Walking in His Shoes
Chapter 2

Taran Swann

Harry, in Severus' body, groaned and sat up. His entire body ached. He felt a thousand years old. He stretched out his stiff neck and looked over at 'himself'. Severus had a very puzzled look on his face as he sat up.

"What's wrong with you?" Harry's eyes went wide and he slapped a hand over his mouth. "Oh, my God! I even sound like you!"

Severus gave him an incredulous look. "Well, of course you do, you imbecile! You're using MY vocal cords!"

Harry sneered at him, then laughed at the mental picture. Severus sneering at Harry, how typical. He stopped laughing at how not-typical the sound was. He suddenly realized he had never heard Severus laugh. He started to stand up and discovered his legs didn't work nearly as well as they used to. He really hadn't thought about Severus as being old, but the man's body sure felt ancient.

He finally made it to his feet and found Severus looking at him with amusement. "Something funny, Mr. Potter?" he said in a perfect imitation of the man who's shoes he was standing in.

"Feeling old, SIR?" Severus replied with a barely controlled snicker.

Harry took a moment to digest the sound. It was very strange to hear his own voice through someone else's ears. It dawned on him that it was just as strange to hear Severus giggling no matter whose voice he used.

"Well, gentlemen, I'll let you get acquainted. Good day." Albus left amid protests from both men, smiling brightly as he closed the door behind him. He rolled his eyes and shook his head behind the door. It was going to be a very long week.

Severus snarled and sat heavily at his desk. He crossed his arms over his chest with a huff. Harry had to stifle a laugh at the image of his potions professor throwing a temper tantrum. Harry stepped in front of him and crossed his own arms over his chest. He cleared his throat loudly and looked down at Severus expectantly.

"What?" Severus asked with great irritation. He had a headache starting and just wanted to go for a nap. He felt like he hadn't gotten any sleep the night before and wasn't sure if that was from Harry's body, or from his own restless sleep.

"You're sitting at MY desk!" Harry said hotly, an mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Oh, piss off!"

Harry's jaw dropped. "How dare you speak to me like that! Ten points from… Oh!"

Severus snickered at Harry's problem. If Harry took points from him, that meant taking points from his own house.

Harry glared daggers at him. "Ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek, MR. POTTER!"

Severus just shrugged and continued to snicker. He leaned back as Harry leaned in close. Their noses were almost touching and Severus actually felt slightly intimidated at seeing his own dark eyes flashing dangerously at him.

"Listen up, Pro- Sna- Pot- err! Just listen! If you don't start cooperating right now, I'll go to Dumbledore and tell him! And then I'll go into the Great Hall, as YOU, and do anything and everything I can to embarrass the hell out of you! GET OUT OF MY CHAIR!!"

"Well, you only had to ask!" Severus said as he nonchalantly moved past Harry and sat in a chair in front of the heavy oak desk.

Harry sat down and started rubbing his aching forehead. He felt more exhausted than he could ever remember being before. He glared at Severus, who was glaring back.

"So, what did Dumbledore mean about us 'getting acquainted'?"

Severus rolled his eyes and sighed melodramatically. "As the you're friends would say, 'DUH!' So that we can fit in as each other, you nitwit!"

Harry's eyes steamed. "You had better stop talking to me like that! If you do it in front of anyone, they'll become very suspicious, very fast!"

"As though YOU don't already talk to me like that?" Severus asked incredulously.

"I would NEVER talk to you like that! Hell, I don't even talk ABOUT you like that!"

"Oh, please! I've heard how all the students talk about me! The greasy, git Potions teacher. The Death Eater who should have already died at the Dark Lord's hands!" Severus leaped out of his hair and, turning his back on Harry, wrapped his arms around his waist in a protective posture.

Harry just stared at him speechless. He tried to talk several times as he watched Severus', his own, shoulders heave. He had no idea what to say.

"I have never wished you dead, Professor," Harry said softly.

Severus turned just enough to look at him through the corner of his eye. His shoulders relaxed as he saw the sincerity on Harry's face. He took a deep breath and returned to his seat.

"Let's just get this over with. Tell me about your friends and I'll tell you what you need to know to 'be me'," Severus said, not meeting Harry's eyes.

*This is going to be a VERY long week,* Harry thought to himself.

~tbc~