Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/163038.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Harry_Potter_-_J._K._Rowling
  Relationship:
      Harry_Potter/Severus_Snape, Sirius_Black/Remus_Lupin, Hermione_Granger/
      Ron_Weasley
  Character:
      Harry_Potter, Hermione_Granger, Ron_Weasley, Ginny_Weasley, Various_Harry
      Potter_Characters
  Additional Tags:
      Teacher-Student_Relationship
  Series:
      Part 1 of Wrapped_'Verse
  Stats:
      Published: 2011-02-16 Chapters: 21/21 Words: 108565
****** Wrapped Around His Finger ******
by iamgizy_(saddle_tramp)
Summary
     Pairing: Harry/Severus, mention of others
     Rating: NC-17 for a few smutty spots, but mostly PG
     Summary: AU
     After defeating Voldemort during the Easter holidays of his seventh
     year, Harry has only one ambition for his life after graduation:
     becoming Snape's Apprentice and partner.
     Diverges from canon after Goblet Of Fire. Harry is seventeen through
     most of this story, so if borderline underage sex squicks you, don't
     read this. Also, JK decided after I began this that Lucius is six
     years older than Sev, but I don't like that cop-out very much. Lucius
     and Severus were in the same year in my fic, also the same year as
     Lily and the Marauders, and they all graduated in 1978.
     Written quite a long time ago and archived here by request. I do not
     write Potterslash anymore, and have not in years.
***** Chapter 1 *****
Gentle lips slowly roamed across his heated skin as long, deceptively delicate-
looking fingers stroked along his firmly muscled thigh, digging in when the leg
flexed. Teeth gently bit into his smooth shoulder, drawing a low growl as
strong hands tightened on narrow hips and muscles flexed again, lips sliding
along the nape of his neck to nuzzle into sweet-smelling black hair.
Fingernails dug into his skin then, and voice like rough velvet rumbled...
.:.
"Potter!"
Harry jerked in his seat in the front right-hand row of desks, knocking his
glasses askew. He blinked and turned around hurriedly, his face heating up as
he heard stifled laughter around him and a familiar deep voice said scathingly,
"I don't particularly care if you pass your NEWT's, Potter, but a study period
is to be used for studying, not for catching up on your beauty sleep!"
"I-- I wasn't asleep, sir!" Harry exclaimed, his face still flaming. He
straightened his glasses to look at Professor Snape, wishing that McGonagall
hadn't left Snape in charge for the day.
Snape raised one eloquent eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest as the
bell rang. He ignored the way students scrambled for their books as he drawled,
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Potter." He paused a moment as half the class
groaned and then added, "And you will stay after class."
"But sir!" Harry protested, "I've Quidditch practice! The Cup, my last game, is
tomorrow!"
Snape snorted and turned away to throw open the door next to him. "You should
have though about that before you took your little nap, Potter. Class
dismissed."
The other students rose hurriedly and started to leave as Harry growled and
turned to face the front of the Transfiguration classroom, missing the
commiserating look he got from Ron as he stared down as his Potions notes. He
hadn't intended to zone out in class, especially thinking about that, but he'd
been reading his notes and trying to recall the lecture about dragon's blood,
which led to thinking about that voice, and the hands...
Harry pushed away the memory of the vivid fantasy before he got lost in it
again, glad that Hogwarts uniforms included robes so that at least some of his
dignity could stay intact. He flipped to the next page in his Potions journal
with a sigh. He really did need to be studying, not daydreaming. He had to get
the best marks he could on his final if he wanted--
The door closed loudly, derailing Harry's train of thought just as Professor
Snape strode through the middle of the room, boot heels ringing firmly against
stone. He stopped when he reached the front of the class, folding his arms
across his chest again as he turned and leaned back against McGonagall's desk
to stare at Harry from barely five feet away. "Well, Potter?" Snape asked,
frowning. "Do you care to attempt to explain exactly why you have been staring
off into space like a slack-jawed Weasley for the last ten minutes, or shall I
just find you something productive to do?"
Harry's face heated again as much from annoyance as embarrassment as he met
Professor Snape's piercing gaze and lied, "I was just trying to remember all of
the medicinal uses for dragon's blood without referring to my text, sir."
Snape's lips twisted into a sneer. "Try again, Potter, and this time I want the
truth."
Harry's face flushed further and he looked down at his desk, the muscles in his
jaw tightening. "I was trying to remember the uses of dragon's blood, sir."
"You are as transparent as Peeves, Potter, and just as trying to my patience."
Snape's tone was scathing, and Harry just knew that he would see Snape sneering
at him still if he looked up. "You do realize that lying to me will only make
your punishment worse, correct?"
Harry kept his eyes on the edge of his desk as he replied stiffly, "I'm not
lying, sir."
Snape snorted and pushed off from the desk to go stand in front of Harry, then
the annoyance in his expression faded slightly as he saw that Harry really had
been studying his Potions notes on dragon's blood until he was distracted.
"Your ineptitude in my class has improved by leaps and bounds this term,
Potter, but that was not difficult considering your abysmal performance before.
You most definitely need to study if you wish to get a high enough score on
your N.E.W.T. to make it into Auror training. Sitting with your notes open
staring off into space will not help your grade."
"I was studying, sir." Harry glanced up to meet Snape's intense gaze and then
hastily looked down as he felt his face heating up yet again.
"Is lying to me really worth the consequences, Potter?" Professor Snape asked
after a moment, his tone just a bit less scathing. "I was watching you for
several minutes before I called you to task." Harry's blush deepened to a
surprisingly vivid shade, even the tips of his ears turning tomato red, and
Snape couldn't resist adding pointedly, "If you were that passionate about
potions, you would be a better student."
Harry swallowed hard before he spoke again, his voice little more than a
whisper. "I'd really rather not speak of it, sir."
Snape turned away with an abrupt snort, walking to the board at the front of
the classroom. "Very well, Potter. One hundred lines."
"Yes sir." Harry let out a deep sigh and reached for his bag to get out a fresh
sheet of parchment as he heard a wand sliding across the board. When looked up
again to read it, his eyes went wide with shock.
I will not lie to Professor Severus Snape about having lewd fantasies in study
period when I should be studying so that I can actually make something of
myself off the Quidditch pitch.
Snape sat down at McGonagall's desk, picking up his book and carefully not
looking at Harry. "Write quickly, Potter, and you might make the last half of
practice. One hundred times, legibly."
Harry nodded and looked down at his paper, already writing. "Yes sir."
 
.:.
 
Severus had been reading for quite a while before he decided that the text he
had brought along, Rediscovering the Extinct Potions of Egypt, wasn't worth the
trip he had made to Cairo to buy it. So far the potions all seemed to be ones
better left extinct, either because they were good for nothing but destruction
or because living mummies truly weren't the best idea for pets. He finally gave
it up as a bad job and set it aside, letting his mind wander as he watched
Harry write.
Within a few minutes he found himself thinking about all Harry had been through
as he had begun to do more and more often of late, and that led to remembering
the events leading up to Voldemort's demise. Harry hadn't gone back to the
Dursley house the summer after his sixth year, instead spending his time at
Hogwarts. Several professors had stayed on to give him extra lessons in the
hopes of preparing him for Voldemort's next attack, and members of the Order
had visited often to test him with mock 'battles'.
Severus lived at the school year-round so he had been requested to lend his
talents to testing Harry's knowledge as well, and he had been aware of many of
the lessons he was not directly part of. Harry had spent the first half of
summer learning hexes and how to Apparate, then he had moved on to wandless
magic, which he had shown a surprising knack for. When Harry had mastered most
of the spells that Dumbledore felt he would need, Harry had shown an interest
in becoming an Animagus. After some debate, McGonagall had eventually agreed to
teach him. Within a shockingly short time, Harry had learned how to change to
the form of a small black cat with a lightning bolt on its chest, though it had
been done in secret and he was not registered. Harry had given his word to only
use his Animagus form in an emergency, and seemed not to even practice it
anymore once McGonagall was satisfied that he had mastered it.
The speed with which Harry had learned over the summer had encouraged the Order
immensely, but it worried Severus. It seemed as though there wasn't anything
Harry couldn't do once he set his mind to it, and he wasn't at all sure that
was a good thing. Harry tended to risk his life entirely too often, whether
through some twisted sense of duty or sheer foolishness, and Severus was sure
that one day he would finally set his mind to doing the wrong thing and get
himself killed. During several mock battles near the end of the summer, Harry
had performed hexes that Severus, who had been raised among Dark wizards and
doing adult-level magic since his second year, never would have been able to
cast at the same age. Harry knew entirely too much Dark magic to suit Severus,
and it worried him that Harry had such a frighteningly high aptitude for it.
By the time school started again, Harry was far ahead of his year-mates. Harry
started his seventh year making excellent grades in Potions for the first time,
and his summer of studying paid off handsomely while he waited impatiently for
Voldemort's next move. Many of Harry's friends were preoccupied with courting,
trying to cement relationships that in many cases had built over several years
as classmates, but not Harry. He didn't even seem to notice that everyone
around him was obsessing over the opposite sex, too busy studying and
practicing spells to notice. While most of his friends were worrying over who
to take to the Yule ball, Harry was impatiently demanding that Dumbledore find
out what Voldemort was up to.
The long-awaited attack finally came during Easter break, while most of the
students who hadn't gone home were on a visit to Hogsmeade. Several Slytherin
students in Death Eater masks ambushed Harry as he left Honeydukes, knocking
him out with a spell that wouldn't have affected him if he had his clothing
warded as he had been taught. Ron, Hermione, and several others were injured as
the students fought with the Slytherins who had attacked Harry, but the
Gryffindors were winning until several older Death Eaters appeared to aid the
Slytherin students. The Death Eaters managed to Apparate away a few minutes
later, taking Harry and the Slytherins with them.
When Dumbledore questioned Harry afterwards in front of members of the Order,
Harry hadn't been very forthcoming about much of what had happened in the
Zabini Manor. His version of events left large gaps in the overall story, gaps
that were obviously difficult for him to think about. He had eventually
admitted that he was beaten severely by Lucius Malfoy, but he refused to
comment on what had been said or done and hadn't been willing to discuss the
Lestranges at all. Harry refused to account for a total of about six hours of
time, and Severus knew from his own hard experience that six hours could be a
very long time in the company of those particular Death Eaters.
Dumbledore hadn't been nearly worried enough by the boy's reticence to suit
Severus and he had said so, but Sirius had insisted it wasn't anyone's business
if Harry didn't want to talk about it. Dumbledore had refused to press and
asked Severus to drop it, so Severus' questions concerning how Harry spent that
afternoon and evening remained unanswered, his fears likely worse than any
reality could have been. He still hated not knowing what had happened during
the hours that Harry refused to account for, but he couldn't justify inquiring
about it. It was impossible for him to explain why he needed to know, so he
lived with nightmares of possible terrors Harry had been subjected to that may
have been far worse than the truth.
Harry's narrative of the time he was held by the Death Eaters essentially began
when Lucius was through with him, though he had left gaps after that, too.
Harry had told Dumbledore that he had been healed and presented to Voldemort,
who merely toyed with him for a while before he had Harry locked away to be
Voldemort's personal plaything. Harry had been almost livid when he pointed out
that Lucius had healed him again then and offered him a sumptuous meal, making
it obvious that he expected to have Harry around for a very long time. It
incensed Harry that the Death Eaters seemed to think torturing him and then
healing him made everything they had done alright, but he had made certain to
point out that Lucius had said Voldemort expected to welcome Harry into his
flock within a short time.
Harry had confessed to 'losing it' for a while after he was locked up, but he
managed to pull himself together after a short period of time. He began
thinking and planning then, and escaped a few hours after midnight by using his
Animagus form to slip between the bars in the windowed door of his cell. A
normal teenager would have left as quickly as possible then, but Harry wasn't
at all normal, even among wizards. He went to the nearest fireplace and rolled
in the soot to cover the white blaze on the chest of his cat form, and then he
went looking for his wand and Voldemort instead.
Severus looked down at where his hands were folded in his lap, picking at a
purple stain on one long graceful finger. He well remembered sitting in
Dumbledore's office and listening to Harry's recollection of his search and
final triumph over Voldemort. He was very sure that Harry had left out almost
as much as he told them of his midnight wanderings through the Zabini mansion.
He had been there himself in the past, and knew the layout of the building well
enough to know Harry skipped over large portions of his journey up to the
master suite on the third floor. Knowing Death Eaters as he did, Severus was
rather sure that Harry saw things he wished he hadn't while wandering the halls
in the form of a small black cat.
Harry never did find his wand, which had since been replaced with another
Ollivander manufactured from a feather Fawkes gifted to Harry while the Order
was still clearing the mansion. Harry did find the sleeping Dark Lord, though,
and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that cold steel could kill him, using a
decorative broadsword from the Dark Lord's own bedroom to behead Voldemort
while he slept. Harry had also destroyed Voldemort's wand just to be safe, and
locked the door before he turned into a cat again to try to find a way out. He
had wandered around in the dark for quite some time, carefully passing several
rooms of sleeping Death Eaters before he stumbled across a fireplace with a pot
of Floo powder just before dawn. He had the presence of mind to finally Floo to
the Order headquarters and tell Remus what had happened.
Within an hour, Harry was back at Hogwarts with the Dumbledore-bestowed title
of The Boy Who Lived to Save Us All while Aurors and members of the Order
cleared out the Zabini house. The Aurors had a full job that day, capturing
many of the Death Eaters and killing several who refused to yield even after
they were cornered. Harry's fierce joy at hearing of the deaths of certain
Death Eaters, particularly Lucius Malfoy and the Lestranges, hadn't gone
unnoticed by anyone, but Dumbledore was firm on not asking Harry to relate more
details than he wished to share. Dumbledore wasn't so naive as to think that
Harry had told them everything, but he was very firm about telling everyone
concerned that Harry was an adult and was capable of deciding what they needed
to know and what could remain private.
The scrape of chair legs on stone made Severus look up as Harry stood. He
silently watched the boy gathering his things, wondering anew how Harry had
done so much, so young, and matured so much more quickly than his year-mates
despite his abysmal childhood. The boy had lived a hard life, much harder than
most wizards his age, and yet somehow had been affected very little by it. By
the end of the summer Severus had to admit, if only to himself, that his view
of Harry had changed quite drastically.
Severus hadn't known how very poor Harry's home life had been until the daily
conversations between Harry and the other staff members who had remained for
the summer had dropped hints. Severus had paid more attention after his
interest was piqued, and the things he learned about Harry had been
enlightening enough that Severus had often found himself lingering over his
meal to listen. The boy still did not behave as he should, of course, but
knowing his background made Harry's attitudes and shortcomings much easier for
Severus to understand. He doubted that any of Harry's classmates could have
survived the systematic emotional abuse and malnutrition Harry had lived with,
much less survive it and grow up to be as tough an individual as Potter was.
Severus had always looked James eye-to-eye, so he thought that, given a decent
home with loving parents, Harry might have reached his own height. He also
believed Harry probably would have turned out a lot more like James or even
Sirius, with their arrogance and disregard for anyone who wasn't a friend. In
reality, Harry was several inches shorter and a bit wider shouldered than his
father with a way of carrying himself that suggested he was stronger than he
looked. The only remnants of James that Severus saw in Harry were his hair and
that confident way of moving that most great Quidditch players seemed to have.
He had almost nothing in common with Sirius and interacted with him much like
Lily had, often fighting with Sirius simply because Harry was more mature than
his godfather and he knew it.
It had surprised Severus when he realized late the previous summer that Harry
reminded him more of Lily than anyone else, but Harry's resemblance to her went
much deeper than the similar facial structure and vivid green eyes. Harry's
habit of simply accepting his lot in life and making the best of it was
something that he had gotten from his mother, too, as was his newly-revealed
need to learn. Few people Severus had ever known had the constant hunger to
learn that he did, but Lily had been one of them. Her thirst for knowledge had
been one of the main things that led Lily to befriend Severus, and it hadn't
abated in the least as she matured.
Harry walked quickly over to the desk as soon as he'd gathered his things,
offering a scroll to Severus and interrupting his thoughts. "I lost count after
ninety, so I did twenty more just to be safe. May I go now, sir?"
Severus took the scroll, unrolling it as if to count the lines. "Potter,
wouldn't it have been much easier just to admit you were fantasizing about your
girlfriend?"
Harry flushed, looking away. "I don't have a girlfriend, sir."
Severus lifted his gaze to Harry's face, his surprise evident even though his
tone was very dry. "The Boy Who Lived doesn't have a someone fawning over him?
What about the Granger girl? You two spend a lot of time with your heads
together."
Harry wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Eww. No, sir, Hermione is my friend.
Besides, she and Ron have been together almost two years now."
"Friends make the best companions, Potter," Severus replied, looking down at
the scroll again. "I am surprised you've not yet figured that out."
Harry was silent for a long moment as he watched Severus scan down the scroll,
then he finally said, "It's not that easy for me, sir. I have very few friends
I can be sure are my friends because they like me and not being able to say
they know the Boy Who Wouldn't Die."
Severus settled back in his chair, giving Harry a measuring look. "Most boys
your age would not care why the girl wanted to be with them."
"I'm not most boys, sir; I don't want a relationship like that," Harry replied
firmly, meeting Severus' gaze. After a moment's pause, Harry blushed slightly
as he added, "And I'm not really interested in girls anyway." Severus' eyebrows
went up at that but he didn't say anything, and after a moment Harry asked,
"May I be excused, sir?"
Severus nodded, letting the scroll roll closed. "Yes, you may go, Potter. I
imagine your friends have waited practice for you. In the future, dotry to
study during study period."
"Yes sir." Harry turned away to walk quickly down the aisle.
Harry had just reached the door when Severus stood up and spoke again. "Oh, and
Potter?"
Harry paused with his hand on the doorknob, looking back at him. "Sir?"
"Good luck in the Cup." Severus resisted the impulse to smile at Harry's
shocked expression, adding dryly, "You are the closest thing to a Slytherin
that will be in the game."
"Uh, yes sir," Harry replied, his shock fading into a pleased smile. "Thank
you, sir."
Severus nodded and then waved his hand dismissively. "Go on, off with you. Do
be sure to win tomorrow."
Harry grinned. "Yes sir!"
Severus watched the boy go and then looked down at the desk to pick up the
scroll and his book as an all too-familiar voice said slowly, "That was ...
unusually kind of you, Severus. One could almost think you've finally grown to
like the boy."
Severus turned towards the voice, watching as McGonagall stepped out of the
shadows in the rear corner of the room. The walls there appeared to be solid
stone, but obviously could not be since he had last seen her headed to
Dumbledore's office with a third year who had turned one of his fellows into a
rather large pincushion. "I merely spoke the truth, Minerva. Potter is the
closest thing to a Slytherin that will be on the field, and I have every
confidence in his ability to win."
"I suppose you could see it that way, Severus, but he is still a Gryffindor.
The team should have an easy time of it tomorrow," McGonagall agreed with a
tiny smile.
"The team will have little to do with it, I am quite sure." Severus drew his
wand and moved towards the board to clear away the message there, drawing her
attention to it and making her eyes widen as she read it. "Potter could beat
Ravenclaw with no help at all beyond a mediocre Keeper. Mr. Weasley is up to
that I believe, though little more."
"Would you like to make a friendly wager on that, Severus? Say, ten galleons
that Gryffindor will win by fifty points or more?" McGonagall watched Severus
slip his wand up one sleeve and then pick up the scroll Harry had written his
lines on to tuck it into a pocket of his robe, wondering why he would keep such
a thing.
Severus snorted, giving her a level look as he picked up his book and then
started for the door. "I'll go a step further to wager twenty that Harry will
win by at least a hundred. Good day, Minerva."
"Good day, Severus," McGonagall replied with another tiny smile, watching him
go. She hadn't heard much of their conversation, but she wondered now what she
might have learnt if she had. Severus was seldom friendly, and normally even
less friendly towards Harry Potter than others.
Severus made his way quickly through the halls towards the dungeon, his boot
heels ringing against the stones of the nearly deserted corridors as he stalked
towards his rooms, mentally berating himself. 'Very good,
Sev,'hethoughtsarcastically, 'make it through almost an entire year of watching
the boy andthenlet McGonagall know you care for him only two monthsbefore he
finishes his schooling. Perhaps next you should share with her your nightmares
about what Voldemort's pets might have done to him, or your profound desire to
introduce him to your bed.'
Severus snorted derisively at his own folly and allowed his thoughts to
continue in the same vein as he walked down to the dungeons. He quickly passed
his own classroom a few minutes later, walking into the darkness beyond for a
good fifty paces before he paused at a blank wall that had two tiny green
points of light on it at about chest height. Severus gave his right hand a tiny
practiced flick and his wand fell into his fingers, then he tapped a quick
seemingly random pattern around the green spots before whispering, "Solace."
The tiny dots of light blinked once and then a second time before a silver-grey
outline slowly brightened, revealing that the dots of light were the eyes of a
coiled snake. It began uncoiling a moment later as a cobra-like hood spread, a
silver tongue flickering into view just before the snake bared its fangs, its
mouth opening. The snake began to grow as it seemed to draw back rapidly into
the wall, the mouth opening unnaturally large to reveal a door perhaps half a
pace behind where the solid wall had been. The stone surrounding the doorway
had been carved into the likeness of a huge snake's open mouth, two shining
green eyes above the door casting a soft green glow on the hallway and seeming
to look down at him with eerie intelligence. Huge carved fangs framed a plain
door that looked to be made from one solid piece of nearly black rowan, despite
the fact it was unheard of for a rowan tree to grow so large. The door had no
handle, but it needed none. It had opened only to the touch of Severus' aura
since the day he finally puzzled out the wards that had protected the suite.
Severus put his wand away again and laid his palm against the closed door,
waiting for it to swing open before he stepped into his chambers. The door
closed itself behind him as he started across his cool, quiet room, and outside
in the hallway the snake's mouth began to close, leaving his rooms completely
cut off from the rest of the castle.
Severus had been the first to decipher the wards in many years, and entering
them assured his privacy as nowhere else could. Even Dumbledore could not enter
his chambers unless Severus opened the door for him, and that was something
that Severus was inordinately proud of. This was his sanctuary and he guarded
its privacy jealously, giving access to no one other than the house elves.
That his privacy was so important to him as an adult was probably due to the
fact he had not been allowed any during his childhood. His parents had thought
his obvious intelligence meant that he should be above normal childish
pursuits, forcing him to spend all his time studying or in what his mother
liked to call 'structured play' with a very few pureblood children. He had
learned to read young and had spent hours each evening in the family library,
reading books at seven years old that many fifth years wouldn't have
understood. He had been given a wand at eight because he had somehow succeeded
in using a twig to turn another boy into a frog, and by the time he was ten he
had mastered more spells than some Hogwarts students knew when they graduated.
Severus was snobbish little prig when he arrived at Hogwarts, sure of his
mental superiority over his year-mates and thinking himself far above
socializing with any student who wasn't a pureblood, despite his own heritage.
He had been very like a darker copy of his closest friend Lucius, and both were
sorted into Slytherin almost before the Sorting Hat could touch them. That had
made every Gryffindor in the school into Severus' immediate enemy, but he
hadn't particularly cared. He had been raised expecting Gryffindors to hate
him, and returned the feeling in full measure.
He was also raised to despise Muggles and their children, but as he got to know
Lily Evans, a Ravenclaw who seemed determined to make friends, he began to
doubt. Muggleborns were inherently bad according to all he had been taught, but
as Lucius became engrossed in his own popularity, Severus had quickly warmed up
to the bright sarcastic girl who had a sense of humour very like his own.
Severus had thought that the Hogwarts classes were a breeze, but Lily had none
of his advantages and needed tutoring. Severus and Lily grew rapidly closer
over the first few months they attended school, and she absorbed all Severus
would teach her like a sponge. It wasn't long before Lily had befriended Remus
Lupin, and he could often be found with them as well despite the fact he was a
Gryffindor. Eventually the three of them were a common part of the scenery in
the Library, and many other students grew to resent that the three of them
maintained impeccable grades without any visible effort at all.
Severus' strongest recollections of his first two years at school were of
Lily's laughter and Remus' sly wit, which had helped him ignore the lack of
interest Lucius had in him. Lucius' sudden return to being Severus' best friend
at the end of his second year had made Severus infinitely happy, and he had
been sure that the remainder of his time at Hogwarts would be just as idyllic.
James Potter had set about making Severus' life hell when he finally noticed
Lily early in their third year though, and it wasn't long before James'
personality and popularity had turned Lily's head, costing Severus the best
friend he'd ever had. His interactions with the Gryffindors after that,
including Remus, had combined with Lucius' able encouragement to insure that
Severus' dislike of Muggleborns flourished again and grew.
After they graduated, Severus took the Dark Mark at Lucius' urging and worked
loyally for Voldemort despite his conscience until Lucius suddenly kicked
Severus out of his life one morning, removing his only reason to support
Voldemort. Severus had turned then to the only one he knew on the side of the
light that might help even a Death Eater get away from Voldemort: Lily Potter.
She had sent him to Dumbledore, who had offered Severus a second chance as a
spy and Potions teacher.
Severus had put himself at Dumbledore's mercy despite his misgivings because he
simply had nowhere else to go. He had begun teaching others very early,
responsible for much of Lucius' education in the Dark Arts because Lucius often
wanted to know how to do the spells Severus spent so many lonely hours
learning, so teaching did seem an obvious choice of profession for him. He
would have preferred to teach Defence, but he had excelled at Potions in school
and achieved his Mastery to aid Voldemort, so he accepted the job.
Severus had immediately begun to work on his image as a severe no-nonsense
disciplinarian in an effort to make up for the fact nearly half of his students
had been in school when he graduated. He did his utmost to make certain
Dumbledore would never regret taking him on despite the problems he encountered
with his students. He soon proved that he was a very good teacher who took his
responsibilities seriously and was always willing to go the extra mile if
Dumbledore asked it of him, and the staff accepted him before his first term as
a professor had ended. He was made Head of Slytherin House at the start of his
fifth year teaching, and soon he had also earned a reputation for being a hard-
arsed bastard who favoured Slytherin as drastically as McGonagall favoured
Gryffindor.
The only time his carefully maintained facade fell away completely was when he
was safely alone in his rooms, as he was now. The change that came over him
when he stepped past the wards was obvious, or would have been had there ever
been anyone there to see it. His usual abrupt stride and ringing footfalls
faded away into nearly-silent catlike grace as his habitual frown softened into
something that, while not always a smile, was still happier than the expression
he showed the outside world. The calming, relaxing effect of his rooms was now
an integral part of his life and he never spent a night elsewhere if he could
avoid it.
Severus had decided long ago that he had to please no one but himself in these
rooms, and he relished the complete solitude at every opportunity. His chambers
contained six rooms, not counting the bathing room, and were larger and more
elaborate than he needed, but they were his and he cherished them and their
contents as he allowed himself to get attached to very few things. With his
days spent attempting to control upwards of a hundred imbeciles -- though
mercifully not all at once -- while teaching a very few gifted students, he
fully believed that his suite was all that had allowed him to keep his sanity.
The main room was a cosy sitting area with an elaborate Floo-sized fireplace
along the left wall that had been disconnected from the network many years ago,
if it had ever been connected at all. Surrounding the fireplace and the
doorways leading from the room was a dark green, nearly black stone that
matched the doors and was intricately carved with ivy leaves that seemed almost
to be alive. It was a welcoming, homey room despite the dark colour scheme, and
yet it still somehow gave the impression of understated elegance.
The ivy leaf motif of the stonework was echoed in the throw rug before the fire
and again on the furniture. The Victorian couch facing the fireplace was made
from beautifully carved dark wood with green upholstery accented with
delicately stitched silver ivy vines that crawled across the back of the seat
almost as if they had grown there. On the couch were several pillows in various
shades of deep green, each with ivy patterns in contrasting shades of silver
and grey. Two mismatched chairs flanked the couch, both with deep comfortable-
looking upholstery, and small end tables by each chair held matching lamps. The
overall effect was subtle, but the colour scheme and ivy accents served to make
the room look as if everything belonged there even though the furniture didn't
match.
There were doors to either side of the fireplace, both in the same dark wood as
the main door to the suite. The door to the left, near the main door, led to a
secret passage that went to his office and classroom despite the fact it defied
the laws of physics for the passage to lead where it did. Severus had once
tried to work out exactly how the passage had been spelled to be as short as it
was and yet cover so much ground. He knew that it was a wizarding-space spell
of some sort, but eventually he had to concede that, like the ceiling of the
Great Hall, it was well beyond his ability to decipher. Hogwarts itself was
magical, of course, but many enchantments had been overlaid in the stones over
the centuries to augment the castle's essential magic, and many of those spells
were associated with making 'impossible' rooms.
The door to the right of the fireplace led to a kitchen that had long ago been
turned into a laboratory. Severus had converted the private laboratory and
stocked it himself, complete with a small storeroom. He often used it to test
potions in safety and privacy, and usually had a few potions at various stages
of manufacture in stasis. The main laboratory was still better equipped, but it
wasn't secure from the tampering of students or from interruptions by his well
meaning but often annoying colleagues. To Severus, the privacy was well worth
using the smaller room.
Directly across the room from main entrance was the door to his study, flanked
by an elaborate antique mirror to the left and a portrait to the right, both of
which had come with the rooms. The mirror was linked to a similar mirror in the
traditional room of each Head of House -- only one of which, McGonagall's, was
actually in use -- as well as one in the Headmaster's office and a final one in
the staff room. The mirror was spelled to save messages until Severus dismissed
them, and served as a sort of bulletin board by which the rest of the staff
could contact him.
The portrait was of Salazar Slytherin himself, and had been done at the peak of
the ancient wizard's power. It was extremely knowledgeable despite its surly
disposition and frequent long, unexplained absences. Severus had tried at first
to befriend the Founder's portrait, but he had eventually accepted that it was
even less inclined to polite conversation than he himself was. They seldom
spoke at all any longer unless there were important matters afoot, but that
suited them both quite well. Severus hadn't particularly wished for a painted
roommate, and was just as content that the Founder usually had better things to
do than speak to him.
The right wall of the sitting room, across from the fireplace, had doors
leading to the two bedrooms. There was a large magical tapestry on the wall
between them, a work of art that was uniquely suited to Severus and his rooms
despite the lack of other decoration. It covered the wall nearly from floor to
ceiling and was roughly square, patterned with a moving panorama of plants and
animals from all over the globe, all of which changed with the seasons. The
tapestry's beauty was remarkable, but it paled when compared to its usefulness:
at a simple touch on any animal or plant the tapestry would display detailed
information on where to obtain the item and how to prepare it for storage. It
had been commissioned by Severus and designed to his specifications, and had
proved to be popular enough that the Turkish tapestry maker had purchased the
rights to the idea from him.
Severus was long used to his surroundings and barely noticed them as he moved
through the sitting room, which was utterly silent but for the crackling of the
fire and the soft sounds of his own movement as he crossed the room. He paused
by the door of the study to touch the edge of the mirror with his free hand,
relaxing a bit more when the reflective surface glowed briefly silver. He
opened the plain black door next to the mirror and went into his study, pleased
that his time was his own until dinner.
The entire study had a simple but elegant feel, its furnishings plain but
lending to a comfortable atmosphere for one who enjoyed solitude and the
pursuit of knowledge. The room was about twice the size of his sitting room and
contained many shelves, a large desk, an office chair, and a small table in one
corner with a comfortable old green armchair next to it. The armchair had been
his favourite in the Slytherin common room and was the only furnishing he had
asked the elves to provide for him when he was made a professor. He had few
personal belongings from his childhood, and fewer still that had any use beyond
sentiment. He seldom used the chair any longer, but it had many memories
associated with it, both good and bad, and it pleased him to know that it was
there and that he could use it any time he wished, should he choose to do so.
The bookshelves surrounding the room were made of a dark wood that matched the
desk, all open-faced except for two ranks of shelves in the back corner that
had spelled glass doors to preserve the most rare and dangerous volumes in his
collection. Severus had been collecting books in various states of repair as
long as he could remember, either by purchasing them or sneaking them from his
family's library, and he had amassed quite a collection. Every shelf in the
room contained at least a few books, all neatly organized by subject and
usefulness, and he prided himself on his ability to remember and pick out the
correct one whenever he had need of the information. He had many books on
potions and Dark magic as well as rare or exceptional volumes on many other
subjects that he had stumbled across and purchased. He relished the simple joy
of learning something new and had read at least portions of every book in his
study, even the less useful ones like the one he was currently reading.
Severus laid his book on the beautiful teak desk that stood in the centre of
the room and then removed the scroll from his pocket to drop it by the book as
he settled into the padded leather desk chair with a soft sigh, smiling
slightly as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He had found the chair
almost ten years before while at a shop in London that dealt in rare items
picked up at estate sales, and he loved it with the sort of devotion one might
show towards a favourite pet. It looked strangely at home in his study even
though it was of Muggle manufacture, blending in well with the shelves and the
desk that would have cost a fortune if Severus hadn't inherited it.
Much of the furniture in Severus' study was functional as well as appealing,
but there was one exception. It was an enchanted tapestry directly in front of
the desk next to the door that gave the appearance that the wall had a large
double window in it looking out across the Hogwarts grounds towards the lake.
He actually owned three of the enchanted tapestries, which he had purchased on
a whim not long after he first moved into the rooms. The tapestries were
literally his windows on the world, complete with sound should he desire it,
and far superior to actual windows in his opinion because they never let in any
true sunshine. For someone whose skin was ridiculously pale, that was a most
welcome blessing. Since purchasing them, Severus had been awakened by the sun
every morning without worry that oversleeping would result in a painful
sunburn.
The largest tapestry was the size of a large bay window and was hung in his
bedroom, suspended like a canopy above his bed where it served him quite well
as an alarm clock of sorts. It was most often set to show a clearing deep in
the Forbidden Forest that he'd found one summer while looking for potions
supplies, but during his frequent bouts of insomnia he switched it to a patch
of rocky shoreline near Dover. The sound of the waves usually soothed him to
sleep and had the added benefit that it didn't leave him queasy the next
morning the way sleeping potions often did.
The second tapestry was a much smaller one that he kept in his office to give
him something to look at other than potions bottles. It was usually attuned to
somewhere peaceful such as Stonehenge, but it had been charmed to change to a
view of a rocky Scottish cliff whenever anyone else entered his office. The
solid rock wall was depressingly ugly and often snow-covered, and served quite
well to discourage his students and colleagues from wanting to linger.
The third tapestry was the one in his study, and was enchanted to show scenes
of Hogwarts grounds so that he could watch the comings and goings of the castle
without having to actually participate. His favourite view on the study's
tapestry was the one of the Quidditch pitch as seen from his customary seat in
the stands. Even though he never made much mention of being a fan, he
faithfully watched all school games as well as the practices that were held
when he had free time. He enjoyed even the practice matches the way Muggles
enjoyed watching rugby, though without the screaming and popcorn, and quite
liked having a 'box seat' where he could watch unobserved, completely safe from
the elements.
Severus opened his eyes after he'd been sitting in his chair for a few moments
and lifted his right hand, giving it a shake so his wand would fall into his
fingers. He pointed it at the tapestry across from his desk and gave the wand a
little zigzag flick as he murmured, "Pitch, half volume."
The lakeside scene on the tapestry blurred into meaningless streaks of colour,
then slowed and stopped on a very different image, giving him a wide-angled
view of the pitch. There were several students in bright red robes zipping
about in what looked to be an almost haphazard fashion as the team practiced
with the Bludgers and Quaffle amid shouts and laughter. One voice clearly
carried through the tapestry over the others as the Gryffindor team captain,
Ginny Weasley, used the Sonorus spell to call out instructions to the group
from her position above the Keeper, Ron.
Severus laid his wand on his desk and then settled back in his chair to watch
the practice, searching for one particular figure among the red robes. He
caught the glint of sunlight on glass a few moments later as one of the
students suddenly shot skyward between two teammates amid wordless yells of
encouragement from the younger students gathered in the stands to watch the
practice. Harry caught the Snitch a moment later, drawing a triumphant yell of,
"Five!" from Ginny just before cheering drowned out even her spell-assisted
voice.
Severus smiled and murmured, "Well done, Potter."
Harry waved to the cheering team and those in the stands before he released the
Snitch and flew up towards Ginny. He hovered there to watch his friends play
for a bit as was his habit, and Severus relaxed comfortably in his chair as he
watched. Severus knew that Harry would remain in one place for a little while
before he went to catch the Snitch again, talking idly even as his gaze
constantly flicked over the pitch for a glimpse of gold, and had no doubt Harry
would catch the Snitch again as soon as he chose to. Harry made a habit of
catching it repeatedly during every practice, sometimes as many as a dozen
times before Ginny felt the rest of the team well-practiced enough to stop for
the day.
With the Cup tomorrow, Ginny would likely keep the team on the pitch until it
became too dark to see the Bludgers, if not longer. Harry could, after all,
follow the golden Snitch even in the dark, and Severus suspected that the
practice was only being held so that they would all have one last chance to fly
with him outside a match. It was just the sort of sentimental thing Gryffindors
would do.
 
 
***** Chapter 2 *****
"I've got only tonight left to get this figured out," Harry muttered
despondently. He took off his glasses and dropped them on his Potions text,
then pushed the book and glasses away to let his head fall forward to thud
loudly against the Gryffindor table.
Harry was in the Great Hall studying with Hermione, Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus,
and Ginny for their N.E.W.T. exams. Ginny didn't strictly need to study because
she wouldn't take the NEWT's for another year, but she had spent the year
tutoring Neville in Potions and she was determined to stick to it until he had
passed. Neville wanted to study at a tiny, exclusive Herbology school in Rome,
and he would need a passing Potions N.E.W.T. to get into the program.
The others at the table all glanced at Harry when they heard his head hit the
wood, but they almost immediately went back to their own studying. They were
all too worried about cramming as much as possible into their own brains to
worry about Harry's minor theatrics.
After a few minutes, Harry lifted his head to let it drop and hit the table
again with a thunk. Dean and Seamus snickered quietly as they looked up from
their History of Magic notes again. "Try it again, mate," Dean said cheerfully.
"Third time's a charm." Harry immediately followed Dean's suggestion, making
Dean and Seamus both laugh.
"Harry... Stop," Hermione said then, giving Dean an exasperated look. She
reached over to put her hand on the table in front of Harry just as he tried to
do it again, and the impact of his head hitting the back of her hand made her
yelp. She hadn't thought he was banging his forehead quite that hard against
the table.
Harry jerked up his head, blinking at Hermione as he grabbed for his glasses to
put them on again. "What'd you do that for, Hermione?"
Ginny snorted and reached past Ron to cuff Harry on the back of his head hard
enough to loosen his glasses again. "Stop being a prat, Harry," she said
crossly. "You know your Potions better than any of us."
"Even me," Hermione said with a little annoyance, rubbing at the back of her
hand while she flexed it and then letting both hands drop to her lap. "You're
going to ace the exam Harry, I promise. I've quizzed you until I couldn't stand
it anymore."
"And that's an awful bloody lot," Ron added, giving his best friend and his
girlfriend each a dirty look. "I'm making potions in my sleep now, and I always
mess up and turn odd colours or grow antlers."
Hermione and Harry both blinked at Ron in surprise as Ginny giggled and said,
"Sounds like memories to me Ronnie-kins, not dreams."
The others all laughed at that as Ron spluttered, giving his little sister an
indignant look. After a few moments he finally managed to say, "I've never
given myself antlers! Not once!"
"You turned your hand into tentacles one time though," Seamus cut in from
across the table, grinning widely.
"Oh yeah," Dean enthused, "that was wicked, it took three days to wear off..."
Ron let his head fall forward to hit the table much as Harry had, making his
voice sound muffled as he groaned out, "Oh, Merlin! Don't remind me, I just
know I'll have to make that potion again tomorrow."
Hermione giggled and watched from across the table as Ginny patted the top of
Ron's head and said cheerfully, "Don't worry, Ronnie-kins. I'm sure you'll
figure it out."
"Sure you will, Ron," Neville said as he propped his elbow on the table,
looking at Ron as he rested his chin in his hand. "Just like I'll make it
through my Potions practical without blowing up my cauldron. Snape's already
told me he has a spare waiting for me in the testing area and shielding charms
up to contain, and I quote, 'Whatever monstrosity you cook up this time,
Longbottom'."
Seamus snickered at that and Dean said, "I still don't know how you've gotten
so far in Potions class, Nevvy. Snape has it in for you almost as bad as he has
it in for Harry."
"I assure you, Thomas, if I 'had it in' for either of your friends, they would
ribbit by now," a dry voice said, making them all look up in surprise to see
Snape watching them from a few feet away with his usual dour expression. "After
seven years in my class I would hope you lot have learned enough to pass the
NEWT's, but..." He trailed off as he looked at Neville and Ron, and then went
on in a slightly disgusted tone, "There are always a few who fail." Snape
stalked off towards the head table without another word.
Neville let out a little noise and looked back down at his Potions text, and
Ron let his head fall forward to hit the table again, moaning, "I'm doomed."
 
.:.
 
"Dismissed," Severus said dryly, wondering what had possessed him to volunteer
to cover McGonagall's last class of the day while she gathered the grades for a
sixth year Gryffindor who was leaving early. "Kindly try not to trample anyone
on your way out."
Students immediately jumped to their feet and started making their way to the
door, and Severus was just as happy to see them gone as they were to leave.
Most were empty-handed -- ‘And empty-headed,’ Severus thought wryly -- and they
were obviously eager to be out of class, babbling excitedly about what they'd
do when they returned home in just two more days. Severus pretended not to
notice when Hermione and Ron moved much more slowly than the others, waiting
for Harry. Harry seemed to be in no hurry to put away the book he'd been
reading for the last hour, despite the fact that all of their courses were more
or less officially over with.
"Harry, come on," said Ron after a moment, his hands conspicuously empty.
"You've gotten worse than Hermione about having your nose stuck in a book, and
that's really going some."
"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione said indignantly, tightening her grip on her own
book.
Harry glanced up at his friends, looking from Hermione's red cheeks to Ron’s
flushing face before he spoke, hoping a reasonable tone wouldn't get his head
bitten off. "You two go on without me, I'm just going to finish this chapter.
I'll be along."
"Fine! I'll just go be annoyingly bookishout on the green!"
Hermione whirled around and stalked quickly out of the room with Ron trailing
after her, doing his best to appease her. "You know I didn't mean it that way,
'Mione. I love you, bookishness and all!"
Severus snorted and closed the door behind them as soon as they'd gone through
it, rolling his eyes and glad that he’d have them in his classroom only once
more. He walked back towards the front of the class, forgetting that Harry was
there muttered to himself, "I don't know what's worse, hormonal females or
pussy-whipped Weasleys." Harry snickered, looking up from his book as Severus
paused, nonplussed that he had forgotten Harry was there. "And you didn't hear
that, Potter."
Harry grinned and looked back down at his book. "Hear what, sir? I'm just
sitting here reading my book."
Severus looked at him a moment and then continued to McGonagall's desk, his
lips twitching slightly as he hid a smile. "Very good then." He sat down at the
desk and leaned back in her chair, watching Harry read for a few minutes before
spoke up again, sounding curious. "What are you reading that has caught your
interest thoroughly enough to keep you after class today of all days?"
Harry looked up at Severus again, smiling. "Chapter seventeen of Advanced
Neutralizing and Healing Potions by Artemus Slartibartfast." He laughed
slightly and then added, "Again."
Severus' eyebrows rose at the title and he sat up straight, his expression more
animated than Harry had ever seen him unless he was angry. "Where did you get
that?!” he asked quickly, shocked. “I've been trying to find an intact copy of
that book for years!"
Harry blinked. "Um... It was in the Black family library. Sirius mentioned a
few months ago that he had loads of old books taking up space in his house and
told me that they were mine if I wanted them. I asked him to send me a few on
Potions to give me something to do after classes ended, but he had no clue what
was worth reading. Remus stayed in London last weekend though, and while he was
there he picked out a few he thought would actually be useful for me." He made
a face then and added, "Sirius still wants me to become an Auror like him, but
that isn’t what I want, not anymore.”
Severus sat back at that revelation, staring while Harry looked down at the
book in front of him, obviously lost in thought. He continued to watch Harry
for several minutes before he finally asked quietly, "Harry? Why the sudden
interest in Potions?"
Harry took a deep breath and then let it out slowly, lifting the dark green
ribbon attached to the binding of the book to lay it on the page he had been
reading. He closed the book with care and then folded his hands on top of it,
looking up at Severus with a serious expression. "I was hoping, if my NEWT's
were high enough, to ask if you might consider taking me on as an Apprentice."
Severus blinked, his expression giving away how completely surprised he was by
that for a spilt second before he recovered and became impassive again. His
tone was much harder as he spoke again, sure that Harry was lying for some
reason. "You hate Potions, Potter, you always have."
"No sir," Harry replied, shaking his head and looking into Severus’ dark eyes,
hoping that his sincerity would show in his expression as obviously as guilt
always seemed to when he tried to lie. "I didn't understand Potions or what was
involved in brewing them correctly, so I got frustrated. Once I picked it up, I
think my grades speak for themselves."
Severus’ eyebrows rose as he asked incredulously, "Potter, are you attempting
to tell me it took you over five years to 'pick up' how to stir a cauldron?"
Harry flushed, resisting the urge to look away. "There's a lot more to Potions
than stirring a cauldron, as you well know. Sir."
"Such as?" Severus asked, shifting to prop his left elbow on the arm of his
chair and resting his chin on his fingertips. "Explain it to me, Potter, as you
see it."
Harry swallowed hard to push away the sudden rush of anxiety he felt, sure that
whatever he said next would affect the rest of his life. He took a deep breath
and then began to go through some of the different aspects as he'd thought them
out, hoping that just this once he could impress the man who was watching him
so intently.
"Correctly making potions is as much an art as a science, and involves using
all of your senses. You have to be able to work with the ingredients and the
potion and know when something smells wrong so you can contain it or banish it
before it does a Longbottom." Severus' lips twitched at that despite his
intention not to react to whatever Harry said, making Harry a bit more
confident as he went on. "You have to know exactly what the potion and
ingredients should look like and be able to distinguish between the many shades
of colour, too, because a potion that supposed to be sky blue may explode if
it's allowed to go periwinkle.”
Harry paused, obviously cataloguing what he’d already said, and Severus was
just about to say something when Harry went on, “You also have to be able to
test your potions on yourself if necessary and know if something tastes or
feels wrong, and you need to be able to neutralize any effects testing it might
have on you. You have to know what ingredients can be handled with the bare
hands and what you need protection for, which potions should burn when they
contact the skin, and which ones should be so neutral that you can hardly tell
something is there. And you have to be able to follow instructions correctly
the first time, or knowing any of the rest becomes worthless and you're a
danger to yourself and others." Harry fell silent and waited for another
question, trying hard not to chew on his lower lip.
Severus looked at him with an inscrutable expression for a long while before he
finally asked quietly, "Did Granger help you memorize that?"
"No sir," Harry answered immediately, "I stopped studying Potions with anyone
else at the end of last year, except for tutoring a few people or having
someone read off the name of a potion to me to see if I could remember the
formula right." He paused a second and then blushed slightly as he added, "I,
well, I thought it would be cheating if I let anyone help me with more. I
wanted to try for this, and I wanted to do it on my own, and earn it."
"What about your other courses, Potter?" Severus asked, his expression still
serious and closed. "How are your grades overall?"
Harry took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. "I think that I've gotten
an E in all of my courses. I studied every minute I could this year, and I
didn't run across any questions on the final exams or the NEWT's that I felt
like I didn't know the answer to. The practicals were pretty easy, I've always
been better at that part."
Severus’ eyebrows went up. "You think you got an Exceeds Expectations on my
exam?"
"Yes sir," Harry replied with only a slight hesitation, then couldn't resist
asking hopefully, "Have you graded it yet?"
Severus looked at him a long moment, then shook his head. "Not yet, Potter.
Yours was one of the first turned in, so it will be near the bottom of the
stack. I have about twenty papers left to grade when I'm done here."
Harry sighed and nodded, and then he stood and picked up the book he had been
reading. "I understand. I should get out of here so you can go then, sir."
"That would be a help, Potter, yes," Severus replied, also standing up.
Harry looked at him a moment longer and then nodded and turned away, walking
slowly towards the door. He didn’t notice Severus' quicker footsteps following
him until he suddenly turned around to say something and found himself face to
collarbone with the Potions professor. "Sorry," Harry mumbled, blushing again
as he took a step back and then another before his back hit the wall next to
the door. His face flamed even redder and he offered Severus the book as he
said quickly, "Here, sir, take this." He paused a split-second, then added,
"And I'm not trying to bribe you before you grade my NEWT's or anything, I
promise. Consider it a loan, if you like sir, just... You can do more with it
than I can. Some of the later chapters are over my head."
Severus' eyebrows went up, an appraising look in his eyes as he lifted his left
hand to accept the book. "Only some of them?"
Harry blushed even redder, looking down at the book they were both holding on
to but not quite able to make himself release it. "I've been doing a lot of
studying this year, sir. Reading when I couldn't sleep instead of roaming the
grounds, that kind of thing. I can make sense of all but the last four
chapters, and even bits of those I can muddle through. I think I'm missing
something important in chapter seventeen, but I don't know what."
"Do you enjoy it?" Severus asked, looking appraisingly into Harry's eyes when
Harry looked up at him. "Do you truly like Potions?"
Harry nodded quickly, finally letting go of the book as his eyes lit with
enthusiasm and determination. "I enjoy the challenge, sir. That's why I decided
not to play professional Quidditch; catching the Snitch has gotten too easy and
it's not nearly as much fun anymore. No matter how much I learn about Potions,
it seems like there's always more I can't even come close to comprehending, and
I need that. I need to be able to keep getting better and learning more, even
though I don't have to learn anymore."
"That is as it should be, if you seriously want to make a life out of potions-
making. A Potions Master never stops learning. If he does, he ceases to be a
Master and becomes just another wizard with a recipe book." Severus looked at
Harry a long moment, remembering another pair of green eyes looking at him with
just the same expression, then he finally gave Harry a slight smile. "Go find
your friends, Harry. I have exams to grade."
Harry nodded quickly, smiling back and trying to ignore the flutter in his
stomach at the combination of receiving a smile and being called by his given
name. "Yes sir. Enjoy the book."
"I am quite sure I will. I found a dozen pages amongst my grandfather's things
after he died, and I have wanted to read the rest ever since." Severus reached
to open the door, protectively cradling the old book against his chest as he
added, "I will give you my decision myself, Harry. Perhaps as early as class
tomorrow."
Harry nodded, trying to suppress the surge of elation he felt at something so
simple as hearing his name again. "After you check the results of my other
exams."
"Quite." The corner of Severus' mouth quirked upwards a little farther into
something that might have been a true smile. "Now off with you, I'm sure your
friends are wondering if I gave you detention for breathing incorrectly."
Harry laughed, surprised, and moved through the doorway. "Probably are. I'll
see you soon, sir." Harry gave Severus one last grin and then turned away and
started down the empty hall at a light jog, completely oblivious to the dark
eyes that watched him go.
Severus finally turned to head towards the dungeons when Harry was out of
sight, instead finding himself face to face with Minerva McGonagall. "Minerva,"
he said, inclining his head politely and just barely managing to keep his
expression bland. "Good afternoon."
"Afternoon, Severus," McGonagall replied, tilting her head to one side slightly
as she raised an eyebrow. "Keeping Potter after class again?"
"We were discussing a rare Potions book Black gave to him." Severus held the
book in question a bit closer to his chest, hating the feeling that he had to
justify himself even as he gave in to it. "He stayed late of his own accord."
"Ah, Potions," McGonagall replied with a nod, smiling slightly as if that
explained it all.
Severus blinked. "You know of his interest in them?"
McGonagall laughed softly and then replied with amusement, "He's thought of
little else in quite some time, Severus. Had you not noticed? I would expect
that he was improving drastically in your classes the last two years, as often
as he studied for them in mine."
"I had noticed an improvement, especially this term, but I wasn't aware it was
due to so much extra effort," Severus admitted grudgingly. "Have you graded
Potter's exam yet?"
"Yes, Severus, I have. He got two hundred and twenty-five percent correct,
including both the written and the practical." McGonagall's lips curved in a
little smile that was very nearly a smirk as she added, "I expect Miss Granger
will be in a tizzy when they get the results, he outscored her by seventeen
points on the written."
"It's about time someone did," Severus replied, a sudden smirk quirking up the
corners of his own mouth. "Granger has gotten entirely too used to being the
smartest student in the school."
McGonagall snorted and said firmly, "She is not the smartest in the school
Severus, and never was. She was taught how to learn at an early age, much as
you were, and it helped her absorb what we put in front of her more easily.
Those who did not have nurturing families or private tutors have had to teach
themselves how to learn."
Severus looked at her thoughtfully for nearly a minute before he finally
nodded. "You have a very good point. Some started out years behind their
classmates and are only just now finally reaching their full potential."
"And at least one seventh year is only beginning to show his potential,
Severus," McGonagall replied, pinning him with a sharp-eyed gaze over her
glasses in a manner reminiscent of Dumbledore at his most annoying. "If someone
were to give him encouragement and instruction, the Potter boy could very well
take over as Headmaster after Albus retires."
Severus frowned suspiciously. "Did you coerce Potter into his current interest
in Apprenticing to me?"
"No, Severus, I did not," McGonagall replied, sighing softly as her shoulders
slumped the tiniest bit. "In fact I attempted exactly the opposite because of
his talent for Transfiguration, and for my troubles he stopped approaching me
for advice. The boy makes his own choices, and as you well know they're often
not what others would have wished for him." She paused for a moment before she
added, "I expect the two of you have a lot in common. He too has never known
much true freedom, only duty and what small happiness he could scratch out for
himself around it."
"You're quite mistaken Minerva, about myself at least," Severus replied, his
voice calm as he smiled slightly. "I have true freedom; I simply choose to stay
here, in my home." He paused, making a sudden decision, and then added, "And I
believe I shall see to it that Potter has the same chance to stay in his home,
if that is his choice."
McGonagall's eyebrows rose. "You're going to take the boy as your Apprentice?"
"I believe so, if his marks are satisfactory," Severus answered, nodding.
"You will find that they are. Professor Flitwick commented to me at lunch that
Harry's score in his class was the fourth highest a student has ever received."
McGonagall looked at Severus thoughtfully for a moment, noting the way he
smiled at that, and then suddenly asked, "And if he wishes to be more than your
Apprentice?"
Severus snorted softly, giving her a level look as his smile disappeared again.
"That won't happen, Minerva. Potter wouldn't want to tie himself down to
someone such as myself." He made no attempt to deny that he might be interested
in Harry. McGonagall had been one of his own teachers in school, and he was
sure that she probably recalled Severus' rather public relationship with Lucius
Malfoy.
McGonagall thought it wise not to comment on the fact Severus hadn't denied he
would welcome it if Potter wanted more. "Perhaps you should ask him what he
wants, Severus, before either of you commits to anything. An Apprenticeship
will require you to live closely together for several years, after all, and
neither of you should enter it blindly." She paused, wanting to be sure he knew
she was serious, and then went on, "I've a few more papers to grade, Severus,
so I will see you at dinner. Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon," Severus replied automatically, stepping out of her way as she
moved towards her classroom. He let her pass and then began to walk towards the
Potions classroom with his usual quick stride, mentally turning over the things
she'd said. After only a few minutes, he decided that he simply needed to spend
some time sorting out what would be best for the boy.
‘Man,’ a small part of his mind insisted, ‘He is nearly eighteen and has
finished his schooling.’
Severus pointedly ignored the thought, deciding that he would finish grading
papers before he worried over the rest. He would grade in reverse order, as
always, even though that meant it an hour or more before he knew what Potter's
grade was. There should to be some standards that did not change for the boy
simply because he wanted them to, no matter how insignificant the things that
remained firm might seem in comparison to the many rules that Harry blithely
ignored.
Potter pushed the limits put on him constantly without even seeming to realize
he'd done it, and Severus felt that changing his ways for Potter now would be
setting a bad precedent. Harry would be one of the most powerful wizards in the
world one day, if he was not already so, and it simply would not do for him to
mature believing that rules and laws applied to everyone but him.
 
***** Chapter 3 *****
 
Harry walked along the shore of the lake, looking down at the ground just ahead
of his feet and occasionally scuffing his toe in the dirt. Ron and Hermione
weren't in the dorms, Hagrid's hut, or out on the green, and Harry was
wondering where they had disappeared to and what they would think if Snape did
take him on as an Apprentice. He'd been working towards that goal for quite a
while now, ever since he had looked up one day early in his sixth year and
realized he enjoyed Potions despite Snape's constant sniping at him. The day a
bit over a year later that he realized he also quite liked Snape himself had
just given him another reason to earn the man's respect and confidence, which
he thought he might have done after the way Snape was almost friendly to him
when he sent Harry on his way just a little while ago.
Hermione knew that Harry wanted to look for an Apprenticeship. He had asked her
to recommend a good book about the traditions and laws concerning them, but he
hadn't told her who he wanted to Apprentice to or why. At first that had been
because he wasn't sure how to tell her, but after he'd done more research he
had learned other things that made him hesitant to tell anyone what he planned.
Depending on the contract used, an Apprentice's duties included everything from
making sure their Master had clean socks to satisfying their Master’s sexual
needs, and Harry hadn't wanted to admit to his best friends that he was trying
to become Snape's student and sex toy.
To Harry that sounded like quite a nice way to live, especially since Snape
lived at Hogwarts year-round, but he was pretty sure Hermione and Ron wouldn't
see it that way. Leaving himself wide open for Snape to order him into his bed,
tacitly inviting it even, was sure to make Harry’s friends think he was mental.
Hermione seemed to like Potions, but she had made it clear on many occasions
that she thought Snape wasn't a very nice man. That was Hermione-speak for
'slimy git', so Harry didn't expect her to jump for joy when he told her he
hoped to spend the next five years Apprenticed to Snape, especially if she read
the specific contract he wanted to use. Ron still dreaded Snape's class and any
other time he might possibly be in the same room as the man, so Ron would
probably freak out long before he knew about the contract.
Hermione and Ron both had asked what Harry wanted to do with his life
repeatedly because they had theirs all planned out. Harry had always been very
vague with his answers, telling them only that he wanted something that would
keep him challenged, but that was mostly because he didn't really have concrete
plans beyond that. He wanted to be happy, and he wanted to stay at Hogwarts,
but he didn't really have the driving ambition to do any one thing to the
exclusion of all else. It made him feel like a freak sometimes, especially when
Hermione was all excited and gushing over her own plans, or when Ron was in a
hopeful mood going on about becoming an Auror.
Ron was hoping to get into Auror's training so that he could be a full member
of the Order and had often suggested Harry do the same, but Harry never agreed.
He knew Ron actually had very little faith that he could get into Auror
training -- no Weasley had in the last three generations, despite a dozen
attempts -- and had already made arrangements to work in the Misuse Of Muggle
Artefacts Office at the Ministry with his father if it didn't work out.
Hermione insisted that having such a solid backup plan was smart of Ron even
though it seemed to Harry more like Ron was planning to fail.
Hermione had often suggested that Harry go to Oxford University with her, but
that didn't have much appeal to Harry. The Wizarding portion of the campus was
in one of the janitorial closets in the administration building, which Harry
found quite odd, and wasn’t really a University at all, instead concentrating
almost completely on Healer training. When Harry told Hermione that he had
spent quite enough time in infirmaries to suit him, she suggested he apply to
the Ministry to work in Muggle Relations since he knew so much about Muggles.
Harry didn't want to live in London though, or have an office job that required
he spend large amounts of time with Muggles and their 'artefacts', and he'd
vocally said as much on several occasions.
Being the Boy Who Saved Us All wasn't much fun in Harry's opinion, but it was
quite a lot better than being the Boy Who Had No Secondary Diploma And Would
Have To Hide His Wizarding Abilities While He Worked As A Ditch-digger, so
pursuing anything in the Muggle world was simply out of the question. Harry had
decided at the beginning of his sixth year, when the Weasleys had liberated him
from the Dursleys' basement, that he'd had quite enough of living with or even
near Muggles. He had told Dumbledore as much at the first opportunity, and had
gone on to add that he would rather become a wanted fugitive than go back
there. Dumbledore hadn't liked it, but after hearing that Harry hadn't been out
of doors once all summer and that Hedwig had been forced to wriggle in and out
through the coal chute so she wouldn't starve, he had relented. He promised
Harry that other arrangements would be made at the end of his sixth year, and
that was the end of Harry's relationship with the Dursleys.
Harry had been ecstatic when he was finally informed late in sixth year that he
would stay on at Hogwarts and use the summer months to refine what he knew and
learn more to help him fight Voldemort. He had immediately set about doing his
best to make certain the teachers who were working with him -- McGonagall,
Flitwick, Binns, and Snape, with occasional help from Sirius and Remus -- would
not regret giving up their summer time to teach him. Harry had loved spending
the summer at school, learning in the mornings, helping Hagrid care for his
animals every afternoon, and having the run of the school library every
evening.
Harry would have been quite content to stay on the castle grounds all summer,
but McGonagall had thought it was past time for Harry to have a little freedom
and had petitioned to Dumbledore for a few extra privileges. The Thursday after
school let out, Harry was informed his friends were allowed to visit on
weekends if they wished, and that he was allowed the run of Hogsmeade every
other Saturday. The only stipulation was that if Harry left Hogwarts he had to
along enough Polyjuice Potion to resemble someone less well-known the entire
time he was off school grounds.
A letter to the Weasley twins for advice on who to impersonate, specifying
someone of a similar build so that Harry’s clothes would still fit, had secured
him the donation of one of Lee Jordan's dreadlocks. That was easily enough hair
to last the summer, and by the end of his first day completely alone in
Hogsmeade, Harry had felt freer than ever before in his life. Ron and Hermione
or Fred and George had visited him almost every weekend after that, sometimes
even all four of them, and the summer had passed more quickly than any other in
Harry's memory.
By the time he began his seventh year as Head Boy, Harry had made several
decisions. He was going to stay completely within the Wizarding word for a few
years, even if it meant he'd have to live with constant reminders of his fame,
and intended to plan his life for himself after school was over and Voldemort
was gone, not allow well-meaning people like McGonagall to do it for him. He
wanted to stay at Hogwarts permanently, first and foremost, so Harry decided to
trust in Hermione's intelligence and make some sort of fall-back plan, should
things not work out with Snape.
Harry's 'Plan B' was fairly simple: to convince Dumbledore to let him take over
Madam Hooch's job. Xiomara had made sure everyone knew that she planned to take
over the Head Coach position for the Chudley Cannons at the end of the term,
and rumour was there hadn't been any applications to fill it yet. Xiomara had
pulled Harry aside several times to point out that he was well-qualified, and
she had even promised just before the Cup to give him her recommendation if he
wanted the job. That was before she had spent several hours after the
historically-short Cup match trying to convince him to move on to the Cannons
with her as their new Seeker, but Harry still intended to hold her to it,
should he need the reference.
After a few years on the staff, Harry hoped he'd be able to apply for a real
teaching position. Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was the position Harry
wanted most, if Remus ever did as Dumbledore wanted him to and became a full-
time liaison between humans and werewolves, but he hadn’t told anyone that. He
wasn’t about to risk Remus finding out that he wanted the Defence
professorship, and would happily teach flying and Quidditch as long as he had
to if that was what it took for him to be able to stay at Hogwarts. Remus was
the sort to step down and let Harry have the job even though he loved it, and
Harry couldn’t allow that to happen until Remus had something better to move on
to.
Besides, Harry knew that he could do quite a few worse things with his life
than teach Quidditch. He was sure every single intolerable possibility had been
suggested to him at least twice in the last year alone.
 
