Chapter 2
Harry's POV
Harry tapped his pen quietly on the table, not quite listening as Dr. Minerva McGonagall, the head of his department, who was sitting beside him, gave the full explanation of Colin Creevey's actions to other Department Head's. Snape was still not looking at him, pretending that he was invisible or at best a speck of dust on the chair, despite giving undivided attention to Minerva's explanation. He gave out a low, bitter chuckle. Why should he care whether Snape was looking at him or not? How ridiculous.
"Dr. Potter? Is there something funny?" said Minerva, a vein flickering on her temple. "Perhaps, would you like to share it with us?"
She didn't look happy to be interrupted, especially when she had to take responsibility of the entire incident. Faint snorts could be heard from the other side of table. Deciding that he'd like to spare his ears – Minerva's scolding was quite unpleasant and long – he decided to apologize and not cause any more embarrassment to his head of department.
He cleared his throat, "No… I'm sorry, please go on."
When he turned his head to the left, he caught sight of Snape's eyes. He smirked widely just out of spite. Seeing that it made the older man flustered made him remember the day after his first confession.
XxXxX
"Yesterday… you…"
"Kissed you and said I like you," said Harry, feeling amused at the fact that Snape seemed not be able to say those words.
"Which I find very hard to believe, Dr. Potter," said Snape, his lips thinning considerably in dismay.
"What? The kiss or the confession?" said Harry coyly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Snape furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes at him dangerously, "Both, what are you playing at, Potter?"
"I'm serious you know," said Harry wryly. "I don't have a habit kissing someone that I don't like."
Snape deadpanned, "You can't possibly like me."
"Why not?" Harry raised his eyebrow at the blatant refusal.
"I'm not an idiot, Potter!" snapped Snape, glaring at him. "I know I've been horrible to you all these years. You must hate me."
"Wrong, I hated you," said Harry readily. "Well, I don't right now."
Snape's frown grew deeper. "Then why the sudden change of heart? Why do you even like me?"
"It's not… that sudden," he admitted, shrugging. "Even when I didn't like you, I admired your skill as a doctor. Though, it took me a while to like your personality." Snape snorted loudly with disbelief at that and took a sip on his coffee cup. "And I always think that you're… sexy," he continued.
His last word make Snape choke on his coffee violently.
"Snape, are you okay?" asked Harry worriedly as the coughing fit ensued. "Here… have some water." He passed him his water bottle.
"Is that some kind of your evil scheme to kill me?" Snape glared accusingly at him when his coughing subsided.
Harry denied it at once, "No, of course not!"
"Potter! Then let me ask you which part of me is like you say, sexy?" said Snape, giving him an incredulous look.
Harry blinked then said slowly, "… everything?"
Snape sneered, "I'm not that much a fool to actually believe that!"
"I – Listen, I'm not trying to humor you," said Harry exasperatedly. "You… I really do think that you look exceptionally sexy in your surgical scrubs."
"Potter, that's only your fetish!" snapped Snape. "We all look the same in them! It's a hospital policy!"
"That doesn't change the fact that I still like you," said Harry, straddling the chair as he moved in for the kill.
"Dr. Potter, this is highly inappropriate!" Snape attempted to protest, pushing him away.
"Let me kiss you again, I'll prove it to you," he said softly.
"Potter!" Snape struggled against his hold.
"Don't tell me that you're afraid that you might like it?" taunted Harry.
"I'm not afraid!" snapped Snape.
"Then, may I kiss you?" Harry grinned impishly. "Please?" he added politely.
Snape looked at him with an unreadable gaze before grudgingly replying, "Very well, but—," Harry hurriedly sealed off the rest of the words with his lips in case the older man changed his mind.
He could feel Snape stiffen at the first touch before finally melting into the kiss. It was hard to believe at first that a cold and hard man like Severus Snape had the softest lips that he had ever kissed. Nor had he expected that Snape would be such a great kisser when he put his heart into it.
"Wow… " Harry muttered dazedly when the kiss that sent his mind reeling ended, feeling the difference from their first kiss. He would kill for more kisses like this. One glance at Snape told him that the older man was just as flustered and excited as he was.
Snape flushed when he was caught looking at him and delivered a hard swat on his bottom.
"Get up, Potter, before you ruin my chair!"
"Ouch," Harry yelped, rubbing his sore bottom then grinned, "I don't mind a rough play as long as you'll kiss it better later."
"Potter, don't push your luck!" Snape glowered darkly at him. "Just don't!"
XxXxX
Suddenly, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, Harry stood up, sending his chair scraping noisily against the floor which earned him a surprised look from the rest of the occupants of the meeting room.
"I need to use the loo," he mumbled his excuse and without looking at anyone he strode out of the room.
