Of Secrets and Softness
Title: Of Secrets and Softness
Author: NightAsphodel
Word Count: 100 x 10
Challenge: Written for snarry100prompt 397: Face to Face
Warning(s): None
Rating(s): G
Disclamer: Don't own the characters. No profit is being made from this story
A/N: Thanks to my Harry Potter movie-thon this weekend, I got caught up in the Yule Ball, so this drabble takes place during Harry's fourth year.
Summary: Harry is keeping a secret, one that forces him to wear a mask and play charades around everyone at school, including his friends. But what if he were to let that mask slip, just for a moment...
Orchestral music filled the air, the sway of violins and woodwinds adding to the beauty and grace of the couples paired together on the dance floor. The Yule Ball was certainly living up to its reputation of splendor and romance. At least for everyone else.
Harry sat alone, dutifully holding up the wall against which he leaned. Ron was off chasing Hermione. The Patel sisters had long ago realized they stood a better chance hunting for Durmstrangs. And Harry was left to pine after that which he could not have. That which was forbidden.
“Best get more punch,” he mumbled.
________
“No, thank you.”
The melancholy voice carried to where Harry sat, dismissing yet another of the female staff members as it already had so many times.
Harry focused on Cho. Watched as she danced with Cedric, moved as easily as a swan. She was beautiful. And as far as anyone could tell, Harry Potter was her love-stricken admirer, pining away in the corner like a rejected dog.
“No, thank you.” Snape stated politely, turning away another partner.
For a split second, Harry broke his gaze from Cho, scanning the far side of the room for that which he truly desired.
__________
It was only a moment, not even the span of a breath, but for that blessed fraction of time Harry’s eyes found the sullen man lurking among the other staff members. His heart sped up, the blood running hot through his body, his pulse pounding in his ears.
Just as quickly as he had found him, Harry turned his gaze away, focusing once again on Cho.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shifting of robes, the black length billowing as the man moved to cross the floor.
“Bloody hell, he is way too observant,” Harry cursed.
_________
Harry concentrated on Cho, trying like mad not to watch the dark man break through the crowded dance floor. Harry stared, unblinking, striving to not see the man leave the ballroom in exchange for the private veranda just outside.
“Forget this ruddy mess,” Harry sighed.
He knew he shouldn’t. He knew it was wrong and someone might see, but honestly he didn’t care. His pulse quickened yet again as he rose from the chair, quickly making his way through the door and past the thick curtain to the balcony beyond.
“You certainly do have a disregard for the rules, Potter.”
__________
“I didn’t disregard your rules. I did just as you instructed: asked Cho to the dance full well knowing she was already going with Cedric, asked the Patel sisters to go with Ron and me full well knowing he really wanted to be with Hermione, ensuring that both of us would spend the dance longing for the girls who got away. I did it all! Spent the whole bloody dance watching her, keeping up this charade for all to see.”
“Then why are you here?” Snape asked, his voice low as he stood at the balcony, his back to Harry.
__________
“Because I couldn’t stand one more minute looking at Cho Chang when all I want is for one second to watch the man who won’t even give me the satisfaction of turning around when I am practically standing at his back, begging for his attention!” Harry exclaimed, knowing his voice was getting too loud and not caring in the least.
Crossing the small promenade in quick, sure strides, Harry brought his body right up against Snape, his chest pressed into the man’s back. His hands slid along starchy fabric, encircling the slender waist, his arms resting along his slim hips.
___________
“Look at me, Severus.”
“Once again you are breaking my rules. You know not to say my name, Potter,” Snape barked, his eyes stubbornly fixed on the horizon. “It isn’t proper. You are just a boy.”
“You know that isn’t true, Sev. I haven’t been a boy for a long time. I’m old enough to be a Triwizard Champion.”
Snape’s body tightened as his hands instinctually found Harry’s, forcing their fingers to weave together.
“Do. Not. Remind me,” Snape stated. “I have had enough nightmares on the subject and do not need your help to find more cause to worry.”
___________
Harry’s heart ached at the sadness laced in the other man’s voice. Snape had been only too eager to share his concerns over the tournament ever since Harry’s name floated from the Goblet.
“Well if you won’t turn around,” Harry murmured, unlocking his hands.
With all his strength, he pressed himself against the bannister and wormed his body into the small space left between it and Snape’s chest. When it became clear that he had no intention of backing off, Snape stepped back a bit, allowing just enough room for Harry to breathe, all though uncomfortably so.
“Look at me.”
____________
Snape sighed, the breath hot on Harry’s face. Finally, with effort that was written all across his pale features, he moved his head down slightly, his eyes finding Harry’s instantly.
“There you ruddy brat, you have gotten your way again.”
“Watch it, old man,” Harry quipped, smacking Snape’s chest. “You might be able to fool everyone else, but I know just how happy you are in this moment, Sev.”
“And how can you tell that?”
“Your eyes give it away. They soften, just a little.”
“Are they not soft all the time? They surely feel that way as of late.”
_________________
Harry raised himself up on his toes, bringing his eyes level with the black pools he’d come to enjoy so much. He didn’t hesitate in his next move. He acted in the most natural, most guttural way he could imagine, as if he’d done it every minute of every day for years before.
Leaning forward, Harry closed the space between his mouth and Snape’s. Their lips moved in pleasurable synchronicity, the passionate dance so familiar even though they’d shared their first kiss just months ago.
“Your eyes are always hard, except for when you see me, Sev… face to face.”
