Second Place - Drama

Harry toyed with a roll of parchment bearing the wax seal of the Minister of Magic. For years he had wished for Ministry of Magic Decree Twenty-Eight Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty-one to be rescinded, and now that it had finally happened, he felt nothing. He did not feel happy. He did not feel vindicated. He felt hollow.

Blaise looked up as Harry began to set up his workstation in the Potions Laboratory. The stocky wizard ignored the fading bruises on his fellow apprentice�s face; he placed several rolls of parchment beside Harry�s cauldron.

"I made you a copy of my notes for the lectures you missed. I can go over them later if you want."

"Thank you," Harry said quietly, neatly lining up his potion ingredients.

"Are you all right?" Blaise asked casually. While on friendly terms, they were not exactly friends.

"Absolutely spiffing." Harry gave him a quick smile to show that although he wasn�t offended, he really did not want to discuss it. Witches and wizards had been interacting with him as if he would break all morning and he was growing tired of it. More than ever, he desired to fade into the background.

Blaise could see Corvus emotionally withdrawing and decided he would try to irritate him enough to draw him out. The others might have wanted to coddle the young man, but Blaise knew that in the long run it would do more harm than good.

"So...the bastard�s getting away with it, isn�t he?" He looked up and saw the other apprentices in the room had grown quiet, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation. "Just like all the others, M.O.M. is sweeping you under the carpet to protect that fucking Quidditch twit."

Harry looked up at the taller wizard through his thick, dark eyelashes. Blaise hitched a breath, although he didn�t swing that way, Corvus was absolutely stunning, bruises and all.

"Madam Jones is launching an official inquiry about unprofessional practices...Not that we don�t expect them to shut her down as well."

"And Professor Snape?"

Harry smirked. "Well, you know Severus...Revenge is a dish best served cold."

"You�re awfully calm about this. Are you sure you are all right?"

"I�ve been though so much shite in my life, this is hardly a ripple. I just wish it hadn�t been so public...Merlin knows what other photos Creevy took...I don�t need a drunkard�s attempt at sodomy haunting me for the rest of my life."

"I hear you there, mate. You know, they say Creevy tried to help you...and Gryffindors are usually all about doing the right thing and all...maybe if you asked him...he�d give them to you."

"Yeah," called out a former Ravenclaw whose name Harry did not know. "Just tell him you�re Harry Potter in disguise and I�m sure he�ll just cough them up."

Blaise and a few of the other apprentices laughed and Harry had to try hard to look confused. Anyone who had ever attended Hogwarts knew of Colin Creevy�s infatuation with the savior.

Not a few of the novices wondered if Harry�s fate at the hands of Gryffindor House would have had a different ending had the Muggleborn Creevy brothers still been at Hogwarts to defend him. If nothing, their knowledge of Muggle culture might have prevented the stigma of "sexual deviant" from being attached to their hero. Unfortunately, Colin�s Muggle father had learned of Lord Voldemort and his hatred of Muggles and he had withdrawn the boys from Hogwarts, emigrating his entire family to the relative safety of Canada. Finally an adult, Colin had only recently returned to live in England.

The classroom began to fill with the remaining apprentices as Blaise gave his comrade a calculating look.

"All kidding aside, Corvus, what are you planning to do? You never attended Hogwarts, but if you did, the Sorting Hat would have surely placed you in Slytherin. You must have something planned to get back at that red headed bastard."

Harry looked up, his eyes wide in feigned innocence. "What makes you think I need to have anything... planned?"

"You don�t have anything planned...because you�ve already..." Blaise�s eyebrows arched. "What have you done?"

Harry looked up at him, his features taking on a concerned expression, his small hands wringing almost nervously. He blinked, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

"Oh, I agree, Minister Fudge, Mr. Shacklebolt...what happened to me was terrifying...I am very concerned about Mr. Weasley though...What if he attacks someone else? I dined with his older brothers at the fete last evening � very amusing gentlemen, by the way � and they expressed a growing alarm at the erratic behavior of their baby brother.

"In my capacity at St. Mungo�s, I work with a great many curse and spell damaged patients...and their behavior is often marked by odd, sometimes uncharacteristically violent outbursts. Ronald Weasley was injured in the war, was he not? Has he ever had a through medical examination to determine if the injuries had unknown lasting effects? A sudden change in personality is often a sign of brain trauma."

