unbroken_halo (unbroken_halo) wrote in pornicators, @ 2006-11-18 09:11:00 |
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Original poster: unbroken_halo
Title: Yuletide Traditions
Author: unbroken_halo
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Company belong to JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is meant.
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Rating: PG
Summary: Harry and Severus prepare to celebrate their first Yule together with both of their families and friends.
Warnings: None
AN: Written for fodirteg who requested an epilogue to Paradigmatic Praxis . This is not so much of an epilogue but more like a snippet from their lives together. You don't have to read the other story, I think, but it does explain a few things. I hope you enjoy it, love.
Harry opened the kitchen door and entered Serenity with a whistle. He grinned as he spied Marva at the counter, muttering to herself as she cooked. He crept up to her and she turned.
“Ah, Harry.” She shook a finger at him and he smiled again, sweeping her up in his arms and twirling them round and round.
“Ciao, Marva. How was your day?”
She slapped at him until he set her on her feet. “Orrendo! Terrible!” She scowled and went back to the dough on the counter, punching the inflated ball viciously.
Harry stared at her. “What happened?”
She looked back at him and shook her head. “Bah, Severus!” She began to speak in mixed Italian and English so fast it made Harry’s head spin. He caught a few words like stubborn, sarcastic and misogynistic and backed out of the kitchen as she slammed the dough on the counter, kneading it roughly.
Harry walked out to the foyer, shaking his head and smiled once again at how beautiful Severus’ home was. The entrance to Serenity was decorated for Yule with the utmost care yet it all looked natural and smooth, not overly gaudy or so strictly professional that one was almost afraid to touch or enjoy. Garlands of holly, ivy and mistletoe ran up the staircase and a pine scent mingled in the air with frankincense and myrrh.
A large tree stood just to the left of the door and to get the full effect of it, he climbed the staircase and stood wide eyed, staring at the Yule Tree, decorated in the old style. It was decorated with natural ornaments such as berries, rosebuds, and cinnamon sticks all harvested from Severus‘ lands. Candles adorned the tree, representing the light of the sun soon to be reborn, and waiting to be lit tonight with the Yule Log.
It glowed with a kind of ethereal quality, not provided yet by the candles and filled Harry with a warmth that he had missed from when he was a child. He breathed in the scents and held his arms open wide, feeling the ancient magic already beginning to gather just in their simple preparations. This was his ritual when he came home everyday since the Winter Solstice had neared.
And today wasn’t any different as he came back down the stairs and went looking for Severus. He pushed open the door to library and breathed in the holiday scents in this room as well. Bay and rosemary filled him and he smiled once again as he looked at the little box trees decorated like the giant evergreen in the foyer.
Not finding his lover, he ventured out and headed for Severus’ lab. He quietly opened the door and found The Potions Master. He grinned as he looked at the man and thought about his lover. There was two sides to his Severus; the man he had come to love, thanks to the ritual Bill had given him after he had turned fifty. Second, The Potions Master, who deserved all the capitals with it. At this moment in time, it was The Potions Master Harry saw.
The Potions Master stood at his work table, eyes intent on the potion he was currently brewing. Black greasy hair was slicked back and up away from his face, as sweat from the steam of the cauldron caused a few strands to come loose and fall over his face once again.
The Potions Master never detoured from his brewing but hunched his shoulder and rubbed the side of his face on his robes, trying to remove the obstruction from his vision. Scowling as he continued to count his stirs, The Potions Master began to crumble an ingredient carefully into the cauldron. Harry could almost hear the dried whatever rustling as the long fingered hand rubbed against the ingredient, releasing from it the power to change what The Potions Master was brewing.
A muttered spell and The Potions Master immediately pulled the stirring rod from the cauldron. He stepped back and carefully tossed in three off-white round stones, a smirk curling his mouth as nasty smelling smoke began to rise from the cauldron, surrounding The Potions Master with a green grey haze.
Harry covered his nose and continued to watch his lover work. He wanted to clear the room of the foul smelling concoction that was floating up at the ceiling but knew The Potions Master would use him for ingredients, bed warmer or not.
A whirling sound drew Harry’s thoughts back to the Potions Master as the fog coalesced into a funnel cloud that spiralled down into the cauldron. There came a loud rumbling as if the mini-tornado the Potions Master had created were real. He waited for the resultant crash of lightening and Severus’ mad laughter but none of that occurred.
The funnel cloud shrank back into the cauldron settling the potion to a glass-like finish, a satisfied smirk on the lips of the potion Master completing the ritual.
“Harry.”
Harry jumped when Severus called his name for it was truly his Severus that stood there.
Severus placed a lid on the cauldron and drew a towel out of thin air as he walked around the brewing table to his lover.
“Marva seems to be upset about something. What have you done to her?” Harry took a step backwards as Severus approached him. “What is that delightful odour?” He covered his nose again as Severus shook his head.
“Thestral apples. Marva is an old, cantankerous witch. Why is it my fault if she is upset?”
Harry made a face. “Urgh. It‘s always your fault when she in a temper.”
Severus chuckled and gestured for Harry to leave the lab as he followed behind him.
“The Weasleys are set to arrive as darkness falls. They all been given the portkeys to the island.” Harry waited for Severus to close the door and begin another of their rituals.
Severus nodded and began to strip off his clothing at the door and continued as he made his way up the staircase to the Master Room of the house. This had once been Severus’ mother’s chambers but until just a few months ago Severus had been denied access to them.
The doors swung open as Severus approached with Harry following behind him. It had been Harry’s idea for Severus to discard his clothing before he entered the house proper after brewing his potions. He stooped to pick up the dropped articles of clothing and drumped them off in a shoot just outside the bedroom doors. This way less stenchmade it through to the house and no more of Harry’s clothing had been ruined by… thestral apples among other things.
The shower stall was already running and steam floated out of the loo door when Harry made his way in after Severus. He sat on the toilet and watched Severus bathe in the sweltering heat.
“Thank you, Severus. It’s interesting to see how the Yule should be celebrated as it was in the days of old.”
Severus wiped a film of moisture from the glass shower stall door and smirked. “It’s been many years since I too have celebrated the Old Ways in this tradition.”
He turned off the water and stepped from the steamy stall. Harry handed him a fluffy towel, snapping Severus’ reddened thigh with it before wrapping it around the slim man’s waist.
Harry breathed in the fresh, clean smelling musk of his lover and sighed as he leaned against the damp man, wrapping his arms about his waist.
Severus' arms came about Harry as well and he laid his head on Harry’s. “I love you,” he whispered quietly. “Happy Yuletide, my Harry.”
Harry grinned against the pale skin. “I love you as well, Severus and Happy Yule.”
He straightened and smiled broadly at Severus. “Can we open presents now?”
Severus chuckled. “No, you had your first one this morning. You can’t have the next until after midnight and after the Log is lit.” He bent and captured Harry’s mouth and slipped the towel from his waist, rubbing up against his lover.
A loud clattering and raised voices sounded from below. Severus pulled away from Harry, both men groaning loudly.
“Oi, Harry. Snape. We’ve arrived.” Bill's voice echoed in the foyer.
Another voice echoed this and Marva’s voice followed, welcoming them to Serenity.
Harry shook his head then gripped Severus’ face in his hands. “Tonight, I promise.”
“I shall hold you to it.”
Harry pressed another quick kiss to Severus’ lips and cast a drying charm over himself before bounding out of the loo, calling out a winter greeting to their company.
The End