Mirror Magic: Part Two [back to Part One]

Surprisingly, Lupin was waiting for him down in his office. "Did you have a nice time?" he asked.

"You have no idea," Severus said. "Minerva told me far too much about Albus and I burned my tongue."

"Oh," Lupin said sympathetically, then walked across the room and wrapped his arms about Severus's waist. "Want me to fix it for you?"

"I—" Severus managed before he had a mouthful of Lupin's tongue. His hands had come up reflexively, and he let them rest on Lupin's shoulders. Lupin wants this, he told himself. You're not too old for him. He wants you.

Lupin bore him backwards, against the bookshelves, and was reaching for the buttons above Severus's groin when someone knocked at the door.

Pulling back, Lupin gave him an apologetic glance. Severus straightened his robes and headed for the door.

Miss Parkinson was on the other side, hands on hips. "You said you were going to come watch us today," she informed him.

"Did I."

"Quidditch."

"Ah." Yes, he had. Bugger.

"Well, we're starting in five minutes."

"I'll be there."

Miss Parkinson let a tiny smile reach her lips, then stalked off.

"I think she likes you," Lupin observed over his shoulder.

"What gave you that idea," Severus said dryly.

"She's imitating you."

"I see." Severus sniffed at the now-empty hallway. "I don't suppose you'd like to come with me."

"Always," Lupin said with a, well, wolfish grin.

"To the practise."

"Sounds lovely," Lupin said. "Just let me, ah, go upstairs and tidy my office a bit first?" He sidled out before Severus could respond. "I'll meet you on the pitch."

Severus shook his head, then locked and warded his office before heading out to the pitch.

Cook and Maria had come out to watch as well and were already seated. Severus sat down a short distance from Maria.

"I remember when he was playing on the Gryffindor team," Maria said, nodding in Potter's direction. "I never minded when Hufflepuff lost to him—we knew he'd beat us even if we played the best game of our season, so the challenge was to play our best game anyway."

"He certainly had more talent on the pitch than anywhere else," Severus said as Lupin approached.

"I can't say he was ever particularly good at astronomy, no," Maria said. "But he must have been good at Transfiguration, or he wouldn't be teaching it."

"He's a natural wizard," Lupin said, taking the space next to Severus and away from Maria, "but not a natural scholar."

"Quite a few Hufflepuffs out there, Maria," Severus said.

Maria threw a glance at Lupin, who shrugged. "Yes, we had a rather nice turnout. Unfortunately, we filled quite a few spots this year, so the chances of any of them making the team next year are small. Doesn't hurt them to play, though."

The Beaters-in-training had risen into the air and were hitting actual Bludgers at each other. Apparently Potter had gained some faith in them. "I suppose not. Their time might be better spent studying, however."

"Severus, they're first-years. You can't expect them to study all the time."

"Given the average Potions grade, they ought to study more than they do."

"If it bothers you so much, just stop the practice sessions." Lupin looked to Maria, who nodded. "You are the Deputy Headmaster, after all. You can change whatever you want about the schedule. It's your job."

"I think young Miss Parkinson would lead a mutiny," Severus said, gesturing to the field. The Slytherin in question was zooming around the pitch, throwing the Quaffle back and forth with one of her cronies.

"Well, we can't have that," Lupin said.

On Maria's other side, Alexander winced. Severus followed his gaze. Two Beaters were recovering from dives, and swerving Bludgers high above them revealed the reason. Two more Beaters swung around and sent the balls heading squarely for each other. "Bloodthirsty little whelps," Severus remarked.

"It's Quidditch," Lupin said, as if this explained all evils.

Severus contemplated moving back a row and taking a short nap—Lupin was keeping him up rather too late—but decided the others would probably just move with him, and resigned himself to their commentary.

Lupin was waiting for him again several days later when he went to his rooms for his daily after-class shower. Waiting in the bathroom, even. Severus wondered briefly if he ought to revoke Lupin's ward-passing privileges.

Not even bothering to speak, Lupin grabbed Severus as soon as he entered the room. They undressed quickly, and Lupin bent slightly over the sink in invitation.

Severus rested his hands outside Lupin's and pushed forward. Lupin's head dropped down, and his breathing grew louder to match Severus's. Severus looked up, watching his flushed face in the mirror, Lupin's shaggy head bobbing in time with his thrusts, the cold stone behind and beneath them. His hands slipped to the side as they grew sweatier, and he realized only after the crash that he'd knocked the hand-mirror off the edge of the counter. "Sorry," he muttered, and Lupin made a noise much like "Nnngh," which Severus took to mean he didn't mind. He nearly leaped out of his skin, though, when he glanced at the mirror again and saw "Forgiven" traced in condensation there. But he blinked, and it was gone.

He drew Lupin into the shower with him when they were done, and Lupin huddled in on himself, as if ashamed of his appearance. Severus made sure to sweep his eyes appreciatively over Lupin's musculature several times. Lupin finally noticed, and gave him a tired smile, evoking a rush of protective instincts which Severus quashed firmly.

Lupin pecked him on the cheek before leaving this time, a small courtesy for which Severus was inexplicably grateful.

Severus looked up from his marking; he could only take so much inanity in one session. He glanced at Lupin, then remembered a question he'd come up with the night before, just before he fell asleep.

"If you desired, I could stay with you during the full moon."

Lupin jerked his head up. "Um. No, Severus, that won't be necessary."

"I know it's not necessary," Severus said. "I make the potion. But I did not know if my presence would ease the transformation."

"No, thank you, Severus. It's the kind of thing I'm used to dealing with on my own."

"As you wish." Severus went back to his marking. He could almost see Black's ghost, so long and well forgotten, traipse around the room and wind its arms around Lupin's neck. The imaginary spirit's lips brushed Lupin's, then tucked its face into his shoulder. The two of them, so happy together, as he could never have...even if he deserved it more than Black...as he would never have, not if he lived to be four times his not inconsiderable age.

Lupin looked up from his own marking at the desk Severus ordinarily kept for students in detention. "Have you made a decision about your birthday yet?"

"My decision is the same as it was before."

"Which was?"

"Not to do anything, obviously."

"Ah." Lupin looked slightly disappointed. "Are you sure? You deserve to have people celebrating you for a day."

"So, according to you, we should have Snape Day as well as Potter Day."

"Harry hates that."

"I'm sure." Severus looked down at his quill, then pulled out the small knife he kept in the top drawer of his desk. "No, I'm quite content having the majority of the wizarding world neglect my existence entirely."

"I suppose I can let you have your day in peace, then," Lupin said.

Trimming his quill, Severus said, "By the way, you still haven't explained that mirror spell to me." He examined the tip, then put the knife away and set the quill down.

"Mirror spell?" Lupin said blankly.

"The one you were using to observe and harass me after my shower."

"I thought you'd decided that was Leland Lyon?"

"I rather thought it was you. Especially since you appeared at my door shortly after informing me that you would be appearing at my door."

"No, Severus, that wasn't me. I just thought you'd finally decided to take me up on my offer."

"Ah. Well. No matter." Severus picked up his quill again and dipped it in his usual bottle of red ink. "I suppose it turned out for the best."

"Yes," Lupin said, and smiled. Severus merely continued his marking.

Suddenly, Severus looked up at Lupin again. Sitting there, head bent...Severus wanted to ravish him. And there was no reason not to. He set down his quill again and walked over to Lupin's desk.

"Hm?" Lupin said, engrossed in his work.

Severus leaned forward and kissed him, tangling stained fingers in Lupin's grey hair to smash their lips together. Lupin pulled back almost immediately. "Not right now, Severus, I've got work to do..."

"Do it later tonight," Severus said, leaning forward again. Lupin pulled back further, pressing against Severus's hand.

"No, really, Severus...I won't be able to relax until these are done."

Severus looked in Lupin's light brown eyes, searching for any hint of arousal. He only found something that looked a lot like fear. "Tonight, then," he said.

"Tonight," Lupin agreed.

Severus kissed him gently one more time before returning to his own desk and leaving Lupin to his demons.

