The Friday Boy

CHAPTER 33

Harry lay on the rug staring at the fire flickering in the hearth. The grandfather clock out in the hallway had just struck 9.00pm and despite having been staring at his potion text for the past three hours he’d got no further than the first few lines on the page. His quill still lay unused by his blank parchment on the floor and a half packet of sherbet whizzes, lay on the other side. After the incident in the basement Harry had not seen head nor tail of Charlie or Snape for the rest of the day and aside from the odd noise there was no sign of what they were doing in the basement. Harry was thoroughly bored.

“So come on Potter, how long have you and Snape been at it?” Harry practically jumped out of his skin as a shadow fell over him before a toasted tomato and cheese sandwiched was placed down in front of him. Harry sat up sharply and stared sheepishly at the eldest Weasley.

“Since last summer or there abouts.” Harry whispered with a shrug of his shoulders as he proceeded to take a bite of the sandwich. In his vegetative state beside the fire, Harry had quite forgotten about dinner and he hoped that Snape wasn’t too pissed that Harry had forgotten about them.

“Merlin, and here I was thinking you and Ginny….” Charlie took a bite of his own toasted sandwich as he sat down on the armchair beside the fire. Harry shook his head in silent rejection, as he watched Charlie push back a greasy lock of hair. The eldest Weasley looked sweaty, tired and greasy just like Snape was whenever he emerged from his potions lab. “Does Sirius know?” Charlie continued his concern flickering in his eyes. Charlie had luckily been out when Sirius had first found out about Harry and Snape, and Harry was somewhat surprised no one had told the Weasley about it.

“Yeah, but I think it’s a case of what he can’t see he can pretend doesn’t exist.” Harry shrugged his shoulders casually as he polished off what remained of the sandwich having not realized just how hungry he’d been. “How’s the potion going?” Harry stood up with Charlie and followed the elder wizard back into the kitchen to clean up their plates.

“To be honest,” Charlie laughed as he put the plates in the self-washing sink. “I have no idea how it’s going.” Harry laughed too as he poured them both a drink of pumpkin juice before sitting himself down at the table. “I think we’ve made some progress but it’s hard to tell with potions, I think even Snape’s struggling with this one.” Harry nodded understandingly as he swilled the juice around in his glass.

“Do you think it’s a plausible idea, killing Voldemort with a potion?” Harry looked skeptically across the table at Charlie who sighed heavily and shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s the only thing we haven’t tried. Besides it’s not designed to kill him just rob him of the magic he relies on and perhaps even sever the bond between you and him. Without the bond and his magic you stand a chance of fulfilling the prophecy.” Harry worried his lower lip with his teeth as he pushed his empty glass about the tabletop with his index finger.

“I wish there wasn’t a prophecy.” Harry muttered as he tipped the glass over spilling the few drops of pumpkin juice left onto the tabletop. Charlie sighed sympathetically before falling into silence. Lost in their own thoughts neither wizard spoke until finally Charlie shattered Harry from his thoughts.

“You know Bill had a thing for Snape…” Harry’s head snapped up immediately as he stared at Charlie, the second eldest Weasley smiling to himself lost in an amusing memory.

“Pardon?” Harry muttered as he righted the glass and flicked his wand at the puddle of spilt pumpkin juice to clean it up.

“Bill, my brother.” Charlie shook his head and smiled coyly at Harry who for the briefest of moments became slightly jealous that he wasn’t the only one to have appreciated Snape’s unconventionally handsome face. “I caught him after Yule Ball in his final year. I suppose he’d just had too much to drink…” Charlie trailed off not really paying much attention to the darkening expression on Harry’s face.

“Caught him doing what?” Harry bit irritably already fighting to control the surge of jealousy rising in his throat.

“With his tongue down Snivellrus’ throat, didn’t half look messy. I guess that’s why Bill was the only Weasley to actually pass Potion’s.” Charlie chuckled and shrugged his shoulders not realizing what he’d said until he focused back on where Harry was sitting a murderous kind of glare pinching his face. “I’m guessing it was just a crush, never heard no more about it although Bill seems to get along better with Snape than the rest of us do. Bill goes to Snape for curse advice too sometimes, and Snape often comes around for a drink when Bill’s home. I suppose there’s got to be some attraction still there, only last week they had their heads together working on this potion in dad’s study.” Harry’s fists were clenched so tightly beneath the table that he knew he was cutting off his circulation as he watched Charlie so flippantly voice his comments still unaware of the anguish they were causing Harry.

“Am I getting a meal sometime before midnight or must I do it myself?” Just at the moment Harry was about to tell Charlie where to go, Snape strode in through the kitchen door and paused, hands folded irritably across his chest as he looked between both younger wizards. Charlie smiled apologetically up at Snape as he rose to begin making another sandwich but before he could move Snape’s gaze focused on Harry, the boy’s jaw set rigid and his gaze somewhat watery with unshed tears of anger. “Harry?” Having glanced at Charlie for any indication of what was going on, Snape moved towards Harry only to freeze as Harry stood up abruptly from the table, knocking the chair to the ground with a splintering of wood.

“WHORE!” Harry practically screamed as he drew back his hand and struck out at Snape, slapping the unsuspecting potion’s professor across the face, with some considerable force. Snape staggered into the doorframe, unable to keep his balance with the ferocity of the attack. Clutching at his stung cheek, Snape went to shout at Harry but the boy was already out in the hallway and halfway up the stairs. “You’re a liar and a whore Severus Snape, and you can tell Bill Weasley I don’t want his cast offs!” Harry made sure to slam his door close behind him, the force of which made the house shake a little and a light shower of dust fall from the ceiling. Warding his door with the most powerful and unpleasant ward he could think of Harry threw himself onto his bed and pulled the blanket up over his head to fume and sulk by himself.

