A/n: So sorry about the insanely long wait! Been very busy, and struggling with an injury that made it difficult to keep up with my stories. I didn't forget, though!
Chapter Seven
Harry had been so happy when he went to bed the night of Christmas that waking up in the middle of the night from a nightmare was almost a shock. It had been one of the best Christmases that he could remember, but it hadn't stopped the nightmares from coming. He could feel the sweat clinging to him as he sat up in bed, his body shaking. He leaned over to the bedside table and took a calming potion as he felt the tightness in his chest. He forced himself to take a few deep breaths as he felt the potion take effect. Laying back down, he curled up on his side. He allowed himself to be complacent yesterday because he felt so good yesterday. That didn't mean the nightmares would go away, that they would ever go away.
That knowledge felt heavy to Harry as he laid there on his bed, trying to go back to sleep. It made him feel like he was falling with no floor. It was a constant reminder that he would never be truly okay. He could hope that one day he would be able to go to sleep without fear that he would wake up in a cold sweat, shaking from a nightmare. Or that he wouldn't wake up screaming, waking up the person he was living with. Right now, that was Hermione. In the future, who knows. That was not something he was looking forward to for the rest of his life. Right now, all he could do was go by day after day and try to move on. He didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel at the moment, though.
Harry didn't sleep well the rest of the night, spending most of it tossing and turning. It was nights like this when he missed the sleeping potions. He could never take them again. Hermione hung out with him today, and they spent most of the day watching the telly. Molly stopped by to drop off the presents. Most were for Harry, of course, but there was some for Hermione, as well. Molly was a bit distant towards Hermione but polite enough. Harry hoped that she would come around. Knowing the Weasley Matriarch the way he did, though, he assumed she had been planning the wedding in her head from the moment that Ron and Hermione had announced they were engaged. She was probably taking it just as hard as her son was that the engagement was over.
Aside from that, there was the fact that Hermione was dating Draco Malfoy. He had no idea if Molly knew about that because he didn't know what Ron had told them. He hadn't seen Ron much since he had been bedridden. Hermione was here so much, and he was sure that was a bit sore for Ron still. He couldn't imagine, personally, not that he blamed Hermione for breaking up with him. He saw how happy she was with Draco since they started dating, and he couldn't begrudge her that. He knew that Ron would come around in time. It would just take some time for him to do so.
It was that night after dinner when Hermione broached an idea. "I was thinking… and you can say no if you want," she said, "but I thought that it would be nice if we had a little get-together on New Years."
"A get-together?"
"Yeah, I mean, you're still on bed rest, despite your going over to Snape's last night," his bushy haired friend said, giving him a look. "I just think that you shouldn't have to spend it alone. You can't go out to a party, so why not bring the party to you? We can invite all of our friends; they can bring their significant others. It wouldn't be too many people. You can invite Snape - I mean, Severus. I'll invite Draco."
"Yeah, I have a feeling that he won't want to hang around a bunch of his ex-students," Harry said. He also wasn't sure about Draco and Ron being in the same area for an extended period of time.
"You won't know until you ask," Hermione told him. "I mean, wouldn't you want to spend the night with Severus and your friends and not here all alone?"
Harry thought about it, and the more he did, the more he liked the idea. He had never really thrown a party, and he wouldn't be able to contribute much to the setting up of such a thing because of the restrictions he was placed under. "Sure, let's do it," he said. It was, after all, Hermione's idea, and she knew that he wouldn't be able to do much. In fact, he could see her not allowing him to help at all no matter how much he protested. If Severus was there, too, he'd be getting it from both sides.
A smile broke out on Hermione's face. "Great! I'll take care of everything," she said, and when he opened his mouth to protest, she cut him off. "No, I insist. You just show up."
"I have to," Harry said. "I live here." Hermione smacked him on the arm for that one.
~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~
It was the next day when Hermione went back to work that Severus showed up. It was about halfway through his visit when Harry broached the subject. "Look, I wanted to ask you something, and you can say no, but…" Severus raised an eyebrow. "Hermione and I are going to be having a New Year's Eve party here. I wanted to invite you."
"I assume all of your friends will be there," he said, "and therefore, you're inviting me to a party full of my ex-students."
Harry nodded. "You would assume right," he said since he was one of those ex-students. Immediately, he felt like it was stupid to invite Severus. He was going to be older than everyone there, and while he didn't care about their age difference, that was different than spending a whole night with a bunch of twenty-one-year-olds when you were forty. "I mean, you don't have to. It's okay, really -"
Severus silenced him with a kiss. "It's fine," he said. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. I will come." A bright smile crossed Harry's face, and he kissed Severus. He was glad that was he going to be coming, he thought to himself as Severus kissed him back.
