Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Severus Snape belong to J. K. Rowling, lucky
girl.
Notes: Chocolate covered Snapes to everyone who gave me a nice review. Thank you so much! You've encouraged me to post more (hope you don't regret it *g*).
Chapter Two: Nothing's Ever Easy
The sound of talk and laughter echoed down the long stone corridors of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as students clamored to their next class. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger stopped outside their classroom door when they realized that their friend, Harry Potter, had stopped some feet behind them. They walked up to him and told him to hurry, but he didn't respond.
He was staring at the open doorway to their Potions class or more precisely the Potions Master inside.
"Harry," Ron said, "What's with you today? You've been out of it since you showed up for breakfast late this morning. Where did you go anyway?"
Harry finally came out of his haze and broke his steady gaze to look at his worried friend. "Huh?"
Ron sighed exasperated.
"Harry," Hermione said concerned, "Ron told me you sneaked off last night to practice Quidditch after hours. You didn't fall off your broom and hit your head, did you? Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey."
Harry shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
His friends gave each other a look. They clearly didn't believe him.
In a firmer voice Harry said, "I'm fine." He then walked pass them into the classroom.
Inside Severus Snape was studying some papers on his desk, but when the bespectacled teenager entered, he looked up.
Harry stared back as he walked to the desk he shared with Ron, but while his own face was a myriad of emotions, the one opposite was impassive. With great effort he looked away and sat down.
Snape stood up from his desk and the class immediately quieted down. He started the day's lesson like any other and the students began pouring strange and varied ingredients into their cauldrons.
Harry too, dutifully worked on his potion, though his attention kept drifting towards the man walking around the dungeon, stopping occasionally to inspect cauldrons, with a disdainful sneer on his pale face.
While distracted, Harry didn't notice as a certain blond Slytherin held up a long newt tail and nudged his two cronies. With a flick of his wrist the tail flew across the room and landed with a plop in Harry's cauldron.
Harry looked down and saw the stray piece being swallowed up by the thick black potion. He glanced up in time to catch a snickering Malfoy just before his potion began to gurgle and burp.
From two tables behind them, Professor Snape's eyes shot towards them. Harry and Ron stared in horror as the contents of their cauldron started bubbling and spilling over the rim.
In seconds Snape was on them, pulling Harry back, who barely avoided being hit by a large splash of the spoiled concoction.
With a strong grip on the young Gryffindor's arm, Snape turned Harry to face him. Angrily he said, "Can you not follow even the most simplest of instructions, Potter? What did I say about adding too many newt tails? It becomes toxic! Do you have any idea what would have happened if any of it had gotten on you?"
For awhile they just stared at each other, Harry too stunned to speak, with Snape furious. Eventually his gaze and his grip softened and he let go. Under his breath, so only Harry could hear, the professor muttered, "What am I going to do with you?"
Walking away from the mess he casually said, "Twenty points from Gryffindor and I'd like you, Potter, to stay after class to arrange the details of your detention."
Ron was sputtering in rage, but Harry remained quiet. Harry knew that it wasn't his fault, but at the moment the points and the eventual detention he'd have to spend with Filch didn't matter. What mattered was why he was being punished, not because he had failed an assignment, but because he had almost gotten hurt. Beyond the angry voice, Harry had seen the scared look in his eyes. Snape was concerned for Harry and Harry knew why.
After class Ron and Hermione sent Harry worried glances, but Harry waved them off and told them he'd meet them in the common room later. He remained seated until the last of the students piled out the doorway. He waited until Snape closed the door, then stood and approached his teacher.
Grimly Snape turned to face his student and fixed him with a serious gaze.
"You are to report to Filch at eight tonight. I'm sure he will find a suitable punishment for you."
Harry stared at him, stunned into silence. He had been sure Snape was going to say something about the night before. He was acting like it never happened. 'It had happened, hadn't it?' Harry's mind was beginning to fill with doubt. 'No, of course it had. I know it did.' Harry's cloak was still in the broom shack when he went there that morning to retrieve it. 'So why is he acting like it didn't?' They had kissed and while Harry wasn't sure what it meant, he wasn't about to let the professor pretend otherwise. Anger and hurt flashed in the boy's eyes before he blurted out, "You kissed me!"
Severus stood still for a moment, shocked by his abruptness. Then with an exterior of calm, he answered, "As I seem to recall, you kissed me."
Harry was a little taken aback by this, having expected him to deny it. Snape sighed, then walked a short ways, and leaned back against a table.
"Do you really want to talk about this, Potter?"
Harry nodded and his glasses slipped slightly down his nose as he did.
Snape crossed his arms and said, "Then talk."
Harry opened and closed his mouth a few times, unsure of what to say. Finally in a quiet voice he said, "We kissed."
"Yes, I think we covered that."
