Mornie: Sorry you were so 'unreplenished' by the short chapter. Hope this makes up for the fish out of water thing, lol.
Thank you all for the reviews.
"You like Uncle Severus, don't you?"
"What makes you say that?" Harry asked innocently.
"Oh, come off it, Potter. I KNOW you like him. It may have had something to do with the fact that while we were in the Great Hall, you were about ready to jump over me and take him right then and there on the table. Honestly, Potter, I've never seen so much drool in my life. Cujo didn't drool that much, and he was rabid!"
"Ha, ha, ha!" Silence for a moment. "Was I really that obvious?"
"Only to those who have eyes! But don't worry. No one else saw you."
"Good. I think I shocked everyone enough for one day. You know, you weren't exactly discreet yourself."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the way your eyes were super-glued to Fred Weasley all afternoon."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Draco said innocently. "And what is super-glue?"
"Nevermind. If you don't want me to be in denial, then neither should you. You like him, don't you? Don't you?!"
"Was I really that obvious?" Draco asked sarcastically. "Ow!"
"Don't be an ass. Ow! Don't hit me!"
"You started it!"
"All right, all right, I'm sorry. Now let's get this essay done."
It was Wednesday, two days after Sirius Black was freed of the charges that had sent him to Azkaban. Draco and Harry were sitting in what was now Draco's room at the Black House. The 'House' was actually a mansion, twice as large as the one Draco's mother owned, and slightly larger than Snape Manor. Sirius had given Draco a room so that he and Harry could spend time together, whenever they were on holiday and wanted to stay at the House.
Sirius had business with the Ministry, tying up some odds and ends pertaining to his case, so Harry and Draco were alone for the moment. They were sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, going through their potions homework.
The night of the hearing, Sirius had insisted on accompanying Harry to the Manor, much to Severus' horror and secret amusement. Sirius had insisted that as his first night as a proper stepfather, he had earned the right to, much to Harry's mortification and embarrassment, tuck Harry into bed.
Severus had suffered Black's presence with only a glare to be seen (laughing inwardly at Harry's utter embarrassment) and now Harry was showing his appreciation by doing what Severus had been hounding him to do for the last week...his potions homework.
Harry had spent all of Tuesday with Sirius and Remus, the time spent talking and catching up with life, Sirius and Remus telling him about his parents. Remus left after lunch, on business, and Harry and Sirius spent the afternoon in animagus training. It had been a fun day, and Harry went back to Snape Manor very happy. Before he went to bed, he had talked Draco into coming with him the next day.
Harry put down his pen. "Draco, seriously. You do like Fred, don't you?"
Draco sighed, setting his quill down. "Yes, I do. I've had a crush on him since fourth year...what?"
Harry giggled, rolling onto his back. "Nothing really, it's just that Fred used to talk to me about you. You know, how hot you were, what a great Seeker's body you had, stuff like that."
Draco stared at Harry and gulped. "He did? I don't believe it!"
"He did. He thought you were a jerk, but a gorgeous, sexy jerk."
"Really?"
Harry looked at him. "Seriously. I think that if you two give each other a chance, it could work out. I know he isn't seeing anyone."
"You really think he'd like me?" Draco asked hopefully.
"Yes, Draco, I know he would. As far as I know, Fred and I were the only two gay guys in Gryffindor. Neither of us knew of any other. The Weasleys don't even know he's gay yet, except for Ron and George, and Ginny. Several of the Gryffindors knew, including Hermione. No one but you, Hermione, Ron, and of course Fred know about me. I haven't even told Sirius yet. Does Sev know about you?"
"Yeah, I told him last Christmas."
Harry nodded. "Okay. Since I'm very good at wearing Weasleys down, I'll help you snag your man."
"Thanks, Harry. I was just going to be content on watching him from afar. But if you say that there's a chance, I'll take it. I am a Slytherin, after all! I back down from no challenge!"
Harry chuckled, then sighed. "I've had enough of this essay for now. How about you?" Draco nodded, slamming his potions book closed.
Harry looked at Draco thoughtfully. "You know, Sirius is teaching me how to become an animagus, so I can spend some full moons with him and Remus. Sirius said if you want to become one, and if Sev says it's okay, he'll help you."
"Oh, that's so cool! I would love to learn, though I think I'd be too scared to go out with Lupin."
