Setting: Spinners End
Prompts:
(word) noble
(word) past
(quote) Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Hate me because I'm beautiful, smart and rich. — Calvin Keegan
The fraternisation of enemies
Harry was pissed. It was the last day before the summer holidays after his fifth year and he just came from a meeting with the illustrious headmaster Albus too-many-bloody-names Dumbledore. This man must be completely bonkers. He really said that he would have to stay with Snape over the holidays. With Snape!
Okay, if he was being honest, he was less bothered by the idea of staying with Snape of all people than he was by how Dumbledore seemed to be of the firm opinion that he could just order him around and he would comply. What did the old fool think?
I have decided that it would be safer for you to stay with Professor Snape.
I don't give two Knuts that you just lost your godfather or about what you might think.
I decide what is good for you and what not.
I have decided that you have to sacrifice everything for the noble cause of the "Greater Good".
I am the great and good Albus bloody Dumbledore and you're just an insignificant weapon that has to listen to what I say.
Dumbledore might not have said that aloud but it was what clearly shone through in their conversation…or more of a monologue the oh so great headmaster held. Harry had only sat there and listened to what idiotic crap the man spouted rather than replying in any way because he knew very well that should he have opened his mouth he would have given the man a piece of his mind and he really doubted that that would have been received well.
Interestingly Snape hadn't said anything to it too. The Potions Master had only stood there and the only time he had spoken up was to give his consent to Harry staying with him over the holidays at the man's own house nonetheless. Harry would have thought that the man would fight it tooth and nails but that hadn't been the case but he probably knew that it would have been in vain. Though Harry really wondered how the man lived.
However, there was one major problem with him staying at the man's home; he would have to stay with him for two month closely together without barely any way to avoid him. A man on whom he, would he be honest had a major crush on, an obviously unrequited one.
Oh yes, these holidays would be pure torture for Harry; of that he was sure.
It was two weeks into the summer holidays now and Harry settled in quite well at Spinner's End. Surprisingly the home of Severus Snape was very cosy and nothing like he had expected it to be. On the other hand, Harry didn't know what exactly it was what he had expected but it was certainly not that.
Snape's home had a nice living room with a couch and two armchairs around a fireplace and a few shelves with books in it. Next to it was a small but full furnished kitchen with an adjoining potions lab. On the first floor then was the man's and his bedrooms, nothing extravagant but it was enough to feel at home and it was far better than Harry's room at the Dursleys, that was for sure. Here he also was allowed to do what he wanted to do during the day as long as he didn't disturb Snape - especially when the man was brewing.
The only thing he needed to do was cooking for them but that wasn't because Snape demanded it of him but because Harry himself had decided to take it upon himself. Funny thing was that while Snape absolutely loved brewing he loathed cooking with the same passion and after the first evening of having to "endure" Snape's cooking Harry declared that he would cook the meals from now on for the remainder of the holidays.
Over the two weeks Harry stayed with the normally dour man now, they settled into a routine. Harry would be up even before Snape, which was quite an achievement since the man was up at six in the morning. After a quick shower, Harry would then first set up the strong coffee he got to know Snape loved before he started making breakfast. About half past six, Snape then would come down after having a shower himself greeted by a mug of the steaming hot brew, black, as he liked it.
Harry would then plate the breakfast and they would share the Prophet between them silently reading their part while eating. Only once Snape had his second mug of coffee they would start discussing things ranging from what they read to whatever else came to their mind.
After the first morning they had spent that way Harry had been shocked speechless. He had pinched himself thinking that it all was a dream but he really had a civil conversation with the man that normally hated his guts. It had been on the third day that he finally cornered the man.
At first Snape had wanted to get out of it by stating that since they had to stay the entire summer together it would hardly be a good idea to make it harder than it already was but Harry had the feeling that this was only half of the truth. Knowing what he did after five years in which he now knew the Potions Master and especially after that incident with the Pensieve Harry had decided that he would have to wait and see whether he wouldn't be able to worm the answer he was looking for out of the man some other way. Yes, the hat had been right when claiming that Slytherin would have been the better house for him.
However, now one and a half week later he still hadn't gotten any further but he wasn't overly concerned about it, his opportunity would come. Right now he was sitting in the living room on the couch, his legs tucked beneath him and a good book to read that he had lend from Snape's shelf. Snape himself currently was in his lab brewing some potion ever since lunch, which had been two hours ago.
Harry was just on the verge of turning the page when suddenly the Floo flared to life and spat out a certain blond boy Harry knew only too well.
"Potter? What are you doing here?" the blond sneered.
"Hello Malfoy, blame Dumb-as-a-door," Harry curtly replied before going back to the book he was reading.
"You…what?" Draco stared at Harry in disbelieve and confusion.
Harry sighed, knowing that he wouldn't be left in peace he marked the page he was currently on with a piece of parchment before putting the book down.
"Mr. Certainly-not-Merlin-reincarnated thought that it would be far better and safer for me to stay with Snape," he shrugged in reply.
Draco on the other hand ended up in a coughing fit over the names Harry gave Dumbledore. "Did you, the golden Gryffindork boy and Dumbledore's good little pet just give him derogatory names, twice?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Harry smirked.
"Of course you don't and the next thing you tell me is that you want to marry the Dark Lord, Potthead," Draco deadpanned.
"Ewww, Draco!" he exclaimed a shudder shaking him. "No thank you very much. I mean have you seen him lately? Why would I want to marry that snake face? Despite that he isn't my type."
