OK, I admit Sev is VERY OOC, but I did warn you about that. Schan asked where I got my version of him from and I don't know. My Harry comes from personal experiences sorta but Sev is just kind of made up. Also, I need a beta…any volunteers? The person I thought could do it is too busy and I need to find someone else. If you're interested email me at bittybellabegood at Aol dot com

Chapter 3:
Deep Inside of You

I wrote that night until I crashed into a heap on the bed at about seven in the morning. Somehow, I felt more content than I had in a long time. In that night alone, I had written a full chapter of a new book. The feeling was of accomplishment was beyond anything I had known as an author in years.

Several hours later, I awoke to find the house empty. Remus must be at his restaurant, I thought. And I hadn't a clue where Harry went during the day. I found a note on the fridge:

Severus,
I'm sorry I had to leave you. There was an emergency at the restaurant and I didn't want to wake you. I might be late, but Harry should be home from work before six. Help yourself to anything you need. And again, I apologize for being such a poor host.
Yours always,
Remus

I set the paper aside and glanced at the clock. It was already close to four. I hadn't realized that I had slept that long.

Once again, my notebook was calling to me, and I got myself a cup of coffee and a bite to eat before going back to work. I found myself out by the pool under a patio umbrella. It was amazing to me that I had done so much after my chat with Harry. There was just something about the man that made me feel more alive than I had in years. The frightening part was that I liked it.

I hadn't been writing long when Harry came out the glass door behind me. "I thought you were taking a break from that," he said pointing to the screen.

"Yes, well it seems that isn't an option," I replied. I couldn't help but study him in his suit. He looked so different in the charcoal gray pants and jacket with a white shirt and a tie. "Just off work?"

He nodded. "From one job to the other really. I work as the athletics director and basketball coach at Franklin High, and then I also run a sports program for under privileged kids in the evening."

"Busy man."

That smile was driving me insane. "I do what I love, so I don't mind."

I set my computer aside. "It surprises me that you're this enthusiastic for sports."

"People assume that if you're in a wheelchair you should only do safe, calm things, but that's not true. Kids with disabilities love to play just like any other children, but they don't have the opportunities. Luckily, I was able to get into adaptive sports in the area. Now, I enjoy working with children who are enthusiastic about playing," he explained. "I was actually going to see if you wanted to ride down to the center with me. It should be a quick trip, and we could sneak fast food before Remus gets home."

I nodded. "Let me save and I'm ready."

"I still have to change," he said indicating the suit. "I don't think I'm dressed to play."

"I'm not much for children," I told him. In truth, I hate children. I taught high school chemistry for a few years before I made enough on my books, and the little bastards drove me nuts.

He grinned. "Don't worry this won't take long. It's just something I promised the kids."

"Oh?"

"It's tradition," he added.

He drove us to the center on the outskirts of LA. It was a rather impressive brick building with soccer and baseball fields beside it. A red headed woman ran around the bases carrying a small girl as we pulled up. "We had a small directional problem," she said with a laugh.

The little girl giggled and held her arms out to Harry. "I wanna wide!"

He put the squealing girl on his lap. "Severus, I'd like you to meet Ginny Weasley and Kiki. Ginny's one of our group leaders and Kiki is one of our favorite kids. This is Severus Snape, he's visiting Remus and I."

Ginny held out her hand and gave me a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you."

I took her hand and nodded. "Nice to meet you, too." She turned back to Harry. "You ready for the big game, Potter?"

Harry laughed. "Hey, I'm only the ref. You get your teams ready. Where is Ron's group anyway?"

"The gym. I think he's trying to get ready for his humiliation." She grinned.

Harry laughed. "This is going to be interesting either way."

"Well, I've got to go back to the kids," she said glancing back to the game.

Kiki looked up at Harry. "Can I stay with you?"

"Sure, Kiki, but you'll miss the game. I'm going in and doing boring stuff. Do you still want to come?" he asked. The girl nodded and he said to Ginny, "I guess I have a passenger."

"See ya, Gin," he said as he rolled off.

I followed him into the brick building. To my surprise it was amazingly well equipped. There were several rooms with different types of sports set ups, even an indoor pool.

"How did you end up here?" I asked.

"I bought the land about three years ago and we got moved in two years ago."

"YOU financed all this?" I just couldn't believe that he could possibly afford anything this extreme. The property alone was worth millions.

