Apprentice 34
Title: Apprenticed to Love 34/? Author: Eriador117 Pairing: Snape/Harry Rating: Adult Summary: Six months after the end of the war Harry turns up Snape's apothecary to beg for a job; they both get more than they bargained for. Warnings: Au, angst, hermaphroditism, mpreg, slash, abuse. Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the Potterverse; I just play in from time to time. Beta'd by Rakina, thank you so much :)
Harry sat back on his haunches and smiled at the Christmas tree taking pride of place in their very small living space. It was a little tree, not much taller than a foot, but for Harry it didn't matter what size the tree was. The tree was theirs in a way that the Christmas trees at Hogwarts or at the Dursleys' had never been. Harry had draped it in garlands of silver tinsel and small gold bells, for there wasn't much room for anything else on the tree. He had charmed some tiny lanterns in lieu of fairy lights and Harry had to admit even to himself that it looked good.
Severus was still downstairs in the lab brewing some last minute orders of hangover potions; it seemed the Yuletide holidays were quite busy for those and for potions for stomach-aches. Just as Harry was about to go in search of Severus to see if he was nearly ready for dinner; Severus emerged from the lab, wiping his hands on a towel and smiling at Harry.
"Is that you finished for the night? Shall I start dinner now?" Harry asked, just as his stomach growled with hunger. He'd already eaten an apple while he waited for Severus to finish up.
"That's all the orders done and sent," Severus said as he moved in to wrap Harry in his arms. He nuzzled Harry's neck and Harry relished the attention. "And no, you won't need to start dinner, we're eating out tonight. I've booked us a table at the Golden Grouse. You thought I'd forgotten, hadn't you, that six months ago you made me the happiest man alive."
The Golden Grouse! That was one of the more upscale restaurants in Diagon Alley. Harry remembered the envious glances he, Ron and Hermione had cast in that direction, watching all the well-dressed wizards and witches coming and going. That sort of place was for the likes of the Malfoys, not them. And here Severus was telling him they were eating there as casually as if he'd said they were going to the Three Broomsticks.
"I've nothing to wear to a place like that!" Harry protested. "And won't I have to wear my apprentice robes anyway?"
"Not tonight, Harry. We may be in public, but we are going out as a married couple, not as master and apprentice today. Wear your ruby dress robes, they would look great."
"Are they dressy enough?" Harry didn't want to show Severus up; he'd never really quite got the hang of wizarding fashion.
"Of course they are. The table's booked for seven-thirty so we'll need to get a move on."
Harry perked up at that. "That means we won't have time for separate showers," he said with a grin.
"Indeed," Severus leaned in to kiss him and Apparated them both to the bathroom.
***
It still amazed Severus how quickly Harry could become aroused. In the six months of their marriage it had been a discovery of sensual delights for both of them. Despite what had happened to Harry in the past, now he welcomed their lovemaking with fervour. Even before they'd quite got their feet back after the Apparition, Harry was kissing Severus while whimpering with desire, at the same time as trying to climb Severus' body like some sort of clinging vine. Harry's rapid arousal spurred on his own and it wasn't long before both of them were gasping and clawing at each other.
Buttons went flying, fabric tore but neither of them were that bothered about clothes at the moment. The need was too urgent, too fierce to be hindered by clothing. They'd managed to get the clothes off each other, only breaking the kiss briefly as shirts were pulled over heads, or shoes and socks had to be removed. Once they were naked, Severus sank to his knees and kissed the skin around Harry's belly button, thrusting his tongue in and out. He caressed Harry's buttocks; loving the silkiness of his skin as Harry bucked.
"Severus!" Harry moaned and grabbed hold of Severus' hair, almost as if he was afraid of falling.
