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Crime is of the Essence	By : K8BNimble Category: Harry Potter Crossovers > Slash - Male/Male Views: 6594 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or BBC’s Sherlock nor do I make money from this. I just like playing with them. Harry Potter is owned by owned by JK Rowling, Scholastic and Warner Brothers & BBC’s Sherlock is owned by, well, the BBC

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
And I still don’t own either Harry Potter or BBC’s Sherlock. I also make no money on this either….

Story note: The year is 2018. It’s canon until the Epilogue. Harry never married. Ron and Hermione had Rose and Hugo earlier than indicated in the books so that they are older in this story. Rose was born in 2002 and Hugo in 2005. Other minor modifications made without notice probably!
Reminder: Reminder: The Sherlock in this story is from BBC's Sherlock which is set in contemporary times. This IS NOT Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock nor any traditional versions as portrayed by Jeremy Brett or any other actor. This is Sherlock as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch. You do not need to have seen the BBC series to follow this story.

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Crime is of the Essence

Chapter 9 - Never Leave Severus Snape to His Own Devices
Harry walked into the house to the smell of burnt feathers and macaroni. There were frozen icicles hanging from the ceiling.
He stared at Severus who was calmly sitting in front of the telly as if nothing was wrong. Harry heard his own voice coming from it. He recognized it as an advert from the documentary they showed every year around the anniversary of the end of the war.
“I see you didn’t manage to blow <i>that</i> up.” Harry indicated the telly as he took the food Lavender had packed up for him into the kitchen. One measly signature and Lavender gave him a romantic lunch for two in plastic containers.
He was unpacking it when Severus walked in and watched him. He pulled out the Oyster Stew. It wasn’t one of Harry’s favorites but at least it wasn’t <i>Swedish Meatballs</i>.
“Some boxes appeared in your hallway after you left,” Severus informed him.
“Were they from Madame Malkins?” Harry asked.
“Yes.”
“Those are the clothes I ordered for you last night,” Harry said as he continued to put things on the table.
“You bought clothes for me? You didn’t need to,” Severus seemed uncomfortable.
“Just say ‘Thank you, Harry. I really appreciate that’.” Harry grinned at him.
“Thank you, Harry,” Severus parroted. “Draco Malfoy came by,” Severus said a few moments later. Harry almost dropped the container of marinated asparagus. He managed to catch it at the last minute and sat it gently down on the table. An almond and fig compote followed.
“Apparently, I’m his godfather. He was very excited to see me. Kingsley told him of my situation. He hugged me without asking. I thought it was rude.” Severus stood there with his arms crossed.
“Severus, you were one of the few people that cared about Draco. He probably missed you. Perhaps you should give him the benefit of the doubt,” Harry suggested.
“I was cordial to him.” Severus seemed insulted that Harry would think otherwise.
“I’m sure you were.” Harry snickered. He pulled down some dishes and utensils and set the table for them.
“He brought me the things Kingsley promised this morning. I am now Evan Kornavich.” Harry made a face. “He wants me to sound foreign,” Severus added when he saw Harry’s expression.
“I see. That would explain why no one would know you. Did he give you a new id card?” He went to get some drinks for them.
“I’m supposed to be from Germany. I can’t do a German accent. He should have asked. I could convincingly pull off Russian, even Italian dialects, but not German.” Severus seemed irritated but sat down at the table.
“Well then, don’t talk to many people. Or tell them you were educated in Moscow,” Harry suggested.
“He also gave me a wand,” Severus added.
“That explains the living room,” Harry said with a grin as he sat next to him at the table. Harry began serving up the food.
Severus watched him for a moment. “I didn’t know how to fix it. I’m sorry.” The apology caught Harry off guard. He had to remind himself this was Severus Snape, the sternest Potions Master East of the Atlantic.
“It’s okay. I’ll clean it up later. Learning magic is never a tidy exercise. I’ll run you through some basics after lunch. You should be at least familiar with a few of them before we go out later.”
“That would be prudent,” Severus said as he looked at the dishes Harry sat in front of him. “Are you trying to tell me something, Harry?” Severus asked.
“What do you mean?” Harry noticed an amused glint in Severus’ eye.
“Oyster stew, asparagus, fig – these are all aphrodisiacs,” Severus said smugly as he lifted a spoonful of warm broth to his lips and blew gently on it. Harry watched the thin lips purse and a fleeting image of the dream went through his mind again. Severus smirked at him after he swallowed. Harry found himself watching Severus’ Adam Apple.
“No – no of course not. Lavender gave these to me,” Harry stammered and began to study the soup in his own bowl.
“Perhaps, she’s trying to tell you something, then. Who is this Lavender?” Severus now had a slightly hard edge to his voice.
Harry explained what he learned that morning. Lunch was good, but even better was having a lunch companion to discuss his morning with.

