Warning: I do not own Harry Potter nor do I make any money.
The Chance
...Take a chance...
Potter's words of how Severus wouldn't be sorry if he took a chance rung in his ears. He had tried not to listen to the Boy Wonder who had unexpectedly shown up in his lab the other day. However, for the first time, Severus had been unable to chase the boy from his presence and resorted to trying to block out Potter's ramblings but those three little words hadn't left his mind yet.
...He's worth it you know...
Only to be followed by Granger's unwelcome addition to his thoughts. Whereas Potter had charged into his office, Granger's approach had been more subtle: a passing comment at the end of the meeting. She hadn't stayed in his presence to expound about her statement; just left it there dangling like a crup in front of a dragon.
Severus cursed himself when he realised just what metaphor his mind had settled on to describe Granger's meddling. For that's exactly what Weasley was to him, a crup dangling in front of him.
And he hated himself for that. Merlin knows the boy deserved better than some decrepit old man with a bad temper and only a face a mother could love on a good day. The thought of the beautiful young man with flowing red locks that his fingers ached to run through; the bright, blue eyes whose laughter warmed even Severus' cold heart; the laugh that resonated deep within his very being and his soul.
...What do you have to lose?...
Everything.
At least that's what he told Draco when the impertinent young pup had interrupted his daily snifter late last night. Even though he though he kept telling himself that it had been the truth and not the lie he convinced himself he was telling the boy.
Images of Lily and all he had lost were now keeping him awake when he should have been sound a sleep. He had lost everything when he had lost her respect, and her friendship; he was too old, too set in his ways, and most of all too fragile to risk that all again.
...He's at St. Mungo's...
Severus stared unblinkingly at Lucius' form in front of him. His mind couldn't comprehend what had happened or what he should even do. He watched as Lucius continued to talk at him but nothing his oldest friend in the world said made any sense; they were just words strung together to form sentences.
The only concept his mind could form and latch onto was: he did it again. His foolishness had cost him another person who had genuinely cared about him.
He just looked at Lucius and whispered, "What have I done?"
...I'll give you a moment...
An unfamiliar voice drew Severus from his slumber in the god-forsaken chair that he swore had once been a device of torture. Wiping the sleep away from his eyes, he looked towards the bed to see Ron's bright blue eyes, glassy and looking at him for the first time since he had been hurt in the field four days ago. Severus threw away any remaining dignity he might have had and rushed to the beside. His hands went to Ron's face as he kept repeating words that didn't quite make sense to him; he didn't care, all that mattered was he got a second chance.
And this time he wasn't going to screw it up. No matter how much hurt it cost him; this was one redhead beauty, he was planning on keeping for the rest of his life.
So when Ron whispered, "Please tell me you've reconsidered. That you are taking a chance on me," Severus just nodded his head before leaning in for the first of many kisses to come.