Severus was only listening with half an ear as Harry read out loud -- a spectator written eye-witness account of the latest England win -- because he was trying to catalogue his newest batch of potions and would be damned if Harry would tempt him into flying before it was done.
With any luck, and if he took extra pains over his task, he'd finish far to late to go swooping about on a broomstick -- he wasn't getting any younger after all.
As he held the phials up to the light, then entered their details neatly in his ledger, he caught snatches that he barely registered about the play of England seeker (the greatest since Harry Potter) Adam Rance, though he noted dimly that Harry seemed to be emphasizing certain parts.
Severus heard how, "Rance's strong hands tightened round the shaft of his broomstick" when he spotted the snitch, and how Rance out-manoeuvred his opponent by, "thrusting forward and squeezing through the tight gap between the opposing team's two muscular beaters."
Severus became vaguely aware that Harry's voice sounded huskier than usual as he neared the end of the article, "Rance rose to a soaring peak ... Rance plunged ... the match reached its climax as Rance's fingers closed around the tiny fluttering snitch".
Looking over his shoulder at Harry's flushed face, Severus decided that he would have no difficulty in distracting Harry from his ideas about flying that evening. Provided he came up with an equally stimulating alternative.
"Perhaps we should stay in tonight and polish our brooms instead," he suggested. Looking meaningfully at Harry before turning back to his cataloguing.
NOTES: Written for a LiveJournal ficlet challenge community in 2003.
CHAL: Harry tries to tempt Severus into going for a broom ride.