Author's Note: I'm afraid after the last chapter, this one might seem awfully short. But I assure you, it's not that much shorter... and after all, it's quality, not quantity that counts, right?

Warnings for this chapter: The second part is pretty much one big lemon, with striptease and a blowjob and some things implied - you've been warned and if you don't want to read it, feel free to skip.


Step 9

"Some debts are fun when you are acquiring them, but none are fun when you set about retiring them."
-Ogden Nash-

They saw each other briefly at breakfast the next morning and Potter attempted small talk over the Quidditch World Cup that would start in a couple of weeks, asked Severus what he planned to do with his day without getting more than a blank stare in return and then excused himself to work.

Severus settled in the library to decide on a topic, write his abstract and get started on the actual speech for the Symposium, thoughts of Potter inevitably pushed into the background until it was time for dinner, a late dinner because Potter worked late on Tuesdays.

"The Daily Prophet article isn't as positive as we had hoped, but overall the press conference was a success," Potter commented over dinner, loading his fork with mashed potatoes and sausage.

"I haven't read it," Severus replied, hoping that it was clear that he had no interest in the topic or conversation in general. He wasn't entirely convinced that holding a grudge was the best course of action, especially as Potter had made an effort to secure his re-invitation, and he attempted to give his tone at least a civil veneer.

"They called you a Death Eater," Potter informed him.

"They aren't so far off from the truth," Severus gave back indifferently.

"There're different truths, they could have chosen one that is more recent," Potter replied without missing a beat. "Like the one that you're in talks to receive the Lifetime Award for Potions at the end of the year." He smiled happily, maybe even with a hint of pride at Severus, who had never taken much note of such rumours and wondered who or what gave Potter the right to be proud of him.

"One of your sources, Potter?" he asked sharply. "I didn't think you would make a habit out of prying into my personal life."

"Well, yes and no." Potter was grinning now. "Alonzo told me that you're one of the nominees."

Severus knew of his nomination, but in his opinion that was no reason to get his hopes up. He had talent, undoubtedly, and could brew first-class potions, mix antidotes and poisons, bottle fame, put a stopper on death, everything he said in his traditional welcome-to-Hogwarts-speech, but the war and the strain of being a double agent had hardly been conducive to ground-breaking discoveries or revolutionary new potions. A Lifetime Award at this time would have very little to do with his potion skills, quite a bit more with his involvement in the war and most of all with his involvement with Harry Potter. Those were dangerous grounds, though, as they were liable to reignite the fires of his bitterness and anger and those were feelings he could not indulge in. It would be foolish to make an enemy out of Potter, not only because they were married and because Potter was the universally loved hero of wizarding Britain, but most of all because Potter still held a second life debt against him and could make his life miserable on all accounts.

"How are you on such familiar terms with Alonzo Alvarez?" he asked instead, absently identifying all the herbs and plants in his mixed salad.

"We worked together a while ago," Potter said before quickly changing the subject. "Have you thought about the Ministry Ball?"

"I will attend," Severus conceded, skewering a quarter of a tomato on his fork. "If you stop wrapping those secrets around yourself like your bloody Invisibility Cloak."

"I can't..." Potter shifted uncomfortably until he seemed to regain his cool. "I swore an Unbreakable Vow. I can't talk about my work."

"I'm well aware of the limitations of what you can tell me, thank you." Severus sneered. "But after the press conference, do you honestly expect me to belief that you couldn't pass on at least some information if you only wanted to? I'm not asking you to divulge Ministry secrets, but I'm not an imbecile and I refuse to be treated as such."

The younger man pondered his words while gnawing his bottom lip in a most distracting manner. Severus was almost certain that he did it on purpose and resolutely concentrated on the distinct taste of rocket salad in his mouth.

"The wizard at our wedding," Potter said finally, twirling the stem of his water glass between his fingers. "Is... I met him early on."

"You mean he recruited you," Severus clarified.

"I can't say," Potter said with a small smirk and Severus snorted. "And I'm afraid, the rest of the information relating directly to my work is privileged. Though, I must say that I was surprised to find out that there are Healing Potions with blueberry flavour. Never had those in Hogwarts."

"Flavouring potions is an extravagancy that would no doubt have compelled you to land in the hospital wing even more often than you already did," Severus murmured absently. "Alvarez' Healing Potions are said to be the best."

"So I've heard," Potter agreed amiably, leaning back in his chair and sipping his butterbeer. "Have you decided on a topic for your speech yet?"

