Chapter 34

The fae circle near Cokeworth flared to life. Severus and Harry fell from the portal together. The suffocating pressure of the fae realm that had been pressing against Severus's mind subsided, and he let out a shaky breath as he needed to realign his occlumancy shields.

Severus had twisted mid-fall on instinct. He took the impact on his side and shoulder rather than letting Harry strike the ground. Harry landed against the Potion master's chest with a weak moan.

Magdalena stepped through behind the pair, and the portal closed.

"Sev?"

"I am here."

Harry's unfocused eyes found his husband, or tried to. Then he asked, "Nimue?"

"Are you going back for her?" Severus asked, looking at Magdalena.

"No," Magdalena said quietly.

"No?" Harry questioned while Severus raised a brow.

"I am trusting her," Magdalena stated. "If I return, I will be a burden," she continued. "My wings are paralyzed. You saw what happened when I broke Harry's chains. I could barely manage that without burning through what little strength I had."

"In the fae realm, wings are not merely limbs. They are not decoration, they are pride. They symbolize power, lineage, station, and the ability to channel one's nature. Mine have been still since birth."

"Nimue never takes a fight she cannot handle," Magdalena stated. "And if she does, she cheats."

Despite everything, Harry made a sound that might have been a laugh. It became a cough halfway through, and Severus immediately shifted, lifting him higher against his chest.

"Do not speak," He ordered.

"Bossy." Harry's lips twitched faintly.

"Yes. You married me. Deal with it." Severus retorted.

"She will return when she is ready," Magdalena said. "Or when she has finished making Oberon regret everything."

"Take him home. The others will be worried as time flows differently in the fae realm."

Severus went very still. "How differently?" he asked.

"It varies," Magdalena elaborated. "Sometimes an hour there is an hour here. Sometimes it is a day. Sometimes more. The deeper one travels into the old paths, the less obedient time becomes."

"Sev..." Harry mumbled.

"I know."

"Home?"

"Yes," Severus said, voice rougher than he intended. "I am taking you home."

He adjusted his hold on Harry enough to free one hand. "Zippy."

The air cracked, and a house-elf appeared with a pop. Zippy looked worse than Severus had ever seen her. Her frilled tunic was wrinkled, her enormous eyes bloodshot, and her ears were drooping. The moment she saw Harry, she let out a wail so piercing that Magdalena actually flinched.

"Quiet."

Zippy clapped both hands over her mouth. "Master Consort has found him," she whispered through her fingers.

"Yes," Severus said. "And you will take us to the castle infirmary. Now. I do not think Apparating is safe given his injuries."

Zippy nodded vigorously but then said, "Zippy tried, Most Honorable Husband Potion Master, sir! Zippy tried to find His Majesty, but the bond went quiet, and Mister Draco was shouting, and Miss Ginny hexed three ministers, and..."

"How long?" Severus interrupted. "How long have we been gone?"

"Thirteen days, sir."

Severus felt the words like a knife between the ribs. Thirteen days.

Zippy wrung her hands. "The castle is most upset, sir. The throne room doors locked themselves after day three. Advisor Draco has not slept. Advisor Draco is very surly when not fed copious amounts of coffee, and Mister Neville sicced several chomping cabbages onto the court to keep them in line. Miss Weasley hexed three Ministers for gossiping about the King!"

"I will visit, but I will need to go home first. My husband is probably worried sick as well, and... Hermione deserves a proper explanation."

Zippy looked at her, then blinked, as though only now registering the fae princess. Then she bowed so low her nose nearly hit the mud. "Lady Sparkly Winged Person."

Magdalena stared.

Severus closed his eyes briefly. "Zippy."

"Zippy is being respectful, sir."

"I noticed," Severus grumbled. "May we depart now?"

Zippy nodded so hard she might have nearly gotten whiplash. "Yes, Most Honorable Husband Potion Master, sir."

"Do not call me that again."

"Yes, Most Terrifying Husband Potion Master, sir," she amended, and Severus just stared.

Magdalena's lips twitched. Harry, half-conscious against Severus's chest, made the faintest sound that might have been amusement.

"Do not encourage her." Severus looked down.

"Funny," Harry breathed.

Zippy stepped closer and placed one small hand on Severus's sleeve. "Hold tight. Zippy will be gentle."

The world folded. House-elf magic was nothing like apparating. They landed in the castle infirmary, and then the room erupted.

A tray of potions crashed to the floor. Someone screamed upon their sudden arrival. A medi-witch knocked over a stool. Two healers spun around with their wands raised, and Draco Malfoy, who had finally been asleep in a chair beside the far wall, shot upright with his wand in hand and murder in his eyes.

"Who dares!" His voice died upon seeing his godfather and the state Harry was in.

Severus strode toward the nearest bed, ignoring every stunned face in the room.

He laid Harry down with painstaking care, as though the king were made of glass. The moment Harry's body left Severus's arms, his hand jerked weakly upward.

"Sev..."

"I am here."

Harry's fingers curled around his. Only then did Severus allow himself to breathe. Draco moved to the other side of the bed, staring at Harry's bruised face and the raw skin around his wrists.

One medi-witch took a cautious step forward. "Prince Consort, we need to examine His Majesty."

Severus did not move, so Draco cleared his throat. "Uncle Sev."

When Severus's eyes snapped to him, Draco did not flinch. "They cannot treat him if you glare them into paralysis," Draco said quietly.

"I am not moving from his side."

"No one asked you to."

"You may remain, Your Highness. But we must begin." The medi-witch nodded quickly. Severus looked down at Harry. Harry's eyes were closed again, but his fingers still clung to Severus's hand.

Healers converged on their king after that. Zippy hovered anxiously by the foot of the bed, wringing her hands so hard her knuckles cracked.

"I need more coffee for this," Draco muttered.

"You need sleep," Severus retorted as he saw the bags under the blonde's eyes.

"You were missing for thirteen days, Harry was abducted by a fae lunatic, the court attempted three emergency succession debates, Ginny threatened to castrate a Minister, Neville weaponized vegetables, Luna has been talking to the walls, and your husband has returned looking like death warmed over. I am not sleeping."

Harry stirred faintly. "Draco..."

"Potter?"

Harry's eyes barely opened. "You sound awful."

"You absolute bastard." Draco let out a laugh.

"Missed you too," Harry whispered.