Fic Title: Pulling Him Up
Chapter Title: Three Is Not A Crowd (25 of ?)
Author: Firesword
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters belong to JK Rowling and so on. I just own the little bits of plot.
Rating: M (For Fluffiness, not so much on language, and definitely for the bits of intimacy.)
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: THREE IS NOT A CROWD
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The alarm rang shrilly. Severus became awake instantly and quickly grabbed his wand to silence it. Then he sighed and relaxed his muscles, which had been tense when the alarm sounded. He shut his eyes and caressed Draco's long hair dreamily. It turned out that their grey-eyed lover was a mover when asleep. At that moment, his face was lightly pressed against Severus' side and stomach.
The older man smiled lazily as he thought of their time together last night. Did I heal the love-bites on my neck? Severus wondered. I don't remember doing it ... I suppose I should wear my high-necked robes again.
Severus decided to let his lovers sleep a little longer and he smiled with amusement when Harry's fingers brushed tenderly on his cheek, all the while asleep. The image of Harry's owl flashed in his mind suddenly.
I have not seen her with him for the past few days…. He sighed. I should remind him not to neglect her.
"... love you so much..."
He turned his head quickly at the whisper and stared into the pair of dreamy, emerald eyes. Harry smiled sleepily and proceeded to burrow his face into the crook of Severus' neck. For some reason, that warmed the older man right down to his toes.
Then a thought ... the thought that he would wake up in the morning with Harry and Draco like this, every day…. He blushed at his own reaction. He could hardly breathe – he was actually feeling excited about something. It was unbelievable, but he was excited about bringing his lovers back to his home.
Home. He pressed his cheek against the unruly hair. I hope they would think of it as their home too.
-oOooOo-
Draco was finding it difficult to contain his excitement. A grin was threatening to break out at any time but he did not want Millicent to think that he was a loon.
"Are you listening to me?"
The exasperated voice from the witch beside him jarred him from his thoughts.
"What?" He blinked at her in confusion.
"Oh! Forget it! Millicent huffed.
He looked at her for several seconds and shrugged. Then he met Harry's eyes and he grinned immediately, who smiled back and winked at him. Draco squirmed, unable to keep still.
"Bloody hell, Draco. You're a bloody lunatic," Millicent muttered.
"I'm not!" Draco said defensively, his expression grave.
"Whatever. Here." She thrust a scrap of paper into his hand. "Keep in touch."
Grey eyes stared at the piece of paper blankly. Draco frowned and inspected it, and after a few moments, he realized Millicent had scribbled down her address. He raised his eyebrow inquiringly.
"Hang on a minute." Draco glanced at the boyish witch who stared at him seriously. "How are you getting home? You're not going back to the Wiltshire Manor, are you?" She frowned. "To Potter's house?" she hazarded uncertainly when Draco did not reply.
"No. We're staying at Severus'," he answered meekly and sipped on his pumpkin juice.
"Severus'? What? Bloody hell!" Millicent looked astonished. "Well ... it does make sense. Snape takes care of you sometimes. But to bring Potter along?" She shook her head. "He must be mad to take the two of you in."
His lips trembled with mirth but Millicent did not notice it. Well, at least she didn't jump to a spot-on conclusion like Hermione.
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"You are mental, mate."
"What?" Harry grinned as he turned to look at Ron.
"Unless I'm being thick, but it's so bloody unnatural seeing you excited about this," Ron said in a very sarcastic voice.
Harry chuckled. "I know and I'm sorry." He smiled apologetically and let his eyes roam the other end of the Gryffindor table, where Ginny sat. She appeared quite glum. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask Ron how she was doing but he realized that it would be an awkward thing to do. "Hermione, are you going back home to your parents'?" he asked abruptly.
"Uhmmmm ... yes. But only for a while."
His female best friend looked somewhat tense and he wondered if the inevitable fact – that she would have to leave the Muggle world behind – bothered her. He dropped the subject and turned his attention to the dour-looking Potions Master.
"I wonder if he's play-acting, or if he's really pissed about something," he muttered softly to himself. "He can't be upset about the bite." He examined Severus in his sexy, high-collared robe.
"Wait a minute – sexy?" his inner voice screamed.
Bloody hell ... did I really think that? A faint blush spread over his cheeks.
Ron bopped him on the head.
"Owww! What did I do?" Harry growled at his friend.
"Bite?" Ron hissed.
Shit. He blushed furiously as he stared at his suspicious-looking friend.
"Where did you go last night?" Hermione inquired in a voice that was trembling with amusement. "There was dancing, you know. All night."
