FIC: Every Moment of Light and Dark [Harry/Severus - G]
Title: Every Moment of Light and Dark
Author: goddess47
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Rating: G
Warnings: EWE
Genre: Established Relationship, Auror!Harry
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Word Count: 1319
Summary: For mini_fest prompt: Auror Harry always volunteers to work Christmas, going home to a dark house when his shift is over. Severus is determined that Harry doesn't spend another Christmas alone.
Notes: "Every moment of light and dark is a miracle." -- Walt Whitman
Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead. He was tired and had a headache, but he wasn't going to be able to go home for another few hours.
It was his own fault, of course. It was Christmas Eve and he had volunteered to work a double shift, so that the Aurors with children and family could be at home. He had checked into work later this morning and wouldn't be leaving until the wee hours of Christmas Day.
The only good news is that the early part of the shift had been quiet. That, of course, had just changed.There was call handed to him about a possible burglary in progress. The neighbors had called for help, because they knew their friends were away and no one should be in the home.
Since his usual partner Ron was home with Hermione and their kids, Harry was working with a rookie Auror, who didn't have enough seniority to request the time off. Harry hadn't worked directly with Ivy Banks before, but knew she was steady and easy-going.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes, sir!" she piped back. Harry was glad she wasn't like some of the rookies who were in awe of "the great Harry Potter" -- to the point they either gushed all over him or wouldn't speak at all. Harry was pleased to be just another senior Auror to her.
They Apparated to a street corner, several houses away from the house in question.
"Let's just walk down the street," Harry suggested. "We'll walk by on the other side of the street, go three houses past, cross over, and then come back on the same side."
"Okay!" Ivy agreed. She put her arm in his. Since she was left handed, that let her put her right arm in his left, leaving their primary wand hands free. "Just for cover."
"Good," Harry approved. No one else was out walking at this hour and if they looked like lovers on a stroll, it would hopefully give them some anonymity.
They didn't see anything as they walked on the far side of the street, but on their second approach, Ivy muttered, "Second floor, rear window."
Harry leaned toward her, glancing up as he did. "Got it!"
They went up the walk of the house next door, to come to the house from the rear. They cast Notice-Me-Not spells on themselves as they went through a dark spot, under a tree.
There was a shadow in the same window. Hoping there was only one person in the house, Harry shot a Stunner from ground level. The shadow dropped and Ivy immediately opened the back door.
Moving quickly, checking to make sure that no one else was in the house, they went up the stairs to the second floor. They found a young woman in a heap on the floor, barefoot and dressed in a bathrobe.
"Umm... I'm going to guess this may not be a burglary," Ivy said softly.
"I'm going to agree with you, but we have to check it out," Harry replied.
They settled the woman in a chair, and put a mild Sticking charm on her so she couldn't move quickly. Harry shot an Ennervate at her.
"What!" she looked up at them in horror. "Please, don't hurt me!"
Harry held up his hands and Ivy turned up the lights so the woman could see their Auror robes.
"We had a report of a burglar," Harry said gently. "Tell us who you are."
"This is my parent's house," she babbled frantically. "My name is Elsbeth Racell. I was supposed to be on holiday with my boyfriend, but he came down with the Wizarding Flu. He's at his parents' home, so I thought I'd come here. It's closer to his parents than our apartment."
"Okay, breathe for a moment. The neighbors called this in, mind if I send Ivy next door to verify your story?" Harry asked calmly.
"No, please do," she said, relaxing into the chair. Harry's matter-of-fact air helped her settle down.
Ivy left briskly, and Harry apologized. "Sorry, if this is just a misunderstanding," he said. "But we do have to check."
"No, not a problem," she replied with a rueful grin. "That'll teach me to try to sneak into anyplace, much less my own home! Especially with the nosy neighbors next door."
Ivy was back quickly and nodded. "Neighbors described her perfectly. And they send their apologies, also."
Harry quickly undid the sticking charm and made sure Elsbeth was comfortable.
"Lock up after us," Harry warned. "And talk to your neighbors in the morning!"
"Will do," she said. "Thank you!" She waved at them as they left.
By the time they got back to the office, it was only another hour to quitting time and the next shift was starting to drift in.
"I'll get the majority of the report," Harry offered. "Put in what you have to and go home."
"You sure?" Ivy asked, trying to hold in her eagerness. "It's just... well, I think Brian's going to propose and I want to clean up before he gets there."
"Sure," Harry promised. "And, congratulations!"
"Thanks, then," she grinned, dashing off to do the smaller part of the report.
