Divine Intervention (Severus/Harry)
Title: Divine Intervention
Author: countess_hp
Giftee: calanor
Word Count: 3,579
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Severus/Harry, a very little bit of Ron/Hermione, Severus/OFC
Warnings/Kinks: AU, follows some plot lines of DH, EWE
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: When Harry gets an assignment from the Minister to find a missing child, Harry never expected to find love at the oddest of places or at that special time of the year, Christmas.
Author's Notes: I would like to thank the lovely S for being my beta at the last moment. I had so much fun writing this fic.
Harry Potter sat surveying the stacks of paperwork on his desk. He was trying to get everything done so that he and Ron could leave early for dinner at the Burrow. It was only the first week in December, but Molly wanted to make sure she could get the family together for the entire month. Although everyone had busy schedules and someone was bound to miss at least one of the meals, Molly was determined to try. Ron strode into Harry’s office and said, “We have a problem.” Harry looked up from the last of his papers. “No knocking off early tonight. We have another assignment,” growled Ron.
“I thought I was the one who made the assignments.” As Head Auror, Harry was usually painfully aware of every Ministry detail.
“I just got it from the Minister. It seems like one of our old professors needs our help.”
“Who?” Harry asked.
“McGonagall.”
-=-=-=-=-
“It was not my problem to report, but I felt I should inform Kingsley of it.” McGonagall had retired the year before. After fifty years of teaching Transfiguration, the Animagus had finally left teaching behind.
“Then who is the report about?” Harry asked as he accepted the tea she was offering. Ron, on the other hand, was busy digging into the small tea sandwiches.
“Severus Snape,” McGonagall stated. Ron promptly dropped his sandwich and tried to say something through the copious amount of tea sandwiches filling his mouth. “Weasley, chew with your mouth closed!” McGonagall snapped, shooting Ron a disgusted look.
“Then why did Snape not make the report?” Harry asked, sitting his own tea down, untouched.
“Severus has never liked to make a fuss. He always thinks he can make it through by himself. That’s the reason he almost died in the last war,” she pointed out. “It is about his daughter.”
“His daughter?” Harry asked. Ron’s mouth, thankfully clear of food by this point, was hanging open in shock.
“Yes, Severus was once married and has a child. It was an arranged marriage, which ended a year ago. This Christmas, his daughter, Star, was scheduled to spend the holidays with him, but she and her mother seem to have disappeared.”
“How long have they been missing?” Harry got out a Muggle pad and pen and started writing down notes.
“Last week, Severus went to pick up Star, only to find that both she and her mother, Margaret, were gone. Even Margaret’s mother doesn’t know where they are.” As McGonagall talked, Harry quickly jotted down the details on his pad.
Later when Harry and Ron were back at their shared flat, Ron expressed his amazement that Snape had a wife.
“What woman in her right mind would want to marry that greasy git? Him, of all people!” Ron’s tirade went on and on.
“Ron, it was an arranged marriage. It’s not likely that they had any choice in the matter. But, Snape is the same age as my parents were. Why did he get married at…” Harry did some fast calculations, “…thirty-three? That seems a little old for an arranged marriage.”
“I don’t know and I don’t want to know.” Ron grimaced and shook his head as if trying to clear the image of Snape‘s nuptials from his mind.
-=-=-=-=-
Early the next day, Harry went to Snape’s home in the country. Ron had bowed out in favor of helping Hermione with their upcoming wedding. Ron never wanted to help Hermione but Harry couldn’t blame him in this case. To some degree Snape still scared him! He knocked on the door and waited for his former professor to answer. As he waited he thought back to the last time he saw the man. It had been at the ceremony to award the Order of Merlin, First Class to all of those who had fought for the side of light in the war. After the ceremony, Snape had approached Harry and had given him his medal.
“You may as well have this Potter. You were the one who finally finished the Dark Lord,” Snape said in a horse voice which had not yet recovered from the damage done by Nagini’s bite.
“I couldn’t have done it without your help,” Harry said. “You keep it, Professor. You deserve it.”
“I don’t need it,” Snape spat as he pressed his medal into Harry‘s hand and retreated in a swirl of black robes.
The door opened, shaking Harry out of his thoughts. However, the man that stood before him now was not the same man that had left him seven years ago. Snape had changed. He still had the same hooked, beak-like nose but gone were the long black robes, having been replaced by a pair of dark grey trousers and a white button-up shirt. Harry couldn’t help but notice that Snape had the first two buttons of his shirt undone, displaying a few enticing curls of black chest hair. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows showing the faint Dark Mark that had faded but had never totally gone away. The biggest shock was that Snape was no longer the same sallow color. He actually looked like he had gotten some sun and no longer resembled one of the undead.
“Yes, Minerva said you were coming. Come in and don’t get mud on my floors.” With that said, Snape turned and walked back into the house. At least his attitude hadn’t changed or Harry would wonder if this was the real Snape at all. Harry wiped his feet on the mat and then followed Snape inside.
