Devils and Angels

Poor Men


His eyes protested as he cracked them open. He could see the blurry line of the corridor ahead. It was the next morning to be exact, and Severus Snape had gotten little sleep if any in the last twenty-four hours due to the potion he had consumed. He was headed to the staff lounge where he knew that special something Harry had insisted upon during his haggling with the Headmaster awaited him - and only him. He was limping slightly, but he didn’t care at the moment. What he was focused on, at least he was trying to without falling asleep while walking, was nothing more than a cup of hot black coffee. Sod tea in the mornings. Harry had previously obtained one for the house at number twelve Grimmauld Place, and Severus had been curious about it and one try had gotten him hooked on coffee - now nothing else would be adequate.

Minerva looked up from her reading as Snape pushed open the door, and waited. He cracked his eyes open once more, and saw something shiny sitting at the end of the table. Letting his eyes slide shut once more, he aimed himself in the general direction, and managed to get there in one piece. Grabbing one of the shiny new mugs that bore the crest of Hogwarts, he thrust it under and waited for the wonderful black sustenance to pour out and jumpstart his day. He counted the seconds as he stood with his eyes closed. Thirty seconds passed and he raised the mug to his lips then blew across it to cool the hot liquid, then upturned it to take a healthy swallow – nothing. One bloodshot black eye sleepily opened and peered down into the mug, which elicited an amused smile from the older witch.

“It’s broken Severus.”

“There’s no coffee Minerva,” he looked slightly puzzled.

“It’s broken.”

“No it’s not – it’s new,” his voice was thick with fatigue, and he refused to accept the fact his treasured coffee machine was damaged. He jammed the mug back under and waited again.

“I said it’s broken.”

Snape peered down at it, as if he couldn’t comprehend the situation – which of course he couldn’t at the time. It had been years since he had been this exhausted and this starved for rest, of course he had gone without sleep for longer periods before, but then he hadn’t exactly exerted himself to this extent either. He rubbed absently at his aching hip, which was protesting from his previous activities and said again, “There’s no coffee.”

Minerva rose from her chair, and poured him some tea, “That’s right Severus, there’s no coffee,” she said as she placed the cup into his hand. “It seems Mrs. Norris was chasing Peeves and knocked it to the floor. It’s broken.”

“But it was new.” He repeated himself as he looked from the steaming tea to the machine and back to Minerva. He then turned and headed for the door with cup in one hand, and the empty mug dangling from the other.

“Poor man,” said the Deputy Headmistress as she shook her head then resumed her seat and book.

At that moment not too far from the staff lounge, a very satisfied yet slightly sore Harry Potter practically skipped down the staircase. He was perfectly fine, fully energized, and the only precaution he needed to take was to remember not to sit too hastily. He met Severus at the foot of the stairs.

“Here!” Snape thrust both cup and mug into his hands, and glared sleepily at Harry.

“What’s this?” The younger wizard looked puzzled at suddenly having the two items pushed into his hands.

“It’s broken. The coffee – thing,” he tried to elaborate, but simply couldn’t remember what it was called.

“Where are you going?” Harry asked when his lover started up the steps.

“Back to bed,” he tried to sneer through the yawn, but the yawn won out.

“Why?”

“I’m tired!” He said as he stalked tiredly up the stairs.

“Want me to join you?” Harry asked with a wicked grin in his voice.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because with my luck, you’ll want to start something, and I’m in no shape to finish it let alone participate,” the last word was distorted by another incredibly huge yawn.

Harry watched Snape slowly ascend the stairs and disappear around the corner. He smiled to himself and said, “Poor man.”

Banishing the cups to the kitchens, Harry went to seek out the Headmaster, who was at that moment staring through one of the large windows overlooking the grounds.

“A good morning to you Harry. I trust you and Severus are settled in?” The old man asked good naturedly without turning his head.

“Good morning Professor. Yes, we’re mostly settled in.”

Dumbledore turned from the window and nodded, then patted the young man’s shoulder, “Walk with me Harry.”

After wandering about the castle without an apparent purpose in mind, the Headmaster stopped walking and turned to Harry then said, “There have been more Death Eater attacks Harry. I feel Voldemort may soon make himself known.”

“I know,” he said quietly.

“Headaches again? Frequent?”

“Yes sir, almost everyday.”

“You do understand, he may summon Severus at any time?”

“Yes, I do.”

Choosing his words carefully he said, “It would be tragic should the Dark Lord discover that you and Severus are now a couple.”

“What are you saying?” Harry asked as he stiffened in alarm.

“Voldemort is highly skilled at occulmens and legilmens, and so is Severus. It is what has kept him alive all these years in his dealings with the Dark Lord. But I fear the relationship with you may cause him to inadvertently slip, and that would be disastrous. It would be all the incentive needed for him to exact his revenge against you.”

“You’re saying he’ll kill Severus to get to me.”

“Exactly.”

“Then – we won’t let him answer any summons.”

“As well-intended and sensible as it sounds, what would that accomplish, Harry?”

Harry lowered his head and thought a moment. When realization set in, his head shot up and he looked wide-eyed at Dumbledore. “Voldemort would know something has changed!”

