Ohgod, feathers... And then it was not only feathers but Severus! and Al stopped thinking in words altogether.
He was hot and safe and encased in feathers and Severus' magic and how did Al not realise for so long that he needed exactly this, but he knew now, so he arched into every skin-on-skin touch and clung to Severus like a limpet with both feathered arms - narrow streaks of pale - across the black, cloth-clad back.