Love Potion No. 13

Chapter 13

Harry hadn’t slept a wink last night, and had stared blankly up at the poster of England’s all women Quidditch team in the nude that was taped to the roof of the twin’s bedroom. At the first sign of movement downstairs Harry had taken the opportunity to get up and was rewarded by a morning hug and kiss from Mrs. Weasley who told him to go sit in the living room and share out the presents Santa had left. Harry had given up believing in Santa a long time ago, but Mrs. Weasley wouldn’t hear of it and still addressed all her presents ‘from Santa’. Gradually the house had awoken from their slumber and soon the living room was filled with eager red heads tearing into their presents with enthusiasm. Harry had blushed profusely when Charlie had emerged from upstairs, dressed in only a low-slung pair of boxer shorts and a torn singlet. The excitement of the day however soon drove last night’s episode from his mind and before he knew it he was outside in the icy morning wind trying out Ron’s new book of hexes for the hilariously insane.

Harry didn’t think much about what had happened the night before with Charlie until the fire roared into life in the Weasley’s kitchen around noon and two familiar figures stepped out dusting soot from their traveling cloaks. Dumbledore and Snape had arrived; the elder of the two wizards carrying a tray full of short bread and Snape bundled up with hideously outrageously wrapped presents. The instant Snape had his bearings from the floo trip his gaze sought out Harry sitting at the kitchen table, and almost immediately Harry felt guilt consume him like a torrent. With his heart in his mouth Harry smiled weakly at the professor before excusing himself to go to the bathroom before anything could be said. Surely Snape knew. If it hadn’t been as plain as the expression on Harry’s face. And while Harry knew it shouldn’t matter it did in more ways than one. Harry hid upstairs in the bathroom for as long as he dared before finally creeping downstairs to find everyone sitting around the magically elongated dining room table filled with food.

“Ah Harry, wonderful timing we were just going to send Charlie up to get you. Too much brandy last night love?” Harry blushed as Mrs. Weasley gestured to a seat that had been left vacant for him beside Snape. Avoiding meeting Snape’s gaze Harry sat down at the table as everyone began to help themselves to the feast.

“Brandy Potter, I’m surprised you had taste still left to enjoy such a drink after consuming six years worth of those hideous creations from Honeydukes.” Harry looked up from his mashed potato and turkey to smile weakly at Snape’s joke still avoiding eye contact with the elder wizard. Charlie sat opposite them at the table and was engrossed in conversation with Dumbledore as he sucked chicken wings clean of meat. What ever had happened between them last night certainly didn’t appear to be affecting Charlie.

“Pumpkin punch.” Harry muttered by way of explanation causing Snape to roll his eyes, at the defilement of brandy with sweet children’s punch.

“So are we going flying this evening?” Snape swilled his mouthful down with a glass of Mr. Weasley’s homemade fire whisky, his attempts at small talk failing miserably.

“Um, maybe not.” Harry muttered into his gravy soaked brussel sprout.

“No? Please tell me this trip will not be entirely wasted, it took me three attempts at finding something in my wardrobe that Albus deemed suitably festive for the occasion.” Finally Harry glanced up having not taken much notice of what Snape was wearing. What shocked him the most however was not the royal blue robe with gold piping, or the slim fitting pants and dragon hide boots the elder wizard wore, but the sparkle of dust that illuminated the professors face. Whoever, or what ever had sprinkled Snape entirely with sparkling dust. Harry went to say something but a swift kick from under the table made him instantly shut his mouth. Glancing over to his left Harry smiled at the twin grins of mischief that George and Fred threw his way. Harry nodded in understanding and turned back to Snape who was patting his mouth clean with a napkin having had his fill of dinner.

“You look nice.” Harry whispered coyly as he drank from his lemonade.

“Thank-you I’m surprised it still fit me after 10 years of sitting in my trunk unworn.” Snape pushed his dinner plate aside and reached for a clean bowl to help himself to cherry pie and cream. “So are we going flying or not?” Snape inquired again showing no indication that he knew what Harry had done with Charlie. Harry relaxed a little and nodded in agreement as he too helped himself to cherry pie.

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“Left, Left, Right, Ahead, Ahead, Ahead, Left, Harry watch out for the….” Snape winced painfully as there was such a clatter and thump as Harry ran into the Weasley’s backyard shed. Dropping his night vision glasses Snape hurried over to the bottom of the garden where Harry was a twisted pile of arms and legs on the grass. “Metallic surfaces have a different pitch Potter, you have to listen for the changes.” Snape grumbled as he reached down and helped Harry up from the grass.

“This isn’t easy.” Harry snapped losing his temper quickly with his inability to navigate using his bat senses and not his vision. “Why can’t we just fly during the day?”

“Because we’re sitting ducks during the day Potter. Besides echo navigation is an important part of being a bat and you have to learn to use it whether flying during the day or at night.” Snape snapped. They’d been practicing all evening in the Weasley’s back yard while those in the house had been playing Charades and telling ghost stories. It was clear that Harry had had enough, and so Snape sighed and walked them back over to the picnic table they’d been using as their guide point. “It was better that time around Potter.” Snape sat down on the seat as Harry hopped up to sit on the table top beside him. “So what did Santa bring you?” Snape inquired after a length silence between them. Harry laughed and rolled his eyes.

