Dreams In Time

TITLE: Dreams In Time 25 of ??
AUTHOR: Casey Snape
PAIRING: Snarry
MINOR PAIRINGS: Albus Dumbledore/Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin/Sirius Black, Draco Malfoy/??, Ron Weasley/??, Charlie Weasley/Poppy Pomfrey, Percy Weasley/Penelope Clearwater, Lucius Malfoy/Narcissa Malfoy, Cornelius Fudge/Gilderoy Lockhart, James Potter/Lily Evans Potter, Peter Pettigrew/Tom Riddle, Charlie Weasley/Neville Longbottom (1 sided??),
RATING: NC-17
FEEDBACK: caseysnape@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: Nope, Not mine, however much I might wish. If they were, they would be having hot, smutty man-sex 24/7, all within the confines of my personal viewing room. The characters and concepts in the following story do not belong to me. Ms. Rowling and all her assignees, publishers, etc… have that honor. .

WARNINGS: Parts of OTP & all of HBP and DH never happened. OOC. AU. Time Travel / MPreg / Graphic Sex / Rimming / Masturbation / Voyeurism / Mention of BDSM / Mention of Het. Sex / Bonding & Marriage / Dirty talk / Mention of Non-Con /


From Chapter 24: THE DREAMS OF THE PAST
***PART OF DREAM***
Harry let his head fall down onto Severus’s shoulder, slowly easing his cramped legs to the floor. “Merlin, Sev. I love you. I don’t know how I’d ever lived without you.”

Severus smiled, “I love you, my Harry.” He kissed Harry’s cheek gently. “I will wait until the ends of time for you, and do so happily, if only to be able to have you again in the end.”
***END DREAM***
Severus shifted in his sleep, a smile on his face and tears on his cheeks.

Chapter 25: THE DREAMS OF THE TIME TRAVELER

Past – Monday evening:

Harry and James had talked late into the night. They missed dinner, and James barely made it back to his dorm just before curfew. James felt relieved, in a way, to have had this chance to talk to Harry. James told Harry about the Potter family – James’s parents, grandparents – and all the history that belonged with the ancient family. James told Harry about growing up as the only child of older parents, how Sirius had come to live with him, and how he had first realized that he was in love with Lily Evans.

Harry couldn’t get enough of his father’s stories. He wanted to know everything. They shared laughter, and even a few tears as James filled Harry in on all the things he had never before had a chance to learn. In turn, Harry told him about himself, trying carefully to leave out parts that could influence things to come. He told him about not having friends growing up and how that made him appreciate the friends he had now more than anything. He told him about Severus, and how truly amazing the Slytherin student was, not just at potions, but at almost everything. James realized that Harry had indeed met his match, his soul mate. With this realization came the peace of knowing that someone in the future would be there to love and protect his only child, even when James could not.

At the end of the evening, both men felt as if they had a deeper understanding of each other. There was a deep sadness in the fact that both knew it would not end well, but there was joy in knowing each other during this time. James gave Harry a big hug before turning to leave. Harry hugged his father hard, knowing that the decision he had just made would be the hardest one that he could ever remember. He just couldn’t take the chance of changing things in the future, no matter how much he wanted to. So, as James turned to walk through the door, Harry brandished his wand with a heavy heart. He whispered, “Obliviate” and made sure to keep his wand movements light. He didn’t want to erase all knowledge of himself from his father’s mind; he just needed to erase the last few hours.

James didn’t even pause as the spell hit him and sank in, but Harry knew that it had worked. He watched his father leave, closed the door, and sat down to cry.
Past – very early Tuesday morning:

Severus dozed in his chair as he waited for Harry. Harry had missed dinner, which would have worried him immensely if he had not noticed that James Potter was also missing from dinner. Now, it was well past curfew, and he had not seen any signs of his husband. The only reason he could nap and he wasn’t out tearing the castle apart stone by stone was a vague sense that Harry was not in any danger. He had the strangest sensation that Harry only needed some time alone.

Finally, the doorway opened and Harry walked in. Tear-swollen and reddened eyes took in the sight of his wonderful spouse napping in the chair. A smile was pulled from Harry’s reluctant lips. He set down his things and went to quickly get ready for bed. Returning only a few minutes later, he gently leaned down and kissed Severus lightly on the cheek.

“Love, wake up. It’s late and we need to go to bed,” he whispered into the Potions Apprentice’s ear. Severus stirred, his eyes blinking before snapping open to focus on his husband’s face. Quickly, he took in the too-bright eyes rimmed in red. He sat up, pulling Harry down into his lap.

