Bodyguarding

\"Well, well, well, Potter! I hope you enjoy your new status. Who would have thought you could become even more popular!\"

The corridors were gogglinng and pointing at them as usual, though the murmurs were mostly those of admiration. But Snape could turn neither the blind ear to the hissing nor blind eye to the smirk. People did not dare to laugh at him openly. Not yet.

\"But if it goes that way it will not take a long while to come to this\" he thought.

The only thing that could make up for this humiliation was making Harry as miserable as possible but it became harder as the boy seemed to get pretty amused with the situation and treated it all as a game. And Snape himself sometimes could be noticed chuckling over some thing Harry said or did.

\"One can find him funny when forgetting that it\'s... Potter\".

\"Yes, professor?\"

Snape didn\'t notice that he pronounced his name out loud.

\"Er... hurry up, you don\'t want me to be late for my own class, do you? If you think that I want to spend more time alone with you you are clearly mistaken. I do not enjoy a single moment of it (liar)\"

\"No problems, sir\" Harry grinned and quickened his pace.

\"He does find it amusing! well why shouldn\'t he? he is being adored more than always and it\'s not him who has to face the whole Hogwarts smiling in the most polite and unpleasant way. I have never thought that I could hate someone that much (except for this Potter boy here of course) but now I do find him almost bearable comparing to the rest of them. At least he knows the truth and is not spreading stupid rumours or lies about it. And who can do the latter better than Slytherins? who could have imagined me being disgusted with my own house!\" he looked at Harry smiling next to him \"he is so like and unlike his father sometimes.\"

Snape got used to talking to himself finding his way through the passages. Only this could help him restrain from taking out his wand and crash everyone and everything. He had to keep himself calm and distracted and you wouldn\'t expect him talking to Harry would you?

*

\"I haven\'t seen such a sweet couple in my whole life! He is probably too jealous to let his mate wandering around Hogwarts alone. Potter is too popular for that. Snape\'s nose is even more crooked that it ever was when he is following Potter hawklike down the corridors. I am sure he\'ll kill you if you dare to come close to his precious Harry!\"

He did not at once notice that Lavender\'s smirk faded.

\"Malfoy, has anyone ever told you that spreading rumours might cause you terrible injuries sometimes?\"

\"Professor, I just meant that...\" there was no sarcasm left in Draco\'s voice when he turned to find Snape stooping over him his lip menacingly twisted.

\"I think that lack of detentions played its role in your spoiling, but luckily we still have time to fix that don\'t we? a month worth will probably allow you to catch up with the rest?\"

\"Professor Snape I just...\"

\"Silence! I do hope that I am making myself clear to you Malfoy. You may all sit, the show\'s over\".

*

\"Eh, professor?\"

\"Yes, Potter?\"

\"May I sit with Malfoy sir? I think that I need some aid with this potion today and I am sure that Draco with his extraordinary talent will lend me a helping hand\"

\"If you say so, Potter (I wonder what the hell he is doing?)\"

Snape pretended not to see them at all but as it was nagging him what Potter was up to he shot glances at them that where enough to notice Harry slipping something from under his robes to Malfoy\'s cauldron. And though his movements were well-spotted by Draco he had no time for any objections because his cauldron starting spewing its content on Malfoy with a terrible hiss. Harry perfectly calm raised his hand:

\"I think we have a problem here, professor.\"

\"Did you see it sir? he did it intentionally, he dropped something in it I swear\".

Harry looking at Snape felt his heart sink as the teacher stood in front of them showing no sign of emotions. \"I am gonna receive detention too, thought Harry, though what difference does it make if I spend almost all my time with him anyway? One more evening doesn\'t change anything. I just hoped he would enjoy it. He has enough on his plate without having to hear Draco\'s insinuation.\"

\"All I can see, Malfoy, is that you somehow managed to spoil a what seemed a perfect potion at first. Is that Potter here hampering you from concentrating? I never knew that his close presence influences you that badly. Who would have thought that a Malfoy can be so... sentimental! Zero points for that one as you can guess. Hope by the next time you will have sorted out your personal problems to be able to concentrate on your studies only.\"

Harry had to duck pretending he had dropped his things all over the floor. He couldn\'t stand it anymore with all the classroom rushing to leave chuckling. He rose to his feet just in time to see Malfoy\'s anger-twisted face as he was leaving the classroom last. Snape ready to go wore the same blank expression but Harry could swear that there were traces of satisfaction visible on it.

