Title: A Kiss In Turn
By: Bridget McKennitt
Summary: One good kiss deserves another. Or something like it anyway.
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.
Author's Notes: This won't be a one shot, at least not if I can help it. Oh yes, in case
you couldn't tell, this is a Harry/Severus story. If the pairing doesn't float your boat,
please move along. Thank you.
The noise first attracted his attention. It was of someone humming a lullaby in
one of the empty classrooms. Severus Snape made his way to the source of the humming and
peered into the room. Not a student, but a professor. Severus scrowled. For all intents
and purposes though, Professor Harry Potter was still a student to him.
Albus had offered the position of Defense Against The Dark Arts to the boy last
year hoping to finally having a competent teacher. At first Potter refused, but Albus wore
him down, like he always did. So the Boy Who Lived came to Hogwarts and the heavens sang
with chords of angels. Well, no, but that's how Severus expected his homecoming to be like.
However, it didn't happen that way at all.
Potter was introduced in Albus' speech at the beginning of the year, but there was
no celebrations or worshipping. If there was, at least, he had not seen it. The boy settled
in nicely and the children adored him. Potter never sought him out.
And why would he? Severus had terrorized him during his time as a student in
Hogwarts. He never said a nice thing to or about him, and tried in earnest to get him
expelled. To Potter, he would always be the greasy git.
He stepped into the class and cleared his throat. "What are you doing, Potter?"
The boy in question looked up and gave a sheepish smile. "'Allo, Professor. I'm
just looking for a boggart for my classes. It's a great creature to practice fighting down
one's fears. And since Dark Wizards like to play on people's fears, well, you know how it
goes."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Are you implying that I'm a Dark Wizard?"
"N--no. Just that you know a lot about Dark Wizards, seeing as how you spied on Voldemort. Well, no boggart here." Potter chuckled. "I don't know how Remus found that
boggart when he taught here. Would you like to help me?"
"Excuse me?"
"It'll be fun. And think about it, more chances to insult my intelligence among
other things." Potter grinned and Severus had the strangest urge to either strangle the
young man or kiss him. Very strange indeed.
"Only because I know it will take you days to find your dark creature will I help
you." Certainly not one of his best insults, but at least his sharp tone more than made up
for it.
"We can try the other unused classrooms." Severus followed Potter and could not
help as his eyes focused on the Gryffindor's nicely shaped arse. He growled and shook his
head. What was wrong with him? This was Harry Potter for Merlin's sakes! One did not think
about Harry Potter in those terms, especially not the dreaded Potions Master.
"So," he drawled out. "I heard you won Witch Weekly's Winning Smile award. How does
it feel to be the next Lockhart?"
Potter made a face. "I am no Lockhart, and I pray that I never will be."
"Oh?"
"Well, yeah. He was a fake and a complete moron. I may have my stupid moments, but
I am competent and I'm not a fake." He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Not that you care,
of course."
Severus took offense at the dig and pushed Potter into a darkened crevice, his hands
pressed against the wall on either side of the boy. "Are you saying that I'm a heartless, uncaring git?"
"I--I never said that!"
Severus leaned in until their faces were almost touching and sneered. "I'm sure you
were thinking it. Stupid Gryffindor."
"Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of this." And with that, Potter
tilted his head up and kissed Severus. Lightly pressing his lips to the other before Potter
got braver and suckled on Severus' lower lip.
Severus jerked back and pushed the boy away from him. "What in the world!"
Potter had the decency to blush. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking when I did that. You
don't have to help me find that boggart. I'm sure I can do it myself," he said in a rush.
With a wave, Potter fled the scene while Severus was still in shock.
Severus was indeed in shock, but it was not over revulsion about the kiss. He actually...liked it. Amazing. Looking towards the direction that Potter ran, Severus felt inspired to return the favor to the Boy Who Lived. One kiss did deserve another in turn.
But there was a deeper reason for his thoughts. He just wanted a chance to kiss Harry again.