“Are you alright? Did something happen? Can I do…?”

Harry cut him off. “I am fine. I talked with my dad, and, well…,” he nuzzled his head into Severus’s shoulder for comfort. “I didn’t – couldn’t – take the chance of anything I said changing the future. It just felt so good to talk to him, to get to know him. After we talked, well, I…” he broke off with a quiet sob.

Severus finished for him, “You had to obliviate him, love. There was no other way. I’m so sorry. I wish I could do something – anything – to change that for you.”

Harry lightly rubbed his face against Severus’s cheek. “It’s alright, really. I’m just feeling a little sad.”

Severus wrapped his arms around the young man, holding him tightly for several minutes. At length, he suggested, “Why don’t we go up to bed? We can lie down and I can hold you all night while we sleep.”

Harry nodded. “That sounds wonderful.”

Harry stood and held his hand out to Severus. Together, they climbed the stairs and found their bed. Severus got in first and held his arms out to Harry. Harry slid into the bed and put his head on his mate’s broad shoulder. There was a hollow just where the shoulder and chest joined that seemed to have been made for the size and shape of Harry’s head. As Severus wrapped his arms around Harry’s lithe body once more, securely chasing away the remnants of a horrid day, Harry thought, “Perhaps it was made just for me…” That was the last thought that went through his mind before he fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Severus almost laughed at the speed of which Harry fell asleep. He would have, but he truly did not want to chance waking his love up. Instead, he tightened his hold slightly and placed a kiss on top of the unruly hair. He closed his eyes and thought of ways of showing his husband just how loved he was.


Past – Tuesday evening:

Peter stayed close to his rooms for a few days after his ordeal, thinking about his problem. He was a Gryffindor, used to charging in without thinking, but even he knew he’d have to have a different approach when dealing with Slytherins. The main question was how to remove Alex from the picture without Severus finding out? Not that he intended to keep it a secret from his love forever; he needed to give Severus plausible deniability. Once Alex was dead, and it was known that Alex was married to Severus, the Auror corps would automatically assume that Severus had something to do with it. Keeping his plans secret would be the best way he could assure that his boyfriend was safe. Peter snickered. He had a boyfriend!

Peter was actually surprised when all three of his friends came by to check on him after curfew on Monday night. Remus and Sirius even brought food for him and James, who apparently had missed dinner that night, too. Now, it was Tuesday night, and he was no closer to solving his problem than he was on Sunday. Well, that wasn’t quite right. He realized that staying in his room would not get him what he wanted. In order to have Severus Snape, he would have to be sneaky, use stealth, and insinuate himself into his love’s life. And for Peter Pettigrew, there was one perfect way to accomplish that.

He slowly got out of bed. His injuries may have been healed, but they were still more than a little tender. The others were sitting on James’s bed, talking about Merlin only knows what. Gingerly, he made his way over and sat on the end of the bed. These three had become friends with Alex and Peter needed to know everything he could about his rival.

Peter stayed quiet as the conversation ebbed and flowed around the usual topics: Lily, the Canine couple’s relationship, quidditch, and school. Finally, the opportunity to ask about Alex opened up. Carefully, Peter questioned.

“What is the deal with this new Slytherin kid – Alec what’s-his-name?”

As planned, Sirius and James laughed while Remus corrected him on Alex’s name. Then, they went into the spiel about how he was a good kid, seemed smart, and so on and so forth. Peter watched carefully as they talked. They seemed to genuinely like the boy. Well, that wasn’t good, but he could deal with that. James started to say something about Alex and Snape, but stopped himself before he could reveal too much.

James flushed as he realized he had almost let his friends in on his son’s secret. Quickly, he changed the subject, vowing that he would watch himself more carefully from now on.

‘Interesting,’ thought Peter, ‘James knows more than he is letting on…’

Strangely, Remus was thinking the same exact thing.

Present – Tuesday Evening:

Augusta Longbottom swept through the floo system and landed with a terrible thud in the Headmaster’s office. Minerva bit back a laugh as the vulture on the top of Mrs. Longbottom’s hat tipped precariously. Severus glared at the vulture, trying to incinerate it with his gaze. Augusta tittered girlishly and adjusted her hat, all the while batting her aged eyes at the Headmaster. Minerva’s amused glance changed to a glower that could put Severus’s best to shame. Old bint!

Albus shifted his eyes nervously toward his wife. Oh, he was so going to have hell to pay later, whether he did anything or not. He greeted Neville’s grandmother and offered her a lemon drop. At her decline of the offer, he popped two of his special calming-draught laced lemon drops into his mouth. Another look at Minerva told him that he was going to need it.

