The Fire Within Chapter 14 Severus POV

Yay! Here we have Chapter 14! I hope you enjoy it! Thank you for reading and reviewing and adding this story to favorite/alert lists. Gah! Everyone is so completely and utterly awesome! Much love for everyone ~hugs tightly~ Thank you again. Please Review. I would love to hear from you.

This will be boyxboy if you don't like don't read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter that would go to J.K. Rowling.

Severus took a moment to collect his thoughts. He needed to stand firm on what he wanted to do. It was incredibly hard especially with Potter pouting and emerald eyes begging with him. He tore his eyes away before he gave in. He had to stick to his plan. Malfoy was only beginning to mess with Potter. And being together right now would hurt Potter in the end. So he must stick to his resolve no matter how much it hurt not to give in.

Severus cleared his throat and tried to speak again with much more conviction than he felt. "It's not a matter of wanting to be with you. We have to do it like this at least until the end of the year when you graduate." Severus rushed through his words, not liking the forlorn expression on Potter's face.

"So you'd rather not have anything to do with me?" Potter stared at the ragged rug on the floor. Severus was losing his resolve. I'm sure we could make it work without someone finding out. Severus shook his head. No. Its better this way for everyone involved.

"Now when did I say that? I said that we should be friends and get to know each other. That way you get to know, if this is what you really want." Potter shot a gaze at Severus that went through his insides. "I know you say you love and want to be with me, but if we do get together you have to realize I'm in it for the long haul. This will not be some fling that you can leave once you get what you want. If this is truly what you want you have to be sure. I want you to get to know me better and you can decide in the end what you want us to be." Severus noted a hint of suspicion in Potter's wonderful emerald eyes. They studied him calculating something Severus couldn't grasp.

"You want to be friends?" Potter continued to eye Severus. He shifted further against the pillows against the couch and turned more toward Severus. Still a little bit wary of what Severus was offering, but no longer pouting which Severus missed. It made Potter's pink lips stand out more against his sun kissed skin.

Severus nodded, trying to focus on the boys face rather than his lips. They were too distracting. How the boy didn't have more offers was beyond Severus. "Yes, I think it'd be best."

Potter chewed on his bottom lips, eyes focusing on a spot on the wall while the wheels in his mind turned. "As long as I get to be with you I'm fine." Potter looked through long lashes at Severus. The need to take him rose. It was getting harder and harder to suppress it. If only Potter knew what he did to Severus he might not look so delectable. "I think you're right about Malfoy, but it's so hard not to...," Potter's voice trailed off, but Severus was pretty sure what he was thinking. It's so hard not to take him now. To be together in an intimate way. Severus was startled by his thoughts. The only other person he wanted this much was Lily. It should seem wrong that he wanted her son in the same way, but it didn't feel that way. If he were honest with himself he wanted Potter more than he ever wanted Lily. That was new information better explored at a later date.

"But how would we be friends?" Potter asked one of the questions Severus had been wondering about.

"Well what do you do with your friends?"

"We hang, do homework together and spend time together."

"Then we can spend time together as well. Of course we're going to have to make it look like something else." Severus thought for a moment. Potter still was not very skilled with Potions. No matter how much Severus tried to teach him how to do something it always seemed to elude Potter on some level. "You will come down to my chambers every other day starting Monday for Potion Lessons." Potter eyes widened. "And yes you will have to learn how make Potions. It will allow you to become better in Potions while we get to know each other." It felt strange to say such words. Why was he so adamant about being with Potter in this way? It made no sense. He was always fine with being alone. Safe in the knowledge that no one would ever treat him like Lily and never seeking such companionship after her. So why now? Why this boy who used to drive him crazy? It was a puzzle to Severus. One that he couldn't figure out. When it comes to emotions, though it's always been a struggle for him to figure them out. It's best to follow his instincts and that's what he's going to do.

"You mean I'll come down here every time?" Potter's eyes glimmered in a dangerous way that sent Severus' blood racing. "But I'm not good at Potions."

"That's precisely why I'll teach you alone."

A crimson blush bloomed on Potter's cheeks, Severus' stomach squeezed with longing to be closer to him; he dared not move an inch. "Part of the reason I can't concentrate is because you're beside me. I can't focus." Potter looked anywhere except in Severus' direction. This new revelation was news to Severus. He cannot concentrate because of me. The information was almost too much for Severus to take in. He clenched his jaw and sat rigidly on the couch. The boy knew how to make him uncomfortable in more ways than one.

"Professor? Are you all right?" Potter peered out him with worried eyes. He stood up and kneeled in front of Severus, putting his hands on his knees. Warmth flooded through Potter's hands and seeped into Severus. A warmth that he needed to feel more closely, more intimately. It'd go against everything he just said. He roughly pushed off Potter's hand and stood. His quarters closed in on him, the air was stifling. He adjusted his collar and fanned himself with his hand.

"I think you better leave Potter." Severus kept his back to Potter. Seeing him would only trigger more lust and that's something he didn't need.

"Harry." Severus turned at the whisper.

"What?"

"If we're going to be friends you should call me Harry."

"Harry." Severus said the name with wonder. It was a pleasant feeling to call Potter by his first name. I mean Harry. He almost smirked, but held back the urge. "Well then when we are in my rooms you may call me Severus."

Harry's jaw dropped before a brilliant smile took over his pouty lips. "Thank you, Severus." It was music to his ears to hear his name said in such a fashion of happiness. It sent a thrill through him that nothing else came close to meeting. Harry threw his arms over Severus' neck, hugged him tightly, and pecked him on the cheek, and then he was gone. It all happened so fast that Severus' wasn't sure it happened at all. His only proof was the warm, tingling sensation on his cheek. He touched his cheek and wondered when he'd feel Harry's lips on his skin again.