.:.
 
Severus sat quietly in the rather uncomfortable chair in his office, leaning
back against the wooden back with his elbows on the high armrests. His hands
were folded in front of him, and the tips of his index fingers rested against
his lips as he stared at the small pile of parchment before him on his desk
next to his wand. He should be heading down to dinner, but he had finally
finished grading all of the exam papers and was faced with something he had
never before seen as a professor.
He prided himself on being a teacher who was very strict and thorough and had
never lacked for something to mark off for, but he had never before had an exam
turned in like the one that rested on his desk now. He himself had achieved a
perfect score on his final Potions exam, but no other student since had gotten
anything even approaching a perfect score … until now.
He felt it was almost an insult to him for a student to get a perfect score and
he had tried to find some mistake he missed to remedy the situation, but going
over the exam repeatedly had been useless. He had spent over half hour looking
for some tiny little thing he could mark off for, but the result stayed the
same. Every word was spelled correctly, and if he were a lenient teacher like
Flitwick or McGonagall he might even have been tempted to award extra points
for the unnecessary thoroughness of many answers where alternative potions in
addition to the ones he'd taught in class were given in detail.
He knew that there was an ulterior motive for the answers to be so
comprehensive, and knew that the exam was just another proof of the
stubbornness and determination of the student in question, but he still could
not dismiss it as anything less than it was. The simple fact was that the paper
quite deserved a perfect score, plus full credit for the two required bonus
questions, and the practical had been flawless. There was no question in his
mind that the student in question could have a bright future with potions,
should the student continue to apply himself.
Severus reached out suddenly and picked up his wand to tuck it up his sleeve,
his chair scraping loudly across the floor as he stood up. He stared down at
the exam a moment longer before he moved quickly into his classroom and then
out into the hall, heading directly towards the Great Hall. He didn't notice
the odd looks he got from students as he breezed past them, especially the
Slytherins, but if he had he might well have ignored them anyway.
He had as much right to smile in the halls as anyone else, even if it was
likely none of them had ever seen him do it before.
 
.:.
 
Hagrid's bellow of, "'Arry!" made Harry turn quickly away from the lake and
look towards Hagrid's hut.
Ron, Hermione and Fang were walking out of the forest just beyond the hut,
followed by Hagrid and one of the school's Thestrals. Harry trotted quickly
towards them as the gamekeeper led the vaguely draconic winged horse into a
rough pen near his cabin, wondering why Hagrid was penning up Tenebrus. The
fence couldn't actually hold the Thestral, of course, but Harry knew that
Tenebrus would remain where Hagrid put him anyway. Tenebrus adored Hagrid and
would do anything for him, including pretending that a rather low fence could
hold an animal that could fly.
Hagrid gave Tenebrus the haunch of meat he'd been carrying while Ron and
Hermione watched, and Harry had just reached them when Hagrid turned to look
towards him again, beaming. "We would've waited for yeh, 'Arry, but I had t'
catch Tenebrus 'fore dinner so's Sibyll kin leave d'rectly," Hagrid said
jovially, rolling his eyes as he rinsed his hands in the rain barrel near his
door. "She's flyin' ter London 'cause the signs're bad for Apparatin’ or usin'
the Floo t'night, and she’s got a bad feelin’ about stayin’ here another day."
Hagrid dried his hands on the dingy towel hanging by the barrel and then turned
towards Harry, beaming again. "Where ye' bin? We missed yeh while we’us lookin’
for Tenebrus ‘ere."
Harry smiled up at Hagrid. "I was reading, then I had a bit of a talk with
Professor Snape."
Hagrid looked a little surprised by that, and Ron and Hermione exchanged a look
as Hagrid spoke again. "Snape? Wha' yeh talkin' to him 'bout, 'Arry?"
Harry shrugged, making a small dismissive gesture with one hand. "Mostly the
Potions book I've been reading. It's a rare one he's been looking for, so I let
him borrow it."
"What else did you talk about?" Hermione asked quickly, making Harry look at
her in surprise.
"Not much, really. We talked about the book, and how much better I've done in
Potions this year." Harry changed the subject then, adding, "Shouldn't we be
getting to dinner?"
"Righ’ yeh are, 'Arry, pas’ time," Hagrid replied, nodding. "Let's get goin'."
Hermione and Ron exchanged another look that made Harry think he'd be answering
some questions very soon, but they didn't say anything. Hagrid ushered them all
quickly up the path back towards the school, leaving them at the edge of the
courtyard to go find Trelawney. Harry walked quickly through the courtyard and
into the castle with Hermione and Ron trailing along behind him, and had made
it almost to the Great Hall before Hermione grabbed Harry's arm.
Harry silently congratulated himself on being able to read her so well as
Hermione pulled Harry and Ron to one side and began talking. "Harry, I really
think we should talk," Hermione said and then bit her lip to keep from saying
more, looking serious.
"Yeah!" Ron agreed, looking worried. "Are you really planning to ask Snape if
he'll let you Apprentice to him just so you won't have to leave Hogwarts?"
Hermione swatted Ron's arm. "Honestly Ron, I asked you to let me handle it!"
Ron had the grace to look a bit sheepish, but Hermione was already looking at
Harry again as she asked almost hesitantly, "Are you?"
Harry nodded. "I already did. He's going to give me his decision by tomorrow
night."
Ron stared at Harry in shock for a few seconds and then blurted, "But Harry,
Apprentices have to do whatever their Master tells them to! Do you really want
that slimy git to have that much control over your life? He could do whatever
he wanted, and you'd have to put up with it for however long your
Apprenticeship is!"
"He wouldn't though," Harry said reasonably, "and Dumbledore wouldn't allow him
to mistreat me even if he wanted to. I know all about Apprenticeships, Hermione
found me a very good book on the subject back at the first of school."
Ron shot Hermione a disapproving look as though it was all her fault because of
the book, but she ignored him. "Harry, I never would have encouraged you if I
knew it was Snape you wanted to Apprentice to. I had hoped it was McGonagall,
she mentioned to me that she was looking to take on an Apprentice and I know
you've done very well in her classes."
"I'm doing well in all of my classes, Hermione. I'm sure Snape wouldn't accept
an Apprentice who didn't," Harry replied immediately, still trying to sound as
reasonable as possible because he truly didn't want to fight about it. "I've
gotten Exceeds Expectations on all of my NEWT's, I'd bet on it."
Ron looked vaguely nauseated. "But Harry, it's Snape . He'd be able to make you
do anything!"
"Some contracts don't allow that now, Ron," Hermione said immediately, even
though she was looking none too happy herself. "I'm sure I can help Harry find
a good one that just allows for teaching and cleaning up and things like that."
"The one I have ready allows anything he wants to ask of me." Harry looked down
to pick at a smudge of ink on his right index finger, not at all sure he wanted
to see their reactions. "It states that I'll stay with him and do whatever I'm
asked as long as he continues to teach me and provides for my food and
lodging."
"Have you lost your bloody mind ?!" Ron exclaimed incredulously. "That's not an
Apprenticeship, that's becoming a slave! You’d be little safer than a bloody
house elf!"
"Harry, that contract really sounds like quite a bad idea, and possibly even
illegal," Hermione added, frowning.
Harry shook his head, not looking up. "No, it's perfectly legal, George pointed
me to a Wizarding lawyer who helped me draft it, and he said it was a contract
that shows a high level of trust between the parties, which is what I wanted."
The lawyer had also told Harry that he should be glad Apprenticeships weren't
like wills because Harry obviously wasn't of a sound mind, but Harry left that
part out. "I want it plain from the start that I trust him. He's saved my life
too many times for me to insult him by not trusting his judgment now."
"Do you really want him to be able to, well," Hermione blushed furiously, "make
you sleep with him? It's allowed, Harry, almost expected even with a contract
like the one you're describing."
Harry looked up finally, meeting Hermione's gaze and trying to ignore his own
sudden blush. "He wouldn't have to make me. I'm gay anyway."
"But Snape?" Hermione asked again, completely unsurprised at that revelation
even though Ron was gaping at Harry in shock. "You could have anyone, Harry.
Any Potions Master would jump at the chance to teach you, if that's what you
want to do with your life. It doesn't have to be him, and certainly not for as
long as he wants to teach you. That could be twenty years if he enjoys ordering
you about, and all of it spent in that musty dungeon of his."
"I want it to be him," Harry replied simply. "I trust him, and besides,
Hogwarts is my home. Staying here isn't a bad thing to me, even in the
dungeons."
"So take over for Madam Hooch," Hermione said immediately, looking upset.
"She's leaving and Dumbledore would never turn you down as flying instructor,
Harry. Everyone knows you're one of the most talented Seekers in history and no
one alive can equal you on a broom. You don't have to sign your life away to
Snape just to stay here."
"You're notlistening to me," Harry replied, suddenly frustrated. He lifted a
hand to comb it through his hair as he looked away from Hermione for a moment,
trying to find the words he needed, then he looked her in the eye again. "I
want to apprentice to Snape, Hermione, not to just anyone," he said firmly.
"I'd want it to be him even if it meant I would I have to leave Hogwarts. As
long as he doesn't make me live with Muggles -- which he wouldn't, he can
barely stand them -- anywhere he wanted us to live would be better than the
only home I've ever had besides here."
Ron finally found his voice again and blurted, "Are you trying to say you've
got a, well, a thing for him?"
Harry blushed and didn't answer immediately, but it didn't take him long to
decide he might as well get it all over with. He met Ron's gaze as he nodded
and said quietly, "Yeah, I guess I am. He's not as bad as we thought he was,
not really. He's just a very private man who has a hard time trusting people.
You would too if you'd lived through some of the things he has. There’s a good
man under that prickly bastard exterior, I know it."
"Is that why you want to Apprentice to him?" Hermione asked, frowning again.
"Just so you can be around him?"
"Of course not," Harry replied, slightly affronted. "I'm not that thick,
Hermione. If I just wanted to be near him I'd apply to be the flying teacher
and have an easy time of it." He paused to let that sink in a bit before he
went on. "I like Potions, and I like that no matter how much I learn there's
always going to be something out there I don't know. I mean, look at him, he's
been teaching Potions for over sixteen years and he's still learning and
developing new potions all the time, and a lot of them help people. I want to
do that. I want to be good for something besides being Death Eater bait or
chasing a Snitch. I want to do something I can be proud of."
Hermione and Ron were both silent for a little while before Hermione finally
admitted reluctantly, "He is the best Potions Master in Britain, and a very
good teacher, too."
Harry nodded immediately. "And if I were his Apprentice he'd make sure I was
the best I could possibly be, but he wouldn't lie to me and tell me I was doing
smashing even though I stunk at it. I could never trust another Potions Master
to be thinking of me as just me, not as the Boy Who Lived. Snape’s never been
nice just because of my scar... I need that."
Ron shuddered then and looked at Hermione as he asked plaintively, "Did you
just have to tell me you thought he wanted to Apprentice to Snape?"
Hermione blinked, surprised. "Yes, I did! You asked me!"
"You could have told me to bugger off," Ron said, looking more than a little
unhappy. "Now I'm not hungry."
"Don't you dare blame your loss of appetite on me, Ronald Weasley. Besides, I'm
sure you'll eat just fine once you see the food, you always do. Come on."
Hermione grabbed Ron's hand, completely ignoring Ron's muttering about people
turning his stomach as she started dragging him towards the doors to the Great
Hall again.
Harry followed them, shaking his head and trying to decide if that had gone
well or not. Hermione seemed to be sticking true to her usual reaction to
anything Harry wanted to do that she didn’t approve of: tell him he was stupid,
listen to his arguments, then go away for a while and think. Hermione would
ambush him again later and tell him exactly how wrong he was, just as she
always did, but this time he wouldn’t be dissuaded. He wanted this too much to
listen to her.
A few minutes later they were taking their usual seats at the high end of the
Gryffindor table while their friends greeted them with recommendations of
different dishes and questions about their plans for the summer. Harry dodged
or ignored the questions just as he'd been doing for weeks, though now Ron kept
giving him odd looks. Harry pretended not to notice as he loaded his plate down
with food, glancing up at the teacher's table before he began to eat.
A surprised smile bloomed on Harry’s face then, happiness easily winning out
over his surprise at seeing Snape in his usual place two seats to the left of
Dumbledore and outright smiling at him. Snape inclined his head then and Harry
grinned at him before he looked back down at his plate and began to eat, still
grinning to himself. He'd never seen a smile like that on Snape's face during a
meal, not in seven years. He looked truly happy about something, and Harry
hoped fervently that it was his grades. Harry had been studying constantly for
over a year and he knew they were very good, possibly the best in the school.
If life were at all fair, Snape would have to be impressed.
Hermione noticed Harry's grin and leaned closer to Ron, whispering something in
his ear that made Ron look up towards Snape. Ron stared at the Potions
professor for a moment and then looked back at Hermione, clearly surprised as
he mouthed silently, "Snape's smiling!"
Hermione nodded, smiling suddenly as she began to eat, glancing often at Harry
or the staff table. Snape seemed to be watching Harry quite a bit more than
usual and looking decidedly pleased with something as he ate his meal and
talked to Professor Flitwick, who was seated to Snape’s left and talking
animatedly. Hermione soon noticed that several of the other professors were
watching Harry and Snape as well, and had to grin at Dumbledore’s little smile.
By the way he was watching Harry and Snape, she’d bet that Snape had already
checked Harry’s grades and decided to accept him.
Ron ignored Hermione, Harry, and the professors and just tried to put it all
out of his mind. He wanted to eat, not think about Harry living with Snape of
all people, so he immersed himself into a conversation with Dean, Seamus,
Parvati, Neville, and Lavender. He was trying to plan a time for them all to
get together for a party to celebrate leaving school, and he had already
secured use of Fred and George's flat above Diagon Alley. Hermione and Harry
were eventually drawn into the conversation as well, and all three forgot for
the moment about Harry's possible Apprenticeship.
 
.:.
 
"You really should tell him, Severus, I'm sure the boy's beside himself,"
Professor Flitwick said as he finally rose from the table quite a while later,
smiling happily. "It will be so nice having him about permanently; he's always
been such a useful boy, and so quick to learn."
"He'll be my Apprentice though, Filius, do remember that," Severus replied
dryly, amused. "He'll be busy enough with his studies and helping with my
classes that he'll not have time to be running errands for everyone else as
well."
"Yes, yes, of course," Flitwick replied jovially, waving one hand. "You know
what I meant, Severus. Good evening to you."
"Good night, Filius," Severus replied, picking up his glass to take a sip of
his wine as the diminutive Charms professor exited through the staff entrance.
Severus lowered his hand again to put the goblet aside just as someone sat down
in Flitwick's abandoned seat, drawing his attention.
"What's this I heard about someone Apprenticing to you, Sev?" Remus asked,
smiling.
Severus nodded, bemused by how quickly the word was spreading. "One of my
seventh year students has asked to Apprentice, and after ascertaining that his
grades were among the highest in his year I have decided to accept. Dumbledore
has already given his enthusiastic blessing, so I've no doubt he'll be
remaining here when the other students go home."
"Wouldn't be Harry by any chance, would it?" Remus asked, grinning suddenly.
Severus nodded, idly wondering if Harry had talked it over with his friends
already as well. He had been blaming the rapid spread of gossip to the rest of
the staff on McGonagall and Dumbledore, but he supposed it was possible the
other professors had heard it from their students. "Yes, Remus, it is. Did he
speak with you about it?"
"Might have mentioned it a time or three, yes," Remus replied, his amber eyes
twinkling with amusement. "He and Sirius had quite the discussion about it in
my rooms last weekend. Most would have called it a fight, but Harry knows
Sirius is just naturally loud and doesn't let a little barking put him off."
"I don't doubt it," Severus replied, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards
into a smile. "There's not much that can put Potter off when he's determined to
do something."
"True, and Harry doesn't ask for much, so when he wanted Sirius' permission to
Apprentice, Sirius didn't argue quite as hard as he might have." Remus paused
and then added with a grin, "Sirius accepted his decision rather gracefully
actually, especially considering the fact Harry didn't have to have permission
and he knew it.” Severus snorted softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement as
Remus went on cheerfully. “Does Harry know you're going to accept?"
Severus shook his head slightly, picking up his wine goblet again and looking
towards the Gryffindor table where Harry, Neville, and Ron were laughing as
Dean and Seamus argued about something that had several girls fussing loudly at
them. "I told him I would let him know by tomorrow evening, but I intend to
tell him as soon as he has finished his meal. If I don't, Flitwick or
McGonagall are sure to do it for me, congratulating him."
Remus chuckled as Severus took one last sip of his wine and followed Severus’
gaze to the Gryffindor table. He watched Harry add his plate to a stack of
empty ones in the middle of the table, and then looked back at Severus. "How
did he do on his Potions exam?"
Severus set his goblet down and stood, smiling at Remus more genuinely than he
had since they were students together and completely missing it as Harry looked
towards them, grinning. "Perfectly,” Severus said in a very nearly smug tone,
his smile widening. “Not a single word wrong, and he included quite a bit above
and beyond what was asked."
"Do you see many perfect scores on Potions final exams?" Remus inquired, his
expression curious.
Severus looked towards Harry then, ignoring other students' surprised looks as
he smiled at Harry for a moment before looking back at Remus. "The first and
last perfect score I have personally seen was mine, in 1978. Good evening,
Remus."
Remus chuckled, thinking that all of Harry's studying had paid off rather well.
"Good night, Severus."
Severus nodded and turned away, walking around the staff table and then making
his way towards the Gryffindors. The students remaining there, mostly sixth and
seventh years, stopped whatever they were doing to look at him warily. The
silence quickly spread to nearby tables as others listened to hear what was
going on, but Severus ignored his audience and walked around the far side of
the table to stop right behind Harry, who half-turned to look up at him
curiously.
Severus smiled at Harry. "Might I have a word with you in private, Harry?"
"Of course, sir," Harry replied, jumping up and then following quickly as
Severus started towards the main doors. They both ignored the way the students
remaining in the Great Hall began whispering to each other, each used to
whispers following them, though for different reasons.
Remus watched until they passed through the doors and then turned to look at
Albus, grinning. "Things are going to be very interesting around here for the
next few months. I just might have to stay on so I can watch the fun."
Albus chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling as he looked at Remus over his glasses.
"I quite agree, Remus. I wish that I could stay as well, but I have prior
engagements that will force my absence for much of the summer. You are of
course welcome to stay, as always." He picked up a lemon drop from the bowl of
candies in front of him and popped it in his mouth, then offered the bowl to
Remus, who took one with a grin. "I do believe it will all work out without my
aid, though. They are both lonely, I think, and more alike than not. I believe
they will get on quite well."
Remus nodded, smiling. "I think so, too."
 
***** Chapter 4 *****
 
Harry walked along quickly at Severus' heels, trying hard to ignore the nervous
fluttering in his stomach. ‘He smiled at me in public,’hethoughtexcitedly, ‘and
called me Harry again,andwants me to talk with him!’ Harry bit his tongue to
keep from laughing out loud, his green eyes bright with hope and excitement he
could barely contain as he thought fervently, ‘Gods and goddesses, Merlin,
whoever's listening... I know I don't pay you much mind, but I don't ask for
anything, either. I want this more than anything. Let this one thing work for
me and I'll leave you alone again, I promise.’
Severus suddenly stopped just past the main stairway and turned to look at him,
making Harry's eyes go even wider in surprise as he stopped quickly to keep
from running into him. "Have you thought about a contract, Potter?" Severus
asked, somehow seeming amused even though his expression was bland.
Harry nodded quickly. "Yes sir, I had a lawyer friend of George's draft one for
me a few weeks ago."
"Very good," Severus replied with a quick nod. "Why don't you go get it, then
come to my office so we can talk? We have quite a bit to discuss I think."
Harry couldn't help but grin. "We do?"
"Yes, we do," Severus replied with a slight smile. "If we can come to an
agreement that is fair to both of us, I have decided to accept you as my
Apprentice."
Harry jumped and let out a whoop, making Severus twitch slightly, and then he
blushed bright red at the way Severus stared at him.
A familiar mocking voice called out from the door to the Great Hall, "Think you
could do that again a bit louder, Potter? I don't think Trelawney could quite
hear you in her tower."
Severus turned to give Draco a quelling look, trying not to let his amusement
show, then turned back to look at Harry again. "Go get whatever you've got
drawn up, Potter, and bring it to my office."
"Yes sir," Harry replied quickly, his green eyes practically glowing with
excitement even though he was still blushing. "I'll only be a few minutes."
"Do try not to run anyone down, Potter," Severus said then, the corner of his
mouth twitching slightly as he fought the urge to chuckle.
Harry grinned a little wider. "Yes sir!" He turned away and started up the
stairs, taking them two at a time and ignoring the odd looks the students he
passed were giving him.
Draco sniffed and muttered loudly, "Always knew Potter was a bit of a nutter."
Severus started towards the dungeons again, ignoring Draco, and Draco ran to
catch up to him, curiously staring at his Head of House as he asked, "Did I
hear that correctly, sir? Are you taking on Potter as your Apprentice?"
Severus turned his gaze towards Draco, still walking steadily. "So it would
seem, Draco. Why do you ask?"
Draco looked shocked. "But, sir! He'll drive you dottier than he is!"
Severus snorted, looking ahead again and ignoring the way Draco stared at him.
"Your concern is touching, Draco, but I think I can handle Potter."
"Shouldn't you pick someone a bit better with Potions, sir?" Draco asked then,
confused. "Someone more suited to you? A Slytherin, perhaps?"
"Someone like you, Draco?" Severus asked, pausing at the end of the corridor
leading to the Slytherin dorms to give Draco an unreadable look.
"Well, yes sir, if you've need of an Apprentice," Draco replied with a nod,
then shrugged elegantly and added, "It's not as though I've got much better to
do."
Severus snorted again, suddenly scornful. "You have unlimited prospects, Draco,
as we both know quite well. You are the sole heir to the Malfoy fortune,
acquainted with practically everyone of importance in the Wizarding world, and
you have Dumbledore's full backing because of your help rounding up the Death
Eaters who were not captured in the Zabini incident." Severus paused and then
added more bluntly, "You don't need an Apprenticeship, Draco, and even if you
did, your Potions scores weren't good enough."
"Not good enough?!" Draco asked indignantly as his silver eyes flashed, the
very picture of Lucius at his most outraged. "Are you attempting to say Harry
Potterscored higher than I did in Potions?"
"I did not attempt to say anything, Draco," Severus replied, moving off down
the main hall towards his classroom again with his customary ringing strides.
"But the fact remains that, despite your definite talent for Potions, he
outscored you by thirty-seven points."
Draco spluttered, watching Severus walk away for a moment before he suddenly
stomped his foot and let out an angry squeal that Severus recognized as being
very reminiscent of Draco's mother, Narcissa. Draco whirled away and headed
towards the Slytherin common room without another word, hoping there would be
someone in there who deserved to be yelled at. He was most definitely in the
mood to yell at someone. Loudly.
Severus pretended to ignore Draco's little temper tantrum and continued to his
classroom and through it into his office, wondering as he sat down at his desk
what he would have told Draco had he asked to Apprentice a few weeks ago. He
had always had a soft spot for the boy, both because Draco reminded him of
Lucius as a boy and because of how close Draco had been to him since Severus
had begun tutoring him when the boy was six. He was exceedingly proud that
Draco had finally used his head and helped to fight Voldemort instead of
supporting Lucius blindly. Voldemort had gotten his claws into Lucius just
after he graduated Hogwarts and turned him into someone that Severus grew to
loathe, but Draco was his own man; more than a bit of a prig, yes, and quite
the dandy, but he stood on the side of the light when it counted.
Draco still wasn't a very nice person most of the time, but then neither was
Severus, who thought being nice was highly over rated in most instances. Draco
was very like his father had been as a boy and, though he was surprisingly
loyal for a Malfoy, Draco was certain that merely being a Malfoy made him
better than most of the Wizarding world's population, and all of the Muggle
world. Severus credited Draco’s loyalty to whatever Black genes Narcissa had
passed on. Sirius was most definitely an idiot, but Severus had seldom had
cause to doubt his loyalty.
Draco's strong prejudice against Muggleborn witches and wizards was rather
typical of both families, so its origin was easy to understand even though
Severus thought it unwise. Draco respected Hermione of course, and tread
carefully around her, but he still detested her out of pure principle. Severus
knew that wasn't terribly bright of him, and half expected to hear one day that
Draco had pushed a ‘Mudblood’ too far and gotten himself killed.
Severus himself couldn't tolerate very many Muggles, but he had more than a
little respect for witches and wizards like Hermione and Harry, though he
seldom admitted it. They had both grown up Muggle until they reached Hogwarts,
and both overcame that handicap to become highly skilled magic users capable of
overpowering witches and wizards twice their age that had been working magic
since they could talk.
To Severus that spoke highly of determination, character, and natural talent,
all of which were things that simply couldn't be taught, no matter how many
pureblood families thought otherwise. Talent was purely an accident of birth,
much like natural good looks, and just as easy to waste by making poorly
thought-out decisions. Lucius Malfoy had proven that quite conclusively to
Severus by managing to waste not only his talent but his looks as well, and
Severus was exceedingly proud of the fact Draco had not followed his father’s
example.
He rightly put the credit for that at his own doorstep.
 
.:.
 
Harry had been almost to the landing that led to the Gryffindor tower when the
stair he was on decided to move agonizingly slowly across the centre of the
stairwell. When it finally stopped, he had been stranded on the wrong landing
and had to backtrack down three floors to take the long way around.
By the time he finally got back up to the seventh floor he was very out of
breath, and he stopped cold when he saw that the stairway he had been on to
begin with was back where it belonged, as if it had moved just to spite him.
That was an accepted possibility at Hogwarts, especially if that particular
stair was feeling misused today, but it was still very annoying when he was in
a hurry. He was still cursing the stairway under his breath when he bolted
through the Gryffindor common room a few moments later, and didn’t bother to
acknowledge the surprised greetings he got from students as he headed for his
room.
One of the benefits of being Head Boy that Harry greatly enjoyed was that he
had a room of his own with a desk, a wardrobe, and a small set of bookshelves.
It was larger than his room on Privet Drive had been and felt more like home as
well, despite the fact he knew he’d only stay there for one school year. He
loved the little magical enhancements to the room like the star map above the
bed and the well-trained lamps that would turn themselves on or off at a
muttered word, but that wasn't the most important part. He couldn’t remember
ever having so much privacy before.
Harry threw open his door when he reached it, completely ignoring a muffled
squeak from the bed as he hurriedly closed the door behind him and went to open
the desk. He began to dig through a drawer full of scrolls without a pause,
muttering to himself, “Now where did I put the cursed thing...”
"Um, hello Harry," Ron said, sitting up and blushing almost as red as his hair.
Hermione hastily buttoned her blouse, wondering why she'd let Ron convince her
Harry wouldn't be back for a while. Harry often let them use his room to have a
bit of privacy together, but they'd not asked this time so it was only to be
expected that he didn't know to leave them alone. They had hurried up here as
soon as Harry left the Great Hall and had just barely gotten started when he
ran in.
Harry looked over his shoulder at the bed and then turned back to his desk.
"Oh, hello. I must have missed you on the stairs when that blasted seventh
stair made me backtrack. You two can go back to what you were doing, I'll only
be here a second." He reached the bottom of the drawer and then made a little
annoyed noise, starting to toss scrolls on the floor as he growled softly to
himself, “Damn it, I know I had it!”
Hermione and Ron looked at each other in surprise and then Hermione looked back
at Harry. "Harry, what did Professor Snape want to talk to you about?"
Harry glanced up at Ron and Hermione again, grinning brightly as he looked back
down into the drawer and began tossing scrolls as soon as he checked their
contents. "He’s going to accept me as his Apprentice. He wanted to talk with me
about a contract so I have to find it, but the bloody thing is hiding from me."
Hermione climbed off Harry's bed and then smoothed her skirt as she walked over
to the desk, dodging the scrolls Harry tossed carelessly over his shoulder.
"You didn't lose it, did you, Harry?"
"No, of course not. I know it's here somewhere, I've just got too bloody many
scrolls." Harry tossed another scroll, which Hermione caught and unrolled. "I
had it just this week when I was studying my Potions texts, sort of as a
reminder of what I was working for."
"Well then," Hermione replied, dropping the scroll in her hands on top of his
desk. "Where are your Potions books? If it's with them, you're wasting time
throwing about last year’s History of Magic notes."
Harry looked up, surprised, and thought for a moment before he pointed to the
bookshelf by the bed. The shelves held the small collection of books that had
caught his eye over the last year, with his textbooks arranged neatly by year
on the top shelf. "I'm a complete idiot!" Harry exclaimed as soon as he saw the
two scrolls tucked between the books and the wall, flashing Hermione a
brilliant smile. "Thanks, 'Mione, I don't know where my mind is..."
"And I don't want to know," Ron said, staring at Harry like he'd sprouted green
and pink pinstriped bunny ears. "You're entirely too happy about the prospect
of becoming Snape's indentured servant Harry, and he was smiling. It's
unnatural."
Hermione snorted, glaring at Ron as Harry quickly moved to the shelves to get
the scrolls. "It is not, Ron. They should be happy about it if this is what
they both want. It's an important commitment!"
Ron rolled his eyes at Hermione, missing the way Harry was watching them as he
said, "They might as well be getting married, Hermione! Even if it wasn't
Snape, Harry signing that contract is just wrong."
Harry frowned, not giving Hermione a chance to reply as he said in a tightly
controlled tone, "Ron, are you trying to say you're homophobic?"
"That I'm a homo-what's-it?" Ron asked, obviously confused.
"Someone who doesn't like people who are queer," Hermione explained, then added
vehemently, "And you'd better not be if you know what's good for you, Ronald
Weasley! That's as bad as hating Muggleborns just because their parents didn't
have magic."
Ron shook his head, rolling his eyes. "Oh no, I don't mind what Harry wants to
shag, so long as it's not me and I don't have to watch. Fred and George have
had a thing going with Lee and Oliver for years, and you don't see me trying to
change that!" Ron snorted as if the whole idea was preposterous. "No, my
problem is that Harry won't be able to change his mind once he signs those
bloody contracts. What if he finds out in a week that Snape's as big an arse as
Sirius always said he was, or Snape decides he likes to hurt him or something,
what does Harry do then?"
"That is not going to happen," Harry said, frowning at Ron. "But if it did, the
contract states that we can dissolve it by mutual consent or if either party
and the witnesses agree that there are irreconcilable differences. I asked
Remus to be my witness, since he's known Snape for years and would be impartial
if there are any disagreements. Anyone who can get Sirius and Snape to be civil
can take care of any argument I might have with him."
"Oh good," Hermione said, obviously relieved even though she hadn't said
anything about being worried. "Professor Lupin is a very good choice as
witness, and you do need a termination clause, it's only smart."
"Which of course we all know I'm not," Harry replied dryly, moving quickly
towards the door with the two scrolls. "I'll be with Professor Snape if anyone
comes looking for me, or in the common room if I get done with him before
curfew. Enjoy your snog."
"Harry, I didn't mean it like that!" Hermione exclaimed, but Harry just waved
and left the room, leaving them alone.
"This is going to turn out badly, I can just feel it." Ron made a face as he
threw himself down on Harry's bed, watching the slowly moving stars above it.
"Next thing you know, he will be marrying Snape."
Hermione snorted and began summoning the scrolls Harry had tossed about,
putting them back in Harry's desk much more neatly than they had been to begin
with. "I think you've just got a problem with marriage and commitment in
general."
"Too right!" Ron agreed, rolling to his side to watch her with his chin propped
up on one hand. "It's a bloody scary thought, woman, promising to spend forever
with somebody. You should be a bit more afraid of it!"
"Yes, I suppose I should," Hermione agreed without looking up, "since I'll be
marrying you."
 
.:.
 
Draco stalked out of the empty Slytherin common room and headed towards the
library, hoping there would be someone about even though nobody had to study
this late in the term.
The population of the Slytherin dorm had been cut in half since Christmas
break. The first losses had been early in the spring, when Snape and Dumbledore
checked the arm of every student after a Muggleborn first year was beaten by
someone and the boy saw the Dark Mark on his attacker's arm. Over forty young
Death Eaters, most of them Slytherin and all over the age of sixteen, had fled
the school to go join their parents working for Voldemort. After the few
remaining older Slytherins were involved in Harry’s kidnapping, many younger
students who hadn’t yet received the Mark left school to flee Britain with
their parents, who were now suspected Death Eaters.
The few remaining Slytherins were all too afraid of Draco, the only remaining
Slytherin seventh year, to participate in anything remotely resembling a good
fight. Picking at them was always fun, of course, but it never took very long
before they were fleeing to the safety of their dorms to escape Draco’s acidic
wit. Then, as he had often done of an evening lately, he sat alone and brooded,
staring into the fire and missing the days when the dungeons had been full of
smart-arsed, backstabbing deviants he could fight with anytime he wished
instead of having to go hunt someone from another House down when he wanted a
good fight.
Of course, what he really wanted tonight was a good hard shag, but he had
broken up with Kevin again so a decent row with someone would have to do unless
he just stumbled across someone willing. A good fight, preferably with a
seventh year Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, would be almost as much fun as a shag
with Kevin anyway. Kevin was smart enough to be mildly interesting to talk to
if he had to, and he was handsome in that sort of overfed hunk way Draco
preferred, but he really wasn't as imaginative in bed as he was on the
Quidditch field.
‘Not that he's very imaginativethere,either,’ Draco thought dryly, remembering
when Harry had beaten the Ravenclaw team in the Quidditch Cup before either
team could score a single goal. ‘Potter made it looksoeasy. I wonder howheis in
the sack? He's built nicely enough I suppose, thought a bit shorter than I
like. Still, he might be fun... At least he'd fight back if a person was in the
mood for a good, rousing screaming ma--‘
Draco rounded the corner at the end of the corridor and lost his train of
thought as he was abruptly knocked backwards a step by a rather solid shoulder
hitting his chest. He reflexively shoved away the person who had run into him
as he said crossly, "Watch where you're going! This is my hallway for a few
days yet."
Draco's eyebrows went up when he realized he’d run into Harry Potter, and then
he rolled his eyes as Harry replied just as crossly, "If you'd make a bit of
noise a person would know you were coming around the corner."
Draco looked from Harry's slightly flushed face to the scrolls Harry was
carrying and then smirked. Fighting with Potter might do quite nicely, and
would have the added benefit of possibly getting Potter into trouble. "In a
hurry to get back to Severus, eh, Potter?"
Harry flushed even more, his green eyes flashing as they narrowed to annoyed
slits. He’d already gotten the run-around from the stairways -- again! -- and
he wasn’t at all in the mood to put up with Draco’s posturing. "As if it's any
business of yours, Malfoy."
Draco's smirk didn't budge as he shifted his stance, folding his arms across
his chest. "Of course it's my business, he's practically family. Besides, I
thought I heard Severus tell you not to run anyone down. You'll not make a very
good Apprentice if you can't follow such a simple instruction."
"I didn't run anyone down, Draco," Harry replied quickly. "I just ran into
you."
"Are you trying to hint that I don't count, Potter?" Draco asked as his smirk
faded away.
Harry raised an eyebrow, suddenly smirking. "You said it, Draco, not me." He
moved to one side to go around Draco and continue down the hallway, but the
taller boy intercepted him and Harry gave him a dirty look. "Do you really want
me to have to explain to Professor Snape that I was late because you wouldn't
let me into the dungeons?"
"You didn't say the password," Draco replied, smirking suddenly again.
"So what's the password?" Harry asked, pursing his lips slightly in annoyance.
"I can't tell you, it's against the rules." Draco smirked even wider, looking
smug. "Only Professor Snape is allowed to give out the password, even to the
Head Boy."
"Then let me go talk to him!" Harry said, annoyed. "He's in his office, which I
know I'm allowed in, since I've been there quite often to find out what my
detentions would be."
"That's true, Potter..." Draco trailed off and pretended to think a moment
longer while Harry fumed, then he stepped aside, gesturing grandly for Harry to
go by. "Be my guest."
"Thanks so much," Harry said sarcastically as he walked past, moving quickly
towards the Potions classroom.
"Anytime, Potter," Draco replied and then continued down the hall, smirking and
already feeling better. ‘Maybe Kevin would be interested in a quick shag for
old times sake...’
 
.:.
 
Severus heard a crackling noise and looked up from the book Harry had given him
to see Dobby standing in front of his desk. The elf was wearing plaid trousers
that stopped just below his knee with tasselled stockings, tiny black and white
golf shoes complete with spikes, a Weasley jumper with a large orange R on it
that had been shrunk to fit, and a turban made out of overlong socks. The
overall effect was quite comical, but Severus privately thought that was the
elf's likely intent. Children felt more comfortable with amusing creatures, and
Dobby enjoyed being spoken to by them, even if they were attempting to tease
him.
Dobby shifted from foot to foot as Severus looked at him, wringing his hands
with a manic grin. "It is being all done, sir! Dobby is wondering, is it being
true the room is for the great Harry Potter, sir?"
Severus pursed his lips, watching Dobby and wondering what had possessed him to
ask this particular elf to do the cleaning. Dobby was excessively nosy and
always full of gossip, and it would be five minutes or less before half the
castle knew Harry was Apprenticed to him and moving into his quarters. "If
things go well, yes."
"Oh, Dobby hopes they go very well then, sir!" Dobby replied, bouncing happily
and clapping his hands. "Harry Potter loves Hogwarts, Sir is being very kind to
let him stay!"
Severus made a noncommittal noise and then asked pointedly, "Dobby, haven't you
anything else you should be doing? Something away from here?"
"Yes, sir. Dobby is going away now, sir!" There was another crackling noise as
Dobby popped out of the room and then Severus glanced at the clock on the
scroll-filled cabinet in the corner, frowning to himself when he saw it was
getting very near curfew.
'That boy must have lost the contracts, it's been quite a while since he went
to retrieve them,' Severus thought, leaning back in the hard wooden chair and
folding his hands comfortably across his belly to wait. 'Or he stopped to
gossip with his shadows. If he's to be my Apprentice it's a good thing those
two won't be around anymore. He'd never getanythingdone for talking to them.'
Severus chewed thoughtfully on the inside of his lower lip, shifting slightly
in the chair as he watched a falcon soar in the tapestry beside the open door.
'I wonder what the contract he's had drawn up states? That he had one drawn up
at all indicates he probably wants to limit the relationship. I'd prefer to let
things develop as they will, especially after that revelation a few weeks ago,
but if he has drawn up a contract that forbids it, is it worth refusing him?
The boy can be annoying, yes, but he can be very good company when he's not
trying too hard, and that is something sorely lacking here.'
'Of course, the fact I still think of him as 'the boy' is reason enough not to
have even thepossibilityof a relationship with him,' Severus thought after a
moment, stifling a sigh. 'He is quite attractive and smart enough that he has
become more skilled at Potions than I ever thought he could be, but he is still
very much a boy. And, even if hewere older, Lily was my best friend. That alone
should be enough to make me keep the relationship strictly to teaching.'
'It isn't though,' said the annoying inner voice that always reminded Severus
of Lucius in his younger days. 'You quitelikethe idea of having Potter's heart,
mind,andbody belonging completely to you. You enjoy all the bits of Lily you
see in him, and the fact he's a man just makes you want him in a way you never
wanted her. It's almost as though he was special ordered just for you:
gorgeous, queer, and with Lily's green eyes that could always turn your head
and make your heart ache.'
Severus made a little strangled noise, letting his head fall back against the
back of his chair with a light thump as he looked up at the ceiling. 'Gods!
I've turned into a paedophile.'
'No you haven't,' that same dry little inner voice replied, 'he's seen and done
too much to be a boy anymore. He's aman, for good or ill, and has been for
quite some time. If you were a paedophile, you would have been after him when
he was eleven.'
Severus wrinkled his nose slightly as the mental image of eleven-year-old Harry
popped into his mind, and then shuddered. 'The merethoughtof touching the boy
then is enough to make me queasy. He was gawky and naïve, and excessively
childish as well.'
'The thought of touching the boynowis quite different though,' the dry voice
whispered.'You want him, Sev, admit it to yourself if no one else. He's
beautiful and athletic, and he has proven that he is much more intelligent than
you ever gave him credit for being. He's very like his mother, and quite worthy
of you.'
'Oh yes, and I am such awonderfulcatch, he's sure to trip all over
himselfrushingfor the privilege,' Severus thought with a snort, wondering if he
might be going insane. He had always heard arguing with yourself was a bad
sign, and he had begun doing it rather more often of late.
'Yes, he has been actually. The boy is almost pathetically eagerto be your
Apprentice, but that can be a good thing for both of you. His eagerness to
please and thirst to learn should compliment your love of teaching quite well.
You've been alone too long and he's never been anything else, so why not solve
both problems at once?'
Severus rolled his eyes and abruptly sat up straight, thinking, 'I'm arguing
withmyself, and I think I might even havelost! The boy isalreadyturning me
inside out, and I've not even signed the sodding contract!'
'Maybe not yet, Sev,' replied the nagging little voice, sounding like Lucius at
his most irritatingly smug, 'but youwill. You want to keep him too badly to say
no now, no matter what he has in that contract.'
Severus looked down at the surface of his desk, frowning slightly and unable to
refute that simple truth. He stared at the battered dark wood for a long time
before he spoke, barely aware he was speaking his thoughts aloud as he murmured
quietly, "I'm going to regret this... The boy is going to turn my life upside
down and then leave me floundering in his wake when he moves on.”
"No I won't, sir, I promise."
 
***** Chapter 5 *****
 
Severus looked up sharply to see Harry standing in the doorway holding two
scrolls and looking very serious. "There isn't anyone better and besides, I
have no intention of leaving you, if you'll let me stay."
Severus sat back in his chair again, his expression becoming closed and
unreadable as he asked, "Me, Potter? Don't you mean Hogwarts?"
"No sir." Harry moved closer to Severus' desk, looking at him but not quite
meeting his gaze. "I could teach flying if I just wanted to stay here, sir, or
even Apprentice to McGonagall. She offered the position to me at the end of
last summer, but Transfiguration isn't what I want to devote my life to."
"There are other Potions Masters, Potter," Severus replied after a moment, "if
that is what you truly want to do."
"Yes sir, I suppose there are." Harry laid the contracts on the desk, finally
looking into Severus' eyes. "But they aren't you."
Severus' eyebrows went up as he firmly pushed away the insistent mental voice
that was whispering this was all a dream and he'd wake up in a moment. He
remembered McGonagall's urging that he ask what the boy wanted the relationship
between them to be before he signed a contract, and he searched Harry's eyes as
he asked quietly, "What exactly is it you want from this Apprenticeship?"
Harry looked into Severus' eyes for a moment longer and then blushed, looking
down. "To learn from you."
"And exactly what do you want to learn?" Severus asked, his voice calm even
though his mind was still spinning.
"Whatever you're willing to teach me," Harry replied, lifting his gaze to meet
Severus' again even though he was still blushing.
"You can be more specific than that," Severus replied, looking inscrutable and
trying to ignore the corner of his mind that was whispering about how very
delectable Harry looked when he blushed. "What do you hope to learn from me?"
Harry bit his lip and looked down, gathering his courage, and then he lifted
his gaze to Severus' again and answered simply, "Everything."
Severus frowned and leaned forward, resting his forearms lightly on the edge of
his desk. "Are you attempting to say you hope to have a personal relationship
with me, Potter?"
Harry flinched slightly at Severus' tone and expression and swallowed hard,
almost wishing he could take back his words now that he'd said them. "I guess
you could say that, sir."
"I ... was expecting almost anything from you except that," Severus finally
admitted after a rather long pause during which he watched Harry chew on his
lip.
"I'm not surprised, sir," Harry replied, finally finding a little of the
confidence he'd lost when Severus began questioning him. "Everyone seems to
think I should do as my father did and marry some nice witch whether I love her
or not and settle down to raise the next generation of Potters, but I don't
want a wife and children and a desk job in some stifling office that will make
me hate the world. I want a relationship with a man who understands me and what
my life has been like, and who I can rely on to tell me when I'm being a prat
and stand next to me if things get rough."
"Has your sudden interest in Potions been solely to get closer to me?" Severus
asked, trying to give himself a moment to think.
What Harry was describing was exactly what he himself had wanted at Harry's
age, but, unlike Harry, he had put aside his hopes and dreams at Lucius' behest
to use his talents to help Voldemort. That had been the worst mistake of his
life, one that had led to the death of many people Severus had known and two he
had loved, and Severus had regretted it every day for nearly twenty years. Now
Voldemort was finally gone, and here was the simply delectable young man who
killed him, offering himself to Severus on a silver platter. Harry was so very
like one of the few people Severus had ever loved that it was almost as though
he was receiving a second chance, but Severus didn't quite believe in them
anymore. Second chances had a habit of being cleverly disguised first chances
that you wouldn't have taken had you been thinking straight.
"Maybe, at first," Harry replied truthfully, "but the more I learn about them,
the more I find I want to know. I think Potions are the challenge I need,
something that I can dedicate my life to and never find myself in the position
where I have nothing left to learn." When Severus didn't say anything to that
Harry added, "And I know I could learn Potions from someone else, but it
wouldn't be the same. I trust you, sir, and I think we could be good together.
I would much rather it be you that I spend the next five years with."
"Do you truly think you can learn all I know in five years?" Severus asked, his
eyebrows going up despite the fact his own informal apprenticeship had lasted
less than half that long. "Should I sign those contracts, I most definitely
would not be teaching you only what I know of Potions. There is quite a lot you
don't know, Harry, and as your Master it would be my duty to see that you learn
it."
Harry blushed again. "Five years was intended to be something short enough that
you wouldn't refuse to sign the contracts just to avoid being stuck with me
longer, sir. I know that I could Apprentice to you for the next twenty years
and still be learning. There's so much I don't know about the Wizarding world,
even after seven years of being allowed to visit it. I'm sure there's more I
don't even know that I don't know, if that makes sense."
Severus nodded slightly. "It does. You are woefully ignorant of your heritage,
but it speaks well of you that you know that and admit it."
"I know better than to try and hide things from you anymore, sir," Harry
replied with a slightly wry twist to his lips. "You always seem to find out
eventually, and then I end up wishing I had just told you to begin with."
Severus snorted, trying not to laugh as he said dryly, "Eureka, he can be
taught."
Harry smiled sheepishly. "Yes sir."
Severus looked at Harry for a long moment and then finally said, "Well, if
we're going to be living and working together for the foreseeable future, I
would think the first thing you have to do is stop calling me sir all the time.
My name is Severus."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise as he blurted, "You're not going to just say
no and hex me for wanting too much?!"
Severus' lips quirked into a tiny smile. "Would you like me to, Harry? I'm
quite sure I can think of something interesting, if you were really looking
forward to it..."
Harry laughed, surprised that Severus seemed to be teasing him, and then he
grinned. "I think I can live with the disappointment, sir." Severus raised an
eyebrow and then Harry quickly corrected himself, "Severus."
Severus allowed himself a small smile in reply as he gestured towards the
contracts Harry had laid on his desk. "Will these still be sufficient?"
"They should be, yes," Harry replied immediately, nodding.
The corner of Severus' mouth twitched as he reached for one of the scrolls. He
unrolled it immediately, raising his eyebrows in surprise as he read the short
contract contained on the sheet of parchment.
I, Harold James Potter, agree to become Apprenticed to Professor Severus Snape.
I agree to live with him at the location or locations of his choosing and to
obey him in exchange for Professor Snape's promise to continue my education and
provide for my food and lodging.
This Apprenticeship shall last for a period of not less than five years and may
be abolished at any time if both parties agree to end it, or if one of the
parties and a witness agree that there are irreconcilable differences.
Signatures:
Harry J. Potter
Witnesses:
 
Severus looked up at Harry, frowning. "Harry, your lawyer is a charlatan. This
contract makes you little more than a slave."
Harry flushed redder than he had before and said quickly, "I think I prefer
indentured servant, sir." He paused for a moment and then admitted, "And the
lawyer advised me against it, even though he said it was quite legal. He
attempted to talk me into a very different contract that specified weekends off
and that you had to be sure I had the knowledge to test for my Mastery at the
end of the five years, but I refused. This one says what I want it to, and none
of the things I didn't want to trap you into."
Severus let the contract roll up again and laid it on the desk in front of
himself, still frowning. "If I signed that piece of paper and had it witnessed,
I could force you to do anything, Harry. I could teach you one potion and then
order you to scrub the lavatories with a toothbrush every day for the next five
years, and you would have to do it or be in breach of contract. Surely you
realize that doesn't seem very intelligent of you."
"I trust you." Severus eyebrows went up at that simple statement, and Harry
added quietly, "Ron and Hermione had almost the same reaction to it you just
did. Sirius threatened to have me committed to St. Mungo's, but Remus told me
he thought it was a very fitting contract considering who you are and what I
want. He agreed to be a witness for me and helped me persuade Sirius that I'm
not insane." He paused, trying to think of how best to explain himself, and
then shrugged slightly as he repeated, "I trust you."
Severus stared at Harry for a long while and then tapped the scroll with his
fingertip. "This doesn't even say that I am required to teach you Potions, or
that I must teach you for the entire five years, only that I must continue your
education. I could teach you a single spell and then I would have fulfilled the
letter of the contract. "
Harry nodded. "I didn't want to limit it to just Potions, sir. You know quite a
lot that I don't, and I trust you to choose what I should devote my time to."
"It also doesn't say I have to be the one to teach you," Severus said then,
watching Harry's expression. "It states only that you have to live with me. I
could have you take lessons with Binns and teach you nothing of Potions, and
still follow the letter of the contract."
"I hope you won't decide to do that, but yes, you could," Harry agreed.
Severus stared at Harry for a few minutes more and then sat back, his brow
furrowing slightly. "So, in essence, you want to Apprentice to me and you don't
care what I do to you or what I make you learn as long as you get to live with
me." Harry simply nodded, and after staring at him a moment longer Severus
sighed. "I never thought I would say this, but Black is right. You are mad."
Harry flushed and looked down at that, and Severus let him think about it for a
bit before he added more quietly, "But I think I should agree, if for no reason
other than to save you from yourself."
Harry lifted his head quickly, his eyes brightening with hope. "Sir?"
Severus snorted softly, one corner of his mouth quirking upwards in a small
smile. "You heard me correctly. I agree."
A bright grin bloomed on Harry's face at that. "Thank you, sir!"
"Severus, Harry, or Sev if you wish," Severus said then, his smile widening
slightly despite himself as he took in how happy Harry looked. If making the
boy his slave made him that happy, he was sure to be ecstatic when he realized
that Severus intended to see that Harry learned to enjoy a few of the freedoms
the boy had lacked in his life thus far.
"Yes si-- Sev," Harry amended, still grinning as he watched Severus open one of
the desk drawers to take out a deep green Ever-Inked quill. He knew very few
people could call Severus 'Sev' without getting their heads bitten off, and he
was ecstatic that he had actually been invited to use the familiar nickname. He
had heard Remus use it rather often even though he suspected Remus hadn't ever
really been given permission to do so, but no one else dared.
"They are identical, correct?" Severus asked and then reached for the nearer
scroll to unroll it, glancing up as Harry nodded. Severus looked back down at
the parchment and signed it in his flowing scrawl as he said, "We've still got
to have them witnessed. Remus is a good choice, since he knows us both quite
well and has a level head should there ever be any questions about the
contract." Severus blew across his signature and touched it with a fingertip to
be sure it was dry, then let the scroll roll back up and put it aside to reach
for the other one, looking up at Harry. "Albus already agreed to stand witness
to any contracts we might need, unless you would prefer someone else?"
"No si-- Sev, that's fine," Harry replied immediately, still grinning.
Severus signed the second contract and then blew carefully across the ink,
again touching it to be sure it was dry before letting the scroll roll closed.
He put away the quill then and stood, looking across the desk at Harry as he
picked up both scrolls and the book he had been reading. "Would you like to see
your room now, or after the contract is witnessed?"
"Either is fine," Harry replied with a wide grin.
Harry’s usually murky green eyes were practically glowing with excitement and
happiness, and he suddenly reminded Severus very strongly of Lily. Severus just
stared into Harry’s eyes for a moment, remembering very similar green eyes that
had often looked at him with that same expression. Lily had loved the Wizarding
world and found delight in even the simplest parts of it, often sharing her
experiences with Severus. He had liked her quite a bit more than he had ever
liked anyone else except possibly Lucius, and had been very close to her their
first few years at school. He still missed her quick wit and ready laugh, even
after so many years, because she had understood him as no one had before or
since.
Severus continued to look into Harry's eyes until Harry finally tipped his head
slightly to one side, getting a questioning look on his face. Severus realized
he was staring and turned away, moving to the narrow area of blank wall next to
the desk as he shook his wand out of his sleeve. He looked over his shoulder at
Harry then and said, "As my Apprentice, you'll be staying in my quarters, so
the wards will need to be keyed to respond to you. Draw you wand and come here,
Harry."
"Yes sir." Harry quickly pulled his wand from his waistband and moved over next
to Severus, looking at him expectantly.
"Severus, Harry. You need not call me 'sir' every time you open your mouth,
unless of course you want to keep reminding me I'm quite old enough to be your
father." Harry blushed yet again as Severus gave him a slightly amused look,
then Severus lifted his wand to rest it against the centre of one of the
bricks. "Touch the tip of your wand to mine, here against the wall so I can key
the spell to recognize you. Once it does, simply touching your wand to this
wall will allow you to pass through." Harry did as he was told, then Severus
murmured, "Commeatus."
Harry felt a sudden tingle in his wand hand and then Severus removed his wand
from the wall, breaking contact with Harry's as the seemingly solid wall
shimmered slightly.
Severus stepped through the stone, putting his wand away as he said, "Follow
me."
Harry moved quickly after him and then stopped and looked around in surprise,
tucking his own wand away in his waistband. It only took him a moment to
realize that they were behind a tier of shelves that ran along the front of the
storage room where the ingredients for student potions were kept. "I had no
idea there was more to the store room, and I've been in there too many times to
count."
Severus stopped at a simple black door on the far end of the short hallway,
looking amused as he glanced back at Harry. "You weren't supposed to, Potter.
This area is warded so that anyone who does not already know of the passage
cannot find it and will believe the entrance in the classroom is the only way
in and out. From here we can see and hear what goes on in there, but students
up to mischief cannot see or hear us."
"No wonder you always seem to know exactly what goes on in there even if you're
not around." Harry let out a soft laugh and then walked quickly along the short
passage to join Severus as he added, "But don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
"If you do, you'll be wearing out that toothbrush I mentioned, scrubbing floors
while I think of another ward," Severus replied dryly, then gestured to the
black wooden door. "This door and the main one to my room are both keyed to my
aura only at the moment. They will unlock at a touch for me, but no one else
can pass them unless I open the door for them, not even the Headmaster. To
change that, I'll have to introduce you to the ward, then you'll also need only
to touch the doors to unlock them."
Harry nodded, suppressing the thrill he felt that only he would be able to
enter Severus' rooms. "Sounds easy enough."
"It is, if the wards know you." Severus laid his hand against the centre of the
door and looked at Harry as he went on more quietly, "Put your hand next to
mine on the door, Harry, so that our hands are touching." Harry did as he was
told, surprised that they did not need their wands, then Severus said,
"Levamentum."
Harry's hand suddenly felt very warm and then a wave of heat passed up his arm
and spread throughout his body, leaving a slight tingle in its wake. He had the
sudden inexplicable feeling that he had come home as soon as the tingle had
passed, and then the dark wooden door shimmered as flowing silver script
appeared on it.
"Welcome, children of Salazar, to Solace. Here you will find rooms where you
may relax and live together in safety, free from the distractions and pressures
of the outside world so long as you wish to remain within. Enter, and be
welcome, but guard the privilege well."
Harry looked quickly at Severus as soon as he had read it, and then his eyes
widened at the surprised expression on Severus' face. Harry took his hand away
from the door and half-asked, "It didn't do that before?"
Severus let his hand fall away from the door as he shook his head, staring at
the silver script until it slowly faded away. He finally looked at Harry then
and said diffidently, "No, it didn't. I would surmise that it only shows the
message when two people touch the door."
"Didn't you touch the door with someone else when the wards were keyed to you?"
Harry asked, curiosity bright in his eyes.
"No, the old Potions Master had rooms in the same wing as the other professors.
Until I became Head of Slytherin, these rooms had gone unused for several
generations, protected by their wards and the trap spells left behind by their
last occupant. It took me most of a year to puzzle out how to get past all of
them." Severus looked at Harry and gestured towards the door as he added, "Go
ahead Harry, open it."
Harry nodded and turned his attention to the door as he reached to put his hand
on the wood, having that sudden feeling of going home again as it moved easily
away from his hand. "It worked," he said unnecessarily, opening the door
completely and then looking around.
Severus snorted softly and walked past him, amused despite himself. "Yes,
Harry. Thank you for stating the obvious."
"Sorry," Harry replied, grinning sheepishly as he closed the door and looked
around the room.
Severus walked around the furniture, gesturing towards the two doorways in the
wall directly across the room from where Harry stood. "The sleeping chambers
are here," he said, pointing at the doors on either side of a tapestry full of
moving plants, animals, and strange objects as he walked to the right hand
door. "My room is the one on the left, and this one is yours." Harry quickly
crossed the sitting room and then Severus opened the door and went into Harry's
new room, taking only a few steps before he exclaimed, "I'll kill that elf and
boil him for glue!"
Severus moved to close the door to the sitting room quickly while Harry looked
wide-eyed around the spacious room, which was quite incongruously decorated,
considering its location. The deep red and bright yellow of Gryffindor were the
predominant theme, with gold-tasselled red bed curtains and overstuffed bright
red furniture trimmed in yellow. There were moving tapestries hung on the walls
depicting famous Quidditch games, and a Wizarding photo of Harry's class was
mounted above the hearth, where a fire burned cheerily.
"DOBBY!" Severus bellowed suddenly, making Harry jump and look at him in
surprise.
The familiar crackle of a house elf arriving announced Dobby's appearance in
front of the fire only a moment later. "Dobby is being here, sir!" Dobby said
happily, bouncing from foot to foot as he wrung his hands. "Is Harry Potter sir
liking his room, sir?"
Severus glared speechlessly at the elf as he took two steps towards him,
growling low in his throat and obviously incensed by all the red and yellow in
the room. Harry tried not to grin at how excited Dobby was and how livid
Severus was, managing to keep his expression reasonably straight as he asked,
"Dobby, did you do this?"
"Yes Harry Potter sir, Dobby was being the one to be doing this!" Dobby replied
proudly, beaming. "Sir told Dobby to be cleaning the room, sir, and said it was
for the great Harry Potter! Dobby was knowing Harry Potter sir would be wanting
the colours of his House, so Dobby fixed it all! Does Harry Potter sir like
it?"
"Dobby, you wretched creature, these are Salazar Slytherin'sown quarters, not
the bloody Gryffindor common room!" Severus exclaimed. "You will change this
room back the way it was at once!"
Harry tried hard not to laugh at the outraged expression on Severus' face,
looking instead at Dobby as he said reasonably, "Yes Dobby, please do. I quite
like green and silver. I'm sure the rooms were just fine as they were."
Dobby frowned, confused. "But, Harry Potter sir is being a Gryffindor, not a
Slytherin! Harry Potter sir should be having Gryffindor colours for his room!"
Severus growled, grinding his teeth as he raised his hands as if to strangle
something and stepped towards Dobby again. Harry quickly moved between them,
barely restraining a laugh. "I'm Apprenticed to Professor Snape now Dobby, so
I'm sort of a Slytherin, too." Severus looked quickly at Harry, surprised, but
Harry didn't notice as he went on, "Besides, I was almost sorted into Slytherin
anyway. I'll enjoy the quarters as they were meant to be, Dobby, I promise."
Dobby heaved a huge sigh and then said morosely, "As Harry Potter sir wishes."
Dobby snapped his fingers and there was a loud crackling noise as the room
began to change in a widening circle centred on where the elf stood.
The bright colours of the rugs and bed curtains transmuted into deep greens
with shimmering silvery-grey accents, making the room seem to darken even
though the illumination stayed the same. The overstuffed lion-embroidered couch
and chairs popped out as soon as the rugs were finished, replaced by antique
Victorian furniture that was much more beautiful even though it also looked
much less comfortable. The entire effect was simple and understated and Harry
thought it was all very fitting for Salazar's rooms; the decor practically
screamed that it was the epitome of Slytherin pureblood elegance.
The crackling sound died away after a few moments and Harry looked around the
room, admiring the greens with their soft silver accents as Dobby said, "Dobby
is being leaving the portrait of Harry Potter sir and his friends, instead of
the portrait of the great awful snake that was being there, sirs. Dobby does
not be wanting the Basilisk to be giving Harry Potter sir nightmares."
Severus snorted, giving Dobby a dirty look, but Harry smiled at Dobby and said,
"Thank you, Dobby. I'm sure I'll enjoy the portrait of my friends."
Dobby beamed at Harry, ignoring Severus' glare. "Does Harry Potter sir be
wishing Dobby to be moving his things now? Dobby can be doing it in a snap!"
"Not yet, Dobby," Harry replied, grinning back at the diminutive elf. "I think
I'll have to stay in the tower until the end of term. I promise I'll call you
to take my things when I've gotten permission to move and have everything
packed."
"Which was a polite way of saying go away," Severus added pointedly.
"Dobby will be coming whenever Harry Potter sir calls." Dobby nodded, then
snapped his fingers and disappeared with a crack.
Harry looked at Severus, barely able to restrain a laugh at the put upon look
on his face. "He was only trying to help," he said impulsively, his green eyes
bright with amusement. "Dobby likes me."
Severus snorted, giving Harry a level look. "With help like that, we'll not
need enemies."
Harry grinned wider, liking the fact Severus referred to them as a 'we', and
Severus found himself captivated again by his eyes. He had looked into Harry's
eyes several times a week during the school term for seven years, and yet he
could count on one hand the number of times he had seen Harry's eyes glowing
like they were at that very moment. He looked as though he had just been given
the world on a silver platter, and Severus just gazed into his eyes for a few
minutes before he finally shook himself out of it. He decided then that he had
best get their conversation back on track and avoid looking into Harry's eyes
again, or he was sure to get lost in those fathomless green depths.
Severus turned away from Harry to point at a door in the far corner. "That's
the door to the loo, which we will be sharing. Do knock before you go in, if
you please."
"Yes si-- Sev," Harry replied, barely catching himself as he almost called him
sir again, and Severus' lips twitched slightly as he turned to leave the room.
Severus missed the way Harry grinned and looked around one last time before he
followed Severus out into the sitting room again. "My lab is there," Severus
said as soon as Harry rejoined him, pointing to the door on the right side of
the fireplace across the room. "I'd prefer you not go in without me, as there
are often extremely dangerous potions at various stages in there."
"Of course," Harry replied, nodding.
"My study is over here." Severus walked to the study, opening the door and then
stepping inside. "Most of the books you will need are already here, though I am
sure I will find others to add as we go. You're welcome to borrow books to
read, but there are certain volumes in the glassed cases that I'll ask you not
to touch, as they are very dangerous." He put the book and scrolls he was
carrying down on his desk as he continued, "A few are poisoned so that merely
touching them can kill you, and another will drive you insane if you read it
without the proper counterspells, so please do listen and leave them be. There
are plenty of other volumes in here that can get you into quite enough trouble
without you tempting fate by mucking about with the truly dangerous ones. I'll
explain how they are organized another time."
Severus gestured for Harry to go back out into the other room, following him
and closing the study behind himself as he glanced at the small clock on the
mantle. "It is already well past curfew, so I think we should wait until
morning to get the contracts witnessed. Do you have any objection to having
Remus and Albus sign them when we are all down for breakfast?"
"No, that would be fine," Harry replied immediately, grinning at Severus.
Severus' lips quirked into a smile in reply as he quickly crossed the room
towards the only door he hadn't mentioned and said, "I'll just show you how to
get into the main entrance and then you can head back to your House."
"Yes sir-- I mean Severus."
Harry followed Severus to the door and then went through it ahead of him when
Severus gestured for him to. He was surprised to see it emerged into a darkened
passage, and hadn't yet figured out where it was when he heard Severus say
dryly behind him, "I suppose you're going to need weeks to get over calling me
sir every time you open your mouth."
Harry turned back towards Severus' quarters just as the door closed behind
them, leaving them in pitch blackness except for two large glowing eyes. Harry
watched in fascination as the green eyes drew downwards and shrank into two
dots, replying sheepishly, "I'm trying to remember not to, but it's a habit."
Severus snorted softly and then muttered, "Lumos." The tip of his wand
illuminated both of them and the small snake on the stone wall they were facing
as he added in a more normal tone, "Habits are made to be broken, Potter. Now
pay attention. The first time I opened this door it seemed to talk to me; it
may have something to say to you as well, but it should not hurt you." Harry
looked warily at the green-eyed snake on the stone wall in front of them as
Severus went on, "You'll tap the brick with the snake in this pattern..."
Severus began to move his glowing wand along with his words, not quite touching
the stone. "North, west, east, south, south, north, west. Then you'll say the
keyword, Solace. The door should open after that."
Harry nodded, then repeated, "North, west, east, south, south, north, west,
then say Solace... Got it."
"Well, then open it," Severus said, stepping to the side and looking at Harry
expectantly.
Harry nodded and pulled his wand from his waistband to begin tapping out the
pattern around the snake's glittering eyes, then said confidently, "Solace."
Harry felt a wave of cold pass up through his feet to permeate his entire body,
making him shiver as he heard a rustling noise and then a dry whisper in his
mind. "A Gryffindor and a Slytherin... An odd combination, but a true one and
right. You may enter, son of Godric, but guard the privilege well."
The stone snake finally blinked once at Harry and then a second time before the
snake's outline slowly brightened. Harry watched in fascination as it uncoiled,
a cobra-like hood spreading while a silver tongue flickered and then the snake
bared its fangs. The mouth opened wide and began growing rapidly as it seemed
to draw back into the wall to reveal the dark, almost black wooden door with
its surrounding carving of an open snake's mouth, the two large green eyes
above it seeming almost to watch him.
"Very good," Severus said, nodding. "Do try to remember the pattern, the
keyword alone will not work."
"I understand that I'm to guard the privilege of entering your rooms well, that
goes without saying. What did it mean by saying that a Gryffindor and a
Slytherin was an odd combination, but a true one?" Harry asked, looking at
Severus curiously. "And why did it call me 'son of Godric', when the other door
said we were both 'children of Salazar'?"
Severus' eyebrows went up and he looked from Harry up to the snake's eyes above
the door and then back again. "You are a descendant of Godric Gryffindor,
Harry, through the Potters. The youngest surviving direct descendant in fact,
many generations removed. Perhaps this is a bloodline ward. It did call me 'son
of Salazar' when I finally discovered how to trigger it, even though I am not
the heir to that line, merely related. As for the rest, were I forced to guess
I would say it is referring to the fact you were almost sorted into Slytherin.
It's very seldom that the Sorting Hat has to choose between those two
particular houses. Perhaps the ward senses the same diversity within your
abilities that the Hat did."
"That's probably it," Harry agreed, nodding even though he wondered if the door
might have been referring to the two of them. They were definitely an odd
combination but Harry felt like they could be a good one. They had more in
common than not, despite the age difference, and valued many of the same
things.
Severus moved then to put his hand on the black door, which swung open as he
said, "You're at the end of the hallway that leads to the Potions classroom. It
is past time that you should be in your bed, Harry, so I'll bid you good night.
I'll bring the contracts to breakfast for Remus and Albus to sign them."
Harry smiled and nodded. "Good night, Sev. I'll see you at breakfast."
Severus watched as Harry started confidently down the hall, remembering another
young man who had carried himself much the same way. He turned away and went
back into his rooms, the stone snake's mouth shrinking to hide the door as soon
as it was closed and leaving the end of the hall in darkness once more.
 
