[Fic] Bonds of Water 15/20 (NC-17) HP: HP/SS
Title: Bonds of Water (15/20)
Author: faynia and stormypup
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Rating: R
Word Count: 5290
Genre: Romance, Angst, Drama
Summary: Harry has never been entranced by music before now, but he is willing to do anything to learn how to play the same melody.
A/N: Dedicated to seilari who drew us this pic Fools and to mac_tunes who went, read, and commented on every chapter of this fic over the weekend! We love you both!
Beta'd by rakina.
Previous Chapters:
Chapter One
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Hermione stopped studying the moment the music began. It drifted down the narrow stairs leading to the dormitories and filled the expansive, partially empty common room. The room stilled as the music washed over them, the whispers ceasing with every note until there was only music.
Something had happened, Hermione had known the moment Harry returned that night, but he hadn't wanted to talk. He had gone up to his room, saying he needed to be alone. Now, listening to him play, she knew exactly how he was feeling, as if his emotions were tied in to each note.
She set the book down on the floor and made her way towards the stairs. Harry might not have wanted to talk, but he was going to, she couldn't just leave him alone, not like this. She took a deep breath as she reached the seventh year boys' dorm and pushed open the jarred door. Frozen in place all Hermione could do was stare at the pitiful sight before her.
Harry was kneeling on the floor, tears leaking out of the corner of his closed eyes, robes pooled around him, mouth parted ever so slightly. It almost broke her heart, and she was uncertain if she could fix him. She knew she should have been more supportive of him, that she should have done more research herself to better prepare him for what was to come, but even she couldn't have predicted this.
"Harry," she whispered and with a screech the music stopped. Hermione stepped further into the room and shut the door softly behind her, before going and kneeling in front of him. She gently took the violin from his slackened grasp and placed it with care on the floor beside them. Harry couldn't seem to meet her eyes and she reached forward, brushing his hair off his forehead in a soothing manner. "Talk to me, Harry."
He lifted his eyes to meet hers, the shimmering tears making his green eyes shine. "I finally have what I wanted," he said, laughing mirthlessly. "He finally agreed to have me, but I don't think he really wants me."
"Did he tell you that?" she asked, her hand running through his hair, still soothing and comforting him to the best of her abilities. She knew she had lost him to Snape and all she could do now was support him in anyway she could.
Harry shook his head. "Not in so many words, but he didn't have to spell it out for me."
"Come here," she murmured, helping him stand up. Hermione guided him over to his bed and pushed him down on it. She sat beside him, and pulled him into a hug. "What happened tonight, Harry?"
Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I told him I wanted to be with him, that he didn't need to die. He told me I was an idiot, and gave me a bunch of reasons why it was a stupid idea. But he said we could try."
"And from that you thought he didn't want you?"
"Oh, right," Harry snorted. "He was practically jumping for joy."
"Harry, honestly, this is still Professor Snape. The man barely smiles; do you honestly think he'd jump for joy?"
"No, but he didn't have to sound so miserable about it, did he?" Harry argued.
"No, he didn't, but that's Snape for you." She squeezed his shoulders gently and pressed a kiss to the side of his head. "At least he agreed to it though; that says a lot Harry."
"Does it?" Harry asked, needing reassurance. "I wish you could see what he's like when we're in the lake. He's so different. He smiles even. He says we can't ever go again, but Hermione, it's brilliant when we're down there. He's brilliant!"
"He has a reason, Harry," she said with a sad smile. "Especially since you let him know that you wanted to be with him; if you go into the lake, none of us will ever see you again. He won't allow it."
"Would that be so awful?" Harry whispered.
Hermione situated herself on his bed so she could see him clearly. She grabbed one of his hands and squeezed it. "We'd miss you, Harry. Me, Ron, Ginny, the rest of the Weasleys, we'd all miss you, but if it would make you happy, we can't stop you. It's not something that we get to decide. That decision is yours and yours alone. Just know that no matter what you do decide, at least I will support you. Ron too, if he gets a decent explanation."
"I know I can't, but Hermione, some times I really want to. I've never felt as peaceful and content as I do when I'm in the water with Snape. And when he plays the violin, I can't imagine being anywhere else," he said, feeling free to talk about it now that he was sure Hermione wasn't going to freak out on him.
"What's does it feel like?”
Harry couldn't stop the grin on his face. "I can't even begin to describe it. Everything is just...better. You know?"
"I do. I feel it every time I'm around Ron." She blushed at the admission, but couldn't help smiling back at him.
"What do you feel every time you're around me?"
Harry looked over at the entrance to see Ron standing there with a predatory smile. Hermione shoved Harry and he fell back on his bed with a laugh. Ron's face broke into a grin and he crossed the room in a few easy strides before bouncing onto Harry's bed.
"Love, Ronald, what else?" Hermione muttered with a chiding tone. Ron wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing her neck.
Harry mock-gagged even as his stomach began tying in knots. Love? Was that what the feeling was? Love. That hadn't even been a possibility to him before, after all, how could he love Snape? It was Snape, for Merlin's sake!
"How did you know? That you were in love I mean?" Harry asked, looking at the two of them.
Hermione tapped her lips and looked thoughtful, while Ron's face scrunched up first in confusion then thought.
"I remember when, but how?" Hermione sighed. "They're so locked together, Harry. I believe I knew I was in love the moment I realized I never wanted to be held by anyone else. The moment I realized that if Ron left me I'd feel empty."
Harry blinked, digesting that before looking at Ron, who was staring wistfully down at the top of his girlfriend's head. "I've known since fourth year, mate, the whole Krum incident, I suddenly realized that if I didn't do anything I would lose her to someone else and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do anything."
"I seem to recall you didn't do anything until sixth year," Harry pointed out with a teasing grin.
The tips of Ron's ears went red and he shook his head, "Yeah, well."
"Don't follow Ron's example, Harry," Hermione scolded exasperatedly, although her expression spoke volumes. "Or we still wouldn't be together."
Ron looked between the two of them and shifted nervously. "So, are you...you know...in love with Snape?"
"I don't know," Harry answered uneasily, it wasn't like he hadn't expected the question, but still.
Ron grinned. "You don't seem to know a lot of things lately."
"Ron!"
"What?"
Harry laughed as Hermione elbowed Ron in the stomach. The redhead gasped and pulled a bit of Hermione's curly hair in retaliation.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief that Ron wasn't completely freaking out on him. He seemed to be taking things in his stride. "Anyone up for a trip to the kitchens?" Harry asked, realizing he was hungry.
