Harry's week passed in a lazy crawl. It was as if nothing had changed, but inwardly he knew something had. He was spending his free time with his friends and practicing Quidditch, and his grades were steady. Death Eater movements seemed to be dwindling as more were captured and sent to Azkaban. Just the day before Bellatrix Lestrange had been caught and thrown into the prison without a trial. She was due to be Kissed within the next four days, and Harry's heart was filled with a peace he hadn't known since the end of his third year.
"Harry, wait!" Harry turned around in the hall to see Ron chasing after him. He stopped and grinned as Ron came to a halt beside him. "What's the hurry, mate? I've been calling your name for the past three minutes."
"Sorry Ron, I was just thinking and got lost in my own head. What's up?"
"You want to talk about it?" Ron offered.
Harry shrugged. "Things are going so well, I'm sort of waiting for the penny to drop. I'm actually happy. I haven't been able to say that in a long time."
"That's a good thing though, yeah?"
Harry grinned. "Yeah, it's a good thing."
"Where are you headed?" Ron asked. "Hermione said she'd meet us in the common room for break. She wants to start studying for N.E.W.Ts," he added, rolling his eyes.
"I have to meet Draco and play happy couple, but then I'll be up," Harry said, smiling. "Though feel free to get her to change her mind before I get there."
Ron snorted. "Like that's going to happen. Alright, see you in a bit!"
Harry watched him go, trying not to laugh. He had a feeling that by the time he got up there, Ron would have Hermione very distracted.
"Hey, Harry."
Simpering giggles echoed through the empty corridor and Harry turned his head to see Lavender Brown walking towards him, followed closely by Parvati, Padma, and Hannah. Hannah looked flushed from where Harry was standing and he had to wonder what was wrong with her.
"Hey, Lavender."
"You look upset," Lavender replied, touching his arm. "Did you fight with Draco?"
"No, I'm fine," Harry answered, frowning at the lot of them. It's not like they had ever cared before.
Lavender smiled. "That's good. Right, girls?"
Harry glanced over the top of the blonde girl's head to see the others nodding.
"Listen, Lavender, I need to meet Draco and I'm running behind." He watched as her eyes widened and then narrowed into shrewd slits.
She tossed her long hair over her shoulder, and placed her hands on her hips. "I have it under good authority that you and Malfoy are breaking up. Is that true?"
Harry went into a defensive stance as he pushed himself off the wall. "It's none of your business."
"We haven't even seen the two of you so much as kiss," Parvati chimed in, looking just as skeptical as Lavender.
Lavender nodded. "That's right, we haven't. Some boyfriends you two are."
Harry's lip curled into a sneer. "Just because we don't snog in the halls like, well, you and any available man, Lavender, doesn't mean we don't do it in private. And that's how we intend to keep it: private."
Lavender's face went red, but Harry couldn't help but notice that Hannah was smiling behind her hand.
"There's one way to prove it," Parvati said, smiling.
"I don't have to prove anything to you."
Lavender trailed her fingers down Harry's chest. "Oh, but I think you do."
Scowling, Harry pushed her hand away. "Well, Lavender, next time we make out, I'll be sure to send you an invitation."
"There's no need. We have it on good authority that Malfoy's about to leave Arithmancy and what better way is there to end a class than by being greeted by your lover."
Harry almost twitched at the last word, but barely managed to refrain from doing it.
The corridor began to fill with students leaving classes, and sure enough, Draco was amongst the throng.
"Here's your chance," Parvati trilled.
"Fine," Harry muttered. He had enough to deal with, without Lavender spouting out rumors.
"Harry," Draco called in clear surprise as Harry strode towards him. Harry almost felt guilty about what he was about to do, but he had to do something.
"Hey, Dray," he purred, sickened by himself as he wrapped both his arms around the blond's neck. Draco's gaze flicked around them, and Harry could almost sense when Draco's eyes landed on the three girls watching them off to the side, well, he had to rephrase that because there were certainly more than three girls watching them now.
"Miss me?" Draco drawled, sliding his hands around Harry's waist, "Or just my mouth?"
"Can't I miss both?" Harry asked, before leaning in and kissing Draco. At least now he'd had some practice at it so he knew how to respond when Draco began kissing him in earnest.
Harry closed his eyes. He called forth an image of Snape sitting on the arm of the armchair, leaning forward and kissing him, and it worked, for the moment. He could remember the feel of Snape's chapped, warm lips as they descended over his, and allowed Draco to take the lead in the kiss.
"Ten points from both your houses for unseemly public displays."
Harry jumped back, guiltily wiping his mouth, his stomach knotting and rolling. He stood still as Snape stormed up to them, his face turning an unpleasant shade of red that Harry'd never seen before.
