Never Say Never by Alisanne Title: Never Say Never Author:alisanne Pairing: Severus Snape/Harry Potter, Poppy Pomfrey/Luna Lovegood implied. Rating: PG. Word Count: +/-4000 Warnings: None Theme: Love and courtship Prompt: A throw of the dice. Summary: After a Hogwarts staff game of “Never Have I Ever” in which Snape admits to doing nothing mentioned, Professor Potter decides Snape hasn't experienced enough in life. Yes, I ‘borrowed’ this prompt from the Snarry a Thon, why do you ask? ;) A/N: Thanks, as always, to my beta-reader, sevfan, and to the Slash Chat girls for their support and hand-holding. Nothing you recognize belongs to me.
Never Say Never
“And one more thing before we adjourn,” Minerva said.
Severus, who had just been preparing to leave, sighed. “I have potions to attend to,” he said. “If I may be excused--”
“Just one more minute, Severus.” Minerva raised an eyebrow. “Surely a master such as yourself would not have left anything truly delicate brewing?”
Scowling, Severus settled back into his seat. He almost muttered something about having no more time to waste on meetings, but Minerva was not as lenient as Albus had been about such things.
Minerva smiled. “Professor Potter has an idea. He’s suggested we start a staff collegiality evening to foster, well, collegiality.” She pursed her lips. “Merlin knows we could do with more congeniality around here.”
The rest of the staff began to chatter amongst themselves, but Severus simply snorted softly, turning it into a cough when Minerva glared at him.
“I think it’s an excellent notion, so we shall all gather in each other’s quarters one evening a month to socialize. Professor Potter has generously offered to host the first one this Friday evening at ten.”
Severus smirked. He had patrol that night. Thank Merlin.
“And Severus,” Minerva was smirking right back at him, “fortunately, Mr Filch has graciously agreed to do your patrol for you.”
“That’s hardly necessary,” Severus protested.
“Oh, I think it is.” Minerva inclined her head. “You do seem to miss out on so many social events. It wouldn’t be fair if you missed this, too.” Leaving him speechless, she then adjourned the meeting. “Good day, ladies and gentlemen.”
In a foul mood, Severus stood and started for the door. Bloody Potter and his bloody ridiculous ideas--
“Professor Snape?”
Severus spun and sneered at Potter. Potter, who had reportedly spurned offers from several professional Quidditch teams as well as what was rumoured to be an outstanding one from the Ministry, only to return to Hogwarts to teach Transfiguration. Potter, who had been trying to pretend to be friendly for weeks. “Yes?”
“Is there any specific beverage that you enjoy?” Potter was smiling and to Severus’ eyes he looked nervous. “I’m going to try and have everyone’s favourites on hand.”
An idea blossoming, Severus smirked. “Indeed, there is.”
“Brilliant. What is it?”
“I do enjoy Henri Geffard Grande Champagne Très Vieux Cognac.” Severus smirked as Potter’s eyes widened. “You are familiar with that, no?”
“It sounds familiar...” Potter shrugged. “I’m sure I can find it.”
“Indeed.” Severus turned to walk away. “We shall see.”
As he walked towards the dungeons, he smiled, scaring a couple of Ravenclaws, who ran in the opposite direction. That put Severus in an even better mood, and, humming, he entered his lab. Potter would never locate the cognac. There were only a few hundred bottles produced each year, and not even Lucius had a steady supply. That will teach him to try to accommodate me.
~
When he arrived at Potter’s that Friday evening, Severus was actually in a good mood. No one had blown up a cauldron all day, even in double Potions with the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, Filch had his patrol, and he was about to embarrass Potter. Life was good.
“Welcome, Severus.” Potter was smiling as he opened the door.
Severus raised an eyebrow. “Professor Potter.”
“We’re being social. Call me Harry.”
“I do not think that--”
“Severus!” Minerva was already there, a drink in her hand. To Severus, she looked tipsy. “Come in! Harry managed to get his hands on a lovely bottle of Ogden’s Old.”
Severus moved past Potter. “No thank you. I would prefer--” He blinked as a glass of deep golden liquid was pressed into his hand. “What’s this?”