"You haven't eaten yet?" Hermione asked, with a worried expression. Harry groaned inwardly as she grabbed his hand and jumped off the bed pulling him with her. Here came the mothering. "You coming, Ron?"
"Of course, dear."
Hermione rolled her eyes and then squeaked. Harry looked over at Ron suspiciously, the other boy's innocent expression wasn't fooling him for a minute. Ron smiled brightly and Harry shook his head, linking his arm with Hermione's just as Ron did the same. Hermione placed a kiss to Harry's temple and Ron emitted an affronted squawk.
Harry couldn't stop smiling as the three of them made their way to the kitchens, feeling normal for the first time in what seemed like forever. Better than normal even. If he went with Snape, he would miss this, but another part of him recognized that this, too, was fleeting. Soon they would have graduated and Ron and Hermione would be starting their own life together. A life Harry wouldn't be part of from day to day.
Harry was determined to make things work with Snape. Hopefully the man wouldn't fight him too hard; but even if he did, Harry wasn't going to give up on him.
*****
The following day felt hellishly long as Harry went from class to class waiting for the day to end. Since it was Monday Potions was the last class of the day and he honestly couldn't wait for once. Ever since the talk with Ron and Hermione he'd been feeling better about his situation and just life in general. Plus, he had actually studied his Potions textbook the night before and felt better prepared for the lesson today.
He walked down the corridor to the Potions classroom hand and hand with his best friend, listening as Hermione chattered away about her Ancient Runes class. If he wasn't as excited as she was, he might have listened a bit more intently as she discussed it with him.
But then something she said made him turn to her in shock. "Wait, my scar means what exactly?"
Hermione scowled at his inattention. "It means destroyer, or swiftness and power. It also has military significance."
Harry blinked and brought a hand up to his fading scar. He rubbed it and offered Hermione an apologetic smile for interrupting her babbling lecture.
"If I had known that maybe I wouldn't have felt so nervous going into the final battle."
Hermione nudged him and winked at him, causing him to blush slightly. Her hand slipped from his as they entered the classroom and took their respective seats. Harry glanced down at his watch, just another two more minutes before class started. He caught Malfoy staring at him and Harry raised a brow questioningly. The blond sneered, before facing forward again and Harry realized he would never truly understand how Draco Malfoy ticked.
The door to the classroom opened and Snape entered, robes billowing dramatically as he stalked to the front of the room. He slammed the stack of essays he was carrying down on his desk and sneered at the class.
"I don't believe I've ever had a seventh year class as inept as you lot," he said, tapping a finger on top of the essays.
Harry couldn't seem to take his eyes from the finger. As he watched it tap, he caught the rhythm of it, the cadence, and soon his mind was full of music.
"Potter!"
Harry snapped out of his daze. "Yes, sir?" he asked, flushing with embarrassment at Snape's scowl.
"Is there a reason you are not joining Finch-Fletchley?" Snape asked. Harry looked questioningly at Hermione.
"He told you to pair up with Justin," she hissed from the corner of her mouth.
"No, sir," Harry mumbled and hastily moved to sit next to Justin. The Hufflepuff sighed heavily and Harry glared at him. It wasn't like he'd got him yelled at as well.
"Now that I have your attention," he said, looking pointedly at Harry before looking at the rest of the class. "Open your text books to page 245." With a wave of his wand the instructions appeared on the board. "You have an hour. Begin."
Harry flipped open his text, ignoring the drumming from Snape's desk. He swore the man was doing it just to distract him and get a chance to take all those points Harry had dared him to.
"I'll go and get the ingredients," Harry said quietly, reading over the list a few times to make sure he had memorized them all. Justin just grunted, not even lifting his head from his book to acknowledge him. Harry rolled his eyes skyward and made his way to the back of the classroom and the student store closet. Everyone else was busily writing down furious notes except Hermione who had jumped out of her seat the moment the page number had been given and had gone to the closet immediately. She squeezed his hand as he passed and he grinned at down at her, before going into the closet.
"Right then," Harry muttered, going over his mental list of ingredients and plucking them off the shelves systematically.
He felt rather than heard someone come in and stand behind him. He turned his head. "Can you see the fenn -" he stopped as his eyes met Snape's.
"Bottom shelf," Snape told him, reaching over Harry and grabbing the aconite from the top shelves.
Harry smiled and bent over to grab it.
Snape inhaled sharply when Harry's arse was suddenly brushing against him. By the time Harry was upright, Snape was gone.
Harry smirked and exited the storeroom, ingredients in hand. He made sure to temper down the smirk as he returned to his seat and placed them all on the table. Knowing Justin, he'd take it out of context and think Harry had tampered with the ingredients; he never had quite forgiven him for second year.
Harry risked a glance at Snape to find the man already looking at him. He couldn't quite put a name to the expression on Snape's face. It was part consternation, part irritation, part something else that made Harry blush.
He quickly looked away and tried to appear busy with his potion, when in fact he had no idea what he was supposed to do at all.
"Here, cut these," Justin said, roughly pushing the aconite in Harry's direction. Harry took the plant with a wary gaze and set about putting on his gloves. He tried not to look up at Snape, but he couldn't help stealing the occasional glances and almost always the man was staring back at him.
*****
Snape was feeling like an adolescent, the way he kept staring at Potter. It wasn't as if the boy had suddenly become more attractive, or even more desirable. Harry had, however, indicated in no uncertain terms that he wanted some kind of...relationship with him.
He had spent the majority of the night, going over it all in his mind, questioning his sanity. Seeing Harry bent over with his arse so invitingly close, Snape's mind went immediately to a place to which he had stubbornly closed the door.
And it wasn't like the blasted boy was helping his circumstances either. Every time he happened to steal a look at Potter, the boy was looking right back. He needed to distract himself.
Snape went to the back of the room, out of view of Potter and his damnable green eyes.
*****
Harry smirked into his cuttings. He took great pleasure in knowing he had ruffled the unflappable Severus Snape. Merrily, he placed the aconite into the potion after Justin had put in the ginger root. The other seventh year made a grand show of stirring the ingredients in with the base, and Harry frowned. He wished he knew what he had done to cause such agitation in the other boy, but he doubted he'd ever know.
An hour later, Snape told them to bottle their potions and clean up their workstations. Justin took their potion to Snape while Harry began putting away their supplies. Harry took his time putting things away, and when he and Hermione finally left the class, he glanced back to find Snape watching him. Giving him a shy smile, Harry left, feeling altogether pleased with himself.
