Warnings - Mild male/male sexual content. Language.
Chapter 10 – Overcoming the First Hurdle
"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination." - Maya Angelou
As the two friends walked silently to their class, Harry became more and more anxious the closer they got. By the time they arrived he was a nervous wreck. He was dreading the class more than he had ever dreaded a class with "Professor Snape". Classes with the man had been tolerable over this term but they had been the main cause of the few outbursts of anger and hate there had been between them. He knew that he couldn't expect Severus to suddenly be nice to him or anything but sometimes, when he went off on one his usual tirades directed at him, he really wanted to punch the git. They had managed to work through these negative emotions by talking about them together with Dumbledore. It had been fairly easy to rationalise them and move on so far. Harry knew however, that if anything was said in class today, in his current anxious frame of mind, he might just loose the place. He had learnt that feeling even slightly anxious was not good when it came to controlling his emotions and reactions to the slightest thing Severus said or did that he didn't like or agree with. Taking a deep breath, he entered the classroom. He had to try and remain calm and focus his mind. What he saw on entering however, didn't help achieve this. The classroom had been cleared of all tables and chairs and a duelling platform ran down the centre of the room. Harry groaned, he was magically still rather drained from his earlier practice session, not helped any by throwing jinxes at Hermione a minute ago. Severus was standing in the middle of the platform above them, glowering directly at him.
He's confused and irritated by my anxiousness Harry realised. Great we are both a bit worked up, not a good started he thought. Maybe I should fake a faint or something and get the hell out of this situation.
Harry noticed that there was a Boggart at one end of the platform and his heart and stomach hit his boots. Bloody bastard, he thought. Severus knew how much he hated them. He must realise he was unlikely to be able to produce a patronus in his current drained state. Anger started simmering in his gut, as thoughts of Severus doing this just to humiliate him entered his mind.
Severus knew Harry was angry at him about the Boggart but he hadn't had any choice. This lesson had been scheduled for today in his lesson plan since the beginning of term. It had actually been Dumbledore's suggestion. The idea was for Harry to release his Boggart and the rest of the class were to try and repel it by attempting to cast a Patronus Charm. He was feeling really irritated at Harry's anxiousness about it all and was annoyed that he could even think he would plan lessons with the core purpose of humiliating him. He really is an arrogant self-obsessed brat, he thought.
The students were all talking amongst themselves, wondering why they were going over old ground. They all knew what their greatest fears were, they thought.
"Silence!" The irritated angry voice of the professor above them boomed. Everyone fell silent and looked up at the intimidating figure, now pacing the platform.
"You may be wondering why you once again have a Boggart in this class. Many of you will believe you have already understood your greatest fear. However, what your mind tells you is your greatest fear, may not indeed, be your greatest fear. You may have a fear of spiders for example," Severus lectured whilst turning to glare at Ron, who whimpered slightly beside Harry
"...or failing an exam" he continued, now turning his hard stare to Hermione, who shuffled her feet uncomfortably,
"But believe me when I tell you, there are things in life which are more worthy of your fear, even more so than a fear of me" he had now turned to sneer at Neville, who looked like he was about to pass out.
"Fears such as these, are childish and unfounded. What you have never encountered in real life, you cannot possibly yet fear, or indeed know how to overcome, should you be unfortunate enough to be faced with it. The purpose of this class is to face one of the greatest fears in the wizarding world; aside from the Dark Lord himself of course." He had turned his gaze slowly to focus on Harry before continuing
"None of you here will ever have the intelligence, cunning or ability to overcome him".
The anger in Harry now bubbled up and was starting to consume him. As was Severus' irritation at Harry, for not understanding why he had to act this way. Malfoy sniggered from somewhere to Harry right, who turned to scowl at the prick and broke the eye contact with his professor.
"However, coming face to face with a Dementor and its associated Kiss, is a fear with a rational reason."
"I can understand why a Dementors kiss might be your greatest fear. We're not all law breaking, evil sadistic, bastards" Harry hissed out. His anger now turning to rage as his anxiety went through the roof at talk of Dementors.
