CHAPTER 25
Harry raised his fist, the snowball firmly clutched in his palm. He made a throwing motion, but the ball did not leave his hand.
"Really. Can't you do better?" Severus drawled lazily. "I knew that you were only pretending to throw that snowball."
"Of course. You know everything," Harry grinned.
"Accio snowball!" Severus exclaimed. Harry's missile flew into Severus's hand, crumbling a little as the Potions Master caught it. Severus aimed: Harry ducked, his Quidditch and Duelling reflexes keen. The snowball flew harmlessly above his head and hit the wall. They had already indulged in an indoor snowball battle before and had not been able to agree on the winner. Harry was therefore determined to win this time, and he had more room since he was outside in the open air. A fierce snowball battle ensued. The wind chimes often tinkled due to the impact of a stray snowball. Finally, Harry stuck out a leg and made Severus stumble and trip over his foot. The tall wizard fell in the snow. Harry grinned widely.
"You…cheated!" Severus growled, eyes flashing ominously. Harry looked up at the sky and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, whistling nonchalantly. This proved to be his undoing: Severus used a non-verbal spell to slam an invisible weight into Harry's knees, not enough to hurt him, but enough to knock him off his feet. Harry landed on his bottom with a squeak.
"Hey! At least I didn't use sneaky magic," he exclaimed indignantly, trying to pelt his smirking husband with clumps of snow. Severus dissolved them with casual flicks of his wand; then, rising on one knee, he imprisoned Harry's wrists in a gentle but firm grip.
"Gryffindor gallantry indeed!" he snorted.
"You cheated too! I saw you turn one snowball into three in mid-air…!"
"That's what one calls being creative," Severus said smugly.
"I disagree," Harry replied, boldly pushing Severus onto his back in the snow. Severus reached out, grabbed Harry's shoulders and pulled the youth down to him.
"And I disagree with the fact that you disagree with me," he murmured, his warm breath brushing Harry's cold face.
"And I disagree with the fact that you disagree that I disagree," Harry quipped.
"In that case…" Severus whispered, staring into Harry's eyes. He didn't complete his sentence but kept gazing fixedly at Harry.
"In that case?" Harry prompted, flushing under the intensity of the probing black eyes.
"In that case…you need to be punished," Severus said, scooping up snow and flinging it at Harry with a sudden movement.
"Oh! Just you wait!" Harry spluttered through a mouthful of snow. The two wizards rolled about in the white blanket, mock-wrestling. Finally, Severus came to rest on top of Harry.
"It is as I always suspected. You're a bottom, Mr Potter."
Harry looked confused; then he realized what Severus was alluding to. That Severus Snape, of all people, would actually broach a sexual topic!
"I wouldn't know," Harry said with disarming frankness, "I could imagine being, uh, versatile, though."
With an effort, he switched their positions.
"See?"
"I let you do that in order to boost your already overflowing ego," Severus remarked, managing to look utterly composed and unfazed even when lying on his back in the snow with mussed hair and wet clothes. They looked at each other for a few moments until Harry slid off his husband. They got up and dusted their clothes. A twitter and flurry of wings made them turn. A small brown bird was inspecting the birdhouse. Severus watched it keenly.
"Self-replenishing Charm," he explained to Harry. "For birdseed. It has to be renewed regularly, though."
He aimed his wand at the birdhouse and muttered a spell. The bird, startled by the sound of seeds rattling into the house, hopped away to a branch. Then, perceiving that there was no danger, it approached shyly and finally hopped into the house to eat.
"You like birds," Harry said with a smile.
"Songbirds like our visitor-" he gestured at the birdhouse, "waste their songs on this world, Harry."
"But without song, would there be any hope?"
"What is there to hope for, optimistic Gryffindor?" Severus asked with a slight sneer, staring into Harry's green eyes. "You, of all people, should be knowing about hopelessness."
"If you look at us, Severus, at you and me, at how we can talk and have snow combats…Then I would say that there's plenty to hope for," Harry answered, smiling.
