Against His Nature

CHAPTER 31

Snape sat in the corner brooding silently as he watched as he watched the witches and wizards exchange gifts and laughter around the Christmas tree. He had intended to spend Christmas at Hogwart’s this year but his impromptu disappearing act had changed the plans of the entire order, most of whom were now drinking spiced pumpkin juice and telling rather bad jokes. It was bad weather outside and from his seat in the window Snape could watch the snow drifts begin to bank against the house. Inside however it was toasty warm, everyone wearing their festive attire and merrily humming along to the Christmas carols Mrs. Weasley was playing on the piano. Harry Potter had arrived an hour ago and Snape had made himself small and insignificant. He’d not spoken to the boy since the incident in the great hall, and had no intention of doing so now in front of all these people. Remus wasn’t helping either, hovering constantly over the boy like Snape would launch himself at the boy-who-lived at any moment.

“Professor?” Severus glanced away from his stare at the Christmas tree and was surprised to find Harry standing beside him, looking rather nervous in his Weasley monogrammed jumper. Snape didn’t speak and instead stared at the boy in silence, trying to ignore the intoxicating scent of the boy hidden roughly beneath a cheap aftershave someone had brought the boy as a present. “I got you this.” Snape glanced down at the beautifully wrapped gift that the boy was offering him. He didn’t want to touch it, having not gotten the boy something. “Please it took me a long time to find it.” With a sigh Snape accepted the gift and carefully unwrapped it. Snape stared at the gift in silence while Harry fidgeted to his side.

“Where did you find it?” Snape lifted the charm from its wooden box and held it up to the candle light. The emerald stone hanging from the claw at the bottom of the chain sparkled in the light before turning a blood red as Snape continued to handle it. Snape chuckled as the stone turned from red to a fiery orange and then back to its original emerald green.

“Do you have to ask me that particular question?” Snape dropped the charm back into its wooden box and closed the lid with a snap before glancing suspiciously across at the boy.

“I suppose not, but I don’t suggest trying to acquire anything like this again. I hope you weren’t stupid enough as to pick it up in person?” Harry shook his head vehemently and Snape seemed satisfied that the boy hadn’t been as stupid as it would have seemed at first glance.

“How come it changed colour for you, and not me? I only managed to get it to change to a light grass colour before it went back to emerald.” Harry watched as Snape put the gift in the pocket of his cloak before turning his attention back to Harry who was doing a very good job of ruining Snape’s hope of avoiding the brat all Christmas.

“Control Potter, you can’t feed a ‘reflection rock’ too many emotions at once or it won’t work.” Harry didn’t understand, his blank gaze a very clear indication of it but he still nodded as if he’d understood everything Snape had just said. Snape shook his head as he stood up. Weaving his way through the partygoers Snape made his way out into the cooler, quieter air of the conservatory. The little glass house Remus had added onto the house last summer, was icy cold compared to the warmer lounge room, snow drifted up the sides of the glass while frost clung to the windows. Snape hadn’t expected Harry to follow him but wasn’t surprised when he turned to sit down in the wicker armchair and found the boy hesitantly stood in the doorway. Snape sighed inwardly and gestured for Harry to have the seat opposite him. For a long time Snape stared at the boy, silently admiring how very much like his mother he actually was. There were differences of course but the subtle hints of a smile, the emerald of his eyes and his awkward show of confidence, were all traits reflected in his mother’s image.

“I’m sorry I cursed you Potter, I didn’t mean to lose my temper.” Snape lowered his gaze almost guiltily from the younger wizard’s unable to stare into the green eyes he’d lost years ago, and nearly lost again through stupidity.

“Yeah, shit happens.” Harry shrugged his shoulders carelessly, unsure what to say to the potion professor, who was clearly unaccustomed to appologising for anything let alone his curses. Snape managed a crooked smile at the boy’s reply, typical brave Gryffindor.

“It’s a difficult position the Ministry has put you in, forcing you to choose so quickly a person to share your future with. I have no right to make judgment on whom you choose to be with, and I should not have reacted the way I did to your comments about Octavia. There was no reason for the outburst.” Snape didn’t quite meet Harry’s gaze but the boy was staring at him closely for some reason and it was quite off putting for the professor.

