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sua_layAuthor: Rimau Sua Lay
Rating: overall NC-17, Angst, Drama, Action/Adventure, First Time
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairings: Harry/Snape, Ron/Draco, (Sirius/Remus)
Date: December 2002 - ?
Disclaimers: Not mine, borrowed without permission, am not making any money. Please don't sue. Sherbet Lemon?
Summary for Book Three: -Does being a good guy mean you also have to be a nice guy? Draco is about to find out. Companionable silences and fist fights are a good way to hide deeper emotions.
Warning: This part contains mild violence, explicit sex between men, confusion about sex (not non-con really!) and as you can guess, angst.
The earlier parts of the fic can be found here.
"It seems that the change of scenery hasn't really changed the fact that Gryffindors simply cannot follow orders."
Snape's scathing words made both Harry and Ron cringe.
They were all gathered in the living room, the already small room feeling even smaller with the makeshift tables and the cauldrons there. A fire was burning in the fireplace, spreading warmth all around the room. The heat was almost nauseating, throbbing with the scent of mint.
Not exactly like the Potions classroom back at Hogwarts. Still, Snape's presence made it feel like the familiar room in the dungeons.
Ron for one wasn't at all surprised by the way they were treated. He'd never had any illusions about Snape. The hours they'd spent every day chopping ingredients and talking about potions had been a break in a boring routine. A hellish break. He was quite certain he'd rather be bored to death than spend another day like this.
Of course, having nothing better to do than study was making everything easier. They had been making notes. Choosing ingredients, preparing them. That had been the so called class. During the evening, they'd lounged on the couches -- or even on the floor on one occasion, when Snape and Malfoy had sat on different couches and Ron had had to choose between sitting next to either Slytherin or on the floor -- reading books about potions.
They were sure to pass the exam.
Ron couldn't help thinking about his original thought of this being like his personal hell. Especially not now.
Today, not even a full week since they'd started this impromptu tutoring, they'd started to actually brew a potion that was on the N.E.W.T.s list. It had made everyone's stomach flutter. It truly seemed like Snape wanted them to test their new skills.
Resulting in three cauldrons blowing up, covering them in deep purple and magenta goo.
"But... Wasn't this supposed to blow up?" Harry looked up at Snape, wondering if he'd misunderstood the meaning of the potion. "Adding garlic into a mix of bubotuber pus and..." He saw the impatient way Snape was gesturing with his hand for him to get to the point. "Well, it was going to blow up no matter what."
"In order to... Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco didn't even blink at that. He was used to this now. The questions Snape asked him weren't the ones with blatantly obvious answers anymore. "In order to release the essence of the potion into the air, sir, so that a large number of patients can be cured at once."
"Correct." This was new as well. No praise. Simply acknowledgement. "But you, Potter and you, Mr. Weasley did not add enough garlic. The text clearly says that if the garlic is a small one, then you have to..."
"... measure the cloves instead of simply counting them." Harry finished the sentence with resignation. No wonder the goo both he and Ron had managed to blow up had been so light in color.
Snape nodded. "Yes. That means your potion was not as potent as Mr. Malfoy's. It would still work, even though not with a large amount of people." He said it grudgingly.
"So we pass?" There was hope in Ron's voice. He was so enthusiastic about the prospect he almost didn't realize what he'd left out the sentence before seeing Snape glare at him. "Sir."
"Thank you for your amazingly accurate interpretation of Eppy. And yes. You did pass. Congratulations, Mr. Weasley. Potter. It seems the two of you have indeed passed the most rudimentary of exams that are a part of your N.E.W.T.s. I may yet die of the sheer shock." He simply nodded at Draco. They both knew he was excellent in Potions.
Ron glanced at Harry, smiling broadly.
"Now, I suggest that after cleaning up the mess, you go out and bathe. Use a lot of soap." Seeing the confused looks, Snape sighed. "Read the last paragraph out loud, Potter."
" 'All patients should be properly covered, since the potion is somewhat magic resistant. You can not remove it from skin or hair by using any of the cleaning charms.' Oh, great." The last part was a groan.
There was quite a lot of the goo on all their faces and arms. Due to the heat in the room, all teenagers had removed their robes, brewing the potion clothed in trousers and T-shirts. Only Snape had remained in his dark frock coat, looking as forbidding as ever. There was an amazing amount of bright magenta potion dripping down to his collar from his hair.
