Silver BelSnowSnowglobe Hell

Silver Bells, Snowglobe Hell
Part Eight
by weasleyswizardwheezes aka sherdelune and goldenpaw

\"Oh, Merlin, the films,\" he said, then choked as whatever he was eating went down the wrong way.

Severus leapt up from his stool and rushed around to Harry\'s side of the table. Severus stood at Harry\'s back and pounded on it in the hopes of dislodging whatever it was that obstructed his airway. That seemed to do no good, so Severus reached around Harry and then proceeded to do the Merrich Manoeuvre.

Eventually the piece of sausage Harry had been eating gave way. Harry gasped for breath, \"What was that you just did?\"

\"That, Mr. Potter, was the Merrich Maneouvre, but Muggles call it the Heimlich. Typical really, a wizard discovers it first, but it\'s a muggle that gets all the recognition.\"

\"Well thank Merlin for Merrich. And thank you, Professor. You saved my life, yet again.\" Harry leaned back hesitatntly against Severus, who still stood with his arms wrapped around the younger wizard.

\"It\'s Severus, remember Harry.\" Severus smiled tentatively down at the young man. \"And honestly, I\'m beginning to think that you need a permanent guardian angel.\"

Harry blushed. \"Yes, of course, Severus. I must have forgotten in the panic,\" and considering he called me Mr. Potter, so did Severus Harry mused. \"I\'m beginning to think that you\'re right, though. I do need someone looking after me permanently. Perhaps I should take applications?\"

\"Yes, applications would be good. The criteria should be someone who is also brave and foolish in wanting to follow you around all the time, because you will definitely be leading them into danger as well.\"

Harry laughed ironically. \"I fear the only one foolish enough to want to follow me around is Colin Creevey, and I\'m not sure I want him as my protector.\" A soft smile played at Harry\'s lips, and he decided to follow his gut instinct and continued speaking. \"Actually, I already have someone else in mind for the job, he\'s already fulfilled this duty on numerous occasions. How about it Seve car care to apply?\" Harry risked flirting a bit, considering Severus still stood with his arms wrapped around Harry.

Severus jumped back as though he had been branded with a hot iron, his arms dropping forcefully to his sides. This caused Harry to be off balance and he started to fall from his perch on the stool. However, Severus jumped right back behind him to prevent him from falling backwards.

\"See what I mean, Severus?\" Harry asked impishly.

\"You are just accident prone. I highly doubt that you will break your
neck anytime soon.\" Severus paused briefly dodging the issue at hand. \"It\'s
getting late, we should return to our room and wash up to prepare for
bed.\"

\"I wonder if we\'ll find anything new there..\" Harry said wistfully.

\"Perhaps we should wish for hot water. It appeared to work for bangers and mash, it couldn\'t hurt to try. Besides, I deplore the thought of trudging all the way to the Room of Requirement just to wash up.\"

\"Hey, I just noticed that the decorations don\'t look as gaudy now. I wonder when that happened?\" Harry pointed out as they walked back to their room.

Severus stopped and looked at the decorations. He\'d passed this way so many times in the past two days, that he had started to pay them no mind. \"You know, you\'re right. Thank goodness for small favours. Now I can walk through the school without having to put up mental blinders.\"

They arrived back to their room and Harry went directly to the shower to see if their wishing had helped. Severus heard a loud whoop of joy from the washroom and guessed that they now had hot water, which meant hot showers and no more trudging water to the Room of Requirement.

Harry came back out from the washroom. \"You go first, Severus. You\'ve earned it. Seeing as how you\'ve saved my life twice this evening.\"

Severus smirked and took advantage of Harry\'s generous nature. \"If you insist..\"

Harry settled on the bed and then all of a sudden noticed the extra pillow. He yelled out to Severus through the door, \"It\'s our lucky night, Severus. We got an extra pillow as well.\"

The shower came on in the washroom and Severus spoke as he entered it\'s warmth. \"Will wonders never cease?\"

Harry got up from the bed and wandered over to the chess board to randomly play with the pieces. He would have fond memories of that afternoon, when he and Severus had been at peace and companionable with one another, as Severus had taught him strategy in playing.

