Of Course
Severus rolled his eyes in exasperation as he walked into the personal quarters of Hogwarts' resident Defense Instructor. After five years of working together, he and Harry had long since worked out their differences. They still fought, and it was still explosive when they did, but now they were able to laugh at their own stubbornness once the fight was done. Severus had actually been surprised to find he enjoyed, even sought out, the younger wizard's company. Potter was perhaps the only person, besides Albus, to crack Severus' mask. Hell, after five years, the mask had been shattered thanks to the Gryffindor's tenacity; though Severus still liked to pretend he was the Greasy Git he had always been.
And, of course, after a little over a year of witnessing the event, he was used to walking in to see Potter on his knees before the fireplace, trying uselessly to placate the implacable Ginny Weasley.
Ignoring for now the too-kind, mostly listening Gryffindor, Severus moved into the partially closed-off kitchen on the other side of the living space. Harry would want tea and biscuits after his encounter, he always did. Sitting on the counter by the farm sink, Dobby had already laid out a service for two. Severus smirked at the House Elf's always knowing and spelled the loaded silver platter to follow him into the living room just as Harry managed to get a word in edgewise.
"Listen, Gin, I never said that I don't appreciate you. I only said that I couldn't always be answering your fire-calls. I have classes, and mountains of homework to grade. That doesn't mean I care about my job more than you, it just means I don't want to get sacked because I was busy listening to you ramble when I should've been working." Severus sat down as Potter paused to listen, slim shoulders visibly tensing with every word. "Alright, fine, I shouldn't have said 'ramble', I'm sorry, but…yeah, I know I said that I love…no,Gin, I'm not coming over to…Gin, I have classes tomorrow! I'm not going to jeopardize my students' safety just because you…Yes, I do think the safety of my students is more important than us having sex! You're getting ridiculous! I have classes tomorrow, dammit, and I won't be manipulated…No, Gin! I'll call you tomorrow." Potter pulled his head from the fireplace, effectively ending the call, and sat back on his heels with a frustrated sigh. "I may kill that woman."
Severus chuckled as he poured them both a cup of black Earl Grey (neither took sugar, and white tea was, of course, blasphemy).
"I think saying so makes it premeditated," He said smoothly. "The robe again?"
Potter nodded, bowing his head as he gave a put-upon sigh. "Yes…third time this past week." He got up and moved to his favorite armchair across from the Potions Master. "I don't know what to do."
Severus grimaced sympathetically as he passed off one of the porcelain cups. In the last month, Potter's girlfriend had begun trying to entice him into bed by wearing next to nothing every time she called. Inevitably, she would discard what little she was wearing before the call ended. Severus had no idea why she continued to expect this to work, but she apparently did.
"She's becoming less consistent," Potter commented hopefully. "But I don't know what to do with her. I can barely make it a full day without her trying to bed me, or start a fight…or both. Sometimes even in the same conversation, as you just witnessed."
Severus smirked as he sipped at his own tea. "You've been seeing the girl for a year, I'm sure she's not the only one wondering why you haven't taken her to your bed. You're in your twenties, you should be shagging like rabbits."
Potter let his head fall back against his chair with a grimace. "Yeah, Ron's been asking about it," He admitted. "He tries to be casual about it, but…Anyway, I can't help it if having her shove her tongue ten-foot down my throat isn't a turn-on, or her waving her goods in my face and saying it's the best I'll ever get, plus there's the fact that I'm not generally attracted to women, and only slightly attracted to her. When she isn't trying desperately to manipulate me into her bed, she's talking about marriage like it's an eventuality. She just keeps throwing herself at me like I'm going to cave, and she's not even being subtle about it."
Severus smirked. "Of course not," He said. "She's a Gryffindor. Your lot aren't exactly the poster children for subtlety. However, you are, on occasion, the exception to the rule."
Potter chuckled as he sipped at his tea. "High praise, coming from you, Severus." He sighed heavily. "I just don't know what I'm going to do about Ginny. I'm just not interested in spending the rest of my life with someone who doesn't get me. Do you know she thinks I'm serious when I'm joking?"
"Really?" Severus asked interestedly. "I find your humor quite refreshing after dealing with the giggling masses we subject ourselves to almost daily."
"She says it's too 'dark' to be considered funny," Potter scoffed, staring moodily into his fireplace.
"You can hardly blame her," Severus said evenly. He smirked when Potter shot him a glare. "Consider where your humor comes from. You have lived a very difficult life, Harry, and she can hardly be expected to understand how your many trials have affected you. She was little more than a bystander in a war that you were caught in the middle of, at the fore of. She will never truly comprehend the horrors you've seen and lived through, and thus will never truly understand you."
