The Friday Boy

CHAPTER 31

Harry lay on his bed, his hands tucked behind his head as he stared at the glow in the dark constellations that Ron had brought him for his last birthday. The house had long fallen silent cleared of order members as Dumbledore sent them out on their tasks no doubt. Harry had expected his godfather to come storming upstairs after the outburst in the lounge but as yet Harry hadn’t heard anyone climbing the stairs. It was getting towards late afternoon and Harry’s stomach growled angrily with lack of food but he was determined not to give any of them the satisfaction of giving in to them and going downstairs.

Harry was just considering getting up to go to the bathroom when he heard the creak of the landing outside his bedroom. Hastily Harry closed his eyes as he heard a tentative knock on the door. Not answering Harry heard the shuffle of feet before the knock came again. Stubbornly Harry didn’t answer the few mock attentive knocks and at length he heard the door handle twist before the whine as the door was pushed open slightly.

“Harry?” It was Sirius just as Harry had predicted. Choosing not to acknowledge his name Harry merely turned over away from the door as he heard his godfather step into the room. “Please Harry I just want to talk.” Harry could heard the strain in his godfathers voice, the animagus trying his hardest not to lose his temper. Again Harry didn’t answer as he listened to Sirius pad over to Harry’s desk and begin fiddling with the summer homework Harry had been doing earlier. “They’ve gone to get him.” Sirius trailed off and Harry smiled in secret success as he finally acknowledged his godfather and glanced over his shoulder at the elder wizard. Sirius looked tense and drawn, as he continued to fiddle with the items strewn on Harry’s desk not daring to meet his godson’s gaze. “Why didn’t you tell me you were queer?” Sirius muttered a little bitterly as he re corked a bottle of ink Harry had carelessly left open earlier.

“Because I’m not.” Harry replied softly as he rolled back over and sat up cross-legged in the center of his bed. Sirius continued to fiddle awkwardly as he huffed a contemptible laugh and shook his head.

“So allowing yourself to be buggered by an old wizard doesn’t come under your definition of queer?” Harry bit his lip angrily as he watched Sirius irritably push Harry’s textbooks into the corner of the desk in a neat pile before sighing heavily and finally glancing up at Harry in apology. “Sorry.” Sirius muttered as he perched himself on the edge of Harry’s now organized desk and began tugging the sleeves of his robe like a chastised child.

“Just because I like him, doesn’t mean I want to fuck every man I come into contact with. I’ve never looked at another man like that before in my life, it’s just him.” Harry snapped as he watched his godfather’s reaction carefully over the top of his glasses.

“So you two are…are…well…um…..” Harry knew Sirius couldn’t say the words as he watched his godfather twitching with retrained anger at the mere thought of it.

“Yeah, we’re having sex if that’s what you want to know.” Harry watched as Sirius took a deep breath, his fists clenching dangerously as he tried to control his rapidly increasing anger.

“Your father…” Sirius ground out between clenched teeth as he looked up at Harry pointedly.

“I’m not my father Black.” Harry spat out, cutting Sirius’ sentence off mid way through. “I couldn’t give a rats arse what my dad thought of him, and quite frankly I don’t care what you and that pack of hypocrites downstairs think either. So if you’re going to get mad I suggest you drop the ‘supportive parenting act’ and get on with it.” Harry snapped knowing instantly that Sirius had done just that as he rose from the edge of the desk and stood over Harry dangerously.

“Have you any idea who he is? What he’s capable of!” Sirius screamed his pale face turning purple as he continued. “No one is forced into Voldemort service Harry, you go willing, you take his brand and he takes your life. There’s no redemption for that choice Harry, and while you might think he’s a caring, reformed potion master with only your good intentions at heart I can tell you now that he will never doing anything for you that doesn’t serve his own selfish, twisted and bitter desires for power. You see him now Harry, with a lifetime of calculated practice in manipulation but I saw him before he had the experience enough to cover up his indiscretions. And I can tell you now that whatever line he fed you about love to get you into bed, he’s been using that same line to get his rocks off since he was 16. Did you know he was sleeping with his own old greasy Potion’s professor back in school? Professor Mortimer Grindfeld, Snape was his favorite for a reason Harry and it certainly wasn’t because he could brew a potion or two!” Sirius paused to take a breath as he reached down and grabbed Harry hard by the shoulders making the boy wince in pain. “It will be over my dead body that I let you make this mistake Harry, Severus Snape is a wicked man and I won’t brake my promise to James just because you think losing your virginity to a dirty old wizard is love!” Harry was not expecting the slap and was stunned as Sirius’ stinging hand came slamming down again on his cheek. Curling up instantly on his side his hands trying to protect him from the blows Harry whimpered uselessly. Sirius had completely lost it, his temper unimaginable.

