Feedback: Please read and review, flames are not welcome.
A/N: Thanks go, once more, to Sherdelune, my beta, for her patience and encouragement. Any errors still remaining would be mine.
Warning: Some OotP spoilers. M/M relationship.
Anything between two *, denotes a thought.
Chapter 7: Just Between You and Me
The next morning during breakfast, Harry approached Professor Dumbledore at the Head Table to set his plan in motion. Though it wasn't really a plan, per se, just more of a chance to get a few answers to the questions that were bouncing around in his head. Hermione watched from the side lines, curious as to what was going through her friend's mind, not sure how the Headmaster could help Harry with his relationship. Ron was also watching Harry as he was talking to Dumbledore, curiousity written plainly on his face.
Ron turned to Hermione and asked her, sure that she would know what was up.
"I'm not entirely sure why Harry is talking to the Headmaster, Ron. I think it might have something to do with Professor Snape."
"Snape? Whatever for? Do you think it's about the chores or something? I forgot to ask Harry how his chore last night went. Did you ask him?"
"No, I didn't ask him either. I'm sure it went well though, as Harry hasn't been ranting about him this morning." Ron shook his head in agreement with that observation.
"Yeah, that's true, then again, Harry hasn't ranted about Snape in a week. However, he's still preoccupied with something. Do you have any idea about what?"
"I have some idea, but I'll tell you about it later, when we're in a more private location and when Harry is with us." Hermione swept her eyes over the room to indicate why. Ron followed her gaze and understood what she meant -- too many people who could accidently hear. "It's really his call to let you know what's going on."
...
Just a table across from Hermione and Ron, Harry was earnestly talking to Professor Dumbledore.
"Sir, I really need your help with something. Something very important to me." Harry looked pensive as he sat down in a vacant seat next to the Headmaster.
"I'll do what I can for you, Harry. What do you need help with?" Dumbledore asked with his eyes starting to sparkle with each passing minute.
"Well, I don't want to talk to you about it here, Professor. It's really
a private matter. Could I come up to your office later on today to discuss it?"
Harry asked with as much calm as he could muster. He was really nervous about
what he wanted to ask Dumbledore, but the answers were essential to his future
happiness. That much he
was sure of.
He'd spent part of the night envisioning how the conversation between Dumbledore
and himself would go. The other half of the night, he'd thought of Severus and
how he felt about him, going over every second they'd spent together, looking
for possible clues as to how the other man felt in regards to himself. He just
didn't want to start looking for things that weren't there, thereby getting
his expectations up
falsely. But he would definitely keep the hope in his heart, like Hermione suggested.
Harry's eyes unfocused while he was recalling last night and everything else since. Dumbledore watched him closely and smiled. Ms. Granger wasn't the only one who had kept a close watch on Harry. He might have been observing Severus more closely, he was by no means ignoring what was happening with Harry. *Especially as it was Harry who had set everything in motion, with a little prodding and manipulation by me of course. I really am quite proud of this young man. Harry has so much love to give and so much love that he needs and really, Severus is exactly the same. They are perfect for one another and as everyone knows, I might be slightly barmy, but I have never been wrong, at least in regards to relationships. I am the premiere matchmaker of my age, look at how I got Arthur and Molly Weasley together, and Lily and James.* His twinkle dimmed a bit at thinking of that last couple, he still missed them terribly, but he trained his gaze on the young man in front of him and was glad to see their love had produced something of such wonder as this strong, courageous wizard.
"Certainly, Harry. You may come by at any time, you know you are always welcome to visit. The password to my office is 'Argyle'." Dumbledore leaned down closer to Harry as if to whisper words of major importance. "Just between you and me, I was getting tired of using sweets for passwords. Now socks, that is another thing entirely. One can never have enough socks."
Harry chuckled, along with the Headmaster. "Thank you, Professor. I'll make some time this afternoon to get away from Hermione and the ferocious study schedule she's set."
"As to the NEWTs, I'm sure you and your friends will do quite well on them."
Harry rose from his seat and smiled his thanks at Dumbledore's words of encouragement. He then walked back over and joined his friends for breakfast.
Hermione had gone back to studying and munching absent-mindedly at her breakfast and Ron was talking with Ginny about the rest of their family, as they both had gotten letters from their mum.
