AN: Sorry for the long wait. Hopefully the next one will be easier to write. Thanks to all the folks that poked at me, I needed it. Thanks also to Evan James, and Leianora for all the help with the chapter.
Through the Fire
The grey predawn light filtered through the window. Stretching sleepily, Harry untangled himself from Severus. He stood beside the bed for a moment, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and then stumbled to the loo. Due to the amount of alcohol the Bar had plied him with the day before, his bladder was quite insistent on relief.
Feeling much better, Harry quickly washed up and brushed his teeth. Walking back into the bedroom, he smiled. Severus was curled around Harry's pillow, holding it tight against his chest. Harry slipped on a pair of soft cotton draw-string trousers and then stood for a long moment watching his lover. Severus had come to him. Many of Harry's fears had been swept aside by the gesture. But they still had unresolved issues.
Harry had done his thinking the previous night after his talk with Devlin. He knew what he wanted. Severus. He had no intention of giving up on his lover. However, there was one very important point Harry wasn't willing to back down on. Severus had to promise not to lock him out again. Harry could handle Severus' temper; he could live with the biting comments. But the fear and pain he'd felt upon finding himself on the outside with no way in had hurt him deeply.
Settling at the large desk in the corner of the room, Harry pulled the tasseled cord that connected to the kitchens. A few minutes later a tray with steaming scones, a variety of muffins and, most importantly, a pot of strong, hot coffee appeared on the desk. The house-elves were well accustomed to his morning caffeine requirement.
After fortifying himself with a mug of coffee, Harry dashed off a quick note to Brody, apologizing for his abrupt departure and promising to contact him soon. He then turned his attention to writing a detailed account of the attack on Diagon Alley. He'd promised the senior Auror he'd have it delivered to the Head of the MLE by this evening. It had been the only way the Auror would let Harry leave yesterday without a trip to the Ministry.
Harry had nearly finished when he heard Severus begin to stir. Quickly wrapping up his report, Harry prepared a cup of coffee for Severus. He turned his chair to face the bed and waited. Severus stretched slowly, and eventually opened his eyes. "Morning," Harry said softly.
It took Severus several moments to remember why he was at Sinister Place. Then the previous day came back to him in a rush. He tried to gauge Harry's mood, but he couldn't read anything in the younger man's bland expression. "Harry," he greeted his lover cautiously.
Harry smoothly levitated the mug to Severus and sat back. He sipped at his own cup as he gave the older man time to wake up. After several minutes of tense silence, Harry said firmly, "We need to talk."
Sighing, Severus nodded. "Indeed." As much as he would have liked to avoid the upcoming conversation, he knew it was necessary. Severus had quickly realized he didn't want a life without Harry Potter in it. He was willing to do most anything to keep Harry with him; his only fear was what it would cost his pride.
Taking a deep breath, Harry began. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have given the interview without talking to you first." He ran a restless hand through his hair. "I never meant to hurt you. I was trying to correct a wrong that should have been addressed long ago."
Hearing Harry's reason for talking to the reporter, Severus flinched. He'd fouled up worse than he'd thought. He'd come to realize Harry hadn't intended anything cruel, but he had not considered what goal his lover had been trying to accomplish. Shifting in the bed, Severus desperately wished he wasn't nude for this discussion. Between his guilt and the vulnerability his nudity left him with, he felt at a decided disadvantage.
Biting his lip to hide his smile, Harry stood and went to the dresser. Rummaging around, he came up with a pair of black silk sleep pants Luc had forced on him a while back. He tossed them to Severus. He wasn't sure when he'd learned to read the other man so well, but was grateful he could. He nearly laughed aloud at the stunned pleasure in Severus eyes when he saw the garment.
Throwing aside the sheet, Severus quickly slipped into the pants. He immediately felt more in control. "I realize it is impossible for you not to take my reaction personally," he began, taking a few steps closer to Harry. "However, I was not thinking rationally. I regret it more than I can say."
Nodding in acknowledgement, Harry licked his suddenly dry lips. "I'm willing to just drop the whole thing," he started softly. Looking up, he held Severus' eyes. "Except for the part where you locked me out." He would not yield on this issue. Harry knew they could work past any future difficulties, but not if Severus' first reaction was to throw him out. "I can't live in fear that every time I make you angry you'll change the wards. No," he corrected firmly, "I won't live like that."
