Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Sadness of Eros	By : LoupGarou1750 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 7628 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: JK Rowling and her business associates own the world of Harry Potter. I make no money from this, nor anything else. The words 'The open palm of desire wants everything' are from the Paul Simon song 'Further to Fly'. He owns those.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
13

Unable to sleep, Harry tossed restlessly; the sheets seemed bewitched, possessed of a malevolent intent to strangle him as he lay there. Beside him, Ginny didn't stir, her soft snores proof of her deep slumber. She's probably only pretending just to plague me, he thought uncharitably, and immediately felt guilty, which only made him more irritable. I've nothing to feel guilty about. I haven't done anything wrong! Or I'm not doing anything wrong any longer.

Inevitably, his thoughts turned to Snape and their last conversation.

Harry had been sitting in one of Snape's old-fashioned, oddly comfortable lawn chairs, watching him moving purposefully from plant to plant, deftly wielding a pair of garden snips. An enormous lunch and the pleasant drone of honey bees had conspired with the late afternoon sun to make Harry drowsy and content.

"This is the life. We should have bought a house in the country, raised the kids in a better environment. They'd love it out here."

Snape turned and gave him an inscrutable look. "Bring them out for a day. I'll put them to work."

Harry snorted. "Right, and how would I explain that to Ginny, eh? Sorry, dear, kids only."

"Bring her along."

"You're mad!" Harry spluttered.

"Why? Isn't that what friends do?" Snape's tone was merely politely inquisitive, but Harry recognised a needle when it gouged him.

"Fine," Harry snapped, calling Snape's bluff, "when's good for you? Next Saturday, then?" He fully expected some pathetic excuse about why Saturday was no good, but Snape surprised him.

"Certainly. What do the little rodents eat?"

Isn't that what friends do? Isn't that what friends do? Isn't that what friends do? Harry yanked furiously at the sheet entwined like Devil's Snare around his legs.

"Penny for them," Ginny said sleepily, rolling over and peering at Harry through sleep-smeared eyes.

"Snape's invited us out on Saturday," Harry blurted and immediately wished he could call the words back. "I suppose we have other plans," he added hopefully.

"Sounds nice. It's about time I got to see his garden." Ginny yawned. "Now, either settle down or go sleep somewhere else, can't you?"

"Maybe I'd better," Harry said petulantly, sliding his legs over the edge of the bed. "God knows I can't sleep here with you snoring away like an asthmatic dragon." He pulled the duvet off the foot of the bed and left the room, grinning as Ginny's retort was muffled by another prolonged yawn.

Downstairs, he turned on the telly and settled into his favourite chair, pulling the duvet up around his shoulders. He flipped from channel to channel, finally settling on a nature programme about severe weather. Good omen. Maybe it'll rain buckets on Saturday. And with that comforting thought, he at last fell asleep.

***

Saturday dawned fair and bright and it was obvious things weren't going to get any better.

James, with what Ginny assured Harry was perfectly typical teenage behaviour, was sulking because he didn't "want to go on some stupid family outing," and he'd "heard plenty about Slytherin's famous greasy git, and none of it good neither." Harry was sorely tempted to box James' ears.

Ron had shown up with his ancient and cherished Morris Minor, wasting the better part of an hour explaining the "peccadillos" and "sensitive temperament" of "the old girl" and trying to give Harry a crash course on gear ratios. He was still babbling on when the family at last began to pile into the car.

"Ron, enough! I know all about it. I driven it before, remember? We've got to get a move on, we're probably going to be late as it is. Good thing it's a flying car."

"Uh, about that, mate," Ron said, refusing to meet Harry's eyes. "The flying thingy isn't working. And don't call my Moggie an 'it'. She doesn't like it."

Boxing Ron's ears didn't seem like such a bad idea either.

When at last they were en route, not five minutes from the house, they'd had to turn back because Lily had to pee. They were just about to set off the second time when Ginny realised she'd left the maps on the kitchen table. It was nearly ten o'clock when they finally turned onto the clogged M1; Snape was expecting them for lunch and on a good day with no traffic at the kind of speeds Ginny refused to tolerate, it was a three-and-a-half hour drive. James alternated between sulking in his corner of the rear seat and poking his brother and sister. Harry snapped at Lily for kicking his seat. Ginny snapped at Harry for being such a grouch. Al tried to relieve the tension by telling an off-colour joke, which earned him a glare from his mother. Happy families, Harry thought.

"No, Lily. We're not there yet. We're not even close. Try to take a nap, Sunshine. It'll make the trip go faster." Ginny sighed.

"James, if you poke your brother one more time..."

"Al, stop it. You're provoking him. No, don't say you didn't. I saw you. Yes, I do have eyes in the back of my head. Now stop."

"Da-ad!"

"James Potter, don't make me stop this car."

"Merlin, it's hot! Ron can afford a luxury car. Why did he buy this bucket?" Ginny was using a map to fan herself to little avail.

"We shoulda flown. It woulda been faster. But noooo. Ickle Illy can't fly that far." James heaved himself against the door and crossed his arms.

