Ron looked at is watch for the third time in the past five minutes. Mumbling to himself he shifted in his seat and looked out of the compartment window. The anxious boy shifted yet again and looked at his watch – not even noticing that only two minutes has passed.
As the ginger moved to check his watch yet again, Hermione yelled in frustration and slammed her book shut. Ron startled in his seat, looking at his girlfriend warily.
"By the Gods Ron! He will get here when he gets here! Stop checking your watch!" She ran a hand through her tamed curls; Ron had been fidgeting ever since the train had left the station.
"But he said he would be five minutes! It's been-" He checked his watch again, and it was only due to the fact that her parents were dentists that Hermione restrained herself from grinding her teeth "two hours!" That made her stop and think.
"Has it really been two hours? It certainly doesn't feel like it has been."
"Well of course you wouldn't notice! You've had your nose stuck in Hogwarts: A History ever since we left!" Deciding to ignore the jibe Hermione pondered this fact.
It was true that Harry had said he would only be five or so minutes – that he had something to take care of then he would come and join them in the compartment. If it really had been two hours then it would probably be a good idea to look for him.
Though the war was over and almost all threat was gone, that didn't deter from the fact that there were a lot of Slytherins that blamed Harry for the demise of their Lord, families and friends. If he really had been as gone as Ron had stated, then knowing Harry, he had probably gotten mixed up in something.
She sighed and placed her book to the side "Do you want to go and look for him?" she snapped.
"Well-uh-I suppose if you think it's a good idea. I mean he could be ok…" Hermione wasn't a fool and she could recognise the barley hidden trepidation in his voice.
"Oh come on then, he's probably gotten himself mixed up in something. We better go rescue him."
Not long after the couple had left the compartment they came across a group of familiar faces making their way towards them. Neville, Luna, Dean and Seamus were laughing joyfully amongst themselves as they walked, stopping as they came up to the duo.
"Hey lovebirds!" Seamus had taken to calling the two such when on one unfortunate eve he had walked in on the couple in the Prefects bathroom. "We were just about to come and see you. We figured that we should spend our last train ride together."
Neville looked over Ron and Hermione's shoulder "Where's Harry?"
"Yeah! Where is the speccy git! He can't miss out on our last train ride!" Seamus laughed.
"We haven't seen him since we got on the train."
"What do you mean?" asked Dean.
Ron shrugged his shoulders "The minute we got to our compartment he went all weird and said that he had something to go and take care of and that he would be back in five…that was two hours ago."
"The Nargles probably hid one of his shoes. We should keep an eye out for it." Luna's dreamy suggestion was immediately ignored.
"We were about to go and look for him, would you mind coming and helping us? Just in case he is in trouble I would really rather we have some help." Hermione smiled as her friends all nodded and murmured their agreement to help.
"We should probably keep an eye out for Snape though, he was doing the rounds earlier and I haven't seen him for a good hour. That probably means he's due for another round anytime now." As Dean spoke Neville paled. Even after a war filled with bloodshed and pain, the Potions Master scared him to no end.
"Come on, let's find Harry before Snape eats him alive." Ron led the group down the corridor of the hurtling train mumbling to himself "Why they elected Snape for train patrol I will never understand."
It had been another solid hour and the group were about to give up their search so that they could head back to their compartment and wait for Harry to find them there, when they heard a voice that was distinctly Harry. It emanated from the end compartment; the teachers compartment.
The group froze a few paces away from the door; all wondering that horrible fate had befallen their friend for him to end up in the teacher's compartment.
"No. Way." Ron breathed
"Well that's it." Seamus threw up his hands "Harry's dead. We might as well go back to the compartment before he comes out to drain his next victim."
Dean sighed "I thought we already agreed on the fact that Snape can't be a vampire. Remember that one time he walked in on our herbology class – midday – and collected some plants from Professor Sprout before buggering off?"
"Sunstones mate, sunstones." Seamus said conspiringly as he tapped his nose.
"Oh I don't think Harry and Professor Snape are fighting. They get along quite well you know." Luna's declaration made the group turn and stare at the dreamy eyed blonde.
"You can't be serious Luna! They hate each other!" Ron exclaimed with everyone nodding in agreement; Hermione however just paused, her brows pinching together in though as she looked at Luna.
