CHAPTER 24

A/N: Here's the next chapter after yet another long delay! Sorry about that - real life's a nuisance but that I guess that's the point of it being called real life ;-) While I cannot update regularly, there's one thing I can say with complete certainty: this will not end up being an abandoned story. It takes me quite a while to pick up a story where I left it off, so that contributes to the delay. Anyway - here we all go!
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It was Remus who made me realise what could possibly develop between you and me. When he visited Hogwarts, I was able to talk to a good and understanding judge of character - someone who preferred to take time when it came to assessing people.

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Harry's Quidditch robes were splattered with mud. He was Quidditch Captain and had started to sympathise deeply with Oliver Wood's and Angelina Johnson's unrelenting training methods. Ron seemed particularly enthusiastic about impressing Hermione, who was sitting in the stands and watching the team's tryouts with Luna, by means of showing off his Keeping skills. As the soap flowed off his body in the shower, Harry tried to imagine what it would feel like if Severus were to sit in the stands and watch him coach the Gryffindor team... He could still hardly believe that he had told Severus to his face that he considered him sexy. And Severus had flushed with embarrassment. Harry smiled to himself and changed back into his school robes, draping his Quidditch robes over his arm. Back in the dungeons, he gave the wise-eyed Viviane the password and entered his rooms. He was getting used to the fact that Severus's quarters were his quarters as well.

"Being the Head of Slytherin, I am, of course, eager for my House to win the Quidditch Cup. On the other hand, the thought of a husband of mine losing to the opposing team is equally intolerable," Severus's drawling voice greeted him from the fireplace.

/A husband of yours? You've been married before?/ Harry said, grinning.

An contemptuous snort answered him.

"Mr Potter, do I impart the impression of being a suitable marriage candidate?"

Harry eyed him critically.

/There's a lot of untapped potential, Severus./

Severus, deciding that his conversation with Harry was far more interesting than the book he was reading, rose and walked towards his husband.

"You seem to be coming to a number of extremely appalling conclusions where I am concerned, Harry."

/Appealing, not appalling./ The green eyes twinkled at him mischievously.

Severus studied his husband sceptically. It could not be. It was unheard of. People did not flirt with Severus Snape. They just didn't. Not unless they wanted to go the way of the dinosaurs. Then again, Severus had to admit to himself that he had crossed a barrier by accepting Harry's compliment instead of flying into a rage and hexing the young man. He had actually bent down to Harry and whispered right into his ear. He had fucked several people before, but he had never whispered in their ears or experienced actual pleasure with them. What exactly was going on between himself and Harry? His mind hesitated, retreating from both the question and the answer.

Harry nodded at the book Severus was holding absent-mindedly.

/Looks interesting./

"Ah, yes." His nostrils quivered with irritation. "All the fourth-year Hufflepuff boys most unwisely tried to experiment with aphrodisiacs. They have been in a state of priapism for sixteen hours so far. Owing to their embarrassing condition, they were reluctant to seek immediate aid."

Harry bit his lip in order to suppress a wide grin.

"Yes, these little accidents are quite entertaining," Severus agreed dryly, catching the youth's expression.

/Sixteen hours? Can't that result in long-term damage?/

"Madam Pomfrey and I are working on a solution, after which they will hopefully be deflated in body and mind."

Harry's mouth twitched, but he managed to nod seriously. A glint of humour flashed in the Potions Master's eyes and vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"You have a visitor who is eager to see you, by the way," he remarked impassively. "Lupin is waiting for you in the Headmaster's office. The password is candy floss."

Harry's eyes lit up, and the harsh lines on Severus's face deepened as a twinge of jealousy stung his disillusioned heart. He turned his back on Harry and walked into the library, closing the door behind him. Harry's delighted gaze became pensive; he placed his muddy Quidditch robes in his laundry basket and tapped the basket with his wand. The robes disappeared as they were transferred to Hogwarts' enormous laundry room. His eagerness to see Remus Lupin made him run all the way to Dumbledore's office.