Snape turned sharply and advanced towards Harry looking completely furious, which Harry knew he was. "Your inane comments are enlightening considering it is your Boggart Potter that takes the form of a Dementor. Not mine!"
Harry drew his wand before he even knew he had reached for it. His hand was shaking with sheer rage. He was going to kill this bastard he thought. Snape suddenly stopped his advance towards the wand pointed at him. He realised the level Harry's anxiety, anger and hate had reached and his eyes widened in fear. Just as Harry felt Severus' fear radiate through his conscious mind, Hermione shouted "Expelliarmus" and disarmed him. His wand clattered loudly against the wall behind him, echoing in the shocked silence of the room.
The moment of extreme emotion had been broken.
"Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck I just about killed him" Harry thought, panic starting to rise and squash even more of his anger.
Severus let out a deep breath not taking his eyes off Harry.
"Miss Granger, your actions were not warranted, do you really believe I would not be able to defend myself against this incompetent, arrogant, self-obsessed brat, even if he did manage to summon enough nerve and ability to even try attacking me!" Severus turned slowly as he continued albeit a bit shakily "50 points from Gryffindor Potter for daring to draw your wand at a professor in class and a further 50 Miss Granger, for thinking I needed your help!"
Severus knew Harry was still seething but also knew he felt sick at what had happened; his own fear abated somewhat just leaving a deep despair and a low simmering anger for what had transpired in front of his class. At the back of their minds, they both knew that this was the bond playing up, but neither of them could rationalise their emotions quite yet.
"Now if you all line up along the side of the platform" Severus ordered as the class started whispering excitedly about what had happened. "And no talking!" Severus added in a loud demanding voice.
"Potter you will be joining me, up here".
Harry was frozen to the spot, his mind racing. He can't possibly want to duel with me after what has just happened.
"NOW, Potter!"
Harry ran to retrieve his wand and climbed up on the platform. Every muscle in his body was twitching, his mind and heart racing. He wanted to just turn and run as far away as he could.
"As I was saying, before being rudely interrupted, the Dementor's Kiss is one of the biggest fears known to the wizarding world and with good reason, to anyone good or bad, that has sufficient knowledge to understand them".
"Since I have heard that Potters Boggart is indeed a Dementor, although I highly doubt his fear is based on any rational knowledge. The object of today's lesson is for each of you to practice the Patronus Charm. I believe a small number of you have had some minor success in doing so previously, but a weak shield form will not save you from a group of Dementors, if their intent is to draw out your soul. It is only the full corporeal bodied form, which lasts a little longer than a second or two that can have any hope of repelling these creatures in real life."
A hushed anxious sounding whispering ran along the line of students who were now standing beside the platform.
"To allow you all to find out how effective you are at casting a patronus charm, Potter here is going to stand in front of the Boggart and each of you, in turn, will try and repel it, from your lower position at the side of the platform."
"Before we commence such a task however, I think we must witness what is rumoured to be the strongest patronus any underage wizard has ever produced. Although I highly doubt any rumours that run wild in this school have a shred of truth attached to them, especially this one considering it is Potter we are talking about" Severus smirked as he looked at his fellow Slytherins.
Harry growled at him as his anger returned. Severus knew he was drained at the moment. He was unlikely to be able to repel the bloody thing and what if Severus was as equally drained as him; noone might be able to get rid of it back to its box!
"Come on then Potter. I am sure you are raring to show us all how it's done" the irritated and now anxious professor sneered. Severus realised this was a risk. He should have changed his lesson plan as soon as he realised how weak they both were.
Harry started approaching the Boggart, hand shaking as he held his wand out ready.
Malfoy sneered "Awwww look how the big brave Gryffindor shakes in his boots at the thought of a pretend Dementor. Not going to faint again Potter are you?" The rest of the Slytherins started laughing.
"Enough" Snape spat at Malfoy, who looked surprised and shocked at the amount of venom his favourite professor directed at him.
