Title: Just Another Day
Author: Many wonderful writers from the HPRoundRobinLivejournal, each chapter may be someone different from the one before
Rated: R for Male/Male relationships and MPREG.
Summary: AriaFic's Challenge: It's Christmas Eve and Severus is about to receive three unwanted visitors. Will he change or lose what means the most to him?
Pairing: SS/HP
Spoilers: None that I know of .
Disclaimer: Not mine. No money made. These characters belong to JK Rowling
Feedback: Always welcome.
Prologue
by Magdelena
Severus took one last look around the sparkling clean, perfectly organized laboratory and extinguished the candles with a muttered spell. He closed and warded the door behind him, and trudged wearily down the hallway towards his personal rooms.
As he thought back over the events of earlier that day, he had absolutely no regrets about his actions. And why should he? After all, today was just another day. How dare that idiotic Potter act like such a child and demand the time off, when there were a wealth of supplies to catalogue, papers to mark, and potions to brew? Severus routinely worked through the entire holiday in order to keep on task.
Instead, the wretched young man, who Albus had forced him upon Severus as an apprentice after his graduation, claiming a need to keep the young man safe from Voldemort's clutches, had insisted on celebrating Christmas Eve with the Weasley family. Normally, Severus would not have taken such a request so personally, but as the whelp had managed somehow to charm his way into Severus' bed only a month after his return, Severus had become increasingly angry since the moment Harry had left earlier that day.
Severus seethed as he unwarded the door to his chambers and after shedding his outer robes moved immediately to his liquor cabinet. Weren't apprentices, not to mention lovers, supposed to help one's work be lighter?
Severus snorted in amusement as he poured himself a tall glass of fire whiskey. Even his precious Godson, Draco Malfoy, had tried to get him into the "Christmas spirit" by presenting him with a gift. He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew the offending garment. A hand-knitted shawl made by Draco's fiancée. How utterly revolting!
Severus drank down the burning liquid and refilled his glass. And to make matters worse, even Draco would be partaking of the Weasley celebration since he had become betrothed to the youngest Weasley child. Severus shuddered at the thought of yet another generation of the brats infesting his precious laboratory.
He sat in his favorite chair and stared into the fire, recalling the events from earlier that day...
"But, Severus," Harry whined, "it's Christmas Eve, and I still have presents to purchase and I'm supposed to be at the Burrow in a few short hours. We've been working non-stop since the children went home for the holidays. Please, can't we just take a break today and tomorrow?"
Severus cringed at Harry's tone. "Of all the selfish..." Severus began.
"Selfish? I'm selfish? I want you to come with me. I don't understand why you won't. I don't ask much of you. You don't even have to admit we're together, or act like you even enjoy being around me." Harry snorted derisively. "Not that you act as if you can stand my presence even when we're alone most often either."
Severus bristled at the perceived insult and Harry was quick to amend his statement. "Look, I know it's just your way and I've accepted that. With difficulty, but I have. I knew who you were and what you could offer me long before this relationship began and whether you choose to believe it or not, I do love you; which is one of the reasons why I so desperately want to be with you for Christmas."
"If that is what you desire, then you should stay here and work with me," Severus rejoined icily.
Harry shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Severus. Christmas is a time to celebrate with friends and family. I won't rob myself of that, not even for you."
Then, without another word passing between them, Harry placed a soft kiss on Severus' stony cheek and left for their quarters to pack for his overnight trip to the Burrow.
Severus had passed the rest of the day silently completing his tasks, having no interruptions, as he was the only one sans the ghosts and owls who were present at the castle on this frigid winter's night.
He drained his second glass of whiskey, and then resignedly dragged himself to bed. Not that he had truly expected the brat to have the courtesy to firecall before he had retired for the evening, but there hadn't been a peep from Harry since he had left earlier that day.
Severus stripped out of his clothes and donned his nightshirt, slipping between the sheets. As he slowly drifted off to sleep, he didn't even notice as his hand gently caressed the spot in the bed that Harry had inhabited for the last several months. Nor did he notice the translucent apparition who materialized at the end of his bed.
Lucius Malfoy's long, white hair, elegant features and pristine clothing, which had been such a testament to his lot in life, now appeared worn and haggard as they hung limply on the gaunt, ghostly frame. The specter smirked, unsheathed his wand from its hiding place in his cane and pointed it towards the slumbering Potions Master. "Oh, I am so going to enjoy this."