/Candy floss,/ he said breathlessly to the gargoyle guarding the entrance.

"No thanks, I prefer dental floss," the gargoyle responded wearily, allowing Harry to pass.

Remus Lupin was looking thin and worn out due to his work for the Order of the Phoenix infiltrating the ranks of the werewolves who were being coaxed into joining Voldemort's ranks. His eyes, however, sparkled when he saw Harry. Dumbledore was standing next to Remus; his phoenix Fawkes, now sporting the beautiful plumage of his adult shape, was sitting calmly on his perch, watching the three wizards with his bright eyes.

"Good afternoon, Harry; I trust you and Severus are enjoying this pleasant November day?"

Harry nodded and smiled. /Yes, thanks./

Dumbledore's blue eyes crinkled with approval.

"Ah, I see that you are making progress in your Legilimency lessons. I am sure you will be an impressive Telepath once you have also mastered Occlumency."

Dumbledore's hint with regard to Occlumency was of course immediately evident to Harry. The Headmaster was asking him, in other words, to make as much of an effort as possible to master Occlumency. Message understood, Harry thought exasperatedly. Dumbledore turned to Remus.

"Well, Remus, that will be all. Look after yourself."

"I will, Albus. Severus greatly alleviates the discomfort of my monthly transformations thanks to the Wolfsbane portion."

He smiled at Harry. "Shall we?"

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A little later, the two wizards were strolling around the Hogwarts grounds, Harry listening eagerly to Remus's news.

"Now tell me, Harry: how are you? Are you and Severus happy?"

Harry was silent for a few moments; then he said: /We are getting used to each other, and we are learning to respect each other./

"That is very good to hear. Albus tells me that you saved Severus's life."

Harry bowed his head.

/Severus feels guilty about...er...I mean, he thinks he raped me, because only the consummation of our marriage could save his life, and he had to...yeah.../

"I understand," Remus said. Harry glanced at his face and was relieved to see that Remus was not amused at his embarrassment or what Ron would have called his prude attitude.

/And I felt that no part of me belonged to myself anymore. Somehow, I was something's or someone's possession./

"And Severus possessed you in a way you had never been possessed so far."

Harry nodded slowly.

/Voldemort possessed me in my fifth year...but that was violent. And in this case, the, well, possession had to be done...It was against our wills, but it had to be done. I would have felt like a murderer if I had just...let Severus die like that, and in such pain.../

"What did you feel like afterwards?"

/Confused. I didn't know what to feel or think. I thought that I was coping with it just fine. Or rather...that there was nothing to cope with. That I was just doing what was expected, as was he. Part of the whole deal. I'd just move on and forget about it. And it worked...I didn't feel, you know, traumatised and stuff. Numb, yeah, but I knew that if I hadn't done it, then I would never have been able to live with myself afterwards. But with regard to him, I felt...I feel.../ Harry broke off, then added:

/He was very gentle with me. He made sure I was comfortable and touched me so carefully, and spoke to me so soothingly...He began to treat me with respect afterwards. I was not expecting that. And now...I...I see many attractive things about him./ A fiery blush rose to his face.

Remus smiled warmly, watching Harry's flushed face and the way the youth was playing with the fastenings of his winter cloak.

"You are seeing a side of him you never thought you would see?" he half asked, half stated.

Harry nodded.

"And it confuses you?"

Another nod.

/Hermione said that she thinks we suit each other very well, and Ron asked me if I like him,/ Harry blurted out.

"And what did you answer?"

/I said yes, because, well, I do like him...in a way which is difficult to explain./

"It is very encouraging to hear that the two of you are putting your past differences behind you," Remus observed.

/Yes. Er, I also told him that I find him sexy./

The Marauder-mischievousness sparkled in Remus's eyes.

"What did Severus say?" he asked impishly.

/He was embarrassed, but he accepted the compliment. It just kind of slipped out of me,/ Harry laughed sheepishly.

Remus smiled again. He understood the situation – Harry was starting to fall in love with Severus Snape.

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