No one was laughing. Ron had to bite the inside of his mouth, and Harry's eyes were twinkling, but there was absolutely no sounds of laughter in the room.
The cleaning was relatively easy. While Ron, Harry and Draco scrubbed their cauldrons clean, Snape cast a cleaning charm on the floor, the ceiling and the windows. He was certain that if he left that task to anyone else, there'd be algeo-aegerserum dripping down from the ceiling for days.
It wouldn't really matter if he wasn't about to spend yet another evening in the room with his students.
Finishing with their cauldrons, they cleaned most of their clothes, and then hurried upstairs for towels and soap. Draco trailed the two Gryffindors back downstairs, uncertain if he was supposed to go with them or not.
These past few days had almost returned him back to his old self. He wasn't really happy about interacting with people like Potter and Weasley, knowing exactly what they thought about him -- and knowing they knew exactly what he thought about them -- but he wasn't shying away from conversations anymore. Snape's presence in the living room helped somewhat. Even Weasley couldn't really be uncivil to him in front of Snape.
Ron was chuckling slightly as he rushed down the stairs behind Harry. "You know, Snape wasn't all that better with the instructions. Can you believe he'd deliberately have this shit on his hair? As if it isn't greasy... Oh, hello professor!"
It was amazing how quickly he could actually change a subject.
"Mr. Weasley." The tone indicated that Snape had many other names he simply chose not to call the boy with. "Remember not to let your guard down outside. Since there are three of you, I assume you can handle bathing and standing guard at the same time." He glanced at all three, looking doubtful. "Unless you want me to come and..."
"Not necessary, sir!" Ron almost blushed at his quick denial.
Thinking about stripping naked and then bathing while Snape stood there and watched was even more mortifying. He could handle glares or even sneers in a classroom. He was quite certain his ego couldn't survive bathing like that. He'd probably be scarred for life.
Snape didn't comment. He raised an eyebrow. That was enough.
It was quite surprising how quickly seventh year students could move if the occasion called for it. Ron and Draco almost collided by the doorway, both feeling urgent need to simply run.
Harry followed them on a slower pace, casting an amused look at Snape as he passed him by.
It was approaching dinner time. The day had been relatively beautiful, and it wasn't too cold out yet. Draco was still shivering in his T-shirt. There was no use putting on clean robes that would only get messy. He saw Ron was dressed similarly, and the comment about the famous Weasley poverty -- he probably had just one set of robes -- was immediately on his lips. He decided against it.
No need to start fighting now.
He noticed Potter was wearing an oversized pullover, wrapped warmly in the worn shirt. How wonderful it had to be to own clothes that were so disgusting that even a gooey potion couldn't make a difference.
Harry tried not to pay any attention to the looks both Ron and Malfoy seemed to cast at him. Malfoy was clearly thinking about something, his gaze gleaming with mirth. It was a good thing he was keeping his mouth shut. Harry didn't want to see Ron in a fight; his friend looked angry enough as it was. Snape's comment had completely confused him, so that he hadn't even objected Malfoy's presence.
Ron knew better than to argue now. The Slytherin would go to Snape and then there'd be hell to pay.
In all the time they'd now spent in the small cottage, there had been no sign of people in the area. No planes or brooms flying low in the sky. No sound of cars. Nothing. Still, it felt a bit weird to undress out in the open. The Burrow had a small pond near by, so Ron and even Harry weren't exactly new to skinny dipping. Both had visited beaches as well, especially that one summer they'd been invited to the Grangers. The invitation had almost resulted in Arthur Weasley having an apoplexy from all the excitement.
To Draco this was the first time he was doing anything like this, but it was proving to be a lot easier than using the outhouse. Even if running around in what was considered their front lawn in the buff was new to him, he had been in the company of lots of naked people before. Not all the tales about the Slytherin orgies were exaggerated.
He was the first to start taking his clothes off. Since he didn't have anyone to chatter nervously to, he simply stripped, not paying attention to the others.
Harry and Ron followed his example.
Ron was torn between the need to keep an eye on Malfoy and the desire to turn his back on him. Holding onto his towel, he tried not to look like he was feeling embarrassed, even though he kind of thought the blush creeping up his neck already betrayed him.
He envied Harry his ease in walking around wrapped in a towel. Had to be because of all the Quidditch practices and the communal showers in the locker rooms. There was little privacy in the Gryffindor showers but there were stalls there. Ron could handle splashing around naked with his brothers or Harry, but Malfoy was a completely different thing.
