Mini dictionary: cazzo - fuck / polizia - police / bastardo - bastard / magia - magic /
Chapter Eleven: Betrayal and Devotion
o.O.o
Every day after the fundraiser Severus woke up promising himself that he would talk to Potter. Confess to him, or at least try to explain him what had happened between him and Ettore. And every day, when he had seen those stormy green eyes during breakfast his resolution would evaporate like spilt water on a scorching summer's day. Potter's words, like the rattling chains of a vengeful ghost echoed in his mind, stirring him up, leaving him restless. Would Potter believe him now? A week went by like this, in constant agonizing swirl of what ifs and could it be-s and the day of Ettore's return was coming closer and closer. Until one morning he woke up, realizing that tonight the Italian would hold his show and then be back in Scotland. Claiming what was Severus'. Or at least, should be.
Severus, still in pyjamas and his nightgown, sat at his desk in the oval office, staring out at the sunrise. It had to happen today and yet, he felt himself weakened by that thought. What if Potter refused him? Could he handle that? He must surely, for the sake of the school, he had to keep Potter here no matter what, yet to live with him after being rejected… Oh it would kill him. He took a deep breath to calm his clenching heart. He was about to stand when a misty, blue smudge of fog appeared on his desk.
He stared at it, wand already in hand and pointing at the slowly swirling haze. He walked around the desk, head tilted trying to figure out what on earth it was. As seconds passed by, the smog seemed to solidify and in the same time, take a shape. A shape of an eagle. An eagle patronus, to be precise.
The eagle lifted its head and opened its beak but instead of a squawk, a well know Italian accent said, "Severus, my friend, I am terribly sorry for this early message." Ettore sounded distressed, almost panicked, which alarmed Severus as well. "I require your help. No, I need your help, Severus, desperately. If you are willing to hear me out, let me through your fireplace at seven o'clock sharp. I ask you to summon Harry and Draco too, this concerns them as well. I beg of you, Severus, my whole career depends on this."
After the last word came out of the bird, the eagle bowed its head than disappeared in a puff of smoke. Severus stared at the place where it stood for a second longer then looked at the clock on his wall. He had fifteen minutes. He summoned his doe and sent it to both Draco and Potter with the short message of, "Come to my office immediately. Use the fire."
Not even two minutes had passed when the colour of the small fire switched to green and an unruly haired young man stumbled across it. Severus swiftly caught him before he could fall to the ground and looked down on Potter. His heart missed a beat at the sight.
Potter must have been woken up by his message. He clearly looked as he had just climbed out of the bed. His glasses were slightly askew, eyes still looking sleepy but alarmed, and shining oh so green in the morning light. His hair was a mess and Severus longed to run his fingers through it to mess it up even more. Potter was also half naked, wearing only dark grey, wool pyjama pants, which were so baggy, they stayed snugly on Potter's hips only thanks to the white cord that was knotted in a bow at the front. If Severus were to pull on the string and untie it…
He groaned quietly, his breathing quickening. Potter did not move from his arms. His skin was still bed warm and soft and suddenly Severus realized he was lightly caressing the young man's waist. Potter inched closer, his fluffy mule slippers tickled Severus' bare feet and next a leg slipped between his thighs and Potter's bare chest pressed against his. The eyes that never left his were burning like green fire, as ever so slowly Severus slipped his hands over Potter's waist, fingertips gently tracing his vertebra.
"This better not be the reason why you summoned me" drawled a sleepy voice. "Unlike some, I do not have voyeuristic tendencies."
Potter backed away instantaneously, green eyes widening and the previous angry storm waking up in the depth of those emerald pools.
"There was a message from Ettore. He should be here in a couple of minutes," Severus explained glaring at Draco. "He has a request for us, which is the reason why you are here."
He shrugged off his nightgown without even a second thought and draped it across Potter's bare shoulders. He received a weird glance, but the young man did not push it off himself. Instead, he drew his hands through the sleeves and wrapped it tightly around his body, then tied the belt without a word.
