Chapter forty-eight: Guilty.

Warning: Contains mild nudity/sexual situations

The day was incredibly long and Harry was in his third last class, which was Defence Against the Dark Arts. With Ron and Hermione still strained, he was sitting between them. His gut was burning with anticipation. He wanted to hear back from Snape, but he had a feeling the Potions master was going to make him wait until classes were finally over.
He hated that. He wanted to know now. Although he knew that he was in the middle of a class and Snape most likely wouldn't interrupt. He sighed, just wishing the day was over. It shouldn't be taking this long! Snape should be back by now!
He'd run into McGonagall previously today and she'd asked if he was okay. He didn't lie, but he didn't tell her the truth either. He wanted to be there with Severus. He wanted to see the trial. Instead, he was stuck in school. And it seemed everlasting.

"Harry," said Hermione, elbowing the boy next to her.

"What?" Hermione nudged her head to the side where the door to the classroom was. Unbelievable! It was Snape! He was still dressed in his fancy robes and knocked on the threshold to gain the professor's attention.

"Pardon my interruption, I was wondering if I could borrow Potter for a moment," said the Slytherin. Usually, he would have waited for class to be over, but Harry was stressing and he'd run into McGonagall in his return (coincidently). She'd mentioned that all day in her class he had been fidgeting and not concentrating on his work. The least he could do was reassure him.
He knew that by knocking and asking for Potter, it would stir the other students up, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make to let Harry know the news of the trial.

When the professor nodded, Harry stood up and walked outside, closing the door behind them. "I didn't know you were back. How long have you been back? What's happening!?"

Severus walked just a little ways from the door so others couldn't listen and put up a ward just in case. "I will be brief. Desiree is being charged and incarcerated within Azkaban. The Muggle who helped her will also be serving time in a Muggle prison for extortion."

Harry's eyes lit up at the fact that they were being punished for their actions. "So… everything is good, then?"

"Correct," said Snape.

"Why don't you seem very happy?" This was huge! If anything, Snape should be jumping up and down. Then again… this was Snape.

Severus lifted a brow. "I'm on school grounds. When I'm in a more secluded area, perhaps I will celebrate. Would you like to join me this evening? I would appreciate your company."

Harry looked around. "We're not allowed…" Even though he wanted to more than anything.

"Who says others need to know?" Snape smirked. "I said I would be brief, so you best return to class. I will meet you in my quarters after dinner. There we can discuss this further." There was a certain promise in his voice this time.

Harry nodded, enjoying this rule-breaking side of Severus. He would have been given a detention for even thinking something like that months ago. It was nice to see some of their unique behaviour rubbing off on one another.
"I'll see you later, then, Professor," he smiled back. Snape turned and walked down the corridor and he headed back into the classroom, ignoring the people who were curiously looking at him. Of course they wanted to know what was said. Thankfully, the professor hushed them and they continued the rest of their lesson.
When class was finished, Harry was able to tell Ron and Hermione the result. Hermione was ecstatic, and Ron gave him a pat on the back. During dinner, he couldn't help but notice Snape was much more cheerful than he had been the last few days—well… what one could tell with the wizard, anyway.
Harry had learnt to read the professor better than he once could. He may not celebrate on the outside, but there was certainly a more relaxed look about him.
Finally when dinner was over, he quickly headed back to the Gryffindor Tower. Only when everyone else was asleep did he sneak out his father's Cloak and head down to the dungeons.
When he entered, Snape's outer robes had been removed and he was sitting with a white shirt on, collar loose. He looked much more relaxed. He pulled off the Cloak and closed the door behind him, putting it onto the back of the chair.
"I'm really happy that this is all over," he said as Snape got up. He was hushed when the older wizard put a finger to his lips, making him look up—Snape's hair curtained around his face. Those dark eyes were penetrating his own, and for a moment he thought he was about to read his mind. He was happy when the other wizard's lips went against his own and he kissed back.
It felt like forever since they had been intimate. What had it been? Days? Weeks? Snape wasn't exactly forceful in wanting to have sex, and Harry was still shy—the both of them were. He wished he was more forceful about it, but he knew Severus wasn't exactly a wild person when it came to the bedroom.
"Sev…" he murmured through the kiss, Snape's hands running through his hair. "I've… missed you." He continued to kiss the other and felt Snape's fingers undo his shirt, his hands tangling into the small amount of hair that was there.
His shirt dropped from his arms and he walked backwards through the lounge and into Snape's private quarters before the back of his knees hit the bed and made him fall onto it. Pulling Severus onto him by the collar of his shirt, he locked lips with the wizard again, his hand going to the back of his neck and tangling into his long hair.
"Nnn, please take me," he murmured needily as he pulled Snape's shirt over his shoulders and down his arms. His pale skin was lit up by the fireplace behind them and he ran his fingers down the professor's chest and down his thin stomach to unbuckle the belt that was keeping his pants on.

