Standing Against the Tides

Last time I looked at my driver’s license, it did not say J. K. Rowling. Yep, it’s just me, an unpaid and unknown aspiring writer. The characters of the Potterverse do not belong to me and I am making no money from this endeavor.

A/N: Spoilers through OotP. As I am still in denial, I refuse to acknowledge the events of HBP or DH at this point.

Unbeta’d as BabyGurl is busy with her own life.





Chapter 34 Diversionary Tactics

It was with great relief at the end of a long day of teaching other people’s brats that the Potions master finally entered his, or rather his and his lover’s private rooms. Allowing his public mask to slip from his face, Severus began to unfasten his outer robes while he toed off his boots. As the dark haired man turned to hang the robes on the hook by the door, he felt his young lover slip his arms around his waist.

“Now, Severus,” Harry purred as he reached up and stroked the taller man’s chest, “why don’t you tell me why you, Minerva and my friends have gone behind my back about Albus Dumbledore?”

Blinking in surprise, Severus wondered how the boy could have possibly found out about their plans. And wait, did that mean that there were other plans afoot? Schooling his features into his usual mask of indifference, Severus turned around in his mate’s embrace. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “What makes you think that, Harry?”

“Oh, come off it, Sev,” Harry lightly rejoined. “Just how do you think that the Headmaster always knew what was going on, even when he shouldn’t be able to?” Nuzzling into his lover’s firm chest, the newest Headmaster fairly purred in his contentment.

Closing his eyes briefly against the sudden lust that threatened to override his higher cognitive functions, Severus grasped on to what Harry was saying. “And how does the Headmaster of Hogwarts know such things, love?” As he spoke, talented fingers lightly stroked the younger man’s cheek before trailing down to the delectable neck. Two could certainly play at this game, the Slytherin decided as he set about distracting his lover.

Carding those long fingers through the eternally messy hair, the Potions master continued to work his magic on his young lover. Smirking as he felt the Headmaster give in to his ministrations, Severus bent down to claim those so tempting lips.

Struggling to think clearly despite his mate’s best, er worst intentions, Harry gave himself over to the kiss even as he settled on a compromise in his mind. They would need to discuss some of the things he had discovered, but later. After that thought, he gave up thinking for the moment and began the arduous task of unbuttoning his lover’s robes.

Finally giving the task up as hopeless, Harry pulled back from those intoxicating kisses and waved his hand over the formal robes his stern lover insisted upon wearing. Immediately the buttons unfastened themselves and the young wizard pressed hands to the firm flesh that was now exposed. Sighing, he pulled the robes and shirt aside to expose a dusky nipple. The nub tightened as the cool dungeon air hit it and Harry pressed his lips to the sensitive flesh, nipping and licking until he heard his lover groan. It was Harry’s turn to smirk as he blew a small puff of air across the puckered nipple before turning his attentions to its twin. His hands trailed across the lean flanks as he continued to lave attention on the needy flesh.

His head thrown back against the sturdy door, Severus allowed his soul mate to explore his body a bit before he decided that enough was enough. He needed Harry and he needed him now! Pulling the pliant young man upright, Severus reached down to gather the smaller wizard into his arms and easily carried him across the sitting room to their bedroom. Setting his precious bundle down on the large bed, the Potions master stood for a moment simply enjoying the view before stripping his remaining clothes off and leaning in to enjoy the pleasures of his partner. The simpler robes that Harry habitually wore were easily dealt with and soon the young man was lying naked and ready for his partner. Severus groaned as he lay down next to his lover. As their bodies aligned both men immediately sensed the rightness of their connection and set about reaffirming that bond. Moans and sighs filled the air as the men touched and stroked and renewed their soul bond.

Sliding into that tight heat, Severus groaned even as he felt his climax nearing. Knowing that this would not, could not last, he began stroking his lover as he thrust into the younger man. Harry held on to the strong shoulders as he pushed back against the cock that was pounding into him. Finally, too soon, at last, Harry felt his balls tighten up and his orgasm shuddered through his body. A few strokes later, Severus succumbed to the sensations and surrendered to his own climax. Trembling arms struggled to hold his weight until Harry helped him fall to the side next to his lover. Severus sighed as he felt the tingle of a cleaning spell as it washed over him.

Each man was lost in his thoughts for several minutes as they attempted to reconnect to their bodies and minds after such an intense session of lovemaking. Severus recovered first and pulled his lover against his side. Smirking down at his mate’s satiated look when Harry laid his head against his chest, the Potions master pressed his advantage. “Now, tell me, Harry. How did you know what was going on?”

Harry frowned before sighing, seeing that Severus was not going to let this go. And really, what was wrong with basking in the afterglow? “All right, I’ll tell you, but this is privileged information. The portraits report back to the Headmaster, Sev. So even your silencing and privacy charms would not stop them from hearing what is going on. And in case you ‘re wondering, the portraits’ inhabitants don’t have to be human or even be able to speak in a human tongue to be able to communicate the information. Hogwarts has also been helping me figure out what some of those noisy trinkets cluttering the Headmaster’s office really do. It seems that Dumbledore used some of them to connect with other gadgets that are hidden in other parts of the castle. I’ve even found a couple that allowed him to spy on the Ministry of Magic!”

Severus scowled upon hearing this piece of information. Unfortunately, the more they learned about the former Headmaster, the more disturbing the picture that was emerging became. It would seem that the old man had gone to great measures to control those around him. How could they all have been so blind to the old man’s true motives?

Shaking his head, Severus returned his thoughts to the matter at hand. “What are you going to do about these monitoring devices, especially the ones at the Ministry, Harry?” Severus asked.

The young Headmaster grinned. “Why, nothing, Sev. They’re already there, so we might as well use them to our advantage. And besides, if we tried to move them, someone at the Ministry is bound to notice something. No, I think I think we should just let them stay. I did, of course, tell Kingsley about their existence.”

However, Harry wasn’t finished. Sobering, he said, “Sev, I also found out something much more disturbing. Dumbledore also had monitoring charms placed on the Mirror of Erised. That is how he knew what your greatest desire was so that he was able to use it against you. My first year at Hogwarts I found the mirror and looked in it. I saw my parents and a family I had never known. Then later, Dumbledore found me looking in it again and cautioned me about the dangers of dwelling on dreams and forgetting to live.” Harry paused, trying to say this right. “He then told me what Ron had seen when he had looked into the mirror. The thing was that neither Ron nor I had told him!”

“Harry, I don’t know what to say,” Severus reluctantly admitted.

Biting his lower lip in agitation, Harry reached up to gently kiss his lover. “I’m afraid there’s more, Sev,” he began hesitantly. Taking a deep breath, the young wizard continued, “Hogwarts and Fawkes both agree about this, Sev. Dumbledore apparently would set up people to ‘accidentally’ come across the Mirror of Erised so that he could find out their deepest desires and use them against them.”

Severus could find no response to a proclamation such as this. What could anyone say about such a blatant and detestable manipulation?