The mix of hurt and determination in Harry's eyes caused Severus' chest to constrict. This time he narrowed the feeling down to his heart. Frankly, he was surprised the battered organ was capable of such things anymore. But he didn't want to lose Harry. To keep the young man in his life, Severus was willing to accept the pain as well as the pleasure.
"I give you my word, it won't happen again," Severus said solemnly. "When we return to Hogwarts, I will set the wards so that they can only be changed by both of us together."
A brilliant smile lit Harry's face. "I promise not to give any more interviews without consulting you first," he said impishly.
Severus snorted. "Come here, brat."
Harry closed the remaining distance between them. "Here?" he asked huskily.
Snaking out an arm, Severus pulled Harry against him until their mouths were less than inch apart. "Right here," he murmured.
Lowering his head a fraction of an inch, Severus pressed his lips against Harry's. He nipped gently at Harry's lower lip and the young man immediately opened his mouth. The kiss quickly turned heated, and Severus slid his hands down Harry's back, under the loose cotton pants until he could cup his lover's taut arse.
He squeezed the firm flesh in his hands, drawing a moan from Harry's throat. The responsiveness of the younger man always excited Severus. He was steering Harry towards the bed when the bedroom door opened suddenly.
Before the door was fully open, Draco's taunts began. "I heard you in here moaning, Potter. What's the problem, missing your imaginary lover?"
Severus' head shot up. Removing his hands from Harry's behind, he glared at the blonde. "Mr. Malfoy," he hissed. "I know your mother taught you better manners than to invade someone's privacy without knocking." He loosened his grip on Harry so the other man could turn around.
Harry turned in Severus' arms and had to snicker at the flabbergasted expression on Malfoy's face. Draco's silver eyes flicked wildly between the two men; he was seemingly at a loss as to where to start. "Severus, tell me you're not fucking Harry bloody Potter," Draco whined.
A large hand suddenly clamped down on Malfoy's shoulder, and a cold voice drawled, "Not at the moment, Mr. Malfoy." Harry barely suppressed a giggle as Malfoy started violently and whirled around. "But if you had waited a couple more minutes he might have been," Devlin finished dryly.
"Did I give you leave to touch me, you big oaf?" Malfoy snapped imperiously.
Devlin glared down at the blonde. "I advise you to moderate your tone when speaking to me," he growled. He pulled Draco away from the door and pushed him back into the hallway. Turning to Harry and Severus he smirked. "Sorry to interrupt your reconciliation, however, there are several things that need to be discussed before you return to Hogwarts. I took the liberty of calling a meeting of the Bar in fifteen minutes." With a mocking half-bow he left, closing the door behind him.
Sighing heavily, Harry leaned back against Severus. From the hall they could hear Devlin berating Malfoy. "I am tempted to give you the thrashing your father obviously neglected to carry out. The first day you arrived you were informed of the rules of this house, and respecting the privacy of my cousins is the most important one."
As the voices trailed down the hall, Harry couldn't hear words any longer, but there was no mistaking Draco's whining tone.
Dropping his head back onto Severus' shoulder, Harry smiled up at his lover. "I guess this means no make-up sex."
Severus chuckled dryly. Leaning down, he kissed the upside-down smile. "I promise to make it up to you this evening," he murmured huskily.
The Bar was already assembled in the library when Harry and Severus walked in. Harry was annoyed to see Draco present as well, but understood it was probably best to have him here, both to keep the little ferret out of trouble, and hopefully to teach him that there was another way to power besides Voldemort. But that didn't mean Harry was happy to see him.
Sinister Place had always been a place he could go for undemanding companionship, where people knew him as simply Harry, and he didn't have to wear his public mask. But with Malfoy living there, Harry didn't feel as free to be himself. The worst part was he'd suggested Draco stay here, so he didn't feel he had the right to complain.
On the large table in the center of the room was a selection of scones and fruit as well as a large urn of coffee. Harry filled a plate and two mugs of coffee and then joined Severus on the settee. He passed a cup to his lover and settled the plate on his lap. The group chatted quietly about inconsequential matters while Harry and Severus ate.
Eventually a house-elf popped into the room, gathered the empty plates and refilled the coffee cups. Finished with his tasks, the elf snapped his fingers and left. Devlin cleared his throat meaningfully and everyone turned their attention to the leader of the Bar Sinister.
