Snarry-a-Thon11: FIC: Potter, P. I. Title: Potter, P. I. Author:alisanne Other pairings/threesome: Neville/Ginny, Draco/Astoria implied. Rating: NC-17 Word count: +/- 6200 Warning(s): (highlight for spoilers) *Voyeurism, semi-public sex, EWE* Prompt: Something makes Harry suspect one of his friends is being cheated on. He investigates further and finds out that the alleged cheater spends a lot of time with Severus. Summary: Private Investigator Harry Potter has a new client. But will he be able to solve the mystery of why Draco Malfoy's wife appears to be meeting with a dead man? A/N: Thanks to the Thon mods for again hosting this fabulous fest!
Potter, P. I.
“Rough night?” Ginny asked as Harry dragged himself into his office that morning. “You know, if you’d just use your nights for sleeping, you’d feel better when you come to work.”
Holding up two fingers, Harry limped toward his office. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
She smirked. “You have no idea what I’m thinking, actually.”
“You probably thought I went clubbing,” Harry muttered. “Or I went to the pub and stayed out late, when, in fact, I went straight home and--”
“You look like you were up all night battling Dark artefacts.”
Pausing, Harry stared at her. “How did you--?”
“I know you. You’ve been working on that place for ages and you’ve refused any help, so--”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Percy was an idiot. First, he didn’t really believe that there actually were Dark objects there, so he didn’t take proper precautions, and second, once he knew he didn’t call for help for far too long.”
“And he almost died.”
“But he didn’t! If you’d let me, Ron and Hermione in, we could help and we’re all a lot more careful--”
“I’m doing fine, Ginny, leave it, all right?” I’m not risking anyone else.
Huffing, she snapped, “Fine, be stubborn. By the way, you have a new client appointment at ten. You should get cleaned up.”
“Who is it?” Harry asked.
Ginny pursed her lips. “It’ll be more entertaining if it’s a surprise. Now go clean yourself up.”
Stepping into his office, Harry smiled when he saw she had already laid out several pain potion phials and a towel. There was a small bathroom tucked behind his office, so Harry slipped inside to do his best to clean up.
Getting ready every morning at Grimmauld Place was proving difficult given the renovations he was doing, and since he spent his nights tracking down and destroying the various Dark items in the place, he didn’t usually spend a lot of time sprucing himself up. There were nights he just stayed at the office.
He’d just given up on his hair when he heard the outer door open. Emerging from the bathroom, he sat down, pulling out some parchment so he could look as if he was doing something...official.
When the knock came, he was ready. “Yes?”
Ginny stuck her head around the door and smirked. “Your ten o’clock appointment.” She paused for a moment. “Sir.”
“Send them in.”
Plastering a pleasant smile on his face, Harry rose in greeting. He froze, however, when Draco Malfoy moved past Ginny.
“Hello, Potter. I need your help.” Settling into the chair across from his desk, Draco eyed him up and down. “And are you all right? You look like hell.”
Ginny, the bitch, winked as she shut the door on her way out.
***
Harry almost called Ginny back, but something in Malfoy’s expression stopped him. Keeping his face blank, Harry proffered his hand.
Some unnamed emotion flashed in Malfoy’s eyes before he clasped Harry’s hand, shaking it firmly. “Thanks for seeing me, Potter. I wasn’t sure you would, actually.”
Harry sighed, gesturing towards a chair. “Why wouldn’t I? After all, the war’s long over, we’ve made our peace.” Malfoy looked relieved and Harry, feeling a bit more sure of himself, sat down. “So, Malfoy. How can I help you?”
Malfoy, looking poised and elegant, just sat there.
Harry met his gaze levelly. He’d always felt grubby in comparison to Malfoy, but he refused to let the man intimidate him. He raised an eyebrow and waited.
“This is a rather delicate matter, Potter,” Malfoy finally said. “But I’ve run out of options, so--”
Harry sat back in his chair. “Believe it or not, I can be discreet,” he said, tamping down his irritation.
Malfoy nodded. “Not the first adjective that comes to mind when I think of you, but you come highly recommended, so--”
Highly recommended? Harry blinked, wracking his brain to think of who Malfoy could have talked to. “Oh?”
