Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Marriage of Convenience	By : NinaSweets Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 158860 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 44
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters and places all belong to JK Rowling this is a not for profit story.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
I feel like I don’t get to interact with you all properly. I want to be able to thank you all for your reviews and reply to you all but I can’t so for now I’ll thank those who reviewed the last chapter, thanks to Staar, Snape_Lust and Cullengal101 for reviewing and of course everyone who reviewed before this too! There’s so many I can’t name you all but I’ll try to from now on so that way you know I’ve read your reviews and I appreciate every one of them, they help me update faster, it’s true see, two chapters in a week, whoa!

Chapter Twenty-One
It was two days before the final task when Harry finally worked up the courage to ask Snape on a date. Hermione had been very encouraging,
“This is what you should have done at the start,” she said
“I think that dating your teacher is just as frowned upon as marrying them. One of them is just harder to break apart that’s all.”
“It’s just sensible to get to know someone before you marry them,” Hermione said.
Ron was less supportive but one stern look from Hermione had his mouth snapping shut.
They were all grouped outside the potions classroom waiting for class to begin. Harry was nervous and trying to hide it which made it more obvious. Ron had to elbow him sharply in the ribs to get him to snap out of his day dream and realise class was starting. The trio took their seats in their usual place way up the back but potions were the last thing on any of their minds.
Ron was glancing between Harry and Snape trying to work out what Harry saw in the man. He knew why Snape would like Harry though; the boy was great. At first Harry’s many winning qualities had made him a little jealous. Well a lot jealous really. Now though he learned to appreciate the boy’s kind nature and warm heart. He was strong and brave but also very vulnerable. Ron supposed this was how his older brother saw him, as someone to protect and defend and Ron was more than happy to do it for the sweet boy who had happily become his friend on the Hogwarts express all those years ago. The boy who had known him for less than a day but stepped up to defend him from Draco Malfoy and being so humble about almost everything it hurt Ron to see it. He didn’t like to see him hurt and it made it harder when he knew what the cause was and couldn’t fix it. He was happy that Harry would try to make it work with Snape because he’d never seen him as happy as he was when he was with the snarky git. He just wished it was all different. That You-Know-Who wasn’t lurking around ready to mess it all up and Snape and Harry were two ordinary people who had met at a pub and fallen in love. He wished Harry were older and Snape were younger but he knew exactly what his mum would say about that, love doesn’t care about any of that, love doesn’t care if you’re ready or not, love just happens and you have to let it or you miss out on something amazing.
Hermione was worried. She knew this would all end terribly. She couldn’t help but see the big picture and You-Know-Who was such a big part of both Snape and Harry’s lives. From what she’d been told she knew Harry and Snape hadn’t really talked about it but they just had to. It wouldn’t help anyone to carry on living in fantasy. Harry asking Snape to go on a date was a good start, it would get them talking. Then the more they talked and got to know one another they could discuss this and make a good choice about what to do. Surely Voldemort would be asking Snape very soon for Harry’s head on a platter, what would Snape do in such a situation? Did he care enough about Harry to throw away all these carefully laid plans of spies and secrets to protect him? Hermione shook her head. She wasn’t used to unanswerable questions. There was always an answer somewhere; she just hadn’t checked enough books, done enough research. This unfortunately wasn’t one of those times and she hated feeling so unsure.
Harry was nervous. It seemed all too soon the class was clearing out and he was glued to his seat. Ron slapped him on the back as he passed prompting Harry into action.
The door slammed shut behind Pansy Parkinson and Harry and Snape were left alone. Snape obviously didn’t realise Harry was still there because as soon as the door shut he let his head fall forward onto the desk with a quiet groan and he didn’t like to take his eyes off people. Especially people who were as accident prone as Harry.
“Professor,” Harry said softly.
Snape’s head shot up and he glared.
“Potter,” he greeted, “Get out!”
“I have a question,” Harry said
“Well you should have asked it in class,”
“It’s not about potions,”
“Then I’m of no obligation to answer,” Snape said silkily and Harry sighed but didn’t back down.
“What are you doing tonight?” Harry asked
“What I do every night which is none of your business,” Snape replied beginning to pack up his desk.
