Danger in the Healing (18/25)
Title: Danger In The Healing (18/25)
Authors:faynia and stormypups
Rating: R
Word Count:
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Categories: Romance, Action/Adventure
Summary: What if Harry found out that Dumbledore was dying, and what Snape's role was in it all. What if Harry then had to depend on the person he hated most in the world to honor Dumbledore's dying wishes?
Answers Challenge: Written for Wave XII of the Harry/Snape fest , What if… challenge.
Beta'd by rakina
Previous Chapters:
Chapter One
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
"Do I have to write this crap?"
Harry nibbled on the end of his quill as he stared up at Snape pleadingly. He had been trying to start this letter for the past forty-five minutes and he was nowhere near completing it. As a matter of fact he had only just now settled on an opening. This was worse torture than detention with Umbridge. He stared at the faint scars on the back of his right hand and sighed.
"This 'crap', Potter, is going to get your message to the Dark Lord. You will write it."
Harry scowled and sank further in the kitchen chair, idly twirling the quill between his fingers.
"And don't pout."
Harry stuck out his tongue and straightened back up again, dipping the nib in his pot of black ink.
"Yes, sir."
Dear Ms. Skeeter,
Recently there have been many untruths printed about me in the Daily Prophet, and I wish to dispel not only the rumors of my death, but also the rumor that I have run in fear from Voldemort. The truth is, I'm quite looking forward to meeting up with him, which is where I need your help. I'm giving you the chance for a scoop of a lifetime and all you have to do is print a letter I wrote on the front page of the Prophet. Otherwise, I'll take it to the Quibbler, and you'll be scooped once again.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter
"I've read better, but this will have to do."
Harry stuck out his tongue again. "Oh wow, thanks."
"Keep your tongue to yourself, Potter," Snape remarked, arching his brow in amusement.
"Make me," Harry said.
Snape looked thoughtful for a moment. "What is that phrase you use? Ah, yes. Shut it, Potter," he said with a mock smile.
"He can smile," Harry said with false awe, rolling his eyes and for emphasis stuck out his tongue again.
Snape's brow arched. "As you should well know, considering I smiled each time I gave you detention."
"That was a smile?" Harry asked, with a small smirk. He tilted his head to the side and looked at Snape owlishly. "So, all these years a scowl was a smile...who knew? I certainly didn't. I suppose that means I'll have to start scowling as well now."
"You could, but you'd only look foolish," Snape said airily. "It takes a measure of talent to pull off a good scowl."
"Are you calling me untalented?" Harry asked cheekily. He took the letter back from Snape and folded it up and set it off to the side, before meeting Snape's eyes once again.
"Can you do something besides play Quidditch?" Snape asked, infusing shock into his voice. "Who knew?" he said, smirking.
"Shut it," Harry said.
Snape laughed. The look of shock on Harry's face just made him laugh harder.
"You're laughing."
Snape snorted, the corner of his lip twitching in a mocking smile. "Did you have doubts?"
"Well.... yeah!"
"I've found little to laugh about in the last ten years," he said, shrugging. "And if I had slept worth a damn last night, I wouldn't be so...giddy," he said, as if the word itself was something vile and disgusting.
"You slept poorly last night?"
Snape scowled and looked at Harry as if he was daft.
"Idiot," he said, shaking his head.
Harry furrowed his brow before it hit him. "Oh!" he said, eyes going wide.
"Quite," Snape said, rolling his eyes.
He grabbed the letter to the Prophet and tucked it into his pocket. "I'm going to the barn to owl this. I'll be back shortly," he said, happy to have a reason to leave the room.
Harry nodded and watched him go with a small smirk. He kept him up all night. Once he was fairly certain Snape was out of earshot, he burst out in laughter.
Snape Disapparated to the barn and called down the old owl, who nipped him irritably on the ear. "Stop that you blasted bird," Snape warned.
He gave the owl its instructions and sent it off to deliver the letter to the Prophet.
The idea of returning to the cottage where Harry was waiting filled him with both pleasure and dread. Snape wasn't feeling as guilty as he should about the night before when he kissed Potter. He'd been so responsive to Snape's touch, and Snape had wanted nothing more than to take everything Harry had offered him.
