All Hallow\'s Eve

DISCLAIMER: Not mine, never will be. All HP characters belong to JK and Warner Brothers, etc. Thanks to the Maker for being allowed to play with her characters.

Written for Red Reign\'s October 2005 Challenge #2: ALL HALLOW\'S EVE

This fic takes place during the Marauder\'s Fifth Year at Hogwarts..

Beta\'d by EAS. Thanks, Luv!


Friday, 31 October, 1975


~~~~~~TWO ~~~~~~~~\"TABLES TURNED\"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Snape gaped at Potter, completely positive that he had begun to hallucinate. He couldn\'t believe what he had just heard.

Had someone slipped something into his drink without him knowing it?

He blinked and shook his head slightly as if the action would somehow clear his obviously muddled brain. Potter noted the Slytherin\'s confusion with a winning smile. This jolted Snape out of his reverie, allowing him to raise his usual, aloof facade. The notion that his glamour had somehow failed paraded through his reeling brain.

With a harsh intake of breath, Snape rolled away from the now frowning Gryffindor, leaping off the bed and stumbling across the bedchamber towards a grimy old mirror propped in the corner. Quickly wiping a small, circular spot on its surface, Black\'s somewhat quizzical expression stared back at him, confirming that his charm was indeed still holding. Whirling about, Snape noted that Potter was now sitting on the edge of the bed, studying him intently. His gorgeous smile had returned. Those piercing hazel eyes sparkled brighter than the most beautiful gems imaginable.

With a soft chuckle, Potter jumped to the floor. Snape swallowed hard as the incredibly handsome, naked Gryffindor walked across the worn rug towards him. Unconsciously taking a backwards step, Snape took in deep breaths as Potter moved closer, his lithe, Quidditch toned body virtually glowing in the flickering firelight. The gobsmacked Slytherin then bumped into the coffee table, letting out an embarrassingly shrill yelp of surprise as he sat down hard. The impact of his naked bum jostled the crystal goblets that flanked the firewhiskey decanter. One of the glasses fell over and rolled against Snape\'s bare thigh.

Gasping, Snape suddenly recalled that he was completely starkers. With a quick motion, he clamped his legs together and cupped his hands over his rapidly fading erection. Potter giggled loudly at his companion\'s attempt to cover himself, swiftly leaning down and in towards the now self-conscious teen. Placing both of his hands on either side of Snape\'s hips, Potter gently but firmly pressed his lips against the Slytherin\'s. Snape leaned away at first, but the incredibly wonderful sensation of his love\'s warm, full lips re-kindled the flames of his arousal. Returning the kiss, Snape pushed forward eagerly, his tongue deftly forcing its way into Potter\'s mouth.

They kissed each other deeply, noisily, hungrily, for many moments, both lost once more in their newly discovered passion.

Potter pulled away finally, holding his smiling face a scant few inches from Snape\'s. With a quick peck to the tip of the Slytherin\'s nose, he sat down on the table next to Snape, their hot, sweaty skin in direct contact. Snape stared wide eyed as Potter ghosted a hand under his chin. Then, as he brushed a few stray ebony strands away from Snape\'s deep, dark eyes, the Gryffindor winked and reached around the Slytherin for the glasses.

Uncorking the decanter, Potter poured them each a firewhiskey. He handed Snape a glass. With another soul-piercing smile, Potter tinked his crystal against the Slytherin\'s.

The Marauder took a small sip. Wheezing, he nodded slightly at Snape\'s glass. After a moment, Snape also took a drink. The whiskey burned all the way down, but was not unpleasant. Potter snickered.

\"Quinn\'s Olde Reserve. Over 200 years old. The best firewhiskey there is. Longbottom pinched it from his Granddad\'s liquor cabinet. Sirius managed to talk Frankie out of it. Good stuff, yeah?\"

Snape stared at Potter like a lobotomized flobberworm. Taking another gulp of his drink, he turned away to look at the fire in the hearth, which was burning low. Setting his crystal down, he returned his gaze to those beautiful hazel eyes. They were locked onto him, boring into his very being. Snape blinked, looking down to study the carpet.


\"How? How did you know it was me?\"

Potter took a sip of his own whiskey. \"I could tell it was you in that Merlin get-up. For a Slytherin, you\'re not very good at being inconspicuous, Sev. The more you hit your flask, the sloppier you became. And that beard. I hope that costume wasn\'t very expensive.\"

The Marauder beamed as Snape adopted a rather wounded expression.

