Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Going On	By : Relevant_Peach Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 6814 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter universe or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
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- 11
Lucy the owl was a menace, Severus had decided. The little bird had decided that Harry was her Chosen One, along with the rest of the Wizarding World, and she hopped after him hooting adoringly everywhere he went. The bird had taken to sleeping in Harry’s bed, and if separated from him by a closed door, or, one afternoon, a hastily assembled baby gate, she took to mournfully hooting her dismay. In short, the bird never shut up. Severus was tempted to turn her into a duster. Fortunately, Harry took her along with him in his van while he did the school run.

Today, however, he was doing the shopping, and Muggle grocery stores had funny policies about owls. After completing his list, he picked up the owl and held her to his chest, running worried hands down her feathers.

“You’re sure she’ll be alright?” he asked.

“Positive” Severus drawled.

“And you have your mobile?” Harry had insisted on purchasing the Muggle telly-phone for Severus so that they could text. Severus hated the blasted thing, even after he’d programmed it to play a catchy little tune when Harry called. Severus was still figuring out how to text, but if the Muggle store didn’t want owls, they’d probably be annoyed by a Patronus as well.

“I have my mobile”

“Keep it with you, don’t forget it upstairs. In fact, don’t go downstairs. Lucy shouldn’t be around cauldrons. Just…stay in the kitchen with her”

“Very well” Severus had no intention of doing any such thing, but he’d say anything to get him out of the house.

“And don’t try to mercy kill her”

“That was one time”

“No spells. None.”

“You’re being ridiculous. You didn’t fuss this much when you left Theodore with me”

“You haven’t tried to kill Teddy”

“Not yet. Go. The bird will be fine”

“If she gets upset, play her the Beatles. She likes them”

“Out!” Severus roared. With a last worried glance, Harry threw some owl treats on the ground to distract Lucy, and ducked out the door. Severus heard his van start up, and pull out of the drive.

The owl, having consumed the treats, looked up to find her master missing, and began hooting in dismay. She hopped over to the window and looked out, then hopped into the sitting room and then the library, calling for Harry. Severus could hear the bird’s distress. If this bird has a coronary, I’ll be blamed, he thought dourly, trailing after the bird.

“Lucy” he said firmly. “Harry will be returning shortly. I suggest you return to your bed and rest until he does”

The bird, who had truly not forgiven Severus for his attempts to ease her suffering, hissed angrily at him. Bugger. Despite the fact that she couldn’t fly, she had a fierce beak, and sharp talons. Severus didn’t fancy what might happened if she attacked. His hand inched towards his wand. Bugger, he’d promised Harry. The bird, if possible, was more upset than she was before.

The mobile in Severus’ pocket buzzed. Severus ignored it, and said to the bird “Cease this. You will be fine. He will return”

The bird gave an angry squawk. “Rude” Severus muttered. What had Harry said that morning? Bacon. The bird had a weakness for bacon. He retreated from the angry owl, who waved her one good wing at him and hissed again. As he entered the kitchen, he approached the fridge as his mobile buzzed again. Infernal device. Opening the fridge, he found some leftover bacon from breakfast, and opened the little plastic baggy that Harry had put it in.

Lucy had decided to follow him, either because she felt she had him on the run, or because she hoped that snacks would be forthcoming. “Look” he said evenly. “I have bacon, which, I’m told, you enjoy. If you would comport yourself with some dignity, then I will share this bacon with you” Lucy hopped closer, eyes watching the baggy avidly. As Severus removed a thick slice, the sound of bells erupted from his pocket. Severus jumped, the bacon falling out of his hand. The bird also jumped, but, opportunistic little snot that it was, began picking at the bacon.

The bells continued. Eventually Severus realized that the noise was coming from his mobile. He snatched it from his pocket. “This is not a good time” he barked into it.

“Severus? I got worried. You didn’t answer my texts”

“Little busy” Severus panted. Lucy had finished the bacon and was now pursuing him, beak snapping.

“How’s Luc?”

“Angry”

“What did you do?” Harry demanded.

“Nothing!” Severus squawked. “She realized you were gone and took it out on me. Please may I cast a calming spell? She’s going to peck me!”

“Aw, she’s scared. Put her on!”

“I will not!” By now, Severus had leapt onto the counter. Thank Merlin the bird could no longer fly. “Potter. One spell. Just to take the edge off. I swear to you I won’t hurt her. She is unable to swear that she won’t hurt me”

“No, Severus, god, I can’t believe-“

“You value life!” Severus reminded him in a howl. “If you come home and I’m dead, you won’t be able to stay here on your own”

“She’s not going to kill you”

“It will be your conscience if she does”

“Fine. One calming spell. A gentle one. One that makes her have nice bird dreams”

“Thank you” Severus snapped the phone closed, and pulled his wand out in relief. As he pointed it at the bird, it hissed at him again, and snapped at the hem of his robe, which was nearly in reach. “Tranquillitas” he cast.

