Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Vulpes	By : Relevant_Peach Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 8816 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters described here. I make no money from this work.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
Ikit laughed softly at Severus’ gasp of recognition. “The green-eyed man?” Her smile was like a hug, warm, soft, loving.

“His name is Harry” Severus said quietly. “And if I had to trade the rest of the breaths of my body for one more chance to see his eyes, I would do so, willingly.”

“Yes” Ikit said. “I knew that you had found it.”

“But that’s it? I travelled halfway across the world to learn rare magic, only to find myself lovesick over a boy who hates me?”

“Open your eyes, Severus. You travelled far, true, but you learned to trust your heart, and you found what matters”

“But he hates me, he fears me. He thinks I betrayed him”

“He might have, once.”

“Has his opinion changed, Ikit?”

She gifted him with one last gentle smile and squeezed his hand. “I can’t tell you everything, seeker. Not now that you have a lovely free heart to use on your own”

“Ikit, thank you, for everything. For giving me a home here, and for teaching me…”

“It’s nothing, child of my heart. Someday, you will teach others what you’ve learned. Go now, Severus. Go to him. Do not linger for my burial. I will have gone”

Severus laid a gentle kiss on the withered cheek, and left.

Apparation hops, followed by an International portkey, followed by a series of Apparition hops, would exhaust any man, but Severus had also just experienced a cleansing ritual, and when he arrived in Hogsmeade, he staggered.

He managed to get himself inside the Hog’s Head, but couldn’t fathom the walk to the castle. “C’n I’ve a room, Abe?” He asked at the bar, his exhaustion allowing the Northern edges to bleed into his accent.

“You might as well” Aberforth replied, tossing him a key. The thanks rumbled low in Severus’ chest, and he pondered the mammoth task of climbing the stairs. “You look like hell, Snape. Here.” He passed a somewhat grubby tumbler full of fire whiskey down the bar towards Snape, who gratefully sipped. But, as he nodded off over his glass, Aberforth laughed, gently removed the glass from Severus’ clenched hand and said “Off to bed, then.” Severus complied.

He awoke, chilled, uncertain what time it was. The air was different here, thinner, drier. But it smelled sweet and crisp, and just like that, Severus felt like he was at home. In the dusky light of dawn, the Castle was resplendent. As Severus reached the gates, and placed a tender hand on the left-side pillar, he breathed deeply.

The gates swung open, welcoming him like an old friend. The walk to the front doors of the castle was slow, taking in the familiar sights and breathing the air that hit his lungs like a gentle balm. Just as he approached the doors, a familiar flash of orange caught his eye. “Harry” he breathed, as the little fox emerged from the forest, nose high in the air, alert.

Severus battled conflicting feelings of joy and despair. Seeing that Harry was safe, and seemingly, well, filled him with deep relief, but knowing that he still wasn’t able to regain his human self sent a pang of loss through Severus’ middle. It only mattered a little, though. Severus was home, and Harry was here, even if only in his animagus form. Severus wasn’t fool enough to deny the staggering bolt of clarity he’d received in the Bontoc village. Harry was all that his heart desired, and Severus would simply have to hope that Harry the fox would learn to tolerate his presence again.

He waited by the door, as Harry appeared to be approaching. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Harry stopped, very deliberately, and cocked his head. “Hello, Harry” Severus said softly. “I’ve missed you.”

Harry blinked rapidly, and sniffed the air again. With feather soft steps, he climbed the stairs and slowly approached Severus, nose twitching wildly. At his approach, Severus crouched, and extended a hand for the little fox to sniff. Harry breathed deeply and stilled, his eyes narrowing as he looked intently at Severus. Severus’ heart stuttered for a moment, ready for the inevitable pain and rejection. Instead, Harry stood on his hind legs, and gently sniffed every inch of his face. His whiskers tickled Severus’ sensitive cheeks, and he felt himself smiling. Suddenly, Harry gave a happy yip, and bounced into Severus’ arms.

Severus laughed. “Perhaps you’ve missed me as well. Have you forgiven me, then? For hurting you, and putting you in danger?” Harry nuzzled under Severus’ neck, and gave a pleased little growl. “I’m going to the Headmaster’s office.” He told Harry, placing him back on the floor. Harry blinked, and ran lightly down the hall in the direction of the dungeons.

