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A Bunny Tale Part Three
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Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
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Adult ++
Chapters:
6
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21,551
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
6
Views:
21,551
Reviews:
21
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I don't own Harry Potter, I never will, and I make no money off of this.
A Bunny Tale Part Three
Part One can be found here: http://hp.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600015674
A Bunny Tale Part 3
Chapter 1: The Potions Conference
"I can fit in your trunk," said Harry, pushing his head in between Severus and his work, his ears halfway up. "I'll be really quiet and no one will ever know."
Sighing, Severus put down the homework scroll he'd been correcting. "Cockerworth isn't that far away. If I wished to take you, I could simply Apparate us both. You can't go to the Potions Conference and that's final."
His ears falling to his shoulders, Harry pouted. "But I'm your potions assistant."
Picking up the scroll again, Severus turned his attention away from Harry. "I registered for the conference before I acquired you. You'd hate it anyway."
"But I love potions!"
Scoffing, Severus retorted, "No, you love spending time with me. I'll be busy discussing theory with other like-minded individuals." He could also do without the distraction of Harry. As much as he enjoyed owning the coney, he couldn't very well prepare for his presentation on the proper use of phoenix droppings in medicinal potions if he had Harry pestering him for sex multiple times per day. As he'd be in the conference most of the time, he'd only get to see Harry late in the evenings or early in the morning. If Harry came along, he'd get no sleep at all.
"But you always say the Weasley twins are nothing but trouble. Who knows what sort of mischief they'll get me into?"
Severus shot a glare at Harry over the scroll. "You will be perfectly behaved. The twins can't get you into trouble without your compliance." The Weasley house was not a place he wished to have Harry spend his Easter Holidays, but Malfoy Manor was out of the question, and Hogwarts was too dangerous. Not only was a full moon occurring that week, but Hagrid had also recently acquired a pet dragon. When Severus had complained to Dumbledore that Hagrid was allowing Harry to ride Buckbeak whenever he pleased, Dumbledore had simply called Hippogriffs beautiful creatures and invited Harry to fly past his office window.
Climbing up to straddle Severus's lap, Harry said, "But they're quite clever."
Holding his scroll firmly in place, Severus said, "If you aren't clever enough to avoid their manipulations, then you certainly aren't clever enough to go to the conference as my assistant."
"I'm clever enough." Harry's fingers inched their way up Severus's thighs. "I'll be the best assistant any Potions Master could ever have. You won't regret it."
Tossing the scroll to the desk, Severus grabbed Harry's hands. "None of that. You've an appointment to study with Miss Granger."
"Not for another fifteen minutes!" Harry whinged.
"It will take you ten to walk to the library."
His eyes fixed on Severus's groin, Harry licked his lips. "I can run."
Severus knew all too well what would happen should he allow Harry access to his groin. Pressing Harry's wrists together, Severus held them with one hand. Cupping Harry's chin, he pulled him forward into a soft kiss.
Harry made a soft noise of pleasure and pressed his lips hungrily back against Severus's. Knowing how excited Harry could get from a kiss, Severus soon released him and patted his rump. "Go to your lesson."
Harry sulked, but Severus knew it had nothing to do with Harry's displeasure over the lesson. Although he'd been reluctant to spend time with Granger at first, the two of them had become good friends, and Severus often found them in the library with their heads pressed together over a book.
As he climbed off Severus's lap, Harry said, "Hurry up and get those scrolls graded! It's been far too long."
Severus just arched an eyebrow as Harry waved goodbye and raced out the door. It had only been three hours since they'd last had sex. Harry was insatiable.
That evening, when Harry returned to Severus's rooms, Severus had a gift for him.
"What is it?" Harry asked, turning the heavy, square object over in his hands.
"It's a paperweight," explained Severus. "You place it on a scroll to keep it from re-rolling."
Wrinkling his nose in confusion, Harry said, "But the scrolls don't re-roll."
"Older ones sometimes do when the charms wear off. However, that's not its true purpose. Say my name to it."
"Professor?" said Harry, staring at Severus with a confused look on his face.
"No. Hold it to your lips - it won't work otherwise - and say my full name."
Pressing it close to his lips, Harry whispered in an almost reverent tone, "Severus Tobias Snape."
