Pairings in this chapter: Meantions of NCS (Vernon/Harry)
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not getting money. I wish. Ryliatin and the Verifel are mine. Hayaka Minokura is mine.
Chapter 19 : Are The Best I've Ever Had
After Hayaka left for the afternoon, Harry wandered. He wasn't sure why or even how he got there, but once he was brought back to full consciousness, he was standing in Draco's garden. It was easy to see which plot he had claimed as his own. It had a meticulous air and there was no sighed of greenery not meant to be there. Harry wondered idly if the other boy had planted it in the beginning of the summer, for he doubted Snape was much for white or vivid green roses. Harry hadn't known that roses could be green… He reached out and touched one of them, pleased at the soft texture.
Sitting down in the ring of roses, Harry let himself simply…be. His emotions fell to the way side as he basked in the glow of not having to do anything. Of course, this basking quickly turned to boredom and THEN bad thoughts. After all, he wouldn't be bored if he were dead, now would he? Just as he was idly wondering if a rose thorn was sharp enough to slit his wrists with, he heard steps behind him. Harry glanced over his shoulder, black hair falling across his face at the angle.
"Hey Harry…"
Ron's voice sounded as nervous as he looked. The black haired boy sighed softly and righted himself.
"Hello Ron," he answered quietly. A few silent moment later, the other boy sat down behind him, their backs nearly touching. Neither knew what to say to one another. Each was too changed from before, had grown too much to know each other anymore.
"Hayaka said your memory was back completely," started Ron finally. Harry nodded.
"It is. Sorry about how stupid I was."
"You weren't stupid, just confused."
They were silent again for a long while. Then, in tandem, both turned about to say something, only to stop and stare at one another. Ron swallowed thickly at the pair of intense emerald eyes currently locked onto his own. Harry had always had a stunning stare, but this time it was like looking into the eyes of a wild animal. So strong…so vicious… Predictably, Ron was the first to look away. Harry continued his stare, taking in the whole picture.
"Ron?" he asked finally, voice cautious. "You don't…want anything from me…do you?"
"Want anything from you?" The redhead blinked in confusion. Harry turned around to face him and Ron slowly did likewise.
"I mean…like…" The boy frowned, brows furrowed as he tried to explain. "Anything…other than friendship…"
"Why would I?" Ron asked, raising one thick red brow. Harry sighed in relief.
"Thanks," he said softly. "At least that hasn't changed…"
"Did something happen?" Now that his confusion wasn't the driving force, Ron's protective streak was piqued. "Harry, did someone-"
"Eh…Malfoy came onto me…while I was out of it," was the quiet reply. Ron saw red.
"I'll kill him."
Harry laughed. "No, don't bother. I'll do it myself if he touches me again…"
The redhead noticed a sudden tiredness enter Harry's voice a split second before the other boy fell over onto him. Ron blinked in surprise and gently tapped the black haired wizard's shoulder. Harry's head lay against his chest, one hand limply in his lap and the other reaching up to clutch onto his shirt.
"Ron, don't leave me alone with him," whispered Harry softly.
"Malfoy? Of course not. That bastard won't get within ten feet of you!"
The sad, dulled emerald eyes closed as Harry relaxed against his best friend.
"Thanks…You're the only one I trust now…I don't want you to go back to the Burrow tomorrow…"
"Tomorrow…" Ron sighed and draped his arms around the other. "I don't want to go either. Maybe you can come with me? I mean-"
"No," murmured Harry. "I can't…there're…too many people…"
Ron nodded his understanding. His large, almost gangly hands rubbed Harry's back soothingly as the other boy shifted to lay his head in the redhead's lap. He felt achingly tired, a probably side effect from having bared himself raw to Hayaka, then proceeded to turn many of his preconceptions of Snape around.
Snape was a bastard. Hayaka didn't dispute that. The doctor had been a 'friend' of Snape's at Hogwarts…More like a nuisance though, Hayaka had said jokingly, but there seemed to be a good grain of truth to it. Apparently, the doctor had been quite adamant that Snape be a more…social part of the school community. The poor Potions Master had been dragged to every event Hayaka got invited to, which led to massive rumors of the two's involvement. The silver haired man assured Harry that there had been absolutely no truth to them.
