Measured Love

Severus

*No, not that one!* Draco signed and pulled the old black button-up away from Severus. *What would you do if I weren’t here?* 

Severus growled and signed. *I would have worn the shirt that I just picked out! What is wrong with that one?* He gave up and sat down on his bed. Draco would pick out his outfit and he would wear it. Severus had more important things to think about at this time. This was the first date with the man that he could see a future with.

*This date is outside, you can’t wear your normal black on black, on black Severus.* Draco pulled out black trousers. He didn’t have many other types. Except for the one pair of muggle denim that Draco made him buy. 

*These will do but you need more jeans. The ones you have are not dressy enough. You can wear this jumper* Draco pulled one of the few non-black jumpers he owns. It was a beautiful plum color.

*Fine now go so I can get dressed.* Severus rolled his eyes and signed to the younger man. 

*I’ll come back to fix that hair. At least you didn’t put the oil in it today. I don’t know how many times I’ve told you that you don’t have to put the oil in when you are not brewing. You should only use it when you brew to keep the harsh fumes from hurting your hair!* Draco huffed as he walked out the door. Severus flicked his wand and locked the door. He shouldn’t be this nervous. Everything was going to be okay.

After what seemed like an hour on his hair, Severus was ready for his date. He was very proud of the fact he didn’t need any help with this date. The bat of a potions professor could be romantic when needed. Especially if it involved a certain blond-haired man, who is the father of his son.

Severus took a deep breath and apparated away. When the spinning stopped, he stood in front of Neville’s cabin. His hand shook as he knocked on the door. ‘Pull it together Snape.’ Severus chided himself.

The door opened up, and he was face to face with Silas. There was a big smile on his face, then he noticed Barnaby.

“Tad!” Silas jumped and Severus caught him with a grunt. 

“Hello there Silas.” The toddler cuddled into him. “I’ve missed you.”

“Misseded Tad.” Silas mumbled into his neck. 

“He has been a busy boy today, Tad. Silas got to plant new plants in the greenhouse with Daddy, then had lunch with his cousin Topher, Pop Pop, and Granda. Now he gets to have a sleepover with Pop and Granda.” Barnaby rubbed Silas’s back and winked at the potion master.

“That sounds like a great day, Silas. I know you will have a great time tonight at your sleepover.” Silas pulled away from him and looked up at him with a smile. 

“Uh, huh! Tad has sleep ova here ‘oon.” Silas nodded, and his black hair bounced. 

“I’m sure they will have a sleepover soon, Silas. Give Tad big hugs and kisses. It’s dinnertime for a little mandrake.” Silas squeezed him tight in one last hug before Severus gave him back to Barnaby and watched them walk out of the house.

“Severus?” Severus' head snapped over to Neville’s voice. The potion master's eyes widened. Neville stood there in dark denim, a blue button-up, and a brown blazer. “Wow…” 

“You look wonderful Neville.” Severus walked up to the younger man. He picked up Neville’s hand and pressed a kiss to it. “Thank you for allowing me to take you out tonight. If you are ready, we can go?” Neville blushed and nodded. 

“I have something for you.” Neville squeezed his hand and flicked his wand and a bag flew into the room. “It’s not much, but I wanted to get you something.” Severus didn’t bring Neville anything for their date. This is going well. 

Neville handed him the bag, he grabbed it with potion-stained fingers. When he opened it, there was a plant in a terracotta pot. The pot was painted bright colors,  then a small handprint in green stood out. 

“It's Xerochrysum Bracteatum.” Neville blushed.

“Strawflower?” Severus raised his eyebrow. Why would he give him a strawflower plant? No potions or properties came up when he thought about the plant. He loved it, but he was still confused.

“Silas’s favorite flower is the strawflower. He loves the warm pink and reds` of it. Today he wanted to plant something for you. He painted the pot and said that his Tad would love strawflowers just like him.” Neville looked so proud of their son and Severus felt the same way.

“He is right. I love them. Thank you, Neville.” Severus moved and pressed a kiss on the smaller man’s cheek. Neville always smelled of wildflower fields, but tonight he smelled even better. 

Neville coughed. “Um, you are welcome. Do you think we should go?”

“Yes, let’s go. Please hold on to me.” Severus held out his arm and Neville wrapped both hands around it. With a pop, they were gone.

Neville

When they landed, they were in the middle of a green field. Wildflowers as far as the eye could see. Neville took a deep breath. Severus smiled down at him and pulled him towards a path. 

