Sorry for the delay on this chapter. Sometimes I feel like every time I get into the groove of writing something comes up to hinder such progress. This time, it was no huge affair or anything, but it certainly was a tedious and taxing situation, one which sucked up most of my free moments. I honestly hadn't realized that much time had passed since my last update. Sigh…

Anywho! A little levity later on (how's that for alliteration?)—to break up the heaviness that's been settling in.

I really did have some fun writing this chapter. I hope you all find it a bit fun as well.

Chapter 10: Snape-Baiting

It was something that he had often thought about doing but never did—sitting at his arch nemesis' table. Of course now his reasons for doing so had shifted slightly, but the act was still the same. He trailed across the Great Hall, unseen by all, and he strode passed three of the long dinning tables, unnoticed, and he slipped down next to a particular person, undetected.

And he marveled at his own cleverness.

He stared out through the film that was his cloak and watched avidly as the other ate. He was so close to Severus just then, so close, that if he wanted to, he could move his hand just five inches and touch the other. He had to control his breathing, though, which was speeding up, so he instead used his hand to cup his nose and mouth. Severus was more paranoid than most people, and James was certain that if anyone could ever pick up on his concealed presence it would be him. But at the moment, Severus was none-the-wiser. James watched as the boy dipped his fork down, scrapped it across the plate, collected food within its tines, and brought it up to his mouth. And the food went in and Severus chewed, and then all James could stare at was his lips. He went rigid under the hypnotic way they moved and puffed out to greet the food— the way they wrapped around the fork so that James remembered the other night oh-so-strikingly… And he almost felt his spine snap when Severus licked the corner of his bottom lip…

Damn… his focus was getting a bit hazy, and even he knew it had nothing to do with the gossamer that shrouded him.

Mesmerizing still was the way the Slytherin, when he thought no one was looking, would display emotions that others would take for granted. Those lips of his hooked upward in the corners, most likely out of pleasure from tasting food so delicious— His eyes, though dark as always, were not focused into the sharpened acridity James was so used to seeing, and his face relaxed because when it was just him and three other older years sitting down a ways, that affected disinterest could be retired for just a little while…

And James marveled at his own cleverness.

He leaned in, closer than he possibly should, but as long as he wasn't found out, what harm was there in it? He propped his arm up by his elbow, resting his chin upon his hand that still loosely wrapped around his mouth and nose, and just simply… watched. This went on for some time, until James felt like a right creeper, and then he decided that he should really make use of his cloak. He didn't know what he was doing just that he was doing it. He reached his hand out, stretching it from him, his finger tips lightly pulling at the invisibility cloak until he felt the hairs atop his head sliding along with it, and he hovered it there, a mere flex of the finger away from Severus' cheek.

He really shouldn't—this wasn't having fun, this was being stupid. If he touched Severus, he'd be discovered. He retracted his hand, fisting it as he did so, and frowned. He couldn't use his wand or anything to mess with the other because that required speaking, and speaking meant being heard. Just what had he come here for? James was usually more brilliant about these sort of things, even when they were completely impromptu. As he reflected upon his recklessness, subconsciously the hand that had been about to touch Severus was reaching out once more, only this time, his fingers were crawling along the bench until they brushed against the outside of the other boy's trousers… just barely…

And then Severus stood and James, startled, almost jumped back, but he caught himself before he was able to make a complete arse out of himself.

He fumbled off the bench and thanked the stars that Severus was so oblivious just then that he didn't see James' feet and ankles appearing suddenly when the cloak snagged. He fixed it quickly and rushed after Severus—Damn, the Slytherin was quick!

As he moved, he thought that there was some kind of poeticism to stalking behind Severus… like a shadow no less… Was this irony, perhaps? He didn't know, but he grinned to himself anyway.

