MY ONE MISTAKE

Chapter Three


Severus sat in front of the fire, a bottle of firewhiskey half empty at his side, his thoughts going back to five years ago.


The feel and taste of Harry that night.


The best night of his life.


The overheard conversation about the Gryffindor bet.


Then the conversation with Ron Weasley eight months after telling Harry to get out of his life.

“Have you heard from Harry, Professor?” Ron had asked.

“No. Why should I have? He got what he wanted,” Severus sneered.

“You mean . . . he did sleep with you graduation night?” Ron asked.

“I’m sure while he was spending his winnings, he was laughing his bloody arse off,” Severus snidely said.

“Professor . . . Severus, he told us he didn’t do anything with you. Said you two talked the whole night,” Ron quietly said. “Is that who . . . ”

“Yes, he’s the one,” Severus said, the realization of what he did sinking in.


He then had flooed Albus to come down where Severus finally talked about that night to his friend. How he lost his heart to the bloody boy who lived.

“Have you heard from Harry?” Severus had asked.

“Not for almost two months now,” Albus replied.

He had waited two to three months until he could move more freely to search for Harry. To try to explain why he had let him go. He tried for the next two years, but could find no clues to where Harry had disappeared to.


“Father,” a small voice said at his side, breaking his maudlin musings.

Severus opened his arms for the four year old girl to climb onto his lap. “You should still be sleeping Alex,” he said kissing the smooth forehead, putting his arm around her back.

“Couldn’t sleep no more,” Alex tiredly replied. “Did you find a man?” she innocently asked.

“What in Merlin’s name are you talking about, Imp?” he softly asked.

“Uncle Drake said you were going to look for a man to warm your bed. Can’t you use a spell to warm it up Father?” she asked.

“Yes, I can Imp,” Severus smirked, inwardly thinking he was going to have a talk with Draco to watch what he said in front of his daughter.

“Can we have ice cream for breakfast?” Alex asked, smiling up at him.

Severus looked into the green eyes so much like her other father’s and couldn’t help but laugh. “Nice try, Alex. How about some real food first?”

“Ice cream is real food,” she grinned.

Severus stood up holding Alex in his arms. He tightened his arms around her. “Love you Alexandra Snape,” he softly said.

“Love you too, Sev’rus Snape,” she mockingly replied, then burst out in giggles when Severus started to tickle her sides.

After Severus thoroughly tickled his daughter, he helped her bathe and dress, then gave her one of her books to look through while he had a quick shower.


A few hours later Molly Weasley was surprised to see Severus and Alexandra walk out of the fireplace. “Well, this is a nice surprise,” she smiled in greeting, opening her arms for Alex to come into.

“Hello, Molly,” Severus said, “thought we’d come for a visit.”

“Is Aunt Gin here?” Alex asked.

“She’s out back with Neville and the twins. Why don’t you go out and say hello,” Molly suggested. “She’s growing up so fast,” she sighed, watching Alex skip out of the house, then turned back to look at Severus. “Now . . . why are you really here Severus. Not that I mind, it’s just that you usually let us know before hand.”

“I may be losing my mind,” Severus grimly said, sitting down and leaning his head in his hands.

“You’re the sanest person I know, Severus,” she smiled, pouring them both some tea. “Now what brought this on?”

“Last night Draco and Lucius took me to a club in Knockturn Alley . . . apparently trying to help me find a man to warm up my bed,” he smirked. “That’s what Alex told me this morning.”

“Why would she say something like that?”

“Draco. He needs to watch what he says in front of her I think,” he grinned. “Anyway, there was this young man that was wearing a glamour, and I could see past that. Molly, I would bet my life that it was Harry. Those eyes of his I have not seen on anyone else.”

“Except for Alex,” she said. “But why a glamour?”

“I don’t know, but he was . . . working,” Severus replied hesitating on the ‘working’.

“Working?” Molly asked.

“He was prostituting himself Molly.”

“No!” she said, shaking her head. “Harry would never . . . are you sure it was him?”

“Our eyes met. There was recognition in them.”

“What are you going to do Severus?”

“That’s why I came here. I was wondering if you would take care of Alex for the week while I check this out. It may not be Harry, but I need to know for sure.”

“We were all going to go camping for the week. Alex is welcome to come along,” she said.

“Camping?” Severus smirked.

“Arthur. He’s been talking to muggles again. Wants to ‘rough’ it in the wilderness,” she laughed.

“Who’s all going?”

“All of us, including the grandchildren.”

“Should be . . . busy,” he grinned.

“Yes, but Alex will enjoy herself and everyone will keep an eye out for her.”

“Thank you, Molly. I would like to keep this quiet for now. I don’t want Alex to overhear anything until I find some answers first.”



Severus spent the rest of the afternoon with Alex at the Burrow, talking with the Weasley’s that were there. He would have scoffed at himself if he thought he’d be doing this five years ago, but his daughter seemed to soften his snarky edges, making him more . . . Weasley friendly. Molly had personally asked Alex if she wanted to go camping with them. At a nod from her father, Alex was excitingly asking question upon question on what they were going to do on this trip.

