Part XII

At the leaving feast, Dumbledore publicly thanked both Harry and Snape again, going over all the events. He also announced that after sixteen years at Hogwarts, Professor Snape would not be returning in the fall, much to everyone's shock. 

After Dumbledore stopped speaking, Snape stood, and bowed towards Dumbledore, then looked out at those gathered in the great hall. He caught Harry's eyes and nodded. 

Harry's heart started to pound. Snape went down the steps of the dias the head table was on and started to move out of the hall. 

"Severus," Harry called out before Snape could reach the door. It sounded so strange to say it out loud. He'd never allowed himself to think it before. 

Snape stopped, and slowly turned around, his robes flaring perfectly. The whole hall held their breath, probably wondering if Harry would be hexed for his audacity. Harry smirked and stood, moving away from the Gryffindor table, ignoring everyone's gasps, and walking slowly towards Snape.

"You do have a way with grand gestures, don't you?" Snape said as he came to stand beside him, but his eyes were gleaming. 

"I want there to be no misunderstandings about this. As of this moment, you are mine." Harry looked up at him.

"My, my, aren't you a possessive brat." God, he loved the smirk on Snape's face as he said it.

"I expect I am." Harry also noticed Snape didn't deny the claim and knew that if he did, he'd be lying. "Time?"

"It's time." Snape bowed slightly, indicating that Harry should precede him out of the hall. Behind them, he could hear the stunned silence erupt into loud babbling. 

"Where are we going?" Harry asked as Severus led him out of the entrance rather than down into the dungeons. 

"Snape Manor."

"Why?"

"Because we require privacy." Snape turned to look at him, and then took his hand, hurrying him along.

"Good idea."

When they got to the gates of Hogwarts, Snape turned to face him. "All right?"

"Do you need to ask?" Harry snorted and took hold of Snape's arm. "Now."

*****

Once again, they were in front of the door to Snape Manor. Harry reached out and the door snicked open under his touch. As he moved inside, he was shocked to find the marble floor polished to a sheen; the wooden paneling gleaming and smelling of beeswax.

"Wow." He turned to a smirking Snape. "You had the place cleaned."

"Since we're going to live here, I thought it a good idea." Snape looked around, and Harry could tell he was pleased with the way the place had been cleaned up.

"Are we?" That was news to Harry. When he'd mentioned it last summer, he hadn't thought Snape liked the idea much. "If the rest of it is as clean, this won't be so bad."

"It had better be," Snape said, moving further into the room. "Do you have an objection to living here?"

"No. No. Living here will be fine." Harry looked around and then moved to the curving staircase. "At the moment, I don't care where we live. Only where we're going to spend the next couple of hours."

"For once, I agree with you." Snape took a step towards him, menacingly, in a very sexy way.

Harry took a step backward, up onto the second step on the stairs. "Actually, we do kind of need to talk."

"About?" Snape raised an eyebrow.

Taking a deep breath, Harry steeled himself. "About preferences. What you like to do. How you like to do it."

Two unlikely spots of color darkened Snape's cheeks, but his eyes never wavered. "What about you, Mr. Potter?"

"I don't know mine yet." Harry smirked. "So I'm thinking I'll have to try everything once." He thought about some of the things he'd read about and felt a blush heat his face. "Well, not everything, there were a few things I want to skip all together." 

What things would those be?" Snape stopped at the bottom step.

"Some of the more... out there types of things. Things that have to do with pain or...." Harry left it at that, feeling his face heat, despite his desperate wish not to sound any younger or more inexperienced than they both knew he was.

There was a knowing look on Snape's face and he nodded. "Shall we go up and start on the things you do want to do?"

"God, yes." Harry backed up another step, his heart starting to pound in earnest. Through the bond, and from the look on his face, Harry knew Snape was just as eager as he was. 

When Snape took a step up, they stood close. Harry leaned down a little to kiss him. It was a unique feeling. Although he'd grown over the year, he was still several inches shorter than Snape. "Nice," he murmured against Snape's lips.

"Very." Snape pulled back. "Unless you'd like to try it on the steps, I think we should go the rest of the way up."

"I will at some point." Harry laughed at the look on Snape's face. "But not this first time. I want to do it in a bed."

"I concur."

All of the rooms stood open on the second level. The room he'd used over the summer had been cleaned and polished. "Your rooms?"

Snape nodded but said nothing else as they entered his rooms. The gloomy drapes and bedding had been replaced with light green ones. The heavy furniture was gone. Lighter colored -- if no less sturdy -- furniture stood in its place. Harry didn't associate the light colors with Snape and sometime when he had more interest in his surroundings, he'd have to ask about it.

