Time is Running Out | By : danniperson Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 3330 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the universe or any of the characters and I am making no money from this work |
TIME IS RUNNING OUT
Chapter One: Promise of an End
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Curling up in bed beside his husband of eighteen years, Harry Potter didn't think twice about leaning in and pressing his mouth against Severus Snape's soft, thin lips. Severus didn't move, only pressing his lips firmly together for a moment before pulling back as much as he could lying down and growling, "Potter."
Harry groaned and buried his face in his husband's neck. Severus only squirmed away more. "Sev, I am tired," Harry grumbled, though he already began moving, knowing that no argument in the world was going to be enough to get him what he wanted.
"Then go to sleep," Severus retorted smoothly, eyes narrowed at his husband. "and keep that…beast…away from my person."
Harry snorted and reluctantly sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed and sliding off. "I do enjoy having you refer to my face as a beast." He sighed heavily and shuffled into the adjoining bathroom and glared into the mirror, rubbing his hand over the light trace of facial hair that was growing there. Severus was usually more creative, referring to it as amonkey or a crup or some other, more specific furry animal whenever his facial hair began to grow long enough for Severus to notice it. Harry didn't exactly like having facial hair, but he also didn't like having to shave multiple times a day just to be allowed near his husband. He was only glad not to be a particularly hairy person, otherwise Harry was afraid he'd spend hours having to shave various body parts to Severus's liking.
A few minutes later, Harry reentered the bedroom and crawled back into bed, feeling a bit more energized now that he had been up and doing something. He sighed, already getting the feeling that it was going to be a long and restless night. It was just his luck with the first day of classes beginning tomorrow. It had been a long enough day today with the welcoming feast and preparations for the start of the year, and the first day of actual classes was nearly as bad…He'd have to hand out everyone's schedules, making sure to set up meetings to discuss the futures of fifth years and seventh years since they would be taking the OWLs and NEWTs, making sure the prefects of his House and the Qudditch captain knew their duties, and that was just his role as the Head of Gryffindor House! He would also have to work on his actual teaching duties as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Then there was his duty as a father, making sure that Audrey, Naomi, and Richard were ready for the year, especially Richard since it was his first year.
"Wow," Harry whispered as it dawned on him, feeling some strange mix of pride and sorrow well up inside of him as he stared up at the dark ceiling.
"Yes?" Severus said.
"They're not here," Harry said quietly.
"No…They're not," Severus said just as quietly and just as thoughtfully, rolling over onto his back beside Harry. Obviously his mind was in the same place.
Their quarters seemed so empty now. The kids all stayed with them during summer and during the year when they were younger, but once they were Sorted they had to stay in their dorms in their respective House dormitories, only really allowed back with their parents during holidays or on special occasions such as birthdays and the night Audrey was so distraught and heartbroken over her breakup with Regis Shackelbolt fourth year and needed the comfort of her fathers. Now they were all gone. Audrey was probably still up reading in Ravenclaw Tower, Naomi was probably thinking of ways to sneak out of the Slytherin dungeons, and now Richard…their baby Richard was probably fast asleep in Gryffindor Tower by now. Audrey was in her sixth year, Naomi in her fourth, and Richard was in his first…
They were growing up too fast.
"Now is not the time to be sentimental, Potter," Severus said after a moment and Harry laughed, rolling over onto his side to snuggle up against his husband. He smiled a bit more when he felt Severus shift and two strong arms encircled him.
"It's never the time to be sentimental," Harry said accusingly. Such soft moments would always earn some sarcastic remark from the potions master.
"Exactly," Severus replied, sounding amused. Harry rolled his eyes and leaned up to kiss Severus gently, smiling into his lover's mouth as Severus began to kiss him back. He tasted the familiar flavors of Severus's favorite Superior Red wine and a pain relieving potion he had taken just a few hours ago to clear his migraine. He remembered teasing Severus at dinner about it, saying he was fifty seven and old and he couldn't handle all of the noise and commotion as well as he used to, while Severus retorted that he never handled children all that well. Harry grinned a bit more when he felt Severus growing hard against his thigh as Harry moved against him, rolling over on top of him. At the first feel, Harry ground his hips against his husband, feeling his own arousal awaken. He may have been old in age and mind, but his body reacted just as well as it always did.
"Potter, we are kissing, not posing for a photograph," Severus muttered against his mouth, frowning.
Not sure what to actually say to that, Harry pressed his thigh between Severus's legs pointedly. A quiet sound, somewhere between a muffled groan and growl, escaped the older wizard in response and Severus glared. "That is what happens when you incessantly wiggle against that area, Potter. Surely you know that by now."
