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

Chapter List
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�Weasley�� the word was somewhat tremulous, but Severus did
not move, and then almost tentatively, Ron felt the motion of arms and then
warm hands pressing against the base of his spine and over his hips, the only
way that Severus could touch him with his arms trapped by Ron�s.

And so, throwing more caution to the wind than he knew he
cared to throw, Ron reached up and hooked his arms behind Severus� neck,
freeing up the raven-haired man to do as he pleased. And somewhere in Ron�s
chest a fire sparked into life when arms looped around him, holding him close
as, it felt like, he had not been held in a long time.

They were face to face, steadily considering each other�s
eyes.

�Your eyes� I have never thought they were quite so� they
are like clear sapphires.�

Ron blushed, even though it wasn�t strictly a compliment. �I
guess��

So close he could almost hear the heartbeat of the other man
as they stood wrapped around one another in the darkened, atmospheric light of
the Christmas tree.

�What are you doing, Ron?�

Ron thought he detected a hint of desperation in the tone as
Severus spoke, though he still did not move away.

�I�m not sure,� Ron breathed, and inclined his head some
more, meaning that there were only millimetres between their lips.

�Then maybe you should stop.�

�Do you want me to?�

Severus� dark eyes seemed to penetrate him even deeper,
then, and Ron felt utterly bare, even though he felt no push of legilimency.
The eyes were still looking when Severus leant forward and captured Ron�s lips
with his own.

As if he had pressed a magic button between them, both of
their bodies sprang to life. Ron melted into his touch and pressed closer,
bringing one arm down to grip Severus� back, and Severus sank a hand into his
red hair, tilting Ron�s head back slightly so he could dominate the kiss.

Ron didn�t think twice when a tongue, warm and wet, brushed
against his lips �he parted them and lost himself in the sensation of being
held in such a tight grip as Severus was holding him. It was nothing like he�d
ever shared with Hermione, the man was too strong to imitate her soft touch.

Was it soft, or just
half-hearted? The thought drifted across Ron�s sub-conscious and he gasped
against thin lips, which pulled back accompanied by questioning eyes. Severus
was waiting for him to explain.

�I�� Ron breathed, face flushing once more and he suddenly
felt crushed, embarrassed that he hadn�t realised quite what was wrong with the
embraces he�d shared with Hermione up until someone showed him differently.

�I apologise,� Severus said in a deadened tone and
immediately made to drop his arms.

�No-� Ron blundered, his eyes wide in protest. �Do that
again. Please, do it again, Severus.�

�What is it?� Severus asked astutely.

�I�ve never been held or kissed like that,� Ron breathed,
dazed eyes looking down at the man�s neck and taking in the neckline of his
shirt. �Are you� surely that�s��

Severus was looking at him like he might be mad. �What are
you trying to say?�

�I just� is that the way people kiss?�

�When I last kissed somebody, yes� it was some time ago,
though, maybe they have changed it?� One eyebrow quirked up to aid the joke.

Ron gave him a weak smile.

�But you kissed back with the same intensity.�

�Did I?� Ron frowned.

Severus watched the hurt and confusion dilute into the
sapphire eyes and gave a small sigh. He brought his hand round to brush a long
red fringe off Ron�s brow and tilted his head.

�You were not aware that it could be so passionate. That you
yourself were so passionate.�

�I guess I never took the same to consider my own snogging
skills.�

�Only those of the person you were with,� Severus murmured
softly, eyes sliding down Ron�s long nose.

�I�m an idiot,� Ron breathed with a desolate huff of air.
�How did I never notice that she��

They stood in silence for a while, each looking at the
other.

�We should not be doing this,� Severus said finally, and
stepped back, though Ron�s grip prevented him from moving and Ron stared with
eyes asking for an explanation. �You are very clearly� broken. Three weeks and
you�ve not even begun to heal, as is right. I do not believe you would be
kissing me if you were not hurt.�

�Well, let�s be honest,� Ron swallowed. �If I wasn�t, I
wouldn�t be here. I would never have accepted the job on Christmas Eve, I would
never have sat in your pub for so long because I couldn�t face the thought of
going home to a flat empty of life other than my two very loving pet rats.�

�You� rats?� Severus asked.

�Hermione never liked them,� Ron gave him a rueful smile.
�They�re great. Always cheer me up. They�re probably banging their little paws
on the cage bars for dinner threatening to owl animal protection on me for
being a terrible father.�

�You�re� strange,� Severus failed to find a better adjective
and Ron laughed.

�I won�t deny that.�

�Are you even� you�ve just come out of what I presume is an
eight year relationship, with a� woman�
and if you are hoping I�m hiding some breasts under this top you�re going to be
sorely disappointed.�

Ron snorted with laughter and shifted his weight between his
feet. �Well� so fucking what? All I know is I�ve never been kissed or held like
that and you� This is all fucked up. To find you here, to talk, to end up in
your arms... None of it�s normal. So,
so what?�

Severus looked at him deeply.

�And anyway,� Ron frowned slightly. �You were� Harry�s mum.
You loved her enough to wage a war. But you were kissing me.�

�I suppose that is a valid observation,� Severus muttered
and Ron didn�t miss the way the dark eyes seemed to close to his gaze, then.

�Sorry,� Ron instantly apologised, and leant forward to
place a sweet kiss on the man�s thin lips. �I shouldn�t have mentioned the past
at a time like this.�

�It was a valid observation,� Severus repeated, and looked
down at Ron�s chest as he continued. �I am� I was bisexual.�

�Was?� Ron swallowed.

�I�ve not had any form of romantic dalliance since I left
your world,� Severus gave a small shrug.

�Old fires burn deep,� Ron gave him an understanding wink.
�I doubt much changes.�

�And you, then?� Severus seemed determined to ask.

�Well. Women didn�t work out so great for me,� Ron shrugged
honestly. �I�ve never given it much thought. Might have freaked out when I was
younger but now... you�ve been� all night I�ve just wanted to look at you.�

�Because you thought I was dead,� Severus supplied.

�Well, I really hope you�re not or I�m sure that makes me
some kind of� iliac��

�Necrophilia.�

�That�s the one. So. You�re not dead, are you?�

�Maybe it would be better if I was.�

Severus stepped away and broke out of Ron�s grip, walking
back to the bar and staring intently at a bottle of vodka hanging up.

Ron watched and an icy cold threatened to douse the flames
in his chest. Only when they were in danger did he realise quite how much he
had enjoyed them.

This is fucking mad,
Ron, what are you doing? He�s got to be� well. Forty-six? Forty-six and you�ve
just snogged him. And your crotch had further ideas� you�ve never been with a
bloke� His mind mentally berated him as he kept his eyes on Severus� back. Yeah but it�s not like I�ve not� those toys
were pretty interesting. Not like I�ve never been�

�You can go,� Severus� voice cut across the empty pub.

�I don�t want to go.�

�You should go.�

�But I-�

There was a movement so sudden that Ron didn�t have time to
react; Severus whirled round and grabbed him, throwing him back harshly into
the bar, then crushed their lips together in another kiss which sent the fire
roaring down into Ron�s belly and, he was devastated to feel, his groin. His
sudden arousal would be noticeable to the man pressed hard against his front,
plundering his mouth with ragged breaths and with his wandering hands.