Blaise clapped slowly. Yes, he thought, Corvus was definitely a Slytherin at heart. He flicked an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye.

"Bravo. I take it they bought the performance?"

"Of course. It gives them an out. You can�t prosecute someone who is acting under the influence of a spell, you know." Harry smiled evilly. "And where but St. Mungo�s would you take someone to be examined? We do, after all, house some of the leading medical experts..."

Mandy Brocklehurst, wearing the pink and blue checked robes of a Pediatric Mediwizardry apprentice began to giggle uncontrollably. Harry gazed at her in amusement. Though quiet, the former Ravenclaw was always quick to string her facts. "And who would be more of an expert in curse damage than Madam Siobhan Jones?"

"And she will be bringing in her illustrious associates, among them Hippocrates Smethwyck and Severus Snape." Harry�s eyes sparkled. "It will have to be a most through examination...much of it done without the benefit of magic or sedation...internally...externally...mental...physical...invasive...non-inv asive. They will leave no hair unturned in their quest to discover a medical cause for his violent behavior...could take days...possibly weeks."

The apprentices began to verbally list all the procedures that could possibly be performed and the room filled with laughter. Images came to mind of the uncomfortable days to follow for one Ronald Weasley. Even the lecturing Potion Masters added a few obscure procedures to the list.

"Settle down." Severus clapped his hands once and the room fell silent. �Yes, we will, in the next several days be...how do the Muggles phrase it? Oh yes, killing Mr. Weasley with kindness...now turn to page 493 of your text..."

Wide awake, Harry curled up next to the gently snoring Potion Master. Severus� heart beat the steady, calming melody that usually lulled him to sleep, but the young wizard�s mind kept turning over and over. It had been a week since the attack and the bruises were nearly faded. There were still a few greenish gray marks on his arms, but they no longer throbbed.

Upon his return to St. Mungo�s, those staff members he interacted with on a daily basis did so in a stilted fashion, not certain how to address the awkward situation. The general public pointed at him and whispered, recognizing his face from the various wizarding newspapers, but they kept their distance. Thankfully, as the days wore on and Corvus Corax did not break into little pieces, his co-workers resumed their normal attitudes.

Harry propped himself up on one elbow and watched his lover sleep. The attack seemed to have had a deep impact on Severus. Harry was not rejected, as he had feared, but it was even worse. Severus was not being his usual snarky self; he was being too accommodating, overly gentle. Severus treated him as if he was made of spun glass and Harry was growing frustrated by it. What Harry really wanted, really needed, was a rough tumble between the sheets.

"Mr. Corax?"

Harry looked up from his patient charts. He would know that soft voice anywhere. His eyes darted around the darkened ward; it was the middle of the night and his charges were all asleep or comatose. He was alone. His fingers tightened around his wand.

Arthur Weasley stood awkwardly at the open doorway. He looked almost as haggard as he had during the war. "No need to draw your wand...I�m not going to hurt you."

"What can I do for you, Mr. Weasley?" Harry hung back in the shadows. He didn�t think Arthur would attack him, but he had grown cautious in his maturity.

"We...my wife and I wanted to thank you...for not pressing charges against Ronald."

"He is a very sick man, sir. He needs medical help, not Azkaban. You must realize that I am not the first person he attacked in that manner...Ron�s next assault could easily end in homicide...In trying to protect your family and your reputation, Mr. Shacklebolt has..."

"Yes, I have spoken to Kingsley..." Arthur interrupted and Harry could see that any remaining doubt had been stripped away from the older wizard. "And my sons Bill, Fred and George were quite vocal...please...can you stop hiding in the shadows so I can properly see you?"

Harry stepped into the light of the open doorway. Arthur smiled sadly. Scar or no scar, wild black hair or tame, he would know his "adopted" son anywhere.

"You are too kind hearted, Harry. Ron never deserved you as a friend." Arthur watched the green eyes flicker apprehensively. "Don�t worry...your secret is safe with me...the Wizarding world never deserved the friendship of Harry James Potter either. Whatever the outcome...you are still welcome at The Burrow...as Harry or Corvus. Molly would love to see you...Good night, son."