\"That still fails to explain how you knew it was me after I...erm, after I...\"

Snape stuttered and Potter cut in.

\"After you threw on a glamour of Sirius? Well, it\'s a bang on glamour, Sev, but don\'t forget how well I know my roommate. Besides, we all took a potion earlier this evening. Remus found it. Potion of True Sight. Supposed to be able to see through all sorts of things after taking it. Moony didn\'t do a very good job of it, though. About all we could see was what sort of undies everyone was wearing. Somewhat frightening in most cases. You wouldn\'t believe what old McGonagall wears!\"

Grimacing and shaking his head, Potter drained his glass.

Snape glared at the Gryffindor, his whiskey-drenched mind having great difficulty processing the reality of the situation he found himself in. With a snort, he muttered the incantation to drop the glamour. Potter had re-filled his own glass, topping off Snape\'s as well. The Marauder leaned closer to Snape, totally at ease. He nodded approvingly at the Slytherin\'s restored appearance.

\"Ah, that\'s better! So anyway, I could see that there was something up when you came back into the Hall as Sirius. Like I said, your glamour was nearly perfect, but there were times when I could see through it. Brief little glimpses of you underneath. You looked so nervous. I was having trouble keeping myself from laughing. That\'s why I turned on the charm and dragged you here.\"

Potter reached over and kissed Snape on the cheek. The Slytherin drew in a deep breath, shuddering slightly at the contact.

\"But I don\'t understand. You knew it was me, yet you still brought me here? Why? Why would you want.....\"

Snape trailed off as Potter smirked.

\"I think the old Sorting Hat screwed up when it stuck you in Slytherin! Yeah, I knew it was you. And yes, I wanted to bring you up here. I want you, Severus. I have for awhile.\"

Snape\'s brow furrowed as if he were working out an especially difficult Runes translation. The Gryffindor chuckled.

\"You know, Peter couldn\'t keep a secret if his life depended on it.\"

Potter took another sip of whiskey. Snape\'s eyebrows shot up.

\"What did he tell you?\"

\"Oh, nothing much. He really didn\'t have to. I\'d have to have been blind not to notice all the attention you were throwing my way. All the covert looks in Potions class. And I thought it was really sweet how you attended every one of my Quidditch matches last year.\"

The Gryffindor grinned broadly. Snape scowled.

\"So you knew. You knew all along that I....that I...\" His voice caught in his throat. Potter ran his hand through Snape\'s long, black locks.

\"That you loved me?\"

Snape nodded sheepishly, once again staring at the carpet. Potter put his arm across the Slytherin\'s shoulders.

\"Well, I hoped that you felt that way. I was pretty sure I felt that way about you.\"

Snape\'s head shot up at Potter\'s statement.

\"What? But how? Why? Why would you, James Potter, Quidditch champion and total Gryffindor, one of the most popular students in the whole school, why would you even want me, let alone...well, have feelings for me? What about Black? And Evans? Bollocks! It doesn\'t make sense!\"

Potter shifted uneasily, jerking his head towards the sofa. \"How about we shift over there? Sitting on this table is making my ass numb.\"

Snape nodded, standing up quickly. Potter followed him. The Slytherin then scanned the jumbled pile of clothing on the carpet and picked up Potter\'s boxers. With a sly grin, he pulled them on. The Marauder retrieved Snape\'s rather old and unflattering shorts. With a shrug, Potter slipped into them, sliding them up. They were far too large for the shorter Gryffindor.

Grinning in spite of himself, the Slytherin leaned down, gently touching his forehead to the shorter Gryffindor\'s. Potter tensed noticeably. With one hand holding his whiskey glass and the other keeping the oversized underclothes from falling off, Potter broke away and shuffled over to the squishy sofa and flopped down in the middle of it. He patted the upholstery next to him. Snape obediently sat down, sinking deeply into the soft cushions.

Potter Accioed a quilt from the sofa\'s far arm. It sailed neatly into his hands. Unfolding it, he spread it across their legs. Taking a deep pull on his whiskey, he stared into the fire.

The flames crackled and popped softly. A light wind stirred outside, causing a small symphony of muffled rattles and creaks as the old house shifted tiredly. One of the splintered window shutters clanked lazily on its hinges. The telltale sound of tiny, scurrying feet filtered down through the ceiling as a host of rodents criss-crossed the attic. Potter sighed, leaning into Snape. The Slytherin shifted slightly, amazed at how wonderfully comforting it was to simply sit so close to each other.

