How Many Ways?

How Many Ways?
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Rating: This chapter has been rated PG-13 for slight sexual content and violence.
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Pairing: Harry Potter and Severus Snape
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Disclaimer: I do not own this and no I am not making a profit. This series was created by the talented writer J.K. Rowling.
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Part One: Recovery
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The morning was a distant tremble through the shudders of the crisp-dusted room that was now designated to be the stock hole of the boy-that-lived. Harry rose half way to his chest, yawning a bit out in the frustration at the annoyingly bright sun; something in the mornings that was not appreciated in full as he slowly rode out of a night of painful streaking dreams to a life not that much off from the horrors and frights of dreams that seemed to carry on with the scar placed obviously on his temple and climbing down the length to the tip of where his nose broke into the profile arch out.

His hands fumbled over the dresser next to the bed, clawing for his glasses and bringing them roughly to his face. Morning brightened over his face, casting a side shadow that gave off the length of his nose. Cursing internally and finally rising from the bed, Harry walked to the closet, pulling out an overly-sized t-shirt and some worn down jeans that he had worn for labor work out in the yard. Black muss tumbled over his head, something that he never took the time to comb out, but simply brush aside and out of his eyes.

Mornings like this were a natural thing for Harry. He would wake promptly at six in the morning, go down the stairs into the sun stricken kitchen and begin to prepare breakfast for the others in the house. Of course it was only rare occasions that he was give the scraps of food left from his huge cousin, Dudley; other than that, he would sneak a bite or two before starting the dishes. Aunt Petunia would gaze at him over her hot coffee, always the face of pure disgust of the creature before her eyes; Uncle Vernon was the worst of the three; he would always ignore the boy in the beginning, but find an excuse to send him off to do more work in the yard, or perhaps a beating once and a while.

Harry was beginning to get used to the way his so called “family” treated him. It was not until this morning had he really begun to think about what was happening.

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Harry looked out the window; his hand halted of its previous ministrations and now simply placed against the dish. Vernon looked up from his daily newspaper, his eyes narrowed in anger. “What are you doing boy?! Get to work or you will only make more work for yourself to do, you annoying brat!!”

Harry quickly darted his uncle a glance, but proceeded as instructed, his hand slowly scrubbing away the food that had been so torturously thrown out and into the trash in front of his salivating eyes. He hadn’t eaten anything of real solid substance in the last month or so. He was only given food when Vernon realized that he didn’t want the “freaks” as they called them, thinking that Harry was deprived. Harry usually savored the food, only taking small bites and stowing away the rest for later days.

He moved his hand over the plate again, his reflection clear in the white porcelain and a sad sight at that. His eyes were outlined with dark hollow circles of restless nights of nightmares as well as hard work performed during the day that was a never ceasing chore. His skin was paled and clinging desperately to the bone. He looked sick, his pallor complexion an example of this; not to forget the fact that he had lost all of his body fat, due to the lack of food and the eating away at his fat stores.

He lacked sleep and it was beginning to affect him. As soon as his eyes looked out the window, pitch blackness surrounded his image and he fell to the ground, his body a broken hope of bravery stowed when he came to this house. The entire world collapsed within those very few seconds, an image that no longer existed to a sick soul.

A pain utterly broke the soft daze of his mind as he was once again sent into reality. Vernon’s voice thundered into his ears, roaring crude insults. “Damn boy…get your ass up you worthless pile of bones. I knew I should have just killed you the chance I got…you are worthless.” Dudley’s laughter was heard next and another blow to his stomach, sent by someone else other than his uncle, made impact with him and caused him to double over in the nauseous pain.

Once again, darkness built over his mind and he was sent into an unconscious spiral of pain and mere being. He coughed blood onto the floor, his body aching of broken bones and internal bursts of vessels within the skin. The dark crimson metallic liquid stained the tile, pouring out in a soft stream of pure pain. A voice was heard over the pain, not one he had expected to hear.

“Indo Cartum!” Snape’s voice was a loud and instant yell, Vernon’s voice as well as Dudley’s laughter ceased in the abrupt spell and Harry felt the world once again falling over his eyes. Seeping back into black darkness, Harry only remembered a voice over the shrilling screech of Aunt Petunia, “POTTER!”

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Warmth covered over with soft blankets, the room slowly came into focus as Harry fluttered his eyes open to look at the dark shadows running across the slightly moon lit room. Harry rose slightly, but gasped as pain spiked from his abdomen and down the length of his spine in trembling focus. He pushed his back against the pillow behind him, taking in air with strained gasps of breath.

“Mr. Potter, don’t move or you will only cause yourself more pain…” The familiar voice of Harry’s potion professor came with smooth and calm likeness, an expected thing with a man of his taste. Snape rose from his seat near the bed, taking note of the even paler complexion that Potter had since he had last seen him. He took from the bedside a healing potion as well as a pain relief potion and handed them to the boy, his eyes showing no emotion.

