Tequila

Chapter 24

With a week left till the end of term, Dumbledore had decided that on the last day of school, the day of graduation, that the 7th years should give a duelling demonstration.

“Actually,” Dumbledore said at the dinner where he announced it, “more like a competition. It will take place over the following week and whoever gets to the final will do the demonstration after graduation. The Hogwarts Express will travel twice. Once on the day of graduation for underclassmen who do not wish to stay for the demonstration. And on the day after graduation for all those who stay on to watch family graduate and watch the demonstration. If you do wish to stay, please put your name down by Thursday. Thank you.”

As the teachers sat down to eat, the students gathered around the tables to discuss the upcoming event. Harry turned to the top table and smiled at Severus who had his eye on the Gryffindor table. Both Severus and Harry had noticed that Draco and Neville always sat together for meals but because there was normally a group of them, no one else seemed to have noticed.

Draco and Neville seemed to be getting on great, and surprisingly, to Harry at least, Neville seemed to be the dominant one. Harry thought back to a discussion they’d had the previous day.

“I don’t even realise I’m doing it, but I seem to unconsciously need his approval for everything I do.”

Harry smiled. “It’s called being in love Draco. It’s not needing his approval but wanting his support.”

Draco grimaced. “I don’t know what it is but he always tells me what to do and I absolutely love it.”

Harry laughed. “And you don’t argue with him about it?”

Draco smiled. “I argue with him loads, but he’s so goddamn reasonable, that I always end up doing what he suggests anyway.”

Harry smirked, imagining the heated arguments and heated make up sex for years to come.

“So, do you love him Draco?”

Draco smiled. “Yeah, yeah I do. I really do. My God,” Draco put his head in his hands. “I’m in love. Merlin, I’m such a sap!”

Harry laughed. “Have you told him yet?”

Draco blushed. Brightly. Harry laughed.

// He screamed it during sex! //

“Yeah, I sort of screamed it during sex.”

Harry laughed harder. “Did he say it back?”

Draco blushed even brighter. Then clammed up. “Yeah he did.”

// Uh oh, I wonder what happened. //

“What happened Draco? You don’t have to tell me, but if you’d like to talk about it, it’s fine.”

Draco blushed. “Nothing bad happened. It was just, you know,” Draco looked around, leaned closer and whispered, “we were having sex, and it was as good as it always is, and I shout, without even realising it, you know, ‘I love you’. And Neville stops. He just stops what he’s doing. And he asks if I mean it. And I realise at that point that I really do. I’ve never said it and I’ve certainly never felt it, and I just go and say it without even realising what it was. He sort of cuddles me and then says it back. And the sex has never been better.”

Harry smiled and patted Draco on the back. “I’m so glad you’re happy.”

Draco smiled. “Yeah, me too.”

Harry gave Draco a smirk. “Don’t you think you should come out now? Tell everyone else you and Neville are a couple.”

Draco grimaced. “Yeah, probably. But I don’t know what everyone will think. Or what if Neville doesn’t want to. What if he’s ashamed of me.”

Harry frowned. “Don’t be a fucking idiot Draco. Talk to him. Or if you want to keep it to yourself, then do so. There is no one you need to impress but yourself. Let me know what you decide.”

Harry thought back to that conversation as he watched Draco and Neville have a whispered conversation. Harry decided he would wait till after the others went to bed to visit Severus tonight. Because his friends all knew about his relationship with Snape, there was no sneaking around in the dorm, only through the common room and the school itself. Harry was spending nearly every night with Severus, staying the night and then sneaking back to his bed in the morning. Harry didn’t want to be seen leaving the dungeons every morning otherwise he would have happily stayed with Severus right till breakfast.

Harry and his friends were among the last to leave the great hall, spending as much time as they did chatting about the upcoming duelling contest. Because teachers were entering it, there were a few rules that they wouldn’t normally have. There was a list of regulation hexes, such as expeliarmus and petrificus totalus and also regulation shields. They felt this would best demonstrate what the classes would be learning in school and also level the playing field for those who were les adept at duelling. Harry thought it was fair enough, but felt that they were being given an unfair advantage, as there were few teachers who would hex a student into next week.

// Apart from Severus. //

Harry snickered. He also felt that at 7th year, they should be on the same level as any adult any adult duelling. He was, however, realistic enough to realise that teachers and adults 20

// Or 143 //

years older than them would probably have a more extensive knowledge of curses and hexes.

Heading up to the dorm, the group all wandered up to the boys’ room to continue their chat. Ginny flopped onto Harry’s bed while Hermione and Ron snuggled up on Ron’s bed. Neville and Draco grabbed their stuff and headed to the bathroom. Harry smiled to himself, he could see a point being made just shortly.

// As long as they don’t decide to shag in front of everyone. //

“I don’t see why I can’t be involved in the tournament,” Ginny was grumbling. “I know all those spells, the same as you guys and I bet I’m even better at them than some of the seventh years…”

Ginny’s voice trailed off and her mouth hung open as the bathroom door opened and revealed Neville. He was dressed for bed wearing his pyjama bottoms and nothing else. The boys didn’t give it a second thought as they were all quite comfortable with Neville's new security within his body, apart from Seamus’ eyes glazing over again. The girls however had never seen it.

