A Dark Time For The Light

14

The next day, Harry rose early with his rucksack already packed. His gut clenched with nerves as he wolfed down porridge the consistency of Polyfilla. He knew he needed fuel. Draco and he had talked about this before he got up, “Why do you want to share me, Dragon?”, Harry unsure. Draco kissed him oblivious, “Come on Harry, you know I have, erm, quirks, and the thought of watching you two together...”, he was breathing hard. In the dim candle-light, Harry could see colour infusing his lover’s cheeks.

They’d shared before, in the heated exuberance of the enclosed atmosphere of School. Although he didn’t know if Ron knew, but they had shared a good few nights with Blaise, until he’d decided to be exclusive to Ron. While Harry enjoyed games, after being close to losing his Dragon for ever, he was reluctant, and they’d argued.

Sure, Harry was happy to accompany Severus. At a hard ride, it would take three days to get around all the cadres, and, secretly he was looking forward to meeting whoever else had survived. He had plans to prepare a secret census as well as assess their capability for connectivity to the Internet as per Hermione’s plan. He was a bit worried about leaving Ron after his recent episode, but Hermione had promised to keep a lid on him. He didn’t seem so deep into it, just a momentary lapse, a giving in when the opportunity was under his nose, so to speak.

He turned as he heard footsteps behind him. Severus. The taller man helped himself to porridge and sat with Harry. “So. Are you sure you want to do this?”. Harry grinned and nodded. “Yeah, I’ve done a bit of riding myself, so maybe I could help a bit with the driving. I’ve got my licence, you know”. Severus quirked a sarcastic brow, “Yeeesss”, he drawled, “And you had to be scraped up off the North Circular too, I suggest you leave the driving to me”. Harry rolled his eyes and ceded.

Kingsley let them out, locking up behind them. They ventured out into an early summer dawn. The brightness of daylight making Harry squint, “Fuck!, first time I’ve been outside since we got here”, he was smiling. They walked a few silent backstreets until they came to a line of rented garages. Severus unlocked one and threw the doors open. Harry clapped eyes on the bike and gasped. A large Honda Goldwing, with full fairing, panniers and backbox. Harry entered and walked around the machine, clearly awed. “Bloody hell, Sev, how big’s this thing?”. Severus shrugged nonchalantly, “1200cc. I like to have a fast comfy ride”.

Severus glanced sidelong at Harry, “Well, you don’t think I ride around on a flippin’ Honda 70 did you?”. He laughed at Harry’s reaction, then unlocked the backbox and handed Harry a set of Belstaff’s and a helmet. Harry rolled his eyes and joined in the laughter, “I dunno, you get leathers and I just get waxies”, he climbed into the kit. Severus stowed Harry’s pack in one of the panniers, his own bag in the other along with the collection of letters he had. As Harry was adjusting the chin-strap of his helmet, Severus keyed the engine to purring life and reversed the bike out of the garage. Harry hopped aboard after padlocking the doors, lowered his visor and shoved his gloved hands into his pockets. Severus pulled away.

As Severus slipped into the early morning commuter traffic, he pondered at Harry’s reaction to the bike, if he was truthful, he’d enjoyed those beautiful green eyes widening, impressed. He knew that Harry had owned a perfectly serviceable scooter, an ideal around-town machine, but this was a different kettle of fish. They went at the same speed as the rest of the traffic, until they eased onto the M25, and Severus opened her out a bit. Harry could feel the speed surge and grinned. In no time they were at the M1 and Harry heard the roar of wind as Severus skilfully negotiated the slip-road, the bunched traffic, then with another burst of speed, left the cars and trucks behind. Harry laughed aloud as he felt the speed press him against the backbox, despite the fairing. In an impulsive gesture, he slid his arms around Severus and dug his hands in the older man’s pockets.

They stopped at Watford Gap for a second breakfast. Harry paid with his card. As they sat and ate, Harry discussed Hermione’s plan for Internet connection. Severus looked worried, “I won’t be needed to do this anymore, Harry”. Harry was slightly crestfallen, “ ‘Course you will, Sev. The pureblood families will still rely on written communication, you just don’t have to do this every few days, maybe once a fortnight, you can settle a bit, maybe in Liverpool?”, his twinkling gaze a little cheeky.

“To be honest Harry, I really like this, It was Remus’ idea to start the new group. I know he wants to settle, but I’ve never been anywhere really apart from Hogwart’s and I’m really restless. I like moving on, being someone that people are pleased to see....”, his voice softened to a whisper and he stared fixedly out of the window. Harry didn’t quite know what to say. As they were in a quiet corner of the cafe, he stretched a hand over the table and grasped Severus’ briefly, then let go.

There was a brief look between them, then Harry lowered his eyes. Severus regarded the boy in front of him hunched into riding gear two sizes too big and smiled, “Come on., Harry, let’s hit the road. Next stop, Hogsmeade, we’ll have lunch in the ‘Broomsticks’ “. Harry’s head shot up, “We can eat there?”. Severus’ grin was off the scale. “You don’t think Madam Rosmerta went over to him do you?. If we appear at the back door, she always feeds us. Come on, it’s a long ride. If you get tired, rest your head on my back, and put your hands in my pockets, then you won’t fall off”.

They left. Harry was slightly behind Severus and he involuntarily found himself checking out the man in front of him. Green eyes flickering up and down the leather-clad body, his mouth drying slightly in appreciation. He flashed to his lover’s words, ‘Soften him up and bring him back for both of us.....’, and blushed. The cool breeze rendered his face colour normal again as he donned his helmet and climbed behind Severus. He lowered his visor as Severus started the bike and they rejoined the steady flow North.

Snaking his arms around Severus, and laying his head in the man’s back, Harry was asleep as they circled around Leeds. He remained oblivious until a change in engine note made him blink awake and they were in services just outside Durham, pulling into the petrol station. He hopped off and went to the loo while Severus filled up. He rinsed his face in cold water, dried himself and left, feeling considerably more alert.

He waited by the bike while Severus used the facilities and they headed off again. In a scant two hours, they were parking up in a quiet country lane, they stowed protective gear and helmets. Severus dug out his bag and they locked the bike up. They walked the two miles into Hogsmeade and Severus rapped a three-two-three knock on the back door of the Post Office. Harry waited outside, languishing in the sun, as Severus dropped off mail and picked more up. He sorted it into several piles, exchanged a smile with the now aged postmistress and left.

They were welcomed into the Three Broomsticks enthusiastically. When Madam Rosmerta caught sight of Harry, she flung her arms around him in a big hug, “Oh, gods, Harry, so good to see you, there were many who thought you were either dead or kidnapped”, he rolled his eyes at Severus while the woman half-throttled him. She released him and held him at arms length, “You look great though”. Without further ado, she led them into the kitchen and fed them Wizard-style. Harry had his first taste of butterbeer in over two years, a little escaping over his chin, that Severus wanted to lean forwards and lick away.

“Well, Sev, I’ve got your room free, but it’s a double, your usual”, she glanced between the two. Severus, after the heavy meal, was ready to fall over, “No problem”, and held his hand out for the key. Harry followed him. He slumped in the armchair a little self-consciously as Severus collapsed on the bed. It was now 3:30 in the afternoon. Severus had been riding for about eight and a half hours. He was asleep in moments.

Harry twisted in his chair. This way and that. It was no use, he was never going to sleep in this damn lumpy chair. He glanced at the bed. Severus was now curled up under the covers, but only in one half of the bed. Harry sighed, then stripped down to his boxers and eased himself into the other side. In moments he slept.