At least he'd stopped it before it got out of control. Though at the moment he was too damned aroused to take comfort in that fact. He'd been aroused when he finally managed to drift into a restless sleep, and when he'd awoke he'd been so hard it was almost painful. But he'd refused to indulge in a good wank while Potter was in the house.
With his luck, the brat would burst into the room the minute he started. That was a humiliation he did not need.
But Potter wasn't here now, and there was nothing stopping him from taking care of the need he'd been ignoring since he'd walked in on Potter mid-dream.
"Bugger it," he muttered, undoing the fly on his trousers. He moaned softly when his fingers wrapped around his throbbing cock, and he couldn't help but imagine that it was Potter's hands, stroking and teasing.
He leaned his back against the wall of the barn and closed his eyes, allowing himself to indulge in the fantasies he had been fighting. His thumb traced small circles around the head of his cock, spreading the pre-cum around, making it slick. In his mind, it was Harry's tongue doing the teasing. He imagined his hands in Harry's hair as he thrust in and out of Potter's mouth, the wet heat nearly driving him mad.
"Yes," he hissed, tightening his grip as he thrust into his own hand.
Harry had been a good boy long enough. It didn't take this long to send off a letter, even if that someone was Snape. He stood up and pulled out his wand before Disapparating to the barn. He stumbled a little when he reappeared, but not because he was off balance. He stared in open admiration at the sight before him. This was...so bloody arousing. Harry had to temper the moan of longing that was threatening to escape. He inhaled sharply and stepped into the shadows content for the moment just to watch.
He could feel himself growing hard. His erection pressed painfully against the inside of his jeans. But he wouldn't touch, not yet, not...oh. He watched as Snape flung his head back and let out a deep groan as his hand sped up. Harry fumbled desperately for the zipper of his own jeans, unaware of how loud the rasp of it was in the mainly silent barn.
Snape's eyes shot open at the strange sound and stumbling he reached for his wand. "Lumos!" he cried, pointing towards the sound.
There stood Harry, eyes wide and bright, face flushed, with his hand in the process of pulling his cock out of his jeans.
Harry felt like a small child with his hand caught in the proverbial cookie jar. He grinned hesitantly, before that grin turned into a full fledged smirk. Snape was still hard. Harry licked his lips slowly and tugged his member fully out of his jeans and stroked it once roughly.
"What are you doing?" Snape asked, his voice coming out in a rasp. Harry's bold stare was like a challenge and it shot straight to Snape's cock.
Harry gasped softly, the smirk never fully leaving. "What does it look like I'm doing?"
Snape swallowed thickly, holding back a moan. Potter looked so delectable standing there defiantly, cock in hand, making those little noises that were going to drive Snape absolutely mad.
He closed his eyes, his jaw clamped tight, trying to get control of the situation.
Harry's eyes sparkled with devilish delight as he could almost see the smoke coming out of Snape's ears. Really now, the man was trying far too hard to ignore him now. Speaking of hard… Harry groaned deeply as he ran his thumb around of the head of his cock.
Snape's eyes snapped open at Harry's moan.
Fucking little tease!
With a growl he was upon Potter in a second, pressing him up against the wall and claiming his mouth, shoving Harry's hand away and replacing it with his own. He held nothing back, taking out all of his frustration as he devoured and plundered Harry's mouth, his hand stroking and squeezing Harry's cock almost painfully. He delighted in the moans and whimpers issuing from Potter, and felt triumphant when he felt Harry's orgasm rip through his whole body which trembled against Snape's.
When the tremors subsided, Snape stepped back, tucking his still hard erection back into his trousers and glaring at a very satiated Harry.
"Happy now?" he panted.
Harry opened his eyes groggily and met Snape's frosty glare.
"No." He shook his head. He fixed his appearance stoically, shooting a long stare over his shoulder at Snape. "Don't follow me." And then he was gone.
Snape slammed his fist against the wall; angry at Harry, angry with himself, and angry about the whole bloody mess. "Fine, go get yourself killed," he snarled before Disapparating back to the cottage.
Once on the grounds, he stalked to the house and threw open the door, ignoring the loud slamming noise it made as it bounced off the wall. He went directly to his room, slamming the door angrily behind him. He paced the floor, murmuring angrily to himself.
"Idiot boy! He has no idea what kind of disaster he just courted. Flaunting himself that way," he snarled, grabbing a pillow off the bed and throwing it across the room for lack of anything else to throw.