That was about when the Floo activated behind them, and the sound of someone clearing their throat came from behind them. Harry turned to see Molly Weasley there, holding a pan of something in her hands. The shock seemed to have quickly passed. "My apologies," she said. "I should have called ahead of time, but I figured you would need some food. I meant to drop it by yesterday, but with Christmas at The Burrow and all, it just slipped my mind. So, I made it today."
A blush was crossing Harry's cheeks, but it seemed like he was the only one who was embarrassed. It didn't seem to bother Severus or Molly at all. "Really, it's okay," he said. "Hermione cooks…"
"And you can't expect her to do it all with working a full-time job since you can't help around the house at all," Molly said. Harry was a bit surprised that she was sticking up for Hermione, all things considered. He had to admit that she had a point. "And no need to be embarrassed. I raised seven children - six of them boys. I've seen much worse than a little snogging. Now, where do you want this?"
Harry told her as he chuckled at her earlier comment about raising kids and made her way into the kitchen. Yes, he supposed she had seen it all. When she came back, she said, "Goodbye, Harry," as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Severus." She nodded her head respectfully towards him, and then made her to the Floo and back home.
~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~
Hermione spent the next five days or so leading up to the party working and preparing. Anytime Harry would offer to help, she would turn him down. "I've got everything under control," she would say. He knew that she was an overachiever, but he was more than willing to help. Anytime he said that, though, he was reminded that he should be resting, that his energy potions were for times when it was absolutely necessary that he have some energy (like showering) and not for just everyday use. He felt bad seeing her running around, and of course, being Hermione, she had to plan out everything.
Hermione talked incessantly about nothing else other than the party, as well. He had to tell her to calm down, but that didn't work. Then again, it never had. "The party is in a few days!" she told him. She had spent the next two days inviting all their friends, even Ron. Apparently, he had asked if she was inviting Draco. At Hermione's response ("Of course"), he set his jaw and got real quiet. Harry was curious about that, but Hermione had left after inviting him. Besides, she no longer cared what Ron thought.
Harry felt bad for not spending a lot of time with Ron lately. In fact, he hadn't seen him since the injury. Hermione was usually always at home when she wasn't at work, and the only time she wasn't was when Severus was. Ron also worked, something Harry wasn't doing. There was also the fact that he wasn't really allowed to leave the flat. That made it hard to see Ron. They were best friends, though, and he was going to have to try to spend more time with him once he was allowed out more. Besides, he would see him at the party, which he knew Ron would be at.
Hermione's next step was planning what food would be served, and how much of it. This shouldn't have been that big of a deal, but for Hermione, she had to make sure that everything was perfect. Any time that Harry told her to calm down, she wouldn't listen. Then again, she never did. The night before, he finally had to tell his best friend to stop. "Everything will be fine," he told her, and he wouldn't let her say another word. He made her sit down and get a good night's rest.
The next day, Hermione spent decorating and organizing. Harry asked to help, and she turned him down. He took an energy potion to get ready early while she finished up last minute things. She had never hosted a party before. Even her and Ron's engagement party had been at the Weasley's, so it hadn't truly been hers. Part of Harry wanted to remind her that it was his apartment. She wasn't a permanent resident. It was still her home for now, though, and this really was her party.
Severus arrived early, and while Harry knew that the older man wasn't pleased with being here, he could not have been happier that he was. Hermione turned on the WWN as she and Severus greeted each other pleasantly. The station was doing a special New Year's Eve segment. She had briefly considered playing Muggle music, but most of the people who were going to be here would not be used to that, with the exception of Dean and the two of them. Everyone else had been raised on the WWN and would be more comfortable with that.
"Please tell me you have some decent alcohol," Severus said as he came over to give him a kiss. The older man had, of course, worn all black. Harry had worn a silver button-up shirt that Hermione had gotten him for his birthday last year, while Hermione herself had chosen a white knee-length dress for the night.
Harry rolled his eyes before smiling at him. "The brandy is in the kitchen." He had made sure that there was some, knowing that Severus preferred it.
"Good," he said. "While I may enjoy your company, I am still going to need alcohol to get through the night."
Harry just shook his head, not taking offense at the remark at all. He didn't expect Severus to get along with his friends. He knew one day, he'd probably have to be civil to the Malfoys. He was more than willing to be civil to Draco and Narcissa, but Lucius was another story entirely. It was going to be interesting. As for the night ahead of them, he knew that Severus would be civil and not make a scene, so he wasn't worried. If anything, it was Ron he was worried about making a scene. He knew he hadn't been okay with Hermione dating Draco from what she had said.
