A Motherly Intervention.

Title: Muddled Waters.
Author: pekeleke
Rating: T
Pairing(s): Severus Snape/Harry Potter.
Challenge: Prompt 5 (Picked from an online seasonal prompt list): Holiday Shopping.
Word Count: 1121
Content:Chapter 5 of my Christmas Series: A Motherly Intervention.
Warnings: Getting Together. Enemies to friends to lovers. Mild Angst. Romance.
Disclaimer: The characters, setting, and the HP franchise are owned by JKR and not me. I make no profit from writing this piece of fanfiction.
A/N: Unbeated. Posting one chapter a day from December 1st to the 25th.
Summary: "There's no need to be dramatic," Severus sounds exasperated, "I don't have enough energy to hate anyone's guts, let alone yours, Potter."

Muddled Waters.

Molly traipses up and down Diagon Alley under the guise of engaging in a spot of holiday shopping, trying to gather enough courage to enter Severus's store once again. Despite her children's opinion to the contrary, she isn't blissfully unaware of her reputation as an obnoxiously pushy witch. She tries her best to minimize her meddling and curve her affectionate nature outside her home, but sometimes there's no better excuse for unwarranted forward behavior than one's unfortunate notoriety as an unrepentant busybody.

Severus is so reclusive that Molly is instinctively aware that her exuberant ways will frighten him away. She worries about rushing him, but fears he'll slip through her fingers if she gives him breathing room. Furthermore, if things are as she suspects, and Harry's playboy shenanigans are indeed a misguided attempt to draw Severus's attention, she can't begin to imagine how to untangle that mess. No man as emotionally fragile as Severus appears to be will show jealousy when in love. On the contrary, a deeply insecure and self-protective Slytherin like Severus would automatically retreat in the face of insurmountable odds. Harry's dissolute behavior, coupled with his youth, fame, wealth, and exalted social standing, must count as insurmountable odds indeed to such an unassuming soul.

Molly has just stepped into the small alley that lies between Severus's business and its neighbor, intending to shrink the few parcels she's managed to accumulate before taking the thestral by its horns and dropping in on Severus, when Harry's voice reaches her ears. She panics at first, assuming he's aware of her scheme and aims to stop her. It's only after she's double-checked that she's completely alone in the alley that she realizes Harry isn't standing beside her, but around the corner, and he appears to be speaking to Severus himself.

Molly quietly Disillusions herself and peers around the corner of the building, blooming grin becoming wider when she catches sight of Harry, who appears to have grabbed onto Severus's arm as the man returned from procuring himself a light lunch, judging by the parcel sporting the logo of the sandwich shop across the street, that currently dangles from Severus's free hand.

"Unhand me this instant, Mr. Potter," Severus demands frostily. He's displeased by the scene they're about to cause on the front stoop of his business, and Molly sincerely hopes Harry won't let things get too far. Severus might never forgive him if they attract negative attention from the press.

"I hear congratulations are in order," Harry says calmly, "Ginny was boasting this morning that her son has the coolest godfather of the entire clan."

"I haven't officially agreed yet," Severus replies stiltedly, and Harry relaxes slightly. His tight hold on Severus's arm loosens. He even dares to attempt the soft smile that brings out his dimples. Molly finds that smile irresistible, but it looks like Severus might be immune.

"Haven't you? Rumor has it that you love to indulge the whims of a certain prattish ferret."

"Draco is often unreasonable when he's stressed. He's worried about his son's safety and has instinctively decided to entrust him to my care without bothering to explore closer family ties. I fear he might be pressuring Ginevra into agreeing with his choice."

Harry frowns. "You think Ginny doesn't want you? Snape, she's delighted with the idea."

"I doubt-

"Don't. Just— don't, please," Harry interrupts Severus firmly, "What possible objection could any sane witch have against you? You're a decorated war hero, for Merlin's sake."

"Potter-

"Listen to me. You're the bravest man I've ever met, Snape. I'd choose you too if I had a little tyke. Not that you'd ever give any offspring of mine the time of day since you hate my guts and all, but I'd still trust you with their well-being."

"There's no need to be dramatic," Severus sounds exasperated, "I don't have enough energy to hate anyone's guts, let alone yours, Potter."

"Don't you?" Harry laughs, "I've tried your hangover cure. It's the only version Ron keeps. And it's a hundred times better than the swill they sell at Slug&Jiggers, yet I'm not allowed to buy yours. You're deliberately forcing me to consume second-rate potions because you think I'm a petty dick who is out for your blood."

Severus blinks, plainly wrong-footed, and Molly feels so proud of her Harry that she could hug her to her bosom and kiss his scarred forehead repeatedly until he turns beetroot-red, "I'm sorry. I— My actions sound rather churlish when described that way."

"I think I know why you assumed I'd cause you trouble. I was completely out of line when you came to see me after your trial. I've been meaning to apologize for my behavior since the day it happened, but you're a slippery soul, Severus Snape. I haven't managed to catch you unchaperoned until now."

Molly frowns. There is more to their personal history than she knows. She wonders if Hermione is privy to the details of whatever it is that Harry is talking about. If he feels the need to apologize after so many years, it must have been a spectacular fallout.

Severus looks thoroughly uncomfortable, "Let's put that aberration to rest and agree never to mention it again. Ever. I mean it, Potter."

"But I-

"No. Whatever sick pleasure you got out of trying to humiliate me like that is water under the bridge. You now swim in fresher ponds. Plenty of them, if the Prophet is to be believed. Keep me out of your private affairs, and we'll get along just fine."

"I wasn't trying to humiliate you," Harry says softly, but Severus is clearly not in the mood to listen.

He shakes Harry's hand off his arm, takes a pointed step backward, and says harshly, "I don't really care why you did it. That's my last word on the subject. Am I making myself clear?"

Harry stares at him mutinously for so long that Molly fears he's about to body-bind Severus just to force the conversation. His good sense prevails in the end, though, and he relents with a truly spectacular lack of grace, "Have it your way, Snape," He grumbles a split second before Dissapparating away.

Molly blinks, both deeply disconcerted and horrified to boot. She is positively mortified by her son's lack of civility. At least Severus seems relieved. He's at ease for the first time this morning, which doesn't bode well for their chances. What on earth did Harry do after Severus's trial? Whatever the hell it was, the ghost of it still haunts them. It may be entirely impossible for their relationship to progress until they've found a healthy way to exorcise it. Molly needs to speak to Hermione. Posthaste.