Potter smiled. “It’s the Henri Geffard Grande Champagne Très Vieux Cognac you asked for.” He gestured to a sofa. “Have a seat, we’re still waiting for a few more.”
“You...” Severus’ eyes widened. “You got some?”
“Yeah.” Potter shrugged. “I thought it sounded familiar, so I looked through my liquor cabinet and found a couple of bottles.”
“You found this--” Severus swallowed. “--in your cabinet?”
Potter blushed. “People send me things. Someone sent me a couple of bottles of that last year and the bottles were pretty, so I kept them. I hope it’s all right. It doesn’t go bad, does it?”
“Perfect strangers sent you--” Severus shook his head, and after Potter had left to greet more guests, he sat down, taking a careful sip of the cognac. Closing his eyes, he rolled the fluid around his mouth before swallowing. It went down smoothly, the rich, warm flavour seeming to start in his toes and move up through the centre of his body. He almost moaned. “Merlin,” he whispered.
“Are you glad you came now, Severus?” Minerva asked, smirking.
Ignoring her, Severus took another sip of the ambrosia Potter had handed him, and hummed, deciding it was almost worth visiting Potter for cognac like that.
Thirty minutes later, everyone who was planning on attending had arrived. Hooch had other plans for the evening (Severus wanted no details) and Filch, of course, was patrolling.
“How about a nice game?” Potter suggested when there was a lull in the conversation. “We could play a card game or dice--”
Severus, who was still savouring his cognac, blinked. “Are you suggesting some sort of drinking game?”
Potter shook his head. “Not necessarily--”
“Oh, but that’s a lovely idea!” Minerva exclaimed. “It’s been ages since I played one of those.”
“Ridiculous,” Severus muttered. “I refuse.”
“Nonsense,” Minerva said, clapping Severus on the back. “This should be a lot of fun. Are there dice? Let’s roll and see what game it should be.”
There were dice, and as Potter furnished them, then took a seat next to Severus, everyone else gathered around. Severus sat back, planning to stay out of it, but that was not to be.
Minerva rolled the dice while several staff members suggested games they could play. “Not chess, Filius,” she said. “Fifteen people can hardly play chess together.”
She let go of the dice and the number ten showed. “Excellent. ‘Never have I’ it is.”
Above everyone’s heads, including Severus’, appeared a glowing number ten. “I haven’t lost my touch,” Minerva crowed. “That’s our starting point. Now, do we all remember the rules?”
“Not all of us spent our youths playing drinking games, Minerva,” Severus muttered.
To Severus’ chagrin, Potter came to his rescue. “I could use a refresher, too, actually,” he confessed. “I was a bit preoccupied during my school years.”
“Of course, Harry.” Irma Pince leaned forward. “There are many variations of this game, but the one that's most popular when I was in school is where the first player, often it’s the host,” she winked at Harry, “starts off by stating an act they have never done. Those who have performed that act drink once, and they keep their number intact, those who have not, drink twice and they lose a number. The game ends when the first person loses all their points. Clear?”
Potter nodded slowly. “I think so.” He looked around. “So I get the first question?”
“As she just said,” Severus snarked. “Get on with it.”
“Right.” Potter took a deep breath. “Never have I ever played this game before.”
The glowing ‘ten’ over Severus’ head changed to a ‘nine’, as did the one over Potter. No one else’s did, however. Sighing, Potter sipped his drink twice to everyone else’s once. “So if I end up drunk, will someone put me to bed?” he joked.
Merlin. Severus blinked. A sudden image had formed in his mind of Potter, lying on clean white sheets, smiling flirtatiously at him. Raising his glass to his lips, Severus drank deeply. Twice. He did not need such thoughts at that moment.
It was Irma’s turn next. Smiling, she said, “Never have I ever tongue-kissed a man,” she said, blushing and glancing towards Aurora, who giggled and drank twice with her. Poppy, blushing, also drank twice.
When Potter drank only once, however, Severus’ eyes widened. “This is a binding magical contract,” Severus murmured.
Potter smiled. “I know.”
“You only drank once,” Severus felt compelled to remind him.
