A Dark Time For The Light

49

They danced. The first one. “Oh. Isn’t this the first time we...?”, Draco exclaimed softly. Harry held him tighter and nodded. The next, “Oh, god, Harry, this one?” as they danced, closer than close. The third, Draco reached for his lover’s face and gazed into his eyes, tears in his own, “This one?”. Harry nodded. The dancers enjoying the selection not knowing what it meant to two of the party. As the fourth track started, Draco slumped against his lover, then kissed him hard. Pulling away, he asked, “This is what you were playing the day...?”. Harry grinned, “This was my ‘missing you’ soundtrack. Call me sentimental if you will. I won’t apologise. I still had it programmed into my MP3 player the next day at work. These four tracks. I cracked. I was missing you so much. Then I read that you had escaped and I left in the clothes I stood up in and came to find you, only you found me first, but it was this soundtrack that started me off”.

Draco thought his heart would burst. He held his Harry tight. At some point, they snagged Ginny, “Show us the site that says we can get married”. The girls led them upstairs and booted the machine. Harry giggled, “I take it that this is a samizdat machine, with highly irregularly procured phone line and Net connection?”. Hermione just laughed as she launched the Internet, then the site from the favourites list, then clicked through a few pages then gave the floor to the boys. Who scrolled through the page and read everything. Then stood and kissed, “I’m really marrying you. I can’t wait”, Draco murmured into Harry’s ear as they danced later. Harry gazed into his lover’s eyes, clutching his beautiful arse as they danced, “You’ve asked me. I’ve accepted, I’m yours. You’re mine”. The following kiss could have melted glass as they danced joined from mouth to knees.

xxxxx

I know Voldemort’s planning something but he no longer considers me a part of the inner circle as I have not been informed. This worries me greatly as I fear my position may be compromised although I know I’m not the only one he hasn’t told. On top of all this, I’ve just received an irate owl from Lucius demanding to know why his son has come back to school two weeks early. I have come down to the dungeons to seek my wayward godson and give him a thorough talking to.

I round the corner and Merlin’s balls!. How long has this been going on?. I watch them kiss for a moment, they are completely unaware of my presence. I rather think that the Charge of the Light Brigade could go past and they would pay as little heed, truth to tell, they look good together. At least I know why the boy is back, but, Potter, surely Draco could do better than that, from all the good-looking boys in this damn school, he has to pick him. Maybe that’s why I haven’t had to give either of them detentions since at least Christmas, which has probably answered my first question.

Now they’re starting to get a bit steamed up, time to end the party. Oh joy!. The looks on their faces as they try desperately to compose themselves. I cannot help myself and laugh aloud. Damn, didn’t mean to do that, but their faces are priceless. Harry is the first to dare to face me full on. He looks rather fetching actually. His cheeks are pink and his lips are swollen. Hmm, not the only thing either and my godson is in the same state, hair a mess and looking thoroughly ravished, his cloak all awry. Right now, I could fair ravish him myself. Whoops, shouldn’t be thinking like that. Shite, what do I tell the boy’s father?. Then Potter does something rather sweet, he tentatively takes Draco’s hand, just their fingertips. A gesture of reassurance done unconsciously. It is this that makes me relent. Oh, sod it! Let them have their bit of fun, at least they’re not at each other’s throats. I fire Potter the line on expulsion if caught down here during termtime and leave them to it and bugger off quick-smart leaving them gaping like fish out of water.

I thought that their little.. affair would burn out over the long summer holiday. I was wrong. Draco moped about the place like a wet weekend only cheering when he received mail. For some reason, Lucius didn’t try to press the boy to take his Mark. Draco threw himself into his studies and father left son to work for the main part, though the moment that boy leaves school, Lucius will have him inducted into the ranks as quick as winking.