“Professor McGonagall said that you had a problem,” Harry said, listening for Snape’s response to help him determine in which direction the man had gone.
“I am perfectly capable of handling the situation on my own.” The other man’s voice was coming from the back of the house. Harry turned and walked towards it.
“Kidnapping is a serious matter. She had no right to take your daughter.”
“As far as I am concerned, Margaret took Star for a vacation. If she has not returned in a week I will take steps to locate her.” Harry finally found the Potions master in a back workshop cleaning some vials.
“Still..”
“Save it, Potter! I do not need nor do I want your help.” Harry sighed; obviously Snape was still as stubborn as ever.
“Look Snape, a complaint was made and now the incident must be investigated. I came all the way out here to try and help, so could you at least be civil enough to tell me a few things so that I can complete my investigation? Brilliant, let’s start with the basics. What does your ex-wife look like?”
“She has brown hair and blue eyes - about five feet and two inches.”
“And your daughter?”
“She just turned six-years-old on 18 November. She has brown hair and black eyes. She is about three feet eleven inches tall.” Snape sighed and set his vials down. A look of intense sadness settled on his usually stoic face. Harry had never seen him like this before.
“I can help you if you will let me,” Harry said. There was a long pause before Snape finally spoke.
“I have checked with her family and her friends. She has not been seen since the day before I left to pick her up for her visit.”
Harry pulled out his pad and pen again. “Do you have joint custody?”
“Yes.” Severus stood up and wiped his long elegant hands. “However, her primary residence is with her mother.” Harry scribbled that down on his pad.
“May I ask why you two ended the marriage?”
“That is none of your concern, Potter!” spat Snape in his most menacing tone.
“How your marriage ended could have bearing on this investigation, as well as provide insight into motive.”
“If you must know, Potter, I ended our marriage because I am gay,” he said simply. “I grew tired of living a lie. She was tired of her husband not truly wanting her. The split was amicable at the time, but lately she has grown more and more bitter towards me.”
-=-=-=-=-
Later that evening, Harry lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. He would never have imagined that Snape was gay. This new knowledge filled his mind with all sorts of exotic fantasies about his ex-professor that, oddly enough, did not disturb him in the least.
Harry knew that he was ready for a long term relationship. His fame made him uncomfortable with one night stands. The only person that ever wanted to date him for Harry and not “The Boy Who Lived” was Ginny. Harry tried to make their relationship work but in the end, Harry had to face up to the fact that he was gay. Harry had considered doing what Snape had done and marrying for propriety’s sake, but it would probably have met the same end as Snape‘s marriage. Harry could not put himself or Ginny through that.
Most of the people he dated referred to him as ‘The Saviour of the Wizarding World’ at least once in conversation. But Severus Snape had never been impressed with Harry‘s fame. Snape did not fawn over him constantly like everyone else. Harry wondered if maybe that same cool detachment was the reason for his new feelings toward his ex-professor. Or maybe it was the tempting slice of Snape’s lovely chest that he had glimpsed. Most likely it was that memory in combination with the fact that he had not been with anyone in over two months.
-=-=-=-=-
Over the next three weeks, Harry and his team searched high and low for Star and her mother, but every time the Aurors got close they managed to slip away. Christmas was approaching and Snape was growing increasingly more anxious by the day. Every morning there was a new owl from him asking about their progress, but Harry had nothing to report.
On the 24th of December Harry went to see his ex-professor. Snape quickly opened the door and looked at Harry with his face full of hope.
“I am truly sorry, sir. We have yet to locate her,” Harry said, and watched as Snape’s face crumbled.
“I had surmised that, Potter. Well, come in and close the door. You are letting all of the heat out.” Harry nodded, coming in the door and closing it behind him. He followed Snape into the living room, where a large beautifully decorated tree stood with a few presents under it. From where Harry stood he could not make out the names on the tags.
“I never saw you as the type that wanted to celebrate Christmas,” Harry said.
“Really? Thought of me as a Scrooge did you Potter? Drink?” Severus offered.
“Scotch would be nice, thank you.” Harry went over to the mantel and surveyed the photos on top. A Muggle picture of a young Snape with a red head that had to be Harry’s mother, Lily. There was also a frame that held two pictures. The first was a wizarding picture of Snape with the Malfoy family. The only one smiling in the picture was a three-year-old Draco. The second picture was of Draco with Astoria at their wedding. The last picture on the mantel was picture of a little five-year- old girl jumping in a pile of leaves. Harry took the picture down to take a closer look. She seemed to be such a bubbly little girl. Even though Harry could not see her eyes clearly, he could tell this was Snape’s daughter. The brown hair and hooked nose were there, although on her smiling face the effect was not as harsh.
