It took Harry a while to figure out he'd just been complimented. When he unravelled Severus' words, his heart practically melted. "I could get disgustingly gushy here if you give me the chance."
"Then perhaps I should feed you instead and spare us both the embarrassment?" Severus suggested, but his eyes were warm and pleased. "Your house elf set up breakfast for us by the hearth."
Harry glanced over at the bedroom fireplace to see a small table for two there.
"He's not my house elf," Harry denied, fully aware that Hermione would skin him alive if he ever made such a claim on another sentient being.
"Dobby is looking after Master Snape for Harry Potter," Severus said in the strange, singsong melody of house elf speech.
"What?" Harry asked, chuckling at the ridiculous tone.
"That's what your elf said to me last month. Whether you claim him or not, the elf is yours," Severus said.
"What did Dobby bring us to eat?" Harry asked to change the subject.
"That was a pathetically transparent attempt to change the conversational topic," Severus noted, wriggling out from under him.
Rolling away so that Severus could move, Harry hauled himself up to a sitting position. A little food, well, a lot of food, and he might just survive. Chuckling at Severus' put upon expression, he agreed, "It was, wasn't it? But I really am starved."
Harry rose to investigate the charmed platters on the table that would keep their meal hot indefinitely. All his favourites were there.
Severus joined him and the next twenty minutes passed in companionable silence as they did their best to ingest everything Dobby had brought.
"You can't possibly consume a fourth helping of bacon," Severus said some time later.
Giving the man across the table from him a lazy smile, Harry said, "I'm considering it."
"I won't be held responsible when you explode," Severus declared.
His smile turning into a full grin, Harry countered with, "Maybe not, but you'll definitely be splattered with the spray."
"That is disgusting," Severus said with a huff.
"Maybe, but it's true." Watching Severus' Adam's apple bob as he drank his tea, Harry softly asked, "Do you really think I'll be able to heal McGregor?"
"I think that there is little you couldn't accomplish when you put your will to it," Severus replied. "Why are you giving me that maniacal grin, aside from the fact that you are completely mental?"
Loving this playful teasing, he met Severus' eyes and tried to keep his voice as light and unthreatening as possible as he answered, "Well, if you're right, that means I'll be able to convince you that I love you. Once I put that Burke bastard down, I'm going to spend 24/7 working on that goal."
Even with the care he took, Harry could see that his words threw Severus.
Severus seemed to mull over his statement for a time before addressing what was perhaps the easier issue. "You intend to go after Burke, then?"
Severus didn't sound surprised.
Harry held that dark gaze. "Is there anyone else that has a chance of taking him down?"
Severus gave a slow, negative shake of his head. "Still, it is not your responsibility to rid the world of every dark wizard who rises to power."
Harry considered Severus' words. He knew he'd be risking a lot in this encounter. Providing he were powerful enough to actually defeat Burke, there would be no hiding his abilities from the public anymore. "Maybe if Ron hadn't been with those Aurors yesterday, I might be able to stand back a little longer, but . . . the bastard's made this too personal. First Carl, then framing you, now Ron . . . I don't want to wait around to see where he'll strike next."
Once again, Severus confined his response to a nod. After a few moments, Severus said, "I would like to stand with you when you face him."
The part of Harry that loved Severus wanted to deny the request to keep him safe. But he knew Severus would no more stand for that than he would. Mastering his protective instincts as best he could, he answered, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
It seemed to Harry that their eyes were having the kind of conversation that neither of them ever managed well when attempted with words. He didn't know how he knew, but he was sure that Severus was aware of his hesitation to expose him to danger, and he was equally certain that Severus felt the same way.
Taking a deep breath, Harry said, "We'd better get moving if we're going to get to the hospital any time this morning."
"Yes, we should," Severus agreed, appearing equally disinclined to break the moment.
Eventually, they managed to pry themselves away from the table to get dressed.
Flooing was its usual stomach-churning event. Harry staggered out of the hearth in St. Mungo's main hall, shook off the inevitable ash, and then turned to steady Severus as he arrived.