He thought the Slytherin would return to his pit where James would then be left with the taxing decision of whether to follow him further or not, but luckily, he was spared from choosing. Severus deviated up the marble staircase, and James had to be oh-so-careful to muffle his clamorous steps. Finally, Severus led him to the third floor, and James wondered what was up here that Severus needed to get to. They walked and walked until they were at the most abandoned section, where classroom after classroom was veiled in dust and grime, decay and desertion—all but one room, that is. James followed after the Slytherin and felt his mouth drop in shock. Severus had converted one of the many useless rooms… into a potions lab, it seemed.

James had never seen so many vials and flasks, cauldrons and pots, and he certainly had never seen all the many odd things that were swimming around in murky liquids, all trapped within jars. There was a vat off in the corner of the room where a faint, luminous light shifted between a pale blue and light green. James watched the colors flit about the room, the light reflecting off the many oddities Severus had acquired, and he was baffled. In the center of the room was a collection of old (and wobbly) desks crammed together to fashion a makeshift work bench, and atop the table was a very large cauldron. Severus had wasted no time, and as James had stood in awe of this discovery, the Slytherin had already gathered many ingredients around him. James tip-toed closer.

He stood behind Severus' shoulder and watched as the other slid a small bloodied mass under the fiercely moving guillotine that was his knife. When the bits were tiny enough, the Slytherin shoved them off to the side and scraped a long stem over in its place. This, too, he chopped, and this, too, he put aside. James stood for so long watching over Severus, but so enthralled was he that he never noticed the dull ache in his stock-still legs. Severus worked tirelessly, not monotonously—fluidly and not mechanically, and the potion changed consistencies, colors, and smells so many times that James lost track. He couldn't be sure if Severus ever made a mistake in any of the one thousand steps he completed—and who was he kidding? Like he was any sort of potions expert—and he figured that at this… the Slytherin never made a mistake. If anything, he only ever enhanced them. After all, Severus was the sort of fellow who had invented several new (and devastating) curses.

Much time had passed before Severus wiped his brow, braced his hands upon the work bench, and sighed out tiredly. But the look of absolute triumph made James' heart catch in his throat. It wasn't the petty glee the Slytherin sometimes showed; it was true, unadorned, uncontained… triumph.

And James marveled at the Slytherin's cleverness.

Lamentably, Severus began tidying up his neatly contained mess. James didn't know why he bothered—when no one else frequented this room, what did it matter if it was a little messy or not? Then again, like the Slytherin's pride would let him do anything else. When the cleaning was done, he watched as Severus moved towards the door. Thinking he was safe, he let out a most unrestrained sigh, and Severus whirled back around.

"I know you're there," he whispered harshly, his black eyes shifting from one empty corner of the room to the next. Oddly enough, his wand was not drawn. James should just be still and silent and then Severus would give up and retire for the night, but then again… why else would he have insisted on sighing so audibly? He wanted to be heard by Severus—he had wanted to be caught. When Severus wasn't looking directly at the space he was occupying, James pulled the cloak from him and let it drop around his feet.

"And I thought snakes could only hear by vibrations," James said as he revealed himself. Severus tensed for a instant, and James saw the look of panic that flashed across the Slytherin's face, his eyes darting to the door as if wanting to flee. But Severus didn't move, and that shock slipped away until he was composed once more.

"Your metaphors for me are really quite cliché," Severus replied, and James was only happy that the Slytherin was even talking to him.

"Say what you will, but they are befitting, right?" he smiled. The expression was tight, but he had to make it clear that he was not… for once—he was not being malicious.

How times have changed…

But Severus wasn't having any of it.

"Why are you here?" he asked, and could James hope to think that it wasn't a means of dismissal? However, he didn't quite know why he was there. Actually, that wasn't true. He had some idea why- a tendril of a reason covered in a thin filament of logic, but really…

… but really…

James leaned against Severus' provisional work table and grinned. "I can give you another cliché answer—I was bored so I—"

"No. That's not what I meant. Why are you here… at school," Severus cut in, and James blinked.

"I… I just didn't go home," he said.

"But why?" Severus kept up.

