Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Proof of Life	By : emilywaters Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 65994 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related. It all belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros., and any other entities involved. I make no money from writing fanfiction.

Chapter List
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Home From the Hill

The following morning, Harry departed to work before Severus woke up. George Weasley and Daphne showed up to keep him company, but Severus excused himself shortly after breakfast, and isolated himself in his study.

Not having had a chance to speak to Harry after their conversation the previous night, Severus found himself growing more and more uneasy, suspecting that he'd violated all conventions of human courtesy.

No, chiding Potter under the circumstances was unwise, and comparing him to Macnair was outright stupid. After all, who was he to lecture Potter on the dehumanizing effects of his work? A former Death Eater, who'd silently witnessed more atrocities than most normal people could imagine � he must have come across as, if not hypocritical, then outright ridiculous. With any luck, Harry would simply laugh the entire thing off.

Severus shook his head resignedly. If being found ridiculous and laughable was the best he could hope for... but it was still better than actually antagonizing Potter.

It was enough that he was sitting like a dead weight in Harry's home, stuck in his magical and professional powerlessness, unable to do anything useful. Even the study that Harry had generously set up him was beginning to seem more like a cruel joke than a luxury, or a convenience. Severus sighed and slumped forward on his desk, burying his face in his hands.

He didn't notice falling asleep, alone in his wretched misery, and only woke when a familiar hand rested on his shoulder.

Severus bolted to sit up with a start.

�What time is it?� Severus asked, wondering if he'd actually slept through the entire day.

�It's noon,� Harry said. �Are you tired?�

�Not especially,� Severus muttered. �I didn't notice myself falling asleep. You're home early.�

�Yes,� Harry said. �I sent George and Daphne home. They said you didn't eat anything since morning.�

�I'm not hungry.�

�All right,� Harry said, obviously not planning on arguing. �Let's step out into the garden. I've got something you might like.�

Severus followed Harry into the garden, and was surprised to see a row of potted rose bushes, ready to be planted.

�You seemed to enjoy yourself back in Hannah's rooftop garden,� Harry explained with a small smile. �I thought maybe you'd like to give me a hand planting these?�

�I can do that,� Severus agreed guardedly. �Is that all?�

He was waiting for something else � some sort of follow up to yesterday's strained, unhappy conversation.

�Well, I also wanted to talk, and I thought it'd be more fun to talk while we're doing something,� Harry said.

Severus sighed, anticipating a needlessly long discussion on how he should be keeping his views to himself, but didn't see any gracious way out of it. But at least Harry didn't seem irate, or even annoyed.

�Fine,� Severus said, making a conscious effort to hide his reluctance.

�Fine,� Harry said teasingly, and flicked his wand, summoning two sets of gardening tools.

For a few moments, they simply worked together, clearing the weeds and upturning the soil.

�Why roses?� Severus asked. �Do you like roses?�

�Not particularly,� Harry said. �They're all right, I guess. Ginny loves them though. I'm going to ask her to come back home,� Harry explained. �Thought it would be a nice surprise.�

Severus smiled a bit, barely able to credit how much relief he felt at this statement. Since his rescue, Ginny's departure had been like an immeasurably heavy weight on his conscience. Rationally, he knew that Harry wasn't blaming him for their separation, and he also sensed that they must have had problems before he came into the picture, but still, he couldn't deny the fact that Harry's impulsive decision to bring him home was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

�Think you'll get along with Ginny and Lily?� Harry asked softly.

Severus nodded quickly. �Potter, I'm not a pleasant man, but I won't go out of my way to make things more awkward and difficult to you. I'll make myself... inconspicuous.�

�You don't need to do that,� Harry protested instantly. �Besides, Ginny holds you in high regard. It's me she hasn't been terribly impressed with lately... but let's hope the roses help. That, and the fact that I'm going to be a lot less wound up now that I don't work for the Auror office anymore.�

Severus barely managed not to drop the small spading fork into the freshly dug hole. �I beg your pardon?�

�I quit my job,� Harry said, grinning like a Cheshire cat. �Or to be more exact, I was fired for gross misconduct.�

�I'm sorry to hear that,� Severus said hesitantly, and Harry laughed out loud.

�Don't be sorry. I took your advice, you know,� Harry said wryly. �To cut a long story short, I got Ron to help me quit in a way that allowed him to ingratiate himself with Diggory.�

�Ron Weasley got you fired at your insistence?� Severus clarified, and Harry nodded smugly.

�Yes. Ron told Diggory he was fed up with my erratic behavior, and presented him with excellent documentation of the numerous breaches of protocol I'd committed in the past six months. Then, to make things more believable, I threw a tantrum in Diggory's office. All of that was more than enough to hang me.� Harry smirked unrepentantly. �Diggory told me to clean out my desk and get out, and he seemed very impressed with Ron. Probably impressed enough to appoint him as the Head of the Auror Office now that I'm gone.�

�Diggory didn't find it suspicious that your best friend suddenly turned against you and caused your downfall?� Severus asked.

Harry laughed out loud. �Diggory doesn't get those kinds of subtleties. He's shady, but he doesn't have the brains to be any good at it.�

�You seem immensely pleased with yourself,� Severus observed, still feeling slightly stunned by Harry's matter-of-fact explanation.

�I am,� Harry confirmed with a small nod. �I'm free of the job I absolutely despise, and my best friend is going to succeed me, and keep me in the loop.� Harry's green eyes twinkled mischievously. �I really should thank you,� Harry added more seriously. �Not just for the idea on how to quit, but... for the other stuff, too.�

�Oh.� Severus took a long minute to recover from the shock at the news that not only was Harry not irritated with him, but that he actually took his advice seriously. �Can you affrord it? Quitting your job, that is.�

�Yes,� Harry said, appearing to be untrobled. �I sold a piece of property that brought a lot of money in. Don't worry, we're set for life.�

�Well, I hope it works out well for you,� Severus said.