Harry sighed again. "I suppose you're right."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, drinking their tea and enjoying one another's company. Finally, Severus pulled out his pocket watch. He set down his tea and stood. "I must go, I promised Poppy that I would have the Pepper-Up finished this evening. I came up to see if you would like to accompany me to Hogsmeade."
Potter stood as well. "Severus, it's Monday, and I really do have marking to be getting on with," He said. It wasn't an outright 'no', and Severus knew it would take very little to convince the younger wizard.
"I'm well aware, Potter," Severus said. "Luckily for you, I wasn't referring to this evening. No, I actually meant this weekend. The new ingredients are coming into the apothecary on Saturday, and I thought we could make a day of it."
They moved as one towards the door.
"Oh, Severus, that sounds great, but you know how Ginny throws a fit if I blow her off on the weekends even when it's important," Potter groaned. "And you know that if Fred and George see us they'll doubtlessly mention it to her."
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Harry, you lead perhaps the worst relationship track record I have ever seen aside from my own," He said, sighing nasally. "First there was that idiot fanboy, then Finnegan and his affinity for other boys, and now you've got a girl who has you afraid to take a day for yourself. Why do you do this to yourself?"
"That's not fair," Potter argued. "It's not like I went into these relationships knowing what would happen. I asked Ginny out because she needed someone after her relationship with Michael ended. How was I to know she'd become super clingy? I didn't even expect the relationship to last this long."
"And yet you persist," Severus growled. He opened the door. "When you decide whether Miss Weasley's happiness is more or less important than your own, you know where to find me. The offer for this weekend stands."
He left the third floor quarters and office in frustration. How could Harry subject himself to this, day after day? He was a Defense Master, and a good man. There were plenty of people more worthy of his affections, and yet he let himself be treated like a kept pet. And Severus didn't even know why, since his friend always evaded the subject when asked.
-Break-
It took less than a day for Potter to inform his ever-pestering girlfriend that he had plans for the weekend. The ensuing fight had left him so on edge that his students actively avoided him for fear of losing points merely for breathing too loud. Even the majority of the staff became a little wary of his moody scowls and biting tongue. A smile was, of course, hardly forthcoming.
However, by the time the anticipated sojourner arrived, the Wizarding Savior had begun to relax somewhat. They were walking through Hogsmeade in the early afternoon, after a productive morning at the apothecary, and merely enjoying the mid-November weather, when Severus finally found the smile that had been so scarce in the last few days.
"I'm glad you invited me, Severus," Potter sighed happily, a content smile brightening his features. "It's been a while since I've gotten out of the castle for any reason other than business, or because Gin demanded it. It's nice to get out purely for the pleasure of it."
Severus opted not to comment that seeing one's girlfriend was supposed to bring pleasure. He didn't want to darken the mood.
"I'm glad you decided to attend me," He said instead. "And I'm sorry for the apparent strain it has put on your relationship."
Potter scoffed. "It's not your fault. I deserve to be able to go out once in a while. Did I tell you what she said that pissed me off so much?"
"I'm afraid you neglected to share that particular detail," Severus answered curiously. They sat close to one another on a bench near the low wall that had once marked the village's boundary line.
"She accused me of cheating," Potter sneered. "Said I was keeping some chippy, or hot young wizard, on the side, and that that was why I didn't want to see or sleep with her."
Severus hummed noncommittally as he stared out at the sleepy streets of the village. "I'm flattered, Potter, but I wish you'd told me from the start that I wasn't the only cheap whore in your life," He deadpanned, turning to stare seriously into the bright emerald orbs of his companion.
The insinuation was, of course, well-worth it when Potter snorted and broke into full-body laughter that had him bent over his knees. It had been weeks since Severus had seen a genuine smile on his young friend's face, and months since the Defense Master had really laughed like this. He enjoyed the sound while it lasted. Eventually, Potter caught hold of himself and looked at him with residual giggles that shook his broad physique. That was when Severus saw the dark circles.
"You aren't sleeping," He commented in concern.
The smile softened. "I'm fine, Severus. Gin's just been calling at odd hours, making me come round for this and that. Then she keeps me from leaving when I won't sleep with her. It's fine, though, I don't need that much sleep."
"Indeed," Severus said curtly. They were quiet for a moment, but Severus found he had to ask, even if it only got him nowhere again. "Why do you stay with her, Potter? For one, you're gay, as the entire Wizarding World knows, and in the second, you're obviously miserable in the relationship. Why not just end it?"
Potter sighed and scratched at his neck. He stared down the lane, then gestured towards the shops. "Because of them."
Severus turned to look but saw no one recognizable in the street. He looked back to the Defense Master in confusion. Harry turned on the bench to face him, one leg bent between them as he leaned an arm on the wooden back.
