Anachronism

Saturday 31st July 4:23 PM

Severus checked the clock on the wall. Although he still had at least two hours before the guests arrived, he decided to clean his laboratory rather than start a new project. A charm alerted him to someone on the stairs and he double-checked the concealment spells he had placed on the cauldrons he had prepared. When Potter knocked on the door, he flicked it open with his wand, glancing up only long enough to confirm that no one else had imitated Potter's knock.

"Hullo," said Potter as he wandered into the room. "Have you finished the newest commission?"

When the order for Adderellus had arrived the day before, with the promise of extra galleons, should it be finished and sent back soon, Severus had leapt at the chance to brew and spend hours alone in his lab. He wanted his blood test results back as soon as possible, and it would be easier to examine the samples if he had bases prepared ahead of time. It had taken an entire day to set up twenty cauldrons, especially since he'd been forced to travel to Diagon Alley and purchase the ingredients personally, as he didn't want Potter to know what he'd bought.

It still unnerved him to know that Potter could deduce what he was brewing based on ingredients purchased. He knew there were limits to the boy's knowledge, but he'd not had enough time to properly explore the boundaries and he didn't dare underestimate him. He wouldn't have tolerated the boy for long if he'd not become decently clever.

Even now, Potter meandered over to the flask filled with the pearl-white liquid and peered at it critically, as if he might be able to find a mistake in Severus's work. "Why isn't it clear?"

Adderellus, a mental clarity and alertness potion, normally brewed clear, but Severus had added a few touches of his own, designed to give the high a smooth, natural feeling.

"I added a soothing and stabilisation potion to take off the edge."

"You normally do that, but it's always been clear before."

Severus scoffed. As much as Potter thought he knew about potions, there were still many topics he knew nothing about. "Clematis dioica flowers, which I used to give a very smooth high, will always turn a potion pearly."

Frowning, Potter said, "You used the leaves of Piper marginatum before."

Not this again. Sometimes Potter insisted on trying to prove that he knew Severus better than the man himself by arguing with him on what he had done. It was irritating and pointless and just emphasised that Potter didn't know as much about potions as he thought he did. With only the slightest bit of patience, Severus said, "I've never used Piper marginatum or any other plants from the Pepper family. Piperleaves require more effort to incorporate for an effect that is merely cosmetic. I see no reason to make cosmetic changes to potions."

Potter's hard eyes didn't change. "You may not remember using it, but you did use it before."

There was never any point to these stupid arguments. Potter always backed down in the end, but not until after trying to win a point for far too long. Unwilling to entertain the boy's desire to be right once in a while, Severus snapped, "No. If I did, then I made the choice later. Why do you even argue this with me? You didn't know me for a few years after the war ended, and I doubt you know me that well at all. It is most likely that you do not remember correctly."

Potter's frown remained, but he changed the subject. "The food, drinks, and extra house-elves have arrived to help with the party. I'll go and get ready. I'll see you this evening." He left, the door shutting behind his back.

Severus hurried through the rest of his lab duties, then rushed to the house to prepare for the guests. Although it would be impossible and dangerous to try drugging a house full of guests, he did want inhibitions to be lowered. First, he called Kreacher and assembled the guest house-elves. "I want my guests to have full glasses. Refill any glass as soon as the amount of the alcoholic beverage in it drops below three-quarters full. All the drinks floated around should be alcoholic as well. When the guests sit down for dinner, fill their wine glasses."

Next, he examined the food that would be offered for appetisers, main courses, and desserts. There were already plenty of dairy-based products, but he added more to counter-effect the tannins from the wine. It would be harder for the guests to measure their alcohol consumption if the traditional signs of heavy wine drinking were absent. The decorated cake had been ordered from a company and could not be tampered with, but Severus asked for the extra slices of cake to be prepped with alcohol and placed besides Potter's cake when it was served.