***** Chapter 6 *****
 
He arched his back as long fingers pressed against the bulge in his jeans, and
then a deep voice murmured near his ear, "Mm, very nice... Is this for me?"
Teeth grazed his earlobe, then a hot tongue slid along the shell of his ear
before the voice whispered huskily, "It had better be. I don't share."
He opened his mouth to reply but the talented fingers moved, making him moan
instead as he nodded, then the low voice purred, "Well, Potter? Your bed or
mine?"
 
.:.
 
Harry woke abruptly, blinking away the remnants of his dream and wondering what
woke him up so early until he heard Ron repeat impatiently, "Harry! I said pull
up your blankets."
Harry tugged the covers up to cover himself better, looking towards Ron's voice
as he asked, "Ron? Why?"
"He's decent, Hermione," Ron said instead of answering Harry. "You can come
in."
"Lights." The lamp on Harry's desk lit itself and then Harry blinked quickly as
he turned towards the bedside table, reaching for his glasses. Ron and Hermione
walked into the room, moving towards the bed as Harry skilfully slipped his
glasses on one-handed and asked groggily, "Is there something wrong?" He pulled
the blankets up even further, bunching them up on his chest as he yawned and
then added, "What time is it?"
"Nothing's wrong," Ron answered as he sat down at the foot of Harry's bed on
the side closest to the door.
Hermione walked over to sit on the other side of the bed, tucking her foot
under herself and settling comfortably. "We just wanted to talk to you before
breakfast. It's a little while after dawn, Harry."
"Well, that's safely before breakfast... By two hours or so." Harry pulled the
blankets up with him as he scooted up the bed to lean back against the
headboard, looking from Hermione to Ron and back. He was trying very hard to
ignore the fact they were completely dressed while he was in just his underwear
and suffering from the natural result of a very nice dream, but it was quite
difficult. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Well, Harry, first I wanted to apologize." The familiar sheepish expression on
Ron's face made Harry smile. "I'm sorry I was such an arse about all of this.
If Apprenticing to Snape is what you want, then that's what you should do."
Hermione smiled at Ron and then turned her attention back to Harry as she
added, "And we'd like to help if there's anything we can do."
Harry grinned at Ron and Hermione, memories of the previous evening rushing
back. "Thank you. It means a lot to me that you both want to help, but I won't
be needing it. Sev signed the contracts last night, and we're to have them
witnessed by Remus and Headmaster Dumbledore this morning."
"'Sev'?" Ron asked incredulously, "Snape has you calling him something like
'Sev'? Already?!"
Harry smiled at Ron and nodded. "He's really not nearly so bad as everyone
thinks. He can be quite good company when he wants to, and he's got a good
sense of humour when he's not trying to intimidate everybody in sight." He
paused, then laughed and added as an afterthought, "Which, from what I've seen,
is only when there's nobody in sight. Well, except me; he was fairly relaxed
around me for some reason."
"How did he react to the contract, Harry?" Hermione asked then, her expression
only a little bit surprised while Ron just stared at Harry as though he were
insane.
"He told me Sirius was right, and that I'm mad," Harry replied with a grin,
pleased with himself. "Then he said he felt like he should agree to take me on
as an Apprentice, if only to save me from myself."
"He's right about that, Harry," Ron said then, "You're mental!"
Hermione gave Ron a dirty look and then turned back towards Harry. "Did you
discuss your education with him, or did you just jump in blindly with both
feet?"
"Sev mentioned that he'd be teaching me quite a bit more than Potions, and I'll
be studying mostly from the books in his private collection. He's got a study
chock full of books, said that anything I should need will be in there."
Harry's grin turned rueful as he added, "He also says I'm 'woefully ignorant',
but he doesn't seem to think I'm a lost cause. We both agreed it will take more
than five years, though."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Ron exclaimed, shocked. "You've not even gotten
the bloody contracts witnessed yet, and you're already talking of an
extension?!"
Hermione glared at Ron again as Harry laughed slightly and replied, "It's more
a case of both of us knowing that five years won't be enough time for him to
teach me all he can, but it does sound a bit odd, I guess. I don't expect that
there will be a formal extension though; I'll just stay with him."
"Permanently?" Hermione asked seriously.
Harry's grin faded into a little smile and he looked down at his hands,
fiddling with the edge of the bedspread. "If he'll have me."
Ron opened his mouth to say something to that but Hermione put her hand on his
knee to stop him, watching Harry's face as she asked softly, "Are you in love
with him, Harry?"
Harry smoothed the coverlet between his fingers, thinking for a long moment
before he finally looked up at Hermione again. "Other than the two of you,
Sirius, and Remus I've never really had a family. How do I tell if what I feel
means I'm really and truly in love with him, and not just that I care for him
quite a lot? How do I know where the line is between a friend I love and
respect, and someone I'm in love with?"
"Well, how do you feel about him, Harry?" Hermione asked, giving him an
encouraging look.
Harry's lips twisted into a slightly wry smile as he looked into Hermione's
eyes, not looking at Ron because he was a little afraid of what he would find
on his best friend's face. "I'd do anything to make him proud of me, I think,
or even just to please him. Having him smile at me makes me feel all warm and
as happy as the first time I caught the Snitch. I start trying to think of more
ways to make him smile, just so I can feel that way again." Harry shrugged one
shoulder then, looking down at his hands as he added, "I just want to be with
him, and I think I could help him be happy, if he'll let me."
"You're totally gone on him," Ron said suddenly, making Harry look up in
surprise. "You sound just like Fred and George did their last year in school
when they only got to see Oliver on Hogsmeade weekends." Ron laughed suddenly,
and then added, "It's a bloody scary thing that you're so far gone on Snape,
you know that, right?"
Hermione swatted Ron's shoulder, grinning at Harry. "Ignore him, Harry. If
Professor Snape makes you happy, that's what matters, not what anyone else
thinks about it." Harry grinned back at her as she asked, "Did you discuss what
your living arrangements will be?"
Harry nodded quickly. "I'll have a room in his quarters. It's quite nice, about
twice the size of this one with my own fireplace and a couch and chairs and
some shelves. He already keyed the wards on his room to accept me, while he was
showing me how to get in." He grinned suddenly. "Two of the wards talked to me,
it was wicked."
"What did they say?" Hermione asked as she leaned forward, looking intensely
curious.
"One of the wards just said it welcomed the children of Salazar, and that
inside we'd find rooms where we can live together in peace and safety," Harry
replied immediately. "Sev said that door was different when we both touched it,
and that it didn't talk to him when he keyed the wards just to him. I thought
the other ward was more interesting, though. We didn't have to touch it
together and he didn't do anything to key it to me that I could tell, but it
said, 'A Gryffindor and a Slytherin. An odd combination, but a true one and
right. You may enter, son of Godric, but guard the privilege well.'"
Hermione and Ron looked at each other and then back at Harry as Hermione asked
quickly, "Did you tell him what it said?"
"Yeah, I did," Harry replied, nodding.
Ron and Hermione looked at him expectantly, then when Harry didn't go on after
a moment Hermione asked impatiently, "Well? What did he say?"
"Oh!" Harry laughed slightly. "Sorry. Severus said he thought it was something
about the fact I was almost sorted into Slytherin, but I'm not so sure. I mean,
if that's what it meant, it wouldn't have called me 'son of Godric', right?"
Hermione looked thoughtful, nibbling her lip a moment before she suddenly said,
"I think so. You may have almost been sorted into Slytherin, but you've been in
Gryffindor for seven years.Your father was a Gryffindor, and you're the heir of
Gryffindor..." She trailed off and then said almost hesitantly, "I would think
it was referring to both of you."
"How would a spell know Harry has a thing for Snape, and why would it care?"
Ron asked, looking at Hermione with obvious curiosity.
"Well, it could have been a bloodline ward," Hermione said after a moment,
still looking thoughtful. "That would recognize Harry's bloodline, instead of
his House. If Snape's the only other one with access to the rooms, it might
make the obvious assumption that they are in a relationship."
"Then why would the other door call us both 'children of Salazar'?" Harry
asked, even more curious than Ron.
"Perhaps it recognized your Parseltongue abilities," Hermione answered matter-
of-factly. "That's supposed to be a talent that is only possessed by direct
descendants of Salazar Slytherin." Hermione paused, and then added almost
wistfully, "I wish I could study those wards a bit, they sound very
interesting."
"I doubt Sev would allow that, Hermione." Harry gave her a rueful smile. "He
said they took him quite some time to puzzle out, and I know he wants his rooms
to stay private."
"Why does he want you to move in then?" Ron asked, looking confused.
Harry's eyebrows went up in surprise. "Why would he not? It's not like I'm
going to be bringing anyone in. If I have visitors, they don't have to come
into our rooms, there's the whole castle to visit with them in."
"So, we'll not be invited into your room?" Ron asked, frowning. "Your best
friends?"
"Ron, you're being silly," Hermione said before Harry could reply. "Professor
Snape is a very private man, and you know he doesn't like either of us very
much. Of course we'll not be going into his home."
"Unless he invites you in," Harry amended. "He might, I don't know. I'm not
going to ask him to, though; he's already given up enough of his privacy for
me. Not even Dumbledore can get into his rooms unless Sev opens the wards, but
he keyed them to me so I can come and go freely. I'm not going to make him
regret it if I can help it." Harry looked from Ron to Hermione and then back
again, asking, "You can understand that, right?"
Ron stared at Harry for a moment and then finally sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I
can. Sorry Harry, I was being a prat."
Harry smiled. "Don't worry about it. If I could, you know I'd let you two in
anytime you liked." He grinned and added teasingly, "Though I hope you'll find
somewhere besides my bed to shag from now on."
"Oh god!" Hermione exclaimed, blushing furiously as she shoved Ron hard, almost
pushing him off the bed. "I told you he'd know!" Ron didn't even have the grace
to blush as he shrugged, grinning. Hermione glared at him and then looked at
Harry, her face still bright red. "I'm sorry, Harry, even if he's not. It won't
happen again."
"What?!" Ron exclaimed, his grin disappearing. "Why not?! Harry doesn't care!"
Harry grinned at Hermione. "He's right, I was just teasing."
"Well I care!" Hermione replied, glaring at Ron. "I shouldn't have let you to
begin with, not until I had a ring, but you can be so sweet that I let you talk
me into it."
"Well, if a ring is all that you've been waiting for, why didn't you just say
so?" Ron asked indignantly. "I've had the ring for ages."
"You've what?!" Hermione exclaimed, and then turned her back on Ron so abruptly
the whole bed shook as she folded her arms across her chest. "Ronald Weasley,
you can be such an arsehole! I've been wishing you'd make it official for
months while I waited for you to be able to afford a ring, and you had it all
the time! I should tell you to keep your bloody ring!"
"Hermione, no, don't be like that." Ron crawled across the bed to reach for
Hermione's shoulder while Harry just watched them bemusedly. "I wanted to wait
until after school," Ron added, giving Hermione his best pleading look. "It's
all arranged already, a romantic dinner in Venice because you've always wanted
to go there, and then I was going to show you the flat I got in London with the
money I made working for Fred and George last summer, and give you the ring
when I asked you to move in with me."
Hermione looked at Ron, obviously trying hard to stay mad, but she failed after
only a moment and sighed, sniffling as if she might cry instead. "That sounds
so sweet, and so romantic, and now I feel just awful for ruining it."
"Don't 'Mione," Ron replied quickly, "I should have said something, or waited
to, well, you know. I know it's all been getting to you, I just hoped you'd put
up with waiting a few more days."
Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes at Hermione's mood swing, very glad that
he was queer. Today would obviously be a very good day to be too busy to hang
out with her, and maybe if he was lucky her hormones would level out again by
tomorrow. He really should have expected mood swings; Hermione was always a
harpy at the last quarter of the moon. He usually anticipated it and planned
ahead to be out of her way, but he'd been so distracted by end of term that
he'd not thought about the moon and he suddenly wondered if she had, either. He
didn't know much about female biology, but he vaguely remembered that a woman
was most fertile just before even the Muggle ones turned into witches for a
week. He wondered then how long they had been shagging in his bed, and made a
face at the sudden mental image of Hermione and Ron in his bed, naked. Thinking
about Hermione naked was simply wrong as far as Harry was concerned, sort of
like thinking about Ginny or Molly naked was wrong.
Hermione turned and moved closer to Ron, oblivious to Harry's expression. "I
should have had more faith in you, Ron. I know you love me."
"More than anything," Ron replied with a smile, leaning towards Hermione with
the obvious intent to kiss her.
"Before you two get any closer, let me leave," Harry said then, making them
both look at him as he scooted towards the edge of the bed. "Then you can snog
or shag or whatever you want to do, just so long as you don't leave me any more
little presents."
Hermione blushed bright red at that and turned away to let Harry get out of
bed. "I'm really sorry about that, Harry."
Harry grabbed his robe off the hook near the bed and put it on, then moved to
his trunk to get clothes for the day as he said, "Don't worry about it,
Hermione. It was just a bit of a surprise to find frilly pink under-things
under my pillow."
Ron laughed, earning a glare from Hermione that made him sober up quickly.
"Sorry about that mate, that was my fault."
Harry grinned at Ron and straightened up. "I figured." He headed towards the
door as he added, "Now black silk boxers, on the other hand..."
Hermione and Ron both just stared at Harry in shock, not managing to say a
thing as they watched him walk out of the room to go take a shower. Harry wore
red plaid boxers and had ever since he'd been allowed to buy his own clothes
instead of wearing Dudley's cast-offs, so he quite simply had to be referring
to wanting to find someone else's boxers in his bed. Neither of them had a hard
time figuring out who Harry had meant.
They were silent for a long time before Ron finally said, "I'm going to pretend
I didn't hear that."
"Yes, let's," Hermione replied, still wide-eyed.
Ron looked around a few more moments, half-dreading that he might see a pair of
silk boxers in the floor but unable to keep from looking for them. It finally
dawned on him they were alone though, and he turned back towards Hermione,
giving her a wicked little grin. "Want a snog?"
Hermione let out a laugh, despite her intention not to. "You'll never change,
will you, Ronnie?"
"Nope," Ron replied, grinning and wriggling his eyebrows comically as he leaned
closer. "C'mon 'Mione, you know you want to..."
Hermione just giggled and leaned to meet him. She did want to, and even though
she might not admit it, she wasn't going to argue too much to avoid it. Ron
always made sure to take very good care of her, and she loved feeling as
beautiful and desirable as she always did when she was in his arms. Ron might
be an idiot about some things, but she knew she could count on him not to be an
idiot about that.
 
.:.
 
Harry headed towards the Great Hall a little while later, his hair still damp
from his shower as he made his way down the deserted stairways. He rode through
their movements without losing his grin even though they had already doubled
the length of his trip twice by moving him back up a floor, idly wondering if
he really had done something to annoy them. Having the showers to himself had
been nice for a change, but after he had taken care of the problem his dreams
had left him with, he hadn't lingered long.
The excitement of knowing his Apprenticeship would be official this morning had
encouraged Harry to hurry through his usual morning routine even though there
was almost an hour yet until breakfast officially began. He was hoping that
since he was Head Boy and had his own room anyway, Professor Dumbledore would
suggest he go ahead and move into Severus' quarters. Then Ron and Hermione
could have his room the last night they were at school and Harry would be able
to spend more time with Severus, who he wanted to get to know a lot better.
'And not only because I want to know how accurate my dreams were,' Harry
thought, grinning to himself as he remembered the night before. He had fallen
asleep thinking about Severus, and his dreams had been full of long lean limbs,
smooth pale skin, black hair, and that sexy voice he had noticed long before
the rest of the man who owned it. 'Even when he's at his most annoyed he sounds
like pure sin; what he sounds like when he's actually having sex would have to
be even better. God, I hope I was reading him right... He didn't seem at all
upset that I want to have a relationship with him, and hedidtell me to call him
Sevafterthat.'
"Harry, wait up!"
Harry glanced back and then turned to watch with a grin as the stair Seamus and
Dean were riding swung towards the landing he was on. "Hey guys, you're up
early!"
"We've been up to the Astronomy tower. Crookshanks woke us up before daybreak,"
Dean said as he and Seamus both jumped from the stair to the landing before it
had even stopped moving. They turned to walk downstairs then with Seamus
walking between Harry and Dean as Dean went on, "He was yowling loud enough to
wake the dead because he wanted into the dorm so he could wake Ron up."
"Yeah," Seamus added, "I think Ron's the only one who slept through the cat's
fussing, but a pillow to the head woke him up quick enough."
Harry laughed. "He could sleep through a hailstorm I think, even if he was out
in it." Seamus and Dean both laughed, nodding. "Are you two headed for
breakfast?"
Seamus nodded again, smirking at Harry as the three of them walked quickly down
the last flight of stairs. "Get the best stuff if you're early, you know. Had
steak and eggs a few mornings ago, and the best sweets are always put out this
early."
Dean nodded, grinning. "Donuts are our friends."
Harry grinned back at them as he replied, "No wonder you're always up early. I
thought you two just liked having the showers to yourself."
"That's nice too," Dean said, laughing, "but I didn't think you had noticed."
Seamus reached over and poked Harry in the ribs, smirking. "You're just as much
a shirt lifter as Dean is, Harry, so why haven't you joined us if you knew? A
little sex between friends can be a lot of fun."
Harry laughed, trying to ignore his sudden blush. "Would you believe me if I
said it was because I like to sleep in?"
Seamus shook his head as Dean grinned past him and said, "Not a chance, Harry."
"But you could admit you're too shy to even consider it," Seamus added, still
smirking. "'Cause we both know that's why you don't have a guy in your room
every night."
Harry grinned at Seamus and Dean as they turned towards the Great Hall,
completely missing the dark figure standing near the foot of the stairs as he
said, "But I do have a guy in my room every night!"
The dark figure stiffened and then whirled around, walking quickly away as
Seamus laughed, shoving Harry lightly. "Ron doesn't count!"
Dean grinned and nodded. "Yeah, he's straighter than a flagpole. He's probably
the only one in the school who hasn't noticed you're a poofter."
Harry laughed as Seamus hooked his arms around Dean and Harry's necks and added
with a smirk for Harry, "And besides, it's not like you're even in the room
with him, so it don't count if he gets laid in your bed. You always study in
the common room with us."
"Which is why I passed Potions," Dean added, grinning at Harry past Seamus. "If
I get into Auror training, it'll be all because of you, Harry. You're my hero."
Harry laughed and shook his head as they walked into the nearly empty Great
Hall, keeping his attention on Seamus and Dean as they walked along. "No it
won't, I just let you read my notes, that's all. Hermione's done the same for
half our class."
Seamus and Dean both laughed, nodding, then Dean said, "Hermione is the saviour
of every Gryffindor in our year. We'd all be fighting for Shunpike's job on the
Knight Bus if it weren't for her, making sure all the drunks and doddering old
fools that can't Apparate anymore got home safe." Harry and Seamus both started
laughing at that as they reached the high end of the Gryffindor table where the
seventh years always sat. Seamus let go of the other two to sit down as Dean
added, "I'd hate to be that bloke. I hope he's a whiz at cleaning spells."
Harry grinned and moved around the end of the table to sit down across from
Dean and Seamus as food appeared in the serving dishes between them. He didn't
even notice the looks the three of them were getting from the people at the
staff table, grinning at his friends as he agreed with Dean. "I think he'd have
to be, and repair spells too, the way things get tossed about."
Seamus wrinkled his nose, looking down at the scrambled eggs he'd just put on
his plate and thinking about the usual result of tossing drunks about. "Remind
me not to be riding the bus on Saturdays."
Harry and Dean both laughed and Harry reached for the eggs just as Dumbledore's
familiar voice called, "Harry, could we have a word with you?"
Seamus and Dean both watched curiously as Harry replied immediately, "Yes sir."
Harry stood up, forgetting about breakfast as soon as he remembered the
Apprenticeship contract, and walked quickly towards where Dumbledore was
sitting with Remus and Professor McGonagall while Severus stood behind his
usual seat.
Harry's eyebrows drew downwards in concern when he saw the frown on Severus'
face and the way he wasn't looking at him. He noticed the way McGonagall was
watching him with obvious disapproval then and looked at Remus, the
disappointed expression on his face making Harry's insides freeze. 'Oh shite,
he's changed his mind. He had too much time to think about it and decided not
to saddle himself with a stupid kid. Shite, shite, shite! I should have asked
him to get them witnessed last night, he washappyabout it then...'
Dumbledore stood as Harry reached the staff table, smiling at Harry as he said
calmly, "Mr. Potter, I believe it would be best to discuss this somewhere a bit
more private." Severus turned away as Remus and McGonagall both stood, and the
three professors walked towards the staff door at the end of the table while
Dumbledore smiled warmly at Harry and added, "If you would, follow Remus,
please."
"Yes sir," Harry replied, ignoring the fact every student in the Great Hall was
watching him as he moved quickly along the table. He walked through the doorway
just after Remus did and then trailed along behind as Remus crossed the
deserted staff lounge into the meeting room to go sit down at a rather large
table.
Harry sat down directly across from Severus and gazed worriedly across the
table at him, wondering what was wrong while Severus laid a doubled scroll on
the table. Severus' expression was closed and unhappy as he avoided looking
across the table, and Harry's stomach felt as though it were full of lead as he
tried to figure out what had happened. He felt like he should know, like it
must be his fault, but he hadn't done anything.
Dumbledore picked up a bottle of ink and a quill off of a side table and then
sat down at the head of the table, putting them in front of him. He broke the
silence of the room as he said with a smile, "Severus, I believe you said that
there is an Apprenticeship contract that needs witnessed?"
"Yes Albus, I did, but I'm no longer certain about it," Severus replied evenly,
carefully not looking at Harry.
Dumbledore frowned, folding his hands together in front of him. "And why is
that, Severus? You seemed quite sure about this course of action last evening,
dare I say happy even. What has changed?"
Severus looked down at the table, frowning. "I was not aware of something that
was brought to my attention this morning."
"What?" Harry blurted, unable to stay silent. "What did I do wrong?"
The other three professors watched as Severus finally lifted his gaze to look
at Harry, his expression shuttered. "You..." He trailed off with a sigh and was
quiet for a bit as he gazed at Harry, then his shoulders slumped slightly as he
looked down again and said quietly, "You did nothing wrong, Mr. Potter. I just
was not aware of something that I find changes my feelings on the subject."
"What is it?" Harry asked, leaning forward and laying both hands on the table
as he watched Severus' face, completely ignoring the others in the room. "Tell
me what it is and I'll fix it, I promise."
Severus lifted his gaze again, searching Harry's worried, confused face for a
little while before he finally admitted, "I was under the impression that you
were not in a relationship, Mr. Potter. Discovering otherwise has been...
Disappointing."
"I'm not!" Harry exclaimed immediately, shocked. "Whoever said I am is lying! I
haven't dated anyone since my fifth year, and I only went to the Astronomy
tower with Cho once before she told me I had to be queer."
Remus stifled a laugh as Dumbledore chuckled softly and McGonagall's lips
quirked into a tiny smile, but Severus frowned. "Then why did you tell Mr.
Finnegan that you have a boy in your room every night?"
Harry blinked and then laughed suddenly, relieved. "Did you hear that this
morning?" Severus nodded, his frown deepening, then Harry continued, "And did
you listen to the rest of the conversation?"
"No, I felt I had heard quite enough," Severus replied flatly, giving Harry a
familiar scowl.
"Well, if you had listened a bit more," Harry said with a grin, completely
unperturbed by the scowl, "you would have heard Dean say that Ron doesn't count
because he's as straight as a flagpole." Remus did laugh at that as McGonagall
and Dumbledore both fought smiles, but Harry ignored them as he smiled at
Severus. "They were just teasing me, Sev, honestly. We were flirting a bit,
I'll admit that, but it was just innocent fun between friends. Seamus and Dean
aren't my type." Dumbledore and Remus both chuckled at the nonplussed
expression on Severus' face as McGonagall lifted one hand to hide a smile.
Harry grinned again suddenly a moment later and then added, "They're too nice."
Remus patted Harry on the shoulder, grinning. "That's enough, Harry. Don't get
yourself into trouble again just as soon as you dig your way out. Save that
argument for another day."
Harry grinned at Remus and then looked at Severus again as he said earnestly,
"I was telling you the truth sir, about everything. Wizard's honour."
Severus just stared at Harry for a little while and then picked up the doubled
scroll laying in front of him to pass it to Dumbledore. "I stand corrected,
Albus. We are still in need of witnesses."
Harry grinned. "Thank you, Sev. You won't regret it."
Severus snorted, settling back in his chair as he met Harry's gaze again. "No,
I'm quite sure that I will." Harry looked surprised at that, the wide happy
smile on his face fading, and then Severus' lips curved into a slight smile of
his own. "But I do think the benefits will far outweigh the moments your
Gryffindorish cheerfulness will get on my nerves."
Dumbledore unrolled the scrolls, beaming. "I am quite sure you both will learn
to enjoy having someone about, whether they get on your nerves occasionally or
not." He reached for the quill as he scanned the contract, and then quickly
looked up at Severus over his glasses. "You allowed Harry to use this contract,
Severus?"
McGonagall leaned forward to read the contract as Severus replied, "Yes, Albus,
I did. I have no intention to take advantage of his trust, so I followed his
wishes."
"Harry, do you understand this contract?" McGonagall asked suddenly, looking up
from the paper with an inscrutable expression.
"Yes ma'am, I do," Harry answered immediately. "My lawyer said it's legal."
"Yes, but it leaves you with very little protection, Harry," McGonagall said,
causing Severus frown at her as Dumbledore reached for the quill again.
"Traditionally, with a contract such as this you would be considered little
more than property."
"I don't need protection," Harry replied, and when Severus looked at him again,
Harry calmly met his gaze. "There is nothing that Professor Snape could ask of
me that I wouldn't want to do for him."
"Thank you, Harry," Severus said softly, giving him a gentle smile that was
completely at odds with his usual expression. "I won't abuse your trust."
"I know," Harry replied, returning the smile.
"Well," McGonagall said after a long moment of silence during which she
thoroughly scrutinized them both, "this is ... unexpected."
Remus chuckled and took the scrolls as Dumbledore slid them towards him. He
reached for the quill to add his own signature to each as Dumbledore reached
over to pat McGonagall's hand and said, "Only to you, my dear."
McGonagall snorted softly, giving Dumbledore a severe look as Severus smiled a
little wider at Harry. Harry gave him an answering grin and then looked at the
contracts again, watching avidly as Remus signed just below Professor
Dumbledore's name.
"I do have one request for you both," Dumbledore said as Remus finished signing
the second copy of the contract a few moments later, drawing Severus and
Harry's attention back to him. "I am not as young as I once was... As
unpredictable as life can be, I propose that Minerva should sign as well."
Harry just looked at Severus, who gazed at Harry a moment and then pursed his
lips, looking at McGonagall. "I expect I'll hear quite a lot from you about how
poor a Master I am, Minerva, but I know you will only have Harry's best
interests at heart. If you would sign, I would be grateful."
"Do you intend to have a … personal relationship with the boy?" McGonagall
asked, her expression inscrutable.
Severus' eyebrows drew down into a frown, and he barely restrained himself from
asking how that was any of her business. "If that is what he wishes, yes."
"Then I will sign," McGonagall said with a sharp nod, and extended her hand
across the table to take the contracts from Remus.
Severus just stared at McGonagall until she had signed the first contract, then
he finally spoke again, obviously perplexed. "You're not going to lecture me
about having a relationship with a student?"
McGonagall snorted, giving Severus a level look over her glasses. "Former
student, Severus. He is an adult now and quite capable of choosing his own
path. The boy has given up his childhood for the Wizarding world, and I think
it only fitting he should be happy as an adult in compensation."
"And he'll be happiest here with you," Remus added, grinning at Severus, who
still looked surprised. "It is what he has wanted for quite some time now."
Severus gave Harry a searching look then and Harry blushed, looking down as
Severus asked, "Harry, just exactly how many people know that you would like to
be in a relationship with me?"
Remus chuckled as Harry blushed even redder and gave Severus a little sheepish
smile. "Um... I'm not really sure."
Severus snorted, pushing away the recurring thought that Harry looked
positively edible when he was blushing. "Guess."
"Besides you?" Severus nodded impatiently and Harry bit his lip as he looked
down, thinking, then he looked up again as he said hesitantly, "Seven that I
told, but George would have told Fred, and they might have told Lee and Oliver,
so that would make it ten. Or eleven, if Hermione told Ginny, but neither of
them would pass it on. Well, unless people I didn't tell have figured it out,
then I have no idea."
"Well," Severus said after a moment, "I do hope you're ready to take the
consequences, should a relationship between us become public. Very few will
look with favour on the idea of the Boy Who Lived being in a homosexual
relationship at all, particularly when you are the last of your bloodline.
Being in a relationship with one of your professors who just happens to be a
former Death Eater is sure to be a scandal."
"I'm not afraid," Harry replied simply.
Severus ignored the others at the table as he searched Harry's eyes for
something, and then said softly, "You will lose your popularity, Harry. You
would likely not be welcomed in polite Wizarding society any longer."
Harry didn't hesitate at all to reply, calm and serious. "I'm not ashamed of
how I feel. If I have the choice between having you or the Wizarding world on a
platter, I'd choose you."
Severus gazed at Harry a moment longer before he smiled, a soft look in his
eyes. "Thank you, Harry. I... I think that I would choose you as well."
Harry gave Severus a sudden blinding smile, completely as a loss for words, and
the two of them just smiled at each other for a little while before Dumbledore
suddenly stood, his chair scraping on the stone floor.
"Well, now that that is all settled, I believe it is time for breakfast." The
others took the hint and began to rise as Dumbledore reached for the contracts
and tucked them into his robe. "Oh, and Harry? You are excused from the rest of
your classes, since you are no longer officially a student. If Severus does not
object you are welcome to attend to be with your friends until they leave. You
may also move your things whenever you wish, and you may sit at the staff table
with Severus if you like."
Harry gave Dumbledore a bright grin. "Thank you, sir."
"You are quite welcome, Harry," Dumbledore replied, smiling, and then he looked
at Severus and added, "Severus, I would like to speak with you both at some
point before I must leave. I have a teaching position to fill, and I think your
Apprentice would do admirably without taking too much time away from his
studies."
"We are at your disposal, Albus," Severus replied with a slight smile and a nod
of his head.
"Good, good," Dumbledore replied, smiling as he put a hand to McGonagall's back
and guided her towards the Great Hall. "Come along, Minerva, Remus. The house
elves always reward the earliest risers with the best breakfasts, but if we are
in luck there will still be a few of those delicious quince pastries left."
Remus chuckled and followed them out, leaving Harry and Severus standing on
opposite sides of the staff table, alone.
They stood there gazing at each other in silence for a little while, both of
them smiling a bit, and then Severus finally said, "You are welcome in our
rooms at any time, but I think you should sit with your friends today, Harry. I
know you will miss them when they leave."
Harry nodded quickly, smiling even wider. "I'd like that, s-Sev, thank you."
Severus' lips quirked into a slightly wider smile and he turned to go, walking
towards the door. "Do try to remember to take some time today to think about
whether or not you would like to teach flying. You are the best Seeker it has
been my pleasure to watch Harry, and it would be a shame to give that up
completely. Becoming the flying instructor will not take up much of your time."
Harry followed him out of the room, grinning. "I'll think about it, sir. If it
wouldn't interfere with my Apprenticeship, it might be fun to fly with the
students."
"I think you would enjoy it, Harry, but it is ultimately your choice, of
course." Severus was still smiling slightly as he opened the door to the Great
Hall and gestured for Harry to go ahead of him. "I shall see you in class
later, we could discuss it then if you wish."
"Definitely," Harry replied with a bright grin, walking into the Great Hall
before he looked back. "Enjoy your morning, Sev."
Severus nodded, smiling. "I will Harry, and the same to you."
Harry grinned and nodded before he turned to walk quickly over to the table
where his friends were sitting. He completely missed the fact that most of the
students in the Hall were looking from him to Severus and back again,
whispering and wondering what was going on. There was no doubt that something
was going on... Severus Snape never smiled like that in public, and most
certainly not at Harry Potter.
 
***** Chapter 7 *****
 
Harry sat down next to Dean with a grin, reaching for a nearly empty plate of
bacon to snag a few slices. He laid them on his own plate and then looked
across the table at Ron and Hermione, smiling cheerfully as he asked, "Enjoy
your snog?"
Hermione blushed as Ron grinned at Harry and nodded, offering him a bowl of
scrambled eggs. "Too right. Saved you some eggs."
"Thanks," Harry said, grinning as he accepted the bowl.
Dean elbowed him then, making Harry turn his head to look at him. "What was
that all about, Harry? Are you in trouble with Snape again?"
Harry laughed and shook his head, looking back down to put a generous helping
of eggs on his plate. "Oh no, I'm not in trouble at all. We had to talk about
my Apprenticeship, then the professors had to witness it."
"Apprenticeship?" Ginny asked alertly, leaning forward to look at Harry past
Seamus and Dean while Harry set aside the empty bowl. "Who to?"
"Professor Snape," Harry replied calmly as he began to eat.
Ron and Hermione looked quickly at each other, surprised Harry was telling
everyone, and Seamus exclaimed, "Snape?! Have you lost your bleedin' mind?!"
Harry ignored the sudden mutters further along the Gryffindor table as he
lifted his gaze again to look at Seamus, his expression caught somewhere
between amused and thoughtful. "Y'know, everyone keeps asking me that. Maybe I
have." Harry grinned suddenly, then added, "But hey, if I'm a nutter, at least
I'm enjoying it."
Dean laughed. "You're barmy!"
"Could be," Harry agreed with a grin. He went back to eating, happily munching
on a slice of bacon while his friends tried to make sense of what he had just
said.
"But, Harry, Apprenticing to Snape?" Ginny asked a few minutes later, making
Harry look up again. "He's such a greasy git, why him?"
Harry shrugged, his attention on Ginny so that he missed the fact Snape had
stood and was walking towards them on his way out of the Hall. "Why not? I
enjoy Potions, and he's the best there is. And he's not so bad, Ginny, though
I'll admit he can be a bit of a git when he's in a tear."
"What was that, Potter?" Snape asked then, making them all look up to see him
standing at the head of the table with one eyebrow quirked upwards.
Harry looked up at Snape, grinning suddenly. "Well, you can be. You've mastered
the art of being a right git when you want people to leave you alone."
The other students all stared at Harry then, missing the way Snape's lips
twitched as he tried not to laugh. "I must be losing my touch. You don't seem
to be leaving me alone, Harry."
"That's because I like the fact you're a git to everyone else, Sev," Harry
replied quickly, smirking as his friends looked wide-eyed from him to Snape and
back, expecting an explosion any moment.
Snape snorted and started for the main doors again, only making it a few steps
before they all heard him laugh and mutter, "Cheeky brat."
"Thank you," Harry called after him, and Snape just waved one hand over his
shoulder in a dismissive gesture while half the people in the Hall stared,
shocked.
Harry went back to eating his breakfast, still grinning as the others around
the Gryffindor table stared speechlessly at each other or at him. They were all
silent while Harry blithely ate his breakfast, until Seamus finally said,
"Harry, you've got bollocks of steel."
Ron and Dean both laughed and nodded as Harry looked up in surprise, blinking
as he swallowed a mouthful of eggs. "What makes you say that?"
"What makes me say that?!" Seamus repeated incredulously. "You've gone 'round
the bloody bend, cheeking Snape like that! You're lucky he didn't hex you green
or something!"
Harry laughed. "He's not that bad, I swear."
"Mind if I join you, Potter?" a familiar voice said then, causing the
Gryffindors to look up and see that Draco was standing near Harry, holding a
scone and watching them with a smirk. "We're all out of marmalade and I fancy a
bit on my scone."
Harry reached for the nearest jar of marmalade, then offered it to Draco as he
said dryly, "Here, Malfoy, take it with you, we've plenty."
"Thanks." Draco ignored the strong hint that he should go away and sat down
next to Harry, beginning to put a generous amount of marmalade on his scone. "I
can't wait to get out of this bloody school. A person has to consort with
Gryffindors just to have a good rousing argument."
Harry laughed. "You've been hanging out with Professor Snape too much, Malfoy."
"Which would explain him wanting to sit by you, Harry," Dean added, smirking as
he elbowed Harry.
"Hey!" Harry said, laughing as he looked at Dean. "I'm good for more than a
fight!"
Dean smirked at Harry, getting a wicked glint in his eyes. "Want to prove it?"
Harry looked at Dean a moment, grinning, then looked back down at his plate and
stabbed the last bit of egg. "I can't, I'm taken."
"By who?" Draco asked, looking surprised as he paused with his scone halfway to
his mouth. "You're the vestal virgin of Gryffindor, Potter, how can you be
taken?"
Harry just smirked at Draco and lifted his fork. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Harry chewed placidly as Draco rolled his eyes and said scathingly, "Yes,
Potter, I think we've established that. Now you are supposed to answer me. It
is called having a conversation."
Harry swallowed quickly and then laughed. "Since when do we have
conversations?"
"He's got you there!" Dean said, laughing at the surprised look on Draco's
face. "Why don't you go try the Ravenclaw table, Draco? I hear Kevin's lonely,
he just broke up with the poofter he's been sneaking about with." Dean paused
artfully, then pretended to recall something and added, "No, wait, he mentioned
last night that he's looking for someone a bit more butch than the last boy, so
you might not be his type..."
Draco dropped his scone on the empty plate in front of him and stood suddenly,
spots of colour high on each cheek as he glared at Dean. "Fine." He looked at
Harry, still glaring, and added frostily, "Just remember one thing, Potter. I'm
one of Professor Snape's friends, very nearly family, and I'm sure he'll not be
pleased at you making such an arse of yourself."
Harry snorted, obviously amused as he picked up his pumpkin juice. "Professor
Snapehasn't said a thing about being nice to you, Malfoy." He took a drink and
then gave Draco a slight smirk as he added, "Even Sev doesn't ask me for
miracles."
Draco huffed angrily and turned away, stalking back towards the Slytherin table
with his nose in the air as the Gryffindors snickered.
Ron grinned at Harry and said, "Good one, Harry."
Harry returned the grin and then took another drink of his juice before he
asked, "Did you ever get the plans for the party settled?"
"Not yet, nobody can agree on a night to have it," Ron replied. Seamus, Dean,
and Ginny all started talking at once, fussing at Ron and resuming the argument
they'd been having while Harry was in the faculty room.
Harry smirked, proud of the success of his diversionary tactic, and went back
to eating his breakfast, listening to his friends talk and trying not to think
about the fact they'd all be leaving the next morning. He was glad he was
staying behind, but he knew he would miss them.
 
.:.
 
Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron made their way into the Gryffindor tower
several hours later, talking back and forth as most of their classmates were
headed down to the Great Hall for lunch. "I still can't believe how he acted at
breakfast," Ginny was saying as she stepped into the common room. "He was at
least as much of a bastard for our class as he's ever been. He made us scrub
the desks so they would be clean for next term. Without magic!"
Harry laughed, following Ginny through the portrait hole. "What did you expect,
Gin?"
"Well, for him not to act like he had his knickers in a wad would have been
nice!" Ginny replied in obvious annoyance as Harry stepped past her to move
towards his room. "I haven't seen him that obnoxious since the time Colin blew
up his desk, and nobody's done anything to deserve it this time!"
"Maybe he's trying to make sure the students know he's still an arsehole," Ron
said as he and Hermione followed them through the nearly deserted common room.
"A lot of people caught him acting human this morning, after all. Whole
school's talking about it."
Harry grinned over his shoulder at Ron as he opened the door to his room and
then moved inside, leaving the door open. He walked towards his bed with the
others following him in as he said, "I think he just doesn't want to let
everyone see what he's really like. He's the youngest teacher in the school,
for now at least, and I think he acts like he does so that we'll forget that."
"What do you mean, for now?" Ginny asked alertly, watching as Harry sat down at
the foot of his bed. "Do you know who the new flying teacher next term is,
Harry?"
"Maybe," Harry replied, "Dumbledore offered me the job and Sev encouraged me to
consider it, but I haven't decided if I'll take it or not yet." His expression
grew a bit wry and he added, "It sounds like fun, but I think I might have
problems with the students. I mean, all of the ones who will be back next year
know me at least by sight, and they'll tell the firsties about me. How do I
referee Quidditch for people I've shared detention with?"
Ron and Ginny both looked surprised as Hermione sat down next to Harry and
smiled at him. "It could be awkward, Harry, but I think you'd like it. You do
love to fly, and teaching what you love to do is always easier than you think
it will be. You should be in the air, it would be a shame for you to give it
up."
Harry looked at Hermione, smiling. "Sev said almost the same thing." Harry
grinned suddenly and added, "He also said I am, and I quote, 'the best Seeker
he's ever had the pleasure to watch'."
Ginny grinned and nodded as Ron laughed and said, "He doesn't even like
Quidditch!"
"Well, no, I didn't think so either," Harry replied with a laugh, "but he did
say it would be a shame for me to give it up."
"He goes to almost every game," Hermione said suddenly, making the others look
at her. "And he usually makes a wager with Professor McGonagall, I've heard her
muttering when he's won."
"Which team does he bet on, now that Slytherin isn't playing?" Ginny asked as
she, Ron, and Harry all stared at Hermione in surprise.
"Well," Hermione replied with a sudden little grin, "he took McGonagall for ten
Galleons on the Cup."
Harry and Ron's jaws dropped as Ginny asked incredulously, "Our own Head of
House bet against us?!"
"Not precisely," Hermione said, grinning wider. "I was sitting by her in the
stands, and from what I heard the bet was whether or not Harry would win the
game without allowing any other score. McGonagall was annoyed enough to fuss
about Harry costing her ten Galleons because he wouldn't even let his own team
score, then it seemed to dawn on her Gryffindor won even if she didn't and she
started cheering with everyone else."
Harry didn't even think before he said, "I didn't want to give up any advantage
in my last game. It's not my fault the Snitch was so easy to find. When I saw
the chance to catch it, I did."
"And won us the Cup!" Ginny added, grinning at Harry. "I thought you did a
smashing job, Harry. We'll miss you on the team next year."
"Too right you will," Ron agreed, smirking. "You're only half the Seeker Harry
is."
"Then I must be pretty bloody brilliant," Ginny replied quickly, smirking right
back at him as Hermione and Harry both laughed. "Our Keeper on the other hand,
well... Dennis should do nicely."
"Dennis Creevey?!" Ron asked, incensed. "Even Hufflepuff will run right over
him!"
"That shows what you know, Ronald Weasley," Ginny replied with a disdainful
snort. "He's been practicing quite a lot while you're too busy goofing off to
even come to the pitch. He's been flying Keeper almost every Wednesday with me,
Derek, Morag, Terry, and Mandy, and he's very good!"
"You've been practicing with the Ravenclaws?!" Ron exclaimed.
Ginny gave him a dirty look, her eyes narrowing. "For the last three months
I've been practicing with anyone who was on the pitch because my own bloody
team was too busy to practice with the three people who'd be left when you
lotall graduate!"
Ron stared at Ginny in shock as Harry flinched and said, "I meant to come to
more practices, Gin, really I did."
Ginny glared at Ron a moment longer and then turned towards Harry as she
sighed, letting her shoulders slump. "Oh, I know you did, Harry, you had NEWT's
to worry over. I should have thought about the fact most of the team were
seventh years at the beginning of the year and done something then when we all
had free time. By the time it dawned on me you'd all really not be here, it was
too late."
"Harry will be here," Hermione said suddenly, smiling. "He can help you with
the team next year. Madam Hooch helps the teams that have to train new players,
so there's no reason why Harry wouldn't be able to."
"But that won't be good, he'll have to help everyone," Ron said, frowning a
bit. "Even the Slytherins."
"Seems to me they need help the most," Hermione said then, looking serious.
"They've lost the whole team except Malfoy to the Death Eaters," Harry agreed
with a nod, "and even he won't be here next term. They have to start the season
without even one experienced player. I don't think a team has ever done that
before."
"But Harry," Ron protested, "They're Slytherins. You'd help them against your
own House?"
Harry looked at Ron for a moment, trying to think of how to put the way he felt
into words, and then said quietly, "Ron, I'm as good as a Slytherin. I'm in
love with their Head of House, and going to be living with Sev at the very
least, hopefully a lot more." Ginny stared at Harry but he didn't notice as he
continued calmly to Ron, "I almost was a Slytherin, Ron, and they're going to
be as much my House as now Gryffindor is. Hating them will just make more of
them go bad now that we've finally got a chance for a new beginning with them.
I'm sorry if it upsets you, but I won't be a part of that."
Hermione nodded, smiling proudly at Harry as she leaned closer to him and
impulsively grabbed his hand in both of hers, shaking it. "Well said, Harry!
There needs to be a voice of reason among the students, and you are the next
best thing. The House rivalries have gone on for too long. We all need to work
together again and stop letting bad blood set us up for more Dark Lords."
Ron turned to Ginny, taking in the shocked expression on her face. "Gin, you
agree with me, right? They've gone 'round the bend!"
Ginny looked at Ron, blinking, then turned back towards Harry. "Apprenticing is
one thing, but, just-- You're in love with Professor Snape?!"
Harry nodded, his surprised look quickly fading into a sheepish smile. "Sorry
to spring it on you like that, I thought Hermione would have told you by now."
"Wasn't mine to tell," Hermione said then, giving Ginny an apologetic look. "I
hope you understand."
Ginny nodded quickly, waving one hand in dismissal a lot like her mother did
when she was in a hurry. "Of course I understand, don't worry, just-- Harry,
why Snape?!"
Harry chuckled, getting a wry twist to his lips. "Everyone reacts like that, so
I suppose I'd best get used to it." He paused, looking down as he smiled and
added, "Well, except Remus. He just said it was about time someone looked past
all those thorny walls of his and saw Sev again." Harry smiled fondly at
nothing for a moment as the other three watched him, and then seemed to
remember where he was and looked up at Ginny again. "And it's a lot of things,
really, but it comes down to the simple fact I like him quite a lot, and I
trust him with my life. He hated me for a long time because of who my father
was, but he saw past it finally and we made a peace that grew into something
pretty close to friendship."
Harry paused and looked down again, still smiling as he went on, "He said
something this morning about me losing my standing in the Wizarding world if I
were publicly in a relationship with him. I told him if I had to choose between
being popular and having him, I'd choose him." Hermione squeezed Harry's hand,
making him look up, and then gave him a quick smile. Harry smiled back at her
and then turned towards Ginny and went on, "When he said he'd choose me too, I
didn't have any more questions. I love him and I want to be with him, and he's
agreed to let me."
Ginny and Ron both looked at him in silence a long while before Ginny suddenly
gave a nod and said bracingly, "Good luck with him, Harry. If anyone deserves
to be happy, it's you."
Ron nodded and smiled at Harry. "I think I know how you're feeling mate, and
I'm glad you've found it too, finally." He laughed, and then added, "Even if it
is Snape."
Harry smiled. "Thank you, both of you." He squeezed Hermione's hand then,
giving her a sudden grin as he added, "And you, too. You accepted it easier
than anyone but Remus."
Hermione smiled and said simply, "You love him."
"Yeah, I think I do," Harry replied with a bright smile, then he chuckled. "And
hopefully soon I'll even get up the nerve to tell him that, instead of just
everyone else."
Hermione laughed. "Harry, you said you told him you'd choose him over the whole
Wizarding world, right?" Harry nodded and then she went on, "Well, everyone who
knows you knows you'd never live Muggle. You might as well have told him you
choose him over the whole world, and that's as good as saying I love you. More,
even. The only friends and family you have are all wizards, so you were as good
as saying you chose him over everything you love, Harry." Hermione noticed
Harry's surprise and her expression suddenly became a bit uncertain as she
asked, "You did mean it like that, didn't you?"
Harry let out a little laugh. "Oh yes, but I hadn't thought it out, really, I
just knew it was how I feel." He smiled suddenly. "And that definitely explains
the smile I got from Sev when I said it. I'll never forget the look in his
eyes."
Ginny opened her mouth to say something, but before she could begin there was a
knock on the open door and Neville stuck his head in. "You'll miss lunch
altogether if you don't head down soon. I thought I'd remind you on my way
down."
"Thanks, Nevvy," Ginny said with a quick grin, standing up to walk towards the
door. "I'll walk down with you." She grinned over her shoulder at the other
three and added, "I'll save you lot a bite."
"Thanks, Gin. We'll be along in a minute," Hermione replied, smiling, then
watched Ginny and Neville leave before she looked at Harry again. "Do you want
the job as flying instructor, Harry?"
Harry nodded slowly, his smile widening. "Yeah, I think I do. Sev didn't mind
the idea so it won't interfere with my Apprenticeship, and I do love to fly."
He paused a moment and then added, "And I would really like to be able to help
the Quidditch teams." He looked over at Ron apologetically. "All of the
Quidditch teams."
"Don't look at me like that, Harry," Ron said quickly, "You were right, the
Slytherins will need your help more than anyone else. I was being a prat
again."
"You do that a lot you know," Harry teased, grinning as he let go of Hermione's
hand. He stood up and moved quickly towards the door as he added, "You're more
like Draco than you'd like to admit."
Ron laughed and jumped up, heading after him. "I'll get you for that one,
Harry!"
"You've got to catch me first!" Harry replied, laughing as he ran across the
common room. He pushed the door open and then pelted off down the stairs with
Ron in close pursuit.
Harry was the better flyer and Quidditch player of the two by far, but Ron was
faster on foot because of his longer legs. Unless the stairways managed to
split them up, it was a foregone conclusion that Ron would catch Harry rather
quickly. Hermione was sure she'd find them wrestling on a landing long before
she got to the Great Hall, if they didn't run into a professor before then and
get detention their last day in classes. Running on the stairways broke at
least two school rules and was sure to get them a scolding, especially when the
Head Boy was involved.
Hermione snorted softly and followed them at a much more sedate pace as she
muttered to herself, "And they're both officially men now."
 
***** Chapter 8 *****
 
During History of Magic, the Gryffindors finally settled on having their end of
term party over the second entire weekend after school was out so that all of
their friends could come. Ron and Dean both liked the schedule when the party
would be, but they were on opposite sides of the argument about the other
arrangements and neither one wanted to lose. They didn't pause in their
argument when the class ended, heading off towards the dungeon while they
argued back and forth heatedly.
Harry and Hermione followed them through the halls towards the Potions
classroom, listening bemusedly as Ron and Dean debated and occasionally
interjecting a word or two. The crux of the argument was simple and a little
silly by Hermione's standards, though she and Harry could both completely
understand Dean's position.
Ron had enjoyed the leaving party Fred and George threw for their class even
though it hadn't been nearly so well funded as this year's party would be.
Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes was doing so well that Fred and George had agreed
to pay for the party as a graduation present to the whole class, a welcome
surprise for the Gryffindors. Dean had no problem with any of that and was
properly grateful to the twins, but Seamus' suggestion that they get Fred and
George to supply a karaoke machine for the party was a completely different
story.
The particular karaoke machine in question had a curse on it that made whoever
was holding the microphone dance and sing to the song whether they wanted to or
not. Combined with the fact that the karaoke machine also chose the song for
you, it had made for a hilarious party for everyone but the poor unfortunates
actually conned into singing. Ron had tried the machine at the last party and
had to sing No Surrender by Bruce Springsteen, whom he had never heard of
before but decided he quite liked. He and most of the others saw no reason not
to risk it again, but Dean was claiming he still had nightmares about his own
experience with the machine.
Dean had also agreed to sing a bit at Fred and George's party, and when he had
touched the microphone, he had been stuck with Madonna's Like A Virgin. The
karaoke machine had coerced him to perform on a convenient table, complete with
the stage choreography from her infamous television performance. Not only had
he made a complete fool of himself, but he had also pulled several muscles he
was rather fond of using and hadn't been able stand when the song finished. He
had needed a painkilling draught just to walk to the Floo and had been laid up
in bed for most of a week afterwards, too embarrassed to go to St. Mungo's, so
he had no desire to risk a repeat performance.
The four of them had just reached their desks to sit down when Severus spoke,
surprising Ron and Dean into silence. "You may have noticed that Draco is not
here. He was excused from class so he could attend a meeting with Professor
Dumbledore. Potter, might I have a word with you?"
"Yes sir," Harry replied immediately, picking up the book he had brought to
read. It was another of the books Remus had picked out for him from amongst the
Black family library and Harry carried it with him as he walked quickly to
Severus' desk, on the off chance it might be another Severus was looking for.
Knowing Remus, it was another rare volume despite the fact that the
name,Understanding the Principles of Potions Work, sounded vaguely like a first
year textbook.
"Have you thought about taking that position, Harry?" Severus asked as Harry
stopped next to his desk, looking closed and impassive as ever but for a glint
in his eyes that made Harry smile. He had spent months watching Severus at
every opportunity and seldom missed it anymore when he was amused by something.
The sparkle in Severus' eyes always gave it away.
"Yes, I have," replied Harry, ignoring the curious looks from the rest of the
class as he grinned at Severus and laid the book on his desk. "I'll accept it
if you don't mind, Sev. I think that I might be able to do some good as the
flying teacher, especially for the Slytherins. They'll need quite a bit of help
if they're to make a decent showing at Quidditch next year."
"You bloody traitor!" Seamus exclaimed, jumping up from his seat. "You're going
to help the fucking Slytherins against your own bloody House?!"
"That will be quite enough, Finnegan," Severus said in a quelling tone as he
stood, giving Seamus a hard look. "If you are incapable of watching your
language in the presence of young ladies, I am quite confident that I can
control your mouth."
Seamus sat down quickly but he continued to glare at Harry angrily as he
muttered, "Yes sir."
Severus moved to stand in front of his own desk, frowning at Seamus as he went
on as though Seamus hadn't spoken. "I, personally, would have thought you might
show a bit more of that vaunted Gryffindor loyalty and give a Housemate the
benefit of the doubt before you began calling him a traitor. Evidently I expect
too much of you."
Seamus blushed then, his angry scowl fading as he realized his classmates were
staring at him as if he were mad. He sat there flushing for almost a minute
before his expression hardened again and he blurted, "He said he was planning
to help the other team. That is being a traitor. Sir."
Dean snorted and leaned forward over his desk to swat Seamus on the back of the
head. "Shut up, Seamus, that's Harry Potter you're talking about. He wouldn't
turn on his friends for anyone or anything, and you bloody well know it."
"Yeah, Seamus, you're being stupid," added Neville from his seat next to
Seamus, who had half-turned in his seat to glare at Dean. "Next term the
Slytherin team won't have even one experienced player. They'll need all the
help they can get."
Seamus gave Neville a dirty look and opened his mouth to reply hotly, but he
didn't get a chance to before Hermione cut him off by saying firmly, "And we
don't need a new year of Slytherins hating the world because we Gryffindors
won't help them." Seamus looked at Hermione then, again opening his mouth to
reply, but she went on as if she didn't notice. "It's as much our fault as
anyone's that so many of the Slytherins of our year became Death Eaters. We
didn't give them much choice."
"Very astute, Granger," Severus said. "Fifteen points to Gryffindor."
The students all looked up at him in shock because he never awarded points to
Gryffindor, especially not during the last week of the term.
Severus scanned the room, meeting their eyes by turn as he said calmly,
"Granger is quite right. Most who went over to Voldemort had no friends outside
Slytherin House and no one on the side of the Light to turn to should they have
wanted a way out of what their families planned for them. Draco grew up knowing
me quite well, and by the time he began his fifth year he trusted me more than
his blood relatives for various reasons I'll not go into. He stood with us when
it came time to choose because he trusted my judgment. He trusted that I would
see to it that he wasn't disgraced as I was, but the other students would not
take a similar risk with their inheritances."
"So, what you're saying," Parvati half-asked timidly, "is that if Harry makes
an effort with the first years next year, he could stop some of fighting?"
Severus leaned back against the front of his desk. "I believe so, yes. Five
points to Gryffindor."
Hermione spoke up almost as soon as Severus finished, adding, "Harry could do
quite a lot to put an end to the hate I think. The feud has gone on so long
none of those fighting even know the reasons anymore. First years are simply
told that they should hate other students because of which House they're sorted
into."
Seamus looked at Harry with slightly more respect, asking, "So you're
Apprenticing to Snape to try and stop inter-House rivalry?"
Everyone in the room looked at Harry then, and he shifted slightly under the
sudden attention. "I hope that I can help make everyone see that the time for
fighting each other is over now that Voldemort is gone, but that's not why I'll
be staying here. I'm staying because this is where I belong."
"At Hogwarts," Dean said, looking questioningly at Harry.
Harry shook his head and looked at Severus as he swallowed hard and then said
quietly, "With the man I love."
"Well," Dean said to nobody in particular as there were exclamations of
disbelief from the students, "that explains why he told me he's taken."
Severus gave Harry a wry smile that was almost at odds with the soft happy
light in his eyes, ignoring the muttering of the students who quieted almost
immediately anyway to hear what his reply would be. "You never do anything
halfway, Harry, do you?" he asked, his tone bemused. "Always too talkative for
your own good."
Harry grinned impishly, relieved. "Maybe you can teach me to keep quiet."
Severus laughed, startling several of the students and making them stare. "I'm
the best Potions Master in Britain, Potter, but even I can't work miracles."
Ron, Dean, and Parvati snickered at that while Harry smirked at Severus and
said, "I'm sure you could find a way to keep my mouth occupied, if you really
thought about it."
Severus' eyebrows went up as his eyes widened in surprise, and his shocked
expression made Dean laugh as Parvati, Lavender, and Hermione all giggled.
A little smirk quirked up the corner of Severus' mouth a moment later, and when
Harry's cheeks flushed slightly in reaction, Severus had to resist the urge to
do something he would probably regret later. He snorted softly instead and
said, "You'll ruin my reputation yet, Potter. Go sit down and behave yourself
for a change."
"Yes sir," Harry replied, grinning as he turned to go sit back down next to
Hermione. He was glad not only that he'd not gotten into trouble for baiting
Severus so openly, but also that Severus had taken the teasing for what it was
and responded in kind.
Severus looked at the rest of the class, carefully ignoring Harry as he said,
"With the way gossip circulates in this school, I am quite sure you'll have
heard about the sixth years spending their hour scrubbing desks this morning,
and the other seventh years cleaning the storage rooms last period. Since this
is your final class with me, if you can keep it down to a dull roar you'll not
have a similar fate." Ron and Dean grinned at each other as the other students'
expressions brightened, but Severus paid them no mind. "I do request that you
stay in your seats and attempt to act your age though." He finally looked
towards where Harry was watching him with a little smirk, then snorted, adding,
"And Harry, do try not to incite another riot."
"Yes sir," Harry replied, grinning even wider.
Severus snorted again and turned away, picking up the book Harry had laid on
his desk and then walking into his office. "See that you do."
The students all turned then to look at Harry, who blushed and asked, "What?
Why is everyone staring at me?"
Dean snorted, grinning, then reached towards Harry across the desk between
them. "I want to shake the hand of the reason Professor Snape let us have a
free period today instead of scrubbing mucky cauldrons."
Harry laughed and shook Dean's hand even as he protested, "I'm sure he had
already planned it."
Parvati shook her head. "Not according to Padma. She told me just before class
that we would have to finish cleaning the storage room. They were only half
through with all the cauldrons yet to do."
"Hey, you're good for something after all, Harry," Ron said then, grinning and
leaning away as Harry made as if to lunge across the desk at him.
Dean laughed and shoved Ron while he was distracted by Harry's lunge, almost
pushing him off his chair and earning a grin from Harry. "Thanks, Dean."
"Anytime," Dean replied with an answering grin, dodging when Ron attempted to
cuff the back of his head.
"I said act your age, boys, not your shoe size," Severus called dryly from his
office, distracting Ron and Dean and making everyone look in that direction.
Severus had left the office door open and was watching them over the top of
Understanding the Principles of Potions Work. "If sitting at your desks is not
physical enough for you, Weasley and Thomas, I am certain that I can find you
work to do."
Ron and Dean both shook their heads quickly. "No sir, sitting at our desks is
fine," Dean added.
Severus snorted and went back to looking through the book, ignoring the giggles
from Hermione and Parvati as he added, "And you were right for once, Weasley;
Potter is good for something. He manages quite well to serve as a bad example
to the rest of you."
"Hey!" Harry exclaimed, looking surprised as the rest of the class started
laughing.
Severus just kept scanning the index of the book, smiling slightly to himself.
 
.:.
 
The Gryffindor common room was loud and boisterous that evening after the end
of term feast was finally over. An impromptu party had sprung up among the
students who were too excited to sleep after winning the House Cup yet again,
and Ron and Dean's quick trip through the hump-backed witch to Hogsmeade had
supplied the group with butterbeer and sweets. Most of the younger children had
stayed up to participate, leaving the dorms empty but for a few couples who had
snuck away to have some privacy before they would be parted for the summer.
Grades had been posted in the common room when they returned from the last
class of the day. It hadn't surprised any of the seventh years to see that
either Hermione or Harry had top marks in every subject, though Hermione had
muttered a bit about the fact Harry outscored her in Potions and
Transfiguration. Hermione had the most NEWT's in their year, more than any of
the others could remember any one student getting while they had been at
school. Ron had gotten the fifth highest marks in their year, right behind Dean
and Parvati, and everyone in Gryffindor had managed to pass their courses
except Colin, who had failed Advanced Potions rather abysmally.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were just as pleased with their grades and the end of
school as the other students, but they didn't join in the partying. They went
into Harry's room as soon as they returned from the feast to pack his things so
he could move into his new room, and it wasn't long before their excitement had
faded away. They were quiet as they began gathering Harry's things, not really
wanting to say what was on their minds or think about the fact that they would
have to say goodbye in the morning. The three of them wouldn't see each other
very often after Ron and Hermione left Hogwarts, other than the party they had
planned, and they didn't find much joy in finally seeing the end of their last
term anymore.
They busied themselves in different parts of the room, not looking at each
other or speaking as they went through Harry's things and boxed them up to be
moved. Ron had immediately called packing Harry's few personal possessions and
clothes into his trunk, clearing out his wardrobe with surprising efficiency.
Harry had settled on putting his books into three crates conjured for the
occasion and was separating them into boxes according to which books he hadn't
yet read and which ones he thought Severus might want to look at. Hermione had
taken the task of going through Harry's desk and was neatly colour-coding the
edges of each scroll according to subject before shrinking them to pack them
into filing boxes by year.
Harry had finally begun to purchase a few personal items during the last two
years because he had known he wasn't returning to the Dursleys. He had
accumulated more books over the last term than in his first five combined, and
he had kept all of his notes and assignments from his sixth year classes to
study during seventh year, another luxury he hadn't had before. He had finally
discovered enchanted eyeglasses and then bought himself a pair that would not
fog up, fall off, or break early last summer. A nice pair of boots for
Quidditch had followed a few weeks later, as well as his own Quidditch robes,
but off the pitch he still dressed much more plainly than most of the other
students. He had only his school robes, one set of nice dark green dress robes
that made his eyes seem twice as vivid, and some Muggle jeans and t-shirts he
had bought at the beginning of sixth year that were all too small. Most who
knew Harry despaired of ever seeing him in anything other than his uniform; he
habitually wore it even on weekends, and hadn't worn a pair of jeans since the
start of term.
Harry finally looked up as he put the last of his books away to see Ron was
sitting on the end of the bed next to Harry's open trunk watching Harry with an
unhappy expression, his fingers lightly toying with the Quidditch uniform lying
forgotten in his lap.
"I hate this," Ron said suddenly then, frowning down at the rich red robe he
was holding. "We were supposed to all go on to London together, not split up to
do three different things alone."
"You won't be alone, Ron. We'll be sharing a flat, remember?" Hermione replied,
looking up from sorting scrolls. "I'll not have to live on campus at Oxford, so
we'll be together every night. If you pass your exams, you'll be working with
Tonks and the others so you'll have friends around. You'll enjoy it, Ron, I
know you will. You've always wanted to be an Auror."
"And what if I fail?" Ron asked, looking at Hermione worriedly as Harry stood
to walk to his wardrobe and finish packing the clothes. "If I can't pass the
tests without you two to help, what then?"
"Then you'll go to work in the Ministry with your father," Hermione replied
calmly, beginning to file scrolls into the two boxes again. "Or you could work
with Fred and George, we all know they'd love to have your help full time."
Hermione glanced up then and saw Ron make a face at that idea, so she added,
"You could even go on to study healing with me, you've got good enough grades."
"Oh, no," Ron replied, shaking his head vigorously, "there's no way I'm signing
on for anothertwo years of schooling! I just--" Ron broke off and sighed, then
sighed and admitted softly, "I'm going to miss this. We've spent seven yearsin
each other's pockets except for summers, and now we'll all be off to do our own
things, for good. It's a little scary."
"You'll do well, Ron, don't worry," Harry said then, giving Ron an encouraging
smile as he laid the last of his jeans in his trunk.
"How about you, Harry?" Ron asked, looking at him seriously. "All of the
teachers have plans this summer away from school, even Hagrid, and there aren't
any students who need to stay over. How will you be able to stand spending the
summer here with no company except for Snape and the house elves?"
Harry laughed, his green eyes suddenly sparkling with amusement. "Ron, you're
quite forgetting that Sev is high on my list of things I want to do. I hope to
learn quite a lot over the next eight weeks."
Hermione giggled at that, blushing, and Ron wrinkled his nose and threw the
Quidditch robes at Harry as he exclaimed, "Eww! Harry, that's gross!"
Harry laughed and laid the robes carelessly in the top of his trunk. "No, it's
the truth. I'm looking forward to a few weeks alone with him. I can't help it
you're too straight to appreciate that."
Ron shuddered, giving Harry a dirty look. "It's not just that I don't like
guys, it's that it's him. He's as ugly as sin and greasy to boot; nobody but
you would want to think about Snape like that."
"Um, that's not quite true," Hermione said then, making Ron look at her in
shock. When she saw his expression, she went on quickly, "A lot of the girls
quite like his voice, and he has really nice hands."
"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed, grinning, "Are you trying to tell us you have a
crush on Severus?"
"No!" Hermione was quick to reply, but then she blushed furiously. "Not anymore
anyway."
Harry laughed as Ron said, "It's official; insanity is contagious." Ron jumped
up off the bed, looking from Harry to Hermione and then heading quickly for the
door as he added, "I'm getting out of here before I catch it. I'm going to go
pack so I don't have it to do in the morning." Ron opened the door, letting in
the sounds of the party as he hurriedly stepped outside and then closed it
behind himself with a bit more force than necessary.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other and then burst out laughing.
 
.:.
 
Harry sat alone in his new room several hours later, the silence almost
unbearable now that Dobby had gone. He had always been alone at night this last
year so he was used to it, but somehow tonight he felt even more alone than he
usually was. Even though he was exhausted, he was wide awake with sleep far out
of his grasp as he thought about his relationship with Severus, or lack
thereof.
As much as he had put a brave face on for Hermione and Ron, he wasn't quite as
certain about the next eight weeks as he had let on. He dreaded when everyone
he knew would depart in the morning almost as much as he dreaded when most of
the professors would leave the next day, leaving him in the huge old castle
with just Severus and the house elves, who he wouldn't see at all unless he
took to hanging out in the kitchens. The fact Severus couldn't quite keep a
scowl on his face when he was around Harry anymore was mute testimony to the
fact that they were friends of a sort now, but Harry wasn't quite so sure about
the rest as he pretended to be. He wanted to be as close as he possibly could
be to Severus physically and emotionally, he knew that, but he didn't have the
slightest idea how to go about getting there.
Friendly flirting was easy for him, Remus said he took after his father in
that, but Harry had no idea how to go past that into anything more serious.
Sure, he had pursued Cho as a fourth year, but he had done so with absolutely
no luck until she began to pursue him as a fifth year. He had thought they were
doing well then, despite his complete ineptitude at the whole dating thing,
only to have her tell him one evening that he needed to find a nice boy to date
because he was obviously quite queer.
Harry hadn't had any idea at the time why she had reached that conclusion and
he hadn't ever really spoken to anyone about it, but he had finally decided it
had something to do with the fact he hadn't tried anything while they were
snogging. Of course, after he had realized that, he had soon realized he didn't
really want to try anything with her. It wasn't long after that when he had
seen George and Lee in the showers after a game and came to the conclusion he
really was queer. Rather literally.
So there he was, nearly eighteen years old and sitting alone in the dark in
boxers and an old t-shirt that was worn so thin it fit like a second skin. He
was too awake to sleep and too tired to go find himself something constructive
to do, and the man he had been having steamy little dreams about for the last
year was sleeping in the next room.
If he were brave, he could pretend he needed something and go wake Severus, but
he had no clue what he might possibly ask for. Dobby had been painfully eager
to please and had left him over an hour ago with everything he might possibly
need, including a pot of hot chocolate. Besides, Harry was feeling very much
the coward, so he just curled up in the old chair he had asked Dobby to bring
into his room, his feet tucked up under him and a mug of lukewarm hot chocolate
in his hand as he stared into the fire.
Harry heard the sound of a door open quietly and looked up as the light flared
on in the bathing room, surprised to see that he had left the door open
earlier.
Severus moved into the doorway a moment later, looking first at the bed and
then towards the fire as he said quietly, "I thought you were in bed hours ago,
Harry."
"I wasn't sleepy," Harry replied softly, resisting the urge to say more as he
took a sip of his un-hot chocolate and watched Severus, who was wearing a thin
green robe he had tied loosely about himself.
The robe left a goodly bit of Severus' pale chest visible to Harry's interested
gaze, and the dusting of fine black hair drew his gaze like a magnet. He had
thought Severus would have a mostly hairless body because of the complete lack
of stubble on his face and the lack of hair on the back of Severus' hands. The
dark curls were a surprise, and Harry suddenly wanted to run his fingers
through them to see if the hair felt as soft as it looked.
Severus simply watched him for a little while, taking in the picture Harry made
curled up in the firelight in the heavily pillowed old chair that somehow
looked right in the room even though it was in a darker shade of Gryffindor
red. Harry's legs were bare and gleaming in the firelight, quite pale and more
muscular than Severus had expected, and he fought the urge to stare at them as
he finally asked softly, "Would you like something to help you sleep?"
Harry shook his head with a wry smile. "I've no idea what time it is, but I'm
sure if I take anything this late I'll never wake up to see everyone off. Ron
and Hermione plan to leave right after breakfast."
Severus nodded, conceding the point. "True, it isn't wise to sleep less than
eight hours after taking Dreamless Sleep. Sunrise is only about three hours
away."
Harry made a face and groaned, letting his head fall back against the chair. "I
might as well dig a book out then, I'm not remotely sleepy."
"Would you like some company?" Severus asked quietly after a long moment of
silence, making Harry jerk his head up and stare at him in surprise. Severus
felt his face heat up slightly as he added, "To talk, I meant."
Harry blinked twice, sure he'd imagined Severus blushing, and then spoke his
next thought aloud without thinking. "Sure, if you want, but I'd not mind
company of the other sort either." As soon as he said it, his cheeks flushed
but he forged on, deciding to embarrass himself completely now and get it over
with. "I was just wishing I had the guts to say something to you."
Severus looked at him inscrutably for a long moment and then said quietly,
"I'll be right back."
Harry watched wide-eyed as Severus stepped back into the bathing room and
closed the door behind him. He continued staring at the door a long moment
before he looked back at the fire, trying to decide whether he was hoping
Severus would be back to talk or to do something else. He noticed his body's
reaction to the idea of doing something else then and flushed bright red again,
wishing he were wearing a robe. He shifted in the chair so that his arousal
wouldn't be quite so obvious just as the door to the bathroom opened again and
then closed.
"Make your choice, Harry," Severus said then, drawing Harry's gaze to the
darkened corner where the door was. "Sleep, or talk."
Harry stared at Severus for a long moment before he swallowed hard and then
said quietly, "Sleep?"
"Don't sound so sure, Harry," Severus said dryly, his lips quirking into a
slight smile. "You may make me begin to wonder if you are regretting that you
asked me to stay."
Harry set his cup aside and stood, turning away from the fire quickly so that
Severus could only see his silhouette as he moved towards the bed. He stopped
near the foot, looking seriously at Severus as he said softly, "I don't regret
it, I'm just surprised. I thought it would be a lot more difficult to get near
you."
Severus chuckled softly and turned towards the bed, bending to fold back the
covers. "I did not say I would have sex with you, Harry. Sleeping never hurt
anyone and is seldom a mistake at three in the morning." He untied the belt on
his robe then and Harry swallowed hard, watching avidly as he shrugged out of
it to reveal quite a lot of lean pale skin and deep green boxers that matched
the robe. Severus tossed the robe across the foot of the bed and then finally
noticed Harry staring and gave him an amused look. "Harry, I know you've seen a
man in his underpants before. You are one yourself and you've shared a locker
room with an entire Quidditch team for the last seven years, but go ahead and
get a good look if you'd like."
"Sorry." Harry blushed bright red and looked away as he hoped fervently that
Severus wouldn't comment about how very aroused he was. "I didn't mean to
stare."
"Don't be sorry," Severus said more quietly then, making Harry look up to see
an odd expression on Severus' face that he didn't recognize. Severus turned
away to climb into bed, moving to the far side and settling comfortably on his
back before he patted the bed next to him. "Come on, Harry, you need to get at
least a little sleep."
Harry hesitated a moment longer and then slid under the covers, careful not to
touch or even look at Severus as he laid very still.
Severus sighed after a few moments and then said patiently, "Harry, I won't
bite. You will never sleep unless you relax."
"I'm not sure I can," Harry replied softly after a moment, feeling like he was
blushing all the way to his toes. "All I can think about is the fact that I'm
finally in bed with you."
Severus rolled to his side, propping himself up on one elbow as he looked at
Harry, who was staring at the ceiling and still wearing his glasses. "Would you
like me to go?"
"No!" Harry replied a bit too loudly, and then flushed even redder as he closed
his eyes, mortified. "But, maybe you should. I'll never sleep with you this
close."
Severus looked at Harry for a moment and then asked suddenly, "Do you really
trust me, Harry?"
Harry opened his eyes to look at Severus in surprise. "Of course I do."
Severus smiled. "Good. Take off your glasses and roll to your side, facing away
from me."
Harry stared at him a moment, his heart fluttering wildly, then rolled away as
he pulled his glasses off to put them on the bedside table. He shifted a bit to
get comfortable and then opened his mouth to ask why just as the bed shifted.
He gasped softly as he felt Severus move close behind him, sliding his arms
around him and gently pulling Harry back against his surprisingly solid chest.
"Now relax," he whispered in Harry's ear, "and get some sleep."
Harry shivered as Severus' warm breath ghosted against the side of his neck and
his ear, swallowing hard at the unmistakable feeling of an erection against his
arse. "This really didn't help, you know."
Severus chuckled and rubbed Harry's stomach gently as he repeated softly,
"Relax, Harry."
Harry swallowed hard and nodded slightly, shifting to lean back against
Severus' chest a bit more firmly and then laying very still as he closed his
eyes, wanting to memorize the unfamiliar but welcome feeling of being held.
Severus kept breathing slowly and evenly near his shoulder while long delicate
fingers rubbed slowly across the thin cotton covering his stomach, and Harry
soon relaxed almost in spite of himself. He drifted off to sleep after only a
few minutes, feeling safer and more loved than he had ever before felt in his
life.
 
***** Chapter 9 *****
 
Severus woke up slowly a few hours later, nuzzling into the sweet-smelling hair
in front of his face without really thinking about it. The body in his arms
shifted slightly, pressing back against him with a little pleased noise that
made him bite his lip to stifle a groan. He hadn't spent the night with anyone
since not long after he was in school himself, and he had missed waking up with
someone more than he had realized. Even though the firm arse pressed against
his cock was a sort of exquisite torture, he quite liked waking up with an
armful of warm, muscular Harry.
'This was not your best idea, Severus,' he thought as he slowly opened his eyes
to see black hair and stretch of soft, tanned skin that practically begged to
be kissed. 'You told the boy you weren't going to have sex with him yet. Don't
make a liar out of yourself, no matterhowdelicious he looks. Hetrustsyou.'
'And hewouldbe delicious, I'm sure,'that sly little internal voice that had
always reminded him of Lucius whispered into his mind. 'You know he'd love for
you to--'
'Shut up, you,' Severus thought furiously, 'and go away!'
"Mmm, g'morning," Harry mumbled. He rubbed back against Severus again then and
the feel of Harry's arse flexing against his erection made Severus groan softly
as Harry spoke again, sounding a bit more awake. "You're very nice to sleep
with, Sev."
Severus kissed the nape of Harry's neck before he could stop himself and then
whispered against his skin, "So are you, Harry."
Harry made a pleased noise and turned his head to look at Severus, his sleepy
eyes making Severus think of the dark green velvet bed curtains in his own
room. Harry gave him a sweet little smile and then turned in Severus' arms to
face him, draping one arm around Severus' waist as he looked into his eyes and
whispered, "You're nice to wake up to, too."
Severus smiled, his eyes soft and dark as he moved one hand to gently brush
Harry's shaggy hair back from his face and repeated, "So are you."
Harry stared into Severus’ eyes for a moment, smiling softly, and then moved a
little closer as he let his gaze shift to Severus' mouth and whispered, "I
really want to kiss you right now, but I don't want to scare you away."
Severus chuckled softly, running his fingers through Harry's hair and looking
into his luminous green eyes. "You won't scare me, Harry."
"Oh good," Harry whispered just before their lips touched, lingering only a
moment before he made a soft noise and pulled away slightly only to kiss
Severus again, sucking gently at his lower lip. He pulled away a second time
after a minute or two, his eyelids fluttering open so he could look into
Severus' dark eyes as he whispered, "I do love you. I need you to know that."
Severus' expression softened into something gentle and loving as a smile curved
his lips. "I know, Harry."
"Good," Harry murmured, smiling. He kissed Severus again before he laid his
head against the pillow, smiling at him. "'Cause I wouldn't want you to ever
doubt it."
Severus chuckled softly, tightening his arms around Harry for a second before
he loosened his grip and lifted one hand to stroke Harry's hair again as he
murmured, "I care about you too, Harry. Until recently I hadn't even considered
sharing my life with someone in longer than I care to admit. I don't want to
rush things between us."
Harry's green eyes practically glowed with happiness as he replied quietly, "No
rushing. We'll go as slow as you want."
Severus smiled and kissed him again, lingering to suck gently at Harry's lower
lip a moment before he pulled way and rolled to the far side of the bed. He
threw back the blankets then and reached for his robe as he said wryly, "And
part of going slow includes making myself get out of your bed while I still
can."
Harry chuckled and stretched as he watched Severus stand up and wrap the robe
around his lean body before he started around the bed towards the bathroom.
Harry suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be up early and sat up
abruptly, making Severus look at him in surprise. "What time is it?"
"I haven't got a clue," Severus replied, walking into the bathroom as he added,
"But I'll go look."
Harry grabbed his glasses and then scrambled out of bed to go to his trunk,
flipping the top open and then digging past his Quidditch uniform to get out a
pair of jeans and a t-shirt. As soon as he found them, he stood suddenly and
pulled off his shirt, reaching for the clean one just as he heard Severus say,
"It's nearly eight, and I'm going to go before I'm any more tempted to have you
for breakfast."
Harry laughed, blushing and looking up just as Severus disappeared back into
the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Harry looked back down at the
shirt in his hands and pulled it on quickly, grinning and wondering how long it
would be before Severus didn't walk away anymore. The way Severus had held him
while he slept and awakened him so sweetly that morning, Harry didn't think it
would be long before he was allowed to have more than a kiss and a cuddle. He
hoped it wouldn't be; waking up with Severus' hard cock still nestled against
his arse had only made him want to learn why that felt so good.
Harry reached for his jeans, stepping into them quickly and then moving across
the room towards his shoes. He had to stop and hold his breath a little so he
could zip and button his jeans, and he made a mental note as he bent to pick up
his shoes to take an afternoon soon to go shopping. His jeans were so tight
that they would have been desperately uncomfortable if they weren't worn so
soft and flexible. He pulled his trainers on without socks and then walked over
to the bed to grab his wand before he hurried out of the room, heading directly
for the nearest student bathroom and hoping that Ron and Hermione wouldn't be
too upset about him being a bit late.
Harry missed the covetous looks he got from a few people as he walked quickly
towards the Great Hall a little while later. He was completely oblivious to the
fact he looked rather edible in his tight jeans and too-small t-shirt even
though he had totally forgotten to comb his hair and had a few inches of bare
ankle showing above his trainers. He was feeling lighter than he had in months,
partially because he hadn't walked around in just a t-shirt and jeans since
last summer, and was grinning even though his friends were all leaving. His
doubts from the night before were long gone, chased away by the strong arms and
soft lips he had awakened to. He was happy for himself and for his friends and
sure that they would all do well in their chosen paths.
When Harry entered the Great Hall, he began to walk along the nearly deserted
tables, not at all surprised to see that the only people in the room were a few
seventh years with just Professor Lupin there to keep an eye on them. He was
surprised to see Remus and Sirius were sitting at the Gryffindor table with
Ron, Hermione, Dean, and Neville though. He knew that his friends were the only
Gryffindors besides Harry to have already passed their Apparition tests, but he
also knew that professors and guests never sat at the student tables.
"Harry!" Sirius exclaimed when he saw him, grinning as he jumped up off the
bench. He moved to give Harry a hug as he added, "Congratulations on your
grades, Remus says you had the highest in the school in some of your courses."
Harry returned the hug, grinning, and then moved around the end of the table to
sit down across from the others, next to Dean. "Yeah, I did better than I
thought I would."
"I knew you could do it, Harry," Remus replied with a proud grin, "You've a lot
of Lily in you. She had the highest marks in our year."
Sirius laughed and nodded, elbowing Remus in the ribs. "Which old Moony here
wasn't too thrilled about. He was pretty loud about the fact he didn't like
taking second spot."
Ron laughed and looked at Hermione as he opened his mouth to say something, but
the look she was giving him made him shut his mouth quickly as Harry and Dean
both snickered.
Remus wasn't paying attention to the teenagers' exchange, instead looking at
Sirius as he replied, "If you think Iwasn't happy, you should have heard how
Severus reacted when he got his marks. Lily and I both outscored him in
Transfiguration and Charms, and he was quite annoyed even though he made us
look like idiots in Potions and Defence. I heard McGonagall talking about it
that afternoon, and she said the paint would have begun to peel from the walls
if he'd gone on swearing much longer."
Harry laughed, his green eyes bright and dancing with laughter as he asked
incredulously, "Sev, swearing?!"
Sirius looked at Harry in surprise at his use of the nickname, but Harry didn't
notice as Remus looked at Harry, grinning, and said, "Oh yes. He had quite the
mouth on him back then, partly because of who his friends were I think, but
mostly because the man's got a wicked sense of humour."
"Did you know him very well?" Hermione asked then, her expression curious as
Harry, Ron, Dean, and Neville all looked interestedly at Remus.
"Better than most, I think," Remus replied with a quick smile. "He and I were
assigned to share a desk in Potions class our first year at school, and we were
friends of a sort until Sev got on James' bad side over Lily." Remus looked a
little unhappy at that, adding, "Lily was Severus’ closest friend outside
Slytherin, and when James noticed her, he made Sev's life hell. Lily stopped
spending time with him mostly to protect him I think, but Severus didn't see it
that way. That was when Severus began to hate James; the incident at the
Shrieking Shack just made it worse."
"I made it worse you mean," Sirius said, frowning.
"I didn't say that," Remus replied, looking calmly at Sirius. "And if I thought
that, I would have said so. We were all to blame for what happened that night,
and none more so than I. I was the one who nearly killed Severus, after all."
Remus looked at Hermione again then, changing the subject slightly as he added,
"In answer to your question, I knew him fairly well then, but Lily knew him
better than anyone probably ever has except Lucius Malfoy. Lily is the reason
Severus came back to the Light."
"Really?" Harry asked in surprise, missing the sudden look of understanding on
Hermione's face.
Remus nodded. "Yes. Severus was ordered by Voldemort to help track down your
parents because he had been so close to Lily, but even though he hated James,
he couldn't make himself hurt her. He warned her of Voldemort's plans instead,
and at her urging he approached Dumbledore about spying for the Light." Remus
looked down a moment and then lifted his gaze back to Harry's face. "Lily and
James died only a few months later, and something seemed to die in Severus too.
He was a right bastard to anyone and everyone who attempted to talk to him
after that, until recently."
Harry gazed seriously down at his still empty plate, thinking, but he looked up
quickly when Neville suddenly stood.
"I hate to say it, but I've got to be going. Gram's waiting breakfast on me.
I'll see you all at the party."
There was a round of goodbyes from everyone and then Neville left them to sit
in silence for a moment before Hermione abruptly asked, "Harry, did you get
everything unpacked?"
Harry looked up, shaking his head. "No, I didn't bother. I thought it would
give me something to do later."
"Why were you up so late then?" Hermione asked, looking puzzled. "You look like
you didn't sleep a wink."
Harry shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."
"What'd you do all night, if you didn't unpack?" Ron asked, looking puzzled,
then Harry blushed slightly and Ron made a face. "Eww, never mind, I don't want
to know."
Dean elbowed Harry, smirking. "Were you finally getting a bit of play?"
Sirius looked surprised and then nauseated as Harry laughed and gave Dean a
shove, trying to ignore the blush still on his cheeks. "No! We didn't do
anything I swear. I stared into the fireplace a while and then went to bed
around three."
"Alone?" Dean asked then, still smirking, and Harry's face blushed bright red
despite his best intentions, making Dean laugh.
Harry gave Dean a dirty look, still blushing as Ron made a face and exclaimed,
"Talk about too much information!" Harry and Dean looked at Ron then as he
shuddered and added, "I so did not need to know that."
Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron. "Quit being so dramatic, Ron."
"I'm inclined to agree with him, myself," Sirius said then, and the obvious
disgust in his voice made Harry look at him apprehensively. "Oh, don't look at
me like that, Harry, I know you're too old for me to tell you what to do. I'd
just rather not be told about it."
"I wouldn't have told you," Harry replied, and then he poked Dean in the side,
giving him an obviously faked glare. "But somebody is nosy."
Dean grinned unabashedly. "I sure am." Harry couldn't help a laugh.
They all heard the unmistakable sound of the main doors opening then and looked
up to see Severus walking towards them. He looked across the hall, catching the
eyes of the only other people still in the room, three seventh years sitting at
the Ravenclaw table. "The term is over," he said dryly, "I believe you're free
to go gossip elsewhere."
Mandy, Terry, and Susan stood and headed hurriedly for the door as Severus
continued towards the head of the Gryffindor table, the corner of his mouth
quirking upwards slightly in amusement as he paused behind Harry. He looked at
Dean and then at Ron and Hermione as he casually rested one hand on Harry's
shoulder and said, "Congratulations. You three will not have to listen to one
of my lectures ever again."
Harry and Remus both laughed at that as Harry half turned to look over his
shoulder at Severus, missing the look Sirius gave them as he grinned up at
Severus. "Don't you mean that you're glad you've gotten rid of another class,
Sev?"
Severus snorted, smiling slightly. "No, your lot was actually fairly tolerable,
except for Longbottom. I may throw a party when both Creevey boys are finally
out of my dungeons for good. My fondest hope is that one of their abominable
potions renders them sterile."
Harry, Ron, and Dean laughed at that while Hermione giggled and Remus grinned,
saying, "Surely the boys aren't that bad, Severus."
Severus let out a short laugh. "They make Longbottom look like someone in
Harry's league." Remus chuckled, knowing Severus' opinion of Neville's Potions
skills, and Severus added, "Between the two Creevey boys' foul-ups I've
replaced my classroom desk more in the last term than in the ten years before
they began school here. I'd quite like to keep the same one more than a month
next year."
"You need to put an Impermeable on it," Sirius said then, drawing everyone's
attention to him to see that he was watching Severus and Harry with a
disapproving frown.
"Impermeables aren't as invulnerable as their name suggests," Severus replied
calmly, "especially where student potions are concerned."
"I would think that as their professor you'd need to keep a closer eye on those
two, then." Sirius' eyes were hard as he looked up at Severus, ignoring the
annoyed look Remus was giving him.
"Sirius, stop it," Harry said before Severus could reply, causing the others to
notice Harry's angry expression. "You're being insufferable."
Sirius scowled at Harry. "I was merely making a comment, Harry, in an attempt
to help."
Harry snorted, annoyed. "Oh, yeah, sure. It is so very helpful for you to make
comments about teaching when you haven't got the slightest ability to do it
yourself. If I'd been left to you when I was learning to be an Animagus, I
would have likely gotten myself killed because of all the details you forgot."
"At least I never took advantage of someone I was supposed to teach!" Sirius
replied hotly, glaring at Harry. "He's supposed to be your professor, not make
you into his catamite."
"Maybe I am just a catamite, Sirius, if that's what you want to call me," Harry
replied flatly, his eyes hard and angry, "but at least he doesn't have a wife
and child."
Ron's eyes widened at that and Hermione bit her lip, looking worried while
Remus looked down at the table.
"Don't you dare compare him to James!" Sirius exclaimed. "You don't know what
you're talking about!"
"And neither do you," Harry replied in the same flat, angry tone. "You're
making assumptions based on stupid prejudices and childish grudges you should
have grown out of a long time ago."
"You've no right to call me childish," Sirius yelled angrily, "jumping into a
relationship with the first bastard to give you the time of fucking day! You're
wasting your life on him because you're scared to leave here!"
"Both of you stop it," Hermione said loudly then, making the others look at her
in surprise as she glared first at Harry, who had just opened his mouth to
reply, and then at Sirius. "You're both acting like four year olds in desperate
need of a nap!"
Harry snorted and folded his arms across his chest, but he didn't say anything
else. Severus' hand on his shoulder tightened reassuringly as he stepped closer
to Harry, letting Harry lean back against him.
Dean spoke then before anyone else could, glaring at Sirius. "Harry did not
jump into a relationship with the first person to look at him, Mr. Black. If he
had, he'd have been in Oliver Wood's bed the day he won his first game against
Slytherin, or at the very least in my bed years ago." Sirius looked surprised
and then angry, opening his mouth to reply hotly but shutting it with a snap as
Dean went on, "If you want to call anyone here a whore, at least pick the right
person. I've slept with more people this morning than Harry has in his whole
life, and I'd be willing to bet I've got everyone here beaten for sheer
numbers, even you."
Dean stood up suddenly then, looking at Harry and giving him a quick smile that
was only slightly forced as he said, "Hedwig can find me when you want to talk,
Harry, wherever I wind up. Drop me a note and we can do lunch or something." He
looked across the table at Hermione and Ron then and gave them both a smile,
avoiding looking in Sirius' direction. "See you all at the party." Dean turned
to walk away then, making it only a few feet before he looked back and added,
"I think you're a very lucky man, Professor Snape."
"I agree, Dean," Severus replied quietly, smiling. "Thank you."
Dean nodded and turned away, walking quickly along the tables and then out of
the room.
The six people remaining at the Gryffindor table endured an uncomfortable
silence for a little while after that because no one was quite sure what to
say.
Harry finally looked at Sirius and said quietly, "You're my godfather, and you
were my father's best friend. I care quite a lot about you myself, Sirius, but
don't ever try to make me choose between you and Severus. If you do, then
you'll be making the choice for me. Sev would never ask me to choose him over
you because he knows you and Remus are the closest thing I have left to family,
besides Hermione and the Weasleys."
Sirius stared down at the table for a moment, thinking, and then he looked up
at Harry. "It's just-- It's bloody hard seeing you with someone who James and I
both hated so very much. It would be like me sleeping with Lucius Malfoy and
then tossing it in your face."
Harry didn't know what to say to that, but Severus did and he said quietly, "It
was just as hard seeing Lily with someone who hated me so much, and for less
reason. She was my best friend, and you and your best friend saw fit to make it
impossible for me to talk to her simply because James wanted no competition for
her time." Sirius looked down, knowing that was true, and then Severus added,
"I believe twenty years is long enough to hold a grudge, Sirius. Over the last
few years I've finally realized that I'm willing to let go of my past so that I
can make the most of my future. I would very much like to build a future for
myself that includes Harry."
"Well said, Severus," Remus said, making Sirius look up again. "You know I'd
never encourage Harry to make a mistake, Padfoot. I've spent a lot of time with
Harry the last few years, and with Severus." He smiled suddenly, then added, "I
think they'll do well together, and I know Severus would never hurt him."
"Thank you," Harry said, drawing Remus and Sirius' attention to him again.
"This wasn't a sudden decision, Sirius, and I didn't make it lightly. I had
hoped you would be happy for me, but I'll settle for you just tolerating the
fact that I love him. I want to be with him and I'm very happy that he's been
kind enough to allow me to stay."
"Purely selfish on my part," Severus said quietly then, making Harry look up at
him. He gave Harry a soft smile and added, "I feel twenty years younger when I
am with you, and quite a bit more human as well. I could no longer be happy
without you, Harry. "
Harry smiled back, his green eyes sparkling, and Sirius watched them smile at
each other for a few moments before he suddenly said, "I'm an arse, we all know
it. You two are obviously gone on each other." Harry laughed, surprised, and
looked at Sirius to see him smiling even though there was a sullen, defeated
look in his eyes. "I'd like to apologize to both of you for being the world's
biggest prat."
"No, that's Percy!" Ron said, grinning. "It's in his job description and
everything."
Hermione gave Ron a little shove, smiling at him as Severus looked at Sirius
and said, "Apology accepted."
Harry nodded quickly. "And thank you."
Sirius gave Harry another smile that didn't reach his eyes and then suddenly
seemed to remember something, glancing at his watch before he jumped to his
feet. "Blimey! I have to run, I'm supposed to be at the office in ten minutes.
Ron, Hermione, congratulations again, and do invite me to the wedding."
Hermione smiled, nodding as Ron grinned and said, "Definitely!"
Sirius grinned at them, then looked at Harry as he said simply, "Be happy."
Harry nodded, smiling, as Severus said quietly, "He will. I shall see to it."
Sirius gave Severus a forced-looking smile and then patted Remus' shoulder as
he asked, "You coming, Moony?"
Remus nodded, standing up and smiling at Ron and Hermione as Sirius hurried
towards the main doors. "It has been a pleasure to teach you both."
Hermione beamed at him. "It was a privilege, Professor Lupin."
Remus grinned at her, reaching out to pat her shoulder as he said, "Remus,
Hermione. I'm just a friend of the family now, no more stuffy titles." Hermione
giggled and nodded as he added, "And I'll see you all at the party, if not
before then. George sent me an invite; seems I'm his favourite professor ever,
but I think that's mostly because I'm to bring the Guinness." Harry, Ron, and
Hermione all laughed while Remus grinned and waved as he began jogging towards
the door.
Hermione stood up with a reluctant expression. "We should be going, too. My
parents are expecting us for brunch."
Ron stood up too, making a face as he said, "And then Mum expects us for
afternoon tea. She's got Bill and Charlie coming in for a party because she's
so proud that I got more NEWT's than Percy did. Now if I don't pass my Auror
exams, she's going to kill me."
Harry laughed. "Then I guess you'd better take them quick, before you have time
for forget everything."
Ron's expression brightened. "Hey, I hadn't thought about that! I've already
been studying the last three months, may as well make good use of it!" He
grinned at Harry. "Thanks!"
Hermione reached for Ron's hand, smiling at Harry and Severus. "We should see
you both again soon. Enjoy the peace and quiet."
Severus nodded as Harry smiled and said, "We will, definitely. Take care."
Hermione nodded wordlessly, her eyes shining with sudden tears even though she
was smiling. She began dragging Ron towards the door as he grinned at Harry and
replied, "You too, both of you."
Hermione paused right at the door and whirled suddenly to grin impishly at them
as she called, "Invite us to the wedding!"
Harry and Severus both laughed as Ron called, "And remember you're to be best
man at mine, Harry!" Ron dragged Hermione out the door before she could say
anything else, leaving Harry and Severus alone in the Hall.
Severus watched as Harry looked down at the table for a few minutes before he
shifted a little closer to him, putting both hands on Harry's shoulders as he
asked quietly, "Are you okay, Harry?"
Harry leaned back against Severus, closing his eyes as he simply let himself
enjoy the fact that he finally had someone of his own to lean on, figuratively
and literally. "Yeah," he said softly after a minute or two, "I'll just miss
them."
"I know you will," Severus replied, rubbing Harry's shoulders gently. "You
could have gone with them today. I'm sure they would have welcomed you, Harry."
Harry shook his head slightly, opening his eyes as he tipped his head back a
bit further to look up at Severus. "This is their big day to be heroes with
their families because they've done so well in school. They deserve to share
the spotlight only with each other, not with the Brat Who Wouldn't Die."
Severus smiled softly, looking down at Harry as he moved one hand to stroke his
cheek lightly. "You are a very good friend to them, Harry, and wiser than your
years."
Harry leaned his cheek into Severus' hand, giving him a sudden smile. "I've had
a lot of stuff squashed into my years."
Severus chuckled. "I suppose you have at that." He looked down at Harry a
moment longer and then patted Harry's shoulder and said quietly, "I would much
prefer to spend the day alone with you, Harry, but I've got to go pick up a few
things. Would you like to come along with me?"
Harry grinned, his eyes lighting up. "Definitely! Where are we going?"
"London and then Glastonbury," Severus replied, smiling at Harry's enthusiasm.
"But first we'll have to go to our rooms so you can change."
Harry gave him an obviously faked pout. "But these clothes are comfortable."
Severus snorted softly, smiling as he pulled away from Harry to begin walking
towards the door, seeming not to notice when Harry jumped up to follow him.
"You'll be mobbed if you go out in public like that, Harry, especially in
Wizarding areas."
Harry looked down at himself in surprise and then looked back up at Severus as
he asked, "What's wrong with my clothes? Everyone wears jeans and t-shirts."
"Among Muggles, Harry, yes, but if I recall correctly most of them don't wear
jeans that fit like a second skin," Severus replied, his tone that of someone
explaining something exceedingly simple that shouldn't have needed explained at
all. "Those trousers leave absolutely nothing to the imagination, and while
it's quite a good look on you, it is not one I would prefer you share with
compete strangers."
Harry grinned at that, hurrying a bit so that he was walking next Severus to
instead of behind him as they turned into the hallway leading to the dungeons.
"You like how they look?"
Severus gave Harry a very familiar look that plainly said he was an idiot.
"Harry, even the flagstones like how you look in those jeans. Since I am most
definitely not made of stone, it's very safe to say that I enjoy them."
Harry smirked. "If you like them, that's an even better reason for me to wear
them."
"You're missing the point, Harry," Severus said, looking amused. "I don't want
people staring at you in them all day, especially not in Wizarding circles. You
would earn a definite reputation, as would I for being with you and letting you
dress this way in public."
Harry smirked a little wider as they stopped at the door to their rooms and
watched as Severus tapped the stone and muttered the keyword, then he said,
"They may look, Sev, but they can't touch."
"They'd better not," Severus agreed with a sudden smirk of his own as he
stepped through the door. "I'm not a very nice man and I don't share worth a
damn."
Harry followed him inside, laughing as he let the door close behind them.
 
***** Chapter 10 *****
 
It was nearly dark when Harry dropped a bag on the couch and flopped down in
his overstuffed chair with a groan. He propped his booted feet up on the coffee
table one at a time, allowing each one to land with a thud as he exclaimed, "I
am never buying clothes again!"
Severus walked in through the open door to Harry's bedroom and crossed the
carpeted floor to look down at him. The amused look in his eyes was at odds
with his stern expression as he let his gaze roam from Harry's booted feet
along his black trousers, up over the simple button-front white shirt to
finally rest on Harry's face. "You will buy presentable clothes again, Harry,
even if I have to force you."
Harry gave him a faked pout, his eyes sparkling at the lingering way Severus
had looked at his body. "But I hate trying on clothes," he protested, idly
wondering just how slow they would have to go. "The old geezer in that portrait
outside the dressing room at Madam Malkin's wouldn't quit leering at me!"
"You did look quite good in most of the things you tried on there today,"
Severus replied calmly, his gaze wandering back to Harry's lower lip. "I'm
looking forward to when we go back to pick up your teaching robes. Madam Malkin
will have to do another fitting and I'm quite sure she'll be beside herself at
the opportunity to work on you."
"I think you enjoyed today way too much," Harry said then, his pout getting a
bit more sincere even as he made a mental note that Severus seemed to quite
like his mouth, too. "You're a severe disciplinarian who's supposed to keep me
locked away in a dungeon working my fingers to the bone. You're not supposed to
be the tall, dark, and sexy man sitting in the corner of a busy shop snickering
while the sales ladies make comments about how wonderful my arse looks in my
new trousers."
"They were quite correct," Severus replied, his lips twitching slightly. "And
you were relatively safe with them, even if you were blushing as red as a
Weasley's hair. They are all happily married."
Harry gave him a dirty look. "You're cruel."
"Yes, I am," Severus agreed, smirking suddenly. "Best you learn that now."
Harry looked at him a moment, trying hard to scowl even though he wanted to
laugh, and then his expression brightened suddenly. "What are your plans for
tonight?"
Severus' eyebrows went up at the sudden change of subject, amused as he
replied, "We're to have dinner with the remaining staff in a few minutes, but
after that I have nothing planned. Why do you ask?"
"Because," Harry replied, his boots hitting the floor with a thump as he sat up
straight to look up at Severus and debated whether or not he was willing to
risk reaching for him. "I should get a treat for putting up with all of that
today."
Severus laughed, looking down into Harry's eyes and trying not to think about
exactly how close he was. "A treat? Was Granger right that you're really four
years old?"
"Eleven," Harry replied with a sudden little smirk as he leaned a little closer
to Severus. "I started living the day I first saw you."
Severus snorted, unable to help a little smile even as he said, "There is so
much wrong with that hopelessly sappy statement that I am just going to pretend
you didn't say it. Try again."
"It's true! I just happened to meet you the day I arrived here," Harry replied
as he lifted his hands to grab the edge of Severus' tunic, holding on to it as
he smiled up at him. "If I was being 'hopelessly sappy', I would have said I
started living the first time you kissed me."
Severus looked down at him a moment, still smiling slightly as he finally said,
"I should have something scathing to say to that, instead of thinking how very
kissable you look right now."
Harry smiled a little wider, tugging the edge of Severus' tunic. "You're
welcome to. I promise I won't mind."
Severus chuckled softly, resisting the urge to let Harry pull him closer.
"Maybe so, but I shouldn't."
"Why not?" Harry asked as the happy sparkle in his eyes faded and confusion
took its place. "I sort of hoped you would."
Severus smiled, reaching out to run his fingers through Harry's hair. "We're
supposed to be at dinner in five minutes."
"Yes, and?" Harry asked, letting go of Severus' tunic as he wondered if he had
asked for too much, too soon.
"And," Severus echoed, his smile softening a bit as his fingertips moved to
stroke Harry's cheek, "I'd prefer to take my time later and kiss you properly,
not have to hurry it because we've got to go."
"Don't wake me up," Harry said, a sudden smile lighting up his eyes again. "I'm
obviously dreaming."
Severus laughed softly and bent enough to reach down and take Harry's hand,
tugging it to urge him to his feet as he stepped back. "You're going to
completely ruin me."
"What makes you say that?" Harry asked as he smiled and stood up, holding on
when Severus would have let go of his hand.
Severus gazed into Harry's eyes for a moment as the impulse to tell Harry to
release his hand faded away, then turned to lead Harry by the hand towards the
door. "I just actually considered skiving off the end of term staff dinner so I
could spend the entire evening alone with you."
"Oh, good," Harry replied with a sudden bright grin. "Maybe by this time next
year you'll do more than think about it."
Severus laughed and looked over his shoulder at Harry as they crossed the
sitting room. "Do you want me to lose my job?"
"Professor Dumbledore wouldn't sack you for missing a meal," Harry replied
confidently, grinning as he watched Severus put his hand to the door. "He likes
us too much."
Severus snorted and opened the door, releasing Harry's hand to gesture for him
to go ahead of him. "Out! We'll not be testing that theory, at least not
tonight."
"Party pooper," Harry replied, pretending to pout again as he walked out into
the hallway.
"I am not now, nor have I ever been, a 'party pooper'." Severus stepped out of
the door and then quickly walked past Harry, making him hurry to keep up. "I
actually quite enjoyed them when I was your age, though I've avoided them
since."
"You went to parties?" Harry asked, grinning suddenly and looking at Severus as
they walked along the hallway leading out of the dungeons. "With music and
everything?"
"Yes, with music and everything," Severus replied, amused. "Lucius built quite
a reputation for himself with the parties he threw our last year in school. The
Slytherin motto that year was, 'A party is never a success unless the law has
to shut it down'. It was stolen from a Muggle band Lucius was rather fond of,
but we Slytherins put our own spin on it."
Harry laughed, his eyebrows going up at the thought that Severus was ever so
wild and carefree. "You're kidding!"
Severus gave him a mildly amused look before directing his gaze straight ahead
again. "No, we all had quite a thing for rock music. Lucius maintained that it
was the only thing Muggles ever did right, and occasionally we'd go clubbing
together to see a Muggle band or singer he just had to meet." Severus looked
down at the floor then, his expression losing its amusement as he added more
quietly, "It all changed rather drastically after he met Voldemort though, and
before long Lucius was moving through the ranks to become the Dark Lord's right
hand. Life wasn't something to enjoy any longer after that, it was merely
something for Lucius to steal from others."
Harry reached out to put his hand on Severus' arm, stopping him near the foot
of the staircases as he said softly, "I'm sorry."
Severus shook his head, looking at Harry. "Don't be. Lucius made his choices
knowing full well what he was doing."
"Did you?" Harry asked then, looking seriously into Severus' dark eyes.
"I knew that Lucius knew what was going on," Severus replied with a tiny wry
smile, then pulled away to continue towards the Great Hall as he said more
briskly, "Come along, or we'll be late."
Harry followed in silence, thinking about what Severus had said and trying to
fit it in with what others had told him. There was very little amongst the
things he had heard about Severus as a teenager that made sense to him when
added all together, and it seemed that learning more only made the
discrepancies even more profound. Harry thought that knowing the whole story
was important to understanding Severus as he was now, but he had little idea
what it was he would know when that time came.
 
.:.
 
Harry yawned as he let Severus usher him back into their room several hours
later, sleepily pliant as Severus muttered amusedly, "Remind me to teach you
how to make a Sobriety potion."
"I'm not dru--," Harry yawned widely again in mid-word, "--unk, just sleepy."
Severus snorted softly, fighting the urge to laugh as he put his hand on the
small of Harry's back and guided him around the furniture. "And the five
glasses of wine you've had since dinner have nothing to do with it, I suppose?"
"Five?" Harry asked, looking at him in surprise.
"Yes, Harry," Severus said patiently as they walked into Harry's bedroom,
mentally kicking himself for letting Harry drink so much. "Five glasses of
rather strong red wine. Six if you count the one you had with the meal."
Harry looked thoughtful as they crossed the room, and when they stopped next to
the bed he admitted, "Okay, I am drunk." He yawned again and then added,
"George says I'm a very boring drunk. I guess this is why. I can barely keep my
eyes open."
Severus laughed, debating whether to help Harry undress for bed or not. "I'm
sure Weasley would think so."
"Do you think so?" Harry asked, looking concerned even as he yawned again.
Severus smiled, shaking his head and wondering why everything Harry did seemed
so adorable when he hadn't thought of anyone or anything as adorable in a very
long time. "No, Harry, but my motives are quite different. I'll be perfectly
happy to let you sleep it off."
"Would you sleep with me?" Harry asked, and then raised a hand to slap himself
in the forehead as he turned away slightly. "Merlin, forget I said that. You
don't have to, I know you want to go slow. I'm sure I can fall asleep on my own
tonight."
Severus moved very close to Harry and reached out to cup his chin and make
Harry look at him, his fingertips sliding along Harry's jaw. "I'd very much
like to hold you while we sleep, Harry, if you want me to."
"Always," Harry replied in little more than a whisper, his eyes making it very
plain just how much he wanted that as he leaned into Severus' touch. "I've
never felt as at home as I did when I woke up in your arms."
Severus smiled and leaned even closer, cupping Harry's jaw in his hand as he
kissed him softly and then pulled back just enough to look into Harry's eyes.
"It's where you belong, I think." Harry gave him a sweet smile and Severus ran
his thumb slowly across Harry's lips as he added quietly, "I don't know how
you've done it, Harry, but I can't imagine being happy without you anymore."
Harry kissed Severus' thumb and then whispered against it, "I'll be with you
just as long as you'll let me stay."
Severus moved his thumb aside and kissed Harry again, lingering a moment before
he pulled away to look into Harry's shining green eyes. "I haven't let myself
get attached to anyone in longer than I care to admit, but over the last six
months I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. You made me remember what
it was like to be happy and in love today. I had thought I would never be
either one again."
Harry rested his hands on either side of Severus' waist, moving closer to him
and looking into his eyes with a soft smile as he whispered, "I love you, too."
"I know," Severus replied, smiling as he moved to cup the sides of Harry's face
in his hands. He closed the small distance between their lips to kiss Harry
again, sucking gently on his lower lip and drawing a soft hungry sound from
Harry as his hands tightened on Severus' waist, pulling them closer together.
Severus broke the kiss after a moment, licking delicately at Harry's mouth and
drawing a soft little noise from him before he whispered against his lips, "You
taste divine." He kissed Harry again then, their lips moving slowly together,
and then pulled away to gaze into Harry's heavy-lidded green eyes. "I could
kiss you for hours I think."
"Please do," Harry replied, sliding his hands around to Severus' back as he
stared up into Severus' dark eyes. "I can't think of a better way to spend the
night."
"Nor can I," Severus replied softly, sliding one hand up Harry's jaw to run his
fingers through his hair. "But we should go to bed. You've had too much to
drink and you were awake the majority of last night."
Harry pressed his body against Severus' a little more firmly as he gave him a
sudden impish little grin. "We should go to bed, yes. So you can kiss me some
more."
Severus laughed, moving his hands to Harry's shoulders and pushing him away
gently. "Get ready for bed, then we'll see."
Harry leaned up to kiss Severus once more and then let go and stepped back.
"Are we still going to go slow?"
"If we can, yes," Severus replied, giving Harry an amused look. "Why?"
"Then it won't do any good for me to ask you to join me in the shower," Harry
replied, looking wistful as he began to unbutton his shirt. "I definitely need
one."
Severus snorted softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he moved towards
the bathroom. "You're exactly right."
"That it would do no good to ask, or that I smell?" Harry asked, not sure
whether to laugh or be annoyed.
Severus paused with his hand on the bathing room door to look over his shoulder
at Harry, a tiny little smirk on his lips. "Both."
Severus stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him as Harry
laughed and called, "It's your fault, dragging me all over Britain today!"
There was no answer, but Harry hadn't really expected one. He pulled off his
undershirt and then sat on the edge of the bed with another yawn to take off
the boots he'd bought that morning at Madam Malkin's, vaguely wondering why he
hadn't begun wearing Wizard-made boots years ago. These looked vaguely like a
sort of Muggle boots that Harry had always liked the look of, though he had
never owned any. They were spelled to always fit and never chafe or blister his
feet, and after walking around in them all day he thought they were quite the
most comfortable shoes he had ever worn. He had just taken off his socks when
he suddenly wondered if the spells that made these boots so comfortable could
be applied to his Quidditch boots. After considering it only a moment, he made
a mental note to find out since he would be wearing them even more often next
year.
Harry grinned suddenly at that thought and stood to take off his trousers,
remembering the staff meeting. Professor McGonagall had been very serious about
him taking on the 'grave responsibility' of Madam Hooch's classes until Xiomara
had told her that he'd not be teaching Transfiguration, just 'how to stay on a
bloody broom'. It turned out that he would have the hour-long flying classes to
teach two days a week for the first month of school, and then after that he'd
only be required to supervise a study hall, teach any students having trouble
with flying in his free time, and be at the pitch when students reserved it for
practices after classes. Neville was the only person in Harry's year who had
needed extra lessons and Madam Hooch assured Harry that was typical, so that
wasn't likely to take a lot of his time. Being the flying instructor was the
only teaching position that required no paperwork other than turning in a list
of students at the end of the class with a notation of whether they passed or
failed. The largest portion of Harry's time would be left open for him to use
as he wished, or more precisely as Severus wished since he would be instructing
Harry.
Harry thought he could do some real good helping the first years with their
homework during study period, especially the Muggleborns. He was looking
forward to the start of term and the chance to make a difference, much to
Severus' amusement. Harry's offhand comment that he'd do his best be available
to help the Slytherin students anytime he was needed seemed to have dismayed
McGonagall, again amusing Severus, though Dumbledore, Flitwick, Sprout, and
Xiomara had all praised him for being willing to help Gryffindor's traditional
enemies.
Dumbledore had voiced the hope that Harry could stay closer to the students
than the Professors to work as a sort of in-between in the future, and after
Severus decided that Harry could do most of his own studying in the Potions
classroom during Severus' own classes, Harry had agreed to try it. After some
discussion among the Heads of House, it had been determined that Harry would be
given free access to all of the dorms so that he could check up on students he
thought needed extra help or just someone to talk to.
Harry bent over to pick up his pants and socks just as the door to the bathing
room opened again, and after a moment Severus said, "Going slow is going to be
ha-- Difficult."
Harry grinned and straightened up to look towards the door, tossing his clothes
into the hamper Dobby had given him for dirty clothes and doing his best to
ignore his blush. "Feel free to speed up any time you like."
Severus snorted, trying to hide his amusement as he watched Harry walk to his
trunk and bend to get a clean pair of boxers. "You'd like that, I'm sure."
"Most definitely," Harry replied, straightening up again with a pair of red
plaid cotton boxers identical to the ones he was wearing and then walking
towards Severus, grinning.
Severus watched Harry move closer, thinking that his memories of Quidditch
players having perfect bodies looked to be just as accurate after sixteen
years. He waited until Harry had almost reached him and then let out a faked
put-upon sigh and asked, "Whatever will I do with you?"
"I was hoping you'd ask that," Harry replied as he stopped in front of Severus
in the bathroom doorway. He swayed closer with a sudden a wicked little grin
and lifted his free hand to toy with one of the buttons to Severus' tunic as he
added, "I've definitely got a few ideas."
Severus smirked at that and replied, "I just bet you do." He kissed Harry
quickly, his teeth grazing Harry's lower lip, and then pulled away and crossed
the bathing room to the door that led to his own room. "Let me know when you've
finished your shower, Harry."
"I will," Harry replied with a sigh, walking into the bathroom as Severus
closed the other door. He dropped his clean boxers next to the pile of folded
towels on the counter near the door, then took off his underwear and laid his
glasses on the counter. Walking into the spacious tiled alcove that held the
shower, he was glad to find out that, like all the showers he had used at
Hogwarts, it turned on without prompting. It also seemed to know exactly how
hot to make the soapy water that poured down over him and Harry relaxed with a
soft sigh, closing his eyes as he began to run his hands over his body.
 
.:.
 
Severus walked into his room and stopped near the foot of the bed, looking at
the thick dark green comforter. He didn't really see it as he began to unbutton
his tunic though, instead remembering how very tempting Harry had looked
walking towards him. Harry wasn't tall, but he had a beautiful body with well-
defined muscles and just enough body hair that Severus didn't feel like a
pervert for wanting him so very much.
'You should just go for it,' an annoying little mental voice whispered. This
time it reminded him of Lucius after a bit too much of his 'enhanced' weed,
when everything was a wonderful idea even if it involved streaking through a
packed club wearing only a strategically placed hat and a manic grin. 'You want
him and he is practicallybeggingyou to shag him senseless. You haven't been
shagged properly in years, and he looks to be well hung enough to make it
interesting. He is just the type you always went for when we went clubbing:
gorgeous and innocent, with an ass that justbegsto be fucked.'
'I amnotgoing to take advantage of him,' Severus thought, annoyed. 'I'm not
that man anymore.'
'Too right you're not! If you were, you would still spend the summer at the
flat in Amsterdam, and you would get laid more than once a bloody year. You
haven't made a decent hook-up in a fuckingdecade,Sevvie! That's not even sad,
it'spathetic.'
'That is not true! There was Darryl two years ago.'
'Darryl doesn't count Sev, youpaidhim to fuck you.'
'Only thefirsttime,' Severus thought acerbically, trying not to think about the
fact he was essentially arguing with himself. Again. 'The boy was a prostitute,
he had to havesomethingto give his pimp.'
'It still took flashing a roll to get him into your room,' that annoying little
inner-Lucius replied with a disdainful snort. 'You are better than that. Hells,
evenBlack is better than that, and he isn't above much.'
'That was completely uncalled for,' Severus thought angrily, shrugging out of
his tunic to reveal a simple black shirt. He sat down abruptly on the foot of
the bed, pulling one booted foot up to rest his ankle on the other knee and
then tugging up his pant leg to begin unlacing his boot.'I am in no way similar
to that sanctimonious bastard.'
'I think I just said that,'the little mental voice replied, sounding amused.
'I've never been one to go for the furries, but at least he hooked up with his
pet wolf without the aid of cashorpromises.'
'Leave. Me. Alone.'Severus dropped his boot in the floor and shifted to reverse
his position so he could take off his other boot.
'Ooh... Hit a wee bit too close to home there, eh, Sevvie?'
'I didn't have to promise Harry a gods-be-damned thing that I didn't want for
myself,' he thought icily, dropping the other boot to the floor with a thump
and then starting to unbutton his shirt. 'Now drop it!'
Severus had the sudden mental image of Lucius dressed in studded black leather
with the long dark purple hair he'd favoured their sixth year, smirking at him
as he sang roughly, 'So messed up, I want you here. In my room, I want you
here.'
'Shut up.' Severus shrugged out of his shirt and balled it up, throwing it
angrily across the room where it landed in the floor next to his wardrobe. He
flopped to his back on the bed then, staring up at the tapestry that showed a
peaceful meadow in the Forbidden Forest as the mental voice went on with the
song. It had been one of Lucius' favourites when they were teenagers, and it
was still so ingrained in Severus' memory that he could practically feel the
music throbbing in the air.
'Now we're gonna be, face-to-face, and I'll lay right down, in my favourite
place.' Severus groaned and covered his face with one arm as the familiar voice
went inexorably on in his head. He could easily picture Lucius strutting around
his bed as that voice in his mind growled, 'And now I wanna be your dog...
C'mon Sevvie, sing with me!'
'No. You aredeadand I amcompletelyinsane to be talking to you! I don'twantto be
your dog again, Lucius. I don't want to beanyone'sdog.'
'The best part of me lives on in the heart and mind of the only person who ever
truly loved me,' the voice answered immediately, softer and almost gentle.
'Maybe a different song would sit better with you, Sev. Iggy had so many.'
'No, not a different song,' Severus replied, suddenly feeling very tired. 'Just
go away, Luc. Please.'
The voice ignored him and began to sing again, softly this time. 'Your skin
starts itching once you buy the gimmick about something called love. Love,
love, love... That's like hypnotizing chickens.'
Severus stretched both arms over his head, looking up at the tapestry as the
voice went on inexorably in his head, singing Lust for Life. He watched a
Thestral cross above the meadow in the moonlight a few minutes later, but his
mind wasn't really on the beauty of the scene. He was lost in memories of the
best friend and lover he had lost so long ago, wishing not for the first time
that they had been the same person.
 