*****
Harry was practically skipping as he made his way towards the dungeons for his next practice. Snape would be pleased with him, he was sure of it; he'd practiced and learned the first four bars, which was more than he could have hoped for. The music was complicated and he kept fumbling with his fingering, but he had been improving and then he had noticed the time.
He knocked on the door, and then entered with a bright smile, only to find that Snape wasn't behind his desk as usual. Curious, Harry shut the door behind him and walked beyond Snape's desk to the secret room they had been practicing in, only to find that empty as well.
Concerned and puzzled, Harry took out his violin and idly began twisting the pegs and testing the strings to make sure the instrument was in tune. Snape had never been late for these practices since they had started and worry began to creep up his spine. Minutes passed and Harry began to fidget. He took out his sheet music and placed it on the stand provided for him and began to play the same four bars he had been attempting to master earlier.
When Snape had to deal with a problem in the Slytherin common room, he hadn't planned on it taking so long. He heard the music as soon as he opened the door to his office. He was surprised to hear the opening bars to the song Harry was learning and not the scales he had been expecting.
He leaned on the door frame to the practice room and watched Harry who was completely focused on the sheet music in front of him. He was playing amazingly well for such a short period of practice. Snape knew the magic of the thrall had helped Harry learn quicker than most but he had to admit that the boy must have had some natural talent within him. He closed his eyes and listened as Harry played the same four bars over and over.
When Harry had progressed onto the next measure, he cleared his throat and caught his attention. Harry whipped his head around at the noise and offered him a dazzling smile, before lowering the violin.
"Did I do it right?" Harry asked a tad breathlessly.
Snape nodded and stepped further into the room. He went over and retrieved his own violin, tuning it carefully, knowing that Potter was watching his every move.
"Seriously? Because something sounded off in the third bar and I don't know what it was. And I thought maybe-"
His rambling died off as Snape started to play the same four measures he had just been running through. Harry looked down at his own instrument, wondering how he'd ever compare to that.
Snape stopped, looked at Harry and nodded toward the violin hanging limply in his hand. "You can't play it from there, Potter." He waited until Harry had the violin correctly positioned. "On three. One, two, three."
Harry struck the first chord, trying not to be intimidated playing side by side with Snape. He knew he was an extremely weak player in comparison, but he was surprised when he held his own, and something in his eyes must have shown this because Snape offered him what could only be called a reassuring smile. Harry almost stopped playing right there, his stomach flipping and his cheeks heating with pleasure.
They played in unison for nearly two minutes before Snape halted him. "Now listen," Snape said, and played the next four bars of the song. He repeated them twice, and then looked at Harry. "That is what I want you to work on for next time."
Harry blinked. "Is my lesson over?" he asked, his heart dropping a little.
Snape looked at him oddly. "Of course not, we've only just begun."
Harry stared at him in confusion. "Then what-?"
Snape rolled his eyes. "I'm not trying to get rid of you, Potter, I was merely telling you what is expected of you. Now begin," he said, sitting on a nearby stool and waiting for Harry to begin.
Harry sighed and picked up the self-inking quill lying on the stand. He etched in an accelerando he had failed to mark in the original copy of the music. He set the quill down and blew on the parchment to dry the ink, before silently tapping out the beat against his leg. He felt nervous with Snape looming over him watching him, and a couple of times he found himself tapping out the beat too long and scowled at his hand like it was it's own fault.
He was finally satisfied with himself, at least to a point; it could have been a half an hour later for all he knew. He repositioned the violin, drew in a deep breath and began to slowly - much slower than the music called for - play the fifth measure, careful not to rush the sixteenth notes. He really hated sixteen th notes, but there was nothing for it.
Snape let his eyes linger on Harry, studying him in ways he had never allowed himself to do. He was undoubtedly attractive, despite the hair sticking out at odd angles, and really, who was he to judge someone's hair. There was a reason the word greasy was involved in the majority of insults used by the students to describe him.
Harry was slender, which Snape did find appealing in a man. It would have been better if Harry was a bit older, but at least he was of legal age and he had lost most of his boyish looks already. If that was due to the pressures of war, Snape didn't know, but he was pleased to find he didn't see a twelve year old standing before him, but a man old enough to shave.
A man old enough to do any number of things.
Snape thought of the kiss they had shared under the lake, how responsive and hungry Harry was. His groin tightened as he remembered the feel of Harry against him, the way his body had arched and flexed, wanting more pressure, more friction.
More of him.
Sweet Merlin, he wanted Harry Potter. A small moan escaped his lips when his prick twitched and swelled, becoming achingly hard, once again making him feel like a teenager.
Harry hadn't been as absorbed as he had led Snape to believe. He had felt those keen eyes sizing him up since he started playing, but Snape hadn't made a sound until that soft moan. Harry's eyes fell shut and he dragged his bow across the violin in a keening way that was completely different from the music on the page. He stopped playing and looking up, meeting Snape's hungry gaze and his mouth went dry.
Licking his lips, he set his instrument on the stand, tilting it backwards so it was more like a table, before moving. He turned to face Snape with an expectant expression. He had been waiting for this, ever since class that afternoon, since the moment he had thought to blatantly tease the man in the closet.
Snape itched to touch him, to pull Harry to him. His fingers clenched at his side. "Tell me again that you're certain," Snape said, meeting Harry's eyes.
"I am," Harry murmured, taking a step closer.
Snape's breath nearly caught in his throat at the answering hunger he saw in Harry's eyes. He reached out and placed his hands on Harry's hips as he came to his feet. There was nothing slow or gentle about the kiss. It was all tongues and teeth as Snape pressed Harry backwards until they hit the wall.
Harry's hands slipped up and over Snape's shoulders and tangled in his long hair, pulling him even closer. He whimpered softly in the back of his throat as he arched forward, pressing himself up against Snape even as he was pressed back into the wall.
When Harry moaned, Snape nearly growled in response, pulling Harry's robes and shirt away from his neck to give himself better access to the tender flesh. He slid his other hand inside Harry's robes and under his shirt, his fingers light and teasing.
Harry moved into the touch with abandon, his head falling back against the wall when Snape's lips descended to his neck and collarbone. The fingers against his stomach were cold and the sensation was maddening. He fisted the back of Snape's robes, needing to grab hold of something.
Snape's hand inched down Harry's side to his waistband. He moved a long finger between the waistband and Harry's skin, knuckles brushing against his navel and the sparse hair leading downwards.
