The rest of the week passed and nothing notable had happened. Harry had managed to escape Hermione's clutches a few times and dodged Ron's attempts to join him in pranking others so he could hide away as Jade and he hadn't received anymore detentions. Malfoy and his gang hadn't stopped tormenting him though, and now it was rumored that Harry had a thing for Blaise, which after much thought Harry didn't really think was far from the truth but he wasn't going to admit to this. Not yet anyway.
Currently, Harry was curled up in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room as he was feeling a little restless and couldn't get to sleep. Continuing to toss and turn in front of the fire he sighed and before changing back after looking around the room to make sure no one was watching. He didn't know what to do, on one hand he wanted to go roaming around the castle, but on the other he just wanted to be laying in front of Snape's fire. Snape, he thought. He looked at the time and saw it was just on ten in the evening. He knew the man would be up; he usually didn't go to bed until midnight. It was a tempting though, heading down to the dungeons to see the man, but he knew he'd be in trouble. He sighed again and decided he'd try having another shower to calm him.
The hot water felt amazing and he was a little calmer as he came to crawl into bed. He rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. Sleep wasn't coming easily so he let his mind wander. This ended up being a dangerous endeavor as he drifted off to sleep with the image of Snape in his mind.
He ended waking up in the early hours of the morning quivering from the dream he'd just had. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the dorm to find everyone still fast asleep but as he shifted he felt something wet on his stomach and he groaned into his pillow. A wet dream, what am I? Thirteen? He raged in his head and reached over to grab his wand to clean the evidence off his skin and clothes.
It had been an erotic dream he'd had but the person who he was with was confusing and he couldn't tell who it was, only that it was a male. Harry had been in a room; a room that had a party to be more specific and he'd felt a comforting weight on top of him. They were kissing, and he reached up to his lips as they tingled and he closed his eyes trying to remember the rest of the dream. There had been some sexual acts, both given and received with Harry obviously receiving last as he woke up covered in the aftermath. In his action to remember the dream, he'd inadvertently made himself hard and he lay there for a while not doing anything trying to figure out what he should do. He didn't wait too long and gave up within a matter of minutes, wrapping a hand around the base and stroking it gently, and because it was still sensitive from his dream he came undone quickly, shaking as he tried to quietly absorb the waves of pleasure shooting through him.
Cleaning himself again, he rolled over and closed his eyes finally feeling at peace and smiled a little as he took his necklace in hand. He really no longer cared that it was to the image of Snape, or the way he started to look into his eyes during class; no, in his head there was no shame anymore because the man made him feel safer and stronger.
When he woke the next morning, it was Saturday so again, nothing notable was going to happen unless something weird happened. He rolled over and looked out the window still not used to seeing the light shining in through the windows each morning. He smiled sadly, every morning he woke he had the somber feeling as he remembered waking up in the dungeons. He still wanted to see the man but he didn't know how well received it would be if he just happened to turn up on his door step. He sighed and rolled back over again. He knew he wasn't going to get any sleep but it couldn't hurt to lounge about for another hour or so before he entered hell in the Great Hall.
As predicted, it was just as hellish as he'd thought with the Slytherin's wolf whistling at him, still under the impression that he had a thing for Blaise. He tried to ignore it however and looked straight ahead at the Head table but didn't see Snape, he realized it was stupid to think he was there, he got up at the same time each day. He shook his head, and taking into account of where the troublesome Slytherin's were he went right up to the front of the Hall and sat as close to the teachers table as possible. Ron refused to go with him, claiming that it was a death wish but Hermione could sense something was wrong so she followed him and sat beside him as they ate breakfast.
"I wish they'd knock it off." Harry said quietly and Hermione had almost missed it.
"Just ignore it, Harry. They'll only get worse if you act on it." She said and he nodded.
That's what Snape said, he thought sadly pushed his plate away, no longer hungry. He wanted to be with the man, when he felt this down, just being in the man's presence leveled his mind and he felt calmer. Harry felt something hit the back of his head and when he ran a hand through it he noted that it was once an egg yolk and he snapped. Jumping up from the table he sprinted out of the hall as it erupted into loud spouts of laughter and he let the tears fall. He needed to hide, disappear and become invisible; so after turning a corner, still running he transformed in Jade and bolted for the dungeons. He had become one with the dark and damp underground of the castle and knew of a couple of spots where he could hide until he could sort himself out.