Instantly, the bird seemed to relax. It looked around, gave a curious hoot, and tilted its head at Severus curiously, as if wondering why he were perched anxiously on the countertop. Severus tentatively hopped down. Lucy approached him slowly, giving a curious nip at the edge of his slipper. Relieved, Severus retrieved another slice of bacon from the baggy and offered it to her.

An hour later, Lucy and Severus were fully reconciled. The little owl was snuggled by his feet, and Severus was humming “Hey Jude” while he wrote in his notebook. Harry bustled in through the kitchen door, arms full of groceries.

Lucy leapt to her feet with an overjoyed hoot and hopped over to Harry. He dumped the bags on the counter and swept her up. “I missed you too” he laughed.

“Did she behave?”

“She was an angel” Severus said dryly. As Harry bustled about, putting the groceries away, Severus said what had been on his mind for most of the afternoon. “It wasn’t the bird”

“Huh? What wasn’t”

“Don’t you find it curious that when I cast the spell that you jumped in front of, that it had no effect? It should have killed you”

Harry jumped. If Severus hadn’t been admiring his backside as he bent into the cupboards, he wouldn’t have noticed it. “Yeah, it’s a mystery. Probably something weird to do with my squibbiness.”

“Squibbiness isn’t a word”

“Sure it is. It’s an adjective. Or a derivative of an adjective. I’ll use it in a sentence: Harry’s squibbiness caused Draco Malfoy, an overreactive prat, to invoke a life debt that forced Severus Snape to babysit him.”

“My my, Potter, you’re a true linguist”

“I am. Pasta for dinner tonight?”

“Whatever. I was curious, though. I wondered if there were something off about Lucy”

“There’s nothing off about Lucy, she’s perfect”

“Indeed. And you’re right. When I cast the spell on her, it worked like…ahem…a charm”

“Hmm, well that’s good. If she finds herself with another broken wing, you might succeed in killing her the next time”

Harry was bantering with Severus like usual, but Severus hadn’t been watching the man for months now without picking up a few tells. His hands were knotted, a sign that he was nervous, and his voice sounded relaxed, but his shoulders were up around his ears. Curious, Severus thought.

“So, it’s not the bird, and I haven’t been able to recreate the problem since, so I think it’s safe to say that there isn’t anything wrong with my casting abilities. I wonder what it could be?”

“Why does it matter?”

“Because, Harry, it’s a mystery. And you love a good mystery”

“I don’t as it happens. You thought I did because I was always embroiled in them at Hogwarts. It turns out, though, that there was a madman who kept trying to kill me. I could have done without the mysteries, if I’m being honest” Harry banged a cupboard door closed a little harder than usual.

Teddy came bouncing into the kitchen. “Good, you’re home” he said to Harry. “Did you get those biscuits I like?”

“I did. But don’t open them now, they’ll ruin your dinner” Teddy had the packet in his hands and was just about the rip into it with his teeth.

“Come on, Harry”

“Nope, I’m making pasta.”

“Just one”

“I said no”

“You’re a prat” Teddy threw the packet of biscuits onto the counter. They bounced off the corner, and flew open, broken biscuits flying everywhere.

“Ted! Apologize and clean those up, please”

“Make me” The words were said quietly enough, but the insolent challenge was unmistakeable.

“What’s going on, Teddy?”

“Nothing’s going on. I just think that you should stuff your stupid rules. It’s not like you’ll do anything anyway”

“Is that what you think?”

“It’s what I know. What are you going to do, hit me? Starve me?”

Harry’s brow crinkled. “God, Teddy of course not. I wish I knew why you were so angry with me”

“It’s nothing. I hate it here. I hate you” Teddy ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs. The door to his room slammed.

Harry slumped to the floor and leaned against the cupboards. “What a monster he’s being right now. What do you suppose is wrong?”

“Merlin knows. It could just be approaching adolescence, along with a dose of missing his Grandmother”

“It’s so frustrating. I was beaten and starved, and I never even dreamed of talking back to my Aunt and Uncle like that. God, Severus, was I that much of a little asshole to you?”

Severus smiled. “You had your moments. But no, in hindsight, I understand you differently, I think. Every time you were impertinent, it was because you were terrified about something, or frustrated because someone was hiding something from you.”

“I understand why you threw a jar of cockroaches at me”

“I did no such thing”

“The pensieve thing. Which I never apologized for, by the way.”

“Oh yes. I was rather upset with you that day.”

“With good reason. I think I’m being punished, Severus. The universe has gifted me with the child of a Maurader, possibly the only nice Maurader, and yet, he’s channeling my father.”

“By that logic, it’s me who’s being punished”

“Fair point. What should I do differently?”

“With Theodore? You’re doing alright. Don’t give in when he’s being insufferable. I was always partial to punishing children with manual labour.”

“Don’t I know it. My hands still smell of cauldron cleaner”

Lucy had hopped over and was snuggled in Harry’s lap. He was looking down at her fondly, and stroking her feathers. She nibbled affectionately on his index finger, making a happy little chirruping noise. “I’m glad you’re here, Severus. It’s nice having someone to talk with about this stuff. Lucy gives terrible advice”
- 9
- 10
- 11
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Going On