Title: In Memory's Wake
Author: Cocoa-Snape (aka CocoaSnape)
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Disclaimer: No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
In Memory's Wake by CocoaSnape
Chapter 4: Upside down
The Potions class watched with bated breath as Snape eyed Harry Potter malevolently – the Gryffindors in trepidation, the Slytherins in anticipation. While turning in their completed potions at the end of class, Harry had knocked Malfoy's over, and it seemed quite deliberately at that.
To make matters worse, Harry was glaring at Snape with an air of flippant disrespect.
"That's it, Potter," Snape snapped. "Detention! Right now! Class dismissed."
The Gryffindors winced at Harry's predicament even as the Slytherins jeered at him. Harry muttered a few choice curse words as his classmates filed out of the room.
It took less than five seconds for Snape to lock and ward the door, and for the two men to practically fly into each other's arms.
"I'm sorry," Harry panted as he devoured Severus's neck. "I was dying."
"Me too," Snape whispered as his pressed his lips roughly to Harry's. His heart was racing, and when he pulled away just enough to take in that flushed face and those brilliant green eyes lost in arousal, Snape breathed, "Dear, Merlin, what have you done to me?"
The pair had already stumbled backwards through the office, towards the entrance to Severus's quarters.
"How long do you have?"
"An hour before Transfiguration."
"It'll have to be enough."
-
-
----------------------------------------------
-
-
Harry breathed in the scent of his sleeping lover. He'd had to wait another six hours after Transfiguration before he'd finally been able to floo down to Severus's quarters. Typically, Monday nights were more an exercise of who could get their clothes off the fastest. But their mid-day encounter had reduced their frenzied arousal just enough so that they'd been able to enjoy a leisurely dinner and an evening of unhurried lovemaking. Harry knew Severus had particularly enjoyed that, a reminder of their first time together. It'd been a while since they'd taken their time with each other that way – Harry especially was far too exuberant of late. But then, weren't the first few weeks of a relationship supposed to be so passionate they verged on frenetic? These had been that and more.
Harry snuggled closer to Severus. Suddenly the memory of the time, not five weeks ago, when they had slept together in this very bed under the influence of an anti-aphrodisiac came to him. Of course, that had been before they'd officially gotten together. The goal had been to calm Severus's maniacal nightmares. Harry was grateful beyond measure that those had subsided and that Severus was doing so incredibly well.
Harry felt Severus stir and then roll over to face him. The older man reached his hand up and gently stroked the side of Harry's face. Pressing a soft kiss to Harry's cheek, he murmured against it, "What's keeping you awake, hmm?"
Harry's heart skipped a beat at the tenderness behind Severus's words. "Just thinking about lucky I am," he whispered.
"Well, why don't you dream about it instead," Severus suggested, squeezing Harry's hand. "Come here," he said affectionately, as he pulled the young man close to him and wrapped his arms around his lover.
Harry sighed in contentment and fell fast into sleep.
-
-
----------------------------------------------
-
-
Harry glanced around the dungeon classroom, double-checking that everyone was focusing on their steaming cauldrons. He eyed his professor's movements for a long moment as well before removing a small scroll from his pocket. Harry's movements were quick and deliberate as he passed it to Hermione.
The young witch unrolled the scroll under her desk and began to read it at once. She immediately blushed at the contents. Glancing back down at the note in question, she winced as the parchment was abruptly snatched out of her hands.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for passing notes in class," Snape said smugly as he pocketed the missive.
"Does he have to take so many points?" Ron grumbled after Snape was out of earshot.
At his desk, Snape silently perused the note. 'I want to wrap my arms around you.' His eyes widened, and only a moment later, he struggled to suppress a smile. Harry had meant for him to intercept the note. After all, the very idea that the note had been meant for Granger was laughable and just the slightest bit nauseating. 'I miss you so much. I'm dying here – I'm hard as a rock just from the smell of you. Let's skip dinner…I need to touch you all over.'
Snape missed Harry too, and this note was doing nothing to help quell his desire. And he couldn't help but be impressed by this rather clever method of communication; if the note had been intercepted, everyone would assume a tryst between Harry and Hermione. As it was, half the school believed it anyhow, given all the time they spent together.