“That was right after her birthday last year. I went to pick her up for an afternoon. All she wanted to do was jump in the leaves,” Severus said quietly from behind him and passed a glass to him. Harry turned around to accept his drink.
“You know, it would’ve really helped in our search if we had been shown this picture a few weeks ago.”
“Yes, but then you would have taken it. It is the only picture I have of her, and I didn’t wish to part with it.”
“She is six-yearsold, why don’t you have more photos?” Harry asked, putting the picture back and taking a sip of his drink.
“Margaret took them all with her when she left. I had to borrow a camera to take this one.”
“Oh.” Harry nodded. He walked over to the tree and saw that the small number of presents were all for Star. He knelt down and picked one up. “All for her?” he asked.
Snape had taken a seat by the fire. “All for her.” He stared into the fire. Harry stood up and went over to the man and laid his hand on Snape’s shoulder.
“Snape..”
“You may as well call me Severus.” Snape, no, Severus looked up, and Harry could see the sadness in his eyes. Sna-Severus was desperate to have his daughter back. The man that Harry had always thought of as cold and cynical was not the man who was sitting in front of him now. Maybe it was the fire, or the alcohol, but something made Harry bend down and press his lips to Severus’s. To his great surprise Severus didn’t pull back from the kiss. They kissed for what seemed like an eternity. When they finally parted neither of them spoke for a long time. Harry had no doubt about the nature of his feelings but he didn‘t know if Severus felt the same. Then, Severus put his hand on Harry’s.
“We could move this to the bedroom.” That was all that needed to be said. Harry sat his drink on the nearest table and so did Severus. Harry took Severus’ hand in his and let the other man lead the way. The fire sprang to life as they entered the back bedroom. Harry pulled Severus in for another searing kiss. They had not even talked about each other’s preferences, but at this moment all Harry wanted to do was to kiss and touch and taste this man.
Pulling out his wand, Harry spelled both their clothes away and stood looking at Severus’ body. It was much different than what he had expected. Severus was muscular in a lean and wiry way, but it was so much more beautiful than Harry had expected. His thick cock jutted out from lush, wiry black hair. Just looking at it made Harry’s own cock stand at attention. As Harry’s gaze traveled back up the other man’s body, his eyes stopped to take in the chest he had only been able to peek at weeks ago. He stretched out his hand and ran his fingers through the coarse black hair.
“I prefer to bottom, just in case you were wondering,” Severus spoke up, breaking the long silence.
“That works out well because I prefer to top,” Harry said and leaned back in for a kiss. He was not as tall as Severus but at just five feet nine, Harry was used to most everyone being taller than him. Severus was the one that maneuvered them over to the bed but Harry was the one who pushed Severus gently on it then leaned over him, kissing him softly. He looked down at Severus and gasped at the picture before him. Severus’ skin was flushed with excitement, his dusty rose colored nipples stood straight up in the black hair that dusted his chest. “Lube?” Harry asked in a husky voice that he had not heard in months.
“Bedside table. I do not need preparation, just go slow.” Harry didn’t need any more prompting. He leaned over to look in the bedside table and found a vial of an oily looking substance. He picked it up and showed it to Severus and, with a nod of confirmation from the raven haired man, he poured it over his straining cock. He moaned at the feeling of his own hand as he rubbed the oil all over himself. Harry then pushed Severus’ legs apart and teased the small opening with his stiff cock until Severus was moaning.
“Are you sure you don’t need preparation?” Harry asked, struggling to hang on to his control. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt the other man.
“I am sure.” Severus nodded. Harry held his breath as he started the slow process of thrusting into Severus. Harry let out a breath as the head of his prick popped inside. Merlin, it was so hot inside Severus and so tight. He didn’t know if he could hold on to this slow pace. But one look at Severus changed all that. Severus looked so calm and collected. “Breathe, Harry,” he whispered. Harry took a deep breath and moved to bury himself halfway inside the silken channel.
“I feel like I am going to come right now.” Severus actually chuckled at Harry‘s breathless admission. It was a rich, deep sound that made Harry shiver.
“Oh, to be young again.” Once Harry was all the way inside, he paused for a moment for Severus to adjust. Severus was the one who finally told him to move. Harry started thrusting at moderate pace. He pulled out in one smooth stroke then back in with a strong push, maintaining a steady rhythm. It soon became apparent that Severus would have none of that. He wrapped his legs around Harry’s waist, drawing him deeper and spurring him on.
Harry felt as though time was standing still. The moment was so perfect, and he never wanted it to end. Severus was moaning and begging him to go harder and faster. His own body was telling him to go faster. He increased the speed and force of his movements, tension pooling inside of him as Severus cried out, his hands moving over Harry’s back, scrabbling for purchase. The feeling of Severus so tight and hot around him was undoing him sooner than he wanted, but he wanted to take Severus over the edge with him. Reaching down, he started stroking the other man‘s leaking cock.