Returning his gaze to Snape, Harry shivered, scared half to death and not knowing quite why. Maybe he'd wanted this for too long. As inconceivable as it seemed, Harry knew that Snape was nervous, too.

"Don't fret, Mr. Potter," Snape said, pressing a hand to his cheek. "It will be fine."

Before Harry could lean into the touch, Snape's hand fell away. "You have to call me Harry, now."

"As you please, Harry." Snape wore an inscrutable look, but under it, there was amused exasperation. "I'd give you the same right, except you've already taken it."

"I guess I did at that." Harry squared his shoulders and met Snape's. "You promised me whatever I wanted."

"So I did." Snape leaned against the wall, almost slouching. His tone was indulgent, his posture languid. "What is your pleasure Harry Potter?"

The sound of Snape saying his name in just that tone nearly did him in, but Harry took a deep breath and let it out. "My pleasure is your surrender."

Wow. It looked like he had managed to surprise Snape after all. "And how would you wish that?"

"I want you to yield to me, to let me pleasure you, to give in to me." Harry took another breath, and reached for his courage. "I want you. Slowly. Deeply. Madly."

Something flashed in Snape's eyes right before he bowed his head, his hair falling forward. Slowly, oh so very slowly, he sank to his knees before Harry. "It shall be as you wish it."

In his entire life, Harry had never, ever, ever seen anything so sexy, so arousing, so all together amazing as what Snape had just done. Not even in his wildest most fanciful dreams could he even have conceived that Snape was capable of it. No one would ever believe it. Not that Harry had any intention of mentioning it anyhow. No, this was a memory he would savor forever. 

If he didn't catch his breath soon, he was going to hyperventilate. "I wish you to stand up. I want surrender, not submission."

"Do you know the difference?" The smugness was back in Snape's tone, but this time it was tempered with a... not quite meekness. 

"In theory." Harry grinned at the thought. "Maybe later in practice. If you've a mind."

"Later, to be sure," Snape said quietly and Harry didn't need the bond to know that he meant it. Another rush of excitement poured through him and Harry took a deep breath to find calm. As Harry reached for the buttons on the long robe, Snape stood quiescent under his hands. When Harry got the robe off him, Snape pulled off his own boots and socks. Then he stood still again.

Harry stripped off the rest of his clothes, and stood back to look at Snape. That night, he'd caught glimpses of Snape's body. At first, he'd been too concerned about Snape's welfare and then the rest had happened too fast. 

Now was for slow. Now was for looking and very soon for touching. Snape was lean and angular and pale, and surprisingly well muscled. His chest was nearly hairless, except for a thin black line of hair that ran from his navel down to thicken at his groin. 

Standing quietly, Snape seemed neither embarrassed nor self- conscious about his body. He could sense that Snape was at home in his own skin. Harry was sure he'd never be able to stand there and let someone else look at him like that.

There was nothing beautiful or attractive about his face and his body had its share of scars, but Harry found him absolutely compelling nonetheless. Beyond that, he wanted Snape with a hunger he could barely contain.

Easing Snape back onto the bed, Harry climbed up and leaned over him, still wearing his school robes. Harry slid his fingers into Snape's hair, which was slightly less lank than usual and anchored his head to kiss him. He slid his tongue into Snape's mouth, tasting him, sucking at his lower lip, before delving back into his mouth.

For a while, Snape let him lead, let him set a leisurely pace, touching him, but demanding nothing.

"Harry," Snape panted pulling back from the kiss. "I want to touch your skin."

There was something so thrilling about being fully dressed while Snape was naked beneath him, but he supposed he should be fair about it. Shifting so that he was sitting on his knees, he pulled his robe over his head, and took a vial of oil out of the pocket before tossing the robe to the floor. He set the vial on the beside table and glanced at Snape, wondering despite everything, if he'd get a protest.

"I have something better to use in the bedside table. The top drawer." Snape's look was sultry and keen. 

It sizzled along Harry's nerves and down his spine. He leaned over and opened the drawer, pulling out a glass jar and hoping it up for inspection. "This?"

"Yes. That should be better than anything you've bought. Now the rest of your clothes, if you please. " Snape had a definite command in his voice. 

He set the jar on the table. Leaning down, Harry kissed him and then tapped him on the nose. "Who's in charge here?"

Catching Harry's hand in his, Snape brought it to his mouth and nipped it. "Remember it is just for tonight."

