TITLE: Harry Potter and the Obligatory Sequel, Chapter Sixteen
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: Belongs to J.K. Rowling.
BETA: The Incredible Irisgirl12000, and all further mistakes are mine.
SUMMARY: Severus is losing control. Harry is losing his mind. Hermione had better be as smart as she thinks she is, or it's the end of the Snape as we know it.
Chapter Sixteen: Would You Like Catsup to go with that Foot in your Mouth?
Severus waited until the following evening to approach Lupin. He assumed he'd be safe enough then; all the little myopic monsters with tight arses and cheeky smiles would be off cavorting with their friends and admirers. Hopefully.
Thinking of admirers, Snape remembered Creevey, and felt suddenly less hopeful. He wasn't entirely certain what the boy had been on about the previous evening. He'd had more Firewhisky than was strictly good for him—or for anyone outside of a large centaur with a stomach of lead, for that matter—and aside from that, his wildly vacillating emotions and complete inability to restrain himself from doing anything made it rather difficult to concentrate.
All he could be certain of was that Creevey was in love with Potter, and had invaded his chambers to tell him so. There was a weak possibility the boy intended to give up the ghost, but Severus didn't hold it likely. After all, wasn't he being tutored by Blaise Zabini, the perfect candidate to teach How to Fuck Over Everyone—and Make Them Like It? Besides, he was a Gryffindor. Gryffindors did not admit defeat. Most of them couldn't even spell it.
He rounded the corner.
"Come on, it's perfect!" Harry's dulcet voice was contending. "Just look it over—please."
"Harry Potter, I told you to stop this," Remus growled. "I'm confiscating this book, and you'll not be getting it back until you've proven to me that you're intelligent enough to see the flaws in your plan. And you've got detention for the next month. With me!"
A door slammed, and Snape shuddered. He rarely heard the werewolf's voice sound so upset. He didn't like Lupin when he got frightened or angry—it didn't bring out the best in the man, and it brought forth the worst memories from Snape's mind. He was just deciding that he should leave and try McGonagall instead, when Harry came into view.
The boy stopped, blinking up at him in an astonished and all-too-becoming fashion. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Sir," Snape tacked on automatically.
Harry looked uncertain at this correction, but amended, "Sir?"
Snape swallowed. "I—nothing." He turned his head and tried to sidle past the boy, his strides somehow lacking their typical bluster and billow.
Harry grabbed his arm. This was a mistake. "Wait. I needed to tell you—"
Snape rounded on him, eyes flashing, and Harry took a large step back. "Run," Severus choked out, furious with himself. And this was a mistake, too, when speaking to a Gryffindor.
Harry's chin stuck out. "Why should I?" he asked suspiciously.
Severus felt exasperation bubble up in his chest, mixed with an irritating level of affection for the brat. "Because otherwise, I will do this," he snarled, taking Harry's chin firmly in his long fingers and tilting it up. His mouth stifled any protest the boy might have made, lips capturing Potter's roughly. Soon, his tongue was delving into Harry's gasp of surprise, following it down into the boy's mouth, taking possession of the wet, soft cavern.
There was a muffled sound from the boy, and one of Harry's hands pressed at Snape's shoulder, weakly attempting to push him away. With a grunt of indignation, Snape captured the slender wrist, encircling it with his fingers, pulling the boy's hand away. He took Harry's shoulder with his other hand and shoved hard, pushing Harry back against the wall, ignoring the feeble struggle the boy made. This was good. This was perfect. This was what he'd wanted all along; the taste of this boy, the power, the surrender. He pressed against that slender body, all sinew and softness and sex. Snape felt a storm of emotion quaking through him, and he kissed the boy passionately, recklessly, taming and tasting Harry's tongue.
Harry's body had already responded, and Snape thrust once against the hardness he felt against his thigh, causing a rather high-pitched moan of anticipation and dissent to be rent from that beautiful throat.
Severus pulled away to gulp down a breath of air. "I love you, damn you," he said hoarsely.
"Yes, but—"
"And I want you. Now."
"Oh, but you're not—"
"Shut up, blast you, Potter. Pants off!"
Harry's expression went from distracted to horrified. "Here? Now? You're joking!"