"Because I didn't feel like it—"

"I doubt that very much."

"Because, in case Sirius came back, I'd be—"

"Likely, but I still don't think that's completely why." Severus studied him, and James strangely felt like he knew what it meant to be under the boy's cutting blade.

"What do you want me to say?" he hushed out, voice weak because in a situation he hadn't accounted on but had very much begged for, he had not a leg to stand on. He knew strikingly well why he was there just then. And did Severus know, too? "Why are you here?" he asked instead. Severus gave a vicious little grin and snorted.

"I never go home when I can help it," he said, and James was surprised to hear such a confession uttered so emotionlessly though the Slytherin's eyes were glinting with a anger he could not comprehend. There was nothing he could say back. There was a stretch of awkward silence in which James diverted his glance until his vision blurred from not blinking. And then he heard something.

"Why…?"

And James furrowed his brows. Had Severus just asked him something or was that just the other sighing out in irritation? He cautioned a peek in the other's direction. Severus had closed his eyes tightly as those long fingers of his clenched into fists at his sides, his shoulders rising from the tension. "Why?" the Slytherin asked again, and James heard him clearly this time.

"Why what?" he asked, straightening off the table.

And oh the look Severus gave him then…

If only James was perceptive enough to know what that gentle crease on the boy's forehead meant—what that slight tension in his thinning lips could be saying—what those slightly contracting muscles in the jaw signaled—what the dark eyes all glinting with the flickering blue and green light might be conveying…

"Why did you do it?" the boy hushed out in a harsh whisper. Severus continued to study him, and how could James be expected to answer? So when put on the spot, he deflected.

"Why did you let me?" he tried quietly. Truly, he thought that needed answering first.

"You're impulsive, Potter—irritatingly so—but I don't think you're that…" and Severus trailed for a minute, and James swore he saw the bulge in the boy's throat bob just a little.

"—impulsive…" James finished for him.

"Arbitrary," Severus corrected. And James folded his arms, much like Severus was always so apt at doing. I don't know, Severus, he thought maliciously, I could very well be just that flippant…

"And you're shrewd and…" —He wanted to say 'paranoid' but didn't think that best at the moment, so he went with—"…cautionary… which makes my question even better." But Severus made no sign of answering as he stared back at the Gryffindor unwaveringly. He felt his stomach knot a little, a sensation he was becoming too annoyingly accustomed to. "I can't answer you," he began reluctantly, and Severus continued to stare. "I can't because… because I don't think it'll satisfy you to hear that I—" and his eyes darted off to the side, anywhere but on the rigid Slytherin, "—that I have no idea why I… acted."

Merlin, it was true. He didn't really know why he had, but he… fuck if he didn't want to find out.

Severus looked at him a second longer before turning his focus to the remaining desks that were stacked precariously atop one another in the corner.

"What are you talking about…" Severus began quietly, and James shifted his focus to that corner as well. "It makes perfect sense."

And he didn't care if it had been uttered in contempt or sarcasm or disbelief or cynicism—James was of the disposition, the very stupid, stupid disposition, of accepting that remark as some sort of admittance—of acceptance—because… well… he bloody fucking wanted to.

He walked towards the Slytherin, his footsteps surprisingly quiet, and he wondered if that was by his own volition. Severus was not looking at him, still, but as James neared, the Slytherin closed his eyes gently, those brows of his bunching, until James hovered just before him. He then lifted his hand and graced the tips of his fingers against that pallid neck…

"Don't…" the Slytherin protested, but James felt no force behind the words. He traced his fingers down a long neck muscle as his other hand came to gently enfold around Severus' wrist. He leaned in closer, shutting his own eyes—heart hammering, breath hitching, skin warming—

…that tantalizing, agonizing sensation clustering below his abdomen…

Then he felt something dig in under his chin. He opened his eyes, and Severus was staring at him dangerously. James skidded his focus down Severus' arm to the boy's hand. The boy's knuckles were turning white, no doubt from the tightly gripped the wand burrowing its way into James' skin.

