Another Kind Of Magic

Harry didn't remember how he had managed to get to the Great Hall and just sat there like everything was normal. Which it wasn't. Everything was different now. He now had someone to talk to and – to his embarrassment – Snape had seen his fantasy. Even though he felt awkward about Snape knowing this, he had also been aroused by it. He had felt the pulling deep down in his groin and even now his stomach squeezed together excitedly. Harry had been hard, as Snape had told him to get up.

Ron interrupted Harry's thought by asking what he had being doing in the dungeons. "Hermione told me that you stayed with the git after class."

"I had to ask Snape something about my homework. You know I have to pass potions if I want to become an Auror." Harry had been smart enough to think about an excuse beforehand. Truth to be told, he knew it would look strange if he would stay behind after Snape's class without being told to. The dark haired teacher might have stopped taking points from Gryffindor for the simple fact that Harry existed but he had been far from being friendly towards Harry. Neutral if anything. Harry on the other hand had stopped making hateful remarks about Snape. He had not openly defended him though. He had only silently argued with the others when they spoke ill of him. They would ask too many questions that Harry couldn't answer. And he didn't dare to tell them that he respected their teacher and even liked him somehow. Ron would have a fit.

"Couldn't you have asked someone else?" Ron wanted to know with his mouth full of dessert.

Harry sighed. "Snape is the best resource when it comes to potions. Why should I ask someone else?"

"Because he's a slimy git, that's why!" Ron shot a glance at the staff table. "Look at him! He's all greasy and disgusting."

"Ron, even my hair gets greasy after potions. And I'm only down there for two hours. He is in this room all day long. I'm not surprised that his hair gets greasy." Hermione said.

Harry was surprised about this unexpected help from her.

Ron beside him gaped at his girlfriend. "Are you taking Snape's side?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not taking sides. I'm simply stating the fact that it is a problem of having to deal with potions vapours all day long. That meaning having greasy hair. You don't look all fresh after Quidditch."

"Are you two going completely bonkers? What is it with you?" Ron looked with wide eyes between Harry and Hermione.

Hermione took a deep breath. "No, Ron, I'm not going nuts. I just don't like injustice, as you should know very well. Maybe you should finally start to grow up and think about a few things. Like for example that Snape helped a great deal to get rid of Voldemort. And that he saved Harry's live more then just once." Hermione put her spoon down and shoved her plate away.

Harry was just as perplex as Ron when Hermione got up and left. But unlike Ron he was astonished in a pleasant way.

"Bloody hell! What's that all about, Harry?" Ron wanted to know still looking after his girlfriend. "She must be jinxed or something."

"I don't think so. I'd rather say that she's aware that Snape hasn't had the easiest part in the war. And maybe she's realised that he risked his life every time he went to a Death Eater meeting. Maybe she thinks that he has earned to be respected for what he did." Harry ignored the dumbfounded expression in Ron's face and got up as well. "See you in the common room."

Harry turned around and glanced at the staff table. For some reason he wasn't surprised to see Snape looking at him. The nevertheless unexpected attention made his insides squeeze. He wished that the wizard had heard that conversation. With a small smile at Snape Harry left the hall.

*

Severus watched Harry leave. Had he just imagined it or had the young man really smiled at him?

He knew that he had been the subject of the discussion from the three Gryffindors. The look that the Weasley boy had given him and the smile from Harry had told him as much. He took his eyes from the closed entrance and his gaze swept once more over the Gryffindor table. He found Weasley staring at him with a flabbergasted expression. Mockingly raising an eyebrow, Snape returned the look. To his surprise the boy blushed (not as nice as Harry though!) and turned away hanging his head over the rest of his dessert.

Severus leaned back in his chair. Now he really was curious what this conversation had been about. Maybe he would ask Harry about it on Monday. The thought of Monday made him realise that wanted to be in his chambers. He had to think about a few things and for that he wanted to be alone.

He excused himself and headed downstairs to the dungeons. In his quarters he prepared some tea and then took his favourite armchair in front of the blazing fire.

Relaxing into his chair his thoughts moved back to the episode before dinner. He had been really surprised to find Harry still kneeling at the spot where he had left him. This action alone or better the lack of action had told Severus already that the young man might be serious about his question. Of course Severus still had to question him further since he didn't trust easily. Nobody, but it was trice as hard when it came to Harry. Yes, most of Severus' suspiciousness came from his experience with Harry's father, but some of it resulted in the way Harry himself had acted towards him. Severus sighed deeply. He had hated Harry because of his father, Harry had hated him because of the way Severus had treated him. One thing had lead to the other and Harry prying into his private thoughts had just been the last drop.

If Dumbledore hadn't right out ordered Severus to continue the lessons with Harry or else leave Hogwarts, Severus would have never done it. Thinking back, Severus did remember that Harry had acted different towards him, as they had started the lessons again. He had stopped fighting him – causing them both pain – and he also had stopped arguing when Severus mentioned his father or Sirius. That had been the reason why Severus had thought that they had come to some kind of unspoken agreement about not making life harder for each other as it already was. Of course, Severus was still the man that he is, which meant that his remarks were certainly not for the delicate hearted kind of people – to phrase it politely.

Harry's question about his interest in BDSM had rung an alarm bell. It still wasn't the easiest thing to be open about it to just anyone. Far too often one would be seen as a perverted Freak. And the six years experience with Harry before the war had caused Severus to be sure to be fooled.

Severus wondered about how much Harry knew about BDSM. He must have some sort of information to even use this phrase instead of the more commonly used SM. He remembered the glimpse of Harry's fantasy he had seen. He had not only seen the clear picture of the scene but had also felt the excitement connected to it. Which was to be understood. Severus would be lying if he would say that it wasn't an exciting setting, it certainly was. A good old-fashioned spanking could be very sensual. With the wrong person it could also end disastrous, no doubt about it, but with the right person it was something very special and intimate. It wasn't easy to find someone trustworthy with whom you could play safely though. Considering the trust thing it was even more amazing that Harry had chosen him, Severus, to confide in. Severus hadn't been aware of Harry trusting him that much. But maybe Harry wasn't even aware of the amount of trust that was necessary when it came to BDSM. On the other hand, maybe he was and Severus was being unjust.

He took another sip of tea and smiled about himself. He had gotten carried away with his thoughts, which was probably due to the fact that he hadn't thought about BDSM at all for many years. Pressing matters had kept him from delving in the past and of course he had had neither time nor the state of mind for a partner while being a spy.

And just because Harry wanted to talk with him, didn't mean that he actually wanted to play with him as well.

But there was this fantasy, Severus mused and he had certainly been a part in there. So maybe Harry did want to play with him?
Another part of Severus argued that it had only been a fantasy, something to think about while you masturbate. Nothing serious about it. Harry simply didn't know anybody else and that's why he had used him, Severus, as a play partner. Then he thought that you could imagine an anonymous partner.

"Great! Now I'm arguing with myself!" He got up from his chair. "Now I'm even talking to myself!" He headed towards the office. He better got some work done. There was no point in making wild presumptions, because there wouldn't be anything physical anyway. At least not for the next three months while Harry was still a student at Hogwarts. After that they would have to see what could happen. Severus would cross this bridge when he came to it.

He sat at his desk and reached for the first parchment and began correcting it, his mind now occupied with the task at hand. He didn't even notice that he had been very busy with thinking about what Harry might want. But not once had he questioned himself if he wanted to play with the young man.

tbc