The bastard would probably make some comment about his freckles. Or compare. He'd definitely compare. Not that Ron had anything to be worried about.
Keeping his head up high, Ron dropped the towel and waded into the stream. He had to bite his lip to keep the horrified gasp inside. Damn, the water was cold. Still, he couldn't stop now.
"Damn this water is freezing!" Harry cringed as he followed Ron, holding his wand high. He was definitely not enjoying this. After a quick dunk, he'd just soap himself and be on his way. A little smell wouldn't matter. Not when he was freezing his dangly bits off.
Draco Malfoy was still standing on the riverbank, staring at the two Gryffindors. He was trying very hard not to laugh out loud. This was just too hilarious; the hope of the wizarding world and his sidekick behaving like two frightened Muggles.
"Caleoaquam!" Pointing his wand at the water, Draco said the charm out, and then smiled sweetly as the other two yelped. Still smiling, he walked into the warm water, sighing with happiness. This was something.
"That's a handy charm," Harry said. An icebreaker of sorts. How befitting.
Draco looked at him and nodded. He wasn't sure if it was meant as a compliment or not, so he decided not to comment. Taking a deep breath, he dunked himself, feeling wonderfully refreshed as he came up for air.
He waded deeper in, and then went completely under again. And again. He enjoyed the strange non-silence of the underwater world. It was as if there was nothing and everything there, only the odd echo of the sounds around him, and his own heartbeat.
Ron was staring at Malfoy when the Slytherin came up for air again. His gaze was fixed on the pale skin of Malfoy's left arm. There was no black tattoo of a skull and a snake there. How surprising.
He'd tried to get a good look on him earlier, while they'd brewed the potion but he dark fire in Snape's gaze had made him stop his attempts.
Damn the professor. Still favoring his own house.
Hair slicked back, looking darker when wet, Draco swum around a little, his movements hindered slightly by his wand that he was holding tight. He noticed even Potter and Weasley hadn't gone far from their wands. There was a top of a large rock peeking from the depths, a convenient table of sorts to place a wand while you were soaping up.
There was some splashing and even laughter as Ron and Harry washed themselves. They didn't linger in the water for long. Harry had a nagging feeling between his shoulderblades, and didn't want to stay away from the cottage for too long. Ron on the other hand didn't want to stay here long enough for Snape to come and fetch them. That would certainly be embarrassing.
Even more embarrassing than climbing out of the water, just knowing that Malfoy was watching.
Toweling himself dry, Ron couldn't help casting furtive looks at Malfoy. If the creep was going to stare, then so was he. It was really a pity that Snape was there in the cottage with them, otherwise he would have definitely made all the comments springing to his mind. He decided to use the natural blond one later. Maybe someday it would come handy.
Harry blinked a little as he saw his friend check out Malfoy and then mutter something to himself. He was definitely not going to say anything about that. Ron was behaving strangely towards Malfoy anyway. With a simple joke, he might explode and attack the Slytherin again.
Sometimes he wondered if the Weasleys and the Blacks were distant relatives.
The sun was lower in the sky, making its way towards the horizon. After drying up, all three teenagers dressed in clean clothes and then headed towards the cottage. Eppy probably had the dinner served already, and she'd be pissed if they were late.
Feeling wonderful, Harry headed to the kitchen area as soon as he'd hung his robe in the coat rack. He wasn't exactly hungry, but knew that as soon as Eppy brought the tray in, his stomach would probably start growling, like Ron's was already. "Swimming always did make you hungry." It reminded him of Fred and George, who always seemed to love teasing their little brother about his healthy appetite.
"Yep." Ron grinned. "It's good Eppy's not as good a cook as my mum is." If they spent more days working on potions like that, he'd munch way too much food every evening after baths.
He really hoped there wouldn't be any more evenings like this. Bathing with a git like Malfoy wasn't exactly his idea of fun. Shivering at the disgusting thought, he glanced to his left.
Unfortunately Draco was still smiling at the homely comment. It was a bit wistful smile, his mind in the one person he couldn't bear to think about right now. He had no idea if his mother could even cook. Narcissa Malfoy had probably never even been in the kitchen of the vast mansion.
"And what are you grinning at?"
