Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Characters and Locations depicted within this story. No monetary compensation has been derived from the endeavor. (That almost sounded really professional!*pats on back*)
Warnings: AU after book 5. Slight spoilers for books 1-5. Slash! M/M. Harry/Snape
A/N: Thank you for all of your reviews, alerts, and favorites. I am humbled by the response this story has brought. I shall now perform the happy dance! Look away if you do not wish to laugh hysterically. Go on. Look away.
On with the Show!
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Chapter 9: Best Laid Plans of Mice and Fairies
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"In what year did the second Goblin Revolution begin?" Hermione asked from a desk that had books and papers strewn about. Her hair was done up in a messy bun held together by an old quill. She was going over all the notes she could to help with NEWTS. After all, they were only two months.
Ron was sitting on a couch with one of Harry's practice snitches in his hand. He had discarded his tie the second they entered the room and the spirits of Hogwarts help them if they were ever going to find it again. He had also taken off his shoes and had his feet propped on the coffee table next to a plate of sandwiches of which he was currently munching on. Hermione eyed the red heads sock clad feet so close to the food with a small amount of disgust but said nothing; she waited for him to answer.
Ron groaned and looked over at Hermione, "I have no idea...uhhhhh twelve?"
"Twelve?"
"Yea."
"Your answer is twelve?"
"Sure, why not."
"That's wrong."
"Imagine that." Ron said in mock surprise as he took another bite from his sandwich. They had already been studying for three hours. That was two and a half hours past Ron's limit.
The three had taken to studying in the room of requirement. Hermione liked it because it was quiet and offered "maximum study efficiency". Ron liked it because usually the room knew that he required food for studying. Harry liked it because he could fly around and not have anyone look at him as if he were going to attack at any moment. The other students had gotten a lot better since the article from Rita Skeater was published back at the end of January, but there was still an air of unsure as to whether or not Harry was an evil creature. With the help of his friends Harry had by and large grown to ignore people's reaction to him. Occasionally he would get threatening notes from anonymous students, but since he was constantly around friends and teachers he paid them no mind. Besides, he could take any bully. Harry right now was sitting cross legged on the floor trying to finish an essay for Professor Flitwick.
"Okay Harry, your turn. Do you know when the second Goblin rebellion took place?"
"After the first" Harry deadpanned without looking up from his essay. He had more of a study tolerance than Ron, but he was fast approaching his limit as well.
"You two are terrible!" Hermione huffed angrily, "It was 875 AD and it was led by Gnartoc Frintil."
"Will 'ou 'emember dat?" Ron asked Harry around a mouthful of sandwich.
"Doubtful." Harry said off-handedly as he continued to write over the practical applications of combining advanced and beginner charms. He felt his brain ready to explode.
"You need to remember this! NEWTS are only—"
"Two months away. We know!" Both boys said in unison. If they heard that once, they had heard it seven times before. In the last thirty minutes.
Ron swallowed his food and let the snitch go. He had seen Harry be able to let the blasted winged orb go, let it fly for a second only to reach out catch it as it escaped. Harry could do this for hours and the snitch would never once get away. It never even stood a chance. Reasoning that being a keeper was also about fast reflexes Ron had begun to attempt the feat as well; he met a little trouble. He only let the snitch fly for a second but his hand was too slow moving and—just like it had done every time before—the snitch was off like a shot and sailing away.
"Dang!" Ron muttered. He felt a whoosh of air beside him and turned to find his winged best friend had also taken off like lightning in pursuit. Both Ron and Hermione stopped their activities to watch Harry give chase and catch the snitch only a minute later. He fluttered back to the ground and handed the gold ball to the red head. He had a huge grin on his face.
"Show off!" Ron said with a smile as he held the struggling snitch.
"I try." Harry said panting slightly.
"Your wings are really pretty right now Harry," Hermione said from the desk. The two boys were thankful that she seemed distracted from study at the moment.
"Huh? What color are they?"
"Colors. Orange and gold."
"What is gold again?" Ron asked as he picked up another sandwich. Hermione threw a wadded up piece of parchment at the taller boy's head.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"Dinner is in two hours. You shouldn't stuff your face."