"Don't," the Slytherin repeated forcibly, but like hell James was going to stop now—Not when he was so riled up and incited. He turned his head into Severus, close to the boy's jaw, and parted his mouth just a little… Moving just a little bit closer… just for a little taste…

And the wand was brutally jabbed into him.

"Dammit, Severus!" he exclaimed, straightening and massaging the sharp ache now under his chin. "What does it matter, huh? It already happened!" he declared, his head a frantic mess. "What the bleedin' hell could be so terrible now?" he demanded ironically. As far as he was concerned, the fact that it had happened at all between them was abysmally wretched. And yes, he had told himself that it was only ever going to be that one time, so he could shove it down into the recesses of his mind. That one time should satiate the harbored darkness well enough. But as he stared at Severus' visage, the boy's dark hair falling in fringes around his face, he knew that the hunger of a bottomless abyss was never satisfied. It would feast on anything—everything James would give it, but what it wanted most…

James should not comply. He knew that. He couldn't think about those pale fingers curling around that wand nor the hands they belonged to—the hands that had gripped the hairs on the base of his head that night—had moved down to sink within the skin on his back—had trailed over his shoulders when Severus' climax had been approaching…

It happened, so what could Severus possibly attest to now?

Damn, he was so close to him right now…

The Slytherin lowered his wand, and his voice was so quiet after that. "It could happen again," he hissed scathingly. And fuck if James didn't wilt a little at Severus' contorted expression, though, he had to admit, the fact that the other had been worrying about it occurring again made something burgeon in his stomach until it spread up to his chest. For this reason only, he stepped back, begrudgingly.

"Fine, Severus… I won't approach you any more," he conceded, eyes downcast and half-lidded. From the upper field of his vision, he saw the Slytherin slightly smirking with victory, no doubt feeling a sense of relief for the first time in the last couple of days. Sad really. Severus should know him better by now. James certainly did love a good challenge, so he smirked in turn and fixed the Slytherin with a most haughty look. "I'll just have to wait until you come to me."

And Severus, after the initial surprise wore off, snorted. James thought he may have even laughed if the Slytherin wasn't so adverse to displaying any emotion that could be misconstrued as happy. "That… is never going to happen," he declared, and James' smile widened.

"Then I'll use all my wit and all my charms on you, Severus."

"Well…" the other began, turning towards the door so James could no longer see his face, "…then you'll be spent by tomorrow." And he was gone before James could counter. The git…

No, Severus, James smiled as he leaned back against the table and stared up at the web-strewn ceiling, You were supposed to say you were looking forward to the challenge. After all, it's only proper between two opposing wizards to acknowledge as much, right?

He closed his eyes and smiled like an idiot.

Trying to make good on his word, James had come to rely heavily upon Severus' predictability—predictability in the sense that the Slytherin had a certain routine everyday, one that did not take James, with the aid of his invisibility cloak, very long to discern.

Every morning, Severus could be found arriving for breakfast at seven-thirty in which he ate what was quickest to consume (usually eggs and toast) before he left for his customarily rigorous (and lengthy) study session in the library. After that, it was off to his lair in which James didn't know what he did (he had yet to find the courage to stalk the Slytherin within his own domain and could only restlessly wait instead), but within an hour's time, Severus would reemerge for lunch before skulking about outside for an hour or so. If he didn't spend the time collecting more Potion ingredients, then it was used as just another opportunity to read. After his bout outside, where James was often baffled by how pale Severus insisted on being even after, the Slytherin went off to his secret Potion's lab. To this Severus dedicated much of his day which always resulted in a missed supper, for so lost in his beloved practice was he that he never even noticed his own hunger pains. It wasn't until the school bell would chime out ten-thirty that Severus would reluctantly peel his focus from his work to ready himself for the day's end, all so he could repeat it for the next. James didn't know if this was just Severus' holiday routine, but he relished at it, knowing it presented him with more opportunities to sway the Slytherin to him. He had promised not to approach the Slytherin in the sense of... not jumping him, but he never said that he wouldn't take a very... proactive course to manipulate the outcome.

