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-HPSS-

Previously in Chapter Six: Draco's Predicament

He gasped, taking Severus' hair in both hands. Just for a second, Harry pried their lips apart. "Did-you-know-you-taste-like-strawberries?" He licked the thin flush lips and sucked on them. He felt Severus smile, just for a moment. Severus opened his eyes at Harry, who looked intoxicated and overtaken by all emotions.

"Follow me—my bed is this way." Severus said, kissing him again, knowing he'd lost all sense.

Meanwhile…

At first, when Draco cast a listening spell that broke through his godfather's silencing charm, he'd expected to hear Harry Potter's voice. He expected to hear a lot of awkward conversation, stumbling speech (on Potter's side, of course), and maybe even the clattering of wizard's chess pieces.

He knew it had to be Potter—what, after that speech in the Great Hall!

I want…I need you. Potter's voice—he knew it anywhere.

Save me, now.

Draco couldn't move. He couldn't even breathe. His nose wrinkled in disgust. There's no way this is happening. Harry Potter and Severus Snape?! Merlin, no…don't let it be true.

He had to listen more. He had to.

Chapter Seven: The Fluffy Bunny

Snape clasped Harry's shoulders, practically flinging him inside his bedroom. Restlessly prying himself from the boy, he wiped his damp mouth—the heat still lingered on his lips. "We've been caught." He heard himself say calmly, as if all his organs did not feel like they caught fire—as if he had not been seduced by Harry James Potter—as if, he thought, I knew I had a time-turner.

Harry's eyes went wide, then narrowed quickly. After catching his breath, he started giggling, flopping down on the bed. The boy was laughing at him.

"This isn't funny!" Severus snarled at him, with his eyebrows twitching. Then again, I'm the one to blame for all this.

Harry tore off his glasses, wiping his eyes, coming out of hysteria. I've been caught kissing a professor? Gods! He sighed, put his glasses back on, and looked up at his professor, who'd slammed the door to the extended bathroom. Taking a deep breath, he stood up next to the door. "Severus," he said gently, "I'm sorry for laughing. I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just that…well, at first I thought you were joking."

No response.

"Oi! Bollocks, Snape, you have to admit, we're in a peculiar situation here right?" The door opened. Harry lost his breath when he saw his professor before him in a plain white button-up shirt, and black pants, and no socks. He stared at those surprisingly flawless feet. Smooth skin, supple curves, and long, delicate toes. I want to lick them.

"Ahem."

His head snapped up. Snape was smirking at him. "If you're quite done studying my feet, Mr. Potter, I believe we were discussing something quite important." Harry gulped and turned a shade of pink. He'd never seen Snape in anything but black before. "Your shirt looks really nice—have you thought about wearing that color more often?" Snape rolled his eyes at this. "For Merlin's sake, Potter. I wear a white shirt every day underneath my buttoned black robe. Although, if you're not careful…" He paused, studying Harry's face, "I might just go stark during one of those inevitable detentions of yours." Harry's eyes were twitching. He tried to hold back his delight, not wanting to scare Snape away with a smile. And Gods, his pants. They're so tight.

Snape crossed his arms, still studying him. "Are you…all right?" Harry's eyebrows shot up. He cocked his head at Snape and smiled like an idiot, involuntarily wrapping his arms around his professor's hips. "Hornier and happier than I've ever felt in my entire life, thanks for asking." Their erections stood still, against each other.

Despite it, Snape raised an eyebrow. "You really expect me to believe that, you cheeky brat?"

Harry furrowed his brows back at the man. "I don't expect you to, but it's the truth. I've never felt like this before, with anyone." Snape hadn't either, though he wasn't about to admit that to the insufferable brat. He grunted at his throbbing member, further motioning for Harry to sit on the black bed.

"Draco caught us, Harry." He said huskily, sitting next to the younger.

"What do y' mean? Before you said there was a silencing spell on your wards!" Harry looked surprised. Instead of kissing the look off his face, Severus sighed. The boy was never great at charms.

