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To Protect	By : VSBree Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 30534 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and characters. All rights are reserved to J.K. Rowling. This is a story of fiction, and I am making no profit from it.

Chapter List
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AN: Wow! What amazing reviewers I have! I am very grateful to those of you who reviewed and continued to encourage me to write. I love all of you. Enjoy!
Warning: Contains mild sexual content between to male characters.
To Protect
Chapter Three
Just how long had Harry sat, frozen and completely unable to function, before he was able to slowly start his brain once more? It had not been a dream – that was made clear by the pain now throbbing in his arm after several pinches he had delivered to himself. Standing from the other man's bed, hearing the soft sound of the shower running, Harry made his way to the side of room he had previously designated as his own.
Severus was a man who did not do things on a whim. Every movement, action was carefully calculated and carried out in a methodical and precise manner. Harry had watched the potion-maker time and time again, claiming it a passing interest, as hands wrapped around ladle and stirred contents unknown in a beautiful swirl of movement devoid of hesitation. Yes, Harry was quite knowledgeable on the man he had over the past year spent a good amount of time secretly watching – claiming his overall interest in all matters Severus Snape were merely because he had been interested in the man who had once held a flame for his mother and had protected him all his years at Hogwarts from the shadows.
Harry had spent a good deal of time convincing himself that what he felt for the other man was merely an uncontrollable interest.
And now, Harry was beyond the realm of confusion as he tossed aside his bedding and hid himself beneath the cover of it. Should he pursue the man for answers or was it all simply a way to redirect his attention from the current circumstance they found themselves in? Was it all another ploy to shut him up?
The door clicked causing Harry to stiffen in his hiding place. Sure, he was acting juvenile by hiding, but he had little choice. He had no courage to face the man. He heard the soft padding of footsteps that reached the bed at the other side of the room. Harry held his breath without realizing as his heart thrummed deeply in his chest. The room darkened instantly and the sounds of bedding being turned down and then slid into finally faded into silence. Harry let out the breath he had been holding. Disappointment bellied though he told himself it was a feeling of relief after the close encounter. Harry was still stiff but after several long minutes of silence, he relaxed in his cocoon.
He would not be sleeping tonight; he reserved himself to it. It was the slow feeling of being dragged deep into a pool of water before he realized he had.
Dark faces, riddled with terror. Flashes of green light zinged through the air around him like electrical current. He felt his body bound by invisible bindings. He could hear the cries around him; their voices were ringing in his ears as he fought his bindings. There before him, Severus sat with blood draining from a wound in his neck inflicted by Nagini, and Harry was powerless to save him. He screamed for the man as light faded from those dark eyes.
“Severus!” Harry cried out as hot tears trailed from the sides of his eyes.
“For Merlin's sake, Potter,” Severus was grumbling as he shook Harry's shoulder. “What are you screaming for?”
“You're alive,” Harry breathed in disbelief.
“Yes, though you may not be in moments if you do not explain your reason for screaming my name in the middle of the night,” Severus growled impatiently. Harry could see the man was pale – well, paler than normal – and there was a concern in his eyes that Harry would have rejoiced in if he was not so relieved to just see the man alive.
“You were dying,” Harry said as his tears renewed.
“You suffered a night terror,” Severus responded evenly. “As you can see with your very own eyes, I am neither dead nor dying.”
“Yeah,” he finally whispered. He wiped the residual tears before gazing up at the man. “Sorry about that sir.”
Severus did not respond, merely pushed a potion into Harry's face, and with a flick, Harry was being forced to swallow. “A Dreamless draught Mister Potter. You will be taking them every evening starting tomorrow, is that understood? My sleep is not an activity in which I will allow your insufferable night terrors to interrupt.”
Though the words were biting, he could hear the subtle concern in the man's voice. Whether he was merely creating it in his head, he vaguely wondered if Severus was worried. Shaking away his thoughts, he nodded his understanding.
“I will take it without fail so as not to disturb your precious beauty sleep,” Harry taunted.
Surprisingly, Severus snorted in amusement before leaving him.
