A/N: Slash, though, as of right now… It is not graphic, but I believe that since it is a sensitive subject in parts of the world, it should be rated M. It begins as a Severus/James… though it can't stay that way. It is a Severitus.
Let me know what you think, preferably constructive. Since it is rated M, I would hope there would be no flames unless you think it is terribly written.
Covered Truths
Chapter 1
"James, Albus is expecting us soon love. Are you almost ready?"
"Yeah, I just don't feel very well right now," James said as he came into the sitting room from the bathroom.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm a little nauseous. You don't have a potion here that I can have, do you?"
"James," Severus said shocked by the question. "I am a potions master; I keep all the common healing potions in my lab at all times. I thought that you, of all people would know that, seeing as you have seen me brewing them and even helped me."
"I do dear, I just thought I should ask rather than demand," James told him with a smirk.
"Come with me," Severus said as he stood up from the chair he had been sitting in reading while he waited for James. Severus led the way through the living room and down the hall to his potion lab. As he went inside, James leaned against the doorframe watching his boyfriend as he reached up and took a vial from one of the many shelves exposing the taut muscles of his back.
"I need something else, could you, ah, do that again," James said with a smirk.
Severus cut his eyes back over his shoulder before he rolled them.
"Perv," Severus said trying to keep the smirk off his face. "Here, drink your potion," he said as he walked to James and handed the vial over. "We still need to leave soon, Albus wanted to see us before the Order meeting, and we have less than an hour 'til then."
James had uncorked and swallowed the potion while Severus was lecturing him.
"I'm ready," he said as he took a step close to Severus and placed a chaste kiss on the man's lips before grabbing his hand and pulling him from the lab and toward the living room so they could floo, they both grabbed their cloaks from were they lay on the sofa.
The two men went through the floo and came out in the headmaster's office.
"Ah, James is Severus…" the headmaster began before the floo lit up again, tossing Severus out into the room. "Severus, my boy, there you are. I'm glad you two could come early for me. We have a few things that we need to discuss." Albus said amicably to the couple, gesturing for them to take a seat, which neither man took. "First, Alastor says that when you and Sirius graduate from the Auror Academy next month, he plans to make sure that you two are partnered together so that we might be able to use you two for more Order missions through you Auror assignments."
"Oh good, he told us that he would have to see if he could. He wasn't sure if Phelps would agree with two newbies together."
"Fortunately, Mr. Phelps has made a final decision as to which side of the war he is on so he was very agreeable to the idea. The second thing we need to discuss is… something you two aren't going to like." The man was reluctant to continue the discussion, though he knew that there was no way around this mission. "Severus, I need for you to infiltrate the inner circle."
"WHAT?"
"James," Severus said as he sought out the man's eyes. "Chill out," Severus told him calmly before returning his attention to Albus. "Can you tell me why? I thought it was enough that I was a Death Eater. Why do you need me to go deeper? Lucius is in the inner circle, isn't that enough?"
"Unfortunately, no," Albus knew that this was upsetting the stoic man who was doing his best to behave normally. "While Lucius is passing useful information, we are lacking the knowledge that we are searching for. There is something more going on, Lucius is close enough that he has picked up on that from Regulus, but Lucius thinks that if he were to tell Voldemort of your talent in potions he might use you for the more delicate matters."
"How long?"
"Excuse me," James roared staring at Severus with shock. "Please tell me Severus, that you are NOT considering this."
"I have to James," Severus said as he turned to man he loved. "Think about it, the more information we can get, the sooner we can get rid of the monster. When he is gone, you and I can get on with our lives, we can get married and have children and walk through Diagon Alley without worrying who is going to see us and how long before the Dark Lord finds out about us." Severus caressed James' cheek, his dark eyes locked with James' golden brown ones. "I'll do it Albus." James closed his eyes trying to ignore the tear that slid down his cheek. Wanting to keep it together but knowing the risk his boyfriend was taking, knowing that their time together could be limited to right now. If Voldemort ever found out about their relationship, there would not be a future for them.
"Thank you Severus," Albus said causing both men to step away from each other and look at the man speaking. "You will need to leave after the meeting tonight with Lucius, and I don't know how long it will be for. It is likely that you will not be able to report in as often as Lucius."
"Tonight," James said softly. "You're making him leave tonight? I can n..."
"James," Severus said softly as he pulled the man into an embrace. Severus held James around the waist as James buried his face into Severus' neck trying to hide the tears. "Love," Severus whispered into his ear. "I'll come back for you. I promise."