They’d only had two cases the previous month: one investigating the disappearance of a young witch who had defected to the Muggle world with her Muggle-born boyfriend - much to the chagrin of her parents, and another tracing down a Dark artefact that a house-elf had been protecting for his master since Dark items were quite frowned upon in the new era.
“Yes.” Malfoy coughed. “The Notts said they were very impressed with the discreet way you dealt with some missing...heirlooms.”
“Mm.” Ah, that case. Harry inclined his head. He wasn’t sure what had become of the elf or the artefact, although he suspected a tip off to the Ministry would do little good, and that the item was safely under lock and key. Plus, it hadn’t been that Dark. Harry was long past the point where everything was black or white. He’d seen enough to know that most things in the world were in shades of grey. “So they referred you here?”
“Exactly.” Malfoy looked uncomfortable. “But just so we’re clear, you have to be discreet.”
Harry nodded. “Of course. You have my word. Now, what am I investigating?”
“It’s not a what, it’s who.” Malfoy pursed his lips. “I need you to investigate my wife.”
“Your--” Harry exhaled. Clearly this was going to take a while. “Right. Start at the beginning.”
***
“Standard contract?” Ginny asked when Harry emerged from his office, Malfoy in tow.
Harry nodded, mind reeling from Malfoy’s revelations. “Yes,” he said. “The usual fee and stipulations.” He turned to Malfoy. “Unless you want an Unbreakable Vow.”
Malfoy shuddered. “That won’t be necessary. A standard non-disclosure contract should be fine. And please send a copy to the Malfoy vault at Gringotts.”
Harry bit his lip. He hadn’t meant to bring back bad memories. “Brilliant. Well, Ginny should have it ready in a moment.”
Malfoy didn’t fidget but Harry could tell he was uncomfortable. Once the contract was finally ready, Malfoy signed it with a flourish, Harry scratching his signature beneath. The contract glowed for a moment before rolling itself up and disappearing with a pop.
Harry smiled to himself, again marvelling at the efficiency of magic. He knew that if he looked in their files, a copy of the contract would be there, and that Malfoy’s copy would appear in his vault in mere moments.
“I’ll Floo when I have something to report,” Harry said, following Malfoy to the door.
“I’d appreciate an update this evening, Potter.” After glancing at Ginny, he murmured, “And I trust that only those who absolutely need to know will be told the...details?”
“Of course.”
When Draco exited, Harry exhaled, turning to grab his robes. “Well, I’d better get started.”
“Wait, where are you going?” Ginny asked, crossing her arms.
“I’m not sure I should tell you since Malfoy’s asked me to be discreet--”
She raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have to share any details, just enough so that I know where to start searching for you if you disappear.” She smirked. “That was your rule, remember? And since you can’t always answer your mobile--”
Harry sighed. “Yeah, all right. I’m going to Diagon Alley. There’s...something I need to check out.”
“Be careful.” Ginny’s expression turned serious. “I don’t want to have to explain to the wizarding public that something’s happened to their saviour.”
“Want me to write a letter absolving you of any and all responsibility for my recklessness?” Harry asked, smiling.
“Oh, I’ve already done that and I have it on file,” she said airily. “You know I’m great at forging your signature.” Rising, she shook her head. “Seriously, Harry, sometimes I think you take too many chances. You need to be more careful. All any of us want is for you to be happy--”
Harry knew she was right. Maybe if I had someone to come home to I wouldn’t be like this-- Shying away from that thought, he nodded. “I will be extra careful, I promise. See you later.”
Once outside, Harry squared his shoulders. I can’t worry about my lack of a love life right now. After all, Malfoy’s paying me to worry about his.
***
Astoria Malfoy clearly had a very well-established routine. Just as her husband had indicated she would be, she was sitting across from her sister Daphne eating lunch when Harry arrived in Diagon Alley at eleven-thirty.
Harry ducked into a shop doorway and slipped on his Invisibility Cloak. Trial and error had helped him discover that if he cast a low level shield spell around himself while invisible it was enough to get people to walk around him and not into him.
