Harry
Harry
Harry felt like an idiot after Nott and Malfoy told him what he’d done. He liked Millie, but thoughts of marriage were a long way off. He hoped she hadn’t taken it the way they said. Not that the idea of kissing Millie, holding her hand, maybe doing more, when he was much older, was such a bad one. He’d even dreamed about her… the less said the better about that. It had involved some embarrassingly messy sheets and a hurried shower when he woke up. Gods.
Of course, he’d thought about Ginny this summer, before he’d been taken out of his Aunt’s house. The thing was, she never made his stomach feel all swoopy like he was flying, not the way Millie did when she accidentally touched his hand or smiled at him. He may have just thought about Ginny because she was part of a warm and loving family. It was something he’d really wanted. And then Snape had taken him in.
He still had his moments with Snape. There were times Harry wanted to hex him and run away, but Ron had explained that there were times that he wanted to do the same to his parents, as great as they were. Maybe those feelings were just part of being a member of a family.
Family.
It was odd to think of Snape as family. He was exactly the same as he had always been, really, but without the snide and hurtful comments directed at Harry for no reason. Those had definitely stopped.
He had been wandering the halls for a bit, waiting for Snape’s office hours. His guardian had said he wanted to see him tonight. Harry suspected it was because he had an A on the last quiz in History of Magic. He couldn't help it if Binns made the entire idea of magical history boring. If the ghost had been more like Professor Tonks, talking about things as if they were happening right then…
Not that Harry wanted to make anyone relive what he’d talked about that day. That had been… horrible. Harry wasn’t sure if it was something they would have covered in Muggle school even, but it had served a purpose, he supposed.
Draco, Nott and several other Slytherins had left the class visibly shaken. Maybe they saw the parallels. He hoped so. He liked Nott and Malfoy. They were good blokes once you got past the poncy posh crap they lived by. He didn't want to have to face them across a battlefield if it came to that.
He finally arrived in front of Snape’s office door. It stood ajar and as Harry knocked, he saw Snape was grading some poor sod’s essay. It was covered in red ink.
“Enter.” Snape said as he put aside the parchment. When he saw Harry, Snape gave him that tiny, pinched smile that was reserved only for him. It made Harry feel warm, that smile.
“Sit down, Harry.” Snape said. “I’ve ordered tea.”
Harry almost groaned. It wasn’t about school. Snape only used his name when he talked to him about something personal. He sat in the uncomfortable chair across from Snape, bracing himself for whatever horribly embarrassing thing he wanted to discuss.
The tea popped into existence on Snape’s desk. The tray held a few pieces of shortbread, some tiny iced cakes, and a plate of cucumber sandwiches. Harry helped himself whilst Snape waited. He poured tea for them both in the waiting cups, added sugar and milk to his, rested a cake on his saucer and waited for Snape to talk.
It didn't take long for the man to say, “Miss Bulstrode…”
Harry interrupted, his face suddenly flaming. “I already know…Malfoy and Nott already told me what I did. I like her, but I don’t think we’re ready for marriage, not yet… or ever…maybe.”
There was that fleeting, tight smile again, this one tinged with a bit of amusement. Snape opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. He took a long, shuddering breath, and even so, his voice was laced with mirth as he asked, “Why, exactly, did Mr Nott and Mr Malfoy think that you were ready for marriage to Miss Bulstrode?”
Harry hung his head, unable to bear that Snape, who was so posh, would think him such a wally. He rushed the words out of his mouth, “IboughtheralocketforValentines.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Snape asked.
Harry glanced up. Snape’s eyebrows were raised almost to his hairline, his mouth in an O of surprise. His eyes sparkled with mirth, however, making Harry cringe inwardly. “I bought her a locket for Valentine's day. Because. I. Like. Her. I didn’t know it meant I wanted to marry her.”
“It doesn’t mean exactly that.” Snape leaned back in his chair, his features falling into their normal blankness, which suited Harry just fine. He didn’t know what he would do if Snape outright laughed at him, especially if he did it because he liked Millie. He had already had an earful from Hermione about who he liked. He didn’t need Snape doing it too.
After a lengthy silence Snape asked, “Have you spoken to Miss Bulstrode about the misunderstanding?”
Harry blushed furiously. “Yea…ah…Yes, sir. She said she thought I didn’t know what it meant.”
“So there is no problem.” Snape announced. “I am proud of you for taking it upon yourself to clear up a situation which, if it had been another girl, might have been a serious misstep.”
Harry took a gulp of his tea then stuffed the small sandwich in his mouth, to Snape’s apparent disgust. Once he had swallowed, he stood, “So, can I go?”
“You may be excused, Harry.” Snape said and waved his hand, once again turning his attention to the pile of essays he had been grading.
As Harry reached for the door handle he turned and asked, “Can you teach me how to be posh like you, Sir?”
“Get out, Potter.” Snape intoned. Harry left the room but as he shut the door, he heard his guardian say, mirth shading his voice, “He’s going to be the death of me.”