Finally, he checked the alcohol percentages of all the liquor purchased for the party and 'upgraded' the bottles as much as he could without causing the taste to be noticeably different. Even the butterbeer received the same treatment. Of course, he had refused to allow Harry to invite children to the event. If any adults drank butterbeer, they deserved to get pissed. For himself, he poured a glass of his finest scotch from his private reserves. He had the feeling he would need a fair amount of alcohol to tolerate Potter's friends traipsing all over the house.

9:01 PM

Gryffindors were harder to intoxicate than Severus had anticipated, but their naivety proved to be just what he needed to lure them into side rooms and collect samples. He simply told them that he had noticed some irregularities in his blood work and wanted to test if the cause was environmental or specific to him. Only Granger—rather Weasley-Granger as she reminded him—demurred slightly before offering up her sample.

"They do have your original blood samples on record at the Ministry, you know. If you are interested in seeing if you were poisoned, then the simplest way would be to obtain copies of the blood drawn during either one of your legal experiences with the Ministry. In addition to the first time you were charged as a Death Eater, samples were taken when you gave your accounts after the final battle."

Giving her the same look that used to send pink across her cheeks and keep her hand in her lap for the rest of the class at Hogwarts, Severus said, "Am I supposed to believe that the samples are identical to what was collected years ago? You children proved that the Ministry is not nearly as well-guarded as one would hope."

With an indignant harrumph, she crossed her arms. "We children defeated a Dark Lord. Harry holds the largest record for dark wizard catches already and-"

"With my help."

"Yes," she agreed with a nod of her head. "That is because, unlike you, Harry has the good sense to know when he needs help and how to ask for aid. His strength comes from the fact that he's not got to lie or manipulate people to get what he wants. He simply asks politely."

There were few things as irritating as lectures from former students, but Granger's speeches were the most aggravating of them all. "Are you finished?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Then I need your sample."

She thrust out her arm.

After Granger, Severus happened upon Narcissa in one of the side corridors.

"Ah, Severus," she said, greeting him for the first time that evening. "I'm delighted to see you found the shampoo."

"Quiet, woman," he snapped. In a softer tone, he asked, "Why did you not join us for dinner?"

Her expression said she was as horrified as if he had suggested she marry Draco to Ginny. "You expect me to spend two hours at a table with that family? We tolerate them for your sake, Severus, but there are limits."

"That you would tolerate them at all is surprising to me," Severus said, arching his eyebrow.

She gave a non-committal toss of her head. "If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have our wealth and political clout. As to why you would wish for my family to be tolerant of the Weasleys, I imagine that has to do with appeasing a certain Gryffindor."

It always came back to Potter. Motioning for her to follow, he led her into a room and shut the door. "After your theory of poisoning, I rechecked my blood more extensively and noticed an irregularity in it that is shared with another." Her eyes gleamed and he knew she assumed that the other was Potter. She didn't voice her thoughts, just waited for him to continue.

"I intend," he said, "to collect samples from everyone at the party and compare them."

Pulling back her sea green shawl, she exposed her pale, skinny upper arm. "Take my sample." As he drew her blood, she asked, "How are things between you and Harry?"

"The same as before."

"Hmm." The lids on her eyes dropped down and she examined Severus from the corners of her eyes. "You are more relaxed than when I last saw you. He's tamed you somewhat."

"Tamed me?" Severus scoffed. "You have it backwards."

"Please, Severus." She shook her head, an amused smile on her lips. "I've been married over twenty years. It is impossible to tame another without becoming a bit tame yourself. No matter what he did, you'd never kill him."

"Nonsense." Severus snapped the lid on the vial in place, marked it, and tucked it in his robes. "If he threatened to become a Dark Lord, I'd kill him."

Her eyebrows arched. "Would you? I've always been under the impression that you would sacrifice the entire world to save him."

