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Seraphim Beneath The Christmas Tree	By : starstruck86 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Ron Views: 8943 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor do I make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
A/N: Heyheyhey! Well. This one
took it out of me yesterday. But I blame the fact that two of my favourite TV
shows were rather dramatic in the episodes I watched yesterday and this is
their fault entirely! ;) Thank you for your reviews, as always:

Kai �yes indeedio. Snapey anger ahoy.

Seraphime �Here�s your morning
joy, then, it makes me so happy to read that! But, well� as to who the anger is
directed at, you�ll see here. But don�t be too disappointed just yet.

Sheree �what moment? *whistle*

Pittwitch �thank you! Hope you
continue to stay with me and enjoy!

hairsprayX12 -� don�t count the chickens yet, this isn�t the
be all and end all for the temper, I promise, just wait and see!

Tambrathegreat �hmm, you�re clever
;) read on and see.

Abbi cee
�No, it was Moulin Rouge!

Davinci �Sorry for the scary ;)

Lady Zombie �It was a money thing, but she wanted to hold it
:( Ron was singing Starship�s �We Built This City�,
just so you know ;)

Well. Hmm. I think this chapter has
a lot of elements you�ve been asking for, George stepping up to the plate,
moments� just read on and see, I hope you enjoy. There are only two planned chapters of this fic left now. Xxx

----

�No, it was always so unfair being the youngest, I never got
to be the mummy,� Ron sniffed with mock regret. He was sprawled on his sofa and
George, Bill, Charlie and Harry were dotted about his living room, trying to
entice him out for the night.

�And why being an older brother rocked,� Bill grinned. �I
can remember when you were four and you were actually shit scared of me� I
chased you out into the garden and then I fell over something� hit the ground
and the stuff came off my face and you just looked at me, let out this growl of
rage which I have never heard come
out of any other four-year-old in my life
and pounced on me.�

�Is that the time he kneed you in the balls?� Charlie
frowned, trying to recall.

�I what?� Ron�s eyes flew wide.

�We don�t really need to bring that up,� Bill shot Charlie a
glare.

�Oh, we do,� Charlie snorted into his bottle of beer and
grinned evilly. �Did you know you hurt Bill so badly he had to go to hospital,
Ron?�

Ron felt the blood drain from his face and his mouth fell
open. �Bill� I��

�You were four,� Bill flicked him an amused glance. �I don�t
hold grudges. Unlike you, who wouldn�t trust me properly for years because of
my stint as the mummy.�

�What I don�t get,� Harry looked at them all. �Is why if you
were wizards you turned your brothers into mummies with toilet paper? Surely
you could have used something better?�

�Ah, but, Harry� there is nothing quite
like the look on our mother�s face when someone doesn�t change the loo roll
after them. It�s even worse when she realises that there�s none left� at all.�
George looked innocently at the fire, though his eyes were twinkling.

�Or when Fred learned how to charm it to make it disintegrate
when it�s touched,� Ron poked George on the shoulder.

�Still one of my best money makers,� George smirked. �Which
reminds me, we digress; I am offering to take you out on the razz with my
accumulated wealth, little brother. Are you seriously telling me you�d rather
stay here in this poky little flat than come out with us and get sloshed?�

�I think I am,� Ron grimaced, and got to his feet. �I have
apparently crossed into the land of the old.�

�Next stop pipe and slippers,� Charlie needled him.

�Shut up, Mr. I�m-Going-To-Be-29-Forever.�

�I am!�

�Funny that the birth certificate implies that you�re nearer
forty now��

�Look, are you asking to be plastered in bog roll?� Charlie
raised his eyebrows. �You might be twenty-seven, Ronald, but I could take you like
I used to.�

�Bring it,� Ron pushed back the sleeves of his jumper and
aimed a punch at his brother.

It was only then that toilet paper exploded out of the end
of someone�s wand and landed over his head.

�Guys, no-� he wobbled but firm hands held him tight. �I was
joking; I don�t need to know what I missed in my youth!�

But it was very clear that he wasn�t going to escape and he
was then subjected to a vicious tickling assault. �Fuck off, knobs!� He cried
with laughter, trying to wriggle away from whoever was holding him. �Noooooo!� he sobbed playfully, his ears spiking with pain
but he ignored it. �Seriously I�m going to fucking kill you when I get out of
this.�

Yeah, if they keep
laughing like that they�re going to wake Severus up and the mood he was in when
he went for a nap was not the kind you want to provoke�

As if on cue, Ron picked up the sound of the bedroom door
swinging open, but someone hit him with an actual tickling spell and the only
thing he could do was wheeze with laughter.

�What are you doing?� Severus looked over the scene in the
living room with raised eyebrows. Bill had hold of someone wrapped in toilet
roll, Charlie was shooting spells, George was creating an immense amount of
toilet paper and Harry was trying to remain upright on the arm of the sofa,
laughing.

�Toilet papering Ron into a mummy,� George said calmly,
layering some around Ron�s face so his words were muffled.

�Fuckinbastardserghinmymouf!�

Severus watched with an interested expression as George
finished and then Bill spun Ron in his arms three times and let go.

�Nooooooomphfuck,� Ron collided
with the sofa.

�Do you do this often?� Severus asked with a small smile,
leaning on the doorframe.

�Not recently,� Charlie laughed. �Ron was complaining that
as the youngest he never got to do the whole thing and then he said he�s not
coming out with us for the night, so we thought a little payback was in order.
Did we wake you?�

Severus shook his head and watched Ron trying to free
himself, but George had tied his fingers together. Taking a few steps forward,
Severus reached and grabbed the tail end of one of the toilet paper pieces and
unravelled Ron with a jerk, then tugged him over to the rat cage. Easing open the door, he tantalisingly dangled the paper in front
of Peaches, who pounced upon it, and then began yanking it in with all the
strength she could muster.

The room erupted into laughter as Ron was forced to turn
against his will.

�Fuckingusedthestrongstuffyoubastardsssssss!�

�Yeah that�ll never break, it�s a new trick one I�m
developing for Christmas,� George beamed. �You know, catch all the Christmas
over eaters with toilet roll that doesn�t break off.�

�You are positively cruel,� Severus stood back and folded his arms over his
chest, his small smile blossoming into a grin.

Severus was glad that Ron�s face was covered so he wouldn�t
start about the fact that Severus was not using his walking stick.

Fucking
thing. The only thing it is
good for is for hitting people. I don�t need a blasted walking stick, I am no
longer infirm!

And Severus wasn�t particularly, but he wasn�t good for long
distances or strenuous activity. But when the ability to walk had returned throughout
August, he�d finally felt better about his situation. Walking meant he had some
freedom, that Ron didn�t have to everything for him,
and it was far better for them both to have the breathing room. But Ron seemed
to have fallen into his role as carer far too easily and had the ability to be
overbearing.

Gets
it from his mother.

Severus mentally chided himself for the rude comment and
turned his attention back to watching the rats unravel the redheaded figure, who was clearly becoming quite dizzy.

�So are you sure you�re not coming out with us?� George
asked again.

�Not coming,� Ron groaned, papered hands rising to his ears
which were giving out with his lightheadedness.

�You suck,� Harry got to his feet. �We need to go, then, or
we�re going to lose track of the time and become as old as him.�

�Bastards!� Ron cried woefully, not
realising they had all left through the fire.

�Come here, you,� Severus smirked, reaching out and
steadying Ron�s body in his hands. He unravelled what was left of the toilet
paper without letting the redhead move and when his face finally came back into
sight it was red and flushed.

�Fucking bastards,� Ron shook his head irritably. �Ow.�

�I think that is what big brothers are for,� Severus gave
him a smile, and then lowered his arms to loop them around Ron�s waist.

�Mm, and I am a little brother and
therefore I can swear at them until I�m blue in the face,� Ron swallowed hard.
He turned sideways and closed the door to the cage, smiling at the sight of his
rats buried beneath a veritable mountain of paper. �Should
keep them busy.�

Severus kissed his forehead and then moved away, aiming for
the sofa but Ron grabbed his arm. �Come and keep me company whilst I make
dinner?� he smiled.

