Warning: Major lime imminent...
Chapter Nine: The Belated Discussion
Ever since the poisoning incident, Severus was spared from any further puzzling activities. When Harry had recovered from the effects of the poison, Draco had been forced to go back to his holding room. Despite the warnings of others, Charlie Weasley was determined to be with him whenever he could. Despite the protests of those who cared for him, Harry stubbornly moved into Severus' cell.
"And why not?" Harry had asked, his voice sarcastic. "I'm taking care of you." Severus had just stared on with disapproval.
It was a mask to hide his confused feelings. He questioned many things such as: 'Why did he kiss me?' and 'What are his motives?' The idea that Harry might simply be in love with him was a ridiculous notion. He wanted to think that it was something else. Probably is, Severus told himself.
He wanted to ask the emerald-eyed brat those nagging questions, but with Granger and Weasley constantly being around him, he could not. Then the opportunity came, in a way Severus had least expected it.
It had been a normal day. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. Two hours after supper, Harry came into his room. Things began to get a bit odd then. Granger was trailing behind him, but he had turned around, obviously denying her entry by bracing his hand on the doorframe.
"All right, Harry. What is this supposed to mean?" Granger asked, her voice exasperated.
"We need some privacy." Harry shrugged.
"What?" Granger's eyes went impossible wide. "Are you pulling my leg?" She looked uncertain, however.
"Hmmmm ... depends on what you think I'm joking about," Harry chuckled.
"Harry, don't you dare try anything silly."
"Don't worry, Hermione. I'm not going to kill myself." Harry shook his head. "Wake me up at five."
"Okay." Granger sounded very reluctant.
The wizard closed the door, locked it, and sealed it with several charms. Then he added another spell to ensure privacy - no one from the outside would be able to eavesdrop. Harry disappeared into the bathroom immediately, and emerged with a basin of water, towel slung over his shoulder.
"You've been giving me weird looks for the past eight days," Harry said conversationally as he pulled Severus into a sitting position. "What's bothering you?"
Severus frowned a little. Was Harry expecting him to answer? The young wizard undressed him, and folded the articles of clothing neatly, piece by piece. He grabbed the towel and dampened it with water. He started wiping Severus' body.
"Why are you protecting me?" Severus asked in a voice that was low and harsh due to the long period of disuse. Harry was not surprised that he could talk. No, not at all.
He did not stop his tender, cleaning motions. "It's obvious, Snape," Harry answered after a while. "I can't simply let them kill you."
"Oh?" Severus managed a leer. "Morality, Potter? Need I remind you that you had taken a hand in killing others? Why are you stopping at me?"
Harry stopped and finally looked into his eyes. He glared. He was angry, yes, but not in the explosive, rash manner, with which Severus was familiar. "Because those others could have damned well defended themselves! Can you? You couldn't even stop them from torturing you!"
Somewhat, that angered and surprised Severus. "Your noble, chivalrous thinking is going to get you killed one day." Maybe betrayed, Severus thought silently. The way Harry's jaws were set, the dark, haunting and lost look in his eyes, had made him think of something.
"If I knew what sort of curses they'd bound you to..." Harry's mumble reached his ears. It was entirely possible that Harry had not meant that he should hear that.
"Suicide, Potter." Severus frowned. What is the brat thinking? After these few years, has he learned nothing
"Shut up, Snape. I know why I'm doing this, so don't argue with me." His expression turned moody. He crawled on the bed and worked on Severus' back in silence.
"Do you really think I would simply shut up when you had gone and bound me into another oath?" Severus asked quietly. "Why did you do it, Potter?"
"I told you - I'm not letting you get murdered."
"Potter, all you are doing is delaying it." Severus smiled grimly. "Even if I manage to escape death in the hands of ... people, I will still die, sooner or later."
"But not yet."
Severus laughed, but there was no humor in it. "And if he gets you, I have to go along with you?"
"You don't have to," Harry said with great indifference. "Since you fear Death, I don't want to drag you along prematurely." The taunt in his voice made Severus bristle in anger. "The bond is irrevocable, yes. As unbreakable as the bond you have with Riddle. That's Voldemort's name by the way, if you didn't know."
No, he did not, but thinking about the Dark Lord now would not bring him any useful information. Now that Harry was talking to him about it, Severus was finding it quite difficult to accept it.
"You..." Severus could not find the words to speak. He did not realize until now, just how firmly wrapped Harry's fingers were upon his life. But the bond was there, as strong and as irrevocable as his oath to the Dark Lord. What had he gotten himself into? For the first time, he felt as though he was thrown into a destiny that he could no longer control.
Harry kept quiet, unresponsive to his threatening tone. He blithely went about wiping Severus' body with the wet towel.