"I didn't start wiggling until I noticed it," Harry argued.
"You always squirm around like some hyperactive child," Severus retorted as his fingertips lightly trailed down Harry's spine, causing the younger man to shiver and lean down to kiss him deeply again. Harry made a pleased sound as Severus ran his hands over his arse and grasped it firmly before moving his hands back up and wrapping his arms around his husband, holding him close. Both groaned quietly into each other's mouths as Harry began moving his hips against Severus's, pressing their more interested body parts together.
Severus held onto Harry tightly as he rolled them over so that he was on top of his younger lover, kissing him more urgently and grasping Harry's thighs, pulling his legs apart and up to hold around him. When Harry pulled his mouth away, Severus moved his own lips down Harry's jaw and to his neck, licking and kissing and nibbling at his warm skin that smelled faintly of the pomegranate-mango shampoo the boy was so fond of. He had used more masculine shampoo and conditioner until the girls decided on that one year for father's day…Severus hadn't expected Harry to like it so much, but the fruity smell didn't bother Severus as much as it used to. It was just part of his Harry.
"Accio lube!" Harry rasped out and shivered as Severus licked and lightly scraped his teeth along his collarbone.
"Assuming things, are we?" Severus whispered huskily as he trailed his tongue back up to flick against Harry's earlobe, pleased by the way Harry tightened his legs around him.
"Fuck me," Harry pleaded, scraping his short nails down Severus's back and grasping at the hem of his nightshirt and tugging it up.
Severus chuckled and moved when he needed to in order to help Harry in its removal. "You're thirty seven…You should show more self control than the adolescents we deal with on a daily basis."
Harry rolled his eyes and set the bottle of lubricant beside them on the mattress and began tugging at Severus's pajama bottoms and underwear while Severus worked on tugging the sleeves of his nightshirt from his hands and tossing it aside, then moved to sit up in order to help shove his pants from his legs. Harry was already eagerly shoving his own pajama bottoms down and kicking them off. He felt the need to argue that he was better than he used to be and with everything going on recently it had been a while since they had had sex. All of that was easily forgotten as bare skin met bare skin and he hissed in pleasure as he felt Severus's cock brush against his.
Severus luxuriated in taking Harry…He always did prefer teasing Harry to the point of madness before finally taking him. It didn't always happen that way…There were times when they jumped right into things as Harry seemed to like it and other times when they would meet somewhere in the middle of things. Severus wanted Harry, wanted him more with each passing moment, with every movement and every little sound he made, but he was not driven by the insane need to just take him. He wanted all of him, to explore every inch of his delectable body as he had done many times before, and would gladly spend the rest of his life doing. He never could get enough of the young man, every touch and every taste just as pleasing and exciting as the first time. It always felt that way, some fine medium between knowledge and comfort and excitement and passion.
He wanted nothing more than for Harry to lay back and enjoy himself and by now Harry fully understood that Severus truly did take great pleasure in pleasing him. Skilled potion-stained hands trailed over his burning skin, soft lips following their trail and taking care to tease his nipples along the way. He fumbled around for the lubricant and coated his fingers with the cool, slick substance as he kissed along Harry's stomach and pelvis and began preparing him as he took Harry's aching need into his mouth. Dark eyes locked with green as long fingers massaged his inner walls and that warm mouth moved over him, sucking him fervently until he had worked in three fingers and Harry was too consumed by pleasure to retain the self control required to hold his lover's gaze.
Severus removed his fingers and his mouth and climbed back up Harry's body, kissing Harry softly as he pulled his husband's legs up and guided his own hardness to the prepared entrance and entered him in one long thrust. Harry gasped into his mouth and clung to him closely, pressing up eagerly. Harry did his best to speed up the movements as he always did and Severus grasped his hips to hold him still, the small show of control and possession that Harry reveled in. Severus started out slowly and deeply, leisurely kissing Harry's neck while his husband clung to him and moaned loudly. At the feel of nails digging into his back, he was urged on to pick up the pace. It wasn't long before they were kissing desperately, Severus grabbing Harry's exploring hands and holding them down into the mattress, lacing their fingers together as Harry lifted his legs further, crying out his pleasure as Severus pounded into him repeatedly.
