This is just a quicky, a bait if you will ^_^ I'll probably post the next chapter(9) tonight if I have time. And for all of you that have been asking, I've figured out how to authorize anonymous reviews, yah! So I can get more reviews now! (I just love reading my reviews) Thankyou for all of you that have reviewed, but question: should I bring Severus into a relationship of some kind?
Lady Shadow
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Eight: The Heart-to-Heart

Harry was headed to his quarters when Severus suddenly caught up to him.

"Harry, I need to talk to you." He said simply before pulling Harry into his own rooms. Harry sat on Severus bed and waited for the potions professor’s 'talk'. "Harry...I didn't want to have this conversation with you, but I need to." Severus pulled a chair over and sat across from the young teacher. "I need to warn you about Draco. I don't think I have to remind you that you’re a teacher now, and Draco is still a student, but I’m not sure you understand the implications. I, of course, will say nothing. Likewise, Dumbledore had his own student/teacher relationship when he was teacher, so he's more than likely to look over it, but if any other teacher or student finds out about the relationship, he'll be obliged to take action. If you were a normal teacher, you would just lose your job. However, since you are in a special circumstance, you could be expelled. Now, Hagrid was lucky that Dumbledore was able to give him a job, but it is extremely hard, almost impossible, for an expelled wizard-even the famous Harry Potter-to find a job in the wizarding world. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded confidently enough; he did understand the situation and hadn't been planning on revealing his and Draco's relationship anyway. Though this is where the conversation should have come to an end, Severus took a deep breath and started again. "Also, if your intimate relationship with Draco were to become popular knowledge...it could prove fatal for Draco..." Harry's eyes narrowed.

"Actually, I am glad you said something about Draco. I would like to talk to you about him for a moment if I may." he took a deep breath and arranged himself more comfortably while trying to formulate his question. "I can't really put this question in to words, so I'm going to take a more roundabout approach if you don't mind...Um...can we talk about my sex life for a minute" Severus made a choking sound and looked at Harry sternly.

"Your sex life?" Harry started laughing.

"Odd that I would want to talk to you of all people about that, but yes, my sex life." The potion's master took a deep breath and then nodded, oddly touched that Harry would be willing to talk to him about such an intimate thing.

"Okay, shoot. I'll try not to laugh." Harry appreciated the joke and laughed softly, green eyes glittering under his glasses.

"I'm going to pretend you're not here and just launch into it. As I told Draco, I was far, far from being a virgin when I entered this relationship. In fact I've probably slept with half the school by now, I know, I know, I'm a slut, but it's different with Draco...okay...um...our first time. It was in the morning in that god-forsaken closet...he had fallen asleep in my arms due to a lack of room, but when I woke up...I don't know what I was thinking, but I wanted him. At that point it was just sex. Purely a sexual action. I just starting kissing his neck-I thought he was asleep-but he woke up and he just suddenly said 'oh, god stop.' I was dissapointed, but I determinded not to be turned down so I gave it another try and I licked his ear...I know, too much information, but you need to hear the details...I asked him if he was sure he wanted me stop, when he said nothing I started pulling away-after all, I'm not a rapist-then he suddenly turned around and kissed me. I was so surprised that for a minute I couldn't even react, but I eventually did. When we broke he had this look in his eyes; like he was...afraid. I thought that maybe he was a virgin so I was going to go easy. I was really gentle, but his eyes just started storming up like he was going to cry...so I went gentler still. When I moved to take his pants off I swear he panicked for a minute, but he calmed down. I told him I wanted to feel him inside of me-if you wanted to know, I've never been taken before-He tensed and his eyes got wide and he really looked scared. Then he said he wanted to be around me, I decided not to press, so I found some petroleum jelly as use for a lubricant, but when I started preparing him, he started crying. Then the way he was moving...he really didn't like it, so even though he wasn't really prepared I took my fingers out and just took him like that. When I was seated he seemed relieved so to speak...I remained still for a while trying to make up for the lack of preparation, and he got that terrified look again, so I started moving. Skipping ahead, by the time he came, he was in uncontrollable tears. I was confused, and by this time I could tell he was no virgin so I didn't know what was wrong. I thought maybe I had hurt him." Harry shook his head as though he were still confused on Draco's actions. "But when I tried to pull out, he wouldn't let me...I had to promise not to leave him before he'd let me. And the oddest thing about those first few days in particular was this: I've never really had a steady relationship of any kind, it was like some unspoken understanding between all of my lovers and I that once it was done, it was done. Not so with Draco. He's so affectionate, but he's really insecure. Especially in those first couple of days he always needed some kind of attention, some kind of reasurement. And oddly enough, I wanted to give it to him. And even now, every time we've had sex or even just fooled around- which has honestly not been that much-he gets that look. Like he's scared of me...or something I do that reminds him of something that frightens him..." Harry's tone implied that this was where Severus was supposed to jump in with an explanation. When he didn't, Harry continued. "You know him better than I do...you've known him longer than I have...what's wrong? What has happened to him that's been so traumatic that he would be afraid of me...what has happened to make him so insecure?" Severus pursed his lips and refused to say anything for a long moment.

"Harry, I don't have a right to tell you that...all I can tell you is this, Draco's life, namely his parents, hasn't been kind to him. Technically, he shouldn't even be half as confident as he is- which I'm sure you've noticed- isn't as much as he likes to make the world believe. With what he's seen and been through, it's a wonder he hasn't killed himself. But that's as far as I'm going. If Draco wants you to know, he will tell you. Or maybe you should ask him. Harry just let me warn you this: If you hurt that boy...I will tear you apart...slowly. And believe me, being a former Death Eater, I know a few things about slow painful deaths. He's so fragile...it wouldn't take much to break him...and you won't break him." Harry stood up, a slight smile on his face.

"Severus, though I've not told him this yet...I think I love Draco. I wouldn't hurt him for anything." Harry said, looking down at him, one hand resting on the older man's shoulder. "Was there anything else?" Severus shook his head, searching Harry's face for any kind of deceit and finding none. He smiled, and Harry abruptly leaned down and wrapped his arms around the professor’s neck. Dropping to his knees he looked up at his teacher. His friend-as odd as the concept was. "You know...you really are so much different than I would have thought. I like you like this...you really shouldn't try to hide yourself like you do." Severus smirked.

"Now why would I do that? I wouldn't be able to make students soil their robes in fright anymore." He commented dryly.

"And unfortunately for you, you will never be able to scare the hell out of me anymore either. You've been declawed little kitty." Harry teased over one shoulder as he headed for the door. "Goodnight, Sev." Severus reared back.

"Sev?!" He sputtered. Harry only laughed.

Back in his own rooms, Harry leaned up against the wall and sighed. Something was wrong with Draco. He knew it, and he was going to find out what. Harry began undressing, tossing his robes and clothing carelessly over a chair and wishing his resident knight a goodnight before falling into his bed and trying to sleep, though he knew he wouldn't.