"That's okay. You don't have to. Sirius just thought you might like to learn to become an animagus. I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't mind. He approved when I asked him. His only request was that I be sure to register. You'd have to register also."
"Well, let's go ask Uncle Sev. Sirius probably won't be back for a while. Leave him a note, just in case."
Harry jotted down a quick note, telling him they were going back to the Manor to ask Severus for permission to teach Draco to become an animagus. They flooed from Draco's room to the living room fireplace.
Severus, who happened to be sitting in the living room enjoying a cup of tea, watched amusedly as the two boys came flying out of the fireplace, Harry falling on top of Draco.
"Hello, you two. Is Black already sick of you? I can't imagine why."
"Ha ha, Sev. No, he had to go finish up some last minute business at the Ministry. We came to ask you a question." Harry smiled brightly at him, and Sev got a distinct feeling he was about to be had. His suspicions doubled when Draco bounded over to the couch and sat next to him, resting his chin innocently Severus' shoulder.
"Okay, I know you want something, and it's not something small. I know I'm going to regret asking this, but what is it you two annoyances want?"
Draco took a deep breath and spoke quickly. "Uncle Severus, Sirius is teaching Harry to become an animagus, and he said he'd teach me too, if you would allow him to, and Dumbledore said it would be all right for Harry to do it as long as he registered when he succeeded, and Harry thinks Dumbledore would approve as long as I registered and I really, really, really want to do it. Please, please say I can, Uncle Sev, please?"
Severus glared at Harry and Draco. He took a deep breath and both of them winced, expecting to hear a ten-minute rant. They jumped, surprised, when Severus started laughing. "Merlin, Draco, that was a mouthful. I'm surprised you got through all that without taking a breath." Harry and Draco smiled at him.
Severus looked sternly at his two charges. "Are you sure about this? If Black so much as harms Draco-"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, come off it, Sev. You know Sirius won't hurt Draco. He's not the same stupid kid he was when you two went to school together. And he didn't even really mean to hurt you then. He's an adult now, in case you haven't noticed."
"You wouldn't know it by the way he acts."
"People could say the same thing about you," Harry shot back, heedless of the deadly glare sent his way. "Come on. You know he won't hurt him."
Harry sat next to Severus, putting his head on Severus' shoulder and wrapping an arm around his waist. Severus looked at the two looking at him with huge, innocent puppy-dog eyes and pouty lips, and groaned. "Oh, all right. You can do this, Draco, but I'm telling you, if that mangy mutt hurts either of you, I will impale him on a skewer and roast him over an open fire. And you two had better finish your potions homework, soon!"
"Thanks, Uncle Sevvy!" the two boys yelled, each throwing their arms around Severus and giving him a big kiss on the cheek, before dashing up the stairs to retrieve the animagus books that Harry had taken from Hogwarts.
Severus tried to muster up an ounce of anger and failed miserably. He just sat there staring at his teacup, wondering two things: what had he done to deserve his miserable, lonely life being shot to hell by two teenagers, and when the hell was it that he began to fall for Harry Potter?
He didn't mind the first thing; it actually made him happy. He was tired of being miserable and alone, with no one to care for, or even be cared about. Having Draco around would make life much better.
But the second? There were about a million reasons why this feeling was wrong, the least not being that if Dumbledore didn't kill him, Black most certainly would. There was also the fact that Harry would be completely repulsed if he ever found out. No, no one could ever find out his feelings for the young man.
* * * *
{Two days later}
"Mm, what a day for a swim," Harry thought, pulling on his trunks. Sirius was summoned to Hogwarts today for some unknown reason, and he would be there all day. After his mystery meeting with the Headmaster, Sirius and Remus were going to spend some time together. That gave Harry the entire day to do what he pleased, and that included a dip in Snape Manor's luxurious pool.
At breakfast, amidst much bickering and banter, Draco and Harry decided that a swim would do them both a bit of good. They had quickly and accurately finished their potions homework much to Severus' shock, and had spent the rest of the last two days reading through the animagus books. Draco had decided on a Siberian husky as his animagus form. Severus finally confessed that he too was an animagus, unregistered, and that his form was that of a Doberman. Harry and Draco thought the form was rather fitting, but didn't say anything. Death was simply not an option this early in life.
It was 9:00 in the morning. Harry looked at himself in the mirror, putting a protective spell around his eyes that would block the water, so his contacts didn't get wet and fall out. He looked at himself, and blushed as the mirror whistled and howled. He had borrowed a pair of trunks from Draco, who seemed to love to show a great deal of skin. The trunks were small, covering only the essentials. He felt quite exposed.
Harry bounded down the stairs, towel slung across his bare shoulders. He walked into the gym and made his way down to the pool.
He noticed a dark-haired form swimming in the water. As Harry got closer, he watched the lithe figure swim expertly toward the other end. Knowing that Severus couldn't see him watching, what with his face buried in the water and facing the opposite direction, Harry took time to appreciate the well-sculpted muscles of Severus' back and legs.
Seeing as he was staring at Severus, it was no surprise to Draco when Harry tripped over the radio Draco had brought down with him and went sprawling face first into the ground.
Draco fell off his chair and onto the floor laughing. "Oh my God! That was fucking hilarious! You should have seen your face when you went down. That was classic. Guess it'd teach you to watch where you're going next time!" He kept laughing as Harry sat himself upright and righted the radio. "How embarrassing! Use the Cruciatus on yourself later, dimwit! It the least you could do, putting yourself out of our misery."
"Oh, shut up!" Harry snapped, face flaming red. "If it were Fred, no doubt we would be in opposite positions right now. You're one to talk."
Draco giggled, holding his sides. "Touché. However, the fact remains that it's you in this position and not me! Therefore, laughter ensues." Draco continued his fit, undaunted by Harry's glare.
"Is everything okay?"
The two looked at Severus as he swam towards them. Draco went into yet another fit of giggles, and Harry blushed, smacking Draco on the side of the head.
"We're okay. Draco's just a little bit mental today. I think he over- studied last night, too much potions homework or something. It seems to be affecting his brain."
Severus snickered, pulling himself up out of the water, the muscles of his arms, shoulders and chest rippling as he did so, and Harry suddenly found the radio at his side quite interesting. He pushed the button to turn on the CD and the song 'I Want You To Want Me' started playing, sending Draco into further fits of hysterics.
"Oh, Uncle Sev, you just don't know how appropriate this song is!" Draco yelped as Harry pinched his arm. "Hey, don't pinch the messenger!"
Fed up, Harry unceremoniously picked Draco up and flung him into the pool. Harry turned and flashed an embarrassed smile at Severus, before being pulled into the pool by an irritated Draco. They started throwing water at each other, getting into another playful argument over who was the bigger git. ~*~
Severus watched all this with an air of amusement as he dried off. He was confused as to exactly what was so funny about the song that was playing, other than the fact that it was offensive to anyone with musical taste.
He was also curious as to what the two had been speaking of before he interrupted. Harry had looked embarrassed, and Draco was having convulsions, he was laughing so hard. He decided that it was best to let the two sort whatever it was out themselves. He was curious, but he wasn't quite sure he really wanted to know.
Taking his exit while the getting was good, Severus draped his towel over his shoulders and walked back up to his rooms. It was time to finish the Wolfsbane potion for Remus, and he would deliver it tonight. And maybe, just maybe, it would get his mind off an almost completely naked Harry Potter.
~*~ Harry watched Severus as he left the gym. /Merlin, help me/ Harry thought, his eyes roaming over Severus' well-toned body. His back was well defined and his ass...oh my god! Harry literally drooled as he watched Severus glide away, watching Severus' ass sway slightly back and forth, watching the firm muscles shift naturally.
/God, if that's what he looks like underneath his robes when he's gliding around school, I'm never going to get through double potions alive.../
Harry's concentration was lost as he felt a firm whack on the back of his head. Harry waited until he was sure Severus was out of earshot before lightly smacking Draco on the back of the head. "Ow! Remind me to hex you later, prat."
Draco looked innocent. "Why? Whatever did I do?"
Harry said nothing, just dunked Draco's head underwater before swimming away laughing. ~*~
Just as he finished capping the wolfsbane potion, Severus heard a knock on the door. He was only slightly annoyed when he opened the door to see Harry standing there. Harry found his way into Severus' wing often, usually when he had a particularly bad nightmare.
"I believe you were supposed to stay out of this wing, Mr. Potter." The 'unless it's urgent' was left unsaid.
