This does not belong to me, tis only borrowed for a while.

Chapter Three

Harry was happier than he had been in weeks, he'd managed to convince Sev to join him for drinks, though at one point he was slightly concerned that the knife Sev had been eating with would end up in him somewhere, and though he'd felt himself flinch with the rest of the hall when it had slammed into the woodwork. But he did admire the way Sev had ignored him, he knew from vast past experience that he never dealt well with teasing, nor name calling, and Snapey had been pushing it. But he was getting bored of being avoided and ignored. It was like the once person he actually trusted didn't want to be anywhere near him.

Ok so he'd changed things to suit chasing Sev… Oh Sev…

And now he was holding his hand, he'd tasted his flesh, tasted the slightly salty skin, smelt the smoky almost peaty scent, mixed with a multitude of herbs, it was sultry, intoxicating… To touch the white silky soft skin, he knew Sev paid attention to his body, his skin was smooth and well cared for, his hair was thick and so luxurious black silk, and his nose, beautiful. Ever since Ron had told him about big nose, big dick… oh my he struggled each time he'd seen Sev. His Sev.

Shifting as he walked, trying to wriggle his clothes into a more comfortable position without alerting the observant potions master of his plight, or maybe he could ask for assistance? "Sev… Could you just-"

"No Mr. Potter, I will not touch you to get you off" he couldn't help but blush at that, maybe he hadn't been as discrete as he should have been. Hell it was worth a try, and they were still walking to his rooms, though Sev rarely went back on his word.

Whispering the password to his painting, they both stepped into the largish living room. It was comfortable enough, especially for what Harry needed it for which was somewhere to relax, somewhere to hide from the glaring eyes, from the scared, frightened scuttling about around him. After he'd gotten rid of Albus it was as if they considered him Voldemort, he was the devil incarnate. And to be fair to himself, which he tried to be as often as possible, he'd lightened up in class, and Sev was back to being the most hated professor. Which was how it should be, in fact the students quite liked him. But Sev, Sev just avoided him.

The room itself though was a light and warm, with creams on the walls, a large open fireplace, a rug that was so tactile and luscious that he couldn't help kicking his shoes off every time he walked in and wriggling his toes in the thick strands of wool, often he'd lie down on it and wriggle, wriggle like a kitten until all the stress of the day would seep away. There was two large arm chairs, suitable to curl up in and a large sofa where he could sprawl right out. All arranged round the fireplace and rug. His desk was underneath the window that looked out onto the lake though he often wondered at the practicality of it, as he often zoned out of marking and spent hours watching the clouds, and the ripples. Though it did mean he got to deduct points when he saw students misbehaving.

It was funny, he actually enjoyed being a professor, he would even say he was good at it, he had the right temperament, was fairly easy going, he was still young enough to understand the problems the students faced, and the excuses given. But now his main source of irritation was gone, he was fair and just. And a hell of a lot more understanding.

Some of his classes had to be taken by a substitute, the boggart class, well no student would understand or deal with his fear, and slugs, the flesh eating slugs he couldn't teach, not after he'd watched Ron after the spell had backfired. Even thinking about it made him turn green.

His spirits were kept under his books in a large cabinet, and that was where he found his Sev, who'd left him to his thoughts, that was Sev, he understood that just because someone was thinking didn't mean they would want to share. He never pushed for information like that, it made him a good spy, for all extents and purposes his Sev was so oblivious to the outside world that no one would suspect he would have been the one who had organized the Order, he'd fed information to the right people, who'd misfed information to Voldemort in such a way that he'd only been suspected once. Who'd framed Wormtail for the death of the Lestrange's, so that they could undo the spell that had brought him back to life.

His Sev, the perfect villain, that no one would ever think he was the hero. But he was Harry's hero. He'd saved Harry, saved him so many times that the life debt he'd owed James had been cancelled out in the first Quidditch match, that Harry owed Sev a life debt of his own. But unlike his father, he knew Sev wouldn't ask for it to be repaid. Unlike Sirius who would remind Sev ten times a day how he owed James, unlike Albus who forced him to do things no person should ever go through. Lupin thanked him sure for the potion each month, but didn't even offer to pay for the raw ingredients, didn't offer to help harvest them, or go into the Forbidden Forest when Sev went for the more dangerous components of his multitude of potions. Hell not even Hagrid had offered to help when Sev had to go deep in.

He could feel his brow creasing as he thought about the injustice of it all. Harry had been fated to die, and Sev had been fated to suffer. A latter day saint, though he doubted Sev would see it like that, though he was undecided on whether or not Saint's complained anywhere like as much as Sev. It was funny though, he'd whine about Students, and kick his heels in the dust about insignificant things, and yet the big things, the fact that he'd been sent to Azkaban for the second time when the Deatheaters fell, that Sirius had once again tried to kill him, that he was the forgotten chapter in the history of the war, that he just didn't mention. But god forbid anyone who touched his cup in the staff room, or if his quill broke.

"Potter, as much as I enjoy the quiet, I fear you'll follow me if I left, you've spent longer than the designated twenty minutes in thought, near half an hour have you kept me sipping my drink, and you have been known to be irritatingly particular when you want something…" God how he loved that silky voice, it was like velvet to his ears. Everything about Sev oozed seduction, oozed sleek sensual sexuality. Well at least to Harry it did…

He couldn't help but slip across to him, slipping his hand into the large elegant hand of his idol's. He could worship at the Altar of Severus for eternity, no doubt about that. Perhaps the unease of his earlier thoughts still played on his features, or maybe Sev was feeling kind, but he didn't mind either way as he found his hand being stroked gently, captured. Held safely. This was his Sev, the Sev who knew when to be quiet, who could be kind even when he didn't feel like it.