“I thought we could have dinner,” Harry said quickly.
“I do intend to eat, yes, I didn’t realise you wanted me to be so specific in my plans for the evening.”
“I meant we could have dinner, alone,” Harry clarified.
“Alone? No, I intend to eat in the Great Hall as I have every day of every month of every-”
“I meant like a date!” Harry interrupted.
“A date?” Snape repeated and Harry nodded.
“Ask me properly,” Snape demanded and Harry stared at him.
“I don’t – I don’t know what you mean,”
“You are asking me on a date correct? Ask me properly,” Snape smirked.
“Oh, er, Professor Snape would-”
“I’m not dating a student, thank you for playing though,” Snape said and continued to pack away his things collecting his copy of the text book and book of notes on the text into a neat pile.
“Ugh, Severus!” Harry rushed out quickly and Snape stopped, looking at him and waiting patiently.
“Severus,” Harry said again, “would you like to go on a date with me tonight?”
“Where are we going though? Whatever will I wear?”
“Well I assume you’re going to wear the same thing you always wear which is your teaching robes and it’s just dinner in the kitchens,”
“The kitchens? You want me to eat in the kitchens?”
“I’m pretty limited in my choices, this is a boarding school after all and I’m not exactly allowed to leave the grounds,”
“You do so anyway why does dinner with me make a difference?”
“Because sneaking out with the one person who is sure to turn you in just isn’t very smart,”
“You just have an answer for everything don’t you?”
“Not to my question about our date yet,”
“What happened to being unable to love someone so full of hate?”
“I just thought that before I make any such decisions I should get to know you, see if I can find anything else in you that I find worth loving,”
“How generous of you, well I wouldn’t want you to waste your-”
“Had I realised a simple yes or no would be so difficult for you I wouldn’t have bothered asking at all,” Harry interrupted. Snape glared at him and remained silent for several moments.
“Yes,” he said finally and Harry smiled.
“Great, I’ll meet you at seven outside the portrait of the fruit bowl,” Harry said cheerfully. He gathered up his things and hurried from the room before Snape could get angry.
Harry seemed to just glide through the rest of the day. He had Defence Against the Dark Arts as his last class of the day and by then he was practically bouncing in excitement. Professor Dumbledore had split the class between himself and Professor Snape after Lupins absence and today was a Dumbledore lesson. This was probably the most disrupted year the students had ever had and Dumbledore reassured them the grading would be easier because of the circumstances. He hadn’t told that to Snape though who slashed through their essays as viciously as he would a potions one.
Dumbledore was leaning against the desk before them as they all filed into the room. He smiled brightly at them and once everyone was seated began handing back their homework. There were sweets attached to those who had earned an Outstanding, which was nearly the entire class.
“I thought we should try putting theory into practise. You have been studying curses and jinxes so we shall have a duel,” Dumbledore said.
“Sir,” Draco Malfoy said with a raised hand, “We learned a lot of curses and jinxes this year. Are we permitted to use any?”
“Of course,” Dumbledore said walking around behind his desk. “Keep in mind though that use of the Unforgivable curses the imposter Professor Moody taught you will earn you a life sentence in Azkaban,”
Malfoy slumped in his seat a little looking like he was sucking on a lemon.
“Now, everyone pair up,” Dumbledore instructed.
Harry turned and found Ron and Hermione had already paired up. He frowned at Ron who shrugged sheepishly.
“Sorry, it’s just you’re a really good duellist and I wanted to have a chance of winning,” Ron said and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
Harry sighed and turned to find all the other Gryffindors had paired off too and even the Slytherin’s had. He frowned there was an uneven number in the class because Dean Thomas had gotten accidentally knocked unconscious in Charms earlier in the day. Neville and Seamus Finnegan were partners and Pavarti Patil and Lavender Brown hadn’t even had to look at one another to be partners.
“Not to worry Mr Potter you may duel with me,” Dumbledore said.
The whole class went wide eyed. Duel with Albus Dumbledore, defeater of the dark wizard Grindelwald? This was a show not to be missed.
“Er...” Harry said before standing up and giving a firm nod, “All right,”
“Excellent,” Dumbledore said.