So on one particular day, after Severus had finished breakfast, he came to find a very nonchalant Gryffindor at his library table… and worse yet at his seat. James, upon Severus' arrival, could barely contain his amusement as he furtively watched the vexed Slytherin work out how best to handle the newly frustrating hitch that was James Potter. It was only after Severus had hovered for a good three minutes, looking all but anguished and irritated, that James finally looked up from his book and greeted the other.

"Oh! Hullo Severus!" he smiled warmly, and he found it was one of the most effortless expressions ever. "Ah! I appear to be in your way!" he exclaimed affectedly, looking around astounded. He stood up swiftly and stepped from the seat. "Please," and he gestured towards the newly relinquished chair with his hand and a bow of his head. At that Severus only crossed his arms and looked more tempted to curse the chair rather than wanting to take it. James grinned. He picked up his book, snapped it closed in one hand, and strode over to the Slytherin. "McGonagall's essay sure is a doosy, huh?" he commented, stopping beside the Slytherin for just that moment. When Severus said nothing in return, James grinned again and left the Slytherin to his cramming.

He made his way to the front desk, checked his book out, and left the library. He absentmindedly stroked the spine of the book with his other hand thinking that he was a right git. After all, the book he took was one that Severus had been using most for his Transfiguration work. Oh well. All the Slytherin had to do was find him, and James would give him the study tool. But when Severus had yet to seek James out by lunch time, the Gryffindor frowned and prowled off towards the Great Hall.

He sat at his own table, which was to be expected, but he made sure that when he caught the Slytherin's wayward glance over at him to flash his best grin, hoping it was only roguish and charming, while at other times, adding the signature mussing of his hair. Sure it elicited several giggles from the girls in the sight line (and a slight blush from another chap), but did it encourage anything but disdain from the Slytherin? No. So after lunch—James had been too busy acting like a simpering prat to eat anything—he followed Severus outside the castle as close as he could without being detected until he broke from the boy's trail and headed towards the Quidditch lockers. When he was close enough, he Accio-ed his broom to him, and then flew off on a course he knew was in Severus' field of vision.

And he knew the Slytherin watched him—just like the other wandering students watched him. And James didn't care if Severus thought his intentions apparent. he also didn't care particularly what the others thought. For all he knew, they still believed that James, the poor bored little Gryffindor, was merely acting on his usual impulse to bother the Slytherin. But as far as Severus was concerned, when James flew, it never failed to impress anyone. He zipped under the sky, racing some unseen opponent, before coming to daring halts that would send a less skilled flyer off their broom. He looped in aerobatic circles, each arc narrowing until the turns were enough to make his head spin. He nose-dived and only jerked his broom up right before the impending impact to skim the ground dangerously. Mere inches from the ground, he neared the Slytherin who pretended to be reading and smirked. He used to do this move a lot, too. Of course it was usually for Lily's entertainment. He'd get so dangerously close, as if he intended on colliding into the person, and then he deviate just as the other would coil in anticipation. Severus looked up, eyes widening slightly, and then James shot upward and sent Severus' robes whipping around along with upswept dirt. He glanced back. Several spectators were cheering…

… Severus had stood and was heading back towards the castle.

Scowling, James pulled on his broom and shot off in the Slytherin's direction. When he was close enough, he lowered until he was able to jump off, the landing ungraceful but camouflaged by his seamless stumble into a jog.

"Don't tell me you hate flying," he said as he skidded into step with the other. Severus didn't even look at him.

"Was that flying just now?" he asked evenly, and James wouldn't think anything stupid like how he missed the other's dry voice. "I thought you were having a conniption up there." And James laughed despite himself which was to his advantage, he thought, as Severus whipped his head around in startled.