"Just shut it, James. It's too far for you to fly as well."

"Are you sure Snape isn't on the Floo Network?"

"Yes, damn it! I'm sure. Do you think I'd be putting myself through this hell otherwise?"

"Are we there yet?"

"I have to pee."

"James! Stop! Don't make me tell you again!"

"Maybe we should turn back. We can send an owl to Snape with our apologies."

"For fuck's sake, Gin! We're almost there. Hey! Fucking idiot! Did you see that?"

"Harry! Language."

"Da-ad! I really, really have to pee!"

"Are we there yet?"

"Fuck! That's where I should have turned. Aren't you supposed to be navigating? Can't you read a fucking map?"

No one was talking by the time Harry turned onto Snape's rutted road. Ginny was napping, a sleeping Lily on her lap, sweaty cheek pressed to sweat-damp hair. Al was asleep as well, a streak of drool glistening on his chin, hot breath steaming his glasses. James was picking his nose and flicking bogies at his sleeping brother; Harry didn't even have the energy to scowl at him.

"Welcome, Potter family. A bit later than expected, but very welcome nonetheless." Snape strolled down the verge towards the car, his wand pointed at his throat as he amplified his harsh whisper enough to be heard from ten paces away.

"Who are you and what have you done with Severus Snape?" Harry snarled as he stepped stiff-legged from the car. "I'm never setting foot in a car again. What a fucking day!"

"Language, Potter. There are children present, or hadn't you noticed?" Snape looked at Harry disapprovingly.

"Fuck off, Snape. Those aren't children, they're the mutant spawn of Blast-Ended Skrewts!"

"Well, I suppose you'd know. Let me help you with her, Miss Weasley. I'm sorry, Mrs Potter." Snape opened Ginny's door and scooped a still sleeping Lily from her lap. A peculiar look flickered across his face as he looked down at the small girl in his arms.

"Oh dear," Ginny said with a sour grin. "Mrs Potter, is it? Am I to call you Professor Snape, then?" She groaned and clutched her back as she stood.

"Severus, please. As you know, I haven't been a professor for many years now. Please, come in. We can put Lily on my bed. She can finish her nap. You must be James," Snape said, extending his hand awkwardly from under Lily.

"James," Harry said threateningly as his son pretended not to see the outstretched hand.

"How'd'ja do," James mumbled as he took Snape's hand, shook it once then dropped it quickly and wiped his hand on his trousers.

"And you would be Albus. I'm very glad to finally meet you. Sorry about your middle name. I don't know what your parents were thinking."

"No, really," Harry said. "Who are you? Why are you acting this way?"

"It's called common courtesy, Potter. How very predictable to find you unfamiliar with it. Mrs Potter, may I get you something to drink?"

Ginny gave Snape a look. "Please, Severus, call me Ginny."

"I'm not sure I can." Snape smiled. "Will you accept Ginevra?"

"If you must." Ginny looked at Harry and rolled her eyes.

Harry shrugged in response. "I don't know what's got into him." But he had his suspicions and didn't like them very much; Snape was trying to tweak his nose with exaggerated courtesy to his family.

The Potters trooped after Snape into the house.

"The loo is through there if you'd like to freshen up, Ginevra. Harry, why don't you take the boys through to the kitchen and get them something to drink. There's pumpkin juice and fizzy lemonade in the refrigerator. I'll just put Lily down and join you directly."

At the words "pumpkin juice", James and Al peeled off from their parents and thundered into the kitchen. Ginny decided she would freshen up. Harry followed Snape into the bedroom.

"She looks so very much like your mother. It's startling." He looked down at Lily with an inscrutable expression.

"Yeah, well," Harry said awkwardly. He didn't know how to respond to this version of Snape.

"We'll leave the door open so we can hear her if she cries."

Harry snorted. "She's eleven, not an infant. She'll be fine. It was just the heat in the car, I think. Got anything stronger than pumpkin juice?" He stepped out of the bedroom into the passageway.

Snape followed quickly and the minute they were out of sight of the door, pushed Harry against the wall and loomed over him menacingly. "This is going to be a very interesting experiment, Potter," he said, smiling sardonically.

For a moment, Harry thought Snape was about to kiss him right there in the hallway, and didn't know if he wanted that or not.

Then Snape stepped back. Still smiling, he dropped a hand to his groin and adjusted himself. "Very interesting indeed."

"Fuck off, you bastard," Harry croaked.

"Ah, but we don't do that anymore," Snape responded, his eyes glittering dangerously.

"You're a real son of a bitch, Severus." He made a point of emphasising his use of Snape's first name.

Suddenly Snape's hand was at Harry's throat, pressing painfully against his Adam's apple. "Careful, Potter. Your ambivalence about the status of our friendship is beginning to show. Don't push me, boy. I can destroy your life," Snape snapped his fingers, "just like that, and take great pleasure in doing it."

