Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters or locations. Like heck if I'm getting paid for this either. I own a collection of bottle caps…lots of bottle caps.
Warnings: Slash. M/M. Harry/Snape. AU, OOC, WIP, random acts of stupidity, ABCDEFG….See, there's one now.
A/N: Yay! So many thank you's to those who reviewed! You guys rock! I am so glad that you guys liked my last chapter! I even got some cookies and hugs. Thank you so for the cookies and hugs!
On with the show!
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Chapter 9: Moving
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Ron was very surprised to find Tink still sleeping when he came around noon.
He was even more surprised to see Tink sleeping on Snape.
Naked.
Ron quickly shut the door to the fairy's bedroom. He did not just see that. No. Had to be a play of the light. A product of his overactive imagination that Hermione is always telling him about.
He cracked the door open ever so slightly and peered inside once more.
That was definitely Tink.
The iridescent wings that were out once again and the melodic humming he had come to know as something only his friend did attested to that.
And that was Snape.
Long black hair and slightly larger nose. Yep, that was their old potions professor. Snoring.
And they were most certainly both naked.
The red head shut the door quickly for the second time and willed his eyes to stop bugging out and his mouth to close.
When he had arrived he had been going through all the different scenarios that could have happened today when he went to take his friend to reconcile with his mate. He had pictured the young fairy changing his mind and refusing to go. His plan in such an instance was to simply drag him there…he even had the image of throwing the smaller man over his shoulder in order to get him there. He also thought about getting there and Snape yelling and throwing a tantrum. At which case he would run in the other direction. Ron may have been a Lion, but that didn't mean he was a stupid lion.
He had been so caught up in his musings that he didn't realize something was amiss until he was well into Harry's house.
That was when the silence became all too noticeable.
Thinking that the fairy had finally reached his limit and hadn't even been able to get out of bed, Ron had made his way up the stairs and down the hall to the bedroom. He hadn't even knocked, just opened the door expecting to find his lethargic friend held up in bed.
Not this.
'Well…I guess they made up.' Ron gave a violent shudder and made his way back towards the entrance, now fast exit, of the house. He only stopped for a brief second to do one thing before he was out the door.
He just hoped Hermione would know a spell that would clean ones eyes…
Severus awoke to what sounded like a door being closed. He strained his ears to the stillness, but heard nothing else. Deciding that it must have been the wind outside jostling a shutter, the older man turned his attention to his partner who was asleep on his chest. He listened as Harry let forth a string of hums on an exhale of breath and noted another thing that he had missed about his young mate; a wry voice in his head noting that this particular list was getting pretty long. He had been surprised the first time he had heard Harry's melodic, nocturnal noises the first night they had stayed together. He had never heard of anyone who hummed in their sleep, especially not one who could change tones the way Harry did. Even the first night they were apart, before the blasted fight that led to all of this, Severus had realized that the quiet of his room that use to be all he needed to drift off was now…well…quiet. Too quiet. He hadn't been able to admit it at the time, but now he could say that he needed that humming…and needed the person doing it.
Severus rotated his neck to look out the window that was right next to the bed. The snow storm had cleared in the night and the sun was shining, though there was quite a bit of snow along the sill. By what he could tell, it looked like it was very late in the morning, perhaps even early afternoon. They should be getting up. It was entirely immature to loaf about in the bed all day long. He looked down at the relaxed face of his small mate and the rustling of his wings as he slept. To hell with maturity. Harry was never one to wake early in the morning and considering last night's…activities…he would allow the young fairy to sleep a little longer. Regardless of the fact that his arm was asleep. He didn't need that arm anyway.
It wasn't too much longer when green eyes finally began to blink to alertness and gave a wide yawn as he turned his head to look at his human bed. His eyes blinking owlishly as he still was working on waking up. The young fairy smiled drowsily and Severus realized something right then and there. This creature. His mate. Had turned him into the biggest sap. Ever.
And he possibly liked it.
"Good morning." Harry said in a scratchy whisper from sleep.
"Hello yourself"
"What were you thinking about?"
"Who says that I was thinking?"
Harry just continued to look at him from his position atop the potion master's chest.
Severus sighed, "I was thinking what an utter cornball you have made me."
"Cornball?"
"Never mind. It is well into the day and as much as I am loathe from removing your most attractive person, we must get up."