“Yes, yes!” Severus was moaning and writhing in pleasure beneath him. “Faster.” Harry complied and all too soon felt that familiar tightening in his belly.
“Come for me, Severus. Come.” Harry’s hand was matching the pace of his hips when Severus’ channel tightened around him. They called each other’s name as they both reached their climax.
“HARRY!”
“SEVERUS!”
-=-=-=-=-=-
“I had intended to end the marriage after a year since I knew I could not love her.” Severus was propped up against the headboard with Harry beside him. They were still in Severus’ bed having gone another glorious round once their energy had returned.
“Why did you marry her in the first place and at such an age?” Harry asked.
“I did it for my mother. I was sixteen when she got this bright idea. Her best friend had just given birth to her youngest and they thought it would be wonderful if her daughter and I should marry. Even then I knew I was gay, but I would do anything for my mother. So when the girl, Margaret, was seventeen, we married. I was so much older but my mother assured me that we would be happy. Our time together was tolerable at first. Margaret loved books and was eager to learn. Soon after we were married, she became pregnant. I never thought I would be with a woman in that way, and I felt so proud at becoming a father. Regrettably, she lost the baby soon after. She wanted to try for another, and we did, only to face another miscarriage. Again she wanted to try but by that point I could tell from my Mark that the Dark Lord was gaining power. I asked her to postpone our family and she agreed. For nine years she waited, until the Dark Lord was defeated. She got pregnant easily and nine months later, we had Star. I was so happy but things didn’t stay that way. Margaret was no longer the same person that I had married. She would scream at me over the silliest of things, throw things at me, and even blame me for her own actions. I tried to wait out the storm, but to no avail.”
“Last year, she seemed to improve. The tantrums stopped, she seemed happier, so it came as a shock when I received the divorce papers. She moved out and tried to take Star from me. But I was not going to give her up without a fight so we finally settled on joint custody. Then came the day when I went to pick up Star and found her missing. She is my world, my everything. I need her back.” Harry had been listening intently to everything Severus was saying. He pulled Severus into an embrace.
“I promise you that I will not stop until I find her.” Harry said as he leaned down and kissed him gently.
-=-=-=-=-=-
The morning came with an owl at the window. Harry slipped from the bed and opened the window. He could see that it had snowed the night before. Harry took the letter from the bird and closed the window. He read the letter quickly and smiled. He went over to Severus and gently kissed him awake. Severus opened his eyes and looked up at him.
“It should not surprise you to learn that I am not a morning person.”
“You will love this.” Harry smiled. He leaned down to kiss Severus. “I have to go. Get dressed and I will be right back.” Harry quickly dressed and left the room in search of the nearest fireplace where he Flooed to his office. Standing in his office was Ron accompanied by a disheveled woman and scared little girl.
“Jones found her in West London.” Harry just smiled and shook his head.
“All this looking and she was right under our nose.” Ron took Harry aside, leaving a junior Auror to watch the woman and child.
“She was found near a dump, dirty and deranged. The little girl was crying for her papa. I am having a medi-wizard take a look at her and the girl. I hate to say this, but I think the woman is mad.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
After waiting for what seemed an eternity, Harry brought Severus to see his daughter. She had been cleaned up and given a clean bill of health. Her mother, on the other hand, had not been so lucky. She had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. There would be no way that she could have custody of her child. Her condition had gone on undiagnosed for so many years that one day she had just snapped.
Nevertheless, it was a good day for Severus because he got his daughter back. Harry went back to Severus’ home with him to watch Star open her presents. Star was a very special little girl. She seemed if nothing had happened. She was lively and bubbly and hugged and kissed her papa joyfully after every gift and said it was her favorite. Between Star’s presents, Harry took the opportunity to present Severus with his own present for him.
“For me?” Severus asked as he opened it. Inside was a brand new camera.
“Now you can take all the pictures of her you want.”
After the gifts, Severus served Star breakfast and Harry was able to talk with him while she ate. Their conversation was only semi-private, since Severus refused to leave his daughter alone for a minute, so they talked quietly in the doorway.
“Last night…” Harry started out. “…was wonderful. I have never felt that way before.”
“It was nice. I needed you last night and you were there for me. I don’t think I could have made it alone.” Severus said while gazing happily at his little girl. She smiled back at him.
“I want to be a part of your life and Star’s. It may seem fast, the war taught me to make the most of every single day, and I don‘t want to spend another day without you in it.”
“I would like that, Potter. I mean Harry.” Harry put his arms around Severus.
“Then we agree. That’s a first.” Harry leaned in close to Severus, intent on kissing him only to pull away laughing when Star commented on kisses being ‘ewie’.
“Star.” Her father chuckled. “Are you sure you are ready to date a man with a child?”
“I am sure that I want to be with you and Star. I know that we will run into our fair share of problems but I’d like to try. After all, I am an Auror and we are trained to deal with any situation, no matter how big or small.”