But then Ron felt the mirroring hardness and his shame
evaporated. He needs this just as much as
you do� Once more his subconscious let the thought float out and Ron
reacted positively by grabbing what he could with his hands, massaging
sensually. It wasn�t until his left hand squeezed what he realised too late was
Severus� backside that the kiss stopped.

�Don�t toy with me,� Severus� voice was low and husky. �You
can feel how much I want this as I can feel you�� there was an experimental
rock of the hips and Ron groaned loudly at the contact, and the way it sent
bolts of electricity to the very tips of his fingers. �I am not-�

�Shut up,� Ron gasped, and kissed him sloppily, his lips
engulfing Severus� thinner ones.

Hands landed on his hips and yanked them closer, meaning
they rocked even tighter as the kiss deepened and Ron nearly lost control when
a low, deep growl sounded within Severus� throat. He was so hot and what was
startling him was how he wanted more.

�Stop!� He breathed, throwing his hands up to Severus�
shoulders and pushing him. �Not here� I want more� you��

There was a look of understanding between them and then Ron
felt his hand be grabbed and his body be tugged out of the bar, into the back
rooms. They made it halfway up the cramped staircase before they melted
together; Ron�s back trapped against the wall and Severus� hands working at
tugging up his t-shirt. Cool hands smoothed across the heated skin of Ron�s
stomach, creeping up to his nipples where they grazed before pulling out.

�Oh sweet Merlin,� Ron groaned as Severus kissed him again, fingers deftly
popping the button of his jeans and touching at the wiry curls exposed by the
fact his underwear had slipped slightly.

�Have you ever been with a man?� the voice was low and
whispering in his ear and Ron was ashamed of the desperate whimper which
escaped his lips. �I�ll take that as a no. Any limits?�

Ron might not have been with a man but he was not stupid
enough to misunderstand those words. And he wasn�t stupid enough to deny
himself the pleasure, either. �No limits,� he shook his head. �I�m��

His words melted into thin air as right before him, Severus
sank to his knees on the stairs and pulled down his jeans slightly, before
palming his erection through the stretchy cotton underwear. Ron�s face flamed
suddenly as he remembered what he was wearing. �Fuck, I didn�t know� shit��

There was a low laugh. �Nice.�

�They were a gift, it�s rude not to wear gifts,� Ron gasped
as the heel of Severus� palm pressed hard into his shaft.

�That is perfectly true,� Severus conceded, and then pressed
his lips forward to kiss the hardness through the cotton. �They�re going to
have to come off, though, I can�t do this with the little Father Christmases
looking at me.�

Ron choked on his laughter as the material was lifted away
and then there was a very definite kiss pressed to the hot flesh. �Fuck, wait,�
he scrabbled for his wand and performed the basic hygiene spells which were
only polite.

�You are� I have been without regular magic for so long you
will have to remind me,� Severus murmured, and Ron looked down to see his dark
eyes gazing over his body.

�Don�t,� Ron begged, closing his eyes and letting his head
fall back against the wall. �Don�t look at me and change your mind, Snape, not
now��

�Funny, I was about to tell you the same� and you are far
more likely to want to do so. You have� grown up into a remarkably attractive
man��

Ron didn�t have time to thank him or offer a compliment in
return; his cock was suddenly engulfed in wet heat and he screamed in delighted
shock, the sound echoing in the small stairway. He immediately reached up to
clamp his hand over his mouth in shame and wanted to cry when the lips were
suddenly gone and Severus was looking up at him.

�What on earth are you doing?� the low voice was incredulous. �There is nobody
here but us.�

�I�� Ron dropped his hand and his chest rose and fell with his embarrassed
breaths. �I� thought��

�What?� Severus looked at him, genuinely perplexed by his actions.

Ron took a deep swallow. �I� she never liked me to� making
noise. I�m loud. She hated it. She always� I�m just used to stopping myself��

A furious look stole over Severus� face then and Ron wanted
to die with the deepened shame. �I�m sorry!� he burst out.

�It is not you who should be sorry,� Severus got to his
feet. �God. Passion during sex is not something that should be controlled� if
you are going to do this with me, Ron, you may react and feel as you want. I
cannot believe I have found you so��

�What?� Ron breathed anxiously.

�Conditioned,� Severus answered him simply. �You always
seemed such a free spirit.�

Ron looked at him in horror and then closed his eyes, unable
to take the way pity finally blossomed onto the blank face in front of him.

�I am a reserved man,� Severus spoke close to his ear. �You
know that, or at least I hope you have guessed as much. I do not lay many of my
emotions out for others to view, apart from the anger I have always struggled
to control��

Hands smoothed across Ron�s barely covered shoulders and
settled down with thumbs stroking his collarbones.

�But if you expect me to be that way during sex� you will be
surprised. What kind of sex would that be if neither of us reacted, breathed
heavily, moaned��

�The shit kind I�ve obviously been having for eight years,�
Ron groaned, and did not open his eyes. �God� I��

�Be as loud as you like,� Severus assured him with a gentle
kiss. �And whilst this is not how I expected to spend my Christmas Eve, I think
it will prove beneficial. For both of us. Unless you wish to let your
embarrassment prevent you from continuing?�

Ron forced his eyes open and looked into glittering onyx
pools and he immediately shook his head. �Fuck no.�

A true smile blossomed onto Severus� lips then and Ron was
fascinated by the way it transformed his face into relative warmth.

�Come, then,� Severus turned and walked the next few steps,
his hand surprisingly trailing behind for Ron to take.

Slipping his warm fingers into the cool ones, Ron kept his
other hand busy holding up his undone jeans as his underwear rode back up to
cover his cock.

�Watch your head,� Severus warned him. �This is an old
building and people were short when it was built��

Ron ducked a low beam as Severus pulled him into a room with
a simple sofa, a fire and a muggle television. It wasn�t what he�d expected but
he didn�t have time to comment as it seemed that he was being led elsewhere.

The room they stepped through to contained a double bed, a
wardrobe, a desk, a bookcase and little else. Ron looked around as Severus
stepped away and turned the on the light which resided on the bedside table,
and then turned back to look at Ron.

�Come here,� he said softly, and Ron immediately obeyed,
tripping across the bare floorboards in his boots.

�Wait,� Ron breathed, and ducked down to unlace them. His
fingers fumbled in his anxiety and by the time he stood up to kick them off
into the corner of the room, he was glowing red once more.

�Why do you spend so much time blushing?� Severus asked him. �That was not
embarrassing.�

�I�� Ron shrugged, speechless.

�You are too used to someone passing negative comment on
every little action,� Severus assessed, and reached forward to take up Ron�s
hands, and laid them on his chest.

�I suppose,� Ron smoothed his hands over the black shirt,
running them down to hook into the waistband of Severus� jeans. �Should I��

�If you want,� Severus replied nonchalantly, and reached up
behind his head to pull out the hair band securing his hair. Ron watched it as
the inky black swung forward, kinked from it�s time tied back.

�Your hair is longer,� he breathed, undoing the button on
the jeans, keeping his eyes on the free tresses as he shoved them down to the
floor.