“You’re lying. I saw you twitch again.” Harry raised a cocky eyebrow in Snape’s direction who instantly took to the defense. Snape had been trying to get himself out of the situation as diplomatically as possible but the boy was determined to make him pay. Snape went to protest his innocent but Harry silenced him with a shake of his head. “You know he smells like apples don’t you, he tastes like them too.” Snape fell instantly silent his gaze automatically narrowing in jealousy as he realized Harry was talking about Octavia again. Harry knew he’d gotten Snape’s attention and so immediately continued. “You smell of burnt toast and cinnamon.” Snape’s brow furrowed deeply, wondering silently if he was being mocked in some cruel joke. “You’re not pleasant to talk to, you’re obnoxiously right all the time, you’ve always called me Potter and quite frankly your propensity to hate everything I do drives me insane.” Snape’s lip curled in a sneer of anger, his fists clenching as he listened to the insults. However before Snape could lash out at the boy, Harry had continued completely ignoring the darkening mood of his Potion’s professor. “But beyond all that, you’re different, unique I think accurately describes you. And I like it. Or at least I think I like it, I haven’t really paid you much attention until you stopped taking the inhibiting potion.” Snape’s anger calmed quickly as he tried to focus on what the boy was trying very inarticulately to say. “You do know your better looking without the potion don’t you? Younger perhaps. Not that I’ve ever looked at other men like that, in order to have some comparison on this sort of thing, but I don’t think it matters in our situation does it?” With the very last ramblings the pieces fell into place for Snape and the man shook his head and grimaced slightly at the thought of the consequences of them.

“You know don’t you?” Snape whispered in the familiarly low, overly cold voice he used for his most horrifying attacks on naughty students.

“I’m not an ignorant child Snape. I can read. Did you think I wasn’t going to go looking for an explanation the moment you asked me to be your donor?” Harry raised a challenging eyebrow at Snape who shook his head in mild disbelief of the boy’s cock sure attitude. Snape was secretly impressed by the boy’s resourcefulness; he’d not given Harry Potter enough credit for his intelligence or at the very least his research skills.

“Yet knowing what I intended you still continued to come to me willingly? Are you suicidal Potter?” Snape spat more in curiosity than any real anger.

“Not suicidal, just desperate.” Harry chuckled bitterly to himself, and Snape unfortunately knew all to well what the boy was talking about. “I weighed the alternatives up, and you came out on top. I decided I’d rather be alive, and eternally bound to a Vampire than dead having shagged some nameless witch and leaving behind a child the Ministry forced me to create.” Snape nodded silently in understanding. The choices for them both had never been very promising; the boy was just trying to make the best out of a rotten situation.

“You do realize once it’s done…” Snape was cut off but Harry who groaned and rolled his eyes.

“Yes I know there’s no going back. Hermione’s notes for her college ‘research project’ did come in handy.” Harry smiled cheekily but Snape merely sighed and shook his head in disbelief. When he’d thought about chasing Harry, he’d never imagined it would have been so easy; the boy was practically throwing himself into his arms.

“We would have to be careful, until you reached maturity. Then you could start taking the potion.” Harry shrugged his shoulders in a generous sign of willing agreement as Snape began to think aloud of everything he would have to take care of. Harry listened for a good ten minutes while Snape listed off a multitude of problems and obstacles they would have to deal with. Harry was growing impatient having not quite expected Snape’s reaction to the news. With a sigh Harry stood up cutting Snape off mid sentence.

“Are you going to kiss me or not?” Snape arched an eyebrow slowly as the boy stood with his hands on his hips, looking a lot like a new wife who’d been left home alone for too long.

“Do you think that’s really appropriate here?” Snape whispered silkily, the sounds of the party in the living room making their way softly out into the cold glass room.

“Probably not, but I want to get it over with sooner rather than later.” Snape’s gaze narrowed irritably, the tone of the boy’s voice lending a certain level of ‘forced intention’ to the comment.

“If that’s your way of asking for one, you’re not going to get many Potter.” Realizing his mistake and how his comment had just sounded Harry hastily made to rectify the situation.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Harry sighed in exasperation feeling thoroughly awkward and totally out of his comfort zone. It was almost unthinkable that he’d be asking Severus Snape for a kiss, and in some small part of his mind he thought perhaps the idea should disgust him but after Octavia’s imaginative words the night in Snape’s chambers Harry could get the idea of Snape kissing him out of his head. “This is so completely out of my realm of experience. I’ve hardly had a girlfriend let alone a….” Harry paused unsure what to say as not to offend Snape. “….well a male thing. I don’t know how to ask. Octavia just kind of jumped on me before I had a chance to think. It was good though.” Snape curled his lips over his extended incisors in an irritated growl as Harry once again brought Octavia up.