He came to a jog as he entered the level that Snape's quarters, office and classroom where on and wandered down the corridor. He passed the classroom first and walked in there to see if the man was there, he decided that now he was down here he was going to see him. Egg in his hair or not, he wanted to be comforted. Satisfied the man wasn't in the classroom and waiting until some Slytherin's passed the door he cautiously moved out into the corridor again and came across the man's office. The door was locked so looking both ways he started scratching at the bottom of the door to try and get his attention.
After a few minutes, nothing came of it so he backed away and huffed in his small body. There was one more door to try, but he was a little apprehensive about it, not really knowing if the man would cut his head off or welcome him with open arms. Open arms, ha. But he was hopeful as he walked up to the portrait. He sat in front of it expectantly and the man in the frame turned to look down at the floor at Harry. The man obviously wasn't going to let Harry in so he meowed and with no response still he walked up to the frame and started scratching at it as well.
"I say, unhand me." The man shrieked but Harry didn't stop.
He didn't have to wait long for the door to be wrenched open with so much force that it hit Harry so hard he flew across the hall landing just shy of the adjacent wall and yelping in shock rather than pain at the action. He shook his head and then looked up to see Snape glaring down the corridor before turning his attention to Harry who stood and walked carefully over to him and sat in front of him, his tail wrapping around the front of his legs. Snape was regarding him carefully with his face emotionless, and after another quick glance down the corridor he motioned with his head for Harry to come through so Harry sprinted between his legs and straight towards the black fur rug in front of the fire.
"Potter, you can't be here." Snape said carefully as Harry raised his head to look at the man coming round and standing in front of his usual armchair.
Sighing, Harry changed back. He didn't say anything though and just looked down at the floor as he stood.
"Please, Harry you need to go." Snape said again and Harry felt something twinge in his heart.
"But, sir – "
"No, please, Harry. It isn't the summer anymore." He was almost pleading and Harry was confused. Did the man really despise him that much?
"I… I wanted somewhere safe to go." Harry tried but when he looked at the man standing in front of him, his expression was unreadable.
"Why? What has happened?" Snape asked as he regarded Harry carefully. He knew the boy was easy to read and a terrible liar when he was standing in front of him so he could see some credibility to his worry.
Harry stood there and sighed, looking sadly up at the man before looking away.
"I'll go, sir." Harry said making his way towards the door even though it killed him to walk towards it. The rug had looked so inviting.
Harry suddenly felt a hand grip around his upper arm as Snape lunged forward to stop him and gave him a pointed look, so Harry turned back round to stand in front of the man. They were closer this time however and Harry had caught his telltale scent of incense and sandalwood as he rushed forward, the fragrance calming him almost immediately. He looked up to the man and he seemed to be frowning and looking at Harry's hair and Harry blushed, knowing full well what he was looking at and he tried to cover it with his hand only to have it pulled away.
"Is that…" Snape trailed off as he inspected it and then looked down at Harry.
"Malfoy. Egg. Yes." Was all Harry said and he immediately saw the man giving him a look of empathy.
"Come here." Snape said and Harry followed him into the bathroom.
It was odd, Harry thought as they stood in the once shared bathroom as Snape got him to wet his hair in the sink and then proceeded to try and comb out the egg that was now caked into his short mop. It was odd, because he was wondering why Snape didn't just wave his wand and have it disappear. He wasn't complaining though, the man was once again, taking care of him and he allowed himself a small smile before catching his reflection in the mirror and the man was eyeing him and sighed as he finished. Harry turned round and faced him as Snape put the comb in the sink and the man cocked his head to the side as if in contemplation.
"There is just over two hours until lunch time." He started and Harry nodded with anticipation.
"I guess… you could assist me with some potions I am brewing until then." He finished and Harry smiled at him.
"I'll behave, I promise."
"I am not going to hold my breath." Snape replied light heartedly and he walked out of the bathroom and across the living area before opening the door to his lab, Harry following closely behind him. He went over to the stool he'd sat on the last couple of times he was in there and watched Snape moving around the room graciously. He blushed at his thoughts when he remembered back to the previous night when he'd fantasized about the man, but he had to try and hide it because the man would probably kick him out.
Harry was soon fixated on what Snape was doing and suspected that when Snape had said help, he was trying to justify having Harry in his quarters. He knew it was risky to be there but he honestly didn't care right now because he'd gotten what he came for. Time with Snape.
"Something amusing?" Snape said as he poured some liquid into the cauldron.
