Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Severus Snape belong to J. K. Rowling (and
each other).
Notes: When you start to read this, you may feel like you missed something. You did. I just couldn't write the in-between chapter. The only solution I could find was to skip ahead. I've already started writing the next two chapters, so I'll hopefully have them posted within the next week. Thanks for all the positive feedback!
Chapter Three: Harry
Harry left the dungeon in a daze. He struggled up the stairway to the Gryffindor tower, leaning against the railing as he went, for support. He was feeling terribly confused. Snape had confessed to feeling something for Harry and yet when Harry reached out for him, he backed away. He went on telling Harry a multitude of platitudes as to why it could never happen again. Harry had drowned most of it out, lost in his own thoughts. He was still hurt by being turned away, but he also felt a small amount of elation at knowing Snape had felt the attraction too.
Harry tried to analyze his feelings, but all it accomplished was a stomachache. So instead he focused his thoughts on Snape… Severus. Harry had a hard time thinking of him as just 'Snape' after kissing him so passionately, but the word sounded so foreign to him. Glancing around, he made certain there wasn't anyone close by to hear him. Sounding it out slowly, he whispered, "Severus." He was tempted to say it again, but shook his head realizing how silly it was. He doubted he would ever get the chance to call him by it. He wanted to. He wanted to stand face to face and say it, while looking at him straight in the eyes, to show they were equals. He needed to prove to Severus they were equals or else he would never see Harry as anything more than a little boy needing saving from himself.
That was another thing, despite the harsh way the Potions Master had treated him over the years, he had always gone out of his way, however subtly, to protect him. A man couldn't so consistently try to save someone they truly despised. Harry had at times, when he was younger, compared Snape's hatred of him, to that of which Harry felt for Voldemort. But year after year, Snape would do something to disprove that theory. Severus didn't hate Harry. He certainly didn't like him, but he didn't hate him. That realization had made all difference when they were forced to band together to defeat Voldemort. Harry had found it difficult to trust him, but Severus had ended up proving himself beyond a doubt.
Harry neared the entrance to his common room. His stomach knotted even tighter. His friends were waiting for him on the other side. He wasn't ready to face them yet, his mind was in too much turmoil, but he really didn't have much of a choice. If he didn't go in, they would undoubtedly go looking for him and when they did find him, there would be too many questions. Harry had enough of his own to deal with, so steeling himself, he spoke the password to the portrait, which swung aside, and entered.
Just as Harry expected, his two friends were sitting comfortably on a couch in front of a small table littered with papers. Hermione had her nose, typically, buried in a book, while Ron's open book lay uselessly on his lap while his head was tilted back, resting on the couch. Hermione lowered her book and Ron straightened as they noticed Harry.
"Oh good, you're alive," commented Ron. "I was beginning to worry that Snape had finally snapped and stuck you in a cauldron, while trying to boil you in a potion."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Really, Ron." She looked at Harry. "We really were worried though. Are you alright?"
Harry put on his best game face and gave his friends a half-smile. "Yeah. Got detention with Filch tonight though."
"Argh! It's so bloody unfair! It was all Malfoy's fault. I swear, one of these days we're going to find a way to get back at him, big time!"
"You better think fast then, Ron. We graduate in less than two months," Harry replied somewhat sullenly. He walked over to the couch and sat down, squeezing his two friends together. "Still, it could be worse. You could have gotten detention with me."
Ron made a face and decided to change the subject. "I don't know about you, but I'm famished."
Hermione glanced at the time. "It's almost time for dinner. We should probably start on our way down there." She stood gathering her books and rolling up the stray pieces of parchment. Ron tossed his textbook carelessly next to her neat pile.
They started for the door when they noticed Harry wasn't following. "Aren't you coming?"
Harry shook his head. "I'm not hungry. You two go ahead."
"Harry, are you sure you're alright? Do you have a stomachache," asked Hermione.
"I just need to lay down for a bit. I'll be fine."
"You probably caught a cold, flying about in the freezing rain, last night. You really should be more careful, Harry," lectured Hermione.
"Aw, its probably nothing," said Ron, "The idea of spending any length of time with Filch would be enough to make anyone nauseous. Tell you what, Harry, I'll sneak you out some food in case you get hungry later."
"Thanks, Ron." Harry smiled at his friend. They waved goodbye, then left through the portrait hole. The rest off the Gryffindors hungrily made their way out to dinner, leaving Harry alone. He walked the steps to his dorm, then collapsed onto his bed.
He rolled onto his side and curled up his body. He tried to find a solution to the ache he felt in his heart, but all his thoughts lead into one direction. Severus.