"Well…" Harry had wanted to talk about it, to try and make sense of what happened, but he hadn't gotten as far as thinking about what he actually wanted to say. Part of him wanted to skip talking altogether and just throw himself back into Snape's arms, but he didn't think Snape would respond kindly to that, especially with the cold dispassionate stare he was giving Harry now. Harry had kissed Snape first, but Snape had kissed him back, even if it was only briefly. What Harry felt couldn't have been all one- sided, could it?
When it became apparent Harry wasn't going to finish, Snape spoke, "What happened last night was a mistake."
Harry felt a horrible pang in his gut at having his doubts voiced aloud.
"If you're worried I will repeat the events of last night to anyone, be rest assured it will go with me to the grave. I would appreciate the same courtesy, although I'm sure it wasn't your proudest moment either."
The pang turned into an excruciating pain and Harry was sure his heart was going to explode from beating so hard. Blood rushed to his face and his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His eyes burned and he had to blink to keep the tears back.
How could Harry have ever expected anything but rejection from his Potions professor? The man had spent years despising him and making him miserable. Why would he stop now over just one kiss? 'But it had been an incredible kiss', his heart told him, 'A kiss that had filled the emptiness inside and stopped all the pain.'
Harry stared at the floor unable to meet the other man's eyes. Black shoes stepped into his view and he was forced to look up by a hand on his chin. Snape stared down at him with an unidentifiable look. His brows were furrowed and a frown marked his lips. It wasn't the same disapproving look he was use to receiving, but something else, and he seemed to be seeking an answer in Harry's deep green eyes, that Harry didn't know the question to.
As though he found it, his hand slid from his chin to his cheek and rested there for a moment, before dropping away. He stepped back from the teenager and looked down. "You should go."
Harry took a step forward. "I don't want to."
Severus looked up, surprised by the admission. He was silent for a long time, before finally answering, "It's not about wants, Harry."
Harry's eyes widened and a spark of hope flared in him. Emboldened he asked, "You did feel something too, last night when we kissed?"
Severus closed his eyes and turned his head away. His expression was pained and for a moment Harry didn't think he was going to reply, then through gritted teeth he hissed, "Yes."
* * *
End Part Two.
A/N: Okay, this part ends a little abruptly, but I got stuck and didn't want to keep everyone waiting, so I decided to just post it. Sorry! I actually wrote this second part before the first and it originally ended with them smooching, but I decided I didn't like that (too easy!) so I rewrote it. Isn't this much better? Hee!
Notes: Chocolate covered Snapes to everyone who gave me a nice review. Thank you so much! You've encouraged me to post more (hope you don't regret it *g*).
Chapter Two: Nothing's Ever Easy
The sound of talk and laughter echoed down the long stone corridors of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as students clamored to their next class. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger stopped outside their classroom door when they realized that their friend, Harry Potter, had stopped some feet behind them. They walked up to him and told him to hurry, but he didn't respond.
He was staring at the open doorway to their Potions class or more precisely the Potions Master inside.
"Harry," Ron said, "What's with you today? You've been out of it since you showed up for breakfast late this morning. Where did you go anyway?"
Harry finally came out of his haze and broke his steady gaze to look at his worried friend. "Huh?"
Ron sighed exasperated.
"Harry," Hermione said concerned, "Ron told me you sneaked off last night to practice Quidditch after hours. You didn't fall off your broom and hit your head, did you? Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey."
Harry shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
His friends gave each other a look. They clearly didn't believe him.
In a firmer voice Harry said, "I'm fine." He then walked pass them into the classroom.
Inside Severus Snape was studying some papers on his desk, but when the bespectacled teenager entered, he looked up.
Harry stared back as he walked to the desk he shared with Ron, but while his own face was a myriad of emotions, the one opposite was impassive. With great effort he looked away and sat down.
Snape stood up from his desk and the class immediately quieted down. He started the day's lesson like any other and the students began pouring strange and varied ingredients into their cauldrons.
Harry too, dutifully worked on his potion, though his attention kept drifting towards the man walking around the dungeon, stopping occasionally to inspect cauldrons, with a disdainful sneer on his pale face.
While distracted, Harry didn't notice as a certain blond Slytherin held up a long newt tail and nudged his two cronies. With a flick of his wrist the tail flew across the room and landed with a plop in Harry's cauldron.
Harry looked down and saw the stray piece being swallowed up by the thick black potion. He glanced up in time to catch a snickering Malfoy just before his potion began to gurgle and burp.
From two tables behind them, Professor Snape's eyes shot towards them. Harry and Ron stared in horror as the contents of their cauldron started bubbling and spilling over the rim.
In seconds Snape was on them, pulling Harry back, who barely avoided being hit by a large splash of the spoiled concoction.
