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Measure of a Man	By : SailorSol Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 71274 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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
- 1
- 2
- 3
Disclaimer: I don�t own them, please don�t sue me.
Characters are owned by J. K. Rowling. Lyrics recorded by Clay Aiken

Author's Note: Many thanks to my beta, Cassandra Pierson, without whose incessant questioning this story wouldn't be half as good.

MEASURE OF A MAN

Why do you ask him
move to heaven and earth

To prove his love has
worth?

Would he walk on
water?

Would he run through
fire?

Would he stand before
you,

When it is down to the
wire?

Would he gave his life
up

To be all he can?

Is that, is that, is
that how you measure a man?

Harry eyed
the latest arrival at 12 Grimmauld Place
with trepidation, suspicion, and just a hint of hope. He felt trepidation
because he was standing in the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.
Suspicion because the individual in front of him was rumored to be one of
Voldemort�s supporters. Hope because a part of him desperately wanted the
rumors to be false.

Draco
Malfoy fidgeted under the steady emerald gaze of the boy he had secretly adored
for six years. He had accompanied Dumbledore after appealing to the old wizard
for help. He could feel the old man�s presence behind him, silently supporting
his presence. Draco�s decision to ally with the Order had been based on
self-preservation, ambition, and the realization that he could not face Harry
Potter or Severus Snape on the battlefield.

Further
inside, he could see the other members of the Golden Trio hovering, and behind
them was the Head of Slytherin House, Professor Severus Snape. Next to him,
Draco could see his one-time teacher, Remus Lupin. Draco wondered silently at
the lack of animosity he was seeing between his Head of House and the werewolf,
but kept his curiosity to himself.

�Come on in, Malfoy,� Harry said
finally, his tone somehow authoritative despite his age. �If you insult anyone,
I�ll throw you out myself.�

�Don�t
worry, Potter,� Draco drawled his reply. �I won�t call either Granger or
Weasley names.�

�You won�t
insult anyone,� was the firm rejoinder. Harry�s mouth was set firmly,
indicating to Draco just how serious he was.

�Agreed,�
Draco said, holding out his hand. Harry looked at it, then gazed into Draco�s
pale blue eyes, took the proffered hand and shook it.

�Welcome to
Grimmauld Place,� Harry
said with a half grin that Draco remembered so well. �We�ll find you a room and
training starts tomorrow.�

�Training?�
Draco asked, curious again. His questioning gaze turned to the silent form of
Snape, watching the enigmatic man as he nodded slightly.

�Alright,
training.� Draco agreed, inclining his own head a fraction.

�Follow
me,� Harry said. He led Draco upstairs and opened a door. �This is your room.
If you need anything, I�m next door and Professor Snape�s across the hall from
me.� He turned to leave.

�Potter,�
Draco suddenly felt awkward for the first time in a long time. Harry turned to
him, puzzled.

�Thank
you,� he said simply. Harry nodded and continued down stairs.

When Harry
got to the bottom of the stairs, Ron and Hermione were waiting. Harry looked
past them to where Snape and Lupin were talking quietly with Dumbledore, who
had brought Draco with him. The three older wizards turned towards their
students after a moment.

�I suppose
you are wondering,� Dumbledore finally said. �Why I brought young Mister Malfoy
here.�

�Not
really,� Harry said neutrally �I can figure out that Malfoy�s got training we
don�t, and we can teach each other a lot. I�m wondering why he agreed. He hates
me.�

�You might
be surprised, Potter,� Snape said. �Some people behave as they have been raised
to because the alternative is unthinkable. Even when what is expected of them
is abhorrent.�

�Very well,
sir,� Harry said. �I meant what I said, though. If Malfoy insults anyone, he�s
out.�

�He agreed,
Potter,� Snape said. �Draco Malfoy is a man of his word.�

�He better
be.�

Midnight
descended on 12 Grimmauld Place and the four teenagers were asleep, unaware of
the wakefulness of their elders. Dumbledore had returned to Hogwarts, promising
that others of the Order would be arriving in the next few days.

Remus Lupin
was still deep in mourning for Sirius Black and spent much of every night
silently weeping and groping at the bedding they had once shared, as if hoping
to find his lover.

Severus
Snape was having thoughts of a different nature and an altogether disparate
source. His opinions and ideas about Harry Potter had undergone a radical
change. He had always assumed Harry to be a spoiled child with delusions of his
own invulnerability. The boy�s handsome face, the best features of both his
parents, only made it easier to believe such a thing.

Then
Severus had been sent to Surrey to retrieve Harry Potter from the Dursley�s
home at 4 Privet Drive. He had never imagined the effect that the boy�s
environment (or Lily�s relatives) would have on him.

