How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

DISCLAIMER: JKR owns everything that is in reference to the Harry Potter world if it is in one of my works of fiction. If it is not found in one of her creations, then it is mine unless otherwise stated. I am not making any profit from the writing of this story.

Well over two hours later, Severus finally rose up from the tattoo artist’s table. The tattoo spread the tail of the mythical bird from his upper right thigh, across his buttocks and then the image of the bird burst through a tattooed wreath of flames, it’s wings outspread and the head and neck finally ending over his left shoulder. All in all, the entire piece was quite a bit larger than he’d originally planned and had taken two different artists working on him to finish it in one sitting.


Harry, Grant, and Allie all whistled appreciatively as he stood stiffly and the artist wiped the last of the blood from Severus’ skin. The colours vivid on the back drop of his pale skin. As discreetly as he could, Harry gathered the bloodied paper toweling and spelled it dry so he could stuff it in the plastic carry bag that had held Allie’s drink.

He knew from experience that the older man would be leery about leaving behind something that could be used in magic, and blood was one of the most potent ingredients that one following the Dark Arts could get of another person. Severus noticed his actions and smiled his approval as he pulled his shirt back on after listening to the instructions on how to care for his new art piece. Inwardly he just rolled his eyes, he knew his body would be healed before they ever left town.

Severus and Grant both wanted to get back to the campground soon, they were planning to watch some of the contests coming up that evening. Sev stopped long enough in his hurry to get back to his bike to let Harry run in and buy a bottle of ginger ale before he buckled him into his helmet and helped him mount the bike.

Harry managed to make it back to their site without needing to ask his mate to stop, but only just. He was desperately trying to dismount before the older man had the bike shut down safely. Rushing to the row of bathrooms, Harry cursed himself soundly as he was sick. He despised any perceived weakness in himself. Surely there was something he could do to control this. He didn’t know how he’d get home otherwise.

He was washing his mouth out and scrubbing his face with cold water when Max joined him by the sink.

“Bit, Allie told me you’re getting sick when you’re on the bike.” He said gently. He could tell just by how Harry was standing that the younger man was not going to like this conversation.

“Yes Sir, but I’ll be fine. Nothing to worry about.” The younger man replied with forced bravado, “I’ll just take one of Sev’s potions, and I’ll be fine.”

Max just smiled sadly and shook his head, “Sorry Harry, but you can’t take anything.”

The young man stopped, his breath catching in his throat, he turned wide eyed to Max. What was the Healer babbling on about? Surely he could take a stomach calming draught.

“Why not?” he whispered.

“Anything you take for nausea is going to leave you drowsy and possibly dizzy. We can’t let you take anything and ride.” Max explained as he put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“What am I supposed to do then?” he asked, he didn’t want to have to tell Severus this. He didn’t want Severus to regret bringing him, or even regret making him part of his life. He could feel himself start to shake.

“It is going to be okay Harry, stop this. You will just have to fly back to West Virginia, Grant or Allie will go with you. That’s all, nothing to worry about.” Max explained, he was trying to keep the dark haired man from getting too worked up. He didn’t want an emotional scene there in front of a bunch of people.

“What am I going to tell Sev?” Harry murmured, more to himself than to Max, the red head answered anyhow.

“Nothing, I’m going to talk to him. I think he has an idea that you are going to be flying back anyhow; he knows that that was what we had to do with Allie a couple of years ago.”

Harry continued mumbling to himself about being a disappointment again in Severus’ life when Max pulled him up short.

“Harry, are you thinking Sev is going to be mad at you?” he asked, he was not worried that his friend would be angry, but it bothered him that Harry thought he might be. Harry only nodded once and began to shuffle back to his tent.

“Fuck Harry, is he that much of a bastard as a teacher that he has you frightened to tell him something important like this?” Max asked as he caught up to him. He’d known the man for ten years now and couldn’t really imagine him striking this much fear into someone, especially not someone he was getting married to.

“You have no idea Max, you really don’t.” was all Harry would say as he trudged along, dread growing with each step. He didn’t want to see the disappointment that would be in Severus’ eyes, he didn’t want to see the disgust in his weakness that he knew his lover would try to hide. He’d seen so much of it while he was in school.

Max stopped and let Harry go on alone and then he went on to find his raven haired friend. It was time they had a long long talk. He caught up with Severus and Grant as they were watching a tire blowing contest.

“Sev, man we have to talk.” The tall red head said as he leaned down to the other man’s ear. The crowd and the roar of the bikes were nearly deafening.

“Sure.” Severus shouted to be heard, “Get with me later.” He turned his attention back to the contest.

“No, I mean we have to talk now, it’s about Bit.” Max said as he took hold of his upper arm, prepared to haul him away if need be. It wasn’t, at the mention of Harry, Severus immediately focused on his friend. He nodded and followed.

“Is he okay?” he asked anxiously as soon as they could speak freely.

“No man, he isn’t.” Max said solemnly as he faced his friend and looked down into his narrow face. “Why is he afraid of you, Sev?”