To just be.

It was glorious.

After many minutes of silence, Snape tentatively ran a finger down Potter\'s cheek. The Marauder continued to gaze into the hearth. Snape nudged the silent Gryffindor gently.

\"James?\"

\"Yeah, Sev? What?\"

Snape moved himself closer to his silent partner. \"You didn\'t answer my question.\"

Potter fidgeted, carefully avoiding the other teen\'s gaze. \"Oh.\"

Snape pressed on. There was no way he would let the issue drop so easily.

\"I was wondering why one of Hogwarts\' most popular students and undisputed Quidditch champion would want anything to do with someone like me.\"

\"Oh, yeah.\"

When Potter finally turned to face him, Snape was surprised to see those hazel eyes filled with pain and anguish.

\"Load of crap is what that is. Most popular student! Quidditch champion? Fuck! Is that how you think I see myself? I\'m so sick of it sometimes I wish I could just take off on my Nimbus and get away from it all. I\'m so tired of pretending. Listen to me! Sixteen years old, and I\'m tired. It\'s all a facade, Sev. No one knows the real me, well, except maybe Sirius. And yeah, I love him. Probably have since first year. More like a brother, though. But if there\'s anyone who really knows me, it\'s Padfoot.\"

Potter took a deep breath which threatened to hitch in his chest.

Snape was astounded. This Potter was nothing at all like the boisterous, self-confident know-it-all that strutted through the hallways of the castle. With all his defenses down, he looked small, afraid and very lonely. Feelings Snape knew all too well. The Slytherin had simply adopted a different facade. Was it possible that this wealthy pure blood might actually be able to comprehend? Could he handle the real darkness that was shielded, tightly controlled and hidden in the very deepest recesses of Snape\'s being?

Something was telling him yes.

Here was one who would understand. One who could be trusted.

Snape leaned in and nuzzled Potter\'s neck, nibbling gently at the wonderfully smooth, soft skin.

The Gryffindor moaned, tilting his head to one side to facilitate the process. Potter\'s free hand strayed over the Slytherin\'s thigh, slowly caressing the sensitive skin beneath the quilt. Snape continued down Potter\'s exquisite neck, lapping and laving the silky smooth flesh, his hungry tongue eagerly inhaling the sweet salty flavour of the swooning Gryffindor. It was unbelievable how lovely Potter tasted. Snape continued his oral assault until the Marauder gasped deeply, roughly pulling himself away from Snape\'s probing tongue. Reaching for his goblet, he quickly drained his second glass of firewhiskey. He put the empty crystal down on the table as Snape sat back up.

\"I think I might understand you more than you know, James.\"

Potter looked at him, his eyes now puffy and red. Snape continued.

\"Please, talk to me. You can trust me, James.\"

Merlin, he loved saying his name!

Potter smiled weakly, nodding.

\"As you wish, Sev. You just have to know one thing: I can\'t be gay. Not to the world. I am gay, I mean, but I can\'t let anyone find out. Sirius knows, and so does Moony. Peter thinks it\'s just a phase. But it\'s not. I\'m a pouf, and I\'ve been pretty sure about it for a long time. It\'s just, well, it would kill my parents. My father can never know. No way, ever. And my Mum, well, she wants grandchildren. That\'s all she ever talks about. They\'re a bit older, my parents. Had me pretty late. They weren\'t supposed to be able to conceive at all. They tried for years and years. Even messed around with some Muggle doctors. My Mum had miscarriage after miscarriage. Finally, they had me. Being an only child, I\'m their last hope. The last hope for the Potter line. Good joke, yeah? So I\'ve had to pretend. Pretend to be someone I\'m not for as long as I can remember. Do you understand? Can you?\"

A single, tiny tear rolled down Potter\'s cheek and dropped onto the quilt. Snape felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. All he wanted to do right now was to hold Potter as tightly as possible from now until the end of time and pull all the hurt and pain out of him.

Yes, James, my dear, sweet James, I know of which you speak. I understand!

The anguish was pouring off of the Gryffindor in palpable waves.

Snape lightly traced the track of the tear down Potter\'s cheek, drying it with his finger.

\"Yes, I understand, James. Go on.\"

Potter looked at him again, his hazel eyes flashing with hope.

