Author: GrapeSmshr
Rated: PG13, just in case
Coupling: HP/SS slashy goodness
Disclaimer: Potter and Snape belong to JKR, but Harry and Sev belongin my heart...
A/N: I soooo apologize for this chapter taking so long... I've been working crazy hours, so I'm pretty much writing on my lunch break and at night before I fall asleep... In fact, I usually fall asleep on my notebook. Anyway... I know this one is fashionably late, but it's also as long as the last two chapters combined. At least it's not just a blurb! So... read on and enjoy!
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Chapter 3: Crying
That evening, Harry and Hermione were in the dungeons, returning from the Slytherin common room. After Hermione and Blaise started dating, Harry made a cordial effort toward the Slytherins, and vice versa. Since the Death-Eaters-in-training had been weeded out, the House accepted his presence. In time he had befriended quite a few Slytherins.
Even Snape has been more civil toward him. At least, he had been for a while. There was a period when they could even carry on lengthy conversations without any ire creeping through. This was when Harry noticed his budding attraction to the man.
But then, one day, Snape reverted back to a snarky bastard toward Harry, at which point it was next to impossible to carry on a conversation with the man. Sometimes, though, Harry would glance up and catch the older man staring at him, a puzzling expression on his face. Each time this happened, Snape held the gaze for a moment before looking away, leaving Harry much confused.
Sometimes Harry could swear that his attraction was returned, but any potentially incriminating glances always disappeared a split second later. It made Harry wonder if he had even seen them at all. Wishful thinking definitely had been known to play tricks on his brain before.
As the duo turned into the corridor leading out of the dungeons, Harry's gaze happened to stray in the opposite direction. He saw Snape at the end of the hall, looking at a scroll of parchment in his hands. Before he could change his mind, Harry told Hermione, "I'll meet you in the common room in a little while, ok?" Not giving her a chance to reply, he strode off down the hall.
Approaching the Potions Master quietly, Harry waited for his presence to be noticed. When it wasn't, he leaned over and said conversationally, "Interesting read?"
The only indication that the man was surprised was the fluttering of his parchment to the cold stone floor. With a quick wave, the scroll was back in his hand. He slowly turned to face Harry, who had yet to remove himself from Snape's personal space. Heaving a sigh of irritation, Snape growled, "Do find another person to annoy, Potter. My free time is much too valuable to be wasted on a Gryffindor."
"Even an apologetic Gryffindor?" Receiving a blank look, Harry pressed on. "I'm sorry for the Snow-Snape... er, snowman," he corrected hastily as Snape scowled. "It was in poor taste, and I should have nixed the suggestion straight off."
Snape regarded the teen suspiciously. It was uncharacteristic of Potter to apologize. For anything, really. But Snape, even without his old standby, Legilimency, had always been eerily and unexplainably talented at sorting lies from truths. The skill had saved him many a time in his Death Eater days, that was for sure.
And right now said talent was telling him that Potter's remorse was not false. Blast! Like he really needed another addition to his False Misconceptions About Harry Potter file. The mental store had been growing steadily thicker throughout the year, despite his own attempt to quell it.
"Yes, well, apologies are only worth as much as the person handing them out, which, in this case, I'll let you figure out how much your apologies count to me." He finished the retort with a faint sneer, mentally heaving a sigh of relief as Potter took a step back.
But as those green eyes did not lower or harden in anger, only stared more intensely at him, Snape put all his effort into not looking away.
Harry must have found what he was looking for because a moment later he blinked rapidly, then said with a cheerful smile, "I'm so happy you accept my apologies!" With a jaunty wave, he ran down the hall and out of the dungeons before Snape could even process the comment.
What just happened? Did he miss something? Did Potter not comprehend his insult correctly? The Boy Wonder had better not have interpreted his words as some sort of nicety. All he needed was for Potter to think that he had gone soft. And while he did not harbor the same ill will he previously had, he was in no way going to try to befriend the teen.
Even though he had thought about doing so. Even though he had thought about more than just befriending him.
With a groan of frustration, he stalked off toward his rooms, intent on pretending he could forget about Harry Potter.