Harry looked at the two vials, metallic liquids shimmering slowly under the very little light they were exposed to. But as instructed, he downed the substances, coughing back the bitter taste, but regretting the action as his stomach screamed out in protest.

Snape merely looked at him from the edge of the bed, his eyes as emotionless as always. The dark black cape he wore over his body was draped over and off the edge, flailing down the length of the sheets to the floor of the hard wood beneath. His hands sat gracefully in his lap, pallor face a look of mere interest at the boy before him.

Harry shifted uneasily under the watchful eye, his body shivering slightly, not from the cold but the mere stare of the man at the edge of the bed. He took in a sharp breath, one that he had held since Snape had moved from the corner. He tried to busy himself with inspection of the room around him.

A tall book case towered over the room, books lining and shuffled through the clasp of other books. The huge fireplace to the left was without flames and appeared to have been in use not too long ago since the wood that had almost turned to ash was now a soft red. The rest of the room was in the dark shadows, hidden from plain view. This is something that Harry decided he would inspect, come morning.

As his eyes finally returned to the man at the edge of the bed, he noticed the dreary eyes the man carried. His lethargic actions before had gone unnoticed by Harry, but whilst he was inspecting the man, he found that his professor looked ill. Finally raising a brow, he brought his eyes to the man’s abyssal orbs.

“Sir, you look sick…” Snape’s eyes widened a bit at the sudden words of concern. He hadn’t in all his life expected Potter to ever notice anything about him in a slightly concerned tone. He sneered slightly, though he knew the boy was injured, that did not make him any less of a nuisance.

“You will do well to stay out of other’s business. My condition is no concern of yours, Potter.” Harry sighed slightly, his eyes traveling from the other man’s to the sheets that covered his shivering mass. He felt nauseous, not just for the reason of his injuries –though they put in a great deal of nausea to this- but to the way that even he could not care for someone, without a cruel word. None-the-less, this was Snape, evil Potion’s professor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Severus noticed the slight frown now corrupting those delicious lips. Yes, the boy was very handsome when he showed any kind of emotion, but Severus would never admit this to anyone, not even himself. He shrugged off the thoughts that tainted his views at the situation and rose from the bed. His lengthy steps proceeded across the room, taking out a platter of food and casting a warming spell on the chicken.

“Where are we, Professor?” Harry inquired after much observation of what was to be seen around the room. He looked over to his teacher as the man brought the platter to his side. The delicious smells made Harry’s stomach growl out of mere temptation to devour anything within reach. He began to salivate as the fragrances of well-seasoned chicken snuck their way into his nostrils and sending his body to trembling groans. He hadn’t had food in almost a month and it was certainly beginning to affect him.

Severus inspected the boy once more, noting the very animal-like lust for food in the Harry’s eyes. He pushed the platter further towards Harry, “Eat…the way it looks, you haven’t had anything in a great while.” He watched as Harry almost toppled over in the overwhelming amount of food. His hands grabbed any item remotely edible within reach and stuffed the substance into his mouth. He was kind enough to close his mouth while he chomped passionately at the food.

“Slow down Potter, wouldn’t want you to regret ever eating in the first place.” Severus rolled his eyes at the boy as his words seemed to be lost into the darkness and no where near Harry’s ears. He could only smile inwardly at the smirk, chomping, gathering, and drinking boy. It was all a bit cute, not that he felt that way.

Harry finally finished the food, his stomach groaning in happy anguish. Sleep hurled over his face and body like a tsunami and he was immediately carried into a deep sleep, dreamless due to the depth.

Severus gathered up the platter and set it on the table top near the bed, his eyes watching the boy with an interested glare. Harry looked so helpless when he slept, almost cat-like with the soft purring that he continued during the night. Severus caught the smile on his lips and immediately turned it into a sneer. ‘Stupid boy, always causing so much trouble…’ He sighed and returned to the chair near the bed, closing his eyes and pressing into sleep much like Harry was doing.

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Morning came with a burst of light through the uncovered windows. Sheathing rays fell over the dark shadows hiding away corners and finally beating down on the boy and man near the far end of the room. Harry was the first to wake, his head pounding irritably at the new awakening. He cursed slightly, sitting up and holding his head softly to pause out some throbbing.

Severus opened his eyes, peering with squinted eyes out the window and then to Potter. He rose, not showing the small ache from sitting down in the chair all night and walked over to the door of the bathroom. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Harry rose, blushing slightly at the little clothing he had on. His shirt had been bled all over so was sent to be cleaned by the house elves. He only wore boxers, as his pants had as well been spotted with dry crimson. He looked up from his torso to the window, covering his face and attempting to look out the window. It was clear now where he was, Snape Manor. He had only been there once before, but he assumed that Snape found this a better holding place since Hogwarts was undergoing quite the attack.

