The Fire Within Chapter 17 Harry's POV
Hi! Here's Chapter 17! I hope you like it! Thank you for reading and reviewing and adding this story to favorite/alert lists. Gah! You guys are so awesome. I love you guys so much. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. 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.
Harry put his back against the cool stone walls of the castle waiting for Potions to begin. He looked at the list in his hands, sighing. He didn't want to read any of these books, but he better to do what Severus wanted if he wanted to remain on the older man's good side. Harry folded the list of books and put it in his pocket. He'd go get the books at lunch and maybe Hermione would help make sense of them if he needed help. He wanted to do his best with upcoming lessons, no matter what.
Harry straightened up when he heard shuffling feet come closer to the dungeons. He spotted curly hair and a tall red head make their way to him. Harry grin when he saw his best friends. They were holding hands both blushing. It was a rare sight to see them hold hands especially in front of people.
"Hi Harry," Hermione ducked her head trying to hide her bright pink cheeks.
"How are you two doing?" Harry asked. His grinned widened. Hermione and Ron were such an adorable couple. It made Harry's stomach tightened with longing to have something like their relationship with the one he loved. He wasn't going to push Severus into anything. What they had right now was wonderful for him.
"We're doing well." Ron's ears were as red as his hair.
"Time to go in." Hermione squeaked, pulling Ron in after her.
Harry followed them into their classroom. Severus walked in and told them to get started, their ingredients were on the board. Harry grabbed everything he needed which included slugs. He had the hardest time keeping his hands on the little buggers. They kept falling to the floor or moving away from him when he went to grab another ingredient for his potions.
Hermione put her hand on Harry's, stilling his fluttering hands. "Harry you need to calm down. Just do this." Hermione grabbed one of her slugs, got her knife and sliced it in half then started to dice it up. "Keep your hand here." Harry grabbed one of his slugs, following her instructions. "Yeah that's it. Slice it down the middle and then chop it. Great job." Hermione smiled at his triumphant smile.
"I did it." And Severus didn't make any comments about his fumbling.
"No, Ron not like that. Weren't you watching when I was showing Harry?"
"Bloody hell Hermione their slippery."
"I know, but there's a certain way to hold and cut them. Now if you actually did the reading…"
"Don't start. I told you it was too boring and I had to rest my eyes the next thing I knew it was morning."
"Ronald you know that's excuse."
Ron visibly shivered. "I told you not to call me that."
"Well I'll keep on calling you Ronald until you do what you suppose to." Hermione crossed her arms over chest, turning away from Ron with a frown pulling down her lips.
"Aw come one Hermione."
"Not right now Ronald. I have a potion to finish."
Hermione went back to work with a moping Ron by her side. Harry watched the whole exchange with a smile on his face. I guess the peace between didn't last very long. Then again they wouldn't be Hermione and Ron without squabbling.
Harry went back to work with a lot more luck with his slugs. Some managed to elude his grasp though. He was bending over to pick up a slug from the floor when he heard Severus say, "Mr. Malfoy I'd like to talk to after class." Harry stood up catching Severus's eye. He waved Harry off. Severus didn't want Harry to interefere.
"Don't worry Harry he'll take care of Malfoy." Hermione tried to comfort him.
"I know, but…"
"But what mate?" Ron put down his knife, looking up at Harry.
"I want to be able to help in some way."
"I know you do, but Snape knows what he's doing." Hermione went back to brewing her potion.
"All right." Harry let the whole situation go for now. Severus held more authority over them maybe Malfoy would listen to it. At least for a little while.
They all finished their potions by the time class ended and went onto their other classes. Severus meeting Malfoy was not far from his mind, but he pushed it aside and tried to focus on his other classes. By the time lunch rolled around Hermione was bouncing in her seat, excited by the list of books he had to go get.
"Oh, Harry this are some amazing reads," she gushed. Ron rolled his eyes, smiling at her fondly while she went on and on about the books. "Let's go get them." Hermione polished off her lunch quickly, getting out her seat not waiting for Harry or Ron.
"Hermione wait up." Ron ran after her, Harry's list still in her grasp.
Harry chuckled taking his time. He scanned the Great Hall not catching the eye of his favorite Professor who was in deep conversation with Dumbledore. Harry left the Great Hall in pursuit of his friends with one backward glance at Severus. He'd drink in the older man all he could since he wouldn't be able to go to his quarters the rest of the week.
Harry found Hermione and Ron waiting for him in front of the library. They went in and got his books from Madame Pince. They were slim volumes. Thank Merlin. Harry turned them over in his hands as they went to their final classes of the day. He put them away in his bag, anxious to start reading them. The sooner he read them the more time he had to prepare for whatever Severus had in mind.
Harry found himself alone at the Gryfinndor table Hermione and Ron were on their way down. His eyes automatically went to the teachers table with no sign of Severus. He let out a huff of air, wondering where the dark clad man could be.
"Hey Harry," Hermione sat down across from with Ron beside her.
"Hey you two." Harry glanced at the table again. He turned his eyes away from the empty seat. Severus probably had other things to do.
"What's wrong Harry?" Ron asked when their food appeared in front of them.
