Ch. 18: Silk on Silk

Remus sighed and stood, picking up his empty plate in the process. "I'm going to wash some dishes. It was great cake, Severus."

Severus bit his lip and scraped icing off of his fork. "Thanks."

Hermione eyed the box Sirius' presents had come in sadly then handed her plate to Remus. Ron followed en suite.

The owl, having polished off the remainder of Severus' cake, hooted softly and walked rather awkwardly back to the great piece of fur it had arrived in, disappearing in its folds and emitting a content sort of hooting sigh.

Severus watched Remus retreat into the kitchen, debating on whether or not to join his mate. He stole a glance at Hermione, who was eyeing him pointedly.

He nodded more to himself than anything and stood, taking his, or rather the owl's, plate with him.

Remus was standing at the sink, watching a mountain of white, shimmering bubbles grow as more water was being added to the sink.

Severus thought briefly of telling Remus that the party was a hit as he slid the other plate in the bubbles, but angrily dismissed that notion. He would have said that to Potter, if he were in this situation, but not Remus. His Remus.

Neither the Potions Master nor the werewolf said a word as Severus slid his arms around Remus' waist. His chin came to rest on his shoulder and he sighed into his neck. He watched Remus' hands rise and fall in the water for a while, and then said, "I'm sorry about the party. I shouldn't have made such a big deal about the hat. I…"

"The way the party went had nothing to do with the hats," Remus said calmly. "I shouldn't have…"

Severus tightened his grip around Remus' waist and hissed, "Don't be ridiculous. Black would have wanted him to have that. It was meant for him anyway."

Remus plunged back into the water and drew out a few forks, scrubbing them with a little more force than necessary. "I thought it would be easier," he said thickly, careful not to let Severus see his tears. "It's been over a year Sev, and it still…"

Severus turned his love around and watched in sheer agony as tears began to run anew down his cheeks. He had no choice but to hold Remus against him tightly. He never wanted to let go. He smiled slightly as he felt cold, soapy hands tangle in his hair.

"I miss him," Remus whispered. "So much."

Severus ran a gentle hand up and down Remus' spinal cord. "I know, love. I understand." He left the silent 'But I don't understand, however, why you miss the flea-bitten wretch' hanging. It didn't need to be said.

Remus pressed his chin into his mate's chest and sniffled. "I'm sorry; I know you didn't necessarily like Sirius. You shouldn't have to do this."

Severus smirked and pressed a kiss on Remus' grey-flecked hair. "Who else is going to allow you to burrow into their chest like a mole or something equally as rodent-like?"

Remus snorted into Severus' black ribbed jumper and wrapped his arms around the slender waist of the Potions Master. "And I thank you."

"Now," Severus said in a tone much gentler than he intended, "Are you quite through slobbering up my clothes?"

Remus pinched Severus' bum lightly and said, "Yes, I suppose I am. I'm not, however, done with you."

"I'm afraid you are," Severus said slowly. "You need to go and talk to Harry. I'm sorry, but you two are the only ones who ever liked Black."

Remus kissed Severus' neck and said, "From anyone else that would be offensive. You're right; I should probably go and talk to him. But don't think you are off the hook."

"I'm not sure if I know of what hook you speak."

Remus laid a kiss on the tip of Severus' nose, then his lips. "I love you Sev."

"The feeling is mutual," Severus said softly, "now go."

"Very well. Can you possibly clean up the remains of the party?"

Severus nodded and said, "Sure. Where are the rubbish bags?"

"Under the sink. I'll see you in a bit. Don't… don't say anything mean to Ron or Hermione. Please."

"Alright pet. Go make nice with Potter and Draco. I hope you don't walk in or anything."

"Don't be ridiculous," Remus scoffed, "They are just friends."

Kissing Draco, Harry mused, was like kissing liquid fire. The gentle slide of silk on silk, the frantic dance of tongue on tongue.

Draco's hands found Harry's face, tracing every line of his face as carefully as he could, mapping out his face over and over again as if committing it to memory.

Skilful, mapping fingers found and began massaging his scalp, eliciting a throaty moan from the Gryffindor.

"Harry, I… oh FUCK," Draco squirmed as Harry nipped a point under his jaw, "I… I want to… I want you to…"

Draco wrapped a leg around Harry's waist and allowed Harry to kiss him soundly again. He squeezed his eyes shut tight and Harry cupped the blonde's cheek gently.

"Open your eyes Draco," the Gryffindor said softly. "I want to see them."

The corners of Draco's mouth twitched into a sort of kiss-swelled smile and he opened his eyes, his blond-tipped lashes threatening to brush his eyebrows.

Harry's heart clenched painfully as Draco's eyes met his. For one fleeting moment, Harry convinced himself that Draco could see him. It wasn't until he looked closer and saw that the icy eyes of the Slytherin beneath him were unfocused and hazy, that he realized the truth.

Draco's cheeks turned rosy pink and he went to close his eyes but Harry said, "Don't. They are beautiful."

If possible, Draco blushed even darker. He coursed his long fingers through Harry's unruly hair and sighed, the ghost of a tear sliding down his cheek. "I… I want to see you. So much. I want to see your eyes, that vivid green. I want to see your hair," he tugged said hair, "Just… just you."

