CHAPTER 29
A/N:
Darker than Larry: I do hope that your tinglings will subside when you read this chapter. I must, however, decline your, shall I say, procreative offer.
love-orthelack-thereof: I am deeply flattered by your compliment :-)
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Harry remained on the floor, his jeans pushed down to his thighs; his body was still sensitive from the aftermath of such overwhelming and exquisite pleasure. Harry had explored his body several times, but he had never had anyone specific in mind. Least of all Severus Snape. In fact, if he had wanted to keep erotic thoughts at bay, then thinking of Severus Snape would definitely have been the ideal method. Now, the opposite was the case, and Harry passed his arm tiredly over his eyes. He sat up and reached for his spectacles with his clean hand. He washed himself in the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror for a few moments, searching for answers in the eyes of his own reflection but finding none. His reflection seemed to disappear, and in its stead he could see the deep black eyes of his husband and Protector.
"Severus," he sighed and went to the hall and sat down on the sofa. The bottle of elf-made wine was still on the table, along with the glass from which they had both drunk. Tingles rushed down his spine, and he was straddling Severus's lap again, their faces so close to touching, eyes locked, Severus's hands drawing random circles on his thighs. Harry tried to shake off the beginnings of another arousal by interrupting the memory and fairly bounded from the sofa, pacing about to distract himself while he waited for Severus to return. And when Severus returned…what would they do? Speak about what had happened? But nothing had really happened. They had not kissed. They had just been…teasing each other. Flirting came closer to the truth, though…
A short while later, the door opened; Severus was back from the meeting; he looked pale and tired; he discovered his husband waiting for him eagerly on the sofa. It was evident from the way the young man started up when Severus opened the door, from the sudden sparkle in his eyes.
He is happy when I come back, Severus thought with a strange pang.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked him at once.
"Do you see me on a stretcher?" was the dour reply. Harry looked serious. In fact, he looked distressed.
"Don't say things like that," he said forcefully.
Severus placed his hand on Harry's slight shoulder and pressed it.
"Worrywart," he said, but his tone was fond.
"What happened? What did Voldemort want?"
"He called in a general Death Eater's meeting. He is crafting plans for the possible dominion over muggles and magical people. He is also thinking of how to…train you once I bring you to him in a brainwashed state which will allow him to control you as if you were an automaton."
Severus paused and a fierce spark came into his eyes.
"I shall never allow it, naturally, and nor will you. You have always been a fighter," he added.
Harry nodded grimly.
"Yes. Both of us," he affirmed.
Severus removed his cloak and carefully put it away. He opened the collar of his robes and took out Harry's chain which he had kept hidden from view.
"I am going to change," he said and went to his bedroom. Harry went to Severus's library. It was one of his husband's favourite resorts, especially after meetings with Voldemort. Sure enough, Severus soon joined him and approached a cupboard near which Harry was sitting.
He opened a drawer, and both he and Harry recognised the divorce papers which it contained. Severus deliberately avoided Harry's eye and stuffed them without comment into the furthest corner. One of the pages got jammed between the draw and its compartment. Severus wrenched it out with unnecessary violence, shoved the paper inside brutally and slammed the drawer.
"If we get through the war, then we'll still be friends afterwards," Harry said softly but steadily. "You'll still let me go near the wind chimes, will you?"
Severus gazed at him quickly and then stared back at the drawer.
"Yes. Always, Harry."
He sat down next to the young wizard, and Harry leant against him, probably as a gesture to comfort him. Harry was becoming good at figuring out Severus's moods. Severus did not push him away, although a part of his mind was screaming at him that if he did not increase the distance between the two of them, then it would be too late, and Severus would be attached to Harry too deeply, too sweetly…Severus noticed that Harry's breathing was slow and regular. He looked at him and saw that he had fallen asleep. Severus carefully moved his sitting position in order to examine Harry's face. The sleep of a child, Severus thought. He looks like a mere boy when he sleeps. He is a man-boy. Merlin, why have you placed such a burden on him, of all people? Why didn't you place it all upon my shoulders?
"My joys will be yours, as your joys will be mine. My sorrows will be yours, as your sorrows will be mine. I am your Protector, and my blood will merge with yours," Severus whispered the bonding words half to himself, half to Harry; and it seemed that he finally understood the emotional depth of their meaning.
Severus tried to be cool and distanced towards Harry during the next weeks, determined not to let the youth come too close to him and his feelings. He stopped asking for Harry's help to chop up potions ingredients, and when Harry suggested that they go for a walk or play a game, he evasively answered that he had a lot of work. He also made sure not to display any interest when he saw Harry sketching or reading. Harry sometimes brought his friends, including Ginny and Luna, to Severus's rooms. Severus would usually stay in his laboratory or in the library and leave them to their own devices. Afterwards, he would ask Harry what they had done and talked about. Now, he did not bother to ask Harry his usual questions when Harry, Luna and Ginny spent an evening in Harry's room. Harry noticed Severus's detached behaviour and was upset. He tried to distract himself and tell himself that Severus was simply very busy and had less time for him, but his intuition said otherwise.
After three weeks, Severus noticed that Harry smiled less and was quieter. Can it be that he is subdued because of me? the Potions Master wondered. He decided to try out an experiment.
"I have been carelessly and shamefully neglecting our interactive sessions during the last couple of weeks," Severus said rather loftily on a mild March evening. "Will you deign to accompany me to Hogsmeade? I have an appallingly long shopping list and I am sure you have things to buy as well."
