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"No one will believe that we're lovers." Harry declared with a sigh.
"You should have thought of that before you opened your mouth." Snape shot back.
Harry played with the hem of robes. "Is it my fault that I can't walk down the street without being
assaulted?"
"Yes."
"You sound pretty sure of yourself."
The potions master waved his hand indistinctly. "That's because I am."
"How is it my fault?" Harry demanded, sounding precariously close to whining.
"You exist, is that not reason enough?"
Harry opened his mouth to protest but was cut off with a snarl. "If your tone of voice gets any
higher pitched I will personally remove your tongue and hand it to the 3rd years for their next
potion."
Harry closed his mouth abruptly.
"Smart boy." Snape tossed over his shoulder as he opened a hinged box that had been sitting on
his shelf. After rummaging for a few moments, he produced two pieces of jewelry. Rings.
Platinum rings. Expensive looking platinum rings. Not that simple bands of the stuff would have
been cheep. But these. These had intricate carvings. And they looked old.
"Rings?" Harry squeaked.
"No, broaches."
Silence.
"Of course they're rings Potter. Imbecile." He closed the box carefully and placed it back into its
original position between the small jade statue of a young boy and his favorite potions book.
"Was that a joke?"
"No, it was an insult to your intelligence. Really sometimes I wonder how you ever pass any of
your classes." He walked slowly around the room, adjusting things as he went.
"Why rings?"
Snape just raised an eyebrow.
"I still say no one is going to believe it." Harry looked him in the eye for a moment, but quickly
turned away.
Snape sighed and stopped pacing for a moment. His expression did not change, but a flash of
defeat went through him "They don't have to believe it for the spell to work." He responded
tiredly. "We are well and truly without recourse, other than the obvious that is."
"Would you believe me if I said it was an accident?"
He resumed his circuit around the room. "I can hardly believe you would do this on purpose."
Harry began explaining. "I was walking down the street minding my own business when this girl
just-"
"Please spare me the anecdotes from the Potter fan club."
"I was reading." Harry persevered. "You know. Studying. When this girl just- " He seemed at a
loss for words momentarily, "attacked me."
Snape was examining his bookshelf carefully as he responded. "Let me see if I fully comprehend
the situation, Potter. You were walking down Diagon Alley and it suddenly occurs to you that it
would be the perfect time to begin that new study regimen that Miss Granger has, without a
doubt, been attempting to shove down your throat. Really Potter, did it not occur to you that it
was one of the more stupid, irresponsible, rash, thoughtless, immature-"
"Alright! I get it."
"- and what on earth possessed you to fiddle with your wand at the same time?"
"I wasn't thinking." He answered lamely.
Still not looking at Harry. "Obviously."
"You're not helping."
"That was never my intent. But if you really want my help- "
"Not really." Harry muttered.
"-NEVER read a spell out loud for the first time, ESPECIALLY if you're holding your wand."
"Thank for that first year refresher course!"
Finally turning around. "You obviously needed it."
"Look, I'm just as excited about this as you are!" Harry finally snapped.
"I hardly doubt that." His voice held little emotion. Harry looked at him curiously, but Snape just
shook his head. "Come let's find the headmaster. As intractable as this situation is, I wouldn't
want to miss the look on his face for all the gold in Gringotts."
"That's scary."
"Please, Mr. Potter enlighten me. There are so many things about this situation that could be
deemed scary, I'd like to know which one has caught your fancy"
"The look on his face. I just imagined it. Him trying not to look horrified as he offers us a lemon
drop."
Snape's lips twitched. "If I time it just right, I may be able to get him to drop the whole damned
tin on the floor."
As Snape swept forward he could hear a familiar muffled chuckle. He'd heard it often enough in
class. "Really Potter, who would have thought you had such a malicious sense of humor."
"Look who's talking."
"Touche."
Part 2
The walk to the headmaster's office was filled with a tense silence. Snape kept his eyes forward,
not even making an attempt to acknowledge Harry. At the large gargoyle he stopped and closed
his eyes briefly. "Peppermint schnapps." He whispered quietly.
"Peppermint Schnapps?"
"On the holidays the Headmaster like to... let his sense of humor out." Snape's voice was dry and
uneven.
"I didn't know his sense of humor could get anymore... out."
"Consider yourself lucky."
The Headmaster appeared in front of the, now open, door. "Now Severus, what sort of rumor are
you spreading about me?"
A glare. "Not spreading any rumor Headmaster."
The headmaster 'tut tutted' and motioned for both of them to enter.
They both shuffled in and silently took seats. On opposite sides of the room.
Dumbledore studied the tableau in front of him for a moment and then said, "I must say, this is a
welcome surprise. Unexpected but welcome."
They sat in silence for a few more moments. Both Snape and Harry avoiding eye contact with the
Headmaster.
"Well, lemon drop?"
"We've been Pledged." Snape ground out. The sound of several small objects hitting the floor
made him smile. A small choke from the other side of the room took both older mens attentions.
Turning they saw Harry, red faced and bitting his hand. There were tears streaming down his face.
"Harry, are you crying?" Dumbledore sounded concerned.
He shook his head frantically.
"Then what's the matter?" This time it was Snape who asked.
Harry just threw his head back and let out a loud peal of laughter. "I'm s-sorry." He choked out
between spasms. "I just- the lemon drops- and," he hiccuped again and a fresh wave of giggles
threatened to erupt. "I just pictured Ron and Hermione- Ron finding out and-" deep breath, "and
tripping and sprawling on the floor a-and Hermione, lecturing me... on safe- s-safe spell practices-
" He lost it once more and didn't try to recover. He just leaned back in the chair clutching his
sides as they twitched irregularly.
The Headmaster gazed worriedly at Harry. "Severus, stay here while I take Harry to Poppy, I
think he could benefit from something relaxing."
Snape just nodded absently. He gaze had resumed studying the carpet. When he was finally alone,
he slumped forward and buried his face in his hands. Slow deep breaths. The tension strummed
through his body and he began to shake. In. Out. In. Out. Breathing. If he kept breathing maybe
he wouldn't pass out. A tentative hand rested on his shoulder. "Back already?" He asked without
looking up.
"Its been more than 15 minutes, Severus."
He grunted in response.
"Severus. Why don't you tell me what happened?"
"How is he?"
"Resting comfortably. I think it was too much all at once."
"Why ever would you think that Albus? What did you tell Poppy?"
"That it was Voldemort related."
Grunt.
"Severus, tell me what happened."
"There isn't much to tell, other than, I told you so."
"Severus, now is not the time."
"No Albus. Now is the perfect time. I always said that boy's inattentiveness would get him in
trouble some day." A small snort. "I just wish I'd known it was going to get me into trouble as
well. I'd have learned to duck."
"Please Severus. Just tell me so that I might figure out what I can do to help."
He sighed and quietly began. "As I said before. There really isn't much to tell."
He was walking towards the apothecary. One last stop and he could return to his dungeons. Away
from these people and their inability to keep to their own personal space. He was about to make
turn into the shop when a shove from behind sent him stumbling forward. He whirled around and
found Harry Potter falling in his direction. "Mr. Potter!" He yelled.
Harry landed heavily against him. Looking up, his eyes wide with surprise, "Professor Snape?"
Snape opened his mouth to offer a scathing retort and demand an explanation when the feeling hit
him.
Perfection.
Completion
Peace.
Soft hair.
His hands had involuntarily come up to hold the boy steady.
Green eyes.
Beautiful green eyes. Deep. With emotion. Great gobs of indefinable emotion.
He'd never felt like this. Not even after solving a particularly difficult bit of research.
This was extraordinary. This was perfect.
Strong hands on his arms. Strong body next to his. Hot breath on his neck.
Breath? Oh yes. They were moving closer. Bodies relaxing against each other.
"Severus?"
The voice cut through some of the fog. But he couldn't bring himself to do much more that turn
his head.
"Severus? It was you. In The Pledge, that is."
Snape finally focused on the person talking to him and found himself face to face with Jonas
Kirby, a low level death eater.
Part 3
"So there was a Witness?" Dumbledore leaned back in his seat.
"Yes Albus!" He snarled. "There was a damned Witness!"
Sighing. "Then there really isn't much we can do."
Sitting up strait. "Thank you for stating the utterly obvious."
"The Witness, did he..." Dumbledore trailed off.
"See the scar?" Snape asked. "I don't know. I nodded and gathered up Potter and his things and
got out of there as soon as possible." A pause and then a sigh. "I supposed we'll find out soon
enough."
Dumbledore nodded. "All we can do is wait then."
"Yes. Wait." He snorted lightly. "Have I ever told you that it's a joy to be me?"
"Now Severus..."
"No Albus!" He slammed his fist on the desk on front of him. A few more lemon drops fell to the
floor. He stood up and leaned forward heavily. "Don't 'Now Severus' me! You are not the one
having the incredibly dismaying day." Turning abruptly, he began to pace the room.
"Does Harry know?" The question was asked quietly.
He stopped in front of a particular set of books he'd always liked. Not that he was actually
looking at them. "He knows some. How much... I couldn't bring myself to talk about it. Albus...
I..."
Kindly. "Yes, Severus?"
"It doesn't matter." Dismissive.
"It does to me."
Still not looking at him. "Well it shouldn't"
"Why?"
"Because its not real! You know that Albus!" His back was taught. Knuckles white and stretched
as they clenched and unclenched compulsively.
"Its real enough, at the moment," Dumbledore persisted, "and it will do you some good to talk
about it."
He whirled, tension emanating from everything that he did. Stalking up to the desk again, he
fumbled in his robes a moment and produced the rings. He slapped them down and said, "Just
charm the blasted rings and tell me when they're ready." With a swish of robes and a low growl.
He was gone.
Albus Dumbledore sat back in his chair and watched the retreating figure with a heavy heart.
"Severus my child, for what its worth... I'm so sorry." He said to his empty office, then got up
and began his way to the library where he could look up the correct charms.
Step. Step. Turn. Step. Step. Turn. Step.
He stopped. It was ridiculous. Go or stay. He should go. Go far away. To the dungeons. His
dungeons.
He crept into the infirmary.
There he was. In the first bed. Glowing in the moonlight. His legs nearly gave out.
Unsteadily, he moved forward, his eyes never leaving the pale figure asleep in the bed. Arriving
next to the bed, his knees finally buckled. Sinking slowly to the floor he ran a hand through his
hair moving it out of his face, offering himself an unobstructed view.
Torture. Excruciating torture.
Slowly his hand came up and hovered over the dark mop of hair that rested haphazardly on the
pillow.
A tremor. Resist it. Just once. He'd have this small thing. Once.
The hand descended and caught a few silky strands in its fingers. Such a simple thing. So
complex. So inviting.
So perfect.
The feeling was surfacing again.
He wanted to sink into it. Sink into him.
"Oh god." He whispered hoarsely.
He should leave. Leave now. Don't look back. Don't think. Don't... touch.
His fingers were moving now. Down tracing the cheek. Then the chin.
He had to stop.
Another hand tangled in his. Sleepy eyes looked up at him.
He pulled back, made to leave.
"No." The plea sounded wrenched from the boy's mouth. The other's fingers tightened on his
own. "Don't go."
"I shouldn't be here."
"Please. Don't go. Don't stop." Harry choked on the last word.
His fingers hadn't stopped. They were still touching that magnificent, silky skin.
"I shouldn't-"
"Please." An entreaty. Dragged out against the boys will. Then the other hand was at him arm.
Unbuttoning the cuff. Shaking hands fought with the bottons, but eventually won.
Oh.
He was touching him.
Potter. Harry. Was touching him. Long, slow, languid strokes.
Up. Down. Up. Down.
Nothing should feel this good. Just touching. Hand on cheek. Hand on arm. Skin on skin.
Entranced. Nothing ever felt like this.
It was wrong. So wrong.
Not real. Not right.
"Stop." The word took so much effort to utter. Not like the stroking. That was easy. "We have to
stop." He couldn't make his fingers move. "This isn't real." He closed his eyes. Don't look. "This
isn't real Harr- Potter." With more force. "We must stop!" He wrenched his fingers away.
Loss. Complete loss.
"I'm sorry." He said. "Albus will explain, but you must understand. Its not real."
The hand was still on his arm. Stroking. Oh god. If he didn't leave soon. He wouldn't be able to.
A deep breath then. Adrift. Alone. He'd gotten his arm back. But he had to leave. Quickly.
He stood. Back away. "I'm sorry." He whispered again to those eyes. They followed him.
Confused but understanding. Once outside he turned and fled.
Part 4
Harry woke up in layers. Whatever Madame Pomfrey had given him last certainly had a calming
affect, but he'd still had a fitful sleep. Now his head felt like stuffed cotton. He muzzily sifted
through the memories of the day before.
Walking down the street muttering to himself, idly twirling his wand. Which, in hindsight, he
admitted probably wasn't the best idea in the world. Not that he's ever admit that to Snape.
Snape.
There was a whole set of feelings he didn't want to examine too closely.