"If it's only for tonight, then I'd better enjoy it."

"Take the rest of your clothes off, you impossible brat."

"Yes, sir." Divesting himself of his clothes with alacrity, Harry laughed as Snape rolled his eyes.

As he kicked his pants off, Harry sat back on his knees, and Snape sat up, leaning against the headboard of the bed. 

"You're so...." Snape seemed at an unlikely loss for words. His long fingers reached out and trailed down Harry's chest. From the bond, he knew that Snape thought him beautiful, and for once there would be no arguing with the conclusion. Whether or not Harry believed it didn't matter, Snape believed it.

He smiled his delight down at Snape. Sliding both hands into his hair and holding his head, Harry kissed him hard, sucking on his bottom lip as he pulled back. He moved backward, and indicated that Snape should lie down again. Silently complying, Snape's dark eyes were fathomless and Harry thought he might fall into them and never find his way out again. 

"As much as the long looks are all the romantic rage, do you think you could hurry things a long a bit?" Snape's tone was quiet and intense, but his eyes were amused.

"Oh, I don't know. I quite like that romantic stuff."

"You would." Snape breathed out in an over-done sigh. "Typical Gryffindor."

"I'd say so." Harry shut him up with another kiss. This one lasted a long time as he explored all the tastes and textures of Snape's mouth. Listening to Snape's breath change, for each inhalation of pleasure, Harry felt a sharp thrill. This was what it was supposed to be like. 

Moving away from Snape's mouth with reluctance, he nibbled along the column of his neck, and down to his shoulder. Snape groaned softly. Harry continued, kissing the shoulder joint, and then down his arm to the bend of his elbow. 

Snape drew in a sharp gasp when Harry licked along the inside of his wrist. 

"Like that, do you?" Harry grinned. "There's more."

"There had better be." Snape didn't sound quite so patient now.

"Shut-up." Harry kissed the palm of his hand and went back up to start on the other side. After that, he slowly licked down the center of Snape's chest, moving first to kiss one nipple and then to do the other. Going back and forth between them.

"Pick one and stick with it," Snape growled after the third time back. "You're making me dizzy."

"I'm going to make you more than that." Harry laughed, and chose the left side at random, pressing his mouth down on it, sucking hard.

Snape arched, his chest thrusting forward, a deep growl escaping his mouth. "Merlin, you have a sinful mouth."

"I've only just started." Harry flicked his tongue across and then back a few more times. He didn't linger long. There were too many delights at this banquet yet to sample. 

Nuzzling his face into Snape's belly, he stuck his tongue into his navel, holding Snape's hips so that he couldn't squirm away. "None of that. Take it like a man."

"Brat." Snape sounded more and more breathless. "You know, my turn will--"

"Ooh. Promises, promises. It's my turn now." Harry moved his mouth to Snape's bony hip, and worried the bone, his cheek close, but not touching certain other parts.

Snape made an incoherent frustrated sound. Harry decided he rather liked it.

He moved down further, ignoring what he was sure that Snape would rather he not ignore. For the moment, he was in charge, and he was going to do what he wanted. Torturing Snape with pleasure was high one of his list of priorities.

Caressing Snape's long legs, he worked his way down them. Taking one Snape's toes in his mouth, he sucked on them, slowly. 

Snape bucked and tried pulling away. "Potter," he growled threateningly.

"Nope. Only Harry here." Harry took the other foot and bent to suck another toe.

This time, Snape managed to jerk his foot away, but Harry easily caught it again, and hung on to it. "Be good."

"I'm never good." Snape growled again.

"Turn over," Harry said, watching the startled look cross Snape's face. Even though he wasn't going to be able to see it, he hoped he could produce a few more of those looks.

Snape complied silently with the request, turning over and spreading his legs apart. Closing his eyes, Harry took several deep breaths to regain his precarious control. He wondered if Snape had any clue how sexy he was and then decided he must have known.

Leaning up over him, Harry moved his dark hair aside, kissing the back of his neck. Beneath his lips, a shiver ran through Snape. Working his way down Snape's spine, Harry sucked and licked each vertebra. He pressed his face into the small of Snape's back, and kissed the rise of his buttocks.

Holding him open, Harry ran his tongue slowly down the crease to the bottom and then back up again. Snape shuddered violently. "Oh, Merlin, Harry." 

Starting to repeat the move, Harry got to the center this time, and stopped, licking back and forth, sucking, and then sliding his tongue in as far as he could. Below him, Snape was shivering pretty consistently and making gurgling sounds deep in his throat. 