"Yes," Severus said, with no intention of elaborating and Potter didn't press the issue, but instead started to gather the piles of dirty dishes and the left-over mash potatoes to take them to the kitchen where an eager Dobby was already waiting for them and didn't waste time in sending Potter on his merry way.

"I assume you have some work to finish?" Severus asked into the awkward silence, strangely disappointed when Potter nodded.

"Won't take me long though," Potter offered while they slowly made their way to the library and their studies. "An hour, hour and a half maybe. But I'll try to finish earlier today. I was sad to find you asleep last night, I would have liked to apologise again." Potter was looking straight at him, with open, honest eyes. Not exactly guilty, but still willing to make amends. Severus wondered if he had no common sense at all. "And I know actions speak louder than words." Suddenly Potter was wearing Harry's smile, shy and flirtatious and oh-so-tempting.

"Well, if you can manage to finish before I retire, I'd be glad to accept... your apologies," Severus said primly, stopping at the door to the library and noticing the flush to Potter's cheeks with mild interest.

"See you later, then." Potter said happily and went to his study at a brisk pace; moments later, Severus heard the snick as Potter bolted the door.

ö_ö_ö

"Ready to go to bed?" Potter was leaning casually against the doorframe, his hair even wilder than usual as if he had run his hand through it repeatedly.

"I'm not particularly tired yet," Severus said, carefully studying the younger man.

"Good," Harry said, sashaying towards him and barely giving Severus the time to put aside Erich Eichenloh's treatise on curse-breaking before he perched down on Severus' lap, joining their lips in a kiss full of promise. "I still owe you an apology, don't I?"

"Do you?" Severus asked despite himself because to him it was clear that the other wizard was no more sorry than Severus was tired and as much as he enjoyed their sexual encounters he was not about to allow himself to be mocked.

"Yeah, I think I do." Harry brushed a light kiss over his cheek. "I'm sorry that my thoughtlessness spoilt this for you. I'm sorry that you now feel you got that second invitation because of who I am and not because of who you are. I'm sorry that I forgot that not all areas of my life are secret and that you're a part of it now. I'm sorry that you're angry with me."

"I'm not angry and I've had a lifetime to get used to disappointments," Severus replied, watching Harry for signs of pity.

Instead he found amusement and something like fondness. "I've had a lifetime to know when you're angry with me, Professor. You glare most formidably."

Severus scowled. "Ten years hardly constitute a lifetime, Potter."

"Well, I could certainly profit from some more experience," Harry agreed easily, running his hand over Severus' robe-clad arm and smoothing the wrinkles in the black material as effortlessly as he had smoothed Severus' rising temper. "That is, if a capable Potions Master would be up to the job of teaching me."

"I might know of someone," Severus murmured, ill at ease with this teasing banter and eager for it to be replaced with something more substantial.

Harry's face lit up in a smile, so carefree, so young, like Severus had never had the strength to pretend. Was it pretence with Potter? Maybe. Probably. It didn't bear consideration. He slid his cold, dry hands over the warm skin of Harry's stomach as he pushed up the soft grey jumper and the crisp white shirt. Harry must have left his robes in his study or banished them to the bedroom. Confident arms draped around his neck, daring fingers tangled in his hair, delicious lips pressed against his. Could one fake such passion, such desire? In his years as a spy, he had been called upon to fake loyalty and devotion, adoration and blind faith, but fortunately he had always been more useful in his lab than in the Dark Lord's bed. Though, from Lucius' vague descriptions the Dark Lord had not been particularly interested in whether or not his bed partner enjoyed the experience anyway. But he shouldn't be thinking about any of that.

Harry rubbed a single finger over the crease between his brows, then placed a feather-light kiss on it. Still smiling with that innate warmth that had drawn Severus to Lily. Thinking about Lily wasn't the best idea, either. Not with Harry undulating against him, teasing open the buttons of his robe, that mouth driving him to distraction.

When Harry pushed his robes down over his shoulders, worshipping his pale skin with nips and kisses while Severus slipped out of his sleeves, all his thoughts narrowed in on the younger man and he felt the sudden need to explore more of that sun-kissed skin with his hands and lips. He grasped his wand, but Harry's hand stilled his.

"It wouldn't be much of an apology if I had you do all the work, would it?" he whispered teasingly in Severus' ear, nipping the earlobe. "I could undress myself for you. Would you like that, Severus?"

