Chapter 33

By the end of the week the news had spread that Draco Malfoy fabricated the story about Severus seducing Harry as a student.

"What did you do to make him recant?" Hermione asked in a whisper.

"Nothing. I don't know what happened."

"Harry must have said something to him."

He knew it must have taken a great deal to make a Malfoy eat his pride. Whatever it was, Severus was grateful, and impressed.

He received no apology from Minerva or Albus, but their approving looks were enough to set things right.

Severus sat at his desk the following evening as his last class of seventh year Ravenclaws and Slytherins began to file out of the room. He reached for a stack of essays and tried to mentally prepare himself for the rubbish he would be marking for the next hour or so.

A shadow fell over his desk and he looked up. A seventh year Slytherin stood before him. Basil Jarvis was the new star of the Slytherin quidditch team since Draco had left school. His dark brown hair fell in short waves. He brushed a strand out of his face and chewed his lip.

"What can I do for you this evening, Mr Jarvis?"

"I haven't finished my potion from class, sir. I got rather confused and was wondering if you could help." He flashed a perfect smile at Severus. He stood up slowly and followed Jarvis to the back corner of the classroom. As he'd said, his potion was held in stasis, only a couple of steps from being finished.

"What's the confusion?"

"I followed the instructions, but it's not the right colour."

Severus peered into the cauldron. Jarvis was right. It was a sickly green, when it ought to be orange in colour.

Jarvis was usually one of his star pupils, it wasn't like him to make mistakes. But the students were only a couple of months from summer holidays and were likely excitable and not paying as much attention to their work.

"Walk me through what you've done so far."

Jarvis stepped closer with his parchment in hand and read out his notes.

"Wait, you stirred counter clockwise?"

"Yes, sir."

"Didn't you watch my example in the beginning of class? It's not a stir, really. This potion requires a certain... finesse. It's half of a turn, across, counterclockwise, across, then back the other way."

Jarvis gave him a blank stare. Severus took a clean ladle from the desk and demonstrated in the air.

"Okay, I've got it."

Jarvis stood next to Severus, their arms touching only slightly.

"No, no. Watch." Severus took the ladle and demonstrated again.

"Got it!" Jarvis reached out to take the ladle back, he clasped his hans over Severus's. Severus looked at him in shock. "Show me again." Severus nodded dumbly and began to guide the student's hand. Jarvis moved closer. Their sides now firmly pressed together.

Severus was too stunned to move. He wasn't sure Jarvis had any ill intent and didn't want to make it into an issue if it was not one.

The potion began to turn the correct colour.

"There we are." Severus pulled the utensil from the cauldron and set it aside. As he turned back to Jarvis, the young man wrapped his hands behind his neck and pulled Severus to him forcefully. His fingertips dug into his skin. His lips were on Severus's.

He heard the door to the room swing open, "Severus!" Came Hermione's voice. "I was wondering if-" Hermione gasped and the door slammed closed.

This all happened quickly. Severus pushed Jarvis away with such force the young man landed on his arse. But he recovered quickly and stood chest to chest with him once more.

"What's the problem?" He purred through a sly smile. "I know you've been with students in the past."

"That is an outright falsehood!"

"I've been told I'm more handsome than Potter." He ran his fingers teasingly down Severus's arm.

"Not in my eyes."

Jarvis's cocky smile slid from his face and was replaced by a scowl. "It doesn't have to be a relationship. Just a one off. We could help each other..."

"That will never happen. Get out."

Jarvis groaned out of frustration but snatched his bag from the desk and stomped out of the room.

Severus felt frantic. He needed to find Hermione.

His feet carried him to her rooms as quickly as they could.

She pulled the door open slowly. Her face was full of worry.

"Oh, Severus, how could you?"

Severus pushed past her and shut the door behind him. He'd never been in her rooms before. The sitting room was likely an embodiment of her mind. Books of all genres were scattered everywhere in piles of various heights. A scarf draped here, a robe strewn there.