The class stood up in their pairs and Dumbledore made all the desks vanish with a blink-and-you-miss-it wave of his wand.
Harry blinked, wide eyed before squaring his shoulders and heading forward to where Dumbledore stood waiting, smiling at him.
“Now, I don’t know how many of you remember our very short lived duelling club but there are a few rules one most follow in a formal duel. First you must bow to one another and then you may fire. Now unless explicitly specified one must never shoot to kill so to speak. Once your opponent is down they are given five seconds to get back up or they forfeit the duel and you have won. If you disarm them you have won and in the event your opponent surrenders you will also win and you bow to them and respect their smart decision to leave with their dignity intact,” Dumbledore said, “Simple enough, you may begin whenever you’re ready to.”
Harry stepped up to where the teacher’s desk had been and stood several paces away from Dumbledore.
Dumbledore smiled and bowed to him, low and deep but he didn’t take his eyes away. Harry was reminded horribly of that night with Voldemort in the graveyard and took a shaky breath before bowing to Dumbledore. It was as he bowed he realised the quiet in the room. The class hadn’t started to duel. They all stared transfixed at the two.
Harry straightened up as Dumbledore did and they simply watched each other.
“Furnunculus!” Harry said a jet of pink shot toward Dumbledore and he swatted it aside as if it was a fly.
Dumbledore it seemed wasn’t going to be firing any spells.
“Diffindo,” Harry said. Again Dumbledore blocked the shield quickly and silently. Harry stared at him and raised his eyebrows.
“I am only fourteen; I think it would be fair if you didn’t use spells I don’t know,”
“Anyone can pick up an advanced text book Harry, how am I to know what spells you know and those you don’t?” Dumbledore replied
“Well I definitely don’t know the waving thing you’re doing,”
“I shall no longer block your spells then,” Dumbledore conceded.
“Densaugeo!” Harry said, Dumbledore’s silently cast spell collided with Harry’s in midair.
“Titillando!” Dumbledore dissipated the spell with another spell and Harry sighed slumping forward.
A flash of green was heading toward him and Harry wasn’t in the classroom anymore. Voldemort was smirking at him his face tinged green.
“Expelliarmus!” Harry shouted.
It was the gasps of his classmates that he was aware of what was happening. Dumbledore stood opposite him, smiling a little his eyes twinkling brightly and the man’s wand was flying at Harry’s face. Harry gave a startled yelp and caught the wand clumsily.
Dumbledore bowed to Harry to signal the end of the duel and Harry quickly bowed back.
“Now you try,” Dumbledore told the class with a small chuckle of amusement, well aware they hadn’t been duelling as instructed.
Dumbledore stood before Harry and Harry immediately held out the man’s wand. It felt odd in his hand, heavier than his own wand of holly and phoenix feather but it also seemed to pulse in his hand, feeling oddly right.
“Many years ago disarming ones opponent would mean the wand belongs to them,” Dumbledore said softly and Harry stared at him.
“Well good thing those days are gone,” Harry said again offering the man’s wand back to him. Dumbledore still didn’t take it just staring down at the wand causing Harry’s attention to drop down as well.
“The wood is very light,” Harry commented, “Ollivander doesn’t make wands out of this type of wood,”
“No, Ollivander did not make this wand. He did make my first wand though,” Dumbledore said and Harry again tried to get the man to take his wand back by holding it closer.
Harry stared at the man, his blue eyes had dimmed slightly and he simply watched Harry watch him.
“What happened?” Harry asked after a few moments.
“I won this wand in my battle with Grindelwald,” Dumbledore replied.
“This is Grindelwald’s wand?” Harry asked excitedly and Dumbledore smiled at his enthusiasm. “I just mean, it’s kind of cool to be holding a piece of history,”
“You carry a piece of history with you always,” Dumbledore said looking at Harry’s forehead and Harry shrugged.
“I guess I see it more of a reminder of murder,” Harry muttered.
“I think I can understand that,” Dumbledore said, finally taking the wand from Harry and Harry stared down at it. The wand had seen its fair share of death too.
“I hear you have a date with Severus this evening,” Dumbledore said brightly and Harry blushed staring at him.
