Third POV

Severus quietly slipped down the staircase and through the many empty halls, racing towards his rooms. If for no other reason than to reach his mates faster. Gracefully gliding into his living room, Severus pulled some Floo powder from a black vase and threw it into the fire, stepping in and yelling "Draconian Flare!" before disappearing in the flames. It was a rather doltish password, but Draco wouldn't have it any other way.
Severus sighed in relief as he stepped out into Tom's study, quietly trekking to their room as the door was opened by a tired Tom. Brightening at the sight of his mate, Tom stepped out of the way and closed the door again once Severus was inside. They settled on the bed before Tom sighed, pulling Severus to his side. "How was it?" Severus groaned and laid his head on Tom's shoulder. "That bad?" Severus grumbled a little to himself. "Of course it was that bad. The Weasleys are all idiotic." Tom chuckled as he closed his eyes. "Dumbledore fell for our ruse and they all faked concern and worry- quite terribly, might I add. I also got to take twenty points from the youngest male Weasley. Dumbledore then tried to find the meeting place, but I told him it was indiscernible. The meeting ended with him telling them to keep their eyes peeled in case Harry 'escaped'." Severus growled as he remembered another small tidbit. "Oh yes, and the Weasley Matriarch called our little submissive her 'son-in-law'." Tom tightened his arm around Severus and nuzzled his face into Sev's long hair. "Of course she did, filthy betrayer." Tom would not forget about how they lured his little precious one into their greedy traps using potions, spells, and contracts to corner him. Severus gently kissed Tom's neck and broke his hug. "I need to get changed. Lay down, you look exhausted." Tom sighed and slumped down, putting a hand through his tousled hair. "I don't know. Everything is just so complicated." Severus smirked to himself and speed-changed clothes, slipping into the bed a couple seconds later. "Of course it is, we have two gorgeous submissives. What did you think would happen?" Tom groaned and laid down, curling Severus into his arms possessively. "Sleep now, Animus. Everything will still be waiting for you tomorrow morning." Tom gave a noncommittal grunt and snuggled to get comfortable, slowly dozing off now that he knew all of his mates were safe. Severus smirked at his temporarily-ineloquent mate and quietly whispered 'nox', making the light blink out.
Pain. Pain- oh so mind numbing pain. A flash of a dirty mustache, a fat hand, burnt eggs. Then, excruciating pain all over his back and arms. The smell of burnt flesh overwhelmed his senses. He gasped blindly, wishing to scream but he could feel a hand restraining his neck, keeping him silent. He thrashed, he needed to get out. Out! Let go! Throwing his head back, snapping his arms, wrestling with the huge body behind him, it was no use. Cut off from too much air, blackness clouding his eyes, his mind slowing down until he was unconscious once more. Then more- touches, slashes, flickers of memories, stabs, burns, nightmares, slaps, punches- they all were released inside of his mind. Torture and agony, reliving his childhood until he finally felt an escape. Strangling a scream, Severus sat up, sweat drenching his face. It took him a few moments to see his mate's sleeping face, before his mind began to calm. Taking a routine check of his mind barrier and silencing himself, tranquility was replaced with worry when he heard muffled crying from the room beside him. Getting out of bed, Severus swung a robe onto his shoulders and quickly walked to his submissives' room. Opening the door, Severus felt his cold heart twist as his scared karus wept in the corner of the room. Sensing another in the room, Harry's head jerked up as his heart beat faster. Through his tears, the submissive barely had time to flinch before soft, gentle arms wrapped around his shaking form. Severus gently kissed Harry's forehead as he cradled his Karus in his arms; remembering how Vernon and Dudley screamed only helped so much. Harry took a shaky breath and tried to temper his tears as Severus gently shushed him and pet his mustard-colored hair. The dominant sat down and rested Harry in his lap, cocooning the scared male as lovingly as possible. Clutching Severus' neck, Harry nuzzled his face into his mate's robes and felt the tears fall even harder as his shoulders shook. He grimaced in disgust. Why do I have to be so weak? Why can't I just be normal? All these stupid memories haunting me. I wish they would just go away... Harry snarled at himself, while Severus looked on in sadness. "No Karus, don't do this to yourself. It is alright to cry. Being scared by our pasts is something that we all go through. It burdens my heart to know that no one helped you through your night terrors though... Do you want to know a secret Karus?" Severus looked down at the submissive as his obsidian eyes met glassy azure. An inquisitive hum came from Harry's throat as his snuffled, accompanied by the interested swivel of his doe ears. "Well, I am also stalked by these terrors. Back when I could not control them, Tom would be jolted awake by my frantic movements. I wouldn't be able to think and he would have to cuddle me the same way I am you. Just earlier, I was forced awake by my past and ended up hearing you. Does this make me any less of a man? Am I not as strong as every other wizard?" Harry shook his head fervently, making his cyan hair fly. "No! You're amazing just the way you are. You're the best potions professor in the Wizarding World. Your wit and strength allow you to stay strong in the face of danger even as you worked as a spy. You even fooled Dumbledore and Mad-eye Moody! Why would you think of yourself so lowly?" Severus' heart welled with the determination present in Harry's now dark blue eyes. "It is the same reason you berate yourself. Karus, you are the bravest person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. You have faced your parents' supposed killer over the course of seven years and you always come out alive, if not the victor. Self-doubt it something that no human being can easily defeat. The only way to conquer it is to realize that you are more than you give yourself credit for. Karus- Tom, Draco, and I love you. We feel less than worthy of having you as our mate, but nonetheless, we would- and will- do anything for you. Now that we finally have you, for you to leave would be terrifying. You are our world Karus, and we could never live without you." More tears welled in Harry's eyes as they changed back to emerald and he felt the all-encompassing love emanating from Severus' aura. Clinging to his mate even harder, the noirette submissive cried himself to exhaustion as Severus comforted him in his lap. Quietly casting a few charms to keep himself and his karus comfortable, he too quickly succumbed to sleep.