At the sound of a door opening, Snape dropped his hand and stepped back so quickly it was as if he'd Disapparated and then Apparated a mere foot away. His features settled easily into a mild, friendly look. It was creepy the way he could do that.

"She still sleeping?" Ginny asked as she approached. "Where are the boys? Is something wrong, Harry?"

Harry twitched his shoulders irritably and glared at Snape. "Just him being himself."

Ginny laughed and rolled her eyes. "Honestly. You're grown men."

"I must apologise, Ginevra. I shouldn't have pricked him that way," Snape said.

Harry nearly choked. He covered it with a cough. "Boys are in the kitchen. This way." He put his hand to the small of Ginny's back and guided her in the right direction. Throwing an angry glare over his shoulder, Harry's breath caught in his throat as Snape slowly adjusted himself again.

Once in the kitchen, Snape efficiently brought food from cupboards and refrigerator and put it on the oak table, inviting the family to sit. With surprising intuition, he offered the seat at the head of the table to James, indicating that he himself would sit at the foot, with Ginny on his right and Harry on his left. James, no one's fool, made a sly comment about Slytherins which Snape deflected easily while offering a discreet wink to Al. Tension started to drain from Harry's shoulders; perhaps the day would turn out well after all.

"Your father tells me you're quite the Quidditch player," Snape said, looking at James.

James gave Harry a look as if to say, "Talking about me to this git is just not on," and answered Snape with a mumble.

"He, of course," Snape continued with a small smile, "was famous for his skill, but I always thought there was more flash than substance to his playing."

As easily as that, James was engaged. He made a half-hearted attempt to defend Harry with, "No, he's actually pretty decent for an old man," and then was off, excitedly relaying every detail of the latest match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, a match where he had, apparently, been the star player, single-handedly scoring 100 points before the Snitch was caught.

It was a topic everyone could participate in, even Lily when she finally stumbled into the kitchen, wiping sleep from her eyes. A little stunned, Harry looked from Ginny to Snape and back again, shaking his head in disbelief. For the first time, he caught a glimpse of why Snape had survived so long as a spy. Any Slytherin who could get past James' instinctive hatred, while at the same time not excluding anyone else, was a diplomatic force to be reckoned with. Harry felt unbelievably content.

So content that he almost purred when Snape's hand slid along his thigh.

Shooting Snape a dirty look, Harry slid his chair closer to Lily on pretence of helping her build the world's biggest sandwich. Ginny, catching the look, gave Harry a quizzical one of her own. Harry just rolled his eyes, but when Lily's sandwich was assembled, he didn't slide his chair back to its original position.

When they had done eating, Ginny rose and began to gather the plates, but Snape stopped her with a hand laid on top of hers. "Please don't. It's kind of you to offer, but you'll just make me uncomfortable." Again he smiled at her, and Harry found himself gritting his teeth.

Stupid fucking poncy git. He doesn't smile at me. And where was his discomfort when I did the washing up last week?

"The thestral mare has foaled. The new colt's in the paddock. Would you like to meet him?"

Lily squealed in ecstasy and immediately hared off, James and Albus close on her heels.

"Stay out of the shed and the garden," Snape called after them. It was doubtful he could be heard above their noise.

"Got their hopes up for nothing. They won't be able to see him, will they?" Harry asked, failing to keep the sarcasm from his voice.

Snape tipped his head at Ginny as if to say, 'What can you do with someone like this?' "The colt will be visible until he's weaned. That's basic Care of Magical Creatures, Harry. I'm surprised you don't remember. Would you like to see the climate garden, Ginevra?" He stepped back so Ginny could precede him out the door then followed her.

Left behind and ignored, Harry twisted his mouth and whispered in a childish voice, "That's basic Care of Magical Creatures, Potter." Fucking wanker with his fucking superiority complex. I don't know what the fuck I ever saw in him. Harry's cock twitched, as if reminding him exactly what he saw in Snape.

Through the doorway, Harry could see Snape say something to Ginny, then point down the path towards the garden wall. Ginny nodded and walked off. Snape turned, adjusted himself again, and called, "Coming, Potter? You're usually quicker off the mark than that."

Harry gave him a two-fingered salute and turned back to the kitchen. If I have to put up with this crap, I'm getting another beer. He knew it wasn't a good idea. Disconcerted by Snape's weird behaviour, he'd already downed two with lunch. A third would give him a headache, but at that moment, he really didn't care.

He was already half finished with his beer by the time he decided to join Snape and Ginny. He stopped briefly at the paddock. The three kids were hanging off the paddock fence, miraculously not fighting, watching in rapt attention as the baby thestral twisted his neck awkwardly to feed from his invisible mother. Harry stared at them wistfully for a moment, wrapped in that constrained, aching, tender feeling he thought peculiar to fathers. It's a pity we can't live here, he thought, and then nearly laughed out loud at the idea of Snape and domestic tranquility. Speaking of domestic tranquility, Ginny'll have my head for leaving her alone with him so long.

