With You by Torina Archelda Title: With You Author:torina_archelda Pairing: Severus/Harry Rating: PG Word Count: 470 Warnings: none Summary: Response I wrote to whitecotton’s drabble challenge from back in January: write a drabble using the line “Do you really intend to put that in there?” I originally labeled this as post-DH, so you can just assume Severus lived and put Harry in whatever eighth-year scenario you like. A/N: I just realized I’d never posted it anywhere besides the yahoo group, and decided to give it a wider audience. I also never gave it a title, or saved it to my hard drive. Haha. Now to go through the files section and see if that applies to anything else… : )
"Do you really intend to put that in there?" Severus snapped, snatching the bottle of powdered asphodel from Harry's fingers and glaring at him full-force.
Harry frowned. "But this is a healing potion," he replied. "I figure the asphodel will counteract the excess of mugwort we had to put in to stabilize the anti-coagulant— Ohhh."
"Yes, oh,” Severus replied, setting the bottle down on the counter and crossing his arms. “You could have blown up the whole laboratory. How carefully did you think this through, Harry?”
Harry wiped the sweat off his brow and let out an exasperated breath. “I’m sorry, Severus. I really am trying. This is just… It’s never going to come as easily to me as it does for you.”
Severus’ gaze softened, and he dropped his arms. “Harry,” he said, putting out the flame and taking a step closer, “I am well aware you are putting forth your best effort. And you have made great strides in a fairly short amount of time. You are doing very well, but the ability to brew competently comes with time and practice. You will learn,” he continued, reaching out and putting a hand on Harry’s cheek, “it will just take time.”
Harry sighed and leaned into the touch, then reached up and pulled Severus closer, wrapping him in an embrace. Severus’ arms closed around his waist, and he buried his head in his shoulder and just breathed. “Can we stop for today?” he asked, luxuriating in the feeling of holding and being held. “NEWTs aren’t for months, and I just need to be with you right now.”
Severus leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Very well,” he said softly, pulling away slightly so he could brush his lips against Harry’s. “Clean up your workstation while I finish marking. Then we can spend the rest of the day however you like.”
“Mhm,” said Harry, returning the kiss. “Will you try and teach me backgammon again?”
Severus laughed, a deep, throaty chuckle, and Harry felt the rumbling against his lips. “Because you so enjoyed being beaten the last time?”
Harry let his eyes fall closed as Severus began peppering kisses all over his face. “Just love being with you,” he murmured, exhaling a sigh of pure pleasure.
“Well,” Severus replied, first kissing his lightning-bolt scar and then moving back to his lips, “you can rest assured the feeling is mutual. Now,” he instructed, stepping back, “clean up, and then we can return to my quarters.”
His hands lingered against his waist before he pulled away, and Harry marveled at the warmth the man’s body left in him even after he had gone. He turned to his desk and picked up a rag, and the soft smile Severus had put on his face never left him.