Side by side, they made their way to Ron's room.
Harry wasn't sure how to approach Alice McGregor to suggest that he try to heal her brother. He barely knew the woman at all, and didn't particularly like Tom, but it seemed important that he do everything he could to undo Burke's damage. He had no idea how Alice would feel about his horning in on her efforts.
Harry froze in his tracks as he stepped into Ron and Tom's room.
Ron appeared to be sound asleep with Hermione drowsing in a chair beside his bed.
The other bed on the far side of the room was glaringly empty.
"Oh, hi, Harry, Severus," Hermione said, starting awake with a sleepy smile. She was still in yesterday's clothes. Harry knew she probably hadn't left Ron's side for more than a trip to the loo.
"Hi, yourself," Harry said. Glancing meaningfully to the empty bed, he asked, "Tom?"
Hermione gave a slow shake of her head. "It happened about two hours after you left. Poor Alice was devastated."
Harry bit his lip. He was too late, then. Not that he could have done anything to prevent Tom from passing last night. He'd been so drained from healing Ron that it had been all he could do to stay on his feet long enough for Severus to get him safely in bed. Nevertheless, he felt . . . cheated by Tom's death. He mightn't have liked the man personally, but McGregor had been working on the side of Light.
There'd been a time right after Voldemort's demise when he'd been na?ve enough to believe that such designations would no longer be necessary. But Evil never truly died. It merely slept until it emerged in its latest incarnation.
Harry forced his mind away from the depressing thought, concentrating on what good had been accomplished. "How's Ron?"
Hermione's face lit up. "Stronger by the minute. It's amazing, Harry. He's just . . . weak. You would have thought he'd just been down with the flu, instead of . . . . Well, it's just amazing. They're talking about releasing him this afternoon."
"Really?" Harry asked, unable to believe it himself.
"Really," Hermione confirmed.
"They'd better," a familiar grumpy voice declared from the bed.
"Ron!" both he and Hermione chorused, turning to grin down at Ron.
"'lo, Harry, Professor," Ron said, sounding very much himself, if extremely tired.
"You're a sight for sore eyes, mate," Harry said with a chuckle.
"Don't I know it," Ron replied, his smile fading. "There was a moment there when I thought I'd never see any of you again. Thanks again for what you did yesterday, Harry. You, too, Professor. Hermione told me that you brewed the potion that saved me."
"You are most welcome," Severus replied, pausing in Harry's personal space as he stepped closer to the bed. "I must, however, insist that there be no unwarranted emotional displays when you are back on your feet again. Your thank you was quite sufficient, if unnecessary."
"Huh?" Ron questioned, seeming confused.
Harry laughed. "I think Severus is saying that he doesn't want you to give him a kiss to thank him when you're feeling better like Hermione did yesterday."
Ron's heartfelt, "Merlin, forbid," left even Severus' lips twitching with amusement.
They fell silent for a time before Ron softly asked, "You heard about poor Tom, then?"
"Yes," Harry said. "I'm sorry. I know you worked together."
Ron looked over towards the window, his face darkening. "I worked with them all. All seven of them gone, Harry, with a single spell."
"I'm just glad it wasn't eight," Hermione interjected, leaning over to give Ron's forehead a kiss.
Bless her, Harry thought, recognizing that she knew exactly how to handle Ron. After her kiss, his upset friend turned back to face them.
"I've never even heard of the spell he used," Ron said. "It wasn't mage fire, though. He used his wand."
"It was probably Corpus Accendio," Harry said, recalling a curse he'd read about in some of his extracurricular reading when he'd been teaching Dumbledore's Army. "It's rarely even mentioned anymore because its results are so . . . ."
"Yeah," Ron said, the agony he'd endured clear in his haunted eyes. "All of them are gone, Harry . . . with one spell . . . ."
"I know," Harry said, feeling his throat tightening up at the misery in Ron's face. "But we're going to get the bastard, Ron. He won't get away with this."
