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Life Eternal	By : AlectoPerdita Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 10864 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Life Eternal

By Alecto Perdita

Chapter 13 - The Best Beloved

Beta'ed by Amanda Saitou

Rating: R

Posted: September 8, 2005

Revised: September 17, 2005

Warnings: Slash, HP/SS

Email: alecto.perdita@gmail.com

Site: http://cocytus.eternity-inc.net

Mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/cocytus

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling, and is being used in this fanfiction for fan purposes only. All situations, opinions and characters not belonging to J.K. Rowling are the intellectual property of Alecto Perdita.

It was around dinner time when they arrived back at the village of Snape. It was also raining. Snape waved his wand and cast a subtle rain-repelling charm over both of them.

�Thanks,� Harry muttered.

Snape just grunted in return.

A car passed them at the edge of the village, but they saw nothing and no one else afterwards. Harry held his bundle closer, shielding it from the rain. Snape�s pockets jingled with the sound of potions vials clicking against each other. They must have been an odd pair to witness walking down the streets. The village was quiet though, especially on the western end where the castle was and where another body was discovered that morning.

There were still two constables loitering outside the gate. He and Snape exchanged glances. The cops were waiting for the Snapes to return home. Harry gnawed on his lower lips. This could be damaging to Siobhan and the others if the situation wasn�t resolved soon.

Snape pointed his wand at the nearest constable, but Harry grabbed the tip of the wand. The older man�s expression was thunderous when he glared at Harry. He wondered if it was because he had dared to touch Snape�s wand or that he had done something as stupid as grab the tip. Harry just shook his head and pulled out his invisibility cloak. The cloak wasn�t meant to fit two adults; they would have to crouch so their feet weren�t exposed.

�Fine, Potter,� Snape snapped. �But don�t ever do that again?�

�What?� Harry asked innocently. �Interrupt you or touch your wand?�

Snape growled and snatched the invisibility cloak from his hands. The older man unfurled the cloak and draped it over their bodies. Harry was hesitant to move any closer to the teacher though. The older man gave him an annoyed look and placed an arm over Harry�s shoulders to pull him closer.

Harry tensed against Snape�s side. Snape laid a hand on his forearm, and it burned like a hot brand- or the Dark Mark. Harry tried to swallow the lump developing in his throat. He trusted Snape to guide him past the constables because it felt as if his body had shut down completely.

The constables started at the sound of footsteps against wet gravel, but since they couldn�t see anyone, they thought it to be just their imagination. Snape laid his hand on the wooden doors, and they swung open just wide enough to let the two of them in.

Harry pulled away from Snape as soon as the doors closed behind them. He swept the invisibility cloak off and wrung it dry of the rain water. The other man waved his wand and summoned the lights. He could see the ward circle shimmer underneath their feet for a second. Reaching out with his senses, Harry couldn�t find the taint of Darkness that usually signified Abraham�s presence.

�I don�t feel him.� He muttered.

Snape glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes and summoned up the wards. �You�re correct. The vampire is indeed out at the moment.�

�What should we do in the meanwhile?�

�Just wait, I suppose.� Snape grabbed his arm and dragged him to the left and down a hallway he seldom traveled down before. There was an inconspicuous white door at the end of the hallway that he hadn�t noticed before. Snape shoved him into the room first before following.

The first thing Harry noticed was how dimly lit the room was. It took him a few seconds to adjust to the darkness in the room. Unlike the rest of the castle, candles were the only source of lighting here. The air was both moldy and stagnant, filled with a layer of dust that tickled at his nose. He wondered when the last time someone had been in here was.

He looked upon the rows of pews and realized why belatedly. �A church?�

�It�s a chapel, Potter. The Snape Castle Chapel, built in the 15th century and the ceiling art was commissioned in the 17th century. It was promptly abandoned following the wave of anti-Muggle sentiments in the 18th century and used as a grain store.� Snape stopped just inches behind him.

Harry craned his neck back, eyes taking in the sight of the high arched windows to the vaulted ceiling above. It was little more than peeling plaster now, but he could make out the remnants of what must have once been a piece of art. It was a shame how it looked beyond the ability of even the most painstaking restoration. He spun on his heels to meet Snape�s gaze and found the older man standing at the bare altar in the front of the chapel.

�For a man that claims to hate this place, you sure know a lot about it.� He dumped his bundle on the pew and leaned against the stand.