Harry took the last step and was now positioned directly in front of the Boggart. Severus took up his own position, directly behind Harry. As he watched him approach the Boggart, he desperately wanted to wrap him up in his robes and protect him from all his fears. Harry felt the wave of protection from behind and it reminded him of curing up on Severus lap in Dumbledore's sitting room, with strong arms holding him tight. It was this memory that filled him, as the door of the Boggart flung open, the black formidable form looming out.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry bellowed focussing on his new happiest memory with all his might.
Silvery strands of light burst forth from his wand with such a force he felt himself being pushed backwards and into the rigid body of the man behind him. This only served to increase his memory and force of the spell. The silvery light grew and grew until the massive shield form of his patronus appeared. The Dementor disintegrated to nothing in a resounding bang. The silvery light instead of dispersing, as had done previously against his Boggart, changed into his Stag which started prancing around the room looking for more Dementors. It was not alone however. The Stag was joined by a Doe. They moved together gracefully as one, before jumping through the window.
Both Harry and Severus stood transfixed at the sight of the dual patronus forms, which were seen jumping through the courtyard of Hogwarts before rubbing their bodies together and merging to become one before fading from sight.
The class stood mesmerised at the spectacle. Most had their mouths open either in awe or shock.
After a few seconds, Severus cleared his throat loudly before speaking in a sneering condescending tone, whilst circling Harry looking only at him,
"Well well, who would have thought that some rumours in this school could actually be true? It shouldn't have surprised me that you would have to create an attention seeking spectacle such as what we just witnessed. It really does confirm to me, how very much you love the limelight and celebrity status."
Harry knew now that Severus didn't mean a word of what he had just said but it still hurt he was making him out to be a self-centred, attention seeking brat in front of the class.
"Potter, I would like a word in private. I think I need to make it more difficult for you to remember your happy memory ever again. I am sure no-one wants to bear witness to your sickeningly, self absorbed performance!"
Severus had started striding to the far end of the platform as he spoke. Once he had jumped down Harry followed slowly. Hermione gave him a weak smile as he passed her.
Once out in the corridor with the door firmly closed, they locked eyes. Harry didn't know whether he still wanted to kill this man or fling himself into his arms. The sight of their joint patronus forms entwining before disappearing had been very romantic and erotic, Harry thought.
Severus threw a quick wandless nonverbal silencing charm around them. "What the bloody fuck was that Harry?" Harry knew the professor was experiencing a number of conflicting emotions as was he.
"I could have killed you in there, Sev. Shit I really wanted to" tears welling in his eyes as he spoke.
I am not talking about that Harry, we will need to analyse that later, thank Merlin your know-it-all friend was quick enough to disarm you", Severus said trying to shake off the memory and fear at the time.
"I am talking about your Patronus. Our Patronus, I suppose."
Harry shrugged "It was quite something eh?" a glint in his eye and a yearning to entwine with his soul mate, as the Stag and Doe had done, growing stronger.
"Harry" Severus growled slowly. "Please try to keep your mind on the fact that we now have a class of 6th year reprobates, discussing the form your Patronus took. Your friend Granger might just work out what it is she just witnessed!"
"Firstly Severus, no-one knows what form your patronus takes. I have only found out just now when you confirmed it was indeed yours. Secondly, Hermione saw us together in the corridor earlier today and when I admitted to her I was gay, she put two and two together. She knows about us."
Severus paled and groaned whilst rubbing his face with his hands. "Shit" he said tiredly.
"She doesn't know any of the details but she does know we are ..."friends""
"And that is meant to make me feel better? She will think I am a sick, perverted paedophile for Merlin's sake and she is bound to mouth off to that idiot boyfriend of hers!"
"I thought you didn't care about what people thought of you and she gave me her word she wouldn't tell anyone. I trust her"
"I don't care what people think about me in general, but I do about this" Severus felt sickened and defeated and Harry knew it.
"We can trust her. I will work out a way, without telling her the whole truth, to make her understand what we have isn't sick Severus. I promise"
Harry had once again started to reach out to touch his mate but the older man growled, stopping him in his tracks.
