First off, thank you all for your interest in this story. It makes me happy that I'm not the only one who's in love with this story line, lol
I don't have much else to say...except that this chapter will have the scene in which it required me to make this R...again, before you get too excited, it's not that terribly graphic, but it's there
Severus acts a little OOC in this chapter, but you must take into account that, in my story, he has not had any of his Death Eater experiences yet and is still a relatively loose person because of it...his older self is in a struggle because Harry's tearing down his walls again...sorry if this aggravates you, but this Snape suits the story best
And now, because I'm lacking on anything else to say, here's the next chapter!
...
"So he's gone now?" Dumbledore asked
"Yes. He is back there, and we are up here," Severus sat down in the chair heavily
"All we do is wait, right?"
"Yes...I think so, at least"
"You look shocked, Severus. That confuses me, because it's not as if you didn't know it would happen"
"I know. I knew it was going to happen, but I didn't know which potion it was that was going to do it. It's almost as if my memory erased that detail and how he got back from my memory as soon as he was gone. Plus, that man can make anything explode...and does...I couldn't risk not trying to help him because that could've not been the infamous one," He explained, looking at the ground
"Very true, my boy. You did the right thing in attempting to save him"
"What are we supposed to do?" Severus asked, looking far too sad. He was worried, though. I mean, what if things don't go the same this time? There'd only be one way to know, and that was to wait it out
"Maybe we should attempt things to bring him back, since you're not sure exactly what made Harry come back last time"
"Right," Severus said, a look of great concentration on his face, "I'll see what I can do"
"Severus," Albus said sternly, bringing his employees eyes back to him, "He'll come back"
"Of course he'll come back," Severus said, trying to be strong when he felt anything but, "We know he gets back"
"But as of right now we don't know how," Dumbledore stated, having to get it out on the playing field
"We will find a way. We have to," Severus' mask was slipping, but he didn't particularly care since only the Headmaster could see, and he already knew how much this was hurting him, "He has to come back," Severus choked out, looking at his entwined hands in his lap
"My boy, I haven't seen you quite this out of your element since..."
"Since he left me the last time," Severus finished then sighed, "I know. I thought I might've been able to get over him before this happened, but..."
"I know, Severus, I know," Dumbledore soothed
---
"You know what would look really good on you?" The words came out slightly slurred due to the Butter Beer, a common drink for the past six days that Harry'd been there
"What's that?" Harry asked with a smile on his face as he leaned forward minutely in his chair before the fire place in the Slytherin Common Room
Severus got up from his chair and, only shaking a tiny bit, moved the short distance to Harry's seat
Once he reached his destination, he bent down so he was kneeling in front of he other boy and slowly reached out with his right hand. The movement and situation was so new that Harry didn't know what to expect the other boy to do, so he just sat there and waited
As Severus was continuing the movement of his hand, he was sure to look Harry in the eye, though the latter was finding it increasingly difficult to return the favor
Once the long hand met with the object it had been seeking, one slender finger ran down the sensitive shell of the others left ear
"An earring," Severus whispered, "Right there," he gestured exactly where with his fingers, his eyes straying to the spot
Harry shuddered at the feeling of the fingers, followed by the voice. Mix those with the close proximity and no one can blame him for his next move
He kissed him. Harry Potter kissed Severus Snape, his future professor, gently on the lips
Severus was a tad surprised at the move, but not disappointed. The two kissed for a while, getting tongues involved as they battled in Harry's mouth
When it ended, Severus said, slightly breathless and with a smile, "I was wondering when you'd get around to that"
"Well if I'd known it would go over so well, I would've done it days ago"
"I could tell. That's why I gave you some encouragement," Severus smirked, not his usual snarky one, but a playful one
"Cheeky bastard," Harry smiled fondly before putting his hand on the back of the others neck and pulling him into another kiss
The kisses were adding to their slight alcoholic haze, so they decided to move things up to their room...just incase they were unable to later on
The two got ready to go to sleep and then hesitated getting into their own beds
"Harry?" Severus asked, suddenly losing confidence. It touched Harry to see that Severus Snape could feel...and felt for him, of all people
"Yes, Severus?" Harry turned from pulling his blankets down before getting in
"Will you lay with me tonight?" Severus was nervous now, not sure how it'd go over, "We don't have to do anything, I just..." he couldn't finish the sentence
"You just want to cuddle," Harry accused, smiling lovingly, 'Who would've thought Snape was a cuddler?'
The other boy sputtered a bit, "I just don't want to rush things," he said, looking at the ground
Harry's smile was so tender that it was bordering on sickening now. He crossed over to the pale boy, wrapped him in his arms from behind and softly kissed the back of his neck
"I understand," he whispered in the others ear, "of course I'll cuddle with you"
The pair climbed into the bed - Severus on his back and Harry laying his head on the others chest. They kissed languidly for a while, both becoming steadily more aroused, as to be expected with teenage boys
Severus slowly moved his roaming hands to the waist of Harry's boxers, moving his hand inside after meeting no resistance
Harry gasped and then moaned, arching forward into the caress. Once he regained a sense of right and wrong, he began to return the favor
As hard as the two tried, their ends were fast, though they wanted to cherish the feeling
"Wow," Severus said after muttering a cleaning charm and they were settled again
"Very wow"
"Good wow?"
"Oh yes. Definitely," Harry smiled, snuggling closer
"I'm glad you liked it"
"I hope you liked yours, as well"
"Quite a lot, actually"
There was silence for a while, and as they were drifting off to sleep, Severus asked, "Harry?"
"Mmm?"
"Are you gonna get that earring?"