Snape paced the room, clenching his hands in his greasy hair. He had no one to blame but himself. He was the one stupid enough to have kissed the boy in the first place. Had he used some self-control, this never would have happened.
There was a special place in the fiery pits of hell for men like him, and that last ten minutes had surely sealed his fate there.
When Potter returned, if Potter returned, they would write the blasted letter to the Dark Lord and end this mess before he did something completely unforgivable.
Like murder the all too attractive brat!
*****
Harry staggered over to the tool shed and opened it. It was big enough to walk around in and was completely empty. A little house in the backyard all to himself.
"God damn it!" he cried, kicking the shed door hard, not even noticing the shooting pain that raced up his leg. He sank to the floor and tugged on his hair. What had possessed him to do something so foolish? Who was he kidding? Who was he fucking kidding?
He slammed his fist against the wood floor, not in the least bit deterred when his knuckles split open. Bugger this. Snape wanted him. He honestly wanted him. Geeky, short, knobby-kneed, flyaway hair, baggy clothed Harry Potter. Either something was very wrong with the man or there was something very wrong with him. But Snape wanted him. He wanted him. Harry's throat went dry and he let out a rasping laugh.
~You sssssmell sssad, youngling.~
Harry cocked his head to the side trying to identify the speaker, before spotting a tiny garden snake in the corner. He sagged in relief, closing his eyes briefly.
~Sssuposse I am.~
The little snake slithered toward him, its tongue flicking in and out, gathering information about Harry.
~You ssspeak like ussss.~
Harry quirked an eyebrow and held out a hand. He watched as the snake wound its way around his wrist before answering.
~Yessss, but you knew that before. How?~
~ You were curssssing like ussss. Why do you not bite him if you are ssssso angry?~
Harry laughed sadly. ~Biting won't help.~
~Have you no venom?~
Harry shook his head bemused. ~No and if I bit him he'd certainly get the wrong messssage.~
~Perhapsss I can bite him for you~
~Would it kill him?~
~Of courssssse~ the snake replied, sounding offended.
"He's too mean to die," Harry said, stroking a finger along the snake's head. "And I need him," he said, sighing. "Even worse, I want him."
~What did you say, youngling?~
Harry stared at the snake with a small smile. ~I want him.~ He flushed as he realized he had only said half of what he had said out loud, but it made little difference.
~To mate?~
Harry blushed harder. ~Yesss.~
~Then you musssst take him and make him yourssss~
~I can't jusssst do that!~
The snake's head lifted and swayed in front of Harry.
~Then sssssome other will mate with him and you will continue to be ssssad~
~He hatessss me!~ Harry shouted choking on the words.
~I ssssmell hisss sssscent mingled with yourssss. It ssssmells of mating~
Harry groaned and slammed his head against the wood wall behind him. ~Thatss why he hatesss me.~
~He wantsss you. It iss in hiss sscent~
~It doesssn't matter, not too him.~
The snake began unwinding itself from Harry's arm.
~I will bite him~
~But you said it would kill him!~
~Ssssso?~
~I don't want him dead.~
~He doesss not want you. He sssshall die~
Harry groaned. ~I wouldn't care if it paralyzed him it would ssssserve him right, but don't kill him. I sssstill need him.~
If it were possible for a snake to shrug, Harry was certain the little reptile had just shrugged at him.
~Ssuit yourssself~
The snake slithered across the dusty floor of the shed. ~Come back if you change your mind~
Harry nodded rather wishing the snake had stuck around. He would need that companionship, for he was certain he knew what awaited him once he entered the house.
Meanwhile, Snape had stormed through every room of the house searching for Harry. If the little idiot had gone and done something stupid, he would wring his little neck. He returned to the kitchen, filled a kettle and slammed it onto the stove.
"Bloody little fool," he growled.
Harry winced, hearing the loud clang from the kitchen. Ah, so maybe Trelawney was wrong. Maybe he did possess the inner eye. Or maybe he was beginning to pick up on Snape's habits. That was a scary thought. Lust was fine, comfortable thoughts not so much. He paused in the doorway, his fingers clenching the wooden doorframe, he really didn't want to have this confrontation, but it was sorely needed.
Snape caught site of movement from the corner of his eye and whirled around. "Where the hell did you go?" he snapped, relief turning to anger in a heartbeat.
Harry flinched, his grip on the doorpost tightening. "The back yard."