They were sitting silently, drinking hot coffee by the time Ettore stepped through the green fire, staggering. He clutched into the sill of the fireplace to steady himself and Draco stood right away to help him, but Ettore held up a hand. "No need, Draco, I am alright. International Floo travel is rather… dizzying. But I had to hurry and this was faster than applying for a Portkey."
"Sit," Draco ordered, stirring the Italian towards his chair. "Coffee? Tea?"
Ettore gulped all but blanching, "I rather not, thank you."
"What can we do for you, Ettore?" Severus asked finally after giving Ettore some time to catch his breath.
Ettore looked all three of them in the eyes before he answered in a serious tone, "You know of my show tonight, correct? I have been working on it in the last year. The new collection is… ah rather spectacular. And now, thanks to a fool my whole work might crumble apart like a house of cards in a tornado!"
"What happened?"
"The most despicable thing that could happen to a designer," Ettore fumed, fist coming down hard on the desk. "My ideas got stolen! Abominable people, leeches, all of them!" After a string of Italian swearwords Ettore took a deep breath and went on calmer. "My model, as it turned out, spied on me and stole my sketches. Sold them to my great rival out of spite and jealousy. I was there last night when Bernardo introduced my creations to the public. Ah, cazzo!"
"So what now? You can't make the same show, tonight, can you?" Potter asked hands fumbling with the black belt in his lap.
"Oh I could but that would be the end of my career," Ettore groaned. "No, I would need to come up with a new set in one day. Which I obviously cannot achieve. Luckily, however there were designs they could not stole and with a little tweak I could combine this collection with a different one. And this is where you come in the picture."
"I'm afraid neither one us knows anything about designing," said Draco with a hint of laughter in his voice. "I mean look at these two," he sneered motioning at Potter's wool pyjamas and Severus' simple black t-shirt and thin, cotton pants. He was wearing impeccable silk robes as usual for a Malfoy. "But I might know some designers who could help you out. And I definitely know some people who could… sprinkle some salt on your leeches."
Ettore was in front of Draco the next moment, Severus did not even see him stand up and walk there. His hand was in the blond hair, lips twisting into an evil smile. "I do not need any designer, I need a drago to breathe fire upon my enemies."
"You got it, sweetheart," Draco grinned, something evil Severus had not seen for a while glinting in his eyes.
"I will give you the name. There is not much the polizia can do with the model but I want him punished. And I need proof. I need someone who can sneak in out of Bernardo's office without being noticed. I know where he keeps the papers. I need someone who can get them for me."
Potter raised a hand suddenly, wicked grin playing on his lips, too. "I think I might be able to help with that actually."
"Spells won't work," Ettore stated.
"Who said anything about spells," Potter replied chancing a glance at Severus.
"You still have that blasted cloak? And it is still working?" asked Severus.
"Oh I certainly do and it certainly does," he reassured them easily.
"Cloak?"
"Cloak of Invisibility," Potter explained. "My dad never got to build a tree house for me, but he did leave me a pretty good gift."
Ettore smiled darkly then pulled out a piece of parchment from his pocket and tapped it with his wand. He held the paper out to Draco. "This is the name. Do not hurt him, but make him suffer, mio drago."
"With pleasure," Draco replied.
"There is something else," Ettore stated turning to Severus and Harry. "Something very special. The new collection is… well… not a simple collection. It has a special theme. Anyway. The two opening pieces… they are a set, so to speak. I have been working on them for a while, for months perhaps, they were more of a hobby. But I have been stuck with them. Something just did not feel right. Until two weeks ago, when we had that little chat, remember Severus?"
Severus remembered, of course he did. Potter looked at him, suddenly curious and irritated at the same time.
"Now they are ready. And the new theme is based on them; they are essential for this show to be successful. However, there is only two people who I would allow to wear something this special. Which is why, I need you two to model for me."