"I know. I'd seen you and Ron – I'd even seen Dumbledore dance the tango with McGonagall from up..." He stopped and turned a different shade of red.
"Up?" Hermione laughed.
"Up where?" Ron demanded with a cross expression.
"Ron, remember that window – the one I had pointed out to you last night?"
"No."
"Ronald."
"I was paying attention to you – not to some bloody window!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry looked back and forth at his friends and allowed himself to chuckle softly at their slightly pink expressions. Then he shook his head.
"I was inside a classroom – not alone, of course – inside the ... South Tower, I think."
"And what were you doing up there?" Ron asked. He managed to sound curious and grouchy at the same time.
"Dancing, honestly," Harry answered meekly.
"Right, and somehow while you dancing, you had ended up biting each other's necks."
"I couldn't help myself! He was teasing me..."
"Harry, Obliviate me," Ron said seriously. "It's not the ferret who'd started it?"
"No..." His blush did not seem to be diminishing. "The bat had."
"Someone please Obliviate me."
-oOooOo-
He watched Harry and his two friends curiously. Ronald Weasley looked green and fidgety while Hermione Granger appeared pink and mischievous. Harry seemed to be laughing somewhat nervously and his eyes darted to glance at Severus. They turned dark and shy but then they flashed with brilliance. Severus held his breath – Harry looked quite stunning just then.
"Amazing how one's smile can melt someone's innards into a puddle," his inner voice observed.
Something landed on his hand and he started. Looking down, he saw an envelope on his thigh. From the corner of his eye, he caught Vector give him a calculating stare.
Severus, I will be there with the carriage at midnight. Lamppost opposite the WhiteRaven. Don't be late.
Ravial.
He started to curse under his breath. He glared at the parchment in his hand, as though willing it to burn. In fact, it started to smolder. Deep, ghostly chuckles filled the air as the small note crumbled into ashes.
"Blast that vampire!" he snarled.
A minute passed. He became aware of the stares by the students and teachers. McGonagall, for one, was staring at him with disapproval. Dumbledore looked too amused. Severus paled, faintly embarrassed at his own outburst.
"For a moment, my dear Severus, I thought you were going to say 'Blast that Potter!' However, it seems that there is someone else who can aggravate you just as much," Professor Dumbledore spoke in a bland sort of voice.
Chagrined, the caught professor dropped his eyes to his goblet and ignored the nervous titters coming from the student body. Inwardly, he groaned.
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Ron sniggered loudly when Snape stood up abruptly. Then he winced when Harry slapped the back of his head and gave him an admonishing look. "Come on, mate! It's not as though he can take away points from Gryffindor. His House already won the House Cup," he grumbled.
"I know that but still..."
He rolled his eyes. "Blimey! Are you afraid that he's going to sulk?" He meant it as a tease, but he felt disturbed when his friend looked a bit worried. "All right. I don't think I want to start thinking that he is capable of sulking."
Greasy Snape. Sulky, greasy Snape. Greasy git who sulks because his boyfriends' friends are laughing at him.
He grimaced and shuddered. Before long, he began tugging at his red, shoulder-length hair. Hermione stared at him curiously.
"I think you need to cast a memory charm at me, Hermione," he said plaintively.
"Don't be silly." His girlfriend smiled. Clearly, she was not going to take him seriously. Then, she snorted and quickly clamped her hand over her mouth before she could giggle at Snape, who was stalking away from the Great Hall. Harry was busy gazing at Draco. Ron sighed in resignation and finished his breakfast.
Fifteen minutes later, the students were encouraged to leave the hall and head for their stagecoaches. Ron was going to go for one directly, but Hermione suddenly tugged at his sleeves.
"What?" he asked.
"Wait," she said and pointed her chin at something.
"That is so bloody unnatural," he said to himself as he watched Draco approach Harry. The couple exchanged a brief smile before walking together side by side, their fingers almost touching. Ron did not know what had possessed him to speak or suggest something to them. "Oi," he called out, "I'm not going to fall dead if I see you holding hands."
The silver-haired wizard spun around and gave him an incredulous look, before arching his eyebrow. "Are you encouraging us, Weasel?"
"Draco." Harry pursed his lips and shook his head in reproach.
"Why not, Ferret? I don't mind that my mate's happy."
"Harry is not your mate," Draco growled and Ron rolled his eyes sarcastically.
"Whatever, Ferret."
Malfoy glared but it vanished when Harry took his hand.
Damn unnatural that is. Ron shook his head and then absently took hold of a small, gentle hand. Lovely, soft... He cast a sidelong glance at Hermione as they descended the stairs. A bit dry maybe ... but mine.
