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The Forbidden Forest at night was most definitely not the safest place to be. Severus approached the trees carefully, his wand casting the brightest Lumos he could. He manoeuvred his way through the tallest trees and smallest stumps and branches on the ground before he eventually made it exactly where he needed to be. The flower he was looking for was rare -- only available in a particular part of the forest under a large sycamore tree.
The potions book he was studying was an old one from the late 1800s that belonged to a great potions master. During the start of his fifth year, he hadn't had time to get the potion book he needed for that class and was told by Slughorn to pick one from the cupboard. It was old, weathered, used, and perfect. And Severus was immediately drawn to it. He opened it, and there in the corner was the name Maximillian Perdu. One of the greatest potion masters to have ever lived and Severus' idol since he learned about him in his first-year History of Magic class.
The book was a treasure. It was full of spells and potions that Severus had never in his life heard of -- spells he was sure no professor at Hogwarts had ever heard of. And Severus wanted nothing more than to learn, and most of all, experiment.
So there he was in the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night in nothing but his pyjamas and a robe, searching for a key ingredient to a very impressive bone healing potion he wanted to try and brew.
The flower he was looking for was called Gerdilla Bloom. It was a rare wildflower that only grew inside the Forbidden Forest and only bloomed at night. Before Severus had read about it in the book, he was ashamed to admit he had never heard of such a flower.
He came across a large sycamore tree that looked like the drawing inside the book. He waved his wand around looking for any sign of the flower. He lowered himself to the ground and sure enough, he was met with a short bush of the smallest and bluest little flowers.
"There you are, "He breathed out. He sat down in front of the small bush cross-legged and pulled out the potions book from under his arm. He opened it on his lap and inspected the drawing inside the book, then the flowers in front of him. It was definitely a match.
Grinning, Severus closed the book and pulled his tools out of his pocket including a glass jar. He placed his wand between his teeth while he slipped on his gloves and then used both hands to carefully clip the flower at the root, just as the book instructed.
"Thank you," He said to the bushes as he placed the flower inside the jar, screwing shut tight. He always made sure to thank nature for every potion ingredient he ever plucked himself. It only seemed right.
He placed the jar inside one pocket of the robe and the tools on the other side. He took off his gloves, the reached for his book on the ground when he felt a slight pinch on his thumb.
"Bloody hell," He cursed, waving the light over his hand. There on his thumb was a small bug, bigger than an ant but definitely smaller than the most miniature ladybug. Severus cooed at the small creature as it manoeuvred its way from his thumb to the back of his hand. He carefully plucked the small bug off, leaving it on the ground.
The spot where it had bitten Severus hurt -- itched more like-- so he didn't want the creature on his body for a second more regardless of how cute it was.
Satisfied, Severus stood up with his potions book under his arm, his ingredient inside his robe and prayed to every deity that he made it back out of the forest alive and back to his room without Filch noticing.
***
Gerdilla Blooms are not only one of the rarest flowers but also one of the most powerful. It is crucial that only one-half of the flower petal be used in the potion (as slight as it may seem). Potion masters from all over the world are frightened to work with the flower, therefore superseding lesser ingredients such as Moon Moss in its place-
"Ouch!"
Severus looked up from his book in alarm, quickly closing it. Potter -- Harry Potter was standing in front of him, rubbing his arm with a small smile on his face.
"Shit, sorry," Severus quickly said.
"Merlin Severus, I thought we talked about the walking and reading?" He sounded and looked amused. His famous Harry Potter smirk adorning his ridiculously pretty lips. His curly hair tousled in its signature way and green eyes positively shimmered behind the round frames on his face. His school robes were open as they often were, and his school tie loose in a manner that if the Headmaster saw, he would no doubt be reprimanded. Severus suddenly felt his thumb itch.
Harry Potter was the youngest seeker in Hogwarts history, having made the team only in his first year at Hogwarts. His older brother James was dating Severus' older sister Lily so the two had become friends by association.