"We better get back in there before they start wondering what the hell it is I am doing to you. If someone fails to produce a Patronus of sufficient strength to repel your Boggart, which is likely in most cases, try and use less power behind your own. We cannot risk another display like that and I don't want you becoming too tired, since if you fail to repel one, I would have to step in. Merlin forbid my Patronus takes the same form as yours. We would be just as well standing on the rooftops and declaring our relationship and bond to the world right now!"
Harry smiled at the thought but realised that was not an option and was sadly, unlikely ever to be so.
The rest of the class had continued without too much trouble. Only Hermione and Luna had managed to repel the Dementor effectively. None of the Slytherins, having not had the benefit of previous practice in the DA, managed to produced so much as a single silvery wisp, much to Malfoy's disgust. Harry had managed to control the power of his magic sufficiently for the Stag and Doe to only once make a very brief appearance. The rest of the time, only the shield form appeared. Toward the end of the class however, as the last Slytherin approached the top of the line, he was starting to feel utterly exhausted. He glanced back at Severus, who still stood directly behind him and gave him a brief pointed look, trying to convey how tired he was. As he moved forward again towards the Boggart he took a deep breath, the Dementor once again loomed over him. After the Slytherin had two failed attempts at repelling it Harry raised his wand,
"Expecto Patronum".
Nothing Happened.
"Expecto Patronum" he shouted again with everything he had. He didn't care if the Stag and Doe appeared, they had all seen it anyway and it would be better than risk Severus casting his too strongly and everyone finding out what form his took.
The silvery wisps that were produced from Harry's wand, at this latest casting, were insufficient to even form a small shield. He felt Severus draw his wand behind him. He knew that he was worried the Boggart would change to represent his biggest fear, more than he was worried about the risk of revealing his Patronus, so did not step in front of Harry. Before Severus had a chance to utter the required words, they were shouted in a loud determined voice from further back in the room. The silvery form of Hermione's Otter came rushing up past Harry and the Dementor vanished. Severus let out a small breath in relief that the rest of the class believed to be irritation and turned on Hermione scowling. Hermione saw gratitude flicker through her professor's eyes briefly before he started speaking
"Miss Granger that is the 2nd time in this class you have displayed you obvious belief that I am incapable of protecting myself. Are you completely unable to control yourself sufficiently to not show off your textbook, parrot fashion knowledge or your dubious ability! Since you already have detention with me this evening, for your narrow-minded imbecilic behaviour and comments earlier today, you now have the same pleasure for the rest of the week and weekend!"
"Class dismissed!"
Harry was struggling not to laugh at this melodramatic display of acting from Severus. He could feel the gratitude the man felt towards Hermione.
Harry started to walk off the platform to go collect his things and leave. He could hardly walk in a straight line, he was that exhausted.
"Not you Potter!" Severus sneered.
The rest of the class filtered out quietly, but loud, excited talking could be heard as the class entered the corridor. Hermione needed to pull Ron out of the class, who was once again protesting about leaving their friend with the sadistic git on his own. Hermione managed eventually to get Ron out but they were the last to leave the room.
Severus slammed the door the second they had cleared the doorway with flick of his wand. He also threw up a quick silencing charm at the door cutting out Ron's swearing at having the door slammed in his face. Letting out a loud sigh, Severus sat down heavily on the edge of the platform.
Harry sat directly behind him with his legs spread wide and pulled Severus between them. He wrapped his arms around the man's middle and pressed his chest and groin into the tired slumped figure in front of him. Placing his head on the tense shoulder he slowly began sucking and nibbling at Severus's ear before moving down slightly to the small area of neck that was exposed just beneath. Harry's face was buried in silky smooth black hair and he breathed in its intoxicating scent. He truly was exhausted but he could feel himself growing hard at Severus' quiet sighs of pleasure. Thrusting his hardness gently into the top of Severus arse, Harry let out a quiet groan of his own, but stopped the gentle rocking of his hips. He was still hard but too tired to even move. Both men sat like this, pleasantly aroused for what felt like a minute or two, in silence. Severus didn't have the energy to act on his arousal either it seemed and was just as happy to sit like this taking comfort from each other.