\"If it weren\'t for Padfoot and Moony, I don\'t think I could make it. I need them so much, Sev. They\'re like my family. I could really fall for Sirius, but Remus is so completely in love with him. They\'re perfect together. Sirius is the first person I told about myself. My true self. He\'s helped me try to come to terms with it. He even tried to fix me up, but I never let him.\"

He paused to refill his glass. When Snape shot him a reproachful glance, Potter shrugged. Snape cleared his throat.

\"But I don\'t understand how you and Black could snog and shag. If I am to believe what you say is true, and what Peter says...\"

Potter waved dismissively, cutting the Slytherin off.

\"Peter exaggerates, amongst other things. You see, Sev, aside from Sirius and you, I\'ve never been with anyone else.\"

He paused to let the impact sink in. Snape blinked.

\"You mean....\"

Potter nodded. \"Yeah, it\'s true. The Golden Boy of Gryffindor is a virgin.\"

The Marauder chuckled nervously and averted his gaze once more. Snape watched as Potter swallowed hard. When he spoke again, his voice was the slightest bit unsteady.

\"Sirius thought that perhaps I was confused, in a phase, just enamored with him or some such nonsense. When Siri gets his mind set on something, you might as well try to convince a mountain troll to use proper table manners. So, he had this idea that we should try a snog, just to make sure I was gay, and I agreed, because first, I had always wanted to try it with him, and second, I wanted some practical experience before I tried it with anyone else. Stupid, I know, but we did it anyway. Only twice! And we never really shagged. You know, all the way? Of course, Peter caught us the second time. Sirius threatened to boot Peter out of the Marauders if he told anyone, especially Remus.\"

Snape nodded. \"So that explains Sirius. And Lily?\"

Potter snorted. \"Lily. You know what really sucks about that? I like her. I really do! She\'s bright, funny, edgy. I can actually see myself with her. But deep down I know I want something else. I need something else. It wouldn\'t be fair for me to use her like that. But then...\"

His voice faded away again. Snape realized that he was holding his breath. He let it out as he gently stroked Potter\'s bare shoulder.

\"Merlin, James. I had no idea. How do you keep it all inside? How do you deal with it so easily?\"

Potter blew out a breath. \"I honestly don\'t know, Sev. It sure as fuck isn\'t easy, no matter what it looks like. I guess I\'ve been playing the \'Perfect Son\' for so long it\'s almost second nature to me. All I know is, that right now, I want to be with you. I can\'t explain it. There\'s something about you that just flays me wide open. I can see so much more in you than you let others see. So much more in you that most people don\'t even try to see. But I do. You\'re really beautiful, Severus.\"

The Slytherin huffed loudly, shaking his head.

\"Don\'t insult my intelligence, James. False flattery doesn\'t become you. What does Black call me? \'That greasy git\'? I\'m not even remotely attractive. Never have been. Just ask anyone! Bloody hell!

Snape made to get up, but Potter grasped the Slytherin\'s arm, firmly pulling the frowning teen back down into the squishy sofa. Snape turned his head away from Potter, attempting to avoid his piercing gaze.

The Marauder sighed loudly. \"I\'m being completely honest with you, Sev. You\'re beautiful to me, really. Who ever told you that you weren\'t? I don\'t care what other people say. Your hair. Your eyes. And you have a great smile, although you don\'t use it very often. But it\'s what is in here that takes my breath away.\"

Potter placed a hand on the Slytherin\'s bare chest. Snape\'s head whirled back as if he were stung. He stared into those pained hazel orbs.

\"Rubbish! How could you possibly know.....\"

Potter ignored Snape\'s little outburst. He smiled, nodding knowingly.

\"It\'s enough that I do, Severus. There\'s so much more in you than meets the eye. You keep so much inside. I don\'t know exactly what it is, but it\'s there. I\'ve seen you, how you stalk through the hallways. So aloof, so distant, virtually impenetrable. Daring anyone to challenge your self-inflicted exile. And how you lash out at anyone who makes the mistake of attempting to breach your defenses. I know all about that, Sev. We\'re of a kind, you and I. Two sides of the same coin. So much hidden. So much pain. The only difference is that I\'ve allowed a couple people to break through. Let me in, Sev.\"

Snape now gazed into the dying fire. The room was quickly growing cold, and he shivered slightly. Potter sniffed, using a corner of the quilt to wipe his nose.

