All That You Leave Behind
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
79
Views:
35,947
Reviews:
507
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
79
Views:
35,947
Reviews:
507
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter Forty-Four
44
First of all, thank you for the reviews, you’ve inspired us so much.
Fairner – Thank you for consistently reviewing; much appreciated. And we can’t tell you what’s gonna happen, can we? Where’s the fun in torturing you, we mean Harry and Sev?
PantherRain – We think Harry might just start sharing some love. *Might* if you’re a good girl!
Lila A – You have no idea how pleased we are someone commented on that. We agree with your views, as we’ve read too many stories where Harry seems to appease his guilt within about ten seconds. We’re really trying to make things more realistic, so, expect more angst! (Oh, we do enjoy living up to our name!)
Fairner – Again?! Hmm, interesting idea…
Dragonfly7 – You seem to be doing ok on the whole reviewing thing to us! And as for “Are we going to keep torturing you or do a time jump?” which do you think is more likely, given our pen name?!
FaeryQueen – Nice idea for a spell. Sadly, if Kingsley hadn’t interrupted them, Ginny would’ve! We’d decided there was NO way they were gonna screw in that chapter!
LadyNight – Of course Lucius is evil, that’s why we all love him so much! (Hmm, the hotness of him helps too!)
rose – Ah, god bless you, honey for reviewing just to bolster our confidence. You’d think, really, given how many reviews we’ve received for this story and all the other things we’ve written separately, that we’d feel a bit more confident that our writing is ok, but no, we still need those reviews!
dirty_darella – Glad the story is drawing you in still further – has the smut got anything to do with that?!
44
Harry sat down in a chair facing the student medi-wizard. Severus followed and took the chair next to Harry, shifting it slightly closer as if to allow more room for Kingsley to squeeze past in the small room. Harry just briefly touched his knee to Sev’s thigh, drawing on the older man’s closeness for strength before beginning to question the young wizard.
“What’s your name?” Harry began, consulting a sheet of paper Kingsley passed him.
“H-Howard Fairncombe,” the student stuttered, looking very young and very scared.
“Do you know why we’ve brought you here to be questioned?”
“I – I imagine it’s to do with your w - wife,” Fairncombe said, addressing Harry, “and what h-happened when she gave birth to y-your son.”
“Yes,” Severus cut in smoothly, face stern. Both Kingsley and Harry were surprised at his intervention. “Why has it taken so long for you to be questioned?” his black eyes were intense on the boy’s face.
“I-I g-got ill im-immediately a-after.” He stammered, getting worse, “I w-went to m-my uncle’s in Aus-Australia t-to recover. I-I only c-came b-back yesterday.”
Severus eyes remained fixed upon Fairncombe’s. His mouth was pursed into a thin line. He looked more and more like the Potions Master Harry had hated at school.
After asking questions and re-asking, and subtlely re-phrasing them to ensure nothing had been left out, Fairncombe was left alone whilst the three men left.
“He’s lying,” Severus said at once.
Kingsley secretly agreed, but needed to know the reasons. “What makes you say that?”
“Look at his statement,” here Severus pointed to the scroll of parchment on which an enchanted quill had noted down the questions and answers. “See, here, at the start, he stammers badly, yet here,” he scooped up part of the manuscript and pointed to a long paragraph, “he says almost the same thing without stammering, despite him being more aware of how serious the investigation is.” He paused, looking at Harry, “He’s playing a role.”
Shacklebolt gave a slow grave nod. “I think you are right, Snape. He certainly seems to grow in confidence.”
“Yes!” Harry cut in excitedly, “Did you notice? When we said we hadn’t been able to trace all the ingredients from the potion, he relaxed. It was subtle, but he relaxed. He knows that if we can find who bought the Albino Murtlap Tentacles we can intensify the investigation.”
Severus asked, “Do we have enough to request he answers questions under veritaserum?”
The head of the Auror Office shook his head. “We have suspicions, but someone could say he stopped stammering because he became more used to us, or that Harry imagined the lad relaxing, or that I imagined the look in his eyes when he answered the question about the potions’ ingredients.”
“And a pensieve would be no good as he would select the memories he gave us.” Harry mused, brows drawing together.
Shacklebolt sighed. “I don’t think we can keep him.” He turned away, “I’ll do what I can about obtaining an extension for further questioning, but I doubt it’ll be granted.” He paced away, looking more like a grizzled lion than ever.
Harry and Severus were alone in the small room they had been using for their conference. The door was open, showing them the doorway into the questioning room. Harry’s shoulders were slumped, and he looked bone weary. Severus reached down and squeezed Harry’s hand. The younger man looked up, his eyes dull with disappointment.
“I – I thought we’d finally be able to get somewhere, Sev,” he choked out, his voice bitter, “I thought we’d find who did this to Ginny.”
“Shhh,” Severus whispered softly, pulling Harry into an embrace. “Shhh,” He glanced around and listened, the corridor seemed deserted. “Everything will be fine. We’ll find out what happened, I promise.”
Harry nodded and murmured, “You were looking at him intently,” he began, Severus listened, knowing who the him referred to, “Were you using Legilimency?”