�Is it?� Severus shrugged, stepping out of his shoes and
kicking the trousers out to the side of them, reaching for Ron�s so they were
equal in the undressing stakes.

Ron couldn�t help it; he needed to touch the silky locks.
His fingers curled into it level with Severus� ear and he almost groaned at the
decadent texture.

He didn�t notice the entirety of his underwear was on show
by that point, or that his legs were trapped in the fabric, which was
unfortunate as he sprang forward to touch more of the man and stumbled. Luckily
the bed caught their weight, but Ron landed on top of his old Professor, their
groins only separated by underwear.

�You seem to have a habit of knocking things over,� Severus
commented wryly, and grabbed Ron�s t-shirt and yanked it over his head, sending
his hair into a puffy mess.

�I didn�t until this evening,� Ron muttered, and ducked his
head to kiss him roughly, tightening his hold in the dark hair and licking hard
against the writhing tongue waiting for him.

His erection back in an instant from it�s wilted state, Ron
wriggled against the body below him, enjoying the way tension built in his
crotch every time it connected to Severus� and the way he could feel the
intense heat radiating through the material.

�God you feel�� Ron panted and shook his head slightly.
�I�ve never��

�Why don�t you just be quiet?� Severus reached up and held
his chin, his thumb stroking the underside. �Be quiet and let me show you
passion you won�t be able to resist
moaning to?�

Ron looked down at him with eager eyes and nodded, and went
when Severus pushed him onto his back. He looked up and watched as the man�s
hands skated down the front of his shirt and pulled it off, throwing it the
same way as their other clothes. He was thin, that much had always been obvious
through his garments. When he moved Ron could discern individual ribs, and his
chest was completely flat with little definition bar obvious collarbones, his
stomach non-existent.

�Have you always been this thin?� Ron reached out to touch,
his eyes fixing on deep pink nipples hardening in the cool air of the room.

�Have you?� Severus asked him with a raised eyebrow and
plucked a finger in the elastic of Ron�s anatomy hugging festive boxers.

�You�re thinner,� Ron dismissed him and his eyes widened
when he felt fingers trail all the way down his leg, over his ankle bone,
hooking into his sock and yanking it off.

�I�m sorry,� Severus murmured after the second sock
followed. �Those have got to go, they�re just too insanely happy for me to be
able to focus at the moment.�

Ron snorted and lifted up his hips, too busy laughing to be
ashamed of the fact he was now completely naked in front of another man as his
merry festive underwear was removed. But his laughs faded and his mouth hung
open when he caught sight of the way that Severus was hungrily looking at him
as he lay stretched out on his back.

�I can quite safely say,� Severus whispered, �that she does
not realise quite how much a gem she has thrown away. Oh, look at that, you
blush all over��

�Shut up!� Ron half-squealed and rolled over to try and
hide. He felt cool hands on his side and then the heat of a body spooning up to
him.

God that feels weird.
Hair in places there shouldn�t be hair� Snape wasn�t overtly hairy, but
still, Ron could feel the way those on their thighs met and tickled, the way
there were furry patches pressing in between his shoulder blades and the base
of his spine. He relaxed when there were soft kisses along the line of his neck
and he groaned, surprising himself by wishing that there were no underpants on
the man behind him.

�Why aren�t you naked?� he heard himself breathe.

�That is a fair question,� Severus muttered. �If you feel
the need to change that, do��

Ron instantly rolled and narrowly avoided cracking their
heads together and Severus shot him a disparaging look. Ron ignored him and
placed his hands one apiece over his hips. The underwear was simple, black,
close fitting enough that nothing was left to the imagination.

�Take a picture, Weasley, it�ll last longer,� Severus
growled and Ron jerked out of the trance he�d fallen into looking at the
slightly curving shape of the erection beneath the pants.

He pulled them off without needing to be prompted and his
cock gave an excited twitch.

Have I been gay all
along? What the fuck? That�s� Jesus. Fucking huge.

Severus sat up then and reached for his wand on the floor,
giving Ron a surprisingly eye-watering view of everything as he leant forward.
Ron knew his mouth was hanging open but he didn�t have the sense to shut it.
Thin though he was, there was a lean strength in Severus� body that held him
captivated as the man moved. He heard uttered spells and looked up.

�Do you want me to�?�

�I am perfectly capable of using my magic, Ron,� Severus
answered a little snappily, but then he turned with a softening face. �I
apologise.�

Ron shrugged and gave him a small smile.

The intense passion which had claimed them below in the pub
seemed to have evaporated, and Ron knew that was his fault for the way he had
acted when Severus had tried to suck him. And Ron wanted that passion back at
any cost.

He leapt forward and threw his arms around Severus� torso,
dragging him fully back onto the bed with a thump, and then he jumped on top of
him, finally letting his naked skin graze against the prominent erection.

�Fuck,� he gasped, his lips curving into a determined smile.
He ducked and claimed Severus� mouth again, loving the way there was surprise
but lust in the dark eyes which looked up at him.

What was driving him, he had absolutely no idea, but with
very little grace he lifted his hips and rocked forward against Severus whilst
they kissed, settling into a rhythm which made him moan continually. A hand
skated over his arse and settled on the right cheek, restricting his movement
to shorter, harder thrusts.

�What do you want?� Severus asked him as they separated for
air with swollen lips.

�Whatever the fuck you want to do to me,� Ron growled, lust
taking over his actions as his hair flopped forward over his eyes and he looked
at Severus from beneath it.

�Merlin, don�t do that,�
the older man muttered, his eyes flashing.

�What?� Ron frowned.

They were upended with ease as Severus pushed him onto his
back and assumed the position on top, his hair swinging forward to wash across
Ron�s face. It smelt of light jasmine flowers and Ron looked up with a slightly
incredulous look on his face.

�Don�t,� Severus warned him with a tiny smile and Ron made a
face which was half-smirk, half-angelic. �Anyway, I meant, don�t look so
utterly fuckable��

Ron nearly combusted as the face and hair disappeared and
hot lips left a trail of messy wet kisses down his chest, dragging through the
hair there and leading down from his navel. He tensed with anticipation as he
realised where exactly Severus was heading, and cried out again when hot lips
surrounded the tip of his prick. Making the mistake of looking down, he found
himself captivated with the sight of those lips stretched around his girth and
then he was being licked with such force and strength he could do nothing but
pant through it.

He said eight years�
eight years he�s not been with anybody� fuck. Fuck.

His hips were thrusting but he couldn�t remember when they�d
started to do so; he was properly fucking Severus� mouth and the man was just
letting him.

�Fucking hell you�re good!� Ron�s fingers grabbed at the
duvet beneath his body causing it to ruck in his fingers, as he lost himself in
the wet fire.

Severus changed tack then and pinned his hips down with a
wide finger-span over his pelvis, and moved to suckle the tip of his cock
before bobbing his head up and down once in a clear stroke which had Ron
mewling and trying to rise against his fingers. He was rushing towards an
orgasm �he could feel it building in his sac in the way it tightened to his body.

�No, Severus stop, I�m going to c-� he choked on the word as
the man sped up his actions, making sure his tongue slathered along the shaft
every time he swallowed Ron almost to the back of his throat, massaging.