He heard Severus get out of the shower and called in to him. \"Do you fancy another game of chess after I shower?\"

Harry was still determined to find out what caused Severus to despise the hoilday season so much and thought maybe he could get the answer out of him as they played chess. Plus, they had yet to finalise a way that they would get back at Albus for placing them here, although Harry was secretly enjoying this time alone with Severus.

Harry turned as Severus exited the washroom and once again, all Harry could do was stare at the older wizard. Merlin, but he\'s handsome.

Water dripped down from Severus\' hair and ran down a fairly smooth chest, before the droplets disappeared at the edge of the towel wrapped around his waist. \"I forgot to bring my infernal nightwear with me. The next thing I\'ll wish for is a nightgown or regular pyjamas.\"

Harry watched as Severus picked up his red pyjamas from the foot of the bed and started towards the washroom to change. Damn, I almost wish he\'d change in here. \"Wait a minute, Severus! You can change in here while I take a shower.\"

\"All right.\" Severus waited until Harry was in the washroom, before he turned to the bed for leverage and placed his foot inside the red atrocity Albus apparently thought of as suitable sleepwear.

Harry realised he had also forgotten his nightwear, and exited the room he had just entered, only to catch an eyeful of Severus\' arse as he was putting on his pyjamas. His eyes widened in appraisal, gasping aloud at the sight, and the first thought that came to mind was Gah, but that man has a fine arse.

Severus turned around at the sound and caught Harry gaping at him, with his jaw wide open and his eyes glazed over. Harry\'s eyes widened even more, as he now took in all of Severus from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. He got a good eyeful of naked man. Another stray thought went through Harry\'s mind at the sight, Yum!

Both men blushed crimson as Harry stumbled for his pyjamas. \"I forgot these,\" he croaked, as he grabbed his pyjamas from the bed and made a hasty retreat back to the washroom in embarrassment.

Stunned, Severus plopped down upon the bed, the pyjamas in his hand forgotten. Was that desire I just saw in Harry\'s eyes? Desire for me?

Severus listened as the shower started again. His mind totally focused on imagining Harry naked standing under the hot, steamy, spray which was running in rivulets down that toned body. He shivered at the delicious, but totally inappropriate thought. He felt his body stir as the image wouldn\'t leave.

He quickly stood up and put the pyjamas on before Harry could return, then he began to set the chess board up. He just hoped he\'d be able to focus on the game and not on the young wizard that would be sitting opposite him. If he had to, he could always conjure up the image of Trelawney naked. That would definitely be guaranteed to dispel any inappopriate thoughts.

Soon the water shut off and out appeared a still embarrassed and very awkward Harry.

\"I believe you had mentioned wanting to play a game of chess a few moments ago. I assume you still do?\"

Harry could not meet Severus\' eyes, and merely nodded, taking his regular place behind the black pieces on the chess board. He waited in silence as Severus also took his seat and moved the first white pawn. The game began in earnest, with neither wizard talking.

Harry sat and watched Severus through lowered eyes as the man played. He was still curious as to why Severus did not like Christmas, but thought better of pushing the matter further, at least for tonight.

They only made it through the one game, when Severus could take the silence no longer. His mind was just not on the game, even though he had won.

\"I think we need to make better sleeping arrangements. Especially now that we have two blanets, two pillows and a larger bed.\"

Harry\'s heart sunk, he had surely made a mess of things this time. \"Yes, I suppose you\'re right,\" Harry sighed. \"What did you have in mind?\"

\"I suggest we each take half the bed and use the blankets like sleeping sacks. One blanket wrapped around you and one wrapped around myself.\"

\"Fine, sir. Do you want to call it a t not now?\"

\"Yes, my mind just isn\'t on the game this evening.\"

Harry muttered deprecatingly and with sarcasm, \"I wonder why\" and frowned to himself. Severus did not hear Harry\'s mutterings, as he was lost in his own thoughts about the night ahead.

Both men were silent after that, as they each had too much on their minds at the time. Harry crawled into the sleep sack he had created.

\"Goodni sir sir,\" Harry spoke softly, tentatively.

Severus did not reply. He simply blew out the candles and settled into, what was for him, destined to become a long, sleepless night.


~tbc~