Snape looked up. Harry was covertly eyeing him with a self-assured expression, trying to get a hint of his answer. Hermione still looked slightly pink from having read a portion of the note.
In his most severe voice, Snape said, "Miss Granger, you will see me after class."
Hermione's eyes went wide. She struggled to formulate a response, but in the absence of coherent words, she remained silent.
When class was dismissed and the students began exiting the classroom, Hermione remained, as did Harry by her side, determined to explain the situation. Surely Severus didn't really believe that note was meant for Hermione?
"Potter, did I ask you to stay?"
Harry glanced back and saw a few students still at the back of the classroom. "No, sir, but―"
"Then get lost, Potter."
Reluctantly, Harry shuffled out, glancing at Hermione sympathetically.
Snape closed, locked and silenced the room. By now, Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest. In a panic, she blurted out, "Professor, there's nothing going on between me and Harry. I swear it!"
Snape looked legitimately confused for a moment, before realization dawned. "Do give me some credit, Miss Granger. I called you here to ask you a favour."
"A favour?" Hermione repeated in shock, wondering if she'd misheard.
"Yes, a favour. There's no need to act so shocked. Surely Harry's informed you that I can be civil."
Hermione stared. That was the first time she'd ever heard Professor Snape refer to Harry by his first name. It sounded incredibly strange. It took her a long moment to find her voice. "What sort of favour, sir?"
"I need you to tutor Harry in Potions."
"Tutor him, sir? But he's doing so well."
"Yes, but Harry's sudden motivation needs to be explained. And not only in Potions, but the rest of his classes as well. If you could make a show of studying with him in the common room, perhaps 'tutoring' him, I would appreciate it."
"And people will think he's studying because I'm making him?"
"Yes."
"May I ask, sir, why are you telling me this and not Harry?"
"I fully intend to speak with him about it, but it's not wise for us to be seen alone together more than necessary. And as you are part of this plan, so to speak, I wanted to ask you personally. I trust I have your cooperation then, Miss Granger?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Very good. Also, please do me the courtesy of giving this to Harry," Snape said, pulling a small scroll from his pocket.
Despite herself, Hermione blushed as her imagination ran wild with what Snape's reply might be. As she placed it in her pocket, she realized that Professor Snape hadn't even told her not to open it.
"I'll give it to him straight away, sir," Hermione said fervently, feeling strangely warmed by the fact that he trusted her. She made to leave, but then turned and added, "And, sir, I am really looking forward to dinner this weekend."
Snape froze for a moment, and then nodded. He watched the brown-haired witch leave the room and then muttered, "Bloody hell." He'd forgotten all about that.
-
-
----------------------------------------------
-
-
Snape took a long sip of his tea, conscious of the pair of brilliant blue eyes watching him keenly from across the coffee table.
He and the Headmaster had been discussing the latest Hogwarts' gossip, little that it was, before Dumbledore finally leaned over and asked shrewdly, "So tell me, Severus, why are you really here?"
Snape managed to sport a confused expression. "Whatever do you mean, Albus? You invited me for tea."
"I always invite you to tea after dinner."
"Oh, so you were just being polite?"
"Not at all. But you've been too, shall we say, preoccupied with other things the last few weeks to accept."
"Yes well," Snape began grudgingly and then muttered very quietly, "I need some advice."
"On?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"Never mind," Snape insisted suddenly. What had he been thinking coming here?
"Severus, please, I would hope by now that you'd be comfortable enough to discuss anything with me."
A long pause. "It's mortifying," Snape admitted.
"Just have out with it, my boy," Dumbledore prodded gently.
Snape emitted a long deep sigh and decided that however difficult it might be, perhaps the best thing to do was to just say it. "Harry's invited Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley to dinner, and…" Snape paused, unsure of how to continue.
"And you want to know what to do?" Dumbledore finished kindly.
"Yes."
Dumbledore began to chuckle.
"I'm glad to see you find this amusing, Albus," Snape replied irritably.