“This place is beautiful, Severus. Where are we?” Neville asked as potion-stained fingers interlaced with his. There was a flutter in his stomach. He loved how Severus wanted to hold his hand.

“You’ll have to wait and see,” onyx eyes looked down at him. There was a sparkle in them he had never seen before. They walked up to a light wooden building. Flowers and plants decorated the front of the building. It was beautiful and seemed almost natural like it was meant to be there. On the sign, it read Wildflower Meadow.

“Severus, this place looks lovely.” Neville squeezed his hand as they walked toward the door.

Severus brought his hand up to his lips and kissed it. “I’ve read reviews of how they use all local and fresh ingredients. The owners run the farm where the produce is grown.” The potion master took the time to look all of that up. It was nothing like the time that they went out to dinner the first time. Neville spent weeks thinking about if it was a good idea to ask the man out. As well as finding a romantic restaurant. It was stressful.

Neville blushed. He wasn’t sure what to say, but he was saved by the hostess that greeted them at the door. Her brown hair lay in curls on her shoulders. She wore a pastel green blouse and dark denim pants. 

“Welcome to Wildflower Meadow. Two tonight?” She asked in a  strong southern American accent. Neville loved all the accents in America. 

“I have a reservation under Snape.” Of course, they had reservations. The place was beautiful, one of a kind. The decor was natural wood, each table was a little different. It was made by hand. Plants hung from the ceiling with beautiful lights. 

“Oh! Fantastic! You are very lucky the owner  will be your chef tonight!” She winked at Neville before she led them through the restaurant. He gasped when they walked out onto a private patio. There was a full kitchen set up on one side, where a woman stood in a pale yellow chef's coat and denim. Her curly red hair was piled up in a messy but put-together bun. 

On the other side of the patio sat a round table. The wood was a dark cherry. On top, a simple mason jar full of pink and peach Ranunculus sat at the centerpiece.

“Severus,” Neville whispered when he looked up at the older wizard. Who smiled the smile that was reserved only for him. 

The potion master pulled out his chair and then walked over to sit across from him.

“My name is Laura, and I’m your server today. I  will bring out each course, there are and at the end of the dinner, the chef will bring the dessert to you personally. I will bring out the wine you reserved, Mr. Snape. The first course will be our fresh field green salad. Which comes with toy box tomatoes, almond granola, and a white balsamic vinaigrette.” 

Neville looked back at Severus, who seemed at ease with all of this. He has always been more put together. 

“Do you like it, Pet?” Severus asked as he reached for his hand across the table. Neville took it with a smile.

“It’s beautiful, Severus. I can’t believe we have this area all to ourselves. With a private chef. It’s too much Severus, beautiful but too much.” Neville bit his bottom lips, his cheek burned red. 

“I wanted tonight to be just us, Neville. No distractions, just you and me.” Severus squeezed his hand. “So much time has passed, and this is the perfect way to get to know each other again.”

“I’d like that a lot, Severus.” 

They talked through the first two courses of dinner. They had salad for the first course and grilled lamb loin with broccolini and mashed potatoes for the second course.

Neville talked about when he first took over the shop and how he was afraid that he didn’t have enough time with Silas but bringing him to work helped that. Severus talked about him leaving Hogwarts after he retired. Silas was the most talked about subject. Neville could talk about his son all day. 

When it was dessert, the chef walked over holding two plates. 

“Hi, there! I’m Lucy, I am one of the owners of Wildflower Meadow. I wanted to thank ya’ll for coming out tonight. It’s been a pleasure cooking for you. I hope y'all enjoyed your meal. Tonight for dessert I made for you a Lemon and poppyseed layer cake with fresh blueberry ice cream.”

Lucy placed the plate on the table, and on it sat a layered cake with ice cream. Neville thought after the second course he couldn’t eat anymore, but then he saw dessert. 

“Thank you, Lucy. Everything was delicious.” Severus complimented. That is high praise coming from the potion master. 

“Thank you, If I may say. It’s nice to see what you two have. I’ve seen my fair share of couples, and you two are the real deal. The way y’all look at each other, it’s the same way I look at my wife Isabella.”

Neville blushed again. “Thank you.” 

“I’ll leave y’all to it. Have a wonderful night.” Lucy walked away, leaving them by themselves.