When it was time for Severus to go, Alex walked with him to the fireplace where he would floo back to Hogwart’s. “Be good, Imp,” he smiled, bending down to her level.

Alex put both her small hands on the sides of his face. “You too,” she grinned, kissing the tip of his nose.

“Love you, Alex,” he laughed, hugging her, “and no ice cream for breakfast.”

“I can’t help what they give to me to eat, Father,” she replied mischievously. “Don’t forget to spell your bed warm.”

“I won’t,” he replied, stepping back, then looked to Molly who was watching them. “Thank you, Molly.”

“Let me know Severus,” she said.

With a nod to his head, Severus flooed back to Hogwart’s


~*~


While Severus and Alex were enjoying ice cream cones at the Burrow, Albus was greeting his guest that he was expecting.

Harry came through the fireplace, looking around the room to see if there were others’ there, then to Albus. “Hello, Albus,” he grinned.

“Harry?” Albus asked coming forward.

“Does the room have silencing charms on them like I requested?” Harry asked. Albus nodded his head, then Harry sat down and dropped the glamour.

“Harry. It’s so good to see you,” Albus smiled, looking over the once gangly teen, “you’ve grown.”

“It has been five years,” Harry laughed.

“Why didn’t you keep in contact, Harry? We’ve been worried about you.”

“I needed to get on with my life. I’m sorry I worried you, but I couldn’t come back.”

“And now?”

“I’m here for a short time, and no one else knows that I am here.”

“So where have you been?” Albus asked.

“What I’m about to tell you must remain within this room,” Harry said. Albus bowed his head in agreement. “I did immediately start my auror training when I left here that day. Put my all into it. My strengths, my skills, my powers all grew. After six months of intensive training, I was approached to join a special unit of aurors . . . the best of the best. The Ministry doesn’t even know who’s in this unit. I am basically an undercover operative, called in for special cases.”

“And that’s where you’ve been all these years?” Albus asked.

“Yes, and most of the time I love my job. I’m not known as Harry Potter, the-saviour-of-the-wizarding world.”

“And what brings you back now?”

“That’s part of the reason I’ve come to talk to with you. You seem to know things that not many others do,” Harry grinned.

“Anything you need, Harry,” Albus replied.

“I’m working on a case where young men are being kidnaped, abused, tortured, and are essentially used as human guinea pigs for potions and hexes.”

“I’ve heard of a few different cases lately about men missing. The Ministry is keeping it quiet,” Albus said. “There’s also been several accounts of death eaters coming out of the wood work again.”

“Yes, apparently, there’s a new ‘Dark Lord’ that likes to play with his toys before he kills them,” Harry sighed. “Any information that you can share would be helpful.”

“We have found out that the potions master that this ‘Dark Lord’ has found is from Russia, named Kozlova. Apparently this person is a confidant, and participates in the torture,” Albus stated.

“Does Severus know of this man?”

“Woman,” Albus corrected. “This potions master is a witch. He has heard of her, and said that she was barbaric, unskilled and likes using her wand too much when mixing potions.”

“Foolish wand waving,” Harry smirked, quoting part of Severus’s opening speech in his first year. “Have there been any disappearances from here?”

“No. The Professors and myself have stressed that the students walk in groups outside of the school.”

“I don’t think you need to worry overly much yet, the young men that have been taken range from eighteen to twenty-two years of age . . . that’s been documented.”

“Are you going to see anyone while you’re here Harry? I know that Sirius, Remus, and the Weasley’s would like to see you . . . as well as Severus,” Albus hinted.

“Maybe after the case is over . . . if I don’t get called in on another assignment. I don’t want anyone to blow my cover if they come to seek me out. I miss them too, Albus, but I’ve been busy and have gotten on with my life,” Harry smiled.

“And Severus?” Albus asked.

“What about him?” Harry asked, his smile dimming.

“He misses you Harry.”

“He made his choice Albus. I’d like to think I would have made him happy, but it was a mistake. He made that blatantly clear to me.”

“There’s something you should know Harry about Severus and what happened . . . ” Albus began.

Harry held up his hand, and shook his head. “No, Albus. Please. I don’t want to know. It still hurts,” he sighed. He then got up off the very comfortable starry chair. “I need to go. I have a meeting about the case with the rest of the unit.”

“Keep in touch, Harry,” Albus said coming around to shake his hand.

“I’ll make a point to see you before I leave. If anyone asks . . . tell them . . . I’m happy, and still breathing. When I have time, I will sit down and write them a letter. I still have Hedwig, and I am sure she would like to start delivering more letters again.”

“They’d rather see you, Harry,” Albus kindly said.

“I’ll try. No promises,” Harry said. “I’ll check back with you to see if there’s any new information later in the week.”



After Harry left, he went to his flat to ready himself for the night. He was going to work on the street tonight to talk more with the street walkers. He rolled a few joints with the wizard weed, adding a little something extra to it in hopes that the men would like some.