HPSSHPSS
“Bloody little tiny man wearing green overalls,” Harry mumbled as the Leprechaun sent a particularly nasty hex at him. He shielded it while Severus immediately returned. The little man was brought down and immobilized finally, and they took their prize. After returning to the inn, Harry was happy to wash away the earlier fight and gather his belongings. They would be returning to Hogwarts under the explicit cover of continuing the potion, but Harry was told he would be in the present be staying with Severus in his quarters.
“You will remain in my area of vision until we have sorted out that you are no longer in danger,” Severus said as they finally landed from the portkey on Hogwarts grounds. “I believe another attempt will be made. You are not to be anywhere without my presence.”
“I cannot stay hidden and protected my entire life, Severus.” Harry was walking briskly towards the school alongside the taller, raven-haired wizard. He shifted his gaze to the other man. “I need you to trust me to take care of things if I were to be alone.”
“I do not trust you can,” Severus replied simply.
“Then who do you suspect,” Harry asked.
“Another time, Potter.”
Just as they were arriving, Henry Ginley, a professor who had joined on staff at Hogwarts at the same time as Harry, walked up to him with his usual smile. The taller man was giant in both girth and height. He was coach to the Gryffindor quidditch team and currently arm wrestling champion at the school. Harry was sure the bigger man could easily take down more than an arm. They had been rather close since they shared many common interests, and Henry oddly reminded Harry of Ron. The man had brilliant blue eyes that glittered every time he laughed; he had similarly unmanageable red hair, but was tan from constant interaction in the sunlight. He was easily six foot two, but was only a hair shorter than Severus who was by far the tallest among all of the teachers (save for Hagrid who had them all beat with his eight feet height).
“Harry,” Henry said as they entered the Hogwarts main entrance. “Where did you go off to? You and I missed a wizard's chess match.”
“Ah,” Harry laughed in reply. “I had forgotten. Sorry.”
“He was otherwise occupied with an errand,” Severus cut in sharply.
“Oh hello Professor Snape,” Henry said unfazed. “You're looking as dark and gloomy as ever.”
Severus's eyes narrowed dangerously. “Some of us cannot be as idiotically blissful all of the time as you are, Professor Ginsley.”
“Awe, that's kind of you to say,” Henry responded using one of his trademark sideways grins. Harry could not help the resulting laugh.
“Professor Potter,” Severus interrupted his giggling with a stern voice. “We cannot waste anymore time with imbeciles. We need to begin our task immediately.”
“Oh, can I help?” Henry followed as Harry was whisked away by an infuriated potion's master.
Severus halted and turned with blazing eyes. “That will not be necessary. You will create more work with your clumsiness and oversized body mass.”
“Oh,” Henry replied sheepishly. Harry felt for the other man, but he did not disagree with Severus on this point. Henry often meant well, and on a broom, he could dance along the winds with grace, but he was clumsy and prone to mishap in any other setting. He gave his friend a sympathetic look before he was dragged off to Severus's rooms.
“Must you always be so forthright with your insults,” Harry grumbled as he yanked his arm out of the other man's grasp. “He only meant well.”
“You will no longer associate yourself with Ginley,” Severus hissed. After leading Harry into the rooms, he turned on him with eyes that demanded obedience. They were eyes that he had once feared as a student, however not now as he straightened up and returned the gaze.
“And your reason for this sudden demand?”
“He is not to be trusted,” Severus replied cryptically.
“How is he not trustworthy, Severus?”
“Do not challenge me Potter,” Severus growled as he closed the distance between them. “You may believe you know everything there is to experience, but you are sorely mistaken in that belief. You are ignorant and insufferably trusting to those who are even the slightest kind to you.”
“Is that so.” Harry's temper flared. “I do trust which is something that you are incapable of, Severus.”
“We are not discussing my abilities Potter,” Severus was nearly spitting in rage. “You will cut off all association to Ginley or suffer my punishment.”
“You are not my guardian. I am free to associate to whomever I wish. I do not understand without a proper explanation for your distaste of Henry...”
“Henry,” Severus repeated with sarcasm. “I wonder, is your confidence in him founded on a connection of the flesh?”
“A connection of the what?!” Harry yelled.
