The Journey Cycle pt 1: Europe *pt 1 now complete*

12

Sometime the next morning, Harry woke to a gentle tongue probing his mouth and parted his lips further to receive more of it, feeling the plunge and remembering, in his sleepy haze to breathe through his nose as desire rose quickly and he was as rock-hard as a hormonal teenager under the ministrations of his beloved who always reduced him to a horny jelly in moments.

He arched into the kiss, pressing their bodies together and making his lover groan aloud as Severus slid over him and settled between Harry’s wantonly spread thighs and pushed slightly, grinning around Harry’s tongue dancing against his, tangoing in his mouth. They made noise, slight and needy, clutching at each other as Harry rolled them over and whispered his want into his lover’s ear, straddling him and pressing their hardnesses together then looked into the fathomless black eyes beneath him all half-closed and glazed with desire.

“Fuck me, my Harry”, gasped out of a shy smile before their tongues met again and Harry ground them together again, the heat and passion mounting as he fished for the lube and prepared his man amidst sultry smiles and half-closed eyes, hands reaching up his back and clutching the firm flesh of his arse pulling him closer. Harry capitulated even while he led, pushing his lover’s legs wide, so open, so wanting before positioning himself and in a single thrust, he was deep inside as only seasoned lovers could be and they rocked and pushed and thrust and laughed and kissed until Harry raised up onto his hands and pounded and ploughed and almost but not quite hurt, Severus going spare beneath him, begging and needing, wanting so much, opening wider, his head tipping back, the fucking and the friction enough, the angle doing the right thing making him cry out with each incursion into his inner depths. So this was what real love was all about as he was ridden, his depths plunged until the knot within him unravelled and he gritted his teeth as Harry made him shriek aloud and come in soft ropy strands of cream that soaked them both and he felt Harry fill him totally, wonderfully, utterly, as he was fucked completely, his hips lifted wantonly, his head tossing from side to side as jet after jet of come invaded the deepest parts of him and he relaxed, smiling inanely into his lover’s deep green eyes, a look of such love and adoration as he had never bestowed on anyone else before. Harry was truly the love of his life and Severus Snape was, in that moment, totally lost and he knew that Harry was fully cognisant of that and he didn’t give a damn, giving it all up to the love of his life.

As they recovered, Severus held Harry tight to him and whispered, “Somehow, ‘I love you’ doesn’t even come close to how I feel right now. Is there something for twenty, no, a hundred times bigger than that?” Harry grinned and bit his lower lip, “I know just what you mean, lover. Words are so inadequate sometimes”, his hoarse whisper replied and he knew then that neither of them had felt this for their former lovers, however much they had loved in the past. This was a whole order of magnitude away from that, incredible, indescribable, delicious, beautiful, transcendental, earth-shattering, and it wasn’t about the sex, the love-making but something bigger than both of them, something that threatened to swallow them whole.

Harry murmured, “This is how I feel about the sea and the stars, bigger than mere me and you. Just, I don’t know, bigger”. And Severus was just as inarticulate before the force of it all, “Yes”, was all that he could say, as he wrapped his beloved in his arms, lost for words, lost in his love, lost in those warm arms, lost forever.

****

The first thing they noticed about Venice was the smell, brackish, slightly rotten and on the edge of foul, the scent of water too much used, that peculiar backwaterish aroma that made both of them gag slightly. Harry had booked them a parking spot in a garage just above the waterline beneath the apartment that they had rented. They parked up and packed up what they would need for the next fortnight including the rest of the fruit that they still had left from the Villa Zabini, an afterthought of Harry’s that meant that Bessie wouldn’t stink when they reclaimed her again. Harry carefully packed the laptop and all the accompanying bits and pieces and they entered the building dragging wheeled suitcases behind them. The concierge greeted them cordially and led them to their new quarters, gave them their keys and bowed out politely after being generously tipped.

They were in the oldest part of the city in one of the most exclusive apartment blocks and Severus marvelled at the apartment Harry had obtained for them in a part of an ancient palazzo. The five rooms were beautifully appointed with tall windows and marble floors, a huge four-poster gracing the bedroom, massive ancient furniture in the other rooms that was dwarfed by the sheer size of the place. Harry sure knew how to pick the best accommodation and Severus grabbed his lover to him in a kiss of appreciation. Travel like paupers they may do, but the places that Harry found for them to stay were always a definite cut above the rest.

