Chapter 12
After their conversation in the dungeons, Severus and Harry had become much closer. Severus no longer worried that Harry would leave, and Harry had accepted that he was going to be there for a while, so he may as well make what friends he could. However, by the beginning of October the Marauders had still shown no sign of wanting to renew their friendship with Harry. Although Harry had hoped that Remus might approach him, he thought it was time to make a move.
"Hello, Remus," he smiled as he tipped a pile of parchments and quills onto the library table.
Remus looked up and smiled. "Hello, Neville. Where's Severus?"
"Tutoring some of the 3rd years in potions. He's not the most patient teacher in the world, but he knows what he's talking about. They know they're not going to get any better without him and it'll look good on his record. Maybe one day he'll become a teacher."
Remus chuckled. "Severus? I really don't think he has the patience to teach professionally."
"He's respected for potions. If a class respect you enough you don't need a whole lot of patience."
"Perhaps. I always thought understanding was the best policy."
Harry's face became serious. "I thought we were friends, Remus. I thought we had started to understand each other."
Remus sighed. "Neville, I like you. Really, I do. But Slytherin and Gryffindor have never mixed. It just isn't done. I am willing to be your friend, but the others want nothing to do with Slytherin and they never will. And…"
"What?" Harry asked, wondering what else there could possibly be that would make Remus look nervous.
"I can't be friends with Severus. No, Neville," he continued, holding up a hand to stop Harry's protests. "You know who my friends are. I can't afford to lose them. They were the first to accept me. I will not risk losing them. I will be friends with you, but I am afraid your other friends, as well as mine, are part of a separate world. Do not make me choose – you know who will win. So… friends?" Remus stood up, and Harry followed him.
"Friends."
sshpss
"I can't believe you would go and befriend anyone from that bloody house," Severus grouched later that evening.
"It's not like I declared my undying love for him," Harry retorted, lowering his voice with a nervous look at their roommates. "I made friends. Just like I made friends with you."
"But still… a marauder?" Severus spat the word. "I'd rather die."
"Luckily, I'm the one who made friends with Remus, so you won't have to die. All right? Now go to sleep, I'm tired." With that final word on the subject, Harry pulled off his T-shirt and trousers, leaving them in the heap already containing his socks and robe. Dressed just in a pair of red boxers, he slipped under the sheets and fell asleep, unaware of the dark eyes that followed every small sliver of skin exposed.
sshpss
Slipping under the sheets, Severus extinguished the last flickering candle in the room and settled back against the pillow. He looked over at Harry, watching as the slender body turned under the thin cover, causing it to slither down and expose the pale chest.
Severus had known his sexual preference for some time and, although there was no shortage of similarly inclined boys in a school as large as Hogwarts, few wanted to associate themselves with someone like Snape. His overly large nose and potion-greasy hair, not to mention his known interest in the dark arts, left him with few prospective love interests. But Neville was different. Neville was… a friend. A friend and nothing more. Though it was still more affection than he'd ever enjoyed before at Hogwarts. And Neville was gorgeous. Incredibly bright, clear green eyes, soft black hair, small slender body – it was a dream come true. An unattainable dream. That was how hopes and dreams differed, thought Severus; a hope could be achieved, but a dream could just be remembered.
Across from Severus, Harry gave a small sigh and shifted again, wriggling slightly. Severus watched, breath held captive in his chest, as the sheet slipped past Harry's hips, showing off the boxer-clad backside. Severus closed his eyes. Hopeless, wanting something like this. Wanting something more than friendship. Wrong, to ask for more than he'd already been given. Hadn't he always hoped for a friend? Promised nameless gods that a friend was all he'd ever ask for? And now that he had that friend, he wanted more. Human nature was a cruel thing. Severus heard a soft groan and opened his eyes.
Neville had turned over again – did he never stay still while sleeping? – and was now facing Severus. His skin was bathed in white light from the moon creeping out from behind the clouds and there was a rather noticeable bulge beneath his boxers. Severus looked hurriedly away. He shouldn't be watching this. Shouldn't watch as Neville rubbed himself against the sheets. Shouldn't listen to the soft moans and whimpers. Shouldn't find himself reaching across the gap between their beds to help his friend.
Severus jerked his hand away and turned over, facing away from Neville. Hearing another muffled sound from Neville, he buried his head beneath his pillow and tried his best to sleep.
TBC