"Any other business?" Minerva asked, looking around at the staff.

"I had a curriculum proposal," Potter said.

"All right, Harry. Would you like to share it with us?"

"I was thinking that we could offer a non-N.E.W.T. course for seventh years about the connexions between the different kinds of magic we teach here. Most of our students leave having never learned that not all magic fits into Transfiguration, or Charms, or Potions, or any other subject that we teach. For any student pursuing further training, it could be very helpful."

"I don't think any of the staff has the time to accomplish that, Harry," Lupin said gently.

"I was thinking a combined effort. If it's about magical connections, we should have all the types of magic represented."

"I don't know that students are really up to handling that kind of thing," Flitwick added. "I know you're not far away from being a student, but you always were quite an exceptional one."

"The children would never pay attention long enough, either," Maria said. "And most of them will be busy studying for N.E.W.T.s; it's not fair to spring something like this on them."

"I suppose," Potter said. "It was just an idea."

"Keep bringing them forward," Minerva said. "We can always use new ideas."

"All right."

"Was there anything else?" she asked, looking around. "No? ...Well, then, the meeting is adjourned; we'll meet in two weeks, as usual."

With varying amounts of speed, the teachers rose and left. Potter left unusually quickly; Severus smirked at the other man's sulking. Lupin wandered out with Flitwick, discussing some sort of charm he wanted to use in Defence the next week. Severus watched him go.

That night, Severus awoke from a particularly erotic dream of Lupin to find the other man standing completely nude beside the bed.

Lupin crawled in under the sheets when he saw Severus's eyes open. His lean body slanted against Severus's, causing Severus to have slight involuntary shudders of joy at the contact. Lupin's mouth was already at Severus's nipple, licking and nibbling it like the Chocolate Frogs he devoured so readily. He rubbed his erection slowly against Snape's thigh.

"Lupin," Severus whispered, voice still throaty from sleep.

"Mm?" The vibrations on tender flesh caused Snape another, larger shudder.

"We can only do this if you will stay and talk to me afterwards."

Lupin abandoned his task and looked up. "Why, Severus, you're becoming practically feminine. Besides, I want to make you too tired to talk at all."

"Then only if you'll stay and talk another time. I'm tired of a mixture of best friend and one-night stand."

"You're not a one-night stand," Lupin said, licking Severus's nipple again.

"No, I'm a string of them."

"Don't talk."

"I think you still haven't dealt with Black's death."

Before Severus had even registered any movement, Lupin was sitting, glaring down at him. "He has nothing to do with this."

"He is if you can't have a lover because of the way you still feel about him."

"What would you call yourself?" Lupin growled.

"I'm your friend, and you shag me when you can forget that."

"You don't understand what we had." Lupin's thumbs were rubbing small circles on Lupin's thighs.

Severus leaned up on an elbow. "I would love to continue this, Lupin. But I deserve someone who thinks I'm their first choice, not the lesser evil."

"You don't understand what it's like," Lupin said.

"No, I don't," Severus said. "And I think you won't be the one to show me."

"Only seven years," Lupin said. "Seven years together of thirty-four loving him. And probably I always will, even if I find someone else."

"You're not listening to me," Severus said.

"I'm sorry," Lupin said. "I am. Listening. But I hadn't...I didn't realize how much you wanted, Severus. And how much you'd make me think of him." His hands moved to Severus's shoulder, rubbing lightly, attempting to relax the tension in some sort of twisted contrition. "I suppose you're right then, and this can't...this won't work."

"I think not."

It was Lupin, this time, who planted one last chaste kiss on Severus's lips. "I'm sorry," he whispered again. "Are we still friends?"

"I won't stop you," Severus said.

Lupin smiled slightly, then climbed off the bed and grabbed his robe. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"Indeed."

Severus watched Lupin leave, and wondered if he'd squandered his last shot at companionship. He couldn't decide, and instead rolled over and returned to other, older, colder dreams.

Severus was trying to lose himself in the Generalised Guide: Projective, Illusory and Mind-Affecting Magics again the next day when someone knocked on his office door. Annoyed, he looked up. "Come in."

The door cracked open slightly, and Potter's head appeared around the edge. "Can I come in?"

"I suppose." He put the ribbon bookmark carefully between the Guide's pages and closed it, then set it to one side, as Potter came in and took the student chair. "I assume there's a reason for your presence."

"I want your help in getting the magical connections class added to the curriculum."

Severus aborted a sharp laugh in favour of the more traditional raised eyebrow. "And I'm sure you have a very good reason why I should help you."

"Well...you helped me with the Quidditch thing," Potter said.

"Because I could think of no good reason to forbid it," Severus replied.

"You don't need a good reason; you're Snape."

Severus let the eyebrow creep up again.

"Well, your decisions are pretty capricious."

Both eyebrows went up. "Why, that's a rather large word, Potter."

"Teaching will do that to you." Potter was doing a remarkably good job of not shifting in the uncomfortable chair. Severus knew it was uncomfortable; he'd hexed it that way. "Have to be smarter than the little brats."

"Not what I would have expected from the saviour of the Wizarding World."

"Maybe something that you should have expected from Harry Potter, though?"

"They're the same thing."

"Not really," Potter said. "But anyway. You know it would be useful. All the really interesting things you can do with Potions are actually hybrids with other types of magic..."

"You're obviously not a Potion-maker, Potter. Only someone who does not appreciate the fine art of a carefully brewed Potion would make such a claim."

Potter shrugged. "Your students don't understand either, so they might be more interested in Potions if you showed them the flashy kind."

"Nothing would alter their complete apathy towards my subject. You should know that after seven years of it."

"I've recently found my interest."

"Enlighten me," Severus said.

"Do you ever ask questions?"

Severus thought about it. "No."

"Well. I'll tell you what I'm doing if you ask. Nicely."

"It's not worth it."

"I thought so." Potter had the nerve to look smug. "So will you help me?"

"You still haven't given me a good reason."

"I'll tell Flitwick and Minerva when your birthday is. Remus told me."

Severus blinked and looked away; you're out of practice, Severus, he berated himself. He saw the curious look in Potter's eyes. Damn it, the only things he paid attention to were the ones he should know nothing about. "Blackmail. I never thought I'd see you stoop so low."

"It's worth that much to me," Potter said.

"I suppose I shall have to help you, then." He kept talking as Potter tried to thank him. "You'll need more of a plan. I'm busy this week; come back sometime next week and we will discuss what needs to be done. You will not mention this to me other than when we are actually meeting about it. I'm sure I've made myself clear."

"I agree, if you agree that we will have times other than the meetings when I am allowed to talk to you."

"I'd love to know why you want to talk to me."

"Because you're interesting. Is it really so hard to ask a question?"

"Yes. And I hope you realize that you're romanticising me." He ignored Potter's snort. "I am not putting on an unlikeable façade to keep people from bothering me. I really am unlikeable, and I hate Gryffindors who think otherwise. I am not here to amuse you."

"Perhaps we like you because you're unlikeable."

"You're making even less sense than usual. I am busy; you may speak to me again next week. You know your way out." He touched the bookmark to open the book and read another paragraph while Potter left. After the door closed, he put the book away and began his emotion-dampening mental exercises. He really was out of practice if he was losing battles of the mind with Potter, of all people.

Severus was only marginally surprised when his stalker made an appearance a few days later.

I heard you and Lupin aren't seeing each other any more.

"Yes."

Good. Now I don't have to feel guilty every time I want to talk to you.

"This is not what I would call talking."

Well, we could do something else...

"No, I will not masturbate for you."

Damn.

Severus was rapidly falling out of the mood to speak to...whoever this was. He pulled on his bathrobe.

Oh, don't hide that...voluptuous body of yours...

Severus raised an eyebrow.

All right, that sallow, bony body of yours. Happy?

"I am never happy."

Never would have guessed.

"If you have nothing important to say, I have detentions to supervise."

All right. Go, then. I'll see you later.

Severus paused. "That was an absolutely horrible pun."

There was no comment from the mirror.