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"Hold still already!" Professor Flitwick cried out in exasperation. He really was beginning to get somewhat irritated with the teens. After asking them repeatedly to arrange themselves in an orderly fashion, they had proceeded to talk to the people next to them, or fidget, or primp. Finally he had had enough and shouted, "Quiet down!" As everyone looked at him, startled, he said, "Smile!" and a bright flash blinded everyone in the room. Finally! Not for the first time that day, he regretted mentioning to Harry that photography was a hobby of his.
Gathering up his camera, he told the students, "I'll make copies for each of you and distribute them next week. Good day!"
Harry thanked Flitwick on the way out, then addressed the students. "I can't speak for the rest of you, but Hogwarts is like my home, and the students and professors like family. One large, insanely dysfunctional family." This earned some laughter. "Since we'll all be parting ways after the year is up, I wanted to have some memories of all of you, and I'm sure you feel the same way toward your friends. That is why I made a large purchase order for these."
Opening one of the boxes sitting on the floor next to him, he pulled out an object and held it up for the group to see. "This is a Muggle instant camera. Each of you will receive one to capture images of your friends. When you've used all of your pictures, you can turn the camera in to any professor, who will in turn mark your names on them. At the end of the break, I'll be sending them off to a photography store in Edinburgh who will develop and charm the pictures. You should get them back before the end of term."
He proceeded to pass out the cameras and briefly explain how to work them. Then he sent everyone on their merry way, where groups scattered all over the Hall, flashes erupting rapidly.
As Harry approached his friends, he was surprised and confused to see Hermione latched onto Dean Thomas, crying in his arms while he awkwardly patted her back and sent looks of desperate pleading in Ron's direction. But Ron was busy with holding a sobbing Parvati Patil on one shoulder and a wailing Lavender Brown on the other shoulder. Alarmed, Harry asked, "What's wrong, Hermione? Why are you crying?"
At Harry's voice, Hermione broke away from Dean and launched herself at Harry, wrapping her arms so tightly around his neck that he feared unconsciousness. "Oh, Harry!" she sobbed, eyes puffy and red with tears. "In half a year's time we're all going to be separated from one another! And then what? Will I only see you once a year at reunions?" At this thought, she broke into another crying fit, which in turn set off the other two girls into hysterics.
Glancing around, Harry noticed that several of the girls were teary-eyed and crying with their friends. Meeting Ron's gaze, Harry choked back a laugh as the redhead rolled his eyes and mouthed, 'Girls.'
"Smile!" A flash went off in the duo's faces, temporarily blinding them. "Haha! That one is going to be priceless!" came Seamus Finnigan's voice from behind them.
Wiping the moisture from her eyes, Hermione glared fiercely at Seamus before growling, "Run."
With a startled cry, Seamus took off across the room, with Hermione in hot pursuit. Wanting to help their friend against the insensitive prat, Lavender and Parvati followed after them.
"Remind me to give Seamus a thank-you card," Ron grumbled as he stretched his arms over his head, trying to work out the soreness that had settled in his shoulders due to being a human pillow to the two weeping girls.
"I'm with you, mate," Harry agreed wholeheartedly, watching the chase in amusement. He could really hand it to Hermione. The girl could run.
Turning his attention away from the Gryffindors, Harry's eyes fell on Snape, who was glowering in a corner by himself. Whenever it looked like someone was going to approach him, Snape scowled, and the person hurried off in another direction. Good thing Harry was no longer intimidated by the man's scare tactics.
Making his way across the room, he stayed off to the side, figuring that a direct path would give Snape time to run. And he wasn't about to let such a grand opportunity escape.
As he approached, he was greeted with a sneer perfected only for him. "What do you want, Potter?"
Figuring that was as close to an invitation that he would receive, Harry sat down beside him and looked out into the crowd. Everywhere he looked he saw laughing and smiling students in groups, posing for the cameras. Even the professors were having fun, taking pictures with the students or making fun of their goofy poses.
Except Snape, who refused to have fun. Who probably didn't know how to have fun, besides unfairly torturing unsuspecting students. And Harry could say from a myriad of personal experiences that the fun of such events was not mutually shared.
Venturing a glance at his professor, Harry asked most innocently, "You don't want to be in any of the photographs?"
"That you would even ask me such a question is laughable enough for me to warrant an answer in the negative on both questions," Snape replied smoothly, scowl never leaving the crowd.