"Don't wander off again," Snape growled angrily and moved toward the doorway. He glared at Harry until the boy moved before storming from the room, very careful not to touch him as he passed.
Harry watched him go nervously. That was it? No other comments? Just don't wander off. Either Snape was losing his touch or something else was plaguing him. But that was stupid; it was obvious he was still angry with him for what happened earlier.
Harry sighed and took his customary seat at the mahogany table. He stared blankly at the pattern on the top of it. A shrill whistle jostled him from his thoughts and he looked over to the stove where the kettle was steaming.
A small sad smile flitted across his face as he stood up, fully prepared to dump out the contents, when an idea crossed his mind. He went over to the cupboard with the cups and pulled out a teacup. He set it beside the stove and got out the tealeaves and put them in the bottom of the cup before going about making the rest of it.
Once done, he carefully picked up the cup. This was suicide.
Slowly, he headed down the hall and knocked on Snape's bedroom door and took a large step backwards.
Snape's head snapped up and he stopped mid-pace when the knock sounded on his door. In two quick steps, he was at the door, throwing it open.
"What?" he snapped, glaring.
Harry held out the cup of tea silently.
Snape blinked, then stared at the cup of tea, caught off guard once again.
"I molest you in a barn and you bring me tea?" he asked, finally meeting Harry's eyes. "Are you mad?"
"I'm sorry," Harry said with a small shrug, pushing the tea into Snape's hands.
Snape threw back his head and stared at the ceiling, at a complete and total loss. "Are you trying to torment me, Potter?" he asked tiredly.
“No, I'm trying to apologize. You'd know if I was tormenting you."
"There's a difference?" he asked, looking at Harry once again.
"I certainly hope so."
Snape snorted and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his free hand. "Potter, I will not have you standing in my bedroom looking like a kicked puppy. Go back to the kitchen and I'll join you momentarily."
Snape finally removed the hand from his face and looked at Harry.
Harry gnawed on his lower lip then nodded. "All right."
Snape watched Harry walk away before closing the door softly behind him. It was time to put a stop to this nonsense. There were more things at stake than raging hormones, and it was time he reminded Potter of that fact.
Next Chapter: Chapter Nineteen
Authors:faynia and stormypups
Rating: R
Word Count:
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Categories: Romance, Action/Adventure
Summary: What if Harry found out that Dumbledore was dying, and what Snape's role was in it all. What if Harry then had to depend on the person he hated most in the world to honor Dumbledore's dying wishes?
Answers Challenge: Written for Wave XII of the Harry/Snape fest , What if… challenge.
Beta'd by rakina
Previous Chapters:
Chapter One
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
"Do I have to write this crap?"
Harry nibbled on the end of his quill as he stared up at Snape pleadingly. He had been trying to start this letter for the past forty-five minutes and he was nowhere near completing it. As a matter of fact he had only just now settled on an opening. This was worse torture than detention with Umbridge. He stared at the faint scars on the back of his right hand and sighed.
"This 'crap', Potter, is going to get your message to the Dark Lord. You will write it."
Harry scowled and sank further in the kitchen chair, idly twirling the quill between his fingers.
"And don't pout."
Harry stuck out his tongue and straightened back up again, dipping the nib in his pot of black ink.
"Yes, sir."
Dear Ms. Skeeter,
Recently there have been many untruths printed about me in the Daily Prophet, and I wish to dispel not only the rumors of my death, but also the rumor that I have run in fear from Voldemort. The truth is, I'm quite looking forward to meeting up with him, which is where I need your help. I'm giving you the chance for a scoop of a lifetime and all you have to do is print a letter I wrote on the front page of the Prophet. Otherwise, I'll take it to the Quibbler, and you'll be scooped once again.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter
"I've read better, but this will have to do."
Harry stuck out his tongue again. "Oh wow, thanks."
"Keep your tongue to yourself, Potter," Snape remarked, arching his brow in amusement.
"Make me," Harry said.
Snape looked thoughtful for a moment. "What is that phrase you use? Ah, yes. Shut it, Potter," he said with a mock smile.
"He can smile," Harry said with false awe, rolling his eyes and for emphasis stuck out his tongue again.
Snape's brow arched. "As you should well know, considering I smiled each time I gave you detention."
