Love, Lies & Loneliness

A/N Hey everyone sorry for my lack of updates this last week, work had a paddy and I\'ve just had to organize an overseas trip....for those of you living in England beware the RiffRaff is on her way.... Be affraid be very affraid. Anyhow, here\'s five chapters to make up for my lack of updates, hope you like them.


Chapter 40
(When push comes to love)

“Up! Get up now!” Harry awoke to a firm push to his chest and a loud hissing sound, much like the sound that Uncle Vernon’s tyres had made when a kid at Dudley’s school had slashed them during the night as a prank. Harry was still drifting in the lull of sleep his eyelids heavy with fatigue and his body limp with exhaustion.

“Mr Potter! If you don’t get up now I’m going to remove you myself!” Harry’s eyes opened quickly to focus on the angry glare of Severus. Harry pulled away a little having never been so close to the man’s face before. It was quite a rude shock to wake up to Snape’s pale features, although as the memory of what they’d done settled into Harry’s mind the boy thought he could certainly get used to waking up in Snape’s arms. Unable to stop the smile breaking out onto his face Harry beamed stupidly at his lover, like a lovesick puppy. Snape merely scowled at Harry’s stupid grin and before Harry could do anything else was propelled backwards through the air and landed hard on his bare backside on the rug. Harry was stunned and stared open mouthed as Snape rose from his chair and casually zippered his pants before rearranging his robes as if nothing untoward had happened what so ever. Harry was still sitting dumbfounded on the floor when his ears heard the familiar hissing again. Ignoring Snape for a second Harry turned around and looked up to the mirror hanging above the fireplace. As if from nowhere the familiar reflection of a snake had appeared in the glass its head resting idly on it’s tail as it flicked its tongue out at Harry. Harry recognised the snake from the portrait that hung in the corridor outside Snape’s entrance into the Slytherin common room.

“Oh, Hello.” Harry smiled at the snake automatically slipping into Parseltongue as he realised the Snake had been calling Severus’ name for over a minute.

“Hello Harry Potter. I told you, you were stronger than he didn’t I.” The beady black eyes of the snake shone brightly from between the curls of the snake’s body and Harry chuckled as the snake hissed in delight. Standing up from the floor Harry stepped forward and reached up towards the mirror intrigued by how a painting could move into a mirror. The way the scales of snake shimmered made the it seem like the snake had been etched into the mirror.

“Don’t Harry, the finger marks never come out.” Harry paused mid reach and turned around to glance at Snape who was now standing by the entrance into his chambers. Harry looked cautiously back at the snake that flickered irritably and hissed. Shrugging his shoulders at the snake Harry dropped his hand back to his side and instead smiled at the image. It was now clear how the snake contacted Severus, although the potions professor didn’t know what the snake was saying her presence in the mirror was enough to alert Snape to whomever was outside asking for him.

“How did you know?” Harry hissed in question watching as the Snake slithered across the bottom of the mirror impatient to be leaving the icy cold surface.

“I knowsss lotsss of thingsss and I know Severusss tastesss far better than he.” Harry chuckled and glanced back over his shoulder at the dark haired man who now had his arms folded across his chest and was staring intrigued by the conversation going on between Harry and the Snake.

“He’s stubborn” Harry hissed in reply watching as the Snake coiled around in laughter the beady black eyes shining like jewels.

“Yessss but ssso are you and that’sss what makesss all the difference.” The snake seemed to wink at Harry before with an exaggerated bow the snake disappeared off the edge of the mirror until all that was left were a few of the shinny etched scales along the bottom of the mirror. Harry didn’t have time to ponder on what the Snake had said when he heard the door open and Snape greet the person on the other side. Realising he was still naked Harry lunged for the robe hanging over the back of the couch but didn’t quite get it on in time before a familiar blonde haired boy stepped into the chamber.

“Oh that’s not pretty Potter!” Draco spun around hastily and closed his eyes much to amusement of his godfather who sauntered back inside behind Draco ensuring to close the door behind them. Harry hastily tied up the robe and went to sit down self-consciously on the couch, knowing that Snape had done it on purpose, payback obviously for having a conversation with the snake. “Can I open my eyes or am I to be permanently blinded by that image for the rest of my days?” Draco drawled sarcastically as he cracked open an eye to look about the room. Snape huffed an amused laugh and disappeared into his private lab, returning a moment later with ginger biscuits and two glasses of pumpkin juice for his younger guests.

“Oh shut up Malfoy. I’ve seen yours with Pansy Parkinson hanging off the end of it, and that certainly wasn’t fucking pretty.” Harry snapped back with slight embarrassment just as Snape returned from his lab. The potions professor stopped dead in the entranceway and glared at the two boys in suspicion. Harry was sure he saw a hint of jealousy wash over Snape’s face but the man was too quick and schooled his features back into their usual scowl.

