Severus Snape sighed as his quill scratched along the parchment in front of him. “There is only two days before a new term starts, I have been busy all summer either helping rebuild Hogwarts or stocking the hospital wing up for Poppy, Minerva has already been lenient with my lesson plans, she must have them today so I don't have time for anything Lucius.”
Lucius Malfoy blinked. “I made no sound. I would still like to know how you do it.”
“Twenty years a spy helps.”
“Yes. The very reason I have come to see you. Have you seen the Daily Prophet today by any chance?”
“That is not worth the rags it's written on.”
“Looks like todays is. I say Severus, no wonder you fought for the light side if that was your reward.”
Severus slammed his quill down and looked up at the man in front of him. “You have five seconds to state your business!”
Lucius merely smirked and took the paper out of his coat and dropped it on the desk.
Severus looked down at the paper and saw a picture of Harry smiling at him. The headline above read:
Fighting in the war was hard, but falling in love with Severus Snape was easy.
“Why didn't you say anything?”
“Because it is no one else's business.”
Lucius chuckled. “Looks like it's everyone's business now. Get ready for the howlers. I can just hear them now, ‘how dare you take that poor innocent boy against his will’." Lucius chuckled. "But in all seriousness. How did you make it easy for him to fall in love with you Severus?”
“I didn't look or treat him as James, I told him stories of his mother, I didn't look or treat him as the boy who lived. I saw and treated him as Harry and I listened.”
Lucius nodded. “No wonder he fell in love with you easily. You gave him the one thing no one did. You saw him as he wanted to be seen.” He looked closely at his friend and nodded. “I will leave you to it old friend, I just thought I'd warn you.”
Severus watched Lucius go and looked down at his parchment and sighed. He knew he'd not finish it now until he talked to Harry.
Apparating to the Burrow, Severus sighed when he heard shouting from inside the house.
“This is Snape!” He heard Ron yell.
“Given as I am, as you say, letting him bugger me, I do know who Snape is.” He heard Harry snap back.
Severus walked into the Burrow as Hermione spoke. “Ron please, you said you'd be supportive.”
“I have been supportive with him through everything but this draws the line. It's Snape!”
“You haven't supported me through everything! Yes Severus has his faults but he owns up to them all, can you say the same?”
“Yes!”
“Okay then, let's tell everyone here what happened when camp-”
“Harry!” Severus snapped.
Harry jumped and turned to see Severus standing there. “Severus…”
“You do not lose your friendship over me. If Mister Weasley is uncomfortable with me being with you than I shall simply not be around when he comes to see you.”
Harry looked at Ron while pointing at Severus. “You see this? This is the Severus no one sees, he doesn't care about himself, he never has, he even accepted that he would fight a war saving everyone with them all hating him and he would die alone and unloved. How many men do you know who will do that?”
“Harry mate until six months ago you hated him.”
“Yes I did, because I was blind Ron. I hated him because Severus made it so I would. That's what he had to do, Ron!”
Severus stepped forwards. “All through your school years I had to make it so you hated me and favour the Slytherin's because the biggest majority of Slytherin's had parents who were death eaters. The students tell their parents, they in turn tell the dark lord. I made a promise when I found Lily dead. I would do all I could to protect who she gave her life for. Even if that meant he had to hate the sight of me. One thing that I vowed to do when he entered Hogwarts was treat him as what he was. Not the boy who lived, not a hero, not the famous Harry Potter. Just a normal student called Harry.”
Hermione smiled. “That is all he wanted.”
Severus nodded. “Harry, a private word.”
Harry smiled and after excusing himself, he led Severus from the Burrow.
“Follow them.” Molly said.
Ron stared at his mother. “What?”
“The only one who can't see that Severus makes Harry happy is you. Follow them and you see how Severus speaks to and treats Harry when he thinks they are alone.”
Hermione waved her wand over Ron. “There. Just make no sound. Don't even breath loudly.”
Harry came to a stop so far away from the Burrow. “What's wrong?”
“What's wrong is I only have a few hours to turn in my lesson plans to Minerva when Lucius kindly showed me the paper.”
“I'm sorry. It's just when you said we can tell everyone I actually had the daily prophet work in my favour for once. Print the truth before they find out another way and print what they like.”
“And the truth was fighting the war was hard but falling in love with me was easy?” Severus asked, eyebrow raised.
“Well it was!”
Severus chuckled and cupped Harry's face. “It looks like I got here just in time. You were about to throw Ronald under the bus. You do not tell them that he left you while on the run. If they are to know, it has to come from him. You do not lose your friends over me.”
Harry reached up and curled his fingers around Severus’ wrists. “If I do it won't be through my choice. It will be through Ron as he obviously thinks our friendship is more important than my happiness.” Harry sighed. “Why can't he be happy for me?”
“He will be eventually Harry, he just needs time and needs to see for himself that what you say is true, although it will take time. It took me a while to believe your words.”
Harry laughed and leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on the older man's lips.
“Now go and make your excuses and say goodbye. You owe me some help. Your exclusive in the paper has put me behind. You can sweet talk Minerva and tell her it is your fault I am late with lesson plans.”
Harry laughed and pulled out of Severus’ hold. “Okay. Be right back.”
Severus watched as Harry ran back into the Burrow. “You hurt him again, Mister Weasley and I will hurt you.”
Ron jumped and blinked. “How did you know I am here? Hermione did the charm.”
Severus looked to where the voice sounded and raised a single brow and simply answered. “Spy.”
The end.