"Your new title doesn't mean you can flaunt the rules," Snape hissed, eyes flashing dangerously.
"There are no rules saying you can't kiss whoever you please in the halls, sir," Harry responded.
Draco put his hand on Harry's arm. "I apologize Professor," Draco said, squeezing Harry's arm. "We'll be more careful in the future."
Harry stiffened at the contact, barely preventing himself from pulling away again. "I'm sorry as well," and God was he.
Harry wondered if anyone else could see the rage brewing in Snape's eyes, or if he was the only one. It was directed at him after all.
"Go to class!" Snape growled at the milling students.
Harry made to go with the other students, but Snape grabbed his shoulder in a vice-like grip. "Not you."
Draco made to stay, but Snape fixed him with a glare that had him second guessing the idea. "Just remember, it meant nothing, Snape," Draco reminded him before walking away.
Snape pulled open the door to an empty classroom and shoved Harry inside.
Harry rolled his shoulder once Snape let go of him. It ached.
Snape's eyes were glittering with anger. "I warned you not to seek your education elsewhere," he growled, advancing on Harry until he was backed up against the counter.
Harry scrabbled at the wall with his fingers, and settled on glaring back. "I had no choice, sir!"
"Was there a wand to your head, forcing you to stick your tongue down his throat?" Snape snarled.
"No."
"This farce ends," Snape spat. "Now!"
"Which one?" Harry sneered.
"Your relationship with Malfoy that is obviously not as fake as you claim it to be," Snape snarled. "I will not allow you to continue making a fool of me, do you understand?"
"You're doing an awfully good job of that yourself," Harry snapped, pushing forcefully at Snape so he could escape.
"I asked one thing of you, and you couldn't even stop yourself," Snape spat.
"I had no choice," Harry gritted out. "Did that ever occur to you in all your brilliance!"
"There's always a choice!" Snape shouted.
"Maybe for you!"
Snape clenched his fists and took two deep breaths before speaking. "Explain."
Harry folded his arms across his chest and took a bracing breath. He wasn't sure how to word this in a way that'd make sense to someone as pigheaded as Snape was. "I was cornered. Lavender and those other girls didn't believe that Draco and I were legit and that they were positive we were breaking up. They blackmailed me. What the hell was I supposed to do?"
"Ignore them! You've got nothing to prove to a daft bint who can't mind her own business." The explanation, as pathetic as it was, at least drained some of the anger, but not all. "It has to end with Draco. You've got to end it," Snape told him.
"And then what? Who will try to get at me next? At least with Draco I'm safe, well, as safe as anyone can be with Draco, but still!"
"You will be with me! I'm much more threatening than Draco could ever be," Snape said angrily. "If anyone lays a finger on you, they will answer to me," he hissed.
Harry flinched and stepped backwards. In an irritated voice, he asked, "Then why didn't we do this before?"
"You agreed to it out of my presence. By then, it was already done. But it can't continue. I'll assert my contractual role as your Steward, which is a role none may question. I cannot watch you with Draco. I will do it no longer." His voice was calmer now. At least Harry wasn't fighting him about it.
"Why are you so threatened by this?"
"Can't it be enough that I am?" Snape growled.
Harry frowned. "Is your faith in me that low?"
"This isn't about you, Potter. This is about me. It's the way I feel, rational or not. If it wasn't you, it would be whoever it was I cared for. I've had few things in life that give me pleasure, so when I find them, I hold on to them. Perhaps too tightly, but I know no other way."
Harry sagged back onto a desk. "That's completely fucked up, you know that, right?"
"I daresay that's the reason I've never had a successful relationship," Snape said, snorting at the absurdity of the conversation. "I am a jealous, possessive man, Potter, and that isn't going to change. I will, however, attempt to change the way I handle it."
"By not killing Draco?" Harry asked wearily.
"Must you continue this charade?" Snape asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What charade?" Harry's confusion was palpable. "I really don't want him dead. He's handy to have around."
"Oh, I'm not going to kill him," Snape said irritably. "I meant this charade of you dating him?"
"Yeah, that can stop," Harry admitted with a light flush.
"Thank you," Snape said, sighing as the tension left his shoulders.
"I can't deal with this anymore," Harry muttered, running a hand down his face.
"Harry, come here please," Snape said, cocking his head to the side and studying Harry.
Harry peered out between his fingers and then slowly dragged his hand down his face. He hopped off the desk and walked across the room so he was standing before Snape. "Yes?"
Snape leaned against a desk, spreading his legs slightly. He reached out, placed his hands on Harry's hips and began to pull him closer. He waited to see if the boy was going to bolt or not.