The smile disappeared from Malfoy's face. He shrugged, "Nothing." Once again, he lowered his gaze to the tabletop. It seemed to be a trend these days, he simply didn't think he was supposed to yell at Weasley anymore. There was a hint of the old anger and annoyance inside him, though. One day Weasley would push him at the wrong moment, and he'd find out that this new veneer of congeniality wouldn't cover all occasions.
Ron was still glaring at Malfoy. He hated the way the git could make him uncomfortable with just one look or word.
The tension in the small room was palpable.
"I trust you three can manage spending a little more time on your own." His voice a bit skeptic, Snape appeared at the doorway. He was carrying a large towel and a small bag that obviously held glass jars and vials.
He could well read the atmosphere and glared at Weasley. It was amazing how some things never changed. It was probable that there was no shared heritage with him and a certain other stubborn Gryffindor -- and Snape sneered at the thought of Ron Weasley even trying to become an Animagus, since whatever he'd become, it would undoubtedly be ginger in coloration, thusly an easy prey for any predator -- but it seemed some traits were indeed House bound.
"Are you going to take a bath?" Even though it was obvious, Harry asked anyway. He ignored the way his friend snorted at that, knowing Ron wasn't suicidal enough to make comments about Snape and bathing.
Snape turned his attention to Harry. "What a brilliant deduction, Potter. It's a shame I'm no longer in position to reward your House for your astonishing intelligence."
Ignoring both the way Ron bristled and Malfoy smirked, Harry raised an eyebrow. "You're going out there alone?" The weird feeling between his shoulderblades was back.
"Yes. Amazingly enough, I can manage bathing alone."
"Well you said yourself that no one should go wandering alone. I thought we agreed on it." Harry should have known Snape would exclude himself from the rule. The man was the most stubborn person he knew.
The quietly spoken words made Snape glare.
Ron nudged his friend and whispered, "Are you insane?" He was certainly not going to insist that one of them should follow Snape. No way! He'd rather go back to Hogwarts and move into the small cave in the Forbidden Forest. Acromantulas weren't that bad compared to their Potions master; he'd get along with Aragog just fine.
"No." It wasn't clear to whom Harry was speaking, but his gaze was firmly fixed on Snape. "We're all in danger here. You can't bathe and guard your back at the same time."
"Fine." Without other words, Snape turned around, and disappeared from sight. The others could well hear him mutter, "Gryffindors and their idiotic interpretations of rules."
There was a short silence, as the three young men looked at each other. Ron's expression was sullen. He was definitely not going to volunteer. Actually, he would fight till death if they told him he had to go. Looking a bit hesitant, Draco wondered if the others thought he should go. It didn't really feel right.
He might trust Snape, but he was also hesitant of pushing the man. It didn't matter that he'd always favored him in class; that had probably been a ruse to placate his father anyway. He didn't really know Snape, and certainly had no idea where he stood with him.
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'd better go after him." He was on his feet before anyone could say a word. "Save us some dinner, and please try not to kill each other, okay?"
He didn't stay to wait for any replies to that.
It was still crisp outside. Harry was glad he'd remembered to grab his thicker robes as he jogged to catch up with Snape. It was quite obvious the man wasn't expecting anyone to actually follow him. Too bad. He wasn't going to risk anyone's life now.
Reaching Snape, Harry slowed down, and walked alongside him to the riverbank. He knew better than to start an argument right now. Any words -- and probably even breathing too hard -- would quite likely be considered as a prelude to one.
Snape headed to the same spot they'd left their clothes at. He cast a warning glance at Harry before arranging his vials and bottles down on the ground. The glance turned into a glare a moment later as he realized the boy hadn't taken the hint.
"Oh. Sorry." Not sounding at all apologetic, Harry turned his back on Snape, keeping a firm hold on his wand as he scanned the surroundings. He knew it was highly unlikely anyone would actually attack them now, but he wanted to be sure. It didn't feel right to actually leave Snape alone here.
Even if it was exactly what the man wanted.
Still glaring at Harry's turned back, Snape removed his clothing, piling them neatly on the ground. He crouched down to cast the same charm as Draco had just half an hour ago before stepping into the water. Knowing that Harry could probably manage to actually watch his back -- not literally of course -- he left his wand on a rock rising up from the shallow water.
The warm water felt divine. Snape enjoyed the currents caressing his skin for a long moment before reaching for the soap. The small bowl of water and occasional charms had been enough until now, but this was the first time he truly felt clean for days.
