The Truth That Lies Beneath

”The Truth That Lies Beneath”

Co-Written by Sev1970 and Magdelena, aka Thelma and Louise

~*~

Disclaimer: None of this belongs to us...oh how we wish Snape and Harry did, though! Some lady named JK Rowling, and entities called Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, and Warner Brothers, owns everything!!!

This is in response to the TSS Contest # 3 Halloween Challenge # 5: The Halloween Feast is in full swing when all of a sudden the presumed dead Sirius Black shows up. Eventually Harry finds out that it is really someone posing as Sirius, not actually his Godfather. Whether the person is impersonating Sirius for nefarious or good intentions is completely up to you.

Thanks to Nymphy for betaing this for us – you’re awesome!!!

~*~


Severus sensed something was amiss the second he sat down to eat at the Head Table in the Great Hall for the Halloween feast. Albus Dumbledore wasn’t present at dinner, and typically, the aged wizard would already be stuffing his face with the many candy treats that littered the tables. Severus sneered out over the crowd of unruly students, and his eyes sought out Harry Potter. Severus could barely even admit it to himself, but since Black’s death at the end of last term, he had been worried about the young wizard.

Harry had returned to school in September in an even worse state than he had been before he had left for the summer; the angry young boy of the year before being replaced by a sullen, depressed young man.

Severus was so busy surreptitiously observing the Gryffindor, that he was almost unaware when the small, magical mirror in his pocket heated up suddenly. He flinched slightly with surprise, and then slowly withdrew the mirror from his robes only to see the twinkling face of the Headmaster come into view.

“Severus, would you please get Mister Potter and bring him to my office? I’m afraid something of a rather urgent nature has come up, relating to the Order and Harry personally.”

Severus nodded once in reply, and returned the mirror to his pocket, knowing that Albus’ command brooked no room for argument. Therefore, with a sigh of displeasure, he pushed away his untouched plate and stood from the table, his destination, the Gryffindor table.

~*~


Harry looked around dejectedly at his friends and tried to be happy for them, but couldn’t. October 31st had never been a day the Gryffindor looked forward to, especially this year.

In the two months since the Gryffindor had returned to Hogwarts, he had tried being happy and to go about his daily schedule as usual, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t. Harry blamed himself for Sirius’ death, and thought everyone would be better off without him. Hermione and Ron were together, Ginny and Neville were now dating, and even Colin Creevey had a girlfriend, Susan Bones. Harry glanced at them again, and smiled, but he was anything but happy.

Ron and Hermione had tried getting him to ask Oliver Wood, who was the new Quidditch Coach, to go to the Ball with him, but Harry had told them he wasn’t interested in Oliver, and had finally begged the two to leave him alone and mind their own business.

Sensing someone standing behind him, Harry turned around and decided that it must be the We Hate Harry Potter Day, because Snape was standing directly behind him, giving him the coldest stare Harry could ever remember receiving. “What do you want?”

Severus arched his brow, and fixed Harry with an icy glare. \"That will be ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Potter. You will learn to use an appropriate tone and title when addressing me, or continue to suffer the consequences.\"

Before Harry could reply, Severus continued to speak. \"And I am here at the Headmaster\'s behest. He would like me to escort you to his office. Follow me.\"

Severus turned around and in a swish of robes headed towards the door, confident that poor attitude or not, Harry would never openly defy a request to go to the Headmaster\'s office.

I thought you were going to escort me, Snape. Harry stood up, left without saying anything to anyone, and quickened his pace so the greasy git wouldn’t be able to take more points from Gryffindor. Catching up to the scowling man, Harry quickly shoved past him. “You don’t have to escort me, PROFESSOR, I think I can find the Headmaster’s office on my own.”

They were already out in the hallway when Harry brushed past Severus, and immediately, the Potions Master roughly grabbed Harry\'s arm and pulled the Gryffindor around to face him. \"I have had just about enough of your attitude, Potter. Whether you like it or not, I am your professor, and I deserve, as do your other professors, a modicum of respect from you. Perhaps others will coddle you because of your loss, but I refuse to! Your behavior has been inexcusable. You have sulked and sniveled around this castle for months now. Get over it!\" he hissed. \"You aren\'t the first person who lost someone you cared about. Do you honestly think that Black would want to see you this way?\"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. “No, I guess he would be disappointed in me, Professor, but I seem to be disappointing everyone these days, so why not him as well?”

\"You know it\'s funny, Potter. I always thought you were a carbon copy of your father, but I think I was wrong.\" Severus smirked at Harry\'s gob smacked expression. \"In fact, you rather remind me of myself…right before I gave my life over to the Dark Lord.\"

Severus could see his words had an effect on the young man, and so he let down his guard for just a moment to allow Harry to see that he was sincerely worried about him. \"If I have ever taught you anything, let it be to learn from my poor choices.\"

Harry was stunned and a bit taken aback at the words his professor had just uttered. It was now gone, but for a second or two, Harry had seen true concern in the man’s eyes, and on his face, and knew that Snape was genuinely concerned about him. Allowing his frustration to leave him, and allowing the other man to see his true feelings, Harry nodded and looked down, before returning his gaze to a once again, stern looking Snape. “Don’t worry, Professor, I don’t want anything to do with that murderer, and I would never disgrace the name of Potter that way. I am just so mad and don’t know what to do.”

Severus sighed and looked resignedly down the hallway, knowing that whatever Albus had awaiting them must be important. \"Mister Potter, I certainly do not have the answer for you, but if you so choose, my dungeons are always open to you.\" Severus glared at Harry pointedly. \"But should there be a repeat of your idiotic attempts to pry in my personal affairs as you did during your remedial potions lessons…\"

“You don’t have to worry about me ever doing that again. I really do feel bad about what I did, and am sorry. If I ever need to talk, maybe I’ll come see you. Merlin knows nothing else seems to be helping.”

Severus nodded his understanding and gestured for Harry to resume walking with him down the hallway. The two walked the rest of the way towards Albus\' office in companionable silence. Severus felt a weight lift off him that he hadn\'t even realized was there when Harry had apologized to him. He resigned himself at last to the fact that the young man standing next to him was NOT James Potter, and never had been.