Author: countess_hp
Giftee: calanor
Word Count: 3,579
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Severus/Harry, a very little bit of Ron/Hermione, Severus/OFC
Warnings/Kinks: AU, follows some plot lines of DH, EWE
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: When Harry gets an assignment from the Minister to find a missing child, Harry never expected to find love at the oddest of places or at that special time of the year, Christmas.
Author's Notes: I would like to thank the lovely S for being my beta at the last moment. I had so much fun writing this fic.
Harry Potter sat surveying the stacks of paperwork on his desk. He was trying to get everything done so that he and Ron could leave early for dinner at the Burrow. It was only the first week in December, but Molly wanted to make sure she could get the family together for the entire month. Although everyone had busy schedules and someone was bound to miss at least one of the meals, Molly was determined to try. Ron strode into Harry’s office and said, “We have a problem.” Harry looked up from the last of his papers. “No knocking off early tonight. We have another assignment,” growled Ron.
“I thought I was the one who made the assignments.” As Head Auror, Harry was usually painfully aware of every Ministry detail.
“I just got it from the Minister. It seems like one of our old professors needs our help.”
“Who?” Harry asked.
“McGonagall.”
-=-=-=-=-
“It was not my problem to report, but I felt I should inform Kingsley of it.” McGonagall had retired the year before. After fifty years of teaching Transfiguration, the Animagus had finally left teaching behind.
“Then who is the report about?” Harry asked as he accepted the tea she was offering. Ron, on the other hand, was busy digging into the small tea sandwiches.
“Severus Snape,” McGonagall stated. Ron promptly dropped his sandwich and tried to say something through the copious amount of tea sandwiches filling his mouth. “Weasley, chew with your mouth closed!” McGonagall snapped, shooting Ron a disgusted look.
“Then why did Snape not make the report?” Harry asked, sitting his own tea down, untouched.
“Severus has never liked to make a fuss. He always thinks he can make it through by himself. That’s the reason he almost died in the last war,” she pointed out. “It is about his daughter.”
“His daughter?” Harry asked. Ron’s mouth, thankfully clear of food by this point, was hanging open in shock.
“Yes, Severus was once married and has a child. It was an arranged marriage, which ended a year ago. This Christmas, his daughter, Star, was scheduled to spend the holidays with him, but she and her mother seem to have disappeared.”
“How long have they been missing?” Harry got out a Muggle pad and pen and started writing down notes.
“Last week, Severus went to pick up Star, only to find that both she and her mother, Margaret, were gone. Even Margaret’s mother doesn’t know where they are.” As McGonagall talked, Harry quickly jotted down the details on his pad.
Later when Harry and Ron were back at their shared flat, Ron expressed his amazement that Snape had a wife.
“What woman in her right mind would want to marry that greasy git? Him, of all people!” Ron’s tirade went on and on.
“Ron, it was an arranged marriage. It’s not likely that they had any choice in the matter. But, Snape is the same age as my parents were. Why did he get married at…” Harry did some fast calculations, “…thirty-three? That seems a little old for an arranged marriage.”
“I don’t know and I don’t want to know.” Ron grimaced and shook his head as if trying to clear the image of Snape‘s nuptials from his mind.
-=-=-=-=-
Early the next day, Harry went to Snape’s home in the country. Ron had bowed out in favor of helping Hermione with their upcoming wedding. Ron never wanted to help Hermione but Harry couldn’t blame him in this case. To some degree Snape still scared him! He knocked on the door and waited for his former professor to answer. As he waited he thought back to the last time he saw the man. It had been at the ceremony to award the Order of Merlin, First Class to all of those who had fought for the side of light in the war. After the ceremony, Snape had approached Harry and had given him his medal.
“You may as well have this Potter. You were the one who finally finished the Dark Lord,” Snape said in a horse voice which had not yet recovered from the damage done by Nagini’s bite.
“I couldn’t have done it without your help,” Harry said. “You keep it, Professor. You deserve it.”
“I don’t need it,” Snape spat as he pressed his medal into Harry‘s hand and retreated in a swirl of black robes.
The door opened, shaking Harry out of his thoughts. However, the man that stood before him now was not the same man that had left him seven years ago. Snape had changed. He still had the same hooked, beak-like nose but gone were the long black robes, having been replaced by a pair of dark grey trousers and a white button-up shirt. Harry couldn’t help but notice that Snape had the first two buttons of his shirt undone, displaying a few enticing curls of black chest hair. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows showing the faint Dark Mark that had faded but had never totally gone away. The biggest shock was that Snape was no longer the same sallow color. He actually looked like he had gotten some sun and no longer resembled one of the undead.
“Yes, Minerva said you were coming. Come in and don’t get mud on my floors.” With that said, Snape turned and walked back into the house. At least his attitude hadn’t changed or Harry would wonder if this was the real Snape at all. Harry wiped his feet on the mat and then followed Snape inside.