Rendered undetectable, Harry settled against a wall across the street from the restaurant where the Greengrass sisters were dining, and waited.
They emerged in forty-five minutes and as Harry watched, Astoria hugged Daphne and the two set off in different directions.
Sauntering after Astoria, Harry followed her into a robe shop, a cosmetic shop and even into a shop that seemed to carry nothing but cunning little witches’ hats.
When she came out, she checked her watch and hurried towards Knockturn Alley.
Finally making her move, Harry thought, trailing behind at a discreet distance. Redoubling his shield, he managed to slip in right behind her as she opened the door to a dimly lit shop with darkened windows.
“’Ow may I ’elp you, miss?” the gap-toothed man at the counter asked.
“I was here yesterday. I’m meeting someone again today,” she said. “Prof--Mr...Smith? He should be expecting me.”
The man nodded. “Wait ’ere,” he said, disappearing through a door behind him.
With a soft sigh, Astoria leaned against the counter. Her hand was trembling.
Evidently Malfoy was right. Looks like she is sneaking out on him. Harry shook his head. While Malfoy wasn’t a friend, he still felt sorry for him.
As he waited to see just who Astoria was meeting, Harry looked around the place with interest. It didn’t look like much of a shop. There were a few chairs and a table with a lamp. On the table there were some books, mostly decorative with pictures of country estates and flower arrangements. It almost looks like a...lobby. It must be a dodgy hotel of some sort.
There certainly didn’t appear to be any Dark items on display, but Harry wasn’t naive enough to think that they’d have them out in the open. Still, he wasn’t an Auror, so as long as he didn’t see anything, he wouldn’t worry about it. If he did see something suspicious, he could always give Hermione or Ron a tip. It’s handy when your best friends are Aurors.
“Ah, Astoria. You’re early.”
Harry’s eyes widened and before he even turned around to look at who was speaking, he knew who it was. No one else had a voice like that. Like silk over steel, Harry thought, shivering. No. It’s impossible-- Harry was so flustered, he bumped against an occasional table, sending a book careening off the edge.
Both Snape and Astoria glanced over at the book before appearing to dismiss it as irrelevant.
Harry exhaled, his pulse calming. But Snape’s dead! his mind screamed.
Only he clearly wasn’t. “Fortunately for you, I am in the habit of preparing for my...guests well ahead of time.” Snape, looking remarkably hale and healthy for a dead man, was standing in a door that had appeared in what had looked like a solid wall. He gestured for Astoria to precede him. “Come, my dear, I got your message and I have everything ready for you.”
Snape sounded caring, almost...tender. Shocked, Harry hesitated, and it cost him. Astoria moved through the door, Snape following, and the door slammed in Harry’s face before he could slip through. Damn, they were too quick.
The old man was back at the counter, and once the door closed, he grinned. “Lucky old sod,” he muttered to himself before going back to his magazine.
Harry waited for a minute, then tried to feel for a way to open the door, but it was cunningly concealed and he couldn’t try any unlocking charms without giving himself away. Stymied, Harry settled into one of the chairs to wait for Astoria to emerge. Merlin. Snape’s alive and he’s having an affair with Astoria Malfoy? Bloody hell!
***
Whatever they were doing, it was taking an age. Harry checked his watch for the tenth time, grinding his teeth. His mind had been going in circles ever since he’d seen Snape.
How could he be alive? I saw him die. Obviously not, though, since the man was walking and talking. Polyjuice?
Harry chewed his bottom lip as he considered that. Possible, although wouldn’t that mean Snape has to be alive somewhere? Even Barty Crouch Jr had to keep Moody alive so he could harvest hair for Polyjuice--
It felt like a week but it was only forty minutes later when Astoria reappeared.
After checking his watch, Harry stood up and moved closer, straining to hear their conversation.
“--should probably meet again soon to be sure...achieve...desired result,” Snape murmured.
Harry crept closer.
Astoria nodded. “Thanks so much for this, sir,” she replied. “Draco is just--”
She whispered something inaudible. Snape nodded in response. “Indeed. I know Draco very well, my dear. I’m sure that in the end he’ll forgive your little deception.”
