althaeifolia

[althaeifolia]

For @snarrymicrofics June prompts, day 1: Teddy Bear Summary: Harry's not used to having their child away from home. Severus really wants to go back to bed. Pairing: Harry Potter/Severus Snape Rating: T Warnings: No warnings apply Word count: 600 (oops)

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Severus woke up with a sense of something missing. He reached out in the complete darkness – the streetlights were out yet again, apparently, damn this blasted town – and found only a cold, empty spot where another body should be. He groaned quietly, trying to sit up; lately, his back was protesting the years spent hunched over a cauldron louder than usual.

Not bothering to look for his wand he left the bedroom and wandered the house for a good moment, until his trained ear caught a quiet sniffle in one of the rooms. As quietly as possible he pushed the door open to find Harry on the floor; eyes red and puffy, hands mindlessly stroking the soft fur of the teddy bear lying abandoned on the bed.

Sighing and internally apologizing to his poor bones he sat down and embraced his husband, warm body immediately melting against his. They sat in silence for a long time.

“She’s too young to be so far away from home” Harry whispered eventually, voice cracking halfway through the sentence and Severus found himself pulling him closer, protectively. “What if something happens and we won’t be there?”

“Minerva would contact us immediately” he answered in what he hoped was a soothing tone. It was too early for this. “And as incompetent as Longbottom can be, he takes his duties as Head of House seriously. He won’t let anything happen.”

“But what if he doesn’t know?!” Severus was unprepared for the sudden yell, or for the influx of new tears in green eyes. As level-headed Harry has grown up to be in his years as an auror, apparently their child leaving for Hogwarts was his breaking point. “We got into so much dangerous shit in school and nearly died multiple times and Dumbledore only looked and did nothing and Minerva didn’t even know half the time-”

“You were a special case!” The strict tone, a reminder of his years as a teacher seemed to work, as Harry turned back to look at him surprised, tears momentarily forgotten. “You ran into danger head first, without thinking, every time. There are no Dark Lords to chase and no precious artifacts to destroy anymore. She will be fine.”

“But what if-”

“Besides” Severus continued, not letting his husband butt in, “Lily is a smart girl. Definitely smarter than you were at her age, Snape. And with how much she likes to talk, you will know everything that happens to every inhabitant of the castle, within hours, if her poor owl doesn’t die from exhaustion flying back and forth”

That got a weak giggle, at least.

“You’re one to talk, Potter” Harry mumbled, shifting so he could hide his face against his husband’s shoulder. “You were the one that floo’d Minevra when you didn’t get Lily’s letter two hours after Sorting”

“That was a perfectly reasonable action!” Severus snorted,  “I had to make sure my daughter isn’t a Gryffindor.”

“You married one, you wanker” The insult would hold a bit more power if it wasn’t followed by a yawn and two arms wrapping themselves around Severus’ neck. The birds outside seemed to be waking up, if the increasingly annoying noise was to be trusted. Not much of the night left, and plenty of sleep they still needed.

“You’re taking a sick leave today” Two sets of knees cracked painfully, as they rose from the floor. “We’re staying in bed. And if you behave, I will send a letter to Minerva and see if we can visit over the weekend.”

The smile Harry sent him did weird things to Severus’ heart.

[althaeifolia]

written for the @drarrymicrofic prompt: time loop read on ao3: maybe, if tomorrow comes

The crystal pressed against his skin was pleasantly cool, even through the protective layers of magic humming around it. It took great effort to make it; fragile enough to be shattered with a kiss, it was Draco’s most prized possession. As long as it was with him, he had everything.

Like a clockwork, he felt the intensity of the warm, green eyes fall on him. Hands reached for his hips and lips were pressed to his temple and Draco melted against the affection, pushed himself further into the embrace, bringing out a soft laugh in response. He inhaled the familiar scent, let his fingers clasp around the smooth leather, and let himself be for just a moment.

In a short while, like always, Harry will take a step back and lean back in for the one last kiss; he’ll mumble a few words, promising to be back for dinner, asking about the plans for the evening.

And then he will leave.

The Auror office won’t be busy, it never is these days. Harry won’t be surprised when someone knocks on the office door, used to people seeking his company. He won’t say a word as the Weasley whore stands in front of him and demands a decision.

Of course, he won’t say anything right away. Harry was never the kind; instead, Draco will blame the dull look in his eyes on the flickering light, on the oversalted soup at their favourite restaurant, on a thousand and one excuses he managed to come up with. And he will scream Harry’s name that evening, let the hands undo him and the green eyes greedily soak in the sight of him.

Tomorrow, Harry will tell. He will say that he made a choice. And that all of the promises he made were lies, that their future together was never real.

And maybe, Draco would forget how to breathe. Maybe he would turn to the vast library of Malfoy Manor in a desperate attempt to find a solution, to get Harry back. Maybe he would dig through thousands of forgotten manuscripts under the worried look of his Mother; maybe, despite his better judgement, his Father would put him in contact with some of his old friends. Maybe Pansy would tell him to get over himself, after he quits his job at the Department of Mysteries; maybe (most likely) Draco would miss the fear in her eyes when he says he already got what he needed from there.

And maybe, just maybe, after the crystal first touches his skin and all the clocks have been broken in an act of desperation, he would beg. Beg for Harry to stay; beg to change his mind. Maybe after trying, and failing, to change the outcome – why is there blood on his hands, it hasn’t happened yet – maybe Draco would go completely mad.

But he won’t.

“Tomorrow” doesn’t exist anymore, after all.

[althaeifolia]

for the @drarrymicrofic prompt "Treasure"

As the smoke attacked his lungs, Draco roared, causing  the stream of curses to falter for a moment. The screams were getting more panicked now; Aurors, he thought with disdain, were not nearly as brave as they always bragged. Shields around him hummed, magic running pleasantly through his veins and if it wasn’t for the situation they were in, he could purr contentedly. As that last thought popped into his head a faint giggle sounded behind him, the need to take a look too strong for him to ignore. Green eyes stared back at him, anxiety and exhaustion evident, but even as the warm body slumped, cuddled into his side, the feeling of trust sent through their bond was unmistakable. He turned his attention back to the attackers, curling more tightly at the feeling of shaking hands stroking his scales with more gentleness he ever deserved, and bared his fangs. Not many of them had time to dodge the next stream of fire; nor many of them knew how to protect themselves from the magic running wild.

They were trying to steal his Harry, his treasure; and there will be hell to pay.