AN: I am truly sorry for the long update. I started a book, "The Maze Runner, by James Dashner," and every second of my free time went to that. So between Christmas, New Years and the book, Which was brilliant and if you haven't read it... READ IT... I didn't have time to update. I shall make up for it, if I can by updating as soon as the chapters are typed from on. I wanted this finished by the New Year but I didn't quite make that deadline. I will, however, appreciate more reviews and I hope that you enjoy this chapter (And many to come) :D

Painful Pleasure

Severus ran his hand along Harry's back, mumbling words he thought would comfort the man. All he succeeded in doing was making Harry cry harder. Harry felt as if his whole world was crumbling apart and the only thing; no the only person, holding him together was the man currently holding him. Harry knew Severus was trying to help, but this was not the Severus tucked deep into his memory. This was Professor Severus Snape, or was it Headmaster now? This was the man whom loathed him with a fierce passion, and yet this man held him and tried to comfort him. His head hurt already and trying to figure out what was wrong was not helping any. Harry needed his Severus, but seeing as this man held him close, this man whom was not unlike his husband, Harry clung to him. Severus seemed surprised for a brief moment when Potter did not pull away, but found himself pleasantly surprised when Harry's tears began to subside. He still clung to Severus after his tears dried, but Severus was not upset. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he should be but he wasn't. Finally, Harry pulled back, wiping his tears as he went.

"I'm sorry," he said tiredly.

"It is fine," Severus replied briskly.

Harry climbed to his feet.

"No... It's not," He replied wistfully, "Um... Sev-Professor, do you know where I live. I mean, of course you don't."

Harry sighed and Severus watched him run a weary hand down his face.

"I can't stay here," Harry mumbled to himself, "But I have no clue where it is I live. Ron is dead, Hermione is no longer my friend, Draco is the Slytherin Prince again an you... Where am I supposed to go?"

Severus looked down on this man in sympathy. He could not imagine how hard it is to think that you are someplace you are not. He wanted to say something to comfort the distressed man in front of him, but like an unwanted beacon Harry's word echoed in his head.

"I can't stay here."

"You are leaving then," Severus asked trying to figure out why he cared. Why it had mattered so much to him if a boy he so despised, left Hogwarts. He tried to tell himself it was because he was the Headmaster but he knew that wasn't true. Somehow in the course of the week, Harry Potter had wormed his way under Severus' skin.

Harry nodded, "Yeah, I guess I am. I have to find my house, where ever that is, and I have to quit being an Auror. I liked being a teacher, but I guess I never was a teacher, eh?"

"You could stay with me."

Harry's eyebrow shot up.

"At least until you find a place."

Harry shook his head, "I can't! Malfoy would never let me live it down. Besides, I don't think Draco would appreciate being kicked out of his own home."

Severus frowned, "Contrary to popular belief, Mr. Malfoy does not reside with me. He has his own place and stays there. Granted he has been around everyday this week, but that was only because of your... less that tactful kiss."

"Hey," Harry protested, "My kiss was tactful, you were the one who demanded to know why I kissed you!"

"As would of you had our situations been reversed and I suddenly threw myself at you!"

"I highly doubt I would have asked why you kissed me," Harry protested, "But I would have had you committed for insanity... Or checked for Imperious."

Severus wore a fierce scowl, but Harry grinned back at him lazily.

"I missed this. Our banter. We could wake the dead when we got real into it."

"You missed screaming matches and sore throats?"

Harry looked at Severus strangely, but the expression was gone before Severus could analyze it.

"Are you sure," Harry asked and it was Severus' turn to look at him strangely.

Harry laughed at his expression.

"Are you sure that I can stay with you," He clarified.

"Yes," Severus said without hesitation, though it surprised him and Harry, "Let me speak with Draco first as he will be non-too-happy with this arrangement.

Harry gulped at the mention of Draco. He just knew that this was a horrible idea and that Draco had some evil Slytherin trick up his sleeve, but at the same time he couldn't bring himself to care to much. He could deal with Draco later, right now he was glad to being able to be near to Severus. So with a tiny grin Harry nodded his affirmation, telling Severus that he would be waiting in the hospital wing.

"When you are ready, summon me," with that he was gone.

