Author's Note: Look at that, someone else than Severus and Harry in this chapter. It's getting kind of crowded, don't you think?
Step 10
"There are four things every person has more of than they know; sins, debt, years, and foes."
-Persian Proverb-
Potter had no problem returning to his routine the next morning, getting up before dawn, absolving physical training and meditation and leaving for work immediately after they had breakfast. They would share the evening meal and then go their separate ways to their studies, the library or in Severus' case his lab till it was time for bed and almost inevitably sex, after which Potter would get comfortable on his side, close his eyes and even his breathing until Severus drifted off to sleep. Severus was starting to wonder if he would ever get to see the younger man sleep or if maybe Potter's trust in him did not extend that far.
All such unpleasant thoughts fled his mind when Potter emerged at the top of the stairs, dressed in dark blue dress robes with a silver trim. By Merlin, that would be his date for the evening. The cut of the robes accentuated his trim build perfectly and the colour made his skin glow and his eyes sparkle. The mirthful smile he was wearing didn't help Severus' libido.
"Ready to go? The Department doesn't approve of me being fashionably late," Harry, Potter dammit, said. "You look striking, by the way."
The kiss Potter brushed over his cheek was entirely uncalled for, as was the hand that stroked the small of his back to compel him forward. Potter urgently needed to be reminded who was on top in this relationship. Severus would have liked a reminder himself. But as Potter was already offering him the box of Floo powder they kept on the mantelpiece that would have to wait.
He went through the Floo first, arriving in the Atrium of the Ministry, and quickly stepped aside so that Potter could follow him. It was encouraging that Potter's arrival was still as graceless as it had ever been, more a tumble than a controlled step out of the fireplace. At least some things didn't change.
"Mr. Potter, so glad you could make it." Potter had just rightened himself when his hand was seized in an enthusiastic handshake.
"Senior Undersecretary Milton, it's great to see you again. You look lovely tonight. That new haircut really suits you." Potter smoothly extracted his hand from the smallish mauve-clad witch, who tittered when he smiled at her. "Have you met my husband, Professor Severus Snape?"
Her smile was frozen when she extended her hand to him and she released it after only the most cursory of shakes. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Severus forced himself to say, surprised when Potter leaned into his side; even more surprised when he slung his own arm around the slender waist.
"Well, enjoy the evening. I'm sure we'll have time to chat later," Milton excused herself, though they weren't alone for long before a sheer endless string of people greeted Potter, introduced themselves to him and engaged him in idle small talk, no doubt in the hope that some dim-witted reporter would happen by at just the right moment to acknowledge their moment of glory.
"I'm getting something to drink," Severus murmured to Potter between supplicants, intend to escape before the next barrage of fans.
"Could you get me some juice, please?" Potter asked. "Though, I understand if you want to get some fresh air instead."
"I'll be back," Severus said and slowly loosened his hold on the younger man.
Potter had no time to reply before the Head of the Office of Misinformation demanded his attention. Severus retreated to the refreshment table, glad to be out of Potter's immediate vicinity because all those suspicious looks and angry glares were making his skin itch and his mouth dry. On the other hand, it seemed like Potter was born for this. He apparently knew every person in the room, his or her name and title, a few personal anecdotes and at times vicious gossip that he was willing to share with Severus once they had turned away. But Potter was charming and witty, never impatient or impolite, and still managed to be attentive to Severus, sending warning glares left and right to anyone who dared look at him the wrong way.
He got a glass of red wine for himself and some pumpkin juice for Potter though he briefly considered adding a bit more pep to Potter's preferred drink. He might need it. But he had never seen Potter indulge in anything more alcoholic than butterbeer and getting Potter drunk probably wasn't a safe option. With his luck, Potter would be a flirty drunk.
"Thank you, Severus." Potter gratefully accepted the glass he handed him, kissed his cheek and took a large sip of his juice. "Do you know Liam Longstreet? He's the potions expert for the Invisibility Task Force."
"Professor Snape! It's great to see you again." The young man almost reverently extended his hand to him, his white teeth gleaming in his dark face. "I don't know if you remember me, but I was - "
"One of my best students." Severus finished, taking the offered hand. "I'm glad you decided to make a profession out of your talent. Are you working on your Mastery?"
"Yes. I remember you told me to come to you if I ever needed a second opinion, but I wanted to wait till I was sure to be on the right track before bothering you. If the offer still stands, that is." Liam had truly been a refreshing exception to the otherwise dull and duller student body, someone with not only talent but dedication, who had left Hogwarts with an impressive total of zero exploded cauldrons.
"Of course, I look forward to reading something other than ill-reflected student's essays," he replied and earned himself a laugh.
"It'll be great to have someone to bounce ideas off on," Liam answered, smiling again though not quite as charmingly as Potter; when Potter smiled his eyes sparkled and he showed a hint off dimples that could drive Severus to distraction.