Severus gave the password as they reached the gargoyle blocking the entrance and the two rode the stairs to the door to the Headmaster\'s office. Severus lifted his hand to knock, but heard Albus\' voice call out for them to enter.

Severus opened the door and was about to speak when his words caught in his throat at the sight before him.

“Sirius?” Harry had not even fully entered the office when he caught site of his Godfather facing him. Harry wanted to believe what he was seeing, but it was too good to be true; this was surely some bad joke. Harry looked pensively at Snape, then at the Headmaster, then finally back at Sirius. “Is it really you?”

“Yeah, Harry; it’s me,” was barely out of the man’s mouth when he was practically tackled by a beaming Harry.

“I’ve missed you Siri. There is so much I need to tell you.”

Severus stared in bewilderment at the sight before him. Immediately his eyes sought out the Headmaster\'s. \"Albus?\" he inquired, his voice low and dangerous.

\"I have already scanned him for the obvious things, Severus, including Polyjuice. I have cast a great many revealing spells over him, and asked him things only Sirius Black would know. I would not have asked Harry here had I felt that this was not, indeed, Sirius Black.\"

Sirius smirked over Harry\'s shoulder at Severus. \"So sorry, Sniv. It\'s really me.\"

Severus leveled Black with a withering glare. \"How?\"

Sirius shrugged. \"Haven\'t a clue. All I know is, I woke up to find myself in the Forbidden Forest not more than an hour ago. I had no idea that time had even passed. The last thing I remember, I was dueling Bellatrix. She hit me with a complicated Dark Arts spell and I remember falling, but that\'s all I remember.\"

Severus turned his wary gaze back towards Albus. \"I would suggest having a few other diagnostics done by Poppy or St. Mungo\'s, perhaps?\"

“There is no need for any further testing, Severus; this is Sirius Black.”

Harry could see the doubt on his Potions professor’s face, and it did cause him to look closer at his Godfather, but looking into the man’s eyes, there was no doubt to him that this was his Godfather. “Don’t worry, Professor, I know it’s him.”

“See, Snape, now Harry would know if I were an imposter, wouldn’t he?” Sirius said, smirking as he looked pointedly at Snape.

Severus narrowed his eyes, still not trusting the sight before him, but as the man present obviously had both Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter’s seals of approval, how could he interfere. He gave a curt nod to the three, turned on his heel, and stalked out of the office.

~*~


Over the next few weeks, Severus noticed that Harry’s attitude and behavior in his class had substantially changed. Harry had not sought him out personally, which had not surprised Severus in the least, especially with the reemergence of his Godfather, but had made a point to be both attentive in and prepared for Severus’ classes; something which, although he would never admit aloud, warmed Severus’ heart.

Harry could often be seen traversing the castle happily, accompanied by a large, shaggy dog. However, there still seemed to be something missing in the young man’s countenance; something about this situation just wasn’t right.

The winter holidays were rapidly approaching, and Severus forced all thoughts of Harry out of his mind for the moment. He sat down at the desk in his classroom with a stack of essays in front of him, cursing himself for his foolishness in assigning so much work this late in the term. He yearned to return to the comfort of his private quarters, but knew that he had to be accessible for any last minute questions his students might have before their end of term examinations. Typically, very few students sought him out personally, but the last thing he needed was Minerva dropping in unexpectedly, and harping on him for being unavailable for the students.

So it was with some degree of shock that he looked up from his grading as he heard the light knock at his door, and saw none other than Harry Potter standing there waiting for permission to enter.

~*~


Harry had been in the library with Ron and Hermione, revising for exams, much too early for his liking, but as Hermione had insisted, he and Ron had grudgingly agreed; actually, Ron had been studying all week, much to his chagrin. Hermione had given Harry a hard time for not studying with them, as he should, and the Gryffindor knew the witch was right to do so. Exams were nearing, and he was ill prepared for them, so he gave in and set his mind to studying.

For the past week, Sirius had been spending a lot of time with Harry, and had even taken him to Hogsmeade, which was strictly against the rules, but the Gryffindor was so relieved to have his Godfather back, that he would have done anything asked of him. Earlier, at lunch, Harry had received a letter asking him to meet Sirius in the Great Hall fifteen minutes before curfew, and because Harry didn’t want to disappoint him, he met him, and things felt funny from the first moment he entered the Great Hall.

Sirius had been hiding behind the door and when Harry walked in, Sirius came out and grabbed him around the waist and spun him around, laughing. Harry had laughed it off but did not think it was very funny; it had scared the shite out of him. Then the two had talked for a few minutes. Harry then told Sirius he needed to hurry or he would be late for curfew, and Sirius had rolled his eyes, but said okay. Then he had hugged Harry, almost smothering him, and Harry had been shocked to feel something poking him in the abdomen. Holy Merlin!

Smiling sheepishly, Harry backed off and then headed for the dungeons. He didn’t know why until he found himself standing outside of Snape’s office, slightly shaking. The door was not shut all the way and he could see Snape working at his desk. He hated to interrupt the man, but remembered him saying he was available if Harry ever needed to talk. Harry knocked softly, hoping he would be heard.

\"Come in, Mister Potter,\" Severus directed, motioning for the young man to come in the room. \"I certainly would not have expected you here this evening. I would have guessed that you would either be revising or spending time with your…\'pet\'.\"

Severus saw Harry stiffen at the perceived insult, and rolling his eyes, lazily grabbed for his wand and with a swish and flick had the door locked and had put up silencing charms. He smirked as Harry jumped when the door slammed shut. \"For once I meant no insult to Black, but I believe it would be unadvisable to refer to him as anything other than a canine companion when others could easily overhear, would you not agree?\"

Harry nodded as he sat in the chair Snape was pointing too. “Yes, you’re right,” Harry stated, voice slightly quivering. He was still quite shaken from his experience in the Great Hall and did not know what to think. Perhaps he had misinterpreted it all and he was imagining things, but what he had felt had definitely not been a misinterpretation. Harry and Sirius had always been close and gotten along wonderfully, but Harry felt immensely uncomfortable with the fact that his Godfather might want something more from him. Harry was hoping he had been wrong and was simply reading too much into this situation; he did love his Godfather, and did not want to lose him again.