Just the memory of being pressed against him for those few moments made his 16 year old body
stand up and take notice. Never mind last night.
Last night.
Strong calloused fingers caressing him. So softly. It was gentleness he'd never even guessed the
potions master had in him. At least not with another human being. If he'd been a potion-
No. Don't think that. Potions led to drinking. Drinking led to lips. Lips led to tongues and oh-
No. Crabbe. Goyle. Crabbe AND Goyle. There. Better.
"Harry?" A kind voice asked.
"Headmaster?" He managed to mutter.
"That's it. Time to wake up." A gentle hand was placed on his arm.
"No. Sleep."
"You haven't been asleep for a good while now." Dumbledore knowingly answered.
Harry reluctantly rolled over and faced the headmaster with bleary eyes. "Haven't exactly been
awake either."
"Come on Harry. There are things we need to talk about. Before classes resume and your friends
get back from their holiday breaks."
He let out an unintelligible groan.
"Harry?"
"My friends. I'm just picturing their reaction. Except this time Hermione faints and Ron turns a
alarming shade of purple."
"Let's start there then. There's no reason they need to know."
"I think they'd notice my... my..." His what? Inability to keep his hands and mind off Snape?
"After we complete the ceremony you'll find the... compulsion... more manageable."
"Ceremony?" He panicked. "You mean I have to-"
"Not marriage Harry."
His shoulders slumped in relief and maybe a little disappointment. But he wasn't going to think
about that. "Then what's the ceremony?"
"Just a completion of what you started yesterday."
"And I'll feel less out of control when its done?" Maybe there was hope.
"In theory."
That wasn't very reassuring. "How soon can we do it then?"
"I need to do a bit of research first. There are a few charms that need be placed on the rings."
"The rings?" Harry remembered them from yesterday. "How do you expect me to keep this a
secret if we go around wearing identical platinum rings?"
"I'm working on that Harry. Don't worry."
"I can't help but worry. This is so- so... Why would anyone use this charm anyway?"
"It was typically used in arranged marriages."
"Arranged marriages?"
"How do you think purebloods remained purebloods for a hundred generations." Came a voice
from the doorway.
Harry looked up and caught dark eyes, he stared for a moment and then jerked his head away.
"So what does this spell have to do with arranged marriages?" He asked shakily.
"For one, it pretty much guaranteed an heir."
He chuckled nervously.
"For another, it tended to discourage running away with the children."
Turning to Dumbledore, Harry looked worried. "But I thought you said it was only temporary."
"Harry my boy. Even the memory of such intense emotion can do a lot to soften a relationship.
Remember, traditionally this spell was done between to people who were to be married. There
was no reason to resist."
"Also the two parts of the spell are usually performed within minutes of each other. As part of the
wedding ceremony itself." Snape added.
"So how soon can we do the second part?" Soon. Please. Or he may have to be locked in a room.
"It will take me about a day. Learning charms from a book is much more difficult than from
another person. Especially if you want to make modifications."
"Modifications?" Snape looked worried.
"Severus you must know that despite the control the rings offer there are still certain-"
"Yes." Snape cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Certain. I trust you are working on
an alternative then?"
"An alternative to what?" Harry had lost the thread of conversation some where. He was probably
too busy watching that hand.
"Sex." Snape's voice was low. Rumbling.
A shiver went down Harry's spine. "Oh." He looked at Snape for only the second time since he's
entered the conversation. Their eyes met again. They held until Snape looked down and grabbed
his arm in a hiss of pain. He was out of bed and at his side before he could think about his actions.
"What's the matter?" Harry placed his left hand over Snape's.
Snape looked at their hands for a moment and then answered. "It seems that Mr. Kirby has let
someone know what he saw yesterday."
Harry brought his right hand up to massage the tense muscle just above the other man's elbow.
"Severus. Do you know what you're going to say?" Dumbledore asked.
"I've thought about it all night. I believe I've come up with something fairly plausible."
All night? Harry noticed the deep circles under the dark eyes. The man had probably gotten even
less sleep than he had. Then it occurred to Harry. Snape had been called. "What are you going to
tell him?" He asked quietly.
A long pause. In which their fingers seemed to have gotten tangled up again. "I have a number of
possibilities. I won't know exactly what story I'll tell him until I am actually in his presence and I
can... judge his reactions."
"Oh."
"Yes. Quite." Snape's thumb started to trace small circles against the back of his hand. "I should
go." It was said more to Harry than to the headmaster.
Snape's thumb was causing sparks. Sparks shooting from his hand strait down to his- No! He was
not thinking about that. His hand was gently untangled and the other carefully pulled away.
Still holding his hand. "Mr. Potter. While I'm gone. Please refrain from doing something else that
I will find incredibly annoying."
Harry could only nod dumbly as the last of the contact was removed.
Snape turned to Dumbledore. "Albus. I don't know what would happen if... if he doesn't believe
my story. He should not be left alone."
Harry, for once, completely understood the unsaid implications of the conversation. Who knew
what Harry would do. If Voldemort killed Snape.
"Of course Severus. Go and be careful."
With a nod and a last look at Harry, he was gone.
Part 5
The first thing he saw after he'd apparated was Lucius Malfoy's snide face. An auspicious
beginning, if anything else.
"Welcome Severus. You're arrival has been greatly... anticipated." Malicious glee rang from
every pore of the blonde man's body.
"Lucius, an honor," sneer, "as always."
"Follow me Severus, the meeting has already started."
That was never a good sign. If you were late. You were noticed. Also, Lucius had been waiting
for him. Missing being his usual sycophant self and keeping his lips as close to The Dark Lord's
ass as possible in favor of meeting him meant one of two things. Either Lucius was willing to
forgo some of his obsessive sucking up to get a better seat for the whole proceeding or...
Voldemort had sent him. Neither of the prospects made Snape feel very joyful.
The room they entered was full. A large meeting. Coincidence? Or very bad sign?
Jonas Kirby was standing in the front, where Lucius usually stood.
Bad sign.
"Se-ev-er-u-us." Voldemort hissed out his name.
Bowing down on one knee. Not looking up, he answered. "My Lord."
"You've been a busy boy, Se-ev-er-u-us."
"My Lord?"
"Jonas had a very interesting story to share with us."
"It seems Se-ev-er-u-us, Jonas was lucky enough to witness a Pledging today. A very unusual
thing to witness these days, is it not?"
Ah. The Socratic method. Trust the human psyche to feel its most intimidated when faced with an
angry teacher. Of course, the scaly skin, glowing eyes and marked penchant for cruelty certainly
helped.
"Yes." He agreed casually. "Very unusual."
"Tell me Se-ev-er-u-us, what possessed you to do such a thing."
"Sex." Simple. Base. Easy for him to understand.
"As reasons go. That's not a bad one." A finger under his chin raised his eyes to meet
Voldemort's, "But tell me Se-ev-er-u-us Why. Harry. Potter."
Anger. A lot of it. He had to appease him.
"After I was... done... I thought it would be... easier to deliver him to you."
Thoughtful silence, for a moment. "An interesting plan. Not without it's merit. Why not just tell
me?"
This was going to hurt. "I was taking the initiative."
"How very thoughtful. Next time however, Se-ev-er-u-us, Come. To. Me. First." CRUCIO!
Harry's nerveless fingers dropped the glass of pumpkin juice on the table. His eyes went wide and
he paled.
Dumbledore was out of his seat and at Harry's side in an instant.
The rest of the teachers and students in the room, which weren't many, looked confused.
"Poppy!" He yelled, urgently.
"You should know better Se-ev-er-u-us."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sure you are." CRUCIO!
Harry gasped and tightened his fingers around Dumbledore's arm.
"Help me get him to the hospital wing."
Dimly he could feel two sets of arms go around him.
"Lucius!"
"Yes My Lord?"
"Have your fun."
"Yes, My Lord."
"Oh god."
"Harry, what's wrong?"
Gasp. "Was... curse... now-" His eyes were closed, skin clammy, "...something... oh god...
sharp."
"Albus, what's going on?"
He could feel the blood dripping down his stomach.
Cut. Wait. Cut. Cut. Wait. Cut. Cut. Cut. Wait. Wait.
Never know when the next one comes. One consolation was that Lucius knew what he was
doing. Maximum pain, minimum damage.
He wouldn't die. No. Voldemort looked was entirely too happy with his plan.
He couldn't get enough air. Every breath hurt.
A flurry of robes ran into the room. "Albus!"
"Minerva." He acknowledged.
Harry moaned and clutched his stomach.
"What's happening, Albus?"
He distantly thought that she sounded so sad.
Thwap!
The sound of flesh hitting flesh. No more knives then.
Fists. Feet. Elbows. Knees.
"Next time I hope you remember to confide in me Se-ev-er-u-us."
"Yes..." He managed to croak out.
Another choked moan. The pain had changed.
"How much longer Albus?"
"I wish I knew."
SNAP!
A scream.
SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!
Sobbing.
"Oh, Harry..."
Curl up in a ball. Don't think.
Quiet. Nothing.
It was over. Oh god it was over.
"Harry?"
"No more... Done..."
"Sleep Harry. I'll wake you when he's back."
Part 6
"...Hagrid found him at the edge of the forest..."
...
"...they're shallow cuts... so many..."
...
"...how many broken bones..."
...
Everything hurt.
As an idle thought, Harry tried to count the number of muscles in his stomach simply based on the
aches.
Attempting to roll over ripped a moan from his hoarse throat.
"Awake then?" The Headmaster.
"No." He wasn't up to having any more uncomfortable conversations.
A small chuckle. "We have to stop meeting like this, young man."
"Believe me headmaster, no one would like that more than me." Remembering why he hurt so
much in the first place, he asked, "Is he alright?"
"He's better." Dumbledore sounded so tired.
"How long was I... asleep?" More like passed out cold.
"You've missed breakfast."
His head jerked up in surprise. "But I was just at lunch!"
"That was yesterday." The Headmaster had this way of presenting obvious information as if they
were completely new facts. It could be very annoying.
Trying not to sound like he was begging. "Can I see him?"
Worried eyes focused on him. "Is that wise Harry?"
"I don't know." He sighed. "I don't know if it's the Pledge or because I felt everything that he
went through. I just know that I need to see him."
A slow nod. "All right Harry. I just wanted to make sure you knew your own mind."
"That's knowing my own mind?"
Dumbledore graced him with a smile. "Its close enough."
The Headmaster led him to the other side of the ward. To a bed that was surrounded by a drawn
curtain. Silently Dumbledore parted the curtain for him.
Harry looked at the pale, prone figure unconscious on the hospital bed. Suddenly Severus Snape
was frail and human. That scared Harry more than anything else.
"I have some things I need to attend Harry. I'll be back in a little while."
Harry nodded absently as the Headmaster left.
There was a chair next to the bed. Harry slowly sat down in it.
This was ridiculous. He needed... he needed...
His hand went out and gathered up a pale slender companion.
Good.
The others fingers flexed slightly and mingled with his.
Better.
But this was awkward. His back ached. His arm ached. His head ached.
His bed was so very far away.
And Snape looked so alone.
Slowly. Carefully. He slid in next to the other man. Making sure that his arm and hand were the
only things putting any pressure on anything, he closed his eyes. Then promptly, fell soundly
asleep.
The first thing he was aware of was a warm weight settled comfortably across his stomach. Next,
a soft puff of air against his neck and a shifting, deeply breathing body next to his.
Summoning some strength he cracked an eyelid open-
-and was greeted with a mop of messy dark hair. He shifted an arm minutely so that his fingers
could come into contact with the wild strands.
"You will be the death of me one day, Mr. Potter." he murmured and took the opportunity to
breathe in the younger man.
He couldn't deny that this was the most comfortable he'd been... ever.
It had been far too long since he'd felt another body laying next to his.
It felt far too good.
Far. Too. Good.
And the feeling was back.
He couldn't really bring himself to care.
Looking down, dark eyes met green once more.
"What is this, Professor?"
Distance. He needed distance. "A magically induced hormonal reaction, Mr. Potter."
"This doesn't feel hormonal."
Look away, fool. "It's all hormonal, Potter."
"Mush ball." A small smile.
Oh god. That mouth. "Are you attempting to be more annoying than usual?"
"Well you asked me not to do something that would annoy you while you were gone, I have
about 18 hours to make up for."
"So you decided to crawl, uninvited into bed with me?" Oh. Don't think that. His fingers buried
themselves deeper into Harry's hair.
"No, that was because I was tired and that chair was not made for sleeping in."
He was tired? Didn't he have his own bed? "Why are you here anyway? Other than the obvious
annoyances."
"The Headmaster woke me up and I asked to see you."
"Why?"
The green eyes looked away and softly Potter explained. "I only had to feel what happened. You
had to do so much more."
Fingers tightened involuntarily. "You... felt... it?"
A nod. "Did you scream? My throat feels like I screamed for hours."
"Oh Harry." He gave up and pulled the younger body closer to his. Sliding his arms around the
slender waist, he discovered an even better feeling than before. Belonging.
