Hello all! So, I tried to get this chapter out last week, but I had a hard time with this one. It didn't want to be written quickly. So, sorry about the wait.
To all of my readers and reviewers, thank you! To Jordina, your review made my heart smile. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
Warnings: a bit of boy-on-boy in this one, folks. just so you know.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I just play with the characters.
Once again, please review! And enjoy!
Chapter Eight – Detention, Mr. Snape!
Excitement crackled the air in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom on Tuesday. Students sat straight up and leaning forward in their seats, their eyes wide and their mouths curved in expectant smiles. Severus sneered at the lot of them, but even he could not suppress a slight itch of anticipation. Like all the others, his eyes were trained on the front of the room, where Professor James, as was customary, stood smiling absently at them. The professor's expression was carefully blank, but Severus could not help but notice that his eyes lingered on the Gryffindor side of the room.
Severus could understand why. Lupin was missing. The first absence of many, no doubt. The young Gryffindor boy was always sick, a fact which simply confirmed his weak status in Severus's eyes. Normally, Lupin's absence would not concern him. But today, watching as Professor James nodded and smiled at the other Gryffindors, watching as they seemed to draw courage from that smile, Severus felt his gut rolling. He almost wished that Lupin were present, just so that Professor James wouldn't pay the Gryffindors any special attention.
They act as if they have a secret, he thought bitterly. But I'm the one with the secret, remember? He looked down at his arms, unmarked, but bearing the weight of an Unbreakable Vow. I'm the one with the secret.
Severus shook his head angrily. Leave it to the Gryffindors to reduce his thoughts to childish boasts without even lifting a finger. What was he, a First Year all over again?
As if he had heard his thoughts loud and clear, Professor James chose that moment to glance at Severus. He smiled crookedly, and Severus kept the heat from his face only by extreme force of will.
"Good morning, Sixth Years!" said Professor James, a little too brightly in Severus's opinion.
"Good morning, Professor James," some of the students intoned.
The professor didn't seem to mind. He just grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Now, I'm sure you all have forgotten already, what with the laziness of the weekend, but I promised last class that we could try a bit of dueling today."
The students had not forgotten. At the professor's words, they all sat up as straight as they could. A few of the Ravenclaws were in danger of leaping to their feet in excitement. Professor James's mouth remained curved in a small grin, but his eyes were laughing.
"Alright, you all know how to duel, so I won't go through the ceremony of reminding you," announced the professor. "I'm going to pair you up, and if I hear a single peep of argument, that person will spend the duel sitting lonesome at their desk."
The students pressed their lips together.
The professor actually did laugh this time. "Here we go, then. Lily Evans and Sirius Black. James Potter and Vendra Irmandis. Severus Snape and Alexander Crown. Rodolphus Lestrange and…"
Severus stopped listening as he turned to face the Ravenclaw. Crown, one of the over-eager students in class, lost part of his enthusiasm. Severus sized him up and sniffed. This would be no match at all.
"Remember!" cried the professor over the loud buzzing of student voices. "You are disarming and shielding only! The point of this exercise is to see how well you can use your new meditation techniques while casting spells." He looked carefully at each student. "If I see any spell that is not either Protego or Expelliarmus, the caster will have detention faster than he can raise a wand."
The students nodded. Professor James smiled pleasantly and flicked his wand. The desks and chairs flew to the sides of the room and stacked themselves neatly.
"Begin," he said, and hopped up on his desk to watch.
Severus turned back to Crown just as the other boy flicked his wand. Severus quickly raised a shield charm, and Crown's spell fizzled to nothing before it even reached Severus. Shouts echoed around the room. Yells of "Expelliarmus!" and resounding calls of "Protego!" bounced off the walls. Severus allowed the sounds to wash over him, and focused instead on blocking his mind.
Unlike Professor James, he could not yet pierce the thoughts of his opponent. He did not know when Crown was likely to cast again, just as Crown did not know that Severus was mere moments away from casting his own disarming spell. Instead of trying to figure out when Crown was going to attack, Severus focused his mind intensely. He thought of his memory, the safest one he had, and for a minute, he was eleven years old again, and just stepping onto the Hogwarts Express, leaving his muggle father behind. He sat down in an empty compartment, stared out the window, and felt his muscles relax for the first time in his life.