"Both questions, sir?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Were you not about to ask me to go take photographs with your thickheaded peers?"
Harry thought about it, then started chuckling. The thought never even crossed his mind. It was indeed hilarious, so much so that he started laughing until he could no longer breathe. "Oh yes," he gasped out, "because your people skills are impeccable."
A trace of a smile ghosted across the other man's lips as he gave a sidelong glance to his still laughing companion. At least the brat wasn't deluded enough to think that the holiday spirit would saturate his person. "I believe that is the first intelligent remark you have made. Ever."
"To you, yes," Harry agreed readily once he stopped laughing. "In my defense, I haven't had many opportunities to display my intelligence in your company, since I was too busy trying not to hex you for taking off points from me every five minutes."
The candidness of the statement diffused any anger Snape would have had at the teen's honestly brutal assessment. Instead, he did something that even many years later would have his fellow colleagues believe he was temporarily insane.
Expecting to be berated for his bold comment, Harry was unprepared for the deep, throaty chuckles that resonated from the older man. All he could do was stare in amazement. He had never seen Snape laugh. It was a strange sight, but the lightened expression quite suited him.
Quieting, Snape glanced at Harry out of the corner of his eye and said, "You've been waiting seven years to say that, haven't you?"
Flushing, Harry looked down and mumbled, "I didn't mean to whine. It wasn't that bad." The comment had just slipped out. He could only imagine what Snape thought of him. No doubt there would be threats of a hefty point loss come the start of the new term.
With a sigh, Snape turned in his seat do that he was facing Harry. "I suppose I may have singled you out more than any other student," he admitted grudgingly, fidgeting slightly. It was a habit he had picked up from Harry, whose fingers tended to clasp and unclasp where he was nervous. A quick glance down showed Harry wringing his hands together.
Harry gave him a calculating stare. Was he just admitting to being wrong? Merlin's left ear! It was a momentous occasion. He briefly wondered if the man happened to be Polyjuiced. But no, Harry had spent far too much time studying Snape to know that it was indeed him.
To the admission his only reply was to roll his eyes and mutter, "Well, that much was obvious. To everyone."
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Watch it, Potter. I am still your professor, and you shall treat me in such--"
"Whatever happened to Harry, huh?" Harry interrupted loudly. Quieting, he continued, "We used to talk all the time, and then you distanced yourself from me. Why?"
At the question, Snape sucked in a breath. He knew the topic would come up sooner or later, but he had been hoping for the latter. "There were certain... factors... that presented themselves to me, and I adjusted my actions accordingly."
"Gee, could you vague it up a bit more?" Harry asked sarcastically. He wouldn't budge until he got a straight answer. It was something he had been wondering about since, well... since Snape once again made a game out of making Harry's life miserable.
Growling in irritation, Snape pinched the bridge of his nose as he squeezed his eyes shut. "This is neither the time nor the place to discuss this."
"So when would be a good time and place?" Harry persisted. If he kept up with his badgering, maybe he would finally get some answers. Or possibly some promises for a hefty point loss in the near future. But he was willing to risk it.
"Harry... I am trying quite hard to--"
"Harry!" Hermione rushed up, panting. "I apologize for interrupting, Professor Snape, but I need to speak with Harry. It's urgent."
"No need to apologize, Ms. Granger. You are only saving my headache from worsening." Rising, Snape strode away from them.
Staring after him wistfully, Harry turned his attention to the ever anxious Hermione. "So what's the big emergency?"
Tugging Harry to his feet, she glanced over her shoulder before whispering conspiratorially, "It looked like things were getting heated between you and Professor Snape. I wanted to save you from his wrath." She linked an arm through his and started leading him back toward their friends.
"Thanks, Hermione. What would I ever do without you?" he murmured.
Get some answers, that was what.
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I must say, this fic is taking a turn from where I originally intended it to be heading. That's not a bad thing, just an unexpected thing. But as I said previously, I do have at least basic outlines for the chapters, so hopefully that'll help keep me on track.
Thank you oodles for all of your reviews! I enjoy every single one of them! And while I have been too busy to send individual thanks, I'll try my best to do so this chapter. You guys mean the absolute world to me, and I love you all to itty bitty bite-sized pieces!
Until next chapter, then. Peace out!