"I'm sorry." Came a muffled voice from somewhere near his chest.
"For what?" He started rubbing circles into the warm back he was holding.
"This is my fault."
Arms tightened around him. "I thought we'd established that earlier."
"Does this bother you?"
"This? I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific than that." Legs began to tangle.
"Not being in control."
"It might. It did. I'm just too tired to care right now."
"Me too."
A soft brush of lips where hair met skin. "Then go to sleep." Please.
Eventually, soft snoring lulled him to sleep.
Part 7
The smell of something wonderful tickled his nose.
"Severus." A persistent voice echoed in his head.
He chose to ignore it. He was comfortable. Very comfortable.
"Severus, you need to eat." The voice spoke again.
He pulled the pliable body closer to him.
"So does Harry."
Harry?
Potter!
His eyes shot open.
A smiling Headmaster's face swam before him.
"There we go. Was that so hard?"
He chose to respond with a glare.
"I'm going to go talk to Poppy. Please take the time to wake Harry up and... disentangle
yourselves. There are things we must discuss."
Before he could answer, Albus had left.
He allowed himself a small sigh and a brief tightening of arms.
Then, "Harry, wake up."
He got a mumble and a nuzzle for his efforts.
Warm skin insinuating itself closer.
He was starting to tingle.
"Harry." A slight shake.
Soft lips found his neck.
"Potter!" Desperate now.
"Mmm..wha?... whazzit?"
"Get up now, before I throw you off the bed."
The boy stretched, arching his back and letting out a low moan.
It took every ounce of self control he had left, not to simply flip them both over and get
reacquainted with the wonders of friction.
"Food, Mr. Potter."
"Mmmkay."
"Please get up before the Headmaster returns. I don't know if I can deal with another of his all
knowing smiles."
His head shot up a startled look spread across his face. "The Headmaster? Was here?"
"Brilliant deduction."
"Thank you."
Eye roll. "That wasn't a compliment."
"Could have fooled me." An impish grin mocked him.
"Annoying boy! Get up and start eating." He pointed to the tray sitting next to the bed piled with
food.
Slowly Harry shifted. First the legs disappeared, then the warm, supple-
No. The body. The body moved away.
Then the arms. The arms that had been wrapped around him all night. They weren't unwrapping.
They were sliding. Sliding across his torso as Harry moved back.
Oh god. Please just go away.
Go away and leave an old man and his desperation in peace.
He'd stopped.
Why had he stopped?
Oh.
His arms were still locked tightly around the boy.
Another act of will and he let go.
They were separate.
Alone.
God, where was Albus' annoyingly cheerful face when he needed it?
They sat there and stared morosely into space.
He watched Harry make a half hearted attempt at eating some chicken.
Then he watched Harry throw the food down in disgust. "This isn't working."
He arched an eyebrow. "Again, Mr. Potter. You're going to have to clarify your statement. I
think I'm beginning to see root of your problems in essay writing."
"This." Harry waved his arms in and all encompassing gesture. "This sitting in the same room.
Being together but not... touching. I think its getting worse."
"What makes you think that?" Don't say it. Let him be weak. Let him want.
"Before I could.. I could make myself concentrate on something else. Now... all I can think is..."
"Needing..." The word tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop it.
"Yes." A low, breathy agreement. Then an explosion. "I hate this! This is my life! My body!"
"Yes it is."
Harry shook his fist and leaned forward. "Damn it! Get angry! DO something!"
"I am doing something Mr. Potter. I'm sitting here." He dared to meet those eyes again. "Doing.
Nothing."
"Oh I see. I get angry. You get even less human."
Oh. That. Infuriating. Boy. "Human, Mr. Potter?" A deadly whisper. "Tell me, what is more
human?" Straining towards Harry. "Sitting here?" He gestured to himself. "Or," deep breath,
"dragging you bodily back into this bed and-" Stop. He had to stop.
"What?" Harry sounded breathless.
They stared at each other taking ragged gasps.
He sat back. "Nothing. Mr. Potter. Absolutely nothing."
They stared at each other some more.
"Eat something." He ordered tersely.
"I can't. It takes too much attention away from..."
"Right. Here." He offered a hand. Harry just stared at him dumbly. "Take my hand Mr. Potter."
"Oh." He did.
Yes. Oh. Much better. He could breathe again. "Hand me a plate."
They sat and chewed in silence until the Headmaster returned.
Dumbledore observed their hands and asked, "Having problems?"
Dryly. "That's an understatement."
Harry rolled his eyes and said, "We can't seem to separate."
Bushy eyebrows rose. "Literally?"
"Not quite."
"I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific Severus."
A snort came from Harry's general direction. The scathing glare he threw at the little twit only
made him laugh harder.
Through clenched teeth, he explained, "If. We're. Not... Touching. We. Can't. Do. Anything.
Else." Then, as an afterthought. "I think I understand why the two parts of the ceremony were
don so closely together."
"I'm afraid I do too. I lost some time last night and consequently the charms are not done. I'll go
finish them now. I'll come back and collect both of you tonight." He got up to leave.
"Headmaster?"
He turned back. "Yes, Harry?"
"Ron and Hermione come back in 2 days. Is this... problem... going to be solved by then?"
"It should be."
But then there will be an entire load of other problems, won't there Albus.
"I've told Poppy and Minerva. I was asked to give you each one of these," he showed them two
small, blue bottles, "after you were done eating. Don't look at me like that Severus. Its just a
sleeping drought. You both need to rest. You two won't be disturbed until I return."
With a wave and a smile Dumbledore left them in peace.
Still glaring at the space the Headmaster had occupied moments before. "Why can't that man ever
say exactly what he means?"
"Personally? I think he likes to annoy you."
Observant bugger. "One day Mr. Potter, you may turn out to be more than an annoying boy."
"One day you may learn how to give a compliment."
"That was a compliment."
"Uh huh." Gesturing with his hands. "Drink your potion and shove over."
Grumbling. "I would remind you that I'm still your teacher." He moved over.
Harry climbed in next to him. "And I would like to get some sleep that's actually restful."
Strong arms, quidditch conditioned, wrapped around him. His allowed his hands to slide up and
caress supple back muscles. Harry was nearly on top of him. Relaxing against him.
This was getting more and more complicated and he didn't like it at all.
Harry burrowed deeper. Entangling them further.
Didn't like it. No matter how wonderful it felt.
Part 8
He felt ridiculous. Walking through the hallways. Holding hands.
With Harry Potter.
Talk about adding insult to injury.
Never mind the fact that the wall was looking like a more and more appealing place to throw the
boy against and-
He was doing it again.
Whatever Albus had planned had better work.
For some reason he didn't have faith in Albus's 'don't-worry-Severus-just-trust-me-and-
everything's-going-to-be-alright' smile.
They'd stopped walking.
At his rooms? Why on earth where they here?
It better not be because - "Albus. You told me you found a way around the... urge."
"I did, my dear boy. I just thought you'd be more comfortable here."
"Why can't you just tell me what you did." He was perilously close to whining. Too much time
with the boy.
The headmaster turned his twinkling eyes on him. "What would be the fun in that?"
Meddling old coot. Damned, manipulative, annoying, know-it-all-
"Severus, are you going to let us in?"
Wordlessly he walked up to the portrait and touched it in several places.
It swung open noiselessly.
"Now what, Headmaster?"
"Why, we go in, of course."
"Brilliant." Must learn not ask questions like that.
He swept in, forgetting that his hand was still hopelessly entwined with another's. That is, he
forgot, until he stepped forward , sharply tugging the aforementioned hand, which caused the boy,
whom he was studiously not thinking about, to stumble forward and shove him into the wall.
Oh. Well. This was nice too.
"Come children." A chiding voice sad. "None of that."
Some days he really wished he could set fire to people using just his eyes.
They managed to make it inside and sitting without anymore... incidents.
"Now to get down to business."
"Finally." This better work.
"First. Practical matters. The rings. I've completed all but one of the charms."
"I thought everything was ready." Harry spoke up.
"It is. I just needed both of you for the last bit." The Headmaster revealed the two rings and
handed one to each of them. "Place them in your left hands please. Good. Now close your hands
and hold them out to me." Dumbledore took hold of each of them and muttered a few words.
A flash of power went through him, then nothing.
"That should be it. Hand each other your rings. They have to go on the same fingers. I suggest the
ring finger, seeing as how that's where these rings were charmed to go in the first place."
"Sir?"
"Certain rings," He began, not willing to wait for the roundabout explanation the Headmaster
would undoubtedly use, "usually ones intended to be passed down from generation to generation
can have a charm put on them that... adjusts to the new wearer. Now please, put the damned thing
on."
"Oh." Harry fumbled a bit, but managed.
He slid the ring on...
...and something unclenched inside him.
Harry looked similarly relieved.
"Now for the rest."
"NOW?" They said it at the same time. That probably wasn't good.
"Calm down. Its just a few house keeping bits. Nothing serious."
He raised an eyebrow. "According to whom?"
The Headmaster apparently chose to ignore that question, because he continued on as if he hadn't
heard. "First , no one will see the rings if they don't know that they're there."
"Obscurus." He nodded approvingly. "Good choice."
"Thank you Severus. I thought so as well. Secondly the... attraction."
Harry let loose an exasperated sound and jumped up. "Oh for gods sake. Just call it what it is!
What did you do to fix the fact that we want to screw like minxes!"
"Ah. Thank you, Mr. Potter, for ah, clarifying the situation."
"I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated." Harry turned away and continued in a lower voice, "In more ways
than one."
He wasn't the only one.
Dumbledore continued. "I've repressed, or rather, sublimated the charm. I couldn't get rid of it,
its embedded too deeply into the spell as a whole, but you'll be able to appease it in other ways."
"Other ways?" What did the old man do now?
"Ah. Hand holding. Erm. Sitting together. Mostly what you've already been doing."
If it weren't for the other atrocities involved in the current situation, he'd almost enjoy Albus's
discomfort.
"Once a day, for a portion of time should do it." Turning to Harry. "Between me, you, Severus,
Professor McGonagall, and Madame Pomfrey, there should be ample opportunity to remove you
from your friends for an hour or two every day."
"How long?" He had to know when he'd get his life back.
"How long what, Severus?"
"How long each night? How long into the future will we need this?" How long will he yearn?
"Each night? An hour. Perhaps 2, especially in the beginning. As for the other... It depends on a
great many things. The strength of the castor, the whimsy of the spell and probably the length of
time that went by between the beginning of the casting and the end."
"In other words, wait and see."
"Yes."
"How very reassuring."
"For now, however, I suggest that Harry stay here. None of his roommates stayed for the
holidays. You need to show up for meals in the Great Hall, but other than that, your time is your
own. I'll have the house elves send down some of Harry's things."
Before he could say anything, the blasted man was gone.
And they were alone.
And they weren't touching.
Well it was a start. He could think.
Not well. Because foremost on his mind was the compulsion to gather the boy up in his arms. But
he could think about other things as well.
"I suppose this means you're going to give me even MORE detentions."
A malicious sneer was his only answer. "I hope you're tired."
"I'm impressed I'm still standing."
He got up and headed towards the bedroom. "Then follow me."
He watched Harry hungrily take in the room. "Don't tell me you were expecting something
ridiculous like silver and green decor?"
"No." Harry crawled under the covers. "Just chains."
Shiver. God he needed to get laid.
It would be so easy to-
No. It. Wouldn't.
Sighing he climbed into bed. With Harry Potter. Again.
Somewhere, someone was laughing, very hard.
He was in the middle of creating a very gruesome death when an arm snaked across his chest.
And he thought he'd been relaxed before.
With a mental sigh, he took the hand in his own and settled down to sleep.
Part 9
Oooh.
Niiiice.
Very, very nice.
He rolled his hips forward again.
Extraordinary.
Beautiful even.
Arms tightened around him and-
ARMS?
Shit!
He rolled away, scooped up his robe and ran for the bathroom.
Well that probably ruined his image forever.
15 minutes later he returned to the bedroom and was greeted by the sight of Harry semi-conscious
in his bed.
"Wake up, Harry."
"Why?"
Annoying boy. "Because otherwise you will miss breakfast completely."
"Mmkay." He didn't move.
"Mr. Potter!"
This time he sprang up. "What? I'm up! I'm up!"
"I am going to the Great Hall. Do get dressed and do the same."
"Right. Morning. Food."
"I hope you're not expecting some sort of reward for that stunning display of intelligence. Now
get dressed and go to breakfast. You haven't been seen in the Great Hall for nearly a day. You're
more likely to be missed than I am."
He waited just long enough so see Harry climb out of bed before turning to leave.
As an after thought he called over his shoulder, "I'll spell the door so that you can get back in.
Just touch the upper left corner, the upper right corner and then the nose."
Breakfast had been... interesting.
The first time they had been in the same room for a prolonged amount of time without the
freedom to touch.
While not exactly torture. It wasn't heaven either.