Severus stepped from the bathroom, his eyes as empty as had been for the past few days. He looked over to Potter and then to the window, cursing the impetuous sun for its unbelievable sense of making morning the worst part of the day for the professor. He turned once more, noticing that Potter was flushed in the face, probably due to the little clothing he had on. “Well, if you wouldn’t mind walking around like that, I will get you your clothes.” He sneered at the boy, watching Potter turn a deeper red than he had been.

Harry walked to the bathroom, nodding to his professor’s presence and went inside the surprisingly big area. The bathtub was at the far end of the room and the mirror was more near to the door. Surprising enough, the room was painted in a shimmering gold that accented that of the sun. He turned, washing his face and looking up at the mirror with low doubts. He noticed he was beginning to look a tiny bit healthier due to the food and good amount of rest.

Severus traveled over to the door, knocking softly and holding Potter’s clothing. He didn’t feel like calling to the boy since he too had a headache and wasn’t in the right mind to try to make it worse than it actually was. He watched as the door slowly opened to a now healthier looking Potter. He pushed the clothes through the space and turned immediately to go to the other part of the room.

Harry watched the man, his eyes noticing that he still looked a bit ill, but a little better than he had last night. He took the clothes a small “thank you” slipped past his lips before closing the door and turning to put the shirt and jeans on. He brushed his hair out and did a cleaning spell on his teeth, finding his wand in the pocket of his jeans. He assumed that Snape grabbed it on the way out.

Severus looked out the window, his eyes grazing over the now bright morning down on the hills near the manor. He let a small sigh escape his lips before he turned to see Potter near the door way and looking as though he was a bit nervous. He blew out impatiently, “Potter…you will be staying with me for a few weeks due to orders from Dumbledore.” He cursed silently and returned to his speech, “We will deal with the Dudley’s promptly…I suggest we set a few rules. I am not your servant so get yourself anything you need, or ask one of the house elves. I will not be visiting you during this week; I have much work I must do…so feel free to explore, as long as you don’t do anything to my belongings. This will be your room for the next few weeks so get used to it.” He brushed past the boy and down the hallway.

Harry simply watched the man, sighing out relief to know that he would not have to deal with the man. He turned, smiling at the overly-sized room with a very happy acceptance. He looked at the bookshelf, wondering whether that would be somewhere he was to go most of the time staying at this manor.

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Night fell over the land. All day, Harry had explored the first floor of the manor, awing at the many paintings and items that the house inherited. He finally walked into the room given to him and flopped onto the bed with a low humming groan. It was nice to finally relax and not have to do chores all day. He looked up suddenly, noticing a presence in the doorway. The dark figure stood still for a moment and then came into the light. Snape stood in the shining moon light, his robes ruffling down to the ground. For a moment, Harry caught himself thinking that the man actually looked handsome in the robes and maybe somewhat sexy. He shook his head slightly, rising to a half lean on the bed.

Severus moved closer, watching the boy with interested eyes. He sat down at the bedside and let out a small groan. Harry looked so innocent when he was confused. His lithe body was one to want as well as those eye boggling emerald orbs. He shifted closer, “Did you enjoy yourself today, Potter?”

Harry felt a shiver ripple down his spine, his heart beat racing at the man’s presence. His stomach twisted into thousands of knots that shuddered with want and desire of touch. Heat rose in his skin, the hairs sticking out in shock of the suddenly cool over wash of his potion’s professor’s eyes that seemed to be darker then the darkest night. “Y-yes…s-sir…” He couldn’t help the stutter of his words or the unconscious abuse of his lower lip.

Severus watched Harry, his eyes tracing down to the lip being mercilessly abused and felt his heart skip a beat upon seeing the boy’s half-exposed torso. He nodded slightly, pushing himself from the bed and turning to walk to the door. His wrist however was caught when he began to move. He turned to find Harry, flushed bright red, but a determined gaze.

“Thank you for saving my life, sir” He let go of the wrist, looking down to his lap and fiddling with his fingers. When he looked up, Snape was sitting down next to him. Lips pressed firmly against his, a bit demanding as well. One hand was wrapped around his waist and the kiss pressed further, a moist mass licking intently at his bottom lip and silently asking for entrance.

Severus never felt bold, but tonight for some reason he pushed against common sense. His tongue was allowed access into the moist cavern, filling the space allowed. He sucked at Harry’s lips slightly before pushing his tongue further inside the cavern. But before he could push further, he pulled away, shaking his head out of the madness. The potion he had taken the night before was making him do odd things and he rushed out of the room, not even allowing Potter a chance to respond to the sudden loss of warmth.

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End Notes: I wanted to make the characters a bit more INTO character…but sometimes…my fantasies get the best of me…sorry if it was a bit odd.