Speaking of which, Draco arrived not soon after. "Ah, Severus, good to see you," he said as he walked past the couch to Hermione. The couch had been turned back to its original form for the party. "At least I won't be the only Slytherin here. Nice to see you, Potter." He walked over to Hermione, giving her a kiss before going and getting a drink himself. They had both agreed to arrive early. Now, the other guests would start to arrive, and the party would be in full swing soon enough.
~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~
Luna was the first to arrive. Harry got up to greet her and was met with Severus's firm on his shoulder. "You are to stay put," he warned him.
Harry groaned and opened his mouth to protest when Hermione jumped in. "Harry, you are still on bed rest. Stay still!" He rolled his eyes. Sure, the one thing they both agreed on was that.
Luna didn't seem overly shocked to see either Severus or Draco there, despite the fact that he was sure that she hadn't seen either him or Hermione recently enough to know about that. Maybe she just didn't care. She greeted everyone before heading into the kitchen.
Neville and Hannah showed up next. Harry was glad that his friend had been able to get away from Hogwarts. "Hey, Harry!" He came over, giving Harry a hug. "How are you doing?"
Harry tried to get up as Neville towards him, but Severus's hand on his shoulder kept him firmly in place. "I'm fine," he said. "Still on bed rest for another couple weeks, but I'm getting there." Hannah gave him a hug as well, and Harry thought to himself that that he was glad that they both seemed so happy. He had never been close to Hannah, but she had always been nice to him. She and Neville seemed like they were very much in love, and he couldn't be happier for them.
Talking ensued, and while Neville and Hannah seemed shocked to see both Severus and Draco there, neither had commented on it. Seamus and Dean arrived, and they both did seem genuinely shocked to see the two Slytherins there. The shock was temporary, and they were both on to the alcohol. Severus and Draco kept their glasses at least half full he noticed. Harry was not allowed to move. If he tried, Severus or Hermione was there to put him back down. He couldn't wait until he was off of bed rest.
Ginny came next. She was still dating the French Quidditch player, Jean-Claude. Ginny was visibly shocked to see him with Sev, even more so than Seamus and Dean. Harry realized that she probably didn't know about them, and immediately felt bad. He wondered if someone should have told her about his sexuality ahead of time, but it was too late for that now. She recovered quickly enough, greeting them both before heading over to Hermione and Draco. She must have heard about them because she was not surprised to see them together. He assumed Hermione must have told her, but not mentioned his relationship with Sev.
George and Angelina arrived after that, and still, Ron had not arrived. Hannah, Ginny, and Jean-Claude and Luna were talking about Luna's travels, while Dean and Seamus were talking to George about their honeymoon. Neville was, much to Harry's surprise, talking to Draco and Hermione. For the moment, Harry and Severus were alone on the couch as music, talking and drinking went on around them. He realized at that moment that all four houses were represented there - Luna had been in Ravenclaw, Hannah in Hufflepuff, both Severus and Draco in Slytherin, and everyone else in Gryffindor.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Ron always Apparated here, so he knew exactly who it was. He stood to get up, and Severus's hand was on his shoulder. "Stay put," he warned him.
Harry groaned. "Can I at least get something to drink?" Harry asked, smirking at him, knowing what the answer would be.
"No, I will get that for you," he said, getting up as Hermione answered the door.
"Ron," Hermione said after she answered the door.
Hermione," he said, and Harry saw his eyes slide past hers to Draco, who was still standing with Neville. It was then that Harry saw the girl on Ron's arm.
Ron bringing a date was not surprising. The look on the girl's face was, however. She looked like a kid in a candy store. She looked straight at him and giggled. The girl then proceeded to look at each person in the room like she was a tourist in a museum. He groaned and felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Harry looked back at Ron, who was shoving his way past Hermione, his date attached to his arm. He was stumbling a bit and had a slight flush to his cheeks.
Oh, for Merlin's sake, Harry thought. He's fucking drunk already. A drunk Ron was not a good thing. The talking in the room died down a bit as Ron started walking around, practically dragging his date who was still ogling everybody, especially him. She had short, dark hair and a slim figure, and her hazel eyes kept looking over at him as the night went on.
Slowly, the talking continued. People started dancing. Ron and his date - who hadn't been introduced - didn't dance until Hermione and Draco did. Harry, of course, wasn't allowed to move, but he watched Ron drag the girl to dance as soon as he saw Hermione and Draco start to. "I got a bad feeling," he said to Severus. "Maybe I should say something to Ron."
"About what? That your friend is a small minded idiot?" Severus said. "I doubt he'd listen. If you wish for me to kick him out, I'd be more than happy to do so, just say the word."
Harry thought about it for a second but decided against it. "Not yet. He's just being annoying, not rude…" He just hoped he wouldn't come to regret that later.
