Branded For You,

Prompt: Education (thanks to Hidden Lily! And for the quick beta!)

Sorry for the long wait. I'm reading all your lovely reviews, but life's so busy I just barely have time to post this. Hope you all enjoy :)

-:-

Education

'I forgive you,' he whispered. 'Just don't ever tell me to go out or get married or anything like that ever again!'

'I promise. I'll keep you with me as long as you can stand it.'

'That's forever then,' Draco sighed. Severus squeezed him tighter.

'Let's take it one day at a time,' Severus whispered back and Draco couldn't help but agree. They stayed like that for a small eternity, revelling in being back in each other's arms. Then, Severus started to fidget.

'You have a potion brewing I suppose?' Draco said, pulling back and smiling up at his lover. His lover. The words warmed him. Severus looked ever-so-slightly pink.

'There is one that needs checking before bed, so I thought could do that and ... meet you upstairs?' Draco shivered and nodded before giving Severus' arm a squeeze and hurrying upstairs.

Once there he stripped himself and dived under the covers. He smiled to himself as he snuggled down and got comfortable. It wasn't long before Severus appeared in the doorway, eyes dark and intense. Draco shivered despite the warm duvet. Severus went to his armoire and took his time taking off his clothing, his back always to Draco; he knew that no matter how long they were together, Severus would always hide that little uncertainty about his body deep inside him.

Finally, he slipped under the covers and extinguished the lamps while at the same time lighting the candles on the nightstands. Draco reached for him and they met in a heated embrace, and Draco silently rejoiced that whatever awkwardness between them was gone.

They made love almost painfully slowly, taking their time to get reacquainted. Draco felt pure bliss as Severus worshipped him, exploring his body thoroughly before breaching him.

When they were spent their bodies had a pretty sheen of sweat and their breathing calmed during languid kissing.

'Let's never be stupid again,' Draco concluded. He put his head on Severus shoulder and sighed.

'Yes, perhaps we should thank Harry for knocking some sense into us,' Severus murmured. Draco frowned.

'Severus ... about Harry ...'

'No need to say anything.'

'But-' Severus shifted abruptly and pulled Draco up for a deep kiss.

'Tell me one thing, do you love him?' Draco closed his eyes. Love? He loved Severus, he knew that much. Love Harry? He didn't really know him. He was still an unattainable ... thing.

'I think I may be in love with him,' Draco whispered. He opened his eyes. Severus was too close to properly focus on. 'But I love you, deeply, passionately, al-' Severus stopped him with another kiss, taking the breath out of him. He panted when they parted again. 'What about you?'

'I admit I want him.'

'But what do you feel for him?' Draco pulled back slightly so he could focus on Severus' eyes. They were as deep and unreadable as always.

'Something that could easily develop into ... passionate feelings.'

'Then what do we do about it? We both want him in our bed, between us.' Draco felt the mood shift as they both became aroused at the idea, but he kept himself in check. They needed to get this sorted.

'He would not respond well to a quick tumble,' Severus observed.

'Hmmm, no, that he would not,' Draco agreed.

'So, we're agreed then?' Draco could see it in Severus' eyes that they, for once, were on exactly the same page.

'Yes.' They pulled each other close and kissed.

XXX

'Harry?'

…

'Harry...!'

'HARRY!' He jerked and looked up. Ron was staring at him in confusion and annoyance. 'Merlin's beard, where were you?'

'Sorry,' Harry mumbled. He knew exactly where he had been. With Severus and Draco, just being with them, seeing what it was like in a real, proper, and gay relationship. Fuck, he was pathetic. Maybe he needed to try dating again. The thought sent a shudder through him. Damn pixies.

'You alright mate?'

'Yeah, fine.'

'So does that mean you're coming to lunch?'

'Huh?' He looked at the clock on their desk. 'Oh.' It was lunch-time and he had barely done any work.

Lunch was torture, as he was required to concentrate on conversations. Back at work he went back to daydreaming. By the time he got home he felt miserable. He knew he had a big problem, but how did he move on when the thought of dating filled him with dread? He sat slumped in his battered couch, feeling sorry for himself. The TV blared but he wasn't watching it.

A sharp knocking sound made him groan. His old lady probably needed something. Well, maybe it would take his mind off things. Then he realised the noise was coming from the window, not the door. He dragged himself up and opened the window for a magnificent owl. It flew to his couch and stood proudly, giving him a pointed look when he didn't immediately move to take the letter.

Harry untied it and sat down. He glanced behind him at the owl and it appeared to want a reply, so he tore the letter open. Inside was Severus' unmistakable script – he recognised it easily from years of nasty comments on his potions assignments.

Harry

Draco and I would like to invite you to dinner at our home at seven o'clock this Friday. We would like to thank you properly for setting us straight. Please come. We wish to express our gratitude.