They marvelled at the size of the rooms, the tiling and decor, the massive bathroom. They checked out the welcome baskets in the kitchen full of fresh food to see them through their first couple of days. Harry laughed joyfully as he threw himself down on the massive chaise longue and stared at the wavery light from the canal below their balconies as it reflected on the ceilings of their rooms, this place was truly sumptuous and must have cost a small fortune to rent. Harry flung his arms wide when Severus mentioned this to be told, “Nothing but the very best for you, my love”, and Severus bit his lower lip as he melted into Harry’s arms and they took time to hold each other tight before bathing and changing and setting out to explore.

“This place is incredible, Harry. How do you do it?”, Severus murmured, leaning over his lover. Harry grinned, “Well, we could stay in hotels but I like the freedom of having our own place, no dinner schedules, we can leave the place in whatever state we like and we know that the cleaners only come in once a day in the afternoons when we are likely to be out anyway. I just prefer it this way”. Then he frowned, “Would you prefer the hotel lifestyle? Sorry, love, never thought to ask”. Severus rained kisses on his lover’s face, “Don’t be silly, I much prefer this, although I have never stayed in that many hotels, truth be told, but I would imagine that the lifestyle is much more regimented”. Harry smiled again, “Yup. This way, we do what we want when we want, remember, travellers rather than tourists. Admittedly, this place cost an arm and a leg, but the nearest we would have got to this in a hotel wouldn’t have bought us nearly this level of luxury in terms of space or proximity to the centre of things. Sure, we would be waited on hand and foot but I think it’s better this way”. Severus descended for another of those bone-melting kisses and agreed totally, “I love you so much”, he murmured, as they rolled around on the large chaise, “And you are so right”.

They lay together and watched the play of the reflections on the ceiling, listening to the singers on the gondolas below them serenading the couples who were their passengers until Severus turned for more kisses to find Harry asleep beside him. He smiled, “Poor love, driving really tires you, doesn’t it?”, he murmured, disentangling himself, his stomach growling and went in search of food for them both. The kitchen held a fridge full of all sorts of delicacies that either came with the accommodations or else Harry had ordered it for their first night, possibly mindful of how tired he would be on their arrival and Severus threw them together a meal leaving his beloved asleep as he puttered about.

He dragged over a small table on which he placed a trayful of food before seating himself again and kissing his beloved awake. He took a moment to look down at Harry’s sleeping face noting the small wrinkles around his eyes that cleared in sleep, the slight smile that played with his still-lush mouth, the splayed open posture of his body that made Severus bite his lower lip to see before Harry yawned and those luscious green eyes opened again, the wide trusting smile that Harry gave him as he woke again, “Mmmm, I smell food, I’m starving”, he murmured sleepily as he rubbed at his eyes and sat up, Severus handing him the glasses he’d removed, watching him as he pushed them up his nose, before he contemplated the simple fish and salad meal that he had prepared. Ye Gods, he loved this man and let it show as he sat beside him and dished food onto two plates, handing Harry one, watching as his lover fell on his food with gusto, even while he apologised for crashing out. Severus shook his head, “Never apologise for being tired, silly. After all, you do all of the driving, it’s the least I can do”.

They ate in a companionable silence side by side, Harry dipping into the bowls of salad, drizzling it with the vinaigrette dressing. Severus had always enjoyed feeding others. Remus had always enjoyed the food that he prepared but never with as much sheer enthusiasm that Harry displayed, eating like a fifteen year old, but with a forty year old’s sensibility, relishing every mouthful.

He covertly watched him eat as he himself partook, loving him all the more until Harry collapsed back against the cushions declaring himself replete, his hands over his belly. Severus cleared away, leaving the pots in the sink to be attended to later. They both checked out the bathroom and enjoyed a nice long, loving bath together before dressing and heading off into the night together hand in hand.

Venice was not a particularly large city and they just walked about on their first night. There was time enough to do the tourist thing during the daylight hours but for now they just walked, over bridges and along narrow cobbled streets, dipping into bars for a pastis or two before venturing on. This was not particularly a city for clubbing but neither cared as they held hands and strolled mingling with the rest of the tourists in an equally meandering mood. They would stop at the apex of bridges to watch the gondolas below them, saving the experience of them for later. Harry glanced at his lover’s profile as they observed, he had plans for a gondola trip further into their stay but not tonight. He could feel tiredness creep up on him again and after a while requested that they make their way back to their apartment, “Stay out if you want, love, but I’m a bit knackered”. Severus wouldn’t hear of it, “No, darling. Let’s head back. I’m a bit tired myself. We’ll have an early night and see this place by daylight”, he murmured, to feel Harry’s head lean on his shoulder and they strolled back, their arms around each other. In a quiet alley, Severus gathered Harry to him for a long languorous kiss before they reached their building and let themselves back in. They stripped each other and made sleepy love in their new bed before Harry’s lights went out, Severus holding him tight as his love slept with a slight smile.