"Merlin, Harry, please." Snape pressed his hips back, begging for more.

Harry was more than happy to oblige him, for a while, anyway. As he pleasured Snape, he started to work his fingers into him, as well. It had probably been a long time, given everything, so he knew he'd have to take his time with the preparations.

Without looking up from his task, Harry held up his hand and Accio'd the glass jar from the bedside table. Opening it, he slicked his fingers and returned them to where they would do the most good.

With each lick, each thrust of his finger, each movement Harry made, Snape seemed to give himself up further to his ministrations. This was everything he'd hoped for, everything he'd dreamed about. Actually, not quite everything, he decided and pulled back.

Snape turned around and gave him a most mournful look. "Why have you stopped?"

"I haven't." He put both hands on Snape's hips and brought them up.

Settling onto his elbows and knees, Snape sighed as Harry pushed into his heat. Harry stilled, waiting for the constriction to ease and praying the pleasure didn't overwhelm him before he could move. He thought cold thoughts, thought about unpleasant things, thought about school work, Arithmancy, and divinations, and charms. 

It wasn't going to do him any good, he could tell already. Thrusting slowly in and then pulling out, the pleasure flowed down over him like warm honey, coating him and not letting go. He breathed out slowly, moving again. 

It was too much. 

He groaned as he could no long hold back the waves of ecstacy that broke over him. Closing his eyes, he gripped Snape's hips harder, and surrendered to it. Thrusting out of control a few more times, he came blindingly hard. 

As soon as he was back inside his own head, he pulled out slowly, and turned Snape over. Before he could utter a scathing word, all of which Harry knew he would deserve, Harry took hold of him, and brought his mouth down. Even having read about deep- throating, he couldn't do it. He gagged and had to back off. Keeping the tip in his mouth, Harry sucked greedily, loving the taste. With his hand around the base, he stroked up and down slowly. Snape didn't last long, moaning desperately as he came.

"Sorry," Harry whispered. "I hoped it would be better for you."

"Idiot." Snape said it so affectionately; Harry knew he couldn't be that disappointed in him. "What did you expect?"

"That it wouldn't.... well, you know." Harry looked away, blushing. "I was pretty quick off the mark."

Snape glared at him and shook his head. "If I had not known for certain that you have had no experience, I would not have believed it."

Rasing an eyebrow, Harry felt a little better. "So it wasn't too bad, then."

"Harry," Snape said, leaning up on an elbow, "if that was not too bad, then I am not sure I shall survive your becoming truly proficient."

"I wanted to please you."

"You did. Very much so." Snape met his eyes. "Some of what you did was fairly sophisticated for a new lover. I'm rather surprised you tried it."

"You said to surprise you. I..." Harry looked down, blushing. Then he squared his shoulders. He wasn't embarrassed by what he'd done. Besides which, if he could do it, then he could be honest about how he'd come by the knowledge. "I researched it. To figure out--"

"What made you decide to do that?" Snape's expression was suspicious.

"Hermione--"

Snape's face went red and he sputtered, "You discussed our sexual relationship with--"

"No. Of course not." Harry shook his head and then sighed. "Well, she did kind of tell me about --"

Snape held up a hand as if to ward off the image. "Don't say it. The last two people I want in our bed are those two."

Harry laughed. "Still, she pointed me in the right direction."

"Very right direction." Snape kissed him, slowly, languidly, pulling him down on top of him. "Very right indeed."

*****

Blinking awake, Harry was sweating. He had a human blanket wrapped around him. They generated so much more heat naked. Of course they did, Harry snickered at himself. 

"Mmm..." Snape stirred beside him, snuggling closer to kiss him softly. The sleepy contentment in Snape matched Harry's own satisfaction. He opened his mouth, letting Snape's tongue in to explore. Arching his neck back as Snape's mouth made contact with his skin, Harry moaned softly. 

"My turn, I think," Snape said with a positively evil smile.

A warm anticipatory shiver ran through him. "Yes."

Snape feasted on his neck and upper chest for a while, his tongue sliding along Harry's flesh, finding spots that were much more sensitive than Harry would have ever have thought. Harry was flying from each touch, each caress, and Snape would not let up. His pulse galloped so fast Harry could barely catch his breath.

When Snape's mouth closed over him, he tried to cry out in pleasure, but could not find enough air in his lungs. He made a choking, gasping sound that might have sounded like he was in pain, but Snape clearly didn't think so. His mouth continued to torture Harry, sliding all the way down and then back up, encircling him with moist heat.