There was a sudden gentle cough from the direction of the door. Severus snapped his head round and abruptly pulled away from Harry, jumping down from the platform, quickly covering up the obvious bulge in his trousers with his robe as he did so. Harry had still been leaning heavily into Severus' back and he was pulled off the stage, as the tight grip he had had around the man's waist was broken.
"Shit" Harry said out loud, just managing to gain his feet and land back in Severus's arms as he caught him.
"Miss Granger! Do you think you have not managed to irritate and anger me enough today that you decided to come barging in here without knocking first!"
"Professor Snape I am really sorry to intrude on you and Harry, but I did knock first. It's just that Professor Dumbledore asked me to tell Harry he would like to see him, before he heads to the Great Hall for dinner. Sir he also said he was looking for you, so I said I would pass on the message if I saw you both. I came here after realising Harry had not yet returned to our Common Room."
Harry, feeling Severus' agitation thought it best he spoke first.
"We've only been here a few minutes Hermione",
Hermione blushed slightly and looked at the floor "Emm Class finished an hour ago"
"Oh" Harry felt the heat now rising to his own face slightly.
"Regardless of the reason Miss Granger, it would be advisable for you to learn, that if a knock on a door goes unanswered, to just walk away!"
Severus stormed past Hermione not looking at her and left the room.
"I'm sorry Harry if I intruded and if this is going to make things difficult for you. Professor Snape knowing that I know that is. Professor Dumbledore had asked Ron to convey the message to you but I managed to convince him I would look for you on my way to the library"
"He'll be fine. It's just that our relationship is a bit complicated. He is worried that you think he is a perverted old man, but it isn't like that, Hermione. You just have to believe me, I can't tell you the details"
"Harry, I was a little...disturbed that you and he seemed to be together, initially. I was worried he was using you or something. I now realise there is more to it than that. You are too strong a person and wizard to be used by someone to start with, and your patronus wouldn't have been affected the way it has if you didn't share something special with him. I presume his is a Doe?"
Harry nodded.
"Seeing you together just now confirmed to me that you want to be with him. I might not like it or understand it Harry, but I'm glad you can maybe find some happiness and peace with him"
"Thanks Hermione for at least accepting it. Oh and cheers for not getting Ron down here, I could do without him knowing right now! Right, I better go and see what the Headmaster wants. Hopefully see you at Dinner in a minute"
Harry tried to run through the corridors in an attempt to catch up with Severus but he really could hardly manage to walk, never mind run. When he arrived at the spiral staircase, he didn't think he could even summon the energy to climb the stairs and clung on to the railing, as feelings of nausea and weakness washed through him. He looked up to see Severus coming down from the headmaster's office toward him, although he didn't look much better. When he reached the bottom he quickly scanned the corridor and seeing no-one, lifted the smaller wizard up in his arms and carried him to the Headmasters sitting room and placed him on, what they referred to as "their sofa". Albus hovered over the weak, washed out form of Harry and tut tutted before instructing Fawkes to go and fetch Madame Pomfrey. The mediwitch appeared a second later, carrying her bag full of potions.
"A fairly straight forward treatment for magic overexertion I think would do the trick Poppy, but I would like you to look him over none-the-less"
Severus collapsed on the armchair beside Harry, as if carrying the lightweight wizard had taken the last of his strength.
"I think it would be prudent to check this one over as well while you are at it" Albus instructed indicating Severus with a nod of the head.
Poppy frowned and looked between the two exhausted wizards and raised a questioning eyebrow at Albus.
"Not now Poppy, although all may become clearer to you in a moment"
Poppy had obviously known that these two men had spent time together alone, in the Professors private rooms, the night the students had returned from the summer break, but she had pushed the thoughts of what that could mean to the furthest recesses of her brain. She had heard the rumours circulating the school, everyone had, but she dismissed them as too outrageous. She knew Albus was crazy but totally insane he was not. She thought she at least knew him well enough to know he wouldn't tolerate such a thing, especially between these two.
Poppy drew her wand and made a few sweeping motions over Harry's now almost unconscious form.