Harry reached his arms around and hugged the older man's torso, "I'm glad you're here."
"As am I. Now. Up."
Grumbling lightly, Harry finally managed to get up—with very little grace—and allowed his bed the chance to extricate himself from the mattress. The two decided to take a shower…together…and sometime later were able to get dressed and head down the stairs.
Nothing seemed amiss, except for the fact that as they walked through the living room on their way to make breakfast—which was actually lunch, but whatever—Harry found a small not addressed to him sitting on one of the end tables beside the couch. He knew exactly who it was from by the inscription, To Tink, written on the front of the note.
Dear Tink,
I came by.
Saw you and Snape had made up.
Glad it happened.
Now we never speak of this again.
Ever.
Talk to you later.
But not about this.
~Ron
Severus turned to see that Harry wasn't following him anymore but instead was standing stock still looking at the note with his face glowing bright red. He back stepped and peered over the shorter's shoulders and read the note. He gave a deep chuckle.
"Perhaps this will teach Mr. Weasley to knock before entering one's private rooms."
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Harry felt as if he blinked and Christmas, New Years, heck, the whole month of January, passed by in a blur.
Christmas was a great occasion, if only because he was able to spend it with Severus. Their gifts that year had been quite simple. In fact, one was a repeat. Severus had given Harry his clover charm necklace back, which Harry wore proudly every day. Severus received his potion's garden. While it didn't look like much because of the winter cold Severus was still highly impressed and very appreciative. The day after they had made up the two had set to work on moving the professor's possessions over to the cottage. Harry knew Severus was serious about the move, he just didn't know how serious. They spent their days at Hogwarts boxing up personal items and potion paraphernalia; at night they would return to the cottage to unpack a few things and then collapse into exhaustion.
The first thing that came over was Viridus who now slithered about as though he owned the cottage. When they had finally moved the snake they had placed him in the smaller guest room, much to the snakes delight. He had always been somewhat less enthused that his bed was in the same room as two mates and the sunshine that permeated the small house was so much nicer than the dungeons. Having his own room though had spoiled the snake almost instantly. Not to mention the fact that Harry allowed the snake to roam the garden as long as he didn't go too far off. Severus was not impressed with the overindulged pet. Harry just rolled his eyes and hissed happily at the snake.
Harry thought it great fun. Severus thought Harry was crazy. They had only had one fight…over the Persian rug adorned with snakes. Harry won out in the end by bringing up that the rooms at Hogwarts would still be Severus's and they needed to keep it furnished.
"Why do we need to keep these rooms? It seems a perfect waste. Besides, it is a fine rug and would add to any décor."
"This could be a getaway spot. We could connect to the cottage through the floo network and have this place be our own little haven…a love shack
"Love shack?"
"Alright, we'll change the name. How about….Den of Sin?"
"…the rug stays."
New Years had been interesting. He had told Sirius and Remus that he and Severus had made amends. He wasn't prepared for Remus inviting Severus to their house for to bring in the New Year as well. Neither was Sirius.
The evening went well enough. Both the animagus and the potions professor stayed on their best behavior. Or at least they started out that way. As the evening wore on and more alcohol was consumed their thin truce was starting to ware and around midnight found Harry and Severus walking about outside Remus's house trying to extinguished the older man's hot temper.
"He is a child!"
"Of course he is."
"He had no right to bring up that joke that he pulled in fourth year."
"Of course he didn't"
"I ought to go back there and—"
"Severus?"
"What?"
"It's midnight."
"And?"
"And kiss me."
That shut him up.
Soon after classes started again. Harry returned to Professor Moody and was soon back on his training schedule. He had never been so glad to see a stack of homework to be graded before. Though the gnarled ex auror felt it his duty to attack Harry even more to make up for lost time. Now he wasn't even safe on days he wasn't doing practical training. The first Tuesday back he got shocked with a rather effective stinging curse right as he walked through the door.
"Constant Vigilance!!"
"You enjoy this don't you?!"
"Maybe."
"When do I get to shock the hell outa you?"
"When you get your masters?"
"Can I get it now?"
"No. Not till I say."
"Fantastic"
What was the most interesting was the adjustment of living life with Severus. He had lived for seven years with four other boys, but he still got a kick out of seeing the stoic man's toothbrush sitting in the cup next to his.
