Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Sleep all day, party all night"

Albus Severus Potter (bp_albusseverus) wrote in breaking_point,
@ 2010-02-11 21:56:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2025 02, character: albus potter, character: severus snape

RP: Al, Snape
Who: Al, Snape
Where: Hogwarts
When: February 11, 2025
Rating/Warnings:
Summary: Per mum's advice, Al attempts to find a location more appropriate for touching

Dad was better, so Al could leave the Infirmary because watching over someone only made sense when they weren't watching you back.

He began a trek down the stairs to Severus' personal library. The Compendium hadn't seen Al for awhile. Al just hoped that there wouldn't be papercuts involved. At least Al's spiders were not nearly as demanding when left to their own devices, even Septimus was content with a pair of old boots to groom and bootlaces to braid.

Al also wanted to see Severus, though certain prior events made Al wary of trying to do so in public, and made him paranoid after wondering what others might infer from even a couple of crossed stares.

Al didn't want to be scrutinized, and he didn't want to be noticed. Not with this. For once, he wanted to turn his back to the world and shield the pages of this particular book from over-the-shoulder glares surely attracted only by the centerfold moving pictures and completely ignoring the text that came before.

Al looked twice both ways for the presence of onlookers before knocking.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

bp_snape
2010-02-13 06:56 am UTC (link)

Their bodies were something like a dance: the sort of dreamlike, last-thing-at-night dance, when everything's dark and quiet and you're so tired the body melts into your partner's, and your movements are slow and wafting as late night clouds, and the music has dissolved into heartbeats and the dance is nothing more than a languid sway of bodies.

Their outstretched arms were something like classical music: the dip and sweep of the violinist's bow, or the arcing swirls of the conductor's baton, orchestrating beauty.

It was as simple as two people standing close, sharing heat and pulse and breath.

It was togetherness.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_albusseverus
2010-02-13 07:37 am UTC (link)

Together now, as Al's fingers curled around the bone handle of the stirring rod, as he offered his strength and effort and contributed to the practiced-and-learned motions at last, controlling it and letting Severus control it as well, again and again, counterclockwise. Al could do this now with his eyes closed if he had to.

He looked up at Severus, a smile in his stare, smile stretching his lips. He leaned back, letting his body do what his hand had done before, shadowing Severus' position and stance, and movements. He felt warmth from Severus' breath and somehow it was more significant than warmth from the cauldrons.

Warm and quiet. It was peace in the silence shared by two.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_snape
2010-02-14 03:50 am UTC (link)

Snape smiled, slow and drowsy and swaying. It was an effort to retain his attention on the steadily seething brew in the brass cauldron, instead of giving it over to the enchanting armful of Al.

But it was important. He found himself having to explain that importance, to keep his own mind on it. "I'm trying a three-cauldron variation on a Counter-Curse Concoction. The three parts are the Sun, Moon and Stars. Your friend the spider contributed to the Stars subbrew," he nodded at the lidded silver cauldron containing the pale lavender potion that had shed that fountain of tiny white sparks.

"This is the Sun subbrew," he nodded to the gleaming brass cauldron, its belly bathed in orange flame, the red potion it contained boiling violently. "And there," he nodded to a pewter cauldron whose deep blue potion was barely breathing a silvery mist of steam, "is the Moon subbrew. When all three are ready, several hours from now, I'll combine and reduce them, and give the distillate to Healer Nott.

Hopefully, it will help other measures, to lift the curse from your father."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_albusseverus
2010-02-14 04:09 am UTC (link)

This is important, Al thought, and continued, ever so carefully, as he listened to Severus' warm, hypnotic voice, to wield the bone stirring rod, stirring the sun. Or at least the sun subbrew. It will help dad. Septimus will help him. So will Severus. So will I.

Al drew in a content breath. Plans like these were once more bearable to make.