Neville came up and greeted his grandmother. She hugged Neville, chattering on about how she had known there was something strange going on the whole time between throwing heated glances at Professor Dumbledore. Albus swallowed nervously and decided that, for his sake, he needed to get this over as soon as possible. Severus smirked as he saw the looks passing between the other three adults in the room. This could get very interesting. He sat back in his chair, crossed his legs and folded his hands in his lap, determined to enjoy the show for as long as possible.

Albus quickly explained again what had happened and got Mrs. Longbottom to sign the necessary forms for removal of the spells. At his signal, Minerva floo-called St. Mungo’s to let her cousin know all was ready. In the interim, Albus asked Augusta about Polla Longbottom. No one expected what they found out.

“Polla was my Frank’s first child,” she began. Neville was stunned. His grandmother had never told him any of this. “Frank had a…relationship… with a squib. They wanted to marry, but I just wouldn’t allow it. The woman was no good. Frank was with the little tramp for about six or so years before it all went south. Good riddance, I say. Now that Polla – well, I think she was about fifteen when our little Neville was born. Granted, I only met her the one time, at his first birthday party, but she seemed nice enough.”

Minerva cut in, “Do you know what became of her?”

“No, and I didn’t want to know, either. It wasn’t long after when that Bellatrix bitch and you-know-who got their hands on Frank and his darling Alice. Well, I had them to take care of and Neville to raise. A mostly-grown teenager didn’t even signify.”

Minerva started to let loose on the old woman, but was interrupted by the floo flaring to life. Her cousin, Daemon Ravensthorne, stepped out. He was quickly introduced to both Neville and Mrs. Longbottom. Albus gave him the signed permission forms, and he set to work. He explained that it could take several castings over the next couple of hours to remove all remnants of the spells.

While he worked, Albus stepped into his private rooms. As quietly as he could, he fire-called Percy Weasley. He knew Percy had known who he was at the Ministry the other night, and he believed he could trust Percy. Percy answered, and the Headmaster asked him to step through. Of course, Percy did so.

Albus quickly put his request to the young man. He needed information on both Polla Longbottom and on Polla “Poppy” Pomfrey. He explained that he knew this type of information could take time, and was just about to offer the man a monetary incentive when the third Weasley son surprised him.

“There’s no need to wait, Professor. Polla Longbottom and Poppy Pomfrey are one and the same.” He pulled a bundle of papers from his robe pocket. “I’ve anticipated your request. You’ll find everything you need to know in here.”

He handed the packet to the surprised old man. Percy shook his hand and offered, “If you need anything else, let me know. If I can help, I will.” With that, he flooed back to his home and his lovely wife, Penelope.

Albus stepped back into his office, his face reflecting his shock and wonder at the young man. Surely, Percy Weasley was sorted into the wrong house! He sat heavily in his chair as he spread the papers out and began to read.

He finished shortly before Daemon finished the necessary counter-charms. He was stunned. The information that Percy had gathered, if correct, was absolutely unbelievable. He should have known. The students that had gotten so sick shortly after she started working at Hogwarts; all the people who had gone missing only to later have their bodies turn up; the missing supplies that Severus had worked himself into such a fever over – all of that was Poppy. He felt sick.

He absently went through the motions with Ravensthorne, Mrs. Longbottom, and Neville. Once they were gone, both Severus and Minerva rounded on him, determine to find out where he had disappeared to and what had taken his attention. He shoved the papers into their hands and walked over to his beloved familiar, Fawkes.
Quietly, he asked the phoenix, “Well, old friend, did you know about this?”

The bird cocked his head to the side and trilled softly. Fawkes leaned forward and rubbed his beak against Albus’s temple. As he did so, a tear escaped the light creature’s eye.

Present – Wednesday morning:

Charlie had finally recovered enough to wake up and talk to his parents. Molly wept as she listened to her son’s story. Arthur held her as the feelings of frustration, anger, and concern warred within him. Bill, having taken time off from Gringott’s to be with his family, filled them in as much as he could on the conversation he had with Percy.

The Weasleys tried their best to reassure their second oldest son about their love and his place in their family. Molly, especially, took it really hard. She had always tried to be a good mother to all of her children. The thought that one of them felt otherwise was almost too much for her to bear.

“Mum, Dad, I know you love me. I know all of this. I can’t explain why I felt that way. I just know that I did.” He tried to offer some type of justification to them.