"I'm sorry, Severus, you're right," Dumbledore said, instantly wiping the smile off his face. "This is a very serious matter. Go on…"
"This dinner means so much to him."
"Then why don't you ask Harry for advice? They are his friends, after all."
"I don't want him to know I care."
"Ah."
"What the hell am I supposed to do?" Snape asked throwing his hands up in the air in frustration. "Miss Granger had the nerve to tell me she was looking forward to it. I don't know how to entertain adolescents!"
"Just be yourself, Severus," Dumbledore replied.
"Now, THAT…is the worst advice I've ever heard," Snape all but shouted. "They'll run screaming."
Dumbledore couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. "Oh, Severus, I never thought I'd see this day. You're having guests down to the dungeons, Gryffindors no less, and you've come to ask me for advice on how best to entertain them. It's so incredibly…"
"Don't you dare say it…" Snape warned.
"…sweet," Dumbledore finished with a twinkle.
"That's got to be the nastiest thing you've ever said to me, Albus."
-
-
----------------------------------------------
-
-
As the trio of Gryffindors made their way down the dungeon corridor, Ron looked like Harry was marching him to his death. Hermione, on the other hand, was in great spirits, and was clutching a package wrapped with a bow.
"I still can't believe you're bringing him a gift," Ron said reproachfully.
"It's common courtesy to bring something when invited to someone's home, Ronald."
Ron's retort was lost as they stepped into Professor Snape's office.
"This place gives me the creeps," Ron said, remembering the only other time he'd been down here. It had not been a pleasant memory, being berated under the threat of expulsion at the start of their second year. "The man lives like a vampire."
"Severus doesn't live here, Ron," Harry said in exasperation. "This is just his office."
"Yeah, but still," Ron insisted as he followed Harry and Hermione through a hidden door in the back, down a long corridor and toward the entrance to Snape's quarters.
Harry gave the password and the wards immediately granted them entrance. Both Ron and Hermione gaped at the sight of their dreaded professor's sitting room. Harry remembered having a similar reaction the first time he'd seen it some months before. It was not at all what one would have expected to see from Severus Snape. Light shades of brown dominated the expanse of the austere but comfortable room. A cozy dark leather brown chair and sofa were arranged around a coffee table in front of the large roaring hearth. And in the far corner, a table had already been elegantly set for dinner.
"Oh, this is very nice," Hermione said, stepping inside.
Ron continued to hesitate at the door.
A familiar drawl snapped him to attention, "Mr. Weasley, you may come in. I promise not to bite…" A moment's pause before Snape added with a smirk, "…at least not before dinner."
Hermione laughed. "That's very funny, Professor."
Ron muttered under his breath, "More like creepy."
"Thank you for inviting us, sir," Hermione said.
"It is my pleasure," Snape replied politely and not a little bit stiffly. "You are Harry's friends, after all."
Ron gave Hermione a nudge.
"What?" she whispered.
"He called Harry…Harry."
"What did you think? That he calls me Potter?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Well, honestly? Yeah!"
Hermione elbowed Ron roughly and snapped angrily in his ear, "You're being exceptionally rude, Ron. Stop it."
Snape couldn't help but be amused by the proceedings, but catching a glimpse of the growing look of distress on Harry's face, he did his best to diffuse the tension. "Perhaps we should begin dinner. Is everyone hungry?"
"That sounds great, Severus," Harry said gratefully.
Dinner had seemed like a good idea at the time, Snape thought. But the first several minutes passed with infinite slowness. Harry made a few valiant attempts to start up a conversation, but since they mostly revolved around Quidditch, those efforts fell rather flat. The silence in the room had fast become an uneasy one.
Ron had come prepared with a strategy for just a circumstance and he was fully employing it at the moment. He kept his mouth full of food at all times, not a stretch for him anyhow, so that he could avoid the pressure of being forced to speak.
Snape opened the wine Hermione had brought and served it with the main course. Unfamiliar with the label, he eyed the Muggle American bottle somewhat speculatively before giving the wine a somewhat hesitant taste. He was pleasantly surprised.
"This is delightful, Miss Granger. You have good taste in wine."
"Not really," Hermione confessed. "My parents went on a vineyard tour last year and bought three cases of it. I asked my mum to send me a bottle."