“Socks, jocks, jumpers and jeans. I think Mrs. Weasley believes I needed some new clothes.” Harry chuckled as he continued. “I got a new set of chess pieces from Ron, and a password diary from Hermione, oh and a dragon tooth neck chain from Charlie.” Harry drew the chain out from beneath his jumper and showed it to Snape who looked at it critically before nodding in approval.

“Very nice, Charlie has good taste.” Harry didn’t detect the hint of bitterness in Snape’s tone as he continued.

“Yeah he does. Apparently it’s from a Hungarian Horntail they moved last month, it fell out in transit and Charlie thought it was fitting for me to have it.” Harry fingered the pearly white tooth around his neck for a while before tucking it back into his jumper for safe keeping.

“Charlie Weasley seems to take an avid interest into your well being.” Snape’s tone had cooled somewhat with the topic of Charlie and Harry looked concerned up at the elder wizard. “I was under the impression the second Weasley son preferred woman.” Snape spat bitterly as he stared out into the night sky his lips thin in irritation and his brow furrowed in jealousy.

“What does it matter who he prefers? You’re not jealous are you?” Harry knew he’d said the wrong thing when Snape turned on him, his eyes flashing dangerously in the darkness.

“Jealousy is not a weakness of mine Potter, and I couldn’t care less whom you do or do not fraternize with even if it is with a selfish, unpredictable Weasley.” Snape spat in disgust as he went to get up from the table and return to the house. Harry was quicker though and grabbed hold of Snape’s arm pulling the man to a halt and making him snap back to glare at Harry challengingly.

“He kissed me.” Harry announced calmly as he stared into Snape’s onyx eyes that sparked dangerously at Harry’s declaration.

“Congratulations, another notch on the belt of the dragon slayer.” Snape spat into Harry’s face the pair of them mere inches apart, so that the mist of their breath in the cold air met between them in a water cloud.

“Are you afraid I’ll say no.” Harry queried pointedly ignoring Snape’s sarcastic barbs with practiced ease.

“I don’t need your permission Potter, if I wanted it I’d take it.” Snape snapped dangerously the truth of his statement hitting Harry harder than he realized. Indeed for their own magic to mature they had only to spend one night together, no declarations of love, no soppy romance or foreplay just quick, brutal sex and the 38 years Snape had been waiting for his magic to mature would be over. Before he could lose his nerve however Harry reached forward and with his hand twisted in the collar of Snape’s robe dragged the man’s cold lips to his own. Snape didn’t struggle or fight back but neither did he reciprocate the kiss. Harry was at a loss as to what to do having only ever shared the one passionate kiss with Charlie the night before. Closing his eyes Harry tried to remember what Charlie had done to him but the moment’s hesitation had Snape pulling away from him and stepping back from the table.

“If that’s the best you’ve got Potter you can keep it.” With an evil smirk Snape turned and headed back towards the house leaving Harry fuming on the picnic table. How dare Snape insult him, how dare he compare him with everyone else he’d had, and how dare the bastard just walk off… Angry Harry slid off the table and ran to catch up with Snape who was already in the living room about to pour himself a brandy. Ignoring the strange looks from his surrogate family Harry stormed up to Snape and with a forceful push slammed the elder wizard into the wall, shaking the paintings and candleholders. Snape went to reach for his wand surprised by the attack but before he could move Harry had taken a rough hold of the man’s dark hair and dragged his lips down to meet his own. This time Harry didn’t hold back and with firm bite of Snape’s bottom lip Harry thrust his tongue deep into the older wizards mouth. The difference was instant as Snape’s tongue met Harry’s in a clash of saliva, robbing them both of breath as they fought for dominance.

Finally after what seemed like forever Harry let go of Snape’s hair and rocked back onto the flat of his feet, his lips parting from Snape’s in a breathy gasp. Snape’s gaze was already firmly fixed on Harry when the boy eventually opened his eyes, his lips still parted and a dribble of spit clinging to his lower lip. There was a moments silence between them Snape’s expression unreadable but when the swollen, red lips of the elder wizard turned up into an amused twitch Harry lost it.

“OH FUCK YOU!” Harry screamed and spun around to storm upstairs leaving Snape leant against the wall, brandy dripping down his arm and a thin trail of blood running down his chin from Harry’s savage bite.

“Severus, he’s a boy.” Finally coming back to himself a little Snape became aware of the twelve pairs of eyes staring at him some more shocked than others. Albus voice was the first to break the silence and Snape glanced casually across to the headmaster who was looking at him gravely over the top of his glasses.

“He’s also my mate Albus, and if he wants to remain that way he has to learn a few things….” Drinking the inch of brandy that he’d managed to save in his glass Snape put it aside and turned to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. “Thank-you Arthur, Molly for inviting me to dinner, it was wonderful as usual.” Molly and Arthur nodded in polite thanks as Snape turned to Charlie who’d been casually propped up in the window seat watching the entire show with a smug amused smile on his face. “Charlie if you touch Harry again I’ll break every bone in your body understood?” Charlie’s smug smirk faded and the second Weasley son nodded obediently, having remembered Snape’s truthful cold glare from school. “And Albus, I’ll see you tomorrow…” With a flippant smile over his shoulder Snape strode from the living room and up the stairs of the Weasley’s house. Harry Potter didn’t know what was going to hit him in the next few hours…

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>