Al relaxed against Severus. He glanced up, tilted his head and reached, rubbing his lips against the corner of Severus' jaw. As the explanation ended he whispered back "Thank you."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_snape
2010-02-14 04:43 am UTC (link)

Snape closed his eyes. The warm, silky stroke of Al's lips, the humid swirl of his breath against the sensitive skin of Snape's jaw and throat sent a shiver of delight spilling all the way down his spine.

He tightened his free arm around Al's shoulders in a sidelong hug. "My pleasure." he murmured softly.

Because it was true.

Of course, the circumstances could hardly have been less pleasurable: neither of them took any pleasure whatsoever from the fact that Harry had been cursed.

But the brewing and the cursebreaking was an intellectual challenge, and never before had Snape had his efforts in either field receive such appreciation.

The accolades were beyond rare for Snape: more heady than any drug.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_albusseverus
2010-02-14 04:55 am UTC (link)

Al's fingers lightened their grasp on the stirring rod, he carefully let go, only to turn around in that one armed hold, and slide both of his arms around Severus.

His hands travelled up Severus' spine, up and down against the fabric which felt almost abrasive to his fingertips, putting light pressure on the worn out muscle and bone which he remembered were the source of several bursts of snapping and crackling as Severus stretched in the Infirmary.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_snape
2010-02-14 05:25 am UTC (link)

Arms around him, and for once they weren't there to confine him or to crush him. That gentle, questing pressure on the sinews of his spine had him arching his back like a cat luxuriating in touch.

It really did make it surprisingly difficult for him to concentrate. But, astonishingly for him, instead of snapping, removing the distraction, he overcame it, by counting. "Two ninety-eight, two ninety-nine, three hundred."

At last he withdrew the bone stirring rod, lowered the high-burning flame, and turned to the pewter cauldron containing the Moon subbrew. He scattered powder snow on it from a silver caster, and floated a wide, flat moonstone cabochon on the mist-shrouded surface of the deep blue potion.

"I'll be at this until dawn," he murmured, the warm breath brushing Al's hair. "You should get some rest. It's been a long day for you."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_albusseverus
2010-02-14 05:45 am UTC (link)

"Uh-huhm," Al agreed easily. "M'going back to dad soon."

He ducked under Severus' armpit, sliding out of his grasp with the ease of someone who'd always been short and learned to compensate for it.

Al didn't let go. His hands were still resting against Severus' back, as Al pressed his forehead in the space right between them and felt the bumpy ridges of curving spine beneath.

"In a minute..."

Inside Al's mind, his internal clock began the countdown. Sixty, fifty-nine, fifty-eight...

He released a warm breath, let his hands slide down, fingers splayed like toes of a toad, with oversensitive skin of his palms just as fragile and delicate as an amphibian's against every thread of roughly woven fabric.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_snape
2010-02-14 06:09 am UTC (link)

Snape compensated for Al's movement, lifting his arm as Al ducked under it, with the ease of someone who's brewed in the presence of distractions before.

Though never before had he found distraction during brewing enjoyable.

He felt the warm weight of Al's head leaning between his shoulderblades, and started his own mental countdown, curious to see whether his guess as to Al's thought process was correct.

Al's slow stroke down his back, from shoulders to sides, felt far too good for such a simple gesture, not even a moment of skin-to-skin contact.

But Snape was gaining quite an education in the meaning of closeness, and some of the surprising ways it could manifest.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_albusseverus
2010-02-14 06:34 am UTC (link)

Forty-seven, forty-six...

Al nuzzled against the narrow back and smelled books and parchment. But this fabric, unlike pages, was black as if stained with ink until it could hold no more words. Al lifted his head to where he knew a thin strip of white collar should show above the black.

He lifted his hands to part the oily strands of hair with their own particular scent and sensations.

...thirty-nine, thirty-eight...

There.

He smoothed out the thin line of white from the centre to the sides, his fingers gliding along edge of fabric and skin. Then he closed his eyes and leaned in toward the centre of parted strands.

... thirty-one...

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_snape
2010-02-14 06:44 am UTC (link)

...thirty...

