Hiding Under the Ninth Earth
Book 02 : A Bit Of All Right
by I Got Tired of Waiting
Part V : Together
Chapter Forty Eight : Morning Interruptions
15 August 2003
Severus Snape, for once, was thoroughly enjoying his breakfast. While the food was of the same quality, in the same quantity, and even brought by the same house-elves it always was, today it was--better. Like everything else he'd experienced since awakening, the textures were crisper, the tastes sharper, the colours brighter.
He was in a most unusual mood. McGonagall's inane chatter with Sprout down the table from him didn't make him want to stalk out or choke them; even Dumbledore's little whistles as he read his morning mail didn't set his teeth on edge like they normally did. The small smattering of students scattered across the long tables in odd pairs and triplets didn't make him long for new ways to torment them; in fact he almost looked forward to his afternoon tutouring sessions.
Yes, this morning was different and the reason for this heightened mellowness sat next to him chatting up Flitwick. Harry was laughing at one of Flitwick's tired old jokes, dragged out for a new audience, while Harry's hand nonchalantly slid under the tablecloth, like he was scratching an itch; the only thing relieved was Severus' thigh. He calmly sipped his tea, although he really wanted to squirm in his chair as Harry's pinkie made its way up to a more sensitive place than the top of his leg. He never turned from Flitwick, telling a really bad story of his own, but Severus could feel the secret grin in the strokes of Harry's hand.
About the time he thought he would jump out of his trouse, the hand hastily withdrew and Severus was treated to the wickedest pair of green eyes ever to grace the head table. "Horny little beggar, aren't you? Didn't get enough this morning?" Severus asked quietly, his--leg--still tingling from where Harry had been playing with it.
Harry chortled just as quietly, "I seem to recall someone saying that 'Once is never enough', and although I'll allow you were quite inventive this morning, well, I've a mind to--"
"Severus!" Professor Sprout's voice calling down the table to him dissolved the decadent pictures in his head. "Se-ver-us!"
The object of her address winced and lifted an eyebrow at Harry ruefully. "We'll finish this delightful exchange in a moment," he whispered and turned impatiently to face the interruptor. He schooled his face into a drab polite mask. "Yes, Pomona?"
"Goodness, you're distracted this morning!" she exclaimed in a coy manner. He gritted his teeth waiting for the rest of it. "Minerva and I were wondering if you were going to need anything for the Mabon festivities this year. I have a lovely patch of autumn grass almost ready to harvest among some other things; if you require anything for the potions, I need to know now or else I'll be Owling the lot off to Barton's."
Severus sighed. He'd forgot about the Autumnal Equinox potions he'd promised Sprout earlier in the year in exchange for the fresh Mandrake Root he'd needed to unpetrify Horatio after the curious snake had found a baby basilisk in the dungeons. He ignored Harry's chuckle--they'd had a devil of time collecting the 'infant' snake (which had been almost as long as Horatio) without hurting it or them. He had no idea what Dumbledore had done with it, but was assured it was healthy and living elsewhere. "No, I have already procured all the ingredients, although fresh is always best. Let me see a list of what you have and I'll tell you what I can use. I don't think it will require all of your stock, so you can still send some off."
Sprout promised to have the list to him on the morrow; he forebore to tell her he might be delayed in perusing it; he wouldn't know until later, after he had a chance to talk to Dumbledore.
Seeing her make a comment to Minerva, he turned back and, drawing breath, started to continue his previous conversation with an empty seat. Hearing the soft sound of the staff door closing behind him, he knew without a doubt who had just exited. 'Annoying brat,' he thought, wondering why he'd left so precipitously.
His thoughts were interrupted when Dumbledore stood from the table, signalling that breakfast was over. Severus rose as well, bent on catching up to Albus before their morning routines kept them busy. He had a favour to ask.
Halfway up the deserted hallway he managed to stop Dumbledore; for an old man, he moved fast. "Albus, a moment of your time, please," he called out, walking quickly up to him, robes swirling around him.
Dumbledore wheeled around at his voice, his face lighting with a pleasant smile. "Certainly, Severus. How can I be of service this morning?"
'An apt choice of words,' Snape thought. "I was wondering--"
"Albus, don't forget that the letters to the Ministry and the Board of Governors with the final student count and the list of scholarship recipients are due this afternoon. Are you finished with them yet?" McGonagall asked as she rushed to his side. She nodded in mute apology to the Potions Master.