~*o*x*o*x*o*x*o*x~
Severus thought to himself that if Ron Weasley left, the party wouldn't have been half bad. Yes, he still would have been the oldest person there in a room full of his ex-students. That was to be expected since he was currently dating one of his ex-students. Ron Weasley, however, was being a right arse. First off, he had arrived late, and things had gone downhill from there. Harry and Hermione were both getting annoyed, but so far the idiot had done nothing more than glare at Hermione and Draco all night. His date seemed to be doing okay for herself being around all of the "famous people," but the potions master itched for his wand to hex both her and her date on more than one occasion.
Every drink he had, though and the Weasley boy got worse. He started slurring his words and swaying. Both his siblings tried to talk to him, but he didn't seem to care one way or the other that they were even there. He must have broken a few glasses that Hermione had to clean up, and he hadn't said two words to his date at all. She didn't seem that bright, but even he found it rude not to even acknowledge the girl he had brought as his date. It was obvious now that he'd done so just to annoy Hermione.
Everyone had a breaking point, though.
Harry and Hermione's seemed to come when they heard Ron Weasley starting to yell, his voice carrying above the music and other voices in the room as he talked to his date. "Yeah, and my fucking best friends," he said his words slurring as he spoke, swaying as he stood there, "have been brainwashed! Yeah, thas right… by snakes ." He said the last word like it was supposed to be whispered, though his voice only seemed to know one volume right now. Severus narrowed his eyes as the talking and dancing died down around them. "She belongs to me! ME!" He saw Draco's eyes narrow at that, but Ron wasn't done yet. "Fucking Death Eaters, the both of them…"
Even the girl realized that he had made a mistake because she got very still and backed away from him slightly as Hermione walked right over to Ron, her face red. She balled up her first, tears in her eyes as she punched him straight in the nose. Weasley careened back, nearly falling over as Hermione dashed off to her room.
Draco turned to him, his gray eyes narrowed dangerously. "You better not be here when I get back, Weasley," he said, a low, icy tone to his voice, before taking off after his girlfriend.
Severus hadn't noticed that Harry got up until he saw him walk right past him, straight towards Ron. "You bloody idiot!" He said, shoving him as Ron careened back again. "You just had to ruin everything, didn't you?" Severus got up, immediately heading for them. "You just can't deal with the fact that Hermione has moved on! It's none of your bloody business who she or I date! You-"
Severus put both hands on Harry's shoulders, noticing that he was breathing heavily. He led him back to the couch. "Take a deep breath," he said, a list of hexes going through his mind if Harry had his first attack in months because of his moronic best friend. "Stay there." He walked back over to the Weasley boy, angrier than he had been in quite a while. "It seems that you are still an infernal, idiotic Gryffindor since you seemed intent on ruining everyone's life and nearly putting your best friend's life in danger. Leave now, Weasley, or I shall make you."
Weasley opened his mouth to say something, but even drunk decided it was not a good idea to anger Severus Snape. He made his way out, while his upset date just cowered in the corner. Lovegood went over to her as Severus made a straight line back to Harry, who was sitting still on the couch. He sat down next to him and slipped an arm around his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay," he said. "I felt a bit of tightness in my chest, but I calmed down. Ron just-"
"Don't, he left," Severus said. "Do you want a drink?" Harry nodded, and Severus left to get him one. He realized even more now how much things had changed. Aside from the fact that they had been snogging for weeks, in addition to talking, he had felt extremely protective and fearful upon seeing how upset Harry had gotten. He would certainly have hexed Weasley into next century and was disappointed that the redhead had left of his own accord. He would have very much liked to kick him out by force. Ah, well, life was full of disappointments, was it not?
The night went back to normal after that, though Ron's date didn't stay much longer. Hermione and Draco did come out of the bedroom once she had calmed down, and despite his distaste for public displays of affection, he did kiss Harry at midnight. After that, everyone died off. Longbottom had to head back to Hogwarts, and Abbott didn't want to stay without him. Everyone else left slowly after that until it was just Hermione, Harry, Draco, and him. Draco took Hermione into the kitchen while Severus stayed with Harry in the living room. "I should go," he said.
"You don't have to," said Harry, moving closer to him on the couch.
Severus immediately felt his blood run south, and drew his arm around him, kissing Harry deeply on the mouth. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind about what he could do to Harry right now. "Yes, I do, but I will see you soon." Harry was in no condition to fulfill any of those fantasies yet, no matter how willing he might be. They said their goodbyes and he and Draco left soon after. As he went to bed, he thought that it hadn't been completely horrible spending a night with Harry's friends, and such things were necessary now that they were seeing each other. However, if Weasley made another scene, he knew the perfect way to deal with him. It was just a precaution that he was thinking about this, but it did help him sleep better.