Reminding his kids not to startle the colt and to stay out of the shed, Harry trotted down the path to the walled garden. The gate opened with its usual squeal of protest. It was, as always, ridiculously hot once he closed the gate behind him. He unbuttoned his shirt and hung it on the hooks provided, scowling sourly at Ginny's jumper and Snape's long-sleeved shirt hanging cosily side by side. Knocking Snape's shirt to the ground was an accident, but he didn't bother to pick it up and hung his own shirt on the hook next to Ginny's.

Snape and Ginny were nowhere in sight. That wasn't really surprising; at this time of day the tropical garden was unbearably muggy. They'd be somewhere beyond, looking at plants that didn't grow so close together, and where there was at least a chance of a cooling breeze. He found them, more or less where he expected, looking at a giant saguaro that had been damaged by frost. What he didn't expect was to find them standing so close together, arms linked, laughing.

It was unsettling. Harry watched them for a moment, trying to work out why their apparent amicability annoyed him so. He should have been glad they were getting along, shouldn't he? But they weren't really. They couldn't be. The Snape on display wasn't the real Snape. He was just making a show of being super-friendly to Ginny in an attempt to get Harry's goat. That was the problem: Snape wasn't really being nice, he was using Ginny, and Ginny didn't know him well enough to realise it. Of course he doesn't know you're around to see at the moment, and he's still being nice. What's that about?

Trying to get my goat, Harry thought again. Well, he's not getting it. I'll show him three can play this best-of-friends game. Tilting his head back, Harry drained the rest of his beer in one long, continuous swallow. Carefully setting his bottle at the edge of the path where it wouldn't be tripped over, he Summoned three more from the kitchen.

"Anyone want another beer?" Harry asked with forced cheerfulness, stepping forward and holding up the bottles.

"Is that your third?" Ginny asked. "I hope you have a headache potion, or at least some paracetamol," she said to Snape. "Three beers always give him a headache. You'd think he'd learn."

"Yeah, it's my third," Harry lied, "and look, Mother, no headache." He tried to hide a wince as something sharp seemed to jab him behind his left eyeball. "So, beer?" He waggled the bottles.

Snape took one, opened it and gave it to Ginny before taking one for himself. As Ginny took a swallow, Snape turned his back to her and gave Harry a seductive look.

"Trying to get drunk, Potter? At your size it won't take long." On the word 'size' he glanced down at Harry's crotch, and smiled.

"You really shouldn't have another, Harry. Don't forget you still have to drive home."

Damned if he would snap at her in front of Snape, Harry bit back his retort. "So, that's the cactus thingy got snowed on, is it?" And now he did wince. He knew the name of the damn thing, he just couldn't think of it at the moment.

"I don't know how you tolerate it, Ginevra. He drives me half mad with his inane questions and utter lack of common sense." Snape tucked Ginny's arm through his again and led the way back to the house.

"Sometimes it isn't easy," Ginny said with a smile. "Thanks for showing me your garden. It's wonderful."

The irritation that had been fermenting for the last hour suddenly gave Harry a sharp poke in the gut. They're flirting! They're fucking flirting with each other! He stared after them in consternation, unsure whether he wanted to say, "Oi, that's my man you're making so free with," or, "She's my wife, Snape."

It was disgusting. Deep down he knew it didn't mean anything, but it was insanely aggravating all the same. Better catch up, Potter. God knows what they'll get up to if you're not there to stop them. Harry hurried along the path after them.

"Where are your children?"

Harry and Ginny looked at each other.

"They were at the paddock," Harry said. "Watching the thestral colt."

"They're not there now." Snape pointed to the fenced area where the baby threstral kicked up its heels. The three kids were nowhere to be seen. "I told them not to go into the shed," Snape said with a frown of concern.

"I reminded them when I saw them. What's the big deal anyway? I don't remember anything dangerous in there."

Ginny laid a reassuring hand on Snape's arm. "I'm sure everything's all right. They can be a bit rambunctious, but they're very well behaved generally. They won't harm any of your plants."

"It's not them harming the plants that worries me. It's the Dragon's Heartstring."

Ginny paled.

"What?" Harry asked, but Snape and Ginny were already hurrying towards the shed.

A muffled shout sounded from within. Snape blasted the door open from twenty paces away and began running, Ginny and Harry hard on his heels. Harry still didn't know what the problem was, he'd been in the shed many times and never encountered anything more hazardous than Mandrakes, and both James and Al would know how dangerous they were and to keep Lily well away.

"Get it off me!"

That was James, with a note of panic in his voice. Harry tried to see over Snape's shoulder.

"Albus, Lily, I want you to back away from James. Very slowly. That's it. Back away." Snape's wand described a complicated spiral in the air and he was chanting something in a strange language.

Harry took another step forwards and saw James on the shed floor tightly wrapped by some kind of vile, wet-looking vine. He watched in horror as a thick, slimy red tendril made a tentative movement towards James's nostril. Snape's wand spiralled faster. Another tendril was creeping up James's neck, obviously seeking his ear, and a third was worming its way into his trousers. Snape finished his chant on a rising note; there was a flash and a puff of smoke, and the grotesque red creepers suddenly fell away, turning black and shrivelling before their eyes.