“Professor McGonagall said that you had a problem,” Harry said, listening for Snape’s response to help him determine in which direction the man had gone.
“I am perfectly capable of handling the situation on my own.” The other man’s voice was coming from the back of the house. Harry turned and walked towards it.
“Kidnapping is a serious matter. She had no right to take your daughter.”
“As far as I am concerned, Margaret took Star for a vacation. If she has not returned in a week I will take steps to locate her.” Harry finally found the Potions master in a back workshop cleaning some vials.
“Still..”
“Save it, Potter! I do not need nor do I want your help.” Harry sighed; obviously Snape was still as stubborn as ever.
“Look Snape, a complaint was made and now the incident must be investigated. I came all the way out here to try and help, so could you at least be civil enough to tell me a few things so that I can complete my investigation? Brilliant, let’s start with the basics. What does your ex-wife look like?”
“She has brown hair and blue eyes - about five feet and two inches.”
“And your daughter?”
“She just turned six-years-old on 18 November. She has brown hair and black eyes. She is about three feet eleven inches tall.” Snape sighed and set his vials down. A look of intense sadness settled on his usually stoic face. Harry had never seen him like this before.
“I can help you if you will let me,” Harry said. There was a long pause before Snape finally spoke.
“I have checked with her family and her friends. She has not been seen since the day before I left to pick her up for her visit.”
Harry pulled out his pad and pen again. “Do you have joint custody?”
“Yes.” Severus stood up and wiped his long elegant hands. “However, her primary residence is with her mother.” Harry scribbled that down on his pad.
“May I ask why you two ended the marriage?”
“That is none of your concern, Potter!” spat Snape in his most menacing tone.
“How your marriage ended could have bearing on this investigation, as well as provide insight into motive.”
“If you must know, Potter, I ended our marriage because I am gay,” he said simply. “I grew tired of living a lie. She was tired of her husband not truly wanting her. The split was amicable at the time, but lately she has grown more and more bitter towards me.”
-=-=-=-=-
Later that evening, Harry lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. He would never have imagined that Snape was gay. This new knowledge filled his mind with all sorts of exotic fantasies about his ex-professor that, oddly enough, did not disturb him in the least.
Harry knew that he was ready for a long term relationship. His fame made him uncomfortable with one night stands. The only person that ever wanted to date him for Harry and not “The Boy Who Lived” was Ginny. Harry tried to make their relationship work but in the end, Harry had to face up to the fact that he was gay. Harry had considered doing what Snape had done and marrying for propriety’s sake, but it would probably have met the same end as Snape‘s marriage. Harry could not put himself or Ginny through that.
Most of the people he dated referred to him as ‘The Saviour of the Wizarding World’ at least once in conversation. But Severus Snape had never been impressed with Harry‘s fame. Snape did not fawn over him constantly like everyone else. Harry wondered if maybe that same cool detachment was the reason for his new feelings toward his ex-professor. Or maybe it was the tempting slice of Snape’s lovely chest that he had glimpsed. Most likely it was that memory in combination with the fact that he had not been with anyone in over two months.
-=-=-=-=-
Over the next three weeks, Harry and his team searched high and low for Star and her mother, but every time the Aurors got close they managed to slip away. Christmas was approaching and Snape was growing increasingly more anxious by the day. Every morning there was a new owl from him asking about their progress, but Harry had nothing to report.
On the 24th of December Harry went to see his ex-professor. Snape quickly opened the door and looked at Harry with his face full of hope.
“I am truly sorry, sir. We have yet to locate her,” Harry said, and watched as Snape’s face crumbled.
“I had surmised that, Potter. Well, come in and close the door. You are letting all of the heat out.” Harry nodded, coming in the door and closing it behind him. He followed Snape into the living room, where a large beautifully decorated tree stood with a few presents under it. From where Harry stood he could not make out the names on the tags.
“I never saw you as the type that wanted to celebrate Christmas,” Harry said.
“Really? Thought of me as a Scrooge did you Potter? Drink?” Severus offered.
“Scotch would be nice, thank you.” Harry went over to the mantel and surveyed the photos on top. A Muggle picture of a young Snape with a red head that had to be Harry’s mother, Lily. There was also a frame that held two pictures. The first was a wizarding picture of Snape with the Malfoy family. The only one smiling in the picture was a three-year-old Draco. The second picture was of Draco with Astoria at their wedding. The last picture on the mantel was picture of a little five-year- old girl jumping in a pile of leaves. Harry took the picture down to take a closer look. She seemed to be such a bubbly little girl. Even though Harry could not see her eyes clearly, he could tell this was Snape’s daughter. The brown hair and hooked nose were there, although on her smiling face the effect was not as harsh.
“That was right after her birthday last year. I went to pick her up for an afternoon. All she wanted to do was jump in the leaves,” Severus said quietly from behind him and passed a glass to him. Harry turned around to accept his drink.