* * * * *

“You should cut my hair,” Severus said, out of the blue, when they finished eating.
Harry gaped at him. They needed to discuss how they should glamour Severus for the foreseeable future. He was surprised that Severus was the one to bring it up. Harry knew it should be simple, but he needed to look different enough so he didn’t remind anyone of the old Severus Snape. However, the more changes made using a glamour, the harder those changes were to hold.
“And perhaps we should color it. There are Muggle ways of doing that, correct?” Severus was studying his teeth in the reflective surface of the spoon. “Then you’d only have to glamour my nose and my teeth.”
“Excuse me?” Harry asked. “Why those?”
“I would think my hair and nose were my most distinctive features when I taught. I can only imagine what children said about them.” It was said in a very matter-of-fact tone rather than a self-deprecating one.
“I never minded them,” Harry said in a soft voice.
Severus looked at Harry with scorn. “So, you never called your Potions Professor names like ‘hooknose’, ‘giant bat’ or ‘greasy git’? I saw my photograph in that book. Wearing all black certainly made me look like a giant bat.”
Harry coughed and turned red.
“You don’t deny it then.” Severus looked for confirmation and obviously found it by the snort he gave.
“I was thirteen. And you weren’t exactly nice to me,” Harry explained defensively. “It was a long time ago. I don’t feel that way now.” Harry stood up and led the way to the Master Bath. May as well do it and get it over with.
Severus was gazing at himself in the bathroom mirror once they arrived. Harry stood beside him. “I hope you don’t hold grudges and give me the worst haircut in the world,” Severus said.
“Maybe we should wash it first? I always see hair stylists wash their client’s hair first.” Harry was trying to remember the last time he had to cut someone else’s hair. As far as he could recall, it had been Hugo when the boy had managed to get a wad of Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum stuck in his hair when he was five. He laughed as he told the story to Severus.
“I feel very reassured now,” Severus said with a pained expression.
“You could just do this yourself,” Harry suggested as he transfigured a towel into a chair like they used in the Ministry salon.
“Oh no, you’re my stylist. Don’t screw it up.” Severus crossed his arms in front of him. If Harry didn’t know better, he’d think Severus was teasing him.
“Fine. Just wait a minute. Why don’t you put on a robe so I don’t ruin your clothes.” Harry pointed to a dark blue robe hanging on the back of the door and left the room. He needed to make a quick fire call to Fleur. If anyone would know how to do this, it was Fleur.
Her dainty face appeared in the fireplace with a wide smile. “Har-ee. Eez so good to see you!” Fleur greeted him. “How arez you doeeng?” Her French accent was still very thick.
“Good, Fleur. Hope all of you are well?” She nodded enthusiastically. “I hate to rush you but I need to know how to charm scissors for a decent haircut.”
“Oh, Haree, just comez through. I vill do eet for you,” she offered.
“Um..no it’s not for me. It’s for a...guest.”
“I zee. You have a new boyfriend you wantz to eempress. Nosthing is soo entimate as washing your lovair’s hair, except washing sair feet, maybe.”
Harry blinked. That was a little too much information and a little weird. The sudden image of Severus’ long feet appeared in his mind and he couldn’t help but think of what it would feel like to wash them.
“Thees man, would he look handsome with Beel’z hairstyle?” Harry thought a moment and realized that Severus would look decent with Bill’s cut. It was short and neat. He nodded. “Then, I makes thees easy. Step back.”
Harry did so and after a moment, Fleur stepped through. She handed him a small kit. “Thees is my kit for the family. Eet’s still charmed for Beel’s hair so just use that.”
“Harry, what is taking so long?” Severus yelled from upstairs. He sounded impatient.
Fleur laughed. “That eez him? He sounds so…manly.” Harry was glad that Fleur had barely known Snape so probably wouldn’t recognize his voice. “I bet he has beeg feet.” She winked at Harry. “I leave you to eet then.” She left Harry standing in the room feeling like a tornado had swept through it.
He headed back up trying not to think of Severus’ feet. Thinking of his hair was bad enough.