“I – I – just thought we kind of skipped the – er, getting to know each other part. I didn’t want to throw it all away before really trying, if that makes any sense,”
“It makes perfect sense Harry,”
“You’re not going to fire him are you?” Harry asked suddenly and Dumbledore chuckled shaking his head.
“No, Professor Snape is welcome to teach here for as long as I am Headmaster,” Dumbledore said and Harry smiled.
“Er, thank you, for not making this more difficult for us,”
“Having no children of my own I think of every student who passes through these halls as one of my own. Severus in particular brings out my more protective instincts and after his many years here we have become very close, as much as he is capable of. In saying that I know how difficult Severus is to love and I have a soft spot for any brave soul willing to try.”
“I must return to your classmates, Mr Goyle’s wand movements are very far off what they should be I fear he may accidentally decapitate young Mr Malfoy, you may get a head start on your homework if you’d like,” Dumbledore said before gliding over to where Malfoy and Gregory Goyle were duelling with one another.
Harry watched Ron and Hermione duel for a little while, smirking inside as Hermione continually disarmed him again and again until the last time Ron managed to disarm her and then gloated as if all the other duels had never happened. Hermione just offered Harry a small knowing smile as they made their way up to Gryffindor tower to drop off their book bags after class.
Harry took off his outer robes staying in his jumper, shirt and pants trying to look the least student-y he could for his date.
Harry headed back down stairs with Ron and Hermione but instead of heading to the right with the entrance hall he headed to the left down stairs there and into the corridor beyond.
The walls were lined with portraits on one side and barrels on the other. Harry knew the Hufflepuff common room was somewhere around here having seen Cedric head down this way a few times and from his many exits of the Great Hall seeing straggling Hufflepuff’s hurrying off to breakfast or dinner.
Harry had made sure he was early, leaving at half past six to get to the kitchens at quarter to seven. He still wasn’t early enough because Snape was already waiting for him.
Harry walked up to him and smiled, “Hello,” he greeted.
“Hello,” Snape replied slightly mocking him but Harry chose to ignore it.
“As we’re both here shall we head in?”
“Do you know how?” Snape asked smugly.
“Please, I’m best friends with Fred and George Weasley’s brother, of course I know,” Harry said. He turned to the portrait of a bowl of fruit and tickled the pear; it let out a giggle before turning into a doorknob. Harry pulled the door open and gestured Snape forward with an exaggerated wave of his arm.
Snape stepped through the portrait hole and Harry followed quickly after him. The kitchens were almost an exact replica of the Great Hall above it. There were four long tables set up like the house tables above and then the teachers table beyond that. All around the walls there were numerous stoves, sinks and prep benches were hundreds of house elves were working away preparing on the three desserts to be served that evening. There were more house elves running between the tables and the stoves clearing away empty places and Harry knew the plates above were disappearing as the elves removed them.
“Mr Harry Potter sir!” Harry smiled down at the voice that greeted them. A small house elf with large floppy ears was hopping up and down excitedly before them wearing a misshapen jumper on it and several knitted hats on its head.
“Hello Dobby,” Harry said and Dobby the house elf beamed at him.
“Flimmy and Dobby has been working specially for dinner,” Dobby told him and led him over to a corner of the large hall near a giant fireplace were cauldrons of soup were being taken away to be cleaned. There was a small table with a chequered table cloth on it, two plates and a single candle in the middle. Harry had to stifle a laugh; it was so horribly clichéd he didn’t want Snape to storm out. He chanced a glance at the man and saw that glare firmly etched in place. He was extremely unhappy but wasn’t storming out so Harry took it as a good sign.
Harry led the way over to the table and sat down, Snape practically throwing himself into the chair opposite in displeasure.
“What are we eating tonight Dobby?” Harry asked and Dobby beamed,
“Sheppard’s pie, spaghetti Bolognese or fish and chips,” Dobby said and Harry looked to Snape who was still frowning.
“Spaghetti,” he ordered,
“Same for me,” Harry said
“Some wine as well,” Snape ordered and then glared at Harry, “Water for you,”
“Pumpkin-juice, please Dobby,” Harry said and Dobby was off dragging another elf with him Harry assumed was Flimmy.
