You Made Me What I Am

Chapter 11: Overdue Explanations

Harry had done as he said and went back to his room and took a long and relaxing bath filled to tub's brim with vanilla scented bubbles. He cleared tension and eased his eased his mind. Harry was aware Draco and Severus were confused by his actions and had every right to question them.

He sighed to himself; he just wasn't sure how to explain the mess he just created for himself.

Draco and Severus had been summoned after Harry dried off and made himself comfortable as possible in his nude body before the fire. They watched him and saw his unease and distress, which made them both concerned and worried.

"Harry? Are you alright?" Draco asked him gently

Harry's laughter that bubbled was forced out and harsh, "You ask me if I am okay when it is me who should be asking you two the same question?"

Harry was uncomfortable now and stood before the fire, "I have been with you both as partners; more than several times over the last three months for Severus, and Severus believed I had no mate at all. This was not so; I said nothing to safe-guard myself. Draco has only ever once been with me fully. However, he also knew that I had a mate, but that he was being punished severely for an offense though he has no idea who this mate is." Harry said tensely

Severus and Draco now seemed nervous as Harry's hands clenched in frustration.

"I want you both to know that every moment we have had together; whether intimate or merely for companionship, they will always be cherished. I never intended to lie to either of you or for you to think I used you for my own devices; I wasn't supposed to say anything of it at first. I do have a mate, and he was being punished until last evening after Draco left and he wanted to talk to me and we finally reconciled."

His eyes were cloudy with uncertainty, "What you don't know or were never aware of is that my mate happens to be your lord and the man you've pledged your lives to serve."

Draco and Severus blanched and paled at this.

"He will not seek revenge for he knows now that he had no right to treat me as he had, or to intervene when I had to punish him to make him realize what he has done to me. But our time together will now be stopped...as I cannot go to you for satiation any longer." Harry told them

"I hope you understand what I have done and why, so we can at least be on amicable terms for the future?" He asked

Severus was first to respond, "You did what you must Harry, but I wish you had told us this beforehand so we knew what to expect. Tom is...possessive of his things. While you are not an object and are not to be treated as one; I know he cares for you deeply. I watched him break down inside when you arrived and nearly died here in his arms."

"He was beginning to look like a broken man who had lost all he had left of himself." Severus told him quietly

Harry looked to Severus and saw the truth in his eyes and it hurt to know his mate had suffered as much as he had and that perhaps his pride had gone too far this time.

Draco stepped forward, "You told me the situation was complicated and you were right. I can dream of things working between us; but, that is all it will ever be and I knew that. My lord has hurt you and it angers me at how badly he had judged this situation...but you cannot live without him and I am not one to make you try."

Harry saw the truth here too and smiled with happiness as tears came to him and he felt as though large iron bricks had come off of his shoulders.

"Thank you." He whispered softly to them

They nodded and Draco turned serious, "Harry, Hermione is genuine but she is in danger real badly. She needs out of that school soon."

Harry turned to his blonde friend, "How did you find out?"

Severus was interested in this as they sat down to discuss it now that the emotional drama was done.

"I found her in the library buried among books containing information on wards and how to create or destroy them. She had fallen asleep there and her notes open in plain sight. She believes you are alive and hiding, but not understanding why."

"She also had a large row with Ron in the halls yesterday." Draco said quietly, "It was the first one of that magnitude since the start of the year. Her anger was clearly felt in the hallway. She beat him up pretty bad too."

"She's losing control on not knowing how to help you because she doesn't even know where you are or why you are hiding."

Harry stood again and his face was set in a determined expression. Hermione was very smart, and her worrying had made her this way; which was opposite of her normally logical and calming presence.

"I need to see if Tom would allow her to even be here, but if he agrees; I need you and Severus to find a way to persuade Hermione to have a chat with you so you can get her here." Harry told them

Draco's face darkened, "Don't take too long as I think the headmaster is starting to want to control her more."

Harry nodded, "I will speak later about this to him during dinner."

They left and Harry sighed, "Hermione, what have you gotten yourself into now?"

~~

Harry's day progressed slowly as he went about assessing the skills of the Inner Circle and evaluating them for his combat style when they were to siege at the school. Hermione, Neville and Luna foremost to his thoughts as he went about this.

It had not taken long to see how far Harry had come in so little time. The Inner Circle was a mess of different skills and he had to split them to make it cohesive enough to fight. As he had to do with the Outer Circle once he had been introduced to them as well.

The many humanoid races kept council among themselves, but reported to Tom on their status and he in turn told Harry they were mobilizing as well.

When Harry sat down for dinner with just Tom that night; his mind was beleaguered with many thoughts and worries.

"Tom, if a muggle-born friend of mine were to still be loyal to me, and they were in need of safe harbor away from the castle; would you allow them to come here?" Harry asked hesitantly as the food was served and they were about to eat

Tom's silverware stopped suddenly and looked to Harry curiously.

"What's this about Harry?" he asked softly

"Hermione." He said, "I've had Draco watching all those connected to me to see who was loyal and who wasn't. Hermione is, but she knows I am alive and is worried about me severely. She was discovered researching the creation and destruction of wards in the library. Draco believes the headmaster may try something with her and she is in danger. I happen to agree with this line of thought."

Tom hummed in thought, "She was the one who was always with books in her hands, correct?"

Harry nodded and smiled, "Yes Hermione loves learning new things and I think she would accept things for me as they are. She has no real prejudice to anything except that she hates being considered less equal because of a blood status she didn't ask to be born with."

Tom nodded, "Are you sure you can trust her?"

Harry hesitantly nodded, "It might take a bit, but she is quite logical. Once she realizes I am safe here and calms down; she will assess everything she is told and make a decision for herself."

Tom nodded, "Very well, she may come here if she can remain loyal to you. If she hurts you though; she will find herself very hurt or perhaps very dead." Tom growled at him for understanding

Harry nodded and smiled pleasantly to this as he and Tom then discussed their plans for the siege at the school and how soon they believed would be good enough to strike.

Later, Harry summoned Draco and told him Hermione was cleared to come and to tell Severus next he saw him. Draco had nodded and then left as Harry went to rest for the evening. Tom and he had decided to work out some more of their problems before just mating and jumping into bed with the other.

It was going to take some time, but at least Harry knew Tom was there now for him and he planned to be there for as long as was supposed to be.