"Fred and George," He said meaningfully.
Severus realized what he'd been pointing to. The Weasley twins had opened a second branch here in Hogsmeade before the term had started and were maintaining it while Lee Jordan managed the branch in Diagon Alley. Though, he still didn't fully understand what Potter meant.
"You're my friend, Severus," Potter began. "Maybe even my best friend, but they're my family. Ginny isn't just some girl, otherwise I'd have ended it with her months ago. The issue is: I can't, not without potentially causing a rift between myself and at least some of the Weasleys. I will eventually have to break it off, but I still have to figure out how I'm going to do it without getting her brothers on my case. That, or she has to push it to the point that I don't care anymore."
Severus frowned. "I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't realize there was so much pressure on you in regards to the relationship."
"Yeah," Harry said, giving a humorless laugh. "I'm sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place. But I'll figure it out."
They fell back into silence. Severus couldn't believe he hadn't figured this out before. It was obvious, now that it had been explained, but he had never considered that there might be a legitimate reason Potter stayed with someone he clearly wasn't happy with. How could he have been so blind?
Suddenly, Severus stood. He held out his hand to his companion, who stared back at him askance. "Come on," He said. A hand slid hesitantly into his. "Let's get lunch. You can drown your woes in spaghetti sauce, my treat."
Harry grinned gratefully. "You've got yourself a deal, Professor Snape." He stood.
Severus smirked and led the Wizarding Savior down the street, their arms linked conspiratorially. They walked in one another's confidence towards the new restaurant that had opened a few years back. It was one Severus knew was Harry's favorite, and, if there was anything to take the young man's mind off his troublesome relationship, it was good food.
-Break-
The rest of the day was spent together, enjoying the crisp weather and good company; and, of course, avoiding any topics related to Ginny Weasley.
When they returned to Hogwarts, Potter went to the effort of walking Severus to his rooms. The day had only improved after their discussion on the bench and had made Severus even happier that he had invited his young friend out. It was a break they had both been in need of, after nearly three months of dealing with nothing but squealing children and a headache known as Ginevra Weasley.
"Thanks again for inviting me out, Severus," Harry said as they came to a stop in front of the Potions Master's office. "We haven't had much time to spend together since term began, and it's in part because I've let Ginny get in the way of what's really important. I'm sorry."
Severus smirked as he leaned against the frame of the heavily warded door to his office. "Only you could apologize and thank someone needlessly at the same time," He said. Potter grinned bashfully, and Severus reached out a hand to gently cup a tan cheek. "You've been really unhappy lately, Harry. I'm glad I could give you something to smile about. Your happiness is paramount to my own. I think I might've been willing to spend the day entertaining your friends, if it had gotten you to smile and laugh as you used to."
Green stared into black softly. Before Severus could comprehend the meaning behind it, Potter had leaned up the few inches between them and placed a genuine, chaste kiss on his lips. The Potions Master returned the kiss gladly, drawing Harry to him as his eyes slid closed. Just as he began to question whether he should be enjoying such an innocent breach of their friendship so much, the Defense Master pulled away, looking appalled with himself.
"I'm sorry," Harry blurted. "I don't…I don't know why I did that." He started backing away, down the corridor. "That-that was dumb. Let's just forget it happened, okay? I'll see you at dinner."
Severus carefully hid the crushing disappointment he felt. "Of course." There was nothing more to be said. He vanished into his office and quarters as Potter turned and walked quickly away.
-Break-
Severus stood on the back porch of the Burrow, infinitely grateful for the warming charms that protected him from the frigid air and falling snow in the last rays of sunlight. It had been a little more than a month since the kiss, and his and Potter's friendship had become unconsciously strained. They had tried to go back to the way things were, but Severus found it hard to hide his hurt whenever he was around the younger man. The tension had finally broken when Potter said he was going to be spending the entire Holiday with the Weasleys, and they'd fought over the decision. Severus thought it was stupid and didn't understand why Potter would subject himself to Ginny Weasley's manipulations where her entire family could pressure him into doing something even more stupid. Potter had accused him of being jealous because he didn't have anywhere to go for Christmas or family to celebrate with. Needless to say, this had led to some very harsh words on both their parts, and they had not parted ways on speaking terms.
Severus had actually been certain that the New Year would ring in a wedding announcement, if only out of spite. Instead, Potter had shown up on his doorstep, barefoot and numb, Christmas day…
The day before…
Severus cautiously opened his front door to reveal Potter standing on the front stoop, head bent, and shivering in the cold. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his bare feet had sunk into the layer of snow on the ground. Severus, still angry about their parting words, stood in the crack of the door, glaring out at his unwanted guest. Only his curiosity, and the fact that they were still friends, no matter what they'd said, kept him from slamming the door.
"Aren't you cold?" He asked warily.
Potter looked around him, as if only just realizing the falling snow. "Not really," He muttered, his eyes looking deeply into glaring black. "Can I come in anyway?"
Severus considered this for a split second before opening the door wider to let his young friend in. It didn't matter what either of them had said, he couldn't leave the young man out in the cold. He led the way further into the house, into the parlor where he had a fire going.
"I'm really sorry for what I said," Potter told him quietly. "I was angry. The fact is, I knew you were right about me going to the Weasleys. I just didn't want to believe that my friends, people I saw as my family, would try to force me into something I didn't want."
"Did they?" Severus asked, summoning the tea he'd just conveniently finished making and gently pushing the Defense Master into one of the worn armchairs by the fire.
"Sort of…" Potter said, sitting on the edge of the seat to get closer to the fire. "They were cool, at first, except for putting me and Ginny in the same sleeping quarters. But then this evening at dinner, Ginny sprung some news on everyone that started a fight."
Severus poured the tea and passed a mug off, taking his own seat. "What did she say?"
"Apparently, we're eloping…"
The Potions Master answered this with tight-lipped silence, and after a moment Potter continued with a sigh.
"Because she's pregnant."
"Congratulations," Severus said reflexively. He didn't see why this news would have Potter showing up in such an emotionally numb state. He knew the young man wanted nothing more in this world than a family of his own. "I'm glad you've overcome your qualms of sleeping with the girl. I'm sure you-"
"I didn't," Potter growled.
Severus frowned. "Pardon?"
Harry stood, visibly agitated as he paced in front of the fireplace. "I didn't sleep with her, Severus. I don't know, or care, whose child it is, but it isn't mine. She cheated on me! And she still expects me to marry her! I promised her a few months back that if she got pregnant while we were dating, I'd marry her, and she's twisting my words to mean I'll take responsibility for her bastard child. When I told her it wasn't going to happen, I had to beat the entire Weasley clan off with a stick. I managed to get a word in, and tried to explain that the child isn't mine, but then half of them started screaming at me for daring to accuse Ginny of cheating. They wouldn't even let me explain why I knew it wasn't mine, they just assumed I was shirking my responsibility as a father." He sat down exhaustedly. "I got so frustrated that they wouldn't let me explain, and that they could so readily believe me a fraud, I just left. I apparated here, to the first safe place I could think of. I don't know what to do, Severus. I don't want to lose the Weasleys, but I refuse to marry Ginny and raise her bastard child."
"It may well come down to a choice between the two, Harry," Severus said softly. He reached out, intending to put a comforting hand on the younger man's knee, but decided against it. "You won't know until you've explained the situation to them. However, returning tonight, while tempers are running high, will get you nowhere. You can stay here tonight, give everyone a chance to calm down, and tomorrow we will return to the Burrow and explain."
Potter looked up at him with surprised gratitude. "You'll come?"
Severus smiled. "Of course; you'll need someone to mediate, and I look forward to seeing Ginevra get what's coming to her for cheating on you."
Harry chuckled. "Sadistic Slytherin git," He said warmly.
"Bleeding-heart Gryffindor," Severus replied, just as fondly.
Present
Thus, Severus was standing on the back porch of the Burrow, trying desperately not to freeze, in an effort to escape the heated 'discussion' going on in the kitchen. He could still hear them, but it was muffled. Arthur and the twins had been willing to hear Harry's side of the story immediately. Molly, and the eldest boy, Bill, had eventually switched sides after the truth had come to light. Percy, Charlie, and Ronald, however, stood firmly in defense of their baby sister, convinced that Harry was a liar, and that she could never cheat on anyone. The large group had been arguing for hours. The Wizarding Savior wasn't even involved, at this point; he was just a silent contender while the family hashed it out amongst themselves.
The back door opened, momentarily increasing the volume blasting from the Weasley kitchen, before it shut tight again. Severus looked to see Arthur beside him staring up at the clouded moon. He was silent for a long moment, and Severus had almost decided to ignore him when the man spoke.
"How long?"
"Pardon?" Severus growled irritably. His warming charms were wearing off, and he was starving after so many hours listening to Harry's 'family' bicker over him.
"How long have you had feelings for Harry?"
The Slytherin sneered and huddled further into his cloak. "I don't know what you mean, Arthur."
He saw out of the corner of his eye as the Weasley patriarch looked at him doubtfully. "Yes, you do, Severus. You've been here for hours listening to us argue, and you haven't complained even once. Either you care an awful lot about Harry, or you're secretly a masochist."