***** Chapter 11 *****
 
Harry finished his shower and then went to put the wet towel and dirty clothes
away. He paused a moment in his room to debate whether or not to go to Sev's
room in just his boxers before he went to his trunk and dug his robe out. He
shrugged into the soft, worn flannel, pulling it closed and tying it about
himself as he walked through the bathing room to knock on Severus' door.
There was a pause of a few moments and then Severus' tired-sounding voice said,
"Come in, Harry."
Harry opened the door slowly and stepped just inside, his eyes widening as he
looked around. Severus' fireplace had elegant carvings of dragons around the
sides with the ivy pattern from the main room echoed around and behind them.
The delicate-looking mantle held three silver-framed Wizarding photographs, a
small redwood box, and two silver candlesticks with tall candles that burned
without flickering and put out more light than candles normally would. In front
of the fireplace was a worn, comfortable-looking old green and white tie-dye
patterned chair and a small end table that held a darkened lamp and a book.
Against the wall to one side of the hearth there was a set of wide waist-high
black wooden shelves that held books, a collection of old-fashioned vinyl
records, a Victrola-style record player, and another photograph. The centre of
the room held a four-poster bed that looked similar to the one in Harry's room
but for the size and the fact the deep green velvet bed hangings were quite a
bit more beautiful. Along the wall on the far side of the room there was a
wardrobe and a larger set of shelves that held various small objects Harry
couldn't quite make out in the candlelight and more books. There were no wall
hangings and only a small area rug by the bed and another in front of the
fireplace, leaving the room, which was smaller than Harry's was, surprisingly
bare.
Severus was sitting at the foot of the bed clad in only his trousers and
watching Harry to see his reaction to the room. When Harry finally met his eyes
he asked softly, "Not what you expected, I suppose?"
"Not really," Harry replied, stepping into the room a little further and
closing the door behind him. He found his eyes going back to the photos as he
went on quietly, "I expected something sort of like my room, with more of the
fancy stiff furniture that encourages you not to sit down for long. This is
nice."
Severus chuckled slightly at that, watching Harry as he said, "You're welcome
to look at the photos if you like, Harry. I am quite sure your curiosity would
make you look at them eventually anyway." Harry gave him a sheepish little
smile and moved over to the mantle as Severus added, "And this room did have
very different furniture at one point, but you're right, it was all quite
uncomfortable, especially the bed. I believe it's all in one of the guest rooms
near the Astronomy tower now, but I'd not swear to it."
"Why did you get so annoyed at Dobby for switching mine out, then?" Harry
glanced towards Severus before he looked back at the photograph of a lanky
dark-haired boy he felt like he should recognize. The teenager was standing in
a simple but elegant frame with two obviously empty places to either side of
him against a blurred-out background. He looked to be around fifteen with a
narrow, willowy build, and was wearing simple black robes that gave little
indication of how old the photo was. The boy began smirking after Harry had
stared at him a moment, twirling a wand and occasionally turning his head to
look off towards either side, revealing a silver earring glinting in his right
earlobe.
"Because of what he replaced it with, of course," Severus replied matter-of-
factly. "Red is such a gaudy colour for furniture. It reminds one of a bawdy
house, and the addition of gold or yellow trim just makes it that much worse.
Then of course there is the fact that much red in Salazar Slytherin's own
chambers would have his portrait in the sitting room foaming at the mouth the
first time you left the door open. He's really quite an opinionated man, even
as a painting, and he would make certain we never heard the end of it, even if
he was meticulously polite about it."
Harry laughed. "I hadn't thought of that. I suppose he wouldn't like it much."
He looked back at the photos then, gesturing to the one he had been looking at.
"Who are the people in these photographs?"
"That one is of myself." Harry's eyes went wide in surprise as Severus stood
and walked over to join him. They watched together as the boy suddenly tucked
away his wand and then an attractive girl in a brightly tie-dyed peasant blouse
walked into the right side of the picture. The girl gave the boy a brilliant
smile and then looked curiously at Harry as Severus said quietly, "The photo
was taken on my thirteenth birthday, the first and last birthday that my
parents allowed me to spend any way I liked."
"Who is she?" Harry looked at Severus, almost certain he knew the answer.
Severus smiled slightly at Harry and then looked at the girl again, his dark
eyes a little bit sad as Harry watched him speak. "Your mother, Lily. That was
one of the last times she and I spent an entire day together." Another figure
walked into the left side of the photograph then and draped an arm around the
dark haired boy's shoulders as Severus gestured towards it to draw Harry's
attention. "Lucius was surprisingly charming that day, considering his low
opinion of Muggleborns. It was the first and last time I was with them both for
an entire day without a single argument or cross word between them."
Harry looked at the picture for a long moment, taking in how very happy Severus
and Lily had looked and the satisfied smirk on Lucius' face. He was suddenly
struck by the realization that the picture was very similar to one he had of
himself with Hermione and Ron. He looked at Severus again then to see that he
was watching him with a slightly curious expression. "Do you mind talking about
my mother?"
"No, Harry, I don't," Severus replied, slightly surprised. He had expected
questions about his relationship with Lucius, not about Lily. "What would you
like to know?"
Harry looked at the photo again just as Lucius reached to tug Lily's hair,
making her look at him as he said something that made her giggle. The dark-
haired boy rolled his eyes and said something obviously scathing to Lucius, who
didn't seem at all perturbed. Harry looked back at Severus and asked quietly,
"Is what Remus said true? That my mother was your best friend? Until the
Marauders got between you I mean."
Severus nodded, looking back at the photograph and drawing Harry's gaze to it
as well just as Lucius leaned closer to the younger version of Severus,
smirking, and said something that made Lily and the boy both blush furiously.
"She and I were very close, similar to you and Granger I think, except that we
were in separate Houses." He paused a moment and watched as Lucius nuzzled his
younger self's ear and said something that made the blushing youngster lean
closer with a little smile, then added more quietly, "It was very early in our
third year that she fell for James. He was always a dashing young man, even I
could see that, but no matter what your godfather might like you to believe he
was really nothing like you, Harry. The Gryffindor Quidditch team practically
ruled the school then, and James was their star player. He enjoyed the
notoriety that gave him, and lorded it over everyone with the able assistance
of Sirius Black."
Severus looked down then, staring into the fire as he went on. "I was unpopular
anyway, so when James and Sirius began making my life hell no one was willing
to help me except Lucius and Lily herself. I could handle your father or Sirius
if they were alone, but they never gave me that opportunity, and if Lily
happened along she would step in to help me. James didn't like the fact she
would stand up for me, so he and his friends would take it out on me at their
next opportunity, usually without warning. It wasn't long at all before she
began spending all of her time with James and her more acceptable friends, and
I was so angry about the loss of my best friend that I let Lucius sway me to
thinking all Muggleborns were disloyal and untrustworthy."
Harry was quiet for a few minutes, just watching Severus as he stared into the
fire, then he finally said softly, "Dumbledore told me once that I should keep
in mind that Sirius' remembrances of my father were the fond recollections of
someone who loved him. I didn't really understand what he meant then, but I
think I do now." Severus looked up, surprised. "The way I think about Ron is
very different from how someone like Draco does. It's easy for me to forget the
things he's done that hurt other people or made them angry because he's my
closest friend other than Hermione."
Severus gazed at Harry a long moment and then said softly, "You are wiser than
your years, Harry."
The corner of Harry's mouth quirked upwards in half a smile. "I think we've
been through that," he replied just as quietly. "I've had quite a lot crammed
into my years."
Severus returned the smile. "I know, yet you still constantly surprise me."
Harry blushed slightly, smiling as he looked down, then he had a sudden thought
and lifted his gaze back to Severus' eyes. "What about Remus? He mentioned that
the two of you were good friends once."
Severus nodded and answered, "Remus and I sat next to each other in Potions
during first year, and occasionally studied together after that. We were
friends, possibly similar to your friendship with Thomas, but Remus' first
loyalty was always to Sirius and then later to James because of Sirius. Remus
is actually who introduced Lily to James."
Harry looked into Severus' eyes, sympathetic and a little sad. "It must have
been hard for you to lose both of them because my father was such a prat."
Severus was so surprised by that, that he replied without thinking. "It would
have been harder if Lucius hadn't been there to pick up the pieces."
Harry tilted his head to one side slightly, remembering what Severus had said
about he and Lucius' partying as teens, then he looked back at the photograph.
Lily had left the frame again. Lucius was whispering into the ear of the
younger version of Severus, whose mouth was opened slightly and his eyes were
closed, a look of obvious desire on his face. Harry watched Lucius run one hand
through the other boy's hair, moving closer to him in a way that made it
obvious they were much more than friends and that Lucius was completely in
charge. "Was he very different then?"
Severus smiled slightly, watching the photograph with an unreadable look in his
eyes. "The Lucius I knew before he met Voldemort was as different as he could
possibly be from the Death Eater you met. He was a beautiful young man once,
completely carefree and always pulling a prank or using his quick wit to get
into or out of trouble. He was never an angel, no more than I am, but he wasn't
completely bad either." He paused a moment to watch Lucius pull away from the
younger version of himself, giving the boy the smirking predatory gaze that
Severus so well remembered as he led him from the picture, leaving the frame
empty. "He was the Slytherin version of your father I suppose; handsome, smart,
and daring, and always surrounded by people. The biggest difference in them was
probably that Lucius was popular with others because they wanted to see what he
could do for them, not because they truly liked him."
"Why did you like him?" Harry asked then, making Severus look at him again.
"I didn't just like him, Harry. I loved him more than I should have, and did
quite a lot I'm not proud of to please him, including taking the Dark Mark and
everything that entails." Severus gave Harry a sad little self-depreciating
smile and then looked down into the fireplace yet again. "I was so taken in by
the fact he said he loved me that I never thought to question it until after we
both already had the Mark." Severus sighed, closing his eyes for an instant and
then opening them again as he looked at Harry. He seemed not even to notice
that some of his hair was hanging across his face as he said softly, "I was
little more than his plaything, someone he kept around because he could use me,
but I didn't see that until it was much too late."
"He wasn't good enough for you," Harry murmured as soon as he was sure Severus
was through speaking. "You deserved better than that."
Severus smiled wryly. "Harry, you have very little idea of the things I did to
please him. I am not a nice man."
"Maybe not, sometimes, but you are a good man," Harry replied, turning towards
Severus a bit more as he raised one hand to brush Severus' hair back from his
face. "You made bad choices out of love, but when it came down to it you chose
the right side, and I know you regret the bad things you did. That proves
you're a good man. Evil people don't regret being evil, they just keep on
hurting people until someone kills them."
Severus looked at Harry for a long while before he finally said softly, "You
are the only student besides Draco in fifteen years who has seen me as anything
other than someone to be hated or feared." He paused and then asked in an
almost bewildered tone, "Why? What do you see in me, Harry?"
Harry smiled, the expression in his eyes soft and full of love. "I see the same
things my mother did, I think. Not the Potions Master or the Professor or the
former Death Eater, but the gentle, amazing man who is a loyal friend and would
try to save someone's life even though he hated them because it was the right
thing to do." Harry lifted his hand again then and ran his fingertips along
Severus' jaw as he added softly, "I see the man I love, and who I would like to
see truly and completely happy more than anything in the world. I think he's
punished himself quite enough, no matter what he might have done when he was
young and stupid."
Severus lifted his hand to cover Harry's as he turned slightly to kiss his
palm, then he looked into Harry's eyes again as he lowered their hands, lacing
their fingers together. He gave Harry the most open smile Harry had yet seen on
his face and whispered, "I love you too, Harry. I can't explain how or why,
even to myself, but know that I do."
Harry leaned up and kissed Severus softly, then pulled away to look into his
eyes as he smiled and murmured, "Right now, I'd very much like to go to bed
with you."
Severus smiled, not minding the change of subject. "I'd like that, too. Give me
a minute."
Harry nodded, and then kissed him again quickly before he released Severus'
hand and asked, "Your room or mine?"
"Whichever you prefer," Severus replied as he turned away to walk towards the
bathroom, a smile still on his face. "My bed is the larger of the two, but if
last night is any indication we'll not need much room."
Harry grinned, letting his gaze roam over Severus' lean body until he had
disappeared into the bathroom, then he walked over to Severus' bed. Shrugging
out of his robe, he laid it on the footboard before he moved to the head of the
bed and started pull back the blankets. He saw movement out of the corner of
his eye then and glanced upwards only to stop and stare in surprise at the
moonlit scene above the bed. There were two unicorns in the meadow, one of them
grazing while the other one, which was quite young, jumped and played, chasing
a streak of silvery light that Harry realized after a moment was a fairy.
Harry was so entranced by watching the little unicorn and the fairy coax the
larger unicorn into playing that he didn't hear Severus return from the bathing
room. He started slightly in surprise when Severus wrapped his arms around his
waist, bemused suddenly that he had been so entranced.
Severus kissed the nape of Harry's neck, then rested his chin on Harry's
shoulder and whispered, "Beautiful."
Harry nodded, warmth spreading through his body as he felt bare skin against
his back and turned his head to smile at Severus. "Aren't they? I've never seen
unicorns play like that."
Severus' lips quirked into an answering smile. "I meant you." Harry blushed,
looking down at the bed, and Severus kissed his shoulder before he whispered in
Harry's ear, "You are so gorgeous that you tempt me without even trying."
Harry shivered and leaned back against Severus, lifting his hands to cover
Severus' on his belly as he replied softly, "You're welcome to give in to the
temptation. I'm yours whenever you want me."
Severus growled softly and kissed just below Harry's ear, then whispered, "I
want to go slowly with you, Harry. I don't want you to ever regret anything we
do."
"I won't," Harry replied, turning his head to look into Severus' eyes. "I
promise."
Severus gazed at him a moment and then asked, "What do you want, Harry?"
"You," Harry whispered with a smile, turning in Severus' arms a bit so he could
look at him more easily.
Severus returned the smile and kissed him, then looked into his eyes again. "Be
more specific."
Harry smiled, stroking Severus' arms for a short time before he turned and
lifted his arms to wrap them around Severus' neck, smiling softly. "I want you
to do whatever you feel comfortable with."
Severus chuckled slightly. "You are the virgin here, Harry, not me."
Harry smiled, toying with Severus' hair. "Yes, but I don't have any doubts."
"And you think I do," Severus replied, suddenly serious.
Harry's smile didn't fade as he nodded slightly. "Yes, I do. I'm very glad that
you've realized you love me, but I think you've decided that making love to me
would be too much like taking advantage of me."
Severus' eyebrows went up in surprise and he stared into Harry's eyes a long
while before he finally asked softly, "How did you get to know me so well?"
"It wasn't easy," Harry replied with a soft little laugh. "I've been watching
you without really knowing why for years, and then more recently I
intentionally watched you whenever I thought I could without you noticing.
Until the last few weeks, you've been very good at hiding what you were
thinking most of the time." Harry leaned up to kiss Severus' lips softly, then
smiled at him and continued, "And I love that you're comfortable enough to let
me see more of how you feel now."
Severus gave him a tiny wry smile, stroking the smooth skin of Harry's back.
"It's gotten much harder to hide recently. I've smiled more in the last few
days than in the year before that."
Harry smiled a little wider, a sudden twinkle in his eyes. "And why would that
be?"
Severus chuckled. "I suppose you want to hear me say it, hmm?" Harry nodded,
trying not to grin, and Severus gave him an amused smile. "I blame it
completely on the beautiful young man who calmly wriggled his way into my life
without me even noticing it and then just as easily walked into my heart, my
rooms, and my arms."
Harry blushed, shaking his head. "I'm short and sort of plain."
Severus smiled softly and replied, "You are beautiful, Harry, inside and out.
You are a very special person, and not just because of all of the amazing
things you've done." He lifted one hand to run his fingers through Harry's
hair, looking into his eyes. "Minerva was right, though you'll never convince
me to admit it to her face. You have given up everything to fight Voldemort and
save people you barely know, and you deserve to be happy."
"You did the same thing, Sev," Harry replied immediately, surprising Severus.
"You gave up more than I did, if you think about it. You lost your family and
friends and the man you love, and you locked yourself away in a dungeon for
seventeen years as self-imposed penance. I lost parents I never knew and had to
live in hell for fifteen years. If I deserve to be happy then you do too, even
more that I do." Harry smiled then, his green eyes sparkling. "I didn't have to
give up the man I love; for some unfathomable reason he actually loves me
back."
Severus couldn't help but return Harry's smile as he said softly, "I have often
thought you were luckier than you had any right to be, and that it rubbed off
on those around you." He leaned closer to kiss Harry then, lingering a long
moment as Harry made a soft happy noise and melted against him, then finally
pulled away slightly to rest his forehead against Harry's. "And I also think we
should actually get more than three hours of sleep tonight."
Harry smiled and kissed Severus' lips softly before he whispered, "Sleeping in
your arms again sounds heavenly."
"You are quite a nice armful," Severus agreed with a twinkle in his eyes, and
then kissed Harry quickly before he pulled away slightly. "Bedtime."
Harry let go of him and turned back towards the bed to pull the covers down as
he asked, "Where did you get the tapestry over the bed?"
Severus resisted the urge to move closer to Harry again, letting his eyes roam
down Harry's muscular back as he replied, "A little shop off of Knockturn
Alley." Harry turned to look at Severus, surprised, making Severus lift his
gaze to Harry's face again as he elaborated, "It was meant for spying on
people, but I prefer to watch something a bit more restful." He smiled
suddenly. "Well, usually. The one in my study has been known to show a few
Quidditch practices."
"A few?" Harry asked, grinning at Severus as he took off his glasses and laid
them on the bedside table next to Severus' wand.
Severus snorted softly as Harry turned away again to get into bed, smiling as
he watched Harry lay down a bit less than halfway across the bed. He thought
Harry looked so very right there and just stood gazing at him for a little
while before he admitted, "Most."
Harry grinned, propping himself up on one elbow and loving the way Severus was
looking at him. "Hermione insisted that you enjoy Quidditch, but we didn't
quite believe her."
"She's a very perceptive young lady," Severus replied with a chuckle as he
finally slid into bed, lying on his side facing Harry. "How would you prefer to
sleep, Harry?"
"With you," Harry replied immediately, his eyes twinkling as Severus snorted
softly. "You get comfortable, and I'm sure I can manage to do the same."
Severus gave him a bemused look and then shifted to lay on his back as he said,
"You're being entirely too easy to get along with. I like the fact that you've
got your own opinions, Harry; you do understand that, correct?"
Harry sat up to pull the blankets up to their waists and then settled close
against Severus' right side, moulding his body against him and draping his leg
across Severus' thighs. He rested one hand on Severus' chest and propped his
chin on the other, giving Severus a tiny little smirk as he said, "Yes, but I
like this idea quite well, so there's no reason to try and change your mind."
"I thought you weren't going to get fresh," Severus said, looking even more
amused even though the unmistakable feel of Harry's erection against his hip
made him wonder yet again why he kept telling him no.
Harry grinned, his green eyes twinkling as he slowly stroked his fingers
through the hair on Severus' chest, which was just as soft as it looked. "I'm
not getting fresh, but I can if you'd like."
Severus smiled and lifted his hand to cover Harry's, holding it still as he
said quietly, "Sleep tonight, Harry. I promise I'll not make you wait too
long."
"I don't mind if you need to wait." Harry's grin faded into a soft smile. "I've
been waiting a good long while just to touch you, waiting a bit longer for more
won't hurt me."
"You could argue with me, you know," Severus said, bemused again.
"Why?" Harry asked with a sudden little smirk. "I'm in your bed right now, but
if I were stupid enough to annoy you I might wind up in my own."
Severus chuckled softly, the sound little more than a deep rumble. "I don't
think I could make myself tell you to leave, Harry. You have no need to fear
sleeping alone."
"Good," Harry replied as he leaned upwards, kissing Severus softly and then
moving to lay his head on Severus' shoulder, snuggling even closer to him. "I
could get quite used to not being cold every night."
Severus chuckled, letting go of Harry's hand to ruffle his hair. "Imp."
Harry grinned against Severus’ shoulder, moving his hand from Severus' chest to
drape that arm across Severus' stomach instead. "I'm too tall to be an imp.
George says I'm a bit of a smart-arse though."
Severus snorted softly, amused. "Go to sleep."
"Okay," Harry replied, snuggling closer with a smile. "We forgot to douse the
candles though."
"Lights."
The candles flickered off as though someone had snuffed them and Harry chuckled
softly against Severus' chest. "Cheater."
"Sometimes," Severus replied quietly, still sounding amused. "Now go to sleep."
Harry smiled and closed his eyes, listening to Severus breathe as long delicate
fingers stroked his back, helping him relax.
Severus watched the clouds drift past the moon and tried to determine exactly
why his first instinct was to say no whenever Harry offered himself to him. He
loved Harry, he was quite sure of that even though it made no sense at all to
him, and he wanted Harry more every time he saw him, but still something made
him shy away from having sex with him.
Thinking about his previous encounters was something that Severus usually
avoided for the simple reason that after Lucius, he hadn't really had anything
worth being called a relationship. Since the first time Lucius climbed into his
bed and proceeded to show Severus what he wanted him to do, Severus'
relationships had always been based on sex. He had visited Amsterdam with
Lucius many times as a teen and they had both made a habit of picking up any
boy who struck their fancy. Later, when Lucius had ended their relationship and
Severus was alone, he had gone back to the flat Lucius had given him in that
familiar city when he felt the need for some companionship. He liked knowing
that he could pick up a handsome young man there without fear of censure and
have a shag that didn't include false words of love, then never see that person
again.
Harry was very different though. Severus wanted their relationship to last, not
to be a fling that ended in a few weeks. After some thought he finally decided
that his reluctance to have sex with Harry was because some small part of him
must think Harry might tire of him as Lucius had. He still vividly remembered
waking up one morning to find Lucius sitting on the edge of his bed watching
him with that cold, impassive gaze as he told Severus that he had to leave.
Lucius had said that Narcissa had given him an heir like she had promised and
she wanted Severus gone, and Severus had reacted with disbelief, sure he was
hearing things as he reminded Lucius that they were in love. Lucius had given
him the disdainful look normally reserved for Muggles and told him that he was
just a convenient piece of arse, and that keeping him wasn't worth listening to
Narcissa complain anymore so Lucius wanted him out of his life.
Severus pushed away the memories as he moved his free hand behind his head,
looking down at Harry's peaceful face and trying not to think about how very
young he looked. He suddenly wondered how he could doubt Harry or compare him
to Lucius, even subconsciously. Harry had already made it plain he didn't think
their relationship was about sex and that he'd willingly live without it if
that's what Severus wanted, so surely making love as they both so obviously
wanted to do wouldn't ruin the feelings they had for each other.
Severus knew as well as he knew the sun rose in the east that Harry could never
betray him the way Lucius had. It simply wasn't in Harry's nature. He was
nothing if not honest and loyal, and he loved Severus enough that he had defied
his beloved godfather and endured who knew how much embarrassment in front of
his friends over how he felt.
Severus lifted the hand on Harry's back to run his fingers through Harry's
hair, surprised when Harry nuzzled his shoulder, murmuring sleepily against his
skin, "Love you, Sev."
Severus smiled and moved his hand back down to Harry's back as he whispered, "I
love you too, Harry." Severus kissed the top of Harry's head, closing his eyes
finally letting his body relax completely as he carefully cleared his mind,
letting how comfortable and content he was lull him to sleep. There was really
nothing to fear. Harry loved him and wanted to be with him, and Severus was
entirely too intelligent to waste the time they had together.
 
***** Chapter 12 *****
 
Severus woke up abruptly sometime before dawn, not quite sure what had awakened
him. He blinked several times, trying to clear his mind of the remnants of a
rather nice dream so that he could think. He realized after a short time that
he and Harry had shifted positions at some point during the night. Harry was
now on his back with Severus' arms around him and one of Severus' legs between
his thighs, Severus' face again pressed into his hair, with both of Harry's
hands on his arm.
They both were aroused, but Harry's breathing was a bit erratic and there was a
definite damp spot against Severus' thigh that made him swallow hard and close
his eyes again. Resisting the temptation to take advantage of whatever dream
Harry was having and see what he tasted like was difficult, but he consoled
himself with the thought that they wouldn't be waiting forever. Severus opened
his eyes when it seemed as though Harry's breathing was finally evening out and
lifted his head carefully to look at Harry's face. Harry seemed to be sleeping
peacefully again, so Severus laid his head down and closed his eyes, trying to
will away his erection so he could go back to sleep.
Severus' thoughts about snow were interrupted a few moments later when Harry
whimpered softly and rolled towards him, nuzzling Severus' throat. He began
rubbing his extremely hard cock against Severus' thigh almost immediately,
making his breath hitch at the friction as his own erection went almost
painfully hard again. Harry's hips rocked slightly a few times before his
muscles tightened up and Severus bit his lip, expecting the spreading warmth he
felt as Harry's cock throbbed against his thigh and Harry shuddered against
him. Harry let out a soft little moan as he relaxed again, going boneless as
Severus closed his eyes and resisted the urge to push Harry to his back again
and lick him clean by telling himself that the dream might not even have been
about him.
Severus laid very still for what seemed like an eternity before he decided
Harry didn't even seem to have been awakened by the dream. He was just thinking
that was probably best when he heard an almost soundless whisper of, "Fuck."
Harry remained very still for a long moment, and Severus decided he should say
something reassuring. He had no idea what, but felt something should be said,
and was about to open his mouth to speak when Harry whispered almost
soundlessly, "At least I didn't wake him."
Severus couldn't help a tiny little chuckle at that and Harry pulled back to
look at him quickly, his eyes going wide as Severus opened his mouth to say
something. Harry hid his beet red face against Severus' chest as he muttered,
"Okay, so, I have very nice dreams about you. I hadn't thought I would inflict
them on you though. Sorry."
Severus tightened his arms around Harry, kissing his hair before he whispered
softly, "Don't be sorry, it's perfect--"
Harry cut him off, his muffled voice sounding somewhere between mortified and
amused as he said, "If you say it's perfectly normal for a teenager to have wet
dreams, I might have to hex you, whether I have my wand or not."
"--ly understandable," Severus went on, hiding a smile against Harry's hair,
"and I think it's safe to say my dreams were rather pleasant too, Harry. I'm
quite flattered, actually."
Harry pulled back to look at him again then, taking in the way Severus' eyes
sparkled with amusement in the dim silvery light of dawn coming from the
tapestry above them. "I promised I'd not get fresh with you," he finally
admitted softly, "but it seems to be all I can think about, even asleep."
Severus made a sudden decision and rolled Harry to his back before he could
change his mind, kicking away the covers and looking down into Harry's
surprised eyes with a tiny little smirk. "Would you mind terribly if I were the
one to get fresh?"
"Not at all," Harry replied softly, a surprised but definitely hopeful look on
his face.
Severus leaned down to kiss him instead of replying, licking at Harry's lips
and then gently parting them with his tongue. Harry let out a soft, pleased
noise and opened his mouth a little further, lifting his hands to slide his
fingers into Severus' hair. Severus settled over him like a blanket and slowly
explored Harry's mouth with his tongue, loving the way he tasted even this
early in the morning. Harry responded warmly, their tongues sliding against
each other as Harry's hips lifted, rubbing against Severus' cock and making him
groan softly into the kiss. Harry let out a soft little pleased noise and
lifted his hips again, sucking at Severus' tongue as he rubbed against him.
Severus pulled away abruptly a moment later, looking down at Harry with
glittering dark eyes a moment before he suddenly kissed him again. The quick
hungry plundering of Harry's mouth made him whimper as Severus pulled away
again, backing down the bed as he began licking and nibbling his way down
Harry's throat to his chest. Harry gasped and arched his back when he felt
sharp teeth close around his nipple, his fingers flexing in Severus' hair as
Severus alternated between nibbling and licking. The attention made Harry's
nipples become almost painfully sensitive and his hands tightened in Severus'
hair, tugging hard enough to earn a soft growl and a nip that made Harry shiver
as he loosened his hold.
Severus licked across the hardened bud again and then murmured against it, "So
responsive..." Severus closed his lips around it again and sucked gently,
shifting his weight to free his right hand so he could gently pinch Harry's
other nipple.
Harry arched under him again, gasping as his fingers tightened convulsively in
long black hair again before releasing it altogether as Harry moved his hands
to Severus' shoulders instead and whispered, "Oh God."
Severus smirked against Harry's chest and then suddenly moved to lick and
nibble at Harry's other nipple just as Harry's hips lifted to thrust against
his belly. The feel of the sticky cotton covering Harry's renewed erection
against his skin caused Severus to growl again as he sucked hard on Harry's
nipple, his teeth closing around it. Harry whimpered and thrust upwards again,
and then Severus suddenly had the powerful urge to taste Harry's cock. He
licked slowly at the pebbled flesh against his lips and then began kissing and
nibbling his way down Harry's body. He shifted his weight again then to free
his hands so he could stroke Harry's hips and thighs, reveling in the feel of
solid muscle under the sweat-dampened cotton. He licked into Harry's navel,
swirling his tongue in the indentation and then kissing and nibbling a path
downwards as the trail of hair below it became denser. He enjoyed tasting the
sweat that was beginning to sheen Harry's skin, nuzzling where Harry's
waistband rode low across his belly and sucking gently at his skin as Harry
writhed under him and whispered his name.
Severus moved to nuzzle Harry's cock through his boxers, inhaling the scents of
semen and sweat as Harry's hips lifted. He licked at the wet cotton covering
the head of Harry's cock before sucking lightly at it, pulling more of the
moisture onto his tongue and savoring the taste as Harry let out a needy little
whimper. Severus hooked his fingers in Harry's waistband and lifted his head
then, meeting Harry's hungry gaze as Harry lifted his hips to let Severus pull
his boxers down and off. Severus threw them aside and moved his hands to
Harry's hips as he ducked his head again to nuzzle the inside of Harry's thigh,
licking and nibbling gently at the soft skin while Harry gasped and moaned,
spreading his legs wide.
Severus moved to nuzzle Harry's balls then, pressing open-mouthed kisses to
soft skin just before he licked up the length of Harry's cock, groaning softly
against it at the lingering taste of semen and pre-come. The muscles in Harry's
thighs and belly jumped as Severus moved one hand to Harry's cock and gently
eased back the foreskin to lick at the underside of the crown. Harry tried to
thrust upwards with a whimper and then let out a low strangled cry as Severus'
lips closed around his cock and Severus began to swirl his talented tongue
against the slit. Harry's cock pulsed and released a fresh spurt of pre-come,
and Severus groaned softly around it as he sucked it deeper into his mouth. He
flicked his tongue against the underside and the muscles in Harry's thighs
clenched again as he tried to thrust upwards.
Severus' cock twitched in sympathy, a slowly spreading damp spot in his own
boxers mute testimony to how aroused he was as he relaxed his hold on Harry's
hip and let him move a bit. Harry began to thrust immediately, his cock sliding
freely in Severus' mouth as Severus sucked firmly and listened to Harry's soft
gasps and moans. He allowed Harry to go a bit deeper into his mouth with each
thrust until his nose was rubbing against sweaty dark curls. He increased
suction a moment later and then hummed as he felt Harry's cock throb in his
mouth, flooding it with thick, hot liquid. His own cock throbbed against his
thigh then and Severus shuddered, sucking strongly at Harry's pulsing cock as
he moved one hand to quickly bring himself off, swallowing around Harry's cock
as his own jerked in his hand.
Severus let Harry's cock slip from his mouth when it began to soften, wiping
his hand on his boxers and then stroking Harry's thigh as he licked him clean,
hardly aware of the soft pleased noises he was making. Harry relaxed, trying to
catch his breath and enjoying Severus' gentle ministrations as he bathed
Harry's cock with his tongue. He began to move back up Harry's sweaty body
after a little while, licking and kissing Harry's skin along the way and
revelling in the salty-sweet taste of clean sweat as Harry lifted one hand to
slide it into Severus' hair.
Severus finally pressed one last kiss to Harry's throat and then lifted his
head to look at Harry's awed face, the sunrise in the tapestry above them
making his shining green eyes seem to glow. Severus smiled and said, "Good
morning."
"The best morning ever," Harry agreed with a slightly goofy answering smile,
pulling Severus' head down as he leaned upwards to kiss him.
 
.:.
 
Harry and Severus indulged in a long hot shower together before they shaved
amidst quite a bit of laughter. Severus couldn't resist teasing Harry about the
fact he really didn't have anything that needed shaved, which had made Harry
start teasing Severus about being old and hairy. When they finally moved on to
getting dressed, Severus had resorted to kissing Harry repeatedly to try to get
him to agree to wear a pair of trousers instead of jeans. Harry had finally
caved in and then begged to see Severus in anything but black, using the same
persuasion tactic Severus had used on him.
Severus had given in more quickly than Harry did, but he still indulged in
kissing Harry for quite a while before he got dressed. When he did, he put on a
loose white button-front cotton shirt and agreed not to wear his robes, though
he wore his usual black trousers and boots for the simple reason he didn't own
anything else. Harry dressed in a similar shirt in a dark green that set off
his eyes and a pair of trousers that, while not as tight as the ones he had
worn to breakfast the day before, were still snug. Severus hadn't been able to
restrain himself from teasing Harry about the fact he tucked the trousers into
what looked like combat boots, but Harry had just grinned at him and said he
liked them like that.
It was nearly nine when Harry and Severus finally walked into the Great Hall
for breakfast, their boot heels loud against the stone as they walked in a
nearly perfect cadence achieved by Harry lengthening his stride while Severus
shortened his own to allow Harry to keep up more easily. Neither of them
noticed or really cared that they made a striking pair, and they walked into
the Hall without paying the slightest bit of attention to the four people
already in the room that were watching them in surprise. Harry's compact,
muscular body was the perfect contrast to Severus' taller, lithe build, and the
contrasting colours they wore just heightened the effect. Severus was not as
handsome as Harry was by any means, but the amusement and affection so plain in
his expression and the new sparkle in his eyes was definitely a vast
improvement over his old scowl.
"Yes, what they say about Amsterdam is true," Severus was saying with a smirk,
keeping his attention on Harry as they walked into the Hall. "And while I think
you'd quite enjoy it, I also don't think the world is ready for you to meet the
red light district yet. It would give you entirely too many ideas."
Harry grinned, his sparkling green eyes never leaving Severus' face as they
moved quickly along the aisle between tables. "Lee wouldn't tell me much about
it except that the best thing in town is the Hemp Museum. He and the twins have
had quite a bit of fun with some of the souvenirs he brought home from his trip
last summer."
"I have no doubt," Severus agreed, laughing. "And I'm quite glad that Jordan
and the Weasleys haven't seen fit to show you Amsterdam. I would hate to see
the sort of trouble those three could get you into."
"Fred and Lee were all set to take me, but George said no," Harry said then,
still grinning at Severus. "He even made me promise I'd not go with either of
them or on my own until I was twenty."
"I've always thought George was the smarter of the twins," Severus replied with
a soft snort, smiling. He glanced away from Harry as they reached the much
smaller than normal table that had been set up for the staff, and then paused
when he finally noticed the way Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, and Minerva were all
staring at him. "What?" he asked abruptly, raising one eloquent eyebrow as his
smile faded away.
"Enjoying your morning, Severus?" Dumbledore asked then, his blue eyes
twinkling over the top of his glasses.
"Yes, actually, I am." Severus resisted the urge to look at Harry even though
he couldn't quite help a sudden little smirk. "I trust you're having a good
morning as well, Albus."
"Yes, quite a relaxing morning," Dumbledore replied cheerfully as Severus sat
down across the table from Remus, "and the day is looking to be clear and
bright as well." Harry took the chair at the end of the table between Remus and
Severus then as Dumbledore smiled and added, "You're looking very chipper
today, Harry."
Harry grinned up the table at Dumbledore. "Thank you, sir."
"And I see you've finally bought yourself some decent clothes," Minerva said,
smiling slightly. "I had despaired of ever seeing you in something
presentable."
Severus gave her an amused look, answering before Harry could. "Yes, he has
quite atrocious taste."
"Hey!" Harry said, laughing. "I picked out the shirt!"
Severus let out a short laugh, not looking at Harry as he reached for the half-
empty platter of bacon and sausages to put some of each on his plate. "And
would have worn it with another pair of those painted-on jeans of yours had I
not intervened before you had a chance to find them."
Sirius looked down at his plate and his jaw clenched, obviously not liking the
strong hint that they had dressed together, but Severus paid no attention to
him as he offered Harry the platter of meats.
Harry took the platter, grinning at Severus as he said, "But they're
comfortable."
Severus gave Harry an amused look as he reached for the eggs. "So is running
about naked, but you'll not be doing that either." Dumbledore and Minerva
exchanged an amused look.
Harry laughed and put several slices of bacon on his plate, and then set the
platter down on the table in front of him as he said, "I would never!" Severus
looked up at Harry, raising one eloquent eyebrow, and Harry blushed bright red
as he amended, "Not in public."
Severus snorted, offering Harry the eggs. "Bloody well right you won't."
Sirius pushed his chair back suddenly, his expression closed and disapproving
and his tone very clipped as he said, "Remus, I'll be in your rooms until
you're ready to go. Good day to you Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor
McGonagall."
"Must you leave so soon, Sirius?" Dumbledore asked, giving him a searching look
as Harry frowned at Sirius.
"Yes, I quite think so," Sirius replied with a curt nod, avoiding looking Harry
or Severus.
Dumbledore pursed his lips, obviously disapproving, but before he could say
anything Harry said firmly, "If you intend to avoid Sev, you'll be avoiding me
too."
Sirius looked at Harry finally then, disgust becoming obvious on his face.
"Perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad thing."
Harry flinched, looking down as Severus said quietly, "It is very unfair to
Harry for you to take your hatred of me out on him."
Sirius looked at Severus then, his blue eyes darkening with a familiar look of
hatred. "You've turned him into little more than your whore."
"That will be quite enough!" Dumbledore said firmly, frowning at Sirius. "You
are being extremely unfair, Sirius. If you persist in mistreating Harry and
Severus, you shall not be welcome at Hogwarts any longer." Sirius looked at
Dumbledore in shock as he added, "This is their home, the only one either of
them has. It would be very remiss of me to allow someone to persecute them so
here for simply being happy."
Remus looked down at the table at that, but he didn't say anything even though
he agreed with Dumbledore and thought Sirius was being an ass. He had known
there would be trouble between Harry and Sirius because of Severus, but he had
hoped that seeing Harry so happy might make Sirius finally get over his hatred
of Severus. Obviously, it hadn't.
After staring at Dumbledore for little while, Sirius finally said slowly,
"Perhaps I should leave."
Dumbledore sighed, suddenly looking defeated as Harry's strained voice asked,
"Why can't you just let me be happy?" Sirius turned his attention to Harry,
frowning, and Harry met his gaze, his green eyes dark and full of pain. "Sev
makes me so very happy. No matter what you feel about him, if you cared about
me at all, you would want to see me happy."
Sirius stared at Harry for a minute or two before he finally said quietly,
"He's rubbing my nose in the fact you're warming his bed, just to spite me."
"No, he wasn't," Harry replied quietly, shaking his head. "He wouldn't use me
like that."
Sirius snorted. "He never talks like that about anyone or to anyone, Harry, and
you know it as well as I do. The bastard's flaunting you and you're letting him
do it."
"We were just talking to each other. People do that, it wasn't directed at
you," Harry replied immediately, a tiny bit of anger finally creeping into his
voice. "You're talking as though our relationship is completely one sided, as
though either of us were happy only to piss you off." Sirius opened his mouth
then but Harry cut him off as he went on firmly, "I want everyone to know I'm
exceedingly proud of the fact he sees something in me that he can love, and
that loving me seems to let him be happier than he was. I'm a very lucky person
I think, and not only because I'm allowed to 'warm his bed'." Harry paused and
then continued a little more quietly, "And I'm in love with him. That alone
should be enough reason for you to put aside your hatred."
"You're infatuated," Sirius corrected, frowning.
"No, I'm not," Harry replied, answering the frown with one of his own. "I was
infatuated with George, and I think I can quite tell the difference between
thinking someone is fun and has a nice arse and being in lovewith them. I am
not stupid or a child, and I don't need you or anyone else to tell me what I'm
feeling is permanent. I love Severus just as much as you love Remus, if not
more."
"Don't you dare compare my relationship to yours!" Sirius exclaimed angrily.
"I've known Remus for most of my life, and he's always stood by me."
"Yes, except for when he thought you were trying to kill me and said I'd best
set the nearest Dementor on you if I saw you," Harry replied coldly, making
Remus flinch. "I've known Severus for seven years, and even when I hated him
and did my best to make his life miserable, even when he hated me, he did his
best to keep my ungrateful arse alive."
"That's because he wanted your arse, you blithering idiot," Sirius replied,
glaring at Harry. "You're just a piece of tail for him, Harry. He's shagging
you to get his revenge against your father. Why can't you see that?"
"I think that is quite enough, Black," Severus said suddenly, his anger at
Harry being called the same thing Lucius had called him so long ago making his
voice cold and hard as everyone looked at him. "You are Harry's godfather and I
am trying to respect that, but if you persist in slandering him I shall have to
do something about it."
"Slandering Harry?!" Minerva asked incredulously. "Severus, are you even
listening to him?!"
"Yes Minerva, I am," Severus replied, giving her a quelling glare and ignoring
the surprised look Sirius was giving him. "I care not a whit for what Black
might think of me, but I simply refuse to allow him or anyone else to speak of
Harry like that. He does not deserve it in the least."
Harry reached out and put his hand on Severus' then, causing Severus to look at
him as Harry said firmly, "Neither do you."
Severus pursed his lips slightly, staring at Harry for a moment before he
replied. "That is neither here nor there, Harry. Black does not care if I
deserve his low opinion of me. He never has."
"Then maybe we should just let him hate us both," Harry said quietly, keeping
his eyes on Severus' face. "I meant what I told him. If he expects me to
choose, then he's made my choice for me."
"Harry, listen to m--" Sirius began then, looking upset.
Minerva and Dumbledore exchanged a worried look as Harry turned to look at
Sirius, his eyes and voice both going hard as he cut him off. "No, Sirius, you
listen to me. Sev doesn't care what you say about him but Ido. I'm not sure I
could stand to be close to anyone who can't at least respect the fact I love
him. You won't even give him a chance, you'd rather condemn him and me and keep
hating, and that makes you no better than a Malfoy." Harry's gaze didn't waver
as Sirius opened his mouth to say something, going on sharply, "Lucius Malfoy
hated me simply because of my name, and Draco has done the same, blindly, even
though I would help him any way I could if he asked me to. That is exactly what
you're doing, blindly hating someone who wouldn't hesitate to help you, if he
could."
Sirius stared at Harry, frowning. "James meant more to me than you could know,
and it's bloody fucking hard knowing you love his worst enemy more than you
love me."
"No, I don't. I killed my father's worst enemy with a rusty old sword I held in
these." Harry lifted both hands in front of himself, his expression still hard
and angry. "Given the opportunity, I'd do it again without the least regret."
He paused to be sure Sirius understood he meant it and then he went on. "I am
in love with a man my father hated as a teenager for stupid, petty reasons.
Even though most of the world might think that it's worse that the man I love
is twice my age, I don't happen to agree."
"That is not quite true Harry," Dumbledore said then, drawing their attention
to him. "While it would cause comment among Muggles, in the Wizarding world an
age difference of twenty years is much more common between partners, especially
amongst older families." Dumbledore smiled suddenly, his eyes twinkling as he
added, "Since you are both the last of your names, I should think it might
become difficult to decide which bloodline to grace your children with, should
you have any together."
"Children? Together?!" Harry asked, obviously surprised. "That's impossible!"
"Very little is impossible with magic, Harry. You should know that by now,"
Remus murmured and then looked at Severus and added, "Perhaps you should teach
him a bit more about the birds and the bees, Sev."
Harry gave Severus a shocked look as Severus snorted softly, his lips twitching
slightly with restrained amusement. "Harry is quite intelligent and exceedingly
curious. I doubt he shall need extensive tutoring on the subject now that
someone has piqued his interest."
Remus laughed at that and Sirius said suddenly, "I think I should go." Everyone
looked at him again as he turned towards Dumbledore and added, "I would like to
be able to come back, but I am just a guest here. I would understand if you saw
fit to forbid it."
Dumbledore simply watched Sirius for a little while and then sighed, knowing
that Harry and Severus wouldn't want to refuse Sirius the right to be at
Hogwarts, if only for Remus' sake. "For the time being you may return if you
like, Sirius. Please do try to keep in mind that Harry and Severus are two of
the most dangerous men you know, and quite protective of each other. I would
like to avoid you pushing either one of them too far. I do not want your
injuries on their consciences or mine."
Remus nodded, adding, "And you could try to be a bit less of an arse next time
you visit." Sirius looked surprised at that and Remus stood up as he went on,
"Harry was very understanding when he found out about us, even though he had
figured out that you were in love with James."
"That's different," Sirius said immediately, frowning.
Remus sighed, shaking his head. "No, Sirius, it isnot different. Harry loves
Severus. Telling him that his love is wrong is just as bad as him telling you
yours was, or even someone telling me that my love for you is wrong." Remus
paused for a moment, taking in the shocked look on Sirius' face, then added
softly, "I did think that you had killed all three of my closest friends for
twelve years Sirius. Loving you in spite of that, even before I knew the truth,
is surely much more wrong than Harry loving Severus."
Sirius stared at him, speechless for several minutes before he finally
whispered, "How can you compare loving me to loving him?"
"How can you not?" Remus replied quietly, looking into Sirius' eyes with a
slightly sad expression. "I talked to Harry about his feelings at some length
before I agreed to be a witness on his Apprenticeship contract, and I have no
doubt he loves Sev as much as I loved you at his age. You never noticed it
then, but I loved you quite a lot even though you ignored me the largest
portion of the time. I did a lot of things I am not proud of because I wanted
to please you, even though I knew you were in love with James. I am very glad
that Harry is luckier than I was. Severus loves him too, and they are both
happier than I have ever seen them. It's very unfair of you to ask Harry to
turn his back on that just because James hated the fact Lily's best friend was
a Slytherin."
Sirius looked into Remus' eyes for a little while, then swallowed and looked at
Harry, pain and defeat obvious on his face. "I'm sorry. I know I've said it
before, and I'll probably have to say it again, but I am. It's just really hard
for me."
Harry nodded, not trusting himself to speak without saying something to start
up the argument again.
Sirius waited a moment for Harry to answer and then looked at Severus,
searching his eyes a moment before he said, "I never seem to be able to take
care of Harry, not like I promised I would. I don't say or do the right things,
either, but I do care about him. Treat him well."
"I will," Severus replied, "But I would like to ask a favour of you, too."
Sirius' eyebrows went up in surprise. "What?"
Severus gazed directly into Sirius' eyes and said firmly, "I do not quite
understand it, but after quite a long time of being alone, I find myself in
love with your godson. I would greatly appreciate it if you would not insult
him in my presence again."
Sirius flinched. "I'll do my best."
"Thank you," Severus replied with a short nod. "When you are around, I will
attempt to curb my newfound desire to speak freely."
"Oh no you will not," Harry said suddenly, making them all look at him as he
gave Severus a determined look. "I quite like you actually relaxing for a
change. Sirius can learn to live with it or he can just bloody well carry
himself off."
"Harry--" Severus began reasonably, but Harry cut him off.
"No. You're happier not trying to hide everything behind a scowl and we both
know it, Sev," Harry said firmly. "Don't make me hex you to get your
attention."
Severus gave him a bemused look. "I didn't think you were paying attention when
I told you I liked the fact you have your own opinions."
Harry smirked suddenly. "I always listen to you. I just don't necessarily admit
it at the time."
Remus chuckled and said, "You are just like your mother, Harry."
Severus laughed, surprised, as Harry smirked at Remus. "Thank you."
Remus grinned at Harry. "Anytime." He looked at Sirius then and gave him a
slight smile as he said, "I believe we were going to London this morning?"
"Yes, we were," Sirius agreed quickly, then lifted his hand in a vague wave at
the table. "I'll see you all another time, I have to go get something from
Remus' room before we go." Sirius began to walk quickly towards the door
without waiting for any replies, glad of the excuse to escape.
Remus watched until he was out of the Hall before he looked at Severus and said
quietly, "I'll work on him, Sev. For what it's worth, I think he'll come
around. He's just going to do a lot of snapping and snarling before he gives
in. He’s a stubborn old dog."
Severus smiled. "Thank you, Remus, but I think we both know no one will change
his mind for him, not even you. He has a single-mindedness that very few others
possess."
"That's a good thing though," Remus said, smiling. "We'd be in trouble if
everyone was as pigheaded as Sirius."
Dumbledore chuckled as Severus smiled wryly at Remus and said, "You have a very
good point. Enjoy your trip today."
"Yes, do have a good day, Remus," Dumbledore agreed as Minerva nodded.
"I'm sure that I will once Sirius has calmed down again," Remus replied with a
smile. "Good day everyone."
The others replied with similar farewells and then Remus headed for the main
doors, leaving quickly. Dumbledore and Minerva began discussing an article in
the latest issue of Transfiguration Today, debating switching spells in a
conscious attempt to allow Harry and Severus time to eat in peace. Harry and
Severus began to eat their breakfast, both grateful for the simple warming
charms in the plates that had kept their breakfasts from getting entirely cold.
They listened to the conversation as they ate, occasionally offering a comment
or a question but mostly just eating their breakfasts.
 
***** Chapter 13 *****
 
Dumbledore and McGonagall continued arguing cheerfully for quite some time as
to whether or not there was any validity to the theory that transfiguring
animals into others with similar names or forms was easier. Both still
staunchly supported their diametrically opposite pet theories, which they had
each taught to many during their tenures as Transfiguration professor.
Dumbledore insisted that transfiguration was equally difficult no matter what
object or animal you were casting the spell on. McGonagall did not agree and
stood by what she taught in her classes, that it was easier to transfigure
similar things, such as a hedgehog to a pincushion.
They finally declared the argument a draw just as Harry was finishing his meal
and turned their attention towards him and Severus.
"Have you thought about who you would like to perform the binding spell,
Severus?" Minerva asked, looking curious.
Harry glanced up quickly at Severus, catching a surprised look on his face.
Severus looked at Harry for a moment and then turned towards Minerva as he said
quietly, "I hadn't intended to use one."
Minerva's eyebrows went up in surprise. "Severus, it's traditional that an
Apprentice be bound to their Master, especially with a contract such as the one
Harry asked for."
Severus snorted softly, his expression mildly amused as he said, "Yes, it is,
but it's also traditional that an Apprentice using a contract such as Harry did
would be little more than a glorified slave. While I do abide by most
traditions, that will not be one of them. Harry might not be quite my equal in
some things yet but I am very sure he will be, and I will not ask him to be
bound to obey me. He's quite intelligent enough to listen to me on his own,
without a spell forcing him to."
"A binding spell would force me to do as I'm told?" Harry asked, surprised and
curious.
Severus turned to him, nodding. "Yes, it would. Obedience is the main thing the
spell insures, besides your Master knowing where you are at all times and your
health. The ability to find you would have benefited us both until a few months
ago, but now I see no reason for it. Also, I do not want you compelled to obey
me." Severus smiled. "As I've said, I quite like the fact you've got a keen
mind and your own opinions."
Harry smiled back. "Couldn't the spell be performed without the obedience part,
though?"
"Only if you were to both wear some sort of metal tokens that could be
spelled," Dumbledore replied before Severus could say anything, causing them
both look at him. "Short-distance location spells can be cast on silver or
platinum, but for anything over one mile it would be best to work with pure
gold." He paused a moment, tipping his head slightly to look at them over his
glasses and sounding amused as he went on, "The spelled objects would only work
as long as both stayed in complete contact with skin at all times, therefore
rings usually work best unless either of you intends to wear a permanent
earring."
Harry looked at Severus again to find he was looking suspiciously at Dumbledore
and Minerva. Severus stared at them for a moment longer before he said
abruptly, "You two are up to something."
Dumbledore's eyebrows went up as Minerva snorted softly and replied, "Severus,
you're being foolishly paranoid."
Severus laughed mirthlessly. "Then why didn't you mention this idea in front of
Remus when you witnessed the contracts?"
"We were not sure Remus would approve of a binding for Harry," Minerva replied
a little too quickly.
"Then why do you want us to do it?" Harry asked, his eyebrows drawing down into
a slight frown.
Severus nodded, glancing quickly at Harry and then back at Dumbledore and
Minerva. "Yes, what do you two old busybodies have up your sleeves that Remus
wouldn't approve of?"
Dumbledore put his hand out to touch Minerva's arm as she opened her mouth to
speak, causing her close it again with a slight click as he said calmly, "I
believe it would be beneficial to you both to have a means of location and the
certain knowledge of each other's well being. Surely that is not something
either of you objects to?"
Severus turned his attention to Harry again, and Harry shrugged as he said, "It
does sound fairly harmless."
Severus watched him thoughtfully for a bit, and then asked, "Yes, but what that
sounds harmless truly is?"
"Very little," Harry answered promptly. "Even fuzzy bunny rabbits have teeth
and claws." He turned his attention back towards Dumbledore and Minerva. "Who
would perform the spells?"
"I would," Dumbledore replied with a slight smile. "It is a very complex spell.
I am unsure of anyone else who is capable except perhaps Filius, and he has
already left for the summer."
Harry looked back at Severus, nodding. "Definitely up to something."
Minerva snorted softly, giving them a severe look. "I would think you two
should be grateful Albus has offered to do this for you."
"Grateful that you want to meddle in our lives?" Severus asked, an amused
expression on his face as he raised an eloquent eyebrow at Minerva. "You two
Gryffindors are worse than old maiden aunts for matchmaking and taking foolish
risks. I cannot help but think you've got quite a bit more planned to go into
the rings you want to put on us."
"Merely protection spells," Dumbledore said then, smiling serenely. "Nothing
harmful to either of you, or that would affect your feelings or abilities in
any way."
"And nothing that would make either of us more, um, fertile?" Harry asked,
suddenly looking wary.
Severus laughed. "Very good question, Harry."
Harry gave Severus a little grin and then looked expectantly at Dumbledore, who
simply looked amused as he replied, "No, no, nothing of the sort. The rings
would merely allow you to locate each other and know whether the other safe or
not, as well as protecting you from most minor curses."
"We can both protect ourselves from minor curses quite well," Severus said
dryly. "What aren't you telling us?"
Dumbledore gazed at them both a long moment, and then finally admitted, "I
believe it would be beneficial for all involved if you both wore rings that
were some easily seen token of your attachment to each other."
"You want us to get married, you mean," Harry said, a little surprised.
Severus sat back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest and watching
Dumbledore with an unreadable look.
"No, Harry. I would not ask you to marry," Dumbledore replied calmly. "I simply
believe that life will be easier for you if there is a ring on your finger."
"Sir, I'm quite capable of taking care of myself. I don't need a tag saying
that I'm Severus' property," Harry said, suddenly amused. "There is absolutely
no chance I'll forget I'm in love with him if someone hits on me."
"Of course there isn't," Minerva said impatiently. "But there is a good chance
Severus would be quite angry that someone had the gall to proposition you to
begin with, and vice versa."
Harry turned his attention back towards Severus, still obviously amused as he
asked, "Is this their way of saying we don't play well with others?"
Severus laughed, surprised, and his eyes were twinkling with amusement as he
nodded a moment later. "I believe so, yes."
"So I suppose they want us to go along with them to protect the not-so-innocent
bystanders," Harry said, grinning as Severus laughed again and nodded.
"In a word, yes," Minerva said crossly, annoyed by the cavalier way Harry was
treating what she saw as a real problem. "You are both members of the staff,
which means you'll be exposed to parents and older siblings of our students
fairly often. Either of you hexing someone for making a pass at the other is
not an amusing idea, Mr. Potter. You both have well-deserved reputations as
very dangerous men."
Harry grinned at her, his green eyes bright with laughter. "Professor
McGonagall, ma'am, I've not run into many ladies intent on assaulting my
virtue, but I promise I do know how to get rid of them without hexing them. All
I have to do is tell them that I'm a poofter."
Minerva frowned, ignoring Severus' snicker at that as she asked in very clipped
tones, "And can you rid yourself of a persistent young man as easily, Mr.
Potter?"
Harry's grin didn't fade a bit as he replied, "Yes ma'am, it's very simple. I
would just act disgusted and tell them I'm straight."
Minerva fumed at that as Severus smirked at Harry and asked, "And what if one
of the young men who has made a pass at you talks to one of the ladies?"
"I hide behind my rather imposing Master and let him handle them," Harry
replied immediately, his green eyes sparkling with restrained laughter.
Dumbledore chuckled at that, earning a glare from Minerva before she turned
back towards Harry and Severus and said severely, "Be that as it may, anyone
that might see you together would have no trouble determining you are in a
relationship. It would be best for the school if you wore the rings as a sign
of commitment, if only to keep down talk among the students and discourage them
from spreading damaging rumours to their families."
Severus raised an eyebrow, still looking amused. "Why should we fear people
talking about us, Minerva? As many have already pointed out, assumptions are
often made about what goes on between a Master and his Apprentice. That should
not affect the reputation of the school in the least."
"Severus, Harry, would you consider doing this as a personal favour to me?"
Dumbledore said then, smiling at them both and not giving Minerva a chance to
say any more. "You have my word the rings will do no more than allow you to
locate each other, know each other's well-being, and protect you from minor
spells."
Harry turned to Severus, pretending to pout as he whined, "Sev... He's
cheating."
"Yes, I noticed," Severus replied with a bemused expression. "He seldom asks
for personal favours."
"Which means it's important to him." Harry let out a faked put-upon sigh. "You
know we'll have to do it now."
"Quite," Severus agreed, still bemused.
"You're going to agreenow?!" Minerva asked incredulously. "Just like that?"
Severus and Harry looked at each other, then looked at her and said in perfect
unison, "Yes."
Minerva let out a little annoyed exclamation, rising quickly from the table.
She threw the napkin from her lap down in the middle of the table as she looked
at Dumbledore and said acerbically, "These two are worse than the Weasley
twins!" She whirled around and stalked towards the staff room door.
Harry and Severus both tried valiantly to stifle the laughter that wanted to
come bubbling out, but then Dumbledore winked at them and they lost the battle
abruptly just as Minerva reached the door. Their gales of laughter angered her
even further, causing her to slam the door rather loudly behind her.
They regained control of themselves after a short time, other than an
occasional snicker from Harry, and Dumbledore smiled at them both, his eyes
twinkling as he asked, "Would you two prefer to choose your own rings, or will
plain bands suffice?"
Harry looked at Severus then and Severus' lips quirked into a smile. "What
would you prefer, Harry?"
"Not to have to go shopping again," Harry replied immediately, his green eyes
still dancing with amusement.
Severus chuckled, then turned back towards Dumbledore. "Plain bands would be
fine, Albus."
"Fine, fine," Dumbledore replied with a smile as he stood, "I should have them
ready for you by this evening. Enjoy your day, Harry, Severus."
"We will, sir," Harry replied with a bright grin.
Severus nodded, still smiling as he added, "And thank you, Albus."
"You're quite welcome, Severus," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "Thank you
for humouring an old man's whims." Dumbledore turned away and walked slowly
towards the staff room door.
Severus snorted softly and looked at Harry, who was watching him with an
expectant look. "I still believe he's up to something."
"Yeah," Harry said with a grin, "but we agreed to it anyway just like he wanted
us to. We're both rather predictable that way, even though he usually gets us
into trouble with his schemes."
Severus chuckled and stood, then surprised Harry by offering him his hand.
"It's a beautiful day outside. Shall we go for a walk?"
Harry took the offered hand immediately, standing up with a bright happy grin.
"I would love to."
The two of them started towards the main doors together, completely missing the
fact a very smug looking old wizard watched them from the staff room doorway
until the doors to the Great Hall had closed behind them.
 
.:.
 
It was mid-afternoon by the time Harry and Severus returned from their walk, no
longer holding hands but still obviously very happy and talking animatedly
about something as critical blue eyes watched them walk up the path towards the
castle.
Harry's green shirt was unbuttoned and fluttered in the breeze to reveal a
white sleeveless undershirt, and his trousers were no longer tucked into his
boots. He was carrying a basket that looked to be made from one single very
large leaf with the stem folded over to be a handle, filled with what looked
like clods of horse manure. Severus' white shirt was open halfway down the
front to bare his pale but decently muscular chest, and his normally lank hair
was tied back with what looked like a twist of vine. He was carrying a larger
basket that looked to be made of vines and was filled with flowers, mushrooms
and several different kinds of fruit. Together they made a striking pair, both
dark-haired and fair with very different builds that somehow still looked quite
good together.
Sirius frowned to himself, watching them make their way towards one of the
lesser-used side entrances. As usual he was unable to stop himself from seeing
James in Harry, but after the lecture Remus had given him when they returned
from London an hour ago he was looking for something else as well. It didn't
take him long to recognize the traits he hadn't wanted to see, and had in fact
tried hard to ignore for the last four years.
Harry had a happy laugh so like Lily's that if you couldn't actually see him,
one could almost think she were there. The way he walked without taking his
eyes off Severus and yet never stumbled or seemed to need guidance was also
very like his mother. He carried his basket in the crook of his arm, freeing
both of his hands for expressive gestures like the ones Lily had so often used
to drive home a point.
The most definite evidence of his mother in him only became obvious as Harry
and Severus neared the castle, though, and was something that Sirius had tried
to ignore as Harry got closer to Severus over the last few days. Harry had
always had what Sirius considered to be dark green eyes, and they had always
held a seriousness far past his age. Over the last few days those dark eyes had
brightened until they now looked increasingly like Lily's eyes, which James had
once said were like emeralds on fire. They were full of flickering lights and
emotions, and more expressive than mere eyes had any right to be.
Sirius turned away from the high arched window then, leaning back against it as
he looked down at the floor and suddenly recalled a conversation he had had
many years before. It had been one of the few times he had seen the light in
Lily's eyes dim to something very like the dark serious green Harry's eyes had
been until the last few days.
 
.:.
 
"I just wanted to tell you that I know about you two," a soft familiar voice
said.
Sirius jerked his head up off of the desk where he had been despairing of ever
passing his NEWT's to look into calm, wise green eyes much older than their
owner really was. "I know he loves you, and that you're in love with him. You
don't have to try so hard, Sirius."
Sirius stared at her in shock for a few moments before he could find the words
to speak. "What are you trying to say, Lily?"
Lily sat down across the table from Sirius. "I suppose I'm trying to say that
as long as I don't have to actually see it, I don't care what you do with him
when I'm not around. I love him and I intend to marry him as we've planned. It
would be nice of you not to rub my nose in the fact my fiancé is pathologically
incapable of choosing between us, but I'll try to understand if you feel you
have to."
Sirius swallowed, suddenly feeling nauseated. "We didn't think you knew."
"I knew from the beginning," Lily replied with a slight smile that didn't quite
reach her unusually calm eyes. "Lucius told me, trying to keep me away from you
two, but I didn't really hear what he was saying until it was too late."
"I thought Malfoy wanted you to hook up with James."
Lily smiled, looking down. "Everyone thought that, he may even have thought
that for all I know, but he still warned me that James couldn't and wouldn't
give up his Marauders, even for me." She let out a tiny little laugh and then
added softly, "Just like he told me Sev couldn't make himself fall in love with
a woman, even for me, though Sev loved me more than anyone but Lucius until you
and James made him hate me."
Sirius watched wordlessly as she played with the silver bracelet she had worn
as long as he had known her, turning it around and around her arm as she often
did when she was thinking something through. He had no idea what to say and was
more than a little afraid to try to talk to her. James would hate him if he
said the wrong thing, so he held his silence, praying she would leave to let
him think.
"Sometimes I think my whole life is a comedy of errors," she went on finally.
"I love Sev and could have spent my life with him so easily, but he's queer and
was in love with Lucius before he even really knew what being in love meant.
Lucius can be exceedingly charming when he wants to be, and I came very close
to falling for him before I realized that he truly loves no one but himself and
possibly Sev. Then I fell in love with James, the eyes-wide-open, stupider than
dirt, follow-him-through-hell kind of love, and he said he loves me too. I
thought I had all I could ever want, but eventually I realized Lucius was
right, and that I'm just the girl he loves enough to let me have his children.
He is really in love with you, thought I'm not sure he even realizes that. As
if you and I weren't enough to fill his bed, he's also having an affair with a
werewolf who's blindly in love with you and would cheerfully die to make you
happy for five minutes."
Lily suddenly laughed again and Sirius jumped slightly at the brittle sound,
then swallowed hard as she suddenly met his gaze with her own. Her eyes were a
darker green than he had ever seen them as she went on, "James lives to be the
person you worship you know, and Remus lives for you to let him help you sit at
James' feet."
Sirius looked confused, wondering if she was right about Remus being in love
with him. "What do you mean?"
"Just what I said," Lily replied with a nod, smiling again even though her eyes
looked all wrong, somehow making him think of the darkened windows of an empty
house. "As long as you worship the ground James walks on, he'll be able to be
perfect for you, and Remus will be able to help you worship him."
"And if I stopped the ... worshipping, what would happen?" Sirius asked,
wishing he were able to understand Lily the way Remus did. He almost felt like
he should be mad about what she was saying, but confusion was winning out over
anger because he wasn't quite sure what she meant.
"Then he'd be a mere mortal again and you'd be left to decide if you really
love Remus or if he's just convenient," Lily replied softly, then her lips
twisted into a wry smile again and she stood up suddenly. "But don't worry,
Sirius, it won't happen. You'll worship James until they day they put you in
the ground and he knows it just as well as I do. That's why I will be his wife
someday soon, but you'll always be his best friend and his lover."
Sirius flinched, looking down. "He does love you, Lily."
"Oh I know," Lily replied, sounding almost cheerful. "He's my fiancé, it's his
job to love me, and James prides himself at being the best at whatever job he's
given."
Sirius looked up in surprise to see her already walking away. He had no idea
what to say or even if he should say anything at all until she was already
gone, leaving him alone in the empty classroom.
 
