CHAPTER 23

A/N: The Greek legend of Apollo and Hyacinthus is not invented – it exists! :-) Also, for those who haven't visited my blog during the last few weeks: Kaeldra Rhiannon has made a beautiful drawing of Severus and Harry for my blog, and that's where you can admire it if you're interested! Do feel free to send your comments to Kaeldra - you will find her profile address just underneath the picture and in my posts concerning the drawing. Thanks again for all the trouble, Kaeldra!

xxx

The days passed, and Christmas arrived. Harry had improved so much during Occlumency that he paid more attention in Potions as well, although he knew that he could not draw level with Hermione; but that was not his aim. Hermione was far more pushy and ambitious where school was concerned. To everyone's surprise, including Harry's, Severus stopped making spiteful comments or belittling Harry's brewing abilities, much to Draco Malfoy's dismay. During their last lesson before the holidays, when Severus told Harry that they would continue with advanced Occlumency and a more rigid duelling program after the Christmas holidays, Harry was quite pleased.

"You have, astonishingly enough, made an effort and shown that you are capable of listening and learning," Severus said with his customary sarcasm. Harry was used to it and was less vulnerable to its sting. Severus, too, was learning. He was aware of developing a reluctant respect for the son of his nemesis; he no longer regarded him as a spoilt brat; whatever flashes of memories he could glean from Harry's mind before Harry could block him out reminded him of Harry's unhappy life at home.

"After the Christmas holidays, we will move on to advanced Occlumency. You will learn to rely on mental magic and willpower; no more wand-waving, no more spells and no more incantations."

Harry looked determinedly into Severus's black eyes.

"Yes, sir."

"NEWTS or no NEWTS – I want to see you work hard. The same goes for duelling. It cannot be denied that you have made progress; you will undergo thorough training without whining."

"I never whine!" Harry exclaimed indignantly.

Severus's face remained impassive.

"It is time for you to leave – I have an appointment with Rivers," he said.

Harry nodded, wondering again how Severus could possibly have a relationship, albeit purely physical, with someone he evidently disliked.

xxx

The Christmas break was peaceful with the exception of the occasional Dementor attack in random parts of Britain; everyone was so used to reading about such attacks that the routine had blunted the horror. Harry and his friends, however, were worried that Voldemort, who had been unusually quiet for a just as unusually long period of time, would choose the festive season to attack; but nothing happened, and Harry spent Christmas with the Weasleys. Hermione went home to her own family and joined the Weasleys and Harry for New Year; afterwards, the three friends returned to Hogwarts under the supervision of the Aurors Moody and Tonks.

Severus, in the meantime, continued his violent trysts with Marius during the holidays. They were both satisfied with this arrangement. However, when Marius suggested that Severus adjust the wards to his private quarters and office to allow Marius to enter at will, an argument broke out between them: Severus flatly refused to do anything of the sort.

"You have got the Floo. What more do you want?" Severus pointed out, drawing on his robes after a particularly raunchy round of sex in his bed.

"I get fed up of using the Floo all the time," Marius answered.

"Are you trying to save on Floo Poweder?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Why does it always have to be the Floo?"

"Are you afraid of staining your robes with ash? I assure you that I prefer intercourse without robes, Rivers."

"Severus, please. Don't pretend to be dense…I mean, stubborn," Marius corrected his sentence when he saw Severus's eyes narrow ominously at the word "dense".

"My office and rooms are private, and our relationship is physical. I am perfectly content with using the Floo to reach your rooms."

"I would willingly adjust my own wards," Marius said.

"No. It's the Floo or nothing at all," Severus said.

"You adjusted your office wards to admit the 'boring brat', as you called the Potter boy, on Monday and Friday evenings," Marius snapped. "You could do something similar for me, if you are so keen on planning each and every meeting with me. You always lacked spontaneity."

"Is that so?" Severus drawled, staring pointedly at a bite mark on Marius's collarbone.

Marius flushed.

"Why won't you adjust your wards?"

"Because I have just enough trust to let you stick your cock up my ass and vice versa," Severus said bluntly.

Marius looked taken aback, then he snorted.