Severus could tell that his instincts had been right; obviously, something was still distressing the Gryffindor. \"Mister Potter, why are you here? It\'s quite obvious that something is bothering you,\" Severus snorted in amusement, \"And though I never truly thought you would take me up on my offer, it\'s obvious you came here seeking my counsel.\"

Harry had been looking at his hands and trying to think of what he should say. Should he say anything? It was probably all a mistake anyway, and he certainly did not want to get Sirius in trouble. “It’s nothing, really. I shouldn’t have come down here; I’ll just leave and let you get back to what you were doing.”

Severus leaned forward in his chair and rested his chin in his hands. \"It\'s not nothing if you think it is something. I have learned to grudgingly, accept that you have excellent instincts. You have had them for a very long time. You came here to tell me something, or ask me something, so ask. If I can help you in any way, Mis-,\" Severus sighed resignedly, \"Harry, I promise you that I shall.\"

Harry was frightened to tell; he knew Snape hated his Godfather and would relish getting any negative information regarding the man, but he had to, because he would not feel comfortable being around Sirius now, and needed to tell someone. Perhaps Snape would tell him he was imagining things, but perhaps not. Looking directly into his professor’s eyes, Harry sighed and nodded, before the words spilled out of his mouth much too rapidly for Severus to comprehend what was being said, or so Harry thought. “It’s Sirius. Um, I met him in the Great Hall this evening after I finished studying with Hermione and Ron, and erm, he grabbed me by the waist and twirled me around, like a guy would do to his girlfriend, then he hugged me really tightly and I could feel...I could feel-“ Harry couldn’t say it.

Severus sat, shocked at Harry\'s near admission. He would have to be a bloody fool NOT to know what Harry was referring to, and though a part of him had always looked for something to hold over Black\'s head, Severus knew that Sirius Black would not have made sexual overtones towards his Godson.

Sirius Black had many faults, but it had been obvious to even Severus that the man had been wholly devoted to becoming Harry\'s father figure since his escape from Azkaban. It was at that moment that Severus realized what had been bothering him about Sirius\' behavior. Sirius had looked at him in Albus\' office with an almost lustful gaze, and the real Sirius Black would never…

\"Harry, I\'m going to assume that what you felt was evidence of your Godfather\'s apparent physical attraction to you?\"

Harry nodded in embarrassment.

\"Then we have a very big problem here, because as much as I loathed Sirius Black, I know that he would never betray the oath he took as your Godfather. He would never initiate a sexual relationship with you, nor would he allow you to start one with him.\" Severus nodded towards the door. \"So therefore if what you are telling me is true, I can only deduce that the person you have been spending time with since Halloween is not Sirius Black.\"

Harry knew immediately that what Snape was saying had to be correct, it all made perfect sense, and as much as he had wanted his Godfather alive and with him again, he was relieved that it had not been Sirius. He wanted to be able to remember his Godfather in a sweet and loving way, not in a nervous and awkward one.

Harry stood up quickly, looked at Snape with fear in his eyes, and began speaking rapidly, his voice shaking with emotion. “I think I may have given him information, Professor. Oh Gods, I’m so sorry, I’m sorry. I thought it was Sirius. How could I have known? Oh Merlin, what else did I tell him? Oh, and he hugged me, and then I felt-, and that isn’t my Godfather; he is really dead, then, and is never coming back, is he?” Harry didn’t expect a response; he didn’t even realize he was speaking out loud until he saw his Professor coming around the desk to stand in front of him with concern in his eyes.

Severus didn\'t even stop to think of what he was doing. Instinctively, his hands cradled Harry\'s face, and he met the Gryffindor\'s emerald gaze. \"You have done nothing wrong. He fooled Albus Dumbledore; he fooled everyone, and most importantly, he has no idea that we know he is an imposter.\" Severus sighed deeply. \"And yes, Harry, Sirius Black is really dead, and he is never coming back.\"

Harry nodded, his face still cupped in his professor’s hands. “Yeah, I know. I was so stupid to think it could have actually been him. Hermione even said she thought Sirius had been acting a bit strangely, but of course, I never noticed. I seem to excel in proving your point more and more every day, Professor. I don’t pay attention.”

\"You are asking too much of yourself. You were still in mourning for Black, when a person pretending to be him, the only parental figure you have ever known, reentered your life. You could not be expected to be objective.\"

Severus removed his hands from their position against Harry\'s face and briefly gripped the young man\'s shoulders. \"But for right now I must ask you to reach inside of yourself and find your foolhardy Gryffindor courage. I believe we need to press our advantage while we can, and find out exactly who that is, and what their insidious plan for you was.\"

~*~


Quidditch practice had just ended and Harry was on his way to see the Headmaster, so that he and Snape could tell Dumbledore about the imposter. Fortunately for him, he had not seen his ‘Godfather’ all day; he wasn’t sure how he would react to him now, knowing it wasn’t really Sirius; Harry knew he wasn’t good at acting as if everything were okay. ‘Sirius’ would know something was amiss for sure, if he saw Harry fidgeting around him.

Reaching the top of the stairs, the door opened and Harry walked in, seeing both the Headmaster and Snape looking at him pensively. Snape nodded to the chair next to his, and a nervous Harry sat down, looking apprehensively at the white haired man who nodded solemnly.

“Professor Snape tells me you and he came to a disturbing realization last night, but he wouldn’t tell me what it was until you had arrived. Would you rather tell me yourself or have him tell me, Harry?”

“I think Professor Snape should tell you,” Harry said softly, as he looked at the man sitting next to him. “I don’t really feel like talking right now.”