"Hate is a very strong word Ron."
"One that applies!"
"Alright enough!" Hermione's voice broke through their argument "The Professor won't do anything to Harry, after all he is a teacher. So let's just leave. Harry will be fine." Even Hermione didn't miss the doubt in her own voice.
"You forget the fact that he isn't a teacher anymore, he retired this year. He can do whatever the bloody hell he wants now."
"Don't be silly Seamus, the Professor is smart enough to know that if any harm comes to Harry there will be hell to pay."
"I've got an idea." All turned to Neville who was standing as far away from the compartment door as possible. "I've got some left over extendable-ears from George, why don't we just listen for a few minutes to see if he is alright and then we can leave."
"Well, well, well Neville, I see dating George does come with its perks." Seamus' wolfy grin sent a burgundy blush racing up the young teens face.
"Do you really thinks it's a good idea to eavesdrop on Professor Snape of all people?"
Seamus turned to Hermione "Neville's got a good idea Hermione, we gotta check if Harry is ok." A malicious grin spread across his face "And to think, this may be the last chance we ever get to listen in on the old bat. It must be fate for him to forget a silencing charm on our last train ride!"
Hermione sighed and rubbed the back of her neck as she rolled her head "I know I'm going to regret this, but alright." The group whooped for joy and Hermione hissed "But we need to be quiet!"
After a few privacy charms to keep prying eyes away, a sticking charm was used to attach the ear to the door. The group retreated back into the empty compartment next to the teacher's carriage where Harry was being held. The group silently thanked the gods that this one carriage was empty; no one was stupid enough to take the compartment right next door to Snape's in fear of his wrath.
Once they were all seated, the anxious group of friends activated the extendable ears and waited. There was silence for a few minutes, only broken by the shuffling of large robes.
"You sure Harry's in there?" Neville whispered.
"Yes Harry's in there, it was defiantly his voice we heard."
After a few more minutes of silence they were almost tempted to leave, Seamus had in fact gotten up to leave, until a deep throaty chuckle crackled through the air.
"Don't look at me like that boy, I told you if you misbehaved you would be punished."
The group looked at each other with wide eyes and Seamus launched himself back into his seat next to Dean. They all leaned in closer to the ear that lay on the table in front of them.
Another chuckle.
"What nothing to say?" Snape sighed happily "Silencing charms are a godsend aren't they?"
More looks were shared between the group, but before they could say anything the voice continued.
"You always did shirk off your detentions as much as you could, but I'm afraid this time you woun't be able to get out of this; and I have a feeling that you won't want to."
The sound of footsteps crackled through the ear, slow, steady and methodical. It sounded like Snape was pacing his way around Harry.
"Now if you promise to be a good boy I can always take off the charm…I do love to hear you scream."
At this Ron jumped for the door. Hermione, however, caught his wrist. Shaking her head at him slowly, she pulled him back down into his chair. "Something isn't right, let's listen for a bit more."
"Not matter how much you nod your ridiculous head you impertinent child, I will remove the charm only when I so wish." There was a shuffling noise and then silence "Now sit." More shuffling ensued, accompanied by a chuckle "I see that your final year has paid off Potter, you've finally learnt how to follow an instruction. Now you know what to do."
Minutes passed and the only sound that could be heard – once again – was the shuffling of robes and the odd grunt. Then all of a sudden a high pitched whimpered filled the air of the carriage. It didn't take an idiot to figure out that the silencing charm had been removed.
"Much better," it sounded as if he was speaking through gritted teeth "it appears that even a dunderhead like yourself can understand that hard work is rewarded." There was a grunt, and a thud; almost as if someone had banged their head against the wall. Following this, Harry's whimpering loudened and morphed into a pained sort of moan.
"I would have started doing this years ago if I knew you would respond in such an…applicable manner."
Harry laughed, through it sounded strained "Even you're not that sick" The sharp crack of flesh on flesh resounded through the air, making Harry gasp and whimper.
"Though that may be true that is not cause for impertinence." The seat of the chair creaked and a soft voice spoke. It was so quiet that even with the extendable ears the group could not hear what was being said.