"So," Snape said in a deadly tone, "you thought you could ignore me without consequences, did you? You little idiot! Do you realise you could have been irreparably damaged? That your brother and sister could have as well? Do you think, as your father once did, that you are too good for rules?" Snape smiled nastily as he stepped closer still to James. "If you were my child, I'd beat you black and blue. Unhappily, that option is not available to me."

"Too right it isn't!" Harry snapped, remembering all the times Snape had threatened him with expulsion and hating the look of angry terror on James's face.

"Harry," Ginny admonished, "Severus is right. Well, not about the beating." She grinned. "But you were unbelievably stupid, James, and you deserve to be punished."

Snape flashed Harry a triumphant smirk and stepped back.

"What were you thinking?" Ginny continued. "Or weren't you?"

"We just wanted to see–"

"Were you, or were you not told to stay out of the shed?"

"Yes, but–"

"So you deliberately disobeyed Mr Snape."

"He's not my father! I don't have to listen to him!" James scrambled to his feet, his face blotchy with outrage. "He was a spy and a traitor! Like all Slytherins!"

"Oi!" Al protested.

"Well taught, Potter," Snape said in an undertone to Harry. "You must be proud."

"James! That's enough!" Harry snapped. He was still nursing his outrage at Snape for indignities inflicted years ago, but he was even more ashamed that his own son would spout such rubbish. He turned to Snape. "You said if I brought them you'd put them to work. I assumed you were kidding at the time, but I'm also sure there's something you could find to keep James out of any further trouble."

"Oh yes," Snape said smoothly. "The stalls in the byre need to be mucked out. There's nothing there he can damage, or use to cause damage to himself, unless he plans to choke himself on soiled straw." He gave James a malicious smile.

Harry turned to Ginny. She put her hand over her mouth to hide a grin and nodded. "That's it, then. Your punishment is mucking out the byre. Without magic."

"That's not fair!" James roared. "He should be reported to the Ministry! It's illegal to have lethal plants without a permit! You shouldn't be punishing me, you should summon the Aurors! Nasty, filthy, sneaking Slytherin traitor! I can't believe you're friends with him!"

"I do apologise for my son's horrible manners, Severus. Perhaps we should just take him home." Ginny looked as if she might be willing to reconsider the idea of a beating.

"Nonsense. If you leave, I'll have to muck out the byre myself." Snape laughed. "And I thought Lily and Al might like to ride the thestrals, or the mare if you don't like that idea."

Lily cheered and Al snickered at his brother, earning a half-hearted glare from Ginny.

"I think the mare would be better," Harry said. "There's been enough trouble for one day without putting these two hooligans on invisible, flying beasts."

"What's the deal with the Dragon Heartstring?" Harry asked after James had been locked in the shed with a rake, Al was perched on the paddock fence watching Lily ride the mare 'round in circles, and the adults were back in the lounge with fresh bottles of beer beside them. "Aptly named, from what I saw. Really disgusting stuff. But why would you want to grow something like that. It can't be any earthly use."

"Even after all these years your ignorance never ceases to astound me, Potter. I would have thought you, of all people, would have been intimately familiar with the cores used for wands."

"That stuff? I thought Ollivander used real heartstrings."

"Don't be ridiculous. He'd never have enough supply. Think about it, you twit. Phoenixes and unicorns are rare, true, but Phoenixes drop feathers as a dog sheds hair, and on the days immediately preceding their burning time, they can be plucked like a chicken without harm. In much the same way, unicorn hair can be gathered en masse. But you'd have to kill one dragon for every heartstring. It would be a terrible waste."

"They never taught us that at Hogwarts."

"Yes, well, Albus always was overly concerned for the tender sensibilities of children. He thought that if it were known that a simple plant made up a wand core, any child wielding such a wand might be ridiculed. I believe seventh year NEWT students are taught about cores, such students being deemed responsible enough to handle the information. The whole notion is absurd. My own wand uses Heartstring, as does, I believe, Hermione Granger's."

"It's a plant. I don't know why that seems so wrong. So what was it trying to do to James?"

Harry was irritated when Ginny was the one who answered.

"They're a sort of botanical dementor." She looked at Snape, who nodded. "The tendrils enter the body through any available opening, natural or wound, and then the plant feeds on the victim's magic."

"There was one creeping into James's trousers!" Harry felt ill at the idea.

"And into his nose and ear. Any available opening means any available opening. Eyes, rectum, urethra."

"OK, OK! I get it! You can stop now!" Harry took a long pull at his beer, draining the bottle and thumping it back on the table. "You grow these things? Do I even want to know how you feed them?"

Snape chuckled. "Let's just say there are fewer children in this community than there once were."

"You're joking. Tell me you're joking. That's disgusting, even for you!" Harry's voice was much louder than it should have been.

"Tell me what you would do, Ginevra," Snape said, giving Harry a disgusted look and turning his full charm on Ginny.

