The Fountain 9/?
Title: The Fountain 9/? 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 Beta'd by Rakina, thanks so much :)
A mid-priced restaurant that catered mainly to tourists was the last place Severus ever expected to see Draco Malfoy, or any of the Malfoys for that matter. He'd rarely seen Narcissa in his visits to their Wiltshire manor, but from what little he did glean, it seemed she was a snob of the first order. What she would have to say about her only son being in a place like this amused him for a few seconds, but then reality clicked in. His visions of having an intimate meal with Harry were rapidly becoming just that: visions. Would Draco report back to his father or even to Lord Riddle? It wasn't as if Severus was doing anything wrong, there were no rules about being out with one of his students, but Severus could just imagine the headlines if the tabloids got hold of it. Lord Riddle did not take kindly to that sort of publicity.
"Indeed, this is quite a surprise," said Severus. Even Draco's attire seemed too over the top for such a casual eatery as this: a dark green designer suit; a silk shirt in a paler shade and black shoes so shiny you could see your face in them. Draco's gaze seemed intent on Severus, had he even noticed Harry was the other occupant at the table? Severus wished he could reach a hand across the table to reassure Harry, but doing such a thing might only add fuel to the fire, which was the last thing they needed.
"I'm not staying," Draco said in the tone of voice of one who would rather not be in such a place as this. "Pansy and I are just having some pre-dinner drinks with her parents. They chose the venue."
"I see."
"It was good luck actually," said Draco, delving into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. "My father asked me to give you this." Draco set a heavy cream envelope on the table. It bore Severus' name in an elegant black script.
Severus tried not to look too surprised, but he was. He'd felt sure his invitation to join the Knights of Salazar wouldn't be issued until he returned from Peru.
"Thank you, Draco. Give my regards to your family."
"I will." With that, Draco was gone without as much as a glance in Harry's direction.
"Do you know his family then?" Harry asked in an odd tone, his knuckles whitening around the stem of the empty wineglass that had been sitting on the table.
"His father also works for the Riddle Foundation; it would be very hard to avoid him."
"I wish I could avoid Draco," Harry mumbled, glancing down at the table.
"Harry? Is something wrong?" Severus asked, concerned. Was Harry worried about them being seen together?
"You remember I said I don't like crowds? Well, Draco Malfoy is the main reason for that."
"Is he? In what respect?"
"In the respect that he thinks he's better than anyone else because he's got money and he picks on people he thinks are beneath him."
"He bullies you?" Severus understood all about that and how awful it felt to be the victim of such taunts.
Harry rolled up the sleeve of his shirt and Severus saw some finger-shaped bruises around his wrists. "It's not just name-calling. He gets physical."
"Harry, if he so much as touches you on the dig, you come straight to me. I won't stand for that sort of behaviour from anyone on my dig."
"I suppose you think I'm some sort of weakling now, don't you?" Harry stared morosely at the table again.
This time, Severus did give in to the urge to touch him. He placed a forefinger under Harry's chin and tilted his face up. "No, Harry, I don't. I think you were very brave to speak out about it. I know that can't have been easy."
"It's not," said Harry. "But I find you easy to talk to. As if I'd known you before."
Severus smiled on hearing that. "You did know me before, but I suppose you were too young to remember."
"Yeah, but Remus told me what you did. How you saved my life." Harry picked up his menu and began to peruse it.
"Remus? Remus Lupin? You know him?" Severus wasn't too sure what to make of that information. That Harry, his current romantic interest, knew Severus' first love. Was it just coincidence, or something more?
Harry looked over the top of his menu. He was so short that all Severus could see was his hair and the top of his head. Harry's hair was wild and windblown as if he'd just returned from a jaunt in a sports car with the top down or had just this moment tumbled out of someone's bed. Severus had never seen the appeal of sports cars until now, but as he looked at the young man opposite him he could imagine the two of them taking drives in the countryside, picnics in secluded spots, privacy almost guaranteed. What liberties would Harry allow then?
Severus was no fool; he knew Harry was inexperienced and as such he knew Harry wasn't the type who would just jump into bed with the first person who took his fancy. That the person just happened to be Severus at the moment was a bonus, but Severus knew he had to be careful. He had to take things slowly, almost woo Harry if you like. Not that it would be a chore, Harry was a delightful companion and not just because of his looks or his exquisite physique. He was intelligent and witty and Severus wanted to get to know him as well as get him into his bed. He realised he wanted Harry in his life, not just in bed.
"Oh, yes. Remus is my godfather's boyfriend," Harry said casually and Severus had to remind himself not to smile at Harry's innocence. Most people would have called him a lover, not a boyfriend. "Um, you and Sirius don't really get on, do you?"