Severus seethed with impatience while Dumbledore replied, "Yes, my dear. I left them on your desk before breakfast. You may send them out at your convenience."
While Albus chuckled, Severus thought the whole exchange inane. 'How many years have I been watching this very same scene. Minerva is nothing if not efficient and a right pain in the bum. I just wish--'
His thoughts were interrupted with Dumbledore's implied censure when he politely inquired, "Minerva, is there anything else you require at this time?"
Snape's guts roiled with her hesitation. 'Of course there's 'one more thing'. She can't make anything simple.' However, the determined squint around the Headmaster's equally jovial eyes remained and McGonagall's subsequent confusion amused Severus. He could almost see the squeaky wheels grinding as she considered his question. He found her dawning realisation that she'd misjudged the importance of his and the Headmaster's conversation immensely satisfying.
Catching Snape's continued glare, she stammered to him, "I--ah--I'm sorry to have disturbed your--" She turned back to the Headmaster, wisely saying, "No, I believe it can wait."
"Good, I am glad to hear it." The hint of a battle won in the Headmaster's voice made Snape turn his head away to hide his smile. "I will see you after your morning sessions, then?"
Nodding, she left them and went on to her first student of the day.
Albus straightened the front of his robe in a 'so there' gesture and started walking to his office waiting an instant for Snape to fall in beside him. "I'm sorry, Severus. What did you need?"
Nervous again, he started, "Harry and I," and stopped when Remus almost barrelled into him in his haste. Breathless, as if he'd run all the way from his rooms, which he probably had, he called, "Oh, there you are, Severus! I've been looking for you. I know you've no sessions this morning and was wondering if you could take over my Defense Against the Dark Arts students for me in the Second Period."
While Snape secretly approved of Albus' latest attempt to raise the academic standard of the school by offering remedial tutouring during the last three weeks of August, he was not keen on taking anyone else's dullards. It went without saying that his student load was the lightest, but given he usually used the summer to make all the school's potions for the year, he would never be accused of being idle.
"A bit spare of explanation, Lupin," Snape growled, thoroughly annoyed; he was glad for an excuse to vent some of his growing frustration. "As much as I would like to help you, I have already completely scheduled my morning." At Remus' crestfallen look, Severus attempted sympathy and instead managed a smirk. "Perhaps with a little more warning next time, I might be of assistance."
His smirk deepened as a new thought struck him. "However, I daresay two of your three morning students could use the windfall of time to finish the rather simple Potions assignment I gave them Friday last." He gave a disgusted sigh. "It is due this afternoon and if these efforts are anything like their last ones, they won't have started on them until today's lunch--I suppose it would be too much to ask that they actually work on it over the weekend. Surely they can't get into too much trouble in the library." He chuckled at the wily look Lupin gave him.
"Hmmm." Remus was thoughtful, his hand rubbing his lower face. Pointing and shaking his finger, he nodded and said, "Good idea--thanks for the suggestion." He dipped his head at Dumbledore, almost as an afterthought. "'Morning to you, Albus."
"And a good day to you, Remus," he said with a significant tilt of his head.
Severus snorted at Remus' reaction to the clear dismissal--he turned on his heel and made a hasty retreat. Albus once again started walking. "Now, my dear boy, what was it you were trying to tell--"
"Professor Dumbledore!" Filch barged up to them, halting their progress, his coat covered in soot and ashes. "I must insist you do something about Peeves. He's made a ruddy mess of the--"
"Argus, not now." Dumbledore sighed, kindly impatient. A quick hidden flick of his wand cleared the mess off of the caretaker. "I am sure whatever it is Peeves has done now will only be topped by what he does tomorrow. Please take care of it as best you can, and I'll be along directly--as soon as I finish my conversation with Professor Snape."
Filch mumbled to himself as he sulked off, the ever-present Mrs. Norris at his heels. Albus sighed and resumed his sedate pace, Snape at his side.
"I think the fates are conspiring against me," Severus ruefully began. At the hand placed on his shoulder from behind, he whirled around, intent on scorching whomever it was for interrupting him this time. "What the hell do you--" He rocked back on his heels when he saw it was Harry. "Where the hell did you go?" he snapped instead.
Harry raised his brows and grinned at him, holding up a small leather case. "Bad morning already?"
