meant to cherish Harry. Not own him.

"Thank you," Harry said.

Severus nodded, gave him another kiss and rose to his feet. "Steak, I think. As rare as you can stand it."

Harry salivated at the mere thought and groaned. "That sounds fucking brilliant."

After receiving his dinner on a lap tray and watching Severus tidy up, Harry decided he could get used to pampering.

"More wine?" Severus asked.

"Yes, please," Harry said with a sigh of pleasure.

Severus joined him a few moments later and sat in the other chair. "Feeling better?"

"Hmm, yes. Just tired."

"It will be like that for a while, but being a wizard helps tremendously."

"I wondered about that."

Severus nodded and took a sip of wine. "We should talk."

Harry sighed. "Figured we would have to eventually."

"Let me see how many of your adolescent ramblings I can answer in one go."

"Will you stop calling them adolescent ramblings? I'm in my twenties, you know."

Severus paused at the interruption and graced Harry with a withering stare. "I can't imagine how I forgot that," he said dryly.

Harry resisted the urge to stick out his tongue.

"As I was saying, I asked Simmons for a transfer two weeks ago. In a few weeks I will be back in London heading up the Forensic Potions Department for the Special Forces Unit. I am, for all intents and purposes, retiring from the spy life."

"Bet Simmons loved that. His whole team. Retired. All within four months of each other." Harry snorted. "Serves those bastards right," he muttered under his breath.

"If I might continue," Severus said with just a touch of sharpness, "as my blood consort, you are my chosen source of blood, but not my only one. Unless you wish it, of course. Otherwise, I am free to drink as I please from whom I please. As for showing you off to other vampires, I cannot imagine where you would have gotten such an absurd notion."

Harry grinned and sent a mental image of Severus in his alpha-male glory during the claiming ceremony.

Severus harrumphed. "As long as we're on that particular subject, I cannot join another clan anymore than you could go back in time and transfer your birth to different parents. Further, I have no desire to rekindle any relationship with my kindred. Killing the vast majority of them likely put them off me as well."

Harry snorted. Severus narrowed his gaze. Harry smiled apologetically.

"What with my sparkling personality, I can imagine that you would have assumed that we would attend a vast number of vampire fetes," Severus began dryly, "but, alas, I fear that will not come to pass. If you are unduly heartbroken, I suggest you get over it."

Harry chuckled. "Neither of us are particularly social creatures, Severus. Besides, parties of two are ever so much more fun," Harry said with a saucy lift to his brow.

"Indeed," Severus responded with his own arched brow.

"What about the turning--"

Severus cut him off with an all too familiar flash of intensity. "Absolutely not! You will not speak of such things to me. I will not leave you simply because you age, Harry."

Harry let it go for now. He nodded his head and looked down to his lap.

A few minutes later, Severus sighed and then cleared his throat. "As for living arrangements," he began as if the prior outburst had never occurred, "while I hope that one day we will share a home�and I am happy for this space to be that home, with some minor modifications, of course�I have taken lodging elsewhere for six months."

Harry blinked. "Six months? Why six months?"

Severus pursed his lips "One would think that after all this time in the Wizarding world that you'd�oh, never mind. I wish to court you, Harry. Formally. A formal Wizarding courtship typically lasts six months. During that time, the relationship remains relatively chaste while the parties to the courtship spend time together to determine whether they are compatible in life and in marriage. I think this will satisfy your desire to �take things slow.'"

Harry blinked again. His mouth flopped open. "What happens at the end of the six months?" Harry stammered.

"Traditionally, the parties either handfast or bond in some other way. Or, they part company. But in the modern world, we could simply decide to live together."

"That seems like a lot of work without any kind of . . . um . . . guarantee," Harry trailed off.

Severus smiled and stalked over. He leaned in and kissed Harry breathless. When Harry was sufficiently dazed, Severus continued in a whisper. "I would hope that my earlier actions prove to you that I do not simply see you as a free source of food. I will need to drink from you often, yes, but I will ensure that it is pleasurable for you at all times. I will satisfy what ever it is you need. I meant it when I told you I loved you. If . . . if for some reason you find that you . . . no longer love me�either at the end of the six months or sometime later�I will release you from the consort's bond. You have my Wizard's oath on that. Now, Mr. Potter, will you permit to formally court you?"

