Title: The Art of Necromancy
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Time: begins right after GoF
Summary: Harry returns to Hogwarts to spend the summer. Out of sheer boredom, he scours the library for books to read and stumbles across a book that will change his life…
Disclaimer: I own not a thing
WARNING!!!! THIS IS A SLASH STORY!!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE SLASH OR THIS PARTICULAR PAIRING… LEAVE NOW!!!!
Chapter Twelve: Reactions
Albus opened the door to Snape's workroom, and then desperately wished he'd knocked first. He tried to hide the scene from Sirius with his body, but he was too late. He heard Remus's choked gasp. He cringed inwardly, awaiting Sirius's reaction.
***
Somewhere along the line, Snape had managed to partially open Harry's robes, and his hands where inside under Harry's shirt, alternating between stroking the skin of his back and pressing his snog partner closer to him. Harry grinded his hips into Snape's as the fiery kiss continued.
***
"GET YOUR GREASY HANDS OFF OF MY GODSON!"
***
The mood, as well as the kiss, was abruptly shattered. Snape instantly disentangled his hands from Harry's robes, but he was surprised when Harry made no move to get off his lap.
"This isn't finished," he whispered into Snape's ear, before slowly standing and turning to face his enraged godfather. "Hello, Sirius, Remus, Albus." Snape was too shocked to say a word.
***
Sirius's mouth dropped open in shock. There Harry stood, robes open, shirt and hair mussed, lips swollen, and he acted like nothing was wrong! Sirius didn't stay in shock for long. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!" he yelled, starting for Snape.
He didn't get far as both Albus and Remus tackled him. "Come now, Sirius, this has been going on for awhile. Surely you knew?" Albus asked hopefully.
"AWHILE! THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AWHILE!"
"I meant things have been going in this direction for awhile. As far as I know, this was their first kiss," Albus fumbled. He may be somewhat all-knowing, but when it came to situations like this, he'd never known what to say.
"FIRST KISS! YOU ACT LIKE THIS IS A RELATIONSHIP!" Sirius paused, but before anyone could speak, he continued. "AND YOU KNEW! YOU ARE ALLOWING THIS TO CONTINUE!"
"It's my choice, Sirius," Harry said quietly.
"I DON'T BELIEVE IT! HE'S DONE SOMETHING TO YOU, HARRY!"
"The only thing he's done," Harry said mildly. "Is lose a chess game."
The three newcomers looked at him in confusion. Harry gestured to the chessboard on the table near where Snape was standing.
"I chose my prize. Kissing Severus is what I wanted. My choice." He flicked a glance at Snape and gave a wry smile. "And it's taken me nearly a month to get this far." He glared at Sirius. "And if you've set things back to the point where I have to start all over, I'm going to be very angry."
"We aren't kissing again," Snape said firmly, glaring at Harry.
Harry's glare on Sirius intensified.
"YOU WON'T BE KISSING BECAUSE YOU'LL BE DEAD!"
"That's not as big of a problem as you'd think," Albus mused.
"WHAT?!"
"I'm a Necromancer."
The abrupt, tense silence was somewhat of a shock.
"Let me up," Sirius said quietly.
Albus let go of him; Remus had let go at Harry's announcement. Sirius stood and left the room without once looking back. Remus hesitated. He didn't know whether to go after Sirius or get the full story from Harry. He sighed. "Tell me everything."
Harry looked at his father's friend. He felt numb. "Fine," he said calmly, as though this was an every day occurrence. His eyes, however, revealed his hurt and shock.
***
{3 hours later}
"Sirius."
"If you've come to tell me that my perceptions are mistaken, you can save your breath," Sirius snarled.
"I know you're angry," Remus began.
"You're damn right I'm angry! He's fucking Snape, and he's a fucking Necromancer!" Sirius yelled, interrupting Remus. "You know exactly what that means! He may not have been evil before, but he bloody well is now! And Snape is the fucking proof!"
"It's not like that," Remus tried.
"I don't care what lies he's told you! I don't want to hear anymore about it!"
"He's your godson," Remus said, hoping that maybe that angle would wake up his best friend.
"Not anymore," he replied coolly and walked away once more.
***
"Harry, I'm sorry for what happened today."
"It's not your fault, Albus," he replied without looking away from the window he was sitting by.
"I should have said something to him before I brought him down to the dungeons."
"You couldn't have known what would have happened."
"I should have."