Harry kissed the corner of Draco's mouth and said, "I know. It isn't fair. Maybe… maybe Snape can help."

"Now that he's got inspiration," the Slytherin snorted.

Harry wrinkled his nose and said, "I would rather not talk about Snape. I would much rather snog."

Draco gently nuzzled Harry's neck and whispered, "Alright then," in an uncharacteristically playful tone.

Harry smiled and lowered his lips onto Draco's again.

"Oh sweet Merlin," came a breathy, surprised tone from the doorway.

Harry jumped so violently that he toppled off the bed. Draco pushed his hair back off his forehead and turned his head towards the voice. "Hi Remus," the blonde said in a breathless tone, arranging his clothes and smiling.

Harry's head appeared from behind the mattress, his cheeks bright red. "H… hi Remus."

Remus watched in awe as Harry climbed back on the bed, sitting near Draco's feet. The blonde sat up slowly and reached out a hesitant hand, first touching Harry's chest then letting it rest on his thigh.

Harry glanced over to Draco, whose head was inclined slightly.

The werewolf pointed to Harry, then to Draco, then back to the Gryffindor. "How… how long has this… when?"

Harry shrugged, seemingly unable to speak. Draco grinned and said, "About twenty minutes. We just… I gave him his present."

"I don't want to know," Remus said firmly.

"It's not what you think," Harry choked out. "We didn't do anything, we were just kissing."

Draco pressed his forehead against Harry's shoulder and shook with silent laughter. Harry looked from Draco to Remus. "And the present wasn't…" Harry wrinkled his nose and Draco laughed harder, "dirty. He… he gave me a necklace. That's all."

Remus nodded once and said, "Good. Well, I was going to… err… I don't remember why I came up here. I'm just going to… Bye."

Harry was amazed at everyone's lack of the ability to finish their sentences. "B…bye," he said feebly.

Remus left as quickly and soundlessly as he had come, the door clicking shut.

"What did his face look like when he came in?" Draco snorted as he tucked his left leg under him and wrapped his right around Harry, his forehead still pressed to the Gryffindor's shoulder and hand remaining on his thigh.

Harry gently kissed Draco's hair and said, "It seemed like a cross between total shock and possibly something close to extreme pain."

Draco edged even closer to Harry and smiled serenely when Harry began to gently run his fingers through his corn silk hair.

"Feels nice," the Slytherin slurred, letting his eyes fall shut. Harry simply relished the feeling of Draco's fine hair sliding through his fingers.

"Draco, I should probably go down and talk to Ron before he has to go. Maybe I can get him to pick up a Braille copy of THE BOY Who Lived: The Life and Struggles of Harry Potter for you. I'm actually not sure if I want you to read it."

Harry twisted a lock of blonde hair around his finger and looked down at Draco, whose eyes were closed and his breaths were coming gently and evenly.

Harry grinned and carefully laid Draco back onto the pillows, laying a light kiss over his right eyebrow. "Sleep well, love."

Draco only pursed his lips and snuggled into the duvet.

Harry slid out of the room quietly and padded down the hallway, trying to press out the small wrinkles that had formed on his clothes.

Neither Ron nor Hermione had left the dining room. Ron was rifling through Harry's letters half-heartedly and Hermione was reading Harry's biography with a rather unimpressed look on her face.

Harry reached over Ron's head and grabbed a handful. Hermione looked up and said, "Oh, hi Harry. Are you…?"

"I'm fine," Harry said dismissively as he shuffled through his letters, tossing the ones from people he didn't know.

Ron began doing the same. "Hey Harry, do you know anyone named Samantha Fisher?"

"No, just toss it," Harry muttered. "It's probably safe to say that if you don't know who they are, I don't."

Hermione marked her page and said, "Where's Draco?"

"He fell asleep," Harry said as he ripped open a card from Neville. "I just left him."

Ron kept his mouth mercifully shut as he checked his watch. "I told mum I'd be back soon. Harry, Harry Birthday mate, I'll see you September 1st. Hermione, we're still on for next week?"

Hermione blushed and nodded, "Yeah, sure. I'll see you then."

Ron beamed and said, "Brilliant. Tell Remus bye for me. Snape too, if you must."

Harry rolled his eyes and waved as Ron slunk out of the room.

"So you've got a big date with Ron next week?" Harry said as he waggled his eyebrows.

Hermione blushed again. "It's not a date. I'm just going to spend some time at the Burrow for a while. It's nothing."

"Of course it isn't. There will just be shagging."

Hermione blush turned purple. "There won't be shagging. If anything I'm getting away from the shagging. Between Remus and Professor Snape and you and Draco…"

It was Harry's turn to blush. "Draco and I aren't shagging. We only just snogged today."

"Just today!" Hermione said in exasperation. "It took you two that long to realize you like each other?"

"I knew I liked him, but he kept insisting he wasn't gay. It's not my fault."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and it wasn't obvious. It's a wonder that there are any gay couples the way that men don't notice anything."

"I'm not your typical gay man. And Draco isn't even gay."

Hermione picked the book back up, turning back to her page. "Of course not."