Playing with the ring helped.
He'd returned to his rooms as soon as possible. They needed to get used to this. Needed to
understand what they would be dealing with.
He'd gotten through nearly a months worth of lesson plans before the crawling of skin overtook
his concentration.
Throwing down his quill in disgust, he buried his face in his hands.
A squeak. The door.
Harry.
He left his desk.
Harry stood in front of the door looking as uncomfortable as he felt.
Their eyes met and Snape gave a brief nod of acquiescence.
That was all Harry needed. He was across the room and in his arms so quickly they nearly
toppled.
Though any annoyance he may have felt dissipated as quickly as the crawling of his skin had.
"How long was that?" Came a muffled voice.
He repositioned his head so that it lay gently on top of Harry's. "About two hours. Maybe more."
"I'm think I'm very glad the Headmaster has me staying here. Is it going to be like this
tomorrow?"
Slow strokes down his back. "I don't know. Perhaps it just needs time."
Lunch and dinner passed without similar experiments. Neither wanted to repeat them.
Evening found them laying on the couch.
"Professor, how are the rings supposed to help?"
He glanced longingly at his book, but he couldn't begrudge the boy the right to know anything
about this situation.
"Did you feel the surge of power when the Headmaster did the charm?"
A nod. "Yes."
"That charm infused the rings with our, for lack of a better word, aura. In essence we're carrying
around a piece of each other."
Harry looked at him for a moment then snorted lightly. "That's a ridiculously romantic notion."
Especially in relation to them. "Believe me, no one more than I, is aware of that."
They were in bed. Much to his chagrin, the novelty was starting to wear off.
"I think class is going to be hard."
He raised an eyebrow. "There you go with those amazing leaps of logic, Potter."
"I'm serious."
"Good for you. Go to sleep." He tightened the embrace and closed his eyes.
"No." Damn the boy. "We need a plan."
Dryly. "There's a phrase that could strike terror into the hearts of even the strongest men."
Harry's head turned to glare directly at him. "You're really annoying."
"Watch it Potter. You're lucky I haven't taken house points from you already."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine deduct points. 10 points from Gryffindor for annoying a professor in bed.
Now please listen to me."
Giving up. "Fine. Potions class. A plan. What did you have in mind?"
Harry shrugged. "Nothing specific. Just, we do things unconsciously and it's the last class of the
day. We won't have had a chance to do... anything."
"I'll think of something. Now will you go to sleep?"
"What about tomorrow?"
"I'm sure an opportunity will present itself."
"But-"
"Look! I don't know how you recover from several hours of torture, but I for one would like
to get some rest!"
Harry had gotten incredibly still.
"I'm sorry." Whispered so quietly, he barely heard it.
"Its not- Its just-" He sighed. "The house elves will return your things in the morning. The
Headmaster will doubtlessly be able to find some excuse to bring you to his office. Rumors about
your stay in the infirmary will have most likely made it to you friends already. Attribute both the
visit to the hospital wing and Albus's office to Voldemort, its true enough anyway. I'll meet you
in there."
"I didn't mean..."
"I'm just very tired Harry. I imagine you are too."
Harry's hand snaked up and carefully brushed his cheek. "I wouldn't wish that on anyone."
"Then don't." A careful brush of lips across fingers. "Now sleep."
Part 10
He supposed, in hindsight, he was surprised it hadn't happened earlier. But then, he'd probably
been too tired to do anything but sleep... and molest sleeping children.
It began slowly. One sense at a time.
Hearing.
A laugh. Low and evil. Snakelike.
Smell.
Sweat. Blood.
Taste.
Something coppery.
Sight.
Glowing eyes.
Touch.
Pain. Wave after wave.
He didn't remember when he'd started. But he was screaming. Begging. Pleading... Crying...
Then.
Hands. Arms. Being held. Someone stroking his back.
Whispering in his ear. Rocking back and forth.
"...shhh... take it easy... just a nightmare... you're not there... shhh..."
He grabbed onto that comfort. Held for dear life.
"Professor? Are you ok?"
He was vaguely aware that they had become more tangled than they ever had before. Both of
them were sitting up, legs crossing each others at right angles. He had his head buried in Harry's
neck and his arms wrapped tightly around Harry's waist. Harry was in a similarly wrapped around
him.
A few deep breaths. "I'm sorry," he croaked out.
Arms tightened around him. "Don't be."
"What time is it?"
"About time to wake up."
"Oh good." They didn't move. Which was perfectly fine for him. He was very comfortable.
"Is it as strange for you as it is for me?"
"Waking up from a nightmare?"
"No...uh.. Being... attracted... to.. Uh... men..."
"Oh." That's a question he should have anticipated.
"I don't mean to pry but... I can't really talk to anyone else about it... I mean, Professor
McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey aren't guys and just thinking about Headmaster Dumbledore
and sex in the same sentence makes me itchy. Its not like anyone would believe me if I tried to
win the pool anyway."
"The POOL?!" WHAT?
"Joking."
That intolerable boy. "Not the best way to open the conversation."
"Yeah well. I'm tense. When I'm tense, I joke. When you're tense, you go on long tirades about
the inherently stupid nature of existence. We all have ways of dealing."
"Thank you for that terribly simple psychoanalysis."
"You're welcome. So.. Is it?"
"Strange? Am I having a mid-life crisis?" He wasn't awake enough to have this conversation.
"I suppose."
"Are you?" Avoid. Avoid.
"Having a mid-life crisis? No. But I wouldn't rule out shear unadulterated terror."
"Terror?"
"I was.. Just beginning to know... me... my place in the universe and then WHAM! Suddenly
you're there with your eyes and your hands and your skin and you yank the carpet out from under
me. Then you confuse me more by not making this as unpleasant as possible. I just... its very
confusing. The proof of that would be the ridiculous confession that I just made."
"Yes." Silence. "I'm not sure what to say, what you need me to say."
"I don't know, either." The fingers in his hair dug in further.
"We should probably get up. Go to breakfast. You should get ready to meet your friends."
"Yeah."
They untangled themselves. On his way to the bathroom, he turned around.
"Harry." The boy looked up from the piece of bedclothes he'd been thoroughly examining.
"Hands are hands. Mouths are mouths. People are people. Love is love. They just have many
different forms." That was best he could do.
Waiting at the table for his friends to come in felt like sitting in the same room as Snape and not
being able to touch him. Oh wait. He was doing that too.
That disturbing thought aside. He was looking forward to seeing them again. He was not,
however, looking forward to classes and lying to them, being separated from Snape.
Again with the disturbing thoughts.
"Harry!"
He'd know that chorus of voices anywhere. "Ron! Hermione! How were your vacations?"
"Terrific!" Hermione
"Amazing!" Ron..
They sounded terribly loud. His thumb went to caress the ring sitting on his finger.
"Are you done Harry? Mum fed us before we got on the train. Let's go to common room to talk."
On any other day it would have been a terrific idea.
The common room meant leaving the Great Hall. Meant leaving Snape.
He nodded.
He had to get used to it after all. Its wasn't like he could sleep with the man anymore.
Oh. There was another one of those thoughts that made his head spin. For a number of reasons.
Most of them disturbing.
Just before they left the Great Hall, Harry turned his head frantically searching. Thankfully Snape
had been aware of his imminent exit. Their eyes met briefly. A quick nod. He understood. Good.
He hurried to catch up with his friends before they'd realized he'd lagged behind.
Ron had somehow coerced him into playing chess. On a normal day he would have gotten the
pants beaten off him. Today, however, he was being strung up by his thumbs.
And bit by bit his concentration was eroding.
Keeping up a chess game, no matter how pathetic, and his end of the conversation, all at once,
was quickly becoming too much. His only hope was that Snape felt similarly and was doing
something about it.
He was about to give up and call it a night when the portrait swung open and the Headmaster
peeked in.
"Harry?"
"Headmaster." He must have sounded ridiculously relieved.
"Ah there you are. Madame Pomfrey's been looking for you. Why don't you come with me."
"Of course Headmaster."
"Madame Pomfrey?" Hermione asked.
"Oh. Its nothing, I'll tell you about it when I get back."
They were gone before anyone could say anymore.
He was escorted to Dumbledore's office and left at the door with a password and a smile.
"Sugarquills"
Door the door opened and...
Oh.
Just looking felt good.
"Come inside." Snape's voice sounded a little ragged.
He was inside and holding the other man almost as fast as the last time. "How long?"
"Nearly 7 hours." Arms closed around him.
Secure.
Safe.
"Well. Maybe classes won't be so difficult."
Snort. "So says the person who doesn't feel the need to actually concentrate on his studies."
"Can is ask a personal question?"
"Another in your long line of intrusive inquiries Potter? However could I resist?"
"Why did you join the Death Eaters?"
"I don't know. Why did you become a Quidditch player?"
"What does one have to do with the other?"
"Would you have become seeker if all of your friends hadn't thought it was a wonderful idea. If
the people you looked up to hadn't set you on that path in the first place? If your father hadn't
been one as well?"
"I don't know."
"Our ideas about the world are shaped by those around us. Sometime we're not lucky enough to
be surrounded by the better half. Sometimes you have to claw your way into the light instead of
just standing there and letting it shine."
He could have been a poet. "I... I'm sorry."
"You keep saying that like its going to make a difference."
He looked up, for the first time, deliberately meeting those dark eyes. "Sometimes you have look
around to make sure you're not already in the light. Sometimes, its just nice to hear someone say
it."
Part 11
Ron and Hermione were waiting for him when he got back 3 hours later.
"Where were you?" An accusation from Ron.
"The hospital wing." And so the lying began.
"For three hours?" Hermione charged.
"I went to the Headmaster's office after." Truth. He liked the truth.
"To do what?" Ron again. Did they practice this?
"Talk." This omission thing wasn't that bad.
"Why didn't you tell us what happened?" Hermione looked more hurt than angry.
"You're going to have to be more specific." Bugger. Starting to sound like him.
"You. The Great Hall. Screaming like a madman. Spending a day in the infirmary." Ron really had
this habit of overreacting.
"Oh." Don't admit anything.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well that explains everything."
"Oh good. Then I'll just be going to bed."
Both at once. "Stop right there!"
So close.
"What's going on, Harry?" Ah. The sincerity of friendship. Women sure knew how to use
emotions.
"Nothing. Really! I just didn't want to worry you." Or take the risk of them trying to get him
committed.
Hermione walked up to him and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. It was all he could do not to
shake her off. "I'd feel better if you'd just tell us what happened."
Shrugging lightly. "It not as big a deal as you're probably making it. Voldemort was being
especially cruel. That's all."
Ron's looked at him earnestly. "Is he planning something?"
"Isn't he always?"
"Harry." Hermione had this annoying habit of sounding like McGonagall.
"I know. I know. I've been talking to the Headmaster. Don't worry. Please. I'm fine. I swear."
She sighed and hugged him. "We were just worried."
"So what happened?" Ron asked.
He pulled out of the hug as quickly as possible. "I... I'd really rather not talk about it."
"If you ever feel ready, we're always willing to listen."
"Thanks. Really. I just want to sleep." He went to his room, throwing a goodnight over his
shoulder.
Sleeping was strange. He'd gotten used to wrapping himself around another person. The strangest
moment came when he realized his pillow smelled wrong. Rather, when he realized why his
pillow smelled wrong. Of course that was a precursor to an all out panic attack over what he'd
been using as a pillow for the last three days. That was followed by the near stroke at the
realization that he missed his... pillow.
He was only slightly uncomfortable during breakfast, but his next bit of free time was looking very
far away.
Under the pretense of drinking, he let his eyes wander to the head table.
Looking helped.
Snape seemed to have a similar opinion.
No. Wait. He was trying to tell him something.
He watched Snape slowly and deliberately stand up and leave, using the back entrance.
"Uh, Ron. Hermione. I forgot something in my room. I'll meet you in charms."
"Ok Harry." Hermione didn't even look up from her book.
"Sure." Ron didn't look up from his food.
Once in the corridor her wasn't sure what to do. The potions master was no where to be found.
A hand on his shoulder. "This way."
He jumped. "AH! Don't do that!"
A raised eyebrow was the only response he got.
He followed Snape to the Charms corridor.
"Walking me to class? They say romance is dead."
"Watch it, Potter. I just thought it'd be better, if you were observed, to be running through the
charms corridor rather than from the direction of the dungeons."
"Oh."
"Quite." Snape gestured at the wall. "Through here, Mr. Potter."
All he saw was an archway embedded in the wall. "Through where?"
"Have faith, Mr. Potter."
Snape stepped behind him and pushed forward into the wall and-
Pop!
They were in a small corridor. He could see the main hallway, but he was fairly certain that the
opposite was not true.
"How?"
There was a faintly amused look on his face. "The Headmaster has insured the castle's
cooperation."
"Ah." That explained absolutely... nothing.
Snape extended a hand and barely grazed his cheek. "We have limited time. I suggest we make
use of it."
