Disclaimer: JKR gets credit Slash implied.
Portrait Living
By Tracev
Harry stumbled from the cottage following his husband. Snape had a folder of brochures and pamphlets of potential honeymoon spots. Every time Harry had been consulted on a location it had felt like his throat was closing up and he hadn't been able to answer. Snape had only given him a glaring look on two occasions which he was sure a record, on his part.
Harry's mind was numb, he wasn't sure where his thoughts ended and begun regarding Snape.
He walked to the end of the stone path only to have Snape slip his arm around his waist again and for them disappear and reappear in Diagon Alley, in front Gringotts. But Snape didn't let go of him right away, his arm still around him, looking down at him. He own face tilted toward Snape, his hand on Snapes shoulder to steady himself… it was to close. Harry panicked throwing him off, running up the stairs of Gringotts and dashing into the bank.
Snape followed silently, a small flush to his cheeks. The goblin held the door open as he neared, Harry was already at the counter speaking to a clerk. Snape came up behind him placing a hand on the boys' hip. Harry gulped and didn't move as Snape spoke over his head to the goblin. He could feel the hand burn through his robes, hands that held him confidently, strongly. Hands that left him confused and unsure.
Harry let Snape guide him to the cart the led to the underground vaults. The fast movement of the cart and rough edges that had fascinated him previously had lost there momentum. They went farther and deeper into the underground then ever before. They rounded corners at breakneck speed and then suddenly stopped in front of Harry's vault.
He jumped out of the cart and was at the door with his key before the goblin had even lit his lantern. Harry was very aware that the goblin was offended by his actions. But Harry just didn't care, he felt very nervous and panicky around Snape. The man insisted on touching him frequently and he just wasn't use to such things.
Harry stuck his key in the lock and entered his vault. He headed to the farthest corner and sat down. Snape hadn't moved but from where Harry sat he could see Snape pull out the brochures again and began whistling a happy Honeymoon Song. Harry hurriedly grabbed enough money to get his schoolbooks and returned to the cart.
Snape didn't look at him as he put away the folder or as the cart began to move again. They rocketed around another corner and down a very steep hill and stop in front of a very grand door.
The small goblin leapt out of the cart and began the process of opening the charmed door. Harry stayed seated as Snape exited, pretending to be admiring the rock formations of the cavern they were in. But Snape wasn't having that, he grabbed Harry by the arm pulling him out of the cart.
Harry let his self be dragged toward the vault. The first room was a large dungeon styled room filled with piles of galleons, sickles and knuts. There were large tall piles that looked as if they were about to topple. Snape headed for an alcove in the far corner, the alcove had small drawers with oddly shaped handles, Snape began to open them, rummaging through them, not finding what he wanted moved on to the next one. Harry watched him a moment then turned to stare at he shimmering gold.
The room was massive compared to his own. It was impressive and Harry realized that the Snapes must be one of the old wizarding families. He doesn't know why he didn't think of that earlier.
Harry faced the gold coins watching the light glint off the top. The coins seemed to be moving, looking as if they would topple over any minute.
The goblin stood in the outer corridor tapping his foot impatiently. Harry turned back to Snape who was still shuffling through drawers, swearing colorfully under his breath. The Snape that Harry was familiar with. Finally he stood straightening pulling a rectangle shaped box out of the drawer. Harry came closer leaning over his arm as he opened the box.
Two platinum rings sat among the green velvet lined box. Each ring had a serpent twirled around the band biting it's tail on the end.
"Wedding bands.... They have been in my family a long time."
"Wedding bands" Harry whispered, his knees felt weak. Was this man serious?
"I'll place the ring on your finger at the public ceremony...Harry" Snape glanced down at the rings, not touching them.
"Public ceremony" Harry repeated. Yes he definitely didn't feel good.
"Yes, public ceremony... My little parrot repeating everything I say... that's so cute" Snape grind his teeth.
Snape reached down to touch Harry's cheek in a very intimate moment, Harry blanched and ducked out from under the mans arm. He dashed for the cart nearly knocking over the goblin. Harry sat down on the front bench with his head in his hands, trying not to whimper. He felt hot and a little dizzy. Snape couldn't be serious, Harry thought he was having chest pains for a moment.
He heard the vault close and Snape slide in behind him and the Goblin next to him. The cart rocked to life and they looped back up toward the main floors. After a few minutes Harry felt a warm hand place it's self on his back rubbing gently. Harry stiffened. This was enough, Snape was going too far now.
Harry growled, turning, "Keep your hands off me" he made to stand, but the goblin grabbed him by the robes, pulling him down in order not to fall out of the cart.
He glared at Snape, but Snape was smiling at him, surpressing a laugh.
