Scarred Souls

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Title: Scarred Souls



Author: Misty Moonlight/Co-author: QueenBoadicea



Beta: QueenBoadicea



Pairings: Severus/Harry



Published: 12/10/2008



Summary: A widowed Harry must bond with Snape in order to save his daughter’s life. Sev gains a family, for better or worse, and the hearts of two scarred souls will be changed forever.



Warnings: Romance, Drama, Angst, Alternate Reality/Universe, Sexual Situations, Hurt/Comfort, M/M, Slash, Anal, Language, Humor, possible MPreg, Bonding, Original Characters, Family, non-canon, OOC, WIP



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Chapter 22: Dinner and a Show





Outside the cottage was a long car, the kind Severus recognized as belonging to the Ministry. He halted and shot Potter a suspicious glare. “What is the meaning of this, Potter? Is this your idea of a joke?”



The Gryffindor shot him a look, part impatience, part exasperation. “Crap, Severus, will you stop being so paranoid? I thought Ministry escort would be a good idea. Your enemies won’t dare to attack and the public will see the two of us as a cozy couple.”



“Or think you’re having me taken into custody.”



“Not if I’m in the back seat with you.” Without another word, Potter walked to the car. The silent driver opened the door for him and then waited for Severus.



With a much put-upon sigh, Severus seated himself beside Potter. The door was shut and they pulled soundlessly away from the curb.



“Now will you kindly tell me where we’re going?”



“It’s a restaurant in Muggle London.”



“Muggle London?” Severus felt betrayed. He had no prejudice against Muggles per se but this was not what Potter had promised.



“Relax, Severus. The great thing about this is they won’t pose any danger to you.”



“And no benefit either,” Severus rapped out. “Potter, did you forget one of the purposes of being seen together is that the Wizarding World would see how well we are supposedly getting along?”



“I don’t doubt the information will get back to the Wizarding World, Severus,” Harry replied calmly. “And if you want to start showing your good side, you might try calling me ‘Harry’,” he finished, nodding towards the driver.



Severus merely scowled and settled back into the cushions. Harry sighed and glanced at him wistfully before staring out the window.



The minutes crawled by. Severus noted how the scenery changed subtly, the vibrant colors of the wizarding community fading to the somber hues of the Muggle world. When they pulled up in front of a restaurant, modest looking but with bright light streaming from its windows, he was startled to realize they’d arrived.



Harry hopped out of the car and waited, eyebrows raised. “Coming?”



Very soon, I hope. Severus hid a smile and joined his unwitting bond mate.



Inside the restaurant were many people dressed in ordinary, dull Muggle clothing. Once again, he questioned Potter’s insistence on bringing him here. How could the anonymity of Muggles redeem him in the eyes of the Wizarding World?



A waiter came over to their table. “Hello, I’m Louis. May I take your order?”



Harry smiled at him. “Thanks. What do you recommend?”



The man smiled back, his eyes lingering on Harry’s lips. “Weeell, I’m partially to the steak, myself. It comes with your choice of side dish—potatoes, one of seven different salads, sugar snap peas, baby carrots.”



“Fine, I’ll have that with potatoes. Medium well done, please. Severus?”



“I’ll have the sole and Caesar salad,” Severus said dryly. It didn’t escape his notice that the waiter remained firmly focused on Harry. The scrutiny wasn’t blatant but it was there in the dilated pupils, the faint flush on his cheeks, the gaze that swept surreptitiously over Potter’s form. Lovely, Severus thought sourly, even Muggles fawn over the Boy Who Lived.



As usual, the Gryffindor was completely oblivious to it. It was strange, really. He’d always thought Potter to be nothing more than an attention-seeking glory hound like his father. Yet there were times when he didn’t seem to notice how people stared at him with admiration.



Not that the attention was undeserved. Severus had to admit that Potter looked rather—enticing this evening. In the light from the wall sconces, he was shown to be quite handsome, flushed with health and possessing the good looks that were bestowed on the fortunate who were blessed with youth, strength and good parentage.



