I Know You
I Know You
“I know you.”
Harry turned around, slightly startled by the voice, only for that surprise to melt into heartache as he met Severus’ eyes. Five years of seeing those eyes, but there being nothing looking back at him, not the way there was before. Five years since he’d had to sacrifice it all to save everything that now surrounded him. Five years that he’d felt like nothing more than a shell of himself while having to pretend and function as though he were fine.
But he wasn’t fine. He would never be fine because those words weren’t true, not in the way he needed them to be.
But he had to pretend, had to continue on, had to live with the fact that what he’d had would never again be his.
So, he smiled with false bemusement.
“Of course you know me,” he said. “We’ve known each other for years. You were my professor, we fought together, and we’ve worked together for years now. I’d be worried if you didn’t know me.”
He forced a chuckle and took a sip of his wine.
His heart beat painfully as his mind so unhelpfully reminded him of the years spent in Severus’ life, good and bad. Years as student and teacher, at each other’s throats. Years as comrades in a war that went on far longer than it was ever meant to, years in which they grew to be so much more. Years as Ministry colleagues, working in the same department and then paired up by supervisors to be permanent partners. For how cruel the fates could be to have their paths continue to intersect so closely when they could never be.
He took the moment following his response to glance around at the party taking place, just a small celebration for…something. Honestly, he never really knew. He showed up because he had to as a Ministry employee and for the alcohol. He didn’t particularly care what the parties were for.
“It is more than that,” Severus said, voice low and Harry looked back at him, trying to settle his hurt heart and wishing Severus would just…stop. He couldn’t do this.
“I’m not sure what you want me to say,” he replied with a small shrug that he was sure relayed the sadness he tried so hard to hide from his colleague and friend. He couldn’t help his slight frown when Severus took a small step closer to him, bringing them within inches of each other.
“I…know…you,” Severus repeated in a murmur, sounding so much like he used to that it made Harry swallow thickly and blink rapidly to contain his agonized reaction. “I know you.”
“Severus, please…” Harry whispered, eyes stinging and throat tightening.
Severus stepped closer again, bringing their chests together and his lips to Harry’s ear.
“I know you. I know your thoughts. I know your dreams. I know your fears. I know your hurts,” Severus whispered into his ear and Harry’s breathing hitched, eyes fluttering shut.
“Severus…stop.”
It was all a lie. He couldn’t hear it. Why would Severus do this to him?
How could fate be so cruel?
“I know your smell,” Severus continued and Harry’s eyes flew open, gazing wildly over Severus’ shoulder as the man continued to speak into his ear. “I know your taste. I know your touch.”
Harry couldn’t help it, he had to step back, he had to see…
He met the black eyes and saw…
“I know your heart. I know your love,” Severus murmured. “I know you.”
And when their lips touched, Harry saw everything again.
Fin