A small frown tugged at the edge of Snape�s thin lips. �Siobhan rarely allows me to forget the historical significance of this landmark.�

�Just landmark? Not home?� He asked.

The older man glared at him. �This has and never will be a home for me. Enough of your asinine questions, Potter. We should prepare ourselves for the vampire�s arrival.�

He opened the bundle and undid the shrinking spell on the contents. There were silver chains and two light-weight long swords. Raising an eyebrow in question, he asked, �What? No holy water, crosses, stakes, or garlic?�

�You watch too many Muggle cinemas, Potter. If the so-called sanctified power of crosses actually has any effect on vampires, this chapel will suffice. Stakes make for gaudy weapons and are no more effective against vampires than other creatures. It�s enough to simply destroy the heart, no matter what the tool. Honestly, Potter, what creature do you know of can survive after being staked in the heart?� when Harry didn�t reply, Snape continued. �As for holy water and garlic, we have the next best thing.�

The older man set a few vials of potion down on the pew. Harry recognized the rust red potion as the one Snape had used against Abraham before. �Break the vial and cast Incendio on the potion inside, the resulting fumes will smell strongly of garlic.�

�I never understood why garlic is considered so effective against vampires.� He picked up a vial to examine the contents.

�For a supposed expert on Dark creatures, you know very little about vampires.�

�I�ve never dealt with a vampire until now. Besides, the reality of the vampire is notoriously difficult to separate from the lore.�

�Garlic is toxic to a vampire�s system because it lowers their blood pressure [1]. It�s not enough to do any permanent damage like wolfsbane does to werewolves, but it can severely incapacitate them for a bit. The mere smell of garlic is enough to make any vampire feel faint, and if they�re particularly susceptible to it, experience a seizure-like episode.� Snape explained. �You really should know these things, Potter.�

He shrugged. �Isn�t it enough to know that it works? Why it works becomes considerably less important when you�re fighting for your life.�

�As true to your Gryffindor roots as ever, more blind courage than brains. I find it hard to believe I recognize you for who you really are earlier.� Snape looked down at him in disgust.

Harry looked up straight into the older man�s eyes and said, �On the contrary, you never knew me at all, Snape.�

After a long moment of silence, broken only by the sound of the rain beating against the glass, Snape said, �You�re correct once again.�

He fell silent at the unexpected agreement. Snape was right about one thing. If he had paid more attention to what Hermione said or to the Bloodlust Curse in general, he wouldn�t be in the mess he was right now. Shrugging off the strange atmosphere that seemed to plague the both of them in recent days, he asked, �So do you usually carry vampire repelling potions around with you? Or are you really that paranoid of a bastard?�

�No, you dolt, it�s a potion to ease coughs.� His former teacher snapped.

�Cough medicine? What for?�

Snape looked uneasy as he answered, �You had developed a bit of a troubling cough earlier that morning��

�Oh�� He was once again rendered almost speechless.

He sat down on the pew and fingered one of the long swords. Had Snape intentionally gone back to the castle to get Harry the cough potion? He would have never guessed the man would go to such lengths for him. Granted, it wasn�t very much, but it was still more than he would have ever expected. �Thanks.�

Snape grunted.

They lapsed into silence again- the maddeningly quiet sort. It wasn�t before long that Harry dug up the first subject that came to mind to fill the emptiness between them. �I meant to ask before, Snape. What happened to the Wolfsbane potion you�re experimenting with?�

Snape snorted, �No need to worry about your pet werewolf. I always cast a stasis spell over the potion after I�m done for the day. Assuming we resolve this little vampire issue quickly, the potion will be just fine.�

�That�s�good�� He replied lamely as he looked away again.

Snape surprised him by addressing him first after another long moment of silence. �How old are you now, Potter?�

�Twenty-four.�

�Too young.� Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Snape cut him off. �Too young to die just yet. Even I lived past that age.�

�I�m not a Slytherin.� He smiled weakly.