.:.
 
Sirius suddenly remembered how bright Harry's eyes were that morning when he
walked in with Severus and the way Severus had only had eyes for Harry, his own
expression happier than Sirius had ever seen it. It really was obvious that
they were in love, more so than Severus had loved Lucius, more even than Lily
had loved James in the beginning when everything was still new and exciting for
her. Harry's face and eyes had proclaimed for the world to see that he simply
worshipped Severus, and Severus quite obviously returned the feeling whole-
heartedly. They had both been floating, high on happiness and love until Sirius
knocked them down. Harry's eyes had dimmed again then to the dark, serious
green they'd been as long as Sirius had known him, and Severus' happy
expression had closed like a book, back to the dour, quiet man Sirius had known
since his release from Azkaban.
Sirius swallowed hard, blinking quickly as he suddenly wondered how long
Harry's eyes had been empty and nobody had even noticed, and then he cursed
himself. He had seen the bright fire come alive in them over the last few days
without knowing what he was seeing, and then he had tried to put it out again
with hate and old pain. He had been right when he told Severus he never said or
did the right things. He had started young doing the wrong thing, enjoying the
way it made him feel powerful, and he'd kept doing the wrong things right up
until this very minute.
Somehow he had always rationalized it to himself so that his actions didn't
seem so bad, even though they often hurt the people who truly loved him. First,
he had hurt the one person who had been there for him since the day they met.
Even when they were boys, Remus had always been honest about the fact he loved
Sirius more than life itself, despite the fact he knew Sirius' heart had been
James' just as long. As if hurting Remus wasn't bad enough, he had hurt Harry,
the boy who had been mistreated by his only blood kin for the first fifteen
years of his life. Harry had accepted Sirius as a father figure from the very
first despite his numerous flaws for the simple reason Sirius cared about him,
and Sirius had repaid that trust by tearing down the first true happiness the
boy had ever known.
Sirius sat down on the cold stone floor suddenly and pulled his knees up to his
chest. He folded his arms across his knees and he hid his face against them as
remembered the last conversation he had ever had with Lily.
 
.:.
 
"Sirius, I want you to swear on your love for James that if I die you'll make
sure my baby, his son, grows up loved and protected. Harry has no surviving
blood kin other than my sister, and I wouldn't wish her guardianship on a cat."
"Lily, if Voldemort finds you he'll have us all--" Sirius began, trying to
sound reasonable even though he hated it when Lily became fatalistic. She had
been right too often to suit him, and it was beginning to scare him. He didn't
know if Muggleborns could be Seers, but he did know that Lily sometimes knew
things he couldn't explain.
"Save the platitudes for someone who still believes them, Sirius," Lily said
quietly, her green eyes flashing. "It's not you the bastard wants, it's me, and
it's James, and even if I don't know why he wants us, I do know he's going to
find us. Soon."
"Peter wouldn't do that to James," Sirius protested. "He couldn't. He's locked
away in a safe house with people watching him constantly."
"I don't even want to hear his name," Lily said angrily, her eyes boring into
his. "You should have been the Secret Keeper and we both know it, or at the
very least Remus. You would die to protect James and so would Remus, but that
rat wouldn't die to protect his own mother. I will never understand how you
convinced James that Remus was a poor choice, or why you even felt the need to
do so."
Sirius flinched, looking away, and Lily poked him in the chest with one finger
to get him to look at her again. She stared up into his blue eyes, her
expression hard as she said intensely, "Swear to me on your love for James that
you'll make absolutely certain Harry is safe and loved if James and I die."
Sirius just stared into her eyes for a minute before he swallowed hard and then
whispered softly, "I swear."
"Say it, damn you," Lily said, poking him in the chest again and glaring up at
him. "In two years of you shagging James in my own house I've never asked you
for anything, Sirius Black, so you can bloody well do this one thing for me. I
want to hear it all."
"If... If you both die, I swear on my love for James that I'll make sure Harry
grows up safe and loved."
Lily nodded sharply and then gave him a small, determined smile. "Now go make
sure the little rat's still in his hidey-hole."
Sirius nodded and turned away, heading for his motorbike without a word.
 
.:.
 
After Sirius got himself thrown in Azkaban trying to kill Peter, Dumbledore had
seen to it that Harry had grown up safe, but he had never really been loved.
Harry had been fed and clothed after a fashion, and he was safe from wizard
politics and old grudges, but he had a harsh childhood that might well have
destroyed someone else. Hermione and the Weasleys were the first people to ever
show Harry any affection simply because they liked him, and were the only
family he claimed other than Sirius and Remus.
Harry had never known what it was like to be in love until now, and here Sirius
was, tearing down Harry's hard-won happiness just as soon as he found it. 'Lily
is probably rolling in her grave, cursing me and just waiting until I kick off
so she can get her hands on me,' Sirius thought, rubbing his face against his
arm. 'Jamie will be right there with her, ready to kick my arse because I never
tried hard enough to keep that promise and protect his boy.'
Sirius felt a hand on his shoulder then and started violently, lifting his head
and letting it fall back against the wall. Harry and Severus stared at him, the
worry on their faces growing even more pronounced when they saw the dampness on
his cheeks and pain in his eyes. "Sirius, what's wrong?" Harry asked, his eyes
wide with sudden fear. He dropped to his knees in front of Sirius, the basket
he had been carrying falling unnoticed to the flagstones next to him. "Did
something happen to Remus?"
"No, no, everything's fine," Sirius replied, inhaling sharply and scrubbing his
hands across his face as he flushed and looked at the floor. He was embarrassed
to be seen crying, but he was also angry at himself for pulling Harry down
again when he'd been so happy just a moment ago. "I've just been thinking."
"What about?" Harry asked, worried and feeling a little lost.
Sirius looked up into Harry's eyes as he replied, "The last time I talked to
Lily, I made her a promise that I haven't been keeping very well." Sirius
lifted his hand to brush a bit of dried grass out of Harry's hair, and then let
his hand fall again. "I promised her that I'd make sure you grew up safe and
loved. Dumbledore saw to it that you were safe when I couldn't be there for
you, but the Dursleys never loved you, and having friends just isn't the same
as being in love. Nobody could find it for you--" Sirius swallowed hard, then
went on in a slightly shaky voice, "And now, when you've finally found it, I've
been tearing you down. If Lily could, she'd kill me for hurting you badly
enough to make you look at me the way you did this morning."
Harry's eyes shone with unshed tears that Sirius simply couldn't stand to see,
so he looked up at Severus. "I need to apologize to Harry, but I need to
apologize to you for a lot more. If it wasn't bad enough that I purposefully
helped take away your best friend when we were kids, I tried to stop you from
having Harry, too. That was unforgivable and I will understand completely if
you would like me to stay away from you both."
Harry bit his lip to keep from saying something, wanting to reassure Sirius
that Severus would never do that but sure that Sirius would only believe it if
Severus said it.
Severus looked down into Sirius' eyes for almost a minute before he said
quietly, "There is nothing that is unforgivable, Sirius, if you truly regret it
and never repeat the error. Lily told me that a very long time ago and changed
my life, though I regret she didn't live to see it." Severus offered Sirius his
hand, making Sirius blink a few times and swallow hard before he lifted his
hand to take it. Severus pulled him to his feet, and then let go of Sirius'
hand as he added, "And I'll accept your apology, but only on one condition."
Sirius closed his eyes, suddenly sure that Severus would set some impossible
task for him. After a moment he took a deep breath and then opened his eyes
again and asked, "What do I need to do?"
"Call me Sev." Severus smiled at Sirius as he offered his hand to Harry to help
him to his feet. "And let the past remain in the past, where it belongs."
Sirius just stared at Severus for a moment, not quite believing it could be so
easy. He knew that he didn't deserve for Severus to make it so easy for him,
but as he watched Harry stand and move closer to Severus he decided that
Severus was probably doing it for Harry's benefit. He could understand that and
sympathize, and it made it easier for him to truly mean it as he finally said,
"I'm going to do my best."
"That is all anyone can do," Severus replied, nodding, then he looked at Harry
who was biting his lip and watching them both. Harry's eyes shone with tears
barely held in check even though his eyes were bright with love and hope, and
his basket lay forgotten on the floor. Severus' lips quirked into a slightly
wider smile as he half-asked, "Remind me again why you're my Apprentice?"
Harry was surprised by the question and answered without even thinking, "'Cause
I'm too mental to be left to my own devices?"
That surprised a laugh from Sirius and Severus fought the urge to laugh as
well, his lips quirking into a little smirk instead. "Well, yes, that too, but
I was thinking more along the lines that I love you." Harry looked happily
surprised at that, a grin appearing on his face as Severus added dryly, "Do
please pick up all of your unicorn dung though, so Filch's disgusting cat won't
find any to bat about the halls."
"I was going to do that," Harry replied, still grinning. He bent to grab the
basket as he muttered a spell to gather its contents, surprising Sirius by not
bothering to use a wand.
Severus snorted softly, amused. "Of course you were, Harry. You likely would
have remembered it about the time we got back to the classroom, and by then
Filch would be convinced you'd finally set off a dung bomb."
Harry stood up straight and gave Severus a dignified look, then stuck his
tongue out at him and turned around to walk off down the hall while Severus
chuckled.
Sirius looked from Severus to Harry and back again before he asked, "Do I want
to know why he needs a basket of unicorn dung?"
Severus gave him an amused look and started down the hall after Harry, only a
little surprised that Sirius walked with him. "Something to do with Fred and
George's latest experiment. I've found that when they are involved I would
rather not know more than that."
"That's usually a good idea with them," Sirius agreed with a small smile,
wondering how he had missed the fact that Harry was making such a huge
difference in Severus.
The former Death Eater who had tried to get Sirius killed even though he knew
he was innocent wasn't someone Harry should be in a relationship with, but the
man who asked to be called Sev was as different from that man as anyone could
be. The sarcasm and wicked wit were most definitely still there, but they were
not motivated by bitterness and hate anymore. Severus was clearly a thousand
times happier than he had been just a few years ago, and it was equally obvious
that the source of that happiness was Harry. The expression in Severus' dark
eyes every time he looked at Harry left no doubt about how he felt.
Sirius glanced at Severus again as they walked along the hall, seeing the glint
in his dark eyes as Severus watched Harry walk along the hallway in front of
them. He looked back at the figure ahead of them as he suddenly said, "I was
seeing James in Harry's every move, you know, and not seeing Lily or even Harry
at all. Harry isn't really very much like James was, other than the way he
walks. He's a totally different person."
Severus glanced at Sirius, wondering where that had come from. He hadn't
expected to ever hear it admitted aloud, but he thought that Sirius seeing
James in Harry explained a lot of Sirius' reaction to Severus getting near him.
Sirius had been a very possessive person even as a child, especially where
James was concerned. Severus turned his attention back to Harry after a moment
and replied calmly, "I noticed that quite some time ago, actually. I'm glad you
finally did as well."
Sirius nodded, looking down at the floor and walking along next to Severus as
he bulled on, saying what was on his mind before he could talk himself out of
it. "I really am sorry, Severus, for how I've treated you and most especially
for the way I've talked about Harry since I realized he wasn't going to just be
your Apprentice. Dean was right, Harry could never be anything even approaching
what I called him, but I was so upset that I couldn't see that. I was
remembering James' love of being loved, and couldn't make myself see that
Harry's behaviour has always been closer to Lily's loyalty to one person above
all others." Sirius lifted his head to meet Severus' surprised gaze as he
added, "You own him, heart and soul, and it's the best thing that ever happened
to him."
"I... don't know what to say," Severus replied, his eyes a bit wide as he tried
to come to terms with Sirius' sudden about face, hoping it would last. Harry
had been very hurt by Sirius' attitude at breakfast and he had been subdued
most of the morning, sure that he was losing a member of his tiny family.
Severus didn't think Sirius really understood how very much Harry loved him, or
how he idolized him. Harry cared about Remus quite a lot, but he saw Sirius as
the closest thing he would ever have to a father and would do almost anything
to make Sirius proud of him.
"That's one forHogwarts: A History," Harry said suddenly, grinning at them both
over his shoulder as he paused in the doorway to the Potions classroom. "And
right after you two having a civilized conversation, too. Definitely a day for
the history book."
Harry ducked into the classroom then and Severus gave the empty doorway a dirty
look as he muttered, "Cheeky brat is just like Lily." Sirius raised an eyebrow
at Severus, who suddenly laughed and amended, "Well, not exactly, but he takes
after her quite a lot other than the fact he's male."
Sirius grinned at Severus as they walked through the door to the classroom.
"We'd be in quite a lot of trouble if Harry had been a girl. Think of the kids
he and George could have had."
Severus' eyes went wide. "Thank the gods for small favours."
"I heard that!" Harry called from the storage room.
"You were meant to!" Sirius called back, making Severus laugh again.
 
***** Chapter 14 *****
 
Remus had been walking the castle for over an hour looking for Sirius with no
luck when he decided to head for the kitchens and ask the house elves. He had
just reached the ground floor again when he heard a loud whoop that sounded
familiar coming from the direction of the dungeons. He turned that direction
just as there were at least three more different loud yells.
Remus hurried his pace as he heard a screech that sounded like someone was
scalding a cat, hoping that Severus and Sirius hadn't gotten into an actual
physical fight. He had just rounded the end of the dungeon hallway when he
stopped suddenly, shocked to see Severus sitting in the floor just beyond the
Potions classroom. Severus was behind what looked to be a huge leaf, and had
whipped cream in his hair and down one shoulder. He was laughing so hard tears
were running down his face, causing Remus to wonder if someone had hexed him.
Remus heard more yells and then loud laughter as something hit the other side
of the leaf with a wet splat, and he moved closer to look past the leaf that
had been stretched into a wall to block almost the entire hallway.
Severus grabbed the leg of his trousers, tugging as he gasped out between fits
of laughter, "Careful! Get you, too!"
Remus looked at Severus as if he were insane and then carefully looked around
the edge of the leaf shield only to stare in shock. Harry, Lee Jordan, and one
of the Weasley twins were standing with their backs to him, liberally
splattered with whipped cream. They were slipping and sliding around, laughing
and taking what looked like cream pies out of a box at their feet to throw them
down the hallway. Remus saw another pie splat into Harry's hip then and looked
towards the far end of the hall where three other people that were positively
covered in whipped cream were throwing cream pies as fast as they could take
them out of their box.
One of the people at the other end of the hall whooped then and the middle
person yelled, "Remus!" He recognized Sirius' voice just as Sirius threw a pie
at him, making Remus duck back out of sight, wide-eyed and laughing.
"I only left them alone for a few minutes to visit the loo," Severus said then,
finally in control of himself enough to make sense. He was grinning at Remus
more openly than he had since they were twelve and Lily turned Lucius' hair
bright pink. "I didn't think Harry and Sirius could do too much damage to my
office in five minutes. All they were going to do was Floo the unicorn dung to
the twins, but the twins seem to have decided to Floo here with Wood and
Jordan..."
Remus stared at Severus, shocked and laughing. "They did this in five
minutes?!"
"Well, not quite," Severus said with a twinkle-eyed grin. "That was some time
ago. It's been quite amusing watching them."
"Cease fire, our box is empty!" someone bellowed just beyond the shield then,
causing Remus and Severus look at each other and then stand up to look warily
past the shield.
The shapes at the far end of the corridor started wiping their faces as the
twin on the closer end of the hall high-five'd Lee, laughing when their hands
slid off each other and they almost fell into the creamy mess on the floor.
Harry hollered at the others then, bouncing and looking extremely pleased with
himself. "Ha! We won, Freddie, so your team has to clean up the mess!"
The three whipped-cream-covered people on the far end of the hall started
looking for their wands amongst the mess then, arguing good-naturedly about how
they would clean up the mess without them. Remus and Severus both laughed as
Fred, Sirius, and Oliver slipped and slid, drawing the attention of the three
on the closer end of the hall. George smirked and tapped Lee on the shoulder,
and then both began moving carefully towards the shield, leaning on each other
to keep their balance on the slippery stone floor. Harry wasn't in the mood to
be careful and took two awkward running steps before he slid all the way to the
wall near where Severus and Remus were. He hit it with a wet smack, splattering
them both with whipped cream and bits of crust.
"That was the most fun!" Harry said enthusiastically as he beamed at Severus
and Remus, steadying Lee as he followed his lead and slid into the wall. "You
should have joined in! Splattering Sirius with pies was so worth the hour long
bath I'll need to get clean."
George laughed, sliding into Lee as he added, "And the whipped cream is going
to be loads of fun for us to clean up." He leaned over to lick Lee's cheek,
causing Lee to laugh and try half-heartedly to shove him away. Lee slid along
the wall into Harry again instead, and they both laughed again as George
smirked at them and added, "Stuff's nice and slippery."
Harry gave George a surprised look and then looked speculatively towards
Severus, who was smirking wickedly at him. Harry returned the smirk, his green
eyes darkening a bit as he said slowly, "Mmm, sounds interesting..."
George pushed off the wall to move over to the leafy shield he'd thrown up to
contain the mess, grinning at Severus over it as he said, "There's a guest room
along the next corridor, isn't there, sir?"
Severus blinked in surprise and his eyebrows went up. "The Prefect's bathroom
is just beyond the Slytherin dorms, but I don't know of any guest rooms."
"Are you sure, sir?" Lee asked with a grin. He was leaning against Harry, who
had one foot braced on what little clean floor there was where the wall and the
leafy barrier didn't quite meet. "I would have sworn there was one. We hid from
Filch in it one night."
"What were you doing lurking about my dungeons at night?" Severus asked,
raising an eyebrow.
Harry spoke up before George or Lee could answer, sure that it was best Severus
didn't know what they had been up to. "Maybe it's like the Room of
Requirement." Severus gave him a questioning look at that so he explained,
"It's on the seventh floor, Sev, across from Barnabas the Barmy. It comes and
goes according to how badly you need it to be there and magically fills itself
with whatever you need most at the time." Harry grinned. "You might have heard
Headmaster Dumbledore mention it, he seems to always find it filled with either
chamber pots or shelves full of candy."
Sirius, Fred, and Oliver began slipping and sliding along the hall towards them
as Severus laughed, ignoring the surprised looks George and Lee gave him. "I
suppose it's on that magical map of yours?"
Harry nodded, grinning. "Which, if I remember correctly, is in your desk again.
You caught Gin with it what, three months ago?"
"It most certainly is, and you're going to tell me how to use it if you intend
to get it back," Severus replied with a smirk. "I warded my desk quite well
this time. Even you won't be able to get into it."
"Sev, that's cheating!" Harry exclaimed, giving him an obviously faked pout for
a few moments before he asked, "If I tell you how to work it, will you promise
not to lock it away again?"
"Harry, no, you can't!" George exclaimed, "The Marauders Map is an
institution!"
Severus raised an eyebrow at George, then gave Harry an expectant look,
smirking. "Of course I cheat, we've been through that already, Harry. I like to
win. And I am not about to promise that, the students should not have free
access to that map."
Severus and Harry both ignored the incredulous looks George and Lee were giving
them as Harry pouted even more at Severus, folding his arms across his chest
and looking about five years younger as he said, "You're not being very fair."
"Since when has 'the greasy git' been fair?" Severus asked, making Harry laugh.
George and Lee stared at each other a moment before they looked at Severus
again as if he had lost his mind. "We both know you'll tell me eventually,
Harry. You might as well get it over with."
"You know quite well that you're taking advantage of me right now," Harry said
suddenly with a little grin, pushing off of the wall to move over to Severus.
"So you've got to make it worth it."
Severus raised an eyebrow, smirking at Harry as he leaned against the leaf, his
face only inches from Harry's. "Of course I'm taking advantage of you, Harry.
You make it so very much fun. What exactly would I need to do to make it worth
it to you?"
Harry looked thoughtful a second, then smirked and pushed off of the leaf,
backing up carefully. "You've got to come catch me." Severus' smirk widened and
he reached for his wand, then Harry added quickly, "Without magic!"
Severus laughed, shaking his head. "Oh no, you are not going to get me to chase
you across that mess! Forget it, Harry."
"Be that way." Harry smirked as he turned around to start down the hallway,
slipping and sliding as he skated quickly towards Fred and Oliver, who were
about ten feet away. "Fred, Oliver, quick, slingshot."
Oliver looked surprised, and then he and Fred both braced themselves. Oliver
held out a hand to Harry as Severus moved just past the leaf shield and said
firmly, "Harry, don't you dare get yourself hurt piddling around in an
oversized cream pie."
Harry glanced over his shoulder at Severus, grinning wickedly, and then caught
Oliver's hand. Oliver swung him around with a whoop, sending Harry straight
back towards Severus much faster than he had left as George and Lee both
slipped and slid to get out of his way. Harry hit Severus a moment later with a
wet thud and wrapped his arms around him to hold on as they bounced off the
leaf wall and fell to the floor with a splat, landing so that Harry was flat on
his back with Severus laying sprawled on top him.
Severus lifted his head off Harry's shoulder to look down into sparkling green
eyes, trying hard to keep his expression stern. "Harry..."
Harry grinned impishly up at him and said, "Well, at least you caught me. Sort
of."
Severus snorted, trying not to laugh. "You could have gotten us both a cracked
skull, at the very least."
Harry lifted his arms to wrap them around Severus' neck, getting whipped cream
all in Severus' hair as he smirked and said, "Cushioning charms are my friends.
I've been doing them without a wand for years."
Lee, Oliver, and the twins all stared as Severus laughed, leaning down to kiss
Harry quickly before he said, "Scamp. Let go so I can get up."
Harry smirked up at Severus and let go of him, folding his arms behind his
head. "You're never going to be able to stand up in this stuff without help."
"I can most certainly try," Severus replied dryly. He placed both hands against
the slippery floor on either side of Harry's body and carefully pushed as he
tried to get one knee under himself. He had almost succeeded when his left hand
slipped and he fell with a splat to land next to Harry, who was still smirking
at him while Sirius laughed so hard he slipped and fell too, landing on his
butt. "You're enjoying this much too much," Severus said then, trying not to
laugh as he propped himself up on one elbow to look at Harry.
"Oh, now it's me enjoying something too much!" Harry exclaimed, laughing.
"Don't you even go there, Mr. Sit And Snicker While Saleswomen Coo About My
Apprentice's Arse!"
Fred, George, Lee, and Remus laughed as Severus smirked suddenly and replied,
"Well, they were quite right, you do have a nice arse."
"Okay, that is it!" Oliver said suddenly, glaring at Fred as everyone looked at
him in surprise. "You put that essence of weed you've been working on in some
of the cream pies, didn't you?"
Fred looked shocked a second before a truly evil grin slowly spread across his
face, echoed on George's as the twins looked at each other. Fred moved towards
Oliver as Lee laughed and said, "No, but now he will, since you just gave him
that oh-so-wonderful idea."
Fred grabbed Oliver and kissed him soundly, and then beamed at him. "You're
brilliant, Ollie! We'll be millionaires if we can get that idea to work out
right!"
"Then if they aren't high, what the bloody hell's wrong with Harry and Snape?!"
Oliver asked, wide-eyed as he shoved Fred away and pointed down at Harry, who
had rolled to hide his face against Severus' chest, his shoulders shaking with
muffled laughter while Severus hid a grin in his hair.
"Temporary insanity," Sirius said, trying to keep a straight face as Remus
looked at him in surprise. "They handled the dunce caps Sev picked earlier too
much and scrambled their brains. Well, what brains they had."
"Hey!" Harry said, laughing and rolling away from Severus to sit up as he
grabbed a handful of cream pie off the floor and flung it at Sirius, who ducked
so that it hit the wall behind him instead. "I've got lots of brains, I had
higher NEWT's than Hermione. I'm practically a genius!"
Lee, Fred, and George all looked suitably impressed at that and George made a
mental note to try harder to recruit Harry to help them with their experiments.
Severus laughed, sitting up very carefully to look at Harry as he said, "Not
even close, Harry."
Harry twisted to look at him, surprised. "What do you mean, not even close?! I
got the first perfect Potions score since you did!"
"Yes, Harry, you did," Severus replied with a smirk, "but then you became my
Apprentice. That strongly speaks for the argument your wits are in fact
addled."
Harry grabbed another handful of cream pie and threw it at Severus, hitting him
square in the forehead and setting everyone but Oliver off in fresh gales of
laughter. Harry smirked at Severus and replied, "If you Apprenticed someone
whose wits are addled, how well does that speak of you?"
The others tried to quiet down quickly, snickering and listening to see what
Severus would say as they watched him slowly wipe the whipped cream off his
face. Severus gave Harry a level look that was totally spoiled by the fact his
eyes were sparkling with suppressed laughter. "You've quite clearly driven me
insane as well." Harry laughed, then Severus added with a sudden smirk, "But
Iam stilla genius."
Harry returned the smirk and replied, "Which explains why I'm not sleeping
alone anymore."
Severus laughed, ignoring the way the others were watching them. "That would be
one explanation, yes."
Oliver moved over to stand by Remus, picking him out as the most rational
person present. "Did Harry take a Bludger to the head?"
Remus laughed. "No Oliver, not recently at any rate."
"Then what's wrong with him?" Oliver asked, confused.
Harry grinned up at Oliver, his green eyes bright with laughter. "I've gone and
fallen in love with my favourite Potions teacher, and the poor sod seems to be
rather gone on me as well. You'll get used to us eventually."
"You're in love with Snape?!" Oliver exclaimed, looking shocked as Remus
chuckled and patted his back.
"Good show, Harry," George said as Fred and Lee both laughed. George grinned
wickedly at Harry as he added, "You've had quite an effect on him already."
Severus snorted, pursing his lips as he gave George an amused look, then George
added, "And you're lucky, he's got quite the nice arse himself."
Severus went wide-eyed, staring at George as Harry smirked and said, "I know."
He remembered that Severus' robes didn't allow one to see his arse then and
raised his eyebrows. "But how did you?"
George smirked, moving further from Severus. "Who do you think we tried the
Underwear Bomb out on?"
"I knew that was you two!" Severus exclaimed, looking annoyed for a few seconds
before he suddenly brightened and added, "But, since I was the sacrificial
guinea pig, I do believe I have heard that tradition would dictate I get free
samples, would it not?"
George gave Severus a surprised nod as Harry laughed, reaching out to shove
Severus' shoulder. "What do you need Underwear Bombs for?"
Severus smirked at Harry, looking decidedly evil. "To end the start-of-term
staff meeting with, of course. Peeves would delight in setting it off for me,
and I'm quite sure one would clear the room. I would even go so far as to wager
that no other meetings would be scheduled for quite some time thereafter."
Sirius, George, Lee, Oliver, and Remus laughed as Fred exclaimed said, "Harry,
I love how your boyfriend thinks!"
Harry looked surprised and then scooted closer to Severus, smirking at him.
"I've never been able to say I had a boyfriend before..."
Severus snorted, looking amused. "And you can't now, either." Harry's
expression changed into a pout, then Severus added, "I'm much too old to be
called anyone's boyfriend, Harry. You'll just have to live with calling me
either your Master or your lover."
Harry grinned suddenly again. "Just not both at once."
"I bloody well hope not," Severus replied, laughing.
"What, might I ask, is going on here?" a very familiar voice asked suddenly,
making everyone look towards the leaf wall. McGonagall stood between it and the
stone wall of the corridor, looking at them all with definite disapproval.
"Just giving our newest product a bit of a go," George answered quickly. "We'll
clean up the mess, Professor."
"I should hope so," McGonagall replied, pursing her lips in displeasure as her
gaze fell on Harry and Severus. "I might have expected Harry or even Sirius and
Remus to be a party to something like this, but not you, Severus. I would have
thought you would be a better example to the students, but I see Mr. Potter has
already changed that."
Severus shifted to sit cross-legged in the cream pie covered floor, looking up
at her quite calmly. "On the contrary, Minerva, Harry hasn't changed my
attitude towards the students in the slightest."
"Then how do you explain this?" Minerva asked incredulously, gesturing to the
hallway with distaste. "It looks as though a pie factory exploded!"
"There are no students in the school today, to my knowledge," Severus replied,
the twinkle in his eyes spoiling the blandness of expression. "Professors and
their guests are quite free to avail themselves of the castle over the summer,
as you well know."
Minerva pursed her lips again and gazed at Severus for a moment before she
decided to let it drop. She seldom won an argument with Severus, and she had a
feeling that she wouldn't win this one. "Albus asked me to remind you not to
miss dinner." She lifted her gaze to look at Lee, George and Fred then and
added, "See that you clean up this mess, boys."
"Yes ma'am," George replied quickly. "We'll have everything clean as a whistle
in no time, Professor McGonagall."
"See that you do," Minerva replied with a stern look, then looked at Oliver.
"Congratulations to you, Mr. Wood. Good luck in the playoffs."
Oliver grinned. "Thank you, Professor!"
Minerva nodded and then turned to walk quickly away down the hall.
They were all rather quiet until the sound of her rapid footsteps had faded
away, when Fred asked suddenly, "George, have you got your wand?" Everyone
looked at him as he continued, "Mine's lost in the whipped cream."
George shook his head, looking bemused, and Remus started to reach for his own
wand as Harry reached one conspicuously empty hand towards the far end of the
corridor and said clearly, "Accio wands!"
Three wands extracted themselves from the whipped cream at the far end of the
hallway and flew towards them as two others lifted quite near by and flew to
land on Harry's palm. Severus snorted and muttered, "Show off."
"I learnt from a pro." Harry grinned at Severus and then looked up at George as
the other three wands landed in his lap, offering him one of the first two he'd
retrieved. "Here you go."
George took his wand as he asked admiringly, "Just how much wandless magic can
you do, Harry?"
Harry tossed Lee's wand to him, then tossed Fred, Sirius, and Oliver theirs in
turn as he grinned and said, "A bit. It's kept me alive a few times."
"Harry, how could you tell which wand was whose?" Remus asked suddenly, making
Harry look up at him in surprise as Fred, Lee, and George began blasting the
hallway with cleaning spells, clearing away swaths of whipped cream. "It's not
surprising that you'd recognize Sirius' wand since you've seen it so often, but
how did you know the others?"
"You can't tell wands apart?" Harry asked, surprised. Remus shook his head and
Harry shrugged. "I've always been able to tell once I touch a wand whose it is,
if I know the owner. I thought everyone could."
Severus stood up as soon as the floor around them was cleared, giving Harry an
amused look and offering him his hand. "Harry, remember when I said quite some
time ago that you aren't even aware of most of the remarkable things you can
do?" Harry looked up at him, nodding as he took Severus' hand, then Severus
pulled him to his feet as he went on, amused, "That would be one of them."
"You've done it though," Harry protested, "I've seen you."
"Yes, I have, but it took me quite some time to develop the knack," Severus
replied with a chuckle as he took out his own wand. "It's not quite as
difficult as wandless magic, but it is more rare." Severus muttered a quick
cleaning spell then, cleaning off himself and then Harry before he added, "I
think your first assignment as my Apprentice will be to make a list of every
magical ability you have and everything you know about them so I've some clue
of what you need to know to use them all efficiently."
Harry gave Severus a horrified look. "Can't I just tell you?" Severus shook his
head, amused, and then Harry protested, "But Sev, that will take forever."
Severus just chuckled, making Harry pout at him as Oliver asked, "Blimey Harry,
how much can you do?"
Harry continued to pout at Severus as he replied, "As much as I have to."
Fred, George, and Lee walked back down the now-clean hallway to rejoin them as
Sirius laughed and asked, "Can't you be a bit more specific, Harry?"
George quickly removed the adhering spell attaching the leaf to the floor and
wall and then shrank it back to the size of his thumb, pocketing it.
Harry looked at Sirius, shrugging slightly. "Not really. I mean, I know what I
can do, but I usually have no clue if it's out of the ordinary or not except
for being a Parseltongue. Well, that, and doing wandless magic. And being able
to tell wands apart... And Hermione says I've a better memory for spells than
most." Harry paused, thinking, then added, "And then there were all of those
dreams I used to have, but I've not had any since Voldemort lost his head."
Most of the others laughed at that as Severus snorted softly, giving Harry an
amused smile. Remus just looked curious as he said, "I've meant to ask you
about that for quite some time, Harry. What made you think to use that sword
instead of looking for your wand?"
Harry blinked, surprised. "Well, I figured Lucius had probably destroyed my
wand, and Voldemort was sleeping with his in one hand so I couldn't grab it
without waking him. I hadn't had any luck killing him with a bit of wood in the
past anyway." Severus snorted softly at that and Harry gave him a little grin
before he looked back at Remus. "He was in a room that had a suit of armour in
the corner holding a wicked looking sword, and Sev has told me over and over
again my best weapon is my mind. After thinking about it a bit, I decided I
might as well see if the sword could do the trick. I had never heard of anyone
trying a physical attack against Voldemort, and I figured the worst he could do
was catch me again if I messed up."
Sirius laughed. "You're my godson alright."
Remus gave Sirius a bemused look as Severus smirked at Sirius and asked, "Yes,
but is that good or bad?"
Sirius grinned at Severus, his blue eyes twinkling. "You seem to like him
pretty well, Sev, so I'd say you thought it was a good thing."
"Touché," Severus replied, smiling as he put a hand on Harry's back to urge him
down the hall and added, "We should go. I do believe Minerva said we're not to
miss dinner."
Harry let Severus guide him down the hallway as the others fell into step with
them, ignoring the occasional wondering glance that Lee, Oliver, or the twins
were still sending in his direction at the way Harry and Severus acted
together. Remus asked Harry about his knack for separating wands as they
reached the stairs, distracting the others, who all listened interestedly as
Harry began trying to explain it.
 
***** Chapter 15 *****
 
Dinner was much more pleasant than breakfast had been even though Oliver had to
excuse himself early due to his curfew as part of the Puddlemere United team.
Everyone else lingered for quite some time after they were through eating,
talking and laughing as the conversations jumped around from person to person
through various subjects.
Early during the course of the evening conversations had ranged from spells
that protected a wizard against physical attack to charms that made other
things protect you. Harry had been quite surprised to find there were so few
protection spells that could stop a bullet or even something so simple as a
thrown rock, especially considering all of the weapons Muggles had, and
everyone at the table had been shocked that Harry didn't know any of them.
Severus had promised to teach Harry all of them, just in case, and told Harry
to expect a long talk about protective magic and what Harry knew of it.
The conversation shifted to whether or not pie fighting should be allowed on
the green on weekends after dinner, when the lemon cream pies the elves had
made for them were served. Harry had thought that pie fights were quite a good
idea, and after enthusiastic agreement from Fred, George, Lee, and Sirius, he
had put his attention to persuading Remus to back them up. That had continued
rather unsuccessfully until Severus surprised them all by agreeing to referee,
should the headmaster decide to allow it. McGonagall was heard to mutter that
Severus and Harry would be the ruination of the school, and then she stood
abruptly as she went on to remind Dumbledore that it was quite late and they
were to leave very early in the morning for four full weeks of Wizengamot
meetings.
Dumbledore smiled at McGonagall and rose to stand next to her as he said, "Yes,
Minerva, I am quite aware of that." He looked to the far end of the table at
where Severus and Harry sat across from each other and then removed a small
velveteen box from his robes as he went on, "Before we go I would like to
present you both with those rings we discussed this morning. The final spells
must be performed after you are wearing them, and while you must be here alone
this summer I would feel much better knowing that you have them, should you
have need of them."
"Of course, Headmaster," Severus replied.
"Rings?" Remus asked, surprised as he turned in his seat next to Severus. "Have
you decided to use a binding spell, Harry?"
Lee, Sirius, and the twins looked on curiously as Harry smiled and opened his
mouth to answer, but Dumbledore beat him to it. "Not precisely, Remus. They
have decided that the usual Apprentice binding is unnecessary, and I concur.
These rings will simply allow them to know each other's whereabouts and well
being, as well as protecting them from most minor curses."
Sirius shifted in his chair between Harry and Fred as he looked at Dumbledore
and asked shrewdly, "And will you have a third ring so that you can keep track
of them?"
Harry and Severus looked at each other with dawning understanding as Dumbledore
gave Sirius a bemused look. "Not as such, but as the one to cast the spells, I
shall be able to find them much more easily, yes."
Harry grinned at Severus. "We were right, he was up to something."
"Yes, quite," Severus replied, giving Dumbledore an amused look. "Would you
like to put a collar on each of us as well, Albus? Perhaps a bell?"
Sirius, Fred, and George laughed as Dumbledore replied with a benign smile,
"No, Severus, that will not be necessary, thank you."
Severus snorted softly. "You are too kind, Albus."
Lee suddenly spoke up, asking, "Wouldn't this qualify as a sort of commitment
ceremony then?" Fred and George both looked at Lee, surprised.
"A what?" Severus asked, giving Harry a curious look and then turning his
attention back to Lee when he saw Harry was just as in the dark as he was.
"A commitment ceremony," Lee repeated, ignoring the looks the others were
giving him. "Quite a lot of queer Muggles have them, and it can be performed by
anyone. It's sort of like getting married, only not since all you have to do to
dissolve it is agree to end the relationship." Severus' eyebrows went up in
surprise as Lee added, "Most have the usual vows to love, honour, and obey and
to forsake all others when they exchange rings, like a marriage, but some just
promise to stay together as life partners."
"I am quite sure that Severus didn't have that in mind," Dumbledore said then,
giving Lee a tolerant smile, "but thank you for explaining the idea for him,
Mr. Jordan."
"The idea does have some merit though, Albus," Remus said then, looking
thoughtfully at Harry and then at Severus. "Perhaps you should let them
decide."
Dumbledore gave a tiny shrug, smiling. "It is up to them, of course, but they
have already voiced a desire not to marry, and a commitment ceremony sounds
very similar."
Everyone looked expectantly at Harry and Severus then, but Harry was watching
Severus and ignoring the others. Severus met his gaze across the table, smiling
slightly as he realized that he would not mind being officially committed to
Harry as more than his Master.
Harry gazed at Severus in silence for several minutes as the others looked back
and forth between them, then finally said softly, "It's your choice, Sev."
Severus tilted his head slightly, asking, "Would you like to make our
relationship more formal?"
Harry smiled. "I'm yours until the day I die if you want me, with or without
public vows."
"That's not what I asked you, Harry," Severus said quietly, looking serious and
carefully ignoring their interested audience.
"I don't want my answer to influence you," Harry answered, his expression
turning a bit more serious. "I want you to do what you want for a change."
"Are you quite sure?" Severus asked, searching shining green eyes for some hint
of what Harry wanted and finding only love and trust in them.
Harry nodded, a soft smile curving his lips again. "Whatever you want, Sev."
Severus looked at him a moment longer and then smiled as he said calmly, "You
had best go Floo Granger and Thomas then, before either of us comes to our
senses. While it won't be the marriage she wanted an invitation to, it will be
as close as I think either of us wants or needs."
Harry laughed happily, his green eyes brightening even further as he jumped up
and moved around the end of the table to slide both hands into Severus' hair
and give him a passionate kiss that Severus returned warmly. Harry suddenly
pulled away after a little while, beaming at Severus as he whispered, "I love
you."
Severus' eyes sparkled with more than a little amusement as he replied softly,
"As I love you. Now go, Albus and Minerva need their rest for tomorrow and it
might take you a bit to find your friends."
Harry nodded quickly, still beaming. "I won't be long." He gave Severus a quick
kiss before he turned away and ran to the staff room door, disappearing through
it and leaving them all in silence.
Dumbledore and McGonagall sat back down in their seats to wait, both decidedly
pleased with themselves. Severus just smiled at the table in front of himself
as the twins looked at each other in surprise. George looked at Lee after a
moment and then his eyes narrowed at the slightly smug look on Lee's face.
George opened his mouth to say something just as Sirius suddenly said, "Thank
you, Sev."
George made a mental note to find out what Lee was up to later and turned his
attention down the table, watching with everyone else. He didn't want to miss
anything.
Severus lifted his gaze from the table to look at Sirius, surprised. "What
for?"
"For making him as happy as I've ever seen him," Sirius replied, his expression
serious but pleased. "For being willing to do this for him."
Severus laughed softly, his dark eyes sparkling. "While I would do anything for
Harry, this is just as much for myself as it is for him, Sirius. Contrary to
popular belief, my heart is not made of stone and he has managed to capture it
quite thoroughly."
"Did you want a formal commitment?" Sirius asked, surprised. "As more than his
Master, I mean?"
Severus smiled wryly. "It may have escaped your notice, but I must confess I am
a rather traditional sort." He suddenly laughed, then added with a wicked grin,
"Though I never thought I'd be committing myself to the vestal virgin heir of
Gryffindor."
"You're kidding!" George exclaimed, looking shocked.
Severus raised an eyebrow, ignoring everyone else's surprised expressions as he
looked at George with obvious amusement. "I assure you, Mr. Weasley, I do abide
by most traditions."
"Not that," George said before he really thought about who he was talking to,
"You two are so gone on each other I was sure you were shagging like bunnies."
Severus snorted, giving George a level look that was belied by the amusement in
his eyes. "There is quite a lot more to being 'gone on' someone than shagging,
Mr. Weasley."
"But Harry said you sleep together," Sirius said then, obviously a little
confused.
"We do," Severus replied calmly, turning his head again to look Sirius in the
eye. When he saw the doubt there he made the decision to elaborate, even though
it was really nobody's business, hoping to allay any remaining fears Sirius
might have. "But, as I told Harry the night he moved into my quarters, that
does not mean that more has to occur. Harry has followed my wishes."
"Why didn't you want to?" Sirius asked, his forehead furrowing slightly. "Do
you doubt him or something?"
Severus snorted, amused. "I could just as easily doubt the sun rising in the
east as doubt Harry or his motives."
"Why then?" Sirius asked, frowning.
Severus gazed across the table at Sirius for a few moments, considering whether
or not he really wanted to share why in front of an audience. He finally
decided that Sirius deserved to know and said, "The only long-lasting
relationship I have had was with Lucius when we were both young, and it began
and ended because of a sexual relationship." He paused, choosing his next words
carefully. "The love I have for Harry, with Harry, is quite different, but I
still wanted to give it time to develop without the distraction of sex. Harry
made no objection to the idea because he, like myself, is quite glad just to
finally have someone in his life simply because they choose to be. I have very
little idea why he chose me, but I cannot bring myself to argue with him
unduly. I want him to be as happy as is humanly possible. It is an unlooked-for
but welcome fringe benefit that making him so also ensures that I am happier
than I have ever been before."
Sirius stared at Severus for a few moments and then said suddenly, "You should
have hexed me for the things I said about Harry, and you."
Severus gave Sirius a sudden amused smile. "I might have, had you not come to
your senses. I was getting very close to the end of my patience. I myself might
have at some time in the distant past exemplified things you said about me, but
you couldn't have been further from the truth about Harry had you tried."
Sirius looked as though he was about to say something in reply but the sound of
the door to the staff room opening interrupted him.
Hermione and Ron to walked into the Great Hall a moment later, both obviously
freshly dragged out of bed. Hermione was beaming happily and wearing a frumpy
house robe over a long nightdress with her hair even bushier than usual. Ron's
hair stuck up in odd clumps above his wide-eyed face, and both his jeans and
un-tucked shirt looked decidedly rumpled.
They were followed after only a moment by Harry and then Dean, who was dressed
as though he had either just gotten back from or was about to go clubbing. Dean
walked with one arm around Harry's neck as he leaned to whisper something into
Harry's ear that had Harry laughing even though he was blushing furiously.
Most of the people sitting at the table stole quick glances at Severus,
expecting him to be displeased, and they were surprised to see he was not.
Severus was simply watching Harry with a smile that made his dark eyes sparkle
as he wondered what Dean was saying to make Harry so very red.
Dumbledore stood again, gesturing towards the table. "Please, have a seat Miss
Granger, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Thomas, so that we may proceed."
Severus stood and walked along the table towards Harry, stopping in surprise
after only a few steps when Hermione moved to intercept him. She surprised him
further by giving him a quick hug before stepping back and beaming up at him.
"I knew it! I could tell by the way that you were looking at each other!
Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Severus said, looking bemused.
Ron grabbed Hermione's hand then and towed her towards the empty seats at the
end of the table. "Yes, Hermione, you were right, we know! Sit down already."
Dean held out a hand to Severus, grinning. "I still say you're a lucky man,
sir."
Severus shook Dean's hand, smiling as he replied, "And I still agree."
Dean laughed and moved to go sit down as Severus walked quickly to Harry, who
reached out to take his hand, beaming at him. Severus gave Harry a smile, and
then they both turned expectantly to Dumbledore, who was beaming at them. "As I
understand commitment ceremonies, you need only exchange whatever vows you wish
and then place the rings on each other's hands." He produced the velveteen box
from a pocket again then, opening it and then offering it to Severus. "I will
then perform the final spells on the rings, making them work only as long as
they are not removed. They are enchanted to resize to fit perfectly at all
times and not fall off accidentally, and they cannot be removed by anyone but
the wearer so that no one may break the spells against your will."
Severus took one of the rings from the small box and turned towards Harry,
smiling softly at him as he watched Harry take the other ring, then he asked,
"Would you like me to go first?" Harry nodded, smiling, and Severus let go of
Harry's right hand to reach for his left, looking into his eyes and obviously
considering what he wanted to say for a few moments before he said quietly,
"Harry, I love you more than life itself." Severus glanced down as he slid the
ring onto Harry's finger, watching it shrink to fit perfectly, then lifted his
gaze to look into Harry's shining green eyes again. "I pledge myself to you,
Harry Potter, giving you my mind, my body, and my heart, and I promise to love
you and cherish you for as long as I live."
Harry blinked quickly, his eyes shining a bit more than normal as he looked
down and took Severus' left hand in his own, then he looked into Severus' eyes
with a happy, loving smile as he said simply, "You own me Sev, heart and soul."
He slid the ring he held onto Severus' finger, then repeated what Severus has
said, his voice as full of happiness as his shining eyes. "I pledge myself to
you, Severus Snape, giving you my mind, my body, and my heart, and I promise to
love you and cherish you for as long as I live."
Severus smiled and slid his arms around Harry's waist, kissing him as Harry
lifted his arms to encircle Severus' neck and the others applauded.
They kissed for several minutes before they finally pulled apart, smiling at
each other as Dumbledore said cheerfully, "Congratulations to you both!"
Severus turned towards Dumbledore then, keeping his left arm around Harry as he
smiled at the Headmaster and replied, "Thank you, Albus."
Harry nodded quickly, beaming as he leaned against Severus' side. "Yes sir,
thank you, for everything."
"No need to thank me," Dumbledore replied, smiling as he took his wand from a
concealed pocket in his robes. "It is getting very late though, so if you will
just clasp your ringed hands and give me a moment, I will perform the spells
and then we all may retire for the night."
"Of course." Severus took his arm from around Harry then and stepped away from
him to offer Harry his left hand, smiling at the way Harry was beaming at him.
They both looked expectantly at Dumbledore then as he smiled at them and held
his wand out to touch their clasped hands, reciting clearly, "Largitonis donum
salubritas munimentis." The rings Harry and Severus wore heated against their
skin and began to give off a warm golden glow, and then Dumbledore said the
second spell. "Advocatis episcora perpiscenta susa um catenatum amatoris."
The glow quickly spread from Harry and Severus' linked hands to cover the rest
of their bodies before there was a sudden flash between them and the glow
dissipated completely. They both blinked then to clear away the spots the
bright light had left on their vision as Dumbledore beamed at them and put away
his wand. "That should do it!"
Severus gave Dumbledore a piercing look as he said sharply, "You changed the
spells we agreed to, Albus. I was under the impression you gave your word there
would be no binding."
Dumbledore smiled jovially at him, not at all put off by Severus' look or the
suddenly wary way Harry was watching him. "There was no binding, Severus,
beyond your vows to each other."
"Albus, I can speak Latin quite well," Severus said then, looking a bit more
severe. "The first spell was one that aids in protection and health as agreed,
but the second clearly said it would aid the knowledge and location of our
'bound lover'."
"Yes, Severus, but as you well know, spells are not necessarily worded
literally," Dumbledore replied, looking inordinately pleased with himself. "The
variation of the locating spell that I used is one meant to be put on wedding
rings for a bound couple, but it does not, in and of itself, bind you to each
other. It only augments and reinforces any vows you may have made."
"You said you weren't going to ask us to get married," Harry said suddenly,
looking amused. "So you waited for someone else to suggest something similar
and married us anyway."
Dumbledore blinked, looking surprised and more than a little nonplussed.
Severus laughed, looking at Harry as he said, "I think you may be right."
Harry grinned at Severus. "Occasionally I am, yes."
McGonagall stood up with a sniff, pursing her lips as she looked at Harry and
Severus for a few moments before she smiled slightly. "Congratulations to you
both. Enjoy the next few weeks, very few people have all of Hogwarts for their
honeymoon."
Severus snorted softly, smiling as Harry grinned at McGonagall and replied,
"Thank you, ma'am, we will."
McGonagall nodded and then looked at everyone still seated around the table.
"It is past time for us all to be home in bed. Good night."
Dumbledore chuckled, nodding, and everyone else took the hint as they stood to
go. "Feel free to use the staff room fireplace to Floo home." Dumbledore
offered McGonagall his elbow then and waved genially as he said, "Good night
all, do enjoy your summer."
There were general murmurs of goodnight wishes as Dumbledore and McGonagall
left the room. Hermione moved over to Harry and Severus, beaming at them both
as she said, "I'm so happy for you!" She gave Harry a hug and kissed his cheek,
then hugged Severus quickly again before she beamed at them both and added,
"Congratulations, I know you'll be very happy together."
Severus nodded, a bit bemused by Hermione's affections as Harry grinned at her
and said, "Thanks 'Mione."
Ron moved to join them, hugging Harry and then offering Severus his hand.
"Congratulations, sir."
"You need not call me 'sir' anymore, my name is Severus," Severus replied as he
shook Ron's hand with a smile. "And thank you."
Ron nodded, moving to take Hermione's hand as he said, "Good night all."
"Yes, good night," Hermione echoed, smiling happily.
The others bid them goodnight and they left just as Dean stepped forward to
shake hands with Severus, grinning impishly. "You're a lucky bloke, Professor."
Severus chuckled, nodding. "Yes, I am."
Dean moved to Harry then and gave him a quick hug, whispering something in his
ear that made Harry laugh and shove him away, blushing furiously. "You're so
bad !" Dean just smirked at him and Harry couldn't help but grin back as he
said, "Go home before you get me into trouble."
"You can get into trouble just fine without my help, I hope," Dean replied with
a wicked smirk, dodging when Harry tried to swat him and then heading towards
the staff room as he said cheerfully, "Night all!"
Fred, George, and Lee moved forwards then, shaking hands with Harry and Severus
at least three times each as they moved their hands back and forth and offered
repeated congratulations. They continued until they made Severus and Harry both
laugh, and then they finally excused themselves and headed for the staff room
as well, leaving Harry and Severus alone with Sirius and Remus.
"Did you really not want to get married?" Sirius asked, looking curiously at
Harry.
Severus laughed as Harry grinned at Sirius and replied, "Professor Dumbledore
said he wouldn't ask us to when we were discussing bindings and such this
morning. I never said I didn't want to."
"You never said you did either though," Severus said then, giving Harry an
amused look.
Harry grinned at Severus, moving closer to take Severus' left hand in both of
his own. "I have you. Everything else is just icing on an already gorgeous
cake."
Severus chuckled, his eyes sparkling. "Flattery will get you everywhere, even
if you are as blind as the proverbial bat."
"Really?" Harry asked, his eyebrows going up as his grin widened even further.
"Promise?"
Severus smirked at Harry. "Do I need to?"
Harry looked at him for a moment, grinning, then turned to Remus and Sirius.
"It's getting late. If you don't see us for a day or ten, I hope you'll
understand."
Severus and Remus both laughed as Sirius gave Harry a grin and said, "We were
planning to stay in London for a week or two anyway, so enjoy yourselves. Good
night."
Harry pulled away from Severus suddenly and moved to Sirius to give him a hug.
"Thank you."
Sirius wrapped his arms around Harry and hugged him tightly, closing his eyes
and holding on. When he finally let go, he smiled at Harry as he said softly,
"Thank you, Harry, for putting up with me when I'm being a prat."
Harry grinned. "No reason to thank me, Sirius. You're family, it's my job to
care about you even when you go off your rocker."
Severus, Remus, and Sirius all laughed at that while Harry moved to give Remus
a hug too.
Sirius and Severus shook hands, both smiling as Sirius said, "I know you'll
take good care of him, so I'll just say good luck keeping him out of trouble
until next term."
Severus laughed again as Harry pulled away from Remus and said, "Hey!"
Severus smirked at Sirius. "I think I can keep him occupied enough not to go
looking for trouble."
"Now that I like the sound of," Harry said, smirking as he moved back over to
Severus.
Remus grinned and shook hands with Severus. "Have fun, Sev."
Severus nodded and then Remus and Sirius bid them goodnight and headed for the
staff room.
Harry grabbed both of Severus' hands in his as the door closed, swaying close
and giving him a wicked little grin. "Please tell me that we're not going slow
anymore."
Severus smirked and moved to nip gently at Harry's lower lip, then whispered
against it, "Slow? What's that?"
Harry made a little growly noise and gave Severus a quick, hungry kiss before
releasing one of his hands and turning to walk quickly towards the door.
Severus followed barely half a step behind, just as intent on getting to their
rooms as Harry was.
 