"Please," Harry whined.
Snape let his fingers explore lower, running along Harry's erection, relishing the feel of his hard prick throbbing against his hand.
"Touch me," Snape ordered, running his palm up and down the front of Harry's jeans.
"Fucking hell," Harry gasped, his fingers fumbling with the buttons of Snape's robes. He finally managed to get them undone and was happy to see that the outfit underneath had far less buttons and he made short work of those too. He trailed his fingers over pale flesh he had only seen twice before, and one of those times had been a blur. He looked up and found himself short of breath once again and he reached a hand behind Snape's neck and pulled his head down, before pressing his lips against the man's needily.
His fingers started moving again and trailed lower over the impressive bulge in Snape's pants. He gasped when Snape surged forward, pressing him back once again against the cool wall behind him.
"Gods, yes," Snape hissed, undoing Harry's zip and sliding his hands inside his pants, wrapping long fingers around Harry's cock.
"Severus?"
Snape moaned against Harry's mouth before realizing his name hadn't come from Harry's lips.
Harry was so close to the edge that it didn't even matter that someone could walk through the door. He pulled Snape's mouth back demanding the required attention to finish off what they had started and Snape seemed willing to oblige. He squeezed Harry's aching prick and twisted and Harry shattered soundlessly in Snape's arms. He shuddered, his hips jerking sporadically and he clung to Snape as his legs threatened to give way beneath him.
Snape felt Harry spurting into his palm, and he was in equal parts triumphant, and murderous at whoever had interrupted them. "Just a minute," he snarled at whoever was waiting in his office. He removed his hand from Harry's pants, kissing him deeply one more time before pulling away.
"Wait here," he murmured, leaning in and kissing him one last time as he pulled out his wand. He cast a quick cleaning spell on his hand and did up the buttons on his robe with shaking fingers. When he decided he was presentable, he stormed from the room to deal with the foolish person outside.
"Ah, Severus, there you are," Dumbledore said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
"Headmaster," Snape acknowledged, wondering exactly what the man knew, and what he only thought he knew. "What can I do for you?"
"You've been avoiding me, Severus," Dumbledore said as Snape sat behind the desk.
Snape looked at him blandly. "No more than usual, Albus."
Dumbledore smiled at that. "Perhaps," he said, a comfortable armchair appearing across from Snape's desk. Dumbledore sat down, his eyes flickering to the door beyond then back to Snape. "It seems that young Mr. Potter had an interesting conversation with Cadmus."
Snape sneered. "Cadmus has turned in to quite the spy, Albus."
Dumbledore merely smiled.
"Potter told me of their conversation," Snape continued before Dumbledore could respond to the accusation.
"I take it the two of you have reached a decision then?" Dumbledore asked, his voice tinged with sadness.
Snape's hands clenched under his desk. "Would you like my resignation now, or would you like me to finish out the term?" Snape asked. "Regardless of what you do to me, I would hope that you will let Potter graduate. There's no reason to ruin his future completely."
Harry had been listening just behind the door the conversation, Snape's obvious irritation making him agitated, but the last thing Snape said smacked into his chest with enough force to make him want to hit something.
He opened the door, running a hand through his mussed hair and ignoring Dumbledore entirely in favor of glaring at Snape. "Will you stop saying you are going to ruin my future ? You are not ruining my bloody future!"
Snape spared him a glance before returning his attention to Dumbledore. "As I was saying, if you wish to fire me, I will not fight it."
Dumbledore sighed looking at the two of them. Harry had moved to stand behind Snape and his hand rested on the other man's shoulder. Albus wondered if they were even aware of the united front they projected.
Harry squeezed Snape's shoulder gently, unsure why he felt he needed to do this, only that he did. Snape covered his hand with one of his own and Harry almost jumped in surprise.
"Harry needs to finish his education, Albus; surely you see that," Snape said, willing to plead with the man to let Harry graduate.
"Severus, if you're quite finished telling me what to do, I will tell you what I plan to do," he said, holding up a hand. "Yes, Harry will graduate with the rest of his class. You are right; we will not make his future worse by making a spectacle of his life. As for you, Severus, you will complete the final months, and then, sadly, we will have to let you go," he said his voice full of regret.
Harry bit his lip and made to remove his hand from Snape's shoulder. This was his fault. Snape was losing his home because of him. However the moment he tried to remove his hand, Snape exuded pressure in a silent command to not move. Harry remained still, not quite able to meet the headmaster's calm, assessing gaze. He couldn't think of a single thing to say, except a soft, "Thank you, sir."
"It wouldn't be safe for Harry if we were to stay here. I already have other plans in motion for life beyond Hogwarts." Snape squeezed Harry's hand again, taking a strange warmth from his touch. "Is there anything else, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard as he gazed pensively at the two before him. "No, I just wanted to check in on you, and I can see that you are quite well."
"Never been better," Harry said smiling, feeling the need to make the old man understand that this was what he wanted.
Dumbledore smiled and rose from his chair, which immediately disappeared. "I trust you will both be discreet," he said, looking between the two of them. "Goodnight," he added, a sad smile on his face as he left the room.
"That was...odd," Harry said, licking his dry lips.
"I wish I could agree, but that was fairly standard for the Headmaster," Snape said, sighing. He had the urge to pull Harry into his lap, so he immediately got to his feet. "I think your lessons are done for the evening."
Harry rubbed his nose with the back of his hand and nodded, "Yeah, all right." He went back into the other room and picked his violin up off the stand and bent over to get its case. He managed with less grace than usual to get the instrument into place and shut the case with a click of the bottom latch and then the click of the top. He turned to see Snape once again watching him from the doorway and Harry's initial nervousness came back with a vengeance.
"Are you alright? With what happened here?" Snape asked, wondering if Harry had regrets now that the moment had passed.
"Yes, of course," Harry said uncertainty coloring his tone. "Why? Aren't you?"
"I'm fine, I assure you," he said, attempting to smile reassuringly. "Only sad that it was interrupted."
Harry grinned and looked away unable to hide his blush. He had almost forgotten that Snape hadn't finished.
"Me too," Harry admitted with a sheepish smile.
"Go to bed now, Harry. I shall see you tomorrow," Snape said, stepping forward and brushing back the hair on his forehead. He leaned in and kissed him tenderly on the lips. "Goodnight."
Harry's eyes flickered up to meet Snape's and he smiled. "Goodnight."