There was a knock on the office door. James stepped away from Severus and kept his back to the door as he tried to pull himself together before anyone saw him.
"Are you alright Mr. Potter," Albus asked.
James nodded, still keeping his back to the door.
"Come in," Albus said.
Severus walked to where James had moved to and put an arm around his shoulder before he kissed the man's forehead. "I love you," he whispered as the door opened and Sirius Black walked happily into the room with his fiancé, Lily Evans following behind.
"Evening Headmaster," Sirius said before he paused watching his friends that were comforting each other across the room. "Prongs, is everything alright?"
"Yeah Padfoot," Snape answered for his boyfriend. "He's fine."
James scoffed at the comment. Sirius looked at his friends curiously before James turned around having gotten himself under enough control to see his friends.
"Yeah," he said sarcastically. "I'm just peachy. Sev is going in deeper for an undisclosed amount of time, with limited ability to report in let alone see his boyfriend. I swear Severus if you get killed…" James looked at Severus before all the heat left his face and words. "I'll die," he finished burying his head into Severus shoulder again.
Severus pulled James back to him and whispered sweetly in his ear.
"I'll take care of him."
The five occupants in the room turned to the door that Sirius had left open.
"Mr. Malfoy," Albus said. "You're early."
"Yes sir," Lucius responded. "I'm sorry to eaves drop but… I won't let anything happen to him Potter. I'll keep him protected and safe."
"How can I trust you not to steal him from me?"
"Hey," Severus said as he looked down at James, who he still had in his arms. "You have to trust me, not him," hurt that James would even think that he would be unfaithful.
"I do," James buried his face into Severus neck again. "I'm just scared." James looked up and into Severus' eyes trying to relay his trust to the man. "I'm sorry I said that Malfoy," he said as he looked at the man still standing in the doorway.
"That's fine," Malfoy responded shortly. "Albus, may I speak with you a moment?"
"Certainly," Albus said as he stood from his desk. "Come, we can have some privacy in the alcove back here," Malfoy followed Albus to the alcove in the corner of the headmasters' office where the two spoke in hushed tones.
As Severus stood holding James, Sirius and Lily walked closer to the couple.
"Don't worry Fangs," Sirius said as he slapped Severus on the shoulder. "Moony and I will take care Prongs while you're gone."
"Thanks Pads," Severus said with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "By the way, where is Moony and Emmaline? I thought they were coming to the meeting with you?"
"They did, Emmaline ran into Poppy downstairs and they are talking. Em seems to talk to everyone she can about this baby," Sirius said sounding a bit miffed at the woman. "It's quite annoying."
"I would too," James said as he stepped out of the circle of Severus' embrace but still kept an arm around his boyfriend. "If I was expecting mine and Severus' first child, I would ask questions of anyone and everyone I could. I would be scared and we don't have any furry little problems to deal with."
"Yeah," Lily said agreeably. "Can you imagine what she has to worry about? I mean, think about Siri. This was not a planned pregnancy, they were talking about it but had not made plans yet. No one is sure the effects that the baby could have fr-''
"Potter, Black," Alastor Moody, who had just come out of the floo, bellowed at them. "You two are going to be partners."
"Yeah," James said solemnly as he laid his head against Severus' shoulder. "Albus told us."
"No he didn't," Sirius said. "Prongs! This is awesome."
"Forgive me for not being more stoked," James said sadly.
"Lily," Emmaline said as she came through the door with Remus and Poppy trailing behind her. "We looked up and you and Sirius were gone."
"Sorry," Lily said. "My wonderful boyfriend has too much patience," she said sarcastically.
Sirius wrapped his arms around Lily and nuzzled her ear before responding quietly, "You weren't complaining about my patience an hour ago."
"Augh, Padfoot," Remus moaned, he was the only one who could hear Sirius' comment. "That is more than I needed to know. Hey Prongs, Fangs how's it goin'?" Remus and Emmaline joined their group of friends talking while more members of the Order arrived.
James stayed next to Severus throughout the meeting. Neither James nor Severus would loose contact with the other. Neither man was looking forward to the end of the meeting and the separation that would follow.
As the meeting drew to a close, James tried to keep increasing their contact. By the end, James was practically sitting in Severus' lap on the couch they were sitting on.
"Arthur," Sirius said as the red headed man approached the group. "Have a seat, James has made extra space on the couch there."