Both men were still adjusting to calling the cottage their home and were still trying to get use to the influx of stuff that had occurred. The furniture was now slightly mismatched, the closet in the bedroom was now full—along with a dresser—and the whole house smelled slightly off ever since Severus had finally set up his lab in the basement to his liking. While it had been odd at first the two soon found themselves settling into a routine that could almost be described as…
Well, domestic.
Harry was beginning to think that all of this domesticity had made Severus crazy. Had to be. That could be the only thing that would explain why he was sitting here on a Thursday night with his mouth hanging open like a fish and staring at the serious man as if he had just sprouted a second…third…head and was about to sing the aria from Madame Butterfly.
"Could you…um…repeat that?"
"We should go out."
"Oh. Ok. Um….I'm sorry. Please. One more time."
Severus rolled his eyes and returned to his potion's journal, "I merely suggested that this weekend we go out."
Harry was still gaping at the man from where he sat on the couch.
"Like a date?"
"Yes, Harry. Like a date."
" Are you feeling okay?"
"Why would I be feeling otherwise?"
"Ummm…there are people out there."
"Yes Harry, the outside world is full of people."
Harry summoned the periodical from Severus's hand, "Don't get snarky. You know what I mean. If we go out there then people are going to see us."
"Yes?"
"Together."
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you are feeling okay?"
"Would you want to go out or not?"
"I…I do…but…"
"But?..." the potion's professor prompted and then waited patiently for the young pixie to voice his concern.
Harry sighed, "Severus, I have been so happy with you moving here with me."
"That much is obvious. You have been a small ball of high energy for over a month now."
"Yes. Well. Anyways. I know that this whole thing is a big compromise on your part…I don't want you to do something that you are not comfortable with just to make me happy. I am happy."
Severus gave a small smile and got up from his chair to sit next to Harry.
"I understand that you are happy, but I would still wish to go out."
"What…um…what did you have in mind?" Harry was still trying to wrap his mind around this.
"I thought about possibly apparating to London. There is a wizard's Italian restaurant that has received glowing reviews from—"
"Wait, wait, wait. What?"
Severus was trying very hard not to laugh at Harry's very apparent confusion. When he had decided to bring up the topic of going out in public together he knew that the green eyed Diligarian would be surprised. He hadn't expected that it would completely blind side the teen as it was apparently doing. Not that Severus was helping much. He could not pass up an opportunity.
"A restaurant. People eat at them. It is the classical, if somewhat overused, location for dates."
"But it is a wizard restaurant."
Yep, Severus Snape had gone crazy. This was why he had avoided moving in with Harry in the first place. He must have known that this would be the thing that would make him lose his mind.
"I am aware. I thought that would allow you to have your wings out and not have to be uncomfortable during the dinner."
That's it.
Harry leaned over and took Severus's face in his hands and looked him straight in the eyes. Searching.
"What the hell has happened to you!? Have you gone crazy!?"
"Calm down you little idiot. No. I am not going crazy. Though if you keep this up I will definitely rethink that." Severus said mildly as he removed Harry's hands from his face.
"So…you…you mean it? You want to go out? Even though other wizards are going to see us…even though it will probably be in the paper…even—"
"Yes." The taller wizard leaned in and kissed his mate on the lips. A simple, quick peck, and then pulled back, "We cannot hide forever."
Harry turned his head, his eyes unfocused. The kind of look one may have when looking at nothing and everything all at once.
"Harry?"
"I think my brain just exploded."
"Well then you are not fit to be in public. We will just have to postpone our—"
"Just because my brain exploded does not mean I don't want to go out." Harry said as he continued to stare off.
"Yes…I would imagine that your brain would be something you could go without…you do so well without it most of the time." Severus drawled with a sly grin.
"That's it….smell my feet!" Harry said as he brought his unclad foot up to the potions master's nose.
"You immature little—"
A wrestling match soon ensued that ended with Severus atop Harry on the rug of the living room. Their faces were only inches apart.
"So..." Harry said as he tried to regain his breathing, "You still want to go out this weekend?"
"The offer still stands…yes."
"Okay."
"Does that mean yes?
"Yea…after all, a wise man once said, 'We can't hide forever.'"
"I believe that I said cannot."
"Who said I was talking about you?"
"Very comical."
"I try. Are you going to let me up? My wing muscle is starting to cramp."
"Wing muscle?"
"You got a better name for it?"