Little? Harry’s mouth fell open. Having an illicit, adulterous affair with a dead man is little?
“When should I come back and see you...again?” Was Astoria blushing?
Snape deftly steered her towards the exit. “You’ll need to return every day for the next week.” Glancing at the man at the counter, who was leering at them, he sighed. “I shall strive to meet you here so that you do not have to deal with him. Be here tomorrow at this time.”
Flashing him a grateful smile, Astoria walked outside and once Snape turned away, Harry cast one last look at him before quietly following her. Unfortunately, there was no way to avoid holding the door open a bit longer, and when the door took a while to close, Snape frowned, but once it finally did he turned away, seemingly satisfied.
Once outside, Astoria moved towards the common Apparation point and soon was gone, Harry presumed back to Malfoy Manor. Deep in thought, Harry ducked into a doorway, removing his Cloak. What the hell am I going to tell Malfoy?
***
“I lost her,” Harry said, avoiding Malfoy’s eyes.
“Humph.” Malfoy looked displeased. “You’re supposed to be the best, Potter. How could you lose her?”
“She disappeared in Diagon Alley.” Harry coughed. “You said she’s going out again tomorrow, though, right?”
Malfoy sighed. “She has lunch with her sister every Thursday and Friday like clockwork. She’ll be there.” He glared at Harry. “Just be sure you’re there, too, all right? She’s acting...strangely.”
Yeah, I’ll just bet. Schooling his face, Harry nodded. “I will. Goodnight.”
After he closed the Floo, Harry sat back on his heels, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. Why am I waiting to tell him? I mean, it’s clear his wife’s doing something clandestine with Snape-- But Harry knew why. He couldn’t tell Malfoy something like this without proof. But how do I get it?
“I’m leaving, Harry.” Ginny was standing in the doorway. “It’s late, you should go, too.”
Getting to his feet, Harry nodded. “I will, I’m just going to clean off my desk. I’m right behind you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “If I get here tomorrow morning and find you slept here again I’m going to smack you,” she threatened. “And take a night off from cleaning out Grimmauld, will you? Just...get some rest tonight.”
Harry smiled. “I will,” he promised. “And say hi to Neville for me, will you?”
She pursed her lips. “You could tell him yourself if you’d come over for dinner once in a while.”
“Gin--”
“Neville’s starting to get a complex,” she continued, relentless. “I believe he thinks maybe you weren’t serious when you said you didn’t mind that we were together now.”
“I don’t!”
Ginny smiled. “Well I know that, but he knows how I used to feel about you, and we do work together now.” She inclined her head. “And I haven’t broken your confidence, Harry. After all, it’s not my secret to share, is it? Anyway, I think if he saw you more often he’d see that there’s nothing.”
I should tell him that I’m gay, that there could never be anything serious between me and any woman, Harry thought. But Dean took it so badly-- Harry had been careful not to tell anyone after that. In fact, only Ron, Hermione and Ginny knew for sure. “Maybe once this case is over I’ll come over,” he said.
“I’m going to hold you to that.” With a sigh, Ginny spun on her heel and left.
A moment later Harry heard the outer door close and he leaned against his desk. She’s right, I need to take a night off from Dark artefact hunting. It’s been a long day.
Grimmauld Place was empty when he got there, although Kreacher had left his dinner under a Warming Charm. Harry ate quickly, then cleaned up.
He had cleared the kitchen, the living room, the library, and several of the upper bedrooms, so, slipping into the library, he picked up one of the new books he’d bought on a whim, then headed up to bed.
He tried to lose himself in the book, a Muggle mystery, but soon he put it aside, dousing the lights with his wand when his thoughts kept returning to Snape and Astoria Malfoy.
He seemed to really care for her, Harry thought, remembering the way Snape had looked at Astoria. As if she were important to him. As if he...loved her.
The idea bothered him for some reason. Why do I even care?
Shifting onto his side, Harry stared at the wall and tried to sort through his tangled feelings. Why hadn’t he told Malfoy about what he’d seen? I wasn’t protecting him, he already suspects, after all. I’ve never even met Astoria. So who was I protecting?