*

Harry scrambled through the portrait hole to find Hermione and Ron waiting for him.

\"Tired?\"

\"Of course he is, Mione! all those idiots chasing him for autographs and this git at his heels always. Why couldn\'t Dumbledore put somebody else to your protection? you walking around with that bastard who will not be too unhappy to have you killed or tortured...\"

\"Ron, don\'t you think the headmaster knows what he does? He trusts Snape and I am sure there\'s no one who can protect me better exept for Lupin maybe. And you know he is busy. If Dumbledore thinks that Snape has to follow me everywhere I go than it has to be done. And stop calling him a bastard, Ron. He does try to keep me safe.\"

\"So should I start loving him for that? and saying thank you every time he leaves you on your own in front of Gryffindor common room?? strange it is that he was not told to see you off to your bed! that would probably amuse him!\"

\"Why is that?\"

\"Don\'t you see Harry the way he looks at you? and he acts strangely lately not taking points from you and everything. Did you notice how many points Slytherins lose now in Potions? Didn\'t you see Snape actually smiling at you???\"

\"Ron! would you not stop? Yes, he is not taking points from me anymore because I do note hie him a reason. Yes, he hates students from his own house more than anybody else now for spreading the nastiest gossips. And yes he is smiling because it is fun with him sometimes!!\" Harry put so much effort to keep calm that he didn\'t see Ron\'s face lengthening.

\"You do not like him, Harry, do you? That is Snape, remember? the slimy greasy-haired git, bloody bastard, who gave you the hardest time ever!!!\"

\"DON\'T CALL HIM THAT IN FRONT OF ME!!!!! HE NEVER SAYS A WORD ABOUT YOU!! AND HE IS MY ONLY PROTECTION WITH DUMBLEDORE GONE!!!\"

Harry stormed out of the Gryffindor tower not giving a damn about the whole common room staring after him in the dead silence. He was running down the corridors, clutching his books tightly to his chest, his heart thumping, not really sure why he got so mad in the first place.

\"What does Ron thinks he knows about this? yes that\'s Snape we are talking about, and yes we hated each oher for five years but still with him I don\'t have to be afraid of turning round every corner worrying that someone or something might attack me. Yes I would prefer Sirius being here but there is nothing I can do to get him back!!! and Snape is not all that bad. He is sarcastic and cold but that can be pretty much fun once you are used to it. At least it is never boring with him around.\"

Arguing like this he was about to come up with the thought that Snape wash moh more fun than Hermione and Ron lately but did not manage it as he reached the place he unconsiously had been heading to.

\"I wonder what he will say. I hope he allows me to stay until they are all asleep in the tower.\"

Harry opened the doors of the Potions classroom to find Snape sitting at his table his head in his hands.

\"He must be really tired of all this. After all, he hated me even since before I came here. Father, I wonder what you would say if you saw who I spend all my time with. And not too unwillingly.\"

\"Professor, may I?\"

\"Harry? what are you doing here? you are not supposed to walk through Hogwarts on your own!! do you realise how dangerous it may be? Harry why don\'t you ever listen to what other people tell you to do. Do you really think you are smarter oth others?\"

\"No I don\'t professor Snape, but the trip was definitely worth it. Hearing you call me \"Harry\" is good for a change.\"

Snape\'s face grew even paler. Anxiety wiped off his face at once.

\"I will see you off to the tower, Potter\"in a voice so cold Harry thought he might have been imagining things. Of course he was, why would Snape call him by his name anyway if he hates the only sound of it.

\"Professor if you don\'t mind I would like to sit here and do my homework. I cannot concetrate in the common room, they do not leave me alone, staring and giggling and... you know.\"

Harry knew only too well what Snape had to face in Hogwarts these days and he was sure that reminding him of their similar problem would make him agree to tolerate Harry for couple more hours.

\"All right, you can sit here but just do not hamper me, I am busy.\"

With that he left for his cabinet and a minute later came out with a very rusty book. He sat down and seemed to plunge deeply into reading.

