Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/6300883.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Harry_Potter_-_J._K._Rowling
  Relationship:
      Harry_Potter/Severus_Snape
  Additional Tags:
      Dom/sub, First_Time, Complete
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-03-20 Completed: 2016-07-18 Chapters: 26/26 Words: 89891
****** What the Devil Wants ******
by riffraff84
Summary
     Snape's not just qualified to teach Potions and when Harry finds out,
     he wants in
Notes
     I don't own it and make no money from it. The mere pleasure of your
     company on the journey of this fic is payment enough.
     *mutters to herself* why I stopped writing fiction in the first place
     *muttering*
     Anyway....Snape/Draco and Harry/Draco pairings contained
     within....*grrr*
     BTW - This is a WIP. I promised a few I'd finish it so I'm in the
     process of completing it as we speak.
***** Chapter 1 *****
What the Devil Wants
“Pssst.” Wide awake he listened as the door to the dorm opened briefly before
the soft footfalls of familiar feet passed by the bottom of his bed. “Ron.”
Another whisper and the rustle of curtains being pulled along the rail. “Are
you awake?” He sighed again and turned over in the darkness of his curtained
bed, his pillow clutched to his chest as he pictured what he couldn’t see.
“Shhhh…” A harsh chastise before the scuffle as someone got out of bed and
pulled on their socks and shoes. “Harry’s asleep.” He smiled bitterly, how
anyone could sleep with the noise they were making was beyond him.
“Where are Dean and Seamus?” Another whisper and a rustle of curtaining this
time to his left.
“They’ve gone already.” Of course they’d gone. He’d heard them earlier
scampering about the dorm like church mice.
“Come on then,” A hurried urgency before the patter of feet as the pair of them
maneuvered their way past the end of his bed again and back out of the dorm
room door. He waited in silence as he listened to their feet disappear down the
staircase. When he was sure they’d gone he sat up and pulled open the curtains
of his bed. Sure enough the three beds beside his own had been abandoned, their
curtains hastily opened and their linen pulled back haphazardly as if the
occupants had actually slept there. He sighed heavily as he stared at his best
friend’s bed beside his own. The only sign that it had recently been vacated
was the slight sway in the curtaining after having been disturbed.
“Neville? You awake?” The only bed aside from his own that was still occupied
was on the far side of the rounded room. Sure enough Harry watched as the
curtaining was pulled aside and the plump, tired looking face of Neville
Longbottom appeared between the gap in the drapes.
“They’ve gone again haven’t they?” Neville muttered as he rubbed the sleep from
his eyes and yawned loudly into the darkness. Harry swung his legs out of bed
and folded his arms crossly over his chest as he glared at Ronald Weasley’s
empty bed. “Why don’t they invite us?” Neville stumbled out from the confines
of his own private sanctuary and scampered across the cold floor. Neville’s
knitted train pajamas were ridding up on his plump belly as he moved swiftly
over to join Harry. Harry snorted indignantly and shrugged his shoulders in
silent reply.
It had started at the end of last year, just as word had begun to spread around
the school about Ron and Hermione’s new relationship. Harry had been happy that
his friends had finally got together and had encouraged it despite the slight
awkwardness it had placed on their friendship. Harry had just supposed the
awkwardness around the couple was because he didn’t have a girlfriend of his
own but his friends had been too polite to say so. It wasn’t as if Harry hadn’t
wanted a girlfriend. He’d tried with Cho and that had failed miserably and
although Ginny had been attentive Harry had always felt kind of weird what with
her being practically his sister and all. So he was currently single and with
no intention of amending that description of himself.
Harry hadn’t thought it a big deal but then the late night disappearances had
begun. At strange times of night Harry would hear Hermione sneaking up to their
dorm and both she and Ron would disappear for the rest of the night while
everyone else was asleep. At first Harry had thought it was just the couple
seeking a little privacy but after Christmas, Dean had begun to go with them. A
few weeks following Seamus too became a part of their secret. Harry was hurt at
first that they hadn’t invited him to wherever they went but as the late night
tryst became more frequent hurt had changed into anger. Harry hadn’t confronted
his friends about their escapades and no one mentioned it the morning after. It
was as if it didn’t happen at all. Harry had tried following them once but had
ended up crashing into Professor Snape and landing himself three weeks
detention with Filch. It was all just infuriating and Harry hated the way they
acted so normal the following day. The only other person not invited was
Neville and despite being friends with the boy, Harry couldn’t help but be
offended that his friends didn’t trust him above Neville.
“Maybe it’s a surprise for your Birthday or something?” Neville muttered
sounding far less awake than he seemed.
“My Birthday is in July.” Harry snapped sarcastically not meaning to take his
frustration out on his friend but unable to hold his tongue. Neville sighed and
shrugged his shoulders as he fiddled with a loose thread hanging from Harry’s
duvet.
“Maybe we should tell McGonagall?” Neville offered as he tucked his cold feet
under himself as Harry reached across to his bedside table and drew out two
chocolate frogs for them each. Harry pondered on the suggestion for a moment as
he undid his frog and glanced at the trading card inside.
“Reginald Rockread, Master of Runes 1654” Harry muttered as he dropped the card
into his own shoe box collection before offering Neville the other more common
card. “I don’t want to get my friends in trouble Neville besides Hermione
wouldn’t be breaking school rules if she wasn’t sure there was no way of
getting caught.” Harry shoved the last chocolate frog into his mouth before
lying back down into the warmth of his blankets, his hands behind his head as
he stared up at the dusty canopy.
“Maybe they’re having a mass orgy….” Neville laughed cheekily. The boy did not
quite know what the word meant but having heard Seamus use it he thought
himself confident enough to try it. Harry snorted and rolled his eyes up at the
plump boy above him.
“Don’t be disgusting Neville.” Harry chastised as he pushed Neville off his bed
and back towards his own curtained sanctuary.
“Sorry.” Neville laughed as he climbed back into his own bed still sucking on
the chocolate frog Harry had given him. “To be honest Harry I don’t really
care. If they want to deprive themselves of sleep who am I to stop them.” Harry
nodded as he watched Neville close the curtains again around his bed leaving
Harry once again on his own in the darkness. With an exaggerated sigh Harry
took a few moments to glance out of his window and into the moonlit sky. The
shadows of owls whipped through the darkness and Harry yawned tiredly as he
climbed back into bed and closed his own curtains. If Ron and Hermione wanted
to keep secrets from him, then Harry would just have to put up with it.
*********************HARRY**********************
Harry was late down to breakfast the next morning. Most of the school was
already sat at their tables tucking into the breakfast with earnest. It was the
first Hogsmeade weekend after Christmas and Harry was looking forward to
walking into town and visiting the twins and the second joke shop they’d opened
there. Harry sat himself down quickly in between Seamus and Ron.
“Good dream Potter? Couldn’t wake you for shit this morning.” Seamus chuckled
cheekily as he handed Harry what was left of the toast before Neville could
finish it off. Harry bit his lip knowing Seamus nor any of his other dorm mates
had made it back last night so none of them would have even tried to wake him
up. Harry shrugged his shoulders silently as he poured a considerable amount of
crackling pops into his cereal bowl.
“So are we training this afternoon Harry?” When it was clear Seamus wasn’t
going to get an answer for Harry, Ron broke the silence with a friendly smile.
Harry shoved a spoonful of cereal into his mouth and shrugged his shoulders
again nonchalantly. Harry hadn’t intended to give his friends the silent
treatment after last night but having seen them sitting all bubbly and innocent
at the breakfast table he couldn’t suppress the anger that swept over him
again. Neville pointedly avoided eye contact with everyone around so that he
wouldn’t be drawn into the awkward conversation. “What’s up with you this
morning?” Ron muttered when Harry again ignored his best friends repeated
question about Quidditch training.
“Are we going to Hogsmeade?” Harry changed the subject abruptly as he finished
his cereal and took up a dry piece of toast to nibble on. Ron smiled and nodded
but before he could answer verbally Hermione had interrupted him.
“I’m sorry Harry, Ron and I have made plans to study in the library this
weekend.” Harry stared at Hermione in disbelief across the table before he
glanced sideways at Ron in question. Ron shifted nervously in his seat his gaze
meeting Hermione’s briefly before he turned apologetically back at Harry.
“Sorry mate, I promised.” Ron shrugged his shoulders in apology. Harry rolled
his eyes and turned to Seamus and Dean who were squabbling over the last fried
egg.
“I guess it is just us four then.” Harry muttered as he gestured to Dean,
Seamus and Neville who had buried himself in the morning paper trying to be
inconspicuous.
“Nah, Dean and I are studying too…” Harry couldn’t believe his ears as he
watched Seamus and Dean share a strange knowing glance between one another.
“Fine!” Harry snapped, his patience wearing thin. “If you didn’t want to go
with me you can just say so instead of this bullshit!” Harry threw what
remained of his toast back onto his plate and abruptly stood up unwittingly
knocking Ron’s bag over and spilling its contents onto the floor. Harry swore
to himself as he went to bend down and pick up Ron’s things but as he reached
for what appeared to be a red leather bound diary Ron, Seamus, Hermione and
Dean all practically pounced on him.
“Don’t!” Ron snapped as he lunged at the diary snatching it from the floor
seconds before Harry’s hand could touch it. Harry stood up abruptly and watched
as Ron stuffed the book into his bag and out of sight. Hermione, Dean and
Seamus helped Ron with what was left of his things while Harry stared in shock
at his friend’s strange behavior. Harry could feel the stares of some of the
other students in the hall but when Harry glanced around everyone turned back
sharply to their own conversations. The only stare that didn’t abate was the
familiar glower of one Potions Professor, who was eyeing him dangerously from
the top table. Harry rolled his eyes and ignored Snape as he turned back to his
friends who had composed themselves and had sat back at the table.
“I was just trying to help.” Harry muttered and shook his head as he strode
from the great hall, leaving his friends staring after him.
******************HARRY*****************
After stopping by his dorm to pick up his cloak and some money Harry headed for
Hogsmeade on his own. There were a few student groups already making their way
down to the town after breakfast but Harry kept out of their way as he
negotiated the courtyard. The courtyard was full of wistful looking 1st and 2nd
year students who were yet to experience the privilege of weekend freedom.
“Trouble in paradise Potty?” Harry had just made it out of the gates of the
castle when a familiar blonde haired Slytherin and his group of hangers on came
striding past him.
“Fuck off ferret features.” Harry growled as he tucked his cloak tighter about
himself. Draco gave him the finger before jogging away in order to catch up
with the rest of his group. Harry trailed Draco’s gang down into the town
before the Slytherins disappeared into the pub for butterbeers. Harry weaved
his way through the main street until he found the newly acquired shop. Harry
shook the snow off his boots as he pushed open the door of the shop and stepped
inside.
”Harry!” Fred waved at Harry over the heads of the crowd of students already
sampling the new wares in the Weasley Twin’s joke shop. Pushing his way through
the giggling, laughing crowd Harry made it over to where Fred was standing, a
purple and green stripped apron the only sign that he differed from the
customers.
“Where’s George?” Harry greeted Fred with a friendly hug as he negotiated the
end of the counter.
“Out the back unpacking more stock.” Fred laughed as he gestured to the till
where another young wizard dressed in a purple and green apron was working.
“Come on. Patrick will be okay on his own.” Grabbing Harry’s arm Fred dragged
his friend through to the back of the shop and into the stock room. Harry
smiled widely as he stepped over some empty packing boxes and saw George
sitting amongst the chaos of stock, carefully unwrapping their merchandise.
“Hey Potter, where’s our little brother?” George inquired as he stood up and
pushed a large box full of Weasley’s Patented Fantasy Bubbles aside so that
Harry could sit down on another crate. The room was in chaos but Harry knew
that before long the twins would have the ceiling to floor high shelves in the
room stocked and organized just like their first shop in Diagon Alley. Harry
shrugged his shoulders and gratefully accepted the cup of hot chocolate Fred
offered him.
“Studying with Hermione.” Harry grumbled and watched as both Fred and George
exchanged a silent message before both twins burst out laughing. Harry couldn’t
help himself and laughed too knowing that it was at Ron’s expense that they
gained their amusement.
“Our little brother studying? Perhaps Hermione’s got to him after all.” Sighing
heavily Harry put aside his chocolate and quietly began helping Fred and George
continue unpacking stock. Out in the shop they could still hear the shrill
clank of the bell as customers came and went, the ringing of the till a sure
sign they were pulling a profit. The three of them sat quietly discussing the
coming and goings of the business and what each of them were doing as they
continued to sip hot chocolate and unpack stock. It was lunchtime before the
rush outside in the shop died down and Patrick, the stranger Harry had seen
behind the till, poked his head into the back.
“I’m going to lunch guys.” Fred nodded his thanks as the young wizard hung up
his apron on a hook by the door before disappearing. The trio who had until now
been unpacking stock moved their conversation back out into the front of the
shop. Harry had been toying with the idea of asking Fred and George about the
late night movements of his best friends. There wasn’t much about Hogwarts the
Weasley twins’ didn’t know about. However Harry had to tread carefully not
wanting to get Ron in trouble with his brothers and consequently Mrs. Weasley.
“Can I ask you something?” Harry queried as he held the ladder while Fred began
to restock some of the now empty shelves around the store.
“Sure, anything for a co-conspirator of Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes.” George
chuckled from over at the till where he was assessing the mornings takings.
Harry smiled coyly at the pair before continuing.
“Is there a club or something at Hogwarts that requires students to sneak about
at all times of the night?” Harry muttered watching carefully the exchange of
looks between the two Weasley brothers.
“It is not a club Harry. It’s a conscious lifestyle choice as Fred and I are
testament to.” Fred laughed as he reached down to grab another box of Weasley
Hot Radish Bubblegum. Harry rolled his eyes as he crushed an empty box with his
foot before sliding it across the floor for George to put in the bin.
“That is not what I meant.” Harry sighed heavily not really seeing anyway of
explaining his situation without being explicit. “Ron, Hermione, Dean and
Seamus are all in this club or whatever. They disappear at odd times of the
night and never come back to the dorm. It is never the same night and sometimes
they can go weeks without disappearing and then all of a sudden disappear every
night for a week. I don’t know where they’re going and they haven’t invited me
but you can’t say anything because I don’t want them getting into trouble.”
Harry grumbled as he remembered how sharp Ron had been with him that morning at
breakfast over a stupid book. Harry didn’t miss the knowing glance that Fred
and George shared before both twins looked back at Harry awkwardly.
“It is not a club Harry…” Fred paused and thought hard for a moment before
continuing. “It is more of an extra credit class.” Fred concluded as he glanced
at his brother for a little support.
“Yeah, kind of like remission potions.” George offered by way of explanation.
Harry frowned and leant against the ladder.
“Extra credit? So I’m too stupid to be offered extra credit? Well that explains
the fact Neville’s not invited as well.” Harry growled as he folded his arms
defensively across his chest. George and Fred shared another silent
conversation over the boy’s head.
“It’s not about stupidity Harry and it is not really academic credit like that.
It is more skills and experience based.” George stepped out from behind the
counter and handed Fred another box of their jokes to fill the shelves. Harry
wasn’t happy in the least and knew the twins were being deliberately obtuse
with their answers.
“Well how do I get in?” Harry mumbled angrily as he watched the twins share
another sideways glance at each other.
“You don’t get in like that Harry you have to be selected then offered a place.
I wouldn’t worry about it too much Harry. You probably just don’t meet the
selection criteria.” George shrugged his shoulders in sympathy as he moved back
out into the stock room returning a moment later with a carton of new jokes to
fill a space on the shelves.
“Okay so I don’t meet the selection criteria. The least you can do is tell me
what it is they study or don’t you know either?” Harry accused pointedly his
arms folded defensively across his chest.
“Oh we know what they study.” Fred muttered a strange simile quirking the sides
of his lips like he had intimate knowledge of the ‘class’ he was describing.
Harry was getting irritated and went to give Fred a mouthful but George cut him
off with a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Listen Harry, Fred and I were selected at school to join and we know what
you’re talking about but it’s a condition of the class that you don’t ever
discuss it outside the allotted teaching times so we can’t tell you what it’s
about. Just forget about it, it’s not important and unless they offer you a
position you’re not going to find out what it’s all about.” Harry was more than
disappointed as he stared into George’s concerned gaze. Before Harry could say
anymore however the bell to the shop jangled and another familiar red head
bounced into the shop.
“Fred, George it worked. The git was right she sucked …..” Ron trailed off
almost instantly as his gaze fixed on Harry standing beside George.
Misinterpreting Ron’s wide fearful gaze as shock, Harry huffed in contempt.
“What? Don’t look at me like I shouldn’t be here Ron. Where else was I going to
go on my own in Hogsmeade?” Harry snapped angrily as he pushed past George and
grabbed his cloak from the back of the shop before striding out of the shop
leaving three bewildered Weasley’s looking on after him. Harry was mad and
having stopped to buy an overly large supply of sweets from Honeydukes stormed
off back to the castle.
***********************************
February the 14th another date Harry preferred didn’t exist as he sat watching
the couples circle the dance floor staring lovingly into one another’s eyes.
The Valentine Day dance wasn’t a specific wizarding occasion traditionally
celebrated but for the sake of the muggle born Dumbledore had organized a
dance. Harry had been planning to go with Ginny but when that relationship had
fallen apart Harry had no other choice but to go stag. Everyone it seemed had a
date in one shape or form. Even Neville was doing a fine job of dancing with
Luna Lovegood. Harry felt out of place and awkward as he stood up and wove his
way through the couples to the buffet table to get another bowl of ice cream.
Just like the Yule Ball back in fifth year no one had asked him to go as their
date and no one had made any effort to ask him to dance. Harry retreated to a
spare chair beside the entrance to the staff room and slumped down with his
bowl of ice cream.
The only other person standing alone in the entire hall was predictably
Professor Snape. As a chaperone he stood stiffly by the exit looking as if he
didn’t want to be here as much as Harry didn’t. As if sensing he was being
watched Snape looked up and directly over to Harry who hastily look away. The
last thing Harry needed was to draw attention to himself. Harry’s eyes sought
out Hermione and Ron on the dance floor. The couple in question was locked in a
tight embrace, swaying gently to the music. Hermione’s arms were wrapped
tightly around Ron’s neck and their noses practically touching as they gazed at
one another. Harry sneered in disgust. After the incident with the Weasleys in
the joke shop his friends hadn’t been to their so called ‘extra credit class’
since and Harry had pushed it aside. Thinking about it only made him angry and
more irritated that he somehow didn’t fit the unknown criteria.
“Desperate and dateless Potter?” Harry groaned inwardly as he looked up from
his bowl of ice cream to see Draco hovering near the drinks table, one Pansy
Parkinson practically draped over him like a throw rug. The young Slytherin
girl was nibbling at Draco’s ear as the blonde sipped from his glass of punch.
It was a sickening display and Harry shuddered as he watched Pansy’s hand slip
beneath Draco’s robes.
“Get a room Malfoy.” Harry muttered as he discarded his half eaten bowl of ice
cream and decided to call it a night. Striding his way through the center of
the dance floor Harry made it to the exit quickly but before he could step
through the doors and out into the quiet corridor a strong hand caught his arm.
“And where do you think you are going?” Snape’s gaze narrowed suspiciously at
Harry who stared up at him with an irritated frown.
“To the toilet.” Harry lied sharply as he pulled his arm free of Snape’s grasp.
“No one leaves the hall without a chaperone.” Snape put simply his
characteristic glare falling easily into place as he folded his arms into the
sleeves of his billowing robes.
“What are you suggesting?” Harry accused pointedly as he cocked his head to the
side in query. “That I’ve got some girl waiting for me in the toilet?” Snape
didn’t answer the rhetorical question but his darkening gaze told Harry he was
pushing his luck. “What gave it away? The fact I turned up without a date or
maybe the fact that no one’s asked me to dance all night? Hmmm?” Harry wasn’t
in the mood to watch his mouth and before he knew what was happening he was in
over his head. “But I suppose if you don’t trust me you better come hold my
hand while I take a piss.” Harry wasn’t prepared as Snape grabbed his collar
and dragged him out of the hall and into foyer.
“Fifty points for disrespect Mr. Potter and a further ten for use of foul
language.” Harry straightened his collar as Snape let go and pushed him firmly
towards the stairs leading up to the dorms. “And as punishment for disobeying a
direct rule regarding this fiasco called a ‘dance’ you will spend tomorrow
evening with me in detention!” Harry sighed heavily as he nodded obediently his
angry gaze betraying his passive submission. Snape growled as he spun and
headed back into the hall, briefly pausing to glance over his shoulder at
Harry. “I suggest you return to your dorm Mr. Potter, your evening is
finished.” With a sharp snap the doors to the great hall closed effectively
cutting off the couples that were trying to escape for some privacy. In the
silence of the castle Harry headed back to his dorm and having taken a long
bath crawled into bed with a book and his bag of sweets.
It was passed curfew and way passed midnight when Harry heard the familiar
scurry of feet on the dorm floor, followed by the creak of the dorm door
opening and closing. Harry sighed heavily and stuck his head out of his
curtains. Sure enough Ron, Seamus and Dean’s beds were empty. The trio had
returned to the dorm after the dance but had once again disappeared.
“Neville?” Harry questioned as he stared at the closed curtains of Neville’s
bed. There was no response and Harry growled at the boy’s ability to sleep
through anything. “Neville!” Harry growled trying not to sound too loud. Again
there was no reply and with a sigh Harry threw back his covers and trudged over
to the plump boy’s bed. “Neville?” Harry muttered as he pulled aside the
curtains gingerly and glanced in to see if the boy was still asleep or just
deliberately ignoring him. What Harry saw however shocked him. Just like his
best friends bed Neville’s had been abandoned in a hurry the sheets still warm
where the boy had been lying only moments before. Harry stood back in shock and
glanced towards the door where his friends had left through a few minutes ago.
“Fuck this.” Harry growled now realizing that they’d accepted Neville into
their ‘extra credit classes’. Angry Harry lunged for Neville’s pillow
determined to tear it to shreds. When he lifted the pillow however a small
folded piece of parchment hidden beneath it caught his attention. Tossing the
pillow carelessly to the floor Harry snatched up the parchment and flicked it
open so he could read it.
‘2.30 Class 101’ The instant Harry read the scrawling handwritten note it burst
into flames. Hissing in pain Harry dropped the note onto Neville’s bed watching
as the flames scorched a large hole in the boy’s sheet and blanket. Harry
smiled in satisfaction of having burnt a hole in Neville’s things before he
turned his focus on what he’d read on the note. 2.30 was obviously a time and
Harry glanced at the clock on Seamus bedside table. It was just gone 2.30am.
Class 101, was a puzzle. As far as Harry knew there was no classroom 101 nor
was there an actual subject called 101. Confused and angry Harry padded back to
bed and turned his back on the room before spelling his curtains closed with an
irritated flurry. If Neville Longbottom could make the cut for extra credit
Harry didn’t want to even know what sort of stupid class it was anyway….
******************************
Harry breezed down to breakfast the next morning with a slightly devious spring
in his step. None of his friends had come back to the dorm last night and Harry
had spent most of the earlier hours plotting to find out what Neville had that
he didn’t. Whatever Neville had done to fit the criteria of the secret class,
he would have had to have done it in the last few days between the last
rendezvous and this one.
”Morning Harry.” Ignoring Ron and Hermione’s bright good morning Harry passed
by his usual seat next to Ron before pushing his way in between Neville and a
sixth year girl. Neville looked up a little stunned from his scrambled eggs and
smiled around his mouthful at Harry.
“Hey Neville, how was last night?” Harry saw the awkward fear flicker into the
podgy boys brown eyes as he glanced up the table towards Hermione and Ron. “The
dance, how was it?” After letting his first statement hang awkward in the air
for a moment Harry clarified himself. Relief swept over Neville’s expression as
the boy swallowed his mouthful of eggs and smiled coyly up the table at Luna
who was blushing an unattractive pink shade.
“Really good, I enjoyed myself. I didn’t see you.” Neville sipped from his
pumpkin juice as he loaded his fork with another helping of scrambled eggs.
“Nah decided I’d rather have Snape holding my hand while I took a shit.” Harry
snapped, purposefully ignoring the stunned and confused glances that everyone
who had heard his comment threw in his direction. “So you and Luna get some
action?” Harry knew he was being rude and that most of the Gryfindor table
could hear him along with the closer Ravenclaws. Neville reddened almost too a
shade of scarlet as he glanced up the table at Luna who had practically choked
on her orange juice. Harry smiled inwardly to himself having created such
awkwardness. “I only say that because I didn’t hear you come back to the dorm
last night? You sly dog you.” Harry hit Neville harder than was necessary on
the arm in a mock show of affection. Neville however knew otherwise as he
slowly looked up at Harry, his eyes wide with fear. “Oh don’t worry Neville
your secrets safe with me.” Harry breathed out coldly as he leaned in close to
his friend, his voice just loud enough for Neville to hear and no one else.
“Well don’t want to be late for Potions.” With a fake smile at the confused
expressions on his friends faces, Harry stood up abruptly from the table and
having stolen two pieces of toast strode from the great hall not even sparing a
glance at the strange looks he was receiving.
*******************HARRY**********************
Harry stared down at the bag sitting carelessly abandoned at the foot of Draco
Malfoy’s stool. There was nothing special about the bag. It was a simple
leather satchel with Draco’s initials inlayed in silver on the green leather
front. It was admittedly more expensive than his own leather bag but it was
nothing out of the ordinary. What had caught Harry’s eye however was the
contents of the bag. Or more specifically the red leather bound diary that was
just sticking out from between a Transfiguration text and a roll of spare
parchment. Harry had seen two of the diaries before. One in the brief moment it
had been on the floor before Ron had squirreled it away and once just before
class today tucked into Neville Longbottom’s tight bundle of Herbology books as
the boy had scurried off to the greenhouses. It couldn’t just be a coincidence
and Harry was willing to bet this special extra credit class extended far
beyond just his Gryfindor friends.
“Potter! Are you listening to me or are you too enraptured by Mr. Malfoy’s
legs!” Harry snapped his attention up immediately but not before noticing that
Snape’s foot brushed imperceptibly past Draco’s bag, flipping the front buckle
back over and concealing the red leather diary from view. Harry stared at Snape
the sudden realization that the potions master knew what Harry had been looking
at making Harry’s intrigue deepen. For the briefest of moments Snape met
Harry’s questioning gaze head on almost daring the boy to question him about
the item in Draco’s bag. However before Harry could say anything the blonde had
interrupted them.
“Dirty, queer, pervert!” Draco barked as he tucked his legs under the bench
having swapped places with Grabbe. Harry rolled his eyes and turned back to
glare at Snape but the potions professor was already striding back to the front
of the class.
“Ten points from Gryfindor for not paying attention.” There was a muttering of
curses from the Gryfindor side of the class before everyone fell back into
preparing their potions. Harry did nothing of the sort and instead watched
Snape’s every move for the rest of class.
*******************HARRY*********************
Detention. Not a new concept for Harry having spent a good proportion of his
school years in some form or another serving punishment. This evening though
Harry had found himself rather enthusiastic about attending Snape’s detention.
If not for the verbal sparing match that would inevitably ensue but rather the
interrogation he was going to give the professor in regards to a certain red
book and secret classes.
Harry had arrived on time to find Snape’s classroom empty. It wasn’t unusual
for Snape to be late for a scheduled detention and so Harry dumped his things
on a nearby desk and wandered over to the pile of dirty cauldrons that were
already waiting for him beside the large sink in the corner of the classroom.
Rolling up his sleeves to his elbows and casting a skin protection spell on his
hands Harry set to work filling the sink and scraping the cauldrons clean of
loose material.
Harry was ahead five cauldrons by the time the door to the classroom flung open
and Snape stalked inside in his usual foul manner. “I do not reward initiative
in my classroom Potter it spells accidents and loss of limbs.” Snape barked
irritably as he strode up to his desk and sat down behind it having placed a
very large bundle of student parchments on top of it.
“I figured I’d be here most of the night anyway I might as well get a head
start.” Harry snapped just as irritably as he watched Snape drag a bottle of
whisky and a chipped crystal glass out from one of the draws in his desk. Snape
poured a liberal amount of the amber liquid into the glass before downing it in
one go and pouring himself another. Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise at his
professors drinking style but obediently turned back to scrubbing cauldrons
when Snape glared at him from over the rim of his glass.
Harry continued scrubbing cauldrons in silence for a good hour or so listening
to the scratch of Snape’s quill as he marked the parchments with his usual
scathing reviews. He’d run out of steel wool by his third last cauldron and
having found none on the sink headed for the storage cupboard. It was then that
something caught his eye and reminded him quickly of what he’d intended for the
evening. Beneath the scattered parchments, inkwells, blotting pages and
textbooks on Snape’s desk Harry spotted a red leather bound diary confirming
acutely what Harry had surmised in potions that morning. Snape was involved
somehow with these classes and Harry had the perfect opportunity to find out
what they were.
“You’re a hypocrite you know that don’t you?” Harry suddenly empowered by his
thirst for knowledge boldly approached Snape’s desk his cauldrons forgotten.
“The cauldrons won’t scrub themselves Potter.” Snape didn’t even bother looking
up from his marking as he continued to scrawl in red ink across a particularly
unfortunate students work.
“You say you’re a teacher but what teacher deprives a student of knowledge just
on a basis of specific selection criteria?” Harry was going out on a limb in
assuming Snape was the professor who taught the secret classes but with no firm
evidence however it was a flimsy premise that was likely to blow up in Harry’s
face. After finishing a swirling signature at the bottom of the students
parchment Snape finally looked up from his desk and narrowed his gaze
dangerously at Harry who stood defiantly in front of his desk.
“Is it even possible for you to articulate what nonsense you’re babbling about?
If you have something to say Mr. Potter get on with it.” Snape’s cold mask fell
into place as he leaned back in his chair and waited for Harry to continue.
Harry wasn’t backing down and reached across Snape’s desk to grab the red diary
buried beneath the parchment. No sooner had Harry’s hand touched the book than
Snape’s had come slamming down on top of his making Harry gasp and squirm in
pain. “It is not polite to touch other people’s things Potter.” Snape growled
as he snatched the book out from under Harry’s grasp and with a flick of his
wand made it disappear. Harry was furious and slammed his fists down onto the
table not realizing that he was acting like a spoilt child.
“This is bullshit!” Harry shouted loudly as he began slamming about the
classroom finally venting his frustration from the last few months. “You know
where my friends are going and even though I can’t prove it I bet Draco’s going
to the same place. I thought it was just some dumb club but then Neville starts
going too. How else am I supposed to take it when my friends are keeping
secrets from me? It is bad enough the order keep me in the dark without having
my friends going behind my back too!” Harry threw the box of new cloths across
the room before spinning around to glare at Snape his arms folded childishly
across his chest. Snape was unmoved by Harry’s angry display and merely stared
at Harry in silence for an extended pause, making the boy feel thoroughly
humiliated.
“Are you finished?” Snape inquired coolly the corner of his lip curling up in
distaste. Harry chose not to answer and instead scowled harder at the professor
across the room. “While this may come as a shock to you Potter, just because
you’re the boy who lived, doesn’t mean you should be privy to everything that
goes on in this world. So I suggest you get over this ridiculous paranoid
notion of conspiracy and leave what you think is going on well alone.” Snape
snapped angrily as he rose from the desk and leaned forward a little so that
his eyelevel met Harry’s. “Now if you’ve finished your tantrum I suggest you
get scrubbing or we’re going to be here all night.” Snape pointed at the
cauldrons still sitting by the sink and Harry took a brief moment to sneer at
Snape before obediently returning to his task to seethe silently for the rest
of his detention.
*************************
Harry knew it was wrong. He knew what it felt like to have your privacy
invaded, to have people touching your things when you weren’t around. Life at
the Dursleys had taught Harry respect for other people’s property and privacy.
Still he’d sat alone again all last night in his dorm flicking muggle made
paper airplanes about the room waiting for his friend’s return, that never
came. He’d resolved then as he’d sat at the breakfast table that he had to find
out what was going on. It was killing him not knowing and if he knew what they
were doing perhaps then he’d understand why he wasn’t apart of it.
Today was a Quidditch match. Hufflepuff vs Gryfindor. It essentially provided
him with a perfect opportunity to carry out his misdeed. He’d planned it
perfectly ensuring that at least half of the Quidditch team saw him forget his
gloves as they’d begun to file out onto the field. With his alibis in place his
excuse to return to the locker rooms alone was plausible and no one questioned
him as he turned around and sprinted back to the room as the rest of his team
took to the field. Knowing he had very little time Harry grabbed his gloves and
stuffed them in his pocket before moving over to Ron Weasley’s school bag where
it lay carelessly abandoned on the red head’s personal bench beside his locker.
With a nervous, guilty glance over his shoulder Harry opened Ron’s bag and
began flicking through the mess of homework, textbooks, quills and parchment.
Harry was beginning to think that Ron hadn’t brought it with him but as Harry’s
hand brushed a soft leather bound book at the bottom of the bag he sighed with
relief. Pulling the book up from the bottom Harry hastily inspected the plain
red leather cover. It was a beautiful book, inlayed with gold engraving and
Ron’s initials on the spine. With no title the only indication it was even a
book was the silk gold tassle that marked a page inside. Knowing that he didn’t
have time to waste Harry again looked cautiously over his shoulder before
opening to the first page. Harry’s jaw dropped almost immediately as he read
the title, scrawled in beautiful rolling script across the wafer thin page.
“Sex Magic 101.” Harry breathed out in awe as he let the book fall open at the
tassel marked page.
‘The useable ingredients of ejaculatory fluid….’ Harry read the heading at the
top of the marked page but jumped guiltily when he heard a voice calling his
name. Without thought Harry snapped the book closed and stuffed it back into
Ron’s bag just as Professor McGonagall rounded the corner into the locker room.
“Potter we’re waiting for you. Professor Hooch would like to start.” Harry
stepped consciously away from Ron’s locker knowing that it looked suspicious to
his head of house who was now staring at him suspiciously over the rims of her
glasses.
“Sorry, I was just coming.” Harry smiled at McGonagall as he hastily grabbed
his firebolt and ran past the professor and out onto the Quidditch pitch hardly
believing he’d just got away with it.
Harry put the book momentarily out of his mind as he took to the sky determined
to concentrate on the game. It was difficult to focus on the task at hand as
Harry’s mind began to spin with the possibilities of just what Snape was
teaching in his secret class. If the subject was what the book alluded to it
was no wonder it was a secret no one talked about. A shudder of revulsion swept
Harry’s body as he imagined Snape having sex. The idea was just repulsive and
Harry was all of a sudden glad he hadn’t met the ‘criteria’ to attend the
class, although he did now wonder what the ‘criteria’ actually was. Harry shook
his head as he dived for the snitch, narrowly avoiding the Hufflepuff seeker
that shot past him at an out of control pace. Harry pulled up sharply from the
dive as he watched the Hufflepuff seeker plough into the ground in a cloud of
sand and dust. Harry winced sympathetically. No one could dive like that and
pull out of it. The crowed ‘oohed’ in sympathy but when Harry opened his hand
revealing the snitch the Gryfindor stands erupted in triumphant cries. With
Madam Hooch ending the game Harry landed easily with his teammates, who all
added their congratulations to him as they headed back to the locker room.
Harry didn’t linger in the locker rooms after he’d showered and changed. The
decision to confront Snape about the class had been partially drawn from his
intrigue about it and partially for the satisfaction he’d know he’d get in
proving to the potions professor he was capable of working things out for
himself. Knowing that Snape would undoubtedly be down in his classroom, Harry
scurried through the halls and down into the dungeons. Reaching Snape’s
classroom Harry took a deep breath in before raising his first to knock on the
door.
“Come.” Harry rolled his eyes as he pushed open the door of the classroom and
walked inside. Snape was in his usual sour mood as he sat pouring over student
essays at his desk. Harry waited by the door in silence, as he watched the
professor glance pointedly up from his work. “Potter.” Snape spat Harry’s name
like the boy was a particularly irritating vermin. “To what do I owe this
impromptu and may I add most unwelcome visit? Do I live in the hope that you
have come to ask for help on your potions essay so that I am spared reading
more of your usual drivel?” Harry bit his lip preventing himself from an angry
retort he felt bubbling beneath the surface regarding the insult aimed at him.
Dropping his bag by the door Harry weaved his way down the classroom to come to
a stop in front of Snape’s desk. The potion master had gone back to marking his
essays not in the least concerned by Harry’s presence.
“It is sex isn’t it?” Harry was mildly amused by the way Snape’s head snapped
up from his paper his quill poised and dripping ink onto the unfortunate
students work.
“I beg your pardon Mr. Potter?” Snape snapped his scowl deepening as he glared
at the boy through the greasy bangs of his hair. Harry smiled crookedly as he
folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head to the side in further
amusement.
“This secret class, this extra credit club, this midnight meeting or whatever
you want to call it. It is all about sex.” Harry stated simply as he propped
himself up on the front bench watching carefully Snape’s reaction to his
comments. Snape’s gaze narrowed dangerously but Harry wasn’t put off and merely
waited for Snape’s reply.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Potter, now I suggest you get out of my
sight less you wish to spend the next week on detention with Filch.” Snape
turned his gaze back to his papers as he re-inked his quill. Harry wasn’t
moving however and remained stubbornly where he was despite the looming threat
of detention with Filch.
“You can deny it all you like but I’ve seen the textbook.” Smiling in success
Harry watched as Snape threw down his quill splattering red ink all over his
desk as he sat back in his chair and stared at Harry with a cold emotionless
mask. Harry shivered a little under Snape’s murderous stare, the inky black
depths of the man’s eyes piercing Harry through like skewers. When Snape made
no move to reply to Harry the boy continued. “I wonder if Dumbledore knows?”
Harry paused as he considered the question before smiling sarcastically at
Snape who had yet to break his stare. “Yes, I bet he does. I bet it’s a sort of
an amusing punishment, making you teach sex education to ‘imbecilic students’
such as Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy.” Harry huffed a contemptible laugh
as he saw an irritated twitch of Snape’s upper lip a sure sign Harry had hit on
a raw note. “And honestly that textbook, you’d think it was a bible the way
they carry it around religiously but it would pay them to be more careful where
they leave it.” Harry smiled again at Snape who abruptly stood up from his
chair and circled the desk to come around to stand in front of Harry. Harry
instinctively leaned back away from the imposing figure of the elder wizard.
“It is called a ‘progress diary’ Potter and I’m sure your head of house would
be interested in hearing about your latest thievery.” Harry swallowed around a
rising lump in his throat as Snape leaned closer to him and sneered angrily.
“I didn’t steal it, merely glanced at it when the opportunity arose.” Harry
defended himself quickly as Snape backed off a little and leant back against
his own desk. The wizard folded his arms into the billowing sleeves of his
robes as he smiled at Harry with a strangely unsettling smirk. “So how come
Neville Longbottom qualifies and I don’t?” Harry barked a little more bitterly
than how he meant it to sound. The bitterness of his tone wasn’t unmissed and
Snape seemed amused by the boy’s jealousy.
“For one Mr. Potter, as the subject suggests you have to have engaged in sexual
intercourse.” Snape seemed to take delight in watching Harry shift nervously on
the bench, the boy’s cheeks flushing a little at the connotations of Snape’s
comment.
“I have……” Harry was cut off quickly by Snape’s throaty chuckle.
“Don’t lie Mr Potter, there are somethings in this castle that are monitored as
a mater of course. Student’s bed partners are one of those items.” Harry’s
blush deepened his Gryfindor courage beginning to slide as humiliation settled
in his chest. “But don’t be disheartened Mr. Potter in a year or two you might
find someone as stupid as you who would relieve you of your virginity.” Snape
smiled cruelly as he made his way back around the desk and sat back down to get
back to his essays. Feeling already humiliated Harry’s anger simmered slowly as
he jumped down from the desk and pointed rudely at Snape.
“I hardly think you’re the best person to be teaching sex to students
professor. I heard Deatheaters prefer unwilling partners and I don’t believe
that’s the right message to be sending to students. Besides without rape I
wouldn’t have expected you to have even fucked anyone let alone possess the
authority to teach consensual sex to minors!” Harry didn’t realize what he’d
said until he saw Snape’s face took a turn. Harry had never seen the wizard
look so angry and it was with some haste that Harry turned to run. He never
made it to the door.
The curse struck Harry in the back sending him sprawling in agonizing pain to
the floor. In pain Harry tried to crawl towards the door tears stinging his
eyes as he tried to call for help. Had anyone been passing Snape’s classroom
they might have heard his pitiful cries but before Harry could shout Snape had
slammed the door closed and was now towering above Harry’s prone form.
“You make a habit of assuming Mr. Potter that I am a tolerant man but I assure
you that should you push me far enough there will not be a wizard in this world
that would stop me from ending your life.” For a split second Harry thought
Snape would let the agonizing curse wrapped around his body continue. As Snape
flicked his wand Harry prepared to die but as hard as it had struck the curse
was gone, releasing his body into a limp heap. Panting and shaking in fear
Harry winced as Snape bent down over him, so close that Harry could smell the
man’s foul breath. “Now while I’ll choose to ignore your scandalous accusations
Mr. Potter I will not however ignore your blatant disregard for your fellow
student’s privacy and property. I will meet you in the headmaster’s office and
I suggest you spend the time walking there to formulate some semblance of
defense for your shocking disrespect of your peers!” Harry couldn’t scrambled
to his feet quick enough before he was running up the hall away from Snape’s
classroom.
By the time Harry had reached the revolving stairs leading up to Dumbledore’s
office his excuses were looking more and more flimsy and pathetic. Nervously
Harry knocked on the door to Dumbledore’s office before waiting patiently until
he heard Dumbledore’s bright voice calling him inside.
“Ah Harry my boy come and have a seat. Brilliant match today. Gryfindor are
quite the team.” Harry smiled tentatively at Dumbledore before glancing across
at where Professor Snape was standing beside the fireplace, his arms folded
into the billowing sleeves of his robes and his signature glare boring straight
through Harry’s body.
“Yeah.” Harry whispered in reply to Dumbledore’s bright greeting before sitting
down in the offered armchair beside the fireplace.
“Well I suppose we better discuss the issues Professor Snape has raised
concerning your intriguing story about an ‘extra credit class’?” Harry frowned
as he watched Dumbledore glance across at Snape from over the top of his half
moon glasses before looking back at Harry knowingly.
“They’re not extra credit they’re sex.” Harry snapped irritated that he was
being treated like a child.
“Now Harry, Hogwarts does not teach sexual education but we do offer a variety
of support services for students exploring this natural progression into adult
hood.” Dumbledore flicked his hand casually and a tray appeared from thin air
with three steaming cups of tea. Harry shook his head when the headmaster
offered him a cup and instead pointed rudely at Snape.
“He’s teaching a class about sex and you know it. I’ve seen the book they’ve
all got. He’s even admitted the fact you have to have done it to get in!” Harry
barked still pointing at Snape who was now sipping curtly on his tea.
Dumbledore sighed heavily at Harry’s accusation as he sat back in his chair and
sipped from his tea.
“There are somethings that go on within these castle walls Harry that, while we
do not condone, still understand are going to happen no matter what obstacles
we place in the students paths to prevent them.” Dumbledore paused as he took
another sip of tea from his cup. “Sexual Intercourse is one of those things.
While we expressly do not promote this activity between students we understand
it is a natural part of growing up and is significantly important to young
witches and wizards and their magic. Thus this ‘extra credit class’ is designed
to teach students who are ready for it what magical properties can be harnessed
by this intimate act.” Dumbledore explained succinctly shocking Harry slightly
that the man was being so open about the topic, unlike the secrecy everyone
else seemed to think was necessary.
“Magical properties?” Harry inquired cautiously not even bothering to
acknowledge Snape’s snort of irritation from over by the fireplace.
“Indeed, powerful magic can be harnessed through sexual pleasure Harry. For
some wizards and witches, it is the only reason they do it.” Dumbledore’s eyes
sparkled knowingly and Harry couldn’t help but shudder at the image the
headmaster’s cheeky grin brought to mind.
“Then if everyone knows about it, why the secrecy? Why can’t all the students
learn about it like they teach muggle students about condoms and STD’s.” Harry
protested having remembered the sexual education video’s they’d been shown in
the Muggle School in Surrey that he’d been forced to attend while living with
the Dursley’s.
“Pardon?” The headmaster looked strangely blank at Harry’s reference to muggle
sex. Harry rolled his eyes and calmly shook his head as he muttered at the
headmaster to forget it. “That is just the point my boy, there are some
students here at school that are not ready to hear or experience such things as
sex magic. The insurmountable pressure of having to pass a class in the subject
could damage some student’s innocents. Thus Professor Snape’s class is by
invitation only to those students the faculty believe are both mature enough
and experienced enough to handle the intricacies required of the subject.”
Dumbledore finished his tea and set the cup aside before offering Harry a lemon
drop from the glass bowl floating beside his armchair. Harry knew it was always
best to just accept the sweet and did so obediently, consciously stuffing it
into his pocket to eat later.
“And that’s another thing, Snape teaching sex?” Harry knew what Dumbledore had
said was right but it still didn’t make him feel any less inadequate and left
out. It also made him irritably frustrated that all his friends had had sex and
he alone hadn’t even had a proper kiss yet.
“I warned you Potter…” Snape growled from over by the fireplace his gaze
narrowing angrily as Harry pointed at him rudely.
“That is Professor Snape to you Mr. Potter and while I am understanding of your
interest and concern for your friends in this subject will not allow you to
question my ethics in choice of professor.” Dumbledore cut off Snape abruptly,
but his sharp comment was firmly aimed at Harry who apologetically lowered his
gaze to stare at his shoes. “Professor Snape is an extremely proficient teacher
and until such time as you are either invited into his class or otherwise
affected by the class in question I will hear no more about it. Do you
understand me?” Harry reluctantly nodded his gaze not quiet meeting
Dumbledore’s sparkling eyes. “Good, now for you previous disrespect I believe
50 points from Gryfindor will be suffice and should I hear again of your
deliberate attempts at invading the privacy of your peers I shall take further
steps to see you isolated from your classmates. Now I believe gentlemen, dinner
is nearly ready.” Harry knew that was his cue to leave and so quickly got up
and left the headmasters room. Jumping onto the revolving steps, Harry was
somewhat surprised as he felt Snape step onto the top one beside him as they
began descending back down to the hallway. Harry had expected Snape to stay and
chat to the headmaster but obviously the elder wizards cue to leave had been
directed at Snape as well. Harry fidgeted with the sleeves of his jumper
stubbornly refusing to acknowledge Snape who was as usual unnervingly cold
beside him. Reaching the Gargoyle at the bottom of the steps, Snape stepped out
first and began striding down the corridor. Harry paused beside the crouching
stone figure as the steps warded themselves shut behind him.
“I’m not totally innocent you know.” Harry called angrily after Snape. He was
finally so frustrated he had to make comment. Hearing Harry’s voice Snape
paused at the corner of the corridor and looked back at Harry with what could
only be a sneer of amusement.
“With all due respect Potter,” Snape paused his sneer turning slightly cruel.
“I beg to differ…” With a cruel laugh and a swirl of his robes Snape
disappeared from view leaving Harry silently fuming to himself and feeling
highly humiliated.
*****************HARRY*******************
***** Part 2 *****
PART 2
 
Harry sat in the library sorting through his Transfiguration notes, irritably
highlighting the important passages to include in his essay. It was late but
Fridays in the Library were always ‘late research night’. It was about the only
genuine excuse for breaking the curfew. So long as you were in the library
supposedly studying you could stay as long as you liked every Friday night.
Many students used it as an opportunity to gossip and stay up late but Harry
had actually found he needed this Friday night to finish his essay for Monday.
“Harry?” Harry jumped when the secluded little table he’d found near the window
at the end of a stack of books was invaded by a familiar red head. Harry smiled
mildly at Ron still not happy with his best friend for not telling him about
Snape’s class. Harry went back to highlighting as Ron sat down on the stool
opposite Harry’s. “You know don’t you?” Ron muttered quietly as some giggling
first year girls came scampering past the end of the book stack that Harry had
hidden himself between. Harry shrugged his shoulders in silent reply. Ron
sighed heavily at his best friend’s deliberate awkwardness before snatching
Harry’s quill from his hand and forcing the green-eyed wizard to look up at
him. “I’m sorry okay. I wanted to tell you so badly but Hermione said she’d
tell on me to Snape and he’s one scary bastard if you disobey his rules.” Harry
couldn’t help himself and laughed at Ron’s wide concerned eyes. “Besides the
fact she threatened to hold out on me if I discussed our sex life with you.”
Ron shrugged his shoulders as Harry shook his head in amusement.
“You’ve told me everything about that anyway.” Harry laughed quietly as Ron
smiled deviously and nodded enthusiastically. Where sex and women were
concerned Ron told Harry everything it was almost a code of their friendship
and not even Hermione was going to break that.
“Yeah but she doesn’t know that.” Ron chuckled as he gave Harry back his quill
which was pushed uncaringly back into its ink well. “Anyway I kind of figure if
you know about the class it is okay to talk about it with you, even if you’re
not in the class.”
“Thanks Ron.” Harry muttered his cheeks flushing pink in embarrassment at again
being reminded of his damned virginity. “So what do you do?” Harry inquired
quietly as some Slytherins came sneaking past looking very suspicious. “He
doesn’t give demonstrations does he?” Harry looked momentarily horrified at the
thought but Ron scoffed loudly and shook his head.
“Hell No! I think I’d have to poke out my own eyes if I ever had to witness
Snape doing that.” Ron pretended to be blind by way of explanation before
shifting his chair around closer to Harry’s so that their conversation wouldn’t
be overheard. “It’s not about sex exactly. It’s not like porn and it doesn’t
give you wood or anything. Snape kind of takes a scientific approach to the
whole doing it aspect and then mixes it with the theory of natural magic. He
doesn’t tell you how to do it. It is more what is supposed to happen and what
can be done with the results.” Harry was enraptured by Ron’s explanations of
Snape’s secret ‘extra credit class’ and couldn’t draw his attention away as the
red head continued. “I swear on Merlin’s grave last week our homework was
wanking. We had to bring a sample of it in for him to show us how to make this
strong healing draft from it. Oh and we’ve got this diary…” Ron bent down to
his bag that he’d dropped beside the table and removed the red leather bound
book Harry had seen before. Guiltily Harry pretended to be surprised when Ron
showed him the diary and opened it up to the gold tassel marked page. “We have
to write in it every time we do it, or something related to it. What we
experience, what we try, and what the results are of it. Then we discuss it in
class. Snape’s surprisingly cool about this stuff. Sure he’s still a bastard
but he knows heaps about magic.” Harry nodded slightly still not convinced that
Snape could teach sex magic to minors. “This could possibly be the only Snape
taught class that a Weasley will ever pass.” Ron was practically bursting at
the seams with things to tell Harry about the class. The boy stashed his diary
back in his bag as Madam Pince walked past the stack pausing to glare at them
for talking.
“It sounds good Ron. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” Harry tried to sound
supportive and not as bitter and frustrated as he felt inside.
“Oh, we have so got to get you laid just so you can get an invite….” Ron
proclaimed with a patented mischievous Weasley grin. Harry nodded. He and Ron
were finally thinking alike. Harry had to get laid, if not to get in on the
class but then to at least shove it in Snape’s face…
******************************
“You look good Potter, just chill.” Ron grumbled as he led Harry cautiously
down the corridor towards the room of requirement. Harry worried his bottom lip
as he trailed after Ron silently wondering if this was an entirely good idea.
He wanted to join Snape’s class but was the sacrifices worth it?
Standing in front of the stonewall Harry watched as Ron closed his eyes and
concentrated hard. Within a few moments a door had appeared from nowhere and
with a devious chuckle Ron pushed it open and stepped inside. Harry obediently
followed and was instantly assaulted by the music that drowned all other sound
completely out. Harry wasn’t surprised that the room of requirement was being
used as a party shack. What he was surprised at though was the fact that
students from all four houses were merrily engaging with each other in
laughter, dancing and chatter. How anyone could hear anything over the music
was beyond Harry but he supposed you got used to it. A small part of Harry was
slightly pissed off that he’d never been invited to one of these parties but
another small part hoped he’d never be invited again. Although Harry was
surprised to see the amount of familiar faces that were obviously in Snape’s
class some were more surprising than others.
With Ron dragging him by the arm through the dancing crowd Harry was mildly
annoyed that it was towards a small group of Slytherins and Gryfindors that he
was being led. Harry wasn’t surprised to see the group of Gryfindors. He
already knew most of them were in Snape’s secret class and there were no
surprises that nearly all the Slytherin’s were in. What caught Harry’s
attention however was Ginny Weasley. She was sitting politely next to Hermione
her hand gently stroking Dean’s jean clad inner thigh.
“Ginny has had sex?” Harry scoffed under his breath to Ron as the red head
pushed him down into a cushion on the other side of Hermione. Hermione smiled
at Harry before glaring at Ron as she waited for an explanation as to why Harry
of all people was at the private party.
“Yeah, her and Dean fuck like rabbits. Found out last class, Dean licks
her….you know what. Knowing that about your little sister really fucks with
your mind I’m telling you.” Ron muttered back as he dropped down behind
Hermione and pulled the young witch back against him in a hug.
“What’s he doing here?” Hermione snapped at her boyfriend not quite quiet
enough for Harry not to hear.
“Harry’s here to get laid.” Ron announced, practically shouting at Hermione to
be heard above the music. Harry instantly went red in the face in humiliation
as the group of Slytherins laughed loudly at Harry’s expense.
“Thanks Ron.” Harry grumbled under his breath as Malfoy entered the group.
Pansy Parkinson as usual was hanging off his side like moss.
“So Potter has decided to be a man. This should be funny. Who is desperate
enough to sleep with you?” Malfoy scoffed cruelly as he sat down on the beanbag
and pulled Pansy into his lap.