“I will pretend I didn’t hear that.” Snape put the biscuits and drinks down on the coffee table and gestured for the two boys to eat. Harry reached for a biscuit hungry having been thoroughly sated by Snape’s expert hands earlier. Draco took the seat next to Harry and helped himself as well. In silence Snape watched as the two boys ate and drunk their fill before flicking his wand and conjuring a spare set of Harry’s school robes. “Get dressed Mr Potter and then report to Filch’s office you have a detention to attend.” Harry groaned and stood up from the couch snatching his things up from Snape’s lap. Harry knew better than to protest however and merely collected his wet things as well as he made his way into the bathroom to get dressed. Draco laughed at Harry’s misfortune but instantly shut up when Snape glared at him. “I will remind you Mr Malfoy that you are also here on detention so do not think we are simply here for a chat. Follow me.” Snape rose from his chair and led Draco into his lap, where on the work bench lay hundreds of glass vials of all shapes and sizes just waiting to be cleaned of the foul liquid they’d once contained. Snape flicked his wand again and within an instant a small bristle brush flew into his hand along with a yellow pair of rubber gloves. Snape handed both items to Draco who sighed heavily as he realised what he was expected to do all evening.

“So need I ask what you two got up to this afternoon?” Draco pulled on the yellow protective gloves and drew a stool up to the sink so he could sit down. Snape propped himself up on his own stool on the opposite side of the bench with his arms folded neatly on the bench before him.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.” Snape replied as the boy dipped the first empty potions bottle into the soapy water and stuck the bristled brush into it’s top to begin scrubbing. Snape watched Draco clean the first bottle and when the boy had cleaned the yellow substance completely from inside put it aside on the drying rack.

“I thought you told him you weren’t going to have sex until he finished school.” Draco kept his eyes to the task at hand hoping that his godfather didn’t object to the line of questioning. In a way Draco was slightly jealous that Harry seemed to be taking a lot of Snape’s attention but he wasn’t going to let on, knowing that his godfather for the first time in his life had a chance at happiness. Snape was silent for a moment and Draco wondered in he’d overstepped the mark however as he put the second bottle aside to dry Snape spoke.

“What makes you think we had sex? And how do you what I told Harry?” Snape rose a curious eyebrow at Draco who flicked his fringe from his face as he picked up another of the dirty vials.

“I don’t know I mean why else would he have no clothes on?” Draco shrugged his shoulders idly as he pushed the brush a little to hard into the bottle he was cleaning pushing the bristles right through the bottom with a crack. Draco winced, as he looked apologetically up at Snape the remains of the vial in his soapy gloved hand. Snape rolled his eyes but said nothing as he kicked over a dustbin indicating that Draco should just put the broken shards in it. “Sorry.” Draco whispered as he dumped the broken bottle and began on another one this time only lightly scrubbing the glass with the brush. “He tells me everything, well most things anyway. I think I’m the only one he’s got to talk about that sort of stuff to, it’s not as if Granger or the Weasel know what’s going on.”

“And so they shouldn’t.” Snape added quickly as Draco put another washed vial aside. “This is a private matter between myself and Harry, it’s no one else’s business.” Snape settled back on his stool and flicked his wand towards the small pile of washed vials on the sink. Within an instant the glass bottles were flying in different directions all of them tucking themselves away with different cupboards around the lab. Draco didn’t bother to pause in his cleaning as Snape cleared the sink for more of the cleaned vials.

“What about me? It was my idea that he should try and date you, you know.” Draco frowned crossly as again he broke another vial this time shattering it completely. Cursing Draco picked up all the little glass bits and put them in the bin beside him, guiltily looking up at Snape who shrugged his shoulders carelessly.

“Some of them are old and fragile, they probably would have broken with the next potion I put in them anyway, and it’s better to have them break now than waste potion later.” Draco nodded understandingly and continued with his chore. “What do you expect from me Draco? A thank-you and a pat on the back for interfering in my love life? You know me well enough now that’s not going to happen. As much as you wish it so this matter is still none of your business, even if Harry had decided to confide in you as a friend.” Snape folded his arms back across his chest his wand tucked snugly in against the crook of his arm.

“I know it isn’t and to be honest I don’t need to know what goes on, I guess I’m just happy that you are happy, that’s all.” Draco shrugged his shoulders idly and settled another clean glass on the bench taking a moment to stretch his fingers in the gloves.

“I am happy Draco and I’m pleased you care enough to ask. I’m also pleased that you’ve grown up enough to get past your feud with Harry, and that you two are friends. But all this still doesn’t excuse why you lied to a ministry official?” Snape spoke calmly his expression not changing at all. Draco sighed and looked down into the sink full of water.

“Oh that.” Draco whispered softly his yellow-gloved fingers scratching off some burnt potion on the vial he was washing.

“Yes that, and I would appreciate you not referring to the incident like it was a common garden gnome.” Draco tried to stop the smile from creeping onto his face but hearing Snape say the word gnome was just too funny especially from a man so austere as Snape. Snape growled low in his throat at Draco’s amusement the boy not taking an ounce of seriousness towards the situation. “Laugh again Mr Malfoy and I’ll remove your lips so you never smile again.” Instantly Draco wiped the smirk from his face and looked up fearfully at his godfather. Snape didn’t make idle threats and Draco knew not to push his luck, especially after the day he’d had.