Severus opted into not responding. Largely because he didn't know. A while, if he had to guess. He didn't like thinking about it after that stupid, thoughtless kiss, and the absolute insult he felt over Harry's clear regret over having done it.
"You know, you could end this," Arthur said almost casually.
"It could hurt the child, and I doubt she'd take it willingly."
"Harry would volunteer."
"It's too dangerous." Severus answered with finality. "He could fall into a temporary coma when it wore off if he fought it too much. Not to mention what your sons might ask that could hurt his reputation. That's why it's a controlled substance."
"Severus, look in the window," Arthur said imploringly.
The Potions Master turned and looked inside the brightly lit kitchen. Almost all of the Weasleys were on their feet, shouting at one another, occasionally gesturing to Ginevra, who stood on one side, or to Harry, who was sitting in a chair in the corner with his head in his hands. Severus couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of sympathetic pain for the younger wizard. He must feel a wreck and was probably blaming himself for causing this rift in his surrogate family.
"He's in pain, Severus. If you care about him at all, you'll do what's right by him. It isn't your job to fix my family, but you wouldn't be here if you weren't looking out for Harry's best interests," Arthur said.
Severus sighed and shot the Weasley patriarch a dark glare. "Fine," He spat. "But I expect you to control your children and wife."
"Deal. Silencing charms should hold everyone at bay," The man said with a grin. They both walked into the kitchen and the patriarch gave a sharp whistle with his fingers in his mouth. Immediately, everyone stilled. It was impressive, and explained a little about how he'd raised such successful children, the youngest aside. "Severus has offered to provide Veritaserum," He announced. "As a Ministry official, I can oversee the administration of the potion. Ginny, can you support your claims?"
The group immediately started shouting again. Even Harry's supporters were arguing that it could be unsafe for the unborn child. Arthur whistled again, silencing them rather efficiently.
"I'll take it," Potter said before he could be asked, standing from his chair in the corner. "I've got nothing to hide, and no child to protect."
Arthur gave a stiff nod. "Very well, Harry. There are some side effects that you should be aware of, first. You can't fight it. If you try to lie while the potion is in your system, it could shut your brain down for a few hours, or even a few days, depending on how long it took your body to flush it out," He turned to his family. "Everyone else will be put under a silencing charm. Harry is volunteering to take a dangerous substance, and I don't want you jeopardizing his health because you all have questions of your own. We will ask only what's important to end this stupid feud."
To Severus' surprise, no one argued with this stipulation. The Potions Master waited until the Weasley patriarch had magically silenced the family, then withdrew the phial he kept on his person out of habit. He frowned in concern at the young Defense Master as he stepped towards him. He really hoped the silencing charms were strong.
"You're sure about this, Harry?" He asked quietly. "This is a highly controlled substance, you don't have to do this, there are other ways."
The Gryffindor smiled appreciatively. "I just want this done, Severus, and this is the fastest way," He murmured. "I trust you."
Severus frowned further in consternation, but he pulled the dropper from the phial. Harry immediately tilted his head back, and the Potions Master let a single drop fall into the waiting mouth. The Defense Instructor gave a grimace as Severus pushed him back to the chair he'd been occupying previously. When Harry was seated, Severus looked deep into emerald eyes. Slowly, the black pupils dilated until there was hardly a sliver of green left. He turned to Arthur and gave a stiff nod.
"Alright, Harry, we have to ask a test question before we begin, so no one can claim that you weren't given Veritaserum," Arthur dictated carefully. The green-eyed wizard nodded. "What's something you've never told anyone? It doesn't have to be something important, or embarrassing."
Harry appeared to consider the question for a moment. "I hate chicken breast," He said finally. "It's always dry, and it's terribly stringy, and I just have never liked it." He paused, frowning, and looked at the matriarch. "Er, sorry."
Severus had to hide a smirk as Molly looked silently affronted behind her husband. Arthur didn't bother trying to hide his smile.
"We'll try to keep that in mind in the future, Harry," The Ministry official said with a small chuckle. He cleared his throat and grew serious. "Harry, have you ever had sexual relations of any kind with my daughter, Ginevra Weasley?"
"Nope," Harry answered immediately. "We've never even done anything more than kiss."
Severus did smirk as the three supporters of the cheating witch looked properly shamed, the rest of their family glaring at them smugly. He thought perhaps that would be the end of the questioning but scowled when Arthur continued.
"Why not, Harry?"