Harry leaned into the touch but stayed where he was. "Practical as always." He would not fling
himself at the man this time.
Snape stepped forward.
Thank god.
And stopped. Opened his arms wide and asked, with as much innocence as that man could
possibly have. "Didn't you miss me?"
Glare. Oh for the... He gave up.
Much better.
As far as bodies went Snape wasn't -
NO.
They savored the contact for a few moments. "How much time is left?"
Snape murmured. "A few minutes."
Sigh. "We're going to have to do this again."
"Probably."
"I have Quidditch practice."
"I know. After then."
"Sounds good."
"I'll make sure the Headmaster needs a word with you."
"I should go to charms." He held on tighter.
"Probably."
"You should go rescue your classroom."
The body under his hands stiffened and removed itself from his embrace. "Go to class Mr. Potter.
I shall see you later."
He was gone.
The snitch. The snitch. He had to find the snitch.
Heeeeere snitchy snitchy snitchy.
There! He swooped down.
Weave left. Right. Up.
Twist.
This wasn't bad. He could ignore the itch.
He never saw the bludger coming.
Part 12
He felt like an idiot.
Arranging secret rendezvouses with Harry Potter.
To top it all off, he'd never been more aware of another human being in his entire life. Despite the
help the rings provided him, spending hours wrapped around the boy didn't do much for his self
control.
He checked the potion that was simmering in front of him. Perfect, the Headmaster should be
taking Harry in for a private conversation just at is was done.
He was returning some ingredients to the cabinet when something hit him in the stomach. He fell
to his knees with a loud, "Oomf!"
"What was-" His speculation was cut off by an even more intense pain that exploded through his
ribs, ankle and wrist.
The world spiraled.
Black spots dance across his eyes and he struggled to remain conscious.
He didn't succeed.
The next thing he saw was the Headmaster's face hovering over him. Again.
"Severus?"
"Mmm."
"That's it, Severus. Let's get you to the Hospital Wing."
He leaned on Albus, attempting to get up. "What happened?"
"It seems young Harry has had a slight accident."
He'd managed his knees. Now for the rest of the way. "And I..."
"Felt it. Yes Severus. You always were quick."
He was standing, barely. He offered a muted glare. "And you call that slight?"
Albus smiled. "Come Severus, to the infirmary."
It must have looked strange. The two of them walking through the hallways.
Him leaning heavily on Albus's shoulders. Probably looking like he'd been run over by a heard of
angry students.
As they approached the door, he could see Poppy shooing away two students.
"Now, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger. He'll be fine. He just needs rest. You'll see him tomorrow at
breakfast." The medi-witch caught sight of them approaching. "Oh Severus! What happened?"
He found himself facing one pair of startled eyes and two sets of gawking onlookers.
"...slight accident..." He managed. The walk there hadn't done him any good.
She took him from the Headmaster's arms. "Inside right away."
He was brought directly to Harry's bed.
He looked at Poppy, "You knew?"
"Deary, do I look stupid? Don't answer that. Suffice it to say that those two young, inquisitive
minds now have a suitably ambiguous rumor to spread."
"What house where you sorted into when you were in school."
"That's none of your business young man. Now get into bed."
Pushy.
He gratefully sank down into the bed. Immediately, he felt hands reach for him.
Surprised, he asked, "You're awake?"
"I haven't taken my potion yet."
"Ah."
"Lay down please. She's taken care of most of the bruises."
He removed his boots and slid under the covers.
The amount of comfort he received by simply wrapping his arms around Harry was mildly
disconcerting.
The boy sighed. "I think I missed this."
Curious. "This?"
"Don't ask me to get more specific. I don't think I can."
"Recognizing your limitations is the first step."
Harry merely snorted and burrowed deeper.
A thought occurred to him. "Is that what it was like?"
"What?"
"When you felt... me."
A tense moment, then. "A bludger to the stomach versus several hours of torture is hardly the
same thing, Professor."
"I'm sorry." He really was.
Harry shrugged. "Not really your fault."
Something inside felt incredibly light. "Thank you."
"For what?" Confusion.
"No one's ever actually said that."
"That its not your fault?"
"Yes." Was this what forgiveness felt like? Strange.
Earnest eyes looked up at him. "Well, it's not."
His fingers came up to caress soft hair. Then slid down and brushed against a smooth neck.
Harry leaned into his touch.
"Thank you." He couldn't keep the roughness out of his voice.
"You're welcome." Not more than a shaky whisper.
A tentative hand wound its way up his body leaving a trail of sensation behind it.
"Harry..." God, was he trembling. His voice had taken on a husky timber.
That hand found its way to his face and started slowly tracing the outline of his lips.
Harry began to whisper. "Its so strange... This feeling I have when you're in the room... or when I
crawl into your arms..."
"Please stop..." A weak plea wrenched itself from his lips.
"...I know that there's more... and I can't help but wonder... but we're not supposed to... but even
the thought... of touching someone else makes me queasy..." All delivered in the same soft,
wondrous voice.
"Harry, listen to yourself. We can't. When this wears off, you'd be horrified." Listen to him.
Please god, listen to him.
"I don't think I would be. A few days ago... maybe... But not now." Before he could react, Harry
darted forward.
Oh. Lips.
Soft. Malleable.
Sweet. So sweet.
He resisted.
A wet, lithe tongue darted out and tasted him.
He gasped.
The tongue, apparently recognizing a tactical advantage and plunged inside.
He groaned and crushed Harry against him.
Returning the kiss with a fervor that he'd never known before.
Hands clutched at him. Legs tangled and found purchase.
And oh god. This felt so good.
This kiss went on. Harsh panting and wet smacking, a strange accompaniment.
The boy was writhing against him. Causing great rippling sensations.
So good.
Oh god. So good.
"NO!" He rolled off the bed and sprawled on the floor.
Gasping for breath. "We can't, Harry. We have to remember. It's not real."
Harry was taking deep, gulping breaths. "Right. The urge to jump you and swallow you whole.
Not real. Got it."
Oh. That.
He closed his eyes tightly.
That was almost as good as touching.
He wordlessly offered the potion.
Something passed through those green eyes. But the potion was swallowed without protest.
"Sleep, Harry. Just sleep."
Only after the boy's breathing had evened out did he climb back into the bed.
Part 13
He woke up several hours later, curled around Harry.
He took a few moments of peace before slowly unfurling himself.
He slipped his boots on and shuffled out of the hospital wing in silence.
It was still several hours before breakfast and the corridors were dark and empty.
"Severus."
Almost. "Albus."
"You should be in bed." Chiding.
"If you'll let me return to my chambers," Please let him go. "I'd be more than happy to return to
bed."
"Why not just go back to the bed you were very comfortably occupying a few minutes ago."
He cursed the inventor of the reasonable suggestion.
"Because even my self control has its limits."
Albus looked worried. "The rings..."
"Help. Some."
"Perhaps you should try to spend-"
"I know where he is all the time now." He interrupted. "All I have to do is close my eyes and
think about him. Its like knowing where my feet are, even when I can't see them."
"Are you alright?" More serious now.
"No, Albus." He closed his eyes and leaned heavily against the wall. "I am not alright."
"I'll do more research tomorrow. See if I can sublimate it any further."
"I feel like a monster."
"That is one thing you are not." The voice was stern. The usual humor gone.
He looked up into very serious blue eyes. "I'm tired Albus. I... itch... all the time."
The Headmaster gathered him into a hug. Despite the immediate compulsion to push him away, it
was immensely comforting.
"I will find something for you, Severus. I promise."
"Thank you, Albus."
"Come, let me walk you to your rooms."
Ron stood in the corridor watching them go.
So the git had a conscious, eh?
Who would have thought? Not him certainly.
Though, he had looked fairly unhappy through most of the conversation. Not that, that was
something very new. Most of the conversation hadn't made much sense to him anyway. Rings,
phantom limbs and self-control, he stored it all away to share with Harry and Hermione later.
Harry.
It was probably a stupid thing to do. Take Harry's cloak and sneak through the halls to see him.
But something had felt wrong with the way Madame Pomfrey had dismissed them earlier.
Usually, they would have been able to sit with Harry until dinner. Maybe even later. This time,
they'd been shooed out withing 10 minutes. He was worried that there was something she wasn't
telling them.
When he walked into the ward he noticed that all the beds were empty. Where is he?
A private bed? Unusual.
They were bigger. Usually used for the long term.
That worried him even more.
Harry was curled up on one side of the bed asleep. Something looked wrong.
The bed.
It looked... slept in.
That was ludicrous. Of course it looked slept in.
Harry was sleeping in it.
But still. Something about the dent in the other pillow irked him.
He watched Harry whimper in his sleep and roll over restlessly. He grabbed at the other pillow
and clutched it closely. A few more seconds and he was settled down again.
He didn't look bad.
Maybe Madame Pomfrey was being cautious because Harry had just gotten out of the infirmary a
few days ago.
He watched Harry for a few more minutes then returned to his dorm room.
He left Dumbledore at the entrance to his rooms with a goodnight.
Trudging through the main room he snatched two bottles and proceeded to the bedroom.
He undressed down to his boxers, sat on the edge of the bed, placed the bottles on a small table
and stared at them.
The same two bottles he stared at every other night he'd slept alone since this idiotic situation er...
arose.
One, lubricant. The other, a mood killer. Both would relax him enough to sleep.
He'd been half hard since he'd gotten Potter to drink the damned potion.
Since the stupid, willful, insolent, obnoxious, impudent, brazen, brat of a boy had-
had...
...seriously tested his self-control.
Albus had faith in him.
He didn't deserve it.
With shaking hands he picked up the lubricant. Studied it.
And threw it against the wall.
The crash it made was surprisingly satisfying.
He took the other potion and climbed into bed.
"Hermione!" He whispered urgently.
"What?" She turned a suspicious eye in Ron's general direction. She couldn't see him because he
was still wearing the cloak.
He was glad she was used to this sort of thing.
"Meet me in the common room."
She huffed a little but answered, "Fine."
"Why did you wake me up?" She didn't look very happy.
"I'm not sure. I was going to wait until morning, but something just won't let it rest."
"Fine." She had on her 'go ahead tell me so that I can go back to sleep' face.
"I snuck out to check on Harry-"
"Ron!"
"Just listen. I overheard a conversation between Dumbledore and Snape." He proceeded to relay
as much of the conversation as he remembered.
"Well, that does sound strange Ron, but I don't know if we should worry. Whatever it is, it's
obvious that the Headmaster knows about it."
"Yeah... its just... there was something." He closed his eyes and replayed the scene in his mind.
Snape sneaking through the corridor.
Dumbledore sneaking up behind him.
Telling Snape he should be in bed.
Something about self-control and rings.
Snape being able to feel someone.
Something catching his eye as Snape braced himself against the wall.
Something... catching... his eye...
On Snape's hand.
"A ring!"
"You said that already, Ron."
"No! He was wearing a ring."
"Where?" Now she looked intrigued.
"On his ring finger, his..." He closed his eyes and pictured it again. "His left ring finger."
"He's MARRIED?"
His lips twisted in disgust. "That's a creepy thought."
"Wait." Hermione looked confused. "Why haven't we noticed this ring before?"
"Maybe its new?"
"Maybe its being concealed?"
"Maybe both?"
"Maybe," she looked thoughtful, "you should go over everything you heard again. Don't leave
anything out this time."
Part 14
He wasn't very happy when he walked into the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning.
It was probably a combination of waking up alone, a fitful night's sleep and the ever persistent
crawling of his skin.
He absently rubbed the ring as he sat down opposite Ron and Hermione, who were already in
deep discussion.
"Morning." He mumbled distractedly, reaching for some food.
"Harry! You're feeling better?" Hermione looked very happy to see him.
"Yeah. Madame Pomfrey is amazing sometimes."
"Harry, I've got to tell you what I overheard last night!"
Harry gave Hermione a pleading look. It was too early in the morning for this.
She shook her head. "You should listen to him, there's something strange going on."
"Go ahead then."
"I was sneaking down to see you."
His head shot up. "Why?"
"I was worried. S'not important. Anyway. I overheard a conversation between Snape and
Dumbledore."
Oh. This can't be good.
"From what I heard. We think Snape's under some sort of spell!"
Never should have encouraged him in first year. "What kind of spell?"
"Not sure. But we think it may be related to Voldemort."
Now that was interesting. "Why?"
"Well. There were several things, he was referring to another person, said he could always tell
where this mysterious 'he' was. Just close his eyes, like thinking about his hands or something."
He could?
He thought about Snape and suddenly knew he was about to...
...walk in the Great Hall... wow...
"Harry, are you listening?" Ron asked.
"Yeah. Go on."
"Then he talked about feeling like a monster."
A monster? He wasn't a... God, if that's what Snape thought of himself... that might explain a lot.
"That's when I heard Dumbledore mention something about rings. I didn't see them at the time,
but thinking back, I know I saw him wearing a ring, on his LEFT ring finger."
Shit. Deflect attention. "So, maybe he's married?"
