Chapter 46
Chapter 45
Harry let out a groan once they were back in the rooms that they shared. “Are all Pureblood dinners that intense?!”
“Hmmm?”
“You know what I mean Severus,” Harry shot back upon seeing the Potion Master’s raised brow. “I get having Deidric associate more with people close his age but damn….Pansy was really feeling him out! Imagine if he’d told them he was the new Lord Black.”
“She would very likely have cornered him after dinner to make a move,” Severus stated as he knew his Slytherins all too well.
“She’s 15!” Harry uttered looking aghast.
“Yes and at that age most Pureblood families start with finding marriage partners for their children. Miss Parkinson and other pureblood ladies grew up in an environment where such talk was normal. They are more…. Pragmatic in their choices of future spouses and know that love usually does not factor into it.”
“That is kind of sad,” Harry mumbled.
“I think Miss Parkinson might have ulterior motives than just finding a good match but I will address those with her myself,” Severus stated though he didn’t elaborate. “What I wished to talk to you about was the herbal bath. Before meeting you in the library I had given Tibsby a list of herbs I will need. She assured me that it would be ready tomorrow night.”
“So you mean….”
“Yes, hopefully, it will cure your… affliction. If not… then we might need to consult darker texts.” Severus stated. “A Veritaserum purge has never been done before,”
Harry nodded but Severus continued as he produced a beige envelope. “This also came,” The Potion Master said. “From Madam Bones. We have a meeting with her tomorrow morning at the Bones estate,”
“Not at the Ministry?” Harry questioned.
“According to the missive the choice of location is for privacy reasons,” Severus stated. “The only question that remains is if you are willing to tell her your true identity or not. It will depend on how I spin the story tomorrow,”
Harry took a deep breath. “In my reality, Amelia Bones died in 1996. I never got to work with her when I became Lord Potter-Black though she was known as a pragmatic and fair person,” He scratched the side of his temple for a moment. “I have a feeling that everything will be coming to a head soon. The thing I am most worried about is that we’ve not heard news about Dumbledore for a while now. It’s quiet… too quiet. If Madam Bones can be a trustworthy confidant then I will tell her the full truth.”
“Albus is very likely plotting yes, though he cannot do much right now,” Severus stated. “I do not know the state of the Order, but seeing as we had not encountered many Order members until our visit to St. Mungos and our run-in with Moody then it is very likely that the Order is on shaky foundations.”
At Harry’s inquisitive look, Severus elaborated “We’ve seen neither hide nor hair of Lupin or Minerva. If the Headmaster was playing any mind games he’d have convinced those two to have a ‘talk’ with us. Minerva I know would probably be busy with running the school and dealing with the audit. Lupin, I don't have a clue, though as I haven’t been supplying him with the Wolfsbane, I assume he is busy dealing with that. Albus himself has the press to deal with. Skeeter’s article pressing for him to produce Harry Potter as well as the link to the Dementor attack might have sent him into hiding for now.”
“Hold on, are you talking about that drivel Skeeter published about the Headmaster giving Umbridge my address?”
“It has some interesting points of speculation though Harry,” Severus muttered. “In your reality did anyone ever discover how Dolores Umbridge knew your location at the Dursley residence? Your location was never filed with the Ministry for security reasons. The wards around the house would have also protected you from being discovered by wizards who were not privy to your friendship. Yet, your teenage counterpart received a Ministry letter for underage magic at that address when it had never happened before.”
At Harry’s shocked look, Severus added “Do not stare at me like that Mr. Potter. I know very well what spells boys try in their youth. The fact that the wards around the Dursley house were strong enough during your early school years to avoid Ministry detection only makes it more suspect that a Ministry letter addressing underage magic should arrive.”
Harry was quiet for a while before he started pacing and cursing in Parseltongue. Severus looked the other way but the hissing was getting to him.
Harry was still hissing and then turned to look at Snape expectantly though the man looked away. “Oh shit….” Harry uttered. “I was speaking snake, wasn’t I? Sorry, I slip into that when I am stressed. I didn’t even… shit, you probably have nightmares from parseltongue,”
“No… no… Mr. Potter… it is fine,” Severus uttered though he never turned to look Harry in the eye.
“Severus you won’t look me in the eye. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it destressed you so…” Harry’s hand had been on his partner’s shoulder and as he turned Snape to face him he saw a faint blush on the man’s cheeks. Harry’s eyes trailed down and he let out an “Oh!”
“Sslssashh Sseshe Hsushn Shahhe Shehhu?” Harry hissed softly as he leaned in closer to Severus, pinning him to the wall. He smirked when his partner shivered.
“May I?” Harry asked in English though he kept the lilt of parseltongue in his voice.
Severus gave a shaky nod as he felt Harry’s breath on his neck. Harry proceeded to pull out his wand and use a spell that wasn’t in Latin. Sleek silver chains shot out of Harry’s wand wrapping themselves around Snape’s arms and attaching to the ceiling. “So enticing having you bound like that,” Harry stated as one of his hands made languid circles around Severus’s still-clothed stomach. A finger casually stroked the belt keeping Snape’s trousers in place. “You know I still find it odd that you aren't in your regular robes though you donning just a dress shirt and slacks makes it easier for me to tease you. Screw all those buttons,”
“Severus… how about after we screw over dear ‘ole Dumbles I wine and dine you,” Harry proposed as his knee parted Severus’s legs. “It occurred to me that we haven’t even had a proper date yet.”
“You don’t need to,” Severus said though his voice hitched as Harry’s knee rubbed him just right.
“But I want to spoil you,” Harry crooned as his hands finally traveled down to Severus’s belt and started undoing it. “You’ve helped me out when you didn’t need to. I’ve had a crush on you since my sixth year and I was devastated when you passed in my reality. Now, I am going to spoil you rotten. Give you all the love you deserve,” He stated while snaking his hand around Severus’s hardness, eliciting a moan.