Secret Snarry Swap: Brown Paper Packages Title: Brown Paper Packages Author:goddess47 Gift Recipient:slu64 Rating: PG Word count: 2,557 Warning(s): None Summary/Prompt: Severus refused to open the mysterious packages; he wasn't sure he wanted to know who they were from. A/N: Thanks to M-C for the advice and look over!
Brown Paper Packages
Severus sighed. There was yet another owl headed his way with yet another package in its grasp. This was starting to get embarrassing.
The owl landed, holding out the leg with the package tied to it. Severus knew the owl was only doing what was asked of it, so he untied the package and offered the owl a portion of the toast he had not eaten, which it took delicately from his fingers.
Severus looked at the package sitting so innocently on the table in front of him. This was the same as the previous ten packages... plain brown paper, neatly folded around the object and tied up with simple twine. No indication of where it came from and a different, generic postal owl every day.
The packages had been of somewhat varying sizes but none were very large or heavy. A couple were obviously books, small volumes of unknown contents, but some were most likely in a box of some sort, having clean edges and regular shape.
"Are you going to open it?" Minerva asked from her seat next to him.
"No," Severus replied shortly. He did not glance down to the end of the table to where Harry sat next to Hagrid. He had more control than that.
"Severus," Minerva chided him. "You've been getting packages for over a week now, aren't you curious?"
He sighed. They had had this conversation every time from the very first package. Minerva asked and Severus refused.
"It's... personal," Severus hedged.
Minerva's eyebrows rose in both surprise that he would confess that much and additional curiosity.
"If you must," she granted with a small grin.
"Thank you," Severus allowed. He tucked the package into a pocket in his robes and focused his attention back on his breakfast, to Minerva's obvious frustration.
The small package weighed next to nothing but Severus was acutely aware of it all day. Even the ever-annoying Slytherin/Gryffindor potions class didn't let him totally forget its existence. It was the last day before the Christmas break and the students were less focused than ever. He had planned what should have been a simple and harmless potion lesson that one of the Slytherins had managed to cock up completely and had filled the lab with a pungent odor that lingered the rest of the day.
It wasn't until after his evening detention time, when he was back in his own rooms that Severus took the package out of his cloak. He hung the cloak itself in his closet and carried the package to his desk.
He set the package down next to the others on his desk. He had not unwrapped any of the other packages and had no intentions of unwrapping this one either. He did cast the same detection spells on the newest package to check for any traps or malicious intent but this, like the others, showed nothing.
This was becoming something of an embarrassment, the daily delivery of packages from an unknown source. Minerva was only human in her curiosity and the daily delivery at breakfast meant that he couldn't take them in private. He considered eating breakfast in his rooms but he found that, after his tenure as Headmaster under Voldemort, even he wanted to be around other people on a regular basis.
Knocking on the door to his rooms brought Severus' head up. Another sigh.
Opening the door, Severus said, "Yes?"
"How are you?" Harry Potter asked cheerfully.
"I am fine," Severus replied.
"You going to invite me in?" Harry asked cheekily.
"I am considering it," Severus replied, holding back a small grin of his own.
"I'm not so sure you want a student to come along and see me standing here," Harry said.
They had had this particular conversation before. More than several times. Severus wondered how his life had changed so that he had people around him that actually cared about him with no ulterior motive. Well, he knew Minerva had no ulterior motive. He wasn't quite so sure about Harry.
For it was Harry now and not Potter. There had been long nights of not-conversation while they both were in the infirmary under Poppy Pomfrey's watchful eye. Severus barely survived Nagini's bite and it was Poppy's dedication combined with his own preparation with antivenin potions that kept him alive. Harry had suffered physical and mental exhaustion related to his experiences in the Final Battle and had collapsed in the Headmaster's office. Luckily, the portraits in the office had contacted Poppy for help.
Being confined to the Infirmary at the same time had been more than awkward at first. Then in the middle of one night where neither would admit to not sleeping, Harry started talking about his experience at King's Cross and his meeting with Dumbledore. Severus had not asked any questions, but he absorbed every word of the story as Harry told it.