Ron looked at him.
"Ok. Maybe not."
In her best lecture voice. "What caught my attention is that no one's noticed the ring before, in
fact Ron didn't even notice it when he was there. I think there's some sort of concealment spell
on it." Hermione finished with a look of triumph.
"And this led you to Voldemort?" He let disbelief lace his voice.
Ron looked perplexed. "Just something about it. Snape didn't sound too happy and Dumbledore
looked awful worried. What else could it be?"
He shrugged. If they wanted to pursue that line, he wasn't going to stop them. Better they go off
in the wrong direction than he try to stop them cold.
He absently toyed with the ring again and glanced at the head table. Snape was getting ready to
leave.
"Ron. Hermione. I haven't had a chance to get back to my room and change my books. I'll meet
you in Divination."
"Sure."
This time he didn't stop just outside the doors. Instead he headed towards the classroom.
About halfway there, he noticed an archway he didn't ever remember seeing before.
Just before stepping through he stopped. With careful deliberation he closed his eyes and thought
about Snape and Knew. Knew that he was right behind the non-existent wall.
This could almost be useful.
Before he could continue forward a hand appeared from nowhere a pulled.
Pop!
He found himself chest to chest with Snape.
"Don't waste time, Potter." Snape growled.
The vibrations from Snape's chest tumbled through him with a fury.
Last night had been such a stupid mistake.
An amazing, wonderful, glorious mistake.
One he might like to repeat.
He burrowed deeper into the embrace. "Why did you leave last night?"
"I thought it might be best if I returned to my own rooms."
"How long did you stay?"
"Long enough."
"Did you and the Headmaster have a conversation in hallway last night?"
The body beneath him went tense. "Yes."
"I'm going to tell you something and you're not going to use it against anyone."
An eyebrow go raised. "Anything else, sir?" Damn sarcasm.
"No. That's all for now." Ha. Two can play that game.
A long suffering sigh, then. "Fine. Tell me. But I make no promises."
"Ron overheard the conversation."
"That's... very... annoying... I trust he shared it with you and Ms. Granger?"
He nodded.
"And what were their conclusions?"
"That you're under some sort of spell. Something to do with Voldemort."
Snort. "Creative little minds aren't they? What did you tell them?"
"Not much. Just doubted them some. Couldn't do much more without suspicion."
"I don't supposed you're willing to tell me what Mr. Weasley was doing in that hallway, anyway?
Or why it is I did not see him?"
He gave Snape and incredulous look. "Not on your life."
"Insolent. I am still your teacher."
Seriously. "Not right now, you're not."
"May I remind you that in a few hours we will both have to stand in a classroom."
"That's in a few hours. This is now."
"As usual Mr. Potter, you have an alarming ability to bend reality to your liking."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"We should probably try this again. Before class, that is."
"I have a full day. Look for me at lunch. We'll see what we can do."
"Ok." He looked deliberately into the potion master's eyes and traced a stern cheek with his
fingers. "I don't think you're a monster."
With that, he left.
As it turned out. He spent most of his lunch dealing with a problem in the Slytherin common
room.
So when he stormed into his 6th year potions class, the itch increased exponentially.
"Today you will working on a dreamless sleeping drought. Page 424."
The class sat there looking up at him.
"Well? What are you waiting for? The ingredients you'll need are set up in the back. GO!"
They scattered.
He allowed himself a small satisfied smile.
Most of the class followed its usual pattern.
He stalked around the classroom making a general nuisance of himself.
Approximately two-thirds of the way in the itch was almost unbearable.
Potter looked completely out of it.
Well. Might as well have a bit of fun.
"MR. POTTER!"
He jumped about a foot in the air.
"Would you care to tell me what is so interesting that it has taken all of your attention away from
the precariously boiling cauldron in front of you?"
"Ah, nothing sir." Potter began to haphazardly stir.
"After six years, one would think you'd know how to stir a potion Potter." He stalked over and
placed his hand over the boys and proceeded to stir the potion.
A grateful look spilled out of Potter's eyes before the more appropriate annoyance took over.
They couldn't stay like that for too long. Hopefully the thirty or so seconds would be enough.
"Since you're obvious inattentiveness has ruined your potion, you can come to detention tonight
and try it again."
"Yes, sir." Came a slightly petulant response.
"Good. Since its ruined-"
"No! Neville!" Ms. Granger's frantic cry interrupted him.
He turned just in time to see the cauldron begin to smoke.
"Ms. Granger! What did he do?"
"The wormtails before the ginger root!"
Oh god! The stupid- where's the freeroot?- forgetful boy.
Ms. Granger already had it in her hands. He snatched it and pushed her out of the possible blast
range.
"Move back!" He roared emptying the contents of the jar over the simmering brew.
It was too late. He didn't get nearly enough in before the reaction started.
It exploded.
The class had already moved out of the way and he took the brunt of the flying cauldron.
Harry saw it coming and braced.
Hot white pain lanced through his stomach.
His grip on the table tightened. His jaw clenched.
He distantly heard Draco yell, "I'll get Madame Pomfrey!"
Oh god. It hurt.
"Harry?" Hermione had turned around and saw him clutching his stomach. "Are you ok?"
"Fine." He gritted out. Unconsciously his thumb went to the ring. It helped. A bit.
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "No. You're not."
Breathe. In. Out.
"You're in pain."
"Never could fool you."
"Why are you in pain?"
"Quidditch? Yesterday? Took a bludger in the stomach. Fell off my broom?"
"If it hurt that much, Madame Pomfrey would never have let you out." She put a hand on his
shoulder. "What's going on, Harry?"
He jerked away. "Nothing." Right. That was believable. His right hand joined his thumb's
fondling of the ring.
She looked down at his hands. Her eyes widened. "Harry, why are you... you... " She cast a quick
look at Snape to wave away a student. Using his left hand. "Harry!"
"Not here!" He hissed. "I need you to help me get to the hospital wing, without anyone else
noticing.
"But-"
"Please."
"Ok." She didn't look happy.
He didn't imagine that, that would change anytime soon.
Part 15
Madame Pomfrey had given him a significant look before she left with Snape.
Right before leaving, she turned to him. "Don't forget about your checkup, Mr. Potter."
Bless you Madame Pomfrey.
He turned to Ron, who had returned to his side after the commotion died down. "Go on. I've got
to pack my things up, then I'm going to head down to the hospital wing. Get it over with."
Ron nodded. "I'll see you at dinner then?"
"Sure. Hermione. Could you come with me? I have an arithmancy question."
"Sure, Harry."
"Have fun you two, I'm off!" Ron was out of the room quickly. The mention of Arithmancy must
have scared him away.
When the door closed on the final students, he collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach. "Oh,
that's not something I wanted to do again."
"Again?"
"It's a long story. Could we wait until I don't feel like I'm going to throw my entire stomach up
whole?"
"Well, between the rings and the pain, I have bits and pieces. I suppose I can wait for the rest."
"Thank you. Now please. Help me up."
The walk to the infirmary was made in a tense silence.
Madame Pomfrey greeted them at the door. "Excellent timing Harry. I just got Professor Snape
settled down." She eyed Hermione. "You don't need to stick around for his check up, dear. He'll
be along soon."
He shook is head tiredly. "Its ok, Madame Pomfrey. Could you just get the Headmaster?"
The medi-witch looked at him intensely for a moment, then nodded. "He's in your usual suite. Go
ahead in."
Oh good. At least someone was having a good time.
Hermione stood there looking confused. "Your usual suite?"
"The teachers in this place have a twisted sense of humor. Come on. I'll explain in a minute." He
led her into the back of the ward, to curtained bed that was obviously occupied.
She looked a bit put out when he pulled the curtains apart without a warning to the person behind
them.
Of course that was nothing compared to the look she gave him when she realized that is was none
other than Professor Snape who occupied the bed.
Honestly. For such an intelligent person. She could be very dense.
Tired, dark eyes looked up at him in question.
He shrugged. "Was a pretty public place to get hit with an exploding cauldron."
Comprehension. "I see."
"I don't" Hermione added. Obviously a little impatient at being left in the dark.
He began to take off his shoes. "In a few moments, I'm going to trust you not to scream."
Once he was shoeless, he gracelessly climbed in beside Snape.
He shifted a bit, so that he could face Hermione, and settled with his back against Snape's front.
A hand snaked around his waist. He took it in his own.
Hermione hadn't screamed.
Though how much longer she was going to stay upright could have been up for debate.
"Uh... Harry?" Tentative.
"Yes, Hermione."
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Not particularly, no."
A snort from behind.
"Why did you just crawl into bed with..." She paused, as if completing the sentence would cause
physical harm. "With Professor Snape."
"Because, if we're going to have this conversation I needed to be able to concentrate."
Another snort sounded from behind. He contemplated kicking the source. It might be worth the
pain.
"Concentrate?" Hermione didn't make the connection.
Harry sighed and started at the beginning.
"What on earth were you doing with that charm?" Another in a long line of detailed, invasive and
vaguely embarrassing questions.
"It was in a book called, 'Charms A - Z', I saw it and thought it might be useful. You know, pick
up something to get ahead."
"And you were reading the charm before you read about the charm." Where did she learn that
impression of McGonagall, anyway?"
"Not my best moment, I know." Hadn't he had this conversation?
"AND you were waving your wand?"
"Not waving precisely... sort of... fiddling."
"Oh. Because that's completely safe." Oh no. He'd reduced Hermione Granger to sarcasm.
"Believe me, I've been thoroughly lectured on the subject." He rolled his eyes and gestured
behind him.
Her demeanor changed immediately. "Oh Harry. Has it been horrible?" She was obviously
referring to being forced to share close quarters with Snape.
"Despite" A voice interrupted before he could answer, "what most people would have you believe
Ms. Granger, I have it from reliable sources, that I am not a monster."
She looked at him accusingly. "I thought you were asleep."
"With you two nattering on like that?"
"Oh! I'm sorry. You must be exhausted."
"Miss Granger, I believe your reaction, and I don't doubt that there will eventually be others, was
the best of the lot. It was a pleasure to listen to someone who will look at this on an intellectual
level and not completely over react."
She turned to him. "Was that a compliment?"
"For him? Yeah."
"Now please." Snape continued. "I'd like to get some sleep so that I can get through what will
undoubtedly be another trying day. The Headmaster has been listening to this conversation for a
good amount of time now. He can answer anymore questions you might have."
A beared face appeared from behind the curtains. "Thank you, Severus."
"Anything to get you out of my hair, Albus."
Hermione looked back and forth between Snape and Dumbledore not sure what to make of the
banter. She went for grateful student. "Thank you, Professor. Headmaster."
Just as she was leaving. "Hermione."
"Yes, Harry?"
"Thank you... for not... for understanding..."
"I'm your friend, Harry. What else could I do?"
"Just the same, don't tell Ron."
She studied him for a moment then nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, Harry." She was gone.
Harry took the opportunity to turn around and assume their usual nap positions.
Oh. Wow. Another on of those disturbing thoughts.
"That went remarkably well." Snape commented.
He chuckled lightly. "Wait until she puts together that conversation Ron overheard with what I
told her today."
"What could you have possibly left out?"
"I know where you are all the time. The same for you."
"True."
"There's also..." He hesitated a moment. "I don't know how much of what Ron told me was true
or his usual trimmings but... something about self-control..."
"Ah yes... he would have heard that. Look, Potter, you needn't wor-"
"It's the same for me." He interrupted.
"What?"
"Everyday gets a little harder." Oh good. Nice time for the double entendres.
A hand caressed his hair. "The Headmaster has promised me he'd look into the matter. Also,
knowing Ms. Granger, she'll be hip deep in this as well."
They lay there for a few moments in a comfortable silence.
"I'm worried." He said suddenly.
Surprised. "About what?"
"A lot of things. Tonight. Tomorrow. Me. You."
"Me?" More surprise.
"When that cauldron exploded. I knew it'd hurt. But that's not really what I was thinking about."
"You shouldn't concern yourself with nonsense."
"Nonsense?"
"These feelings that we have."
"Nonsense?"
"Focusing on them will only make it worse."
"Nonsense?! Well its bloody well hard to focus on anything else!"
"You're stating the glaringly obvious."
He sat up. "Look! YOU may understand these feelings! May know what to do with them!
Understand them! Know how to compartmentalize! But I don't! I've never felt this way before!
Don't know if I ever will again! So please forgive me if I feel the need fully comprehend them!"
He ended with his voice ragged.
"Harry."
"No!" Deep breath. Calm. "Not now. I'll see you in detention."
He grabbed his shoes and left.
Part 16
He stalked into his empty classroom. He had 10 minutes before Harry was supposed to show up.
Sitting down with a pile of essays, he spent those minutes doing absolutely nothing.
But he did have a good glare.
A squeak of the door signaled Harry's arrival.
"You're late." He bit out tersely.
Indignant outrage colored Harry's reply. "No, I'm not."
"You are, if I say you are." He was the teacher. What he says, goes.