Ron turned and tugged him by the hand into the kitchen,
flicking on the light as he passed. �Did you sleep well?�

�Yes,� Severus watched as Ron did his usual pondering in
front of the open fridge, tapping his fingers in the same rhythm as he did
every night as he perused the contents.

�What d�you fancy?�

�You.�

�You say that every night,� Ron smiled to the inside of the
fridge and yawned. �I cannot be shitted.� He slammed the door shut and bent for
the freezer instead, knowing that he presented Severus with the perfect view of
his backside and meaning to do so.

�You do nothing to change my opinion,� Severus leant back on
the worktop and followed the sloping gradient of backside into thighs.

�I know,� Ron straightened again with a frozen lasagne in
his hands. �Your gut up to this?�

�Why not,� Severus flashed him an eye roll and Ron moved to
the microwave. �Put it in the oven to reheat.�

�Yes Mum,� Ron growled, and turned around to fight his scary
oven. �I hate this thing; I swear it plots to overthrow me��

�It is so simple,
but then for your mind, probably not,� Severus reached passed him and deftly
turned it on and Ron muttered something under his breath as he bent to slide
the lasagne in. �Pardon?�

�I said you�re an egotistical whore,� Ron grinned at him, running his hands
back through his hair. �Who just loves to make feel small and stupid.�

�I like making everybody feel small and unintelligent, do not
give yourself such high ranking in my priorities,� Severus answered Ron in the
way he wanted to be answered.

Ron turned away to look out of the window in the back door,
smiling up at the moonlit garden. With September came the changing of the
season and he could sniff autumn in the air. After the lack of the summer
they�d had it didn�t seem to make much difference, but the light quality had
lessened and Ron felt as though they were standing on a precipice simply
waiting to be pushed headfirst into winter.

Kicking and screaming
because we all know his moods are going to get worse when the nights draw in
and the weather gets cold and we�

�What�re you thinking about, hmm?� Severus was behind him,
whispering in his ear, warm hands sliding around to rest over Ron�s stomach.

My ever growing podgy
stomach� Ron thought bitterly. His ear injuries made exercise difficult.
There was a time when the pounding in his head indicated a good run, the feel
of the blood thumping around his veins made him feel that he had succeeded in
keeping his body healthy. But the few times he had tried to run he had returned
home in agony. And none of the Healers could tell him why he wasn�t well again,
as they had promised the first day he�d woken up in the Hospital in June.

�Winter,� Ron murmured, leaning back into his touch.

�It�s only September,� Severus frowned curiously.

�Yeah but from hereon in it�s just a downward slide, isn�t it? Dark nights,
cold weather, saving for Christmas and stuff� nobody has any money, nobody�s
happy� everyone wants to strangle the relatives left alive and mourn the ones
that are gone��

�Now that sounds unlike you,� Severus nuzzled against his
hair. �Want to talk?�

Ron didn�t see how he could take Severus up on the offer
when the majority of his worried and dark thoughts concerned him. �No,
honestly� I�m fine, I just hate this point� you know?�

�Being stuck in here with me throughout the winter, you
mean?� Severus asked quietly.

Severus might have been miles off his game physically but
mentally he was as strong as ever and he wouldn�t have missed the way Ron
seemed to be resigned to an uncomfortable fate even on his worst day.

�You know you can talk to me, don�t you?�

�I know,� Ron sighed. �It�s just� I worry about you, and me,
and everything, and money and it� my brother just offered to take me out with
his money.�

�So this is a matter of pride?�

�Sort of. I guess I just got used
to having the money, not having to worry� which is fucking ridiculous
considering I grew up with barely two sticks to rub together.�

�I am sorry I cannot help you more,� Severus swallowed
nervously.

�It�s not so much that I�m struggling, I promise,� Ron
chewed his lip. �But did you� well. I had plans about
where I�d be in life at this point, and when I got my job it seemed like that
it would all work, and I was starting my savings and stuff� they took a hit
from the wedding and recovered.�

�But now they�ve had another hit and you can�t replace the money because of
your extra expenditure?�

�I don�t see the cost of your treatment as a �hit�,
Severus,� Ron said sharply. �It makes me happy to see you healing, so it�s not
a hit at all. And you are far more to me than extra expenditure.�

�But I am still causing your anxiety,� Severus kissed his
ear.

�Not just because of the money,� Ron muttered awkwardly.

Severus said nothing and looked up into the garden, seeing
the way the trees blew lightly in the wind and the leaves made patterns against
the bright moon in their lowered position.

�Why did you choose to remain here tonight?� Severus asked
softly.

�Because I didn�t want to go out,� Ron shrugged.

�Liar,� Severus accused gently, and then turned Ron to face
him, keeping his hands tight on the muscled upper arms. �Ron, you do not need
to tie yourself to the flat whilst I�m in it. I can walk now, I can feed
myself, I would be quite capable of tending to myself for a night if you wanted
to go out and rejoin society.�

�I don�t want to.�

�Ron, look. Living in the bubble we have been is not
healthy. I am fine with it; after all, I have several years of practice which
even extends to before the time I disappeared. I was never a very social
creature and I am happy to simply remain at home. But you are not, you are
twenty-seven, warm and you have friends. You should not refrain from spending time
with them.�

�You�re only saying that because if I don�t go out with
Harry he comes here,� Ron�s lips quirked in a smile and he looked down between
their bodies.

�I am slipping if I have apparently become so transparent,�
Severus sighed, looking guiltily away. �Next time they ask, you will not say
no, not for me.�

�Alright,� Ron assessed him with glittering eyes, and
reached to brush away some dark hair from Severus� eyes. �Next time I�ll go
out.�

Severus gave him a smiling kiss and enveloped him in his
arms again. The musky scent in the red hair made him shiver slightly and Ron
smiled as he dipped his hands down and massaged against the man�s back,
eliciting a groan.

�I learnt tonight that when I was a kid I kicked my brother
so hard in the balls he had to go to hospital,� Ron whispered as they stood
there.

�And he still talks to you?� Severus raised an eyebrow that
Ron could not see.

Ron snorted his laughter. �I don�t even remember it, how do
you forget causing bodily harm like that? I�ve been kneed in the nuts, it
fucking hurts��

�I have done it but never had it returned,� Severus
admitted.

�Who�d you do it to?� Ron pulled back, his face full of
teasing.

�I do not think you would benefit from such information,�
Severus sniffed airily. �You should check on the food.�

�Come on,� Ron needled. �Who was it?�

Severus let out an exasperated sigh and said, �Will you ever
let it rest if I choose not to tell you?�

�Fuck no!�

�Fine,� Severus dropped his eyes to the lino and muttered,
�Black.�

�No way!� Ron burst out laughing.
�Why? How? What did he do?�

�Because he was an impudent bastard who picked a fight and
lost for a change, and he curled up on the floor in a ball and let his friends
get vengeance,� Severus growled.

Ron covered his hand with his mouth and smirked into it,
trying not to let it reach his eyes. �What did they do back?�

�I am most certainly not
telling you that,� Severus turned away, the shutters falling down in his eyes
and he left the kitchen, leaving Ron standing alone.

Deflating like a popped balloon, Ron leant onto the
sideboard and folded his arms over his chest, looking back out at the garden.

No, you never tell me
anything from the past at all. Anything. You can�t fucking run from the past forever, Severus!

�What did you say?� Severus asked him from the living room.

Uh, shit, what did I
say? I wasn�t meant to be speaking. �Nothing,� Ron called back and busied
himself with the oven, and was surprised when Severus let it slide.

***

�You spend far too much time in here,� Kay muttered at Ron
as she cast diagnostics around his head.

Ron said nothing and sat still, letting the witch cast her
magic. It seemed more and more possible that nothing was going to help his ears
and there was the unspoken suggestion it would never get better. That didn�t
help Ron�s feelings about his work situation �technically he was now working
from home, which he was. But it was the dull paperwork of the Auror HQ that
nobody else wanted to do, and he wanted back in the office, to be back on duty
and working with Harry. He was just waiting for the day when Harry turned up
and said he�d been assigned a new partner.