Sincerely,

Severus

Harry sat stunned. Could they really want to be friends with him after everything? He certainly wanted to, but could he manage it? Wouldn't it be torture to be around them and know he wanted them ... both of them? Harry closed his eyes and pressed his hands to his head.

Maybe the fact that he couldn't decide between them was a good thing. Maybe he could just focus on friendship – what he had wanted to begin with!

He summoned a quill and quickly scrawled an affirmative reply on the back. He tied the letter to the owl again. It gave him a disdainful look before flying off effortlessly. Harry watched it go, wondering if he wasn't making a very big mistake.

XXX

Harry took a deep breath and raised his hand. He hesitated for half a second, then knocked. There, no going back now. The door opened and Draco greeted him. He looked perfect. He wore very flattering dark blue robes. It was trimmed in shimmering blue, but it was very understated. His white collar was crisp and made his face look like a sunrise; Harry almost blushed at his ridiculous thoughts.

'Harry, I'm so glad you came. Please come in.' Harry stepped inside and held out his hand before he lost his nerve.

'I-eh, brought wine.' Draco raised an eyebrow, but took the bottle. He checked the label.

'Thank you, you shouldn't have.' Harry had asked Hermione to find him a respectable bottle. He hadn't told her who it was for. 'You look great, by the way.' Harry fought his blush again and won. He had gone for semi-casual muggle wear, though for the first time it had taken him an hour to dress.

Draco led him into the dining room, where Severus was just lighting the candles. Harry gulped. The scene was much more romantic that he had anticipated. The table was decked out in white with beautiful china and sparkling glasses.

'Harry, so good to see you,' Severus' deep voice drew his eyes away from the table.

'Look what he's brought with him.' Draco showed off the bottle. Harry watched Severus' face, but the man was unreadable.

'Very nice. Thank you, Harry. Won't you sit down?' Severus put a hand on his lower back and led him to his seat. Harry tried not to lean into the touch. He was seated and watched as Draco poured the wine (from a different bottle already opened) and Severus floated the dishes to the table. They moved so well together. Harry sat at the end of the table with Draco to his left and Severus to his right. When they were all seated and served, Severus raised his glass. Harry quickly followed suit.

'To the future,' Severus said, rather cryptically. Draco gave him a secretive smile and Harry felt a pang as the pair shared a moment. They all clinked glasses.

The conversation during dinner was surprisingly light, though Harry, usually characteristically oblivious, did notice there were several more secret glances. It made him hot around the collar, and he felt a deep longing, like a wound he could feel inside him, but had no way to heal. Dessert was exquisite, something French and fluffy and sweet.

'Do you like it, Harry?' Draco practically purred. Harry blinked and licked the rest of his spoon.

'It's delicious,' he said.

'It certainly looks delicious when you eat it like that,' Draco commented, smirking.

'Um-'

'Draco,' Severus hissed. His eyes were smouldering. 'We agreed no flirting until we had discussed things like rational people.'

'Flirting!' Harry gasped, looking from one to the other. Draco looked slightly guilty, but only slightly.

'You saw him, he was practically making love to the spoon!' Harry finally blushed, red as a Gryffindor should be.

'Yes, but that is no excuse. We agreed to some restraint so as to avoid further misunderstandings.'

'Please,' Harry cut in before things escalated. He took a breath to dispel the heat in his face. 'Can someone explain what you're talking about?' Severus put his spoon down and rose.

'Let us move to the sitting room.' Draco and Harry followed him, the latter growing increasingly nervous. What where they up to?

Harry sat on the couch and before he knew it Severus and Draco were on either side of him, a little too close for comfort, but not really close enough to warrant Harry pointing it out. He swallowed and tried to ignore his body, and theirs, and focus on Severus' words. The only problem with that was that it easily led to him focus on Severus' mouth.

'Harry, I believe you have realised that we are both attracted to you.' Damn this heat! Harry nodded tightly. He wasn't exactly sure he believed it, but what else could he say? Both of them had tried to kiss him, so at least they wanted him physically, though why, he couldn't imagine.

'And we have deduced that you are rather taken with both of us.' Harry nodded again, and had to look away. There was no denying it anymore. A hand landed on his shoulder and he looked up into Draco's face. He was smiling kindly and Harry braced himself for a pity speech.

'What Severus is getting at is that we want you to be with us, both of us.' Harry stared into Draco's eyes. The light colour was a stark contrast to Severus', and they seemed to gleam with their own light. They distracted him from Draco's words, for surely he hadn't said-?

'What?'

'We wish you to be part of our relationship, for as long as you want us.' Harry's brows drew together in confusion. He looked back and forth between them, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but they were waiting for him to say something.

'You want me ...?'

'Yes,' Severus said, his eyes intense and serious. Deadly serious. Harry felt as if the air had been knocked out of him.

'But, but-... BOTH of you?' Harry winced at his volume, but the pair seemed to expect his shock.