I catch Draco loitering near the library, we go our separate ways. I turn to say something and he has vanished completely. Damn the Potter boy and that infernal Invisibility cloak. I can hear them as they scuttle away and I know the affair continues, though if I could, I’d award points to both houses for discretion as neither are caught all year. Why wasn’t I my usual bastardly self? Many reasons, not all of them noble. Lucius knows I am hiding something in regard to his son, but the boy’s work is outstanding in the run-up to the exams, so I simply say, that the lad has taken on more work to explain why he wanted to stay in school over Christmas and Easter. I am determined that that boy should not join the Death-Eaters ranks and I know his association with Potter is helping. They have been together for over a year and when they let their guards down, they are obviously in love. Perhaps I shouldn’t have let things get this far, but, Christ tonight, I’m the boy’s teacher and his godfather. I care about the boy. I’ve never seen either boy look so damn happy. They are good for each other. Draco keeps the wastrel Potter’s nose to the academic grindstone and Potter is making a human being out of my godson instead of him turning into an imperious arsehole like his father.

“Penny for them?”. Remus slumped down beside his lover, handing him a fresh can. Severus smiled, “I was just thinking how glad I am that I didn’t break those two up in school”, he tipped his head in Harry and Draco’s direction. There were some smoochy tracks on and the two were totally lost to the world. One of the other boys changed the music and the two drew apart still whispering and left the room hand in hand. Remus gave his lover a long look, “Hmmm, well, just make sure you don’t break them up now either”, he remarked, cryptically.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”, Severus reared away slightly. “Sev Snape, you know exactly what I mean. Okay, I’m looking forward to our little games as much as you are, but let’s make sure it stays as just a game, shall we?”. Severus opened his mouth to protest, but the look in his lover’s eyes silenced him. Damn!. The man knew him too well.

Secretly, he was still determined to have some one-on-one with Harry if he could manage it, but made sure his thoughts didn’t reach his eyes. Then he was being pulled to his feet to dance.

The boys were in the alternative party upstairs, in Seamus and Terry’s room chatting and snorting with Steffie and Jacinta and the Patil twins. Neville and Sebastian joined them. Steffie leaned in close to Harry, “Are both of your teachers completely gay, Harry, only I think Severus is a bit gorgeous?”. Harry laughed, “Actually I think Sev is gay and Remus is bi. There was a rumour going around that he had a girlfriend somewhere. I wanted to hex her eyes out”. The older woman rolled her eyes, “Jealous, were you?”. “You bet. I was in third year and had a massive crush on him”. Steffie regarded him thoughtfully, “I may be wrong, here, and you can tell me to go jump in the lake if you like, but I reckon Severus has a crush on you, Harry, he’s had his eye on you all night”. Harry blushed, wondering how much to tell his colleague. Fuck, no, he thought of her as a friend. “Well actually”, his tone was low, “We’ve been sort of planning this for a while. Sev and Remus are staying with us and we’ll all be, erm, playing together”.

Her brows shot into her hairline and she resisted the impulse to squeal, “Ooohh, you naughty boys. Well, have fun”, she winked at him, “I’ll try not to think too hard about it!”. It was Harry’s turn to effect surprise. She chuckled, “Only jestin’! Tell me, Harry, are all wizardkind gay?”. Harry shook his head, “Most of the straight family types are in Scotland and the Patil girls, Lavender and Lee are all straight. Lavender has a baby and Lee’s missus is expecting their second”. Steffie reached for the mirror and started to chop out the next lines and Harry asked shyly, “Could I have a go, please?. I’ve never done it before”. She spooned out a pile of powder with the point of the blade and handed both to Harry.

As he’d watched her do, Harry crushed the pile with the flat of the blade, then started to chop, side to side, then made a square with the blade, then top to bottom, neatening the pile again. Just then, Draco bounced onto the bed. Steffie and Harry warded him off and he saw what was afoot. “Oops. Sorry. Delicate operations going on”, he giggled and flopped beside Harry and nuzzled his lover’s neck, “You’re drunk, lover of mine. Don’t get too pissed, you don’t want to miss out on the fun, later”. Draco giggled, “I’m rat-arsed, Harry, I’m prob’ly already too pissed and don’t you three dare start without me”. Harry turned and kissed Draco’s forehead then got back to the task in hand.

“How many am I doing, Stef?”. She made a mental calculation. “Can we get ten out of this?”. Harry shrugged and after some more chopping made a decent fist of arranging ten more or less equal lines, “Wow, it’s harder than it looks to do this by eye”. Steffie laughed, “It’s not rocket science, if one or two are a bit bigger then those are ours. Simple”.