"What?" Hermione gave him an inquisitive look and his ears turned red immediately.
"Nothing," he mumbled.
The four of them got onto a carriage. During the ride to Hogsmeade station, Ron listened to the soft murmurs of the other couple before him. His stomach churned at that and he sighed. And the other half of the pairing is my best mate – friend. He corrected himself quickly.
"Harry, are you going to try and sit with Severus?" Draco Malfoy whispered.
"Why do you always think that I'll try to do something?" Harry sighed and then, he smiled.
Ron felt his face burn slightly when the blonde grinned, causing Harry's face to light up like the sun.
"They're not too bad for each other, aren't they?" Hermione murmured.
"I guess not." Ron gave her a rueful smile and draped his arm around her shoulders. As his girlfriend leaned against him, he turned his head slightly and kissed her curly hair.
"You are the adventurous one," Draco spoke to Harry matter-of-factly.
"Well, yes, I suppose ... but you are the sensible one. Do you think it's wise?"
"Hmmmm..." Draco pouted.
That is not cute. Ron groaned softly.
"Ronald Weasley, couples are like that," said a voice in his head. He was not that surprised that it had sounded a bit like Hermione. "You're not any different when you're with her."
Harry and Draco were still trying to decide whether they should join their lover when several ideas popped into Ron's mind. Certainly, he did not want to imagine anything, but the image had persisted. All of a sudden, he was seeing Harry sit on Snape's lap.
He exploded, muttering coarse language. "I hope the silly idea doesn't come to you!"
"What idea?" Three curious voices asked him all at once.
He turned red. "What's the point if I tell you?"
"Ron." Hermione looked at him crossly.
"Trust me on this one, Hermione. You don't want to know."
I swear ... I just might have to gouge my own eyes out if I see Snape doing something like that – if I don't try to punch him first.
-oOooOo-
The train was empty when he had gotten aboard. Severus stood still and the scent of burning coal filled his nostrils. Memories of him as a young boy flashed in his mind. After several moments, he shook his head to free the golden haze from his mind. Hearing a soft hoot from behind him, he turned to look at Hedwig. She was staring oddly at him with her huge, ochre-colored eyes.
"I will hurry up," he promised the owl and waved his wand at the trunks before him. Then, he took her cage and carefully guided the baggage into the last compartment of the train. "Did Harry remember to feed you?" he asked Hedwig as he placed their luggage on the racks. The snowy owl let out a series of angry clicks, hisses and hoots. Severus smirked at her protective nature over her owner. Then, he smiled and she calmed, looking at him curiously with her huge eyes. "I am glad that he has not forgotten his responsibilities to you, what with Draco and I occupying his time."
Harry's owl gave yet another indignant hoot and Severus chuckled at her loyalty. He then thrust his hand into his pocket and felt around for an unyielding, rectangle object. He found it and sat down on a seat closest to the window. Murmuring a chant under his breath, the rectangle object started to expand slowly. Finally, it assumed its original form – a thick, dark green book with gold trim all around it, and beautiful, intricate designs on its cover. At first glance, a diamond would be seen, and that was what the book was about – gemstones.
Books that were precious to the Potions Master were locked, and this one was no exception. A look of concentration encompassed Severus' face, and a jet of misty blue light shot out of his wand. The thick volume opened to his command and he quickly picked out the passage he had not yet read. It was only moments before he was totally absorbed in his reading.
-oOooOo-
Eager students scrambled to get onto the train. Harry watched, shaking his head lightly at the chaotic scene. Then he caught sight of a gigantic man and stepped forward.
"Save yer goodbyes later, Harry!" Hagrid shouted cheerfully. "I'll be meeting yer at the other station!"
"All right!" he yelled back. Draco poked him in the waist to gain his attention.
"Harry, where's Hedwig?" Hermione asked, picking up Crookshanks in her arms.
"Bloody hell! Harry, did you leave her behind?" Ron asked, almost panicking.
Harry chuckled weakly. "Er ... she's with Severus."
"What?" Ron's eyes widened. "She trusts him?"
"Can we all get on the train, please?" Draco sounded impatient and sarcastic.
"All right, all right. No need to get your white fur all ruffled," Ron said with equal sarcasm.
"Harry!" Draco stabbed him a mournful look. Harry winced guiltily.
"Let's go," he said nervously. Draco was still fuming when Harry had taken his hand and had stepped onto the train. "Sorry about that," he said over his shoulder. "Besides, you know he was just teasing."
"Hmphf."
Harry sighed. He glanced into each compartment to find Severus. He found it quite uncomfortable to have people looking at him with revulsion and encouraging smirks.