The paperweight shifted and Harry gave a gasp of surprise, nearly dropping it as the black, marble paperweight transformed into a dildo with a soft, lightly lubricated skin. It was a near-perfect replica of Severus's cock, albeit with a wider base and no bollocks attached. Harry stared at it with such an expression of wide-eyed wonder that Severus couldn't help but chuckle.
"Try it out."
"Try it out?" Harry turned his saucer eyes to Severus. "What do I do with it?"
"Anything you'd do to mine. It's yours."
For a moment, Harry just stared at it. Then, abruptly, he shoved it into his mouth, his tongue working over it as he sucked it with the same fierce enthusiasm with which he loved to suck Severus's cock.
Taking a seat on the sofa, Severus watched him, his own cock rising at the sight.
After giving the fake phallus a thorough sucking, Harry eagerly pulled off his clothes, his mouth still working on the cock as he undressed.
"Come lie down on the floor before me," Severus said. "I want to see you use it."
Harry eagerly bounded over and shoved the coffee table out of the way. He lay down on his back, with his feet far apart, and his ears vertical and quivering. Holding his cheeks open and apart with one hand, he grasped the dildo in the other, and pressed it up against his entrance. His eyes closing, he pushed it through the tight ring of muscle, releasing a gasp as he steadily worked it into his body.
The pleasure flashing across Harry's face was enough to make Severus fully hard and he adjusted himself inside his clothing. When Harry had the toy buried as deep as it could go, Severus said, "Say, 'Fuck me.'"
"Fuck me!" gasped Harry. The toy started a slow, deep slide and he gasped, his hips rising up with each inward thrust.
In a quiet tone, so as not to trigger the toy, Severus said, "'Faster' makes it go faster. 'Slower' makes it go slower. 'Stop' will make it cease moving, and 'I'm finished' will turn it back into a paperweight." In a louder voice, he said, "Faster!"
The toy picked up speed and Harry moaned, his fingers digging into the carpet. His full cock bobbed as he jerked his hips, desperately thrusting back against the dildo filling his arse. Harry was already randy, but Severus knew he could drive him wild.
"Turn over on your hands and knees," said Severus as he undid the buttons on his trousers.
Harry obeyed, flipping over and sticking up his arse, his pert tail twitching excitedly.
"Faster," said Severus. "Faster. Harder." Harry gave a cry of pleasure as the toy slammed into him, rocking his body forward.
Stroking himself as he watched, Severus waited until Harry was skirting the edge before he said, "Vibrate!"
Harry came with a shout, his hips jerking as he sprayed pearly streams of come all over the floor. Severus let the toy pound him through it before he said, "Stop." He watched with amusement as Harry collapsed to the floor, panting for breath. After giving Harry a minute to recover, he said, "Fuck him. Slow and gentle."
The toy turned back on, its pace now a slow, sensual slide.
Licking his lips, Harry turned around and crawled to Severus, the dildo still moving within him. "It's perfect," he said as he pushed aside Severus's hands and kissed the tip of his straining cock.
Petting Harry's perky ears, Severus relaxed against the sofa and let Harry demonstrate his thanks for the present.
As Harry was determined to get as much sex from Severus as possible before they would have to part ways, Severus didn't get any sleep that night and spent the next morning in a rush.
"Here," he said distractedly as he thrust glasses into Harry's hand. "You'll need to wear these."
"I'm supposed to wear glasses over glasses?" Harry had been slow about packing his clothing and, with just an hour before they'd have to leave, had only now made his way to the lab.
"I've invented a new way to hide your ears and tail," said Severus as he gathered up the necessary scrolls and dumped them into his trunk. "I'll be casting a spell on you, the effect of which you'll then retain through the use of a permanency potion." He waved his arm in the vague direction of the bottles lined up on a workshelf.
"Those are the potions for your presentation," said Harry, examining them.
"The ones on the far right are yours," said Severus as he grabbed jars off of shelves. "The blue bottles. Take them. You'll need to drink the whole content of a bottle every twelve hours. Do not forget. Leave a bottle out to take this morning, but put the rest in your bag. I've told the Weasleys that it's for your asthma."
"My what?" asked Harry, stuffing the vials in his bag.
"A breathing condition." After Severus had placed his notes on top of everything else in the trunk, he cast the spell on Harry. The thick ears became more hair. Harry's already wild shock of black was now so thick, Severus's fingers had trouble finding the scalp. The tail flattened and retreated until it was a tailbone that stuck out just a little bit further than normal, and Harry's arse was more hairy than would be expected for a boy of his age. Summoning hair-removal cream to himself, Severus pressed it into Harry's hands. "Don't let the others catch you using it," he said.
