InsaneJournal

The sign on the door read, Department of Biochemistry. S. Tobias Snape, Ph.D., Chair. Harry hesitated for a moment, and then raised his fist to knock, only to be startled when the door opened inward, revealing a tall, dark-haired man in a rumpled white lab coat. He held a cup of take-away coffee in one hand, and Harry could see a file folder stuffed with papers tucked under his arm. Harry quickly took a step back, but still managed to surprise him.

"Professor Snape?" Harry offered his hand in greeting, but withdrew it as he realized the other man's hands were full. "I'm Harry Potter. Professor Rubens sent me?"

Raising an eyebrow, Snape responded, "I believe Professor Rubens is on sabbatical, is he not?"

"He is, sir. He's actually extending his sabbatical."

"As chair of the department, I am aware of that. What does this have to do with you? Or me, for that matter?" Snape had a voice like single-malt scotch, the good stuff. His lectures must be packed, no matter what he teaches!

Harry took a moment to observe the other man before responding. Beneath the lab coat, Snape wore a plain black t-shirt and blue jeans. In his mid-forties, Snape had pale skin that crinkled about his eyes, and the bump on his nose suggested it had been broken at one point in his life. Black hair just shy of being long enough to tie back completed the look. Just my type...this could be a mistake.

"Well, sir, Professor Rubens had agreed to be my Ph.D. supervisor," Harry explained.

"That could be challenging while he is on sabbatical, as I believe he will be in France for the duration."

"Yes, sir. Since my research focusses on metabolism of cellular poisons, Professor Rubens thought that you might agree to take over as my supervisor." Harry paused, noting the confused look on Snape's face. "Didn't you get his email?"

"No, I did not," replied Snape. "Now, I am about to be late for a faculty meeting. If you will excuse me..."

"Sir!" Harry hurried to keep up with the taller man's long strides. "May I walk with you? I'm really quite desperate to stay on schedule with my research."

"Mr. Potter." Snape stopped walking and addressed Harry. "If you wish to meet with me, please send me an email - the address is in the faculty directory. Make sure it is sent from your university account, or my spam filter will delete it. Good day." At that, Snape turned on his heel and continued down the corridor, lab coat billowing out behind him like a cloak.

*~*

As chair of the department, Tobias Snape should have been paying attention to the research updates his colleagues were presenting. This morning, however, he was having trouble focussing on their words. His thoughts kept returning to his encounter with Rubens' grad student. Harry Potter had the slim, compact build of an athlete, with shaggy brown hair and green eyes of a shade that reminded him of his last trip to Ireland. It had been a long time since a man had sparked his interest in this way. Not since Lucius' death...

In his back pocket, Snape's iPhone vibrated once, alerting him to the arrival of an email. He ignored it, and turned his attention to the agenda on the table in front of him, mentally ticking off the points they'd already covered. Two more, then we're finished.

As he half-listened to Professor Jones' update on her research into opiate substitutes and pain management, Snape was already planning out the rest of his day in the lab. When he wasn't fantasizing about one Harry Potter, that is.

*~*

From: hjpotter@biochem.utoronto.edu
Subject: Ph.D. supervisor/meeting request
Date: 3 September 2013
To: stsnape@biochem.utoronto.edu
Attachments: thesis.pdf

Dear Professor Snape,

I apologize for catching you off-guard this morning. I had thought you would be expecting me. Perhaps Professor Rubens used his Hotmail account to contact you, and the message didn't make it past your spam filter.

I would appreciate having the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my research, and hope that you will consider taking over as my Ph.D. supervisor. I will gladly meet you at any time or place of your choosing.

I have attached a copy of my masters' thesis to this message to show you what I have already accomplished in the field of cellular poisons. I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,
Harry Potter

*~*

Though off-campus, the cafe was busy, apparently a popular place with students, if the number of laptops on tables was any indication. Harry joined the line at the counter, and scanned the menu board. Cappuccino, latte, caramel corretto? Don't they sell "coffee"?

"May I help you?" The clerk - Josh, by his name tag - smiled at Harry. "Our feature coffee today is our Colombian Supremo, a medium roast."

"That sounds perfect." Harry scanned the glass display case in front of him while Josh poured his coffee. "And I'll have one of those blueberry muffins, too."

Spotting an empty table in the corner of the cafe, Harry wound his way around tables and over charging cables, nodding hello at the few people he recognized. Professor Snape hadn't arrived yet, though Harry had arrived several minutes early. He didn't want to risk being late to this meeting.

Harry ate his muffin while he waited for the coffee to cool a little, and was just discarding his wrapper in the trash when Snape walked in. Strutted, actually. In place of the lab coat, Snape wore a black leather jacket, and were those motorcycle boots? Harry held his breath for a moment before raising his hand in greeting. Wow, how am I ever going to work with this man, when all I want to do is kiss him?

*~*

"I've read your thesis, Mr. Potter," said Tobias Snape as he took his seat. He preferred to dispense with the usual social pleasantries and get straight to the point. "It was quite good."

"Thank you, sir," said Harry, a touch of pink at his cheeks. "And please, call me Harry."