"That was a smile?" Harry asked, with a small smirk. He tilted his head to the side and looked at Snape owlishly. "So, all these years a scowl was a smile...who knew? I certainly didn't. I suppose that means I'll have to start scowling as well now."
"You could, but you'd only look foolish," Snape said airily. "It takes a measure of talent to pull off a good scowl."
"Are you calling me untalented?" Harry asked cheekily. He took the letter back from Snape and folded it up and set it off to the side, before meeting Snape's eyes once again.
"Can you do something besides play Quidditch?" Snape asked, infusing shock into his voice. "Who knew?" he said, smirking.
"Shut it," Harry said.
Snape laughed. The look of shock on Harry's face just made him laugh harder.
"You're laughing."
Snape snorted, the corner of his lip twitching in a mocking smile. "Did you have doubts?"
"Well.... yeah!"
"I've found little to laugh about in the last ten years," he said, shrugging. "And if I had slept worth a damn last night, I wouldn't be so...giddy," he said, as if the word itself was something vile and disgusting.
"You slept poorly last night?"
Snape scowled and looked at Harry as if he was daft.
"Idiot," he said, shaking his head.
Harry furrowed his brow before it hit him. "Oh!" he said, eyes going wide.
"Quite," Snape said, rolling his eyes.
He grabbed the letter to the Prophet and tucked it into his pocket. "I'm going to the barn to owl this. I'll be back shortly," he said, happy to have a reason to leave the room.
Harry nodded and watched him go with a small smirk. He kept him up all night. Once he was fairly certain Snape was out of earshot, he burst out in laughter.
Snape Disapparated to the barn and called down the old owl, who nipped him irritably on the ear. "Stop that you blasted bird," Snape warned.
He gave the owl its instructions and sent it off to deliver the letter to the Prophet.
The idea of returning to the cottage where Harry was waiting filled him with both pleasure and dread. Snape wasn't feeling as guilty as he should about the night before when he kissed Potter. He'd been so responsive to Snape's touch, and Snape had wanted nothing more than to take everything Harry had offered him.
At least he'd stopped it before it got out of control. Though at the moment he was too damned aroused to take comfort in that fact. He'd been aroused when he finally managed to drift into a restless sleep, and when he'd awoke he'd been so hard it was almost painful. But he'd refused to indulge in a good wank while Potter was in the house.
With his luck, the brat would burst into the room the minute he started. That was a humiliation he did not need.
But Potter wasn't here now, and there was nothing stopping him from taking care of the need he'd been ignoring since he'd walked in on Potter mid-dream.
"Bugger it," he muttered, undoing the fly on his trousers. He moaned softly when his fingers wrapped around his throbbing cock, and he couldn't help but imagine that it was Potter's hands, stroking and teasing.
He leaned his back against the wall of the barn and closed his eyes, allowing himself to indulge in the fantasies he had been fighting. His thumb traced small circles around the head of his cock, spreading the pre-cum around, making it slick. In his mind, it was Harry's tongue doing the teasing. He imagined his hands in Harry's hair as he thrust in and out of Potter's mouth, the wet heat nearly driving him mad.
"Yes," he hissed, tightening his grip as he thrust into his own hand.
Harry had been a good boy long enough. It didn't take this long to send off a letter, even if that someone was Snape. He stood up and pulled out his wand before Disapparating to the barn. He stumbled a little when he reappeared, but not because he was off balance. He stared in open admiration at the sight before him. This was...so bloody arousing. Harry had to temper the moan of longing that was threatening to escape. He inhaled sharply and stepped into the shadows content for the moment just to watch.
He could feel himself growing hard. His erection pressed painfully against the inside of his jeans. But he wouldn't touch, not yet, not...oh. He watched as Snape flung his head back and let out a deep groan as his hand sped up. Harry fumbled desperately for the zipper of his own jeans, unaware of how loud the rasp of it was in the mainly silent barn.
Snape's eyes shot open at the strange sound and stumbling he reached for his wand. "Lumos!" he cried, pointing towards the sound.
There stood Harry, eyes wide and bright, face flushed, with his hand in the process of pulling his cock out of his jeans.
Harry felt like a small child with his hand caught in the proverbial cookie jar. He grinned hesitantly, before that grin turned into a full fledged smirk. Snape was still hard. Harry licked his lips slowly and tugged his member fully out of his jeans and stroked it once roughly.
