Friendship and Beyond 25/?
Rated: R contains mentions of rape and torture, although not actual scenes. Possible HP/SS in later chapters, also HG/RW.
Authors Notes: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, that would be JKR. Subject matter not for children, although nothing too graphic, but be careful when reading just to be on the safe side.
A Bit of Peace At Long Last
"Sorry to bother you, Professor." Harry answered nervously. "I had hoped to catch you before you went to bed."
"I am obviously still up, Mister Potter." Snape sneered sarcastically, while gently leading Harry towards his quarters with a hand on his lower back. He was gratified when the boy didn't pull away or startle at the minute contact. "Come."
"Alright." Harry said glancing at his potion's professor from under dropped lids. The shy innocence of the gesture warmed Severus greatly. "Thanks, sir."
"I had wanted to speak to you anyway, so it is no trouble." Snape answered, reassuring Harry in his own roundabout way.
They quietly entered Snape's parlor and Harry sat down in 'his' seat across from the fireplace. With a quick wave of his hand the fire lit up and tea was prepared while they got settled in.
"What seems to be the problem, Potter?" Snape asked as he took his first sip of herbal tea.
"Why can't I just want to visit with you?" Harry asked with a grin, relaxing into his chair.
"Don't insult my intelligence boy." Snape snorted softly at his student's gall. "Why would you want to visit me? It must be my benevolent nature that attracts you."
It was Harry's turn to snort in disbelief.
"Not bloody likely." Harry mumbled under his breath.
"Exactly. So I'll ask you again what seems to be the problem?"
"Um…"
"Are you feeling alright?" Snape asked in concern. "I haven't been speaking to you as often as I would like, with the extra lessons and all."
"It's okay. I am doing better." Harry reassured him. "I just needed a refill on the sleeping potion."
"You should be more careful with such complicated potions, boy. Do you think they are easily made?" Snape all but growled. "How did you ever manage to spill the rest?"
"I didn't spill it." Harry murmured softly looking at his feet.
"Didn't spill it?" Snape asked in question. He suddenly realized what Potter was alluding to. "I thought you said you were doing better."
"I am."
"If you are doing so much better why would you attempt to overdose on an addictive potion?" Snape snarled angrily, getting up from his chair and stalking across the room to his spare potions cabinet. He whispered the password and quickly opened the doors. Before Harry could respond Snape had returned and all but shoved the potion down his throat. Harry sputtered in outrage, surprised by the unexpected action.
"What the hell was that?" Harry asked sharply after he finished coughing.
"That, Mister Potter, was a cleansing potion." Snape answered menacingly. Harry thought that was all the explanation he would get when Snape continued angrily. "Just what the bloody hell were you thinking you idiot boy! Do you want to kill yourself?"
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked in confusion, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"I believe I told you the potion is highly addictive and that I would decide if you needed another dose after the four weeks were over." Snape sneered, waiting for the boy to respond. When Potter continued to look at him blankly he growled in exasperation. "Do you think I cautioned you for my health? If you had taken anymore of that potion it could have had severe side effects."
"I'm sorry." Harry responded contritely. "I didn't think about it."
"No of course you didn't. You never think about the consequences to your actions." Snape snarled, glaring into his emerald green eyes. "What possessed you to take so much, it's been barely over two and a half weeks."
"I know, but I had to take it every night. Otherwise I would wake up screaming." Harry answered looking somewhat ashamed. "You saw how out of it I was that first week. I don't have the luxury of time for a mental breakdown."
"Smart way of going about it, I would say." Snape retorted sarcastically.
"Look I don't expect you to understand, but during the day I can avoid thinking about what happened. It's the nights that have been giving me difficulties." Harry tried to explain, although he was ashamed to be telling his professor about his weaknesses. "At night I am alone and I can't deal with waking up shaking and scared, by myself."
"There must be other solutions, Potter."
"Like what?" Harry asked rather desperately, although disdainfully as well. "I don't see anyone offering to be my bloody teddy bear."
After Harry's outburst Severus merely stared at his students haggard face. His face remained impassive and caused Harry to squirm uncomfortably in his seat, before the potion's master began speaking.