There was an unmistakeably Gryffindorish knock at the door. Severus fought the urge to throw something heavy at whoever appeared next. "Come in."

Lupin walked through the door, an apologetic expression on his face. "I thought I'd come pick up the Wolfsbane potion and save you the walk."

"It's on the counter."

Walking over to the counter, Lupin said, "I'm really sorry about—"

"Don't mention it."

"Really, I didn't mean to—"

"I said, don't mention it."

Lupin paused and flicked a glance in Severus's direction. "Ah." He returned his attention to the counter, picking up the usual opaque flask. "Is this it?"

"As always."

"Thank you." He looked back at Severus, who was still sitting as he had been when Lupin first came in. "If you ever want to talk about anything, I'd be a willing ear."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Thanks again," Lupin said, and left.

"So if it's not Lupin..."

Severus nodded. "Narrows down the options even further."

"Leaving Hagrid, Harry, Alexander, and Tony." Hypatia dropped her voice and glanced at the corner where Flitwick, Maria and Minerva were discussing something. "And Flitwick."

"I don't know a Tony."

"Muggle Studies."

"Ah."

"I hadn't thought of him before, because he doesn't live here, but since you shower after classes there's still a possibility..."

"I see." Severus looked over at Flitwick and suppressed a shudder. "I suddenly hope it is him."

"Don't want to think about Flitwick in a sexual context?" She looked at the corner again. "Actually, I see your point."

"Yes. Well."

"I'm as curious as you are; I wish we knew what spell he was using..."

"I thought I told you."

"You know what spell it is? Why didn't you—"

"I don't know the exact spell, but I know how he's getting past my wards."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" Hypatia said a bit loudly, and Minerva, Maria and Flitwick looked over. Severus glared until they looked away.

Quietly, Severus said, "The mirror lies flush with the wall, like I told Maria—"

"That long ago?" Hypatia said, forcefully but also quietly.

"—so I perceive the bathroom as ending at the surface of the mirror, and my wards obey that perception. The magic works on the silvered portion of the mirror, so it doesn't come through the wards."

"Maria and I can come help you trace the spell," Hypatia said. "It'll be fun!"

"I'd prefer to do it on my own," Severus replied. "I may ask you to help me if I can't figure anything out, however."

"Men," Hypatia said, shrugging a little.

"I thought you were going to show me that new theorem you found."

"Oh! Yes." She pulled a book out of her sleeve and expanded it, then pushed it across the table towards him. "Page eighty-three, the theorem about understanding the magical properties of various wand cores..."

Severus went back to his rooms with his head still full of numbers, ready to relax and spend the evening brewing or reading. He was just getting ready to pull out a Potions book when someone knocked.

Suddenly, Severus wished he could put a sound-proofing spell on the door without annoying Minerva beyond all reason. "Come in."

The door cracked, and Potter stuck his head in. "Snape?"

"Obviously. And I told you not to come in here till next week."

"This is important."

"It must be, if it will make you come in here of your own free will on a Saturday night." Severus put the book down, folded his arms, and glared at the door. "Well, get it over with."

"I wanted to talk to you about Remus."

"That is none of your business. Now get out."

"It's obviously bothering you. You haven't been this rude to me since the beginning of this term."

"As I said, it is none of your business." He intensified the glare.

Severus was taken slightly aback when Potter glared at him in turn. "Remus is my friend."

"So you think that just because he is your friend, you have the right to intrude in his personal affairs."

"Yes." Potter was matching Severus's stance now, arms folded, feet shoulder-width apart. "Because he won't do it for himself."

"Oh, what a fantastic reason," Severus drawled. He forced himself to relax, leaning back against the table, with the effect of making Potter look quite over-aggressive.

"You didn't tell him anything was wrong, and then you kicked him out. How could you do that?"

"Potter, I'd love to hear what part of 'it's none of your business, get out' is unclear to you. Leave me alone."

Potter's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward even more. "Agree to talk to him and I will leave you alone."

"We have talked. Now leave me alone."

"A real conversation."

"I won't promise something I won't deliver. Leave me alone, Potter."

"I'd suggest you do it anyway, since I'm staying here until you do."

Severus activated the repulsion charm he'd built into his wards. Potter stepped backwards and braced himself, glaring. "You won't get rid of me that way," he said through clenched teeth.

Pushing against that charm took some rather impressive strength, both physical and mental, neither of which he would have previously assigned to Potter. However, unless he was a good deal stronger than he was proving now—stronger, in fact, than Severus himself—the charm would eventually get him. Severus smirked as Potter took another step back.

"You will talk to him," Potter said.

Severus silently shook his head.

"God—" Potter said. Severus never heard the ending, since the door slammed shut just then. Experience over youth, for once in his life. He wondered idly if the door had hit Potter's nose. That would serve the brat right.

Potter was pounding on the door again, demanding entry. He was also yelling something indistinct. Severus creakily picked up the book and started leafing through it. Perhaps he'd work on the improvement to the Wolfsbane potion he'd been contemplating. Yes...that sounded like a restful way to finish his Saturday night.

Potter showed up again on Monday, just after dinner. "It's next week," he announced, arms crossed aggressively again.

"So I noticed," Severus said.

"Are you going to help me with my project or kick me out again?"

"I think you're a bit old for this angry teenager routine."

"I'm not—" Potter started, eyes blazing, and then relaxed into a calmer state. "I am, aren't I?"

"I don't lie." Potter gave him a surprised look. "...Any more."

"Good thing. I'd hate to think you'd told the truth to Voldemort."

"Sometimes, honesty worked better than lies. I thought you had something you wished to speak to me about."

"Yeah, the project. It's a good idea, but they won't listen to me, so I was hoping you could help..."

"Potter, sit down, I'm getting a cramp in my neck." Potter obeyed, taking the cursed chair again. "They'll listen when they think you're worthy of it."

"I've been teaching here for a year and a half, my N.E.W.T.s students did quite well last year, so I think I did a fine job teaching them, and everyone still treats me like I'm seventeen. How am I supposed to work against that?"

Severus smirked. "Perhaps you could stop acting like you're seventeen."

"Well, I don't, except with you—which is odd, because you're the only person who treats me like an adult." He paused. "Well, that's so you can be more rude to me. But you get the idea."

"I suppose. Now, enlighten me about my part in all this."

"Support me when I bring this course up at the next staff meeting."

Severus felt the beginnings of triumph. "Which, of course, is after my birthday."

"And, of course, they'll really make you regret it if you let your fiftieth pass without telling them." Potter smiled in mock innocence.

"I see. So I support you, and you keep my secret."

"Yes."

"I suppose that's an acceptable trade-off." Potter's smirk, which he'd already dropped, didn't come back, but his eyes lit up. Amateur, Severus thought. "But I won't let my name and reputation be attached to anything below my standards, so you should work out a course plan and check it with me before bringing your idea up again."

"Yes, that might help." Potter nodded, then looked around. "Can I work in here? It gets lonely in my office; I think the students are too awed by me to ask for advice."

"I prefer solitude."

"What, you can't put up with me for two hours?" He grinned, probably attempting to look cute but only succeeding in idiotic.

"No."

"Ah." He stood up. "I suppose I'll go, then, and bring you the lesson plan later this week?"

"As you wish."

"All right." Potter walked to the door, tossed a quick "Talk to Remus!" over his shoulder, and left.

Severus had the opportunity to do just that on the next Friday, which was his birthday. He had no classes in the morning, and Lupin showed up with a gift wrapped in eye-smarting paper. "This is for you," he said, holding it out.

"That's not necessary," Severus said.

"I wanted to do it." When Severus didn't respond, he held it out farther. "Take it."

Severus twisted his lips, but took the gift. Lupin smiled. Severus backed up slightly and held the door open. "Come in, Lupin."

A small, puzzled frown crossed Lupin's face, but he walked in and sat on the tabletop. "So, how does it feel to be half a century old?"

"Much worse now that you've couched it in those terms." Severus walked over to his desk with the gift, letting his robes flow and shroud him. "I don't remember the proper etiquette on receiving gifts."

"You can open it now."

