Halloween Prompt - Gruesome

Gringotts

Once Upon a Time - I've tried the hero thing. It didn't take.

Once Upon a Time - Your belief in love wasn't strong enough to overcome your fear of rejection.

Orange Is The New Black - I have a birthmark on my left buttcheek shaped like a scarab. Doesn't make me Cleopatra.

Wordcount Without AN - 1,068

Thrill Me

Harry sat at the top table in the Great Hall, eyes on the students currently pouring in through the main doors. It felt strange, watching instead of being in the crowd, but he was enjoying his new vantage point. His new position as Quidditch Coach and teacher's aid felt right, more right than his Auror training had at any rate.

Of course, the press had had a field day when it was announced he wasn't going to become an Auror after spending two years slogging at the Academy, but Harry'd long since learnt to ignore whatever the Daily Prophet had to say about him. He'd done his duty, it was time to think about his own happiness.

The sorting passed quickly and efficiently as ever, and Professor McGonagall (he still couldn't get used to calling his old teachers by their first names) was soon sitting in her usual chair beside the Headmaster. A short speech later and the food was served.

"Harry m'boy, I must say, I was very surprised when Albus said you were coming back to Hogwarts. I mean, you're a hero!"

Harry barely managed to keep his groan in check. Why he'd been seated in between Horace Slughorn and Severus Snape, he had no idea, but he was pretty sure that this was Dumbledore's idea of a prank. Luckily, after tonight, he could sit wherever he wanted.

"I've tried the hero thing. It didn't take," Harry replied airily, hoping to close the conversation down before it could begin. On his other side, he heard Snape snort.

"And really, Harry, the way you've been pictured with Draco Malfoy so often, I mean, the boy was a Death Eater. He still carries the Dark Mark on his arm."

"And I have a birthmark on my left buttcheek that's shaped like a scarab. Doesn't make me Cleopatra," Harry hissed, his patience gone in an instant. He'd fought the war to stop such prejudice, not transfer it to another subject.

If Horace Slughorn was quiet for the rest of the meal, well, Harry was quite thankful for the silence.

Halloween. Severus' least favourite night of the year. Albus had ensured Severus was beside him, perhaps to keep him from hexing Horace, who was growing ever more bothersome as the year went on. His prejudice was growing with every passing day. Luckily, Potter was more than enough to counter anything Horace was likely to say or do with regards to the students.

They looked up to him, and while even a few years ago that would have annoyed Severus, he too was beginning to see the appeal of Harry Potter.

The young man, because he wasn't a boy any more, no matter that part of Severus wished he was, had grown up beautifully from the adolescent he'd taught. Disiplined, charming, and handsome, Severus was quite sure that no one would be able to deny him anything for long.

"You're staring, Severus," Albus chided gently, breaking him from his thoughts. He wasn't surprised to find his eyes on the green-eyed imp a few seats down and he quickly turned his head to look at his still full plate.

"Your belief in love wasn't strong enough to overcome your fear of rejection with Lily, Severus, but perhaps with Harry..."

"Don't, Albus."

"I just want to see you happy, my dear boy."

"I know. Not everyone gets a happy ending."

Sighing, the headmaster lay a hand on Severus' shoulder. "All I'm saying, Severus, is don't let your fear rule you. Harry might surprise you."

"I'll require your assistance next Wednesday and possibly Thursday morning," Severus murmured at breakfast.

Harry raised his eyebrow slightly, but nodded his head. "No problem. What will you be teaching?"

"Ah, Dementors and the Patronus. When I spoke to my fifth years yesterday, they seemed quite certain that it's impossible to learn the Patronus while underage. If I remember correctly, you had some success with your 'Army' back in your fifth year?"

"Oh. Yeah, of course. I'll be there."

"You did very well with the students today. You got more from them than I managed in three lessons."

"I only used the method Remus used when he taught me. It took far more than three lessons for me to learn."

"Lupin? But he taught in your third year."

"Who do you think got rid of the Dementors?"

"Third year... Merlin."

"That almost sounded like a compliment," Harry laughed.

"No one will ever believe you."

"No, I shouldn't think they would."

"Regardless, I believe I have enough to speak to the Headmaster with."

"What?"

"I find myself itching to get back to my cauldrons. That'll leave the defence post open."

"This is about Slughorn?"

"Perhaps."

"Sneaky, slytherin bastard."

"Thank you."

The sorting rolled around again, and Harry sat beside Severus. It had become a regular thing over the course of the previous year, and Harry was very fond of the Head of Slytherin. Harry only hoped their relationship would continue to flourish over the coming year, perhaps into something more than the friendship they'd already found. Regardless, he was happy to have once more found a home in Hogwarts.

He was returning, not as Quidditch Coach and teacher's aid, but as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts.

"Have you redecorated the classroom yet?" Severus murmured as Minerva read the names of the new students out.

"Of course. You're sense of decoration is rather... gruesome."

"I know. I scare into submission, it's part of my M-O."

"That's why the first kid to act up in my lessons is getting a week's detention with you."

"You don't think I spend enough time with my own delinquents in detention?"

"Since I left? I'm sure your classroom hasn't been as clean as it was then."

"You raise a fair point."

"I know."

As the food was served, Harry smiled slightly at Severus. "Do you have any plans for your evening?"

"Yes."

Disappointed, Harry nodded, turning back to his food.

"You don't want to know what my plans are?"

"Oh go on then. Thrill me."

"I plan to. I want to find out if you really do have a birthmark on your left buttcheek."