He couldn't help but smile, a shy little smile as he was given a glass of something warm and peaty, one of the malts, in one of his short glasses, the golden liquid soothing as he sipped it, in all he felt at ease, not even alarm as he was guided the sofa, before being gently tugged down.

They must have sat quietly for at least half an hour, neither moving except to sip, but not once did their hands slip away, and it was comfortable, relaxing and restful. If he thought he could get away with it, he'd curl up and rest his head against the taller mans body, but there was only so far he could push his potions master. And for the moment he was more than content with this.

"Sev…?" He blushed at how shy he sounded, and ducked his head slightly, but his grip tightened, afraid that his voice would scare away the peace.

He needn't have worried, the distracted "Mmm?" was enough to make him smile again, Sev had been lost in thought too, though who knew where his thoughts took him, no doubt pondering the latest potion he had to brew. Or a detention. He couldn't help but giggle at that, he always came up with the most appropriate punishments. He was wicked man…

"Sev, do you mind if we talk about something other than the weather and holidays?" blast his weak voice, it was easier when Sev was being a bastard and ignoring him, but when he was being nice and spending time he couldn't help but be this coy little creature.

"Potter, need I remind you that you've already taken advantage of my good nature and had more than an hour of my time?" That was his Sev, softly mocking, never a straight answer when it didn't benefit the Slytherin Sex God. Oh no, you had to wade through comments until you took a guess at what he actually was saying, and as he hadn't technically said no, Harry decided it was alright to add more topics.

"Mm, Sev, are you, you know, like not totally hating my company?" Like that wasn't awkward enough. He should have just said, "I'm gay and I like you, do you like me"

"Potter, I'm like-" he sniggered as he mimicked the less than eloquent man beside him, "You know, I'm not totally hating your company. But if you mean am I interested in your friendship, while I don't find you utterly detestable, quite frankly I'd prefer to be left alone. I do not need howlers every two minutes from parents on how I was obviously abusing you as a student. Do I make myself clear?"

"But-"

"No but's Potter, do you realize that the last staff member to get involved with a student in any manner other than friends, was sentenced to be kissed? Although he was abusing his power as a Head of House, and wasn't prowling on the older students, but still the rule still stands no student staff interaction. You may note that it doesn't include after they are equals, but as it hasn't been long since you were in my potions classroom as a student, tongues would wag. An ex Deatheater, and the Saviour of the free world, now do you really think that society would respond well to that match. And may I say Potter, what on earth led you to believe I was a homosexual in the first place?"

He could help but sigh softly, it wasn't often you got Sev to talk for very long, but whenever he did it was like payday, or Christmas, probably payday, much more exhilarating.

"Um, well see"

"No Potter, while I may not have appeared to be attractive to the world, you have no idea about my private life. And just because I haven't thrown you off my arm, and I know your busy snuggling it, doesn't mean I will respond to this. Now I understand that you need to – Move your hand back up from there, I have been more than patient. Now – will you stop trying to touch yourself. Do I have to use a spell to stop you touching, no, good –"

"I'd much rather you used cuffs Sir" he rolled the r, as his body started to squirm, it was heaven, the warmth, the comfort, the creamy chocolate voice, the scent… Dear god he was an aphrodisiac all in one, who needed Spanish fly when you had Severus Snape.

He opened an eye, eyes that had closed as he'd fallen under the spell of Sev, to grin at the flustered man, he seemed to be having trouble forming words. Tempting though as it was to just kiss him he knew that would be pushing it too far.

"Well Mr. Potter, like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I can understand that you need someone to talk to you that you feel you can trust, though why you feel you can trust me is beyond my comprehension." He raised his hand to the squawk of indignation, "Yes I know your going to tell me all about how I wasn't the one who wanted you dead, blah blah blah, though you are sadly mistaken, however I wanted you gone from the year dot, irritating brat that you are. Though I must admit I do feel fond of the idiot who could outwit death. Or perhaps was stupid to realize he could die" a small smirk graced those perfect lips, and Harry couldn't help but moan slightly. "However, I do not appreciate being hounded to death by your incessant need to be around me. I am still the greasy git who taught you, I don't suddenly want to spend my free time eating with students, I don't like being embarrassed in front of my colleagues and the brats I am forced to teach, so if you could remember that in future when you decide to make statements about my bedroom. Especially as they'll now be wondering whose the top!"

Sev's fingers had started to poke Harry in the side as he talked and then they started to tickle him, until Harry was in fits of giggles, rolling about helplessly under him.

"Maybe Mr. Potter I should enter the hall dragging you along with a leash, and prove to them that I am Queen Bitch, hmm" god he was beautiful when he was proving a point, and the images, dear god it was enough to keep him hard for a week. Definitely material to be stored when he had trouble relaxing.

Eventually the fingers ceased their tickling, and gently stroked the tears away, "Feeling better now?" He was always so knowing, he could seem so oblivious to it, but Harry knew that Sev knew exactly what was what. How could he not worship the man.

"Thanks Sev, I needed that, though I'd have preferred being tied up…" Always best to let him leave exasperated, he preferred it that way. A sentimental Snape left the school on edge, and the potions master at a loss. He wasn't that kind of person.

"Get some rest, and you will release the elves to serve me breakfast in my room, understood." Sev could order with the best of them. But that was alright.

He missed the exit of the taller man, too shaky from the giggling to sit up to watch him leave, but he knew the moment he left. The room felt bigger, bigger and colder, it was all he could do to crawl into his warm bed and sleep the night, snuggling in the memory of Sev and the knowledge that he'd see him again in the morning, helped him fall fast asleep, safe in his dreams.