"Well, Hermione, what have you got in store for Ron and myself today?" Harry asked as he scooped up some eggs and a rasher of bacon.
Hermione looked up from her book for a split second to grab another piece of bacon, then went to studying. "We'll spend the morning going over Transfigurations, and for the afternoon, Charms. Tomorrow will be Defense Against the Dark Arts and Herbology. Then for the rest of the week, we'll study more on Potions and the rest, plus Astronomy, Muggle Studies, Care of Magical Creatures and History. You two will have to study Divination on your own time," here Hermione paused and rolled her eyes before continuing, "while I will study Arithmancy and Ancient Runes."
Harry and Ron groaned at the thought of all the studying they would be doing in the coming week. They had put in a full week already and it did not look like it would end there.
The trio piled into the common room after breakfast. They, along with the rest of their house, took over every spare space available to get down to the business of studying for either their year end exams, OWLs or NEWTs. The fifth year students and the seventh looking the most harried of the bunch as they were buried under more books and parchment than anyone thought imaginable.
Harry stretched slowly in his seat to work some of the ache out of his body. His eyes were weary and strained from too much studying, so he removed his glasses and rubbed at them. As he shifted in his seat, his body screamed at him as his muscles groaned from lack of activity. He felt that maybe now was a good time to take a break. He rose and leaned down between Hermione and Ron and whispered to them that he was going to take a walk before lunch and that he would see them then in the Great Hall. He left his books where they were and felt that maybe now was a good time to have that talk with Dumbledore.
He approached the gargoyle statue guarding the Headmaster's office and said, "Argyle." He waited patiently as the entrance opened and he went up the spiral stairs. Just before he could knock on the door to Dumbledore's office, he cleary heard, "Come in, Harry. Come in."
He opened the door and noticed Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, with Fawkes off to his left. Dumbledore did not look up from his paperwork, but instead motioned with his free hand for Harry to take a seat in front of the desk. "I'll be with you in a moment, Harry. I am forever doing paperwork, it seems, especially if it concerns the Ministry."
Harry took a seat closest to Fawkes and the phoenix flew off his stand and landed on Harry's knee. Harry stroked the bird's feathers gently and Fawkes trilled his happiness. "I'm glad to see you, too, my friend."
After several minutes of Harry sitting and petting the fiery plumaged bird, the Headmaster rose from behind his desk and took the seat opposite Harry.
"Ah, Fawkes really does love the attention, doesn't he?" Dumbledore chucked gently as Fawkes flew from Harry and took a seat upon the Headmaster's shoulders, then tweaked the older wizard's beard gently and flew back to his perch by the fire.
"Would you care for some tea? Or perhaps a lemon drop or two?"
"Some tea would be most welcome, Professor. I am feeling rather parched after studying these past several hours."
Dumbledore took out his wand and waved it above the small table between the two chairs. Instantly, a tea service appeared, with a small plate of biscuits, two china cups and a steaming pot of tea.
After distributing the tea, Dumbledore settled back into his chair and raised an inquiring eye in Harry's direction. "So, young man, what did you want to talk about?"
Harry, who thought he had gathered his thoughts in preparation for this meeting, found that he was now having trouble coming to the point. "Um, well, you see, sir... ." Harry sighed and tried again. "It's like this..."
Dumbledore chuckled at Harry's obvious reluctance to bring up such an awkward subject.
"Harry, is this about Professor Snape by chance?"
Harry gulped. *Oh, Merlin! Have I been that obvious that even Dumbledore has noticed? If he has, surely Severus must also.* Harry nodded his head slowly in response and whispered, "Yes, sir."
"Alright, now what is it that you want to know in regards to Professor Snape or perhaps tell me about?"
"Well, it's that he told me how you watched over him that day after the
incident with Monday's class, and well, you see..." Harry stopped when
he realized something. *Oh heavens, I can't mention to Dumbledore about Severus'
suspicions about the Headmaster asking questions. That would imply that Dumbledore
was being nosey and
sneaky, and too many other things to even say. Therefore, I can't ask him what
he found out, if anything, of what Severus was might feel for me.*
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily as he watched Harry squirm and cast about for a reason for his being there, other than the most apparent one. *Ah, to be young again and in love.*
"Um, sir, it's nothing, really. I, uh... just wanted to know if you thought
he didn't suffer too badly from the potions accident." *Oh, how lame can
I be. Of course it would be obvious that Severus didn't suffer, he's been in
the Great Hall for meals and such every day since. I'm such an idiot sometimes.*
Harry blushed and tried to keep his eyes locked onto the Headmaster, because
he was really wanting to
smack his forehead with the palm of his hand, repeatedly.
