Title: Of Flesh And Blood
By: Bridget McKennitt
Pairing: Harry Potter/Severus Snape
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1249
Prompt: "Are you ever satisfied?" from Faynia.
Contains: No warnings in as far I know that can't be extrapolated from the header itself.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and company are owned by J.K. Rowling and other companies. They are used here without permission, and for entertainment purposes only. No challenge or infringement upon the copyright is intended, nor should any be inferred.
Beta: angela_snape
Harry wandered through the halls of Hogwarts in a daze. He could not sleep and he could not stay in his room. Somewhere in the castle, Severus Snape was lying unconscious in a bed. They weren't lovers by any means, or even friends, but Harry...cared for Severus.
He let out a bitter bark of laughter as he passed a few statues of prominent wizards or other. Severus didn't know he existed as flesh and blood, only as the son of the woman he loved and the man he loathed. But Harry was flesh and blood and he ached for the day when Severus saw the same.
He should be pleased for the fact that Severus was alive, period. The snake bite from Nagini almost killed him if it wasn't for Hermione's quick thinking. But Harry wasn't. Even though it'd been days since that event, Severus had not wakened. Madam Pomfrey wasn't sure if he would ever wake up.
When Harry looked up, he found himself standing outside of the infirmary. The doors were closed, but that didn't stop him from turning the handle and entering the room. In the far corner of the infirmary lay Severus' prone body. He looked paler than normal and his breathing was shallow. Harry braced his hands on the edge of the bed, tangling his fingers in the thick blanket as he stared at the calm face of the man in front of him. Severus never looked so calm or, dare he say it, so happy as he did at that moment. He could feel his heart twinge at the sight and he could not stop as he stretched his hand out to caress Severus' sallow cheek.
Warm, but only barely so. Harry took in a ragged breath and continued to stroke Severus' cheek. "Were you ever satisfied with your life," Harry whispered. "If only for a moment?"
Severus' eyelids fluttered and Harry held in his breath. His eyes shot open and Harry let out a relieved smile. "Snape."
Severus shot his gaze towards the sound and furrowed his brow at Harry. "W-who?"
He flushed and snatched his hand back. "You're awake." Severus coughed, his shoulders shaking, and Harry patted his hand awkwardly. "Should I get Madam Pomfrey?"
"Who are you?" He stared blankly at Harry.
***
Harry curled up against the window sill, huddling under his blanket. Ron and Hermione had come by earlier to check on him, but he did not want to deal with their comfort. Severus did not remember who he was or the people he had worked with for years. Severus did not know him.
It shouldn't have hurt, because Severus did not like him to begin with, but it did. At least they had history between them even if their history wasn't the best. How would he ever get the man to look at him again? Why would Severus ever look at him? Now he was only one of his students, if that.
"Harry?" said a female voice. He looked up to see Ginny standing in the doorway of his dorm, bracing a hand against the frame. "Hermione said you'd be up here."
"Go away, Ginny."
She entered the dorm anyway, hovering near his shoulder. Harry glanced at her and wondered for the hundredth time why he didn't just fall into her arms and love her like he was supposed to. He'd dreamt about her so strongly this year that he would have done anything to be with her. But that was before he saw Severus' memories, before he realized the silver doe was his, that he was the Half-Blood Prince, that Severus had been part of his life in a way Ginny could never be. Not even if he spent a hundred years with her.
"I said go away." Harry turned back to look outside the window.
"I can't." She sighed and placed a warm hand on his shoulder. "I don't know what's wrong, but I'm still your friend. You can talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about. You wouldn't understand."
He could feel her glare on the back of his head but he did not turn. He wanted Severus to smile at him and, unless Ginny learned how to create a potion that would do just that, she couldn't help.
"I do. I've seen the way you look at him. Don't you even lie to me, Harry, because I know you. I watch you like you watch him." She hiccupped and he glanced at her. He never really noticed before how her eyes would turn red even though there weren't any tears. How her lower lip trembled when she wanted to smack him as she obviously wanted to do right now. He loved her without knowing anything about her and he felt guilty about it. "If you really like him, go for it."
"Ginny?"
She sighed, shaking her red hair out of her face. "I love you, and I want to be with you. But if you're not satisfied with me, then I want you to find satisfaction with the person you want. If it's him, then go."
Harry smiled and stood up, giving Ginny a brief hug. "Thank you." She smiled weakly as he dropped his blanket and hurried out.
***
Harry wandered through the halls of Hogwarts in a daze. He could not sleep, not after all that had happened. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around him and pulled him into an empty classroom. Harry sighed happily and turned around to see Severus' smug face. "Good evening, Mister Potter."
"Evening, Severus." Harry stood on the tips of his toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. Severus groaned and pulled him tighter into his embrace. When they finally broke apart, Harry rested his head against Severus' chest, raising his left hand up to stare in wonder at the simple band of gold on his finger, knowing that on Severus' own left hand there was a similar ring.
Severus had never regained his memories after waking from the coma, but it was probably for the best. He did not remember Lily's smile or James' pranks or how he'd hated Harry. They started on the same footing, though Severus was still an arse at times, and it allowed Severus to see Harry for who he truly was. Himself.
"You're mine," he purred into Harry's hair. "Are you satisfied with the wedding?"
"It was beautiful." And it was. Ginny and Hermione planned everything starting with a wedding at sunset at the lake to the dinner in the Great Hall. Ginny still looked at him with longing in her eyes, but that boat had sailed. Who he wanted the most was right here in his arms. "Where are we going for our honeymoon? If you say the Divination Tower, I will hex you."
Severus smirked. "There is a Portkey waiting for us in our rooms that will take us to our destination."
Harry laughed, smacking him on the shoulder. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"
"Not at all. Now come along, husband of mine. We have the rest of our lives to begin."
Harry slipped his hand into Severus' as they walked out of the classroom. "I'm glad we're together, you know. I almost didn't go after you years ago."
"And then where would the two of us be?" he murmured. "Ten points to Gryffindor."
Harry said nothing, though a tall tale flush revealed everything, and he leaned into Severus as they walked. He was loved.
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