"But I am hungry now."
"Gold is Harry's Hyper-ness. There is always gold in Harry's wings."
"Huh?...Oh," Ron finally made his way back to the original conversation. He looked over at the green and black haired sprite to see him trying to balance a tea spoon on his nose.
"Yea, I can see why there would always be gold in Tink's wings."
"Huh?" Harry said as the spoon fell off. He caught it mid fall and attempted the balancing act again. "What does orange mean?" He said as he tilted his head back.
"I think happiness. I am not sure."
"Is that why Ron's aura is orange? Cause he is always so chipper?" Harry asked as the spoon hung from his nose.
"No it's cause of the Cannons. It is in my blood." Ron said with a laugh. He reached for another sandwich only to have the plate zoom away and over to Hermione's desk. "Hey!"
"Stop eating! And yes, personality very well could be the reasoning behind some of the aura colors. All an aura is basically is a physical representation of a person's magic and spirit as perceived by the viewer."
"English?"
Hermione sighed, "When Harry looks at a person the color is his own representation of their aura. It is how his magical sight interprets it. My magic sight might see you different from orange if I had the ability to see auras. To Harry, you are orange and that could be because you are quite happy most of the time—"
"Especially when I am eating!"
Harry still couldn't turn off seeing people's auras. Constantly seeing a color around all the kids and teachers had driven him crazy at first, but now it was just apart of his everyday life. It was quite interesting to see who all had the same color of auras. Hermione had the same color as McGonagall—which was not a surprise—and several people had orange auras as well. Harry wasn't going to tell Ron that he and Lavender Brown had the same color aura. That may just bring up some bad memories. The only color that was never repeated was silver. Severus. Harry had a pretty good idea why Severus's color was unique.
Harry returned to his essay with his tea spoon still in hand. Two more months. Hermione had been talking non stop about NEWTS closing in on them. Harry knew. Oh how he knew. Two months meant he was no longer a student. Two months meant no more excuses. Two months meant—
"The Treaty of Vintaman was a treaty between which two magical creatures and when was it signed?"
Ron groaned again, "Please Hermione. I am tired of getting answers wrong." He stretched and began to sink lower and lower into the couch.
Harry abandoned his essay again without writing a single word and had turned his attention back to the spoon and trying to balance it on his nose. Hermione looked at the two of them.
"How are you two supposed to function in the real world?"
"I'm going to become a professional quidditch player!" Ron said as he puffed up his chest. "I don't need to know the Treaty of Whatchacallit that took place in a-day-I'll-never-remember to be able to catch a quaffle."
"Yes, because you will be a quidditch player for the rest of your life."
"Damn straight!"
"Ron, Language!"
"Sorry mum." Ron got another rumpled piece of parchment to the side of his head.
"I plan on joining a circus," Harry said as he stood up carefully with the spoon still balanced on his tip of his small nose. He made it to his feet and began to walk around on his tip toes. "I'd be normal there."
"No chance of that Tink." Ron said as he watched. He had no idea what a circus was but if Harry thought he would be normal there he had another thing coming.
"Again. You two should be serious!" Hermione was looking right frazzled. Her notes were getting messier and messier as she rummaged through them looking for something she missed and needed to study more. "NEWTS are important! They decide our whole entire futures. I slack off or take them less than seriously will drastically jeopardize your life."
"Hermione, we promise are, will and will continue to take this seriously." Ron said as he got up and went to his stressed out girlfriend. "But we are tired. There is only so much studying of history that we can take. My brain fried out long ago and just look at Tink—"
Ron paused as both he and Hermione looked at Harry who was currently turning pirouettes with the spoon still balanced. He stopped mid turn at his friends' stares.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You see?" Ron continued, "Too much studying isn't healthy. You get people doing weird things like that." Ron waved a hand in Harry's direction.
"Ron Harry acts like that all the time now."
"Should I be insulted here?"
"He acts like this because he is on study overload. Let's call it a day hmm? It's a wonderful Friday. How would you feel about a walk before dinner?" Ron was calling in the big dogs to get out of his scholastic reviewing.