We may not survive this battle, and even if we do, we will divorce. And yet he wants to know me, Severus thought, he doesn't give up hope even when it comes to me…
"Yes, I suppose there is hope in that," he agreed slowly. "Let's go back."
They returned to the dungeons; Harry occupied himself with reading the latest news on Quidditch and Severus went to unload a fat package containing several books for his library.
Harry was just putting down his magazine when Severus marched into the hall, the travelling cloak Harry had given him for Christmas draped around his figure.
"Voldemort?" Harry asked.
Severus nodded.
Harry went over to him and pressed his hand.
"Look after yourself," he said, moistening his lips with his tongue.
"Don't go running all the way to the headmaster if I am not back in an hour," Severus answered, touching Harry's arm lightly.
"Okay," Harry said somewhat tensely.
Much later, at night, Severus was sitting on his bed. He had come home and brushed past Harry wordlessly. He had a splitting headache. He winced as an image of torture flashed through his mind…
Harry, chained, bleeding, begging for mercy. Voldemort licking his lips in a sickening way.
"If you have done a good job, my dearest Severus, then I will not kill the boy. I will make him join my followers. The ultimate punishment for the years I spent struggling to come back." He uttered an icy laugh. "The great Harry Potter on my side. The world will be in my hands."
He laughed again.
"I am glad to see that he seems less defiant when you disport yourself with him, Severus."
"He is starting to realise the importance of fulfilling his marital duties in every aspect," Severus said expressionlessly.
Voldemort patted his shoulder patronisingly.
"Good work, my loyal Severus. I suggest that you return to your dainty Gryffindor toy and play with him some more. He still requires proper breaking-in."
Severus felt sick. He was finding it extremely difficult to send fake memories to Voldemort. He had started succumbing to Harry's kind nature quite some time ago and although he had always found it deeply disgusting to present Voldemort with an array of obscene images, it was harder than ever to do so. The bond between him and Harry was undeniable. He also detested the way Voldemort referred to Harry as "the boy" or "plaything" or "toy". Harry was in the blossom of manhood; and strangely enough, he seemed to be blossoming in the dungeons. Severus still felt guilty about their consummation. It had not been a sexual awakening for Harry. It had been suppression.
"Severus?" Harry's voice was worried, and there was a soft knock on his door.
"I am fine," Severus barked.
"You're not fine. I've been living with you for months. I should know by now."
Severus sighed heavily.
"Come in," he said coldly. The door opened, and Harry came inside, green eyes studying his face. He went over to Severus and sat next to him, placing his hand on Severus's left forearm with that innocence which made an ache spring up in Severus's chest.
"Are you aware what you are touching?" he growled.
Harry looked at him.
"I know. The Dark Mark."
They were silent for a little moment.
"Try and lie down for a short while, Severus," Harry suggested.
Instead of the acid comment he expected ("What a doting spouse you are, husband of mine!" or something similar), Severus sighed.
"I'll have a bath first."
He looked at Harry, and something stirred in his eyes.
"Have you eaten?"
Harry shook his head.
"I thought so. Just like the time when you went rushing to the Headmaster."
"I get worried about you," Harry said.
"I have been doing this for years, Harry," Severus said exasperatedly.
Harry reached behind his neck and unclasped his chain.
"Take this. It is for you to keep. I'd be happier if I knew that you're wearing it. Ron and Hermione gave it to me when I turned seventeen. It's not magical or anything, but it is symbolic of protection and friendship for me. And please don't tell me how Gryffindorish or sentimental that sounds."
Severus looked at him in surprise.
Harry put the chain on Severus. His heart leapt when he saw the expression in his husband's black eyes; it was warm and strangely sad: bittersweet.
Then, to Harry's complete astonishment, Severus stooped, kissed him briefly on the forehead and left the room. Harry blushed and touched the spot where he had been kissed. It seemed to tingle.
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