(Harriet James Potter is back for her final year that she hadn't got to complete being the chosen one. The final horcrux having to defeat Voldemort. Severus was saved by Hermione in time to be recognized as the ex-death eater he was. Cleared of all charges once they got the true story from both Severus' and Dumbledore's memories. She meets this un-likely hero again in the dark of the castle when neither can sleep. Their nights turn to something more.)
The landscape outside of the window went by in a blur. Dimly Harry watched the figures of trees go past. It was a sight that she was not sure she would ever see again last year. Yet here she was back again for the final year of Hogwarts she never got. Of course after the war they'd all been promised jobs with the ministry and the likes, but Harry felt she needed to do this. Too go back and finally have a normal school year. One year where nothing was expected of her, but to be a student.
She sat alone in her carriage. At first there had been a couple of first years that had tried to have a seat. Yet when they saw who was sitting there. The girl who lived; the one who defeated you-know-who, they promptly scurried away.
It had been a whole year since the war had ended. All the Death Eaters had died or given up months ago. It had been a year and Hogwarts repairs had finally been completed, finally opened for the new school year. Everything was ready to resume again as normal.
Hermione and Ron had been offered jobs. Of course Ron took his as a spot on a pro Quiddich team, he always hated school, and always wanted to go play on a professional team. Once he could no longer do that there was always an Auror job waiting for him.
What had surprised Harry was that Hermione didn't come back to school. It was one of her greatest loves after all. Although it seemed now that Ron was also her greatest love. She tested out of the last year of Hogwarts easily. She too had been offered an Auror position, but she said she had enough of fighting and took a job as a Librarian.
They were now expecting their first child, and Harry was happy for them. But she had to admit that she was going to be a little lonely without her best friends. The very vast majority of this kids that were in his year had already taken their NEWTS and gotten on with themselves. Harry felt like the very one and only returner.
"What a long year this will be…" She mumbled as the trees outside abruptly stopped the landscape changing to an open field. They were getting closer and closer to Hogwarts, and Harry couldn't tell if she had made the right decision in coming back. Like any year could ever be normal for her.
First year she fought Voldemort and Professor Quirrle for the Philosophers stone. Second she faced down the Basilisk and the very first Horcrux. Had met her god-father, and Peter Pettigrew who had gotten his mother and father killed; faced down Dementors. It was like that for her always. She just hopped she wouldn't have a near death experience this year. What a relief that would be.
The sorting hat did its job well. It sang it song it waited so long to sing. This year people could see that the houses were more united. Sweet faced children went to Slytherin just as much as the pugged nosed brats. Children with last names known well to Slytherin and its legacy were sorted all over. The stereotypes that had almost always been present in the sorting in her first years here were all but gone.
Dinner could not have ended quicker. When Harry could finally drop tiredly onto her bed and pull the curtains closed she sighed with relief.
So many people had stared and whispered as she sat. They all had their own little hushed conversations that she'd hear clipped endings, and her name. All of them were talking about her. It was tiresome to be around.
'It will get quiet. This is just like when I first came here. I'm just a novelty, it will all calm down.' She reassured herself as she rolled on her side pulling off her glasses. She laid them near her pillow where she knew that they would be safe, and closed her eyes trying to will herself to sleep.
Yet the sleep wouldn't come. Harry was just too keyed up. Sighing she rolled onto her back staring up at the ceiling. It was the first day back and she'd probably be out wandering under her Invisibly Cloak in an hour's time.
"Ms. Harriet, Ma'am?" A familiar voice whispered voice behind the bed curtains. Her smile stretched wide pulling back the curtain to see the face of a house elf that had very nearly died for her. She was glad to see that he had recovered from his injuries.
"Dobby, you look fantastic." She said propping herself up on one elbow. He was wearing an actual tunic like shirt for a child that went to his knees. Even though it was dirty it was probably the first real shirt she'd seen him wear. He had on the goofiest mismatched socks. One red velveteen sock and a droopy green one on his feet.
"Yes, very well Ma'am, Dobby is very well. Perhaps Ms. Harriet would like to come with Dobby?" The house elf asked in quiet whispered wringing his hands. He was a nervous creature, but also strong when it counted most. Curiously Harry sat up under the covers pulling the curtain back more.