“Well I was hoping Pansy would, she was desperate enough to do you wasn’t she?”
Harry barked causing sniggers to break out around the circle. Draco glared at
Harry but pointedly didn’t reply, instead pulling Pansy into a fierce kiss that
spoke volumes of what he had and Harry didn’t. With a disgruntled sigh Harry
thought about leaving. Nearly everyone in the room seemed to be in a couple
already. Memories of the Valentine’s Day dance came flooding back and Harry
felt suddenly out of place. Just as he was deciding whether to just leave or
tell Ron he was going, Hermione nudged Harry on the shoulder and pointed
through the party to the drinks table.
Standing by herself in the corner was an unfamiliar young Ravenclaw witch. She
had long blonde hair that was held back in a blue ribbon that matched her
pretty blue dress. She couldn’t have been more than 15, if not younger and
Harry couldn’t have ever remembered seeing her either at class or in the great
hall. Harry had to admit she was pretty if not a little plain. Her eyes were
blue and sparkled behind the rim of the glass of punch she was sipping from.
“She’s new. She has been home schooled for the past two years. Her name is
Alice. Ginny reckons she over heard her talking about you outside Herbology.”
Hermione smiled warmly at Harry who glanced at Alice before looking
suspiciously back at Hermione.
“What? No lecture about doing it for the right reasons or anything?” Harry
muttered a little surprised that Hermione hadn’t dragged him from the room
sooner. He expected a lecture where she told him to stop being stupid and that
virginity is a sacred thing not to be given away to just anyone. Hermione
sighed and nuzzled back against Ron’s chest as she smiled at Harry sadly.
“I don’t need to lecture you Harry. I know you’ll do the right thing.” Harry
groaned. Having an expectation of purity was worse than Hermione’s lectures and
Harry sighed as he stood up.
“Go get her Harry.” Ron pumped his first in encouragement out of sight of
Hermione. Harry smiled coyly as he took a deep breath and crossed the dance
floor over to where Alice was still standing alone and sipping from her punch.
Awkwardly Harry helped himself to a glass of punch before moving to stand
beside the young witch. He pretend to be casually watching the dancing and
listening to the music.
By the time Harry was on to his fourth glass of punch and he still hadn’t said
anything to Alice the boy was beginning to think the entire idea was stupid. He
didn’t need to have sex just to get into Snape’s fucked up little class he was
a mature young adult that didn’t have anything to prove… Harry was drawn from
his internal pep talk by a giggling beside him. Turning slightly Harry watched
as the young witch beside him giggled into her hand a pink blush flushing her
cheeks as she tried to avoid looking at Harry.
“What are you laughing at?” Harry inquired surprised at how easy conversation
came to him when he thought he was being insulted.
“You.” Alice admitted in a sweet, almost angelic voice. “That is your fourth
glass of punch. If you don’t ask me soon you’ll be too drunk to say it.” Harry
frowned as he stared at the red colored punch in his glass, before sniffing at
it. For the first time Harry realized just how much alcohol had been used to
spike the fruit drink he’d been liberally drinking from.
“Oh.” Harry muttered as he put aside his half full glass deciding against
drinking anymore. “Hang on. Ask you what?” Harry finally processed what the
young witch had said and looked at her a little surprised. Alice giggled again
and smiled coyly up at Harry from beneath her thick black eye lashes.
“You’re not a very good occlument are you?” Harry looked mildly affronted by
what the girl was suggesting. Had she been reading his mind the entire time
he’d been stood there? A little horrified Harry went to move back over to his
friends but Alice was quicker and stepped in front of him, preventing him from
escaping.
“The answer is yes Harry. You need some help getting into Snape’s class and
I’ve got homework to do for Snape’s class. It is a mutual situation, no
strings.” Alice smiled brightly at Harry who for all the world looked as if
he’d just swallowed one of the Weasley Twin’s patented stunning jawbreakers.
“Um.” Harry didn’t know what to say. Surely it couldn’t have been that easy? If
he’d have known it was going to be, he’d have done it sooner.
“Come on, it’s nearly curfew.” Alice took Harry’s hand and led the stunned
wizard out of the room of requirement.
Everything seemed a bit of blur until Harry found himself being pushed into one
of the bathroom stalls in the Ravenclaw girls bathroom.
“You know I haven’t…” Harry muttered as he was pushed against the stall wall
and Alice locked her lips with his. The kiss was toe curling. It was a far cry
from anything Harry had ever experienced, although perhaps not as exciting as
he’d expected from a moment like this. Harry put it down to nerves as he tried
to relax.
“Of course I know Harry or you’d be in Snape’s class. Now do you mind if we do
my homework first?” Harry stared into Alice’s blue eyes wondering silently
where the giggling, shy young Ravenclaw witch had gone and how in hell he’d
ended up with a blonde haired little vixen now stood before him.
“Sure.” Harry breathed out awkwardly as he watched as Alice undid his jeans and
slid them down to his ankles. Harry blushed and looked automatically up at the
ceiling as Alice wasted no time in pulling down his underwear exposing his not
quite so hard cock and the wiry mattering of curls around his balls.
“You’re not bad Potter,” Alice muttered as she boldly took hold of Harry’s cock
and began sliding her fist up and down it. Harry bit his lip hard trying to act
as casual and unaffected by the whole situation as Alice was despite his racing
heart and his light-headedness. No one had ever touched his cock before, well
apart from himself but that didn’t count. This was a girl. A girl he hardly
knew and she was wanking him off like a professional. Harry’s knees threatened
to give out as Alice leant forward and licked the head of his purpling prick.
Almost immediately sparks popped before Harry’s gaze and he couldn’t help but
groan.
A giggle from down below had Harry’s eyes snapping open as he stared at Alice
who was knelt before him.
“Don’t make too much noise or we’ll get caught.” Alice whispered, her eyes
twinkling with mischievousness as she opened her mouth and sucked Harry’s prick
in between her plump red lips. Harry held his breath as he watched his length
disappear into the young witch’s mouth. Her tongue circling his base made him
surrender to the feeling and close his eyes tightly. Gripping the wall
uselessly Harry’s breathing became labored under Alice’ ministrations until
finally Harry couldn’t hold back. Less than half a second later Harry was
groaning and cumming, shooting his load into Alice’s moist mouth.
Panting Harry practically fell back against the wall with a thud as Alice
pulled away from him. Slightly afraid of what he’d see Harry opened his eyes
only to watch as Alice wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, a slightly
disappointed expression on her face.
“You didn’t last very long did you?” Alice whispered as she stared up at Harry
waiting for some kind of explanation or reason why. Harry bit his lip and
shrugged his shoulders, feeling suddenly very uncomfortable and not at all like
he expected he would feel after his first sexual experience. “Well. I guess it
doesn’t matter so long as you can get it up again.” Alice shrugged her
shoulders too and stood up. She was already unbuttoning her dress and taking
down her panties. Harry stared at Alice as she undressed. He watched as each
piece of fabric was stripped away until the full expanse of creamy white skin
was exposed. Harry stared at the pert rounded breasts of Alice and followed the
flat plain of her stomach down to the v of pubic hair that hid the delicate
female secrets Harry had often dreamed about. “Well come on, we haven’t got a
lot of time.” Alice’s impatient voice penetrated Harry’s stare and the boy was
somewhat shocked when Alice picked up his hand and placed it on her right
breast. As if scolded Harry yanked his hand away, whacking his elbow on the
dividing wall of the stall behind him and sending a loud bang around the empty
bathroom. Harry cringed at the sound and Alice tutted loudly.
“Shhh Harry or we’ll get caught. If you’re not confident in doing it, I can
prepare myself.” Harry’s eyes widened to dinner plates as he watched Alice
reach between her own legs and part the folds hidden beneath, a finger
disappearing within. In all of Harry’s wet dreams none had featured such
graphic detail of what he was watching Alice do and in theory it should have
turned him on. But to his horror it had no affect what so ever. There was not
even an interested twitch as he watched her breasts bounce with the effort she
was putting in to fingering herself. Drawing his eyes away from Alice, Harry
stared down at his cock, limp and lifeless in his lap. “You can wank if you
like Harry. I like watching or I can….” Alice went to reach for Harry’s cock
and the boy panicked.
“I can’t do this...” Grabbing for his pants, Harry scrambled to get out of the
toilet cubicle. He did not even sparing half a thought for Alice’s state of
undress as he hopped out of the bathroom stall his pants still shamelessly
around his ankles as he struggled to pull on his underwear. Harry was already
half way across the bathroom, his progress hampered as he tried to pull up his
trousers. Hearing the toilet door slam open after him Harry hastened his
efforts to get out especially when Alice called his name in a strange kind of
helpless cry. Harry spared the naked girl a glance over his shoulder but was
surprised when Alice screamed and ducked back into the toilet, slamming the
door closed behind her. Harry had an ominous feeling as an icy cold shiver of
dread spread up his spine. In slow motion Harry turned around only to come face
to face with Professor Snape standing in the doorway of the girls bathroom. The
Professor’s expression was unreadable as he stood arms folded and his wand
resting in his left hand.
Harry felt ill as he stared into his Potions Professors icy stare.
There was no doubting Snape had been there a while. Curfew had passed an hour
ago despite Alice’s constant reminders that it was getting close. The elder
wizard had probably heard everything and undoubtedly seen too much. Harry knew
he was screwed as he heard the door to the toilet cubicle creak open again and
the soft tentative foot falls on the tiled floor. Harry didn’t dare look away
from Snape’s face not even to pull up his trousers that had once again fallen
down around his ankles. Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw the flash of
blonde hair as Alice ran past them both. Snape didn’t even acknowledge the
girl’s escape and instead raised a smooth eyebrow at Harry.
“Shit.” Harry swallowed convulsively unable to hold back the wave of nausea
that swept over him. It was like a dream as Harry bent forward the contents of
his stomach reemerging in a punch colored waterfall that splattered all over
Snape’s shoes and the bottom of the man’s immaculate robe. Harry closed his
eyes as he coughed up another spatter of punch before he heard a deep sigh
above him.
It was official.
Harry was a dead man.
********************************************
Harry watched distantly as Albus paced past his desk for the 80th time, the
headmasters angry lecture not managing to penetrate the sickly, humiliated fog
that clouded Harry’s mind. Albus’ raised voice sounded dull to Harry, like his
ears were full of cotton wool. Harry knew the general idea of what he was being
lectured about. Responsibility, maturity, choices and decisions, rules, and
stupidity were among the main themes Harry had just managed to catch. Harry was
having a hard time keeping up with the headmasters pace and the elder wizard’s
strides were beginning to make him feel ill again.
Snape was standing by the fire in his puke covered shoes and robe. He hadn’t
said anything since he’d walked Harry up to the headmaster’s office after the
incident in the bathroom. Harry knew he was in trouble and so managed to nod
his way silently through the lectures. Now though Albus’ lecture was coming to
an end as the man sat back down at his desk and shook his head in disgust at
Harry.
“…This is exactly the reason why Professor Snape’s class remains on a need to
know basis only. You would not have thought twice about sex had you not wanted
to be in a class your friends were in? I had thought you above the pressure of
your peers but obviously I was mistaken!” Harry winced as Albus hissed angrily,
uncharacteristically irritated with Harry’s behavior and far less than
understanding. “As it stands I believe your own self inflicted humiliation is
punishment enough for you stupidity Mr. Potter but I will leave the other rules
you have broken to be punished by Professor Snape.” Harry swallowed awkwardly
as he glanced up at Snape who was still standing by the fire watching the
entire exchange. “Severus, get him out of my sight.” Gingerly Harry rose from
his chair in front of the headmaster’s desk and following Snape’s lead joined
the man beside the fire.
“Come along Mr. Potter.” Harry was a little surprised when Snape placed a warm
hand on his shoulder, before guiding Harry though the fireplace and into a
strange homely little lounge area Harry had never seen before. Harry shivered
as Snape moved past him into the warm room, the man already stripping off his
soiled cloak and shoes. “I suggest you have a seat before your arse meets the
floor.” Harry obediently sat down on the edge of a chocolate brown leather
couch. He was careful not to touch anything he didn’t have to but was grateful
for being allowed to sit down again. Snape disappeared through a small doorway
off the lounge room before returning a moment later with what appeared to be
two glasses of some kind of amber liquid. “Here, sip it. It might bring a
little colour back into you and the ginger should quell your colorful stomach
theatrics.” Harry accepted the offered tumbler of liquid and obediently sipped
at the drink. Almost instantly Harry recognized the alcohol as whisky, the
delicate undertone of ginger easing the burn of the liquid in the back of his
throat. Why Snape was giving Harry alcohol was a mystery and certainly didn’t
fit into Harry’s idea of what Snape was. Harry watched cautiously over the rim
of his glass as Snape flopped down into a leather armchair and put his feet up
on the matching footstool. Harry had never expected to see Snape looking so
casual before. He was dressed now in only his pressed black pants and his white
shirt and open waistcoat as he nursed his own whisky and ginger. As Harry
continued to sip his drink the cloud began to clear in his mind and it occurred
to him that the lounge room he sat in looked suspiciously like private
quarters. Or more precisely Snape’s private chambers. Something wasn’t right.
There was no way Harry could be in Snape’s private rooms especially not when he
was in this much trouble. The colour that the liquor had put back into Harry’s
cheeks drained away quickly when realization hit Harry.
Snape who’d been watching the play of thoughts in Harry’s head for the past
fifteen minutes rolled his eyes when the boy went pale again.
“Relax Potter. While I relish the thought of one day seeing your demise I fear
tonight is not that occasion.” Reaching over to the coffee table Snape picked
up his wand and with a sharp flick, drew the decanter of whisky and ginger from
the kitchen over to Harry’s glass for a generous refill that the boy seemed
thankful for. There was a stagnate silence as Harry sipped his drink again
pointedly avoiding meeting Snape’s piercing gaze.
“Surprising as it is Mr. Potter I was young once too. I have also been doing
this job long enough now that there is not a lot my students can tell me that
surprises me.” Harry looked gingerly up over the rim of his glass, curious as
to where this conversation was leading. Never in the history of their knowing
one another, had Harry and Snape ever had a conversation where neither of them
were shouting or arguing. “…and if you do surprise me, I’ll set up a private
account for you at honeydukes.” Harry raised an astonished eyebrow in Snape’s
direction as the elder wizard smiled. Snape didn’t smile as a general rule or
at least at no time when anyone could see him. Harry assumed the man was
incapable of doing so but the small upturned twitch of the man’s lips just now
had proved him wrong. When Harry didn’t smile back, Snape sighed heavily and
refilled his own glass with whisky before continuing. He knew that this strange
situation was probably a lot for Harry to handle on top of the night he’d
already had. “You were right, it is punishment.” Harry frowned in confusion of
Snape’s comment. “But Albus calls it a learning experience. Apparently by me
teaching sex magic 101 it is teaching me compassion and understanding for my
students.” Harry couldn’t help himself and sniggered into his glass shocked
that he’d actually got something right in his heated ramblings earlier in the
week. “Essentially it just reminds me how pathetically unfulfilled my own sex
life is.” Snape sounded a little bitter but Harry didn’t make comment. The idea
of talking to Snape at all, no less about the professor’s sex life was just
plain weird.
“Sorry I chucked on your shoes.” Harry changed the subject. He was
uncomfortable with the images Snape having a sex life brought to mind. Snape
snorted into his glass of whisky and merely shrugged his shoulders. Harry’s
see-through attempt to change the subject was dually noted and Severus made a
point of watching what he said in front of the boy.
“It was bound to happen eventually.” Snape shrugged his shoulders as he yawned
and rubbed the bridge of his nose in the way he unusually did when he was in
way over his head. Of all the students Snape had ever taught counseling Potter
on this particular subject was definitely not what he’d ever imagined. In fact
Severus was surprised that Harry hadn’t run screaming from the room yet but
then again there was still time. There was a stagnate silence that hung in the
air Harry still staring at his hands twisted around the tumbler of whisky. With
an exaggerated sigh Severus dived in head first. His icebreakers had failed as
he knew they would. Potter was a different breed to those who’d sought out
Severus guidance before and the direct approach no matter how confronting was
the only solution. The last thing Severus wanted was to spend all night pussy
footing around the subject only to have Dumbledore lecture him tomorrow morning
when nothing had been achieved.
“At some stage Potter we’re all going to fuck it up. It’s a fact of life. You
have to learn sex like you learned how to read.” Harry’s eyes widened
impossibly his head shooting up to stare at Snape in what could only be
described as horror. Snape rolled his eyes and took another generous swig of
his whisky.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Harry glared at Snape from over the rims of
his glasses before moving to stand up from the leather couch. Snape sighed and
flicked his wand casually at Harry, sitting the boy back down hard.
“Yeah and neither do I but if we don’t both you and I are going to be spending
all of tomorrow in Dumbledore’s office discussing it with him. And I don’t know
about you but my sex life is certainly not something I wish to have debated by
‘twinkle eyes’ himself.” Snape snapped his usual, snarky sarcastic Potions
Professor mask falling back into the usual routine. “Now are you going to tell
me what happened between you and Miss Alice or do I start throwing out snippets
of what I overheard and Merlin forbid, what I saw?” Defeated Harry sighed.
There was no way he was getting out of this and in some way Harry would have
proffered a years’ worth of detention rather than to have the conversation he
was about to.
“We didn’t do it, I couldn’t…” Harry trailed off purposefully downing what was
left of his whisky in one go before staring at his shoes that were gently
swaying off the end of the couch. Snape raised a curious eyebrow but didn’t
comment. It was best just to leave Potter to continue. “It wasn’t what I
expected. You imagine certain things, how it’s supposed to feel but in reality
it was nothing like it.” Again Harry paused still avoiding looking at Snape’s
face. “In fact it made me kind of ill, seeing her….” Again another pause and
Snape didn’t miss the shudder of revulsion that rocketed through Harry’s body.
“All those pointy bits and pink pieces. I’m not interested.” Finally Harry
dared to look up and was a little shocked to find Snape calmly nodding his
head, not an ounce of censure in his expression.
“You know don’t you?” Snape’s comment was simple and Harry blushed a little at
how quickly the elder wizard had read between the lines. It had taken him years
to realize he wasn’t like his friends but then again he’d been determined to
fit in nonetheless.
“Kind of.” Harry muttered as he fiddled with the cuff of his jumper. “I never
told anyone. I was freak to Uncle Vernon just for being a wizard. Imagine him
finding out I was…..” Harry didn’t want to say the word and instead, sighed
heavily and continued. “It is easy to make up shit when you’re with your
friends. Charlie Weasley can easily become Ginny Weasley if you think hard
enough. I thought if I tried it with Alice, it’d make things better but it only
made me vomit on your shoes.” Snape smiled crookedly as Harry huffed a weak
nervous chuckle. “It was a waste of time really. It didn’t get me into your
class did it?” Snape shook his head in reply as he watched Harry sigh heavily
and shrug his shoulders.
“I’m not sure there is much I can tell you Potter and certainly nothing that’s
going to make things easier.” Harry knew that was the truth. He’d lived with
this problem long enough now to know, like most other things in his life his
choices had made things difficult. “But, if I’ve learned something from my own
experiences it’s always to choose wisely who you give yourself to. Not everyone
is what they seem and some bruises can last a lifetime.” With a warm smile
Harry nodded, this time rising from the lounge without hindrance.
“Thanks sir.” Harry whispered feeling strangely satisfied that Snape had told
him something so intimately private about himself that no one else probably
knew. “It is late.” Snape nodded and flicked his wand at the fireplace. The
flames turned a green colour and Harry stepped towards them. “Goodnight sir.”
Harry paused on the hearth to glance back at Snape over his shoulder.
“Good night Potter.” Snape muttered as the boy disappeared to be deposited on
the Gryfindor Common Room carpet.
******************************************
Harry dawdled down to breakfast the next morning already aware of the whispers
that were circulating as he passed groups of students milling about in the
hallways. This was going to be painful. He’d known it from the moment he’d
woken to Ron staring down at him sadly this morning. Taking a deep steadying
breath Harry entered the bustle of the great hall. Every eye seemed to turn on
him as he walked slowly to his seat at the Gryfindor table. The sniggers and
whispers were the worst but he pointedly avoided acknowledging them as he sat
down beside Ron and Hermione who were staring at him sympathetically. Harry
smiled at them before reaching for a slice of toast and trying desperately to
block out the stares. Thankfully no one dared to make comment to Harry about
the night before. The news had spread fast particularly of Harry’s colorful
waterworks all over Snape.
Breakfast was passed in relative silence Ron managing to discuss
Transfiguration essays with Harry and Hermione. School was a safe topic for the
morning and Harry would be glad to be out of the hall and back in the safety of
the library.
With a screech the morning owl post began to arrive. Hedwig landed perfectly
beside Harry with a small bundle of letters. Wiping his hands on his napkin
Harry flipped through his mail. Circular from Honeydukes, cheque from Weasley’s
Wizarding Wheezes, a letter from Remus and a note from Hagrid for tea at his
hut. Harry put his mail back on the table but was surprised as Hedwig nudged
them to the floor. Scolding his owl Harry bent down to pick up his letters but
was surprised when he saw a plain unmarked envelope sticking out from between
his circular and letter from Remus. Frowning Harry collected his mail and
pulled the strange envelope out for closer inspection. Sliding his finger under
the seal of the letter Harry opened it and read with disbelieve the short,
note.
’11.30pm class 101’.
Harry was shocked and clutching the letter spun around on his bench to stare up
at Snape who was sipping from his teacup at the top table and reading the
newspaper. Harry was stunned as he watched Snape glance up from his paper to
briefly meet Harry’s gaze an eyebrow raised in acknowledgement before the
potions professor went back to scowling at his paper in his usual unpleasant
manner. Smiling Harry turned back to his friends at the table who all seemed to
have their own unmarked letters.
“Wow Harry you must have done something right last night.” Ron declared as he
shoved his own letter into his bag and smiled almost proudly at Harry.
“Yeah, must have.” Harry muttered as he shoved his letter along with his own
mail into his bag before excusing himself from the table and heading for the
library. If he was going to attend Snape’s class that afternoon he’d have to
finish his Transfiguration essay.
************************************
Tentatively Harry sat down at the only spare two desks at the front of the
classroom. Glancing behind him, Harry watched as the other couples began to
take their seats in the desk pairs scattered around in a semi circle
configuration. Harry had never been in this classroom before. In fact he’d
never been in this part of the castle before. It was somewhere in the Slytherin
dungeons but Harry couldn’t be sure where having got there via the fireplace in
their common room. The place looked like an ordinary class and smelt kind of
fusty.
The fireplace they’d all stepped out of earlier roared into life again and
Snape stepped out with practiced ease. He was carrying a large bundle of books
and a leather satchel was slung over his shoulder. There was a muttering of
reply to the potion masters greeting, mainly from the Slytherins sitting with
Draco at the back of circle. “Diaries out, we shall start with homework?” Snape
maneuvered his way into the center of the circle and with a flick of his wand
had transfigured one of the spare desks into a comfy looking armchair and side
table which he promptly deposited his books on top of. Harry shifted awkwardly
in his seat, as he watched the class rustle through their things before coming
up with their red leather diaries. Feeling a little left out and certainly
isolated on his own without a partner, Harry removed a piece of parchment and a
quill from his bag. “Mr. Finegahan, you may start us off. Your observations of
‘withdrawal’ if you will please?” Harry tried not to look bewildered as Seamus
stood up and began graphically describing how his magic behaved having
withdrawn from his girlfriend before coming. Everyone was listening so
intently, some scribbling down notes in their own red leather diaries. Harry
didn’t know what to do and merely stared at Seamus as the boy continued unaware
that Snape was watching him carefully. “Very good, now a female point of view.
Miss Weasley?” Snape pointed to Ginny who once again obliged, with just as much
detail as Seamus had. Once again Snape’s careful gaze didn’t leave Harry until
Ginny had finished the recount of her homework.
“I imagine you all experienced similar disappointments am I right?” Snape stood
up from his armchair and moved over to a chalkboard behind his chair. With a
flick of his wand a piece of chalk began scrawling notes in Severus’ familiar
handwriting as the man continued. “So as we discussed last lesson, when you’re
unsuccessful and unsatisfied so is your magic. Thus I remind you again the
importance of making an effort with your partners both for their pleasure and
your successful magic.” Snape stopped as did the chalk that hovered patiently
above the board. “With that lesson, brings us to our next which is control. Or
no doubt with some of you, the lack there of.” Harry watched as everyone
eagerly opened their red leather diaries to the page Snape had said. Harry bit
his lip as he glanced over to the young 3rd year Ravenclaw girl’s diary to get
a look. “Accio Book” With a flick of his wand Snape’s bag still resting on the
transfigured arm chair flung open and a blue flash shot into Snape’s open palm.
“Potter, that’ll be page 96 for you.” Harry was a little stunned as Snape put a
blue velvet covered diary down in front of him. Everyone was staring at Harry
curiously as the boy fingered the velvet cover before gingerly opening the
book. Inside, engraved in silver were Harry’s initials, in a scrawling
flickering script. “Can’t have you looking at pictures like that can we?” Snape
smiled crookedly as he gestured with his head over to the other red leather
diaries around the room. Harry screwed his nose up as he caught the sight of
breasts and womanly hips in one of the illustrations. Harry smiled in thanks as
Severus turned back to continue the class.
Harry didn’t hear much of the lesson too engrossed as he was in reading the
book and ogling the pictures he found inside that specifically catered to his
gender specific tastes. Harry was so absorbed in reading the text he didn’t
even realize the class had come to an end until Snape came to a stop in front
of his desk and gently placed his hand over the page Harry was currently
reading.
“Potter, no need to read it all in one go.” Harry blushed as he looked up
abruptly at Snape before glancing guiltily around the empty classroom.
“It is brilliant.” Harry whispered as he begrudgingly turned the page to one of
the many spare diary sections, so that he could write down the homework from
the board. Snape however stopped him with another firm hand over his own.
“I think considering the circumstances a more appropriate homework assignment
is necessary.” Harry glanced at the homework and grimaced wondering where on
earth he was going to find someone to practice that sort of control on? “We
should start with something small, ease you in to it. Control can be practiced
alone, time yourself to see how long you last and what you can do to extend
that time. Also, read the first few chapters that tell you what sex magic is
and then explain what your magic does during orgasm.” Snape smiled and Harry
quickly noted down everything the elder wizard had said.
“Thank you.” Harry muttered as he shoved his book carefully into his bag and
slung it over his shoulder. It was way past curfew but Harry was far from tired
too excited to have his own personal text book and a practically private tutor.
“You’re welcome Potter. Now get out of my sight before I start removing house
points.” Harry wasn’t hanging around to find out if Snape was joking and with a
scurry Harry was soon through the fireplace and hurrying up the stairs to the
boy’s dormitory. Predictably Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus were all sitting on
their beds waiting for him.
“So come on Harry what is special about you that yours is velvet?” Harry rolled
his eyes as he carefully stowed his bag in his locked trunk before getting
dressed into his pajamas. Harry knew it was coming. Ron had been eyeing his
textbook all through the lesson with confusion.
“Nothing, Snape just said he thought it’d be less obvious and cause less
commotion if ‘Harry Potter’ wasn’t seen walking around with a sex magic diary.”
Harry was impressed by his lie but then again he’d had a fair amount of
practice of covering his tracks regarding his sway in life. Climbing into bed,
Harry didn’t miss the disappointed looks on his friend’s faces, the four of
them having expected something interesting. The truth naturally would be more
than just interesting, it’d be a scandal Harry couldn’t escape. So there was no
way in hell anyone was going to know about his secret, at least not until
Voldemort was dead and everyone had forgotten about the boy savior.
“Night, Harry” Ron smiled at Harry before he closed his privacy curtain. Harry
nodded and waited patiently until he’d heard everyone else get into bed before
he crawled to the end of his bed and removed his diary from his trunk. Nothing
was going to keep Harry from reading tonight but homework could wait till
tomorrow….
**********************************************
Kissing.
It was a simple idea. Pucker your lips, stick in your tongue and kiss. Yet as
he sat in the library staring at his homework, the idea seemed a hell of a lot
more simple on paper than it was in practice. Four weeks and three of Snape’s
extra curricular classes and the potions master was expecting Harry to have
found a willing participant in his learning curve. The prospect of confessing
to anyone about his sexual tendencies was horrifying, no less picking and
approaching someone to ask to be a partner in crime. There was no definitive
way of identifying a queer. There were no neon signs or flashing lights
singling them out from the rest of the student populace. Snape had assured
Harry that they were there it was just up to Harry to find them. But how? He
was already short on time with Snape having called another class for the
evening.
Disgusted with himself for having procrastinated so much Harry turned away from
the library goers and back to his diary to thumb idly through the pictures as
he’d found himself doing often. For a brief moment Harry lingered on a picture
of two wizards kissing and he sighed heavily. He’d only ever had two kisses in
his life both of which had done little more but give him cold sores and a
headache. What Snape was asking of him was pushing him too far and Harry wasn’t
sure he was ready for that.
Making up his mind to confront Snape about his homework Harry shut his diary
and warded it closed before stuffing it into his bag and heading from the
library towards Snape’s classroom. The professor would probably be teaching 2nd
year remissions potions as he always did on a Tuesday in free period. Harry had
been a permanent feature in remissions potions and now had Snape’s teaching
schedule down pat, which was kind of disturbing in a way. Reaching the
classroom Harry waited patiently outside until Snape had dismissed his class.
The second years rushed for the door as quickly as their little legs could
carry them once they’d been dismissed. Obviously Snape was in a foul mood, no
doubt caused by the explosion this morning by foolish fourth years.
Harry checked that the classroom was empty of students before wandering in.
Snape was still sitting behind his desk, labeling what appeared to be the
second year’s sample potions.
“Mr. Potter, to what do I owe this dubious and most out of character
visitation?” Snape didn’t look up from his work as he addressed the boy who’d
gingerly propped himself up on the front desk.
”I can’t do the homework.” Harry decided it was best to get it out in the open
sooner rather than later. If Snape was going to blast him, Harry would sooner
have it over and done with. Snape did look up this time, with a mild expression
of surprise on his face.
“My, you leave me speechless Potter. For the first time in five years, are you
asking for help in your Potions homework? Am I to be spared the drivel you
usually serve to me?” Harry bit his lip, determined not to rise to the insult.
“Not Potions sir, my other homework…” Harry trailed off as he saw Snape’s
expression fall back into mild irritation.
“Obviously not.” Snape muttered to himself before labeling the last of the
sample tubes before rising from his desk. “You best step into my office then.”
Harry nodded and followed Snape through the arched doorway leading from the lab
and into Snape’s freakishly dark, potions adorned office.
“Well, what is the difficulty?” With a flick of his wand Snape closed the door
behind them before sitting down opposite Harry in the two matching armchairs
beside the fireplace.
“Everything.” Harry muttered darkly as he stared into the flickering flames of
the fire, pointedly avoiding eye contact with Snape. Despite mellowing slightly
Snape had certainly not chilled as much as he usually did when teaching his
other more delicate subject. “I don’t want anyone else to know.” It was an
excuse plain and simple, a defense for something he hadn’t yet been chastised
over. Snape’s lips thinned his eyes narrowing dangerously.
“Then why pray tell Mr. Potter are you in my class when you have no intention
of using the knowledge I am imparting upon you?” Harry winced. He’d heard this
speech before when Harry had pleaded with the elder wizard in third year to be
allowed into the Potion Masters, Newt’s Potion Class. Not in any kind of mood
to be lectured on choices and decisions Harry looked away from Snape and tutted
loudly.
“It’s not like I chose to be this way!” Harry paused and glared at Snape, who
had sat back in his chair and had folded his arms across his chest. “I didn’t
wake up one day and just decide I liked boys, so I could be different or get
attention! I think I’ve got enough attention without announcing to the world I
like cock!” Harry was angry at being so easily dismissed having expected a
little compassion from the elder wizard like he’d been shown last time. Harry
knew he should have known better, Snape was a bastard no matter what he was
teaching.
“And I did not choose to be teaching whining, incompetent, pathetic students
but I do so because like most things in life Mr. Potter not everything happens
how we would like it to. Shit happens and then it is up to us what we do with
it that determines how we live our lives.” Snape paused and shrugged his
shoulders in his characteristically cold way. “So, you have two choices. You
can stop being a whining little poof and find yourself a partner or you can
continue pretending to like girls, having pointless sex and then throwing up
afterwards in disgust.” Snape stood up from his seat and strode over to the
door of his office and held it open for Harry who as still staring in shock at
Snape’s cruel words. “Either way, don’t bother turning up to my class this
evening if you have not completed your homework. Now I believe you’re late for
dinner.” Stunned Harry slowly got to his feet and walked tentatively over to
stand in front of Snape who was still holding open the door for him his
familiar scowl in place. Harry paused in front of the Potions Master and met
the man’s stare straight on. It was then as Harry stared into the dark eyes
that inspiration struck. With a fluid grace Harry reached up and with his hand
behind the back of Snape’s neck he dragged the elder man down against his lips.
The movement was all done in the blink of an eye Snape not even managing any
resistance before Harry’s warm lips had pressed against the elder wizards. The
kiss was strange. Snape’s partially parted lips were hardly moving as Harry
pressed the kiss a little firmer. Harry could feel the slight roughness of
Snape’s afternoon beard. He could smell the mix of potions lingering on the
man’s clothes and he could taste tea on the man’s breath. What was most
intriguing however was Snape’s hair that hung in Harry’s face and dangled in
his hands at the back of Snape’s neck. It wasn’t as unpleasant as it looked. It
certainly was not greasy but soft like silk. The entire sensation was bizarre
and although it lasted mere seconds, it seemed to Harry to last forever.
Regaining his senses Snape’s hands came crashing up into Harry’s chest, pushing
the boy backwards against the door frame with a cough of air from Harry.
Blinking his eyes back into focus after the push, Harry stared at Snape. The
potions master looked pale not an ounce of emotion on his blank face as he
stared at Harry. The tension lingered between them in the silence and Harry
stared at Snape waiting for a sign. While Snape’s expression didn’t change it
was the nervous swallow Harry witness in the man’s throat that made the boy’s
confidence rise again.
Snape was nervous.
Harry couldn’t prevent the smirk that twitched at the corner of his lips as he
stepped away from the door frame and casually out into the empty classroom.
“Shit Happens Professor.” Harry smiled as he collected his bag from the front
desk and headed for the door, Snape’s gaze on him the entire time. “See you
this evening in class sir.” Harry grinned flippantly over his shoulder back at
Snape before sauntering from the room feeling rather pleased with himself.
*******************************************
Quietly Harry began packing his things away just managing to stifle a yawn as
he closed his blue velvet diary and slid it safely into the concealed pocket of
his satchel. The entire lesson had been strained and despite having achieved
very little Harry was as tired as hell. Snape hadn’t acknowledged Harry once
during the entire lesson. The elder wizard had even purposefully shifted his
armchair around in the center of the semi circle so that he had his back to
Harry. It was almost as if Snape was pretending Harry didn’t exist. Quite
frankly trying to get the elder wizards attention just for some recognition of
his homework had taken Harry more effort than an entire Quidditch match. Harry
was exhausted and sighed heavily as he dragged himself up out of his chair and
went to follow his classmates back through the fireplace.
“You should pursue someone your own age Potter.” Harry froze on the stone fire
surround as Snape’s icy cold voice addressed him from behind. Glancing over his
shoulder away from the heat of the fire, Harry watched as Snape bent over to
pick up the bundle of homework papers he’d collected during the lesson. Feeling
already irritable with having been ignored all evening Harry was in no mood to
pander to Snape’s sharp remarks and so snorted indignantly at the elder
wizard’s comment.
“Age wasn’t a specification in your homework task.” Harry turned around and
defiantly folded his arms across his chest. “Besides, a kiss is just a kiss.
I’d hardly call it pursuit of a relationship.” Harry flippantly shrugged his
shoulders unaware of Snape’s darkening expression as the man stared at him from
across the room. “If you didn’t want me doing these sorts of things you should
be more careful what homework you assign me in the future.” Harry glanced at
the blackboard and smirked widely as he gestured at Snape’s own handwriting on
the board. “But it seems judging from this week’s task you’re itching for a
blow job.”
Harry didn’t see Snape reaching into his cloak for his wand before it was too
late. A streak of silver shot through the air and hit Harry square in the chest
paralyzing him and ripping him across the room and over to dangle precariously
in front of Snape in the center of the classroom. Harry’s eyes flickered wildly
in fear as Snape pressed the hot tip of his wand to Harry’s neck, where the
only movement was the slight rise and fall of the boy’s adams apple.
“Consider this your only warning Potter,” Snape’s voice had lowered to a deadly
whisper, the man’s face dangerously close to Harry who despite fighting hardly
moved an inch in the tight curse wrapped around his body. “Do not push me. The
things I can do to you with a single flick of this wand would douse the flames
in even Dumbledore’s eyes.” For emphasis Snape pushed the wand hard into
Harry’s throat making the boy unable to breath. The panic that rose in Harry
instantly was terrifying but with a barely perceptible flick of his wand. Snape
had release Harry and the boy had fallen into a gasping slack heap at the man’s
feet. Snape sneered in disgust down at Harry who struggled to scramble away
from the elder wizard. “If you wish to remain in this class Mr. Potter I
suggest you find a more suitable candidate for your experimentation or at least
a willing vessel with which you can complete your homework. As I am neither
suitable nor willing, perhaps you will heed my suggestion of seeking out one
such person who embodies your current needs.” Harry watched as Snape tore a
small corner of parchment from his own notebook and quickly scrawled a name on
it before tossing it down at Harry as he continued to gather his belongings.
Harry glanced at the name, his eyes widening in shock as he stared up at Snape.
“Yes. While I am generally apposed to whoring yourself like common trash, he
does have his uses and he enjoys cock. Which in some way makes him more like
his father than he’s probably truly aware of?” Harry swallowed nervously as he
glanced at the name on the corner of parchment again. “Now if we’ve finished
can you manage to vacate this room so I may do the same.” Hurriedly Harry
scrambled to his feet and having grabbed his bag practically leapt through the
fireplace back into the Gryfindor common room, the corner of parchment still
clasped firmly in his hand.
******************************
***** Part 3 *****
Chapter Notes
     Originally this was posted in chapters but I've combined the chapters
     together into parts. Enjoy.
PART 3
It was suicide.
He knew it was the moment he’d taken the first tentative steps into the
Slytherin Quidditch Team’s locker room. However it was a necessary evil. He
needed to be in Snape’s extra credit classes, and he was willing to do anything
to be so, even this.
After his last conversation with Snape, Harry had become more determined than
ever to pursue the man. Harry hadn’t yet comprehended why he wanted the elder
wizard. In fact the idea scared the hell out of him. Having read a little into
his velvet sex diary however, Harry had narrowed his bizarre attraction to the
Potions Professor down to being something to do with power. If power was a
religion and Harry was pretty sure it was in some parts of the world, then
Severus Snape was its god. The wizard practically exuded power but not with the
normal haughtiness associated with having it. Snape carried his power well with
an enviable grace and fluidity that made him stand out. Perhaps Harry’s
attraction to the man was partially envy of his ability to use his power
without directly drawing attention to it but whatever the reason behind the
attraction it was there and it was strong.
So strong that Harry was willing to face his enemies just for the opportunity
to stay in the hunt.
Harry swallowed nervously as he glanced around the locker room. Just like the
Gryfindor locker room students roamed the steamy shower space in various
degrees of undress. The team seemed jubilant over their latest win and Harry
was glad he hadn’t been on the losing Hufflepuff team, who’d taken a battering.
Inching his way carefully around the students Harry sought out the familiar
blonde mop of hair that defined his goal. Sure enough a flash of gold in the
end shower cubical caught Harry’s attention and with a swift maneuver around a
beefy looking goalkeeper he made his way over to the cubicle. Pushing open the
poor excuse for a door Harry stepped inside the cubicle and slid off his
invisibility cloak.
Draco Malfoy.
Just as Snape had suggested the boy was the embodiment of Harry’s needs. The
blonde had a reputation and was neither subtle nor private about the fact. Sure
Pansy Parkinson was his constant but the blonde’s bed was surely never cold
even if Pansy wasn’t in it. It had however come somewhat as a shock to Harry to
find the blonde liked men too. Rumor had it Draco was strictly a witch’s
wizard. Harry stayed perfectly still as he stared at Draco’s naked back as the
blonde contentedly bathed himself under the hot spray of the shower. Harry
spared a glance at the blonde’s backside admiring the toned pert globes of
Draco’s arse that would, if allowed to, look brilliant in a pair of muggle
jeans. Harry bit his lip and clutched his wand tightly in his hand as Draco
turned around, his eyes not quite registering he was not alone in his shower
until Harry spoke.
“Shut up and listen.” Draco slipped on the tiles and fell back against the wall
in shock as he realized who was standing before him.
“Pot…” Recovering himself Draco went to spit out Harry’s name with its usual
venom but Harry was quicker and slammed his hand down over Draco’s wet mouth.
Putting all his weight against Draco, Harry affectively pinned the blonde to
the tiled wall completely ignoring the warm spray of the shower now soaking
through his clothes. Draco struggled but Harry had the upper hand over the
naked boy. Staring into Draco’s angry blue eyes, Harry waited until the sounds
outside died down before finally speaking, in a low whisper.
“I don’t care what you think of me. I need to stay in Snape’s class and that
means doing my homework. I was told you were easy.” Harry stared unblinkingly
into Draco’s unpleasant stare waiting for the instant a flicker of
understanding flashed in those icy blue eyes. The flicker Harry was waiting for
happened quicker than he imagined. Harry wasn’t quick enough to hide his
shocked expression on his face before he felt Draco’s lips twitch up in a smile
beneath his hand. Thinking he’d made a huge mistake Harry let go of Draco’s
body abruptly and turned to leave but Draco’s arm shot out to grab Harry’s
waist and pull the shorter boy back flush against his chest. Harry froze as
Draco’s arms draped over his shoulders, the blonde’s nimble fingers playing
with the buttons on Harry’s now soaking shirt. Unable to breathe with fear
Harry listened as Draco whispered in his ear.
“Not easy Potter, just not as choosey as some.” Harry swallowed hard as he felt
Draco smile against his neck, the boy’s wet body pressed against the entire
length of Harry’s back. “Now we’ve established why you’ve come to me. Let’s
establish a price for my services shall we? After all when a juicy bit of
information like this falls in my lap there is a temptation to just spread it
around….”
Harry had predicted this and ground his teeth angrily as Draco swept a wet hand
through Harry’s wet hair.
“What do you want?” Harry spat sourly over his shoulder at Draco who grinned
like a cat that had swallowed a canary.
“Oh, there’s a lot of things I want Potter but I’m realistic enough to
understand that even Malfoy’s can’t have everything.” Draco paused and pulled
back from Harry to lean almost casually against the tiled wall of the shower
cubicle. Not wanting to have his back to the blonde any longer than necessary,
Harry turned around to face Draco. “But there is something you can do for me to
buy my silence.” Harry rolled his eyes as Draco reached down between his legs
and gave his flaccid member an almost casual squeeze.
“I was going to give you that anyway Draco. That was the point of coming to see
you in the first place, to do my homework remember?” Harry huffed contemptibly
as Draco smiled darkly to himself. Reaching forward Draco grabbed Harry’s
collar and pulled the boy down to his knees in front of him. Harry obediently
allowed himself to be maneuvered into position. His face was now inches from
Draco’s prick. Harry briefly allowed himself to look at the other boy’s penis.
Considering Draco had a reputation he wasn’t much to look at. In fact Harry was
pretty sure he was bigger if that counted for anything. Harry had never been
face to face with another man’s member before. Sure he’d seen them in the
locker room and in the dorm, and he’d imagined doing things to other peoples
but he’d never touched. Swallowing nervously Harry watched through the hot
water still streaming down on top of him as Draco squeezed himself again, hard
enough that Harry winced in sympathy.
“What are you doing?” Harry muttered as Draco began fisting himself in a rather
rough manner. Despite the reddening skin Draco’s cock was actually beginning to
swell and Harry was rather disturbed at the image.
“Despite your own delusions that everyone is in love with you, I for one don’t
find you even remotely attractive Potter. However for the sake of your homework
assignment I require a hard on so shut up and instead of watching me wank,
listen to what I want from you in exchange for my service.” Harry gritted his
teeth and glared up at Draco, pointedly ignoring Draco’s rapidly hardening
shaft despite how intrigued he was.
“I thought this was what you wanted?” Harry ground out as he shook some water
out of his eyes, silently cursing the fact he was on his knees in front of a
Malfoy. Draco snorted in a really undignified manner before rolling his eyes
contemptibly.
“Hardly Potter, my silence is worth more than a blow job from a virgin.” Draco
let go of his now hardened cock that sprang out from a dusting of blonde curls
at its base. Harry opened his mouth to defend himself but Malfoy was quicker
and having reached around to the back of Harry’s head pulled the boy forward so
that his cock bumped against Harry’s lips. “Save it Potter. I know you didn’t
do that Ravenclaw girl. Who do you think she came to wet and unfulfilled after
you failed to perform?” Again Harry opened his mouth to protest but it was a
big mistake as Draco shoved his prick in between Harry’s lips. All thought left
Harry’s head as Draco’s thick shaft slid into his mouth. Harry had imagined
doing this so many times but never had it happened like this. Not knowing what
to do Harry remained still, his mouth stretched wide with Draco’s salty, sour
tasting cock resting heavy on his tongue. “Well come on Potter, suck me or
we’ll be here all night.” Draco spat out, his fingers tightening in the hair at
the back of Harry’s skull in an effort to encourage him to move. Fighting back
a worried feeling in the pit of his stomach, Harry let his jaw slacken and
began sliding his mouth up and down Draco’s shaft. It was an awkward movement
and Harry was trying to fight his gag reflex as Draco began thrusting his hips
forward, clearly unsatisfied with Harry’s pathetic attempt. Going limp Harry
closed his eyes as he let Draco use his mouth, the blonde’s fingers at the back
of his head guiding Harry’s movements. “Tight lips Potter, or I’ll not come and
this will have been a wasted effort.” Fighting the urge not to bare his teeth,
Harry tightened the ‘o’ of his lips and was reward with a grunt of approval
from Draco who continued to piston his cock back and forth into Harry’s mouth.
Feeling one of Draco’s hands move from the back of his head, Harry dared to
open his eyes. He watched as the blonde groped at his own sack moments before
Harry’s mouth was flooded with a bitter, vile tasting salty spray.
Choking Harry pulled away from Draco abruptly but before he could spit the
substance out, Draco had bent over and grabbed him by the nose and clamped his
hand over Harry’s mouth forcing the boy to swallow instinctively.
“Swallow it Potter, or you won’t have done your homework properly. That was the
point of Snape setting it after all.” Once he was sure Harry had swallowed
Draco let go of the other boy. Harry collapsed on the cold tiled floor,
coughing loudly as he gasped for air and wretched at the foul tasting liquid
that coating his tongue and throat.
“Yuck,” Harry hastily leaned his head up and caught some of the shower spray in
his mouth in an effort to wash away the taste of Draco’s cream. Draco snorted
above him in amusement before offering Harry a hand to stand up from the floor.
“It is oral sex etiquette to swallow Potter besides swallowing has its
benefits.” Shutting off the water to the shower, Draco casually indicated to
Harry’s wand before sauntering out of the cubicle and over to where his locker
was. By now the locker room had emptied and so the pair of them were completely
alone. Harry felt sick as he followed Draco out into the empty locker room but
he also felt kind of tingly as he clutched his wand. “Having someone else’s
essence inside you enhances your magic’s natural ability. It gives you an added
boost of power. It only lasts until your body’s defenses combat it but it’s
good while it’s there.” Draco shrugged his shoulders casually as he began to
towel himself dry. Tentatively Harry performed a drying spell on his clothes
and was a little taken back by the surge of magic that tingled through his
fingers as he performed the simple charm. Draco smiled smugly at Harry’s
wonder. “Anyway, back to my repayment.” Draco muttered once he’d pulled on his
slacks and shirt. Harry bit his lip in concern as he picked up his invisibility
cloak from the hook inside the shower cubicle where he’d draped it carefully
earlier.
“What do you want?” Harry ground out beginning to lose his temper with Draco’s
smugness.
“I’m a promised child Potter.” Draco’s simple explanation did little but go in
one of Harry’s ears, and out the other. The difficulty with having been brought
up as a muggle was that many things in the wizarding world that most wizards
knew by a matter of course, Harry was completely unaware of until specifically
told. Draco rolled his eyes at the blank expression on Harry’s face. “On my
first birthday, my father promised my hand in marriage to someone as soon as I
reached 18.” Harry watched as Draco flicked his wand at his own right hand.
There was a slight popping sound before a ring appeared on Draco’s ring finger.
It was beautiful, a twisted weave of white gold, like a serpent with amber and
emeralds circling the entire band.
“You mean you’ve got an arranged marriage?” Harry muttered cautiously not quite
sure where this strange conversation was leading and what it had to do with
Harry’s payment for Draco’s services. Draco shrugged his shoulders casually as
he pulled his cloak about his shoulders and fastened it securely.
“If that is what muggles call it, then sure whatever. All you need to know is
that come my 18th birthday I have to get married to someone I don’t want to.”
Having shown Harry the ring, Draco was quick to re-charm it to disappear again.
In the six years Harry had known Draco never would he have imagined having this
type of conversation with the blonde. Despite the slightly romantic part of his
heart that wept at knowing anyone to be forced into marriage, Harry really
couldn’t feel sympathetic for Draco’s situation.
“Alright, so what does that have to do with me?” Harry whispered as Draco
locked his Quidditch things away before grabbing his school bag and tossing it
over his shoulder. Following Draco back out onto the now empty Quidditch field,
Harry wondered what Draco was getting at with his sob story.
“There is no legal way for a promised child to get out of marriage with their
intended, except if the ‘intended’ nulls the contract voluntarily.” Harry’s
gaze narrowed dangerously at Draco as the blonde paused halfway up the path
back to the castle. The area was becoming more populated again and it was
obvious that Draco didn’t want to discuss this topic of conversation where
others could over hear it. Harry stared at Draco who sniffed and shifted the
bag on his shoulder. “What I want you to do Potter is to give my ‘intended’
something to want other than me so that they null the contract.” With a smug
smile Draco turned and continued up the path leaving Harry stunned and a little
confused. Surely Draco couldn’t be suggesting what Harry thought he was.
“Hang on Malfoy. You’re saying you want me to seduce your ‘intended’ so that
they cancel the contract your father made with them?” Harry snapped as he
caught up with Draco on the steps back up into the main entrance hall of the
castle.
“Seduce, love, fuck, hate? Personally I don’t care what you do to win him over,
so long as he relinquishes the contract on my marriage to him.” Draco continued
to walk across the entrance towards the great hall, where everyone was
gathering for dinner.
“Hang on. That’s a pretty steep price for just a blow job Mafloy.” Harry ground
out beneath his breath, aware that there were students roaming the hall and
possibly listening to their conversation. Malfoy paused on the threshold of
great hall to glance back at Harry with a smug smile.
“I told you my silence was expensive Potter, I did warn you.” With a shrug of
his shoulders Malfoy turned to head for the Slytherin table but Harry lunged
forward and grabbed Malfoy’s arm hard, jerking the blonde back around to face
him.
“At least tell me who it is!” Potter ground out angrily beginning to get the
feeling he’d been backed into a corner unknowingly. A wide Slytherin smile
exploded onto Draco’s face and Harry knew instantly he’d been screwed. As if in
slow motion Draco turned his gaze towards the top end of the hall. Harry’s eyes
followed the line of the blonde’s to fall on the teacher’s table. Sure enough,
to Harry’s horror Draco’s gaze settled on the tall, dark looming figure of one
Severus Snape.
************************************************
“Well? Do we have an agreement? My silence for your co-operation.” Harry sat
staring blankly at the empty teachers table at the head of the great hall.
Dinner had finished over an hour ago the house elves having cleared away any
signs of a meal while Harry had sat staring numbly into space. Harry tightened
his fists into balls beneath the table as the Slytherin blonde sat down
opposite him in the empty hall.
“Do I have a choice?” Harry ground out having seethed to himself about being so
stupid as to go to Draco in the first place about his homework. This mess was
all because of the stupid class.
“Not really,” Draco shrugged casually. “But I did think about it some more and
you were right it is a steep price for a ‘blow job’ so I’m prepared to
compromise.” Harry’s gaze narrowed suspiciously at Draco wondering what this
latest compromise would entail. “I’ll help you with all your homework
assignments from Snape’s class. In fact we’ll turn it into a tutoring session.
You’re not going to move Snape an inch playing the innocent virgin that’s just
not his style.”
“He hates me.” Harry put simply replaying the last nasty encounter he and Snape
had had in his own mind. Draco sniffed indignantly and rolled his eyes.
“Don’t be melodramatic Potter. Snape doesn’t hate anyone he’s just not as
tolerant of other people’s foibles as the rest of us are.” Harry raised a
skeptical eyebrow at Draco who again rolled his eyes in what was increasingly
becoming a habit when the blonde was in Harry’s company. “Besides I’m pretty
sure that wasn’t a potions tube in his pocket after he’d come back from 101
last week”
“How do you know what is in his pockets?” Harry whispered eyeing Draco a little
enviously as he thought back to the kiss in Snape’s office. “Besides he’s not
gay, rumors would have started.” Draco chuckled at Harry’s naivety for the
second time that day and shook his head in disbelief at how clueless Harry was.
“Oh please Potter, you can’t be that dumb. Why do you think Dumbledore chose
Snape to teach 101?” Draco spat sharply not waiting for Harry to reply before
continuing. “Because being queer, he’s the only teacher that could talk about
hetro sex and not be in the slightest bit turned on and therefore pose no
threat to his students.” Draco paused a moment letting Harry grasp the idea he
was trying to get across. “As for knowing what is in his pockets. I can go one
better and tell you what is in his pants. I’ve been sleeping with him since I
was fourteen it is part of the promise my father made to him.”
