Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. I'll give
them back to JK Rowling when I'm done. No money was made from this endeavor.
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 may lurk inside.
Thanks: Go to all my reviewers, I really appreciate your encouragement
and feedback.
Anything between two *, denotes a thought.
...
Wanted: Single, Older Male for a Roommate
Chapter 14: A Mutt, Some Clothes and A House Warming Party
The morning after their first night of hedonistic delight together passed by in a sleepy blur for Severus and Harry. After numerous times of passionate coupling both slow and fast both in bed and out -- yes, that had indeed tried the shower -- they were pleasantly drained and lethargic.
Harry woke up before Severus did around noon when his stomach gave a mighty grumble, however Harry was loathe to leave such a warm nest that he and his lover had created. Harry laid on his side and watched Severus sleep peacefully. He knew if it weren't for life needing to be taken care of, he could and would stay in that bed forever.
While he watched the older man lay there in slumber, he realized that there were a few things about himself that Severus didn't know. One of the big things in his life that he'd kept secret from almost everyone was that he was an animagus. Now a fully registered animagus, as he'd filled out the paperwork and submitted it to the Ministry when he'd gone for his apparation license. He grinned as he thought up a little stunt reminiscent of the twins that he could pull on Severus.
He needed to know what kind of sense of humour the other man had, and now was as good a time as any to find out. Harry shifted away a bit and changed in his scottish terrier form. Harry, known as MacQuire -- Mac for short -- to Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore while in his animagus form, was all black and feisty in nature. Once complete, he placed two tiny paws on Severus' chest and started licking at the other man's face.
Severus' swatted at him in his sleep, but made no other move to wake. Mac the Feisty Terrier tried again, licking now at his chest. Severus' mumbled, "Not now, Harry. Too tired."
Mac snickered at that, but it came out as a small yip instead. This caught the other man's attention and Severus opened one eye in curiosity. Mac yipped again and licked at Severus' face once more.
Severus growled. 'Apparently, Sev's not a morning person,' the young wizard thought. 'Or maybe he's not an animal lover. Hmmm.'
Mac sat down with his body now resting completely on Severus' chest. Mac was truly a small, light-weight dog. He placed his head down on his front paws and looked all adorably at the older wizard. Mac whined pathetically in an attempt to gain some much needed loving and affection.
Severus opened his other eye and looked closely at the dog. 'He is rather cute for a dog. I wonder if Harry got him as a surprise. Maybe a pet to keep me company once he starts going off on his snake hunts.'
Severus lifted up a hand and rubbed at the silky black fur just behind one ear. Mac pushed his head against the hand to show that he was enjoying the attention; the whining stopped.
"Well, little fellow, what's your name?" Severus asked and looked for a collar of some sort and found none. "I wonder where Harry went and left you here without an explanation."
Severus sat up and cradled the dog closer against him and continued to rub the fur, from head to tail. Mac licked at Severus where he could reach.
"Harry?" Severus called out, wondering if Harry had gone to the loo. "Harry?!" he called and again after getting no response. In frustration and feeling exceedingly lazy, Severus called for Dobby.
"Yes, Master Snape, sir? You wanted to speak to Dobby, sir?" Dobby asked.
"Yes, Dobby. Have you seen Harry this morning?"
"No, sir. Dobby hasn't seen Master Potter since yesterday. Does Master Snape wish Dobby to look for Master Potter?"
"No, Dobby, that's quite alright. You can return to whatever it was you were doing." Severus looked down at the dog in his arms after Dobby left.
"Where did you come from? Are you a gift from Harry?" Severus questioned the dog, knowing not to expect an answer.
The dog shook it's head negatively, but Severus just interpreted the motion as a normal doggy movement.
Severus sank back down into the pillows and exhaled. He would wait a few more moments before casting a locator spell.
Mac grew tired of waiting for Severus to figure it out and he moved out of Severus' arms. Severus looked at the dog and was just about to speak, when Mac changed back into Harry.
Severus gasped in surprise. "Harry! What?! When?! How!!??"
Harry chuckled and leaned in to kiss his shocked lover. "Professor McGonagall trained me just before the war. They used me for covert spy missions. Professor Dumbledore thought it best that no one else know. Not even Hermione and Ron know about this bit of information."
Severus sat silently taking it all in and then he smiled. "So, your a tiny little terrier. And here I always thought you'd be something more majestic like a griffin or a lion." Severus chuckled.