******
Dumbledore hid his smile by biting his lower lip. He'd seen Harry pelting down the hallway while dismissing Filch and given Severus' current impatience--'Well, it's no large guess as to what they want, given the box Harry has and that huge surge of magic last night. But seeing Severus at a loss for words? This is more fun than I ever imagined.' He held back a misplaced desire to giggle. "Severus, maybe now we can get to the crux of what you wanted?"
Snape might still be fidgety, but the habitual edginess he always wore like a second skin was missing; the harshness was gone from his gaze, as were the small furrows normally lining his mouth and eyes. "We need to ask for a favour." He glanced at Harry and back at Dumbledore.
Albus, raising an enquiring brow at them, thought this a bit cheeky considering his ears still rang with their words of 'retribution' upon their return from Hana just nine days ago.
Severus remained uncharacteristically quiet and Harry just grinned when their eyes met again. Dumbledore shook his head at them both. "Severus, are you going to tell me what it is you want, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?"
Harry smiled and in that moment, Dumbledore realised he'd never seen Harry truly happy before now. Triumphant, joyful, ecstatic even, but not like this. One could almost say he glowed with it, as if he had so much inside it had to come out or he would burst.
Clearing his throat and looking around as if making sure they were alone, Severus said quietly, "If you're willing, we'd like you to handfast us."
Knuckles whitening, Harry tightened his grip on Snape's shoulder. Wordlessly, he handed Dumbledore the case. "Sorry I'm late, Severus. I forgot this in our quarters and went back to get it."
"I wondered what had happened and thought you must have been called away. As it was, I only just now got the opportunity to speak to Albus," he replied dryly turning his attention back to the Headmaster.
Albus took the box in his hands and when the glistening rings were revealed, he found it hard to speak around the clog in his throat. His brows raising then lowering, he ran his fingertips gently across the familiar gold bands inside. Closing the case, he said, "I joined them, you know. I remember these rings well. I remember Lily's eyes when James slid them on her hand and the unaccustomed seriousness of his face. You've done a nice job modifying them."
He glanced surreptitiously at Severus, looking for his reaction. Given his and James' past history, Dumbledore was somewhat surprised Severus would be willing to use these particular rings, even though the signature and the binding magic in them had been removed and the new outer serpent bands added, making them anonymous and unique. However, Severus was as calm as ever and Dumbledore shrugged inside assuming Harry and Severus had already addressed the issue to their mutual satisfaction. He dismissed his thoughts.
He held their steady gazes. "I would be delighted to handfast you. I am assuming you will want to use the Closed Form?" At their murmurs of assent, he tucked the box into a pocket of his robes. "These rings will serve very well, indeed." He looked up from his pocket to see they weren't looking at him anymore but at each other. Severus looked so young. And Harry--his tranquility was almost tangible.
Harry reluctantly broke his brief interchange with Severus. He turned to Dumbledore, his eyes guileless and so open Albus could almost see through him; the Headmaster cleared his reaction out of his throat before asking, "Do you both have a moment? We will need to consult the orrery for the best day." At their unspoken agreement, he gestured for them to proceed at once.
****
Comfortable in the plush desk chair and sipping his scalding beverage, Dumbledore noted (as he always did) the ginger way they both blew across the top of their cups before sipping their tea cautiously. He knew he made the brew too hot and too strong; he liked it that way--it was one of the few things in which he indulged his pleasure over that of others. He hid his reaction to the coordinated movements--stir, blow, sip--their unintentional unison was quite amusing.
The case with the rings lay before him on his desk.
He rose from the chair and, opening a large cabinet behind him with leaded glass doors, pulled a small portable orrery off of a shelf. Placing it carefully on the desk and taking his seat, he waved his wand and spoke a complex incantation. With a sound of ground metal, the gold and bronze arms began to move, each at different speeds, making the balls on the end of them (which represented the planets in their orbits) turn in an uneven fashion around their prescribed courses. He watched it closely and when it stopped, he studied the azimuth readings inscribed in the base of the machine.
After assuring himself that all was in order, Dumbledore sat back and looked between them; he remembered the first time Harry and Severus had ever come to his office together. They'd come at his request to review the plans for Harry's private defence classes. He and Severus had worked long hours devising the eventually abandoned course of study for the young man, only 16 at the time. And now, the familiar sight of the two of them sitting across the desk from him was the same as ever and yet, oh so different.
"According to the movements, the best time for your handfasting is either the 12th of December, next year," Severus groaned, "or tomorrow night." He chuckled at the sudden look of relief on Harry's face echoed by the blowing sigh escaping his partner.