"It's not your fault. If it's anyone's its mine," Harry said, laughing bitterly. "If I hadn't kissed Severus then he might have listened to my explanations about Necromancy."
Albus was shocked. "Do you regret kissing him?" he asked cautiously.
"You know, that is one of the most fucked up things about the whole Sirius-situation." He met Albus's eyes with his own. "I don't regret kissing him, not in the least. I do regret what happened after. Not only because of Sirius, but because Severus wouldn't touch me with a ten-foot pole now." He turned away to look out the window once more. "Maybe I am fucked up. I'm more concerned about Severus than about Sirius."
"Harry," Albus sighed. "I've seen the way you look at Severus when he's not looking. If I thought that what you felt for him was a simple teenage crush, I'd never encourage you to be with him. You are different from any other teenager I've ever known. You understand more about yourself and what you truly want then most adults. I know that you love him. It's not wrong to place Severus's reactions above Sirius's."
"He hates me," Harry said brokenly.
"I can't claim to know everything, but I do know that Severus doesn't hate you." Albus smiled gently as Harry turned to look at him once more. "He might find you irritating sometimes…"
"Most times."
"…but I don't think he's ever truly hated you," Albus continued.
"Even if he doesn't hate, I don't think he could ever like me, much less love me," Harry said sadly.
"Then how do you explain that kiss? It wasn't one sided."
"Lust." Harry glanced down at his hands. "If you don't mind, Albus," he said after a moment's silence. "I'd like to wallow in self-pity for awhile longer."
Albus sighed and stood. "I'm here if you need me," he said, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder and giving a brief squeeze before letting go and leaving the room.
"What I wouldn't give for the power to mend a broken heart," Harry said softly to the empty room.
***
"Severus."
Snape cut him off before he could get any further. "Go away, Albus. I've no desire to speak to you."
"I was just coming to congratulate you," Albus said smiling.
"Congratulate me? What for? Finally succeeding in truly upsetting Harry by estranging his godfather?"
"So it's Harry now?" Albus couldn't resist pointing out. Snape glared at him, but Albus continued before he could comment. "No, I was congratulating you on your relationship with our young Necromancer."
"There is no relationship," Snape growled.
"But what about that kiss?"
"Lust," Snape hissed.
"Well, I've known many a relationship that started out based on lust." Albus grinned. "I expect you'll be shagging him soon, right?"
Snape dropped the vial he held in his hand in shock. "Sweet Merlin!"
Albus looked at the broken vial on the floor. "Perhaps you should stop inventorying your potions for awhile if you plan on dropping them while we speak."
Snape was flabbergasted. Not only did Albus mention it, but he actually used the word 'shagging.' Snape glanced at him warily. If he said 'fucking'…. Albus was looking at him expectantly. "No," he finally managed. "I will not be sleeping with Potter."
"Why not? You're attracted to him, he's attracted to you? What's the problem?"
Snape, unable to come up with a response immediately, attacked. "Why are you trying to push him on me? If you think he's so great, why don't you have him!" Snape was instantly greeted with a disturbing mental picture and a jealous rage. Albus better not try anything with his Harry! 'HIS?' Snape sat down heavily.
Albus, having some idea of what just went through Snape's head, chose this moment to leave his friend to his thoughts. He walked out of the workroom and returned to his office. He hoped that Remus would have good news for him, but he was pleased that both Severus and Harry weren't going to let the day's incident interfere with their blossoming relationship. He sent a glance heavenward, he hoped anyway.
***
TBC
A/N: …Sirius is very angry don't you think? He has one of the more violent reactions to Harry's status, at least out of those close to Harry. And his reaction has a pretty deep impact on Harry and Sev's relationship. We won't be seeing them kiss for awhile, sorry to disappoint. Anyway, the reason behind this author's note (if you'll notice, I rarely do them) is to let you know, before I starting getting freaked out reviews and e-mails that Sirius will eventually get over himself and accept Harry as a Necromancer. It's just not going to be any time soon.
Also – personally – I think Albus knows exactly what buttons to push and when to push them to get the reactions he thinks a person should have, if you'll notice he treated both Harry and Sev differently. He knew he needed to shock Sev into thinking since logic wasn't likely to work. Or that's my opinion anyway. And you know what, I am the author, and I think he needed it! *laughs* what do you all think?
And I decided to post this early, aren't you happy? *grins*
~Artemis Luna Diana~