Snape carefully undid the Spellotape from one flap of paper and lifted it up. He was mildly surprised when it unfolded outwards. He tried the flap of paper the first had been taped to, and it one folded out as well. He ran his finger under the piece of Spellotape that was apparently holding the cylinder of paper together, then slid the box out carefully. When he started looking for his letter-opener, Lupin laughed.

Severus looked up. "I don't see what's amusing about my opening a box."

"You're so precise about it." Lupin laughed a little more, and even when he stopped, crinkles of amusement still crowded at the corners of his eyes. When had Lupin become an old man? "The paper's meant to be thrown out."

"So you wished me to tear it apart in the manner of a small child." Severus glared.

"No, but...it is meant to be torn. That's the point, really."

Severus quirked an eyebrow briefly and returned to his job. He nearly threw up his hands in frustration when the box opened to reveal more paper inside, but he realized it was simply padding. He tugged at a wad of paper and it came away in his hand. He could see a glass stopper and the slender neck of some sort of vessel. Looking up, he saw that Lupin was watching him intently, an unreadable expression on his face now that the amusement had faded.

"Go on," he said when he saw that Severus had paused.

Pushing aside a bit more of the paper, Severus pulled out the vessel. It was made of lovely thick glass with gold chasing, well-proportioned and heavy in his hand. It would hold potions well, even the most volatile; the gold never touched the inside or even the rim of the flask. "I don't know what to say, Lupin," he said. "These are better than anything I'd ever be able to get here."

"You're fifty; it's supposed to be something special." And we were together until about a week ago, he left unsaid, but Severus heard it.

"Thank you," Severus managed to grate out.

"You're welcome." Lupin's legs were dangling from the table, Severus noted with amusement; they swung to some sort of internal rhythm. "Do you have any interesting plans for your birthday?"

"I will probably teach my classes, then come here to make some of the potions that Madam Pomfrey requires, then go to my rooms and read."

"Same schedule as normal?"

"No. I'm going to purposely avoid any other sentient being for the rest of the night. That is my birthday gift to myself."

"I see," Lupin said. "I take it this is a subtle hint to leave?"

"Actually, I hadn't meant it that way." Severus looked around at the comforts of his office. "But perhaps that's a good idea."

Lupin nodded and slid down from the table. "All right."

Severus stood up and walked over to the door. "I will see you at lunch, then, Lupin."

"Yes." Lupin met Severus's eyes before he walked out. "We will talk later, though."

"Indeed." Severus watched Lupin leave, then closed the door and returned to his desk. It seemed no one was willing to leave him alone.

When he returned from a thankfully celebration-free lunch, he found a hand mirror lying on his desktop. He blinked at it. There was a note on top: Breaking the mirror destroyed the enchantment. Here's another one. The handwriting was similar to one he knew, but he couldn't place it.

After his afternoon classes, Snape returned to his office for the mirror, then went back for his usual shower. Perhaps an orgasm for his birthday wouldn't be so bad after all—although he was not wanking for the man, whoever he was.

As expected, the stalker started talking to him as soon as he got out of the shower. I am glad to see you brought the mirror.

"Well, I can't turn down a gift."

I'm glad. I've got a bit of a bargain to make with you.

Severus raised an eyebrow at the mirror. "A bargain with someone who's determined to hide their identity...I'm sure that will be useful."

I'll give my end first. I know I can trust you.

"How...pleasant for you," Severus said, mouth twisting in a sneer.

Well. Yes, actually.

Severus raised the eyebrow again.

I'll suck you off through that mirror if you'll wank for me tomorrow.

"I see. So you believe that I desire another blow job."

I think it's a safe bet. You're male. It's one of those constant things.

"I can think of things most men would prefer to oral sex."

True, but that doesn't mean they'd pass it up. Severus could almost see his stalker grinning. So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?

Orgasm at the hands of someone other than himself in exchange for an orgasm at his own hands. "Yes."

All right then. You know the drill.

Severus held the mirror over his right nipple. The phantom lips nibbled and licked; he bucked into the feeling, so phantasmal, but without the emotional ties he'd had with Lupin. Severus had to stifle a gasp as the teeth bit, not quite hard enough to hurt. He moved the mirror excruciatingly slowly over his abdomen, and lower...

He was brewing the potions for Pomfrey when someone else knocked on his office door. He cursed Minerva again for allowing wards but not silencing charms. "Come in."

Potter's more-than-usually-annoying head peeked around the door, as it had a tendency to do. "I've got the beginnings of those class plans. Would you like to see how I'm doing, or wait till next week?"

"Next week," Severus said, still stirring.

"All right. And happy birthday."

"Thanks," Severus said, in as flat a tone as he could manage.

"Right, then. See you next week." Potter left and actually closed the door behind him. Severus went back to stirring, clearing his mind and relaxing taut muscles.

Ready to wank, then?

Severus glared at the mirror. "Under duress."

I didn't force you into agreeing, so...

"Indeed." Severus glared one more time anyway, just for good measure.

Well...I can't wait to see this.

Severus took hold of his own limp flesh and started stroking. The thought that someone was watching, and that he didn't know who, made this all a bit too sleazy for his tastes.

I'd love to be doing that to you.

Severus chose to raise an eyebrow at this; glaring was getting a bit old.

Running my fingers up and down your cock...

The words were not changing his reactions in any way, for which Severus was rather grateful.

I'd love to do to you what I saw you doing to Remus...

Snapping his head up, Severus said, "So you were watching!"

Obviously. And, oh, God, how hot you two looked...I could only see the top of Lupin's head and then his stomach...his cock bouncing with every thrust...

This seemed to be having an effect. Severus tried the glare again, but his stalker didn't stop.

I bet I could make you come just from fucking you...do you think so? Are you sensitive enough?

Severus got on with things rather than responding.

Running my hands along your body...you know what my mouth can do, imagine it really, physically on you...

As he was starting to hump his own hand, Severus was having a little bit of trouble concentrating on the words, but he still tried. He could almost hear them in his head, but he just couldn't get the voice quite right...

I'd suck you off and then see if I could make you come a second time when I fucked you. Or maybe I'd let you top, thrusting back against you, your fingers tangled in my hair, pulling my head back so you could get at my neck...

He was about done...almost...

This is the best part, you know. Watching your face as you're close to orgasm. Your cheeks flushed, eyes wild and shining, a god of sex...with the tip of your cock just sliding in and out of your fist...

The world shrank to somewhere in the middle of his pelvis, then expanded outward much too quickly. He thought he'd probably made a noise of some kind, but didn't know what it was. He let his head drop forward as he tried to catch his breath.

Thanks, came the words on the mirror when he looked up again. Just what I wanted to see.

"Wonderful," Severus said. "Then our bargain is complete."

Oh, yes. But don't assume I'll stop watching you now.

"How disappointing," Severus said, then left.

Potter brought him the complete course outline on Monday. It was surprisingly complete, given what Snape had expected.

"So, we start out with medical potion hybrids—the kind that require a spell, like Skele-Gro."

"I am a Potions Master, Potter. I'm aware of what medical potions entail."

"Right," Potter said. "Anyway, I think that'll be the most useful to the students. And then we move on to mixes of spells, starting with simple wards...how long did these take you?" he asked, gesturing vaguely around the room.

"The office wards took me two weeks. The wards on my chambers were a summer-long project."

"Ah." Harry made a small notation next to wherever he was looking on the page. "Not an ideal example, then."

"No."

"And then the spells to make trunks like Moody's and other space-distortion things. A short lesson sequence on enchanting brooms. Some time spent on imbuing Transfigured things with various qualities...animation, sentience on the order of Crabbe or Goyle..." Severus snorted. "We finish up with incorporating triggers, and for the last day we bring in the Weasley twins with their arsenal."

"They are not coming into this school!"

Potter smiled. "They're reckless, but they do know how to do this kind of thing. And perhaps it'll lighten everyone up before their N.E.W.T.s"

"We'll discuss it later. And don't mention it at the meeting."

Grinning, Potter stuck out his hand. "Done."

Severus eyed the hand with as much disgust as he could muster. "Done. I feel no need to shake on it."