Harry grabbed some of everything, picking at his food. "Severus isn't at dinner."
Hermione and Ron looked at the table. "Perhaps he had something do." Hermione took a drink of her pumpkin juice.
"I'm sure that's right." Ron backed up Hermione.
"I know, but I won't be able to see him outside of class for the next week because I have to read the books he assigned to me."
Hermione perked up at the mention of the books. "Don't worry Harry they are fast reads. Once you start them it'll be hard to put them down."
"Hermione no one is as into reading our texts books like you are," Ron said.
Hermione glared at Ron. "You're going to have to read tonight. Don't think I forgot what happened in Potions today…Ronald!"
Ron put a hand over his forehead, dragging it down his face. "I told you not to call me that."
"Too bad it's not going to stop, Ronald."
Hermione and Ron bickered through the rest of dinner and all the way up to the Gryffindor common room where they were doing homework. Actually Hermione was doing her homework and Harry and Ron attempted theirs. Harry was too preoccupied with thoughts of where Severus was during dinner and Ron was once again falling asleep. They took up a table, away from all the chattering people. Hermione kicked Ron under the table, rousing him of his sleep. He snorted with surprise as Hermione kicked him.
"Jeez, Hermione do you have to kick so hard?" Ron righted himself in his chair, scooting away from Hermione's offending foot.
"I wouldn't have to kick you if you stayed awake."
"Fine. Women," Ron grumbled under his breath.
Harry closed one of the books Severus gave him to read. He couldn't concentrate. Worry knotted his stomach. Severus normally didn't miss dinner. He clutched the book in his hands, running his hands over the cover when Ron's voice broke the spell on him. "If you're worried about Snape go check on him."
Hermione and Harry gazed at Ron like he spoke in a different language, unable to understand him. Ron became defensive. "What? You're worried. That's pretty obvious so go see how he is." Ron buried his nose in his book.
Hermione smiled warmly at an oblivious Ron. She got up from her chair and kissed him on the cheek. Ron looked up at her with wonder and surprise in his eyes. He held his cheek where Hermione kissed him. "Wha?"
"That was very sweet Ron." Hermione enveloped him in a hug. Ron looked at Harry. He had no idea what was going on. Harry smiled at Ron and shook his head. He mouthed 'thanks' before packing away all his stuff and taking off to Severus's rooms.
Harry ran all the way down to the dungeons he almost made it all the way to Severus's door without stopping. He went to the portrait very winded, the portrait swung open for him. Harry was worried that it wouldn't open since Severus told him that they couldn't see each other for the rest of the week. He almost danced with happiness when the portrait opened.
He walked in, looking around finding Severus asleep on the couch. A tray of food sat on the coffee table along with a Potion of some kind. The tray of food explains why he wasn't at dinner. But why would he eat in his rooms?
Taking a closer look at his Professor Harry found his lips were drawn into a frown, a crease in his brow, and he was paler than normal. "Ah, Harry Potter sir. Bella was hoping you would come visit Master." Harry turned around to find a House Elf in a pink pillow case.
"Is he alright?" Harry asked, mind still whirling that Severus had his own personal House Elf.
"Bad migraine, but Master took his potion and Bella doesn't know how to get him back to his bed." Bella looked at Severus with a frown.
"Oh, I'm so sorry I forgot my manners. It's nice to meet you Bella." Harry held out his hand to her. She took it with a curve to his lips. She had a spark of mischief in her eyes that Harry wasn't used to seeing in a House Elf.
"It's good to officially meet Harry Potter. Is there a way that Harry Potter can help Bella put Master in bed?" There was that hint of mischief in Bella's eyes again that made Harry hesitate. He shook off the feeling. It was most likely a trick of the light or something.
Harry nodded. "Of course. I can help." Harry grabbed Severus's arm, slinging it across his shoulders, heaving the sleeping man off the couch. He was dead to the world as far as Harry could tell, with soft snuffling snores escaping through his nose. Harry held back a laugh. His stomach flooded with butterflies as he and Bella practically dragged Severus to his bed room. Harry plopped him down on the bed, righting his feet which were hanging off it.
"Won't Master be uncomfortable in his robes while he sleeps?" Bella asked as she observed her Master.
"He might be, but…" Harry flushed red with the thought of undressing his Professor. He might hate sleeping in all those clothes. I'll at least take off his robes, but nothing more.
Harry took in a big breath. He climbed onto the bed and started unbuttoning Severus's robes. He fingers trembled, sweat dripped on his temple as he unbuttoned the first button. Only about ten thousand more buttons to go.
His heart reared in fear and excitement as he got the first layer clothing off of Severus's body. The long lean body he wanted to touch so badly, but also knew it wasn't what he should be doing. Harry gulped when Severus moved in his sleep and grabbed him around his waist pulling Harry down on him.
Severus's grip was strong, not allowing Harry to move. He looked around the dark room for Bella and she was gone. The only light that was in the room filtered in from the living room. Harry tried to move again, but Severus kept a possessive arm him. Panic rose in Harry's chest. How was he supposed to explain this situation when Severus woke up? And where in Merlin was Bella? Harry gulped deciding the only thing he could do at the moment was sleep until his appointed doom.