"Right," said Harry, wrapping it in a shirt.
"And Harry-" The coney glanced up, now looking exactly like a human boy. "Don't ever let anyone see or touch your special gift."
Scoffing, Harry slung his bag over his shoulder. "I'd never share it."
That wasn't what Severus had meant, but he doubted Harry would let anyone else anywhere near it.
Late, even though they'd skipped breakfast, Severus bustled Harry outside, onto a broom, and flew to the edge of the wards. From there, they Apparated to the Burrow.
"Welcome!" said Mrs Weasley, gathering Harry against her chest in a hug so tight that it made Harry shoot a glance of surprise and concern at Severus. "It's so good to finally meet you Harry. I've heard so much about you. I have a bit of bad news though. I'm afraid the twins won free passes to a Quidditch training camp, so they won't be around until the very end."
"Odd, that," said Mr Weasley. "We don't remember entering them in it."
Harry's eyes, still fixed on Severus, narrowed and Severus pretended he didn't notice. He didn't think the trick had worked, but perhaps the memory modification spell he'd placed on the admissions official to convince him the Weasleys had entered the raffle had taken longer to go into effect than he'd anticipated.
Although Severus had wanted to examine the Burrow for death traps and give Harry a mini-lecture on behaving before he left, he didn't have the time, and soon had to Apparate away, hoping for the best, but also prepared for the worst.
~~~~~~~~
The Potions Conference kept Severus busy enough that he didn't even notice his lack of sleep the first day. There were friends to greet, incompetent brewers to rip apart, and dozens of fascinating workshops and discussions to participate in.
Enitan Gazini, an old friend and accomplished brewer, insisted on taking Severus out to dinner. Once they'd arrived at the local wizard restaurant and set up privacy wards, Enitan leant across the table and asked, "Where's your coney?"
Severus nearly spit out his drink. "Excuse me?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Severus," said Enitan in a tone more curious than confrontational. "I know about your coney. A member of the Hogwarts Board wanted to make sure it was possible for you to acquire a coney on your salary without resorting to selling dodgy potions. I, of course, lied and told him that it was." His black eyes fixed steadily on Severus's. "We both know that's not true. How on earth did you manage to be able to afford a coney? Does she -or he- have a defect? Missing a limb?"
Although Harry's black hair and short stature were considered a defect, he'd still cost Severus far more than his pride would allow him to admit. He didn't want to tell Enitan that he'd never be able to take a holiday other than attending Potions Conferences, where he could ask Hogwarts to help fund his expenses, nor buy anything other than his modest house, or even experiment with potions on his own time. Instead, he shook his head and said, "Even if I had a coney, what makes you think I would bring him -or her- here?"
Enitan's eyes widened in surprise as he leaned back in his chair. "Him? You can't be serious. What on earth have you done to afford a male coney?"
Severus couldn't resist. "Why does the possibility of my owning a male coney shock you more than the idea that I could purchase a coney at all?"
Shooting Severus a look as if he couldn't believe such a question would be asked, Enitan said, "The wizard who created coneys suspected that the females would be more popular and, in order to increase his revenue, manufactured them to produce more females than males. When you factor in the culling of runts, males are in short supply. Now tell me, how did you manage to afford a coney on a Potions Master's salary?"
Severus lifted his glass of mulled wine, taking a slow sip before he answered, "If I had managed to acquire a coney through the selling of potions, why would I share the strategy by which I gained such capital?"
"Not even with an old friend?" asked Enitan pleadingly.
Severus toyed with his wine glass. He could get a lot out of this if he played his cards right. Smirking slightly, he said, "Enitan, there is no strategy. I simply saved."
Enitan scoffed, and Severus knew that the other man would be bribing him for months to come.
After he'd managed to extract himself from Enitan's presence, Severus made his way back to his hotel room. He had just taken off his outer robes and started to unpack, when he heard a knock at his window.
A knock at his twelfth story window.
Pulling out his wand, Severus cautiously pointed it at the drapery. Flicking open the curtain with a wave of his wand, Severus was met with the sight of a flying Ford Anglia, and Harry waving happily from the front passenger seat, a package clutched in his hand and the door wide open.
Rushing over to the window and throwing it ajar, Severus yelled, "What do you think you're doing?!"
