disc: i still don't own it

warning: hint of slash

a/n: this is to my own challenge which I made up awaiting the class to arrive one tutor. I challenged my self to start with the line "too many transgressions can make a star shine brighter" and write something short and sweet. and here it is! if anyone wants to try the challenge their self that would be super cool, if not just enjoy!

"Too many transgressions can make a star shine brighter."

Harry stared at the paper in front of him.

It was old, black scribbled on a scrubby piece of parchment as if the writer had rushed out the sentence, as if it had been written in a moment of desperation.

When he looked up cool, ebony eyes were regarding him with casual indifference.

Harry waited. And waited.

 He was going to have to ask.

"Well?"

Severus raised his eyebrows slightly. "Well what?"

"Well," Harry hissed from between gritted teeth. "What does it mean?"

"You don't know?"

Harry felt his blood boil. Severus knew perfectly well he didn't know.

"Obviously not or I wouldn't have asked, would I?" He took a deep breath, trying to calm the irritation that flowed through him. He hated the way Severus could make him feel so…inadequate.

Severus smiled. A lazy, infuriating smile.

"I hate you," Harry said.

The smile widened.

"I assure you the feeling is mutual."

Harry glared at him for a moment. He looked so bloody smug.

"You love this, don't you?"

Severus affected surprise. "Love what?"

"Having one over me."

"Maybe."

There was a short silence in which Harry battled internally with himself. He was going to have to ask again. Damn him.

"Well?"

For a split second Severus looked like he actually laugh.

"Well what?"

"Are you going to tell me what it means or not??"

Severus regarded him for a moment, considering.

"It means," he said softly, "that you can make every mistake in the world, a thousand misdemeanours and there will still be someone who only loves you more for it."

Harry closed his eyes.

The words sunk into his consciousness, and with it images.

He saw his friends; he saw Ron and Hermione, Dumbledore, Lupin. He saw Cedric, and above all the others Sirius. People he'd let down because he wasn't clever enough, because he'd let jealousy get in the way, because he was too slow, hesitant, unsure. Because he just wasn't good enough.

And now here was this man, this man who could touch him like no other, telling him he was still loved despite all these things, that he was loved even more for them.

Harry opened his eyes.

"I hate you."

"As I said, the feeling's mutual."

Severus held out his hand.

Harry took it.

"How do you always know?" he asked.

"Know?"

"What I'm feeling."

Severus smiled ever so slightly. Not his usual coldness, but a soft, almost gentle smile.

"Because I know you."

His lips brushed Harry's hand briefly, then they went into the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind them.