Severus wasn't even surprised when Harry brushed past him and walked into his laboratory. Severus sighed, ruing the day he took Harry to buy those damn leather pants. It seemed to Severus that Harry wore them quite often, as if attempting to make him lose some semblance of control.
Severus, though he had to admit that Harry looked absolutely delicious in leather, had complete control of his emotions, and he would not be touching the young Mr. Potter any time soon, if ever. The fact that he was old enough to be Harry's father was not lost on him.
He turned around and let out an exasperated sigh. Harry was sitting on top of his table, next to the cauldron he had brewed the wolfsbane potion in. Harry had his face down in the cauldron. Severus could hear him sniffing.
"You know, Harry, you could have a little respect for my things," Severus said, giving Harry a light whack on his hip with his wand. "Off of my table, please. What do you want? I doubt that you came in here to lick the cauldron clean."
Severus moaned inwardly as Harry wrinkled his nose cutely. "You know, that stuff smells really disgusting."
"Then why are you sticking your nose in there?" Severus watched Harry jump off the table.
Harry shrugged and picked up the cauldron, taking it over to the sink on the other side of the room. Severus chuckled to himself as Harry turned on the water and started scrubbing the cauldron.
"Well, are you going to tell me what it is you wanted, or are you going to play maid first?"
"I just thought you could use the help. After all, you've been in here all day brewing this potion for Remy. It's the least I could do for you." Severus heard the water turn off. He looked up as Harry set the cauldron on the counter to dry.
/Actually, I've been in here trying to get the image of you naked on top of my desk while I did unspeakable things to your body off of my mind,/ Severus thought as Harry turned the water back on and scrubbed clean the ladles and bowls he had used.
To Harry he said, "In that case, thank you. You know, if you want to go with me when I take the wolfsbane to Remus, you only have to ask."
Severus looked over at Harry, who was beaming at him.
/It doesn't take much to make him happy,/ Severus mused. Lost in his thoughts, he jumped when he felt Harry's arms wrapped around his waist. He tentatively reciprocated the gesture, careful to keep Harry a safe distance away from his groin.
"Thanks, Sev! I'll go get ready. I'll be back in five minutes."
Severus smiled to himself as Harry ran out of the room. Severus waited until he was sure Harry was gone before going into his rooms. He undid his robes and unfastened his trousers, allowing his aching cock some much- needed relief.
Severus sat on his favorite chair, his hand tightly gripping his hard member, and he quickly slid his hand up and down his shaft. He couldn't believe how hard he got whenever Harry touched him. Severus' motions speeded up as he thought of Harry as he was this morning, tight little ass barely covered by flimsy swimming trunks, lips waiting to be abused by a willing mouth, nipples dying to be suckled, the outline of his cock apparent through the tight material...
Severus thrust up into his hand and he groaned as he came. He didn't still his hand until the last drop of his seed spurted from his cock. He sat there for a moment, relishing in the feeling of ecstasy before cleaning himself up and straightening his clothing. He couldn't make himself feel guilty for the little indulgence, because it was as close to Harry as he was ever going to get.
He went back to the laboratory, saddened by that thought, and finished putting things away, waiting for Harry to return.
* * * * "Hey, Sirius!" Harry launched himself into Sirius' arms as if he hadn't seen him in a month. Remus stood back, a small smile on his lips.
Severus glared, feeling a little jealous, though Harry's arms had been wrapped around him not fifteen minutes before.
Harry was glad Severus in allowed him to come with him to Hogwarts to deliver the Wolfsbane to Remus. He wanted to see the werewolf before he had to go through the change the next night.
"Here is your Wolfsbane, Lupin. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to speak with Albus about the upcoming year." Severus took his leave, telling Harry he would come find him when he was ready.
"Hey, Remy. How are you feeling?" Harry asked, hugging the werewolf tightly. Remus hugged Harry back.
"I'm doing okay. What brings you here? Did you come all the way here just to see Sirius?" Remus teased. "Couldn't wait?"
"Actually, I came here to see you, not him." Remus smiled, looking surprised. Harry understood the surprise and smiled brightly. Though he had Remus as his DADA teacher for most of the third year, he and Remus didn't know each other all too well. Harry was determined to remedy that little oversight. He also knew he didn't have to know all about Remus in order to love him. He loved him very much, and knew that once they got to know each other, it would only grow.
