Chapter 4

Harry's POV

"Ah, finally, the annoying little flea is gone, now we can talk," said Riddle sweetly, his face changing from the small, polite smile to a seductive smirk.

Harry was stunned and actually feeling a bit hurt by the passing comment. Riddle had just called the son of the owner of the house – which could easily pass for a royal palace – an annoying flea.

When he had arrived at this house, he was shocked to find that Malfoy Sr. was a very wealthy man. Coming from a middle-class household, he had never stepped into a huge house like this. His dad was a professional limo driver, which provided a steady, but not overly luxurious income. Actually, his mum told him that his dad had been her driver before they started meeting and fell in love. But seeing at how happy his parents were, he had never – not even an ounce – regretted to be born as their son. He grew up being showered with love until the day they died.

His stomach churned with nervousness and his hand was damp with sweat when Malfoy Sr. introduced him to his wife, Narcissa, who looked every inch like a regal duchess. She made him feel unworthy of being there wearing his plain jeans and t-shirt. Well, at least he thought so until her son and his dog entered the room with paint all over themselves. The way she pinched and twisted Draco's ears reminded him of his own mother.

And Draco himself was okay. It was obvious that he grew up spoiled by his parents and it was no wonder that he turned out to be a quite selfish young man. But when Draco talked so enthusiastically about becoming a doctor, he was reminded of his past self.

"You're rather… blunt, Dr. Riddle," he said slowly.

"Why yes, I am," said Riddle with a smile that reminded him of a cartoon spider when smiling at the trapped butterfly. "And please, call me Tom, especially when we're going to have a private chat."

"Okay…Tom," he replied and tried to smile though it came out a little too forced.

"You'd better give up, he's not worth the trouble," said Tom.

"Who? Draco?" asked Harry, confused with the completely out of the blue statement.

Tom smiled and lowered his voice as if they were sharing a secret, "No, I mean Severus Snape, I notice the way you look at him." When he kept silent, Tom added, "You don't have to worry, I share your sexual preference."

Harry looked warily at him. "I'm afraid I don't get it, Tom."

"You are what? Twenty-six?" asked Tom.

"Thirty," replied Harry curtly.

"Your age is the same as mine…" Tom trailed and stared at him with an assessing look that made him feel uncomfortable. "You look younger than your actual age, and you work for A & E," said Tom in a tone that could only be interpreted as praise as every doctor knew that A & E department had crazy working hours and Tom wasn't the first person that had complimented his unusual ageless look that he inherited from his mum.

"Thanks, I guess," mumbled Harry, somehow not feeling happy about the praise. "But I still fail to see how age has anything to do with it."

"Ah, you see… it has everything to do with it. He won't be able to treasure you… as much as I do," said Tom.

Harry narrowed his eyes, starting to get irritated at the direction this conversation was taking now, he couldn't have implied something so crude, could he?

"In bed, you mean?" he deadpanned.

"Precisely," said Tom with a confident smile that he might find attractive if the other man's words weren't so bloody arrogant.

Annoyance flickered across Harry's face before it was gone and replaced by a fake smile. As much as he wanted to spit out that Severus Snape never had any difficulties in bed, he was fully aware that he no longer had the right to speak about these things.

"Am I right to assume that you've just hit on me?" asked Harry almost playfully, giving him his most innocent smile.

When Tom said yes, he turned him down flatly, "I'm sorry but I can only – you know – get it up with men older than forty."

That statement was full of trash. He was bisexual and age had never been the problem before, not that he would say it to dear Tom. He had expected that Tom would probably gape at him or at least looking flustered. Unfortunately, the black haired man had perfect control of his facial muscle.

"I see…" Tom said, no change in his quiet, thoughtful tone, and without removing his eyes from him. "Then, you won't mind if we go out sometimes as friends?"