"This is mad! Ridiculous!"
"You got to be kidding me!"
"You must be out of your mind…"
"That, my dear boy, is absolutely brilliant."
Ettore looked around searching for the fourth man who had also commented on his statement. "Ah," he smiled at the old, bearded man, whose painted eyes were twinkling mischievously. "You must be the famous Professore Dumbledore. I have heard a great deal about you."
"Don't believe half it, young man," Albus said. "This idea of yours, it is rather…"
"Mad?" Severus offered.
"Unusual, I would say. I am sure you have something to offer our Slytherin Headmaster in return. After all, surely a man like you are not naïve enough to think Severus Snape would agree to this without a… good incentive."
"Of course," Ettore nodded, sly smile on his face. "If you get me the papers, I will sue and I will win and let me tell you, Bernardo Governale will pay a huge amount of money for this mistake. Tons of Florins, all yours."
"I do not need your money," Severus stated fiercely.
"You do not. But your school does," Ettore said, then looking at Potter, he added, "And so does… Lumos, was it? The money will be all yours, you do whatever you want with it."
"What amount are we talking about?" Draco asked with a calculating tone.
"Seven figures at least," Ettore answered. "All yours to keep. Think about it. No more fundraisers, no more boring charity galas. You can make a new school out of that money."
"Why don't you want it?" Potter asked.
"I have money, I do not care about that. I just want to see Bernardo humiliated. I want every man and woman in our world to know what an uncreative, stealing bastardo that man is. No one steals from Ettore Serafini. No one."
Severus did not like the determined look on Potter's face. The righteous little shit was considering the deal. Severus felt like screaming. Modelling? What a nightmare! And yet, he knew, if Potter said yes… He could not let him go alone. A day with Ettore in Italy? Whoever knew what the inebriating, sweet taste of revenge would make them do?
"I'm in," Potter said suddenly, wide grin on his face.
"Potter!" Severus could not help but exclaim. "Damn you!"
Potter shrugged mutinously, "You don't have to come."
"Actually," Ettore raised a hand, "you do. Your clothes are a set. Perfect fit. You are to stride on the catwalk together. No one was supposed to wear these or even lay eyes on them. These were… inspirational clothes. Not for the eyes of the public, that is. They contain my own magia, you see, which is why I am so angry at Bernardo and the model. Their betrayal makes me do something I have not done since my debut. I would not trust anyone else with these. My plan is worthless if you do not come with me. Please, Severus, I beg of you, do not refuse me once more."
"Once more?" Potter asked his gaze shifting between Severus and Ettore as if watching two Chasers passing the Quaffle between them. "What do you mean once more? What does he mean once more, Snape? Tell me!" demanded Potter. "Snape, tell me!"
"What do you think once more means, Potter?" Severus snapped.
"What our dear friend tries to say," Ettore cut in, his tone placatory, "that in February he had refused my advances."
"He did not," Potter stated. "I was there, I saw you two."
"You did?" Asked Ettore slowly before he shook his head, then said, "Harry, you are mistaken. Nothing happened between the two of us. I did my best, which was probably what you had witnessed, however… Severus' heart was… let us say, not in it and we agreed, we are better off as friends."
"Friends?" Potter growled at Severus. "What the hell is going on here, Snape?"
"Oh for Merlin's sake," Draco grunted. "You can't be that daft, Potter. Look at Dumbledore, even he knows what is going on and he's dead."
The old man was indeed beaming happily at them, twirling his white beard around his forefinger. "Alas, Mister Malfoy, things are easier to notice when looked upon from the outside. Or in my case, from above."
Angry green eyes set strictly on Severus, Potter said, "You two, get out of here. I need to have a word with our dear Headmaster. Let's meet up in front of the Great Hall in twenty minutes.
Severus' gaze followed the softly smirking Ettore and Draco as they walked through the greenly burning fire once again. When the flames swallowed the two bodies, his eyes reluctantly returned to Potter.