"Can we be ready by tomorrow night?" Harry asked humbly. "I confess, I've only read about what's involved in the ritual, but I've never actually attended one. I'm not familiar enough with the proceedings to know everything we need to do."
Dumbledore chuckled lightly. "Oh, it's fairly simple. The Closed Form is not too long, but is quite formal. The responses are plain and ritualistic--unless, of course, there are modifications you wish to make?"
Severus shook his head. "No, we decided the traditional Form and ceremony are not too offensive, if a bit flowery. The Final Binding will definitely need some work, however. The ceremony is obviously skewed to a--" he paused delicately, "--heterosexual joining. We will need to do some modifications there as well as eradicating all the drivel about the deities. What else will we require for tomorrow evening?"
"You'll need witnesses, of course--at least two. And a place to have the ceremony. The rest I can easily supply; as the officiator, I will make the necessary Banns after the fact. Do you know whom you want to participate, other than each other, of course?" While solemn, his smile was in his eyes.
"We'd like to have Poppy there--you were both equally meddlesome." Severus reached across the arm of the chair and covered Harry's hand, his long fingers entwining in those beneath them.
Harry spoke up, "We want to thank you, Albus--you and Poppy. The time we spent away in Hana finally led us back to each other." He winked at Severus who rolled his eyes at all the excess sentiment. "For good," Harry finished.
And about bloody time, too, Albus thought. "I think I can arrange that. Anyone else?"
Harry looked sheepish. "There are so many to choose from. For just the handfasting--" His voice trailed off. Severus shrugged.
With a small smile, Albus asked, "Then might I suggest just Remus and Moody? They also have been meddling, as you so aptly put it, for a very long time now as well."
"That's an excellent idea!" Harry exclaimed, happy to have a good solution. Remus, as his former guardian, was like family and he knew Moody was as close to a friend as Severus had other than Albus and himself. When he looked over to confirm, Severus looked pleased as well.
"Good. Now as to the place--as this is a private affair, I offer you the use of my private rooms for the brief ceremony along with a libation afterwards. Is this acceptable?"
Harry and Severus were stunned. In all the years they'd known each other, they'd never been to the Headmaster's private quarters. Irrepressible as always, Harry replied, "If I knew where they were, I'd say that was perfect."
Snape nodded his agreement.
"Excellent. That's settled, then." Dumbledore handed them a Portkey and a roll of parchment with the ritual outlined on it along with their expected responses. The box with the rings he placed in his desk drawer. "I'll see you tomorrow night. Oh, and you are most welcome."
****
"Are you sure you can do this?" Severus asked, a vague anxiety colouring his voice.
Harry's cheery reply did little to assuage his concern. "As sure as I am about anything, Sev. A Schema is a Schema is a Schema. And it worked on Luckless Lucy's portrait; she really likes the flowers we gave her."
Severus sniffed. "You gave her. I had little to do with it."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Hardly. It was your idea and you were right about it as a test--if it works in Lucy's painting, it will probably work anywhere else. Poor girl. You'd think the artist would have removed at least that part of her personality. Then she could have been 'Lucky Lucy'."
"The artists can only paint what's there; they can't change the essence of the person in the portrait. Lucy had damnable luck in her lifetime and now she'll continue to have it over everyone else's, too. Truly shortsighted on her part, when you think on it, and certainly not something one wants to drag on forever." He looked around him. "Well, here we are. Damn, she's not home."
"Actually, Sev, it would be easier if she's not in the painting when I do it. There's less chance of an accident that way."
"Accident? What 'accident'? You didn't say anything about accidents. I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Calm down, Severus. They're very rare and only happen to those who lose control. The most that can happen is I change her portrait in such a way that it won't recognise her and she can't get back in. Fairly easy to fix--one just needs to replace the frame. If she's in her frame when I make the change, it could trap her, which is far worse and irreversible. I suspect that's what happened to Sirius' Mother's portrait--somebody probably tried to place a silencing spell and it backfired."
Severus narrowed his eyes and nodded. "All right then. Amazing that a healing spell could do this."
Harry seemed unfazed. "Well, a Sanos spell is nothing more than exchanging one Schema for another, so a simple swap of like objects shouldn't be a problem. You're sure of the painting's Schemata before I get started?"
"Certainty? You know I can't give you that, Harry. The Schemata I had in my notes are the ones the painter said he used. He primed the painting, I filled it; it required little to no Schema work on my part since I was working with the person of the portrait over time. Everything else was dependent on the artist's magic and skill. You might want to double check it, though; I can't read the darn things as quickly and accurately as you do."