Just as the professor had instructed, Severus let the safety and security of that moment fill his mind. He thought of nothing but that feeling, and when he raised his wand and cast his own nonverbal Expelliarmus, it was strong enough to send Crown flying across the room. Severus had to stop himself from gasping out loud at the sensation the simple spell sent through him. His disarming spells had never been so powerful before. A glance around the room told him that some of the other students were experiencing the same feeling.
Vendra was dueling James Potter, and both of them had their eyes narrowed in fierce determination, but were smiling as if Christmas had come early. Rodolphus and Evan, who had been paired together, were casting spells that sparked with energy. Across the room, Lily Evans was a blazing whirlwind of red hair. Across from her, Black was laughing as he cast spells, his eyes alight with energy. The room buzzed with power to the point that Severus could not believe they were only casting the most basic disarming and shield charms.
Severus looked up at Professor James, who was watching the proceedings with a satisfied smile. "What do you know," Severus whispered. "It actually works."
He turned back to Crown, who was picking himself up off the floor. Severus easily deflected his next spell, and the one after that. He glanced at the professor again, and then back at Crown. Time to make things more interesting. He cast two disarming spells in quick succession, and as Crown hurried to deflect them, Severus cast a tripping jinx. Crown, already caught off guard by trying to shield two attacks, couldn't stop the third. He lost his footing completely and hit the ground with a hoarse shout.
"Mr. Snape!"
Professor James's voice carried above all the commotion in the room, and at the sound of it, the duels ceased.
The professor stared calmly at Severus. "I said disarming and shielding only, Mr. Snape. Detention. Tonight. My office at 7 o'clock sharp."
Severus tried to dip his head in a semblance of contrition, but the effect was rather skewed by his curving lips.
Perfect.
(SB-SB-SB)
"I mean it, Sirius, drop it," whispered James hastily as they left Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Sirius scowled. He always hated being told what to do, but especially hated it when he knew it was right. He should just drop it. He should. But he couldn't.
"Sorry, mate," said Sirius, almost as quietly. "If I could un-see Regulus and Snape out in the forest last night, you know I would. But I can't."
James shook his head. "I'm just as curious as you are, but really, Sirius, what does it matter? They're Slytherins, both of them. A nightly jaunt into the forest can't be at all unusual."
Sirius knew he should ignore the hint of a question in James's voice. Did it matter, really, if James wanted the truth just as much as he did? They were old enough to stay out of this kind of trouble by now. They were old enough to know better.
But Sirius did so hate being told what to do. "Let's go check on Remus," he suggested. Maybe that would take his mind off his troublesome younger brother.
"But Herbology…" said James slowly.
"I'm skiving," answered Sirius instantly. "You're not trying to tell me that plants are more important than Remus, are you?"
James scoffed. "Don't be stupid," he said. "Of course not."
"Besides," continued Sirius. "Peter will be there. He can fill us in later."
James nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I could use a break from staring at Snape's face."
"Exactly," said Sirius, his voice satisfied. "Let's go."
They walked briskly toward the Hospital Wing, eager to see their friend.
"No visitors," said Madam Pomfrey the moment they showed their faces.
Sirius and James began babbling all over themselves to try to convince her to let them in.
"But, Madam Pomfrey, he needs his friends."
"We don't have class right now, honest!"
"Please?"
"Couldn't we just pop in and say hello?"
"I think one of the scratches I got last night hasn't healed properly…"
"Oh, all right!" said the nurse, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Come in. But when I say out, you're out!" She paused and ran a critical eye over Sirius. "And I'll be wanting to see that scratch again, Mr. Black."
He smiled coyly. "Of course."
Sirius and James made their way over to the only bed in the ward that had curtains drawn around it. When they peeked inside, Remus was awake and sitting up, reading.
"Hey, Remus," said Sirius quietly as he pulled the curtain aside.
Remus's smile split his face, and Sirius felt a knot in his stomach unwind itself. At least Remus was okay. At least there was that.