Harry watched her read for a while then stood, gathering Ron's abandoned letters and making his way into the kitchen.

"Did Ron leave?" he was asked as soon as he entered the kitchen. He looked up and spied Remus sitting on the countertop, Snape leaning next to him. Remus was the one who spoke and Harry sat on the small expanse of countertop next to the sink.

"Yep," he said softly as he began to drop letters from people he didn't know into the rubbish bin. "Draco's having a kip and 'Mione is reading my life story. Unauthorized life story, I might add."

Remus chuckled and looked over to Severus, whose eyebrows were raised.

Harry looked up from his letters and said, "Remus, I'm sorry about… about earlier. In my room."

Remus grinned and said simply, "I'm fine. I was surprised, is all. I didn't think that… well…"

Harry blushed and returned to his letters, opening one from Luna Lovegood. "I didn't either."

"Seriously?" Severus said mildly. "You have been making eyes at him the entire time I have been here. The first day when I talked to Draco he knew he liked you. Everyone thought you two have been doing at it for ages."

"Why didn't anyone say anything?" Harry said incredulously, stuffing Luna's card back into its envelope and throwing the next four away.

Remus shrugged and simply supplied, "There's no point stating the obvious."

"Obviously it wasn't obvious to both parties involved," Harry muttered darkly and sighed, abandoning his letters and massaging the bridge of his nose.

Severus looked down at his watch and cleared his throat. "Potter, didn't you say that Professor Dumbledore wrote you a letter in which he said he would be stopping by today?"

Harry nodded. He had completely forgotten about the letter he had received the night before informing Harry that Dumbledore would be coming with more much-needed information regarding Voldemort, Lucius, and Draco.

Harry finally said, "I suppose he was busy. I'm sure he'll write."

Remus nodded in agreement and Severus only crossed his arms. "Do you have a letter from him in your stack there?"

"Not sure. I haven't finished going through them. Probably."

Remus looked over at Severus. "Why? Are you worried?"

Severus pursed his lips and sullenly shook his head. "No. This place is extremely safe, I hear. Invisibility. Dumbledore would make it here safely if he were coming."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Quite right he would. He is a very busy man; he probably just had a meeting. I'm sure I have a letter from him."

"You sound like Remus," Severus snarled. "I'm going to bed."

"It's seven," the werewolf said flatly.

Severus shrugged. "I'm tired. Good night."

Remus rolled his eyes and slid off the counter, offering to help Harry sort through his letters.

The kitchen was engulfed by silence as the pair of them worked. Remus handed Harry a letter from Ginny Weasley and continued to sift.

Harry watched the werewolf for a moment and sighed. "I'm sorry about the way I responded. I'm really thankful."

Remus threw some letters away and said, "No, I should have waited until after the party to give Sirius' present to you. I put you on the spot and I apologize."

"It's fine, really," Harry said and opened the envelope containing Ginny's card. "Sirius would have wanted me to have it. I was happy, it just…"

Remus raised a hand and smiled weakly. "I know. I know all too well."

Harry returned the smile. "So…" his eyes glinted, "I have recently been informed of a rather interesting relationship development between you and a certain slimy Slytherin Potions Master."

"Who told you? Draco?" the werewolf as calmly as possible, his eye twitching.

"Hermione, if you must know. She said it has been rather obvious. Naturally, I had no idea."

Remus chuckled and lowered his head. "You've been that a lot lately, clueless, I mean. Not that it holds any importance to you, but yes, there has been slight relationship development between a certain Potions Master and me."

"So?"

Remus pushed his sandy hair off his forehead and sighed. "A relationship has developed. That's all you need to know."

Harry smirked but said nothing. Remus let out a soft sort of groan and added, albeit grudgingly, "He smells nice."

"And I mercifully thank you for not going into too much detail."

The corners of the werewolf's mouth twitched slightly.

There was a scuffling sound in the doorway and Harry looked up.

To say that Draco looked disheveled would be a gross understatement. The green jumper he had been wearing was showing the obvious signs of being slept on at a very odd angle. One jean leg was cuffed and haphazardly wrinkled to the middle of his shin and he had a seam across his cheek where the pillowcase had pressed.

Harry didn't dare steal a look at the Slytherin's hair. It seemed the ultimate betrayal.

"Harry?" The blonde called, stifling a yawn and looking thoroughly harassed.

"Yes?" Harry found it hard not to tack 'love' on the end of the question.

Draco's brows became set sternly and he grumbled, "You left me."

Harry slid off the counter and walked over to Draco, sparing Remus another eyeful and simply slid his hand into Draco's. "You were asleep; I thought it would be okay."

"It's not. When I go to wake up and you don't answer me…"

"I'm sorry. Forgive me?"

Draco tightened his lips and said, "I suppose. Now, you're going to come with me now. I'm tired and I'm sure Remus won't mind, will you?"

"How did you…"

"I went to the dining room first. Hermione told me. Come Harry."

Remus held up a letter and said, "Here, this one is from Oliver."

Draco tightened his grip on Harry's hand. The Gryffindor only shrugged and said, "Toss it."

Thanks to brionyjae for the beta!