Jigsaw

CHAPTER 32

Harry stepped into the pub, hardly even noticing as the few patrons’ inside fell silent at his entrance. Behind the bar stood Albus Dumbledore his gaze unreadable as he stared at Harry.

“Where is he?” Harry whispered each syllable compounding the pain already in his shattered face. Albus sighed heavily a knowing look in his eyes and Harry wondered to himself if Dumbledore was ever uninformed about anything. Harry watched as Albus nodded towards the seat by the window, and Harry turned to stare at the figure sitting hunched over facing the window. Despite the frost the sun had come out, and Snape now sat in the warm liquid heat of sunlight streaming in through the window. The sunlight created an almost heavenly aura around the wizard, but Harry knew Severus was anything but angelic. Dropping the gun, and his wand carelessly on table as he passed Harry slowly walked over to where Snape was sitting, dressed undoubtedly in one of Albus’ spare robes judging from its emerald colour. Harry knew the other wizard had seen him come in, his shadow and reflection in the windowpane undoubtedly announcing his arrival.

“Tell me you didn’t do it just for you?” Harry whispered again biting his swollen lip at the pain talking brought to his bloodied face. Harry watched as Snape’s shoulders sagged, his long black hair falling in his face like a curtain. Slowly Snape shook his head and Harry felt the crushing pain in his chest ease a little at the silent confession.

“I did nothing unless it was for you.” Snape whispered the deep mellow voice Harry had fallen in love with making a shiver run down his spine. “The years I spent teaching you to fight, knowing that in the end I would loose you no matter what. It was easier to cope having you hate me, than allowing myself to have you when in the end he would take you from me. I was selfish in not wanting to feel that pain of lose, so I shut you out. How was I ever to know I was fighting against our fate?” Harry swallowed heavily as Snape slowly turned around his face pale, and his body lost in the over large robes, making him seemed small and frail. “You were dying Harry. Every day I fought against you, I was killing you. You needed me to kill him and ultimately I would need you to cure me. I only realised that when I watched him sucking the life from you on that field. I didn’t know what to do to help you, so I held you and I told you how much I loved you.”

The sun coming in through the window glistened in the tears that began running down Snape’s cheeks, mirroring the ones already cascading down Harry’s. “The curse came from nowhere, your lips were moving but I couldn’t hear you. You were practically dead and I didn’t believe you’d done it. That’s when I felt it, the pain of having something taken away from me, he was gone but he’d still robbed me of you.” Harry watched as Snape let out a shuddery breath his eyes closing as he remembered the pain. “I knew if the Auror’s found me I’d be executed with the rest of them, so I left you and crawled away. Draco found me sitting beside a fence post, two days later, staring at the darkness that had already settled in my vision. The stupid boy believed I could cure him, and I wasn’t going to refute the argument considering I had nowhere else to go. Eight years I lived in darkness with only the memory of leaving you dying in that field. I’m so sorry Harry, I was selfish.” Harry swallowed heavily, carefully wiping at his tears, which were stinging the cuts on his face. Easily Harry sat himself down beside Snape who stared at where his shaking hands were twisting in his lap. “I tried to tell you Harry, several times in fact but…” Snape trailed off his hooded gaze glancing up cautiously at Harry who sighed painfully before meeting Snape’s gaze.

“Yeah I know you did, but it would have put damper on my helping you wouldn’t it?” Harry tried to smile but instead only managed a grimace, his face swelling with the extent of his injuries. Snape nodded silently in agreement. “Do you still love me?” Harry whispered watching as Snape smiled warmly, a rare and affectionate thing for the potion master to do.

”Yes.” Snape whispered in reply watching as Harry nodded, the effort of speaking painful.

“Fucking good job too, I don’t voluntarily wrecked my face for just polite friendship.” Harry watched as Snape’s smile widened the wizard leaning towards him. Harry knew what was coming and involuntarily closed his eyes as Snape’s soft lips touched his own. The kiss was chaste, soft and unhurried just like a first kiss should be and Harry savoured the feeling of having the pain in his chest lift for the first time in eight years. “Ouch.” Harry whispered when Snape pulled away, Harry reluctantly opening his eyes to see Severus staring at him in concern.

“You look like shit Potter.” Snape muttered in the familiar tone he used when chastising a student.

“Isn’t it nice to be able to say that and see for yourself that it’s true.” Harry muttered in reply watching as Snape nodded in agreement, his hand slipping into Harry’s on the wizard’s knee, their fingers tightly entwined together. “Fuck my face hurts.” Harry sighed as he finally relaxed, practically collapsing against Severus’ shoulder. Before Snape could say any more though the door to the pub burst open and a rabble of upset and concerned family and friends poured in, all of them instantly assaulting Dumbledore who was still standing behind the bar.

“Albus where is he?” Sirius quietened down the crowd as he address the ex-headmaster and Harry watched through half swollen eyes as Dumbledore pointed silently over to where he and Snape were sitting together in the sunshine. Slowly Sirius approached them, coming to a stop in front of the pair.

“You look like shit Harry.” Sirius smiled widely as he glanced down at the pair’s entwined hands, reading easily what had happened without being told. Harry groaned and snuggled closer to Severus, who laughed genuinely along with Sirius. Harry adored the sound of Severus’ laughter, it was rich and warm to his ears, and Harry supposed it was the first time anyone in the room had heard the wizard do so.

“Harry, are you okay?” Harry glanced up from Severus shoulder to see Ron, Hermione and Remus glancing over Sirius shoulder at him. Ron looked the most concerned and so Harry sat up and little and nodded at the red head’s question.

“Yeah, of course I am mate, or I will be when someone fixes my face.” There was a rumble of mixed laughter and sighs of relief, most people obviously just content to hear Harry’s voice and know he was okay.

“Magic won’t fix that mate.” Ron chuckled as he sat himself down beside Harry and Snape on the bench by the window, his hand coming up to wrap around Harry’s shoulders in a light hug. Harry sighed heavily, feeling content sandwiched between his best friend and the love of his life.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>