CHAPTER 24

A/N: I'm delighted to see how many of you are hatching out the most spine-chilling plans where Marius is concerned :-)

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Severus leant against the wall and tapped the frame of the picture briefly with a long finger.

"Apollo, the Greek god, loved the mortal youth Hyacinthus. They were the closest of companions; Apollo was the teacher and Hyacinthus his beloved pupil. One of their favourite sports was throwing the discus-"

"Ah, Severus. I was looking for you," Marius's voice interrupted the Potions Master. Harry felt like kicking Rivers. Severus looked annoyed.

"What do you want?" he asked crossly.

Marius turned to Harry.

"Why don't you scuttle along and do your homework, child?" he addressed the young wizard, placing a patronising hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Excuse me, but I am not a child and I do not 'scuttle', Mr Rivers," Harry retorted coldly, pronouncing "Mr Rivers" with scorn and shrugging off Marius's hand. Severus's eyes glinted and his mouth curved slightly. Harry Potter was a mature young man, all right. He was not fooled or in the least intimidated by Marius. Marius's grey eyes became cold and his jaw stiffened.

Harry looked at Severus.

"Good night, sir."

Severus gave him a brief nod, and Harry left.

"I need you," Marius murmured to Severus.

"I am indisposed, Rivers. Contrary to you, I am a very busy man."

Marius ignored the slight and continued stubbornly:

"Do we always have to do it in a bed, Severus?"

"Naturally," Severus said, "or were you thinking of escapades in the snow? Also, I would rather not have your bottom in immediate contact with my desk or tiles."

"You're always planning and saying what we should do. Even if it's only sex, I'm a participant and therefore also have a say in the matter!" Marius said angrily.

"I disagree," Seversus said flatly, crossing his arms.

"And if I were to cancel our arrangement?"

"Anytime you wish, although you just informed me that you needed me. Really, Rivers, you were always fickle," Severus said in a bored tone. Marius went red. He had evidently expected Severus to lose his composure and give in to his, Marius's, complaints.

"Since when have you started telling Potter bedtime stories, Sev?"

"You are starting to sound childish and petulant, Rivers."

Marius glared at him.

"Well, I'll see you later – when you're less indisposed, my treasure." He gave a mock bow and strolled away. There was a very unpleasant gleam in Severus's eyes, and his mouth curved into a sardonic smile. Marius's Occlumency skills were poor. The man hadn't noticed a thing when Severus had used Legilimency on him during their brief exchange. Marius's attitude towards Severus had not changed since their time at Potions school. Marius still thought that he could "soften" Severus with sex and exploit him thanks to the fact that Severus used to be in love with him. Severus knew what to do in order to achieve his revenge; he was a vindictive man. Marius was becoming increasingly disrespectful towards Severus. Severus also hated Marius's patronising attitude towards Harry and respected the youth all the more for his firm rejection of the arrogant Healer. The way he had shrugged off Marius's hand…Severus's smile widened. He often wondered how Marius, with his tactlessness and arrogance, had become a Healer. Severus would never have been able to choose a career as a Healer. He considered himself too cynical, impatient and emotionally detached to Heal people.

Severus decided to relax in his quarters with a book and a mug of tea before attacking the pile of essays waiting to be corrected. He made a mental note to buy ten bottles of red ink the next time he visited Hogsmeade. He was soon comfortably installed in a chair with mug and book, a bright fire crackling cosily in the hearth. Severus stretched and put aside his book, leaning his head back to doze a little before dragging himself to his desk and the students' essays…

A flash of startlingly green eyes behind a pair of spectacles...a quill writing frantically in a book…a room with pillars and a few stairs leading down to an expanse of inlaid marble...

Severus started up; his mug fell onto the tiles with a crash. He passed his hand over his eyes before massaging his temples in the characteristic manner which indicated that he was either tired or puzzled. He narrowed his eyes. He recognised the place where Harry was. It was an atrium; in winter, it bore a roof, and in summer, the roof was Banished with magic in order to let the rain splash merrily into the basin which appeared and disappeared along with the roof. This sanctuary was said to have been one of the favourite meeting places of Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor when they were friends. Severus personally thought that the two had actually been lovers and that their bitter quarrel had resulted from more than just quarrels about which students should learn at Hogwarts. Severus rose. Potter owed him two mugs and more besides; also, Severus wanted to know if he had been dreaming or if he had truly had some kind of vision…He locked the door behind him and sought out the atrium.

When he arrived, he immediately caught sight of the familiar ever-tousled jetty hair. Harry was sitting on one of the stairs, and he was writing in a diary. It was extremely rare that Severus could not find an explanation for something. What he had seen was obviously real. Which meant that the first "vision" had also been real…

Harry looked up, as if he could sense Severus's gaze. Green eyes and black eyes locked. Severus moved towards the stair and sat down next to Harry, who put away his quill and diary. He noticed a slight redness around Harry's eyes, as if he had been crying.

"Why are you not in Gryffindor Tower or in the library working on your assignments?"

"I have finished them."

Severus glanced at the diary but did not comment on it, much to Harry's relief.