He was also the object of Severus' affections. Severus was pining hard for the Gryffindor even though every functioning cell in his body told him that it wasn't the brightest idea. But how could he not? Though Harry was popular -- a big contrast from Severus whose only friend was his sister, Harry was nice.
That was the only word to describe him. He was undoubtedly nauseatingly nice. He always smiled at Severus in the halls, he waved to him from the quidditch pitch, and he ate with him at the Slytherin table from time to time, the two hammering on about how irritating their older siblings were. He brought Severus his favourite snacks whenever Severus helped him study and found Severus' fascination with potions and the dark arts absolutely fascinating and fitting (his exact words). He was so nice. And Severus found himself unable to mutter the name Harry Potter without blushing.
He could barely get two words out in front of the Gryffindor and if he did, it came out in a snark that he never intended. But Harry never seemed to mind. In fact, it made him smile.
"You bumped into me as well you know? Why weren't you looking at where you were going?" Severus retorted.
"What can I say? My head was in the stars," He smiled dumbly, still rubbing his arm as if it actually hurt. "What are you reading today?"
Severus held up the book.
"You and that book," Harry shook his head. "I bet you can recite it from cover to cover, can't you?"
severus chose not to answer because he and Harry both knew the answer was yes. He also chose top to ignore the sudden itch on his hand, an almost burning sensation on his skin.
"Are we still on for tonight? One more study session before the test tomorrow, please?"
Severus pressed his lips and nodded. Harry smiled, reaching out his hand to squeeze Severus' shoulders.
"Truly don't know what I would do without you," He said the words as if they were the most natural thing in the world. "I'll see you later, Sev."
Severus didn't even say goodbye. Again, not two words whenever he was around Harry. He felt dizzy after the small interaction. He immediately propped open his book on the page he had left off and continued reading. It was the only thing he could do to distract himself from the burning of his hand and his shoulder from where Harry had touched him.
***
"I swear Professor Slughorn has it out for me."
Severus looked up from his Divination textbook and was met with a grumpy-looking Harry. He pulled out the chair across from Severus at their regular table at the library and sat down, slamming his head down on the table.
"Ever the drama queen aren't you?" Severus said, pushing his hair out of his face.
"No, I believe you still hold that title," Harry looked up, smirking. "Do you want to hear about the absolutely horrid Potions class I just had?"
Severus nodded. Potions was the only class he and Harry didn't have together. Professor Slughorn had somehow managed to convince Dumbledore to let him take sixth-year potions instead, claiming he was far too advanced than any other fifth-year student -- his exact words in the headmaster's office while Severus stood behind him, trying to make himself as small as possible.
"So you know about my essay right? The one that was due today?" Severus nodded once more. Harry pulled out his bag and reached inside, taking out something wrapped in white paper and passing it to Severus. "I turned mine in last because I wanted it to be on top of the pile. You understand I'm always anxious about what grade I receive. And I gathered if he graded mine first, I would know my score by the end of class. That was my perfect methodically thought out plan."
Severus opened the bag and was met with a warm pumpkin pasty, his favourite. Severus smiled and took a bite while Harry continued his story. He hung on to every word.
"So," he said the word so a lot when he talked. "Slughorn goes back to his seat, the stack of papers in front of him, mine on top," he talked with his hand a lot. "Right there on top, so naturally I thought mine would get graded first as planned, right?"
This time, he seemed to have expected an answer.
"Right, right," Severus mumbled behind his hand to hide the food in his mouth.
"But no! He stared right at me while he took my paper and placed it at the bottom of the stack. Can you believe it? He detests me. Why does he detest me?"
He was oh so cute when he was upset. His cheeks were red, his hair messier than usual from running his hand through it so much while he talked. Severus couldn't help but smile sheepishly as he said, "I don't think he detests you."
"Then explain his actions today," Harry pouted and crossed his arm on his chest. Severus chuckled, finishing the last bite of his snack.