"And the kisses? The girls around you aren't to your tastes? No eligible ... boys?" he hissed. He did not like being ignored.
The hand with the towel stopped at his thigh. Harry looked at him with an unreadable expression in his eyes. Severus thought he would break under the stare, but evidently, the brat was quite ready for the challenge.
"Perhaps so. Luna is too eccentric. Ron would gut me if I ever try to get Hermione like that. Charlie's taken, and I would never even dream about desiring Malfoy. Ginny ... I don't know what she's thinking, but the relationship's not going to work. Now, I can't bloody well chase George without chasing Fred as well, and I don't think I'm quite up to have two partners, even if they've given the indication that they might swing my way," Harry spoke. Then he smiled crookedly and leaned forward. Severus could not back away due to his curse. He scowled darkly at Harry. The young man's lips hovered inches before his own and a moist, red tongue flickered out to lick his lips. "Why shouldn't I kiss you?" Harry grinned mischievously. "You weren't unwilling, Severus."
Severus snarled. Was the brat presuming that he was an easy prey? That did not sit well with his ego. "Get away from me." He pulled his head back; Harry leaned in even more.
"No," Harry said. Eyes closed, his lips touched Severus' mouth.
"What are you? A desperate dog in heat?" Severus growled. "Too incapable to get someone you really like?"
It was to his amazement that Harry did not snap. The young man backed away, far enough so that Severus could see his entire face. There was no mistaking the amused glint in those bottle-green eyes.
"Dog?" Harry snorted, for some reason amused.
He is not reacting ... the way I had expected him to react. Severus frowned.
"Well, personally, I think I'm a stag in rut." Harry's lips twitched, as though threatening to break out into a grin. "Or maybe an ewe in season," he said, his words implying a lot of things Severus saw him look down for a second and stiffened - including that part. "And you don't seem to mind," Harry concluded with a satisfied smirk.
Setting aside, the wet towel, Harry's hand - cold due to his task - stroked Severus' open thigh several times before creeping up higher. Severus tensed even more, feeling the blood rush up to his face and groin.
"And just for your information, Severus..." The older man gritted his teeth at Harry's casual use of his name, not that he did not like it, but the fact that a thrilling sensation was going down his spine. "I think the only person I care to be with right now ... is you."
As Severus tried to comprehend that statement, Harry removed his glasses and scooted down to make himself comfortable on Severus' lap. The potions master, who had never utter a profanity aloud in front of others, did so that night, as he slipped in between soft lips. His toes curled at the sensation of Harry's tongue twirling around him. Just before the moment, Harry stopped completely and withdrew.
"Damn you..." Severus growled in frustration. Harry just chuckled as he crawled backward to sit near the foot of the bed. He was in for more surprise. Harry was beginning to strip. Not just stripping, he was teasing as well. Severus, not quite accustomed to such ... foreplay, did not know whether he should keep looking, or look away.
He barely breathed as he watched Harry toy with himself using moistened fingers.
"I want you ... damn, I really want you," Harry muttered half-deliriously. He gasped loudly, and Severus groaned as he witnessed two fingers slip in completely. "Ah...ah...!"
Severus' mind whirled with disbelief. Could the brat actually have experience in bed? "Damn you, Potter!" Severus shook. His body was on fire, teetering on orgasm. He growled. Damn you! He cursed himself mentally for letting himself lose control like this, for wanting this. Damn you ... damn this curse! He wanted to break the bonds the Aurors had on him, so he could pounce on the deserving brat. He wanted to take over that sweet body and pound until the owner screamed, but all he could do was watch and want.
Harry stopped playing with himself and pulled his fingers out. With eyes completely unfocused, he crawled toward Severus. Muttering inaudible things, he pushed Severus down on the mattress and sucked him once more. Then taking it into his own hand, he guided it to breach into his body. Severus' breaths turned out heavy and harsh. He desperately wanted to thrust into the body, but the curse held him back.
"Bloody hell ... you're big," Harry gasped as he stopped moving. He stayed atop, resting.
Minutes passed.
You're killing me. Severus groaned. Harry was so tight ... and so hot. Before he could think about begging, Harry began a slow ride. Severus' mind stopped complaining. As Harry picked up the pace, he leaned forward. Growling and moaning, their mouths met and locked.
Their screams of pleasure and triumph were lost in each other's mouth as their bodies shook violently, overwhelmed by their orgasms. Slowly, reality began to creep into their systems. Then his eyes widened as Harry slowly straightened his back. His hands were gripping Harry's hips.
"That's strange," Harry observed in a detached tone.
Licking his lips, Severus tried to flex his digits. It worked! He bit back an exclamation.
-oOOoOOo-