Harry sat at the farthest desk, opened his Potions notes and concentrated on his homework. However he soon found it disturbingly difficult without Hermione to recall all the ingridients he needed and kept on confusing properties of essenced rod roots.

\"Professor would you remind me how many lavender flowers I need for a Dreaming Potion?\"

\"Potter, didn\'t I ask you to give me some peace?\"

\"I am sorry but it\'s not in our notes and I don\'t think I remember properly what...\"

He was disturbed by a sound of doors open. Malfoy rushed in not seeing Harry in the corner.

\"Malfoy, so nice to see you finally make it to your detention.\"

\"Sir, I wanted to ask you if you could just change your mind on that subject? I am sure my father will be mostly...\"

The sound of Harry\'s voice echoed in the classroom made Draco jump. \"It would be interesting to hear what your father has to say but I doubt your detention is his primary concern now Draco. (He did lose most of his self confidence with Lucius Malfoy in Azkaban)\"

\"Potter I didn\'t know that you are taking private ons ons here. It is none of your business what concerns my father and what not ... or do you plan to join my family? you definitely need one but don\'t count on us. No thank you.\"

\"I think Malfoy, that the school owlery needs some cleaning. What do you think Harry?\"

\"I think professor that his wand will definitely stay in his way, sir. Who are we to make it harder for a Malfoy to work. He may leave it here and we will make sure it is safe.\"

\"Did you hear Malfoy? leave your wand on the table and off you go. NOW!\"

As the door slammed after him Harry turned to Snape grinning.

\"You do look a lot like your father Harry...er, now back to work.\"

He didn\'t not see Harry\'s perplexed face and was unaware of his own expression becoming distant and dreamy. His school memories were not the better for James and who could have thought he would end up liking his son. \"I just bear him because I have no other choice\" he thought knowing what an unconvincing lie it was.

\"Er, professor, I still wonder if you could help me with my work?\" and seeing Snape hesitating Harry added \"or I of course can go to the library or back to the common room. I am sure Hermione will gladly help me (please don\'t let me go back)\"

The easiest way was to let Harry go but Snape didn\'t feel like doing it yet. This unexpected appearance of his here in the dungeons was very pleasant and darting short glances at Harry messing his hair deep in thought was the top of all.

\"Fine\" he said snapping his book shut. \"I hope you are not too stupid Potter and I won\'t have to spend all night here with you (as if I mind it though)\"

\"As if I mind\" thought Harry collecting his books and collapsing into a chair next to Snape.

\"will you be so kind and call me Harry sir? This \"Potter \" habit of yours makes me feel I am in class and that doesn\'t work good for me.\"

Snape stared at him for a moment but said nothing. \"I wish he sat a little bit farther from me... or closer .. or... whatever, I don\'t know!\"

*

The potions master turned out to be quite a good teacher for Harry managed to understand all about the potion in quite a while even though busy with other thoughts of his own. And Snape did not notice that Harry\'s face became keener on his teacher\'s face than on his notes. Snape was too deep in thoughts and Harry\'s widening grin sent them flow even quicker making him forget that he had a subject to explain. Harry\'s smile, and hair and glasses made him so similar to his father and yet there was something a lot maturer in him than Snape had ever seen in James. He had no cruelty or arrogance even at such a young age while James was...

\"You fancied him didn\'t you?\"

\"What?\"

\"You fancied my father Severus, didn\'t you? But he never thought you good enough to even come close.\"

Snape was able to restain himself from exploding though color seemed to fade even from his eyes and hair. (\"I am not supposed to be angry, I have to react calmly\")

\"I wonder Potter what made that ridiculous idea come to your mind? You probably shouldn\'t study that hard, your brain doesn\'t seem to handle so much information.That is too new for it\"

\"So I am Potter again, arent\' I? and for the last fifteen minutes I really enjoyed being called Harry... and James sometimes.\"

(\"don\'t tell me I called you that!..there is no way he could know...there is no one who could have... even Sirius didn\'t...\").

