The Healing of Enemies
Chapter 4
Reassurance
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own or claim to own Harry Potter or anything else recognizable. So don't sue me.
Albus Dumbledore smiled brightly as he spied on Harry and Severus through the fireplace. Minerva McGonagall came up behind him, astounded as she stared into the fire.
"Dear Gods, Albus! Harry Potter and Severus Snape, together? Do you honestly think that is wise?"
"I think, Professor, that they are exactly what the other needs. Harry just lost everyone that meant anything to him. And Severus, well, you know that he's been completely changed ever since he saw Draco killed. They will help each other heal."
"Yes, now that I think of it, Severus has been much more, how do I put this correctly, human lately. I only wish that this change hadn't had to come through the death of Draco Malfoy. Has there been any news of Remus Lupin and Sirius Black?"
"Nothing yet, but it is my hope that we will hear something soon. Sirius is the only thing remotely close to a family that Harry has ever known. It would be simply wonderful if Harry hadn't lost everyone. Even though he has Severus now, I wish Sirius were here."
McGonagall nodded, readjusting her hat. Her eyes widened when she saw Harry slide his hands under Severus' shirt to play with the older man's nipples. Severus moaned softly and pulled Harry closer, kissing him.
"M-maybe, Albus, it would be best if we gave them some privacy."
"Albus snapped his fingers and the image in the fireplace disappeared. The two aged professors sat down to tea so that they could discuss the possibility of reopening Hogwarts in the fall.
------------------------------------------------In Harry's Room------------------------------------------------
Harry curled up next to Severus, resting his head on the Slytherin's now bare chest. Severus wrapped an arm around him and pulled the Boy-Who-Lived closer. Obsidian eyes watched as emerald ones closed; Severus too closed his eyes and started thinking about his life.
Gods, he is perfect! But he's young enough to be my son. What am I doing? This feels so right, but so wrong all at the same time. I don't know what is wrong with me.
Severus stroked Harry's cheek, and then he gently shook the snoozing man to wake him. Harry opened his eyes, smiling, but he frowned when he saw the slightly pained look on Severus' face. The Gryffindor looked at his love, confused.
"What is this, Harry? What are we doing? Why are we together? I'm old enough to be your father. How long is this going to last?"
"Well, that's an awful lot of questions, Severus. Let's see…this is generally called being in love. We are presently cuddling and having this lovely conversation. We are together, I believe, because we love each other. I know you're old enough to be my father, but I don't really care because I love you. And finally, I hope that we will be together forever. Does that answer your questions?"
Severus smiled and shook his head. He placed a soft kiss on Harry's forehead. Harry ran his fingers through Severus' silky, black hair, resting his hand on the back of the Potions Master's neck. The Gryffindor pulled Severus closer to passionately kiss him. Severus immediately melted into the kiss. Harry's warm tongue teased Severus' lips, begging for permission to enter. The Slytherin parted his lips with a lust-filled moan. Harry played with Severus for a moment, darting his tongue in and out of his mouth. Tongues battled for the right to explore, each getting their turn to worship the other's hot mouth. Finally, the two broke apart, desperate for air. Harry slunk down on top of Severus and drummed a gentle pattern on the older man's stomach. Severus had a very well-defined chest and abdomen, but no one ever got to see it underneath those flowing robes. Harry ran his fingers over the Potions Master's stomach; his head was off in space. Suddenly and for no apparent reason, he started to think of how much he missed Ron and Hermione. Tears started welling up in his eyes and, though he tried to blink them away, one renegade tear slid down his cheek, landing on Severus' bare chest. Severus sat up and pulled Harry into his arms, wiping away his tears.
"What's wrong, Harry?"
"Nothing."
"Come on, you don't just start crying-"
"I'm not crying."
"Okay, fine, you're not crying. But I've known you for almost 8 years and you're not the type to get upset for no apparent reason."
"I…I just started remembering Ron and Hermione. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. They were your best friends and Ron and Hermione will have a special place in your heart forever. It's alright to miss them and don't feel bad whenever you miss them. And it is okay to cry."
