Spur of the Moment

Chapter 72

Warning: major character death

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Harry smiled as he let his fingertips dance softly over the phoenix tattoo that now adorned Severus' shoulder and had for over a week. He kept his touch light so as to avoid waking his lover. Severus had been sleeping a bit more ever since the ritual that completely changed his Dark Mark. Harry just knew the man was happier.

He watched, still smiling, as Severus gave a tired and quiet sigh before rolling over. The dark eyes opened slowly and looked up into the bright green ones.

"Again?" Severus muttered and Harry laughed.

"It's a really nice mark, Severus. I like it," Harry said.

"And it has nothing to do with the fact that I now have a Gryffindor colour on my body?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Hadn't even occurred to me," Harry said. "It just looks so amazing."

Severus hummed and stretched with a quiet groan. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, ridding them of the remaining sleep. He looked over his shoulder when he felt Harry's fingers again. He rolled his eyes when Harry just smiled.

"I am having a shower. Get us some breakfast?" he said and Harry nodded.

"Will do," he said and left the bedroom after pulling a robe over his pajama pants and bare torso. Instead of calling Dobby, he decided to make breakfast himself.

As he prepared the food and listened to the sound of the shower, Harry's thoughts drifted to the day they changed Severus' Dark Mark. Both of them had passed out after the final phase in which he changed the shape of the Mark into the phoenix it now was. Severus had woken up quickly and ignored the hovering of Madam Pomfrey to make sure Harry was alright. Harry remained unconscious for three hours as his magic replenished itself. When he had woken, it didn't take him long to storm away from Pomfrey's lecturing and into the bedroom. Severus sent both her and Kingsley away, leaving the two of them to marvel at Harry's accomplishment.

Though the bond was only a one-way bond, they could both feel each other though Severus could feel Harry more, of course. Harry could mostly feel the bond and the bit of Severus' magic that went along with the bond.

Harry often found himself just staring at the mark now whenever Severus was shirtless. Severus bugged him about it, but Harry knew he was beyond pleased that he was free of Voldemort and he no longer had to stare at the Dark Mark.

He took the eggs and sausage from the pan and onto the waiting plates. He floated the plates to the table and poured two glasses of milk. He had just set them down when Severus entered the kitchen.

"You cooked," he said simply, taking his seat.

Harry nodded. "Felt like it today."

They ate quietly and Harry's mind travelled to Dumbledore. The headmaster had gotten progressively worse over the last week and it was only the man's magic keeping him alive now. Pomfrey said he would die at any moment now. Harry just couldn't understand it. How could someone be so suddenly ill that they were dying, but every scan and test came back normal, including Muggle tests? It didn't make sense. There was clearly something wrong. He was dying so there was obviously something.

Pomfrey and Severus had long ago stopped doing tests. They had exhausted all tests only for them to reveal nothing. Instead, they were making the man comfortable and keeping him company until he passed.

"You know," Harry said suddenly, his mind jumping to another topic, "we can't actually destroy Voldemort yet."

"And why not?" Severus said, raising an eyebrow.