Harry moved and Severus leant forward before he could think. Throwing out his arms, he caught Harry, his heart pounding in his chest as he simultaneously caught a glimpse of the ground below; it was a very, very long way down. Pulling Harry through the window, Severus set him safely down on the carpet and immediately checked him over for injuries before he began his lecture.
Sucking in a breath to prepare himself for one of the longest, angriest speeches he would ever give, Severus was interrupted by the bored drawl of Draco Malfoy.
"Hurry it up," called Draco from behind Harry. "My father's party is at ten."
Severus turned away from Harry to stare at the car, and found Draco sitting calmly behind the wheel, while Ronald Weasley sat white-faced and stiff in the backseat. From the look of pure terror on his face, Severus surmised the car belonged to his father. Severus wasn't sure what was more impressive - that Harry had managed to find a flying car, or that he'd managed to get a Malfoy and a Weasley together in such a tight space without a fight breaking out. Either way, he knew this was one story that Lucius would not be hearing from him.
"I accidentally took one of your potion ingredients!" Harry was saying, his hands holding out a small package. "It was also in a blue vial, right next to my potions."
Wordlessly, Severus took the package and opened it to find the Congo sweat. He'd mistakenly packaged it in a bottle that looked similar to Harry's Permanency Potion vials. With a sigh, he said, "You couldn't simply send me an owl?"
Harry blinked as if such a thought had never entered his head. "And risk the potion being damaged?"
It was a valid point, but still not the proper response to such a crisis. "No, to send a message to me to come collect the vial. I can Apparate."
"Oh," said Harry, his jubilant face falling.
If Draco and the Weasley boy hadn't been watching, Severus would've patted Harry on his now-furry head. Instead, he kept his expression stern and said, "I don't want to see you here ever again. You will stay at the Burrow until I return to collect you. Is that clear?"
Harry pouted, but nodded. Severus could almost see his invisible ears falling to his shoulders.
Leading Harry to the window, Severus cast a spell to create an invisible walkway. After helping Harry back into the car, he cast every single protection spell of which he could think. Harry wouldn't be able to leave the car for another hour, but he could now survive any accident. Once Harry was safely in place, Severus turned his attention to the other boys. To the Weasley, he asked, "Does your mother know where you are and what you're doing?"
Sinking into the seat as if he could disappear into the leather, Weasley gulped audibly and said, "No, sir."
Still speaking in the same tone that made weaker students shake, Severus asked, "And where are your parents?"
"Sleeping, sir," squeaked the Weasley.
Mrs Weasley would punish the boy far worse than he ever could. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "See that you tell her before I do."
The pale face nodded rapidly.
Draco impatiently tapped the steering wheel and Severus knew from the bored expression on his face that the boy was quite pleased with himself. Only Draco had the skill (and magic) necessary to pull off the complex spells that were currently helping to hide the car from Muggle eyes.
Giving Draco a cool look, Severus asked, "Does your father know where you are?"
Draco admitted, "Not exactly. I was at Quidditch practice at Nott's house when Harry's letter came."
Quickly, Harry stated, "It was quicker to send the owl to him rather than you."
Severus didn't believe that was the primary reason why Draco received the owl instead of him, but let it pass.
"I figured," continued Draco, "that you needed the potion straightaway, so I followed the owl back to the Burrow and organised the trip."
Draco was the sort who would claim credit even where none was due, but Severus didn't doubt that he'd been the primary one responsible.
He ordered, "Take Weasley and Harry back to the Burrow straightaway. Don't even think of making a side trip."
"I won't," said Draco. "I need to head back anyway to get ready for my father's party."
"Which only you will attend."
Rolling his eyes, Draco said, "As if a Weasley and a . . . Harry would be invited to attend."
Satisfied, Severus said, "I will see you again in a week, but for now, you will return Harry and that car."
Draco's eyes narrowed, but he gave no other reaction to the veiled promise of future punishment. He kicked it into gear and soared off, hitting the gas far more than was actually necessary. A few days should be more than enough time for Draco to start worrying over what Severus had planned for him. Lucius had requested that Severus leave all discipline of Draco to him, but the boy didn't know that, and there was plenty Severus could do that wasn't technically discipline.
Turning away from the window, Severus shut the curtains.
It was rare that he undressed without help from an eager Harry, and even more strange to be in bed alone. Although he'd slept alone in bed for as long as he could remember, it didn't feel right to not have Harry's warm body snuggled up against his own. Even when he considered all that he could have done with the money he'd have if he hadn't bought the coney, Harry was still worth every single last Knut he had paid.