From nowhere the door to Harry’s bedroom burst open and Harry felt the icy scold of a curse as it shot past his body and exploded in a fireball against Sirius chest sending the man flying backwards and into the marble fire surround. Harry shook from head to toe as he cowered in the corner of his bed. Daring to open his eyes Harry first saw Sirius lying sprawled on the carpet beside the bed, lifeless and bleeding from an unseen wound on his head. Turning over abruptly Harry was in tears as he saw a familiar dark figure standing in the doorway his wand still pointed at Sirius and his expression unreadable. Harry couldn’t get to his feet quick enough as he stumbled off the bed and brought himself crashing up against the figure. Harry continued to shake as he wrapped his arms around the wizard’s slim waist pressing his face into the folds of robes on the man’s chest desperately seeking reassurance.

“Over my dead body.” Sirius had come to from the initial blow and Harry automatically followed Snape’s guiding hand so that he was forced to stand behind the elder wizard. Harry clutched to the back of Snape’s robes as he watched Sirius stagger to his feet his wand drawn and aimed at Snape who was similarly armed and prepared.

“That can be arranged mutt.” Snape spoke darkly his voice pure venom as he tightened his grip on his wand.

“I’d like to see you try Snape, you could never win at school and you’re not likely to now. You forget I know pain too, and nothing you can do to me will hurt.” Sirius sneered at Snape as he crudely wiped away the trail of blood from his forehead that threatened to obscure his vision. Harry swallowed nervously as he felt Snape chuckle nastily his wand hardly moving from its perfect aim.

“You don’t get it do you Black? I’ve already won because I’ve got Harry and you haven’t…” The curse from Sirius wand lit up the bedroom in a radiant orange glow and Harry braced himself against Snape’s back for an impact that never came. With barely a flick of his wand Snape deflected the curse with a calculating ease. The curse exploded above Harry’s bed showering them all with dust and ceiling debris. Predictably at the very first signs of an attack a mad scramble of Auror’s came up the stairs and barged their way into Harry’s room.

“What the hell?” Lupin was the first to take in the stand off and automatically reached for his own wand.

“Remus stay out of this, I’ve got some unfinished business to take care of. I should have killed you when I had the chance Snape.” Sirius let another curse fly and everyone ducked for cover as Snape simply reflected it right back at the other wizard who managed to jump out of the way as it shattered the widow and dissipated out into the wards surrounding the house outside.

“Stop this immediately!” Dumbledore’s voice came booming from the top of the stairs the elder wizard striding through the Auror’s ducked on the floor and coming to a dead stop between the two fighting wizards. “Snape lower your wand!” Dumbledore turned to Snape who was still glaring at Sirius. “Snape do as I say!” Dumbledore shouted when Snape made no move to do anything of the sort.

“Albus always was your protector wasn’t he Snape? Still can’t fight your own battles I see…..” Like lightening Dumbledore spun around and with a wave of his hand Sirius’ voice left him and his mouth sewed itself shut. Harry watched on horrified from around Snape’s waist as his godfather dropped his wand and began struggling uselessly to get his mouth open, his eyes wild in fear.

“Now that we’ve shut him up, I said lower you wand Severus!” Harry heard Snape growl low in his throat as he reluctantly lowered his wand and slipped it easily back into the sleeve of his robe.

“I thought you were resolved on not interfering headmaster?” The bitterness in Snape’s tone wasn’t meant to be subtle and aptly reflected the potion masters disgust at being chastised like a child by his employer.

“Indeed and were I not sensible of my own good I would have let you two kill each other and be done with this silly charade you’ve kept going for 25 years!” Harry winced having never heard Dumbledore shout or so rudely point his finger accusingly at Snape who glared at the elder wizard in contempt.

“It figures you would blame me, you always did. I got beaten to a pulp, it was my fault for walking down that corridor. I had my homework stolen, it was my fault for not handing it in earlier. Getting called names constantly was my fault because I shouldn’t be listening to them. It was ALWAYS my fault, and never once did you punish them not even when that thing nearly fucking killed me!” Snape pointed accusingly at Lupin who was helping Sirius calm down over by the shattered window. Instinctively Harry wrapped his arms tighter around Snape’s waist almost in apology for how cruel his father and his friends had been to Severus at school.