Once again Harry was struck by just how strange that was, hearing Severus state so matter of factly that he, Harry, could do things better than he, Severus, could and not be a bit upset about it. No, he supposed he'd bought too much into Sirius' claims that Severus was 'jealous' of everything the Marauders had done, and after talking to Severus, he'd realised that to a certain extent Sirius had been right. But not about the nature of the jealousy. Severus was never envious of those things he had no hope of changing or attaining; abilities topped the list--he could admire them as much as someone might admire his potion making skill. And he knew his limits well. However, Harry suspected that 'kindness to students' and 'patience with imbecility' probably fell into the 'no hope of changing' category.
Chuckling to himself, Harry walked up to Cerise's portrait and held his hands over the small table to the side of her chair. Sobering, he closed his eyes and concentrated on finding the Schema of the tea service sitting on the table. Opening his eyes and nodding, he turned back to Severus, saying, "It's the same one you had in your notes. I can change it. While I'm working, could you keep an eye out for Cerise and make sure she doesn't enter her frame until I'm done?"
"I'll go patrol the hallway and see if I can find her. I won't go far." He strode to the painting next to Cerise's, a young man with a huge dog at his side, and asked, "Did you by chance see which way Cerise went when she left?"
The young man pointed down the hall to Severus' left. "Aye, she always goes down that way to meet her fella. Always considerate she is, keeping her trysts private-like." Severus' brows raised in surprise, although he didn't know why. Cerise had always been attractive to almost any male she met; even he had not been entirely immune to her considerable charms although he'd never availed himself of them, even when freely offered.
"I'll be off now, Harry. Give a shout when you're done."
Harry's attention was already back on the task at hand and he absentmindedly acknowledged Severus with a grunt of assent. He had to get this right the first time and Transfiguration Schemata had never been one of his strong skills, although he didn't doubt he could do it. This one came in seven steps; Severus had somehow managed to finagle the sequence out of McGonagall saying the price had been steep, but not naming it. Harry took the hint and never asked thinking it was probably best he not know what McGonagall considered 'adequate' payment. In real life, the Transfiguration was simple, but since it was 'impossible' to change anything within a sentient portrait and make it permanent, the Sanos magic using the Schemata was the only way it could be done.
He dropped into the place where he healed, the intent different, but the concentration required the same. He pulled the Sanos magic into a ball inside him and released it slowly into the painting. With the sound of the Sanos ringing, the tea set morphed in smooth stages as he exchanged one Schema for the next in the proper sequence until, with the final 'fixing' Schema, a perpetual bottle of fire whiskey with two shot glasses stood in its stead. Harry released the last of the magic to add a blood red rose to the side, a little touch he couldn't resist adding. Sighing, well pleased, Harry admired his handiwork for a few moments before finding a nearby bench to sit and wait. Belatedly, he remembered he was supposed to 'give a shout' and suiting actions to words, called down the hall in the direction Severus had gone.
****
Turning the first corner, Severus knew from the sultry chuckle that he'd found Cerise--and someone else. By long ingrained habit, he immediately switched into his 'stealth' persona and crept down the hallway intent on satisfying his curiosity--with whom would Cerise keep company? He suddenly stopped short. Hearing the familiar low laughter from someone he knew quite well indeed, he realised he need go no further to identify her mystery paramour; it was Phineas. While the two of them together came as a bit of a shock, it was nothing compared to his astonishment at the stab of jealousy he felt at the thought of Phineas 'occupying' her frame.
A few more silent steps took him to where he could actually see them. They were wrapped in a cosy embrace, engaged in one of those kisses that could stretch for hours if done right; Phineas obviously knew what he was about and Cerise looked like she had no complaints. Not wishing to disturb them or embarrass himself any more than he had to, he quietly turned back in the direction he'd come. He was about to re-enter the hall when he heard a loud, "Severus, I'm done." He heard a sharp exclamation behind him and made haste to join Harry at the painting.
Severus reached Harry at about the same time Cerise arrived. Patting her hair and adjusting her robes she stepped into her frame from the one next door. She spared them a glance when her eye fell on the bottle and glasses sitting on her table. She sat in the chair and picked up the bottle to examine it. Selecting a glass, she poured a couple of neat fingers and daintily sipped at the golden liquid, leaving half behind. A deep sigh escaped her. Smiling as she put the glass back down, she said, "Oh! Ogden's. Severus, Harry, you're so clever." She blew them a kiss. "What a wonderful present. What's the occasion?"