"You said-" Potter started angrily, but his words got caught in his throat. "You said he… I know what I've seen."
"You do not know what you have seen, neither what I have said."
"Just fucking stop with these riddles, Snape, will you?" Potter hissed leaning over his table. The scene hauntingly reminded Severus of that night in the Library, only now they were in reverse. "Tell me what happened! Is it true? What Ettore said?"
He stared into the stormy, emerald orbs for a second then replied curtly, "Yes."
"Why did you lie then?" The young man asked fiercely.
"I didn't lie, Potter, I simply let you assume something. And don't you dare be affronted by that! You did the exact same thing that night."
Potter huffed, eyes drifting away just to return over Severus to glare at him angrily. "What's Severus then?"
"A fucking piece of clothing, Potter! Ask the damn designer, not me!"
Potter plopped down into the chair, leaned back and watched Severus for a few seconds, perhaps even minutes. The tip of his forefinger drummed anxiously on the armrest.
When he spoke again, his tone was levelled, not angry anymore. "So what, he really was just tying your shoes back then, and I need new glasses?"
Severus leant forward, elbows resting on his desk. "I was not wearing shoes back then, Potter, and you know that. He was licking my cock through my pants, which is as far as we have ever gotten. Which cannot be said about the two of you."
Potter's lush lips pulled into a snarl. "He kissed me, Snape, once. That's hardly the same."
"No, indeed, that's way worse, Potter," Severus snapped. "Much more meaningful."
Potter leaned forward, challenging expression on his face. "Believe me, it was not nearly as meaningful as when I had you against my back, with your hand around my cock."
"Then he is not a very good kisser."
"Or your hand feels really good on my cock," stated Potter.
They watched each other, Severus itching to stand, to go and make Potter feel really, really good then. The green eyes were all but burning him and he had to look aside before he did something reckless. "Potter…" he sighed, leaning back.
Potter grabbed his hand, voice pleading, "Don't you back away now. Don't you fucking dare… please…"
"Do you remember, why I offered you this position, Potter?" Asked Severus softly, watching their hands. Potter felt so warm, so reassuring, it was like holding on to a mug of coffee.
"To break the curse," he nodded. "I know what you think. That this will end badly, and I'll be out of here before the semester ends. But-"
"But what?" Severus asked sharply. "Can you guarantee me that if I allow this to happen then we will not be found out? That the Board of Governors will not file a sexual harassment report against me and send me on my way the moment they hear about this? Fire you? I am out of options, Potter. I do not have any applicants for your post, none. I need you here, Potter. Hogwarts needs you to be on this post for one more year. Or tell me what I am supposed to do. Teach it myself? Make Draco do it and lose him too? Go on, tell me!"
"Snape…" Potter sighed, looking to the side, pulling his hand back but Severus grasped it.
"One word, Potter, and I risk it. You know I would. Damn, I almost did it the moment I hired you. I meant what I said in that Library. I, me, Severus Snape, I need you, too. I need you like air, more than air, more than anything in fact."
"But," said Potter, pulling his hands back and standing up. For a moment, Severus though he would leave and he felt a sudden twist in his stomach, but instead, Potter walked around the desk and stopped right next to Severus. Severus pushed himself up too and looked down at Potter, who then finally continued to speak. "But this is your school now. Your kingdom," he smiled. "And your kingdom comes first, right, my king?"
Severus chuckled darkly and leant to Potter's ear so his words would not be overheard by long dead headmasters. He let his lips brush against the shell making the young wizard shudder as he whispered, "Honestly, I would rather just make you come. Again and again until you are covered in your own semen."
Laughing, Potter pushed him away. He was blushing as he looked up, burning green eyes, wet lips, hands still fisted in Severus' old shirt. "That's not fair. You can't just say stuff like that, you know. Not unless… you act on it."
"Fuck…" Severus muttered running five fingers through his own hair first, then Potter's. "We need to go. We really do."