“You,” Harry paused and swallowed nervously, lowering his voice as he
continued. “You’re making love to him?” Harry hated the way he sounded so
pathetically young and with Draco’s snort of amusement Harry knew he was being
mocked.
“I wouldn’t call it that Potter. Every Wednesday after dueling club I go back
to his rooms. We talk, have a drink then I lie there while he does me. It
doesn’t even get a rise out of me and some times he doesn’t even cum he just
pulls out when he’s soft without having lost his load. It is crap. Then he
kisses me and tells me to go back to my dorm. I think he’s got a problem, aside
from the fact I don’t want it or him. Plus he lets me sleep around like he
doesn’t even care. But what I can’t understand is if he doesn’t care about me,
why the fuck won’t he null the contract?” Harry sat back a little on the bench
stunned at having heard Draco spill such sordid secrets about himself to his
enemy.
“Perhaps he loves you.” Harry muttered, cursing himself at sounding very much
like a girl with his soppy notions of love. Draco rolled his eyes yet again and
shook his head in disgust.
“Don’t delude yourself Potter. Just because you fuck someone doesn’t mean it is
love. I’d sooner say it was something to do with my father but until I can work
it out the only option I have is you.” Draco grumbled as he folded his arms
across his chest to stare at Harry pointedly. “I’ll even help you. I’ve been in
his company long enough to know what he likes and what he doesn’t. Well at
least out of the bedroom that is.”
“I kissed him.” Harry whispered hardly believing he’d just confessed what he
had done. Draco chuckled and shook his head in amusement causing Harry to frown
deeply in concern.
“Yeah I know you did. He bitched about it all night to me afterwards. You
shouldn’t have done it, it really pissed him off.” Draco laughed as Harry
blushed a crimson colour knowing that Snape had discussed the incident with the
blonde. “But that is also partly why I think you’re the person to get me out of
this Potter. Snape might have bitched about your kiss but the sex was
marginally better afterwards. For him at least which suggests something about
him and you.” Draco trailed off as he stared at Harry, who deliberately avoided
meeting the blonde’s sky blue eyes. “You like him don’t you?” The question was
out there before Harry had a chance to breathe. Draco’s piercing blue eyes
practically nailed him to the floor.
“Not particularly,” Harry shrugged non committally as he tried to avoid Draco’s
piercing eyes. “I only kissed him because he pushed me. If he didn’t want me to
rebel he shouldn’t have set an impossible homework task he knew I couldn’t do
because of my situation.” Harry knew he was sulking like a four year old and
one look at Draco’s amused smirk told Harry it was true.
“You wanted to be in his class Potter. No one is forcing you to come. Besides,
I’d say asking for a blow job from your enemy just to stay in his class goes
some way in explaining why you wanted to join in the first place.” Draco raised
a knowing, calculated eyebrow at Harry who narrowed his gaze and sniffed
indignantly. “Don’t blow me off Potter. I’m the king of reading sub text. I’ve
been in Snape’s company long enough to be able to interpret even his hidden
agendas.” Harry chuckled, as did Draco. It was a surreal moment to have Harry’s
enemy sitting across from him laughing in genuine mirth like the pair of them
were friends. The moment however ended quickly as a slap of feet on the stone
drew their attention over to the door.
“Harry, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Ron wandered over to the table,
where Harry and Draco were still sitting opposite one another. Ron glared at
Draco before glancing at Harry for some kind of explanation.
“We were just talking about the mixed Quidditch friendly next week.” Grabbing
his bag from the floor Harry stood up beside Ron, who was still glaring at
Draco like the blonde was the deadliest pet in Hagrid’s collection.
“Just because it is a friendly doesn’t mean we’re just going to let the other
team walk all over us.” Ron spat, more particularly at Draco than at Harry
himself. Draco pursed his lips together but didn’t bite to the redhead’s
accusations. Instead Draco calmly stood having collected his own bag from the
bench beside him. “Besides, I heard Hooch benched you for this game.” Ron
growled at Draco’s back as the blonde began walking towards the exit of the
hall, having not once acknowledged Ron’s insults. Harry was mildly impressed
that the Slytherin held his tongue. Reaching the door, Draco paused and glanced
back over his shoulder at Harry and his friend.
“Do we have an agreement Potter?” Draco called calmly restating the exact
question that had started the entire strange conversation off in the first
place. Harry hesitated, ignoring Ron’s confused stare as he thought about the
consequences of his next words. Taking a deep breath Harry nodded, wondering
silently to himself if it wasn’t the biggest mistake in his life. With a very
Slytherin smile twitching at the corner of his mouth, Draco turned and with a
confident swagger left the great hall.
************************************
Harry was having second thoughts.
Not just the innocent tummy fluttering type thoughts he got before a big
Quidditch match or an exam. But the cold feet, nightmare inducing type of
second thoughts he got before Voldemort pounced. For the past two weeks it
hadn’t really sunk in yet just exactly what Harry had agreed to. Partially the
reason was that Snape had called no ‘extra classes’ and it was easy for Harry
to forget what he’d done. However this morning, notes had been delivered with
their mail demanding their attendance.
Harry had suffered through the class in silence, passively listening to the
tales of oral sex from the heterosexuals. Like he’d done in the last class
Snape turned his back on Harry for the entire lesson. Not that Harry hadn’t
expected it. Since the kiss Snape had been at his bastardly best. Harry had
seen more of Filch and Mrs Norris during detention than he’d seen of his
friends. Still Harry had gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to fight back,
knowing that it would only make things worse. Despite being completely ignored
in Snape’s ‘extra class’ Harry was genuinely enjoying the experience and its
enlightening information on sex magic. As much as Harry hated to admit it,
Dumbldore was right. Snape knew what he was talking about.
Now though after his nighttime class, he found himself in a deserted, dark and
fusty smelling corridor. The stone on the floor was wet and if he listened hard
Harry was sure he could hear the annoying drip of water down the walls. Harry
had followed Draco’s hastily scrawled map exactly and had found himself
standing alone in the flickering light of the only torch in a long unused
corridor of Hogwarts dungeons. It was now, as he stood in the flickering glow
of the wall torch that the horrible second thoughts had set in. Paranoia was
bound to happen with the horrible thoughts that ran through his mind and Harry
found himself jumping in fear as a rat scurried across the light in front of
him.
“Frightened of a rat Potter?” Harry practically shot out of his shoes as a hand
touched his shoulder. Spinning around Harry stumbled and fell against the wall
as he came face to face with a familiar blonde Slytherin.
“Where the fuck did you come from?” Harry snapped, as he looked both ways up
the deserted corridor. Draco snorted in amusement and stuck his hand through
the wall beside him. With his mouth agape in awe Harry watched as the rock wall
shimmered, the illusion rippling like water, as Draco disturbed the wall with
his hand. Harry knew he’d never seen anything like this appearing on the
Marauders Map, in fact he couldn’t even remember seeing this corridor on the
map at all.
“It is a safety shaft. If you follow it to the end it’ll bring you out on the
edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was built during the goblin wars.” Gesturing
into the darkness of the corridor Draco shrugged his shoulders casually before
nodding with his head towards where his hand was still rippling the stonewall.
“This leads straight into the seventh year dorms and by passes the common room
so you don’t get caught.” Harry didn’t miss the sarcastic look Draco threw at
him over his shoulder, as the boy disappeared through the shimmering wall.
Rolling his eyes Harry followed Draco through into the significantly warmer and
far more luscious surroundings of Slytherin’s dorms. Taking in his
surroundings, Harry noted that the singular corridor he was being led up had a
number of doors leading from it each with a number intricately carved in it.
Harry assumed the numbers were the student’s years but when Draco completely
bypassed the seventh door, Harry was confused.
It wasn’t until Draco stopped in front of an unmarked door and flicked his wand
at the lock that Harry realized what was going on.
“You get your own room?!” Harry exclaimed in irritation as he took in the large
double bed in the center of the room, something Harry had only dreamed of
having. Draco rolled his eyes as he shut, locked and warded the door behind
them before shrugging off his coat and moving over to what appeared to be a
writing desk.
“It is a perk of being engaged to my head of house.” Draco smirked over his
shoulder but something in the way his eyes flickered told Harry the blonde’s
joke was hollow. Harry raised his eyebrows but chose not to comment as he
surveyed Draco’s personal room. Harry hadn’t ever imagined being in Draco’s
room before but the reality was far from what he’d thought it might be.
Surprisingly enough Draco’s things were rather ordinary. His desk was scattered
with homework and schoolbooks and his wardrobe was overflowing with clothes
he’d haphazardly put away. There was a pile of dirty laundry in the corner and
the boy’s trunk sat unlocked and open at the bottom of his opulent bed. What
struck Harry however was the blonde’s choice of colour scheme. Draco didn’t
strike Harry as the guy to like the colour yellow but judging from the bed
spread, rugs and cushions on his small couch the boy was yellow mad. “My mum
likes yellow too.” As if reading Harry’s mind Draco snapped pointedly at his
visitor as he sat down on the end of his bed casually tucking his feet up under
himself and pulling a yellow pillow to his chest. “Do you want something to
drink?” Draco kicked the lid of his trunk closed with his foot having kicked
off his shoes.
“No thanks, it is a bit late.” Harry muttered as he sat down awkwardly on the
lid of Draco’s trunk, quietly admiring the intricate initials inlayed in gold
on the wood. Draco sniffed indifferently before reaching over the side of his
bed to grab his book bag and pull free his red leather sex diary.
“He’s still pissed you kissed him.” The comment came out of nowhere and Harry
stared at Draco in shock, waiting for some kind of follow up explanation. Draco
made no effort to clarify his comment as he opened his leather diary to the
page they’d been reading in class. Harry worried his lip as he too opened his
diary to the appropriate homework page. “So how do you want to approach this?”
Draco muttered as he glanced over Harry’s shoulder to read and confirm the
boy’s homework, set by Snape. Harry shrugged his shoulders, having never in his
life attempted what Snape had assigned as homework. “Well, do you want to put
it in? Or do you want me to do it for you?” Draco rolled over carelessly
dropping his diary onto the bed as he stretched over to his bedside table and
opened the draw. Harry’s eyes widened a little in fear as he watched Draco
remove a thin, soft silver rod and a jar of clear liquid from the draw.
“He’s making me pay isn’t he?” Harry whispered determined not to cry in front
of Draco as the blonde presented him with both items from the draw. Draco
snorted in amusement and rolled his eyes.
“It took you this long to figure it out?” Draco bit sarcastically as Harry
stood up and began to unzip his trousers. “Snape is a vindictive bastard. You
fuck with him and he’ll make your life miserable.” Harry’s hands shook as he
turned around and dropped his trousers and boxer shorts exposing his lily-white
backside to Draco who was still casually sat on the end of the bed. Harry
cringed inwardly at the absurdity of the situation. Not two weeks ago Harry
would have died sooner than expose any part of himself to Malfoy but in the
face of necessity even Harry was willing to concede the two of then needed each
other enemies or not.
“Can you….?” Harry didn’t dare say the words and instead held the two items
back towards Draco in silent question. If Draco noticed Harry’s hands shaking
as he took the items from the boy’s grasp he didn’t mention it. With a cold
hand in the center of Harry’s back, Draco bent the boy gently forward. Harry
closed his eyes and took several deep breaths trying to calm his frightened
pulse.
“Don’t stress it is only thin and once it is in only you can control it.” Harry
nodded at Draco’s quiet attempt at comfort before bracing himself as he felt
the icy cold, slimy finger prodding confidently at his entrance. Harry hissed
as the finger breached his entrance, sliding up tightly into his backside.
“Relax Potter, you’re tight as it is don’t make it worse.” Draco muttered as he
maneuvered his finger back and forth inside Harry’s passage waiting for the boy
to relax a little. With a few deep breaths, Harry became a little more
accustomed to the intrusion and relaxed marginally. Draco took the moment to
replace his finger with the silver rod, sliding it entirely inside the boy in
one swift easy movement and continuing to push it in until Harry hissed in
pain. “There, done. You’re bleeding a little but it is nothing compared to what
your first time will be like.” Draco whispered with a strange satisfaction as
he wiped his hand on a towel hanging over the fire grate and then proceeded to
flop back down on his bed. With his hands still braced on his knees and
practically hyperventilating Harry tried to get used to the thing inside of
him. It wasn’t uncomfortable like that, more strange than anything else. As he
relaxed the rod settled and when he finally stood up straight again he was
pleasantly surprised by how good the thing made him feel. “You can keep it too
I prefer my own fingers.” Flippantly Draco shrugged his shoulders as Harry
slowly turned around still getting used to the aid inside of him. “Besides if
you enlarge it and practice putting it in, it’ll help heaps when you finally
get around to letting someone pop your cherry.” Draco smirked sarcastically as
his gaze dropped from Harry’s face to the boy’s naked crotch. “Nice package
Potter.” Harry blushed crimson as he glanced down, only now realizing he was
sporting an untimely erection. Swearing to himself Harry bent over and pulled
up his boxers and trousers grumbling a little at the tent of the fabric but
glad nonetheless that he was covered up. Sitting back down gingerly on the
trunk lid, Harry watched as Draco lounged back on his bed. “To make it larger
all you have to say is ‘Blue’. For smaller it is ‘Rest’ and if you want it to
vibrate it is ‘Alleviate’.” Harry nodded as he noted down the words that
activated the toy inside him before closing his diary with a sigh and putting
it back in his bag. There was a stagnate silence for a moment as Harry stared
at his hands twisted in his lap trying and failing to hide his erection
throbbing between his legs.
“I don’t know what you want me to do.” Harry muttered as his thoughts turned to
Snape. Draco didn’t reply immediately and instead stared at the canopy above
his bed, his hands resting behind his head as he thought silently to himself.
“I haven’t got a plan as such yet but first we’ve got to get you back in his
good books.” Draco trailed off his eyes focused on the canopy of his bed as he
twitched his foot idly.
“Was I ever in his good books?” Harry drawled sarcastically, wondering to
himself what delusions Draco was having.
“And it is that smart mouth of yours that got you on his bad side in the first
place Potter.” Draco sat up on his elbows and glared at Harry pointedly. Harry
rolled his eyes but knew better not to reply. “Snape likes discipline and
control. He’s anal about doing things his way especially when it comes to his
private life. He likes to hold the power and if you’re ever going to win him
over you’re going to have to surrender some of that idiotic Gryfindor pride and
learn to accept authority.” Draco continued to stare at Harry sternly, the
Gryfindor deliberately avoiding meeting the blonde’s gaze under the stern
chastise.
“So what do you suggest? That I apologize for kissing him?” Harry fiddled with
the cuffs of his jumper as Draco sat up properly on the bed his legs folded
beneath him, as he tore a corner of parchment and wrote a quick note on it.
“Snape’s too arrogant to accept such a blatant apology, you need to be subtle.
Here,” Draco leant forward and handed Harry the corner of parchment. “It’s the
name of his favorite whisky. You can only get it from Muggle London, a little
cellar in Ivy Lane. Since Snape hardly gets let off the leash by Dumbledore to
fetch the whisky himself and on a professors salary can only afford one bottle
a year I figure it’d make a nice apology gift from you.” Harry nodded in quiet
understanding, wondering just how much one bottle of whisky was going to cost
him if they even sold alcohol to minors. Still in the spirit of the deal, Harry
would at least try to get the whisky.
“Any other pearls of wisdom from the promised child?” Harry stowed the scrap of
parchment in his pocket and watched as Draco’s gaze narrowed dangerously.
“Call me that again Potter and I’ll make an announcement at breakfast that
Gryfindor’s golden boy likes cock.” Harry bit his lip determined not to
retaliate despite his slip in concentration. Despite the familiarity of
situation, Harry would have to remember that he and Draco were still enemies no
matter what common ground they shared. “Just get him the whisky and try to keep
that acidic mouth of yours shut during his classes. Now get the fuck out, I’m
tired.” Harry grunted in annoyance, no one dismissed him like he was a servant
but Harry supposed he would have done the same thing if Draco had been in his
room. Gathering his belongings Harry wandered over to the door, pausing briefly
on the threshold to glance back at the blonde who was again flat on his back on
the bed.
“Do you really think I’ve even got a chance of making Snape look twice at me?”
Harry whispered, cautious of the now open door. Draco snorted in amusement from
the bed, lifting his head just enough so that he could look at Harry from over
the lid of his trunk at the bottom of his bed.
“Not an owl’s chance in a wolves den Potter but you’re my last hope.” Draco put
his head back on the bed and Harry paused as if waiting for Draco to further
explain himself. When the blonde made no effort to clarify what he’d said Harry
turned and left the room to scamper carefully back to his own dorm.
*********************************
A/N There we go another tasty update. :)
***** Part 4 *****
PART 4
Harry twisted uncomfortably in his seat, cursing the witch that gave birth to
Severus Snape. If the professor wanted Harry to suffer he’d certainly found a
new, inventive and most humiliating way of doing so in his latest homework
assignment. Trying to keep his breathing and handwriting steady, Harry
struggled through the Transfiguration pop quiz McGonagall had sprung on them.
Harry was relieved when the clock chimes echoed through the castle and
McGonagall began collecting the papers. He knew he’d done poorly in the test
but with a sore backside and a throbbing erection he couldn’t have managed much
better. Scurrying from the classroom as quickly as he could, Harry headed for
his dorm eager for a soothing shower and a measure of relief. Snape hadn’t
called another ‘class’ for two weeks. No doubt the bastard was extending
Harry’s humiliation to gain maximum satisfaction. Harry wasn’t sure he could
continue doing what he was doing. Sure he was young and his body had with
practice begun to accept the cylindrical toy each morning with a little more
ease but there was only so many hard on’s a man could stand without exhaustion.
If nothing else, Snape’s lesson on ‘quality’ not ‘quantity’ in regards to sex
had certainly sunk in with Harry. Gritting his teeth Harry sped up his pace
towards his dorm, dodging the giggling groups of first years as he took the
steps up the tower two at a time, ignoring the toy inside of him as it
continually bumped his prostate with electrifying results.
Reaching the top of the stairs Harry skidded to a halt as a familiar blonde
haired Slytherin stepped out from behind the statue to block his path. Harry
groaned inwardly as he stared into Draco’s smiling steel blue eyes, the faint
twitch of a smirk turning the corners of his lips.
“Glamour’s hide the obvious Potter but nothing can disguise the scent.” Draco’s
gaze dropped to Harry’s groin where a very strong glamour had been hiding the
tent of Harry’s pants for most of the day. Harry rolled his eyes and went to
push past Draco in no mood to be dealing with Draco’s sarcastic barbs.
“If it’s not important Draco, I have a date with my hand. That bastard’s
enjoying this isn’t he?” Harry grumbled more to himself than Draco as he
muttered the password to the Gryfindor common room to open the portrait.
“Oh I’d say he’s enjoying it immensely. Especially knowing you’re the only
Quidditch Seeker in history to have played through a game with a vibrating dick
up your arse.” Draco smirked widely and Harry turned around sharply to glare
daggers at the blonde. “Spectacular loss Potter but admirable none the less.”
“If you’ve just come to taunt me Draco can’t it wait till I’ve tossed off?”
Harry’s bluntness wiped the smirk from Draco’s face, the blonde mentally noting
the golden boy’s lost patience. Harry was nasty when he was needy.
“I thought you might need a hand…” Draco shut up immediately as some third year
Gryfindors came scampering past them and in through the portrait hole, all of
them staring at Draco and Harry intently. It was no secret that Harry and Draco
were enemies and having been seen together outside Gryfindors common room would
undoubtedly start rumors.
“From you?” Harry scoffed as he turned heel deciding against having this
conversation outside his common room where anyone could hear it. “I thought you
declared you weren’t interested.” Harry deliberately left off the words ‘in me’
from the end of his sentence as the pair wove their way back down through the
corridors, conscious of others over hearing their conversation. Draco was
unconsciously steering them towards the deserted corridor with its secret
entrance into the Slytherin’s domain.
“Call it homework tutoring. Besides we need to talk.” Harry glanced sidelong at
Draco as they passed through the common corridors down into the unused passage.
Pursing his lips together Harry chose not to make a sarcastic comment as they
both stepped through the wall and into the corridor leading to Draco’s room. At
this time in the afternoon the common rooms were practically empty and the pair
of them made it to Draco’s room undiscovered.
“Do you mind if I use your bathroom to take care of this first?” Harry
whispered as he watched Draco ward and seal his door behind them. Dumping his
bag on the floor Harry gestured with his head towards the small ensuite leading
off Draco’s bedroom. “I said I’d help Potter, now just shut up and get on the
bed.” Grunting his disapproval of being ordered around Harry kicked his shoes
off and sat down on Draco’s large plush bed. “The glamour Potter, get rid of
it.” Harry flicked his wand at his chest and dismantled the glamour, revealing
the tent of trousers and the large damp patch that had seeped through his
jockey’s during the day.
With a casual grace Draco kicked off his own shoes and having discarded his
school robe and pushed his sleeves to his elbows climbed up onto the bed beside
Harry. “Lie down and we’ll talk.” Dubiously Harry lay back on the bed and
stiffened immediately as Draco swung his leg of Harry’s lap and sat down on the
boy’s thighs. For such a slender frame Draco was relatively weighty and Harry
shifted uncomfortably and a little unsure of himself beneath the boy’s body.
Harry had never let anyone else touch him before and as Draco undid his pants
and pushed them down to reveal his purpling prick Harry struggled to keep as
calm and collected as possible.
“Did you get the whisky?” Draco was speaking and Harry took a deep calming
breath in as he tried to focus on the blonde’s words rather than the
Slytherin's hands that were now firmly massaging his length with steady
strokes.
“Yeah, I got my….ah, friend to get it for me.” Harry hesitated, as he
remembered to whom he was talking to and thus avoided using Sirius name. Harry
had after a considerable grilling from his godfather, finally made the man go
and get him the bottle of Whisky from London. The bottle had arrived yesterday
with Hedwig who’d look mighty suspicious and overloaded with the heavy bottle
shaped parcel. Harry gritted his teeth tightly together to stop from groaning
as Draco began pumping his cock in a steady motion the sticky precum providing
just enough lubricant for the blonde’s hand to slip freely up and down the
length. It was a new sensation for Harry to have someone else’s hand pleasuring
him and just like the toy inside of him had taken some getting used to. So too
did this new situation. “Can you just…” Harry trailed off his breathing rapidly
increasing as his eyelids began to flutter dangerously.
“Tighter?” Draco inquired and Harry just nodded blindly no longer caring if he
whimpered and looked like a flushed, virgin receiving his first hand job or
not. The blonde tightened his fist and sped up his strokes, one hand resting on
Harry’s chest while the other continued its rapid movement on the boy’s prick.
It didn’t take much for Harry to lose it and with a choked gasp Harry’s body
stiffened his back arching as he shot his load into Draco’s awaiting hand.
Physically and mentally exhausted Harry collapsed bonelessly on Draco’s bed,
his breathing labored and sweat dripping down his forehead. “Not bad Potter,
turn over.” Harry was too exhausted to do anything but obey as Draco wiped them
both with a tissue before allowing Harry space enough to turn over onto his
stomach. Harry’s tired fuzzy brain came back into startling focus however when
he felt two of Draco’s fingers probing into his already full backside.
“Hey what are you….” Harry went to try and get up but Draco put his full weight
on the boy beneath him, pinning him to the bed as his fingers sought out the
base of the toy.
“Relax Potter, I’m just taking it out.” Harry gritted his teeth and hissed in
pain as Draco steadily pulled out the thickened toy. Harry had over the past
two weeks gradually increased the size of it until it was of similar thickness
to the real thing, or at least what Harry imagined it would be like. Having
removed the toy, Draco let Harry up as he stood from the bed and disappeared
into the bathroom to wash both his hands and the used item. Harry curled up on
his side, relaxing for the first time all day without the thing inside of him.
“I won’t have completed my homework.” Harry muttered begrudgingly as Draco
returned from the bathroom.
“Trust me Potter you’ve more than met the requirements. Besides he’s called us
tonight. Your torture is over.” Draco tossed his own opened letter over to
Harry, who having fixed his pants back up, quickly scanned the hand written
note in Snape’s familiar scrawl. Harry nodded and handed Draco the letter back,
that was stuffed unceremoniously back into his bedside draw.
“Can I ask you something?” Harry accepted the shrunken, cleaned toy from Draco
and stuffed it securely back in his bag as Draco sat down cross-legged on the
bed beside his Gryfindor rival. Draco shrugged his shoulders uncaringly and
Harry took that as a sign of assent. “Is it like that for real? When he gets it
in does it always touch that bit inside you that gives you instant wood?” Harry
tried not to blush as he inquired after Draco’s wisdom. The blonde snorted and
shrugged his shoulders.
“Depends how good they are, some can hit it, some can’t. It’s a skill.” Draco
scratched his nose as he again shrugged his shoulders. “Snape hasn’t hit it
once since we’ve been fucking and considering how big he is you think he’d have
no trouble managing it, at least by accident.”
“He’s not very good is he?” Harry muttered feeling very ordinary all of a
sudden. Draco huffed in amusement and shook his head.
“If you ask me, you’re better off with the toy. At least you don’t have to kiss
it afterwards.” Harry rolled his eyes as Draco laughed and collapsed back on
his bed, his legs crossed and his hands behind his head in support.
“That’s not very encouraging Malfoy, I thought you wanted me to seduce him. I’m
not likely to want to do it if I know he’s crap in bed.” Harry glanced sideways
at Draco who was idly staring at the canopy of his bed as his feet twitched to
an unknown beat.
“Just because he’s shit with me doesn’t mean he’s entirely devoid of skill. I
remember my father telling me the first night Snape was going to take me that
he knew that Snape was good, that he had a reputation among certain circles.”
Harry knew what circles Draco was referring to but due to the nature of their
relationship no specifics were mentioned. “I’m guessing he just doesn’t enjoy
doing it with me and that’s why his performance is pretty average. Doesn’t mean
he won’t blow your mind. If we ever get you into his bed.”
“Ever, is the operative word.” Harry snorted as he and Draco stood from the bed
as the dinner bell rang through the castle.
“Don’t be so pessimistic Potter, have faith in my manipulative skills as a
Slytherin. Especially when there is something in it for me.” Grabbing his bag
from the floor Harry followed Draco down the corridor and back out into the
unused passage. “Just give him the whisky tonight after class, no explanation
or comment just pass him the bottle and leave. It’ll throw him off kilter and
I’m likely to get a grilling tonight in his bed but it’ll intrigue him enough
to get things rolling. Then we can begin the true plan.” Draco beamed
secretively over his shoulder at Harry as he led them back to the more
populated hallways. In order to seem less conspicuous the pair split up, Draco
pausing as he descended the stairs to glance back at Harry. “See you tonight
Potty.” With an evil smirk Draco was gone leaving Harry to take another route
down to dinner.
******************************************
“…He gave me a detention!” Harry spoke aloud to no one as he stood staring at
the closed door in front of him, his mouth hanging open in shock. “The bastard
gave me a fucking detention!” Shock gave way to anger as the boy replayed the
past five minutes he’d just spent in the potions professors’ company.
It was hours past curfew by the time Snape’s extra class had ended. For the
past two weeks everyone had been actively doing their homework and the stories
that stemmed from it were quite entertaining. Snape’s point of quality over
quantity had been well made and more than a few of the students had been
relieved when their latest assignment was a mere essay on ‘attitudes to
romance’ rather than any more physical assignments. Harry was surprised that
Snape had included him in the discussion, even going out of his way to be
almost sensitive to the boy’s situation, deliberately avoiding mentioning names
and attributes like his & her. Harry had considered not even giving the man the
‘apologetic’ bottle of whisky but one stare from Draco told Harry not to
reconsider it. So as the class ended, Harry had lingered back purposefully
taking his time packing his things away, as he eyed Snape cautiously. It was a
poor excuse, Harry had used to catch the elder wizards attention. It was easy
to make up a nightmare he’d had of Voldemort and Harry had been encouraged when
Snape had taken him back to the professor’s private rooms again.
It had gone rather pear shaped from there.
Snape had lulled Harry into a false sense of security during the class and as
soon as Harry had produced the bottle of whisky from his bag the professors’
more familiar darkness swept in. Just as Draco had said, Harry said nothing as
he’d handed the bottle to Snape but as he’d turned to leave the man’s voice had
stopped him mid stride.
“A gift Potter? Or perhaps a confession?” Harry had glanced back over his
shoulder in confused caution. Snape rolled the bottle around in his hand twice,
Harry noting that the wizard paid close attention to the label and the red
ribbon around the bottle’s neck.
“Um.” Harry had hesitated not knowing what to say. According to Draco this was
supposed to have been an easy drop and go thing the message undoubtedly clear.
However, as if to prove Harry’s theory right the potions master was far less
predictable than Draco gave him credit for being. “An apology for the other
night.” Harry had winced at his own words. Draco had said to be subtle not down
right dumb. Snape had made a strange expression then and Harry had prepared
himself for the worst. However in the flash of an eye Harry found himself
dragged outside and into the corridor Snape’s looming figure blocking the
doorway and the bottle of whisky still in hand.
“Under aged possession and consumption of alcohol is prohibited within this
castle Mr. Potter. While you may think yourself above these rules I still have
a right to enforce them. 30 points from Gryfindor and detention with me
tomorrow morning, seven sharp.” With that the door had closed leaving Harry as
he presently was staring in shock at the door.
“Fucking bastard.” Harry repeated for good measure as he turned irritably and
began striding up the corridor determined to get back to his dorm in the
Gryfindor tower so that he could curse Snape to the ends of the earth. However
just as Harry had rounded the stairs leading up from the dungeons to the first
floor Harry ran into a familiar blonde haired Slytherin leaning against the
banister of the stairs.
“Well Potter how did he take it?” Harry spared Draco’s appearance an extended
glance. The blonde was dressed in black silk pyjama pants that clung where they
touched, a pair of soft leather slip-on shoes and ensconced in a matching silk
black dressing gown that was barely held together by its silk tie.
“He gave me a fucking detention for possession of alcohol! I thought you said
it would get me into his good books? Fat load of good it did.” Harry barked as
he continued to walk past Draco trying to ignore the reason why Draco was out
wandering the halls at this time of night, in only a silk robe and pants.
“A detention?” Draco paused but continued quickly. “Better than I expected.”
Harry froze and spun around on the steps to glare at Draco. The blonde was
sporting his very familiar smug Slytherin smile of satisfaction. It took only a
second for Harry to realize he’d been set up and the anger of his detention
fired a new.
“You knew he’d give me a detention. You bloody set me up!” Harry snapped as he
bounded down the steps to press intimidatingly close to Draco in a threatening
gesture. Draco wasn’t in the slightest moved by Harry’s threat and instead
simply pushed Harry away from him and shrugged his shoulders.
“The situation called for sacrifices Potter. The more time you spend in his
company alone the better acquainted you’ll become with him. Besides that was
genuinely his favorite whisky.” With a casual sniff of indifference Draco
turned and continued his path to the bottom of the stairs from where Harry had
come up only moments before. Harry eyed the blonde dubiously.
“I’ve had five years of fucking detentions Malfoy and I can assure you they’ve
certainly not served to get us ‘better acquainted’. And in future I don’t need
any help in getting detentions. I can manage that all on my own.” Harry grumped
causing Draco to chuckle and pause at the bottom of the steps.
“Point well noted Potter.” Draco laughed smugly as he glanced towards the
corridor to the dungeons then back up at Harry. “Incidentally Potter, what time
is your detention?”
“Seven tomorrow morning.” Harry barked as he glanced at his watch, the hands
mockingly reading 4.30am already. Harry glanced back to Draco from his
timepiece, to catch a glimpse of a strange expression passing over the blonde’s
face.
“Seven?” Draco confirmed his voice losing its smugness in favor of something
Harry could only identify as surprise.
“Yeah, seven o’clock today in fact. So if it is okay with you I’m going to bed
to at least get a couple of hours sleep before I’m forced into confinement with
your intended.” Harry knew his parting words were acid to Draco but the boy
couldn’t resist the barb especially when he was so irritated and confused by
Draco’s manipulations. “See you later.” Harry threw over his shoulder as he
continued up the stairs towards Gryfindor tower too far away to hear Draco’s
parting words.
“Which will be sooner than you think Potter….”
**********************************
Harry yawned loudly as he stepped out of the portrait hole and snuggled down
into the warmth of his Weasley made jumper. No one should have to be up this
early on a Sunday, especially to be attending a detention with of all people
Severus Snape. Harry had gotten little sleep all night too concerned that Draco
seemed to have an agenda of his own and was two steps ahead of Harry who’d yet
to work out what was going on. Sure Draco’s story about being a ‘promised
child’ had checked out. Harry had convinced Hermione to do some research into
the subject when the agreement had first been made but there was something else
niggling at Harry. The entire situation was too straight forward. It was too
over simplistic for such a complex issue. However Harry was still in the dark
and despite the feeling of nervous caution he had there was nothing else he
could go on. There was no backing out however worrying the feeling was. He was
in a catch 22 and unfortunately Draco still had the upper hand.
Shivering in the cold corridors Harry made his way back down to the dungeons
that he’d left only hours before. Not really knowing where his detention was
going to be Harry stopped by Snape’s classroom and office. Gingerly he poked
his head inside to see if the professor was there. The classroom and office
were empty however and so the logical but slightly concerning shift was to the
professor’s private rooms. Having only been there twice before Harry gingerly
took each corridor through Slytherin territory until he came to the familiar
door. Taking a deep steadying breath Harry raised his fist and knocked twice
rather tentatively on the door. To his surprise the door swung open
immediately. This was certainly not a good sign. No self-respecting powerfully
feared wizard would leave his door unwarded, unlocked and unprotected. Harry
hesitated to move but despite the shiver of warning that swept up his spine
Harry’s inquisitiveness got the better of him. Stepping inside Harry cautiously
glanced around and saw no signs of life. It was on the second sweep of the
lounge room however that movement caught his eye. A very familiar face appeared
in an archway leading from the lounge.
“Tea Potter?” Draco beamed smugly as flicked his wand and a house elf appeared
with a silver tray of tea, toast and scrambled eggs. Harry was shocked but
recovered nicely as his wide eyes narrowed to glare at Draco dubiously. Still
smiling the blonde blew off the glare and merely wandered over to Snape’s
armchair by the fire and sat down after helping himself to a cup of the
steaming liquid from the tray. “You might as well have a seat Potter. I made
sure he’d had enough to drink last night that he’ll still be asleep long after
you’ve left.”
“Is this all part of your fucked up plan? Because I was under the impression
the idea was for him not to know about it?” Harry sat himself down on the
barely used couch and helped himself to a piece of toast. Draco sipped from his
teacup his eyes never leaving Harry.
“Indeed it is thus your ill-timed detention might have been disastrous had you
walked in on us. Severus isn’t usually one to forget our weekly engagements but
your apology gift last night must have shaken him more than I bargained for. He
forgot that he and I already had a date this morning.” Draco shrugged
flippantly his indifference to whether Snape forgot or remembered their dates
showing clearly.
“Was he any good?” Harry spat bitterly as he poured himself a cup of tea. He
was still unsettled that knowing a few meters away Snape lay sleeping or
unconscious while he and Draco ate breakfast in his lounge room. Draco rose a
curiously eyebrow at Harry’s question but made no comment except to reply.
“I don’t know he didn’t get it in. Sprayed it all over the bed sheets and
passed out before I’d even gotten into bed.” Draco again shrugged as he
finished his tea and helped himself to some scrambled eggs.
“Nice imagery.” Harry muttered around a mouthful of a toast his mind vividly
supplying the images of just what Snape would look like in the throws of
passion.
“Thought you’d like it.” Draco replied beneath his breath.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Draco spoke up silently smiling to himself as he watched Harry
finish his toast. “I thought we’d use this time to discuss some tactics.” Draco
continued ignoring the sound of Snape turning in his sleep in the other room.
Harry was nervous. Snape would slaughter him if he woke up to find him as an
uninvited guest in his ‘private’ rooms. “I was thinking that you should sign up
for remedial potions tutorials…”
“Think again…” Harry interrupted sharply as he huffed in contempt. “First
things first. I want some explanation of why me?” If Harry was going to die
spectacularly for being in Snape’s rooms the least he could have done was to
use his last hour alive wisely to get some answers. Draco smiled around the rim
of his teacup as he helped himself to a refill.
“A wise snake once said, ‘seize every opportunity as it arises, so you can
still be around when the next one comes.’” Draco’s upper lip twitched in
amusement as Harry huffed in disgust at the typically Slytherin message of
‘self preservation’. “As for why you? You came to me remember. Besides out of
the possible candidates in this ‘school’ you’ve already proven that you can at
least hold Snape’s attentions for more than just the fleeting sneer he shows to
everyone else.”
“Yeah his attention in a bad way. There’s not an ounce of friendship between
us. He barely even tolerates my existence.” Harry snapped still not convinced
that Draco was entirely being honest. Not that it didn’t surprise Harry,
Slytherins weren’t renowned for their truthfulness.
“Attention is attention Potter, what kind is irrelevant. The fact that he seeks
it out specifically in you is what matters.” Harry pursed his lips together
tightly as he considered Draco’s reasoning. Despite trying to pick fault Harry
had to agree with the blonde. Snape did pay him an extra ordinary amount of
attention even if it was only to make his life miserable. Harry had always
assumed he was being singled out because of his father but now he wasn’t quite
so sure. “Then of course there is your willingness to go along with it.”
“My willingness!” Harry barked sharply as Draco continued to smile like he knew
a secret Harry didn’t. “You’re blackmailing me!”
“Blackmail is a strong word Potter. Malfoy’s negotiate not blackmail.” Draco
looked mildly affronted that Harry had accused him of blackmail but Harry knew
it was a false expression as he watched Draco’s eyes twinkle dangerously.
“Besides, I think you’re enjoying this. A little elicit excitement other than
the usual seems to be doing wonders for your temperament.”
“Piss off Draco.” Harry muttered knowing very well that he was being mocked.
“There is no shame in liking him Potter.” Draco continued in the business like,
matter-of-fact voice he’d been using since their meeting had begun in Snape’s
lounge. “He’s not the most attractive of wizards but let’s be blunt here…a man
with power has a unique attractiveness all of his own.” Draco’s eyebrow rose in
knowing question the hint of a Slytherin smile twitching at the corner of his
lips. Harry’s gaze narrowed dangerously.
Draco knew.
Reality sliced through Harry like a knife as he put aside his teacup and glared
at Draco angrily.
“You set me up.” Harry spat out coldly. Draco chuckled dryly in amusement the
dangerously dark flicker in his eyes catching the light.
“I warned you Potter that I do nothing that does not benefit me in someway.
Snape will only give his attention to those he deems worthy enough. With me he
is obligated to pay me the minimum of attention due to his contract with my
father but with you it is something entirely different. He is drawn to you to
your presence. Perhaps that is what my father thought would happen between
myself and Snape so he got in early to secure the alliance. I guess I’m a
disappointment but who knows how my father’s mind works? All I know is that you
are the one to get me out of this situation and I just took the opportunity
when it arose.” Draco beamed widely as he sat back in Snape’s armchair looking
far too smug for someone who was coming up with a plan on the spur of the
moment.
“How long have you been thinking this through?” Harry bit darkly watching
Draco’s facial expressions closely for any signs of deceit.
“Since I first noticed his interest in you. Snape may take instructions for the
dark lord but he has his own way of interpreting them.” Harry frowned in
confusion and was about to question Draco again when there was a rustling of
bed covers and clothes from the other room. Hastily Draco stood up and with a
concise flick of his wand Draco banished the breakfast dishes and gestured to
the door that flew open immediately.
“Get out before he comes in.” Harry didn’t need to be told twice and turning on
his heel sprinted out of the room and back up the corridor leading back to the
main foyer of the castle. Despite the hour Harry had just spent talking with
Draco the boy had solved none of his previous questions and had instead only
created more. Something else was still going on but at least Harry had a little
background to work with now.
************************************
***** Part 5 *****
PART 5
“Remember Potter, subtlety.” Draco emphasized under his breath as he pushed
past Harry into the classroom making it look like more of a spiteful shove than
a gentle reminder. Harry rolled his eyes but chewed his lip determined not to
rise to the bait especially in the presence of his friends. Ron was already
beginning to get suspicious having asked Harry four times since breakfast with
whom he was completing his homework for Snape’s extra classes. Harry had until
now successful avoided the topic but the Weasley was getting impatient for an
answer. Rumors too have begun to spread whispers of Harry and Draco crossing
paths more than enemies should. Still there was nothing Harry could do.
It was Friday. Triple potions with Snape and ample time to see Draco’s latest
scheme through to its conclusion. According to Draco Snape had been asked to
spend the weekend in London replenishing the schools supplies of potions
ingredients. Dumbledore had apparently requested Snape take a student to help
with the large errand. With seventh years starting their exams and sixth years
the only other students allowed to leave the school grounds, it stood to reason
the professor would take a student from his sixth year potions class. Draco
intended that student to be Harry. A weekend spent in the company of Severus
Snape was not appealing and certainly would lead to nothing but he and Snape
fighting however Draco wouldn’t hear of it.
With a sigh Harry sat down in his usual seat towards the back of the classroom
next to Ron. Snape strode inside with a flurry of robes and began lecturing
immediately. Harry struggled to keep up with the notes just as he usually did
on a Friday afternoon.
They were mid way through brewing their second potion of the class when the
opportunity Harry and Draco had been waiting for arose.
“Draco,” Snape didn’t glance up from the parchment on his desk as he addressed
the blonde. “I’m to take a trip into London this weekend. I thought perhaps you
would benefit from the extra tutelage on correct ingredient selection?” The
classroom was quiet as the students brewed their potions and none paid much
attention to the special treatment Draco was being given. Harry noted the way
Hermione’s eyes twinkled with longing at the potential for extra tutelage but
there was little hope Snape would have chosen her. Harry buried his head behind
his cauldron pretending to chop mandrake root, preparing himself for what he
knew was coming.
“Sorry Professor. I’ve a weekend detention with McGonagall.” Draco paused for
effect a mock expression of disgust on his face before a wide well practiced,
vindictive smile caught the corners of his lips. “Why don’t you take Potter?
He’s got nothing better to do this weekend.” The comment was spat out and Harry
closed his eyes for a split second as he felt Snape’s gaze fall on him. The
Slytherins all began sniggering, while the Gryfindor grumbled in outrage. To
anyone not in the know the comment was a form of spitefulness on Draco’s part.
Sending Harry for a weekend away with Snape was definitely a Slytherin like
move. Looking up, Harry put on his best horrified expression he could manage.
If this was going to work, he had to look as surprised and outraged as he
should do had Draco done this to him under normal circumstances. Snape was
silent and Harry swallowed around a nervous lump in his throat as the onyx eyes
pierced him to the spot. As the silence continued Harry thought perhaps he
should say something to make his expression more convincing but before he could
Snape had cut in.
“Fine. We leave at 6.30 tomorrow morning Potter. Pack a small overnight bag and
meet me in the front foyer.” With a sniff of contempt Snape went back to the
work on his desk leaving Harry in a state of shock. Surely it shouldn’t have
been that easy? Turning to glance at Draco Harry was not surprised to see the
blonde chuckling nastily with his Slytherin buddies no doubt at Harry’s
expense. Harry gritted his teeth and turned back to his cauldron his temper
simmering just as the liquid did inside the metal container.
********************************
It was late by the time they’d gotten back from dueling club. Harry was glad to
see his bed although he knew he now had an overnight bag to pack before resting
his head. After Potions many of the Gryfindors had expressed their sympathy at
Draco’s latest ‘prank’ and Harry had dutifully acted like the outraged student
he should be. Surprisingly Hermione wasn’t talking to him supposedly because
she wasn’t going with Snape. Harry had told her he’d have gladly traded places
but the brown haired girl had huffed in contempt and turned her back on him.
Ron however had been suspiciously silent on the subject. Harry had felt his
best friends gaze on him throughout most of dinner and during dueling. It had
made Harry nervous to know his best friend was watching him so closely. It
wasn’t going to last though and as Harry sat down on the end of his bed and
opened his trunk to look for an suitable overnight bag, Ron struck.
“What’s going on?” Harry shrugged his shoulders casually as Ron sat down next
to him his gaze intent. “Don’t fob me off Harry I’m your best friend. I thought
we didn’t have secrets?” Harry swallowed nervously as he pulled out some clean
pajamas and toiletries.
“We don’t. Why do you ask?” Harry queried casually as he selected some jeans
and a t-shirt from his clean pile of clothes. Ron snorted and shook his head in
disgust as he lowered his voice so that Dean, Seamus and Neville couldn’t
overhear.
“Because I know you’re not doing your homework with a girl.” Harry’s eyes
widened impossibly as he turned to look at the Weasley in horror. Harry didn’t
have a reply and instead stared at his best friend, searching for any sign that
Ron was disgusted with him for being what he was. When Harry made no attempt at
a reply Ron rolled his eyes and pulled Harry back onto the bed. He quickly
charmed and warded the curtains around Harry’s bed closed so that no one could
see or hear anything the pair was discussing. “You should have told me you
didn’t like girls.” Harry chewed his lip as he twisted his hands nervously in
his lap his heart fluttering rapidly.
“I just wanted something about me to be ordinary and I guess I thought you’d
flip.” Harry muttered awkwardly still not quite meeting Ron’s gaze for fear of
what he’d see reflected.
“Why would I do that? You’re still my best friend regardless of whether you
like cock or not.” Harry couldn’t help but smile at Ron’s casual regard for the
subject they were discussing. Harry continued to pack his bag as Ron lay back
on the bed, his arms behind his head and his gaze firmly focused on Harry. “Is
that why you’re spending time with Draco?” Harry swallowed heavily pointedly
avoiding eye contact with his best friend as Ron’s tone turned serious. “I
thought he was poking Pansy Parkinson but if you and him are…”
“It is complicated Ron.” Harry cut Ron off quickly trying to turn the red head
off the subject.
“Most things are with you Harry that doesn’t mean I won’t understand.” Harry
sighed heavily as he tucked a small amount of money into a side pocket of his
bag before zipping it up and turning to face Ron completely. Harry had told
enough lies to his friends to know nothing good ever came of it and despite his
better judgment Harry needed a second opinion on the situation he’d gotten
himself in to.
“Snape gave me an ultimatum. Either I did all my homework tasks for 101 or he
kicks me out.” Ron frowned clearly confused by Harry’s rushed explanation.
Harry sighed heavily his patience with the subject wearing thin as it had been
for the last few weeks. “He put me in this impossible situation Ron. I didn’t
want anyone to know about the fact I’m queer but in order to stay in his class
I had to approach someone for help…so to speak.” Harry trailed off and lowered
his eyes to the bedspread where his fingers were tracing the stitching.
“Bastard.” Ron muttered beneath his breath as he stared sympathetically at
Harry.
“Snape told me to go to Malfoy and that he was easy. I wasn’t thinking when I
did it and now he’s making me pay him back for his ‘services’.” Harry stopped
sharp as Ron’s gaze darkened the red head clearly angry at the very mention of
Malfoy’s manipulative ways. “There is not point getting angry Ron, it was my
own stupid fault. There’s no way out of it so I’ve got to see it through to the
end.”
“What does he want?” Ron snapped still very angry despite Harry’s acceptance of
responsibility.
“I can’t tell you…” Ron went to argue the point but Harry silenced him with a
raised hand. “Don’t make it harder Ron besides it is not quite as bad as it
seems, at least not to me.” Harry’s voice died as he closed his eyes and
replayed the hasty kiss he and Snape had shared in the professor’s office. With
a sigh Harry opened his eyes only to meet the eyes of his best friend.
“I’m sure you’ll work it out Harry and if you don’t I’ll fix Malfoy good and
proper.” Harry smiled lopsidedly at Ron’s heroics but chose not to laugh and
insult the red head’s pride.
“Thanks Ron,” Ron nodded and got up from the bed unwarding the curtains as
Harry pulled them back open. “Night Ron.” Harry whispered the dorm already
dark. Ron nodded and with a smile disappeared into his own bed leaving Harry to
climb into the soft sheets and fall into a restless slumber.
************************************
Harry grumbled silently to himself as he negotiated the crowds in Diagon Alley
trying to stay behind Snape as the man seemed to glide through the throng of
wizards and witches. Harry had never seen Diagon Alley so full before although
admittedly he’d never visited the place during the school term. Still the Alley
seemed overly lively for just a simple weekend and Harry wondered what was
going on. Not that he had time to find out. Snape had hardly stopped since the
pair of them had apperate into the street at quarter past 9.
Having met Snape in the foyer of Hogwarts at 6.30 exactly, Harry had been
surprised to see the headmaster waiting with the potions master. Dumbledore had
been a factor Harry hadn’t bargained for and as he’d approached the professors
Harry had clearly seen the tense twitch in the headmaster’s expression. It
wasn’t surprising that Dumbledore didn’t want Harry accompanying Snape on his
trip and Harry silently wondered what Snape had said to make the elder wizard
agree. There was no exchanges of pleasantries aside from the ritual strained
good morning before Snape had guided Harry outside of the castle and down out
of the gates. Dumbledore had followed them to the gates but had stopped on the
threshold as Harry and Snape had stepped into the apparition zone.
“Keep up with me Potter and don’t touch anything.” Those eight words just
before they’d apperated had been the only things Snape had said to Harry all
morning. No sooner had Harry’s feet hit the coble of Diagon Alley then Snape
had taken off leaving Harry to scurry after him like an obedient apprentice.
Harry didn’t miss the stares Snape received as the professor entered each shop
like he owned the place. There was no mistaking Snape’s unwelcome presence in
the Alley some shops even warranting a bypass all together. Snape didn’t speak
except to the shop attendants he needed things from and even then the
conversations were clipped and to the point. There were no arguments or
bartering over price it just seemed accepted knowledge that Snape was to be
given the best price, if for no other reason than he was on business for
Hogwarts.
Now though as lunchtime loomed the pair of them had systematically made their
way up the entire length of the Alley. Harry was ladened down with parcels and
it crossed Harry’s mind that the only reason Snape had brought someone along
was to carry things for him. For the first time since they’d started Snape came
to a stop at the junction between Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. There were
far less people up at this end of the Alley and only those coming and going
through the brick wall into the Leaky Cauldron passed them by.
“I believe it is time for Lunch, any requests?” Snape turned and stared at
Harry his arms folded across his chest. Harry momentarily put down his packages
and stretched his arms as he glanced over Snape’s appearance. The wizard wore
less formal robes than those he chose for school but like always they were
black and made him stand out in a crowd just as that currently occupying Diagon
Alley behind them.
“Um, the Leaky Cauldron does a nice chip sandwich with gravy.” Harry croaked as
he glanced at the brick wall behind Snape.
“I am surprised you are not twice the size you are Mr. Potter with what you
eat.” Harry gritted his teeth. Snape didn’t know how not to insult him it was
like a habit the wizard had. “But very well we shall dine at the Leaky
Cauldron.” Snape continued as he turned and headed for the brick wall that had
just closed again after someone had passed through it. Harry hastily collected
the packages and followed Snape through the wall.
The Leaky Cauldron was busy but Harry fell easily into step behind Snape. The
crowd almost parted instinctively to let the professor pass through. Harry
stood a few steps back behind Snape as the man waited at the bar for the
attendant to take his order.
“A chip and gravy sandwich, a chicken and salad roll, a jug of lemon water and
a butter beer.” Harry didn’t miss the glare of contempt the man behind the bar
gave Snape as the wizard carefully said their order. Despite his obvious
disgust the attendant took the order anyway. It was as Snape reached into his
robe for some money to pay that Harry hastily butted in.
“I brought some money with me…” Putting down one of the parcels Harry hastily
went to search the pockets of his cloak. He was desperate to find his overnight
bag amongst the other shrunken parcels he’d collected over the morning to show
he could pay his own way.
“Go and find a seat Mr. Potter.” Harry swallowed heavily and froze in his
inspection of his pockets as Snape glared at him over his shoulder, the message
clear.
“Oh, thank you.” Harry rushed out feeling extremely embarrassed as he collected
the parcels and wove his way over to an empty table beside the window looking
out onto the Muggle street.
Snape joined Harry at the table a few moments later carrying a tray with their
lunch perched precariously atop of it. Harry kept his eyes to the tabletop as
Snape put the tray down before discarding his cloak and sitting down opposite
Harry in the window seat.
“That looks very,” Snape paused his nose screwed up in distaste as he handed
Harry his large chip sandwich that was over flowing with gravy making the bread
soggy. “Hearty.” Snape finished as he took his own meal before pouring himself
a glass of lemon water and handing Harry his butterbeer.
“I probably should have had a salad roll, this will give me indigestion.” Harry
muttered as he picked up his soggy sandwich and took a large bit out of it.
Snape sniffed in silent agreement but said nothing as he bit into his own
chicken roll. Feeling slightly uncomfortable having lunch with his professor
Harry made a point of keeping his attention focused out of the window and out
onto the muggle street as he ate. It was only when Snape broke the silence that
Harry dared glance back at his professor, who was casually sipping from his
lemon water.
“You kept up well Potter. Draco usually dawdles and gets sidetracked by the
Quidditch supply store.” Harry couldn’t help but slow his chewing in mild
surprise at Snape’s comment. So Draco did usually come on Snape’s trips with
him. Gritting his teeth in irritation Harry took a swig of his butter beer to
wash down the lump of sandwich that had suddenly lodged in his throat.
“It doesn’t bother me. I’m not fond of shopping anyway.” Harry spoke calmly
with a shrug of his shoulders after he’d cleared his throat. Snape nodded
silently and went back to finishing his lunch. Harry spared Snape a curious
glance before turning his attention back out onto the street. The next comment
caught Harry off guard.