"The sneaky brat knew how to listen with a complex charm. In the heat of the moment, I…forgot," Snape bit his lip, scowling at himself, "that I taught him how to use it. He can't hear us in here, only if we're in the living room. It only works if each party is on either sides of the wall." Snape waited for Harry's reaction.

"Oh my god. He heard…" Harry put a hand to his chest, remembering the comment about strawberries. Strawberries…

"Yes," his professor sneered at the floor, "and knowing Draco, he'll probably be too shocked to utter out a comprehendible sentence for the next forty-eight hours, if not longer. If he had held back that abruptly loud gag in his throat, I wouldn't have realized it at all. I was quite…distracted. " With your mouth, your hands, your moans, your—

"Howdidheknowhowtousethespell?" Harry's mouth was moving terrifyingly fast, like a bloody auctioneer.

"My, my, Mr. Potter. It seems you can't form comprehendible sentences either." Snape said with vigor.

Harry blinked. Cough! "How…erm. Why did you teach him that spell, sir? I mean, Severus." He corrected himself—he didn't want to go back to formalities after all this. All the kissing and coming against you. He scooted closer, tired of talking. Severus did not move away, but withheld any reaction. Harry wanted more, needed more.

"He was required to know that charm as a Death Eater, for many reasons I do not wish to discuss. However, it became quite useful to us when Draco could not see me, let alone write a letter to my sorry name. The Dark Lord wouldn't allow it. He wanted…Draco to become as independent and self-reliant as possible, after Bellatrix ratted the boy out." Snape gazed off in a dark-eyed haze. Oh, Albus. Such a fool I was.

Harry clasped his hand, bringing the older man back to reality. He wasn't all that fond of Draco, but he knew he and Severus were close. Severus squeezed his hand back, allowing Harry's head rest upon the crook of his arm. They both sat like that for a while—several minutes, Harry guessed—with Snape's arm wrapped around the boy, holding him close. His hair smells like ocean-water. He inhaled very quietly, and very deeply. He had to say something. He owed the boy that much.

Harry's eyes were closing. "I know you saved him." Snape broke the silence with a whisper. "You hardly tolerate Draco. Why'd you save him in the Room of Requirement from the fire?" The words were muffled against Harry's nest of hair.

Harry refocused himself, shifting. "He told you about that?" His voice trembled. Severus nodded. "Look, Draco and I have been rivals for seven years, but I couldn't just fly away knowing he'd die. I wouldn't want that—even for him. If things had been different, I think we could've been friends, if he hadn't insulted Ron the first time we'd met. Underneath it all, he's not a bad person."

Severus scoffed. Weasleys… He stopped his thought, shaking his head. "Potter, your Gryffindor bravery never ceases to astound me." Harry looked away, unsure if that was a compliment or an insult.

"Nevertheless, Draco is my godson, and if he'd have died…" his grip tightened on Harry's hand. Harry stroked his arm. This was as much of a 'thank you' as one could expect from Severus Snape, he realized.

"You and him are close, then? I had always assumed, but I never knew. You did favor him in class a lot." Harry said, without anger or jealousy.

"I had to play a part the Dark Lord wanted to see, Harry. If I had favored you, for instance, I'd have been questioned for my behavior." Harry took Snape's other arm, and hugged it. It all made sense to him now. All the insults, the points taken, and mockery…well, maybe not all of it. Harry smiled shyly.

"So, what you're trying to say is…deep down, underneath that sneering mask, you're just a big…fluffy bunny?" Harry batted his eyes at him, blushing.

Snape let out a thunderous laugh, "Hah!" Harry was so taken aback he almost let go of the arm he was holding, but he clung on. Harry giggled like a schoolboy caught passing a note. The laughter came to a halt. The older was frowning, ashamed, as if he were just caught giving ten points to Gryffindor.

"I am not…a big…fluffy…bunny." He scowled. Harry gave him a playful slap on the knee and a kiss on the cheek.