�Perhaps.�

�Do we even have a plan?�

�Tie the blood sucker up and behead him before he has a chance to make anymore mischief.�

�I assure you it will not be that simple.�

Abraham�s voice was immediately followed by the hungry pangs of his curse.

~~~

Severus tightened his grip on his wand and turned in the direction of the voice, just as Potter pitched over against the pew. He planted his right hand on Potter�s shoulder and squeezed. �Pull yourself together,� he barked.

Potter�s frame shuddered under his hand and the man jumped to his feet. Potter nodded to him and took up the one of the swords. Staring at the sword in his right hand and his wand in his left, Potter asked, �You do know how to use these things, right?�

Putting up the other sword, Severus said, �I�ve never picked up a sword before this instance.�

The other man looked up at him with what could be described as abject horror. Severus ignored the look and flicked his wand from the silver chains lying on the pew to the vampire. �Adstringo.�

The vampire snarled and dodged the chains. The chains crashed into the chapel doors, chipping the faded paint and wood. Potter leaped over the pews- the rotten wood of the pew cracking under the pressure of his weight- with both his sword and wand in hand, and swung the blade at the vampire. Abraham proved to be faster than both the movements of a fit wizard and magic.

Severus picked up one of the potion vials and threw it at Abraham�s feet, �Incendio.�

The vampire wheeled to the right to avoid the fumes and crashed into another row of pews. Potter followed and raised his sword to strike again. While the younger man didn�t appear to be anymore adept with a sword, he moved with a fluidity of one who was used to physical altercations.

Abraham was faster though. Gifted with inherent superhuman strength and inspired by a relentless desire for vengeance, he was not going to be a creature easy to defeat. Abraham lunged forward and grabbed Potter�s waist, pulling the boy down to the floor.

Potter went shock still in the vampire�s arms, his eyes rolling back into his head.

�Potter!� Severus snapped.

The vampire bared his fangs and tightened his embrace. �He�s mine, Snape. I have already staked my claim.�

�You don�t own Harry Potter anymore than I can,� he laughed, and it really shouldn�t have been a laughing matter. �All that rubbish about blood and kin, you should be the first to see how meaningless it is.�

Abraham moved one hand over Potter�s heart. �It matter not. He will forfeit all to me and you will lose.�

�You�re pathetic, vampire. I have better things to do than to compete with you over trivial matters.�

�Then you would forfeit Harry to me?�

Severus narrowed his eyes. �I can do anything but that.�

�Why?�

�Loathe him as I might, the boy has always been my responsibility.�

�Just a responsibility?� the vampire�s eyebrow vanished into his dark hairline. �I find that hard to believe.� He glanced down at Potter seated in his lap and ran a hand through the boy�s hair.

�Potter, I�m warning you now. If you try anything as remotely strange as you did last time, I will make you pay dearly this time.� Severus snapped.

The vampire laughed. �Didn�t you enjoy the kiss Harry gave you last time? Silly boy,� he scowled. �You shouldn�t give so freely of yourself, especially in front of your Sire.�

�Let go of the boy now, vampire.�

Abraham ignored him and continued to address Potter tenderly. He placed one hand over the boy�s sword hand and pried the fingers from the weapon. The sword clattered to the floor, and Potter�s wand followed suit. Watching them both, Severus wondered how the fact Abraham was a vampire had escaped Potter�s notice for so long. The monster cast no shadow and of all the magical creatures in the world, only vampires cast no shadow.

Severus gritted his teeth and stepped toward them. �You forced me to this, Potter.� Flicking his wand toward the vials sitting on the pew, he levitated one of the potions into the air.

�Don�t even think about it,� the vampire said haughtily. �Harry�s already halfway through the change. How do you think that potion of yours is going to affect him?�

He hesitated. He had no idea how far the Bloodlust Curse was in changing Potter, but the vampire would. It would be foolish to trust anything the vampire said too. Looking down at Potter, Severus made his mind to force the boy to come to his senses one way or another.

Just as his wand arm recoiled to launch the vial, he caught sight of one of Potter�s hands resting against the floor. The fingers tapped up and down silently but steadily. When he looked into Potter�s gray eyes, he found they were incredibly lucid. The younger man gave the slightest nod, careful not to draw the vampire�s attention.

Severus� wand hand fell limply to his side. The vampire chuckled.

�Harry, do you smell it? His blood? His life? Tempting, isn�t it?�

Instead, Potter turned in the vampire�s embrace and threaded his arms around Abraham�s neck. Severus tried to tell himself his heart had not constricted at the very sight. His muscles were tensed, filled with the urge to rip Potter away from the monster.

The vampire gave a sudden cry of outrage and pushed the man back. Potter�s dagger missed Abraham�s heart by mere inches and was lodged into the vampire�s sternum instead. Potter quickly picked up his wand and sword before racing to Severus� side.

�Accio dagger.�

Potter�s dagger flew out of the vampire�s chest and into his hand with a resounding smack. For a second, Severus almost thought it had met the younger man�s hand blade first. Potter pointed his wand at the vampire again and hissed, �Crudus.�

Blood poured even more profusely from the wound in Abraham�s chest. Soon every pore of the vampire�s body bled and oozed with blood. The blood that fell from Abraham�s tear ducts were like crimson tears.

Severus flicked his wrist and launched the bottle at the vampire�s feet. �Incendio.�

There was no way for the vampire to escape the garlic fumes now. Abraham had lost too much blood to function properly. Potter wheeled back suddenly, his face turning slightly green. Remembering what Abraham had said before, he grabbed Potter�s arm and pulled the man away from the smoke. He brought one arm around Potter and raised it to shield the other man�s nose with the sleeve of his robe.

�Thanks.� Potter muttered against his arm and pointed to the silver chains on the floor near the chapel door. �Adstringo Abraham.�

The telltale scent of burnt and rotten flesh filled the air and Potter turned an even more alarming shade of green. Severus waved his wand to quickly dispel the last of the smoke and some of the rotten smell. He lowered his other hand from Potter�s face, noting how Potter shivered as his sleeve brushed over the younger man�s cheek. Shoving those superfluous thoughts to the back of his mind, Severus stepped forward for the final confrontation against the monster.

The creature looked nothing like it had just moments ago. Gone with the blood Abraham had so painstakingly collected was the youth he hoarded as well. The smooth black hair became a ratty white- not different from the head of a raggedy mop. The vampire�s skin was like leather, wrinkled and full of creases. Where the chains bound the monster, the clothing was burned, and the flesh was seared and blackened.

They glared at each other for some time, with just the sound of rain and thunder filling the empty space. Severus raised his wand, ready to cast his final spell and rid the world of this creature. Desperation began to visibly tinge the white of Abraham�s eyes, his body shivering from the cold that had not left him since death- or maybe it was fear?

It was disgusting. This monster was no better than a parasite to be eliminated- and what a pathetic creature it was. Even the Dark Lord had not been this cowardly in his final hour.

�It�s no use.� He said quietly as the vampire struggled more obviously against his binds.

Potter stepped wordlessly in front of him, and some dim hope flickered in Abraham�s eyes.

�We can bring England to its knee.� Somehow the vampire�s voice retained its seductive qualities.

Potter shook his head. �No, we can�t. Because there are people-� he glanced at Severus out of the corner of his eyes. �I trust Snape to kill me before I can do anything like that. I�trust him to do at least that��

�Sweet, sweet Harry.� The vampire cooed.

Severus� muscle tensed in preparation to finish off the vampire should Potter�s resolve fail.

�Don�t,� the man- always human and nothing else- said coldly. �I know that what I feel for you is not real. It�s all artificial. It�s nothing but emotional feedback caused by the physical proximity of our curses. I wonder if what you think you feel for me is anymore real��

�And you think what you feel for Severus here is real?�

�I don�t know,� Potter shrugged. �But I�ll have time to figure that out later. You�re out of time though.�

�Why?� snarled the vampire. �I could have given you everything.�

Potter�s eyes darkened. �Yes, everything but free will.�

Abraham bared his teeth. �It�s not too late, Harry. There�s enough blood for the both of us yet in Severus.�

�That�s not what I need. It was never life, never blood. What I need is to be free of creatures like you and Voldemort,� Potter said quietly. �He offered me the other side too. I won�t take your offer anymore than I did his.�

Hellfire- anger and indignation finally surfacing- burned in the vampire�s eyes. �Then you�ll make the same mistake twice. Voldemort left you with the Lifelust Curse and I will leave you with the Bloodlust Curse.�

�Perhaps, but you�re also wrong. If you die, the Bloodlust Curse will end as well. I do know at least that much.�

Potter drew back his arm and swung with all his might. A sickening crunch echoed through the chapel as the blade of his sword sliced though the leather-like hide and the spinal column. Abraham�s head flew to the left, landing a few feet away from the decapitated corpse.

It was silent once again, save the sound of the rain and Potter�s labored breath. They stared at the dried husk that was once a vampire, blood pooling and flowing into the crevices between the stone pavements. Severus wondered if it was going to leave a stain.

Potter, a mess of blood and unpleasant smells not originating from him, stumbled back and collapsed on the pew. He had become alarmingly pale, and his chest rose and fell rapidly with harsh breaths. Both his wand and his sword fell to the floor. His hands trembled while the rest of him lied perfectly still against the pew.

�Potter, I�m not dragging your corpse back to Hogwarts.�

Severus began to worry when Potter didn�t reply. He checked the state of the pew to make sure it wouldn�t collapse under their combined weight before sitting down next to the man and placing a hand on his shoulder. He shook Potter but still received no reply. Wondering if they were too late and Potter was already changed, Severus moved him so the younger man was lying completely on the length of the pew. He bent down by Potter�s head and placed a hand on his forehead. Potter was still warm, but even dead bodies retained heat for a little while afterwards.

He placed two fingers under Potter�s nose and found he was still breathing. That was another good sign.

�Potter,� he shook the man�s shoulders. �Potter, get up. We have to leave.�

Potter continued to lie as still as a corpse, a more disturbing sight for Severus than he was willing to admit.

Passing his wand over Potter�s upper torso, Severus muttered, �Enervate.�

Potter�s eyelids twitched and a groan of pain surfaced from his throat. Severus could see the man was struggling to just lift his eyelids. Forgetting himself for a moment, he almost expected to see green eyes focus on the ruined ceiling above, but there was only an unfamiliar gray. He had to help the other man to sit up on the pew.

Potter�s head fell forward and his blond bangs covered his eyes. �Merlin, that stung like hell.�

�I suppose that means the curse has been successfully broken.� Severus stood.

Holding his dirty hands out, Potter stared at them and muttered. �I can�t smell you anymore. I can�t sense anything��

He raised a skeptical eyebrow. �Pardon?�

The younger man flushed as he realized how ridiculous he must have sounded. �It was this thing with the Lifelust Curse. I could sense the life essence of other living things. You were sort of like this dark rich cloud of smoke, but I can�t feel or smell that anymore.�

He studied Potter�s open expression. �The Lifelust Curse was originally a derivative of the Bloodlust Curse� Perhaps the Bloodlust Curse subverted the Lifelust Curse to such a point that the Lifelust Curse was incorporated. Thus by breaking the Bloodlust Curse, you�ve broken the Lifelust Curse too.�

�So you mean I�m free of both?� Potter asked hesitantly.

�Perhaps� There�s no telling how the curses interacted with each other while you had them.�

Potter stared up at him and he did his best to ignore Potter in return. He didn�t know what the boy was looking for, but he wasn�t going to ask either. It seemed as if Potter was going to speak several times, but he just shut his jaws with an audible click instead.

Without looking at the vampire�s remains, Potter gestured in its general direction. �What should we do about that?�

�We�ll deal with it later. We should get you back to Poppy for a check-up.�

�Jeeze, Snape, never knew you actually cared.�

�Not as much as you think.�

As they were cleaning up their tools, Severus couldn�t resist the urge to ask, �Were you ever tempted to take his offer?�

�More than you know�� Potter whispered with hooded eyes.

There was a sudden pounding on the door on the other side of the chapel. It was the other door leading to the outside of the castle.

�Is someone there?�

Potter froze and looked over at Severus.

�Mister Snape? Missus Snape? Is that you?�

He quickly cleaned up the last of their supplies, cast a shrinking spell on the bundle, and pocketed it in his robes. �Let�s go, Potter.�

�Wait,� Potter approached the loathsome corpse and examined it for a few seconds.

�There�s no time, Potter. Those Muggle cops will here be any second.�

Potter glared at him and turned back to the dried husk. Weaving his wand through the air, he managed to transfigure the husk into the fresh corpse of a large black lupine creature. �There. If they find us with this, you�ll be off the hook.�

�Find us with that? You�re mad, Potter. We need to leave now.� He marched forward and grabbed Potter�s bloodied hand.

The other door fell in and the two constables from before charged into the chapel. Both stopped dead just a feet away from the corpse on the floor.

�What in the bloody blazes is that?!� One of the constables screeched at the sight of the still-bleeding corpse.

�Jesus H. Christ, is that the beast?� the other constable simply stared in disbelief. �It�s a monster!�

�It was hiding out in here. We found it and had to put it down.� Potter didn�t miss a beat as he lied.

�The two of you against that thing?! You�re lucky it didn�t eat you two!� cried the first constable.

The second constable nudged the first in the ribs and gestured to Potter and himself.

�Right,� the first constable straightened his posture and approached them. �Severus Snape, you and your accomplice are under arrest for suspicious activities related the murder of Neil Thewsey, killed sometime before midnight on June 12, 2004 on the doorsteps of Snape Castle. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in Court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. You have the right to speak to an independent solicitor free of charge, have someone told that you have been arrested, and consult the code of practice covering police powers and procedures. You may do any of these things now, but if you do not, you may still do so at any other time whilst detained at the police station [2].�

Severus� wand hand moved to hex both the constables, but Potter grabbed his hand before he could do anything.

�Don�t,� the brat hissed quietly. �You�ll make it worse if you attack them. Neither of us has done anything wrong. Let�s just go with them and get this sort out for both you and Siobhan. We�ll be fine.�

Potter�s hand didn�t let go of his as they were led out by the two constables.