The older wizard walked softly down the hallway of the sleeping ward, the sound of his heels fading.

"Good night, Mr Weasley." Harry whispered to the shadows. After taking a few moments to calm his rapidly beating heart, Harry returned to desk beside the neat row of beds and his patient charts.

"Full points, Mr. Corax." Severus� soft voice cut through the din of the Potions Laboratory. Harry looked up to see a wall of aubergine robes directly in front of his worktable.

"S-Sir?" he stuttered in confusion, his eyes watering as he removed the heat from his copper cauldron, blackened from a ruined potion. He coughed, trying not to breathe in the noxious fumes caused by a too late addition of an infusion of wormwood. Harry waited, half expecting a cutting remark from the Potion Master about "pulling a Longbottom".

Severus� lip quirked; he banished the smoke with a curt wave of his wand.

"We have completed our examination of Mr. Weasley. You were partially correct in your assumption that he is suffering the lingering effects of curse damage."

"You found something?"

"Madam Jones discovered lesions and tumors on his brain. They would certainly account for his change of temperament and his increasing spurts of violence."

"You can cure him?" Harry asked in a detached fashion. Although Harry could still remember when he and Ron had been the best of friends, the redhead�s horrible actions had tainted his memories of the other wizard irreparably. If Ron were suddenly cured, Harry doubted things could ever return to what they had once been. Even if some of the actions were not deliberate and were caused by events out of Weasley�s conscious control, Ron�s inherent jealousy of Harry�s supposedly perfect life still lay at the very core.

Severus handed Harry a parchment listing test results and diagnosis. The abnormal change in the structure of Ron�s brain had been caused by not one but a series of unrelated actions ranging from curse damage to alcoholism, to a bludger to the head. Some of the abnormal tissue masses were pushing against healthy brain tissue, exacerbating the damage caused by the lesions.

"This damage is beyond the scope of standard Turmoricidal Potion Therapy. Is there a way to control the rapid growth or is this fatal?" Harry looked up from the medical findings. Severus was pleased to see no signs of personal distress, just professional curiosity reflected in the beautiful eyes.

Severus plucked the parchment from Harry�s fingers. "We can possibly prevent the spread of the lesions and shrink the tumors, but the current damage may well be permanent. Healer Smethwyck has owled healers in Paris and New York that specialize in brain injuries so Mr. Weasley may soon be taking a trip in the International Floo. If, however, they can offer no solution, I fear Mr. Weasley may soon become a permanent resident at St. Brigit�s."

"Not St. Mungo�s?"

"St. Brigit specializes in the more violent cases...and, untreated, Ronald Weasley�s episodes of irrational violence will only escalate."

In a noisy neighborhood pub, Harry nibbled from a shared basket of fish and chips while drinking a pint. Elliot sat beside him, flirting with a couple of giggling women at the next table.

Immersed in wizarding culture for the past several months, it seemed almost alien to be in a rowdy Muggle pub. Elliot was a comfort, grounding him to his new reality. The slender wizard had even accepted an open beverage from the waitress. The pub was filled with Elliot�s friends and extended family and he did not fear being drugged. Inebriation was another matter entirely.

Harry was on holiday. The junior apprentices had been given a week off while the senior apprentices were being evaluated on their progress. A grueling schedule of testing, interviews and practicals would determine if any were ready to attain their Mastery. Novices usually took from three to seven years to achieve their goals, depending upon their course of study.

Severus was testing four Potions apprentices as well as three others from randomly chosen departments. Their own master and their department head, as well as a pair of totally unbiased masters, must test each senior apprentice before their graduation from the St. Mungo�s Apprentice Program.

Harry emptied his glass, feeling the soft buzz of a minor intoxication. He was spending a few days in Elliot�s flat, needing to think clearly through the massive changes the past few weeks had caused in his life. Elliot was a perfect sounding board for the young man; he had known Corvus much of his life.

The chauffeur knew that after the fire, Harry had moved in with Severus. Elliot worried that Harry chose the safety of being a submissive in another relationship with a much older man and was pleased to discover that rather than keep him merely as a pretty ornament, Dr. Snape convinced Harry to further his education. Had Harry finally found someone who cherished his intelligent mind as well as the attractive outer package? He hoped his young friend could finally break the cycle of abuse and dependence that had crippled his youth.