“So you are acquainted with the intimacy two men can behold,” Severus was now barely a hairsbreadth away. Harry was reminded of their previous kiss and could not help the flutter of butterfly wings now wrecking havoc on his stomach. “Did he advise you while you opened your legs and moaned, Potter? I assume he wrapped you up in kindness and took your virginity whilst whispering sweet nothings.”
Confusion besought Harry's features followed closely by anger. He balled his fists and stared the man directly in answering challenge. “I am a virgin!”
Severus lost the flicker of anger in his eyes before he recovered and grasped Harry's defiantly tipped chin. Fingers curled around and imbedded in his flesh.
“Are you willing to prove it?”
“Prove it...”
“Prove your chastity Mister Potter.”
“For what reason?!” Harry jerked out of the grasp and backwards stepped a few paces. “How did the argument take such a dramatic turn. What the bloody hell does my virginity have to do with anything concerning Henry.”
Severus's eyes sparked at the intimate use of the other man's name. “You are unguarded around Ginley. You have lost your ability to sense out his deception.”
“Meaning,” Harry finally captured what Severus was implying. “Henry is the spy?!”
Severus did not answer but merely looked onward at Harry with arms crossed arrogantly against his chest.
“Impossible,” Harry whispered. Then he was yelling, “Henry has been nothing but a support to me since I started here!”
“And thus able to be under your good graces,” Severus offered coolly. “Have you not heard the muggle saying, 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,' Mister Potter? Ginley has only become your friend in order to carry out your assassination.”
“Impossible,” Harry repeated.
“This was the reason I was unwilling to share the identity of the assassin,” Severus said mostly to himself rather than a trembling Harry still heated with denial.
“There must be a mistake,” Harry continued. “I can do some investigating...”
“You will not,” Severus seethed. “You will only endanger yourself further. Leave the investigating to the Order.”
“I must absolve Henry,” he was whispering it to himself before his upper arms were roughly grabbed tightly.
“Potter,” Severus called to him. Harry was muttering as he thought through who else the assassin could possibly be. Henry had been nothing but a good friend to him. The late nights playing wizard's chest; the many play sessions of quidditch; they would often sit by the fire and enjoy conversation until the early hours of the morning. He was his “fated mate” as he called him often when they were sharing a laugh about how their friendship could have been epic in their school years.
“Potter,” Severus repeated a bit more deafeningly. Harry dragged his eyes away from their unseeing place on the floor. “We will work through this together. You must trust that I will figure out the truth.”
“Why?” Harry finally asked. “Why are you doing this? I am nothing to you. Why did you kiss me? Why are you protecting me...” Harry felt his emotions flooding his body and not often prone to crying, but the tears left rebelliously from his eyes any way. “Answer me,” Harry pleaded through his tears. “Why do you persist when you know fully of my feelings for you? Are they a joke to you...a misplaced adolescent crush? If they were, I would have been long rid of them...so why...why can I not rid myself of them!”
Severus was watching him with a conflicted gaze. Harry let his shoulders shake with his devastation. His vision was blurred by the continued anguish leaving his eyes. “Why is it that I am the only one who does not deserve to be loved in return...why can I not have anything for myself...who--” His monolgue was silenced by lips covering his own. Arms wrapped him up tightly into an embrace, and his mouth was pried open by a seeking tongue. He was moaning and clinging to the older wizard, returning the kiss with his inexperienced eagerness.
They tasted sweet, like caramel and honey-sweetened tea. Every movement of soft lips against his own sent jolts of sensation to run the length of his spine. He could not think, only feel as he continued to match the other as best he could. Curling his fingers into the material of the taller wizard's cloak, he stood on the tips of his toes to press their mouths closer still. He was roughly jerked upwards and slammed in the wall just behind him, the heat of their arousal pressed hard between them. As he shifted his hips, he heard an answering hiss from Severus before he was being assaulted along the column of his neck.
Harry had never dreamed that anything could feel quite so amazing as the feeling of lips sliding and tongues colliding; he was barely able to comprehend the resulting pleasure that was coursing over him like a warm bath. His skin felt like it was on fire and burned the places Severus's lips touched. He was breathing heavily and moaning in a voice he could barely recognize. Nothing could have prepared him for this. No dream had ever come close to the way Severus made him feel.