Harry
Potter�s humility was abruptly far more real.

Now Severus
had nothing to combat his growing attraction to his most famous, and
troublesome student.

The silence
of the night was shattered by agonized cries that roused everyone and brought
them to the source: Harry. Severus jumped as the first scream of agony ripped
through the silent night. He did not take time to don his usual robes and Nehru
jacket, or to button and tuck in his shirt. Barefooted, he was across the hall
so quickly that it did not feel as if his feet hit the ground.

Harry was
thrashing on his bed, swiping at the air as if to knock something away. His
eyes kept opening and closing, but he gave no indication of being aware of his
surroundings. Snape heard the others arrive behind him, but his attention was
focused on the tortured young man on the bed. He immediately knelt on the bed
and wrapped his arms around Harry�s body, pinning his arms to his torso. With
no way to attempt to alter what he was seeing, Harry began to convulse, still
screaming, trapped in whatever he was seeing.

�Draco!�
Snape cried, fearful that Harry would either swallow his tongue or bite it.
�Give me that hairbrush!� He used his chin to point at a handsome implement
with a green lacquered handle. Hair disheveled and pajamas askew, Draco
snatched it and tossed it to Snape without a word, his face more pale than
usual.

Snape
stuffed the handle of the brush into Harry�s mouth, stifling his cries and
wedging his jaws apart. He heard Lupin shushing Hermione and Ron from their
immediate protests. Lupin had enough experience with involuntary reactions to
know some of the dangers.

�Granger,�
Snape snapped when he was sure that the brush would not be dislodged �Go across the hall to my room and fetch the
small trunk on the bureau! Weasley, get downstairs and heat some water!� In one
part of his mind, he realized that he was being overly harsh, but his worry
over Harry�s condition gave him little time to be considerate of their feelings.

Hermione
fled like a hungry dragon was after her, relieved that someone seemed to know
what to do, and that Snape, at least, was keeping his head. She wasn�t so sure
about her own.

Ron paused
next to Lupin for a moment, biting his lip, and then he left to follow his
orders. Harry had been having nightmares since he had known him, but nothing
like this. He wanted to help, but didn�t know what to do. In any other
circumstances, he would have balked at the orders, but his fears made him
obedient.

Draco
stepped back until his back brushed the wall. He wanted to be out of the way,
especially if Weasley was going to come back up with hot water. If Snape needed
more help from him, he would know soon enough.

Lupin moved
around to the far side of the bed, ready to assist, but not wishing to be in
Snape�s way. If the potions master knew how to bring Harry out of it, he would
trust him to do it. If he did not, there could always be retribution later.

Hermione
quickly returned with the trunk he had specified. She dropped to kneel next to
the bed, anxiety written all over her face. Snape moved one arm from the
still-thrashing body, removed three phials from the trunk and handed her a jar.

�Steep two
tablespoons in a teapot full of boiling water, then bring the tea service up
here.� Snape snapped. She took the jar and ran from the room, as if glad to be
doing something constructive. �Lupin, hold him still,� he said, then uncapped
the first phial and poured the contents into Harry�s mouth, around the brush
handle.

After a
full agonizing minute, Harry�s convulsions quieted down, and Snape removed the
brush. Harry was still twitching, though, and when they opened, his eyes were
glazed. Snape quickly poured the contents of the second phial down his throat.
Harry seemed to relax, his eyes cleared, and then he began sobbing brokenly,
wrenching himself from the werewolf�s grasp and then wrapping his arms around
Snape and clinging to him as if he were a lifeline.

After a
time, Hermione and Ron came in with the tea, which Hermione distributed,
finally sitting on the bed, holding a cup. �Harry, talk to us,� she said
softly.

Harry just
buried his face further in Snape's chest, his sobs slowly stifling and then
eventually quieting to hiccups. All the while, Snape gently rubbed Harry�s back
and rocked him, in a fashion that would have had everyone in the room gaping if
they had not been so concerned about Harry.

Silently,
Snape gestured for the others to leave the room, including Draco and Lupin in
his dismissal. When Ron opened his mouth to protest, Hermione covered his mouth
with her hand, and Lupin guided him out firmly.

Once
outside, the other four residents of the house heard the quiet rumble of
Snape�s voice, and Harry�s slightly higher voice, roughened with tears and still
choked with sobs. The thick wooden panel kept them from hearing what was being
said, even when they pressed their ears against the door. Ron had just pulled
an Extendable Ear from his pocket when the door opened and Snape stepped out
with his trunk floating behind him.

�What is
that, Mister Weasley?� he asked.