"YOU WHAT," Draco screeched.

"I have invited Potter to stay here," Severus said calmly as if nothing was wrong with that statement.

"FOR HOW LONG, SEVERUS!"

"Firstly, lower your voice a few octaves, you sound like a freshly picked mandrake, and secondly, I never told him how long, though he will be welcomed here for as long as he needed to be here."

"But he has his own house, his own life, Why does he need to steal mine?"

Severus arched an eyebrow at the implication but said nothing.

"Why is he staying here, Severus, can you at least tell me that?"

"I invited him," Severus said simply and Draco found himself clenching his teeth.

"Yes, but why can't you give him his own quarters?"

Severus hadn't thought of that, truth be told. He was rather occupied with the thought of Potter in his rooms to consider giving him his own rooms. He would not, however, admit that to Draco.

"Rooms at Hogwarts are for the staff. He is not a staff member and thus has no claim on a room. Were an actual staff member be in need of one I would have to go through the trouble of vacating Potter and that is not at all appealing to me. So thus go through that, I shall let him stay here."

Draco knew that the chance of any of the staff needing a new room was slim to none but he didn't call Severus out on his blatant lie, he just curled his lip in a trade mark Malfoy sneer and stormed to the door. "You will not like this," thrown over his shoulder.

Severus sighed. In retrospect, that could have gone better, but he was to relieved that it had gone that smoothly to worry about what might happen in the future. Feeling suddenly giddy and having no explanation for it. Severus exited his quarters and headed for the hospital wing, not bothering to seek Draco out. If he had, he would have found the silver-blond haired Malfoy sulking, just around the corner.

Harry followed Severus to his private quarters. He couldn't stop smiling. The look on Poppy Pomfrey's face was forever engraved inside his consciousness when Severus came to escort Harry to his personal quarters. The Matron looked like a gaping fish struggling to breath without water and it amused Harry to no end. They stopped at the Portrait whole and Harry grinned up at Severus.

"I bet I can guess your password."

"Oh, and what would you wager in this bet?"

Harry thought for a moment, "Anything you want?"

Severus arched an eyebrow, "Anything I want?"

Harry nodded, "Yes," he agreed firmly.

"Do you know how dangerous that statement is to a Slytherin, Mr. Potter?"

"It's not like I haven't made that promise before. Multiple times if memory serves right and I'm still alive.

"That is because all those other times are surely in your head," Severus said wisely.

"What if I win then, what will you give me?"

"You will not guess my password Potter," Severus stated firmly and only now did he hear how ridiculous they sounded betting on a password.

"Humor me."

"Hmm..."

"How about if I win you let me chose my prize later."

Severus sniffed, "That is even more undignified to promise a Gryffindor."

"What's the matter, Sev... Professor? Scared."

Severus' eyes narrowed, as Harry expected they would, and Severus hissed out:

"The only thing I fear is the return of the Dark Lord. You have a deal Mr. Potter."

Harry grinned impishly at him before facing the Portrait of Salazar Slytherin, who was shaking his head at the banter, laughter hidden behind his firm face.

"Asphodel," Harry said confidently and clearly and then portrait couldn't hid his a surprised look before it swung open.

Harry gave Severus a smug look before his expression gave way to laughter.

"You bloody cheat..."

"Now, now Severus, all is fair in love and bets."

"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!"

Harry just laughed as he trailed behind Severus. Laughter died in his throat though and he stared at the room in frozen silence. He didn't know what he was expecting. Maybe that this had all been a ruse and Severus actually knew they were married. Maybe he expected Ron and Hermione to be in this room, like so many times before, screeching, "SURPRISE", at the top of their voices. Maybe he had expected it to be a very well though out joke by two Slytherin's and two Gryffindor's, but what he didn't expect to see was the empty quarters lacking any of his personal items. This was not a ruse. This was not some joke he and Severus could laugh at later. This was reality. His reality and he suddenly felt sick, he suddenly didn't want to say here. He suddenly wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Are you alright, Mr. Potter?"

That deep chocolate voice snapped him out of his trance and he looked at Severus with dulled green eyes. Briefly he wondered if Severus would notice, but a surge of disappointment crashed through him when Severus turned on his heel and gestured for Harry to follow him. Being the Gryffindor that he was and holding his bravery like a badge of honor, he follow Severus to the room he would be using for the duration of his stay.

