Chapter Seventeen - Made old offences of affections new
Two Days Later
"School begins again tomorrow" the low voice in Harry's ear startled him from the book on advanced potions he'd been reading, the message thrilled up and down his spine, school, people all those people watching him like dogs at the dinner table, wondering what he was going to do next, be it foolish or daring. "I don't want to go" his voice was hoarse fear and the sudden dryness of his throat combined together to make him sound, odd.............
Abruptly Severus was there kneeling before him "Harry, you have to" shadowed eyes looked straight into his, and written there was compassion he suspected few would believe of Hogwarts most reviled professor "These rooms are not a hiding place from the world, they can be a comfort to you when the world becomes too much, or a thin ledge to stand on when you feel everything has slid out from beneath your feet, but I refuse to let you become a coward"
Coward! How dare Snape of all people call him a coward, his fists balled ready for a blow. And then he read the expectation of it in obsidian eyes, and relaxed back instead "As my master commands" he'd been aiming for sarcasm but instead had managed only semi serious and Severus' fingers brushed against his throat where the collar rested in his dreams and Harry shuddered in uncontrolled pleasure.
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Severus had been ready for violence, not submission, from all of the boys previous temper tantrums. But then, that was then and this was now, that boy couldn't have enjoyed the silence of potion making with a perfectionist leaning over his shoulder as he knew that Harry did, that boy wouldn't come to Severus Snape for affection, wouldn't share his bed with such unconcerned ease.......
Speaking of beds
"I have a surprise for you" He stood in one hopefully effortless seeming motion from in front of Harry and walked to a painting showing a woman holding lilies "Privacy" the word left his lips with enough volume that he knew Harry could hear but not so he was shouting. The portrait swung open and he stepped in, knowing the teen was following, he has a sixth sense now where Potters proximity was in question. He looked around inside and was pleased with what the house elves had achieved. A fire roared in one corner, on the same wall rested a desk stocked with quills and ink and rolls of parchment paper, Harry's trunk was at the foot of a four poster bed that was swagged not in Gryffindor green and gold but more muted black and green, personal colours for the boy-who-just-couldn't-die, near the fire was a sofa and a wingback chair both in brown leather. Turning he looked at Harry who was looking around the room in silence and raised an eyebrow when the boys eyes finally met his "Its very nice thank you sir but…"the child broke of "But" he echoed gently "Iprefersleepingwithyou" it took a moment for Severus to decode the babble but when he did he smiled gently at the boy "And you can, that's fine, but you'll need to work, and occasionally see your friends and I need to do the same that's what this is about"