Sirius feigned hurt, clasping his hands to his heart and staggering backwards dramatically. "I'm wounded, wounded I tell you!"
Harry chuckled, his arm slung around Remus' shoulder. "He's weird. I don't think I want to claim him anymore." Harry looked at Remus. "You wanna be my new godfather?"
"Sure. Now let's get out of here before he figures out what we're up to." The two started running down the hall, hand in hand, a laughing Sirius following behind them.
They spent the next two hours walking around the Hogwarts grounds, talking and laughing. As they walked up the steps to the castle, Severus walked out.
"I'm ready to go, Harry. I'll meet you in Albus' office. Lupin, Black." Severus nodded to the two men, glaring only a little, and disappeared inside, leaving two surprised men and a smirking Harry in his wake.
"No rude comment? I'm shocked," Remus said.
"Sev promised me he would behave," Harry said casually. Remus was surprised, but dropped it.
"I probably won't see you tomorrow, Harry. I'm staying here tonight, and I'm going to spend the full moon with Moony."
Harry nodded. "That's perfectly fine. I'm glad Padfoot and Moony will be able to roam the Hogwarts grounds again. I'll see you in a couple of days, then. I better go before Severus gets irritated." Harry hugged Sirius, kissing him on the cheek. He engulfed Remus into a big hug as well, kissing him on both cheeks. "See you guys!"
They watched Harry dash inside. Sirius turned to Remus and saw that he was just standing there, an odd look on his face. "What's wrong, Moony?"
"Hmm? Oh nothing. He's just...Harry's never been this affectionate with me before."
"He loves you, Moony, you know that. He wasn't really joking, you know, about the godfather thing. Not about getting rid of me, but you being his new one. He considers you as much a part of his family as me. He adores you."
Remus looked at Sirius, his eyes shining with tears. "You really think so? You think I have a place in his life?" Remus had thought that Harry wouldn't need him, except as a link to his father. Remus had loved Harry very much when he was a baby, and he missed being a part of his life. Harry was probably the closest he'd get to a child of his own.
Sirius pulled Remus into his arms and kissed him gently. "Of course you do. Harry and I have discussed all this. He has no problem with you being a werewolf; he's not scared of you at all. Trust me, he wants you in his life, and not just because you knew his parents. He told me he didn't care if you had never known them; he'd still feel the same. He thinks you're special, and so do I. Besides, you are in MY life, and I'm not letting you go again."
Sirius kissed away Remus' tears and the two walked arm and arm into Hogwarts.
* * * *
"Come on, Draco, get up!" Harry yelled, ripping the blankets off the bed. "We're supposed to meet Ron and 'Mione at Sirius' in an hour! Get up!"
"Don't want to. Wanna sleep," mumbled Draco, burying his face in his pillow.
"Yes, you are. We talked about this. Your first step to snagging Fred is to be friendly with Ron. Now up!" Draco turned over and glared at the dark- headed man.
Harry threw open the curtains, letting sunlight fill the room. Draco groaned, pulling a pillow over his head. "Go 'way!" a muffled voice yelled. "Wanna sleep."
"Oh bother!" Harry walked to the fireplace and threw some floo powder in. "Sev....SEV!"
"God, Harry, what? You don't have to yell!" Severus yelled, sticking his head into the room. "What do you want?"
"Draco's being a complete prat. We're supposed to be at Sirius' house in an hour, and the big git won't get his ass up. How in the world are you supposed to have your day of rest, free of the annoyances that are Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, if one of them won't rise? You know it takes him nearly an hour just to groom himself," Harry teased. Draco took the pillow away long enough to stick his tongue out at Harry.
"Well, there is a way..." Severus said, an evil smile forming as he came completely into the room through the fireplace. He dusted himself off and leaned over to whisper into Harry's ear. Harry had to concentrate very hard in order to understand Severus' words. Severus' breath on his ear and neck was quite distracting. Once he got the gist of Severus' plan, Harry turned and grinned at the older wizard.
Severus stepped back, blushing lightly. Looking straight into Harry's eyes while Harry was mere inches away was not a bright idea. Not when those kissable lips were still... /No, I did not just think that./
Harry looked at Severus curiously but decided now was not the time to ask questions. He nodded as Severus motioned for him to climb onto the other side of the bed. As he did that, Severus climbed onto the near side of the bed. Severus looked at Harry and mouthed, "One...two...three!"