Draco was despatched to round up those who wanted another go and soon the room was full of snorting and snuffling noises. Harry noted with interest, his ex-potions master had another, his boyfriend did not. Draco didn’t indulge again either.

Dawn was rising before people either called taxis or started to dig out sleeping bags. The boys and their older companions wound through the streets on their way back to the flat, Harry was virtually holding Draco up as was Sev with Remus.

They staggered upstairs and Harry got a glass of water and two painkillers into his lover then packed him off to bed. Draco didn’t protest as Harry tucked him in and kissed him goodnight. He was sound asleep in moments. Harry got a fresh can from the fridge and wandered into the living room, still awake from the coke and restless. He put some chill-out music on very low.

A few minutes later and Severus walked in, “Is he all right?”, Harry asked. The man grinned, “He went out like a light. Draco?”. Harry grinned, “Ditto”. There was an awkward silence. Severus gestured at Harry’s can, “Any more of those left?”. Harry nodded, “In the fridge, help yourself”. While he was gone, Harry dragged out his makings and put two blunts together, and was lighting them as Severus sat beside him and accepted one with murmured thanks, popping his can.

“I like that friend of yours, Steffie”. Harry giggled, “She likes you too, even asked me if you were just gay or bi, she called you, and I quote, ‘a bit gorgeous’ “. This made Sev smile, “Sorry lady, you’re out of luck. I’m strictly men only. She does have good quality drugs though, I’ll give her that. Odd sort of job, though, for a lass”. Harry mused, “She’s good at it and gets on with the lads. She says she was never Brain of Britain and would have otherwise ended up behind a desk bored out of her skull”.

As Harry talked, he felt Sev’s hand sneak onto his thigh massaging gently. He looked down at the hand, “I don’t think you’re supposed to be doing that”, Harry’s voice dropped half a register, then he glanced up at his companion’s face, “Or looking at me like that”, in the same low tone as Severus approached and their lips brushed together, “And definitely not this”, as their tongues met, teasing at each other. Harry broke it to lower his can and perch his joint in the ashtray, then removed the same from Sev’s hands, laying them down.

With a soft grunt and a small moan they were in each other’s arms and kissing fiercely and hard. In a trice both were laid on the sofa and pressing together, need evident. Then Harry started, listening intently, false alarm. Severus sensed his discomfiture and pulled away sitting up, “You’re right, Harry. I’m sorry. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable in your own home”. Harry’s breath was a bit ragged, “It’s all very well my Gryffindorish bloody nobility, Sev, but now I have a raging hard-on and won’t sleep”. Severus chuckled, “Come here, then, just a quickie for relief and we’ll save the real fun and games for tomorrow, although right now I could shag your sweet arse into that rather tasteful rug in front of the fire”.

They kissed again, slower, less frantic. Harry rubbed his fingertips over the bulge in Sev’s jeans before deftly opening the button and sliding down the zip, freeing his weeping cock, delicately pulling at the foreskin, then peeling it back. Severus arched his back into the touches and Harry used the move to peel the jeans away, then in a fluid move, took Severus’ cock into his mouth and down his throat. The man stuffed a hand in his mouth to muffle the moans. He was incredibly turned on as much by the thought of both their lovers lying mere feet away as by Harry’s ministrations and came in seconds, deep lunging thrusts into Harry’s mouth.

Harry cleaned him with his tongue and sat up. “You have an amazing mouth, Harry. Give me a moment and I shall return the compliment”, He adjusted his clothes and tucked his cock away, zipping up, then pushed Harry onto his back. He slipped off the couch to his knees and sat back a moment looking at the beautiful boy beneath him, then, reaching out, he carefully undid Harry’s jeans and slid them and his boxers down to his knees, then pushed the boy’s t-shirt up to his armpits, lowered his face and devoured the sweet feast below him savouring every mouthful, from nipples to ‘nads and back before deep-throating his straining cock. In seconds he was swallowing Harry’s release, then gently cleaned him and dressed him, dropping a kiss into his navel before pulling his t-shirt down.