Speaking of Potter, the ex-Gryffindor was already engaged in another conversation, surrounded by a gaggle of five wizards and witches in purple robes, most likely from the Committee on Experimental Charms, flashing those dimpled smiles left and right. Liam drew him into a conversation about copper versus brass cauldrons for the brewing of Grade 2 Invisibility Potions, and Severus forgot about Potter for a while.
But when it was time for the speeches – boring, pointless, long-winded speeches – Potter was at his side again, offering him a platter of hors d'oeuvres that Severus hoped had not come from one of his adoring fans.
"You okay so far?" Potter asked in a whisper, brushing his shoulder against Severus'.
Other than the unaccidental bumps, the unfriendly glares and the whispered threats the evening was indeed going well. "It was a relief to find at least one person who doesn't have the mental capacity of a flobberworm."
Potter chuckled. "I would be flattered, except I know you're not talking about me. But I'm glad you had a chance to reconnect with Liam. I also saw Tony McTibbins earlier. He's dreadfully boring and that not only because I'm generally underwhelmed by his preferred topic of conversation, but he's considered a genius when it comes to Shrinking Solutions, isn't he? Maybe you'd find him interesting to talk to as well."
"If this is your sad attempt to placate me with throwing moderately talented potioneers at me, you better not be expecting a thank you." Severus glowered down at the younger man.
"I've learned to scale down my expectations." Potter smiled again, applauding politely when the Minister for Magic took the stage. "Besides, I have other, more effective ways to placate you."
Severus rolled his eyes when he felt a hand ghost over his ass before resting on the small of his back. "Your ability to turn everything into a sexual innuendo is quite frankly astounding, Potter."
"Why thank you." Potter's hand pressed more firmly into his lower back, rubbing in a way that sent tingles up his spine; he took a step to the side and Potter dropped his hand.
The Minister was gaining momentum in his speech about how much progress they had made since the end of the war, how they were rebuilding wizarding Britain to be better and brighter than ever before, how they still had a long way to go but how the country would prosper through the communal effort of everyone. Potter had adopted his most attentive mien, nodding at appropriate intervals and clapping politely when the whole thing was over and they were invited to partake in the food and entertainment.
"Would you care for a dance?" Potter asked when the dance floor slowly started filling with couples who swayed to the soft music.
"Would it be advisable to perform a Steel-Cap Spell on my shoes beforehand?" Severus asked back, but followed Potter to the dance floor and pulled him into his arms. "I lead."
"Good, I'm still pretty crappy at that part." Potter admitted, resting his hand on Severus' shoulder.
Potter wasn't a confident dancer, he had a habit of watching his feet and his expression was one of extreme concentration, but Potter's inherent grace made his movements smooth and he reacted to Severus' non-verbal cues with ease. All in all, dancing with Potter was not wholly unpleasant, especially when the younger man swayed closer to him and put his cheek on Severus' shoulder.
"This will no doubt be my favourite dance this evening," Potter murmured.
"All these young, attractive men vying for your attention and begging for a dance with you, and that is what you would have me believe?" Severus mocked, his eyes sweeping over the wizards gathered at the sidelines and narrowing a fraction whenever he caught one of them staring at Potter.
"You make me feel safe," Potter said softly, kissing his cheek when the song ended. "Thank you for that. Now, would you like me to introduce you to Tony McTibbins before I try not to trod on someone else's feet?"
"How is it that you know everyone here?" Severus asked, pulling Potter back into his arms and lowering his voice so that hopefully the circling vultures, just waiting for a chance to sink their claws into Potter, would be deterred for a moment longer.
"When you're Harry Potter there're a lot of people who want to shake hands with you." Potter shrugged. "Plus, it's my job to be sociable. I'm the pretty face they plaster over all their untold secrets."
"It is that." Severus murmured, gently touching Potter's cheekbone before he shook himself and took a step back. "Since there is no other entertainment planned, I might request another dance in the course of the evening."
"Feel free to rescue me anytime." Potter sent him another smile before he let himself be submerged in the midst of those eager men and women who were standing in line for a dance with The-Man-Who-Defeated-Voldemort.
Severus was nurturing his half empty glass of wine, considering the likeliness of being able to make a quick, unnoticed escape with his husband for a roll in their always welcoming bed sheets, when his musing were interrupted by that cultured, smooth voice: "It seems you already lost your husband to the crowds, old friend. I wonder should I express congratulations or condolences?"
"Lucius." Severus took another sip of wine before turning to the regal-looking blond. "I never knew you to be lost for words."
"As I never took you for someone who would willingly attend these social gatherings." Lucius' silver eyes swept over the decorated hall, fastened onto Potter for a bit longer than could be deemed casual and then turned back to Severus. "Or marry, least of all the boy hero. You always described him in such... fond terms; it never crossed my mind that you would sully your relationship of mutual hatred by exchanging wedding vows."
"Had you been in my place, you would have been hard-pressed to reject that kind of proposal, too," Severus said, doing his best to keep his voice light and conversational.