They sat in silence, Harry glancing around watching the elves hard at work. Hermione was all for house-elf rights, believing they were being mistreated and brainwashed. Harry didn’t see a single unhappy elf around and was positive they weren’t being brainwashed. He went along with it because when he and Ron had both tried protesting... well they had only protested once and learned their lesson after an hour long screaming lecture from Hermione.
Harry turned back to Snape who was watching the flickering flames in the fireplace. Dobby popped by with their drinks before disappearing again to prepare their meals.
“I think we need to start fresh,” Harry said as Snape picked up his glass of red wine taking a sip.
Harry held out his hand and smiled.
“I’m Harry Potter,” Harry said. Snape stared at the hand for a few moments before he shook it.
“Severus Snape,”
“Severus? What an unusual name,”
“There were several Roman Emperors with the name Severus. They ruled in the Severan dynasty from one ninety-three until two thirty-five AD,” Snape said and Harry raised his eyebrows.
“Really? Wow. Do you like history?” Harry asked
“Some of it,” Snape said and Harry smiled.
“So what do you do for a living?” Harry asked his grin turning cheeky and Snape went along with it.
“I’m a potions master at Hogwarts, how about you, what do you do?”
“Oh, I’m currently studying,” Harry said
“Studying what?”
“A bit of everything, I don’t quite know what I want to do with myself yet,” Harry said. “What made you choose potions?”
“I think they’re very fascinating. Changing something as little as the number of times you stir can create a whole different potion,”
“I didn’t know that,”
“I know,” Snape said smirking.
“What about family?” Harry asked, “Tell me about your parents,”
“They’re dead,” Snape said shortly taking another sip of wine.
“Mine too,” Harry offered
“We have so much in common,” Snape mocked and Harry shook his head.
“What did they do?”
“My mother was a house wife and my father worked in construction,” Snape said, “There wasn’t a lot to construct in my neighbourhood so he was more often than not out of work,”
“Do you mind if I ask how-?”
“Yes!” Snape said shortly and Harry nodded
“What about your parents? What did they do?” Snape asked and Harry squared his shoulders. He knew Snape was just getting defensive by attacking him because Harry had crossed some sort of line.
“I don’t know,” Harry said honestly and Snape sighed.
“Your mother was studying history and your father was interning at some department in the Ministry I didn’t particularly care to find out which,” Snape said and Harry smiled.
“Thank you,” Harry said and Snape just grunted.
“What were your parent’s names?” Harry asked and Snape rolled his eyes in exasperation. Harry simply smiled waiting for the answer.
“Eileen and Tobias,” Snape said quietly.
“How did they meet?”
“How did yours?”
“On a train to Hogwarts, that’s where you teach right? You’d be about their age, did you know them?” Harry said and Snape sighed.
“You’re very good at this Potter,” Snape said and Harry shrugged.
“Its fun, I’m trying to decide if I’d like you half as much based on the start of this date if I didn’t know how good a kisser you were,” Harry said and Snape smirked.
“Considering I’m the only person you’ve kissed I don’t know if I’m very flattered by that,”
“Shall I go kiss some people and compare notes?” Harry asked and Snape glared at him. “Don’t worry, if this goes well your lips will be the only ones I’m kissing,”
“Ever,” Snape muttered into his wine glass and it was Harry’s turn to smirk.
“Possessive?”
“Yes, very. Until those divorce papers are signed you are mine and I won’t have you kissing anyone else,”
“Again, if this all goes well I won’t be signing anything,”
“What will it take for this to go well?”
“I don’t know, talking, connecting, I think we’ve been doing okay so far,”
“You’re not going to talk about my parents again are you because I will get nasty about yours,” Snape warned.
“No, I won’t I promise,” Harry said, “Do you like music?”
“No,” Snape said shortly and Harry raised his eyebrows.
“Why not?” he asked and Snape shrugged. Harry stared at him
“I like Chopin,”
“Huh?”
“He was a Polish composer,”
“Classical music then?” Harry asked
“Some, yes,”
“Well isn’t that a surprise,” Harry said
“Why did you think I would be more into pop?” Snape asked and Harry laughed.