"I'm sure you did well on your paper. I proofread it remember?"
"See, you should be my professor. You would give me an E."
"I would give you a million Es." But Severus simply smiled and said, "Thank you for the pasty. I missed lunch today."
"I figured," Harry finally took out his own Divination textbook from his bag, "You spent it here in the library, didn't you?"
"Let's get started, shall we?" Severus opened his book, avoiding green eyes.
"You did, didn't you?" Laughed Harry. "You know you can bring your lunch and eat in here right? If you can read and walk I'm sure you can read and eat. Besides, fewer people get hurt that way too."
Severus rolled his eyes, "You sound like my sister."
Just then, Severus felt a kiss on top of his and a strong vanilla scent. "Hey, baby brother."
"Does a bell ring every time your name is mentioned?" Severus shook her off of him. He heard her laugh before she moved from behind him and sat in the empty chair next to him.
"Hey kiddos," Smiled James, taking the seat next to his brother.
"Don't call me kiddo," Harry grumbled, moving his chair away from his brother. Both Severus and Harry have talked about how much it bothered them that their siblings treated them the way they did. His eyes met Severus and he mouthed, "make them leave" to which Severus snorted.
"As you can see, we're trying to study," Severus flipped the pages of his book until he found the one he was looking for.
"Whoah," Said Lily, snatching Severus's right hand from the book.
"Hey-"
"What's that?" She inspected his hand and Severus knew she was talking about the red patch there. It nearly covered his entire hand but it had stopped itching for a while so Severus forgot all about it. "Look" She showed the hand to the boys across the table, handling Severus' arm as if it belonged to a puppet.
"Lily please," He tried to take his hand back but had no luck.
Harry grabbed his arm from Lily's, eyes wide as he stared at the patchy red spot on his hand. Severus' hand burned in his touch. Quite literally burned. He quickly pulled it back.
"Is it an allergic reaction?"
"I got bitten by some bug the other day," Muttered Severus, a little annoyed at the way everyone at the table was staring at him. "It's nothing."
"Sev, if it doesn't go away soon, go to Pomfrey alright?"
James nodded in agreement, "Listen to Lily, that doesn't look good at all."
"Okay okay," he was now more than annoyed. "Now leave. We're trying to study."
"Fine," Lily let out a dramatic sigh, "My own brother doesn't want to spend time with me. Oh James, hold me."
Severus rolled his eyes once more. He heard Harry say ow and call James an arse and Severus knew that the older Potter had flicked his brother in the back of the head.
"You know what I dream about when I sleep at night?" Harry asked a few seconds after Lily and James exited the library hand in hand, probably laughing about how much they enjoyed tormenting their younger siblings.
What?"
"I dream about being an only child."
Severus snorted in response.
***
Three days later, the rash spread from Severus' hand to his entire right arm. He kept that new discovery from both Harry and Lily who checked on him nearly every day. He kept his robe on all day, only taking it off when he got ready for bed.
Severus spent any and every spare second in the library reading up on insects of all kinds. He knew for a fact that the one that bit him in the Forbidden Forest that night was to blame for whatever was happening to him, but he could not figure out what kind it was.
No book or passage described the creature nor a rash like the one he had. Severus was exhausted and unsettled. Would he die? Was the bug poisonous? He was much too young to die. Merlin, he was only fifteen -- he hadn't even had his first kiss yet.
Friday after class, four days after the bite, Severus begrudgingly made his way to the infirmary wing. He wanted to work on his potion that weekend and to do so, he needed to be of sound mind. He couldn't be agonising about his demise while he brew, so he went to madame Pomfrey to put his mind at ease.
He walked inside the infirmary and let out a breath of relief when he found it empty save from Pomfrey in the back looking through a glass cabinet.
"Take a seat, Severus. I'll be right with you," The mediwitch's back was still turned towards Severus as she spoke.