"I hope you don't mind that I also shared the paper with my colleague, Professor McGonagall. She used to teach our undergraduate course on cellular poisons, Harry, and she is quite eager to meet with you." Tobias sipped his double espresso and sat back to look at Harry for a moment.

"I'm flattered, sir. A little confused, but flattered." Harry paused, picked up his mug as if he was about to take a sip, but put it back on the table, untouched. "Does this mean you aren't interested? In me, I mean. As your graduate student. Because I don't know--"

Tobias reached across the table and laid his fingers across Harry's wrist. "Shhh, you're rambling."

Harry once again picked up his mug, this time actually taking a sip. "I tend to ramble when I'm nervous."

"Don't be," said Tobias in a low tone. He still held Harry's wrist, lightly, though his sensitive fingertips detected Harry's racing pulse. "As I'm sure you are aware, the university has a code of conduct for all staff and students."

"I'm aware of that," said Harry. "But I'm still not following you."

"Then let me clarify. Under the terms of the code of conduct, a professor is not allowed to date a student under his direct supervision," Tobias explained.

Across the table, Harry flushed and nearly choked on his coffee.

*~*

Harry gulped. Tobias Snape, Ph.D., chair of the department of biochemistry, was sitting across from him, in a busy cafe, holding his hand - wrist, whatever - and talking about dating? Harry forced himself to focus on what Snape was saying.

"...is interested in being your Ph.D. supervisor, and would like to meet with you tomorrow afternoon." Snape sat back, picked up his cup and regarded him with a questioning look.

"I'm sorry, I lost you for a moment there. Who wants to meet with me?" Harry asked once he found his voice again.

"Professor McGonagall, of course," replied Snape. "Your topic aligns much better with her research, while I focus mainly on cellular energetics. Really, I'm baffled that Professor Rubens didn't think of it himself, though perhaps with his thoughts on... other matters, he didn't."

Picking up his mug again, Harry sipped his coffee and stared at Snape, trying not to show his disbelief on his face. He suspected he was failing miserably at it, if the smirk on Snape's face meant what he thought it meant.

"So let me get this straight," began Harry, setting down his empty mug.

"Not too straight, I hope," quipped Snape. Laugh lines appeared as he smiled - something Harry suspected didn't happen very often. Harry planned to change that, as soon as possible.

Harry counted off his points on his fingers. "One. You liked my thesis."

Snape nodded.

"Two. You showed my thesis to Professor McGonagall, who also liked my thesis."

Another nod.

"Three. Professor McGonagall wishes to meet with me tomorrow afternoon to discuss my becoming her graduate student."

"Did I not say all of this already?" A raised eyebrow punctuated this statement.

"Just making sure I understand you completely, sir," said Harry. "Now, where was I?"

"I believe you were at 'four', which I believe we should discuss over dinner." Snape stood, zipped up his leather jacket, and indicated the door with his arm. "Shall we?"

Harry nearly knocked his chair over in his haste to stand and follow Snape.

*~*

The hostess led them to a booth in a quiet corner of the restaurant. Tobias thanked her as he slid into his seat, across from Harry once more. As Harry opened his menu, Tobias sat back and watched him. About twenty years his junior, Tobias guessed.

There was no need to open a menu - Tobias knew what he wanted. They ordered their drinks - beer for Harry, scotch for himself.

"May I ask you something?" Harry asked when the waiter left.

"You may ask," replied Tobias. "I may not answer."

"What does the 'S' stand for? The sign on your office read S. Tobias Snape."

Tobias couldn't help but laugh. "You could have asked any number of questions, and you chose that for your first?"

"What can I say, I'm curious." Harry smiled, and accepted his beer from the waiter.

"My first name Severus," said Tobias. "My mother was an historian, focussing primarily on the Roman emperors of the Severan dynasty."

"Well, I was named for my mum's best friend Harry and my dad, James Potter. Not as interesting, eh?"

"Indeed."

Further conversation was cut off by the arrival of their appetizers. As the meal progressed, Tobias learned more about Harry, and shared some of his life story with the younger man. When the waiter offered dessert, both declined, citing full bellies.

"Would you like to take a walk?" asked Harry. "I like to walk after I eat. It looks like a nice night..."

Tobias agreed, "A walk would be pleasant." Leaving some bills on the table, he stood. "Shall we?"

Harry stood and slipped his hand into Tobias'. "We shall."

It was a cool evening for late summer, and they walked for a few blocks in companionable silence. Spotting a dark doorway, Tobias tugged Harry's hand, pulling him into the space. "I've wanted to do this since you ambushed me outside my office."

Two fingertips under Harry's chin, he tipped his face up as he bent to brush his lips against Harry's. Soft and warm, they opened when he licked at the seam, and as Tobias probed Harry's mouth, he backed the shorter man up against the wall. Their bodies pressed together, Harry's erection pressed into Tobias' thigh, and Harry moaned into his mouth. When they finally broke apart, they were both gasping for breath.


*~*

Meanwhile, somewhere in France...

Henry Rubens touched the rim of his glass to his fiancee's. "Maxine, you've made me a very happy man. Now, let me tell you what I did for my good friend Tobias before I left..."