The Healing of Enemies
Chapter 3
Admittance
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own or claim to own Harry Potter or anything else recognizable. So don't sue me.
Severus woke from a deep sleep to the sound of someone crying. He quickly realized that it was Harry who was crying. Getting out of bed, he went into Harry's room. The Gryffindor was curled up into a ball with his back to the door. Harry jumped when he felt Severus sit on the bed and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright, Harry? In pain?"
"No, it's not that. I…I had a nightmare. It's no big deal; I have them all the time. Especially after any fight with Voldemort."
Severus gently pulled Harry into his arms. Harry leaned into the Potions Master's strong chest and his crying quieted.
"Harry, tell me about your nightmare."
"I watched someone I love die. There was nothing I could do about it. Nothing I could do to save him." Harry then spoke in barely a whisper. "I watched you die."
Severus was shocked. Did he just say that he loves me? Oh Gods, could it be true?
Harry became fascinated with the bedpost. Severus ran his long, thin fingers through Harry's raven colored hair.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I'll go to the Hospital Wing in the morning. Madam Pomfrey can take care of me until I get better."
"Is that what you really want to do?"
"No, but…" Severus quieted Harry by gently placing a finger to his lips.
"Then I see no need for you to leave. Do you really love me?"
Harry was silent for a few moments before looking up so he could see the Potions Master's face clearly. He studied his expression closely, looking for even the slightest hint of sarcasm or anything that would tell Harry how he should respond. Severus looked a little nervous, like his future was going to be determined by the answer to that one question. Harry stared at the bedpost again and answered the question.
"Yes, I do. I have for a while. I'm sorry."
"You have absolutely no need to be sorry. I have a confession to make." Harry perked up a bit and looked at Severus. "I love you as well."
Severus smiled, waiting for Harry's reaction. When Harry saw Severus smiling, a great grin broke out across his face. The Potions Master wrapped his arms around Harry and pulled him into a warm embrace. Harry leaned into the embrace; he was so happy that he never wanted the moment to end. Severus rested his head on top of Harry's, breathing in the clean fragrance of Harry's hair. Severus could feel his heart beating hard inside his chest. The feeling of being loved in return was entirely new to him. Every time he ever loved someone before Harry, it was unspoken and unrequited. The Gryffindor shifted in his arms to get more comfortable, but his legs were all twisted. Surprisingly, it hurt. Harry tensed.
"What's the matter?"
"My legs. They hurt, but I can't move them to make it stop hurting."
Severus rearranged Harry so that his legs were draped over the edge of the bed. Then, it suddenly dawned on the Slytherin. He started gently massaging Harry's left calf. Harry relaxed and rested his head against Severus' shoulder, closing his eyes.
"You said your legs hurt. That means that you're getting better. Can you feel my hand?"
"Yes and it feels good. What time is it, anyway?"
"4:45am. I think that you should go back to sleep. I'll see you in the morning, alright?"
"Mmmmm. Tired."
Severus chuckled and tried to slide out from under the nearly sleeping Gryffindor. Harry wrapped his arms around Severus' waist and squeezed.
"Stay"
"Harry, I…"
"Please"
Severus smiled and lay down next to Harry. He wrapped his arm around Harry's waist and softly kissed his cheek.
"Good night, Harry"
-----------------------------------------The Next Morning--------------------------------------------------
A few hours later, Harry woke up and the bed was empty. Nearly frantic, he sat up and looked around the room. Severus was nowhere to be seen.
Oh no! It was only a dream. But it felt so real, so true. Severus doesn't love me, it was only a dream and I'm still all alone.
Harry closed his eyes and buried his face in the pillow on the verge of tears. Just then, Severus came into the room wearing a black bathrobe and drying his hair with a towel. He sat on the edge of the bed and touched Harry's shoulder, shaking him a little. The Gryffindor sat up and looked at Severus with a very sad face.
"What's wrong, Harry? Did you have another nightmare while I was in the shower?"
"Did you come in here last night?"
"Yes I did. You had a nightmare and I came in to make sure you were alright. Now what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I think. When I woke up, you weren't here, so I thought that whatever happened last night was just a dream. Was it a dream, Severus?"
Severus smiled and shook his head. He cupped Harry's cheek, slowly leaning in closer and giving Harry every opportunity to back away. The Gryffindor also leaned in a little bit, closing his eyes. Severus softly kissed Harry's lips. He relished the feeling of their softness and warmth. Harry reached up and ran his fingers through the Slytherin's wet, black hair. Severus pulled away and stared into Harry's eyes.
"Does that answer your question?"
"Yeah it does."
"I have to put some more of the potion on your back, and then we can have breakfast."
Harry obediently turned onto his stomach as Severus opened the jar containing the shimmering blue potion. Severus warmed a bit of it in his hands before massaging it into Harry's back. Harry sank into the mattress when the Potions Master manipulated the hardly tense muscles in his back. His legs started feeling tingly and warm, almost as if he was sitting in a hot bath. Severus wiped off his hands and headed into the kitchen. Harry, feeling rather daring, swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He leaned heavily on the bedside table and carefully lifted himself into a standing position. Surprisingly, his legs didn't give out on him. After standing there for a few moments, however, his knees buckled and he collapsed in a heap on the floor. Severus was in the kitchen making breakfast and didn't hear Harry fall.
"Severus!"
"What?" He called from the kitchen.
"I need your help! Please"
Severus came back into the bedroom and his jaw dropped when he saw Harry on the floor. Kneeling down, he scooped up the Gryffindor in his arms and laid him on the bed. Severus sat on the bed, taking Harry's hand in his.
"What on earth were you doing, Harry?"
"My legs felt good and I could move them a little, so I thought that I'd be able to stand up for a little while."
"But you could have hurt yourself again. What would you have done if I wasn't here?"
"I don't know and, yeah, it was stupid of me to try that, but I'm sorry."
Harry looked up at Severus with those sad eyes that could make anyone melt. The Slytherin smiled and shook his head before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on Harry's lips. Harry wrapped his arms around Severus' neck, pulling the Potions Master on top of him. Severus cautiously licked Harry's lower lip, asking permission to enter. The Gryffindor parted his lips while uttering a throaty moan. Severus explored Harry's mouth slowly and carefully, trying to memorize every detail. Harry slid his tongue past Severus' and ran it along the back of his love's teeth. Severus softly purred into Harry's mouth. After a few more moments of cautious exploration, the two broke apart, desperately seeking air. The Potions Master lay next to Harry and he moved into a comfortable position on top of Severus.
"I'm not hungry anymore. Are you, Sev?"
"No. I'm perfectly happy to stay here."
"Me too. Love you."
"I love you too."
Severus wrapped his arms around Harry and kissed him again. And again. And again……
*fin capitulo tres*
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Please keep it up. I think the relationship may be moving a bit too fast for some people, but, the way I see it; Severus and Harry are just so desperate for even the tiniest bit of happiness after everything that happened. They're also almost trying to apologize to each other for all the years of opposition while Harry was a student. It's an incredible need for companionship. Gracias a todos ~ Laura