Draco yelped in surprise and then started howling with laughter as Severus and Harry started tickling him. Severus knew that Draco was indeed very ticklish, and sometimes the only way to get him out of bed was to tickle him out.
"S-stop! Oh, p-p-please," Draco cried, giggling madly. "Y-you t-two are s-s- uch p-p-prats!" Draco fought his way off the bed. Once his feet hit the floor, he half glared at the two still sitting on the bed giggling like morons. He broke into a grin when Severus and Harry collapsed into more hysterics because of Draco's disheveled state: his boxers were all twisted and his shirt was wadded up into his armpits. He continued grinning as Severus and Harry wrapped themselves around each other, neither one realizing what it was they were doing in their joviality.
"Well, while you two are having a good laugh at my expense, I'm going to shower." Draco ran off to the bathroom, leaving them to their own devices.
Harry and Severus watched Draco scramble from the room, trying to catch their breath. When their laughter was under control, they finally looked at each other, realizing at once how compromising their positions were. Harry was halfway draped over the right side of Severus' body, his left arm across Sev's chest and his hand curled behind Sev's neck. Severus had his right leg draped over Harry's left leg and his right arm was firmly wrapped around Harry's waist, effectively pinning the teenager to himself. They looked deep into each other's eyes, neither one daring nor wanting to move and destroy the moment.
"What's for breakfast?" Draco yelled from the shower, effectively ruining the moment, sending both men scrambling off the bed, Harry falling with a thump to the floor. Severus stumbled to his feet, a little more gracefully than Harry's performance.
"Uh...I think we're having waffles, eggs, bacon and hash browns," Harry called, not really knowing what they were having, and not really caring at the moment. His face was scarlet, and he couldn't quite look Severus in the eyes.
Severus was having the same problem. His face was flushed, and he was mortified that he had allowed his feelings for Harry to be so apparent. He mumbled, "Uh, I...I have to go, uh, finish a potion."
Harry grinned despite his embarrassment. As Severus was about to turn and leave, Harry said, "It's nice to see you have an excellent command of the English language."
Severus' head shot up and he looked at Harry. He was surprise to see that Harry wasn't repulsed by what he had seen in his eyes. /Curious/ he thought to himself. To Harry, he said, "I see you've finally decided to use your one brain cell on acquiring some wit."
Harry chuckled. "Glad you approve. So...what are you going to do today, now that your 'annoyances' will be gone?" Harry asked.
"I'm going to rest, read a little, possibly go for a swim." Severus' eyebrow raised in amusement as he watched Harry turn yet another brilliant shade of red that was absolutely adorable. He felt a familiar tightening in his groin and decided a change of scenery was definitely in order. "I think I'll go and..."
"Finish that potion?" Harry teased, looking up.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, I believe that's where I said I was going a moment ago. Nice to see you can pay attention. Use those observational skills in class, and you just might do better than pass by the skin of your teeth."
Curious as to what kind of response Severus would give, Harry grinned seductively and sauntered over to Severus, stopping just in front of him. "Well, if I'm bad, you could always give me some extra credit, or just punish me in...with detention."
Harry's grin grew wider as Severus took his turn to blush. Harry decided that Severus fully understood his double entendre. Severus said, "I think I'll go..."
"Finish your potion. You said that already."
"The keen observation. Keep it up." Severus quickly glided out of the room.
Harry spun around as he heard Draco laughing from the doorway. Draco walked to the closet, a towel wrapped around his waist. He was rubbing his hair dry with another towel. "So did I miss anything significant?"
"Not really."
"I saw the whole 'extra credit/detention' move. Very nice. I've never seen Uncle Sev that flustered before. He most definitely finds you attractive. You know, of course, he won't touch you unless you give him little choice. He is a man of honor. You're his student and a lot younger, though the age thing won't matter once you're sixteen."
"You think he won't-"
"Oh, I think he would, but he's afraid, I can already tell you that. He's always been afraid to give his heart away. He did it once, that I remember, before you knew him, and it ended very badly. Plus there's the fact that he doesn't think he's deserving of love, but you can rid him of that easily. Just so you know, there is nothing in the rulebook at Hogwarts about student-teacher relationships. As long as both are of the age of consent and both are completely willing, there is nothing to stop them."
"So there won't be a problem? At least not with that aspect?"