A Bunny Tale Part 3
Chapter 1: The Potions Conference
"I can fit in your trunk," said Harry, pushing his head in between Severus and his work, his ears halfway up. "I'll be really quiet and no one will ever know."
Sighing, Severus put down the homework scroll he'd been correcting. "Cockerworth isn't that far away. If I wished to take you, I could simply Apparate us both. You can't go to the Potions Conference and that's final."
His ears falling to his shoulders, Harry pouted. "But I'm your potions assistant."
Picking up the scroll again, Severus turned his attention away from Harry. "I registered for the conference before I acquired you. You'd hate it anyway."
"But I love potions!"
Scoffing, Severus retorted, "No, you love spending time with me. I'll be busy discussing theory with other like-minded individuals." He could also do without the distraction of Harry. As much as he enjoyed owning the coney, he couldn't very well prepare for his presentation on the proper use of phoenix droppings in medicinal potions if he had Harry pestering him for sex multiple times per day. As he'd be in the conference most of the time, he'd only get to see Harry late in the evenings or early in the morning. If Harry came along, he'd get no sleep at all.
"But you always say the Weasley twins are nothing but trouble. Who knows what sort of mischief they'll get me into?"
Severus shot a glare at Harry over the scroll. "You will be perfectly behaved. The twins can't get you into trouble without your compliance." The Weasley house was not a place he wished to have Harry spend his Easter Holidays, but Malfoy Manor was out of the question, and Hogwarts was too dangerous. Not only was a full moon occurring that week, but Hagrid had also recently acquired a pet dragon. When Severus had complained to Dumbledore that Hagrid was allowing Harry to ride Buckbeak whenever he pleased, Dumbledore had simply called Hippogriffs beautiful creatures and invited Harry to fly past his office window.
Climbing up to straddle Severus's lap, Harry said, "But they're quite clever."
Holding his scroll firmly in place, Severus said, "If you aren't clever enough to avoid their manipulations, then you certainly aren't clever enough to go to the conference as my assistant."
"I'm clever enough." Harry's fingers inched their way up Severus's thighs. "I'll be the best assistant any Potions Master could ever have. You won't regret it."
Tossing the scroll to the desk, Severus grabbed Harry's hands. "None of that. You've an appointment to study with Miss Granger."
"Not for another fifteen minutes!" Harry whinged.
"It will take you ten to walk to the library."
His eyes fixed on Severus's groin, Harry licked his lips. "I can run."
Severus knew all too well what would happen should he allow Harry access to his groin. Pressing Harry's wrists together, Severus held them with one hand. Cupping Harry's chin, he pulled him forward into a soft kiss.
Harry made a soft noise of pleasure and pressed his lips hungrily back against Severus's. Knowing how excited Harry could get from a kiss, Severus soon released him and patted his rump. "Go to your lesson."
Harry sulked, but Severus knew it had nothing to do with Harry's displeasure over the lesson. Although he'd been reluctant to spend time with Granger at first, the two of them had become good friends, and Severus often found them in the library with their heads pressed together over a book.
As he climbed off Severus's lap, Harry said, "Hurry up and get those scrolls graded! It's been far too long."
Severus just arched an eyebrow as Harry waved goodbye and raced out the door. It had only been three hours since they'd last had sex. Harry was insatiable.
That evening, when Harry returned to Severus's rooms, Severus had a gift for him.
"What is it?" Harry asked, turning the heavy, square object over in his hands.
"It's a paperweight," explained Severus. "You place it on a scroll to keep it from re-rolling."
Wrinkling his nose in confusion, Harry said, "But the scrolls don't re-roll."
"Older ones sometimes do when the charms wear off. However, that's not its true purpose. Say my name to it."
"Professor?" said Harry, staring at Severus with a confused look on his face.
"No. Hold it to your lips - it won't work otherwise - and say my full name."
Pressing it close to his lips, Harry whispered in an almost reverent tone, "Severus Tobias Snape."
The paperweight shifted and Harry gave a gasp of surprise, nearly dropping it as the black, marble paperweight transformed into a dildo with a soft, lightly lubricated skin. It was a near-perfect replica of Severus's cock, albeit with a wider base and no bollocks attached. Harry stared at it with such an expression of wide-eyed wonder that Severus couldn't help but chuckle.