"Mhhm, right, Snape. That laugh of yours sure was convincing…" Harry traced the inseam of Severus' inner pant-leg, going up above his thigh. Severus looked into Harry's smiling eyes. "God, that voice…"

"My voice, Mr. Potter?" Severus quizzed, with a deep raspy tone. Harry was tracing Severus' hardened member slowly.

"God, yes. It's so utterly perfect. Maybe that's why I've been so terrible at potions." Snape gaped at him. "My voice is perfect?" Harry purred, nuzzling against his neck, with Snape's arms still tight around him. "Mmm…so deep, so perfectly deep." The man's neck vibrated as he shuddered against Harry, almost possessively. Is this a dream? Snape seriously questioned his judgment.

Snape pulled away from the boy, but not without a tremendous effort. "Are you…at all concerned that my godson, Draco Malfoy, knows that we had…that we kissed until you came against my leg?" Harry shuddered. His cock pulsed just thinking about that moment.

"Well, he can't hear us now, right? So let's give him something to talk about tomorrow morning. I'll be there…I mean, if you want me there—tomorrow morning. We can—"

"What do you get out of this, Potter? You can't just sit there and tell me you want this." The older had replaced the vulnerable look on his face with a scowl. No one had wanted him for nearly two decades…or ever, really.

"But I do. I do want this. Want you. I meant what I said, before, y'know." Harry looked ambitious.

"I don't believe you. It's just another Gryffindor trick to shame the old, cruel, potions professor." Severus retorted.

Harry shook his head vigorously. "No! Why would—"

"Potter—Harry—no one has…" How would he word this to the boy? "If you desire sexual favors, I suggest you ask elsewhere. Fred and George, perhaps." He really doesn't believe me, Harry thought sadly.

"Severus, I don't care how many relationships you've had, or how many people you've been with. I…know what it's like. I mean, to be alone. For a long time, that is." Harry turned dark red.

"Harry, do you mean to tell me you haven't…" Even with fame, the boy was still a virgin? He could have anyone he wants! Severus frowned at the thought. Harry Potter, the-boy-who-everybody-wants is sitting on my bed, offering up his virginity to me, the man everybody despises? It made no sense to him.

"I—I—I'm not a complete virgin, you know." Snape narrowed his eyes at the younger's attempt to sound mature. "I've-had-b-blowjobs. Given them, too. Erm—I, and I—" Harry stammered, suddenly sweating down his back. Merlin…who knew I'd be giving a report over my sexual history to Snape tonight?

The boy stopped speaking for a while, just looking at his limp hand, still resting on Severus' thigh. He pinched his eyes shut and waited for some kind of insult, retort, or joke to come his way. I'm such a freak…

"Harry," the older man said with concern, "I'm glad you told me." Harry's eyes snapped open again.

"You are?!"

"Quite. Though, I do not understand how you could be virginal with all the fame you possess." Harry raised an eyebrow, this time. He looked…sad. Severus cupped Harry's blushing cheek, stroking it with his thumb. Why am I doing this to him? He thought in frustration. Even this caress feels instinctive.

"I hate being famous. I'm a hair away from casting a glamour on myself, just so I don't have a crowd of followers. I can't even go for a walk without being followed, unless I'm on Hogwarts grounds, and even then people might not leave me alone." He looked down at the green carpet.

"Not even with Riley?" Snape was careful about this, not wanting to sound intrusive—especially not after the boy saw his very father making-out with himself in the pensieve. He thought he was dying, for Merlin's sake!

Harry shook his head slightly, innocent as ever. "No; never. We were intimate, but I overheard him one day with his friends, bragging about us—saying he might show up on the front page of the Daily Prophet next to me, with "the perfect couple" headline, or something like that. He wanted to be…famous, and dump me, all for some fancy Ministry position he wanted. That was the day…" I found out… Harry trailed.

Snape waited. The boy seemed so broken-hearted. Severus scoffed inwardly—as if I care of teenage love affairs. But somehow, he did care.

"It was a long time ago. I don't think I can talk about it anymore."

Harry yawned like a lion.

"You're tired. Return to your dorm." Severus was quite aware of his half-hearted tone. He shifted, taking his hands off Harry.

"No." The seventeen year old smirked wickedly.

"No?" His fear was apparent.

Harry grabbed the back of the man's head and kissed him hard. Severus tried to stifle the moan in his throat, he really did, but he couldn't. As much as he hated to admit it, he wanted Harry. He needed Harry—and only Merlin knew why!

He was cut off by Harry's lips, claiming his parted mouth.

"This is wrong, I—" Harry got tired of Severus' argument, so he licked the man's lips fiercely, and unzipped his black pants. "Too many clothes…" he breathed, moving down, kneeling between Snape's legs.

"Wait—Harry—" he sounded deathly afraid of going further.

Harry stopped, tracing his hands back to Snape's upper chest. "What's wrong?" He cocked his head to the right.

"I—I can't go further. Not right now, Harry. I just can't." Severus ran a hand slowly through the boy's tousled hair. His thoughts were screaming: I need you.

Defeated, Harry sunk against him. "Why?" The whisper was barely audible. Nobody wants me…not even Severus Snape. Freak, I'm such a freak…

"Oh, Harry." He sighed, taking the boy close in his arms. He wanted to tell him…but it was so bloody difficult to get out. Damn it all. Harry kissed the pale hand, rubbing it against his cheek. "As ridiculous as it might sound, I do want you, Harry." Harry beamed at this, looking into the man's cauldron-black eyes. Snape continued, looking into Harry's suddenly bright, emerald-green eyes. "But I cannot go further. Not tonight. If you truly want…to be with me, you must be patient." Harry looked at him, and blinked. "I was only gonna give you a blowjob."

Severus chuckled. Harry sniggered back. "I'm afraid too, you know. I mean…I know we'd have to keep this all a secret. I could only imagine what the Daily Prophet would have to say, with age-difference and all." He shuddered at the thought, clutching Snape's white shirt. "But I don't care. About any of that stuff. All I know is that I'm attracted to you, professor or not. As for age, it means nothing—"

Severus let out an impatient sigh. "Yes, well, I should still speak with Minerva about our…involvement, with one another. I would not feel right to keep it from her." He said sternly. Harry nodded in agreement. "Okay—so, till then, what are we?"

They sat in silence for a minute, maybe two, gazes interlocked, as if they could find the answer that way.

"Harry," Severus rasped, jaw clenched, trying to calm himself, "as I am sure you've already guessed, for a very gracious period of time I have spent…without a partner." Harry wanted to hug him tighter. Instead he waited patiently, giving a comforting smile. Even though Severus was his "big fluffy bunny," just a softie underneath all the snark, he was also like a scared little boy who expected the worst.

"…and, before that, something terrible happened to me. I wish not to talk about it now, but I wanted to inform you that, if all you happen to desire is sex…" Harry gave him a lopsided grin, but Severus continued nonetheless, "…it will have to wait." Harry nodded very seriously, wondering what the "terrible" thing was that happened to Sev.

"Sev?"

Severus winced in response to the nickname. Harry laid a hand on the shaking one, stilling it.

"I never want to hurt you. I saved you, remember? Just like you saved me—starting all the way back to my first Quidditch match, when you kept me from falling to my death from Quirrell's bloody jinx—" Harry cupped his left cheek, "to just an hour ago, when you kissed me." He looked serious. Snape gaped, and quickly shut his mouth. No one, not even James, had treated him with this much care.

"May I kiss you now?" Harry looked at him with a steady gaze. He wasn't even breathing as he waited for Severus' response.