"Probably not. Especially when it concerns you. You've just rid the world of the biggest pain in the ass of our time, not to mention Voldemort!" Harry sneered at Draco's cheeky grin. "Your problem will be with Uncle Sevvy. It matters to him that you are his student. And with your age, he'll be afraid that once you've played with him for a while, you'll just throw him away and find someone better."
"There is no one better!" Harry shouted, before the heat rose again in his face. He felt like hitting himself. "I swear, I've blushed more times in one hour than I have in my whole life!"
Draco smiled sympathetically. "You really do love him, don't you? I didn't realize just how much until now."
Harry sighed and nodded. He had thought of nothing else since he came to the realization at Hogwarts. "Yeah, I do love him. I don't want anyone else. Hell, I don't even look at other guys anymore, not like that. I haven't since I started liking him. I mean, I see a guy that I know is handsome, and I feel nothing. It's just like I feel when I see a beautiful girl. I appreciate the fact that they're easy on the eyes, but I feel nothing. It's almost like looking at a piece of art. But when I look at Sev...my entire body just melts. I feel like I'm falling, and I never hit the ground. I could just get lost in him forever."
Draco grinned. "Mate, you've got it bad." Draco finished dressing and stepped out of the closet, sporting jeans and a black tank top, the same as Harry.
"So, what do I do, other than convince him to be with a student who's sixteen, and convince him I'll never break his heart?"
"Well, until you turn sixteen, nothing except make sure he knows just how desirable you are. Shouldn't take much. We'll work on some things later. Hey, when is your birthday?"
"Oh, July 31st."
"Whoa, that's not that many days away. Shouldn't be too hard then. Now let's get some breakfast and get out of here. I think Uncle Sev may need some time to cool down!"
Harry looked at him curiously. "What about your hair? Don't you have to put all that crap on it?"
"No, I'm going to take your advice and leave it natural. You know, see what happens." Harry had told Draco that he looked much better when his hair wasn't all slicked back and hard, and that he was much sexier that way. Fred had thought that he would look sexy with it natural as well. That was enough to convince Draco.
"Okay. Let's go then." * * * *
The day with Ron, Hermione and Sirius went rather well. Ron and Draco were wary around each other for the first couple of hours, but Sirius' jokes and pranks loosened them up considerably. By the end of the day, Draco and Ron had become comfortable enough around each other to actually crack jokes at one another, and get into a friendly game of wizard's chess.
When Harry and Draco flooed back to the Manor, Severus was sitting on the couch reading. He looked up as the two boys came falling into the room.
"Graceful as always, I see. So, did you have fun? I know I did."
"Ha, ha, Uncle Sev! You know you missed us!" Draco smiled down at his uncle.
"I know no such thing. It's late. You two should get off to bed. I've decided that I will be tutoring the both of you tomorrow in Potions, so you had better get some sleep."
Draco groaned, grimacing at Harry. "I knew it was too good to last. Here we go."
Harry laughed. "I already knew I'd be having tutoring. He decided that before I set foot in the Manor. I'm not complaining though. I could use the tutoring," Harry told Draco, giving him a grin that would make the Cheshire cat jealous.
Draco returned the look. "Good night, then." Draco kissed Severus on the cheek and gave Harry a hug, much to Harry and Severus' surprise, and bounded out of the room.
Severus looked at Harry. "I see you two are getting along. I'm glad. How did it go between Weasley and Draco?"
"Actually, it went better than expected, thanks to Sirius. Some jokes and harmless pranks set the two at ease after a couple of hours. By the time Hermione and Ron left, I think I would be safe to say you could put them into a room together and they'd come out more or less unscathed."
"That's good news. You think they'll help protect Draco?"
"Of course. They're Gryffindors, and I expect to have Draco fully entrenched in the 'Golden Trio' by the time school starts. The others will just have to find a new name for us."
"Yes, a trio is not made up of four. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the school reacts. You're going to upset the school's balance. Good. It's about time someone did."
Harry laughed. "I guess I'd better get some sleep. I know what a slave driver you can be," Harry teased, laughing again when Severus sneered. Harry leaned over and gave Severus a lingering kiss on his cheek, quite close to the corner of his mouth, before whispering, "Good night."
Severus watched Harry longingly as he casually walked from the room.
Harry was fully aware of the gaze that followed him from the room.