Arthur smiled at the black haired man who was trying to bury his face in Severus' shoulder.
"All right James," Arthur asked the young man.
"No," James responded softly, not worried about who saw his decidedly weak behavior.
"Come on love," Severus said as he began to push James off him so he could stand. "Let's go somewhere we can talk a minute."
"Severus," Albus said from behind the couch. "You may use my quarters if you like, just up the stairs there and through the door."
"Thanks," Severus said as he led James by the hand, following Albus' directions. As he closed the door behind him and James, effectively shutting out the noise, he pulled James to him and buried his face into the neck of the man he loved. "Jamie," he whispered the name he only used in private moments. "I need you to be strong or else I can't do this and I need to do this."
"I know," James said not afraid to let his tears come now that they were alone. "But how do I live without you?"
Severus pulled back from James enough that he could hold his face and look into his beautiful eyes.
"The same way I am going to have to live without you. We will have to take it a day at a time, remembering what it is I am trying to help us achieve and before we know it, I'll be making love to you and you'll forget all about my being gone."
James cried harder at Severus' words.
"Love," Severus pleaded trying not to let James' tears rip his heart open. "Please?"
"I'm sorry," James cried. "I just… wish that we could have one more night before you leave, I just want to hold you and listen to your heart beat so that I can remember that and hold on to that while you're in so much danger."
"Well," Severus said hesitantly, "You could go back to my place and look in the very back of the second drawer in my dresser and hold on to that until I get back."
James looked up a Severus with a questioning look.
"You'll have to go find it, to find out what it is," Severus said as he shrugged his shoulders.
"There is nothing I would rather have then you."
"I know love," Severus said pulling James in tight again. "But we have to do this right now. Now kiss me and let me know how much you love me."
James didn't need to be told twice, he turned his head and captured Severus lips. He kissed Severus so hard he hoped the man would remember the kiss for the next week.
*KNOCK*KNOCK*
"Grrrr," Severus growled into James mouth before leaning his forehead against James' releasing the kiss that left them both breathing heavy. "Go away," he said loud enough for the person on the other side of the door to hear.
"Fangs," Sirius said from the other side. "Albus says you need to leave now and we want to say bye too."
"Go on," James whispered. "He's right, you need to go and I need to be strong because you are going to marry me when you come back. I don't care if you like it or not, I don't like not being your husband."
Severus smiled at the demands of his boyfriend, his boyfriend who didn't know that the thing at the back of his drawer was the engagement ring Severus had intended to give to James for Christmas in a few weeks. "Yes dear." Severus reached behind him for the door handle as he kissed James again softly. "Okay Padfoot, I'm here."
Sirius pulled Severus through the doorway and into a hug. "Take care of yourself; James isn't the only one who will miss you, you damn snake."
"Thanks," Severus said pulling away from Sirius and looking at Lily who had tears in her vibrant green eyes. "Lils," he pulled the pretty redhead into an embrace. "Take care of my boys," he whispered and she nodded against his chest as he kissed the crown of her head.
"Okay," she said as she pushed him away. "You're going to make me cry, so go away."
Severus chuckled as turned to Remus. "Moony," he pulled his friend in for a brotherly hug. "Take care of your girl and whatever kid she has coming on the way," he told him.
"I will Fangs," Moony said as he looked at Severus and patted his shoulder. "You take care of yourself." Severus nodded before looking at Emmaline.
"You," she said trying to sound threatening. "You had better come back because your god child is going to need you," she buried her face in his chest and hugged him fiercely. "James needs you too, and I don't know if I can handle these idiots without you."
"God child?"
Emmaline looked up at Severus and smiled, "You're my best friend other than my husband, so yeah god child. You and James."
James stepped up next to them and patted her on the back.
"We'd be honored Emma," James told her with a watery smile.
Severus kissed her forehead before looking up with his own watery eyes and smiled at James. As Emmaline stepped away from the two men, James stepped into her place and held Severus' face in his hands.
"I don't care if you have to kill the bastard yourself," James said fiercely. "You better come back to me."
Severus kissed him hard as a tear slid down his cheek. "I will," he whispered when he broke the kiss. "I will."
"Severus," Malfoy said from beneath them. "We need to go."
Severus looked over the balcony at the blond haired man. "I'll be there is just a second." He turned back to his friends and gave them a brief smile before he looked at James and whispering, "I love you." He kissed the man once more before turning and going down the stairs and following Lucius Malfoy out of Albus office and through the castle.