Summary: Harry and Severus hide out in Muggle London on Dumbledore's orders. They run into Harry's not-exactly-ex-boyfriend, who wants to propose to Harry. How will Harry get out of this mess? What does Severus have to say about all this?
A/N: In case you were wondering, Harry is seventeen in this story.
Oh, and in this fic, let's assume that men can get married, I mean REALLY married
Marriage
Chapter 4:
"Oh, God," Snape groaned, clutching his head in his hands.
"It's alright," said Harry, awkwardly patting his back. The taxi they were currently residing in swerved hard to the left and Snape groaned again, just avoiding hitting his head against the plastic seat divider.
"Erm…thanks for doing that, back there," said Harry gently. After he had accepted Snape's proposal, Malcolm had ran for the loos and Mrs. Dower had graciously congratulated them, telling them rather tearfully that they made a beautiful couple, before running after her heartbroken son.
"Please, Potter," said Snape through gritted teeth. "Don't mention it."
Harry sighed and leaned back against the seat. He did feel a bit bad that Snape was so upset, but relief was the more dominant emotion in his mind. After all, how hard could it possibly be to pretend to be a couple? They were already living together…and it wasn't like Malcolm would want to see him anymore…
(time passes)
The telephone rang.
"Answer that, Potter!"
"Why can't you?"
"Because I am busy, that's why!"
Harry scowled and threw down his Transfiguration text. The man was so bloody arrogant sometimes…
Harry stalked across the room to the telephone, muttering under his breath about Potions masters who didn't know how to use muggle things but didn't want to admit it before snatching up the phone and saying rather rudely, "Hello?"
"Oh, um…Hi, Harry. It's Malcolm."
"Oh – hey Malcolm. What's up?" Harry nervously started digging into the floor with his be-socked toe; what could Malcolm want?
"Well, nothing," said Malcolm as though this was obvious. "I just wanted to invite the two of you out to lunch sometime."
Harry blinked. "Oh…um, I don't want to sound rude but – why? I mean, aren't you kind of mad at me?" Harry glanced up nervously at Snape, whose head had just appeared around the bend of the living room, eyebrows furrowed as he listened to the one-sided conversation.
"Oh please, Harry, you could never be rude. And of course I'm not mad at you!" said Malcolm sweetly. Harry winced. "I missed you, that's all. And I'd like to get to know the man that swept you off your feet."
'More like, kicked my feet out from under me,' Harry thought. "Wow, Malcolm, um…are you sure? I mean, I don't want to put you in an awkward situation –"
"Harry, it won't be awkward, I promise! I mean, it's not like you would be acting all lovey-dovey in front of me or anything like that. It would just be a friendly lunch, that's all!"
Severus, who had been watching and trying to decipher the possible reasons for Potter's balking, began to panic as once again, he saw the boy's eyes take on that 'I'm Harry Potter and I'm making up a crazy plot right this second' look.
"Alright, well that sounds great, Malcolm. All right, tomorrow at 'Finney's Fish and Chips'…we'll be there! See you, Malcolm." Potter put down the fire-call like contraption and raised his eyes slowly to meet Severus', as though trying to placate him before the blow.
"Well?" Severus sneered, leaning against the wall, arms crossed in front. "Out with it, Potter. What have you roped us into?"
Potter ran a hand over his face, disturbing his glasses, then righted them and met Severus in the eye.
"Malcolm wants to have lunch with us tomorrow."
"I gathered as much," said Severus.
"Yeah…," Potter was looking shifty again. Severus raised an eyebrow. "Look, he's the kind of guy who will stick to something forever, unless he's put off so…,"
Severus remained unimpressed with Potter's waffling.
"'So'? So what?"
Potter winced, then looked back up, eyes resolute. "I think the only way we can get him to leave us alone is to act revoltingly, disgustingly, ridiculously in love."
Severus stared for a long time.
(time passes)
"So this is the magnificent brain child of Potter," Snape snarled as he and Harry walked the streets of London, hands intertwined.
Harry sighed yet again, but refused to rise to Snape's bait. The last time he had talked back, Snape had retaliated by squeezing his hand numb.
"What other acts of depravity will we be committing in public, Potter? Passionate embraces? Affectionate hair-adjusting? Flirtatious whispers?"
Harry ignored Snape's mocking tone and replied as reasonably as he could, "Whatever it takes to get Malcolm to understand that we're not together, and never will be."
"And what makes you think he even wants you back, Potter? I'd hate to think we were doing all of this for nothing."
"You weren't the one involved with him, alright?" said Harry, beginning to lose his patience. "And hopefully, we won't have to do much to get him to go away. Maybe some lovesick looks, some name calling –"
"Oh, that sounds delightful…how does 'miserable waste of magic' or 'brainless oaf' sound?"
Harry paused before saying, "Aren't those names what you call Neville?"
Snape seemed a little thrown, before smirking, "I suppose that's true. I must think of new names for you."
Harry let out a sarcastic laugh, then fell silent, trying to ignore the stares he and Snape were attracting. It seemed that even in the city of London, homosexuality was not universally accepted. Unconsciously he leaned into Snape and held his hand tighter, earning nothing except a raised eyebrow from his professor. They walked this way for another block, reaching a traffic light, until Snape leaned down and asked, "Are you all right?"
Harry jumped, startled. He hadn't realized how close he was to Snape; the man barely had to lean over to reach his ear.
"Oh, sorry. I was just, um –"
"Noticing the sneers?"
Harry looked up. Snape appeared almost understanding.
"Yeah, I guess."
"Hmm. You'll grow accustomed to it." Snape muttered, continuing to walk, pulling Harry gently along.
Harry didn't say anything. What did that mean? Did it mean Snape was gay too? Or did he mean he was just used to being sneered at? Harry remained lost in his thoughts all the way to the restaurant, with Snape moving silently with him.
TBC
So, these chapters for this particular story are going to stay kind of short, like little episodes, until feelings start developing more. Hope you like.