"You may." Severus said, with his usual cultured accent. Slowly, Harry leaned to the right, careful not to bump Snape's nose with his own. His lips parted, as Severus breathed in quickly, so close to Harry. He closed his eyes. Harry licked his lips out of habit. "Mmm." Just like before, Harry let his lips touch the corner of Severus' mouth. He lingered there for a while, kissing the sunken cheek very slowly. Severus let out a quick breath. His heart was beating so fast, he could've died from cardiac arrest. How ironic if that were to be the case…

The thought was stilled by teeth. Teeth, nibbling on his earlobe. "Oh," the professor let out a barely audible sound at Harry's touch. No one's touched me there…who knew it could feel so—

Harry blew in his ear. "Even your earlobe tastes like strawberries," Harry whispered seductively. He left a trail of kisses from Sev's earlobe to his chin. Just for a moment longer, he hovered over those quivering, begging lips. Harry took his hand, running it through the raven black hair he once thought was so greasy and disgusting. "So soft…" his breath played on Severus' lips. He decided he was going to make this last as long as he could.

He cupped the back of the man's head, kissing the left sunken cheek. Snape let out a groan—Harry hadn't heard that sound before. He stifled a chuckle, as he thought of his professor's popular snide remark: Patience, Mister Potter. But that man was so delicate now, like he could crumble at a single touch, if he wasn't careful.

Ever so gently, he suckled Severus' left earlobe. He felt a hand on the back of his head. "Mmm…you like it when I do that?" he asked the man huskily. Snape's breath caught in his throat. "Yes, I…like it very much." Harry quivered in delight at that voice, how it rumbled against him like rich waves.

He traced the earlobe with his tongue. Severus gasped, a little louder this time. Harry ignored his throbbing erection, licking Snape's jawline, pausing at his chin.

Potter was licking him as if he were as delectable as a chocolate frog. Severus felt that hot, wet tongue against his skin, sending him on a high. How was the twit such an expert at this? Riley, perhaps. Presumably, he only had one relationship in his life—

The swirling questions melted away as Harry kissed his forehead, softly and sweetly. His brows, usually wrinkled or struck upright, were relaxed as Harry touched each of them with his swollen lips. Slowly, Severus felt each muscle relaxing beneath his skin. Harry tended to each wrinkle with upmost care, selflessly.

"Harry." The name crossed his lips, almost angelic sounding, as if he truly had been saved by the younger wizard. Harry continued, kissing his way down Severus' distinct nose. He gave one last peck to the tip. Severus felt his eyes widen. Harry smiled. Severus let the corners of his mouth quirk up. He wanted to kiss him so badly, kiss that impish grin off his face…

Harry closed his eyes again, waiting for Sev to make the first move to kiss him. He didn't want to force him to do anything too fast. Puffs of breath made his lips hungry for contact.

Severus stroked the boy's cheek, with the other hand still intertwined in Harry's brown hair. Harry leaned in a bit more, with his mouth parted. Severus held in a breath, letting his lips touch firmly against Harry's. Harry moaned, but did not move. Severus sucked on the pink lips, clasping the boy's hair a bit tighter. Harry kissed him back, and then pried his mouth off gently, eyes still shut. Snape let his breath escape his lungs. Harry pressed his forehead to Sev's, rocking him back and forth, just as he did with the dying man in the Astronomy Tower. Severus let him, not at all bothered. In fact, he felt quite content—more at peace than he'd felt, possibly ever, in his life.

There, the two men stayed, holding onto each other. Harry wanted to speak, but he didn't want Severus to let go of him. He didn't want to open his eyes, only to find that this had all been a dream.

Severus left his forehead, and planted one quick kiss on the boy's right cheek. Harry looked at him and blushed. "Always." The younger's voice sounded raspy. "Indeed." Snape replied, standing up, regretfully.

"I do not want to impose any further, but, I was wondering…" Harry shook his head, but continued, "if I could sleep in your quarters tonight? It's very late, and—" Snape nodded, cutting him off. "I think that would be best, all things considered. Do you require a nightshirt?"

Harry smiled, "That would be very thoughtful, thanks." Snape walked to his black wooden closet on the right, pulling out a long, green Slytherin t-shirt, with a serpent on the front. He handed it to Harry, who seemed gleeful. To give him some privacy to change, Snape took a black nightshirt out of a drawer and went inside the bathroom.