�I think it will,� Harry said. �I feel better already. The only question is, can you handle having me around all the time? I don't want to crowd you.�

Severus sighed, as a small, barely understandable ache appeared at Harry's words.

Over the last two months, Severus had noticed that Harry barely spent any time around him, possibly to ensure that Severus didn't grow too dependent on him, but had the opportunity to form other friendships. That was an understandable, and probably a wise course of action, but it still had stung to find himself spending days without any contact with Harry. Like it or not, his connection with Harry at this point was the strongest one he had. And when Harry wasn't around, Severus missed him... and Harry's innocent question likely stung for that exact reason � that Harry couldn't even begin to imagine how much he was missed.

�You could never crowd me, Harry,� Severus said softly, and from how wide Harry's eyes opened at the statement, realized that, once again, he'd said entirely too much.

However, the awkward pause didn't last long. Harry recovered quickly, and said with a wry grin, �Well, that's good news. I'd hate to have to get another job immediately, just to stay out of your way. Anyway, are you hungry yet?�

Severus shook his head mutely.

�Well, I am,� Harry said. �And there's barely anything edible at home. Let's go shopping.�

The trip to Diagon Alley turned out completely uneventful. There were still some curious glances directed at both of them, and not particularly hushed whispers behind their backs, but for the most part the novelty of seeing Severus Snape out and about appeared to be have worn off. They bought some groceries, some fruit, and Harry Apparated them back home. As soon as they unloaded the groceries, Harry started cooking � and this time it was a real meal, rather than something concocted from cans and packages.

When the smell of cooked fish with mixed vegetables filled the kitchen, Severus could no longer deny being hungry. They ate together, and Harry smiled complacently while Severus polished the food off his plate ravenously.

�You liked this, I take it?� Harry asked, clearing away the dishes.

�Yes. Very much.�

Harry seemed to be bursting with pride. �Well, looks like I'm not completely useless then.�

�No,� Severus said mildly, his lips quirking into a tiny smirk. �Not completely.�

Harry laughed out loud and leaned back in his chair.

�It's good to be home,� Harry said.

For a second, it seemed to Severus that Harry was trying to tell him a bit more than that, but nothing else was said, and Severus decided that he must have been mistaken. But even the faint, incomprehensible intimations of things unsaid did nothing to disrupt the absolute calm of the moment, and Severus allowed himself to simply enjoy it.

They rested for a while, and went out into the garden, where they finished planting the roses, tying the bushes to the wooden stakes sticking out of the ground. They completed the task by watering the freshly planted bushes generously, and went back into the house.

When evening came, Harry cooked dinner, once again impressing Severus by his culinary skills, and this time, Severus acknowledged Harry's efforts without prompting, causing him to grin ear to ear. They spent the rest of the night reading in a comfortable silence, with Tripod curled in Severus' lap.

When Severus headed upstairs for the night, Harry gave him a sleepy smile, which Severus found himself returning instantly, barely being able to credit how much peace and comfort Harry's mere presence brought with it.

~ * ~

The few days that followed were nothing short of absolutely blissful, as far as Harry was concerned. He spent the mornings and afternoons with Lily, Molly and Arthur at the Burrow. Ginny was away until the end of the week for Quidditch practice with her team. Harry couldn't wait to see her again, and ask her to come home.

Ginny came back on Saturday evening, firecalled him, and told him that they were throwing him a small birthday party at the Burrow on Sunday.

Harry thanked her, and invited Severus to come along. Severus looked slightly hesitant while declining the invitation, but Harry assured him that it was fine.

�I'm going to ask Luna to come and stick around while I'm gone,� Harry said.

�That's not necessary,� Severus said. �Your friend shouldn't have to miss your birthday party.�

�She won't mind,� Harry said confidently, wishing he had the time to explain Luna to Severus.

�You really needn't worry about me,� Severus continued to protest. �The wards on your home were reconfigured to provide maximum security, and I no longer need to be... watched.�

�Well... that's true, but it'd still make me feel better, if she came over,� Harry said hesitantly, wondering if this was going to become a point of contention. But Severus chose not to press the issue.

�All right,� he said gruffly, appearing uninterested in arguing. �Happy birthday, Potter.�

Harry couldn't conceal a ridiculous smile that appeared on his face of its own accord. Severus' slightly irritated voice, calling him Potter rather than Harry, was all the reassurance he needed of the fact that life was slowly returning to some-kind-of normal.

When Luna arrived, Harry departed. Instead of taking the Floo to go to the Burrow, he walked out of the house and took a look at the garden, where the some of the rosebuds on the bushes he and Severus had planted a few days earlier had already begun to open. Harry smiled, lifting his face to catch the last glow of the sunset , reflecting off the leaves of the rose bushes.

The deep breath of fresh air he took in felt almost intoxicating, and Harry's smile grew brighter. He could not remember the last time he had felt so untroubled, and so at peace about everything. Harry knew they still had many challenges ahead of them, but none seem insurmountable, with friends and family around, ready to lend a hand.

Family. He felt a little self-conscious about applying that word to Severus, but in Harry's mind, it fitted. Privately, Harry wondered at times if now that Severus had regained his bearings, the man saw him as anything more than a semi-competent caregiver. But when Harry glanced at the two rows of neatly planted rose bushes along the garden path, somehow, his uncertainties about the newly formed friendship were laid to rest one more time.

To Be Continued...

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32

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Proof of Life