"A walk would is a nice way to clear out my head before my ancient runes study session after dinner."
"That's the spirit!" Ron was ecstatic. It had worked. Nice walk with girlfriend and no more books. He was a genius!
Harry took the spoon off his nose and rushed to gather his papers before Hermione changed her mind. He would finish the essay later.
Soon after the three were walking back to the common room. Ron and Harry were talking about a new broom model and Hermione was rereading a parchment of notes. None of them heard the footsteps behind them. The announcement of the two other presences was by Harry feeling a sharp shove to his back sending him to the ground.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Ron turned around and found himself face to wand point. He was met with a sour face Slytherin seventh year named Steven Merser. His companion was a slightly shorter boy named Timothy Blenning. The two had never even talked to the three before. They were usually apart of the larger group of Slytherins that had tormented Harry from afar in the past, but they had never been of the physical tormenting type. Blenning had his wand trained on Hermione.
"You two could be expelled for attacking fellow students in the halls."
"I am shaking."
"I am sure you are." Ron spat.
"Shut up!"
Merser walked over to where Harry was still lying on the floor. He had half way sat up but was afraid to go for his own wand in case they decided to hex his friends. Merser kicked him in the side. Not too hard, but enough to bruise. Harry winced and tried to get up. Merser kicked him again.
"They needed to kick you out as soon as it was announced that you were dark. I had friends dad's who were thrown in Azkaban from you just saying they were consorting with You-Know-Who and here you get to walk around free you filthy stinking animal." Merser said all of this very calm and coldly. Harry was reminded of Malfoy at his worst before the war. 'I guess someone always has to be the top meanie.' Harry thought as he tried to get up again only to be kicked.
"Stop it!" Hermione called.
"I am going to kick you two's awful snake a—"
Ron didn't get to finish his tirade of intimidation as a swoop of black descended upon them and grabbed Merser and Blenning by their collars.
"You two will come with me to the Dungeons." Professor Snape snarled menacingly. He was looking at the two Slytherins as if he had just squished a bug with his good boots. Ew. Bug guts.
He began to haul the two flabbergasted Snakes away when he half turned to the trio. Harry was still sitting on the ground. All three were staring wide eyed at the professor.
"You three will return to your dorms unless Mr. Potter requires medical attention. Do. Not. Meander."
Snape turned toward Harry and for a brief second their eyes locked and he turned back into Severus for that moment Harry saw a brief flicker of concern. Instantly Snape was back and was dragging the two assailants off and down the hallway. The three Gryffindors stayed where they were still staring.
"Those two are in for a detention and a deduction of house points. Serves them right!" Hermione said as she shifted the pile of books in her arms.
Ron absentmindedly reached for the books in the brown haired girls hands and took them for her. He was still staring at the retreating Slytherins and their Head of House.
"Are you kidding?" Ron said with a grin, "You see Snape's face? He won't give them a detention."
"He won't? Of course he will. He won't let them get away with it." Hermione said incredulously.
"Nope. He'll just kill them."
Harry began to stand up. "He won't kill them." He looked back at the fast paced professor and then back at his friends. "Right?"
"I am sure Professor Snape won't resort to violence." Hermione replied although she had a look of uncertainty in her eyes.
"I really want to be a fly on his office wall! Oh, or have one of Fred and George's extendable ears." Ron said with a dreamy look on his face as they began to walk again.
"Do we need to go to the hospital wing?" Hermione asked Harry.
"No, I'm fine. He didn't kick me that hard." Harry said as he rubbed his side lightly. He was still worried about Severus actually doing something to those two Slytherins. He didn't want Severus getting into trouble. Once again the man had saved him. Granted this was on a much smaller scale, but he was still ever grateful to his knight in dark armor. 'Oh.' Harry thought, 'now that is just awfully corny. Never ever tell Severus that line. He would never let me live that down.' Still. A knight always got a reward and Harry still hadn't gotten back at Severus for the alcove incident.
The fairy had a plan.