The green eyes were gleaming in the indoor lighting. They reminded Severus once more of Harry’s mother, the long-lost friend and sole shining star of his own boyhood. Something twisted inside him when he thought of his scheme to drug the youth. Perhaps it would be best to continue as Harry wished—with the honest desire to become better acquainted. Surely that would be enough to achieve his goal of—



“Harry?”



Severus looked sharply behind him and stiffened in anger. That meddling woman from the orphanage, Corabett Kinderlieb, stood there. She was peering over his head, smiling at Harry. A stocky man of about forty was by her side, unobtrusively attired in a plain linen Muggle suit.



“Corabett? Hi! Good to see you!” Harry grinned at her but there was a nervous quality to it. “Howya doing, Owen?”



“Can’t complain, Harry,” said the man. Severus noted that the man had a faint Germanic accent. Hmm, that explained the foreign last name. His idle curiosity vanished and turned to outrage when they took a table—right next to theirs!



Severus darted a furious glance at his bond mate. Potter had known this woman would be here. This so-called meeting was nothing more than a staged attempt to meet with this insipid creature. The fact that she had a man with her didn’t make a damn bit of difference. She was obviously a shameless cheat, no better than Harry himself.



“What is she doing here, Potter?” he hissed so they wouldn’t hear.



“It’s Harry, remember? Smile, Severus. If anyone can take back a good report of us together, it’s Corabett.” He turned towards the others. “Owen, this is my bond mate, Severus Snape. Severus, Owen.”



Owen glanced at Severus, seemed to weigh him soberly with pale blue eyes. They reminded Severus unpleasantly of Gilderoy Lockhart’s. “Pleased to meet you, Severus.”



His lips thinned. On a first name basis already, were they? “Hello,” he said tightly.



The abruptness of his answer didn’t go unnoticed. An awkward silence fell. Then that female leaned over from her table. “Harry, it’s good to see you.”



“Thanks, Corabett. How are things with you and Owen?” Harry said easily, turning towards the other couple.



Owen grinned at him, a vacuous expression that made Severus clench his jaw. “It’s very good, Harry. Corabett and I have great news.”



“Really?” Harry sat up straighter. “What is it?”



Corabett blushed. “Owen, we agreed to keep it a secret.”



“Come on, Cora. We’ve told your folks and mine. We’ve told the neighbors. We’ve done everything except take out an article in the Prophet. And it’s Harry! He can keep a secret.” He leaned towards Harry. “Cora and I are having a baby.”



“Wow! Congratulations, you two.” Potter grinned and the brightness of it was like a lantern. Severus was stunned by its radiance and instinctively leaned closer, like a plant seeking the sun.



Potter turned that charm of his so easily on to others. Why couldn’t he show something of it to his bond mate? For a moment, he envied Corabett and her fat-faced husband as he hadn’t envied anyone since James Potter had snatched Lily Evans from his side.



The Gryffindor had shifted his chair closer to their table, still grinning like a fool and wishing them all the luck in the world. “You’re really blessed, Corabett. I know you’ll both be really happy, Owen.”



The man flushed, the ugly red color spreading over his cheeks like a wine stain spilled on the tablecloth. Severus would have sneered but he couldn’t think of a thing to say that would bring him gracefully into the conversation.



While he sat there, fuming, a waitress brought their orders. Potter paid only scant attention to the food, seeming to prefer blathering on with the crass pair at the next table. Finally, Severus could stand it no longer.



“Harry, eat your steak before it gets cold,” he growled.



Potter glanced back at him, blinking as if he’d forgotten Severus was there. “Oh, thank you, Severus.”



Owen looked up from his menu, his eyes darting between the two of them. “So, Harry. Have you two come here before?”



“No. It’s our first time together. Your wife recommended this place to us.”



“Did she? She’s got great taste, my Cora.”



The woman blushed. It suited her no better than her pudgy husband. “Owen, you’re only saying that because this is your favorite place.”



“I take it you two come here quite often?” Severus asked. They looked startled, like they hadn’t expected him to speak. What was he, an end table?



“Oh yes. Owen is Muggleborn so he’s really fond of Muggle food and preparations,” Corabett burbled.