Next Chapter: Chapter Sixteen
Author: faynia and stormypup
Pairing: Snape/Harry
Rating: R
Word Count: 5290
Genre: Romance, Angst, Drama
Summary: Harry has never been entranced by music before now, but he is willing to do anything to learn how to play the same melody.
A/N: Dedicated to seilari who drew us this pic Fools and to mac_tunes who went, read, and commented on every chapter of this fic over the weekend! We love you both!
Beta'd by rakina.
Previous Chapters:
Chapter One
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Hermione stopped studying the moment the music began. It drifted down the narrow stairs leading to the dormitories and filled the expansive, partially empty common room. The room stilled as the music washed over them, the whispers ceasing with every note until there was only music.
Something had happened, Hermione had known the moment Harry returned that night, but he hadn't wanted to talk. He had gone up to his room, saying he needed to be alone. Now, listening to him play, she knew exactly how he was feeling, as if his emotions were tied in to each note.
She set the book down on the floor and made her way towards the stairs. Harry might not have wanted to talk, but he was going to, she couldn't just leave him alone, not like this. She took a deep breath as she reached the seventh year boys' dorm and pushed open the jarred door. Frozen in place all Hermione could do was stare at the pitiful sight before her.
Harry was kneeling on the floor, tears leaking out of the corner of his closed eyes, robes pooled around him, mouth parted ever so slightly. It almost broke her heart, and she was uncertain if she could fix him. She knew she should have been more supportive of him, that she should have done more research herself to better prepare him for what was to come, but even she couldn't have predicted this.
"Harry," she whispered and with a screech the music stopped. Hermione stepped further into the room and shut the door softly behind her, before going and kneeling in front of him. She gently took the violin from his slackened grasp and placed it with care on the floor beside them. Harry couldn't seem to meet her eyes and she reached forward, brushing his hair off his forehead in a soothing manner. "Talk to me, Harry."
He lifted his eyes to meet hers, the shimmering tears making his green eyes shine. "I finally have what I wanted," he said, laughing mirthlessly. "He finally agreed to have me, but I don't think he really wants me."
"Did he tell you that?" she asked, her hand running through his hair, still soothing and comforting him to the best of her abilities. She knew she had lost him to Snape and all she could do now was support him in anyway she could.
Harry shook his head. "Not in so many words, but he didn't have to spell it out for me."
"Come here," she murmured, helping him stand up. Hermione guided him over to his bed and pushed him down on it. She sat beside him, and pulled him into a hug. "What happened tonight, Harry?"
Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I told him I wanted to be with him, that he didn't need to die. He told me I was an idiot, and gave me a bunch of reasons why it was a stupid idea. But he said we could try."
"And from that you thought he didn't want you?"
"Oh, right," Harry snorted. "He was practically jumping for joy."
"Harry, honestly, this is still Professor Snape. The man barely smiles; do you honestly think he'd jump for joy?"
"No, but he didn't have to sound so miserable about it, did he?" Harry argued.
"No, he didn't, but that's Snape for you." She squeezed his shoulders gently and pressed a kiss to the side of his head. "At least he agreed to it though; that says a lot Harry."
"Does it?" Harry asked, needing reassurance. "I wish you could see what he's like when we're in the lake. He's so different. He smiles even. He says we can't ever go again, but Hermione, it's brilliant when we're down there. He's brilliant!"
"He has a reason, Harry," she said with a sad smile. "Especially since you let him know that you wanted to be with him; if you go into the lake, none of us will ever see you again. He won't allow it."
"Would that be so awful?" Harry whispered.
Hermione situated herself on his bed so she could see him clearly. She grabbed one of his hands and squeezed it. "We'd miss you, Harry. Me, Ron, Ginny, the rest of the Weasleys, we'd all miss you, but if it would make you happy, we can't stop you. It's not something that we get to decide. That decision is yours and yours alone. Just know that no matter what you do decide, at least I will support you. Ron too, if he gets a decent explanation."
"I know I can't, but Hermione, some times I really want to. I've never felt as peaceful and content as I do when I'm in the water with Snape. And when he plays the violin, I can't imagine being anywhere else," he said, feeling free to talk about it now that he was sure Hermione wasn't going to freak out on him.
"What's does it feel like?”
Harry couldn't stop the grin on his face. "I can't even begin to describe it. Everything is just...better. You know?"
"I do. I feel it every time I'm around Ron." She blushed at the admission, but couldn't help smiling back at him.
"What do you feel every time you're around me?"
Harry looked over at the entrance to see Ron standing there with a predatory smile. Hermione shoved Harry and he fell back on his bed with a laugh. Ron's face broke into a grin and he crossed the room in a few easy strides before bouncing onto Harry's bed.
"Love, Ronald, what else?" Hermione muttered with a chiding tone. Ron wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing her neck.
Harry mock-gagged even as his stomach began tying in knots. Love? Was that what the feeling was? Love. That hadn't even been a possibility to him before, after all, how could he love Snape? It was Snape, for Merlin's sake!
"How did you know? That you were in love I mean?" Harry asked, looking at the two of them.
Hermione tapped her lips and looked thoughtful, while Ron's face scrunched up first in confusion then thought.
"I remember when, but how?" Hermione sighed. "They're so locked together, Harry. I believe I knew I was in love the moment I realized I never wanted to be held by anyone else. The moment I realized that if Ron left me I'd feel empty."
Harry blinked, digesting that before looking at Ron, who was staring wistfully down at the top of his girlfriend's head. "I've known since fourth year, mate, the whole Krum incident, I suddenly realized that if I didn't do anything I would lose her to someone else and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do anything."
"I seem to recall you didn't do anything until sixth year," Harry pointed out with a teasing grin.
The tips of Ron's ears went red and he shook his head, "Yeah, well."
"Don't follow Ron's example, Harry," Hermione scolded exasperatedly, although her expression spoke volumes. "Or we still wouldn't be together."
Ron looked between the two of them and shifted nervously. "So, are you...you know...in love with Snape?"
"I don't know," Harry answered uneasily, it wasn't like he hadn't expected the question, but still.
Ron grinned. "You don't seem to know a lot of things lately."
"Ron!"
"What?"
Harry laughed as Hermione elbowed Ron in the stomach. The redhead gasped and pulled a bit of Hermione's curly hair in retaliation.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief that Ron wasn't completely freaking out on him. He seemed to be taking things in his stride. "Anyone up for a trip to the kitchens?" Harry asked, realizing he was hungry.
