While Harry could appreciate how much better he and Snape got along recently, he couldn't help but think that the man was still an asshole. They had been living together for 3 weeks now and Snape continued to be an utter prat whenever Harry so much as sneezed in a way he didn't approve of. Just yesterday Harry had been helping Snape with his potions all day long and had gotten a tad warm. Since Snape had been wrapped up in the potion, and the potion was progressing through a delicate stage (a stage Snape had said he was sure to fuck up) he had taken off his shirt and used it as a pillow to doze on the floor with. He had been having this wonderful dream about someone trailing fingers up and down his stomach when suddenly Snape kicked him! Not a light kick either; he had left a huge bruise on Harry's side. Then the man had the nerve to yell at him about being a waste of space and how if he wasn't going to be helpful he should just leave. Harry was sure the man was bipolar.
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If he had been able to see the situation from Severus' point of view, he would have come to an entirely different conclusion. Severus had been struggling all day with the nearness of Potter. He had never realized how small his lab bench was until that point. Potter had been humming tunelessly and chopping potions ingredients next to him, unaware at how aroused Severus had been getting by his proximity. Severus could smell the boy's musky scent, feel the boy brush against him when he moved to pass ingredients, and was constantly aware of the sweat trickling down the boys neck. It was driving him mad! His body had been telling him quite insistently that he should ravage the ridiculous boy, making sure to bite his neck (because it was clearly taunting him). Instead he informed the boy that he was too incompetent to be of use in such a delicate potion and forced his attention back to the cauldron. Later, as he was allowing the potion to sit for 27 and a half minutes, he turned to find Potter lying on his floor. Shirtless. He looked as if he was an open invitation to be taken advantage of. Severus crouched next to him and ran his fingertip from his collar bone down along his pectoral muscle, taking time to circle his mauve colored nipple. He was surprised when Harry arched up slightly and made a soft noise, he continued down along his abs and followed the trail of hair from his belly button to the top of his pants, scraping his finger along the hem. Fuck his body screamed for release and his pants were almost unbearable tight. Severus stood and channeled all of his sexual frustration into a hard kick to the Potter boy's side. He told himself that it was more satisfying then following the trail of hair lower would have been. His cock was not convinced.
"Was it really necessary to kick me, Snape?" Harry couldn't resist asking him later at the dinner table " Surely there was another way to wake me up"
"There was, no doubt, an alternate method of awakening. This one was the most enjoyable I could come up with on such short notice, however." Liar Snape ignored that thought.
" I didn't find it enjoyable"
"That was the point, Potter."
Harry was struggling valiantly with his temper when a post owl flew in and dropped an envelope into his salad. Common post owls have such lovely aim he thought , extracting the envelope and checking who it was from. He was hugely surprised, and quite pleased, when he saw Tyler Brooks scrawled on the bottom of the scroll. Until it occurred to him that Tyler should not have known where to send such a letter. Shit. Harry looked nervously at Snape for a minute but the man must have figured the letter had to do with the book, or his school friends.
"May I be excused from dinner? My side hurts and I'm not enjoying the company"
"Only you, Potter, could turn a normally polite inquiry into rudeness"
"Actually, I learned that from you. So is that a yes or a no?"
"I am hardly eager to keep you in my presence" Severus stated, sneering admirably despite his slight guilt for the earlier kick.
"Since you refuse to do straight answers.. I'm going to assume I can leave"
"Tsk Tsk, such a simple mind you have, yes you may leave"
When Harry was safely back to his room, he flopped on his bed and hastily tore open the letter, relaxing as he read it.
Dear Percy (?),
I was quite peeved to not receive a letter from you, I had assumed we got along. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and send you a letter. A task made more difficult by the lack of your real name. I saw the bags your guardian was carrying from the potions store, so after a week of not hearing from you, I decided to investigate. After describing your guardian to several irritated clerks, managers, and customers. I finally found someone put a name to a description of 'tall, dark hair and attire, scary dark eyes, and a big hawk nose' 'Plus the sexiest voice ever, a very bite-able pale neck, lovely shoulders, tapered back, lightly haired toned chest'…. Harry amended to himself. So I decided to send this letter to 'the boy staying at Snape Manor' and hope that he didn't have a plethora of young men living with him. Which of course brought to mind him running some sort of brothel…
Any ways… I thought you were funny and enjoyed hanging out with you, I hope you write me back.
Tyler
Dear Tyler,
Sorry I haven't written you, the brothel has been especially busy. Rewarding though, not every guy gets told he's the best fuck in London.
Just kidding! I have been busy though. My guardian is a Potions Master and lately I have been assisting him with experimental potions. I've also been working on my homework and researching for a project. I absolutely loved the music you picked out for me. I'm quite fond of Mindless Self Indulgence.. and Closer is an amazing song. How has your summer been?
Percy
Dear Percy,
I'm glad business is going well, If you would like to add to your clientele I'd be more than happy to pay for your services...
On a more serious note, I was wondering if you might be up for another trip to Diagon Alley. Maybe you'd like to meet and have some lunch? I know you said you were quite busy, but surely everyone needs a break?
Tyler
Dear Tyler,
My guardian is quite protective of me and probably will not welcome another trip to Diagon Alley until it is time to pick up my school supplies! Perhaps he can be convinced to allow a visit. I'll check with him and get back to you.