"Uh, no?" Harry said shaking his head of his wayward thoughts.
"Obviously, if you're grinning like a lunatic." Snape retorted and Harry ducked his head.
He wasn't going to go there, in fact, he knew of a way to hide his blush and Snape looked up when he saw Harry shrink and a little grey head pop up from the seat and jump up onto the counter. He looked up at Snape innocently and the man raised an eyebrow at him before consulting his notes and adding another ingredient.
Harry wasn't known for his complacency and carefully padded over on his stomach to see what the man was making. He couldn't read the heading upside down and tried to cock his head to he could read it but stopped when he heard a soft snort from the man above him.
"As much as I loathe to admit that your company is not truly horrid, please be cautious of where you are standing."
Harry looked around him and nodded before edging away a little and laying on his side as he continued to watch the man. He was watching him, intently in fact, and Harry noted that the man had a range of different facial expressions when he worked on potions, but they were so subtle that he was sure he missed half of them. However it was comforting to know that the man did display emotion, not the sneers and looks of disgust like he displayed outside of his quarters.
Harry eyes began to get heavy and he laid his head on the cool wood as he tried to continue to watch the man, but his tiredness overtook him and he drifted into a peaceful sleep. Much quieter and peaceful than the sleep he'd had that night. He was woken after what he thought to be a short time after his eyes closed with a hand petting his head and stroking down his spin and he rolled onto his back to look up at an amused Snape. He rolled onto his front and then stood, walking close to the edge and looking up at the man who had his hands on the edge of the table.
Pushing his luck, he nudged one of the man's hand with his head but it didn't move so he tried the man's middle and rubbed his head against the rough black robes to get some response from the man, and he finally found it as the man stroke his back again. Satisfied, Harry sat on his hind legs and looked up at him expectantly.
"As I recall mentioning, you were welcome to stay until lunchtime. It is now time for lunch." He stated, almost stiffly and Harry meowed before lowering himself onto his front and putting his head on top of his paws.
"Harry, these were the conditions. I need you to honor them." He tried and Harry tossed up the possibility of trying to stay here with the man.
He decided that he would just listen to him, as he realized how easy it had been getting in there and decided that if he was good he'd be able to come back just as easily. He meowed, and then stood at the side of the table and was surprised when a hand came underneath him and placed him on the floor. He decided that he'd change when he got out of the man's quarters as it seemed stupid changing before then. He looked up and Snape and put a paw on his shoe before turning and walking towards the door that was ajar and slipped through into the living area, waiting for the man by the door.
They walked out into the corridor to find it empty but Harry remained in his form and padded along the corridor next to Snape and then ascended the stairs with him. There were only a couple of people drifting through the castle at this time, but every time Harry sensed someone coming he would break away from Snape so it didn't look like he was following the man. They were a couple of corners away from the Great Hall and looking both ways checking it was clear, Harry transformed back walking slightly behind Snape as they rounded the last corridor.
He shadowed him as they walked into the Hall and then the assaults started flying again towards Harry and he stopped in his tracks as Malfoy spied him. They started hackling about Poofter Potter, and he couldn't take it so decided just to turn around and leave again. Again, his appetite gone and wanting to be alone.
Snape looked behind him casually as he heard the laughter from the Slytherin table and found Harry retreating from the hall. He couldn't understand what Malfoy had against Harry this year, usually it didn't extend further than some casual insults in the classroom but this was much more and he had a bad feeling about it. However he couldn't dwell on it and without faltering in his step made his way to the Head table.
"Our young, Harry seems to be having some issues, Severus." The Headmaster mused from beside him and he had to fight the urge of rolling his eyes, what was he supposed to do?
"I have noted that my house seem to have taken a certain dislike towards him." Snape said in response, careful of how to word his response.
"Hmm, it is, as you say, Severus your house." The Headmaster said and went to stand with his lunch finished.
"Albus?" He looked over at the man who was standing.
"Don't think you've fooled me, Severus. I know how much you care for him." Dumbledore said, giving Snape a pointed look and he had stop himself gulping with nerves.
Snape looked down at his lunch before watching the Headmaster leaving the hall and it gave him something to think about. He just had to watch how he handled the situation because there was a very high chance that if Malfoy were to be punished, the retaliation would only be inflicted upon Harry. He didn't know if he could live with himself if something happened to the boy because it was as Dumbledore had mentioned, he did care for Harry; and he longed for his company again.
But he had to be careful.