Severus started to open his mouth and stopped again as what Max had said sunk in. Harry was afraid of him? What was going on?

“What are you talking about Max?” he asked, he was truly stunned by what the other man had asked.

“He’s afraid to talk to you, Sev. What the hell were you like to him as his teacher?” Max looked at his friend, trying to see what Harry was afraid of.

“I don’t understand Max. What do you mean he’s afraid to talk to me?” Severus just couldn’t get past the fact his little Harry was afraid of him. He’d never hurt him, not intentionally anyhow.

“Harry can’t ride on the bike now, he’s afraid to tell you.” Max replied, he waited to see if his friend was going to blow up or do something else unexpected. He was still waiting when Severus looked at him again like he’d grown a second head.

“I know that Max, I came to the conclusion this afternoon after he got so sick. Merlin, you act like you were expecting me to go scream at him.”

Max didn’t say anything for a moment and a sick look of understanding spread over the other man’s face as the realization dawned on him. That was exactly what Max had thought he was going to do.

“You didn’t see Harry, Sev. He was almost pissing himself.” Max said quietly, he hated that he’d allowed himself to think his friend might do something like that.

“I’ll take care of it Max.” Severus said coldly as he brushed pasts the larger man and stalked to his tent. He was furious; he couldn’t believe his integrity was being questioned like this. His friend thought he was abusive. He knew he needed to calm down before he confronted Harry, but reasoning flew out the window as he came into sight of his lover sitting in a lawn chair in front of the tent.

“Potter, I wish to have a word with you.” He growled as he snatched the younger man up by the arm and propelled him into the tent.

Casting heavy silencing charms, he followed him in and stood seething over him.

“Yes Sir?” Harry said meekly as he sank to his knees.

“No Potter, get your arse up right now. None of this Sir or Master right now.” Severus hissed, his black eyes flashing his anger causing Harry to flinch in fear.

He stood silently and gauged the distance between himself and his wand, the older man noticed and snatched it from the bed and threw it at him.

“Take it Potter; you might need it to protect yourself from me.” He raged, “How dare you tell Max you were afraid of me? How dare you?”

Harry stood there in stunned silence, what had Max told the man?

“If you are afraid of me, then leave, I am not going to restrain you, Potter.” The Potions Master spat. “I do not want someone that thinks they are held against their will to be with me.”

“Sev…” Harry began, trying to explain what he’d been so worked up over.

“I am not a monster Harry, no matter what you or your little friends thought of me whilst you were under my tutelage.” His voice so deadly quiet that Harry had to strain to hear it, each word cutting like a knife in his heart. Severus’ own heart felt like it was breaking.

“Listen to me, I was afraid to tell you I was sick from riding.” Harry cried, his hands wrung together, his body shaking. “I know you won’t hurt me Sev, I just didn’t want to disappoint you again.”

“What on Merlin’s green earth are you prattling on about now?”

“I didn’t want to have to tell you that I was going to ruin your vacation, I didn’t want to be a burden, I didn’t…” at that point Harry stopped forming words and just howled in pain and frustration.

He picked up a pillow and threw it at his mate, hitting him in the face with it, following the pillow with a book, the whole time screaming about great greasy bats, daft bastards and anything else he could think of. Severus simply stood his ground and knocked the heavier items away from his head as they were thrown. Minutes later, Harry crumpled to the floor on his knees, his breath coming in great hiccoughing sobs.



“I love you, you idiot, I didn’t want to ruin your fun,” He choked out as Severus cleared the tent with a wave from his wand and then picked Harry up and sat him on the bed.

“Shhhh brat.” He murmured as he pressed his lips against Harry’s forehead. Once again, he’d overreacted to some imagined slight and gotten Harry all upset. He hoped one day he’d learn to ask questions before leaping to conclusions.

Harry pushed at him with his fists, punching him in the chest.

“I didn’t want to have to fly home Sev,” he whispered, “I wanted to ride back with you on the bike.”

“You won’t be alone, I’ll ship the bike back Harry. I’ll fly with you.” The older man said as he rubbed Harry’s back and wiped his tears away.

“Now will you please let Max know I am not going to maim you?”

Harry nodded, “I’m sorry he got that idea that was my fault, I was so wrapped up in not wanting to tell you, I didn’t think about what it would look like to someone else. Especially not a Healer.”

Severus dropped the silencing charms and the wards with a wave and not unexpectedly the rest of their group all fell in through the flap.

Severus arched one brow and looked at Harry and then at his friends.

“Harry, I do believe your cavalry has arrived to rescue you from me.” He said icily, still a little pissed that his friend could think something like that of him. Though the more he thought about it, he knew he’d most likely react in the same manner if Allie started behaving oddly.

“I don’t need rescuing Sir, I am safe here.” Harry said softly as he wiggled under Sev’s arm and against his side


.
“Sorry Sev, you know I had to…” Max began, a sheepish look on his face.

“I know Max, I would have done the same.”