What Lies Beneath – Chapter 5

Author: Kitty Savella and Araea Swiftwind

Rating: M

Pairing: HP/SS with possible HP/DM

Warnings: Mature content, possible poor spelling (sorry, no beta), school talk, slash

It was Sunday evening and courses were finally going to start the next morning. Headmistress McGonagall and the reconstruction committee had managed to clean enough of the castle that courses could resume. All of the core classes would be held, as well as a few electives. Because so many of the teachers perished in the war, most teachers would be doubling up on subjects, and a few new teachers would be added.

Professor Snape would be teaching both Potions and Herbology. Professor McGonagall would be teaching both Transfiguration and Ancient Runes. Professor Binns, the only teacher never in danger of dying, would continue only teaching History of Magic (because no one could stand him teaching anything else.) Firenze, who managed to stay out of the war, would continue to teach Divination and add Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Sinistra would still be teaching Astronomy, but would also teach Arithmancy during the day. Professor Flitwick would continue teaching Charms, and Draco Malfoy would be hired on to teach the upper years about Ministry Politics as well as Theory of the Dark Arts.

I wasn't too worried about which professor taught which class because I wasn't taking any, but I would be teaching Muggle Studies as well as Defense Against the Dark Arts and figured I should get to know what other classes my students would be taking and their timetables.

Severus wasn't too happy at McGonagall's decision to hire me on, but I told him that without her decision, I'd have no reason to stay on at Hogwarts. At that, he went silent and continued to read his potions journal. I sashayed over to him and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

The raven haired man put down his journal and looked at me. I could see the lust in the obsidian depths of his eyes, and I took advantage. My tongue teased the bow of his lips; my hands ran through his deceptively soft hair. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me flush into his lap. I could feel the bulge of his erection and rubbed my own against his.

"Mmmh, Severus. Do you want something from me?" I teased, trying to be coy. From the look on Severus' face, it wasn't working very well.

"You know quite well what I want, Harry."

"You'll have to ask for it, then."

"I'm not going to beg for it like some low-life cretin. Either you want to give it to me, or you do not."

"Oh, Severus, you take the fun out of role playing."

"I had no idea that was what we were doing."

"Which is why you took the fun out of it. You're supposed to just go with it."

Severus looked frustrated. "Harry, you know I'm not good with 'just going with it'. I need forewarning."

I sighed. "Okay. Let's move this to the bedroom. I always feel like we're being watched here in the parlor."

"Strictly speaking, we are. The portraits..." Severus reminded me.

"Oh, yeah." I felt like a total moron. "Bedroom?"

"Yes, yes, the bedroom."

"Thank you for not having any portraits in there."

"Why would I? It's not as though I like being watched all the time. Some in the parlor and in the corridors are quite enough for me."

"Severus..."

"Yes, Harry?"

"All this talk of portraits and being watched...well, I'm not in the mood anymore. Sorry."

"To be perfectly honest, neither am I. I think I shall resume my reading."

I slid off of Severus' lap and moved across the room to the sofa. Severus picked up his discarded journal and resumed reading exactly as he said he would. I picked up some parchment, a quill and ink and began to pen lesson plans for the next morning and afternoon. I hoped the students would appreciate my subjects and not only take my classes because they had to or because I was the hero of the wizarding world, but because they were thirsting for the knowledge I had to give their young minds.

I wasn't exactly sure why McGonagall chose me to teach Muggle Studies instead of one of the muggleborn students, but I was determined to do my best. I'd teach them everything I knew about muggles and the culture that I grew up with. And for those students that I'd be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to, it would be just like teaching DA. Only no Ron and Hermione for assistance. I'd have to see if Neville and Luna would like to come in as Assistants on demonstration days.

"Severus, I need to run an errand. I'll be back for dinner."

He looked up from his potions journal with a quizzical look on his face. "What errand do you have to run?"

"I need to visit Neville and Luna and see if they are willing to assist me with some of my classes. They were instrumental in assisting me with Dumbledore's Army in fifth year. If they can come in for some dueling demonstrations, or even as extra bodies to show the older years how to cast some of the more complicated charms, it would help me out immensely. And maybe Neville can help out with Herbology, and Luna with Divination."

"I don't need assistance, nor does Firenze. We are both well versed in our subjects. As for having your friends help you out, I don't think that is necessary either, however I shall not tell you how to run your class. And if you wish to ask Firenze if he would like the help of Ms. Lovegood, I shall not stop you."

"In other words, you think the whole idea is stupid and a waste of my time?"

"That is not what I said."

I was angry. Severus always had the perfect way to make me feel stupid. "You didn't have to. I got it loud and clear." I stormed out of the room into the one I shared with Teddy on the weekends and slammed the door. I didn't even want to look at Severus.

"Harry, you misunderstood me. Please, open the door."

"What, now you're calling me stupid again?"

"Harry, stop. You're being ridiculous. Come out here so that we can talk about this."

"No. I don't even want to look at you right now. I'm sleeping in Gryffindor tower tonight. You'll be lucky if I come down in the morning." With that, I left the room and stomped my way through the dungeons.

"What have the stones ever done to you?" Draco asked. I turned around slowly, the scowl still on my face.

"None of your bloody business, Malfoy."

"Malfoy, is it? What happened to calling me Draco?"

"Severus."

"And what did he do?"

"Do you really think I'm going to open up to you just like that? We're not friends, Malfoy, just because I called you by your first name and used your wand. Remember, you were just the only one there. I have other friends, ones who aren't dead, that I can talk to. Go away and leave me alone."

"Potter, you're an arse. I actually try to be nice, and this is what I get. Sod off."

"Was planning on it."

A/N: So, here it is, chapter 5. I hope this answers any questions anyone had about school, life, or anything else. The next chapter is going to focus more on Harry, his old friends, and the people who survived the war. Some old faces will be returning, and some new ones will be introduced. And don't worry, Harry won't break with Severus forever, but he definitely put himself in the doghouse.