"Be that as it may, it was very thoughtful," Snape replied.
With the stalemate of silence finally broken, Hermione braved an attempt at conversation by expressing her opinion on an article she had read in the Prophet that very morning. And before long, Harry was watching in stunned relief as Hermione and Severus engaged in a rather animated discussion of politics in both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds. He didn't know if it was the wine or the subject that had broken the ice, but he really didn't care. Ron may still have been stuffing his mouth full of food, but at least Hermione seemed perfectly at ease. And so too did Severus.
As they were finishing dessert, Ron stared at his empty plate and had the uncomfortable feeling that it was his turn to speak. He'd barely said a word since he'd entered the room over an hour ago. Desperate for something to say, he addressed his least favorite professor, "So, then…I guess you and Harry aren't fighting anymore."
Snape'e eyebrows flew up.
"Ouch!" Ron exclaimed as Hermione kicked his shin under the table.
"I never said we were fighting, Ron," Harry corrected in almost a panic. Turning his gaze at Severus, he communicated quickly, 'I swear I didn't tell them anything. I just mentioned that we had an argument…and I told them it was all my fault. I swear!' The last thing Harry wanted was for Severus to think he was blabbing about their personal matters to Ron and Hermione.
"It's all right, Harry," Snape said reassuringly. "And no, Mr. Weasley, Harry and I are not fighting, as you put it."
Somewhat timidly, Hermione inquired, "May I ask, sir, were you two just communicating through Legilimency?"
"Very perceptive, Miss Granger. I'd give five points to Gryffindor," Snape said, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement, "…but it is the weekend after all."
"Never had any trouble taking points on the weekend," Ron mumbled.
"Ron, he's making a joke," Hermione admonished.
Ron looked bewildered at this information, as if the idea of Professor Snape making a joke was not possible.
Harry shot Ron a dirty look and invited everyone to the sitting area. He gave Severus's arm a light squeeze as he brushed past him, his tacit thanks to his lover for being so gracious despite Ron's behaviour.
As they took their seats, Harry could sense Hermione's sudden anxiety, and he thought this was rather strange given how relaxed she'd been at dinner. Ron's expression, on the other hand, clearly conveyed that he was wondering when this evening would be coming to a close.
"Can I offer either of you some more wine?" Snape asked.
"Do you have any Firewhiskey?" Ron asked brazenly.
Hermione gasped at his presumption, but if Snape found the request an odd one, he didn't let on. "No. But if you prefer something stronger, I have some Cognac."
Ron looked amazed. "Yeah, that sounds good."
"I'm fine with the wine, Professor, thank you," Hermione said.
Harry went to help Severus with the drinks and whispered, "I can't believe you're giving him that."
"Perhaps something to calm the nerves wouldn't be amiss."
"Oh, he'll be fine," Harry insisted.
Snape poured first for Ron, then a healthy amount for himself, and said, "I meant for me."
As Severus handed Ron the glass, Harry took the opportunity to lean over to Hermione and ask if she was okay. She seemed preoccupied with something. She brushed off his concern, took a deep breath and began in a rush, "Professor, Harry mentioned that you had quite a library. Is there…I mean, could I…I mean if it wouldn't be asking too much…"
"Not at all, Miss Granger," Snape said, waving his hands vaguely about the room.
"Sir?"
"If you find it, Miss Granger," Snape replied with a gleam in his eyes, "…it's yours to ransack."
Hermione's face lit up in glee at the challenge. It took her less than 20 seconds to find the magical signature and just about the same amount of time to figure out how to open the door.
She stepped inside and the room lit on its own. "Oh!"
Harry remembered how awestruck he'd been when he'd first seen Severus's library. The room was a small one, only about five feet square, but the books extended upwards as far as the eye could see. It was an awesome thing to behold, and given Hermione's reverence for books, Harry could only imagine what she must have been feeling.
"Oh my!" came the voice from within the library. And then a moment later, "OH!!!" Peeking her head outside, Hermione asked almost breathlessly, "How do you access the upper levels?"