Sitting down at the end of one of the beds, Severus took in the room and thought about the fact that this is the first time he'd ever stepped foot inside the Hogwarts infirmary. His hand itched but he resisted the urge to scratch it. Instead, he fiddled his thumbs on his lap while she finished whatever it was she doing. Several minutes later, she finally approached Severus, a smile on her face that weirdly made him feel uneasy.
He was much too young to die.
"What brings you in here, Severus?"
Severus looked up, unclasping his hands before holding up his right hand to show her.
"Oh my!" There was a gasp, and then Severus' hand was carefully being pulled up to her height.
"It's all up my arms too."
"Would you mind taking off the robe?"
Severus shook his head and stood up to slide off the large school robes leaving him in his shirt and sweater. He placed the robe on the bed and rolled up his sleeves. Madame Pomfrey lifted up the limb, examining it from every angle.
"When did you go into the forest?"
"Uh.." Severus stuttered. There was no use in lying as she seemed to have already known. "Monday night."
"It was a bug, wasn't it? Pesky little things."
Severus nodded, "How did you know?"
Pomfrey let go of his arm and pulled out her wand. "Magnifia," she muttered as the wand moved over Severus' arm. It was a magnifying spell to help her take a closer look right up to his skin cell. "I've never seen it, only heard of it," she muttered more to herself than Severus.
"Heard of what?"
She put away her wand and finally let go of his arm, "This is the work of a Lovebug."
"A love what?"
"A Lovebug, dear."
Severus pulled his sleeve back down. He racked his brain trying to figure out if he'd ever of that name before. It didn't sound real. But it had to be, his arm was evidently proof of that.
"It's a very rare insect, nearly extinct," said Pomfrey. "It is said that if the person is in love with another, once the bug bites, a rash spreads throughout the body. As the person makes contact with said loved one, the rash spreads. It can spread throughout your entire body."
"You must be joking," Severus was stunned.
Pomfrey chuckled, "It sounds a bit outlandish, doesn't it? But it's true. The only way to get rid of the rash is from a kiss from the person who holds their affection. True love's kiss one might call it. Ancient witches and wizards would use Lovebugs in their courting rituals. If the kiss cured the rash, they had found their true love."
"And if they hadn't?"
Pomfrey paused for several seconds before she replied, "Well, the rash would only spread and it gets rather nasty I'm afraid. But it's the price some paid for love. Though I never understood why."
Severus gulped loudly. He would die. He would die before he ever had his first kiss. Because there was absolutely no way he would ever get Harry to kiss him. There was absolutely no way Harry's kiss could stop the rash. Severus was a friend and nothing more. He nothing more than the potion-obsessed, big-nosed, greasy-haired nerd who helped him with his homework.
Severus' mind swirled up in a sea of emotions. The air in the infirmary suddenly seemed scarce and he could not for the life of him breathe. He would die, all because he was foolish enough to go into the forest at night looking for potion ingredients.
"Severus," that was Pomfrey. She sounded so far away but she stood right in front of Severus, both her hands resting on his shoulders. "This person, are your feelings reciprocated?"
Severus blinked, "I don't know."
"Will you talk to them it is about this?"
"I don't know. I - I can't."
"Ah, young love. It all seems awfully terrifying does it not?"
All Severus could do was nod. Terrifying didn't even begin to describe it.
***
Severus Snape was not someone who developed crushes or had any interest in anything but his beloved books. He remembered how at eight years old, he witnessed his eldest sister, Petunia, sharing her first kiss with a boy in their bathroom. He accidentally walked in on them and was berated by his sister to 'get out and stop being a perv'. He remembered how at nine years old, he stumbled upon Lily's open diary on a page where she had her name and Jonathan Kinsey's in lopsided little hearts with a plus sign in the middle.
Severus never understood it. Arriving at Hogwarts, he still hadn't. On his first valentine's day at school, he witnessed girls crying in the corner simply because the boy they fancied sent a valentine to someone else, or the boys at the Slytherin table discussing who held their affections and how they planned on telling them.