Although both woke early next day, Harry still seemed tired so they took it easy. Harry apologised to his lover to have his apologies batted aside, “Harry, don’t be daft. We’ll take this at whatever pace you like”, to see Harry’s frown. “Sorry, my Sev. I don’t know why I’m this tired, must be all this driving or something, but I need a day off, just relaxing and eating. Go out if you want, just leave me here to sleep some more”. Severus laughed, “No. I’m staying with you. We do this together. You relax, lover, let me take care of you”, and Harry revelled in this, “No-one has ever cared for me like this”, he whispered as he rolled over in his lover’s arms and slept again, held tight against Severus’ long body after a delicious breakfast of ham and croissants.

Severus looked down into that sleepy tired face and knew true love quite unlike anything he had ever known before and indulged his lover to the hilt. So he was tired and needed rest, so he would be there for him. It was the least he could do, although he entertained the odd sneaking feeling that showed up in daymares, that Harry was suffering from the same illness that took their previous lovers from them but Harry gave the lie to this, waking after dark full of beans once more, before fucking his beloved under the shower making Severus cry out loud, moaning as he came inside him then they both dressed and headed out into the night. Severus breathed a secret sigh of relief as his Harry came back to him, energised again.

That night they sought out a restaurant that had been recommended to them by the ladies to whom they had given a lift to previously and found that it met all of their expectations, grinning at each other across the table as they fed each other on the delicious cuisine of fish and fresh produce with truffles shaved over the food at the table. There were more impassioned kisses in dark alleys as they made their way back to the apartment and Harry was definitely more in the mood as they made love that night in the dark with the light reflecting off the water bouncing off the ceiling in their rooms and both howled their ecstasy to the rafters. Severus was relieved, although he said nothing of his fears to Harry, just holding on tight as they came down and shared a delicious afterglow, chuckling into each other’s mouths as their tongues tangled together.

Severus awoke to an empty bed the next day and rose to join Harry on their balcony, “This is more or less the same scene that Tintoretto painted hundreds of years ago”, was Harry’s first comment as they kissed good morning. They held each other and watched the early morning light rise along the Grand Canal, Severus totally besotted with his lover in that moment.

They bathed and set out to meet the day.

They indulged fully in tourist heaven which seemed to mainly comprise of churches and other Christian holy sites although they treated themselves to viewing many Tintorettos and Titians which pleased Severus no end although both groused a little at the sheer amounts of people and the press of bodies in the narrow streets. Harry shot loads of footage on his little videcam determined to send some news to Hermione who he hadn’t spoken to for some days. They wound their way to the post office and picked up the mail that Hermione had sent, true to form, in an envelope written in her own hand that contained a letter written on parchment.

They repaired to a pavement cafe for coffee and pastries while Harry perused the document. He shook his head as he passed it over to Severus. “It’s all in Spanish”, his lover declared before Harry took it back and translated. “She’s glad that I got in touch and asks that, for my own safety, that I do not do so again, but she has requested that Frau Drescher step up her lessons in defence and Occlumency as I suggested and has told me.....Oh, bugger”. Harry’s face paled as Severus leaned into him. “What is it, Harry?” Harry let out a long breath, “Salazar. I should have realised. A name of Spanish origin. I think that de Santos reckons that he’s another descendant. It looks like we have another heir on our hands. I need to speak to Hermione tonight. It may not be about any of this stuff that we have been researching, just about another who thinks that he can take over where Riddle left off. Damn!!” They both sat in silence as this was digested.

They managed some food at a restaurant that boasted the best seafood cuisine in Venice which turned out to be no more than mediocre, the food over-oiled and the vegetables cooked for too long, before heading back to the apartment. Harry quickly set up the laptop and plugged into the phone line. He entered in the user name and passwords that the agents had given him before setting up his own and connected to his own account, then dialled up his best friend.

In short order he had Hermione on the line, welcoming her smiling face as she appeared on camera on the live feed and quickly apprised her as to the contents of Graciela’s letter. “Shit, another descendant of the heir of Salazar Slytherin?” Harry nodded, “The very same. It would appear that he will do anything to avenge the perceived wrongs perpetrated against his family line. Why is it that Magicals are so obsessed with lineage?” He watched his best friend frown, “Dunno, Harry, but blood will out, it seems, and we have another madman to carry it all on. Damn!!”, she exclaimed, before sighing, “At least, it only seems to go this deep and no further. I was afraid that it would connect into all these other groups. I hope to fuck that we are wrong on this, but we will continue our researches at this end, just in case”.