He had thought of it. When he'd first learnt of Dumbledore's plans, he'd considered focusing on protecting the boy at all costs—keeping him alive no matter what the sacrifice. However, in the end, he had given the boy up. He had chosen to sacrifice Harry for the sake of the wizarding world. "I may have problems with my memory, but yours is terrible. I did allow him to die."

"Did you not research everything you could about old magic after Lily's death saved her only child? You had to have known that he wouldn't die."

Severus had suspected Dumbledore had a plan to keep Potter alive, but he'd not trusted it enough to believe that the boy would make it through the ordeal alive. There had been too many things that could go wrong, too many complications. Besides, the certain combination of events necessary to save Potter's life had resulted from dumb luck rather than meticulous planning. Severus had supported Harry's sacrifice because he'd known it was what Lily would've wanted, rather than because he'd believed it was best course of action. Still, if Narcissa or any others believed that he had been clever enough to manipulate the whole situation to save the boy's life, there was no reason to disabuse her—or anyone else—of that notion. He pretended to be caught, and she smirked in triumph.

"Come with me," she said, threading a thin arm through his. "Mingle with your guests. We've missed you, and I know Lucius would love to hear your opinion on Professor Treadwell."

She meant she wanted to hear him rip the new Potions Master to pieces for the reason that the man wasn't a Slytherin. As he had collected most of the samples he needed, he let her lead him out to the gardens where Lucius stood off to one side, conversing with....

Potter?

Severus nearly stumbled over his feet. It wasn't just that the two of them were talking, considering what Lucius had done to Potter and the Weasley girl during the war, but that Potter was smiling as he talked to Lucius. It wasn't the watery smile that never reached his eyes that he gave to reporters or people at work, either. It was a genuine smile, as if he found Lucius a pleasant conversation partner.

As Lucius's posture directed him to the house more than Potter's, he noticed Narcissa and Severus before Potter did and gave a nod of recognition. Still chatting, Potter glanced over to see to whom Lucius had nodded. His smile widened into a grin.

When Severus approached close enough for speech, Potter asked, "Decided to emerge from your lab?"

"I've not been in there all evening."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Potter frowned. "I've not seen you about."

With a smile, Narcissa said, "I had the man cornered for a bit, but I had to bring him over to discuss the new Potions teacher."

Potter chuckled. "The new Quidditch coach is Slytherin, so it's not as if the ratio of Slytherins to Gryffindors has gone down."

"Quidditch," said Narcissa, as if Potter had personally offended her by suggesting the two positions were equivalent, "is not a subject, nor is a coach a professor."

"That is true," said Harry, although he said it in such a way that Severus suspected he didn't believe his words. "Well, I must be off to check on the drinks." Glancing at Lucius, he said, "I'll owl you later." Lucius nodded and Potter strode off, brushing past Severus as he walked away. Severus inhaled the fragrance. The smell of that perfect perfume lingered even after the boy had worked his way to the other side of the lawn to chat with Fred and George.

"Don't be so quick to dismiss the idea of a Slytherin coach," said Lucius. "He won us the Quidditch Cup last year."

"Really?" asked Severus. He had always enjoyed watching Quidditch for the sole reason of supporting his team. It was the only time he ever wore colours.

Nodding, Lucius said, "The first victory since the Dark Lord's defeat. Hufflepuff has been strong."

Giving a loud 'tsk' of displeasure, Narcissa readjusted her shawl. She never could stand the sport, even before she began to worry about Draco injuring himself. Although Severus wanted to hear more about the Slytherin victory, he said, "I hear Neville Longbottom is training to take Professor Sprout's position. The castle will now be overrun with Gryffindors."

"I agree," said Lucius with a shake of his head. "Perhaps you should take up teaching again."

"Dealing with one child is miserable enough. I have no desire to try to teach an entire room full of insufferable brats ever again."

Narcissa plucked a champagne glass off a salver carried around by a house-elf. "Lucius hoped he would be able to convince the new you of what he couldn't convince the old."

