The Friday Boy

CHAPTER 36

The grandfather clock downstairs had just struck 4am in the morning and Harry still sat in the simple wooden chair in front of the fireplace. He’d been there for hours, sitting in the darkness staring at the unlit fireplace, Bill Weasley’s word echoing in his mind like a broken record. Despite the eldest Weasley’s parting message in the conservatory Harry had still sat up, waiting for Snape to come back to his rooms. The plan had been for them to try out Snape’s occlumency skills tonight but it looked as if Snape had forgotten, or been pre occupied by Bill. It was cold in the bedroom now, with no light and no fire, and with hardly any clothes on the chill in the air made Harry shiver. As the last strike of four echoed up the stairwell in the silent house Harry made his decision. Quietly Harry got up from his vigil by the unlit fireplace and padded quietly from the room. Apart from the dimmed lantern hanging from the banister at the top of the stairs, there was very little other light in the hall. The house was quiet and Harry’s footsteps sounded like thunder as he tip toed down the two flights of stairs, into the cellar. Light streamed out from the slightly ajar cellar door and Harry squinted in the bright light as he sat down on the bottom step, so that he could just see a slither of the room beyond the door, and still hear what was going on inside. Snape was just visible standing over a simmer cauldron, the man’s pale face lit up in a purple kind of hue from the reflection of the potion. Just as he always did when brewing a potion Snape looked sweaty and greasy, his hands stained the colour of the potion that he currently stirred. Harry could see the shadow of Bill standing out of view, no doubt taking notes at the bench. As Harry stared at Snape through the crack he listened to the conversation going on inside the room.

“…you must have known it’d start to circulate Sev, wizard’s are fierce gossip mongerers.” Harry watched as Snape put the stirring rod aside before momentarily stepping out of view to return a moment later with a glass of what looked like whisky.

“It’s not suppose to be discussed Bill, my private life is just that private and if Tom Riddle gets a hold of this I can kiss what remains of my life goodbye.” Harry frowned, yet another familiarity between Bill and Snape, that Harry didn’t share. Snape never mentioned Voldemort’s real name to Harry, even in serious conversation.

“So you’re risking your life for the kid?” Harry bit his lip irritably at Bill’s derogatory name for him.

“I thought we were all doing that regardless of whether we’re shagging him or not.” Harry had never heard Snape speak so candidly before and the swell of jealousy that had got him into trouble in the conservatory began to grow again in the pit of his stomach. Snape was leant against something in the room beyond, his arms folded across his chest, while his left hand continued to swill the whisky in the glass.

“Charlie said he’d caught him giving you a hummer down here the other day.” Harry watched as Snape coughed around a mouthful of whisky, a slight red colour staining his cheeks.

“Your brother needs to keep what he sees to himself.” Snape spat back as he put his glass aside and stepped up to stir the potion again. Although Harry couldn’t see Bill, he knew the boy would be reclining in a chair or on a bench, casual and calm like he was discussing sex with a group of his schoolmates, not with Severus Snape.

“Is he any good Sev?” Harry saw Snape falter slightly in his perfect stirring strokes as he took half a second too long to answer Bill’s question, making the wizard out of view snort in amusement. “He can’t be that good if you paused Sev, is he screamer or a fainter or worse still does he cry?” Harry’s lip trembled a little as he wiped angrily at his watery eyes, determined not to interpret Snape’s response how Bill had chosen to do so.

“Weasley you’re pushing me.” Snape re adjusted his stirring motion in the cauldron as he growled out from his throat, his eyes not lifting from the cauldron’s obviously intending not to let Bill know he was uncomfortable.

“Oh come on, I’ve told you about mine…” Bill chortled out of view and Harry gritted his teeth together at the flippant casualness of Bill’s tone of voice.

“You volunteered that information Bill Weasley, I did not ask for it. Besides I am not in the least interested in your sex life, you on the other hand have an unhealthy obsession with mine.” Harry couldn’t believe what he was hearing as he watched Snape yet again step away from the cauldron to take a swill of his whisky.

“You’re a spoil sport Sev,”

“Why? Just because I won’t indulge your fetish for images of me in various sexual fantasies, that you undoubtedly masturbate over.” Harry’s eyes were wide like saucers as he continued to listen to the shocking tone of the conversation inside the cellar.

“I don’t hide the fact I wank Snape, I did it at school and I do it now and I have no intention of stopping just because you’re doing ‘the boy who lived’.” Bill’s chuckle was nasty and spiteful and Harry couldn’t hold back the tears that now leaked down his face. Snape had lied to him. He’d specifically made Harry believe that Bill didn’t ‘like’ him anymore, when all along he’d known about these sordid conversations they’d probably been having since he’d been in the house if not longer. “So enough of this moral shit, yes or no, is Potter good in bed?”

“He’s better than your one, sloppy, pathetic and unwanted attempt at a kiss in school Bill Weasley. Now if you don’t mind I’d rather focus our attention on this potion than on my sex life.” Snape was irritated and Harry was surprised he’d lost his temper as quickly as he had. For half a second Harry felt better as he watched Snape return to stirring his potion for a third time but that moment ended when Bill Weasley stepped into view. It was like watching the world through a badly lit keyhole as Harry saw Bill capture Snape around the waist, the strong curse breaking hands of the eldest Weasley cupping Snape’s face and drawing the man’s lips to his own. Harry’s heart constricted in his chest as he watched Snape struggle against the kiss. Snape struggle didn’t last long and as Harry watched Snape’s hands, that had previously been pushing against Bill, wrap around the younger wizards’ neck Harry felt the chocked sob leave his lips unchecked. At the pained noise Harry had made the guilty pair in the cellar broke apart to look towards the door but Harry wasn’t hanging around to be caught.