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Severus was livid. Blenning and Merser had left his office a while ago looking as if someone had just told them they would be sleeping in Filch's quarters from now on. Severus had deducted the maximum amount of house points that fighting in the halls allowed and he deducted even more points for other infractions. Some of them were true too. He had also given them a month of detentions and had chewed them out for over an hour. After all of this he still didn't feel like justice had been served. Seeing Harry lying on the floor with Merser kinking him had seen Severus wishing to throw the boy out the window. An act that Severus was quite sure Albus would not approve of.
Two months.
Two months and he would be able to protect Harry from the pig headed people who wanted to hurt him.
Looking back the alcove incident had been a bad idea. It had made Harry feel better and Severus had gotten to touch the young man again, but now it was just as teasing for him as it was for Harry. He wanted to tell everyone that Harry was his. His own. He snorted as he thought about the reaction that would induce. After the war his place as a spy was revealed and he was given an Order of Merlin First Class for his service to the side of the light. Mattered not. People still saw him as nothing more than a Death Eater.
"But who will save him when they find out about me?" Severus said quietly to himself as he rubbed his eyes.
Even if Harry beat this reputation as an evil creature he could not get away from the fact that his mate had a less than spectacular history. Bright green eyes and a full mouth smiling at him flashed through his mind. To hell with everyone else.
Two months.
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April came with spring showers, flowers, and warmer weather. Harry was dividing all of his free time between being outside amongst the flowers and green and the room of requirement. It was just after quidditch practice and Harry was currently lying of the cold stone floor of the room of requirement with heavy sacks all around. He had training to do.
His plan had to work.
"Harry?"
Harry lifted his head to see Hermione at the doorway.
"Hi 'mione. What's up?" He said he returned his head back to the floor.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked as she came into to room and looked at all of the weight sacks surrounding Harry.
The short man shrugged, a feat that was hard to do while lying down, "Nothing..."
"You are a terrible liar. What is going on?"
"Where's Ron?"
"Beating Seamus in chess spectacularly. Now don't change the subject. What are you doing?" Hermione sat down right next to Harry.
"I am trying to see how much weight I can pick up when I fly." Harry answered as he sat up.
Hermione's eyebrows shot upward and were lost in her wild bangs. "Why?"
Harry shrugged again. "Just an experiment?" Dang, that wasn't supposed to come out as a question.
"Are you asking me?"
"No."
"Spill."
Harry sighed and stared down at his hands. He felt a heat creep into his face. "Revenge..."
"Harry. I am disappointed. You know violence has never—"
"Not...not violent revenge Hermione." Harry interrupted quietly.
"Now I am confused."
"Welcome to my world." Harry sighed again and looked up at his friend. He told her about the episode in the alcove.
"I thought he had told you none of that until after you took your NEWTS?"
"He did. He felt breaking the rule was appropriate considering the circumstances at the time. He wanted to make me feel better he said." The blush hadn't left Harry's face since he began his explanation and he feared it would decide to take residence and be a permanent feature if he wasn't careful.
"He is a tease!"
"That's what I said!" Man, did it feel good to talk to someone about this.
"So now you want to do the exact same thing. Resort down to his terrible level and pull a stunt like that? Tease him? Seduce him only to pull away?"
Well when you put it like that it sounds terrible. "No I guess I really shouldn't I—"
"I'll help"
Harry blinked. Then he blinked again. Yes, it was still Hermione in front of him.
"I'm sorry could you repeat that."
Hermione chuckled, "I said I will help you."
"That's what I thought you said...say what?"
"He drew first blood in that alcove. All is fair in love and war after all."
First blood? War? Hermione was getting that scary planning face now and had an evil grin to accompany it. Harry wondered if this was something all women did.
"I thought you said that we should stay platonic until the end of school."
"So I did. You want my help or not?"
Harry may never understand how the woman's mind worked. He didn't care much right now. When Hermione had that look in her eye then who was he to refuse.
"Yes."
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Severus was sitting at his desk when he heard a slight knock to his door. He checked the time and realized he had graded papers all through lunch and it was now time for the daily check in with Harry. Severus braced himself as he went to the door. These sessions, he knew, were more of Albus's meddling, but Severus was a selfish man and he did not pass on an opportunity to see and talk to Harry. However this whole thing was turning into a great battle of will power to keep his hands off the young man. He opened the door.
