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Auction Prompt: Day 30, Auction 2: Suspicious
Word Count: 602
Stay In My Life
Harry was suspicious. Severus had been acting very oddly lately; always having things to do without Harry, never home on time, distracted when he was at home.
Harry wasn't a fan of the change. Part of him hoped that it was something to do with the shop Severus owned, or perhaps a potions dilemma that was taking his time up, but it was a small part.
The larger part of him thought that perhaps Severus had grown bored with him, had realised that Harry was in fact as boring as Harry had always known he was but Severus had always seemed to disregard it as an issue.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Hermione had tried to comfort him, biting her lip.
Ron had taken a stronger stance of, "The git should know just how much he's punching and think himself lucky to have you."
It wasn't that Harry was grateful for the support, he really was, and he'd always known he could count on his best friends to at least try and make him feel better, but he just… wasn't feeling it this time.
Something was very wrong, and Harry thought that his life—one that he was finally unbearably happy in—was about to be turned upside down.
…
He hadn't been expecting Severus to invite him out to dinner. The two of them didn't often dine out. Harry liked to cook, and Severus still wasn't a fan of people, even years after war, so it had never been an issue.
It was… suspicious.
As he got ready in the green shirt Severus seemed to love, and the black jeans that everyone told him did wonders for his bum, he wondered if Severus had thought dumping him in public would save time.
Harry wouldn't make a scene anywhere the press could find them after all. They were both notoriously private about their lives.
The thought didn't feel good, but it felt… like it could be true.
Harry almost told Severus he couldn't make it, but realised he'd only be prolonging the torture.
One thing was for sure though. He'd look good while his heart was being shattered.
…
The restaurant was a romantic one, and Harry wondered why Severus was being so cruel. He tried to keep it together through the starters and mains, listening to Severus talk about the shop and the customers he liked or hated the most. He spoke a little—as much as he was able—about the current cases he was working on, and that Neville was coming back from Thailand where he'd spent a year studying exotic plants.
He was trying to figure out a way to politely decline dessert, even though Severus knew it was his favourite part of dinner, when Severus cleared his throat.
"I know you've been wondering what's been distracting me these past few weeks, Harry, and I can only thank you for being patient. It's… I know you know how hard it is for me to express my feelings."
Harry nodded silently, biting his bottom lip.
He wouldn't cry, dammit.
"I… can't imagine my life without you in it," Severus continued, and Harry stared at him, completely wrongfooted. "You've wormed your way into my life, my heart and my soul, and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way."
Severus put a small box on the table, and then opened it up to show Harry the stunning silver ring inside.
"Will you stay with me for life, Harry? Will you bond with me?"
"I… yes," Harry replied, nodding enthusiastically. "Yes, of course I will!"
…
Harry had told one lie.
He'd said he wouldn't cry.