Potter's mouth twitched to the side, as if he were derailing a smile. "Well, then. Will you support me at the meeting?"

"That was the agreement. I don't think I'm quite safe from Minerva's wrath yet."

"And you'll agree to helping on the medical potions part with Poppy?"

"I suppose I shall have to."

"Yep!" Potter stacked his parchments and quill and headed for the door. "Thanks again."

"Don't mention it," Severus said.

"Oh, don't worry, I won't." He grinned one last time, much to Severus's annoyance, and closed the door with his foot.

The dreaded faculty meeting finally arrived. Severus got there early, as usual, and Hypatia and Maria accosted him as soon as they entered.

"Have you figured out who it is yet?" Hypatia asked in a hushed tone.

"I haven't actually gotten a chance to trace the spell yet."

Maria pretended to choke in mock surprise. "You're not curious enough to have done it yet? Good Lord, Severus, I'd think you're catatonic."

"Spare me," he said.

Maria smirked at him.

Hypatia went off on another new theorem she'd found and altered "for the fun of it," and Severus tuned her out, intending to keep his sanity and entrusting the sycophantic comments to Maria. Hypatia finally stopped when Minerva called the meeting to order.

The meeting was already dragging by the time they reached the "any more business?" stage; Christmas preparations were quite the topic of discussion, though they had not significantly changed from previous years. Severus positively dreaded what came next. "Actually, I'd like to discuss that course idea I had again," Potter said.

"Well, unless you have some new ideas, Harry, I don't really see that it would do us any good to discuss it again," Minerva said.

"I have," Potter said, pulling out the thin stack o parchment. "I put together a rough course outline, so you could see what I'm intending."

"All right," Minerva said, with a barely-stifled put-upon sigh. "What is on this proposed course plan?"

Potter outlined for the assembled teachers the same plan he'd shown Severus two nights before. As Severus had suggested, he avoided the Weasley twins idea.

"But you still didn't address the core issues, Harry," Flitwick said with a condescending smile. "We don't have the staff, and it will only distract students studying for their N.E.W.T.s."

"I don't propose a required class, Filius," Potter said. "This would be for students who are interested. And, as with all sixth and seventh-year Hogwarts classes, they may drop the class at any time."

"Perhaps it would work better as a series of seminars," Severus surprised himself by saying.

All the eyes at the table turned and looked at him.

"So those who are interested may attend, and those who don't care may avoid it. It would also make scheduling simpler, if we are to have different teachers every few weeks."

"That's a good idea, thank you, Severus," Potter said, shooting a grateful glance in his direction. "In fact, that's even better, so that students interested in only one topic for their future careers don't have to waste time on unnecessary preparation."

"But is it necessary preparation at all?" Maria asked. "I don't see how well this will help our students."

Potter stopped and thought for a minute. "How many of your N.E.W.T.-level students go on to do further work in astronomy or use it in their careers?"

"About one-third to one-half," she replied.

"Are the others wasting their time?"

"No, they enjoy the subject."

"What makes this so different?" Potter asked. "Why is it all right for students to take astronomy when it won't benefit them, but not to learn a skill that they'll probably need no matter what they do?"

"You can get a N.E.W.T. in astronomy," Maria said. "That will help anyone looking for employment."

"True, I suppose," Potter said. "But are we going to teach only to the tests?"

No one answered him, though Severus could see that nobody was completely convinced. Minerva finally interrupted the silence. "Well, perhaps you should work on this course plan, Harry, changing it to a seminar format, and get back to us in a month or so."

"And maybe we should ask the students," Cook said.

Severus raised an eyebrow; apparently the man was paying attention for once.

"All right; you may take that on, then, Alexander." She looked around the table. "Any more business?"

No one answered.

"Well, then. I shall see you all here the week before Christmas, then!"

The group dispersed, and Potter gathered up his parchments, smiling. "Thanks, Severus," he said as they passed when leaving the room.

Lupin came to visit Severus again Friday morning. "Hi, can I come in?" he asked, standing at the open door.

"That is usually what an open door signifies."

"May I close it?"

"I suppose." Severus put down his book; this did not bode well.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about, well, what happened between us."

Severus nodded; he knew this conversation would have to happen sometime, as long as the two of them were working together.

Lupin took the student chair and looked at Severus earnestly. "I know I was being unreasonable, but I feel like you should have given me more of a chance."

"I'm sorry you feel that way."

Lupin brushed his hand through the hair above his ear. "I think that probably it wouldn't have worked, if we couldn't get over obstacles like that." Severus nodded. "But if we're working together, it can't be...like this. We need to be civil, and it won't happen as long as we don't talk about this."

"All right," Severus said.

Lupin waited, then started talking himself when Severus did not. "I don't want any hard feelings between us. It obviously wasn't going to work, but we need to be able to function together. Will you forgive me for not noticing how you felt about the way I was treating you?"

"If you will forgive me for not informing you of it...though you should have known yourself," Severus said.

Lupin's mouth twisted a little to the side. "A deal, then. And we will try to work together as if nothing had ever happened."

"Thus confusing every other staff member and half the students," Severus said. "I believe I can live with that."

"All right." Lupin stuck out his hand. "Then we're friends again?"

"As much as ever." Severus shook the proffered hand; Lupin smiled at him, and Severus smirked back.

"I'll see you at the match, then," Lupin said.

"When Slytherin will win," Severus replied.

Lupin smiled again. "Probably." He closed the door behind him; Severus waited a moment, then spelled it back open.

Severus was really in no mood to talk when his stalker appeared again that day after his shower.

I always love wet, naked men, the man commented.

"I don't feel like talking today," Severus said, pulling on his dressing-gown. "Leave ma lone."

What a shame...and I was so looking forward to it.

"I said, I don't feel like talking. Now leave me alone." Severus wondered what twisted code of politeness made him wait just a bit for the man to listen to him.

No snarkiness today, I see.

"Leave me alone, Potter. I don't feel like—" The condensation disappeared suddenly. Severus frowned. Why—

Potter.

Severus tied the dressing-gown's belt and went to the door. If his subconscious had been right, he'd have a visitor as fast as Potter could run.

As he'd expected, a knock sounded scant minutes later. He opened the door to find a very shocked-looking Harry Potter.

"How—how long have you known?" Potter asked, and swallowed.

"I didn't know until I said the words," Severus replied.

"You had to have known. It wasn't hard to figure out."

"Perhaps I didn't believe it."

Potter dropped his eyes. "Can I come in?"

"I suppose." Snape stepped back and let Potter in. Potter took the sofa; Snape wondered if Lupin had informed him about the chair, then cut off that train of thought quite abruptly.

"I didn't know how else to get you to listen to me. And then Lupin..."

"Because I thought he was you."

Potter nodded. "I saw you grab him and pull him in here, actually; I was just rounding the corner...but I figured if you were so eager, there was something between you two already, so I didn't interfere."

"I see." Severus's rapidly-forming mental image of this young, suddenly handsome, exasperating person wanking to a reflection of, well, Severus himself did nothing to help his state of mind. "So you...created that spell all on your own."

"Why do you think I was so interested in spell hybrids?" Potter asked.

"Good point," Severus replied.

"I...would you be interested in...something, or did I come down here for nothing?"

"I wouldn't call this nothing," Severus said.

Potter waited. Potter, that everybody loved, even if he didn't believe it. Potter, only twenty-eight, young and Quidditch-muscled and oddly charming in an awkward way. Potter, probably Lupin's best friend. Potter, who apparently wanted him...who had already, in fact, brought him to orgasm twice, or perhaps three times if he counted the narration.

"I suppose I could be interested in something," Severus said.

Potter smiled tentatively. "What kind of something?"

"Shall we go to the bedroom?"

Potter's smile evolved into a wide grin, and he followed with more obedience then he'd ever shown in school.

Potter came back the next day for a quick tumble that was quite satisfactory to all parties involved. Then he started speaking.

"Severus," he said as they lay together tangled up in what was left of the bedclothes, "this may not be the best time to mention it, but I'm not sure this was a good idea."