'Yes,' Draco said, drawing Harry's attention like a moth to a flame. He wanted to understand desperately because this just couldn't possibly mean what he desperately hoped it might mean. 'I love Severus, and he loves me, but we have both admitted that we want you. We may even be in love with you.'

'In lov-' Harry couldn't even finish his thought, it was too much. Draco reached out and cupped his face. The touch sent a thrill through him.

'You are a wonderful person Harry,' Draco said, his voice serious and yet all the more seductive because of that. 'We can easily fall in love with you. We want to get to know you, in every way.'

'This is insane,' Harry whispered.

'Why? Do you want both of us?'

'I- yes,' Harry breathed out, blinking his eyes open. Draco watched him carefully. 'But I thought I just wanted what you had, not- but I do want both of you. I do.'

'Then is it so impossible that we both want you?' Draco asked softly. He turned his gaze to Severus and Harry followed. The man was observing, his face neutral, almost harsh, but then his gaze softened and as Draco let go Severus reached for him. Harry's shivered as Severus' hand slid back to cradle his head. He was in a daze.

'Yes, Harry I want you, I wish to know more about you. I am sorry I ever treated you poorly, because knowing just the little I do about you, made me realise how incredible you are.' Harry cursed at the surrealism of the situation. He had come here expecting a night of torture, watching the loving couple together again. 'Tell us, Harry, do you wish to enter a relationship with us? It could not be a one night affair.'

'Yes,' Harry's answer slipped from his lips before his mind had consciously made the choice. Severus' eyes widened slightly at the quick response, but Harry couldn't take it back, because he knew it was the right one. Severus smiled then and leaned. Harry held his breath. Severus pressed his lips to Harry's forehead, disappointing Harry but at the same time making his heart swell. He pulled away, not touching so Harry knew they weren't done with the discussion.

'Harry, apart from the mishap with the pixies, have you had much experience in dating?'

'Um, you mean with men?'

'Yes, with men.' Harry closed his eyes in mortification, but he knew Severus must know, Draco too probably. It was so obvious he was inexperienced. Severus demanded it said, apparently.

'No. I haven't dated any, at all, and I don't really want to, after the stupid pixie incident. I don't know if I'll ever feel safe on a date again.'

'Well, I do hope you will consider a few dates with us,' Severus commented. 'But for now we can stay in, how does that sound?' Harry looked at him, glanced at Draco, and smiled slightly. They were being surprisingly patient with him. Maybe, just maybe, this could actually work.

'Sounds good.'

'Very good,' Draco purred. He scooted closer.

'Perhaps we should take things slowly,' Severus advised.

'Come on, Severus,' Draco huffed. 'I can't let him walk out of here without ... tasting him.' Harry's face grew red and his breath shortened. Draco turned his face towards him and Harry's eyes fluttered closed as Draco kissed him.

It was sweet yet passionate. Harry's stomach did a flip. His hand came up of its own volition. He finally ran his hand through Draco's soft, soft hair, then gripped it tightly, tilting his head and deepening the kiss. He had never kissed like this before! Draco gave a delightful moan and it made Harry instantly hard. Draco clutched at his shirt. A hand on Harry's neck made him break the kiss. He turned his head, panting, and then his lips were claimed. Severus forcibly turned him and Harry gasped as Severus' tongue invaded him. Draco was right there, too, pressing himself against Harry's other side. The feeling of being completely surrounded was wonderful, and felt both erotic and safe. They had to part so Harry could catch his breath, and let his mind catch up.

'Mmm,' Severus hummed. 'I think we should retire to the bedchamber.'

'Best idea you've had all night, Severus,' Draco proclaimed. 'What do you say, Harry?' He leaned in and licked at Harry's ear, who never would have thought that that could be arousing.

'I ... I'd like that, but ...'

'Not to worry,' Severus murmured, his closeness both exciting and comforting. 'We will stop the moment you wish it ...'

'It's just that I'm so ...' Harry blushed, but he was already red from the recent activities. 'Inexperienced.'

'I said not to worry, Harry,' Severus said, his voice soothing. 'We will educate you in anything you wish to know.'

'Yes, we will give you a most thorough education,' Draco purred, kissing the back of Harry's neck.

'Yes, all right,' Harry heard himself saying, agreeing one hundred percent with his mouth at this point. Draco took his left hand, Severus his right, and they pulled him upright and led him away.

As Harry ascended the stairs, it felt like he was entering someplace sacred. The bedroom was inviting, which was a bit of a surprise. Harry had sort of imagined a den of sin for some reason, but it was just a bedroom, for a proper couple. Severus pulled him in and kissed him again. Harry tried giving as good as he got, but Severus was quite overwhelming. He parted, looking over Harry's shoulder and smirking. Harry followed his gaze and his jaw dropped.

Draco was wearing green underneath his robe...