Percy
Almost immediately after sending the offer, Harry regretted it. Not so much because he didn't want to see Tyler. It was more a matter of approaching Snape. Since the kick incident the week before, there had been almost no interaction between them. He showed up in the Lab every morning, Snape grunted directions at him, they worked in silence all day, and then he left the lab. He hadn't even seen Snape at meals lately. So, you can begin to understand how reluctant he was to approach Snape and ask him if it was alright that someone come to his home. This was going to be painful.
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That evening, he found Snape in his lab. Of course, the man might as well have his bed in there. That would give them something more interesting to do while potions had to sit... shut up, Harry he told himself sternly. Think about Tyler, he was certainly more attractive. Even if his voice was slightly high pitched and grating...not like Snape..Fuck. Harry quickly gathered his thoughts as he found himself standing in front of Snapes work station.
"Uh.. Sir.. I was wondering if perhaps a friend could come to visit."
"I wasn't under the impression that Weasley and Granger were overly fond of me...However if they can bring themselves to bear my presence..." Snape was inwardly thanking Merlin for this opportunity, sure Potters minions were irritating as all hell...but with them here he was much more likely to control himself.
"It wouldn't be Ron or Hermione, Sir, It would be Tyler.. The boy from Diagon Alley."
"You little fool, the point of your staying here is so that people don't know where you are. You are in this house for your protection, not so that you can play teenage dating games with whoever wants to pick you up in Diagon Alley"
"He doesn't know who I am, Sir. He's under the impression that I am your potions apprentice. As is the usual practice for most Potions Masters. Give me a little credit" Harry shot back his voice rising. Just when he thought behind all Snapes animosity there might be a little respect...
"And how did you plan on appearing to this boy, It doesn't seem like the right time for your ugly suit. Perhaps if you just dab a bit of make up on your scar he wont know who you are..."
"Or I could use the same potion and just alter my face, please Snape I've been going mad in this house. Either you aren't talking, or you are and your directing me about like a barely competent House Elf. I need some normal human interaction."
Snape sneered at Harry "Ah yes, Harry Potter's Quest For Normality, perhaps that should be your next book. He may come this weekend I suppose, but do me a favor and keep him out of my presence as much as possible.. his voice seemed a bit shrill and the house elves are bad enough"
"Thank you, Sir" Harry ground out as he clenched his fists and turned to walk stiffly out of the room. He took his walk back as an opportunity to calm down and force himself to appreciate what had just happened. Tyler was allowed to come visit.. for the weekend. Snape probably hadn't meant it in that way.. but Harry was past caring. Plus, with Snape being such a douche bag, perhaps his inappropriate thoughts would be banished.
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Snape turned abruptly from his potions as Harry left the lab. Damn the brat. Damn the situation. As much as he'd like to, he couldn't really fault the boy for wanting someone to talk to. Merlin knows he wasn't a great confindante...especially now that the urge to strangle Potter had turned into the urge to push him face first on to the neerest table and fuck him... I obviously need to get laid. Perhaps after Potters little friend leaves I'll take a trip to the local pub and find someone to play with. I just have to get through the weekend... The little prat will come either Saturday or Sunday.. frustrate me with his existence.. and then leave. I just have to get through the weekend.
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Dear Tyler,
I got the old bastard to let you come! You can come either Saturday or Sunday. Or you could come Saturday.. and leave Sunday. Its up to you. I hope this isn't too short of notice.
Percy
Percy -
I would be delighted to come this Saturday and have told my grandmother to expect me home sometime Sunday. I should be through the floo around noon, look forward to seeing you.
Tyler
That morning Harry made sure to spend a little extra time with his appearance. He made his hair darker, eyes more hazel, scar gone of course, dusky freckles over his cheeks, lips thinner, cheeks more pronounced.. small changes that gave his face an entirely different look. He then went to floo entrance and waited for Tyler to pop up. Almost exactly at noon Tyler exited the massive fireplace, stumbling only slightly.
"This is.. cozy." He said glancing about at the intimidating black decour.
"Isn't it just, thank Merlin the rest of the house isn't anything like this" Harry told him as they walked towards the dining room. Here Snape was eating his toast and browsing Potions Weekly.
"Hello, Sir. This is Tyler Brooks. Tyler this is my guardian, Potions Master Snape."
"Yes Yes P..ercy, You've played Happy Homemaker long enough. Go do something else" Snape growled at them, not bothering to look up.
Harry turned beat red and led Tyler out of the room, stopping only to tell Snape "Oh and since you never specified the duration, or what 'this weekend' entailed.. Tyler will be leaving tomorrow afternoon. Thanks ever so much for letting him stay the night. I do so look forward to exploring my Happy Homemaker role with him later tonight" He left the room quickly. Thankfully enough for Snape who turned an even pastier shade of white and started cursing fluently in several different languages.
Why did I try and make him jealous? Harry asked himself for the 15th time, which was quite a large number considering it had accumulated within a very short walk between the dining area and the field in the back of the house. He shook himself and turned to Tyler " I didn't think to ask you, are you a fan of quidditch? Theres a field in back we might use for some one on one"
"I love quidditch, I'm not particularly good at it though. I'm definitely no Harry Potter" Tyler said with a laugh. Which Harry joined late and uneasily..
"Who is, to hear the press tell of it. Harry Potter could get caught buggering his broomstick and they'd just attribute it to his passion for the sport."
"He saved our world, Percy"
"Yeah, I get that. It doesn't mean I want to read about what he eats for fucking breakfast on the front page of the Daily Prophet"
Needless to say they completed the walk to the field in uncomfortable silence.