Words:
Harry
Draco
naked
present
love
christmas
mp3 player
tree
flames
"oh"
song
end
Story:
Harry awoke on Christmas morning and went into the Gryfiindor common room. Since he was the last Gryffindor at Hogwarts over the holidays, there was, oddly, only one present for him under the tree. He gently picked up the tiny green box, and opened it. Inside, was a folded peice of parchment. it read:
Harry,
I want you to know, I like you very much. I figured there was no other day to express my love to you other than Christmas, so I took the liberty of cooking you a Christmas dinner. I also brought your other presents down to my rooms. I can't wait to see the joy on your face when you see what I got for you. Meet me in the dungeons as soon as you can.
Severus
Had he read that right? Severus? SNAPE liked HIM? LOVED him? Holy F!!! This had to be a prank of some kind, but...he wanted the rest of his presents. He quickly dressed in the warmest clothes he owned, dark green sweater, and thick black slacks, and began his descent down to the dungeons. He whistled several cheery Christmas songs on his way, trying to alleiviate his suspicions of this being a trick. But what if it wasn't? He'd always admired his professor for his powerful-looking body, his intimidating nature, his sarcastic sense of humor, and, above all, the fact that he didn't treat him like everyone else did. He didn't treat him as a celebrity...Severus treated him as Harry. Since when had it become Severus rather than Snape?
His snapped from his reverie to find himself standing in front of the door the Severus's personal chambers. He noted the elegant door knob, the head of a silver snake. Hesitantly, he knocked. Immediatley, as if the potions master had been standing just on the other side waiting for him, the door swung open.
"Harry, I was so worried you wouldn't come!" Snape pulled him into a sensual embrace. Surprised, Harry had no other option but to relent and allow the older man's affection. Maybe he could to like it? NO! Whatwas he thinking?! This was SNAPE! The greasy, snarky bastard that had tortured him in his classes for the past five years!
He shoved the other man away. "This is some kind of JOKE isn't it?!" He was angry now. "You don't CARE for me!" You've made my life a living HELL! You DON'T love me, and I sure as HELL don't love you, greasy death eater!" Yes, he was definitely angry now. How dare this man manipulate him by playing through his weakness,by mocking his sexual orientation?
He stood there fuming, expecting Snape to retort with some hurtful comment about his father, or his fame, but it never came. Instead, Severus was simply starring down at his own feet. Harry suspected he was so infuriated that he had shouted at him, a teacher, that he was currently speachless. Slightly freightened, Harry turned and ran, Christmas presents be damned!
He fled onto the Hogwarts grounds, and,before he realized it, he found himself in the peaceful grotto next to the lake. He came here often just to sit...to think about many things. His life, his destiny, Voldemort, Ron and Hermione's relationship and how it would affect him. As of late, he thought more of his godfather than any one else. It had been so long since he last saw the animagus.
As he sat down, he quickly stood again. Someone else was here. Draco Malfoy. The blonde looked up solemnly. Harry noticed his trademark hateful smirk had been replaced by an expression of sadness. The Slytherin had conjured a large blue flame to keep himself warm, as the snow was over three feet thick, and still falling.
Thinking Malfoy would simply ignore him, Harry sat down some distance away. After a while of cooling down from his shouting, Harry realized two very bad things at once. One, he was cold, and, two, he had left his wand in his other robes, so now he couldn't conjures his own fire to warm to keep warm.
He glanced to Draco's fire enviously. Then to Draco himself. The boy seemed troubled. Draco looked up.
"What are you looking at?"
He could said something to the affect of, "I can't tell what it is yet," but, instead, he asked, "Why do you look so sad"
Draco seemed taken aback by his kindness, and didn't answer. Eventually, Harry gave up waiting for Draco's reply. He wasn't getting any warmer, so he stood to leave.
"Pansy broke up with me."
Harry stopped, unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry to hear that," he uttered.
"You look cold Potter. Come sit by my fire."
Harry gladly did so, not caring that this boy was his arch nemisis, second to Snape.
They sat in silence, until Draco began, "Why aren't you with Snape? You did get his letter did you not"
"Yeah, I did, but I'm not going to fall for any of his tricks. Love...PAH! That man wouldn't touch me with a fifty foot stick. I'm too much like my 'proud and ignorant' father."
Draco looked at him in alarm. "That's not true. Severus DOES care for you."
To say Harry was confused by this statement would have been ab understatment. "What?"
"He has loved you incesantly for over three years now, ever since you opened the chamber of secrets."
"Then why is he so mean to me?"
"He didn't want you to know until you were old enough to legally be in a relationship. Especially with him being your teacher and all. Now that you ARE old enough, he wnats to apologize and let you see the REAL him."
"He told you all that?"
"He drank too much egg nogg."
"Oh."
They both sat in silence as the blue flames flickered and crackled.
"If you got his letter, why didn't you go visit him? He got you a wonderful gift. I helped him pick it out. He's also a very good cook, and he's made his speciallty. chicken parmesian"
"I did go."
Draco looked at him questioningly.
"I thought he was just mocking me for being gay, and that he wanted to insult me. I shouted at him and left"
Harry remebered the tender hug the larger man given him. No one who hated you could be capable of that.
"How did he react?"
"He was silent"
"Crying? Sad?"
"I couldn't see his face. Draco, I'm afraid I've made a terrible mistake. I should have stayed...shouldn't I have?"
Draco nodded.
"What are you waiting for? Go back to him. Explain yourself."
And Harry dod just that. He thanked Draco and rushed back to the dungeons. He pounded on the door, shouting Severus's name, but the man didn't answer. He was about to give up, when he remembered the serpent door handle. If it worked with the sink in Myrtle's bathroom, maybe it would work here too. He concentrated on the snake, and commanded it to open. The words came out in parseltongue. The door gave a click and unlocked. Harry pushed it open and let himself in.
He found himself in Snape's den. He had expected everything to be graan and silver, but, instead, the room had been decorated in warm colors, and a fire crackled from the stone fireplace. Harry could the dining table from where he was standing. Draco was right. The man had made a gorgeous dinner for the two of them, and it had been left untouched. A beautiful tree glittered in a far corner, and, beneath it, were many gifts. Harry crept foreward until he spotted Severus lying on a thick bear-skin rug in from of the fire. The man was crying.
Harry went to him and knelt down, placing his hand on the man's back. Severus looked up, tears stil, falling from his eyes. Harry embraxced him and explained his earlier outburst. Severus forgave him, then kissed him deeply. Harry's first kiss.
Severus led him to the table, where Harry ate the most delicious meal he'd ever had. Apparently cooking had a lot in common with potions. Then, he opened his gifts. First all of his presents from his friends, and the Weasleys. Then, Severuses present. Severus had bought him an ipod. He hugged the man greatfully.
Afterwards, Harry found himself cuddled in Severus's lap in on the rug in front on the fireplace. Severus kissed him again, this time urgently. He allowed himself to be lowered onto the soft rug. His lover removed his clothing until he was naked, then they made passionate love. Harry's first time with anyone. Severus was brilliant, and gentle...so gentle. After their shared climax, Harry fell asleep, spooned in his guardian's arms next to the fire.