Feeling Harry's hand kneed over his erection, Severus leant into the Gryffindor, their foreheads meeting. He took his hand into his own, a surge of magic pulsing between them. This was the first time they'd made love since the bond was complete and it was driving him nuts. The whole day outside he'd tried concentrating on the trial, but in the back of his mind sat Harry—sending his magic into bouts of ecstasy every now and again.
It's why he had to see him. Yes, he wanted to inform him that everything was alright now, but he also wanted see him. He wanted to feel him so much. It took every part of him to walk away from Harry and let him return to class. He would have liked nothing more than to give him a celebratory fucking.
"I missed you, too," he whispered back before taking Harry's lips again. His breath hitched as their magic intertwined, a light glow weaving its way around their now connected bodies. Like the first time their magic bonded during love making, the rest of the night became a thick haze, but the pleasure was kept in the back of his mind, feeling every intricate detail of Harry's body when he eventually entered.

*****
Severus woke to a loud noise screeching through his ears. In the dungeons, it was still dark, but Fawkes made a loud call, making his eyes open to a much lighter room than he thought. Merlin! It was morning!
Removing his hair from his face, he looked beside him to see Harry scrunching his hands into his closed eyes. They'd slept all night!? Oh, no. Not again. This couldn't be happening again. He knew their magic was strong the first time they'd done this, why not know it would do the same thing? Or worse?
Fawkes chirped, acknowledging him when Severus looked up. Thankfully, it was still early, and the bird was clearly letting them know Harry should return to Gryffindor Tower before anyone knew he was missing—or knew where he was (which would be worse).
Turning over his shoulder, Harry was slowly awakening from the loud screech Fawkes had made, rubbing his eyes casually. "It's early morning, you best get back to Gryffindor Tower before someone realises you're missing." He tried to ignore last night's mess that had managed to get on them. Clothes were off, sheets messy and he could see the tube of lubricant on the floor. Merlin, he could hardly remember anything.

Harry groaned lazily as the room came into focus—which was still a blur without his glasses on. What the hell had even happened? He could hardly remember last night. He knew they'd slept together, but… once more, everything was a thick fog.
He looked around, Snape's hair messy and sticking against his body. "I… can't really remember anything," he said softly, looking to the professor. Severus slipped himself out from the covers to slide some pants on. He was thankful he got a glimpse of that pale arse of his.

"I can't say it's truly a surprise. We should have foreseen this considering the first time," admitted the professor. Hopefully, this time, there wasn't anyone outside lurking to catch them in the act.

Grabbing his glasses, Harry put them on. He leant over and grabbed the pocket watch on the side of the bed and flipped it open. "Shoot, I better get going. It's almost time to get up!" He didn't have time to take a quick bath or anything like that, he had to head back right away!
Quickly jumping from the bed, he grabbed his pants and put them on, shoving his shirt and robes on over the top.
When Snape walked over to him, he handed him a bottle. "What's this?" he asked, trying to brush his clothes down.

"It'll make you appear more presentable. At least until you can bathe yourself," explained the Potions Master.