"I am sure there is a more medically valid term to explain the muscles that control your wings." Severus said logically as he rolled off his young lover.
"Well, until we know it, so shall it be called, 'The Wing Muscle.'"
Severus simply hummed and stood. Harry was about to follow suit when he was hauled up by the taller…and apparently stronger man and thrown over the other man's shoulder.
"Hey! You aren't some caveman! Put me down." Said as he tried to right himself from his upside down position which earned him a slap to he behind. "Hey!"
"You know, I was not even considering that aspect. Hmm. Now what does a caveman do when he gets his prize?"
"He sets them down gently."
"No. No that's not right. Ah. He goes back to the cave for a celebration."
"I would think a man of your intelligence would be offended to be associated as a caveman."
"Perhaps cavemen had the right idea about a few certain things."
"You're not gonna put me down. Are you?"
"Does it look like I am putting you down?"
"Humph! No."
"Glad you are finally seeing reason."
"Must be all the blood rushing to my brain."
"I thought your brain had exploded."
"Just take me to the blasted cave already!"
"If you insist."
The older man finally made his way to the bedroom with Harry still over his shoulder. Harry, while getting a head rush from being inverted for so long, was still just as stunned that Severus had suggested an outing. This would be good right? This was what he wanted. To be a normal couple. Right?
Right…
He just hoped it didn't lead to trouble.
After all, trouble always seemed to find him.
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Early in the evening that Saturday found Harry staring at his side of the closet.
"I have nothing to wear. Can I go starkers?"
"While I am not entirely opposed to that idea, this is not that kind of establishment. Also, I wouldn't want anyone else ogling over you anyway."
"Anyone would stare at a naked fairy."
Severus sighed as he began to adjust his tie. While it was a wizarding establishment Severus had also thought a walk would be nice after dinner, which meant that muggle clothing would be advisable. Not that the Diligarian minded too much. He thought his dress robes made him look a bit dodgy. Severus himself was in a black suit with a green collared shirt and matching tie. Very Slytherin. Harry was having a hard time concentrating on his own clothes as he stared at Severus getting ready.
"You bought several new articles of clothing in July. You are acting as though you have never been on a date. Here, where this." Severus stated as he handed Harry a blue collared shirt and a pair of grey slacks.
Harry hurried to change. They were almost late for their reservation.
"Well, actually…I haven't really been on a date before…. I guess Cho and I went on maybe one date to Hogsmeade together…but she always kept talking about Cedric…."
Severus knew where this line of thought was leading and quickly went over to the changing teen and kissed him, "Then we shall make up for it. Now, finish getting ready and we shall be off."
Severus was not a patient man. So a few minutes later Harry was running out of his house as he tried to slip on his dress shoes and keep up with the taller man at the same time.
"You could take smaller strides ya know."
"We will be late."
"We're wizards. We snap our fingers and pop! we're there."
Severus just rolled his eyes and grabbed hold of the green and black haired teen for side along apparation. As described, a quick pop! later found the two in a remote alleyway Harry assumed was in London.
"How much time to we have before eight?"
Severus cast a quick tempus, "Ten minutes till."
"Hmm. Did you forget something? We have time to pop back to the cottage, oh, I'd say…another dozen times before we are even remotely late."
"Your sarcasm seems to be improving."
"I'm learning from the master." Harry said evenly as he looked down the way, "How far is the restaurant?"
"It is this way and it is only a block over."
Severus led Harry out of the alley and into the busy London street. Harry turned his head this way and that to try and look at the other people. He noted that Muggle auras were somewhat fainter that wizard's and witch's. He was able to tell at just a glance at the bustling crowd who was magical. Even without his wings Harry still felt as if he stuck out to everyone. His hair was certainly something out of the ordinary. At that moment the two passed a punk with a fuchsia colored Mohawk.
'Then again…'
"We are here."
Harry looked up from his musings to see a sign come to life as the two approached, much like the one for the Leakey Cauldron. Any muggle passerby would probably just see an old warehouse building, but to them it was—
"Gusto?"
"'Taste' in Italian."
Harry was led by elbow trough the unsuspecting door where the atmosphere immediately changed. Warm lighting and music floated all around and the teen found himself highly impressed with his surroundings and staring unabashedly all around him. Severus just smirked and turned to the maitre de.
"Table for two for Snape." He said primly.