Hermione gave a low wolf whistle as the tanned, muscled young man made his way over to his bed and pulled back the covers.

“Merlin, Nev,” Ginny whispered, before Ron realised that both his girlfriend and his little sister were actively lusting after his friend.

“Right girls, break it up, nothing to see here.”

Harry laughed as Ron tried to cover Ginny’s eyes while still holding tight to Hermione’s hand. Ginny rolled out of the way and sat up on Harry’s bed. Before she could say another word, the bathroom door opened again and Draco wandered out, running a comb through his damp hair, his pyjama bottoms riding low on his hips and his shirt lying open. Ginny was, for once, speechless. Harry laughed again as both Seamus and Dean goggled the blonde, who had never had his shirt off in the dorm as far as they were aware.

Harry laughed in delight at the look of surprise on both girls’ faces and the look of lust on practically everyone’s.

Neville seemed to steel himself. “Right, I’m off to bed. Coming Draco?” And he held out his hand.

5 jaws dropped. Dean, Hermione, Ron, Seamus and Ginny all looked back and forth between the two young men like they were watching a tennis match.

Draco smiled shyly before taking the offered hand and climbing into Neville's bed beside him. Cuddling into the darker man, he gave a slight wave. “Good night all.” And with that the curtains flew shut.

Harry steeled himself for the outburst, hoping they would be slightly sensitive as the boys could still hear exactly what everyone was saying.

Hermione seemed to recover first. “Well, that was unexpected.”

Ginny sort of shook herself. “Well yeah. I thought they were both straight.”

Ron’s mouth just hung open.

Dean laughed as Seamus started dancing around the room. “I knew they were together!”

Harry looked at Seamus in surprise. “How did you know they were together?”

Seamus laughed. “When you go to the loo in the middle of the night and see an empty bed, you realise something’s going on. There were only so many places he could be. I figured he wasn’t in with Harry, seeing as how he’s banging Snape and I thought for sure he wasn’t in with Ron.”

Ron spluttered.

“So I figured he’d be in with Nev.”

Ginny looked at him slyly. “How come you didn’t think he was in with Dean?”

Dean blushed, but Seamus was too excited to care. “Who’s bed do you think I was leaving to go to the loo?”

Ron finally found his voice. “You mean out of the whole damn dorm, I’m the only one who’s not a bloody pouf?”

Hermione slapped him. “Ron, don’t be such an idiot. It’s not going to rub off on you.”

Harry burst out laughing as Ron spluttered again. “It’s just that you read, by law of averages, something like one in three men are, I just figure we had a few more than average.”

Hermione looked at him thoughtfully. “And where exactly did you read this?”

Ron had the good grace to look embarrassed. “Well, you had all those books and I didn’t really understand it so I…”

Everyone burst out laughing.

“Ron, you read gay porn?”

“I suppose you were only looking for the articles?”

“Learn anything interesting mate?”

“Oh Ron, I’m so proud of you.”

Ginny wiped her eyes, before standing up. “I think I’ve had too many shocks tonight, I’m heading for bed.”

She banged loudly on one of Neville's posts. The curtains opened a crack and a rather flushed looking Neville stuck his head out.

“What's up Gin?”

“Just wanted to say congratulations and ask if this is supposed to be a secret? Or can I go shouting it to the world?”

Neville gave a chuckle before disappearing back in to confer with Draco.

“You don’t have to keep it secret, everyone will find out soon enough.”

“Cheers Nev.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Have fun tonight boys.”

Neville laughed as the curtains closed behind him. “Don’t worry, we always do.”

Harry and Hermione laughed again as Ron spluttered some more. Ron grabbed Hermione’s hand and pulled her up as Seamus and Dean disappeared into the bathroom.

“Is everyone going to bed then?”

He looked toward the bathroom where steam was coming out from under the door. Harry snickered.

“No point in waiting for them, they’ll probably be a while.”

Ron looked kinda shell shocked. “I think I’ll walk Hermione back to her room.”

Harry, Ginny and Hermione laughed as both girls were dragged forcibly from the room.

“Don’t worry Ron, I wont wait up for you.”

Ron marched away murmuring about how no one could keep a secret in their dorm.

As soon as the dorm emptied, Harry grabbed his cloak and left the room himself. Sneaking out was not easy as Ginny was in the common room telling everyone who would listen about Draco and Neville. Finally managing to make his way out, he made his way down to Sev’s room.

He was at the end of the corridor when the door swung open. Harry gave a small chuckle. He and Sev were becoming much more adept at sensing each others magic. Without even looking, Harry could tell where in the castle he was. And he felt tingles running through him more and more frantically the closer the man got to him. It all meant that the sex was explosive. Severus however, had kept his word and not gone all the way with him, as difficult as it was for both not to just do it.

