Harry sat in silence, watching as Kreacher served him soup and then shuffled to the other end of the table. Instead of serving Severus, though, the elf let the tureen settle to the table with a thud, causing Severus to startle in surprise as soup sloshed over the edge and onto his sleeve.

"Kreacher is very sorry, Master Severus," the elf sing-songed in a not-so-sorry voice.

Severus cast the elf an irritated glance, then moved to serve himself.

Harry picked up his spoon and hazarded a cautious sip. "Excellent soup, Kreacher," he smiled.

"Kreacher lives to serve the noble Harry Potter," the elf replied, with a definite sneer sent to the other end of the table. Then in the bat of an eye, Kreacher beamed, as he levitated a slice of bread to the side of Harry's bowl.

Harry watched, perplexed, as Kreacher waved his hand carelessly to deliver Severus' bread neatly to the man's lap. When Severus glowered at the elf, Kreacher rolled his eyes as he apologized once again.

Setting down his spoon, Harry placed his napkin to the side as he sat back. "What did you do this time?" he asked Severus resignedly.

Severus' spoon halted halfway to his mouth. "Do? Whatever do you mean?"

Harry jerked his head in Kreacher's direction.

Severus frowned. "Nothing that I can recall."

"Oh no, such a small thing, Master Severus cannot even be remembering it," Kreacher said under his breath, but loud enough for both men to hear. He shot a furtive look at Severus as he spilt a bit of wine meant for the man's goblet.

"Kreacher," Harry directed, "what happened?"

Both Harry and Severus startled slightly when the elf allowed the carafe to bang to the table with a crack! Hands on his hips, his ears twitching in tandem, his lips quivered as Kreacher blurted out, "What happened? Master Harry Potter wants to know what happened?"

"Yes!" Harry growled. "Tell me."

"Master Severus is trying to give Kreacher clothes! All that Kreacher has ever been wanting is to be serving his Master." The house-elf's voice now wobbled as his large, bulbous eyes flashed. "Kreacher has tried to treat Master Severus as he does Master Harry Potter! But Kreacher knows Master Severus does not want a house-elf. Kreacher knows that Master Severus is trying to trick Kreacher, he is!"

"You tried to give him clothes?" Harry asked in disbelief.

Severus rested his forehead in his hand, his eyes on Harry. "No, I didn't." When Kreacher made a snorting sound, Severus held up his hand. "I merely tried to hand him a stack of your clothing that has collected in my rooms. To return them to you," he said as he waved in Harry's direction.

"Yeaaaaah," Harrry said, drawing the word out. "That would be giving him clothes, Severus."

"For pity's sake, it was an honest mistake," Severus muttered as he dipped his bread in his soup. Nothing further was said until Kreacher trudged from the room, still muttering under his breath.

Harry shrugged as he said, "It'd be nice if the two of you could get along." He looked up and their eyes connected. "Such a small thing, really."

Just on the verge of entering the study that evening, Harry stopped at the sound of the voices within.

"It was not my intention to bait you in any way," Severus said.

There was a pause.

"Kreacher is not fooled. He knows that Master Severus is not sorry," the house-elf sniffed.

"I imagine I'm not. However," Severus hesitated as his voice lowered, "there is one thing for which I am sorry. Within reason, you understand, I do try to make Master Harry…happy."

Harry heard Kreacher make a small sound of commiseration, then his nasal reply. "Kreacher wants Master Harry Potter to be happy as well."

There was a pause so lengthy that Harry was about to turn away, when Severus spoke softly.

"Then we must both endeavor to get along. For Master Harry's sake."

"Kreacher will try."

Harry smiled as he slipped along the hallway.

"So," Harry began as Severus slid into the bed beside him, "you and Kreacher talked?"

As he rolled to face him, Severus made a face of distaste. "I talked, he listened. You mollycoddle him far too much. He is still a house-elf; he should be taught his place."

Harry insinuated a knee between Severus' thighs, running his fingertips down the man's chest. "That was it, then?" Harry asked, biting back a smile.

Severus narrowed his eyes, groaned as Harry twisted a nipple hard, then ground out, "More or less."

Harry took Severus' hands in his own, then guided them down to his cock, smiling slightly. "Good to hear it. So, how about making Master Harry happy?"

"You…eavesdropped," Severus murmured, leaning in to breathe into the hair at Harry's ear. "I'm afraid there will be consequences."

Shivering involuntarily at the touch of the tongue in his ear, Harry gasped, "God, I should get something for putting up with the two of you."