"MY LITTLE GEORGE!" Mrs. Weasley broke out loudly into wails of despair, clutching her fiery hair between her fingers as she cried for her son.
Harry awkwardly sat on the Weasley's sofa, his hands on his legs to keep them from shaking. It was one thing to deal with pain on your own, but a whole other thing to watch someone else break down, especially someone as strong as Mrs. Weasley. It had been her who had killed one of the craziest witches in history, after all.
He felt the cushion dip beneath him as Snape sat next to him, much closer than he would have thought the man capable of. Curious, Harry glanced over at him. How does he handle situations like this? The young man's eyes traced every line and curve of his professor's face, searching for even the tiniest of details that seemed out of place. Surely there was some sort of tell tale sign of distress. He wasn't a rock, after all.
"Is there something I can help you with, Mister Potter?"
Harry nearly jumped out of his skin and turned his face quickly away. "No sir." His heart painfully beat in his chest as he felt the other man's eyes lock onto him with an intensity none could rival. Gathering up his courage, he turned back to Severus and made eye contact.
Had Severus always had such dark, black eyes? Had they always had that spark of life in them? Not that he could remember. It had always seemed his professor had very little will to live, but ever since the war ended, it was as if the man found a new reason to continue on. Was it because he had found someone? Harry's eyes widened slightly. McGonagall! Are they dating now?! Is that what was going on between them in the infirmary? Merlin's beard!
Snape's eyebrow quirked as he noticed the younger man's reaction to...whatever it was he had been thinking, Severus supposed. He had never noticed how expressive Harry's eyes were. It was as if all he had to do was look into the man's eyes and he would suddenly be able to see everything that made Harry who he was. He had never before experienced such a feeling, not without using magic, anyway. It was almost...endearing that Potter was so open to him. Not to me. Severus thought. He is open to everyone. What makes you think you're special?
"What do you think, Snape?"
Severus pulled his eyes reluctantly away from his student and turned toward his speaker. "I apologize, what is it you were saying, Ms. Granger?"
Everyone in the room had their eyes on the pair, all curiously looking from one man to the other. It was clear they had thought something had passed between them, but what was the question.
"I was suggesting we send a letter to George and trace the owl. He had never spoken of where he's been staying, but if an owl can find him, we surely can."
Snape nodded approvingly. "That is an acceptable plan. I suggest we get to it immediately. There is no telling whether or not he has taken the potion as of yet."
"What is it exactly that this potion is supposed to do to my brother?" Ron asked for the hundredth time.
"The idea behind it is simple. George wants to forget what happened during the war. He wants to forget that his brother is gone." Malfoy answered for his professor, attempting to draw the attention away from the two men. It was so obvious that they had feelings for one another. It made Malfoy a little uneasy, but who was he to tell people who they should love? They needed some time alone. Best to get this business over and done with, save the Weasley and get back to the peace they had all worked so hard for. He was so tired of fighting.
"Not that I want him to forget or anything, but why is this such a horrible thing? I mean, why is it outlawed?"
"Oh Ron, do you ever remember a thing we learned in school?" Hermione shook her head at her husband-to-be. "Memory altering potions are illegal!"
"I don't remember anything like that being taught..." Ron glanced over at his old potions professor who didn't seem to really be paying attention to the conversation. As a matter of fact, all he seemed to be able to see, was Harry.
"They taught it in our later years, Weasley." Malfoy attempted to help the man understand, without much hope. "After what happened with Lockhart..."
"What happened with Lockhart?"
Draco was starting to lose his patience. "Honestly Weasley, do you not pay attention to anything that isn't Quidditch related?! Lockhart attempted to make a potion to regain his memories after what happened with him, you, and Potter in the Chamber of Secrets. This very potion."
"What did it do?"
Hermione laid her hand on Malfoy's arm to calm him. "Ron, it completely destroyed his mind. He hadn't remembered a thing, he had just forgotten everything about himself. That's why it went from being called a Remember Me potion to Forget Me Potion. Some witches and wizards have tried to alter and complete it, but no one's ever gotten it right...and some have even died trying..."
Mrs. Weasley, who had managed to quiet down during the entire conversation, was suddenly back to panicking and crying.
"George! We've got to hurry!" Ron ran around the room, grabbing random objects only to toss them aside with a frown. "What do we need?! Where are we going?! Let's go, don't just sit there staring at Snape like a love sick puppy, Harry! WE'VE GOT TO GET GEORGE!" He gripped Harry's shirt and roughly pulled the blushing man to his feet, giving him a shake for good measure.