She followed his gaze. "Sorry, wasn't expecting company."

He ignored the comment. "What you saw... is not what it seemed."

"It seemed that you and Basil Jarvis were... were.."

"Yes, well, did it seem that he was assaulting me? Because that is the reality. I did not welcome his advances."

"You need to go to Dumbledore! He needs to face repercussions."

Severus growled. "There have been very recent rumours about me seducing students. I don't think going to Albus is such a splendid idea."

She chewed the inside of her cheek. "You're right. So, what will you do?"

"Nothing. Ignore it. Hopefully I bruised his ego enough to not breath a word of it or try to do it again."

"Missing your old reputation now, eh?"

"Please stop talking."

Hermione suppressed a giggle.

Severus glared at her, "This is serious."

"I think you're safe to ignore it for now."

Severus walked through the groups of students entering the great hall for dinner. As he pushed his way in through the massive doorway, he felt a hand brush his own.

"Good evening, Professor." He turned to see Jarvis wave and wink at him. Severus glared at him before spinning on his heel in a whirl of robes. He stalked angrily to the head table.

His life was one massively cruel joke.

Hermione Granger was his closest friend.

He was courting his godson's fiance.

His godson's fiance was the famous Harry Potter.

A student had tried to seduce him.

Severus dug his fingers into his arm. Was he dreaming? Had he, too, been injured during the final battle and this was all just a dream as he lay in the infirmary?

He looked around the great hall. Alas, it all felt too real to be in his head.

He sighed and took a long drink of pumpkin juice.

As he ate his dinner Severus began to contemplate whether it was time for him to move on. Leave Hogwarts, move far away, and focus on his business.

Severus didn't get very far into fleshing out the details of his hypothetical future life before the tall doors to the great hall swung open. Severus looked up to see students of all years and houses standing and applauding. They cheered and gasped.

Albus stood at the center of the staff table and stepped off the dais. He opened his arms wide, the smile on his face just as broad.

"Welcome back, Harry."

Harry stepped out of the crowd of students that surrounded him, returning Albus's smile. He stepped into Albus's arms and they embraced one another.

"Sorry I'm late, Headmaster."

"Not at all, dear boy."

Severus looked to his right to ask Hermione what was happening, but she had moved one seat over, leaving an empty one between them.

She grinned at Severus and turned her attention back to Harry who now approached them.

Harry took his seat casually between Hermione and Severus as if he'd done it a hundred times. He beamed at Severus. Severus attempted to pull his facial features back to an impassive look but his shock must have been clearly written across his face.

Harry piled his plate with food then turned back to him and chuckled.

"Surprise?"

"A welcomed one," Severus admitted. "Are you here only for dinner?"

"No, actually." Harry turned his body more towards Severus. His heart rate quickened beneath Harry's gaze. He was sure the majority of students and staff alike were watching them. Still, he couldn't take his eyes away from Harry. Harry's foot touched his ankle under the table and Severus's body stilled. He'd never been so physically close to Harry with an audience before. It was beyond his comfort level, but he allowed it.

"I was hoping we could..." Harry grinned cheekily. "Have some time together this evening."

Severus swallowed hard. His heart and cock leapt in equal measures of hope and nervousness.

He nodded. "Yes. Yes, of course."

"Great!"

Harry turned to Hermione. They began to speak animatedly and Severus focused on finishing his meal.

He was happy Hermione was able to spend this time with her friend. He knew from their weekly chats that she missed Harry terribly since Draco had kept them apart.

He was also inexplicably anxious. Why was Harry here? It wasn't yet time for their next date and they didn't speak between dates since the courtship had begun. His old friend, Paranoia, threatened to kidnap his mind and tell him that something was horribly wrong. But the logical part of his mind eagerly pointed out how keen Harry had just been on him. Touching their legs together beneath the table, leaning into him as he spoke, making eye contact with such intensity... maybe something was incredibly right.

