Changes and Always

Disclaimer: I own nothing! All Harry Potter works are created by J.K. Rowling, and owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment. I am not making any money from this - trust me.

Calloused hands ran down his face, tracing over the jaw line, seemingly memorising the contours of his face. Breath ghosted across his skin, lips parting in anticipation, receiving only a smirk in reply. Silk-smooth voice capturing him ‘i love you Harry.’

Harry woke with a sigh, hating himself that even subconsciously he couldn\'t fool himself into believing his feelings were reciprocated. Sometimes he really hated how ingrained his training was, now not even in dreams could he escape his reality. With a slight chuckle at his unhelpfully depressing thoughts, harry got out of bed, and began his morning regime to get ready for the busy start of term day.

Showered and dressed harry headed down stairs, making his way to the great hall, greeting various portraits with a polite nod on his way past. He was first to breakfast as always, sitting down and helping himself to coffee, harry let his mind wander. Eyes fixed on the Gryffindor table, mind lost to memories, harry was oblivious, as he was always oblivious, to the figure observing him from the shadows.

Severus had woken early as usual, although today he cursed his timing, having interrupted a quite pleasant dream. With a sigh he rose, showering and dressing, mentally cataloguing the demands of his day. Walking through his rooms, severus headed towards his private garden. He smirked, the paradox of the greasy bat enjoying nature never failing to amuse him. Stopping to enjoy the beauty of his pride and joy, a rose bush, growing only the purest of white petals, a beautiful sight that not even his bitterness could ignore. He picked one, cutting long at the stem, carefully handling it as he made his way to the great hall. A deserted room greeted him, as always, and he walked quickly to place his precious bundle down, and glancing at his watch, retreated to the shadows.

Coffee finished, harry rose and walked down to the gryffindor table, collecting the exquisite flower that always seemed to be there. Stopping for a moment to appreciate its beauty, he wondered, as always, why this flower was left. Putting it down to the overly-helpful design of the house-elves, harry continued on his well-trodden path, heading outside, following the trail straddling the forbidden forrest. Amidst a clearing he found his goal, the small graveyard looking fresh with the morning dew. Standing his vidual, harry reflected, as always, on the events that led to this end, and his hand in them. Then, as the morning drew on, he knelt, placing his beautiful offering on the soft earth, shadowed by the gravestone of Ron and Hermione Weasely. As always, he spoke only two words, ‘I’m sorry’, before turning and making his way back to the castle.

The day marched on, as it tends to do, the students arrived, the feast was an enjoyed success, night fell, and beds cried out for occupants. Severus walked the path to his rooms, stopping infrequently to administer some punishment or other to tardy students. Only when the door of his chambers closed, did he dare slump, his body finally allowed to reflect its exhausted and painful state. He looked up, and there it was, as always, a vial placed on his table. Severus had long ago given up trying to find out who entered his rooms and left their potion, putting it down to the ever-meddlesome albus and his band of overly intrusive house elves. Numerous tests and spells had revealed its safety, so severus, as always, drank the concoction, immediately feeling its soothing effects rippling over his body. He sighed gratefully, finally able to relax, his mind wandered, as it usually did at this time, to what the potion was. His talents as a potion master failed to supply him an answer, nevertheless he was thankful for its effects, for now he could peacefully sleep.

Harry walked up the stairs from the dungeons, proceeding towards his rooms. Clearing away his potion making ingredients, harry sat, starring aimlessly into the fire. After an unknown and uncared for time, he finally rose, heading for bed, joining the rest of the castle in sleep.