With a growl, Snape yanked at Potter's tie. "Need—you—" he rasped.
"Oh, God," Harry groaned, as Snape yanked him forward and began mauling him—or at least suckling at the boy's neck. "No," Harry said so softly that it seemed a cross between a whimper and a whisper.
A bone-deep shudder went through Snape's body, followed by a cold moment of sober fear. He pulled away and stared into Harry's eyes.
"I'm going to call for Remus now," Harry panted, his eyes sombre. "You need help, Snape. You and I aren't seeing each other anymore. You remember thatdon't you?"
Severus swallowed and nodded, clenching his teeth and wrapping his arms tightly round himself to mitigate the uncontrollable shivering.
"Good, so your memory isn't affected, then. But this is too much. You can't sexually assault students in the hall."
"You want me," Severus asserted, his voice so harsh that he didn't recognise it.
Harry gave him a long, cool look. "No, I don't," he said. "And while you think you want me, what you really want is some help." He stepped away, drawing his wand. "Remus! Remus! Professor Lupin, help!" he shouted, keeping his wand on Snape.
Severus could barely focus. The room had begun to spin, a kaleidoscope of colour and chill. "Harry…" he whispered, sinking to his knees.
Dimly, he saw Harry turn his head, consternation written on his face. His mouth moved, but Snape couldn't hear anything over the rushing in his ears.
"Help," he tried to beg, fear coursing through him.
Harry went white, one arm reaching out toward the Potions Master.
Before the boy touched him, Severus slumped forward, the hallway floor rising up to meet his cheek.
OoOoOoOoO
"It might be my fault," Colin was saying fretfully.
Hermione and Ron, used to his endless chatter, weren't even listening, but Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Why on earth would you say that?"
Colin looked down at his shoes. Harry was still hovering outside the hospital ward, and Ginny had refused to leave his side, but everyone else had been banished to the library, where they would be forced to stay calm so that Madam Pince didn't guillotine anyone for unnecessary amounts of noise.
"I went to see him. Um. Since he wasn't in class, I thought he might be upset about Harry, and…I just wanted to know the truth, that's all," Colin said miserably.
Blaise stiffened. "Don't be stupid. As terrifying as you are, I think it would take more than the sight of Colin Creevey to send Snape into a collapse. Did you get the truth, then?" he asked venomously. "It never occurred to you that there's more than one truth, depending on who's looking at it? One man's truth is another man's—a—another man's—idealistic nonsense?" he asked, his voice rising.
"Hush," Hermione scolded, finally looking up from her paper. Since classes were cancelled, she'd thrown all of her energy into looking for something to cure the stricken Potions Master. "And be nice to Colin," she added, almost as an afterthought.
"I do know that, actually," Colin replied, just a little haughtily. "There are lots of truths. One is that you can love more than one person at the same time," he added quietly, his expression unsure.
Blaise blinked. "I suppose a Gryffindor might. Gryffindors believe in stupid things like love," he scoffed bitterly.
"If you don't want to hang out with Gryffindors, why don't you go back to the rest of the deviants and freaks, then," Weasley raged, his face red.
"Ron!" Hermione squawked, alarmed. "Stop it! Just calm down; he isn't worth it. Really, I don't know why you and Harry let him get such a rise out of you."
"He doesn't get a rise out of me!" Ron replied in a panic. "He just makes me ill, that's all!"
"Oooh. I think I've found something," Hermione interrupted, her attention already diverted by her book. "The first chapter in this Potions book is all about dispelling blockages! It talks about brain chemistry…and about potions that act on a molecular level to…"
As she droned on, Ron and Blaise glared at each other, their faces filled with the desire to do violence. As long as Harry and Snape were with Pomfrey, the fragile truce would hold…but soon, Slytherin and Gryffindor would clash.
Hermione read on, Colin hanging over her shoulder, both completely oblivious to the impending conflict.
OoOoOoOoO
Harry sat with his head in his hands, while Remus stood nearby. He looked tired, but his eyes were sharp, and every now and then he'd let out a long, frustrated breath.