"I see," was all he said. He started to get up.

"You are leaving already?"

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Have you got questions concerning your lessons?"

"No," Harry said. "But that story you were telling me before Professor Rivers interrupted us – how does it continue?"

Severus looked into the green eyes and resumed his seat.

"In some versions, the wind god Zephyr was said to be jealous of Hyacinthus and therefore deflected the discus from its original path; it struck the youth, wounding him mortally. Other versions say that Apollo flung the discus with such might that it accidentally hit Hyacinthus when he ran forward to catch it; but the result was the same: Hyacinthus was mortally wounded and died in Apollo's arms. The devastated god wanted Hyacinthus and their devotion to be remembered forever by mortals. He breathed upon the blood which had spilt from his beloved's wound, and a dark-red flower blossomed: the hyacinth."

Harry sighed after a minute of brooding silence.

"It is very sad…I guess that's what makes is so beautiful. Thank you for telling me about it."

"I am sure Madam Pince will assist you if you want to read more Greek legends," Severus said; he hesitated, then added after a few moments:

"I could, however, lend you my copy. Acquaintance with the Greek and Roman legends is an asset for your general knowledge."

Harry managed not to stare at Severus in shock.

"That is very kind of you, sir."

Severus snorted.

"I am not usually associated with the word 'kind', Potter."

"Well, then maybe it's time to establish that association," Harry said gravely. Severus, however, detected a spark of humour in those green eyes. It reminded him of Lily Potter and her joie de vivre.

"Five points from Gryffindor for such an idea," Severus said. "If you can curb your Gryffindor impatience and wait here, then you will be able to broaden your self-education."

Harry merely smiled and nodded. He had the feeling that Severus viewed his unusually kind gesture as a weakness and was trying to cover it up with sarcasm and the deduction of points. Severus's dark eyes lingered on the youth. Once there was trust between Legilimens and Occlumens, it was unavoidable that the participants felt a certain bond. It was only due to mental magic and their frequent lessons together that they no longer resented each other so much. At least, that is what Severus told himself. Admit that you no longer see his father when you look at him, his mind whispered as he headed towards his private rooms to fetch the book. He soon returned with a very old and battered tome and handed it to Harry, who looked at it closely and touched it with care.

"For how long may I keep it?"

"Three weeks," Severus said, "and you will kindly return it punctually and in the identical condition."

"Thank you very much, sir," Harry said, looking much happier as he opened the book in his lap, diary and quill forgotten. Severus turned to go.

"Sir, may I ask you one more question?"

"Ask."

"Apollo and Hyacinthus – was their relationship platonic or were they lovers?"

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"I am inclined to think that they were sexually involved as well, but that depends on the version you are reading and on your own interpretation, as well as on social and historical aspects. I am thinking of pederasty, but there is still some debate on the specific sexual components."

Harry thanked him for his answer, and Severus returned to his rooms, puzzling his mind over Harry Potter and the "visions". All he could say was that he had been on the verge of sleep both times – and Harry had been unhappy.

xxx

Harry leafed through the book slowly, inhaling the delicious smell of old paper and camphor. Severus probably had a camphor chest or cupboard. He had been crying. He felt lonely and confused. He was discovering a whole new dimension of his sexuality, and he was upset that this discovery was occurring when Voldemort was mustering his forces and a host of dangerous creatures. And then there was Severus Snape. That passionate greedy kiss between Marius Rivers and the Potions Master had made him view the teacher everyone disliked in a completely different light: Severus Snape was a sexual being, a gay man like Harry himself, and, moreover, strangely alluring. Harry did not even want to imagine what Ron would say if he confessed that he found the Potions Master subtly attractive. He did spend a lot more time with Severus than anyone else due to his extra lessons; and now, Severus had actually lent him a book which had no relation whatsoever to Potions, Occlumency or the art of duelling. And he had told Harry the story of Apollo and Hyacinthus. Harry tried to imagine that he was Hyacinthus. Voldemort could act as the discus or as Zephyr. And Apollo? Rivers was out of the question. In fact, Harry's lip curled in the most Snape-like manner as he excluded Marius Rivers. He thought of the boys who were his age or older at Hogwarts. No, that wouldn't do. It had to be someone who was no longer a teenager. Dumbledore as Apollo? Harry covered his mouth with his hand and laughed. Flitwick? No, definitely not. Someone who was outside Hogwarts, then…Some Quidditch team member…? He couldn't think of one. Bill Weasley? Harry shook his head. Remus Lupin? Already better, but not quite the thing. Apollo and Hyacinthus were teacher and pupil…Severus Snape, then, seeing that he was the teacher Harry spent the most amount of time with. Of course, people would say that he was the complete opposite of beautiful Apollo…Most people anyway. Harry's thoughts switched back to the picture. He tried to imagine Severus Snape naked. That was when he decided that it was high time to return to Gryffindor Tower. He encountered Peeves on the way.

"WHY IS HOTTY POTTY SO RED IN THE FACE? SECRET MEETING? A NICE LITTLE TRYST?" the Poltergeist crowed.

Harry ignored him.

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