***** Chapter 16 *****
 
Harry paused at the door to their chambers as he let go of Severus' hand to
draw his wand. He had just tapped the wall the third time when strong arms slid
around him from behind, pressing firmly against his belly and urging him
backwards while sharp teeth closed lightly over his earlobe. Harry shuddered as
Severus' tongue swirled against his earlobe and melted back against him, the
unmistakable feel of a hard cock pressed against his arse making him let out a
soft moan. Severus bit down gently on his earlobe then, and Harry's wand
clattered to the stones as all thought of opening the door left him.
Severus released Harry's earlobe and let out a low chuckle, his breath tingling
against damp skin as Harry's hands moved to hold onto his arms. Severus slowly
licked along the curve of Harry's ear before he whispered into it, "You'll
never open the door without your wand."
Harry swallowed hard and took one hand off of Severus' arms as he whispered,
"Accio wand." He felt the familiar wood hit his palm just as Severus began
kissing and nibbling slowly down the side of his neck, making his knees go
weak. Severus' arms tightened around him and then Harry let out a tiny little
whimper as Severus' teeth and tongue found a particularly sensitive spot.
Harry's hand tightened reflexively on his wand to keep from dropping it again
as his head fell back and to one side, resting against Severus' shoulder and
giving him easier access to his throat.
Harry began trying to gather his scattered wits after a moment, not noticing
Severus' hand on his belly begin moving lower as he whispered, "How am I
supposed to-- Oh, fuck me..."
Severus smirked and licked at the hollow of Harry's throat as he lightly rubbed
Harry's erection through his trousers. Harry tried to thrust into the pressure,
his knees going weak again, and the arm around his waist tightened to hold him
steady. Severus lifted his head then and murmured into Harry's ear, "No Harry,
it would be rather difficult for you to fuck yourself. I am supposed to fuck
you."
Harry shuddered again and whispered, "God yes." He arched his back, grinding
slowly against the hard cock nestled against his arse. "Please."
Severus growled into Harry's ear, rocking his hips slightly as he palmed
Harry's cock more firmly and whispered huskily into his ear, "Open the door."
Harry groaned softly and lifted his head off of Severus' shoulder, trying to
focus on the door. "Not asking much, are you?"
Severus chuckled again and nuzzled Harry's ear, whispering into it as Harry
lifted his hand towards the door again. "Opening the door is very simple."
Harry snorted softly, biting the inside of his lip hard to try to distract
himself from the hand against his erection and the cock pressed firmly into the
crack of his arse. He began to tap out the pattern against the stone again,
waiting until he had finished it to say, "Solace." The snake's mouth opened and
began to grow quickly as Harry turned his head to look at Severus and added,
"And you should try opening it with a hand on your prick and a stiffy against
your arse. It's just a bit distracting."
Severus smirked, taking his hand off Harry's cock to push open the inner door.
He guided Harry through in front of him by the simple expedient of walking
forward and pushing him along, the arm around Harry's waist keeping their
bodies still pressed firmly against each other. The door closed again behind
them as Severus murmured into Harry's ear, "You must remember to prove it to me
sometime."
Harry made a little pleased noise at that idea and allowed Severus to guide him
across the sitting room. Severus put his right hand back on Harry's belly,
seemingly paying no attention to where they were going as Harry replied, "Count
on it."
Harry let himself be guided until they reached Severus' door and then turned in
Severus' grasp, wrapping his arms around the taller man's neck. He let his wand
dangle from his fingers behind Severus' back as he looked up at him, his green
eyes bright with desire as he slowly licked his lips. Severus lowered his head
to bite gently at Harry's lower lip, listening to Harry's soft moan before he
thrust his tongue into Harry's mouth in a deeper kiss, his hands roaming
possessively over Harry's rear.
Severus pulled away after a little while to whisper against Harry's lips, "I
could eat you alive."
"You have," Harry replied softly, his lips quirking into a sudden little smirk
as he kissed him again. Severus chuckled slightly into the kiss and Harry's
lips parted in conscious invitation, encouraging Severus to begin exploring
Harry's mouth with his tongue.
After a few minutes of slow, thorough kissing, Severus lifted his right hand
from Harry's arse to push open the door to his bedroom. He guided Harry back
through the doorway and then kicked the door shut behind them, pushing Harry
across the room until the back of Harry's thighs hit the side of the bed. He
pulled away from the kiss to look at Harry then, smirking as he said, "And I am
sure that I shall again. You are eminently edible."
"So are you," Harry replied, returning the smirk as he took his arms from
around Severus' neck and pulled away a bit. He tossed his wand onto the bedside
table with a clatter and then began to remove Severus' shirt, his nimble
fingers making short work of the buttons. "Which is why I prefer you starkers."
Severus pulled off Harry's glasses and laid them on the bedside table with
Harry's wand, then moved his hands to Harry's chest to begin slowly unbuttoning
the deep green shirt he wore. "That does sound good," he agreed, giving Harry a
wicked little smile.
Harry leaned closer to nuzzle up under Severus' hair instead of answering,
licking high on his throat and drawing a little surprised noise from Severus.
Harry sucked softly at his skin and then murmured against it, "Taste so sweet."
Severus snorted softly and continued to unbutton Harry's shirt as Harry licked
and sucked at the skin of his throat. "You're clearly delusional," he said
softly, "there is nothing sweet about me."
Harry suddenly pulled away to look at him, smiling as he slid Severus' shirt
open and pushed it over his shoulders. "You taste like cinnamon, and oranges,
and something else tangy and sweet that I can't quite describe."
Severus chuckled and let go of Harry's shirt to let Harry push his own shirt
down his arms as he said, "I haven't a clue where you've come up with the
cinnamon, but my shampoo is citrus based. I suppose you could be confusing
scent with taste."
Harry moved his hands to Severus' belly, smirking as he ran his spread hands up
over firm skin and enjoying the feel of crisp hair under his palms. "Could be,
but I like oranges and cinnamon so it's all good." Severus gave him a bemused
look and reached for Harry's shirt to undo the last two buttons as Harry
smirked and added, "Reminds me of my favourite treacle tart, only better."
Severus laughed, tugging Harry's shirt open further, and Harry let his hands
hang down to allow him to remove it. "And I've seen the way you go after
dessert."
Harry grinned, shaking the shirt off his hands and letting it fall onto the bed
behind him, then let Severus tug his undershirt up and over his head. Severus
tossed it aside as Harry moved his hands to slide his fingers into Severus'
hair and pull his head down for a kiss, licking at Severus' lips until they
parted. He thrust his tongue into Severus' mouth then, and Severus immediately
sucked at it as their tongues slid wetly against each other.
Severus moved his hands to Harry's back, pulling him closer as Harry moved
slowly against him, rubbing against Severus' bare chest. They continued kissing
for quite some time, a slow exploration of lips, tongues, and teeth that grew
steadily more intense. Control of the kiss passed back and forth freely between
them as hands roamed over lean flesh, each still learning the contours of the
other as they tried to memorize soft skin and firm muscle.
Severus was the one who finally pulled away, growling softly when Harry leaned
to follow and lick at his lips. He kissed Harry hungrily once more and then
pulled away to murmur against Harry's mouth, "You are wearing too many
clothes."
Harry grinned against Severus' lips and kissed him again, biting gently at
Severus' lower lip as his hands roamed slowly over Severus' rear. He let go of
Severus' lip after a moment to reply, "So are you."
Severus kissed Harry again, thrusting his tongue into Harry's mouth to stroke
against Harry's and then suddenly pulling away. He gave Harry a shove, pushing
Harry to his back on the bed and smirking down at him as Harry looked up at him
in surprise. "Give me your foot."
Harry propped himself up on his elbows with a bemused look, lounging back on
the bed as he lifted one foot to rest it against Severus' hip. He allowed his
gaze roam over pale skin as Severus began untying his boot, asking cheerfully,
"Bossy, aren't you?"
Severus glanced briefly at Harry's face, still smirking as he continued to
loosen the laces. "Yes, but you usually need someone to tell you what to do so
it works out well." Harry stuck his tongue out at him, making Severus' lips
twitch. He tugged Harry's boot, pulling it off and watching Harry's face as he
commented dryly, "Sometimes I wonder how I fell so completely for someone so
very mature."
Harry snorted. "I'm plenty mature, you just need to relax and have fun more
often."
Severus dropped Harry's boot and looked down, his lips twitching at the sight
of the red sock with golden snitches all over it. He didn't comment on Harry's
choice of footwear though, tugging the sock off and dropping it as he replied
with a smile, "You seem to be quite good at getting me to do both."
"And I'm very proud of it," Harry added smugly, lowering his bare foot and then
lifting the other to rest the heel against Severus' other hip. "You need
someone to make you relax."
Severus' eyebrow went up in amused disbelief as he began to untie the laces.
"Makeme?"
Harry nodded, his green eyes twinkling as he gave Severus a smug grin. "Yes,
make you."
Severus snorted, not bothering to look down at Harry's boot as he tugged the
laces loose. "You don't make me to anything, Harry. I do things for you because
I wish to."
"Not always," Harry replied, still looking smug. "You've let me make you do
something you normally wouldn't do several times, like going swimming in that
pond we found today."
"You persuaded me, you didn't make me." Severus corrected as he pulled Harry's
boot off and dropped it, giving Harry an amused look. He turned his attention
to Harry's foot then, laughing suddenly when he saw that sock was yellow with
red lions on it. He lifted his gaze to Harry's face again then, his dark eyes
twinkling in amusement, and said, "Aren't you old enough to wear matching
socks?"
"That's not my fault!" Harry replied quickly, laughing. Severus snorted and
tugged his sock off, dropping it in the floor as Harry grinned and said, "Dobby
made them for me for Christmas. He's gotten the idea somewhere that socks
aren't supposed to match." Harry let his foot fall to the bed, spreading his
legs invitingly as he added, "Every year he gives me at least one 'pair',
always covered in snitches or brooms or lions or something, and they never come
close to matching any others he's given me."
Severus chuckled softly, shaking his head as he moved closer and leaned over
the bed, reaching for Harry's waistband. "No one else would wear them."
"But they're comfortable," Harry protested, his grin fading a bit as he licked
his lips and watched Severus unbutton the fly of his trousers.
The slight pressure of Severus' fingers working the buttons made Harry's cock
throb, and he let out a soft little moan when Severus tugged the zipper down.
Severus ducked his head suddenly then, licking at the trail of dark hair
leading down from Harry's navel as Harry gasped and arched.
Harry swallowed hard as long fingers hooked into his waistband and lifted his
hips automatically to make it easier for Severus to remove the last of his
clothes. Severus quickly tugged his boxers and trousers down and then tossed
them aside. He moved closer again to slide his hands up Harry's thighs,
revelling in the feel of firm muscular flesh under his hands as he lowered his
head to nuzzle into the crisp black curls around Harry's cock.
Harry shuddered at the feel of a stubbled cheek brushing against his cock, and
then let out a soft moan as Severus gently nipped at the sensitive skin of his
scrotum. Harry lifted one hand to slide his fingers into Severus' long hair,
brushing it back so he could see Severus' face. Harry watched Severus' mouth
avidly as Severus licked and nibbled at his balls, wanting to feel that
talented mouth on his cock again even though he also wanted Severus to forget
the foreplay and fuck him already.
When Severus licked slowly along his cock a moment later, Harry's head fell
back and he tightened his grip on Severus' hair, gasping, "Fuck ."
Severus tilted his head to look up at Harry's face, moving one hand to hold
Harry's hips down as the other encircled Harry's cock to gently pull the
foreskin back more tightly. He began licking slowly along the underside of the
crown as soon as it was fully revealed, savouring the taste of Harry's pre-come
as the muscles in Harry's stomach and thighs jerked. He took the tip of Harry's
cock into his mouth then and immediately began sucking strongly as he swirled
his tongue against the slit. Harry cried out and tightened his fingers in
Severus' hair, muscles jumping as his hips lifted off the bed despite Severus'
hold on him. Severus growled and gave a slight jerk of his head at the painful
tug on his hair, letting his teeth scrape Harry's cock gently as Harry
immediately let go. Harry's hand fell to grab the comforter instead as Severus
quickly took more of Harry's cock into his mouth and swirled his tongue against
the underside. Harry's cock throbbed in his mouth then and Severus groaned
softly as he tasted pre-come, his head slowly lifting to pull his mouth off of
Harry's erection with a pop.
Severus watched Harry gasp for breath with a decidedly smug expression as he
asked, "Was that an invitation, Harry?"
Harry lifted his head to look at him as his eyelids slowly fluttered upwards,
revealing green eyes so bright with desire that they reminded Severus of the
flames of a Floo. He watched Harry blink a few times, obviously trying to
gather his scattered wits, then Harry finally made sense of what he had said.
"More like a prayer."
Severus smirked and ran his hands up over Harry's abs to tweak his nipples.
"Does that make me your god?"
"Something like that," Harry agreed, pushing himself up to a sitting position.
He reached for Severus' waist to unfasten his trousers, gazing up into Severus'
dark eyes as he added softly, "I love to worship you." He leaned closer to lick
across Severus' nipple, laving it with his tongue before he bit down gently and
tugged.
Severus slid his hands up into Harry's hair to run his fingers through it, his
voice going deeper and just slightly rough as he murmured, "Lucky me."
Harry made an agreeing noise, licking and nibbling at Severus' nipple and then
trailing wet kisses across Severus' lightly furred chest as his fingers nimbly
unfastened the buttons of Severus' trousers. Harry was already pushing them and
the boxers Severus wore down when he heard Severus' amused voice say, "Harry, I
do believe my boots will have to go before you'll be able to get the rest of my
clothes off."
Harry nipped gently at Severus' other nipple and then pulled back, looking up
at him with a wicked little smirk as he pushed Severus' pants down just enough
to free his cock. "We can worry about that later."
Severus snorted, smiling. "No, we won't." Harry leaned forward to lick at
Severus' cock then but Severus moved his hands to Harry's chest and gave him a
little shove. "Go pull back the blankets and let me get rid of my boots."
Harry pouted up at him despite the obvious amusement in Severus' tone, running
his hands up Severus' thighs. "But I wanted a taste."
"You can taste later," Severus replied, trying not to laugh and stepping back
quickly as Harry tried to grab his erection.
"Promise?" Harry asked with a put-upon sigh, letting his hands fall to rest on
the bed between his knees as he stared hungrily at Severus' cock.
Severus pointed towards the head of the bed. "Yes, I promise, if you'll stop
trying to distract me and go behave a moment."
Harry sighed and scooted back a bit, taking in how Severus looked standing
there. Severus was trying very hard to look serious, his trousers and underwear
down around his thighs and his erect cock standing out from his body, curving
upwards slightly and flushed a deep red. Harry's put upon look dissolved into
laughter after only a few seconds and the bemused look Severus gave him just
made Harry laugh even harder as he fell back on the bed.
Severus snorted again and moved to sit down on the edge of the bed, starting to
take off his boots as he muttered, "I am so pleased that you are amused by
seeing me naked."
Harry sat up after a few moments, scooting over to lean against Severus and
then laying his head on Severus' shoulder. Severus ignored him a moment to
untangle his shoelaces before he looked at Harry, who gave him an impish grin
as he said sweetly, "I love you."
Severus couldn't help but laugh, kissing Harry quickly before he turned his
attention back to his boot. "Go get the blankets out of the way, I would rather
not ruin my comforter."
Harry grinned and kissed Severus' shoulder before he turned away to crawl up
the bed, totally missing the way Severus turned his head to watch him. Severus
let his predatory gaze roam over Harry's back and arse as he licked his lips,
then he shook himself slightly and went back to taking off his boots. Harry
looked positively edible, and the quicker Severus took off his boots, the
quicker he could rid himself of the rest of his clothes and go make a meal out
of that delectable body.
Harry pulled back the blankets and then moved past them as he turned towards
Severus again, kneeling near the pillows and tossing the covers towards the
foot of the bed just as Severus dropped one boot to the floor. "There," Harry
said, "Is that better?" Severus turned his head towards Harry as he switched
feet, letting his gaze roam over Harry's body again as he licked his lips.
Harry shifted with a wicked grin to sprawl against the pillows, bracing one
foot against the bed as he bent the other leg to spread his legs. "Like what
you see?"
Severus realized he was staring at the tight pucker of flesh below Harry's
balls and turned away again, focusing on his boot to pick out the knot he had
just tied in the shoelace. "That is a very safe assumption."
Harry smirked, running one hand along his own thigh as he watched Severus work
on the knot and spread his legs a bit wider. He waited until Severus had the
laces loose and was taking off the boot before he said, "I love the way you
look at me."
Severus glanced at Harry again, slightly surprised, then dropped his boot in
the floor and looked down as he tugged off his sock. "I enjoy looking at you,
Harry. Sometimes I wonder if you realize how very attractive you are."
Harry blushed, looking down at the dove-grey sheet on the bed. "I'm not. I'm
short, and my face is kind of girly."
Severus laughed, standing up and kicking out of his trousers and underwear. He
turned to put his knee on the bed and then crawled across to lean over Harry,
who obligingly rolled to his back under him. Severus smirked down at him and
asked, "Harry, do you think I'm stupid?"
Harry's eyes widened in surprise as he lifted his hands to stroke Severus'
sides. "Of course not."
Severus surprised Harry by suddenly leaning down and kissing him hard,
plundering his mouth as Harry moaned and went boneless under him. He lifted his
head again after a minute or two and smirked at Harry again, enjoying the
breathless way Harry was staring up at him. "Then trust my opinion. You are
quite simply beautiful, with as perfect a body as it has been my pleasure to
see."
Harry blushed again, sliding his hands around to press his palms to Severus'
back as he whispered, "Thank you."
Severus smiled down at him a moment, taking in the way Harry's lips were puffy
and reddened from his kisses and the shy, happy look in Harry's eyes. He leaned
down again finally to kiss Harry much more gently, lingering a long while
before he whispered against Harry's mouth, "You never have to thank me for the
truth, Harry."
Harry kissed him again instead of answering and Severus licked slowly into
Harry's mouth again as he moved one knee between Harry's legs. Harry spread his
legs wider and lifted one foot to hook it around the back of Severus' thigh,
running his hands over Severus' back and urging him closer. Severus pulled away
to trail kisses along Harry's jaw as he shifted his other leg to kneel between
Harry's thighs, his hands moving to stroke slowly down Harry's sides while
Harry's fingers dug into his shoulders. Severus moved to lick at a mark he had
left on Harry's throat earlier, nibbling it delicately as he moved one hand to
tweak Harry's nipple. Harry moaned softly and braced his foot on the bed again
to lift his hips and rub his cock against Severus' belly, making Severus growl
and bite down gently on Harry's neck while Harry whimpered and thrust upwards
again.
Severus suckled gently at the mark as he moved his hands to cup Harry's arse
and then lifted Harry's hips and dragged him down the bed until Harry's arse
rested on Severus' thighs. He stroked Harry's hips slowly as he bent to nuzzle
Harry's ear, murmuring, "How would you like to be fucked so thoroughly you feel
it all day tomorrow?"
Harry moaned softly at the low growly tone of Severus' voice and let his eyes
fall closed again as he tipped his head back, his hips lifting again as he dug
his fingernails into Severus' lower back. "Please."
Severus nipped his earlobe and then began kissing down Harry's throat again,
tasting the sheen of sweat on Harry's collarbone as he moved one hand to stroke
Harry's cock firmly. Harry gasped and thrust upwards into his hand as Severus
muttered one of the few bits of wandless magic he had ever mastered. Harry's
eyes snapped open when he felt a weird sensation begin behind his balls and
then spread inward, leaving his arse feeling oddly empty and tingling almost
painfully as muscles he hadn't really noticed before clenched.
Severus felt Harry tense up and rubbed his thumb over the head of Harry's cock
as he nipped Harry's nipple none too gently, effectively distracting him again.
He began stroking Harry's erection quickly, licking and nibbling at Harry's
chest as Harry's hips jerked on his thighs, his soft gasps and moans making
Severus' cock throb. Severus lifted his head as Harry cried out and he felt
Harry's cock throb in his hand, his hand stroking slowly as he watched Harry
shudder and milked him through the orgasm.
Harry finally relaxed with a soft whimper, going boneless and trying to catch
his breath while Severus leaned to the bedside table to get a small jar out of
the drawer. Once he had it, Severus moved back to lean down and lick at the
cooling liquid pooled on Harry's belly with a soft pleased noise while he used
both hands to open the jar. He dipped two fingers in the unnaturally slick
substance in the jar and then closed it tightly again, laying it aside. He
began to stroke his wet fingers across the puckered opening behind Harry's
balls a moment later, smirking when he found it fairly relaxed and then sliding
two fingers in easily as he congratulated himself on remembering a cleaning and
stretching spell he hadn't used in years.
Harry arched his back with a soft noise as Severus' slick fingers slid into
him, incandescent green eyes opening abruptly to look up at Severus just as one
fingertip brushed something that sent a shock of pleasure through him. Harry
whimpered softly, his eyes falling closed again as he pushed down towards
Severus' fingers and then let out a gasp as he felt Severus stroke that spot
again. Harry began to writhe slowly on the bed, fucking himself on Severus'
fingers while Severus watched with a hungry, predatory look in his eyes and
stroked Harry's prostate slowly. Severus slid a third finger into Harry after a
few minutes and began bending and flexing his fingers as he made sure Harry was
well stretched. Even though the stretching and cleaning spell seemed to have
worked correctly, Severus wasn't going to take any chances. He didn't want
Harry to have even a moment of pain if it could be avoided.
Harry moaned after a few minutes, opening his eyes to look at Severus as he
ground his hips down on Severus' fingers and whispered, "Sev, please..."
"Shh, I know." Severus ran his still-slick fingers over his own erection,
spreading the lubricant and his own pre-come over the crown and along the
shaft. He lifted Harry's leg to his shoulder with his other hand then and
leaned forward, bending over Harry as he guided his cock to nudge against
Harry's entrance and then pressed slowly inside.
Harry moaned as he lifted his other leg to hook it around Severus' hips,
murmuring encouragement that was probably supposed to be words but didn't quite
make sense as he tried to force Severus deeper. Severus bit his lip and
shuddered as he eased into the gripping heat of Harry's welcoming body, going
slowly more to keep himself from coming than out of fear he would hurt Harry.
Harry jerked his hips upwards after a moment though, impatient to feel Severus
balls-deep inside him, and the sudden movement shredded Severus' control as he
let out a deep groan and thrust. He gave up the idea of going slow then, sure
that neither of them would be able to stand it, and pulled back quickly to
thrust again as Harry's hips rocked up to meet him.
Severus leaned forward against Harry's thigh, bending Harry's body further as
he slid his hand between them to stroke Harry's cock, feeling it twitch and
begin to harden again in his hand as Harry moaned and thrust upwards. Harry
soon found a rhythm between Severus' hand and his thrusts, his hips rocking
steadily while Severus increased the pace. Harry climaxed with a shuddering
gasp only a few minutes later, semen spilling over Harry's belly again as
Severus drove hard and fast into Harry's clenching arse. Severus let out a low
growl and came not long afterwards, his hips flexing slightly with each pulse
of his cock as his head hung forward and he shuddered over Harry.
Severus eased his cock out of Harry's body a few minutes later and then moved
Harry's leg off of his shoulder so he could collapse forward onto Harry's
chest. Harry slid his arms around Severus, holding on as Severus rolled them
both to their sides and then kissed Harry gently.
They relaxed together for a bit after that, Severus holding Harry close and
listening to him breathe as the sweat on their skin began to cool and
evaporate. Harry was the first to speak, nuzzling Severus' throat as he
whispered, "Thank you."
Severus pulled back enough to look at Harry's face, surprised and obviously
intending to reply, but Harry kissed him before he could say anything. When
they parted again, Harry smiled at Severus and said softly, "Don't argue, Sev.
I know I don't have to thank you, I just needed to."
Severus was quiet for a little while, searching Harry's eyes and finding only
sated happiness and love in them, then he finally murmured quietly, "I think I
understand. I found myself wanting to thank you a dozen times today without
even knowing why. I finally realized I simply wanted to thank you for
existing." Harry's arms tightened around him and Severus smiled. "I love you
more than I thought I would ever love anyone Harry, even myself, and I am
honoured that you find me worthy of your love."
Harry smiled, his green eyes shining brightly as he whispered, "I couldn't have
said it nearly so well, but I feel the same way."
Severus returned the smile and then kissed him languidly, neither of them at
all in a hurry until Harry shivered. Severus chuckled softly and pulled away
from the kiss, rolling away to sit up and murmur, "Accio wand."
Harry shifted slightly to get more comfortable, enjoying the slight ache in his
arse and watching with a smile as Severus' wand flew from where it lay in the
floor to land in his hand. Severus performed a quick cleaning spell on each of
them and then put the small pot of lubricant and his wand on the bedside table.
He reached for the covers then, pulling them up to his waist and then laying
back down as Harry asked, "Why didn't you just do the cleaning charm without
your wand?"
Severus gave him a wry smile as he tugged the blankets higher. "They never seem
to work correctly for me unless I use my wand."
Harry tried not to grin, his eyes sparkling. "Really? I don't have any problem
with them."
Severus snorted softly, pulling Harry into his arms. "Then next time I should
not have to find my wand."
Harry chuckled and slid his arms around Severus, nuzzling his collarbone as he
settled comfortably against him. He closed his eyes then, feeling deliciously
tired as he murmured, "Deal, if I remember."
"I shall remind you," Severus replied, sounding amused.
The soft murmur of Severus' voice saying, "Lights out," was the last thing
Harry heard before he drifted off to sleep. Severus dozed off only moments
later, more completely content than he could ever remember being at any time in
the past.
 
***** Chapter 17 *****
 
Harry slid out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom to relieve himself,
barefoot, naked, and barely half awake as he shivered in the cold dungeon. He
was moving much more quickly when he returned to bed, anxious to crawl under
the covers into the warm spot next to Severus. He yawned and glanced up at the
silvery pre-dawn scene in the tapestry overhead as he snuggled up to Severus
again and then closed his eyes with a contented sigh.
He was half asleep before he finally remembered it was his birthday and his
eyes sprang open again. He had done pretty much as he liked for almost two
years now and he knew he had complete freedom as Severus' mate, but turning
eighteen meant he was officially an adult to the Wizarding world. He felt like
that should be significant somehow, besides the fact he and Severus had stayed
awake the night before to enjoy a slow shag right at midnight. Harry couldn't
think of a better way to welcome a new year of his life, and fully intended to
usher in every birthday in Severus' arms.
He realized after a few moments that he wasn't the slightest bit sleepy anymore
and propped himself up on one elbow to watch Severus sleep, letting his mind
roam. He couldn't remember another year that had passed him by so quickly or
left him so completely happy. He was hit anew by the realization that his life
was the stuff of fairy tales, and lay there watching Severus sleep in the soft
light of early morning with a soft smile as he thought about it.
There was only one thing about the last year that Harry might change had he the
chance, and it was so minor when he compared it to everything else that it
didn't really matter anymore. A few lost hours of his life, as awful as those
hours had been, was a small price to pay for all he had gained afterwards. He
now had a permanent home that never grew boring, complete freedom, a man he
loved, and a job that he knew he would love even though it wasn't something he
had seriously considered until recently.
Early in the summer, Harry and Severus had spent quite a few lazy afternoons
lying under a beech tree out by the lake, talking about their future together
and getting used to the way their rings fed on each other. They had decided
that Harry's Apprenticeship, like their unasked-for bond and so many other
things in Harry's life, would be unique. Teaching children to fly and running
study halls or helping them play Quidditch to the best of their abilities was
going to keep Harry happily busy for two or three hours a day, but that left
Harry with quite a lot of free time during the day, when Severus would be stuck
in classes.
After some discussion, and a lot of encouragement from Severus, Harry had sent
an owl to Dumbledore and made sure the rest of his time would be just as well
spent. When the new term began, Harry would not only take over two study halls
the other teachers normally ran, but also take the new Student Counsellor
position that had been mentioned during the end of term staff meeting. Between
arranging tutoring for students, running the Quidditch teams, and counselling
students who needed advice, Harry wasn't going to have much time during the day
next term to devote to his own learning but he would, as Severus had pointed
out, be making a difference without risking his life at every turn.
Harry had voiced doubts about not spending enough time with Severus so he would
be helping out in the Potions classroom as he had time and reading about any
subject that caught his fancy if he had free time while Severus graded papers.
That would give Harry a chance to study the potions he hadn't really understood
in his early years at Hogwarts again and, since Harry could easily sit in
Severus' office or classroom while he read, they could be together for about
half the day, every day. Dobby had already added another of the comfortable
fluffy-looking chairs Harry liked to Severus' office, predictably enough in a
rather garish shade of red, in anticipation of Harry spending quite a bit of
time there. Harry still smiled every time he thought of the way Severus had
growled and transfigured the chair to green and silver, muttering about that
'demented elf' and his complete lack of taste.
Simply being together was something that became more important to them every
day, much to the amusement of Sirius and Remus, who stayed at Hogwarts most
weekends. Harry's godfather often teased them about the fact that the only
place either of them went alone anymore was the loo, but it was demonstrably
true. They seemed to live and breathe only for each other, and Sirius had
commented more than once that when they began calling each other cute little
nicknames he was going to have them both committed to St. Mungo's as terminally
sappy. Even Remus had wondered aloud over the fact Harry and Severus got along
better than any couple he had ever met, but he and Sirius were both happy for
them now that Sirius had finally let James' ghost rest in peace.
Severus and Harry were quite sappy when it suited them to be, and people
marvelled fairly often at the changes in Severus in so short a time. The dour,
unfriendly Potions Master who had hidden himself away in the Hogwarts dungeons
for so many years might as well have been dead because the smiling, happy man
Severus had become bore so little resemblance to his previous self. It was
obvious that Severus treasured Harry with every fibre of his being, just as
Harry obviously worshipped the ground Severus walked on. Given one good look at
them together even complete strangers often commented on their happiness and
devotion to each other.
Harry and Severus' simple desire to be together as much as humanly possible had
determined where Harry's office would be next term. After a few hours roaming
the dungeons with the Marauders Map, during which Severus had learned he really
knew very little about his home, Harry had chosen the largest suite of unused
rooms near the Potions classroom. The entrance was a portrait near where the
main dungeon hallway split to lead to the Slytherin common room and the Potions
classroom, and the location had amused everyone Harry had so far told where to
find him. The offices behind the painting of Uric the Oddball hadn’t been used
in over a hundred and eighty years because no one had liked having to direct
people to so ignominious a location, but Harry didn't mind at all. Most
everyone thought Harry was an oddball himself for falling in love with Severus
when he could have had practically anyone he wanted, so Harry saw it as a
rather appropriate joke.
Severus shifted in his sleep, distracting Harry from his thoughts and making
him smile as Severus rolled towards him, wrapping his arms around Harry. Harry
shifted to slide his arms around Severus and nuzzled into his citrus-scented
hair with a happy little sigh as he relaxed again. Severus, though still mostly
asleep, kissed Harry's collarbone with a contented hum, and Harry wondered yet
again how someone who loved to cuddle as much as Severus did had stayed alone
for so long.
Severus loved quite a lot of things he had denied himself for the last fifteen
years though, so Harry supposed it really should be no surprise. Harry had
grown used to not having the sort of luxuries others did when he was a small
boy, but he had never known anyone else who denied themselves so much for so
little reason. He intended to make certain that Severus stopped doing it, and
had made it his summer priority to be sure Severus did all of the things he
wanted to do, coercing Severus into doing things as soon as Harry found out he
had enjoyed them in the past. He had learned that Severus loved swimming quite
as much as Harry did, and that Severus would happily spend hours simply
enjoying Harry's presence, but the most surprising thing to Harry -- not to
mention the few others who'd witnessed it -- had been to find out Severus loved
to play.
Severus completely blamed any childish behaviour on their rings, but he and
Harry had quickly fallen into a habit of teasing each other to distraction.
They were also constantly flirting and had been caught chasing each other and
even wrestling in public on several occasions. The first time had been out in
the bright sunshine and tall grass near the lake, while Sirius and Remus
watched bemusedly. Harry had teased Severus about his tan lines, and Severus
had run him down and tackled him, then proceeded to tickle him until Harry was
in tears from laughing so hard. They had wrestled in other places as well
though, including the middle of the Great Hall on the day Dumbledore and
McGonagall finally returned to Hogwarts.
Severus had started it that morning, smugly teasing Harry about how easy he was
until Harry decided to tackle him and have his way with Severus right there in
the Hall since there was no one else in the castle. Dumbledore and McGonagall
had walked in about the time Harry got Severus' shirt off, and McGonagall was
scandalized by their 'childish schoolboy behaviour'. She lectured them quite
sternly not to act in such an inappropriate fashion around the students until
Dumbledore had calmly asked her where one should act like a schoolboy, if not
in a school. It had been all that Harry and Severus could do to escape the
resulting debate before they started laughing. The mere mention of the word
schoolboy had been enough to make them snicker for days afterwards, and would
still usually make them grin.
McGonagall complained about their behaviour often, but she had been especially
condemning the night when Harry teased Severus with an ice cream cone while
Severus ate chocolate-covered strawberries with almost obscene relish. Sirius
had commented that they had obviously been picking dunce caps again, which of
course had caused Harry and Severus dissolve into gales of laughter. That
hadn't gone over well with Professor McGonagall and she'd commented often since
then about the 'shocking' difference in Severus after such a short time even
though nobody really paid any attention to her. Harry was quite proud of how
relaxed and obviously happy Severus had become and was shamelessly encouraging
Severus to scandalize McGonagall at every opportunity, much to Dumbledore's
obvious amusement.
Harry had become adept at making Severus laugh and did so as often as possible,
loving the way Severus' dark eyes sparkled when he was amused by something. It
made Harry feel almost insufferably smug whenever he thought about the fact
that Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, and even McGonagall all agreed that they had
never seen Severus so completely happy and at ease before, not even as a child.
Severus kissed Harry's chest, diverting his train of thought again. "Quit
thinking so loud."
Harry chuckled softly, kissing the top of Severus' head before he murmured
against his hair, "I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't," Severus replied softly. He pulled back to look at Harry in the
soft light of dawn that filtered down through the tapestry, smiling at the
happy shine in Harry's eyes. "But you are undeniably patting yourself on the
back about something, and it is much too early in the morning for me to have to
curb your ego."
Harry grinned, his green eyes brightening even further at the wave of amusement
he felt from Severus. "You don't even know what I was thinking about. How do
you know I need my ego knocked down a peg?"
Severus snorted softly, his eyes twinkling as he slid one hand up Harry's back.
"You usually do when you feel so very smug. What were you thinking about?"
Harry shifted to rest his forehead against Severus' as he answered with a
smile, "How glad I am that you're so much happier now, even when you're
asleep."
Severus smiled and kissed Harry softly, then whispered against his lips, "Then
I suppose you've a right to feel pleased with yourself. It is entirely your
fault."
"Just like it's your fault I'm so happy," Harry agreed, smiling as he gave
Severus a gentle, lingering kiss. He eventually pulled away and pressed their
foreheads together again, nuzzling Severus' cheek as he closed his eyes and
simply revelled in how completely happy they both were.
The empathic effect of their bond hadn't been easily apparent until the morning
after their commitment, puzzling them both and making them wonder what else the
Headmaster hadn't told them. Dumbledore had delicately explained by owl that
evening that the final spell on the rings, the one that 'aided in the knowledge
of their bound lover', had been triggered by them consummating their
relationship. It was a protection spell of sorts, one meant to keep the
relationship healthy; the theory behind it was that it was difficult to have a
serious misunderstanding with someone who felt what you did even if they
couldn't precisely read your mind.
They were both still occasionally caught off guard by knowing what the other
was feeling even after almost a month, but they accepted the still-growing side
effect of the spells on their rings as just another enjoyable part of their
life together. After some experimentation they had discovered that the feedback
loop created by the bond got stronger when they were touching each other's
skin. Holding hands was a joy that they began to indulge in quite often because
even that simple contact doubled every sensation. It was soon a completely
normal thing for someone to find Severus and Harry curled up together in their
favourite parts of the castle, doing absolutely nothing other than enjoying
each other's presence.
The effect seemed to be stronger when there was more skin-to-skin contact,
which naturally led them to spend more time in their rooms where they could
forego clothing completely. Making love had soon grown to be so intensely
intoxicating that at different times they had each been so overwhelmed they
passed out. Simply touching would prolong the afterglow that flooded them after
they made love, keeping the intensity of that usually-fleeting moment alive
until they were both too tired to do anything but sleep.
Severus lay quietly in Harry's arms for several minutes, breathing deeply and
enjoying the blissful happiness that flooded them both. He finally opened his
eyes again after a while, kissing Harry softly before he pulled away to get out
of bed. "I would love to stay here and hold you all morning, but we have to
make a fresh batch of Wolfsbane Potion today. It has to simmer quite some time
before I add the final ingredients."
Harry sighed as they lost contact and the all-encompassing happiness he had
felt faded to something much less intense. He sat up, stretching slowly as he
watched Severus walk around the bed with a sudden little smirk. "You're
constantly telling me I'm beautiful, but you're the one with the body of a
god."
Severus laughed, pausing at the door to the bathing room to give Harry an
amused smile. "Which one?"
"Eros, definitely," Harry replied without hesitation, his smirk widening. "God
of sex and hedonism."
Severus snorted, turning away and walking into the bathroom without a word, but
Harry could feel that he was pleased and that made him smirk as he crawled out
of bed, muttering a quick summoning spell to find his glasses. He heard Severus
chuckle just before they flew out of the bathroom and hit Harry in the chest.
"If you always put them in the same place," Severus called, sounding amused,
"you'd not have to call them."
"You tell me that almost every morning," Harry replied with a smile. He put his
glasses on and then began gathering their clothes from the day before so
Severus wouldn't feel like he had to do it. Neither of them liked to leave more
work for the house elves than was necessary, though for different reasons.
Harry could easily remember a time when he had neatly put his clothes away
every night, negating the need to pick up in the morning, but he thought that
going to bed now was much more interesting.
Severus walked back out of the bathroom just as Harry was bending to pick up
the last of the clothes and paused with a smile. He watched the play of muscles
under Harry's smooth, tanned skin as Harry tossed the plain black sock into the
hamper, murmuring, "I will never get tired of that view."
Harry looked over his shoulder at Severus, smirking as he wiggled his arse.
"Are you sure?"
"Quite," Severus replied with an answering smirk. "And if you keep doing that
I'll have to prove it to you, which will mean missing breakfast. That would
mean possibly missing lunch as well, since that potion must be made today."
Harry made a face and turned, walking over to rest his hands on Severus' waist.
"Alright, I'll behave."
Severus leaned forward to kiss Harry quickly before he gave him an amused smile
and said, "I know you sometimes think with your stomach this time of day, but I
still won't believe you're not going to try and talk me into a shag until I see
you dressed."
"I'm going, I'm going," Harry answered, laughing as he turned away to go into
his room and get dressed.
Severus watched him go with a smirk before he turned to get his own clothes for
the day, wondering if Harry even remembered what day it was. He'd had a
difficult time arranging a surprise for Harry's birthday because Harry was
always with him, but Sirius and Remus had both conspired to help him. He was
quite looking forward to seeing Harry's reaction to having a surprise birthday
party for the first time in his life. All Severus had to do was keep Harry out
of his new office and library until dinnertime, and he was sure that he could
manage it. Making a fresh batch of Wolfsbane Potion would take up a large
portion of the morning and then Severus planned to suggest a picnic lunch,
which would take up a few more hours and give him a chance to give Harry a
private gift before the party.
 
.:.
 
Severus returned from checking the potion several hours later, smiling as he
paused in the doorway to his office. Harry was curled up in his chair in the
corner, reading and feeling so content that Severus just stood there enjoying
it for a long while before he finally said, "We can go now. It will be a bit
more than three hours until I need to check it again."
Harry marked his place as he stood up and then dropped the book he had been
reading in his chair. He raised both hands high over his head then, his back
cracking as he stretched with a low satisfied groan before letting his hands
fall to his sides and walking over to Severus. "Sounds good to me," Harry
replied finally, reaching for Severus' hand with a happy smile that widened
when they touched and the love and contentment communicated by their rings
became much more pronounced. "I could stand to eat."
Severus chuckled and murmured, "You could always stand to eat." He didn't wait
for a reply before he leaned closer to kiss Harry, who kissed back for only a
moment before he felt a wave of pleasure and desire from Severus.
That made them both suddenly want a lot more than a simple kiss and Harry
lifted his right hand to slide it into Severus' hair, moving closer as Severus
made a little pleased noise and let Harry take control of the kiss. Harry began
exploring the familiar contours of Severus' mouth with his tongue and Severus
let go of Harry's other hand to wrap his arms around him. Harry moved his left
hand to rest on Severus' hip, hooking his thumb into the waistband of Severus'
trousers as he swayed closer, wanting more contact.
Severus let Harry set the pace for several minutes before he suckled gently on
Harry's tongue, earning a soft pleased groan from Harry as he combed the
fingers of his right hand through Severus' thick black hair and deepened the
kiss even further. Severus spread his legs then to let Harry move between them,
his hands sliding down to cover the back pockets of Harry's jeans as he
massaged Harry's arse. Harry groaned and pushed Severus back against the
doorjamb as he began slowly rubbing the growing bulge of his erection against
him. Severus growled softly, his hands tightening on Harry's rear just as there
was a sudden cough then that barely registered to either of them.
They continued kissing for a few more moments before Dumbledore's voice said
apologetically, "I am quite sorry to interrupt, but there is a lawyer here to
see you, Harry. A Mr. Edward Thornton walked all the way from Hogsmeade and it
seems rather important that he speak with you."
Harry felt a doubled wave of regret as he pulled away from Severus, letting out
a soft sigh as he let go and stepped away from him completely to look towards
the door of the Potions classroom. Harry blushed as he realized how obvious his
arousal had to be but he tried to ignore it as he met Professor Dumbledore's
gaze and then looked to see who was with him. Harry's eyebrows drew down
slightly when he saw the obviously shocked elderly gentleman behind the
Headmaster, holding a rather large leather briefcase and staring at Harry as if
he were some sort of freak.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Harry said then, looking back at Dumbledore. "I
appreciate you showing Mr. Thornton where to find me."
"No need to thank me, Harry," Dumbledore replied with a smile, "I need to speak
with Severus anyway."
Severus touched Harry's back and then began to walk across the classroom
towards Dumbledore. "I am at your disposal, Albus." He glanced back towards
Harry, smiling slightly as he added, "Why don't you talk here, Harry, and join
me for lunch when you're finished?"
"Sure," Harry replied, returning the smile before he looked questioningly at
the lawyer. "If talking here is okay with you?"
"Of course," Thornton replied quickly, "Anywhere is fine, providing that it is
private."
Severus and Dumbledore both left, the door closing quietly behind them just as
Harry gestured to one of the desks at the head of the classroom. "Please sir,
have a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"No, I'm fine Mr. Potter, thank you." Thornton gave Harry a slightly forced
smile before he moved to sit down, laying his bag on the desk and then opening
it to remove a folder of papers and a small wooden chest. He then proceeded to
methodically take a pair of reading glasses out of his jacket and put them on
before he opened the folder of papers and began to read over something, all
without looking up at Harry.
"Why did you need to see me, sir?" Harry asked after watching the lawyer for a
few minutes in silence, his curiosity fading into concern as he felt a rush of
anxious worry from Severus.
"I am here to see to the execution of your mother's will," Thornton replied,
finally looking up. "I was given to understand I could contact you through the
Headmaster here at Hogwarts. I am a Muggle myself, but a friend was able to
Floo me up to Hogsmeade and here I am."
"I thought Muggles weren't allowed in Hogsmeade," Harry said with a sudden
frown as he folded his arms, the hard-learned wariness that had made him stay
well out of reach encouraging him to rest his fingertips against his wand.
Thornton sat back in his chair, looking at Harry over his spectacles as he
nodded. "In most cases that would be true, Mr. Potter, but my older brother is
a Wizard. The Ministry of Magic has accorded me the benefits that most Squibs
enjoy because of my life-long association with the Wizarding world. I assure
you that I have no reason to lie to you, and you are quite safe enough that you
needn't keep your hand on your wand."
Harry flushed slightly and took his hand away from his wand, certain that he
could grab it in an instant if he needed to anyway.
"Your grandfather was my law partner," Thornton went on, "and I knew your
mother well when she was a child. When she determined that she needed to make
out a will, and rightly so I am sad to say, she came to me." He paused again,
and then added, "I am sure you've probably heard this quite often, but you are
very like them."
Harry nodded. "People tell me I remind them of my father all the time."
"You've quite a lot of your mother about you, too," Thornton was quick to say,
sitting forwards again. "Your height is closer to hers and you most definitely
have her eyes, and your build is very similar to her father's when we were
young. It's a bit disconcerting, really." He smiled wryly then and looked down
at the desk to take an envelope out of the stack of papers as he said, "That is
neither here nor there though, Mr. Potter." He looked up again and offered
Harry the envelope. "Your mother wished that you be given this on your
eighteenth birthday and said that you should read it in my presence so that I
could answer any questions you may have. I would greatly appreciate it if you
would do so now, I have a very long walk ahead of me when we are through here."
Harry walked over to the desk where Thornton sat and took the heavy envelope,
looking down at it a moment before he turned away and moved to the teacher's
desk a few feet away to sit down in Severus' chair. "I'll be happy to Floo you
where ever you need to go when we're done."
"Thank you, that would be quite appreciated," Thornton replied with a slight
smile, settling back in his chair.
Harry smiled at him and then opened the envelope and drew out a single long
sheet of old parchment that had been folded instead of being rolled into a
scroll, unfolding it carefully and then beginning to read.
 
.:.
 
Harry,
James doesn't want to think about the possibility of our deaths, so I am
writing this for both of us. If you are reading this, then Voldemort killed us
when you were still just a baby. I want you to know that we knew it was coming
and that we had no regrets other than not being able to see you grow up. You
are our pride and joy and we love you more than life itself. It is my fondest
hope that your childhood has been a happy one, and that you have found love and
friendship among your classmates at Hogwarts. I intend to make Sirius Black,
your father's closest companion, promise to care for you himself if it's the
last thing I ever do, so if Sirius survived us I hope that he has filled some
of the void that growing up without us must have left for you.
Mr. Thornton, our lawyer, should have a box for you. It was spelled to survive
almost any fate that might befall us and is warded so that no one but you may
open it. The wards will dissipate when you touch the box, so if you wish to
keep it private you will have to ward it yourself after that. Inside you will
find a few letters that I would like you to deliver if possible, my diary, a
small box of jewellery, and the keys to the vault at Gringotts that holds your
monetary inheritance from the Potters, which they requested you not receive
until you completed your schooling at Hogwarts. You should feel free to sell or
give away most of the jewellery, but there is a silver bracelet inscribed
'Amicus usque ad aras' that I would like for you to keep. The person who taught
me my first magic spell gave it to me and it has quite a few strong protection
spells on it. I would very much like for it to someday protect you or your love
as well as it has always protected me.
Mr. Thornton also has the deed to the Potter family estate north of London,
which your grandparents left to you when they died just after you were born.
They were Purebloods and not very happy that James married a Muggleborn, but
they loved you and I know they would have been exceedingly proud of you had
they lived to see you grow up. The grounds and house are both extensive, and it
was quite a beautiful place last time I was there, though it hasn't been lived
in since it sealed itself up after James' father died. Simply laying your hand
upon the gates can open the wards protecting the property according to James,
but they will open only for you, the Potter heir, until you have children of
your own.
It is so hard to know what else to tell you, so I pray that Albus Dumbledore,
Remus Lupin, and your godfather, Sirius, are all alive and well. They can
answer any questions you might have about us or the Potter family, and Mr.
Thornton can answer any questions you may have about the Evans' or my sister
Petunia Dursley's family, though I would not advise you to try contacting
Petunia. She has always hated your father and I, and the Wizarding world in
general. I doubt that you would enjoy knowing her, Harry. I know that I don't!
James does not approve of my telling you this last bit, but I would like for
you to know that there is someone else that you may trust, should you ever need
help or advice. His name is Severus Snape, and I pray he is alive and well,
possibly working as the Potions professor at Hogwarts. He risked his life to
try and save us Harry, and I hope that you can see past the animosity that your
father and godfather hold towards him. Severus is a good man, though I must
admit not always a nice one, and is my best friend that I love very much.
I must end this now Harry, but before I do I want to say again that your father
and I love you more than I can ever say. We are very, very proud of you.
Your loving mother,
Lily
 
.:.
 
Harry lifted one hand to wipe away the tears running down his face as he felt a
wave of concern from Severus. He tried to concentrate on sending reassurance
and then he shoved aside his own feelings to read the letter again, barely
noticing that he stopped feeling Severus' worry too. He finally looked back up
at Thornton after a few more minutes, asking huskily, "She wrote that you have
a deed for me?"
"Two in fact," Thornton replied immediately, giving Harry a sympathetic look.
"One is to the Potter estate north of London, and the other is to the Evans
family home in Bristol, which was left to you eight years after your mother's
untimely demise." He paused a moment, watching Harry carefully fold the letter
and put it back into the envelope, then added, "You are quite a wealthy young
man, Mr. Potter. Besides your properties and whatever you may yet have in your
parents' vault at Gringotts, your grandfather Evans left a thousand pounds in a
trust fund for you under my management. I have done the best I could for you
with it, and I am rather pleased to say it has multiplied quite nicely over the
years."
"I'm sure you've done well, but money isn't important to me," Harry said
quietly, standing up and walking towards the desk where Thornton was sitting to
retrieve the box his mother had left him. "I would like to see where my mother
and father grew up, though. Hogwarts is the only real home I've known, and it
would be nice to have somewhere to visit during holidays."
Thornton nodded. "I quite understand."
Harry laid his hand on top of the box then, watching in fascination as it
glowed green briefly and then made a clicking noise as the lid unlocked.
Thornton watched closely as Harry opened the box and began to look through the
contents. "I will of course leave the deeds here with you and turn your trust
fund over to you at once if that is your choice, Mr. Potter, but I would be
happy to continue to handle them for you if you prefer."
"Keep them, please. I don't know a thing about Muggle deeds or trust funds,"
Harry replied absently as he carefully lifted a leather journal from the box.
He laid it gently on the table before picking up the small stack of envelopes
under it, unsurprised to find they were addressed to Remus Lupin, Sirius Black,
and Severus Snape. "I have plenty of money left from my parents' vault, plus my
stipend as a professor, and mother wrote that I've another vault at Gringotts
as well, from my father's parents." Harry laid the letters beside the box and
then reverently laid the journal inside it again, putting the letter his mother
had written him on top of it. He picked up the smaller box that took up one end
of the small chest then, opening it and then lifting out the sliver bracelet
that rested on a piece of dark velvet.
Thornton started putting away the deeds as he said, "Should you have any
questions about your properties or the trust fund, Mr. Potter, I would like you
to feel free to contact me at any time. My offices are not connected to the
Floo network for obvious reasons, but they are located only a few blocks from
the Leaky Cauldron. The bartender, Tom, can give you directions, should you
want to drop in."
"Alright," Harry replied, glancing up from the bracelet. "Do you receive owl
post?" Harry looked back down at the bracelet again, running a finger over the
engraving on the inside before he began looking for the mechanism to open it.
"Of course. You may write me at number nine, Hollister Row," Thornton said,
standing up and watching as Harry inspected the intricate knot work pattern on
the silver bracelet. "Your mother wore that every day for many years."
Harry looked up, surprised, and asked, "Do you know who gave it to her?"
Thornton shook his head and Harry looked back down at the bracelet as Thornton
added, "She treasured it though, and had a habit of playing with it when she
was thinking about something. I never saw her without it after her first year
at Hogwarts."
"Sirius or Remus might know how to work it then," Harry said, caressing the
bracelet once more before slipping it into the pocket of his jeans and looking
at the jewellery box again to lift out the piece of velvet. It looked dark blue
from one direction but changed to a deep green when looked at from the other,
and Harry was wondering why it was so carefully folded away inside the box when
a silver earring fell from a fold in the material to land on the desk,
surprising him.
"She wore that as well," Mr. Thornton said then, watching Harry pick up the
earring.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, running his fingers over the small hoop earring
and remembering the photo of Severus as a teenager with Lily and Lucius.
Severus had been wearing what Harry was sure was an identical earring in the
portrait, but he hadn't noticed his mother wearing earrings in any of his
photos of his parents.
"Yes, quite sure," Thornton replied, chuckling softly. "She got a second
piercing in her left ear the summer before her third year of school and wore
that from then on. Her mother, your grandmother, quite hated it and complained
about it every time she saw it to anyone who would listen."
Harry wrapped the earring in the velvet again and then looked up, smiling
slightly. "What was my mother like when she was a child?"
"Oh, she was quite the scamp, playful enough to make up for Petunia's sour
temperament and then some," Thornton said, chuckling. "Your grandfather
nicknamed her Imp when she was barely knee high because she was always quick
with a witty remark even as a small child, and she never lost the knack."
Harry smiled softly, looking down at the jewellery box as he tucked the velvet
back into it and then closed the box, putting it back into the small chest.
"Severus says I'm a lot like her."
"Severus? Would he be that rather dramatic-looking man you were with when I
arrived?" Thornton asked, looking interested as he picked up his briefcase and
wondered why the name sounded familiar.
Harry laughed, looking up with a sudden grin that made his green eyes sparkle.
"He is dramatic, isn't he? Yes, that was my life-mate, Professor Severus
Snape."
"He's a very lucky man," Thornton said, smiling at the way Harry lit up when he
talked about Severus. He was glad that Lily's son seemed to have found someone
to make him so happy, even if it was one of his professors. He had long ago
decided that age mattered very little when it came to love; his brother was
married to a witch who admitted to being nearly twice his age and was rumoured
to be even older. Harry obviously was in love, a feeling that seemed to be
returned by this Severus from what little Thornton had seen, and he thought
that was the most important part of any relationship.
"No, I'm the lucky one," Harry corrected, smiling back at Thornton. "And if
you're ready to go, I'd be happy to Floo you anywhere you like."
"Yes, please," Thornton replied, smiling. "I would quite enjoy spending more
time getting to know you, but I've got work back at the office that I really
should be doing. There aren't many Muggle lawyers who know and understand the
Wizarding world, so I stay very busy."
"I would imagine," Harry replied, smiling as he started towards the door to the
office. "The nearest Floo is here in Sev's office. If you'll come with me,
we'll have you on your way in just a few minutes."
Thornton moved to follow Harry, smiling as he said, "Thank you, I do appreciate
it. I wasn't looking forward to the long walk back down to Hogsmeade."
"It is quite a walk," Harry agreed with a soft laugh, leading the way into the
office.
Thornton was soon gone, leaving Harry alone as he went back to the box and then
paused to look again at the letters addressed to Sirius, Remus, and Severus for
a moment before he made a decision. He put them back the inside box and then
carried it to his room and put it on his bed before he went to wash his face. A
few minutes later he was feeling much better and headed towards the Great Hall
to find Severus, one hand stuck in his pocket absently caressing the bracelet.
 
***** Chapter 18 *****
 
Harry headed towards the main doors of the Great Hall out of habit, and he was
surprised to find them open. He paused in the doorway when he heard Severus'
voice and then he spotted Sirius and Remus watching Severus pace near the
single table in the hall. Headmaster Dumbledore stood nearby looking concerned
as he watched Severus walk back and forth with quick, angry strides.
"I told you already that I should be there, Albus," Severus was saying, his
voice clipped and unhappy. "That Muggle did something that upset him quite a
bit, and then Harry shut me out completely. I didn't even know he could shut me
out."
"Severus, I assure you that Edward would not upset Harry unless it was
unavoidable. Reading his mother's letter is sure to upset him, but Harry is
quite strong, as you know," Dumbledore replied calmly just before he noticed
Harry and smiled. "And here is Harry now, looking quite well."
Severus stopped pacing and looked towards Harry, concern obvious on his face,
and Harry quickly started walking towards him. "I'm sorry, Sev. I didn't know I
shut you out, I was just trying to get a grip on myself."
"What happened?" Severus asked immediately, frowning. "Did he hurt you?"
"No, he didn't even come near me," Harry replied, "I just wasn't expecting what
I learned, that's all."
Severus reached for Harry's hands as soon as he was close enough, pulling Harry
the last two steps as he worriedly searched Harry's eyes. Neither of them aware
of the slight but obvious shudder that went through them when their hands
touched, though the definite physical response caused Dumbledore to frown.
Harry's expression immediately grew more upset even as Severus' relaxed a tiny
bit, making Sirius and Remus look at each other in surprise.
Severus relaxed slightly as he felt Harry's love and concern for him again, but
he was still worried and a bit hurt as he asked softly, "Why did you shut me
out, Harry?"
"I wasn't trying to Sev, really." Harry's tightened his grip on Severus' hands,
concerned and becoming more upset by the moment because of the hurt he was
feeling from Severus. "I just had too much hitting me at once and I shut out my
feelings so I could think. I really didn't mean to push you away, too. I'm
sorry."
Remus, Sirius, and Dumbledore watched with varying expressions of concern as
Severus moved closer to Harry, letting go of Harry's hands to wrap his arms
around him. Harry moved into his arms gratefully, and both of them closed their
eyes as Severus put his lips against Harry's ear and whispered too quietly for
the others to hear, "Shh, no more apologies."
As soon as Severus realized that his worry and fear was a large part of why
Harry was now upset, he tried to clear his mind and began to concentrate on how
much he loved him. He could feel an immediate answering wave of love as Harry
relaxed against him, nuzzling Severus' neck as the love he felt began to push
everything else from his mind. Severus let Harry's love clear the last of his
own worry away, marvelling slightly at how easy that was to do, and held Harry
until he was sure they were both calm again. He finally pulled away then and
kissed Harry softly before he gave him a gentle smile and asked, "Why don't we
go sit down?"
None of the four at the table noticed Dumbledore leave the room as Harry
nodded, returning the smile before he let go of Severus to move to the seat
across from Remus to sit down. Harry flinched as the bracelet pressed
uncomfortably into his leg and then stuck his hand in his pocket to take out,
lifting it to lay the bracelet on the table.
Remus' eyes went wide as soon as he saw it and he asked quickly, "Harry, where
did you get that?"
Harry's grasp on the bracelet tightened slightly as he looked up quickly, but
before he could reply Sirius exclaimed, "I looked everywhere for that!"
Harry stared at Sirius and Remus, obviously surprised. "It was in a box Mother
left for me. She wanted me to wear it because of the protection spells on it,
but I couldn't figure out how to open it." Harry felt Severus' hand cover his
then, and looked towards him to see a slightly sad look on Severus' face.
Severus' fingers ghosted gently across the silver bracelet as he murmured,
"Perfamiliaris." There was a quiet click and the bracelet opened in Harry's
hand as Severus lifted his gaze to meet Harry's shocked eyes and smiled softly.
"It means 'very great friend'. I gave her the bracelet for Christmas, during
our first year."
"You what?!" Sirius asked, shocked.
Severus raised an eyebrow and looked at Sirius, amused. "I gather she never
told James."
"She always refused to say who gave it to her or why," Remus said, looking a
bit sad as he watched Harry put the bracelet on his left hand. He was surprised
to see it fit Harry perfectly, even though Harry's wrist was larger than Lily's
had ever been. "All I ever knew about it was that it was a present she had
promised to always wear because it protected her."
"Yeah, but she wasn't wearing it when I found her bo--" Sirius started, then he
flushed and broke off abruptly, swallowing hard before he tried again. "I
thought that someone had taken it."
"She knew she was going to die," Harry said quietly. He looked down at the
bracelet on his wrist, stroking it with the fingers of his other hand as the
other three men watched at him. "She put it into a box she had warded so that
only I could open it, and gave Mr. Thornton a letter for me. It said that she
was sure Voldemort had killed them while I was a baby, and told me about some
things she wanted me to know..." He trailed off and looked up at Severus
suddenly then as he remembered what the letter had said. "You taught her to do
her first spell?"
Severus nodded, looking surprised. "On the Hogwarts Express, before our first
year."
"Do you mind talking about it?" Harry asked, looking very interested. Sirius
and Remus watched them closely, both surprised to learn that Severus had taught
Lily her first spell.
"Not at all," Severus replied with a soft smile for Harry. "I was alone in a
compartment near the back of the train reading a copy of Self-Defensive
Spellwork that Lucius smuggled out of the Malfoy family library because he
wished me to teach him a few of the protective wards. I had been reading alone
for quite some time when Lily asked if she could join me. She took out her
Charms text and began trying to levitate a piece of parchment, and after
watching to her try until she had set it on fire twice I offered to show her
how to do it."
Harry smiled at that, looking down at the bracelet and remembering when
Hermione showed Ron how to perform the same spell. Ron hadn't appreciated her
know-it-all attitude, and had even teased her indirectly about it, but she had
still been the one to teach him how to properly do the spell. Harry finally
looked up again when he heard Remus say, "I had no idea you and Lily met on the
train."
Severus smiled at Remus. "Yes, we did, but we didn't exchange names then. Lily
had just finally gotten the spell correct when Lucius came in muttering about
Muggleborns stinking up the train." Severus' expression turned a bit wry. "She
thanked me for my help and then told Lucius he was an arse and left."
Harry laughed. "She sounds like Ginny."
Severus looked at Harry with obvious amusement. "Because of course you wouldn't
tell a Malfoy he's acting like an arse. You would stay out of his way and keep
your mouth shut."
Harry opened his mouth to reply as Remus added dryly, "And not turn him into a
giant slug."
Severus snorted at that, trying not to laugh, as Harry protested, "Hey, that
wasn't my fault, everyone hexed him!"
"Blimey, you turned Malfoy into a slug?!" Sirius asked, grinning. "How?"
"Sirius! Don't encourage him," Remus said, laughing.
Harry grinned at Sirius. "We're not really sure. There were about ten different
hexes thrown in his general direction all at once, and the result was quite
slimy." Harry paused, then added with a wicked grin, "But I do know how two
people can make someone's face sprout lots of neat little tentacles..."
"Don't you dare tell him, Harry!" Remus exclaimed, wide-eyed. "He gets into
enough trouble for pulling pranks as it is!"
Sirius smirked at Remus. "Those old sticks at the Ministry need someone to keep
'em on their toes."
Severus chuckled at that and Harry looked at him, smiling as he changed the
subject. "What made you give Lily a bracelet with protection spells on it?"
Remus and Sirius both looked a bit surprised at Harry calling his mother by her
name, but Severus just smiled back at Harry and then looked down at the
bracelet. It somehow seemed to him as if it belonged on Harry's wrist, even
though Harry hadn't ever worn any jewellery other than his ring. It wasn't just
that the bracelet fit him perfectly, though that was true as well. The bracelet
lay against Harry's wrist as if it had always been there, slim and delicate
without being dainty, and it contrasted perfectly against Harry's golden-tanned
skin so that both were set off to their best advantage. Severus liked the
effect so much so that he decided that all jewellery Harry wore, other than his
ring, should be silver or platinum. He was sure Harry wouldn't mind for the
simple reason that Harry would tolerate almost anything to avoid going shopping
anywhere he might run into sales girls.
Severus finally lifted his gaze back to Harry's face, still a little amused by
the thought of Harry's usual reaction to salesgirls. "A problem began not long
after we started school that involved the younger Muggleborns being mistreated
and then having the memory of it wiped. Lily was a quick study and picked up
magic quite as quickly as I showed her the spells, but she had annoyed several
Slytherin upperclassmen that knew enough to make life difficult for her. I made
the bracelet just after Halloween and then spent my free time spelling it
because we had very few classes together and I wanted her to stay safe when I
could not be there. We were already very good friends by then, but I knew she'd
never accept it just because I wanted to protect her. She was as proud as a
Weasley when it came to that sort of thing, so I cheated and gave it to her as
a Christmas present." Severus gave Harry a wry smile as he added, "As long as
you wear it, you will be immune to most of the jinxes a fifth year would know
and quite a few stronger ones as well. It took Lucius and I working together to
cast some of the protections, such as the one against a Memory Charm."
"Lucius helped you make something to protect Lily?!" Sirius exclaimed, shocked.
Severus nodded, raising an eyebrow at Sirius. "Despite what you may recall,
Lucius quite liked Lily. He never even attempted to cause any harm to her until
well after we wound up on opposite sides of that idiotic war."
Harry snickered at that and Severus gave him an amused look as Sirius
protested, "But he was always giving her hell!"
Severus snorted, giving Sirius a look that clearly said he thought he was being
ridiculous. "Lucius annoyed her, yes, but I am quite sure he never did anything
to harm her. I can even think of a dozen times he actually protected her, and
there were quite likely other times neither of them bothered to mention to me.
Besides the fact that he gave me his word -- which, admittedly, I later found
to be worth less than doxy droppings -- I persuaded Lily to wear an earring
that I warded so I would know if Lucius ever hurt her. He never did, not even
after he became a Death Eater. Of course, he did know I would do my best to
make sure he lived only long enough to regret it if he hurt her, but I doubt
that was what made him treat her as an equal. Despite my more extensive
knowledge of magic, Lucius was never afraid of me. He knew that he was quicker
with a wand."
"A small silver hoop earring?" Harry asked, looking interestedly at Severus
while Remus and Sirius stared at them both, wondering just how much they had
never known about Lily. "Like the one you wore when you were a teenager?"
Severus nodded, smiling at Harry. "Yes, she insisted on making me wear the
other earring in revenge. I stopped wearing mine just before I took the Dark
Mark at the end of seventh year, but she continued to wear hers for quite some
time after that. Have you seen a photograph of her wearing it?"
Harry shook his head. "No, but it was under the bracelet, wrapped in a piece of
velvet."
"Dark blue-green velvet?" Severus asked, surprised, and when Harry nodded he
looked down at the table.
"Why?" Harry asked, concerned by the suddenly closed feeling he got from
Severus. It reminded Harry of how he himself felt when he was upset and
refusing to feel anything. "Is there something special about it, too?"
"Not really, or at least not to anyone but Lily or myself," Severus replied
without looking up. "By her sixteenth birthday James had made it plain I wasn't
allowed to talk to Lily, so I Owled her a book about Dark magic she had once
mentioned she wanted. I wrapped it in a bit of velvet that looked midnight blue
from one direction and forest green from another because it reminded me of the
colours of our Houses. She returned the book the next morning and asked that I
not send her any more gifts, even on her birthday, because James didn't like
it."
Harry reached for Severus' hand, lacing their fingers together so that Severus
couldn't hide what he was feeling as easily. He ignored Sirius and Remus, not
even considering how they might react as he said, "I think she just wanted to
protect you from them, Sev. She still counted you as her best friend." Severus
finally looked up then and Harry nodded, giving him a soft smile. "She
mentioned you in her letter to me. Said that she wanted me to see past the
animosity Sirius and my father held towards you, and go to you if I ever needed
help or advice. You were her best friend even then, and she loved you very
much."
Severus swallowed hard and then murmured, "I loved her more than anyone, until
you. Even more than Lucius, though not in the same way."
"I know you did," Harry replied, giving Severus' hand a squeeze. "And she knew
you did, too." He paused for a long moment and then added quietly, "I think she
would probably be happy to see us together."
Sirius looked down at the table, kicking himself for things he couldn't change
while Remus watched Harry and Severus with a sad expression, wondering how
things would have been different if Severus had been welcomed by the Marauders.
Remus had seen the lengths Severus was willing to go to in order to protect
Harry even when Harry had actively hated him, and he knew that Severus would
have done no less for Lily. Severus was a very capable wizard who knew more
about Dark magic than anyone else on the side of the Light except possibly
Albus Dumbledore, and Remus couldn't help but think that Lily and James might
still be alive if Severus had been allowed to protect his best friend.
Harry's life, all of their lives, would have been very, very different.
 
.:.
 
Harry and Severus decided to go back to their rooms after lunch so that they
would be sure to be close to the Potions classroom when Severus needed to check
the Wolfsbane potion. Severus, who was still acting a bit subdued after their
talk had brought up his memories of Lily, asked Harry about the contents of the
box she had left for him.
After only a moment's thought, Harry told Severus that Lily had left a letter
for him as well and went to get it, hoping it would ease some of the pain
Severus was feeling. Severus sat down in the chair in his room while Harry went
to get the letter, looking quietly at nothing until Harry rejoined him and
knelt in the floor next to Severus' feet as he wordlessly offered him the
letter.
Severus took it, looking down at the crisp parchment envelope that bore no
marking other than his name for a long moment before he looked at Harry again.
"We should bring another chair in here for you."
Harry smiled, sliding his arm around Severus' lower leg and resting his chin on
Severus' knee. "I'm perfectly comfortable right here."
Severus lifted his free hand to stroke Harry's hair, smiling back at him, then
let his hand fall to his lap and swallowed. He looked at the letter Harry had
given him for a long time before he finally admitted softly, "I am almost
afraid to read it."
"Don't be," Harry replied, lifting his free hand to give Severus' knee a gentle
squeeze. "I think that no matter what she had to say, you need to read it."
Severus looked at him again for a moment, then nodded and opened the letter to
begin to read the first page.
 
.:.
 
Severus,
I know I should have written this sooner, or sent it to you by owl instead of
leaving it for Harry to deliver, but this seemed best for all of us. If you are
reading this, Voldemort killed us while Harry was a toddler... I will even go
so far as to guess it will happen in the next few days. You remember the
twinges I would get when something bad was coming; this is the worst I’ve ever
felt, Sev. I am quite sure I won’t survive it.
It has been years since I have had you to lean on, and even though I have
missed you every day, I was too weak to do anything about it. I need to
apologize to you for that. By the time you read this, many more years will have
passed, but I still want you to know I regret not fighting for you harder than
I did.
At first I avoided you to protect you, even though I knew you would hate me
doing anything so unpleasant just to make your life easier. I knew James and
Sirius would make your life a living hell unless I stayed away from you, and
you already had so much on your shoulders that I didn't want to add to it. I
did as they wanted me to do, and I broke your heart. Sometimes I hated them for
it, but I hated myself more.
Later, after we left school, I was afraid to contact you because I didn't want
to find out you had changed into what everyone said you were. I don't think I
could stand knowing you turned into an unfeeling bastard like Lucius did after
Voldemort ruined him. When you contacted me for help leaving the Death Eaters,
you proved you had not and it made me so very happy! I hope things went well,
and that you are still teaching at Hogwarts. You were always an excellent
teacher.
I also hope that becoming closer to Lucius when we were still students in some
way made up for me not being there. He gave me his word as a Malfoy that he
would keep you safe, and from what little I saw he seems to have done so. I've
tried to tell myself that surely you were happy with him because I know you
loved him, but Lucius changed so much over the last few years that I haven't
been able to quite convince myself he still treated you well until that morning
he made you leave.
I hope I was wrong, and that you were happy. You truly deserve to be happy
Severus, no matter what you may think. You made bad choices and did terrible
things, I know, but you did it out of love and loyalty to someone you trusted.
Lucius had so much potential when he was that beautiful boy with a silver
tongue and sharp wit I met on the train, and it has been a shame to watch that
fade away into the cold Death Eater we all fear. You are not Lucius though,
Severus, and I hope you do not punish yourself for loving him. Love is blind,
but it is never wrong. He was a good man once, and I know it was the good in
him that you loved.
You are the truest friend I have ever had. You are the only person besides my
son and my father that I am certain loves me simply because of me, not because
you wanted something from me or because you felt obligated to care about your
best friend's girl. James has never loved me as completely as I love him and I
know it, but I was foolish enough to think that he would grow to love me more
after our marriage. He didn't, and just as Lucius told me would happen, James
didn't give up his Marauders for me or even put me first. At least James still
loves me more than he loves the rat. I know it's pitiful that I find that
reassuring, but I went beyond pitiful the day Sirius moved into my home and my
husband's bed.
I am James' wife though, and I have covered up the fact he much prefers men
because I love him, even though I sometimes hate Sirius for ruining what James
and I could have had together. Lucius made sure I knew what I was getting into,
that I knew James was in love with Sirius, but I walked into it anyway,
trusting my love to keep me going. It did, and I don't regret loving James or
having Harry, but late at night when I'm alone I wonder how different things
might have been if I had listened to Lucius and entered into a relationship
with you and him instead. I don't even know if he ever suggested it to you, but
a part of me wishes I could go back and find out if we three could have had
something together. Perhaps you and I could have kept Lucius from ever giving
his allegiance to Voldemort and had a happy life together with him. Lucius
could be very charming when he wanted to be, even if I am just a Mudblood, and
I know you would have made sure he treated me well. You always did.
Enough about me though, I am not writing this to bother you with what might
have been. I am sure you have plenty of your own regrets, and you don't need
the burden of all of mine, too. A load like that would bring anyone to their
knees.
I want you to know that I have lived my life the best way I knew how, and that
even though I made a lot of mistakes, I was still able to find some happiness.
I hope you have too. I can never tell you how sorry I am for all the pain I put
you through. I had a host of bad choices to choose from, and I chose the wrong
ones and hurt us both in the process. If I were to wish to change anything that
has happened in the years since I met you, it would be to wish I had been happy
with less. I could have been, I think, but I never saw it until it was too
late. It was never anything you did wrong Sev, I hope you know that. I was
greedy and wanted what seemed like more, but it was really just a foolish
dream.
I know you won't see this until Harry is eighteen and it may well be too late
if Sirius has brought him up to hate you, but I have a favour to ask of you
anyway. Harry is a very smart little boy, and I am hoping against hope that he
will not let Sirius turn him into a younger version of James. If you're reading
this, then he has read the letter I left for him telling him to trust you if he
ever needs help or advice and he must have overcome Sirius' prejudices at least
enough to deliver this to you. Thank him for me.
Sirius has promised me he will love Harry and keep him safe, but Sirius is a
bloody idiot about many things, and Remus loves Sirius so much that he isn't
always much better. I suppose it all boils down to the fact I feel like Harry
will need you. I don't know why, but I am as sure of it as I am of the fact
that little rat is going to bite the hand that feeds him very soon. I hope you
can be there for Harry when I cannot; I know that he can count on you as I did.
If you can, please make sure Harry reads my diary. I want him to know
everything, good and bad, so he can make his own choices based on the truth,
not on the memories that Sirius or Remus may have of what went on. I know they
care for my son and that they'll love him, but I want Harry to know how it
really was between his parents, not just the fond recollections of two men who
love James blindly.
Severus, I want you to be happy too. I hope that you have found yourself some
nice young man and settled down to teach at Hogwarts. The very first time we
spoke you were teaching me, and you continued to teach those around you all
through school, whether they wanted to learn or not. It is what you were meant
to do, and I hope this letter finds you as a respected Professor. It is your
destiny to teach, I think.
I have to go now Sev, even though I could go on for another two pages. I have a
very bad feeling tonight and two more letters to write while Sirius is off
checking on the rat.
If you blame yourself for anything that happens to me, I'll come back and haunt
you Severus Snape, I swear I will!
All of my love,
Lily
 
.:.
 