"That�that sounds fine," Harry said, feeling as though his world was finally settling into something approaching normal. Well, real in any event. And, normal for him, perhaps. It couldn't be that unusual to fall in love with a vampire a decade or two older than one's self, and with whom one shared an exsanguination kink.

"Wonderful. I believe we will have our first meeting in two days time."

"Meeting. Is that like a date?"

"Yes. That is precisely what it is."

"Should I plan for anything in particular?" Harry asked, hoping that Potions lectures or rare magical artifact auctions weren't in his future.

Severus smiled evilly. "Ever been to an American cattle ranch, Harry?"

Ah. Revenge, then, Harry thought to himself. It was an odd choice for a conventional date, Harry supposed, but nothing about the two of them�either separate or apart�was conventional. "Err, no. I take it we won't be there to see the sights?"

"Not entirely, no." Severus hesitated. "Let's call it Slytherins' revenge, shall we? After all, you were almost sorted into my house. And, I believe, we can convince Brian to become an honorary member for this particular occasion."

Harry chuckled and shook his head. "I almost feel sorry for Draco."

"Save it for afterward. Only if he cries, that is."

Six months and two weeks later

"Severus, where do you want these trunks?" Harry called as the levitating trunks waited for his command.

A new day was dawning in the history of the Wizarding World. Only two weeks prior, Severus Snape had gotten on bended knee, declared the formal period of courtship over, and asked for the name of Harry's contractor. While marriage might some day be in their future, Harry and Severus had decided a long-term living arrangement suited them best for now. They'd celebrated by christening every room in Harry's small flat, as they'd decided to keep it and expand the space rather than find something new. Oddly, they'd never made it to Harry's bed while cavorting through the flat in a mad dash of "christening." It was just as well, as that bed now graced the newly added second bedroom.

"Anywhere in the study is fine. Have you gotten our robes?" Severus called from the hallway. There was a cheery fire in the living room fireplace. The bookshelves were lined with Severus's books and artifacts he'd collected over the years. There were even a few shared mementos from the bit of traveling they'd done together in last few months. Beautiful carpets graced the floors and a few paintings were scattered about.

Harry winced and bit his lip as he eyed the antique Wizarding clock on the mantle. His hand was pointed squarely to "In trouble." He'd forgotten to get their robes for Brian and Draco's handfasting. "Err . . . they weren't quite ready yet," he lied.

Severus didn't say anything right away. �You mean, you forgot and you don't want me to glower?' suddenly floated through Harry's mind.

Harry sighed. �Yes, whatever. Sorry. I'll go get them now.' Harry thought back, hoping his contrition was clear. It was, and Harry relaxed. �I'm rather surprised we were even invited after our little bit of revenge.'

Severus came up behind Harry and embraced him, nuzzling into the crook of his neck as he did so. "He deserved it, and he knows it." Severus nipped lightly at the side of Harry's neck, smiling when Harry shuddered and muttered something about him being a sex-crazed bastard. "It was worth the risk to see the look on his face when I told him that I'd decided that a mentally unbalanced wizard wasn't what I wanted in my bed and that I'd told you as much."

"Really? I'm rather fond of how green he turned when Brian rushed in to tell him that the Prophet had just reported that I'd been committed to the long-term mental ward at St. Mungo's after being spurned by my lover."

Severus laughed. "That was rather amusing. The fainting bit when you pulled off your invisibility cloak I could have done with out, though."

"Yes, I agree. Seven stitches, was it? I still don't know how he managed to knock himself against the mantel. Of course, Brian making him go to the Muggle doctor was rather cruel."

"Brian would have done well in our house, I think. I understand that after we left and after Draco had been healed by the Muggles, Brian handed him a shovel and told him that�now how did he put it?�ah yes, since Draco was �so good at shoveling shit,' he could shovel it along with stable hands in the paddock for thirty days, lest he lose bedroom privileges." Severus snorted. "I believe Draco lobbied for substantial raises for the stable hands after that."

Harry chuckled, which quickly became a moan when Severus decided a little snack was in order. "Are you anemic, or something?" Harry muttered as he gloried in the gentle pleasure Severus was giving him.