And won�t that just be
the merriest fucking conversation of all time? He glowered at the wall.

�You seem unusually tense today, has something happened?� The question was
gently posed and Ron let out a sigh.

�Just worrying about money and work and
stuff.�

�You mean Severus by stuff, huh?�

�You got me,� Ron answered after checking the bedroom door
was closed.

�I know he must be hard to live with� for all his fancy
words he�s got the mouth of a docker when he�s in a
temper.�

�I think he actually might have learned that from me,� Ron
made a face at her. �He seems to have become, hmmm. What would he call it?
Unscrupulous in his language choices since living with me?�

Kay laughed and shook her head at him, sending her chocolate
brown hair flying about her face. Ron watched it fall and was reminded of
Severus in its straightness. His Healer was an attractive woman, only a little
bit older than himself, with hazel eyes and a beautiful smile. Ron was getting
over his surprise that, despite her beauty, she did nothing for him. When with
her obvious chest and backside, she once would have been exactly his type, now
there was no type.

Only
him. And that�s fucked up because
you can�t even drag out the balls to tell the man how you really feel about
him� and you can�t hide behind the �my girlfriend left me three hours before
the wedding and I�m hurt� mask forever.

Ron knew he couldn�t because the mask was, nearly a year
later, non-existent. Since June and Severus moving in, he had almost completely
forgotten her, and the hurt, and what she had done to him. He had not seen her
since the day in the hospital and the stories in the newspaper about her work
and about her upcoming wedding didn�t cause stabs of pain through his chest at
all. He didn�t read the stories, because he didn�t want to rub his own nose in
it, but they didn�t hurt him.

�You�re far away today,� Kay prodded him lightly on the
shoulder. �I�m done with you now. No change, but then you already knew that,
didn�t you?�

�Yeah,� Ron scrubbed his fingers over his eyes and got to
his feet.

�Sleeping better yet?� She asked him.

�Finally,� Ron breathed. �It still never feels enough, you
know?�

She gave him a sympathetic smile and filed away his chart in
her bag. �Look, I know this is� you don�t want to hear this. But I think you
need to come to terms with the fact that it might never change. I can sign you
up for-�

�I am not going anywhere near the therapists,� Ron folded
his arms over his chest. �Nope. And you can�t make me,
I know my rights, don�t try!� He laced his tone with joviality.

�Alright, you stubborn arse of a man,� she sighed at him.
�But if you ever do need to chat� there are people in the world other than him,
you know?�

She jerked her head back at the bedroom door, which was
still closed.

�But he�s who I want,� Ron swallowed.

�And if he doesn�t want you?� one russet eyebrow rose in
question.

�When did you get so up on my love life?� Ron muttered grumpily.

�I�m just saying that you should get out a bit!� she
protested. �In fact, look. Tonight is Friday, yes?�

�Last time I checked, the days all blur into one.�

�Right there, Ron, is why you�re going to meet me in The Leaky at eight
tonight. I�m calling it a therapeutic trip for your senses. I want to assess
how you react in a public situation so that I can better treat your problem.�

�Smooth,� Ron laughed at her. �You should get in contact with my brother
George, you�re right up his alley.�

�So, will you come out for a drink with me tonight?�

Ron thought about it but instantly the implication was there
that it was some kind of date and that felt like he was cheating on Severus.

�No,� he shook his head and looked away. �I�m sorry��

�Fine, then as your Healer, I order it,� she grinned at him.
�What�s one drink going to do, Ron? And actually it�ll be a
very interesting exercise for me observe you, it�s purely professional.
Bring your friends if you want, if you feel uncomfortable?�

�I�ll think about it.�

�I�ll be there regardless of what happens,� she assured him.
�I have a social life, unlike you.�

�And maybe you should try not mixing it with your work?� Ron
niggled.

�Nice try,� she slid her bag onto her shoulder. �So, tonight then?�

Ron simply shrugged and felt embarrassed that at twenty-seven
he felt so unsure of accepting the invitation. What in Merlin�s name happened to you?! Fucking hell.

She turned to leave but then the bedroom door opened and
Severus appeared, shooting Ron an annoyed glance before he let the Healer pass
him.

�See you both next week!�

Neither of them answered their medical team and Ron found
himself confronted with an obviously angry Severus.

�What was that all about?� Severus glanced at the now-empty fireplace.

�Nothing,� Ron shrugged, instantly twigging that Severus had
only caught parts of the conversation in the living room. �She says I�m
spending too much time in here cooped up and should get out more.�

�And that transmuted into asking you out this evening?�

There was a definite edge to the voice and glitter in
Severus� eyes which put Ron�s back up, and he folded his arms firmly across his
chest.

�Well, yes, but I said no.�

�I didn�t hear you say that.�

�Well, I did but she�s better than George at cajoling,� Ron
sighed and turned away.

�You aren�t going,� Severus stated as though it was obvious.

�Well, no, I didn�t intend to,� Ron pulled back the curtain
and looked up at the street.

�Your answer should have been a firm no; it is rude to lead
people on.�

�It�s not leading her on,� Ron frowned. �It�s not a date for
fuck�s sake.�

Even though you stood
there and thought the same thing when she said it, the voice in Ron�s head
reminded him slyly.

�To be honest it does not sound far off such an invitation.�

Ron turned and looked at him and was surprised to see an
extremely pale face and even angrier eyes than before.

�Well, I�m standing here and telling you that it isn�t one,�
Ron levelled.

�Even so, you are not going.�

�Says who?�

�Me,� Severus pulled himself up to his full height and
stared down his nose at Ron.

�Are you my keeper?� Ron half-laughed.
�Who last night was telling me that I needed to go out more?�

�I told you to accept the next time your brothers asked
you,� Severus shot with venom. �Not accept the first invitation you got from a
pretty woman.�

�I didn�t accept!� Ron cried.

�Well you did not say no, which was enough for her.�

�What�s wrong with you?� Ron frowned incredulously.
�Severus, it�s not a date, I don�t want a date with her. Not my type.�

His only answer was the slamming of the bedroom door as
Severus disappeared behind it.

Slightly bewildered he felt anger inject into his
bloodstream as he stared at the wood.

Really? He wants to control me now as well as
making me as miserable as sin on a daily basis?! Fucking
bastard. In a temper, Ron dropped to his knees on the hearth and
chucked in a handful of powder. �Harry Potter�s Office,� he called, and
prepared to make the first of a long line of firecalls.

***

Ron stepped out of the shower, reaching for the towel
hanging nearby. He found himself actually looking forward to the evening ahead
now he had planned it out. After firecalling Harry he
had hit George and then got them to invite others. He hadn�t been out for a
while and it would be nice to just sit and chat without having to think about
anyone else.

Severus had neglected to speak to him all afternoon and so
Ron hadn�t bothered to tell him his plans, muttering bitterly about respect and
courtesy. He knew that Severus was a possessive person, from his history, from
the words out of the man�s own mouth, and from the way he kept a death grip on
Ron�s hips whenever he could, even when there was nobody else in the flat.

Normally, Ron liked it, that someone wanted him with such
ardent and obvious need, but he felt that Severus had crossed the line with the
�you�re not going� spiel that had played out earlier in the day.

I�m not a child and if
I want to go out, I will.

He reached for his wand and dried his hair with a hot stream
of air, his fringe settling down to sweep over his eyes in the way that forever
had Severus pushing it out of his eyes, but when Ron had suggested cutting it
he had received a very long lecture on quite why Severus would never allow that
to happen.

Can�t believe he
actually sat there and made up ten points as to why my hair should be left as
is� Ron looked at his reflection in the mirror and made a face at himself. If he can sit there and make a list about my
hair you�d think the man would be capable of speaking three words which would make
everything better.