“You gave as good as you got Severus Snape and don’t deny it…” Albus snapped sharply still pointing his finger at Snape who didn’t back down an inch despite the headmaster’s impressive stance.

“I won’t!” Snape shouted, rapidly losing his iron control. “After a year of watching them get away with it, and you not doing a damn thing to stop it I figured I might as well fight back.”

“Just like you’re doing now Severus? Fighting like a 12 year old school boy over Harry like he’s a possession, a trophy to be won in this ongoing feud between you and them?” Dumbledore’s voice had risen again an urge of anger rising in his tone. Snape snorted loudly in disgust and shook his head, his hand automatically coming down to rest on Harry’s on his hip.

“No Albus, Harry chose me and considering the circumstances I never once coerced him into anything, even going so far as to conceal my feelings for him for five years!” Snape shouted returning Dumbledore’s angry tone with just as much conviction. “Now if you’re done questioning my morals and integrity, Black and I have a score to settle.” Harry stiffened as he felt Snape reach for his wand again but before he could push Dumbledore out of the way to get to his intended victim, Lupin’s voice broke the silence.

“He’s passed out.” Sure enough Black was sprawled on the floor among the shattered pieces of glass, his mouth still magically stitched closed. Snape growled angrily and reluctantly stowed his wand as Dumbledore wave his hand at Sirius and returned his lips to normal so that he could speak. Lupin helped Black up onto bed before Dumbledore strode up to Snape and stopped a mere inch away from the other wizard.

“I wash my hands of you Severus Snape.” Dumbledore muttered as he strode past Snape and headed back downstairs, taking a trail of stunned Auror’s and order members with him. Harry remained where he was standing behind Snape quietly listening to the rapid rise and fall of the potion masters breathing as he regained a little of his calm. Harry heard Black come to over on the bed and before he knew what was happening he was being dragged out of the bedroom, down the corridor and into Snape’s room. Harry stumbled on the rug as Snape slammed the door closed behind them before turning to face Harry. Anger practically rolled off Snape in waves as two long strides brought him across the room to stand in front of Harry. Harry automatically flinched as he caught Snape raising his hand out of the corner of his eye.

“Sorry,” Harry whispered when he realized that Snape wasn’t going to hit him, the momentary flicker of pain in Snape’s obsidian stare making Harry instantly regret his instinctive cower. Snape cupped Harry’s cheeks gently and turned him towards the light of the window, carefully inspecting the minor cuts and bruises Sirius had left behind.

“No real damage, you’ll live.” Snape whispered as he dropped his hands from Harry’s face and moved over to his trunk that was sitting at the end of the bed. Harry watched as Snape sighed heavily and sat down on the trunk, his head automatically falling into his hands, his hair curtaining around his face creating a private little world in which the professor sat reflecting.

“What did they do to you?” Harry whispered as he tentatively joined Snape sitting on the trunk, as he awkwardly fiddled with the cuffs of his jumper.

“Nothing I would not have been forced to do to them, were the situation reversed.” Harry worried his lip with his teeth, not needing to know the specifics of Snape’s capture to know what hell the Auror’s had probably put him through.

“What about his royal darkness?” Harry muttered wondering what Voldemort thought of Snape’s capture. Snape huffed a gentle laugh as he looked up from his hands to glance at Harry through the greasy curtain of hair.