* * * * *

Actually washing and touching Severus’ hair was far worse than he'd imagined, but not for the reason he had thought it would. He had transfigured a stool and had Severus lean back into the sink. He was able to stretch the portable shower massager from the tub over to the sink. The near-silent moans Severus made while Harry shampooed and conditioned his hair were almost obscene. He could feel their vibrations and the warmth of Severus’ breath against his chest when he leaned over him to reach his scalp. It was very distracting and almost sinful.
Finally, he had Severus sit up and face the mirror. He was towel drying Severus’ hair and noticed Severus looking at him in the mirror.
“Is something wrong?” Harry asked.
“No, I was just wondering about the snitch on your arm.” he asked. Harry looked down to see his tattoo had moved to his lower right arm and was fluttering just above his wrist.
“Oh this? I got it on my 21st birthday. I played professional Quidditch for a couple of years after the war. I needed to take a break for awhile.” He was using the charmed comb to untangle the knots in his long hair. “Do you remember what Quidditch is?” Harry asked. Severus’ eyes had closed but he nodded until Harry used his hand to stop his head from moving. It was a little surreal to be touching the man like this.
“A foolish game if I recall. But you were always good on a broom,” Severus answered softly.
Harry stopped. “Do you remember…I mean are you remembering me?”
Severus opened his eyes and looked confused. “I, uh, no, not really. I get flashes. Little pictures. I saw an image of you flying on a broom in some kind of uniform chasing a gold ball like your tattoo. Malfoy as well, but in different colors.”
Harry resumed combing. “In school, Draco and I were on different teams.”
Harry finished combing and opened the grooming kit. “Is short okay?” Harry asked. He hoped it was since he had no idea how to do anything else.
“I leave it in your capable hands,” Severus answered.
“Did you just compliment me, sir?” Harry asked. He cringed at how the ‘sir’ came out automatically. He felt quite thrilled at the compliment and irritated that he felt that way.
Severus studied him in the mirror. “I take it that’s not something I normally do?”
“Not often, no.” Harry downplayed it. “It’s kind of nice.”
“Then, I guess, don’t do anything to mess this up,” Severus replied with a smirk.
Harry made a face at him. “No pressure or anything,” Harry muttered. He took a deep breath and let the magical comb measure out the correct length of hair for Harry to hold as the charmed shears made sure the cuts were even and clean.

* * * * *

They were back in the living room, working on basic spells. He started with Accio and Alohamora since Severus seemed to remember them. Severus was a quick study. Harry wasn’t sure if it was because he really did learn that fast or if his memories of the spells were being triggered. He was showing the elaborate wand movements of Petrificus Totalus when he noticed Severus staring at his face and not his wand.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. Yes. I saw you on the news earlier. You were speaking at some recent function,” Severus stated. He slid his wand in the holster Draco had provided.
Harry wasn’t sure where he was going with this. “Yes. That was probably the Memorial breakfast that was held yesterday.” He sat on the edge of the couch and looked up at Severus. The man clearly had a theory he was working on.
“It’s been twenty years, right?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you find it odd that on the day of the twentieth anniversary of the Dark Lord’s demise that a Death Eater turns up dead holding a vial of your hair? Another one returns from the dead?”
“The thought had occurred to me.”
“Are you often on the news? I saw an advert for a documentary about you that is being aired later tonight.”
“They show that every year around this time. I don’t make many public appearances and for the most part, the press leaves me alone so long as I agree to the occasional interview.”
“Doesn’t being famous make it difficult to be an Auror?” Severus asked.
“It’s one reason I do so many international assignments. Overseas, they mostly know me from when I was younger. The war didn’t affect them as personally or dramatically as it did here. I’m mostly a footnote in history in other cultures. It’s also why I became so good with glamours.”
“I see. So the only time people know that Harry Potter will appear publically is at this time of year?”
“I suppose that’s right.”
“So there’ll be a lot of fans there tonight.” Severus stated this as fact and under his breath. Harry barely heard him. Severus sat down on the recliner in deep contemplation.
“What’s going on in that brain of yours?” Harry asked.
“Do you have any overly eager fans or fans that you see regularly?”
“I suppose so. I don’t respond to owls if that’s what you mean. My secretary handles them.”
“Your secretary?”
“The departmental secretary, rather. Justin Abbott. I don’t get many of them anymore and he’ll alert me if anything comes in that warrants my attention.”
“And nothing has lately?”
“No, other than a several requests for autographed pictures for sick children. I always sign those.”
A sudden buzzing interrupted them. Harry looked around trying to figure out where it was coming from. Severus joined him and finally traced it to the iPhone lying on the kitchen table where Harry had dropped it at lunch.
Severus looked at it and huffed. “It’s Sherlock, for you,” and handed it to Harry.
“How do you…,” Harry looked down and saw Sherlock’s face staring back at him.
“What is taking you so long?” Sherlock asked impatiently. Harry looked around trying to figure out what he was supposed to press.
“Hit the button that says ‘answer’ so I can see you, too” Sherlock explained. He looked to another man standing next to him. “I should have gotten you the voice activated one.” The shorter man frowned. The comment confirmed that the phone Harry currently held was John’s phone. Harry hit the button Sherlock referenced.
“Hello? Can you see me?” Harry asked tentatively, feeling rather silly talking into a small handheld device.
“Finally. Yes, we can see you. Are you about ready? I have some things I’d like to show you. Can you come to my place?”
“Are you still at 221B Baker?”
“I’m impressed you remembered,” Sherlock said. “Your usual spot is clear.”
“OK. We’re on our way.” Harry put the phone into his pocket. “Let me finish your glamour,” he said to Severus. As they didn’t have time to do Muggle hair coloring on Severus, Harry just added it to the glamour. Hair color changes were the simplest glamours to hold so it required no real effort.
A small voice from his pocket said, “Hey, end this chat.” Harry blushed and pulled the phone out again. He was annoyed to see Sherlock’s grinning face. Harry found the end call button and Sherlock’s face disappeared.
- 9
- 10
- 11
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Crime is of the Essence