"Sirius!" said Remus brightly, though his voice was soft and slightly hoarse. "James!" His smile slipped a tiny bit as he glanced between the two of them. "Aren't you supposed to be in Herbology right now?"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "It's a stupid class anyway. Should've dropped it." He pulled a chair closer to the bed. "Besides, I didn't want to wait to see you."
James pulled a chair up as well. "How are you feeling, mate?"
Remus rolled his shoulders and shrugged. "Sore. Sensitive to light. I've been vomiting some. No different than normal."
Sirius cast a careful eye over his friend. He looked… bad. And that was probably casting his condition in a better light than it deserved. Remus looked like he'd gotten into a fight with a troll. And the troll had won. His body was covered in a wide spattering of bruises, all purple and blue and yellow, none of them fully healed despite Madam Pomfrey's best potions. His arms had a variety of cuts and scrapes, large and small, some of them still bleeding. His face was thin and his cheeks hollow, as if he had not eaten for a week. His eyes were dark and tired.
But still he smiled. Smiled at his friends who had given him many of those oozing cuts and blackened bruises.
Sirius swallowed thickly.
Remus noticed his ashen face. "Hey," he said quietly. "Stop that."
Sirius glanced at James and then looked back at Remus. "It just makes me sick. That some of this is because of me." He reached out hesitantly, as if to touch the ring of deep indents circling Remus's left wrist. Teeth marks. From a dog. Sirius dropped his hand and looked away.
Remus pulled the sleeve of his hospital robe lower over his hands. He reached out and cupped Sirius's chin. "Stop that right now. It's not your fault. You did what you had to do." He cut his glance over to James. "Both of you. I, at least, remember how much worse it was without the two of you there to keep me out of trouble."
James smiled, but Sirius could only manage a weak grin.
Still, Remus nodded firmly, as if the matter was done and over with. "Now, tell me what happened. I imagine something, if you were so preoccupied you had to come visit me instead of going to class."
Sirius did smile now at his insightful friend, and he and James, alternating as was their custom, told him of running into Snape and Regulus in the forest. Remus listened in silence, but by the end of the tale, his frown was quite deep and he looked white enough to faint.
"I almost attacked them," he said quietly. He shook his head slowly. "I don't remember much. But I remember smelling human. I remember my hunt being interrupted. That was you, wasn't it?"
Sirius nodded while trying to show how unaffected he was by hearing Remus casually talk about hunting humans.
"I didn't get a good look at their faces," said James wistfully, "but I bet their expressions were priceless."
"How can you even say that?" asked Remus sharply. "How can you say that about two students? I don't care who they are – yes, even if it is Snape! – no one deserves to have a werewolf coming after them."
James looked down, abashed.
"But what were they doing out there?" asked Sirius. "That's what I want to know."
"It's not like we're going to find out," said Remus logically. "Not unless Snape suddenly decides to start being civil. Or Regulus. But that's even more unlikely than Snape."
Sirius frowned darkly, but kept quiet. His younger brother was not a pleasant topic for conversation.
Luckily, they were saved from further discussions about Slytherins by Madam Pomfrey, who swept around the curtain with her arms crossed and her mouth set in a thin line. "That's quite long enough," she said, and motioned for Sirius and James to rise. "Up. Out. Mr. Lupin needs his rest."
Sirius and James patted Remus gently on the head – the only place that had escaped bruising – and ruffled his hair and promised to come back after dinner.
"Not so fast, Mr. Black!" said the nurse before they could leave the Hospital Wing. "I want a look at this scratch of yours."
Sirius waved James off – "No, don't wait, I'll catch up" – and whipped off his robe. He lifted one corner of his shirt casually and tried not to wince as Madam Pomfrey's cool fingers probed the not-quite-healed cuts on the right side of his stomach.
"You didn't drink your entire healing potion last night, did you, Mr. Black?"
Sirius smiled sheepishly and didn't answer.
Ten minutes later, Madam Pomfrey released him from the Hospital Wing with strict orders that he better not show his face again for at least five hours or she would report to Professor McGonagall that he had skipped class.