“My own family used to bring me here for meals when I was old enough to be allowed in public. They’d bring me back on my summer holidays. I always had a good time here. I always told myself if I ever got married, I’d bring my wife back here.” The watery eyes looked adoringly at the woman seated across the table and she smiled back at him. For a moment, it was as if they were the only couple in the place.



Potter leaned back from the pair. There was a flash of pain in his look, like that of a starving man in a cage, staring at food that was placed just out of his reach. Those changeling eyes that could never hide their expressions flicked at Severus and then down towards his plate.



Coming out of their amorous daze, Owen turned towards Severus. “So, um, Severus. What are you working on?”



Severus lifted an eyebrow. “Working on?”



“Harry tells us you spend a lot of time in your lab. I wondered if you were working on anything in particular.”



Severus was about to inquire what business it was of Owen’s when he caught Potter’s warning glare. Right, they were supposed to be a loving couple. He struggled to maintain a civil tone. “I’m working on a cure for baldness in male wizards.”



“Really? The Muggles already have something like that.”



“Do they?”



Owen nodded. “It’s a small blue pill with an interesting side effect.” He leaned close over the table. “It arouses and increases male potency,” he whispered with a wink.



Severus could feel himself flushing. He wasn’t a prude by any means. But he had never heard of such a thing and felt foolish knowing that this man had. Rallying himself, he asked, “Does it work on wizards?”



Owen sat back and shrugged. “No idea. But I suppose if a wizard did try it and found it worked, he wouldn’t necessarily advertise it.”



“Have you ever had to use it, Owen?” Severus said dryly and was meanly gratified to see Harry glare at him. He ignored it.



The man flushed again, this time with embarrassment. “No! Of course not.”



“It’s just you were so delighted with your announcement of having a child that I thought there might have been some difficulty about conception.”



“Severus,” Harry hissed, his voice low with anger.



Severus gave him a mock innocent look. “What? I’m as happy as anyone that they’ve managed to conceive. The population of the Wizarding World is grievously low, as you know.”



“This is actually our third child,” Corabett said, her voice frosty with dislike.



“Ah. Congratulations.” The woman’s brown eyes hardened like stones and her mouth had pursed up like a drawstring bag. She and her husband turned from him and settled on eating their food.



Thank Merlin. At least now he’d be spared any more asinine attempts at conversation.



Potter was giving him a deadly look, the green eyes darkened with anger, but he didn’t say another word. He only stabbed into his steak with a viciousness that suggested he wanted to do the same to Severus.



For the most part, the man had spared him the childish bouts of temper Severus had known from his youth. Actually, Potter had been remarkably forbearing since their entire handfasting had begun. It made his own behavior seem even nastier, by comparison. Severus didn’t care to think that way so he firmly banished the errant thought, concentrating on his own meal.



After all, he wasn’t the guilty party here. Potter had known this woman was coming here, had probably set it up with her in advance. If his purpose was as innocent as he’d claimed, he would have told Severus about it beforehand. Since his bond mate was willing to be so devious, there was no reason for him to take the higher ground in this matter.



They were finishing dessert when Severus realized he’d yet to use his potion. He had to find a way to divert Harry. When the postprandial coffee was brought, Severus casually shoved his spoon so that it fell near Harry’s foot.



“Blast. Did you see that, Harry? Where did it go?”



Harry ducked his head beneath the tablecloth and Severus swiftly tipped the potion into his bond mate’s cup. He leaned back just as Harry came up with the spoon. A careful monitoring of the other table showed the Kinderliebs were fully engrossed in their meal; they’d noticed nothing.



“Here you go.”



“Thank you so much.” He rubbed it on his napkin and sipped his coffee, careful not to watch Harry too closely.



He was aware when the potion began to work. Harry’s eyes seemed to glaze over and his face acquired a faraway expression. “Severus? Um, I know I’ve never said this before but…thanks for agreeing to come here with me.”



“You’re quite welcome, Harry,” he murmured. He was a little disappointed. Wasn’t the man going to gush over him? Well, this was an altered version of Amortentia; doubtless there would be changes in its effects.



“I mean it. You’ve been a brick all evening and I’m really grateful for it.”