“You missed your detention.” The comment was random but held the accusing tone
of authority that Snape favored right before removing house points or something
equally nasty. Harry was too surprised at Snape having waited this long to say
something that he didn’t realize what he was saying until it was too late.
“I didn’t I came down……….” Harry closed his mouth abruptly hardly believing his
automatically defensive reply had slipped from his mouth. Snape’s expression
was unreadable as he stared at Harry with his dark onyx eyes causing Harry to
falter. Either way Harry chose to go he knew he’d fucked up. Snape wasn’t
supposed to know Harry had been down to detention and certainly he was not
supposed to know Draco was in Snape’s rooms. There was only one thing for it
and straightening his back and stiffening his jaw Harry shrugged his shoulders
flippantly. “When you said Malfoy was easy I didn’t realize you were speaking
from experience.”
It was a low blow and Harry knew it the moment he’d said it. Snape’s flawlessly
blank expression wavered a little and the man’s right eye twitched in what
Harry could only describe as irritation. Harry gritted his teeth and lowered
his gaze to his empty plate as Snape sat back in his chair and cocked his head
to the side as he measured Harry up with his eyes.
“Are you under the impression you’re the first Mr. Potter?” Harry looked up
from his gravy-smeared plate to glance at Snape in confusion. The elder wizard
didn’t seem to look too pissed about being caught out with Draco nor did he
seem angry about Harry’s comment which was certainly not normal for the potions
professor who had a short fuse at the best of times.
“Sorry sir?” Harry inquired quietly in confusion not sure what kind of response
Snape was clearly waiting for. Snape smiled crookedly a strange occurrence and
one that made Harry shiver with unspent pleasure.
“Harry, I know what he’s doing. He’s done it twice before.” Harry’s confused
frown deepened as Snape referred to him by his first name something he had
never done and foretold nothing good in the coming conversation. “First year a
Miss Martha Merryweather. He was young and was just starting to explore the
kind of power he could have over people if he said the right things. It was a
pointless exercise, as I am not, as you are undoubtedly aware, of that
persuasion.” Harry’s eyes widened impossibly as the things Snape were saying
began to sink in. “Third year a Mr. Harvey Wainright.” Harry knew him. A short,
slim, blonde haired Hufflepuff that played beater the last two seasons for his
house. “A better choice but a plan executed with so little subtlety I saw
through it in a week.” Snape ended quietly as he took a drink from his glass of
iced water letting the information he’d just said sink in for Harry. “And now
you. He’s getting desperate and you played right into his hands.”
“You know.” Harry finally whispered his breath caught in his throat as he
imagined just what the papers would say when Draco began shouting from the roof
tops that Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived was gay. Crestfallen Harry closed his
eyes and lowered his head to his chest relieved in a way that he could stop the
charade but in the next breath terrified of what was coming.
“When I gave you his name I didn’t expect you to actually go to him Potter. I
was just illustrating a point.” Snape snapped sharply falling easily back into
familiar territory with Harry’s last name.
“Could have fooled me.” Harry muttered darkly into his chest.
“I’m rather amused to admit I’m marginally impressed by the balls it took for
you to agree. You and I are hardly friends and the prospect of wooing me could
hardly have been appealing?” Harry’s head snapped up immediately hardly
believing Snape was talking so candidly about the situation. Swallowing hard
around the nervous lump in his throat Harry shrugged uncaringly.
“I didn’t exactly have a choice.” Harry ground out between clenched teeth as he
remembered Draco’s words as the boy had blackmailed him in the shower.
“There is always a choice Mr Potter, you just chose the wrong one.” Snape
finished his glass of water and dusted his hands free of sandwich crumbs on the
paper napkin. Harry sucked what was left of his butter beer out of the bottle,
sensing that lunch had come to an end. Taking a moment to shrink what bulky
parcels he’d collected since he’d last stopped to shrink the collection, Harry
stuffed the items in his cloak pockets as Snape stood up from the table and
slid his cloak back on. Harry quietly followed Snape out of the pub and back
out onto Diagon Alley. Expecting to head back into the crowd of people in the
Alley, Harry was surprised when Snape took a right and began heading down
Knockturn Alley. Harry hesitated as he stared around at the darkened crooked
Alleyway. Snape paused a few steps down the Alley when he realized Harry wasn’t
following him.
“It is about time you learnt to trust me Potter,” Snape paused his eyebrow
rising in a curious expression Harry couldn’t make out. “Now come along we’ve
got a lot to finish today.” Snape turned back to continue down the street
seeming much more at ease in the deserted little Alley than the one he’d just
left. With a deep breath and a last glance back at Diagon Alley, Harry
quickened his step to catch up with the elder wizard. If he was going to get
killed at least if he stayed close to Snape he could use the bigger man as a
shield.
***** Part 6 *****
PART 6
Harry stepped tentatively into the foyer of the dingy looking little hotel.
Snape was already at the front desk, talking to a man perched on a walking
stick behind the counter. When Snape had said they wouldn’t be staying the
night at the Leaky Cauldron like Harry had expected he’d never imagined the
alternative was going to be as so uninviting as the place he currently stood
in. Snape had been an entirely different person for the second half of the day
they had spent in the twisting lanes and creepy shops of Knockturn Alley. Where
Snape had been uncomfortable, stiff and formal in Diagon Alley the man had
seemed to blend in and settle perfectly within the dark surrounds of Knockturn
Alley. The conversation had improved too and while they’d stayed away from the
topic previously discussed at lunch, Snape had been informatively instructing
Harry on all the unusual and interesting things they ran into during the
afternoon. Harry had leant an amazing array of information and had learnt more
than a few ways of bartering for a better price than the one being offered by
the shop attendant. Snape seemed to be a master of manipulation using the
simplest of twists to get what he wanted from anyone.
Now however as the sun had begun to set Snape had led Harry to the hotel,
stating that Knockturn Alley had never worn darkness well. Harry had assumed
that to mean it was more dangerous at night than during the day in Knockturn
alley and had promptly agreed to end the day at the chosen hotel. However Harry
wasn’t sure he should have agreed so readily to the hotel, looking at it now.
“Come along Potter, they have dinner ready for us.” Harry nodded and hastily
followed Snape through the foyer and into a small dimly lit dinning area. Harry
swallowed nervously as he glanced around the room. There were already a few
tables occupied but Harry didn’t dare stare for any longer to find out who the
people were. Harry took his coat off and sat down as Snape ordered them a jug
of water and asked for the menu. For the second time that day Harry found
himself sitting awkwardly in silence opposite Snape, as he read through the
selection of meals on offer.
“Could I please have the pasta?” Harry hadn’t really recognized anything else
on the menu, or if he did there was something accompanying it he didn’t
entirely like the sound of. Tomato pasta sounded the safest option and Harry
hoped Snape agreed.
“You’ll enjoy it, it’s very nice.” Snape muttered over the top of his menu as
he finished his own selection and gestured for the waiter. A tall gangly
looking man with thick black hair scraped back into a tight loop stepped up to
the table with a notepad and quill. Harry tried to avoid looking at him as
Snape began to order.
“We’ll have the tomato pasta, a well done fillet of lamb with roast vegetables
and gravy. A plate of cheese and crackers and two apple and blackberry crumbles
with cream.” Snape glanced over at Harry for confirmation and the boy
automatically nodded in agreement. It all sounded really nice and a lot better
than what had been on the actual menu. With a curt nod the waiter disappeared
leaving Harry and Snape in awkward silence again. Harry shifted in his chair as
he realized Snape was staring at him across the table.
“He was an unwanted gift.” Harry raised his head from his chest curiously as
Snape addressed him. “I have provided him with everything I am required to. I
have never demanded anything from him and have never pushed him into something
he did not wish to do.” Harry’s eyebrow rose in surprise as Snape sat back in
his chair to swill his water goblet in his hand carefully.
“A gift?” Harry queried purposefully noting the fact that Snape didn’t use
Draco’s name.
“Yes. When I first joined the ranks I did something for his father causing me
substantial personal loss. His royal darkness saw fit to reward me with
something of equal value in return. I reluctantly ended up with him much to my
own disgust. I knew that to refuse would be damaging not only to my position in
his ranks but to my person.” Harry easily read between the lines. Snape was
careful not to be specific in the presence of others in the dining room. “It is
one of his more manipulative ways of controlling me and ensuring my loyalty. It
is also a creative way of joining two powerful bloodlines together.” Snape
ended and took a generous mouthful of his water as the waiter returned with
what looked like complimentary bread sticks and another jug of water.
“Then if it is important that you and he…” Harry stumbled over his words as he
sought to find an appropriate way to describe Draco and Snape’s relationship.
“Are together. Then it is a pointless exercise in him blackmailing me.” Harry
grumbled with a shrug of his shoulders as he chewed a bread stick thoughtfully.
Snape’s crooked smile returned and Harry swallowed the lump of bread in his
mouth like it was a lead weight. The elder wizard was breathtaking when he
smiled and Harry had been given the rare opportunity of enjoying it twice on
this trip.
“Desperate wizards commit desperate acts Mr. Potter. He knows that as soon as
he turns 18 everything he owns including his freedom becomes mine as does he
himself. Can you not understand why a young wizard such as yourself would do
anything to get out of a situation he has never had any say in?” Snape raised a
knowing eyebrow in Harry’s direction as if having seen for himself the
condition Harry had lived in with the Dursley’s summer after summer. Harry
nodded silently but didn’t reply as their meal was delivered to their table in
a lavish spread.
Grateful for the interruption Harry managed to steer the conversation to the
food and for the rest of the meal there was nothing but general chat about
school, the coming holidays and potions.
***********************************
Harry awoke with a start, his breathing rapid, his eyes streaming with fear-
induced tears and his brow soaked with sweat. It was dark and cold in the
unfamiliar room. Dust clung to the air and made his already rapid breathing
difficult. Coughing loudly Harry looked around blindly trying to remember where
he was.
“Do you always have nightmares Potter?” Movement from the side of his bed drew
Harry’s attention and the boy groped around for his glasses so that he could
see the figure that had addressed him. Harry wasn’t sure why the man’s voice
relaxed him but upon hearing it his tremors subsided and his breathing evened
out. Crudely wiping the sweat off his brow with the sleeve of his pyjama top
Harry sat up and stared at Snape.
Snape was sitting in the armchair by the glowing embers of the fireplace his
face turned towards Harry so that the flickering red of the fire caught in the
man’s deep onyx eyes.
Having come up stairs after dinner the pair of them had headed straight to bed.
Although they shared a room Harry had been relieved about the single beds.
Having climbed into bed himself Harry had then watched cautiously as Snape went
about his own nightly rituals. It was strange watching the potions master in
his domestic chores. It made him seem more human than Harry had previously
given him credit for being. The last Harry had remembered was staring at
Snape’s hair as the man had finally eased himself into his own bed. With his
hair tied up low at the base of his neck with a leather strip Snape looked
younger and Harry had admired the man’s features until he’d fallen asleep. Now
though Snape sat beside the fire his hair still tied back but his gray
nightshirt covered by a thick dressing gown that bunched at the man’s neck and
finished at his feet.
“Some worse than others.” Harry croaked as he pulled the blankets up around
himself to ward off the chill. “Sorry if I woke you.” It wasn’t really an
answer to Snape’s original question but for some reason Snape didn’t press the
issue like Harry had expected.
“No, I was already awake.” Snape whispered as he turned back to face the fire.
Still feeling cold Harry dragged the blankets with him as he shuffled out of
the bed and over to the fire. As if sensing the boy’s chill Snape leant forward
and with a flick of his wand re-ignited the fire. Harry sat down on the rug at
Snape’s feet and stuck his feet out onto the fire surround to warm them. For
five or so minutes they sat in companionable silence until Snape broke the
silence with a clearing of his throat.
“Have you done your homework for my class Mr. Potter?” Snape inquired as if
clutching at a topic that was safe for both of them. Harry nodded and snuggled
down into the blankets.
“Yeah easier than the last homework you set. My backsides still sore.” Harry
grumbled still a little bitter that Snape had been so cruel as to set such a
homework assignment. Snape huffed what Harry assumed was an amused chuckle.
“I never specified that you had to wear it every day Potter and I certainly
didn’t tell you to wear it during Quidditch. Although the chatter in the staff
room after the game regarding the reasons behind your poor performance was
amusing.” Harry dragged his gaze away from the hypnotic dancing flames in the
fireplace to spare Snape a glare over his shoulder. Harry however chose not to
comment and instead turned back to the fire. “I’m surprised to see your name is
still not registered on the schools ‘active’ list.” Without being specific
Harry knew what Snape was referring to and grumbled silently to himself about
magic and the lack of privacy it afforded.
“Just because Draco’s easy doesn’t mean I’m going to do him.” Harry growled
from beneath his breath still angry that Draco was playing him for a fool like
he’d done two people before him. “Besides he’s got his hands pretty full with
you and Pansy.” Harry grumped some more not quite realizing what he’d said
until a firm hand had come down and whacked him hard on the back of his head.
“There’s no need for crudeness Mr. Potter. We may have a shared understanding
but I am still your Professor and deserve respect.” Harry rubbed the back of
his head and quietly apologized. Surely teachers weren’t supposed to injure
students but then again Snape had done more than just hit him before now.
“Why do you let him do it?” Harry muttered his thirst for understanding
regarding Snape and Draco’s situation finally biting him hard. Snape tilted his
head to the side in confusion and so Harry elaborated. “Let Malfoy sleep
around? If he is your intended shouldn’t you force him to be faithful?” Harry
queried his ideas about so called marriage not quite fitting this situation.
Snape seemed to find something amusing in what Harry said and snorted rather
undignified at the comment.
“Typical muggle values Mr. Potter but I shouldn’t be surprised by your
ignorance.” Snape slipped his feet out of his slippers and put them on the fire
hearth beside Harry’s to warm them up. “Draco is a promised child Mr. Potter, a
child bound by contract to an elder. The contract is an official ministry legal
document and therefore contains various exclusions and clauses to protect both
parties. Specifically the document allows for the fact a ‘promised child’ is
still a minor and until such time as he or she comes of age to marry is
permitted to experience ‘growing up’ like any normal wizarding child. That
clause includes ‘sexual experimentation’ with other partners aside from their
intended.” Snape ended his explanation and allowed a moment for Harry to
process the information before continuing. “I on the other hand am restricted
to either my right hand or Draco as company.” Harry bit his lip determined not
to smile despite the seriousness of the situation and even though Draco’s
comments about Snape’s performance in bed came flooding instantly back. Despite
himself a smirk managed to break to the surface and Harry was powerless to stop
Snape from seeing it.
“I know he has told you Potter.” Snape’s voice was icy cold and Harry swallowed
nervously still unable to swipe the smirk. “The one thing Draco craves is a
confidant, someone to discuss his secrets with. I’m not angry he’s done it. It
is only natural he would want to confide in someone but I do ask that you
respect both his, mine and your own confidentiality in the matter. I needn’t
remind you that no one is supposed to be aware of Draco and my relationship and
that broadcasting it will undoubtedly earn the wrath of his royal darkness.”
Finally the smile fell away and Harry nodded in understanding. Sure, he would
have liked to tell the world what Draco was really like after the git had
blackmailed him but Harry didn’t want Snape to get hurt by Voldemort because of
it. “I don’t suppose he mentioned that it was he who came to my bed not the
other way around?” Harry turned around from the fire unexpectedly and shook his
head in confusion. Draco had given Harry the impression Snape had been the one
who’d forced the union.
“No, he made it seem like it was a condition on his 15th birthday or
something.” Harry shrugged his shoulders.
“14th” Snape corrected automatically like it was something he did often in
conversation. “I don’t know how much of it was Draco and how much of it was
Lucius but I certainly didn’t invite him to my rooms that night, nor did I have
any intention of sleeping with him.” Snape paused as he yawned before
continuing. “Contrary to the general consensus of Hogwarts student populace, I
do not take delight in forcing my attention of someone younger than myself.”
Snape paused again a shadow of a smile returning to his thin lips. “Besides, I
don’t like blondes.” Harry couldn’t help himself and snorted in amusement of
Snape’s very flippant remark. Severus Snape didn’t just make off handed
comments or jokes like that especially about his personal life. Even talking
about Snape’s personal life seemed absurd. Not a week ago the pair of them
couldn’t hold a civil conversation and yet here they sat in almost friendship
discussing sex. It occurred to Harry then as his laughter died that the
situation was quite strange and as yet there was no explanation for it.
“Why are you telling me all this?” Rather abruptly Harry turned fully to face
Snape, his head tilted to the side in genuine confusion about why this was all
happening now and why Snape had changed his behavior so quickly. Snape sighed
heavily and removed his feet from the surround to slip them back into his
slippers.
“Because I believe you have a right to know especially since there is a chance
that Draco’s scheme might just work this time.” Snape stood up from the chair
and moved over to his traveling trunk that was sat at the end of his bed. Harry
frowned and stood up as well not quite understanding what Snape was saying.
“What? I thought you just said it was a pointless exercise!” Harry snapped as
he watched Snape remove what appeared to be a hip flask from his trunk.
“It was with the others.” Snape uncapped the flask and took a generous swig
from its contents before offering it casually to Harry. Harry refused politely
but still stared at Snape intently waiting for a continued explanation. “For
the contract to be void Mr. Potter, Draco has to prove and make both his father
and the dark lord believe that I have broken the conditions of the agreement.
The only clause however that he can use in his deception is that of my forced
faithfulness to him. If Draco can make it seem as if I am with another
intentionally then the agreement is automatically broken.” Snape sat down on
the edge of his own bed its covers neatly folded down and straightened unlike
Harry’s bed that was tossed about in disarray much like how the boy looked at
present. “With Miss Merryweather, Draco could not convince his father I would
change preferences for her. With Mr. Wainright, it was a case of status. Draco
could not convince anyone that I would stoop beneath myself to binding with a
muggle born and a boy of far less magical standing than myself. The union would
have been pointless.”
“What about me? Like you-know-who is going to believe you’d bind to me. We hate
each other.” Harry commented quickly having seen where this was going and
adding himself to the pattern. Snape smiled strangely at Harry’s last comment
but chose to ignore it as he took another swig from his hip flask.
“Indeed, he might not believe my actions are due to romantic attachments to you
but he will believe that I am tying myself to you for the selfish pursuit of
power that a union between myself and you will bring. He will also believe that
I am finally fulfilling the task he set for me in delivering you to him by
luring you out from behind the protection of Albus Dumbledore.” Snape re capped
his hip flask and leaned over to place it carefully back in his trunk before
sitting back up to meet Harry’s stare head on. For a moment Harry didn’t
comprehend what was happening but as he replayed the conversation over in his
mind the pieces finally fell into place.
“You knew what Draco was going to do when you sent me to him. You want him to
succeed! You planned this all!” Harry shouted rapidly feeling himself losing
control of the situation, as he reeled at what had just been discussed. Winded
Harry grasped at his chest unable to calm his breathing as he realized he’d yet
again been backed into a corner with no way out. “Why are you doing this? In
all of this, what’s in it for me? Either way I’m screwed!” Harry continued to
shout between gasps of air, his chest tightening painfully as his stress levels
continued to rise.
“I told you Mr. Potter I did not enter this contract with Draco willingly. It
was forced upon me as a form of control. For me to become a valuable asset in
this coming war I must sever the contract before it is too late and I have
taken the opportunity as it has arisen. Draco knows too much about me already.
Should he and I bind I would be unable to hide my work as a spy for the order
from him. This would be placing both you and the rest of the order in danger.”
Snape ended his succinct explanation and surprisingly enough Harry had calmed
down a little. Just thinking about the safety of Sirius, Remus and the others
in the order had settled his anger. “While that is the main motivation behind
my actions I admit I am also selfishly protecting myself. I do not want Draco
Malfoy and like him I am prepared to do almost anything to break the promise
with his father.” Snape rubbed his brow with his fingertips the man obviously
just as stressed about the situation as Harry was. For a long time Harry sat on
the edge of his own bed staring at Snape. The potions master looked tired. His
skeletal frame was practically buried beneath the robe and nightshirt. Years in
the service of Tom Riddle had taken its toll. Harry tried to imagine what Snape
would have looked liked if he had never taken the dark mark. It was a hard
image to conjure and Harry gave up after some few minutes of effort.
“If you hate him so much why do you fuck him?” Harry wasn’t quite aware of just
how noticeable the tone of jealousy and bitterness was in his voice as he
spoke. Snape raised his head from his massaging fingertips to stare at Harry
strangely through the few strands of dark hair that had fallen from the leather
tie and into his face.
“For the same reason you went to him.” Snape whispered his eyebrow rising in
silent challenge to Harry who opened his mouth several times to protest but in
the end shut up with a huff of defeat. Yawning Harry swung his legs back up
into bed and did his best to rearrange the blankets and covers around him
comfortably. With a sigh Harry settled back into the lumpy mattress and turned
to face Snape who was still sitting on the edge of his own bed.
“Are you still punishing me for kissing you?” The comment was random but Harry
knew he had nothing left to lose. A Slytherin smile twisted the corners of
Snape’s lips as he looked up from beneath the loose strands of hair still
hanging in his face.
“What makes you so sure I ever was?” Before Harry could blink he was staring
down the length of Snape’s wand. Then in the time it took for Harry’s heart to
beat in fear Snape had flicked his wand and Harry was plunged into darkness and
into the most restful, nightmare and dream free sleep he’d ever had.
*********************************
***** Part 7 *****
PART 7
“What was that?” Harry sat up abruptly from bed. While he’d been pleasantly
dozing not quite awake and not quite asleep he’d still felt the whoosh of
something zooming past him perilously close to his face.
“Breakfast.” Snape muttered just as whatever had flown past Harry’s head
slammed into the wall and clattered and banged to the floor in a spray of food.
Harry scrambled for his glasses on the bedside table before pulling himself out
of bed to stare at Snape in confusion. “Seems the house elves have remembered
me from my last visit.” With a flippant wave of his hand Snape ignored the mess
of the breakfast tray still sliding down the wall and continued to pack his
trunk. “Well get a move on Potter, we’ve a lot to accomplish today.” Snape
glared pointedly at Harry from over the lid of his trunk as he realized that
the boy was still standing quietly beside his bed. “Muggle clothes today Potter
we’re going into London.” It was only then that Harry finally realized what was
different about Snape. Unlike the dark, flowing robes the professor wore during
school Snape now stood up in a pair of light brown trousers, a fitted emerald
green jumper and a matching camel colored coat. With his hair tied back neatly
at the base of his neck and his boots miraculously cleaned of potion stains the
man looked practically muggle. If it hadn’t been for the slight view of the
man’s wand sticking out from beneath the sleeve of his jumper Harry wouldn’t
have spared him a second glance if they’d passed in the street. “Well Potter
stop gawking and get dressed!” Snape’s angry voice snapped Harry out of his
stare and with a slight flush of his cheeks the boy turned and ran into the
bathroom across the hall to get washed and dressed.
It was still early morning by the time Harry and Snape stepped out through the
front doors of the Leaky Cauldron and onto the quiet muggle street. To save
Harry’s pockets Snape had shrunken the packages from the previous day’s
excursion and placed them in his trunk making it much more compact for
carrying. Free of packages Harry was happy to stuff his hands into his pockets
to warm them up as they passed through various streets heading for the main
shopping center. Snape seemed very familiar with the route and so Harry fell
contentedly into step beside his potions master. Harry decided that trailing
behind Snape might give the muggles the impression he was Snape’s child not his
student. Not that Harry knew why he was worried about the impression he gave
nor what others thought, it was just a conscious decision to walk beside Snape.
Having rarely been allowed into London Harry enjoyed taking in the sights that
Snape cared to point out. In between ducking in and out of stores Harry took
his time to enjoy himself. The Dursley’s never took him with them when they
went shopping and neither was he allowed out on his own during school terms. It
was a privilege and not for the first time Harry wondered what Snape had said
to Dumbledore to make him agree to the trip. Still that was not to be dwelled
on and by the time Big Ben struck 1 o’clock Harry was more than ready for lunch
and a sit down. Snape chose a little café down the back streets. With its
quaint French windows and café curtains and home cooked smell it made it a
perfect place to stop. Harry had been surprised that Snape had not asked him
what he’d wanted from the menu and had instead ordered for him. It was a
strange incident but Harry put it out of his mind as he bit into the beef
burger and chips.
“What was that thing you did last night? I never sleep without dreaming.” Harry
mumbled around a mouthful of his burger as he watched Snape spear another
lettuce leaf with his fork.
“Memory adjustment.” Snape spoke calmly as if everyone should know what he was
talking about. Harry nodded but decided against inquiring after the spell. One
of Snape’s lectures about spells and learning wasn’t something he wished to
suffer through at lunch. There was a stale silence for a few moments longer
before Harry put down his burger and grabbed for his cola.
“You don’t like it here do you?” Something had been bugging Harry all morning
about Snape’s behavior while in London. The wizard certainly wasn’t as at ease
as he had been in Knockturn Alley and he certainly wasn’t as stiff and formal
as he’d been in Diagon Alley. Something had changed the moment they’d stepped
out of the Leaky Cauldron this morning and Harry finally thought he had the
answer. Snape looked up from his half eaten salad his lips pursed together in
mild distaste.
“No.” The answer was simple and certainly didn’t explain further Snape’s
discomfort.
“Why?” Determined to find out the answer to Snape’s dislike of muggle London
Harry pressed for more information. Snape’s gaze darkened as he pushed away his
salad obviously having had enough.
“Because unlike wizards Mr. Potter with muggles it is impossibly hard to
determine those that are genuine and those that wish you harm. I know my
enemies in our world Mr. Potter I do not know them here.” Snape finished with
an irritated huff as he picked up his teacup and sipped its contents. Harry
nodded quietly in agreement although he thought Snape was a little paranoid.
Still whatever event had caused Snape to have this view of muggles there was no
way Harry would ever find out what it was.
It was dusk by the time the pair of them stepped through the wall at central
station and onto Platform 9 and ¾’s. Harry was glad not to have been apperating
back to Hogwarts. The whole action of apparition made him tired and being
already exhausted Harry didn’t know what damage he might have caused himself
had he been forced to apperate under fatigue. With both their arms ladened with
packages Snape and Harry easily found an unoccupied carriage in the train and
got themselves settled. By the time the train pulled away from the station
Harry was sitting with his feet up on the bench and his head resting on his
jumper against the window. It had begun to rain and apart from the occasional
flash of lights outside Harry could see nothing but darkness from the window.
Snape was sitting in the opposite corner of the compartment his nose lost in
one of the many books they’d picked up over the weekend. Harry stared a Snape
unashamedly; as he ran through the conversation they’d had the night before.
Everything Snape had said had made sense in a warped kind of way. Since his
12th birthday he’d learnt not to discount anything that happened to him and
this strange situation was just another in the many that had made up his life.
Still there was one niggling part that Harry didn’t understand and that was
what hugely significant thing Snape had sacrificed for Lucius to warrant being
given Draco in compensation. It was a puzzling aspect of the situation that
Snape seemed unwilling to answer but Harry was determined to find out.
“Potter.” Harry snapped out of his stare as he heard Snape’s low growl from
behind his book.
“Sorry.” Harry muttered knowing instinctively that it was his stare that was
irritating Snape. There was silence again in the carriage and Harry in an
attempt to stop himself from staring looked out at the rain drops running down
the window. Idly Harry began tracing the droplets path down the window with his
finger amusing himself by trying to predict their paths on the icy cold glass.
It was only after several minutes that Harry realized Snape hadn’t turned the
pages of his book recently. Glancing away from his finger painting on the
window Harry was a little shocked to see Snape staring at him his book closed
and forgotten in his lap. The elder wizard wore a strange expression on his
face one Harry couldn’t make out. Beginning to feel awkward under Snape’s
silent gaze Harry fidgeted in his seat trying to avoid eye contact. No sooner
had Harry’s chin dropped to his chest and his cheeks had flamed pink in
embarrassment at being openly stared at then Snape moved.
Leaning forward Snape reached out. With two long potion stained fingers he
tilted Harry’s chin back up forcing the boy to look at him.
“What is it you want Harry?” The question hung in the air no explanation of its
meaning forthcoming. Harry unconsciously licked his dry lips as he stared into
Snape’s searching onyx eyes. Unable to look away Harry began to shake his head
in confusion and that was when he felt it. The familiar push and prod of
someone entering his mind.
“STOP IT!” Harry wrenched his chin out from Snape’s gentle hold and threw
himself along the bench away from Snape. “You know I can’t stop you!” Harry
shouted suddenly angry as he shook his head trying to physically shake the man
out of his mind despite the futility of the action. A twitch of a smirk tugged
at the corners of Snape’s mouth as he pulled back from his searching and sat
back on the bench. Harry could still feel Snape in his mind casually flicking
through his most recent thoughts just like he’d been perusing his book a moment
before. Gritting his teeth Harry continued to try and employ some of the
techniques he’d learnt during the few short occlumency lessons he’d had with
Snape but none of them were working.
“Come now Potter. I’m only intrigued by what has sparked this sudden interest
in me? I’ve been reading your mind all weekend and you’ve not kicked up such a
fuss as this.” Harry knew almost immediately what Snape had said was true but
like most things Harry had been oblivious to the intimate invasion of his
privacy happening right under his nose. With a resigned sigh Harry slumped in
the bench and closed his eyes. Almost immediately Harry felt Snape retreat from
his mind a strange action considering Harry had practically given him access to
his mind unhindered. Confused by the action Harry opened his eyes and watched
as Snape folded his arms across his chest and rumpled his nose in irritation.
“A crush is one thing Mr. Potter and perhaps you thought it excuse enough to
explain your uncharacteristic willingness in the situation Draco has put you in
but you forget I’m not that unobservant.” Snape paused and Harry swallowed
nervously. He was trying to force down the thoughts that had plagued the
deepest darkest recess of his mind since he’d first seen Severus Snape in the
great hall at Hogwarts. “There is something you want from me Mr. Potter and I
assure you it is best you tell me now than have me search for it on my own and
possibly expose other secrets you may not wish me to know.” Again the slight
twitch of a smile tugged at the corner of Snape’s lips and Harry took a deep
shuddering breath in as he realized Snape probably already knew. Of late
Harry’s thoughts had strayed more and more towards Snape spurred on by Snape’s
extra credit classes and the ample stimulus material he’d been provided with.
It had begun as just a feeling, an indescribable pull towards the man. Harry
had rebelled against it furiously, fueling the animosity between the potions
master and himself in the hope of replacing this feeling with that of hate. It
had worked to a point but now it was growing stronger and of late had been a
forethought in his mind everyday.
“Power is a wonderful thing Mr. Potter. You can possess all of the power in the
world but still want only to have someone hold power over you. Is that what you
want Harry?” Snape paused and tilted his head to the side in question. Harry
didn’t answer and instead stared down at where his fingers were twisting in his
lap. Snape continued. “It is not a crime to want to be taken care of, to be
treated as if you’re the most precious thing in the world. Just because you’re
Harry bloody Potter the boy who won’t die, doesn’t mean you’re immune to
certain kinks in human behavior.”
Again Snape paused although this time encouraged to continue by the way Harry’s
gaze flickered up to meet his. “You asked why I don’t want Draco and I’ll tell
you why. It’s because he’s arrogant about the minuscule amount of power he has.
He thinks that it is all he needs to survive in this world. He is not afraid of
power yet he should be. I hate the way he lies beneath me with an uncaring
expression on his face as if he’s granting me some kind of privilege by
allowing me access to his body. The truth however is that it is I who has the
power Mr. Potter. It is I who choose to take pleasure from him and it is I who
could take away his life without so much as lifting my wand.” Harry shivered
from head to toe at Snape’s words unaware that he’d whimpered audibly at
Snape’s silky voice. “You understand that though don’t you Harry? You know I’m
among the very few who can give you what you want and not take advantage of
that power.” Harry nodded numbly. He was having difficulties swallowing as his
eyes met Snape’s across the compartment. “Come here.” The command was precise
and left no room for indecision. Automatically Harry rose from the bench seat
and took the four steps necessary across the compartment to stand in front of
Snape.
“Sir.” Harry whispered hating the way his lips trembled as he continued to
stare into Snape’s dark onyx eyes. The smile in the corner of Snape’s lips
blossomed into a very Slytherin smirk.
“You’re going to be just perfect Potter.” Snape trailed off as he reached up
and tucked his hand behind Harry’s head to gently pull the boy forward and down
towards him. Harry knew what was coming. He had felt it once before and had
craved it for years. Automatically Harry’s eyes slid closed as Snape’s lips
brushed over his own before sealing the kiss with a firm press.
Harry was in heaven.
Unlike their first uneasy kiss in Snape’s office this was different. Snape took
control almost immediately making Harry’s knees shake as the man’s tongue
slipped past his pert lips to dominate Harry’s within. Harry allowed himself to
be molded, lost in the intoxicating aura that surrounded Snape like a cloud.
“Canteen Trolley!” Two loud unexpected knocks on the carriage door drew the
pair apart. Harry seemed more concerned than Snape was about the possibility of
being caught. Snape stood casually from the seat and having straightened his
jumper opened the door of the carriage to inspect the food on offer. Feeling
decidedly weak all of a sudden Harry collapsed with a shuddering sigh on the
bench his lips still glistening with Snape’s kiss and his mouth parted in
slight breathlessness.
Harry distantly listened to Snape talking with the attendant before finally
Snape re entered the carriage with a small parcel of foodstuffs. Harry’s
stomach growled in empty protest as he watched Snape unwrap some sandwiches.
Harry waited patiently as Snape selected what he wanted before passing the
others to Harry along with a bottle of pumpkin juice. The pair ate in easy
silence until Harry having had enough of his meal lay down along the bench his
eyes drooping sleepily. The last Harry remembered as he fell asleep was Snape’s
whispered chuckle as he conjured a pillow under Harry’s head.
“Won’t Dumbledore be pissed when he finds out…?”
*************************************
***** Part 8 *****
PART 8
Normal wasn’t a word Harry used often to describe his life but since coming
back from the weekend in London with Snape everything had gone back to being
exactly the same way it had been before the trip. It was as if nothing had
happened between him and Snape. Snape had not been especially attentive to him
their conversations had not gone beyond the usual snapping arguments and there
was certainly no indication of what had been discussed between them. Harry was
beginning to think he’d dreamed it all. If it weren’t for Draco constantly
bugging him for information about the weekend Harry would had been sure he
hadn’t even been away at all.
“Come on Potter how long does it take? You are 16 for fucks sake. We’re going
to be late!” Harry rolled his eyes as he heard Draco banging on the bathroom
door. Tonight Snape had called his extra credit class together with special
instructions to bring along certain bodily fluids. They were undoubtedly
brewing an ensnaring drought that Harry had read about on page 203 of his blue
velvet diary. Harry was already tense about having to see Snape in such an
intimate class without the worry of botching up his drought. His reputation
with potions in general was not good and he was likely to fuck up this potion
like he did most others.
“I can’t do it with you shouting at me.” Harry growled back as he tightened his
fist in his pants in an attempt at forcing out his elusive orgasm with pain. It
didn’t work and within moments Harry was limp the only sign he’d even been hard
was the slight flush of his tip. “Fuck this.” Harry angrily pulled up his pants
and washed his hands and face in the sink. There was no way he was coming with
such worrying thoughts on his mind. He’d just have to brave the consequences of
turning up to Snape’s class empty handed.
“Where is it?” Draco inquired as he stepped away from his ensuite door so that
Harry could come out. Harry rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m not in the mood Draco not everyone’s on a hand trigger like you.” Harry
spat nastily as he grabbed his bag from the bottom of Draco’s bed and strode
out of the room. The blonde quickly caught up with Harry as the pair stepped
through the fireplace and into Snape’s 101 classroom. Everyone was already
seated with their diaries open and their sample juices in their respective
bottles. Snape was standing by the chalkboard his arms folded across his chest
and his perfectly dark scowl firmly aimed at Harry and Draco.
“Unable to complete your homework task again Mr. Potter?” Snape sneered as he
watched Harry and Draco get out their diaries. Draco proudly displayed his own
corked bottle while Harry showed no signs of having his own. “Ten points from
Gryfindor and see me after class.” Snape growled low as he eyed Harry
dangerously before turning his back on the class to continue writing down the
instructions for brewing the drought. Harry gave Snape the finger behind the
man’s back ignoring the shocked looks from his Gryfindor friends who had caught
the gesture. Luckily though Snape seemed oblivious to the meaning of it despite
having seen the reflection of Harry’s gesture in the potions bottles resting on
his desk.
Like most of Snape’s 101 classes the time passed quickly. There was always
something infinitely more interesting in a class about sex than any of the
normal subjects students took during the day. Harry had helped Draco brew his
own drought making sure he took notes incase Snape made him complete the task
in his own time. Finally Snape ended the class and dismissed his students. The
steady flow of students back through the fireplace soon left Harry and Snape
alone in the classroom. Harry remained in his seat as he watched Snape clean
the board and douse some of the candles with a casual flick of his wand.
“Collect the sample droughts and put them in this box Potter.” Nodding Harry
rose from his desk and carefully collected each labeled sample and placed them
in the especially designed wooden box on Snape’s desk in the center of the semi
circle. Harry knew Snape was watching him the man’s onyx gaze following his
every move. “Get your things and the box and follow me.” When Harry was done
collecting the samples he picked up the box and his bag and followed Snape
through the fireplace. It didn’t surprise Harry at all to find himself stepping
out into Snape’s private rooms again. The place hadn’t changed much since he’d
been in here last. There were a few new books and a little more disorganized
chaos but nothing that was out of the ordinary for Snape anyway.
“So what have you told Draco?” Snape took the box of sample potions from
Harry’s grasp and disappeared into the archway leading to his private lab.
Harry dumped his bag on the floor beside the coffee table and flopped down into
the squeaky cold leather of the couch.
“Nothing,” Harry snapped defensively wondering what he’d done now. Snape
emerged from the next room minus his outer formal robe and carrying a tray of
tea and biscuits.
“I’m not accusing you of anything Potter. I’m merely inquiring after what you
told him when he undoubtedly questioned you about the weekend.” Snape sat down
in his worn armchair and proceeded to pour Harry a cup of the warm liquid
before serving himself.
“I just said it was an interesting weekend and that we didn’t fight as much as
I’d expected.” Harry paused as he sipped his tea gratefully. “What else was I
supposed to say that we’d fucked, that you and I pashed frequently? He’d have
known instantly that you had sussed out what he was doing again. I thought the
idea was to make him believe his little plan was working?” Harry snapped
sarcastically still cupping the warmth of his teacup in his hands. Snape pursed
his lips together in irritation at Harry’s sharp tone of voice.
“We are in a frustrated mood tonight aren’t we?”
“Piss off.” Harry snapped almost instantly in reply already knowing what Snape
was referring to. The hint of a smirk twitched at the corner of Snape’s lips
before being squashed again behind the expressionless mask.
“We were seen together.” The comment came from nowhere and Harry choked on his
tea as he realized what Snape was referring to.
“When?” It was a stupid question and the instant Snape rolled his eyes Harry
knew he was being mocked for having said it.
“When do you think Potter?” Snape hissed as he finished his cup of tea and put
the empty cup back on the coffee table. “I fully expect to be summoned
tomorrow. Such news will travel fast within the inner circle. I need to make
sure you’re committed to this little project before I set things in motion. As
soon as Voldemort finds out about us there will be no going back and he will
expect to see certain evidence.” Harry swallowed nervously and put his cup next
to Snape’s on the coffee table.
“It is not like I have a choice is it?” Harry whispered not for the first time
feeling trapped in a situation he had no control over. Snape snorted in disgust
at Harry’s comment.
“Don’t play the innocent victim Mr. Potter we’ve already established you’re far
from pure. I’ve explained to you the benefits I can give you if you agree. This
situation will not only have the obvious benefits for me and you but it will
greatly improve the order’s chances in the coming war.” Snape paused and stared
at Harry seriously. “However, if you wish to back out say so now. I only have
to tell Draco that I know what he is up to again and it will be all over in a
few days.” Harry worried his bottom lip between his teeth as he twisted his
hands awkwardly in his lap. Being presented with such a choice without fully
understanding either option was mind-boggling. “If you’re struggling for an
answer Mr. Potter perhaps it’s best to view the situation in a Slytherin way
rather than a Gryfindor one. Forget about Gryfindor pride, courage, sacrifice
and bravery. Instead consider the Slytherin points such as what is in it for
you?” Snape raised a knowing eyebrow in Harry’s direction.
“Alright.” Harry didn’t know where the decision came from or what made him
answer so quickly but before he knew it he’d agreed and Snape had smiled
crookedly in some form of silent success.
“Good.” Snape paused for half a second as he rose from his chair. “Then get
undressed.” Harry’s eyes widened in horror as he watched Snape begin
unbuttoning his waistcoat and shirt.
“What?” Harry inquired shakily intent on having Snape confirm what he’d just
said. Snape tuted loudly and rolled his eyes as he glanced at Harry sitting
frozen and pale on the edge of the couch.
“Draco’s due here in fifteen minutes Potter and without his own evidence in the
matter the news currently making its way to Voldemort at present will be viewed
as just a rumor. So in order for this to be taken seriously we’re going to put
on a little show for master Malfoy.” Snape was undoing the cuffs of his shirt
now and Harry could clearly see the elder wizard’s flat, creamy stomach between
the flapping edges of the open shirt. Harry swallowed thickly as he stared at
the tantalizing peek of skin. “Potter lose the clothes.” Snape snapped angrily
when he realized Harry still hadn’t moved from the couch. Harry was on his feet
and shrugging his school robes in an instant. Harry watched as Snape tossed his
waist coat and shirt over the back of his arm chair as he worked on the zipper
and button of his trousers.
“What kind of show?” Harry hopped from one foot to the other as he pulled off
his socks and shoes before following Snape through into the elder wizard’s
bedroom. Harry hesitated on the threshold of the bedroom. The room was plain.
It had a central feature of the massive curtained four-poster bed and the large
fireplace on the far wall. Snape’s trunk sat at the bottom of his bed and a
rug, chest of draws and a wardrobe made up the last of the spartan furnishings.
Snape had already stripped down to what Harry knew to be muggle jockeys. Harry
smiled smugly to himself as he watched Snape’s arse in the tight pants as the
man flicked his wand about the room. He lit a few candles, the fire and drew
the curtains partially closed around his bed to make the atmosphere seem all
that more seedy. It occurred to Harry briefly that perhaps Snape didn’t hate
everything muggle like he made out.
“Stop looking at my backside Potter and get into bed, he’ll be on time.” Harry
obediently padded across the bedroom and climbed up and into the large bed.
Snape was re arranging the sheets and blankets to make them looked used around
them. Satisfied with the look of the room, Snape climbed up into bed beside
Harry. Harry was lying stiff and straight his eyes trained on the canopy of the
bed above him. “Relax Harry or he’ll see through this.” Harry squeaked in
surprise as Snape rolled over on top of him, the man’s slender toned frame
rubbing against his own scrawny figure. Snape shifted himself into a
comfortable position above Harry. Harry’s eyes widened impossibly as he stared
up into Snape’s onyx eyes. The man was so close that Harry could smell the soap
on Snape’s skin and could feel the radiation of warmth from the man’s body
hovering above his own. The entire situation was having a decidedly unwanted
affect on his body. “Leg up and around my waist.” Harry shivered
unintentionally as Snape’s hand came down to his thigh guiding the boy’s leg up
and around the back of the elder wizard’s waist. The position brought them
closer together and Harry swallowed awkwardly and looked away as he felt the
soft cotton of Snape’s pants brushing in between his thighs. “For Merlin’s sake
Potter look at me. Now deepen your breathing.” Harry reluctantly met Snape’s
gaze and tried desperately to deepen his already erratic and somewhat shaky
breathing. What ever he did Snape seemed satisfied and nodded in acceptance.
There was a pause of silence as Snape drew up the sheets around them enough to
disguise the fake situation but enough to let Draco’s imagination do the rest.
Snape smiled inwardly the moment he felt his wards shiver around his room.
“He’s here.” Snape whispered and with that began thrusting forward catching
Harry off guard and causing the boy to gasp loudly in surprise. The effect
played right into Snape’s hands and the man smiled secretly to himself as he
felt Harry relax under him. The boy’s hands automatically came up to clutch at
Snape’s shoulders. Snape knew the moment Draco entered the room. The blonde’s
piercing blue eyes undoubtedly trained on the pair of them writhing together on
the bed. Cautious of their audience Snape leaned further forward partially
curtaining his and Harry’s faces with the fall of his hair as he locked his
lips with Harry’s. Harry was panting hard, not entirely for Draco’s benefit but
rather the throbbing erection that had sprung up between his legs in the last
minute or two. Harry was mortified that Snape might feel it, after all this was
just a show and nothing more. Snape knew they couldn’t keep this up for long
and needed something to send Draco packing.
“Oh Harry,” Snape groaned for effect as he thrust harder causing the old bed to
creak slightly. The comment did the trick and Snape smiled as he heard the
quiet scuttle of Draco’s feet leaving the room shortly followed by the shiver
as his wards fell back into place. “Not a bad piece of acting Potter.” No
sooner had the wards shuddered back into place than Snape had disengaged
himself from Harry and had collapsed on his back beside the boy. Harry turned
over onto his side away from Snape. The flush of his cheeks, the sweat on his
forehead, his labored breathing and the tent of his y-fronts would have been a
dead give away to his act not being so fake. Snape smiled to himself as he
stared at Harry’s back the boy trying to hide his reaction miserably.
“Do you think it worked?” Harry gritted his teeth and tried to think of the
nastiest things he could in order to assuage his erection.
“Oh, I think it’ll work perfectly.” Snape purred as he rolled over and pressed
himself up against the length of Harry’s rigid back. Harry froze as he felt
Snape’s breath ghost gently across the back of his neck before a soft feather
light kiss was pressed against his shoulder. Just that kiss was Harry’s undoing
and with a hiss and a twitch Harry had cum in his pants. Snape huffed a self-
satisfied laugh as Harry collapsed in a boneless heap. The tension that had
been present for the entire evening melted away from the boy’s wiry frame to
leave behind a very lethargic but very embarrassed Harry. “Frustrations are
such an easy thing to fix when you’re 16.” Snape pressed another kiss to
Harry’s relaxed shoulder before rolling from the bed and grabbing his robe from
a hanger beside the wardrobe. Feeling awkward Harry went to rise from the bed
as well, his eyes trained on the floor. “You are welcome to use the bathroom
and there is a spare set of sleep pants in the dresser draw. When you’re done I
suggest you get some sleep. I have a feeling Albus Dumbledore will wish to see
us both tomorrow morning.” Snape casually tied the robe around himself as he
moved over to the archway leading from his bedroom back into the small living
area.
“You are not kicking me out?” Harry whispered knowing for a fact that Draco was
never permitted to stay in Snape’s rooms for the entire night. Snape paused and
glanced coolly back over his shoulder at Harry who was still flushed pink with
embarrassment and looking practically debauched with his swollen lips and
unruly hair.
“We have a new understanding Mr. Potter but bear in mind that if you are to
stay in my chambers you will respect my privacy outside of them.” Harry nodded
quickly in agreement almost relieved that Snape wasn’t going to make him walk
back to Gryfindor tower in his present state.
“Yes sir.” Harry whispered in confirmation. An amused twitch graced Snape’s
upper lip before the man had turned and disappeared into the lounge leaving
Harry to his own devices.
*************************************
***** Part 9 *****
PART 9
“They’re true.”
Harry bit his lip hard as the two words filtered out of Snape’s mouth with so
little emotional attachment the man could have been talking about anyone but
himself and Harry. Dumbledore’s twinkling eyes flashed in the fire light with
an unknown emotion as the graying man sat back in his chair, almost taken back
by the honest response. Just as Snape had warned it had not taken long for word
to spread, no doubt fueled by Draco who’d undoubtedly owled his father
overnight. The summons to Dumbledore’s office had come as the two of them had
taken tea in the living room of Snape’s quarters in awkward silence that
morning. There was no turning back now and as Harry had dressed hastily he
wondered just how Dumbledore would react. What Harry pictured as the
headmasters reaction it certainly wasn’t the blank expression on the elder
wizards face now. Harry swallowed awkwardly and lowered his gaze to where he
was fiddling with the cuffs of his robe. Snape seemed unfazed by the
headmaster’s reaction and instead continued to sip from his lemon tea.
“Well. It seems things have progressed further than I would have thought
between you two. I will not deny that I am,” Dumbledore paused. The man it
seemed was at a rare loss for words. “…that I am a little shocked by this
development.” Dumbledore finished as he quickly took a long sip of his own cup
of tea. Harry refused to look up at the headmaster as he reached for a biscuit.
“Are you quite sure though?” Albus asked abruptly as he looked from Harry to
Snape and then back again.
“Believe me headmaster were either of us not serious I would never have allowed
this to get this far. Especially under the circumstances.” Snape answer coolly
as he put aside his empty teacup and leaned across to trace his fingertips
lightly across Harry’s cheek. It was a very dominant display of ownership but
it was also an endearing gesture. Harry leaned in to the feather touch his
cheeks pinking slightly as Dumbledore watched the exchange.
“This better not be one of your scheme’s to dissolve Lucius’ promise Severus. I
know how you have suffered by having Draco promised to you but there are other
ways of breaking the promise than this. The consequences of this will reach
farther than just your misfortunes Severus. If this is not genuine…” Dumbledore
was cut off as Severus stood abruptly from his chair and strode over to face
the fire clearly upset that Dumbledore was questioning his honor.
“I assure you headmaster I am very much aware of the consequences of this
relationship having had a considerable many years to think about it. I have
already made clear to Harry what is required of him and what situations may
arise because of it. He and I are in agreement that the benefits to both us and
the greater good far outweigh the associated risks.” Harry was impressed with
Snape’s reply having put it forth with enough conviction that even Dumbledore
looked emotionally moved by it. “We can not do this however without the order’s
support Albus. I am expecting a summons today. By now Draco will have made it
clear to his father I have broken the agreement. I need only to convince
Voldemort of my ‘plan’ in luring Harry and the promise between Lucius and
myself will be absolved.” Snape finished and turned back around from the fire
to face Dumbledore who was still nursing his steaming cup of lemon tea and
staring at Harry.
“Do you have anything to say Harry?” Dumbledore whispered calmly as Harry
gingerly looked up from his chest and shook his head. “You will need to tell
your godfather of your decision as soon as possible Harry. You do not need
telling, that his reaction is likely to be less than positive.” Harry nodded in
agreement, Sirius had been the last thing on Harry’s mind for the past month
and now everything was happening so fast. Harry glanced at Snape for support,
the elder wizard confidently nodding his head in agreement.
“I would suggest discussing this with your friends too Harry. It is better that
they hear the truth from you so that they may better understand our
relationship.” Harry nodded again as Snape moved back over to the chair beside
Harry gently clasping one of Harry’s nervously twisting hands in his own.
Dumbledore sighed heavily as he watched the exchange between both wizards
before standing up wearily from his chair.
“I can not say I am not apprehensive about this decision gentlemen but neither
have I the right to interfere in such matters. I will ensure the order
continues to support you both in your work.” Dumbledore paused as he huffed a
small chuckle to himself his eyes twinkling in mirth. “If you manage to pull
this off gentlemen then we may just gain the upper hand in this war after all.”
With a knowing raised eyebrow Dumbledore took the stairs into his observatory
and disappeared. Assuming they were dismissed Harry and Snape hastily vacated
the headmaster’s office and took the revolving staircase back down into the
corridors of the school.
“That was too easy.” Snape muttered as he walked along side Harry heading for
breakfast in the great hall. Harry nodded in silent agreement his worry still
churning his stomach.
“What do you think he is up to?” Harry whispered as they passed a group of
giggling 1st year girls coming out of the bathroom.
“With Albus it is difficult to say Potter but I believe the situation we have
created plays right into his hands.” Harry frowned in confusion of what Snape
was referring to as they paused outside the doors to the great hall where
breakfast was already under way.
“I don’t understand?” Harry whispered careful so that no one over heard them.
Snape sighed heavily and straightened his robe as he glanced into the great
hall noticing clearly that Professor McGonagall was staring at them intently.
“The headmaster has hoped for a considerably long time that you and I were
better aquatinted Mr. Potter. As much as they hate to admit it I am your only
direct link with Voldemort aside from that scar.” Snape paused and gestured to
Harry’s lightening bolt scar on his forehead. “I believe Albus thought our
occlumency lessons might have helped us become allies no least formed a
friendship but like always you have your own agenda.”
“You were a total bastard you mean.” Harry corrected sharply reminding Snape
politely that it was he, rather than Harry that had made his occlumency lessons
a complete failure. Snape huffed at Harry’s presumptuous cheek but chose not to
comment as he continued.
“Needless to say Potter it has taken till now for us to come to a truce.” Snape
paused as Harry’s eyes widened in surprise. “Of sorts.” Snape finished quickly
before Harry had a chance to mock him. “Believe me when I tell you this
situation no matter how ‘delicate’ it is, is just what Dumbledore wants to gain
leverage in this war. We were always being manipulated Potter but now we’re
allowing it under our terms.” With a knowing Slytherin smile Snape turned and
strode into the chaos of the great hall. Harry stared after Snape with the
distinct feeling that he was the ball in the middle of a football game.
*********************************
Harry sat quietly staring at his hands twisted in his jumper not daring to look
up and into the disappointed gaze of his godfather sitting opposite him. A
stagnate silence hung in the lounge room of Grimmauld Place. Those unfortunate
enough to be caught in the unpleasant atmosphere shifted uncomfortably where
they sat. Harry could have predicted his godfather’s reaction to the news,
right down to the slanderous names Sirius had used when describing Snape, to
his face of course. The argument had gone on for over two hours, no one daring
to interrupt the warring parties. Only Dumbledore braved the odd comment but it
was useless as Sirius and Snape exchanged insults and accusations beyond
reason. It was a free for all that Harry felt solely responsible for.