Sirius waved cheerfully and left.
On his way down to the Great Hall for lunch, he ran right into Regulus. The two boys rounded a corner at the same moment and nearly smacked heads. After regaining their balance, they simply stood and stared at each other in silence for long moments. Though equal in height, there was not much else about them that was similar. Where Sirius was wild, Regulus was calm. Where Sirius was buzzing with energy, Regulus was firmly controlling it.
"All right, Reg?" asked Sirius quietly, using the nickname he knew his brother hated. "You look tired."
It was true. There were dark circles under his calm eyes, eyes that narrowed into heavily lidded slits as Sirius spoke.
"I could say the same for you, dear brother," breathed Regulus. "I would hate to have to tell mother you've not been sleeping properly."
Sirius felt his hands clench into fists, but he otherwise ignored the threat. He knew his mother could ultimately care less about his sleeping habits, but one word from Regulus, and Sirius would get a Howler.
"Not necessary," replied Sirius as indifferently as he could manage. "I'm simply expressing concern for your wellbeing, Reg. Not getting into any trouble, are you?"
Something in Sirius's tone made Regulus pause before he answered. That's it, thought Sirius. Give me a reaction. Regulus smiled blandly, but it didn't quiet reach his eyes, which were sharp and hard and watching Sirius carefully.
"I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself, brother, as I'm sure you know," said Regulus in his perfectly inflectionless voice. "Despite our rather large differences, we do both share a love for independence."
Sirius grinned, wolf-like, and nodded. "Very well. Maybe I'll run into you again soon, brother."
He didn't give Regulus time to respond, he just brushed past and continued on to the Great Hall, his smile gone now, his expression curious.
(SS-SS-SS)
Severus felt the minutes laughing at him as they ticked slowly on, hour after hour, but never fast enough. After Defense, he couldn't seem to focus on anything. He nearly cut his thumb off in Herbology as he was trying to harvest dittany sap. At lunch, he merely sat quietly, brooding, trying and failing not to look up at the staff table, choking on his own breath when Professor James caught his eye and winked, and completely neglecting to take a single bite of food.
Transfiguration was possibly the worst of all.
He stood glowering at James Potter, never quite able to make his conjuring spells as exact or as perfect as the Gryffindor Prefect's.
"Like so, Mr. Snape," said McGonagall. She demonstrated the motion to draw up an armchair out of thin air, and watched Severus critically.
He tried, he really did, but Transfiguration wasn't his specialty, and he couldn't make an armchair appear as comfortable and inviting as James Potter could.
Finally the period ended, and Severus stalked back to the Slytherin Common Room in a mood foul enough to frighten the First Years. He found a secluded spot, sat down, spread his parchments and books and quills around him, and glared through eyes that dared someone to sit down next to him.
Vendra, apparently, didn't notice his look.
She pranced over, her purple hair swishing, and spread out her own books and writing materials. She took out her star chart, glanced at Severus, and smiled knowingly.
"Vendra," he growled warningly.
She widened her eyes innocently.
Severus rolled his own eyes. "Just don't bother me," he muttered darkly.
"Wouldn't dream of it," said Vendra, placating. She patted his arm, dipped a quill in a bottle of ink, and began drawing out some quick calculations for Astronomy.
Severus eyed her for a moment, to make sure she wouldn't start talking about Potter or Black or the forest or his detention that night, and then turned to his own work. He had a massive essay for Arithmancy that he hadn't even started yet, and he couldn't find his book of rune translations for Ancient Runes homework.
For quite a few minutes, he and Vendra worked in a companionable silence. Then, Vendra opened her mouth.
"Did you notice that Remus was missing today?" she asked.
It took a moment for Severus to figure out who she meant. "Lupin, you mean," he said absently. "Yes, I noticed."
"I missed him," Vendra confided. "He always seems to tone the others down a bit, don't you think?"
"I suppose," agreed Severus slowly. "Why the sudden interest in Lupin?"
Vendra looked up, but before she could answer, Regulus Black sat down across from them, his expression troubled. He glanced at Vendra quickly, dismissed her as any sort of threat, and then turned to Severus.