Their conversation drifted into more pleasant areas as Harry uploaded the footage that he had recorded that day, “Bloody hell, Harry, you’re in Venice, I’m so jealous. The most romantic place on the planet”. She was silent as she viewed the images that were streaming to her, “It looks lovely”, was her breathless comment. Harry grinned at her, “Yeah, but it smells weird, like water that has been over-used, if you see what I mean. There’s a real brackish smell to everything here”. He continued with his travelogue and Severus drifted off into another room, Harry glad of the privacy.

Hermione asked, “So, how are you and Severus getting on?”. Harry blushed so even she could see it, hundreds of miles away. “Bloody great, since you ask”, he replied in a low voice. “Fuck, ‘Mione, I’d marry the guy if I could, I love him so much”. He watched as Hermione’s eyebrows rose, “You can you know, Harry. Gay partnerships have been allowed in this country for many years now”. Harry was shocked, “You’re kidding, right?” Hermione shook her head, “Why would I joke about something like this?” Harry was amazed and cast a look behind him, Severus was out on the balcony enjoying the view, and he whispered, “You really mean this?” and Hermione laughed, “I thought you knew. In Britain, gays have been able to solemnise their relationships for years now”. Harry sighed, “Never thought about it as Drae was already married and never divorced his wife to make sure that his sons were properly taken care of, and they were under the conditions of his will, but, ‘Mione, are you sure about this?”

She chuckled at his tone, “Absolutely. Are you sure, Harry? After all, Draco has only been gone just over eighteen months”. Harry set his mouth in a thin line, “Yeah, totally sure. Despite what I had with my Drae, Sev’s the love of my life. It’s as if everything has been leading up to this”, he whispered, overawed, blinking back tears. Hermione tipped her head on one side and whispered back, “You really mean this, don’t you? Are you sure it’s not just the romance of the travelling and everything?”, and watched her best friend nod over the tiny webcam. “I’m sure, ‘Mione. I’m sure. He’s the love I’ve wanted all my life. Even at his best, Drae never loved me like this and neither did I”, he wiped tears away. Hermione smiled, “So ask him. You couldn’t be in a better place for the perfect romantic proposal”. Harry was stunned as he bid her goodnight and closed the connection.

Severus found him a while later sat with his head buried in his hands and tears flowing down his face. In an instant he knelt beside him and took his lover into his arms, “Is everything all right, Harry? Have you had bad news from home?” Harry wiped his face and smiled through his tears, “No, it’s just something that Hermione told me, that’s all”, he sniffled. Severus frowned, “Then why the tears?” Harry laughed, “Sev, how much do you know about gay relationship solemnisation?”. The man looked confused and shook his head, “I’m not sure I understand, Harry. As far as I know, same-sex couples exist outside the law and always have done. Why?” Harry giggled and wiped at his face with his hands, “Apparently, that’s not so according to Hermione, it’s been law for years and I trust her knowledge, you know what she’s like?” Severus’ frown deepened, he was confused.

Harry took his lover’s face between his hands and looked straight into his eyes, “Severus Snape. Will you marry me?”

The coal-black eyes widened and he whispered, “Are you sure you want this?” Harry grinned through his tears and planted a kiss on his lover’s nose, “Yes, my love. I want to be yours and I want you to be mine for the rest of our lives”. He held his breath while he watched the play of emotions across his beloved’s face, uncertainty, a little fear, then his eyes turned back to Harry’s full of love and conviction, “Yes”, he stated simply. “Yes, I do want to marry you, with all of my heart and soul. If we can really do this then I want you forever”. Harry’s smile was incandescent as he gathered his love to him and kissed him with feeling, “Mine forever. Yours forever, Mr Potter-Snape”, then bit his lip uncertainly, his eyes shining. Severus could feel the tears start from his gut and let them fall, Harry wiping at them with his fingers, before hugging Harry with main force, “Yes, yes, yes, Mr Potter-Snape, be mine for ever”. They blinked once and Harry hauled Severus to his feet and into his lap. “Does this mean we are officially engaged? I have no ring for you but I really do want you for all of my life. Will you have me?”. Severus held him so tight, “Yes, my Harry, my own. Be mine forever”, and they both cried happy tears as they held each other gazing besottedly into each other’s eyes.

Their love-making was slow and considered that night sealing the union between them. As they returned to planet Earth, Harry murmured, “Mi fidanzato”, and Severus replied, “I love you, fiance, love of my life”, before they both grinned like idiots and passed out in each other’s arms, the reflections of the water rippling on the ceiling of their bedroom.