Severus Snape was happy. That was a relatively new feeling for the former spy, as for a majority of his life was spent in misery. His parents didn't care about him, his one friend left him, he made a mistake and joined the Dark Lord, costing said friend her life and binding him to protect the son of a man he couldn't stand, almost at the cost of his own life. But now, Severus mused, it is that boy that is the reason I am so happy now.
It was two years after the battle of Hogwarts, the final battle in which Harry Potter defeated Voldemort for good. Severus very nearly didn't live to see the post-war world. He expected that the Dark Lord would attempt to kill him, over the mistaken belief that he was the master of the elder wand, but he was unprepared for his method of death. He expected him to use Nagini, a slow and painful death, but he miscalculated on the number of times he would be bitten. The antitoxin he took was only powerful enough to counter one dose of Nagini's venom, and he was bitten three times. If it wasn't for Harry coming back after the battle to check on him, Severus would have died on the floor of the Shrieking Shack.
But I didn't, Severus lectured himself, attempting to shove the morbid thoughts away. Harry took me to St. Mungo's where they treated me. Granted, it took the better part of a year for me to get out of that blasted hospital, but look what came out of it. Every day of Severus's convalescence, Harry came to visit him. It was through talking with the young man that he had realized the similarities between them. Both half-bloods, raised dirt poor in the muggle world, with gaurdians who were less than exemplary. It was six months into their friendship before they realized another trait they shared. They were both gay.
Severus shook his head, remembering that day a year and a half ago. The poor boy had just ended a relationship, and when I counseled him, imagine my surprise to learn that it was boy trouble, not girl trouble. Everything seemed to spiral from there. Severus had fallen for Harry Potter, and to his surprise, Harry had fallen for him. Today was their one year anniversary, and Severus planned to make it perfect.
He had gotten up earlier than usual to prepare. He made Harry's favorite for breakfast and took it up so Harry could eat in bed. Harry had been pleased, although he had seemed surprised at the gesture. It was almost as though he had forgotten. Don't be stupid, he told himself, it was early. He probably has something special planned as well.
After breakfast, he got ready to go to work. Harry was an Auror, just as he'd always dreamed, and Severus had his own apothecary. Since Severus brewed most of the potions for his store at home, nothing seemed suspicious about him hurrying off to his basement lab as Harry was getting ready to leave. Harry very rarely ventured down into Severus's lab, respecting that he kept everything in a certain order. It was also where Severus hid his anniversary present for Harry, at least part of it. Part of it was dinner, which would be Shepard's pie and treacle tart, Harry's favorite. The other part was the gold rings with emerald stones, as Severus was planning to ask Harry to marry him.
Still smiling, Severus opened the door to Number 12 Grimauld Place, where both he and Harry stayed now. He was in the process of renovating his childhood home at Spinner's End to sale, as he had moved in, at Harry's request, three months ago. As he took his shoes off by the front door, Severus heard something from upstairs. Frowning, he set the bags at the bottom of the stairs and withdrew his wand. Better safe than sorry. Harry was at work, so nobody should be there, yet he could hear noises from his and Harry's bedroom.
Silently he climbed the steps, vowing that whoever was stupid enough to steal from him and his lover would regret it. He stopped just outside the door, taking a deep breath before flinging the door open. The sight that met him caused his heart to break. There, in his bed, was his lover and Draco Malfoy. Both sprang apart as the door hit the opposite wall.
Harry paled as he saw Severus in the doorway. The man was paler than death and there was raw, unconcealed pain on his face.
"Severus, I can explain," Harry began.
"Explain?" Severus rasped, his eyes flashing, "You can explain why you were cheating on me? On our anniversary no less?"
Harry paled. "Anniversary?" Oh hell, he's right. What the bloody hell is he doing here? He's supposed to be at work.
Severus just shook his head. "Of course, you have forgotten. Please, continue with what you were doing. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Severus…" Harry began, but he trailed off at the look the other gave him. Disgust and anger mixed with sadness and pain. Oh hell.
Severus strode out of the room, tucking his wand back into its holster as he did so. His mind was rebelling, unable to process what had just happened. One thought made it through the disorder as he closed the door of his lab behind him. The first man I have trusted enough to love doesn't love me. He slid down the door, sitting with his back to it as he finally cried for the relationship he had believed to be perfect, now shattered.
Harry got rid of Draco and dressed, mindful of the fact that he had possibly ruined his relationship with Severus and unable to process how he felt about that. They had been dating for a year, having been friends for a year before that. Severus wasn't conventionally handsome, which had led him to find others on the side, but he would miss more than just sex if Severus left. He can be so infuriating when he's right about one of my mad plans, Harry thought as he showered, but without him I probably wouldn't be where I am. His common sense and intelligence helped me to pass my tests to be an Auror. It's also been dead useful to be able to consult him, as he has experience with the way Dark wizards think. Arguing with him is fun, even if we're arguing for no reason. He's always there for me, healing me when I come home banged up from a rough capture, or taking care of me when I come home drunk, even though it hurts him, making him remember his drunken dad.
Harry realized, with a pang, that Severus did a lot for him, while he barely thanked the man. He works all day in his store and lab, but still makes you breakfast and dinner. He goes out of his way to help you, listening when you complain, and you never ask about him, never try to help him. Granted, potions are beyond you, but you could at least be supportive. Yesterday, he was talking about being stuck while trying to develop a cure for lycanthropy, and you said "Great", you prat. He hurriedly dried himself off and dressed, resolving to go and talk to his lover.
Opening the door to the bedroom, he debated about where to look for Severus. There were any number of rooms in Grimauld Place, and Severus could be in any of them. He started in the library, hoping that Severus had gone there to do more research on the lycanthropy cure. No Severus, but something was odd. All of the books that Severus had brought from Spinner's End and his rooms at Hogwarts were gone. Refusing to panic, Harry went to the lab, figuring that Severus had gone to his lab to brew. Brewing always relaxed him.
The room was spotlessly clean, but also heartlessly bare. The only thing left in the room was a small black velvet box sitting on what used to be the main lab table. Picking up the box, Harry opened it, looking at the gold rings. A small piece of paper had been tucked in under the velvet and Harry opened it, hands trembling as he read, Beloved, will you be mine? There was a date on the bottom right corner, some three months previous. What have I done?
A/N: This randomly came into my head the other day. I'm not sure if I should leave it as is, or if I should write more. Thoughts?