But the obvious answer made even less sense. Snape, clearly not dead, wasn’t Harry’s friend. He’d hated Harry in school, in fact. And Harry had hated him back. Except now I...don’t. Yes, he berated me, was awful to me, but then he gave me those memories in the Shack and it all changed.
Harry still had the memories. He’d looked through them so many times he knew them by heart. He...challenged me, made me think, forced me to feel things I never thought I could. I was attracted to him, only I didn’t know it at the time--
Harry groaned aloud. “And now he’s back and in love with Astoria Malfoy,” he whispered into the dark room. “Bloody hell, it’s not fair.”
Punching his pillow, Harry sighed. Well, fair or not, it is what it is. And tomorrow I’m going to find out what they’re doing in that hotel together. Even if it kills me.
***
It took Harry another two days to get into Snape’s room, during which he spent most of his waking hours thinking about his erstwhile professor. Naturally, Ginny noticed his preoccupation and tried to talk to him, but Harry wasn’t comfortable discussing much about the case with her, and certainly not the fact that Snape was alive.
Even worse, he’d started dreaming about a tall, pale, dark-haired, dark-eyed man; intense, erotic dreams that left him panting and aching and sticky on awakening. What the hell is wrong with me?
When Harry took his shower the morning in question and found himself leaning against the wall, wanking to thoughts of his dream lover, who whispered filthy things in a velvet-smooth voice, he knew he was in trouble. Shuddering, he stroked himself, eyes at half-mast as he imagined thin, clever hands fondling him, and as he started to come, he groaned, “Severus!”
When he finally recovered and finished his shower, Harry closed his eyes. I am so doomed.
In addition, Malfoy was beginning to get testy, so to placate him, Harry had relented, giving him his mobile number, telling him he would call the moment he had an answer to the mystery surrounding Astoria’s activities. Harry suspected Malfoy was too traditional a wizard to work out how to call him, so he was probably safe.
That answer came sooner than Harry had expected.
Usually, when Astoria and Cloaked Harry arrived at the hotel, Snape was standing guard next to the desk, making it impossible for anyone but Astoria to slip past him. But on that day Astoria beat Snape there and the old man at the desk, without even looking up, went ahead and opened the hidden door automatically.
Seeing his chance, Harry made sure to stick close so that when she entered the hallway, he did, too. Finally, he thought, looking around with interest.
It was a fairly nondescript hallway, broken up only by the occasional table and candelabra that cast flickering shadows on the walls.
Astoria seemed to know where she was going. Harry followed at a short distance, and soon, Snape was hurrying towards them, robes billowing out behind him the way Harry remembered from Hogwarts. “I apologise for my tardiness, my dear.” He scanned the hallway behind her before clasping her arm. “I have come up with some...new things for us to try tonight.”
I’ll just bet, Harry thought, trailing behind them. I bet he’s a right kinky sod--
Snape’s room looked like a potions laboratory and for a moment, Harry had some doubts about his assumptions. The setting was more for experimentation than for seduction, and while there was a bed in the corner, it was clearly utilitarian.
Harry exhaled. In that moment he realised why he’d been having such a hard time thinking of Snape as a cheater. He’s always been so...principled, even when it’s cost him. It made no sense that he would be doing something so wrong, especially to Malfoy, who was his protégé.
Snape had been waving his wand up and down over Astoria’s body, Harry had no idea why. “It hasn’t happened yet. I’ll need more blood,” he said, breaking Harry’s reverie.
Harry closed his eyes in despair, his doubts returning. Blood magic was Dark, according to the Ministry it was the blackest sort of craft. Much worse than adultery.
Astoria made a soft noise when Snape pricked her finger, but made no other complaint as Snape extracted the blood and directed her towards the bed.
Harry watched him stir the blood into a cauldron. After adding several other ingredients, Snape decanted some into a goblet, handing it to her.
He could be poisoning her, but I doubt it. It just wasn’t Snape’s style. He’d be more...direct. After all, he’s a Slytherin.
Astoria made a face, but drank obediently.
