Chapter Six

Oddly Satisfying

The boy felt a queer sense of sorrow while the man was silent. Then he laughed lightly.

"I can't just leave after what happened last night. If this were my place, I would ask you to stay as long as you can."

The man didn't reply, the boy felt discouraged by his effort going to waste.

"Well if you intend on being quiet, then go back to what you were doing. I won't bother you until I feel I need to."

The man's grip on the boy's hands slightly tightened then loosened. He walked out of the bedroom to his piano and started playing. Harry followed. After awhile, Severus looked up at the boy.

"I'm going to go out. Would you join me?"

Harry smiled at Severus as he got to his feet. "I'm going to get dressed then."

The two left the building promptly and started down the streets. As they walked, Harry tugged on the man's hand to hold it. Severus was reluctant, as he felt embarassed in public. He knew people would judge because they were ignorant. Harry tugged gently again. The man felt a little helpless.

"Harry, I don't know... people might say things."

"Please, if they would say anything, then they don't really know any better. We're not in the stone age anymore... besides, if they did, they'd regret it."

The boy took the man's hand and held it high. He had a triumphant look on his face. The man made an unapproving sigh and laughed. Then they kept on walking.

As the two passed by a row of newly constructed apartments, they came across a slightly obese lady walking a poodle. Her nails were painted bright pink, and her eye makeup was blue and thick. Her eyes moved to their linked hands as an offended and pitiful look grew on her face.

"People these days, such evil sins..."

Then a sickening smile formed on her foundation plastered face. "My friends, do you need any type of psychological help? Has anything happened in your lives that made you turn this morally corrupt? Don't worry dears, I can help."

"Really, can you help?" Harry smiled at the woman, his eyes seemed to lighten up with mischief. The woman nodded.

"Now just let go of each other, it's a disgrace to be in the same presense with such a shameful act!" She whispered her words threateningly. Her poodle panted and wagged his tail as he looked at the two strangers.

"Well, I have to say, I absolutely agree with you. What is your name?" Harry spoke as he let go of the man's hand. Severus looked puzzled and somewhat hurt as he saw the boy approach the woman.

"I am Dolores Umbridge." She looked pleased and the fake smile grew on her face again.

"Okay Ms. Umbridge, that is just wonderful. I have something to show you." Harry walked in front of Severus and pulled him in for a long and deep kiss. Harry's heel lifted slightly as he moaned. The joke was immediately understood by the man as he also played along. After they stopped kissing, Severus gagged at the woman and stuck his tongue out. Umbridge looked at them with pure rage and disgust.

"How dare you! You people repulse me, and I hope you burn in hell!" She sped on down the sidewalk as her poodle looked back at the two. Harry waved goodbye and the poodle wagged his tail. The two looked at her until she was out of sight.

"That was oddly satisfying..." Severus said as he wiped his chin.

"Severus, I didn't know you could be that fun!"

"Please, I didn't know that either," the man muttered. "Plus, she was an outright bitch."

The boy laughed. The man looked at him with a light smirk on his face.

"Harry, I was thinking, perhaps we should hold hands more often."

"I thoroughly agree."

The two spent the rest of their day with no further disturbances. After leisurely browsing through bookshops and having coffee and tea in a small cafe, they walked back to the apartment hand in hand.