Ron gulped
like a truant schoolboy and then answered �It�s an Extendable Ear, Professor,�
he said. �I wanted to know if Harry was all right.�

"Mister
Potter will sleep the rest of the night,� he said. �I am quite certain that he
will explain what happened in the morning.� He took the Extendable Ear from
Ron, put it in his pocket, and crossed the hall to his room, and firmly closed
the door.

�I know
that tone a little too well,� Lupin said. �Let�s to bed.
We�ll find out what happened when Harry�s ready to tell us. If he�s going to
sleep the night out, there�s no sense in trying to talk to him tonight.�

�But . . .�
Hermione started, only to be stopped by Lupin�s upraised hand.

�One of
those phials had a Dreamless Sleep potion, which I am surprised you did not
notice.� Lupin said. �I was not very good in Potions, and I recognized it. If
Snape says Harry is going to sleep, then Harry is going to sleep. We will talk
to him in the morning.�

Draco came
down stairs the next morning to see Snape presiding over the stove, talking
quietly to Hermione, who was assisting. Harry was at the table, pale and wan
looking, nibbling on porridge and paling even more every time one of his two
table companions took a bite. Ron was ploughing through a plate of eggs,
sausage, and fried potatoes. Lupin was eating similar fare.

Draco was
opening his mouth to say something when Harry abruptly became very pale and
lurched from the room.

Ron and
Lupin watched his flight with identical expressions of bewilderment and concern
on their faces.

�Lupin!� Snape snapped. �I told you! Remind me never to give
you instructions again! I�m not surprised you never passed OWLs or NEWTs in
potions!�

Draco
looked at Snape to see him hand Hermione a plate with a cautioning glare, and
followed in Harry�s wake. Hermione crossed the kitchen to put a hand on Ron�s
shoulder as he rose to follow his friend. She handed the plate in her hand to
Draco and watched, white-faced, as Snape followed Harry.

�I think
this is something Harry doesn�t want us to see,� Hermione said. �Besides, it
could be a reaction to the potions last night.�

�Alright,�
Ron grumbled, sitting down again. �If Snape made him sick, it serves him right
to have to clean up after him.

In the
lavatory, Snape stood silently while Harry retched into the toilet, and then
offered the young man a damp cloth to wipe his face.

�Thank you,
sir,� he whispered when he lowered the cloth.

�I told
Lupin to cut his sausage and to make certain Mister Weasley did as well,� Snape
said. �One can only trust a werewolf�s table manners so far.�

Harry
smiled weakly.

�They
didn�t know what I saw last night,� Harry said. �I should tell them.� He
shuddered as he remembered the hideous spectacle that had filled his vision and
assaulted his senses as if he were there.

�If you are
ready,� Snape said, unable to hid the concern from either Harry or himself.

�I�m as
ready as I�ll ever be,� Harry replied. �Why the sudden concern, sir?�

�You are
not your father, Harry,� the reply came out in a rush. �I both hated and
admired you. I hated you because James was your father. I would have stood in
awe of your survival, if nothing else. I respected you more for facing
challenges that never should have been yours, and triumphing.

�I was
overly hard with you,� he continued softly, a half-smile twisting his face. �Because, I saw the man of today in that first Potions Class.�

�I
appreciate what you�ve done, in case I haven�t said so,� Harry said, facing the
mirror and looking at Snape�s reflection.

�What do
you mean by that?� Snape was genuinely puzzled. The boy had appreciated his harsh treatment?

�Yes, sir,�
Harry saw the confusion on Snape�s face, and it was not an emotion he easily
associated with Severus Snape. He did not like seeing his professor at a loss.
Snape had always been a constant in Harry�s world, even if he was constantly
irritating.

�You never
treated me any different than any other student,� he explained. �Unless it was to be harder on me because of my father, and my
fame. The other professors acted like I was something special. You kept
my feet on the ground.�

�That was
part of my intent,� Snape said unexpectedly. �I knew the others would give you
privileges that other students would not have. I did not want you to have the
impression that you were invincible.�

�Dumbledore
did,� Harry muttered resentfully. �He didn�t want me to know anything for
certain, though.�

�You can
trust the Headmaster in one way and one way only,� Snape said, his mouth again
quirking into what passed for a smile on him. �He will manipulate the people
around him to the limits of his ability, but he will never do it with a petty
or selfish reason.�

�Thank you,
sir,� Harry said, and then rinsed his mouth. �Let�s get this over with.� His
voice was firm, and there was a determined air about him, but Snape could see
the horrors of the night before lingering in his eyes. He preceded Harry to
make certain that the cause of his nausea would be gone.

When Harry
returned to the kitchen, all traces of sausage had vanished. Wordlessly,
Hermione poured a cup of tea for Harry.