"I've got you," Severus whispered in reassurance before licking along the trail of hair leading to Harry's groin and taking Harry's cock in his mouth. Harry's hands tightened in his hair, making Severus' eyes water, but he refused to let go of his treat. And what a treat it was: Harry tasted spicy and salty with a musk that was uniquely his. Severus looked up; his eyes sought out those of his husband; jade pools wide behind his glasses. Harry's pupils were dilated with lust, his lids at half-mast as he stared at Severus sucking his cock. Severus opened his jaw wide and swallowed Harry's cock down to the root and sucked hard.
"Sev'rus! Oh fuck! Ahh! Ahh!" Harry shuddered and came, gifting Severus with his delicious seed, pulse after pulse of it going down Severus' throat. Severus swallowed most of it, but a few drops dribbled out and down his chin. Harry's cock stayed hard, Severus didn't stop sucking until Harry was writhing again and gabbling, almost incoherently. "In me! Oh fuck, in me!"
Severus smirked with pride that he could make his husband so mad with want like that. Harry tugged Severus' head off his cock before falling to the floor and kissing him passionately, desperately. They shared Harry's taste between them until it was all gone. Once they'd stopped kissing Harry turned around and leaned his upper body over the bath, glancing backwards at Severus and grinning impishly.
"Spread your legs," Severus said, feeling his stomach jolt at the easy way Harry obeyed him. "Wider."
As Harry complied, Severus bestowed a necklace of kisses down Harry's spine from neck to tailbone; loving Harry's mewls of pleasure as he did so. Harry's hands were gripping the edge of the bath and he was gasping for breath. "Bend over." Severus eased two fingers inside Harry's slit, finding him wet and open. Ready for more, for Severus knew Harry hadn't come this way yet. He'd have to remedy that.
Severus gripped Harry's hips and lined his cock up; he slid in easily and was gripped by velvet walls. Harry moaned and tried to push backwards, trying to make Severus go faster by actions alone. Severus smirked to himself, knowing that at this angle, Harry didn't really have much control over the pace of their lovemaking. The thought that Harry was at his mercy sent a frisson of sensation shooting through his cock and sac, making Severus jerk forward. Both of them were too aroused for it to last very long, but Severus slowed his thrusting a few times when he neared orgasm, wanting to feel the pleasure for a bit longer if he could.
Soon he couldn't hold back and he fucked Harry hard and deep, wanting to come... needing to come. Harry's grip on the bath tightened and he howled as he came, clamping his muscles down on Severus' cock. Severus was in heaven as his orgasm was milked from him by Harry's body, so tight and hot around him. Severus held on to Harry's hips as the climax washed over him and his breath became little more than a ragged gasp.
"Fuck!" Harry exclaimed. "That was brilliant!"
Severus' cock softened gradually, but he kept it inside Harry for as long as he could, kissing the back of Harry's neck.
"I wasn't so sure you'd want to be taken from behind," Severus said, for it was the first time they'd tried it like that.
"I wanted to try it. I read somewhere that you can get deeper penetration that way. Not that I don't like face to face, but I just fancied trying something different."
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to experiment, Harry. I'm pleased you felt confident enough to ask for this."
"Well, I didn't really ask, did I?" Harry turned around and hugged him.
"Not in words, no, but your body language wasn't difficult to understand."
"Time for that shower now?"
"Indeed."
***
Feeling pleasantly sated after their shared shower, Harry stood as docile as a lamb as he allowed Severus to dress him in his finery. It wasn't something Severus often did, but today Harry relished in the attention as Severus placed each item of clothing on his frame, kissing Harry in between. "Perfect," said Severus as he smoothed Harry's winter cloak over Harry's shoulders before donning his own. "Ready?"
"Ready," Harry replied as he wrapped his arms around his husband's waist, readying himself for the next Apparition. It had been too soon since the last one and Harry felt sick as soon as they landed in the market square at the junction between Diagon and Knockturn Alley.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah. I hate Apparating."
"The Floos are closed this time of night," Severus reminded him.
"I know. I get sick then too."