~~~

It wasn�t until the next day around noon that they were released. Cleared of all suspicions, charges, and curses, Harry felt like a new man walking out of that police station. Siobhan was still inside with a Ministry officer, taking care of the last of the paperwork and erasing the traces of the stranger evidence collected last night.

The pavement and streets were still wet from last night�s storm. Water gathered and formed puddles in the dips and cracks of the pavement. Everyone stole glances at the pair of them as they passed. No doubt the villagers had heard about the corpse found at the doorsteps of Snape Castle and maybe the transfigured vampire body too.

Harry held the bundle that was his torn and bloodied robes closer to his chest, and peered over at the man walking by his side. The older man�s expression was tight and Harry could almost feel the magic crackling around his being. It was the same expression Hermione wore on her face when they talked of vampire rights. It also didn�t bode well for Harry.

�Potter, don�t you ever pull something like that again?� Snape snapped when they finally the threshold of the door.

Harry couldn�t help but smirk- having counted not even thirty seconds since they were out of public eye. �Which thing would that be?�

�Potter�� Snape growled. �That entire escapade was wholly unnecessary.�

�Look, they had reason to suspect you were the murderer until you gave a legitimate alibi. The more you struggled against them, the worse you defense would have become.�

Snape waved a hand in a dismissing manner. �I could have simply Obliviated them.�

�Those two constables maybe, but there was a warrant out for your arrest. The longer you avoided clearing yourself, the more suspicious you would appear. Do you really think the Ministry was going to help your case if the Muggle police successfully charged you and brought you before a Magistrate�s Court?� Harry glared at Snape and damned the man�s stubbornness in his head.

Snape drew his lips into a taunt line again. �I can handle myself, Potter. You, on the other hand, have-�

Rolling his eyes, he grabbed Snape�s face and pulled it down to his, sealing his lips over the man�s. It had none of the urgency of the previous two kisses they shared. It was a simple meeting of two columns of flesh. He maneuvered his face so their noses weren�t squashed against each other. Feeling the stubble of Snape�s unshaven chin, he wondered if Snape felt the same sensation. Harry looked within himself and felt none of the urges he grown used to for so many years arise. Instead, he found something much different, but not any less heated, that threatened to consume him whole all the same.

Snape didn�t hex him immediately when Harry pulled back slightly and he took that to be a very optimistic sign.

�Just checking to make sure I don�t have the urge �to slit your throat and drain your dry�.� Harry muttered quietly against the other man�s lips, suppressing the urge to lick his lips and maybe Snape�s too.

�That had nothing to do with the conversation we were having.� Snape deadpanned, but he didn�t throw Harry off either.

�That wasn�t a conversation, Snape. You were just lecturing me like I was a dunderhead. I just wanted to shut you up.� He stepped in closer until his chest was touching Snape�s.

�Potter��

�They both really gone, you know? Both the Lifelust and the Bloodlust Curse.�

He felt his mouth dry when Snape�s intense gaze focused completely on him. He wondered what it meant when your world seemed to center entirely on one entity- one person. He wondered when Snape�s words stopped stinging and riling him. Snape�s hands settled on his hips, almost as if they wanted to push Harry away but failed for whatever reason. The older man�s face was still cradled in his hands, the stubble itching Harry�s palm.