Author: NightAsphodel
Word Count: 100 x 10
Challenge: Written for snarry100prompt 397: Face to Face
Warning(s): None
Rating(s): G
Disclamer: Don't own the characters. No profit is being made from this story
A/N: Thanks to my Harry Potter movie-thon this weekend, I got caught up in the Yule Ball, so this drabble takes place during Harry's fourth year.
Summary: Harry is keeping a secret, one that forces him to wear a mask and play charades around everyone at school, including his friends. But what if he were to let that mask slip, just for a moment...
Orchestral music filled the air, the sway of violins and woodwinds adding to the beauty and grace of the couples paired together on the dance floor. The Yule Ball was certainly living up to its reputation of splendor and romance. At least for everyone else.
Harry sat alone, dutifully holding up the wall against which he leaned. Ron was off chasing Hermione. The Patel sisters had long ago realized they stood a better chance hunting for Durmstrangs. And Harry was left to pine after that which he could not have. That which was forbidden.
“Best get more punch,” he mumbled.
________
“No, thank you.”
The melancholy voice carried to where Harry sat, dismissing yet another of the female staff members as it already had so many times.
Harry focused on Cho. Watched as she danced with Cedric, moved as easily as a swan. She was beautiful. And as far as anyone could tell, Harry Potter was her love-stricken admirer, pining away in the corner like a rejected dog.
“No, thank you.” Snape stated politely, turning away another partner.
For a split second, Harry broke his gaze from Cho, scanning the far side of the room for that which he truly desired.
__________
It was only a moment, not even the span of a breath, but for that blessed fraction of time Harry’s eyes found the sullen man lurking among the other staff members. His heart sped up, the blood running hot through his body, his pulse pounding in his ears.
Just as quickly as he had found him, Harry turned his gaze away, focusing once again on Cho.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shifting of robes, the black length billowing as the man moved to cross the floor.
“Bloody hell, he is way too observant,” Harry cursed.
_________
Harry concentrated on Cho, trying like mad not to watch the dark man break through the crowded dance floor. Harry stared, unblinking, striving to not see the man leave the ballroom in exchange for the private veranda just outside.
“Forget this ruddy mess,” Harry sighed.
He knew he shouldn’t. He knew it was wrong and someone might see, but honestly he didn’t care. His pulse quickened yet again as he rose from the chair, quickly making his way through the door and past the thick curtain to the balcony beyond.
“You certainly do have a disregard for the rules, Potter.”
__________
“I didn’t disregard your rules. I did just as you instructed: asked Cho to the dance full well knowing she was already going with Cedric, asked the Patel sisters to go with Ron and me full well knowing he really wanted to be with Hermione, ensuring that both of us would spend the dance longing for the girls who got away. I did it all! Spent the whole bloody dance watching her, keeping up this charade for all to see.”
“Then why are you here?” Snape asked, his voice low as he stood at the balcony, his back to Harry.
__________
“Because I couldn’t stand one more minute looking at Cho Chang when all I want is for one second to watch the man who won’t even give me the satisfaction of turning around when I am practically standing at his back, begging for his attention!” Harry exclaimed, knowing his voice was getting too loud and not caring in the least.
Crossing the small promenade in quick, sure strides, Harry brought his body right up against Snape, his chest pressed into the man’s back. His hands slid along starchy fabric, encircling the slender waist, his arms resting along his slim hips.
___________
“Look at me, Severus.”
“Once again you are breaking my rules. You know not to say my name, Potter,” Snape barked, his eyes stubbornly fixed on the horizon. “It isn’t proper. You are just a boy.”
“You know that isn’t true, Sev. I haven’t been a boy for a long time. I’m old enough to be a Triwizard Champion.”
Snape’s body tightened as his hands instinctually found Harry’s, forcing their fingers to weave together.
“Do. Not. Remind me,” Snape stated. “I have had enough nightmares on the subject and do not need your help to find more cause to worry.”
___________
Harry’s heart ached at the sadness laced in the other man’s voice. Snape had been only too eager to share his concerns over the tournament ever since Harry’s name floated from the Goblet.
“Well if you won’t turn around,” Harry murmured, unlocking his hands.
With all his strength, he pressed himself against the bannister and wormed his body into the small space left between it and Snape’s chest. When it became clear that he had no intention of backing off, Snape stepped back a bit, allowing just enough room for Harry to breathe, all though uncomfortably so.
“Look at me.”
____________
Snape sighed, the breath hot on Harry’s face. Finally, with effort that was written all across his pale features, he moved his head down slightly, his eyes finding Harry’s instantly.
“There you ruddy brat, you have gotten your way again.”
“Watch it, old man,” Harry quipped, smacking Snape’s chest. “You might be able to fool everyone else, but I know just how happy you are in this moment, Sev.”
“And how can you tell that?”
“Your eyes give it away. They soften, just a little.”
“Are they not soft all the time? They surely feel that way as of late.”
_________________
Harry raised himself up on his toes, bringing his eyes level with the black pools he’d come to enjoy so much. He didn’t hesitate in his next move. He acted in the most natural, most guttural way he could imagine, as if he’d done it every minute of every day for years before.
Leaning forward, Harry closed the space between his mouth and Snape’s. Their lips moved in pleasurable synchronicity, the passionate dance so familiar even though they’d shared their first kiss just months ago.
“Your eyes are always hard, except for when you see me, Sev… face to face.”