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Vices	By : BurningNebula Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 8682 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any related characters. I do not make any money from the writing of this story

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A/N: I suppose I should've put a warning on the summary about all the drugs in this story, but really the story is not about drugs on the whole. Also, be warned that Harry is not so nice and innocent in this. Thanks to the two people who've reviewed (I can only assume the rest of you are just lazy). Please do review or continue to do so, as like I said, this is my first one in a lot of years and I'd like it to be a learning experience.

  Severus was honestly surprised how much he enjoyed dinner with Harry and Luna. The detox potion they’d given him after his blackout was working like a miracle, and he was shocked at how much his appetite had returned after not having eaten much in the last three days and throwing up bile twice before dinner. Also surprising to him was how incredibly intrigued he was by Harry and Luna’s dinner table discussion. He’d known the Ravenclaw was intelligent in an odd sort of way, but seeing Harry discuss complicated potions topics, politics, and fine art, was impressive to say the least. It seemed the boy had grown up a bit in the several years since Severus had seen him.
                Every so often, however, Snape noticed his polished and eloquent intellectual speech would be punctuated by dark and downright disturbing mentions of his life as a drug dealer. He relayed to Luna a story of three days prior, when he had had to cast an Immobulus on a customer who was too far past due and proceed to pummel his face bloody and raw with the handle of his machete. More shocking to Severus was the business-like attitude with which Harry told the story, though Luna looked fairly unsettled.
                “...Of course, wiping his memory of my presence afterwards,” Harry concluded. “The only thing DMLE is going to know is that he ran afoul of someone to whom he owed money.”
                “I do wish you’d stop fronting to them, Harry,” Luna said sadly. “I really believe it only makes this sort of thing happen more frequently.”
                “I’m honestly not bothered,” Harry said shrugging. “He bought to sell to a younger Muggle demographic, often cutting the product with dangerous household medicine. I might have supplied him in the first place, but he was scum and I’ve probably done the world a service.” Snape cleared his throat causing them to both heed him attention.
                “I’m surprised you do your own dirty work, Potter,” Severus said in an inquiring tone. “I never would have thought you had that kind of violence in you. Bit of a high profile to be going around bloodying folk up, too, don’t you think?” Harry’s brow drew together as though thinking of how best to answer.
                “Did you know?” Harry asked.
                “Know what?”
                “Know it was me,” Harry explained. “When you came to me.”
                “No, I admit I didn’t,” Snape said after a moment.
                “Then there’s no reason to make someone else go around harming people,” Harry stated. “So far you’re the only one besides Luna who has ever known, and I intend to keep it that way. Not even Mundungus knows. I know I can handle the somewhat traumatizing experience of bringing a heel down on errant customers, there’s no need to make someone else do it for me.”
                “So you’re telling me you do it to spare someone else the job?” Snape asked sarcastically. “I was wrong it seems; Gryffindors really are ever virtuous.”
                “Perhaps,” Harry muttered, looking distant. Snape more than a little puzzled at this reaction.
                There was a lull in the conversation, before Luna piped up and asked if anyone would like coffee. After Harry and Severus accepted, she rose to begin wandering around the kitchen to make it.
                “So, how have you occupied yourself since the war?” Harry asked, the question sounding like small-talk, but Severus could see the genuine curiosity in Harry’s eyes. Snape sighed.
                “I do various odd jobs from time to time. When I, er… am feeling well, I do some private research,” Snape said uncomfortably, Harry seeming to correctly interpret that statement how Severus really meant it: he did private research when he wasn’t off numbing his brain. “Overall, it’s been a fairly quiet existence since I left Hogwarts.” He stared at his hands twisting on the table.
                “What sort of research?” Harry asked. “Only, I’ve been working on some things of my own, and I would really value your insight on some projects. If you’ve got the time, that is.” He added as an afterthought, though Snape thought it sounded as though Harry knew damned well that he had more time than he knew what to do with.
                “Just continuing development on some of my older creations,” Snape said with a small, bitter chuckle, “Nothing terribly stimulating, to be honest. I haven’t been finding all that much inspiration of late.” Harry nodded knowingly.
                “I’ve been working on a variation to the Wolfsbane, which also takes away the pain of the transformation,” Harry informed him, with a sad smile. “I wanted to dedicate it to Remus’ memory if I can just get it right. I think I’ve hit something brilliant with the use of Poppies, with numerous uses in Potions that I’ve found over the course of drug manufacture.” Snape thought altering the Wolfsbane was awfully ambitious, but he thought it was a worthy cause if nothing else. It was a hideously complex potion, but he had an extensive knowledge of it, and despite himself he was achingly curious to see Harry’s progress on the variant so far.
                “Poppies? I have to admit, that is very intriguing,” Snape muttered as the gears turned furiously in his head. Harry smiled brightly.
                “So you’d like to help then?” He asked excitedly. “That’s great! I feel like maybe I just need an extra perspective on this, I’ve come to quite the brick wall in my progress. When could you come ‘round to work with me?” Snape stared at Harry pointedly, quite clearly telling him that he was not, nor planned to have much on his schedule anytime in the near future.