"If you don't know the difference between the fits and flying tricks… allow me to teach you," James replied sweetly.

"Don't do that," Severus bit back after a second, and James tensed.

"Do what?" he asked earnestly as they passed under Hogwarts' front doors, and Severus whirled around. James stumbled to a stop before he collided into the other.

"Don't talk to me like I'm one of your whimpering admirers," he scoffed. "You're sadly mistaken." Then he left James on the threshold of the castle to no doubt go mess with his potions. And James considered following him further, but he supposed that was enough self-induced torture for one day. He eventually returned his broom and finished out his day more disgruntled than he'd care to admit.

However, the days after proved to be just as fruitless, even though it wasn't from lack of trying.

James was doing everything he could think of. Wherever Severus went, he was sure to be close by. Each time he was near the Slytherin should have been it, he was certain, but at each and every moment Severus had remained, most troublingly, unmoved. The Slytherin was obstinate, it seemed, but James was proving to be just as stubborn... or just as thick. Of course, he could cry out in frustration just thinking of all the ridiculous things he had done recently.

He had completely bombarded Severus' daily routine with his presence. If Severus was in the library, James was there, too, wandering in and out of the other's sanctum in pretend pursuit of books while throwing out comments and smiles here and there- advice, too, though the other never asked for it and would often refute it, the words 'simpleton' and 'dunce' usually following thereafter. No matter.

When the Slytherin was in the Great Hall, James, of course, would follow. At first, he just sat at his own table, and would only accidentally bump into the other when Severus was entering or leaving. But as of late, James wasn't satisfied by the disadvantage the distance caused, and because his bollocks were as big as he was confident (or stupid), he then began sitting at the Slytherin table. Always quite a sight, really, though he drew little pleasure from the shocked and affronted expressions of the remaining Slytherins. Even the bemused ones casted his way from the other Houses interested him little, not when Severus would barely even acknowledge him. James would smile and greet the other amicably, but the most he had ever received from the Slytherin was, 'Dear Merlin—Not again, Potter. I could barely stomach your presence last time.' Then he would just ignore him or leave altogether. Still, James persisted.

When he saw him in the hallways, he would call out to him. One time, when the Slytherin's arms were laden with books and scrolls, James gallantly offered assistance. This Severus refused, but James didn't take no for answer. He levitated a majority of the load into his arms and only smiled when the Slytherin eyed him suspiciously. He carted them all the way down to the dungeons where Severus eventually snapped them back from him. James hadn't cared that Severus had left looking miffed and annoyed. When he had taken back his possessions, their fingers had brushed together just slightly. That had carried him through the rest of that day well enough.

The next day, when James had been particularly arrogant, he had waited for the Slytherin outside the Great Hall. After lunch had concluded, out came the Slytherin. He didn't noticed James leaning up against the wall just a couple feet away and subsequently could not possibly anticipate what occurred next. James, with his wand already in hand, quietly intoned the Trip jinx and Severus went forward suddenly. Luckily, James was at the ready... to catch him. He latched his arm underneath the other's and hoisted him back. Sure, he may have overexerted the heave forward, sending the Slytherin colliding into his chest, but the brief contact was well worth the ensuing disgust Severus reacted with.

"Real clever, Potter," Severus snarled, dusting his robes off gruffly as if James had somehow imparted him with dirt or something. James grinned innocently.

"Maybe you should hem those robes of yours, Severus. I might not always be around to catch you otherwise," he put sweetly, and the Slytherin, after his bout of unabashed gawking, actually and visibly bristled before quietly storming off.

And during all the days, the worse James ever did was follow Severus around under his Invisibility cloak. Once, when he had been angry enough at the lack of progress, he had finally shadowed the prat into his common room. He had been utterly amazed at how uncave-like the Slytherin house was. It was colder than his own tower abode, for sure, but the dank squalor he imagined the snakes to live in was replaced with high arcing ceilings, comfortable and plushy wingback chairs, tapestries adorning the walls, and a roaring fireplace much like that of Gryffindor's. Of course once James started a the trend he couldn't really abandoned it. He liked to see how Severus behaved in his own corner of the wizarding world. The Slytherin would always pick a spot by the fire when such a place was not already occupied, and it never failed to remind James of his own mates, all vying for the same prized seat in his own common room. There would come a dull ache in his chest at such thoughts, but they were usually (and easily) forgotten the longer he watched the Slytherin in silence.