�You want
to know what happened last night,� Harry said, looking at them each in turn.
�Voldemort wanted to make an example of someone. A wizard he wanted to join him
had refused. Voldemort used the exenterare
curse on him.�

Hermione
turned pale and swallowed convulsively. She wrapped her arms around herself in
a vain attempt not to shudder. None of them had heard of it before, but five
years at Hogwarts had given them enough background in Latin to know the word
for disemboweling.

�Harry,�
Ron spoke first, more than slightly green under his freckles. �If I�d known,
mate, we would�ve asked them to make hash.�

�Yes,
Harry,� Lupin added. �You should have told us. A lack of information is the
worst liability we have.�

�I�ve seen
that curse,� Draco spoke unexpectedly into the silence that followed. �My
father used it on a rat once, so I could see what it did. Then he told me it
was used on wizards and witches that told Him no. He also showed me how to
block it.� His normally pale face was ashen, but he turned resolutely to Harry.

�I could
show you.�

�He knew
you weren�t going to be a Death Eater?� Hermione questioned.

�My father
loves me,� was the reply. �He wanted me to make my own choice and be certain
that no one could prohibit it.�

�We learned
loads of stuff last year,� Ron said, his color returning to normal as his mind
was distracted from envisioning the results of the curse. �You show us and
we�ll show you.�

�That�s a
deal.�

Snape
watched closely as Harry and Draco dueled in the large basement. Nearby, Lupin
was supervising Ron and Hermione. After an hour, the four teenagers would
switch partners. Snape was supposed to be paying attention to the curses and
countercurses being cast, but he found himself distracted by the play of
muscles under the t-shirt Harry was wearing. In the three days since Draco had
arrived, Harry had trained even harder, both magically and physically. He slept
so deeply at night that he never woke when Snape came in to watch him, dreading
another vision. Snape had begun to notice Harry�s body then, since the young
man rarely wore more than pajama bottoms to bed. Snape had even once dared to
run one hand down the hard ridged muscles of Harry�s chest and stomach.

Snape was
jolted out of his reverie by the sound of a body hitting the floor and Draco�s
alarmed cry.

�Harry!�

Harry was
writhing around, one hand clamped to his scar, his face a mask of pain. His
eyes were open, but glazed and unseeing.

Snape
grabbed Harry, holding him tightly. His alarm blossomed into near panic when a
trickle of blood appeared below Harry�s grasping fingers, where the scar had
split. He clamped his own hand over it and looked up at Lupin, lost for what to
do.

Fortunately,
Hermione never lost her head, even in a crisis.

�Malfoy!�
she cried. �You must have a handkerchief! Give it to me!� She held out her hand
imperiously, and Draco handed it over, his anxious eyes glued to Harry�s
twisted face.

Hermione
folded the square of silk, cast a freezing charm on it, and then pried Snape�s
and Harry�s hands off
of the scar to replace it with the frozen handkerchief.

Harry�s
eyes cleared. He stared at Draco for a long moment, and then he looked at
Snape, smiled in relief, and passed out.

With more
gentleness than most people would believe he possessed, Snape lifted his worst
enemy�s son and carried him upstairs. He was so completely absorbed in the
blood-streaked face before him that he missed the speculative look on
Hermione�s face, the confused expression on Ron, and the sad smile on Lupin�s
lips.

Upstairs,
Snape laid Harry in his bed, and then sat down on the mattress to wait for him
to wake up.

While he
was waiting, he mused on the whims of Fate that brought mortal enemies together
to guide and protect one young man. Snape and Lupin had been passive enemies
ever since school. Sirius Black had been more active about his hatred.

At the end
of his fifth year, Severus Snape had sworn a magical blood oath to have his
revenge on James Potter. At a time like this, though, Snape wondered just who
was having his revenge on whom. Feelings were stirring inside the Potions
Master that had not stirred in a very long time, feelings that he thought long
dead. Over the last week, Snape had spent time talking to him, getting to know
Harry Potter, and focusing on what was different between James and his son, and
what common ground the two of them had, rather than the opposite.

When Harry
woke, he sensed Snape�s presence immediately. He relaxed, knowing he was safe.
Suddenly, without understanding where the impulse came from, Harry wanted to
look as little like his father as possible He didn�t want anyone to see James
Potter; he wanted people to see Harry. He wanted to prove once and for all that
he was not James, any more than Draco was Lucius Malfoy.

Cautiously,
Harry opened his eyes just a bit and was rewarded with a sight that shocked,
delighted, and frightened him all at once. He was genuinely shocked to see an
expression on Snape�s face other than disdain or outright loathing, and at the
same time it was a bit frightening to see the always cool and composed Severus
Snape in the grip of a strong emotion. For some reason, the expression on
Snape�s face and the knowledge that he might possibly be the cause also
delighted him.

