Paradise by the Sea

Paradise by the Sea Chapter 4

Severus tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable spot on his bed. Every time he was just about to drift off to sleep, thoughts of Harry invaded his mind.

Harry wanted to be friends. Though the idea was rather appealing, the reality of being Harry’s friend was unnerving. The few friendships that he had nurtured over the years had ended badly with him being the one that was wounded deeply. He thought of Dumbledore for a moment…was he a friend? No, he was a mentor, an employer, a manipulator, but never truly a friend. He never had anyone who cared for him without wanting something in return…until Harry.

But could he trust him? Doubtful!

Should he try to be friendly? Severus snickered.

Even if he wanted what Harry was offering, he still couldn’t be friendly. He didn’t know how to act that way. His father and his tormentors had beaten that out of him years before. Besides, Severus didn’t trust the younger Gryffindor. Perhaps if Harry had been sorted into Slytherin, Severus would have been able to understand his motives. There always was a motive. Severus lay in bed and stared at the ceiling.

No, there would be no friendship between the two of them. An acquaintanceship without any animosity was the best the Savior of the Wizarding World could get and as much as he could handle.

When morning came, he would be pleasant but he would make it very clear that they were not friends and never, in their lifetime, would be.

~*~

The persistence pounding on the door drew Severus out of his slumber. His mouth was dry and he felt like as if he was run over by what Hippogriff. He would give anything for a pepper-up potion at the moment.

“Severus, time to get up! I have breakfast for you,” Harry yelled through the door much to chipper for anyone to be.

“Go away. I’m not hungry!” Severus snarled back.

“Severus, it’s nearly ten. It’s time for you to stir,” Harry replied in a singsong voice.

Throwing off the covers, Severus took three long strides across the bedroom and yanked open the door. Bracing against the jamb, he leaned forward till his face was inches away from Harry’s.

“I am not a child that needs to be reminded when to eat. I have taken care of myself since before you were born!” Severus fumed.

“And you haven’t done a very good job of it either,” Harry spoke calmly, his eyes narrowing with anger. “I was trying to be nice. If you don’t want breakfast fine, but I am no longer a child either, Severus, and if you ever speak to me in that tone of voice again I will show you just how much of a man I am. Do you understand me, Professor?”

A thousand ideas went through Severus’s mind about what Harry would do if he spoke to him in such a manner again, but he ruthlessly pushed them aside. Now was not the time for him to get sidetracked by base desires. He drew himself up and flared his nostrils.

“Then do not treat me in such a manner,” he scowled.

Harry wanted to yell at him, but he knew that the older man would just shut him down. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself before responding.

“I will try to be nicer to you if you are willing to do the same,” he said.

Severus stared at him suspiciously, before giving a slight nod.

“Good,” Harry smoothed the wrinkles in Severus’s shirt. “Your clothes are starting to smell I’ll see what I can find for you to wear, so we can clean these. Now come along and let’s eat breakfast.”

Without a thought, Severus followed Harry into the dining room. He stopped in his track when he saw the food that was spread across the small table. He saw bangers, kippers, sausages and bacon. There was French toast, crepes and those horrible things Americans call pancakes and an array of different kind of eggs.

“Is that tea that I smell?” questioned Severus, taking a deep breath “I mean real British tea, not that swill made out of the grass clippings that passes for tea around here?”

“Yes,” Harry beamed. “I got up early and had Clive take me to the grocery store to find it. We had to go to four different markets before I found your favorite.”

“Why?” Severus looked at Harry bewildered.

“Well… I know how unpleasant this situation has been for you, and I wanted to do something…um…nice for you,” Harry said as he placed his hand on Severus’s lower back and led him to the table.

Severus found himself leaning into Harry’s touch. It calmed his anxieties and soothed him. He had never felt such things from a simple touch and that bothered him. Unnerved by his reaction, he quickly stepped away and sat in the seat that Harry had ordained as his the previous night.

They ate their meal quietly, but there was no animosity in the air.

“Severus?” Harry broke the silence.

“Yes?” Severus replied while chewing a mouthful of food.

“After we leave here what are your plans?” asked Harry between bites.

“I have learned not to make plans,” Severus sneered. “I use to have grand ideas about my future, but found that they seldom worked out and I ended up devastated. So instead of being bitterly disappointed it was easier not to make any.”