Pulling the stopper out, Harry took a swig of the potion, grimacing at the taste before he put it back down. Severus took a sip as well. Suddenly, Snape looked ever-so-pleasing. More so than usual. It was actually quite ridiculous!

To himself, Severus was still a mess, but he could tell that the potion was working, because Harry was gazing at him dumbfounded. In return, Potter looked spectacular.
"Quickly, Potter, get your cloak," he ordered, Harry shaking his head and grabbing all of his gear. "I will see you in class today." However, before the Gryffindor could leave, he quickly pulled him back by the hood of his robe and spun him around. There, he planted a soft kiss on his lips.

Tasting Severus, once more Harry was put into a bonded trance and he almost regretted that Snape had done it simply for the fact that he became instantly excited over it.
"I'll see you in class…" he muttered embarrassedly as he quickly threw the Cloak over himself and headed outside the office and back to the Gryffindor common-room.

Severus grabbed his wand and quickly cleaned his quarters. Fawkes had given them enough time to get out of any trouble, but he wished he could have at least given them an extra thirty minutes to get cleaned up.

*****
Harry had just made it back in time to Gryffindor Tower. He'd snuck back in, tossed his Cloak back in his trunk and headed right back downstairs just before Hermione and Ginny had made it down. He, of course, thought he looked like a train wreck, but apparently he was looking very handsome. Whatever potion Snape had given them, it was working at top capacity.

"I heard about Professor Snape," said Ginny as Hermione was sorting her bag out before breakfast.

Harry just gave an awkward shrug. It wasn't like he hated or wanted to hate Ginny, but he could never trust her again with what had happened.

"Do you have any idea why Pr—she did it?" asked Hermione, looking up from her bag. "Why target Snape? Does he know her?"

"Not that I know of," confessed Harry. "I don't really know why. I guess she just wanted a story for The Prophet, and this was it."

Hermione raised a brow. "I know some witches and wizards will go great lengths to get information… but I think this was a bit more serious, Harry. She not only wanted to clearly break up your relationship, but it seemed more personal than that. Having Snape tossed into Azkaban because he said something about Muggles?" Not that she approved, of course.

Harry didn't know. It wasn't like he sat down and had a chat with her now, was it? He wished he could. He wished he knew what had happened in the full trial. He wanted to know just as much as Hermione what was really going on here. Why target him? And, really, it was more Snape than anything. Sure, he had a lot of enemies, but that seemed like a lifetime ago.
"I don't know…" he murmured. What if Severus was keeping things from him? Did he really know? He'd have to ask now, because it was actually starting to bother him. For a moment, he was in bliss, having known it was all over, but now Hermione had raised the question, hadn't she? What the hell was all the point in this?

As other Gryffindor's started to come down the stairs, Hermione left it at that. She saw Ron and grabbed her bags. "I'll see you in the Hall," she said, leaving.

Harry looked at Ginny, and Ginny just rolled her eyes. He wasn't going to ask. Clearly they were still having relationship troubles.
Grabbing his bag, he went the same direction as Hermione, but was stopped when he felt Ginny take his arm.

"Harry, have you done something to your hair? You look different… You look…"

Seeing her cheeks turn pink, Harry gently took his arm back. "Guess I'm just having a good hair day," he smiled oddly before turning back around and heading to the Hall for breakfast.
Ginny wasn't the only person to compliment him, though. Harry found that he was getting compliments from many people. It felt weird considering he was truly covered in last night's romp in the bed. He was filthy! He couldn't believe the potion Severus had given him took all that mess and grime away. All the sweat, all the… fluids… Hell, his clothes were messy and he was still wearing the same underwear. Who was he to question it, though? It was working, and that's all he cared about!
In his lunch break, he headed down to the dungeons to ask Severus what Hermione had put back into his head. Now that she'd mentioned it, he couldn't get it out of his head at all. So he knocked on the door and was more than pleased to see Severus open it for him.

"Potter, what are you doing here?" asked the Slytherin as he was dressed in his usual teaching robes. Potions wasn't until later.

