Choice
Choice
Request from: BrittanyDunaway
Harry flinched and scrambled to grab the paper as it hit him in the chest harder than he thought possible from a newspaper. He unfolded it and found the front page article that he and Severus had just read that morning detailing their accomplishments at the Ministry and the award they were to be given in a couple of weeks for their work. It was the first time their partnership had been written about, making him sigh as he realized what was about to happen.
He lowered the paper and looked at Sirius with trepidation. He supposed he should consider himself lucky that it was only Sirius he had to deal with at that moment and not his entire group of friends and family.
“It’s been Snape all along?” Sirius said angrily. “Five years and you never thought to tell me that Snape was your work partner and fuck buddy?”
Harry winced again at the tone and words, though his eyes hardened at the horrible implication. “You know that’s not what he is, Sirius. I’m in love with him. You know that, you just didn’t know who it was, and you didn’t know for this very reason. I knew this was how you’d react.”
“And how else am I supposed to react?” Sirius snapped. “I don’t know what’s worse, fucking Snape or thinking you’re in love with him.”
Harry frowned. “I don’t think anything, I am in love with him.”
“Guess you’re the fuck buddy then,” Sirius said and Harry glared.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Harry said. “He loves me.”
“Impossible, he’s a monster,” Sirius scoffed. “Everything he did.”
“No, I’m not talking about anything from the war. You know why he did what he did and I’ve forgiven him. I’ve moved on,” Harry said. “This has nothing to do with any of that.”
“You’re right,” Sirius said. “This is about you being out of your damn mind.”
Hurt bloomed in Harry’s heart. “Why does it matter who he is as long as I’m happy?”
Sirius gave a harsh laugh. “You’re either delusional or I actually don’t know you.”
“What?”
“You can make this entire situation better by telling me this is all a huge joke or something,” Sirius said.
“I…it’s not,” Harry said. “Sirius, I love him more than anything and he makes me happier than I’ve ever been.”
The look Sirius gave him was so full of hate and disgust that Harry took a physical step back.
“Goodbye, kid, and good luck,” Sirius said, turning and yanking the door open.
“Wait, what? What the hell is happening?” Harry said, his head spinning.
“I refuse to accept this,” Sirius said. “You could have picked anyone, anyone but Snape. Until you do, I can’t, I just can’t.”
Harry’s heart was pounding painfully at the words. He was being forced to choose? Sirius was going to walk out of his life because of his relationship?
“I…I can’t…I won’t leave him, Sirius,” Harry said.
“Then I won’t be here when he leaves you because you know, somewhere, that this will never last, that he isn’t capable of anything you think he is,” Sirius said. “So, good luck, kid.”
Harry watched, helpless and agonized, as the door closed behind his godfather. After several silent, yet echoing seconds, hands landed on his shoulders and pulled him gently back against Severus’ chest, the man’s arms sliding around his chest to hold him close. Harry bowed his head and a tear fell down his cheek.
“I never wanted you to choose,” Severus said quietly.
“I know,” Harry whispered, “but you were always going to be my choice anyway.”
It was true, but it didn’t help the pain in his heart in that moment. One day it would, but not that day.
Fin