"You can sleep in my chambers for tonight and we can discuss this further tomorrow once you've gotten a full night's sleep." Snape told him, ignoring the shocked look on his student's expressive face.
"No offense sir, but did you just offer to be my teddy bear?" Harry asked softly, almost as if he was talking to a wild animal just waiting to attack him. "You want me to sleep with you?"
"I do believe that is what I said, Potter." Snape sneered, while inwardly kicking himself for even suggesting it. [Dumbledore's going to skin me alive. Bugger!] "Do you need your hearing checked?"
"No, sir. Um… no offense, or anything, but have you been inhaling any noxious potion fumes sir?"
"What ever are you on about now?" Snape asked.
"Just wanted to know if you were stoned, sir." Harry mumbled.
"I promise you I am not under the influence of any kind of muggle narcotic, Potter." Snape hissed in annoyance, grinding his teeth together to keep from hexing the boy.
"What about wizard drugs?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Potter!" Snape yelled unexpectedly. "Enough! I am perfectly in my right mind, now if you would like to take me up on my rather insane offer then do so. If not then kindly get out of my rooms so that I may go to sleep, and we will continue this discussion at a more reasonable hour tomorrow morning."
"Um… Okay." Harry said, looking vaguely uncomfortable.
When Harry made no move to rush from the room, Snape raised an eyebrow in question at the fidgeting boy.
"I'll stay, sir."
[Bloody hell… I didn't think the little bugger would actually take me up on it. What now?]
"Very well, Mister Potter." Snape answered in a calm voice. "However, if you are going to be sleeping in my bedroom would you please not call me sir?" [I already feel enough like a dirty old man as it is.]
"Sure, sir, um I mean… What should I call you?"
"Severus, if you're comfortable. Otherwise Snape will be fine."
"In your bedroom, S-Severus?" Harry asked nervously.
"Come now Mister Potter, if I really wanted to do you harm I've had plenty of justification before now."
"I suppose so, S-Severus." Harry responded. "Um if we're going to… do this, could you call me Harry, Sir?"
"I guess that would be acceptable for tonight at least, Pot-Harry." Snape agreed reluctantly.
"Thanks."
"Shall we retire?" Snape asked awkwardly gesturing toward the still closed door to his right. "I will transfigure a set of pajamas for you if you would like."
"That would be great."
"Very well then." Severus said waving his wand at a throw pillow lying on the couch. It quickly transfigured into a pair of silk green long-sleeved pajamas. "The bathroom if through the bedroom. I will change in here to give you some privacy."
"Okay." Harry agreed, grabbing the pajamas and fingering the cool material happily, humming as he walked away. Once Harry disappeared into his room Severus let out a huge breath and collapsed on the couch with his head in his hands.
[Potter has accomplished what neither the Dark Lord nor Dumbldore ever could. He has officially DRIVEN ME INSANE. I just offered to be Harry Bloody Potter's fucking teddy bear!]
Severus was quickly drawn out of his rumination and self-conflagration when he heard Harry open the bathroom door connected to his bedroom. He quickly summoned his nightclothes, preformed a cleansing charm, and changed in record time, just as Harry knocked on the connecting door.
"I'm all set, S-Severus."
Without further ado Severus stalked into the bedroom to find Harry sitting on the very edge of his four-poster bed, looking dwarfed by its size. A wave of tenderness washed through Sev, which he did his best to ignore as he unceremoniously got into bed on the opposite side.
"Nox." Severus muttered, causing the room to go dark. He anxiously waited for Harry to lie down next to him. When he was still sitting near the edge of the bed a few minutes later, shaking slightly, Severus moved a bit closer and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Potter, it's alright."
He continued to caress Harry's silk covered shoulder until the boy relaxed and hesitantly lay down beside him. After that he made no further move, and the air was filled with tension and fear as Harry lay as still as a board beside Severus. After a few additional minutes, Harry relaxed slightly against Severus' wiry frame and Snape carefully rested his hand lightly on Harry's side. It was in this position that they both fell asleep, for once not disturbed by nightmares.