Ron knew that the words �I love you� were severely overused
and often uttered without true promise, but he also knew that both he and
Severus had surpassed that point. Ron was just waiting for the opportune moment
where he thought Severus would be open to the idea of being loved. He had tried
spelling it out in every way other than actually saying the words but if
Severus noticed, he never mentioned it.

And that�s fucking
stupid because the man has to be blind if he can�t see that I would go to hell
and back for him�

Ron always wondered if maybe that wasn�t quite enough.
Severus knew his loyal character, and what he had done for Harry and George,
and Ron often mused whether he did not count Ron�s loyalty and a proclamation
of love suitable proof of his feelings.

He pulled open the bathroom door and let the steam escape
and was faced with, as he had been all day, the closed bedroom door. Severus
had been in there since their argument and didn�t bother with lunch, and now
Ron needed clean clothes. With a deep breath he opened the door, holding his
head high and the towel wrapped tightly around his waist. The light was on and
he saw that Severus was reading.

�Evening.� The word seemed desolate
and cold.

�Hey,� Ron returned, willing to give a word for a word if
Severus wanted to make up for his overreaction.

Standing in front of the wardrobe Ron looked at his clothes
and chewed on his lip, wondering what to wear. They were only going to the pub
but it felt like a lot more was riding on the evening for reasons he couldn�t
quite place.

He selected decent jeans and a deep blue shirt which wasn�t
quite navy and somewhat metallic in the finish. Hermione had always loved him
in it, saying it brought out his eyes. He stepped into the jeans and buttoned
them, reaching for the shirt and throwing it around his shoulders. He turned as
he did up the buttons and aimed for the dresser.

�Are you going out?� Severus� voice cracked through the air
like a whip and Ron hated that he jumped.

�Yes,� he forced himself to use the correct words and he
glanced over his shoulder.

�With her?� Severus� voice was
rising with incredulity.

�No, with the guys,� Ron shrugged. �Harry, George��

�Where?� Severus demanded, throwing his book down and
getting to his feet.

�Well, just out, I don�t know what pub we�ll end up in.�

�A likely story, we both know you�ll end up in the Leaky, as
always.�

�It�s not for her,� Ron heaved a sigh and looked at him. �I
just want to go out and have a bit of a drink, alright?�

�No, it is not
alright, not when you�re going out to whore yourself in front of god knows
who.�

�Who�s whoring?� Ron cried.

Severus waved his hand at Ron�s attire and gave him a glare.
�You never normally dress up when you go out.�

�Look, Severus, I�m not going to have this argument with
you,� Ron found the strength from somewhere to say what he needed to. �I am my
own person, you don�t own me and you don�t control when I go out or whom I do
it with. Back off.�

Ron wondered quite how many people had ever told Severus Snape
to back off in his life, but from the look of fury which flashed through the
man�s onyx eyes, Ron was pretty sure it was a number he could count on one
hand.

�How dare you?� Severus seethed. �You reel me in here with
your looks and warm heart and now what, hmm? Bored so you are running off to
find someone else?�

�Severus, you�re fucked the head if you can get that out of
�going for a drink with the guys�.�

�In case you haven�t noticed the therapists trouncing in and
out of your bedroom for the last three months, Weasley, I am �fucked�, as you put it. And you are the only reason I put up
with them at all.�

�Why?� Ron burst out, anger taking over his brain. �Why do you do it, you don�t
change, Severus.�

�Do you think for one second that I enjoy conversing with your droves of
family, that I would not make myself do it if it were not for you? Do you not
think that I wouldn�t rather skulk and hide and not have to speak to any of
them, these people who know everything about my life and pity me? Don�t you DARE
tell me that I have not changed! I have changed many things for you.�

Ron stared at him, listening to his words as they tumbled
passionately from thin lips.

�Why are you bothering?� Ron swallowed hard.

Severus glared at him. �Oh, I wonder. Have you ever
considered, idiot, that after all this time I may have developed feelings for
you beyond just having a fuck every now and then, though only Merlin knows why?�
he finished nastily, with a condescending sweep of his eyes up and down Ron�s
form.

�There�s no need to get spiteful,� Ron told him. �I�m not
going to stand here and be insulted, Severus, I�m going out.�

�You damn well are not, you�re staying here.�

�Holding me a prisoner in my own home? How very gothic and twisted of you,� Ron
snarled sarcastically.

�And that�s just it; it IS your home, isn�t it? Do you have
any idea of the humiliation I go through daily?! I�m a grown man, and I have
nothing to call my own and I cannot even walk down the road without an escort!
Can you even begin to comprehend how
that makes me feel in your non-existent brain?!�

�You can leave whenever you want,� Ron�s heart was beating painfully
against his ribcage, knowing that if Severus left him it might well break it
all over again �and that was only in eight months, never mind the eight years
that Hermione had taken.

Severus looked at him. �I might just.�

�Well don�t let the door hit you on the way out,� Ron
gasped, the blow winding him. He shoved past the man and re-entered the living
room, looking around for his boots.

�What, no loyal Gryffindor fight?� Severus sneered at him.

�Why would I fight for someone who clearly doesn�t give a
fuck how I feel?� Ron shot at him. �I have done everything for you, Severus, everything. And you just chuck it back
in my face. Why would I fight for a lowlife who does that?!�

Ron immediately regretted calling Severus a lowlife but he
didn�t have time to apologise before the angry face contorted again and the
mouth opened to spew what Ron assumed was more vitriol.

�I knew you were too good to be true, Weasley,� Severus
shook his head. �What could you possibly
acquire from me, hmm? The aged knackered professor who
gave you a few good fucks and helped you get over your broken heart? I am
disgusted with my own foolishness and your hidden capacity for abuse that you
retain �funny, all of those people seem to think you�re a good person,� he
waved his hand randomly at the photo frame shelf.

�I am a good
person,� Ron jammed his feet into his boots and reached for his jacket.

�I once wondered what Granger had in her head when she threw
you away like rubbish,� Severus continued, beside himself. �But now I have to
see the woman had sense. What were you like behind closed doors, I wonder?�

�Severus, you know NOTHING about my relationship with her,�
Ron broke and his voice flooded with anger again. �Don�t you dare speculate I
was abusing her!�

�I did not say that,� Severus raised an eyebrow at him. �You
jumped to a conclusion. Why? Guilty conscience? Or
were you just worthless?�

Ron stared at him open mouthed.

�Well, I�ll tell you this,� Severus gave him a positively
vicious sneer which contorted his face. �You are not worth the humiliation I suffer daily. You aren�t even worth the
tiny amount of joy fucking you gives
me, do you understand?�

The words hung heavy in the air and Ron�s jaw froze open in
shock. He had always known that Severus had had a temper, and that his tongue
lashings within the walls of Hogwarts were legendary. But to be on the
receiving end of it, when he had come to love the man, and prayed every single
day that he was doing the right thing by him, was devastating. He felt like
someone had kicked through his chest.

�A-anything else?� he stuttered, willing his tear ducts to
behave.

�Turning on the waterworks doesn�t work when I�m this angry,�
Severus laughed. �And what are they if not just your own embarrassment at the
truth?�

�It�s not the truth!� Ron clenched his fists. �I�m going,
Severus, if you�re beside yourself you can take it out on anything you fucking
want in this flat, except me, and my fucking pets,� Ron dragged his wand out of
his pocket and cast an impermeable shield around the rat cage. �What you do
when you�ve calmed down is your decision.�

He stomped to the Floo and grabbed a handful of powder.

�Do remember that I�m here, Weasley, won�t you?� Severus
called after him sourly. �That I also live here before you bring home a nice
little conquest to help you get over our argument.�

�Fuck you,� Ron choked, not bothering to turn round. So he still plans to be here?

I should kick him out
in the fucking street after the things he�s said to me. The indignation was
there but Ron had no real compunction to act on the angry thoughts. He loved
Severus too much, even though at that point he couldn�t quite recall why, to
throw him out.