                “Right,” Harry muttered, recovering quickly, “Well I’m out of town for the next two days, so how about Friday?” Snape looked confused for only a moment as he realized he had no idea was day it was, before nodding consent.
                Luna came to the table with three cups of black coffee and a bowl of sugar. The topic of conversation turned to other things, mainly the new Wizarding library two blocks down from St. Mungo’s, but Snape kept noticing Harry staring at him not-so-surreptitiously. Finally he looked up and met Harry’s jade-coloured gaze, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to discern what it was he saw in Harry’s stare. After a moment he noticed that the table had gone quiet, and looked over to see Luna looking back and forth between them with raised eyebrows. Harry also looked over to Luna who cleared her throat very quietly, and stood up from the table.
                “I’m just going to go work in my room,” She said with a dreamy smile. “Good night Harry, Severus.”
                They bade her goodnight, and finished their coffee over a light conversation about their plans for Friday. Harry had some truly inspired ideas, Severus had to admit. How he had ever missed this sort of innate talent when Harry was at Hogwarts baffled him, and he felt more and more ashamed of his treatment of Harry over the years.
                At a pause in conversation, Harry let loose a jaw-cracking yawn, and Severus was alarmed to realize they must have been sitting talking in the cosy kitchen for hours. He rose from the table and Harry looked up at him expectantly.
                “It’s late. I have to thank you for your hospitality… and your help,” Snape said softly, and Harry just smiled and shook his head.
                “Don’t mention it,” Harry said. “Really.”
                Snape gave him a look that spoke volumes of his gratitude and after an awkward moment of making his mind up, extended his hand to Harry. Harry made a crooked smile and grasped Severus’ hand. They stood like that a moment, before Harry ushered him to the front door.
                As Snape stepped out onto the steps up to the street, he turned back for a last look at Harry, who was standing in the doorway, watching his ascent.
                “See you on Friday,” Harry said, still smiling as he closed the door behind him.
***
                Harry cursed under his breath as he burned his hand slightly on the hot cauldron. Severus had known Harry could be clumsy, but it seemed ill-suited and out of place with this new, suave man of the underworld Harry had become. Harry sighed and rubbed his face with his other hand as he shook the one with the burn.
                “Rough trip?” Severus asked. His last two days had been spent reading all of the literature he owned regarding the Poppy plant and painkiller potions as well as anything he could find on the Wolfsbane. Admittedly, information on the latter was difficult to find, and Severus was forced to use his own knowledge on the subject to come up with some theories worth testing.
                “No, just tiring,” Harry sighed. “I took little Teddy with me on an ingredient gathering trip after making some deliveries on Wednesday, and it was exhausting trying to get any work done while entertaining a six-year-old at the same time.” Severus had totally forgotten Harry had a godson, and recalled the son of Remus and Tonks with a twinge of pain in his gut. He resented Voldemort and the wars he caused for rending families apart.
                “Anyway, he’s turning into quite the helper when it comes to Potions,” Harry said with a small smile. “Not like I’ll ever bring him here.”
                They’d been at work for a few hours, falling into a fairly comfortable dialogue as they discussed various aspects of their lives. Surprisingly, Snape found that they didn’t require much verbal communication in their work, as they were quite a functional and natural team when it came to working in a lab.
“Anyway, how are you feeling?” Harry asked, as he wrote some notes into a leather diary as he added some ground geode to the cauldron.
                Severus hadn’t thought about it in some time, but now that he purposefully took stock of his condition, he realized he really did feel entirely better. In fact, he hadn’t felt this well since before he had started using heroin in a vain attempt to numb himself, or perhaps, more accurately, a subconscious attempt to destroy himself.
                “Actually, yes,” Snape said with no small amount of surprise evident in his voice. “Loathe as I am to admit it Potter, that detox potion is truly remarkable.” Snape perched on the edge of the same armchair he’d occupied the night before.
                “Thanks! No need to sound so shocked though,” Harry joked, his face alight with pride. “I’m glad though, I’ve put a lot of time into ensuring a lasting effect with that particular remedy.”
                “Well, seriously, though I don’t brew them often, that was a more potent and efficient detoxification remedy than I’ve ever brewed. You could make a fortune. Why do you keep it to yourself for use on drug addicts?” Snape wasn’t sure, but he thought Harry looked a little sad, as his motions paused in the process of stirring the potion.
                “Firstly, because it could save their lives,” Harry said quietly. “Also, because it’s only meant for most Muggle drugs and the lesser magical poisons. I suppose I could make lots of money, but I’m rather tired of being in the spotlight.” Harry sighed and turned to look at Snape. “Anonymity being so fashionable in the seedy underworld of Wizarding London, and all.”