Rated: R contains mentions of rape and torture, although not actual scenes. Possible HP/SS in later chapters, also HG/RW.
Authors Notes: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, that would be JKR. Subject matter not for children, although nothing too graphic, but be careful when reading just to be on the safe side.
A Bit of Peace At Long Last
"Sorry to bother you, Professor." Harry answered nervously. "I had hoped to catch you before you went to bed."
"I am obviously still up, Mister Potter." Snape sneered sarcastically, while gently leading Harry towards his quarters with a hand on his lower back. He was gratified when the boy didn't pull away or startle at the minute contact. "Come."
"Alright." Harry said glancing at his potion's professor from under dropped lids. The shy innocence of the gesture warmed Severus greatly. "Thanks, sir."
"I had wanted to speak to you anyway, so it is no trouble." Snape answered, reassuring Harry in his own roundabout way.
They quietly entered Snape's parlor and Harry sat down in 'his' seat across from the fireplace. With a quick wave of his hand the fire lit up and tea was prepared while they got settled in.
"What seems to be the problem, Potter?" Snape asked as he took his first sip of herbal tea.
"Why can't I just want to visit with you?" Harry asked with a grin, relaxing into his chair.
"Don't insult my intelligence boy." Snape snorted softly at his student's gall. "Why would you want to visit me? It must be my benevolent nature that attracts you."
It was Harry's turn to snort in disbelief.
"Not bloody likely." Harry mumbled under his breath.
"Exactly. So I'll ask you again what seems to be the problem?"
"Um…"
"Are you feeling alright?" Snape asked in concern. "I haven't been speaking to you as often as I would like, with the extra lessons and all."
"It's okay. I am doing better." Harry reassured him. "I just needed a refill on the sleeping potion."
"You should be more careful with such complicated potions, boy. Do you think they are easily made?" Snape all but growled. "How did you ever manage to spill the rest?"
"I didn't spill it." Harry murmured softly looking at his feet.
"Didn't spill it?" Snape asked in question. He suddenly realized what Potter was alluding to. "I thought you said you were doing better."
"I am."
"If you are doing so much better why would you attempt to overdose on an addictive potion?" Snape snarled angrily, getting up from his chair and stalking across the room to his spare potions cabinet. He whispered the password and quickly opened the doors. Before Harry could respond Snape had returned and all but shoved the potion down his throat. Harry sputtered in outrage, surprised by the unexpected action.
"What the hell was that?" Harry asked sharply after he finished coughing.
"That, Mister Potter, was a cleansing potion." Snape answered menacingly. Harry thought that was all the explanation he would get when Snape continued angrily. "Just what the bloody hell were you thinking you idiot boy! Do you want to kill yourself?"
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked in confusion, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"I believe I told you the potion is highly addictive and that I would decide if you needed another dose after the four weeks were over." Snape sneered, waiting for the boy to respond. When Potter continued to look at him blankly he growled in exasperation. "Do you think I cautioned you for my health? If you had taken anymore of that potion it could have had severe side effects."
"I'm sorry." Harry responded contritely. "I didn't think about it."
"No of course you didn't. You never think about the consequences to your actions." Snape snarled, glaring into his emerald green eyes. "What possessed you to take so much, it's been barely over two and a half weeks."
"I know, but I had to take it every night. Otherwise I would wake up screaming." Harry answered looking somewhat ashamed. "You saw how out of it I was that first week. I don't have the luxury of time for a mental breakdown."
"Smart way of going about it, I would say." Snape retorted sarcastically.
"Look I don't expect you to understand, but during the day I can avoid thinking about what happened. It's the nights that have been giving me difficulties." Harry tried to explain, although he was ashamed to be telling his professor about his weaknesses. "At night I am alone and I can't deal with waking up shaking and scared, by myself."
"There must be other solutions, Potter."
"Like what?" Harry asked rather desperately, although disdainfully as well. "I don't see anyone offering to be my bloody teddy bear."
After Harry's outburst Severus merely stared at his students haggard face. His face remained impassive and caused Harry to squirm uncomfortably in his seat, before the potion's master began speaking.