"Overexertion is indeed the problem Albus, but it is more severe than I have seen in many a year". She knelt down beside Harry and gently gave him a shake to rouse him long enough to drink down a restorative followed by a pick me up potion. As Harry swallowed the last drop of the latter, he gave a shiver.
"Once this takes effect, your own magic will heal itself fairly rapidly over the next few hours; it just needed a helping hand to get started. In a day or two you will be back to normal. Try to avoid doing any magic however, until I say you are strong enough" she finished with a warning frown.
Turning to Severus, she waved her wand over his body and scowled. She repeated the diagnostic sweep and turned to look at Albus, who gave her a knowing but questioning look over the rim of his spectacles. Harry could already feel his magic return and the speed at which it did, gained momentum as every second passed.
Severus also seemed to regain some more of his composure at the same time, as he sat up a bit straighter in his chair.
Poppy turned back to Severus and once again cast a diagnostic spell.
"I don't understand" Poppy muttered.
She then turned to look at Harry who was now sitting, looking bright eyed and his normal self again.
She waved her wand again at Harry and gasped.
"This can't be! Albus what is going on here?"
"Poppy, what is it you think may be going on here?" Albus said quietly with a gleam in his eye
"Well I just don't understand. I think I have seen this phenomenon once before but that can't be the case here" Poppy said scowling
"You see Albus the first time I cast an "egritudo omnes" on Severus, it informed me of a severe case of overexertion but it went from severe to minor in the time I took to cast it. At the second casting it only reported Severus being mildly drained. It is just not possible to heal so fast, unaided from such severe overexertion! The last spell I cast was directed at his magic only, which revealed it is now fully restored and that he has not cast a spell in over 4 hours! He should not have been as exhausted as he was in the first place!"
She stopped staring incredulously at Severus and turned her scowl on Harry.
"Mr. Potter however did indeed have a steady case of severe overexertion but when I cast again just now, his magic is also fully restored, even though it reports continuous levels of strenuous spell casting over the last 6 hours! But that's not all. Both Mr. Potter and Severus magic have the same signature Albus!"
"Mmmm Indeed very interesting" Albus said smiling slightly at the look of disbelieve on the Mediwitch's face.
"Interesting? Are you going to explain what is going on here?"
"I ask you my original question again Poppy, what is it you believe is happening here?" Albus responded.
"Albus you very well know to what it is I am referring, but I can't believe this could possibly be the case here. It would be scandalous"
Severus had stood and was standing with his back to the others looking out over the lake.
"I would quite like to know what is going on too Headmaster" Harry said quietly. He now felt good; if still a bit tired.
Poppy turned and looked at Harry questioningly, then back to Albus "He doesn't even know? How is that possible? How is any of this possible? He is just a 16 year old boy Albus!"
Poppy please calm down, it is not as dreadful as it may first appear. I'm afraid I can't take too long in explaining this or indeed explain it fully, but you need to know some of the facts; it may impact on how you treat these boys in the future, should they ever require it."
Poppy stood waiting tensely.
"Harry and Severus do indeed share a soul bond of the kind you suspect. How this came about, is not something I can reveal at this time but you should know, it was not at my hand or through any intentional ceremonious means."
Poppy opened her mouth as if to speak but said nothing. She was speechless and had a look of shocked horror on her face.
"I know that the idea of these boys being bonded in this way will be distasteful to you Poppy. Please rest assured that we are working together on this to minimise the more...difficult aspects the bond. It is a rather complex matter, they may need your assistance in helping them through this at some point, so please try and trust me by accepting it, even if you do understand it."
"Albus I will always trust what you say and since I cannot contemplate anyone agreeing to an intentional bonding of this nature between these two, when Mr. Potter is only 16, I will accept it and help where I can. Do not expect me to like it or understand it however, unless you can enlighten me further."
"Thank you Poppy. Your trust is appreciated. Maybe one day these boys will repay your trust and share with you their story. It is quite interesting."
With a nod of the Headmasters head, the mediwitch knew she had been dismissed and collected her things quietly before turning to Harry and giving him a sad smile before leaving.