Harry took a deep breath. I'm changing in Snape's bedroom. He held back a childish giggle. I've been naughty with the potions master! He slipped off his black robe, red t-shirt and muggle pants, leaving only his y-fronts. They were Gryffindor red…and wet, from all the excitement. He took his wand from his robes and cast Evanesco to clean that up a bit. The shirt looked long enough to cover his undies anyway. Slipping on the shirt, he smelled it. Mmm…the scent of pine and mint.

"I assure you, it is clean." He heard Snape say. How long has he been watching me? Harry chuckled.

"I know, you git. Erm, where should I sleep, Severus?" He looked over the man in his black boxers and night-shirt. Even the night-shirt has at least twenty buttons.

"Cheeky brat. Due to the circumstances, I would not feel opposed to sharing my bed with you. Needless to say, if it makes you uncomfortable, I could transfigure my couch into a bed in the living room." He looked uptight, crossing his arms.

Harry smiled at him. "Thank you. I would love to sleep next to you, if I could?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't have offered if I was not comfortable with the idea." He undid the covers, getting in. Harry followed. "Nox."

They lay there, side-by-side. The bed was very big and comfy, Harry noticed. He tested Sev, scooting closer, until he could feel body heat radiating next to him. Harry's breathing slowed. Severus fell fast asleep, hearing the boy next to him doing the same.

At The Midnight Hour

"No…" Severus grunted. He turned to Harry's side, who was still asleep. "Father, please…take me instead, take—" He brushed Harry's hand unknowingly.

Harry woke up to Severus tossing and turning around in the bed. "Severus?" He whispered quietly.

"Mother!" Severus' face looked contorted in the dark. Harry wasn't at all surprised the man had nightmares like he did. "Sev, shh, it's okay." He put the quivering hand in his. The fingers clasped him tightly. Severus looked terrified, still dreaming. Harry pressed his lips to Severus' hand.

"Shh, Sev, it's only me, Harry. I'm right here." Harry wanted to wrap the man in his arms, but resisted. "Harry? No, don't let me die." Harry felt tears well in his eyes. Severus grabbed him, still dreaming. Harry traced soothing circles along his back.

"Harry?" The man said with clarity. "Shh, it's okay. You were having a nightmare."

"Oh," he said dryly. He looked at Harry's darkened eyes. He squinted. "What were you dreaming about?" Harry asked, with many assumptions in the back of his mind. Snape's childhood, he imagined, couldn't have been that grand—then again, he wasn't sure. In the pensieve, his father said that Snape was obsessed, that he would get the dark mark. Harry could connect the dots—Severus was obsessed with dark magic. Though, he could've guessed that after discovering Snape was the half-blood prince.

He remembered Dumbledore's last speech in the Great Hall, warning all the students about the darkness of the coming war. Tom Riddle, a young man, sat in this very room as a student here. Today, he goes by a different title, hence He Who Must Not Be Named. I must remind you all that dark forces are among us, and you are their greatest weapon. Take heed.

Oh, yes, he remembered. Snape didn't answer him, after several minutes. Harry decided to break the silence. "I have them too, you know. Nightmares—every time I sleep." Severus looked down at him. "You do?" The quiet voice filled the room.

Harry nodded. "Used to be because of my scar, and I'd see what he saw. Now it's mostly from the night my parents were killed, Cedric, and the war." Snape sighed. The poor boy.

Harry blinked, tired again. "Sev?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I hold you?" Harry looked at him with a loving gaze. He wasn't asking for sex, to Snape's surprise.

Severus gave him a nod, and flipped over. Harry wrapped an arm around his waist, nuzzling his face into his neck. "Is this okay?" He murmured.

Severus turned and gave him a quick peck on the forehead, smelling the boy's hair again. "Your hair smells like an ocean." The younger grinned, drifting off to sleep with Severus in his arms.