Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Dance of The DeathEater

1996

"I will be fine," Severus told him calmly.

Harry stared at his father, his lower lip wedged painfully between his teeth. Since he'd stepped out of his father's Floo, he had wanted to blurt out what he'd only just discovered this afternoon. He wanted to say it now, but his throat felt as though he would never use it again, and his mouth was absolutely dry.

It sounded too final, and Harry didn't want anything about this night to be final. For the first time in his life, Harry had somebody that was his. As much as he'd loved Sirius, this was different. Severus was here, had been here when Harry had needed him. The thought of losing him now... Well, Harry knew he wouldn't be able to bear it. Not this time. He loved him, and more than anything... right now, he needed to say it.

His father was watching him, his eyes shadowed, and Harry's anxiety almost wouldn't allow him to speak. Clearing his thoughts and ordering his storm to gentle, Harry took a deep breath. "I need you to know something before you go," he told his father shakily. Severus nodded immediately, and Harry felt another rush of love for the man's easy acceptance of everything that had happened between them... his father's acceptance of him.

"I didn't realize it before..." Harry began slowly, "not until I watched Malfoy today. I understood why he would agree to anything Voldemort asked... He loves Lucius."

Harry looked away from his father's obsidian gaze. Gathering his courage about him, Harry found his father's eyes again, which were waiting patiently, and Harry relaxed. "Just like I love you," he finished, surprised at how steady the words sounded.

The black eyes softened with warmth. Severus stepped toward Harry. His fingers curled as they reached out, and then, he was gently brushing Harry's errant fringe aside. Harry's eyes prickled with the familiar touch.

His father's hand kept moving until he was cupping the back of Harry's head. Not even waiting for his father to complete the motion, Harry leaned forward so that his forehead was resting against the soft robes. He listened to the deep rumble of his father's chest as Severus said quietly, "Albus used to tell me that you had an incredible capacity to love. I do not deserve it, but I am grateful for it, nonetheless."

Harry didn't even try to respond. He was well past the ability to push through the emotions in his chest. He simply stayed against his father's robes, allowing the scent of cloves to soothe him.

--

Harry was trying to enjoy himself, he really was, but his thoughts were stuck firmly with his father, and he wondered again if the Dark Mark had burned, yet. He knew perfectly well that it had been better that he'd come here and left his father to his solitude; Severus' mind would be much clearer if he was alone when Voldemort called his followers. But even though he knew it, Harry still wished he was back in his father's quarters.

At least, the other Gryffindors were having fun, Harry thought gloomily as he watched the students moving lithely to the raucous music. Well, not all the Gryffindors, he corrected as he watched Ron and Hermione swaying slightly with the rhythm. It was easy to tell that their hearts just weren't in it. Ron kept looking around anxiously as though he expected Death Eaters to come flying at them at any second.

Shacklebolt and Moody had already removed the seventh-year Slytherin threat; the three students were being held under guard of several Order members. Illegally, of course, but that didn't seem to concern any of the adults, who assured Harry that the Ministry Aurors would want them in their custody before long. Preemptive strike, Tonks had told him cheerfully. Harry hadn't argued.