Anachronism (13/16)
Sunday, 19 September, 10:43 PM
Severus glanced over the photos crowding the mantelpiece. There, on the far corner, were several of Charlie, including one of Harry and Charlie dancing at William's wedding. Neither of them had any grace, but they didn't care-Harry was too absorbed in Charlie and Charlie in him. Harry had been smaller then, a skinny, awkward boy, his pale slender arms half the size of Charlie's thick ones.
They'd been in love as much as he and Harry'd been in love, but Charlie had died defending Harry. He was just another loved one of Harry's to pass away, protecting him. Severus couldn't even claim that for himself. Why had he undertaken such a dangerous project? He had everything he could want: a handsome, rich, powerful lover; a thriving business with his own well-stocked private lab; and a steady supply of friends and acquaintances. He would've had to have been mad to give it up, mad to give Harry up.
Even if Endell had tampered with the spell or otherwise caused his downfall, he'd still been foolish enough to experiment. He'd allowed his perfect life to go to his head and became lazy enough to make an error.
He wanted that perfect life back. Since their row after the date, he and Harry had begun to chat and spend time together outside of the lab, but it hadn't gone back to the casual intimacy they'd shared before.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway behind him, and he turned away from the pictures to see Harry enter the room.
"Too many Weasleys in one place?" he asked with a smile.
"I've never been as fond of the gingers as you." Severus turned back to the pictures. He'd agreed to attend Granger's birthday party at the Burrow because it had seemed the proper thing to do. He didn't mind the first few hours, but even with ample amounts of whiskey, he could not tolerate them for too long.
Harry strode across the room. Scanning the pictures, he plucked off the shelf the one of him with all the Weasley boys together. Another picture from the wedding, he stood wrapped in Charlie's arms. Smiling at the picture, he said, "Six years seems like a lifetime ago. At the time, I thought myself an adult, but when I look back now, sometimes I can't believe I managed to defeat Voldemort."
Severus sniffed. "Of course you could. I never had any doubt that you would."
Glancing at Severus, Harry asked, "Really?"
"Notwithstanding Dumbledore's terrible mess of a plan, all you had to do was to be willing to lay down your life. In the seven years I've known you, you've never shown any restraint or sense of self-preservation. At eleven you unknowingly attempted to thwart the Dark Lord. At thirteen you were surrounded by Dementors who tried to suck out your soul, and a known murderer was supposedly intent on killing you, yet you repeatedly sneaked out of the castle. How you managed to make it to seventeen alive is beyond me."
Harry smiled slightly and put the picture back on the mantelpiece. "Yeah, but I had a lot of help." He turned back to Severus, his eyes brightening. "Who would've thought such a beautiful doe could come from an ugly, old man?"
With anyone else, it would have been an insult and he would've been furious, but Harry had the look of a mischievous imp and he couldn't help but chuckle. "Who would've thought that such an arrogant, stupid brat could've learnt to follow directions?"
"Oh...." With a glint in his eyes, Harry slid closer. The scent of that exquisite cologne wafted off of him, quickening the pace of Severus's heart. Stopping a mere foot away, Harry said in a husky voice, "I learn well under certain types of instruction. Perhaps you'd would like a demonstration of what I've learnt?"
Yes! Yes, he would!
He said nothing, but Harry must've seen a look in his eyes, for he smirked and continued, "I'm sure I can teach you a thing-"
"Harry! What're-" Ronald stopped in the doorway. "Oh," he said, blinking at the two of them. "Uh, we'll be cutting the cake soon."
Shrugging, Harry said, "I can't miss that," and strode out of the room, past a startled Ronald.
Ronald looked at Severus for a moment. "You're more than welcome to come too."
He saw no reason why he should remain indoors, and followed them outside.
Tuesday, 21 September, 7:34 AM
When Strix arrived with a letter that was possibly mistakenly addressed to Severus, he knew exactly where to find Harry. Although the boy only used to work out every other day, Harry had taken to spending every morning in the gym, whether workday or weekend. It was impossible not to notice that his efforts were paying off. It had been almost two months since Severus had last seen him naked, but already he'd sculpted his torso beautifully. Still lean and trim rather than bulky, fat clung to his body only where it enhanced him, leaving the rest of his form supple yet strong.
Harry had become a beautiful work of art-a sublime beauty unmatched by any marble. Severus's very own Ganymede.
