Walking in His Shoes -- Chapter 10
I really apologize for how late this chapter has been, but my computer broke down at home, and I’m currently at the library using the public internet. This chapter is kind of… meaningless, I guess, but it does include a bit of Harry/Severus interaction. I know it's kind of short, but anyhow, I hope you enjoy:
Walking in His Shoes:
Walking in His Shoes
Chapter Ten
by Firestar038
Once the four of them were safely alone, Harry looked over to Dumbledore. "That Auror," he said. "I felt the Mark on him too."
Dumbledore immediately looked up at the comment, worry evident in his face. “Are you sure, Harry?”
“Quite sure, Professor. I could sense it on him.” Harry sighed. There went another person, another member of the light, who’d gone over to darkness. He clenched his fists angrily. It was all because of Voldemort. Voldemort.
It was true. This WAS all because of Voldemort. Yet a part of Harry couldn’t help but blame himself for the fact that he was unable to destroy the monster and avenge his parents’ deaths. So many had been lost in this merciless war: Cedric, Sirius, Percy…. And so many others. And in a way, it was all because of him. Because he, Harry Bloody Potter, Savior of the Wizarding World, wasn’t strong enough to fight the spreading darkness.
Severus, seeing the bitterness radiating from Harry’s ----his own---- body, stepped up and gently placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder. Harry looked up at him, a question in his eyes, before relaxing and unclenching his fists. Neither noticed the twinkle in Dumbledore’s eyes at this action.
Harry sighed before looking up and turning back to the Headmaster. “Professor? May I be excused?”
Dumbledore nodded in consent, and at that, Harry swiftly left the office, Severus by his side.
The two of them walked quickly down the corridors before finally reaching Severus’ quarters. Whispering the password, Harry stepped inside and settled down into a nearby couch before falling silent. He gazed into the roaring fire, eyes glazed and unfocused.
Severus quietly settled down next to him.
There was a long silence.
“Harry?” Severus asked finally. “Are you alright?”
There was no reply.
“Harry?”
Silence.
Severus looked worriedly at the figure next to him. Harry continued starring into the cackling flames.
Suddenly, and without warning, Severus leaned forward and pulled Harry into his arms. Harry stiffened at the embrace, trying to pull away at first, but slowly, he relaxed and returned the hug.
“Harry?” Severus asked quietly. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Harry buried his head into Severus’ chest. “Just tired.”
Severus could tell that Harry wasn’t telling the complete truth. “Please, Harry, tell me what’s bothering you.”
Harry sighed in defeat before looking at the man ----actually, boy----- in front of him. “I--- I’m not really sure myself,” he answered finally. “I’m just … worried, I guess. And…..” he hesitated before continuing. “I can’t help but think that this is all my fault. My fault that I can’t kill Voldemort once and for all.”
Severus suddenly shifted in his seat until he was facing Harry. Looking into his own onyx eyes, he said forcefully, “Harry. Listen to me. This is not your fault.” He paused to let the words sink in before continuing.
“This is not your fault. Voldemort is to blame for all of this, and you have no need to feel guilt because you have yet to destroy the Dark Lord.” His voice softened slightly at the next words. “Grown men have fought him and failed, Harry. You are still young. You should not have to face this burden that have been placed on your shoulders.” Severus sighed softly. “Believe me. If I could take this pain away from you, I would, without a second thought.”
Harry nodded silently, feeling slightly more reassured at the other’s words. With a small sigh, he rested his head against the Potions Master’s shoulder.
Severus held the young man close, relishing the warmth Harry gave off. “And stop worrying,” he added quietly. “We have at least two weeks until the Ministry can brew some more Veritaserum.”
He felt Harry nod against his shoulder. The boy lifted his head and looked up at him, trust and thanks evident in his eyes.
Severus smiled slightly, loosing himself in his own obsidian eyes. Slowly, they both leaned forward, closer and closer…
Their lips met in a slow kiss, softer than moonlight and sweeter than flowers. Severus ran his tongue across the other’s closed lips, begging for entrance.
Hary complied, and Severus probed deeper, his tongue searching into the sweetness of the other’s kiss. Time seemed to stand still as both lost themselves in the other’s lips.
Finally, the two broke apart, flushed and aroused. Severus leaned against Harry while breathing deeply while Harry reached out and wrapped his arms around the Potions Master.
They sat like that for a long time: Severus leaning into Harry’s chest while Harry loosely held the other close, relishing the warmth of the gentle touch.
After what seemed like hours, Severus finally stood up, pulling Harry to his feet. “Come on, let’s get to bed,” he said quietly as he led the other into the bedroom.
Harry complied, crawling onto one side of the bed and Severus climbed in after him. Harry again fell into deep silence. Severus turned before pulling the other into his arms, holding the boy tightly to his chest. Although his acquired body was smaller and slightly awkward, he felt comforted by the warmth.
Harry tensed at the contact, but after a while, the boy relaxed against him. Severus hummed slightly under his breath, rubbing soothing circles on the other’s back. From the soft trembling and the hitching of Harry’s breathing, he could tell that the boy was crying softly.
