Snowglobe?

~*~*~*~

Severus was dreaming. He knew he had to be dreaming, the water wasn't real, he wasn't really drowning. He felt the icy stab of the cold water rushing over him, pulling him down into the dark murky depths, but still, he denied it. His head hit something solid and shot pain through his neck and into every limb, the heavy water flooded his lungs, but it wasn't real to him. He reached out for something, anything, that would wake him. His hand closed over something cold and round, like a glass ball, just as he felt himself losing consciousness.

Severus woke with a start, coughing and struggling for air. He felt a pair of warm arms embrace him, but he panicked. He was confined and couldn't breathe, he was drowning all over again. He pulled away violently and fell to the floor. His arms were suddenly bound to his sides and something was placed over his nose and mouth. As he struggled with his captor, he realized breathing was becoming easier, his lungs weren't heaving and rasping.

As he began to relax, the bonds holding his arms loosened and fell away and he felt the warm arms return. Severus gave up his struggle and leaned into the comforting body next to him on the floor.

Poppy wrapped a warm blanket around Harry and Severus as they sat on the floor. She didn't dare try to move Severus back onto the bed. It could send him into another panic. She stood back and watched Harry comfort Severus, amazed at the effect the younger wizard had on the stoic professor. Obviously, as far as their relationship went, the time in the snowglobe had been good for them. She placed a light kiss on the top of each of their bowed heads before silently leaving the room.

Harry whispered and cooed to Severus, telling him over and over that they were okay, they were home and safe. He told Severus that he loved him and would never leave him. They stayed huddled on the floor for several hours. Severus whimpered and cried a few times, but mostly he stayed quiet and let Harry rock him and talk soothingly to him.

When Harry was certain that Severus was asleep again, he gently picked him up and returned him to the bed. He spooned up behind him and held him tight, relishing in the feel of Severus' heart beating in time with his own.

They stayed like that for a few days, Harry only leaving the bed long enough to shower and change clothes. Poppy couldn't, and didn't really try to, convince him to leave the infirmary for anything. When Severus woke, he was generally in a panic, still feeling the rush of water pressing down on him. He didn't pull away from Harry anymore, which Harry took as a positive sign.

Albus was in several times a day to check on them. At first Harry had been angry at the old man for putting them in a situation like that, knowing of Severus' fear of water, but he got over it seeing the pain and guilt in his eyes. Harry forgave him even though he could see that Albus would never forgive himself.

After four days, Severus was sitting up in bed, eating and talking. He was still nervous and chilled, but the terror that had gripped his heart had abated. He had long a long talk with Albus. He held Harry's hand the whole time, cried a little, and hugged Albus tightly. It seemed to make them all feel better.

On the fifth day, Poppy had finally consented to allowing Severus to return to his rooms. He was up and dressed within minutes, and grabbing Harry's hand, had fled down to his sanctuary. As soon as the door was closed behind them, Severus took Harry in his arms and kissed him passionately.

"I love you, Harry," Severus whispered as he brushed a lock of hair out of Harry's eyes.

"I love you, too, Sev."

"I was beginning to wonder. All that time in the infirmary and I never woke up to you... flirting with me," Severus said with an amused glint in his eyes. "You stopped dreaming about me?"

Harry giggled. "No, I was just having better dreams about you."

Severus led Harry through his private chambers to the bedroom. "Oh? Better how?"

Harry began kissing Severus' neck as he opened the buttons of his robe. "Better. Like. This," he said between kisses. Harry could taste the soap still on Severus' skin from the very quick shower he'd had that morning. He smelled fresh and vibrant, like a new day.

When the robe was opened far enough, Harry slid his hands across Severus' shoulders, dropping the heavy dark cloth to the floor. Severus gasped and tilted his head back as Harry started to suck lightly on his throat, teasing his Adam's apple seductively with his tongue. Harry tore off his own robe before starting on the many tiny buttons of Severus' white shirt. As he exposed Severus' chest to the cool air, he felt skilled fingers pulling his t-shirt out of his trousers. He left Severus' warm skin long enough to allow Severus to pull the shirt over his head.

He began sucking and nibbling on Severus lips as the older man's hands explored his smooth chest. Harry jumped when Severus brushed his thumbs over his sensitive nipples. He squeaked when his nipples were lightly pinched and felt Severus giggle into his mouth.

"I love you," Severus whispered across Harry's lips as he pulled him down onto the bed.

They made love slowly, sweetly, hands and lips caressing, eyes filled with love and desire. Every move was an act of love, there was no rushing, no overwhelming lust. The love that was discovered inside a watery snowglobe carried over and grew into more than anything the two men could have dreamed of.

~E~N~D~