“Sorry.” Draco apologised and settled back on his stool his fingers beginning to go numb in the gloves. “It’s not like I planned it or anything, it was the only think I could think of at the time.” Draco shuffled his feet against the foot rest of the stool kicking off his shoes to get more comfortable, seeing as though Snape intended him being there a long time.

“What happened?” Snape inquired darkly his gaze never leaving that of his godson’s. Draco shrugged his shoulders and worried the corner of his lips, not quite sure himself why he’d said what he had to the minister.

“He’d just come down from Gryfindor tower after that search through Harry’s stuff. I was kind of angry that he could just do that to someone’s stuff. I’d been waiting outside the portrait hole for Harry when Dumbledore, McGonagall and that dick came out.” Snape frowned at Draco’s use of language but remained silent for the moment as Draco continued. “I heard him telling Dumbledore that he suspected Harry and you were hiding something. He said he’d seen you two looking at one another during meals and the like and that he was sure if he could just get the ministry’s permission to use truth serum that he could prove you were both lying.” Snape tightened his fists on the table at the underhandedness of the ministry. Without fail the ministry had been determined to see Snape put in Azkaban with or without evidence and just as Draco had said the official inquiry into his teaching had been yet another attempt at ruining him. “Anyway I followed them till Dumbledore and McGonagall split from him to go to dinner. He was heading back to his rooms in Slytherin. I knew I had to do something so I cornered him on the staircase. I made this big scene about Harry and how much I loved him. I said that I didn’t want my godfather or my lover taken from me just because of a rumour. I told him you’d known from the beginning and that to save me from my father’s wrath you’d helped us keep our love a secret. I said you leant us your rooms for our nightly rendezvous.” Snape looked a little shocked at Draco who blushed a slight tinge of pink.

“And he believed you?” Snape looked incredulously at his godson who nodded and shrugged his shoulders idly.

“Yeah, it wasn’t hard. After all he knew having talked to other students that Harry and I had suddenly become ‘closer’ this year and that we’d been spending a lot of time together. Harry and you had obviously been hiding something but it wasn’t what everyone had thought. I guess it just all fell into place nicely for him.” Draco sighed and put another of the clean vials aside and watched Snape rise from his stool and walk over to another bench to lean against it in thought.

“Merlin’s beard I can’t believe he actually brought that.” Snape shook his head in disbelief before turning around to stare seriously at Draco. “You do know you’re going to have to make a show of this. If everyone thinks your dating Harry you’re going to have to act like it.” Again Draco shrugged his shoulders as he pulled off the rubber glove swiftly hissing as some of the potion left in one of the vials trickled down the inside of the glove.

“Ow fuck.” Almost instantly red welts appeared on Draco’s hand and the boy squealed as Snape moved over to him quickly and put his hand under the running water of the cold tap. Draco watched as the welts continued to grow as Snape gently washed what was left of the potion from the boys injured hand.

“Leave it there a moment.” Leaving Draco alone to hold his own hand under the running water Snape disappeared into the other room only to return moments later with a vial of cool white cream. Drying Draco’s hand on his own robes Snape then proceeded to rub a little of the white cream into the welts until Draco had finally stopped twitching with the burn. “Well here ends your detention for tonight.” Snape said with a sigh as he bandaged the hand and pushed Draco in the direction of the living room. “Go sit down we’ll continue this conversation in a minute.” Draco did as he was told still nursing his potions burnt hand against his chest. Snape came into the lounge a few minutes after Draco with two refreshing glasses of pumpkin juice. Handing the boy one, Snape sat himself down in his usual seat to sip his own drink. “Now you were saying about keeping up this little charade.” Snape urged Draco to continue.

“Oh yeah, well it shouldn’t be to difficult we hang out all the time as it is now nothing should change really. At least while ever they think we’re dating it’ll keep the attention away from you two.” Draco finished his juice and put the empty glass back on the table settling himself down on the couch as the sting in his hand began to make him drowsy. Snape didn’t say anything as Draco lay down on the couch, unfortunately he’d had no burns cure potion left and so had been forced to use a general-purpose medicinal cream that had the nasty side effect of drowsiness.

“But what will that do to you and Pansy?” Snape inquired as he fetched a blanket from his own room and draped it across Draco’s form. His godson obviously wasn’t going back to his own rooms tonight.

“Don’t care really. Never really liked her, but she gave good blowjobs and it kept Dad happy. We’ll have a really spectacular break up when you and Harry want to come clean, it’s not as if I want to date anyone yet anyway…I need to study…….” Draco trailed off his eyes finally shutting closed as the boy fell silently into a potion-induced slumber. Snape chuckled and softly brushed a stray blonde hair from Draco’s forehead before leaning down and gently kissing his godson on the cheek.

“Thank-you for everything.” Snape whispered softly his words only meant for the one who slept too soundly to hear them. With Draco snuggled up on the couch Snape went about blowing out the candles in the room before retiring himself. Before he fell asleep he smiled at the images of Harry and the beautiful sight that had been the boy in passion. If Snape didn’t know better he’d have thought he was falling in love all over again………..

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