The Catch

Chapter 9: The Sweet Taste of Morning

The sun was shining in his eyes.

Severus Snape woke up with the glare of sunlight shining directly on his face. He must have left the drapes open again. Mind still numbed with sleep, he yawned and stretched just like the way he did every morning of his life. That was when he discovered that he was not alone.

With a yelp, Severus turned his head to his left only to stare right into the sleeping face of Ron Weasley--the same person whose body was now draped all over him, preventing him to rise from the bed.

"Oh, dear Merlin! What have I done?"

Ron groaned and shifted slightly, putting his arm around Severus and further entangling the both of them. Severus flushed, stiffened, and prayed that the boy wouldn't wake up while they were in such a compromising position.

After a while, confident that Ron was still asleep, he gently lifted the arm around him and put it down cautiously on the bed. There. At least now he could move his arms. But his lower limbs were still crushed under Ron and for such a gangly boy, Ron was really heavy. Before his legs could fall asleep from lack of blood, Severus inched his way slowly out from beneath the sleeping Gryffindor.

After five minutes of careful movement trying desperately not to wake Ron, Severus finally found himself free and jumped off the bed.

He sat on a chair, watching the sleeping young man. He looked so charming--lying there with his long legs splayed on the sheets, the taut skin of his torso glowing faintly in the early morning light. A tell-tale warmth started to creep up from his neck as he remembered the impossibly indecent way they were twisted together on the bed. Thank God he was able to get himself untangled before Ron woke up.

Ron's eyes snapped open. He lifted his head and looked straight at Severus, a smile forming on his face.

"Good Morning. Did sleep well?"

Severus gaped. "You were awake?"

"I woke up just before you did."

"But you... you were..." a very flustered Severus spluttered out.

"Sorry I didn't tell you. I was having too much fun cuddling while you were trying to get up." Ron laughed and swung his legs to the floor.

"Honestly! Such childish games..." Severus sniffed. "I suppose you're very pleased with yourself."

"I will be." Ron walked closer and knelt on the floor, taking Severus' hands in his. "If you tell me you enjoyed last night."

"I did." He smiled slowly, almost shyly. "Thank you for a wonderful night."

They stayed that way for long time, just sitting and staring into each others' eyes, both afraid to speak lest they break the quiet peace that had descended upon the room.

Knock! Knock!

Ron frowned. "Are you expecting someone?"

"No. Who could be knocking so early in the morn--Oh, no!" Severus slapped his forehead, remembering. "It must be Albus! He told me yesterday that he'd stop by for morning tea before breakfast."

"Dumbledore? Tea? This early?"

Snape waved a hand impatiently. "It isn't early. It's seven o'clock. I'm usually awake hours before. Why are we talking about this anyway? You have to hide before he sees you!"

"Hide?" Ron's eyebrows rose to his hairline as Severus practically pushed him into the closet that looked barely big enough for all the clothes, let alone Ron.

"Yes! And don't you dare make a noise."

Without bothering to wait for a reply, Severus shut the door on Ron's face and hurriedly straightened his clothes before opening the door for Albus Dumbledore.

"Professor Dumbledore!"

The Headmaster smiled in greeting, his eyes twinkling merrily. "Good morning, Severus! I trust you've had a good sleep?"

"Well, yes... Please forgive my disheveled appearance, Professor. I woke up later than my usual hour and I haven't yet taken the time to prepare myself." Severus patted his robes nervously as he guided the Headmaster into a chair. He shot a nervous look at the closet door before taking a seat himself.

"That's perfectly understandable. After all, you've had a busy night."

Severus glanced at Dumbledore suspiciously, wondering if that statement carried a double meaning. But the Headmaster just sat there calmly looking like his usual wise and happy self.

"Oh, it was okay."

Dumbledore looked at him shrewdly through the half-moon glasses. "Severus, before your father died, I promised I would keep an eye on you. As such, you have grown into an admirable adult with a professional career and reputation that far surpassed our expectations. However, all these years, there has been one thing which I believe has been missing from your life."

"Missing?" Distracted, Severus' eyes shifted to the closet door. He thought he heard a faint thump coming from inside.

"Yes. You spent your whole life running away from relationships. I know how sensitive you are and how suspicious you must be after that unspeakable stint with that Dark Ass Voldemort. But you mustn't close yourself from other people."

"Close myself?"

"To be honest, I was worried you'd spend your life hiding and die alone. But after yesterday, you just might prove that thought wrong. Tell me, do you mean to continue this budding relationship you have with Ron Weasley?" Dumbledore leaned forward, hope springing into the clear blue eyes of the old man.

"I... I..." Severus clawed around his brain for an answer. He was painfully aware of Ron's presence in the closet and knew that he probably heard the whole conversation. "I mean..."

At that moment, the closet door burst open and Ron crashed onto the floor--shirtless and all--clutching a torn piece of black cloth. As the two older men stared at him, dumbfounded, he grinned impishly.

"Sorry. I slipped."

Astonished, Dumbledore blinked. "Well, upon my word."

Severus wished the floor would open up and swallow him. He couldn't think of any other situation in his life where he had been as painfully embarrassed as he felt at the moment. Well, except for that incident in sixth year when James Potter and Sirius Black exchanged the contents of his shampoo bottle with Bertie Bott's Bright Green Goo: Unchangeable Dye good for at least six hours! He had to bear the weird looks and giggles of the students behind his back the whole day! But that was a long time ago. Now was, well... now.

Dumbledore rose from his seat.

