A Nekos Mate (REWRITING)

Chapter 2

Harry's POV

"Dad," I breathed out and smiled happily.

But before anyone could do or say anything else, an excited male voice was heard from behind my dad before he and Severus were roughly shoved out of the way.

"Harry!" the new person exclaimed and then gave me the strongest hug I had ever received until then.

And at that moment I just knew it, even before I saw his face. To whom the voice belonged. Who this new person was:

It was my father, James, who was holding onto me for dear life.

I knew I was right when Father eventually released me from the hug and held me by the shoulders instead.

He had a huge smile gracing his handsome face while he looked at me from head to toe.

A smile that my own face couldn't help but mirror as well.

Then I remembered that my father had all but shoved the others out of his way in his rush to reach me. I knew he didn't mean to hurt my dad, but I was positive he didn't care about Severus one bit.

So I worriedly looked at my dad and then at my soulmate and was relieved to see them unharmed.

Severus, ever observant, probably inferred correctly what I was thinking and feeling because he just arched an eyebrow at me before subtly rolling his eyes and mouthing to me that he was fine.

A little embarrassed at being read so easily by my soulmate, and probably everyone else for that matter, I quickly looked back to my father, who was by then shooting daggers at Severus. "If looks could kill," I thought.

"Father, Dad, may we come in? I think we have many things to talk about," I said, shyly.

"Of course, you may come in, Harry. This is also your home!" Father told me, in a soft, sweet voice, before turning his head and saying coldly to Severus, "Bye, Snape. Thank you for bringing Harry."

"Father!" I yelled, indignantly, "Severus was kind enough to bring me here from Gringotts!"

My soulmate looked at me surprised, and perhaps a little bit annoyed at being called by his first name by me, instead of his last name or any other formal way he was used to.

But since he didn't comment on it, I decided I would keep calling him Severus from then on. It just felt right.

"Well, he has served his purpose, I don't see why he should linger anymore," Father scoffed. "This is a family matter!"

"Severus is my soulmate, so he is also my family," I calmly informed my father, who just stared at me and Severus in shock after the revelation, spluttering and red in the face. From anger, probably.

"Now, now, James, why don't we all go inside so we can have a nice chat?" Dad said, probably trying to calm the tension that had formed between Severus and my father.

"Tch, whatever. Come in then, Snape," Father agreed, moodily, before he turned around and led the way toward the living room, while the rest of us followed him.

Once in the living room, Severus and I sat together on one sofa, and my parents on another one.

Dad then ordered a house elf to bring us some refreshments, and after everyone had their cups of tea prepared the way they liked, he said, "It's good to have you back, Harry. Tell us what you know."

I started recounting everything that happened since I came into my creature inheritance, and also what happened at Gringotts.

And since Griphook gave me a copy of the file I read there, I also showed it to them.

Father, of course, quickly went to the part stating my soulmate's name, and I could see him visibly deflating after reading the undeniable proof that Severus was my soulmate. Or so I guessed.

"So that is all you know?" Dad asked me after he scanned the file.

"Yes, that is all I know," I confirmed, as my ears twitched slightly, while my father glared darkly at Severus.

Severus, surprisingly, didn't return my father's glare and instead seemed to be staring off into space.

So I took his hand since I needed his touch, and he looked at me confused and arched an elegant eyebrow.

"Father, please be nice to Severus. I know you don't have the greatest past with him, but just leave the past in the past and move forward. Please, just apologize to him," I asked, hopefully.

Father then mumbled something under his breath, still looking angrily at Severus. I almost rolled my eyes at that childish display and said, "Father, please do not mumble. I wish for you to apologize properly to Severus and really mean it."

Father then straightened up in his seat and arrogantly said, "I refuse. I have nothing to apologize for to him."

I sighed, very ashamed and disappointed that my father preferred to hold onto the past and his grudges instead of reflecting on his wrongdoings and trying to fix his mistakes.

I felt like crying but that was not all I felt. After witnessing such a display of arrogance from my father, I got extremely angry at him on my soulmate's behalf.

Therefore, I couldn't help myself and snapped at him while standing up, "Very well, Father, if you want it to be that way, then so be it. Once you get your act together and properly reflect on your actions, like an adult, you can come to find me."

My parents looked at me in shock, but I decided to ignore them. Instead, I quickly took Severus by the arm, who remained quiet at the turn of events, and kind of dragged him out of the Manor, while my parents came right behind us and tried to apologize to me.

They asked me to please stay to try to fix things. But it was no use, I was too angry to listen to them at that moment.

And as soon as we were outside of the Manor wards, I asked Severus to please take us to his home. I felt that I couldn't hold my tears much longer.

Severus seemed to understand my distress, and that at that moment I needed a safe and calm place to be, so after saying his goodbye to my dad, he quickly apparated us outside of his house at Spinner's End.

Once we were outside of Severus' house, I held him very tightly, while I cried my eyes out.

Severus quietly held me in his arms and tried to calm me down. But once he realized that I wouldn't be able to calm down anytime soon, he carried me bridal style and took me inside the house.

Once inside, he took me to the living room and tried to put me on the sofa. But since I didn't want to let him go just yet, I asked him to please keep holding me a little bit more. Severus complied and sat down on the sofa with me on his lap.

After maybe 15 minutes, I was finally able to calm down completely. Not on my own, but thanks to Severus, who summoned a Calming Draught and made me drink it.

Even so, he didn't let go of me or ask me to get off his lap.

"Why did you ask your father to apologize to me?" Severus asked me, softly, after a while.

And without lifting my head or looking at him, I replied just as softly as he did:

"The way my father treats you is wrong. You shouldn't be treated like that. Not only because you are my soulmate, but also because you deserve respect, just like everybody else."

Severus didn't say anything, so I lifted my head and looked him straight in the eyes, trying to convey the sincerity of my next statement. "And I want to be able to defend you because I care a lot for you, Severus."