snarryswapmod (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} snarryswapmod) wrote in ![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} snarry_swap,@ 2008-01-03 12:30:00 |
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| Entry tags: | creation: fic, inoru_no_hoshi, rated: pg-13 |
Happy Daft Day, centaury_squill!
Recipient: centaury_squill
Title: An It Harm None
Author: inoru_no_hoshi
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~1,200
Highlight for Warnings: *Not DH-compliant, barely HBP-compliant; AU*
Prompt/Summary: Time moves on, and people change by small increments - though it's not always easy to see.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros., et al. No monetary gain is being made from this work of FANfiction.
Author's Note: Of the fests I decided to do this year, this one proved to be the easiest to do - I had this done back in October! And reading it over, I'm still quite pleased with it, and the format, even if it's not one I tend to use. I hope you like it, too, centaury_squill! (Many thanks and smooches to the_minx_17 for the beta!)
After the war ended, with--naturally--Potter victorious, Severus had given in to Minerva's pleading that he come back to Hogwarts for "just another year or two." Considering how hard it would be for her to find a replacement, he had acquiesced, albeit reluctantly.
It was hard, coming back to Hogwarts. He knew that most of the student body, like most of the general public, still viewed him as Dumbledore's murderer, and always would. It didn't matter to them that Potter had vouchsafed him, nor did he really think it ever would. The mindset didn't surprise him; he would have been more surprised had the public accepted, forgiven, and forgotten.
Not even Potter's fame could gain him that, and while Potter might feel that it was unjust, Severus found it fitting.
Nothing would ever absolve him of Albus's death, no matter how Potter might try.
It was strange, looking at Potter and not seeing the short, slight young man standing tall and proud. Instead, he sat in a magically adapted Muggle wheelchair, one leg missing from just below the knee, the other so mangled it was surprising that it was still attached. Potter didn't seem to let it get to him, too much, but there were days--and words, and sights, and sounds--that made his vibrant green eyes go dull.
Severus understood, and could even sympathize.
As much as he might not like the brat, he could concede that no one, not even Potter, deserved the experiences that the brat had gone through during the war.
So he treated the brat the same way he always had, and, though he felt sure that he only imagined it, he could sometimes swear that Potter was thankful for it.
When Minerva hired Potter for the Defense position, he didn't know whether to approve or not. All things considered, he doubted many seasoned Aurors had as much practical experience as the brat did. On the other hand, it was the brat of whom he spoke.
So he sneered and snarked, then gave Potter the faintest of nods when no one else was looking.
The faint smile, just an upturning of lips, that he received in return was all the thanks he would get, or accept.
Strange how Potter had come to understand him, without knowing him. But it worked.
It was a publicly acknowledged fact that Severus Snape and Harry Potter rarely, if ever agreed on anything--officially, that is.
But when Severus came across Potter soundly chewing out a group of Gryffindors and Slytherins, he naturally had to snarkily inquire as to what was going on.
Potter explained, quite succinctly, that the students were fast heading straight down the road to another war such as the one that had recently ended, and would you care to help with the punishments, Professor?
No doubt the school would languish in shock for months over the fact that not only had Professor Snape agreed with Professor Potter's punishments, he'd made them harsher.
If there was anything that they could both agree on without arguments, it was that England didn't need another Dark Lord anytime soon.
The anniversary of Voldemort's downfall saw a week-long holiday every year.
The students were quieter than they were at any other point in the year, and many could be found crying at some point or another over the week.
The staff threw a small party in remembrance of the former Headmaster, though inevitably it ended up in tears and drink and massive hangovers.
Except for Professors Snape and Potter.
Severus tended to spend it in his quarters, brooding, remembering, and drinking.
Harry spent it holed up in his bedroom under the blankets, with Dobby the only other living creature allowed in to make sure he didn't die.
No one really blamed them for avoiding the world that week.
Christmas was another time when neither man felt compelled to socialize. For Severus, the holiday had never held much appeal for him, never having had many friends. For Harry, it was a painful reminder of all the friends he'd lost.
The Headmistress and staff understood, so they weren't called upon during the Christmas hols very often. On the other hand, she did think it a marvelous idea to suggest that they spend time together.
Severus gave her a nasty look while Harry accused her of channeling Dumbledore. She didn't deny it.
Christmas found them exchanging small, useful gifts with nothing said.
New Year's found them side by side on top of the Astronomy Tower at midnight, neither breaking the silence between them, as there was nothing to be said.
Valentines was a holiday Severus had always detested for its utter pinkness. Harry had never had much reason one way or another to care about it, bar his second year, but he was at the end of his temper by midmorning due to an influx of cards and candy, among other things.
So he retreated to his rooms for most of the day, emerging in the evening to join the staff meeting and scowlingly suggest that the holiday be banned.
Severus startled the rest of the staff by snorting in amusement, and saying he'd been pushing for that action for years now, Potter, and the more power to you if you get Minerva to agree.
Harry replied with something patently unprintable, then summoned himself some whiskey.
The end of the school year brought stress, panicking students of various ages, and exams.
Severus dealt with them with alacrity: stress was treated by brewing simple potions with no distractions; panicking students by loading them on Poppy; and exams...well, those were really more distracting for the students than the teachers.
Which wasn't to say that a good stiff drink didn't go over well some nights.
Harry dealt with them with an air of long-suffering: stress was treated with Calming Draughts, a good book, or simply refusing to get out of bed til almost too late; panicking students by doing what he could for them, and then sending them to Poppy; and exams by doing his damndest to see that the students were ready for them.
Which wasn't to say that he didn't steal Severus's drink some nights.
For all that it meant he was another year older, Harry had never had any particular affection for his birthday. During his school years, it had been a day to look forward to for the gifts his friends sent rather than standing on its own merits.
After school and during the war, it hadn't been important, and he knew he'd completely forgotten it a few times.
Now, after the war, he still didn't really care for it. He didn't need the gifts random strangers sent, and generally ended up donating them to charity. He didn't much like the reminder that he'd outlived many of his friends, either.
But he found that spending the day in Severus's arms, as strange as it still sometimes seemed, made the day altogether tolerable.
Though perhaps tolerable was too tame, he mused as he tugged the older man down for a kiss.
It would have to do, though.
He was much too busy and content to think of a better word.