Love, Lies & Loneliness

Chapter 43
(Picnic)

“No way was that a foul! I barely even touched him!” Harry rolled his eyes as he lay back on the picnic blanket still listening to the twins arguing with Charlie and Snape over a foul call in the Quidditch match they’d just played.

“George. Fred. Will you give it a break no one cares. You lost fair and square, Draco caught the snitch.” Harry smiled as Mrs Weasley broke up the ensuing argument sending both twins off with a muggle football.

“You still hungry Harry?” Draco sat down beside Harry on the blanket the blonde haired boy carrying a plate of Mrs Weasley’s finest chicken dumplings. If nothing else Draco had been well fed at number 12 Grimmauld Place the Slytherin boy having fit completely in with the fold. Harry shook his head and put his arms back behind him as a pillow rest.

It had been an unexpectedly good week. All the things Sirius had said he was going to do in order to keep Harry and Draco apart never eventuated, which Harry was sure Remus had seen to. Not that Sirius had had anything to worry about, Harry was not dating Draco and so the boys acted more like friends than lovers, with no outward displays. After the last incident, of which Harry still was none the wiser, both boys had deemed it unnecessary to be so close especially when Severus was around. Harry had tried to get Draco to talk about what had happened again but the blonde had point blankly refused saying that it wasn’t polite. It irritated Harry that he didn’t know about this ‘possession’ thing, not that it had seemed to affect Snape any. The man was his usual stern self in company; relaxing only when alone with Harry in the few moments they snuck together out in the garden. Sirius and he had called another truce and although neither spoke more than a few words to one another those words were civil at least.

“Draco! Come and play soccer we need a goalie!” Harry glanced up to see Fred and George having roped most of the group into a game of muggle football. Draco looked at Harry in confusion having never heard of the ball game before.

“It’s like Quidditch without brooms or a snitch. All you have to do is stop them from putting the ball between those two jumpers, which are the goals.” Draco nodded in understanding as Harry explained the role of goalie quickly. Stuffing another dumpling in his mouth for good measure Draco stood up and joined the field of eager players. Draco was walking into a minefield of dirty tricksters but Harry wasn’t about to tell him that. Rolling over Harry lay on his stomach and stared at the derelict house his parents once owned. It looked far better in the afternoon sunshine then when Harry had seen it in the dark. Sighing softly to himself Harry wished his parents were here too.

A shadow fell over Harry and the boy looked over his shoulder to watch Snape sit down in Draco’s vacated spot on the picnic blanket. What with the entire order and the weasley clan buzzing about all day Harry had hardly a moments alone with Snape. It had been hard that morning to act as they always did around company when Snape walked in through the door of number 12. Snape looked particular delectable in light brown slacks, a collared white shirt and tan pair of boots, his hair tied back in the fashion Harry just adored. If it hadn’t been the wand sitting neatly in Snape’s belt holster Snape would have looked almost muggle. The thought made Harry smiled as the object of his desires sat down on the checked blanket next to him.

“How’s the holiday going so far?” Snape inquired as if he hadn’t received the three letters Harry had sent him during the week. Harry chuckled and laid his head back down on his folded arms.

“It’s been good, Sirius has left me alone and Draco and I have had heaps of fun. We’ve been to the movie theatre about five times already, Draco’s obsessed with the place. I think he wants a popcorn machine for himself, he spent at least ten minutes last time just staring at it.” Snape nodded and smiled pleased to see that his godson was enjoying the world beyond his strict wizarding upbringing he’d had for most of his life. “What about you? How’s the house going?” Harry tipped his head on the side and watched as Snape relaxed back on his elbows stretching lazily in the sun.

“Much the same. The place is a shambles but I’m working on it room by room, and I’ve finally got some house elves with a little sense between them.” Snape yawned, idly watching the soccer game on the field before him. Mrs Weasley, Tonks and Ginny were sitting under the tree a few steps away sharing gossip no doubt so Harry was free to talk to Snape alone, as long as he kept his voice low.

“When can I come and see the place?” Harry inquired eager to see how Snape’s family had lived before Voldemort. Snape smiled and shook his head at Harry’s enthusiasm. In every letter Harry had written over the past week, he’d always signed off with ‘I can’t wait to come see your house’. It had proved quite amusing for Snape.

“Not yet, there’s bits a pieces I still need to get rid of before you come, and some quite nasty portraits of my mother that are being stubborn.” Harry nodded understandingly. Snape had after all come from a dark wizarding family it was hardly surprising the man had things he needed to dispose of in private. “I’m pleased to say you and Draco did exceedingly well on your exams this year.” Harry rolled over onto his side intrigued to hear what he’d received on his tests, before the official records were sent out in another week’s time.

“Yeah and what did I get?” Harry pestered and Snape looked down tersely over his shoulder at the young boy.

“I can’t tell you, you know that. I’m just making a generalized comment on your grades, they were above your usual standard and I’m pleased with your progress.” Snape watched Harry groan and roll his eyes. Harry should have known Snape would not divulge his results early, but it was good to know he hadn’t failed anything.