Dumbledore decided to take pity on the young man, "Is that what you really came to find out? Because I don't believe that to be so." Dumbledore paused a minute to drink some of his tea and continued on, "I will give you one simple piece of advice. Trust in your heart, Harry. You have good instincts about people. You should place your trust in those instincts now and listen to what they tell you."
"As I am sure you are aware, I placed my trust in Severus for many years and that trust has never been abused in any way. He is a good man, a man capable of a great many things, including letting people into his heart that he feels are worthy. I don't know if you are aware of this, but he is very much like you." *He's very much like you in that he feels exactly the same way you do, he just hasn't realized it yet.* Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly and with suppressed mirth. *I can't wait to see what happens when Severus finally figures it all out.*
Harry sat for a minute to digest all that Professor Dumbledore had said. *Strange, first Hermione said something like that and now Dumbledore. That Severus was very much like me, that we have much in common. I know we both believe in doing what's right, that we both had miserable childhoods, and that we each hated being in any way remotely connected to Voldemort. So, if what they say is true, I just have to keep hope in my heart and to trust it always, whatever it tells me and things will turn out right.*
Harry smiled and nodded his head in understanding. "Thank you, sir. I think I will follow your piece of advice." Harry got up from his chair and stood a bit uncomfortably, shifting from foot to foot. "And thank you for the tea as well. I think I should head down to the Great Hall for lunch soon. Have a good afternoon, Professor."
"And you as well, Harry. Don't study too hard, it won't do to over do it."
Harry laughed at that, "Try telling that to Hermione. She can't keep her nose out of a book, and she's making Ron and me do the same." Harry rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders in resignation. "She's right though, we need to do well on the NEWTs. She and Ron both want to go to University."
"Oh, and have you figured out what you will be doing? Professor McGonagall mentioned that you wanted to be an Auror."
"I did, sir. Not anymore, however. So I'm in a bit of a quandary as to what I'll be doing once school is over. Professor Snape said he would counsel me on my options. We'll see what seems promising."
*Interesting, I had no idea that Severus was doing that as well. I knew about the tutoring sessions and the chores Harry would be performing, but this is a new development. Ah, and I recall that Harry asked Severus to come live with him, I wonder if he's found his new place to live yet.*
"Ah, forgive an old man his thoughtlessness. I know you won't be going back to live with your relatives this summer, and I know you won't be living at the Black family manor since you deeded it back over to Tonks, so where will you be staying?"
Harry was surprised at the change in subject, but took it in stride. "Well, Professor, I've contacted a few places that have homes for sale. Two of the three that look promising have owled me in return, so I hope at some point to set up a time where I might Floo to view them. Would that be possible?"
"I'm sure something can be arranged. You could Floo from here. Just as a word of caution, you might have Arthur Weasley have someone look into these homes. Just to be safe, and make sure there are no surprised waiting for you."
"Ah, yes, sir. I understand what you are saying. Thank you, for everything. I really should be going. Again, have a good afternoon."
"I will, and thank you, Harry. For coming to me, and remember, you can come to me for anything. I hope you'll drop in again before you leave."
"I'll definitely try, but with the study schedule and the exams coming up, it will be nearly impossible. Perhaps, after the exams."
Harry lifted his hand in a small wave, turned and left the Headmaster's office.
As he went down the steps and passed the gargoyle sentry, Harry decided that he would try and get a quick chore out of the way before lunch. *And, it definitely wouldn't hurt to see Severus again, just to see how he's doing.*
Not many minutes later, Harry was knocking on Severus' office door. He heard some mild cursing from inside and when the door opened, he saw standing in front of him, a slighty harrassed looking Professor.
Harry lifted an inquiring eyebrow in his direction, "Having difficulties, Professor?"
"Yes, I am. My current potion is not going as I'd like. Well, if you've come here to do a chore, come in." Severus turned away and motioned Harry to enter, then closed the door behind him.
"Anything I can to do to help?"
"Actually, there is." Severus turned and pointed to what looked like dozens of small cauldrons piled up along the back wall of the office.
