Tequila

Severus was awakened about 45 minutes later by a weak knock on the door to his private chambers. Looking at Harry, still naked, curled up tightly beside him, Severus realised he’d fallen asleep in the afterglow.

// Shit //

Severus was late for breakfast, it was already 7.45 am and he was always down early. Severus stood up and rubbed his eyes, wondering what had woken him. He was startled, then, when there was another tentative knock on his door. Checking himself quickly in the mirror to make sure he looked decent, (“Don’t you look well fucked!!” it told him,) he fixed his normal scowl to his face before opening the door to see who was bothering him.

He moved forward swiftly when something small and blonde came hurtling through the door. Catching Draco Malfoy in his arms, he quickly turned and carried him to his sofa. The boy was in a worse state than usual, almost unconscious, bruised and bloody. It was a mark of how bad he was that his hair, which was always immaculate, was matted with blood and standing up all over the place.

Having settled the boy on the couch and covered him with a blanket, Severus began healing the worst of the mess that he could. He was no Madame Pomfrey, but Draco was reluctant to see the medi-witch about these attacks.

// Proud, arrogant boy. He knows she can fix this better than I can. //

Draco was like his father in so many ways: superior, self-indulgent, arrogant. He didn’t want anyone to know that he was being regularly attacked because he wanted to remain cock of the walk, didn’t want anyone to know he had any kind of weakness. Severus was tied in his own dealings with Draco. As his mentor and house head, he was the person Draco came to with his problems. Severus was supposed to report things like this to Dumbledore, but after Draco had begged him repeatedly not to, Severus had been reluctant to break his confidence. Despite the fact that Draco had not taken the dark mark and had fought on the side of good during the war, he still didn’t really trust Dumbledore, and Severus didn’t want to take away the only person the boy felt he could talk to.

Severus sighed as the bruises started fading and the cuts slowly receded. The boy would still have his unquestionable beauty, and his pride. It was a bit of a catch 22 for Severus and he had spent the time since the war arguing with himself about what was best.

As Draco began to stir, Severus realised he still had a very sleepy, very naked Harry Potter in his bed, and how that would look to Draco if Harry came looking for Severus. Pulling the blanket up to Draco\'s chin and humming ‘I Feel Pretty’ to calm the boy, Severus made his way to his bed chamber.

Sticking his head round the door, he saw that Harry had kicked the covers off and was lying on his stomach, spread eagled, arse on display for the world to see. Severus chuckled quietly. The boy really had no modesty.

// Well neither would I have if I had an arse like that!! //

He lifted the quilt off the floor and placed it over Harry, feeling him awaken.

“Harry,” he whispered, “I’ve got Draco in the front room, so don’t come out till I say its ok.”

Sleepy green eyes met his, and Harry nodded his head before resting it back on the pillow and dozing off again.

This was not good. He had to sort out Draco in time to get Harry up for classes, have a cup of coffee and another shower before he himself could go to classes and he had to do it all in an hour.

// This is what happens when you let down your mask of indifference. //

Severus went back to Draco who was now awake and lying quite comfortably on his sofa. Heating some coffee from the breakfast he had ordered earlier, he handed it to Draco and then settled on the end of the couch for his regular argument with the boy.

“So, same people then?”

Draco looked at Severus. There was something kind of gleeful in his eyes.

“Yes, sir. I know who it is this time. They were still wearing the masks, but I definitely recognised Harry Potter.” Draco had a triumphant look on his face, one that said, more than anything else that he was almost happy he’d been attacked this morning. Again, despite the fact that Draco was a good guy, the rivalries and bitterness of 7 years had never really gone between the two. And although they had stood together during the battle, once it was over, the hatred had returned.

Schooling his face into its normal scowl, Severus was hard pressed to keep his emotions down.

“And how do you know it was Harry Potter if he was wearing a mask?”

Severus had to be careful. All his Slytherins knew of the decline in animosity between Harry and Severus, but Severus still had to maintain his favouritism for his own house. And certainly none of them could find out about the growing feelings he had for the-boy-who-lived.

“I recognised his eyes, sir. He has those really green eyes, and since he had his sight fixed before the war, they’re even more obvious than before.”

Severus had to reign in a little surge of jealousy.

// How dare Draco notice his eyes. Those eyes belong to me. //

“When did this attack take place Draco?”

“This morning, sir. On the way to breakfast. About 15 mins before I arrived here.”

// Bugger bugger bugger bugger. //

Now this was a problem. Severus knew for a fact that Harry had nothing to do with the attack, because Harry happened to have his lovely naked body wrapped around Severus 15 minutes before Draco arrived. However there was no way to disprove Harry’s involvement in the attack without detailing their relationship. Because if asked, no-one would be able to say they saw Harry this morning.

// Fuck!!!!!! //

You’re sure you couldn’t have made a mistake Draco? Lots of people have green eyes, not just Harry.”

Draco’s own eyes narrowed. This was the second time he’d heard Professor Snape use Harry’s first name instead of his surname. He decided he wasn’t going to let the slip pass this time like he did last time.

As soon as he saw the tightening in Draco\'s face, Severus realised what he’d said.

// The shit has really fucking hit the fan now!! //

“Draco….”

“Sir, that’s the second time you’ve referred to Potter as Harry. And you’ve been defending him this morning. Has something changed?”

// What the FUCK do I say now? //

“Draco, some things between myself and Harry have changed. We have become friends since the war. If you were any other student, I would say it was none of your business, but you and I have been close and I don’t want you blaming Harry for something he didn’t do and I don’t want you to think you cant come to me anymore, especially when I am defending him.” Severus rubbed his hand over his face wearily. “I don’t know how to explain this exactly but I do know that Potter wouldn’t have had anything to do with the attacks on you.”

