Misreading The Signs

TITLE: Misreading the Signs
AUTHOR: Ravenkiss
STATUS/PART: 1/1
EMAIL: Ravenkiss2000@yahoo.com
RATING: PG-13
PAIRING: Snape/Hagrid
SPOILERS: None
WARNINGS: M/M Slash
DISCLAIMER: No the characters do not belong to me, and sadly no money is being made.
SUMMARY: Severus is unsure.
AUTHOR\'S NOTES: Nothing this time out.
BETA: The Goblet

Severus was a little nervous as he strode towards Hagrid\'s hut.

Part of him wanted to run in the opposite direction.

He had tried to tell himself that this was nothing. But he could not help but feel nervous. The part that did not want to run was excited that someone actually seemed to like him. This was a new experience for Severus Snape. No one liked him. No one wanted to spend time with him, not even when he was a student.

Last night they had been in the great hall and Hagrid had been very friendly. Not just his usual friendly self, he had actually seemed to be dropping hints that he found Severus attractive. That he wanted to \'get ta know ya better\' as the half-giant said over a butterbeer or five.

At first they had just talked. It was all very innocent and above board, until near midnight, when Hagrid had put a hand on his arm. The look in his beetle black eyes was that of pure smoldering passion.

Severus had taken one look into those eyes and run for the dungeon.

But here in the light of day he had convinced himself that he had not seen passion, or need. Hagrid had just been a little drunk. That was all it was.

Severus was embarrassed. Hagrid had made the effort to be nice and he had misconstrued it all and made a fool of himself.

So here he was on the doorstep like some starving stray, wanting to make things right. He did not want to lose a friend. (Hagrid his friend, wasn\'t he?) It must surly be nothing more then a silly misunderstanding.

And maybe he was not so much afraid of Hagrid flirting, or wanting to touch him. He was more afraid that it really was nothing more then a misunderstanding.

He was afraid that he was misreading Hagrid and that all he wanted was someone to have a few drinks with. He feared that Hagrid was not interested in him as a lover.

There, he had said it. Severus was interested in having a lover.

He must be going insane.

For several long moments he stood on the step, debating whether he should take the chance and knock, or give in to his growing fear and run like a frightened child back to his dungeon to hide.

\"Oh, \'llo Sev\'rus!\" Hagrid said cheerfully from behind the Slytherin. \"\'ow long ya bin waitin\'?\"

\"Oh... I just got here.\" Severus hoped he was not blushing. \"I, uh...\"

\"Would ya like ta come inside?\" Hagrid asked.

\"Uh, yes.\" At least his voice remained steady, he thought nervously as he followed the huge man into the small house.

\"What kin ah do fer ya?\" The taller man said genially. To Severus\' disappointment, he seemed to show no sign of remembering anything that had happened the night before.

Severus felt a lump in his throat.

\"Nothing,\" Snape said too quickly. \"I mean, I um, do not need anything, I, uh, wanted to give you something.\"

\"Give me sumthin?\" Hagrid said slowly, sounding a little subdued. \"That\'s real nice of ya.\"

\"It is not much.\" Severus opened his robe and pulled the creature from his inside robe pocket. \"I saw it at Diagon Alley this morning, and I knew you wanted one.\" He took out a tiny tortoiseshell colored kneazle kitten.

Two sets of black eyes looked up at Hagrid longingly, one pair, the ones in the pale human face dropped to the floor as he held up the kitten before him like a shield.

\"Ohhh, she\'s so bootiful!\" Hagrid gasped as he took it from Severus\' hand and lifted the kitten to his cheek. She purred contentedly.

\"Well, yes.\" Severus turned and hurried towards the door. \"I am glad you like it. I should be getting back to...\"

\"Sev\'rus,\" Hagrid placed a hand gently on his arm. \"Ah gots ya somethin\' too.\"

\"There is no need...\"

Hagrid reached into his coat and brought out some rather bedraggled looking purple flowers that had been tied together somewhat haphazardly with a tattered pink ribbon. \"I picked\'um m\'self.\"

\"Thank you Hagrid.\" He swallowed, accepting the slightly wilted bouquet.

For several moments they just stood and looked at each other, until Hagrid said softly, \"Ah got somethin\' else for ya, if ya want.\" He took a step closer, then leaned down and very gently touched his rough lips to those of the smaller man before him.

The startled Potion Master found himself pressed against the other man\'s massive chest by the hand that was not holding the purring kneazel. He was forced to drop the flowers and wrap his arms around Hagrid\'s thick neck to keep from falling backwards.

Severus looked up at him nervously, still clinging to him. \"I thought that I was mistaken.\"

\"No mistake,\" assured Hagrid kissing him again.

End


Continued in Mixed Signals.