Harry's eyes widened in disbelief and gulped. "Those need cleaning. They are from my numerous failed attempts at making a new healing potion. I would be ever so greatful if you would clean them for me. Please." Severus knew that this chore was by far more onerous than any he would have actually given Harry, but he was desperate.
Harry sighed, Severus had said the one magical word that would literally get him to do almost anything, 'please.' "Okay, anything I should know before I start? Any particular cleansing method I should use?"
"Just use soap, water and plenty of elbow grease." Severus quirked his lips at Harry's enthusiastic embracing of his chore.
"Right-o!" With that Harry went and picked up a cauldron that looked as if Neville had used it. He turned back to Severus and pointed at the cauldron he held, "Nasty Longbottom-esque explosion?"
"Indeed. That one was particularly vile. I had to go shower to get it all out of my hair, as I wasn't sure how stable it would be if I used a spell. Since these are experimental, I can't be too careful with using other magics."
Harry stopped, and imagined Severus covered in some gloppy goo, and having it all over his hair, and then he suddenly pictured Severus taking a shower to wash it all out. Before the image could take complete hold, Harry shook his head and blushed a bright red. He tucked his head down hoping Severus wouldn't see his blush and headed to a sink located at the side of the office. Severus though did notice the slightly dazed look in Harry's eyes and the blush that followed and wondered what had caused it. *He looks positively adorable when he blushes like that. What?! Adorable?! I don't think anything looks adorable, especially Harry. Oh, who am I kidding. He did look adorable. I wonder if his skin would feel warm to the touch where the blush is?* Severus blinked a few times in astonishment at these thoughts, and in turn blushed himself. *I must remember, Harry is my student, I should not think about him in that way.*
Before Harry started cleaning the first cauldron, he felt Sliver move for the first time in what seemed like hours. Sliver came out from underneath the sleeve of his robe and smoothly looped his way along Harry's arm up to his shoulders. Sliver flicked his tongue out at Harry.
The tiny snake sensed the young man's emotions, "You are overly warm, Hharry. Flussshhhed and heated. You've never been like this before, are you wanting to nest with that other human?"
Harry blushed an even brighter red at hearing Sliver's question and Severus turned to look at Harry when he heard the snake hiss.
Harry spoke back to the snake in Parseltongue, "NO! I, um, don't want to nest with Ssseverus. At least not yet, anyway." He smiled a tiny bit at the last thought and blushed. He then turned and saw Severus looking at him questioningly. Severus heard only his name spoken, when Harry had talked to the snake.
"It's nothing, really. He, uh, just asked me if I was in trouble, because I was doing chores. I told him no, that I was doing a favour for you."
"I see, well then, we should both get back to work."
Harry sighed in relief at Severus' not pushing the issue. Harry looked down out of the corner of his eye at the snake wrapped around his neck and shoulders. "You almossst got me in trouble. He doesssn't know that I like hhhim," he said to the snake.
"I ssssensed that from you. He makesss your heart race, I felt it when you entered the room."
"Well, I musst work now. Do you want to stay there on my shoulderssss?" Harry asked the snake.
Sliver flicked out his tongue and lifted his head up slightly and then lowered it. He didn't fall back to sleep but he continued to watch as Harry started working quietly on the cauldrons.
Several hours passed in silence and finally Harry was almost done with all the cauldrons, he was down to his last one. Harry had kept his back turned to Severus most of the time, but that did not keep him from feeling the other man's presence. Every so often, he even felt like what were long lingering looks being directed his way and he shivered slightly each time. To Harry, each look felt like a caress.
Harry completely forgot that he was to meet Hermione and Ron in the Great Hall for lunch, so absorbed was he in helping Severus and thinking about him. When he was done washing out the last cauldron and setting it to dry, he turned around to watch his professor at work. He saw how absorbed Severus was in stirring his potion and adding each measured ingredient. *I really could watch him do that all day, seeing someone so absorbed in their work is a powerful image.*
Just then, Harry felt his stomach rumble, and it was loud enough that even Severus heard it. He looked up from his potion and chuckled at the sight of Harry clasping his stomach in a futile effort to keep it quiet and Harry's face looking chagrined. "Sorry, didn't mean to disturb you."
"Perhaps we should go get some lunch? I missed breakfast this morning also, so I'm a bit hungry now myself." Severus suggested to Harry.
