Chapter 2
by Taran Swann
Harry was standing beside a young blonde woman, holding her hand. Severus was sure the look of shock on Harry's face was a mirror of his own. As Harry stumbled for words, the woman turned to Severus and held out her hand.
"Hi, I'm Jaina," she said in a high pitched voice.
"Severus," he said gently shaking her hand. She giggled and popped the gum she was chewing.
"Severus… Severus…" She rolled her eyes up in thought. "Oh, right! You were Harry's physics teacher in university! Harry talks about you all the time."
Severus' eyebrow rose questioningly. "Physics teacher?" he repeated. He was thrilled that Harry talked about him, but the fact that she called him a physics teacher and not a potions professor caught his attention more. Could she… was she Muggle?? He gave Harry a hard stare.
Harry blushed and cleared his throat. "Yes, dear, that's right." He smiled painfully and squeezed her hand, refusing to meet Severus' eyes.
"Oh, look! There's Emily. Hi, Emily!" She shouted and waved jubilantly across the little street to a girl on the other side, who waved back with equal enthusiasm. "Be right back, hunny," she said to Harry, giving him a kiss on the cheek and ran toward her friend. She stopped in the middle of the road and turned back to them. "It was nice meeting you Severus. Maybe we can all have lunch together."
Severus forced a smile and nod. He turned angry eyes back on Harry. "A Muggle girl, Potter?"
Harry growled at the use of his surname. "Well, at least I know she likes me for who I am! And, I know SHE'S not going to kick me out of her bed as soon as she's tired of me!" Harry turned away in fury. He was trying hard not to think about Severus wearing Muggle jeans.
"I wasn't tired of you," Severus said quietly. Harry stopped and turned around, but Severus wasn't looking. His eyes were down cast, almost sad looking, as he started back down the street.
"You're staying at Dumbledore's cabin, aren't you?" Harry asked with a grimace.
"Yes," Severus said with trepidation. He was suddenly worried that this was no coincidence. "Why?"
Harry's shoulders drooped as he sighed. "We're neighbours then. We've got McGonagall's cabin, directly across from you."
Severus snapped his jaw shut and closed his eyes, growling silently. He would get even with the meddling old fool, somehow.
"Yours is the big cabin on the right hand side," Harry informed him as he joined to two girls. Severus just grunted and continued on his way. He was no longer in the mood to appreciate the quiet scenery around him.
~*~*~
Harry watched Severus walk away. He wanted desperately to run after him, to tell him that he still loved him and needed him, but Severus had made it clear two years ago that he was through with him. Seeing him now hurt more than Harry would have thought possible.
The hurt in Severus' voice and eyes when he said he hadn't been tired of him, gave Harry shivers and made him wonder if Severus had really meant what he'd said so long ago. There was so much he wanted to say, to ask, but didn't know how to start.
Harry was pulled back into reality when Jaina grabbed his arm and kissed his cheek. He forced a weak smile as she led him towards the small café down the street. He decided he would just wait and see if Severus came to him.
~tbc~