"I suppose your union is not without advantages for you," Lucius conceded while Severus watched out for the concealed dagger in his words and in his robes. "Though, I cannot imagine that it has endeared you to the general public. I read the article in the Daily Prophet and the quill of that Skeeter woman is as sharp as it used to be."
"Your concern is touching," Severus replied with an absolute lack of sincerity in his voice. "But I know who to keep close... and who to keep closer."
"I hope I'm the one you'll keep closest." Potter had obviously caught his last sentence and was sauntering over to them with, of all people, Draco Malfoy by his side. "Did you notice that they have a chocolate fountain over there near that portrait of Nobby Leach? It's great... Mr. Malfoy, are you enjoying the evening so far?"
The slight of only greeting Lucius as an afterthought was hardly diminished by Potter's ever-so-charming smile, and on some deeply ingrained instinct Severus extended his arm, wrapped it around Potter's slim waist and drew him close, closer, closest. Maybe he was fooling himself, but Potter's smile seemed more genuine when he looked up at him.
He listened with half an ear to the strained exchange of pleasantries between his husband and the older Malfoy while he himself turned to the younger. "Draco, it's good to see you again. I didn't realise that you and... Harry were friends."
"Let's just say we suspended our enmity for an indefinite time." Draco still had that same smirk he had had in Hogwarts, the one that spoke of pureblood supremacy and a general feeling of superiority. "It's just more sensible."
"I believe you called it 'energy conservation'," Potter offered helpfully. "You're such a romantic after all."
"And you still delight in ruining my reputation," Draco retorted and for a moment Severus thought Potter's comment might have hit a nerve, but then they both started grinning. Like schoolboys, and he was suddenly glad that he would never again have to face either of them in the classroom.
"I think you have that backward, Draco," Potter corrected him sweetly, reaching past Severus for another glass of pumpkin juice.
Severus felt the tingle of a complex Poison-Detection Spell whizz past him though Potter hardly hesitated before putting the glass to his mouth.
"Given your association with my son, I would have assumed that you had transitioned to more mature drinking habits, Mr. Potter," Lucius remarked, sipping his own champagne.
Potter drank some of his juice in a silent challenge before he answered. "Alcohol has a nasty habit of enhancing the potency of most poisons and as such alcoholic beverages are more prone to tampering. I have too many enemies – and crazed fans – to be negligent about something as simple as that."
Potter smiled winningly up at the blond wizard, but Severus could feel the currents of tension thrumming through his body. It would have been fascinating to watch their exchange from a safe distance as an impartial observer, but sadly, where Harry Potter was concerned, Severus had never mastered the art of impartiality and with every flash of irritation in Lucius' eyes he felt the mounting urge to pack up Potter and take him to the other side of the room, seek cover behind the refreshment table or whisk him away over the Floo.
"A good reason to marry a Potions Master," Lucius said, inclining his head to Severus.
"Not the only one, I assure you," Potter said, moving in front of Severus as if to protect him; Severus wanted to laugh.
"Potter, please, we don't want to hear about that," Draco intervened and Potter rolled his eyes. "How about that dance now?"
"You hate dancing with me," Potter pointed out.
"I daresay you have marginally improved since our first dance," Draco commented and took Potter's juice glass away. "Besides, people will be keener to invest in one of my projects after they've seen me dance with you. Consider it your good deed for the day."
"No twirly stuff, okay?" Potter clarified but took Draco's hand with a sigh. "Minister Fairweather has already exhausted my tolerance for that."
"He does have a flare for the dramatics," Draco admitted. "You should ask him to let you lead next time. He could hardly refuse such a request."
"Believe me, I'm going to," Potter muttered before turning back to him and Lucius. "Enjoy your evening, Mr. Malfoy. I suppose you're going to be leaving soon, what with the raid that's happening at your house right about now. See you later, Severus."
"Raid?" Both the younger and the older Malfoy said at the same time and Severus would have dearly loved some explanation as well.
But Potter tightened his hold on Draco and pulled him onto the dance floor, not sparing Lucius another glance, who, predictably turned on him. Thank you so much, Potter.
"Severus." Having a name which started and ended with an alveolar sibilant posed a distinct disadvantage in situations like this as it was easy to convey a substantial amount of menace through anger-clenched teeth.
"Harry is not in the habit of sharing his sources with me," Severus warded off. "If there was going to be a raid, I'm sure you would have heard of it before me... and Harry would have heard of it before either of us."
Lucius' mouth pinched as if he had just bit into a lemon and Severus didn't have to be a Leglimens to know that Lucius was running through all the curses he would never utter in polite society so as not to tarnish his reputation.
"Don't get to comfortable with your new husband, Severus." Lucius leaned in close while absently adjusting his robes. "You'll find he's keeping more than one secret from you and not all of them are as harmless... It would be a pity, if, after all these years, you were the one to get him killed, wouldn't it?"
"You know how much I always value your advice," Severus replied, returning the cold smile with which Lucius bade him goodbye. He was getting too old for these games.
Feel free to press that shiny button any time you like. Now, for example.