Bloody good shag with a handsome young man... "You should probably have a good reason for that, or I'll have to punish you."

"Not that I wouldn't enjoy that, necessarily, but..." Potter tilted his head to look upwards. "I think this is too soon after Lupin."

"I don't mind." Severus attempted to run his fingers through the fur on the aptly-named Harry's chest, but Potter caught at his hand and stopped it.

"Because I'm rather like you: I'd prefer some emotional connection here, and I don't know that after Remus, so soon after, that you could manage it."

"I could try."

"And I'm not sure I feel right about doing this to Remus." Potter absently ran the back of his hand down Severus's side, then stopped himself.

"Ah. Gryffindor guilt."

"No, human guilt. I'm sure you've had it for various things."

The smoking remains of houses, the green flashes of light, the crying children. "Probably." He kissed Potter on the forehead.

"So...I don't want to rule anything out, but I think maybe we should wait a bit. See if you're still interested—you're still coming back from being with Lupin, after all."

"You're the one that started this," Severus said.

"I know. It was a mistake. It's been too long for me, and too short for you. So we give it some time, see what happens?" He snuggled in a little further, belying his words.

"I suppose that would be for the best."

Potter nuzzled against his chest a bit. "Three months," he said. "Three months, and you will come to me if you're still interested. And if you find you want Remus more, you go to him."

"Three months..." Severus said. It sounded long, but how long had it been from Evan to Lupin?

"Three months." Potter kissed him, quick and hard, before sitting up. "I should probably be going, then...since we've already decided to..."

"Yes." Severus shifted on the bed, so he was facing the door full-on. "Good-bye, Potter."

"Well, I still have to get dressed," came the muffled voice from Potter's shirt. A few moments later, fully clothed, he stood up and headed for the door. "See you later, Severus."

"Good-bye," Severus replied, watching Potter leave as Lupin had not so long before. He flopped back on the pillows once Potter was gone and wondered again if he'd squandered his last shot at companionship.

And he waited, and it was three months of sitting in the dungeons with his potions and his books and his memories, as he had always done. Three months of making the Wolfsbane potion and putting it in a beautiful gold-chased flask. Three months of staying up late and rising early and definitely not dreaming about Potter sitting in front of his bathroom mirror, wanking as he watched Severus undress. Three months of, oddly enough, not dreaming of Evan Rosier's screams, neither from his death nor his ecstasy. Three months of watching Quidditch games, of writing the outlines for a new course, of getting further and further into the pile of reading he'd been keeping since his first year at Hogwarts. Three months of quiet and vaguely disturbing teas with Minerva. Three months of trying not to avoid Lupin, who'd withdrawn quite a bit from Hogwarts life. Three months of talking cordially to Potter and wanting to drag him bodily to bed. Three months of sitting in the dungeons, alone, and having it bother him for the first time in twenty-six years—more than half his lifetime, he realised.

And at the end of three months, he went to Potter's door, and stood outside, and waited for an answer to his knock.

Potter opened the door, eyes widening slightly when he saw Severus. He stood back and opened the door. "Hello. Come in."

Severus walked in, glancing around the room as he did so. It was surprisingly less Gryffindor than he would have expected; the furniture was all pale wood, with light grey carpeting and grey-edged cream upholstery. A few photographs were scattered about on various surfaces, probably of Granger or the Weasleys, though it was difficult to tell from so far away.

"Would you like to sit down?" Potter asked from behind him.

"Yes," Severus said. He took the closest soft squishy chair. The world seemed about six inches taller than usual; he was used to hard wooden seats that didn't sink.

Potter took the sofa, spreading out to fill more space than he ought. "What can I do for you, Snape?"

"Three months," Severus said.

Potter's hands tensed. "Ah," he said after a moment.

"And you told me that if I was still interested after three months, I should come talk to you."

"Well," Potter said, "I'm glad you did."

"I hope you are still open to possibilities."

"Yes, of course," Potter said quickly. "Um. You could come over here on the sofa, if you wanted."

Severus nodded and crossed to the sofa, where he sat as far away as possible from Potter; best not to push his luck. "I was wondering if you had any plans for how to go about this."

"Well..." Potter looked at him, then shifted over till his head leant against Severus's shoulder; he'd been so spread out before that he barely had to move. "I can think of a few things I'd like to do." He looked up at Severus, who had not moved, and grabbed Severus's arm to place it around himself. "In general...I don't know, we need to talk. So we need to make time a few times a week to just spend time together. Other than that...we'll just have to see how it goes."

Severus reached the other hand up to ruffle through Potter's thick black hair. "That is an agreeable arrangement," he said. "I suppose you wish to get started immediately."

"Well, yes." Potter lunged and kissed him, sweet but demanding. He pulled away with a soft smack. "I think the talking can wait till later, though."

"I agree," Severus said.

"Then I think I should introduce you to my bedroom," Potter said, standing up and pulling on Severus's hands. Severus stood up slowly, still not as flexible or active as his young...lover. He smiled.

"Mmm," Potter said, pressing a kiss to Severus's lips. "It's been a while."

"Your choice," Severus said.

"I know." Potter's arm was still lying across Severus's lower stomach, hand on Severus's hip, thumb rubbing small circles in the hollow above it. "Sorry about that, but...it wasn't the right time. And if you really wanted me, I figured you'd wait for me."

Severus ran his own fingers along Potter's arm. "Indeed."

"Well," Potter said, "I've actually got some marking I need to finish." Severus held back a frown; he didn't want a repeat of Lupin's attitude. "Did you want to stay? It should only take me an hour or so."

Severus considered. "I'll need to go back to my office for a book, but then I will return if you wish."

Shrugging, Potter said, "It's your choice. But I do have some books of my own, if you wanted to read those."

"I'd need to see them first."

"All right." Potter stood up and stretched. "Coming?"

Severus stood up and raised an eyebrow, waiting.

Potter led him back out to the sitting room where Severus had first walked in. He hadn't truly noticed the desk or bookcases before; he must have been more preoccupied than he'd thought at first. "Go on, have a look," Potter said.

As he started to peruse the books, Severus said, "Someone could walk in on us."

"No, they won't," Potter said.

"I hope you have a reason to back up your confidence."

"You're not the only paranoid veteran with strong wards." Potter grabbed his wand from the desk and waved it in the general direction of the door. Severus was surprised at the wash of gold sparkles that appeared.

"Impressive," he said finally.

"Oh, I didn't do it on my own." Potter leered at him. "I save my effort for the things that really matter. Remus helped me set those up, although I added the final few modifications."

"Personalisation seems to be your style."

"Oh, yes," Potter said, sitting down at the desk. "The more individual your spells, the harder it is for the enemy to tear them apart." He looked at Severus again. "Of course, if you know the person well enough, it's actually easier to take apart their spells. Like your wards. You're not a very visual person, so I knew you wouldn't think about the fact that the mirror actually went into the wall a bit."

"I've always thought I was quite a visual person," Severus said.

Potter pulled a stack of parchment towards him and grabbed a quill. "No, you listen to things. I remember it from Occlumency lessons. Your memories were all weird to me, because the images were just blobs but you remembered every noise."

"I see. So you've been planning this a long time, then."

"No, only since last year." Potter squinted at the parchment and marked something. "But it was useful information when I still wanted to hurt you over Sirius's death, so I remembered it."

"Wonderful. Your ability to stalk me grew out of your desire to hurt me. How ironic."

"Not really. It just proves I've been fascinated with you for years. Fine line and all, y'know."

Severus quirked an eyebrow, but Potter wasn't looking so the effect was rather lost. He turned his attention back to the bookshelf, finally selecting what appeared to be a book from the library on Metamorphmagus transformations. Potter didn't seemed too worried about sitting on the cream upholstery without any intervening cloth, so Severus took the chair again and started reading. The fact that he had a perfect view through the kneehole of the desk was entirely coincidental.