�S-seriously I�m going to c-come if you don�t�ohhhh fuck��
Ron heard his cry hit the bedroom ceiling and bounce back but it seemed to do
nothing to detract Severus as he kept his mouth firmly wrapped around Ron�s
cock. �Don�t you want to� ungh� shit� I��

Nothing was going to stop his orgasm by that point, it was
too roughly hooked into his veins �stopping would only have been cruelly
painful. With his face screwed up in shame that he was about to come solely
from a little bit of oral, Ron gasped, gave a shudder, and yelled out his
orgasm into Severus� mouth, desperately flexing his hips through the pulses of
come which tingled leaving his shaft. His muscles tensed and his belly felt
like a hook had yanked behind his navel and pulled with it all of his control.

�I�m sorry!� he burst out, still half-choked by the
bone-melting orgasm. �God I� I��

He panicked slightly and yanked his cock out of the willing
mouth, flinging his arm up to cover his face and hiding it in shame.

�What?� Severus asked him.

�I� finished too early, I�m sorry, Severus.�

�Are you� Christ, you�re actually seriously apologising for
your�� comprehension dawned in Severus� tone and then he snorted. �Do you think
that is the only time you�ll be climaxing tonight?�

Ron flushed deeper at those words.

�Well, it isn�t,� there was a matter-of-factness in that
tone which made Ron�s belly squirm with anticipation. �And if you ever
apologise to me for an orgasm again, I will unceremoniously toss you out on
your backside naked in the snow.�

�Alright,� Ron mumbled, keeping his arm over his eyes.

�You are twenty-six, not eighteen for God�s sake,� Severus said
with pitying exasperation. �You clearly need a bloody good fuck with someone
who knows what they�re doing without placing any form of expectation on you.�

�I�m sorry?� Ron tried.

�What did I just say about apologising?�

�You said not to apologise for orgasms, I was just saying
sorry in general��

Ron felt the bed dip beside him and then felt the gentle
sensation of a hand massaging his stomach. �Look at me.�

The last time Ron had heard those words from the man in question, he had
thought he was dying. And he had been looking into the green eyes of Lily Evans
through Harry. Ron was scared to remove his arm but wasn�t surprised when it
was tugged after Severus grew tired of his dithering.

�Much better,� Severus said curtly, then bent his head and
kissed Ron on the lips. �So� that was your first lesson in passion you can�t
resist.�

�Definitely hard to resist, you suck harder than bloody vacuuming spell,� Ron
muttered with a lustful glance upwards.

�If that was a compliment, then thank you.�

�Is the passion meant to dip?� Ron asked curiously.
�Downstairs in the bar you were all over me, and then on the stairs, and then
just now� but it�s bouncing around and I��

�Well that depends on the people involved. Look. Can we not
turn this into too much of a teacher pupil situation? I had more than my fill
of that� and now I just find myself wanting my fill of you.�

�Have me then,� Ron raised his eyebrows in invitation.
�Nothing is stopping you. I�m here, I�m naked, I�m not sure why but you�ve
turned me on more than I thought possible� and I��

�You what?� Severus whispered, so close to Ron�s lips he
tickled them with the movement of his own as he spoke.

�I want you.�

Passionate fires stoked again, Ron found himself gathered up
into a tight grip, a tongue licking steadily against his own and a painfully
hard erection pressing into his stomach.

�Fuck, let me�� Ron wriggled downwards and instantly put his
mouth to good use.

He tentatively flicked out his tongue and tasted the top of
Severus� erection, eyes taking in the inky black curls which surrounded it, and
heavy balls arranged oddly in the way Severus laid on his side. Ron pressed a
kiss to it and was bolstered by the low groan which he evoked. Wasting no more
time, he sucked the whole head into his mouth and felt his own arousal spark
again.

Fingers worked into his hair and held his head in place as
he grew used to the taste and shape, licking away contentedly listening to the
deep moans and growls above him.

Yes� well, this wins
the award for the Weirdest Christmas Eve Ever. Sucking Severus Snape�s cock�
God� He cut himself off before he could embarrass himself mentally with
adorations of how good it tasted and felt to be giving pleasure like that.

�Stop,� Severus breathed half-heartedly and tugged Ron away
by his hair; his eyes widened as the saliva coated cock bobbed in front of him,
almost begging for his attention. �One of us should hold on��

�I don�t mind,� Ron crawled back up and kissed him again,
driven mad by the desire which spread through him when the man did not even bat
an eyelid in accepting the tongue which had just been lapping at his cock.
�I�ll do it again if you� mmmm�.�

He was cut off by a deep kiss and a finger sliding down in between
his cheeks before puckering around his hole. He gasped as it broke through the
ring of muscle.

�I thought you said you�d not been with a man before?�
Severus frowned at him.

�I haven�t,� Ron threw his head back and panted in delight
at the sensation. �Doesn�t mean nothing�s
been up my arse before��

He was thrilled to see Severus finally colour with something
akin to embarrassment and laughed. �When you have a girlfriend who works away
from home a lot� and you want to stay faithful� you really appreciate what
magic can do.�

�You surprise me,� Severus breathed with a dirty little
smile, and pressed further inward. �Care to go into details?�

Ron dropped his head so their lips were close together like
before. �Just the usual toys enchanted to do what I wanted� I�m sure you know
the drill��

�No,� Severus drawled. �I�m not sure I do,� the finger
within Ron writhed. �Why don�t you tell me what you did...?�

Groaning, Ron wrapped a leg over Severus� hip, shoving their
cocks together again, his own returned to full hardness. �Just� uh� wanking,
and� a special� gods, yes� more� special dildo which fucks you until you come��

�That sounds like an interesting way to spend an evening��

�If you�re still conscious when it�s done,� Ron conceded,
and latched their lips together, thrusting forward for friction in no doubt
that the desire had completely consumed him now and he would not stop until he
had been claimed and had climaxed again. �I want you to fuck me,� his
empowerment helped him to breathe. �Make me see stars and make me forget the
last three weeks ever existed.�

�And what do I get in return, hmm?� Severus retorted, seemingly gripped in the
same throes of lust as he thrust against Ron�s younger body, though on close
visual inspection there was nothing to really detail the age gap.

Ron let out a higher pitched groan as a second finger pushed
into him. �You get a fuck,� he panted. �And maybe knock off some of the lonely
years?�

�Three weeks is much more manageable to eviscerate than
thirty years,� Severus whispered, and kissed him again. �But I would not rule
out the possibility...�

Ron swallowed at that, at the implication he sensed which
meant Severus might want him again afterward, after they�d sweated through
their exertions.

�How do you want me?� Ron hissed, eyes barely open with
their heaviness.

�Stretched,� Severus grabbed his wand and flicked it, before
occupying Ron�s mouth prior to his cries infiltrating the room.

Severus drank every single desperate moan down as the spell
worked deep with Ron�s passage, stretching him out and lubricating him.