"You haven't eaten yet?" Hermione asked, with a worried expression. Harry groaned inwardly as she grabbed his hand and jumped off the bed pulling him with her. Here came the mothering. "You coming, Ron?"
"Of course, dear."
Hermione rolled her eyes and then squeaked. Harry looked over at Ron suspiciously, the other boy's innocent expression wasn't fooling him for a minute. Ron smiled brightly and Harry shook his head, linking his arm with Hermione's just as Ron did the same. Hermione placed a kiss to Harry's temple and Ron emitted an affronted squawk.
Harry couldn't stop smiling as the three of them made their way to the kitchens, feeling normal for the first time in what seemed like forever. Better than normal even. If he went with Snape, he would miss this, but another part of him recognized that this, too, was fleeting. Soon they would have graduated and Ron and Hermione would be starting their own life together. A life Harry wouldn't be part of from day to day.
Harry was determined to make things work with Snape. Hopefully the man wouldn't fight him too hard; but even if he did, Harry wasn't going to give up on him.
*****
The following day felt hellishly long as Harry went from class to class waiting for the day to end. Since it was Monday Potions was the last class of the day and he honestly couldn't wait for once. Ever since the talk with Ron and Hermione he'd been feeling better about his situation and just life in general. Plus, he had actually studied his Potions textbook the night before and felt better prepared for the lesson today.
He walked down the corridor to the Potions classroom hand and hand with his best friend, listening as Hermione chattered away about her Ancient Runes class. If he wasn't as excited as she was, he might have listened a bit more intently as she discussed it with him.
But then something she said made him turn to her in shock. "Wait, my scar means what exactly?"
Hermione scowled at his inattention. "It means destroyer, or swiftness and power. It also has military significance."
Harry blinked and brought a hand up to his fading scar. He rubbed it and offered Hermione an apologetic smile for interrupting her babbling lecture.
"If I had known that maybe I wouldn't have felt so nervous going into the final battle."
Hermione nudged him and winked at him, causing him to blush slightly. Her hand slipped from his as they entered the classroom and took their respective seats. Harry glanced down at his watch, just another two more minutes before class started. He caught Malfoy staring at him and Harry raised a brow questioningly. The blond sneered, before facing forward again and Harry realized he would never truly understand how Draco Malfoy ticked.
The door to the classroom opened and Snape entered, robes billowing dramatically as he stalked to the front of the room. He slammed the stack of essays he was carrying down on his desk and sneered at the class.
"I don't believe I've ever had a seventh year class as inept as you lot," he said, tapping a finger on top of the essays.
Harry couldn't seem to take his eyes from the finger. As he watched it tap, he caught the rhythm of it, the cadence, and soon his mind was full of music.
"Potter!"
Harry snapped out of his daze. "Yes, sir?" he asked, flushing with embarrassment at Snape's scowl.
"Is there a reason you are not joining Finch-Fletchley?" Snape asked. Harry looked questioningly at Hermione.
"He told you to pair up with Justin," she hissed from the corner of her mouth.
"No, sir," Harry mumbled and hastily moved to sit next to Justin. The Hufflepuff sighed heavily and Harry glared at him. It wasn't like he'd got him yelled at as well.
"Now that I have your attention," he said, looking pointedly at Harry before looking at the rest of the class. "Open your text books to page 245." With a wave of his wand the instructions appeared on the board. "You have an hour. Begin."
Harry flipped open his text, ignoring the drumming from Snape's desk. He swore the man was doing it just to distract him and get a chance to take all those points Harry had dared him to.
"I'll go and get the ingredients," Harry said quietly, reading over the list a few times to make sure he had memorized them all. Justin just grunted, not even lifting his head from his book to acknowledge him. Harry rolled his eyes skyward and made his way to the back of the classroom and the student store closet. Everyone else was busily writing down furious notes except Hermione who had jumped out of her seat the moment the page number had been given and had gone to the closet immediately. She squeezed his hand as he passed and he grinned at down at her, before going into the closet.
"Right then," Harry muttered, going over his mental list of ingredients and plucking them off the shelves systematically.
He felt rather than heard someone come in and stand behind him. He turned his head. "Can you see the fenn -" he stopped as his eyes met Snape's.
"Bottom shelf," Snape told him, reaching over Harry and grabbing the aconite from the top shelves.
Harry smiled and bent over to grab it.
Snape inhaled sharply when Harry's arse was suddenly brushing against him. By the time Harry was upright, Snape was gone.
Harry smirked and exited the storeroom, ingredients in hand. He made sure to temper down the smirk as he returned to his seat and placed them all on the table. Knowing Justin, he'd take it out of context and think Harry had tampered with the ingredients; he never had quite forgiven him for second year.
Harry risked a glance at Snape to find the man already looking at him. He couldn't quite put a name to the expression on Snape's face. It was part consternation, part irritation, part something else that made Harry blush.
He quickly looked away and tried to appear busy with his potion, when in fact he had no idea what he was supposed to do at all.
"Here, cut these," Justin said, roughly pushing the aconite in Harry's direction. Harry took the plant with a wary gaze and set about putting on his gloves. He tried not to look up at Snape, but he couldn't help stealing the occasional glances and almost always the man was staring back at him.
*****
Snape was feeling like an adolescent, the way he kept staring at Potter. It wasn't as if the boy had suddenly become more attractive, or even more desirable. Harry had, however, indicated in no uncertain terms that he wanted some kind of...relationship with him.
He had spent the majority of the night, going over it all in his mind, questioning his sanity. Seeing Harry bent over with his arse so invitingly close, Snape's mind went immediately to a place to which he had stubbornly closed the door.
And it wasn't like the blasted boy was helping his circumstances either. Every time he happened to steal a look at Potter, the boy was looking right back. He needed to distract himself.
Snape went to the back of the room, out of view of Potter and his damnable green eyes.
*****
Harry smirked into his cuttings. He took great pleasure in knowing he had ruffled the unflappable Severus Snape. Merrily, he placed the aconite into the potion after Justin had put in the ginger root. The other seventh year made a grand show of stirring the ingredients in with the base, and Harry frowned. He wished he knew what he had done to cause such agitation in the other boy, but he doubted he'd ever know.
An hour later, Snape told them to bottle their potions and clean up their workstations. Justin took their potion to Snape while Harry began putting away their supplies. Harry took his time putting things away, and when he and Hermione finally left the class, he glanced back to find Snape watching him. Giving him a shy smile, Harry left, feeling altogether pleased with himself.