It was hard not to think of Harry as his, even though Harry wouldn't let him touch him. There had been many moments of close encounters, but never so much as a graze. Never did Harry allow any part of Severus's body to get closer than within a foot of his. It was the only time Severus wished for a smaller lab. It wouldn't have been so bad if Harry didn't insist on walking from the gym to his room every morning, wearing shorts that barely covered his arse. The most frustrating part of his beauty was that Severus had once possessed it completely. If he'd not, he would have dismissed Harry as out of his reach-an impossible ideal he could never obtain.
But Harry had given that body to him! Eagerly, openly, he'd begged to have Severus run his hands over those firm abs and lean thighs. He'd crawled across the floor to have a chance to taste Severus's cock even though his own was perfect. A perfection that Severus hadn't even had a chance to catch a glimpse of since Harry's birthday, when he had forced his will upon Harry, and expected him to enjoy it. If Harry did get hard in Severus's presence anymore, he kept it well-hidden, even with the flimsy material he wore during his workout.
Although their friendship had improved considerably to the point where they'd had a few successful dates, there was still a wall between them that Severus could not penetrate. He enjoyed the friendship, but it wasn't enough, he needed more.
Steeling himself, Severus pushed open the door of the gym and strode over to where Harry perched on a rowing machine. Keeping his eyes on Harry's face rather than his sweaty pectorals, Severus thrust out the letter. "This mistakenly came with my post." He suspected that it was meant for him, but it was better to be sure, and, if it was for him, he had no idea what it meant or what he was supposed to do with it.
Standing, Harry wiped his hands on a towel and took an unnecessary step forward to collect the letter from Severus. The letter contained a case number with an Auror name Severus vaguely remembered as former student-Brian Millburn.
"Oh," said Harry, his eyebrows rising. "This is for you. Brian wants you to consult on a case. It's probably one that deals with potions. We're not allowed to print the details on out-going post, so we give our consultants the case number and Auror name, and you go into the Ministry of Magic and ask for the details. They'll give you an edited case file without the names of the people or any other identifying characteristics. If you decide to take the case, you let them know and then they'll set up an appointment for you to meet Brian and learn the details." Harry glanced up at Severus. "I'm surprised he asked you."
Severus took the letter back from Harry's loose fingers. "I'm a Potions Master who has consulted on Ministry cases before. I see no reason why he shouldn't."
"It's just odd because I normally get the potion cases," said Harry, frowning as he scrubbed his hair with his towel, making it even more barbaric. His glasses were askew, his face red. He stood close enough that the musky, pungent smell of him filled the air, crowding out Severus's thoughts.
"You smell," said Severus before he could stop himself.
The towel stopped. Harry's gaze darted to Severus and glanced over him. After a pause, he resumed rubbing the towel across his neck and said, "That's what happens when you work out. You should try it sometime, you could use some muscles in those stick-like arms of yours."
Severus's gut tightened and he scoffed. "We are wizards. We have no use for brawn, and the cultivation of such is a waste of time."
One moment he was standing in front of Harry, the next he was on the floor, Harry on top of him, hands lightly squeezing his neck. How could a man so slender and short be so strong?
"No magic," said Harry, his eyes fierce.
Severus had no doubt Harry could kill him. But he wouldn't-he wasn't that type of wizard. But he could.
"Levicorpus!"
Harry flew up in the air by his ankle, but not before he tightened his fists around Severus's neck, dragging him up too. Unable to breathe, unable to see, Severus released him, casting a Stinging Hex on the hands crushing his neck.
He slammed into the floor, Harry pinning him again: one hand on each wrist, his sinewy body laid flat over Severus's.
"Cheater," chuckled Harry, his breath stirring the hair near Severus's ear. "I said no magic. Push me off of you without any magic."
He had learnt to duel for his life, not in games, and the smell of salt and earth radiating from Harry made it impossible to think. If only the illness hadn’t sapped his strength! There was no way he could push Harry off of him without magic unless he used a potentially deadly counterattack. Those strong fingers could have broken his neck, but he couldn't hurt him. He couldn't hurt Harry even as the other man killed him.
"Petri-"
"No." Scrambling off, Harry escaped out of Severus's easy targeting range. "I said no cheating!" He stood, straightening his back, and said, "You made me like this, you know."