Severus gently took Harry\'s hand in his own and squeezed it reassuringly, not missing the bright twinkle in the Headmaster\'s eyes when he saw the gesture. Severus rolled his eyes and fixed Albus with a withering gaze. \"Yes, Headmaster, Mister Potter and I have finally decided to make nice, but that is most certainly not the important issue here tonight. The significant issue is that Mister Potter and I have come to a very disturbing realization. The man who came back here claiming to be Sirius Black cannot possibly be him. He has made sexual overtones towards Harry, and though I have always disliked and distrusted Black, I know that he would never initiate nor allow a sexual relationship with his Godson.\"

Albus\' mouth dropped open as he heard Severus\' words, and Severus sighed sadly, wishing that the situation were such that he could have a picture taken of such a rare sight, but unfortunately, this was not the time for such levity.

\"Are you quite sure?\" Albus asked.

Severus again placed his hand over Harry\'s. \"Harry felt uncomfortable enough with Sirius to come to me and report his fears. He felt very physical evidence of the imposter\'s arousal.\"

Albus flushed, and nodded his agreement. He turned towards Harry and smiled sadly. \"Harry, I am so very sorry. I ran every check I could on him. I have no idea how this impersonation is being conducted.\"

Harry looked at the Headmaster, then at Severus. “Whoever it is must be a servant of Vol- The Dark Lord; why else would anyone do this?”

Albus nodded his head as he sighed. “You are probably correct in assuming this has Voldemort written all over it, Harry. I only wish I knew how this person was able to impersonate Sirius. I must be missing something, but what?”

Harry thought for a moment, and then his eyes lit up as he had an idea. “Tonks could change her appearance at will; what if this person can do the same? I know metamorphagi are rare, but that is all I can come up with,” Harry said, shrugging his shoulders. It did sound good, even if it was not the case. Harry couldn’t believe he had actually thought of something that might be of value, even though it probably wouldn’t. Seeing Severus smiling at him, it made him blush because for once, he hadn’t made a total fool of himself in front of the man.

Severus nodded his agreement. \"I can\'t believe it didn\'t occur to me before. Harry, I think you might have caught onto exactly the solution to our little conundrum. There are very few people indeed who have that particular gift, but it has been common over the generations throughout the women of Nymphadora\'s family line.\" Severus raised an eyebrow inquiringly at Harry, wondering if the young man would draw the same assumption he had.

Harry thought for a few moments, then seemed to think of something. Bellatrix would be the obvious person, Harry mused, but surely, she would have immediately found a way to take him to Voldemort. “It could be Bellatrix, but it just doesn’t seem to fit her, Professor, she wouldn’t have the patience to wait this long, I don’t think”

Severus smirked, and nodded his head in agreement. \"That would be a correct assumption, Harry. However, someone else might, someone who has spent their entire life either in the shadow of their sibling, or now their spouse; someone who knows the art of subtlety well enough to pull off this impersonation and someone who would hope that you would have responded to their advances as most hormonal young men would have. Care to hazard another guess?\"

Harry released his breath and looked at Severus. “Ferr-Malfoy’s mother. It has to be. It figures it would be his mother. Is that what you were thinking as well?”

Severus offered Harry a genuine smile. \"Exactly. It would fit quite well with Narcissa\'s personality to have kept a talent like this a secret. Now the only thing we need to do is figure out exactly how to trap her at her own game,\" Severus smiled wickedly, \"And I think I have the perfect idea of how to not only expose her, but to ensure that my tenuous position as spy is not lost in the interim.”

Severus quickly outlined his plan to both Harry and Albus and it wasn\'t long before the three had the details worked out. The only thing they had left to do was to floo in a fourth co-conspirator. Once they had contacted the fourth player in their little script, the only thing left was for the merry group to get set up in Severus\' dungeons, contact ‘Sirius,’ and await his arrival.

~*~


Severus took a sideways glance towards the corner, where Harry was seated under his father\'s invisibility cloak, and offered the young man a curt nod before calling out for the person to enter his office.

Sirius Black strode into Severus\' office, offered a cocky grin, and dropped into the chair in front of Severus\' desk. \"You wanted to see me, Sniv?\"

Severus smirked at the imposter and rose from his chair elegantly, walking around the desk and perching on the edge in front of Sirius. \"Oh yes, I did. But then again, you\'re not quite the Sirius Black I remember, are you?\"

Sirius grinned broadly. \"Aw, Sevvie darling, I\'m not so sure what you could be referring to!\"

Severus leaned forward, dragging Sirius up out of the chair, and pulling him flush against his body. As he received no protest from Sirius for his actions, he reached out to tuck a strand of Sirius\' long hair behind his ear. When Severus\' fingertips touched Sirius\' skin, the imposter’s breath hitched noticeably. \"Well, considering that Sirius Black would have never reacted that way to my touch,\" Severus leaned in and murmured in Sirius\' ear, \"I can only assume that you are instead my dear old playmate Cissa.\"

Harry sat in the corner of the room, and could only hope everything worked out as they had planned. Come on Remus, you need to be here...now! Harry glanced at Severus and watched as the man’s long elegant fingers deftly moved some hair out of the imposter’s face, and immediately felt a pang of jealousy, but did not have time to dwell on it, as Remus strode into the room with a menacing look on his face. Harry watched as the lycanthrope neared ‘Sirius’ and held his breath as Remus practically pried himself in between Severus and the imposter and shoved the man against the desk.

“I should tear you to pieces, you dirty piece of shite. You are not Sirius Black. In case you do not know who I am...I am Remus Lupin, resident Lycanthrope, who remembers scents of everyone he has ever been in contact with, and you are definitely not Sirius Black.”

Harry watched as Severus quietly stepped off to the side, only inches from where he was sitting, while the other two were staring each other down. Harry glanced at the man and tugged on the man\'s robe, indicating for him to sit beside him, which the Potion\'s professor did. Seeing they were busy, he whispered in Severus’ ear. “Thank Merlin. I was so scared something would go wrong and she would find out you were a spy. I don’t think I could have taken it if she had.”

Severus glanced over towards the door to his office and watched as Albus entered flanked by two Aurors. He turned a bit towards where he knew Harry was seated, before covering his mouth with his hand and whispering his reply. \"It was a risk I was willing to take. And just in case you were wondering, I didn\'t do it because of the fact that you will one day save our world and free me from a monster that I foolishly gave my life to before your birth, nor did I do it because of a life debt to your father. I did it because you are worth it, Harry; never doubt that. Do not use this betrayal as a chance to hide behind your mask again. My door will be always open to you; I regret that it was not before.” Without another word, Severus swept back over to the group and left Harry behind to ponder his words.