"Because I'm gay, which you all well know," Harry replied just as quickly as he had before. He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I put you all through this. I never meant for any of this to happen, honestly. I should have broken things off with Ginny a lot sooner, I just… At first, I stayed because it seemed to make her happy, and she'd been so sad after Michael dumped her. After a while, I just didn't know what to do. You guys are the only real family I've ever known, and I was afraid that if I dumped Ginny, I'd lose some, or all, of you. I was here when Michael left Gin. He went from being the best imaginable match for your precious little girl or baby sister to being 'that awful, horrible, rat-faced prat'. I didn't want that to happen to me. I'd honestly hoped that Ginny would eventually get the hint and end the relationship herself. I never thought things would get as far and as complicated as they have…I do love Ginny, but like a sister. Even if I were straight, I'd feel the same. I really am sorry; I just didn't want to lose you guys."
He bowed his head in shame and Severus found himself jostled aside as the majority of the Weasley clan huddled around the young Defense Master. They all hugged the young man reassuringly.
"Severus, I think we know what we need to. You can give Harry the antidote now," Arthur said from amongst his sons.
The Potions Master nodded and withdrew the antidote from another hidden pocket in his robes. After several of the Weasley's shifted aside, he stepped up to his young friend and administered the counter-potion carefully. He waited until he noticed a visible contraction in the dark pupils before cancelling the silencing charm.
"You may all now berate Mister Potter for being an idiot," Severus said, smirking at the Wizarding Savior.
"Gee, thanks, Severus," Harry pouted from the center of the awkward group hug.
The family stood and moved away from him.
"Snape is right," George said matter-of-factly.
"You're an idiot, Harry," Fred agreed.
"We would never abandon our little brother just because things didn't work out between you and Ginny," Bill insisted. "We all wondered why you started the relationship in the first place. It wasn't your job to fix Ginny after her break-up with Corner, and I'm sorry if any of us made you feel like you had to keep up the charade."
"And I'm sorry I didn't believe you, Harry," Charlie said. "You're family, and you've proven time and again that it isn't in you to shirk responsibility. I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. We all should have."
There were nods from all those who had, even for a moment, doubted Harry's innocence, making the Gryffindor grin with relief. Severus smiled softly as well, glad that things had worked out for his young friend. Both professors scowled when Ginny spoke.
"But I'm your real family," The witch argued. "You're supposed to give me the benefit of the doubt!"
The redheaded clan rounded on the pregnant young woman.
"We did, Gin," Percival spat. "And it nearly cost us our adoptive brother."
"Yeah! Harry's my best friend, and I accused him of being a liar in your defense," Ronald snarled at his sister. "When the truth is the only liar here is you. How dare you leave Harry to fend for himself against us. None of this would have happened if you'd just come clean."
"But I need Harry's support for the baby," Ginny said, tearing up. "Thomas doesn't want anything to do with the child I'm carrying, and, without Harry, me and the baby might as well go live on the streets for all that I'll be able to provide for him or her."
"Ginevra Weasley, that is the most colossal bull," Molly said, shocking everyone in the large kitchen. Even Severus was a little stunned, and he'd seen the woman fight in two wars. "You come from a very large family, you have plenty of support for you and the baby. No, you won't have everything you want, but trying to trick someone into marrying you is never the answer. We are going to have a long talk about fidelity and selfishness later, make no mistake about that."
Harry stood as the family turned their backs on the weeping young woman. "I appreciate that I still have you all," He said sincerely. "But, if you don't mind, I think I'll spend the rest of the Holiday back at Hogwarts. It really hurt that you were all so willing to believe I was the bad guy, and I need some time to myself."
"We understand, Harry," Arthur said above the protests from his wife and sons. "And I'm sure we'll all spend the rest of the Holiday trying to think up ways of making it up to you. We really are sorry to have put you through this."
The soft-hearted Gryffindor hugged the Weasley matriarch and patriarch. "I know you are. I'll see you guys sometime after the Holiday, all right?" The large group of redheads nodded silently. Severus frowned as his friend turned to the young witch that had caused this mess. "Gin?"
The girl looked up with tears running from her muddy brown eyes, making Severus' lip curl in disgust.
"Yes, Harry?"
"You should have just come to me," Harry told her sincerely. "You have to know, I would have done anything for you, if you'd just come to me with the truth. I-I can't abide cheating, but I at least would've understood, and done what I could for you."
This sent the girl into a wailing fit that had the rest of the Weasley clan groaning. Severus decided to leave Harry to the rest of his goodbyes and went to wait by the front door. He didn't wait long before Harry was at his side, his duffel bag slung over one shoulder. They walked into the crisp winter air together.
"Do you want to come back to my house?" Severus asked carefully. "I think I still have some of your hot chocolate from last year in one of my cupboards."
The Defense Master shook his head with a soft smile. "No, thank you, Severus. I think I really will head back to the school. It's been an emotionally trying couple of days, and I really just want to curl up with a good book and try to forget about the world for a while."
Severus nodded. "I understand, Harry. Will I see you at the New Years party?"