"Nope, just a tiny terrier named MacQuire. Mac, for short," Harry leaned down on Severus' chest and nuzzled his lover's neck.
"Mac. It suits you, or I should say it suits the.. oh heavens, you're a mutt!" Severus exclaimed.
Harry chuckled at the irony. "Yep, I'm a mutt! But now I'm your mutt. Still love me?"
Severus was silent for a moment, wanting to give Harry a tiny scare for the little prank he just pulled. Harry started to fidget as he looked the other man in the eye. 'Damn, but I hate it when he does that.'
"Yes, Harry, I still love you. Just because my life has now gone to the dog's, doesn't mean my love for you will waver."
Harry barked out a laugh, "Gone to the dog's indeed. You didn't mind the idea that I might have been a pet. In fact, I think you were quite taken with me." Harry rubbed up against Severus with intent. "In fact, I think you're quite taken with me even now."
"Oh, I am. I am indeed quite taken with you. And speaking of dogs, want to make love doggy style?"
Harry barked and nipped at Severus' neck in agreement. Severus chuckled a deep, husky sound and they lost themselves in other once more.
...
The rest of the week was mostly uneventful for the two lovers, except for the rainy Wednesday afternoon. Harry had finally gotten Severus to agree to go shopping with him for new Muggle and Wizarding clothes after much pleading and begging and even bribery. The bribery, of course, had done the trick. Harry had offered to give Severus a full body massage after the shopping expedition and Severus could not pass that offer up.
So Harry and Severus flooed to The Leaky Cauldron and from there went to Madame Malkin's robe shoppe to order several new everyday robes in a serviceable black colour with insets of red and one set of formal dress robes of forest green with gold trim. He also ordered a thick rich blue-green cloak that fell to the floor for those cold winters. Madame Malkin promised Harry that his robes would be ready for Friday afternoon.
From there, they stopped in at Flourish and Blott's to pick up a new potions book for Severus and an encyclopedia of snakes and their uses for Harry. Harry then went to Gringott's to get an exchange of currency for his galleons to pounds and they left for Muggle London.
Harry didn't care too much about quality and frills in his muggle clothing, as long as they fit and looked half-way decent. So he hauled Severus via taxi to Marks and Spencer, one of the few chain stores Harry knew about from living with the Dursley's. It wasn't of the same quality as Harrod's, but it would do. They went straight to the men's department and before they got three feet in, Harry spotted his Aunt Petunia and his cousin Dudley not more than six feet away. Harry came to a dead stop, causing Severus to run into him.
Their small commotion caused Aunt Petunia and Dudley to turn and look at them. Harry groaned and dropped his face into his hands. 'I can't believe my rotten luck. They would have to be here now.' Harry sighed and lifted his head from his hands and pulled Severus along behind him as he approached his family. 'Might as well get this over with and maybe give the Dursley's something to think about.'
Harry stopped just a few feet away from his Aunt and he turned his head briefly to look back at Severus, who was frowning and was wondering what was going on. Harry quirked a brief smile his way before turning back and addressing his aunt.
"Hello, Aunt Petunia. Lovely to see you and Dudley again. How's Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked as politely and cordially as he could between gritting his teeth.
Before his Aunt could speak, his cousin had to open his big, fat mouth. "Why if it isn't the freak and his freakish friend." Harry gripped tightly onto Severus' hands to still him when he felt the other wizard take a step forward.
Harry turned and looked at his cousin, "Well, hello, Duddikins. Nice to see you without your goons hanging about. Finish up with Smeltings now?"
"Of course I'm done. Graduated in the top ten of my class, I did. I've been hired by Dad's company this summer to sell drills. We're here to buy me a new suit. What are you here for, freak?"
"Well, I figured it was time to replace your hand-me-downs, naturally. Can't go around in the Wizarding world looking like a poor slob, now can I?"
Aunt Petunia hissed in discomfort at the mention of wizards. "Don't speak of them here, boy!"
"Honestly, Aunt Petunia. I'm an adult wizard now. I can do as I please, say what I please. And I have already started doing just that; I have my own house, my own servant and of course, now I have my very own lover." Here, Harry turned and gave a quick kiss on Severus' unsuspecting lips. Severus' drew back and quirked an eyebrow in question at the younger man, while both could hear Harry's aunt gasp in surprise and displeasure. Harry just smiled an apology and gripped Severus' hand asking for him to understand.