* * *
End Part Three.
Notes: When you start to read this, you may feel like you missed something. You did. I just couldn't write the in-between chapter. The only solution I could find was to skip ahead. I've already started writing the next two chapters, so I'll hopefully have them posted within the next week. Thanks for all the positive feedback!
Chapter Three: Harry
Harry left the dungeon in a daze. He struggled up the stairway to the Gryffindor tower, leaning against the railing as he went, for support. He was feeling terribly confused. Snape had confessed to feeling something for Harry and yet when Harry reached out for him, he backed away. He went on telling Harry a multitude of platitudes as to why it could never happen again. Harry had drowned most of it out, lost in his own thoughts. He was still hurt by being turned away, but he also felt a small amount of elation at knowing Snape had felt the attraction too.
Harry tried to analyze his feelings, but all it accomplished was a stomachache. So instead he focused his thoughts on Snape… Severus. Harry had a hard time thinking of him as just 'Snape' after kissing him so passionately, but the word sounded so foreign to him. Glancing around, he made certain there wasn't anyone close by to hear him. Sounding it out slowly, he whispered, "Severus." He was tempted to say it again, but shook his head realizing how silly it was. He doubted he would ever get the chance to call him by it. He wanted to. He wanted to stand face to face and say it, while looking at him straight in the eyes, to show they were equals. He needed to prove to Severus they were equals or else he would never see Harry as anything more than a little boy needing saving from himself.
That was another thing, despite the harsh way the Potions Master had treated him over the years, he had always gone out of his way, however subtly, to protect him. A man couldn't so consistently try to save someone they truly despised. Harry had at times, when he was younger, compared Snape's hatred of him, to that of which Harry felt for Voldemort. But year after year, Snape would do something to disprove that theory. Severus didn't hate Harry. He certainly didn't like him, but he didn't hate him. That realization had made all difference when they were forced to band together to defeat Voldemort. Harry had found it difficult to trust him, but Severus had ended up proving himself beyond a doubt.
Harry neared the entrance to his common room. His stomach knotted even tighter. His friends were waiting for him on the other side. He wasn't ready to face them yet, his mind was in too much turmoil, but he really didn't have much of a choice. If he didn't go in, they would undoubtedly go looking for him and when they did find him, there would be too many questions. Harry had enough of his own to deal with, so steeling himself, he spoke the password to the portrait, which swung aside, and entered.
Just as Harry expected, his two friends were sitting comfortably on a couch in front of a small table littered with papers. Hermione had her nose, typically, buried in a book, while Ron's open book lay uselessly on his lap while his head was tilted back, resting on the couch. Hermione lowered her book and Ron straightened as they noticed Harry.
"Oh good, you're alive," commented Ron. "I was beginning to worry that Snape had finally snapped and stuck you in a cauldron, while trying to boil you in a potion."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Really, Ron." She looked at Harry. "We really were worried though. Are you alright?"
Harry put on his best game face and gave his friends a half-smile. "Yeah. Got detention with Filch tonight though."
"Argh! It's so bloody unfair! It was all Malfoy's fault. I swear, one of these days we're going to find a way to get back at him, big time!"
"You better think fast then, Ron. We graduate in less than two months," Harry replied somewhat sullenly. He walked over to the couch and sat down, squeezing his two friends together. "Still, it could be worse. You could have gotten detention with me."
Ron made a face and decided to change the subject. "I don't know about you, but I'm famished."
Hermione glanced at the time. "It's almost time for dinner. We should probably start on our way down there." She stood gathering her books and rolling up the stray pieces of parchment. Ron tossed his textbook carelessly next to her neat pile.
They started for the door when they noticed Harry wasn't following. "Aren't you coming?"
Harry shook his head. "I'm not hungry. You two go ahead."
"Harry, are you sure you're alright? Do you have a stomachache," asked Hermione.
"I just need to lay down for a bit. I'll be fine."
"You probably caught a cold, flying about in the freezing rain, last night. You really should be more careful, Harry," lectured Hermione.
"Aw, its probably nothing," said Ron, "The idea of spending any length of time with Filch would be enough to make anyone nauseous. Tell you what, Harry, I'll sneak you out some food in case you get hungry later."
"Thanks, Ron." Harry smiled at his friend. They waved goodbye, then left through the portrait hole. The rest off the Gryffindors hungrily made their way out to dinner, leaving Harry alone. He walked the steps to his dorm, then collapsed onto his bed.
He rolled onto his side and curled up his body. He tried to find a solution to the ache he felt in his heart, but all his thoughts lead into one direction. Severus.
* * *
End Part Three.