“Definitely not,” Harry said, “You’re not really a pop kind of kind of guy, maybe soft rock or something like that. You also strike me as the kind of guy who secretly likes swing,”
Snape snorted a laugh.
There food arrived, Dobby serving Harry and Flimmy placing Snape’s plate before him. Flimmy refilled his wine glass while Harry politely thanked Dobby.
“What music do you like?” Snape asked when they were alone again.
“Oh my Uncle doesn’t like music played in the house. My Aunt likes pop though she’ll put on some tapes when she’s cleaning, lots of Kylie Minogue and Madonna.”
They settled into silence again so Harry began to eat, trying not to smear the sauce all over his face. How awkward would that be?
Once they had made it about half way through their meals Harry felt they had been silent long enough.
“What are your hobbies?” Harry asked quietly.
“I like to brew potions,”
“Seriously?” Harry asked and Snape raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“You do it all day in class and then go back to your rooms and brew some more?” Harry asked and Snape frowned at him.
“I happen to find it soothing,”
“Well I will have to try potion making your way because to me it’s the most stressful thing in the world,”
“Yes, I do find my nerves are shot when I have a class full of idiots working on what are essentially ticking time bombs,” Snape said with a pointed look and Harry shrugged.
“I maintain my defence of your hand writing is illegible from where I sit,”
“Then sit closer or get magnifying glasses instead of those eyesores.”
“I’ve had these as long as I can remember; the Dursley’s won’t pay for new ones,”
“Do you really think that glasses are only available in the Muggle world? Minerva and Albus both wear them do you believe they waltz down central London to buy their glasses?” Snape asked. Harry chuckled at the mental image of Dumbledore strolling down Charing Cross Road in his bright purple robes with his waist length hair and beard on the hunt for a new pair of half moon glasses.
“I haven’t needed new ones,” Harry said defensively. Snape held out his hand and Harry correctly assumed it was for his glasses so he handed them over. Snape looked at them for a few moments before he snapped them in half and handed them back to Harry.
“Now you do,”
“Sir, please give me some credit,” Harry said “Reparo,” tapping the glasses with his wand they fixed themselves. He put them back on and smiled at Snape.
“I’ve broken them loads of times,” he explained, “They used to be held together with tape from all the times Dudley punched me in the nose, I’m glad I can use magic now to fix them.”
“A Muggle object shouldn’t be subjected to magic too often, the materials it’s made from aren’t meant to mix with magic. You’ll find one day they don’t fix,” Snape said
“Are you making that up?” Harry asked staring at him suspiciously.
“If you doubt me you may ask Filius, I’m sure he’d be delighted to tell you all about it,” Snape said and sipped at his wine.
“Maybe during the summer I will look into some new glasses,” Harry muttered he’d have to go to Diagon Alley for his new school books at some point. He hoped he wouldn’t be staying with the Dursley’s it would be a lot harder to go shopping with them, also they were terrible people.
They both finished their meals and Snape had apparently had enough and shared as much as he was willing to for now. Every question Harry asked was met with quick one worded answers so Harry called the date to an end.
“I had a really nice time tonight,” Harry said and Snape nodded.
“Surprisingly so did I,”
“Shall I walk you home?” Harry offered and Snape smirked.
“I believe as you are the younger of us it is more polite for me to escort you,” he said and Harry raised his eyebrows.
“Er, okay,” Harry said.
So Harry was led all the way up to Gryffindor Tower by his potions teacher.
They were stopped halfway there by Argus Filch, the cranky caretaker.
“Oh students out of bed, after curfew, wonder what Professor Snape will make of you two,” Filch said gleefully.
“I’m Snape,” Snape said Filch faltered and then stepped closer to them.
“Oh, its dark I didn’t – come along my sweet,” Filch said to his cat and then hurried past them, his equally cranky cat right on his heels.
“You’re handy to have around,” Harry said smiling up at Snape.
They continued on and soon they were on the seventh floor heading down the corridor to where the Fat Lady’s portrait sat guarding the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
“Do you know where all the common rooms are?”
“I am a teacher,” Snape replied
“So yes?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have their passwords?”
“Yes, in case of emergency.”