"Can't you just call her Ginny?" Harry demanded, irritated at the continued flirting. Snape and Ginny smiled at each other.

"Well, I didn't take a NEWT in Herbology, so I never read up on Dragon's Heartstring, but I'm guessing the feeding host doesn't have to be human?"

"Well done. It's none of my business, of course, but I do find myself wondering how two intelligent witches, such as yourself and Miss Granger, can tolerate being married to the likes of your husbands. I would find it tedious in the extreme."

Ginny giggled. It occurred to Harry that they were all a little the worse for wear after all those beers.

"There are other compensations," she said, giggling again.

"Indeed?" Snape gave Harry the once-over, not even bothering to hide it from Ginny this time, before turning back to her. "Would you like another beer?"

Determined that Snape should not win whatever game it was he was playing, Harry spoke up. "I think we've had enough to drink. How about coffee?"

Predictably, but still to Harry's surprise, Snape gestured negligently towards the kitchen, saying, "You know where things are kept. I'd prefer tea, if you don't mind. Ginevra?"

What am I? The fucking parlour maid? He won't let Ginny lift a finger, but I'm supposed to fetch and carry? Harry tried to keep the irritation from his face, but Ginny knew him too well. She gave him a small shake of her head and a warning look before saying she was fine with her beer.

A few minutes later, as the kettle was beginning to sing and Harry was slamming things around as he prepared to add grinds to the coffee press, Ginny came into the kitchen. "What in Merlin's name is the matter with you? You're acting like a child! You've been behaving almost as badly as James."

Harry sagged against the counter, suddenly ashamed. He knew he'd been acting like a complete berk. "I don't know. Snape said something nasty to me when we arrived – you caught the tail end of it, remember? It just seemed to get me off on the wrong foot. He does it on purpose. He knows he can get me worked up over nothing and he never passes on the opportunity to do it! And the two of you are acting like best chums. And James is a pillock. And I just hate everything and everyone at the moment."

Ginny laughed. "What did he say?"

"I don't want to talk about it. It'll just set me off again." Harry turned away, suddenly and inexplicably aroused by the memory of Snape crowding him against the wall. "It was nothing really, just one of his garden variety insults."

"Poor you. I guess twenty years and a bad case of hero-worship isn't enough to wipe out all the bad history between you. Try not to let it ruin your day. He's been quite the perfect host, you realise." She stepped closer and touched his shoulder. Harry turned to meet her.

"What a charming sight," Snape said from the doorway. His voice was pleasant but Harry was positive he could detect an underlying sneer. "I thought, as it's such a lovely evening, we could take our tea outside. Perhaps it's time to free young James from exile as well." He pulled a key on a long chain out of his pocket and handed it to Ginny. "This will unlock the byre door. I'll just help Harry get things ready while you gather the children. I laid in six flavours of ice-cream from Fortescue's, so I'm sure there's something they'll each like."

As soon as Ginny left, Snape crowded Harry against the counter, his eyes hot and heavy lidded. "Your wife is stunning, Potter." His breath was warm and damp against Harry's neck as he leant in. "You're a lucky man. What's she like in bed? I can see a lot of passion under that calm exterior."

"You fucking prick!" Harry rasped, trying to shift away, appalled that his cock had immediately leapt to attention. "Shut your fucking mouth!"

"Have I said something to offend?" Snape asked innocently, grinding his hips against Harry's. His voice dropped below its usual hoarse whisper. "I've enjoyed imagining the two of you together. You're so perfectly suited. And now, having met her again, I've something new to add to my fantasies. Have you ever thought about sharing her?"

Wild-eyed and breathing hard, Harry shoved Snape away from him. He had never imagined any such thing, but now that the idea had been planted, his cock seemed to pound with an unaccustomed urgency.

Snape laughed. "I suggest a visit to the loo before your wife returns with your children; you seem to be experiencing some difficulty. I'll just finish up here and you can join us outside when you're ready."

Harry nearly bolted from the room. In the bathroom, he leant heavily against the basin, panting and terrified, head swimming from too much alcohol, unbearably aroused, and listened to the sound of blood roaring in his ears. His body ached for Snape's touch. His mind rebelled at the thought of betraying his wife again. He was scared, exhilarated, shocked, disgusted and happy all at the same time. He thought his heart might burst from the emotion swelling inside it. Almost afraid of what he might see, Harry examined his face in the mirror and marvelled that, apart from a faint, feverish flush, he didn't look any different than he ever had. He stayed there, staring into his own green eyes, until his breathing evened out, until his heart stopped pounding, until his erection subsided. Feeling only marginally in control again, he washed his face and hands.

We'll have our coffee and tea, the kids can have their ice cream, and then we'll go. It was stupid to come here. So stupid. I don't know what Snape's playing at, what he's trying to do to me, but it doesn't matter. We shouldn't have come. I can manage this. I can do the polite thing, and then we can leave. I can manage this.

