Devils and Angels

Rich Men









Later that night after their ardour had cooled somewhat, they lay in a tangle of arms and legs. Neither could sleep, though their bodies were satiated their uncertainties about the future had not been eased. Harry sighed, and suddenly sat up and placed his head upon his knees, “What are we going to do? I don’t know what to do anymore.” He turned back and looked at Severus, “I mean, I’m happy with you – but that’s not all there is to life. Even I know that, and that’s not saying much.”



Snape sat up against the pillows, “That, is one of the wisest things you’ve ever said.” He held an arm out, and Harry moved back into the embrace. “Of course there is more to life than myself – yourself, Hogwarts, the Dark Lord, and any one of the number of things you and I have been a part of. The sad thing is this; they are the means with which to obtain it. Like you, I am tired of constantly struggling against the odds - as it were. Ideally, we could pool our resources together, which are considerable sums in themselves, and tell them all to kiss our arses, but is it ethical?” He snorted when he said that. “Here I am giving you a philosophical discourse in ethics…”



After several minutes of silence, and thinking of what Severus had said, Harry spoke. “Would you answer a question? I mean, I don’t want you to get upset, and if you don’t want to answer, all you have to do is say no. I won’t ask you again about it.”



“What is it?”



Harry hesitated, and then blurted out his question. “Why did you become a Death Eater?”



When he felt Severus stiffen and suddenly go quiet, he quickly said, “You’re getting angry – I’m sorry.”



“No I’m not – yes – no. No, I’m not angry. Not at you. Just – give me a moment,” Snape eased from under Harry, and sat with his back to the young man.



Harry bit his lip. In the dim light, he could see fine scars criss-crossing the pale skin. There were not many of them, and it was obvious they had healed long ago, but he wondered if they had anything to do with being a Death Eater.



“If I tell you, I don’t want you jumping to conclusions – and making accusations. I want you to listen carefully, and try to understand. Because if you don’t, you may not care to ever speak to me again.”



Harry sat up quickly, thoroughly anxious and somewhat frightened. He swallowed then said, “I’ll try, but you’re beginning to scare me some.”



Severus closed his eyes and even though Harry could not see his face, it was a coutenance filled with emotional torture. “You remember what you saw in the pensieve?”



“Yes, but you were angry about it.”



“I was because I had been humiliated. Do you remember me telling you how I was caught in a compromising situation?



“Uh huh.”



“I was younger than you, and experimenting all the while fumbling around trying to find my niche in this world. Your mother knew about my preferences, and accepted me for what I was. What she couldn’t accept was whom I was experimenting with. Your father - and others, found out and dragged her there so she could see for herself. While we were occupied and unaware of being watched, then when we became rather involved, they made themselves known and laughed while she raged at me. She never spoke to me again,” Severus bent his head to his hands, and continued. “They made sure the entire school knew about it before nightfall. I left out of humiliation, and stayed gone for three days, and while gone - I became angry. Albus went looking for me. He found me eventually. I had been beaten mercilessly and nearly cursed senseless – I had become a Death Eater, and I was going to make them pay. He brought me back to Hogwarts, and he cared for me. When I recovered, I realized what I had done, and nearly went mad with remorse. If not for Albus Dumbledore, I would have been dead long ago – dead and unforgiven.”



When Harry didn’t speak, Severus believed he had lost all, and for the first time – no, make that the second time in his life, fear coursed through his veins, “Harry – I meant it when I said I love you – don’t – take that away from me. Please.”



He felt Harry leave the bed, and yet the younger man remained silent. Severus closed his eyes in anguish, and placed his head back into his hands as he had already resigned himself to the rejection he knew surely would be forthcoming. Nimble fingers pulled Snape’s left hand free, and Severus jerked his head up to meet intense green eyes. Harry traced a finger along the dark mark then placed a kiss upon his lover’s jaw.



“I’ve made up my mind about one thing. I’m not going to fight my father’s battles any more. They were his, and belonged to him – not me. Maybe, you should stop fighting ghosts as well.”



Sitting up a bit straighter, and composing his face somewhat, all the while trying to revert back into his gruff character Severus said, “Well, Harry - that nearly bordered on the poetic.” His chin quivered despite the veneer he tried to wear, and he quickly gathered the man into his arms, grateful for the one blessing the fates had allowed him.



After a few moments, Harry asked, “That still doesn’t answer my other question though.”



“About what to do?”



“Yeah, that.”



“Our options are somewhat limited.”



“Like, how many? One?”



They pulled apart and looked at one another then said simultaneously, “Hogwarts.”



As if of one mind they both rose and began to make preparations to leave for the ancient castle. Once their meagre possessions had been gathered, they closed the door behind them to the house in Spinner’s End. Snape reset the wards, and they apparated to the boundary of Hogwarts.



It was sunrise, and they could see the morning light kissing the ancient stone walls as they towered above them, and Harry commented, “It’s now or never.”



Snape arched his brow, “Exactly."



Entering at last into the school, Harry clasped Severus’ hand as they made their way to the Headmaster’s office. Snape looked down and commented without breaking his stride, “I do not do public displays of affection Harry.”



With mock seriousness Harry replied, “I know that, but that’s not what it is.”



“Oh? Pray tell, what is it then?”