"Early this morning I received a message from one of my Ministry sources," Devlin began. "Fudge has been removed from office."
Harry blinked twice. "About time. But why now?"
"Fudge stuck his head in the sand one too many times," Vane drawled. "And this time there isn't a shovel big enough to dig him out."
Ignoring the laughter around him, Severus asked, "While Fudge's incompetence is without question, what effect will his leaving have on our plans?"
"Nothing we had in motion had relied on Fudge, right?" Harry questioned.
Devlin opened his mouth to answer when Draco interrupted. "Saint Potter extorting the Ministry, who would believe it?"
Glaring at the blonde, Harry said hotly, "Hey, it's not like we're paying anybody off."
Draco snorted. "Right, Potter. You have plans concerning the Ministry, but you're not bribing them. Next you'll be trying to sell me a Heliopath."
"Tell me, Mr. Malfoy, in your no doubt vast experience, what methods do you favor?" Devlin drawled.
Malfoy preened under the question. "Bribes are on occasion an acceptable method," he began pretentiously. "However, it's better if you have damaging information to use against someone."
"Ah, blackmail and bribery," Devlin said lazily. "And you learned them both at your father's knee?"
Turning a disdainful glare to Devlin, Draco replied coldly, "Naturally."
Waving a lazy hand, Devlin smirked. "Yes, they are favorites with those incapable of the more subtle political nuances." He ignored Draco's sputtering, and turned to Harry. "Whilst blackmail and bribery can be effective, I've found that in the long run there are much better ways to deal with politicians."
Grinning at Draco's outraged expression, Harry asked, "Such as?" He really wanted to hear Devlin's methods. Thus far he'd left most of the political maneuvering up to the Bar.
"Oh, I have to hear what you uneducated cretins believe to be effective," Draco snarled, red-faced.
"While we do lack formal schooling," Devlin began with a cool smile, "I believe you will find us to be adequately self-educated." He waved a careless hand towards Gabriel. "Gabriel, perhaps you'll tell us why blackmail and bribery are risky?"
Not bothering to look up from sharpening his dagger, Gabriel answered with a rhetorical question. "Cause what do you do if your victim grows a backbone?"
"Or a conscience," Sebastian interjected.
Flashing a smug smile, Devlin said, "Luc, your favored tactic?"
Leaning back in his chair, Luc casually crossed his legs. "My personal preference has always been trading favors. Minimal energy and risk for your return."
Keeping his cool green eyes on Malfoy, Devlin called, "Vane?"
"For more long-term benefits I've found it useful to persuade people to my cause," Vane said quietly. He took a sip of his coffee and added, "There's nothing like having a converted believer on your side."
Harry grinned as he watched Malfoy stewing silently at the Bar's impromptu lesson. Hopefully it would stem the tide of the blonde's unthinking arrogance. Glancing at his lover, Harry rolled his eyes at Severus' bored expression. Severus had mentioned several times recently that he wished someone would put Malfoy in his place, but no hint of satisfaction that it was finally happening showed on his face.
Turning his attention back to Devlin, Harry was startled to hear the older man say, "For weak-willed individuals, you could always employ Harry's method."
"I have a method?" Harry questioned with a frown.
Severus snorted. "Intimidation, Potter."
Still frowning, Harry gave Severus an uncomprehending look. The black eyes narrowed, and Severus gave a heavy sigh. "Consider how you dealt with Fudge," he began impatiently. "And your dealings with Dumbledore in the last month or so…" Severus trailed off when the light of understanding dawned in Harry's eyes.
"Oh, I see."
"Didn't the Fianna teach you intimidation tactics?" Vane questioned.
Harry chuckled. "Yeah, but their tactics usually included pulling a knife on your opponent."
Everyone except Malfoy laughed. The conversation turned back to Fudge's leaving office. Though the issue was important, there was little they could do besides speculation. The vote was up to the public, not the Wizengamot, and Harry refused to publicly support any of the wizards running. All three candidates were known to the Bar only by reputation.
After the discussion wound down, Harry and Severus said their goodbyes and returned to Hogwarts.