“Once again, exactly.”

“What…”

The Headmaster answered before Harry had the chance to finish his question, “There is far too much at stake here, and I must take it upon myself to see that Severus’ skills, which are considerable indeed, are sharpened so that he will be prepared no matter what. He, in turn will instruct you in the art of defence, so that you too, shall be prepared. What you do from this moment on depends on how successful he is. You see Harry, without realizing it, and with no intention to do so; you two have changed the situation. The fates of the wizarding and muggle worlds alike now rest with both of you.”

“When do you want to start?”

“Tomorrow, if possible.” He watched as Harry walked away then whispered to himself, "Poor man."

After the eye-opening conversation, and his mind whirling, Harry roamed aimlessly about the grounds as he thought of all the things he had gone through at the hands of the creature once known as Tom Riddle. He had lost his parents before he even got to know them. His once friends had been endangered because of him, and now something much more precious to Harry would be endangered. If he messed up even once, he felt it would be meaningless to even continue to live should he survive, and Severus not. If Voldemort killed Severus, Harry vowed he would make it a point to live long enough to take the vile creature’s un-natural life.

It was nearly dark when he re-entered the castle, and several staff members quietly turned to look as he passed them by for they could see a change within him. No longer did he sport the slight insecure look of newly acquired adulthood, but wore a countenance of sombre confidence, and sobriety of thought. His pace quickened for he had one thing that he felt he had an urgent need to do before their lives were monopolized by Voldemort’s very existence. Still clothed, Severus lay sprawled face down across the bed. A plate with the remains of a meal had yet to be removed and up till now sat on the bedside table. Harry tip-toed inside, banished the plateful of scraps and quietly went about setting his plan into motion then he sat and watched his lover sleep.

“I had no idea that I was that enthralling to watch,” Snape quipped as he peered through the curtain hair that had fallen across his eyes.

Harry leaned over and brushed the black hair away then asked, “Did you get enough rest?”

“Mmmmm, yes.”

“I’ve drawn you a hot bath,” Harry said quietly as he still caressed the face before him.

“That – is something I specifically need. Thank you,” he stretched, then rose and headed toward the bath shedding clothes and dropping them as he went.

“Slob,” Harry remarked.

“Impertinent,” Snape retorted as he eased down into the steaming water frowning slightly as he sank into a mountain of bubbles. “You need to remember that for future reference, Severus Snape does not do bubbles. Water and soap will be sufficient.”

Harry grinned as he picked up the discarded clothes and put them away, “Don’t forget to wash your hair.”

“Of all the bloody cheek… Yes – dear,” the older wizard muttered.

Forty-five minutes later, with a towel wrapped around his waist, Severus emerged and paused slightly when he saw Harry leaning against the bed post wearing Snape’s own dressing gown, “I suppose it had to happen sooner or later.”

“What?”

“That you’d be wearing my things.”

“It’s comfy. Come here and sit down,” indicating the side of the bed with a jerk of his head.

Harry crawled onto the mattress and sat on his knees behind Severus and began to draw a brush through his shoulder-length dark locks.

“A drying charm will do.”

“I did use one, but this one works with a hundred brush strokes.”

Severus closed his eyes, thoroughly enjoying the attention he was getting, “I could get used to this.”

“So could I,” Harry said a little too quietly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing – I just want to do something nice for you.”

“Mmmmm.”

Once his hair was dry, Harry leaned into it and inhaled the scent deeply and ordered gently, “Lie down on your stomach – I want to give you a massage.”

Severus quirked an eyebrow at him, but didn’t question his motives then obediently complied. Harry worked his way up from Snape’s calves, thighs, back and eventually to the knotted muscles in his shoulders, and by the time the young man was through Severus felt completely boneless and relaxed.

Harry shed the dressing gown then lay down beside him, “Turn over.”

“Harry, I really don’t have the energy,” he said as he turned to his back.

“You don’t have to do anything at all. I’ll do the rest. You see, you’ve been doing all the work, and now it is my turn to satisfy you - and only you tonight,” he said as he bent and lightly nipped Snape’s pale-skinned chest.

Harry gently nipped and caressed his way down Severus’ body until he had reached his slowly rising shaft as it emerged from its slumber. Taking it into his mouth, he wrapped his lips around his lover’s warm member and began to stroke it with his tongue.

“Gooooooodssss,” Severus breathed at the sensation and slowly raised his hips then wrapped his long fingers into Harry’s hair.

Harry deliberately kept his pace unhurried, and as Severus neared completion he began to caress, with a well-lubed finger, his lovers opening causing the older man’s hips to buck as he gasped in surprise, “Harry!”

When Harry inserted his finger, Severus came in a sudden rush of ecstacy that was compounded as two, and then three fingers entered. Harry raised his head and gazed into glittering black eyes as he lay down in Severus’ arms.

“I haven’t said something yet, and I need to say it now Severus,” he stated while listening to the older man’s rapidly beating heart.

“What is it Harry?” Snape asked as he lay with his eyes closed and still breathing heavily as his over-heated body slowly began to cool.

“I love you.”