The two came to a stop a polite distance from the house.
"Of course."
Again, the Potions Master was pleasantly surprised when his friend leaned up to place a gentle kiss on his lips. Before he could think anything of it, the brat pulled away and disapparated.
-Break-
Severus stared moodily into the untouched glass of champagne that had been forced into his hand as soon as he'd entered the lounge. His colleagues all knew well that he didn't drink, and yet they always insisted on trying to get him to every time there was a gathering. This evening, he was annoyed to find himself seriously considering it. Harry wasn't here. Severus wasn't sure where he was, but if he had to guess, he was out doing what they usually did, performing rounds while the majority of the rest of their colleagues acted like teenagers and got hopped up on spirits. Albus had long established that every other year, Severus, and eventually his equally absent new Defense Master, were required to attend this untenable 'party'. However, with consideration for the dismal first half of his holiday, it wouldn't have surprised him in the least if his young friend had garnered leniency from their manipulative Headmaster.
This absence alone would not have been enough to make him reconsider his decades-long embargo on inebriation, however. Harry had a right to want to hide from everyone still, no matter what agreement they'd made after the ridiculous fight with the Weasleys. He was probably still hurt, after all. He had so few friends and family to claim, and with Granger off to God-knew-where, incommunicado as she studied some rare artifact in a backwater somewhere, those options were even further limited. No, the issue making him contemplate the glass in his hand was those damned kisses.
The first time it had happened, he hadn't really allowed himself to think on it. He had been wounded, insulted he told himself, by his friend's clear and apparent shame over having done it, but he'd refused to let himself delve beyond that. After the second occurrence, that no longer seemed a viable option, to just ignore what had been wrought by the seemingly innocent breach of their friendship. He'd spent the past five days mulling on it. His work had suffered greatly, but this seemed paltry in the face of his confliction. He wanted Harry. More than being his friend, he wanted that gentleness, that warmth… and what came after when mere kisses evolved. He'd known for a while that his hopes towards their companionship had an obscenely sentimental 'ever after' aspect. That that aspect seemed only to be heightened, now that he knew that he actually wanted something to come of the companionship, terrified him.
Worse, Harry had walked away, had turned away, both times. He'd been ashamed of himself the first time, and Severus couldn't fathom what could've made him do it a second time. It was unconscionable, and it made no sense, and it was driving him to distraction. He desperately wanted an explanation but found he didn't really have the courage to seek it out. Largely, it was the fear of discovering that the first was born entirely of typical Gryffindor impulse, the shame afterward all too real, and the second merely an expression of gratitude. It hadn't lasted as long as the first, merely a touch of lips and the young man was gone. Innocence itself, even more than the very chaste first.
It wasn't entirely outside the realm of possibility that Harry hadn't meant anything when he'd done it, that it was simply one of his many inexplicable Gryffindor behaviors. He had several that had slowly been emerging the past five years. Such as his desire to link arms as they walked the streets, or his frequent need for physical contact, or the endearingly infuriating way he would coax and tease until Severus gave in and tried something new, no matter how unseemly he thought it. Like the damned hot chocolate still sitting in one of his cupboards. A child's indulgence, but Harry had insisted repeatedly, when he'd gone home with him last Christmas, that he had to at least try it, with marshmallows. After only a few days of playful pouts and taunting, he'd finally done it just to make his friend smile, as he almost always did in the end. The grotesque sugary treat had been worth that small effort. There really wasn't a lot he wouldn't do to make Harry smile. And now he understood why.
"You, my friend, are sulking."
Severus didn't look up, but he did set aside the glass in his hand on a small nearby table as he leaned further into his shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. "I do not sulk, Mister Potter."
"Uh-huh," Harry answered, unconvinced. "Are we going with 'bothered' or 'irritated' this time?"
Severus smirked, glancing at the equally amused younger wizard. "We shall go with both, to save time. Where have you been?"
"Tracking something down," Potter answered evasively. "What's bothering you?"
"A lack of progress on my work this holiday," Severus said with a shrug. "You need not concern yourself."
Potter hummed. "Ah… sorry. Guess it wasn't very sporting of me to leave you like that, sans an explanation, huh?"
Severus didn't have to wonder about the Defense Master's insightfulness. It was what had first convinced him to try overcoming their years of prior animosity, when the young man had returned to the school as the newest and youngest professor. Harry could read him like no one else could. He continued to look evasively at the far corner, though, afraid of what he'd see in those shining, open emeralds that could no more hide from him.
"Is there really one to be had?" He asked stiffly.
"There's an explanation for everything, Severus, even if the answer you get isn't the one you wanted," Harry countered. "You taught me that. Though I am a little surprised that the obscenely observant Git of Hogwarts needs me to explain. I'd have thought it was obvious."