*****
Harry was practically skipping as he made his way towards the dungeons for his next practice. Snape would be pleased with him, he was sure of it; he'd practiced and learned the first four bars, which was more than he could have hoped for. The music was complicated and he kept fumbling with his fingering, but he had been improving and then he had noticed the time.
He knocked on the door, and then entered with a bright smile, only to find that Snape wasn't behind his desk as usual. Curious, Harry shut the door behind him and walked beyond Snape's desk to the secret room they had been practicing in, only to find that empty as well.
Concerned and puzzled, Harry took out his violin and idly began twisting the pegs and testing the strings to make sure the instrument was in tune. Snape had never been late for these practices since they had started and worry began to creep up his spine. Minutes passed and Harry began to fidget. He took out his sheet music and placed it on the stand provided for him and began to play the same four bars he had been attempting to master earlier.
When Snape had to deal with a problem in the Slytherin common room, he hadn't planned on it taking so long. He heard the music as soon as he opened the door to his office. He was surprised to hear the opening bars to the song Harry was learning and not the scales he had been expecting.
He leaned on the door frame to the practice room and watched Harry who was completely focused on the sheet music in front of him. He was playing amazingly well for such a short period of practice. Snape knew the magic of the thrall had helped Harry learn quicker than most but he had to admit that the boy must have had some natural talent within him. He closed his eyes and listened as Harry played the same four bars over and over.
When Harry had progressed onto the next measure, he cleared his throat and caught his attention. Harry whipped his head around at the noise and offered him a dazzling smile, before lowering the violin.
"Did I do it right?" Harry asked a tad breathlessly.
Snape nodded and stepped further into the room. He went over and retrieved his own violin, tuning it carefully, knowing that Potter was watching his every move.
"Seriously? Because something sounded off in the third bar and I don't know what it was. And I thought maybe-"
His rambling died off as Snape started to play the same four measures he had just been running through. Harry looked down at his own instrument, wondering how he'd ever compare to that.
Snape stopped, looked at Harry and nodded toward the violin hanging limply in his hand. "You can't play it from there, Potter." He waited until Harry had the violin correctly positioned. "On three. One, two, three."
Harry struck the first chord, trying not to be intimidated playing side by side with Snape. He knew he was an extremely weak player in comparison, but he was surprised when he held his own, and something in his eyes must have shown this because Snape offered him what could only be called a reassuring smile. Harry almost stopped playing right there, his stomach flipping and his cheeks heating with pleasure.
They played in unison for nearly two minutes before Snape halted him. "Now listen," Snape said, and played the next four bars of the song. He repeated them twice, and then looked at Harry. "That is what I want you to work on for next time."
Harry blinked. "Is my lesson over?" he asked, his heart dropping a little.
Snape looked at him oddly. "Of course not, we've only just begun."
Harry stared at him in confusion. "Then what-?"
Snape rolled his eyes. "I'm not trying to get rid of you, Potter, I was merely telling you what is expected of you. Now begin," he said, sitting on a nearby stool and waiting for Harry to begin.
Harry sighed and picked up the self-inking quill lying on the stand. He etched in an accelerando he had failed to mark in the original copy of the music. He set the quill down and blew on the parchment to dry the ink, before silently tapping out the beat against his leg. He felt nervous with Snape looming over him watching him, and a couple of times he found himself tapping out the beat too long and scowled at his hand like it was it's own fault.
He was finally satisfied with himself, at least to a point; it could have been a half an hour later for all he knew. He repositioned the violin, drew in a deep breath and began to slowly - much slower than the music called for - play the fifth measure, careful not to rush the sixteenth notes. He really hated sixteen th notes, but there was nothing for it.
Snape let his eyes linger on Harry, studying him in ways he had never allowed himself to do. He was undoubtedly attractive, despite the hair sticking out at odd angles, and really, who was he to judge someone's hair. There was a reason the word greasy was involved in the majority of insults used by the students to describe him.
Harry was slender, which Snape did find appealing in a man. It would have been better if Harry was a bit older, but at least he was of legal age and he had lost most of his boyish looks already. If that was due to the pressures of war, Snape didn't know, but he was pleased to find he didn't see a twelve year old standing before him, but a man old enough to shave.
A man old enough to do any number of things.
Snape thought of the kiss they had shared under the lake, how responsive and hungry Harry was. His groin tightened as he remembered the feel of Harry against him, the way his body had arched and flexed, wanting more pressure, more friction.
More of him.
Sweet Merlin, he wanted Harry Potter. A small moan escaped his lips when his prick twitched and swelled, becoming achingly hard, once again making him feel like a teenager.
Harry hadn't been as absorbed as he had led Snape to believe. He had felt those keen eyes sizing him up since he started playing, but Snape hadn't made a sound until that soft moan. Harry's eyes fell shut and he dragged his bow across the violin in a keening way that was completely different from the music on the page. He stopped playing and looking up, meeting Snape's hungry gaze and his mouth went dry.
Licking his lips, he set his instrument on the stand, tilting it backwards so it was more like a table, before moving. He turned to face Snape with an expectant expression. He had been waiting for this, ever since class that afternoon, since the moment he had thought to blatantly tease the man in the closet.
Snape itched to touch him, to pull Harry to him. His fingers clenched at his side. "Tell me again that you're certain," Snape said, meeting Harry's eyes.
"I am," Harry murmured, taking a step closer.
Snape's breath nearly caught in his throat at the answering hunger he saw in Harry's eyes. He reached out and placed his hands on Harry's hips as he came to his feet. There was nothing slow or gentle about the kiss. It was all tongues and teeth as Snape pressed Harry backwards until they hit the wall.
Harry's hands slipped up and over Snape's shoulders and tangled in his long hair, pulling him even closer. He whimpered softly in the back of his throat as he arched forward, pressing himself up against Snape even as he was pressed back into the wall.
When Harry moaned, Snape nearly growled in response, pulling Harry's robes and shirt away from his neck to give himself better access to the tender flesh. He slid his other hand inside Harry's robes and under his shirt, his fingers light and teasing.
Harry moved into the touch with abandon, his head falling back against the wall when Snape's lips descended to his neck and collarbone. The fingers against his stomach were cold and the sensation was maddening. He fisted the back of Snape's robes, needing to grab hold of something.
Snape's hand inched down Harry's side to his waistband. He moved a long finger between the waistband and Harry's skin, knuckles brushing against his navel and the sparse hair leading downwards.