"You can sleep in my chambers for tonight and we can discuss this further tomorrow once you've gotten a full night's sleep." Snape told him, ignoring the shocked look on his student's expressive face.
"No offense sir, but did you just offer to be my teddy bear?" Harry asked softly, almost as if he was talking to a wild animal just waiting to attack him. "You want me to sleep with you?"
"I do believe that is what I said, Potter." Snape sneered, while inwardly kicking himself for even suggesting it. [Dumbledore's going to skin me alive. Bugger!] "Do you need your hearing checked?"
"No, sir. Um… no offense, or anything, but have you been inhaling any noxious potion fumes sir?"
"What ever are you on about now?" Snape asked.
"Just wanted to know if you were stoned, sir." Harry mumbled.
"I promise you I am not under the influence of any kind of muggle narcotic, Potter." Snape hissed in annoyance, grinding his teeth together to keep from hexing the boy.
"What about wizard drugs?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Potter!" Snape yelled unexpectedly. "Enough! I am perfectly in my right mind, now if you would like to take me up on my rather insane offer then do so. If not then kindly get out of my rooms so that I may go to sleep, and we will continue this discussion at a more reasonable hour tomorrow morning."
"Um… Okay." Harry said, looking vaguely uncomfortable.
When Harry made no move to rush from the room, Snape raised an eyebrow in question at the fidgeting boy.
"I'll stay, sir."
[Bloody hell… I didn't think the little bugger would actually take me up on it. What now?]
"Very well, Mister Potter." Snape answered in a calm voice. "However, if you are going to be sleeping in my bedroom would you please not call me sir?" [I already feel enough like a dirty old man as it is.]
"Sure, sir, um I mean… What should I call you?"
"Severus, if you're comfortable. Otherwise Snape will be fine."
"In your bedroom, S-Severus?" Harry asked nervously.
"Come now Mister Potter, if I really wanted to do you harm I've had plenty of justification before now."
"I suppose so, S-Severus." Harry responded. "Um if we're going to… do this, could you call me Harry, Sir?"
"I guess that would be acceptable for tonight at least, Pot-Harry." Snape agreed reluctantly.
"Thanks."
"Shall we retire?" Snape asked awkwardly gesturing toward the still closed door to his right. "I will transfigure a set of pajamas for you if you would like."
"That would be great."
"Very well then." Severus said waving his wand at a throw pillow lying on the couch. It quickly transfigured into a pair of silk green long-sleeved pajamas. "The bathroom if through the bedroom. I will change in here to give you some privacy."
"Okay." Harry agreed, grabbing the pajamas and fingering the cool material happily, humming as he walked away. Once Harry disappeared into his room Severus let out a huge breath and collapsed on the couch with his head in his hands.
[Potter has accomplished what neither the Dark Lord nor Dumbldore ever could. He has officially DRIVEN ME INSANE. I just offered to be Harry Bloody Potter's fucking teddy bear!]
Severus was quickly drawn out of his rumination and self-conflagration when he heard Harry open the bathroom door connected to his bedroom. He quickly summoned his nightclothes, preformed a cleansing charm, and changed in record time, just as Harry knocked on the connecting door.
"I'm all set, S-Severus."
Without further ado Severus stalked into the bedroom to find Harry sitting on the very edge of his four-poster bed, looking dwarfed by its size. A wave of tenderness washed through Sev, which he did his best to ignore as he unceremoniously got into bed on the opposite side.
"Nox." Severus muttered, causing the room to go dark. He anxiously waited for Harry to lie down next to him. When he was still sitting near the edge of the bed a few minutes later, shaking slightly, Severus moved a bit closer and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Potter, it's alright."
He continued to caress Harry's silk covered shoulder until the boy relaxed and hesitantly lay down beside him. After that he made no further move, and the air was filled with tension and fear as Harry lay as still as a board beside Severus. After a few additional minutes, Harry relaxed slightly against Severus' wiry frame and Snape carefully rested his hand lightly on Harry's side. It was in this position that they both fell asleep, for once not disturbed by nightmares.