He couldn't help but smile. Trust Lucius to try to take advantage of years of lost memories. "There are some parts of me that will never change."

"Of course," said Lucius with a slow nod of his head. "But no one yet knows what those parts are. Not even you."

11:23 PM

Harry was standing in the foyer, wrapped in the arms of the Weasley slut who seemed determined to prove herself half-cephalopod with how often she could be found attached to one of his appendages. If Potter minded the inordinate amount of attention, he didn't show it. Severus supposed it would be rude to chastise the twit in front of her brother and sister-in-law, with whom Potter shared goodbyes.

When Mr. and Mrs. Granger-Weasley disappeared in a flash of green, she was the only house guest left. Severus inched closer to listen in to their conversation.

"-talk to you later then."

"Right," she said, shrugging out of Potter's arm, and flashing him a smile. "By the way, Adam should be finished with training camp soon. What do you say the three of us go on a date?"

Harry smiled. "I'd love that. I've not gone out in . . . well, a really long time."

"I know!" She hugged him tightly. "Time to return to the land of the living, love. By the way, did you enjoy your party?"

"I loved it! Thanks so much for hosting it."

"You're welcome. Congratulations again on turning twenty-four! You'll catch up to him in only twenty more years!"

Harry rolled his eyes, but didn't stop smiling. "Have a good night."

"I'll owl you." With a wave of her hand, she disappeared into the Floo.

Hidden in the shadows, Severus curled his fingers into fists. Why the hell was he going out on 'dates'? He should not be spending so much time with his ex-girlfriend! Did Potter think that he was fine with sharing? He wasn't. He wasn't that same man he'd been before. He wanted Potter all to himself.

Potter turned on his heel and strode back towards the garden. Intercepting him on his path, Severus grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into the parlour.

"Are you determined to drive me mad?" he asked, glaring and shoving Potter against the wall, drinking in the scent of him. "Don't pretend that you care for me when you're off cavorting with others."

Potter stared at him, his brow furrowed. "Have you been drinking?"

Tightening his grip on Potter's arm, Severus growled, "You don't even deny the charge?"

"It's ludicrous!" Potter pushed off the wall, twisting his arm to try to pull it out of Severus's grasp. The brat was trying to pretend he'd not done anything wrong!

His heart pounding in his ears, Severus grabbed at Potter's neck and they fell, landing in a tangle of limbs. Severus rolled on top of Potter, grabbing his shoulders and pinning him face down on the carpet. Potter jerked his hips up, knocking Severus off. On his hands and knees, he scrambled away. Severus lunged forward and tackled him, knocking him flat.

Making another grab for Potter's neck, he missed and instead, came away clutching a handful of robes. Potter slithered out of them, leaving Severus holding cloth but nothing more.

Rising up on his knees, Potter gasped, his eyes wide. "What're you-?"

Severus charged at him, casting spells to one side of Potter, forcing him to dodge into Severus's path.

"Accio wand!" Potter called, his hand stretched towards his discarded robes. It caught in the mess of cloth and Severus grabbed it, shoving it in his robes. Idiot.

"Sev-"

"Quiet."

Potter blinked at him, his eyes wide behind his crooked glasses. His cheeks were pink, flushed with alcohol.

Severus stood and ordered, "Take off your clothes."

His hand darting as if catching a Snitch, Potter's hand shot down to yank the laces open on his dress shoes. Unable to contain his own hurry, Severus marched over, bent down, and tore at Potter's shirt.

"Wait- wait-" gasped Potter.

Severus ignored him, slicing through Potter's belt with a cutting spell and yanking off his trousers and boxers, even though Potter hadn't finished with his shoes.

"Oh god." Potter's fingers fumbled with his shoes, one hand shooting up to grab onto Severus's hair. He yanked Severus down, pressing his soft, warm lips against Severus's.