Harry realized that lunch in the Great Hall was over and that he had missed meeting his friends. "I think lunch is over now. When I came down, it was just about to start, and that's been quiet a while now."
"Well, then, let's eat in. Unless, you need to get back to your studies?"
"I should, but since I need to eat, I could stay until after we're done." Harry grinned. "Should I do the honors, or will you?"
"You should. Perhaps your little house-elf friend, Dobby, would oblige us with the food."
"Dobby! Dobby, can you help us, please?" Harry called out to no one in particular.
And then, with a pop, Dobby appeared before Harry. "Yes, Harry Potter, how can Dobby be of service to you?"
"Dobby, Professor Snape and I have missed lunch, would you bring us something, please? Perhaps some sandwiches." Harry asked the eager house-elf.
"Certainly! Dobby aims to please." With another pop, the house-elf was gone. Before Harry could blink twice, Dobby appeared once again with a tray loaded with pumpkin juice and sandwiches and placed it on the professor's desk. "Will that be all, Harry Potter?"
"This looks to be plenty, Dobby. Thank you."
"Dobby is pleased that Harry Potter is pleased. Yes, Dobby is very happy to serve." Dobby blinked his wide round eyes and bobbed his head a few times, as if in delight. He dissappeared again with a mighty pop and all was quiet once more in the office.
Harry and Severus sat down in some chairs in front of the desk and each took a sandwich and a glass of juice.
"I wanted to thank you for cleaning the cauldrons. You've saved me precious time, because it leaves me to concentrate on perfecting the potion. I have a feeling I'm very close now."
"That's quite alright, it gave me a chance to do some sort of physical activity. I was getting tired of sitting in one spot studying. I don't see how Hermione does it day after day, personally."
"That's what I enjoy about teaching potions. It allows me to do some actual hands-on work, beyond grading essays and tests."
"You know, that's given me a bit of thought of what I'd like to do. Or at least a few of the qualities of the job I'd like to do. Something a bit active, which means that a desk job is out. I don't want to be a Quidditch player, because that's just purely physical. I'd like to be mentally challenged as well."
Severus quirked an eyebrow at Harry, "You want to do something that is mentally challenging? What have you done with the Harry Potter that I have come to know these past 7 years?" Severus chuckled and Harry feigned a hurt expression.
"Aw, Severus, I'm not that bad and you know it. You've noticed I do quite alright during the tutorial sessions," said Harry.
"True. So you would like something that has some activity and is mentally challenging. I'll see what I can come up with as far as careers go."
"Thanks. So have you given any more thought to what you'd like to do when you leave here?"
"Actually, I have. Just between you and me, there aren't many reputable Potion shoppes in England, or Europe for that matter, so I was thinking of opening a Potions shoppe in Diagon Alley. I was even considering making it open to the Muggle population, and sell them as ... oh what is that term... homeopathic remedies. Seems natural curatives are very popular now. I wonder if it would be possible, having a shoppe that has a door open onto the regular London side and then one straight into Diagon Alley. It would be interesting to see it happen."
"Well, I'm sure whatever you undertake it will do well. You are certainly a master of persistence." *Or better yet, the passionate, persistent potions professor.* Harry blushed at the thought.
Severus noticed Harry blushing once again and wondered what was up with the young man.
Sliver stirred once more and hissed in Harry's ear, "You are warm again, Harrry. The other hhhuman is ssssure to noticce. I think you want hhim to find out how you feel, that you want to nessst with him."
"Be quiet, Sssliver. He doessn't know why I'm blushing. Perhaps you ssshould ignore my change in body heat from now on."
"Very well, I won't mention your heat change anymore." Sliver settled down once again along Harry's shoulder.
Severus asked, "What did he say now?"
"Nothing of significance, really." Harry shrugged it off as best as possible.
"Hmm. Whatever you say. Well, I think I should get back to work now, and you should get back to your studying."
Harry gave a huge sigh of dread. "Yeah, you're right. Better get back to the Common Room, before Hermione calls out a search party. I'll try and stop by again tomorrow, check in and see if you need more cauldrons cleaned." Harry said this with an impish smile.
"Hopefully not, but I would appreciate the help if this potion doesn't turn out by then."
"Have fun, Severus." Harry got up and waved good-bye as he left the office.
~tbc~