He must have made some sound of agreement because Harry got up with fluid grace, trailing a hand down his bare chest as if he was loath to part with it. Severus thought that those nimble hands found an even more worthy occupation as they curled in the seam of Harry's sweater, rolling it up over his firm chest and pulling it over his even more tousled head. His seductive smile never wavered. But still no bare skin, the white shirt having ridden up momentarily but then falling easily back in place. Severus could have groaned in frustration.

Harry's fingers went to the buttons of his shirt and slowly slipped one button after another through their holes, revealing centimetre for centimetre the honey-coloured skin of his chest, his navel, the gentle ridges of his abs. He looked up coyly when all the buttons were undone, licked over his pink lips, and then finally pushed the shirt apart while rotating on the spot, swaying his hips to an unheard rhythm.

Severus caught glimpses of dusty nipples, twin peaks in the cool air of the library, and an auspicious trail of fine, black hair that started underneath Harry's navel and disappeared in his trousers. Harry kicked of his shoes, toed of his socks and then his hands went to his fly, undoing the top button and pulling the zip down. One finger disappeared inside and Harry threw his head back, arched his back and thrust his hips forward, moaning happily. Severus gulped.

Harry presented his backside again and pushed the trousers down his slender legs, bending over to allow Severus a perfect view on his enticing bum, wriggling it under the pretence of undressing. Severus admired the long, clear lines of his back, the moderately broad shoulders and the ridiculously narrow hips, inhaling a bit too forcefully when Harry pushed his pants down as well, kicked them off and stood gloriously naked in front of the Potions Master. Circe, he should start taking Calming Draughts as a precaution!

But Harry had no mercy on him, ran his hands over his exposed body, twirling his fingers around his nipples, combing through his dark pubic hair, and made obscene noises, groaning and moaning and panting and gasping, while his green eyes were fixed on Severus.

Severus cleared his throat, "Potter, while your concern about my over-exerting myself is most admirable, I do not think being left a passive observer to your evident shamelessness is what I would consider adequate recompense."

"Of course, Severus," Harry agreed readily, crossing the distance between them with light steps and sank to his knees in front of the Potions Master. "Would you like me to apologise... with my mouth?"

Already his slender fingers were working on the fly of Severus' trousers, rubbing teasingly over the bulge he found there.

Severus buried one hand in Harry's wild hair, twisting his fingers sharply in the pitch-black strands as he forced the younger man to look up at him. "Maybe I'm not interested in your apologies, maybe I want revenge."

Harry, of all things to do, leaned into his punishing grip as if it was a gentle stroke, a loving caress. "You wouldn't enjoy that as much as what I have in mind."

"Don't presume to know what I enjoy, Potter." Severus sneered, pulling a bit harder to make a point.

"I know you don't like pain," Harry said. "And you're not comfortable with inflicting pain on others. I quite agree with that. So why would we settle for revenge when there's a much more pleasurable alternative?"

Severus couldn't fault that logic, least of all with Harry's warm breath ghosting over the tip of his exposed erection and skilful fingers wrapping around its base. He followed Harry's urging and leant back comfortably in the armchair, his legs falling apart to accommodate the lithe man to his feet. He relaxed his hold on the younger man's skull, no longer twisting or tugging, but combing his fingers almost lovingly through the soft black hair and leading Harry's mouth to his erection.

Harry pointed his tongue, lapping at the first drops of come that had gathered at the tip of Severus' arousal, and the Potions Master marvelled at the look of curiosity on the younger man's face as if he truly expected to taste a difference to any other time he had swallowed his semen. Then an expression of bliss, a swipe over those kissable lips before they closed around the head of his cock, and Severus had to grip tight to the armrest so as not to thrust all the way into the deliciously moist cavern.

The green-eyed man hummed his approval, sending vibrations up Severus' shaft as Harry took more of his erection in his mouth. Severus pressed his head back against the backrest and closed his eyes, just enjoying the sensation without thinking too much about who was the one giving him this amazing blowjob. But Harry's name drifted to the tip of his tongue, just as the image of him kneeling between his legs pierced through the veil of his fluttering eyelashes, as he gushed down Harry's throat. If the name escaped him in a whisper, neither of them made mention of it as Harry licked and suckled him clean before he helped him out of his trousers and spread his own legs in invitation.


Oh, wow, that probably wasn't the best place to end this chapter, was it?