Elliot was pragmatic about the uncashed Banker�s Cheque still in Harry�s possession. He understood Harry�s feelings that it was blood money to ensure his silence about the years of sexual servitude at the hands of Leon Shaw, but he could also look at the money in a positive light. What if Robert Shaw wasn�t trying to buy Harry�s silence, but was giving him a gift of freedom, a chance at a new life far removed from modeling and pornography? Dr. Snape opened the door to a legitimate career in alternative medicine; Mr. Shaw�s monetary gift could be invested until he was ready to set up his own practice.

It gave Harry even more to think about.

In the silence of his study Severus evaluated his final recommendations on several of the senior apprentices. He was tired; the testing wore the Masters out just as much as it did the apprentices. He picked up a fork and captured a bit of potato from his dinner plate. The dark wizard smiled; before Harry left to spend a few days with Elliot, he pre-packaged a number of dinners so he didn�t have to worry that Severus would starve while he was gone. His lover�s thoughtfulness left a warm feeling in his chest. No one except Madam Pomfrey ever cared if he ate before.

Severus� eyes drifted to the unoccupied chair Harry was usually curled up in and he realized that he really missed the younger man. For years he had lived a solitary life, deliberately pushing everyone away, and it had always suited his personality, but now the solitude did not rest so comfortably around his shoulders. Harry�s co-habitation of his townhouse and his bed had forced him to evolve into a more social creature. He could not wait for his sprite to return later that evening.

Severus heard the soft tap of a Postal Owl and opened the window, mildly surprised to see Hedwig glide in with a roll of parchment attached to her leg. She politely extended the appendage.

"Severus,

Meet me tonight at Tommy�s Pub at ten o�clock. Inform Tom you are looking for �Birdy�. If you are still tied up in the testing, send Hedwig back and we can reschedule. She always knows how to find me.

Corvus"

Severus settled back into the dark corner booth, idly swirling the glass of the best House Red. For a Muggle pub, Tommy�s had an impressive wine list.

He was keenly aware of all the furtive glances he was given by the pretty boy waiters. Tommy, himself, had been gracious, handing him the glass of wine "on the house" and sending him to the quiet, dark corner. Severus glanced at his pocket watch. 9:58. He idly wondered if "Birdy" was any more punctual than "Harry" or "Corvus".

Two of the waiters blatantly looked him over before leaning their heads together to exchange catty comments.

"That�s Birdy�s new bloke? Why does he always want to fuck something old? He could get anyone he wanted..."

"You mean like you?" was the vicious reply. "He�s tall...bet he�s hung."

"But he�s ugly...and that nose..."

"He�s wearing cashmere, Jack. Birdy�s not stupid...He�s found someone to keep him...doesn�t have to peddle his arse around here anymore, does he?...I�d like a bit of that...who cares what the fuck he looks like?"

Severus smirked when a well-aimed, slightly damp bar towel hit one of the gossiping waiters. They looked toward the bar in shock, only to see Tommy scowling at them, arms crossed. They retreated to their assigned workstations amid the laughter of the patrons.

The dark wizard glanced around the crowded pub, wondering how may others thought Harry mercenary enough to use him only for his money. Obviously they didn�t know the young man at all.

10:04. Severus� dark eyes kept drifting unconsciously to the entrance. His glass was nearly empty and he was beginning to worry. Tommy�s was well known in certain Muggle circles; and while Alistair was still in custody, had one of his associates already discovered Harry?

The clink of stemware caught the former spy�s attention and his lip quirked in amusement. His Harry had appeared beside the bar in a most unexpected fashion.

With two empty wine glasses dangling in one hand and a bottle of the House Red in the other, Harry sauntered toward Severus, a seductive sway to his hips. He tossed back his sleek pageboy and gave a flirtatious wink with his kohl-rimmed eyes.

Severus licked his lips, his throat suddenly dry. Harry was wearing an almost identical outfit to the one he had been wearing the first night Severus and Bill stumbled across him in Tommy�s. Black stiletto pumps, thigh high black hose, and a short, flirty black dress. The dark wizard noticed that Harry had not bothered with the fake breasts this time and he realized it did not mar the illusion. Amusement glittered in the green eyes.