"Sure I will." She smiled widely. When Dobby had almost died for her she knew that she owed him. Besides she would have went wandering on her own, now he was just giving Harry a purpose in her wandering. Quietly she slipped into her slippers going to the trunk to pull out her cloak.
"Oh, wonderful! Yes, wonderful. The elves will be so happy." He said doing a little happy step in place. Harry didn't ask what for. She just smiled fondly and followed him back out of the chambers. "Twinkle will be delighted Ms. Harriet, ma'am." Dobby cheered in hushed tones. When they reached the common rooms before she could don her cloak Dobby was taking her had. Harry had no time to brace herself as they Apparated, something only house elves could do in the castle.
Little creatures cheered as they appeared. Choruses of 'Welcome back Ms. Potter!' rang about. She could not help but smile at their enthusiasm even though the sudden Apparation had left her slightly dizzy. They just were so happy to see her, and the joy in the room infected her.
"Ms. Potter, ma'am would you like a drink?" A little one in a tutu with huge warm eyes asked down beside her.
"Oh Twinkle! How nice to see you. You look so well." Harry complimented and the little elf gave a blush.
"Th-thank you, ma'am." Twinkle stammered pulling on her tutu. "The Headmistress treats us all very, very well. We's all look well." She squeaked merrily handing Harry a little bottle of orange liquid. Fire whisky.
Harry turned it over in her hands mulling it over. Should she be drinking? She wanted to, to feel the warmth of it on her tongue sliding down her throat. Spreading its warmth through her body, but there would be classes in the morning.
"I don't know if I should. Don't you have any Butter beer?" The witch asked a little weary of the alcohol placed in his hand. She'd never been much of a drinker, but the temptation was clear.
"A don't be a knob! Come sit with an old elf and have a drink!" An elderly elf called, or more like ordered. Harry didn't refuse, that little push all she really needed to fall into the temptation. She sat beside him on a little chair uncorking her drink. The boldness of the elfs made Harry happy. All the things Hermione ranted about as they dressed getting to her. And Dobby had changed her mind about them. They were good little people- elves.
(Half a bottle of Fire whisky later)
"Ms. Harry Potter, Ma'am?" An elf asked besides her, but for all she knew she was half way across the room. Harry's mind felt so light and some things seemed to spin. The Fire whisky had burned at first, but the more she drank the more it dulled. Now it was a pleasant heat with every swig.
"Wassit?" She slurred slightly swaying on her little stool. Anymore and she wouldn't be able to stay up any longer.
"Twinkle the girl can't hold his ale!" The elder gave a barking laugh. Twinkle stared at Potter regretfully with a little tinge of amusement. It hadn't been her intention to inebriate the girl from one bottle.
Suddenly, surprising everyone the girl stood up rather steady for her lack of sobriety.
"Gone to bed!" Harry declared rather noisily heading to the hall. Not one of the little elves tried to stop him. It was late and they needed to start sleeping and taking shift on preparing for breakfast.
The small woman made her way down the hall not even going in the right way. The moving staircases throwing her off in her drunken haze. Stopping for a rest she drank more from the bottle still in her hand. She ran into a suit of armor in the hall that huffed indignantly as she laughed.
Somewhere deep in- and that was really deep in the back of her mind Harry knew if anyone caught her, she'd get Merlin knows how many points taken away from Gryffindor. Yet she was slipping really far from rationality, and couldn't even find her own way back to the Big Fat Lady.
Harry turned a corner so sure that it was the right one. Just as sure as she had been the last three corners. Of course she didn't realize that she was walking down one of the restricted hallways. Not for dangerous reasons really, just because the castle was an easy place to get lost in. She was sure however it was the Gryffindor hallway until she saw the figure on the floor.
Two empty bottles of Fire whisky lay discarded near the man's feet, and another in his hands. Slowly he brought it to his lips and Harry watched as he took a swig. A single drop running down his chin, trailing down his throat as he swallowed, Adams apple bobbing.
Severus Snape sat on the floor in only trousers and a shite button down that was halfway undone. For some reason Harry could not tear away her green eyes from the sight of that skin. It was not toneless and white as a sheet as she had always assumed it would be. He actually had nice muscles and his skin that was white, was more like crème.
She found herself swallowing thickly as she watched him. Harry found she was thinking that he wasn't ugly at all. There was that crooked nose, and long hair (That she would always have described as greasy, which it was, but it seemed he took to a more regular washing routine.) he wasn't perfect, but he had character.