"That's not fair."
He answered with the air of someone who, most certainly knew better. "Life isn't fair." They
stood there and stared at each other for a bit. Finally, he could take the tense silence no more.
"Are you feeling better?" Good lord, why on earth ask that?
"You don't care." That child certainly knew how to be petulant.
Then again, so did he. "If I didn't care, I wouldn't ask."
More staring, then finally, Harry asked, "How can this not affect you?"
"I never said that it didn't."
Harry began to pace back and forth restlessly. Finally, in a fit of frustration he threw his hands up
in disgust. "I hate this!" He yelled.
"This?" That's right. Be coy. That'll really help now.
"This. This constant... want." Harry raised a hand to dismiss anything he might have said. "Don't
you dare try to tell me its all hormones. I'm 16 years old. I know hormones. This isn't it. It may
not be real, but its there." He punctuated it with a curled fist thumping against his chest. The
tirade was delivered with anger and frustration and had left him panting.
Beautiful.
Eyes aflame with passion.
Pale skin flushed and gleaming in the candlelight.
One long, delicious throb went through his entire body.
He resisted for a moment, but he was so tired of resisting.
"You think I don't hate it as well? I... ache for you, Potter." He had to stop. Turn away.
Step.
"Every second..." This shouldn't go on.
Step.
"...of every minute..." Send the boy away.
Step.
"...of every hour..." Oh god. Don't let this happen.
Step.
"...of every DAY." He was breathing as if he'd just run a marathon.
They were inches apart.
"I. Ache. For. You."
He ran a finger from temple to nape. "To touch your cheek."
A foray into soft locks. "To stroke your hair."
A firm grasp on each arm. "To take you in my arms and offer comfort."
A quick tug. "To crush you against me."
Harry let out a soft gasp. Instinctively hooking his arms up and around strong shoulders.
Softly cupping a cheek. "To know you." Murmured so softly.
Leaning forward. Lips barely touching lips. "Inside. And. Out."
"If you stop now," Harry choked out in a harsh whisper, "I'll hex you."
"I'm damned already." He closed the space between them.
He captured those soft lips that had been taunting him for days. Worried one gently between is
teeth before abandoning it for the hot, wet depth behind it.
Chests heaving, their lips broke apart.
He gently nipped the skin under Harry's ear. Then licked it. Tasted it. Soft, wonderful, clean skin.
Better than he imagined. And he HAD imagined it. Despite vehement mental lectures.
They were suddenly jarred by something.
Oh, they'd been moving. They're run into a desk.
What was Harry-
Oh. On the desk.
He settled between two strong legs, which instantly wrapped themselves around him.
Full body contact.
Closer than they'd ever been before.
Just leaning in to capture those wonderful lips again caused sensations that nearly undid him.
Oh god. They were moving. Swaying. Grinding.
Completely in time.
Lips and tongues and hands and arms all found purchase and added to the spiraling, dizzying,
amazing feelings coursing through his body.
Small gasping sounds filled the room.
Belatedly, he realized that some of them were coming from him.
But he didn't care.
This was too perfect.
So good.
So close.
So close. Yes. Oh yes. Oh yessss. Yes. Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes. Oh don't stop. Please. Don't
stop.
Too perfect. So completely, utterly-
Bells?
He stopped. Harry gave a frustrated whimper.
BELLS!
"Bells!" They yelled in unison.
Warning bells.
Attack bells.
Shit.
They ran.
The Headmaster's office was already filled with teachers.
"We've been given warning. But we still have very little time." The Headmaster stated.
"What happened, Albus?" A teacher asked.
"I think, in the end," Albus looked at him, "our little lie wasn't as believed as we thought it was."
Everyone turned to him.
Flitwick spoke up. "Harry. You should be in your rooms."
"Harry is staying exactly where he is." Albus answered.
No one questioned them any more.
"Minerva. You, Severus, Harry and I will strengthen the wards. Poppy, prepare the hospital wing.
Take any seventh years you think can help. Madame Hooch get the best school brooms and
distribute them to the best Quidditch players. Everyone else. Take defensive positions around the
castle. We'll be down as soon as we're done with the wards."
With that, they all filed out.
With grim determination, the four people left in the room began with the wards.
Part 17
It began so quickly, Harry didn't even have the chance to blink.
One moment it was silent. The next, the swishing sounds of brooms permeated the air.
They were like a dark malicious cloud on the horizon.
He turned to Snape, who was standing closely next to him. "We might not survive this."
"That's right, Potter. Look on the bright side."
"One of us has to."
They were getting closer now.
Snape offered a hand. "Take it."
"Why?" He asked, but did as he was asked anyway.
Snape gave him a look that implied exactly how stupid he thought Harry was. "I would like to be
able to concentrate for as long as possible."
"Ah. Makes sense." It did.
A small twitch of lips. "I often do." Snape turned his attention back to the sky.
He shook his head. "Not to us mere mortals."
"I see you finally understand your place in the universe."
He said nothing, just pointed to the sky and pulled his cloak tightly around him. "They're here."
The battle had begun.
Snape flung curse after curse, at broom after broom.
His job? Make sure Snape stayed alive. Everyone was working in pairs. One guarded the castle.
The other, guarded them. It was a system that appeared to be working.
After the first horrifying flash of green light, he no longer hesitated to use the most awful of
curses. He'd said it so many times now, he didn't think he'd ever feel clean again.
Ducking. Run. Keep as close as possible.
He be damned if he let anything happen to Snape.
During a slight lull, they took the opportunity to rest fully against each other.
"How are you fairing?" Snape's voice was rough. He'd been yelling for a long time.
"Tired. Very tired." Was all he could think to say. Something moved in the corner of his eye.
He whirled.
There. In the distance, a deatheater headed directly for them.
Without thinking, he raised his wand and cursed the errant rider.
Snape was the first to realize what he'd actually done. "Potter. How far away was that man?"
"I don't know. I could barely... see... him... Oh my god..."
"Precisely. How long have you been able to do that?"
"I don't think I've ever been able to do that."
Snape fired a shot at another attacker. One almost as far away as the first. "Neither have I."
"The pledge?"
"It's the only reason I can think of."
He took Snape's hand and stepped away. "Then let's try to stay as close as possible."
The deatheaters were coming in heavy numnbers again.
They began again.
It went on and on.
Pain became a permanent part of the landscape.
Snape's robes were singed and torn in various places. Small lines of blood trickled slowly down.
They were getting too close. Already he had seen Snape blast more than one death eater moments
before entering the castle.
Even taking out brooms with pinpoint accuracy didn't seem to help. More kept coming.
He was taking aim for the hundredth time that hour when Snape was suddenly ripped away from
him. Pulled from his hands.
He could see the floating head of Lucius Malfoy just above the taller man's right shoulder.
Looks like he wasn't the only one with an invisibility cloak.
"I know there's someone here." The blonde man hissed. "Show yourself." Malfoy ran a
threatening wand across Snape's chest.
How dare he.
How DARE he.
Taking his... his... HIS.
"Mine." He whispered to himself.
Malfoy's head snapped up, listening for the unseen voice.
He looked in Snape's eyes. The bastard looked right back at him. Then nodded.
Harry took a deep breath and circled around.
And charged.
Hitting Malfoy square in the back sent both men sprawling. But Snape had been ready for it. He'd
sprung forward as much as he'd been able to.
It had been enough. Malfoy was now alone.
He lowered his hood and raised his wand.
This one would be face to face.
Swish and fli-
The green glow came from above.
He looked up.
Draco Malfoy sat shakily on his broom looking down. "The Aurors are here." Was all he said
before flying off.
Well. That had been unexpected.
He ran to Snape who was crawling towards their original hiding place.
"Did you hear him?"
Snape nodded tersely. He arranged himself leaning against an especially large rock. "Come here.
The Aurors are performing up their usual standards. I think we can take a few minutes rest."
Harry crawled forward and positioned himself between Snape's outstretched legs. Back leaned
against stomach and relaxed.
Long, lean arms came around to cradle him.
Easing into the embrace, he sighed. "This could have been worse."
CRUCIO!
Ok. Between large cramping pains, he admitted it. This was his fault. Though, crawling back to a
hiding place where they'd already been found once was probably not smart either. But he should
really have know better than to tempt fate with strait lines like the one he'd uttered.
The arms around him spasmed tightly.
Their heads had been thrown back in unison.
He gasped for air as his body refused to obey any but perhaps the most primitive of commands.
"Se-ev-er-u-us..." A voice hissed. "Se-ev-er-u-us, my loyal follower." It spat. It was obvious
Voldemort knew exactly where Snape's allegiances lay. "A gift? For me? That's so sweet, Se-ev-
er-u-us."
"You've lost, you know." Harry gasped between breathes. That's right. Taunt him. That will
make this so much more fun.
"I know. But if you think I'll let either of you live, even in my defeat, then you are sadly
mistaken."
CRUCIO!
More pain.
Wave after wave.
Just kill them already.
Something metallic was biting into his skin. The ring.
A harsh whisper rang in his ear. "Together... resist..."
Slowly, painfully, their hands moved until they were interlocked. Ring touching ring.
Resist.
He felt a swell of power from within... them?
They let it rise. Grow, until it encompassed both of them.
It was electric. A strange mingling of who they both were. For one moment, they were both,
Severus Snape and Harry Potter. And more. More than the sum of their parts.
Then, they resisted.
"No!" Shouted as one.
They shoved. Voldemort flew backwards.
Rising together, they approached the sprawled body.
Together. "Aveda Kedavra." Not yelled. Not shouted. But said calmly. As a statement of fact.
Green light.
Intense, powerful green energy hit the twisted, parody of a man who called himself 'The Dark
Lord'.
It fought and it won.
They'd won.
Then the power was gone. Or rather. It had gone back to where it belonged withing each of them.
He was so tired. Snape looked similarly exhausted.
He took a step and missed the ground completely. "Oh... I think... I'll stay here..."
Snape sank to his knees beside him. "Best idea you've had in ages."
As the world spiraled down into darkness, he realized, belatedly, that they'd never even drawn
their wands.
Part 18
Severus Snape awoke to the sounds of many people milling around and talking in muffled voices.
Even the annoyance of being woken up by anything other than his own will was muted by the fact
that he was alive at all.
He stretched a little, testing out his muscles. Everything seemed to still be there. Though he was
sore in several places. A few more moments of careful consideration went by before he opened his
eyes.
White. He was surrounded by white. The Hospital Wing then. He'd survived AND they'd won. It
could almost qualify as a good day.
Something wasn't quite right though. He scratched his chest idly trying to figure out what it was.
The glint of his ring caught his eye. Suddenly his entire body... itched. Then he realized, he was
alone.
Where's Harry?
He swung his legs off the bed and met a cold marbled floor. His boots where no where to be
found, he grunted in minor annoyance, but continued on.
Shuffling out from behind the curtain surrounding the bed, his eyes came upon controlled chaos.
Almost all of the beds were filled. Poppy and several others were walking back and forth checking
on patients.
He scanned each bed carefully, searched each face. Harry was not among them.
Then a mind numbing though flashed through his head.
But no. He'd know. Wouldn't he?
He absentmindedly caressed the ring.
Stupid. Of course. He closed his eyes and thought of Harry.
Ah. One of the private rooms. He started to head in the proper direction when a voice called to
him from across the room.
"Severus!"
He turned carefully to great the Headmaster. He was a bit dizzy and the itching wasn't helping
"Albus."
"Severus, my boy! How are you feeling?" He sounded almost joyful.
"I am... well. I was wondering where Mr. Potter was residing." He carefully phrased the sentence
for the many ears in the room. What he'd really meant was, 'Why the hell hadn't he been there
when I'd woken up?'
He watched Albus's face shift for a moment before answering. "He's in a private room in the
back."
"Albus, you can't keep giving him special treatment." In other words, 'Why wasn't I there too?'.
"It was insisted upon, I'm afraid."
"Insisted? By whom?" It couldn't have been Poppy. She had been far too accommodating in the
past few days to suddenly get shy about it now.
"Sirius."
Damn. Never should have made that verituserium for him. "I would like to see him, Albus. To...
thank him for saving my life."
The bearded face nodded. He understood. Of course, understanding is often very far from
accomplishment.
He led him into the back, where the private rooms resided.
Poppy was just exiting from the first door on the left. "Severus!" She smiled at him warmly. "I'm
glad you're awake."
"How is he?" No time for niceties.
"He hasn't woken up yet. He's fine. Just not awake. I think its because..." She trailed off and
looked at him meaningfully.
Because they hadn't spent nearly enough time together in the last day.
Damn Black! Damn Sirius 'I'm meddling because I know better, even if you do hold more
degrees than I do, in what we're talking about' Black!
He was almost enough to make him get a new wardrobe just to distance himself from that man's
name.
Albus nodded. "I thought as much. Well, we're going to try and correct that now."
"Try not to give him a heart attack, Severus. I'll be busy enough as it is."
He simply raised an eyebrow. His feelings on the subject of Sirius Black were well known.
