Third Place - Angst

Hot. Harry felt extremely warm. There was apparently a heater placed right next to him. He tried to move to call for Madame Pomfrey to move it but he was being held down. Did he have more seizures? Did they tie him down?

"Awake, then, Harry?"

Harry opened his eyes at that familiar voice. The infirmary was dark but there was a lone candle flickering nearby. In its light sat Snape with an open book in his lap. His legs were crossed and he was without his robe. Snape placed a ribbon in the book and closed it.

"How are you feeling?" Snape asked in his normal voice. The only difference was that it was definitely missing its fine edge of sarcasm.

"I'm hot." Harry thought about it and added, "and I can't move. Am I tied down?"

Snape smirked. "No. But you do have a heavy Draco pinning you in your blankets."

Harry frowned and tried to turn over but again met with resistance. He was able to look over his shoulder a bit and saw that there was indeed golden hair sharing his pillow. Eyes getting sore from the strain, Harry returned his gaze to his teacher.

"Is he asleep?" Harry whispered. Snape set the book down on the table, next to the candle.

"No. He is more or less unconscious," Snape said in a normal tone of voice. "And there are no other occupants of the infirmary so you need not worry about waking anyone."

Harry realized that he was having the very first non-malicious, benign conversation with Snape. He wasn't sure how to feel about that. The desire to please was happy about it, but was definitely reserved with its enthusiasm. This greatly relieved Harry and he thought about getting hurt more often just to keep it subdued like this.

Snape leaned forward, un-tucked and pulled the blanket off Harry and tossed it aside, presumably onto the unconscious Draco. Harry felt the relief almost instantly.

"Thank you," he said politely. Snape merely nodded and straightened the remaining sheet over Harry. Harry couldn't decide if he was happy with the silence or not but had a few questions he thought he should ask anyway. One was a bit pressing.

"Why's Draco unconscious next to me? Shouldn't he have his own bed if he's ill?"

Snape raised an eyebrow and smirked. He leaned back in his chair and re-crossed his legs. "Draco is not ill. But he is recuperating. As for why he is next to you, that is because he would not stop moving until he did so. Once he lay down, he lost consciousness and will awake much better for it."

"Is he recuperating from the blood frenzy?" Harry asked.

"One would think that Ms. Granger's head would explode from all that she puts in it. We can only hope that her mouth shall tire eventually from all her lectures," Snape drawled. "In answer to your question, yes, he is. It is quite tiring to be in such a state. Once he has rested he shall become as he was."

"Will he talk again?"

"As he spoke before, then yes. As I have just answered." Snape said through pursed lips.

"I'm sorry, sir," Harry immediately apologized and then wished he could slap the desire to please for sneaking in with that so quickly.

Snape sighed. "Never mind, Harry."

Silence resumed and Harry decided to break it again. Snape seemed to be in a congenial mood and Harry decided to take advantage of it.

"Did he really rip Duncan's head off?"

"As I was not there, I can not say if it was completely removed. But from all accounts, I would say that he did. He certainly could have and was well within his rights to do so." Snape almost growled that last sentence.

"Is Duncan alright?" Harry asked quietly.

"He had his head detached from his body, Potter. I sincerely doubt he is all right. But as he is in St. Mungo's, I can hardly be a judge." Snape glared into space, presumably at the missing Duncan. "It is unfortunate that he is not instead in an urn at this time," he muttered darkly. Harry was glad that he wasn't at the other end of that glare. Then a thought struck him.

"Can you move the earth like Draco, sir?"

Snape's eyes retrained on Harry and he smirked. "Yes."

Harry's eyes widened. "Is it hard?"

"Yes. Unless, of course, you are aided by frenzied emotions which I have luckily never been acquainted with."

Another profound thought struck Harry. "Why didn't you fight back, sir? Against the Marauders? You must have been stronger than them? If Draco can do what he did, surely...?"

Snape narrowed his eyes. "I had wonderful visions of tearing them all limb from limb, I assure you." He paused while apparently reliving these fantasies. "But, I was counseled by a good friend and mentor not to ever allow any suspicion."

"Because Voldemort would have tried to use you?" Harry guessed.

"Ms. Granger again, I presume?" Harry nodded. "Yes. I was warned that it would be inherently stupid of me to ever allow myself to be discovered by the up and coming Dark Lord. Therefore, your father and his friends," Snape barely refrained from spitting that out, "were allowed free reign. I, on the other hand, spent hours upon hours experimenting with potions and charms to hide what I was. Unfortunately, I was under the influence of my third attempt when that animal of a godfather of yours sent me to my near demise. Otherwise, I would have detected that walking rug's scent long before I ever got near that damned tree."

"You can smell Remus? What he is?" Harry asked, surprised. Snape's eyes narrowed even further and he grimaced.

"Yes," was all he said.

Harry realized he had better change the subject before Snape remembered who he was talking to and turned his nastiness on him.

"Why are you here, sir?" Harry asked quietly. Snape raised an inquiring eyebrow. "I mean, why are you here with me?"

Snape took a moment before answering. "Because, due to my ridiculous instincts, I am compelled to reassure myself that you are well."

"Are you going to be here all night?" Harry asked, a little disconcerted by that thought.

"Most likely," Snape answered. He reached to the table and picked up his book.

"But I am fine, sir."

"Yes. You are now." Black eyes became sharp as knives. "But, you were almost killed today. Believe me when I say that you should be happy that I can control myself enough to simply sit near you."

Harry looked at him and calmness overcame him. "You want to be with me like Draco is right now," he stated with complete assuredness. Snape took a deep breath and closed his eyes in an attempt to control himself.

"Yes," he murmured. "You were attacked, hurt, nearly taken from us. We do not behave well in those situations." Snape's voice was rough and each word seemed to be pulled unwillingly from his lips. Harry felt the desire to please reassert itself and he lifted the sheet invitingly.

"Please?" he asked quietly. Snape opened his eyes and his throat worked as he fought for control. Snape leaned forward and ran his hand through Harry's hair, using it to pull Harry inches closer. The book hit the floor with a muffled thump as Snape brought their faces closer. Harry closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side. The potions master accepted the invitation and began licking at Harry's neck. Small nibbling bites were placed at the junction where shoulder met neck. The hospital pajamas were loose and would easily be ripped off of him. Harry wanted them ripped off of him. He wanted Severus to lay down with him, to place him between both of his Superos' bodies. He wanted Severus to be around him, in him.

"No."

Harry opened his eyes and made a sound of distress as the warmth of Severus's body was withdrawn. Snape was taking deep lung filling breaths as he sat back down in his chair and retrieved his book. Crossing his legs, concealing his evident desire, Snape opened his book and then finally looked at the disappointed Harry.

"I will not bow to my baser instincts, Potter." His eyes were liquid with want but his entire body radiated his intent. "Draco may revel in his new found freedom, but I do not. And I would believe that you will appreciate this when your mind comes back to you." Lowering his eyes he began to read, completely ignoring Harry.

Harry strongly wanted to prove Severus wrong. He wanted to take the Supero into his bed, to prove his worthiness as a strong and capable mate. Then the voice rose up. It broke through these thoughts and even though it did not dissipate the feelings, it did restore a modicum of Harry's sense of balance. Taking a last look at the man sitting next to him, Harry recovered himself and pushed back into the warmth of the body behind him. He was no longer so hot and craved the heat and contact. Closing his eyes, Harry drifted back into sleep, the occasional sound of a page turning making him feel safe and secure.

Indago - Chapter 25

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