Finally, he looked over at the student. "Harry," he said, "I know this is a difficult time for you. It can't have been easy watching Severus…like that," he added with a gesture to indicate the man's general direction. Harry glared at the man. By the time Remus had arrived, Snape had gone into convulsions, and Harry was numb with shock and horror. It wasn't entirely fair, but Harry couldn't help but blame the werewolf. If only he'd gotten there a little sooner… "That never gave you the right to take that book," Remus muttered, not meeting Harry's eyes.
Harry looked up sharply. "What are you talking about?"
Remus shook his head. "I'm really beginning to worry about you. The Harry I know would never have used such a situation for his own gain. I expect that book back in my hands by the end of the day, do you understand?"
Harry's mouth went dry. "What are you saying? Are you accusing me of sneaking back into your room and stealing that Potions book you took away? Seriously? That's—that's a load of old cack and you know it!" he hollered, leaping to his feet, his fists clenched.
Remus looked nonplussed. "Harry, if you didn't take it—"
"Someone else must've! I didn't! I swear," he added with exasperation when the man still looked doubtful. Harry felt something heavy land on his shoulder.
"Innocent fer now, Lupin," Hagrid's voice boomed out. "Ain't he? Ain't that righ'? I'd a thought we 'a learned our lesson, 'bout judging people we didn't know fer sure to be guilty," he added, "considerin' wha' happened to Sirius an' myself. Let the boy be. I believe yer, Harry," he said more quietly.
Harry sagged against Hagrid's solid weight, letting the half-giant's arm support him. It was terrible to think that Remus, of all people, thought him capable of hurting Snape in order to get something he wanted. Did he really seem that callous? But the remark about Sirius seemed to have struck its mark, as the werewolf now looked rather abashed.
"Yes, of course Hagrid," he was saying. "I'm sorry. It's just that I'm sure no one else knew it was there—"
"Loads of people knew I was going to show it to you," Harry said. "I told most of the Gryffindors, and I didn't tell anyone to keep it secret or anything. And I bet Colin told Blaise, that rat," he added with irritation.
"All right," said Remus with a frown. "Not that it helps us figure out who took it," he sighed.
Ron and Hermione ran up, Hermione's bushy hair bouncing, her eyes shining, a grim smile on her face. "I think I've got it," she said. "I really think I've got it this time. But I need into Snape's rooms, and—"
"Where's Ginny?" Ron asked, looking around.
"Not now, Ron," Harry remonstrated.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah. You're not in love with Batman at all anymore, are you?"
"Batman?" Harry repeated incredulously.
"That's funny, Ron, because in the Muggle world, Batman is a character who—"
"Hermione! Not now!" Harry yelped.
"I think Professor McGonagall has the keys to Severus' rooms," Lupin said. "Please fetch her, Hagrid."
In Dumbledore's absence, Hagrid was always grateful for a strong hand and a sense of direction. "Righ' yeh are, Professor," he said, hurrying off with as much alacrity as his bulk would allow.
Harry turned to Hermione. "Please tell me you're sure this time."
OoOoOoOoO
Harry leaned over Severus anxiously. "How are you feeling?"
"Wretched, you infuriating, alluring little beast—and stop asking that!" Snape clenched his teeth together and massaged his temples with his fingertips. At least the double dose of Hermione's older potion seemed to be keeping him sane while they awaited her to finish brewing her latest idea.
And in the meantime, Snape was saying some absolutely fascinating things. Harry was fairly sure that one or both of them was going to be kicked out of the school before the day's end, but it was nearly worth it to hear the unmitigated filth coming from the Potions Master's mouth.
McGonagall had elected to assist Hermione after a particularly detailed sonnet to the flexibility of Harry's legs, but Remus refused to leave them alone, although he seemed to have been shocked into silence. Pomfrey had tried making Harry leave, but this induced a tirade from Snape so furious that she seemed to rethink her position, worrying that the man might rupture something.
If only Snape were always like this.
"I find it particularly irksome the way you wear your hair," the man suddenly noted with a wince.
Harry nervously tried to flatten it. "Er. Really? Sorry. Why?"
"Because it's endearing, and makes you look even younger than you are, and because you don't do it on purpose the way your father did, and I think that's the worst thing about it!" he exclaimed.
Harry glanced at Remus, confused. "Oh. Ah. Like I said, sorry about that. I think. What else do you hate about me?" he asked as an afterthought.