"That needs a lot of trust, you know. The reason you've given me is therefore absurd."

"It is not absurd at all. We have fucked before. Were you listening when I said that our relationship is purely physical? There's nothing else between us than the gratification of our sexual appetites. You will either continue using the Floo system or knock on the door if you don't want to use the Floo network. That is my final word," Severus said coldly.

Marius shrugged.

"Fine," he said laconically.

xxx

Severus's thirty-eighth birthday fell on a Friday in 1998; school had started by then, and Harry was due for his duelling lesson. Severus had just received his annual gift from Dumbledore but was saving it up to unwrap after Harry's lesson.

Occlumency on Monday had been devoted to the study of advanced Occlumency; Severus had questioned Harry closely to make sure that the young man had not been idle during the holidays. He noticed that Harry seemed less tense around and cautious around him. He is quite used to being in my immediate proximity, Severus thought, and he is starting to trust me. At the same time, Harry seemed to be uneasy about Severus's and Marius's relationship. Severus had noticed the expression on Harry's face when the youth had witnessed Marius kissing him. Severus had no patience for such public displays; on the other hand, he hadn't seen why he should rush or interrupt a frankly enjoyable kiss just because superstar Potter had arrived. The expression on the youth's face had said it all. A bit of embarrassment after seeing an intimate gesture, evident in the slight blush which rose to his cheeks…a bit of surprise as well – after all, he knew that Severus and Marius did not get on well…and a look of longing, of curiosity…What is it like to kiss like that, to kiss another man? those green eyes had asked. Well, Severus reflected, Harry Potter didn't have too much time to keep an eye out for someone to snog around with.

After their duelling lesson – the youth was improving steadily – he dismissed Harry in the usual curt tone only to come across him studying a new picture in the dungeons. The Headmaster had insisted on hanging it up in the dungeons, of all places.

"The place could use some colour, my dear boy," he had told Severus.

"And you had to choose such a maudlin drawing," Severus had commented snidely.

"Why, Severus, it is very beautiful. It makes me quite tearful, actually," Dumbeldore had sighed, dabbing at the corner of his eyes with a purple sleeve.

"I can only hope that this display of nudity and overt homoeroticism does not traumatise those prude little brats."

"Really, Severus. This is most tastefully painted!"

"If you think that an intercrural position with a touch of necrophilia is tasteful-"

"Severus Snape! You are most insulting!"

Severus had smirked.

xxx

Harry looked closely at the new picture. He had seen it when he had gone down to the dungeons for his duelling lesson, and he had decided to give it a good look afterwards. The drawing showed a naked boy-youth lying in the grass. A trickle of blood ran from his dark curly hair down one temple and stained the grass blades, where a purple flower, a hyacinth, was growing. Lying next to him, his arms wrapped convulsively around the body of the youth, was an adult man, equally naked, his bare hips crushed against the youth's, one hand clutching the raised thigh of the corpse, tears mingling with the blood on the still face. A roundish object - a discus - was sitting in the grass, part of its edge stained with red. It was a picture of eroticised death, Harry decided. He recognised it as a reference to a Greek legend, but he couldn't remember which legend it was exactly.

"You are admiring Apollo and Hyacinthus. The Headmaster had that drawing commissioned from an artist friend and, for some obscure reason, thought it would attract a throng of admirers down here. I see that you have already succumbed to its charms. Do you know the Greek legend on which it is based?" Severus said silkily when he noticed Harry looking at the painting. He had been on his way outside to take a walk in the grounds. Harry turned quickly. He could never get used to Severus managing to stand right behind him without his noticing.

"I know some of the Greek legends, but not this one. What is the story about, sir?"

Severus came close to Harry and stared at the picture, tracing its frame with a slender forefinger.

"It is about the love between a god and a mortal, between an adult and an adolescent, between two men," he said, turning his head and looking into Harry's green eyes. "The artist, as you can see, made sure to include the sensual aspect of their relationship."

"But it ended with the mortal dying?" Harry asked.

"I can tell you the story, if you wish," Severus replied.

Harry hoped that he did not look too astonished as he answered:

"Yes, please."

xxx