Second Place - Romance

The atmosphere in the chambers of Hogwarts' newest married couple was decidedly lighter after that little chat. Harry was beginning to understand that Severus was a complex person who had consciously made the decision to mask his true self. Little things said here and there, and the young wizard was beginning to see the picture of a man who had decided to take a horrible situation and try to make the best of it. As his husband began to relax around him, Harry came to the conclusion that the snarky bastard routine had been pulled directly from the examples of his father and uncle.

Looking up over at his mate now, Harry smiled at the concentration evident in the older man's face as he perused yet another ancient tome on the art and science of potions making. Earlier the young wizard had glanced at the book, surprised to see that it was written in an obscure and almost forgotten language. Chuckling as he recalled thinking that this was just another revelation into the persona that was his husband, Harry was quite impressed to learn that the potions master had learned to read a great number of languages in his quest for knowledge in his chosen field of study. Everything Harry was learning about his mate strengthened his resolve to do what ever he could to help the man find happiness, even if he was stuck with the foolish Gryffindor for the rest of his life.

Severus could feel the weight of his husband's eyes on him as he struggled with a particularly difficult passage in the ancient potions treatise. The stoic man had been pleasantly surprised at just how easy it had been to open up to Harry. He was rapidly having to change some of his long-held ideas about the young wizard, as it was obvious that like himself, Harry had been living behind his own masks. It would take time, but Severus felt confident that they would be able to get to know each other's true self. As the days went on, Severus was beginning to let go of some of the fears that had so long ruled his life. For perhaps the first time, he felt ready to willingly open up to someone.

The potions master could also sense that Harry was slowly relaxing in his presence, and he was discovering that the young Gryffindor had a wicked sense of humor. And while Severus suspected that the humor was often used as a shield, he thought that Harry was using it in an overall healthy manner. Self-depreciating humor could often turn against its user and lead to a lower self-esteem. It took a healthy mindset to effectively wield that sort of humor so that one's sense of self remained intact.

Looking up after several minutes of feeling his mate's observation, Severus was bemused to see the serious expression on the youthful face. "A knut for your thoughts, Harry," Severus said quietly.

Startled to find those dark eyes now regarding him, Harry smiled shyly. "Sorry, Sev. Didn't mean to stare. I was just thinking about how much I have learned about you in the past few days. And how much I like the person I am getting to know." A blush crept up in his cheeks as he said the last part. For all his Gryffindor bravery, Harry was still incredibly shy and unsure about himself. He had no idea that others considered him to be an attractive young man and that he could probably have just about anyone he wanted.

After a moment's thought, Severus carefully closed the tome and set it aside. Crooking a finger, he silently motioned for his mate. Curiously, Harry walked over to where the taller man sat on the sitting room sofa. Severus reached out a hand and snagged his husband around the waist. Harry yelped in surprise as he was pulled down onto the older man's lap. Eyes locked and emerald turned smoky as Harry laced his fingers in the long, silky tresses. The young wizard leaned in and brushed his lips against his husband's. As Severus parted his lips, a tongue slipped in and the dark-eyed wizard moaned. Harry ground his hips against the hard hips beneath him and a moan issued from him as he felt an answering hardness pressed into his. Harry quickly forgot everything but the man he was kissing and the firm body holding him. Severus tightened a hand behind his mate's head and he moved the other down to the slim hips rocking against him.

Harry pulled back from the kiss, only to move on to the jaw and down one side of the delectable neck. Feeling a shudder from the man trapped beneath him, Harry grinned as he licked and nibbled his way down the neck. Freeing a hand to begin opening the confining robes his mate insisted upon wearing, Harry followed with his tongue, delighting in the scents and tastes of his husband. Reaching a collarbone, Harry licked and laved the area, loving how it affected his normally reserved mate.

Severus laid his head on the back of the sofa when Harry began working his neck. He had never known that anything so simple could be so erotic and so arousing. Moaning his enjoyment of the proceedings, he grasped both hips so he could grind their erections together through their clothing. He didn't think he would last long, and he was of no mind to worry about the position or their garments. Severus wanted release and he felt the answering tension in his young husband. After several moments of having his neck and collarbone ravaged, the potions master pulled on the younger man's head and brought their lips back together in a bruising, demanding kiss.

Now it was Harry's turn to moan as Severus took over the kiss and the large hands guided his hips against his lover's. It wouldn't be long before he would reach completion and he was definitely enjoying the ride. Feeling the coil of tension building in his belly, Harry cried out as he began to thrust harder into the other man. His field of vision narrowed and everything else receded as he felt his orgasm near. Harry threw his head back and shouted as he came, spurting into the confines of his pants. Gasping, the young man continued to grind as he felt the answering orgasm rising from his husband. Severus yelled out his pleasure and Harry held him as they both rode the resultant shock waves back to reality.

Harry grinned as he commented, "Wow, Sev. I do think that I could get used to this aspect of our relationship." The young man kissed the tip of his husband's nose as he carefully disentangled himself from the other man and the sofa.

"Indeed, Mr. Snape-Potter. I do believe that there just might be some compensation in this situation after all, meager though it is."

Harry stopped and looked hard at the man for a moment before he realized that Severus had just made a joke. "Ha, ha, Sev. I'll have you know that I am anything but �meager'," the younger man cheekily retorted.

A smirk was the only answer he got as the potions master retrieved his wand and performed a �scourgify' charm to clean them of their stickiness.

By unspoken agreement, the two would breakfast in their rooms with lunch and dinner being taken in the Great Hall with the rest of the school's occupants. Fortunately, Severus' little snakes were encouraged to handle minor problems on their own so he had to attend to only major calamities involving the Slytherins. All too soon, in Harry's opinion, it was again time to return to classes and a regular schedule. He marveled at how different everything now felt for him since the battle and his bonding to the potions master. After Ron's little display the first day at lunch, Harry had kept his distance from his housemates and had been glad of the time to get to know his new husband better. But, now here he stood, waiting to walk up to the Great Hall with Severus to face the breakfast with the rest of the school and the first day back at classes. That afternoon Harry had double potions with the Slytherins, and although he and Severus had discussed how they would be handling things, he was still somewhat nervous.

Walking over to join his obviously agitated mate, Severus gave the young man a quick hug and a small kiss on the top of his unruly hair. "It will be fine, Harry. Just remember what we talked about," his mate reassured him.

Giving a bright smile that almost matched the brilliance of his eyes; Harry nodded and walked out to meet the world, or at least the rest of Hogwarts. Severus smiled slightly and as the door opened, he again allowed his normal mask to settle into place as they walked down the dungeon corridors and up to the Great Hall.

The Flipside of Sanity - Chapter 14

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