Sev squeezed Harry more tightly to him. He sometimes forgot that Harry was no idiot, that he had a dangerous and responsible job, and that he did it well. “I did,” he admitted.
“And?”
Sev allowed himself a moment of weakness to kiss Harry’s black hair, “He was shielding something, and doing so skilfully.” He felt himself hardening and wished devoutly for it to go away; now was not the time, “That makes me suspect him all the more. Why else would he need to shield his thoughts? And how could he do so with such little apparent effort? He knows something important.”
Harry pulled away with a gasp. “Then, can’t we tell Kingsley that and use it allow us to administer veritaserum?”
He knew, even as he said it, that the answer would be no, and slumped forward once more, settling his head against Sev’s chest, soothed by the steady thump of his love’s heart beat.
“On what grounds?” Sev answered, talking more to himself than to Harry. “If Kingsley was merely imagining that look in his eye, and you were merely imagining the way he relaxed, then obviously I am merely imagining what I am sensing. And, anyway, what I did was thoroughly illegal. Had Fairncombe been slightly cleverer he would have declared he knew he was being Probed and had me arrested. No doubt he didn’t as whoever is controlling him has something else planned for us. And that concerns me, Harry, it concerns me deeply.”
Severus’ keen ears caught the sound of footsteps and gently but quickly disentangled himself from Harry. Harry looked up at him in dismay, hurt clear in those green eyes, until he too heard the footsteps and turned to face his boss.
“The Minister is rather annoyed with this investigation, Harry, and did not appreciate being disturbed during his lunch hour to be asked for a questioning extension. He …er… he has ordered that we release Fairncombe at once and drop this investigation. I am very sorry, but the case is being closed.”
“He’s been got at!” Harry cried, angry and betrayed.
Shacklebolt stepped into the small room and spoke quietly but urgently. “Very possibly, but keep that thought to yourself, for Merlin’s sake Potter!”
He span and went into the room opposite. The door closed and Harry let his head thump against the door jamb of his own room. “He’s getting away with it, Sev,” Harry moaned.
Severus slid his arms around Harry, pulling his back to Severus’ own chest. He let one hand, hidden from casual sight, drop to rub Harry’s groin. Harry moaned, but this time with desire.
“Is this…safe?” he gasped.
“No,” admitted Severus and slowed his movement. “It’s a distraction.”
“I like it!” Harry said, a small smile beginning to lighten his face.
The door opposite them opened, causing Severus to hastily pull away. Howard Fairncombe’s eyes took in the two men, took in their body language, and took in their general air of guilt and lust.
Howard Fairncombe walked out of the Ministry building and smiled.
First of all, thank you for the reviews, you’ve inspired us so much.
Fairner – Thank you for consistently reviewing; much appreciated. And we can’t tell you what’s gonna happen, can we? Where’s the fun in torturing you, we mean Harry and Sev?
PantherRain – We think Harry might just start sharing some love. *Might* if you’re a good girl!
Lila A – You have no idea how pleased we are someone commented on that. We agree with your views, as we’ve read too many stories where Harry seems to appease his guilt within about ten seconds. We’re really trying to make things more realistic, so, expect more angst! (Oh, we do enjoy living up to our name!)
Fairner – Again?! Hmm, interesting idea…
Dragonfly7 – You seem to be doing ok on the whole reviewing thing to us! And as for “Are we going to keep torturing you or do a time jump?” which do you think is more likely, given our pen name?!
FaeryQueen – Nice idea for a spell. Sadly, if Kingsley hadn’t interrupted them, Ginny would’ve! We’d decided there was NO way they were gonna screw in that chapter!
LadyNight – Of course Lucius is evil, that’s why we all love him so much! (Hmm, the hotness of him helps too!)
rose – Ah, god bless you, honey for reviewing just to bolster our confidence. You’d think, really, given how many reviews we’ve received for this story and all the other things we’ve written separately, that we’d feel a bit more confident that our writing is ok, but no, we still need those reviews!
dirty_darella – Glad the story is drawing you in still further – has the smut got anything to do with that?!
44
Harry sat down in a chair facing the student medi-wizard. Severus followed and took the chair next to Harry, shifting it slightly closer as if to allow more room for Kingsley to squeeze past in the small room. Harry just briefly touched his knee to Sev’s thigh, drawing on the older man’s closeness for strength before beginning to question the young wizard.
“What’s your name?” Harry began, consulting a sheet of paper Kingsley passed him.
“H-Howard Fairncombe,” the student stuttered, looking very young and very scared.
“Do you know why we’ve brought you here to be questioned?”
“I – I imagine it’s to do with your w - wife,” Fairncombe said, addressing Harry, “and what h-happened when she gave birth to y-your son.”
“Yes,” Severus cut in smoothly, face stern. Both Kingsley and Harry were surprised at his intervention. “Why has it taken so long for you to be questioned?” his black eyes were intense on the boy’s face.
“I-I g-got ill im-immediately a-after.” He stammered, getting worse, “I w-went to m-my uncle’s in Aus-Australia t-to recover. I-I only c-came b-back yesterday.”