He never followed Severus up to the boy's room.

He wasn't that brash... not yet at least.

Of course, he had proven himself to be rather idiotic at other moments. For instance, when Christmas was fast approaching, James got the wild idea to get Severus a gift. He had sat atop his bed for hours, wielding his mind to come up with a present suitable enough for the Slytherin, but either his imagination was failing him or he just lacked the focus. He decided that tangible stimuli could prove useful, and so he had snuck out of Hogwarts. He wandered Hogsmeade for a long time. While he himself was instinctually inclined to Zonko's and the Quidditch shop, something told him they weren't quite right for Severus. So he tried the book store, Aunt Abby's Place of Antiquities, and even the Quill shop (which just had to be the most boring place in Hogsmeade), and still James had found nothing. It wasn't until he had resolved himself to leaving empty-handed that he came across a rather surly peddler selling all sorts of oddities. Severus liked strange things well enough, if the boy's potion lab was anything to go by, and after much debate and many questions, James had thought he had found Severus a very perfect gift indeed, the older seller all too happy to be rid of the very pleased Gryffindor. Maybe the nail clippings in the oh-so-plain phial didn't seem all that special, but when help up against the light, even James could see the glittering specks of silver and gold, and he imagined the rare songbird they belonged to to be just as magnificent. He could hardly wait for Christmas.

And then Christmas came. James received letters from his bereft mum and amused father, gifts from them too, ones that would make his other mates and peers jealous no doubt, and he had even been sent letters and small presents from Remus and Peter. Nothing from Sirius, but that was okay. He just hoped the other buys received their gifts from him well enough. Of course, there was one he was rather anxious to hand over personally. When he finally found Severus wandering across the Great Hall very early that morning (none of the other students were out and about just yet), James had swallowed his nerves and shoved the tiny wrapped parcel off unto the confused boy.

"What is this?" Severus asked, and James rolled his eyes.

"What are you? Five? If you just open it you won't have to ask me," he replied back amusedly though his nerves were ricocheting around inside. Severus studied him a moment longer before those long fingers of his slipped under the loose knot of the string and undid the wrappings. James didn't really know if he had picked out something great, at least he hadn't until he saw the Slytherin's face alight with a mixture of astonishment, curiosity, and guardedness. He must have gotten him something pretty wicked after all.

"Amazing Potter," Severus said at last, and James did nothing to hide his pride.

"Yeah?" he breathed out.

"Yes… to think even a self-lauded Marauder could be swindled," Severus jabbed smugly, and James' shoulders stooped. He suddenly felt crestfallen. Swindled? "These are just cat claws… transfigured into bird talons," Severus taunted, shaking the small phial of clippings in front of James' face. Well, on the bright side, James supposed this could only be the low point of his stupidity. Too bad it was in front of Severus.

"If it's useless to you, then give it back," James replied tersely. Inwardly, he was sulking under his wilted pride, but he hid it well enough on the outside. He outstretched his hand to retrieve the phial, but before he could lock his fingers around it, Severus pulled it back and tucked it into his pocket. James blinked at him confusedly. The only thing the Slytherin offered him by means of an explanation was a haughty smirk and an indecipherable comment.

"It's certainly good for a laugh though, isn't it?" he sneered. He turned to leave, and James could only repeat the word 'laugh' within his head. Laugh? Slytherins didn't laugh- especially not ones that were Severus. Then he remembered himself and rushed up to the other before he could disappear down into the dungeons, catching the boy on the twelfth step down. Severus halted calmly while James steadied himself.