It was fast and hot for minutes before he started to regain control. He was breathing heavily as he pushed at Severus, stopping the assault of tongues and lips. “We can't,” he said breathlessly. “Stop distracting me and answer my questions...”
“Was it not clear,” Severus was composed, but his chest was rising and falling with great effort as they were practically glued together against the wall. “I am not the sort of individual that would simply seek pleasure where I could find it.”
“How should I know,” Harry accused. “I know next to nothing what you would and would not do. Until a few days ago, I had no idea that you were even similarly attracted to men. I mean, man. I mean...I don't know what I'm saying.” Harry pushed Severus from himself, farther this time, and escaped from his pleasure prison.
“I have an affection for both genders,” Severus offered conversationally. “However, I do not affiliate myself to one or the other.”
“How lovely,” Harry replied sarcastically.
“Do I detect jealousy Potter?”
“It's Harry,” he replied angrily. “Considering we were snogging until just a minute ago, you should at least address my given name.”
“Harry,” Severus whispered as he once more closed the distance. “Have you not dated women as well?”
“Well,” Harry started hesitantly. “I've never...well, you know.”
Severus was smirking. It was the closest Harry had ever seen to a smile from the other man. “Oh? And pray tell, what do I know?”
“You arrogant prat,” Harry groaned as he pushed at the solid torso in front of him. Severus, however, did not budge. Instead, the man grew impossibly close and nipped at the lobe of Harry's ear. A jolt of electricity renewed his arousal. “Why are you protecting me?”
“Are you a broken record Potter?”
“Harry.”
“Harry,” Severus repeated irritably. “We will begin the potion. Follow me.”
“Is ignoring me or snogging me a defense to ward off my questions, Severus?”
“I am merely a very impatient man,” Severus threw back as he strode ahead. “Come along, Harry.”
HPSSHPSS
It felt like a well played game of cat and mouse with Severus. When Harry believed he was gaining an inch, Severus would plow through several feet ahead, furthering their distance. Harry was left with more questions and very little answers. Concentrating on grinding the ingredients, he set to preparing for their brewing. Severus was at his best when focused, and Harry strayed a time or two to watch the tall wizard's nimble fingers dance over the ingredients and tenderly set to adding them to the now bubbling cauldron.
“We will break for an hour,” Severus finally announced. They had been brewing almost half the day already. Harry was sore all throughout his body and in good need of a tea break. Harry idly made his way over to the sofa and collapsed down into it without any thought to grace. He relaxed immediately into the cushions, relishing the comfort they gave to his sore limbs. Brewing was strenuous. Harry was a little the wiser to his colleagues persistent foul mood.
Kicking up his feet, he watched as a tray popped from no where to rest on a table just before him.
“Mind explaining why you are ruining my perfectly good sofa with your dirty, unkempt shoes, Potter?”
“Harry,” he said smiling. “And I thought it added a nice touch.”
“Dirt adds a nice touch,” Severus questioned.
“Well sometimes things are just pure and clean, you need to dirty them.” Harry grinned up at the older man who was now hovering above.
“Indeed,” the answering spark in the older wizard's eyes went straight to Harry's groin. Ignoring it, he threw his arms above him and stretched out his body, his shirt shifting and exposing the defined abdominal muscles beneath. Severus's eyes strayed for a little too long to the exposed patch of flesh before he sat down in a chair and went about serving himself a cup of tea. 'One point to Harry,' he thought grinning before he poured himself a glass.
Harry was not sure what their relationship could be classified as, but one thing was for sure, Severus was holding back a good deal of information. Harry was no match for a spy; he knew it would take a severely strong drink or a long stand off, but he would get his answers. This battle was not over yet; not by a long shot.
They continued brewing into the evening. Harry was at the end of his endurance when Severus finally told him that they would have several hours until the next ingredient. Harry once more sank into the welcoming couch.