With tears clouding his vision, his legs shaking like jelly and his head in the dizzying lows of distress Harry stumbled up the stairs from the cellar. The bright light from where the door of the cellar was being opened momentarily blinded him, and he crashed into a firm body just coming down the upper set of stairs.

“Watch it Harry!” With a winded puff of air, Remus fell against the grandfather clock breaking the glass and making the chime ring sickly in the still dark hallway. Remus seemed to collected himself as he watched Harry stagger down the hallway towards the front door. “Harry, what’s the matter?” Harry ignored his godfathers best friend though as he heard running up the stairs from the cellar.

“Christ, Harry please don’t….” Harry heard Snape’s voice but he didn’t pause as he yanked open the front door and ran out into the steamy morning. Without shoes on Harry struggled on the uneven concrete, stumbling more than a few times and scraping his toes. Harry didn’t stop running though; ignoring the muggles staring at him as he pushed his way through a group of early morning workers waiting at a bus stop. Harry kept running the fear that Snape was just behind him keeping his legs going despite the ache they were beginning to form from the exertion. Turning into a park Harry fell on the uneven grass, skidding his full length along the sodden ground and chipped gravel. He knew he’d skinned his knees, his hands, his elbows and his chin, but he couldn’t have cared as he crawled to his knees and tried to stand up to continue running. Everything hurt and Harry wiped blindly at his eyes as he finally looked behind him. The council park and the street he’d just run down was empty, not a sign of life except the electric milk cart, trundling up the road away from him. With a choked sob Harry hobbled over to the swing set and sat down. Lifting his feet off the ground and gripping the cold metal of the chain Harry let himself sway in the breeze as he stared up the deserted street.

Harry was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t even acknowledge the robed figure that came running into view down the street a few moments after he himself had done the same thing. It wasn’t until the figure jogged onto the playground that Harry seemed to snap out of his daze and focus on the wizard standing before him panting breathlessly. Harry stared at Snape tears still prickling his eyes as he looked for some sort of explanation, for why Snape had returned Bill’s kiss. When Snape’s familiar cold mask fell into place though Harry knew he was being blocked out, and got up from the swing to run again. This time Snape was quicker darting around the roundabout and blocking Harry’s escape.

“Harry, don’t do this, it’s not what it seems.” Harry tried to push his way past Snape but the death eater was stronger and forcefully pushed Harry backwards away from the gate leading from the park. “It’s entrapment, in all the years Bill and I have been friends not once since school has he made a pass at me until now! They’re putting him up to it and you’re falling for it.”

“I’m falling for it!” Harry screeched finally loosing his temper as he struggled to pass Snape so he could run again. “You didn’t seem to be so against the kiss he gave you back there?” Harry shouted as he kicked Snape hard in the shins in order to get the man to let go of his upper arm. Snape swore and let go of Harry immediately, as the boy turned around and began to stride back the way he came across the park. Rubbing his injured shin’s Snape ran to catch up with Harry, again blocking the boys escape route.

“I’m tired Harry, I’ve had too much to drink and he caught me off guard.” Snape barked loudly, himself rapidly losing patience with Harry’s stubborn irrational accusations.

”And I’m suppose to buy that shit? How thick do you think I am Sev?” Harry drawled purposefully putting emphasis on the nickname, Bill had been using all day when referring to Snape. Harry watched as Snape’s upper lip twitched in irritation at the pet name.

“My name is Severus, and the only reason Bill calls me ‘Sev’ is because your godfather told him to call me that. It makes me sound like a lavatory cleaner.” Snape snapped angrily as Harry huffed a contemptible laugh and shook his head in disgust. “Further more had you lingered half a second longer by the door to the cellar you might have witnessed the curse I landed upon Bill, the same one I warned him I would use back at school if he ever dared touched me again.” Harry’s swallowed awkwardly as he watched Snape growl angrily at him, the wizard’s fists clenched tightly at his side. “Surely you can’t have been as dense as to believe they were just going to accept this Potter. Did you seriously think your proclamation of defiance at the start of summer was going to stop them from interfering? Albus Dumbledore is not below manipulating even you to see this prophecy complete, and if that means ruining all your hopes of happiness and dreams then so be it. I can assure you he’s already destroyed more of my dreams than Voldemort ever has.” Harry lowered his chin to his chest as he stared at the grass, his toes scuffing the gravel as he shuffled foolishly from one foot to the other. Harry couldn’t believe he’d been so stupid and felt the wave of shame and humiliation burning his cheeks as he avoiding look into Snape’s gaze. Harry closed his eyes automatically as he felt Snape step towards him the man’s commanding presence looming protectively over him, as a potion stained hand came up to gently cup his cheek. “Do you see now why I kept my feelings for you a secret for so long Harry? I knew what they’d do if it ever got out but you being you, were never one to just let secrets lie untold.” Harry nuzzled apologetically into Snape’s hand as the wizard reached into his cloak pocket and pulled out a small handkerchief, which he dabbed softly onto the bleeding gravel graze on Harry’s chin and nose. Quietly Harry leant in to Snape’s chest as the elder wizard sighed and wrapped his arms comfortingly around Harry’s shoulders, before placing a chaste kiss to the top of Harry’s head. “I’ve moved our stuff back to Hogwart’s, I think it’s best we put some distance between ourselves and the order.” Snape’s whisper got caught on the wind and Harry only heard the rumble in the man’s chest. In silence Harry nodded and then with a swirl of air, the tug of apparition swept them away.

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