Severus stared at the second page of the letter without really seeing the words
for quite some time after he finished reading it. Eventually he realized that
not only were his cheeks damp, but his knee was too, and a gentle hand was
slowly stroking his leg. Severus lifted his right hand to wipe away his tears
as he moved the letter aside with the other hand, laying it on the table next
to his chair. He then allowed his hand fall to rest on his thigh as he looked
down at Harry, whose eyes were closed, his expression sad as he leaned against
Severus' leg and stroked it in a slow, soothing fashion.
Severus moved his right hand to gently rest against Harry's hair then, causing
Harry to open his eyes and lift his head to look up at him as Severus said
quietly, "I think that we should practice shielding our minds from each other."
Harry gave him a stricken look and a wave of dismay flowed through them both as
Severus quickly explained, "We'll not be much use as professors if we react to
each other instead of our own classes."
"So we'll learn to control it a bit better," Harry replied softly, his green
eyes dark and worried. "I don't want to lose it completely, even for just a few
hours a day, Sev."
Severus slid his fingers through Harry's hair with a slight smile. "Nor do I,
Harry. We'll only block it out to whatever extent we must, I promise you."
Harry smiled back, relieved, but his smile faded away after only a moment. He
lifted his hand to cover Severus' left hand where it rested on Severus' thigh,
asking softly, "Are you okay?"
Severus nodded, turning his hand over with a sad little smile to give Harry's
hand a squeeze. "Yes, I'll be fine. It's just all a bit much, as you said after
you read your letter." He paused, and then added, "I'm to tell you thank you,
for delivering the letter to me. Lily was not sure you would."
"I think she was afraid I would hate you because of Sirius," Harry agreed,
laying his cheek against Severus' knee again. He stared at where their hands
rested on Severus' other thigh, letting go of Severus' hand after a moment to
begin lightly stroking the back of his fingers. "She loved you, though, and
wanted me to trust you."
Severus was silent for a little while, watching Harry's face as gentle
fingertips slowly traced feather light patterns over the back of his hand. He
finally said quietly, "She said that she had a feeling you would need me."
Harry smiled, not looking up. "She was right."
 
***** Chapter 19 *****
 
Severus doused the flame under the cauldron and then looked up to see Harry
watching him with a fond smile. Severus smiled back, asking quietly, "What is
it you see, that makes you look at me like that?"
Harry's smile didn't falter. "The man I love, doing what he most loves to do."
Severus' dark eyes softened with love as he corrected, "Potions are just
something I enjoy, Harry, not what I most love to do."
"What do you love to do most, then?"
Severus walked around the workbench and slid his arms around Harry, a sudden
little smirk quirking up the corner of his mouth. "Do you really have to ask?"
"No, but I love to hear you say it," Harry replied, his smile widening a bit
further as he lifted his arms to wrap them around Severus' neck.
Severus chuckled and shifted a bit closer, resting his forehead against
Harry's. "What I most love to do," Severus said softly, his voice full of
amusement, "is love you."
"Saying things like that will get you shagged," Harry replied, smirking
suddenly.
Severus laughed and gave him a kiss, then pulled away far enough to give Harry
an amused smile. "You have a one track mind."
Harry's smirk didn't fade as he toyed with Severus' hair and replied,
"Sometimes, but it works out well enough. You love my track."
Severus' lips quirked into an answering smirk. "Among other things, yes."
"What sorts of other things?" Harry asked, getting a teasing glint in his eyes
as he pressed closer to Severus.
"I must admit that the fact you're very nearly insatiable is fairly high on my
list," Severus replied, amused. "But you do need to learn to lock the classroom
door before you storm me."
"Shows what you know," Harry replied smugly. "I did, while you were reciting
that last bit of the spell. I don't want any interruptions this time."
"I do believe that is the best idea you've had all day," Severus replied with a
wicked little grin as his hands slid down to cup Harry's arse.
"Just shut up and kiss me," Harry replied, grinning.
"Two excellent ideas in less than ten minutes... Must be some sort of record
for you." Severus smirked at Harry's indignant look and kissed him quickly to
stave off a reply.
 
.:.
 
Uric the Oddball was a highly eccentric wizard famed for, among other things,
wearing a jellyfish for a hat. No one knew if he meant to be the weirdest
wizard of the ages or if it just came naturally, but he was definitely high on
the list and had a rather disconcerting habit of proving it every time someone
spoke to him. That hadn't been a problem for many years because the Slytherins
had happily ignored him and no one else braved the dungeons long enough to chat
up the few paintings, but after Harry claimed the quarters behind Uric's
portrait, Uric suddenly was being talked to again.
Harry hadn't set a password for his door because he wanted students to be able
to come and go freely, so it should have been a simple matter for Sirius and
Remus to sneak in while Harry was otherwise occupied with Severus.
Should have been, not was.
Uric had seized the chance that hiding the doorway to Harry's office gave him,
and he had set himself to becoming a bit of an annoyance to anyone else trying
to get into the room. That particular day he was juggling handfuls of blue and
gold flames in a complex figure eight pattern as he smirked at Remus and
Sirius.
"I say ol' chaps, if ye really be wantin' in, I'll make ye a dealio! Round me
up a nice pink fishywhats-it and I'll let ye pass."
"Pink?" Remus echoed, bemused. "Why pink?"
"Cause I be tired o' the green, o' course!" Uric replied matter-of-factly,
seeming not to pay any attention to them as he continued juggling with that
infuriating smirk.
"Why can't you just change the one you have to pink?" Sirius asked reasonably,
"It's not a difficult charm."
"Wot's that ye say?!" Uric asked indignantly as he dropped the flames, which
extinguished themselves immediately as he turned to finally look at Sirius and
Remus. "Would ye be after implyin' me charming abilities be beneath yours?"
"Of course not!" Remus replied quickly, elbowing Sirius before he could say
anything. "It would just be very difficult for us to get you a jellyfish you'll
like as well as one you transfigured yourself."
"Well, ye got a point there, must admit. Bain't neither of ye got any taste,
lookin' at ye is proof o' that," Uric replied, pursing his lips as he looked
over Sirius and Remus' rather plain clothes, ignoring the way Remus trod rather
hard on Sirius foot when Sirius opened his mouth to reply indignantly. "Ye'll
have to be knowin' the password," Uric said after a moment, smirking again.
"Then I'll be lettin' yer poor tasteless selves into me room."
Remus frowned. "But I thought Harry didn't want a password!"
"Aye, true 'nough, but that's for the wee bairns," Uric replied smugly. "Ye
two'll not be students, so ye shouldn't be nosin' about in Master Harry's
rooms."
"But I'm a professor!" Remus protested, indignant. "I'll not be nosing about, I
have business in there."
"Och, well then, why didn't ye say so?!" Uric replied with a sudden snort. His
painting finally began to swing open as he grumbled to himself, "Barmy git.
Why'nt he tell me he 'us one o' th' professors t'begin with and save me the
trouble o' arguin' wit 'im?"
Sirius and Remus quickly moved into the dark office before Uric could change
his mind, letting the painting swing closed behind them as Sirius muttered
darkly, "No wonder nobody wanted him for their door."
"I heard that ye blighter!" Uric's muffled voice called, annoyed. "Next time
ye'll not be gettin' past ol' Uric without a password, Wizard's honour!"
"Lights!" The torches around the room lit themselves as Remus grabbed Sirius'
sleeve and dragged him away from the doorway before he could say anything else,
giving Sirius a fondly exasperated smile. "Don't make him any madder, we'll
want out again eventually."
Sirius snorted but allowed himself be dragged further inside, looking around
the spacious office while Remus pulled him towards a door at the back of the
room. "It's pretty bloody cold in here, why's there no fire in the grate?"
Remus glanced over at the Floo-sized fireplace and then shrugged. "Maybe Harry
likes it cold." Remus let go of Sirius but didn't continue towards the inner
room, ignoring the bright colours and comfortable furniture of the office as he
watched Sirius look around. "What do you think of it? Harry and Dobby did all
of this themselves while Sev was asleep on the couch."
Sirius looked around, pleasantly surprised to see that Harry's office was quite
homey. Unlike the large imposing things most of the teachers seemed to use, the
desk in the corner farthest from the door was a very nice oak roll-top. It
looked as if it could have come directly out of a Muggle's study, complete with
a vaguely Victorian swivel desk chair. On the desk was a smiley-face mug that
held several different coloured quills as well as a dozen or more Muggle
pencils, a small pile of blank parchment, and a small Muggle-style spiral
notebook. The overall effect of the desk was more modern than any other you
would see at Hogwarts, but not so much so that traditionalists would be
offended by it.
The rest of the room's furnishings were just as well chosen. The walls had
bright tapestries of all four Houses' coats of arms as well as numerous
photographs of all four House Quidditch teams over the years. There was an old
couch in deep purple that had a multitude of tiny snitches and brooms
embroidered on it and equally worn but comfortable looking chairs in the four
House colours with more snitches and brooms embroidered on them. The 'table'
between the couch and chairs looked suspiciously like a beat up old Quidditch
trunk, and had a few copies of Quidditch Weekly, Charm Digest, and
Transfiguration Today scattered across it.
"It's definitely the most welcoming professor's office I've been in." Sirius
said finally, grinning and wondering why none of the other teachers had offices
like this. "Why was Sev sleeping on the couch?"
Remus snorted, amused. "Sirius, darling, why do you think Sev would be asleep
on the couch?"
Sirius looked at him, a bit surprised to hear Remus call him darling, then he
actually thought about it and laughed. "Okay, yes, that was a very stupid
question, Moony. I'll admit it."
Remus nodded, his amber eyes twinkling as he started towards the far doorway.
"You don't have to admit that, Padfoot, I already knew."
Sirius laughed again and moved quickly after Remus, sliding his arms around the
shorter man from behind and resting his chin on Remus' shoulder. He let Remus
tow him across the room that Sirius didn't quite think qualified as an office,
asking, "What's in the next room?"
"Harry's pet project," Remus replied, giving Sirius an amused look out of the
corner of his eye.
The fact that Harry's chosen office had a rather large attached sitting room
with a good-sized sleeping chamber and bathing room had been a benefit Harry
was quick to take advantage of even though he fully intended to continue
sleeping in Severus' quarters. Harry had cleared out the existing furniture to
install mismatched shelving Dobby scrounged from the Hogwarts storerooms in the
'bedroom' area, turning it into a small library. He had then instructed Dobby
to place a table and comfortable chairs in the centre of the 'sitting room',
with bright cushions upholstered equally in all four House sigils scattered
about and more shelves surrounding the walls of the larger chamber.
After the room was furnished, Harry had talked to Sirius and quickly been
granted possession of the entire Black family library, which Sirius was quite
happy to not have in his house any longer. Harry had added his own books to
that collection and then Severus had offered Harry the less dangerous portion
of his collection. Remus had quickly latched on to the idea, adding his own
books on werewolves and Defence to the already considerable gathering. After
Harry, Remus, and Severus spent a few days cataloguing everything, they were
all pleasantly surprised by how comprehensive the selection was. Harry's rooms
now contained a very nice collection of books, many volumes of which weren't in
Hogwarts' main library for one reason or another.
Once all of the books were arrayed on the shelves, the three of them had spent
two long afternoons moving the more dangerous and rare tomes out of the Black
family collection to Severus' study where students wouldn't somehow get access
to them. While they worked, they discussed Harry's idea to use the rooms not
only for Harry's education but also for that of any upperclassmen who wanted to
study there. Severus had been harder to convince than Remus, but he had finally
been swayed to the idea that Harry could do a lot of good by sharing his
private library with the older students. He had gone on to add that helping the
students with their studies would be good for Harry, and had even decided to
spend time there himself some evenings while he graded papers.
Dumbledore had popped in soon after that, and when he wasn't at all surprised
by their plans, Harry, Severus, and Remus became even more convinced that
Dumbledore knew everything that went on in Hogwarts. Dumbledore had given them
his full backing then and profusely thanked them for all of their hard work
putting together a room he felt was so sorely needed. Harry's office and
library were officially cleared as a meeting place where House prejudices would
be left at the door and everyone would be treated as equals.
"Oh, that all-House common room he was going on about last weekend?" Sirius
asked as he looked at the doorway again, obviously much more interested. "Where
you put all those musty old books he carted off for me?"
"Yes, that would be it," Remus replied as he paused to open the door, resisting
the urge to laugh at Sirius' easy dismissal of a library full of books easily
worth as much as Sirius' entire house. "He's very proud of it and Albus is
delighted that Harry is going to give it a go. If anyone can get students from
all the Houses to be together in peace, it's Harry." Remus turned the doorknob,
pushing the door open.
Immediately there were several exclamations of surprise, followed by Hermione's
unmistakable voice saying, "I told you we should have warded the door to let us
know if someone came in, but did anyone listen? No, of course not, I'm just a
worry-wart."
Remus pushed the door open the rest of the way as Sirius let go of him, looking
around the room. Hermione, Ron, Fred, and George were scattered about the room
putting up streamers, while Dean and Ginny hung up the tail end of a banner
that read, 'Happy Eighteenth, Harry!'
Remus thought it was George that gave Hermione a dirty look and said, "Well
then you go put one on the door, Miss Know It All! I don't know of a single
ward I can set that Harry and Snape won't feel as soon as I cast it, especially
down here in their dungeons. Why do you think we're decorating without magic?!
Hello!"
Hermione was obviously surprised and more than a little bit annoyed at that,
and Remus chuckled. "He's right Hermione. They have the whole place warded to
keep the Slytherins out of trouble next term, just in case any of the ex-Death
Eaters' children try to start something. They'll feel a ward as soon as you
cast it and both of them are still wary enough of unexpected magic that they
would probably come in here ready to jinx the first thing that moved."
"Which is not the best way to start a surprise party, since jumping out from
behind the tables would get us hexed," the other twin finished, smirking. "So
just go back to hanging streamers and don't worry about it."
"Besides," the first twin -- Remus was almost certain he was George -- added,
"Snape promised he'd try to keep him busy another hour at least, and he's a man
of his word."
"Too right, Freddie," George agreed with a smirk, proving Remus wrong as George
went back to hanging streamers. "Especially when keeping his word involves
shagging Harry."
"George!" Hermione exclaimed, blushing as Ginny and Dean snickered in the far
corner while Remus and Sirius both tried not to laugh. "You don't know that
they're ... shagging! And even if they are, it's not polite to say that they
are!"
"Hermione, my dear sister-to-be," George replied, looking over his shoulder at
her with an infuriating smirk, "Since when have I ever had more than a passing
acquaintance with being polite?" Everyone but Ron and Hermione laughed at that
while Hermione spluttered. George looked back at the streamer, taping it to the
wall and still smirking as he added, "And if Sev's not shagging him, he's a
bigger idiot than I ever thought. Harry's quite the shaggable guy."
"Too bloody right he is," Dean agreed with a laugh.
Ginny nodded, grinning. "Harry may be barely as tall as me, but I swear those
legs of his look like they go on for miles..."
"And Severus is no slouch," Dean added, grinning back at Ginny. "That pale skin
he hides so well goes wonderfully with those black eyes of his, and those
hands."
"Merlin, yes!" Ginny agreed, nodding vigorously as Remus and Sirius watched her
and Dean talk, both of them trying not to laugh. "And that voice, gods... I'm
not sure which I'd like to be for a night: Harry, Sev, or their bed curtains."
Dean laughed. "The bed curtains, definitely."
Fred and George were both staring at Ginny in shock as Ginny grinned wickedly
and agreed, "Yeah, that'd be a real treat. Then you could watch them fu--"
Fred cut Ginny off mid-word, exclaiming, "Gin! Don't you dare finish that
thought, just stop right there." Ginny stuck her tongue out at him, but Fred
paid no attention to her as he turned his attention to Dean and added, "And
Dean, buddy, I don't think you need to be talking boys with our baby sister.
Especially not Professor Snape; that's just whole worlds of wrong..."
"...Because you two are scaring us," George went on, still wide-eyed.
"And that's a very scary thing," Fred finished firmly.
Ginny snorted and gave Dean a little grin. "We can talk about them later."
Dean nodded, winking at Ginny just as Ron spoke up, looking like he had smelled
something nasty. "Could everyone please stop talking about Harry and Snape
shagging? That's not a mental image I want to think on, thanks ever-so."
Fred, Ginny, and Dean snickered at that while George gave Ron a mock concerned
look and asked, "Aww, is ickle Wonniekins still afwaid of the big bad Potions
Pwofessor?"
Ron just growled and flipped George off, causing everyone, even Hermione, to
laugh.
 
.:.
 
Severus was sprawled bonelessly face down on a thick dark green mat that
covered most of the floor between the worktable and desk, idly debating whether
they really had to go to the surprise party. He thought Harry had been truly
inspired when he transfigured that sock into a Muggle thing called a foo-
something-or-other, and Severus was quite comfortable enough that he was really
in no hurry to move. He was pleasantly tired and Harry was draped across his
back feeling just as happy and comfortable, so all was right with their world.
It would be very easy for them both to fall asleep right there, even though the
sweat cooling on Severus' bare skin was making him a bit cold. He truly wanted
to just relax and enjoy the peace, love, and contentment that flooded them
both, drifting off to sleep in Harry's arms while they let the rest of the
world slide for a few hours, but he knew that he wouldn't. The others had put a
lot of work into the party because they wanted it to be special for Harry, and
Severus wanted to see how his life-mate would react to having his family do
something like this for him. That meant he couldn't really lay there with Harry
the rest of the afternoon, however much he might want to.
"You're thinking too much," Harry murmured then, distracting Severus from his
thoughts. Harry's lips moved against his shoulder, kissing the sweaty skin
lingeringly before Harry added softly, "I'll have to fix that."
Harry shifted off of him then and Severus made a soft protesting noise, turning
his head to look at Harry. Harry nuzzled aside the hair the nape of Severus'
neck, licking at the salty skin there before he began leaving slow open-mouthed
kisses along Severus' shoulder. One of Harry's hands settled on Severus' waist
after a moment to stroke slowly up his side, making Severus shift slightly,
leaning into the touch. Harry smiled against his back and licked lightly along
the lower edge of Severus' shoulder blade, curving his hand around Severus'
side and slowly stroking over his ribs.
Severus arched under him with a soft pleased noise as his skin began tingling,
then felt Harry block him from his mind. He swallowed hard, remembering how
Harry blocking him out had intensified their orgasms the first time as he
whispered softly, "Harry."
"Yes?" Harry whispered, his breath ghosting against Severus' damp skin.
Severus shivered as Harry started trailing little nibbling kisses along his
spine, sliding the hand on Severus' side around to lightly stroke Severus'
nipple with his fingertips. Severus moved into the teasing touch, fighting the
urge to moan as he muttered, "You quite enjoy torturing me, I think."
Harry swirled his tongue against a reddened mark on the sweaty skin at the
hollow of Severus' back instead of answering, then bit the upper curve of his
arse. Severus groaned despite his best intentions and spread his legs a bit,
arching his back to lift his hips towards Harry's mouth. Harry gently pinched
his nipple as he began leaving little nipping kisses across silky-smooth skin,
and Severus growled softly as his arse flexed against Harry's lips.
Harry smirked and licked slowly along the lower curve of Severus' arse,
nuzzling at the juncture of his thighs as he murmured, "I love how you taste."
Severus made a vaguely agreeing noise and spread his legs even further in
obvious invitation, then Harry licked firmly across his entrance, tasting semen
and the slight mint aftertaste left by the lube they used. Severus writhed at
the touch, pressing back with a needy little moan as Harry's tongue began to
swirl slowly against his skin. Harry moved his hands to Severus' hips,
encouraging him to lift up onto his knees and then pressing close to lick at
the soft skin behind Severus' balls as one hand slid around to close around
Severus' renewed erection, the other hand staying on Severus' hip to steady
them both. Severus groaned and thrust into Harry's hand, making Harry's lips
curve into a grin as he licked across his entrance again before biting down on
the sensitive skin at the lower curve of Severus' arse.
Severus shuddered as his hips jerked slightly, his cock throbbing in Harry's
hand. Harry tightened his grip, stroking Severus' cock firmly as he trailed
nipping kisses over the curve of Severus' arse. Severus moaned and thrust into
his hand again, his voice soft and husky as he whispered, "Harry..."
Harry seemed almost not to hear Severus as his tongue dipped into the cleft of
Severus' arse, dragging slowly upwards until he reached the hollow of Severus'
lower back again. He sucked and bit gently at the darkening mark there that
contrasted sharply against the pale skin around it before he suddenly moved,
sliding up Severus' body to cover it with his own as he nuzzled the back of
Severus' neck. The head of Harry's cock slid across Severus' entrance when he
pressed his body against him, nudging the underside of Severus' balls as the
older man arched back against him with another needy little moan.
"Did you want something, love?" Harry whispered teasingly into Severus' ear,
squeezing Severus' cock again as he rocked his hips to rub his own cock slowly
against the sensitive skin behind Severus' balls.
"You," Severus growled softly, thrusting into Harry's hand.
Harry smirked and bit Severus' shoulder gently before he whispered into his
ear, "What do you want me to do?"
"Just fuck me already," Severus replied impatiently, rocking back against him
and letting out a frustrated noise as Harry's cock slid against his entrance.
"What's the magic word?" Harry asked, still smirking as he tightened his grip
on Severus' hip to hold him still and then rubbed the thumb of his other hand
over the head of Severus' cock
Severus turned his head, letting Harry see the way his dark eyes were
glittering with need as he growled out, "Now."
"That'll do," Harry replied with a grin, letting go of Severus' cock as he
pressed himself against Severus' back and stretched forward to kiss him
quickly. He pulled almost completely away from Severus then and guided the head
of his cock to nudge against Severus' entrance, which was still a bit loose
from their recent activities. Severus moved back into the pressure, groaning
softly as Harry slowly slid in until his belly was pressed against Severus'
arse. Harry's arms slid around Severus' waist again, pulling him back towards
him as Harry whispered, "You feel so good."
Severus followed the pull to lean back against Harry's chest, sitting back on
Harry's thighs and moving his hands to slowly stroke Harry's arms. He relaxed
back against Harry then, letting Harry hold his weight and savouring the
sensation of being filled as he murmured softly, "Not as good as you do."
Harry's hips flexed to pull out of Severus a bit and then thrust back into him
shallowly, beginning a leisurely rhythm that Severus echoed by slowly
undulating against him. Harry slowly kissed his way along Severus' shoulder,
whispering between kisses, "Nothing ... feels better ... than ... making ...
love ... with you."
Severus felt the link between their minds open again and closed his eyes with a
low moan as he felt heat of Harry's desire and wave of pure pleasure wash over
him, barely noticing the way Harry's arms tightened around him. He let himself
get lost in the feedback loop that the rings caused, intensifying everything
they felt even though having Harry making love to him was already overwhelming.
Their bodies began moving faster seemingly of their own accord, heading towards
a blinding climax that was over much too soon, even though it seemed as if it
lasted forever.
Severus eventually became aware of his surroundings again to find himself
laying on his side, his back pressed against Harry's chest with Harry's arms
wrapped around his waist. He had no idea how much time had passed, but the
sweat that had covered them both was already dry so it had been a little while.
Harry had also gotten them a pillow and a blanket from somewhere, and Severus
shifted one of his legs to get a bit more comfortable, relaxing back against
Harry's chest. The pleasantly tired feeling Severus had before had settled into
near-exhaustion mingled with something very close to bliss, two things that he
was becoming very used to feeling when he laid in Harry's arms.
Harry nuzzled his shoulder after a little while, murmuring against it, "I love
you more than I could ever put into words."
Severus ran his hand over Harry's arm, revelling in the love and contentment
flooding them both. "I know Harry, and I love you just as much." Harry made a
soft pleased noise and nuzzled his hair as Severus smiled and added with a
sudden wave of wry amusement, "Even if you are going to be the death of me."
Harry chuckled and kissed the nape of his neck. "We'll die happy and together
though."
Severus made a soft pleased noise and turned his head, shifting in Harry's arms
to roll over and look at him as he murmured, "Sounds heavenly."
"Doesn't it?" Harry agreed with a smile. He looked into Severus' eyes a moment
longer and then gave Severus a slow, loving kiss that said how they both felt
better than any words could have.
 
***** Chapter 20 *****
 
Severus transfigured the futon-thing back into a sock and then leaned
comfortably on one of the desks while Harry dressed. He began twirling his wand
absently as he watched his life-mate dress, admiring the way Harry's rather
brief boxers set off his muscular thighs. Harry had gorgeous legs, legacy of
years of running up and down stairs and playing Quidditch, and Severus quite
enjoyed the opportunity to stare at them a bit.
"That was cheating you know," Harry muttered as he bent to grab his jeans out
from under the worktable. "Waiting until I fell asleep to take a Pepper-Up and
then not saving any for me."
Severus smirked, watching Harry's muscles ripple under smooth tanned skin as
Harry stepped into his jeans. "We've been through that before, and quite often.
I like to win, Harry. Fair has very little to do with it."
Severus resisted the urge to tease Harry about the way his shaggy hair was
standing up in clumps, wondering idly whether he should encourage Harry to cut
his hair or not. He quite liked Harry's hair and wanted to see what it would
look like long, but he could have done without the shaggy unkempt look it
seemed perpetually stuck in as it grew. He was distracted from thinking about
Harry's hair when Harry gave him a dirty look that was mostly spoiled by the
amusement Harry was trying – and failing -- to hide.
Severus' lips twitched and he watched Harry zip and button his jeans as he
added, "I needed to put away the Wolfsbane Potion, and you needed the sleep."
Harry started looking around again. "I could use a few hours, I'll admit, but
half an hour didn't do much good. And you're the one who had my shirt last, so
where did you throw it?"
"You could just call it," Severus replied with a slight smirk, "but I believe
it's behind my desk." Harry turned to walk over the desk and Severus let his
gaze roam down over Harry's arse, smirking slightly at the way the denim clung
to the full curves and thinking that maybe it was a good thing Harry never paid
attention when he said that Harry was old enough to wear real trousers. "At
least one of your boots should be back there as well."
"I'm all for spontaneously ripping each other's clothes off, we both know that,
but next time you can just drop things, you don't have to throw them." Harry
ducked to pick his shirt up out of the floor, grabbing his boot from under the
chair and then dropping it on the desk with a thump. He turned to look at
Severus, giving him a bemused smile while he shrugged into his shirt. "I didn't
scatter your clothes everywhere."
"Yes, but I wasn't squirming about while you were taking them off, either,"
Severus replied, his smirk widening. "Unlike you, I held fairly still."
Harry grinned, buttoning his shirt. "But I didn't want to hold still, I wanted
to see if I could make you yell again."
"And then you did," Severus agreed, still smirking. "Your natural talents are
definitely not restricted to Quidditch."
"Acciosocks." Harry's socks lifted off the floor and flew at him from different
directions as Harry hopped up to sit on the desk, both socks hitting his chest
a moment later and then falling to his lap. He laid one sock aside and began
putting the other one on as he went on, "I have quite a lot of natural skills,
and I know each and every one of them because you made me write them all down."
Severus lips twitched at that but he didn't say anything and after a moment
Harry added, "Besides, I've learnt from the very best, so it's only appropriate
that I'm good in the sack."
Severus laughed. "Harry, you are not 'good in the sack'." Harry looked up,
obviously surprised, and Severus grinned wickedly at him. "You're bloody
brilliant."
Harry grinned, looking down to put on his boot. "Like I said, I learnt from the
best."
 
.:.
 
Ginny and Dean lay sprawled comfortably on one of the piles of cushions that
were scattered about Harry's common room, Dean leaning against the wall while
Ginny used his chest as a backrest and read a book. Both of them were
completely oblivious to the fact Ron, Fred, and George were all watching them,
absorbed in the book about warding while Dean idly played with Ginny's shoulder
length red hair.
Dean had been reading over her shoulder for the last twenty minutes,
occasionally commenting on something in the book or saying something to make
her laugh, and her brothers weren't at all sure they liked how comfortable
those two were with each other. Besides the fact Dean had a definite reputation
for sleeping around, they were all pretty certain he was a poofter, so they
couldn't quite figure out why he and Ginny seemed attracted to each other.
Ron was, as usual, the first to get to the point he couldn't take it anymore
and just blurt out what he was thinking. "Dean, I thought you were queer?"
Ginny and Dean both looked up in surprise and Dean asked, "Whatever gave you
that idea?"
"Well, you know, the fact you've shagged just about every guy I know might have
something to do with it," Ron replied, his tone making it obvious he thought
that was a very stupid question.
Ginny giggled and looked over her shoulder at Dean. "You do get around, don't
you?"
Dean smirked. "Even the straight boys can't resist my charms. Little bit of a
lick and nip and they're putty in my hands."
Fred and George both laughed at that as Ginny giggled again and settled back
against Dean's chest to keep reading her book, thinking the matter settled.
Ron couldn't quite drop it though, and after a minute or two he asked, "So,
Dean, are you?"
"Am I what?" Dean asked, looking back up at Ron. "Queer?" Ron nodded and then
Dean shrugged slightly, grinning. "Depends on who I'm with."
Ginny giggled again and tipped her head back against Dean's shoulder so she
could see his face. "You're so bad."
Dean smirked at her, giving her hair a tug. "And you quite like that."
"Well, yes," Ginny agreed, grinning. "It's much more fun to hang out with
someone I can't scandalize."
"Ditto for me, sweets," Dean replied with a laugh.
"So what, are you two dating?" Ron asked, looking even more confused.
Hermione spoke up then from her seat at the table, where she had been talking
with Remus and Sirius about a book she had found on werewolves, not even
bothering to look at Ron. "Ron, quit being so nosy. Ginny's quite old enough to
choose her own friends."
Ginny smirked at her older brother. "Yeah Ronnie, quit being nosy."
Ron gave Ginny a dirty look but sat back against the shelves he had been
leaning on, not wanting to start a fight with Hermione because she had been
moody all day.
George didn't care if he annoyed Hermione though, so he pressed for more
information, grinning at Dean as he said, "C'mon mate, y'know you want to tell
us. Are you dating my favourite little sister?"
"Your only little sister," Ginny corrected.
Dean surprised the Weasley boys by looking at Ginny and asking, "Am I dating
his sister?"
Ginny gave him an appraising look, her hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. "Can
you keep it in your pants with everyone else?"
"Depends," Dean replied. "Do I have to?"
"If you want anything from me you do," Ginny replied immediately, trying not to
laugh.
Dean smirked at her, a wicked glint in his eyes as he asked, "And what exactly
might 'anything' be?"
Ginny returned the smirk and leaned up to whisper into his ear for a few
moments, then settled back down against Dean's chest.
Dean grinned at George. "Yes, I'm dating your little sister." He laughed
suddenly, then looked at Ginny and added, "Which will be fun, because I know
you won't mind talking boys."
"It's my favourite hobby," Ginny replied, grinning. "And I've noticed you have
excellent taste."
"My life just can't get any weirder," Ron said then, making everyone look at
him in surprise to see he was staring at Ginny and Dean a bit wide-eyed. "My
best friend is married to a Slytherin and my sister is dating the only poofter
I know who gets more action than my brothers."
"No way!" Fred said, laughing. "Nobody gets more action than we do."
"Wouldn't want to bet on that, would you?" Dean asked, smirking.
"Oh yes, do!" Ginny said with a grin, her eyebrows going up. "I want in, I
could use a few things before the term starts."
"Betting against your boyfriend is bad form," George said with a smug look.
"Who said I'd bet against him?" Ginny replied, smirking.
Remus chuckled, shaking his head as Sirius said, "There aren't many girls who'd
not be upset by the boy they're dating or even want to date making a boast like
that."
Ginny grinned. "But it's just the truth. I heard Seamus and Nevvy talking about
it at the end of term party, after Dean convinced Nevvy he's not nearly as
straight as he thought he was. Made Seamus' whole summer I think, he's been
trying to get Nevvy to experiment a bit for years."
Dean laughed, poking Ginny in the ribs and making her squirm, giggling. "Now
I'll have to go dig up the dirt on you, sweets... Who've you dated recently?"
"I haven't really dated anyone since Terry and I broke up about a year ago,"
Ginny replied, giggling as he poked her side once more and then let her settle
back against his chest again. "Been to the tower a bit since, but not with
anyone special."
"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, scandalized.
"What?" Ginny asked, looking up at Hermione in surprise.
"That's awful," Hermione said, her expression very disapproving. "A girl isn't
supposed to go ... there... with just anyone!"
Ginny let out a very unladylike snort. "I don't snog just anyone. I have very
good taste."
Dean grinned, patting Ginny's thigh familiarly. "And an excellent reputation,
too. You're much better at keeping your roving on the down-low than I am."
"I have to be," Ginny replied, giving Ron and the twins a dirty look. "Harry's
the only one of my brothers not stuck on the idea I'm twelve years old and
innocent as a lamb."
"Innocent's way overrated," Dean said then, smirking. "And as I recall, twelve
was pretty bloody boring."
"I liked twelve!" Ron protested. "The biggest problem I had then was whether or
not I'd pass my Potions final."
Ginny and Dean both laughed as Fred and George looked at seriously each other,
then after a moment Fred said, "We're going to have to watch him..."
"...And make sure he treats her right," George went on, nodding. "And if he
doesn't..."
"...We'll have his bollocks for key chains," Fred finished, grinning.
"Ouch," Dean said, giving Fred and George an amused but pained look as Sirius
and Remus both tried not to laugh.
"You can't have them," Ginny said then, smirking at her older brothers as they
turned to look at her in surprise. "They're mine now." Dean smirked at that
while Ron wrinkled his nose, and then Ginny moved her hand in a practiced flick
and a little dagger fell from her sleeve. Fred and George's expressions turned
into sudden smirks as she flipped it into the air and caught it again, adding,
"And if he cheats on me, I'll keep them as a souvenir."
"Damn woman, you're dangerous!" Dean exclaimed, his eyes going wide. "Put that
thing away, I like my bits and pieces just as they are."
Ginny gave him a sweet smile, tucking the knife away again. "Still want to date
me?"
"Promise not to pull a knife on me as long as I treat you right?" Dean asked
instead of answering, a slight smile lurking at the corners of his mouth.
"Promise," Ginny replied, smiling at him as she nodded.
"Cool." Dean grinned at her, reaching up to tug gently on her hair again. "I
like dangerous women."
 
.:.
 
"I still don't think it's in here," Harry was saying as he paused in front of
Uric. "Hello Uric, could you let us in please?"
"O' course, Harry! Evenin' Professor Snape, sir."
Uric's painting swung open to let them in as Severus murmured, "Good evening,
Uric." Harry walked into his office and Severus stepped through the doorway
after him as he added, "The last time I saw you with it, it was on the table in
your library."
"I had it yesterday in our rooms, Sev, I know I did," Harry replied, moving
towards the door at the back of the room. They were looking for the list Harry
had made of all of his 'special' talents, which Severus wanted to go over
because he thought Harry had likely left a few things he could do off the list.
"I added riding a broom to the list because you said that being such a good
Seeker was likely a facet of my magical abilities, and then I was sure I put it
on the desk in your study."
"Well, it's not there now, is it?" Severus replied reasonably, obviously amused
as he followed Harry towards the door.
"No, it wasn't," Harry agreed, reaching for the doorknob.
'Which would be because I had Dobby move it into your desk,' Severus thought,
amused. He moved to stand closely behind Harry, casually resting a hand on the
small of Harry's back as he said aloud, "I'm sure we will find it, there aren't
many places you've been in the last two days."
Harry stepped into the room and barely had time to register the streamers,
balloons and banner before people jumped from behind the table and either side
of the door yelling, "Surprise!"
Harry was so shocked by the sudden noise that he involuntarily took a step
backwards, and his shoulders encountered Severus' chest just as Severus' hands
moved to his waist to steady him. Harry looked around as a grin spread across
his face, his surprise quickly changing to happiness as he saw that the twins,
Ron, Hermione, Dean, Ginny, Remus, and Sirius were all there beaming at him.
Severus gave him a little push and Harry stepped into the room further to be
met by Ron, who grinned and gave Harry a quick hug as he said, "Happy birthday,
Harry! Mum would've been here, but she's helping Fleur with the baby, he's got
colic again."
Ron's hug was followed by hugs from everyone else as they wished Harry a happy
birthday, everyone talking at once while Harry just beamed at them all.
Severus felt so much happiness coursing through their bond that he was actually
grinning as he moved to one side of the door and closed it. He walked over to
stand at one end of the table in the middle of the room to watch them, only
half listening to the others teasing and talking to Harry as he let himself
enjoy seeing Harry so completely happy and surprised. He was so absorbed in
watching Harry that he didn't notice Sirius and Remus had moved to stand next
to him, watching Harry with matching grins as he was urged to open his
presents.
"You should be proud of yourself," Sirius said suddenly, standing between
Severus and Remus as they watched Harry begin opening his gifts, starting with
the one from Ron and Hermione.
Severus glanced at Sirius, surprised, and then looked back towards Harry to
watch him open the wrapping paper. "I did nothing more than keep him occupied
this afternoon." The package was quickly revealed to contain a rather thick,
heavily illustrated book on Quidditch as well as two tickets to the World Cup
game in three weeks.
Sirius snorted, giving Severus an amused look as Harry thanked Ron and Hermione
profusely for the gift. "Making sure that he had a decent birthday party is the
least of it, Sev. You've made him happier than he's ever been before."
Severus laughed softly, keeping his eyes on Harry as he was offered another
present to open, this one from Fred and George. "It's only fair, Sirius. He's
done the same for me."
Harry was trying to find a seam in the paper on the box in his hands so he
could unwrap it, ignoring Fred and George's snickers until Ginny handed him her
knife. Harry paused just long enough to grin and thank her before he carefully
slit the paper at one corner, ignoring Fred and George's protests that he was
cheating.
Sirius chuckled and then said quietly, "You two really were meant for each
other, I think. I can never apologize enough for how I treated you both the
first few days you were together."
"You don't have to apologize, Sirius," Severus replied, smiling at Sirius
before he looked back towards the cluster of people to watch Harry open the
box. "We both understand how hard it was for you to see us falling in love.
It's in the past now and best forgotten."
Harry got the box open and looked into it, then turned beet red and closed it
quickly. Ginny and Dean dissolved into gales of laughter while Ron made a face
and Hermione gave the twins a scandalized look, exclaiming, "I thought you
agreed not to buy him anything embarrassing!"
Fred smirked at her. "But see, I had already bought the body paints and the
cuffs Hermione, and George had ordered the vibe, so we didn't buy him anything
after you told us not to. You didn't ask us not to give him anything
embarrassing, just not to buy it."
Severus laughed then and Harry, whose face was still more than a little red,
looked at him across the table with a speculative look Severus knew well.
Severus winked at him, surprising George, who had followed Harry's gaze to see
what he was looking at.
Harry set the box aside with a sudden grin and reached for the next one,
drawing everyone's attention back to him as he continued unwrapping his
presents.
 
.:.
 
It was a little after midnight when Harry wandered out into his office, where
Severus was sitting in Harry's favourite chair talking to Remus, Sirius, and
Hermione about the upcoming term. Harry stood and watched them talk for a
little while, smiling sleepily and just enjoying seeing his family together. He
didn't bother to say anything as he finally crossed the room to Severus and
crawled into his lap with a soft yawn, curling up with his legs hanging over
the arm of the chair and his head tucked under Severus' chin.
Severus chuckled at the permeating feeling of happy sleepiness he was getting
from Harry and wrapped his arms around him, kissing the top of Harry's head.
"Pepper-up wore off I suppose?" Severus asked softly.
Sirius laughed as Harry nodded, yawning again and snuggling even closer as his
eyes closed. "Mmm, I need a nap."
"You do realize you're too heavy to sleep in my lap, correct?" Severus asked
then, amused.
"But now I'm all comfy," Harry replied sleepily, nuzzling Severus' neck.
Severus gave the top of Harry's head a bemused look as Remus chuckled and
asked, "Would you like some help getting him to your room?"
Severus shook his head, smiling. "I can get him up." Sirius and Remus both
laughed at that as Hermione blushed, giggling, then Severus realized what he
had said and laughed. "Get your minds out of the gutter, I meant get him on his
feet."
"But the gutter's fun," Sirius replied, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.
Severus snorted and didn't bother to answer him, instead bending his head to
nuzzle Harry's ear and whisper something too quiet for anyone else to hear.
Harry pulled away and look at him, blinking as he asked, "Huh?"
Severus chuckled and kissed Harry quickly, then whispered into his ear again as
he absently ran one hand over Harry's hip.
After a moment Harry pulled away a bit further, a little grin curving his lips.
"Promise?"
"Yes," Severus replied with a little smile. "Consider it one of your birthday
presents."
Harry smirked. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"
Severus chuckled. "For you to get off my lap and go say goodnight to your
friends."
"Oh," Harry replied, bemused. "Okay." He squirmed around on Severus' lap,
ostensibly so that he could put his feet on the floor, and then positively
giggled when Severus let out a little growl and then grabbed Harry's waist,
pushing him to his feet.
"Tease," Severus said, giving Harry a dirty look that was totally belied by the
sparkle in his eyes.
Harry turned and grinned at him, putting his hands on Severus' shoulders and
leaning down to kiss him, then he pulled away and started towards the inner
rooms. "It only counts as teasing if I won't follow through."
Severus snorted, trying not to laugh. "Anytime you do that in public, it counts
as teasing, Harry."
Harry paused at the door to the inner room and smirked at Severus. "Then I need
to tease you more often."
Harry disappeared into the next room as Severus groaned and looked at Hermione,
Sirius, and Remus. "I've created a monster."
"And had fun doing it, by all appearances," Remus agreed, laughing.
"Poor baby," Sirius added, smirking as Hermione giggled.
Severus made a face at them. "You three are so much help."
"Thank you," Sirius replied, grinning. "We love to help, isn't that right,
Hermione?"
Sirius looked at Hermione, who giggled again and nodded. "Oh yes."
Severus snorted and stood up, walking towards the inner room. "I never would
have guessed."
Sirius, Remus, and Hermione all just laughed.
 
.:.
 
Harry yawned softly a little while later, leaning back against Severus' chest
and enjoying the pleasantly sleepy and boneless feeling permeating them both.
Severus kissed below his ear and then murmured, "Did you have a good birthday,
love?"
Harry smiled. "The best ever."
Severus nuzzled the nape of Harry's neck. "I'm glad. I wanted you to have a
good birthday."
"I did," Harry replied, rubbing his hand sleepily along Severus' arm as he sent
him a wave of love and happiness that said how he felt much better than mere
words could.
Severus returned the wave of love, smiling against the soft tanned skin of
Harry's neck as he felt Harry relaxing into sleep. It was only a few moments
before Severus drifted off to sleep himself, his last conscious thought that he
loved to be able to hold Harry while he slept.
 
***** Epilogue *****
 
The Great Hall was filling quickly, but the high end of all four tables
remained conspicuously empty to allow room for the first years. Most of the
professors were already at the staff table, watching the older students
arriving for the new term amidst large amounts of laughter and yelled greetings
to friends.
Severus was sitting at the end of the staff table in his usual black school
robes, watching the students while Remus sat in Harry's seat to his immediate
left talking to Filius Flitwick. Harry had been called away from the Great Hall
to answer an urgent call from Hermione by Floo, and Severus had been idly
listening to Remus and Flitwick ever since. The other two professors were
discussing the lessons they had planned so that their fourth years would get
practical experience using charms in defensive situations, and while Severus
thought it was a good idea, it didn't particularly fascinate him.
Severus was more interested in the waves of smugness and concern had been
feeling from Harry for the last ten minutes, all mingled with so much amusement
that Severus was smirking. He had seriously considered blocking Harry out
several times just so that the students would stop staring at him, but he
hadn't done it. He was wondering yet again what was so important that Hermione
hadn't thought it could wait when he heard the staff room door close and looked
up to see Harry walking towards him.
Harry was wearing his Quidditch boots with tight black trousers and a dark blue
shirt that set off his lean body to its best advantage. He wore an open black
robe over it all that was very similar to student robes, but instead of the
crest of a single House he wore the Hogwarts crest. He was quite oblivious to
the fact he looked very good, but many girls in the Great Hall and even a few
of the boys turned their heads to watch him as he walked over to Severus.
Harry stopped next to him, grinning as he rested one hand on Severus' shoulder
and leaned down to give him a kiss that Severus returned warmly.
Many the students in the Hall stopped whatever they were saying to stare in
shock as the others turned to whoever was next to them and whispered some
variation of, "Did you see that?!"
Harry was oblivious to the students, ignoring the sudden drop in noise level in
the Hall as he grinned at Severus. "You'll never guess what has Hermione in
such a tear."
Remus turned towards them then, listening as Severus gave Harry an amused look
and said, "Then why don't you go ahead and tell me, and save me the trouble of
attempting to?"
Harry smirked. "She's pregnant."
Severus' eyes widened. "Harry, tell me you're joking, please."
Harry laughed at the wave of shock he felt pass through their bond. "Nope,
completely serious! She's been going spare since she found out a few hours ago,
and she's almost ready to kill Ron because he told their parents. Her mother
and Molly are both nagging her to move the wedding up, but Hermione still wants
to get married during the Christmas holidays so everyone can be there. She's
also determined not to drop out of her Healer training, even though she's due
in early February."
"Merlin!" Severus exclaimed, looking horrified even though Harry could feel he
wasn't really quite as upset as he appeared. "Not the second in another
generation of Weasleys already! We're just barely getting rid of the last lot!"
Remus chuckled as Harry swatted Severus' shoulder with a laugh and said, "Sev!
Be nice!"
Severus snorted, giving Harry a level look as he replied, "I am being nice. The
prospect of a new generation of Weasley children with Granger's intelligence is
quite frightening!"
Harry tried hard to keep a straight face but he only managed to for a moment
before he gave up and laughed.
Severus gave him a bemused smile that was belied by the amusement sparkling in
his eyes just as there was a sudden flash that made them both blink and look
up. Colin Creevey was standing on the far side of the staff table, beaming at
them over a much more modern camera than he'd had the year before as he said
happily, "Hi, Harry!"
Harry grinned at Colin, hoping Severus wouldn't fire off a scathing remark at
Colin just for breathing with too much enthusiasm. "Hello, Colin. How was your
summer?"
"Oh, it was the best ever!" Colin gushed, still beaming at Harry despite the
look Severus was giving him. "I got a Wizarding camera for my birthday, Harry,
and the developing kit and everything! I've been taking loads of photographs!"
"That's great, Colin," Harry replied, smiling. "You'll have to let me see some
of the photos you've taken sometime."
"Mr. Creevey," Severus said then, making Harry and Colin both look at him. "I
do believe you're supposed to be at the Gryffindor table, are you not?"
"Yes sir," Colin replied, explaining quickly, "I just wanted to get a picture
of you with Harry. I've never seen you look so happy."
Harry fought the urge to laugh at the surprise he felt through their bond then,
but Severus managed not to let his shock show hardly at all, merely raising an
eyebrow as he asked, "And my current happiness is sufficient cause for you to
be where you do not belong, Mr. Creevey?"
Colin blushed slightly. "No sir."
"I suggest you rejoin your friends then, Mr. Creevey." Severus gave Colin a
level look, and Colin nodded quickly as he turned to go. Severus' lips twitched
into a small smile as he added, "Though I would quite appreciate it if you
would make a copy of the photograph for me."
"Yes sir!" Colin replied as he stopped and looked back, obviously surprised but
already beaming again. "Could I take another? Just to make sure one of them
turns out well. They don't always, I'm still getting the hang of mixing the
developing solution right."
Harry grinned at Colin. "Sure Colin, but hurry, here comes Professor
Dumbledore." Colin raised the camera again as Harry leaned closer to Severus,
resting his arm across Severus' shoulders with a bright grin at Colin as he
muttered, "Smile a little wider, Sev. If you're lucky, you'll not have to see
him again for two whole days."
Severus snorted softly, smiling as he replied, "I can only hope."
Colin took the picture and then waved to them both, running to join the
Gryffindor table as Remus chuckled and stood to go take his own seat on the far
end next to Hagrid.
Harry moved to sit next to Severus, grinning at him. "The Creeveys really
aren't that bad when they're not afraid they'll be turned into toads."
Severus smirked, suddenly smug. "I quite prefer them to be terrified, then they
keep their distance with those explosives they attempt to call potions."
Dumbledore stopped at his chair and clapped before Harry could reply, causing
Harry to just give Severus a grin before he turned to watch the doors of the
Great Hall open. A moment later Professor McGonagall led the first years in,
and then Harry watched along with everyone else as the Sorting Hat sang its new
song. It emphasized just as it had for several years that they were all
students of Hogwarts, regardless of House, and then the first years were
Sorted.
The feast appeared within minutes of the last students taking their seats, and
Harry and Severus both settled in to enjoy the meal. By the time the plates
were sparkling clean again, they had been sitting back sipping on glasses of
wine and talking for quite some time. They quite enjoyed the time to relax,
both aware that they wouldn't have many opportunities to do so over the next
few days. Start of term had fallen on a Thursday, which meant that there would
be only one day of classes before the students had a weekend to gad about and
get into trouble. As Head of Slytherin House, Severus would likely be kept busy
by his charges for most of the weekend, and Harry would be helping him.
Dumbledore stood again eventually and began to speak, smiling at the students
while Harry and Severus both turned to watch him. "Welcome to another year at
Hogwarts! I have a few announcements to make before I send you all off to bed,
so I ask that you all to pay close attention." The few students who had not
quieted when the Headmaster stood up fell silent and turned towards him, and
then he nodded. "Thank you, I shall endeavour not to keep you too long.
Firstly, Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has requested that I inform you all that a
list of some six hundred and thirteen items that are banned from the castle has
been posted outside the door to Mr. Filch's office, including much of the
current sales line of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes."
There were quite a few titters of laughter then as Filch glared at several
Gryffindors who patted Ginny on the back, and the corners of Dumbledore's mouth
were twitching slightly as he added, "Also, I must say that the Weasley Pie
Parties are expressly forbidden to students unless under the supervision of one
of the staff. Should anyone wish to schedule a Pie Party, please see your Head
of House or the Student Counsellor and arrangements will be made for the use of
an empty classroom." He smiled benignly at the smattering of cheers and
applause, waiting for silence before he continued. "I would also like to remind
everyone that the forest on the grounds is forbidden, as is the village of
Hogsmeade to all below third year."
Dumbledore picked up his goblet and took a sip of wine, then placed the goblet
back on the table and went on, "As many of you may know, Madam Hooch took a
position as the Head Coach for the Chudley Canons at the end of last term,
leaving an opening on the staff. I am quite pleased to announce that Mr. Harry
Potter, one of the finest Seekers ever to play Quidditch here at Hogwarts, has
accepted the position of flying instructor and Quidditch coach. Mr. Potter will
be posting the schedules for Quidditch practices on your House bulletin boards
some time next week, and will be assisting all four teams in the selection of
new Quidditch Captains, as well as making himself available during practice
this term."
There were quite a lot more cheers then and almost everyone at the Gryffindor
tables stood to applaud as Harry hid his beet red face behind his hand, missing
the fond smile Severus gave him as students at the other tables rose. The
cheering went on for several minutes before Dumbledore gestured for silence
again and everyone returned to their seats. "Thank you, it is quite pleasant to
see a new member of our staff welcomed so enthusiastically."
Most of the older students grinned or laughed at that, remembering how little
favour some of Dumbledore's choices had met with, and Dumbledore's eyes
sparkled merrily as he continued. "I have long thought that someone closer to
the age of our students would make a fine addition to the staff to act as a
liaison between the students and professors. I am quite pleased to inform you
that this term we are trying out a new position, that of Student Counsellor,
which shall also be filled by Mr. Potter." There were speculative murmurs
amongst the students at that, and Dumbledore watched them over his glasses
until they were silent again. "You are welcome to talk to Mr. Potter at any
time you see him about the school and, should you need to see him privately,
his office can be found behind the painting of Uric the Oddball that is located
near the Potions corridor."
Dumbledore focused his attention on the Slytherin table, which was barely half
as populated as the others were, watching them intently. "Mr. Potter believes,
as do I, that the time for hatred among the Houses has passed. He has asked me
to inform you all that he will freely help anyone in the Slytherin House just
as he would help a Gryffindor." There were shocked mutters from all the tables
at that and Dumbledore pursed his lips, looking very serious as he scanned the
Hall. "I shall be very displeased with any students who attempt to further
inter-House rivalries off the Quidditch pitch, regardless of House. Should any
student make the mistake of doing so, the penalties shall be quite severe. We
have lost too many students from this school to hatred and strife, and I should
like to see that end."
The Great Hall fell completely silent other than a few nervous shufflings, and
Dumbledore let the silence reign for a few moments before he spoke again.
"Before I allow you all to retire for the night, I would like to give everyone
to opportunity to congratulate two members of our staff on their recent
commitment."
Harry looked at Severus, and was surprised to see that he was smiling and
feeling so calm it was obvious he had expected this. Harry looked back at
Dumbledore again to find him watching them with twinkling eyes.
Dumbledore lifted his goblet towards them and said, "Harry, Severus...
Congratulations."
The rest of the staff echoed him, and Ginny Weasley was the first student to
stand and start applauding, beaming at Harry and Severus as a few other
students, mostly Slytherins, stood to clap with her. Ginny looked around when
she noticed that only a half a dozen Gryffindors were up and clapping, and said
waspishly, "Get off your lazy arses and congratulate them!" The Gryffindors all
stood then, followed almost immediately by most of the rest of the students
while Ginny smirked at Harry and Severus, giving a little half bow as if to say
'there you go'.
Harry and Severus both laughed as the students continued clapping, then
Dumbledore gestured for silence and the students quieted, sitting back down as
he said, "Severus?"
Severus smiled at Dumbledore and nodded, standing up to look at the students a
moment before he began to speak calmly, his raised voice easily reaching
everyone in the Hall. "Thank you all, from both of us."
Harry nodded, grinning quickly at the students before he looked at Severus
again in time to see him hold out his hand, smiling and sending Harry a wave of
love and happiness. Harry took the proffered hand quickly, the feelings he was
receiving through their bond intensifying at the touch, and he listened closely
as Severus went on. "It has been a very long time since I have been as happy as
I am now. I am quite sure that I will shock you all over the next few weeks by
laughing occasionally or doing something equally human, but I trust you will
all learn to cope." There was scattered laughter at that and then Severus added
with obvious amusement, "I would, however, like to live to enjoy my newfound
happiness, so you should not expect Potions class to be any easier."
Severus pretended not to notice the groans that greeted that as he looked at
the Slytherins, waiting a moment for the room to quiet before he spoke again.
"I would particularly like to ask a favour of my Slytherins, not as your Head
of House, but as a member." All of the Slytherins looked at him, and before he
went on he took a moment to meet the gaze of as many as he could, especially
the Prefects and the few upperclassmen. "I believe we need to stand together
now more than ever before, both as Slytherins and as part of the Wizarding
world. That includes protecting our families and friends, regardless of their
Houses or bloodlines. Our House is the only family many of us have anymore, and
one that has seen many losses over the last few years. I would like you all to
keep in mind that Harry, like many of us, has no blood kin left, but he is my
life-mate and by our traditions that makes him a part of Slytherin. I know that
Harry values that and will do his best to help you all, and I hope that you
will give him the same courtesy." The older Slytherin students nodded solemnly,
many murmuring agreement, then Severus nodded at them and smiled as he said
simply, "Thank you."
Severus turned towards the Gryffindor table then, looking particularly at the
seventh years because he knew Harry was friends with many of them. "Harry is
still most definitely a Gryffindor as well though, both through his own Sorting
and because he is at heart very much a Gryffindor. I hope that his relationship
with me will not change the way his House and his friends relate to him." There
were a few mutters from the Gryffindor table as many of them nodded and then
Severus smirked suddenly and added, "After all, he has me to deal with, he
doesn't need you lot tormenting him as well."
Most of the students in the hall laughed at that as Harry grinned at Severus
and watched him sit back down, and then Dumbledore stood and beamed at Harry
and Severus. "Well said, Severus!" Harry looked back towards Dumbledore just as
the Headmaster turned back towards the students. "It is getting very late, so
off to bed with you all!"
The noise level in the Hall suddenly rose as the Prefects called the first
years to them while the other students flooded towards the main doors. The
staff began to rise and make their way towards their own exit as Harry stood
and leaned close to Severus, kissing him just as another flash went off.
Harry laughed and turned to look towards the flash, and Ginny grinned at him as
Severus gave Colin a severe look and said, "Mr. Creevey, you seem quite
determined to get into trouble with that camera, and we've not even started the
first full day of term yet."
Colin shook his head quickly, his eyes widening. "No sir! Ginny told me to come
take a picture for her, and she's the Head Girl now so I had to!"
Severus' eyebrows went up in surprise as Harry laughed and shook a finger at
Ginny, doing a passable imitation of Molly as he asked in an annoyed voice,
"Young lady, what have I told you about using your powers only for good?"
Ginny smirked at Harry, her blue eyes dancing as Colin made his escape, moving
off to one side. "But Harry, that's so very boring. And besides, I wanted a
picture of the two of you together. You're absolutely adorable."
Severus laughed at Harry's blush and said, "Miss Weasley, did the Sorting Hat
offer to put you in Slytherin by any chance?"
"I'll never tell," Ginny replied, still smirking as Colin's camera flashed
again, then she waved to Colin for him to go and watched him leave before she
looked back at Harry and Severus. "I came over here to make Colin get the
picture and pass on a note from Mum." She pulled a tightly rolled scroll from a
pocket in her robes then and offered it to Harry with a little grin. "Ron
spilled the beans when the Mediwitch told Mum that Hermione was due in early
February, so Mum knows you let Ron and Hermione use your room last term. I'm
supposed to pass on that she's very annoyed at you but didn't want you to have
a Howler your first night as a part of the staff. She'll have choice words for
you next time she sees you."
Severus' eyebrows went up as he did some quick counting and then he looked at
Harry, who was looking warily at the scroll from Molly and feeling decidedly
worried. "I thought you had more sense than to let anyone shag in your room,
Harry, even Granger and Weasley."
"In my Defence, I didn't know," Harry replied quickly as he looked up to meet
Severus' disapproving gaze. "I thought Hermione was keeping things under
control right up until the last few days of school. I found out they were
shagging then and I hoped that Hermione had the sense to use a contraception
spell, since she's the one who made me learn it back in fifth year when I was
fumbling my way through dating Cho. I knew Ron wouldn't think to do one."
Ginny watched them talk, fascinated by the obvious changes in Severus'
behaviour even though she had already had a few chances to see them together
over the summer. No one who had known Severus for more than a few months could
miss the fact that someone had made huge changes in his outlook. She still had
no clue how Harry had so effortlessly cleared away Severus' walls and brought
out the man that had hidden behind that stony exterior for so long, but there
was no question in her mind that Harry had done it.
Severus snorted, giving Harry an amused look. "You couldn't tell they'd been
shagging in there just by walking into your room?"
"Well, no," Harry replied, laughing suddenly. "I didn't have any experience of
my own to go by, as you well know, so I didn't really recognize most of the
signs. I knew they'd been snogging in my room, but I really didn't want to
think about the particulars too much."
"How did you finally find out?" Severus asked, looking bemused as Ginny stifled
a giggle, both of them wondering how Harry had made it to seventeen years old
so completely naive.
"A frilly pink thing under my pillow the last night I slept in the tower. I had
Dobby return it to Hermione's room, but she didn't notice until I mentioned it
the next morning while they were teasing me about being in love with you."
Harry smirked. "That distracted them, but they didn't shut up completely until
I said I would have preferred to find black silk boxers in my bed."
Ginny did giggle at that while Severus smirked at Harry and said, "You're so
very bad.”
Harry beamed. "Why, thank you, Sev!"
Severus snorted, smiling, and looked at Ginny as he stood up. "Family or not,
Miss Weasley, you should be headed towards your room. You've an example to set
for the other students as Head Girl, and it would be appreciated if you chose
to show them a good one." He gave Harry a bemused glance and then looked back
at Ginny and added, "And as part of that I hope you'll not be sharing your room
with anyone."
Harry chuckled as Ginny stared at Severus in surprise. "You consider me family,
sir?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Why would I not? Harry is my family, and you are as
good as a sister to him."
Harry stepped closer to Severus and leaned to kiss his cheek, and then beamed
up at him. "I love you."
Severus chuckled, sliding an arm around Harry. "I know." Harry laughed and
rested his head against Severus' shoulder as Severus looked at Ginny, smiling.
"Bedtime, Miss Weasley."
Ginny smiled back, nodding. "Good night, sir. Harry."
"Night, Gin," Harry replied, smiling as Ginny turned away to walk quickly
towards the main doors, then Harry turned to Severus, looking up at him with a
happy smile. "Bedtime for us too, Sev."
"I should hope so," Severus replied, resting both hands on Harry's hips under
his outer robe and leaning to kiss him softly before he pulled away, smirking.
"I expect this will be my favourite time of day for the next ten months."
Harry laughed, lifting his arms to wrap them around Severus' neck. "And people
think I must be the randy one, since you're so very elderly."
Severus slid his hands around to Harry's back under the robe and then down to
stroke over his arse, dark eyes twinkling with mischief and amusement. "If they
only knew..."
They kissed then, and soon were so absorbed in each other that they completely
missed the sound of the doors when Ginny slipped out of the Great Hall a few
minutes later. She was grinning widely as she headed for the Gryffindor tower,
hoping that she would be as lucky as Harry. She was pretty sure that she had
found the man she wanted to marry, and she hoped that someday soon he would
realize he felt the same way.
 
~ End
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