Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I repeat, I do NOT own HP. But, of course, you lot know this, right? If not, whack yourself repeatedly in the head with a blunt object until you do.

Serpens Erus Temptatio

"Serpent Lord's Temptation"

Chapter 3 – What I've Done

Three semi-solid Patronus'. Two students sent to the Hospital Wing. And a headache to round out the day.

Bloody peachy.

Harry grumbled something under his breath as he rummaged through his cabinets, not noticing when the door to his office creaked open. He heard the clicking of boot heels and turned, palm out towards the intruder. Fire leapt to his fingertips at his call and he mentally formed it into a ball that hovered above his palm.

Then he saw who it was and narrowed his eyes at them, dispelling the fire and turning back to his search.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people."

"And you shouldn't go around attempting to throw fireballs at people," quipped Severus in response. "How did the first day go?"

"Wonderfully. Three fifth years managed fair Patronus' and two seventh years managed to get themselves into the Hospital Wing for the day. And I have a headache."

"I have a potion for that."

"I know you do," said Harry, shoving a bottle out of his way. "But I'm not looking for a potion."

Severus arched an eyebrow and asked, "Well, what are you looking for?"

"This," said Harry, grabbing a dusty bottle at the back of the cabinet and pulling it out. He brushed dust off of it and grinned at the other wizard. "Firewhiskey."

"Harry, this is no time to be getting drunk.

"How about a game of chess?"

Severus looked from the bottle of Firewhiskey to the dark-haired wizard and back again. He then sighed and said, "Why not?"

"Very good. C'mon, I've got a chessboard in my room."

"What about the shot glasses?"

"Got those too."

"Sometimes I think you are obsessed with that game," remarked Severus as the two of them left the office and headed towards Harry's rooms. "Or perhaps just Firewhiskey."

"And vodka and brandy and rum."

"Rum?" asked Severus

"Rum," agreed Harry, tapping his fingers out in a specific rhythm on his door. He then pushed it open and went inside, motioning Severus in after him. As he shut the door behind them, he asked, "So, what brings you back here? I thought you weren't going to teach Potions again."

"I'm not. I came to ask you how Tris was doing."

"Fine, fine. Did he send you and Mione an owl about what House he got in?"

"No," growled Severus. "Little imp. What was it?"

"Slytherin."

"Of course…" He grinned wryly at the other wizard – who was pulling shot glasses out of a drawer and setting them up on an empty chessboard – and said, "I hear tell that you're the new Head of Slytherin."

"Who told you that?"

"Minerva."

"Is it that surprising?"

"The Golden Boy of Gryffindor Head of Slytherin House? Harry, where have you been?"

"Sev, I haven't been the Golden Boy of Gryffindor since everyone found out I was the Heir of Slytherin," admonished Harry.

"Not true," said Severus, waggling a finger. "But anyway…where's that bottle?"

"Right here."

"Good. Pour it out."

"We'll just hope McGonagall nor anyone else comes calling," said Harry as he poured the Firewhiskey into the shot glasses.

"By the time anyone comes by, we'll be out cold."

"With the chess game finished by then."

"Don't be so sure about that one. I suppose I'm these blue-tinted one's?"

"They're on your side aren't they?" asked Harry.

"Yes," replied Severus.

"So there."

"Braggart."

"Arse. You go first."

"Hmphf," said Severus and pushed one of the shot glasses forward.

Three hours, six games, seven bottles of Firewhiskey, and two bottles of rum later.

"Gah," said Severus, slumping on the table and overturning one of the shot glasses. "Whoops…"

"Now y've done i'," mumbled Harry. "'At's goo' rum…"

"Gone now," chirped Severus. "'Nother game?"

"Nah. Too drun'."

"Same 'ere."

Both men frowned at each other for a moment before they both turned nearly identical glares on the door. Someone was knocking and doing so rather incessantly.

"'Oo tha'?" wondered Severus aloud as Harry staggered to his feet. "Where y' goin'?"

"Ter answer tha door," mumbled Harry, staggering across the room. He went too far and slammed into the door, staggering backwards. Grunting, he lunged feebly at the doorknob and managed to keep a hold on it long enough to mutter the charm that unlocked the door. Then he just staggered backwards, falling into an easy chair. Severus started to laugh at him then clutched at his head, moaning.

"Oh, Merlin, I 'ate Firewhiskey…"

"Firewhiskey?" exclaimed McGonagall as she entered, looking from one wizard to the other. She then saw the chessboard and the shot glasses and sighed. "That game again? You two should know better."

"I though' we'd be n'conscious by now," mumbled Harry.

"With how many times you two have played this game, I'm not surprised you haven't become impervious to the effects of all types of alcohol."

"T'anks," slurred Severus, glaring mildly at her.

"Shut up, Severus. Harry, where do you keep your Sobriety Potions?"

Harry lifted an arm feebly and pointed towards a cupboard. McGonagall marched over to it and threw both doors open, grabbing one of the flasks labeled in Harry's hasty scrawl. She poured some of it into two shot glasses then moved to hand one to each young man. Harry scowled at his and she gave him a hard look.

"Drink it or I'll force it down your throat."

Harry sneered at her – or he tried to – and downed the potion, gagging as it traveled down his throat. "Gods!" he croaked. "That stuff never gets better." The moment the potion touched his throat, his mind had begun to clear. Now he was completely free of his drunken stupor and slightly perturbed. Judging from the look on Severus' face, he felt the same way.

"Now that was the ruination of a perfectly good sloshing," complained Severus. "Minerva, what could be so urgent that you need to interrupt?"

"Your wife calling me on the Floo," replied McGonagall darkly, which caused Severus to pale. She smirked and added, "Yes, I thought you'd find that fact interesting. She tried to reach Harry but it seems that he has blocked his." She glared at the other wizard here.

Harry sneered at her and said, "I cut off my Floo for a very good reason."

"And why is that?"

"Reporter's continually trying to talk to me. Limey buggers."

"Well," said McGonagall," now that we have that covered…Severus, I believe you should be returning home and, Harry…"

"Aye, Captain Ma'am Sir?"

The older witch frowned at him and growled, "Get some sleep!" With that she turned and stormed out, leaving the two men to snicker.

"Still the same old Minerva," mused Severus. He then stretched and added, "I suppose I should get back home. No doubt Mione's going to rake me over from arse to ears for this."

"Especially when she finds out you've been drinking rum," said Harry with a wry grin.

"Not to mention Firewhiskey."

"That too. I wish you luck."

Severus smiled and said, "Thanks. I'm definitely going to need it. She's as moody as…well, Moody, as of late."

"That's what you get living with a pregnant woman. And Moody wasn't moody, he was paranoid."

"Thank you, Sir Obvious."

"Ever so welcome, Lord Dumbass."

Severus snorted and started for the still open door. "Goodnight, Harry."

"Night, Sev. I'll keep an eye on Tris for you and Herms."

"I hope you do," said Severus with a chuckle, one hand on the doorknob. "Why else do you think we made you his godfather?"

"Highest choice on a very short list?"

"Ha ha. And don't drink anymore of that foul stuff tonight."

Harry nearly choked on his laughter.

"You're calling rum foul and you drink Firewhiskey? C'mon, Sev, Firewhiskey's far worse than rum can ever be."

"Just don't drink anymore of it, alright? If Minerva has to get you up in the morning, she will not be happy."

"Speaking from experience?" asked Harry with a wry smile.

Severus rolled his eyes and said, "Oh, shut up and go to sleep, man!"

Harry laughed at that and said, "See you, Sev."

"Same to you, Harry," said Severus, closing the door. Harry stood there until the sound of the other man's footsteps vanished. Then he muttered the charms that locked his door and turned to walk into his bedroom.

There he flopped down face-first onto his four-poster bed, not bothering to change out of his alcohol scented clothes or pull the blankets on top of him. He just lay there, cheek pressed against his pillow. His eyes stared across the room to a picture on the wall. From it Ginny, Severus, Hermione, and he himself all waved and grinned. It had been taken by Colin Creevey just before the battle that had taken Ginny's life…and his soul.

Heaving a sigh, Harry rolled over onto his back, absently jerking one of the blankets over himself. He waved a hand at the lights, which went out, leaving him in darkness.

Just the way he liked it.

"Mrow?"

"Hey, Dusa," mumbled Harry as the cat leaped up on his chest, purring loudly. She tickled his nose with her long tail before he playfully wrestled her onto her back, leaving her to gnaw at his fingers. Her back legs pawed at his wrists as her huge almond eyes blinked at him in the dark. Like his own, they practically glowed with a light of their own.

"How about some sleep, girl? Eh? You tired?"

"Mrow," came the reply and the cat yawned. Harry just chuckled and tickled the soft fur on her belly.

"Me too." He yawned and stretched out, kicking off his boots. Cuddling the purring cat close, he buried his nose in her soft fur and heaved a sigh as he closed his eyes.

He just wished it was Ginny beside him along with Medusa.