Another sleepless night, Severus started talking about his friendship with Lily. How they had met as children and both had gotten their letters to Hogwarts the same day. He had been nervous about telling Harry the story but the whispered Thank you from Harry had soothed Severus' mind.
From there, they started trading stories on a nightly basis. Some nights, they both told stories; other nights one would tell an extended story and the other would listen silently.
Severus had been horrified at the stories Harry told about his time at the Dursleys'. That Lily's sister would mistreat Lily's son was, in retrospect, not a surprise. That Harry had turned out to be honorable and decent was testament to the strength of Lily's love for her son and the protection that provided to the boy.
From understanding came the beginning of a friendship. One that Harry made time to nurture and one that Severus found himself loath to lose.
"You might as well come in," Severus agreed.
"Thanks," Harry replied. "It was getting chilly out here in the corridor."
They settled in armchairs facing the fireplace. Severus poured them each two fingers of Scotch, something he had learned to appreciate from Minerva. Harry had grimaced the first time he tasted it but he never turned down an offer of a drink.
"I'll be glad for time to catch up over the holidays," Harry said, looking at the fireplace. "I have a stack a couple of feet high of papers to correct. And lessons to plan for the new year."
After they had recovered and Minerva had been named Headmistress, she promptly offered them both positions at Hogwarts. She had offered Severus his choice of Defense and Potions and he sighed and took the Potions position, deciding there would be fewer political issues for the school if he refused the Defense position. She had looked at Harry and had amazed them all when she offered him the Muggle Studies position.
Severus had been further surprised when Harry had taken the position without comment. But later he realized that Harry had enough of fighting and thinking defensively and needed time to heal and determine his own future. Muggle Studies would let him do that.
Harry's first visit to his rooms had been more frantic. He was overwhelmed by the students and the need to prepare lessons for them. Severus couldn't refuse the pleading look in Harry's eyes and let him in. That first glass of Scotch had settled Harry's nerves and a second glass had let him relax enough to talk about what was on his mind.
Severus had largely let Harry talk. The sound of Harry's voice washing over him let him relax in a way he had never done before. He answered questions when Harry asked but it was similar to their time in the infirmary... it was having someone who would actually listen without judging or offering platitudes.
Then, one night, Severus was talking and Harry was listening. The event hadn't been anything that hadn't happened before – an experiment gone bad by accident – but it was the first time there had been anyone to listen to him. It was a liberating experience for Severus.
"You got another package," Harry commented.
"Yes," Severus replied blandly.
"Anything special?" Harry asked.
"I have not opened it," Severus said.
"Why not?" Harry said.
"It is not anything I ordered, so it can wait for... an appropriate moment," Severus replied.
"When will that be?" Harry asked.
"Possibly soon," Severus replied. "Possibly not."
"Okay," Harry said with a shrug. "Just wondered."
Severus had his suspicions about the packages, which is why he allowed Harry play these games with him. He was convinced the packages were from Harry and he wanted to see if Harry would admit to them before Christmas.
"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?" Harry asked. "After the students leave?"
"Why would I want to do that?" Severus asked.
"Just thought you'd like a day outside of Hogwarts when you're not on chaperone duty," Harry explained. "I need to pick up some things I have on order from Scrivenshaft's and thought I should replace some of your Scotch that I've been drinking all term."
"You do not have to do that," Severus waved off the offer.
"I know," Harry said. "But I would like to."
"Then I accept," Severus said gravely.
Harry finished his drink. "I'm sleeping in," Harry announced. "How about I meet you about ten a.m. and we can go from there?"
"I'll be here," Severus said.
Harry left and Severus went off to a bed that was suddenly colder and emptier than it had been in a long time. Even the warming charms didn't completely help.
Severus spent the early part of the morning grading papers so that he would not have to do so at the end of the holiday. He knew he'd eventually need a couple of days in the potions lab, cleaning and preparing for the return of the students.
A knock came at his door at promptly 10 am. He opened the door to find Harry, dressed in warm clothes for the walk to town.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
"Let me collect my cloak," Severus said, reaching into the closet for his cloak. He donned the cloak and secured it.
They walked in companionable silence to the town.
"Scrivenshaft's first," Harry decided.
They went in the direction of the Quill shop.
Scrivenshaft had a package ready for Harry when they arrived.
