Author's Notes: Bored and I don't feel like doing my AP European History
paper. I think I'll respond to some reviews:
Bosch: I love that part -- Voldemort is rather amusing in the last chapter
Kim: My Snape and I take offence (Just kidding)
Jessica Black: You'll see . . . (Grins demonically)
Cat Samwise: Yes, doesn't little Severus just seem to make a mess of everything? And, yes, you heard correctly -- Trilogy, twenty-four chapters . . . Brace yourself
Random Slytherin 1: Don't worry, you will be well loved in return (And many snogs await -- "Though I won't specify whom for")
Nagini: Well, I certainly feel bad for Sevvie . . . Then again, at the moment, I feel bad for everyone (Since I know what happens to them all)
Isabeliat: You've foiled my horrid plot structure -- Congratulations! Then again, if Voldemort had just kidnapped Harry and continued going about his evil business, would the plot be anywhere near as interesting? But as for why Voldemort went so easily . . . You'll find out more about that later . . . And I don't really think that Dumbledore and Voldemort hate each other as much as they make themselves out to -- I think they just share a friendly animosity (If such a thing exists)
BlackIris3: Thank you so much (I take a strange pride in my Severus)
Geladwyn: Hurray for the non-words!
Chapter Sixteen -- Birthday Celebrations (Part Two)
1996
It was a hesitant celebration.
The teachers weren't exactly sure how to behave in front of the former Dark Lord and they laughed loudly at every joke (Humorous or not) due to their sheer nervousness. The few students who attended mostly cowered in the corner, only coming forward when they had to, in order to wish Tom Riddle a happy birthday. Only a few people actually seemed to be enjoying themselves. Hermione and Ron were both having a ball -- Chattering away with their best friend and occasionally cracking a joke with Tom. Dumbledore occupied himself with making shining toasts in the way that only Dumbledore can -- "To bipple, forp, gurfus, and plamp!" Tom himself seemed happy enough and Harry would have been in a state of perpetual bliss . . .
But Severus was sitting over in the corner. He had decided to take Harry up on his offer after all and attend the celebration. His arms were casually crossed over his chest and he was slightly slouched. His eyes were grounding into the floor, as if he was afraid to look up. Harry had never seen the Potions Master looking so . . . bitter before. Harry was suddenly very aware of Tom Riddle's arm wrapped around his waist.
"Maybe you should go and say hello to Severus," Harry whispered to Tom when the two of them had been left alone for a moment.
"Why?" Tom asked, a hint of disgust in his voice mixed with other emotions that Harry couldn't discern. "Why would I have any desire to speak to him?"
"Because he loves you, that's why," Harry stated. "It's absolutely cruel to treat him the way that you do."
"You forget that I am not a kind man."
Something about that statement sent a shiver down Harry's spine.
"I'm sorry," Harry sighed, exasperated. "I was just trying to help . . ."
"Well, stop trying," Tom snapped, silencing the boy effectively. "I'm going to go talk to . . ." Tom looked around for the first available person. " . . . Dumbledore for a moment."
And, with that, Tom unwound his arm from Harry's waist and went to go find the headmaster for a quick business session.
Harry's eyes drifted back over to Severus.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
1979
"I love you."
The words were unexpected and Severus Snape looked up from the parchment he was desperately scribbling on. He brushed his lanky hair out of his eyes to clearly see Voldemort standing in front of him.
"I love you, you know."
The words were repeated, more forcefully this time. Voldemort stood there, awaiting some sort of confirmation.
"No, you don't," Severus laughed gently, returning to his work. "Of course you don't love me. Don't be ridiculous."
"I love you."
The words were said with a kind of desperation this time. It was a desperation that made Severus look up again and examine Voldemort's eyes closely.
"Do you really?" Severus asked, a sort of awe in his voice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
1996
"He's not being very agreeable this evening."
The words were unexpected and Severus Snape looked up from the all-too- fascinating carpet. He brushed his lanky hair out of his eyes to clearly see Harry Potter standing in front of him.
"I tried to get him to come over here and speak with you but . . . He wouldn't do it."
"No, I wouldn't expect him to," Severus said tersely, a scowl playing over his lips. "I don't need your sympathies though, Potter. You should know better than that. Now run along."
"Don't talk to me like I'm a child," Harry said softly, making sure that no one could hear him. "You don't ask someone to go to bed with you and then treat them like a child."
Severus tensed significantly in his chair but said nothing. Harry took the opportunity to change topics.
