Unpredictable Life

~ Chapter 8: Slytherin's Rise ~

Friday, 16^th August. Close to midnight...

Severus was resting on the couch trying to read a journal but found that he was unable to process what he was reading. The cause of his distraction was none other than the raven-haired wizard watching the television, sitting gracelessly on the floor. The Potions Master had been baffled by the Gryffindor's behavior since their trip to Diagon Alley. One minute, Harry would act as if nothing had occurred between them and the next, he would be back to ignoring the older man. The only thing that had improved between them was his allowing the teenager to call him by his first name.

Knowing that he wouldn't be able to read another word, the wizard closed his book and placed it gently on the coffee table. He leaned back and watched Harry. The Gryffindor was watching a documentary about dogs and the older wizard wondered what was so interesting about poodles and terriers.

Speaking of dogs... Severus calculated the the number of days remaining before the full moon. The Twenty-eighth is on a Wednesday. He ran his fingers through his hair as he brooded. I should have enough time to prepare Remus's potion. Once that was decided, he took the opportunity to analyze his behavior of the previous two nights. He had actually forced the teenager to read an excerpt from a Potions textbook aloud as an excuse to spend more time with the green-eyed Gryffindor. Am I getting attached to him?

The program ended and Harry turned the television off. The young wizard glanced in his direction and softly said goodnight, not surprised to find that the Potions Master had been watching him. Severus inclined his head to indicate that he had heard the youth's words and Harry left, turning off the hall lights as he headed upstairs.

The older wizard stared at the archway that Harry had just passed through and muttered an incantation to dim the lights. He shifted and lay down on his back. Again, his mind wandered. He hadn't been thinking about anything in particular but brief flashes of how Harry had looked when he was being kissed came to mind. Enthusiastic. Needy. Too damned desirable. His lust reawakened as he thought about the Gryffindor, whose bright malachite eyes had glowed with an intense passion when he had stared into his own. He held out his hands and remembered the way Harry had felt in his arms. It was as though the sensations themselves were burned into his skin. Sweet Merlin! He breathed deeply. I want to hold him again.

He tried to discern if lust was the only thing he felt for the young wizard but even after thirty minutes, he still wanted Harry and found himself fully aroused. Making up his mind quickly, he swung his legs and planted his feet firmly on the floor. Confidently, he rose and crossed the living room, the hallway and went up the stairs. Harry had just come out of his bedroom and they met on the landing.

"Sev? I was just going to --" Harry's eyes widened at the wizard's feral look and he took a step back.

~*~

In Dumbledore's office.

"ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE!!!" the Transfiguration professor called loudly. "You are going to stop scrying at this very moment before I smash that crystal!"

"Just a while more, Minerva," the Headmaster said absently, still looking intently at his crystal ball. "I have to be certain that it goes somewhere at least."

:Albus, don't pry,: Fawkes reprimanded him. :Don't worry. It's really happening. Now end the spell before your wife gets hysterical.:

"Albus!" McGonagall stared at her husband dangerously.

Regretfully, Dumbledore released the spell and the scene in the crystal faded.

~*~

Back at the landing...

Harry had fallen flat onto his back and he wondered if the Potions Master was going to kill him after all. The older wizard muttered an incantation and spheres of soft blue light appeared over their heads. Severus watched the stunned Gryffindor and slowly swooped down on Harry. He crawled in between the other man's legs and carefully lowered his body down.

His fingers were splayed on the floor at each side of Harry, his arm muscles bulging from the stress of supporting his upper torso. He noticed that the young man was not aroused. Then I'll just have to make him respond. To me. Big green eyes looked up at him, almost as if they were searching for something in the dark brown eyes hovering above him.

"This is all your fault, Harry," he whispered, not taking his eyes off The Boy Who Lived. "Trying to seduce me and ignore me at the same time." Severus bent his head and licked Harry's right ear tenderly. He felt the young man beneath him shudder at the contact. The Gryffindor opened his mouth as if to reply but no words emerged.

"It is a bad tactic to employ, Harry Potter," he said huskily, tilting his head so that he could lick the Gryffindor's other ear. He pulled up to study the young face. Harry's eyes were closed and he was panting. It is good that he is not speaking ...but I want to hear some vocals. Sev braced himself and with a deliberately sluggish pace, he rocked his hips against the other's.

Harry let out a sharp cry and his green eyes flared, reflecting the bluish glow above him. The Potions Master didn't cease his movements and gave a cruel smile when he felt the Gryffindor's arms wrap about his back. The young man began pushing up against him. The older wizard then lessened the pressure on his arms and descended cautiously on top of the heavily aroused youth. One hand slipped underneath the Harry's neck while the other caressed his right arm.