Severus gave a small nod and smiled. He might not enjoy public displays of affection, but if Harry wanted and needed to put his family in their place, he would, just this once. Severus' lifted his hand and gently caressed Harry's cheek and let the love he felt for the young man shine in his eyes. Harry had never felt such gratitude towards the other man as he put aside his own qualms and placed Harry first. Harry wanted to ravish Severus right there and damn the world and whoever was on it. His world at that moment consisted solely of Severus.
Unfortunately, the words, "Well, I never!" intruded in on them and Harry sighed. Harry gently squeezed Severus' hand once more and leaned into the caress before turning back to his unwelcome and unwanted family.
"No, you haven't and you probably never will again," Harry rejoined.
Aunt Petunia huffed and pulled Dudley away, and could be heard murmuring, "Never going to shop in this store again."
Harry snickered as he watched them stalk off.
Severus tapped Harry on the shoulder and then turned the young man towards him, "Okay, will you tell me now what just happened here?"
"Well, as you might have guessed, those two are my only remaining family, not excluding Uncle Vernon of course. You've seen snatches of them from my memories when we did Occlumency lessons back in fifth and sixth year, I'm sure. Anyway, the clothes that I've been wearing off and on for the last seven years have been Dudley's cast offs." Harry shrugged at this and continued, "Also, I was their personal servant during the summers. I did the cooking, the cleaning and yard work whenever they were to lazy to lift their own two fingers for anything."
"To Dudley and his goons, while I was growing up, I was the human punching bag and target for whatever mischief they were capable of."
"I see. And this little display today was to set the record straight and shove it into their face?"
"Pretty much. I hope you didn't mind too terribly much about the affectionate display?" Harry asked quietly. He looked around and saw that they were pretty much alone and he gave Severus a quick hug as an apology just in case the other man was upset.
"I'm fine. Just don't ask me to be all lovey-dovey for anyone else for the next little while and we're okay."
"Good, now I think it's time we got a little bit of shopping done." Harry grinned wickedly at Severus, who groaned.
Harry tried on shirt, after tight shirt along with form fitting trousers. Severus watched with slight amusement as Harry tried to make him uncomfortable with the obvious display and failed. Severus had thrown up his mask of indifference, but internally he was salivating at the luscious body before him. He would wait until they got home before taking that firm body in every position known to man. He chuckled quietly. 'Just you wait, Harry. You'll be too tired to strut your stuff later once I'm done with you, at least for tonight.'
...
The rest of the week was quiet and content for the occupants of Stone Mason Place. Dobby found his job with Masters Snape and Potter not to be overly taxing, but still thoroughly enjoyable. While Harry and Severus found the quiet time they spent together in and out of bed, talking, reading and just being together to be more wonderful than they had thought possible. They did have their share of small squabbles over petty things, but overall their home was in harmony.
Severus spent a few hours each day down in the cellar setting up his potions laboratory with Dobby's help, while Harry puttered around in the garden just out back of the house. Thankfully, for Harry no garden gnomes had yet to settle there.
By Saturday, their home was set for the house warming party to be held that afternoon. Dobby had excelled himself by preparing 10 different kinds of appetisers, desserts by the table full, cheeses from all over the world, and several bowls of punch. While Dobby set up the tables outside in the garden, Harry and Severus had taken turns in the shower instead of together and then dressed with care. Severus had gone first and was already in his dress robes, when Harry stepped out of the bathroom with just a towel slung low around his hips.
Severus walked over to Harry and pulled him roughly into his arms for several quick snogs. "Got to get them in while I can before company comes." The kisses were passionate and tender, but they did not allow themselves to get lost in their embrace.
After they parted, Harry got dressed in comfortable trousers and a white oxford shirt and his new lightweight summer robe in black and red. Severus had gone downstairs to be prepared to welcome the possible early guests. Before he was done getting ready, Harry could hear the professors arrive first from the fireplace, followed by Ron and Hermione.
None of the guests could apparate to their home as none of them had previously visited, but now that all the most important people in their lives were going to be there that day, they would know where and what the house looked like and would be able to visualize their destination with no problem.
By the time Harry had arrived downstairs, almost everyone who had responded to the invitation had arrived. The only ones not yet there were Charlie, Bill, Percy and Seamus.
Harry welcomed everyone to his new home and gave them the abbreviated grand tour. "Upstairs are the bedrooms, downstairs is the cellar, which Severus has set up for his potions work and of course on this floor is the large family room and kitchen. Not very large, but big enough for Severus and myself. Oh, and of course Dobby."