He waited until the sun went down, then went to stand among the others, easily blending in with them. The other prostitutes remembering him . . . and his weed, came up to talk with him while flirting with the patrons of Knockturn Alley that walked by. He smiled to himself as most of the men partook of the weed, knowing as they inhaled, the special addition to it would able the unit to track them if they were taken. Unfortunately, the dry ingredient added lasted a week at the most. He was hoping to be taken himself by then.


Severus had gone into the club looking for the glamoured Harry, and waited for several hours, until he finally decided to try another night, when there was no sign of him. He was walking down main street when he caught a shimmery form talking to the other men, passing a rolled smoke back and forth. His nose easily picked up the sweeter smell of wizard weed.

He stepped back into the shadows, watching them across the street. He saw the black haired youth flick his hair back from his face, and his breath hitched when he saw the lightening bolt scar on the glamoured forehead. He was about to step out of his hiding place to approach when a blonde haired man in leather approached Harry, leading him over to a darkened store front.



Harry draped his arms around Axle’s shoulder’s, pressing the front of his body close. “Hey there baby, want a good time?” he grinned.

Axle put his arms around Harry’s back, his hand running down his hip. “You couldn’t handle me, Raven,” he replied by Harry’s ear. “Anything new?”

“Talked with Dumbledore at Hogwart’s,” Harry began, before turning them so that Axle’s back was pressed against the wall, “found out this Dark Lord is using a Russian potions master by the name of Kozlova.”

“Any disappearances from the school?” Axle asked, then gasped in surprise when Harry’s hand cupped his cock through his pants. “Raven,” he warned.

“What? Got to make it look like you’re buying,” Harry softly laughed.

“Chief said you may be compromised?” Axle asked, his hips moving forward on their own volition.

“Severus Snape saw through my glamour last night. I know he recognized me when our eyes met.”

“I’ve read his file,” Axle hoarsely said. “Will that be a problem?”

“I don’t think so. He doesn’t want much to do with me,” Harry said, unzipping Axle’s pants.

“Gods,” Axle moaned when Harry began to stroke his cock. “Is that who you’ve been running from?” he asked trying to gain control of the situation again.

Harry looked up. “He’s the main reason,” he replied in a tone that said he didn’t want to talk about it.

“Did you know he’s standing across the street right now?” Axle asked glancing past Harry’s shoulder.

“Yeah, hasn’t been there that long though.”

“How’re you going to play it? Tell him the truth?” Axle asked, closing his eyes as Harry’s talented hand worked up and down his length.

“No, not right away. Did you happen to bring more of the laced weed with you?” Harry asked.

“Yes.”

“I’ll hand you some money later, making it look like I’m restocking my drug habit.”

“Fuck . . . Ray . . . you . . . need to . . . faster,” Axle panted.

“Thought I couldn’t handle you, Axe?” Harry teased.

“Fuck you,” Axle hissed, then moaned out loud when Harry had knelt in front of him to take his cock in his mouth.


Severus stood back and watched as Harry knelt down, knowing that he was blowing the guy. He couldn’t help the memory that crept up on him . . . how it felt to be in that warm mouth, the lips moving up and down his length.

After the blonde man released down Harry’s throat, he saw him try to kiss Harry on the mouth, and was surprised when Harry turned his cheek. He saw money change hands, and Harry pocket a pouch of what he presumed was drugs in his side pocket.



“You done for the night, Raven?” Axle asked, pocketing the money.

“Yeah, I’m going to head back to the flat. Four boys had some of the laced weed, so make sure you track them at Headquarters,” Harry quietly said.

“Want me to walk back with you?” Axle asked, motioning to Snape with his eyes who still stood in the shadows.

“No. Might as well get it over with,” Harry sighed.

“Take care, Raven. If you need to talk, I’ll be here,” Axle said, then turned and left Harry standing under the street lanterns.

Harry drew out a rolled joint and lit the end, drawing in deep, letting the sweet smoke soothe his throat. He slowly started walking and was not surprised to feel strong arms wrap around his chest and waist, the distinct feel of Severus against his back, making him moan. His hand went to guide Severus’s hand over his drug-induced erection. “And what would be your pleasure tonight?” he seductively asked, placing his hand over Severus’s on his cock, while the other slipped behind him to rub against the others’ growing hardness.

“Just what the bloody hell are you up to Potter?” Severus hissed by Harry’s ear.

“You must be mistaken. The names Ray.”

“Why the glamour, Harry?” Severus asked, ignoring Harry’s previous reply. He moved his hand up from Harry’s erection to place it on his waist. “Why are you hiding?”

Harry sagged against Severus and removed his hand from behind him, trying to step away from him. “Let me go, Professor,” he quietly said.

“Not until you tell me why you are selling yourself as a common whore, Harry.”

“The names Ray. I don’t go by that other name anymore,” he replied. “Now if you’re not interested in some of me, I really must be going. Just forget you saw me Professor. Why you are concerned for one of your past mistakes is beyond me,” he sneered.

“Harry,” Severus began, letting Harry go. “We need to talk.”

“No, Professor . . . we don’t,” Harry replied looking over his shoulder before walking away. Harry brought his hand up to comb back the hair from his face with his fingers, and was not surprised when he noticed them shaking.


tbc