Harry soon realised that he had another problem, however. As he watched Snape work, he found himself admiring Snape’s form. Snape had removed his robes and was now brewing in a simple white shirt and black trousers. The sleeves of the shirt had been rolled up, revealing his faded Mark and whipcord arms that, while not overly muscled, showed the man was no slouch. And he filled out his trousers very nicely in both the front and the back, Harry noted. Harry’s body, predictably, responded.
Astoria shook her head. “I don’t think so. There was a rumour that he planned to have me followed, something about a private investigator, but I haven’t noticed anyone.” She shrugged. “I’ve always been close to Daphne, so he’s accustomed to me having lunch with her daily, so I doubt he’s noticed my absences.” She sighed.
Snape raised an eyebrow. “I believe you underestimate him. Anyway, you know what comes next.” He smiled. “Potions can do a lot, but you have to do the real work.”
Astoria blushed. “Yes. At least that’s not a hardship. How many times?”
“At least two.” Snape turned away and for a moment Harry thought he looked a bit embarrassed. Was that a flush on his cheeks? “Three if you can manage it.”
Astoria laughed. “Oh, we can do that. We’re young, after all.”
Snape shook his head, his flush deepening. “Indeed. Well try not to do anything too strenuous at first.”
Harry narrowed his eyes. What were they talking about?
Just then, his mobile began vibrating, the buzz sounding loud to his ears. Fuck!
Neither Astoria nor Snape appeared to notice, however, the bubbling of the cauldron apparently masking the noise. Harry quickly switched the phone completely off, hoping Malfoy would allow him a chance to get to someplace private before calling back. He can be so bloody impatient--
“I should be going.” Astoria stood up. “Should I return tomorrow?”
“So I can check to see if it worked, yes.” Snape turned towards her, wand out. “There’s just one last thing I should do.”
Astoria blinked. “Oh?”
Spinning, Snape pointed the wand in Harry’s direction. “Petrificus Totalus!”
Harry fell over with a thud, and as Astoria screamed, Snape strode forward, levitating Harry’s Cloak off him with a flick of his wand. “Potter,” he pronounced, sounding unsurprised. “Of course.”
“But--” Astoria looked back and forth between Snape and Harry. “How--?”
“He followed you here, my dear.” Snape, arms crossed, was staring down at Harry with what looked like amusement. “I imagine Draco hired him fearing you were cuckolding him. I’ve suspected that you were under surveillance for a while now. He’s not very subtle.”
If Harry could have moved he’d have glared at Snape, but as he was Petrified, he had to settle for silent seething.
Astoria sighed. “Now I’ll have to tell Draco--”
“Well, yes, it appears so, although that was always the intent--”
The unmistakable sound of wizard Apparation interrupted him. There were footsteps approaching and then: “Open up! Auror corps!”
Eyebrow raised, Snape left Harry lying there, going to open the door. Outside in the hallway were Hermione, Ginny and behind them, Malfoy, whose eyes widened when he saw Astoria. “Astoria?”
Luckily, Harry had fallen in the perfect position to see all the action, so he saw Hermione’s mouth fall open as she gaped at Snape and he saw Malfoy try to move past Hermione, only to be held back by Ginny.
“Professor Snape? But you’re--” Hermione paused.
“Not dead, yes.” Snape sighed. “Perhaps you should come in, Auror Granger.”
Once inside, Malfoy pulled away from Ginny to stalk up to Astoria. “May I ask what’s going on here?”
“And why’s Harry on the ground?” Hermione added, fist tightening around her wand.
Snape rolled his eyes. “Finite Incantatem!” he said, pointing his wand towards Harry.
Harry immediately stood up, picking up his Cloak and slipping it into his pocket. “How long did you know I had you under surveillance?” he asked Snape.
“It started three days ago, yes?” Snape smirked at Harry’s slow nod. “Previously well-behaved books do not suddenly go flying off tables for no reason.”
“Am I to take it that everything is all right here, then?” Hermione asked, tone dry. “You haven’t been kidnapped, Harry? No one wants to press charges?” She glanced at Ginny as she spoke.
“What made you come, anyway?” Harry asked.