After a while, the crying stopped, and Harry’s breathing evened out as the boy fell asleep. Severus sighed before shifting around. Getting comfortable, he too closed his eyes. Sleep opened her arms to him and he was wrapped in her embrace.
*~Finis~*
Walking in His Shoes:
Walking in His Shoes
Chapter Ten
by Firestar038
Once the four of them were safely alone, Harry looked over to Dumbledore. "That Auror," he said. "I felt the Mark on him too."
Dumbledore immediately looked up at the comment, worry evident in his face. “Are you sure, Harry?”
“Quite sure, Professor. I could sense it on him.” Harry sighed. There went another person, another member of the light, who’d gone over to darkness. He clenched his fists angrily. It was all because of Voldemort. Voldemort.
It was true. This WAS all because of Voldemort. Yet a part of Harry couldn’t help but blame himself for the fact that he was unable to destroy the monster and avenge his parents’ deaths. So many had been lost in this merciless war: Cedric, Sirius, Percy…. And so many others. And in a way, it was all because of him. Because he, Harry Bloody Potter, Savior of the Wizarding World, wasn’t strong enough to fight the spreading darkness.
Severus, seeing the bitterness radiating from Harry’s ----his own---- body, stepped up and gently placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder. Harry looked up at him, a question in his eyes, before relaxing and unclenching his fists. Neither noticed the twinkle in Dumbledore’s eyes at this action.
Harry sighed before looking up and turning back to the Headmaster. “Professor? May I be excused?”
Dumbledore nodded in consent, and at that, Harry swiftly left the office, Severus by his side.
The two of them walked quickly down the corridors before finally reaching Severus’ quarters. Whispering the password, Harry stepped inside and settled down into a nearby couch before falling silent. He gazed into the roaring fire, eyes glazed and unfocused.
Severus quietly settled down next to him.
There was a long silence.
“Harry?” Severus asked finally. “Are you alright?”
There was no reply.
“Harry?”
Silence.
Severus looked worriedly at the figure next to him. Harry continued starring into the cackling flames.
Suddenly, and without warning, Severus leaned forward and pulled Harry into his arms. Harry stiffened at the embrace, trying to pull away at first, but slowly, he relaxed and returned the hug.
“Harry?” Severus asked quietly. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Harry buried his head into Severus’ chest. “Just tired.”
Severus could tell that Harry wasn’t telling the complete truth. “Please, Harry, tell me what’s bothering you.”
Harry sighed in defeat before looking at the man ----actually, boy----- in front of him. “I--- I’m not really sure myself,” he answered finally. “I’m just … worried, I guess. And…..” he hesitated before continuing. “I can’t help but think that this is all my fault. My fault that I can’t kill Voldemort once and for all.”
Severus suddenly shifted in his seat until he was facing Harry. Looking into his own onyx eyes, he said forcefully, “Harry. Listen to me. This is not your fault.” He paused to let the words sink in before continuing.
“This is not your fault. Voldemort is to blame for all of this, and you have no need to feel guilt because you have yet to destroy the Dark Lord.” His voice softened slightly at the next words. “Grown men have fought him and failed, Harry. You are still young. You should not have to face this burden that have been placed on your shoulders.” Severus sighed softly. “Believe me. If I could take this pain away from you, I would, without a second thought.”
Harry nodded silently, feeling slightly more reassured at the other’s words. With a small sigh, he rested his head against the Potions Master’s shoulder.
Severus held the young man close, relishing the warmth Harry gave off. “And stop worrying,” he added quietly. “We have at least two weeks until the Ministry can brew some more Veritaserum.”
He felt Harry nod against his shoulder. The boy lifted his head and looked up at him, trust and thanks evident in his eyes.
Severus smiled slightly, loosing himself in his own obsidian eyes. Slowly, they both leaned forward, closer and closer…
Their lips met in a slow kiss, softer than moonlight and sweeter than flowers. Severus ran his tongue across the other’s closed lips, begging for entrance.
Hary complied, and Severus probed deeper, his tongue searching into the sweetness of the other’s kiss. Time seemed to stand still as both lost themselves in the other’s lips.
Finally, the two broke apart, flushed and aroused. Severus leaned against Harry while breathing deeply while Harry reached out and wrapped his arms around the Potions Master.
They sat like that for a long time: Severus leaning into Harry’s chest while Harry loosely held the other close, relishing the warmth of the gentle touch.
After what seemed like hours, Severus finally stood up, pulling Harry to his feet. “Come on, let’s get to bed,” he said quietly as he led the other into the bedroom.
Harry complied, crawling onto one side of the bed and Severus climbed in after him. Harry again fell into deep silence. Severus turned before pulling the other into his arms, holding the boy tightly to his chest. Although his acquired body was smaller and slightly awkward, he felt comforted by the warmth.
Harry tensed at the contact, but after a while, the boy relaxed against him. Severus hummed slightly under his breath, rubbing soothing circles on the other’s back. From the soft trembling and the hitching of Harry’s breathing, he could tell that the boy was crying softly.
After a while, the crying stopped, and Harry’s breathing evened out as the boy fell asleep. Severus sighed before shifting around. Getting comfortable, he too closed his eyes. Sleep opened her arms to him and he was wrapped in her embrace.
*~Finis~*