Dobby appeared, "Did someone need something? I heards my name being called."
The guests chuckled and Severus sneered. "No, Dobby, we are good for now."
Harry encouraged the guests to mingle, while he corralled Ron and Hermione for a quick gab. He'd not seen or heard from them since Sunday and he was eager to catch up.
"So, mate, have you missed us?" Ron asked as he slapped Harry on the back.
Harry smirked and Ron did a double take, because he could swear the smirk looked just like Snape's. "Not really, Ron. I've been...um...very busy." Here Harry blushed and Hermione's eyes widened in surprise and then she squealed.
"Harry, did you and Professor Snape...I mean, are things okay between you two like you were hoping?" Hermione grabbed him and gave him a huge hug when Harry nodded yes and then he blushed even deeper.
Ron looked confused for a moment and then finally the pieces of the puzzle all fell into place. "Oh! Oh! I get it. Wow, Harry, you move fast." Ron chuckled at the idea of Harry and the ex-greasy git of a professor being a couple.
"I've just never been so happy in my entire life as I've been with Severus this week. Of course, no one knows yet except you too, and probably Dumbledore, but when doesn't he know what's going on."
Harry steered them away from discussing his relationship with Severus further and mentioned his run-in with his aunt and cousin.
On the other side of the room, Severus had been cornered by the Headmaster.
"So, Severus, how are things going for you and Harry, dear boy?" Albus enquired with that ever present blue twinkling eyes.
"Fine, we're adjusting just fine. The house is just as we want it and we are settling in with no problems."
"Good, good. So tell me, as I'm quite curious to know, have you and Harry finally, how shall I say this... Ah well, I'll be blunt. Have you finally told Harry that you love him?" Albus asked point blank.
Severus cocked a blatantly 'You've got to be kidding me' eyebrow in his ex-employer's direction. "And if I have, I would not be telling you, you meddlesome old man. What goes on in this house concerns only myself and Harry and no one else."
Severus watched as Albus chuckled and the damned twinkle became even brighter. 'ARGHHH!' Severus screamed inside his head. 'I am going to die one day, haunted by those persistent, twinkling eyes. I know they will follow me to my grave long after he's left this mortal coil.'
"Ah, I see. Well, that tells me more than I had hoped or had expected from you. Thank you, Severus, for enlightening me." Albus patted Severus on the shoulder and went off to mingle with the other professors. Severus ground his teeth together in frustration and silently thanked Harry for taking him away from seeing Dumbledore everyday for the rest of his natural life, because he knew if Harry had not invaded his life he would have continued to work at Hogwarts until his dying day.
Severus turned towards the fireplace as the flames gave a green sharp burst and waited for what was hopefully the last remaining guests to arrive. Not seconds later, out stumbled Seamus Finnegan, who landed on his bum and at Severus' feet. Seamus looked up and scrambled backwards as he saw the glare emanating from his ex-Potions professor.
"I'm sorry, sir. Hope I didn't cause too large of a mess," Seamus stuttered as he stood and dusted the soot off his robes.
"No, Mr. Finnegan, not too large of a mess. Thankfully, I can't give you detentions any longer, or I would certainly make you clean this one up." Severus sneered at his former student.
Seamus gulped and backed away hurriedly and spotted his former year mates. "Harry, my dear friend, how could you invite Snape of all people to your house warming party?"
Harry chuckled and watched as Severus approached Seamus from behind to listen in on Harry's response. "I didn't invite Severus to the party, Seamus. He lives here with me."
Seamus sputtered and choked a bit, "What?! What in bloody hell were you thinking man inviting the greasy git to share your home with you? After all those years he tormented you, and you willingly invite him into your home!"
"I was thinking of a lot of things, Seamus. I don't know if you had noticed, but he and I became good friends these last few weeks while we were preparing for our NEWTs, and recently he has become even more." Harry watched as Severus lifted an eyebrow in question, wondering what Harry was up to and why he was being so public about something he was not inclined to have known.
"What more could he be to you Harry?"
"Why Seamus, he's my lover." Everyone who hadn't been included in the conversation watched in astonishment as the young Irish wizard fainted in a dead heap, only to land once more at the feet of Severus Snape, and wondered at the cause of such a commotion..
Harry watched and grinned sheepishly as he detected a small gleam of satisfaction in his lover's eyes. Life was certainly going to be fun and entertaining for them, and to think this was only the beginning.
The End of Part 2
Please read the following Author's Note in 15 after this.