\"Did you ever dare to talk to him about this or you thought that loathing him was enough to hide it?\"

(\"he can\'t prove it, he... if I just tell him that he is wrong... if I just could lie to him straight into his gorgeous eyes...\")

\"He was not necessarily that bad, he might have understood you if you...\"

\"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO MAKE PRESUMPTIONS ABOUT MY FEELINGS?? I WONDER SINCE WHEN POTTERS BECAME SO CLEVER? WAS IT THAT VOLDEMORT TAUGHT YOU SOMETHING??\"

Harry\'s cheeks looked as if someone had slapped his face twice and he clenched his fists but was too stubborn to leave it as it is.

\"I don\'t see why you are yelling at me. Since when asking questions is prohibbited on Hogwarts territory?\"

\"SINCE ARROGANT AND SELF-CONFIDENT FOOLS LIKE YOUR FATHER AND YOURSELF STARTED SHOWING THEIR NOSES IN EVERY CORNER OF IT TRYING TO FIND OUT THINGS THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW AT ALL!!! WHY DON\'T YOU FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO SHOW OFF?\"

\"WHY DON\'T YOU CONFESS THAT INSULTING MY FATHER IS THE ONLY WAY TO HIDE FROM EVERYONE INCLUDING YOURSELF THAT YOU LOVED HIM?\"

Snape gulped for air but couldn\'t say a word. They stood in front of each other with wands in their hands and for the first time in his life Snape seeing hatred in Harry\'s eyes thought he understood why Harry could stand up to Voldemort. \"He will fight me no matter how much stronger I am and will not admit defeat\". And then suddenly lightings glittering in his eyes faded and to Snape\'s utmost surprise Harry threw his wand on the table.

\"That was not me who rejected you Severus, so why don\'t you stop passing your judgements on me. I am not my father, I would never have done it to you.\"

They were full of surprises for each other. Harry at the least expected Snape to burst out with laughter.

\"Do you want to say Harry that you would have actually dated me if you were on his place?\"

\"I am on my place and I don\'t see a reason not too date you. Well if not the fact that you have always made my every minute here impossible but for the last couple of weeks.\"

Harry now wished he had never said anything like that because that seemed to finish Snape off. With his clenched fists raised and face twisted maliciously he was advancing on Harry. Harry knew at once that the first blow would be in his face and so he stepped backwards and took off his glasses (\"I do hope I don\'t have a nosebleed but I won\'t fight him\") and with that he raised his eyes on the potions master.

Snape expected anything but this. His fist froze in mid-air and he seemed to forget that this boy here had just revived all the pain inside of him, digging out his deepest and half-forgotten emotions.

He still had to do something with his anger and his eyes conveniently lay on Harry\'s glasses. They were doomed - smashed between the table and Snape\'s fist that momentarily was covered with blood.

\"They were my only pair Severus.\"

\"Don\'t-ever-dare-to-talk-to-me-like-that-again!!!\"

He grabbed Harry on the shoulders and shook him hard and then his arms slipped and locked Harry in a grip.

Harry\'s emerald eyes were too close and too intent not to kiss him.

*

Harry leant back to take a deep breath feeling dizzy not sure if that\'s because Snape was so persistant or such a magnificent kisser.

\"I am not my father Severus.\"

\"I heard that so many times today Harry that I think I will not forget now.\"

\"I mean I don\'t want all this to take place just because I remind you of him. I am not James.\"

\"And believe me I am truly blessed you are not!\"

*

\"I wonder how Malfoy is doing up in the owlery?\"

\"And I wonder how come you are thinking of him now Harry?\"

\"See Severus your robes are a bit tricky, I can\'t find my way through them, so I get a bit distracted\" giggles \"but don\'t worry I am quick-learning\"

*

\"Tell me, Sev, what dreams do you have?\"

\"They are unspeakable.\"

\"Then show me.\"

*

\"I hope you will not make me clean this up.\"

\"Malfoy still has a month of detention. Turns out very handy don\'t you think?\"

\"He will have unobjectionable prooves for the rumours then.\"

\"Who on earth cares? the most important thing is that I will be able to keep an extremely close guard on you now.\"

\"Can you make it still closer?\"

\"Do you want to?\"
\"You are my bodyguarder or what? don\'t you think you ask too much questions??\"

A/N: Guys, I\'m so, so new in this. So please, please, pleaaase will you not write your reviews? Even if a couple of words. I just want to know if I\'m not thinking too much of myself as to continue writing fics.