"I shouldn't need an excuse to see you, should I?" Harry asked with a smirk. When Snape stepped back, he walked inside and past him.

He supposed not. It wasn't like they weren't sleeping together, was it? Severus pushed that thought away. Now that the bond was complete, Harry was utterly correct. Things were much more obvious with his feelings when the Gryffindor was around.
"Apparently not…" he muttered to himself. He kept the door ajar just in case someone else came in. He didn't wish for students (or McGonagall) to think something suspicious was happening behind closed doors.
"Is the potion working well for you?" he asked, seeing Harry as still overly clean.

"A little too well," Harry laughed. "I've had a bunch of compliments on my hair for some reason. I always thought it was messy…"

It was. But that didn't mean he looked any less attractive. In fact, one of the things that made Harry attractive was his messy, rough hair.
"Can't be a Gryffindor without a messy mane or hair, correct?"

Harry just smirked. "What about you?"

"It's working," Snape said, just leaving it at that. He wasn't one to brag or accept compliments in full stride.
"Did you wish to spend lunch here?" It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it, it was just that he didn't exactly have break time right now. Just because it was time for the students to eat, didn't mean the professors always got the same privileges.

Turning back around to face the Slytherin, Harry bit his lip. "Did Desiree ever tell you why she did this?" he asked.

Ah, yes. He would have told Harry if it weren't for such little time yesterday—and then last night getting a bit out of control. He would have explained the trial in more depth, but… that happened.
"It was not entirely established," he stated, offering a seat. Harry didn't take it, though, he continued to stand by the office. Fawkes watched carefully.
He put his hands together. "I was not going to risk giving her more Veritaserum before the trial. It was risky enough the first time. But now that she had admitted it, well… it was hard to return what she'd stated previously."

"So she still admitted it without it?" asked Harry.

Harry should have known that even when using Veritaserum, despite it being the most powerful truth potion, it did not always work, and thus it was not one-hundred per-cent affective, and could not hold up in a court trial. To Severus' knowledge, it may not have even worked the first time—though he was positive it had.
"She'd already stated the obvious. It was on record. Even if she changed her mind, the Ministry had heard it—or at least Kingsley. As you know, this trial was a hush trial." Even if for Potter's sake.

Yes, Harry did know that. And he thanked Kinsley for it. If the public knew all about this? Who knew how this would have turned out. Sure, he was Harry, but Snape was Snape. Their popularity wasn't exactly on par with one another.
"Why you, though? Why me? Why us? Why was our relationship so important to her? Why did she want your job? Or why would she want to make you suffer just to get to me? Why not make me suffer by myself?"

"Sometimes watching your loved ones suffer is far worse than taking the punishment yourself," Severus murmured. He'd know. He took it all, and yet he still could never save the one he loved. Instead, he thought being punished for it would make it all better.

Harry looked away. "I just feel it's… personal," he said. He wished Hermione had kept her mouth shut at the same time. But now he needed some kind of closure.
"I want you to take me to the Ministry."

Severus downright scoffed in reply.

"I mean it. I want to know why she did it!" the Gryffindor yelled. "I want to know why she hurt you! Why she hurt me! Us!"

Putting his hands onto Harry's shoulders, Severus bent his knees so he was level with the younger wizard. "Harry, some witches and wizards are bitter. You cannot give them reason."

"What are you trying to hide from me?"

Furrowing his brow, Snape stood back up straight. "Why does it matter to you so much? The witch is in Azkaban now. If I knew, I'd have informed you."

Why would it matter? Why wouldn't it! "She could have sent you to Azkaban!" Harry yelled. "Why aren't you angry or upset!? This whole time, you've just taken it how it is and haven't shown a spec of anger or resentment towards her! What is so important about her that you can't get angry and want payback!?"

"Desiree is in prison."

"So!?"