Potter nuzzled his hand, eyes closing. His fist tightened around Severus' shirt. "We need to figure this out sooner than later, Snape, because I'm going to go mad like this. Establish some rules. And distance."
"We will," said Severus, then grasped into the thick, black mane and yanked it back, suddenly remembering who they would be spending the weekend with. Potter hissed, then licked his lips, hot breath escaping from his mouth. "And Ettore?"
Smugly, Potter grinned, defiant green eyes looking back at Severus. "Oh, so you want me still loyal, huh? That will be hard. Really hard," he said teasingly, pushing closer.
Severus just snarled, pulling on the raven hair.
"Give me something," moaned the young man, hands sliding around Severus' neck. "I once swore my loyalty to you and you pushed me away. Not anymore, Snape. I need a promise. I don't care how much you make me wait, I'll do it, but I need a promise in return."
Severus tilted his head ever so slowly to the right and leant closer, his fingers still gripping firmly the black mane, holding Potter still. Potter watched him, eyes wide open, lips parting, his breathing faster and faster. They were so close, Severus could feel the hot puffs of air that ghosted across his face, caressed his wet lips. His own eyes flickered between the lips he wanted to taste and the green eyes he all but lost himself in. Potter's arms tightened around his neck, his fingers sliding through long black curls.
He could literally feel the tension between them. Perhaps it was magical energy, but something was there like a great force he had to push through to close that one last final inch. It sparkled and cracked, he could all but feel tiny bubbles of pure energy burst between them, but he kept leaning closer and closer.
Right before their mouths would meet, the moment seemed to freeze. Neither of them exhaled, the air was stuck in their lungs. Potter's eyelids slowly closed, but Severus forced his own to stay open.
Then their lips touched and though it was the briefest of contact, the affect was more than unsettling. An electrifying stream of energy bolted through him. Potter must have felt the same burst of magic because his whole body shuddered and he let out a shaky breath, long, almost a moan.
Severs willed himself not to move for just a moment and stay like that, with Potter's lower lip between his, and just let the realization sink in.
He was kissing Harry Potter. Harry Fucking Potter. Finally.
After years and years of need, lust, dreams full of desire, desperate wanks in the shower, long hours of masturbation in bed, fingers inside himself, around himself, gripping sliding, nothing, nothing could bring the satisfaction he craved so much and all that pent up frustration was now there, between their lips, and Severus savoured it, he could taste it. Taste it all. It was sensational. Liberating. Uplifting. Dangerous. He let it wash over him, take him like a tidal wave.
Fuck, this was a mistake. The dam was broken. There was no way back from here.
Groaning, Potter pushed him away, Severus all but run but his desk didn't let him. Potter stared at him, eyes burning like green fire, his stare eating Severus alive. Severus was sure his own expression was nothing less carnivorous. The energy between them changed. It was pulling them in now, like a magnet.
"Rules," croaked Potter suddenly, reaching behind himself, clutching the windowsill to hold himself at place and not to jump on Severus.
Severus grabbed his desk and backed as far away as it let him. The edge was already cutting into the back of his thighs. He let out a shaky breath. "And distance."
Weak, uncertain laughter left the lush lips. "Let's take a deep breath… and… and…" Panting, Potter couldn't finish.
Severus knew, just knew what was on that mind at this moment and he didn't need any Legilimency for it. Potter wanted to have sex with him – that was what both of them wanted do, what they both craved actually. To fuck right now, right here. If Severus just tore that robe off that young body and untied that white cord, Potter wouldn't say a word. He wouldn't say no, wouldn't tell Severus to stop, to get those hands off him. He would just stand there stark naked and pleading probably. The notion itself was more than intoxicating.
"I would give up Hogwarts for you." He did not realize he actually uttered the words aloud until he saw the green eyes widen slightly. He let go of the table and let the invisible force pull him to Potter. He touched the handsome, young face, his palm sliding up on his neck, thumb caressing the slightly pink cheeks. "Harry, I would."
