Friendship and Beyond 27/?

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 Discussion with Dumbledore

Thirty minutes later found Harry sitting across from Severus, freshly cleaned and sitting nervously at his professor's breakfast table. For some reason the simple act of sharing a meal with Snape was proving more nerve wracking than accepting his offer to sleep in the same bed as him last night.

Ignoring for the moment the awkward moment earlier, Harry was as nervous as he had ever been in his professor's company. Not in the same manner as he usually was however. Harry wasn't worried about the 'greasy git' taking points away, or even insulting him with no cause, and since Snape hadn't caught him doing anything particularly wrong he wasn't scared of getting caught.

This nervousness came from sharing the company of his second-worst enemy and seemingly enjoying the time spent together. This nervousness came from an uneasy acceptance of his professor as a human being, and from realizing that Snape had normal physical, and perhaps even emotional, reactions just like everyone else. This nervousness came from realizing that this new awareness of his formerly hated professor was already causing Harry to look at him differently. Harry just wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

The semi-awkward silence continued until Severus finished his lemon poppy seed muffin and Harry finished the eggs that Dobby brought for him. Severus watched his student sipping his pumpkin juice quietly before he decided to speak.

"Potter, I will have to inform the headmaster of last night's events as soon as possible this morning. I fully expect him to be upset, but I do not think I shall be fired for my lack of propriety. However, that being said, I am sure that this is the final time something such as this will happen." Severus continued, ignoring the wistful look that crossed Harry's face at the prospect of never again sharing a bed with his potion's professor. "I wanted to talk to you last night about furthering your lessons after Weasley and Granger leave each night. You have a reserve of power that the others do not have and as such you can be taught more advanced spells. I do not know if this will be feasible now with the current situation, but I will mention the lessons to Dumbledore. Perhaps he can arrange a tutor for your training over the next few days, since I very much doubt I will be overseeing your lessons from now on."

"But why?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Even you are not so slow as to realize that last night was wrong, Potter." Snape sneered defensively.

"But, you didn't do anything wrong!" Harry exclaimed heatedly. "You were just trying to help me."

"Don't be foolish boy. Do you really think anyone will believe that your sarcastic vile Potion's Master was sequestering you in his quarters for the night to 'help' you?"

"But you were." Harry insisted doggedly, temporarily forgetting his disdain for the headmaster. "I'll explain to Dumbledore what happened."

"Potter, even if everyone believes exactly what you say, it was still not right for it to have happened at all." Snape reminded Harry in a calm tone of voice. "I am your teacher. I have certain moral imperatives to uphold."

"It never stopped you before!" Harry exclaimed before he could stop himself. "Um… I mean…"

"I am perfectly aware of your meaning Mister Potter." Snape sneered. "But there is a small difference between favoring my house and sexually harassing a student who is emotionally vulnerable."

"Sexually harassing?" Harry bellowed. "Are you off your gourd?"

"That's been established previously by my actions last night, however if you are talking about my sexually harassing you?"

"Yeah, that. Sexually harassing my ass."

"How perfectly vulgar, Potter" Snape sneered disdainfully. "However, what would you call inviting a student to share your bed, especially one who was so emotionally unstable?"

"Oy! I'm not emotionally unstable, you git. And it's not like you fucked me, so what's the bloody problem?"

"Language, Mister Potter!"

Harry just glared at his teacher in outrage.

"The problem is that I took advantage of your trust in me as your professor. I used my authority to coerce you into something you shouldn't have done."

"Are we talking about the same night here, Snape?" Harry asked incredulously. "I don't bloody well trust you as my professor. Hell, I don't rightly know why I trust you at all. But you sure as hell didn't coerce me into doing anything, and since when has your supposed authority inspired anything except scorn from me, Professor?"

"Watch how you speak to me Potter. I am still your professor."

"Too true. Now stop all this emotional bloodletting. You didn't do a bloody thing wrong you stubborn git."

"I've lost my mind, that's all this is." Snape mumbled rubbing his neck as he paced the floor. "Voldemort has me under cruciatus and I'm hallucinating. That's the only explanation for this insanity."

"I'm going to talk to Dumbledore." Snape told Harry, looking up from the floor at last. "I expect you to be gone when I come back. I am sure the headmaster ill want to speak to you as well, so stay inside the castle."

Without a further word Snape walked out of his quarters leaving Harry to look after him in shock.