"Sirius knows," he said simply.
Severus blinked. "Pardon?"
"Sirius knows about last night," repeated Regulus. "He knows I was out in the forest."
"Impossible," countered Severus at once.
Regulus shook his head. "Maybe he doesn't know I was out in the forest specifically, but he knows I was out of bed last night."
Vendra looked carefully between the two of them. "How could he?" she asked quietly.
"He couldn't," snapped Severus. "There's no way. We weren't followed. I made sure of it."
Regulus turned heated eyes on him. "And I'm telling you, he knows. I don't know how, but he does."
Severus took a deep breath, and then another. "All right," he said, his voice softer now. "All right. Let's assume that he does know. What does this mean for us?"
Regulus leaned back and crossed his arms. "Nothing. It doesn't mean anything. Just that we need to be more careful. And that I might need to write a few letters home."
We? Severus thought sharply, but let the matter drop.
Regulus sat with them for a few minutes more, and then left to join Rabastan Lestrange in another corner of the Common Room. Soon, Rodolphus and Evan appeared and all but demanded that Severus go with them to dinner, as he hadn't eaten lunch. That got Vendra on his back, too, and the three of them herded him out of the Common Room and down to the Great Hall before he could think of a single protest.
Yet even with his friends nagging that he eat, Severus could barely touch his dinner. Time, which had taunted him with its slowness earlier, now seemed to be moving too quickly. It was almost seven. Soon, he would be knocking on Professor James's door. Soon.
"You have to eat something, Severus," said Vendra, her tone pleading.
Severus dutifully took a bite of chicken. Evan spooned some boiled potatoes onto his plate, and Severus had a bite of those as well. The food tasted like ash in his mouth, and he swallowed it only because he didn't want to spit it out in front of his friends. At a quarter till, Severus stood woodenly from the table and absently waved goodbye to Rodolphus and Evan and Vendra, who sat watching him worriedly. He walked mechanically from the hall. Professor James had left ten minutes prior. Severus walked the route that he imagined Professor James himself had taken, and tried to pinpoint why he was so nervous.
Nervous. It was a weak word. Weak and afraid. Severus was neither of those things. But his stomach felt empty and full at the same time, and he kept curling and uncurling his fingers. Anticipation. Anxiety. Why was he feeling these things?
He reached Professor James's office and stood outside the closed door for a solid three minutes before he raised his hand and knocked.
"Come in," said the professor at once, and Severus entered.
Professor James stood in front of his desk, his slight body encased in charcoal trousers and a dark blue sweater. His hair stood every which way, and his glasses glinted in the warm light that filled the room. The candles were giving off rich golden flames tonight, and the light and shadows danced and played across the professor's skin in a way that made Severus dizzy.
"Good evening, professor," said Severus politely as he pulled the door shut behind him.
Professor James smiled. "I think, Mr. Snape, that you should probably call me Harry for these little visits." His eyes twinkled. "I imagine we'll be seeing quite a lot of one another, and the formality will shortly weigh on my nerves."
Severus nodded and tasted the name on his tongue. Harry. It fit him more than James, more than Professor. "Very well," he agreed. "Then I insist you call me Severus." The words came out of his mouth with a hint of surprise. Severus very rarely invited anyone to address him by his first name. But it seemed right, and Harry took it in stride.
"You may remove your robes, if you wish," said Harry after a moment. "This isn't a real detention, after all."
Severus hesitated, but then decided that perhaps he would be more comfortable without his heavy robes. He shrugged out of the dark fabric and hung it on the hook that Harry indicated by the door. He glanced at his professor, and then loosened his tie marginally as well.
Harry gestured toward one corner of his office, which he had transformed into a miniature potions lab. There was a cauldron, and plenty of work space. There was also a wide variety of ingredients present. Everything that Severus had asked for.
"I hope I remembered all of it," said Harry. He smiled sheepishly. "Potions really aren't my strength."
Severus strode toward his new workspace. "That's why you have me," he said simply.