“Malfoy Floo’d the office as soon as you didn’t answer your mobile,” Ginny said. “Then, when you didn’t answer me--”
“You sounded the alarm.” Harry sighed. “Well, clearly everything’s fine, so--”
“I may press charges, however,” Snape murmured, eyeing Harry. “Breaking and entering, spying on private activities--”
“Is it legal to run a business out of a hotel room?” Harry asked, crossing his arms. “And do you really want all the contents of that potion to be examined?”
Snape glared and Hermione smiled. “Perhaps I’ll let you both discuss this further between yourselves. Although, as you probably know, sir, I will have to report this, but since I have no plans to return to check out the allegations until tomorrow--”
Snape bowed to her. “It shall be handled by then, Auror Granger.”
A smothered oath made them all turn towards the Malfoys, who were clinging together, Draco’s hand pressed to Astoria’s stomach. “Pregnant?” he gasped.
Astoria blushed. “Not yet, but I will be if--” She trailed off and Draco smiled.
“This is what you’ve been doing?” he asked, voice tender. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d come to see Severus?”
“After that Healer told us it was almost impossible?” Astoria snorted. “I didn’t want to get your hopes up. But Severus assured me that he could brew a Fertility Potion that would work.”
“I--” Draco stared at her before turning towards Snape. “Will it work?”
“It should.” Snape smiled. “As you know, my potions rarely fail.”
“But we have to, er, go now, Draco,” Astoria said, pulling Draco towards the door. She whispered something in his ear that made him chuckle and tighten his arm around her.
“Ah, I...see. Well, if you insist.” With that, Draco turned towards Harry and said, “Thank you for your help, Potter. The rest of your payment will be deposited in your Gringotts account tomorrow and I’ll be sure to give Potter Investigations a good recommendation.”
Astoria murmured something else and Draco nodded. “Good idea. Severus, if you need somewhere to continue your...work, we have plenty of room at the Manor.”
Snape barely had time to nod before they were gone, having Disapparated.
Hermione sheathed her wand. “Well, I think that’s handled. It’s good to see you alive and well, Professor.” With that she spun and walked out, her Apparation crack sounding in the hallway.
Ginny glanced back and forth between Harry and Snape before smirking. “Well, that’s another successful investigation wrapped up. Time to go home.”
“Right.” Harry didn’t move. “I’ll see you back at the office.”
“Uh huh.” Shaking her head, she, too, Disapparated, leaving just Snape and Harry staring at each other.
“You work with your paramour?” Snape asked, turning away. With a flick of his wand, his possessions began packing themselves away.
“My--?” Harry blinked. “Ginny you mean? No. I mean yes we work together, but she’s not my--”
“Do not lie to me!” Snape sneered. “I recall how...involved you were in school.”
“I am not lying!” Harry snapped. “Who’s the one who’s been hiding all this time, hm, lying to the world by making us all think you were dead? Do you know how many times I wished I could bring you back so I could--?”
“So you could what?” Snape growled, rounding on him. “Tell me how much you hated me?”
“I don’t hate you!” Angry and frustrated, Harry grabbed Snape’s shoulders. “You are such an infuriating--”
“I am infuriating?” Snape shoved Harry until he was against the wall, then leaned in. “You show up here, looking like this and flaunting yourself and expect me to be able to resist such temptation?”
Looking like what? Temptation? Harry opened his mouth to ask what the hell Snape was talking about, but found himself unable to speak because of Snape’s lips against his. Harry froze, then melted against the lean body pressing into him as his brain caught up.
Harry gave as good as he got, looping an arm around Snape’s neck to drag him closer. Snape tasted like tea, with an underlying hint of something bitter and herbal, the way Harry’d always envisioned he would taste. He moaned into Snape’s mouth,
Snape drew back, staring down at Harry for a long moment. “That--You--”
“I kissed you back,” Harry whispered to be sure Snape knew.
“I noticed,” Snape deadpanned. “Why would you do such a thing?” He was as close to astonished as Harry had ever heard him.
“Because I wanted to.” Harry smiled. “And, just so we’re clear, I am not with Ginny or anyone else right now.”