“It’s a statement.”



“Of?”



“Like; there’s not a thing you can do about it, so take it or leave it.”



“Ah.”



Arriving to the entrance to Dumbledore’s office Snape uttered the password; “Chocolate kisses.”



“I wish,” Harry muttered as the statue began to move.



“Don’t be vulgar,” Snape whispered.



“I’m not for cryin’ out loud! I just need a chocolate fix.” Harry protested then added, “And you tell me not to be vulgar! At least I know where your mind is at!”



“Not now!” Severus leaned low and hissed in Harry's ear.



“Not now what Severus?” The Headmaster looked up from his mountain of parchments as they entered his office, and his eyes smiled when he saw them holding hands.



“Nothing of import Headmaster,” Severus said as he managed to disentangle his fingers from Harry's and assume a look of dignified indifference.



“I do hope this is not merely a visit,” Dumbledore looked expectantly at them.



“On the contrary, we’ve discussed the situation and believe that for the time being it is the best recourse.”



After a couple of hours, the meeting was over. Harry had indeed gotten what he wanted by making a few insistent demands in exchange for letting the old man have his way once more, even though Severus was not entirely satisfied.



“It’s not going to ruin your frightening reputation.”



“I’d rather stay in the dungeons,” Severus complained grumpily as he was in a surly mood.



“Be glad I didn’t request Gryffindor territory,” Harry remarked.



“That would have been totally unacceptable.”



Upon entering the chambers that had been one of Harry’s requests, Snape looked about with raised brows. The chambers were on the second floor near Slytherin house, and it was clear to the potions master there was considerably more room than down in his beloved dungeons.



“Perhaps it will be sufficient,” he glowered not liking the fact of having to get used to new rooms.



“You know you like it, you know you do, and it's warmer here too!” Harry said as he went to inspect the bedchamber. “Hey! You should see this!”



“See what?”



“The bed!”



“And why would I want to see the bed?”



“Because it’s huge, and I’m in it naked.”



Severus sauntered over to the doorway, and leaned against it with his arms folded across his chest as he took in his nude and already excited lover. He smirked, “I now know how I shall die.”



Harry's head shot up from the pillows, “Huh?”



“It shan’t be by the hands of Death Eaters, or even the Dark Lord himself, and I doubt very much I shall reach my dotage.”



“What d’ya mean?”



“You – are going to be the death of me.”



“Yeah, but what a way to go,” Harry grinned broadly.



“I’m not a young man any more.”



“Well, you are a potions master – go brew something.”



“Are you questioning my virility?” Snape glared and stepped forward.



“Uh, no.”



Snape’s eyes narrowed considerably then he abruptly turned on his heel, and stalked from the room slamming the door behind him.



“Shite!” Harry’s head fell back onto the pillows with regret as he realized he had gone too far with his teasing.



An hour later, Harry had almost dozed off from boredom when he heard the outer door to their chambers open and slam then the faint sound of glass shattering. The door to the bedchamber flew open, and Severus Snape entered.



“I am so sorry. I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,” Harry said as he quickly scrambled from the bed.



“But I wasn’t,” Severus’s eyes glittered as they raked over Harry's nude body.



The young man stepped back warily, “Uh, Severus? What did you do?”



“I took your suggestion to heart. I - brewed.”



“You did what!? You can’t be serious!” Thoroughly alarmed, Harry's voice rose nearly two octaves.



Severus snorted in amusement, “I’m not.” His voice became quite ominous sounding indeed as he finished, “But, yet I am.”



“This is not a time to start making jokes,” the younger man yelped and jumped back when Severus began to advance on him as he began to disrobe.



“No, it is not time for jokes, but it is time for something else,” the older wizard said as he finished disrobing.



Harry attempted to slip past his lover, but Severus whipped his arm out and pulled him close and crushed his lips in a searing kiss. Finally releasing his lover’s mouth he said, “I take this quite seriously. If you’re not pleased, then I’m not pleased and I won’t be until I have you satisfied completely – in exactly the way you want to be.”



Meanwhile, since it was such a fine morning, Minerva and Albus were enjoying a leisurely stroll in the garden near the part of the castle that would be forever known from this day forward, as a part of Slytherin country. They were admiring the newest additions Madam Sprout had provided for the garden, and Minerva was about to make a comment on the flowering LeAndras when she paused in mid-speech.



“Why these are amaz…,” she quickly looked around. “Did you hear that Albus?”



“Hear…”



“Shhh! There it is again!”



They both canted their heads to listen, and not a noise was heard. Albus started to speak when the screams sounded again.



“Yes! Yes! Ohgodsyesohgodsyesohgodsyes! YESSSSSS! UHHHH!”



The Headmaster and his Deputy Headmistress looked at each other in surprise, then slowly turned toward the second floor window.



“I uh,” Albus cleared his throat. “Shall speak to them about a silencing charm – er, or something.”



Minerva stared at him in shock, “You mean that’s them?”



“I believe I have things to catch up on – I’ll be in my office should anything arise – I didn’t mean that – er – I have to go.” With that said, Dumbledore left as quickly as anyone’s dignity would allow leaving Minerva behind.



The cries began once more in earnest and the witch blushed furiously then called after the old wizard, “Albus Dumbledore, you can just wait for me!”