Harry looked momentarily startled. "Yes, I suppose so," he said slowly, after a moment. He clapped his hands together and made his smile bright enough to outshine the candles. "How do we start?"
Severus let his hand hover over the ingredient bottles. They were of all shapes and sizes, containing a multitude of plants, liquids, and animal bits. "Perhaps you could talk to me for a while. Tell me about yourself."
Harry paused. "Er, okay. Why?"
Severus looked up and spoke patiently. "The Reversal Potion is quite complex. I have to start with a base that represents you as a person. After a base is established, I can begin working on the formula that will reverse your time travel."
"Right," said Harry. "Wow. That actually makes sense!"
Severus raised his eyebrows. "Why so surprised?"
Harry laughed quietly to himself, as if he had a joke that Severus could never hope to understand. "Let's just say, my Potions instructors never really liked having to explain anything to me."
"That's actually a good place to start," said Severus. He raised his hand again and moved it slowly above the bottles. "Tell me about your time at school. Did you attend Hogwarts?"
As focused as he was on the ingredients, Severus still didn't miss the fond and wistful look that crossed Harry's face.
"Yes," said Harry. "I did. I was amazed when I got my Hogwarts Letter. I thought it had to be a joke."
Severus looked up sharply. "A joke?"
Harry nodded. "I didn't know I was a wizard, you see. I lived with my aunt and uncle, and they despised magic. Still do, as far as I know."
He said it so simply, so easily, as if it was no matter in the world. "What happened to your parents?" asked Severus.
Harry's brows drew together. "They died when I was young. I was raised by my mother's sister. I nearly wasn't allowed to attend Hogwarts when I finally got my letter, but, well, you can't really stop Dumbledore, can you?" Harry laughed quietly before continuing. "I was in Gryffindor."
Severus nodded. That wasn't entirely surprising. "I had assumed you were. But I had rather hoped…"
Harry stared at him curiously, forcing Severus to continue.
"It seems to me like you do possess some Slytherin qualities," said Severus finally.
Harry smiled again, privately, as if he knew many things of which Severus could not even begin to guess. "Some," agreed Harry, and left it at that.
Severus's hand stopped over one of the bottles. Yew. The symbol of death and resurrection. Severus set it aside. "Keep talking," he said, and Harry did.
Harry spoke of his first friends, Ron and Hermione, and some of the adventures they had while at school. He spoke of his boggart turning into a Dementor, and how he finally overcame his fear. He spoke of finding people he loved, of losing them, and then of being reminded that he still had people who cared for him and loved him. He spoke of Quidditch and flying. He spoke of magic. He spoke of joining the Aurors, and the exhaustive and intense training that it required.
As Severus listened, he pulled bottle after bottle aside. Spruce – a dominant plant. Sycamore – an enduring and strong plant. Wintergreen – a plant to soothe and calm fear. Lilly – a symbol of sorrow, and of danger. Ingredient after ingredient Severus pulled aside, until he had enough to create a small potions store of his own. When he finally looked up at Harry again, he blinked and swallowed.
Harry sat atop his desk, his legs slightly spread and swinging casually. His head fell to one side, and he had a faraway, nostalgic sheen in his eyes. His lips, slightly parted, looked a mix of rough and soft, and he slowly tapped one finger on the slight fullness of that rough lower lip. Severus swallowed again, and felt the blood leave his head. Harry blinked and noticed him looking. He sat up straighter.
"It's been a long time since I've told anyone about my school days," he admitted. "I don't like to talk about some of those things."
Severus felt a moment of intense and almost vicious triumph that Harry had told him, him and no one else. He stepped out from behind his cauldron slowly.
"I think I have all the necessary ingredients to begin a base," he said quietly. He moved even closer to Harry's desk. "I need some time to think about how to combine them."
Harry watched him moving closer, and now he was the one to swallow. Severus didn't know what had come over him, didn't understand this enveloping heat that forced him to move closer and closer to the man reclining on the desk. Harry seemed just as confused as he. He stood up and held out a hand.
"Stop, Severus," he commanded, his voice strong and steady. A voice that was used to being obeyed.