"Damn it – they have taken the good seats," Ron grumbled.
"Who?"
"Abbott's girls," Draco said helpfully.
"Oh," Harry said, sounding a bit preoccupied. His eyes were on a group of young boys hurrying toward them. They looked petrified.
"I think we know where he is now," Draco whispered in his ear.
"Don't go in there!" one boy warned fervently.
"Come on, Jeff. I think I'll take my chances with Slytherins – but not him."
Harry paused and looked at his friends.
"Do you really want to go in there?" Ron sounded dubious.
"Well, Hedwig is with him," he answered meekly.
Draco, however, did not wait for their response. He had already taken the lead, and had used his free hand to slide the open. Severus was reading with a slight frown on his face, and at the moment, he was using his wand as a pointer. Before Harry could open his mouth to ask whether they could join him, the older wizard spoke.
"Sit," Severus instructed without looking up from the thick book.
Draco obeyed immediately but Harry lagged behind. Ron and Hermione entered the compartment after him, while he stared at the space that Draco had saved for him. Severus blinked slowly and leaned back against his seat, his obsidian eyes calm. Harry just stared and blushed at the questioning look.
"Are you going to sit on the bench, Mister Potter, or are you more interested to sit on ... laps?"
"Did he just read my mind?" Ron exclaimed.
"That's impossible, Ron," Harry answered almost automatically. How many times had Draco ask the same thing? He suddenly noticed his lover's mischievous smile and faintly heard the door to the compartment close.
"That's a good idea," Draco said with a complete, straight face.
"No, it's not!" Ron disagreed strongly, looking a bit green.
-oOooOo-
The embarrassment from the emerald-eyed wizard was quite palpable as he sat down between Draco and Severus quite gingerly. Severus reached out and touched Harry's knee, and felt the younger man relax at his touch. He had even parted his thighs invitingly. Now is not the time, Severus scolded himself and quickly withdrew his hand.
The Hogwarts Express began to move after some time. Hermione had released Crookshanks, who was now curled protectively around Hedwig's cage and dozing. Severus lost himself in his book and an hour or so had passed when he finally heard the familiar, old voice. He snapped back to attention and stared at the head resting on his shoulder. Harry was talking to Weasley – he was asking what his friend was going to do while waiting for their results.
"I suppose I'll be helping Mum and Dad making things more decent at home or help out at the shop."
Where is my wand? Severus wondered suddenly; his pocket felt empty. A glint of something shiny caught his eye, then blushed faintly when he realized that his hand was draped over Harry's shoulders and his fingers were lost in Draco's white-gold hair. There was the shiny gleam again. It was coming from Draco's hands – he was polishing Severus' wand with a look of utter concentration.
He moved his fingers experimentally and watched Draco's lips curve into a smile. He raised his eyebrow, wondering, but did not speak. He did not want to break his lover's dreamy contentment. However, if he did not remove his hand, what would the old witch think of them?
A door was sliding open and he could hear the witch with the trolley of goodies humming.
Then Draco seemed to snap out of his haze and promptly asked Harry if he wanted to buy anything. Severus drew his hand away with Draco distracted by the thoughts of sweets.
"My treat, okay?" Harry told Draco.
"Okay." Draco smiled at him and nodded.
"Not too many of the sweet stuff, mind you," Severus murmured.
Just then, the old witch poked her head into the compartment. "Anything you want, dears?" she asked in a friendly tone.
Severus closed his books. Crossing his legs, he relaxed into the seat as he watched the four students hover around the trolley and choose their treats. Draco counted some liquorice wands in his hands and exclaimed something when he nearly placed Severus' wand into a can of sweets. He glanced sheepishly at Severus before keeping the birch wand in his pocket. He went back to count the sweets in his hand. Beside him, Harry was looking thoughtfully at a blue packet. Then he tilted his head to one side as he regarded Severus.
"Do you want something?"
He's a thoughtful one. Severus smiled inwardly but gave a slight shake of his head.
"How about a cup of hot vanilla and a raisin cake?" Draco suggested. Harry looked a bit puzzled and Draco leaned in to whisper something in his ear.
He couldn't have possibly... Severus stared at the two of them with wide eyes. Draco couldn't have possibly remembered! He was just six!
Harry started to grin.
His lovers returned to their seats with their hands full of goodies. Harry placed all that he had bought on Draco's lap and extracted something that looked like a small, porcelain cup. Severus stared as Harry cast a spell on it.
The scent of vanilla filled the air and he inhaled deeply. His mouth watered slightly and he looked at the beverage in Harry's hand with undisguised bliss.