Trying not to think about the annoying brat standing only a couple of steps away, he started to wash himself clean.
Running his fingers through his still damp hair, Harry stared off into the distance.
He liked it in here. It was peaceful. There was no one in sight, the small movement near the bushes just a bird seeking for food. The only sound the splashing of water as Snape bathed in the stream behind him.
The water was just as cold as one might have thought it would be this time of year. With that little charm from Malfoy, it had just been refreshing. Bathing hadn't been an ordeal, even though Ron had looked really flustered as he'd stood in the water.
Had to be because of Malfoy. Harry smiled slightly at that. He didn't like the Slytherin, and doubted he ever would, but he did seem to have a funny effect on Ron.
He'd have to remember to tease his best friend about Malfoy later. About the sudden bout of modesty he seemed to have around the blond.
After years of using the big shower in the locker room and the smaller one adjoining the dormitory, Harry didn't have any problems being naked around other men. Especially ones he considered as friends. However, there were those who brought confusing thoughts. He doubted he could really keep his cool if he tried to bathe right now.
Being naked with Snape standing right there, equally naked was definitely a confusing thought. Harry could feel heat rise to his face and frowned. There shouldn't be anything weird about the thought of a naked Snape.
He was a human being like all the rest of them. It wasn't as if the robes he always wore were a part of him.
Naked Snape.
Something he couldn't really imagine; Snape without clothes on not all that far from him. Splashing in the stream, just like he had a moment earlier.
Harry tried to push the thought away from his mind, but his curiosity was already peaked.
To many in Hogwarts Snape probably resembled a boogie man more than a person and it was just the image he so obviously wanted everyone to have. It had been a long process to start seeing the professor as a human being. Right now wondering about him as a person who could well be without clothes didn't seem like such a big thing.
Harry stood there, frozen in place. It was a fascinating idea, really. Naked people without any masks or covers. Naked Snape.
Slowly, he turned around to face the stream, feeling his heart pound in his chest. This was probably the most idiotic thing he'd ever done, but he couldn't help it. He just had to see.
Snape was standing in the stream with his back to Harry. He'd already soaked completely, his black hair hanging wet and limp.
The sight made Harry swallow hard. Snape was washing his arm, the wash cloth leaving a trail of white suds on the pale skin. The movement was making the muscles on his back flex.
It was almost hypnotic. Strong, even strokes of the cloth. A pause, and then the same thing on his other arm, soap blurring the Dark Mark, almost hiding it from sight. The touch didn't linger there, it went on as if there was nothing remarkable about the symbol.
Harry didn't know what he'd expected. He knew Snape's skin was pale, almost sallow, but it was still strange to see that he was like that all over. Not exactly muscled, more... average in form.
Lean figure. Snape's arms looked firm and strong, even though his shoulders weren't broad; a proof of years of stirring potions and chopping up ingredients. Finishing with his arms, the wash cloth was now making circling movements on the man's sides, making Harry focus his gaze there. More skin. Naked skin. Soapy water oozing down, trailing over his hip before trickling to the pond.
There were thin scars covering his back, some running down to his buttocks. Harry didn't even want to think of what might have caused them. It was apparent they weren't recent ones.
Scars and skin. Harry stared. Surprisingly firm skin, the curve of Snape's arse barely visible above the water level. He swallowed. The sight was alluring, making him wish Snape hadn't waded so deep into the stream.
More splashing, and now there was water running down Snape's back. He was rinsing the suds off.
Still, Harry couldn't turn his gaze away. He was fascinated.
Pale skin, faint silvery lines on it. Then with a blur it turned into something smoother, planed. It took Harry a moment to realize Snape had turned around and that he was now staring at his chest.
While Snape was very obviously now staring at him.
"Mr. Potter." Voice icy, Snape glared at him, not saying anything else. It was clear what he meant.
Closing his eyes, Harry quickly spun around. "Sorry." He knew he sounded like a toad with that croak, but it was the only thing he could really squeeze out. He wished he was about Trevor's size too. Small enough to disappear into the grass and hop away, never to face Snape again.
He couldn't banish the image of Snape's body from his mind. His surprisingly hairless chest, the skin that looked soft. A few burn marks on his left side, looking like something hot had splattered on him. Probably from a bubbling cauldron.