�I will only stay here because you left me with no choice,
you lost me my other residence,� Severus hissed at him. �So do not think this
is any form of sentiment on my behalf.�

�No, Severus, you�re not a sentimental man, I get it,� Ron swallowed hard and threw
the powder in the flames. �And yet you still ask me not to bring anyone home.
It�d serve you right if I did and fucked them right under your nose.�

He didn�t bother to wait for a retort; he called his
destination and nearly threw up at the sensation of travelling combined with the
way his insides writhed in agony at the words they�d just crossed.

***

Severus braced himself against the wall, gasping. In his
mind he was questioning how everything had gone so cataclysmically wrong in
just a day. He couldn�t believe the hateful words he had thrown at the man who
had cared for him through his worst and given him more than anybody had ever
bothered to give him in his life.

It felt like he was back to square one again, just like the
day he had woken up in June, like the vitriol had ripped the healing holes in
him wide open again and he staggered into the kitchen, unaware of where he was
really headed. He bumped into the worktop and leaned against it, but his legs
would not remain locked upright. He painfully slid down onto the floor, the
handle of the cupboard ripping painfully down his spine as he went. His head
hit the door with a thud.

Why? Why did I� Godric he will hate me. And so he should. Oh, god.

Severus closed his eyes and tried to grip the floor with his
hands but the lino was too smooth. It was just as well, he would only have
ripped his fingernails clutching at it in anger.

He knew the ugly picture he painted sitting there; face
screwed up in agony, mouth twisted in a grimace, and was glad there was nobody
there to witness it.

You should get up, get
dressed and go after him. To hell with your privacy.
He is more important than that. More important than anything.

Severus listened to the voice ranting over and over at him
in his mind and very much agreed with it. But all his energy seemed to be
melting out of his body and even his breaths were shallow. He knew that he was
not moving anywhere; even though he had
to if he wanted to salvage what he had ruined.

***

Ron gagged and lurched over the toilet, closing his eyes to
the vomit his stomach was expelling with such force it felt like his throat was
being ripped. He knew the sounds he emitted couldn�t have been pretty and the
men�s bathroom of The Leaky Cauldron had gone deathly quiet, wondering what was
wrong with the completely sober man in the end cubicle.

He hadn�t even been able to get words out on entering the
pub, even though Harry and George had called out to him, he could only lurch
towards the toilet and cover his mouth with his hand. Ron retched again as his
stomach clenched in fear.

I can�t believe he� he
accused me of� fuck�

�Ron?� George�s voice cut through the hushed silence and he
could only choke up another mouthful in response. He heard the door rattle
behind him. �Ron, let me in.�

But still vomiting more than he knew he�d eaten that day,
Ron couldn�t prise his fingers away from the edges of the toilet.

Thank fuck for
continual self cleaning charms� The thought of what he might have been
touching had the spells not been in place made him heave again and then George
spoke louder.

�If you don�t open this door I�m breaking the lock,� the voice was riddled with
worry.

�Can�t,� Ron gasped, his shoulders heaving with the effort
to breathe.

There was a loud bang behind him as George popped the lock
on the door and it hit the wall. And then Ron felt touches on his trembling
back, heard the door shut and lock again, and then gentle hands pulling back
his hair, longer than ever, on Severus� request.

He just let me fuck
him� he didn�t want me� he just liked the fuck� oh� shit�

�Ron, tell me what on earth�s wrong,� George pleaded. �Are
you ill? Eaten something dodgy?�

�No,� Ron gasped in a break from retching. �Had a fight with
S-Sev��

�Bad enough to provoke this?�

�Bad enough that I don�t know if he�s still going to fucking
be there when I get home,� Ron was wondering about the
absence of tears from their transaction so far.

�Did he hurt you?�

�Only with his words,� Ron reasoned, keeping his mouth open
to avoid locking the putrid taste in his mouth.

�What did he say?� George gathered the hair in one hand set
the other to soothingly stroke in between his brother�s shoulder blades.

�That I�m worthless, that Hermione was right to throw me
away, that I� I�m a b-bad person��

�What the fuck brought that on?�

Ron heard the anger in George�s voice and swallowed
nervously. �I don�t know� he�s� all day he was in a bad mood and my Healer this
morning said I stayed in too much, she asked me out here tonight��

�On a date?� George gasped.

�No,� Ron shook his head. �It� well I dunno.
He thought it was a date but I never said yes anyway but we got in a fight and
he acted like I did. He didn�t talk to me all afternoon acting like he was my
keeper or something, George� and then I organised tonight and he went mental�
accused me of whoring myself because I dressed up��

�Whoa, little bro, what the fuck�s happened? You were both
doing so well?�

�It�s never been well,� Ron insisted
miserably. �He hates living with me, he hates that he has to depend on me and it�s
made him resent me� I� Oh, God, George� I think I�ve��

�Do you want me to go and kick his arse?� there was very
real promise in George�s tone.

�No,� Ron shook his head, �No, don�t do that��

�Nobody calls my little brother worthless, Ron,� there was steel
in George�s usually light and friendly voice. �Nobody.
Nobody gets to make him feel like shit. Nobody gets to make him heave his guts
up in a fucking pub toilet.�

�Don�t,� Ron begged. �I� I don�t want to lose him George.�

Realising it had been a few minutes since his last retch,
Ron straightened and George let go of his hair in favour of turning him around.

�Here,� George pulled out his wand. �Open your mouth.�

Ron complied and groaned in thanks as the gentle spell
cleaned out his mouth and freshened it. �Thank you,�
he said simply.

�And here,� George popped a pastille directly into Ron�s open mouth. �Chew.�

�What is it?� Ron swallowed.

�Anti nausea,� George explained. �Right,
now. What are you going to do? Do you promise me he didn�t hurt you?�

�I promise, George,� Ron said sadly, raising his hands and burying his face in
them. �He just� flipped. Flipped like I remember at school
except the things he said hurt a hell of a lot more this time round.�

�Why would he say those things?� George frowned. �I don�t
get it?�

�I hurt him,� Ron shrugged simply. �I hurt him by making him
feel things he didn�t think he�d ever feel.�

�And what�s that?� a crease appeared between George�s eyes.

�Love,� Ron whispered miserably, his eyes falling to the
floor of the toilet.

�Christ, Ron, really?� George
exhaled and ran his hand back through his hair. �Really?
And what about you?�

�I love him,� Ron swallowed hard. �I don�t know if that�s fucked up or
wrong or what but I�ve known for� I�ve known for a few months.�

�Have you told him?�

�No, he never lets me in long enough, when he senses I�m
getting close he shuts down and I� after tonight I don�t think I� want to try
any more.�

�Do you love him, answer me honestly?� George said, his
voice demanding again.

�Yes,� Ron blinked.

�Then what the fuck are you doing here?�

�I left because I couldn�t stand the awful things he was
saying to me.�

�Ron, come on, you aren�t a fucking pushover! Why the fuck didn�t you bellow back at him?�

�Because it hurt too much.�

�Well, that�s fair enough, but I don�t really think he means
the things he�s said. I�ve seen the way he looks at you, the way his eyes
follow you through a room� the way when your ears play up there�s this look on
his face that says your hurt is his hurt. And as sick as it makes me, Ron� you
are good together.�

�He�s too broken,� Ron shuddered suddenly. �I don�t know
what the fuck I was thinking.�

�I�m broken,� George shrugged wildly, throwing his hands up in the air. �Does
that mean I�m never going to find love? Gee, thanks for the horoscope
prediction, Ron. Give me something to live for.�

�Of course I don�t mean that,� Ron hissed at him. �But come
on, George, I�m me, what the fuck have I got to offer someone as hurt and as lonely and as mature as he is?�

�I dispute the fact that he�s mature after what you told me
he said,� George muttered darkly. �But Ron, there�s a reason that you�re able
to heal his aura. There�s a reason for that even if the stupid bastard doesn�t
want to admit it.�

�I can�t do it,� Ron shook his head and wrapped his arms
around his torso. �I can�t go back and let him say those things to me again.�

�NONE OF THEM ARE TRUE!� George erupted in the most passion
that Ron had seen fall out of his brother in years. �None of
them, Ron. You�re fucking amazing. You�re twenty-seven and you�ve saved
countless lives, you�re handsome, you�re funny, you�re intelligent, you�re
warm, you�re caring�do I need to go on?�

�If this bloke doesn�t want you mate, I�ll have you!� A
random voice shouted out a few doors down. �Sounds like you�re a fucking knight
in shining armour.�

�See!� George threw his hands up in the air. �Even
nameless-man-eavesdropping-in-toilet thinks you�re a catch, and he hasn�t tasted your Hangover Killer of
Doom egg, bacon and sausage sandwiches!�

Ron choked a little on his laugh, but it didn�t extend into
a smile on his lips.