Harry put the package in a pocket inside his cloak. "Charge that to my account, please," he directed.
"Certainly, Mr. Potter," Scrivenshaft agreed.
They left the store and stood for a moment on the street.
"The Hog's Head or Three Broomsticks?" Harry asked.
Severus debated. Hogsmeade really didn't need more taverns but neither was particularly attractive to him. "I truly have no preference," he admitted.
"Well, I have an order in with Madam Rosmerta," Harry admitted. "We can go to the Three Broomsticks, then."
"Good enough," Severus accepted.
They entered the tavern and settled in a booth. Being a bit before lunchtime, the place wasn't too busy yet and Madam Rosmerta bustled over to them.
"What can I get you boys?" she asked with a wide smile. "And I have your order ready for you, Harry."
"Thanks," Harry smiled back. He looked at Severus, who shrugged. "We'll have whatever the special is and a pint each."
"Shepherd’s pie today," she said. "Be right up."
She served the pints of beer first, and they sipped while waiting for their food. Severus was glad that he had come along today. It felt good to get out of Hogwarts with no need to be anywhere else.
Their food came shortly after, and they talked about the food and the tavern. Harry told the story of his first visit under the Invisibility Cloak. Severus had long suspected that Harry had made much more use of that godforsaken cloak than he would admit to at the time. But now it was an amusing tale from almost another lifetime.
"I'll just put this on your account, Harry," Rosmerta said, putting a package on the table.
"That works," Harry agreed.
"You do not need to buy lunch," Severus protested, automatically.
"I invited you," Harry said. "You can buy next time."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Next time?"
Harry grinned unrepentantly, "Sure, we should do this again. Soon."
Severus sighed. "I have work to do," he protested.
"We can help each other and it'll get done faster," Harry suggested.
Severus gave a snort. "Cleaning the potions laboratory?"
"Did plenty of that before, suspect I can manage some more," Harry said.
"Maybe," Severus temporized. Although the idea of working together was appealing.
Harry picked up his package and walked with Severus out of the bar.
Harry was good as his word, helping Severus with cleaning the potions lab. In turn, Severus helped Harry work on his lessons for the new year, pointing out some efficiencies he could make and some superfluous assignments.
By New Year's Eve, they had everything relatively well organized and sat in Severus' room before the fire. Severus had requested food from the house-elves and Harry had brought a bottle of Scotch.
"Very nice," Severus commented as he took a sip the single-malt.
"Madam Rosmerta recommended it," Harry admitted.
"Much better than what I've been sharing with you," Severus said, pouring for both of them.
Harry took a sip. "This is better," he admitted.
"At least you've learned to appreciate a good drink," Severus said.
"And to appreciate a good friend," Harry said, raising his glass in a small salute.
"Harry..." Severus was surprised.
"Oh, hell," Harry swore. He rose from the chair and dropped to one knee next to Severus and took his hand.
"You've been a git and I hated you for so long that, well, it took me a long time to get over that hatred," Harry said. "But spending time with you has shown me how... complex you are. You're brave, funny, serious and steadfast. I've been privileged to get to know you and," Harry took a deep breath, "I'd like to get to know you even better."
Severus looked down at their joined hands.
"Harry," Severus said softly. "I'm not a good man. I don't tolerate fools, although I will admit you've been less of a fool lately."
"High praise, indeed!" Harry laughed.
Laughter looked good on Harry, Severus realized. Harry had worked so hard over the past few months to be a good professor that he had not taken the time to be the young man he was.
"I'm not sure..." Severus said. Although his treacherous hand wouldn't move from Harry's.
"I am," Harry said softly.
"What if it goes bad?" Severus asked. "I don't have a good track record with long term... anything." He hesitated to call whatever this was a relationship.
Harry shrugged. "It will be glorious before then and we'll face that if it comes up," he said.
"Glorious?" Severus was surprised at that.
"Sure of it," Harry promised. He stood, not letting go of Severus' hand. "We can celebrate the New Year together."
Later, Severus stared at the messy hair of the young man wrapped around him. It certainly had been glorious, having Harry as his. He vowed then to make it work for as long as possible.
It wasn't until the day before classes began that Severus finally unwrapped those packages.