"Simply think about your need for a ladder and the room will make it appear," Snape answered.
Harry interjected, "And don't worry, you won't fall. Severus put a spell to catch you if you slip."
"Yes," Snape added with a smirk, "Otherwise Harry, clumsy as he is, would have had ten broken wrists and ankles to explain to Madam Pomfrey by now."
"Are you ever going to stop making fun of me about that?" Harry asked with a smile.
"I simply find it amusing that you can swirl in fantastic upside down patterns on a broom, but you have trouble holding onto a ladder."
Hermione, for her part, was clearly enraptured in something she'd found in the library. The three men could hear her speaking to herself. "Oh Merlin! Is this a first edition?! Oh good heavens, it is!!"
Ron snapped angrily. "This is just great! She's going to be in there all night."
"Why don't you two play chess?" Harry suggested.
"I don't know, Harry," Ron said hesitantly.
"Perhaps we should give it a try, Mr. Weasley. I'm told you are very good. If that's true, you probably rarely find an adequate opponent."
"I guess. Harry isn't that good and Hermione doesn't care for chess." Ron downed his drink. "Can I have another?"
Snape eyed the glass of Cognac Ron had just gulped like cheap Firewhiskey. Reminding himself that this evening was for Harry, he swallowed his retort and went to refill the redhead's glass.
"I'll go get the chess set then," Harry said, glad he'd found something to occupy the two men. Before he could take a step, however, Ron stood, grabbed his arm and whispered, "Don't leave me, Harry. Who am I going to talk to?"
"Perhaps your best friend's lover," Snape answered suddenly as he returned with Ron's drink.
Snape did his best not to laugh as Ron's eyes bulged at his use of the word 'lover.' "Sit, Mr. Weasley," Snape ordered.
Ron sat immediately.
Snape could tell that the boy looked decidedly ill-at-ease, and however amusing that was, it was not what he wanted to achieve from this evening. In what came out too much like an order, he said, "Get comfortable."
Harry left the room with a broad grin on his face. The funny thing was, he'd expected Severus to be the one most out of his element this evening, but he appeared to be handling the situation with ease. Amused by Ron's panic, Harry wondered what sort of conversation his best friend and lover would occupy themselves with when Harry was out of the room.
As it happened, Harry had no idea where Severus kept his chess set. When he finally returned with it, almost ten minutes later, both men bolted up from their seats.
"What the hell took you so long?" they snapped in unison.
-
-
----------------------------------------------
-
-
Fortunately the next two hours passed rather easily. Chess had been a brilliant idea. It didn't require either man to speak, and what little conversation there was revolved around chess moves Harry had never heard of.
The most amusing part of the evening, Harry felt, was Hermione, who had planted herself in the library. She could be heard, however, and if Harry didn't know any better, he'd have thought she was having one orgasm after another. Sometimes when she found a specific volume or a new section of the library previously obscured by magic, the sounds of rather heavy breathing could be heard, followed by a muttered, "Oh god!" or a wild, "Dear Merlin!"
On occasion, she would poke her head out and ask for help, and Severus, obliging, stepped inside the library when it was Ron's move.
The end of their second chess game brought a rather finite end to the evening. Snape had won both, but sincerely complimented Ron on two well-played games.
Hermione's distress at being told they had to leave was mitigated only when Snape pulled a tome from a corner bookshelf. "You may borrow this, Miss Granger. I suspect it might interest you."
After all the noises she'd been making throughout the evening, this time Hermione fell abruptly silent. Looking utterly gob smacked, she thanked Snape profusely and bid him goodnight. Ron muttered a polite goodbye as well.
"I'll just walk back with them," Harry said to Severus. "I'll be back in a bit."
"Take your time," Severus said. Harry reached over and squeezed Severus's hand in goodbye. Normally he would have given Severus a kiss, but Harry decided that that might have been too much for Ron to handle for one evening.
Once they were outside of Snape's quarters, Ron spoke at once. "That was horrible."
Harry's heart sank. "What do you mean? I thought you had fun playing chess with him?"
"Well yeah, that was alright, I suppose. But he was scary."