“So did you.” Potter peered into Severus’ face. “I guess that means no women for you either, hm?”
Potter’s gay? It was a night of revelations. Severus was so stunned that he almost missed Minerva’s statement.
“Never have I ever tongue-kissed a woman,” she said, a sly smile on her face.
Aurora, Irma, Poppy, and all the male professors except Potter, drank twice. Knowing he was being watched, Severus tried to be discreet about how much he was drinking, but Potter’s widened eyes made it clear he’d seen him sip twice.
“You’ve never snogged anyone?” Potter asked under his breath.
“That is none of your concern.” Severus refilled his glass in preparation for the next question, which was Filius’. Please say something reasonable.
“Never have I ever been attracted to a student.” Inclining his head towards his colleagues, Filius then took one sip of his ale.
Bloody hell. I’m never going to live this down. Severus almost groaned aloud. Taking a large sip of his cognac, he hoped it would look like two, but when Minerva stared openly at the number over his head, he sighed. He’d forgotten about that! It would clearly show all his inadequacies, including this one.
Potter drank twice, as did almost everyone except Poppy Pomfrey. Since her current partner was Luna Lovegood, however, that was no surprise. Severus blinked. “What about Ms Weasley?”
Potter shrugged. “I stand by my statement.”
Oh. Aware that everyone was staring at him, Severus cleared his throat. “What are you all staring at? Can we just get on with this?” he snapped. “Some of us have tutoring in the morning.”
Smiling, Potter didn’t say a word, although Severus could sense the speculative looks he was casting his way.
Poppy nodded and, taking a deep breath, said, “Never have I ever gone skinny-dipping in the lake.”
Resigned to his total humiliation, Severus drank twice and watched his number mover down to seven, the lowest of any there. And when Irma said she’d never worn clothes to conceal a love bite, and Septima followed that up with claiming to never have had sex in an elevator at the Ministry, his number went even lower.
By the time it was his turn, Severus had two points left and was sure that his colleagues were out to get him, especially given the question about having a crush on a student, which Severus was hoping everyone had forgotten.
But Severus knew what he was going to say. “Never have I ever snuck out of my quarters at night under an Invisibility Cloak.”
He’d assumed Potter would get upset, lose his infamous temper and call off the rest of the evening perhaps, but Potter simply laughed ruefully and drank twice. “Not many can say that they have done that, I imagine,” he chuckled.
Predictably enough, Potter was the only one who had done that, and Severus, down to his last number, sighed and drank twice. Prepared for Potter to state something that would somehow embarrass him, he was shocked when Potter said, “Never have I ever received a love letter from someone I cared about.”
Severus’ mouth snapped shut and, tipping his drink back, he finished it in two large swallows. Glancing upwards, he saw his numbers were gone. “I believe that’s the end of the game.”
“We can always play again--” Minerva’s eyes widened at the look he gave her. “Or not.”
“I’m off. I bid you all good evening,” Severus said, wondering how he was going to make it back to his quarters. He was all right while sitting, but something told him that once he stood up all bets would be off...
Apparently several others were having some difficulty. The party broke up after that, and as Severus watched, bemused, the majority of the faculty stumbled towards the door.
Words drifted back to him but he ignored them, concentrating instead on managing to stand. Unfortunately, his legs had other ideas and he collapsed into his seat.
“--take him back,” Minerva said. “It’s no trouble.”
“Don’t worry,” Potter replied. “I got him drunk, I’ll make sure he makes it back to the dungeons.”
There was a reason he shouldn’t allow Potter to take him home, Severus knew, but it fled before he could quite grasp it. Sighing, Severus decided to give them all a chance to leave - and to allow the room to stop spinning - then he made another attempt to stand.
“Oh, careful.” Potter was suddenly there, supporting him, and for a moment Severus wondered what it would be like to have those arms surround him because Potter wanted to, not because he had to.
And when had Potter started smelling so good? “Your hair,” Severus said.
Potter tilted his head to look up at Severus. “Er, what?”
“It smells.”
“Right.” Potter sighed. “Sorry about that. Let’s get you back to your quarters, all right?”
“No.” For some reason Severus had to clarify what he’d meant. It was important. “Smells good.”