Severus was shocked that he made such a confession, especially to Potter. “If it’s any of your business.”

“You’re right it’s absolutely none of my business,” Harry beamed.

“But that is not going to stop you from badgering me with questions and let me eat my breakfast in peace, does it?” Severus sighed.

“I’ll be fair. You can ask me any questions you like and I’ll answer honestly,” Harry replied.

“Since you asked the last question it seems only fair that I get to ask the next one,” Severus said.

“Shoot.”

Severus looked at Harry questionably.

”That means go ahead and ask,” Harry explained.

“When Albus straightens out this mess and we return to England, are you going to join the Aurors?” Severus asked.

Harry looked down at his plate, unable to maintain eye contact with Severus, “No, I don’t think so. I think I would like to settle down in a cottage in the country with the man I love.”

Severus sputtered out a mouthful of eggs in shock, “The man you love? What about Miss Weasley? I was sure that you and she would wed and start producing the next crop of red-headed miscreants?”

Harry snorted, “Ginny did also until after the final battle. She went on vacation in Italy and ran into Malfoy at a museum. They found out they had a lot more in common with each other that Ginny and I had. For one, they are both heterosexual. I, on the other hand, am one-hundred percent homosexual.”

“You don’t seem too upset,” Severus had positioned his fork across his plate and placed his elbows on the table. He put his chin on entwined fingers, leaning slightly forward.

“For what? Not being with Ginny? Or being gay?” Harry asked.

“Neither or both, I have no idea. I never thought of you being…gay.”

“Does that bother you?” Harry’s eyes narrowed.

“I would be a hypocrite if I said yes,” Severus informed Harry. “But there is nothing…feminine about you.”

“Of all the people I know, I would never have thought of you believing in stereotypical behavior. I don’t decorate either,” Harry fumed as he threw his napkin down.

He stood up from the table and walked over to Snape and grabbed him by his lapel and lifted him onto his feet. Thinking that Harry was going to strike him, Severus prepared himself for the blow. He wasn’t expecting Harry to kiss him. He started to struggle, but found himself leaning into Harry as the younger man took control of the kiss. The supple lips moved over his, causing him to gasp in surprise and giving Harry the opening he needed. Severus melted into the strong arms.

“It feels so right!” Severus thought to himself.

It was the last coherent thought he had before slipping his arms around Harry’s neck and returning whole-heartedly the kiss. Severus’s hardened cock found the hard plane of Harry’s thigh, and he started to rub his cock vigorously against it. He moaned his pleasure as he came from humping the Gryffindor’s leg.

The kisses slowly ended, and Severus came down from the euphoria of his orgasm. He laid his head on Harry’s shoulder as he caught his breath. He could feel Harry’s hand stroking his back while murmuring softly in his ear.

When reality finally hit Severus jumped back and glared at Harry, “How dare you kiss me without asking?”

“You seemed to enjoy it,” Harry nodded to the wet spot on the Slytherin’s trouser while smiling innocently.

Ignoring not only what Harry said but the damp sticky feeling in his pants he straightened his shoulder and glared down his large nose at Harry.

“Let us get this straight between us…we are not, nor will we ever be friends! I am not looking for a paramour. I like my life as it is without any entanglements. In the future, when you have the desire to molest me please keep your hands to yourself. Furthermore, you will cease bringing me food and being friendly. We are roommates, nothing more. Do you understand?”

“Perfectly,” Harry grinned, taking a step forward and invading Severus’s space. “Understand this—I don’t give up easily.”

With that being said, he cupped Severus’s face in his hands and kissed him gently It was the sweetest kiss Harry had ever known, and sent a bolt of electricity throughout his body. Harry turned to leave the small bungalow, but just before he exited, he tossed the towel he was wearing off, wiggled his taunt butt at Severus. Harry’s smile widened when he heard Severus moan as he stepped out the door.

The hook was in, now all he had to do was be careful how he reeled him in. Even though he knew that he wanted his prickly ex-teacher, he wasn’t sure what to do with him once he caught him.

With a spring in his step and a song on his lips, Harry almost skipped his way down the path as he went about looking for Clive.

A/N I want to thank IvyLady for being my Beta. I make a lot of mistakes and she finds most of them (no one could find all the mistake I make). She been wonderful and I wanted everyone else to know what a great person she is.