Poppy shook her head and walked off.
"Onward, unto the breach, Albus." He walked inside.
Not two feet in he got a snarl. "What are you doing here?" A record.
"I'm here to see Mr. Potter."
"Why?" Another snarl. Doing a fare imitation of him.
Don't argue. Just get him out of the way. "He did save my life." He moved towards the bed.
Black stepped in front of him. "And you think that entitles you to some sort of rights?"
"I am here to see how he's doing, Black. Not that its any business of yours."
"What I don't understand is, why didn't the Aurors take you away with the rest of the trash."
He walked around him. "Don't be ridiculous, Black."
"All I know is they found you unconscious next to my godson, who has yet to wake up."
Oh for gods sake. "You're being irrational."
"Sirius," Albus called from the doorway, "Come, let him have his peace."
Bless you, Albus. He stepped next to the bed. Harry looked exhausted, even in sleep. Dark circles
marred his youthful face. He longed to wrap his arms around him in comfort.
"I'm not leaving Harry alone with him." Black persisted.
He ignored the comment, carefully sat down and took Harry's hand in his own.
Even that much helped. Already the itching was down to a tolerable level. Even the remaining
aches faded to the background.
In the back of his mind he noted that, while Albus had not gotten Black out of the room, he was
defiantly distracting him.
Hoping Albus could keep it up for a little longer, he lifted his other hand and carefully moved the
boys hair out of his face.
Harry moaned lightly. Was this really enough?
"Don't you dare hurt him!" Black roared in his direction. He must have heard the soft sound also.
"I have done nothing of the sort."
"Then why are you touching him?"
"I'm offering comfort, you imbecile."
"You wouldn't know a kind touch if it backhanded you across the face."
"...sirius..." The voice was so small, so fragile.
Something inside him didn't like that Sirius was asked for first. Though, there was no reason why
he should expect much else.
"I'm here Harry. What is it?"
"...back off..."
"You heard him Snape, back off!"
"No." the voice was getting stronger. "You. Back off." The boy defiantly had some redeeming
qualities.
"Harry?"
"The Professor hasn't done anything wrong."
"I'm just trying to look out for you..."
"I know... I just... ugh... I can't think... Headmaster I need to think could you..." His eyes pleaded
with Albus.
The Headmaster nodded and stepped forward placing one hand on Black's shoulder.
So that was it, huh? Brave boy. Though, considering he was about to go through with any plan
Harry was going to offer...
Those green eyes turned to him, asking him if he was willing. He nodded his ascent.
Harry shifted over in the bed to accommodate him.
He got up and slid in beside him.
"What the HELL do you think you're doing, you greasy bastard!"
Albus's firm hand kept Black restrained.
"He's doing exactly what I want him to do." Harry answered while wrapping securely around
him.
Yes, this was much better.
"WHAT?!" Black was beginning to turn a lovely shade of purple. "Albus! Are you just going to
let him do this?"
"My dear boy, if you would just listen to them, you will find, not all is as it seems."
"Fine. I'll listen. To Harry." Stubborn git.
"Well Sirius." Harry began. "We seem to be suffering from an arranged marriage."
He looked down at Harry incredulously. "How long have you been waiting to say that?"
"Days."
"You! You did this to him." More accusations from Black. What a surprise.
"Actually Sirius," Harry corrected, "technically, he's under my spell."
He snorted. "Do I even dare ask about that one?"
"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to." Smart advice. He's obviously been
spending time with the right people recently.
"Spell? Explain, now." Black demanded.
So they did.
When all was said, that could be said, Black just shook his head in disbelief. "I just don't
understand how you could want to be around that greasy git."
"You say that like there's much of a choice." Harry paused a moment and added. "And he's not
greasy." That also sounded like he'd been waiting for days to say. Interesting.
"I don't like it. I don't trust him-"
"He's still in the room."
"I don't like him" Black continued without a pause, "and I STILL say he had something to do
with it."
"Sirius. I love you, you know that. I think the world of you and I never want anything to happen
to you."
The look on Black's face softened a bit. "I didn't, but thank you for telling me."
"I just wanted to say it first. I wanted to say it before I told you." Tell him what? Oh please, Harry
don't say anything stupid.
"Told me what?" Black looked confused.
"To grow the FUCK up!"
He blinked. Well that was most satisfying.
"Harry?!"
"Go away. Don't come back until you can talk about this reasonably. I'm too tired to get into
stupid arguments about old grudges and things that don't mean anything. Professor Snape has
saved my life more times that I care to count, done more to prove himself than anyone should
ever have to and been a hell of a lot more decent about this than you have!"
"Harry..."
He closed his eyes and snuggled down further. "Go away Sirius. Go away and let me recover in
peace. Get some therapy. Work through your issues. Come back and tell me you love me no
matter what. Because I love you, even now."
Albus gently tugged on Black. "Come Sirius. Harry needs his rest."
For once. Black did what he was told.
Once the door was safely shut, Harry turned to him. "I bet you enjoyed that."
"I did. Greatly. Though I do wish that you weren't the one that had to do that."
"Stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Being nice. It creeps me out."
"Be quiet you, insolent boy, I'm trying to sleep."
"Much better." Was the sleepy reply. Soon Harry was reduced to soft snores.
He lazily stroked the supple back before him and sighed contentedly before joining his companion
in sleep.
Part 19
Snape woke feeling incredibly rested.
He checked the time, it had been nearly twelve hours since the last time he'd woken.
Taking a moment, he savored the comfortable lump laying on top of him.
Opening his eyes, he discovered they were alone.
Thank Merlin, for small favors.
He sat up in the bed, trying not to dislodge the person using him as a pillow. "Harry." He gently
shook the first shoulder he could get a hand on. "Harry, wake up."
"Mmmfffshlp."
It was a wonder the boy ever got to class on time.
"Harry." A bit louder this time. "Come on. Wake up."
Bleary eyes looked up at him. "What?"
"I said, wake up."
"Why?" A sleep roughened voice questioned.
"Because, I thought now would be the perfect opportunity to discuss some things."
"Fine. You talk, I'll listen. I swear. Don't mind the snoring."
"Harry."
"Fine, fine. I'm up. What?" Harry made a big show of opening his eyes and trying to look
attentive.
"You're quite annoying, does it take much effort?"
"I don't know, you tell me." The green eyes rolled in exasperation. "Is this what you wanted to
talk about? Because I'm sure it'd be even more annoying if I went back to sleep."
He chose to ignore him. "How much of the battle do you remember?"
Pain lanced across Harry's face. "Too much."
"I agree. But I meant, when we killed..." He trailed off, for the first time, not even wanting to say
his name.
"The arrogant bastard?" Harry supplied. "Yeah, I remember."
"We didn't use our wands, did we?"
"You don't remember? Getting old?"
He frowned."Don't be obnoxious. I just wanted to be sure."
"Sorry." Harry sounded far more tired than any 16 year old should. "I just... there's a lot going on
in my head right now. Well... there was a lot going on before. Now there's so much, I can't
decide what problem to start with."
"So you decided it would be easier to simply grate on my nerves?"
An impish smile appeared. "Basically. I figured if I got you angry enough you'd either drop the
subject or..."
"Or what?"
Harry looked away. "You'd solve one of my problems for me."
Really? "And how would I do that?"
"You'd kiss me again and you wouldn't stop."
"Oh." He should have been expecting that. Really.
Sitting up a little more, Harry raised a hand and let his fingers lightly trace a cheekbone. The soft
caress continued for long moments.
Finally, Snape raised his own hand and captured Harry's. "We really shouldn't."
"I really don't care."
Dryly. "I noticed." He pressed the hand gently to his lips. "This is an incredibly bad idea. The
spell-"
"- can sod off for all I care. I admired and respected you before the bloody thing ever happened."
"Admiration and respect are completely different from-"
Once again, Harry interrupted. "Not from here. I feel the same I always did. There's just... more."
"More?"
"More. So much more. That's what has me so confused. Part of me doesn't feel any different. But
another part... Another part feels... alive... when you're around."
"There are other reasons that this isn't a good idea."
Harry sighed impatiently. "Fine. For right now. We're soldiers. We're survivors. We're two
people who need a little comfort. A little love. I've given enough to the bloody world. I want
something to myself."
Snape took the hand he was holding and gently twined their fingers. His other hand came up and
lightly trailed a path across a smooth cheek. Magic allowed for amazingly close and long lasting
shaves. He let his thumb dip and run gently over yielding lips.
Harry's eyes closed in obvious pleasure. He leaned into the simple touch. Soaking up as much as
possible.
"Harry..." His voice was husky, "Say no and I'll get up and walk out of here. But say yes and I
may drown."
Green eyes opened and met his. "I'll save you."
A soft whisper. "Then say yes."
Harry ran his free hand up a strong, lean chest, letting glide up and find a place on the back of
Snape's neck. "Oh... yesss." He groaned out. "Please god, yes."
This time, they met in the middle.
This kiss was not the hungry animal of the first two. It was slow, languid. Sweet and oh so
sensual.
Their clasped hands let go so they could explore more freely. Harry gently pushed him down on
the bed and moved to cover him completely. Strong hands stroked up and down his sides.
Tangled in his hair. Cupped his cheek as the kiss went on and on.
Tongues braved out into hot, moist caverns. Learned their paths well and revisited often.
Snape ran his hands down the lithe body on top of him, enjoying the smooth play of muscled
under skin. They cupped a firm ass and gently kneading. Harry gasped and plunged forward.
He encouraged legs to straddle him and-
Oh god.
They rocked back and forth, moaning with each gentle thrust.
Harry began to work at his neck. An agile mouth licked and sucked in time with their movements.
He pulled Harry up for another deep, consuming kiss.
Sensation was beginning to build.
He wanted more. Wanted to explore everything. Touch, taste, feel it all.
But it was too much.
They'd been circling each other for days. Foreplay had begun the moment the spell had started.
Hips began to move faster.
Jolts of energy started at the tips of his toes and traveled deliciously up his back.
Oh yes. Finally.
So good. God. Don't stop, please don't stop. Oh. Please. Oh yes.
He was higher than he'd ever been before.
Power was channeling through them. Taking them soaring.
Don't stop. Don'tstopdon'tstopdon'tstop.
Muscled tightened in sweet anticipation.
Oh god. Soft skin everywhere. Lips opening and plunging deep inside. In. Out. In. Out.
Soft gasps and moans punctuating each movement.
Yes. Oh god yes. Yes yes yes.
So close. So close.
A little more.
Hands grabbed hips for leverage.
Thrust. Oh.. More..
Thrust. Just a little more.
Thrust. The energy pooled.
THRUST. Ecstacy.
It exploded over them in large blissful, euphoric waves.
Swell after swell washed through them.
Rippling slowly to an end.
They were gasping for breathe.
Harry was the first to recover. "Wow... that was..." He seemed at a loss.
"...well coordinated." He offered.
Harry smiled. "That too."
He pulled the blankets over them and muttered and cleaning spell. "Now, you can sleep."
"Remind me not complain next time you wake me up."
"Sleep." He brushed a soft kiss against Harry's forehead.
They didn't hear the soft squeaking of the door. Not that it would have mattered much.
"BLOODY HELL!"
Ron Weasley.
Shit, this was getting old.
Part 20
Elbowing him in the stomach, Harry bolted upright. "Ron!"
The red head stood in front of the open doorway, paralyzed.
Snape watched that speechless jaw move soundlessly up and down for a few moments before
saying, "Mr. Weasley, please close the door."
A few more flaps, then, "Close the door?"
Children. "Yes. Close. The. Door."
"No."
Harry spoke up. "Ron, please close the door."
Weasley shook his head. "And risk him doing to me whatever it is he did to you?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "He didn't do ANYTHING to me. He may not be a nice person most of the
time, but he's NOT evil."
His lips twitched. "Well, not in the classical sense, anyway."
Green eyes took aim at him."You're not helping."
"That was never my intention." There was something very calming about snapping at one another.
Though, Mr. Weasley didn't seem to think so. Someone should tell him that staring like that isn't
very polite.
Harry just sighed and poked him in the arm. Turning to the red headed statue, he said, "Just get
the Headmaster, you're not going to believe me unless he's here anyway."
"I'm not leaving you like this, Harry."
"Like what? The most harm that's been done is that I was woken up from a very well deserved
nap." A small, very satisfied smile crossed his lips before his face once again was a mask of
exasperation.
"Harry, something's not right here."
Another long suffering sigh. "Ron, just get the Headmaster. I promise, nothing is going to happen
in the next five minutes."
Having finally decided that getting Albus was probably the lesser of two evils, Weasley left.
Without shutting the door. He weighed the merits of taking points for the lapse.
Harry flopped back against him. "That did not go the way I wanted it to."
He took the opportunity to card through the sleep tousled hair and dryly asked, "Did you really
expect it to?"
"No. But it would have been nice." Harry answered.
"A lot of things would be nice. That does not mean we'll ever actually ge