It wasn't until he met Harry Potter that he finally understood. He finally understood the urge to write his name along with Harry's in lopsided little hearts with a plus sign in the middle. And it terrified him. Now four years later, he finds out that he had every right to be frightened as he was now facing the consequences of his affection.
The rash on his arm had turned a nasty red-orange colour that stood out more than expected on his pale skin. It didn't hurt as much as it itched to the point where Severus longed to peel off his skin.
After his trip to the infirmary, he decided to lock himself inside his room in order to not run into Harry. He spent all of Saturday alone in his room, declining an invitation from his sister to join her and her friends on a trip to Hogsmeade. He took one meal inside his room throughout the entire day.
Sunday was spent under the covers. Severus had taken the measure of wrapping his arm completely in a cast-like protection spell that would keep him from scratching the skin no matter how bad it itched. He was frustrated, angry, and upset. All at himself for getting himself into such a foolish situation in the first place.
He should've known that with his luck, something like this would've happened. Really, he wasn't at all surprised.
From the moment he woke, Severus only kept track of the time by his roommates' coming and going inside the room. Around the afternoon, he heard a knock on his door. He ignored it. The person knocked again, this time louder. Severus managed to mutter "Go away," fully aware that his voice hadn't carried far from the closed curtains around his bed.
"Severus, open up. I know you're in there."
Harry bloody Potter. Severus groaned because there was no way the stubborn Gryffindor would let up. He piled up his blanket and wrapped it around himself as he opened the door. And sure enough, there in the dungeon in front of his door was Harry dressed in jeans and his quidditch sweater. He looked so soft, so cute. Severus' entire body started itching.
"I haven't seen you all weekend," He stepped inside the room, walking past Severus. "What's with the sheets? Are you ill?
"Come in, why don't you?"
Harry ignored the sarcastic remark, "What happened? Is it the rash?"
"It's fine. I'm fine. I'm trying to study."
Harry looked around the room suspiciously. Lucky enough, Severus did have one or two books on his bed but they hadn't been opened since Friday -- something Severus forced himself to put out of his mind.
"Let me see your hand," Harry asked, walking closer to him. The look on his face could only be described as genuine concern. Severus bit his lip, slowly shaking his head.
"Harry, I'm alright. The rash is getting better," He lied.
"You're lying." Fuck.
Harry pulled on the sheets and managed to grab Severus' right hand and pull it out of the mass. Since Severus wore a t-shirt, his entire arm was on display. The gasp Harry emitted was somehow more audible than the one in the library.
Severus felt a thousand prickles on his skin as Harry held on, examining the arm just as Madame Pomfrey had done. "What the- How did this happen? You have to see Pomfrey. I'm taking y-"
Severus pulled his arm away, "I already went."
"And?"
"And it's nothing. She said I should be okay in a couple of days."
Harry didn't seem to believe him. Severus gripped the blanket once more with both hands and wrapped it around himself, avoiding Harry's eyes.
"Oh, Sev," He said, his voice soft and sweet. Severus wanted to cry. He would cry.
And then it happened, Harry moved forward and wrapped his arms around Severus' body, his face pressing into Severus' neck, his chest touching Severus' chest, the soft feel of his hair right under Severus' nose. Severus felt as if a fire started eating him up from the inside out. He gasped, pushing Harry away from him. He tried to ignore the dumbfounded look on the Gryffindor's face as he said, "Get out."
"What?"
"Out!" Severus pushed him out of the room and quickly slammed the floor in his face.
He didn't have to look to know that his chest, his torso, and back were now covered in the rash. Severus threw himself down on his bed and wept.
***
"You missed your morning classes."
Severus hadn't seen sunlight in over twenty-four hours and would have no concerns with going for another twenty-four. But it seemed as if his sister had other plans. Monday afternoon just around lunchtime, Lily barged into his room and drew the curtains from his window and around his bed and she all but pulled the heavy duvet off of Severus' body.