The young witch looked at her roster and then back up at the two, her eyes alight with recognition, but, to her credit, she did not say a word, only smiled and gestured for them to follow her to their table.
Dinner was actually going quite well. They had received more than a few glances, especially when Harry let his wings unfurl and two waiters had dropped their trays as they passed, but besides that it was a wonderful time.
They were halfway through with their main entre when Harry saw the flash and felt the heat from a camera. He turned slightly to see a man being escorted by a very displeased looking gentleman in a very fancy set of dress robes that Harry assumed was the owner or at least the manager of the restaurant.
"They will be outside you know. They like to hunt in packs." He said as he turned back to the table and looked down from his pasta. Though it had been the other man's idea, Harry wouldn't blame Severus in the least for wanting to try and sneak off undetected.
"Then let them come."
Harry looked up to see Severus looking at him instead of his calamari—a dish that he had tried to persuade Harry to try with little success— with a fire in his eyes and his face set in determination.
Yes
Let them come.
Harry smiled and took a bite of his pasta with an air of confidence that had nothing to do with the food and in fact looked somewhat silly as he slurped a wayward noodle into his mouth. He began talking animatedly again about training and Severus simply shook his head with a small grin and listened to his bubbling mate.
It was sometime late, a few more glasses of wine, some dessert, and many more conversations later, that the two finally paid the bill and made their way out of the restaurant. Harry had been true to his word. As soon as they were out of the door the reporters were swarming them. Taking pictures. Asking questions. Harry wondered why they were not more worried about muggles seeing them. Were the paparazzi smart enough to use charms? The Diligarian and his mate pressed forward and tried as best they could to ignore the crowd around them. They only made it half a block before Severus rounded on the press and quickly cast a silencing spell around all of them.
"This is enough!" the taller man said in a voice that would have any young Hogwarts student—and apparently a good many reporter—shaking in their shoes and swearing they needed a change of pants. "We are trying to have a pleasant evening and I will not tolerate it being ruined by the likes of you. You want a story so bad? Fine. We are mates, we are in love, and we are living together. There. You now have a story to distort and twist however you see fit. Now, if any of you so much as follows us I will not hesitate to set forth a series of hexes that would make one wish they never even so much as heard of the word 'magic' before."
The potion master gave a curt nod and took his green eyed, bewildered mate by the hand and led him away from the shutterbugs; while a few more flashes went off, the harassing group stayed rooted in their place. Harry turned back one last time as they continued to walk to see many of them seemingly afraid to move even an inch for fear the dark man was telling the truth. He turned back and up at his companion.
"My hero."
Severus snorted. "I walked amongst Death Eaters. They should know not to mess with me."
Harry reached and grabbed Severus's hand, interlacing their fingers.
"You told them we were in love."
Severus looked down at him.
"…Was I wrong?"
"No. It just means you are never getting rid of me now."
"I should certainly hope not."
The two continued their walk down the street hand in hand. They only passed a few other individuals on the stroll; the streets quiet due to the dwindling hour. The path led them down to a rather large park where the two sat on a bench beside a duck pond and continued to talk about nothing in particular. Every so often one of them would lean over and steal a quick kiss from the other, but only when they were sure no one was looking. They may not be hiding anymore, but that did not mean that Harry wasn't shy and Severus still was not a fan of overt public displays of affection.
Harry decided as they were walking back to the alleyway to apparated back to the cottage that if this was how dates went then he and Severus were just going to have to go on dates more often.
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"Well," Hermione said as she put a copy of the Prophet down, "When you two decide not to hide—"
"Hey! It isn't like we are going out every night! In fact we have only been out twice. They just keep running those blasted pictures." Harry defended as made his way into the Burrow. "And if that's how you are gonna be I can just turn around right now!"
"Oh no you don't! You aren't getting outa this!" Ron said as he grabbed his friend and marched him over to the dining table that, for once, didn't have food on it.
"Why am I here anyway? It's you two who are getting married."
"Yes, but as the Best Man and Maid of Honor—"
Ron began to snicker at this, but was soon silenced by one of Hermione patent death glares. When she was certain her fiancé would not interrupt again she continued,
"your opinion is also sought out when making decisions."
"Basically what 'Mione is trying to say is that you're our best friend and she wants to bug you about wedding stuff."
"Excuse me? He is your best man. You should be consulting him."