�Seriously, Ron, if you love him, you need to go home and
sort this out, now.�

�I don�t know how,� Ron muttered pathetically.

�I�m going to give you a slap in a minute,� George threatened
and lowered his voice. �Because you�re not stupid, Ron.
You let Hermione go and fair enough, maybe it was for the best. But are you
going to let him go as well, over a fight, over empty words the poor bastard
probably didn�t even mean because he�s just so hurt and confused about
everything?�

Ron looked at the glittering assured eyes and at the colour
which had sprung into George�s usually pale cheeks. He noticed the quick rise
and falls of his chest and wondered just why his brother was getting so into
the discussion.

�Do you want to end up like me?� George asked him quietly.
�Ron, I�m fucked. I�m never gonna get a woman to take
me as I am, am I? I�m thirty next April and I have everything I need �money,
clothes, I�m rolling in it. But I�m not fucking happy, Ron. I have nobody. I
lost my twin brother and because of that I can�t pull my head out of my arse
long enough to find a woman to have me, except our mother. Do you know how
fucking ridiculous that is? Do you really want that for yourself? An empty bed
every night unless you fill it with a random face?�

�George, you have me,� Ron whispered crestfallenly. �You
have me, don�t forget that.�

�Yeah well, you�re my brother and I can�t fuck you because
they frown upon that in good society,� George�s lips curled into a smirk and he
sprang forward and grabbed Ron in a tight embrace which didn�t help his queasy
stomach. �Ron, I love you and all but you�re not a life partner, are you?�

�No,� Ron conceded, his arms loosely hugging George back.

�I�m not saying that he�ll ever be the only one for you,�
George assured him. �Of course I�m not� but I just think that when you walked
into that pub as you did, there was more at play than just chance. Do you
believe in fate, Ron?�

�I don�t know,� Ron admitted.

�I do,� George sighed and pulled back. �When Fred died, I
should have been with him. But at the last minute I chose to pursue another
group of Death Eaters with the intention of teeming up with him and Perce to form a stronger team afterward. I didn�t make it
in time, did I?�

Ron shook his head minutely.

�If I had, would it have been me that died? Would neither of us have had to,
because my extra wand would have prevented the fight that happened, would we
have beaten them before the corridor exploded? I don�t know, Ron, I really
don�t. But lately I�ve been coming to terms with a lot of stuff, and my guilt
at surviving is one of those things. I just have to accept that it was what
happened. Maybe thinking it was fate sugar coats it, I dunno.
But it makes me feel better, so I believe in it.�

George pulled back and sank his hands into Ron�s hair,
holding his head like Ron had been held by Severus many times and vice versa,
once more a position adopted more frequently by lovers than brothers.

�You�re the best, Ron, the absolute fucking best. Don�t let
him put you down but don�t let him chase you away, either. This is something
higher, something that could be fucking wonderful for both of you. And if you
don�t want to end up like me, I suggest you go outside, splash some water over
your face and go straight back home to figure it out with him.�

Ron stared at his brother, who�s thin and prematurely aged
face was alive with passion and vigour. The colour had risen further and his
cheeks were clashing horrendously with his hair but his eyes were positively
gleaming with the zeal of his speech.

And the main thing was that Ron knew he was right. �Okay,�
he whispered, nodding his head nervously.

�Okay?� George caught his gaze and raised his eyebrows, not releasing Ron�s
head.

�George I can�t� thank you,� Ron looked desperately at him.

George released him enough to drag Ron back in again for
another tight hug and Ron returned, squeezing for all his worth. He jumped when
he felt a kiss press into his hair.

�Sorry,� George said immediately.

�Forget it,� Ron breathed, not knowing quite why but not
caring.

�I sometimes forget you�re not him,� George whispered.

�Why would you have been kissing him?� Ron frowned at the cubicle door.

�It�s hard to explain, we weren�t� you know what, forget it,� George pulled
back. �Your bonfire, Ron, and I won�t piss on it. Go and fight for your man.�

�Seriously, why?� Ron asked
quietly.

George shrugged, colouring again. �It�s just� you have
someone, who is your double, your best friend in the whole wide world, your
brother, someone who is there for you no matter what and we never pissed one
another off� and nobody can comfort you quite like he can. We never did
anything� dodgy, but��

�I get it,� Ron put a hand up with a small smile. �And I
don�t mind that you slipped up, it�s fine.�

�You�re a great person, Ron, and I want to beat him seven
shades of blue for making you think any differently,� George licked his lips.
�Without you, I wouldn�t be here. And I�m fucking glad I am because then there
would be nobody to tell you to go home and sort this out.�

Ron nodded and stepped out of the cubicle, heading for the
sinks. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw ghostly pale skin and
bloodshot eyes even though he hadn�t been crying.

�Look, mate, you looking for a
partner?�

Ron opened his mouth to reply and then he heard George�s
voice.

�No, thanks for the offer but I am well and truly for the
other team.�

Smirking, Ron washed his face and dried it roughly with a
paper hand towel.

�Good luck,� George walked by his side as they left the
bathroom. �And if it goes� well. If you don�t feel safe in your place the door
to mine is always open, �kay?�

�Fucking love you, George,� Ron gave him a manly nudge with
his shoulder and George grinned.

�Get out of here, brat.�

�Going,� Ron grabbed some communal Floo powder and chucked
it into the flames.

He shouted his address and steeled his stomach for the
sensation, marshalling his words into an order. Stepping out onto the hearth he
took a deep breath.

�Severus?� He called; proud of the way his voice didn�t
waver at all.

But there was no answer so he had to call again. The flat
looked exactly the same as it had when he had left it, and Severus� coat was
still hanging up by the door. Ron walked level with the kitchen. And then he
was flying into the room and falling onto his knees with a resounding crack as
he noticed Severus sitting there, slumped on the floor, head lolling back on
the cupboard door.

He was thrown back to a memory from five years before,
finding George slumped in exactly the same way of the kitchenette in the flat
above Wheezes, but there had been one crucial difference. Then there had been
blood everywhere.

�Severus!� Ron gasped loudly, reaching forward and taking
the man�s face in between his hands. �Oh, gods, I will kill you if you�ve tried
anything stupid, Severus, do you hear me, I�ll fucking kill you with my own
hands.�

The words were loud and rasped and terrified, and when the
dark eyes open and looked at him Ron nearly fell over in relief.

�I�m sorry,� Severus said immediately. �Ron, I�m so, so
sorry.�

Pleased the man wasn�t dead; Ron still wanted an explanation
about the floor. �What�s happened, what�s wrong, why are you in here on the
floor?�

�After you... I think I may have expended all of my energy
on bellowing poison at you, Ron� I�m so sorry, please forgive me. I did not
mean a single world, I promise you��

Ron wanted to swoon in his arms and say all was forgiven.
But George�s words shouted through his mind and, taking a deep breath and
remembering that he was not a pushover, he continued. �So why did you say them,
Severus? They really fucking hurt. Everything I believe I am deep down,
worthless, the reason my relationship with her broke up� you said it, Severus.
You hurt me.�

�I did it on purpose,� Severus closed his eyes shamefully. �I knew what would
cut you deepest and I used it.�

�Why?�

�Because I��

�I�ll tell you why, Severus, because you�re too fucking scared of what I make you feel. You wanted to chase me away
so you don�t have confront the feelings you�re afraid
of. Well I�ve got fucking news for you, mate, you�re not chasing me off that
easy. I�ve already let one relationship go this year and I�ll be fucking damned
if I�m letting this one go to the shit as well. No, Severus, no fucking way.�

Ron paused for breath and Severus was looking at him
fearfully.