With a strong grip on the young Gryffindor's arm, Snape turned Harry to face him. Angrily he said, "Can you not follow even the most simplest of instructions, Potter? What did I say about adding too many newt tails? It becomes toxic! Do you have any idea what would have happened if any of it had gotten on you?"
For awhile they just stared at each other, Harry too stunned to speak, with Snape furious. Eventually his gaze and his grip softened and he let go. Under his breath, so only Harry could hear, the professor muttered, "What am I going to do with you?"
Walking away from the mess he casually said, "Twenty points from Gryffindor and I'd like you, Potter, to stay after class to arrange the details of your detention."
Ron was sputtering in rage, but Harry remained quiet. Harry knew that it wasn't his fault, but at the moment the points and the eventual detention he'd have to spend with Filch didn't matter. What mattered was why he was being punished, not because he had failed an assignment, but because he had almost gotten hurt. Beyond the angry voice, Harry had seen the scared look in his eyes. Snape was concerned for Harry and Harry knew why.
After class Ron and Hermione sent Harry worried glances, but Harry waved them off and told them he'd meet them in the common room later. He remained seated until the last of the students piled out the doorway. He waited until Snape closed the door, then stood and approached his teacher.
Grimly Snape turned to face his student and fixed him with a serious gaze.
"You are to report to Filch at eight tonight. I'm sure he will find a suitable punishment for you."
Harry stared at him, stunned into silence. He had been sure Snape was going to say something about the night before. He was acting like it never happened. 'It had happened, hadn't it?' Harry's mind was beginning to fill with doubt. 'No, of course it had. I know it did.' Harry's cloak was still in the broom shack when he went there that morning to retrieve it. 'So why is he acting like it didn't?' They had kissed and while Harry wasn't sure what it meant, he wasn't about to let the professor pretend otherwise. Anger and hurt flashed in the boy's eyes before he blurted out, "You kissed me!"
Severus stood still for a moment, shocked by his abruptness. Then with an exterior of calm, he answered, "As I seem to recall, you kissed me."
Harry was a little taken aback by this, having expected him to deny it. Snape sighed, then walked a short ways, and leaned back against a table.
"Do you really want to talk about this, Potter?"
Harry nodded and his glasses slipped slightly down his nose as he did.
Snape crossed his arms and said, "Then talk."
Harry opened and closed his mouth a few times, unsure of what to say. Finally in a quiet voice he said, "We kissed."
"Yes, I think we covered that."
"Well…" Harry had wanted to talk about it, to try and make sense of what happened, but he hadn't gotten as far as thinking about what he actually wanted to say. Part of him wanted to skip talking altogether and just throw himself back into Snape's arms, but he didn't think Snape would respond kindly to that, especially with the cold dispassionate stare he was giving Harry now. Harry had kissed Snape first, but Snape had kissed him back, even if it was only briefly. What Harry felt couldn't have been all one- sided, could it?
When it became apparent Harry wasn't going to finish, Snape spoke, "What happened last night was a mistake."
Harry felt a horrible pang in his gut at having his doubts voiced aloud.
"If you're worried I will repeat the events of last night to anyone, be rest assured it will go with me to the grave. I would appreciate the same courtesy, although I'm sure it wasn't your proudest moment either."
The pang turned into an excruciating pain and Harry was sure his heart was going to explode from beating so hard. Blood rushed to his face and his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His eyes burned and he had to blink to keep the tears back.
How could Harry have ever expected anything but rejection from his Potions professor? The man had spent years despising him and making him miserable. Why would he stop now over just one kiss? 'But it had been an incredible kiss', his heart told him, 'A kiss that had filled the emptiness inside and stopped all the pain.'
Harry stared at the floor unable to meet the other man's eyes. Black shoes stepped into his view and he was forced to look up by a hand on his chin. Snape stared down at him with an unidentifiable look. His brows were furrowed and a frown marked his lips. It wasn't the same disapproving look he was use to receiving, but something else, and he seemed to be seeking an answer in Harry's deep green eyes, that Harry didn't know the question to.
As though he found it, his hand slid from his chin to his cheek and rested there for a moment, before dropping away. He stepped back from the teenager and looked down. "You should go."
Harry took a step forward. "I don't want to."
Severus looked up, surprised by the admission. He was silent for a long time, before finally answering, "It's not about wants, Harry."
Harry's eyes widened and a spark of hope flared in him. Emboldened he asked, "You did feel something too, last night when we kissed?"
Severus closed his eyes and turned his head away. His expression was pained and for a moment Harry didn't think he was going to reply, then through gritted teeth he hissed, "Yes."
* * *
End Part Two.
A/N: Okay, this part ends a little abruptly, but I got stuck and didn't want to keep everyone waiting, so I decided to just post it. Sorry! I actually wrote this second part before the first and it originally ended with them smooching, but I decided I didn't like that (too easy!) so I rewrote it. Isn't this much better? Hee!