"No," said Severus shortly. "Sirius Black was my Draco Malfoy."
Harry set his menu down and gaped at him as the truth of that statement dawned. "Sirius bullied you? He never told me that!"
"I daresay it isn't something he's proud of these days. I would rather not spend our date talking about him if you don't mind."
"Oh, sorry."
"You have nothing to apologise for."
The waiter had returned to their table with pad and pen in hand but Severus hadn't even glanced at the menu yet. He had been here before though so he knew what he liked anyway. "Soup to start and then I'll have steak, medium rare."
"With fries or jacket potato?"
"Is the potato fresh or do you just reheat them in the microwave?" Severus asked.
The waiter looked scandalised. "Everything is fresh!" he protested hotly.
"Very well, jacket potato. Harry, what would you like?"
"Um, the grilled chicken with jacket potato. Thank you."
It wasn't lost on Severus that Harry had chosen the cheapest thing on the menu and that he hadn't even ordered a starter. A bowl of soup was hardly going to break the bank but Severus remembered his own student days; he'd been frugal then too for the scholarship fees only went so far. The waiter nodded and left them alone once more after removing their menus and the wine glasses from the table since they hadn't ordered any. Severus would need a clear head for his initiation the next day and he wanted to remember every second of his date with his Harry. His Harry? Oh, yes, Severus very much wanted Harry to be his.
"So, Harry, have you got all your equipment ready for Saturday?" Severus could have kicked himself for asking such an inane question, but if some small talk would help put Harry at ease it was all to the good.
"Yes, we did all our shopping today. Had a bit of trouble finding a tent though, lots of people must be going camping this year. I've never been camping, well, not that I can remember anyway. Did my parents camp when they were on the dig with you?"
"No, we were all in houses in the local village when the landslide hit."
"I never thanked you, did I? For saving my life. Thank you."
"Anyone would have done the same," Severus protested. He was no hero.
"I don't think that's true," said Harry firmly. "You saved my life, so thank you. Remus said you had a scar the same as mine on your hand. Could I see it? I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
Severus couldn't help the small grin at Harry's naivety that time; the young man really had no idea how that sentence could be construed. In reply, Severus held out his hand so that Harry could see the small scar in the shape of a lightning bolt. Harry brushed his fringe out of his eyes so that Severus could see the twin of it on Harry's forehead.
"We match," Harry said with a broad grin just as the waiter returned with Severus' soup and a couple of bread rolls, already buttered. That was annoying, Severus didn't like butter on bread that he dipped in soup, it made the soup too oily but he wasn't going to make a scene tonight. He would much rather spend time conversing with Harry than make complaints to the staff.
"Are you sure you don't want a starter, Harry?" Severus asked before the waiter left again.
"No, I'm fine, thank you." The waiter nodded and toddled off to see to some other patrons.
"Have some of this bread," said Severus. "I don't like it buttered."
"Oh, all right, if you're sure you don't want it?"
"No, go ahead," said Severus as he lifted up his spoon to take a sip of soup. Harry broke the bread rolls into smaller and smaller pieces; the act reminiscent of someone trying to make a meal last as long as possible. As if he had been used to it. It made Severus's stomach churn at the thought that Harry was really so poor that he had to make bread last. And what was worse was that Severus knew this shouldn't have happened to Harry at all. Maybe once he was initiated into the Order of Salazar he could ask Riddle what had happened to the Potters' money. Severus didn't think he was high enough up in the hierarchy to ask just yet, but soon, he hoped.
"So you knew my Mum and Dad?" Harry asked when he'd finished his bread. "Did you all meet at Hogwarts?"
"Actually, I knew your mother first. We grew up on the same street a few doors down from each other."
"Really? Wow. I can't imagine them as children, really. I have a photo album but it's only when they were grown up and had me as a baby. Did you know my aunt as well? Were they alike?"
"Not in the least. Your mother was a fun-loving, carefree girl and Petunia was a person to which anything fun seemed to be some sort of sin. She was fond of telling tales if Lily and I were doing anything fun. To her eyes it was just wrong and she couldn't wait to tell the nearest adult."
"Yeah, she's still like that. She was very strict with me and my cousin. I had to sneak around to apply for Hogwarts. She didn't want me to go to university so far away. Actually, I don't think she wanted me to go at all, even one nearer home. It was as if she was afraid to let either of us out of her sight."
"You can't wrap children up in cotton wool forever," said Severus.
"I'm not a child," said Harry vehemently.
Severus raked his gaze from Harry's face, to his chest, flicked his eyes to Harry's groin hidden beneath the table and then back to his face again. Harry was blushing again. "I know," said Severus.
Harry's blush deepened to crimson and Severus wondered what else might make Harry Potter blush that enticing shade.