The smile which brightened the whole room returned to Harry's face, and his eyes sparkled as he looked at Severus.
How can it be that he feels so genuinely towards me? That he considers me such a close friend after years of hatred? Severus wondered incredulously.
"Yeah, sure! When?"
"Tomorrow evening?"
Harry nodded and smiled at him again. .
"You have got something on your cheek," Severus lied smoothly.
He boldly touched Harry's cheek with his knuckles and watched a soft blush flood his young husband's face.
Is he really that shy? He has beaten Voldemort and a dragon, and he blushes when I touch his face. He is too sweet for his own good, Severus mused.
They went to Hogsmeade the next evening, Severus making sure that Harry was at his side – Voldemort and his Death Eaters were ever-present at the back of his mind and he was fiercely determined to keep his husband out of harm's way. Severus felt elated with Harry walking next to him and pointing out interesting motives for sketching. It seemed to be in no time at all that Severus had bought everything on his list. Harry's list was small, and Severus frowned.
"Restocking your wardrobe would not hurt," he remarked.
"But I've got more than enough clothes, and they're in good condition, I bought some stuff during the holidays and-" he was interrupted by Severus giving him a stern look.
"We are going to a good clothes store, and there you will choose whatever you like, provided it is not garish or somehow offensive to the eye."
"In that case, all my things will have to be black," Harry joked.
"I like green on you."
"That's because it's your House colour."
"It suits your eyes," Severus remarked.
"And black suits yours," Harry remarked. "But I'm going to pay."
"You shall do nothing of the sort."
"But I want to pay."
"And I don't want you to pay."
"Why not?" Harry asked seriously.
"Because I am inviting you to this little spree of ours," Severus answered curtly.
"Thank-"
"Don't say it," Severus said. "Here we are."
"Okay, but you've got to buy something for yourself if I'm to go in there."
"What exactly do you imagine under 'something'?" Severus wanted to know.
"I like you better in shirts than in robes. Shirts don't hide your figure so much," Harry said frankly.
"Mh. I see," Severus said pensively.
He steered Harry into a large shop. A young wizard approached and asked how he could help them. Recognition flashed across his face as he looked at the tall dark wizard and the youth, but he maintained his professional attitude, though this may have been due to the narrowing of Severus's eyes – a sign of warning. Harry opened his mouth to answer, but Severus was quicker.
"My husband is searching for clothes which truly suit him and bring out his charms," he said sleekly.
Harry went red as a tomato. The assistant cleared his throat.
"We have a lot of nice things which would look very good on you, sir," he addressed Harry, summoning a tape measure with a wave of his wand. Harry was soon given a pile of clothes to try on and ushered into a changing room while the assistant served another customer. Severus waited near the changing room. If anyone tried to open the door from outside, then the door gave the intruder a painful kick, causing the victim to fall right in the middle of the shop. Severus respected Harry's privacy anyway and was patient while his husband tried on the clothes. Harry emerged, parading before Severus in tight trousers.
Severus looked at him critically.
"Please turn around," he said. Harry obeyed, unintentionally offering his husband a good view of his firm posterior.
Severus made a sound of appreciation. He himself was unsure whether this was because of the trousers or due to Harry's figure.
"Turn around again."
Harry did so, and Severus smoothed the collar of his shirt, his palm brushing Harry's collarbone. Harry raised his hand and ran it through his hair. Severus's attention was attracted to his wrist. He had noticed that Harry's watch was an ancient shabby thing.
That shoddy watch! Severus stared at it.
"How old is that watch?" he asked abruptly.
"About ten years old. A hand-me-down of Dudley's when he broke it," Harry said, "my aunt had it repaired and gave it to me so that I would be punctual with the household chores, as she put it. It stopped working after I had to swim in the lake during the Triwizard Tournament and I had it repaired in Hogsmeade. I've never thought of getting a new watch. It works and that's all I need it for. To read the time."
"May I look at it?" Severus asked. Harry removed it and handed it to Severus, who stared at the worn leather strap and scratched glass with distaste. He handed it back after a few moments of scrutiny.
Finally, Harry's clothes were ready, and it was Severus's turn to try on shirts while Harry picked out some for him.
When Severus paid at the counter, Harry hugged him in front of everyone.
"Thank you," he whispered, "my family never bought me anything."
Embarrassed but pleased, Severus held the youth against him for a few moments.
"At least you won't walk around looking like an onion with all those layers of clothes you wear," he murmured into Harry's ear.
Harry laughed and drew back. If any hostile eyes have witnessed the hug, then they'll think I'm doing a fabulous job of brainwashing Harry, Severus thought wryly.
That night, Harry touched himself slowly, thoroughly, wonderingly, revelling in the sensuality of his body, in its ability to feel so much and transmit its sensations in such waves of pleasure. Harry closed his eyes, arching his body. He had never done this before, lying completely naked in bed and caressing himself everywhere. Instead, he had preferred furtive experiments under the cover of his clothes and within the shelter of the bed hangings. Was it only now that he was discovering how delicate his stomach was, or that simply prodding his inner thigh was enough to make him shiver all over? He imagined Severus's hair tips and long fingers brushing his skin. A few minutes later, he was panting in bed , drained; and Severus was taking another bath for what must have been the umpteenth time in a series of nights, one arm draped behind his head as he tried to relax in the hot water, torn between guilt and yearning where his husband was concerned.
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