Another chuckle rang loud, startling the group. "You always surprise me…Potter. When I think…that there's no more about…you that could...surprise me…you prove me wrong." Snape's words was definitely strained, his voice lower and his words punctured by grunts. "Your little friends have been listening in for quite a while now," They gasped, they had not realised that Snape had known they were there "do you think they are planning your rescue?" There was another sharp crack, a deep moan following it. "Do you want them to see you like this? Do you want them to save you?" He said the word 'save' like it was a ridiculous thing, almost as if he couldn't even comprehend why Harry would want to be saved.
"No." The word was slow and drawn out "Don't…need to…" The rest of what Harry was saying was cut of sharply, it sounded as if someone had covered his mouth.
"Good boy…now…scream for me."
Ron jumped up, his face covered in a blanket of fury. "That's IT! HARRY I'M COMING!" Ron bolted out of the carriage followed closely by his friends until only Luna and Hermione were left, trailing cautiously behind them.
Luna turned to Hermione "I don't think it's a good idea to disturb them." Hermione quirked a brow at the girl, looking at the boys out of the corner of her eye as they tried to blast open the door – Snape may have forgotten a silencing charm, but it appeared that he had remembered a locking one.
"What do you mean?" Hermione queried as she pushed the boys out of the way so that she could open the doors.
"I wouldn't want to ruin their afterglow; it is such a wonderful thing." She spoke as Hermione chanted the spell. Before she could ask what Luna meant, a sharp scream pierced the air just as the door swung open.
The room was magically bigger on the inside, similar to the tent the trio had used on their search for the Horcruxs. The room was about the size of the Gryffindor common room. There were a few chairs, an ottoman and a couch. Over in the corner was a small kitchen area to prepare drinks and the like.
The back of the compartment was adorned with a wide window that showed the hills hurtling past them. The curtain framing it was a soft cream, with a rope of all the Hogwarts colours holding it in place, its rustling tassels golden in colour.
However this was not what caught the groups' eye. It was the writhing bodies on the couch. It was like a train wreck, they could not look away.
Snape, donned in only a Gryffindor tie and black pants lay back on the couch. His hair matted to his skin with sweat and his face screwed up in ecstasy. His knees were bent slightly and his hands were gripping the waist of the teen atop of him.
Harry straddled Snape. His jeans tossed haphazardly on the ground and his white shirt handing open. His arms were stretched out behind him, holding onto the man's thighs as to support himself. With his back arched, his head was tilted backwards and his eyes wide open as he screamed silently.
Harry gasped and sagged down onto the Potion Masters chest, seemingly still unaware of his audience. After resting his head in the crook of Snape's neck for a few minutes, he raised his head to see that the dark man still had his eyes shut and was trying to even out his ragged breath.
He smiled softly and brought a sweaty hand up to brush the lank hair out of his face. His onyx eyes snapped open and they stared at each other. Harry's hand slid further back until his fingers was buried in the hair on the side of his head.
Snape's hand mirrored his as he pulled Harry's face down to his, their lips locking. They kissed gently for a few minutes, basking in the afterglow. When they parted, they rested their foreheads together, eyes both shut.
The silence was broken was Snape chuckled softly. Harry raised his head and looked at him "What's so funny Severus?"
He inclined his head towards the doorway "The cavalry has arrived."
Harry bolted upright, his head snapping towards the doorway. He squinted, trying to make out the blurs. Snape sighed and handed Harry his glasses from where they had been wedged into the side of the couch.
Harry muttered his thanks as he slid the glasses onto his face. If he had been in any other situation he would have found the looks on his friend faces comical.
Neville eyes were flickering back and forwards between Harry and Snape, his face stark white. Luna and Seamus wore similar expressions, while Luna was smiling softly, her eyes alit with understanding and acceptance, while Seamus was grinning like a madman, eyeing both Snape and Harry with a bit more hunger than one would have expected. Dean was blushing furiously, looking anywhere but at the couch, choosing to let his eyes rest on a shoe that had managed to make its way half way across the room. Hermione was gaping, confusion written all over her face. It was not often that she didn't pick up on these things earlier than this.
However the second Harry made eye contact with Ron, Ron's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he dropped into a dead feint.
Harry groaned as he pulled his white shirt tightly around his chest, trying to maintain some dignity by hiding his sticky chest "You could have just knocked."