Snape sat
next to him, one hand hovering over Harry�s chest, tender concern and hunger
warring with one another on his face. Harry groaned, and then fluttered his
eyelids, finally opening his eyes to gaze directly into his Potions Master�s
usually unreadable ebony orbs.

�Professor?� Harry said. �He�s very angry. He wants to kill
someone. I . . . .� Harry stopped talking as Snape cried out and grabbed his
arm where the Dark Mark was concealed.

�I have to
go, Harry,� Snape said quickly. �I will inform you of his temper when I
return.�

�NO!� Harry
cried out suddenly. He grabbed Snape�s robes and pulled him closer, wrapping
his arms around the older wizard�s torso.

�He knows
about you!" he pleaded desperately. �He�s going to kill you this time!�

�I doubt
that, Harry,� Snape replied, attempting to remove Harry�s arms from around him.

�You can�t
go!� Harry screamed, tightening his grip. �You can�t leave me!� Harry
illogically and incoherently sobbed into Snape�s robes.

�I have
to!� Snape snapped. He tore himself from Harry�s grasp, clutching at his arm.
He staggered from the room while Harry�s crying echoed in his ears.

Hermione,
Ron, and Draco found Harry curled up on his bed, shaking his head while tears
flowed unchecked down his cheeks.

�What is
it, Harry?� Hermione asked. �Where did Professor Snape go?�

�He�s going
to die!� Harry gulped between sobs. �Voldemort�s called him, and he knows he�s
a spy!�

�You�re
underestimating Professor Snape,� Draco said. �He�ll convince the Dark Lord of
his loyalties, and have a portkey handy, just in case. He�ll be back, you just
wait and see.�

Harry eyed
the Slytherin with some hope stirring in him. If any person knew Snape, it was
his Draco. If Draco was that certain that Snape would return, he would believe
it as well. After all, Draco had been raised by Voldemort�s first lieutenant,
and was probably plotting and planning before he could walk or talk properly.

�Lupin�s
making lunch, Harry,� Ron said. �You should eat.�

�Okay,�
Harry replied. He picked up the handkerchief, now stained with his blood. The
freezing charm had dissapated.

�Sorry,
Malfoy,� he said. �I�ll replace it.�

�That�s not
necessary, Potter,� Draco said smoothly, pocketing the now damp square of silk.
�I�ve got dozens.�

�Let�s go
eat, Harry,� Hermione said. She waited until Harry rose from the bed to follow
her.

Behind
them, Ron caught Draco�s sleeve as he turned to follow them.

�I want to
talk to you, Malfoy,� he said. �I thought you hated Harry. You don�t hate him
at all, do you?�

�What�s it
to you, Weasel?� Draco sneered.

�Harry�s my
best friend!� Ron snapped back. �He didn�t care about my clothes, or my family
being poor. He only saw me, and he accepted that! What do you want from Harry?
Tell me, Malfoy! Now!�

Draco was
speechless. He had no idea that Ron Weasley was capable of such depths. Still,
his upbringing as a Malfoy and his years as a Slytherin came to his defense.
�If you think I�m going to bare my soul to you, Weasley, you�re wrong.� he
responded, his arrogance falling around him like a cloak. �Slytherins don�t
wear their hearts on their sleeves, especially around a Gryffindor.�

�You like
him, don�t you?� Ron questioned, a sudden realization breaking through his
mind. �You like Harry like I like Hermione. You�re in love with him.�

�What gives
you that idea?� Draco mocked.

�You do!�
Ron exclaimed, and then became serious. �You should tell him, Malfoy. I think
he likes you, too. You don�t know how much it would mean to him. If he knew
someone thought as much of him as Hermione thinks of me, he�d be happier.

�I�ll think
about it,� Draco said quietly. �It�s not as simple for me as it is for you and
Granger.�

�You�ve
already given up your family rights to come here,� Ron said. �What have you got
to lose?�

Draco
shrugged, and then headed downstairs.

When Snape
returned, somewhat the worse for wear, he found the rest of them in the parlor.
Harry was prone on the sofa, Draco�s handkerchief, the same one that had been
pressed into service before, on his forehead. Draco was off to one side, his
pale face anxious. Ron and Hermione were sitting nearby, their arms around one
another, paler than Draco, if that was possible. Lupin was rapidly pacing along
the carpet in front of the sofa.