Severus and Harry looked at each other, Severus silently elected spokesman.
"We come with an invitation, Cerise. Tomorrow night Dumbledore is handfasting us in his quarters. Would you be able to attend?"
Cerise looked from one to the other, a huge smile lighting her whole face. "Oh, dear hearts, I am so happy for you." Her smile faded a little when she continued, "I wish I could, but I can't get into Dumbledore's quarters. His office, yes, if I sneak in with Phineas, but his quarters are blocked to all who don't have the right portkey and he keeps no portraits or frames. Even Merlin can't get in. Values his privacy there, Dumbledore does." Genuine regret coloured her words.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Harry said, "we'd hoped you could be there with the rest of the meddlers we invited." Harry chortled at Severus' low chuckle. "Perhaps we could ask Albus to move your painting, just for the ceremony."
Cerise turned a fetching shade of pink. "I, um, don't think that would be possible. Dumbledore's, ah, a little cross with me right now."
Severus raised a brow, thinking on what he'd seen earlier. "Oh? And why would that be, hmmm?" He couldn't resist the urge to tease her. "Is it possible you got caught redefining the term 'head'master with a certain sharp nosed portrait?"
Harry's mouth fell open. "Phineas? You occupied Phineas? In Dumbledore's office? That took some brass."
She tilted her head to the side and rolled her eyes upward. "It is in the realm of possibility that Dumbledore did not fully appreciate the um, vein, of the--oration--I was enjoying with the portrait in question."
Severus laughed outright. Harry flushed, not quite succeeding in ridding himself of the vision her words inspired.
"Oh, Severus, look. He blushes so prettily."
Knowing Harry would kill him if he laughed, he turned his initial reaction into an almost convincing cough. Harry glared at him, then smiled ruefully, his face flushing a deeper shade of crimson. "You are an evil woman, Cerise."
"True. Tell me, Severus, does he do that at 'other' times?" With the light flush creeping up Severus' face at the recollections of just how and when Harry's cheeks turned rosy, she chuckled. "Oh look! You're a matched set."
Ignoring the jibe and Harry's snicker, Severus cleared his throat, but held his peace.
Cerise smirked wickedly. "I never thought I would ever see the day, Severus, when you would be rejoinder-free. Congratulations, Harry. It's about time someone wore out his mouth."
Harry grinned, thoroughly embarrassed, but this was Cerise--he knew it was harmless. He hazarded a quick glance at Severus and was pleased to see the small smile dancing on his lips.
They both turned their attention to Cerise when she spoke. "Now then, since I can't be there tomorrow night, indulge an old woman, will you? Stand next to each other, I want to see the two of you together." She put her hands on her hips. "Closer Severus, he won't bite--much." She sighed. "Closer now. How am I to see if you're a good match if you won't--Ah, Severus--I see you remember."
Severus turned to face his lover just as Harry asked, "Remember what?"
Cerise replied, "I can always tell if a couple is compatible, or not, just by how they stand together and hold each other." At Harry's scepticism, she laughed. "No, really. I have a good sixth sense about these things, and I want to see how you'll stand together tomorrow night." She lowered her voice, cajoling. "Make me a memory, please."
Severus moved until he was almost touching Harry. He placed his hands on Harry's shoulders and drew him lightly to him, his hands firm on his back and shoulders.
Mentally shrugging--who was he to turn down an embrace?--Harry slid his arms around Severus' waist, his eyes never leaving his face.
Cerise murmured, "There now. Ah, yes, that's exquisite." When she saw her old friend draw breath, she whispered to herself, "Severus, tell me he's the one I've hoped for you all these years. Look at him--tell him--"
"I love you," Severus breathed, the words carried more on the air, than any real sound. They gently brushed Harry's cheek as he mouthed 'I love you, too'. Severus loosed his hold and ran his hands down Harry's face, the wonder still fresh.
Cerise leaned forward in the painting and whispered, "Kiss him, Severus. Show me your sweet passion once more."
Severus folded Harry in his arms, bringing him close for a serious kiss. Harry kissed him back, returning to him the feelings of comfort and love washing over him.
Severus dimly surfaced when he heard her sigh. "So beautiful." And some time later, when they ended the kiss, her frame--and the glass--were empty.
**** TBC ****