The argument had come to a stunning end with Snape crying out in anguish as his
dark mark had flared into life. For once Harry had been glad of the Dark Lord’s
interference as Snape and Sirius’ argument had been abruptly cut off. Snape had
left in a flurry of robes but not before placing a gentle but possessive kiss
on Harry’s lips, in clear view of everyone in the room. If there had been doubt
about their relationship before there was none now. In Snape’s wake Harry had
been left with the ruin and the full weight of his godfather’s disappointment.
“So you like that sort of thing do you Harry?” Harry glanced up from where he
was twisting his fingers through the knotted weave of his jumper. Sirius’ voice
was icy his tone one that indicated he was not going to rest without a
satisfying answer. Harry swallowed heavily and dropped his gaze back to his
hands in his lap without having answered his godfather. There was no way Harry
was going to answer that question with an audience like he had at present.
Sirius however was not deterred and continued promptly. “Come on Harry you are
16 let’s talk about this. After all you are doing it, you should be able to
fucking talk about it.” Sirius’ temper was rising again and Harry took a deep
calming breath to try and keep his own temper in check. “It is not like it’s a
secret is it although I obviously missed the point at which you became
infatuated with Snivellrus.” Sirius rose from the chair and began pacing back
and forth in front of Harry, who had yet to raise his head from where he was
staring at his lap. “If you’d have told me Harry we could have paid someone to
satisfy your kinks. There are wizards out there that do it for a living….”
“You don’t understand.” The words ground out from between Harry’s teeth before
he was able to stop himself. Harry clenched his fists as he glanced up from
beneath the bangs of his fringe to watch as his godfather stopped dead mid pace
and spun around to glare at him.
“Oh I don’t understand do I Harry? Well enlighten me. Tell me the truth!”
Sirius paused an evil glint catching in the corner of his eyes as he pushed his
face into Harry’s in a threatening manner. “In fact tell us all why Harry
bloody Potter is playing Master and Pet with Severus fucking Snape!” Sirius
screamed in Harry’s face but the boy hardly flinched his own raging temper
boiling to the surface with such intensity it caught everyone who witnessed it
off guard.
The lights flickered ominously. An icy wind whipped around the lounge room like
a tornado as Harry stood up to his full height and met his godfather face to
face. Most of the people in the room had instinctively gone for their wands
fearing the worst and awaiting the inevitable.
“Because ‘Black’,” Harry spat coldly into Sirius face. “Severus fucking Snape
is the only one among you powerful enough to play with and the only one of you
with balls enough to actually take me on.” With a very Slytherin smile of his
own Harry pushed past his godfather and headed for the door very sure he’d made
his point regarding Snape.
“You are playing with fire Harry James Potter. Sex is one thing but risking the
lives of your friends and family is an entirely different matter.” Harry paused
mid step and turned around to face Sirius again who was looking decidedly pale
knowing that he’d lost the fight.
“I’m not risking anyone’s life but my own Black. Perhaps if you weren’t so
jealous of Severus you might actually see he’s trying to help you all.” Harry
wasn’t prepared for the stinging slap as Sirius backhanded him hard across the
face for his comment. The impact snapped Harry’s head to the side but the boy
remained standing. Taking a deep breath in Harry gritted his teeth against the
sting and turned his face back to look at Sirius. Sirius looked suddenly
ashamed and frightened by what he’d just done and took two unsteady steps back
away from his godson into the firm embrace of Remus Lupin. Harry couldn’t help
himself as a cruel smile broke out onto his face as he shook his head at his
godfather.
“You see Sirius. When he does that to me he’ll mean it and he certainly won’t
regret it afterwards.” There was a horrified gasp from a few of the order
members in the room shocked by what they were hearing. Harry didn’t spare them
a second glance however as he turned and strode from the lounge room.
Taking the stairs two at a time Harry was upstairs and in his bedroom in no
time. They hadn’t planned on staying at Grimmauld Place but as Severus had been
summoned Harry assumed he’d be spending the night there despite having school
tomorrow. Kicking off his shoes Harry flopped down onto his bed and tucked his
hands behind his head. Despite the twinge of guilt he still felt about the
argument an overwhelming feeling of relief swept over him. Everyone now knew
his secret and be damned if they didn’t agree.
****************************************
***** Part 10 *****
PART 10
Harry awoke abruptly to a commotion downstairs and the thundering of feet
outside in the hallway and on the stairs. Rising quickly Harry tucked his wand
into the waistband of his sleep pants and hurried out of his bedroom. Order
members were running everywhere and Harry had to avoid being run down by the
rushing wizards and witches. Making it to the stairs safely Harry headed down
and into the front foyer. It was then that he smelt the familiar scent in the
air. The metallic tang of blood clung to the warm air of the house and Harry’s
panic began to rise. Hastily pushing his way through the milling crowd in the
doorway of the living room Harry clambered into the room. The very first thing
Harry saw was the bloodied trails across the polished wooden floors.
Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley, Madam Pomfrey and Remus were all gathered around the
couch. Harry heard the cries of anguish and pain as the group tried to hold
whomever it was still as Madam Pomfrey worked on them. In the pit of his
stomach Harry had a horrible feeling it might be Snape on the couch but as he
took a few steps towards the group a voice made him pause.
“Potter.” Snapping his head around Harry’s breath caught in his throat as he
stared at Snape. The elder wizard was a mess. Snape was still in his death
eater robes with his white mask clasped in one hand and stood by the window out
of the way.
Severus was covered in blood. His hands caked in the stuff. Big, glistening
dark patches spoiled Snape’s cloak while smears and splatters of red had dried
on the man’s pale face. Snape’s hair was mattered and clogged with dirt and
several nasty bruises and gashes caught Harry’s eye on the exposed part of the
elder wizard’s neck. Silently Harry wondered how much of the blood was Snape’s
and how much of it was the persons on the couch. Either way it was far too much
blood for Harry’s liking. With a restrained sigh Harry took the few steps over
to Snape by the window and took up position beside his elder, a look of
sympathy in his gaze. “Come along I need a bath.” Harry squirmed a little as
Snape took hold of his wrist with one of his bloodied hands. It was an
uncomfortable feeling having the sticky blood pressed between his skin and
Severus but Harry didn’t complain.
Despite being such an infrequent visitor to Grimmauld Place Severus still had
his own room like most of the order members. Admittedly it was the dusty old
attic but Severus seemed to like the quiet being this far away from the rest of
the house afforded. Harry sat quietly on the broken lid of an old traveling
trunk as Snape flicked his wand around the room lighting a few sparse lanterns
that hung from the beams of the roof above. In the dim light Harry watched as
Snape peeled each layer of his soiled clothes from his body. Harry was
completely entranced by the smooth, alabaster skin that was reveal to him with
each article of clothing. Automatically Harry looked for signs of injury on
Snape’s person and only fully relaxed when the last item was dropped carelessly
onto the floor leaving nothing by a pale expanse of uninjured skin. Admittedly
there were scars. Old scars that littered Snape’s back like strips of fabric
but there was nothing new or nothing bleeding at least. Still with his back to
Harry Snape flicked his wand at the unpolished floorboards beside the
fireplace. A copper, claw footed, freestanding bath appeared beside the lit
fire. Steam rose from the watery surface of the bath filling the air with a
menthol fragrance that reminded Harry of hospitals.
Silently Snape padded across the room and with his back still to Harry slid
into the copper bath with a hiss and sigh of relief. Harry watched as Snape
disappeared beneath the surface of the water before re emerging a few seconds
later his hair soaking wet and water beading down his face. Harry stared at the
elder wizard who’d closed his eyes and relaxed back against the headrest of the
copper bath. Feeling suddenly very unwelcome and intrusive Harry rose from the
trunk and took a step towards the door leading from the attic.
“I didn’t give you permission to leave Potter.” Harry froze and glanced
sheepishly over his shoulder back at Snape. The elder wizard hadn’t moved from
the bath. With his eyes still closed and his hands resting idly on the sides of
the tub he had obviously no intention of moving either. Harry swallowed
awkwardly forcing himself to speak.
“I thought you’d want to be alone…” Harry was cut off abruptly.
“From now on Mr. Potter I will make the decisions for both of us and you will
trust me enough to know that what I decide will be in your best interests.”
Snape’s voice was unusually calm and devoid of any lingering sarcasm or anger
that he often laced his other conversations with. Harry truly didn’t understand
how these things were supposed to work and apart from what he’d heard and read
he was completely in the dark.
“Yes Sir.” Harry whispered belatedly not sure what he was required to do or
say.
“My name is Severus and in my company you will refer to me as such. The only
time you will not address me by my given name will be during class, when Sir
will be much more appropriate.” Snape paused and Harry assumed he was to reply.
“Yes, Si….Severus.” Harry corrected himself quickly and was rewarded by a
bemused chuckle from over at the bath.
“Good. Now come here.” Snape sounded almost sleepy as Harry approached the
copper bathtub tentatively. Harry tried to keep his eyes to himself as he came
to a stand still beside the tub where Snape was still reclined in relaxation
seemingly not to care that the water left little to the imagination despite the
few bubbles. “In my cloak pocket you’ll find a gift for you.” Harry was a
little surprised by what Snape had said next and stared at the man’s still
closed eyes. When Snape made no move to elaborate Harry padded quickly over to
where the elder wizard had discarded his cloak earlier. Rummaging through the
bloodied robes Harry found amongst the bottles of potions a strange strip of
black leather with clips at either end. Pulling the item free of Snape’s pocket
Harry held the thing up to the lantern light to inspect it. It appeared on
closer inspecting to be a very short necklace of some sort. The inch wide
leather strip appeared to have some strange engravings burnt into the leathers
surface and in the middle hanging from what appeared to be a gold loop as the
biggest ruby Harry had ever seen. Around the ruby wove a gold dragon and a
silver snake entwined together to hold the ruby in place.
“Thank you,” Harry paused as he realized he hadn’t spoken for a good five
minutes since he’d begun inspecting the item. “It is beautiful.” Harry
hesitated still not really knowing what the item was supposed to be. Snape
chuckled from over in the bath and for the first time since he’d hopped into
the water opened his eyes to stare directly at Harry.
“It is a choker Harry and is often the first gift given to submissives by their
partners as a sign of ownership usually after their first night together.”
Harry blushed bright red from the tips of his ears right down his neck as he
looked sheepishly away from Snape to the choker still grasped in his own hand.
Harry chewed his bottom lip nervously as he tried to steady his breathing.
Having gone from being an uneducated virgin to a submissive pet in under a
month was a somewhat confronting notion. “No need to look so worried Potter. I
have no intention of bedding you this eve. I fear it may take some days to
recover myself after my audience with the dark lord.” Harry breathed out with
an inaudible sigh of relief as he fingered the intricate choker. He was still
in confusion about what it was for if not for the obvious. “I must confess I am
still in doubt about your commitment to me and this arrangement.” Harry’s head
snapped up instantly from his chest to stare at Snape in worry.
Harry wasn’t sure himself yet if he’d made the right decision but he’d assumed
there was no turning back. “I am by rights allowed to claim you as my own once
you have made public your agreement to it. A claim, which is usually made
during our first night via a permanent mark unique to my family bloodline.
However due to my doubt and partially your importance in the wizarding world I
have decided to postpone my official claim on you.” Harry frowned in confusion
as he knelt down beside the bathtub his shoulder brushing Snape’s wet
fingertips on the edge of the bath as he did so. “I can manage to hold
Voldemort’s demands off for a month before he will expect to see the evidence
of my claim. Consider this your months trial period. If at the end of this
month you believe you have made the wrong choice you may walk away from this
and I will bear the entirety of the consequences.” Snape’s voice was grave and
deadly serious something that told Harry the consequences of ending the
relationship would be the ultimate in punishments. A shiver of fear ran up
Harry’s spine. “While I am not marking you, you will however wear the choker as
a public sign of my ownership. It will help you better understand what it means
for you to be mine and the situations pleasant and other that that knowledge
may bring you from your peers.”
“I don’t care what everyone thinks…” Harry began to protest but was cut off
quickly by a wet finger being pressed against his lips.
“You say that now Potter but you’re young and as yet have absolutely no idea
what it means to be ‘claimed’ by another. You think it is all about power and
dominance. That is what brought you to me in the first place but I assure you
this is nothing without trust. I am not an easy man to please Harry and I
expect nothing but submissive obedience from my partners. If you break the
rules expect to be punished. If you challenge me I will bring you pain you know
nothing of yet. There were others before Draco,” Snape clarified before
continuing. “That tried and failed. However if you succeed I will give you
everything…” Snape trailed off as he leaned forward and replaced his finger
still pressed against Harry’s lips with his mouth. The kiss was intense and
Harry fell limp under Snape’s carefully manipulative tongue. With Snape’s wet
hand cupping the back of his head preventing him from moving away Harry was
light headed and breathless within moments.
Snape broke the kiss seconds before Harry thought he was going to pass out.
Gasping for air Harry collapsed against the side of the copper bath as Snape
levered himself out of the now cooling water. With his vision still fuzzy and
his head dizzy with lack of air Harry didn’t pay much attention to the sinewy,
pale frame of the totally naked potions professor as he stepped out of the bath
and reached for a towel hanging over the fire surround. By the time Harry
realized he’d missed the show Snape was safely wrapped up in his bathrobe and
standing beside the fire drying his dark hair.
“I won’t disappoint you.” Harry whispered as he stood up from the rough floor
and easily clipped the leather chocker around his neck. Harry was surprised by
how perfect the leather choker felt around his neck. He’d thought the choker
might have been heavy or too tight but the cool leather against his skin felt
familiarly like Snape’s hands caressing his throat. With a comfortable smile
Harry stepped over to where Snape was standing watching him from in front of
the fire. Stepping into Snape’s personal space Harry nervously rested his head
against Snape’s chest hoping he wouldn’t be rejected from the small embrace.
Much to Harry’s surprise Snape allowed the contact as he gently ran his thumb
down Harry’s bruised cheek where Sirius had slapped him earlier. Harry winced
under the touch of the bruise but didn’t pull away.
“If he touches you again Potter I will break every bone in his body.” Harry
smiled secretly at the defensive mutter from Snape before letting his mind
wander back to earlier in the evening. It was only now, as Harry ran over what
had happened that he realized he knew the voice behind the cries of pain that
had come from the couch.
“Draco is………..” Harry stepped back in horror of having forgotten about the
blood, the pain and the screams of terror but Snape pulled him instantly back
against his chest and held him tightly.
“The boy will be fine Harry but tonight he learnt a valuable lesson. No one
challenges Tom Riddle’s decisions and gets away with it.”
******************************************
Harry sat alone at the end of Gryfindor table staring at his plate and wishing
he hadn’t turned up for breakfast. He knew it would be hard and a lot of people
would find it difficult to understand but he hadn’t counted on it being this
bad. It was Monday morning the first day back at Hogwarts after the weekend at
Grimmauld place and the first day he’d been seen wearing Snape’s gift. If the
world didn’t know he was owned by his potions professor it certainly did now.
He’d come down into the great hall only to find silence and stares at his
entrance. There were a few who muttered things as he passed them by but most
just stared at him. The awkwardness had continued at the Gryfindor table. Where
usually his friends would have left a space for him there was no space for him
this morning, forcing him to sit alone at the far end of the table. Harry
hadn’t spared the faculty a second glance after he’d sat down. The boy had
ignored Snape’s entrance despite the whispering that broke out at the potion
professor’s appearance. Thankfully Dumbledore began breakfast with the usual
notices and for a while Harry thought he wasn’t the center of attention. Then
his meal arrived.
Two slices of toast with plum jam, a bowl of muggle fruit loops and a bowl of
scrambled eggs with tomato sauce. They were his favorite things. Things that he
would only get to eat during the summer at the Dursley’s when the family was
away. Harry swallowed nervously as he braved a glance up at the head table to
where he knew Snape would be sitting having ordered him the special breakfast.
Snape however wasn’t paying Harry any attention and continued to read his
newspaper as he ate his own meal. Harry turned back to his meal and jumped a
little when someone sat down opposite him.
“So it is true then?” Harry stared at Ron who was sat stoically on the opposite
side of the table. Harry desperately searched his best friend’s expression for
some kind of sign as to what mood the red head was in. It was pointless however
as Ron stared at him waiting blankly for an answer. Choosing the safe option
Harry nodded in silent reply as he chewed a mouthful of fruit loops cautiously.
There was a strained silence that hung in the air before Ron let out a heavy
sigh. “I knew you were queer mate but Snape?” Harry couldn’t help but snort in
amusement into his bowl of cereal as Ron screwed up his nose in disgust. Harry
shook his head and rolled his eyes as he passed Ron a spare fork and let his
friend share some of his eggs.
“It’s complicated Ron. Besides I chose him…” Harry paused as he thought about
how his current situation had come about. “Well, sort of anyway.” Harry
muttered as he glanced over his shoulder towards the Slytherin table noting
acutely the absence of Draco. The blonde was still in the hospital wing
recovering from his injuries after his audience with the dark lord.
“It is kind of weird trying to think of you that way. I mean you’re Harry
bloody Potter you shouldn’t bow to anyone.” Ron muttered around another
mouthful of scrambled eggs. Inwardly Harry sighed. No one was ever likely to
understand how he felt.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to though Ron,” Harry whispered as he finished
off his plum jam toast before taking a swig of pumpkin juice. “Besides I don’t
bow to him Ron it is a mutual relationship with certain boundaries.” Feeling
suddenly under scrutiny again Harry rose from the table intent on leaving early
for Potions. Ron followed his best friend however determined to get answers
from Harry.
“Is he good in bed?” Ron muttered cheekily as the pair sauntered down towards
the dungeons. Harry barked loudly in mock amusement and looked knowingly over
at Ron who was still staring at him.
“Is that really something you want to know about Severus Snape, Ron?” Harry
inquired, his eyebrow rising in challenge. Ron paused for a second before
groaning in disgust and shaking his head vehemently.
“On second thought don’t tell me. Potions would never be the same.” Ron laughed
as he pushed open the door to Snape’s classroom and the pair took their seats
in the empty lab.
“So does this mean we’re still friends?” Harry hesitated as he pulled his books
free of his bag and glanced sheepishly across at his friend.
“Of course it does Potter. Just because you’ve got some new wardrobe
accessories,” Ron paused and gestured at Harry’s collar before continuing. “And
a boyfriend doesn’t mean we aren’t friends. Besides, I figure now you and he
are together it would be in my best interests to keep on the good side of you
both.” Ron chuckled as the classroom began filling up as the students rushed to
beat Severus to the classroom and avoid detention. Harry smiled and nodded in
understanding before relaxing a little as they waited for class to begin.
A/N Hello out there on the readers couch....hope you're enjoying this one. I've
finally finished editing it and I'm now adding the ending. In all honesty I'm
not sure why everyone likes this story the most, I find it most irritating to
actually get motivation to write. Anyway, stay tuned and enjoy. Also I've got
some Fan Art that previous readers have drawn. Does anyone know how to post
pictures on here or is that something that you can't achieve?
***** Part 11 *****
PART 11
“You look like shit.” Harry whispered as Madam Pomfrey came fussing past the
bottom of Draco’s bed for the third time in as many minutes. Draco huffed a
contemptible laugh and rolled his eyes.
“Thanks for stating the obvious Potter.” Draco snapped dryly as he shuffled
back up against his pillow so that he was half sitting up. The blonde was a
mess. His face was swollen and his eyes were blood shot and blackened. Cuts,
tears and slices littered the blonde’s pale skin some of them still crusty with
dried blood but most clean and beginning to heal. A large bandage was just
visible beneath the sheets wrapped around the boy’s slender torso no doubt
helping to heal the broken ribs and punctured lung. There was a stale silence
as Harry picked at an unseen thread on the blanket draped over Draco’s feet.
“So I guess he claimed you then?” Draco whispered as Madam Pomfrey’s footsteps
disappeared into her office leaving the pair alone to talk more freely. Harry
bit his lip and self-consciously reached up to touch the collar about his neck.
Like Snape had said he hadn’t yet officially claimed him but Harry saw no point
in saying so when he’d have to get used to it sooner rather than later.
Quietly Harry nodded in agreement feeling slightly guilty about lying. “He was
miserable with me. He had been for 16 years. The promise between my father and
him was more like a punishment than a reward to him. I couldn’t have been what
he wanted me to be I’m too independent and I pissed him off with my
willfulness.” Harry huffed in amusement as Draco gently brushed back a strand
of his silky blonde hair to reveal a nasty bruise on his forehead in the shape
of a footprint. Harry chose not to comment on the bruise and instead waited for
Draco to continue. “At first I couldn’t believe he’d fallen for you. My last
hope and I manage to pull it off.” Draco boasted proudly in his victory as
Harry sat chewing his lip the truth perched precariously on the tip of his
tongue. Harry knew he could never say anything however and merely nodded with
gritted teeth as Draco continued to beam with happiness that his scheme had
worked. “I’m jealous too of course. Perhaps had the sex been as good as it
seemed between you two the other night I might have re-considered being the
‘Promised Child’ I was meant to be.” Draco shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly
before continuing. “Still it is all over now. I’m free of him and my life is
mine again.” Draco beamed happily at Harry who merely glared at the blonde
darkly.
“And what about my life?” Harry barked angrily. Despite having accepted his
relationship with Snape Harry knew that none of this would have happened at all
had Draco not blackmailed him in the first place. Draco rolled his eyes as he
reached over to grab a hand full of peeled grapes some other visitor had left
for him.
“Don’t fool yourself Potter. You didn’t have much of a life to begin with.”
Draco popped a grape into his mouth and chewed smugly. “Besides in war there
are always casualties. You are a casualty Potter and trust me when I say
sacrificing your life for mine was well worth it.” Draco popped another grape
into his mouth smartly as Harry stood up from the end of the bed. His anger was
boiling to the surface as he stared at the smug blonde before him.
“You are a fucking cowardly bastard Draco Malfoy. Voldemort should have
finished you off.” Harry shouted angrily ignoring the fast approaching
footsteps of Madam Pomfrey.
“Don’t delude yourself into believing you know everything Potter. Voldemort
didn’t do this to me it was my father. Seems he didn’t like the fact Snape got
rewarded for securing an alliance between you and him after breaking the
agreement between the two of them.” Draco paused his smug Slytherin smile still
in place. “Then when I told him I had no intention of taking the dark mark he
completely flipped out.” Harry’s eyes widened in shock as Draco chuckled
darkly. “I told you I was willful Potter. Why would I give my life to the Dark
Lord when I’d only just gained it back again from Snape?”
“Mr Potter! I will not have you disturbing my patients. If you do not leave
this instant I will have you removed by your ears.” At that point Madam Pomfrey
interrupted their conversation her wand pointed threateningly at Harry who was
already backing away from Draco. Unfazed by the attention Draco continued to
snack on his grapes as Harry spared the blonde one last glance before running
from the hospital wing.
Harry slowed his run to a brisk walk as he passed through the corridors of the
castle until he was safely outside. The weather had turned rather foul from the
sunny morning it had been and Harry huddled down in his cloak as he tried to
dodge the thunder spots that were already beginning to fall from the sky.
Picking up his step Harry jogged down to the old stone shelter that overlooked
the lake. The shelter was peaceful and Harry often found himself drawn to the
place for some time alone. With the rain now pouring from the sky Harry didn’t
even spare the shelter a second look as he dashed in through the entrance and
began shaking the rain from his cloak.
“Do you often come barging into places like that Mr. Potter?” Harry practically
jumped from his skin as an unexpected voice made him look up from his wet
cloak. Having not expected anyone to be inside the shelter Harry was taken back
to find the shelter already occupied.
“Severus.” Harry whispered awkwardly as he finished shaking the last drops of
water from his cloak pointedly avoiding making eye contact with the elder
wizard. There was a tense silence as Harry shuffled over to the stone bench and
sat himself tentatively on its edge, furthest away from Snape. For a good ten
minutes the pair sat staring out of the open windows of the shelter, watching
as the rain fell like a curtain from the tiled roof above them. On a nice day
it was possible to see the entire lake from the shelter window but today all
Harry could see was the rain.
“Judging from your miserable silence may I be right in assuming you spoke to
Draco?” Snape broke the silence first his voice barely audible above the roar
of rain outside. Harry glanced up sideways at Snape the man’s face hidden in
shadow but his sparkling onyx eyes firmly fixed on Harry.
Harry nodded in silent reply.
“Are you disappointed Mr. Malfoy has turned out to be less of an evil genius
and more of your common variety selfish bastard like so many other people are
in this world?” Harry shrugged his shoulders with a huff of contempt. “You see
now why I detested his forced presence in my life.” Again Harry nodded this
time glancing up to meet Snape’s gaze fully.
“He thinks he’s won. Draco Malfoy triumphs over Harry Potter yet again like
this is something I was forced into, that I didn’t want it….” Harry stood up
abruptly from the bench, his fists clenched angrily by his sides as he began
pacing the length of the shelter.
“If you examine the matter closely Potter, you weren’t exactly a willing
participant to begin with.” Snape put forward matter of factly as Harry paced
past him twice.
“Yeah alright so I was given a push but if I hadn’t been forced to begin with
I’d have never made the decision on my own! They all think this is some kind of
joke. They think it is some monumentally tragic sacrifice I’m making on their
behalf. Even now Dumbledore and bloody Sirius are probably working up a way to
get me out of this!” Harry was angry now his face flushed with raging heat as
he clenched his fists even tighter and threw his arms about savagely. “I want
this! I want you! I have done since the moment you stepped foot in that fucking
classroom and told me ‘Fame isn’t everything’.” Harry paused completely
ignoring the rather amused eyebrow that shot up into Snape’s forehead at the
boy’s last comment. “You are a mean, grumpy and snarky bastard but at least I
know what to expect when I see you. I know that what you say is exactly what
you are thinking. Unlike the rest of them that have more bloody secrets than
the Department of Mysteries!” Harry collapsed fuming against the window his
back turned to Snape as he tried to control his raging temper. A cool breeze
blew in through the open window chilling the heat in Harry’s cheeks and calming
him slightly.
“You do realize Harry you are incredibly enticing when you are angry.” Harry
shivered as he felt the ghost of warm air on his neck before a pair of arms
came up to hold him tightly about the waist. Harry relaxed almost immediately
at Snape’s touch all the anger draining from his body as he leant back against
Snape’s strong embrace. “You should throw your weight around more often Potter.
It might remind them all just who you are and what you’re capable of if
pushed.” Harry closed his eyes as Snape drew aside the collar and began nipping
and caressing the pale skin of Harry’s throat with his mouth. Being young it
took very little to arouse Harry into hardness and his tented pants brushed
against the cold stonewall in front of him as Snape continued to ravish his
neck. Frustrated by the lack of more contact Harry reached back and having
tilted his own head to the side dragged Snape’s lips up to his own. The kiss
was sloppy in such an awkward position but Harry didn’t care as he inhaled
deeply on the professor’s heady aroma.
This kiss didn’t last and Snape pulled away leaving Harry panting and whining
miserably at the lost contact. Snape smiled ruefully as he retreated back to
the stone bench seemingly not affected by the display as Harry had been.
“You’re a shameless exhibitionist Potter. I must remember that.” Harry frowned
deeply as he spun around from the window still hard and needy as he watched
Snape sit casually down on the bench. “I’m calling a class tonight. 11.35 the
same place.” As if someone had flicked a switch Snape slid easily back into
professor mode as he brushed an invisible crease from his robe. Harry gritted
his teeth as he made a point of adjusting himself before reluctantly coming
back to sit beside Snape on the bench, this time much closer.
“What’s the topic?” Harry muttered hoping to get a heads up on Sex Magic 101
having been behind on his reading of late.
“Fantasies and the extraction of them from your mind to give them to your
partner during intercourse, so that you may share the moment. It’s quite
exhilarating when done correctly.” Snape sighed quietly as he watched Harry out
of the corner of his eye. Harry chewed his lip in thought silently processing a
few of his more choice fantasies. It was only after a few moments of silence
that Harry caught the smug glance Snape was throwing him.
“Don’t even think about using legitimacy on me. I warned you before I can’t
stop you.” Harry argued as he narrowed his gaze at Snape who was smiling a very
Slytherin smirk.
“You shouldn’t keep them so handy then Mr. Potter, if you don’t wish other
people to see them.” Snape’s smirk widened and Harry struck out as he felt the
first tentative prods of Snape trying to invade his mind. Hitting Snape hard in
the arm and practically pushing the man off the bench Harry ground his teeth
together angrily.
“I said stop it! If you want to know what they are you’ll have to teach me how
to perform the appropriate ‘magic’.” Harry huffed as Snape narrowed his gaze
but chose not to remind Harry how obedience and submission was a key to their
relationship. “Speaking of which, do I still have to go to Draco to complete my
homework?” Harry grumbled.
“Over my dead body.” Snape growled defensively not even a heartbeat after
Harry’s suggestion. Having realized his mistake Snape swallowed awkwardly and
turned his glare back out of the window. Harry was surprised at the conviction
in Snape’s abrupt admission and took a second to take in what it had meant.
“What I meant was,” Snape paused awkwardly and Harry quickly butted in to save
the man the embarrassment.
“I know what you meant Severus and that’s fine with me. He wasn’t very good
anyway and so long as you will make yourself available for my studies when
needed…”
“Watch yourself Potter.” Snape growled rapidly losing his patience with Harry’s
cheeky comments. It was easy to overlook Harry’s disobedience when their
relationship was still fresh but in time Harry would have to learn to toe the
line. Harry lowered his gaze and blushed slightly in awkward apology as he was
put back in his place.
“Sorry Severus,” Harry whispered as he pressed an apologetic kiss to Snape’s
cheek. Snape nodded in acceptance as he stood up and moved towards the door of
the shelter. The rain had slowed a little over the last half an hour that
they’d sat together but it was still raining enough to wet them through should
they run back to the castle. Still with dinner looming there was no other
choice and beckoning to Harry, Snape stepped out into the rain and led them
back towards the castle.
***************************************
“For Merlin’s sake Sev, give me a fucking chance will you!” Harry threw his
velvet diary across the room frustrated by his lack of progress in his latest
homework assignment for Sex Magic 101. Folding his arms grumpily across his
chest and pouting like a spoilt five-year-old Harry glared at Snape who was
casually stirring a bubbling cauldron in his workroom.
“What would be the practicality of me making this too easy Potter? You would
learn nothing.” Snape continued to stir his potion. The steam rising from the
cauldron caused the strands of straggly hair at the front of the man’s head to
stick to his forehead with moisture as he bent over to inspect the cauldron’s
contents.
“But you know I’m not very good at occlumency. You could at least make it a
little bit easier…” Harry snapped angrily. Harry had endured a bad week that
was slowly getting worse and Severus was not making things easy. There was a
tonne of homework to be done. Quidditch practice had begun again for the coming
season, he’d promised to hang out with Ron and to top it all Severus was being
very, very unpleasant.
“Occlumency and sex magic Mr. Potter are two entirely different practices of
magic. One uses your skills as a wizard the other uses simply your commitment
to your partner. So far you are failing miserably in both aspects!” Snape bit
back harshly as he finished stirring his potion and moved over to the sink to
wash his hands. Harry’s anger got the better of him quickly and with the week
like he’d just had it was far too easy to take his frustrations out on Snape.
Rising from his seat on the lounge in Snape’s room Harry strode angrily into
the elder wizards lab and jabbed Snape hard in the back with his wand. Snape
spun around on his heel his face like thunder as he met Harry’s angry glare
with a murderous one of his own. Despite the impending eruption Harry didn’t
back down under the weight of Snape’s glare and instead pushed his wand harder
into Snape’s chest.
“You want me to fail! You don’t want me to see your deepest fantasies, just
like you don’t want me to be able to read your thoughts. Are you scared I’m
going to go telling everyone? Or are you frightened I might just be better than
you at it! You are an arsehole Snape! Besides I thought you wanted to have sex
with me. I thought that was what this is all about.” Harry tugged at the collar
around his neck by way of explanation. Since the collar had gone on nothing
much had changed between he and Snape. Harry had expected some kind of
relationship to evolve with rules, demands and needs yet Snape had continued
their relationship just like they were student and professor still.
Harry was too wrapped up in his accusations to notice when Snape’s patience
snapped. As quick as lightening Harry felt his wand being wrenched from his
grasp before the biting sting as Snape’s hand came crashing down across his
cheek sending Harry sprawling into the central work bench and onto the floor
with a sickening thud. Harry cried out in pain as he clutched at his cheek a
large graze of skin missing from it where Snape’s ring had caught the soft
flesh. Blood trickled out from between Harry’s fingers as he covered his cheek,
his green eyes staring fearfully up at Snape looming above him. Snape’s chest
was heaving beneath his tight black waist coat and shirt and Harry knew by the
death grip the elder wizard had on both wands in his hands that Snape was
struggling to regain a little control.
“Get here now.” Snape’s command came out with a guttural growl and Harry
instinctively knew not to disobey. Unsure if he could stand properly Harry
instead crawled on his hands and knees over to where Snape was still standing
by the sink. Shuffling awkwardly Harry made sure he knelt directly beneath the
spot where Snape had pointed to with his wand. Harry was so close to Snape that
his nose touched the fabric of the man’s robe and he could smell the vile
concoction of potion ingredients that clung to the man’s dragon hide boots.
Harry shook as he stared at Snape’s boots the weight of Snape’s gaze staring
down at him so heavy that he struggled to breath. “I’ve been patient Potter.
Even sympathetic of the fact someone so young as you needs time to adjust to
this situation but I have come to the end of that restraint. It is time you
learnt what submission means Potter and what I expect of you.” Harry chewed his
lip nervously as he felt Snape bend down so that his face was just inches above
Harry’s. “You are mine Harry Potter and you will not disgrace me.” Snape
straightened himself and after a deep calming breath in addressed Harry again.
“Stand up.” Harry did as he was told although more shakily than he would have
liked. Snape held up Harry’s wand right in front of the boy’s face and
indicated to it with a sharp flick. “You are going to learn to trust me Harry.
You are going to learn to be dependant on me. That is why you will not be
getting this back until you’ve proven to me that you trust my judgment.”
Harry’s eyes widened in shock as he watched Snape squirrel the wand away into
the folds of his cloak before stowing his own wand into the sleeve of his robe.
“How will I do my school….” Harry didn’t finish his sentence as Snape cut him
off abruptly.
“I will discuss with the headmaster the removal of your things from the
Gryfindor tower and into my own chambers. I will also make arrangements for you
to sit with me at meals. You will also not be permitted to leave the castle
without my company and I will ask you to refrain from contacting your godfather
without my expressed permission.” Harry repressed a deep sigh as he nodded
obediently the full extent of his commitment to Snape falling on his shoulders
heavily. Harry knew he’d had it good these last few weeks but he’d pushed Snape
too far and the elder wizard was finally bringing down the respect he demanded.
“Now let me see your cheek.” Harry winced as Snape took a firm hold of his chin
and tilted the boy’s head towards the light. Harry closed his eyes as Snape
inspected the torn flesh. Reaching behind himself Snape gathered a small piece
of soft cloth and drenched it in an orange liquid before dabbing it carefully
onto Harry’s cheek. Harry gritted his teeth determined not to make a sound
despite the pain as Snape healed his cheek. “There, now I suggest you go and
collect your diary and read the chapter again on intimate fantasies then we
shall try again.” Harry nodded silently and after a soft tentative kiss from
Snape on the corner of his lips turned and disappeared into the lounge room to
do as he was told.
***** Part 12 *****
PART 12
“He’s taken your wand!” Ron looked horrified at Harry as he helped the boy
begin packing his trunk.
“Not forever Ron, just until I learn some discipline.” Harry whispered quietly
as he took some of the sweets from the communal jar and stowed them in a side
pocket of his backpack.
“Discipline?” Ron muttered curiously as he sat on the lid of Harry’s trunk so
that the other boy could close it more easily.
“Yeah, he’s finally teaching me my place. I’m looking forward to it.” Having
closed the lid of his trunk and taking one last look around his Gryfindor dorm
room Harry made his way downstairs to the common room where everyone was
milling around waiting for breakfast to start.
“You are looking forward to being disciplined by Snape?” Ron muttered under his
breath as the pair of them took a seat beside the fire, out of hearing rang
from the other students.
“I belong to him Ron and I know that is hard for you to understand but this is
what I want and I don’t want to be a disappointment to him. This means I have
to learn my place in his life.” Harry trailed off as some giggling first year
girls came scrambling down the stairs and through the common room.
“Have you, um you know have you two?” Ron paused awkwardly unable to bring
himself to say the words. Harry rolled his eyes and quickly shook his head.
“Not since the first. I think he’s avoiding it. He said he is giving me time to
adjust but I think he’s not going to do it until Voldemort forces his hand.”
Harry played to the lie he’d already spun but added the truth afterwards. Ron
nodded quietly as the bell for breakfast echoed around the castle. Rising from
the armchairs the pair of them made their way slowly through the crowded halls
towards the great hall.
Harry was just about to sit down next to Ron in his usual seat at the Gryfindor
table when a very familiar hand fell on his shoulder. Glancing around sharply
Harry watched as Snape nodded towards the head table where most of the faculty
was already seated.
“With me Harry.” Snape spoke calmly as he turned to continue to make his way
towards the head table. Harry having thrown an apologetic look at Ron quickly
scrambled after the elder professor. Falling in to step beside Snape Harry
ignored the stares from the other students as Snape stepped aside and let Harry
sit down in the spare seat between Professor Flitwick and Snape at the end of
the head table. Harry lowered his gaze to his place setting as Dumbledore
called the hall to order to begin the morning notices. Snape sat in his usual
imposing manner as he served himself and then Harry so casually with the meal.
Harry toyed with the food in front of him his appetite lost as he felt the
stares of his fellow students below him.
“I suggest you eat Mr. Potter or you will sit here until your plate is clean.”
Snape hardly flinched as he whispered quietly at Harry beside him. Harry nodded
softly and began to begrudgingly eat his toast and cereal with small mouthfuls.
Harry had not dared to look up once during the meal and it was only when Snape
rose from the table that Harry glanced up at the elder wizard.
“You will walk with me to potions Potter.” Harry nodded and wiped his mouth
hastily on the napkin before trailing after Snape through the staff entry door.
Once out from under the scrutiny of the other students Harry relaxed and sighed
deeply unaware that Snape was watching him closely.
“You did well Harry but I will expect you to be a little more relaxed at lunch
time. You’ve given me indigestion with your nervousness.” Snape muttered as he
reached for Harry and drew the boy closer to his side as they continued down
the hall.
Entering the potions lab Harry took a seat close to the front as Snape busily
prepared his classroom for the coming lesson.
*******************************
“It is dirty isn’t it?”
“What?” Harry smirked to himself as he stared at Snape who was quietly flipping
through a pile of student essays he was marking. It had been over a week since
Harry had moved into Snape’s quarters permanently and despite the odd bruise
and a few embarrassing moments Harry had been dealing with Snape’s new
discipline tolerably well. Harry had learnt a lot about Snape’s personal life
in the past week. Harry assumed he was about the only person now in the entire
world that knew such private things about Snape’s life and he felt somewhat
privileged he was allowed in. Admittedly Harry had been on his best behavior
but like before things had become stale again and Harry was becoming restless.
“Your fantasy. It is dirty. That is why you’re making this so difficult.” Snape
spared Harry a glare over the latest students work before returning to the
offending parchment not bothering to dignify Harry’s statement with a reply.
Harry shut his diary with a snap and pushed it aside before silently rising
from his chair and stalking over to where Snape was sitting at his desk. Harry
had tried all week to crack his homework for 101 but as yet he’d only seen his
own fantasies reflected back at him. Snape was deliberately being awkward.
“Ron says he has seen Hermione’s already.” Harry pushed one of Snape’s feather
quills back and forth on the edge of the desk as he stared cautiously at the
elder wizard who was still pointedly ignoring him. “They were in the shower
together…”
“I am not in need of a bath of any kind Potter so I suggest you direct this
line of thought else where.” Snape snapped abruptly before Harry could continue
about his friends. Harry pouted and slumped on the edge of the desk carelessly
pushing Snape’s things out of the way to make space for his backside. Snape
grumped irritably as he slammed his work down and glared at Harry pointedly.
“Potter.” Snape growled threateningly and Harry knew Snape’s temper was paper-
thin but he’d had enough of waiting.
“I want to play Severus.” Harry tried to whisper seductively across the table
at Snape. The potions professor sat back in his chair and was staring at Harry
with an unimpressed expression and raised eyebrow.
“Your broomstick is at the door Harry. You have my permission to find yourself
a playmate for your games.” Harry folded his arms across his chest childishly.
Snape wasn’t in the least moved by Harry’s display and instead waited patiently
for the boy to snap.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it!” Harry jumped off the edge of the
desk and stalked angrily over to the small kitchenette to pour himself a glass
of pumpkin juice. “I’m frustrated,”
“Clearly.” Severus muttered under his breath as Harry began pacing like a caged
animal. Snape had seen this coming for some time and was mildly impressed that
Harry had lasted as long as he had. It was all a consequence of the bond they
were forming. No doubt sharing accommodation had caused things to reach boiling
point. Things were just where Severus wanted them to be.
“You can’t tell me I haven’t been good. I’ve been the model submissive since
you gave me the collar, surely you can’t still think I don’t want this!” Harry
was trying to keep his tone of voice even despite his rising temper. If Snape
detected any hint of defiance in him and he would be punished. Harry’s gaze
flickered over to the ruler sitting under a stack of books on the corner of
Snape’s desk. Inwardly Harry flinched as he remembered Tuesday evening when
he’d fought with Snape about having his wand back and the stinging slaps he’d
received from the ruler at his mistrust. “I thought these relationships were
about give and take on both sides but it hasn’t exactly been equal so far has
it? I’ve done everything that you’ve asked of me. I’ve shown you that I want
this but you’ve just….” Harry trailed off his pale face turning away from
Snape’s who was still sitting casually in the chair behind his desk watching
the boy very carefully. “If you’ve got no intention of holding up your end of
the agreement then it is pointless me being here. At least when I was still in
the Gryfindor tower I had the luxury of a private bed and access to any amount
of magazines.” Harry whispered again his cheeks stained with pink as he finally
took a sip from his pumpkin juice that had been precariously sloshing in the
glass as he’d paced the room.
“Congratulations Harry. I believe you’ve finally proved yourself.” Harry’s
eyebrows shot up into his hairline in shock as Snape stood up from the behind
the desk and circled around into the small kitchenette and lab to pour himself
a drink.
“Pardon?” Harry muttered as he watched Snape lean against the central workbench
and casually sip from his glass of water.
“I warned you Harry that I expected nothing but complete submission to me and
me alone. I have been deliberately withholding myself from you as a sort of
test to see just how serious and loyal you were. Any submissive that can go as
long as you have without dominant reciprocation and guidance is definitely
serious about their choice.” Harry’s shock turned abruptly to confusion as
Snape led them out of the kitchenette and into the warm glow of the living
room. “Admittedly you have tried my patience on more than one occasion and I am
rather proud of myself that my own will power hasn’t crumbled.” Snape paused
and smiled coyly as he sat down in the armchair and gestured for Harry to come
and sit beside him on the footstool. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had a student
masturbating in bed beside me before.” Almost instantly Harry’s face flared in
embarrassment his eyes sliding closed in horror as he tried to hide beneath the
bangs of his fringe. Harry hadn’t meant for it to happen. He hadn’t even
realized he’d done it until the next morning. He’d been sure Snape hadn’t woken
up and up until now he’d assumed he’d gotten away with it. “Don’t stress about
it Potter. Up until then I thought you’d done remarkably well without it
considering you’re a teenage boy.” Harry’s cheeks cooled a little as Snape’s
hand came down to stroke gently under the collar around his neck a soothing
gesture Snape had made a habit of in the last week while they were in the
privacy of Snape’s chambers.
“So you’re going to claim me for real then?” Harry almost purred as Snape drew
his hand down over Harry’s shoulder blade and onto the boy’s throat that was
exposed by his unbuttoned school shirt.
“Was there any doubt I wasn’t?” Snape’s voice washed over Harry liked a
waterfall. It was such silken music that caused the boy to shiver in
anticipation. Harry shook his head and having turned on the stool climbed up
fluidly onto Snape’s lap. Before Snape could say anything however Harry was
pressing his lips against the elder wizards to demand attention. Snape relaxed
easily into the kiss thoroughly devouring Harry’s mouth with his tongue as
dominance was easily given. Spreading his legs over Snape’s lap Harry pressed
himself against Snape’s chest. Unable to control his moan of need and already
beyond the point of being simply hard Harry stupidly reached for Snape’s hand
on his waist and dragged it carelessly into his lap forcing the long fingers to
cup the tent of his trousers.
In a blinding second Harry found himself flat on his arse on the floor staring
groggily up at Snape who was towering above him angrily.
“We may have established your loyalty Mr. Potter but I believe there are some
areas of this relationship that still need serious work.” Snape spat sharply as
he straightened his robe and casually wiped the corner of his mouth with the
tip of his index finger. Panting, needy and shocked Harry sat staring up at
Snape. The elder wizard had hardly misplaced his dress despite Harry’s
disarray. “You will not approach me for intimacy like that again nor will you
expect me to put out anytime you feel like it.” Harry nodded quietly as he
crawled to his knees in shame and kept his gaze from Snape’s. “Only I will
initiate sexual activity between us. The only way you will show me you are
interested in such activities will be your presence naked and knelt beside my
side of the bed understand?” Again Harry nodded already feeling the moisture
building in his eyes as he fought back tears.
He’d been so good, so willing yet he’d ruined it all in one night. “I will take
pleasure from you when and how I wish and from now on in Harry you are not
allowed to say No to anything I ask of you. I am also asking you to refrain
from masturbation unless I instruct you other wise. I will take pleasure from
you and in turn you will trust me to fulfill your own needs, desires and
pleasure.” Once more Harry nodded this time flinching a little as Snape reached
down and with a firm hand under Harry’s chin drew the boy’s face up to meet his
own. The sparkling trail of tears down Harry’s cheeks glistened in the
firelight and Harry swallowed nervously as Snape brushed away the tears with
his thumb as he stared into Harry’s green gaze. “You are forgiven tonight’s
indiscretion Harry but if it happens again there will be suitable punishment.
Now I suggest you bathe and get into bed for some sleep. If I am to claim you
there are certain formal arrangements to be made. I am already trying the dark
lord’s patience with my time wasting he will expect to see some evidence of my
supposed plan and far sooner than I probably would wish for.” Snape offered a
hand down to help Harry from the floor but the boy politely refused as he
hauled himself to his feet. With his guilty gaze still locked on the floor
Harry apologized to Snape and thanked him for his leniency just as Snape had
taught him to over the past two weeks. Snape nodded in acceptance and with a
soft kiss on the corner of Harry’s lips he sent the boy to the bedroom in
silence.
***********************************
***** Part 13 *****
PART 13
Harry consciously turned over onto his side with his back to the center of the
bed as Severus finally climbed in beside him. Harry had no idea how late it was
or what Snape had been doing for so long. All he knew was that he’d lay there
in silence staring at the darkness of the canopy above him sleep eluding him
entirely. Every time Harry closed his eyes he saw the disappointed gaze in
Severus eyes when he’d stepped out of line and it made Harry shudder in worry.
Self-doubt had settled in nicely beside his guilt and sadness. So for the past
two hours he’d done nothing but question himself about his decision to be with
Snape. All the worry and guilt had not however dissuaded his so far neglected
cock that despite not being fully hard as it had been earlier was still
uncomfortably thick, heavy and throbbing between his legs. Not wanting to have
Snape feel his frustration again and not willing to embarrass himself Harry
turned over as soon as the bed dipped with Snape’s weight.
Harry tried not to stiffen awkwardly as Snape rolled up behind him, a
possessive hand coming to rest on Harry’s waist beneath the thin nightshirt he
wore.
“Harry.” Snape’s gentle voice ghosted across the back of Harry’s neck. Closing
his eyes Harry pretended to be asleep but he knew it was pointless. “I think
you need to complete your homework for 101. I’m calling another class for
Friday.”
“Now?” Harry whispered in reply having given up pretending to be asleep when
such a strange request had come up. Harry felt Snape nod against his shoulder
and Harry tried to look over his shoulder to see the man’s expression to
determine weather he was serious or not.
“Close your eyes.” Snape whispered softly as Harry looked skeptically back at
him. “Just do it Potter.” Snape snapped irritably when it became clear Harry
had no intention of closing them.
“Fine.” Muttering to himself Harry lay back down against the pillow and closed
his eyes. It was pointless trying this when he was tired. If Voldemort couldn’t
crack Severus Snape then what chance did Harry have?
“Now focus on a memory of us both. A good memory with just the two of us, at a
time when you felt like there was no one else in the world aside from us.”
Harry screwed his nose up as he began trawling through his memories searching
for just one occasion when he’d felt how Snape had described. A grimace swept
over Harry’s face as the only occasion that came to mind was when he’d been
caught looking in Severus’ pensieve. “Not that one Potter.” Snape growled
mildly angry at Harry’s lack of thought. Harry bit his lip nervously as he
closed his eyes again trying to block off Snape’s presence in his mind as he
searched for another memory.
‘Second year, second term. Quidditch practice. Harry had assumed he was alone,
ducking and weaving dangerously between the Quidditch stands and laughing like
a wildman. He’d come out of a soaring dive in front of the Slytherin stand, and
he’d seen him. Tucked in the shadows, wrapped in his cloak as protection
against the wind, onyx eyes watched him. It had been a split second before a
wind gust had caught his broom from under him. Spiraling towards the ground
he’d lost sight of the elder wizard and by the time he’d landed with a heavy
thud and regained his senses the man had gone, leaving him breathless but
excited.’ Harry unconsciously moved back into the curve of Snape’s body as he
felt the elder wizard’s gentle caress of his chosen memory. Harry entire body
melted into Snape’s warmth and all that seemed to exist was the soft breeze of
the man’s steady breath on his neck and the gentle rise and fall of the
wizard’s chest against his back.
“Harry.” Someone was calling his name and he opened his eyes only to find
himself running through a tree lined avenue. He could feel raindrops hitting
his face and soaking his already drenched clothes as he continued to run up the
path. He took an abrupt left for some reason off the path and came crashing,
laughing breathlessly into a relatively dry and empty barn. He did not have
time to look around before a far larger, wetter object came crashing into him
from behind to knock him over into the pile of fresh dry straw. “Severus,
you’re heavy.” He didn’t recognize his own voice as he laughed and was rolled
over onto his back to face the elder wizard lying atop of him. Harry stared at
Snape in awe. The man was different, younger, less tired, and far less pale
than Harry knew him now. “I thought you said it wasn’t going to rain.”
“I made no promises Harry.”
“Perhaps no promises but you knew we’d get wet.”
“That was inevitable, we were going swimming.”
“That’s not the point Severus.”
“Then what is the point?”
He didn’t reply as Snape’s lips came down onto his, silencing the words that
might have escaped otherwise. Harry felt himself melt into Snape’s skillful
hands, as the kiss intensified and the wet layers of clothes between them were
tugged off piece by piece. Shuddering Harry gasped loudly as Snape’s warm hands
mapped his smooth naked body, generously pausing at each place that caused
Harry to writhe in ecstasy. Inhaling deeply Harry let the heady aroma of rain,
straw and the scent unique to Severus ensnare his body. Snape’s kisses had
stopped but something far more intimate made Harry shake from head to toe. The
warm wet muscle of the man’s tongue flicking over Harry’s puckered entrance
made the boy gasp Severus’ name, his own hands twisting painfully in Severus’
wet black hair. The moment moved on far too quickly for Harry, who felt
somewhat cheated at not experiencing it all. In a flash Harry was arching his
back, his legs locked around Snape’s waist as they rocked together. Sweat mixed
with rain dripped down Snape’s forehead and onto Harry’s face as they panted
together. Something was missing though. The feeling Harry had had before with
the other things they’d done was missing. Harry could see himself gasping in
ecstasy, he could see how tense his body was against Severus, how his hands
gripped at the elder man’s forearms as they rode the wave of pleasure. Yet
Harry couldn’t feel a thing. Together they climaxed, Snape groaning as he
possessively caught Harry’s neck in a stinging bite, while Harry still devoid
of feeling watching himself scream Snape’s name, his head thrown back in wild
abandonment.”
“Fucking hell.” Harry awoke with a sharp icy slap and a breathless grunt of
frustration. It was dark in the bedroom the fire having died down to just a few
smoldering embers that created an eerie glow against the wall. “That wasn’t
exactly what I was expecting.” Harry whispered to himself having assumed Snape
was still asleep beside him.
“Yes that was one of my more clichéd fantasies but it does the trick.” Harry
sat up abruptly and glanced at the empty space beside him in bed before
squinting into the darkness of the room beyond. A shadowed figure stood against
the doorframe.
“Severus?” Harry whispered cautiously as the elder wizard flicked his wand at
the fireplace, re igniting the embers and casting a much more practical light
about the room. As Harry’s eyes focused in the new light, he felt his body
shiver as he finally saw Snape. The wizard was dressed in a very familiar robe,
an emotionless mask of white clutched in his right hand while he held his left
arm painfully against his chest. Harry swallowed fearfully as he reached up to
his own scar only to find a smear of fresh blood on his forehead.
“For my dirty ones you’ll have to work harder.” Snape stepped away from the
doorframe ignoring Harry’s expression of concern.
”Don’t go.” Harry berated himself for sounding so damn pathetic when he knew
there was no other options. Snape was still a servant of the dark lord no
matter who his partner in life was and as much as Harry wanted to cure the dark
mark on Severus’ arm he knew too that it was impossible. Snape huffed in mild
amusement as he came to stand beside Harry in bed.
“And what do you suggest I do instead Potter? Invite him here for tea and
pumpkin scones?” Harry knew when he was being mocked and so nodded quietly in
acknowledgement of his stupidity. “Here take this.” Harry glanced up from his
chest as Snape untucked Harry’s wand from the sleeve of his robe. Harry hadn’t
touched his wand in over two weeks and it felt strange being given back his
source of power when all he wanted was to be under Snape’s powerful protection.