Harry sat watching the proceedings as they took place, but his thoughts were centered on the man currently standing off to the side. Severus couldn’t help with what was taking place, or appear as if he was in on this; he had to maintain his ties to the Dark Lord, therefore Narcissa had to think he had nothing to do with any of this. Harry watched as Severus gave the man, who was really a woman, a sympathetic look, and cringed. He hated watching his professor acting this part, but knew it was what had to be done.

Within five minutes, the two Aurors, along with Narcissa, Remus and Albus had all gone, leaving only Severus and Harry.. Dumbledore had looked his way and winked as he left, and Harry had not missed the Headmasters nodding towards Severus, then at him, again.

The Gryffindor watched as a pensive looking Severus glared at the door after it had closed, and watched the tired looking man turn around and walk towards him. Harry should have been happy; everything had worked out, and Narcissa had been caught, but there was something not right. Severus looked so lost, and Harry could not understand why; but he wondered if it had anything to do with what the man had said to him only minutes earlier. It had been a bizarre couple of days, for sure. The two of them had somehow formed a very close friendship in that time, and the Gryffindor didn’t understand it, but he thought it might have something to do with the fact that neither he nor his Professor had much else to be happy about in life, and they found in each other, someone who was like himself.

Harry stood up and smiled at Severus, who abruptly turned around and sat down behind his desk, putting his head in his hands. Severus? “Professor Snape? Are you okay?” Receiving nothing in response, the Gryffindor took in a deep breath and walked over to where his professor was sitting, and knelt down beside the chair the man was sitting in. He gently removed the man’s hands from his face and lifted the man’s chin so their eyes met. Harry felt a tear fall down his cheek, but he didn’t care. Nothing else mattered. All that mattered was that he and Snape were here together at this moment. Nothing else about the future or past mattered, only the here and now. Before he could lose his nerve, a now furiously blushing Harry rose up and pressed his lips against Severus’.

Severus stiffened as he felt the soft lips against his own. There were so many reasons he could not allow this to continue. If it were only another time, and another place, he would eagerly throw his arms around the Gryffindor and pull him both into his arms and into his heart. He couldn\'t deny to himself that he was starting to develop very strong feelings for the young man, but Harry? Harry was obviously just acting on impulse, or so Severus thought. There was no way Severus imagined that Harry could ever be attracted to someone such as him. And there were still so many trials that both of them had to face.

So it was with great reluctance that he pushed Harry away. \"This cannot happen. You are my student. I can only be here to support you, nothing more. I will not knowingly allow you to be hurt anymore than you have already been hurt, Harry.\"

Harry quickly pulled himself together as he stepped back a few paces. He had anticipated such a reaction from Snape and refused to show his hurt. No matter what had been said, Harry knew Severus had feelings for him, and if he were patient, maybe one day soon the man would show him exactly what those feelings were. “You could never hurt me, Severus, but I understand about you being my professor. Maybe I should not have kissed you, but it felt right, and I’ll just have to hope that maybe one day you’ll be able to say it feels right for you, as well.”

\"You are sixteen years old, Harry. I want you to feel free to come here and speak to me whenever you wish, but this cannot happen again. The Dark Lord is trying even more inventive ways to get to you. I will not allow myself to be a pawn in his machinations. I cannot be an Achilles\' heel for you.\" Severus snorted, and offered Harry a weak smile. \"And I have just saved your life yet again. In time it will occur to you that you just kissed \'the greasy git\'.\"

Seeing Harry\'s hurt look, Severus hastened to add. \"And if in the future, you choose to revisit this topic again and kiss me again, be very sure this is what you want, because the next time I cannot guarantee you that I will have the strength to push you away.\"

Harry smiled and nodded. “Understood. But you have to understand two things, Sev- Professor Snape, I’ll never think of you as the greasy git, and I am already sure that you are what I want. I can’t make you fall in love with me, or want me, but I do know what I want, and someday I will prove it to you. But for now, I am just Harry and you are just my professor. I won’t put you in a situation that may jeopardize your position here and as The Dark Lord’s spy, but someday, Severus...someday.” Harry squeezed Severus’s hands in his and then left the office without a backwards glance.

~*~


A year and a half later - The day of Harry’s Graduation...


Severus walked slowly back to his quarters. Yet another group of students had graduated Hogwarts. It was officially the start of the summer holidays, and typically a time that Severus relished because he could relax and enjoy two months of solitude. However,, this particular graduation was bittersweet for Severus.

The past two years had been tumultuous ones. Voldemort had become quite active, and finally, after a great deal of training and preparation, Harry Potter had defeated the Dark Lord in a spectacular display of bravery, with his friends and Potions Master standing by his side.

Harry had continued to come down to the dungeons to visit Severus, hidden underneath his cloak before the war had ended, and then openly after Severus\' role had been exposed and Voldemort was no more. The two would talk for hours as the young Gryffindor assisted him with various tasks around his laboratory, or with grading the younger students\' assignments.

They shared stories about their pasts, and their hopes and dreams for their futures. Never once, however, did the kiss they had shared become the topic of conversation. Severus had searched Harry\'s face many times, but had never seen even an inkling that the young man continued to harbor feelings of any romantic nature towards him.

Severus, meanwhile, tightly locked away his own feelings for the young man, satisfied that indeed Harry\'s kiss had been nothing more than an impulsive act on the part of the Gryffindor. The kiss had been sweet, and so filled with promise, but Severus refused to dwell on the slight hope that had briefly risen because he knew he would only be crushed once again, thinking there might be someone in the world who would want him as a partner.

Severus closed his door behind him and strode to his bottom desk drawer and retrieved a bottle.. He poured himself a glass of Firewhiskey, hoping to wash away the sorrow that had descended the moment Harry Potter had crossed the stage and graduated…the moment that Severus knew he would never see Harry Potter again. He drained his first glass and had just refilled his tumbler, when he heard a knock at his door.