“You know, it would’ve really helped in our search if we had been shown this picture a few weeks ago.”
“Yes, but then you would have taken it. It is the only picture I have of her, and I didn’t wish to part with it.”
“She is six-yearsold, why don’t you have more photos?” Harry asked, putting the picture back and taking a sip of his drink.
“Margaret took them all with her when she left. I had to borrow a camera to take this one.”
“Oh.” Harry nodded. He walked over to the tree and saw that the small number of presents were all for Star. He knelt down and picked one up. “All for her?” he asked.
Snape had taken a seat by the fire. “All for her.” He stared into the fire. Harry stood up and went over to the man and laid his hand on Snape’s shoulder.
“Snape..”
“You may as well call me Severus.” Snape, no, Severus looked up, and Harry could see the sadness in his eyes. Sna-Severus was desperate to have his daughter back. The man that Harry had always thought of as cold and cynical was not the man who was sitting in front of him now. Maybe it was the fire, or the alcohol, but something made Harry bend down and press his lips to Severus’s. To his great surprise Severus didn’t pull back from the kiss. They kissed for what seemed like an eternity. When they finally parted neither of them spoke for a long time. Harry had no doubt about the nature of his feelings but he didn‘t know if Severus felt the same. Then, Severus put his hand on Harry’s.
“We could move this to the bedroom.” That was all that needed to be said. Harry sat his drink on the nearest table and so did Severus. Harry took Severus’ hand in his and let the other man lead the way. The fire sprang to life as they entered the back bedroom. Harry pulled Severus in for another searing kiss. They had not even talked about each other’s preferences, but at this moment all Harry wanted to do was to kiss and touch and taste this man.
Pulling out his wand, Harry spelled both their clothes away and stood looking at Severus’ body. It was much different than what he had expected. Severus was muscular in a lean and wiry way, but it was so much more beautiful than Harry had expected. His thick cock jutted out from lush, wiry black hair. Just looking at it made Harry’s own cock stand at attention. As Harry’s gaze traveled back up the other man’s body, his eyes stopped to take in the chest he had only been able to peek at weeks ago. He stretched out his hand and ran his fingers through the coarse black hair.
“I prefer to bottom, just in case you were wondering,” Severus spoke up, breaking the long silence.
“That works out well because I prefer to top,” Harry said and leaned back in for a kiss. He was not as tall as Severus but at just five feet nine, Harry was used to most everyone being taller than him. Severus was the one that maneuvered them over to the bed but Harry was the one who pushed Severus gently on it then leaned over him, kissing him softly. He looked down at Severus and gasped at the picture before him. Severus’ skin was flushed with excitement, his dusty rose colored nipples stood straight up in the black hair that dusted his chest. “Lube?” Harry asked in a husky voice that he had not heard in months.
“Bedside table. I do not need preparation, just go slow.” Harry didn’t need any more prompting. He leaned over to look in the bedside table and found a vial of an oily looking substance. He picked it up and showed it to Severus and, with a nod of confirmation from the raven haired man, he poured it over his straining cock. He moaned at the feeling of his own hand as he rubbed the oil all over himself. Harry then pushed Severus’ legs apart and teased the small opening with his stiff cock until Severus was moaning.
“Are you sure you don’t need preparation?” Harry asked, struggling to hang on to his control. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt the other man.
“I am sure.” Severus nodded. Harry held his breath as he started the slow process of thrusting into Severus. Harry let out a breath as the head of his prick popped inside. Merlin, it was so hot inside Severus and so tight. He didn’t know if he could hold on to this slow pace. But one look at Severus changed all that. Severus looked so calm and collected. “Breathe, Harry,” he whispered. Harry took a deep breath and moved to bury himself halfway inside the silken channel.
“I feel like I am going to come right now.” Severus actually chuckled at Harry‘s breathless admission. It was a rich, deep sound that made Harry shiver.
“Oh, to be young again.” Once Harry was all the way inside, he paused for a moment for Severus to adjust. Severus was the one who finally told him to move. Harry started thrusting at moderate pace. He pulled out in one smooth stroke then back in with a strong push, maintaining a steady rhythm. It soon became apparent that Severus would have none of that. He wrapped his legs around Harry’s waist, drawing him deeper and spurring him on.
Harry felt as though time was standing still. The moment was so perfect, and he never wanted it to end. Severus was moaning and begging him to go harder and faster. His own body was telling him to go faster. He increased the speed and force of his movements, tension pooling inside of him as Severus cried out, his hands moving over Harry’s back, scrabbling for purchase. The feeling of Severus so tight and hot around him was undoing him sooner than he wanted, but he wanted to take Severus over the edge with him. Reaching down, he started stroking the other man‘s leaking cock.