Harry couldn't help his jerky motions, his hips would not obey his commands, and neither would any other part of his body. Orgasm hit him quick and hard. He gasped out Snape's name, trying to in drag in enough breath to survive the encounter. 

Still panting harshly, Harry came back to himself. "God, that was brilliant."

"There is more coming soon." 

For a second, Harry had to think about what he meant, but when Snape's hand moved over his buttocks, his meaning became too clear. A moment of panic seized Harry, and he forced it back. He'd taken, now it was his turn to give. Snape certainly seemed to enjoy it. The books all said it was fabulous.

However, some part of Harry's mind said something that big wasn't going to fit easily into something as narrow as him. 

"Harry?" Snape looked concerned and for a second, Harry was afraid Snape might know what he was thinking.

"Oh, sorry." He smiled at Snape, consciously blocking out that thought. "My mind went somewhere else."

Something flashed for one second in Snape's eyes, but he kissed Harry softly. "Do try and pay attention, Mr. Potter."

"Hey, No Mr. Potter in bed." Harry cuffed his hand gently to the side of Snape's head. "And you should be paying attention."

"To what do I need to pay attention?" 

Harry reached down and closed his hand around what he was talking about. "Need I say more?"

Snape jerked and then sighed. "Well, since you have your hand there, the least you could do is move it a bit."

"Oh, I guess I could do that." Harry moved his hand up and down once. "I'm thinking you might want to do something else with that."

Letting out a sigh, Snape leaned back and let Harry move a few more times. "That feels quite good from where I'm sitting."

"There are things I know for a fact that feel better."

"Indeed. Maybe we should try a few of them, don't you think?" Snape opened his eyes and met Harry's.

"Yeah. I think we could."

Without warning, Snape moved forward, pushing Harry down onto his back, and kissing him hard and then easing back to kiss him softly. For a time, Snape seemed content to kiss him, slowly, languidly, exploring the recesses of Harry's mouth without end.

Snape's hands and mouth seemed everywhere at once, and after a very short amount of time, Harry couldn't process it anymore. He simply gave himself up to the sensations of Snape working magic on him. Moaning softly, he knew he'd allow Snape any liberty he wanted. "Please," he begged, not even sure what he was begging for.

Flat on his back, Harry looked up to see Snape straddle him. Harry groaned loudly as Snape reached back and positioned him, and then simply sat down. The heat and constrictions were even better than the first time. He couldn't believe how good this felt. 

With his head thrown back, and his eyes closed, Snape moaned softly. He moved up and then down on Harry, creating a slow rhythm. Heat built in Harry, his skin tingling, his breath coming in sharp pants, he closed his eyes and prayed he could make this last. It didn't. 

Snape's mouth opened on a moan, and he froze, his hand reaching to pump himself hard. A strangled sound erupted from Snape. Harry watched his face twist, looking almost as if he were in pain, but clearly he wasn't. Reaching up, Harry brought him down for a kiss just as Snape started to come. With a soft cry, Snape slumped over him.

Taking hold of his hips, Harry bucked up into him several more times and then gave himself over to the pleasure, too.

Soft kisses on his chest brought Harry back from wherever it was that orgasm had taken him. "Mmm." Harry ran a hand through Snape's sweaty hair, pushing it back from his face. "Mmm."

"Oh, so articulate, Mr--"

"Don't say it." Harry put his hand over Snape's mouth.

"Habit, I'm afraid," Snape said, nipping his palm.

Drawing his hand back, Harry smiled. "Break it. I mean it. I don't like it when you call me that, in that tone."

"It shall be as you wish." Snape used the same tone he'd used when he'd gone to his knees. 

Shivering pleasantly at the memory, Harry leaned up and kissed him. "As if that's likely."

"More likely than you give it credit for." Snape kissed him and moved off him, to the side.

"Maybe." Snuggling up next to him, Harry felt sleepy and warm. "Thanks."

"For what?" He didn't sound like he knew what Harry was talking about, which Harry found hard to believe.

Rolling over onto his back, Harry opened his eyes. "For not, you know..."

"Oh, yes. I see." There was a note of something in Snape's tone.

Harry didn't know what it was, or what to do about it. He could sense from Snape that he wanted to say something. "What?"

"Remember that talk we were going to have about preferences?" Snape looked serious and Harry felt his concern.

However, Harry was not comfortable with it at all. "I'm thinking this is not the time to have this conversation."

Snape raised an eyebrow in query. "What better time?"