Harry smiled at him, feeling irritated inside. "Of course, I will, as a friend." Then he purposely looked at his watch and turned his head to Snape before speaking out loud enough to be heard from across the room. "This is late enough. Dr. Snape, do you mind if we go back to the hotel now?"

Snape lifted his head, apparently startled by the sudden question, and said quietly, "No, of course not."

"So quickly?" said Draco in a disappointed tone, not hiding that he was feeling upset.

Lucius reprimanded his son, "Now, now… Draco, they still have to attend the expo tomorrow."

"Then can I go to the expo tomorrow, father?" asked Draco.

"If your mentor allows you," replied Lucius.

"They will if you talk to them," said Draco pleadingly to his father.

"Go ask your mother, I'll talk to them if she says yes," said Lucius firmly.

"But father, mother will never allow me," pouted Draco, acting quite childish for someone of his age, considering that the young man was already a junior house officer. When his father didn't budge to his plead, he slumped in defeat and sniffed, "Fine... I'll ask mother."

Satisfied with his son's answer, Lucius turned to face them and said, "I'll get my driver to drive you back."

Harry opened his mouth faster than Severus. "No, please, we'll be alright by ourselves."

"I can drive you both back, my hotel also goes that way," interrupted Tom.

"No," Harry turned down Tom's offer flatly at once. "Actually, I want to take a look of this city at night. This is my first time visiting Paris."

"By car, it's more—," argued Tom.

Harry shook his head and said firmly, "I always love to take a good walk. I believe Dr. Snape is more than capable to show me the way back to our hotel."

Snape threw him a strange look, the light glinting in his dark eyes before giving him a slight nod.

"I think it's a good idea, this area is quite safe even at night," said Malfoy Sr. to him with a smile and in the process rendering Tom silent.

Harry smiled gratefully to him. "Then we ought to go now, thank you for your hospitality Mr…" Lucius sent him a warning glance not to call him by his surname which made him grin at him. "… Lucius, please send my warm regards to your wife."

Never had he realized that Riddle was soon going to ruin his evening.

XxXxX

That bloody pompous bastard! Harry stomped off, muttering furiously. How dare him to kiss me in front of them! It took all of his will power to prevent himself, not to take that cocky smile and shove it up Riddle's arse. Harry rubbed his lips harshly, feeling disgusted that Riddle had manhandled him and tried to slip his tongue in as the others watched them with shock.

"Pot—Dr. Potter, wait!" Snape called him, struggling to keep up.

Harry threw a very angry look at Snape albeit he knew it wasn't the other man's fault that Riddle wouldn't take a 'no, I'm not interested' as an answer.

Snape frowned then raised his eyebrow at him, "Do you even know where you are going?"

"I don't fucking care!" he growled.

XxXxX

Severus's POV

Severus didn't know who'd been more shocked at the outburst: Potter, who turned green at once and looked like he was going to throw up, or himself, who was at the receiving end of the misplaced anger.

"Sorry," Potter mumbled, shoving his hand into his coat's pocket.

It was clear that he had drawn the wrong assumption about Potter and Riddle.

"Don't be," said Severus quietly, feeling guilty.

If only he wasn't so busy with his own miserable feeling to notice that Potter didn't actually enjoy the attention given to him by Riddle, he would have taken the younger man back to their hotel before the disaster struck.

XxXxX

They walked back side by side in silence. Potter still had a very irritated look on his face that made him want to plunge Riddle into boiling oil and chop his guts up for dog food. He would be damned to hand over Potter to a rude man like Riddle who didn't take Potter's feelings into account before proceeding. He knew that despite Potter's age and his bold moves at the beginning of their relationship, the green eyed man was a romantic at heart.

Severus slipped his hand into his own coat pocket, fingering a velvet box which had taken a permanent place there since half a year ago. He had spontaneously brought it when he walked back home influenced by the conversation that they had one day before.

XxXxX

Potter hugged him from behind and sniffed. "Smells good," his lover said, pressing a kiss on his neck, half nibbling it with his soft warm lips. "What are you cooking?"