"but dear..." Snape coughed, pulling Harry back onto his lap. "Soon I will do more than touch you," his voice was little more than a whispered purr, his breath brushed against Harry's neck, "I will taste every inch of your body...I will drag my tongue across every layer of skin." Harry shivered in his arms, melting into him as long fingers came up and caressed his chest.
The cart slowed as it neared the exit ramp, embarrassed Harry jumped out before it even stopped, he was soon dashing across the marble floor of the bank. It's occupants stopping to look at him.
Snape was laughing as he exited the cart. It felt good to torture his students. The Goblin looked at him, "that wasn't nice"
"Shut up" Snape growled.
***
Harry ran the streets of Diagon Alley straight to Flourish and Blotts. He leaned against the storefront to catch his breath
He could still feel the burn of the mans hand on his back. Touching him, caressing him. Is that what their marriage would be like, Snape touching him all the time. Harry didn't know if he could handle that, didn't he have any say in when he was touched, apparently Snape didn't think so. He was feeling very violated.
Harry quickly regained his thoughts as spied Snape headed down the road to the apothecary across the way, Harry dashed in the bookshop.
He tried to shove thoughts of Snape from his mind as he wander among the bookshelves. Mr. Blotts had long ago taken his and Ron's books up to the front counter for check out. He wasn't ready to check out yet. He wanted to hide from Snape as long as possible in the store. He secretly hoped the man would get tired of waiting for him and return to Hogwarts on his own, leaving him to return to Hogwarts by public Floo.
He strolled over to the Dark arts section hoping that something would catch his eye on getting rid of unwanted husbands. Harry was standing there silently looking at a books contents when a hand slipped around his waist pulling him against the potion masters' chest.
"So there you are Mister Potter...or perhaps Mister Snape... I had wondered where you had run off too. " He plucked the book from Harry's hands and set it back on the shelf. "I thought we'd stop by the sweet shop and pick up a little something" Harry tried to edge himself from Snapes grip, falling into the bookshelf causing several books to fall from the shelf but Snape didn't let go.
Mister Blotts came around the corner as Snape pulled him closer, he stopped, his eyes wide, "Mister Potter are you okay." He pulled Harry from Snapes hold, He looked down at the boy, "Lets check you out and send you back to Hogwarts hmm. Was there something you needed professor?"
Snape shook his head, "No." He took hold of Harry's other arm, his eyes darkened, he tugged at the arm he held. "Potter is in my care,".
"This is highly inappropriate behavior for a professor" Blotts pulled at Harry's arm.
Harry pulled himself from both their holds. Dashing between the bookshelves toward the front of the store. Snape was there when he got there having come the short way about, Harry clenched his fists, growling.
"What's wrong Sweetlings." Snape chuckled and made to touch him again.
Harry could hear the fake endearment drip from his voice.
"Stop it...Just stop. I don't know what your problem is but I don't think this is funny. I know you don't want me... just as much as I don't want you. So just stop" Harry hadn't realized he was yelling nor that everyone was looking at him.
Snape smirked. Harry grabbed the charmed shopping bags filled with his and Ron's books, throwing several galleons on the counter and stalked out of the store. Snape couldn't help but smile, this day was turning out better then he had expected.
Harry was already in cue for the public floos when Snape came up behind him and hugging him to his chest apparated to the front of Hogwarts.
Harry shoved him away, "Stop touching Me." he darted through the gates and across the castle grounds before entering the castle and then up toward Dumbledore's office.
He dropped the shopping bags in the waiting room, "Headmaster?" Harry came through to the main office. Ron was hunched over a pile of scrolls with his eyes crossed, he looked up, blinking several times. "Harry?"
"Where's Dumbledore?"
"He went down to get us some lunch...were you out playing quidditch, your cheeks are all flushed."
"No, I spent the day with Snape."
Ron sat up, "Snape...why'd did you go and do that for."
Harry looked over the rim of his glasses sternly at Ron.
Ron blushed and looked back down at his open book.
Harry sat in the chair opposite bumping the table and nearly making the stacks of books and parchments fall. He shoved them back on the table then proceed to tell Ron about his horrid day. "He woke me this morning with breakfast in bed, dragged me to some crazy witch's house who arranges honeymoons then kept caressing my cheek and then made me sit on his lap. Then attacked me in Flourish and Blotts...I think he touched my bump as we apparated back."
"What a dirty perve...you didn't let him did you."
"No of course not...he couldn't keep his hands off me. I'm telling Dumbledore as soon as he's back?"
"I don't know if he can make him stop"
"Just tell me you found something Ron... anything"
Ron looked ashamed, "Not yet" his entire face turned red. Dumbledore arrived carrying a large tray smiling happily. A house elf following with another tray of drinks.
"Ah Harry, arrive to help us dig through this mess."
Harry conjured a small table for the tray to be set on..."Yes sir." He had planed on helping some after all he wanted out of this mess more then anyone.
TBC
