Title: Harry Potter and the Hogwarts Internship
Summary: Snape survives Nagini's attack in book 7. After the war against Voldemort, Harry goes back to Hogwarts to ask Snape for an internship. Unable to hide his feelings any longer, he also asks Snape out. Snape declines but gives him the internship. However, since they spend so much time together, it's inevitable that they grow closer. Snape/Harry slash so don't like, don't read. Warnings inside
Rated: T
Pairing(s): Harry/Snape, Ron/Hermione
Genre(s): Romance, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship
Warning(s): Some angst
Harry's PoV:
Harry stood at the entrance to the dungeons, waiting for the first years to leave so he could talk to the Potions Master. He was seeking an internship that would hopefully get him a teaching job here at some point.
When the students had gone to their next class, Harry walked in the dark, cold office. "May I come in, Professor?"
Snape looked up, those dark eyes wide with surprise. Harry's heart skipped a beat at the first time seeing his crush in a few months. He'd spent the summer with the Weasleys. "Potter! I thought you graduated. What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to ask you for an internship, sir." Over the past two years, Harry had inexplicably, yet inevitably, fallen for Snape. He'd gotten good in Potions - raising Snape's suspicions - and sometimes accidentally-on-purpose drop or spill something so that he could have detention with him. Now that Harry was of age, and now that they had gotten closer during the war, he hoped he would have a chance with his former professor.
"Why me?" asked Snape. "I'm sure any of the other teachers would happily give you one."
"Yes, but I love Potions, sir," he lied. "I want an internship for the Ministry." Also a lie. He thought that if Snape knew he wanted to stay, he wouldn't help Harry.
"I see." Snape's voice was cold, yet Harry stood there unfazed. "I'll give you the internship, Potter, but it will be a lot of work. You will assist me with my classes. You will help me with any Potions, and you will oversee the detentions. Understood?" Harry nodded. "Good. You start tomorrow. I suppose McGonagall gave you a place to sleep then?"
Harry blushed and shook his head.
Snape sighed. "Very well then. Come with me and I'll show you my rooms."
Harry expected Snape's rooms to be as dark and creepy as the rest of the dungeons, but they were surprisingly cozy. Green and silver Slytherin curtains hung on the windows. A fire was burning in the living room and Harry jumped when he felt something brush against his leg. He looked down to find a cat with shocking blue eyes. "Who's that?" Harry asked.
"Oh. That's Albus, my cat." Snape inforned him, looking embarrassed.
"You named your cat after Dumbledore?" Harry's heart fluttered as he saw the most surprising thing ever. Snape actually blushed. "Professor...I wanted to ask you something else."
Snape stared at him expectantly.
Harry's heart pounded. It was now or never. "I - I wanted to ask if you would go out with me."
Snape's eyes widened in shock. "What?" He shook his head. "No, Potter...No."
Harry's heart sank, and he nodded miserably, missing the curious look his former Professor sent him. "I'll show you your room," Snape said. Harry followed him to a small but cozy bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. "I expect you to keep this place clean."
"Of course, Professor."
"Good." Snape cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'm going to do some work in my office."
"Need any help?"
Snape looked up in surprise. "I'll be fine, Potter." With that, he left, his robes sweeping behind him.
Harry sighed.
Snape's PoV:
Severus Snape sat at his desk, trying to plan his next set of classes. But thanks to Potter, he now couldn't concentrate. As hard as he tried, he couldn't keep his mind off what had happened after Severus showed the boy to his rooms.
Potter had asked him out.
He couldn't remember the last time someone had asked him out. Didn't think anyone ever had. Potter was just full of surprises. So that was why he had asked Severus for an internship.
And why he had succeeded in Potions, Severus realized. So Potter had been crushing on him for years now.
Severus sighed and put his head in his hands. What did Potter see in him?
At least now, Potter's strange behaviors made sense. Why he had gotten detention so often. Why he had saved Severus's life after Nagini attacked him. This explained so much.
And now Potter would be living with him. He'd see the boy every day. What was he going to do?
Harry's PoV:
After informing McGonagall of his internship with Snape, Harry decided to go to dinner. Some of the professors were already there, including Snape, who wouldn't look at him. Harry was completely shocked to find Hermione sitting in one of the chairs. "Harry!" she called, waving him over.
"Hermione, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"I got a job as the new History of Magic teacher!" she informed him. "Ron's here, too, he just has to settle his living arrangements with McGonagall, that's why she's running late to dinner. Ron isn't teaching here, but we're sharing rooms." She blushed.
"That's great, Hermione." Harry's spirits lifted. He would have missed Ron and Hermione so much, and even though the rest of his friends weren't here, he was glad to have his best friends with him. "I wonder what everyone else is doing this year."
"Dunno."
After dinner, Harry went to their rooms to hang out. "So did you ask Snape out?" Ron asked him.
"Yeah," Harry said. "He said no."
"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said gently.
"It's all right. I expected it." Harry couldn't help being disappointed. He'd had a crush on the Half-Blood Prince before realizing he was Snape, and even after that, his feelings hadn't changed.
They talked until it was late, and Harry returned to Snape's rooms. When he arrived, Snape was making a potion at his small dining room table. "Potter," he acknowledged.
"Professor."
"May I ask you something?" Snape said, to his surprise.
"Anything, Professor." Harry walked over to him.
"Why do you want to go out with me?"
Harry hadn't been expecting that. "Because you're a great wizard," he said. "You're intelligent. And passionate about your work."
Snape's dark eyes widened. "I've treated you horribly, Potter."
"You've saved my life," Harry pointed out. He remembered the time Quirrell had tried to kill him during Quidditch, but Snape saved him. "Just go out with me."
"I can't, Potter."
"I'm of age! I'm not your student anymore-"
"I said no, Potter!"
Harry took a step back, startled by Snape's harsh response. "You don't have to push everyone away. Professor," he quickly added at Snape's glare. "Why do you hate me so much? I saved you from Nagini. Do you remember what you said to me?"
"Enough, Potter," Snape growled, turning back to his potion.
Harry swallowed the tears that were threatening to spill down his cheeks. "You said I have my mother's eyes." There was an awkward pause, and Snape turned to look at him. "You loved my mother."
"Exactly. I loved your mother," Snape said bitterly. "And she left me for James Potter and had you."
"It's not my fault!" Harry exclaimed. "If you'd just give me a chance-"
"No," Snape said firmly. "This conversation is over, Potter."
As the room blurred around him, Harry managed to shut the door to his room before the tears started.
AN: Hope you liked Chapter 1! Please review and updates soon