“While ever I still breath Potter, Riddle will still see me as his own personal alchemist. I have resigned myself to the fact of being so and a silly mistake on my part will hardly cost me my position. I’m too well thought of Potter.” Harry continued to twist the loose threads on his jumper, deliberately avoiding looking into Snape’s gaze that had soften impossibly since leaving Sirius. In the silence Snape continued to stare at Harry from behind the curtain of hair, the man’s obsidian eyes flickering over Harry’s soft features as the boy remained coyly staring at the floor. A pink blush began to colour Harry’s cheeks as Snape’s stare wore on, until finally Harry’s conscience forced him to look up and meet Snape’s gaze. “I am always going to be a Death Eater Harry, even when this war is over. I will always be a snarky little bastard, who’s prone to acting up. I will never be a perfect wizard and I will sometimes scream, and shout and get angry. That’s just who I am.” Harry’s eyes fluttered closed automatically as Snape’ reached out and ran a potion stained finger down Harry’s cheek and down to the boy’s moist pink lips. “And I will still love you, even if you choose to walk away from me.” Harry’s eyes opened sharply, his mouth automatically opening to disagree with Snape’s comment but the potion masters finger pressed into Harry’s lips silencing him. “I’m under no illusions Harry so spare me your lecture on commitment. When you take away everything else I’m just a tired old potions master who gets his kicks from one of his students. If I am still here when this war is over I am sensible enough to know that you’ll want to enjoy your freedom and nowhere in the definition of freedom is there room for me.” Again Harry went to protest but Snape pushed his finger firmer against Harry’s lips. “So,” Snape continued as he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Harry’s cheek. “I suggest you go downstairs and talk to your godfather, even if he doesn’t accept me he can at least do you the decency of accepting your decisions as a adult.” Harry’s eyes fell closed as Snape removed his finger from the boy’s lips before softly pressing a chaste kiss to Harry’s lips. The kiss was gentle and caring and although it lasted only a few moments Harry felt as if he’d been flying. “Go on, I’ve got some things to sort out.” Reluctantly Harry was forced to his feet, Snape guiding him to the door and almost pushing him out into the corridor, not giving the boy time to refuse. For a moment Harry didn’t register what Snape meant in his confession but when it clicked Harry instantly spun around and slammed his foot into the door frame preventing it from closing. “Harry.” Snape warned as he stared down at Harry’s foot wedged in the door.

“No. You’re wrong.” Harry whispered as he leant against the space between the door and frame so that his face was just visible. Snape looked up into Harry’s glittering green orbs and something made him shiver. “I don’t want perfect and I think I’d kill you myself if you didn’t raise your voice at least once a day to tell me I’m stupid.” Harry smiled mildly as he watched Snape roll his eyes. “I like you just how you are, with all the kinks, all the moods, and with all your past decisions. And lets face it,” Harry smiled cheekily as he reached through the gap in the door and tweaked Snape’s nose playfully. “I’m the best damn Friday Boy, you’re ever going to get and I’m free.” Harry heard Snape snort in amusement from behind the door before Harry smiled in success as the door was opened a second before Snape had pinned him against the doorframe and was thoroughly ravishing his mouth. Harry moaned wantonly into Snape’s mouth, his fingers tangling in the elder wizards greasy unbrushed hair. Stretching up on his tiptoes to get a better purchase Harry smiled inwardly when Snape’s hand caught his hip dragging the pair of them impossibly closer in a passionate embrace. Both wizards hardly noticed their audience until someone cleared their throat, deliberately and loudly. Snape and Harry parted immediately their heads snapping around guiltily to stare at Sirius who was standing in the doorway to Harry’s rooms looking somewhat disgusted but also very guilty.

“Black.” Snape consciously went to step away from Harry but the younger wizard didn’t let go of him, defiantly holding Snape closer to him as he met his godfathers gaze square on.

“This is my decision Sirius and you don’t have to agree or even understand why I’m doing it, I just need you to respect the fact I’ve made my decision and I’m prepared to face the consequences of it.” Harry instinctively tightened his hold around Snape’s waist as he watched Sirius process the simply put statement. At length Sirius nodded with an exaggerated sigh and Harry reluctantly let go of Snape to move over to hug his godfather, whose unspoken apology for earlier didn’t go unmissed. “Good, now I’m going downstairs because I’m hungry. Do you want toast?” Harry moved away from Sirius and headed towards the top of the stairs, glancing back over his shoulder to address Snape who was still standing cautiously in the doorway, eyeing Sirius.

“Sure, I’ll be downstairs in the lab.” Snape replied not taking his gaze from Sirius. Harry nodded and with one doubtful glance at his godfather and lover disappeared downstairs. After an extended silence Snape moved to follow Harry but Sirius stepped out and blocked his path. Snape narrowed his gaze at the other wizard, already reaching for his wand but before he could get it, Sirius had clamped his hand over Snape’s in a firm grip.

“If you hurt him there won’t be a person in this world that will stop me from killing you understand?” Sirius voice was calm and unwavering but Snape was not intimidated by it and simply nodded in silent acknowledgement as he pushed his way past Sirius and disappeared downstairs to the makeshift lab in the basement. Despite Dumbledore’s earlier declaration Snape knew the elder wizard would still expect Snape’s cooperation in the Order, and that meant finishing what he’d started with the potion Arthur Weasley had stolen last summer.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>