He watched the moonstone, floating on the surface of the gently steaming brew, following its eddying movements intently, tracing the runes it drew in its meandering path around and across the surface. Isaz... Laguz...

Al's fingers parting his hair, toying with his collar, raised a tingle of gooseflesh on the back of his neck. He sighed and leaned back, bowing his head, accepting the touch, offering himself to it.

...twenty-two, twenty-one...

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_albusseverus
2010-02-14 06:52 am UTC (link)

Al exhaled into the dark nest of hair, and felt the muscles underneath his fingers relax. Felt the vertebrae shift under the skin as Severus moved his head.

... nineteen, eighteen - only eighteen left -

The exposed patch of skin above the collar on the back of Severus' neck was warm, much warmer than the fabric of his robe. ... fourteen, thirteen... Al smelled it, touched it, tasted it and was completely lost in exploration and discovery. This was new. He wanted more.

... eleven...

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_snape
2010-02-14 07:07 am UTC (link)

...ten...

The moonstone stilled and Snape watched it with eyes that abruptly grew heavylidded at the first touch of Al's lips on his nape: not quite moving in purposeful kisses. It felt more as though Al was sampling the taste of Snape's skin, slowly and carefully, as if he was some rare delicacy.

The tingle of gooseflesh escalated into actual shivers, rippling down his spine.

It was all Snape could do to keep his eyes open, but he had to. Had to keep watching for the last rune.

Then, at last, the moonstone moved again, in a slow zigzag. Sowilo. The deep blue potion immediately started to glow, and at that instant Snape Leviosaed the moonstone out of the potion and quenched the flame beneath it.

...two...

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_albusseverus
2010-02-14 07:17 am UTC (link)

...two...

Incredible. This saltheatmovement sensation underneath Al's lips. His hands lifted to Severus' shoulders, squeezed as he tried to hold on. He tasted again. Bit down. Licked. It was good, so impossibly good. Al's arms slid around Severus to hold onto him, he latched on quite mindlessly seeking only more heat and taste and skin, breathing suddenly ragged and there was a sudden sound in the air that he couldn't've possibly made but who else would've made it? Al gasped for air, then gasped for skin.

one

He rested his forehead against the nape of Severus' neck, letting his breathing slow down, calmer, slower, still...

zero

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_snape
2010-02-14 07:24 am UTC (link)

Star, Sun and Moon - all three subbrews were now stable for the moment, settling and maturing just as they should.

Their brewer, on the other hand, felt as though he was about to boil over, or possibly even explode.

He reached back, awkwardly, with both arms, patting what of Al he could reach - sides, arms - briefly, reassuringly (he hoped).

And then he turned, dislodging that tousled head. He faced Al, and murmured, very gently, "It's time."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_albusseverus
2010-02-14 07:56 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, time," Al echoed mindlessly and stared, over the rims of his fogged-up glasses, taking in the sight. He reached out, with both hands, cupped together and placed them along Severus' jaw, thumbs moving across Severus' cheeks.

Al exhaled. The tips of their noses almost met. Severus' eyes were so dark and warm and deep.

The moment stilled in a pause of silence. Al looked in and his thoughts, his mind, his entire self was filled with wonder. "Incredible," he breathed...

Forced his hands to let go. Stepped back. Stepped away.

Snap, these five runaway seconds raced from him and Al raced to catch up, out the door, after them. Late.

Al couldn't remember how long it's been since he ran late for anything. If Severus didn't tell him, he'd've still been back there, he'd've been back there with Severus and they'd've been... they were...

His chest hurt. Al forced himself into a slower pace.

They were five seconds behind.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

bp_snape
2010-02-14 07:37 pm UTC (link)

Snape swayed a bit on his feet at the sudden break of the warm and wondering communion was broken, when Al remembered the time and raced out the door like a startled colt.

Snape gave a lopsided smile, torn between a vague ache at the sudden separation, and a wry fondness for the impossible brat.

No fool like an old fool, he thought, shaking his head and grinning at himself.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -