Green Is The Colour Of.....

My apologies to everyone for the long wait between chapters. Sometimes the head knows what it wants to say, but it gets lost on the way to the fingertips. Thank you to all who have reviewed and who have stuck around waiting for me to get my bum in gear.


Special thanks to SickPuppy for all her help, and to Cravedom for her patience and keeping the faith! This chapter is dedicated to you.


As always, reviews are very highly appreciated! Enjoy!



Revelation


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Severus woke the next morning and lay listening for any sound from across the hall. When none was forthcoming, he wondered, half hoping, that perhaps the boy had left, but knew in his heart he hadn't.



He rose and went about his morning ablutions, taking his time and trying to draw courage for what he was about to do. It had never been easy for Severus to speak of his feelings. Even to the boy's mother he'd found it exceedingly difficult, preferring to use actions rather than words, but he knew in this instance only words would do.



When he could finally put it off no longer, he took a deep breath, steeling himself, and went downstairs.



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Severus arrived downstairs to find Harry standing next to the table, looking for all the world like the boy he insisted he wasn't. He turned the full force of his emerald gaze on Severus and made an apologetic half smile as he said sheepishly, "..Morning....I...I....stayed, obviously."



Drawing in a deep breath, Severus steeled himself and said non-commitally, "I see that." Inside he berated himself fiercely to stay that way. He approached the table, intent on saying what he had to say, getting the inevitable over with, and drew in another steadying breath.



"Look," Harry blurted out before Severus had the chance to begin, "I want to apologise for just bursting in on you and shouting at you....I just..."



"I..I'm not going back to London with you, Harry," Severus said suddenly, and to his surprise, Harry only nodded.



"Yeah....I know that," Harry said resignedly. He ran his fingers through his unruly mop of hair and said, "I think I knew that when I came here, so...I'm not going to argue with you anymore. You have a life here...I....just, you know, I spent all this time looking for you and ..." he swallowed audibly and said, "I....I just wanted to see you again. You just left..."



"I am sorry about that," Severus said, "I should have told you perhaps, but...it was..."



"Yeah, I know," Harry said, "it was me you were getting away from. I realise that now."



Severus felt a momentary jolt pass through him at the thought that the boy had known all along, but it quickly disappeared at Harry's next words.



"I remind you of her," Harry said softly, "my mother. I never thought about it before, but that's why you gave me the memories, that's why you wanted me to look at you, I have her eyes, but...I must also remind you of my father, the way I look, and he took her away from you. I just never realised what a living hell I must be for you, and....I'm sorry, I..."



"Harry," Severus began, but the boy held up a hand, a strange smile on his face.



"I've got something else to say, and....please let me tell you this," Harry said, his voice softly pleading. "I'll go then.....I promise."



Severus hated himself for his own cowardice, but yet was relieved at the same time. He'd let the boy say his piece and go, and Severus wouldn't have to betray himself.



Wouldn't have to feel the pain of rejection voiced.



Wouldn't have his world shattered again.



Irrevocably.



No, he could go back to loving Harry from afar.



Alone.



He nodded at Harry to continue, but it was several moments before he did. Several moments that he spent looking at Severus with those deep emerald eyes. Eyes that seemed full of pain and sorrow, belying the small smile on the beloved face.



Severus wanted at once to both hug the boy to himself and to run from that intense gaze, but in the end he found he could do neither, trapped immobile and helpless, powerless to even look away.



And then the boy, who was no longer a boy, who was now a man, but would always be Severus' beloved and brave boy, began to speak.



"I love you, Severus."



Severus was afraid to breathe, afraid to acknowledge what he'd just heard. Afraid, so afraid to believe.



And then it was impossible to breathe, his pounding heart threatening to burst out of his chest. Tears stinging his eyes, blurring his vision, burning down his cheeks.



Arms enfolded him, holding him tightly. And Harry's voice, raspy and shaking, whispered frantically, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Severus, I'm sorry! I had to tell you! Please understand...I just...I'll go now, but I had to tell you."



But he did not. He could not.



Stronger arms prevented it. Arms that had waited so long. Wrapping round him, drawing him in, holding him close. And another voice sounded.



"Not Lily. You, Harry. Always you. Only you."




Severus finally took a breath. A deep breath. And let all his fears and all his pain go.




"I love you, Harry."

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