"Professor? I still do not understand exactly what happened today, but my magic and Severus' have joined somehow, hasn't it?" Harry questioned once Madame Pomfrey had gone.
"Yes Harry I believe it has, it is no longer two separate entities but one shared between you. You will not only have the ability to cast more powerful spells together but can draw power from the other when casting alone. I believe by casting Legilimens, as powerfully as you both did over lunch today, followed by some fun duelling with your friend immediately before having to spend two hours fighting Dementors, proved to be enough to drain both of you until almost empty. Any normal wizard would have collapsed much sooner, maybe even caused permanent damage to their core. It also appears, from Poppy's description of your recoveries, that you recover much faster too and aid each other in that process."
Dumbledore looked genuinely excited by the development.
"I am sure Severus will be able to do some reading around this matter to help you understand what is happening here, although it is fairly rare, even between bonded couples, there are some books on the matter all the same. Now we must all go and get something to eat. Severus you go on ahead, I would like a quick word with Harry before we join you." Severus had been lost in thought and turned at the sound of his name.
"Certainly Albus" Severus nodded his head briefly as a goodbye gesture and left.
"Now Harry, how are things going with Professor Slughorn?"
Harry let out an exasperated breath, "Yeah alright, I am in the Slugclub and getting to know him a little better. There is one of his little parties tomorrow night actually".
"Very good, try and stay in his good books. I believe you are top of his class in potions now"
"Yeah I am sure my connection to Severus has helped". Harry really didn't want to divulge how his potions textbook had been helping him too. He hadn't even told Severus about it.
"I am sure it probably has" Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Now on you go and eat, or Madame Pomfrey will have my head in my hands before I know it"
After dinner Harry and Hermione headed to Severus' offices for the detention he had set them. Harry hoped Severus had forgotten that he had asked them to bring their potions textbook. He had brought it but didn't want him seeing it and confiscating it from him. When they arrived, they found their Professor dosing behind his desk. Harry walked quietly until he was in front of the desk, leaned over and placed a soft kiss on the man's lips. Without opening his eyes, Severus let out a soft groan and brought his hands up to gently captures Harry face and started to return the kiss. Hermione took a sharp intake of breath. At the sound, Severus snapped opened his eyes and broke away from Harry abruptly. "Mr. Potter what the hell do you think you are doing!"
"Ermm...giving you a kiss to waken you?"
Severus growled and looked over at Hermione, who was blushing furiously and looking at the floor.
"Severus calm down, Hermione knows about us, anyway she did see us together earlier"
"Regardless of what she thinks she knows Mr. Potter, do I appear to be the sort of man that would enjoy any show of public affection? Whilst in my class or in detention, you will refer to me as Professor, which is still what I am and you will act as my student, which is what you are. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir" Harry said sheepishly. He could feel the anger Severus felt but thankfully could understand it. He needed to appease him before this could turn any worse.
"I am really sorry Professor, I was just not thinking"
"Emphf" was the only response Severus gave. Harry sighed in relief as he felt Severus's anger dissipate.
"Miss Granger, under these rather unusual circumstances, you are excused from serving your detention with me tonight. Instead you will spend the time in the library researching the various forms and uses of the Patronus Charm. A two foot essay on the subject, to be on my desk first thing tomorrow".
Hermione nodded in acknowledgement and turned to leave.
"And Miss. Granger..."
Hermione stopped and turned back to face her Professor.
"...I want to...thank you for your adequately performed Patronus charm this afternoon. I take it I do not need to remind you to not tell anyone why you think you needed to cast it or indeed what it is you think you know."
"Of course, Professor Snape".
With a nod from Severus, Hermione smiled an apologetic smile at Harry and left, closing the door behind her quietly as she went.
As soon as the door closed Harry collapsed onto his back on a large, imposing leather sofa that sat against the wall in Severus' office and groaned. He was mentally and physically exhausted. The pepper-up potion had obviously worn off, he thought.