�Professor!� Harry cried, leaping to his feet. The
handkerchief fell to the floor while Harry crossed the room and threw his arms
around Snape. Snape saw Draco twitch his wand and summon the square of silk to
his hand. It was uncharacteristic for the young Malfoy to care so much about a
ruined handkerchief that Snape made a mental note to talk to him later.

Awkwardly,
Snape put his arms around Harry. The warmth of Harry�s body was pleasant, and
Snape felt his body respond in a completely inappropriate fashion, even after
being subjected to the Cruciatus curse

�I am
perfectly fine, Harry,� he murmured. �I convinced the Dark Lord that I was
pretending to spy for Albus. I was even able to hand him information that he
was glad to have, even though it does him no good.�

�What
information?� Lupin asked, his eyes wide.

�I told him
where Harry Potter is,� Snape replied evenly.

�You
WHAT?!� the exclamation came from Lupin and Ron at the same time.

�Why
doesn�t it do him any good?� Hermione asked. Snape attempted to disengage
himself from Harry�s grip, only partially succeeding. The partial success and
the distraction of the question allowed him to regain control of himself, even
though a part of his mind insisted on fantasizing on acting on it. . . .

�Because. .
. Miss Granger,� Snape responded stiffly. �Even knowing where he is, neither
the Dark Lord nor any of his Death Eaters can get in. The Dark Lord has
decided, on the advice of Lucius Malfoy, that I should in no way compromise the
trust that the Order places in me.�

�You were
right, Malfoy,� Harry said over his shoulder.

�I always
am, Potter,� Draco drawled. �I should have bet you.�

�I�ll start
dinner,� Lupin said, heading out of the room.

�Gods help
us,� Snape said. �We would not survive your cooking. I will cook dinner.�

Late that
night, when all four young people had fallen into a sated sleep after stuffing
themselves on Beef Wellington and Yorkshire Pudding, Snape left his room
quietly and slipped across the hall to Harry�s room.

Once inside,
he stood in the room, his eyes locked on the sleeping boy. He still remembered
the feel of Harry�s body, pressed into his own. He remembered how well Harry
fit against him, just as well as Draco did. . . almost
as if that were where he belonged.

Harry
sensed a presence in the room and tightened his grip on his wand, hidden under
the blanket. He opened his eyes just a bit, and was rewarded with the sight of
Snape, shirtless, wearing that same look as earlier, his face set in a rictus
of painful longing. Harry found that he now trusted Snape more than he ever
thought possible. That conviction, coupled with the feelings he had been
experiencing since last year, combined to remind Harry of how he had felt with
Snape�s arms around him. Ever since the loss of Sirius, he had felt bereft, and
wanted noting more than someone to cling to . . . but now things seemed to be
taking a far different path.

Harry
watched the play of muscles on Snape�s chest for a few moments. Like himself,
Snape was not in possession of the large muscles that Ron was developing, but
was slender and well-defined.

�Professor?�
he said suddenly, breaking the silence. Snape jumped, and then had the good
grace to look embarrassed.

�What do
you want?� Harry asked, sitting up. He did not miss the way Snape�s breath
caught as the blanket dropped to his waist. He also most definitely noticed the
bulge that made its appearance in the front of Snape�s trousers.

Cautiously,
Harry reached out and took Snape�s hand in his. He was rewarded with a sound
that was part gasp and part moan. Harry pulled gently, and Snape moved forward
as if unable to resist. When his shins hit the bed, his knees buckled of their
own accord and he ended up on one hand and knees, hovering over Harry, who had
reclined backwards somewhat.

With a
deep-throated groan, Snape lowered his lips to Harry�s, stealing the young
man�s breath as he plundered the hot, sweet cavern thoroughly.

Harry
allowed himself to be eased farther backwards into the bed as Snape�s weight
gently settled onto him. One of Snape�s knees ended up between his thighs, snug
against his rapidly rising erection. After a few moments, he began inexpertly
to reciprocate the kiss. He sucked on the older man�s tongue, slid his own past
the other man�s lips, and reached up to wrap his free arm around him, since the
other was still firmly entwined in the older man�s grasp.

Snape moved
his mouth down Harry�s jawline to the juncture of the
younger man�s neck, then licked his way up to Harry�s ear, sucking the earlobe
into his mouth and nibbling on it. Harry moaned his encouragement while he ran
his hands over Snape�s well-defined back. He could feel the Potions Master�s
hardness against his own thigh. Harry arched his body and pressed into the leg
against his crotch, awash in feelings he had only imagined before. He wanted
this more than he thought humanly possible, especially with his teacher. His
body ached for something he had never experienced. Strangely, he wanted Snape
to be the one to touch him and to . . . do whatever it was that would stop this
longing inside him.

Harry�s
mind barely registered the sound of footsteps in the hallway, and knocking on
his door. He paid little attention, considering the overload of sensation he
was experiencing.