~*~


Harry stood nervously before the door he had entered so many times before, and felt as he began shaking uncontrollably. He had gone over what he would say countless times, but that had not helped him, if anything, it had made him more nervous. Over the past two years, he and Severus had established a good friendship, and each felt comfortable with the other, but Harry wasn’t content with their friendship, although if friends were all they could ever be, he would gladly accept that, but he had to try and see if anything more could happen with Severus.

Reaching his hand up tentatively, Harry took in a deep breath and knocked softly, hoping he would be heard. He was nervous, scared, and terrified. What if Severus did not want him? His heart had already been given to the man on the other side of the door, and Harry didn’t think he could take it if the other man did not want to have it.

Harry watched as the door opened and then entered slowly, and his breath caught in his throat as he saw Severus sitting on his desk, looking about as pale as Harry imagined he himself did.

“Hello, Severus.”

Severus\' eyes shot up from his glass, amazed at hearing the shy voice of the young man he had just been brooding about. He had casually flicked his wand to open the door, imagining that either Minerva or Albus had come down to check on him, never thinking that it could possibly be Harry who had knocked.

\"Hello, Harry. Congratulations.\" Severus\' eyes locked on the emerald green orbs before him, captivated by the young man in front of him. He had to shake his head, and break eye contact just to gather his thoughts and continue speaking. \"I must say I\'m rather shocked to find you here. I thought that you would have left on the train with the others already.\"

Harry couldn’t help the hurt look that crept over his face as he looked sadly at the man he wanted so much to love him. “Do you really think I would have left without coming to see you? I could never have done that to you.”

Severus sighed audibly. \"Harry, I didn\'t mean anything negative. I simply assumed that you would be rightfully preoccupied with your friends today. You have your entire future ahead of you. Why ever would you want to linger in these halls for a moment longer than you have to?\"

Harry’s face broke out into a huge smile and he took a few tentative steps towards Severus, who was looking at him with questioning eyes. You can do this, Harry. When he was standing directly in front of Severus, he closed his eyes and then opened them as he took another deep breath. Reaching up with his right hand, which was shaking uncontrollably, Harry ran his fingers down the side of the face which was only inches away from him, and nodded. “You told me to be sure, and I’m sure.” Harry then closed the remaining distance between him and Severus and pressed his lips against those of Severus, which were so soft and inviting. When he felt Severus finally give in to the kiss and encircle him with his arms, the Gryffindor slowly pulled away and cupped Severus’s face in his hands. “I have never wanted anything as much as I want you, Severus. But you’ve got to tell me now if you do not want me forever. As much as I want to feel you and be with you, I can’t do this if it is only a passing thing for you or a one-night stand. I love you, Severus.”

Severus wanted so badly to give in and accept the precious gift that was being offered to him. But he had to make sure that Harry knew what he was getting himself into.

\"Harry, how can you be sure?\" Severus asked, his arms tightening instinctively around the young man in front of him even as he offered him one last chance to leave. \"You haven\'t had a chance to explore the world outside of these walls. How can you be so certain that what you feel is love?\"

Harry nodded as he sat on the desk beside Severus. “You’re absolutely right, Severus, I haven’t experienced the world outside of Hogwarts to see what is out there for me, and I have to be honest, I don’t know what love feels like, or what it is to be in love. But, I do know what it is like for me to be around you and I know how you make me feel. We can call it whatever you like, love or whatever...it doesn’t matter. What I feel for you is so much more than anything I could ever imagine feeling for anyone else, and if there is a more satisfying or fulfilling feeling than the ones I have for you, then...well, to be quite honest, I don’t believe it gets any better than how I already feel for you at this moment. You make me so happy, Severus, and why would I go elsewhere to find that feeling when it is here, before my very eyes?”

\"Why indeed,\" Severus agreed with a smile, as he reached for his wand and muttered several spells in rapid succession to lock and ward the door. He placed his wand on the desk and scooted back a bit, encouraging Harry to turn and straddle his lap on the desk. One hand lightly stroked Harry\'s hip, as the other reached to tangle in Harry\'s messy hair. \"I believe you asked me a question earlier, about whether or not I wanted you forever? The answer is yes. I don\'t ever plan on letting you go again.\"

Severus leaned forward, brushing his lips against Harry\'s, his tongue darting out to swipe across Harry\'s lower lip. As the young Gryffindor gasped, Severus took the opportunity to part Harry\'s lips with his tongue, and to delve into the honeyed recesses of Harry\'s mouth. He tried to pour all of his love and desire into the kiss. He felt Harry\'s arms slide around him, the implicit consent only driving his need further. When he finally broke the kiss, his mouth spread into an easy smile.

\"Slowly but surely I have fallen hopelessly and desperately in love with you, Harry Potter. Will you let me make love to you?\"

Harry leaned in and claimed the swollen lips before him, the two of them once again losing themselves in the other, and when the need for air finally drew the two apart, Harry looked at his soon to be lover with lust filled eyes. “Oh Gods yes, Severus. Please make love to me. And um, while it has been a fantasy of mine for you to take me on your desk, and for you to do unspeakable things to me on there, I want this to be perfect, so perhaps we could go somewhere a bit more comfortable?” Harry had dreamed about him and Severus making love on his desk, either in his office or classroom, it didn’t matter, and it was something he still wanted to do, but that was for another time, when the two wanted to have fun. What was about to happen was too important to Harry, and he knew it was for Severus as well, for them to be uncomfortable.

Harry leaned in, licked his former professor’s ear lobe, took it into his mouth, and began sucking on it. He heard the breathy moans of Severus and let the now thoroughly suckled ear fall from his mouth before whispering seductively, “Perhaps your bed?”

\"We will have the rest of our lives to fulfill any fantasy you have, Harry. I told you that I wasn\'t going to let you go, and I meant it. But for tonight,\" Severus agreed moving his neck to give Harry easier access, \"I think my bed would be an excellent option.\"

He encouraged Harry to wrap his legs around his waist, and placing his hands firmly under Harry\'s arse, lifted the lighter young man almost effortlessly. He proceeded towards the back door of his office, which led to his private chambers. Reaching the door, he stated his password clearly, the door swinging open inwardly. Severus hoped that Harry would understand both the level of trust he was placing in the Gryffindor, as well as the message that the young man would always and forever be considered welcomed in his rooms.