Severus snorted and rolled his eyes at the sight of Harry sprawled across his sofa. He had not seen anyone sit on it in recent years, never mind look comfortable doing so. Yet here was Harry Potter, of all people, sprawled across it, as if he was at home. Harry hadn't seen the rolling of the eyes or the small smile that followed; he hadn't been able to keep his eyes open long enough. Severus advanced on the sprawled out figure in front of him, watching the tension slowly ebb out the young face. His heart ached to hold him tight and just...sleep. The feeling he knew was his own but it was no less foreign to him than some of Harry's feelings he had experienced today. He had never slept beside anyone before, unless it had been a brief post sex dose. He usually preferred to leave his lovers bed or to kick one out of his own, before doing anything as personal as sleeping. Now, that is all he yearned for.
Severus leant down and gave the soft relaxed lips, a small kiss.
Harry sighed contentedly and opened his eyes slowly, speaking though a yawn
"Oh Sev, let's go sleep, together, please?" Harry knew Severus wanted that too and felt safe and comforted that they were slowly overcoming some of their own personal barriers to their relationship.
"You go on ahead to my rooms first Harry, the Snake will let you in, but try not fall asleep in your robes. However pleasant I might find it, if I were required to undress you, it may not be for the best" Severus smiled wickedly although Harry knew the man was joking; he was too tired, as was he, to summon the energy to even think about sex.
"There are clean sleeping garments in my room, help yourself. I believe you know where they are kept since you have already had the dubious pleasure of having to dress me for sleep". Both Harry and Severus winced slightly at the memory of that first night back at Hogwarts.
"Make sure you are not seen. I will only be 5 minutes behind you."
Harry took out his invisibility cloak from his robe pocket and brandished it at Severus, who snorted at the sight of the thing, that cloak had caused him more grief in his life than Harry knew.
"I came prepared" Harry said smirking as he turned and left.
Severus followed Harry's steps five minutes later. On letting himself into his rooms he was greeted by a warm glow and a comfortable heat that was unusual on his return after a long day. Harry had lit a large fire and candles flickered around the room. Severus smirked and shook his head. He felt more at home here now, than he had ever done. Sadness crept over him as he remembered that this would, ironically, be his last year here, but he refused to dwell on these thoughts tonight.
Harry lay curled up, on top of the bed. He wore a pair of Severus' black silk pyjama bottoms but nothing else. The sight made Severus take a sharp intake of breath, the young man before him truly was stunning. He quickly changed into a matching pair of pyjama bottoms and approached the bed quietly. Harry had obviously been too tired to even make it under the covers. He gently pulled them from beneath Harry's sleeping form, gently covering him before slipping slowly in beside the warm toned body. The movement of the bed caused Harry to stir slightly, who shuffled backwards until his back was touching Severus' bare chest. Wrapping his arms around Harry middle, Severus pulled the sleepy wizard even closer and curled his entire body around the smaller, but defiantly not childlike, one beside him. He ran his hands over the tight muscular chest and down over the equally toned abdomen. He really is a man, Severus thought as he felt the line of hair which started at Harry's navel and ran downward until it disappeared under the waistband of the borrowed Pyjama bottoms. Severus let out a sigh. He never though in a million years he would have a man in his bed and be content just to hold him and sleep. Harry also let out a contented sound at feeling Severus's peace mix with his own and whispered sleepily "Severus" before entwining his fingers with the ones resting on his abdomen and bringing them up still clasped together and resting them, in a tight embrace, against his chest. The peace and completeness Severus felt in that instant, was almost overwhelming as he surrendered to sleep.
A/N Hope you enjoyed it! This story has taken on a bit of a life of its own. My original outlines for the last two chapters were nothing like this! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I am enjoying writing it. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read this and especially to Eiri and Kurama lover07 for your amazing words, although I might just be her ;-) AlmondWithUnicornHair and Sheankelor for your ongoing support and Bronkwin2 for encouraging me to keep my intended pace! Let me know what you all think! x
PS I know this is a crucial turning point in the story but unfortunately I have to start working again on stuff that might pay the bills(I know boring) and will be taken up with that for the next few days... or that is the plan anyway. I promise tho there will be an update be the Friday at the latest!