Latent

Disclaimer: I don’t own it… *sigh* I guess I
never will…..

A/N: This is, alas, the last chapter in this
story. However, do not fret! For there are two other sister stories to this. I
split the whole thing up into a trilogy. I thought it would be more fun… for
me, anyway. So, there you are. That’s how it is. Keep an eye out for “Core
Pursuit” and “Obstacles of the Heart”. Thank you!

Chapter Nine

~IX~

September first came sooner than Harry would
have preferred. He spent his last day of summer break with Ron, Hermione, and class=SpellE>Draco, talking about silly, inconsequential things and
completely avoiding the topic of the upcoming school term and the impending
war. His final night was spent with Severus. For the
first time since their initial bonding, Severus made
love to Harry. It was sweet, and gentle, and everything that the young man
needed at such a nerve-wracking time.

Afterwards, they simply held each other. No
words were spoken, but each took comfort in the warmth of the other’s embrace.
Those few moments alone expressed more emotion than words could ever convey.

Sleep did eventually find them and when they
woke the next morning, it was to Hermione pounding on the door and shouting at
them.

Harry sat up. “Alright!
We’re up!”

“About bloody time,” he heard her mutter, “Lazy class=SpellE>sodding…”

He chuckled. “Severus,
you’d better get up and get ready before Molly comes up here.”

Severusstyle='color:#000033'> cracked one eye open before pulling him back down onto
the bed and kissing him soundly. “I’m already ‘up and ready’, Harry.”

Harry laughed, jabbing him softly in the ribs.
“There’ll be none of that today. We’re already late waking up.”

He jumped out of bed and ran to the shower.
However, as soon as Severus joined him, his resolve
melted. Later, Harry would curse the man for nearly making them miss the train,
but at that moment, he was perfectly happy to miss breakfast so that class=SpellE>Severus could give him a “proper goodbye”.

When they boarded the Hogwarts Express, they
found a compartment toward the back of the train. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and class=SpellE>Draco sat in silence for several moments before Ron pulled
out his Quidditch magazine and pulled class=SpellE>Draco into a deep conversation about who would win the
World Cup, which was going on its fourth month. Harry gave his input when it
was asked, but for the most part, he was completely lost in his own thoughts.
Hermione spent most of the train ride drawing up NEWT study schedules for each
of them and pestering Harry.

“Harry!” Hermione exclaimed, poking him in the
side for the third time, “Would you stop spacing out? We’re nearly at Hogwarts.
You should put your robes on.”

“Hmm?style='color:#000033'> Alright,” he said.

He looked out of the window and in the distance,
very faintly, he could see the glowing windows and
dark silhouette of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He felt the prickle
of tears in his eyes when he realized that he was going home. class=GramE>For the last time…

XXX

AARGH! It’s so SHORT! But I felt that it was a
nice end to Part One. “Core Pursuit” will take place in their seventh year, and
WILL feature the final battle. YAY! Keep an eye out for it! style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>***NOTE*** “Core Pursuit” is up! If you liked “Latent”, even the tiniest bit, then
I promise that you will LOVE its sequel! There is much more plot, much more
conflict, and MUCH more Snarry SMUT! class=GramE>(Which we all love! <3) So read and review and, most
importantly, ENJOY!