Snape didn't look anything like Harry's fellow Gryffindors did. He wasn't a teenager with his body still shaping. There were signs of a harsh life on him. Body showing his age.
But damn he looked good. It was something Harry definitely didn't want to think about. Not like that.
The more he tried not to think about Snape, the more his stupid mind concentrated on what he'd just seen. Typical.
His fingers brushed against the small wrinkly scar on his wrist; a memento of an attack a few years back. The Death Eaters had come after him, one holding a long dagger instead of a wand. The blade had cut him deep enough to leave a scar, but not deep enough to threaten his life.
The old wound didn't look anything like the marks on Snape's back. Not a silvery and smooth-looking scar.
He wondered what they would feel like under his touch. The thought made him feel really uncomfortable suddenly. It was weird to think about Snape like this. He knew the nasty professor was really a human being, but thinking about him as a person, and then imagining pawing him were two different things.
Harry kept his gaze firmly fixed on a bush in the distance, trying not to listen to the sounds coming from behind him. The splashing was getting louder, indicating that Snape was climbing out of the stream.
Naked Snape, dripping water. Probably glaring at his back, eyes gleaming with anger.
The shivers running down his spine were definitely a weird reaction to that thought. He should have been terrified. Instead, he was more...
"Damn it!"
The words were growled out with a pained voice. There was more splashing.
Harry turned around, his wand ready to fight any attacker. Instead of seeing dark robed men rushing to them, he could only see Snape. The man had managed to get out of the water, his robe loosely wrapped around his waist as he staggered towards a jar he'd left on the bank.
"What is it? What's going on?" Harry could see the agony on Snape's face. It was clear the man was in pain, but he had no idea what was causing it.
The word escaping Snape was quite probably 'idiot'. It was hard to tell, because of the harsh grunt surrounding it. Gaze burning with impotent rage, he took one more step, and then swayed, trying to stay on his feet. He didn't quite manage, falling flat on his face a moment later.
"Snape!" There was definitely something wrong with the man. "What is it? Let me help you." Knowing the words were simply going to gain him yet another deadly glower, Harry rushed closer to Snape.
Whose whole world was spinning, turning into a hazy nightmare. "The salve. Hurry!"
Harry didn't see the small jar at first. It was conveniently hiding under Snape's outer robes on the ground. He grabbed it as soon as he spotted it, wrenching the jar open and then handing it out to Snape. His gaze was full of worry as he watched Snape reach out with a trembling hand.
"Keep it steady." Grounding the words out from between clenched teeth, Snape tried again, this time managing to get a gob of the green salve on his fingers. He ignored the fact that his robe was slipping. Nothing mattered but the burn on his forearm, the pulsating agony that would only intensify until his whole being burned.
He slapped the salve on his skin, hissing as it made the pain only grow. Warm fingers came to hold his arm, keeping it in place. With quick, precise movements, he spread the potion all over the Dark Mark, covering the tattoo completely under the protective barrier of the potion.
The relief that flooded over him a moment later almost made him groan. Head bowed, he stayed where he knelt, breathing heavily. It was always a bliss, the absence of pain. For many years it had been the only ecstasy he'd felt.
Shivers were starting to run down his spine after a moment. The evening air was cooler than the water had been. He realized that the robe he'd wrapped around his waist in haste had slipped almost completely off, leaving him nearly naked.
And Harry Potter was still steadying his arm.
"Don't! Don't touch... it." The growl was instinctive. Snape could only remember two times he'd voluntarily shown anyone his arm like this. First to Dumbledore years and years ago. Then to that idiot Fudge after the disastrous Triwizard tournament.
His dark secret that wasn't so much of a secret anymore. The symbol of evil right there for everyone to see. How strange that he would now shy from having Harry see it, for the boy had already seen it once and had even made something akin to a casual comment about it.
"I won't touch it. I promise!" Harry didn't let go of the arm. His grip wasn't strong, Snape could yank his hand away whenever he wanted to. The fact that he hadn't already done so was amazing. "What happened? Was he calling you? Can he hurt you through it? Track you somehow? Are you all right?"
The questions all tumbled out, uncensored.
Snape raised his gaze, his eyes blank. He couldn't understand the absence of disgust and pity in Harry's voice. There had been signs of those emotions in Albus' eyes as he'd watched him roll up his sleeve. Horror in Fudge's gaze as he'd seen the mark. No one had ever seemed truly worried about him before.
