The Friday Boy

CHAPTER 35

Yawning Harry quietly padded down the hallway and out into the newly refurbished conservatory off the back of Grimmauld Place. It was warm and sunny in the bright glass enclosure and Harry stretched languidly as he looked out into the garden. Everyone it seemed was making the most of the nice weather. Mrs. Weasley was fussing over the hot plate hovering over a small fire pit, the smell of sausages and onions filtered through the entire garden. Mr. Weasley was sitting, with Moody, Dumbledore and Tonks on what appeared to be cushioned milk crates. The younger wizards were gathered around a short dueling platform, eagerly participating in the dueling competition that had been going on all morning. At present the Weasley twins were trying to kill one another with bat bogey curses, while Ron took bets from everyone who was scattered around the garden. Sirius, and Remus were lounging in a blow up paddling pool under an umbrella. Not seeing Snape, Harry stepped into the garden and glanced around again, this time spotting his dark haired lover sitting under the ivy covered arbor. This alone was not surprising; Severus disliked the sun and would automatically seek out the only shady spot in the entire garden. What shocked Harry more however was the company that sat beside Severus on the stone bench.

“Bill Weasley.” Harry muttered darkly to himself as he scowled at the two elder wizards sitting under the arbor, unaware they were being watched. Harry watched as Snape laughed melodically at something Bill had said, the sound resonating around the garden as Bill chuckle along. Snape was more casually dressed than Harry had ever seen him before, in a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, and his plain black pants, and his hair tied neatly back at the base of his neck Snape looked practically muggle. Bill however in usual style had on torn jeans and a black ‘weird sisters’ t-shirt that emphasized the eldest Weasley’s toned physique. Harry rolled his eyes in disgust as Bill made some wild gesticulation with his hands, causing Snape again to laugh.

“Harry, there you are.” Harry was just about to head over to Ron, when a hand fell on his shoulder and he spun around to face Charlie Weasley who was carrying an old gramophone box. “Thought this garden party could use a little music.” Harry nodded and followed Charlie over to where Mrs. Weasley was beginning to serve lunch.

“Harry, you look much better here, have a sausage and there’s some punch on the table.” Harry smiled appreciatively as Mrs. Weasley handed him a full plate of salad and sausages, before handing him another. “Oh and take this over to Severus dear, Ron hexed him this morning and he’s still a little shaky.” Harry frowned and looked in concern over at Snape who was still chatting animatedly with Bill Weasley. With a nod Harry carefully negotiated the garden path and approached Bill and Snape.

“Harry, hi. How are your holidays going?” Harry bit his lip as Bill addressed him cheerily, determined not to tell the elder Weasley to fuck off despite the desire too.

“Good.” Harry muttered keeping his answer short and clipped as he handed Snape the plate of food, very much aware of the pointed glare of warning that Snape threw him. Harry ignored the warning and with little regard pushed himself down onto the bench between Snape and Bill. Ignoring both Bill’s confused frown and Snape’s irritated sigh Harry tucked into his meal, almost rejoicing as Bill got up to go for lunch himself.

“Need I ask how you’re feeling?” Snape muttered sourly as Harry shoved a sizable lettuce leaf into his mouth and chewed noisily. Harry shrugged his shoulders casually as he continued to stare at his plate. “I thought I told you to stop this juvenile charade Potter?” Snape put aside his plate and leaned over to forcefully grab Harry’s chin and making the boy look up at him. Harry narrowed his gaze at Snape before pulling his chin out of the man’s firm grip.

“Well from everyone else’s point of view you two look pretty cozy.” Harry muttered from beneath his breath as Bill came strolling back up the path towards them, unaware of the serious conflict happening between the two wizards already sitting there.

“So, Sev are we going to take a look at that potion again this afternoon?” Bill beamed brightly down at the pair sitting on the bench, and Harry almost choked on his sausage as he heard the very ‘familiar’ nickname fall from Bill’s mouth. Harry hardly even called Snape, Severus let alone the affectionate nickname, ‘Sev’.

“You’re blind Snape.” Harry spat as he stood up abruptly from the bench and strode away towards his godfather and Lupin who were now sharing a large bottle of fire whisky between them as they balanced their plates of food on their knees above the water in the paddling pool.

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Harry sat quietly in the conservatory a book propped open but unread in his lap. The garden party had wound down by mid afternoon and with the sun now disappearing over the horizon everyone had retired to the living room to drink and socialize. Harry had spent most of the afternoon with his godfather, playing fetch with a ball. Now though Harry had taken advantage of the warm, quiet conservatory to catch up on some reading or more precisely to sit sulking.

“So this is where you’re hiding?” Harry’s solitude didn’t last much longer as the boy caught sight of Bill Weasley in the reflection of the conservatory’s glass.

“I’m not hiding.” Harry muttered darkly as he pretended to read his book in the hope the eldest Weasley would leave him alone.

“Bullshit you’re not Potter, there’s a party going on in there and here you are reading,” Bill paused as he leaned over Harry’s chair and glanced at the cover of the book Harry was pretending to read. “…potions!?” Bill barked out a laugh of disbelief as he casually flopped down into the wicker chair opposite Harry’s. Harry ground his teeth together in irritation as he watched the eldest Weasley flip his hair out of his eyes with a casual flick of his hand before kicking his shoes off and putting his feet up on the table. Harry didn’t miss the dragon tattoo visible on Bill’s ankle as the elder wizard stretched and yawned. “Even Hermione’s having a drink!”