"Hello Severus," Harry greeted him huskily, sliding in beside his older lover in the secluded booth. "Miss me?"

Severus reached over, his hand settling in the sleek hair. He pulled Harry toward him, capturing the rouged lips. His other hand rested on a nylon-clad thigh, slithering up to find silky lace and warm bare flesh. Harry�s breath hitched. Severus straightened, pushing Harry back at arm�s length. His eyes devoured his delicate sprite.

"I thought you told me wearing dresses was a one-off?"

Harry smiled, his eyes bright. "It was. But you seemed to get off on it...and I wanted to surprise you."

Severus toyed with a thin emerald green strap that peaked out from the low neckline. Harry playfully slapped his hand away. Severus moved his hand to the silky thigh.

"You seem to be rather pleased with yourself. Your visit with Elliot went well?"

"I had time to think. I had some very...thought provoking conversations with Elliot and..." Harry�s eyes flickered to Severus� face. "With my therapist. They...helped me to see a few things in a different perspective."

Harry pulled his wand from a hidden pocket in his bodice and cast a quiet charm, his overnight bag enlarging in the shadowed seat beside Severus. He rummaged through the bag a moment before extracting a thin leather bankbook. "I have something to show you."

Severus glanced down at the page Harry indicated, blinking at the amount totaled. His eyes drifted up to see the last few deposits. He saw an entry for 525 pounds; his eyes narrowed. "Malcolm paid you. I told you not to contact him, didn�t I?"

"I didn�t. I don�t care if I ever see him again. Elliot paid him a social visit a few days ago on my behalf. Malcolm...saw reason. The additional 25 pounds was for interest due."

Severus remembered Harry casually mentioning the chauffeur once broke all of Alistair�s fingers and nodded, looking at the next entry.

"You cashed Shaw�s cheque," he said flatly.

"Yes."

"I thought you considered it blood money."

"I thought it was...but Elliot made me see it in another light. He still works for Robert Shaw, you know, and sometimes...Shaw�s asked about me...worried I was safe when the cheque didn�t clear."

"And you cashed the cheque to ease his mind?"

"No. Elliot thought maybe Robert wasn�t trying to buy my silence after all...was using his father�s money to buy me back my own life..."

Severus filled the wine glasses half full. His first reaction was that Elliot was full of shite but then he remembered on the morning of the fire, Robert Shaw had said something similar. The Potion Master looked at the total a second time.

"This isn�t all of it. The cheque was for more than this."

"If Shaw�s going to buy my life back...I�m going to help buy Elliot�s life back as well...Uncle Leon twisted him just as much, if not more, as he twisted me."

"You gave him more than a third of it..."

"No. I invested more than a third of it. I asked Elliot about his dreams and what he wanted out of life...he�s a sports fanatic...always dreamed of running his own sporting goods shop."

"While an impressive sum, it�s hardly enough to start a business," Severus pulled him in for a hug. "You�ve thrown your money away. "

"No, I don�t think so. Elliot has been saving up for the shop for years...and the amount I invested is more than enough to buy into a franchise...an established business...I don�t �throw� my money away...I bankrolled the Weasley twins and I�ve more than made up that investment...Elliot�s no fool. He�ll not piss away this chance."

"Foolish Gryffindor," Severus said affectionately, wrapping his arms around the slender shoulders and pulling the warm body close. Harry snuggled up against him and Severus caught another tantalizing glimpse of the emerald green lingerie. He nuzzled Harry�s throat.

"Severus?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Corvus. I don�t think you�d ever be comfortable calling me �Birdy�."

"You are correct. It is a rather insipid name."

"No worse than �Sevvie�," he retorted playfully and then grew pensive. "I�ve decided Madam Jones was correct."

"About?"

"How liberating it is to change your identity. I�ve decided that I like not being associated with �The Boy Who Lived�. I like being me. I like being Corvus Corax, apprentice healer, familiar to Hedwig and companion to one Severus Snape."

"You�re killing off Harry Potter?" Severus asked incredulously.

"Not anything that drastic. Now that his name has been somewhat cleared, I am going to retire him. I may bring him out occasionally for a Grand Opening of a new W.W.W. location or a charity fundraiser or two..."