It took no time at all for a smiling Severus to find his way to the Gargoyle the guarded Albus’ office. Before he had time to start guessing at passwords, the stone creature moved aside, and Severus rode the stairs to the top. “Come in” Albus said, as Severus raised his hand to knock.

Albus was sitting at his desk, reviewing a thick stack of parchment, and Severus was surprised to see how much older he looked. Either the battle at Malfoy Manor had taken a great deal from Albus, or Severus had simply lost perspective. When Albus smiled, though, he looked a great deal younger, Severus noted with relief.

“Severus!” Albus’ greeting was warm, as was the hand that he reached across the desk to place on Severus’. “I didn’t expect you back so quickly. Did you find your adventure?”

“In a manner of speaking” Severus said. “I learned a great deal, but most of all, I realized that I wanted to be at home.”

“Then I’m thrilled you’re back” Albus said. “It sounds like your trip was enlightening.”

“It was” Severus said.

“When you’ve rested up, I will be eager to learn of your travels. In the meantime, however, can I assume your presence means that you will stay in the Castle for a time?”

“If I’m welcome” Severus replied. He hadn’t given much thought to the fact that he was now unemployed, and his place at Hogwarts wasn’t guaranteed.

“You are!” Albus was beaming. “Hogwarts is your home, child. You will always be welcomed here. Besides that, Professor Slughorn has grown weary and wishes to resume his retirement. He’ll be delighted to put the stirring rod back into your capable hands.”

“How have things been here? I’ll confess, I haven’t seen a newspaper since I left Hogwarts”

“Much has changed, but more has stayed the same” Albus smiled. “The Ministry is largely unchanged since you left. The Death Eaters have all been tried, and are serving sentences in Azkaban. Young Mister Malfoy was given a ten year sentence for his involvement in Harry’s abduction.”

Severus allowed himself a moment of sadness for his Godson. More often than not, he’d been a spoiled little monster, but he couldn’t help the family that he was raised in, and, despite the fact that he’d nearly been the architect of Harry’s death, it was depressing to see such promise languishing in the depths of a prison cell.

“I see that Harry is still here at Hogwarts” Severus said evenly, willing his body not to betray any emotion.

“Of course, Severus. Hogwarts is Harry’s home, just as it’s yours.”

“How is he?” The words didn’t come smoothly, or easily, and his shaking hands betrayed his nerves.

Albus smiled. “He is better. Not the same as he once was, but not as frightened or angry as you last saw him. More importantly, Severus, how are you?”

Severus’ smile was genuine. “I’m also better, Albus. The time away was good. I learned a great deal about myself.”

“You’ll find your own quarters unchanged from when you left them.”

“Thank you, Albus, for everything”

“It’s nothing, child. Thank you, for everything you’ve done. I know that the previous years have been difficult for you, and that you’ve supplanted your joy for the sake of others. My sole condition in welcoming you here is that you allow your genuine self to show. You don’t need to be a double agent any longer. You don’t need to hide behind your persona. I’d like to hire the real Severus Snape to teach.”

Severus nodded, words failing him. “It…it has been difficult”

“I know. So, in your travels, you found that your place is here?”

“Yes. I learned my heart’s desire”

“Then you’d best go to him, hadn’t you?” Albus smile was knowing, and the old Severus would have said something cutting, designed to distance anyone from seeing his emotions.
Instead, he turned at the doorway, fond eyes meeting Albus’ and said “I’m glad to be home.”

He felt lighter as he returned to his dungeons and countered the wards on the doors. He would shower, have tea, and see if he couldn’t find Harry to spend some time with him.

Instead, as he opened the door, his mouth dropped when he saw Harry, in human form, sitting calmly on his sofa. “Hello sir” Harry said, his smile a little forced.

“H-Harry” Severus’ breath whooshed from him in a torrent of air, and his lungs contracted. Harry was whole, and speaking to him, and sitting in his lounge.

“Welcome back”

“Thank you. You look well.”

“I’m feeling much better.”

