InsaneJournal

Mirror, Mirror by veridari and atypicalsnowman
Title: Mirror, Mirror
Artist/Author: veridari, atypicalsnowman
Pairing: Snarry
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
Warnings: None.
Summary: Severus just can't see what Harry sees. Perhaps it doesn't matter.
A/N: Medium used was Photoshop CS4. Art originally schemed by veridari for prompt number three, Severus looked in the mirror, but he just couldn't see the image of a lover. Thanks to whitecotton for the SPaG beta.








Severus splashed his face, then let the water run. Bracing himself on either side of the sink, he kept his face down, not at all eager to look himself in the mirror on this particular night.

Today was St. Valentine's Day, and eight years since Harry had first made his intentions toward Severus known. Then, Severus hadn't a clue why Harry was interested in him, not with the war just behind him and Harry the hero of the Wizarding World. At the time he'd simply given in to his good fortune, and allowed himself to fall in love with a good man. The best man, he thought. The kind of man who would have never given Severus the time of day before.

Slowly, knowing exactly what he'd see, Severus looked into the mirror.

An ugly, miserable old Death Eater stared back at him.

Not for the first time, Severus wondered what Harry saw him. At twenty-seven, Harry was a handsome, successful Auror, a hero with a bright future ahead of him. What did Severus have to offer him but an aging body that hadn't been attractive even in his youth and a cantankerous personality?

It was only a matter of time before Harry left him, Severus realized, staring at every line on his face, at shadows that would never leave.

"Severus, are you coming to—" he heard Harry say before soft footsteps stopped at the bathroom door. He heard a sigh, then Harry was behind him, wrapping his arms around him and putting his chin on Severus' shoulder.

"You do this every year, you know?" he said softly, but Severus said nothing. "Do we have to have this conversation every year?"

Severus grumbled but refused to meet Harry's eyes, still scrutinizing every flaw he saw in his reflection.

"All right, then," Harry said, then kissed Severus' neck through his hair. "So be it. I love you," he said softly, and this time Severus did meet his eyes. "I only want you. And if I have to remind you of that every year, then I will."

His heart seized in his chest, and though he could still see his reflection in the mirror, Severus felt the fear and uncertainty that had gripped his heart begin to fade. Slowly he was turned around, and Harry gripped his chin.

The smile and look of adoration was enough to chase the remainder of his fear away.

"Come on, handsome," Harry said, teasing, "let's go to bed. I'll do that thing with my tongue."

Smirking, Severus allowed himself to be led back into the bedroom. Perhaps every flaw he saw in the mirror was the truth, but it hardly seemed to matter if he saw himself through Harry's eyes.