�Congratulations, Potter.�

Snape swooped in and planted a firm kiss on Harry�s lip. His gasp was muffled under the curtain of Snape�s hair. While he was still in shock, the bastard swept away like the giant bat Harry had always known him to be.

~~~

Severus thought he would have sated his curiosity about Potter after learning his true identity. What greater secret could Potter hide other than his curse and his real identity? He found that to be far from the reality though. There were just as many questions- if not more- about Potter as there were about the enigmatic Cedric Remius Wesley.

He paced back and forth the length of the chapel. In truth, he would also rather be anywhere but here. Siobhan had sent him in to investigate the possibility of restoring the chapel ceilings, but he found himself thinking about Potter instead.

�Severus?�

Jessica lingered in the frame of the chapel door. He knew she was uncomfortable with the fact they had killed the vampire in the chapel of all places.

�What?� He couldn�t help but snap.

She walked over to his side and wrapped her arms around herself. �Jesus, this place gives me the creeps.�

�I thought you were a person of faith.� He drawled.

�Yeah, but that still doesn�t change the fact this place is as creepy is hell. And to think you killed the vampire in here� The implications are almost sacrilegious.� She shuddered.

�I disagree. I find it very ironic.� He smirked.

�You would, wouldn�t you?�

�What do you want? Does Siobhan have some other asinine task for me?�

�What? I can�t have a nice conversation with my soon-to-be cousin-in-law?�

He turned and glared at her. She was taking lessons from Siobhan. �Spit it out, Jessica.�

�Fine,� she glared at him in return. �What�s up with you and Cedric?�

�I don�t know what you�re speaking of.�

�Don�t play dumb with me.�

�You will have to elaborate. I don�t speak American.� He sneered.

Jessica placed her hands on her hips and glared. �I�m talking about how you�re always staring at Cedric, yet avoiding him like The Plague with a capital �p�. And I�m talking about how Cedric looks at you with that apprehensive and fearful expression sometimes. The world isn�t blind and soon the rest of them are going to notice too,� she paused. �Are you two together or something?�

Severus raised a skeptical eyebrow and something that might have been laughter bubbled in his chest cavity, �It�s simply your imagination. You�re feeling overwhelmed because your wedding is close. Now you�re imagining romantic entangling where there�s none to begin with.�

The absolute ludicrousness of the idea�

�Snark all you like, but I know I wasn�t seeing things when I saw Cedric kiss you last week.�

His blood ran cold. �What did you say?�

�You heard what I said, I saw the two of you playing tonsil hockey after you were released by the cops,� she glared harder at him. �I don�t know what games you�re playing with Cedric-�

He cut her off. �What makes you think I�m the one toying with the boy? Why must I automatically be the villain in this scenario? I don�t know what you saw, but it was most definitely not what you think.�

�I know what I saw. I have perfect 20/20 vision. If you dare hurt-�

He leaned in, his lips curling upwards derisively. �You�ll do what, Jessica? Do you think Wesley needs you to protect him? I�ll do as I please. You cannot stop me. What do you know anyway? Perhaps Wesley likes to be toyed with? Should I tell you how soft his lips are, and how clumsy and inexperienced his kisses are? All lips and absolutely no finesse. Someone needs to teach the boy how to properly snog. What is between Cedric and myself is just that. It is none of your business.�

He turned away and stormed out of the chapel.

�Bastard,� she hissed loudly after him. �You goddamn bastard.�

~~~

Toward the first week of July, Jessica�s immediate family arrived in England and came to stay at Snape Castle until the wedding. Harry was still as busy as ever after clearing out the castle. Jessica commandeered most of his free time to help with the wedding, and there were days when he found himself making trips from one side of the globe to the other on �errands.�

He saw little of Snape except during mealtimes. If Harry didn�t know better, he would have thought the man was going out of his way to avoid him. He tried to push whatever had happened between them to the back of his mind. He tried to tell himself that it didn�t change the relationship between them- that nothing would ever change.

Yet there were times when they would meet unexpectedly in the halls of Snape Castle. They would both come to a halt as they approached each other. Often times Snape would open his mouth, as if to ask a question or say something, but after thinking better of it, would just shut his mouth and nod to Harry before passing.

It was the most frustrating thing Snape could do.

Jessica and Sinclair were married in a proper wizarding ceremony on the night of July�s full moon. Remus was thus unable to attend the ceremony, but he stayed in the castle so Snape could keep track of the new potion�s effects- Harry had high hopes for the new potions. They were once again married before a Muggle priest the next day at the Kissing Gate. The ceremony and ensuring reception was for Jessica�s extended Muggle family and her Muggle friends.