“Typical professor.” Harry muttered to himself as he rolled back over onto his front. Snape smiled and finally lay down beside Harry, the sun making him feel sleepy and tired. Harry rolled his head to his side to look at Snape’s profile as the man stared up into the blue sky and the fluffy white clouds hovering above them. Harry stared at Snape for a long time in silence merely enjoying the man’s company after a week being apart from him. Leaning a little closer Harry dropped his voice lower having glanced over his shoulder to make sure everyone else was engrossed in their own business. “I missed you.” Harry whispered trying to look as if he was just lying there and not talking to Snape his secret lover. Snape murmured an affirmative reply the man’s eyes trained on the clouds and the shapes they were creating. “I’m dying for a kiss.” Harry whispered again watching as Snape moved slightly uncomfortably on the blanket, still refusing to reply to Harry’s teasing comments. “You look good today, you were as sexy as hell this morning when you walked in.” Snape coughed into his hand. Harry smiled dropping his voice even lower to a conspiratorial tone. “I came last night in the shower, stuck my fingers up my arse and imagined you doing it instead. I’m getting better at it.” Within an instant Snape had sat up and shifted an unmeasurable amount away from Harry who was now rolling around laughing. Snape glared down at Harry who just laughed even harder at Snape’s expression. If there was one thing Harry enjoyed about being Snape’s lover, was the permission it gave him to tease the austere potions professor continually.

“You Mr Potter have a filthy mouth.” Snape said matter of factly just as the group who’d been playing soccer returned to the blankets having packed up for the day. Already the sun was beginning to descend into the horizon making the fluffy white clouds seem like they were bright flames of red and orange.

“That wouldn’t surprise me he’s best friends with my little brother.” Charlie weasley sat down next to Snape grass stains up his shirt where he’d slide across his own goal for a spectacular save. Ron poked his brother hard in the side promoting Charlie to get his younger sibling in a headlock and give his hair a good rustle.

“What happened to the game?” Severus inquired easily to the group who all in some way sported grazes, bumps, bruises and soiled clothes. Some of it admittedly had happened during the Quidditch match but the grass stains had certainly come from the football game.

“Gave up. Sirius kept turning into a dog and running off when he had the ball.” Ron muttered in reply at the dark haired man who had the good grace to blush.

“It’s an involuntary reaction Ron, the dog in me just likes to play with the ball.” Sirius was standing next to Remus, the both of them already beginning to fold up the various blankets laid out on the grass. It would be dark by the time they all got home. Snape went to make a snide remark but Harry hit him hard on the arm silencing the sarcastic wit before it could escape. It had been an enjoyable day so far and Harry didn’t want it ruined by one stupid comment.

“Well come on then everyone grab all your stuff and I’ll activate the portkey home.” Everyone got slowly to their feet as Mr Weasley brought the saltshaker out of the wicker picnic basket. Harry stood up and grabbed his broom and his things having helped Mrs Weasley fold up the blanket. With all his stuff, Harry joined Ginny, Draco, Ron and the twins around the saltshaker Arthur had in his hand. “Alright you know the drill, fingers on, back straight….” Mr weasley began to normal pre flight speech but before he could complete it Bill had ended it for him with a cheeky laugh.

“…and kiss your arse good bye.” Harry laughed and looked over at the elder weasley brothers. Snape was standing with them; those with apparition licences would meet them back at the house. Harry wished he had his licence. With a final smile Harry felt the swirling sensation and the suck of his belly button before he was tumbling through space hurtling back towards number 12. With a pop Harry found himself on the front step of number 12, the dim light of street lamps illuminating the faces of his fellow travellers. As predicted it was already dark but Harry didn’t get time to think before several consecutive loud cracks marked the arrival of the rest of the party.

“Alright in we go.” Sirius unlocked the door with his wand and led the way inside. Everyone was chattering away animatedly as they went about different activities, Harry having put his broom in the stairs cupboard along with everyone else’s headed upstairs to his room eager for a shower. Draco and Ron weren’t far behind him, all of them vying for the first use of the bathroom. Downstairs Mrs Weasley was informing everyone that dinner would only be half an hour so not to go too far away.

“Merlin that was a good day out.” Ron exclaimed as he threw himself down on Harry’s bed. Draco rolled his eyes and collapsed down next to Ron leaving Harry to stand in front of his dresser picking out some clean clothes. Since the incident in the great hall when Draco had kissed Harry, Ron had not mentioned the two boy’s supposed relationship since. Harry was sure Ron had been given a stern talking to by his parents but he wasn’t about to push it. Harry enjoyed having Ron and Draco as friends and it made life so much easier that they didn’t fight. Harry hadn’t seen Hermione since leaving school. Like Ron she too hadn’t mentioned anything concerning Harry and Draco’s relationship, but something about her manner when talking to them told Harry she was up to something. Harry hoped she hadn’t guessed what was going on, but knowing Hermione it wouldn’t surprise him. Still he wouldn’t know until next week when Hermione dropped in with her parents for a visit.

“Shotgun the shower first.” Grabbing his things Harry scrambled for the door, Ron and Draco still fighting to get over each other off the bed when Harry was already out the door and running down the hallway. Laughing at Ron and Draco’s curses Harry ran to the door of the bathroom and pushed it open without a second thought. Harry was still laughing as he turned around and was stunned to see Snape standing at the sink washing his hands. “Shit, sorry.” Harry lowered his eyes to the ground guiltily. He should have learned by now to knock on the bathroom door before entering. Snape chuckled and wiped his hands on the towel.

“No harm done but I’d consider knocking next time Potter.” Snape moved around Harry to the door and went to open it but Harry was quicker and slammed the door closed. Snape didn’t have time to protest when Harry pushed him against the door and leaned up to capture his lips in a passionate kiss. When the kiss ended Harry stepped back and licked his lips, tasting the other man for the first time in weeks.

“I’ve missed that.” Harry whispered softly as he finally opened his eyes to smile up at Snape. The dark haired man smiled back but shook his head at the younger man’s audacity.

“Well don’t try it again, I’d rather not be hexed into a thousand pieces by order members should someone see us.” With another brief kiss Snape turned around and walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him, leaving Harry to sigh silently to himself as he got on with his shower before dinner.

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