Once he was feeling better, Harry took a good look round the street. The whole alley had been decorated for the Yuletide celebrations with ribbons of holly and mistletoe draped around windows and doorways; not to mention the cages of faeries that fluttered above each shop. The snow-blanketed street glistened like spun sugar; their breath frosting in the air. Even at this late juncture shoppers were frantically rushing to and fro trying to find that elusive gift. Harry grinned to himself. He had a gift for Severus but it was one that wouldn't be found in any shop, not even a magical one.
"What are you smiling at?" Severus asked with a smile of his own.
Harry repressed a shudder of desire as he remembered that deep voice barely half an hour previously telling Harry exactly what Severus wanted to do to him and then making good on that promise.
Harry stared around the magical street at all the lights and the snow and he smiled again. "I'm happy," he said simply as he stood on tiptoes to give Severus a soft kiss. The kiss might have lasted longer if Harry's tummy hadn't growled with hunger and if Severus was a bit more amenable to public displays.
"It's time we fed you," said Severus as he held out his arm like some ancient knight escorting a lady to the dancefloor.
Harry gaped for a few seconds, but then he quickly put his arm through Severus' before Severus could change his mind. Severus had always been intensely private and Harry revelled in the fact that he was allowing such a public intimacy tonight. It didn't happen too often, but when it did Harry appreciated the small kisses or brief hand-holds much more than he felt he should. Severus held him tight and Harry rested his head against Severus’ arm as they crunched through the snow to the restaurant.
The windows had been decorated with frosted scenes; little snowmen waved at them as Severus pushed the door open. As they entered the crowded restaurant all conversations ceased and the diners stared rudely. Harry felt himself flushing; couldn't they go anywhere without people ogling them? There had been a few Howlers after their wedding, but since they arrived while Harry and Severus had been on honeymoon they didn't know what they had said. They'd just come home to scraps of red envelopes and ash on their floor. Harry knew that not everyone approved of their marriage, that they'd expected the Boy Who Lived to marry a nice witch, not an ex-Death Eater and someone who'd been his teacher. The disapproval still hurt though, echoing as it did his first years with the Dursleys when they never approved of anything Harry did.
Harry wanted to turn heel and flee away from all those stares, but he stood his ground. He wouldn't let them spoil their evening out. They had as much right to be out in a restaurant as anyone else.
"Mr. Potter!" The Maitre d' waltzed towards them with two menus clutched in his hand.
"It's Mr. Potter-Snape," Harry ground out through gritted teeth, reminding the man of his marriage and his husband.
The Maitre d' glanced towards Snape and coughed, as if to cover up his mistake. "Of course, of course. This way, please. Your table has been reserved."
The round table was draped with a golden damask tablecloth with napkins to match. "Would you like some drinks to start while you look at the menu?"
"Mineral water?" asked Harry.
"The same," said Severus. "We can order wine when we've decided on our meal."
"Very good, sirs."
Harry fiddled with one of the napkins; he hadn't actually anticipated breaking this news tonight. It should have been at home, not in a restaurant full of strangers. "Um, Severus?"
"Yes, Harry?" Severus turned the next page of his menu.
"I don't think I should have wine."
Severus set his menu down and smiled at him. "I was wondering when you were going to tell me."
Harry gaped at him. "You knew?"
"Of course I knew." Severus cast a Muffliato charm so they wouldn't be overheard by the other diners. "Harry, ever since you started getting periods, you've been very regular. Your last one should have been two weeks ago by my reckoning. So I suppose a visit to Madam Pomfrey is in order to make sure, isn't it?"
"I suppose so. A late period could be something else, couldn't it? But I feel pregnant, does that make sense?"
"Well, a few days time and we'll know, won't we?"
Harry nodded and grinned at his husband. "Happy Yule, Severus."
"And to you, Harry. And to you."
TBC
A/N: This will probably be on hiatus until after Christmas. We are moving house and I have fest fics to get finished as well as get editing done on The Chosen. It is not abandoned though; it is just having a wee holiday :)