Harry was close…so very, very close when they were interrupted. He could feel the pressure and warmth building, all of that pleasure reaching that beautiful point when he was suddenly blinded by a very bright light in their very dark room. Harry hissed and turned his head away and Severus grunted and buried his face in the side of Harry's neck for a moment, only turning to squint at the patronus, a bighorn sheep, as it began to speak in Neville Longbottom's voice. "Sorry to bother you both, but we need you out here. Something's happened."
He almost said it could wait, but Harry knew better. Neville wouldn't bother them like this, especially at this time of night. Severus was already moving, frowning deeply as he pulled out of him, and looking just as irritated as Harry felt. The concern wasn't enough to override the annoyance just yet as the two grumbled and slid out of bed, pulling on clothes and robes as an afterthought to hide whatever obvious arousal remained through the interruption. Severus muttered a few things that sounded very gruesome and violent and probably all involved a very creative plot to kill Neville Longbottom. Harry agreed. The Herbology professor was a close friend of Harry's, but right now…
The thought was interrupted by another as they walked swiftly from their bedroom to the entrance to their chambers. Was it Neville's turn to patrol the halls tonight? Had something happened to one of the children? Severus seemed to have caught this train of thought first, because he hurried to the door before Harry and flung it open. Harry stopped where he was, staring in surprise at a very helpless looking Neville Longbottom holding onto a very distraught looking girl. It took a moment to recognize the beautiful sixteen year old as Odette Zabini, Audrey's best friend and daughter of Blaise Zabini and Fleur Delacour. Neville's daughter Bliss stood nearby, staring at Odette in shock and concern.
The sounds emitted from the part-Veela witch were horrifying. It went beyond crying. The sobbing and the screaming could only be described as anguished sounds of complete and utter devastation. Odette wailed and clutched at Neville's robes, looking as though he was the only thing keeping her halfway on her feet at all. Her screams were piercing and her lovely face was scrunched up and red and wet with tears.
"Miss Zabini," Severus said sharply, surprising everyone and earning glares from everyone but Odette. Harry wanted to slap his husband at first…The girl obviously needed comfort. His sharp voice seemed to strike something within her and Odette gasped and looked up at him. Her blue eyes were wide for a moment and she pushed away from Neville and flung herself at a very stunned Severus Snape and began wailing again, this time becoming more than mindless wailing. It took a moment to understand what she was saying, though it was in French. She was very much like her parents, slipping into a foreign language when she was very emotional. "Je suis désolé! Je suis désolé!"
"Err…You're sorry?" Harry guessed and relaxed a bit when Odette began nodding frantically. She began to hiccup between sobs and screams and Severus growled and grasped her by the shoulders, shaking her firmly.
"Odette! Calm down!" Severus growled. "What is going on?"
Odette began breathing heavily and quickly, her attempt to calm herself down ending up in hyperventilation and coughing. She was struggling to speak and everyone gathered around her, whispering soothingly, trying to encourage her to relax while listening closely to what she was saying. Everyone was in state of hopeless, helpless panic…Their first priority was getting Odette calmed down enough to explain something—anything—so that they could do something. Something awful must have happened, though no one thought much about that obvious fact as they whispered to her and stroked her arm.
"Au…Audrey!" Odette managed to wail. "Audrey!"
Severus and Harry froze, eyes turning wildly to each other while Neville and Bliss continued to hold her.
"What happened to Audrey?" Severus demanded, moving to step around them and out into the corridor. Harry turned and dashed back into their bedroom to grab his wand from the bedside table, having to jump across the bed to get to it and nearly falling flat on his face as he scrambled off of it. "Accio Marauder's Map!"
The Map zoomed into his hands from where it had been, laying on his desk. Harry hastily unfolded it as he scrambled back into the living room, eyes frantically looking over every inch of it for Audrey's name. Spotting him, Severus moved back into the rooms to grasp the ends of the Map Harry didn't hold, helping him look. Audrey. They had to get to Audrey. Odette was upset and it had to do with Audrey. Something had happened…something must have happened to their daughter, though neither dared to guess what it could be.
"There!" Harry said, jabbing a shaky finger at the name Audrey Potter outside of the castle. Without a thought, Harry clutched the Map and ran from the room, having to jump around Neville, Bliss, and Odette. Severus was right behind him. Nothing stopped them. No polite greetings from ghosts or paintings and not even giving a second glance to the Huffelpuff and Gryffindor locked in an embrace beside a statue. They ran as fast as they could and urged themselves to move faster as they ran upstairs and darted across the entrance hall. Harry could have screamed his frustration as he had to spare a few precious moments unlocking the front doors before bursting out of them and running to his left. He slowed only long enough to check his Map, not sure if he should be pleased or not to see that her name was still in the same spot.