"Mr. Potter."
"Professor Snape." Harry replied just as formally as he entered the office. It had become a game to see who could sound the most formal. Severus always won but Harry gave it the old school try.
Severus shut the door. "How has your NEWTS studying progressed?"
"Not you as well!" Harry groaned. "That is all Hermione talks about is NEWTS, NEWTS and if she is feeling adventurous NEWTS. No talking about it please?"
Severus arched an eyebrow. "Very well. What would you wish to talk about? I am afraid I cannot be very long."
"But it's Saturday."
"There is a staff meeting in thirty minutes."
"Oh." Harry wondered if that was enough time to get the first part of his plan into effect. He tried to remember what Hermione told him. Instincts.
Instincts.
Did Harry have instincts about this kinda thing?
Time to find out.
"Where is the craziest place you have ever been kissed?"
Oho, Severus was not expecting that. The professor's highly expressive brow shot skyward.
"I beg your pardon?"
Harry turned and looked at the other man. Hermione had said this was the perfect weekend to carry out the plan. It was Spring Holiday and many had gone home. The trio was still present but they kept Ron out of the loop. The red head didn't have the stomach or the aptitude for this kind of thing.
Hermione had told him to wear a tighter fitting t-shirt than what he normally wore and when he went downstairs wearing the smallest one he owned the witch still cast a shrinking charm on the garment. Harry felt a little uncomfortable wearing such tight fitting clothing but Hermione reminded him that if the second phase of the plan was going to work he was going to have to get over his shyness. She said it was all "part of the game."
Strange game.
"I said where is the craziest place you have ever been kissed?" Just the thought of kissing made Harry very conscious of his lips. He licked them and noticed a flicker of....something...pass through Severus's eyes. That was good. Right?
Severus could not think about kissing with Harry so close. Especially since the young fairy was wearing a slim fitting top and faded worn out jeans and licking those pink lips and he really needed to go before he did something.
"Silly question." Severus tried to sound non surplus about the whole conversation but failed when those two words came out as more of a croak.
Harry merely shrugged. "I am a silly kind of person." He paused for a few moments before asking another question. "Why are you scared of heights?"
"I do not follow your questioning." Though Severus was eternally grateful they had strayed away from kissing.
Harry shrugged again. The action causing the small shirt to rise up revealing a small patch of swirl and stomach. Severus was going crazy. Why had Harry worn such a thing? It should be illegal. He realized he had started to move toward the younger man and stopped. Without anything better to say and knowing he needed a distraction he answered the question.
"No good memories come from being high up. I fell off a broom here at Hogwarts and broke my arm. Since then I like to keep both feet on the ground."
Harry hummed slightly in response. "I see, well I have done my duty and checked in. You should get to your staff meeting."
"Yes, that is right." Thank all the spirits of this castle for that staff meeting Severus was still transfixed on the hem of Harry's shirt and the small flash of skin that would appear from time to time with movement.
Harry began to walk to the door but turned as soon as he passed the professor resulting in the two standing really close. Harry looked up into the dark, intense eyes and bit his lip. Now or never.
"Sunsets are really pretty in the spring. I am going to be outside tonight by the forbidden forest around then."
Severus swallowed. That sounded like...an invitation. Why did Harry have to keep messing with his lower lip like that? It was getting difficult to think.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Harry shrugged for a third time this brief visit. This time though it was accompanied with his lopsided grin. "I am supposed to tell you these things Professor. It is part of my check-in."
Harry turned back towards the door, "Bye Severus." He called.
"Goodbye...Harry." was his response. The young Diligarian wondered if it worked. He would just have to hope because there was no turning back now. He heard what sounded like a knocking sound but couldn't be bothered to investigate. He left the dungeon to put the second phase of the plan into play.
He left a very frustrated potions master banging his head against the door.