Severus bit him. Potter made a noise, tugging so hard on the hair he had captured, Severus thought he might pull it from his scalp. Growling his displeasure, Severus lapped up the salty, sweet taste of Potter. Blood mixed with sweat, it tasted better than it smelt and he plunged his tongue deeper into the lax mouth beneath him.

Potter made a noise of hunger, his incandescent eyes latched onto Severus's. His hand disappeared from Severus's hair and joined the other pushing at Severus's robes, scrambling over his buttons.

Severus grabbed the searching hands and pinned them to the floor. Pulling back to get a better view of Potter's face, he kneed his way between Potter's legs and rocked his lower body against Potter's hard cock. Pink seared the boy's cheeks and he gasped, his head flopping back. "Oh yes!"

He would fuck him. He would prove to the slut that he owned him. Potter was his, and his alone.

"I'll fuck you," he growled, grinding his growing erection down against Potter.

"Oh yes! Yes! Fuck me!" Potter's knees shot up, rising towards his chest, his bare feet high in the air. "Fuck me!"

Bending down, Severus nipped at his lips before tasting his collarbone. "That's what you want, isn't it?" he asked, biting at the juncture of Potter's shoulder and neck.

Potter hissed then begged, "Please! Please-"

Severus tightened his grasp on Potter's wrists. "You whore."

"No." Potter stilled. "Don't call me-"

"I'll call you whatever I want." He bit harder.

"Ow!" Potter's body jerked. "Stop it!"

Severus kissed the skin softly. Potter moaned, his body melting along with his resistance.

Lifting a hand and his hips, Severus trailed his fingers down Potter's neck. His fingers slid through the diamond of dark hair on Harry's chest, journeyed over his well-defined abdomen, dipped into his belly button, and finally closed around Potter's hard, dripping cock.

"Oh!" gasped Potter, jolting as if he had been struck by a spell.

"Tell me what you want," Severus ordered, squeezing hard on the red, swollen bit of flesh.

Potter licked his lips, his eyes never leaving Severus's. "I want you to fuck me," he said, his lips curling up in an almost-snarl. "I want your huge cock deep in my arse."

Severus's own hardened prick twitched at those words. He wanted it too.

Potter's hips rose up, his cock sliding in and out of Severus's hand. "I want you to fuck me hard. I don't want to be able to think about anything but your cock filling my arse. I want you." Potter stared up at him, the brilliant green of his eyes almost eclipsed by the size of his lust-filled pupils.

His. Potter was his to possess and control—to do anything he wanted to. He had never wanted anyone this much. With Lily there hadn't been this need to devour and dominate, to have the object of his obsession only and entirely for himself. He'd been furious when she married Potter, but he would never have punished her for it. But this was different. Harry was his. It was not unreasonable to expect—no, demand—fidelity.

Potter should have refused Scott. He should have insisted that Severus was, and always would be, more than enough for him.

"Fuck me," moaned Potter, his back arching, his fingers curling in Severus's hair. "Fuck me!"

He couldn't resist, not any longer. He released Potter's other hand and sat back, his fingers flying over the buttons of his trousers. Potter shot to his knees and hurried to help free Severus's cock from its confines. He bent forward, his warm hand closing around Severus's dick. In a matter of seconds, he had Severus's whole length stuffed down his throat, greedy slurping sounds emerging as he bobbed his head.

Fuck! Potter's mouth was amazing! Grabbing a fistful of dark hair, Severus thrust his hips, fucking that red mouth and shoving his prick as far down the boy's throat as he could. Potter made choking noises. He grabbed Severus's thighs and tried to push away, but Severus tightened his grip and forced Potter's mouth hard up against his groin, determined to finish off deep in his throat. "Suck it!"

A Stinging Hex struck the hand holding Harry's head in place and he released the hair with a hiss. Potter crab-walked backward until he was out of arm's reach, his eyes glaring. He wiped his mouth on his hand and announced, "I won't have sex with you if you don't stop hurting me." He stood, tall and straight, his shoulders back. "Knock it off."