Potter smiled softly. "I would never ask you to. I don't want you to. Your place is here. And this is your school, your kingdom. This isn't just a stupid metaphor. You earned to be here and what you do here is great. We will deal with this somehow. We need to, otherwise I doubt any of us will be doing much working any time soon." He lips twisted into a playful grin as he added, "I can hardly breathe, my legs are still shaking and my chest hurts so much I'm pretty sure my ribs cracked because my heart is pounding so hard. This is no proper working condition, Headmaster."
Severus leant to Harry's ear, pressing his temple to Potter's. "I could give you air mouth to mouth, I could lift you, pull your legs around my waist and hold you up. I could shower your chest with kisses to ease the pain."
"Severus…" breathed Harry, shifting until their foreheads were touching.
He could feel the brief touch of lips against lips, only a gentle, ghost-like kiss, then Harry pulled away. Severus was never so grateful in his life.
"Go now," he said with a strict voice, which was nothing but pretence. He was weak like a blade of grass against a summer storm.
With one last desperate look at Severus' mouth, Potter turned to leave. Severus watched him walk to the hearth but after throwing a fistful of Floo Powder into the fire, Harry turned back.
"What would you have done if I had kissed just you now? Really kiss you? Hypothetically of course. If life would be easy and we didn't have to worry about curses and such?" Asked Potter with a sudden determination.
Severus leant against his desk. "Well I certainly would not have kissed back. Nor would I have touched you. I would not even have ran my hand over that body of yours. I would most definitely not have felt you up." There were a lot of other things, he certainly would not have done.
"Good thing I didn't do it then," smiled Potter slyly. He unfastened the belt of the robe and let it slid off his half naked body.
Severus had to take a really deep breath. "Oh yes, good indeed. We wouldn't want someone getting hurt."
Potter frowned, "No, you wouldn't hurt me." He pocketed his hands. His pyjama pants slid even further down. Severus could see a dark patch of pubic hair. Potter was smirking.
"Well I couldn't guarantee your safety either."
"What would happen to me?"
Severus shrugged, then his hand went under his shirt and he scratched his belly. He was satisfied to see Potter's gaze follow, then he licked his lips.
"Well first you would be thrown against these bookshelf. That's a couple of bruises to start. Then you might be pushed against it several more times. You head might collide with it as well. Even some books might fall on you because of the… banging. Let's not even talk about other marks, bite and grip."
"Oh Merlin, that doesn't sound half as bad as it should. Any injury that might bleed?"
"I'm no animal, Potter. I might be rough on the edges but I'm soft when it's necessary." Severus assured him.
"Soft?" Harry asked sadly, looking down on Severus' body, a smile flickering over his lips.
"When it's necessary yes. At other times, I can be so hard I can pierce through dragon scales."
Harry inhaled through gritted teeth. "Which are you now?"
Severus looked down on his body, then, on a whim, moved his hand down from his belly over his dark pants. He grabbed his cock, the fabric now perfectly outlining his rigid erection. "Let me know if you need a dragon pierced."
"We're making this really hard, aren't we?" Harry smirked smugly, seemingly not bother by the challenge, but his eyes were stuck on Severus' crotch and he was worrying his lower lip between his teeth.
"Oh love," Severus answered lightly, giving a small stroke to his cock, "this has been hard for you for a long time." Severus wondered just how long they would be able to hold on like this.
Harry moved forward right that second, but a firm voice from above stopped him. "That is off limits for you at the moment, young man." They both looked up at the former Slytherin headmaster. Phineas Nigellus Black was smirking between his frames.
"You think I don't know that?" Potter sighed and stepped into the fire.
Severus looked up at Albus, expecting a lecture. But instead, the old man just smiled at him sadly, "How heart-breaking. I only wish you had this conversation before you hired him."
"We wouldn't have been conversing in that case, Albus."