The next day, Snape helped Harry to get up. When the boy was firmly standing on the ground, he let him walk alone.
"You mustn't walk too much today," said Snape. "Perhaps you would like to take a bath?"
Harry thought it was a good idea. Snape opened one of the closet doors and took out a towel. Then he opened another door.
"Your clothes are here. I've made the house-elves bring them from your dorm in Gryffindor tower."
Harry took out a robe. Now that he could walk, he wasn't going to stay in pyjamas!
Snape guided him to a door at the back of the bedroom. The bathroom was large, in black marble. Snape opened the bathtub taps and showed the shampoo and the soap stands to Harry.
Harry couldn't help smirking, remembering all the jokes about the Potions master's greasy hair. Would his hair become like Snape's if he used his shampoo? He shivered at the mere idea.
When Snape went out, Harry undressed and plunged into the warm water. Oh, the soap smelled of a mixture of herbs. It was like... Snape's scent. In fact it was a... quite attractive smell.
Once again, he was making associations between the professor and a nice sensation. Harry shook his head. He must be seriously ill for thinking things like that. He must be crazy.
After leaving the bathroom, Harry crossed Snape's Laboratory in uncertain steps, and sat on an armchair near the fireplace.
Some minutes later, he sighed.
"Am I going to have to spend the whole day just sitting here again, while you make your damned potions?"
"Potter, when will you leave me alone?"
They glared at each other.
"I'm sorry," said Harry.
"They are healing potions for the injured members of the Order. Pomfrey sends new requests every day by owl. And that," Snape pointed to the only golden cauldron in his laboratory, "is the potion you take every day."
"Well, I'm not saying that you aren't doing the right thing. It's just that... I wanted to do something too. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Snape arched an eyebrow.
"Chopping ingredients?"
"Anything but sitting around doing nothing all day long."
Chopping toad livers and scarab eyes wasn't the most entertaining of activities, but at least he was doing something useful. When he got tired, he sat back on the armchair - Snape had put a plank of wood supported by the armchair arms for him to work on - and he kept observing the precise and skilful movements of the Potions master, stirring the cauldron, pronouncing the spells, or taking a jar from the unending shelves.
"Potter." Harry nearly jumped. He had become lost in reveries while observing Snape. "If you are tired, you should go back to bed. Do I have to help you?"
"No, I'm not tired. I was just thinking."
Snape groaned low and deep.
"When you think, the world turns upside down and catastrophes begin to happen."
Harry smiled, and Snape stared at him, more and more intrigued.
"You *are* tired," he decided. "I'm going to take you to bed."
Oh, Merlin. The deep and velvety voice of the Potions master saying he was going to take him to bed! Something quite unexpected - and highly unwanted - sprouted inside of Harry. And the image of Snape massaging his chest with that green balsam, along with all the sensations evoked by it, came to his mind.
Snape lifted Harry in his arms like he weighted less than a feather, and carried him to his bedroom. Harry closed his eyes and felt the warmness of the male body against his own. The herbal scent he's always associated with the professor ensnared him, wrapped around him like a vice.
When Snape laid him on the bed and started to leave, Harry almost stretched his arms to him, not wanting to break the contact."
"Professor..."
"What is it now?"
"I... er..."
"Speak up, Potter!"
"It's just that... do you remember that cream you rubbed on me the other day? My ribs are sore and I...
"Sore? This is rather strange. Your bones have already healed, and this shouldn't be happening."
"Uh, maybe it's a... a psychological pain. Or a ghost pain, perhaps?"
Snape's expression was sceptical, full of suspicion. Nonetheless, he circled the bed to take the flask. When he approached Harry again, the boy had taken his robe off, staying only in his underwear. For an instant, Snape seemed to hold his breath. But soon he recovered his sure movements, spreading the balsam over the boy's chest.
Once again, those magic hands touching him, the balsam penetrating his pores, the inebriating scent. The firm and soothing touch, applying the necessary pressure on the right places. It was perfect. To his utmost horror, a throaty groan escaped Harry's lips and he saw his cock swelling, hardening and becoming erect.
Snape stared at him, astonished. The magic hands trembled a little, before resuming the massage like nothing had changed. But Harry knew better. There was a certain hesitancy in his touch now. And the professor's voice didn't show his characteristic control anymore when he said:
"Enough, Potter. Try to rest now."
And the older wizard left the bedroom hastily.
TBC...
Author's Notes:
Well, I'll give you some warnings concerning the future of 'Hurt & Comfort'. This fic won't have 40 chapters! It's not that I don't like 40 chapters WIPs, but I've planned 'Hurt & Comfort' as a very short story, of less than 10 chapters.
However, as you are liking the story and I'm having so much fun writing it, I decided to write a second part. It will be like a sequel, but written from Snape's PoV. Now, it won't be easy for me to write Snape's PoV. He's a very complex character. So, I'm going to finish this first part (that will have 9 chapters, if I don't change my mind about something in the next days) and then I will take a short break (one or two weeks) to outline and begin to write the second part. OK?
Replies to Reviews:
Sameda, I think that Hermione has a crush on Remus, but I really don't know... yet. This is mostly a story of Snape and Harry's relationship, so I won't get into deeper details about the other characters.
Nymphadora Tonks1, thank you! Well, I don't think Severus will fall ill, he's very strong. But Harry should pay more attention! Sev may not be a very nice person, but he's working hard for the Order and doing his best to help him, to the point of not taking care of himself.
HeatherSnape, thanks, for your nice comments!
Rosaleen, I'm glad you liked the enchanted carpet.
A Typical Snarry Fan, yeah, I think you're right about Hermione (read the reply I wrote to Sameda). As for the books... maybe they are real! (I suspect the Muggles have translated Emerald Elyod's books into Mugglish (editing out all magic traits) and attributed them to a certain Agatha Christie. There are many coincidences involved. LOL!) Thank you!
Arili, I do agree with you. Snape's my favorite character too, precisely because he is an enigma. Thank you, you're a very clever person, and I'm glad you're liking my story.
Selua, read the reply I wrote to Sameda about Snape's health. Thanks for the review!