“Yes, yes!” Severus was moaning and writhing in pleasure beneath him. “Faster.” Harry complied and all too soon felt that familiar tightening in his belly.
“Come for me, Severus. Come.” Harry’s hand was matching the pace of his hips when Severus’ channel tightened around him. They called each other’s name as they both reached their climax.
“HARRY!”
“SEVERUS!”
-=-=-=-=-=-
“I had intended to end the marriage after a year since I knew I could not love her.” Severus was propped up against the headboard with Harry beside him. They were still in Severus’ bed having gone another glorious round once their energy had returned.
“Why did you marry her in the first place and at such an age?” Harry asked.
“I did it for my mother. I was sixteen when she got this bright idea. Her best friend had just given birth to her youngest and they thought it would be wonderful if her daughter and I should marry. Even then I knew I was gay, but I would do anything for my mother. So when the girl, Margaret, was seventeen, we married. I was so much older but my mother assured me that we would be happy. Our time together was tolerable at first. Margaret loved books and was eager to learn. Soon after we were married, she became pregnant. I never thought I would be with a woman in that way, and I felt so proud at becoming a father. Regrettably, she lost the baby soon after. She wanted to try for another, and we did, only to face another miscarriage. Again she wanted to try but by that point I could tell from my Mark that the Dark Lord was gaining power. I asked her to postpone our family and she agreed. For nine years she waited, until the Dark Lord was defeated. She got pregnant easily and nine months later, we had Star. I was so happy but things didn’t stay that way. Margaret was no longer the same person that I had married. She would scream at me over the silliest of things, throw things at me, and even blame me for her own actions. I tried to wait out the storm, but to no avail.”
“Last year, she seemed to improve. The tantrums stopped, she seemed happier, so it came as a shock when I received the divorce papers. She moved out and tried to take Star from me. But I was not going to give her up without a fight so we finally settled on joint custody. Then came the day when I went to pick up Star and found her missing. She is my world, my everything. I need her back.” Harry had been listening intently to everything Severus was saying. He pulled Severus into an embrace.
“I promise you that I will not stop until I find her.” Harry said as he leaned down and kissed him gently.
-=-=-=-=-=-
The morning came with an owl at the window. Harry slipped from the bed and opened the window. He could see that it had snowed the night before. Harry took the letter from the bird and closed the window. He read the letter quickly and smiled. He went over to Severus and gently kissed him awake. Severus opened his eyes and looked up at him.
“It should not surprise you to learn that I am not a morning person.”
“You will love this.” Harry smiled. He leaned down to kiss Severus. “I have to go. Get dressed and I will be right back.” Harry quickly dressed and left the room in search of the nearest fireplace where he Flooed to his office. Standing in his office was Ron accompanied by a disheveled woman and scared little girl.
“Jones found her in West London.” Harry just smiled and shook his head.
“All this looking and she was right under our nose.” Ron took Harry aside, leaving a junior Auror to watch the woman and child.
“She was found near a dump, dirty and deranged. The little girl was crying for her papa. I am having a medi-wizard take a look at her and the girl. I hate to say this, but I think the woman is mad.”
-=-=-=-=-=-
After waiting for what seemed an eternity, Harry brought Severus to see his daughter. She had been cleaned up and given a clean bill of health. Her mother, on the other hand, had not been so lucky. She had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. There would be no way that she could have custody of her child. Her condition had gone on undiagnosed for so many years that one day she had just snapped.
Nevertheless, it was a good day for Severus because he got his daughter back. Harry went back to Severus’ home with him to watch Star open her presents. Star was a very special little girl. She seemed if nothing had happened. She was lively and bubbly and hugged and kissed her papa joyfully after every gift and said it was her favorite. Between Star’s presents, Harry took the opportunity to present Severus with his own present for him.
“For me?” Severus asked as he opened it. Inside was a brand new camera.
“Now you can take all the pictures of her you want.”
After the gifts, Severus served Star breakfast and Harry was able to talk with him while she ate. Their conversation was only semi-private, since Severus refused to leave his daughter alone for a minute, so they talked quietly in the doorway.
“Last night…” Harry started out. “…was wonderful. I have never felt that way before.”
“It was nice. I needed you last night and you were there for me. I don’t think I could have made it alone.” Severus said while gazing happily at his little girl. She smiled back at him.
“I want to be a part of your life and Star’s. It may seem fast, the war taught me to make the most of every single day, and I don‘t want to spend another day without you in it.”
“I would like that, Potter. I mean Harry.” Harry put his arms around Severus.
“Then we agree. That’s a first.” Harry leaned in close to Severus, intent on kissing him only to pull away laughing when Star commented on kisses being ‘ewie’.
“Star.” Her father chuckled. “Are you sure you are ready to date a man with a child?”
“I am sure that I want to be with you and Star. I know that we will run into our fair share of problems but I’d like to try. After all, I am an Auror and we are trained to deal with any situation, no matter how big or small.”