Harry flopped down on the large bed and looked around the room with a silly grin "Well I still don't understand exactly why we were given the seventh year rooms this year but I can't say I mind."
Severus glared at Harry as he maneuvered his trunk into the room, dragging it behind him, the other boy had insisted on keeping the room they had found his trunk in because he said that Severus' room had a certain smell he hadn't approved of. However Severus had the sneaking suspicion that he just didn't want to move his trunk.
He pushed his trunk up beside Harry's before laying down on the bed next to him "Are you sure we're not going to get caught sharing a room?" he asked trying to keep the uncertainty out of his voice "I thought we decided to keep our relationship a secret, that will be messed up if anyone suspects us of sleeping together."
Harry giggled at that and Severus punched him in the arm "You know what I meant."
Rubbing his arm Harry shook his head "Who exactly do you think is going to be checking up on us? Avery is already running his mouth about just exactly who he is going to have up to his room, and there are barely any seventh years this year."
Harry frowned at that, he had no doubt that the lack of seventh year Slytherins had something to do with Voldemort, and that was the only reason they had the private rooms, but it just made him more determined to keep Severus at his side and what was a better way of doing that than sharing a room.
"I guess you're right," Severus said though he still sounded a bit nervous "I just…" he trailed off and ended up looking at the ceiling instead of Harry.
Harry rolled over and curled up against Severus' side, running his fingers against Severus' forearm comfortingly.
He knew what Severus was afraid of; Severus had told him about how his father didn't approve of male on male relationships. That he had called Severus the F word more times than Severus could count and that he didn't even really know that Severus was gay, but he'd had Severus convinced that being gay was a sin and meant that anyone who was gay was an abomination.
Harry knew deep down Severus knew everything his father had told him was a lie but it was still hard for him, and Harry didn't blame him. Growing up being told one thing your entire life was hard to erase. It didn't happen automatically.
"It will be okay Sev, no one will find out, they know we are best friends and there's no reason they would suspect us of anything else. But if it makes you feel any better we can move your trunk back to your room…"
"Are you kidding me?!" Severus began glaring at Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes "You didn't let me finish! We can move your trunk, after we empty your stuff into my trunk, and make it look like you are living in it, then we can sneak back and forth and if anybody asks what we are doing in the other's room we can just say we are studying or something."
Severus seemed to be thinking that over and Harry held his breath hoping the other boy wouldn't insist on them sleeping in separate rooms too, then Severus sighed and his body relaxed causing Harry to relax too. He leaned into Harry's space and pressed his lips against Harry's softly.
Harry had to fight the urge to pull him into an embrace as Severus began to pull away.
"Fine," Severus said "but you have to move the trunk back…"
Harry gave him a small grin "Anything for you Sev."
Severus rolled his eyes at that but yet still accepted the kiss Harry leaned over to give him.
Harry knew in that moment, as one of Severus' hand wound into his hair, pulling him closer, that he had to do everything he could to protect Severus this year. The other boy clearly trusted him considering he was feeling comfortable enough to make out with him, even with the chance of them being found out. Harry's wasn't sure if Severus had that trust with anyone else, well maybe Lily, but he couldn't break it and he just had to keep Severus safe, he knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself if anything happened to him.
…
Harry groaned into his hands. He, Severus and Lily were sitting in the Library researching for their charms essay that was due the next day.
"This is insane," Harry grumbled "How many books have we been through?" He didn't give anyone a chance to answer "And yet we still haven't found even a paragraph on the subject!"
"Luke," Lily warned, glancing over her shoulder "keep your voice down. I know we haven't found anything yet but really it's only been six books and I'm sure the Professor wouldn't have given us a paper to write on something we couldn't find out information on in the library where else would we look?"
Harry still hadn't looked up and he mumbled wistfully into the table "Internet…"
"What?" Lily asked.
Harry could have strangled himself, he didn't think the internet had been invented yet in this time "Umm?"
Lily shook her head "I can't hear what you're saying when you talk into the table Luke!"
"Oh, sorry," Harry said "it was nothing, just forget about it."
Lily huffed then turned to Severus "Have you found anything useful Sev?" she asked.
She didn't get a response. Harry looked over at Severus who wasn't paying any attention to his book but staring off across the library.
"Severus?" Lily called again.
Severus snapped out of it and looked over at Lily.
"What are you doing?"
Harry checked out where Severus' attention had been and he frowned when his eye's caught Sirius'. The marauders' were sitting a few tables away from them and Sirius didn't seem to be hiding that he was looking at them. He elbowed James who was sitting beside him, nodded towards Harry's table, then said something and they both laughed before turning away.
"What do you think they are talking about?" Severus asked
"What?" Lily asked "Who?"
Harry shook his head at her and Lily looked over to where Severus had gone back to staring.
"You mean James and Sirius, Severus I'm sure it's nothing, they are probably just being idiots like always. Ignore them, and let's get back to our research or we aren't going to finish our papers in time."
Harry agreed with Lily, there was no use trying to figure out the marauders but he could see in Severus' face that the other boy couldn't let it go.
He sighed knowing nothing he or Lily said would keep Severus' attention.
But still Lily was right, they had to get back to work so Harry pulled a new book from the pile Lily had put beside him and started to read, all the while becoming more and more tense as he sensed Severus' attention on the Gryffindors.
After twenty minutes of reading, until the words started to blur together on the page, Severus got to his feet unexpectedly bringing Harry back to the present. He looked up at Severus and then towards the Gryffindor's table to find they were no longer there.
"Sev?" Harry questioned as Severus started to walk away, "where are you going?"
Severus barely turned back as he said quietly "Just to the loo, be right back."
Harry was not convinced, he looked over at Lily who had also put down the book she had been reading, his mother nodded and Harry stood to follow Severus. He quickened his step to catch up with his boyfriend. He got to his side just as Severus was bending down to pick something off the ground.
"What's that?" Harry asked.
Severus turned around obviously surprised, "You don't need to come with me to the bathroom Luke, I'm a big boy you know?"
Harry grinned at him and said very quietly so only the two of them could hear "Maybe, but I'd rather enjoy ravishing you in the bathroom, that sounds a million times better than schoolwork."
Severus blushed so hard that Harry had a feeling if he was to reach out and touch Severus's cheek it would be flaming hot.
He shook his head at Harry, "You're unbelievable," then he turned and continued to the loo.
Harry followed.
…
As they lay in bed that night, Harry with his arms wrapped around Severus, Harry had a feeling something was wrong. Severus was so tense in his arms.
"Love?" Harry asked, rubbing Severus shoulder "are you alright, you seem…off?"
Without turning Severus shrugged "I'm fine."
"Sev, we both know I know you better than that," Harry said kissing the side of his neck "now what's really bothering you?"
"I…" Severus sighed "it's just school, it's only been three weeks back and we are already swamped with work. I'm pretty sure we are going to fail that charms paper with the limited information we found. I'm just stressed about that."
Harry had a feeling that that was only partly true, something else seemed to be bothering Severus but Harry couldn't put his finger on it. He was worried that it had something to do with the marauders since Severus had been acting odd since they had left the library.
Severus turned in his arms before Harry could get another word out "Honestly Luke, I'm fine. Let's just get some sleep yeah? Tomorrow is gonna be a long day."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, he wanted Severus to tell him what was really wrong so that he could help him.
Severus silenced him before he could protest though; he brought his mouth down on Harry's and only pulled away when Harry's eyes started to flutter. "Get. Some. Sleep." He said not leaving any room for argument.
Harry yawned, he was very tired. He closed his eyes but promised himself he would figure out what was wrong with Severus tomorrow.