Harry sat on the couch of the lite fireplace. He stared into the flames watching as the embers danced in the invisible breeze but not really seeing anything. It happened to be early in the morning. He had risen before Severus normally would, or at least he though he did, this particular Severus was not his Severus, after-all. Sighing, Harry stared off into space contemplating. How in the world had things ended up like this? Had he somehow went back in time? Had he somehow jumped between dimensions, or was this some type of curse that threw him off, made him believe in something that wasn't real? Was this some type of love potion? Was Severus having a good laugh behind his back? Was this Draco's idea of a joke? He hoped one of those were true, but somewhere in his gut told him that it had to be true. That one of his many friends had to be playing an evil, heartbreaking, prank on him.

The sun had mad its way to his side of the world and was beginning to peak past the blue sky when Severus' door was yanked open. He gave a soft start when he noticed Potter on his couch, clad in nothing but pajama bottoms. Grumbling something unintelligent under his breath, Severus ignored Harry in favor of his much needed coffee. Once he had his second cup, Severus came out holding a second mug and offered it to Harry. Harry gingerly took the glass, remembered that this was not his Severus for the tenth time in nearly an hour and sniffed at the mixture. It smelled like the normal coffee he drank every morning with his husband so he gingerly took a sip, and promptly grimaced at the taste, though this Severus didn't know him well enough to notice. Instead this Severus chose to brake the ire silence that had befallen.

"What's in your knickers, Potter?"

"Everything, nothing."

"No wonder you look as if the sun never came out and the rain would never stop."

It took that comment for Harry to notice that it was raining and the bright sun was hidden behind gloomy grey clouds.

"I take it you saw something rather disturbing when you first entered my chambers for you to still be in this funk."

So he had noticed after all.

Instead of voicing that, however, Harry just asked, "Why did you invite me here? Was it because you wanted me to see for myself that there was no trace of my living here?"

That though had not crossed Severus' mind; however, who was he, but the world's renowned 'Evil Git' of a Potion's Professor, to correct him?

"Did it work, Potter?"

Harry's eyes dulled an even duller green before he nodded, sat the mug onto the coffee table, and stared back blankly into the fire. Severus felt a smidgen guilty for lying to him. He didn't like the way his eyes dulled, and he definitely didn't like the way his shoulders stiffened.

"Relax Potter, I was joking. And you clam to have been my husband."

"I am," Harry said indignantly, "But you are not my husband."

"Tu shay," Severus murmured, raising his mug a little.

A long awkward silence filled the room before Harry broke it.

"Why are you dating Malfoy anyway? He is suck a prat."

"Jealous Potter?"

Severus meant for it to be a joke, but when green eyes snapped to him with renewed fired swimming in their debts, Severus had to swallow a lump that had formed in his throat at that look.

"Yes," Harry stated with conviction, and Severus had to swallow again.

Harry got up off the couch and plopped down unceremoniously next to Severus, causing the older man to glare at him when his coffee sloshed.

"I miss you... Him," Harry amended softly, "Want things to go back to the way they were before that bloody accident. I want you to remember me, to look at me and Know who I am. I want you to love me."

Severus stared into the rapidly dulling green eyes. He knew Harry told the truth by the sincerity in his eyes. Their eyes locked and as if in a trance, both started moving toward the other.

"Severus," Harry all but whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I know what I want now."

Nerves made Severus heart jump in his chest and somewhere deep inside of him, he wanted Harry to ask him for this. This moment.

"And what might that be?"

"A kiss," Harry asked softly.

And before Severus could protest, plump red lips met his, and before they could fully enjoy themselves, the portrait flew open, hitting the wall with a loud bang. Salazar grumbled about impatient prats and Harry and Severus jumped apart like two naughty children caught sneaking cookies out the cookie jar. It was not fast enough, however, for Draco saw. He stared at the retreating back of the Potter brat and narrowed grey eyes on his lover. This was not good for his plan; not good at all!

To be continued

A.N. As promised, a Snarry moment. I hope you enjoyed :D (Edits will take place before the next chapter as always.)

YAJF