Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 938
Pass The Test
Harry could barely breath as he skidded to a stop, trying to pull his blue robes into some semblance of presentable as he panted.
"You're late."
"I just… need… a second… to… catch… my… breath," Harry forced out, waving his hand at Severus.
Severus rolled his eyes and sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know why I ever expect you to be where you are supposed to be; you have a blatant disrespect for time, Potter."
Harry huffed, his chest heaving a little less as he caught his breath. "It's five minutes, Severus. It's not like I'm an hour late. And I don't know if you noticed, but I tried to get here on time."
Severus held his arm out. "Let's go then, shall we, if you're quite ready."
…
Attending the Potion's Guild ball hadn't been on Harry's to-do list. When Severus had come to him, sneer on his face and asked if Harry would accompany him, his first instinct had been to tell him no.
But then, Harry owed Severus a favour.
And this would be a perfect excuse to no longer owe Severus a favour.
And so he'd agreed.
Now that they were actually present at the ball though, Harry was wishing he hadn't bothered. In fact, he was quite hopeful that the ground would open and swallow him whole.
He'd never felt more on display—and given he was forced to attend the Ministry Balls every three month like clockwork as the 'hero of the wizarding world', that was saying something.
All around the room, people were staring at him and Severus like they were a special exhibit in a zoo, and Harry hated it.
Severus appeared not to notice—or he was as uncomfortable as Harry and was just better at hiding it, which seemed more likely—and led Harry to the bar. Quietly, he asked Harry what he wanted to drink.
Harry looked longingly at the bottles of Butterbeer, but knew he couldn't drink something quite so uncultured in a place like this, and he looked up at Severus.
"Whatever you're having is fine."
Severus stared at him for a long moment and then turned to the barman. "An Ogden's finest for me, and a Butterbeer please."
Harry blinked. "How did—"
"I didn't bring you here to make you feel like you must impress people, Potter."
Harry accepted the bottle with a small smile and a quiet thanks to the barman. With a wordless 'Accio', Severus even summoned him a straw, and Harry's smile morphed into a grin as he put it into the bottle, before he took a sip.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.
…
"What in the seven levels of hell is that?!" Harry asked, grateful that Severus had cast Muffliato around them when they'd taken their seats. Though the food was due to be served soon, they were the first at the table and had yet to be joined by anyone else.
The source of Harry's shock was at the door, and Severus was chuckling softly.
"That, Potter, is Madam Arbogast. She's one of the foremost potioneers in the country—and absolutely insane."
"She looks like she's raided the Headmaster's wardrobe and sewn his brightest robes together to make her own."
Severus snorted. "Quite."
Harry couldn't take his eyes away from the women—or more accurately, the women's robes.
They were like a rainbow on steroids, every colour from lemon to plum, pink to silver, and anything in between. And there were so many frills.
"We can never introduce her to Albus," Harry said, shaking his head as he finally tore his eyes away to look at Severus. "Not ever."
"Who said they hadn't met already?" Severus asked, arching his eyebrow. "I believe Madam Arbogast introduced Albus to her tailor."
Harry paused. "I don't know if you're joking, but that would make so much sense."
…
The evening passed by with little of note, though Harry found himself very bored with the potions talk. When the people seemed to have gotten over his presence, they'd begun approaching Severus to talk about the improvements he'd made on various potions since the last ball.
Severus was in his element of course, and Harry did enjoy the luxury to watch him talk about something he was so passionate about.
Even if Harry only really understood about every third word.
Still, Severus tried to include him in conversation, and when they weren't being interrupted by others, he kept Harry entertained with stories and sly comments about their fellow guests.
And all in all, Harry thought those moments were rather fantastic.
When the evening drew to a close, Severus helped Harry into his travelling cloak, his slip fingers fixing the clasp carefully before he once more linked their arms to guide Harry from the ballroom.
It was… gentlemanly.
Harry had a strange feeling in his gut at the gesture, almost like butterflies.
…
While usually he had no trouble inviting Severus in for a drink, he suddenly felt that he couldn't. Which was weird. Decidedly weird.
Almost like they'd been on a date, which… they hadn't. Had they?
"I had a good time," Harry said awkwardly, as the two of them stood outside his rooms.
Severus gave him a look, and Harry chuckled.
"Okay, no I didn't, I hated all of it… except your company. That was good. We should uh… do it again. Without the ballroom preferably."
With a small, fond smile, Severus leant forward and pressed his lips to Harry's cheek.
"Goodnight, Potter."
Harry watched him walk off and wondered if he'd just passed some sort of test. It certainly felt like he had.
Written for:
Cherry Blossoms: 1. Chrysanthemum Cherry - (scenario) Your main character arrives late to an event.
Urban Safari: 1. Cheetah - (dialogue) "I just...need...a second to...catch...my...breath."
Levi-Kart Racing: Charms Goblet: 1. Muffliato
Teddy Bears Picnic: 3. Cheese sandwich - (action) Helping someone into a coat/cloak
Aquarium Month: 8. Substrate: Write about someone wanting the ground to swallow them up.
Crayon Day: 26. Plum
World Book Day: 14. Fantastic Mr Fox - (word) Fantastic
Zoo Lover's Day: 12. Sea lions: Write about someone that feels like they're on display.
365. 17. Blatant
Scavenger Hunt: Prompt Set 3: 7. Write a story including the following prompt set: Blue / Accio / Butterbeer
Fantastic Beasts: 123. Loveland Frog: "What in the seven levels of hell is that?!"