He traced the side of the Harry's neck with his tongue and blew lightly on his earlobe. "Slytherins fight better when they're provoked." He planted a soft kiss on the tanned cheek before going for the Gryffindor's lips. The emerald-eyed wizard opened his mouth readily for the assault and a sweet fire spread and warmed their bodies. Severus couldn't think at all, couldn't describe what he was feeling at the moment. He's so hot... They kissed feverishly for the next ten minutes, breaking off twice to catch their breath before tugging desperately at each other again.

Five minutes later, Severus was lying on his back, and Harry was half-sprawled on top of him. The Gryffindor was frantically trying to get his formal shirt off and cursed the Potions Master for wearing such cumbersome clothing. Harry stopped his hands for a moment as his lover pulled off his T-shirt and he purred as Severus's fingers touched his chest.

"Damned buttons," Harry growled and ripped open the front of his lover's shirt. Clothes flew in all directions and the two went back to kissing.

"Harry," Severus breathed, "slow down."

The raven-haired Gryffindor reluctantly pulled back and knelt beside his naked lover, eyes raking the man's form completely. "Ice-cream," the young wizard muttered under his breath, hands snaking all over Severus's pale chest.

"I beg your pardon?" the Potions Master asked quizzically.

"You're so white," Harry explained, bending down to kiss him. "You should go out in the sun more often."

"Hmmmm..." Sev pulled his young lover to lie beside him and pressed their bodies close together.

"Stop moving," Harry mumbled. "I won't last." He got up again. "I want to do something first."

"And what is that?" Severus asked, voice so thick with lust that it was barely recognizable. His eyes followed Harry as the Gryffindor crawled in between his legs. He took hold of Sev and slowly lowered his head. The Potions Master forced his eyes to remain open as Harry started licking him.

"Experiment of course," the wizard answered mischievously.

~*~

Sometime later...

Severus looked up at Harry as he licked his lips and crawled back up to his lover. "Are you all right?" he asked, rearranging the black hair all over Harry's face.

"Yeah." The Gryffindor nodded weakly and kissed the Potions Master softly on the lips. "That felt incredible," he murmured against Severus's mouth.

"That was your first ... uhmmm ..." Severus looked at him in an almost shy manner. "Well, your first..." He couldn't seem to get the words out of his mouth but Harry solved his problem.

"Oral sex," the teenager supplied boldly.

"It was your first time and I had to make an impression." Severus smiled and grabbed his wand. Then he confidently scooped Harry up into his arms and carried his lover into the spare bedroom. Once they reached it, he set the Gryffindor down and summoned a big mattress, several pillows and a blanket. "Rest. I'll clean the landing."

"Leave it till tomorrow," Harry suggested and wrapped himself about the wizard. Severus was determined however and Harry did as he was instructed.

The Potions Master stepped out of the room and picked up the strewn articles. His trousers had somehow made it to the staircase and he shook his head in amusement. He cast a spell so that the bundle of clothing floated to the laundry basket and made his way back to his Harry. He laid down beside his young lover and gathered him close. Severus planted a kiss on Harry's scar and gave a contented sigh. His lover responded by biting and licking his collarbone.

"Do you want to make love to me?" Harry asked suddenly. Severus bent his head down a little to look at his lover.

After thinking for several moments, he shook his head. The Gryffindor looked a little disappointed at his reply and Severus squeezed him in comfort. "Harry, I can't do that now. Not without proper preparations," he murmured into his lover's ear.

"Oh..." Harry replied. "I'm glad you came."

"And so am I, Harry." Dipping his head, Severus kissed the young wizard. They held each other as both were pulled into the realm of slumber.

~*~

Dumbledore snuck out of his bed and crept back into his office. He knew his office well enough that he was able to move without summoning a light. He muttered the incantation and waited for the crystal to reveal his subjects. When the haze cleared, he nearly yelled in triumph as he watched the intertwined forms sleeping together. Finally. Severus isn't as stubborn as I thought him to be. What a relief. He smiled. He doesn't know it, but binding his life to Harry will ensure that he himself will not fall into Tom's hands again.

:So that's why you wanted them to be together,:

Fawkes commented. :I thought that you were simply meddling in his love life.:

:You mean you didn't know?:

Dumbledore acted surprised. :That's a first.:

:Don't mock me, Albus,:

Fawkes warned. :Or I'll wake your wife.:

Still, the old wizard chuckled as he crept back to bed.

~*~