"Go away, Lily," His voice was so hoarse he barely recognise it. He couldn't see her, his head was still buried under the blankets, his hands clutching to it for dear life. He didn't want her to see him like this. What good could it do?
"Severus, I went to madame Pomfrey."
He stilled under the blanket. He felt the bed dip and a hand gently pulling at his blanket. The air suddenly seemed to be running out. His eyes stung from crying through the previous night, but it seemed as if he wouldn't be short of tears just yet.
"I talked to her and she told me everything," Lily's voice was a little muffled, but still undoubtedly the concerned voice of his big sister who had been looking after him since his parents brought him home from the orphanage at three years old. "I'm really sorry. Seems like absolute shit luck doesn't it? But you can try and see if it'll go away. You have to talk to him."
Severus uncovered his head, all the sunlight inside the room immediately hurting his eyes. Lily sat next to his feet, her legs crossed as she leaned on the bedpost, picking at her black nail polish, something she often did when anxious. She smiled when their eyes locked and she scooted closer to him, her hand threading through his greasy hair.
"To whom?" Everything itched at the mention of him. He hid his arms and as much of his face as he could under the sheets. He acted oblivious.
"It's Harry, isn't it?" She asked. She was smiling. A smile that read 'I am your big sister and I know everything there is to know about anything'. "You fancy him- you love him."
"I-I" Severus couldn't speak.
"Pomfrey said that there's a chance to get get rid of the rash, if not it could be- You have to tell him, baby brother."
He felt like a child as he shook his head, "No."
"What are you afraid of?"
"Everything? What if he doesn't- He couldn't, could he?"
"I need to hug you. Will it hurt if I do?"
Severus nodded. Lily let out a choked sob, covering her mouth.
"Either you do it or I do, Severus. I can't bear the thought of something happening to you. I know you're terrified, but I also know that you're braver than most people I know. There's nothing wrong with taking a leap and if it doesn't work out, then we'll go to Professor Dumbledore and see what our next steps should be."
Lily left, with the promise she was going to find Harry and send him to his room. Severus kicked off his blanket and walked towards the mirror bolted on the wall. His arm, neck and hands were red. He didn't have to remove his sleep shirt to know that his torso and back were the same colour. His hair was string and flat from not having washed it in days. He always knew he wasn't the most attractive, but how could Harry ever return his feelings while he looked like this?
There was a soft knock at the door, He quickly grabbed his blanket and wrapped it around himself before then a quiet click of the door as it opened.
"Lily sent me, are you alright? You never miss class."
Severus turned around to face Harry, the blanket shielding everything but his nose, his mouth, and one of his eyes. Harry was in his school robes, his school bag thrown over his shoulder as he approached Severus across the room.
He stood in front of Severus, green eyes boring into his dark ones, lips pursed, eyes soft as he said, "Talk to me."
"I can't-"
"Please, Severus. I thought we were friends."
Severus dropped the blanket. Harry gasped.
"Severus, what is going on? We need to get you to St Mungo's-"
"I got bitten by a lovebug."
"A love what?"
"I went into the Forbidden Forest last week to look for a flower and as I was getting up, this tiny bug bit me on my thumb. Later, I came to learn that it was a lovebug. It bites people in love or infatuated. You develop a rash after the bite and it keeps spreading as you come into contact with whomever you're in love with. Madame Pomfrey says that the only way it goes away is if said person feels the same way. When they kiss you, the rash goes away." He refused to meet Harry's face as he said that last part.
"And that person is me," Harry said in realization more than confusion.
"I-" He sighed, his eyes glued to a particular spot on the floor. "Yes."
"Oh, Severus."
And then he was being kissed. One moment Severus thought he was going to completely crumble and the next his face was cupped by the warmest hands along with the sweetest lips pressed to his own. He stopped gripping the blanket and it fell into a pool around him. He grabbed Harry by his school time, bringing him closer. He felt as if he was on fire, he wanted to cry out into Harry's mouth in pain but he also didn't want the moment to end.