“My hair smells good?”
“You smell good.” The room was spinning again, but somehow it was all right now that he was leaning on Potter. “Always notice.”
“Hm.” Potter sounded as if he was smiling. “You notice how I smell?”
“With this nose?” Severus snorted. “’Course I notice!”
“Naturally.” Potter seemed to know the way to his quarters without any help from him and soon they were standing in front of Severus’ door. Well, Potter was standing, Severus seemed to be swaying a bit.
“You’ve had a bit to drink, but I can lean you against the wall so if you want to say your password in private--”
Severus shrugged. “Don’t care. Not like you’ll ever visit.”
Potter went still. “Oh, I think you’d be surprised.”
“Serpensortia,” Severus chanted and the door slid open.
“Nice password,” Potter praised, pulling him inside.
“’S the spell to conjure a snake,” Severus said helpfully. “Reminds me of you talking to that big snake.”
“You chose your password because of me?”
Severus nodded, the head motion making him even dizzier. “First time I heard you speak Parseltongue, very sexy.” Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to Potter’s lips, at least he’d been aiming for his lips; instead he got the corner of his mouth.
Potter froze, then just as Severus expected to get hexed, he felt the corner of Potter’s lips curve. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
“You don’t drink much, do you?” Potter whispered, pulling back to stare at Severus. Whatever he saw must have satisfied him because he grinned and, steadying him, he finally manoeuvred Severus into the bedroom, settling him into his bed.
“Don’t do much of anything.” Severus sighed. “No time, everyone hated me when I was in school, then when I got out--”
“You haven’t done a lot of things in your life.” Fingers were threaded through Severus’ hair and he sighed, closing his eyes and turning his head towards the touch. “That game proved it. I think we need to fix that.”
Severus almost smiled. No one made him promises. This has to be a dream.
“It’s no dream, Severus. I’m going to help you live a little. You deserve to.”
Lips brushed his forehead, then pressed against his. Reflexively, Severus’ mouth opened and an agile tongue wound its way around his before, seemingly reluctantly, it pulled away. “I want you awake and sober for more, Severus,” Potter whispered before stealing one more kiss.
Mm, that was nice, Severus thought, and then, finally at peace, he rested.
~
Severus groaned, reaching for the potion that had to be there. Please, Merlin, let it be there-- His fingers encountered the phial and, shaking, eyes still closed, he unstoppered it and poured its contents down his throat.
His head cleared, and, sighing, Severus sat up. He was still in his clothes from the night before, and while his head was no longer pounding, his mouth tasted like the bottom of his shoe.
As his memory of the events of the evening before slowly returned, Severus’ eyes widened. Dear God, Potter and all my colleagues saw me make a fool of myself! And I attacked Potter!
Burying his face in his hands, Severus moaned. I’ll never live this down! Potter will tell them all how I babbled about his hair and his Parseltongue and his smell-- Not to mention how he’d kissed him.
Severus could only wallow in his misery for so long, however. He had a remedial Potions session with Hufflepuffs that afternoon, and he would need a good breakfast and lunch to fortify for that.
He could order his meal in his quarters, normally no one would look askance at that, but given his activities of the evening before, Severus could only imagine the gossip that would fly.
Dragging himself out of bed, Severus washed up thoroughly before proceeding to the Great Hall. Perhaps I can do some damage control if I make it to breakfast before Potter.
Luck was not with him, however. Upon entering the room he spotted Potter in his usual seat and all the others were chatting and laughing. Some things never change, he thought bitterly. It was like the Marauders all over again.
Potter, apparently sensing Severus’ eyes on him, looked over and, shockingly, smiled. “Good morning, Severus.”
Face set, Severus couldn’t think of an appropriate response. Fortunately, Minerva filled in the intervening silence.
“Harry said you made it back to your quarters without incident,” she said, sipping her tea.
Is that all he said? Severus scowled. “Indeed.”
“Yes, and that you actually helped steady him on the way.” She chuckled. “We all had quite a bit to drink last night, I admit, the events are hazy.”
Severus stared at her. You don’t remember?
“I appreciated the help,” Potter added softly, looking down at his plate. “I was a bit...unsteady on my feet, thank you.”