Harry was told many stories from the two's past. Hayaka had a way with making each tale seem more real in the boy's mind. Harry had laughed at Snape's bumbling, was awed by his prowess, and was surprised to find that even Lily Evans, his wonderful mother, had had a fling with the man. Hayaka explained that it had been viciously cut off in the middle of fifth year but he didn't know why, only that both parties had little to do with each other after.
Hayaka was very adamant in his opinion that Snape was not an unfeeling person, callous as he seemed. He urged Harry to try to get to know him, to see the Potions Master for what he really was. The green eyed boy was not at all sure about it but Hayaka made him promise to at least make an attempt.
Opening his eyes again, Harry slipped back into the present. Somewhere along his thoughts, Ron had begun to gently pet his hair, his long fingers brushing through the strands and making him feel like jelly. If Harry had been a cat, he would have purred. It was the most comfortable he'd been in months. Ron seemed to be so conscious of his need for affection…without other cause. Harry could trust Ron with anything and the redhead wouldn't hurt him.
"Feel better?" murmured Ron. Harry curled closer to the other boy.
"Yes, thank you," he said sleepily. It was barely dusk and still, he felt so tired…
"I'll ask Mum if I can stay until school starts, if you like…"
"I would… Thank you."
It was completely dark before the two left the peaceful garden.
Ron felt very, very foolish. Well, anyone would feel foolish if they'd been standing outside someone's door for an hour without knocking! His nervousness was well founded, of course. Snape lay beyond that door. Swallowing thickly, Ron finally rapped his knuckles on the wood.
"Come in," muttered a stern voice from inside. Ron slowly pushed the door open and stepped in, wishing he were as small as a mouse and could scurry away.
"What is it, Weasley?" Snape growled, setting inky eyes on the boy. His hands were clasped in front of his face, elbows sitting on the desk. It gave him the look of a man determined to do things his own way and anyone that got in his way were damned.
"I was…I mean…Well, you see…" Ron stopped and tried to recover himself. Well, truly, he just spit the words out as fast as he could "Can I stay until school?"
Snape stared at him and Ron simply knew he was going to be denied. The teacher was silent for long moments. Ron let his gaze drop to the ground. He had failed Harry…
"Tell your mother," muttered Snape finally before turning back to his work. "And get out of here."
"Thank you sir!" Ron piped and then dashed away. Snape glanced after him, a brow raised.
"They're true friends," said a softer voice. The Potions Master glanced over at the corner to the man standing in the shadows.
"Why are you still here, Lupin?"
"We're friends too, aren't we?" the hazel eyed man asked cheerfully, leaving the haven and coming to sit on the edge of the desk.
"Bah," muttered Snape. Remus watched him carefully, noting the scent change. Snape's scent always seemed to change when he knew Remus was around. A smirk fit itself onto the wolf's lips. This visit had confirmed it. In silence, Remus grabbed the handful of papers on Snape's desk and dropped them unceremoniously onto the floor.
"Lupin! What the hell are you doing?!" Snape cried. "Those are important and-"
Remus reached over and took Snape's chin in his hand.
"Severus," said the wolf in a low voice, "Shut. Up."
Then he kissed him. It was none of the spark creating, hormone crazing kisses both had experienced in their youth. It was a kiss and nothing more. They weren't teenagers anymore.
Never the less, Snape couldn't move for the first few seconds. That is, until Remus's questing tongue tried for admittance. Snape's mind screamed to pull away, to not allow this touching show of emotion, but his body refused to listen. Instead, he allowed the entrance and slung an arm about to wolf's neck, fingers digging into his hair. Pouting, Snape's inner voice went off as the other, more lustful personas took over. Both Potions Master and Wolf were quite happy with the outcome.
A/N: Ron/Harry fluff. Did you enjoy that like I did? It gave me the warm fuzzies...I think the Snape/Lupin scene was rushed but oh well...
Next chapter! The trial! Eeewww.....And Harry gets a snake. Yay!