When Harry didn't move in protest, Snape tugged him forward sharply.
When he finally had Harry flush against him, he tilted his head back to look at him. Harry didn't appear scared, but looked wary. Sighing, Snape slid his arms around Harry's waist and rested his head against the other man's chest. He just needed a minute to settle himself, and right now, Harry could do that.
Harry looked down at Snape's head, completely stunned. Their positions had always been reversed. To have Snape leaning on his this way was strange, but it was good. Harry reached out and stroked Snape's hair, making a mental note to wash his hands. They sat there for the longest time, calm and oddly content.
When Snape finally lifted his head to look at Harry he asked, "Are we alright?"
"Yeah, I think so. Just try not to jump to conclusions; I hate getting yelled at for no reason." A small smile took out any sting the words may have held.
Snape stood, but didn't let Harry move away. Instead, he cocked his head to the side, leaned in, and kissed Harry. It was unlike the kisses they had shared before. It was slow, and sensual and...tender was the best word Harry could come up with. It made him feel things beyond arousal, and it surprised him that a kiss could do that.
When Snape pulled away, Harry was looking at him with glassy eyes. "Wow."
Snape snorted. "I've got to prepare for class and I've no doubt you've somewhere to be."
"Ron and Hermione were expecting me," Harry said, adjusting his school robes and running a hand through his hair. "Not so sure how true that will be when I get back to the tower."
Snape snorted. "At least they're keeping it in the common room instead of in the Charms corridor."
Harry laughed.
"Be gone, Potter."
"Can I come and see you tonight?" Harry asked.
Snape's brow arched. "Before or after you break up with Draco?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "After."
"Yes, you may."
Harry smiled. "I see how it is then." He gave Snape a brief, one-armed hug before darting out of the classroom.
Shaking his head, Snape took another minute to compose himself, then made his way back to the dungeons.
It didn't take long for news of Harry and Draco's "breakup" to spread through the school. Draco was reveling in the attention and the offers to console him. The official cause of their breakup was due to the "discovery" of a document, promising to join Harry's family with another.
Speculation ran rampant through the school, but Harry refused to comment. The Prophet was no doubt digging through old documents in an attempt to ferret out the name of the family, but had as yet been unsuccessful.
"There's nothing to find, Harry," Hermione tried to assure him.
Harry shook his head and picked at his dinner. "They found out that I'm royalty, how much harder will it be to discover which family mine has been marrying into for generations. They won't even need to find a document to prove it."
"Had to come out eventually, right?" Ron said, trying to be pragmatic. "I mean, I know the timing is awful, but at least you won't have to sneak around anymore."
"I suppose," Harry agreed, holding his head with one hand.
Hermione looked at Ron over Harry's head, frowning. Ron merely shrugged.
"So how are you going to handle it when it does get out?" Hermione asked.
"The way I do everything here."
Hermione's worry was evident in every line on her face. "You can't fight the rumor mills with magic, Harry."
"What if I decide to assert my right as King?" Harry asked, not looking at Hermione. "What if I decide I want to change the way the Ministry does things?"
"It's up to you," Hermione said hesitantly.
Ron nodded in agreement. "Yeah, mate. Whatever you want to do, we're behind you, just remember that okay?"
Harry looked at them in surprise. He had been kidding...mostly. He didn't expect them to just agree with him.
Hermione offered him a small grin to counter his confusion. "You're the one who asked. We don't care what you do, so long as you're happy doing it."
Harry snorted. "I can't imagine anything fun or happy about taking on the Ministry."
"They'd really have no choice if the majority of the public supports you, and at this point they do."
"How do you know?" Harry asked curiously.
Ron answered him, much to Harry's surprise. "Because the Ministry is nervous. Dad talked about it at dinner a couple of times after you left. You're still the golden boy, whether you like it or not."
"Really?" To say Harry was shocked would have been an understatement. He had stopped reading the papers, not wanting to even think about it, but maybe that had been a bad idea. He had the sudden urge to talk to Snape.
"Yes, really." Ron laughed and refilled his plate.
Harry looked toward the Head Table and saw Snape talking with Flitwick. As if sensing his gaze, dark eyes turned to meet Harry's own. Harry nodded toward the doors, and got an almost imperceptible nod in return. "I'm going to go and talk to Snape. I'll see you tonight," Harry whispered, standing.
"Good luck," Ron told him, and Hermione smiled at him oddly.
"Thanks."
As Harry left, he caught the sight of black robes moving near the Head Table. Grinning, he went down the stairs to the dungeons and waited in the shadows at the bottom.