He would not be spoken to like that! Not by Potter. Severus glared at him. "You'll do what I tell you to do."

Potter shook, his jaw and hands clenching. He stared at Severus for a moment, his face tight, then spat out, "Fuck you, arsehole! I'm leaving," and marched towards the doors.

Severus slammed the doors shut with one spell, sealing them with another. He advanced on Potter, his wand out and ready should the boy attempt to escape.

"Accio wand!" screamed Potter, his arm out-stretched towards Severus's outer robes. His wand couldn't penetrate through the magical barriers Severus had placed on the fabric.

"You're mine." Severus grabbed his arm, ignoring the Stinging Hex Potter cast on his hand. With his other hand, he tried to grab his neck, but Potter jerked out of the way, Severus's fingers scratching at the skin at the nape of the boy's neck.

"Ah!" Potter shivered, his eyes glazing over.

Severus did it again, growling, "You belong to me."

The boy didn't attempt to fight him—he pressed his neck into Severus's hands, his eyes closing.

Another scratch at the back of the neck and he was as docile as a house-elf. Severus dragged Potter over to the sofa and shoved him back against the cushions.

"Stop it!" Kicking out his legs, Potter's feet hit Severus's abdomen, almost knocking the wind out of him and nearly tumbling him headfirst into a table. Fuck! The little shit could kick hard. Severus stormed forward. Potter swung and struck Severus's Shield Charm. Severus pulled it down long enough to cast Immobulus, but Potter somehow managed to jump up on the cushions, punching again, his fist finding Severus's jaw.

Stumbling back, Severus swore and raised a hand to his chin. He'd never been hit so hard in his life. He gingerly felt for a broken bone, but everything seemed to be intact even though the pain turned his vision red and he could barely see. He would kill the brat!

"Are you all right?" The blurriness that was Potter moved closer. "Would you like a healing potion? I'm sorry.... I didn't mean to hurt you."

He would not admit his pain to the arrogant slut. "How dare you!" He marched over to Potter, grabbed him by the arm, and shoved him lengthwise, face first into the cushions, pushing his face into the armrest before he released him. Potter pushed himself up on his elbows and Severus grabbed the back of his neck. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stay down."

Potter didn't attempt to move, his back stiff. He said, "I won't fight you anymore."

Just as Severus suspected, he'd been playing hard to get. Knocking one of Potter's knees off the sofa, Severus climbed between his spread legs and grabbed his arse, hauling it up. Potter tucked his head down. He wanted it.

Reaching into his robes, Severus grabbed a vial of burn salve, the only potion he had at hand that could be used as lubrication, and popped off the cork. He poured it down Potter's crack, the oil dripping off his balls. A splash on the tip of his cock was just what he needed. One- two- three strokes of his cock and he was hard enough to penetrate, his desire overwhelming the pain radiating from his cheek. Maneuvering his cock to press his glans up against Potter's pucker, he held the boy in place with his other hand.

Pushing forward, he pulled back on Potter's hip, determined to break through the tight band of flesh. It resisted his entry, clamping down even further if that was possible. Potter hissed at the pressure. Severus almost expected Parseltongue to emerge, but it never came. He Summoned the bottle back to himself and poured more lube over his cock to avoid splitting his foreskin. Repositioning himself, he lined his cock up against the soft pucker. Severus pressed his hips firmly forward, his cock head trying to pierce through the opening, but Potter's body still resisted him. With a growl, Severus gripped Potter's hips with both hands, and fiercely yanked him back. Finally, like a cork released from a wine bottle, his glans popped through the impossibly small ring of muscle. Potter pressed his head against the cushion and a small sound escaped his throat. The sweat on his shoulders gleamed, catching in the candlelight.