Severus was mildly shocked, thinking over the implications of Harry�s decision. He knew Harry never embraced his fame and always wanted to be just like every other wizard, but had he really hated his celebrity enough to sever ties to his own identity?

"This isn�t a sudden decision, Sev. I have been contemplating this for a long time. My life would have been so much easier if I had been able to be �Just Harry� but �The Boy Who Lived� will never be able to slide into the total obscurity I desire. Even though Fudge rescinded the Ministry decree, I would still be expected to publicly apologize for my actions and...damn it...I didn�t do anything wrong...it was a photograph � nothing more, nothing less."

Harry took a sip of the wine. It had just the right bite to it � not too dry, not too sweet. He intertwined his fingers with Severus� fingers.

"I don�t want to talk any more."

"What do you want to do then?"

Harry brought Severus� hand to his lips and drew one long finger into his mouth. He sucked on it suggestively for a moment before releasing it.

"What I really want is for you to throw me across the table and fuck me. To take me deep and split me open. I�m sure there would be no complaints from the other patrons." Harry guided Severus� hand beneath his skirt, maneuvering his hand so that the Potion Master�s palm rested on the panties cradling his awakening erection. "Please...stop being afraid to make love to me..."

"But Weasley..."

"Did not permanently damage me...I�ve been taken rougher by men who weren�t even trying to hurt me...Let Ron Weasley go, Sev, or he will always be a ghost in the bed with us...Take me home and claim me...or let me go."

Harry�s dark hair fanned out as he was laid down on the cool bed sheets. The black dress lay in a muddle where it had been tossed. Severus� kisses trailed across the bare shoulders and throat as the older man examined his present wrapped in an emerald green silk and black lace camisole with matching panties.

"Close your eyes," Severus whispered as he cast a gentle cleaning charm to remove the smudged kohl and rouge from his lover�s face. "Much better."

The Potion Master ran his long fingers down the sheer hose, feeling Harry tremble beneath his touch. His sprite was exquisite in his finery, but as pleasant a sexual kink as this was, neither Harry nor Severus wanted it to be a permanent addition to their lovemaking. Harry had purchased and worn the garments more to shock Severus back to his senses.

Severus pulled off one black pump and dangled the object from its heel.

"I am curious about these shoes...did you charm them to alter your manner of walking?"

Harry smiled, kicking off the other stiletto. "Merlin, no. Years ago I read about an American Muggle actress. Her name was Marilyn Monroe. She cut one heel slightly shorter than it�s mate � said it gave her the trademark sway to her step...I had filed that tidbit away in my mind in that place one stores useless information. I remembered it when Arthur hired me to impersonate a woman. Guess Miss Monroe was right."

Harry keened softly as Severus entered him in one sure stroke. He had missed this intimacy in a way he had never missed it with any of his other partners. The Potion Master�s hands held his hips steady as the older wizard claimed his body. Harry twisted his head and kissed the taller man. The lace camisole and panties had long been discarded and the thigh high stockings sagged, one pooling around his knee. Not at all sexy, Harry thought.

Severus pulled out and flipped Harry onto his back. The dark wizard carelessly tugged at the hose, not caring if he snagged them, releasing Harry�s legs from their silky confines. His broad hands ran up the flesh Harry had spelled hairless and Harry�s cock twitched.

"Finite Incantium."

Severus cast the spell, wandlessly, and watched the soft dark hair reappear on his lover�s slender legs. Pushing Harry�s knees up and back, he spread the young man wide. Harry�s eyes were dark with arousal and his breath caught as Severus impaled him, resuming a much slower, much deeper rhythm.

"If I wanted to fuck a woman, I would have taken a woman to my bed," Severus breathed in his ear before capturing the pink lips in a possessive kiss. Harry wrapped his legs around Severus� hips and opened his mouth to grant entrance to the talented tongue.

He didn�t know how long they would be together but it didn�t matter. The dark wizard never actually said that he loved him using words, but his actions spoke far more eloquently. Severus made him feel as if he were the most precious object on the planet. Harry would no longer worry about things he could not control. He was grateful for the opportunities he had been given � a second chance at life � and could finally look to a future where he had some control of his own destiny.

Blackbird - Epilogue

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