“There, all circumspect again”, He smiled at Harry, then leaned in and they shared a sweet kiss, “Thanks for that, Sev”, his voice husky. “Thank you, sweet Harry. Draco is a very lucky man”. Harry picked up the cans and passed Severus his, then lit the blunts and they smoked in silence side by side. Anyone coming in to the room would not suspect a thing,

“Sev?”. “Hmm?”. “What did you do after it all went horribly wrong?. After you left me in Sheffield?”

Look at the poor boy, struggling to his feet, determined not to meet his end on his knees. His wand is gone, his face is streaked with tears and blood. He screams at me to finish it, finish him. My express orders are to bring him to Voldemort. I kissed the bastard’s robes and hope to reach Harry before some other git does. I cannot pretend anymore, I want nothing more to do with Him. I am sick of him, soul sick. I ignore the others dragging my godson away, his destiny is not to die but to breed. This He has already intimated along with the boy’s loathsome father. Whom I once called friend.

I will be haunted by those screams for the rest of my days. His life is worthless to him. All he has loved has been taken away and I feel deeply for the boy. He becomes ‘Harry’ to me then, not ‘Potter’ any more. I swear I will never address him thus again should we ever meet again. His father isn’t a patch on his son. In that instant, I realise that most of what Harry is, he gets from his wonderful mother. A deeply hurt and abused boy, brave and frightened. I cannot kill him, I have spent his school career taking care of him. I bundle him up and get him out of there. I Apparate to the furthest place away that I know. A personal Apparation spot, not far from my small house in Spinner’s End. I push some Muggle money at him, wish him luck then Apparate back to the bloody battle.

First I am required to be a witness at a farce of a wedding. My godson to an obviously Imperius’d Ginny Weasley. Poor child, she simply hangs her head and recites the vows in a dead flat voice. I don’t know if she even knows that two of her brothers are dead and her parents headed for Azkaban, the family destroyed, scattered to the four winds. People are literally running for their lives.

Then he hisses at me, “Where’s Potter?. Your loyalty and your subservience are in doubt here, Severus. I told you to bring him to me. Nott, Baddock and the others saw you advance on him. Where. Is. He?”. Each syllable hissed and spat. ”He stunned me and disarmed me wandlessly, then ran”. I don’t want to stay there any longer. He is distracted then by Pettigrew gloating over the killing of Dumbledore and I flee before he can turn his attentions to me again. I snap my wand in disgust, it’s signature like a homing beacon to find me. The Mark I will just have to live with. Too bad. I rip off my Death-Eaters mask and cloak and fling them away. I see a harried looking Minerva trying to protect a group of Ravenclaws. Blood runs in a trickle from a head wound. She catches sight of me, “Where’s Harry?”, the first words from her mouth. “He’s safe. I got him away and gave him some Muggle money”, she nods and we part to try and save our lives.

As soon as I can slip out I Apparate away. I can’t get as far without my wand, but I manage to get to Diagon Alley in three hops. I am in Gringott’s in a trice even while news of the attack is still a rumour. I empty my vault. There’s not much there, though a little more than I expected. I change it all to Muggle money and leave quickly, keeping my head low, avoiding all attempts to delay me. I have to get out now, there will be a price on my head. The faithful will be queueing up to bag this trophy, to put this stuffed head on His wall.

So here I am in Muggle London. I don’t know a soul. I think about Harry. He’s Muggle-trained, he’ll manage. He’s resourceful. His screams still echo in my mind. I book myself into a small bed and breakfast establishment and collapse on the too-soft bed after I take a long hot shower and sleep for two days weeping into my pillow each time I wake. I’m lonely and afraid, no, terrified.

Harry watched Sev’s face. Saw a plethora of emotions flit across it, “Are you okay, Sev?” The man snapped back to himself, “Sorry, Harry. Your question brought back memories of that day. I was flashing back. Can you ask me again sometime?, only I’m very tired suddenly and I need to curl up with my wolf”. Harry shot him a warm smile, “Me too, I think that coke has worn off and I need my Dragon”. They shared a chaste kiss and parted for what remained of the night.