"Try it out."
"Try it out?" Harry turned his saucer eyes to Severus. "What do I do with it?"
"Anything you'd do to mine. It's yours."
For a moment, Harry just stared at it. Then, abruptly, he shoved it into his mouth, his tongue working over it as he sucked it with the same fierce enthusiasm with which he loved to suck Severus's cock.
Taking a seat on the sofa, Severus watched him, his own cock rising at the sight.
After giving the fake phallus a thorough sucking, Harry eagerly pulled off his clothes, his mouth still working on the cock as he undressed.
"Come lie down on the floor before me," Severus said. "I want to see you use it."
Harry eagerly bounded over and shoved the coffee table out of the way. He lay down on his back, with his feet far apart, and his ears vertical and quivering. Holding his cheeks open and apart with one hand, he grasped the dildo in the other, and pressed it up against his entrance. His eyes closing, he pushed it through the tight ring of muscle, releasing a gasp as he steadily worked it into his body.
The pleasure flashing across Harry's face was enough to make Severus fully hard and he adjusted himself inside his clothing. When Harry had the toy buried as deep as it could go, Severus said, "Say, 'Fuck me.'"
"Fuck me!" gasped Harry. The toy started a slow, deep slide and he gasped, his hips rising up with each inward thrust.
In a quiet tone, so as not to trigger the toy, Severus said, "'Faster' makes it go faster. 'Slower' makes it go slower. 'Stop' will make it cease moving, and 'I'm finished' will turn it back into a paperweight." In a louder voice, he said, "Faster!"
The toy picked up speed and Harry moaned, his fingers digging into the carpet. His full cock bobbed as he jerked his hips, desperately thrusting back against the dildo filling his arse. Harry was already randy, but Severus knew he could drive him wild.
"Turn over on your hands and knees," said Severus as he undid the buttons on his trousers.
Harry obeyed, flipping over and sticking up his arse, his pert tail twitching excitedly.
"Faster," said Severus. "Faster. Harder." Harry gave a cry of pleasure as the toy slammed into him, rocking his body forward.
Stroking himself as he watched, Severus waited until Harry was skirting the edge before he said, "Vibrate!"
Harry came with a shout, his hips jerking as he sprayed pearly streams of come all over the floor. Severus let the toy pound him through it before he said, "Stop." He watched with amusement as Harry collapsed to the floor, panting for breath. After giving Harry a minute to recover, he said, "Fuck him. Slow and gentle."
The toy turned back on, its pace now a slow, sensual slide.
Licking his lips, Harry turned around and crawled to Severus, the dildo still moving within him. "It's perfect," he said as he pushed aside Severus's hands and kissed the tip of his straining cock.
Petting Harry's perky ears, Severus relaxed against the sofa and let Harry demonstrate his thanks for the present.
As Harry was determined to get as much sex from Severus as possible before they would have to part ways, Severus didn't get any sleep that night and spent the next morning in a rush.
"Here," he said distractedly as he thrust glasses into Harry's hand. "You'll need to wear these."
"I'm supposed to wear glasses over glasses?" Harry had been slow about packing his clothing and, with just an hour before they'd have to leave, had only now made his way to the lab.
"I've invented a new way to hide your ears and tail," said Severus as he gathered up the necessary scrolls and dumped them into his trunk. "I'll be casting a spell on you, the effect of which you'll then retain through the use of a permanency potion." He waved his arm in the vague direction of the bottles lined up on a workshelf.
"Those are the potions for your presentation," said Harry, examining them.
"The ones on the far right are yours," said Severus as he grabbed jars off of shelves. "The blue bottles. Take them. You'll need to drink the whole content of a bottle every twelve hours. Do not forget. Leave a bottle out to take this morning, but put the rest in your bag. I've told the Weasleys that it's for your asthma."
"My what?" asked Harry, stuffing the vials in his bag.
"A breathing condition." After Severus had placed his notes on top of everything else in the trunk, he cast the spell on Harry. The thick ears became more hair. Harry's already wild shock of black was now so thick, Severus's fingers had trouble finding the scalp. The tail flattened and retreated until it was a tailbone that stuck out just a little bit further than normal, and Harry's arse was more hairy than would be expected for a boy of his age. Summoning hair-removal cream to himself, Severus pressed it into Harry's hands. "Don't let the others catch you using it," he said.
"Right," said Harry, wrapping it in a shirt.