"So what have you been up to lately?" Harry asked.
"Horrible segue, Potter, as always."
"Thank you, Professor, as always."
An odd, awkward silence came over the two of them and, for a while, they sufficed themselves with just staring at one another.
"So," Severus was the one to break the silence, "What did you get him for his birthday?"
Harry jolted up suddenly.
"It's still up in the room! I forgot to bring it down! Oh, that will look great. Tom Riddle's birthday and the only person who forgets to bring a present is me. Excuse me for a second . . ."
And with that, Harry launched up the stairs to their chambers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -----------------------------------------
Harry Potter was scuffing around the room, picking up stray articles of clothing lying on the floor and moving all of the papers on the desk into haphazard piles.
"This place is such a mess, no wonder you can't find anything in here. God, where is it . . . Where is it . . . Where is it?"
It became his mantra as he scavenged the room, looking for the present.
"This is going to be so humiliating. Where is it?"
"What are you looking for?"
Harry spun around to face Tom Riddle. He was slouched against the doorframe and Harry guessed that he'd probably been there for quite a while.
"None of your business," Harry sniffed, returning to his search. Tom moved across the floor so that he was standing right behind Harry. Hands firmly grasped the Gryffindor's shoulders, ceasing any efforts.
"Are you looking for a present?" Tom asked, breath warm against Harry's ear.
"Maybe," Harry said, glaring at Tom with a look that screamed, "Of course, it's a present! And you better stay out of it, you bloody twit!"
"Well, if you can't find it, you could always compensate for it," Tom smiled, nuzzling against Harry's muss of black hair. His right hand began to deftly unbutton Harry's shirt.
"Not right now, Tom," Harry smiled. "I'm not really in the mood . . ."
"Well I am," Tom said, pushing Harry over to the bed.
"Tom, I just really don't feel like doing this right now . . ."
Harry was shoved onto the comforter and, before he could fight his way up, Tom was on top of him, pinning him down.
"Come on, Tom," Harry said, trying to keep any tremors out of his voice. "There's a party going on downstairs and what are they going to think if we just disappear?"
"They're going to think that it's my seventieth birthday and I can do whatever I please," Tom said, gently biting at Harry's lower lip.
"I really don't want to do this."
Tom laughed slightly. "Do you really think it matters what you want?"
Bosch: I love that part -- Voldemort is rather amusing in the last chapter
Kim: My Snape and I take offence (Just kidding)
Jessica Black: You'll see . . . (Grins demonically)
Cat Samwise: Yes, doesn't little Severus just seem to make a mess of everything? And, yes, you heard correctly -- Trilogy, twenty-four chapters . . . Brace yourself
Random Slytherin 1: Don't worry, you will be well loved in return (And many snogs await -- "Though I won't specify whom for")
Nagini: Well, I certainly feel bad for Sevvie . . . Then again, at the moment, I feel bad for everyone (Since I know what happens to them all)
Isabeliat: You've foiled my horrid plot structure -- Congratulations! Then again, if Voldemort had just kidnapped Harry and continued going about his evil business, would the plot be anywhere near as interesting? But as for why Voldemort went so easily . . . You'll find out more about that later . . . And I don't really think that Dumbledore and Voldemort hate each other as much as they make themselves out to -- I think they just share a friendly animosity (If such a thing exists)
BlackIris3: Thank you so much (I take a strange pride in my Severus)
Geladwyn: Hurray for the non-words!
Chapter Sixteen -- Birthday Celebrations (Part Two)
1996
It was a hesitant celebration.
The teachers weren't exactly sure how to behave in front of the former Dark Lord and they laughed loudly at every joke (Humorous or not) due to their sheer nervousness. The few students who attended mostly cowered in the corner, only coming forward when they had to, in order to wish Tom Riddle a happy birthday. Only a few people actually seemed to be enjoying themselves. Hermione and Ron were both having a ball -- Chattering away with their best friend and occasionally cracking a joke with Tom. Dumbledore occupied himself with making shining toasts in the way that only Dumbledore can -- "To bipple, forp, gurfus, and plamp!" Tom himself seemed happy enough and Harry would have been in a state of perpetual bliss . . .
But Severus was sitting over in the corner. He had decided to take Harry up on his offer after all and attend the celebration. His arms were casually crossed over his chest and he was slightly slouched. His eyes were grounding into the floor, as if he was afraid to look up. Harry had never seen the Potions Master looking so . . . bitter before. Harry was suddenly very aware of Tom Riddle's arm wrapped around his waist.
"Maybe you should go and say hello to Severus," Harry whispered to Tom when the two of them had been left alone for a moment.
"Why?" Tom asked, a hint of disgust in his voice mixed with other emotions that Harry couldn't discern. "Why would I have any desire to speak to him?"
"Because he loves you, that's why," Harry stated. "It's absolutely cruel to treat him the way that you do."
"You forget that I am not a kind man."
Something about that statement sent a shiver down Harry's spine.
"I'm sorry," Harry sighed, exasperated. "I was just trying to help . . ."
"Well, stop trying," Tom snapped, silencing the boy effectively. "I'm going to go talk to . . ." Tom looked around for the first available person. " . . . Dumbledore for a moment."
And, with that, Tom unwound his arm from Harry's waist and went to go find the headmaster for a quick business session.
Harry's eyes drifted back over to Severus.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
1979
"I love you."
The words were unexpected and Severus Snape looked up from the parchment he was desperately scribbling on. He brushed his lanky hair out of his eyes to clearly see Voldemort standing in front of him.
"I love you, you know."
The words were repeated, more forcefully this time. Voldemort stood there, awaiting some sort of confirmation.
"No, you don't," Severus laughed gently, returning to his work. "Of course you don't love me. Don't be ridiculous."
"I love you."
The words were said with a kind of desperation this time. It was a desperation that made Severus look up again and examine Voldemort's eyes closely.
"Do you really?" Severus asked, a sort of awe in his voice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
1996
"He's not being very agreeable this evening."
The words were unexpected and Severus Snape looked up from the all-too- fascinating carpet. He brushed his lanky hair out of his eyes to clearly see Harry Potter standing in front of him.
"I tried to get him to come over here and speak with you but . . . He wouldn't do it."
"No, I wouldn't expect him to," Severus said tersely, a scowl playing over his lips. "I don't need your sympathies though, Potter. You should know better than that. Now run along."
"Don't talk to me like I'm a child," Harry said softly, making sure that no one could hear him. "You don't ask someone to go to bed with you and then treat them like a child."
Severus tensed significantly in his chair but said nothing. Harry took the opportunity to change topics.
"So what have you been up to lately?" Harry asked.
"Horrible segue, Potter, as always."
"Thank you, Professor, as always."
An odd, awkward silence came over the two of them and, for a while, they sufficed themselves with just staring at one another.
"So," Severus was the one to break the silence, "What did you get him for his birthday?"
Harry jolted up suddenly.
"It's still up in the room! I forgot to bring it down! Oh, that will look great. Tom Riddle's birthday and the only person who forgets to bring a present is me. Excuse me for a second . . ."
And with that, Harry launched up the stairs to their chambers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -----------------------------------------
Harry Potter was scuffing around the room, picking up stray articles of clothing lying on the floor and moving all of the papers on the desk into haphazard piles.
"This place is such a mess, no wonder you can't find anything in here. God, where is it . . . Where is it . . . Where is it?"
It became his mantra as he scavenged the room, looking for the present.
"This is going to be so humiliating. Where is it?"
"What are you looking for?"
Harry spun around to face Tom Riddle. He was slouched against the doorframe and Harry guessed that he'd probably been there for quite a while.
"None of your business," Harry sniffed, returning to his search. Tom moved across the floor so that he was standing right behind Harry. Hands firmly grasped the Gryffindor's shoulders, ceasing any efforts.
"Are you looking for a present?" Tom asked, breath warm against Harry's ear.
"Maybe," Harry said, glaring at Tom with a look that screamed, "Of course, it's a present! And you better stay out of it, you bloody twit!"
"Well, if you can't find it, you could always compensate for it," Tom smiled, nuzzling against Harry's muss of black hair. His right hand began to deftly unbutton Harry's shirt.
"Not right now, Tom," Harry smiled. "I'm not really in the mood . . ."
"Well I am," Tom said, pushing Harry over to the bed.
"Tom, I just really don't feel like doing this right now . . ."
Harry was shoved onto the comforter and, before he could fight his way up, Tom was on top of him, pinning him down.
"Come on, Tom," Harry said, trying to keep any tremors out of his voice. "There's a party going on downstairs and what are they going to think if we just disappear?"
"They're going to think that it's my seventieth birthday and I can do whatever I please," Tom said, gently biting at Harry's lower lip.
"I really don't want to do this."
Tom laughed slightly. "Do you really think it matters what you want?"