�What is this?� he breathed the first chance he could, his hips involuntarily
rolling with the sensations. �I feel like I�m going to come all over again��

�Oh to be young,� Severus rolled his eyes and grabbed hold
of Ron�s cock to pump it firmly in his hand, only causing the mewling of the
redhead to heighten. �Just give yourself over to it and have done��

�I�� words deserted him as the spell grazed over his
prostate and he properly screamed out. �FUCK YES!�

�You are delicious,� Severus whined almost in disbelief, and
dropped the erection in favour of rolling Ron onto his stomach.

�Can�t I� face you?� Ron asked in between gasps. �And when
will this fucking spell end?�

�When you�re prepared,� Severus answered cryptically and he
snorted when Ron made a disconcerted sound in his throat. �And no, I want the
better angle from behind��

Ron didn�t complain �up until that point it seemed Severus
had been relatively selfless and as the experienced person in the bedroom, it
made sense. It was with that in mind Ron raised onto his hands and knees.

�Against the headboard,� the command came and Ron�s stomach
flipped at just how dirty Severus Snape sounded.

Has he always sounded
like that? Has he always had that sex dripping accent? Did I miss it? Fuck�

The spell finally faded away and he felt strangely open.
�Done,� he half-shouted and scooted up to the headboard, resting his hands on
it, his knees in the pillows.

�Eager,� Severus commented and smoothed his hands over slightly
furred but perfectly rounded cheeks, taking in the broad back and shoulders,
slim hips and powerful thighs. �If this hurts, tell me �there is no point in
hurting yourself.�

Ron closed his eyes as his hips were dragged backwards and
there was something blunt pressing at his entrance.

�Push back and relax, this is no different to when you fucked yourself all
those times on your own,� Severus instructed in a ringing tone, and then Ron
was filled with intense heat.

It burned even with the spell but he grit his teeth and rode
it through, staying still until he felt balls slap into his own, when he
groaned.

�Are you really that eager that the pain was nothing?�
Severus whispered.

�It was nothing,� Ron growled and thrust back eagerly.

�Jesus�� Severus groaned and pushed forward.

Ron gripped the headboard as the man picked up pace, thrusting almost
completely in and out of his arse with a bruising grip on his hips. Thrilled
that he wasn�t being treated like breakable glass, Ron did as Severus had
requested �he gave himself over to the sensation and heard all manner of
embarrassing grunts, growls and moans rising out of his mouth.

�Please, fucking hell, harder� need you�� he cut off with a
deep, grumbling moan as a hand suddenly pulled at his cock, teasing it
mercilessly as it roughly grabbed at him. �You are��

Ron gave a surprised yelp as he was yanked upright and
Severus� free hand pressed into his chest, forcing him into the body which was
pounding into him with force that seemed to be shattering through all his
tension with every precise slam. He felt a hot mouth sucking at his neck and he
tilted his head to give it better access. His hands felt redundant so he did
the only thing he could think of �he reached back and grabbed hold of Severus�
arse and held on as it clenched with every thrust.

�You are so�� Severus cut off and growled as he hit deeper.
�You are so sensual; she will never,� he gave a particularly deep thrust and
Ron yelled in pleasure, �Ever,� the word was half growled with bodily exertion,
�Know what she has thrown away��

And then the world wobbled as Ron was gripped in an iron
tight lock when Severus climaxed, moaning directly into his ear. That alone
would have been enough, but the fisting on his cock only pushed Ron harder as
he screamed his second orgasm of the night into the small, low-ceilinged
bedroom and it flew everywhere.

He felt Severus sag behind him and Ron whimpered through the
pulses still throbbing through his crotch as his dick began soften and his
balls loosened. There was hot panting in his ear which did not let up and he
detected a definite wheeze in the flow, and he felt a racing heartbeat pressed
into his back.

Only when his own slowed a little did Ron realise that there
were church bells ringing somewhere nearby, the sound sending a harmonic melody
into the bedroom.

�Fuck,� Ron was surprised that the uttered word came from
Severus. �Is it really midnight?�

�It must be��

Ron groaned slightly as Severus pulled out of him, and slid
off the bed. He clicked off the light and padded naked to the window, looking
out into the snow.

�Does the late hour matter?� Ron breathed deeply, trying to
calm his fluttering heart.

�I� well. My absence at Midnight Mass will probably be
noted.�

�Wha- you�re religious?� Ron couldn�t keep his tone from
becoming incredulous.

A low laugh met him and then Severus looked over his
shoulder, his face lit by one of the lamp posts outside. �No. But this is a
small village, I was invited and they�re good people� as I planned to settle I
thought I would go� make an effort� I would like to fit in with them, even if
that means participating in things I do not necessarily believe in.�

�Oh,� Ron swallowed. �I understand, I�ll go, you�ll just be
a bit late��

�No, that isn�t necessary.�

�Would you like me to come with you?�

Severus turned to look at him and Ron was filled with horror
that he might actually say yes, but then he shook his head. �Thank you for the
offer, though.�

Ron watched as a hand rose and kneaded gently into a dark
temple, �Are you okay?�

It was a futile question because Severus� face had crumpled
with pain. �I� another throwback from the snake venom and the time I was
without oxygen,� he explained in a soft voice. �If I move too quickly or
overexert myself, I end up with a raging headache.�

Concern blossomed out into Ron�s bloodstream and he reached
for Severus� dangling hand, but latched onto his wrist instead. �Here,� he
pulled him down onto the bed and rose up onto his knees.

Severus visibly jumped when he felt the touch in his hair.
�What are you doing?�

�When I have a headache, a massage always helps�� Ron said
tentatively, wanting nothing more than to give everything back to the man who
had just filled his body with electrifying pleasure.

�Don�t stop,� the words were there and Ron relaxed again. �I
told you, I haven�t been so close to another being��

�Shh,� Ron placed a gentle kiss on top of the raven hair and set his fingers to
work. �And when I�ve finished, I�ll run down and get my bag. I have to carry a
MediKit for my job and I have plenty of headache potion in there. You can have
it all.�

�You do not have to view me as your charity case,� Severus
said, looking at the wardrobe opposite the bed.

�I don�t,� Ron assured him bluntly. �No more than you viewed
me as one during that mind-blowing tutorial in passion.�

�Mind-blowing? Flattery is good for the soul� I had
forgotten.�

Ron nearly groaned at the ache in his chest caused by the
sadness layered deep within the man�s �indifferent� tone.

�I notice you didn�t deny I was your charity case?� Ron
grinned.

�You were not. If you notice I enjoyed that just as much as
you did.�

�Yes, your �enjoyment� is currently dripping down the back of my thighs,� Ron
hummed contentedly, working his fingers in delicate circles, careful not to
apply too much pressure.

Ron massaged until his fingers were aching and he
reluctantly sat back, flexing them before they became stiff. Sometimes he
forgot he was not eighteen any more, and the injuries he sustained in the war
and before took their toll. He didn�t notice that Severus had turned around and
was looking at him.

�Sweet Merlin, I didn�t notice earlier� what are�� Severus
reached out a finger and traced along the scars on Ron�s forearms.

�They�re from the brains that attacked me in the Ministry
when I fifteen,� Ron looked down at them. �They�ve mostly faded now but when I�
overexert myself, they get redder and
show up.�

�You have plenty of battle scars,� Severus looked him over.