Draco was silent for a moment, taking this all in.

“How can you be sure, sir? I mean, you may be friends with him, but you can’t know everything about him. He might be putting on an act. He could be attacking me and pretending to you that he’s not. I know I saw him this morning.”

// I’m going to have to tell him. I don’t want to tell him. //

“Draco, be certain that Harry was not there this morning. I know for a fact he wasn’t. Trust me on this. If I had any sort of doubt about his involvement in this, I would be taking it up with him but he was definitely not there.”

Draco looked at his potions master. The man looked uncomfortable, which was a big fucking thing for a man who always wore a mask. Draco glanced at the door to Snape’s bedroom and looked quickly back at the man sat in front of him. It was all becoming clear in Draco’s head. Disgustingly, sickeningly clear.

Severus saw the look of horror as it started to cross Draco\'s face. He’d obviously guessed what was going on. Now Severus was going to have to explain everything before it got out of hand. He couldn’t risk Albus finding out that a student had spent the night in his bed with him, and it was far from innocent. Reaching out he put a hand on Draco’s arm. The boy was still looking at him in shock and horror.

“Draco, have you ever been in love?”

This was clearly not the kind of response Draco was expecting as he almost flinched and closed his eyes.

“You’re in love with him.....? With Potter?”

Severus shook his head quickly. “No, I’m not in love with him, but I do care a great deal for him. I might love him one day, that is what we’re currently trying to explore.”

Draco’s eyes drifted toward the bedroom door again.

“And he’s in there now? He’s in your bed?”

“Yes, Draco. He’s sleeping in my bed. While I feel uncomfortable talking about my sex life with a student,” Draco winced, “you must know that we are not having sex.”

Draco closed his eyes and raised a hand to his forehead. A bit dramatically.

“I’ve had too many shocks this morning Professor. I might just go back to bed, wake up in a few hours and pretend this is all a nightmare. A sick, twisted, yucky nightmare. At least then I can go back to hating Potter.”

Severus smiled gently.

“You mean you don’t hate him now?”

“How can I possibly hate him, sir? He seems to be having some kind of effect on you.” Draco’s eyes lit up. “Are you sure this isn’t a spell sir? This is just the kind of thing Potter would do.”

Severus laughed. “Yes, Draco, I’m sure this isn’t a spell. It has been coming on for quite a while now. Believe me; I had no intention of you finding out…..so soon……like this…..ever, come to think of it. But I suppose I am glad that someone knows. At least now it doesn’t seem so clandestine.”

Draco shook his head. He never thought that anything could ever surprise him more than his own decision to be a goody, but this was definitely a shock.

They talked about Severus’ relationship with Harry for a while, just to make sure that Draco was ok with it and that he wouldn’t tell anyone about it before coming back to the reason that Draco was in his rooms in the first place.

“I was so sure it was Potter that was behind that mask this morning,” Draco muttered through clenched teeth, obviously frustrated. “Are you sure he was with you the whole morning? Sorry,” he muttered quickly at Severus’ reproving look.

“I would give you a complete rundown of our morning Draco if I didn’t think it would send you running, screaming from my room.”

Draco shuddered slightly. He could see where people might consider Potter attractive, some people go for that messy, scruffy sort of look, but no matter how close he was to his teacher, he would never be able to see the man as desirable.

“No, sir. It’s ok. I believe you…. I guess. I just don’t know anyone else in the school with eyes as GREEN as that.”

“Draco, please may I speak to Professor Dumbledore about this? I know you don’t really trust him, but I do, and I can assure you that he will do his utmost to find out who is responsible for these attacks. Also if you will allow me to speak to him then we can take you to see Madame Pomfrey. I can do healing charms ok, but I want to be sure I haven’t missed anything.”

Severus spent a few minutes wheedling Draco before he finally agreed to this.

“Excellent. Come to my quarters after class and we will go and see Dumbledore together. We can go and see Madame Pomfrey before classes if you like, just to be on the safe side.”

Draco nodded his head.

“Ok, give me a few minutes while I get Harry up and off to class then we can go down to the hospital wing together.”

Draco sat back on the couch and sipped the, now stone cold, cup of coffee Severus had given him. It was weird to think of Snape and Potter in a relationship. They had been loathed enemies for years.

// Must have just been unresolved sexual tension. //

Draco watched the bedroom door open and Professor Snape lead a very sleepy boy-who-lived into the living area. Potter was yawning and rubbing his eyes, while fastening up the last few buttons on his robes. When he caught sight of Draco he started and was suddenly wide awake.

“Uh, Severus. I thought you told me it was safe to come out,” he muttered giving a very meaningful look in Draco’s direction.

“God, you really have no subtlety at all do you Potter?”

Harry didn’t reply, he simply sneered in Malfoy’s direction before turning a questioning eye on Severus.

“Harry, you’re going to be late for class. Grab some tea and toast and go to work. I’ll explain everything tonight. I’ll see if I can’t find some reason to give you a detention or something.”

Harry didn’t reply. He threw a cup of tea down his throat, grabbed a couple of slices of toast, and made his way out of the room without a word. He really wanted to kiss Severus goodbye, but there was no way he was doing that in front of Malfoy, whether he knew what was going on or not. Harry gave Severus a small smile, full of promise, and left the room.

Severus turned back to Draco. “You know, being that you two are now adults, and fought side by side in the biggest war our world has ever faced, I would think you would at least TRY to get along.”

Severus laughed out loud at the look of horror on Draco’s face.

// I might be asking too much. //

“Come on. Let’s get you to the hospital.”