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Sunset arrived and Severus found his feet leading him outside and onto the grounds. Before he knew it he was walking along the edge of the forest trying to act like he wasn't looking for Harry. There were very few students about on account of the long weekend for Spring Holiday. Severus was glad. There was no one around at the time to explain his actions to. He walked along and had to agree with the sentimental lion. With the green grass and the budding trees the sunset did look quite nice.
"Don't be afraid." He heard Harry whisper behind him. But before he could turn he felt two strong but smaller arms come around his chest and then a feeling of weightlessness. Harry had picked him up! Not only had he picked him up but he was lifting—flying—him higher until Severus was set down on a large branch at topmost base of a tree. He quickly backed up as close as he could to the trunk and sat down with his legs straddling the branch. It may have looked undignified but Severus couldn't care less. He may be his mate but Harry Potter was in trouble. Leaves and branched surrounded him as Severus looked to see where the winged menace was who had deposited him...he looked over the edge...thirty feet above ground. Severus quickly looked back up and tried to take his mind off of the height.
"Harry?" he called out. "Enough games. Get me down."
"But why? Games can be fun." responded Harry's voice. Still no sign of Harry though. Severus heard a rustle of leaves to his right and turned only to let out a small gasp.
Harry was walking gracefully along the boughs of the tree as if he belonged there. Severus mused he did. Harry's wings were out and were a brilliant shade of...was that silver? It seemed to make his wings glow. These two things weren't enough to make Severus loose all true train of thought and forget that he was stuck in a tree. No.
What accomplished that little task was the fact that Harry potter was wearing nothing but those worn out jeans from earlier. His shirt, shoes, and socks had mysteriously vanished in the amount of time between their afternoon check in and now.
Harry was not a bulky man and never would be, but years of quidditch and combat training had given him a considerably well toned and lithe body and the way the black swirls and lines played across his tan skin had Severus in a trance. He finally tore his eyes away from the young fairy's stomach to his face and saw a bright blush to his cheeks, his bottom lip being worried between his teeth and a nervous but determined look in his vibrant green eyes.
Perfect.
"Care to make some good memories?" Harry asked quietly.
"Huh?" came the most intelligent reply from the most intelligent man. Harry smiled a little and explained.
"You said earlier you did not have any good memories from being up high. Care to amend that?" Harry had continued walking during this whole conversation and was now right in front of Severus on the branch. He sat down and also straddled the branch like his companion.
Harry didn't give Severus time to answer though as he leaned in and up slightly to brush his lips against the dark haired wizard lightly only to have the taller wizard moan and draw Harry in and deepen the kiss. Without any coaxing this time Harry opened his mouth and their tongues were dancing. The buzz of adrenaline and the pull of his mate were giving Harry all sorts of warm, bubbly and intoxicating feelings and he really hoped he could go through with the plan.
The only sounds were a few birds around the other trees singing merrily and unaware that a few feet away Severus was making Harry sing his own song of sighs gasps and giggles as his hands began to wander over the exposed skin.
After a while Harry knew it was probably time to pull back. Severus's hand had stayed at the base of his stomach around the top of his jeans for some time now as if gathering up the courage to go lower and the other arm was slowly drawing Harry closer until he was practically in the other man's lap. Harry broke the kiss.
"We should stop." He said breathlessly.
He was not prepared for the growl to come from the older professor.
Harry tried to scoot back some only to be stopped again by two very strong hands at his back by his wings. They brought him close again.
"Mine." Severus said breathlessly as he began to suck on Harry's neck.
Oh. Crap. Harry thought through the haze. Mess with fire too much and you may just get burned. He may have teased Severus too much. The man didn't seem to be aware of anything at the moment. Harry was having a hard time resisting the urges that had built up within him as well but he had to stay focused. This couldn't get too serious. They had to wait. Two months.
Why did they have to wait?
Oh, yea.
Curse decorum and curse being practical and patient.
Severus's hand must have worked up its nerve because it moved from Harry's back to the front of his jeans. Harry gave a loud squeak and pulled away. Must stop.
If Severus did not want their first time to be in a dark alcove then Harry most certainly did not want it to be in a tree.
Splinters.
"Severus stop. We can't." He said as he pulled away.