�If you want to call them that,� Ron shrugged. �I just
ignore them. Muggles seem to think I was some sort of extreme self-harmer. I
use obfuscation spells if I have to be in their community for a long time. Get
sick of the pitying and angry looks.�

�As if it would be anyone�s business if you had been,�
Severus rolled his eyes.

�Quite,� Ron looked at him appraisingly. �I�ve never found
anyone before who felt the same as me on that matter� everyone else tells me to
cover them up.�

�Do they tell Harry to cover his scar up?� Severus raised an
eyebrow.

�You know your answer to that,� Ron gave him a sarcastic
look and swung his legs off the bed, getting to his feet. �I�ll be� just going
to get you the potions. Am I� should I put some clothes on or�?�

�You�ll freeze on the stairs, there�s a dressing gown on the
back of the door,� Severus looked over him once more and Ron smiled at him,
before turning, unhooking the gown and throwing it around his shoulders.

It had the same scent as Severus and was obviously his.

Must remember to
mention the fact his hair smells decidedly girly later�

Ron hated how there was an obvious grin as wide as the
Mersey Tunnel slapped across his face and the way his body ached with the
pleasant remnant of the thorough fuck he�d just received.

He crossed into the darkened bar and reached for his bag and
coat, noticing the lights on the Christmas tree were still on.

Now do I dare chance
to approach this bastard again or is it going to jump at me?

Ron edged around the tree and bent down to flick the plug
socket to off, and ran quickly away, celebrating the fact that he and the tree
had both managed to remain upright. He picked up his bag and coat and headed
back up the stairs, his feet frozen by the cold steps. He passed through the
darkened living area into Severus� room and smiled at him.

�I turned the tree off.�

�Is it still standing?�

�Bastard,� Ron laughed, and threw the robe off his shoulders
to hang it back up, and then he rummaged in his bag, the contents of which
spilled out on the bed slightly.

Ron unlatched the standard issue leather MediKit given to
all aurors and looked for the vial. �Here,� he tugged out the purple liquid.
�There�s probably around ten doses in that.�

�Thank you,� Severus said quietly, looking at him somewhat
oddly.

�Is� is everything alright?�

�I am just waiting for the moment the reality of your
actions sets in and you run screaming.�

�Why would I do that?� Ron frowned, concentrating on
marshalling all of his rubbish back into the bag and closing the zip.

Severus didn�t answer him but turned to look out of the
window. Ron put the light back on and sat on the edge of the bed, wondering if
the man�s hesitance meant he was no longer welcome.

�D�you want me to leave?� Ron asked hardily, hoping not to
give away just how hurt he�d be if Severus answered in the positive.

�Do you wish to leave?�

�That isn�t what I asked,� Ron swallowed, taking the man�s
diversionary tactics as a silent yes. �But hey I get it. Passion comes and
goes, right? I�ll just get dressed and be out of your hair.�

Hair which smells of
fucking jasmine and sex.

Ron looked around for his Christmassy boxers and located
them by the door. They had left quite a trail of clothing destruction, it
seemed, in their eagerness. His boots were way over in the corner, his jeans by
the bed, his t-shirt hanging on the door. Severus� clothes were in similar
states of disarray. Stepping into his pants, Ron pulled them up and looked
forward to a shower when he got home, despite the late hour.

�Don�t leave��

Severus� words hung in the air and Ron turned to him, but he
was still facing the window. So Ron walked clad only in his underwear and cut
through the man�s gaze, stopping to face him. He noticed that the indifferent
sadness was back on Severus� face.

�Are you sure about that?�

�Yes. If you would like to stay. And your rats won�t be
chewing through their own limbs in hunger.�

�Pah, do them good, they�re both a bit porky and they�ve got
dry mix. I�ll have to grovel in the morning� but I� Something tells me I should
stay, Severus.�

�And in the morning?� Severus looked up at him, dark eyes
searching for something Ron did not understand.

�Well� I said I�d go to mum�s for Christmas.�

�It�s late, we should probably get some sleep,� Severus
motioned to the bed, and then climbed beneath the duvet without another word.

Ron watched the lump in the bed settle and then he crossed to the other side.
The room was dark. He was suddenly hit by a very bizarre idea. He saw an empty
plug socket by the head of the bed and wondered if he dared.

�Severus?�

�Mm?�

�When you were little, did you ever do that thing where you
lay underneath the Christmas tree and looked up at the lights through the
branches?�

�No.�

The answer was short and blunt. Ron bit his lip and decided
against his original plan. �Alright. Well. I�ll be back in a bit.�

He ducked out of the bedroom again, snatching up the
dressing gown, wondering what on earth was driving him in his madness.

Probably the same
thing which drove me to sleep with him. Christ. Wonder if there was something
dodgy in that pasty I had for lunch? No, Breakfast. Lunch. Not important.
Grrrr.

Ron stepped back into the chilly pub and flicked the lights
back on in the tree. And then with an ungraceful, not to mention painful,
thump, he threw himself down on his back and inched up under the tree until he
had a good view and some of the lights were twinkling at him.

It felt odd to do it without company. Normally he had at
least one brother jostling his shoulders for position, and Hermione had been
with him for the last eight years.

He sighed at the thought of her name, and how successfully
Severus had managed to chase her from his mind. The pain of the last three
weeks had definitely disappeared, though he know once he was alone again it
would come back. And he could not depend on someone else to be his healing
factor.

�What on earth are you doing?� Severus� voice rang out
across the darkened room.

�I�m doing what I said,� Ron said softly. �Laying under the
tree and looking up at the lights. Sort of a tradition.�

�Why on earth would you bother?�

�Because it�s kind of beautiful,� Ron breathed, hearing Severus� footsteps and
feeling them vibrate through the floor. �The lights shine through the branches
and it reminds me of being little, safe��

He heard a thump and saw Severus pulling one of the upturned
chairs off a table, dressed in what looked like black pyjama bottoms and a
thick jumper with bare feet. When he sat down they were roughly level with
Ron�s head. They seemed impossibly long with longer toes, bizarrely straight
with neat nails, and hair creeping down the front following the bone of his big
toe.

And why the fuck am I
staring at his feet when I�m presented with the Christmas tree, hmm?

�So� are you just going to lounge about on the floor?�
Severus asked disconcertedly, Ron could tell one of his eyebrows was raised
without looking.

�Yup. You just lie, and look, and see the pretty lights, and
forget everything shite about your life.�

�It sounds somewhat relaxing.�

�It is, why don�t you come down here-�

�No, thank you.�

Ron shrugged. �Your loss I guess.�

The floor was freezing, though, and his back and hips soon
began to ache from the breeze which blew across the boards. He turned to
conversation to keep his mind off it whilst he enjoyed the rosy glow of the
lights.

�So� if you don�t mind me asking, what exactly happened after we left you��

�After you three left me for dead, I passed out, not
breathing. When I came to I was barely functioning but I had some antidotes in
my robes, I swallowed them.�

�We thought you were dead, you�d bled everywhere and you
stopped breathing� and what you said to Harry seemed so final. God, you should
know that little bit of information had women weeping everywhere. You�ve got a
sort of� romantic anti-hero thing going on. Girls are claiming they had crushes
on you at Hogwarts, that you were only ever misunderstood, just needed a hug��

�I suppose that analogy, that I just needed a hug, wasn�t
far off the truth��

�Except the woman you wanted it from was gone,� Ron said
softly, watching a wooden Father Christmas decoration slowly revolve.