"Something that is more nutritious than your potato chips," said Severus dryly.

"Ah ha!" Potter murmured near his ear. "I knew it! You have something against my potato chips."

Severus deadpanned, "I obviously don't. Go and take a bath, Potter. You stink."

"You love me no more if I stink?" Potter shook his head dramatically. "You don't know what you'll miss."

Severus snorted, "I'm the cook. No bath, no dinner."

"You're a cruel man, Severus Snape," Potter chuckled, his hot breath tickling his skin and giving him goosebumps.

Severus tried not to shiver and resisted the urge to kiss his lover. It would be a pity to burn today's dinner. Potter gave him one last kiss on the neck before he walked to the door. He was reaching out for the plates when Potter called his name.

"Sev…"

"What?" Severus asked, raising his eyebrow at Potter.

"I think you'll make a good wife," said Potter earnestly.

Severus caught himself before he could gape at his lover and tried to hide the relapse by sneering, "Have you managed to hit your head on the way here? I'm not a female, Potter. You've seen it for yourself."

Potter tilted his head a little to one side as if he were considering his words before he looked at him again and smiled, "I wouldn't mind having a male wife."

Severus opened his mouth, but closed it without uttering any sound, failing to come up with a good reply as Potter disappeared into the bathroom and that moment slipped by.

XxXxX

And now that chance was lost forever but still, he couldn't throw away the small box.

Potter had never been a dream lover for him. He was a very real person and a naturally messy one. The younger man had always left what he called an 'animal trail' around the apartment.

Used towels were thrown carelessly over the chair. Books and magazines were found in the weirdest places after Potter read anything. Empty potato chip wrappers piled up on top of the table, and said table would always move several inches from its original position because Potter often stumbled and hit his toes badly on it.

While living with Potter wasn't exactly heaven-sent, being with him was never boring. His apartment was no longer just a place for him to get some rest. It had turned into something more inviting, a place to call home.

Not to mention that it was really nice to have an equal, someone to converse with about almost everything, someone who would understand if you had an emergency call in the middle of the night, and above all else, Potter was simply that special someone for him. Someone who would be there for him to love and would love him in return.

Maybe, said a tiny truthful voice inside of his head, you still hope that he'll come back to your side.

Severus took a deep breath and called him, "…Potter?"

Potter stopped walking and looked at him questioningly.

Severus coughed nervously into his hand. Potter blinked at him as he waited for him to speak. He opened his mouth to speak and closed it again. His courage was fading quickly. He swallowed hard and tried it again. "I…"

"Yes?"

It was getting harder for him to say it when Potter was staring at him like this, piercingly and inquisitively. "I…"

The moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud ring tone that shocked both of them. 'And, oh, the shame. Oh, the shame! Thought of changin' my name.'

"Sorry, it's mine," said Potter, fumbling around in his pocket for his cell phone.

Potter pressed the button and answered it, "Oh, hey, Ginny… No, don't worry, you didn't interrupt anything." Potter walked away, still speaking to his phone. "No way! Really?" He laughed low. "I really want to see it…"

Severus stood there seething with anger as Potter talked cheerfully to the phone. Of course, Potter wouldn't want Riddle to kiss him. He had already managed to get himself a girlfriend. He was a fool to think otherwise!

"Err, what did you say again?" asked Potter when he finished talking on the phone.

"Forget it," snapped Severus harshly then strode off with barely suppressed rage.

End of Chapter 4

XxXxX

Special thanks to my lovely Beta, YumeNoTsuzuki, who - I think - understand Voldie more than anyone else. ;D And I didn't mean to bash Voldie so roughly, I swear… *blinks innocent eyes* so don't hate me for it. About Harry's ringtone, feel free to guess it if you want 8D And thanks for reading this far. As usual any review will be welcomed (very) warmly.

p.s: I've just caught stomach bug… T^T Wish me luck in surviving it D: