Afterglow

by Icarus

Harry woke in a larger bed than his own four-poster, tangled in the slippery black duvet. He was wearing nothing more than the sheets, which were a thin, decadent silk. He fumbled for his glasses. With a glance around the room, his memory of the night before came back into focus, as well as that of last few days.

"The shower is over there," Severus said tersely, without looking up.

He was already up, already dressed, sipping his morning tea. His dark robes cascaded over the chair in the kitchenette attached to his private quarters at Hogwarts. He went back to his tea. Beside him was a stack of scrolls. He picked up a curled black quill and made a note on one of them.

Harry watched him. He found it hard to reconcile this cold man with the intensity of the night before, but he saw nothing else to do but obey. Severus made no attempt to ease the awkwardness of their situation. Harry wished for a distraction. He wanted to hide, somewhere, or perhaps get very drunk. Almost as much as he wanted to watch in morbid fascination as Severus went through his morning routine, just like a normal person. It was something Harry had never imagined. There was one thing Harry didn't want to do, and that was parade around Snape's private apartments in the nude.

"Can I - do you… have a robe I can borrow?" Harry asked, embarrassed.

Severus grunted assent, and indicated his own robe, hung up by the dresser. It was black. Of course. Harry climbed out of bed and caught Severus watching him out of the corner of his eyes as he put it on. Harry hid a smile as he tied the robe. Well. Not so cold after all.

"There is some toast. And tea," Severus said in a bored, laconic voice, "I don't go to the main hall for breakfast. I don't like loud noise, especially not in the morning, so try to keep that in mind."

Harry had never noticed Professor Snape skipped breakfast, but he couldn't recall a single morning he'd seem him there, come to think of it. Severus continued with what sounded like a well-prepared speech.

"Harry Potter. Do not dream to expect any special favors from me. No matter where you've slept, no matter what bed you've warmed, you are the same as any other student." Severus' chest heaved, "Last… evening… doesn't change a thing between us."

It was the dumbest thing Harry had ever heard him say. Even he had to know that was impossible. Harry decided to ignore the suggestion of a bath. Or anything else Severus would suggest. He was clearly barking mad.

Harry wandered over to the kitchenette, and picked up a cup. He noticed Severus' was empty so he picked it up as well.

"You take your tea black, I suppose?"

It was an easy guess. Severus glanced up at Harry with casual wariness, and nodded as Harry poured and set his cup on the table. Harry plunked down in the chair in front of him, stretching as he crossed his ankles.

"I like mine with sugar."

"I am sorry, but I do not keep any sugar about. I haven't a child's sweet tooth."

"I'm no child," Harry muttered.

Severus looked up from his papers. His eyes swept Harry's barely covered form. His own bathrobe was a little large in the shoulders, but otherwise fit him. They were of a height. The young man was all leg; the soft skin of a thin but well-formed chest peeked out from under the robe. His black hair was untidy, and Severus would have mockingly suggested a comb, if he didn't know it always looked like that.

"Yes. Thankfully. Seems I haven't fallen to utter depravity just yet."

"You…ah," Harry licked his lips nervously as he leaned forward a bit, "you… probably shouldn't be doing this with a student."

It was unwise, and probably not even safe to bring it up, but it had to be said. Harry braced himself. Severus sat back in his chair, and said with a haughty glance.

"A fount of wisdom you are this morning. All of the sudden. What were you doing last night then, Mr. Potter, my moral guide and conscience?"

Touché, Harry thought.

"I suppose you think you might reveal these fascinating facts about our Potions master? My 'eccentricities' are known by many, if not all. But how will the Harry Potter fan club react, if they knew about you? Hm. Once again you are not thinking, Harry. Fortunately for you, I am." With that, Severus went back to his parchment.

That went well, Harry decided. No severed limbs or hexes. Harry wished Severus' quarters had eye-level windows, as he looked about the walls, bored. He rethought that, remembering what they had been up to last night. No, probably no windows was better.

"Grading papers?" he finally said to break the silence.

Severus graded another essay and didn't look up. "Yes. For some reason I didn't get much work done last night."

"How'd I do?" Harry asked.

Severus was amused. "Badly."

"I meant on the Potions test."

"I most certainly meant the test," Severus said wryly, with a glimmer of a smile.

"Oh. Oh well." Harry couldn't help but feel pleased at the backhanded compliment. "At least I've got 'Care of Magical Creatures' to make up for that."

"Yes. It is so unfortunate that one has to earn one's A's in my class."

Or be a Slytherin, Harry thought. But he suspected that even in this, what passed for an afterglow with Severus Snape, he didn't dare say it aloud. Then, as if Severus had heard his thought anyway, he put down the quill and ordered:

"Take that off."

Harry blinked.

"The robe. Take it off."

Severus' black hair swung as he stood and helped Harry pull the robe to the table. Harry awkwardly complied, too surprised to do otherwise. He was grateful the kitchen was warmer than the rest of Severus' quarters as he stood shivering in his skin. But Severus was eyeing him with a clinical glance.

"Hm… The bruises have healed mostly. The 'other' scars are nearly gone; unnoticeable. Good. Fresh bruises from last night, but that can't be helped… well, well, lucky you, Harry. You are now fit to return to class. No doubt you will have plenty of homework to catch up on from these last four days. Should keep you out of trouble."

Harry put the robe back on, feeling somewhat violated, like he'd just had a prostate exam in the Muggle world. Professor Snape scooped up his graded tests, and swung his cape on in an elegant swirl of black. At the door he paused, turning to the young man, in his kitchen, wearing his robe.

"That is a good color on you, Harry. Very dramatic, a fit setting for the eyes, " said Severus, "But I like you better without it."

And with that, he strode out the door to teach his first class, saying casually over his shoulder.

"Do not be late for Potions."

Severus Snape could make Harry feel so very good, and so much like a squashed bug, all in the same moment. It was a little like being at the Dursleys' in a way. Only he hated the Dursleys. Harry didn't know what he felt for Severus.

All the same, Harry hunted around Severus' kitchen. Sure enough, he found the sugar bowl. It was full. He knew Severus had lied about that. He left the sugar bowl in the middle of the kitchen table, just to make his point. Harry then made himself another cup of tea, this one with sugar. He didn't care if he was late for his next class. Or Potions.

Especially not Potions.

Finis. Next: 'Firelight and Dreams.'