                Severus didn’t quite know what to say. He supposed it was very virtuous of Potter to be concerned for the poor junkies, but more than that he could definitely understand not enjoying the spotlight. In the year or so after the war, the Ministry and press were naught but intrigued by Severus Snape, murderer of Dumbledore, spy against Voldemort, and general misanthrope. During the drawn-out and painstaking trial, Severus swore he had never had so many people privy to his complex web of activities and secrets. His every movement was catalogued by Aurors, and what the Aurors missed, the Prophet didn’t. Then, to add insult to injury, when it was all over and his name was cleared, they forgot him. Arthur and Molly Weasley sometimes still sent him correspondence or visited, and would bring news about politics and Hogwarts, but for the most part Severus Snape was just a distant memory to the general population. It was this line of thought that brought his next question into voice.
                “How did you manage it so easily? Falling out of the public eye?” Snape asked carefully, hoping Harry heard the unasked question.
                “Hmm. I suppose it was fairly easy. They like to move on to the next big thing don’t they?” Harry said with a shrug. “Really all I had to do was make myself scarce and wear that thing over my face. Even when I didn’t I would sometimes use a glamour or my Invisibility cloak. When all you were was a symbol, all you have to do is remove yourself from sight long enough to make people forget you. I suppose I always knew that.” Severus leaned back in his chair and thought about his own fall into anonymity.
                “Cheers, then, to being faceless, for sometimes teaching us who we really are.” Harry said with a glance at Severus, who met his eyes briefly before they shared a smile and a moment of camaraderie.
***

                They spent a few more hours in the workroom, welcoming the first waiting period of this particular potion component with a mug of tea and admiring some of Luna’s art as she worked on a painting in the kitchen. She had begun slowly, just a line here or a paint stroke there, her work becoming more intensive as she went. Harry explained to Snape that Luna was a tattoo artist, and was researching ancient magics involving tattooing. Severus had seen enchanted tattoos before, that changed colour or were mildly animated, or worse, cursed tattoos like the Dark Mark that still left a faint blemish on his left arm. However, Harry informed him that what Luna was studying was something far more beneficial and spiritual. She was creating spells and inks and various tattooing techniques that provided people with cures for ailments and abilities specific to the person. She’d allegedly given a barren woman a tattoo that gave her the ability to bear children, and tattooed a man who could see spirits, allowing him to communicate with them and bringing both parties peace.
                Severus was fascinated to say the least as Harry regaled him with tales of Luna’s mystical discoveries. He had never even thought of such a thing, but Luna was quick to inform him that it had been a little known folk magic more ancient than the use of wands. She told him it was a deeply spiritual and meditative process, and that she used very careful judgment as to who she tattooed. Severus hadn’t previously taken note, but now realized that Luna was entirely clothed except for her hands and head, and wondered to himself if she considered her tattoos to be a very private matter, or even if she had any at all.
                After their tea, Harry led Snape into his bedroom across from Luna’s to show him some of his research into other ideas for cures and various potions. Harry removed his armour-like leather jacket and threw it to his bed, revealing a form-fitting black long-sleeved shirt. Snape gazed around the room in awe, taking in the walls covered in bookshelves, the only other furniture in the room the bed, a dresser with a mirror atop it, and a desk crammed in between two shelves. Like Luna’s room, there was a bathroom in the corner, but the room lacked a little stove. Dried plants and flowers hung from various spots on the ceiling, and the desk was piled high with parchments and bottles of pickled things. Snape was surprised to be reminded of the study in his own apartment.
                In his inspection of his surroundings, he failed to notice how close he stood to Harry who was leaning over his desk shuffling through the parchments. Finding what he sought, Harry spun around only to stumble backwards at Snape’s close proximity, clutching his papers to his chest. Harry looked in wide-eyed surprise at Snape, who without conscious thought, had caught Harry around the waist to keep him from falling and was holding their bodies rather close together. Severus’ face felt hot, and he prayed he wasn’t blushing, though he was sure he was. Clearing his throat, he released Harry and stepped backwards. Harry swallowed visibly, looking not just a little flustered. Ruffling one hand through his hair, Harry turned to the bed and spread out the papers he held, beginning to explain to Severus what they were looking at, but Severus mind was elsewhere.
                He was sincerely bewildered at the reaction the small contact he had with the young man before him had elicited in him. He felt his pulse beating a little faster as he tried to inconspicuously examine Harry, who stood next to him with a hand still in his hair, and Severus felt an urge to reach up and touch it as well. He inwardly growled in frustration at himself for being irrationally distracted by Harry, and forced himself to listen.
                Harry was explaining the need to create a stabilizing component for the potion before adding the compound that would lessen the pain of the victim, because a characteristic of Grindylow fins deteriorated the essential structure of the second compound. Severus made it through several minutes before his mind wandered, as well as his eyes, and he once again had to force himself to stop staring at the various features of Harry’s face.
                “Excuse me, do you mind if I use the facilities?” Snape said abruptly, interrupting Harry mid-sentence. Harry looked up, startled, before nodding to the door in the corner before and informing Severus that he was going to make a pot of tea in the meantime. Severus thanked him and went to the bathroom, which was small, but quite bright and comfortable.
                Closing the door behind himself, Snape walked to the porcelain sink and leaned against it, rinsing his face with some water from the tap. He looked into the mirror, and into his own baffled ebony gaze.
                “Really, Severus,” He whispered to himself. “What the hell?”
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