\"I know it\'s a totally buggered situation. I shouldn\'t ask this of you. It\'s so very unfair of me to ask you to be some sort of dirty little secret. Gods, I\'ve prattled on like a moron. A total, complete twit. Sorry about that! But every fiber of my being tells me this is the right thing to do. Actually, I wouldn\'t blame you if you walked out of here and never spoke to me again...\"

His words were cut off as the Slytherin turned and pulled Potter to him in a tight embrace, crashing their lips together in a frenzied kiss. Both teens devoured each other hungrily, needily, moaning and whimpering in unison as they gasped breathlessly. Their hands caressed every available portion of bare skin. Pulling away, Snape stared into those bottomless hazel eyes, willingly allowing himself to drown in them.

\"I love you, James. Just be patient with me. I\'m not used to this sort of thing.\"

Potter smiled, his breath ragged. \"I love you, too, Sev. I\'ll do my best.\"

After another intense kiss, the Marauder glanced about.

\"I think we\'d better get out of here. No telling when that potion will wear off of Siri and Peter, or whether Moony will come here looking for me.\"

With a silent nod, Snape stood up. Once they finished dressing, Potter cleaned up the glasses and table with a few quick charms. Snape folded the quilt, dropping it on the arm of the sofa. Both teens looked at each other.

\"Ready?\"

Snape nodded. \"Yes.\"

Potter charmed out the fire just as Snape ignited his wand. The Slytherin followed as the shorter boy led the way down the crooked staircase, through the hole in the floor, and into the long, dark tunnel. They moved steadily forward, in silence until they reached the rough sloping stairs that led out to the base of the Whomping Willow. Potter turned and halted Snape with a gesture of his hand.

\"Get your wand ready, Sev. There\'s a little knot somewhere that stills the tree, but I can never find the sodding thing.\"

The Gryffindor groped about for a few moments, apparently unable to find the magic knot. Snape stepped forward, pressing his chest and stomach against the bare skin of Potter\'s shoulders and back. They both giggled as they could hear the wildly whipping branches of the maniacal tree flail about above them. Suddenly, the limbs of the Willow fell still. Snape laughed loudly.

\"Got it!\"

\"Good job! Let\'s go!\"

Potter leaned his head back slightly and Snape kissed and nibbled at the flesh of the Gryffindor\'s neck. Giggling again, they ascended the narrow passage and out through the tangle of roots. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, and a cool wind had risen up. Potter shivered noticeably, as his harness provided little protection. Snape pulled off his costume cloak.

\"Diffindo!\"

The charm rent the large cloak in two. Snape draped one half over the shoulders of the shivering Gryffindor. Whirling the second half over his head, he settled it upon his own shoulders with a flourish. Potter snickered.

\"Quite the gentleman. Who knew?\"

Snape snorted as the two headed off across the grounds towards the Castle. He spoke in a mock threatening tone.

\"No one. And see to it that it remains that way.\"

\"As you wish, Sev.\"

The two shadows walked in silence until they were about fifty yards from the main doors to the Castle. No one else was about, and most of the windows in the huge structure were dark. The clouds parted just then, bathing both teens in a soft, cool light. Snape could make out Potter\'s face looking up at him.

\"Why don\'t I go in first. Wait a few minutes, and then follow. OK?\"

Snape nodded. Potter turned and walked a few yards before stopping. Pausing a moment, he turned and ran back, flinging his arms around the Slytherin. Snape gently lifted the Marauder\'s chin so that he could plant one final kiss. Snape closed his eyes, concentrating with all his might so that he could mark and catalogue every single sensation of this moment. He wanted to remember it with perfect clarity. His perfect embrace.

The warmth of Potter\'s soft lips, the feel of his tongue seeking contact with his own. The press of the Gryffindor\'s wonderfully slim, firm body pressed against his, the electric feeling of their firm arousal sliding against one another. The way Potter curled his long fingers through his hair. The fresh, musky aroma of James\' scent, all at once sun and grass and broomsticks and Quidditch flannels. Snape devoured each and every one of these sensations, desperately longing for the embrace to continue forever.

And it did last for what seemed like an age. Eventually, the Slytherin felt his love begin to pull away. A second later, it was over. Potter turned, running up the gently sloping lawn and great stone steps, never stopping until he reached the huge front doors of the Castle. Snape could barely make it out when Potter turned and waved before disappearing inside.

A moment later, the moon slipped behind the clouds, plunging Snape into inky blackness. He stood there much longer than a few minutes, letting the chilly night air penetrate his thin cloak. Shivering, Snape slowly headed towards the Castle.

to be continued.....