Although it had never been specifically discussed Harry had always assumed Snape had never been involved with another student, let alone another man for the past five years at least. Snape had made Harry believe he was special, something he was willing to risk everything for, but how could that be true if Bill Weasley had had him too, and while at school. Harry threw himself further under his blankets in anger as he thought back to having seen Snape and Bill interact with one another during the holidays or at order meetings. It had never seemed like anything but now Harry began to dissect their looks and their conversations that he’d overheard. It made him angry to think that Bill was still pursuing Snape, even after word of Harry and Snape’s relationship had begun to filter through the order. And ‘pursue’ was definitely the right word, no one in their right mind would ever willing spend time with Snape and his acid personality unless there was something in it for them.

Then there was Ron. It now seemed to make sense why Ron had made a big deal about Snape in the locker room, why he’d said that Snape liked boys…. If he’d known about Bill then it was a logical step. Harry wondered how many other people knew about Bill Weasley and Snape, and if that had been the motive behind Sirius warning.

Harry was beyond angry, he was hurt and as he lay in the stifling dark environment under his blankets he berated himself again and again for being so stupid.

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It was well passed midnight when Harry was awoken by the crackle of magic, as the wards on his door were breeched. Harry purposefully didn’t move not wanting to give away the fact he was awake. Harry thought perhaps it was Sirius, but then he knew his godfather wouldn’t have been able to dismantle the wards as easily as whomever it was who was now in the dark room. Harry listened to the glide of footsteps on the carpet before he heard the fire stake being lifted from it’s cradle, then the familiar smell of ashes filled the air as someone stoked the fire. The stake was replaced with a quiet metallic clank before whoever had taken it upon themselves to break in sat down in the chair at the bottom of Harry’s bed beside the warm glowing fireplace.

“Your godfather and Remus are home.” Harry tightened the hold of the blanket over his head as he heard the familiar mellow voice of Snape. Harry ignored the comment and instead glared at the darkness as he heard Snape shift in the chair to get more comfortable. There was a stagnate silence and Harry wondered if Snape would just leave, but there was no such luck as the professor continued. “I can’t defend myself if I don’t know the charges laid at my door Mr. Potter, and despite my years as an legitimate, I can not hope to understand your latest outburst just as I do not understand the meaning of the word ‘whore’.” Snape was his usual calm, controlled self and Harry chewed his lip in hurt, at how the man could so flippantly refer to their relationship and still talk to Harry like he was a child.

“Bill Weasley.” Harry ground out from between clenched teeth as he thought of the eldest Weasley, his dazzling smile, bright personality and likable good nature and magic smarts.

“What about him Potter?” Snape snapped, unable to keep his rising impatience from his voice as Harry continued to hide beneath the blankets and be obtuse.

“You tell me!” Harry shouted as he flung back the blankets and sat up to glare at Snape, not quite able to hide the flash of pain in his eyes as he stared at the professor sitting at the bottom of his bed. Snape was shadowed in the flickering orange light of the fireplace, his elegant long potion stained fingers rested on the arm rests of the chair, while his right leg crossed purposefully over his other leg, creating a tantalizing line of flesh up one thigh, where the silk robe he wore had come undone slightly. Harry swallowed trying to keep his composure as he watched Snape’s onyx gaze pierce him in the darkness.

“You’re jealous.” Snape put simply, a small-amused smile tugging at the corners of his thin lips. The smile only served to irritate Harry’s anger even further but before he could give Snape another mouthful the elder wizard had butt in. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you Potter, and considering that your fussing over nothing it’s even more unattractive.” Harry scowled at Snape as he twisted his fists in his blanket determined not to reach for his wand and lower himself to petty curses. “I will once again reiterate what I explained to you before. I have never, nor ever will engage in a relationship with a student either past, present or future no matter how vehemently they pursue me.”

“You’re sleeping with me.” Harry bit sarcastically watching as Snape sneered angrily, his fingers tensing on the arm of the chair.

“Indeed and I believe I made clear the distinction between yourself and other students.” Harry swallowed a little guiltily, remembering all to well Snape’s words when he discussed why he was willing to risk everything for Harry. “As a professor of more than 10 years, I have suffered through many misguided student crushes on me, Bill Weasley was among those stupid enough to peruse me, despite my firm rejection of his advances.”

”What about the kiss?” Harry muttered remembering what Charlie had said in the kitchen. Snape rolled his eyes and growled crossly.

“Charlie Weasley saw only his drunken elder brother, attempting to molest me in the hall. I was caught off guard and it took but a second for me to regain my senses enough as to stupefy the boy and have him carted off to the infirmary.” Harry went to protest, and recite what Charlie had said about last week in his fathers study but before he could speak Snape had spoken over the top of him. “Further more, should Bill Weasley still feel the need to make advances on me now, which I know he will not, I can assure you they would be rejected just as they were back in school. He is a talented young wizard, and I enjoy his company, he is about the only Weasley with an ounce of sense. Now if you’ve done with this silly notion of ‘affairs’ that don’t exist I suggest getting some sleep. The Weasley’s are coming back from holiday on Monday and Dumbledore has suggested we begin some dueling training.” Snape rose from the armchair abruptly and having straightened his robe strode out of the room, leaving Harry staring after him feeling worse than he did before.

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