After several hours of talking and reasoning, they decided that Albus needed to know all the details of what had happened. Bill, Arthur, and Molly each tucked Charlie in, and made sure he was alright before they flooed to the school. Charlie dozed quietly for a short time. Then, it started. It felt like a bug crawling under his skin. He couldn’t quite find it, but it was there. He kicked his legs and waved his arms, trying to get the feeling to go away, but it only got worse. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew that it wanted him to go to Hogwarts. He paced the room, hoping that his parents and brother would return soon.

The itch continued to get worse. He couldn’t stand it. He struggled to his feet and began to pace, somewhat slowly. His arms were crossed over his body, and his hands rubbed vigorously up and down his biceps as though he was trying to warm himself. It was horrifying, this need to get to the school. Closing his eyes, he knew what was happening. He was being called to the infirmary – to her, only she was no longer at the school. That meant that she had left a portkey of some type for him, one that would take him to her.

Charlie continued to fight off the urge. He would not go, he decided. He didn’t know if he could take that type of abuse again. His body began to shiver. Somewhere in the corners of his mind, he thought that this must be like recovering from Muggle drug addiction – de-fox or something like that. All he knew was that he needed to go to Hogwarts and get to the infirmary. His body and his mind warred for what felt like days, but in reality was only a few hours. His brain, beginning to turn traitorous, supplied the address of the closest available floo to the infirmary. He reeled. He couldn’t…he just couldn’t.

In the end, he couldn’t stop himself. He took the jar of floo power in shaky hands and threw a much larger amount than needed into the snapping fire. An unsteady, strained voice called out his target – just one set of stairs and three-and-a-half corridors from his destination. Jittery legs carried his still-shivering body into the green flames even as his mind made a last-ditch attempt to reason.

He landed with a thump and a groan in one of the Gryffindor tower guest rooms. He looked around. The room was being used, and he felt like he should know who was there, but the drive to reach the infirmary had become too strong to let his mind put the pieces together. Voices floated in from one of the other rooms – a masculine chuckle and a feminine laugh – along with the obvious sounds of sex. Charlie fought to control his stomach. Heterosexual relations always made him uneasy, but so soon after… He ground his teeth as he fought to regain control.

He somehow silently stumbled out the door and down the first hallway. He paused at the corner, leaning heavily on the stone wall and gasping for breath. ‘Please, stop me!’ his mind cried. His feet started moving, turning the corner and leading him up the stairway. Charlie panted for breath as tears flowed freely down his cheeks.

****
Albus listened to the Weasleys with a heavy heart. A glance at Severus and Minerva told him that they felt the same. Poppy, the woman all of them had trusted and loved, was this…this… fiend! He felt betrayed. The customary twinkle was gone as he filled them in on all that a certain ‘unnamed source’ and Fawkes had told him. The five others in the room were flabbergasted.

A few short hours later, Albus remembered the good news from their mission a few days before. Arthur still worked at the Ministry, and perhaps he could get the necessary paperwork filed without the Ma – Poppy – finding out. The twinkle began to spark as he happily filled the red-head family in on their newest guests in the ancient castle.

“Albus! That is wonderful! Harry will be so happy,” Molly exclaimed through her tears. “Can we see them? Do you think that will be alright?” Arthur and Bill beamed; they knew how much Harry had missed his parents and godfather. Arthur answered Albus’s yet-unasked question, “I’ll see what I can do to get them reinstated, and we’ll need a birth certificate for the little one. I’m sure I can call in a favor or two and get the paperwork recorded without undue attention.”

Nodding, Albus rose to his feet and led them down the stairs from his office. He explained as they walked that he felt this would need to be kept quiet for a short time, possibly until Harry returned. Everyone agreed.

They had just rounded the corner when a movement caught Severus’s eye. He tapped Albus on his shoulder and cocked his head at an angle, indicating the direction of the movement. Albus dipped his head once, and the group started to fan out, using little known passageways to surround whatever it was. Albus signaled, and all six stepped out, wands at the ready and curses not far off.

Molly cried out as she saw Charlie slumped on the cold castle floor. Arthur was quicker to regain his wits, though.

“Charlie, what happened? Why are you here? Is something wrong?” He knelt to examine his son, worried that the man had been attacked when they left him.

“Dad, please…need… infir...,” was all Charlie could gasp out. Severus stepped forward as he pulled a Pepper-Up potion from a hidden pocket in his robes. “Arthur, have him drink this. It will help, somewhat.”