�That is the truth, I suppose,� Severus shifted his feet on
the floor, he was obviously cold.

�Here,� Ron murmured, and parted the robe.

�Don�t be ridiculous, they�re freezing.�

�Well quite, I�m sure with your health issues being cold
isn�t good.�

Ron was surprised but pleased when he felt cold, almost waxy
soles press on to his stomach, and he wrapped them up in the dressing gown,
trying not to complain at their temperature.

�So when you woke up?� He asked again.

�I had no wand,� Severus said slowly.

�Because Voldemort thought you were the master of the Elder
Wand.�

�What?�

�Oh� fuck it�s��

�I don�t want to know,� Severus spoke firmly. �I do not need
to know. I have only ever wondered about the lives of those left behind, I have
never felt the need to know everything that Albus did not see fit to trust me
with.�

�Well, okay then,� Ron couldn�t believe his indifference.
�You had no wand��

�But I managed to get out of the shack and it wasn�t long
before I found one just lying around. Miraculously I managed to apparate
without splinching myself��

�Yeah doing it under stress isn�t fun. I lost my arm that
way,� Ron shuddered at the memory.

�I apparated to the caves I knew in the mountains behind the
castle, and simply hid until I had regained enough strength to leave.�

�And then what did you do? Where have you been?�

�Around,� Severus sighed, and Ron nearly giggled at the way
the feet on his stomach flexed and tickled slightly. �Ticklish?�

�No,� Ron lied badly.

�I shall note that down for future use.

�Future use?� Ron asked quietly. �I��

�Only if, of course, you wished to return.�

Ron fell silent, looking up into the tree, trying to decide
what on earth he could say to that. �You don�t live in my world any more�
you�re off the map. And you�re meant to be dead.�

�And you have not healed from your break-up,� Severus said
calmly.

�Well, no,� Ron sighed. �But how does anybody get over that?
Eight years and she drops me three hours before the wedding.�

�Better that she did it then than afterward, divorce is a messy business, so I
have heard��

�I just wish I� we talked, of course we talked. She tried to
explain her reasons.�

�What reasons did she give?� Severus asked, and Ron moved a hand up to rub over
the feet resting on his body.

�That she didn�t love me �which is fair enough. I would
never have expected her to marry me. But why� why three hours before the
wedding, at my parents� house with the fucking marquee already set up. And paid
for. I�m Auror for fuck�s sake, not a millionaire.�

�Is it not traditional that the bride�s family pay for the
wedding?� Severus asked, folding his arms over his chest.

�Hermione didn�t want that. She wanted us to pay for it
ourselves. And because I had just received my promotion to Senior Auror, I
earned more, my bloody chivalrous side kicked in and I shouldered more of the
cost than her.�

�I�ll repeat my earlier sentiment, if you don�t mind, ouch.�

Ron snorted with laughter at that. �Damn right ouch. Not
sure my bank balance will ever recover. At least I had enough to be able to put
down the deposit on the flat I�m renting. I�ll have saved it up again in a few
months��

�You sound like, at least monetarily, you are doing well for
yourself?�

�Yeah. I finally get some fucking money and my love life
goes tits up. Timing, eh?�

�Nothing is ever plain sailing.�

�I don�t know what to do,� Ron admitted sadly. �I� just cannot figure out where I went wrong,
Severus. I did everything I should have done, and more. I mean� if you tell
anyone this I�ll kill you, but I took fucking dance lessons with her for our
first dance which she assured me we�d never have� and then she went all
bride-zilla and voila, there was the sodding first dance she swore on her life
would never happen.�

�You took dance lessons?�

The amusement was plain for Ron to hear and he sighed
wearily. �Yep. Funny, she was rather pissed off when the instructor decided I
was a better dancer than she was. Our attendance tailed off dramatically after
that��

�Ron, I don�t want to� hmm. Let me just say, from a total
outsider�s standpoint, it doesn�t look like you
went wrong at all. Do not blame yourself so harshly.�

�It takes two to tango, as my brother so unhelpfully pointed
out.�

�Which brother?�

�Percy,� Ron glowered. �Reconciled with us just before the
final battle. For a good few years he was alright, Audrey mellowed him� that�s
his wife� but when it ended with Hermione he just seemed to revert back. Like I
was eleven again and I�d done something which embarrassed him.�

�Well, it might take two to tango but it only takes one to
make an incorrect step and the whole floor might come down with them.�

Ron thought on that and licked his dry lips. �Maybe you�re
right.�

�So what will you do now?� Severus asked with a slight yawn,
and Ron wondered what the time was.

�Well, I have the girls back at the flat� sounds sad I know.
But they�re my pets. And then� Christmas tomorrow with my family� Mum�ll throw
me sad looks and burst into tears after a few glasses of the cooking sherry and
tell me she�s sorry it all went wrong. George�ll be moping around like he
always does at Christmas and we�ll probably find him trying to do himself in
again. Dad will try and keep everyone placated, safe and happy and get annoyed
when nobody wants to co-operate� really I think I�d just like to crawl into the
nearest snowdrift, freeze over and thaw when the summer comes.�

�Now, that�s a plan,� Severus smiled wanly down at him.

�I might not even go tomorrow,� Ron said softly. �I might
just hide in the flat, block the Floo and sleep.�

�Where do you live? Magical or Muggle?�

�I live in London,
muggle, but connected to the Floo and such. When I lived with Hermione we had a
huge flat in the residential area of Diagon Alley. Great old place it was. Had
its own ghosts and a building cat. I loved that bloody flat.�

�So why did you give it up?�

Ron heaved a sigh, his heart becoming heavier with every
word that he spoke. �Because I just didn�t have the fight. I got my most
important belongings out and told her she could have the rest �I didn�t want
any reminders of her in my new place. And that was true to some extent. Kind of
wish I�d taken something to sit on though. I haven�t really gotten round to
ordering anything but a bed for the new place��

�Ron� you should have fought for your belongings,� Severus
said simply.

�I know. Too late now. Right now just the thought of seeing
her makes me feel sick.�

�Because you still care for her and you want to get back together, or because
you hurt too much?�

Ron realised there was more riding on that question than
Severus wanted to let on, so he considered his answer carefully. �I� don�t want
to get back together. I don�t want to be with someone who got bored of me after
eight years. If she� if she gets three years down the line and realises she
made a mistake, I�m pretty sure I won�t be taking her back.�

�Good for you,� Severus said with conviction.

�What about you?� Ron turned his head to the side to look up
at Severus on the chair, and noticed he had his arms wrapped tightly around
himself �either he was freezing or he was trying to hold something in. And Ron
knew that because I can no longer count without taking my clothes off the
amount of times I've given himself severe arm ache from doing the same thing in
the past three weeks...

�I will stay here,� Severus looked about the pub. �I like
it. Its easy living, my rent is next to nothing because she is my cousin� and I
like the people.�

�So if I were to come back and find you��

�I would ask you to think carefully before you did,� Severus
spoke in a continual sigh.