"Mr Boot, I suggest that you wait on the newt's tail till after your potion has been simmering for six minutes as the directions state." Boot dropped the tail and looked up fearfully. "Thank you; I'm sure your classmates appreciate not being showered with an incomplete Shrinking Solution which would undoubtedly have shrunk only those parts of themselves they most wished to remain the same size." Several of the more mature boys in the class blanched, and Severus smirked as he moved on.

"Ah, Mr Downey. That Potion is precisely the right colour." The student in question looked up, eyes wide at actually being complimented. "At least, it would be if we were making a Pepper-Up Potion, which, I'm sure you've surmised, we are not. Five points from Ravenclaw and start again; at this point it's hopeless."

Downey nodded and picked up his cauldron, heading for the sinks.

On to the Slytherin side of the room. He shouldn't have much difficulty here...was Miss Parkinson's cauldron boiling?

"Miss Parkinson, please state the differences between boiling and simmering."

"Boiling is a constant and overlapping stream of large bubbles. Simmering is a constant but discrete stream of small bubbles," she recited.

"Five points to Slytherin."

Severus moved on, giving Hyde's cauldron a cursory examination; pity his first real Potions-maker in ten years was a Ravenclaw. If only Miss Parkinson could be bothered with such studying. He allowed himself another small smirk as he walked among the rows of students. He hadn't had this much fun torturing a class in quite a while. He'd have to remember to give a Shrinking Potion to every first-year.

Potter showed up at Severus's door at the end of office hours.

"Come in," Severus said.

"I had an idea," Potter said.

"Do tell."

"Well...come with me."

"Sounds like an excellent idea," Severus said, putting away his paperwork.

Potter smiled and leaned seductively against the jamb.

Severus stood up and walked to the door. Potter nodded and set off down the hallway in the direction of Severus's chambers.

"This will seem even more wonderful tomorrow," Potter said, "though I'm sure you won't mind what happens tonight."

Severus frowned a moment in confusion, but they had already reached his rooms. "I assume we are going in."

"Oh yes. Here, we need to be in your bathroom."

Stepping through the door, Severus said, "This gets more and more interesting every time you open your mouth."

With an audible smirk, Potter said, "You haven't seen anything."

Severus looked over his shoulder, but Potter was wearing an innocent face again.

"Get your kit off and bend over the sink," Potter said when they reached the bathroom. "Where's the lube?"

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Just trust me."

"In the cabinet over there." Severus nodded to a corner of the room, and Potter set off to retrieve the lubricant. "You're the height of seduction tonight, Potter," he added as he undressed.

"Seduction tomorrow, mind-blowing sex tonight." Potter found the vial and held it up. "Nice. You made this?"

"I wouldn't trust anyone else to do so." Severus bent over the counter. "You're quite sure of yourself." He's young, Severus thought, tasting the word in his mind. He's young; he will learn patience. And tact.

"Good," Potter said, starting to disrobe. "Well, you've never given me any idea that I'm less than satisfactory."

"Neither did any of your other lovers, I'm sure."

In the mirror, Severus could see Potter kick off his trousers and start unbuttoning his shirt. "Most of them didn't stick around long enough to tell me one way or another. They'd shagged the Boy Who Lived, and he didn't talk much, so why stay?" He shrugged, neatly pushing the shirt off his shoulders. "And those that did stay...they were few and far between." Shirt successfully off, Potter stripped out of his Y-fronts and leaned forward over Severus's back. "None of them would have waited three months for me, either." Potter brushed Severus's hair off the back of his neck and planted a surprisingly gentle kiss in the centre of his nape. "Which, of course, is why I'm here." Looking up, he met Severus's eyes in the mirror. "I'd hang on to that counter if you don't want anything precious squashed against it."

Severus dutifully gripped the edge of the counter as Potter's hands ran down his shoulders, sides, hips, and then reached for the lubricant.

The next day at the staff meeting, Minerva finally brought up the seminar idea again. She looked at Harry and Severus, then turned to Cook. "Alexander? What did you find out from the students?"

"Uh." Cook looked extremely uncomfortable being in the centre of attention. "The Ravenclaws are all for it, of course. The Hufflepuffs going into further study, especially Healers, were also very positive; the others supported the idea for their Housemates. The Gryffindors were fairly neutral, with the exception of Leland Lyon." Most of the professors nodded. "The Slytherins required quite a bit of explanation, but most agreed by the end."

"Was anyone negative?" Minerva asked.

"No."

"Obviously not," Severus said. "It's not required, so those who don't care one way or another have no reason to oppose it."

"Well. With the new plan, Harry—" Potter nodded. "—and the support of the students, I suppose it just comes down to if you would all be willing to lead such seminars."

"The largest demands would be on Poppy, Severus, Filius, and myself," Potter said. "If the three of you would be willing..."

Pomfrey nodded. "Of course."

"If my Ravenclaws want it so much, I could make room," Flitwick said.

"Severus?" Potter asked.

Severus glared.

"Right. So, I think that's the main teacher support, Minerva..."

"All right." She looked unconvinced to Severus, but Minerva was the kind of woman to make a logical decision despite her personal feelings. "If there are no other objections?" No one said anything. "Harry, why don't you come by and see me when you can, and we will settle the arrangements."

"Of course," Potter said. "Thank you."

When the meeting was over, and they'd returned to Severus's rooms, Potter was ecstatic. "First Quidditch, and now this!" he said, grinning widely. "They're really starting to listen to me now."

"If you see that as a good thing, then congratulations."

Potter laughed. "And you've been supporting me from the beginning, so don't tell me you don't care." He started walking to the bathroom. "Come on."

Severus raised an eyebrow, and wondered if his facial muscles would last a relationship with Potter.

Looking over his shoulder, Potter noticed that Severus wasn't following and stopped. "I promised you seduction tonight, didn't I?"

"Quite."

"Well." He walked back, predatory, and wrapped his arms around Severus's tense torso. "Tonight," he said into Severus's ear, "I am going to show you why it was worth waiting for me." He took a step back. "In case you hadn't figured it out in the past few weeks." He took a few more steps, bringing Severus with him. "First, I'm going to give you the best fellatio you've ever experienced." Step. "And then I'm going to let you choose whether I'm going to have your mouth or your arse." Step. Step. "And when you've recovered, we're going back to your bedroom," step, "and you're going to fuck me till I'm level with the mattress." Step. "But first, I've got a bit of a surprise." They had reached the bathroom, and Potter dragged him in. "Would you like me to undress you, or shall we just strip as quickly as possible and get on with things?"

"Strip," Severus said.

Potter smiled. "Good." He set straight to work, and Severus did the same, till they were standing in nothing but their skin.

"Surprise first." Potter grabbed Severus's shoulders and drew him over to stand in front of the counter. "Watch." He picked up his wand from where he'd set it on the counter, concentrated, tapped the edge of the mirror, and said, "Priori Reflecto."

The mirror showed two flesh-coloured blurs racing offscreen, then an empty bathroom—not even him or Potter—for quite a while, then another flesh-coloured blur racing across, then back. Severus looked at Potter, frowning, and Potter smiled. "Just watch."

For a few seconds, a flesh-coloured blur stayed in one place. Then, suddenly, they resolved into himself and Potter, Severus leaning over the counter and Potter standing behind.

Severus frowned again, and watched as the mirror-Potter leaned over and said something into mirror-Severus's ear, then pulled back and did something to the back of mirror-Severus's neck.

"It's yesterday," Severus said.

Potter smiled.

He watched as Potter stroked his sides and took the lube. The hands disappeared for about thirty seconds, then reappeared and set the vial back on the counter. His mirror-body jerked forward slightly, mouth open, and then his real body jerked forward involuntarily at the feeling of Potter's mouth around his prick. He looked down.

Pulling back, Potter said, "Keep watching."

Severus returned his attention to the mirror, hands winding into Potter's hair. Mirror-Severus's hips were rocking, now, one of Potter's hands wrapped around his prick, the other holding onto the countertop just as Severus's were doing. He watched himself thrust into Potter's hand, then back onto Potter's cock, back and forth...