Round two. Harry stretched out onto the couch, arm bent underneath his head to pillow it, and stomach once more exposed. He closed his eyes, feigning sleep as he heard the soft thumps of vials being moved around on a desk behind him. Resting his other hand atop an exposed pelvic bone, Harry deepened his breathing. He heard the soft ascent of footsteps before they stalled in front of the couch.
“Seduction requires sexual appeal and experience, Potter.”
Harry breathed out deeply and peeked through a single eye. “Its Harry.”
The resulting half-smirk had him boldly smiling in return. He groaned and then covered his stomach while sitting up.
“What exactly are you intent on with this charade, Harry.”
“Oh who knows,” he replied noncommittally.
Severus grunted in reply as he sat down in the chair beside the sofa and conjured a plate of cakes and tea. Harry had discovered that the most feared Potion's professor had a bit of a sweet tooth. He would always add honey or sugared milk to his tea and snack on some sort of cookie or cake. Harry found that discovery quite endearing. It was a cute side that no one was aware of save for a select few close to the man.
Harry sipped gingerly at his tea as he focused his attentions on the man before him once more.
“What makes you believe Henry is the assassin?”
“Am I not to have a moment's of peace without you bombarding me with inane questions?”
“Nope,” Harry replied with a smirk and crossed his arms against his chest. “Snogging will not win this round. You might as well fess up, Severus. I am onto your tactics.”
“I wonder,” Severus said while standing and closing the distance. He rested his hands on both sides of Harry's head, grasping the backside of the couch and pinning him to the spot. “Have me figured out, do you? I assure you, I am not an easy man to best even at my weakest.”
Harry had miscalculated his naivety. His heart began to thump wildly, his eyes grew heavy with lust at the close proximity, and he was in danger of throwing all his previous questions to the wind for a single touch of those intoxicating lips.
“Giving into carnal urges already,” Severus taunted. “My, my, you really are a slave to your pleasure, Mister Potter.”
“What about you?” Harry contended as he ran his fingers along the exposed collarbone of his mentor. He felt the answering shiver as his fingers danced over the man's pulsating jugular to run the line of that strong jaw he had been craving to feel. Clean shaven. As expected of a man devoid of fault in appearance. Obsidian depths blazed as he removed his fingers and smirked in victory. “Seems I am not the only one that is a slave to his carnal urges.”
Severus straightened and readjusted his clothing before sitting back in his previous seat. He eyed Harry carefully before taking a small drink of his tea.
“It was quite a bit of time before I had substantial evidence to suspect him. He is stealthier than I gave him credit for,” Severus began. “He has been gradually breaking down the wards on your rooms which was the first indicator it was a person you held in confidence. It would seem his weekly meetings in your rooms was to eventually break down the wards entirely so that he could enter undetected to slip you the poison. He was hasty and made a mistake of placing it in your water. We were lucky to recover it. While it bears not evidence, I was able to place charms to detect it within several feet of myself.”
“Is that why you were hovering over me the last several weeks?” Harry asked. He had been aware of Severus so it was quite noticeable when the man seemed to be everywhere. A part of him had attributed to his attraction to the man; he thought his feet would send him where ever the other man might be. Well at least that explained a few things.
Harry was not ready to believe that Henry was the assassin, but if Severus was anything, it was thorough; thus, he could not discount what the man said. He sighed and threw his head backwards over the top of couch. Betrayal. It was a scary word. It was, however, a word he was quite experienced with.
“Until I have gathered enough evidence to convict him and turn him over to the Ministry, we must sit by.”
“You mean, I must stay here, with you, until the Order has enough to convict him? What about my classes?”
“After I have brewed this antidote, you will carry it with you at all times. Only then may you return to your lessons. I will still require you to stay within my rooms as your wards have been broken, and it will take time to re-ward.”
“Bloody fantastic,” Harry groaned. Whatever was going on between them, Harry hardly believed that there was any returning form of affection. Severus had a distaste of his father and a love for his mother that had lasted him years upon years of guilt. Harry doubted the man could ever fall in love with him. Harry was unable to deny his feelings any longer; any longer in the explicit company of Severus, and he was sure to give himself over body and soul. Harry was broken; he did not deserve love and affection. He was broken and unclean.
TBC...
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