"What are you on about, Ron? He wasn't anything like he is in class. In fact, I thought Severus was very nice to you."
"Exactly!" Ron said, as if Harry's words proved his point. "It was worse…almost like he was plotting. I kept thinking he was going to snap or something."
"Ron, you're being ridiculous," Hermione said. "I thought Professor Snape was wonderful."
"What do you know?" Ron countered. "You were in the library all night."
"If you recall, I had a very pleasant conversation with him over dinner. Besides, he helped me several times in the library. Do you realize that he knows where every book is by memory? It's amazing."
"That you think is amazing," Ron huffed, "…but Quidditch is nonsense to you."
Hermione, who now seemed utterly taken with Harry's choice of lover said, "Harry, he really is wonderful. He even said I could borrow more books if I wanted."
Ron rolled his eyes. "And all that makes up for years of torturing us?"
"Ron, Harry's with him now. And Professor Snape was very charming. The fact that he's not the most social person but he still made such an effort makes it very clear to me that he really cares for Harry."
Harry was gratified to hear Hermione reaffirm her approval of his relationship, even if Ron was no more thrilled than before. "Well, I'm glad at least one of you had a good time," Harry said.
"I can't wait to get to the common room and start reading this right away."
"Are you nuts, 'Mione? It's Friday night," Ron said.
"You don't know what this book is, Ron. I couldn't believe it myself at first. It―"
Ron interrupted before Hermione could bore him with a long detailed explanation he really did not want to hear. "Well, here's the common room. You coming in, mate?"
"Uhmm, okay. Just for a bit," Harry said hesitantly. "But then I have to get back."
They found a quiet corner and Hermione cast their usual muffling charms. "Please thank Professor Snape again for me, Harry. I think we should do this again real soon."
"You've got to be kidding!" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron, I don't think it's a bad idea for you to start getting comfortable around Severus," Harry agreed.
"Why?"
"Because I'm planning on spending the rest of my life with him, that's why," Harry answered seriously.
Ron said nothing to that. Harry thought he looked a little ill at the thought. And so, Harry offered to stay for a few more minutes and play Exploding Snap with him. Hermione was already completely enraptured in her book.
As they played, Harry revisited the evening in his mind. It had gone very well all things considered. Ron was apparently not too scarred, and Hermione had actually enjoyed herself. Most importantly, Severus seemed fairly at ease for most of the evening. Harry still couldn't quite believe that Severus had even allowed him to bring his friends to dinner in the first place. When he'd first suggested it, he had expected an argument, but Severus had readily agreed. He'd simply said that Ron and Hermione were an important part of Harry's life, and that what was important to Harry was now important to him.
Of course, Harry knew that Severus didn't relish the idea of socializing with his friends. Far from it. Severus wasn't much for socialization, period. But Harry was incredibly proud of him; he'd been extraordinarily courteous to Ron in several instances where his friend's muttered comments could not have made it easy. And he'd been incredible to Hermione who was now beside herself with joy at the idea of having a new resource for her research.
But what pleased Harry the most was the knowledge that Severus had done all of it for him. It was overwhelming to think that only a couple of months ago they had been at each other's throats and now Severus was willingly sacrificing both his time and his privacy – the two things he valued most – just to make him happy. It left him feeling almost dizzy with joy.
Harry was snapped out of his reverie by Hermione, who was reading aloud a passage from the book Severus had given her.
When neither he nor Ron reacted, "Have either of you been listening to me? Look at what he loaned me!" she said, holding up the book. "Hogwarts, A History, Unabridged. All these years I didn't even realize there was an unabridged version!"
"So?" Ron asked.
"You're impossible," Hermione sighed in exasperation. Hoping that Harry would understand, she turned to him, clutched the book to her chest and said, "Professor Snape has turned my entire world upside down."
Harry smiled. "Mine too."
-
------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Thank you again for your overwhelming response to the previous chapters and for taking the time to comment/review.
For those asking about Unexpected Grace, I beg for your patience. Life is crazy busy…and I don't have the time/emotional energy to write UG at the moment.
Cheers always to my two betas: Molvanian Queen-In-Exile and Ketsurui.
Feedback is always appreciated.