Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 22

It was relatively easy for Snape to find Harry, the boy was circling the darkened Quidditch pitch like a lost player. Harry was obviously emotional but the boy wasn’t stupid enough to go beyond the castle wards and leave himself open to attack. Mounting his own dusty old broom Snape unsteadily took to the sky managing to keep himself upright as he drew up level with Harry, in the center of his circles. Harry continued to circle Snape who remained still in the center watching the boy fly automatically around him, his body lying flat against the shaft of the broom and his face turned away from Snape in the center.

“Potter…” Snape went to ask the boy what he thought he was doing in his usual professor like way but Harry’s voice cut him off.

“Potter? You can’t even call me by my first name. You call him Draco, but with me it’s always Potter, like I’ve got some disease or something.” Harry whispered letting the wind carry his voice over to where he knew Snape was sitting on his broom. Snape sighed softly and watch Harry continue on with his circles. Snape had come out here with every intention of demanding the boy tell him what was going on but as he watched the sad figure of his mate circle him, he knew it was time to confess his sins.

“I didn’t think you wanted me to call you Harry. I assumed you proffered the familiarity of being just Potter to me.” Snape watched as a silver tear fell from Harry’s broom into the darkness of the grass below them, the glistening droplet just catching the moonlight as it fell. Snape swallowed guiltily as Harry continued his circles, his face still turned away from Snape.

“I did want that at first. I just wanted everything to go back to normal, me hating you, you despising me. Detentions for fucking up potions, point taking for no bloody good reason. I just wanted to be your student again like nothing had happened but that isn’t possible is it?” Snape shook his head quietly already knowing that Harry’s question didn’t need an answer. The boy was intelligent he’d already worked things out for himself.

“No.” Snape whispered the wind taking away his voice and making him sound like nothing. Harry continued his slow circling, Snape having given up trying to follow him around and instead watching as the boy flew past his vision every few moments.

“You didn’t tell me I’d feel like this when I put this on.” Snape watched as Harry twisted the bloodied ring around his already raw finger, the gold and platinum shining in the moonlight.

“I didn’t realize it would effect you so much.” Snape spoke honestly already knowing what Harry was referring to. Snape heard Harry huff a weak sarcastic laugh the sound raw and painful.

“Not affect me? What did you think it would do to me, hating you one day, then finding myself falling for you the next?” Harry spoke coldly causing Snape to shiver a little with the intensity of how hurt Harry sounded.

“I thought it would happen slowly, giving you time to adjust to the new feelings but the ‘bond’ obviously saw the need to draw us together quickly.” Snape by way of explanation touched his own ring, still keeping his gaze steady on Harry who had slowed his circles further so that his hair was barely moving in the wind.

“It’s all so strange. Feeling jealous of Draco, feeling hurt that you didn’t believe me when I told you about him. I haven’t stopped thinking about you all week, worried that you might not be all right, longing to wake up to your nasty moods in the morning. I’ve given up hating you, I just can’t do it. I need you and that’s so fucking scary.” Snape heard the chocked sob in Harry’s throat but he resisted the urge to reach out and stop Harry’s broom so that he could comfort the boy. After a few moments of silence Harry continued, having wiped away his tears with the back of his hand. “What was worse though was seeing how unaffected you were by it, you acted no different than you always did and I never saw any sign you were affected like I was. I thought I was going insane. Why haven’t you felt anything like this?” This time Harry looked around his teary gaze locked on Snape’s as he circled the man. Snape sighed heavily having known this was going to come, but still not being prepared for it. Harry was silent, still waiting patiently for Snape to answer, his gaze on the man sitting on the broom in the center.

“It didn’t affect me because I was already in love with you before we married.” Snape trailed off his gaze trained on the end of his broom not even daring to look up as he saw Harry come to a complete stop in front of him, his circles forgotten. Snape had never in his life opened his emotions up as he’d just done to Harry. All his life he’d kept them hidden behind the nasty, indifferent mask fearing ridicule and censure. Harry could hardly breath as he stared at Snape hovering before him.