"And Harry-" The coney glanced up, now looking exactly like a human boy. "Don't ever let anyone see or touch your special gift."
Scoffing, Harry slung his bag over his shoulder. "I'd never share it."
That wasn't what Severus had meant, but he doubted Harry would let anyone else anywhere near it.
Late, even though they'd skipped breakfast, Severus bustled Harry outside, onto a broom, and flew to the edge of the wards. From there, they Apparated to the Burrow.
"Welcome!" said Mrs Weasley, gathering Harry against her chest in a hug so tight that it made Harry shoot a glance of surprise and concern at Severus. "It's so good to finally meet you Harry. I've heard so much about you. I have a bit of bad news though. I'm afraid the twins won free passes to a Quidditch training camp, so they won't be around until the very end."
"Odd, that," said Mr Weasley. "We don't remember entering them in it."
Harry's eyes, still fixed on Severus, narrowed and Severus pretended he didn't notice. He didn't think the trick had worked, but perhaps the memory modification spell he'd placed on the admissions official to convince him the Weasleys had entered the raffle had taken longer to go into effect than he'd anticipated.
Although Severus had wanted to examine the Burrow for death traps and give Harry a mini-lecture on behaving before he left, he didn't have the time, and soon had to Apparate away, hoping for the best, but also prepared for the worst.
~~~~~~~~
The Potions Conference kept Severus busy enough that he didn't even notice his lack of sleep the first day. There were friends to greet, incompetent brewers to rip apart, and dozens of fascinating workshops and discussions to participate in.
Enitan Gazini, an old friend and accomplished brewer, insisted on taking Severus out to dinner. Once they'd arrived at the local wizard restaurant and set up privacy wards, Enitan leant across the table and asked, "Where's your coney?"
Severus nearly spit out his drink. "Excuse me?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Severus," said Enitan in a tone more curious than confrontational. "I know about your coney. A member of the Hogwarts Board wanted to make sure it was possible for you to acquire a coney on your salary without resorting to selling dodgy potions. I, of course, lied and told him that it was." His black eyes fixed steadily on Severus's. "We both know that's not true. How on earth did you manage to be able to afford a coney? Does she -or he- have a defect? Missing a limb?"
Although Harry's black hair and short stature were considered a defect, he'd still cost Severus far more than his pride would allow him to admit. He didn't want to tell Enitan that he'd never be able to take a holiday other than attending Potions Conferences, where he could ask Hogwarts to help fund his expenses, nor buy anything other than his modest house, or even experiment with potions on his own time. Instead, he shook his head and said, "Even if I had a coney, what makes you think I would bring him -or her- here?"
Enitan's eyes widened in surprise as he leaned back in his chair. "Him? You can't be serious. What on earth have you done to afford a male coney?"
Severus couldn't resist. "Why does the possibility of my owning a male coney shock you more than the idea that I could purchase a coney at all?"
Shooting Severus a look as if he couldn't believe such a question would be asked, Enitan said, "The wizard who created coneys suspected that the females would be more popular and, in order to increase his revenue, manufactured them to produce more females than males. When you factor in the culling of runts, males are in short supply. Now tell me, how did you manage to afford a coney on a Potions Master's salary?"
Severus lifted his glass of mulled wine, taking a slow sip before he answered, "If I had managed to acquire a coney through the selling of potions, why would I share the strategy by which I gained such capital?"
"Not even with an old friend?" asked Enitan pleadingly.
Severus toyed with his wine glass. He could get a lot out of this if he played his cards right. Smirking slightly, he said, "Enitan, there is no strategy. I simply saved."
Enitan scoffed, and Severus knew that the other man would be bribing him for months to come.
After he'd managed to extract himself from Enitan's presence, Severus made his way back to his hotel room. He had just taken off his outer robes and started to unpack, when he heard a knock at his window.
A knock at his twelfth story window.
Pulling out his wand, Severus cautiously pointed it at the drapery. Flicking open the curtain with a wave of his wand, Severus was met with the sight of a flying Ford Anglia, and Harry waving happily from the front passenger seat, a package clutched in his hand and the door wide open.
Rushing over to the window and throwing it ajar, Severus yelled, "What do you think you're doing?!"
Harry moved and Severus leant forward before he could think. Throwing out his arms, he caught Harry, his heart pounding in his chest as he simultaneously caught a glimpse of the ground below; it was a very, very long way down. Pulling Harry through the window, Severus set him safely down on the carpet and immediately checked him over for injuries before he began his lecture.