“Just in case something happens.” Snape whispered by way of explanation as he
leant down and pressed a chaste kiss against Harry’s lips.
“When will you be back?” Snape pulled away from Harry and strode from the
bedroom into the dimly lit, quiet lounge room. Harry scrambled from the warmth
of the covers and scuttled after Snape into the living room. Snape was just
pulling on his mask as the fire place roared into life.
“When he’s done with me. Be careful Potter.” With a sad twitch of a smile
Severus pulled down his mask and hood and disappeared into the flames leaving
Harry alone, cold and strangely frightened.
**********************************
***** Part 14 *****
PART 14
Harry shivered as he felt Snape’s wards crackle in irritation as a very
familiar voice whispered its way inside the potion professor’s rooms. He’d been
sitting here for hours staring at the embers dancing across the fireplace. He’d
lost all track of time as he’d sat still dressed in only his thin nightshirt,
waiting and waiting for Snape to reappear. Harry didn’t flinch as the door to
Snape’s rooms opened in protest and a frustrated looking headmaster strode
inside.
“That boy delights in creating difficult wards.” Harry ignored Albus as the man
grumbled to himself as he dusted off the singed bits of his robes where Snape’s
latest set of wards had left their mark. “Harry you’re late for class.” Harry
winced as Albus flicked his hand instantly igniting all the candles in the room
making the looming darkness flare into an obnoxiously sunny morning. Harry
chose not to reply and instead continued to stare into the fireplace. Behind
the boy Albus sighed as he sat down in Snape’s worn leather chair and summoned
a house elf for tea and toast. “You’re not going to make him come home any
quicker by sitting vigil by the floo Harry.” Harry closed his eyes tightly as
he felt Albus’ warm hand come to rest on his shoulder exposed as it was by the
overly large nightshirt. “Severus Snape has been going to these meetings for
longer than you have walked the earth Harry. Give the wizard a little credit
for knowing how to look after himself.” Albus sat back in the armchair and
sipped from the cup of tea that the house elf had delivered not a minute
before. “Come and have some toast and tea my boy, you’re thin enough without
torturing your body with starvation.” Albus paused as he selected a piece of
buttered toast from the tray. “Besides, Severus prides himself on taking care
of his partners you would not wish to disgrace his reputation by appearing
malnourished to his peers.”
Stunned by what the headmaster had just said Harry spun around hastily from the
fireplace and stared at Albus in shock. Albus chuckled as he handed Harry the
rest of the toast. The boy blindly accepted the food as he continued to wait
for some kind of explanation to the headmaster’s last comment.
“You forget I was his professor once Harry and surprising as it seems I do
understand how these things work.” Harry watched as the headmaster raised a
knowing eyebrow before smiling behind his teacup. “I knew Severus was different
from his classmates the moment he first stepped in through Hogwarts gates.”
With his eyes twinkling distantly and his steaming cup of tea clasped in his
hands, Albus quietly reminisced.
“What was he like?” Having not really wanted to sit listening to the headmaster
but knowing the alternative was to go to class Harry quietly inquired after
Dumbledore’s memories of a younger Severus Snape hoping to postpone going to
class.
“Tall, slender, broodingly quiet, surprisingly obedient and very polite and
well mannered. He carried himself with an air of good breeding but never with
superiority over his fellow students. He was always immaculately dressed, never
as much as a button or hair out of place. In truth, Severus appeared rather
normal really.” Albus sipped from his teacup again as he blew the steam away
from his face with a gentle sigh.
“Then how did you know he was different?” Harry whispered as he wiped his mouth
on a napkin having finished his toast.
“His eyes.” Albus finished his tea and put the empty cup back on the tray that
was sitting on the coffee table in front of him. Harry drained what was left of
his own tea before a house elf appeared to clear the tray away. Harry tucked
his knees up to his chest as a draft whipped through the broken wards as Albus
continued. “Those eyes hid so many things. So many secrets no one but he knew
of. They hid talent, skill and knowledge beyond his years. They also hid
darkness though, a darkness I perhaps wish I myself had recognized sooner.”
Albus closed his eyes behind his half moon glasses as he shook his head sadly.
“But how did you know about him…” Harry paused awkwardly as he rubbed his nose
on the dry skin of his knee. “Well how you knew about his tastes?” Harry
finished quickly wondering if Snape would really want him to know this
information.
“You’ve already been informed that some things in this castle are monitored
Harry, things were no different in Snape’s days as student here.” Albus
chuckled softly as Harry blushed knowingly. “Although I knew what he preferred
I chose not to interfere. He was both discreet and respectful with his partners
something his peers had yet to grasp.”
“You mean my father.” Harry muttered instantly feeling a shudder of emotion
swell in his chest. The more Harry heard about his fathers escapades in school
the more he wished he didn’t know anything.
“Not specifically Harry but James and Sirius were a part of it I suppose.”
Harry nodded as Albus chose not to go into details sparing the boy from more
truths about his fathers past.
“Dad wouldn’t have approved would he?” Harry trailed his fingers back and forth
across the tops of knees as he stared at the stars on the hem of Albus’ robe.
“I think your godfather made that clear when this all first came about Harry.”
Albus put simply as he leant forward and placed a comforting hand on Harry’s
shoulder. “But if it is some comfort to you Harry, your mother would have
understood. She and Severus were friends in a strangely odd way and I think
she’d have just been happy to see you happy in life.” Harry sighed and tucked
his head closer to his knees as Albus stood up and dusted a few crumbs from his
beard from the toast earlier.
“I think you need to get dressed and go to class Harry. Severus maybe your
keeper and you have every right to be concerned for him but you are still in
control of your own life and you need to remember that.” Albus stepped towards
the entrance into Severus’ rooms and instantly his robes began to scorch and
smolder again as the wards caught him. “Blasted wizard. I should never have
allowed him to ward his own rooms.” With a muttering curse Albus forced his way
back through the door leaving Harry silently smiling to himself at Snape’s
creative warding.
*************************************
Harry ran across the courtyard, angrily pushing his way through the tight crowd
of students vying to get a look at what had caused the upset. Harry had been in
Defense class when he’d heard it. A horrendous thunderous crack echoed around
the castle practically shaking stone from its foundations. Naturally they’d all
run to the windows to get a look and that’s when Harry had seen it. Right
before Ron had blocked his vision Harry had seen the flash of black hair and
the sickening glisten of blood in the sunlight. Harry had never run so quickly
in his life as he trampled over confused students who got in his way. With his
chest aching Harry finally pushed his way into the inner circle of the crowd.
Justin Fletchley was kneeling beside the dark figure lying lifeless on the
courtyard floor.
“Get off him!” Growling Harry pushed Justin out of the way before collapsing to
his knees beside the form. Harry’s hands shook as he leant over the body his
eyes refusing to see the injuries as he reached for the white mask that still
covered the man’s face. Gently Harry tugged at the mask until it slipped slowly
off along with the hood of the cloak. The sight that greeted Harry made him
whimper in horror. Snape’s face was deathly pale, deep bruises and festered
cuts hid what little features Harry could use to identify his lover. Snape’s
breathing was shallow, his thin purpling lips barely parted as his fragile
chest rose and fell with each agonizing breath. Harry didn’t know what to do as
he stared into Snape’s onyx eyes.
He’d been gone two days. Two of the longest days Harry had ever experienced.
Harry knew it couldn’t have been a good sign to have been gone as long as he
had but reality was far worse than anything he could have imagined.
“Severus?” Harry’s voice wavered as he shakily pushed aside the strands of dark
hair stuck to Snape’s bloodied face.
“Potter.” The effort it took to say the two syllables of Harry’s name seemed to
sap what remaining energy Severus had left. As if knowing he was safe at last
Severus’ rigid body relaxed and the man collapsed against the courtyard stones.
Harry laid his head gently down against Severus’ chest and closed his eyes as
he listened to the soft rise and fall of the elder wizard’s chest.
From somewhere near the back Harry heard the commotion as the headmaster and
the other professors pushed their way through the crowd at last.
“Oh dear Merlin he’s dead!” Harry sat up abruptly and glared at McGonagall who
had her hand over her mouth and a horrified look in her eyes.
“He’s not dead!” Harry shouted as Albus knelt down beside him and gently ran
his own tired, worn hand over Severus’ practically unrecognizable face.
“Indeed Harry but we must get him some place safe so that Poppy can take care
of him.” Harry struggled against Albus as the headmaster dragged him back away
from Severus prone form, while Madam Pomfrey took over.
“Where are you taking him?” Harry strained against Albus’ tight hold as the
medi witch levitated Severus lifeless body and disappeared briskly inside. “I
want to go too!” Harry struggled harder against Albus’ firm grip and was just
about to turn and give the elder wizard a taste of his wand when he felt his
scar flare into life. The pain that shot through his head sent him crashing to
his knees, screaming. In one swift movement the headmaster had lifted Harry
into his arms and with a flick of his wand had disappeared.
***** Part 15 *****
PART 15
Harry awoke rather groggily in a pile of soft feather floor cushions with a
blanket draped haphazardly over him to ward off a slight chill. It was dark and
it took a few moments for his eyes to adjust so that he could work out where he
was. One look at the ceiling of stars told him he was in Dumbledore’s
observatory.
“Ah, awake at last I see. I can at least worry less knowing one of you is
sleeping well.” Harry sat up quickly in the pile of cushions and instantly
regretted it as his head swam and pinpricks of light clustered in his vision.
“Not so hasty if you please Potter neither of us would wish for Poppy’s wrath
should you pass out again.” Harry closed his eyes and waited for his head to
stop spinning before he reopened them to focus on the headmaster. The elder
wizard was sitting on a stool staring through the lens of his telescope.
“Where’s Severus?” Harry muttered abruptly as the events of the morning came
swimming back to him.
“Safely sleeping off his injuries at Grimmauld Place. Poppy and Lupin are with
him.” Before Harry could even stutter the start of his next question Dumbledore
had cut him off again. “And NO Mr. Potter, you are not going anywhere near
Grimmauld Place. Severus needs time alone. Your fussing will do naught but
prolong his recovery.” With a firm nod in Harry’s direction the headmaster
stood from his stool in front of the telescope and began the short walk
downstairs into his office.
“I do not fuss!” Harry protested loudly when he realized just how badly he’d
been insulted. Albus was already summoning a late night snack from a hovering
house elf as Harry teetered carefully down the stairs after the elder wizard.
Albus quirked his eyebrows up in knowing amusement as Harry scuttled across the
cold floor and onto the rug by the fireplace. “Don’t look at me like that, I
don’t fuss!” Harry grumped irritably as he rubbed his disfigured temple.
“Harry you may not think you fuss but I assure you the very nature of your
relationship with Severus ensures a certain degree of worrying fuss even if it
is an unconscious act.” Harry scowled deeply at the headmaster but chose not to
pursue the argument further knowing that Albus would undoubtedly win. The
headmaster laughed boldly at Harry’s easily broken argument. There would have
been a time when the fiery boy would have argued his point till he turned blue,
but Severus’ influence over him was changing Harry already. A house elf
appeared a few moments later carrying a tray of hot chocolate, and some finger
sandwiches. Harry eagerly tucked in as he sat cross-legged on the rug by the
fireplace. There was a silence that hung in the room, and before long Harry
began to feel Albus’ silent stare acutely.
“What?” Harry mumbled around a mouth full of sandwich. Albus sighed heavily and
sat down in his favorite armchair still staring at Harry.
“I need you to tell me something Harry…” Albus paused and let out another deep
sigh as Harry nodded with a flippant shrug of his shoulders. “It is rather
private but I need you to tell me the truth.” Again Harry nodded although a
little more seriously than before as he swallowed his mouthful of sandwich.
“Has Severus claimed you Harry?” Harry frowned deeply but nodded on instinct.
The lie had become the norm so much so that even Harry himself believed it was
true now.
“Of course he has it is pretty obvious don’t you think?” Harry tugged at the
collar around his neck by way of explanation but Albus simply closed his eyes
and sighed deeply before shaking his head.
“That is not what I meant.” Slowly Albus opened his eyes and stared at Harry
coldly. “Do you carry his mark Harry?” Harry frowned but still nodded a little
more tentatively as he really hadn’t understood the question being posed. This
time Albus snorted in irritation and shook his head firmly. “Have you or have
you not had sexual intercourse with him Harry!” A little shocked by Albus’
commanding voice Harry instinctively leant backwards towards the fire in worry.
“We’ve fooled around.” Harry whispered sounding less and less confident in his
answers. It would take very little to see that Harry was lying to anyone else
but to Dumbledore it was plainly written on the boy’s face.
“Did he get it in Harry?” Dumbledore snapped in a rare lapse of his patience.
Harry no longer able to look Albus in the face dropped his gaze to the rug and
began fiddling with the cuffs of his school uniform.
“You can’t ask me that. Have you asked Severus?” Harry whispered into his chest
not daring to glance up in case he caught Dumbledore’s disappointed gaze again.
“I know about Draco blackmailing you Harry.” Harry’s gaze shot up instantly his
eyes wide with fear as Albus sighed heavily his usual iron clad patience having
returned. “I know Severus took advantage of your situation to sever his promise
with Lucius and I know he used occlumency to gain insight into your ‘tastes’ to
further persuade you to go along with his plan.” Harry couldn’t believe what he
was hearing and stared fearfully up at Albus who was staring at him with a
genuinely mild expression.
“…but I…I mean it started out that way….but now I….I’ve always…” Harry
struggled to get out everything he wanted to say quickly but only managed a
bunch of unorganized garbled sentences that made no sense. Albus smiled and
shook his head in quiet amusement.
“There is no need to explain yourself Harry. As much as Draco and Snape
manipulated you I know that if you did not want this then you would not have
let them get away with it.” Harry felt a deep crimson blush of guilt rush to
his cheeks as he lowered his gaze back to the rug he was still sat on. “Love
can make us do many things we are not proud of but so long as there are only
good intentions most indiscretions can be forgiven.” Harry smiled coyly up at
Albus who having smiled in knowing reply replaced his mirth with seriousness
again. “However good your intentions were it does not make this situation any
less serious….” Albus paused and Harry felt a chill run up his spine at the air
of foreboding that hung suddenly between them. “Severus has been discovered by
Voldemort as a traitor.” Harry felt ill as the blood drained from his face and
left him feeling suddenly numb inside. The day he had been dreading had come
and with very little warning as to prepare him.
“How?” The words spilled from his quivering lips before he could stop them his
eyes already swimming with tears.
“Voldemort it seems grew restless with Severus’ apparent excuses for not having
delivered you to him, when he was in such a perfect position.” Albus paused
again and took a deep breath in before continuing. “Severus is a powerful
wizard but his spirit still resides in the fragile cradle of his body. He did
well to hang out as long as he did under such torture. Severus knew he was
being broken and in order to save you and conceal his true connection with you
he let his mental walls slide revealing his traitorous deeds and successfully
drawing the dark lord’s attention away from the more important work of the
order and from you.” Harry closed his eyes and shook his head as he remembered
Severus’ pale face staring up at him from the stones of the courtyard. “We are
lucky that a routine patrol of Auror’s broke up the chaos of Voldemort’s
gathering, giving Severus just enough time to escape.”
“What will happen now?” Harry whispered still shaking like a leaf and feeling
decidedly ill that he was not closer to Severus so he could take care of him.
“Voldemort is trying to kill Severus through the dark mark.” Harry stood up
immediately from the floor when he heard the news and immediately became angry
as he realized that Albus had not told him earlier of Snape’s bad condition.
“What! What are you doing to stop it? I need to be with him!” Harry shouted
angrily as he glared at Dumbledore who was just reaching into his cloak.
“Calm down Harry. At the moment there is nothing that can be done. We are at
this time more concerned about you.” Harry opened his mouth to argue fiercely
but was cut off abruptly by Dumbledore’s commanding voice once more. “Which
brings me back to where this discussion began Harry. I need you to answer this
question honestly. Has Severus performed the ritual branding of his mark upon
you, or are you still a free man Harry?” Harry swallowed heavily and was about
to lie again when guilt caught his tongue and made him fall silent as he shook
his head in truthful reply. Dumbledore let out a deep sigh of relief and stood
up from his armchair.
“Good then there is no risk that you will be affected by Voldemort’s curse
which currently has hold of Severus’ body.” Harry sighed silently in defeat as
Albus began pacing back and forth past the fireplace.
“I know he was going to do it though, he just wanted me to be sure.” Harry
trailed off as Albus paused mid stride and frowned deeply at the boy who was
pulling threads from his jumper.
“Perhaps but either way the plan Severus made has been rendered useless.” Again
Albus paused this time pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation as the
half moon glasses threatened to fall off the end of his nose. “Without Severus’
information we have no advantage in this war. We are sitting targets yet
again…” Before Albus could continue there was a sharp knocking on the door of
his office. “Come.” Albus’ voice resonated around the cavernous office and the
creak of the door as it opened made Harry grind his teeth.
“Headmaster, I believe the second of our casualties of the evening has
arrived.” Professor McGonagall stepped into the room and having glanced from
Albus to Harry and then back at the headmaster shook her head sadly. Stepping
aside Harry finally saw what the professor had been concealing. Draco Malfoy
stood sheepishly in McGonagall’s shadow. The usually arrogant headstrong boy
stood nervous and pale behind the witch. He looked tired and in pain but the
most disturbing thing about the blonde was the way he clutched at his forearm.
“You fool of a boy.” Albus whispered as Draco let go of his forearm, revealing
the freshly burnt skin in the mark of Tom Riddle. “You see now Draco, why as a
promised child you were safe? Severus was the only thing standing between you
and the dark mark!” Harry had never seen Draco Malfoy cry but as Albus shouted
at him tears threatened to fall from the blonde’s tired eyes.
“Where is he?” Draco choked out his bottom lip trembling as he tried to remain
strong.
“Nowhere that you are able to go Draco.” Draco nodded glumly and stared at his
feet as Albus sighed heavily and shook his head. “The both of you are in
considerable danger. The both of you will go and pack your things. A safe house
is the only option until we know more of what the dark lord is planning. Go!”
With a determined finger Albus pointed to the door and with a careful nod both
boys scampered for the exit.
Standing side by side on the revolving staircase neither boy spoke until they
came to the junction of the corridor that would lead them in separate
directions towards their respective houses. Both boys paused neither looking at
the other as they shuffled on their feet.
“I’m sorry I got you into this mess Potter, I didn’t think…” Harry cut Draco
off abruptly.
“That’s the problem with you Draco. You don’t think of anyone but yourself.”
Harry spat, sounding far more sympathetic than he did angry. Draco nodded
guiltily and took several quiet footsteps down the corridor towards the
Slytherin dorms. Harry’s voice made him pause. “Do you want help packing your
things?” Harry watched as Draco glanced over his shoulder his right arm
clutched to his chest again in obvious pain. Quietly Draco nodded and with a
sigh Harry followed Draco down into the dungeons.
**************************************
“Thanks,” Draco hissed a little in pain as Harry patted the blonde’s forearm
dry before securing the bandage in place with a sticky spell. Harry shrugged
his shoulders carelessly as he flicked his wand at the bowl of bloodied water
and levitated it back into the small bathroom.
“How did he do it?” Harry uncrossed his legs and lay back on the double bed
wincing a little as he pummeled the hard pillow into some form of comfort
beneath his head. Draco remained sitting slumped on the end of the bed his t-
shirt riding up a little to reveal the waistband of his expensive briefs
beneath.
“Charmed branding iron and some spells I’ve never heard of before.” Draco
muttered with a shrug of his shoulders as he kicked off his socks and watched
his feet swing back and forth over the edge of the bed. Harry winced in
sympathy but merely nodded in understanding not wanting to hear all the
details. “How long did they say we had to stay here?” Draco distracted himself
from his feet by glancing around the small bedroom with its dirty little
adjoining bathroom with no door. The place was in the middle of nowhere just a
rented room above a closed down pub. The room smelt of stale beer, dust and
something Harry didn’t want identified.
“Who knows,” Harry grumbled as the springs of the old bed creaked as he rolled
over. “At least we can go outside if we want that’s better than my summers at
the Dursley’s.”
“Severus used to take me to the sea side every summer. When Lucius and mum went
on holiday.” Harry rolled his eyes but resisted the urge to tut loudly at
Draco’s privileged childhood. “This place is awful. It’s like being in jail
like we’re being punished for something we’ve got no control over. And what’s
with all this secrecy….” Draco glanced irritably over his shoulder at Harry who
rolled his eyes yet again and shook his head.
“Welcome to my world Malfoy.” Harry muttered grumpily already tiring of Draco’s
whining. “Come on, let’s go downstairs and see what we can scavenge. Maybe
there’s a pack of playing cards we can use.”
Together Draco and Harry made their way down the rotten old staircase and into
the deserted old bar room. The place was a mess, upturned tables, dust and
broken chairs. The wind from outside rattled the boards covering the windows,
and made moaning noises through the cracks. Harry lit two candlesticks he found
in the wall mount and handed on to Draco, while he held the other one above his
head to get a better look around.
“You have a look around here and I’ll search the bar. If you find anything
useful pick it up.” Harry grumbled as he made his way towards the bar while
Draco began scavenging around the tables and chairs.
It wasn’t long before the two of them had met up again at the bottom of the
staircase, pockets full of useful items and hands covered in dust. Back
upstairs the pair sat down on the bed to sort out their finds.
“Two packets of crisps, an out of date bottle of soft drink, one ashtray and
some pennies.” Harry emptied out his pockets onto the bed spread and chuckled
to himself as he claimed the smokey bacon packet of crisps as his own. “At
least we can play tiddlywinks with the pennies and ash tray.”
“Forget it Potter I don’t play childish muggle games.” Draco proceeded to empty
his pockets onto the bed spread beside Harry’s stash. “Six bottles of butter
beer, a notebook and quill, three knuts and a bag of gambling runes.” Harry
reached automatically for the bag of runes but Draco snatched it out of his
grip quickly. “Only if we can play.” Draco snapped as he cleared the bedspread
between them.
“I thought you said you didn’t play childish games.” Harry countered as Draco
shook the bag and offered Harry first pick of the stones inside.
“Gambling runes aren’t childish Potter. We’ll play for the butter beers.”
“I don’t know how to play.” Harry grumbled as he was offered the bag of runes
for a second pick. Draco smiled widely, a wicked gleam twinkling in his eyes.
“I’ll teach you then….”
************************************
Harry yawned loudly and opened his eyes as he heard Draco flush the toilet in
the bathroom. They’d been playing with the runes for over three hours and
despite learning a lot of the game Harry was a hopeless player. Draco had won
every bag. Now bored with the game the pair had turned back to conversation as
a time waster.
“It couldn’t have been that bad.” Harry muttered thoughtfully as he stretched
out on his side of the bed as Draco climbed in on his own side.
“What couldn’t have been?” Draco inquired as he began fussing with the blankets
around his feet.
“Being promised to Snape.” Harry paused as Draco stopped fidgeting and settled
down. “You said yourself he took you places and looked after you.” Draco
shrugged his shoulders thoughtfully for a moment obviously considering Harry’s
comment.
“I guess not,” Draco turned over onto his side as he watched Harry close his
eyes. “At the time though all I could think about was the fact I’d had my life
and future decided for me but in retrospect I admit I had it good.”
“Was he really all that bad in bed?” Harry continued not really paying much
attention to Draco’s answers but rather the train of thoughts he had in his own
mind.
“You tell me. Snape was my first. Aside from him I only ever dipped my quill in
female ink.” Harry snorted at Draco’s analogy and shook his head in disgust. “I
guess it was my way of trying to do the right thing by him.”
“You mean Draco Malfoy does actually have a conscience?” Harry pretended to
look shocked and received a nasty glare and a slap for his troubles.
“Yeah okay maybe he wasn’t as bad as I made him out to be. It was okay. I came
a couple of times so he mustn’t have been terrible. Being on such close terms
as you two are now you’d know more about his sex life than I would.” Draco
scoffed as he tugged at Harry’s collar by way of explanation. Harry sighed and
turned over away from Draco without comment. There was silence for a long
moment before the bed dipped and Harry felt the blonde come to rest right
behind him, Malfoy’s face hovering over his shoulder.
“He hasn’t claimed you has he?” Draco muttered in silent satisfaction as he
watched Harry deliberately close his eyes so that he didn’t have to face
Draco’s questioning gaze. There was another pause of silence before Draco
sighed and settled down once again next to Harry in bed. “Don’t worry Potter.
Snape’s a stubborn son of a bitch he’ll pull through this and when he does I’m
sure nothing will stop him from claiming you as his own.” With that Draco blew
out the last candle and plunged the room into darkness.
********************************
***** Part 16 *****
PART 16
“Severus!” Snape rolled his eyes as he heard Albus’ stern voice commanding him
to stop from the bottom of the stairs. “If you do this you risk passing the
curse on to him!”
“Belt up Albus! I know what I’m doing.” Snape growled back as he stiffly flung
his cloak about his shoulders and secured in carefully at his neck.
“You have no idea what is going to happen or if this is even going to work!”
Albus continued now hovering over Snape’s form as the potions master prepared
the fireplace with a hand full of floo powder.
“No I don’t know Albus but you know as well as I that we’re being slaughtered
out there without insider knowledge.” Snape paused to take a painful breath in
the over exertion of his chest muscles through shouting making him weak. “The
only link we have now with Voldemort is Harry and the only way to gain
knowledge of what Riddle is up to is through the boy’s connection with him.”
Snape limped the last few steps towards the fireplace and its emerald green
flame.
“The boy isn’t strong enough to cope with the necessary magic needed for that
kind of connection Snape!” Albus continued to protest even as Snape stepped
into the flame.
“Perhaps not on his own headmaster but with me as his guide it will be like
taking memories from a pensive….” With that Snape was gone in a swirl of flame
leaving Albus standing alone in the deserted front room of number 12 Grimmauld
place.
******************************
“Impressive entrance can I get an encore?” Snape glared through the settling
soot cloud at the blonde sitting on the dusty old bar stool. With as much
dignity as he could manage the professor picked himself up from the floor
beside the fireplace and casually dusted himself free of dust and soot.
“What are you doing up?” Snape snapped ignoring Draco’s cheeky welcome. Draco
shrugged his shoulders as he shook the bag of runes and chose another to add to
the pattern he was creating on the bar top. “Where is Potter?” When it was
clear Draco wasn’t going to elaborate on his last answer Snape inquired after
the other boy.
“Tucked up safe and sound in bed.” Draco muttered sarcastically as he shuffled
a few of his runes around on the bar. “I thought you were at deaths door?”
Draco glanced away from his runes to look Snape up and down skeptically. Snape
pursed his lips together tightly as he narrowed his gaze at the awkward blonde
wizard.
“Never mind whose door I’m knocking on what’s been going on?” Draco sighed
heavily and threw the bag of runes onto the bar scattering the others already
on top of it.
“Well it has been an action packed week here at prison cell number 1,
Dumpsville. Yesterday we raced moth balls down the hall and today we filled up
empty bottles with water and practiced blowing them up with magic.” Draco
continued with his sarcastic tone of voice. “I can only guess what thrilling
activities we’re going to find tomorrow to do.”
“No need to be sharp with me Malfoy, the decision to bring you two here was not
mine!” Losing his patience quickly Snape flicked his wand at Draco and gave him
a sharp backhand across his cheek. Draco still looked peeved but the slap
stayed his tongue from further insults. “Are you both well?” Snape shuffled
weakly over to the stool beside Draco and gratefully propped himself up on its
dusty cushion. He was exhausted not to mention in pain but Snape knew better
than to show his weaknesses. Draco shrugged his shoulders indifferently as he
collected the runes back into the velvet pouch again. “You brought this on
yourself Draco.” Draco looked up angrily from his bag of runes to glare at the
pale-faced potions master.
“Everything is always my fault isn’t it? It’s so fucking easy to blame me but
what else was I supposed to do?” Draco spat as he turned childishly on his
stool so that his back was to Snape. The move was partially to seem spiteful
but most of all it was to avoid Snape seeing the tears glistening in the
blonde’s eyes. “You didn’t put up much of a fight when you knew I was planning
to dissolve the promise between my father and you with Potter did you? You knew
all along this was what would happen if the promise was broken. You could have
stopped me!” Draco closed his eyes as Snape dragged the blonde back around on
the stool so that he could see his face. Draco looked pale, sad and completely
devoid of hope. Snape knew the signs, had seen the changes in himself as he now
saw in Draco. The dark mark was taking hold and the blonde had only had it a
week.
“You reminded me constantly that you were never happy Draco and I can assure
you I was far from ecstatic about having myself bound to a child who had not
yet left his mothers breast! Sixteen years I put up with you and I can hardly
say I wasn’t tolerant of your childish antics. I let you walk all over me
Draco. I gave you the better part of my life yet you were determined to get as
far away from me as possible.” Snape sighed as he watched a single tear begin
rolling down Draco’s cheek. “I could have protected you from this Draco but you
made a choice and now you have to live with it just as the rest of us do.”
Snape watched as Draco wiped the tears from his cheeks still not meeting his
elder straight in the eye. Reaching into his cloak pocket Snape drew out an
inconspicuous looking fountain pen and held it out in front of the young blonde
wizard. “You need to grow up Draco Malfoy because I don’t have the strength to
shield you from him or this war any longer. You make a decision here and now,
to which side of this war you are loyal. Make the right decision and I’ll do my
best to help you, make the wrong one and you’re on your own.” Snape carefully
put the fountain pen down on the bar beside Draco’s runes before sliding
carefully from his own stool and shuffling towards the rickety looking
staircase on the far side of the room. “The pen will take you to a place where
some of my associates will take care of you until I can get there myself other
than that there is some floo powder left in the jar above the fireplace you
know your way home through the network.” With a stern but confident smile at
Draco Snape turned and made his way up the darkened staircase not even stopping
to look back when he felt the swirl of wind as the port key was activated. At
the top of the stairs Snape closed his eyes and sighed with relief at Draco’s
choice but quickly refocused himself on the task that was still to come.
*************************************
“Harry?” Harry turned over in his sleep unconsciously pulling the covers up
around him as a cool breeze hit the back of his neck. “Harry, you have to wake
up.” An icy touch on his exposed shoulder made him shiver and frown but instead
of opening his eyes Harry scooted further across the bed, out of reach. “Harry
you lazy little shit, don’t make me hex you.” This time a hard nudge to the
back followed by a kiss to the cheek drew Harry from his dreams with a start.
“Tired, go away.” Harry grumbled not really recognizing the blur of the face
hovering above him.
“You are a nasty morning person aren’t you Potter?” Harry felt the cool slide
of someone putting on his glasses as he yawned and sat up in bed. It was only
when his brain started to function properly and his vision came back into focus
that Harry realized who was staring at him.
“Snape!” Launching himself across the bed Harry attached himself to Snape’s
thin frame, practically bowling the sickly looking professor over onto his
arse. “You’re better. I thought he was going to kill you!” Harry hugged Snape’s
chest tightly as the elder wizard clutched supportively to Harry allowing the
boy some comfort before reality set in.
“I’m not exactly out of the woods yet.” Snape pushed Harry back onto the bed
and propped himself up with a few cushions so that he could breathe a little
easier. Harry frowned as he stared at Snape’s sickly complexion and tired eyes.
“Then what are you doing here if you’re not well. Stay there I’ll go and get
Draco to get you a glass of water…” Harry scurried out of bed but was quickly
halted as Snape caught a hold of his hand and dragged him back into the warmth
of the blankets.
“Draco’s not here. I’ve sent him to Dumbledore.” Harry frowned in confusion but
didn’t question the elder wizard who was rubbing his forearm in obvious pain.
“We haven’t got a lot of time Harry and there’s a lot to be done.”
“Time? What things?” Harry snuggled up into Severus’ side as a draft blew
through the bedroom rattling the windowpanes and creating an awfully haunting
sound.
“With my discovery as traitor to Voldemort, The Order of the Phoenix no longer
has the upper hand in this war. We are essentially a step behind the dark lord
now and without inside information are helpless to defend ourselves. Voldemort
must realize this and it is my belief that he will be planning an attack as
soon as possible in order to catch us unawares.” Harry nodded seriously as
Severus closed his eyes momentarily in pain before reopening them slowly to
meet Harry’s glistening emerald green eyes. “You are the only link we have now
Harry and for us to be prepared in this war I have to take advantage of that
link.” Harry looked puzzled and chewed his lip in nervous tension as Snape
reached forward and gently brushed a stray piece of hair from Harry’s scarred
forehead in a soft gesture of trust.
“You mean you and I are…” Harry paused and swallowed heavily. “You’re going
to….” Harry didn’t really know how to articulate what he thought was going to
happen and his stumbling made Snape chuckle softly to himself.
“You did say you wanted to be mine Harry and if you go through with this you
will have to trust me to guide you through our life together.” Harry was
already nodding before he realized it and it was only Snape’s still unconvinced
smile that made the boy verbalize his agreement.
“I do want this and I think I gave you my trust when you put this on me.” Harry
smoothed his fingers over the collar around his neck and was rather surprised
when Snape leant in and pressed a kiss to the spot just above the collar on
Harry’s adam’s apple.
“When I’m done with you Potter, the collar will pale into insignificants
compared with the mark I’m going to bestow on you now.” Harry shivered from
head to toe as Snape breathed out heavily against the wet spot he’d left behind
from the kiss on Harry’s neck. “But first things first,” Harry opened his eyes
sharply as Snape pulled abruptly away from Harry’s neck and threw his legs out
of bed to get up. “I need some things from downstairs and you need to take a
bath.” Snape wrinkled his nose in disgust at Harry’s aroma. Being alone in the
dirty room with Draco for a week Harry hadn’t really bothered to wash and now
as he smelt his underarm he realized just how offensive he was on the nose.
“You’ve got ten minutes to get cleaned up then I’ll expect you standing right
here waiting for me.” Snape stood at the end of the bed and gestured with a
firm point of his finger at the exact spot at the foot of the bed. Harry nodded
already pulling his clothes off as he headed for the grotty little bathroom
he’d had the displeasure of using all week. Snape smiled in satisfaction as he
headed for the door of the bedroom. “Oh and don’t bother with dressing either
Harry. We haven’t the time for pleasantries.” Snape heard a squeak of shock
from the bathroom but ignored it as he smiled smugly to himself and disappeared
from the room to leave Harry to himself.
*************************************
Harry stood nervously at the end of the bed facing the open bedroom door. It
was dark in the room, the candles having blown out with the various drafts that
wafted around. In his rush to be ready for Snape Harry had hardly dried himself
from his cold bath. There was no hot water connected to the abandoned pub and
no amount of heating spells could warm the icy cold bath water. With a towel as
soiled as the clothes he’d taken off Harry had dried himself off minimally and
then had scurried out into the mildly warmer bedroom to await his lover. Harry
shivered as he felt several droplets of water run down his back and into the
crack of his backside. It was a good couple of minutes that Harry stood alone
until he heard the creak of the staircase. Unconsciously Harry stiffened a
little in fear until Snape’s figure appeared in the open doorway. A candle
flickered in Snape’s hand illuminating the gloom of the room with an eerie wash
of light. Snape paused on the threshold of the bedroom and took his time
looking Harry over with an expressionless gaze. Harry twisted his hands
nervously in front of himself as Snape finally looked away and moved into the
bedroom without a word. Harry’s gaze followed Snape around the room the boy’s
nervousness rising with each passing second of silence. Harry watched as Snape
set the candlestick down on the bedside table along with two vials of liquid
from inside his cloak pocket and a long silver knife that glittered dangerously
in the candle flame.
“Turn around and face the bed.” When he was satisfied that he was prepared
Snape turned around and stared at Harry seriously. Harry had never heard Snape
sounding so serious before but the commanding tone of voice instead of being
intimidating went straight to Harry’s cock and made it twitch with excitement.
A blush crept up Harry’s cheeks as Snape circled the bed and came around to
stop directly behind Harry. The elder wizard had shed his outer cloak and was
now only dressed in his waistcoat, shirt and trousers. Harry shivered as he
felt Snape step up behind him pressing himself into Harry’s personal space so
that the man’s icy cold belt buckle pressed uncomfortably against Harry’s
backside.
“These are the gifts I had planned on giving you as part of our official
courtship. They are symbols of my heritage and in turn they are marks of my
ownership.” Harry couldn’t help the shiver of nervous anticipation that ran up
his spine and settled in his semi erect cock as Snape whispered his confident
words against the boy’s still damp neck. “The first was the collar a visual
sign of my intentions and of your free choice.” Snape paused and traced a soft
finger around the edge of the collar on Harry’s neck. “The second is this
ring,” Snape paused again this time reaching around to slide a thin band of
silver onto Harry’s left ring finger. The ring matched its larger mate that
Harry had always seen Snape wear on his own ring finger. “The ring is a symbol
of my love.” Harry smiled as he stared at the ring glistening on his finger. He
liked this gift the best so far. “The third will be my seal.” Harry shivered as
Snape gestured to the knife sitting harmlessly on the bedside table. “The seal
you will wear on your skin for eternity, a sign of my trust and in turn your
trust in me.” Harry felt he needed to nod in acceptance of this next gift and
felt somewhat better when Snape wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him
close against his chest in silent comfort. “The final gift is my seed. It is
from this day forward something only you will ever experience and will be our
private symbol of our magical bond.” Harry nodded again his eyes automatically
sliding closed as Snape leaned over his shoulder and pressed his lips firmly
against the boy’s in a passionate kiss. Harry mewled softly in protest as Snape
drew his lips apart from Harry’s before the boy could draw him in again. “We do
not have time to mess around Harry.” Snape paused as he stepped away from Harry
and moved back over to where the candle and knife were sitting on the bedside
table. Harry pouted dramatically as he was left slightly breathless and already
half hard where he stood. “I promise you we will take it slowly next time but I
have a schedule to stick to and I’m in no condition to be wasting time.” Harry
worried his lip and nodded guiltily as Snape rolled up his sleeves revealing
for the first time the mess that had become his dark mark. Harry winced in
sympathy as he stared at the hideously infected wound on Snape’s forearm. The
curse was wrapping its way around Snape’s arm in an alarming fashion.
Drawing his attention away from Snape’s arm Harry watched as Snape lifted the
knife from its velvet cloth and held its tip in the flame of the candle. “I
suggest taking a firm hold of the bed end and biting down on this.” Snape
offered Harry a small length of cloth twisted strangely around a bone shaped
piece of wood. “This is going to be unpleasant but I won’t be stopping once I
start. You have to trust me that I’m not hurting you purposefully and that I’ll
make it better once I’ve done.” Harry nodded, already dreading what Snape was
going to do with the glowing red tip of the knife and the bottle of ink colored
liquid he had uncorked in his other hand. Harry automatically closed his eyes
as he watched Snape step away from the candle and move quickly behind his
slightly bent form. “Ready?” Snape’s final word was the last Harry heard as a
searing pain worse than any curse he’d experienced shot through his body. Had
it not been for the cloth-covered wood in his mouth Harry might have screamed
but instead he practically bit through the wood in one go. The pain was intense
yet beyond it Harry could feel a warm softness on his hip like someone was
painting with a feather quill on his skin. Harry tried to block out the pain
and focus on the other sensation but it was just too much. With tears streaming
down his face Harry struggled to keep his body still as Snape returned three
times to the candle stick by the bedside table to reheat the knife. All the
time Harry could hear Snape’s voice whispering some incantation softly as he
worked. His icy cold hand in the small of Harry’s back trying to help the boy
stay still was far from the comfort Harry wanted.
The last jolt of pain brought Harry to his knees finally unable to keep upright
as he felt a burning hot liquid poured onto the wound on his hip. The smell of
putrid burnt flesh made Harry heave as he spat out the cloth covered wood and
cried audibly into the blankets hanging off the end of the bed. Snape’s
presence disappeared momentarily before the elder wizard was back and knelt
beside Harry on the floor a soothing hand gently sponging warm water over
Harry’s back.
“Shhh, calm down Harry. It is finished.” Snape gently nuzzled Harry’s neck as
the boy tried to calm his breathing. The pain subsided with the warm water
trickling down his back. “You’ll like what I’ve done,” Snape whispered as he
gently prodded the fresh wound on Harry’s hip. “Come on, up you get. We’re
nearly done.” With careful hands Snape helped Harry to his feet before gently
bending him over onto the bed so that he was knelt on all fours on its end.
“Having recovered himself a little Harry finally opened his eyes and wiped
carelessly at the tears still streaming down his cheeks. He was still in pain
but he was determined to enjoy this part of the ritual. “You’ll like this bit
Harry.” Harry shivered as Snape pressed a kiss at the base of Harry’s spine
before moving around to the bedside table again where he uncorked the second
bottle of potion. “Drink this.” Harry obeyed and downed the shimmering liquid
potion in one go. Immediately Harry felt its effects tingle through his body.
“What was that?” Coughing a little Harry handed the vial back to Snape who
smiled coyly at Harry’s rough edged voice.
“Oh just something I made especially for you my little whore.” Harry hissed in
surprise as Snape slapped his backside playfully the touch sending sparks of
ecstasy straight to Harry’s cock that had during the last gift shrunken in on
itself with the pain. “You see these gifts I give you are supposed to be given
over a period of time not all at once as I’m doing now…” Snape’s deep melodic
voice practically purred in Harry’s ear as the elder wizard began placing wet
tongued kisses all over Harry’s neck and steadily down his back. Each kiss made
Harry gasp his skin so sensitive now. The pain of his wound was nothing in
comparison to Snape’s bestowed kisses. “I knew you wouldn’t be up to performing
what I had in mind after I’d marked you so I cooked up a little something to
reignite the submissive little slut inside of you that I know you really are.”
Harry whimpered as Snape’s kisses fanned out over the cheeks of his backside.
Snape’s long fingered hands gently massaged the pert globes that Harry
mercilessly thrust up towards his lover. Snape smiled to himself as he watched
Harry’s wanton lust rise to the surface yet again, aided by the potion
thrumming through his system.
Harry was fully erect by the time Snape’s fingers parted his creamy flesh and
the man’s tongue snuck into lick the boy’s puckered entrance. Harry had been in
this position before crouched on all fours with Snape’s skillful tongue
thrusting dangerously in and out of his tight ring of muscle. This was usually
about the time Harry came, shooting his load untouched onto whatever surface
Snape had seen fit to take him on. That was not going to happen today however.
As Snape felt Harry’s thigh muscles tighten in warning he backed off and with a
firm slap of the boy’s backside stepped away leaving Harry panting and needy on
the edge of the bed.
“Now, now Harry control yourself. It is time I gave you some one on one tuition
in sex magic.” From over his shoulder Harry watched breathlessly as Snape undid
his trousers letting them slide down to his ankles. Harry bit his lip stifling
the groan that threatened to spill from his lips as he watched Snape reach into
the tent of his small briefs and pull free his impressive length. Harry’s
breath caught in his throat. Snape was bigger than he expected but Harry was
disappointed when Snape made no move to completely discard his underwear.
”Aren’t you going to….” Harry breathed out huskily as he watched Snape grasp
his own prick sticking out the top of his pushed aside briefs and gave it a
hearty massage. Snape smiled crookedly and shook his head almost in chastise.
“I told you we don’t have time for pleasantries Harry. Besides you’re in no
position to be returning the favor just yet.” Harry sighed and nodded as he
watched Snape coax a bead of pearly liquid to the tip of his cock with his own
hand. The sight of Snape wanking himself was enough for Harry to forget the
fact he was disappointed at not being given complete access to Snape’s body.
“For future reference Harry. I will expect you to be already oiled and
stretched when you come to me unless I request otherwise. One of the things I
enjoy is spontaneity and will expect you to be ready when I am.”
“Yes sir.” Harry whispered already shuddering in anticipation as he felt Snape
step up behind him. One hand steadied him while the other helped nestle the
man’s leaking erection between Harry’s parted cheeks.
“Now though I’m going to take you raw.” Harry stiffened a little his hands
tightening in the bed sheets in preparation as Snape’s hand soothed gently
across his back. “This is your first time Harry and I want you to feel every
inch of me inside you. I want you to remember this moment so that every time we
make love it’s a reminder of whom you belong to.” Harry nodded already closing
his eyes as he felt the burn of Snape’s thick head pressing insistently at his
puckered opening. Tears once again threatened to fall down Harry’s cheeks as
Snape continued the press forward stretching Harry’s hole until the head of his
prick slid inside the boy’s tight ring of muscle. Harry let out a yelp of
surprise and pain at the sudden intrusion. The burn of his torn flesh eased a
little with Snape’s slippery pre-come but nothing prepared Harry for the
feeling of complete surrender as Snape thrust his hips forward and thrust his
cock the entire way inside in one long stroke. Harry didn’t care that he was
screaming or that he was gripping the sheets so tight he was tearing holes in
the fabric. All that mattered was Snape’s thick, hot length inside him robbing
him of breath and stealing what remained of his childhood. Once inside Snape
remained still allowing the boy knelt in front of him to adjust to the
intrusion. Harry was squirming around like an irritated pixy and the language
that was coming out of his mouth would have turned McGonagall’s hair blue.
Snape closed his eyes trying to concentrate when such perfect moist heat
surrounded him. Draco had never felt like this. The blonde had been too loose
even during his first time, the boy was too relaxed. Snape liked his partners
to react, to bend and writhe on his cock with each thrust and Harry was doing
just that.
Harry closed his eyes as he felt Snape begin to trust backwards and forwards,
his hands clutching his sides to gain leverage as Harry arched backwards in
encouragement. Unable to see much except the bed sheets Harry began to imagine
what it would be like watching the two of them fucking as they were now. Snape
with his trousers round his ankles, his briefs still hugging his butt but
bunched up under his balls so that they slapped deliciously against Harry’s
backside as he thrust ever more quickly forward….
“If you think that’s hot, you should see it from my point of view.” Harry was
shocked to find Snape’s thoughts in his own. The thoughts momentarily threw him
off balance as Snape thrust particularly hard, striking a bundle of nerves in
Harry’s passage that sent sparks flying before his eyes.
“What was that?” Harry was still gasping audibly as he focused his thoughts on
communicating with Snape. Before when they’d done this Snape had facilitated
the conversation but this time around it seemed to flow easier and with less
effort. Snape smiled to himself as he pushed the spot inside Harry again, this
time hearing his name being cried out by Harry’s raw voice.
“That is a secret only I’m ever going to know about.” Snape let out a
breathless chuckle above his lover as he continued his pounding rhythm. “Now
we’ve established a link, I need you to let go and trust me with your thoughts
Harry.” Harry frowned into nothingness as Snape prodded his mind experimentally
much as he’d done during their occlumency training.
“What are you going to do?” Harry’s thoughts were beginning to lose focus as
Snape’s thrust became erratic, the man grunting primally with each stroke deep
into his lover.
“A little sex magic and some research. Just trust me.” Harry didn’t know what
else to do as he felt his body beginning to tense with the onset of his climax.
Snape however wasn’t going to let it happen so easily. With a hand bent under
Harry’s waist and a fist tightly wrapped around Harry’s purpling cock to
prevent the boy’s climax Snape began to whisper the spell.
Harry felt the magic ripple through his body tearing him away from the ecstasy
of the sex and plunging him head first into the darkness, fear and horror of
Voldemort’s visions. Memories of Harry’s past meetings with Voldemort flashed
in his mind. Image after image of Harry’s painful past were drawn to the
surface, until at last the images receded and something new flooded his mind.
Harry had never seen this before. It was a house with no roof no windows or
doors, just a shell of a building really. Three figures stood in a half circle
around a fourth. They were discussing something but the image was too quick to
decipher what the conversation was about. The image changed abruptly to an
empty field. Harry knew the place well. It was the land that joined Hogwarts to
Hogsmeade and was the well-worn track of students during Hogsmeade weekends.
The place was serene and strangely devoid of sound then as quickly as the image
was there it was gone again and Harry was being plunged through his memories
again.
Before Harry knew what was happening he was back on the bed, his whole body
leaning into Severus’ powerful thrusts while the man’s hand pumped his cock
between his legs. With two final strokes Harry fell into oblivion. Snape’s name
was a scream on the boy’s lips as Harry climaxed all over the bedsheets and
Snape’s hand. Boneless Harry collapsed in Snape’s arms in exhaustion as he felt
the elder wizard behind him stiffen before a hot searing liquid filled him.
Harry hardly heard Snape’s whispered words of love before darkness engulfed him
and the boy collapsed into exhaustion.
****************************
A/N HAPPY 'SMUT FILLED' EASTER!!! Yeah it's like unwrapping the best chocolate
Easter egg ever.....*you're welcome*
***** Part 17 *****
PART 17
Harry sat quietly watching the rain as it splashed against the window and ran
down the glass in tiny rivers. It was miserable, cold and wet and that was only
outside Grimmauld Place, inside the atmosphere was far worse. An hour a go the
house had been full Auror’s, Professors and all kinds of Wizards and Witches
had been hustling and bustling about in frantic chaos. Harry had arrived back
with Snape to a house in the throws of a crisis and instead of being welcomed
home as a couple Snape had simply been whisked away into the mayhem leaving
Harry to fend for himself. Now though as the crowd had dispersed to their
various order work Harry had been left alone in a silent house.
“What are you moping about Potter?” Harry rolled his eyes to himself as he
heard Draco snap his book closed from over on the couch before a blonde head
appeared above the table lamp.
“I’m not moping.” Harry snapped as he tucked his feet under himself in the
window seat and pressed his nose against the cold glass to try and see past the
rain into the street beyond.
“For someone who has just got laid you’re pretty moody.” Draco snorted in
amusement as he stood up from the couch and wandered over to where Harry was
still sitting hunched up in the window seat.
“Fuck off Malfoy like you care.” Harry snapped as he wrote his name in the
condensation his breath had created on the window. Above him Harry heard Draco
sigh heavily before the blonde pushed Harry’s feet aside and sat down beside
him on the window seat.
“Congratulations.” Harry finally looked across at Draco and frowned deeply in
confusion. Draco rolled his eyes and huffed contemptibly. “Don’t look at me
like that Potter. I am capable of expressing positive emotions.” Harry nodded
blankly and turned back to stare at the rain running down the window. Draco
sighed yet again and pushed himself into the corner of the window before
pulling a cushion across from the floor so that he could warm his feet. “How
was he?” Draco whispered the sarcastic biting tone surprisingly absent from his
voice.
“Alright.” Harry whispered with a non-committal shrug of his shoulders. Draco
paused awkwardly in the silence. It was obvious Harry didn’t want to talk about
it but Draco wasn’t going to give up. After the life changing decision he’d
just made he knew he needed to make some allies among the group of people he’d
just been thrown in amongst. Potter seemed the obvious choice of making
friends.
“Can I see it?” Draco gestured to his own tattoo on his arm the ugly infected
dark mark raw and looking very sore and painful. Harry nodded and lifted his
shirt and jumper, wincing a little when the edge of it caught.
“It hurts.” Harry whispered as he felt Draco’s cool fingertips circling the
freshly carved and inked skin on Harry’s lower back. Draco knew Harry wasn’t
just talking about the mark but kept quiet as he studied the fresh mark of
ownership. The detail in the mark was beautiful and Draco silently admired it
before helping Harry lower his shirt back down over it.
“Has he given you something for it?” Draco muttered as he watched Harry wince
and swallowed heavily as he leant carefully back against the pillow. Harry
turned his attention back to staring out of the window and silently shook his
head. Harry hadn’t seen Snape since they’d stepped through the front door
together earlier. Neither had they spoken to each other since Harry had awoken
in the dusty little bedroom above the pub.
“No,” Harry spat the answer out darkly the furrows in his brow deepening as he
tried to stop his bottom lip from trembling. Draco stared at Harry closely
quietly reading every expression that passed over Harry’s face. “I guess he was
in too much of a hurry…” Harry trailed off his chin dropping to his chest as he
closed his eyes and let a single tear leak out from the corner and roll down
his cheek. Draco chewed the corner of his lip nervously before taking a deep
breath in and reaching around Harry to pull the other boy in for an awkward
hug. Harry broke down into choked sobs as he tried to hide his face with his
hands. Draco soothed his hand over Harry’s shoulders as the boy continued to
cry into his hands. “He’s used me.” Harry whispered out from between his
fingers his chest aching in pain, and his head pounding with an unmanageable
headache. “I feel sick.” Harry sobbed weakly unable to control his emotions.
This hadn’t exactly been the way Harry had imagined being with Snape to be like
and he’d at least expected someone to acknowledge the fact he now officially
belonged to Snape but no-one had even batted an eyelid when he’d stepped into
Grimmauld Place earlier.
“You’re over reacting Harry. Snape’s too proud to just use someone especially
you. He’s just got a lot on his mind at the moment everyone has.” Draco paused
as he reached down to Harry’s hands and drew them away from the other boys face
before gently running his fingertip over the ring that sparkled on Harry’s left
hand. “You’re over emotional because of the binding. Your body is adjusting
itself to become Snape’s sub. It’s making you more docile, more dependant on
him. It probably doesn’t help your sharing magic with him too.” Harry nodded as
he wiped at the tears still rolling down his cheeks. Harry had never seen Draco
being so nice before but then Harry supposed it had something to do with
changing sides in the war only a few hours ago. “Mum said she slept for a week
after her and Lucius got married. Lucius’ magic is twice as strong as mum’s. It
exhausted her trying to get her own magic balanced again.” Draco shrugged his
shoulders lightly as he gently eased himself up from the window seat and helped
Harry get up as well.
“They didn’t tell me anything about this.” Harry whispered as he shuffled along
beside Draco and out into the kitchen. Draco huffed a dark chuckle and shook
his head.
“Don’t expect them to ever tell you anything important Harry. I don’t even know
where I am and I sure as hell don’t know where everyone’s gone or what’s
happening out there.” Draco gestured to the kitchen window irritably as he
reached up into the cold store to grab two bottles of butter beer.