"Mental?" Severus stood up and brushed off his clothes, trying to ignore the full cock threatening to burst through his smalls.
"No, this body." Harry strode forward. "Ordinarily, I would've had to spend hours here-" He waved his hand around the gym. "-to maintain it. You developed a potion for me to drink after each workout that helps build, shape, and maintain muscles without getting bulky. I used a modified version on your body after you became bed-ridden so that your muscles wouldn't atrophy. What do you think?" He flexed his biceps and grinned. "Is it working?"
Inexplicably drawn forward, Severus let his gaze openly feast upon the bared flesh before him. Most of Harry's sweat had transferred to his robes, but there were still patches where Harry's skin glistened: his shoulders and across the small patch of hair on his chest, down his sides and over his biceps.
Severus lifted a hand to stroke that firm yet supple skin.
Harry grabbed his wrist with capable fingers. "I didn't give you permission to touch me." There was a hard strength in the vine-snake green of his eyes, but the coldness and anger had melted away days ago.
Refusing to back down, Severus met his eyes. "You asked me if it is working. As a Potions Master, I need to examine the...." 'Merchandise' and 'subject' would probably get him nowhere, so he settled on, "...patient, in order to give an honest assessment."
His grip relaxing, Harry released Severus's wrist. He unflexed and flexed his arm, his eyes never leaving Severus's. "All right then. Go ahead. Touch it."
Severus needed no other encouragement. Shooting out a hand, he wrapped his fingers around that well-chiseled limb. The coiled muscle sat beneath the skin, tense and sturdy. He could feel Harry's power, his strength. Despite the fact that he was just touching Harry's arm, he'd never been more turned on in his life. It didn't help matters when Harry said, "D'you feel how hard it is?" in a deep, rough voice.
Swallowing hard, Severus said, "The potion appears to be working satisfactorily on your upper arms."
"Only there?" Harry trailed a hand across his pectorals.
Shifting, Severus spread his hands flat over the other man's chest, just above the burnt sienna nipples. Harry's quick heartbeat pulsed through his fingers, mingling with his own. Although some men had pectorals large enough to look more like breasts, Harry's had a nice small swell that subtly emphasized his masculinity. Sliding his hands down the flesh, Severus dipped his thumbs in the ovoid scar on Harry's sternum. Scott had thought the scars detracted from Harry's beauty, but Severus thought they only enhanced it. From the 'I must not tell lies' carved in his hand, to the wisps of white across his torso and limbs from various unknown injuries, to the lightning bolt jutting across his forehead, they all were perfect.
He cupped Harry's pectorals, feeling the nipples pebble beneath his palms. "It appears to be nicely formed." He brushed his hands back and forth, enjoying the contrast of the soft skin and the peaked nipples.
"Just nicely?" asked Harry, and Severus lifted his eyes to meet Harry's.
Harry stared at him with the expression of a hungry dragon. It was obscene to be so craved. He half-expected to be thrown to the floor and pounced upon at any moment.
His breath hitching in his throat, his eyes concentrated on Harry's, he let his hands drift down Harry's torso, brushing his thumbs over the nipples as his fingers trailed over the well-defined hairless abdomen presented to him for exploration. Lower and lower, his fingertips slid across the swells and dipped into the shallow valleys of Harry's abdominal muscles. His fingers brushed the top of Harry's shorts, and Harry shoved him away.
"I'll be late for work." Harry turned, Summoned his clothing and wand, and strode from the room without a backwards glance.
Severus stood in the gym, hard and wanting, feeling as though he'd been stopped in the middle of sex even though he'd not done anything more than touch Harry's muscles. Collecting the letter from the floor, he headed straight to his room. He needed a shower.
Friday, 24 September, 1:23 PM
After nearly a week of teasing, Severus had had enough. Harry would approach close enough to touch, and occasionally allow an above the waist touch, but their contact was always interrupted by something. Either Harry rushed off to work, Kreacher interrupted with dinner, or one of the many guests who always seemed to be coming to their home cut short their time together. In the potions lab, Severus focused on brewing, and, at dinner, Harry only remained seated as long as Severus did.
Harry was so bloody obvious in his games, even the portraits were well aware of what he was doing. Phineas handed out excuses for Harry to use to escape, while Paracelsus offered to leave so the two of them could get some 'much needed privacy'.