When they walked out of the restaurant, Neville was full and happy. This date had been perfect, though he didn’t want the night to end yet. 

“This was wonderful, Severus, thank you.” Neville wrapped his arm around the older man’s. He wanted to be close to him to smell his wonderful scent.

“I’m glad, but it isn’t over yet Pet. Hold on tight. It’s time for the second part of our date.” With a pop, they were gone. 

Severus held him tight when they appeared inside a botanical garden. Music filled the air, but it was empty. There were paths around ponds, statues, and flowers. 

“There is an outdoor concert tonight. Most people will be busy with that. Which leaves us the entire garden to ourselves. Shall we?”  

Severus

Severus held out his hand, and Neville interlaced their fingers. The concert had started and trumpets echoed through the garden. His mother used to watch movies with music like this played as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers twirled around the dance floor. One of his fondest memories before his mother passed was when they would dance before his father got drunk from work.  

They walked in silence as the music played. Neville would comment on a flower and how beautiful it was or what the origin was. Severus knew many of them, but not all. He was impressed with the knowledge the younger wizard possessed.

“Oh Severus, look at the gazebo.” The younger man pulled him to the wooden structure. He looked up at him with brown eyes and a shy smile played on his lips. 

“Dance with me, Severus?” Neville asked. 

There was nothing at this moment that Severus wanted more. The potion master pulled the man into his arms. Severus’s hand landed just above the curve of his bum. Their hands clasped as Neville's hand moved to the back of his neck.

Severus smirked as a new song started playing. He knew which song it was by the first note.

Severus hummed along until the lyrics started, then he serenaded Neville.

“Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again

It's been a long, long time

Haven't felt like this, my dear, since I can't remember when

It's been a long, long time

You'll never know how many dreams I've dreamed about you

Or just how empty they all seemed without you

So kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again

It's been a long, long time”

Neville’s fingers played with his hair as he twirled them around the gazebo. 

“You know I’ve dreamed about this many times. I would wake up and try to fall back asleep. I’ve missed you so much, Severus.” Neville moved so their noses were touching. Severus closed his eyes and rubbed their noses together.

“I’ve dreamed of you, Neville. To have you in my arms again. To…to taste your lips on mine again.” Severus gave Neville time to move away when he didn’t, Severus brushed their lips together. There was a whimper he wasn’t sure from who. Neville pulled Severus by his neck and deepened the kiss. Neville’s tongue teased his lips before he opened his mouth. Severus allowed the younger man to control the kiss for now. 

They still swayed as they kissed, licked, and nibbled. Severus was breathless and heart-pounding when he pulled away. Onyx eyes bore into brown. Both are filled with lust. This is what Severus was afraid of. He didn’t want to make Neville think all he wanted was sex. He wanted to make love to him, of course, but it wasn’t the only thing he wanted.

“Severus, how about we dance one more dance then I wouldn’t mind having a drink at my house?” Neville smiled at him as he laid his head on Severus’s chest. Severus pressed a kiss into his blond hair. 

“I’d love to Pet.” 

The next song seemed to end quickly. Severus looked down at Neville, who bit his bottom lip. He wanted to bite that lip. Neville wrapped both arms around his neck and pressed his lips to his. Then with a pop, they were gone. 

Severus noticed they had popped into a room he had never seen before. He knew it must be Neville’s room. 

“Are you trying to tell me something, Pet?” Severus asked with his eyebrow raised. All of his willpower crumbled when Neville blushed and crushed their lips together. 

Neville

Neville doesn't know what he is doing. Why did he pop them into his room? Well, he knew why he popped him into his room, but was this a good idea? Severus’s lips were on his and that was perfection. All the worries melted away. 

Neville whined as Severus pulled away. Both gasped for breath.

“Neville…” Severus looked at him with worry in his eyes. “Not that this isn’t wonderful. I think maybe we should slow down.” Neville shook his head and pulled away from the potion master. Slow down. Does he think they should slow down?

“Slow down?” The blond felt self-conscious. Did Severus not want to go further? Did he not feel what he felt during the date? Potion-stained fingers cupped his cheeks. 

“Neville, it is taking everything in me not to make love to you. I’ve wanted you for so long. I tainted our first time together. I never want you to think that I am only here for purely sexual reasons.” Severus’s thumb traced his bottom lip.

Neville sighed, that only made him want Severus more. “I understand that Severus I do. I just need you, Severus. Deep down, I need to know that you honestly want me. Back then, it wasn’t just a mistake. I know that sounds crazy. I am crazy. Please.” Neville felt tears burn his eyes.

