"Now stay here. Don't move or make any sound until I've asked him!"
"Ooh… Yes m'am!" Harry whispered, reaching out to pull her towards him despite his agreeing not to move.
Gabrielle slithered away from him, avoiding his wandering hands. Her Harry certainly was affectionate when plastered, she thought with a groan. He'd kissed her in the bar then outside the bar and again when she was trying to get him onto his broom to fly him back to Hogwarts. One thing for sure, he was a hell of a kisser and she'd been hard pressed to avoid his subsequent attempts. Why she was avoiding them she wasn't quite clear. She didn't doubt that he wanted to kiss her, if anything, he wanted to do more than just kiss her, that was obvious when he was pressed up against her as she flew them back to the school. But she wasn't sure whether it was Harry or the ale and moreover whether he'd regret his actions in the morning. And she really didn't want to jeopardize their friendship for what could prove to be just a drunken stupor. She couldn't lose him as a friend because she took advantage of his decreased inhibitions.
Turning away from him, she knocked on Professor Snape's door. She pressed her ear to the thick wood, listening for footsteps. Hearing nothing, she rapped again, not knowing what she'd do if he didn't let Harry sleep on his couch.
Suddenly the door swung open and Gabrielle nearly fell inside. "What is it, child? It's two in the morning! What are you doing…"
Gabby interrupted him, "I need another favor," she whispered, biting her lip and giving him her best puppy dog eyes.
"What now?" Snape growled, ushering her inside but leaving the door open in the sense of propriety.
"Well… Um… It's Harry," she stammered uneasily. "He's drunk, more than drunk really. More like completely hammered and he doesn't have any where to go to…"
"You've been with Potter? Drinking? Until 2 in the morning?" Snape asked furiously, his tone low and deadly. "Gabrielle…"
"He was drinking. I wasn't. He…he was really upset, Professor. And he doesn't have a home to go to and he…he doesn't, he wouldn't want to let the Headmaster see him in this state," Gabrielle pled, getting upset under the stern look she was receiving from the head of her house.
"I see," Snape drawled, eyeing her suspiciously. "Well, where is he?"
"In the hall," she stated softly, walking past him to get Harry who had fallen asleep on his feet. "Harry," she prodded, slapping the side of his face gently. "Wake up, Harry."
Harry mumbled something then opened his eyes and smiled. "Not a bad sight to wake up to."
"Come on," she responded, blushing under his intense gaze. Harry leaned heavily against her as she led him into Snape's chambers. "You're going to sleep here, ok?"
"This is the dungeon. I'm not sleeping with Snape am I?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Sorry Potter. No amount of alcohol in the world would result in that arrangement," Snape grumbled, his expression clearly showing his disappointment in the two young people. "He sleeps on the couch."
"OK. Could he borrow a blanket? It does get cold down here."
"You expect me to…" Snape began to protest but a soft, feminine voice interrupted him.
Gabrielle raised a delicate blonde eyebrow in surprise. She recognized the owner of the voice as their DADA teacher. "Well, well, well," Gabrielle declared, smirking at Snape who was completely aghast. "Professor Brava? In your bedroom, Professor?"
"I'll get you the blankets," Snape muttered in embarrassment, a faint blush marking his pale cheeks. He swept from the room, his robe trailing behind him. Gabrielle stifled a giggle at the thought of the professor they'd nicknamed Senorita Margherita knocking boots with their stern Potions Professor. "Wonder if the Headmaster knows about that, aye?"
"Knows about what?" Harry asked, waking up again after once more passing out on his feet.
"Later, Harry. Now, onto the couch, come on. You can do it," she prompted, steering him towards the couch. He was walking backwards, not a good thing for a drunk, and tripped as his legs hit the side of the couch, falling down and dragging her on top of him. "Omph!"
Harry grinned, "I sorta like this position." Taking advantage of her momentary shock, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. He was sober enough to realize she'd open her mouth in surprise and he took advantage of that too. Gabrielle sighed as he pressed her against him with one hand, his other hand tangling in her hair.
"Eh hem!" Gabrielle jumped as if a hot brand had been pressed against her. Snape was standing in the doorway, his anger palpable. He crossed the room quickly, tossing the blanket on top of Harry who was looking a bit dazed. "Please explain…" She took a deep breath to try to steady her nerves but it didn't work. A moment after her lower lip began to tremble, she began sobbing and threw herself against the potions master's robes. It was Snape's turn to be shocked and he awkwardly began patting Gabrielle's back. "It's ok, child."
"No, no it's not. Harry he kissed me. Four times…or was it five? He… He…"
"Did he take advantage of you?" Snape asked warily.
"No! Of course not. He's just… He's drunk! And he's not going to remember any of this or if he does he's going to regret it and he's never going to talk to me again!" she cried rapidly, gasping for breaths. "He's going to hate me for allowing him to kiss me or he's going to hate himself for doing it and it's all my fault!"
"Why is it your fault, Gabrielle?"
"I suggested we go to the bar. I thought it'd be fun and I wanted to spend some time with him," she sniffed, taking the handkerchief that Snape offered her.
"Mr. Malfoy was successful," Snape drawled cheerfully, if you could call anything Snape did cheerful. "Wonderful."
"You sent him?" Gabrielle gasped, wiping away her tears.
"Let's just say that I made it possible to learn of the event. I'm glad you left that invitation with me. Came in very handy," he whispered, a sly smile on his face.
"Draco Malfoy showed up and he interrupted, just as the minister was saying that 'Speak now" thing and Ginny… I wasn't sure whether she was going to marry Harry or go, but she went. They went running from the church and hopped into this car and drove off!" Gabrielle paused to pull a tissue from the box that Snape handed her and then blew her nose. "Harry was so…upset. He was completely blindsided by it all."
"And he spent the evening with you?"
"Well, yes, but not without all the nasty implications of 'spending an evening' together. There was nothing beyond kissing… Well, Harry did get a bit gropey, but I put a stop to that!" she protested, not wanting to get Snape any angrier.
"Of that I am very glad. Now… It is late, Gabrielle. Go to your dorm and to bed. I will make sure Potter here is taken care of. Go on now, child," he ordered gently, pushing her toward the door.
"But…"
"He's not going to hate you, he's not going to hate himself, and he will not end your friendship," he assured her.
"How do you know?" Gabrielle asked with wide, imploring eyes.
Snape smiled warmly, lifting the girl's chin. "Because if he does, he will wish he had paid better attention in potions when we were leaning antidotes. Now go."
"Thank you, Professor," she whispered, turning to head off to bed knowing he was watching from the doorway, making sure she reached the door safely. She stopped abruptly and ran back, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. Letting go, she grinned, "Goodnight, Professor."
Severus was speechless as she scurried down the hall, disappearing through the door to the common room. Sighing, he closed the door and looked over to Potter who was once again out cold. He straightened the blanket and moved an empty cauldron close to the sofa, just in case.
The woman in the bedroom called out again, "Are you planning on coming back to bed, Severus?"
"One moment," he replied, scowling down at the prone figure on the couch. "I've gone all soft and cuddly," he groused, leaning close to Potter's ear. "But if you toy with her affections anymore, boy, I will once again make your life a living hell, student or not."