Harry looked in the mirror again, saw the flush had gone from his face, saw that the wildness had subsided from his eyes. Taking a deep breath and then another, he nodded at himself in the glass. "I can manage this," he said aloud, then turned away and left the bathroom.

The kids were seated on the ground, each with an enormous bowl of ice cream. Lily and Al scrunched their bare feet in the moss, laughing with delight as it curled around their toes. James sat apart on a patch of bare ground, face sullen, casting surreptitious dirty looks in Snape's direction. Snape and Ginny sat in lawn chairs, a small wrought iron table laden with tea, coffee and small cakes, between them.

"There you are," Ginny said, smiling. "I thought we'd lost you."

"Too much to drink," Harry said shortly. "I thought I might have lost myself." He avoided looking at either of them.

"You wanted coffee, I believe," Snape said, filling a mug and handing it to Harry. He appeared relaxed, more at ease than Harry could ever remember him being.

Harry'd thought the coffee would sober him up, but it seemed the beers he'd consumed had a delayed reaction. He had a fierce headache and his head was still swimming.

"Are we going to leave soon?" James asked.

"Shut it, James," Harry snapped. "You've been rude enough for one day!"

"Harry," Ginny scolded, "he's been behaving himself. The kids are all tired, especially James. He did a good job on the stables. It's been a long day for everyone." She smiled apologetically at Snape. It made Harry want to smash something.

"Excuse me for trying to teach my son some manners," Harry snarled. He gave in to his urge and slammed his coffee mug down on the table hard enough to crack it. "Maybe if you exercised a little more discipline, he wouldn't behave like such a prat!"

"What's the matter with you?" Ginny asked, her eyes flashing. "You're the one who's behaving like a prat!"

"Maybe I'm sick of watching you hang all over Snape. It's indecent!"

Snape put a restraining hand on Ginny. "Settle down, Potter," he said coldly. "You're acting like a child."

"Maybe if you'd stop pawing my wife, I could settle down!" Harry lurched to his feet, then swayed dizzily before falling heavily back into his chair. He thought he might vomit.

"Mummy? What's the matter with Daddy?" Lily sounded frightened and Harry felt bile rise up in his throat.

"What's the matter with Daddy, Mummy?"

"He's drunk, Lily. Not a very pretty picture, is it?" Ginny spoke mildly but she shot Harry a look of disgust.

James sniggered.

"Remember this when you get older, you lot. Too much of a good thing is still too much."

"Do NOT run me down in front of my kids!" Harry shouted. He tried to rise again with no more success than the first time.

Ginny looked helplessly at Snape who nodded grimly.

"Can you drive that contraption," he asked, with a nod towards Ron's Moggie parked on the verge.

"I have done," Ginny said.

"Then perhaps you should take your children home. I'd offer to help you take them Side-Along, but I'm afraid of what your husband might get up to, left to his own devices."

Harry turned his head and vomited on the moss. James snickered again, and Al and Lily scooted closer to their mother. Deeply ashamed and utterly unable to change anything, Harry watched morosely as Snape accompanied his family to the car. He offered the only thing he could. "James, sit up front with your mother. I don't want you harassing your sister and brother." His speech was slurred and he was vaguely aware it shouldn't have been. It was not possible that he was getting drunker by the minute. At the very least, purging himself should have cleared his head a bit.

"I hope you're proud of yourself, Potter." Snape said as they watched Ginny and the kids drive away. "You couldn't have behaved more reprehensibly if you tried."

"You put something in my coffee," Harry said accusingly, positive he was right.

"You have more of your wits about you than I thought." Snape pulled a vial out of his pocket. "Drink this."

"Why?"

"It will clear your head, you idiot."

"Not what I meant. Why did you poison me? Are you that angry? I thought...I thought things were patched." Harry knew he wasn't making any sense.

"Don't be daft, Harry. I didn't poison you. If you want to participate intelligibly in a conversation, drink that."

Still suspicious, Harry swallowed the vial's contents. Immediately his head stopped spinning and the roiling in his stomach subsided, although he still felt more than a little drunk. "What did you put in my coffee and why?"

Snape's lips twitched. "Powdered Dragon's Heartstring. Smoked, it's an anti-depressant. In solution, it dulls motor co-ordination and clouds the mind, much like an excess of alcohol. Perhaps now you understand my attempts at propagating it. There's a potential fortune to be had."

"Never mind that, you bastard. Why did you drug me?"

"I wanted you to myself for the evening. It seemed the easiest route," Snape replied blandly.

"Thought you were done with that. You said I made you sick and kicked me out." Excitement set Harry's heart racing again. He still wants me!

"That," Snape whispered, leaning forward and ghosting his fingers over Harry's crotch, "was before seeing you with your lovely wife put ideas into my head. Come to the house, Harry. Come to my bed."

There was something not quite right, but Harry couldn't put his finger on it, and the way his cock throbbed blotted out reason. He staggered heavily to his feet, leaning against Snape for balance, moaning as Snape's hand slid under his shirt and stroked up and down his back.