Arthur thanked the Potions Master, and promptly fed his second son the mixture. Smoke blew from Charlie’s ears, and his face turned an awful shade of red that clashed with his hair, but the young dragon tamer perked up. “Thank you, Professor. That helps, with everything…”

He struggled to his feet with his father’s help. “I was resting. It started, like an itch, moving under my skin.” The potion was definitely working. “I tried to resist it, I really did. But it got too strong.”

Albus stepped in, “What, Mr. Weasley? What did you try to resist?”

“I think she’s calling me here, to the medical wing.” He stammered slightly, “I…I think she left a portkey there, to take me to her. She had wanted me to return to her that night, but I… She’s trying to make me come to her.”

Albus’s face turned the same shade of red that Charlie’s was a few moments before. “That BITCH!” he cried. Even Minerva stepped back at his outburst. “She thinks to booby-trap my school?” They were reminded why Albus was considered one of the greatest wizards in all of Britain when magic pulsed around them, causing the castle walls to throb.

He glanced at the young man, and quickly cast a levitation spell on him. “Come on, you’re going to lead us to this portkey, but don’t you dare touch anything. Once we find it, we’ll use it to find where that monster is hiding.” He strode down the hall, his robes billowing in a way that usually only Severus Snape could accomplish. For all the disturbing information they had been privy to lately, Severus just had to smile at that.

The headmaster levitated the young man to the infirmary, where they found many dangerous wards and near-fatal traps. Of course, none of those held a chance against the pissed off old man. Soon, they were in Poppy’s old office. Charlie felt like his skin was going to crawl right off of his bones. He fought himself valiantly, trying to keep his hands down at his side.

Eventually, his own will was not enough. He had just started to reach out when four immobilizing spells hit him at once. Severus blinked; he had not thought anyone else was paying that much attention to the young man’s hands, but apparently, Molly, Arthur and Minerva were. There was a relieved look on the young man’s face.

They let Bill tweak the spells enough that Charlie could talk, but not move. He guided them with his voice, “to your left…ok, stop. Look up, on top. It’s kind of an orange-brown color.”

The others poured over the area, but could see nothing. Finally, it hit them – a disillusionment spell! Severus could truly appreciate the cunning involved, but right now, he wanted nothing more than to hex the horrid bint until she begged for death. Not that he would, but it was a nice thought, anyway.

It took them more than an hour to reverse the disillusionment spell. Albus conjured a containment field around a box and levitated the water bottle into it. Then, he handed it over to Bill, “I believe you can handle this, young man. We need to compulsion spells cancelled, and we need to know where the portkey leads.”

Bill nodded solemnly as he took control of the box. “I’ll get right on it.”

It was seven miserable hours later for Charlie when Bill finally disarmed the impulse charms. He sighed in relief as his parents cancelled the other spells they had been forced to keep on him. Charlie gave Bill a grateful pat on the shoulder. “Thank you, Bill. I really do mean it.”

Bill smiled, “You’re my little brother, Charlie. I’d do anything for you.” Charlie smiled back. He was beginning to realize just that.

Past – Friday morning:

Several days had past, but he felt his plans were now perfected. The rat’s nose and mouth twitched into what would have been called wicked glee if he was in his human form. There were no classes today, so Peter had a perfect opportunity to stalk his prey. He scurried along, following the young boy from a short distance. ‘Fool,’ he thought, ‘he doesn’t even notice that I’m here. When he does, it will be too late.’

Alex turned the corner and slipped into the alcove that had become his and his mother’s meeting place. Lily was already there, waiting for him with a smile. She stood as he entered and gathered him into a very large hug. Neither one paid the slightest bit of attention to the tapestry stirring, which was the only sign that a large rat had just taken up residence behind the wall hanging.

Peter would have gaped if he could at the sight of James’s fiancé embracing Alex. That alone would have been enough to make him want to kill the boy, even if he had not already decided to. He ducked behind a large tapestry, and listened very closely.

“Harry, how are you and Severus? Life still a honeymoon?” Lily asked with a pleased smile.

“Well, mum – you know how it is. Oh, that’s right – you don’t. Remus and Sirius haven’t reversed that spell yet, have they?” He countered, biting back a grin.

Lily tapped him lightly on the back of the head. “Behave, you! It’s not polite to refer to your parents’ sex life!”
She replied sternly, although her green eyes showed that she was still highly amused.

“La la la,” Harry started, holding his hands over his ears, “don’t say that combination of words together, Mum. A guy should never hear that those three connected. It could do damage!” He laughed, “And it’s not polite to ask about your son’s sex life, either!”

It was Lily’s turn, “La la la,” she started, mimicking Harry. The both broke out with laughter. Lily settled down on the chair and pulled out her charms book while Harry sat on the floor next to her feet. He leaned back against the chair and snuggled into her legs a little while he pulled his charms book out also.