Harry took his time, abstractly listening as the next group of Aurors came on duty around him.
"Get out of here, Harry," Scott Boardman urged finally. "There's plenty of us and I know you've been here all night."
Harry sighed, knowing that he should leave. But going home to a dark house on Christmas wasn't appealing. He'd be seeing Andromeda and Teddy at lunchtime, and all the Weasley's at supper. But the house was empty, and he wasn't in a hurry to get there.
"Harry..." Scott urged gently. "Go!"
"Okay, okay," Harry gave in. He quickly finished the report and sent it in for filing.
"Merry Christmas!" Harry called to his colleagues as he stepped into the Floo.
Grimmauld Place had greatly improved over the years. Harry and Hermione had worked hard to remove the Dark artifacts that littered the home. Harry had even gotten a Goblin curse-breaker to come in for some of the more stubborn problems. He -- and, interestingly enough, Kreacher -- had worked to change the gloomy Black home into something more cheerful and welcoming.
And, for some reason, it was cheerful and welcoming, when it should have been dark and only lit by a night light.
"Kreacher?" Harry called softly.
"I told him he could have the night off," a familiar voice said.
"Severus!" Harry was -- pleasantly -- surprised. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow!"
"I know," Severus admitted. "But Remus' young potion maker had the Wolfsbane potion well in hand and I wanted to get home."
Harry took off his outer robe and hung it on a hook near the Floo. "That's great news," Harry grinned. "He must be good if you've left him while the potion was still brewing." He yawned largely. "I'm knackered."
"I suspect you worked a double shift again?" Severus sighed.
Harry shrugged. "No reason not to," he admitted. "It's Christmas, you were gone, and no reason to come home to an empty house."
"I had Kreacher prepare some sandwiches and tea before I sent him off. I knew you probably wouldn't eat," Severus said. "Come, and sit with me for a few minutes before you sleep."
"Oh, perfect!" Harry enthused. He followed Severus to the sitting room with multiple lamps and a warm fire. "You don't know how much I appreciate not coming home to a dark house."
Severus drew Harry down next to him on the couch and leaned in for a small kiss. "I know that," he replied. "You could leave some lights on for yourself, you know."
"Not the same," Harry admitted, leaning against Severus with his face praised. Severus obliged by dropping a soft kiss on Harry's lips. "Nicer to come home to you."
Author: goddess47
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Rating: G
Warnings: EWE
Genre: Established Relationship, Auror!Harry
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Word Count: 1319
Summary: For mini_fest prompt: Auror Harry always volunteers to work Christmas, going home to a dark house when his shift is over. Severus is determined that Harry doesn't spend another Christmas alone.
Notes: "Every moment of light and dark is a miracle." -- Walt Whitman
Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead. He was tired and had a headache, but he wasn't going to be able to go home for another few hours.
It was his own fault, of course. It was Christmas Eve and he had volunteered to work a double shift, so that the Aurors with children and family could be at home. He had checked into work later this morning and wouldn't be leaving until the wee hours of Christmas Day.
The only good news is that the early part of the shift had been quiet. That, of course, had just changed.There was call handed to him about a possible burglary in progress. The neighbors had called for help, because they knew their friends were away and no one should be in the home.
Since his usual partner Ron was home with Hermione and their kids, Harry was working with a rookie Auror, who didn't have enough seniority to request the time off. Harry hadn't worked directly with Ivy Banks before, but knew she was steady and easy-going.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes, sir!" she piped back. Harry was glad she wasn't like some of the rookies who were in awe of "the great Harry Potter" -- to the point they either gushed all over him or wouldn't speak at all. Harry was pleased to be just another senior Auror to her.
They Apparated to a street corner, several houses away from the house in question.
"Let's just walk down the street," Harry suggested. "We'll walk by on the other side of the street, go three houses past, cross over, and then come back on the same side."
"Okay!" Ivy agreed. She put her arm in his. Since she was left handed, that let her put her right arm in his left, leaving their primary wand hands free. "Just for cover."
"Good," Harry approved. No one else was out walking at this hour and if they looked like lovers on a stroll, it would hopefully give them some anonymity.
They didn't see anything as they walked on the far side of the street, but on their second approach, Ivy muttered, "Second floor, rear window."
Harry leaned toward her, glancing up as he did. "Got it!"
They went up the walk of the house next door, to come to the house from the rear. They cast Notice-Me-Not spells on themselves as they went through a dark spot, under a tree.
There was a shadow in the same window. Hoping there was only one person in the house, Harry shot a Stunner from ground level. The shadow dropped and Ivy immediately opened the back door.