Striding down the empty hallway, Severus Snape was deep in thought. Damn those Gryffindors anyway, he silently fumed. Granger had turned out to be a competent teacher despite his concerns. And it rankled. At least he didn't need to admit it aloud, though Harry, irritating creature he was, would surely have that knowing look in his eyes. Unfortunately there was little Severus could hide from his lover anymore. And that was as frightening as it was reassuring.
As he neared the door to the DADA classroom, he paused. It was unusually silent. Concerned, Severus pulled open the door and strode inside to an unexpected sight. The majority of the class was studiously writing away, but it was the ones not working that were a surprise. Five of his Slytherins and four of the third year Gryffindors were standing on opposite sides of the room with their noses to the wall. Harry was pacing around the room with a blood-stained towel held to his head. Every now and then, Harry poked a fidgeting boy with his wand.
"Potter, a word. Now," Severus snapped, concern making his voice sharp.
The Gryffindor closest to Harry squirmed at Severus' harsh tone. Harry leaned down and spoke to the boy in a voice to low for Severus to hear. The student straightened immediately and was quiet.
Nodding in satisfaction, Harry pressed the towel tighter to the cut on his forehead and walked to the front of the room. He looked up at Severus and saw a mix of concern, frustration, and anger in his dark eyes. With a sigh Harry explained, "I was helping Parker and Adams up front when that lot," Harry gestured to the boys lining the walls, "started throwing punches."
"And you what? Decided to break up the fisticuffs with your granite skull?" Severus asked with a sneer.
"No, you bastard," Harry hissed under his breath. "One of the little idiots drew his wand and threw a tripping jinx. I didn't see it in time and busted my head on one of the desks. I think it was one of your Slytherins."
Severus smiled smugly and shrugged. Relieved that Harry wasn't injured too badly, he drawled, "Tell me, Harry. If the Savior of the wizarding world is incapable of avoiding a third year, what good is he?"
"Bite me," Harry snapped. His head was pounding, and he felt foolish enough; a third year bloodied him, and Severus couldn't resist rubbing it in.
"I'm going to the infirmary," Harry said tiredly as he turned to the door. "You deal with that lot."
"I'm certain I can devise an appropriate punishment," Severus said maliciously. He savored the flinches from the boys against the wall.
Glaring down at the Head of Gryffindor, Severus snarled, "If you would exert some control over the hooligans in your house, I wouldn't be forced to punish them so harshly."
"Don't take that tone with me, Severus Snape," Minerva said sharply. She primly adjusted the ledger on her desk. "I've presided over Gryffindor since you were in short-pants. Don't tell me what my house needs."
Severus straightened to his full height and looked menacingly down his nose at the old tabby. "I'll thank you to leave my pants out of this."
As McGonagall opened her mouth to retort, Severus felt the sudden pull of the spell he'd enchanted on Harry's pendant so long ago. His heart skipped a beat, and for an awful moment, his mind went blank. Harry was in danger.
Pulling himself together, Severus concentrated on finding Harry. As soon as the location became clear in his mind, he turned and left the room at a near run. All thoughts of his argument with Minerva fled his mind as he raced to the infirmary. He heard the click of heels rushing behind him, but paid them no attention.
The distance to the hospital wing had never seemed further. The staircases seemed to sense his haste and for once remained rigidly still. Hogwarts itself seemed to aid his flight. Turning the last corner, Severus offered up a quick, desperate appeal to any deity who would listen. Let Harry be okay.
Throwing open the double doors to the infirmary, Severus quickly assessed the situation. A wall of Black flames encircled a bed halfway down the room, and Ginny Weasley stood several feet back, pleading with Harry. "Harry, if you drop the flames we can be together. You haven't finished your potion. If you drink it, everything will be the way it was supposed to be…"
Severus growled low in his throat. He could see a half-empty vial in her hands. "Expelliarmus," he snarled. The force of his spell shot the vial out of Ginny's hand and threw her across the room. The cool glass slapped into Severus hand. Without taking his eyes off the girl, he quickly bound her tightly, ignoring her whimpers and tears.
Pushing aside his boundless fury, Severus turned to the wall of flames. Cautiously holding out his hand, he edged towards the nearly ceiling-high blaze.
There was a gasp from the doorway. "Be careful, Severus," Minerva said tensely. "I can feel the heat from here."
But no scalding temperature met Severus' outstretched hand. Hoping against hope that he could pass though the fire once again, he slowly walked through the flames.