Severus eyes remained fixed upon Fairncombe’s. His mouth was pursed into a thin line. He looked more and more like the Potions Master Harry had hated at school.
After asking questions and re-asking, and subtlely re-phrasing them to ensure nothing had been left out, Fairncombe was left alone whilst the three men left.
“He’s lying,” Severus said at once.
Kingsley secretly agreed, but needed to know the reasons. “What makes you say that?”
“Look at his statement,” here Severus pointed to the scroll of parchment on which an enchanted quill had noted down the questions and answers. “See, here, at the start, he stammers badly, yet here,” he scooped up part of the manuscript and pointed to a long paragraph, “he says almost the same thing without stammering, despite him being more aware of how serious the investigation is.” He paused, looking at Harry, “He’s playing a role.”
Shacklebolt gave a slow grave nod. “I think you are right, Snape. He certainly seems to grow in confidence.”
“Yes!” Harry cut in excitedly, “Did you notice? When we said we hadn’t been able to trace all the ingredients from the potion, he relaxed. It was subtle, but he relaxed. He knows that if we can find who bought the Albino Murtlap Tentacles we can intensify the investigation.”
Severus asked, “Do we have enough to request he answers questions under veritaserum?”
The head of the Auror Office shook his head. “We have suspicions, but someone could say he stopped stammering because he became more used to us, or that Harry imagined the lad relaxing, or that I imagined the look in his eyes when he answered the question about the potions’ ingredients.”
“And a pensieve would be no good as he would select the memories he gave us.” Harry mused, brows drawing together.
Shacklebolt sighed. “I don’t think we can keep him.” He turned away, “I’ll do what I can about obtaining an extension for further questioning, but I doubt it’ll be granted.” He paced away, looking more like a grizzled lion than ever.
Harry and Severus were alone in the small room they had been using for their conference. The door was open, showing them the doorway into the questioning room. Harry’s shoulders were slumped, and he looked bone weary. Severus reached down and squeezed Harry’s hand. The younger man looked up, his eyes dull with disappointment.
“I – I thought we’d finally be able to get somewhere, Sev,” he choked out, his voice bitter, “I thought we’d find who did this to Ginny.”
“Shhh,” Severus whispered softly, pulling Harry into an embrace. “Shhh,” He glanced around and listened, the corridor seemed deserted. “Everything will be fine. We’ll find out what happened, I promise.”
Harry nodded and murmured, “You were looking at him intently,” he began, Severus listened, knowing who the him referred to, “Were you using Legilimency?”
Sev squeezed Harry more tightly to him. He sometimes forgot that Harry was no idiot, that he had a dangerous and responsible job, and that he did it well. “I did,” he admitted.
“And?”
Sev allowed himself a moment of weakness to kiss Harry’s black hair, “He was shielding something, and doing so skilfully.” He felt himself hardening and wished devoutly for it to go away; now was not the time, “That makes me suspect him all the more. Why else would he need to shield his thoughts? And how could he do so with such little apparent effort? He knows something important.”
Harry pulled away with a gasp. “Then, can’t we tell Kingsley that and use it allow us to administer veritaserum?”
He knew, even as he said it, that the answer would be no, and slumped forward once more, settling his head against Sev’s chest, soothed by the steady thump of his love’s heart beat.
“On what grounds?” Sev answered, talking more to himself than to Harry. “If Kingsley was merely imagining that look in his eye, and you were merely imagining the way he relaxed, then obviously I am merely imagining what I am sensing. And, anyway, what I did was thoroughly illegal. Had Fairncombe been slightly cleverer he would have declared he knew he was being Probed and had me arrested. No doubt he didn’t as whoever is controlling him has something else planned for us. And that concerns me, Harry, it concerns me deeply.”
Severus’ keen ears caught the sound of footsteps and gently but quickly disentangled himself from Harry. Harry looked up at him in dismay, hurt clear in those green eyes, until he too heard the footsteps and turned to face his boss.
“The Minister is rather annoyed with this investigation, Harry, and did not appreciate being disturbed during his lunch hour to be asked for a questioning extension. He …er… he has ordered that we release Fairncombe at once and drop this investigation. I am very sorry, but the case is being closed.”
“He’s been got at!” Harry cried, angry and betrayed.
Shacklebolt stepped into the small room and spoke quietly but urgently. “Very possibly, but keep that thought to yourself, for Merlin’s sake Potter!”
He span and went into the room opposite. The door closed and Harry let his head thump against the door jamb of his own room. “He’s getting away with it, Sev,” Harry moaned.
Severus slid his arms around Harry, pulling his back to Severus’ own chest. He let one hand, hidden from casual sight, drop to rub Harry’s groin. Harry moaned, but this time with desire.
“Is this…safe?” he gasped.
“No,” admitted Severus and slowed his movement. “It’s a distraction.”
“I like it!” Harry said, a small smile beginning to lighten his face.
The door opposite them opened, causing Severus to hastily pull away. Howard Fairncombe’s eyes took in the two men, took in their body language, and took in their general air of guilt and lust.
Howard Fairncombe walked out of the Ministry building and smiled.