"It isn't," Severus bit out, scowling darkly.
"Cheating, Severus," Potter said exasperatedly. "I said it when I told Gin she could've just come to me, but I guess you weren't really paying attention. I can't abide cheating, and yet that's exactly what I did when I first kissed you. I like to think it was impulse, but I think some part of me has been wanting to do it for quite a while."
Severus did look at his young friend now, frowning. Harry was stood only a couple feet away, his hands tucked behind his back, and he had the slightest hint of bashfulness behind the easy smile he wore. He wasn't sure what to say. Mostly, he wasn't sure he should let himself hope.
"After it happened, I realized I'd backed myself into a corner. I wanted you, and I was stuck with her. So, I went to the Burrow for the holiday, to let them all see just how miserable the relationship really was. I wanted to be able to approach you, free and clear. To my credit, it was working until she made her little announcement. Then, after everything happened, I started to wonder if I wasn't an idiot to want to ruin our friendship over something you might not want, especially after I lost my temper before I left. The second kiss was entirely impulsive, though. You know me, I have the impulse control of a Red Cap," Harry said, chuckling.
Severus smirked, turning to face his young friend. "An understatement, to be sure. If you went to all that trouble, why not come to me? I understand you needed time to yourself after the conflict with your adoptive family, but this evening… You knew where I'd be. You knew when I'd returned earlier today. Yet you waited until nearly midnight to seek me out?"
Potter smirked back. "I told you; I was tracking something down. It was… harder than anticipated and took longer than I'd thought."
"What were you tracking down?" Severus inquired cautiously.
"A choice," Potter answered. "Your choice. I've kissed you twice and I still don't know if you're receptive to the idea. So, I thought I'd let you decide. And, since you're too much of a Slytherin to ever act on impulse, I thought I'd make it a little easier for you to make that move, make your intentions clear so I don't do anything else stupid."
Before Severus could make sense of this baffling explanation, Harry removed his hands from behind his back and held above his own head a sprig of mistletoe. The Potions Master wanted to laugh at the playful look on his young friend's face. It was certainly an effort. And, thanks to the many uses for the seasonal ingredient, it was typically harder than not to find a decent sprig this late in the season. He didn't laugh, however. It was too serious a decision. He valued their friendship above any of the few others he had. But he wanted Harry, and he knew from five years of experience that they were good together. He'd never considered that they could be more, and he knew his record for relationships was worse than the Defense Master's, but he also knew that Harry was worth that risk. However, before he could 'make his intentions clear' and fulfill the tradition of the plant dangling from bronze fingers, they were interrupted spectacularly.
Minerva and Septima appeared on either side of the youngest member of the staff, kissing his cheeks simultaneously. Harry sighed harshly, dropping his arm, and glowered at their colleagues.
"Come on, you two, the countdown is starting," Septima coaxed.
Minerva, slightly less intoxicated than the Arithmancy teacher cleared her throat as Potter continued to glare at them. "Yes, well… Perhaps we should leave them to their corner this year?" She suggested, blushing slightly as she glanced at the exasperated Potions Master. "Let's go find Irma and try to coax her away from her books."
Before Septima could argue, Minerva was dragging her away toward the other slightly antisocial staff member at the other side of the room. The Head of Gryffindor whispered something to her co-conspirator, and Severus rolled his eyes when the witch glanced back at them, giggling. He returned his attention to Harry, who had slumped, the mistletoe now hanging at his side.
"Well, that backfired," Potter grumbled, wiping at his cheeks with his sleeves.
Severus waved his hand, smirking, and the sprig of green and white vanished from the younger wizard's hand. Harry's crestfallen features were strikingly heart wrenching until Severus glanced up. Shocking emerald eyes followed his gaze, and Severus took the opportunity of his surprise upon discovering the mistletoe now magically hung above his head to close the distance between them. He wrapped his arms around a trim waist and Potter grinned as his arms slithered around Severus' taller shoulders.
"Has any plan of yours ever not?" Severus teased in the din of their colleagues counting loudly the final seconds before the new year.
Potter opened his mouth to argue, but Severus decided not to give him the chance. He finished closing the distance, capturing firm lips in a kiss much less chaste than the two he'd been granted. The kiss deepened further as the clock struck midnight. When he drew away, he bore a soft smile that he rarely allowed anyone but his young friend to see.
"Happy New Year, Harry," He murmured, holding him a little closer.
Potter eyed him carefully. "You're going to use that trick to shut me up a lot, aren't you?"
Severus gave a slow nod, chuckling. "Of course."
Harry grinned, and Severus went along gladly as he was drawn into another heart-stopping kiss. He thought, perhaps, this would be a very happy new year.