Stunned, Severus gaped at him for a moment before looking over the rest of the table. No one was smirking, no one was sniggering. He didn’t tell them how I made a fool of myself, how I attacked him. Severus blinked. Perhaps he doesn’t remember?
Slowly relaxing, Severus helped himself to breakfast and joined in the conversation, at least as much as he normally did.
He listened carefully to Potter chatting with Minerva and Aurora, and nothing he said indicated that he remembered any of the incriminating things Severus had confessed the night before.
It was Hogsmeade weekend, and several of the staff were chaperoning, so they rose to accompany the students, and breakfast began to break up. Severus’ remedial Potions lesson loomed and he swallowed an extra cup of tea, then he, too, stood.
“Professor Snape?” Potter was also standing up. “May I speak with you?”
Severus inclined his head, all his insecurities and worries flooding back. Perhaps he does remember and has decided to blackmail me.
They walked into the hallway and Severus turned to face him. “What is it?” he snapped.
“I think this is a conversation we want to have someplace more private.” Potter inclined his head. “My office isn’t far.”
“We’ll go to my potions storeroom as that is even closer,” Severus said, turning with a swirl of his robes. I refuse to do this in public.
When they arrived, Severus unlocked the warded doors and gestured for Potter to precede him inside.
“I wanted to let you know that I haven’t forgotten what we discussed last night,” Potter began, looking determined. “I’m not going to tell anyone in case you were worried about that.”
“Indeed. And what do you want in return?”
Potter blinked as if confused. “In return for what?”
“In return for not spreading the embarrassing story of how I drunkenly attacked you,” Severus sneered. “This is a prelude to extortion, I presume?
Potter shook his head. “First, you didn’t attack me.”
“I made an unwanted advance and I--”
“Shut up.” Potter looked furious now. “Nothing about your advance was unwanted, you git! I have been interested in you for ages! Second, even if I hadn’t been, nothing about what you did could be considered an attack!”
“You--” Severus was still stuck on the first part of Potter’s statement. “You’re interested in me? As what?”
“Argh!” Potter ran a hand through his already messy hair. “As a potential partner! As someone I want to...” Trailing off, he closed his eyes. “I admire you, have done for a long time. At first it was just a bit of hero worship, I think, but then, when I started working here, it became more.” He opened his eyes. “Much more. I was hoping you would give me the opportunity to court you.”
“Court?” For a moment, Severus thought he was still asleep and dreaming.
Potter smiled and stepped closer. “It means to seek the special affections of, to attract, to--”
“I know what it means, you--” Severus froze as Potter, in an unprecedented move, wrapped his arms around his neck and tilted his face up.
“I thought that last night’s game would be a good starting point,” Potter whispered. “We could start with all those things you haven’t done and move up to the things we’ve both dreamed about doing.”
“You’re actually serious.” Severus shook his head.
Potter, no Harry smiled. “Very. Why do you think I returned to Hogwarts in the first place? Now, I think we should start with tongue-kissing, what do you think?”
Glancing over to the clock, Severus saw he had several hours before the Hufflepuff debacle. “I think we should perfect that, then move on to other activities,” he murmured. “I have a few things in mind.”
Harry grinned. “I thought you might.” Pausing, he tilted his head. “So this student you had a crush on, may I ask who it was?”
Smirking, Severus bent his head until their lips were a few millimetres apart. “You may ask, but I don’t believe I shall tell.”
“That’s not fair,” Harry breathed.
“If you’re looking for fairness, Harry, you’re pursuing the wrong person.” Severus held Harry’s gaze to let him know he was being serious. “I have been called a malicious, sarcastic, and bitter man--
“Not to mention brilliant and complex and bloody sexy.” Harry only pressed closer.
“Sexy?” Severus raised an eyebrow.
Harry shrugged. “I’ve always thought so. And you’re a hero, with an Order of Merlin, First Class to prove it. I’ve known you for years, remember? I’m well aware of what I’m getting into.”
Severus shook his head. “Never have I ever met a more stubborn and determined Gryffindor.”
Harry laughed. “That’s one thing we can both drink to.”