He ran off almost blindly to the nearest bathroom before locking it behind him and then splashing his face with ice cold water. There was so much pain in his heart that it felt like there was a knife lodged deep within it. He was aware that he was laughing and crying at the same time. His reflection on the mirror was showing a man who was slowly going mad. His love and hate were so entwined together that it couldn't be good for his sanity.
Maybe I should reevaluate my decision to stay, he thought quietly as he regained his composure. Transferring into another hospital doesn't sound so bad now.
He needed to move away, somewhere else that wouldn't remind him of Severus Snape. But he would shove away all sentimental feelings for later, because right now duty was calling him clear and loud from the hospital's loudspeaker.
XxXxX
"What have we got here?" Harry asked as soon as he walked into the A & E.
The nurse reported to him, "The patient is a 50 year old man, he complained about pain in his right side!"
"Prepare the X-ray and blood work!" said Harry.
"Already have, Dr. Potter," replied the nurse.
Susan Bones – one of the junior house officers – inspected the man as he moaned in pain.
"I think… it's an appendicitis," she said quietly.
Harry gave a slight nod at that and instructed the nurse, "Give him 2 grams of fosfomycin."
"Yes, Doctor."
"Sir, can you hear me? It's going to be ok," said Harry softly. "I'm going to press down a little. Tell me if you feel any pain."
Harry pressed his fingers on the patient's stomach carefully, moved it lower and felt the palpitation. The pained grunt from the patient only served as a confirmation. Yes, it's definitely appendicitis, probably on the verge of exploding. He shared a look with Susan Bones. "I believe you're right. Dr. Bones, could you assist?"
"Yes, Dr. Potter!" replied Susan at once.
Then he turned to the nurse. "Call the anesthesiologist! It's an emergency operation!"
XxXxX
Harry had just finished changing from his dirty scrubs when Hermione appeared at the door.
"I heard you've just finished an operation."
Harry shrugged. "An appendicitis. I'm glad it wasn't as bad as I had predicted." He admitted with a smile, "And Susan's skills keep improving more and more each day."
"See, I told you so," said Hermione smugly. "She's a bright student."
"I want her in my department," said Harry.
"You wish, she'll be joining mine in Pediatrics," said Hermione, crossing her hands and eyeing him challengingly.
Harry rolled his eyes. He actually thought that inter-department rivalry was getting ridiculous nowadays, although he understood why it occurred - because more talented new doctors meant less work and stress for everyone. It wouldn't be long before things started to get dirty. Though, he probably wouldn't be there when it happened. He waited untill Ron joined them before announcing his decision and awaiting their reaction.
"Oh, Harry…" said Hermione as she gave him a long, searching look and then smiled a little sadly. "Have you considered everything about transferring carefully?"
"Yes, I have," Harry assured her, "Maybe it'll be the best for me if I never meet him again." Then he looked at his best friends since they were medical school students and smiled wistfully. "Still, I'll miss you both a lot."
"Nah, good riddance, I say," Ron piped up. "That old cheating bastard didn't deserve someone like you." The red haired man clapped him on the back. "All you need is someone to date, mate. Ginny will be delighted if you ask her out."
"No," he said firmly. "Definitely not! I'm not going to use my best friend's little sister like that."
Ron grinned, "She won't mind, you know, she has been worshipping you for several years."
"Ron," said Harry, rolling his eyes. "Stop shoving your sister onto me, she won't appreciate you for that."
"Still, you're a million times better than those losers she has dated before," replied Ron, shrugging.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley, you didn't just call Neville a loser, did you?" Hermione reprimanded him sharply.
"Ay, she's really sensitive about these kinds of matters," muttered Ron in a low voice to him. "She'll be turning into my mum soon."
"I heard that!" snapped Hermione, glaring irritably at Ron.
Harry put his hands up defensively and groaned, "Please, don't drag me into your married couple quarrels."
"Dr. Potter?" The head of his department called across the room. "Would you mind sparing a few minutes of your time?"
His friends exchanged a look with each other and then stared at him with accusingly that said 'what have you done this time?' Harry rolled his eyes at that. Just because the head of his department wanted to talk to him didn't mean that something had gone wrong. Really, he should be hurt at how lowly his friends thought of him.
"We'll come back later, Harry," said Hermione, picking up her books from the table.
Ron got up from the chair as well and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Yeah, see you later, mate."
End of Chapter 2
XxXxX
Special credits to Kazuki Yamamoto-sensei, the creator of Godhand Teru, who owned the idea that was borrowed by me in this fic. And much grateful thanks to my lovely Beta, YumeNoTsuzuki! *hugs* ^_^
Also thanks to all readers that had read this chapter. I hope you like this one enough to follow another chapter next week. :D And any review will be welcomed (very) warmly.
