The Day Ahead

Sorry this one took so long. I wrote another story in between for the Dusk-Til-Dawn Fuh-Q-Fest. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. :) And for yugure who asked why this was under Romance/Drama and not Romance/Humour, well, originally I had planned to make this a more dramatic story but it just didn't work out that way. The characters had more fun then I had intended. Lol


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Severus sighed and rolled his eyes again. He told the clerk he would take the whole set with a second wardrobe and asked to have it sent to Hogwarts with the bill. He offered his hand to Harry to pull him to his feet, then found the young man didn't want to let go. Severus sighed again. Mumbling under his breath about teenagers and hormones, he resigned himself to his fate. He led Harry out of the store and back onto the street.

Their next stop was the clothing e. Le. Lupin met them at the door, grinning happily. Severus ignored him and walked into there. re. He immediately made his way to a rack of white shirts with Harry and Remus trailing behind, laughing.

As Severus sifted through the rack looking for his size, Harry came over carrying a bright red silk shirt.

"Here, try this one on."

"I think not, Mr. Po-" Harry cut him off, shoving the shirt into his arms.

Before Severus could hand it back, Harry turned in search of more clothes. Severus shook his head and moved on to the rack of black pants. Harry returned with an emerald green shirt that matched his eyes. Again Severus didn't have a chance to hand back the clothes before Harry was gone again.

After Harry had loaded him up with several coloured tops and a few different pairs of pants, including another pair of Muggle style jeans, Severus was pushed towards the changing room.

"Harry!" Severus growled. Harry moved behind Severus and gripped his hips, forcing him to keep walking.

"I just want you to try them on," he perepered into Severus' ear, blowing gently across his ear and making him shiver slightly.

Severus gave up. He knew he couldn't possibly win and really, he wasn't sure anymore that he wanted to. He let Harry's warm hands on his hips guide him to the change room with little resistance. As he closed the door behind him, he heard Harry tell him to try on the red shirt first.

Severus emerged from the little room to find both Harry and Remus waiting for him. They gasped in unison as their eyes trailed over his body, making Severus blushed brightly. He had kept on the jeans and left the red silk shirt un-tucked to cover his tightly clad buttocks. Harry's jaw was dropped as he motioned for Severus to turn around. He growled and gave a quick twirl.

"Wow!" was all either of the men were able to mutter. Harry stepped up to him and ran hot hands down his arms as though to smooth down the material, even though there were no wrinkles. Harry's hands slid down his arms, to his waist and inwards until they stopped at the button on the jeans.

"You look fantastic, but I think the shirt would look better tucked in," Harry said as he opened Severus' jeans. Severus was too shocked to react as Harry began pushing the soft material into the tight pants. Harry, staring into his eyes, wrapped his arms around Severus' small waist to tuck the shirt into the back of the pants. His hands lingered for a moment on Severus' arse, his eyes flashing, both of them breathing a little harder.

Severus suddenly remembered Remus standing behind Harry and stepped back with a start. As Harry pulled his hands away blushing, Severus turned his back to do up the pants. His heart was racing and his head was spinning. He had to talk to Harry. He needed to know if this was all just a game or if Harry really wanted him.

"Wow, Severus! You look incredible!" Remus' voice made him jump as he turned around. "Red is definitely your colour. You should wear it more often."

"A Slytherin in Gryffindor colours? I think not, Lupin," Severus said with a sneer. As he looked into a mirror, he was surprised to see that Remus was right. Red did indeed look very on on him. Even the Muggle jeans didn't look all that bad with the silk shirt tucked into them.

"Try on the green one, then. I think emerald will look nice on you, too," Harry said.

"This is not a fashion show, gentlemen. I am not going to try on everytle tle article of clothing you two think would *nice* on me!"

"Please, Sev?" Harry said with a pout and puppy dog eyes.

Severus sighed. "Fine, but it's the last one I'm going to model for you."

Harry smiled happily as rus rus returned to the change room. When he emerged, Severus was wearing the green silk shirt tucked into a pair of snug black trousers. He had the top of the shirt open part-way down his chest, showing a bit of skin and dark chest hair. The tie in his hair was out, allowing the dark locks to flow down his back, stopping at his waist.

Ignoring Harry's jaw on the floor, Severus turned to a mirror. For the first time in years, Severus liked what he saw. His slim form looked good in the clothes Harry had chosen for him, and he appreciated the fact that the shirt matched the warm eyes that shone over his shoulder. Severus decided it was time for a little payback.

"The waist is a bit tight," he said as he stood with his feet shoulder width apart. Severus slowly leaned forward, his hands reaching for the floor as though testing the waist for bend-ability. When he had his hands flat on the floor, Severus looked up through his knees at Harry, who was staring transfixed at his raised arse. Harry blushed as he glanced down and saw Severus watching him.

Severus slowly stood up and flipped his hair over his shoulder. He looked in the mirror again, admiring himself for the first time in years. He felt sexy and relaxed instead of old and tense. Severus decided it was time for some fun of his own.

Ignoring Harry and Remus, Severus approached the clerk's desk where a young woman was standing. Severus had noticed her watching him ever since they had entered the store. Leaning over the desk suggestively, Severus began talking to her.

"Excuse me, Miss, but which do you think looks better, the red or the green?"

She smiled sweetly and ran a finger lightly down his exposed chest.

"Well, personally, I think the red looks better on you, but the green matches the eyes of the man who holds your heart."

Severus looked at her sharply. Now he was really confused. She saw what Severus was only beginning to see himself. She gave him a wink and stepped back as Harry came up behind him. As Severus continued to lean over the desk, Harry pushed up against him, rubbing himself against Severus.

"Sev, I found-"

This time Severus was mad. It was bad enough when Potter flirted with him in front of Remus, but to do it in front of a complete stranger was humiliating and intolerable. He grabbed Potter by the wrist, tightly and pulled him into the change room.

"Owe! Sev?"

Severus threw Potter against the wall, closing and locking the door behind him. He was shaking and breathing heavy from barely restrained fury.

"Potter, what the fuck is going on?"

"Sir?"

Potter looked scared, sweat popping out on his forehead. He suddenly couldn't meet Severus' eyes, finding his shoes fascinating. Severus placed his hands on the wall on either side of Potter's head.

"Um.. well.. Idon'twantyoutoleave," he said in a rush.

"What?" Severus was more confused then ever.

"I thought that if I showed you how I felt about you, you wouldn't leave Hogwarts." Harry looked defeated, his eyes downcast and sad.

"Leave Hogwarts? What the hell are you talking about, Harry?"

Harry took a deep breath and finally looked Severus in the eyes.

"Malfoy said you were thinking of leaving Hogwarts after Christmas and I thought that after what happened yesterday you would be leaving for sure. I wanted to give you a reason to stay. I need you Severus and I don't want you to go."

As the tears welled up in his eyes, Harry threw his arms around Severus and held on tightly. Severus heaved a great sigh, closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Harry.

"Harry," Severus said gently, patting his back, "Malfoy lied. I have no intention of leaving Hogwarts. Where would I go?"

Harry pulled back, the tears already drying. "Really?"

"Really. I can't believe you'd go through all this just to make me stay."

"Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, I meant everything I said today."

"Everything?" Severus asked with a mischievous smile and a sparkle in his eyes. "Even about the desk?"

Harry blushed, making Severus laugh. "Especially about the desk!"

Harry pushed Severus against the door roughly as he leaned in to kiss him.