"It's…it's just that that part of my life is over. I can't…I can't go back to my life before the final battle. I don't really want to either, but I miss all of my friends. I just don't know what to do, and it gets me all mixed up inside."
Severus hugged Harry and held him closer to his chest, gently rubbing his back. "I wish that I could go back to my life when Draco was alive, but then we would still have Voldemort to deal with and I don't want to go back to trying to live two lives as Professor and Spy. My life was a nightmare and I hated myself, who I became by being forced to live two separate lives. There isn't a moment that passes where I don't wish that I could wake up and see Draco again, and I know that I'll miss him for as long as I live, but I have you now. I want to honor Draco's memory by moving on and living a full life. A life with you, I hope."
"I hope for that too."
Harry hugged Severus and snuggled with the Potions Master. They sat in peace for a while, just being together until Harry's stomach growled. They both laughed.
"I guess that I should have had breakfast, huh Sev?"
"I suppose so, but I am hungry as well. So how about I get some lunch for us?"
"Sounds like a good idea to me."
Severus kissed Harry's cheek before getting up and going into the kitchen. He returned a couple minutes later with a tray full of hot turkey and swiss cheese sandwiches, chips (A/N: yes, the British kind of chips, as in French fries to the Americans), and pumpkin juice. The Potions Master set the tray on the dining table and sat down. Harry looked at Severus very puzzled.
"Are you coming, Harry."
"Come on, Severus. That's not very funny. You know that I can't very well get over to the table by myself without the wheelchair."
"I got rid of the wheelchair. Turned it into a very lovely desk chair. I needed a new one in my office."
Harry looked rather huffy as Severus went over to the bed, smiling. He helped Harry to his feet, and then laced his arm under Harry's armpits, across his back.
"There's a crutch next to the bedside table. I think you'll be using it for a while, so why not get used to it now?"
Harry grabbed the elbow crutch and leaned on it heavily as Severus helped him to the table. They sat down and ate the sandwiches, not really saying anything, just pointless small talk. When they had finished, Severus' house-elf, Tink, came in and took away all the dishes. Severus rose and helped Harry to stand. They walked around the room for a few minutes before Harry's legs started to hurt.
"I can't walk any more, Severus. It hurts. Could you maybe help me to the bathroom? I'd like to soak in the bathtub for a little while, if you don't mind."
"Of course you can have a bath. These are your rooms, after all."
Harry smiled and leaned in a little closer to Severus. They into the bathroom; Harry sat on the edge of the tub. He pulled off his shirt and nearly fell into the empty tub trying to kick off his slippers. Severus caught him and, wrapping his arm around the Gryffindor's waist to keep him steady, pulled off his slippers and socks. When he stood up, Severus saw that Harry was on the verge of tears, staring out the bathroom door, trying not to focus on anything to keep from crying.
"Did I hurt you, Harry? Did I move one of your legs too fast?"
"No, it's nothing you did. It's what I couldn't do. Sev, I can't even take off my own damn slippers! Do you have any idea how frustrating it is that I can't walk by myself, I can't fully dress myself, and I can't do anything without hurting myself?"
"I'm not going to pretend that I know what you're going through. The only thing I can say is that you will heal. Give yourself a few more days, a week maybe, and you'll be up running around and driving me up a wall, just like you used to. Alright?"
Harry smiled while nodding and wrapped his arms around the Potions Master's neck and pulled himself up so he was standing. Severus held him in that embrace for a while; silently assuring him that everything would turn out to be alright. Then, with one arm still wrapped firmly around Harry's waist, the Slytherin turned on the tap, filling the tub with hot, fragrant water. Harry sat on the edge of the tub again and looked up at Severus. The young man took the older man's hand and softly squeezed.
"Thank you, Severus"
Severus leaned down so he could whisper in Harry's ear before leaving the room. "Anything for you, love."
*fin capitulo cuatro*
A/N: I know it's kind of a sappy ending, but I needed to end this chapter or it would easily be 4 pages longer and it would be another week before it got posted. Let me know what you think. Please review!!
And many many thanks to everyone who has been kind enough to review so far. Gracias a todos ~ Laura