“Harry, I was wondering…,” Lily seemed unsure, which immediately put Harry on edge. He took a breath and held it, somehow knowing where this was going to lead. “Do you really kill Voldemort in your time? I mean, kill him for good?”

Harry let the air out in a sudden burst. Tears sprung to his eyes, “Mum, I can’t…,” he started.

Nimble fingers carded through his hair. “I know. I know the answer, also. I don’t know why I asked, really. I guess I just wanted to say that I’m proud of you,” she whispered.

Harry swallowed. It seems that having parents made one emotional. He took a slow breath and let it out shakily.
“Now, Mum, care to explain this spell? I know I should get it, but something just doesn’t seem right…”

Peter’s eyes grew cold. All of his friends thought that he was a dimwit, but he wasn’t. So, Alex was not his real name – it was Harry. And, he had to be from the future, as Lily and James were obviously his parents. That must have been what James was hiding! His teeth bared in anger. Carefully, he left his hiding place. Severus was married to a boy who was from the future. That meant if Peter killed him now, it would accomplish nothing. The brat would still exist in the future, for who knows how many years! At least he would get rid of that monster that had hurt him. He snarled as he changed back into a human. But Alex – Harry – whatever – would be with Severus, and that just would not do. He had to get rid of this boy permanently. He snarled again, and it hit him. If he waited, if he was patient enough – he could get rid of the boy in the future and change this time also. He smiled. He knew just how to make it happen, too.

Past – Late Friday night/Early Saturday morning:

The half moon gave barely enough light for the rat to see, but that was alright with him. He’d made this trip enough times in the last four years to know it by heart. He scurried under the flailing limbs of the Whomping Willow and into the tunnel hidden beneath the tree. A short time later, and he entered the Shrieking Shack.

Dusting himself off, he concentrated on the coordinates he had been given and apparated. He landed with more grace than he had ever possessed in his life. He could endure this. He knew he could. He followed the overgrown pathway to the back of the house, letting himself in the back door.

Carefully, he searched for the right room. It didn’t take long. The man, naked to the waist, was seated in a chair made of what looked like human bones on a raised platform. A long, fat snake was wound around both him and the throne, undulating possessively about the man. It looked almost sexual. Peter dropped to his knees and crawled over to the foot of the dais.

“My Lord,” he sniveled, “I have returned for your command.” He bowed his head so low that it touched the floor.

Voldemort sneered. The boy surprised him. He was sure that the young Gryffindor would never return after last week. He didn’t like to be surprised, no matter how pleasant it could be considered.

“Crucio!” The teen’s body tensed and jerked as pain ripped through his nerves. Voldemort ended the curse.
“Next time, Peter, do not keep me waiting…”

“Yes, Master,” Peter replied, assuming his subservient position again to hide his blossoming grin. Yes, he could endure this – because he wanted Severus Snape, and this time, Peter Pettigrew would get what he wanted.

Present – Late Friday night/Early Saturday morning:

Harry snuggled into his place on Severus’ shoulder. It had been a hard week, but the week was over now. There had not been any classes today, and Severus and Harry had spent the day together: walking by the lake, picnicking under a large oak tree, making out like love-starved teenagers (which he guessed they were) in the rose garden, and finally ended up with quite an energetic tumble that started over the sofa in the sitting room and ended in the shower.

A soft rumble from above his head told him that Severus was already asleep. He chuckled sleepily. His eyes fluttered closed and he began to dream.

***HARRY’S DREAM***

Harry was in a room that he had never seen before. Walls that had no doors or windows were decorated with tattered blue-green stripes. At least, he guessed that was what it was. The lighting was so poor that it was hard to tell. He walked around, trying to figure out why he was here. After a while, he grew tired, and found himself wishing for a place to sit. Two old Queen Anne – type chairs appeared. Harry frowned. Why would he need two chairs?

He sat, and was surprised to see a low coffee table appear. A moment more, and a hanging lamp began to cast its light onto the old, splintery table. He could see a misused tea set sitting precariously on the unsteady stand.

He laughed bitterly. ‘Even in my dreams, my belongings are second-hand…”

Just then, he saw something. It was a man. His heart skipped a beat. It was Severus. Was he wearing…? Harry almost snorted, but then he noticed. This was not *his* Severus. This one was older, seemed to be sadder, as if the weight of the world was bearing down on his shoulders.