“New Rule Potter.” Snape announced as he too stood up and began advancing on the boy predatorily. “Under no circumstances are you to ever bring Octavia into a conversation about the bedroom. Understand?” Harry nodded unaware that he’d backed himself up away from Snape until he’d hit the icy glass wall of the conservatory. Snape’s gaze was a deep sapphire blue with an intensity that made Harry shiver from head to toe. “And for future reference.” Snape’s voice was like silken clouds rolling over Harry’s body, as the elder wizard pinned him against the wall, pressing his body the entire length of the boy’s. Harry couldn’t breath as he stared into Snape’s eyes as the man dipped his head and flicked his tongue out across Harry’s chapped, dry lips. “You shouldn’t ask for what you want, I should know by the way you smell and the way you look at me, what it is you want.” Harry’s body began to shut down as he inhaled the scent of what was purely Snape’s aroma. The humming that Harry had heard on many occasions in his head reached its peek when Snape pressed his lips firmly but carefully against his. Harry couldn’t hear or feel anything other than Snape against him. The man’s heart beat cut through the buzzing in Harry’s ears, the soft brush of robes against the tiny amount of exposed flesh made shivers run up his spine and the wet flick of a tongue coaxing his lips to part made a whimper rise in his throat. Even with his eyes closed Harry could tell the man kissing him was Snape, it was so different from all the other kisses he’d ever had. Parting his lips Harry allowed Snape access, and the man invaded with ease. Harry was weak, as Snape drew his tongue into a soft play for dominance. To Harry it felt as if the man was trying to suck the air from his lungs with every skillful swipe of his tongue against his own.

With a lasting flick and a teasing nip of Harry’s lips Snape pulled away, allowing the boy to whimper audibly. With a satisfied smirk Snape tilted the boy’s head to the side and with extended incisors went for the pulse. Harry wasn’t expecting the bite and gasped loudly as a whole new sensation poured through his body. Harry knew he was hard, he had been since Snape had first licked his lips but with the added sensation of the gentle lapping of Snape’s tongue against his neck Harry found it impossible to control himself. Harry was sure Snape could feel him pressed against his knee but he didn’t care as he thrust a little against the elder wizard. Snape smiled to himself and pushed his knee back against Harry’s groin as he continued to feed. Harry groaned at the sensation and Snape wasn’t surprised when the body shuddered against him and came in his pants. Harry fell limp in Snape’s arms allowing the Vampire to continue feeding unhindered for a good ten minutes before finally Snape pulled away, gently licking the puncture wounds closed before standing back a little from Harry to survey the damage. The boy looked thoroughly ravished, his lips swollen, his hair and clothes tussled and a damp patch forming on the front of his jeans. Snape was totally satisfied with himself as he lifted a finger and gently wiped away a few stray droplets of blood from the corner of his mouth. Harry was watching him through hooded eyes, a little embarrassed but so completely blown away by how passionate the seemingly cold wizard could be.

“I think I’ve finally decided what I want from you, for being your donor.” Harry whispered still a little breathless. Snape raised an eyebrow in curiosity, encouraging Harry to go on. “I want kisses like that every day.” Snape smiled and nodded in silent agreement. Harry leant in for another kiss but someone clearing their throat drew the pair apart quickly.

“Sorry to interrupt but I thought you might like to come and join us for some Christmas cake and coffee.” Remus Lupin stared at the pair standing fairly closely together. Harry blushed a bright red colour as he turned away from his guardian in an attempt at hiding the patch on his jeans. Snape however made no attempt at excusing himself and merely nodded in casual reply.

“Fine, we’ll be there in a minute.” For a long moment Snape and Remus stared at one another, and Harry was half expecting there to be a massive fight but at length Remus backed down and lowered his gaze to the floor in defeat.

”Sorry for interrupting.” Snape smiled inwardly to himself, glad he’d made his point to the werewolf before this had all happened. With Remus gone Harry relaxed again as Snape moved away from him to collect a few of his things off the coffee table. Harry removed his wand from the sleeve of his jumper and went to scourify himself but Snape stopped him with a point of his finger.

“Don’t you even think about it, I want you upstairs and in the shower before you even face those people in there.” Harry frowned in confusion as Snape pushed him out of he conservatory and towards the stairs leading onto the second level of Grimmauld place. “Vampire’s have a keen sense of smell, but you don’t need to be a Vampire to know the scent of sex on someone, even with a cleansing charm.” Snape pointed upstairs and Harry nodded and began to make his way up. Harry paused halfway up and turned to grin at Severus cheekily over his shoulder.

“Are you coming up with me?” Snape was a little surprised at Harry’s boldness but scowled all the same.

“No.” Snape muttered firmly watching as Harry pouted before running off up the rest of the stairs and disappearing. “Horney little bugger.” With a smile Snape composed himself before joining the party back in the living room. Harry was going to be handful to look after but Snape was sure he was capable of the challenge.

TBC>>>>>>