Mirror-Potter jerked forward a few more times, his face a rictus of pleasure just over mirror-Severus's shoulder. Severus watched, rapt, as he slid out, disappeared from view, and then reappeared backwards in front of mirror-Severus and started to do exactly what the real Potter was doing to Severus at this very moment. He looked down at Potter's black head bobbing, the flicks of tongue he could see every few seconds, listened to the soft smacking noises Potter made, and convulsed into Potter's mouth.

A few seconds later, Potter gave him one last lick from root to tip and then looked up. A soft smile bloomed on his face, different from the lascivious ones he normally gave in Severus's presence. Severus smiled back.

Suddenly, the expression turned right back into the normal one. "So," Potter said, "mouth or arse?"

Stirred thirteen times counterclockwise with a kestrel feather indeed. Severus glared at the recipe, which did not change to suit his desires. Kestrel feather...kestrel feather...ah. He opened the third drawer of the column farthest to his left and pulled out a thin box labelled "Pinions." Kestrel was the second row, fifth slot from the right. He pulled out the feather and set to stirring.

"H'lo?" came a questing voice from the door. Severus held up a finger. A shadow crossed his workspace, but he ignored it. Ten...eleven...twelve...done.

Boil for thirteen minutes he could do.

"I hope you had a good reason for barging in here, Potter," Severus said, glaring.

"Just wanted to see you. We promised to talk, not just shag, remember?"

"It's not my fault if we haven't been."

"True." Potter hopped up on one of the extra stools and tried to look in the cauldron. "So, how are your classes?"

"Still the master of originality."

"Just answer the question."

Severus smirked. "My classes are going as well as can be expected. I have no Longbottoms this year, so I am able to criticise without fear for my immediate health. I even have one marginally capable first-year. Your classes, I assume, are also going well."

"I'll get you to ask a question one of these days," Potter said.

"While you think of how to go about it, sort out one hundred sixty-nine of these." Severus pushed a jar of beetles' eyes over the counter.

Raising his eyebrows, Potter said, "One hundred sixty-nine, mm?"

"Yes. Thirteen squared."

Potter rolled his eyes, but started counting. "My classes are fairly fun, actually, especially the N.E.W.T. classes. Watching Leland Lyon flip his girlfriend into various other forms, including a veela and a koi, is especially funny, given her reactions when he transforms her back to a human." Potter waited, but Severus didn't ask, and finally he sighed and continued. "She can't decide whether to be mad he transformed her or happy that he managed the transformation."

"Calandra has some exquisite revenges, I'm sure."

"Yep. I'm particularly fond of her illusions...with a flick of her wand, she can make it look like his robes fell open to reveal a, um, slightly undersized version of his pride and joy. Which is especially funny since Miss Harrington hit him with Castratus a few weeks ago and he had to spend two nights in the infirmary."

"I hadn't heard about that," Severus said, chopping a pile of celery greens. "Sounds like they're perfect for each other."

"Yeah, I think so." Potter screwed the cap back on the beetle jar and pushed the small pile of eyes back across the counter.

"I need to pay attention to this now. I assume you will be coming over later tonight."

"Sure," Potter said, standing up. "Till later."

"Good-bye," Severus said, already picking up the celery greens and beetles' eyes to add to the cauldron.

"So, I was thinking," Potter said, folding the clothes he'd thrown off earlier. "It would be a lot easier if we lived closer together next year."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "If you think we will still be together."

Potter's face softened. "Of course we will...unless you have some plans to break things off?" He looked anxiously at Severus, and relaxed when he saw Severus shake his head. "So we'll still be together, barring some weird...event or other...and it would be easier if we didn't have to traipse halfway across the castle."

"Perhaps it would be better if we retained our own living spaces."

"Well, I'm not saying we should move in together, although I wouldn't mind. But as long as we're spending about every night together, it'd be easier if we lived closer and could get to our own things more quickly."

Potter seeing Severus all the time, seeing how he lived his life, how much older and less energetic he was. Severus trying to keep up with Potter all the time, not just when they were together. Potter's warm living body pressed against his in the morning...but Potter being too disgusted by what he'd seen after too much closeness... "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Frowning, Potter said, "I don't see why not."

Because you'll really see me then. "Because it would look odd. Saviour of the Wizarding World, choosing to move near a Death Eater."

"Twelve years in the past," Potter said dismissively, "and you haven't been a Death Eater in far longer than that."

"Then think of what the parents will say, with homosexual lovers teaching their children."

"You've never cared what other people thought before." Potter's frown deepened. "Why are you so against this?"

"I just don't think it would be a good idea."

Potter sat back down on the bed, resting his hand on Severus's thigh. "You're scared of something," he said. "What is it? You're not second to anyone with me. Especially not Sirius."

"I've faced far worse than you, Potter."

"Then ask me to stay."

"You know I don't ask questions."

"I've faced far worse than you, too, Severus. Ask me to stay." Potter leaned forward slightly.

"I don't understand why this is so important to you. We're in the same castle."

"Ask me to stay," Potter said with steel in his voice. Severus didn't respond. After a pause, Potter said, "Forget it," and stood up. "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea." He started dressing. "I'll just go back to my rooms, all right? And I'll see you...tomorrow, or something." Still shaking his head, he threw on his clothes and walked out the door without saying goodbye.

Severus watched him go, as he'd watched Lupin go, and later Potter himself. But he didn't think he could let Potter go so easily this time, even if it would mean more pain later...and even if it was unfair of Potter to spring something like that on Severus. He wouldn't let go so easily.

After his tea with Minerva the next day, Severus knocked at Potter's office, hoping he would be in.

The door opened and Potter's head poked out. "Oh—Severus," he said. "I wanted to talk to you. Come in." He held the door open, and Severus walked in, then sat in one of the oddly comfortable wooden chairs in front of Potter's desk. Potter took the other one and scooted a little closer. "About last night—"

"Minerva says we may change rooms if we so desire."

Potter closed his mouth and blinked. "All right. Why the change of heart?"

"You left."

Potter blinked a few more times. "Ah. So you thought it didn't matter that much to me, and then you were too stubborn to change."

Severus nodded slightly.

"Well, I..." Potter hesitated. "There was something I wanted to show you. As my own apology for asking you to ask me a question, when it really doesn't matter that much." He stood up, then glared. "Although you'd better not decide which issues matter to me again. If I bring it up, it's important."

"Understood," Severus said. "I am willing to see your apology."

"We need to be in your chambers," Potter said.

Severus stood as well, and they walked to his rooms, not speaking. He let them in.

"Now the bathroom."

"More mirror magic, Potter?" he said as they walked in.

"Yep." Potter pulled out his wand and flicked it at the mirror, saying something under his breath that Severus didn't catch. Severus blinked at Potter, then looked in the mirror and stopped. The perspective was all wrong, as if he was looking at it from half a metre or so to the left of where he was actually standing. And something else was different as well...

"You're seeing what I see," Potter said. "As filtered by my perceptions." He stepped closer and leaned his head on Severus's shoulder; the reflection in the mirror shifted sickeningly, and Severus grabbed the countertop to steady himself. Once Potter had stopped moving, he reached an arm around the other man and looked more closely at the reflection.

The slight difference was Potter's perception, he decided. Looking at himself, he seemed...noble. Normally, he saw only his age when he looked in the mirror. Through Potter's eyes, he seemed respectable, older but not old. His presence was also larger, as if he took up more room. Potter himself looked expressionless. His eyes didn't show any of the emotions Severus was used to seeing in them, and the glasses, instead of being endearing, were too large and disfiguring. Instead of looking handsome and young, Potter seemed slightly too thin and pale, as well as childish. Did he really see himself as so unattractive, and Severus as so attractive?

Severus looked down at Potter, who glanced up with a slight half-smile and then looked back at the mirror. Perhaps he really did see himself that way. Perhaps he wanted Severus as much as the image seemed to indicate. Perhaps they could make this work.

Severus wrapped his other arm around Potter's chest and tucked Potter's head under his chin. Potter melted into him, arms twining around Severus's waist. They were both wearing black robes, and it looked rather like they were blending into each other. He wondered if it was Potter's perception or his own that made it look like love.