Chapter 4
Harry's POV
It was somewhat early when Harry awoke but he was the type of person who, once awake, didn't go back to sleep no matter the hour. Putting on a robe over his pajamas he decided to go explore the castle. Down stone corridors he went, grateful to the thick long rugs beneath his feet. After awhile he looked around the current hallway he was in and spotted a dark oak door. Curiosity got the best of him and he opened the door.
Behind the door there was a small set of stone steps leading up to another door. Intrigued, Harry climbed the steps, his hand aquiver as he reached the door's brass handle. With a twist of his hand it opened to reveal a rather spacious room. Broken furniture and slashed oil paintings lay scattered around the circular room. But what caught his eye was a very simple thing.
A small tri-legged table was before the only window the room had. On the table was something…peculiar. A single pink rose sat daintily resting against the side of its glass container. The container was upside down so that the bottom was the top and the top the bottom. A single petal had fallen to the bottom of the glass and another looked set to fall.
A snarl alerted Harry to the fact that he was no longer alone. His heart was pounding as he turned around; he knew exactly who was in the little room with him. There, fangs glistening and onyx eyes glinting with rage, was the Master of the castle. His voice sounded low and deadly as he hissed out "What are you doing in here? Did I not say that this very room was expressly forbidden? WELL DIDN'T I?" Severus's silkily tone had broken on the last question, his midnight fur rippling with the force of his anger. Harry gulped and nodded. His voice was a mere whisper as he said, "Yes you did. I was just walking around exploring the castle and I didn't watch where I was going otherwise I wouldn't have come in here. I truly do apologize; it was not my intention to go against your wishes."
Wearily Severus, who had been up for ages debating on how best to show his guest the surprise he had planned, closed his eyes and leaned his head back. Harry's manner had not been one of mischief or one of rebellion, no it was one of honest surprise at ending up where he was now. Finally after a healthy internal debate, at which his inner voice won, Severus motioned for his young guest to follow him. It was time to show him the surprise he had spent the better part of the night and yesterday on.
Harry followed the Beast's hulking form noticing for the first time just how lustrous his fur was and how his eyes gave away every emotion his visage did not. Down the winding stairs they went and out onto the grounds. Having not been out of the castle since arriving the green eyed lad took in the lush grass and sturdy trees as well as the blue sky. Now that the rains had passed the earth looked rich and vibrant again. 'Perfect for flying.' Harry thought sadly. Oh how he long for the feeling of the wind in is hair and the feeling of the broom beneath him. So caught in his musings was he, that he bumped into the Beast, not knowing they had come to their destination.
"Oh sorry, I was wool-gathering." Harry laughed and stepped out from behind his furry companion. What he saw made his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and his jaw drop. It was like a dream. There before him was laid out the biggest Quidditch pitch he had ever seen. It was 5 times bigger than the Pitch he played at back home. Three hoops on either end of the field stood gleaming gold in the sunlight and there a few yards from the awestruck Seeker was a broom, its handle shined and polished, ready to be flown.
Harry then turned to the Beast who was looking at him with a look akin to hope. Did the Beast do this? For him? "Is this for me?" he asked. His silent companion nodded gestured to the broom. "Go on then Harry. Fly." The Beast said, for the first time using his first name. "Thank you Beast." Harry replied and, surprising them both, hugged him. "Call me Severus and you are most welcome." The Beast, Severus said as he pulled away. Gleefully Harry ran to the broom, jumped on, and took to the air. He never noticed the smile that adorned Severus's face or the happy look in his dark eyes.
AN: So are you all glad those two are getting closer to each other? Well sorry for the shortness of the chapter, I really didn't have much in mind for it. Did you like Sev's gift to Harry? Review and let me know.