“You get used to it.” Harry accepted Draco’s offered butter beer along with the
bottle of pain potion that the blonde silently handed Harry from another
cupboard further along.
“Don’t worry Potter everything will turn out okay eventually and I promise you
Snape will come to his senses the moment his brain catches up with his dick…”
With a lighthearted laugh Draco hooked his arm around Harry’s shoulders and
drew the boy back into the living room to play a game of chess.
************************************
Harry crept quietly along the landing carefully avoiding stepping on the creaky
floorboards. It had gone 3am when Harry had heard the first of them arrive
home. The wards crackled as the front door was opened and closed. Harry hadn’t
been fully asleep being still upset about earlier. He’d listened for a good
hour to the muffled conversations from downstairs until finally he’d had enough
of waiting. Harry wanted to know what had gone on and what he was supposed to
be doing to help.
With his breath caught in his throat Harry tiptoed down the staircase cringing
at every creak that sounded far too loud in the practically silent hallway.
Mrs. Black was still covered in a sheet but Harry was careful not to disturb
the fabric as he passed by her portrait. Reaching the polished hall floor Harry
scampered over to the slightly ajar living room door and glanced in through the
crack.
Harry saw Remus first reclined against the piano stool with a large glass of
amber liquid in his hand. Remus looked tired, battered and bruised, although a
smile tweaked at the corner of his lips as he talked animatedly with Sirius
standing beside him with a similar glass in hand. From somewhere else in the
room Harry could hear Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, undoubtedly their own offspring
tucked up safely in bed at the burrow. Albus, Tonks and Mad-eye Moody all added
to the soft conversation flowing easily around the lounge room. Among all the
voices though Harry could hear Severus. The elder wizard’s deep melodic voice
was clearly identifiable among the hushed conversations. Sighing heavily Harry
couldn’t wait any longer to see what condition Snape was in and so with a sigh
he gently pushed open the door.
Standing up in only his thin sleep pants, a Weasley knitted jumper and some bed
socks Harry looked very much like a sleep disturbed young child as he stepped
into the lounge and all eyes turned to him in silence. Swallowing nervously
Harry twisted his fingers into his jumper as he glanced up at the group. Snape
was sitting on the lounge beside Albus. Severus looked completely different and
Harry could help but stare. Formal school robes had been discarded for more
practical Auror robes. His long black hair had been tied up at the base of his
neck revealing far more neck than Harry had ever remembered seeing. Snape was
caked in mud and dirt, his robes were wet from the rain and torn in places.
Snape wasn’t alone in his miserable appearance even Albus looked battle
hardened and tired.
“Um, Draco snores and kicks a lot and hogs the blankets.” Harry muttered
awkwardly when he finally drew his stare away from Snape. Harry hadn’t quite
known what to do with himself when he’d arrived at Grimmauld Place and so for
the sake of familiarity he’d retreated to his own bedroom only to find that
Draco had been given it to share with him.
“Sorry Harry. I assumed you be sharing with Severus so I gave Draco your room.”
Sirius spoke up from over next to the fire and Harry was a little confronted by
how cold his godfather’s tone of voice was. Sirius had never addressed him so
seriously before and it made Harry shiver a little in concern.
“Oh, I..I..I” Harry stuttered from a moment as he searched for a reply but when
he couldn’t think of one he simply went quiet his gaze glued to the floor. The
tension hung thick in the air of the living room and Harry desperately wanted
to walk away. Harry had no idea what everyone was waiting for and he certainly
didn’t want to do anything that might be wrong. After another minutes silence
Harry heard Snape sigh followed by the chink of a glass as it was placed back
on the coffee table.
“Oh for Merlin’s sake Harry show them the mark. They can’t address you until
they’ve seen for themselves that I’ve claimed you.” Harry winced at little at
Snape’s severe tone of voice surprised by how sharp he was. Nodding Harry
obediently lifted his Weasley jumper and turned his back to the gathered group
in the living room. There was a quiet muttering that traveled through the group
as they were showed the mark. Harry hadn’t actually seen the mark for himself
yet. All he knew was that it was painful and swollen.
“Congratulations Harry it is perfect.” Harry lowered his jumper as Albus stood
up from his seat and came over to hug Harry tightly. Harry returned the hug and
stepped back as Sirius strode across the room scowling.
“It looks infected. You should be treating this for him Snape.” Sirius turned
Harry around again and inspected the mark for himself making Harry wince and
yelp several times when he pressed the sore spots.
“Get your hands off him Black and if you accuse me of not taking care of my
partner again I’ll hex you into the next millennia.” Snape snapped irritably at
Sirius who after lingering a moment longer just to annoy Snape, backed away
from Harry to simply hug him gently.
“So what’s going on?” After the majority of the group had paid Harry their
respects Harry quietly inquired about the days events. Almost immediately
everyone clammed up again leaving Harry staring at Snape hoping for some kind
of explanation.
“It is nothing to concern yourself with Harry we’ll discuss it tomorrow
morning. For now let’s all get some rest.” Albus patted Harry comfortingly on
his shoulder before heading for the fireplace. Everyone muttered their
agreement and it wasn’t long before Harry was left alone with Snape in the
living room. Harry shifted awkwardly on his feet, his hands still twisting
nervously in his lap not quite knowing what to do with himself. Snape sighed
heavily and stood up from the couch, his face pinching into a painful wince as
he shuffled across the floor to where Harry was still stood in the doorway.
“Come up stairs with me and sit while I take a shower.” Harry nodded in silence
and followed Snape up the stairs noting acutely how stiffly the elder wizard
walked. Once locked in the bathroom Harry sat down on the closed lid of the
toilet as he watched Snape silently peel off each layer of clothing. It was
only now that Harry realized the extent of Snape’s injuries and it took every
ounce of Harry’s will power not to reach out and try and sooth Snape’s pain
with his hands. Naked Snape stepped into the shower spray and began washing
himself leaving Harry staring at him from behind the steamy glass.
“I know how you are feeling Harry.” The words were barely audible above the
spray of the shower but Harry heard them nonetheless. Harry swallowed nervously
and shook his head in silence. “What I saw in your visions was important. I’ve
had a lot to deal with today it was never my intention to make you feel used.”
Harry’s lips trembled dangerously as he stared at Snape’s steamy figure behind
the glass. The man was clearly in pain as he strained to keep his voice even
and calm. “I’m sorry I haven’t been supportive but I promise I’ll be more
attentive to you from now on.” Harry smiled sideways as Snape pulled aside the
glass shower divide and poked his head out. Snape looked his normal self again
his hair hanging wet and limp to his shoulders and his pale face clean of blood
and dirt. “Can you pass me a towel please?” Harry nodded and grabbed a large
fluffy bath towel from the heated rack beside him.
“So you can read my mind?” Harry whispered as he stared at the tiled floor as
Snape stepped out of the shower to begin drying himself. Snape huffed in
contempt and shook his head in mock amusement.
“Potter your mind has always been an open book to me only now I have a right as
your partner to share your thoughts.” Harry frowned deeply as he watched Snape
wrap the towel around his waist and pad silently from the bathroom across the
hall to Snape’s bedroom. Harry obediently trailed after the elder wizard who
automatically warded and locked the door of the bedroom behind them.
“Why can’t I read yours then?” Harry protested weakly as Snape sat down on the
edge of the large bed and surveyed the contents of his trunk that had been laid
out by the house elf.
“You can you caught a glimpse of it when we were practicing for my 101 class.
It works on the same principles only you will have to work a little harder to
achieve it.” Harry pressed his lips together tightly in irritation as he
slumped down into the over stuffed arm chair beside the fireplace while Snape
was getting dressed in his thin sleep pants. Harry regretted having sat down
and instantly hissed and yelped in pain as he caught the mark on his back.
“Come here now,” Almost instantly Snape’s casual mood disappeared as he pointed
to the space at his feet. Harry shuffled over painfully to Snape’s side. No
sooner had he paused beside his lover than Snape had grabbed him by the hand
and dragged him down to drape the boy over his knee. Harry squirmed
uncomfortably, a little embarrassed as Snape yanked the Weasley jumper up to
expose the fresh mark on Harry’s lower back. “You should have said something.”
Snape snapped irritably as he inspected the mark before growling angrily at
what he saw.
“When was I supposed to do that? I haven’t seen you since….” Forgetting his
place Harry struck out and was rewarded by a firm-stinging slap to his backside
that made him jump in pain. “What was that for!” Harry barked indignantly as he
strained to see what Snape was searching for in his small traveling case. Harry
flinched as another slap connected with his backside this time harder than
before. “Oww!” Harry yelled as he struggled to remove himself from Snape’s lap.
Snape’s hold was strong though and all Harry managed to do was wriggle
uncomfortably around.
“It is time we learnt some discipline Potter. I don’t tolerate being challenged
and I won’t put up with your attitude in its current state.” Harry hissed in
pain as he felt the icy bite of a potion being poured onto his wounded back.
Squirming relentlessly Harry completely missed the effect his wriggling was
having on Snape until the man growled and pushed Harry off him with a firm
shove onto the floor. Harry yelped in pain as he sat up on the rug to stare up
at Snape. Snape had stood up from the edge of the bed and was now breathing
deeply, his eyes closed and his fists clenched at his sides. Harry
unconsciously shifted backwards away from Snape when the elder wizard finally
opened his eyes after another deep calming breath. Harry dutifully kept his
eyes to the ground despite the fact the tent of Snape’s sleep pants hung
dangerously close to Harry’s eye line. Reaching over the bed into his trunk
Snape pulled out a small dusty tome and handed it silently to Harry.
“I want you to read this along with your diary from 101. It explains a lot of
what is expected of you in this relationship as my sub. Please don’t make me
regret taking you Harry. I have neither the strength nor the patience to fight
you.” Harry nodded obediently as he tucked the book safely into his school bag
that he’d found along with his trunk and personal affects along side Snape’s at
the end of the bed. “Now come and get into bed. I’m exhausted and I need you to
relax so I can heal your mark. I should have done it before but I just didn’t
have the time.” Shuffling along Harry climbed wearily into bed while Snape blew
out the candles around the room and hauled himself under the sheets beside the
younger wizard. Turning on his side away from Snape Harry scooted as close to
the edge of the bed as possible not really knowing what was expected of him
now. No sooner had his head hit the pillow however Harry felt Snape wrap a firm
arm around his waist and pull him bodily back against him. Harry smiled to
himself as he felt Snape’s warmth envelope him, the elder wizards arm wrapped
protectively over his waist and the warm gentle breath against his neck. For
the first time since they’d officially been joined Harry felt the butterflies
in his stomach stop fluttering as he closed his eyes and let the thump of
Snape’s heartbeat against his back lull him to sleep.
******************************************
***** Part 18 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
PART 18
Harry stood in front of the mirror nervously biting his lip. Draco stood behind
him staring at his friend’s reflection.
“This wasn’t exactly how I imagined things turning out.” Harry whispered as he
turned to the side to assess the intricate tattoo on his lower back that was
now healed properly. Snape’s mark was beautiful and now the redness had faded
Harry was proud of the design. Harry reached up to run his hand across the
leather strap around his neck having straightened the ruby hanging in the
hollow of his throat.
The past two weeks had been hectic. Predictably Voldemort had stepped up his
attacks. It seemed to everyone that Snape and Draco’s disloyalty had triggered
a vicious chain reaction. Dumbledore had been forced to close Hogwarts as the
Deatheater’s raids had drawn precariously close to the castle. The students had
been sent home to their families as the Ministry had begun to send out Auror’s
to fight. Skirmishes between light and dark were now a daily occurrence and
Harry couldn’t help but worry that these small battles were leading to
something far bigger. Without Snape’s inside information The Order of the
Phoenix were flying blind against their enemy. Worryingly Harry had also been
devoid of nightmares and visions too and despite himself he was beginning to
think that Snape was blocking them.
“I know. Granger sent Hedwig back yesterday. It said that Snape’s arm is bad.
You can trace the curse to his shoulder now, or so Ron reckons.” Harry closed
his eyes and began twisting the ring on his finger. The nervous twitch had
become quite a habit over the past few weeks especially with Snape constantly
joining the various missions the Order members were being sent on. Now without
the risk of being discovered as a traitor Snape had thrown himself at the
cause. If Snape wasn’t out in the field he was locked in the study of Grimmauld
place with Dumbledore. Harry had hardly seen the wizard at all and so he and
Draco had found themselves frequently left by themselves in the house.
“He’s going to die.” Harry sighed as he moved away from the full length mirror
to pull on his t-shirt as the drafts blew through the room as they often did
when it was raining outside .
“Don’t be dramatic Harry. Snape is a stubborn bastard, he wouldn’t give Riddle
the satisfaction.” Draco huffed and followed Harry over to the two twin beds
that he and Harry had been sharing all week. With Order Members coming and
going at all times of the day and night Harry and Draco had moved themselves
back into the same bedroom once more. When the Weasley’s were at the Black
residence it was Harry and Ron that usually shared this room but with the
troubled times the Weasley clan along with the Granger’s had been in lock down
at The Burrow. The only communication Harry and Draco had had with the others
was via owls.
“Yeah that’s the problem. He’s not going down without a fight. Instead of
fighting the curse he’s fighting Riddle and the Deatheaters.” Harry flopped
himself down on the bed to stare up at the naked ladies quidditch team posters
that Ron had stuck up on the roof last summer. Harry had meant to take them
down but hadn’t had the time to do it. Harry screwed up his nose at the
pictures and Draco snorted in amusement at Harry’s reaction yet again. The
brown haired boy had made the same face for the past 14 nights they’d stayed in
the room.
“It’s only tits and vaginas Harry. Anyone would think you’re gay.” Draco
trailed off, the smirk gracing his lips as Harry rolled over onto his side and
stuck his middle finger up at Draco in silent reply. “At least you’re keeping
him pleased. I haven’t seen Snape so placid before. It’s like he’s content. You
make a good submissive Potter.” Draco raised a knowing eyebrow at Harry who
rolled his eyes and nodded in understanding. Draco was right. In the short few
moments they’d shared together over the past two weeks Harry had dutifully
followed the rules from his sex magic diary to the letter. Snape had not
chastised him once and their relationship had been stronger because of it. If
he was pushed Harry might have called their relationship almost normal.
“Haven’t put my skills in the bedroom to the test yet though.” Harry muttered a
little bitterly. “I know he’s tired after being out all day but I just wonder…”
“You think he’s avoiding it?” Draco queried as he watched Harry sigh and close
his eyes. Snape had been coming in late almost every night and he and Draco had
already been in bed most nights. Harry knew what was expected of him and on
numerous occasions he’d knelt beside the bed and waited for Snape when he’d
heard the wizard in the shower down the hall. On every occasion Snape had
merely kissed him on his lips and dragged Harry into bed, simply to hug him and
fall sleep.
“Maybe. Or maybe I’m shit in bed.” Harry trailed off as his eyes met Draco’s
sparkling blue ones across the room. Draco scoffed loudly and crawled across
from his own bed over to Harry’s.
“I doubt that very much. Perhaps he’s trying to hide the curse on his arm; he
doesn’t want you to see it.” Draco offered by way of explanation. Harry
shrugged his shoulders at Draco’s explanation. It was possible that Snape
didn’t want Harry to see the extent of the curse but Harry thought it was not
probable. “What happened last time you two fucked, maybe something happened
then?” Harry was reluctant to tell Draco what had happened but he sighed at
Draco’s determined gaze and finally gave in.
“Nothing I wouldn’t consider not normal. He gave me the gifts, he branded me,
then he…..” Harry trailed off not wanting to give Draco too much detail. “…well
he put it in and then we shared a fantasy and he came and I came and then we
slept.” Harry finished and watched as Draco cocked his head to the side in
confusion.
“A fantasy?” Harry nodded as Draco’s scowl deepened. “Are you sure it was a
fantasy and not a vision?” Draco pressed for more information as Harry chewed
his lip once more in nervousness.
“It was a little weird even for one of Snape’s fantasies. Maybe it was a
vision.” Harry thought back to the night that Snape had claimed him. He’d been
too elated and high on the stimulation that he really hadn’t put much thought
into the images he and Snape had shared.
“And you said you haven’t had a nightmare or vision from Voldemort since he
claimed you?” Harry shook his head in answer as Draco sat up on the bed his
face now schooled in a vision of concentration and concern.
“What is it?” Harry sat up too as Draco stood up from the bed and walked over
to the fireplace.
“He’s using you.” Harry went to protest but Draco held his hand up and stopped
the mouthful he knew Harry was about to give him. “Not like that Potter. I mean
he’s using you as a vessel to access Voldemort’s thoughts. You’ve always been
linked to Riddle through the scar and now Snape doesn’t have to worry about
discovery he can use his occlumency to access that link.” Draco drew his wand
out of the sleeve of his dressing gown and flicked it at the fireplace, stoking
the flames as another draft whipped through the room. “That’s probably why he’s
not having sex with you. The amount of power and magic that it takes to be
constantly using occlumency would be immense. That’s probably why the curse on
Snape’s arm is so bad too. Voldemort must surely be aware of the fact Snape is
interrupting your visions, he’s probably making him pay for it.” Draco spun
around from the fire place as he heard Harry rise from the bed.
“If you’re right that means he’s using the visions to find Riddle. He’s going
to try and kill him.” Harry snapped hastily as he rounded the bed and began
pacing the floor boards. “It’s not supposed to be like this. I’m the one that’s
supposed to do it.”
“Bit of a Merlin complex there Harry? I’m pretty sure it doesn’t matter who
takes out old Tom, as long as he’s removed from the earth.” Dubiously Draco
glanced at Harry as the boy stopped pacing to glare at his friend.
“There’s a prophecy, it’s supposed to be me!” Harry explained.
“Oh one of those. Nasty little glass baubles of hell. There is a reason St
Mungo’s is full of seers. Predicting shit like that all the time sends you mad.
” Draco paused and shrugged flippantly at the mention of a prophecy. “So if
there is a prophecy why haven’t you knocked off Riddle already?”
“It’s not as if I haven’t tried! I don’t know how? Every time we come face to
face something happens. He’s too strong for me.” Harry was becoming
increasingly agitated now, his pacing almost frantic. Draco rolled his eyes and
stepped in front of Harry. With his hands on Harry’s shoulders, Draco dragged
Harry over to stand in front of the mirror once again.
“You’re stronger than you realize Potter. Severus is the most powerful wizard I
know, apart from Voldemort that is. He wouldn’t have claimed you as his unless
you were his equal, despite my manipulations.” Draco lowered his gaze guiltily
from Harry’s green eyes staring back at him from the reflection of the mirror.
“I’m sorry I…” Draco trailed off and Harry watched as the blonde unconsciously
gripped his forearm where the dark mark had been burnt into his flesh.
“It’s ok Draco I know why you did it. I guess it was just meant to be.” Harry
smiled softly as Draco looked up from his arm back into the reflection of
Harry’s gaze in the mirror.
“Yeah, well if you’re going to kill Tom Riddle you’re going to need more help
than those Gryfindor maniacs you’ve been dealing with in the past. You need
some professional help.” Draco’s smile turned wicked as Harry scowled at him
darkly.
“I do not need professional help! Besides everyone’s out with the Order there
is no one left to ask?” Harry muttered as Draco’s eyebrows rose in a very
Slytherin expression.
“It takes a dark wizard to catch a dark wizard Harry, come with me…” With a
wicked smirk Draco grabbed Harry’s arm and dragged him out of the bedroom and
down the hall.
***********************************
“This isn’t a good idea.” Harry whispered nervously as he eyed the velvet cloth
that covered the portrait in the hall. “She just screams.” Draco rolled his
eyes as Harry stepped automatically behind the blonde in protection.
“You just don’t know how to handle her. Lucius always spoke highly of Mrs.
Black, so what does that tell you?” Harry winced and put his hands to his ears
in preparation for the noise as Draco reached for the bottom of the velvet
cloth. With a whoosh of air and a cloud of dust Draco dragged the cloth from
the impressive portrait of Mrs. Walburga Black.
“Filthy mudblood bastard in my house….!” The shriek was ear piecing and Harry
cringed as the dark haired woman was revealed.
“Shut the fuck up.” Draco straightened his back and pointed his wand defiantly
at the portrait. Almost immediately Mrs. Black fell silent, a perfectly
sculptured eyebrow rising in surprise as she took in the young blonde Malfoy
standing before her.
“Well, well I assume from looking at you and that filthy mouth that you are a
Malfoy. Finally someone with some decent breeding stands before me.” Draco
lowered his wand as he watched Mrs. Black look over him with only mild distaste
before folding her arms across her body in what Harry could only assume was an
expression of acceptance. “You may continue.”
“I want to know some information about Tom Riddle.” Harry felt a shudder of
horror run up and down his spine as he watched Mrs. Black’s expression turn
slightly smug at the mention of the Dark Lord. “I want to know about the dark
mark.” Harry poked Draco in the shoulder, silently wondering what Draco was
doing. Draco shrugged his shoulders as he concentrated on Mrs. Black.
“Ah the mark of honor among the finest of our kind. I assume as a Malfoy you
bare this mark already?” Harry watched as Mrs. Black ran her pointed green
manicured finger nails over her own forearm where the dark mark would have been
placed on Draco’s arm. Draco nodded and pushed up the sleeve of his jumper to
expose the fresh dark mark burnt into the skin. The woman in the portrait
smiled coldly as she nodded for Draco to continue.
“What is the magic that is used to form the bond?” Draco inquired pointedly
silently indicating for Harry to take note of what Mrs. Black was saying.
“A little blood, a little sex and a little magic. I’m not an expert on the
specific incantation as only his Lord knows that.” Draco’s face remained
schooled in a firm scowl even as Harry gasped a little in surprise.
“So the mark is similar to that of a submissive’s bond to their master?” Draco
confirmed watching as Mrs. Black nodded in agreement her eyes sparking with
glee.
“Indeed, we are all submissive to the Dark Lord. We are honored to serve him.”
Mrs. Black straightened her back as she inspected her manicured finger nails
before sniffing indignantly in Draco’s direction. “Unlike a submissive however
we would never lower ourselves to the point at which we do not reap the rewards
of our devotion. We are not fools.” The biting acid comment was directed at
Harry. Harry stepped forward to yell at the portrait however Draco held him
back and stepped on his foot hard to shut him up.
“Quiet.” Draco muttered as Harry swore beneath his breath and glared up at
Draco from where he was rubbing his injured foot. “So this bond, can it be
broken?” Draco didn’t flinch as Mrs. Black’s screeching laughter rang through
the quiet house.
“All things created can be dissolved if one knows how. The question is simply
why would you do such a thing, when we are among the privileged few he has
chosen?” Harry didn’t miss the shudder of revulsion that swept over Draco’s
body at Mrs. Black’s laughter. The blonde kept his composure however and merely
shrugged his shoulders in mild disinterest.
“A matter of interest.” Draco glanced across at Harry who had stopped holding
his foot and was now listening intently to the conversation. “Has anyone ever
tried to break the bond?” Draco inquired almost flippantly carefully watching
Mrs. Black’s reactions in case she caught on to being played.
“Only that traitorous brother of mine Alphard. No brother of mine would leave
money to that disappointment I bore from my womb. How is the house of Black to
recover from such insufferable dealings with muggles?” Mrs. Black spat nastily
in Harry’s direction and he ground his teeth together at the mention of Sirius.
Once again Draco reached down and placed a gentle hand on Harry’s shoulder to
stay his tongue.
“True and where would I find the portrait of Alphard Black?” Draco inquired
watching as Mrs. Black’s anger began to rise.
“Where the rest of the crap resides, in the shed, along with the items from my
son’s disgraceful hobby!”
“Thank you.” Draco smiled cruelly at Mrs. Black before reaching for the velvet
cloth to re-cover the portrait. Almost instantly Mrs. Black realized she was
being covered again she began to scream. With a flick of his wand Draco slammed
the portrait against the wall a couple of times in frustration. Harry covered
his ears as the screams increased as Draco covered the portrait and led the way
down the hall and out into the back garden.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard her talk properly to anyone.” Harry chuckled
as he closed the back door and jogged after Draco down the path. It was still
drizzling outside and the clouds had pulled together to draw the evening in
sooner than usual. Harry huddled into his jumper as he and Draco pushed their
way through the weeds to the locked door of the garden shed.
“Yeah well the old bat has got a nasty tongue. It is no wonder why my Dad liked
her.” Draco shrugged as he let Harry step in front of him in order to unlock
the paddle lock on the shed with an unlocking charm. Harry pulled off the lock
and pushed the door to the shed open, revealing its dusty dark interior. He
hesitated on the threshold as he glanced back at Draco.
“No one has been in here since Sirius took over the place.” Harry whispered as
he flicked his wand and lit a luminous spell.
“Well let us hope that Mrs. Black only stored the portraits of her disgraced
family members down here then.” Draco muttered a little nervously as he
followed Harry into the gloom.
The dust on the surfaces around the shed was thick and Draco sneezed repeatedly
as he stepped up to a collection of portraits pushed haphazardly against the
wall of the shed. Harry stepped away from Draco to survey a collection of boxes
and trunks stacked against the opposite wall. Draco lit the end of his own wand
as he began shuffling through the portraits looking for Alphard Black. Most
portraits were in poor condition and many were torn or shredded. Draco
carefully flicked through each one until finally he came to a large gold framed
portrait. It looked more expensive than the other framed pictures and so Draco
shuffled it awkwardly out of the pack. With the corner of the dust sheet Draco
rubbed at the gold plaque at the bottom of the frame.
“Found him.” Draco declared as he read the plaque and stepped back to look over
the portrait.
“I found his trunk too.” Harry huffed as he dragged the large wooden box down
from the bench in a puff of dust. Harry helped Draco lift the portrait onto the
top of the trunk before the pair of them carried the trunk back to the house.
“Lift with your knees.” Harry whined as he and Draco maneuvered the trunk
through the back door and into the kitchen.
“I am.” Draco bitched as he struggled around the kitchen table before dropping
both the trunk and the portrait to the floor. Consequently Harry dropped the
trunk too and both boys cringed at the noise as the locks on the trunk tumbled
open at the shock. “Least we don’t have to worry about cracking the locks.”
Draco huffed as he lifted the portrait and propped it up on a chair by the
kitchen table.
“It is torn.” Harry sighed as he sat down on the lid of the trunk to look over
the portrait. The picture was in terrible condition. The mold and dust from the
shed clung to the oil painting like glue obscuring the person in the picture
from view. A large tear ran across the center of the picture too and the edges
of the gold frame had chipped and cracked. “Can we fix it?” Harry whispered as
he wiped the sleeve of his robe over the gold plaque at the bottom, confirming
what Draco had already done that it was actually Alphard Black in the picture.
“We’re wizards Potter, what do you think?” Draco scoffed irritably as he pulled
his wand free of his robe and pointed at the grubby painting. Harry bit his
tongue as Draco fell into the familiar biting snarkiness he’d often shown at
school. “Repairo.” Draco flicked his wand at the painting and Harry smiled as
the tear in the canvas repaired itself. “Scourify.” Once more Draco flicked his
wand at the painting and in a flash of bubbles and a whiff of lemon scented
cleaning fluid the painting was cleaned of the dust and mold.
“No one’s there.” Harry muttered as Draco sat down beside him on the trunk to
look into the painting. Sure enough there was no one there, only the lush dark
green emerald drapes that had provided the background to the picture back when
it was first made. “Hello? Alphard Black?” Harry called out watching the
shimmer of the drapes as something moved in the painting.
“He was probably in another of his paintings. I would leave this one too if I’d
been stuck in the shed for decades.” Draco whispered as both he and Harry
watched as a figure appeared from the left hand side of the frame and stepped
into view.
“Shit.” Harry breathed out hardly believing his eyes as the Alphard Black
appeared in front of him. The wizard was stood up in a very regal looking
midnight blue robe. He wore a pair of dragon hide boots, a smart tasseled hat
and a leather wand holder sat nearly on the belt around his waist. The man
looked the spitting image of Sirius. The only difference was the lack of goatee
and the slightly shorter hair. However that was not what captured Harry’s
attention. Instead it was the delicate velvet collar that hung around Alphard’s
neck and the sizable emerald that hung from a gold loop in the dip of his
throat. Harry instantly reached up and fingered his own collar, his eyes wide
like saucers a he stared at Alphard. “You’re a submissive.” Harry rushed out in
aw, completely shocked by what he was seeing.
********************************************
Chapter End Notes
     Alright so I'm going to piss off the purists out there with the
     addition of Alphard Black, but you know what he left Sirius money in
     his will and I'd like to think he was sympathetic to Sirius and the
     side of light. *Shrugs shoulders* Miff it fits and a I like it that
     way.
     Enjoy :)
***** Part 19 *****
PART 19
“That’s a bit forward young man. To whom am I addressing?” Alphard Black raised
a curious eyebrow at the dusty pair of boys sitting before him.
“Sorry sir, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.” Draco punched Harry hard in the arm
as he gestured first to himself and then to Harry, who had seemed to snap out
of his stupor. Alphard Black frowned a little in confusion but Harry rushed in
to explain.
“Sirius Black is my godfather. I live in Grimmauld place. Draco is……” Harry
trailed off not quite knowing what to mention about Draco.
“I have recently adjusted my allegiances in the current climate.” Draco offered
watching as Alphard sighed heavily and nodded in silent understanding.
“Ah, so Tom Riddle has succeeded in his goals for purity within the wizarding
world?” Alphard offered watching as Draco and Harry looked at each other
nervously. Neither boy was quite sure where Alphard’s values lay.
“Not as such but he is at war with those of us opposed to his views. He has
created an army of followers that blindly follow their master in pursuit of
glory and pureblood supremacy.” Draco cautiously eyed Alphard who nodded and
eyed Draco and Harry in cool regard.
“Deatheaters and the Dark Mark.” Alphard muttered shaking his head in quiet
concern. “I had feared this would come to fruition. I am glad somewhat not to
be alive to see it. Tell me does my sister and her son’s still live?”
“No Mrs. Black is dead as is Regulas. Sirius is still alive but is fighting
against Tom Riddle and his followers as are we.” Harry watched as Alphard once
again looked Draco and Harry up and down.
“I am pleased to hear that Sirius is still there. I knew that boy would make
the right decision. It was such a shame his mother despised him so much but my
sister was a heinous bitch when it came to family values and all that
pureblooded nonsense.” Draco snorted in amusement as Harry stared wide eyed and
a little shocked at Alphard. “Anyway to answer your previous statement Master
Potter, yes I was a submissive. I’d rather commit myself to someone I choose
who treats me with respect than be forced into a union with a mad man whose
ideas for wizarding purity are at the expense of others lives.” Harry’s opinion
of Alphard instantly grew tenfold as he gestured to Harry. “Like yourself
undoubtedly Master Potter, to secure an alliance to avoid Tom Riddle’s
influence?”
“Think again, Harry just likes cock.” Draco blurted out crudely causing a red
blush to sweep onto Harry’s cheeks. “Oh and love, I assume, but mostly cock.”
Draco finished wincing as Harry punched him hard on the arm. Alphard let out a
rich laugh that rang around the kitchen.
“Well that is also an upside to a submissive bond.” Alphard’s dark brown eyes
sparkled with mischief as he smiled at the still blushing Harry Potter. “So to
what do I owe the pleasure of your company? Surely you didn’t just seek me out
to restore my portrait, considering you are both sitting on my trunk.” Harry
and Draco stood up instantly as Alphard pointed to the trunk they’d been
sitting on.
“We need to know how to break the Dark Mark.” Harry declared as he gestured to
Draco’ forearm.
“Oh indeed and apart from the obvious why would two young wizards such as
yourself need that information? Tom Riddle is not a wizard to be toyed with.”
Alphard crossed his arms across his chest and looked down his nose at Draco and
Harry pointedly.
“To cut a long story short, Harry is the kid of James and Lily Potter and he
stopped Riddle the first time when he was a baby – hence the scar. Anyway
Riddle’s back and he’s being a major fuck wit. I was promised to Severus Snape
– my god father and Deatheater turned spy for the good guys. I kind of
blackmailed Potter into becoming Snape’s submissive in order to break the
promise my father made, and now I’ve got the Dark Mark, Riddle is killing Snape
through a curse on the Dark Mark and Harry here is the prophesied boy-that-
lived who is going to save us all.” Draco took a deep breath in as he came to
the end of his speech. Harry stared at Draco as the blonde shrugged his
shoulders and gestured to Alphard. “And we were hoping you had the answer to it
all.” Draco looked at Alphard hopefully surprised somewhat when Alphard began
laughing yet again.
“Oh what a story, you must tell me the details when we have time. Severus Snape
you say? Is he the Severus Snape, son of Eileen and Tobias?” Harry nodded
watching as Alphard eyed him pointedly. “He and my Nephew didn’t get along if I
remember?”
“They do now.” Harry snapped sharply as he glanced across at Draco, daring him
to challenge the blatant lie he’d just told Alphard.
“Well, I guess we better get started my research is unfinished but in theory it
works. Is there a wall I can be hung on, I’d feel more secure.” Alphard queried
the two boys. Harry watched as Draco’s smiled turned slightly feral as he
nodded.
“I know exactly where to put you.” Draco laughed evilly, reminding Harry
slightly of Lucius Malfoy.
****************************************
“I’m not sure Sirius is going to be happy about this.” Harry stood with his
hands on his hips watching as Draco straightened Alphard’s portrait on the
wall, where once Mrs. Black had hung. Draco shrugged his shoulders and stepped
back beside Harry to survey his work.
“You stress too much Potter. The little army of minions that are coming and
going from this place are too wrapped up in their own little worlds they won’t
even notice the change.” Draco laughed pointedly as he nudged Harry in the arm.
“The Order of the Phoenix.” Harry corrected sharply before sighing in
resignation. What Draco was suggesting was true. Grimmauld Place was becoming
more of a halfway house for wizards and witches travelling between battles.
They’d come in through the front door bloodied, bruised and exhausted, they’d
be patched up, fed and watered before being sent back out onto the field of
battle. Harry tightened his jaw in irritation as he thought about Severus and
his godfather who were out there right now fighting Voldemort’s army. Draco
seemed to notice Harry’s train of thought and reached out to press a calm hand
against his shoulder.
“Don’t think about it Harry. They’re clearly of the thought that we as children
can’t help them so let us help ourselves. Quite frankly I’m used to being
alone. Malfoy’s firmly believe in children being seen and not heard, and quite
often not seen as well.” Draco sighed and pointed to Alphard’s trunk. “What are
we going to do with that?”
“We’ll drag it under the stairs and pull it out when we need it.” Harry grabbed
a hold of the worn leather handle on the trunk and with help from Draco the
pair of them dragged Alphard’s trunk into the small storage space under the
stairs. The boys were dusty and tired by the time they’d done and both decided
on having showers before helping themselves to dinner. As always it seemed as
if they were fending for themselves for the evening. However just as they went
to go upstairs the wards around the house shuddered. The shuddering rocked the
little house and Draco and Harry braced themselves against the banister of the
stairs as the lights flickered and plaster dust fell from the roof.
“What the fuck was that?” Draco snapped his eyes wide with fear as the lights
dimmed leaving them in darkness save for the scattered moonlight coming in from
the windows and skylight above the hall.
“I don’t know. It has never happened before.” Harry whispered as he
automatically pulled out his wand gesturing for Draco to do the same. The boys
stood frozen to the spot halfway up the stairs their eyes flicking around in
the darkness for signs of an unseen enemy. Harry practically jumped out of his
skin at the sound of scraping outside the front door.
“Do you own a cat?” Draco whispered as the scraping against the front door grew
louder and more determined.
“Fuck no. My godfathers an animagus dog and we have a werewolf living here,
what do you think?” Harry hissed back as he cautiously began down the steps
towards the front door. Draco had plastered himself against Harry’s back his
own wand out in front of him as he followed Harry down the stairs.
“Be careful lads.” Alphard cautioned as the two boys passed by his painting.
“You’re not going to open the door are you?” Draco squeaked somewhat horrified
as Harry paused in front of the closed front door and reached out his free hand
towards the handle.
“You know you don’t exactly live up to that mark on your arm Draco?” Harry
snapped watching as Draco rolled his eyes and shrugged uncaringly. Steeling
himself Harry took a deep breath in and reached for the door handle. Before he
could touch it however the door slammed open and Harry and Draco found
themselves stumbling backwards on top of each other in fear.
“Bloody wards!” Sirius’ voice was the first thing Harry registered however
Draco who had no idea who it was instantly flicked his wand and sent a curse in
Sirius direction.
“Ancenti Verse.” The counter curse to Draco’s was immediate. The purple flash
of magic illuminating the entire hallway. It was not Sirius’ voice however that
spoke and Harry found himself shocked to hear Severus’ commanding tone.
“Expliarmus.” Draco and Harry felt their wands being torn from their hands and
scatter across the wooden floor. In the wake of Severus’ voice there was
silence punctuated only by the heavy breathing of two scared young wizards
lying in a fumble of arms and legs on the floor.
“Severus?” Harry dared whisper his eyes finally adjusting to the darkness and
the sight before him. Severus and Sirius stood side by side in the open
doorway, the pair of them were soaking wet through from the rain. However it
was not their drowned appearances that caught Harry’s attention it was the
figure that was slumped between them.
Sirius and Severus was struggling to keep Albus Dumbledore upright, their arms
wrapped around the elder wizard’s waist in an attempt at keeping him from
slumping to the floor. Before Harry could say any more however there was a
rumbling that shook the house yet again before the lights flickered on and a
roaring heat rose up from the living room fireplace.
“Albus!” Almost immediately Grimmauld place became a hive of activity. Wizards
and witches seemed to appear from nowhere and Draco and Harry scrambled
backwards up against the wall of the hallway in an attempt to no get trodden on
by the sudden rush. Harry’s vision was blurry due to the sudden light but he
could clearly see as Mr. Weasley and Moody descended upon the trio in the
hallway, reliving Sirius and Severus of their burden. Albus was carried
unceremoniously into the living room and the general crush of bodies and noise
followed the patient. Sirius collapsed to the floor once Albus’ weight had been
removed from his arms, and Severus similarly collapsed against the hall wall
barely keeping upright himself. The noise from the living room was immense but
in the hallway the four wizards just remained silent staring at each other in
shock.
Harry didn’t know what to do and merely stared at Snape, who had closed his
eyes and was seemingly struggling to breathe.
“Merlin’s balls I had no idea why the wards sealed the house.” Sirius spoke
softly as he pushed himself to his knees on the floor and scraped his wet hair
of his face. Sirius looked bloodied and beaten, a steady stream of blood
dripping from a cut above his eyebrow. His robes too were smoldering with the
remains of a curse, the burn not quite being put out by the rain.
“It was protecting the occupants. Albus must have linked them to himself when
he was re-warding the place back when The Order took over.” Severus’ voice was
unsteady and labored as he addressed Sirius’ comment. Severus was in a similar
state to Sirius. His robes were torn and bloodied, his face swollen and beaten
as if he’d been in a bar fight. “We’ll have to get The Order to put up
temporary ones until we assess the damage.” Severus went to step away from the
wall but staggered and winced in pain as he did so. Before Harry could get up
Draco was already on his feet and running towards his godfather. The blonde was
at Snape’s side in an instant carefully guiding the elder wizard down the hall
and into the commotion of the living room out of sight. Harry felt his chest
constrict in pain as he stared at the open doorway that Snape and Draco had
just disappeared through.
“It’s okay Harry, he’s just falling into the routine he knows. We all need
something familiar to keep us grounded tonight.” Harry jumped a little startled
as a voice spoke to him, suddenly a lot closer than he realized. Sirius had
crawled along the hallway to be now knelt beside his godson. Harry stared into
the inky brown depths of his godfather’s eyes. Beyond the pain, the blood and
the fatigue Harry saw an emotion reflected back at him that he didn’t want to
believe.
“We are losing aren’t we?” Harry’s voice wavered and broke as he whispered
softly in the silence of the hallway. Sirius’ gaze dropped from Harry’s watery
green orbs unable to hold the pressure of his godson’s questioning eyes. Harry
counted to ten before at length Sirius finally answered.
“There is always hope in the darkest of times.” The answer was unspoken but
Harry read the message loud and clear. “I love you like my own son Harry.”
Harry’s breath caught in his throat as he watched as Sirius leaned forward and
with shaky cold hands drew Harry’s face to his own so that he could press a
gentle kiss against Harry’s forehead. The scent of blood and rain clung to the
air as Sirius pulled away from Harry before dragging himself up to his feet.
Harry watched as Sirius staggered across the hall and into the living room door
that Snape and Draco had disappeared through a few moments before. Once again
it was silent in the hallway. The front door was left open and outside Harry
could see the rain teeming from the sky and onto the street beyond. Bloodied
puddles of water dirtied the polished wooden floor at the entrance and plaster
dust clung to every surface making it seem like it had snowed inside. To his
right Harry could hear the urgent voices in the living room as the injured were
tended and discussions about the disastrous evening was undoubtedly taking
place. Harry stared at the open doorway to the living room for a long while
simply watching as people flicked back and forth past the entrance way.
For Harry it was like looking through a framed window at the chaos beyond, as
if he wasn’t a part of their world. He’d seen Aurors and Order Members in
various states of injury move back and forth in view. He’d seen his friends
dressed in their night things, obviously disturbed from sleep being ushered
into helping by their guardians. He’d seen Sirius and Remus hugging one another
and talking in hushed tones by the fireplace. He’d seen Severus sitting naked
from the waist up, Draco at his feet as a Nympadora had tended to the green
curse that had now wrapped its way completely up the professor’s arm and was
licking scarily close to his neck. He’d seen Albus lying deathly still on the
couch, McGonagall clutching the old wizards hand as Madam Pomfry worked on his
wounds. Occasionally someone would run past him into the kitchen or the stairs
but no one it seemed paid him too much attention so focused as they were on the
current situation.
The war had come to stop at Harry’s feet and he knew it was time to act.
Stiffly Harry pushed himself up from the floor, collecting his wand as he stood
and turned to Alphard’s portrait hanging behind him. Alphard was leant against
the edge of the frame his arms folded neatly across his chest as he eyed Harry
carefully. Undoubtedly Alphard had seen and heard exactly what Harry had over
the last hour so there was little point in Harry putting voice to his feelings.
It would be clear to any outsider just what Harry was thinking.
“How do I kill him?” Harry whispered his voice devoid of all emotion, cold and
bitter even to his own ears. Alphard stood up and walked forward in the
portrait so that Harry could only see the wizard’s shoulders and head.
“You’re going to need some things from my trunk.” Was the dark reply, a small
smirk tweaking at the corner of Alphard’s lips as he spoke. “A submissive and a
warrior, I’m impressed Harry Potter he is lucky to have you, even if he doesn’t
know it yet.” Alphard watched as Harry eyed him cautiously before sighing and
with determination turned to head towards the cupboard under the stairs. As
Harry opened the door to the cupboard he felt a shudder of fear travel up his
spine. It was fitting really The wizarding world's answer to a hero had spent
most of his life under the stairs and the cure of Tom Riddle’s infection
cruelty would undoubtedly come from the same place. Ignoring the fear however
Harry squeezed himself into the cupboard and with a sigh closed the door behind
him and delved into the darkened cavern of Alphard’s trunk.
****************************************
A/N Okay here we go....it gets a little full on from here on in... You have
been warned.
***** Part 20 *****
PART 20
“Fucking hell!” Harry stumbled from the cupboard onto the hall floor and
proceeded to vomit in spectacular style all over the polished floor and wall.
His sickness was partially due to the swirl of being spat out of Alphard’s
pensive and partially because of the memories he’d seen within the said
pensive.
Alphard Black it turned out to Harry’s disgust had been a potions master. His
trunk hidden beneath the stairs had been filled with potion texts, scribbled
notebooks full of experimental potions, jars of stored ingredients, potion
stained robes and most horrifying of all a small silver pensive. Harry knew the
moment he’d seen it, that it was what Alphard had been referring to when he’d
spoken to Harry of the trunks contents. The silver claw footed bowl was filled
with a marbleized silver liquid that shimmered as Harry had dragged it out of
the trunk and placed it carefully on the floor beneath the stairs. Had Harry
known an hour ago what he knew now he’d have never had delved into the liquid.
So caught up with the goal of killing Voldemort, Harry had quite forgotten his
previous experience with Snape’s pensive. In hindsight he should have used
caution after his last experience however now he could not un-see the things
he’d just witnessed.
Alphard had been from an early age, apprentice to a Master Potions maker who
worked at St Mungo’s. Alphard had learned everything he knew from his master
but had soon branched out on his own into more experimental potions and magic.
Being of the Black family name his experiments had naturally tended towards the
darker magic and potions. His research was detailed but gruesome and he had
unwittingly attracted the attention of both the Ministry and one very young Tom
Riddle. When his research had turned up being used to murder muggles Alphard
had known instantly that it was Riddle who was emulating his work. To assuage
the Ministry and keep Riddle’s attentions from himself he willingly allowed
himself to be bound to his master as a submissive. The partnership allowed him
to appear as if he was doing good by working alongside his dominant at the
hospital, while taking the attention from himself so he could continue his
experiments in private. The experiments in question were predominately around
blood bonds and ties, something Harry now understood as being key to defeating
Riddle.
“Shhhh, it’s late.” The portrait of Alphard hissed at him sharply from behind.
“You’re one sick fuck, you know that don’t you!” Harry ground out from between
clenched teeth as he collapsed against the wall beneath Alphard’s portrait to
glare up accusingly at the wizard looking down on him. Alphard folded his arms
across his chest and rolled his eyes as Harry wiped crudely at his mouth.
“You needn’t have looked at all the memories, one would have sufficed.” Alphard
sniffed indignantly down at Harry, who took a deep steadying breath in of the
clean fresh air of the hallway.
“I can’t believe you did those things!” Harry whispered harshly as he picked up
his wand from the floor and flicked it at his vomit pile to clean it up.
“And you think your own beloved Potions Master doesn’t do those things?”
Alphard snorted in mock amusement as he watched Harry’s mind process the
question. “Don’t lie to yourself. You already know he does far worse than I.
After all he is in the service of Tom Riddle. ” Harry closed his eyes and
swallowed down another wave of nausea that hit him, as he pictured his own
obsidian eyed professor in place of the memories Alphard had just allowed him
to see. “We are the leaders of innovation. Do you think the healing potions you
rely upon to save lives came about without experiments and testing?” Harry
shook his head and opened his mouth to protest but Alphard cut him off
abruptly. “No of course not. For new discoveries to be made, sacrifices must
also be made.” Alphard puffed his chest out proudly as he watched Harry’s
internal struggle play out in his haunted gaze.
“But you killed people.” Harry whispered in shock clearly still upset by the
memories he’d seen in the pensive.
“So too have you, so I hear.” Alphard counted pointedly watching as Harry had
the good grace to blush and look guiltily at the floor. It was hardly
surprising that after so many years locked in the dusty garden shed that
Alphard had taken the opportunity of being back on the wall to wander between
the portraits within the house and educate himself about the situation he found
himself hanging in. “Besides what I did was done for a reason and a purpose. A
purpose may I remind you, that you are now in need of?” Harry sighed heavily
and nodded. He’d been out argued by a Black, a rare thing considering Sirius’
lack of reasoned arguing when it came to important matters. “Did you get the
other item of interest?”
“Yeah, it’s beautiful.” Harry whispered as he reached inside his robe and drew
out the other item of interest he’d found in the trunk. Harry watched as the
portrait of Alphard reached up and fingered the velvet collar painted around
his neck. The same collar that Harry now had in his own hands. The velvet
collar with its emerald was beautiful. The silver setting that held the emerald
to the collar was intricately inlaid with twisted vines and serpents.
Unconsciously Harry reached up and touched his own leather collar the ruby a
comfortable weight in the hollow of his throat.
“Indeed, I wore it with such pride. It represented freedom while at the same
time affording me the protection of my keeper.” Alphard’s voice cracked a
little as he thought on his memories fondly. “And the manuscript?” Alphard tore
his gaze away from the collar and focused instead on Harry’s face. Harry nodded
and reached yet again into the folds of his robe and pulled out a scrunched up
piece of paper. Alphard growled low in his throat as he watched Harry smooth
out the scrunched up paper a little guiltily. Alphard muttered something about
youth not appreciating workmanship as Harry lifted up the straightened paper to
show him. “Good. The incantation should break the blood bond in the Dark Mark.
I can’t believe the little shit stole my research. It was never meant to
control so many.”
“I can’t believe you’re the real creator of the Dark Mark.” Harry whispered as
he fiddled with a torn corner of the research manuscript that he’d found among
Alphard’s stuff in the trunk.
“It wasn’t called the Dark Mark when I created it. I’d never term such a
breakthrough in magic by such a derogatory name. Besides my research was
designed to run alongside sex magic not be used as a method of controlling the
masses. Tom Riddle must be a shell of a wizard if he’s stretched himself
between so many submissives. It will take very little effort to weaken him, so
long as you can channel his magic.” Alphard eyed Harry dubiously but watched as
Harry pointed to the lightening scar on his forehead.
“I already do.” Harry muttered bitterly.
“Very well then, you have the incantation and the method. Follow my research in
reverse order and it should in theory work.” Alphard sniffed proudly as he
watched Harry stand from the floor, the three items from the trunk clutched in
his hands.
“In theory.” Harry muttered as he glanced around the hallway, finally noting
that Grimmauld Place was eerily silent in the wake of the chaos that had
swarmed it mere hours ago. The grandfather clock in the hall read ‘way past
bedtime’ and Harry unconsciously yawned at the mention of his comfortable bed.
“Did you see Snape go to bed?” Harry whispered as he glanced into the living
room to make sure no one was still awake.
“Nay, he is still inside the study. Writing plans for your safety, it’s almost
as if he doesn’t want to survive this curse. I believe he thinks he deserves
it.” Alphard scowled a little in worry and Harry sighed heavily. It was already
obvious to Harry in the way that Severus had thrown himself into the war effort
that the potions professor had no intention of surviving the war. “How are you
planning on getting him to let go of the occlumency he has over you?” Alphard
questioned as Harry began up the stairs, already plotting what had to be done.
“Whisky, sex and a sedative potion.” Harry smiled a little deviously back at
Alphard who barked in amusement.
“Are you sure you shouldn’t have been sorted into Slytherin Master Potter?”
Alphard called quietly up at Harry who was now nearing the top of the stairs.
“I nearly was.” Harry cryptically answered back before scurrying quietly down
the darkened corridor to the room he and Draco shared. There was a lot to
prepare and he needed to talk to Draco.
************************************
“You’re going to do what?” Draco whispered still blinking uncomfortably in the
soft glow of the candle light that Harry had lit in the room.
“I’m going to use Snape’s dark mark to channel Tom’s magic away from him and
into this.” Harry held up the velvet collar with its emerald jewel. Despite
being disturbed from sleep Draco was not so stupid as to realize Harry’s plan
sounded ridiculous, even at the unearthly hour of the night.
“That’s ludicrous.” Draco scoffed in disbelief as he watched Harry undo the
leather choker around his neck and replace it with Alphard’s velvet one.
“Alphard’s research clearly proved that like matter, magic cannot be created or
destroyed only displaced.” Satisfied that he’d secured the choker Harry turned
and moved over to sit on the end of Draco’s bed, determined to explain to the
blonde what he was planning on doing. Harry knew that if he tried explaining it
to anyone else they’d instantly try and stop him but Draco was not emotionally
tied to him like his friends were. The blonde haired Slytherin would know the
risks but be willing to allow Harry to attempt it despite the risks. “The
reason Voldemort has been so successful is because he has dispersed his magic
among his followers using Alphard’s blood bond. The blood bond was originally
meant for Submissive’s and Dominants to share magic during sex to heighten the
experience and provide protection for both parties. It is what Snape was
teaching us in 101 without the blood.” Draco scowled deeply but nodded having
read the chapter on sharing fantasies and magic during sex just as all sixth
years in Snape’s class had done. “Tom took Alphard’s research and manipulated
it to his own means. He’s using the Dark Mark to siphon off the Deatheaters
magic to use as his own. It is why he seems so much more powerful than I am at
the moment when really we should be equal. I’m going to reverse the Dark Mark
and channel Riddle’s magic as my own using this.” Harry fingered the emerald
hanging in the hollow of his throat. “Then I’m going to fucking kill him the
old fashioned way.”
“That’s a ballsy plan.” Draco whispered slightly in shock as he watched Harry
stand up again from the bottom of the bed and begin stripping off his clothes.
“Are you sure you can handle Voldemort’s magic like that?”
“Who knows?” Harry shrugged as he bent down to pull off his boxer shorts
leaving him completely naked in the dim flicker of the fireplace. “But I have
to try.” Now naked, Harry walked over to the dresser on the far wall and filled
a crystal cut glass with whisky. Draco watched Harry carefully as the
bespectacled boy removed a bottle of blue potion from the top drawer and poured
it into the whisky. The whisky swirled and sparkled for a moment before it
turned back to its usual amber colour.
“What do you need me to do?” Draco sat up determinedly from the bed, already
pulling on his jumper and trousers.
“I need you to kill me.” The colour in Draco’s face fell away instantly as
Harry turned back around the whisky glass now clutched carefully in his hand.
“What the fuck!” Draco declared in shock as he stared at Harry as if the boy
had grown two heads. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. He would have
expected Ron and Hermione to act like this but not Draco. “There is no way I’m
doing that! I left Voldemort’s ranks to avoid killing, not to be forced into it
by you!” Draco folded his arms defiantly across his chest and shook his head in
refusal.