For some reason Harry was having the strongest desire to reach out to him, because he looked so… hurt. Hurt by something, probably his past. He was an angry man, but not from the start. The way he grew up, the torment of school, and having to play both sides seemed to have a toll on him. Loving Harry's mother to what he had thought was the very end. Severus was probably awkward here, even though all knew the truth, so many probably still despised him for the torments he unleashed.
Though he had to appear that way didn't he? If he were nice to everyone, or at least decent wouldn't that be contrary to whom he was supposed to be? A Death Eater? If he had been kind to Harry, the girl who lived, would that not have been strange?
This was her way of trying to rationalize the attraction that she was feeling. To tell herself that she was drunk and just having a good time wandering, and yes Snape could look that good. That it was perfectly alright to be aroused by this man with the sorrow in his eyes, and the drink in his hand.
He took another drink and Harry could not stop watching the way he licked his lips. Wondering if they were soft, if they would warm her the way the Fire whisky could. She wondered how it would feel to run her finger over that crème colored skin. If he would let her. Harry felt like she was burning, and couldn't for the life of her figure out why, not while her brain was so fogged by the drink.
"Snape…" The girl trailed off getting closer to the older man. Startled the man looked up with a look of… joy? Then it quickly turned to wariness that turned to a weak glare.
"What do you want?" He snapped with a slight slur. Snape could not believe that the very person that drove him to the drink stood in front of him. Almost like a hallucination he brought up to torment himself.
Harriet Looked so much like James, so much like the very boy that made his life hell. Yet there was so much Lilly in the girl. The shape of her body that small petite frame, and her eyes were all Lilly. Snape couldn't help the attraction he felt, that had at first started out because of Lilly, but then, as he watched Harry grow it became something only felt because of Harry. Attraction that he covered as best he could with the hate he felt for James. If he just pretended that Harry was her father he could keep his feelings away.
Severus had been so glad when Potter's friends had taken the jobs offered to them. He was sure that Harry would take the job as well and he would not have to see her again. A relief that would be to this constant feeling of wanting that he would never dare pursue. He wouldn't have to live in confusion anymore, and could get on living his miserable life alone. Yet Potter of course couldn't let that happen, and just had to come back. And with her all Snape's felling's came bubbling back to the surface.
That was why Snape was drinking, trying to numb out some of the wanting, some of the confusion that was swirling in him. For Harry had hit him like a train when he'd seen the girl walk into the Great Hall. No one had bothered to tell him that the Great Harriet James Potter was coming back to Hogwarts.
Now the very girl- woman, she was a woman now that caused him pain was keeling besides him. Her face flushed with the alcohol, and her green eyes burning with a desire he never could have imagines perfectly in all his imaginings.
"Why do you look so sad?" Harry whispered leaning further. She licked her lips, eyes flicking from between Severus's gaze and his lips.
"Because of you." He replied with less strength than he had though he was putting into those words. Those green eyes widened in surprise of his words. Then they settled down to something softer, and he watched her lean closer. The bottle of Fire whisky she set down tipping over. Too empty to slosh out the last of its contents. Harry licked her lips holding his gaze.
"I can fix that." She murmured before connecting her lips with her professors. For a moment Severus was as still as a statue his eyes wide. Harry pulled away when she didn't get a reaction. She began to panic slightly afraid of the rejection she was sure to get.
However there was no rejection. That kiss broke all the barriers Snape had put in place, all his feelings letting loose. He grabbed Harry pulling her onto his lap kissing her again. He was quick to deepen it, winning over in the fight for dominance. He kissed the smaller woman until Harry had to break away panting. Her lips were red and slightly swollen, her eyes darkened with desire.
Harry was right. His lips did warm her like Fire whisky.
"My room." Severus breathed needing her. Needing to feel her, needing to have this connection, and this passion. Even if Potter would surely regret it. Even if anyone found out it would cost him his job.
"Yes." Harry answered standing with a slight sway helping him up. She wanted him with a passion. Wanted him like she had never wanted another person before. He followed up after her quickly pulling her to him for another quick kiss before hurrying them off.
[I hope that you will review. This is sort of an experiment chapter. I want to see how it is before I start working on more since I'm sort of busy about to start my senior year and work! So review and tell me how you like it? Also if you can tell I was watching Holes while writing the last bit.]