"And what is your type?" Draco now asked in genuine curiosity wondering since when he could have a civil conversation with him without them going at each other's throat or why he wasn't even put out that Harry had used his first name without his consent.
"Hmmm, dark, mysterious and not without a wicked sense of humour," Harry said with a thoughtful expression before he shrugged. "However, it doesn't matter because said person would never reciprocate my feelings. Anyway what are you doing here?"
"Uncle Sev is my godfather," Draco simply stated but Harry notice a slight blush tinting Draco's cheeks.
Harry's eyes went wide when he thought about what that might mean. "Could it be that you have a crush on him?" he teased the blond.
Draco started to splutter. "Certainly not," he retorted throwing a fearful glance towards the door not wanting the man to hear that.
Harry seeing the other boy's behaviour started to snicker. "Your behaviour tells me something completely different," he smirked.
"You can talk…as if you are any better," he said folding his arms over his chest sulking though nonetheless thinking that it was untrue what he just spouted in retaliation until he saw Harry blushing heavily. "Oh Merlin, you do," he breathed unfolding his arms again heavily sitting down on the couch next to Harry in shock.
Harry on the other hand groaned burrowing his face in his hands in embarrassment hating that he blushed that easily or that he was a hormonal teenager for that matter.
"Don't worry I'm no competition for you," he finally said.
"You've got to be kidding me?" Draco asked in utter disbelieve.
"What? Sure, you can be a whiney git from time to time but you're a Slytherin who has manners, knows all that pure-blood stuff…you're beautiful," Harry sighed wistfully.
"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Hate me because I'm beautiful, smart and rich."
They both stared at each other before both broke out in heavy laugher.
"You…you didn't just say that?!" Harry said once he calmed down again. "No but seriously all Snape will ever see in me is my father. Despite that have you seen how he watches you?"
Now Draco snorted. "I'm his godson of course he watches me and maybe he saw your father in you at the beginning but certainly not anymore…he's worried about you, Harry. He all but ordered me to keep an eye on you the summer before our second year, who do you think sent Dobby to you?" he elaborated upon Harry's disbelieving stare that only intensified at the end.
Harry looked down at his hands in his lap thinking through what he had learned ever since Draco stepped out of the floo. Not only had the other boy hinted that Snape might see more in him than a carbon copy of his father, which might actually explain the civility the man had treated him with the last two weeks, but he also learned that the other boy also felt more for the man.
That was when an idea occurred to him, an idea so utterly insane that it was brilliant in his opinion though he had to wonder…did that mean that he also felt more for Draco other than a possible friendship?
Looking at the blond boy, he had to admit that everything he said to describe Snape with also fitted Draco, he was dark, mysterious if he put his mind to it and he had a humour Harry liked even if it was aimed at him or more likely Ron. Draco also was beautiful, stunningly so. With each passing thought Harry began to realize that yes it might not only be Snape he felt more for and with each passing thought his grin broadened.
"Harry…," Draco tentatively spoke up. "No offense but you're creeping me out."
Harry chuckled darkly. "True, in the past I have shot down your friendship but the last few minutes made me realize just how much of an idiot I have been to do so," he spoke up watching Draco cocking his head. "I just thought…if you're open to it there might be a possibility that we both could get what we want," he told Draco this time holding out a hand of friendship and possibly more of his own. "I mean I have no idea how he would react to it or whether or not it would work out but at least we could try and see where it leads us and who knows…."
Draco stared at him dumbstruck. Harry hadn't just suggested what he thought the boy had, had he? Did that mean that Harry felt more for him, dare he say loved him? And why didn't that thought disgust him like it should, on the contrary left him excited about the prospect? Was that meaning that he was open to sharing? Suddenly images flittered through his mind, fantasies he had had about his godfather but now a third person added to them…Harry.
"Bloody Gryffindors," he moaned closing his eyes and letting his head sink back against the backrest of the couch he was sitting on, staying that way for a moment before he opened them again and looked at Harry who grinned at him. Wondering whether he had gone insane he grabbed Harry's hand and shook it.
"Only one left to convince," Harry snickered.
Both Draco and Harry looked at each other before they both looked towards the door both wearing a grin that could rival that of the Weasley twins before an especially good prank. In both their minds, they were sure that Severus Snape would not know what hit him.
Out in the corridor right next to the door and out of the view from those within the room leaned Severus Snape against the wall, speechless about what he just witnessed. He had left his potions lab the second his wards had alerted him that a visitor arrived via Floo but he had stopped outside the living room when he became aware that it was his godson, curious what would happen between him and Harry. Now it seemed to him that it had been a good idea.
Both boys had a crush on him and not only that they wanted to act upon it!
However, that wasn't even the most insane thing about it. No, what was even more insane was that he wasn't even disgusted about the thought or at least averse to it. They were children for Merlin's sake, his students and not even of age! One of them was even his own godson.
If he would be honest, he would have to admit that he had no idea what to do about the situation. On the one hand he was very well aware that this was wrong on so many levels that he shouldn't even contemplate it but on the other hand the thought of having not only one but two so willing lovers…he had to think about the most disgusting ingredients to shoot down that thought.
He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall behind him. That was when another thought occurred to him. Harry and Draco really thought that they could out-Slytherin him. Now that was a thought he could laugh about. If they really thought that they could get one over him, they were sorely mistaken. He might not know what to do about the entire situation for now but one thing was for sure…they wouldn't know what hit them.