All the books he had read on love, both fiction and nonfiction, could not have prepared him for this moment. This moment when time stopped, this moment when his mind finally quieted down and the only thing he could hear was his own heartbeat racing Harry's.
They pulled back after what seemed like a small eternity. Severus was breathless, refusing to open his eyes. Refusing to accept the fact that there was a possibility this was all but a dream -- no, a nightmare.
A laugh, then a cry, "Bloody fuck!" He finally opened his eyes and Harry was smiling and examining his arms. "It completely vanished."
Severus looked down and sure enough, gone was the rash, like magic. He laughed, running towards the mirror and pulling his shirt up. His body was once again its regular pale colour and Severus had never been so pleased to see his pasty skin, ever.
"It completely vanished," he turned to Harry repeating the words he uttered earlier. Harry dropped his bag on the floor before pulling Severus into a hug. Severus wrapped himself around Harry, nuzzling his face in his school robes. "I can't even begin to thank you."
"There's literally no need to, Sev," Harry said softly. They pulled back from the hug and stared at each other. Harry's hand rested on his hips still and the contact burned, but it wasn't painful at all, it was more warm than hot. The large dorm room was suddenly tense. Severus didn't know what to say or what to do next.
"Um I brought you a few things," Harry cleared his throat and walked over to his bag on the floor to rummage through his school bag.
Severus followed him, "You didn't have to get me anything."
Harry waved his hand, dismissing Severus' comments before he placed the snacks on the bed. There were chocolate frogs and fudge flies, a container of pumpkin pasties and what Severus was sure was butterbeer fudge.
"Thank you," Severus chuckled fondly before walking over to Harry and placing a soft, haste kiss on his cheek. "Well, I suppose you ought to head back to class."
"They won't miss me. Besides, I'm dying to see this flower that you so recklessly nearly died for," He was smirking as he sat down on the bed, cheeky as Severus adored him.
He beamed at the thought that Harry genuinely seemed to have an interest in his discoveries. Grinning, he opened his trunk and found the jar carefully placed and labelled along with a myriad of potions ingredients that he should definitely not be keeping inside his room.
The blue flower sat in the jar, as blue and as enchanting as the night Severus harvested up. He closed the trunk and brought the jar over to Harry. He sat crossed-legged across from him on the bed.
He passed Harry the jar. "This is called Gerdilla bloom," He passed Harry the jar. He held it up to his face, green eyes squinting from the other side of the clear jar. Severus continued, It's one of the rarest and most powerful ingredients used in a bone healing potion. In the book, the potions book I told you about, Potions Master Maximillian wrote that-"
"What?" Severus asked, suddenly self-conscious under Harry's intense gaze. The jar was now set down in front of him as he stared at Severus intently, hanging on to every word, every syllable.
"Nothing," he said. he leaned forward and placed a kiss on Severus' nose, then both his cheeks, his jaw, and finally, his lips. He felt his face heat up to a thousand degrees. "Let's make a deal, no ingredient hunting at night without a chaperone or a protection spell okay?"
"Deal," Severus shivered, nodding his head. "As long as you're my chaperone."
Harry pulled back smiling so wide Severus was sure his face would rip in half. "You need a big strong quidditch captain to protect you huh?" He flexed his muscles, a ridiculously haughty expression on his face and Severus couldn't help but laugh, picking up a pillow and hitting him with it.
"You." hit. "Are." hit. "A dork."
Before he could get in the last hit, he was tackled down on the bed by Harry as their laughs filled the room. Severus almost stilled at the sound of his own laughter, the sound was so foreign to him and he grew slightly uneasy. Harry hovered above him, chest heaving as he grinned down at Severus.
"A lovebug of all things?"
"Of all things," Severus shook his head slowly, smiling. And then he was kissed for what seemed like the millionth time that day, an array of sweets being crushed on the bed.