Snape closed his eyes, as if in pain. "Your lips. They're too shapely, too pink. And those little breathy moans you make when I suck on your tongue—those drive me straight round the bend. And the way you never manage to button your robes correctly, and it makes me want to rip them off of you—"
"Severus," Professor Lupin hissed in a warning tone.
"And button them correctly, I was about to say, before I was so rudely interrupted," Snape finished with a hint of a smirk. "And you, Lupin, are an unmitigated bastard. There were countless ways you could have made my life easier growing up, but you always chose the coward's route. No wonder everyone thought you were the spy. And now, just when you had a chance to make it pax, you refuse to let me bugger James' son, which I really feel is the least that you could do."
Harry covered his mouth to smother a sudden attack of giggles.
"Really, Severus, I can't wait for you to go back to being your old, reserved self," Remus retorted, looking equally disturbed and ruffled.
"You seem to be feeling better. I'm glad," Harry said, smiling.
"Don't do that," Snape pleaded, looking away.
"What?"
"That smile that—lights up the room! You do it on purpose! You're trying to seduce me! You're at your worst when you're being charming and cheerful and giving people that winsome, adorable look, captivating them with your god-awful appeal. Just stop being…cute," the man sneered. He really did look rather flustered, like he didn't quite understand the words coming out of his own mouth, and Harry felt a bit sorry for him. "Everyone wants you," Snape added in a strangely gloomy voice.
"Oh, please. Sure, there's nothing like having a great ugly scar in the middle of your head, a stature just better than that of a lawn gnome, and a hairstyle that looks like it's been done courtesy of a Cuisinart to inspire lust in everyone around you," Harry told him, stroking the back of Snape's hand.
McGonagall strode into the room, her shoulders thrown back with pride. An assortment of students and teachers followed her, including Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Colin and Blaise, as well as Hagrid and Professor Flitwick, all looking excited.
"Oh, come to stare at the bloodcurdling beast that is the Potions Master?" Snape inquired curtly. "Feeding time is right around noon, if you'd like to watch him indulge his bloodlust. But if you're a mother with a small child, I'd not let it wander too close to the cage; he's been known to sexually assault them," he grumbled, giving Harry a baleful look.
"I'm sorry," Harry responded, kneading his hands together. "I didn't realize how badly off you were! I wasn't trying to be mean!"
"Ignore him, Mister Potter," McGonagall instructed. "Miss Granger believes she has the solution at hand, so hopefully we'll soon have our cranky, horrible Severus Snape restored to us."
"Belt up," he growled at her.
"Professor Snape?" a small voice asked, and Colin Creevey pushed his way through the astonished crowed gathered around the man. "I just wanted to apologize. I should have left you alone the other night."
Blaise jerked on his arm. "Stop it!" he hissed. "I keep telling you; this isn't your fault! I'm the one that slipped him the po…tion," he trailed off, feeling the furious, stunned gazes on him.
"YOU LITTLE WRETCH!" Severus yelped. He lunged forward, snatching a handful of Zabini's robe and yanking him forward. Several people grabbed hold of the boy, but Snape still managed to get a hand round his throat. "I'll throttle you," he continued, incensed. "And after I saved you from that fairy that went down your pants!"
"That—was—before—!" Zabini corrected.
"Blimey! Yeah! Give him a good hiding! I won't even mind it the next time you try chatting Harry up, so long as you—"
"Ronald," Hermione gasped, giving him a disgusted look. "You should be helping to break it up, instead of—"
"Filthy traitor," Snape continued, shaking the boy.
"I—had—to," Blaise wheezed. "Dumbledore—said—I couldn't—not—do it!" Snape paused. "They were watching," the boy wailed. "And it all happened so fast!"
"You slipped Snape that potion?" Harry demanded. "And then you slept with him, knowing he couldn't help himself? That's low even for you, Blaise!"
"I did no such thing! He lied so you'd go away and stop trying to ferret information out of him! It's your fault!" Zabini bellowed.
"That's all very convenient, now the Headmaster's disappeared, isn't it?" Snape asked menacingly.
Blaise's eyes widened in horror. "He didn't! He never!"