Both he and
Snape were brought rudely back to reality by a repeat of the sharp knocking on
the door, louder.

�Harry!�
Lupin�s voice intruded, sounding both hurried and concerned. �Dumbledore�s
here! Something�s happened!�

�Coming!� Harry replied, clutching
at the body above him as the older wizard tried to rise from the compromising
position they were in.

�I�ll get
Professor Snape!� Harry called out finally, releasing
Snape reluctantly and watching him attempt to compose himself. Lupin
acknowledged Harry�s statement with a low grunt and they heard his retreating
footsteps.

Harry
opened his mouth to say something, and then shut it again when he noticed that
his teacher had his �public face� back in place. Without a word, the older
wizard opened the door and crossed the hall to his own room.

When Harry
reached the ground floor, he heard hysterical crying coming from the kitchen.
He entered to find Hermione clinging to Molly Weasley while wrenching sobs
wracked her body. Ron was crying quietly, and Draco looked scared, sad, and
angry at the same time.

Around the
kitchen were other members of the Order: Moody and Tonks occupied a corner,
both tousled and soot-streaked. Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George sat at
the table, all looking lost in the face of Hermione�s grief. Dumbledore looked
five times as old as usual and without his normally twinkling eyes. Kingsley
Shacklebolt was nervously making tea. Professor McGonagall was doing her best
to help comfort the crying girl.

�What
happened, Headmaster?� Harry asked, keeping his voice neutral. He had promised
himself at the end of last school term that he would keep every person he cared
about at arms length, or at least out of harm�s way. Things didn�t seem to be
working out the way he had thought. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to
reassure Hermione that whatever was wrong could be fixed.

�There has
been another Death Eater attack,� McGonagall said. �We have just had to tell
Miss Granger that her parents have been killed.�

The sound
of porcelain shattering drew Harry�s attention to Kingsley, clutching the
teapot to his chest, looking at the remains of several teacups around his feet.

�Shacklebolt!� Snape thundered from the doorway, his
displeasure at such clumsiness evident in his stern face, and drawing his wand.
�Stay still!� He performed several rapid incantations, which cleaned up the
mess, repaired the cups, and delivered them and biscuits to the table. Another
spell brought a small phial from a cupboard to Snape�s outstretched hand. He
dropped several drops of the contents into one cup, and then beckoned Kingsley
over with the teapot. He filled the cup, added sugar, and then handed it to
McGonagall.

�See to it
that she drinks this, Minerva,� he said. McGonagall nodded and turned back to
Hermione.

An hour
later, Hermione was asleep and in bed, with Molly watching over her. The others
gathered in the kitchen to discuss matters.

�This is
nothing more than an attempt to put you off-balance, Harry,� Dumbledore said in
a tired voice.

�That�s not
entirely true, Headmaster,� Draco interjected. �The Dark Lord was a Slytherin,
and Slytherins never do anything for just one reason.�

�Then what
do you think he wanted, Mr. Malfoy?� McGonagall asked,
her face serious.

�He�s also
looking for me,� Draco replied cooly. �The last place
that anyone would expect me to go is to Granger. On the other hand, she�s my
year-mate, and she�s the best witch in school.�

�Slytherin logic?� Harry inquired,
a smirk on his face. Draco nodded, a matching smirk on
his own lips.

"I
would have to agree with Draco�s assessment,� Snape said. �He was, after all,
raised by the Dark Lord�s chief lieutenant.�

�What�s
being done about where Hermione�s going to live now?� Harry queried, concerned
for his friend.

�I have
taken the liberty of contacting her nearest relatives,� McGonagall replied.
�They were willing, but not eager, to take responsibility for her, but they
were more than happy to cede custody of her to me, once they truly understood
the situation. They agreed that in these dark times, another witch would be far
more able to protect her, and, by extension, them as well.�

�Good,�
Harry said, glaring at Dumbledore in a fashion that would have terrified most
wizards. He would never forget or
forgive his mistreatment at the hands of the Dursleys, which would not have
happened if he had been raised in a wizarding family. �Wizarding children do
not belong with Muggles.�

�I heartily
agree,� the older witch said. �Just so you know, Harry, I never thought you
should be left with them. Albus had the authority, of course, but I did not
agree.�

�Thank you,
Professor,� Harry said. �Does this mean that Hermione stays here?�

�Yes, it
does.� She replied, smiling at him.

�Since
everyone is awake,� Snape said. �I will begin breakfast.�

�I�ll help,
Professor,� Draco said. �Just let me wash up and dress.�

�Thank you,
Draco,� Snape said. �Harry, if you would care to assist as well, things should
move smoothly.�

�What about
me?� Ron asked, his face tear-stained and pale.