"It seems that I don't have anything to worry about." He smiled at both Severus and Ron. "I shall see you at breakfast." Cheerfully, he walked out and closed the door behind him.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Severus fumed at Ron.

Ron shrugged, a tousled lock of cherry hair falling over his right eye. "I think that went rather well."

***

Ron had left Severus' rooms in good terms with him after he had kissed him silly by way of apology. Quite embarrassed with the new rumors floating around school, the two of them hardly even looked at each other during breakfast.

Later in the common room, after he had showered and dressed, Ron told Hermione the details of last night's date. Harry sat nearby, playing chess with Neville. He was in the middle of arguing the merits of his move with his own white queen. The chess piece seemed to think that Harry's move would be suicidal while Harry obstinately refused to change his decision.

"Apart from the fact that you've managed to ban yourselves from ever eating at The Unicorne again, I think it went perfectly well," a smiling Hermione said.

"On the contrary," Harry piped up, "I think your performance was less than stellar. Sure you slept with him but you didn't sleep (his eyebrows wiggled at this) with him, if you know what I mean."

"Harry Potter!" Incensed, Hermione smacked his head with a rolled up Daily Prophet. "Love isn't about sex all the time, you know."

"Yeah, right! And I'm sure you didn't have sex with Percy on your first date." Harry snorted.

Hermione shut up at that, her face coloring delicately. "Well, that's different. It was rather spontaneous for us."

"Eeeew!" Ron groaned. "Too much information! Spare me, please."

Hermione grinned and relaxed on the couch.

Ron glanced at her curiously. "Really, Herm, you surprise me sometimes. What do you see in my brother? He's so... straitlaced."

She flipped her hair airily. "Ron, believe me, your brother has talents you can never imagine. Do you want me to enumerate?"

"Um, I think I've heard enough."

"Suit yourself."

Harry laughed, and was soon joined by the rest. Ron grinned deep inside. He really was lucky to be in Gryffindor with such great friends.

***

"He's flirting! That mangy ferret is flirting with my Sev!" Ron seethed as he glared at Draco Malfoy. The blonde was in the front of the Potions classroom, discussing an assignment with Professor Snape.

"Ron, relax. You're probably just being paranoid," Harry drawled beside Ron. The bell had rung moments ago but Ron didn't seem ready to leave the classroom yet.

"He's touching his arm and laughing! He's practically giggling. That slutty blonde git is getting on my nerves!"

"Ron, you look like you're ready to explode. Trust me, it's not flattering."

But Ron didn't seem to be listening to his best friend. His eye was fixed evilly on the teacher's table in front, glaring at Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy. Severus seemed to be concluding their discussion as he patted Draco's hand. The blonde passed near Ron and Harry on his way out. Ron was sure the ferret gave him a sly look before he disappeared into the hallway.

"Are we leaving yet?" Harry asked, a little impatiently. The classroom was empty except for them and Professor Snape.

"You go on. I'll stay for a while."

"Suit yourself." In a moment, Harry bounded out of the classroom.

Ron walked towards Severus. The man was currently engaged in arranging his papers and putting them in a file.

Severus looked up and smiled. "Yes, Ron?"

"Sev," Ron started hesitantly, "is there anything going on with Draco?"

"What do you mean, going on?"

"Well, you know... going on."

"Oh! You mean... a thing?"

"Yeah. Kinda like that." Ron shifted his foot nervously.

"Goodness, no!" Severus laughed. "Draco's father is a very close friend of mine. In all honestly, Lucius is a selfish bastard but he's still a good friend. Draco's practically like family."

"Oh!"

Severus' eyes narrowed. "You weren't jealous, were you?"

"Me? Jealous? Of course not. I was just curious, you know..." Ron looked down awkwardly.

"I see." Severus moved around the table and stood beside the Gryffindor. "Do you have anything else in mind that you'd like to ask?"

"Well, now that you ask me..." Ron took his wand and waved it at the door, shutting and locking it at the same time. "That's pretty secure. No one shall be bothering us for a while."

"What are you doing?" Severus' eyes widened.

"I think the two of us have a little unfinished business left the other night." Ron rested his hands on the table, trapping a nervous Severus between his arms.

"Unfinished business?" Severus squeaked.

"Hmmm... Now, where was I?"

Grinning playfully, Ron lifted a hand and unbuttoned the top of Severus' robe. He kissed and sucked the soft, pale hollow of his throat, making the other man moan involuntarily. Ron raised his head, amused.

"I did stop there, right?"

"Yes," Severus answered rather mistily.

"Good."

He kissed Severus on the mouth, softly at first then harder as the heat rose between them. The buttons of their robes disappeared one by one as they both tore frantically at each other. Reaching out behind Severus, Ron swept the contents of the table on the floor before laying him down on the surface.

Lifting his slightly swollen lips from the kiss, Ron whispered. "Are you sure about this?"

The dark eyes stared up at him. Trusting. "More than anything."

He entered him softly, trying to ease the unavoidable pain he knew Severus must be feeling. The dark-haired man bit his lip, trying not to wince.

Ron kissed his forehead gently. "Sshh... I'll make this good for you. I promise."

He angled his body slightly before moving in rhythmically, slowly at first then faster, making Severus gasp in pleasure with every push. Pain was forgotten as the two lovers moaned and cried simultaneously, shaking with bliss from their release.

They must have lain there quietly for a long time just holding, and touching. It seemed to last forever, at least to Severus. He turned to Ron.

"Thank you."

Ron met his eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it hurt less."

"No, don't be sorry." He kissed the boy's long fingers--fingers that smelled like lemon and ink. His Ron. Beautiful Ron. "It was perfect."

-TBC-