“Hermione’s here?” Harry was surprised that his friend hadn’t been out to see him when she’d arrived, undoubtedly earlier in the afternoon.

“Yeah, Charlie went and fetched her after lunch but you wouldn’t know that because you’re out here reading ‘potions’.” Bill’s mocking tone did very little but further irritate Harry’s already strained temper.

“Yes, unlike some students of Hogwart’s I intend graduating with at least a pass in potions, without resorting to…” With his anger rapidly boiling to the surface Harry couldn’t suppress his cutting remark as he paused for affect, as if pretending to think of the appropriate word to describe Bill’s behavior when he’d been Snape’s student. “Shall we just say, ‘a pash for a pass’?” Harry narrowed his gaze at Bill from over the top of his book before casually going back to pretending to read, somewhat pleased with his comeback.

“Ah,” Bill smiled sideways as Harry’s comment sank in. “So you’re not out here ‘playing the model student’, you’re out here sulking. Jealous are you that you’re not the only one to have ever seen Sev as a ‘man’ and not just a nasty, greasy old potions professor?” Bill folded his arms across his chest and stared smugly at Harry who had tightened his angry grip on his book so much he was now in danger of bending the cover in half.

“Sev.” Harry slammed his potions book closed to stare at Bill angrily, his control rapidly spiraling out of control as jealousy began to take over. Bill was everything Harry was not. The eldest Weasley was successful, sickeningly good looking, charming beyond belief, intelligent, more than capable of fighting in a war alone if necessary, he was sophisticated yet at the same time ruggedly individual and most annoyingly he was so icy calm and collected that an ice cube wouldn’t melt in his mouth. “You make him sound like a kitchen utensil.” Harry bit flippantly as he defiantly folded his own arms across his chest, matching Bill’s stare with one of his own. “Oh, and correct me if I’m wrong here but ‘you may have seen Snape as ‘the man’,” Harry emphasized critically, “But, I’m sleeping with ‘the man’.” It was a small won victory when Harry saw the flicker of irritation twitch at the corner of Bill’s lips.

“Severus isn’t a prize to be won Harry.” Bill muttered his eyes narrowing for a moment as Harry raised an eyebrow in silent challenge to Bill’s statement.

“Of course not because he’s already mine and if you so much as….” Harry was about to give Bill a warning about staying away, but the eldest Weasley cut him off abruptly.

“Don’t you dare threaten me Harry Potter.” Harry closed his mouth instantly as Bill kicked the table out of the way before leaning forward in his chair so that he was pressing menacingly in towards where Harry was instinctively reaching for his wand. “There is a room full of people in there Potter, that would give their life to save yours just so you can fulfill a prophecy. No where in that prophecy Harry is there mention of Severus Snape. Now you can delude yourself into believing they’re going to just accept this ‘scandal’ your calling a relationship with Snape, but I can assure you they will not rest until it’s over between you two.” Harry went to stand up and storm away not wanting to hear anymore of Bill’s crap but the elder Weasley was quicker and instantly grabbed Harry’s arm and forcefully yanked him against the wall, pinning him there by the sheer strength of his frame. Harry winced at the pain as Bill pressed him against the warm brick wall, his face mere inches away from the red heads. “And don’t come that love crap either Harry because you and I both know, this act is a farce. You would have given yourself to anyone who’d showed even the remotest interest in you, male or not. If Cho Chang had offered you her bed, you’d have taken her up on it. Don’t think you’re gay just because you take it up the arse Potter, it takes more than that boy, and I can assure you Snape’s going to want more too,” Harry swallowed heavily as he felt Bill press his knee between his legs purposefully putting pressure on Harry’s groin to make the boy as uncomfortable as he could manage. Harry knew he was in trouble, with no easy access to his wand and with no hope in hell of breaking free from Bill’s grasp, the only hope Harry had was that someone would come in looking for them both. “…more, you couldn’t possible give him.” Harry squeaked in pain Bill kneed him hard between the legs before stepping away from the boy, who now slid down the wall into a heap on the floor. “Now Sev and I are friends, he enjoys my company as I do his and there won’t be any changes in that despite your current arrangement with him. I’ll still be there for him even after you’ve saved the world, and have forgotten about your foolish crush.” Harry looked up from the floor as he watched Bill straightened his t-shirt and brush a bit of fluff from his jeans. “Now we’ve tackled your ‘issues’. I came to give you a message from Snape, he and I are going to be testing the potion for the rest of the night, so Snape told me to tell you not to wait up.” With a victorious grin Bill strode out of the conservatory leaving Harry alone in a crumpled sad heap on the floor.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>

A/N *bounces in on a sugar high* Spent the last few days eating candyfloss and sucking lolly pops like a three year old in a candy shop......damn those buisness conventions and there free goodie bags.....*grrrrr* Anyway hope you like the updates, five chapters should be enough to satisfy you, if it\'s not.....then go read some of my old stories again *chuckles cheekily* Alright thanks for the reviews and I\'m so glad you\'re all enjoying it, keep the reviews coming they\'re keeping my muse happy and that\'s essential when my sugar high wears off. *BTW*Some plot reveals..... Draco may be down, but he\'s certainlly not out and Bill Weasley\'s a bastard in the making.... *Winks*

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