"Do you really want me to?"
"Yes, I would enjoy it. If you don't want it, though, you don't have to"
"Tomorrow, Severus. And only if you do it to me"
"I think I can manage that," Severus smiled
"Then it's settled. Goodnight, Severus"
"Goodnight, Harry"
"I love you"
A short silence followed the admission and Harry regretted saying it in the first place
"I love you, too," Severus admitted, sounding and feeling a little helpless at being so vulnerable, but happy that his feelings were returned
The two slept then, smiles on their faces as they held each other closer then they'd ever held anyone else. There was nothing more to say
---
"You have to eat, Severus"
"Dammit, Albus! He's been gone for nine days and all you can tell me is that I need to eat?! It's almost time for his return home, and I'm worried that it is on our side that he gets back and I still don't know what to do"
"He would hate that you aren't taking care of yourself. You know he'll yell at you once he finds out"
"Of course, but what he doesn't know can't hurt him"
"No, but it can hurt you," Dumbledore looked at him sternly, "You have to come eat dinner now, at least"
Severus hid his face in his hands, leaning forward on the book on his lap that he had been reading earlier in search of answers
"You're right, Albus," Severus sighed, "You're always right"
The pair made their way to the Great Hall. By the time they walked in, most of the students had shown up and were eating their dinners. Everyone was both relieved and curious to see their Potions Master at a meal again, due to the fact that he'd been taking his meals in his rooms for the past few days...or so he pretended. The man looked like death warmed over...twice...then nuked
A little ways into the meal, Hermione and Ron made their way to the staff table, right in front of Snape
"Good evening, sir," Hermione said
"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley," Snape nodded in turn, looking up from his meal unenthusiastically
"Professor Dumbledore told us that you're working on finding a way to get Harry back"
"Yes, that's right"
"We were wondering how close you were to finding a solution"
I fear that I am not very close at all," Severus sighed, "I am sorry, but trust me; I'm doing everything within my power to bring our savior back"
"Do you at least know where he is?" Ron spoke up for the first time
Severus looked over to the Headmaster questioningly, asking permission to tell them. The old wizard simply nodded his head, so Severus turned his gaze on his students once more
"He has been transported backwards in time. I fear that that is all I can tell you"
At the news, Ron looked scared and Hermione looked pensive. Seeing this development on the girls face, Severus spoke up once more, "Do you have any suggestions, Miss Granger?" he asked hopefully
"I think I might, sir. Couldn't you simply try to recreate his messed up potion, adding in some asphodel?"
Severus ran the idea through his mind, "That actually might have merit. I am impressed"
Hermione was shocked at the compliment and her eyes grew wide, "Thank you, Professor," she beamed
"Of course," he nodded curtly to her, "Now if you'll excuse me," he pushed his chair back, "I have some more theories to test out"
"Of course. Good luck, sir," Hermione said, stepping back
"Snape," Ron stated firmly, stopping the man from leaving, "I don't trust you, sir. That's not a hidden fact and you've given me reason for that feeling. But I beg you, Professor: bring him back...from wherever it is that he is"
Severus took a moment or two to study the youngest Weasley boy and the lone Granger, then said, "Maybe it will ease your worried heads to know that he is being taken care of?" Receiving nods from the pair, he continued on, "Well he is, and that person would rather die then let anything happen to him"
"You seem to know an awful lot about it," Ron accused
"Of course I do, Mr. Weasley. Is your memory so short that you have already forgotten that I've been researching this for, oh, the past nine days?" Severus was quickly losing his patients with the boy and wanted to get back to his lab to continue work on the cure. He was pleased to see the blush rise onto Ron's cheeks at the comment, 'Serves him right, the little bugger,' Severus thought, 'Approach me about knowledge, will you? I scoff at the idea he thinks he can catch me in some area that I wish not to be caught in'
"Sorry, sir. We'll let you get back to your research now," Hermione said, dragging Ron back to the Gryffindor table
Severus purposefully strode out of the Great Hall, glaring as he went
When he reached his rooms, he got all the necessary ingredients out and set to work. It was going to be a loooong night
...
So that's the next chapter. Thank you for all the reviews! I love them dearly!
I'm sorry for the longer wait...my internet has been screwy lately and I haven't had a connection at all for the past two days...so I'm sorry!
Kears- WOAH THERE! Are you aware that that one review alone is 208k? lolol. It made me laugh, though. Thanks! I hope this was ok...
HecateDeMort- Thank you!
Katie Lupin Black- I'm glad you liked that alcohol part and that the piece got you away from homework...I think...lol. Thanks for the correction on my math, though I think I'm just gonna leave it as is because it's not terribly important to the plot...all you need to know is he's 20 years in the past, right? Right. Thanks for following me still!
Suzuki-chan- Woo! Reviewer for the whole thing! Saying that you stick to that ::eyes warily:: I hope you liked this chapter...bah! I think I've read this story too many times and I think it's crap now, so I'm scared
Hyouden- Yay! I'm not the only fan of this plot! I'll finish it, I promise...not sure if the ending's good or not, but it's there, lol. Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad you're hooked. Here's to hoping you stay hooked. Cheers ::drains glass::
Phoenix 5- Yay for helping people learn english! And yay for having non-english speaking people understand your story! You make me smile :)
Slrmn82- Thank you! And again, sorry for the longerish update time. I hope this sits well with you
Jessica- Thank you very much! It's appreciated
Lenora- Thanks for your help on the dates and times and all that. However, as I told Katie up there ::points 6 people up::, I'm just going to leave it as it is because it still gets my point across...the information was greatly appreciated, though, so really, thank you very much!