Not that Severus minded at first. Just as Harry pretended to not want him, he pretended that he didn't want Harry. He knew he would have Harry eventually, and the days of play were just an extended bout of foreplay. Cat and mouse was always a fun game to play-especially when one didn't know exactly which position was held by whom. However, his resolve to outlast Harry had been broken the night before when Harry had come in all dirty and sweaty from an impromptu Quidditch game, invited Severus to wash off his back, then left to return to his friends.
Now, as Severus strode through the halls of the Ministry of Magic, having just solved Brian's Auror case, he decided he deserved a reward. Admittedly, it had been an astonishingly easy case to solve-anyone with the basic understanding of how Datura poisons worked could've pieced the clues together, but no matter. He had solved it and he wanted Harry for his prize, subtlety and games be damned. Besides, a Gryffindor like Harry would probably appreciate blunt bravado and brutal honesty over crafty manipulation.
At his knock, the door swung open and Harry blinked at him in surprise. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Severus marched into the room, shutting the door behind him. "I've solved my case. Datura poisoning."
Harry stood. "But what-?"
Severus swept across the room, grabbed Harry, and pushed him against the desk. "I want you."
A tremor ran through Harry as he sucked in a harsh breath. His eyes glowed, but his lips curled into a sneer. "So? Why should I care?"
The little cock-tease. He'd been wanting it for days. Severus grabbed his hair and kissed him.
Harry shoved him back. "Don't ever do that again." He pushed away from the desk. "I'm working."
"Not anymore." Severus again shoved him back against the desk, using his groin to pin Harry in place. Harry smacked him hard across the face. Ignoring the fiery pain in his cheek, Severus kissed him once more.
Roughly, Harry kissed him back, his teeth scraping against Severus's lips, just enough to hurt a little. Suddenly, he kicked out his legs, knocking Severus back.
"No," he panted. "You can't just decide that you want me and I'll give you whatever you want, when you want it. It doesn't work that way.''
Severus swooped in again, grabbing him and holding him tightly. "But I want you." Wrapping his arms around Harry, he pulled him against him and growled in his ear, "I need to have you."
"You don't deserve me, you arsehole."
Severus pulled back, meeting Harry's angry eyes. "I know I don't. I don't know why you want me, but I know you do. You've been teasing me for days and I can't stand it any longer. I need to have you."
Harry's eyes flashed hot, a smirk playing at his lips. "Tell me what you want to do to me."
"I want to fuck you."
Harry grabbed Severus's hair and tugged on it. "I know that. Tell me what you want to do to me."
"I want to bury my cock deep in your arse." Severus leant forward and gently bit Harry's earlobe, drawing a shiver from the other man. Licking and nibbling on the flesh between his words, he whispered, "I'll fuck you so hard and deep, you'll not be able to think about anything but my cock. Nothing but my cock in your arse."
Harry moaned and sighed out, "And?"
"I'll wrap my hand around your cock and I'll make you come," Severus said, grinding his hips against Harry's. Harry groaned, his eyelashes fluttering, his fingers yanking hard on Severus's hair while his other hand curled around Severus's back to hold him in place. "You'll come with my cock deep in your arse, fu-"
Someone knocked on the door and Harry shoved Severus away. Smoothing down his robes, Severus conjured a chair and sat in it.
Harry yanked open the door. "Hullo?" he asked, a bit too abruptly.
Kingsley glanced at Harry, gave Severus a quick, curious look, then asked Harry, "Am I interrupting?"
"No! No." Harry scratched the back of his neck and stepped back, motioning for Kingsley to enter. "What did you want to speak to me about?"
"Severus." Kingsley nodded at Severus who gave him a nod in return. Turning his attention back to Harry, Kingsley said, "I'd like all the available Aurors to gather for a meeting on how we will divide up the caseload, as a few individuals have expressed problems with our current system. I read the report you filed last week, but do you have anything else to add to that?"
Harry had recovered himself and looked the perfect Auror. He shook his head and said, "No, not at all."
"All right, I'll see you in ten minutes in the Cliodna meeting room." With a wave of his hand, he left.
"See you then." Harry shut the door and raised an eyebrow at Severus.
Standing, Severus swept over to him. "I'll see you tonight." With that, he grabbed Harry, kissed him, and left.
Chapter 1 . . . 14 15