The use of his first name seemed to bring the older wizard some clarity. He blinked a few times and then groaned.
"And you called me a tease Harry?" his chest rising in staccato movements.
"This was designed to be revenge for your stunt a few months ago but I think I just tortured myself as well." Harry said with just as ragged breath as he began to scoot back more and more. Finally when they were about a meter apart he stopped and gazed at the dark eyes still clouded over from their earlier activities. Harry ran his hand through his hair making it stand up even more that the previous moment.
"I should go." He said as he began to get up. Hermione had told him that the number one rule in all of this was to be the first to leave.
"Oh no you don't" Severus said as he grabbed onto Harry's arm.
"You left first at the alcove! You are always telling me to go when things get too heated. I am merely one step ahead."
"You cannot go anywhere."
"And why not?"
"Because you have got to get me down."
Oh. Harry had forgotten they were high in a tree.
Harry quietly accioed his shirt and pulled it on. He stood and helped Severus do the same. It was odd to see the man teeter off balance.
"If I fall I swear—"
"I know, I know. The only Diligarian in a couple hundred years will meet his most untimely doom." Harry replied as he once again grabbed Severus around the middle and floated him back down to the ground. Once there Severus dusted himself off and attempted to act upset and not as if he had not just sounded as afraid and unsure as he had. Their little encounter in the branches though flashed through his mind again and any thoughts of being afraid or angry went away. He leaned down and kissed Harry softly.
"That was quite a passable memory to associate with heights."
" So you're not scared anymore?"
"Let's just put it this way, I best not ever catch myself in a tree again. Or else."
"Or else what?" Harry said with a smile.
"Just or else." Severus said in a deep voice.
A shiver ran up Harry's spine. Not the unpleasant kind either. Both stood there for a minute in the fading sun.
"Well?" Severus prompted.
"Well what?"
The older man chuckled. "You wanted to be the first to leave of their own accord."
"But you're telling me to do it." Harry said. His great plan had fizzled out in the end.
Severus was shaking his head, bemused by the situation. Harry had to find some way to salvage his wayward plan if only minutely. He leaned up and gave Severus another kiss. "You go. I have to find my shoes anyway."
Severus smirked, "Very well. I shall be sent away. Are you sure we do not need the chime of a clock?"
"If I could find my socks then one would be thrown at you right now."
"Charming." Another quick kiss. "I shall see you tomorrow for your check in?"
"Of course."
"Good. Now. Can it be safely assumed that we are even in the grand scheme of teasing one another?"
"Yes, quite safely."
"Good. Because the next time this happens it won't be a tease."
Another shiver up the spine and Harry felt himself blush.
"Good evening Harry."
"Good evening Severus." The winged teen said quietly.
Severus turned and as he left he called out, "You were right. A sunset in spring is really quite lovely."
Harry had a feeling Severus wasn't talking about the sun at all. He smiled and turned to look for his footwear.
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"I hope there are waffles this morning for breakfast!" Ron said merrily as the trio made their way to the great hall.
"I need coffee." Harry said as he yawned.
"Awww....Did all your humming in your sleep keep you up last night Tink?"
"You exaggerate. I do not hum that much in my sleep."
"Sorry, but you do. You even hum little tunes sometimes."
"That is just ridiculous," Harry turned toward his other friend o seek reason, "Hermione, tell him I don't hum."
"Well I have never heard a tune before, but you do hum when you sleep Harry."
"Bah! You would side with him. I—"
The three had just entered the Great Hall and the room had become deathly silent.
"Oh fantastic. What has happened now?" Harry said as he quickly walked and sat down at the table.
Hermione picked up the Daily Prophet. It had become the main source for these sudden outbursts of silence whenever Harry entered the room. She scanned the front cover and her eyes grew wide.
"What? What does it say? Have I attacked a village? Have a cult worshipping me? What?"
"Better." Hermione said as she passed the paper over to Harry.
"Hmm," Harry said sarcastically as he flipped the paper to read, "What could possibly be better that attacking a village and having my own cult of..."
Harry stopped talking as he started reading.
The Boy Who Inspired.