Ron grunted his assent and looked back up into the tree.
�Are you sure I can�t tempt you down here, Severus? If you�ve never done it
before, how do you know you wouldn�t like it?�

He thought there would be an automatic refusal, but in
reality there was a pause, then a groan, the feet disappeared from his stomach
and then Severus was kneeling by his side, turning onto his back and edging
under the tree.

�What am I looking at?� he asked disdainfully.

Ron smiled into the branches and reached down to lace his
fingers through Severus. �You�re just looking.�

�At what, though?�

�Shut up,� Ron breathed, and his chest was filled with warmth and he knew why
his tradition hadn�t felt quite right until that moment �it was a tradition
clearly meant to be shared.

�I hope whoever chopped this down checked for squirrels,�
Severus muttered.

�Shut up!� Ron protested with a laugh.

�Yes sir.�

�Oh, I like that.�

Severus� dark chuckle made Ron beam up into the branches.

�I think I might quit my job,� Ron blurted suddenly, not
knowing why.

�Is this because of the clumsiness with the tree? I�ll burn
it on the blasted fire if you say yes.�

�It�s not because of the tree,� Ron assured him with a grin.

�Then what? You�re a Senior Auror, and in my day that came
with a whopping great salary. Why would you want to quit?�

�It ties me to the war,� Ron breathed. �It�s the only thing
now. Hermione�s gone.�

�Oh, Ron, you don�t have to leave your job because of her.�

�No� I�m� it�s not necessarily because of her. I just wonder
if it was what I really wanted. Of course I liked the fame. And I love my chocolate frog card.�

�You have your own chocolate frog card?� Severus asked with
a smirk.

�So do you,� Ron whispered and gave his hand a squeeze.

�Well, now I know I�ve made it,� Severus gave him an eye
roll he could not see.

�You also have an Order of Merlin.�

�I don�t want to know,� Severus said firmly.

�It�s sitting on Harry�s mantelpiece.�

�Ron, just listen. I don�t want to know. I am not planning
on rejoining the magical community and I will live a muggle life. They will not
care if I have an Order of Merlin or not and neither do I.�

�Aren�t you even just a little bit curious about the things
I could tell you?�

�Of course I am curious,� Severus frowned. �But I can retain
my curiosity.�

�Funny, you seem to be asking me an awful lot of questions��

�You�re different.�

�How?�

�You�re maddening, that�s how,� Severus muttered out of the
corner of his mouth and Ron snorted.

�Like that�s the first time I�ve heard that. I�m me,
remember.�

�Yes� you are you. Somewhat changed from the boy I did
remember.�

�Do you like the tree yet?� Ron changed the subject.

�Not particularly.�

Ron heaved a sigh. �Beauty is wasted upon you, clearly.�

�If you are fishing for a compliment about your own
attractiveness, you�ll come up wanting.�

�You seemed pretty forthcoming with them upstairs,� Ron
needled, nudging his elbow through the thick jumper to Severus� ribs.

�Well, what one says in the heat of the moment is often different to what they
would normally say out of it.�

�Oh, so, I�m not delicious, I�m not a gem and I�m not
sensual?� Ron couldn�t believe that he was actually hurt.

�I did not mean it that way.�

Silence fell between them as Ron looked resolutely away.

Should have known all
that was too fucking good to be true.

�Weasley, are you moping?�

�No,� Ron spat defiantly.

�Good. Because if you were I wouldn�t tell you that I
actually did mean all of those things.�

�Thank you. You should know that I would have repaid the
compliments if you had given my mouth just a few seconds of rest.�

�You need not bother doing so now,� Severus shrugged
slightly. �Everything I could have been flattered with was shown in your bodily
reactions anyway.�

�I wouldn�t even flatter you if I said that you made me feel
more alive than I have in years?�

�Would it flatter you to hear you did the same for me?�

�S�pose,� Ron grinned upwards.

�Well then. We�re both flattered, it would seem.�

�And they say flattery gets you everywhere,� Ron mused.

�Where do you want it to get you?� Severus asked softly.

�In your bed,� Ron whispered back cheekily, eyes tightly
shut with brazen shame.

�Oh,� Severus whispered in reply, even more quietly.

***

Severus awoke to the sound of boots on the floorboards of
his bedroom and cracked open his eyes immediately, before he remembered whom he
had fallen asleep next to. But there was nobody in his room when he looked
around, and the bed next to him was still warm but empty. It was light outside
the window. It was then that he noticed there was a tray on his bedside table,
with a mug, a plate, and a folded note.

Groaning slightly, his thick jumper twisted round his
middle, he reached out for the note, and read with bleary eyes:

�Severus,

Flattery got me into
your bed for the best night of my life, it seems. You�ll think I�m
exaggerating. But you should just know it�s been a long time since I managed to
do that four times in one night.

Meeting you again has
given me so much to think about, to re-evaluate my life with. I have never been
more shocked than when I saw your face behind that bar but I can�t help but
feel there was a reason for everything that occurred last night �for the simple
fact that for some reason it felt more like home than I have known in a while.

However, this is your
new life. You are the one who made the decisions I could not straight after the
battle �you cut off from everybody and I am envious of the peace you have, even
if it is lonely.

You are right. I am
not healed from Hermione, and I won�t be for a long time. I cannot expect you
to heal me, and I don�t. Nor do I expect you to be fine with being a rebound
relationship, which is undoubtedly how you�d see it. I come with more baggage
than I ever thought simple old me could carry. I am sorry if you feel there was
any element of exploitation last night.

I don�t know what the
point of me writing this is. I needed to leave to get ready for the day ahead,
but I haven�t had an ounce of sleep. When you slept I was too fascinated
watching you. I think I was afraid if I fell asleep that I would wake up and
find it had all been a dream. Why was I afraid of that? Because you saved me
from my first hideous Christmas alone. I hope I have helped you too.

I�ve written my
address on the bottom of the letter. As you are living a muggle life, I expect
you know how to work stamps and the Post Office (and the trolls that seem to
work there). If you want to see me again, please write to me �or if you cannot
wait, send me a Patronus before one when I leave for my parents�, as I will be
alone then. I won�t come back without your word. And I will file a report
saying the bursts of magic were from a malfunctioning sensor and you will be
safe, undiscovered and I- oh so dramatically- will carry your secret to the
grave.

Thank you, Severus.

With more affection
than I thought I�d ever muster for you,

Ron

P.S: Take that the
right way.

P.P.S: Christmas Tree
is still upright �I count it as a personal victory.

P.P.P.S: If you look
on the tray, I hope you�ll find some comfort there.�

Severus blinked and sat up properly, looking over at the
tray. Next to the mug of steaming tea was a plate full of milk chocolate
digestive biscuits.

He swallowed, and looked at the address on the bottom of the
letter.

----

A/N: Hope you enjoyed reading
this as much as I enjoyed writing it �really adored this pair all over again in
their different situation. I intended this to be a oneshot about a single night
of passion, but as I was writing I sort of fell in love with the ideas and
challenges this could throw up. So. I�m leaving it to you lot �should Severus
respond to Ron�s note? Let me know. ;-) x
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Seraphim Beneath The Christmas Tree