Suddenly, Harry was acutely aware of his nakedness. "How about when we're both dressed and had something hard to drink?"

Snape shook his head and ran a hand slowly down Harry's side. "Is it just fear of the unknown?"

"Mostly." Feeling foolish about his fears, Harry could see that Snape wasn't going to let it go. "I can't imagine how it could not really, really hurt."

"Did it look like it hurt? Either time?"

"No." Harry looked away. "I was surprised..."

"That I didn't take you against your will?"

"No. It wouldn't have been against my will." Mostly not, anyway. "That you let me... twice."

"Stupid brave Gryffindor." Snape sat up, plumping up a few pillows, and leaned against the headboard. "Did it ever occur to you that I might enjoy it?"

"Well, it was clear that you did." Harry glanced at him. "I never thought... I mean, I just didn't think you'd want to do that very often." If at all.

Snape shrugged and looked amused at him. "It feels quite good."

Harry knew his expression was skeptical when Snape laughed at him. 

"There is some small amount of pain. Especially, the first few times, but a caring lover can see that it is very minimal. You needn't worry. I'm quite content with things as they are."

"You're never going to want to--" Harry couldn't believe that. It felt too good never to do it.

"Oh, I expect that you'll want to try it eventually. If only to see why I enjoy it so much."

Already curious, Harry smirked at him. "I think it will be sooner than eventually." 

Snape leaned down and kissed him. "I'm sure it will be. But not in the next few minutes. I'm drained dry."

Harry laughed. "Can't keep up with me, old man?"

Snape hit him with a pillow.

*****

Snape woke to warm lips moving down his back, and then nipping at his buttocks. He groaned. "Harry, you're insatiable."

"No. Just making up for lost time." Harry moved back up to nuzzled against the nape of his neck, his hands snaking around Snape's waist.

Turning over, Snape wrapped his arms around Harry and kissed him. "Again?"

Harry thrust himself against Snape's thigh. "What do you think?"

"What I just said." Snape wondered how much sex a man could have before everything shut down completely. He supposed he was going to find out. 

"I'm still haven't even reached my prime yet."

Snape groaned again. "Merlin, help me."

"No mercy for you." Harry smiled at him, and he kissed him softly. "I was thinking..."

"Oh, is that new for you?" Snape smirked at the mock hurt look on Harry's face. "What did you have in mind this time?"

"Maybe, you could...."

Tilting his head, Snape regarded him seriously. "It hasn't been that long."

"Well, three days of you screaming in pleasure--"

"I do not scream in pleasure," Snape said tartly. "Perhaps I moan a little, but nothing more undignified than that."

Snickering with amusement, Harry leaned over and kissed him. "Yeah, tell that to someone who wasn't there."

"I think not."

"Anyway...." Harry took a deep breath. "I want to try it."

Snape looked at his determined face and saw the lack of fear there. He still wasn't sure it was a good idea. "Harry, it can wait."

"I don't want to wait."

Was there anyone more stubborn in the whole of the world, Snape wondered. "Why am I not surprised to hear that?"

"You know you want it, too."

"This can't be about me." Snape sat up, and bit back a wince. He plumped the pillows and leaned against them. "This is about you. What you want. I've told you, I'm--"

"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

"I'm old and I'm sore. I am not hurt." Snape glared at him, daring him to argue.

Harry gave him a skeptical look, reaching out to pet along his thigh. "We've done it a lot."

"I know exactly how many times we've made love. I was there." He looked over at the bedside table. Next to the lubricant was a painkilling, muscle relaxant potion. Opening it, he drank about half the contents. "Give it a minute, things will be fine."

"You shouldn't have to do that."

"Don't be an idiot." Snape shook his head and when Harry would have said something he held up his hand. "No. We are not going to discuss my over-used muscles."

"Okay." Harry sat up too. "Can we get back to what I wanted to talk about? Because if you're okay, and I have to accept that. Then when I say it's okay, you have to accept it, too."

Snape opened his mouth to argue, and then closed it again. The brat had a point. Besides which, he could tell exactly how much Harry did want it. "All right. I'll take you at your word."

"Taking my word is not all--"

"Please don't say it." Snape leaned down and kissed him, sliding his hand along Harry's back and turning him. 

Harry rolled into his arms and smiled up at him, looking quite pleased with himself. "Convince me not to."

"Why?"

"If you don't like bad puns--"

Snape shut him up with a kiss. Then continued kissing him for a long time, moving slowly down his neck to his chest. Even after three days of sampling Harry's flesh, Snape could not get enough of the taste, the texture, the silkiness of his skin. Hearing Harry thrash with pleasure as he worked his mouth down his body only added to Snape's enjoyment. 