By Sophia Apherman
This article is first and foremost a retraction of previous articles made in the over the previous few months concerning wizarding hero Harry Potter. It was reported by the Daily Prophet that Mr. Potter had received an inheritance from an evil magical creature called the Diligarian. While it is true that the young wizard has indeed inherited the Diligarian blood line he is by no means an evil creature. The reporter who brought you this article was grossly mistaken and her expert thoroughly discredited. The Diligarians were never evil. They did not kill or maim. They inspired.
I and the Prophet received a tip from an unknown source in the form of an ancient document that discussed the Diligarian race and history. The parchment was authenticated through countless tests and now the findings present in this record can be reported to you, the reader, in hopes of once and for all clearing up at least some of the mystery of Harry Potter.
Diligarians were considered to be inspirational to muggle and wizard alike, though in the muggle world they went by a different name: Muse. The Diligarians are said to inspire individuals by giving off a sense of hope and happiness. Many of the greatest muggle thinkers of history who have commented on a muse are actually speaking of an encounter with a Diligarian. In fact, the great Leonardo Da Vinci, the eccentric wizard who delved into muggle invention, was the mate of a Diligarian and claimed his love was the true power behind the genius's work. How is this known? The ancient, revealing document was written by none other than Da Vinci himself.
Though the document does clear up at least one question about our Boy-Who-Lived it still leaves so many unanswered. The main of which is why the Diligarian race is almost extinct. We will continue to research more in depth and seek more sound expert advice regarding this and only report when our facts are just that: facts.
The terrible gossip made by one of our former reporters has caused the wizarding world to fear someone they should not fear. Someone who has saved countless lives and was inspiring all of us long before he became a muse.
"Is this serious?" Harry asked as he handed the paper to Ron who shoved the rest of the muffin he was eating in his mouth to free up his hands.
"Does it matter?" Hermione said as she buttered some toast, "You said it yourself back when Skeater called you evil; the public is going to think what it wants. Whether you are a muse or not makes no difference."
Harry turned around in his seat to survey the rest of the Hall. Many had returned to their breakfast but a good number were still staring at him. They didn't look scared anymore. If anything they just looked confused. As if asking 'Just what the heck are you anyway?' They needed to join the club. Harry had no clue either. The club needed shirts. Every good club had a shirt.
Ron finished the article and put the paper down. "The Skeater cow got the sack!"
"That is what you gleamed from that whole article Ron?" Harry asked as he started to peal an orange.
Ron smiled. "That's the real important part. She got her comeuppance!"
"What about me being a muse?" Harry asked.
Ron just scoffed. "Pshh! So you motivate people? You have always done that. Ha! She got canned! This calls for another waffle!"
"You are going to be the size of a house if your metabolism ever stops working Ron." Hermione commented as she sipped her juice.
"It's not weird that I am apparently a classical being of inspiration?"
"Tink. It's you. What were you expecting? Hell yes it's weird! Now pass the butter."
"Ron. Language!" Hermione said as she began to get out study notes for NEWTS.
Harry started to eat on his orange slices. People were hopefully not going to be afraid of him anymore. The thought really sunk in and he began to smile. He would have to get use to people seeking him out over the whole 'muse' business, but hopefully people would eventually see that he really didn't inspire anything and then leave him alone once and for all. He had a feeling there would still be individuals out there who will still believe him to be an evil creature, but at least now he wouldn't make the first years cower if he so much as sneezed around them. He had a good feeling who was behind all of this. He looked up towards the head table to catch Professor Dumbledore's eye.
Said eye was twinkling bright as was its twin and the elder wizard gave the youth a brief nod and smile before turning to Professor McGonagall and striking up a conversation. Harry's eyes floated down the faces of each of the teachers until they connected with a pair of dark, piercing eyes. Severus. The look lasted for only a second but there was enough energy held in their gaze to well make up for it. Harry turned back to his friends with a slight stain of red to his cheeks and neck.
Muse or not,
He knew what he inspired in Severus.
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Holy sweet snicker doodles, I am almost done with this story. Only one more chapter to go and then the prologue. How time flies.
Let me know what you think. It means a lot.