“Indeed.” Was that a smile appearing on Snape’s lips? “I beg to differ, Potter. It appears you’re with me right now.”
“True.” Harry grinned. “I stand corrected.”
“So, you’re a private investigator?” Snape stretched out his hand and his shrunken trunk flew into his hand. He tucked it into his pocket.
“I am.” Harry held his breath. “If you let me take you out to dinner I’ll tell you all about it.”
Snape raised an eyebrow. “I believe you owe me an apology first.”
“What for?” Harry crossed his arms.
“You were suspicious regarding the nature of my relationship with Astoria Malfoy.” Snape smirked. “I imagine you believed the worst.”
Harry’s mouth dropped open. “Of course I did, what would you have thought? And you’re the one who hexed me!”
“Pure self-defence,” Snape declared, tone lofty. “And I would have done more investigation before drawing such erroneous conclusions.”
“You disappeared in a hotel room with her for hours at a time! What was I supposed to think?” Harry asked.
“Hm. Then it appears we have some...things to negotiate over our meal.” Snape gestured. “Lead the way.”
Harry grinned. At least his life wasn’t going to be boring.
***
Ginny cursed under her breath as she approached the office. I can’t believe I got all the way home and had to come back for those bloody parchments. Damn. Unlocking the door, she went to her desk and poked through her drawer, quickly finding them. When she heard voices coming from Harry’s office, though, she drew her wand and crept closer, thinking she would startle a potential burglar.
Peeking around the doorframe, her eyes widened.
Harry, his back to her, was leaning against his desk, and he seemed to be naked. More shocking, or perhaps not when she really thought about it, was the fact that she could see Snape was kneeling before him, moving his head back and forth in an instantly recognisable rhythm.
As she watched, Harry clutched Snape’s hair and bucked deeper into his mouth, crying out.
Snape’s throat worked around Harry’s prick for a moment and then he moved away, leaning back to look up at Harry’s face.
“Christ,” Harry whispered, fingers threading through Snape’s hair. “You are scarily good at that.”
“Years of practice,” Snape purred, rising to his feet. He, too, was naked and as he lowered his head to snog Harry deeply, Ginny eyed what she could see of him, impressed despite herself.
Snape drew back to gaze down at Harry, a peculiar combination of possessiveness, lust and something else, something...tender on his face. “Satisfied?” he whispered, the words barely audible.
“Hardly,” Harry murmured back, hands pressed to Snape’s chest. Leaning up, he virtually ate his way into Snape’s mouth, the passion in that act making Ginny blush like the blow job hadn’t. Somehow this was more...intimate. “Fuck me,” Harry gasped against Snape’s lips. “Right here, right now.”
Ginny swallowed hard, her embarrassment fading at the sheer eroticism of the scene unfolding before her. Snape nodded, reaching between them, and after a minute of what Ginny imagined was fairly hasty prep, lifted Harry’s legs and wrapped them around his waist. After some squirming and whispering, he began thrusting, fingers digging into Harry’s hips.
Harry arched closer, clutching Snape’s shoulders. “Yes,” he gasped. “More.”
Snape buried his face in Harry’s neck as he moved, and when he sped up, Harry was reduced to wordless grunts.
Soon enough, Snape stiffened against Harry, throwing his head back and groaning as he came.
Ginny, aching and wet, began to back away, but just then, Snape lowered his head and stared straight into her eyes. “Now what?” he said, tone silky.
Harry, panting, had leaned his forehead against Snape’s chest. “Come home with me. I know it’s fast, but--”
Snape nodded. “That would be acceptable. Although--”
“What?” Harry raised his head to look at Snape.
“Your friends will soon be aware of the nature of our relationship.” Snape was no longer looking at Ginny, but she knew that was for her benefit.
Harry laughed, a joyous sound Ginny couldn’t remember him making for a long time. “Oh I hope so.”
Ginny nodded once in acknowledgement, backing away. Creeping towards the door, she opened it quietly and slipped outside, exhaling once she was sure she couldn’t be heard. Then, she smiled. She was happy, Harry was happy, all was well.