It had been a long time since he'd had anyone like this, but his fingers remembered well the paths they should take and he spent a long time on them, pleasuring Harry as well as preparing him. Harry moaned and writhed, crying out when sensitive areas were caressed. 

A moment of pure heaven stole over him as he sank ever so slowly into Harry's young firm body. Harry froze, and then relaxed incrementally. Waiting, Snape breathed out and in slowly, letting Harry's body calm and give up its death grip completely before he moved. Then slowly, very slowly, he pulled back, and moved in again. 

Harry sighed, spreading his thighs a little wider, and pressing back tentatively against him. 

He repeated the move, changing his angle slightly, and heard Harry gasp. He knew he was on the right path. As Snape moved forward again, Harry moaned. 

If there had been a choice, Snape would have kept up his slow, easy pace for a long time, but there wasn't one. The pleasure built too quickly, and he could not control it. He plunged and heard Harry cry out, "Harder!" 

Snape was lost. Passion overwhelmed him and his voice joined Harry's in a loud wail of completion.

Some time later, he found the energy to move off Harry's back, settling beside him. His breathing returned to normal slowly. When he opened his eyes, he peered into Harry's eyes. 

"Okay?" he asked, not sure of the look he was seeing. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No. It was good. Very good, in fact."

"But."

"No buts."

There was something in the way he said that set off Snape's alarm bells. He gave Harry an unconvinced look. "There is always a but with you. What is it?"

Letting out a very long sigh, Harry turned to look right at him. "It wasn't what I was expecting."

That didn't sound like a ringing endorsement. "Wrong?" 

"Not at all," Harry snuggled closer, leaning over to kiss Snape on the chest. "It was closer than I thought."

Of all the things that he'd expected Harry to say, that wasn't amongst the possibilities. "I'm not sure I follow. Closer, how?"

"It was intimate."

Shaking his head, Snape chuckled, looking very amused. "You've pushed your mind into mine. You've had your tongue up my arse. How much more intimate does it get than that?"

Harry blushed again, eyes darting away and then back. "That's just what I mean. I just didn't expect to react to it that way."

"Do you want to do it again?"

"Of course, I do. I liked it. I...." He shrugged. "I don't have words for it. I wish I could explain it better."

Snape nodded. "There's plenty of time."

"Our whole lives, I'm thinking."

"So it would seem."

*****

Epilogue

"Wake up," Snape said, shaking Harry's shoulder. "Your idiot friends just crossed our wards. You'll have to go down to meet them."

Harry opened one eye and groaned. "Why me?"

"They are your friends." Snape rolled over and pulled the blanket up over his head. "You deal with them."

"Thanks, ever so much." Harry sat up and groaned. He certainly felt it this morning. Still, it had been worth it. 

Pushing himself up, he looked around for his dressing gown. It was in a crumpled heap on the floor where it had landed the last time Snape had taken it off him. Shaking it out didn't help, but he had no time to do more than slip into his pants, and put it on over. 

Yawning, he made his way down the curved staircase to the front hall. Taking a breath and squaring his shoulders, he pulled open the door to find Ron and Hermione looking quite worried.

"What?" he asked staring at them.

"Is that any way to greet your mates?" Ron asked, sounding indignant, but his lips were twitching as he took in Harry's appearance.

No doubt he looked like exactly what he felt like: well shagged. 

"Yes, exactly. We've come to see if you're all right. The least you can do is be polite and fix us some tea." Hermione didn't even bother trying to hide her smile.

"Oh, come on in." Harry stepped back so that they could get in the front door. "I'll get some tea going."

"Good." Ron and Hermione didn't even bother to hide their curiosity. Hermione especially seemed to take in all the details.

"No House Elves," Harry said as he led them into the kitchen.

"Very good." Hermione and Ron made themselves comfortable at the kitchen table and Harry put the kettle on. He used the gas rather than spelling it. For some reason, tea needed to be steeped in just boiled water. It didn't taste right to him otherwise.

"Is this just a social call, or did you actually have a reason for waking me up at the crack of dawn?"

"It's nearly one in the afternoon," Hermione pointed out in a tone she could have borrowed from Snape.

"And no one has heard from you or Snape in four days." Ron seemed put out by this. As if Harry should have stopped what he'd been doing to owl his friends.

"We've been busy. Did you want an update or details?" Harry said as he sat down a bit too hard and had to shift. 