�You need me,
Severus, whether you like it or not.�

�No,� Severus shook his head, a cloud of jasmine air puffing
out of his hair as it bounced around his face.

�You do. You need me physically, Severus, and you need me
emotionally �you need me to love you. And you know what?�

�Don�t say it, Ron, please?�

�I love you,� Ron breathed, and crashed their lips together.
�I will give you everything, Severus, I will give you
everything you�ve been missing in your life. And I�ll give it freely. Let me
love you, let me help you. You don�t have to pretend anything to anyone any
more, and you don�t have to protect. You don�t even have to protect yourself,
Severus, because I will never hurt you on purpose� I love you too much��

He trailed off his confession and Severus� breath caught
hard in his throat at the feeling blossoming his
chest. Whereas before there had been icy cold ripping apart the holes he felt,
there was now an intense heat swelling within them, sending electricity down
his arms and into his fingertips, through his gut and into his legs, all the
way down to his feet.

�All we need for this to work, Severus, is for you acknowledge what I know you
feel for me,� Ron looked at him hopefully. �After that, we�ll handle it
together but, Severus, if you feel it can you just say it, let me know if I�m chasing up the wrong tree� I don�t want
to beg you to tell me you love me, because I don�t need that. I don�t need
lies. I only want to hear it if you mean it and I� if you don�t, I�m not going
to deny you�ll break my heart, if you�re not willing to try and stay and see if
love comes later��

�Ron,� Severus began to speak but it was obvious the redhead
was in full flow and nothing was going to shut him up.

�Everything about you drives me wild,� Ron breathed. �Everything. I�ve never felt this alive, Severus, never felt
so��

He trailed off when Severus placed his fingers over the
moving mouth, his hand shaking.

�Thank god you came back to me,� he breathed. �I love you,
Ron.�

Maybe fireworks were meant to explode, maybe a romantic
orchestra was meant to crescendo out of thin air or rose petals were meant to
fall from the ceiling. But all that happened was that Ron swayed slightly as
the words hit him and Severus stared with burning eyes.

�You mean it?�

�I mean it,� Severus nodded with wide eyes.

Ron suddenly moved as though someone had lit a fire beneath
his backside �he swung his leg over Severus� legs and crashed down, straddling
him, and then he grabbed the silken hair in his fingers and yanked the man�s
face up to his and kissed him, tilting the head he held back so that Severus
had no choice but to yield and open his mouth to Ron�s desperate tongue.

He plundered the wet space over and over, groaning his
frustration and relief out all at once and Severus swallowed every noise, his
hands coming up to run up and down Ron�s back, holding him tight.

�Say it again,� Ron panted when they finally broke apart.

�I love you,� Severus looked up at him.

�Again,� Ron closed his eyes and felt the heat flame up his
body.

�I love you.�

�Again,� Ron begged.

�I love you,� Severus was swept away by the warmth in his
chest.

Ron suddenly sagged and leant his forehead to Severus�.
�Thank you, Severus, thank you so, so much��

�Ron, I am so very sorry for the awful things I said��

�It�s forgotten,� Ron insisted, closing his lips and running them down the line
of Severus� nose.

�I said terrible things, I called you a whore, and I accused
you of�� his voice became choked and he cut off.

Ron looked into the older face and saw it screwed up in
torment and fear. �I�m here,� he said, and then his mouth fell open in shock as
what sounded somewhat like a howl choked out of Severus and he buried his face
in Ron�s shirt.

Shifting his arms to cradle Severus� torso, Ron placed a
hand on the back of the man�s head and held it in place. He couldn�t hear any
signs of crying but there was a ragged chest heaving against his own. They sat
together for a good while before Ron felt a warm wetness blossom through the
material of his shirt and he gasped in pain at the ceiling.

George said that it
looked like that my pain was his pain. Apparently works both ways.

Ron stroked his hand through the dark hair as the wet patch
grew and grew. He didn�t give a damn that he was ruining a perfectly good
shirt, but the one thing he knew was
that he would never, ever throw it away.

Throw it away�

The words floated through his mind and then he gasped
loudly, remembering what he had forgotten.

�What?� Severus mumbled at him through his tears, keeping
his face well hidden.

�Severus, there�s something I have to do,� Ron breathed, his
heart almost bursting out of his chest. �Something I need to do right now!�

He pulled back off Severus lap and jumped to his feet.
Without looking down to shame Severus he raced into the bedroom, not bothering
to put on the light. He yanked out his underwear drawer in the dresser and felt
around, fingers groping over pairs of pants and socks and scratty
pyjamas until they closed around cool glass. He snatched it out of the draw and
stormed back into the kitchen, where he stooped and grabbed Severus by one
hand, managing to pull him to his feet in one swift move.

Severus too was surprised with the ease at which he went, the
way his limbs felt so loose and his chest so light. �What are you doing?�

Ron let go of his hand and turned to face him, holding up
the object in his hand �a glass bottle of perfume. Hermione�s
perfume. �I never threw it away, Severus. I could never do it.�

Severus� watering eyes focussed on the ornate bottle and he
swallowed nervously and looked back to Ron.

�C�mon,� Ron grinned at him broadly, and pulled open the
back door. He half-dragged Severus up into the garden and looked up at the
darkened windows of the flats above them. Then he lobbed the perfume bottle so
that it landed several feet away in the blackened grass and pulled out his
wand.

Taking a deep breath, he aimed, fired, and exploded the
bottle into nothing but the satisfying sound of shattering glass. He ran an
obliteration sweep of the grass to make sure that no shards had escaped to harm
his neighbours or any passing wildlife and then let his wand drop to his side.

And with the silence that descended on the garden came a
wonderful breeze which ruffled the few trees at the end of the plot. It lifted
his hair and carried away the scent of vomit, tears and misery which littered
his nose. He sucked each breath in with desperate need and felt the grin spread
on his lips.

Then he turned round and looked at the man nervously
hovering by the steps leading down to the apartment, one arm across his chest
hooked by his hand onto the adjacent upper arm. The look on his face was one of
shock and incredulity and Ron smiled at the way the moonlight above lit the
sodden skin. He walked slowly and purposefully towards him, slipping his wand
away so that he had both hands free for the moment when they met.

Severus caught him first, throwing his arms around Ron�s
torso in an iron grip and Ron returned the action, his hands holding tight
enough to bruise.

�I am totally and utterly yours, Severus Snape,� Ron
muttered, close to his lips. �But promise me you will never try to control me
again.�

�I will endeavour to try my hardest,� Severus answered him
earnestly. �You may need to remind me every now and then that at twenty-seven
you are more than capable of standing on your own two feet.�

Ron gave him a smirk and a nod, and captured Severus� lips
in a kiss. He looked at him expectantly, not surprised when Severus faltered.
Ron gave a gentler, more assuring kiss.

�I am yours,� Severus whispered. �Issues, history and
torment all aside, I am yours.�

Somehow, despite the isolation of it all, despite the cool
breeze sending a chill up his spine, Ron felt like he was partaking in the
bonding which had been cruelly ripped away. There were no fancy words, nobody
even official and certainly no guests, but it seemed more heartfelt than
anything could have done in November the year before.

�You�ve got that look on your face,� Severus whispered.

�What look?� Ron blushed, caught out in his fantastical
thoughts.

�That look where you are thinking deep thoughts you think I
will not be interested in,� Severus kissed his forehead.

�I was thinking how this was like the bonding I never had,� Ron answered
honestly, without the strength to lie.

Severus gave him a small smile. �About the only bonding I
could ever manage.�

Ron kissed him in response, then took his hand and led him
back down the steps into the flat, holding the door open for him and locking
it.