“You’re in love with me?” Harry whispered in disbelief his heart literally in this throat as every emotional bead of jealousy; anger and hurt began to slide away from his body leaving him shaking and suddenly feeling very content.

“Yes.” Snape whispered his gaze steadily rising to meet Harry’s.

“Why didn’t you…?” Harry questioned confused by why Snape had never shown any interest in him.

“Because it was easier to hate you, than admit my feelings and have them not returned as I knew they would be. I was also your teacher, your father’s greatest enemy, a death eater, I’m nearly 20 years older than you and as you’ve told me several times you’re not gay.” Snape trailed off after easily listing the things that had made him hide his feelings. To Harry it sounded like Snape had had a long time to think about it. “When I was forced into making a decision about marriage, I automatically chose you in the hope that maybe we might just learn to get along, not really hoping for anything else but your companionship.” The wind had blown Harry closer to Snape a little and the boy now hovered directly in front of Snape who as Harry had noted was gripping the broom handle with a white knuckled grip.

“And you would have been content with just my friendship?” Harry whispered his heart pounding in his chest.

“That’s why I haven’t pushed myself on you. I didn’t force you to kiss me, I didn’t force you to get pleasure from sex, I didn’t pressure you into liking me I just tried to keep things the same like I thought you wanted them.” Snape watched as Harry drew his broom up along side him.

“I want you to kiss me.” The comment seemed to come out of nowhere but Snape nodded and gently reached forward to cup Harry’s cold cheek in his hand, drawing the boy towards him. Harry hesitated inches from Snape’s mouth, his eyes flickering up to meet the dark gaze of his mate. “Kiss me like you kissed Draco.” A small smile twitched at the corner of Snape’s thin lips and Harry automatically closed his eyes and leaned forward the last inch so that his lips came into contact with Snape’s. The kiss was tentative a first, Snape’s tongue flicking out softly against Harry’s cold lips. Harry yielded to the licks and parted his lips allowing Snape’s warm tongue to delve into his sweetness. Harry could hardly breath as Snape’s tongue explored his mouth coaxing Harry to reciprocate. The boy eagerly followed the lead, tangling his tongue with that of his mate tasting the unique flavor of the other man mixed with the smoothness of the brandy he’d been drinking. Eventually breathlessness drew them apart and Snape sat back on his broom having sucked lightly on Harry’s bottom lip before pulling away completely. Snape stared at Harry’s face, the pale features highlighted in the moonlight. The boy looked completely at ease with his eyes still closed and a smile playing at the edges of his slightly parted and glistening red lips. Rubbing his thumb gently back and forth across Harry’s cheek Snape smiled to himself feeling hope rise in his own chest.

The moment however was fleeting as Snape saw a bright green flash behind Harry. Without thought Snape launched himself forward pushing himself and Harry off their brooms into a free fall towards the ground. Clutching Harry’s rigid body to his own Snape rolled around cushioning the fall on the boy’s body as they hit the ground with a shudder. Snape cried out in pain as they both slammed into the ground of the Quidditch pitch below them. Pushing the stunned Harry off him, Snape was already rising to his feet, his wand in hand, as the broomstick Harry had been riding burst into flame as the curse struck.

“Get Up!” Falling instantly into protection mode Snape hauled Harry up by the boy’s collar pulling him back behind him as another curse whirled past them, exploding against the bottom of the stands. Recovering quickly Harry had his wand at the ready his gaze falling on the black figures now circling above them and getting closer by the minute.

“They’re death eaters.” Harry whispered unbelieving of what he was seeing. Snape however didn’t reply the wizard already sending powerful curses into the sky above him aiming for the flying figures, most of whom he knew. Never had Harry seen so many death eaters in one place, it was like an entire Quidditch team bearing down on him. How they’d gotten through the wards was beyond Harry but he didn’t really have time to think as Snape pushed him towards the castle.