Severus finished his last bite and turned to Harry. He looked up at him and winked. His stomach tensed. His skin tingled on his neck and arms where the hairs there stood on end. Severus raised an eyebrow in return. Harry glanced to the staff exit. Severus nodded.

They stood silently. He was vaguely aware of Hermione saying goodbye, but the sounds of the great hall were mostly muted through the sound of his heart pounding. He followed Harry to the exit. He admired him as he strode from the room with confidence.

They walked through the dimly lit corridor away from the great hall. They turned a hard right towards the staircase leading to the dungeons. Neither spoke.

Harry looked over his shoulder to Severus. He smiled.

Severus's heart pounded. Harry paused until Severus was by his side. Harry gently placed his hand into his. He laced their fingers together. Severus looked down at their intertwined hands. His face burned hot. He held Harry's hand a bit tighter than necessary. He only hoped the force he applied conveyed to Harry that he didn't wish for the contact to end- not now or any time soon.

Their footsteps both slowed until finally they were stopped. They both took deep ragged breaths as they turned to look at one another.

Harry licked his lips, that perfect pink tongue teasing him. Severus felt his lips part, urging him to say something, do something. But the courtship forbade him to initiate contact. Harry stepped a hair closer, such a small distance that it was nearly unnoticeable. His mind swirled with questions. What did Harry want? Did he need him to say something? He felt like he'd missed a cue, forgotten a step in a delicate dance.

"I-"

"-yes?"

"Er-"

"-what?"

Harry chuckled shyly and let his gaze fall to the floor.

God, he was beautiful. He scratched at his chin, pushing his fingers between the coarse beard hairs.

"I came to tell you something."

"Anything, Harry. You can tell me anything."

And Severus meant it. He wanted to know everything dancing around in his mind. He wanted to know everything about him. There was nothing too insignificant or mundane.

Suddenly Harry's head jerked up. Before Severus realized what was happening, Harry had closed the small space between them. He placed his hand on his chest and softly pushed him backwards until Severus's back was against the hard rock of the dungeon corridor.

Harry's soft mouth was against his. His tongue pried at his lips until Severus eagerly granted it entrance. Harry wrapped his arms around Severus's waist and held him tight, as if afraid he would pull away. Severus knotted his fingers in the curly tendrils at the nape of Harry's neck.

Severus knew he'd never let go. Not this time. Not ever again.

He knew life with Harry, and he knew life without him. One life was sad, pathetic, and lonely, the other meant waking up each day grateful to be alive, feeling unbelievably lucky.

Harry moved his mouth to Severus's jaw line and down his neck. Severus threw his head back and moaned involuntarily. Harry ground his hips against Severus's, allowing each to feel the arousal of the other.

Harry placed one last gentle kiss to Severus's collar. They were both left breathless, fighting for air.

"I love you," Harry whispered.

"Is that... is that what you came here to tell me?"

Harry shook his head, his forehead still resting against the older man's shoulder. "No, but... it couldn't wait to be said any longer."

Harry grabbed at the back of Severus's robes and held him impossibly tighter.

The sound of footsteps echoed as they came closer. The two men disentangled themselves quickly. Harry fought to smooth down his hair, Severus smoothed his robes.

"Oh! There you are- oh, erm, hi, Professor!" Ron looked between them suspiciously, obviously noting the level of disarray they currently found themselves in. Ron blushed and looked away. "Hermione told me you were here tonight. Just er... wanted to say hey. I'll leave you to it. Come find me later, yeah?"

Harry laughed. "I'll see you in a bit, mate."

Ron retreated quickly. Severus looked down at Harry and smiled. He should have felt embarrassed, but he didn't. Harry leaned against him and placed a quick kiss to his upper arm lovingly.

I can do this, Severus thought triumphantly. He could be the partner Harry deserved.

"Come on," Harry said. "Let's get to your rooms so we can talk.