"What are you doing?" Snape asked, his voice coming out in a rasp. Harry's bold stare was like a challenge and it shot straight to Snape's cock.
Harry gasped softly, the smirk never fully leaving. "What does it look like I'm doing?"
Snape swallowed thickly, holding back a moan. Potter looked so delectable standing there defiantly, cock in hand, making those little noises that were going to drive Snape absolutely mad.
He closed his eyes, his jaw clamped tight, trying to get control of the situation.
Harry's eyes sparkled with devilish delight as he could almost see the smoke coming out of Snape's ears. Really now, the man was trying far too hard to ignore him now. Speaking of hard… Harry groaned deeply as he ran his thumb around of the head of his cock.
Snape's eyes snapped open at Harry's moan.
Fucking little tease!
With a growl he was upon Potter in a second, pressing him up against the wall and claiming his mouth, shoving Harry's hand away and replacing it with his own. He held nothing back, taking out all of his frustration as he devoured and plundered Harry's mouth, his hand stroking and squeezing Harry's cock almost painfully. He delighted in the moans and whimpers issuing from Potter, and felt triumphant when he felt Harry's orgasm rip through his whole body which trembled against Snape's.
When the tremors subsided, Snape stepped back, tucking his still hard erection back into his trousers and glaring at a very satiated Harry.
"Happy now?" he panted.
Harry opened his eyes groggily and met Snape's frosty glare.
"No." He shook his head. He fixed his appearance stoically, shooting a long stare over his shoulder at Snape. "Don't follow me." And then he was gone.
Snape slammed his fist against the wall; angry at Harry, angry with himself, and angry about the whole bloody mess. "Fine, go get yourself killed," he snarled before Disapparating back to the cottage.
Once on the grounds, he stalked to the house and threw open the door, ignoring the loud slamming noise it made as it bounced off the wall. He went directly to his room, slamming the door angrily behind him. He paced the floor, murmuring angrily to himself.
"Idiot boy! He has no idea what kind of disaster he just courted. Flaunting himself that way," he snarled, grabbing a pillow off the bed and throwing it across the room for lack of anything else to throw.
Snape paced the room, clenching his hands in his greasy hair. He had no one to blame but himself. He was the one stupid enough to have kissed the boy in the first place. Had he used some self-control, this never would have happened.
There was a special place in the fiery pits of hell for men like him, and that last ten minutes had surely sealed his fate there.
When Potter returned, if Potter returned, they would write the blasted letter to the Dark Lord and end this mess before he did something completely unforgivable.
Like murder the all too attractive brat!
*****
Harry staggered over to the tool shed and opened it. It was big enough to walk around in and was completely empty. A little house in the backyard all to himself.
"God damn it!" he cried, kicking the shed door hard, not even noticing the shooting pain that raced up his leg. He sank to the floor and tugged on his hair. What had possessed him to do something so foolish? Who was he kidding? Who was he fucking kidding?
He slammed his fist against the wood floor, not in the least bit deterred when his knuckles split open. Bugger this. Snape wanted him. He honestly wanted him. Geeky, short, knobby-kneed, flyaway hair, baggy clothed Harry Potter. Either something was very wrong with the man or there was something very wrong with him. But Snape wanted him. He wanted him. Harry's throat went dry and he let out a rasping laugh.
~You sssssmell sssad, youngling.~
Harry cocked his head to the side trying to identify the speaker, before spotting a tiny garden snake in the corner. He sagged in relief, closing his eyes briefly.
~Sssuposse I am.~
The little snake slithered toward him, its tongue flicking in and out, gathering information about Harry.
~You ssspeak like ussss.~
Harry quirked an eyebrow and held out a hand. He watched as the snake wound its way around his wrist before answering.
~Yessss, but you knew that before. How?~
~ You were curssssing like ussss. Why do you not bite him if you are ssssso angry?~
Harry laughed sadly. ~Biting won't help.~
~Have you no venom?~
Harry shook his head bemused. ~No and if I bit him he'd certainly get the wrong messssage.~
~Perhapsss I can bite him for you~
~Would it kill him?~
~Of courssssse~ the snake replied, sounding offended.
"He's too mean to die," Harry said, stroking a finger along the snake's head. "And I need him," he said, sighing. "Even worse, I want him."