Quickly, Severus jumped to his feet and pulled Harry from Ron's grip. "Do calm down Mister Weasley!"
Harry froze in shock as he was pressed to Severus' chest. He certainly didn't mind being in the man's arms, but the sudden bout of protection was something Harry had not ever expected. Tentatively, he placed his arms around the taller man's waist and rested his head on Snape's chest. Is this ok? Can I do this? He felt Snape tense for only a moment before relaxing again, holding Harry comfortably against his body.
"Well, what are we going to do!?" Ron's panic had obviously not subsided, as he had nothing to say about the two men's positions, and he never would have shouted at Severus Snape of all people.
"Ronald! Sit down!"
Ron instantly sat on the nearest armchair, eyes wide. He had never heard his mum speak so loudly before. "Sorry..."
"We will find George and he will be ok! Now here's what we're going to do! We're going to do as Hermione suggested. Your father is already sending a letter out with a tracer on the owl. Until we get further news as to his whereabouts, you are to go outside and degnome the garden!"
"AW MUM!"
"NOW RONALD WEASLEY!"
"Yes'm..."
With that, everyone dispersed. Hermione to help Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen, Ron to degnome the garden, and Mr. Weasley finished his letter to George before heading off to fire call his other boys. Which left Snape and Harry, who were still tightly entwined in each others' arms.
"Harry..?"
The young Gryffindor looked up into Severus' eyes, his heart skipping a beat as he heard his name whispered so softly by the man. "Yes...Severus?"
Snape beat down the urge to blush, but rather enjoyed the sound of his name on Harry's lips. "Are you alright?"
"Yes."
Severus closed his eyes as the rest of his tension released its hold on him. He was afraid the Weasley brat had harmed Harry with all of that shaking about and shouting. "Perhaps...you should go lie down."
Harry shook his head against the older man's chest. "I'll be fine...really. Can we just...stay like this? Just a little while longer?"
"...Very well."
Closing his eyes, Harry allowed his mind to wander. What did he feel for Severus Snape? Was it really only fatherly love, or was it something more? He had never thought about being with another man before, as he had simply gone with what all of his house mates had done and dated girls. There had been other boys around the school dating each other, but he was so focused on staying alive and making it to class on time that he never stopped to think about it. Now that he had time, however, he was pretty sure Dean and Seamus might have feelings for one another as well…
It was an odd feeling, him being in his old Potions Professor's arms. He can't say that he hated it though.
He listened intently to the sound of Snape's heart beating. It sounded so loud, and it seemed to be going faster than it should have been...but he was so glad to hear it. He gripped the man's robes and hid his face against the many buttons of his jacket.
Snape tensed as he felt Harry grip his clothes. Was the man really alright? He did have a habit of hiding his true feelings. How many times had Snape taunted and teased him only to receive nothing but a glare or two when he knew the boy had been itching to call him out on his unfair treatment. Thinking back on it, Snape was a little ashamed of himself for treating Harry so harshly. At the time, he knew it had been necessary, but there were some things that he had said…
Perhaps some day, he could apologize for his actions back then, but he was sure the young man understood why he had been that way. What good would an apology do, anyway? It doesn't erase the bad things that had been done. It doesn't bring people back from the dead. No, apologies were useless. Even so…
"Potter..."
Harry gently pushed away from Snape. "We'd better go see what we can do to help."
For some reason, Snape's heart began to hurt. It was a pain he had felt before, one he never had wanted to feel again. What exactly did he feel for Harry? They couldn't go on like this...he needed to find out, otherwise...He didn't want to lose another Potter.
"Harry..."
"Oh, I'm Harry again?"
Snape was taken aback by the hurt in the young man's eyes. What had he said to make him look like he was going to cry?
"Sorry, ignore me. With everything going on...just forget it. I'm going to go help Ron."
Snape wanted to say, 'You shouldn't overtax yourself, Harry. I worry about you.' but instead, all that came out of his mouth was, "Very well."
He watched silently as the young man exited through the back of the Burrow. He knew it was silly, but watching him walk away like that made him feel like he was being abandoned. I must find out what these feelings are. I don't think I can handle it otherwise…
Severus would get to the bottom of it after all of this mess with George Weasley was over. He lost Lily. He would not lose Harry.