"Please," Harry whined.
Snape let his fingers explore lower, running along Harry's erection, relishing the feel of his hard prick throbbing against his hand.
"Touch me," Snape ordered, running his palm up and down the front of Harry's jeans.
"Fucking hell," Harry gasped, his fingers fumbling with the buttons of Snape's robes. He finally managed to get them undone and was happy to see that the outfit underneath had far less buttons and he made short work of those too. He trailed his fingers over pale flesh he had only seen twice before, and one of those times had been a blur. He looked up and found himself short of breath once again and he reached a hand behind Snape's neck and pulled his head down, before pressing his lips against the man's needily.
His fingers started moving again and trailed lower over the impressive bulge in Snape's pants. He gasped when Snape surged forward, pressing him back once again against the cool wall behind him.
"Gods, yes," Snape hissed, undoing Harry's zip and sliding his hands inside his pants, wrapping long fingers around Harry's cock.
"Severus?"
Snape moaned against Harry's mouth before realizing his name hadn't come from Harry's lips.
Harry was so close to the edge that it didn't even matter that someone could walk through the door. He pulled Snape's mouth back demanding the required attention to finish off what they had started and Snape seemed willing to oblige. He squeezed Harry's aching prick and twisted and Harry shattered soundlessly in Snape's arms. He shuddered, his hips jerking sporadically and he clung to Snape as his legs threatened to give way beneath him.
Snape felt Harry spurting into his palm, and he was in equal parts triumphant, and murderous at whoever had interrupted them. "Just a minute," he snarled at whoever was waiting in his office. He removed his hand from Harry's pants, kissing him deeply one more time before pulling away.
"Wait here," he murmured, leaning in and kissing him one last time as he pulled out his wand. He cast a quick cleaning spell on his hand and did up the buttons on his robe with shaking fingers. When he decided he was presentable, he stormed from the room to deal with the foolish person outside.
"Ah, Severus, there you are," Dumbledore said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
"Headmaster," Snape acknowledged, wondering exactly what the man knew, and what he only thought he knew. "What can I do for you?"
"You've been avoiding me, Severus," Dumbledore said as Snape sat behind the desk.
Snape looked at him blandly. "No more than usual, Albus."
Dumbledore smiled at that. "Perhaps," he said, a comfortable armchair appearing across from Snape's desk. Dumbledore sat down, his eyes flickering to the door beyond then back to Snape. "It seems that young Mr. Potter had an interesting conversation with Cadmus."
Snape sneered. "Cadmus has turned in to quite the spy, Albus."
Dumbledore merely smiled.
"Potter told me of their conversation," Snape continued before Dumbledore could respond to the accusation.
"I take it the two of you have reached a decision then?" Dumbledore asked, his voice tinged with sadness.
Snape's hands clenched under his desk. "Would you like my resignation now, or would you like me to finish out the term?" Snape asked. "Regardless of what you do to me, I would hope that you will let Potter graduate. There's no reason to ruin his future completely."
Harry had been listening just behind the door the conversation, Snape's obvious irritation making him agitated, but the last thing Snape said smacked into his chest with enough force to make him want to hit something.
He opened the door, running a hand through his mussed hair and ignoring Dumbledore entirely in favor of glaring at Snape. "Will you stop saying you are going to ruin my future ? You are not ruining my bloody future!"
Snape spared him a glance before returning his attention to Dumbledore. "As I was saying, if you wish to fire me, I will not fight it."
Dumbledore sighed looking at the two of them. Harry had moved to stand behind Snape and his hand rested on the other man's shoulder. Albus wondered if they were even aware of the united front they projected.
Harry squeezed Snape's shoulder gently, unsure why he felt he needed to do this, only that he did. Snape covered his hand with one of his own and Harry almost jumped in surprise.
"Harry needs to finish his education, Albus; surely you see that," Snape said, willing to plead with the man to let Harry graduate.
"Severus, if you're quite finished telling me what to do, I will tell you what I plan to do," he said, holding up a hand. "Yes, Harry will graduate with the rest of his class. You are right; we will not make his future worse by making a spectacle of his life. As for you, Severus, you will complete the final months, and then, sadly, we will have to let you go," he said his voice full of regret.
Harry bit his lip and made to remove his hand from Snape's shoulder. This was his fault. Snape was losing his home because of him. However the moment he tried to remove his hand, Snape exuded pressure in a silent command to not move. Harry remained still, not quite able to meet the headmaster's calm, assessing gaze. He couldn't think of a single thing to say, except a soft, "Thank you, sir."
"It wouldn't be safe for Harry if we were to stay here. I already have other plans in motion for life beyond Hogwarts." Snape squeezed Harry's hand again, taking a strange warmth from his touch. "Is there anything else, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard as he gazed pensively at the two before him. "No, I just wanted to check in on you, and I can see that you are quite well."
"Never been better," Harry said smiling, feeling the need to make the old man understand that this was what he wanted.
Dumbledore smiled and rose from his chair, which immediately disappeared. "I trust you will both be discreet," he said, looking between the two of them. "Goodnight," he added, a sad smile on his face as he left the room.
"That was...odd," Harry said, licking his dry lips.
"I wish I could agree, but that was fairly standard for the Headmaster," Snape said, sighing. He had the urge to pull Harry into his lap, so he immediately got to his feet. "I think your lessons are done for the evening."
Harry rubbed his nose with the back of his hand and nodded, "Yeah, all right." He went back into the other room and picked his violin up off the stand and bent over to get its case. He managed with less grace than usual to get the instrument into place and shut the case with a click of the bottom latch and then the click of the top. He turned to see Snape once again watching him from the doorway and Harry's initial nervousness came back with a vengeance.
"Are you alright? With what happened here?" Snape asked, wondering if Harry had regrets now that the moment had passed.
"Yes, of course," Harry said uncertainty coloring his tone. "Why? Aren't you?"
"I'm fine, I assure you," he said, attempting to smile reassuringly. "Only sad that it was interrupted."
Harry grinned and looked away unable to hide his blush. He had almost forgotten that Snape hadn't finished.
"Me too," Harry admitted with a sheepish smile.
"Go to bed now, Harry. I shall see you tomorrow," Snape said, stepping forward and brushing back the hair on his forehead. He leaned in and kissed him tenderly on the lips. "Goodnight."
Harry's eyes flickered up to meet Snape's and he smiled. "Goodnight."
Next Chapter: Chapter Sixteen