Severus carried Harry through his sitting room, and straight to his bedroom. He lowered Harry gently onto his bed, and leaning over the younger man, nestled his straining erection against Harry\'s hip.

\"I need you to let me know exactly how far you wish to take this tonight. I don\'t want to rush you into anything. Harry, have you ever been with anyone before?\"

Harry looked up in awe at the man he loved, and shook his head as he felt himself blush. “Um, I’ve done a bit of experimenting, but no, I’ve never been with anyone, you’re the first, and the only person I ever intend on being with. I don’t care what we do, Severus. We can just lie here in each other’s arms for all I care. I just want to be near you and to love you and for you to love me, and I don’t want to ever let you go. But if we make love, I never want you to stop once you begin. You’ll not hurt me; you could never hurt me. I’ve waited a year and a half for this, and just lying here, knowing that you feel the same way I do, makes me so happy. I thought you would surely turn me away, but I’m glad you didn’t.” Rolling his eyes as he gazed into the ebony depths of the ones above him, Harry shrugged his shoulders and shook his head smiling. “And um, yes I am babbling, please stop me.”

\"I asked one simple question,\" Severus teased. His face split into a wide grin. \"I have every intention of being the last person who ever touches you again, and I very much so want to be inside of you tonight, but there were many ways we could have made love if you were not comfortable with that. I simply wanted to know your intentions before we got too carried away in the moment. I want you to never have any regrets. As for that mouth of yours…well there is only one way I can think of to shut it.\"

Severus lowered his lips and possessively captured Harry\'s mouth, thrusting his tongue inside, as he grinded his hips against Harry\'s. He pulled Harry up into a sitting position on the bed, and quickly unclasped and removed Harry\'s outer robes. He dropped them to the floor behind him, finally breaking the kiss as he started unbuttoning the line of buttons on Harry\'s white dress shirt. He trailed kisses down Harry\'s jaw and neck, eventually licking and nipping his way down the flesh of Harry\'s chest as each button opened to reveal a greater expanse of golden tanned skin. Finally, he pushed the shirt off Harry\'s shoulders and encouraged him to slide up further in the bed as he removed Harry\'s shoes and socks for him, and tossed them to the floor as well. Severus shrugged off his outer robes, and toed off his boots and socks before climbing in the bed and settling next to Harry.

Harry wasn’t sure what to do, but he wanted closeness, so he crawled into the inviting lap and straddled Severus before leaning in for another kiss. He felt as his soon to be lover traced a line with his fingers down his back and mewled as he felt the man dip into his trousers with his fingers.

“Yesss.” Making himself, Harry ended the kiss, hesitantly lifted his hands, and reached for the top button on Severus’ shirt, as he felt his trousers being unfastened. Harry ceased his movements when he was lifted, and felt a tingle run over his body as his remaining clothes disappeared. As he was lowered back down, he gasped at the site before him and at the almost orgasmic feeling he received upon being set back down and feeling the very erect cock of Severus as it rubbed against his stomach.. Severus had also removed his clothes and Harry was almost speechless. Then he suddenly whimpered loudly as he felt the very hard erection beneath him pressing into his stomach even harder then before. The feel of his skin rubbing up against that of Severus was almost more than Harry could take, but it was pure bliss, and he had a feeling this was only the beginning. Harry began grinding his hips into Severus’ as he once again claimed the older man’s lips. He began rocking faster and felt himself beginning to lose control.

Harry heard a sigh and noticed how concerned Severus looked, and suddenly tensed up, looking at him nervously. “I’m sorry, Severus, I know you probably wanted to take it slow, and if you want to we can. I guess I’m just a bit clingy and don’t want anything to happen. I just want you.”

\"Shhh, nothing bad is going to happen, and you have me. Stop worrying so much, and simply enjoy yourself. Do not concern yourself with me. And do not fault yourself for anything. You are seventeen years old. Sometimes I forget that, because you have experienced so much in your young life. Spending time with you has made me feel young and alive again.\"

Severus flipped their positions, hovering closely over Harry\'s body, trailing kisses down Harry\'s chest, worrying the darkened nipples with his teeth, while reaching down between their bodies, and settling his long fingers firmly around Harry\'s cock. He began slowly, teasingly stroking the turgid flesh, increasing his tempo as he leaned in close to Harry\'s ear and continued to speak. \"Of course, in one respect, you are most decidedly seventeen. And with that you have the amazing ability to achieve multiple arousals and orgasms in a fairly short time.\"

Harry lay there beneath Severus, not saying anything, only reveling in the sheer pleasure as his body was licked, kissed, and occasionally nibbled. He could not hold back the moan that escaped when he felt one of his nipples being thoroughly suckled, as if trying to get something out of it, and then only seconds later, Harry practically bucked Severus off him when he felt that same warm mouth ghost over his weeping cock with his tongue. Harry could hear himself panting and found himself unknowingly pressing Severus\' head down. \"Oh Merlin, Severus...yes...\" Then he felt as he was taken whole and swallowed. Oh Merlin. It took little time for Harry to feel himself convulse, and with his hips practically flying off the bed, he came with an intensity that he felt sure would render him unconscious. As he was recovering, he opened his eyes and smiled at his lover who had crawled up and was leaning over him, smiling. \"Wow, that was...wow. Oh my Gods, I knew I was waiting for a reason, but oh Gods, Severus, that was wonderful.\"

\"And we\'ve only just begun, my Harry.\" Severus licked his lips, loving the taste of Harry\'s essence in his mouth, and leaned down to kiss his young lover tenderly. He pulled Harry on top of him, his hands moving down to knead Harry\'s arse, and rocked his throbbing shaft against Harry\'s pelvis. His nose nuzzled against Harry\'s ear, his lips whispering in sensual tones. \"Would you like to take your time and explore a bit? Or are you ready for me to fuck you?\"

Harry looked down and took in the wanton look of his lover and then with a grin, lowered his head and licked some of him off Severus’s chin. Lifting his head he licked his lips. “I’m ready for you to fuck me.”