For a moment, Severus did stop. The hairs on his arms stood up, a delicious shiver crawled over his spine, and he took one tiny step forward. He wanted to hear Harry say his name again. Wanted it now.
"Stop," said Harry one more time, and this time his voice left no room for disobedience. It was stop or be stopped.
Severus stopped, but he did not take his eyes off of Harry. Harry, who for all of his dominance and strength, did not seem at all aware of the picture he made, standing there with his bedroom hair and sharp eyes.
"Do you have a girlfriend, Harry?" asked Severus calmly.
"No," said Harry shortly, with a glint of something in his eyes that Severus did not try to decipher. "This meeting is over. Leave now, Mr. Snape."
Severus didn't move.
"We will meet again on Thursday, to begin your Occlumency and Legilimency lessons," said Harry. "But you will leave my office. Right. Now."
Severus turned and left, pulling his robe off the hook and out the door with him. He walked down the corridor as if in a trance. After a few moments, he blinked and began shaking his head.
"Stupid," he muttered, and stomped faster toward the Slytherin Common Room. "Stupid stupid stupid."
What had he been thinking? He hadn't been, obviously. Was incapable of it, apparently. What kind of an idiot was he, to act toward a professor in such a manner?
And yet. Yet. He still couldn't stop the blood rushing through his body, rushing and turning into liquid fire. He felt hot all over. And he was sure that if Harry were to suddenly appear in his path, Severus would not be able to stop himself like he had done in the office. He had never felt this immense heat in the presence of anyone else.
He reached the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room, and bit out the password between clenched teeth. He ignored everyone present, and instead walked purposefully to his dorm. Rodolphus and Evan were the only ones inside, and they looked up immediately when Severus walked in. Something in his look froze them before they could say anything.
Severus locked eyes with Rosier. "Evan," he purred, and wondered if his eyes looked as molten as they felt. "I need you."
Evan gulped, but was up off his bed and over to Severus in three long strides. Severus felt himself grow taller, felt Evan stretch to reach him. His eyes traced the other boy's body, Evan leaned up, and their lips collided somewhere in the middle.
It was an immediate tangle of limbs. Severus growled into Evan's mouth, Evan moaned, and their lips met and separated, met and separated, before teeth clacked and tongues curled. Severus kissed as if he wanted the heat to leave him through his mouth, and Evan took it. Even when Severus began walking him backwards, their lips still connected, Evan didn't protest.
"Severus," he gasped, breathless, when the backs of his knees hit the edge of his own bed.
Severus wedged himself between willing legs. He felt an immediate flare of heat and need in his groin. "Tell me to stop," he whispered against Evan's lips. "Tell me to stop."
Evan shook his head roughly. "Don't stop," he hissed.
They fell ungracefully onto Evan's bed.
Rodolphus, who had been a silent spectator up until then, huffed angrily. "For the love of –" he started. "Use a silencing charm!"
Severus yanked the bed hangings closed, waved his wand quickly, and then leaned down once more. If he kissed hard enough, fast enough, then he could ignore the fact that these were the wrong lips under him. The wrong body. The wrong man.
He pushed those thoughts firmly to the back of his mind, and ripped Evan's shirt so hard the buttons flew off.
(HP-HP-HP)
Harry sat behind his desk, shaking. He had thought he imagined it the first time he saw Snape looking at him that way.
But apparently he hadn't. Not if tonight was any indication.
There had been a moment, in a previous Defense class, when Harry had felt something greedy and lustful rear up inside him at the sight of Snape, but it hadn't happened again. And he hadn't thought that Snape felt it too.
But he had. Perhaps even more forcefully than Harry. And Harry didn't know if he could – if he would – ignore such a willing young man.
"Young," said Harry forcefully. "He's too young. Not yet seventeen."
He clung to that thought like a ray of light in the darkness.
There were so many reasons, so many, not to let himself get caught up with Snape. First of all was the fact that Snape was yet underage. Harry also wouldn't be in this time forever, and he didn't trust himself to not hurt Snape. He also didn't quite trust Snape. Not yet.
But he was so willing.
"Damn it, Severus," Harry muttered, and dropped his head into his hands.