The early evening sun cast the dust motes in Snape's room in high relief. The same clutter covered every surface, books were still stacked everywhere including several by the pillows on the bed, but at least the sheets looked to have been changed since the last time. Harry sank gratefully onto the bed and limply allowed Snape to divest him of his clothing. The momentary clearness provided by Snape's potion seemed to be disappearing. Harry felt strangely lethargic and his head was spinning again. He groaned as Snape suddenly jerked him to his feet, propelling him by main force across the room to stand in front of a long mirror.

"Look at yourself!" Snape stood behind Harry, his long-fingered hands holding Harry's jaws, twisting his head, forcing him to look in the mirror. "You're a mess. Did you get drunk so you could let yourself do all the dirty things you think about?" He shifted his grip to Harry's chin, holding it with one hand while the other strayed slowly down Harry's chest. He pressed his lips to Harry's ear.

"Not drunk. You drugged me," Harry protested feebly.

"I merely saw to it that your pathetic state was enhanced to my benefit. You drank yourself stupid all by yourself. You're aroused, and you smell as if you have been for some time. Did you catch yourself imagining what it would be like to watch me fuck your wife?"

Harry inhaled sharply, suddenly dizzy from the filthy images in his head.

"Can you imagine it? Her beautiful head thrown back, exposing the long white column of her neck, offering it to me, to my teeth, my lips." As he spoke, Snape's hand had been rubbing Harry's torso with increasing firmness, stroking him from clavicle to navel.

Snape pushed two fingers between Harry's lips, pressed against his teeth, demanded entrance. Harry wasn't refusing, he was drunk and dazed and even after all this time, Snape still had the ability to make his brain freeze under the onslaught of powerful emotion. The instant his lips parted the pressure on his teeth ceased.

"Wet them," Snape growled.

Incapable of a single coherent thought, Harry could still follow orders. He sucked the fingers deep into his mouth with enough force to make them bump the back of his throat. He gagged and quickly backed off but kept his tongue in play, running it over, under and between, wetting them as thoroughly as he could.

"Think of my cock slipping in and out of her wetness."

Harry's whine when Snape slipped from his mouth turned into a hiss as he sucked his breath in sharply. Snape's wet fingers were in the crease of Harry's thigh, sliding back and forth over the smooth flesh there, rubbing firmly over a muscle that must have been attached directly to Harry's cock.

"Imagine sitting on the edge of the bed, stroking yourself as you watch me fuck your wife from behind."

It was easy to imagine. So easy. He could see Ginny's smooth, freckled arse pushing back, meeting Snape thrust for thrust.

Snape's fingers continued to do clever things to Harry's body as he described what he would do to Harry's wife. Each time Harry closed his eyes, trying to sink into the heady sensations, Snape would jerk his head back, forcing his eyes to snap open again, forcing him to watch everything in the mirror.

"Your depravity knows no bounds. You'd do it, wouldn't you? You'd let me fuck her. You'd watch with open-eyed glee as I ravaged her."

"Yes," Harry panted, knowing it was wrong, knowing he should say anything but that.

"And you'd touch yourself," Snape whispered against Harry's neck as his hand slid to Harry's cock, squeezing and tugging it roughly.

"GOD, YES!" Harry screamed. And that was all it took. His orgasm was blindingly intense. His knees buckled and he fell like a stone, tumbling Snape to the ground with him. They lay there in a sweaty, panting heap for several long, ecstatic minutes.

Finally, still labouring for breath, Harry rolled over, curling his body around Snape's. "That was amazing! Best ever. You've really got a filthy mind." He yawned and stretched luxuriously. "It's good to be back. I've really missed this. Whose ridiculous idea was it to just be friends anyway?"

"Yours," Snape replied coldly. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Potter. I wanted to remind you exactly what you've been missing." He didn't sound glad at all.

Harry sighed. "Can we not do this again? You're preparing to toss me out, aren't you? You do it every damn time!"

"I'm not the one with a wife and family. You don't have to leave. Stay the weekend if you like."

"I can't. You know I can't."

"Drink that," Snape said, his tone surly as he pointed to a small bottle on the bedside table. "It will get rid of the alcohol in your system. It is time you left. I've no desire to have a parliament of owls congregating in my kitchen as your wife and children send frantic missives demanding to know how you're feeling."

"I don't have to go just yet. Ginny won't expect me for a few hours. Maybe we could take a nap?"

Snape didn't say anything as he stripped down and crawled into bed. Harry hurried to join him.

"Stop it! What the deuce do you think you're doing?" Snape growled as Harry flung an arm over his chest and scooted closer."

"It's called cuddling."

"Desist at once. I am not your teddy bear." Snape sounded slightly less irritated than he had. Harry grinned.

"Don't care what you say," Harry mumbled, as he kissed Snape's neck. "We're spectacular together. And you're incapable of resisting me. I'm like a drug in your system."

"Perhaps," Snape said morosely. "But I wonder how long the high will last. I'm beginning to think someone should do an intervention."

~*~*~*~*~
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Sadness of Eros