Slowly, savouring every delicious moment, Severus rocked his hips, watching his cock disappear ever further as he buried himself deeper into Potter's heat. The warmth from Potter's body surged through his own, leaving him lightheaded and his toes tingling. Deeper and deeper he drove himself, the slide becoming easier with each forward push. Merlin, the boy was tight, tighter than he'd ever gripped himself with his hand in self-pleasure.

Potter said not a word. His breath came in huge ragged gulps of air, and the leg on the floor shook as if supporting his weight took every bit of effort. Grabbing onto his waist, Severus plunged in with extra force, his balls snapping against Potter's.

"Ah!" Potter's hips pulled away.

Holding the boy still, Severus bent over him, his hair sliding over Potter's shoulders. He pounded into him, rocking them both forward. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

Potter moaned with each thrust smacking hard against his arse. "No. Not ... like this."

After such pliant submission, the slag still wanted to pretend that he didn't want Severus, even though he had begged for it a hundred times before. "Don't lie to me, Potter. You begged me for this, you cockslut." He grabbed Potter's hair, yanking his head back and making Potter's mouth drop open. "You wanted this."

Potter whispered, "I hate you."

He always lied. If he really hated it, he would stop it. He was strong enough—both physically and magically—to end the sex if he wanted. Scoffing, Severus released his hair and shoved Potter's head forward. The stupid whore didn't know what he wanted! Severus fucked him roughly. "No, you don't," he sneered, emphasizing his point with a particularly forceful snap of his hips. "You wouldn't let me do this to you if you did."

"I didn't—A- Ah!— you'd- actually-" His fingers tightened in the cushions. In a louder voice he said, "I hate you."

It made no sense, but Potter never did. Focusing on his own pleasure, he fucked Potter harder and concentrated on the firm clench of the boy's body around his cock, and the smooth, gripping slide in and out of his hot channel. Harder and deeper he plunged, shifting position, trying to drive into Potter to elicit the most sounds from his throat—whether from pain or pleasure he didn't care.

Merlin, the boy was far too tight and hot for him to hold out for long. He increased the speed of his thrusts, his body tense and pressed hard against Potter's. Each inhale of the heady scent that seemed to radiate with the boy's heat drove him closer and closer to the edge. The taut grasp of the boy's arse, the slide of his cock taking Potter, owning him, it became all too much. The pressure that had been gathering into a heated ball in his groin coalesced into one tension-filled force demanding to be released.

Biting down on Potter's shoulder hard enough to draw blood, Severus came with a grunt. His body convulsed against Potter's, his hips driving forward even more roughly to bury his cock deeper to plant his seed, claiming Potter as his, and his alone. Potter shuddered under him, but said nothing.

After he was spent, Severus pushed himself off Potter and pulled out.

As soon as Severus had left his back, Potter curled his legs under his body, scooting towards the armrest of the sofa.

Running a hand down the tightly muscled back, Severus curled his other hand around Potter's upper arm and tugged. Ripping his arm out of Severus's grasp, Potter spat, "Don't touch me."

Severus released him. "You've not finished."

"I'm fine," said Potter, his head still turned away. "Give me my wand and leave."

"Potter...."

"What?" Potter whirled around, his eyes partially hidden behind the glare on his glasses. Severus shifted to get a better view of the boy's eyes, but he wasn't crying—to the contrary—the green was dull and flat.

"Have you need of a healing potion?"

Potter scoffed. "You can't heal this." He held out his hand. "Accio clothes!" The bundle of clothing left on the floor jumped to his hand.

"Nonsense. I am a Potions Master." Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a healing potion, along with the wand. "If you drink this-"

Potter shot out a hand, snatching both wand and potion. "You don't get it." He tore off the lid and quaffed down half the bottle. "You can't heal everything with potions." Replacing the lid, he tossed the bottle to the side. Pulling out his shirt from the bundle of clothing in his lap, he slipped it on. "You were right."

"About what?" asked Severus, watching as the bite mark on Potter's lower lip faded until it was a shadow of what it had been.