Everyone was gasping and talking. "Dumbledore?"
"They couldn't have—"
"He'd never—"
"That's ENOUGH," Minerva McGonagall interrupted briskly. "Severus, I think it would be best if you said nothing further until you've taken Miss Granger's potion."
Snape subsided, still shaking a little, his face red, his hair in a disarray. "Very well, Minerva," he acquiesced. "But once I've done, I'm still going to kill Zabini."
"If he's the one responsible for Albus' disappearance, I'll help you," she promised, a steely look in her eye.
Blaise swallowed apprehensively.
Thanks to:
Sbyamibakura: Well, here's a taste of Snarry. A mouthful, at least. And there'll be more soon.
gothic-hands: Thank you very much!
potter-DorK: Me, too, so let me know if you see any! ; ) Thanks!
Aki: Well, I promise to turn this heartache into something lovely—eventually, at any rate!
BabeGia103: Yes, for smart folks like us, there is no challenge. I did have quite a bit of fun writing the next couple of chapters—which should mean they're really good, I hope!
Qfan: Hey, I can fix it fast or I can fix it well. I sound like my grandpa! ; ) But it is getting fixed!
Chantelli: Eek! Where's the link? It didn't work, and you have me very curious! A bit of Snarry hotness in this one, and more soon!
Flaming: I'm so flattered! How about some TMP/TOS shirts? I've always wanted one that said something like, "How about a little snake ball?"
sobs-for-snuffles: There! You're told! Sheesh! ; ) And I need you, too!
The Greymalkin: No! I'll take my time! So there! ; p But seriously. This is true. Issues kinda make the story. Plus, they are two very similar-yet-dissimilar people, with strong personalities, and it'd be crazy to think it'd be all kittens and whisky if they got together!
Jenonymous: Trust me, I'm stringing you along for as long as I can! It entertains me and gladdens my black little heart. Absolut Snape sounds hysterical! Do you write here? I shall have to check you out! Prepare to be checked out! Er, soon as I'm done with ch. 18. I'm on a roll!
Tris the weatherwitch: Yes, yes; I kept it short because the plot needed to be done, and I didn't want to bore you too much. The stage is set—ish. I'm sorry if Harry came off as whiny. I wanted to show that he wouldn't automatically back down to Lupin, while still being open-minded enough to give Snape's feelings some thought. It's all been rather a trial, though. I'm sure he'll be glad when things are back to normal. (evil grin)
Hoshiko-Malfoy: (laughs) I've never actually watched a Mexican soap opera, due to the complete lack of Spanish ability. But I think the drama and comedy is much better, from what little I've seen! And yeah…I haven't watched 'my' soaps since I was 18, but I'll bet they're pretty much doing the same things! I think it's much more flattering to be compared to a Mexican soap opera, personally.
Chrliii: Now you've made me wish to write in rhyme, which is something I don't do all the time. The dawn is breakin', Snape's on the mend…and he'll soon drive Harry 'round the bend. Less poetic and more cheesy this time, I think!
Aribella: But I'm a good evil. You'd still be proud to have me as president, right? Because I'd laugh coolly at other countries and use 'mitigate' and 'deliberation' in speech, and actually pronounce them correctly. And I'd convert the world to Slasholicism. Like Catholicism, but better. ; )
Sweet Mercy: That's the sort of thing you get for reviewing so quickly! And, well, I don't think it's quite what you were hoping for, but Snape did do that!
Lutheyl: I'm sorry if you felt they were out of character, but I don't think Colin is particularly cowardly in the books. He usually seems a little oblivious, which makes me think he doesn't give a lot of thought toward possible consequences—a true Gryffindor. And I'm not being HPB-compliant, so I can't have Harry doing nonverbal spells. He could have thrown his books to the floor and reached for his wand, but as Blaise hadn't really done anything too threatening yet, I preferred to have him reserve judgment—and stay on edge, just in case.
And the Glowing GryffRavHuffSlythendor: Mystery partly solved! And Snape really couldn't help himself; he was blurting an awful lot out, and just couldn't control it. I like to think he was trying to stake just a bit of a claim on Harry by admitting how he felt, though…not nearly as much as the claim he'll soon be staking…