"So if I spent my entire life worrying about every wrong that has been done to me, I would have no time for anything else!" he snapped. "Potter, you allow your emotions to rule you and rule others as well. You allow every little thing to eat at you. I have suffered my years of torment, and I will never get that back, but be damned if I let some cold-hearted witch rule my life while she is already having Dementors devour every happy memory from her existence. I will not let it do the same to me by dwindling on it anymore. And believe it or not, Harry, but you are the reason for that."
Of course he had had his moments of utter resentment. He'd have enjoyed nothing more than to see Desiree suffer for what she had put him through—as well as Harry. He just wasn't like Harry. He let it eat him internally rather than externally. Nobody else needed to know what was going on in his mind.
He'd been worried, scared for his future! Thinking that he may be in Azkaban, away from Harry all the while this trial was happening and coming up. To hear Harry say that he hadn't had his moments of doubt actually pissed him off. Harry knew he had been worried, he'd even brought it up. But he knew the Gryffindor was having one of his emotional fits. Rationalism wasn't exactly his best friend.

Looking at Severus, Harry felt his body loosen from its tensed position. He knew Severus had lived years of remorse and guilt from what had happened to his family. To be finally able to move on from that? He was right. He was moving on, and that was a good thing.

Leaning a hand down, he cupped Harry's cheek. "Desiree is in prison for her actions. She probably wanted fifteen minuted of fame. Like I said, some witches and wizards are simply the way they are. They believe that the world owes them and that they can get satisfaction from bringing others down. Sometimes there is no reason at all. And as far as I know, Desiree's intentions were not so much personal as much as they were to get the biggest story she could find for the largest amount of money she could get her greedy hands on."

Perhaps Severus was right, but he still couldn't get the feeling out of his mind. He just wanted absolute closure, and without seeing Desiree, that wasn't going to happen. How he would get to Azkaban? There was no way. Unless it was through Kingsley.

"By the time the witch gets out of Azkaban, if she ever does, she will no longer have the memories of why she was even placed in there. You have nothing to worry about anymore."

Harry nodded, looking up and giving a faint smile. "Alright," he murmured, putting his hand to Snape's and leaning into it for a moment.

Standing back, Snape nodded with a miniscule smile. "Lunch will be over soon. If you wish to spend it at all with your friends, then you best head out. I will see you in class later."
When Harry said goodbye, Severus sat back at his desk. But he knew this wasn't the end of it. Harry was not known for just giving up. He wanted answers. He would not put the Gryffindor in that kind of danger. No, if Harry wanted answers, then he would get them for him. He would not risk anything greater.

*****
When Harry was returning to the courtyard, he ran into an upset looking Hermione. He stopped her in the corridor and looked at her worriedly. "What's going on?" But that's when it obviously hit her hard, because the next thing he knew, Hermione was crying tears in his arms.
Putting his arms around her, he let her sob whatever it was out of her system, brushing her hair from her face. "Talk to me, Hermione. What's going on?"

Wiping her face, the witch tried to push back the tears that kept coming. "It's over," she wept.

Over? What was over? "Hermione, you're not making sense." He winced when she slapped his shoulder.

"What do you think, Harry! Ron! It's over! I can't stand it anymore!"

Harry felt his stomach hit the floor.

"He's just so… childish!"

"Yeah, but… You've always gotten through it before," Harry tried to say, as if it would make anything better. Hermione only gave him a look of fire so he shut his mouth before he made anything worse.

Pulling herself away and feeling awful that she'd just unloaded that onto Harry, she wiped her face once more and pushed the tears back. "I'm sorry, Harry. I shouldn't have…"

"No, it's fine. Seriously."

"No… I don't want to put you in the middle of any of this. You've got enough to worry about."

When Hermione ran off, he yelled her name to come back, but she continued down the corridor and out of sight. His shoulders fell. What the hell had happened? Or what had Ron do to make her go off like that? He knew they were having problems, but honestly? Breaking it off? What did this mean for them as friends? What did this mean for the future?

Artist Comments:

It's been a really long time, and I'm super sorry for that. I've had some stuff going on, work, different fandoms, blah blah. Hopefully I can get more regular with this! You guys are amazing, I love you all!