As The Plot Thickens

The trio shuffled into the potions lab, with Ron and Hermione keeping themselves company while Harry and Seamus flirted. Hermione and Ron really didn’t understand why Harry was flirting with Seamus as it was obvious that Harry wasn’t really into it. And up until a few weeks ago Hermione was sure that their was someone else that Harry was interested in, sometimes boys really confused her, and she often brought this to Rons attention. Severus entered the classroom with his usual glare in place. Stalking into the classroom as menacingly as humanly possible. Well, that’s what most of the students thought anyway.

“Potter, Finnigan this is a potions class, if the two of you must flirt do it when no one is forced to watch you. 20 points from Gryffindor, for disgusting displays of affection, in a public forum.” Snape snarled, far more snappish than normal.

“See it’s already working.” Seamus said happily, he still couldn‘t get over the fact that he was getting to torture Snape and he couldn’t get in trouble for it, well not more than the subtraction of points from Gryffindor and detentions, but he could easily survive those. But Harry’s thoughts were that it was working a little too well. Underneath Severus’ mask he could see that Severus was really upset, causing Harry to seriously rethink doing this at all. For the first half of Severus’ lesson Harry was totally lost in thought. Then their was a sharp, pain in his foot that snapped him out of his musings. He turned to look at the culprit, which was Hermione, of course, who was kindly reminding him that whatever was going on inside his head it probably wouldn’t help him to succeed in making this potion. As the class got to work Severus sat down and contemplated his life. Nearly forty-five and what did he have to show for it? Nothing of value in his the opinion the only part of his life that was worth any real value at all was Harry. But no use crying over spilt milk, Harry had moved on to Finnigan, which was what he wanted for Harry. A normal relationship with someone his own age that could give him what he needs, to be strong for him. Harry had enough to deal with without tying himself down to someone twice his age, that was broken, beyond repair. That was what Severus told himself every time he wanted to go to Harry and beg him to take him back. Harry had always made him feel incredibly loved, every time they were together Harry would always show Severus how much he cared, it was in his eyes, Harry’s face was always so expressive, Severus wasn‘t sure which was more expressive about Harry his hands or his face. And Severus didn’t mean it in a sexual nature either, he thought of it as Harry gently caressed his face, or put his hands though Severus’ hair. Or the way Harry held his hand, he done it in promise that he would never leave Severus, and that he would never take Severus for granted. Harry managed to do things for Severus that made him feel special and loved without making him feel weak or less of man. Severus knew that their would never be another man in his life that would ever compare to Harry so he wasn’t even going to try to find one, he knew that it would be a fruitless pursuit. Even though he knew that Harry wasn’t his anymore, it was so hard not to be jealous, when he seen the love of his life court another. Severus was drawn out of his thoughts by the loud ringing of the bell, signaling that class was finally over. Severus’ day only got worse as his day went on having to listen to students whispering about his Harry and that stupid Finnigan boy. As lunch finally rolled around Harry was still deeply worried about Severus’ behavior today, he heard from other students that Severus was in a very aggressive mood. When Harry was walking to the great hall he overheard to Hufflepuff girls talking about how Severus had put two boys in detention for a week, with Filch, for talking about him. It was then when Harry knew that what he was doing was not only insanity but it was hurting the man he loved above all else. It was then that he decided that he needed to confront Severus about this destructive pattern. Harry walked down the hall carefully thinking of what he would say to Severus. During those moments that he was walking down to the dungeons Harry wasn’t very sure of a lot of different things, but one of the things that he was defiantly sure of was that he really needed Severus to take him back. With all of the physical and emotional abuse that he had to go through growing up, he needed Severus to make him feel loved and special the way no one else could. Being ‘The boy who lived’ didn’t make Harry feel special in the slightest, but his time with Severus always made him feel genuinely loved for who he was, not for something he did that he could only remember when a dementor was near. The closer he got to Severus’ door the sweatier his palms got. This was the defining moment, when they would lay all of their cards on the table, Harry could feel it. He slowly went to knock on the door, already fearing the worst.

“Come back tomorrow.” Severus called angrily

“ It can’t wait.” Harry called back. That did the trick, not more than a few moments later the door flung open with Snape standing in front of the it looking down at Harry very menacingly. Harry merely squeezed through the gap between Severus and the door saying,

“That doesn’t work anymore.” Which made Severus growl deep in his throat.

“Why are you here? Don’t you have some random boys to grope or snog or what ever it is that you hormonal time bombs do?.”

“You have no idea how sorry I am that I did that to you.” Harry said with his eyes full of unshed tears.

“And what gave you the impression that you did something fowl against my person?”

“I flirted with Seamus to get you jealous so you’d want me again, I know it was stupid and foolish, and immature, but when I’m with you I can’t think straight, and when I think about you my skin, every fiber of my being hums, I get excited and nervous all at the same time. Excited that I’m seeing you again, but nervous that you're too good to be true,” Severus snorted. “that one day you will see I’m not what your looking for in a mate, that you could never love me. I need you Severus I know that I’ll never find anyone else like you, that can do the things you can, or thinks the way that you do. You may not be perfect but your perfect for me, please, stop trying to be noble and take what’s yours, because no matter what you say now or ever my body, mind and soul will always be yours. I love you and will continue to do so even after the day I die.” by now Harry was crying and Severus was close to it himself.

“I love you too.” the Potions Master said in the smallest whisper, making it almost impossible for Harry to hear. Harry got up and sat on the lap of the head of Slytherin house wrapping himself around him as tight as he possibly could. Harry started to kiss the older man every where that he could reach, before Severus finally connected Harry’s lips with his own. They stayed this way for Several minutes before Harry’s lover broke the kiss, in order to get some much needed breath. Before he began anew, he picked Harry up with one hand while using the other to push everything off of his desk sending paper flying and ink well smashing loudly on the floor. Sitting himself on the desk still holding Harry.

“Make love to me, right here.”

“Are you sure, this is a big step for us to take.”

“Please Harry, I need it.” What happen next was a sequences of touches and kisses that sent each to the moon and back. After resting for a few moments Severus sent Harry to get ready for his next class with promises of a long talk tomorrow in which they would be able to sort everything out. Harry practically skipped to his next class which just so happened to be Herbology.

“Harry, where have you been, you missed lunch, and we were all frightfully worried, that you were kidnapped or worse you should have told someone where you had gone to.” Hermione said hugging Harry. Although he thought that it more resembled squeezing the life out of him. But with everything that just happen, Harry couldn’t really complain

“Harry just for the record, I wasn’t worried, I knew you would be alright. Hermione’s just a worry wart.” Ron said smiling.

“Thank you Ron. And I was with Snape. He gave me a detention, so he was thinking of when I was busiest to give it to me.”

“Oh Harry what did you do to get him angry this time?”

“I think the better question is why do you look so happy after getting yourself a detention with the slimy git?” Harry frowned, but still replied

“I’ll explain everything tonight; there are too many people around right now.” Both Ron and Hermione looked at him oddly, but they both nodded. On his way to Defense against the Dark Arts Harry couldn’t hide his giddiness as he entered his destination he saw that Seamus was already sitting down with dean talking happily.

“Hey Seamus,”

“Hey Harry.”

“Listen we made up, so we don’t need to pretend anymore, thank you for your help.” Harry said wearing one of the biggest grins he had worn in ages. He hugged Seamus, then he proceeded to go sit next to Ron and Hermione. Seamus however was not happy about it. He had really enjoyed flirting and being around Harry so much. So he turned to Dean who was of course sitting right next to him and said.

“I think we should see other people.”