“Stay with me Potter and keep moving!” Snape turned and began to run towards the castle. Harry didn’t need to be asked twice and turned with Snape, staying in front of the wizard by a fraction as the death eaters began their attack. Harry was firing curses at anything that moved, as was Snape by the sound of the man behind him. Harry was sure some of the flashes of magic were close, too close. Harry heard Snape hiss in pain several times but the man’s step never faltered. The death eaters were diving at them now, and Harry felt the wisp of their robes on his head as they swept past them. Blindly Harry began to swing his arms about hoping to knock them from their brooms. Snape it seemed had gone one better and had transfigured a pencil inside his coat pocket into a length of wood, which he swung like a baseball player at anything that came to close. Harry was almost relieved as they drew closer to the front entrance into the castle, the great doors opening revealing McGonagall and Dumbledore both of whom began firing their own curses at the death eaters. Harry heard screams and the dull thuds of people hitting the ground around him but he ignored it completely and ran faster towards Dumbledore, all the while aware of Snape at his heels.

By the time he reached the steps leading up into the main hall Harry was running faster than he had in his entire life, taking the steps in one leap Harry was inside the hall and sliding flat onto his face on the stone before he knew it. Harry distantly heard Snape follow him in before Dumbledore’s voice commanded the doors to close and seal themselves. As if someone had tripped a switch the entire castle fell into darkness, the hall so pitch black Harry couldn’t see his hand in front of him. Silence hung thick for a moment, only the sound of Harry panting echoing in the hall. From somewhere behind him Harry heard a muttered charm before Dumbledore’s face was lit up from the illumination at the end of his wand.

“Harry?” Harry looked from Dumbledore across the shadow to the stairs where Severus was slumped against the banister, panting breathlessly. Getting to his feet Harry moved swiftly over to his mate, instantly wrapping his arms around the man’s waist and pushing his face into the man’s chest. Snape’s hands drew up around Harry’s body holding the boy tightly to him in the flickering light of Dumbledore’s wand.

“Severus?” Dumbledore walked the short distance from the sealed doors to the steps and Harry felt Snape turn to face the headmaster.

“He knows.” The comment hung sour in the silence and Harry dared to glance up from Snape’s chest to watch the exchange between Dumbledore and Snape. For the first time in a long time Dumbledore looked worried. With a sigh the elder wizard stroked his beard thoughtfully for a moment before shaking his head.

“We can not stay here.” With determination Dumbledore turned the end of his lit wand towards McGonagall who waited patiently for her instruction. “Free the owls and then meet us in the Room of Requirement, Severus go to the dungeons and gather the supplies you will need, take Harry with you. I need something from my office. We will meet up in the room of requirement in fifteen minutes, do not dawdle.”

“Headmaster, what about the castle, we can’t abandon it.” Harry looked up shocked at the headmaster who shook his head quietly, managing to smile at Harry with warmth.

“The castle has ways of protecting itself Harry, it will still be standing when we return, but it is not safe for us here now.” Dumbledore turned to leave but then Snape rose from the stairs as if remembering something but before the professor could speak the headmaster had already cut him off. “Draco has already gone Severus, I fear he will not return.” Harry watched on as Severus’ shoulders slumped the man’s eyes closing in despair.

“I didn’t know.” Severus whispered and Harry watched as the headmaster turned back around and placed a warm hand on the professor’s shoulder.

“Love blinds us to many things Severus, we can not blame ourselves for others mistakes.” With that Dumbledore strode off taking his lit wand with him. With a sigh Harry illuminated his own wand just in time to see McGonagall in cat form running up the grand staircase towards the owlery, leaving Severus and he standing alone in the dark hall.

“Come along Potter…” Severus made to move towards the dungeons indicating that Harry should follow but the boy remained where he was.

“It’s Harry.” Harry whispered softly feeling rejection pool uncomfortably in stomach, even after what had happened outside. Snape stopped mid stride and turned abruptly back to face his mate, taking in Harry’s withdrawn expression.

“It’s a habit Harry, I’m sorry. Now come on we haven’t got much time.” Harry’s spirits lifted instantly and running to catch up with Snape followed the man down into the pitch-black hallways of the dungeons….

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N Sorry I\'m only posting 1 chapter at a time ATM but I thought cause they\'re pretty significant chapters they needed to stand alone. *Hands out brown paper bags to all her readers* Breath, people breath it won\'t do for you all to pass out on me....