“No need. This is for our mutual satisfaction. I want to be vindicated in the public eye and you wish for more amicable relations at home.”



Harry nodded, the light catching the dark strands of his hair. It didn’t seem like such a horrid mess now. It shone with dark blue highlights wherever the light hit. Those grass-green eyes were radiant as a meadow in high noon. Harry himself almost seemed to glow.



Severus frowned. He shouldn’t be having such thoughts about his bond mate. This potion couldn’t somehow be affecting him as well, could it?



He dismissed the idea. However, he nearly spewed out his coffee when he felt a hand sliding up his leg under the table.



“You know, you really are very attractive. Such lovely silky hair and your eyes! So penetrating and smoldering,” Harry murmured, licking his lips.



“T-thank you, Harry. That’s very generous of you.” He grabbed Harry’s hand as it slid into his lap.



“And your voice…so sultry. It’s sexy, really.”



Harry smiled again but it lacked the glow he’d given so freely to that boring couple. His expression had acquired the mushy fatuousness of a lover. Severus’s stomach clenched at the sight of it.



Severus glanced to the side to see the Kinderliebs watching this display of public affection. Owen’s eyes were bulging in surprise. Corabett wore a far more disturbing expression of suspicion.



That settled it. Severus had to get out of here before Harry decided to attack him.



“That’s quite enough, Harry. Perhaps we should take this somewhere more private.”



The emerald eyes lit up. “Really? Wonderful! Let’s find a private place and we can Apparate back to the cottage.”



“What about the driver of the car?” Severus pointed out.



“Car?”



“Yes, the Ministry car.”



“Oh, even better! We can cuddle in the back seat.”



Severus barely resisted a shudder. Cuddle? With Potter? Severus hoped this was a side effect of the potion and not the man’s normal presexual behavior. “Perhaps you should get the check and then we’ll leave.”



Harry’s smile grew even sappier, if that was possible. “Anything for you, Severus.”



Exiting the restaurant proved problematic. Harry couldn’t seem to keep his hands off him. When Severus sharply rebuked him, the man pouted but refrained from pawing him—much.



The driver in the car asked, “Where to now, Mr. Potter?”



“Back to the cottage,” Harry said, before Severus could stop him.



“The cottage? Why not Grimmauld Place? You won’t have to travel to see your children in the morning,” Severus suggested.



“But the mansion is so dreary,” Harry whined. “Wouldn’t you prefer the cottage? It’s so much cozier and homey. And you’re already living there so you won’t have to travel.”



And those dreadful constructs would be waiting, ready to shriek recriminations and rebukes. There was no way he could be able to perform his conjugal duties with those things watching. “Ah, but I don’t want your children to worry where their father is. Grimmauld Place will be fine.”



Harry heaved a sigh but obeyed his suggestion. “Number 12 Grimmauld Place, driver.”



“Yes, sir.”



Harry’s hands began running up and down Severus’s arm. “Oh god, Sev. You’re really firm here, aren’t you? I can’t wait to see what the rest of your body looks like,” he murmured.



“Harry, not now,” Severus gritted. “I’ve no wish to put on a show for the driver.” He clasped Harry’s hands tightly so they wouldn’t wander. Harry sighed in bliss and leaned his head against Severus’s shoulder.



Grimmauld Place. Those children would be there. They were bound to suspect something if he showed up with Harry clinging to him like Devil’s Snare.



Well, let the little urchins scream if they wanted. Harry would be solely focused on him. After they’d fucked, Severus could come and go at Grimmauld Place as he wished. Harry could block the floo, of course, but he would be granted all the rights of a Black and no one could bar him from the premises. He would dig through the library, come up with a countercurse for those pesky flying homunculi and then the little brats would pay.



Severus glanced down and was startled to see Harry’s eyes peering pensively at him. “You look even more handsome when you smile, you know that?” he whispered.



Before Severus could move or answer, he brought one of Severus’s scarred hands up to his lips and placed a soft kiss in the palm. Grasping it in his hands, he shut his eyes again and appeared to sleep.



Glad for the silence, Severus stared sightlessly out the car window, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.





TBC