"AUDREY!" Harry shouted as he ran closer to the spot it showed her name. He cast a quick lumos and reluctantly slowed down to look around the dark grounds.
"AUDREY!" Severus called, a few yards to his left.
They both shouted her name repeatedly. Harry's stomach felt as though it were twisted into a thousand tiny knots and his chest seemed to grow tighter, suffocating him more the longer the seconds ticked by.
When he saw her he couldn't breathe at all.
A dark lump in the distance they both rushed to. Their daughter had never looked so still in her life. The first moment was long as they both stared at her, their minds and hearts trying to make sense of what they were seeing. Their daughter…their beautiful, precious daughter lying on the ground in a large pool of blood, her body twisted to impossible angles. The position of her neck looked painful. Her arms and legs were thrown out wide. She looked so uncomfortable.
Harry didn't breathe. He couldn't look away. His heart didn't even feel as though it was beating anymore. He barely registered that Severus had moved, was shakily sinking to his knees by her side, and tenderly reaching out to check her pulse…to place his hand over her heart…to check her breathing…He watched, expecting Severus to pull out his wand or a phial and fix it. He waited for the magic cure and waited for his daughter to move and to open her eyes and to show some sign of life. He waited and waited until his head spun and he stumbled backwards, shaking his head vigorously.
"No," he gasped.
Tears burned in his eyes and pain unlike anything he had ever felt before hit. He never noticed his husband reaching out to pull her limp body in his arms, holding her close as his body trembled. He didn't hear the heartbreaking sobs from the man he had never, not once, heard cry. He heard nothing but a loud ringing in his ears, seeing nothing but the viciously red blood and blurred, dark shapes through his tears. This awful, dreadful feeling was all consuming. This was worse than facing the Dementors. He didn't simply feel as though he would never be happy again. He knew it. He also knew he would beg the damnable creatures to Kiss him, to steal his soul and hope to whatever deities existed that it would be enough of a sacrifice to bring his daughter back and if it wasn't then maybe it would numb him enough to drive this heartbreak away.
"No," he whispered. "She's not dead, Severus…Severus…SEVERUS! SHE'S NOT DEAD! SHE'S NOT DEAD, SEVERUS, STOP!" Harry screamed. This was a joke. A cruel joke. It couldn't be possible. There was no way…no way possible that Audrey, his beautiful firstborn daughter, could be dead. It wasn't possible for his precious baby girl to be dead. It wasn't possible that he could lose someone else that he loved so much. It wasn't possible that anyone that young and beautiful and smart and perfect could be gone. It couldn't be. Harry was on his knees, clawing up the grass and glaring through his tears to where Severus was rocking Audrey's body back and forth in his arms. He breathed deeply through gritted teeth and hissed and shook his head. "Stop it!" he croaked out. "STOP IT! NO! STOP IT!"
Harry his hands into the ground and shoved himself to his feet and stumbled forward. He stumbled all the way to where Severus and Audrey were and fell to his knees and shoved his husband. "You're hurting her, stop it!" Harry growled and grasped at Audrey's arm as it flopped around as Severus rocked her back and forth. "Audrey, wake up! Wake up…Baby, we're here…Wake up! You have to wake up now!" Harry pleaded desperately. "Audrey…Audrey, wake up! Audrey, wake up! Wake up now! Wake up right now!" he shouted angrily. "Audrey Blake Potter, you wake up right now or…or…Audrey, stop it! Severus, stop it! Severus, we have to help her! Severus, stop!"
What was Severus doing? Harry felt a strong surge of anger burst through everything else. Audrey wasn't dead and it wasn't right for him to act like it. Harry shook his head and sniffed hard as he grabbed onto Audrey and tried to pull her away from Severus. Why was Severus crying? Severus never cried. Why was Odette crying? This had to be some elaborate scheme to prank Harry and he was going to kill them all when they admitted it.
Because Audrey couldn't be dead.
She couldn't.
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Author's Note: I will admit it right now, I'm not an angst person so I don't know how this turned out. Angst is hard for me and I avoid reading it like the plague, so writing it wasdifficult! I did my best, though, lol. I was super depressed today and the idea came to me…Maybe I should have written it when I was still upset lol. Anyway, I hope it was good and I hope everyone enjoyed it so far. Please review and let me know what you think and if I should continue it!
Also wanting a beta for this and my story An Odd Sort of Family, if anyone is interested :) email me at danniperson at yahoo dot com.
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