Severus needed no further encouragement. His hand slid in between Harry\'s legs, encouraging the muscular thighs apart. He accio\'d a bottle of lubricant from the bathroom, quickly moistening his fingertips before settling them in Harry\'s cleft. One fingertip slid against Harry\'s opening, and he felt the younger man tensing up. \"Shhhh, relax.\"

Severus captured Harry\'s lips in a fierce kiss, as slowly, one long finger breached Harry\'s entrance. Lovingly, reverently, Severus prepared Harry, fingertips sweeping over the younger man\'s prostate with every stroke, until Harry was whimpering and moaning, begging to have Severus inside of him.

He removed his fingers, quickly slicked up his erection, and grasped Harry\'s hips in his hands, whispering words of encouragement and direction to the young man, but determined to let Harry have some of the control. He helped guide Harry above his leaking shaft, and groaned as the head of his cock disappeared into the amazingly tight passage. He watched as the slight wince of pain faded quickly from Harry\'s face, replaced by a look of awe, as the emerald orbs snapped open and locked on his own. Slowly, inch by inch, he filled the younger man, until at last Harry\'s arsecheeks rested on his hips. Severus forced himself to remain still as Harry rocked a bit, getting used to the new sensations he was experiencing. One of Severus\' hands slid forward from Harry\'s hip and grasped his lover\'s renewed erection.

Harry continued to rock back and forth, reveling in the sensations he was receiving from the rather large appendage of his lover that was now embedded inside of him. He had never experienced anything nearly as pleasurable as this. His hands worked well enough to relieve his needs, but this...this was far better than his hands! Harry was having fun, but this wasn’t all about fun; he wanted to learn as well, and wanted to watch Severus make love to him. Smiling, he spoke a few words under his breath, and suddenly he was lying beneath Severus and let out a rather loud moan at the increased pressure his lover was causing as he gently refilled him, embedding himself even further then before. Yes, this is definitely better. He wanted to give Severus full control; there would be plenty of time for him to be the one in charge. “I want to watch you make love to me, and I want to feel your body filling me again and again.” Harry lifted his head a few centimeters and met Severus in a bruising kiss, then placed his hand over Severus’, which was still wrapped around his very engorged cock, and smiled. As Severus pulled out again and was about to push back in, Harry asked him to stop, and ran his fingers up and down the slick and rigid cock a few times before releasing it and nodding for his lover to continue. When he was filled again, he could feel himself beginning to shake and could feel the increased pressure as Severus continued to fist him in time with his thrusts. Harry began throwing his head from side to side and began speaking words that he thought probably were not really words at all. He began to whimper as he felt Severus’ body beginning to shake and as he felt his insides beginning to convulse and other things he never imagined.

Severus watched the debauched young man beneath him as he started to babble incoherently. He could feel Harry clenching around him as he climaxed, his warm seed spilling out between their bodies. Severus thrust once more before succumbing to his own orgasm, releasing deep within Harry.

He rolled them both to their sides, his softening cock slipping from Harry\'s body. As he slowly regained his breath, Severus summoned his wand, and uttered a cleansing spell. He laid his wand on the bedside table, and pulled Harry\'s head over onto his chest, his legs intertwining with Harry\'s.

\"You do understand that I don\'t intend on letting you go, right?\"

Harry still had not fully regained his faculties. He had experienced a few orgasms, but this was not some pent up frustration being released after its owner had spent the last hour thinking of his Potion’s professor, and the things they could do together. This was his and Severus’ love being released, and it had given Harry the most intense orgasm of his life, and he doubted whether he could ever have one with such intensity again. He had after all been pining over Severus for a year and a half...quite a long time to build up such intense need.

A somewhat recovered Harry began playing with Severus’ nipples, circling them with his hand then pinching them to see what sort of a reaction his lover would give him, and after thinking about what Severus said for a few seconds, he wrapped his arms around Severus, pulled himself closer to his warm lover, and took the pale long hands in his. “Good, because I don’t intend on ever letting you go either.”

Severus could feel his body stirring already, a low moan escaping his lips as Harry toyed with his nipples. Apparently, all it took for a thirty-seven year old man to achieve multiple arousals in a short period of time, was a seventeen year old lover.

Severus\' hands slowly roamed over Harry\'s back, enjoying the smooth skin under his fingertips. \"I am relatively sure that you haven\'t any definite career plans already set up. Isn\'t that correct?\"

Harry nodded affirmatively.

\"Good. I was reluctant to offer you this before, because I did not want to think that I was holding you back from other pursuits, but given our joint intentions about our relationship and our feelings, I believe that perhaps Hogwarts can finally employ the best candidate for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position.\" At Harry\'s confused look, Severus hastened to continue. \"I have been given the task of sorting out an adequate replacement for this year\'s farce of a DADA teacher. Every faculty member polled, including myself, thought you to be the best candidate for the job. So the position is yours, if you want it.\"

“You mean it?” Receiving a nod and a chuckle, Harry threw his arms around Severus and hugged him. “Oh yes, yes, I want it, Severus. I have always wanted that job, as well as you, for so long, and now I have them both. “You’re serious about this, rig-?”

Harry could not finish his thought as he was thankfully engaged in a kiss, and when that broke, Severus motioned for him to turn over, and he then felt Severus practically laying on top of him, and his arousal, which had already started with a renewed vigor minutes after their lovemaking, now overwhelmed him, once again. Then he felt as Severus moved lower and thought he was going to never stop his babbling when he felt his professor’s warm breath caressing his opening. Thank you Narcissa!

As Severus began to ready his lover for their next round of lovemaking, he couldn\'t help but think back to the Halloween night that had started he and Harry on the way to this amazing day. He smiled evilly, his thoughts curiously echoing Harry\'s. Perhaps I ought to send Narcissa a bouquet in Azkaban. After all, if it weren\'t for her pathetic attempt at impersonating Sirius Black…

The End