Sucking in a breath to prepare himself for one of the longest, angriest speeches he would ever give, Severus was interrupted by the bored drawl of Draco Malfoy.
"Hurry it up," called Draco from behind Harry. "My father's party is at ten."
Severus turned away from Harry to stare at the car, and found Draco sitting calmly behind the wheel, while Ronald Weasley sat white-faced and stiff in the backseat. From the look of pure terror on his face, Severus surmised the car belonged to his father. Severus wasn't sure what was more impressive - that Harry had managed to find a flying car, or that he'd managed to get a Malfoy and a Weasley together in such a tight space without a fight breaking out. Either way, he knew this was one story that Lucius would not be hearing from him.
"I accidentally took one of your potion ingredients!" Harry was saying, his hands holding out a small package. "It was also in a blue vial, right next to my potions."
Wordlessly, Severus took the package and opened it to find the Congo sweat. He'd mistakenly packaged it in a bottle that looked similar to Harry's Permanency Potion vials. With a sigh, he said, "You couldn't simply send me an owl?"
Harry blinked as if such a thought had never entered his head. "And risk the potion being damaged?"
It was a valid point, but still not the proper response to such a crisis. "No, to send a message to me to come collect the vial. I can Apparate."
"Oh," said Harry, his jubilant face falling.
If Draco and the Weasley boy hadn't been watching, Severus would've patted Harry on his now-furry head. Instead, he kept his expression stern and said, "I don't want to see you here ever again. You will stay at the Burrow until I return to collect you. Is that clear?"
Harry pouted, but nodded. Severus could almost see his invisible ears falling to his shoulders.
Leading Harry to the window, Severus cast a spell to create an invisible walkway. After helping Harry back into the car, he cast every single protection spell of which he could think. Harry wouldn't be able to leave the car for another hour, but he could now survive any accident. Once Harry was safely in place, Severus turned his attention to the other boys. To the Weasley, he asked, "Does your mother know where you are and what you're doing?"
Sinking into the seat as if he could disappear into the leather, Weasley gulped audibly and said, "No, sir."
Still speaking in the same tone that made weaker students shake, Severus asked, "And where are your parents?"
"Sleeping, sir," squeaked the Weasley.
Mrs Weasley would punish the boy far worse than he ever could. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "See that you tell her before I do."
The pale face nodded rapidly.
Draco impatiently tapped the steering wheel and Severus knew from the bored expression on his face that the boy was quite pleased with himself. Only Draco had the skill (and magic) necessary to pull off the complex spells that were currently helping to hide the car from Muggle eyes.
Giving Draco a cool look, Severus asked, "Does your father know where you are?"
Draco admitted, "Not exactly. I was at Quidditch practice at Nott's house when Harry's letter came."
Quickly, Harry stated, "It was quicker to send the owl to him rather than you."
Severus didn't believe that was the primary reason why Draco received the owl instead of him, but let it pass.
"I figured," continued Draco, "that you needed the potion straightaway, so I followed the owl back to the Burrow and organised the trip."
Draco was the sort who would claim credit even where none was due, but Severus didn't doubt that he'd been the primary one responsible.
He ordered, "Take Weasley and Harry back to the Burrow straightaway. Don't even think of making a side trip."
"I won't," said Draco. "I need to head back anyway to get ready for my father's party."
"Which only you will attend."
Rolling his eyes, Draco said, "As if a Weasley and a . . . Harry would be invited to attend."
Satisfied, Severus said, "I will see you again in a week, but for now, you will return Harry and that car."
Draco's eyes narrowed, but he gave no other reaction to the veiled promise of future punishment. He kicked it into gear and soared off, hitting the gas far more than was actually necessary. A few days should be more than enough time for Draco to start worrying over what Severus had planned for him. Lucius had requested that Severus leave all discipline of Draco to him, but the boy didn't know that, and there was plenty Severus could do that wasn't technically discipline.
Turning away from the window, Severus shut the curtains.
It was rare that he undressed without help from an eager Harry, and even more strange to be in bed alone. Although he'd slept alone in bed for as long as he could remember, it didn't feel right to not have Harry's warm body snuggled up against his own. Even when he considered all that he could have done with the money he'd have if he hadn't bought the coney, Harry was still worth every single last Knut he had paid.