Ron looked away and muttered, "I can see that."

"Did he hurt you?" Hermione asked, blushing, but refusing to look away. "You can tell us."

"Oh, God." Harry buried his head in his hand, laughing hard. After everything, he couldn't believe this. "You have no idea. None."

"Harry, it's all right." Hermione stood and put her arm around him. She sounded angry now. "We'll get you out of here."

Harry raised his head, and laughed even harder.

"What is going on down here?" Snape came into the room, also dressed in a rumpled dressing gown. He looked at Harry. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Harry managed to gasp it out between fits of hysterics. He wanted to tell Snape what his friends were thinking, but he couldn't stop laughing.

All three of them glared at him until he quieted down enough to speak. "My friends were just worried about me."

"I see." Snape turned away and fixed himself a cup of tea. "Why?"

"As we told Harry, no one has heard from you, either of you, for four days." Hermione folded her arms over her chest, and clearly was trying to reassess the situation. "We were worried."

"How did you find us?" Snape asked sitting at the table next to Harry. "No one should have known where we were, much less how to get here."

"Professor Dumbledore knew." Ron looked smug. "He told us."

"Oh, lovely." Snape glared at them. "I don't suppose you'll go away now, will you?"

They both shook their heads in tandem. 

"Severus," Harry said, and then choked again at the look on both Hermione and Ron's faces. "What do you expect me to call him?"

Ron blushed. "I guess I never thought about it." 

He could almost hear Ron thinking how much he didn't want to think about it. Or anything else for that matter. "Ron, Hermione, we're both fine, okay?"

Hermione breathed out a sigh of relief. "We--"

"I know." He put his hand over hers. "I appreciate it. But really, I'm fine. We're fine."

"Okay." Ron took a sip of his tea, and then pointed looked at Snape. "We also wanted to tell you about what happened when you both left school the way you did."

"I can imagine," Snape said. "I've resigned. There is nothing they can do about it, now."

"Except that everyone is saying that you and Harry were...." Pausing, Ron took a breath. "Were shagging since before school ended."

Snape made a strangled sound and Harry put his hand over his and squeezed. 

"That's not fair." Harry was angry. "What did they think we were in such a hurry for if we were doing it already?"

"Well, people suddenly remembered that you weren't in the common room for nights at a time. Now they all seem to think they know where you were."

"Which is true," Snape said. "However, what we were doing isn't what they think we were."

"Since you're no longer a teacher, can they do anything to you?" Harry looked at him, concerned. 

"No. I do not believe so. Especially if you were over the age of consent when it allegedly happened. "

"Besides which, you can both swear under Veritaserum that you didn't." Hermione was always trying to be helpful.

Harry looked away and didn't say anything. 

"Can't you?" Ron asked, he looked unsure.

"Yes." Snape glared back at him, saying nothing more.

"Is there more, Harry?" Hermione also looked concerned now. 

Harry opened his mouth to say something and then one look at Snape shut it. "What do you want me to say?"

"It's none of your business, Weasley." Snape's tone was harsh. "If the Ministry or someone else calls me to task for what may or may not have happened, then I'll answer to them. Not to you."

"Severus." Harry folded his arms over his chest and glared. "Try not to be so rude to my friends. They care about me."

Snape huffed and mimicked Harry's stance; it was ruined when his lips twitched. "Let them mind their own bloody business."

"I am their business." Harry turned to them. "No. Nothing until school ended."

They both looked at him, clearly waiting for more. He looked back at Snape, who shrugged. "Tell them what you please. You will anyway."

"It wasn't wholly innocent. I mean, we kind of snogged a couple of times."

Both Ron and Hermione looked relieved. "Oh, is that all."

"That is quite enough to have got me sacked."

"Yeah, but not enough to have done any damage."

"For God's sake," Snape growled. "Will no one believe I would not harm you?"

Harry leaned over and kissed Snape right on the mouth, and caressed his cheek with the back of his knuckles. "I've always known it, and frankly, I'm the only one who counts."

Startlingly, Snape nodded. "You're absolutely correct." He raised his teacup to his mouth and finished it in one last gulp. Standing, he gathered his dressing gown around him along with his dignity, and smiled down at Harry. "Enjoy your visit with your friends. I'm going to have a bath."

With that, he caressed Harry's messy hair once, and swept out.

Hermione's mouth was literally open. "I knew it had to be true, but--"

'Yeah," Ron agreed. "If I hadn't seen that I wouldn't have believed it." 

Harry just sat back smiling. It was all going to be okay.

--finis