"For what? What dress robe I'm gonna wear? Hmmm let me see, black…or black. Tink, which would you choose?"
"The periwinkle."
"Will you two be quiet?!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Have you got the boys all settled?" Molly asked as she made her way into the room she took a seat at the table beside Hermione.
"Mum? You're in on this too?"
"Yes Ronald. The wedding is only in a short four months. Planning must be done!"
Molly and Hermione began to talk happily about guest list and colors and Harry instantly found himself bored.
'This is what a Maid of Honor does?'
"We could probably take a nap right about now Tink. Those two won't stop for air anytime soon."
"What if they ask out opinion on something?" Harry replied as he folded his arms on the table and set his head down.
"Do what I always do when Hermione goes into lecture mode, smile and nod."
"That hasn't always worked." Harry said. He remembered quite a few times during school where Ron had received a very brutal chastising by Hermione for glazing out during one of her lectures.
The red head shrugged his shoulders, "Suit yourself. You listen to color combinations. I'll be going over quidditch plays." He turned his head back to Hermione and his mother, but Harry saw his eyes go out of focus as his mind stepped up to the pitch.
Harry tried to stay in the conversation as best he could, but was finding it difficult. It seemed like all Hermione and Molly were doing was spouting of colors and names of people. Was this a wedding? Colors and guests. Harry decided that weddings were weird. He had never been to a one before. It is not like the Dursleys would ever take him to such an event; though he had seen pictures and saw weddings on the telly briefly when he thought Uncle Vernon wasn't looking. He hadn't noticed the colors before. Did one have to have colors?
"So what do you think Harry?"
Harry blinked and realized he had been asked a question.
And he had no freaking clue what it was.
Smile and nod?
Tell the truth?
This is hard!
"I'm sorry Hermione, I must have zoned for a minute. Could you repeat that?"
Truth won out.
Hermione gave a huff, but repeated her question, "I said, do you like the color combination of sage and plum?"
"I would…but what colors are those?"
"Oh honestly! A green and a purple."
Harry tried to picture that combination. It seemed nice but, "What about orange and blue?"
"Orange at a wedding?" Molly asked incredulously.
Harry shrugged, "It's Ron's favorite color and besides…those two colors match your auras."
The two women of the decision party looked at the young Diligarian for a few minutes. Harry was becoming very uncomfortable. Why had he opened his big mouth? Ron was right, he should have just zoned out. He was looking back and forth between his best girl friend and the woman he had come to see as a mother. They both had an identical, odd look in their eyes.
And it scared Harry to no end.
Finally, Hermione turned to Molly,
"Orange and blue."
"I think we can make that work."
"You two are serious?"
"Yes. No one will know it is our auras….but we will. I want orange and blue." Hermione said with a smile, "What do you thing Ron?"
The groom, still up in the quidditch pitch, just smiled and nodded. Harry almost thought he got away with it too.
"Ronald? Are you even paying attention?"
Another smile and nod.
"The twins are right behind you with a big batch of Goo-You."
A smile and a nod.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley!" Molly barked. That woke Ron up. "This is your wedding! You need to pay attention!"
"Sorry mum." Ron said in his most sheepish voice.
"Don't apologize to me…apologize to your fiancé."
"Sorry ma'am."
"Oh hush."
The conversation turned back to wedding details and Harry suspected Ron lasted about five minutes in the conscious world before he slipped back into La la Land. Now the conversation had turned to what kind of music would be played and what food should be served.
Harry thought it again.
Weddings were weird.
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Harry and Severus had discussed going out for Valentine's Day, but quickly vetoed the idea almost as soon as it was presented. The places would be crowded to the point of annoyance and besides, they had already been on two outings—much to the newspapers' and magazines' delight—and felt like a quiet night in. Their second outing, at the request of Harry, was to a cinema. The young Fairy had never gotten to see a film on the big screen before and it amused Severus to no end to watch the eighteen year old bounce in his seat during the exciting parts of the movie. The reporters hadn't been as many in number, but one or two had managed to snap a picture of the two as they walked back to the cottage after the film. Articles and pictures of their two outings had been circulating for two weeks now. After the initial article, which quoted Severus's so eloquent statement about their relationship, as well as the physical harm he would inflict on the nosey press, it had become the news' sworn duty to speculate over every aspect of their relationship. From who wears the pants, to who does the housework, and who Severus had supposedly fought with over Harry.
