deirdre_aithne (deirdre_aithne) wrote in snape_potter, @ 2012-07-23 08:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | deirdre_aithne, fic, rating: pg-13, summer of snarry |
Summer of Snarry Fic -- Keeping Potter
Challenge: Summer of Snarry
Title: Keeping Potter
Author: deirdre_aithne
Other pairings/threesome: mentions of past Harry/Ron & Severus/Sirius
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 3,241
Content/Warning(s): (highlight for spoilers) *Muggle!AU, passing reference to past drug use & overdose*
Summary: One night of dinner and chess had become one night a week. One had turned into two, then three and so on, until Severus could hardly remember what it was like when Harry was not a regular presence in his flat.
A/N: This is intended to be a sequel to Potter's Keeper from the last Snarry-a-Thon, but it can still be read as a stand-alone fic. Thanks to teas_me for the beta work, it was very much appreciated!
"Potter!" Severus snapped as the door to his flat slammed closed, startling his attention away from his laptop and the blinking cursor on his screen. He turned to glare at Harry for a brief moment, noting the takeaway bag in his hand before he turned his gaze back to his laptop. "Are you incapable of closing the door like a normal person?"
"When I'm trying to catch your attention, yes," Harry answered. In his periphery, Severus saw the corner of his mouth twitch in amusement, and he scowled at the screen. Without another word, Harry moved into the kitchen, and Severus settled back in his chair to reread the paragraph he had been in the middle of before Harry's entrance had distracted him.
Somehow, one night of dinner and chess several months earlier had become one night a week. One had turned into two, and then to three. Then Harry had begun to drop by unannounced even when they had not made plans, for no reason other than a desire to spend time together, until Severus could hardly remember what it was like when Harry was not a regular presence in his flat. There were no words or labels put to what they were doing, and most often, their time together consisted of nothing more than sharing dinner and a few games of chess, or watching a film together, occasionally sitting near enough to be considered cuddling, although they never really touched. Still, Harry continued to arrive at his door several nights a week, now, letting himself in with the spare key Severus had given him during a temporary lapse of sanity, with a takeaway bag in hand and a fresh reprimand for Severus' barren kitchen on his lips.
His attention was pulled away from his work once again by Harry placing a hand on his shoulder. Harry did not speak or prod at him, simply leaving his hand resting on him until Severus looked away from his laptop screen.
"Take a break," Harry said, pulling his hand away and gesturing towards the sofa behind Severus. Turning his chair, Severus saw their takeaway and two glasses of wine sitting on the coffee table, and arched an eyebrow as he turned his gaze to Harry again. Other than a faint quirk of his lips into a sheepish smile in answer, the expression had little effect. "You're overworking again."
"I have a deadline."
"You have six months." Severus' lips pulled into a thin line, but Harry continued to meet his eyes. "How many chapters do you have left on the first draft, Severus, five?"
"Three," Severus answered, and despite the tight tone of his voice, Harry's smile widened a fraction.
"We both know you'll have it done within another week. And then you'll spend the next month editing and grumbling about how much you hate every word while you go through all your editing, before you ship it off with three months to spare. Two if you decide to trash more than two or three chapters during the edits." Harry paused, considering Severus for a moment before he continued, tipping his head in a nod towards the sofa. "Take a break," he repeated. "You've more than earned it, haven't you?"
Severus hesitated for a moment, looking between Harry, his laptop, and the coffee table, the setting of which seemed strangely intimate, before he nodded. "Give me a moment, and then I will come to sit with you." He turned his chair back towards his laptop, but not before he saw Harry's expression brighten considerably, and he bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling at him in return. After saving his work, Severus moved to simply close the laptop before he stopped himself, glancing over his shoulder quickly to see Harry already seated on the sofa with his glass of wine in one hand and the television remote in the other while he shifted through channels.
Despite himself, Severus's lips twitched, and he turned away again to shut down the laptop entirely, closing the lid and standing from his chair once the screen went black. The moment he took his seat on the sofa, Harry shuffled close against his side, not quite touching, but as near as they ever came.
"Do you know we've been doing this for more than six months, now?" Harry asked as Severus settled against the back of the sofa with his takeaway box in hand. He paused and glanced at Harry, watching him continue to gaze at the television for a moment before he seemed to realize Severus was looking at him, and then his head turned to meet his eyes, flashing a small smile. "Six months, and this is the first time I've managed to properly drag you away from your work without you grousing at me over it."
Severus chuckled softly, reaching for his wine and taking a slow sip. "Do not expect me to make a habit of it. Obviously it was the promise of good wine rather than whisky for once that encouraged me to be polite."
"Oh, I'm sure." In his periphery, he watched Harry's smile widen as he continued to look at him for a moment. And then, Harry moved nearer, closing the small distance that remained between them to lean against his side. Severus paused with his wineglass pressed to his lips and turned to look at Harry properly, their eyes locked as Harry's head tipped against his shoulder. Neither moved nor spoke for a long moment, until Severus shifted, passing his wineglass over to his left hand as he reached over to set it down and tucked his right arm between Harry's back and the sofa, settling his hand on his waist.