~What did you say, youngling?~
Harry stared at the snake with a small smile. ~I want him.~ He flushed as he realized he had only said half of what he had said out loud, but it made little difference.
~To mate?~
Harry blushed harder. ~Yesss.~
~Then you musssst take him and make him yourssss~
~I can't jusssst do that!~
The snake's head lifted and swayed in front of Harry.
~Then sssssome other will mate with him and you will continue to be ssssad~
~He hatessss me!~ Harry shouted choking on the words.
~I ssssmell hisss sssscent mingled with yourssss. It ssssmells of mating~
Harry groaned and slammed his head against the wood wall behind him. ~Thatss why he hatesss me.~
~He wantsss you. It iss in hiss sscent~
~It doesssn't matter, not too him.~
The snake began unwinding itself from Harry's arm.
~I will bite him~
~But you said it would kill him!~
~Ssssso?~
~I don't want him dead.~
~He doesss not want you. He sssshall die~
Harry groaned. ~I wouldn't care if it paralyzed him it would ssssserve him right, but don't kill him. I sssstill need him.~
If it were possible for a snake to shrug, Harry was certain the little reptile had just shrugged at him.
~Ssuit yourssself~
The snake slithered across the dusty floor of the shed. ~Come back if you change your mind~
Harry nodded rather wishing the snake had stuck around. He would need that companionship, for he was certain he knew what awaited him once he entered the house.
Meanwhile, Snape had stormed through every room of the house searching for Harry. If the little idiot had gone and done something stupid, he would wring his little neck. He returned to the kitchen, filled a kettle and slammed it onto the stove.
"Bloody little fool," he growled.
Harry winced, hearing the loud clang from the kitchen. Ah, so maybe Trelawney was wrong. Maybe he did possess the inner eye. Or maybe he was beginning to pick up on Snape's habits. That was a scary thought. Lust was fine, comfortable thoughts not so much. He paused in the doorway, his fingers clenching the wooden doorframe, he really didn't want to have this confrontation, but it was sorely needed.
Snape caught site of movement from the corner of his eye and whirled around. "Where the hell did you go?" he snapped, relief turning to anger in a heartbeat.
Harry flinched, his grip on the doorpost tightening. "The back yard."
"Don't wander off again," Snape growled angrily and moved toward the doorway. He glared at Harry until the boy moved before storming from the room, very careful not to touch him as he passed.
Harry watched him go nervously. That was it? No other comments? Just don't wander off. Either Snape was losing his touch or something else was plaguing him. But that was stupid; it was obvious he was still angry with him for what happened earlier.
Harry sighed and took his customary seat at the mahogany table. He stared blankly at the pattern on the top of it. A shrill whistle jostled him from his thoughts and he looked over to the stove where the kettle was steaming.
A small sad smile flitted across his face as he stood up, fully prepared to dump out the contents, when an idea crossed his mind. He went over to the cupboard with the cups and pulled out a teacup. He set it beside the stove and got out the tealeaves and put them in the bottom of the cup before going about making the rest of it.
Once done, he carefully picked up the cup. This was suicide.
Slowly, he headed down the hall and knocked on Snape's bedroom door and took a large step backwards.
Snape's head snapped up and he stopped mid-pace when the knock sounded on his door. In two quick steps, he was at the door, throwing it open.
"What?" he snapped, glaring.
Harry held out the cup of tea silently.
Snape blinked, then stared at the cup of tea, caught off guard once again.
"I molest you in a barn and you bring me tea?" he asked, finally meeting Harry's eyes. "Are you mad?"
"I'm sorry," Harry said with a small shrug, pushing the tea into Snape's hands.
Snape threw back his head and stared at the ceiling, at a complete and total loss. "Are you trying to torment me, Potter?" he asked tiredly.
“No, I'm trying to apologize. You'd know if I was tormenting you."
"There's a difference?" he asked, looking at Harry once again.
"I certainly hope so."
Snape snorted and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his free hand. "Potter, I will not have you standing in my bedroom looking like a kicked puppy. Go back to the kitchen and I'll join you momentarily."
Snape finally removed the hand from his face and looked at Harry.
Harry gnawed on his lower lip then nodded. "All right."
Snape watched Harry walk away before closing the door softly behind him. It was time to put a stop to this nonsense. There were more things at stake than raging hormones, and it was time he reminded Potter of that fact.
Next Chapter: Chapter Nineteen