Walking into Severus’ quarters, the door swung behind him, the cloak was ripped from him and he was pulled into a crushing embrace, a tongue plundering his mouth till they were both unable to breath. Feeling his young partners knees begin to tremble, Severus grabbed his ass and pulled him up. Harry promptly swung his legs tight around the older man, who stumbled backwards to collapse on the couch. When Severus finally pulled his mouth from Harry’s they were both flushed and breathing heavily. Still straddling Severus, Harry put his head on the older man’s shoulder and allowed his heart to slow down.

// Wow. Again. //

Severus placed a kiss in Harry’s messy locks and rubbed his back. “You are late tonight.”

Harry snickered while mumbling small kisses down Severus’ neck and along his collar bone. “I was at Draco and Neville's coming out party.”

Severus chuckled. “So everyone knows then? That they’re a couple?”

Harry sat up laughing. “Well it seems Seamus already knew, had spotted Draco’s empty bed a few nights. And if Seamus knew, there’s a pretty good chance that he told Dean. The only one who was really shocked was Ron. But that was only because out of the whole dorm he was the only one who was straight. Everyone took it really well. Even Ginny and I think she had her eye on both Draco and Nev. She was telling everyone else in Gryffindor when I left the common room.”

Severus smiled, shifting the young man off his lap. Harry pouted as Severus went to the cupboard and brought down his fabulous decanter. Pouring himself a firewhiskey, he handed the raised his head to Harry, who nodded.

“Harry, what are your plans for the summer?”

Harry grimaced at both the whiskey and the question. “Well I don’t have to go back to the Dursley’s, thank Merlin, so I was gonna go to the Burrow with Ron. I could look for flats from there and would have Molly and Arthur’s help.”

“And after summer? Do you have any plans for work or further learning?”

Harry looked at Severus. He knew he was leading somewhere with this and was curious to know where. “Severus are you asking me what I plan to do with the rest of my life?”

Severus grimaced as well. “No, Harry. I wouldn’t ask that just now. I know it’s easy to say you want to do something just now, but I also know how easy it is to change your mind a year or two into it. I just wondered what your plans are for after the summer.”

// And do they include me? //

Harry smirked, almost reading Sev’s mind. “Severus my plans for you after the summer are completely not feasible. You need to be able to walk to teach potions after all.”

// Oh my. //

Harry put down his firewhiskey and scrambled in Severus’ lap. “My plans are to buy a little flat as close to Hogwarts as is humanly possible. I intend to knock down Grimmauld place and I also intend to build a home on Godric’s Hollow. Whether I live there or just sell the place once it’s up is till open for question. We can discuss that once it’s built. I also intend on spending as much time in your bed as possible.” Harry sighed, putting his head on Severus’ shoulder. “I never really have to work Severus, I’ve got more money than I know what to do with, but I don’t plan on wasting the rest of my life doing nothing. I’ve already spoken to Molly Weasley about running a charitable foundation for children who have been hurt or orphaned during the war. I plan on making sure that Voldemorts reign of terror affects no more people. Now that all of Mrs Weasley’s kids have flown the coop, she’s going to run the day to day stuff at the foundation while I take care of getting the big money in. I might as well use this famous face for something. So you see, I’m going to be very busy over the next few years and once all of that is sorted I’ll decide what I want to do for a job.”

Severus pulled Harry up and gave him a small kiss on the lips. “You’ve obviously thought hard about this haven’t you?”

Harry nodded.

Severus decided to broach a slightly complicated subject. “About this flat in Hogsmede.” He held his hands up seeing that Harry was about to interrupt. “Wouldn’t you be better having a flat in London. I mean, I assume that’s where you will be basing the foundation?”

Harry smiled at Severus’ attempt at subtlety. “Whether it’s Hogsmede or London, if Molly stays at the Burrow then its an apparation to work either way. And I think it would make more sense to have the foundation closer to the school than the ministry, where Fudge might be able to stick his nose in. Also, Draco and Neville are getting a flat in Hogsmede so that Nev can continue to learn, studying advanced herbology and I know that you’ve already offered Draco a potions apprenticeship.” Harry smiled and pulled from Severus’ lap, settling himself beside him on the couch.

// When did we get a couch? //

“Hey, when did you get a couch?”

Severus laughed. “I’ve had this couch in here for weeks. Pretty much since you started to come round on a regular basis. I though it would be comfier than having 2 separate chairs. You sit on it every time you’re here and you’ve never noticed?”

Harry snickered and snuggled up to Severus’ side. “No, I’ve never noticed. I’ve usually got other things on my mind when I’m in here.”

Severus gave a throaty laugh. “So you’re determined to buy a flat in Hogsmede then?”

Harry smiled. “I figured it would be quicker and easier sneaking home from your quarters if I lived close by. Besides, this castle is the closest thing I have to a home and I don’t want to be too far away. And with Draco and Nev living nearby and Hermione probably living close by to go to Napier University, I’m not gonna be lonely.”

Severus pulled Harry into a close embrace. “It sounds like your mind is made up.” At Harry’s nod, Severus placed a small kiss on his nose. “Let’s go to bed then.”





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