The Fountain 8/?
Title: The Fountain 8/? Author: Eriador117 Pairing: Snape/Harry Rating: Adult Warnings: I am not putting warnings as I do not want to give away the plot. Everyone is over 18. Summary: Non-magic AU. Severus Snape is a world renowned archaeologist and needs student volunteers for his new project. What the students and Snape don't know is what it is they are searching for and Lord Thomas Riddle intends to keep it that way... Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the Potterverse; I just play in it from time to time
Harry didn't have that many clothes, but in the end Hermione decided that a burgundy shirt with black buttons and a pair of black jeans would suit, since Snape hadn't mentioned that Harry would need to dress formally for the occasion. "I think he would have said if it was very formal," Hermione said as she hung Harry's clothes on the outside of the wardrobe in Harry's hotel room. "Do you want me to iron your shirt for you?"
"No, thanks. I do know how to wield and iron." Harry smiled at her and sat down on his bed.
Hermione clutched her chest in pretend shock. "A man who knows how to iron? Forget Professor Snape, will you marry me?"
Harry chuckled and threw a pillow at her from behind his back. "What would Ron say to that?"
"Well, he can't iron, but he can do other things," said Hermione, her eyes going distant. "Now what is it you really wanted to talk to me about? I don't think you needed me to help pick your clothes, did you?"
Harry blushed, although he shouldn't have been surprised. Sometimes Hermione knew him so well it was terrifying. "Um, Hermione. You know my relatives were very strict, right?"
She nodded and waved her hand to encourage him to go on. "Well, um, the thing is I've - I've never actually been on a date before."
Hermione gaped at him. "What? Never?"
"No, so I have no idea what to expect or what expectations there might be."
"Expectations?"
Harry felt his whole body heat this time. Not that he was entirely sure what it was that men did together anyway. They could kiss; he knew that from watching Remus and Sirius. He'd heard some rumours in the locker rooms at school and university, but that's all they were, rumours. He had no idea what really happened. The Dursleys refused to let him and Dudley take any of the sexual education classes and didn't allow them to take Biology for the same reason. It was as if they were scared about their son and their nephew finding out anything about their bodies. Harry had discovered masturbation on his own, without even knowing what he was doing at first, just knowing that it had felt good. Would Professor Snape expect them to touch each other like that? Harry felt as if he'd been doused in ice-cold water just at the thought. He wasn't ready for anyone else to see him naked.
"Um, you know. Kissing and stuff," Harry said at last.
"I don't think a goodnight kiss would be out of the question," said Hermione. "It's just dinner, Harry. I don't think Professor Snape is the one-night stand type. He wants to get to know you better so don't feel rushed into doing anything you don't think you're ready for."
"Right," said Harry, trying to sound cool and collected and as if he knew exactly what Hermione was talking about. He had no idea what a one-night stand even was, but it didn't sound very good.
Hermione smiled sadly. "You don't know what I mean, do you, Harry? You should have known all this already, but I don't think I'm the right one to be telling you. Maybe you should ask Ron to fill you in on a few things, you both being blokes and all."
"Sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"You didn't. I just don't feel qualified to tell you about some things, male things. Do you want to talk to Ron?"
"Do you think he'd mind?"
Hermione giggled. "Mind? Ron Weasley mind talking about sex? No, Harry, he wouldn't mind."
Harry blushed again, wishing he didn't have such a fair complexion. It was so easy to tell when he was uncomfortable or embarrassed. It felt as though all the blood in his body had rushed to his face. Hermione didn't comment, just took her leave and returned a few moments later with Ron in tow. Ron had been eating a packet of crisps and a few stray crumbs had landed on his chin and cheeks. Hermione removed them with her fingers, not seeming to feel self-conscious about it at all. "I'll leave you boys to it," said Hermione. "I've got some reading to do anyway."
Harry's own books were still in their bag; he hadn't had time to read any of them yet and truth be told he wasn't sure he would be able to concentrate enough on them anyway. His mind was filled with Severus Snape and their upcoming date; Harry's mind didn't seem to want to dwell on anything else.
"What's up?" said Ron sitting on the edge of Harry's bed. "Hermione said you wanted to talk to me."
"I - I just wondered what I should do tomorrow night. You know, on my date."
"I can't imagine it would be that much difference in it. You'll have dinner, maybe you'll kiss goodnight, that sort of thing. If he does want anything else, make sure to use a condom," Ron said in a serious tone.
"Chewing gum?" asked Harry, putting on his best innocent face. "Those are chewing gum machines in the men's toilets, aren't they?"
Ron goggled at Harry and then put his head in his hands. "I am so not the person for this."