Severus turned and looked at him with an anxious expression,
as though he were waiting for the moment where Ron would turn round and laugh,
say it was all a joke and shatter his heart. Ron said nothing, but took his
hand once more and pulled him into the living room, dispelling the still
remaining shield on the rat cage and turning off all the lights at the same
time.

He turned into the bedroom. �Fuck me, Severus.�

If Ron had issued the same invitation earlier that day,
Severus would have had to have declined. But it was with renewed purpose and
strength that the raven haired man stepped forward and wrapped his arms around
the redhead, stealing his wand from his hand and banishing both sets of their
clothes to a heaped pile on the floor. He threw the wand at the bed and pressed
his body into its naked counterpart.

Two hisses met the rooms of the walls as bare erections met
each other, but then they were replaced by the muffled moans of a dominated
kiss. Severus had his hands tangled in Ron�s hair, dragging his head backwards
and Ron bent willingly, letting his tongue lazily lap out.

�I have only ever regretted one set of words more than how
much I regret implying you were nothing short of stunning, nothing to me,� Severus whispered hotly in his ear.
�The first remain the biggest mistake of my life. I thank you most sincerely
for refusing to allow those which I spoke to you to become the second. I feel
sure that the loss would have been so great they morphed into the first.�

Ron didn�t know where his legs went as they disappeared from
beneath him and he found the skin of his back pressing into the luxurious duvet
cover, still processing the man�s words �there was no doubt about the first
great mistake in which he allayed to. Ron couldn�t believe that Severus would
regard losing him in the same level of tragedy. Severus had hold of his wand
because the dim bedside lamps flicked on and they were bathed in amber.

�I want to see you,� he explained and Ron smiled lazily up
at him, stretching his body out on the cool metallic material. �And what a
sight you make.�

Severus truly looked at him, a creamy expanse stretched out
amidst a sea of teal, the only darkened patches around his head, beneath his up-stretched
arms and at his groin. His penis rested deliciously on the blaze of curls and
Severus took an extra moment to linger over it, his mouth falling open.
Strength returned like it seemingly had not been in years, he moved on top of
the slender body, pressing his hands to run over silky skin and adore every
inch that he could reach. He lowered his lips to deliver the same praise,
pressing gentle kisses to the softest parts on the insides of Ron�s arms, on
his stomach, on his inner thighs.

Ron felt like he was nowhere south of heaven as the lips
caressed him like he had never been caressed before. �Gods, Severus, please,�
he begged as the lips skated dangerously close to his cock.

Willing to give his fiery angel everything he desired to
make up for his sins, Severus kissed up the shaft until he hovered over the
head, which he flicked his tongue against gently before sucking the whole tip
into his mouth. Ron groaned and arched as one slim hand curled around the base
and Severus� tongue laved over his head, carrying away the pre-come already
leaking generously from his slit.

Ron thrust up, not caring how close he already was to
orgasm, he wanted his cock deeper in the wet heat and he picked up a rhythm,
slowly fucking Severus� mouth as he had been allowed to the very first time
they had been together. His grunts escalated and he knew he should withdraw but
suddenly firm hands pinned his hips to the mattress and Severus forbade it in
one swift move. Ron had no option but to lie there as his climax spun nearer
and nearer, winding the spring deep in his groin tighter until he could take no
more, and the licking and suckling motions grew too much. He threw his head
back and arched up.

�Fuck, Severus, yes! Fuck I love you!� He chanted to the
room, squeezing his eyes shut as the come spurted out of him.

The lips disappeared from his length and reappeared against
his own and when Severus thrust his tongue into Ron�s mouth they shared the
taste of his come together, wrapped in tight arms.

�More,� Ron commanded, letting his tongue trace around his
teeth as he looked up into dark eyes and dark eyes bore down at him, glittering
with silent promise.

Severus reached for Ron�s wand and aimed the stretching
spell at his lover. �I want to see you writhe and moan as it works at you,� he
breathed, eyes lingering over the way the once sated cock twitched again with
interest.

Ron had no choice but to obey as his legs wantonly spread at
the sensation deep within him. He moaned with pleasure as it brushed over his
prostate, heels digging deep into the duvet cover as it worked with more
instance. Severus watched with unblinking eyes, unwilling to miss a single
second of the pleasure he had wreaked upon the sensual body writhing in front
of him.

He reached out and trailed a cool finger up the re-hardening
shaft with a smile.

�Take me, it�s finishing,� Ron pleaded reaching for the
finger on his cock and raising it to his lips, swallowing it right to the back
of his throat and Severus let out his own moan of pleasure at the wetness.

Adding the necessary lubrication, Severus didn�t bother
wasting time. Their conclusion was obvious and it felt much more like need than
want when he settled between Ron�s legs and raised his legs up so that his
thighs rested against his belly, his erection spread explicitly between them in
a view which should have made Severus� eyes water if he hadn�t been so hard and
wanting himself.

�Wait!� Ron said suddenly. �Let�s� sit up against the
headboard,� he threw his legs back down and scooted out of the way.

Severus did as he asked and spread his legs, groaning when
Ron straddled him like he had on the kitchen floor. With a positively filthy
grin he reached behind him. Severus expected to feel a hand guiding his cock
into position but when none came, only the look of ecstasy on Ron�s face, it
took him a moment to realise that the redhead had buried his fingers deep
within himself.

�Fucking hell, Ron, what are you trying to do to me?� He
whispered, and drew the porcelain throat nearer so he could sink his teeth into
the skin.

Ron answered by reaching round and fisting his own cock with
his free hand and Severus had to sit back and watch the powerful display of
self-pleasure being acted out in front of him. Ron gasped and threw his head
back as he performed, canting his hips back and forth, pushing his cock into
his hand and his arse back on his fingers.

�Enough,� Severus ruled as he struggled to keep the lid on
his climax. �You can� if you want to perform I have
ample ways in which you can but now� I need to be buried inside you, Ron.�

Ron flushed with delight at the words and stopped at once,
using the hand that had been within him to hold Severus� slicked erection still
as he lowered onto it. He slithered all the way down with a deep growl as the
burn grabbed hold of him and then his head was back once more.

�Not going to last five seconds,� he gasped, hopelessly
shifting up and down on the column impaled in his arse as Severus curled his
fingers around the erection bobbing between them.

�Ron,� he breathed, bringing his other hand forward to guide
his head forward. �Open your eyes.�

Ron did so and fixed his lustful gaze on Severus, a moan
shaping his mouth open as he sunk once again onto the hard shaft.

�I love you,� he gasped, chest fighting hard to breathe with
the emotion coursing through him.

�Sweet gods I love you too,� Severus captured Ron�s mouth
and together they reached the pinnacle of their patience and came, moaning into
one another�s lips, shuddering, limbs trembling, toes and fingers curling with
satisfaction. Ron coated both of them in a thick layer of come and Severus
thrust in long, slow movements into his arse, coming hard and deep.

Neither moved as they came down from their respective highs
and stayed together, sweaty and exhausted, kissing like they were about to be
dragged apart. Finally Ron�s thighs began to burn and he was forced to shift
backwards, tumbling onto his back between Severus� legs, his own unfurling so
that they bent over slim narrow hips and he placed the soles of his feet onto
the headboard, disorientatedly panting up at the
ceiling.

He was barely aware of Severus moving to lie down on top of
him, and he only moaned when fingers stroked through his hair to his scalp and
began to massage. He felt too sated to be able to reciprocate and he whispered
an apology.

�Never be sorry for your reactions during or to sex,
remember?� Severus reminded him, nosing against his lips.

�Of course, I forgot the cardinal rule of our relationship,� Ron laughed
slightly.

They fell into silence and Severus rested his head on Ron�s
shoulder listening to a strong heartbeat resonating within the nearby ribcage.

�I�m never leaving you,� Ron whispered suddenly. �Never.�

Tight arms hugged across Severus� back and he swelled with warmth again.

�That makes me happier to hear than I ever thought it could,�
he whispered back. �I am not a man to love and leave. You have me forever.�

Ron closed his eyes and held Severus tighter.
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Seraphim Beneath The Christmas Tree