Moving quickly, checking to make sure that no one else was in the house, they went up the stairs to the second floor. They found a young woman in a heap on the floor, barefoot and dressed in a bathrobe.
"Umm... I'm going to guess this may not be a burglary," Ivy said softly.
"I'm going to agree with you, but we have to check it out," Harry replied.
They settled the woman in a chair, and put a mild Sticking charm on her so she couldn't move quickly. Harry shot an Ennervate at her.
"What!" she looked up at them in horror. "Please, don't hurt me!"
Harry held up his hands and Ivy turned up the lights so the woman could see their Auror robes.
"We had a report of a burglar," Harry said gently. "Tell us who you are."
"This is my parent's house," she babbled frantically. "My name is Elsbeth Racell. I was supposed to be on holiday with my boyfriend, but he came down with the Wizarding Flu. He's at his parents' home, so I thought I'd come here. It's closer to his parents than our apartment."
"Okay, breathe for a moment. The neighbors called this in, mind if I send Ivy next door to verify your story?" Harry asked calmly.
"No, please do," she said, relaxing into the chair. Harry's matter-of-fact air helped her settle down.
Ivy left briskly, and Harry apologized. "Sorry, if this is just a misunderstanding," he said. "But we do have to check."
"No, not a problem," she replied with a rueful grin. "That'll teach me to try to sneak into anyplace, much less my own home! Especially with the nosy neighbors next door."
Ivy was back quickly and nodded. "Neighbors described her perfectly. And they send their apologies, also."
Harry quickly undid the sticking charm and made sure Elsbeth was comfortable.
"Lock up after us," Harry warned. "And talk to your neighbors in the morning!"
"Will do," she said. "Thank you!" She waved at them as they left.
By the time they got back to the office, it was only another hour to quitting time and the next shift was starting to drift in.
"I'll get the majority of the report," Harry offered. "Put in what you have to and go home."
"You sure?" Ivy asked, trying to hold in her eagerness. "It's just... well, I think Brian's going to propose and I want to clean up before he gets there."
"Sure," Harry promised. "And, congratulations!"
"Thanks, then," she grinned, dashing off to do the smaller part of the report.
Harry took his time, abstractly listening as the next group of Aurors came on duty around him.
"Get out of here, Harry," Scott Boardman urged finally. "There's plenty of us and I know you've been here all night."
Harry sighed, knowing that he should leave. But going home to a dark house on Christmas wasn't appealing. He'd be seeing Andromeda and Teddy at lunchtime, and all the Weasley's at supper. But the house was empty, and he wasn't in a hurry to get there.
"Harry..." Scott urged gently. "Go!"
"Okay, okay," Harry gave in. He quickly finished the report and sent it in for filing.
"Merry Christmas!" Harry called to his colleagues as he stepped into the Floo.
Grimmauld Place had greatly improved over the years. Harry and Hermione had worked hard to remove the Dark artifacts that littered the home. Harry had even gotten a Goblin curse-breaker to come in for some of the more stubborn problems. He -- and, interestingly enough, Kreacher -- had worked to change the gloomy Black home into something more cheerful and welcoming.
And, for some reason, it was cheerful and welcoming, when it should have been dark and only lit by a night light.
"Kreacher?" Harry called softly.
"I told him he could have the night off," a familiar voice said.
"Severus!" Harry was -- pleasantly -- surprised. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow!"
"I know," Severus admitted. "But Remus' young potion maker had the Wolfsbane potion well in hand and I wanted to get home."
Harry took off his outer robe and hung it on a hook near the Floo. "That's great news," Harry grinned. "He must be good if you've left him while the potion was still brewing." He yawned largely. "I'm knackered."
"I suspect you worked a double shift again?" Severus sighed.
Harry shrugged. "No reason not to," he admitted. "It's Christmas, you were gone, and no reason to come home to an empty house."
"I had Kreacher prepare some sandwiches and tea before I sent him off. I knew you probably wouldn't eat," Severus said. "Come, and sit with me for a few minutes before you sleep."
"Oh, perfect!" Harry enthused. He followed Severus to the sitting room with multiple lamps and a warm fire. "You don't know how much I appreciate not coming home to a dark house."
Severus drew Harry down next to him on the couch and leaned in for a small kiss. "I know that," he replied. "You could leave some lights on for yourself, you know."
"Not the same," Harry admitted, leaning against Severus with his face praised. Severus obliged by dropping a soft kiss on Harry's lips. "Nicer to come home to you."