Severus hadn’t expected Harry to be speaking to him at all, but this wooden, formal exchange was worse than nothing. He flew to Harry’s side and found himself on the floor next to the sofa. “Harry. I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through these past months”

Harry shrugged and tried to smile, but it failed, and he only managed a bit of a grimace. “I’m the one who needs to be sorry, sir. I threw myself at you, and then I got myself captured, and got Moody killed, and then I chased you away from Hogwarts. I’m disgusted with myself, sir, and I’ll never be able to make it up to you.” He squared his shoulders then, and his eyes were determined. “I’ll be going though, sir. I won’t allow you to be uncomfortable in your home. Not after all you did for me, and everyone. I just wanted to apologize before I left.”

He stood, and Severus clutched at his robes. “No, Harry, please. Please stay, please let me tell you…”

“I couldn’t, sir. I’ve been the catalyst for your downfall on too many occasions. I can’t stand by and continue to ruin your life, not now that you’ve finally got your freedom.”

“Harry!” Severus heard the desperate tone of his voice, and Harry must have too, because he paused, turned back. His face was a hard mask, but his eyes belied it. Severus could see the faintest glimmer of hope sparking within.

“Please, Harry,” Severus begged. “Just stay for a few minutes. I have some things that I need to say to you. Then, if you need to, I’ll understand if you go”

The emotions warred on his features for a moment, and finally, with a huge sigh, Harry sat again. “I suppose I owe you that” he said softly. Severus refused to use Legimency on Harry, not when he was trying to build back the trust that they had forged, but Harry had always worn his emotions out on the open. He was hopeful, and wary, and so, so afraid that Severus would hurt him again.

“I left the Castle, not because I didn’t want to be with you, but because I thought that you needed the space to heal. You’d been so badly hurt, and when you finally woke up, and looked at me so distrustfully, it felt like a kindness”

“I’m sorry-”

“No, Harry, please. I want you to understand everything. To start with, I didn’t reject your advances because I wanted to. It’s illegal for a student and professor to embark upon a relationship, and it’s unfair to take advantage of someone who is emotionally vulnerable.”

Harry’s face coloured, and he looked as though he was about to speak again. Severus plunged on. He found this so difficult, honestly expressing his feelings, and if he faltered, he’d lose the opportunity. “Harry, please look at me.” The wide eyes met his, and Severus felt that he could lose himself in their depths. “If we make love, Harry, I want it to happen when we’re equals. It would be such a waste if we were acting out of fear, or desperation. If we were to choose one another, I’d want it to be just that…a choice.”

Harry’s eyes glistened, and Severus knew that he was about to cry. He needed to get the rest of this out. “I left, partly to give you time to heal, but also because I’d never really lived outside the walls of this castle. I wanted to explore, to learn. I didn’t want to make safe choices, not when I’d never really explored what else there was.” Harry’s expression began to shut down again, and Severus hurried to continue.

“So you can imagine my surprise, Harry, when I travelled halfway across the world, learned how to harness elemental magic beyond my wildest dreams, and uncovered the deepest longing of my heart. It was you, Harry. You are my heart’s desire.”

Harry gasped, and his face alit with such desperate hope that Severus felt his heart constrict. He was truly beautiful. “You’re young, Harry, and you now have a future, free of the expectations of others, so I’ll understand if you wish to explore what you could do in this life. But, it’s important that you are under no misunderstanding. If you’ll have me, I would follow you to the ends of the earth. I would stop at nothing to bring you happiness. You’re my grand adventure, Harry”

For a moment, nothing happened. Harry seemed as though he was turning over Severus’ every word, examining each one closely. He blinked rapidly for a moment, and then suddenly, joy burst across his face. It resembled the most perfect sunrise Severus had ever seen, and his breath caught.

Harry flung himself at Severus, hitting him somewhere around the middle, and causing the both of them to overbalance backwards. As Severus felt his head strike the stone floor with a clunk, his attention was taken completely by Harry’s lips upon his.

Severus had been kissed before, once, in fact, by Harry himself, but he was completely unprepared for the warmth that blossomed through him as Harry’s mouth captured his, rather fiercely. Without thinking, he responded, and it was only the hugely irritating need to breath that parted them. They were both gasping slightly, and Harry wore a look on his face that suggested Severus had hung the moon.

Harry’s hand tentatively touched his cheek, as though fearful of being rebuffed. “Mine?” He asked softly.

“Yours, Harry. Completely yours.”

Finite
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- 13
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