"How?" Ron questioned. "Eight of the Ministry's best Aurors couldn't stand against the fiend. How are we going to stop him?"
Harry glanced over at Severus' solemn face before answering Ron. "No more of your men are going to die, Ron. I promise you."
For a second, Ron seemed confused, but then his face tightened with understanding. "No. You can't. This isn't your job."
"Maybe not, but I think I'm the only one who can manage it," Harry offered softly.
"Harry -" Ron protested.
"Let's not worry about this now, all right?" Harry pleaded. "I brought you some of those muffins you like so much. I know what the food is like here."
Harry reached into his robe pocket, withdrawing a parcel of wrapped muffins that hadn't been there a second ago.
"Do you think you can buy me with muffins?" Ron questioned, still sounding ready for an argument.
Harry met those mutinous eyes as he opened his package. As the scent of blueberries and strawberries wafted through the room, Harry lightly answered, "Yes. I know I can. Now, dig in."
Ron looked at him, looked at the muffins, and made the choice Harry had hoped he would.
Hermione giggled as Ron truculently took possession of a blueberry muffin. Harry passed a strawberry muffin to Hermione, and then performed a little more instantaneous magic as he handed his latest creation to Severus.
"I don't eat either blueberry or strawberry -" Severus began.
Harry cut him off, "But you do eat nutbread."
"You didn't bring -" Severus looked down at what was being handed to him. "Well, since you didn't bring any muffins, either, I suppose I'll take a piece of the nutbread. I don't expect that you didn't bring butter and tea as well?"
Grinning, Harry reached into his robes again and produced a tray with a steaming teapot, four mugs, and a butter dish.
"You know, I saw a bloke on Muggle telly do that when I was at my mother's last summer," Hermione commented.
Laughter filled the room as Severus and he sat down to enjoy their tea.
*~*~*
"Two more days until the dunderheads return." Severus attempted to suppress his sigh as he finished yet another private breakfast with Harry at the table beside his hearth. He honestly didn't know where the time had gone. Christmas break was usually interminable, but this year it had passed with frightening speed.
Harry had spoilt him these last two weeks. His young lover hadn't even made a pretence of returning to his rooms. They'd spent the entire leave together, and now that it was drawing to a close, Severus knew that he'd miss having Harry around full time.
"Yeah," Harry said in a tone that seemed to capture Severus' encroaching melancholy as he sipped his morning tea.
Harry was sitting there across from him, wearing a light blue dressing gown that was barely belted closed. His chest and abdomen peeked provocatively out of the open folds. He looked like every erotic fantasy Severus had ever had, too good to be real.
Severus could feel those beautiful green eyes watching him, seeming to evaluate him. He braced himself, for things were never good when Harry had to think beforehand about what he was about to say.
The tentative "Severus?" that followed blew a chill down his spine.
Severus couldn't help but wonder if this were it, the moment he'd been dreading since the first time he'd kissed Harry in the forest. These last few weeks had been wonderful in his estimation. Harry had seemed to enjoy them, too, but he knew that everyone tired of his company eventually. Dreading that he was right, that his time was up, he gave a hesitant, "Yes?" in response.
"I've been thinking," Harry began and seemed to falter.
His nervousness making him want to snap, Severus forced himself to joke instead, "Granted, it's a novel pastime for those of your house, but nothing to be alarmed about. I'm sure the aberration won't last long."
"Very funny. Anyway, like I said, I was thinking . . . ." Harry persisted and halted at the same point.
"And?" Severus impatiently prompted.
Severus heard Harry gulp and then continue in a nervous tone, "I really, really enjoyed spending all this time down here with you over the Christmas break."
"And?" Severus braced himself. The words weren't ominous in themselves, but he knew that an 'and the close contact has opened my eyes to how completely incompatible we are,' could very well be following it. Unlike Slytherins, Gryffindors always believed in letting the other person down easy. He just wished Harry would hurry up and get to his point.