"Happy Christmas, Severus," he breathed out. The Slytherin's eyes were back to their usual blank darkness, and James was certain he'd receive nothing in response though he dared to hope otherwise. And then sure enough, the Slytherin side-stepped him and descended on down the stairs. James gave a bitter smile, for how could he have expected it to go any other way? However, as he turned around he thought he heard a distant and thin, "You, too, Potter." At least he liked to believe he had. He certainly grinned like an idiot at the thought of it.

The next day, James could be seen sauntering around Hogwarts quite elated. It wasn't that his happiness was worrisome or anything, but when he made a point to say hullo to every passerby, it was a little disconcerting for the other students. But what did James care? As far as he was concerned, he was making strides with Severus at last.

Then he sat across from Severus during breakfast and was proven wholly wrong.

"I could commend you for your persistence in bothering me, but I really don't want to inflate that head of yours any more than it already is," Severus bit out at him. It was cold... like how Severus used to talk to him. James swallowed his bacon hard.

"You mean we aren't past this yet?" he got out. Severus regarded him minimally.

"You thought something had changed?" Severus asked indifferently. James felt his teeth grind together and his grip around his fork tightened. Severus had been distant with him but never in denial. He leaned across the table, eyeing the Slytherin darkly.

"You know it has," he whispered out harshly through his teeth, voice low so no one else could hear. Severus tilted his head up, fixing James with quite the contemptible look.

"I'm not allowed to say otherwise?" he replied.

"No!" James exclaimed rather loudly, attracting the nearby and suspicious stares of those surrounding the two. "No..." James reiterated quietly this time.

"No?" Severus voiced, and James, feeling his brows furrow upward, could only nod his head once.

No.

"Stop following me outside, Potter- this is bad enough," he said at long last before he stood and left the withering Gryffindor to the resentment he so was so acutely imbued with just then. James turned his head and watched the Slytherin leave. Then because Severus was utterly incapable of snuffing out his determination, James forced the bitterness down and smiled thinly. As far as he was concerned, he had all the time in the world to prove the Slytherin wrong. At least that's what he told himself.

And eventually, the holiday break neared its close.

James went about the last day, free of Severus, until he downed the rest of his supper with a gulp of pumpkin juice and decided that enough was really quite enough. He sought him out on the third floor. Unsurprisingly, when he entered the room, Severus had compiled many lengthy parchments to his side, his dear Potion's book on top of them, his downcast face glowing with an eerie, silver light. He didn't even look up when he spoke.

"I'd ask how you knew I'd be here, but something tells me that would be a stupid question," he said, and James couldn't respond. He closed the door quietly behind him, pushing it with his back until it shut with a quiet click, and then he just stood there. He stared at the floor for a long while as he couldn't collect his thoughts long enough to proceed further. At first, his little wager with Severus had been a game and a chance to prove that even in this sort of twisted situation, he would be the victor, but as of late, that kind of thinking was being turned upside down.

In the end, the only kind of conclusion James could come to was that he no longer cared who made the damn move, if only someone would just... bloody well step forward. The Slytherin had by now completely disregarded his potion work and was watching James curiously. Good. If he was going to make a spectacle of himself, James better have a captive audience to do it with. So with the Slytherin's attention riveted, he picked his foot up and took one step closer to Severus. He cleared his throat and raised his head until he was level with the other.

And maybe it was something on his face that made the Slytherin straighten just then. And maybe it was something in his eyes that made the other exhale loudly. And maybe it was his own palpable resolution that Severus felt.

And what he said next wasn't a request so much as a demand.

"Severus..." he began, voice deep and heavy with a pressure that was so acute within him just then-

"...Kiss me."

A/N: By the way… I think I've given James a neck fetish… And a leg fetish… and an overall Severus fetish… The last one's the best kind though, huh?

Also... this story has gotten way more massive than I had ever intended. Guess we'll all decide later if that was a good thing or not! Hope you enjoyed this chap though!