Snape
turned to and stared at him for a long time. �Perhaps making tea and setting
the table will not be too much,� he said in his best �stern teacher� voice.
�Since your potions skills are less than adequate, I will not count on your
cooking abilities.�

�Yes,
Professor,� Ron sighed, eyes downcast. Nonetheless, he followed Harry upstairs
to dress for the day.

By
afternoon, Hermione had awakened, eaten a small bit, and had been given more of
the sleeping potion. She had been told about her new living arrangements and
burst into tears when Draco gave her some flowers and told her he was sorry
about her parents.

Harry was
exhausted. The events of the day had taken their toll on everyone, and it
showed. Draco had disappeared upstairs to take a nap. Ron had dozed off in the
parlor before he had followed Draco. Even Snape had given notice that he
intended to get a little sleep.

Heaving a
huge sigh, the raven-haired youth climbed the stairs with every intention of
sleeping a bit himself. A drawn-out groan from Snape�s room stopped him in his
tracks.

Suddenly
concerned for the Potions Master�s wellbeing, Harry cautiously opened the door
a crack and stopped, staring.

Snape had
thrown the bedcovers off and was steadily and unhurriedly stroking his
erection. His breath hissed through his teeth as his hand moved, and his hips
bucked in perfect timing with each stroke.

�Harry,� he
murmured brokenly, his eyes closed tightly. �Do you know how long I�ve wanted
this? Do you know how I want you? Now I have you.�

His hand
increased its pace as he approached orgasm, and before Harry could move,
Snape�s eyes fluttered and opened. Green and ebony eyes met as the older wizard
gave an even deeper groan and suddenly erupted, spurting semen all over his
chest and stomach.

Nearly
mesmerized by what he had just witnessed, Harry walked forward until he was
beside the bed, within arms-reach of Snape. He cautiously reached out to touch
the older man�s softening shaft. His own erection was painfully hard within his
clothing, and weeping enough to leave a noticeable wet spot.

Without a
word, Snape reached for a cloth to clean himself, and then reached for the
younger man. Both of them were so intent on each other that neither was aware
that the door was left open. All that mattered was what they felt at that
moment.

For his
part, Harry offered no resistance as he was pulled over the other man�s body
and into the embrace of the large featherbed. He helped as much as he could
while his professor made short work of buttons, buckles, laces, and zippers. In
less time than he thought possible, Harry was completely nude, on his back,
with his teacher above him, and hot, wet lips had wrapped around his painful
hardness, drawing a sharp gasp, and then a moan out of him.

The
emerald-eyed youth ran his hands through his lover�s hair, realizing that the
only thing making it greasy were the fumes from the cauldrons the man was
constantly tending.

The young
wizard could feel himself close to orgasm when gentle but firm fingers closed
around the base of his shaft and squeezed, postponing the impending explosion.
It was only then that Harry realized that his backside was slick and there was
more than one intruding finger moving inside him and producing the most
wonderful sensations he had ever imagined. The lips left him and trailed a path
of kisses up his stomach and chest as the other occupant of the bed shifted
around carefully moving forward until he completely covered his young lover.

The
teenager whimpered in protest as the fingers withdrew, but allowed his legs to
be raised and hooked around his lover�s waist.

Snape
captured his lips in a thorough kiss as something else probed at Harry�s
slickened entrance. Emerald eyes widened as he felt himself entered by
something much larger than a few fingers. He braced for pain, but it never came.
Snape paused every few moments to allow the slight burning sensation to die
down, and then continued forward until he was fully sheathed inside the tight
opening. Then, he lay still, allowing Harry to become accustomed to his
invasion. He raised his head to watch his lover�s face.

When he
felt Harry relax under him, Snape gently withdrew, and then thrust in again,
slowly but firmly, watching closely for any signs of pain. The expression of
surprise and absolute bliss on the younger man�s face reassured him somewhat,
and his next stroke was quicker and surer. He was rewarded by a clenching of
the muscles surrounding him, the feeling of the body under him rising to meet
him, and a low moan of pleasure.

The sound
made him forget his careful control, the three other teenagers in the house,
the werewolf, and the ethics involved in bedding his student. He lowered his
lips to Harry�s again and began to steadily pump in and out of the willing body
writhing beneath him.

Unknown to
either Harry or his professor, they were being watched by a pair of silver
eyes.

�You two
take care of each other,� Draco whispered to the silent hall as he watched his
favorite teacher make love to the one person he loved beyond all others, except
perhaps Severus.

�I don�t
know who I envy more.�

TBC, please review.
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Measure of a Man