"I'm perfectly fine, Potter." Slowly pulling his arm from the surprisingly gentle grip, Snape stood up. He remembered to get a hold of his robe the last moment.
It made Harry blush, and turn away.
Pulling on his clothes, Snape gathered his thoughts for a moment. His personal business was just that. Personal. Still, this could have effects on them all. It was Order business as well, in a way, and he would share it with this one person who might one day need it. "That was Vo.. You-Know-Who reminding me of his existence." As if he could ever forget.
"He made the Dark Mark hurt you." Not really a question.
"Yes. It burns when he wants his Death Eaters to come to him. It also burns if he concentrates on one of us; a way to either summon or... punish." An almost fool proof way to ensure peoples' loyalty.
It had taken Snape years to find the small book containing the instructions how to brew this particular potion. Even when everyone had thought the Dark Lord had perished, he'd been obsessed with the idea of a barrier potion. He was now glad of his persistence.
Harry nodded, even though he wasn't facing Snape. The gesture was automatic. "And track you?" He knew it was a stupid question even as it escaped him. If Voldemort could track Snape through the damn mark, he would have done so a long ago.
"No." Pulling on his outer robe, Snape looked up to the boy who was still standing there, with his back turned to him. His ears were visibly red. "You may turn around if you wish to."
There was a glint in Harry's eyes as he turned around. "All decent."
Neither even tried to pretend that Snape's glare was anything but amused. "Of course." He wanted to make some nasty comments about Harry's peeking earlier, but couldn't really find the energy.
"So... Will you be all right now? Will that potion keep Voldemort from hurting you?" Harry hated the way his voice cracked, but he didn't turn his gaze away. It seemed that he wasn't too worried to be embarrassed.
He didn't see any real anger or malice in Snape's eyes. He was simply looking at him. Assessing him somehow. Harry didn't know what that meant.
"Yes." Something changed in Snape's gaze. It was as if shutters had come down, hiding any true emotion. "We should go. We're already late for dinner, Potter." Snatching up his jars and vials, Snape gestured towards the cottage.
There were dozens of questions in Harry's mind. He wanted to know more about the mark and the potion dampening it, wanted to ask Snape about the scars. Was really curious about things he didn't want to even admit to himself.
He just nodded, leading the way back to their small hideaway. Snape didn't look like he was going to offer any more information tonight, and he really was hungry. There would be time to think about this later, maybe even find some answers.
Now it was time for dinner.
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Date: 2006-06-27 12:05 am (UTC)hmm... i just spent most of the day reading this and i can't find it in myself to be disappointed. just happy ^_^ thanks for writing! *tags your story*
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Date: 2006-06-27 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-27 02:49 am (UTC)OOOOOOOOOO! Ron's coming around, only he doesn't know it yet. :D
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Date: 2006-06-27 10:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-27 10:29 am (UTC)English is actually my third language. After writing and reading in English for over a decade I think I've managed to get over the most obvious mistakes, but I still wouldn't post anything ficwise before it was put through the spell checker and my beta. Every language has so many weird idioms and things a native speaker just *knows* and that's why I think a beta is worth her weight in gold.
I think native English speakers feel confident with their skills and then make typical spelling errors (the whole to-too, wierd, there-they're-their) without even noticing. Of course the fact that English spelling and pronouncing differ might be the reason.
/linguistics
Am really happy to hear you like the story (heh, at least this far). :D Even after years of scribbling, it's always great to hear that all the hours of wanting to throw the computer out of the window and then strangle all the characters weren't wasted.
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Date: 2006-06-27 10:33 am (UTC)At least Harry's actually facing the fact that Snape's at least a person and looks good naked instead of just holding onto old anger. Ron is such an idiot, but I adore him anyway. Can you say denial?
And I'm fantastic? Yay! Thank you. :D
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Date: 2006-06-27 10:37 am (UTC)I think Ron's a typical moron who kinda might like guys but can't face the fact that someone he hates is hot. Poor misguided Gryffindork.
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Date: 2006-06-27 10:39 am (UTC)And Ron might make a good house elf... At least he'd look adorable wearing just a pillow case...
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Date: 2006-06-27 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-28 06:09 pm (UTC)Thanks for the offer of beta, I might actually harass you with stuff later on. :) Two more books coming up after this...
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Date: 2006-06-28 06:14 pm (UTC)