"Draco says that this is your favorite drink," Harry murmured softly as he handed the cup over to Severus, who took it with great caution. Once he was certain he would not spill it, he gazed up at his lover and nodded in agreement.
"And raisin cake too?"
He could not take his eyes away from Harry's lips. How long had it been since he had seen those lips curve with mischief? How long ago was it when he had told himself that he had a wonderful smile, when he was unworried? Severus grew a bit warm.
"I did not expect him to remember," he mumbled.
"You'll be surprised, Severus, at how much I do," Draco said. His grey eyes twinkled with merriment and love as he gave Severus a slice of raisin cake.
"Draco, it is somewhat ... disturbing to think that you had paid close attention to me when you were young," he said plaintively.
"Oh, I had my reasons," Draco answered with a toothsome smile. It was a smile capable of striking him to muteness. Harry appeared affected as well. He was frozen in the act of tearing his sweet wrapper open to stare at Draco.
"This is so not funny," a voice grumbled.
"Three is not a crowd, Mister Weasley," Severus interjected silkily, "but four certainly is. I do not remember extending my invitation for you to join us."
"Ouch." Draco chortled at the side.
Ron had turned vividly red. "That's because you have faulty memory!"
"I do not," Severus hissed. He was dimly aware of feminine giggles and choked laughter.
"I'm sorry to say, Severus. Maybe he's right," Harry said, still laughing.
He glowered. No, he's not. Perhaps I should have specified my instruction earlier…. "Harry James Potter. Take that back."
"You had forgotten to check on Draco at one time." Emerald eyes sparkled mischievously.
"I did not forget to check on Draco. I was simply avoiding a conf-" He froze.
Draco's grey eyes had narrowed. "Severus Elder Snape." The young Slytherin wizard did not sound happy.
"Elder?" Harry and Hermione whispered.
Severus sighed with exasperation. "That was then, Draco. I am not that indecisive now."
"Just you wait, Severus."
"You are not threatening me, Draco Aodhfin Malfoy."
"Blast me away to hell now, Hermione," Ron said helplessly to Hermione. "They're squabbling."
"We are not squabbling," Draco and Severus said defensively at once.
"I simply love the two of you."
Severus' eyes darted to look at the wizard on his right. There were no words to describe his feelings when Harry cupped his face and kissed him boldly. He had to hold his cup far away from Harry and it had taken him several seconds to close his eyes. It was the polite thing to do, after all. Before his brain could tell him to break off, his tongue had moved to deepen the kiss.
Someone was wailing.
He was not thinking at all when they parted. He watched as Harry kissed Draco next.
What in the hell was I thinking? Severus steadied his shaking hand and brought his drink to his lips. His eyes moved to look at the other couple in the compartment.
Hermione Granger was smiling at him even as she was patting Ron Weasley's back. The red-haired wizard was vomiting at one side of the enclosed area. His girlfriend cleaned the disgusting mess immediately when he was done and then, she urged him to nibble on a chocolate bar.
"Did you have to do that?" Ron asked accusingly at Harry.
"Sorry ... I wasn't really thinking."
"I know it's sweet of you to declare your love but ... ugh." Ron covered his face.
"Harry, could it be that your friend had just given his approval?"
"No, I certainly did not! Why you little ferret-"
"Oh, Ron! You're great!" Hermione squealed. She hugged Ron, who looked nonplussed at her reaction. "Did you see the expression on Snape's face?"
"That's the part I'm dying to forget."
"I am right in front of you, Weasley." For some reason, Severus felt offended.
"To hell with it! You three look great together! There! Happy?" Ron pursed his lips, crossed his arms and stared out the window with a resigned scowl.
"I am pleased that you have accepted our relationship, but I do not appreciate you yelling that at the top of your lungs," Severus muttered.
"No need to worry about that," Harry whispered into his ear. He was leaning against Severus again.
"Charmed?"
"Yeah."
He nodded and drank his beverage languidly.
The train rumbled on, journeying through hills and over bodies of water. Severus looked out the window and noted the drape of summer on valleys beyond. He could not help the faint tugging of a smile on his lips. Turning his face slightly, he kissed the top of Harry's head. Both of his lovers were dozing, both drowsing after their snacking. The other couple was asleep too, which was something of a relief. Hedwig was watching them all but Severus did not mind her observation.
"Things are going to be very different now," Severus spoke softly to himself. Things would be better now with the Dark Lord gone. The world was healing after the atrocities that had been wrought upon her, and so were they. He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against Harry's hair. "We are going home."
-oOoooOo-
To be Continued on Chapter Twenty-six