"Ron, I'm joking," said Harry. "I do know what they are." Harry just wasn't sure what they were for. He knew a little bit about girls thanks to that magazine Dudley had brought home. So he knew what went where, if only in theory. Men though, that was another matter. The only thing he could think of was well, back there, but that couldn't be right, could it? Maybe Harry should have bought some non-fiction while he was at it. Harry wasn't at all sure he was ready for goodnight kisses never mind anything else so he knew he wasn't even going to bring a condom with him anyway.
"You really had me going," said Ron with a grin. "I really thought you didn't know."
"I know I'm a bit naive, Ron," replied Harry. "But I'm not that naive."
***
Freshly showered, dressed in the outfit Hermione had helped him select, Harry waited in the front room of the Leaky Cauldron for Severus to arrive. They'd arranged to meet at seven-thirty and by twenty-five past Harry was so nervous it was a wonder he wasn't bouncing off the walls. His talks with Ron and Hermione had helped somewhat, but he was still wondering what Severus might expect from him. Would it be okay to just go to dinner without anything else getting in the way? If only his relatives hadn't been so prudish when it came to anything concerning sex of any variety, Harry might not have been so worried. It was all fear of the unknown really, when it came right down to it.
Harry took a deep breath, smoothed out non-existent wrinkles in is shirt and wasn't sure whether he wanted to will the clock to go faster or slower. Ron and Hermione had headed off into the West End to go to the cinema. Maybe Harry should have suggested that instead of dinner, you didn't need to make conversation if you were watching a film. Then again, Harry was curious to find out all about Severus and his parents, so maybe a film wouldn't have been such a good idea after all.
At seven thirty on the dot, the door to the Leaky Cauldron opened and Severus Snape stepped through, casting a glance around for Harry. Harry stood up, the smile coming more naturally now. The professor was dressed in a pair of black trousers and a dark green short sleeved shirt which had a design of a serpentine dragon down the left hand side of it. His hair was tied back in a short pony tail and he smiled when he caught sight of Harry.
Snape moved through the scattered tables in the room as unerringly as if there had been no obstacles at all. As soon as Harry started to make his way towards the other man, he bumped his leg into one of the chairs and grinned ruefully at his date for the evening. "I'm a bit flustered," Harry admitted when they finally got close enough to talk. "Is this all right? I wasn't sure what to wear, how formal it might be."
"It's perfect," said Severus, his gaze raking over all of Harry and coming to rest again on his face. Harry wondered if you could drown just by having someone look at you. Other people looked at him, but Harry didn't get the same impression. When Severus Snape looked at him, Harry felt as though Snape could see right through him, right down to his soul. He wondered if he looked at the floor, would he find his soul there, laid bare before everyone to see?
"It's not far," said Severus as he made his way back to the door. "It's a lovely evening for a walk, or we could take a taxi if you prefer?"
"Um, no. A walk is fine," said Harry, berating himself for not thinking of this sooner. Harry had very little money to spare. But if he let Severus pay for everything at the restaurant, did that mean that Severus expected a different sort of payment? Harry was almost on the verge of a panic attack just thinking about it. Why did things have to be so bloody complicated? He'd be a nervous wreck before they even got to dinner at this rate.
"A penny for them," Severus said as they stopped at a pedestrian crossing. Leicester Square tube station was a few yards behind then, disgorging passengers at an alarming rate, who all seemed to be rushing past them.
Harry took a few deep breaths and tried to tell himself that these strangers were intent on their own business and didn't have time to spare about him. They didn't know him; they didn't mean him any harm. But saying that and believing it when he was in the grip of panic was harder than it looked.
"Sorry. I'm not very good with crowds. Or small spaces," Harry explained. The traffic lights changed, the little green man a welcome sight so they could start walking again.
Severus stopped at a mid-priced chain steakhouse and led Harry inside with a hand on his arm. Should Harry object or leave it there? He had the impression that every other patron in the restaurant was staring at them, but Harry knew it was probably only in his mind.
"We have a reservation," Severus said to a man standing by the podium. "Snape."
"Right this way, sir," said the man, lifting up two menus and trying but failing to stop staring at Severus' scars.
Harry felt a bit affronted on Severus' behalf, but it didn't seem to bother Severus' in the least. The man, a head waiter of some sort, led them to a table right by the window so they could look out at the hustle and bustle of Leicester Square. There were two green leather booth seats with a table in between. Harry took one side, Severus took the other. "May I get you some drinks?"
"Harry?" Severus asked up.
"Um, a diet coke?"
The waiter sniffed, as if Harry ordering such a thing was unheard of in such a classy place as this.
"A bottle of sparkling mineral water," said Severus and the man nodded before leaving them to peruse their menus. They didn't get a chance to peruse them for long.
"Professor Snape! What a surprise!"
What a shock more like. Harry turned his head and felt his heart fall to somewhere near his shoes to see Draco Malfoy standing in the aisle next to their seats.