Today was a red letter day though!
Thanks to….well anonymous letters to the editors of the Daily Prophet and several of the magazines that stated quite bluntly that the press was wasting their time and should be reporting on real news and that they should leave the couple alone, today had been the first day that no pictures were printed and no articles written.
Dumbledore was a superhero.
And the Weasley twins.
And Ron.
And Hermione.
And Harry had a feeling several of the really nasty ones were from the superhero known as the Potion Master.
Harry smiled as he stirred the contents of the skillet. He had decided to cook this evening. While this wasn't a new occurrence, since Harry cooked quite a bit, he had decided on a very impressive recipe that seemed to have eight million steps. No matter. Molly's Zanzabar Chicken would be fantastic.
He hoped.
Did he miss step thirty seven?
No wonder the recipe said "best with magic' at the very beginning.
"How does the mighty chef fair."
Harry looked over his shoulder at Severus standing in the doorway wearing….wait….
"Is that one of my T-shirts?"
"No. Do you think one of your shirts would fit me? It would look ridiculous."
"Where did you get that?"
"I have had it for many years. It is a simple black shirt Mr. Potter I do not see the problem with it. Unless you wanted to make this a formal occasion in which case I must say that you are underdressed as well."
The teen smiled as he remembered that he himself had on one of his favorite shirts. The Weasley twins had made him a Gryffindor red shirt that had cold writing that said, "I am a Lion. Hear Me Roar." on the front. To top it off had an apron tied at his waist and his wings were out. He didn't know it, but he made quite the cute picture. Harry was about to respond when he was blinded by a flash.
What was that?
It was almost like a …
Camera.
But they had it set up to where no flash photography could be taken outside of the wards. Which meant….
Harry turned his attention back to Severus to see the man still standing in the doorway with a very proud and smug grin on his face.
And a camera in his hand.
"Tell me you did not just take a picture of me."
"Then I will not."
Okay, retaliation was in order. Since Harry did not have a camera he had to settle for the next best thing.
Flour.
With his seeker reflexes as good as they everywhere the young imp spin around and grabbed a hand full of flour and threw it at the taller man. Luckily the counter by the stove was not too far away from the door.
Severus only got a few seconds warning before he found himself covered with flour. He coughed and sputtered.
"You shall pay for that." Severus said calmly as he set the camera down carefully the table. Harry couldn't help his gulp when the potion master looked back at him with a smirk and a predatory glint in his eye.
Run!
Harry grabbed the sack of flour and ran into the living room, followed closely be Severus who now had a bag of his own. Harry didn't know this of course until he turned back giggling and was hit with—
"Powdered sugar?"
He was pelted again. He laughed as he grabbed a handful of flour and blindly tossed it at what he hoped was his mate…either that or the couch.
The powder continued to fly until the air was thick and the rug and chairs a complete mess. The two lovers stood facing each other with grins on their faces. Both were covered in white powder. Harry's hair looked as if it was all white and Severus was now sporting a very two toned shirt. The taller man walked up to the shorter and quickly embraced kissing him soundly on that pink mouth that had a smudge of white sugar on it.
They pulled apart several minutes later.
"All we need is a couple more ingredients and we got ourselves some cookies."
"Indeed. I smell something burning."
Harry took a minute to process what the powder covered potion professor had said. Then, aha, a light of recognition came on.
"Oh Crap! Dinner!" Harry yelled as he untangled himself and ran back to the kitchen to save the chicken.
Severus chuckled and slowly made his way back to the kitchen as well. He looked on as Harry frantically tried to save the burning food. The sprite was still covered in flour and sugar. The dark eyed wizard bent and retrieved his camera and, without being discovered, snapped another picture of the cook. He lowered the camera to stare at his mate unimpeded and chuckled as Harry turned to him briefly to smile and report.
"Ha! I think I saved it!" he said with a flourish of wooden spoon. He gave another triumphant giggle and turned back to the stove humming happily and bouncing with energy.
Severus made a decision right then and there as he looked on at Harry.
He would ask his mate to marry him.
He just didn't know how.
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Okay, so I decided that after two chapters of angst I needed to have some that could very well induce sugar shock.
Only two more postings! Chapter 10 and then an epilogue! The end is near!
Whatcha think?? Let me know! I adore reviews!