"Always so droll, Mr. Potter," Severus whispered as he retreated and licked the small wound closed. "As it happens, I find the taste of you irresistible."

"Tell me what I taste like," Harry said. His eyes were closed and he let Severus support his body weight. This was his favorite question and he delighted in the fact that Severus always answered. It was as close to "talking about their feelings" as either of them would ever get. And, that suited Harry just fine.

Severus smiled and pulled Harry even closer. "You taste like you, Harry. Like a rare wine that is as delicate as it is bold; as heady as it is sublime. There is a smoothness, a richness to you that speaks of age and wisdom. Yet, the smoothness is tempered by the pepper of your youth, the tang of your brashness. There is the slightest undercurrent of bitterness, which is balanced beautifully by the sweetness of your compassion. I could drink from you for an eternity and never tire of your taste, never discover all of the layers that make you, you."

"Merlin, you're sappy," Harry muttered, the delighted smile on his face betraying him. "I love you, Severus," slipped innocently from Harry's tongue in a breathless whisper.

Severus kissed the top of Harry's head and, with a wicked gleam and a spark of spontaneity, hoisted Harry into his arms.

Harry's eyes popped open and he struggled when it became clear that Severus intended to carry him to the bedroom. "This really isn't necessary," he said nervously. "Isn't this reserved for damsels in distress or blushing virgin brides? Or maybe those romance novel blokes the lady two floors down is always sighing over?"

Severus cradled Harry closer and nipped at his ear. "I want to seduce you," he whispered, "Let me do that. Let me show you the way you ought to be loved, worshipped. Let me show you how I love you. Besides, we haven't christened our new bed."

Harry's mouth had gone dry. He nodded hesitantly.

"Thank you, my love," Severus whispered. When Harry's body relaxed and settled into the embrace, Severus smiled. "That's it, love. Just let go. Let me take care of you."

Severus carried Harry to the bed. He stripped him reverently before slowly removing his own clothes. He ghosted his lips, his fingers, his body across every inch of Harry, ignoring his breathy mews and pleas. He prepared him expertly, slowly. Harry begged him to take him. Called him foul names and lovely ones alike. He writhed and thrust, but Severus was unmoved. He brought Harry to the brink over and over and over again before he finally entered him in one long, slow slide. Harry moaned and scrabbled in the sheets, trying to get closer to Severus.

"So beautiful," Severus whispered.

Harry opened his eyes, piercing Severus straight through. "You make me that way," he murmured as he cupped the side of Severus's face and pushed back against his slow, shallow thrusts.

Minutes, hours, millennia passed in that room, that bed, as Severus took Harry more slowly, more deeply than he ever had. Knowing he was close, knowing Harry was close, Severus thrust deeper and faster as he leaned over and sunk his fangs into the claiming marks on Harry's chest. Harry cried out in ecstasy. Severus sucked deeply as he thrust deeply. One hand wound itself in Harry's hair while the other snaked between them and took hold of Harry, pulling him in time with his thrusts. Harry was babbling a stream of curses, protestations of deities, and declarations of love. For a moment, they were one, in heart, in body, in soul. There was a brilliant flash and both came with blinding intensity, screaming for each other and holding on as if their lives depended on it.

More time passed. They floated back to themselves and petted each other's sex-slicked, overheated skin. The smell of blood and sex hovered and clung to them. Severus shifted in the bunched and sticky sheets. He cupped Harry's face with his hands, nearly clutching at him as if afraid he would disappear. A faint trail of blood trickled from Harry's chest. The tangle of limbs, of sheets, of lives was achingly real. And flawed. Severus smiled. �You are my life, my reality,' Severus murmured.

Harry smiled back. He pulled one of Severus's hands down and kissed its palm, noting its rough texture. His fingers were stained from years of potionmaking. The room was stuffy and somewhere down in the park two cats were caterwauling. But, none of that took away from the moment, the flawed perfection of it. The reality of it. He caressed Severus's face with his own roughened hands. �And you are mine,' he whispered, never hearing both his and Severus's hands on their Wizarding clock turn and point steadfastly to "home."

~finis~



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