Suddenly, Severus flung himself at Harry, landing on his knees with his head in Harry’s lap. “Harry, I’ve missed you so much.” Tears welled in Harry’s eyes. This was future Severus – the one that had had to wait for Harry all these years. Suddenly, he understood. This was not his dream, this was Severus’s. He threaded his fingers through the silky hair, comforted that it had not changed in all these years.

“I know, love. I know. It’s alright. I’m here with you now. We have all night. We can talk; we can do whatever you want.” Harry cupped Severus’s chin, pulling up slightly so to look him in the eye. “We have all night, to do whatever you want…” He glanced back over his shoulder.

He had wanted something special for Severus, and now, there was. A beautiful bed in deep, royal blue sat near the corner, surrounded by glowing candles and a service of wine.

Harry felt himself harden as he looked at Severus and witnessed those deep, dark eyes darken even more with evident desire. Severus began to speak, “I want you, Harry. I really do. It’s been so long…” Harry shivered as his palm was kissed. “You said we have all night. I…,” Severus seemed nervous, “I want us to undress, and get in bed.”

Another shiver as Severus pressed a second kiss onto his palm, “and I want to wrap my arms around you and hold you close while we talk. And, if we get through talking before I wake up, well, then we can make love.”

Harry looked at his husband, and felt the desire rolling off of him. It was more than just physical lust, however. It was a need to be close, to be connected, and to just be with each other. Harry leaned down and captured those thin lips with his own. “Anything you want, Severus. We can talk all night, as long as we are together.”

Severus smiled and stood, stepping out of what had to be Harry’s sweatpants. Harry took his hand when Severus held it out. Severus pulled Harry into a consuming kiss as he stripped the younger man of his clothing. It wasn’t long before they were both breathless and naked. Harry broke away and led his mate toward the bed. He crawled onto the mattress, trying to see if he could entice his older mate. Severus followed him, nipping him lightly on the shoulder as they started to settle in their customary position – Severus on his back with Harry’s head nestled just so on his shoulder.

Harry sighed happily. He could feel the change within Severus. He even felt better, himself. Harry found himself smiling back as Severus smiled at him.

They talked all night, mostly about their relationship and what they both wanted for the future. As much as they both wanted to touch and feel, neither felt the need to move out of their comfortable positions, or to stop the connection that started with the first words that were spoken. Dawn began to break, and Severus began to stir.

“I think you’re about to wake up, love,” Harry interrupted. “Kiss me again before you leave.”

Harry cried joyfully as Severus enthusiastically kissed him.


***END OF HARRY’S DREAM***

Harry’s eyes fluttered open. His head was still on Severus’s shoulder, but this was the younger Severus. He closed his eyes and took a deep, satisfied breath. A worry he hadn’t really known he had was resolved: Severus still loved him in the future. He grinned as he drifted off to sleep again.


Present – Late Friday night/Early Saturday morning:

Severus sighed as he glanced at the clock in his sitting room. It was a magical clock, much like the Weasley’s, but with far fewer hands. Of course, Severus was on the thing, as well as Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco. The only other hand on the old clock was Harry’s, which was pointing at “out of reach”. Draco’s pointed at “studying”, thank Merlin for that. The other two pointed at “traveling”. Severus smiled grimly and moved toward the floo.

On cue, the flames roared green, and out stepped the beautiful wife of his cousin, followed closely by the suave blonde man, himself. Severus was genuinely happy to see them. It had been far too long since they had spent any time together. He embraced them warmly, and offered them a drink; firewhiskey for himself and Luc, Madeira for Cissa.

They chatted benignly for a while, just enjoying each other’s company. Even after all these years, Severus still got a private laugh at seeing his commanding, powerful cousin sitting complacently at the feet of his petite bride. Lucius turned his head to look at this wife as she spoke, and Severus saw the flash of something silver beneath the neck of his cousin’s robe.

“Cissa, pardon me if I am not supposed to notice, but is that something new?” He inclined his head toward Luc, who shocked Severus by blushing.

Narcissa smirked lazily as she ran a domineering hand over her husband’s cheek and down his throat to rest on the delicate platinum collar that encircled his neck. “Yes. I find myself well pleased with my husband, and have rewarded him thusly.”

Lucius blushed even more, and Severus would have been rolling on the floor laughing if Narcissa had not been there. Instead, Severus merely answered, “It is a beautiful piece. You have excellent taste, Cissa.”

“Thank you, Severus.” She ran her fingers through her husband’s pale locks as she spoke. “How are you doing, Severus. I couldn’t imagine what you must be going through.” Her light eyes misted with genuine worry.

