pekeleke

You have to excuse me, but I need some space to rant about the amazing piece I have just read. Please, bear it with me:

The love that is described through the eyes of such an old elf like Kreacher himself is so unique, subtle and unobtrusive, yet passionate and burning at the same time. Reading everything till the end as everything finally pieces together, my heart aches for them both.

On one hand Harry is insecure about Severus' love for him that he tries his best to cater to his beloved's every possible need, every little tasks that he thinks Severus will appreciate, all done by hand. And I have to agree with Kreacher in asking:how is it possible to love someone so fiercely Because, evidently, it's not everyday you can find someone who is willing to do anything freely for you (aside from family, but there are a few exceptions in this case as well), and to have it being demonstrated here with Harry doing all that he can think of to assist Severus, integrating himself as much as he can into his lover's every day life... it's beautiful and utterly heart-wrenching.

To have such need for contact that hand-holding isn't enough and neither is lovemaking This line is the total sum of Harry's emotions, all that he desires out of doing what he does for this relationship. Because, in the end, 'contact' and 'lovemaking' is all but physical. And Harry yearns for that internal connection, that confirmation which tells him this isn't some sort of a vain, unrequited love. It is just sad to see the clear desperation in Harry's actions as I cannot help but feel like Harry is trying to convince himself that Severus needs him in his life by doing all of this. As Kreacher says,Despite how long they've been together Harry Potter often struggles to remember that his forbidding husband chose to belong to him when he'd agreed to their bonding. and this is so Harry that it's just... sad. He does a tendency to forget that people choose to be with him, not because they are forced to or feel a sense of obligation towards him.

And then all the way to the end, you drop a bombshell on me. Knowing you and your Severus, there must undoubtedly be a rebound of sort somewhere, and I miserably fail to brace myself for impact even though it was absolutely within expectation! Because this Severus we are talking about, your Severus no less, the one that isso damaged that he can't even bring himself to say the words 'I love you' for crying out loud. Your Severus, the Severus that is so immensely tragic most of the time that it's heart-wrenching. That one line right there wraps up the entirety of what Severus is (supposedly) like in a relationship with another.

In two sentences, you turn everything around, and, honestly, it feels like something almost akin to magic- the way how you execute all of this in 365 words. In one moment of overwhelming weakness and insecurity, Harry voices the ever dreadful question that looms constantly at the forefront of his mind, and Kreacher answers him in such a simple way that it makes everything seem crystal clear and plain as day.

He loves you every time he swallows your terrible food without telling you it's unsalted. He loves you when he wears the wrong shoes just because you've polished them and uses the sharpened quill he'd been thinking of discarding because his long fingers can't hold it anymore.

Actions speak louder than words, and isn't just Severus to return Harry's affection in the most discreet and secretive of way? Aside from being unable to bring himself to say the necessary reassurances, he is trying his best to show his love for Harry with just as much effort as Harry exerts.

It has always been there right under Harry's nose, or right before his eyes, the whole time. However, because Harry has a tendency to forget, he will sometimes need a reminder. And who else better to assume this task but Kreacher? The old, observant little elf that has been stripped of all his duties but for the most important one. It makes it all the more wonderful that this all has been told from Kreacher's point of view with such tentativeness and tender that it feels as if the warmth of their love, like burning flames from a cozy fireplace- illuminating, captivating and long-lasting (as long as there are logs to feed the fire, and I would like to think that between Severus and Harry, they'll manage to produce enough dry wood for a life time and beyond), was seeping in every corner of this cold and lifeless place, bringing it back to life like it is doing with Kreacher's old heart.

Such a remarkable work you have here, truly remarkable. If you have the patience to read everything till now, I thank you for your patience. You are an amazing writer. This relationship between Severus and Harry that you often portray in other works as well if what keeps me crawling back for more (new entries or old entries, anything really)... Now I just feel downright creepy. Sorry to have put you through all of that rant and ramble!