Severus’s onyx eyes searched his and nodded. “It wasn’t a mistake and I’m honored that you want me to make love to you again. I will make sure you will never doubt how much I want you.” 

The older man kissed his lips slowly. Neville kissed him back. He poured everything he wanted into that one kiss. Severus’s tongue teased his bottom lip. Neville opened for him. Their tongues explored every inch of their mouth. 

They moved back toward the bed. The back of Neville’s knees hit the bed as Severus flicked his wand. His clothes disappeared from his body and folded neatly on the chair in the corner. Severus' clothes were right next to his.

Neville wanted to cover his body. He has always had trouble with his weight. When he had Silas, it brought back all those feelings.

“You are even more beautiful than I remembered.” Severus moaned huskily as he gently laid him down on the bed. 

Neville mewled and arched as Severus’s lips trailed down his chest. He tried to suck in his stomach as the older man’s lips licked and kissed him. Severus’s magic rushed over him as he felt slickness between his cheeks. 

Severus looked up at him. His eyes were full of love and lust. “You still want this, Pet?” His fingers slid across his pucker. Neville’s heart pounded in his chest. He wanted this so much.

“Y..yes please Severus. I need you.” Severus took his time stretching him, his mouth touched every inch of his body. Neville’s whole body was on fire. “P..Please Severus.” 

Severus’s body covered his. Neville wrapped his legs around him as the older man entered him slowly. “S…Severus,” 

“Neville.. gods, you are perfect. Your mind, your body, your soul. I want… I want to possess it all.” Severus’s hips move faster with each word. Neville nail’s scratched down the older man’s back. When Severus’s hand wrapped around his leaking erection, Neville’s eyes rolled into his head. 

“That’s it, my Pet. Give me everything. I will give you all of me.” Neville's toes curled as pleasure shot through his body. Severus quickly followed behind him. He shouted out his name. 

Neville opened his eyes, and Severus kissed him. They traded kisses until their breaths evened out. He yawned as he grabbed his wand and cleaned both of them up. 

Neville wondered if Severus would stay the night. Even though he had to work the next day, he wanted the potion master to stay. Severus laid down next to him as they looked into each other’s eyes. 

“That was… Severus that was…” He couldn’t think of a word to describe how that felt. 

“It was everything, Neville. I have a feeling, though, making up with you in my arms in the morning would feel just as good, or maybe even better.” Neville's breath hitched. He was going to stay the night. If you will allow me to stay the night.” Severus ran his hand down Neville’s cheek. 

“Of course I want you to stay the night.” Severus sighed and pulled him into his arms. Neville laid his head on the older man’s chest. He closed his eyes and let the sound of Severus’s heart lull him to sleep. He thought he heard Severus whisper something, but he was too tired to care.

The buzzing of his wand woke him up like it did every morning. Neville stretched and felt a pleasant ache. He turned over to see if his alarm woke up Severus. His heart dropped into his stomach when he saw the side where Severus slept empty. No… he wouldn’t do that to him again. Severus wouldn’t leave him, not after last night.

Neville jumped out of bed, threw on boxers, and ran out of his bedroom. Maybe he is wrong, maybe Severus is still there. The smell of bacon filled his nose as he made his way to the kitchen. 

Severus stood at the hob, only wearing his underwear. He was still there; he didn’t leave, and he was making them breakfast. 

Neville moved quietly towards the older man and wrapped his arms around his waist. He peppered  Severus’s back with kisses. 

“Mornin’ Pet.”Severus placed one of his hands over Neville’. “Did you sleep well?” 

Neville hummed as he nuzzled into his back. Severus chuckled. “I made us breakfast. I know you have to open the shop soon, so I wanted to feed you before.” Severus flicked his wand and the food plated itself and moved over to the table.

Neville smiled as the potion master turned around in his arms. Severus looked down at him and pressed a kiss on his lips. 

“Thank you, Severus.” Neville wanted to say. Thank you for last night, for breakfast, for not being gone.

“It is I who should thank you, Neville. Now we mustn’t be late today.” Severus slapped his bum playfully before he ushered them to the table. 

Neville was dropped off at the shop by Severus, who kissed him goodbye at least a million times. Severus will be at home after Neville closes up. His heart fluttered to think about that. Going home to Severus every night. It seemed so right.