“What constitutes an emergency?” Harry asked
“A rogue Professor trying to steal the Philosophers stone, an ancient monster attacking the school, an escaped convict breaking in, the usual things you know,” Snape said and Harry laughed.
“I really had a wonderful time, we should do this more often,” Harry said
“Harry?”
Harry turned and found Neville Longbottom sitting in front of the portrait. He scrambled to his feet his eyes wide when he saw who Harry was with.
“Did you forget the password again?” Harry asked gently but Neville was frozen in fear at the sight of Professor Snape so far from his dungeons.
Harry turned to Snape and smiled at him.
“He’s just going to be stuck like that till you go,” Harry said and Snape scoffed but Harry leant up for a kiss before the man could hurl any insults. Snape’s arms came around his waist pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. A small squeak from poor Neville had Harry almost leaping away from the man.
“Okay, goodnight!” Harry said loudly and spun around heading for Neville.
“Banana fritters,” Harry told the portrait and it opened letting Harry and Neville awkwardly scramble through.
Harry and Neville were both red faced, each feeling quite embarrassed but for very separate reasons.
“Er,” Harry muttered uncomfortably but Neville shook his head.
“I’m happy for you, really, you seem happy with him, I just wish I didn’t have to see him,”
“We’ll say goodnight on the sixth floor from now on I promise,” Harry said and Neville smiled.
“Thanks,” Neville said and headed off to the dormitory. Harry took a second to compose himself before following after him going straight to bed.

The morning of the third task was finally here. The Great Hall was decorated with each schools insignia and the champions families had been invited to spend the day with their children. Harry watched as Fleur sat at the Ravenclaw house table with her parents and her little sister, chattering away happily to them. Viktor Krum was more subdued, talking seriously with a man that could only be his father, they both had the same severe brow line and down turned mouth. Cedric Diggory was laughing at something his mother had said happily joking with his parents. Harry sighed wondering if he had been competing what he’d be doing right now, would he be chatting to the Dursley’s? That would have been horrible. They would have been so angry that with all these dangerous tasks he hadn’t been killed yet.
It was only breakfast time and the third task wasn’t until early evening. There would be numerous special guests from the Ministry arriving later on including several department heads and the Minister himself of course as one of the judges.
Harry turned to look at his fellow Gryffindor’s, Ron was beside him digging into his eggs and sausage with gusto and Hermione was opposite carefully sipping at some warm porridge as she read from a notebook in front of her. She was worried about their upcoming exams.
Harry heard a screech signalling the arrival of the owls with their post and sighed. He hoped there wasn’t anything terrible about him in the Daily Prophet this morning.
Hermione looked up from her breakfast with a frown. Harry looked up as well waiting for the owls to swoop in. They didn’t come.
Instead six large crows flew in each carrying a little black box in their beaks. The crows dropped their little parcels in front of the three champions, Professors Snape and Dumbledore and Harry.
“Harry, don’t,” Hermione warned. Harry wasn’t stupid he kept every part of himself well away from the little black box on his toast.
Fleur however had opened hers. She dropped it and began to scream leaping up from her seat. The Ravenclaw’s around her began to scream and scramble away as well. Krum had opened his parcel too and the Slytherin’s surrounding him were scattering away as well.
Harry turned to his parcel and grabbed it. He pulled the green ribbon off quickly and the lid tossing it away carelessly. Inside was a finger. Harry stared at it. It was someone’s ring finger; the ring was still on it. A coat of arms with two swords crossed and a snake forming the shape of the letter ‘P’.
Pale potions stained fingers closed over his hands and gave a gentle squeeze before the box was taken from him.
Harry turned on his seat to stare at Snape and Dumbledore who were behind him.
“My Grandfather appears to have misplaced a few of his extremities,” Snape said and Harry stared at him in shock.
“Hmm,” Dumbledore said carefully inspecting the finger in its box.
“Prince?” Dumbledore asked and then tilted his head toward Harry, “Or Pettigrew?”

Yeah, I did that. I don’t know. It’ll make sense soon. Or it won’t who knows? I do. No I don’t. Anyway, let me know your thoughts or my thoughts, Nina.
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A Marriage of Convenience