Halfway through the reception, he slipped out of the Kissing Gate and headed back toward the castle. The wards didn�t try and dispel him out when he entered the castle once again. He wasn�t going to complain since it made everything easier for him.

He went straight to the room he had been staying in for the last month and a half. Both his trunks were packed but then again, he never unpacked much in the first place. He shrunk his original trunk, pocketed it, and spelled the other trunk, the one he kept at the Department of Mysteries for so many years, to follow him. He turned to grab his broom resting against the other wall but came face to face with Snape instead.

�So eager to leave already,� his former professor crossed his arms over his chest. �Are good-byes too common a courtesy for the Boy-Who-Lived?�

Harry sighed. �I thought we�ve gone over that part already, Professor. Jessica and Sinclair are going to be off on their honeymoon right after this?�

Snape nodded.

�I�m glad I got to congratulate them before they left.�

Harry moved past the man to pick up his broom. He nearly dropped his Firebolt when Snape spoke again.

�What are you going to do now, Potter? The curses doe appear to have been lifted for all intents and purposes.�

�I still have a few jobs to finish. It�d be wrong to leave them just hanging like that when I�ve already agreed.�

�It almost sounds as if you�re ready to stop running away.� Snape smirked.

He laughed softly. �I didn�t realize it before but I stopped running the day I was confronted with you and stayed nonetheless. I�m done running.�

�Miss Granger would be glad to see you again as the real you.�

�I know. I guess�I�ll write. Siobhan insisted anyway. Looks like you�ll be hearing from me, Professor.�

Snape snorted. �So you�re going to continue lying to my family?�

�For now, Cedric Remius Wesley still has some business to finish before he can settle down.�

�Then I shan�t see you again then, Mister Wesley.� The older man stuck one hand forward.

Harry stared at the offered hand for a few long moments. He didn�t really understand at first, that Snape was capable of such a common gesture and before the man�s words truly registered in his mind. Mister Wesley. He grasped the hand firmly and shook it. �No, you won�t,� he felt a real smile creep across his lips.

Snape dropped his hand abruptly and sneered in disgust. �Do spare me that idiotic Gryffindor grin. It�s sickening.�

Harry shook his head. �Good-bye then, Professor.� He walked toward the door but stopped and turned. He marched back to Snape and grabbed one of the man�s hands.

�What are you doing now, Wesley?�

�Potter,� He corrected automatically. It felt good to be able to use his real name again.

�Right,� Snape muttered quietly.

Harry furrowed his brow together and moved the hand to his chest. He laid Snape�s open palm over the area of his heart and held it still to make sure the teacher felt the beating of the heart. Trailing the hand down until it was resting on his solar plexus, he looked up to find Snape stared at him those intense black eyes.

�It�s still there, you know?� he whispered and tightened his grip on Snape�s hand. �Even though the curses have been lifted, it still sits there coiled up at the bottom of my stomach. It�s nothing like what I felt for Abraham, it�s not superficial at all.�

�You don�t know what you�re saying Potter,� somehow, Snape�s voice sounded rougher than usual to Harry. The older man�s hand curled slightly as if to fist his shirt and flesh before flattening again. �We�ll talk again when you can truly prove that the curses have been lifted.�

Harry shuddered as he was overcome with the urge to kiss Snape again. He had the feeling Snape wouldn�t try to stop him or hurt him for doing that, but he refused to give into the urge- no matter how gratifying he was sure it would feel. No, he would wait until next time.

There would definitely be a next time�

His hand fell away from Snape�s, but the other man�s hand seemed to linger for a second longer than necessary before pulling away. He turned once more on his heels, but he didn�t look back this time as he exited.

The End?

[1] That�s not actually true, at least from what I�ve read. I haven�t found a very good reason why garlic has traditionally been thought to be an effective repellent against vampires. Garlic has been found to help with high blood pressure so I just took that fact and ran with it.

[2] In the US, a person is read their Miranda rights upon arrest. The British have something very similar, but it is not exactly the same as the Miranda right. More information about this can be found at the following links: http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/aoj-rights.asp and http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/docs/Notice%20to%20Detained%20Person.pdf.

Don't despair just yet. Read onto the epilogue!

Thanks for all your reviews ahead of time!
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Life Eternal