"You aren't him." Potter pulled on his trousers, wincing as he stood and buttoned them. "If my Severus saw how you just treated me...." Gathering up the rest of his clothing, he straightened his back, stared Severus in the eyes and said, "...he'd kill you."

"You can't expect things to be as they were," Severus said in a quiet voice.

"I don't." Potter hugged his clothing tight to his chest, his lips pinched. "I always knew you had it in you to be a heartless, sadistic bastard. But ever since our first duel back at Hogwarts, you've always been careful not to hurt me. You've never hurt me just for the fun of it. Not once. Not ever."

Severus inhaled sharply at the accusation. Potter was right. He had no excuse for what he had just done to the boy. How could he explain the Scott situation to him without looking mad? There was nothing he could say.

Shaking his head, Potter said, "When you're ready to grow up and stop bullying me, let me know." He left the room, unsealing the doors with a swift, simple spell, and slamming them shut behind him.

Severus dropped into a chair. He couldn't summon the ire for Potter's insults because they were justified. He had always thought himself better than his father, better than the Marauders, but he had picked on Potter for no reason other than because, in some way, it had given him pleasure. He had mistaken the boy's patience and caring for weakness, and had punished the very person who would have been his greatest ally for no other reason than because he could. In the cold light of hindsight, his anger over Scott made no sense at all.

Gazing around the empty room, he ran through the events of the night, reviewing his actions in the hope of finding any justification for what he had done. As he watched in his mind's eye Potter drinking the healing potion, a thought occurred to him that shot him straight to his feet. Potter had a large collection of sleeping potions, including Dreamless Sleep. In combination with the healing potion he had just taken, it could leave Potter out cold for over twelve hours. Although tomorrow was Sunday, and it was unlikely Potter would be called into work, Sunday would be the day when Potter went on his bi-monthly Diagon Alley trip to pick up the potion supplies that couldn't be ordered by post.

He needed to warn him.

Severus hurried to Potter's room. He knew his presence wouldn't be well-received after what had happened, but he had to speak to him. Knocking, he said, "I need to talk to you about your medication."

No answer.

Knocking louder, Severus used a Sonorus to penetrate through the door. "I need to talk to you. You should only take certain sleeping potions!"

No answer.

Frustrated, Severus pushed open the door. Not a single magical or Muggle barrier prevented him from entering the room. The room was dark, the bed made. There was no sign of Potter. The bathroom proved equally empty, and all of the toiletries were in place and dry, as if Potter hadn't yet entered the room.

"Kreacher!"

The house-elf appeared. He crossed his arms and glared at Severus.

Severus suspected he already knew the answer, but he had to ask, "Where is Potter?"

"Master Harry left the grounds a few minutes ago." The house-elf stood tall, a self-satisfied smile on his face.

"Where did he go?"

Kreacher grinned. "If Master Harry wanted the bat to know his location, he would have told the bat."

He would never learn anything useful from the house-elf. There was nowhere he could go to find Potter. He couldn't very well show up at the Granger-Weasley house in search of Potter, and he doubted the boy would ever flee to the Malfoys'—no matter how friendly they appeared in public. He couldn't get to Potter, but there was another way to warn him.

"Harry's taken a healing potion that might interact with one of his sleeping potions and cause him to sleep for more hours than usual. He needs a potion without an Alouatta hair base." Severus rummaged through his robes, but he hadn't one on him. "If he needs one of those, there are several in the lab."

Kreacher's grin had faded during the course of Severus's speech. "I'll tell Master Harry." With a loud crack, he Apparated away.

Severus returned to his room. He had no choice but to wait for Potter to return.


Response to Reviews:

KillingProphet - Severus does notice how Harry gets upset when he calls him a 'whore' and such, he just doesn't care.

okoko - The meaning of 'mon renard' will be explained in a later chapter. It's French for 'my fox'.

mrequecky - Severus found Harry's breaking point and pushed him beyond it! We'll see what happens from here.