“Stop being a drama queen Draco. After I’ve taken control of Tom’s magic there
is a possibility that I won’t be able to control it or myself. I need you to
promise me you’ll kill me if it looks like this is getting out of hand. We
can’t afford for Riddle’s magic to just exist without an anchor.” Draco looked
horrified and continued to shake his head in refusal. “Besides if Alphard’s
research is correct I won’t die. The blood bond I share with Snape is stronger
than the one I share with Riddle because I accepted it willingly. Severus
should be able to pull me back to life using our connection. You said yourself
that Snape is the most powerful wizard you know and with the Dark Mark removed
he should have access to all of his own magic again.” Harry sighed as he
reached forward and grabbed Draco’s wand out of the sleeve of the blonde’s
jumper. “Draco I need you to do this.” Harry offered out Draco’s wand waiting
patiently for Draco to accept.
“This would be less awkward if you weren’t naked.” Draco sighed heavily as he
accepted his wand back, reluctantly agreeing to Harry’s demand.
“I haven’t got time to waste. Besides you’ve seen all this shit before and
after Snape drinks this he’ll be out for the count.” Harry swilled the whisky
around in the glass in his hands. Straightening his back Harry turned and head
towards the door. “Are you coming?” Harry paused on the threshold to the
doorway to glance back over his shoulder at Draco.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Draco sighed as he followed Harry from the
room.
***********************************
***** Part 21 *****
PART 21
“I thought you were in bed already?” Snape didn’t look up from the desk where
he was scrawling in his familiar script on a piece of parchment.
“Yeah, well I thought you’d like a drink?” Harry shuffled closer to the desk
inwardly sighing and rolling his eyes. The effect of being naked was kind of
lost if Severus didn’t look up.
“And you thought you’d bring me a drink at…” Snape glanced to the left to check
the small clock above the fireplace. “Three am.”
“Yes.” Harry took another step closer to the desk and put the whisky glass down
on the edge.
“Thank….” Snape reached for the glass and it was only then that his eyes caught
the tantalizing flash of flesh above the rim of the crystal glass. With a wry
smile Harry consciously straightened his back as he watched Snape’s onyx gaze
begin the slow almost painful path up Harry’s naked torso, his hand paused mid
grasp on the glass of whisky. Preparing himself Harry schooled his face into
the perfect expression of cool regard as Snape’s gaze finally met his.
Silence.
Harry felt the familiar tingle of Severus in his mind. He was being tested.
Taking a calming breath in Harry allowed his thoughts to go blank as Severus
searched for something unknown. When the potions professor found nothing he
backed off a small smile twitching at the corner of his lips.
“I believe we discussed approaching me in this manner.” An eyebrow rose in
Harry’s direction daring the boy to challenge him.
“I’ve been good and it got me nowhere. I thought perhaps I’d try another tactic
to get your attention.” Harry spoke in a smooth calculated voice.
“We are at war Potter.” Was the cool reply.
“So what’s new?” Harry muttered as he watched Snape pick up the whisky glass
and lifted it to his lips to take a small swill. “So are you going to spank me
for being a bad little sub or am I going to have to be naughtier? What will the
other Dom’s say about Severus Snape’s wayward sub?” The smile twitching at the
corner of Snape’s lips fell away and Harry swallowed nervously knowing he’d
just pushed Severus to his threshold.
“Potter.” The growl came from deep within Snape’s chest and sent a thrilling
shudder through Harry’s body.
“Well drink up and come teach me a lesson.” Harry prompted as he stepped around
the desk and over to where Snape had spun around on the desk chair. Snape
lifted the whisky glass and took a sip. Harry sighed and reached forward his
finger meeting the bottom of the glass to tilt it upwards, encouraging Snape to
drink the rest in one gulp. Dutifully Snape finished the glass of whisky and
Harry inwardly smiled as he took the glass from Snape’s grasp and abandoned it
on the desk top.
“Potter…” This time the growl was more of a warning as Snape launched himself
off the chair and grabbed Harry. Snape’s lips locked with Harry in a fierce
kiss causing the boy to stagger backwards. In five short steps Harry felt his
back slam into the wall, Severus’ body molding to Harry’s as he pinned the boy
to the wall. Harry’s brain took a moment to catch up with the situation as he
felt Snape pull away from his lips to take a breath. “Merlin Harry…” The
whispered words against his cheek made Harry smile as he felt Snape fumbling
with the belt on his trousers, even as the wizard lifted Harry’s leg up to wrap
around his waist. It was as Harry was struggling to get his second leg up
around Snape’s waist that he felt the change in the wizard’s body
The potion.
Harry watched as Snape’s eyes began to roll backwards and his grip on the boy’s
thighs fell away, allowing Harry to stand back up properly.
“I’m sorry Severus but you weren’t helping yourself and it turns out, as
screwed up as this seems I actually don’t want you to die. So I need you to
stop with the whole mind thing.” Snape began to sway on his feet before sliding
down to his knees in front of Harry, coherence beginning to slip from the
potion masters gaze. “You can spank me if I survive this okay.” Had the
situation been not as serious as it was Harry would have found Snape kneeling
before him, his eyes level with Harry’s cock rather a turn on. With a sickly
groan Harry watched as the potions professor collapsed backwards onto the floor
his eyes sliding closed finally. “Draco, you can come in now.” No sooner had he
called to Draco and Snape had passed out, then Harry felt the full weight of
his own memories and visions crash back down upon him in a tidal wave. The
searing pain brought Harry to his knees his hands reaching up to clutch at his
head and his now burning scar.
“Harry, you okay?” The blonde ran over to Harry and knelt beside him a
concerned hand coming up to rest on his shoulders.
“Yeah, I just forgot what a fucking dick Tom Riddle is.” Recovering himself
Harry stood up shakily to his feet. “No wonder he wasn’t sleeping. He was
dealing with my crap as well as his own.” Harry sighed as he stared down at
Severus lying catatonic on the floor, his trousers around his ankles and his
dick in the breeze.
“Can you at least put that away? It’s kind of strange seeing him lying there
like that.” Draco muttered as he gestured to Snape on the floor. Silence hung
in the air as the two boys stared at Severus’ cock for a long moment before
they both broke out into nervous giggles.
“Pass me my jeans and shirt and then help me pull up his pants.” Draco tossed
Harry his own clothing before bending down to help Harry pull Snape’s trousers
back up.
“So are you good to go?” The two boys dragged Snape’s body across to the carpet
in front of the fire to keep him warm. Harry nodded and knelt beside Snape.
Harry held out his hand to Draco who handed the boy his wand and the steak
knife he’d filched from the kitchens.
“You are not going to back out of your promise?” Harry queried eyeing Draco
cautiously. With an exaggerated sigh Draco nodded and pulled out his own wand
from the sleeve of his jumper. “Right, here goes.” Lifting the knife Harry
grimaced in pain as he sliced the blade across his palm. Instantly the crimson
trickle appeared and Harry turned his palm over to lay it flat over the angry,
infected dark mark on Severus’ forearm. A swell of magic snapped at Harry’s
hand like a mouse trap and Harry flinched but tightened his grip on the mark
despite the blood leaking out from between his fingers.
With his free hand Harry gripped his wand and turned its point to the scar on
his own forehead.
“Indagator de lumine. Videns autem mors. Indagator de lumine. Videns autem
mors.” Harry began the spell and closed his eyes as he felt the warm tip of his
wand touch the already burning scar on his forehead. Ignoring the swell of
magic around him Harry continued to chant the spell, over and over again. Draco
sat down at Snape’s feet his wand clutched tightly in his hands as he watched
the crackle of magic surround his friend.
Behind his eyelids Harry began to catch glimpses of memories. He knew they were
not his own memories and as the fog of occlumency cleared he began to see the
memories belonged to Severus. Still chanting Harry delved deeper into Severus
memories searching for the one he knew he would eventually find. The memories
swirled past his vision. He caught glimpses of Severus’ parents, of the young
dark haired boy at school, of Sirius, Remus and James. Harry saw a bright eyed
but shy Severus who tried hard at school and excelled at potions. He saw
Severus spending time with Lilly, of the pair of them together laughing and
smiling as they studied and shared butter beers at the three broomsticks.
Finally he saw the pain in Severus’ gaze as his friendship with Lilly had been
torn apart when James, Sirius and Remus had stepped in. That moment was the
trigger and Harry felt his chest clench in pain as he watched a young lonely
student run into the clutches of Tom Riddle.
Like that the memories changed to a different type and Harry gritted his teeth
as he tightened his hold on Snape’s forearm. A shudder of dark magic flooded
Harry’s body as he felt himself swept up in the new memory. However unlike the
other memories Harry was no longer seeing the world through Snape’s eyes
instead he was hovering behind the young boy kneeling at the feet of Tom
Riddle. Severus was naked and deep gashes were slashed into his back. Tom held
Snape’s arm in his clutches his wand drawn up and onto the skin of his forearm.
Harry gritted his teeth as he tightened his hold on Snape’s arm even as he saw
Tom Riddle’s mouth begin to move with the incantation that would permanently
mark Snape’s arm.
“I don’t think so fucker.” Harry ground out as he began to shake with the
intensity of the incantation. “Indagator de lumine. Videns autem mors!” Again
and again, Harry screamed the incantation loudly at Riddle in the memory. With
each spoken word the memory began to sway and fuzz around the edges. The
blinding pain of the dark magic emanating from the memory was powerful and
Harry fought it every step of the way as he continued to chant. As the memory
dissolved completely Harry could no longer continue to chant and with a gut
wrenching scream he felt the darkness swallow him whole before spitting him
back out on the rug beside Snape.
“Harry! Harry!” Draco was hovering above him almost instantly. The scared blue
eyes and flashing blonde hair was a blur above him as Draco took hold of
Harry’s shoulders and began to shake him vigorously. “Oh Merlin Harry, Please
get up! Snape started having a seizure and then I grabbed you and you burnt me!
What’s happening, did it work?” Draco’s voice was bordering on hysterical but
Harry couldn’t drag the emotion he needed to the surface. A funny tingle had
started in Harry’s toes and began traveling up his body. Intrigued by the
tingle Harry screwed his eyes closed tighter as he concentrated on the tingle
and not on Draco’s theatrical hysterics above him.
It was a strange feeling but somehow familiar like he should know what it was.
However it wasn’t until the feeling swept up his neck into his head that Harry
realized what it was. Startling Draco into a horrified yell Harry’s eyes
suddenly flew open in fear and he sat bolt upright on the carpet.
“Shit…” Before Harry could finish his sentence however the brown haired boy had
disappeared with a sharp angry pop. Leaving Draco staring at the empty space
where The Boy Who Lived had been not a second before.
“This isn’t good.” Draco muttered right before an alarm began screaching around
the house as the wards shuddered in a delayed reaction to the forced
apparition. “Yeah, not good at all.” Draco finished as the sound of thunderous
feet came from above.
*******************************************
Indagator de lumine. Videns autem mors. (Seeker of Light, Seer of Death)
(Latin)
*******************************************
A/N Hehehe
***** Part 22 *****
PART 22
“…Shit…” Harry felt his body plummeting into the whirlwind of apparition before
he could move. Draco, Snape and the study of Grimmauld place had disappeared in
the familiar swirl of magic as his body was ripped through space. The stomach
churning sickness that came with apparition made bile rise in his throat as he
was hurtled and turned about before being deposited with a sickening thud onto
a less than soft patch of grass. The ground rose up to meet him quickly and he
lurched and threw up as he landed on his hands and knees. Having divested
himself of his stomach contents he sat back on his knees to look up and around
at his surroundings.
He was in a field in the countryside. The grass around him was long as if hay
making season was not far away. It was still dark and he let his eyesight
adjust to the new light before he took in the sight before him. He’d landed as
far as he could tell in a paddock on the side of a hill. The icy bitter wind
careened up the side of the hill and swirled around him. His jeans and t-shirt
provided little protection against the wind as he stood up and surveyed the
landscape. A small wooded grove lined the bottom of the hill below him and up
on the ridge of the hill he could make out a small stone cottage, its lights
flickering in the darkness. Above him the clouds rolled around and threatened
rain.
All in all Harry had no idea where he was or what to do.
***************************************
“I think you broke him. He hasn’t spoken a word for hours.” The red haired boy
sat down quietly beside the blonde in front of the fireplace.
“I didn’t break him, Potter did.” The hissed reply was quiet so as not to draw
attention to them both. “Besides I think he’s just remembering what life is
like without it.” The pair of boys sat quietly staring at their potions
professor across the room and the chaos that once again surrounded the little
house they sat in.
Severus Snape sat on an armchair in the middle of the lounge room at number 12.
His once crisp white shirt was wrinkled and his usually pristine pressed
trousers were creased. His dark shoulder length hair had been tied back roughly
at the nape of his neck and he wore a completely blank expression on his face
as he stared down at his forearm where it rested against his lap.
Where once the angry, blistered and burnt dark mark had been, there was now
unblemished soft white skin as if nothing had ever tainted it. Gone too was the
curse that had snaked its way up Snape’s arm to his neck. Snape had been
staring at the skin on his forearm in silence for hours his face unreadable.
With Harry’s abrupt departure the wards around Grimmauld Place had screamed
into life once more. Just like when Severus and Sirius had arrived back with
the injured Dumbledore, the wards had shuddered and shook the house to its very
core. Despite Dumbledore’s wards having been inoperable at the time, the houses
own security system had kicked in, protesting violently at having one of the
inhabitants ripped ruthlessly from within its walls. The sound had awoken
everyone and Draco had found himself quickly wrapped up by elder wizards and
witches frantically questioning him on what had happened. Snape had been
revived from his passed out state beside the fireplace in the study, with a
pepper up potion. From the moment the potions professor had woken he’d been
different. He hadn’t spoken a word as everyone had gasped in shock at the lack
of dark mark on his forearm and Harry’s bloodied hand print in its place. Draco
had been questioned to within an inch of his life but he’d obviously not
provided satisfactory answers. Aurors, order members, the eldest of the Weasley
clan along with Sirius and Lupin had been dispatched into the night in search
of missing Harry. In the wake of their departure Grimmauld place had fallen
silent again, leaving Draco, Ron, Hermione, her parents and Mrs. Weasley alone
in the house with Severus and the injured Dumbledore. Hermione had taken her
parents into the kitchen for a cup of tea, and Mrs. Weasley was upstairs with
Dumbledore, leaving Ron and Draco in the living room staring at the disturbing
picture their potions professor made.
“You’d think he’d be out there searching for Harry like the rest of them, being
in love and all.” Ron whispered a little angrily, wishing that he too was out
searching for his best friend.
“Maybe he is searching for him. Harry said they shared a bond through the mark
Snape had made on his back, something about it being a willing sacrifice?”
Draco worried his bottom lip with his teeth as he stared at the wizard he’d
once been promised to. The blonde silently wondered if he’d known what he knew
now if he’d still have blackmailed Harry into helping him break free of the
contract. Guilt bubbled in Draco’s stomach causing bile to rise in his throat,
as he looked at the still fresh dark mark on his own forearm.
“Don’t fuss woman, just take me to him!” Both Draco and Ron stood up abruptly
as the door to the living room swung open and Dumbledore’s stern voice broke
the silence. Dumbledore stepped into the living room, his night gown fluttering
around him in the breeze as he leant heavily against Molly Weasley. “I’m
perfectly capable of moving.” Despite his protests to the contrary Dumbledore
look positively ill. His face was battered and bruised, and his night cap did
nothing to hide the bandage wrapped around his head. He was clearly limping and
struggling to stay upright despite Molly’s help. Ron and Draco hurried over to
help the headmaster and with the help of Mrs. Weasley they guided him over to
the armchair that Ron dragged over in front of Snape.
Dumbledore sat down in the chair with a pained gasp and a wince. Molly muttered
something about an old fool before scuttling off to bring tea and some more
pain potion for the headmaster. Draco and Ron retreated back to the safety of
the rug beside the fire as they watched Dumbledore carefully assess the wizard
sat before him. Snape hadn’t reacted at all to Dumbledore’s arrival. The
potions professor didn’t even flinch as the elder wizard reached forward and
gently grasped Severus’ hand and inspected the unblemished skin of his forearm.
“He’s worked it out finally then.” Dumbledore whispered reverently, his fingers
gently running over Severus’ arm. Snape looked up at the comment, his onyx eyes
meeting Dumbledore’s glassy blue ones. “The boy just needed the right
motivation it would seem.” Without speaking Snape pulled his arm back from
Dumbledore’s gentle grasp to sit straight in the arm chair. Silence echoed in
the living room for a long moment, and the two boys watching from the carpet
beside the fireplace could feel the tension between the two elder wizards
before them. When it was clear that Snape wasn’t going to say anything,
Dumbledore glanced over his shoulder and gestured for Draco to come to him.
Obediently Draco stepped up to Dumbledore’s chair and allowed the headmaster to
take a hold of his arm, and inspect his own Dark mark, still fresh on his arm.
“It’s not over yet.” Dumbledore whispered sadly as he allowed Draco to have his
arm back. “Tell me, who was it?”
“Alphard Black.” Draco whispered nervously glancing between Dumbledore and
Snape, conscious of the fact that Snape was listening to everything. “We asked
Mrs. Black first and she let slip about Alphard’s portrait in the shed.” Draco
trailed off as Dumbledore nodded in understanding his eyes sparkling in
knowledge.
“I did notice the change of scenery in the hallway. Your influence no doubt?”
Albus chuckled watching as Draco blushed and smiled coyly.
“Mrs. Black’s a bitch, even in death.” At Draco’s comment Ron snorted in
amusement over by the fireplace, causing Dumbledore and Draco to smile sideways
at him. “Harry said something about Severus being able to bring him back if he
was dead.”
“I think that’s a little drastic Draco, I don’t believe Harry is dead. He was
alive when he disappeared.” Dumbledore admonished softly his gaze glancing
briefly at Severus to gauge his reaction.
“He gave me this for safe keeping.” Draco reached into his pocket and dragged
out Harry’s leather collar, the sparkling ruby hanging from its center ring.
“Maybe it’ll help.” Dumbledore reached out to take the collar but Snape was
quicker, snatching the leather band out of the young blonde’s grasp. Both
Dumbledore and Draco stared at Snape who reverently fingered the collar and
lightly polished the ruby with the sleeve of his jumper.
“I can bring him back but I need to speak to Alphard.” It was the first words
Severus had spoken for hours and Dumbledore nodded quietly.
“Severus how are you feeling?” Dumbledore reached out a gentle hand and winced
himself as he placed it on Snape’s knee. The elder wizard was clearly still in
pain. As if silently sensing distress within the house Molly Weasley appeared
with a tray of lemon tea and a few bottles of potion obviously intended for
Albus.
“Come along, both of you need this.” Molly poured tea for four and handed out
the cups. Surprisingly Severus took a cup and sipped at it like it was the cup
of life.
“Severus?” Dumbledore prompted as he downed his potions before relaxing back in
his chair to enjoy his cup of lemon tea.
“It’s like I’ve regained those years I’ve lost. I feel different.” Snape paused
and took a deep steadying breath. “Young, new and…” Hesitation. Snape put the
empty cup aside and fingered Harry’s collar again.
“And?” It was Draco who spoke and Snape threw the blonde a familiar dark
professor like scowl. “Not completely changed.” Draco muttered.
“It’s like I’ve suddenly gained access to magic I didn’t know I had.” Severus
was speaking to Dumbledore but everyone was listening. “I feel….”
“Powerful.” Dumbledore finished watching as Snape’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You knew.” Snape breathed out in shock.
“I suspected.” Dumbledore corrected automatically. “You showed so much
potential when you were at school Severus. Your professors knew you were
special, so advanced beyond your years and your peers in every aspect but then
when you went to him….” Dumbledore swallowed and lowered his gaze guiltily from
Snape’s. “He took from you what made you special. He made you mediocre. You
have so much potential you don’t know the half.”
“I think I need to find Harry now.” Ignoring Dumbledore’s comments Severus
stood up and headed for the door. “Draco, come and introduce me to Alphard.”
Pausing in the doorway Snape glanced back at the young blonde. Draco rolled his
eye and sighed heavily. However as the blonde begrudgingly stood up he let out
a high pitched squeal as he dropped to the floor clutching his forearm in
agony. Dumbledore struggled to his feet but Molly pushed him back down into it,
as she and Snape strode over to the blonde.
“Well at least we know Voldemort’s still alive.” Draco gritted out as he
clutched at his bleeding dark mark.
“Then let us also hope that Harry is too.” Severus muttered as he glanced over
his shoulder at the concerned gaze of Albus.
“Let us all hope.” Was the whispered reply.
A/N And we're on the count down............... 3 to go.......
***** Part 23 *****
PART 23
Harry flopped down on the damp grass again; somewhat exhausted by the effort it
had taken to run uselessly up the hill towards the cottage. He’d tried six
times already and every time he thought he’d got close, he’d glance around and
end up back in the center of the field where he’d landed.
It was like he was in limbo.
He’d tried going down the hill too but that had ended in the same way, back at
same spot in the field. Worse still was that magic appeared to be useless where
he was. He’d tried aperating, casting warming charms, levitation spells and
signal sparks. Nothing was working.
In silence Harry stared around at the empty field, his wand tapping in
irritation against his knee. There was some reason why he was here. The spell
had brought him here out of any place else in the world and obviously wasn’t
letting him leave. There was something that was surely important about this
place however Harry was at a complete loss as to why. He wasn’t even sure he
knew where he was.
“Merlin Harry think!” Irritated with his own lack of solutions, Harry smacked
his wand against his forehead. Harry winced as he bumped his scar its burn
still fresh after the spell he’d used with Snape. With the burst of pain came
an idea. It was a strange idea and would probably end badly but it was
something he could potentially try instead of sitting here twiddling his
thumbs. Harry smiled inwardly to himself as he shrugged his shoulders.
Not expecting anything to happen Harry lifted his wand and pointed its end back
at the already sore scar on his head.
“Right. Indagator de lumine. Videns autem mors?” The incantation that came out
of his mouth wasn’t convincing and came more out as a question than a
statement. Predictably nothing happened and Harry sighed. Still with his wand
in hand and pointed at his scar, Harry tried again with more conviction.
“Indagator de lumine. Videns autem mors.” There was a crackling of magic around
him and Harry smiled in success. Standing up Harry straightened his back and
tightened his grip on his wand in determination. “Indagator de lumine. Videns
autem mors!” This time Harry confidently spoke the incantation and watched as
lightening streaked across the sky with a crackle of magic. With his spirits
suddenly high Harry growled out the incantation in determination. “Indagator de
lumine. Videns autem mors!” There was a thunderous crack that ripped apart the
silence of the field as the sky lit up in a display of sparkling magic.
The instant the last incantation was finished Harry saw a swirl of wind appear
in front of him before a figure appeared in its center. Lowering his wand from
his forehead Harry blinked as the darkness of the field was returned and
silence settled once again.
“Not exactly what I was going for but progress.” Harry muttered as he
cautiously stepped towards the figure slumped over on their knees, vomiting in
the grass just as he had done when he’d arrived. “Hello?” Harry stopped before
the figure and reached down to place a comforting hand on their shoulder.
However as the figure looked up Harry froze in fear. “Tom Riddle?”
Staggering backwards Harry instantly drew his wand again and pointed it warily
at the figure. Slowly Riddle stood up, crudely wiping at his mouth with the
sleeve of his robe. Harry could hardly believe what he was seeing. The young
Tom Riddle stood before him as if he’d stepped out Hogwarts mere moments ago
rather than years. He was young and lacked all of the features that had marked
him as Voldemort. The young school student looked no older than Harry was now,
his scrawny figure, acne marked face and oversized robes marks evident of his
youth.
“You!” Despite his appearance Riddle’s eyes spoke of the knowledge and wisdom
of his true years. Before Harry could react Riddle had flicked his wand in his
direction the killing curse falling from his lips. Like Harry’s own attempts at
magic the curse never eventuated and Harry felt himself laugh both in relief
and amusement.
“Welcome to my hell. I guess we’re officially equal now in every sense of the
word.” Harry muttered in amusement as he sat down on the grass as he began to
watch Riddle try and escape the field like he himself had done for over an
hour. It took Riddle far less time than Harry did to give up and eventually
Harry was watching as Riddle flopped down on grass in front of him. The young
Riddle had left a cautious space between them but was close enough to be heard
above the wind.
“What have you done to me?” Riddle spoke calmly as he crossed his legs and
folded his arms as protection against the wind still blowing violently up the
hill.
“I don’t know but I figure we’re meant to be here together, at this very
point.” Harry watched as Riddle quietly processed the information for a moment
before speaking.
“This will achieve nothing. You saved a traitor tonight. A spineless old wizard
that will always disappoint those he tries to love. Do you plan on saving every
death eater one at a time, they’ll be easily replaced? We are equal here but
not beyond this place. Remember you’ve trapped yourself here too.” Harry
scoffed at Riddle’s comment and rolled his eyes.
“True but I’m pretty sure while ever you’re here, the world out there is safe.
Besides you’re no different from me right now. You’ve got no magic here.” Harry
spat nastily watching as Tom’s face darkened in anger.
“You’re pathetic Potter just like your mother was. Forever sacrificing yourself
for others it’s tiresome. You’ll never win this war. You’ll die like she did.”
Tom’s comments were like a stinging slap to Harry’s face and made the boy’s
anger rise quickly to the surface.
“True, I might still die yet but for once I’ve got the upper hand in all of
this because I know what brought us here.” Harry ground out as he launched
himself forward. Catching Riddle off guard Harry pinned Riddle to the ground.
“I finally know what I have to do.” With the struggling Riddle pinned beneath
him, Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at his own temple. Riddle didn’t
seem all that concerned by Harry’s threatening gesture and merely laughed in a
cruel snarl.
“Killing yourself will do nothing!” Riddle laughed. With a smile however Harry
began the incantation Alphard had taught him. “Indagator de lumine. Videns
autem mors!” Almost instantly Harry felt the swell of magic sweep up through
his wand, into his head. The power and pain was intense and Harry gritted his
teeth angrily as he continued to chant the incantation.
Suddenly Riddle bucked up beneath Harry. He knew the incantation that Harry was
using having varied it himself to use the dark mark he’d scorched his followers
with. Riddle was at a disadvantage and he knew it, as he began to struggle
harder. Harry held firm however, locking his knees closed around the young
man’s chest. The young Tom Riddle was smaller than Harry was and was easily
subdued between Harry’s crushing knees and thighs, toned from quidditch.
“You’re weak Harry!” Riddle screamed into Harry’s face even as a wispy ghost of
magic began rising from the pinned wizard’s body. “You’re a submissive. Your
very nature makes you weak. You can’t handle this kind of magic! It’ll break
you before you ever control it!”
“You think I’m just like you but I’m not. I don’t want your magic, I don’t need
the power.” Harry screamed back as he reached up and grabbed hold of Alphard’s
emerald choker hanging in the hollow of his neck. Gripping the jewel Harry
tugged and yanked the jewel from the choker. “Besides you forget Tom, that
Submissive’s are good for one thing. We’re good at taking shit from Dom’s just
like you.” Harry was screaming now even as he felt Riddle fighting the magic
that began to steal his own. “Pay back’s a bitch.” With an angry shout Harry
pressed the emerald jewel onto Riddle’s temple. “Indagator de lumine. Videns
autem mors!” Harry yelled as the mist of magic swirled through his body and
pooled in the jewel under his palm. The jewel instantly became scolding hot in
his hands and Harry gritted his teeth against the pain even as he watched the
magic seep between his fingers and into jewel.
Riddle screamed then but not in anger but in pain.
“Fuck you Tom Riddle.” Harry spat even as the field around him began to swirl
and blur until he and Riddle were being swept up into the whirlwind darkness of
apparation yet again.
A/N Two to go..... *Laughs evilly*
***** Part 24 *****
PART 24
“And you’re sure this is going to work?” Albus Dumbledore sat on the bottom of
the stairs as he watched Severus tut irritably at the portrait of Alphard
Black. They had spent the last hour discussing the issue with Alphard, or more
specifically Severus had spent the hour yelling at Alphard for being so stupid
as to tell teenagers how to use dark magic.
“As I mentioned earlier, in theory it should but I did not get the opportunity
to test my theory while I was alive.” Alphard look pointedly at Severus who
snorted indignantly.
“Yet a teenager not yet 18 easily stole your research and easily turned it into
one of the most dangerous symbols of our time!” Severus snapped angrily at
which it was Alphard’s time to snort indignantly.
“Easily! It was hardly easy to manipulate such magic….”
“Gentlemen!” Finally having heard enough Albus called for everyone’s attention.
“While we sit here arguing a young life potentially hangs in the balance.
Alphard is no more responsible for the dark mark than the Deatheaters who
accepted it. Tom Riddle knew exactly what he was doing when he chose to
manipulate the dark arts to his own nefarious means.” Dumbledore looked
pointedly from Alphard to Severus and back.
“What do I need to do?” Severus spoke calmly as he watched Alphard straighten
his robes in mild irritation.
“Sit down you’re going to need to concentrate. The bond you share with your
submissive is different in that it was born of trust. You must call him back
and in turn he must want to return to you when he feels your call.” Obediently
Severus sat down on the floor of the hallway at Grimmauld place and crossed his
legs. “It’s like occlumency, you need to clear your mind and concentrate on the
boy. The incantation should be used like a meditation chant. Focus on your mark
upon his skin and pull him back to you with it.” Alphard watched carefully as
Severus nodded in understanding. “You need an anchor however or you too will
disappear like Master Potter did. You need something to remind you where to
come back to.” Carefully Severus removed Harry’s ruby choker from his pocket
and clutched it tightly in his palm.
.
“Right I’m good, what’s the incantation.” Severus glanced up at cautiously.
“Videns Lucis. Surgens autem mane. It means seer of light, seeker of the dawn.”
Alphard spoke clearly as Severus spoke the incantation out loud several times
to ensure he had it correct. When he was satisfied that he had it right,
Severus took a calm deep breath in and closed his eyes. His own mother had been
excellent at occlumency and in his youth he had trained under her careful
lessons. Severus was confident in his own ability to find Harry; it was the
strength of magic to bring the boy back that was more of the concern.
Time seemed to slow as Severus blocked out the sound around him and he focused
quietly on the connection he’d created with Harry. The war had interrupted the
building of their relationship and so some of the fundamental links were weak.
Severus focused harder, his breathing even and calm as he began to run through
the memories of Harry, searching for the link he knew was there somewhere. It
was a strange feeling not to have Voldemort’s influence in his mind constantly
and Snape was surprised when the link with Harry practically screamed at him.
Clutching onto the link Snape took another calm breath and began the
incantation. The sparks of magic made him shudder as he controlled his new
strength and refocused it on Harry.
As predicted finding Harry was easy but whatever Harry was doing he was clearly
fighting Severus’ pull. Snape didn’t detect fear through the link but he could
feel the icy snap of Harry’s magic each time he tried to call Harry to him. The
boy was fighting him for some reason. Determined however Severus tightened his
grip on the jewel in his palm and chanted the incantation again and again.
Before he knew what was happening Severus was chanting out loud, gritting his
teeth as he fought against Harry’s own magic. “Potter, let go!!” Severus ground
out angrily as he pulled with his magic once more. Like a thread suddenly
snapping back the link broke and Severus found himself flung against the wall
of the hallway as the house shuddered for the third time that evening.
The lights flickered ominously and Mrs. Weasley consciously clutched both Ron
and Draco to her sides as there was a swirling of magic in the center of the
hallway.
“Severus the ruby! Center the magic or you’ll lose him again!” Alphard’s
portrait was being rocked about on the wall but his voice was clear above the
whirling of the wind. Shocked by the scene playing out before him Severus was a
little slow to react but when he did react the affect was immediate. Holding
the ruby in his hand Severus shouted the incantation once more. No sooner had
the last word slipped from his lips than the magic calmed and the hallway was
plunged into silent darkness. All Severus could hear was the pounding of the
blood in his ears and the staggered breathing of the other wizards in in the
hallway.
“Lumos.” Albus’ voice spoke calmly and a soft glow lit the darkness of the
hallway.
“Harry!” Severus’ gaze fell on the lifeless form sprawled out on the polished
wood floor. Forgetting about the ruby choker in his hand Snape dropped to his
knees over Harry’s prone form. The boy looked pale, his skin almost translucent
in the dim light.
“Take the choker from him, quickly!” Alphard’s portrait was crooked on the wall
and Severus glanced up in fear at the wizard, even as he shook Harry’s
shoulders in an attempt at rousing him. Quickly Severus pulled the emerald
choker from Harry’s clasped hand and threw it across the floor away from the
boy. “Now replace it with his own and pray.” Severus scrambled over the floor
and collected the first gift he’d bestowed on his submissive. With the ruby in
the center of the choker was warm to touch as Severus gently secured it around
Harry’s neck.
“Please Harry, come back to us.” Severus whispered as he sat back from the boy
as the ruby began to glow. Slowly the ruby glowed brighter until a warm swirl
of magic began to wrap its way around Harry’s lifeless body. As the warm glow
of magic enveloped Harry’s body, life seemed to seep back into the young boy.
With a sharp intake of air Harry’s body jerked back to life. Severus let out a
long drawn out breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
“Miss me?” Harry’s sparkling emerald eyes locked with Severus as the last of
the magic soaked into his body. Severus shook his head in disbelief before he
leant down and captured Harry’s lips in a deeply passionate kiss.
“Eww, I think I just threw up a little.” Ron’s voice broke the moment. The red
heads voice was closely followed by the stinging slap as his mother swatted him
on the back of the head. Snape helped Harry sit up and glared at Ron over his
shoulder.
“Oh my.” Albus’ voice drew the attention from Harry and everyone turned their
attention to where Dumbledore had stood up from the chair and was now standing
over another body lying on the floor of the hallway.
“Who’s that?” Draco stepped up beside Albus as the group gathered around the
lifeless body on the floor.
“It’s Tom Riddle.” Harry spoke coldly as he knelt down beside the young Riddle
and carefully rolled the boy over. There was a gasp of surprise from the group
standing above him and Harry sighed as he checked the pulse of the boy lying
before him. Tom was alive but barely and Harry couldn’t help but smile inwardly
as he took in the emerald shaped burn on the boy’s forehead.
If Riddle survived the burn would undoubtedly scar.
Harry glanced up at the faces staring down at him in question. Harry knew what
they were asking him to do but he simply shook his head in refusal.
“I’m not killing him. I’m not him.” Harry spoke calmly as he grabbed his wand
and pointed it at Riddle, with every intention of reviving his enemy. Before he
could speak the charm however Alphard’s voice drew the group’s attention.
“May I suggest before you revive the bane of your existence that you remove the
source of his power.” Alphard pointed to the left of his portrait and the group
followed the line of his eyes to where the emerald choker lay discarded on the
hall floor.
“Shit.” Harry muttered as he put his wand away and scurried over to pick up the
choker. Gently Harry inspected the emerald, noting in worry the crack that now
ran the length of the emerald. Harry quietly showed the choker to Dumbledore
who sighed and shook his head, refusing to take the item from Harry’s grasp.
“If it had broken you wouldn’t be here with us now, it was close.” Albus spoke
calmly as he gestured to Alphard who nodded in agreement. Harry took a deep
breath in and sighed as he felt Snape step up beside him in silent comfort.
“What are we going to do with it? We can’t just let it exist it contains the
magic and power of Voldemort.” Harry looked between his friends worried face
for signs of a solution to their problem.
“I believe the final solution lies exactly where the solution began in the
first place.” Albus smiled mildly at Harry before gesturing to where Alphard
was standing listening intently to the conversation going on in front of him.
“Is that safe?” Mrs. Weasley inquired her hold of her son still tight as she
stared at the emerald choker in Harry’s grasp.
“Indeed portraits cannot use magic and I am sure with his choker returned
Alphard will be more than capable of keeping it safe within the millions of
portraits around the world. As for us, an unbreakable vow I think will be
enough for us all to remain silent on this subject?” Albus looked around at the
small gathered group who nodded in silent reply. “Hold it against the portrait
Harry.” Harry sighed and held the choker up against Alphard’s portrait. With a
very simple flick of his hand Albus sent the choker into the portrait. The
gathered group watched as the emerald melted into the painting, before the
emerald choker appeared on Alphard’s neck. Unlike the painted emerald choker
that had been around the wizard’s neck before the emerald on the new choker was
clearly cracked and in the right light it sparkled slightly, unlike the dull
oil painted one previously.
“Now the vow.” Snape spoke firmly as he pulled out his wand. Similarly everyone
else followed. “I solemnly swear that I will never reveal the secret regarding
Tom Riddle’s magic.” Severus flicked his wand and hissed in pain as a small
nick appeared on the back of his hand. The small gathered group followed suit,
all of them wincing in pain at the end.
A vow sealed in blood.
Since arriving back at Grimmauld Place Harry finally breathed out a sigh of
relief suddenly feeling exhausted.
“What now?” Ron spoke up from over by his mother as he twisted out of her tight
embrace, to approach the still passed out wizard on the floor.
“We see what we’re left with.” Draco muttered as he pointed his wand at Riddle.
“Wow, that’s cool.” He muttered as he finally noticed his forearm. “It’s like
you actually removed it yourself.” Where the dark mark had been there was now
an angry bruise that looked exactly like Harry’s hand had wrapped around it to
remove it.
“Do you suppose it’s removed from everyone?” Mrs. Weasley inquired as she
stepped around Tom’s body and over to where Draco was still inspecting his
bruise.
“Who knows, now I suggest we sort out Riddle before this place is descended
upon by Order Members who are undoubtedly still looking for Harry. We do not
need the questions his presence will arouse.” Taking control of the situation
Severus steeled himself and pointed his wand at the young Tom Riddle.
“Rennervate”
Tom gasped back to life his dark onyx eyes springing open. There was a tension
in the hallway as the group stared at the boy.
“Professor Dumbledore?” Tom’s voice quavered as he nervously glanced around at
the wizards and witches staring down at him. “Am I in trouble sir?”
“He doesn’t remember.” Harry whispered as he watched Albus bend down and gently
inspect the large weeping burn on Tom’s forehead.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“No way!”
Draco and Ron spoke of their shock almost simultaneously together, causing a
small nervous chuckle of laughter to circle the group.
“No Thomas, there was an accident with your magic but I will explain that later
we need to get you some attention for your head.” Tom winced in pain as Albus
helped him from the floor.
“Albus you’re not well enough,” Molly Weasley went to protest but Albus waved
her off with determination.
“I believe you may wish to contact The Order, Molly and tell them of Harry’s
return. The rest of you I believe are in need of rest.” Albus smiled warmly at
the group who all nodded in agreement. Quietly the group watched as Albus
allowed the young Tom Riddle to help him towards the front door. In silence
Albus Dumbledore disappeared with Tom. Molly disappeared into the living room
to call The Order back to Grimmauld Place and Ron ran upstairs to Owl Hermione,
who had travelled back to The Burrow with her parents.
Harry sighed heavily as he fingered the choker around his neck.
“You did well Potter, very well indeed.” Severus stepped up behind Harry and
leaned down to press a chaste kiss to the lightening scar still angry and red
on his forehead.
“Do you think I’m weak?” Harry whispered as suddenly questioning himself on not
ending Tom Riddle’s life. Severus huffed softly in mild amusement as he turned
Harry around and captured his cheeks between two potion stained hands and
fingers.
“Far from it Mr. Potter, in fact I think you may just be the strongest,
smartest and willful submissive I’ve ever seen.” Harry blushed under Snape’s
gaze as the elder wizard leaned forward so that his nose was touching Harry’s.
“And I’m so very lucky to call you mine.” With a rueful smile Severus closed
the short gap between them to press a passionate kiss to the boy’s lips.
“Ahem…I’m just going to….” A voice by the steps drew Harry and Snape apart.
Draco stood awkwardly by the steps, twisting his fingers in the hem of his
jumper. The blonde was clearly now at a loss for what to do with himself and
Harry knew that guilt weighted heavily in the young Malfoy.
“Draco, you can stay here with us. You’re going to need us if you want to avoid
the Ministry’s scrutiny of your family that is undoubtedly coming.” Draco
smiled warmly at Harry who stepped away from Severus allowing the blonde a
tight hug from the man he’d once been promised to.
“Thank you.” Draco whispered as he pulled away from Severus to glance towards
the staircase, noting that Harry too was now eyeing the staircase. “I’m first
in the shower!” Draco declared as he dove towards the staircase. The two boys
scrambled over each other as they tried to get up the staircase leaving Severus
staring after them in amusement. Severus shook his head and closed his eyes and
took in a deep breath of damp, dusty air of Grimmauld Place.
For the first time in years he truly felt free.
A/N Well that's it, aside from the Epilogue which is rather lovely, if I do say
so myself. Looking at posting the Epilogue tomorrow night if I get it proofed.
Now comes the good bit...what do I do next? Totally new one? Rebirth the post
hogwarts one, or do I finish the very dark and nasty little bugger that's makes
even me shudder?
***** Epilogue *****
EPILOGUE
He stood on the corner under the street lamp staring at the café across the
street. The rain fell around him but he ignored it as he stared in through the
glass front windows of the café. The warm glow of the lights from within the
café illuminated the gloom of the evening street. He could see the odd couple
of patrons sitting in the booths within the café. Pulling up the hood of his
cloak he checked for traffic before crossing the road to the corner closer to
the café. Stepping closer to the windows he glanced inside the warm interior of
the café. A couple was sitting in the booth closest to him sipping coffee and
sharing a slice of cake. His gaze lingered on the couple for a moment before
looking further into the café. As he looked slowly along the serving counter
within the café he saw him at last.
Dark hair and dark eyes set him apart from the others. The young man had grown
taller since last time he’d visited. He was wearing a black apron and was
wiping down the counter. He seemed content in his job and paused to smile and
pass conversation with another patron who was sat on a stool at the bar.
Nothing much had changed as always and he allowed himself to breathe deeply
once more. As he always did he relaxed at seeing for himself that nothing had
changed. The young man he’d been observing turned around fully from the counter
and Harry sighed as he saw for the first time tonight the emerald shaped scar
on the man’s forehead. Like always guilt gnawed at a small part of him that
knew how the scar had gotten there. As if sensing the attention the young man
rubbed the scar absently with his hand before going back to wiping the counter
unaware of his watcher.
“I believe I made myself clear when I said you weren’t to come here.” He felt
the approach of someone behind him and he spun around sharply, his wand pointed
defensively out in front of himself.
“Severus, you followed me.” Harry spoke calmly as he lowered his wand when he
realized who was standing before him.
“No. You were meant to come and meet me outside the apocathary. When you were
late I…” Snape trailed off and pointed at the ruby glistening just beneath the
neck of the cloak Harry wore. Harry smiled crookedly at his partner knowing
that the tracking charm on his choker had been activated. Quietly Severus
turned to look at the scene within the café. “He knows nothing Harry. You risk
exposing his very existence if you persist on coming back here to check on
him.” Harry lowered his gaze to the floor as Severus turned back from the café
to stare at his young mate.
Harry had grown up considerably since the war had ended. Life had moved on and
the wizarding world had once again fallen into peace. Severus had not returned
to Hogwarts and had instead taken up a potions research position for St
Mungo’s. Harry had entered Auror training with Ron and had, as predicted, done
very well. He would graduate from the academy next spring. His achievements
were well known as was his unconventional relationship with a certain potions
professor.
“I know. I just need to put my mind at rest. I worry.” Harry whispered as he
allowed Snape to turn him around from the café windows and to move back across
the street.
“I believe that it is my job to worry for the both of us.” Severus scolded
Harry, reminding his charge of the rules that surrounded their relationship.
Harry chewed his bottom lip and chose not to answer his mate as they entered
the deserted little alley where apparition could happen unseen by muggle eyes.
Harry stopped and turned around when he realized that Snape was not following
him. “Tell me Harry. Are you unhappy with our arrangement?” Severus’ voice was
hardly a whisper above the rain falling around them but Harry heard it
regardless.
“No!” Harry quickly shook his head in determination and stepped back up to
Severus. Rain clung to Severus’ hair and ran down his face and nose. The elder
wizard looked like a drowned rat and Harry reached up to tuck a stray dark
tress of hair back behind Severus ear, from where it had fallen free of the
ribbon. Harry had been meant to meet Snape outside the apocathary in Diagon
Alley as they always did on a Thursday evening after work. Being so close to
London however was too much temptation for Harry who’d grossly miscalculated
just how late it was when he’d apperated to the café. He had just meant to
check for a moment on the young Thomas Ride as he did often in secret when on
assignment for the Ministry. The moment had been misjudged and Snape had
tracked him to this point.
Snape reached up and captured Harry’s cold hand in his own and dragged the
delicate fingers of his mate to his lips in order to press a chaste kiss to the
slender digits individually. Harry breathed out raggedly and closed his eyes as
he sighed dramatically.
“Thomas is safe where he is Harry and you need to trust that Albus keeps a
close eye on him.” Severus spoke firmly at his young charge who nodded and
continued to keep his eyes firmly shut. After the night in which Harry had
taken Tom Riddle’s magic, Albus Dumbledore had taken it upon himself to hide
the young dark lord squib away from the world. Albus had found an unassuming
little muggle family in the south of London that had been willing to take on
the teenaged Tom Riddle. Devoid of magic and with his memories gone Albus had
changed Tom’s name to Thomas Ride and had fabricated a story about the boy
being the only survivor of a car crash. So as it was the boy now named Thomas
Ride had finished his last years of high school with the family while working
part-time at the café none the wiser to who he had once been and the things he
had once done. “Looking at him will not bring them back Harry.” It was common
for Severus and Harry to share thoughts and Harry sighed heavily as Severus
read his mind easily.
“I just want him to know the pain he’s caused but he doesn’t.” Tears leaked out
from the corner of Harry’s eyes and mixed with the rain droplets streaking down
his face. Severus sighed heavily and stepped up closer to his mate and gently
pushed the hood down from Harry’s head.
“Do you wish him to suffer as you do? I believe you had the chance to end his
life and chose not to. Do you regret that decision now?” With a hand under his
chin, Severus slowly forced Harry’s face up to meet his own as the boys eyes
opened to reveal the sad emerald gaze. Harry shook his head firmly as Snape
gently wiped away the tears and the rain. “But you still feel as though he
should suffer for taking your parents away?” Again Harry nodded in silence.
“That makes me a bad person doesn’t it?” Harry finally spoke up in a whisper
averting his gaze from Snape’s in shame. Severus huffed in disapproval as he
gripped Harry’s chin once more and forced the young wizard to face him.
“Do you think it makes me a bad person for not inflicting pain and suffering
upon myself for those things I did during my service for Tom?” Harry shook his
head firmly. “What we did, we did to survive and how we act now is what makes
us human.” Severus leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss on Harry’s lips
causing the wizard to breathe out in relief. “I’d be more concerned if you
didn’t care.” Snape paused and Harry watched as a cheeky smile twitched at the
corner of his mate’s lips.
“So I’m ordinary?” Harry whispered softly as he pressed his nose against
Severus’, the wet rain dripping down between them as they stared deeply into
each other’s eyes.
“No definitely not.” Severus muttered calmly. “You’re extraordinary.” Severus
smiled crookedly as Harry laughed softly at the comment. “And extremely naughty
for not following the rules.” Severus breathed out calmly, his eyebrow rising
in challenge. Harry blushed as he felt Severus wrap an arm around his waist and
pulled him impossibly close to his body.
“Am I going to be punished?” Harry lowered his voice to a deep purr as he
chewed his lip innocently and fluttered his eyelashes in his best innocent
expression.
“Of course.” Severus spoke firmly as he glanced behind himself checking to
ensure the alleyway was still quiet. Before Harry knew what was happening Snape
was backing up him against the stone wall of the alley and into the shadow of
the streetlamp. The rain had become harder and without their hoods up the pair
of them were soaked through.
“Here?” Harry breathed out as Snape pressed him hard against the wall and
dragged the young wizards cloak aside so he could bite at the soft skin of
Harry’s neck. Harry gasped in surprise as he felt Severus’ hands tugged at his
robes between them. “We’ll be late.” Harry choked out in moan as Snape
whispered a charm against the side of his neck which made Harry’s clothes
beneath the cloak disappear.
“We’re already late.” Severus growled out as he latched his mouth to Harry’s as
he lifted the boys legs up and looped them around his waist.
“Fuck……” Harry choked out as Severus pulled back from his mouth to concentrate
on the wicked things his hands were doing beneath Harry’s cloak.
“If you say so.” Severus snapped as he lowered his own trousers and slid into
Harry with a long, steady stroke. Their passion was heated and fast all
thoughts of their public location were forgotten as Harry threw his head back
against the wall. Harry grasped uselessly at Severus’ shoulders as the elder
wizard took him up against the wall, driving into him solidly. Rain fell
between them and Harry closed his eyes as he tilted his head up towards the sky
and let the rain droplets fall onto his face.
“Merlin Severus,” Harry felt the wave of orgasm sweep over his body as he
gasped Severus’ name. With his legs tightening around Severus’ waist Harry rode
out the pleasure as he felt his partner stiffen with anticipation before he too
was tipped over the edge.
With the adrenaline of their orgasm passing Severus allowed Harry’s legs to
slip from their place around his waist as the boy in front of him slid down the
wall in an exhausted, wet heap of arms and legs. Snape took a deep breath in as
he steadied his own breathing.
“You’re wicked Severus Snape.” Harry whispered breathlessly as he stared up at
his mate who was still staring down at him with lust.
“And you wouldn’t have it any other way.” Snape spoke darkly as he offered his
hand down to Harry and helped him up from the floor. “Fix my trousers on the
way up. I think I’m too old for sex up against an alley wall.” Severus groaned
and winced in pain as Harry dutifully righted the elder wizard’s trousers
beneath his cloak.
“You’ve done this before?” Harry muttered in concern as he removed his wand
from the sleeve of his robe and returned his own clothes beneath the cloak.
Snape smirked wickedly and raised a cheeky eyebrow in Harry’s direction.
“Not with you.” Was the cryptic reply that Snape threw over his shoulder as he
stepped away from the wall and straightened his robe. “Come along we’re very
late now.” Harry shook his head in shocked amusement as he stepped up to Snape
and wrapped his arms around his waist.
“Have I told you I love you?” Harry whispered softly as Snape removed his own
wand from the folds of his robe and prepared to apperate.
“Not nearly enough to escape the punishment you still have to make up to me for
making us late to our meeting.” Harry sighed and rolled his eyes as Snape bent
down and pressed a passionate kiss to Harry’s lips before whispered the
apparition charm and sending them both swirling into darkness.
****************************************
Harry and Severus stepped into the bustling Three Broomsticks pub very late and
very wet. Severus sought out the young blonde haired wizard across the crowd
and sitting at a table near the window. Crossing the pub floor Severus strode
over to the table and sat down opposite his godson. Harry too joined the table
and discarded his wet cloak over the back of his chair before he sat down.
Snape paused to spare Harry a sideways glance. The boy had grown over the last
two years and the skinny jeans and tight t-shirt fit his lightly muscled frame
like a glove. Snape appreciated the sight for a moment unaware of the audience.
“Sorry we’re late…” Harry muttered as he shared a complicated handshake with
Draco who eyed his godfather and his partner dubiously.
“You are all wet.” Draco whispered quietly as he once more looked between the
pair. Draco too had grown up a lot and the young blonde wizard had worked hard
to dispel the tainted reputation the Malfoy name had left him with. Draco had
moved in to Grimmauld place with Sirius and Lupin, and had worked hard in his
new career in wizarding real-estate. His most recent sale had been a cottage to
one Ronald Weasley who’d brought it as a wedding present for Hermione, who was
yet to see it. Draco was at present searching for a property for Harry and
Snape, so that they too could move out of Grimmauld Place.
“Yeah it’s raining.” Harry offered as a lame reply despite the blush that crept
up his neck and cheeks from beneath the ruby choker around his neck. There were
still some people that stared at Harry strangely when they saw the choker for
the first time but most came to accept it as just part of him.
“I’m assuming that by calling the meeting you have some places for us to see
Draco?” Severus interjected, impatient to get the conversation moving to more
productive topics. Draco was having none of it though and merely nodded slowly
in reply.
“Yeah…” Draco paused and once more looked over the pair sat before him.
Enlightenment came swift and Draco’s eyes widened in surprise and shock as he
realized what had gone on. “Oh Merlin, you guys just fucked!” Draco’s voice was
far from quiet and Snape’s eye twitched in irritation as a few of the occupied
tables around them stopped their conversation at Draco’s declaration. Harry’s
gaze dropped to the table top his face turning a similar red to the ruby
hanging at his throat.
“Thank you Draco for that enlightening moment perhaps now you can take us and
show us the prospective homes you’ve found?” Snape stood up from the table
abruptly and glared at Draco with a dangerous gaze. Realizing his slip Draco
quickly bit his lip and sprang up from the table as well, suddenly eager to
make his escape from the pub. Draco pulled on his own cloak as he strode from
the pub, leaving Harry and Snape to follow him, under the disapproving gaze of
the pub patrons.
“Shit,” Harry muttered as he followed Snape from the pub and back out into the
rain where Draco was waiting for them.
“Quite, I believe you now owe me punishment for that humiliating scene too.”
Snape muttered as he turned to Harry a pointedly raised eyebrow in his
direction.
“Looking forward to it sir, perhaps I need to take remission Sex Magic 101.”
Harry laughed coyly as he took hold of Snape’s arm and fingered the choker
around his neck. He was Harry Potter the boy who lived, savior of the wizarding
world, secret keeper to Alphard Black, heir to the Black and Potter fortune and
most recently Severus Snape’s submissive…..and he wouldn’t change it for the
world.
 
----------------------THE END-----------------------
A/N There we go, a nostalgic nod to where this story began....oh and some smut
to make your day. Hope you all enjoyed it and I apologize for it having taken
so long to finish. I'm so glad you guys stayed around to the end. I'm thinking
a short couple of ones next, for something different? What do you reckon?
Cheers
Riffraff84
***** Fan Art *****
Chapter Notes
     Again I'm not sure and can't remember who created the works of Fan
     Art as it was so long ago when the stories were first written - If
     it's you or someone you know let me know and I'll acknowledge the
     artist. Thanks
[What The Devil Wants]
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