Severus dropped his head slightly, “I have been better, though not in many years. It will be over soon, and Luci is positive that Harry will…not refuse…me when he returns.”

Narcissa leaned forward and patted Severus’s knee. “You should listen to him. My Luc is a wise man, most of the time, and he loves you enough that he would not lead you down a false trail.”

Severus covered her hand with his own, squeezing lightly before letting go. “Thank you. I think I needed to hear that.”

Narcissa settled back into her chair. “Now, what are we going to do about Poppy? Something needs to be done; Draco has decided to become a spy, and I will not see him harmed.”

The conversation turned deadly as the three Slytherins and former Death Eaters made plans to protect one of their own.

Later, utterly exhausted and more than a little blue, Severus got ready for bed. He brushed his teeth and removed the charms from his hair after he changed into a pair of too-short sweatpants that used to belong to his husband. He climbed into bed and immediately turned to snuggle with Harry’s old pillow, imagining that if he breathed deep enough, he could still catch the scent of Harry lingering on the cloth.

“If I could only talk to him, see him just for a few moments,” he voiced to the empty room, “I think I’d be able to make it through. Only for a few moments…” Severus drifted off.

***SEVERUS’S DREAM***

Faded and peeling blue-green wallpaper lined the four patched walls of the dim room. A dusty, gilded tiffany lamp hung over a small oak conversation table, barely offering enough illumination to make out the threadbare Queen Anne chairs angled on either side. A chipped, discolored tea service sat neglected on the old, rickety table. One look at the room, and Severus knew that this was a dream. He had never seen furniture this shabby in real life.

A short, well-built figure relaxed in one chair, obviously waiting on…Severus? He peered closer, trying to see the face of the person. The shadows shifted slightly, and he could make out the deep, beautiful green eyes of his true love. His breath caught, and he half ran – half fell at the foot of the chair, shoving his head onto his lover’s lap.

“Harry, I’ve missed you so much.”

Harry ran his fingers through the still slightly oily hair. “I know, love. I know. It’s alright. I’m here with you now. We have all night. We can talk; we can do whatever you want.” He cupped Severus’s chin, lifting his head so Harry could look him in the eye. “We have all night, to do whatever you want…” He glanced back over his shoulder.

Severus followed his gaze with his eyes. There, in the dank, old room, was a beautiful bed. It consisted of a mattress on the floor, with what looked to be royal blue silk sheets and matching coverlet. There were blue and cream candles surrounding the bed, floating above it, and a bottle of wine and two chalices sitting near the head.

Severus’s eyes glazed in desire. “I want you, Harry. I really do. It’s been so long…” He kissed the palm of Harry’s hand. “You said we have all night. I…,” he started nervously, “I want us to undress, and get in bed.”
He placed another kiss on Harry’s hand, continuing with more confidence, “and I want to wrap my arms around you and hold you close while we talk. And, if we get through talking before I wake up, well, then we can make love.”

He turned his eyes toward Harry, beseeching him to understand that his need was more than physical; it was emotional, spiritual, and even magical. Harry leaned down and captured those thin lips with his own. “Anything you want, Severus. We can talk all night, as long as we are together.”

Severus smiled and stood, stripping out of the sweatpants and smalls. He held his hand out to Harry, who took it and rose from the chair. He kissed Harry again, all the while helping his young husband out of his own clothing. Soon, they were both naked and more than slightly breathless. Harry broke away and led his mate toward the bed. He crawled onto the mattress in a way that made Severus’s mouth water and his cock spring to life. Severus followed him, nipping him lightly on the shoulder as they started to settle in their customary position – Severus on his back with Harry’s head nestled just so on his shoulder.

Severus sighed in happy contentment. This…this is what he needed. The feel of the other half of his soul, his mate in his arms… It was…peace. A true smile, one that had not been seen for nineteen years, lit up the usually dour man’s face.

They talked all night, mostly about their relationship and what they both wanted for the future. As much as they both wanted to touch and feel, neither felt the need to move out of their comfortable positions, or to stop the connection that started with the first words that were spoken. Dawn began to break, and Severus began to stir.

“I think you’re about to wake up, love,” Harry interrupted. “Kiss me again before you leave.”

Severus eagerly complied.

***END OF SEVERUS’S DREAM***

Severus sighed as his eyes opened. His arms were still wrapped around Harry’s pillow, but he was no longer on his side. He was on his back, with the pillow resting on his shoulder.

He smiled wryly. ‘Funny,’ he thought, ‘the dream was so real.’ He smiled again. It was the first time he had awakened to feel rested and peaceful since his husband left.