"I financed most of it," he corrected. "There were a number of other contributors that got it built, and more that help me keep it running. I figured that this was the best way to spend what my parents left me."

The child in his lap seemed content to play with his shirt collar as we toured the grounds. I counted at least six groups of kids. "How many people do you employ?"

"Only four. Ginny and her brother Ron really keep this place going as the administrators. We also have a dietician to teach the kids about good eating habits and a counselor that's available to the kids who need her help. Other than that, we have twenty eight full and part time volunteers who do everything from maintenance to helping with snacks to doing fundraising."

The last stop on the tour was the large open gym where a red haired man in a wheelchair was shooting hoops with some children. Harry set Kiki down. "Go ask Ron if he's ready to play."

She ran off giggling.

"So what is this big game?" I asked.

He grinned. "It's the second annual 'I Dare You To' Basketball tournament. Each group has a team and the losing team's coach has to do a dare. Tonight it's the "Weasley Kings" versus "Ginny's Genies." If the Genies win it Ron has to dress up like tooth fairy and if the Kings win it Ginny has to eat a live worm."

"I'm sure the kids enjoy it."

"They do."

A basketball flew toward Harry and he caught it easily. "You'd better not cheat," Ron said as he joined us.

"Me? Cheat? Never."

Introductions were made and no sooner had I shook his hand than the room swarmed with children. There were kids ranging from around six to about sixteen of all races running through the doors. I had to hide my discomfort as they began to fill into the bleachers.

"Game time," Harry said as he rolled to the center of the floor. He blew a whistle and the game began. The Kings put up a valiant effort, but were ultimately beaten by the Genies, but there were no long faces as Ron came out of the locker room with a pink tutu and glittery wings on. It was a sight I hope never to see again, but it seemed there was happiness everywhere in the center.

True to his word, we left right after the game. Polaroid's in hand, Ginny and the kids waved goodbye when we pulled out the drive. I was still impressed by what I had seen. Never would I want to do it, but it seemed right that someone had. I noted the shabbiness of some of the kids' clothing. He had said that they came from poorer backgrounds. And some of the other children had disabilities. I wondered what would happen to them if no one had taken the interest in them that Harry and the Weasley's had. Probably nothing good.

"What's your poison tonight?" he asked as we pulled into a small plaza with several restaurants.

"You do realize that it's been years since I ate at places like this," I told him.

"Something a little nicer then." He pulled out of the plaza and drove a little farther to an Italian restaurant a few minutes away.

The hostess who seated us looked nervously at Harry. "Any special seating?" she asked with a fake smile.

"A table by the window would be nice, and I'd appreciate it if you'd take a chair away." He obviously wasn't above using her discomfort to get the best table in the house.
"Wine?" he asked as he looked over the menu.

I nodded and gave my order to a young waiter. "I thought this wasn't your type of place."

"But it's yours, and I did drag you to the center." There was something in those green eyes that I hadn't expected. Something told me that he was just as attracted to me as I was to him, but then again maybe I'd imagined it. I was being presumptuous again in assuming he was gay, just as I had when I thought he was Remus' lover.

"I'll consider it even then," I said looking intently out the window.

After dinner we went back to his home and found Remus sound asleep on the couch fully clothed. Harry touched his shoulder gently and smiled at his god father. A bleary eyed Remus sat up and looked at us. "What time is it?"

"Not late. You're just old," Harry teased.

"Old am? I'll remember that when you're all of forty." Remus drug a hand through his hair.

"Who are you trying to fool? Didn't you tell that guy at the restaurant last week that you were forty-two?"

"Brat," he said good-naturedly in typical Remus fashion.

Harry and Remus both excused themselves to bed, and I was not yet tired. My sleep schedule hasn't been anything close to normal in years. I found myself in the bathroom staring into the mirror. I am not, nor have I ever been a handsome man. My skin is pale and my nose to large. I have black eyes and hair, which sometimes appears a bit oily. Light hints of wrinkles appeared at the corners of my eyes a few years back. Harry couldn't possibly be attracted to me.

When I compared the two of us, the idea became even more laughable. Harry was vibrant and kind, while I am known for being blasé and somewhat moody. He structured his life around his children, while I lived only for myself. And then of course there was the fact that the man was beautiful. I didn't even see the chair when I looked at him anymore. Somewhere in those two short days that had stop mattering. I sighed. The idea of a relationship between us was preposterous