All About You.

[pekeleke]

Title: All About You.

Rating : G.

Author: pekeleke

Word Count:1080

Challenge: Written in celebration of Severus Snape's birthday.

Warnings: None.

Disclaimer: Don't own these characters. No money is being made out of this work.

Summary: Harry learns by accident that today is Severus' birthday. He decides to congratulate the Headmaster and rushes headlong into trouble, as usual.

 

All About You.

Harry's gut started churning with nerves as soon as he set eyes on Severus. He was sitting quietly in his office, looking thoughtfully at the single candle decorating the small iced-lemon muffin that sat atop his otherwise empty desk.
“Isn't that cake of yours a bit too small to share, Headmaster?”

 

Startled black eyes shot towards him and a small frown appeared on that pale and narrow face.
“Potter...”

 

Long fingers twitched around a dark-coloured wand, betraying their owner's desire to vanish all evidence of that muffin from the room and Harry's throat began to ache for this lovely, lonely man, who felt the need to hide himself away so completely.
“There is no need to charm your treat away, Headmaster. I know it's your birthday. I heard the kitchen elves grumbling about your refusal to allow them to bake the chocolate tiered cake they were planing to give you...”

 

The wand clattered against the polished surface of the desk as its owners' potion-tainted fingers curled into a loose, uncomfortable fist.
“What do you want, Potter?”

 

Harry's green eyes studied that slightly shaking fist with trepidation and his throat dried completely as he began to think about his actions for the first time since he'd learned that it was Severus' birthday. Coming here had been a huge mistake... there was no way that he could play this off as a professional visit. Not when he'd spouted all that nonsense about knowing the reason behind Severus' dismally lonely muffin-celebration. He'd have to own up to his feelings. There was nothing else for it...
“I heard the elves talking and couldn't ignore the fact that it's your birthday and I haven't seen a single person acknowledge it, all day long. Why aren't we celebrating it? I mean... I admit that I didn't know, but some of our colleagues have taught alongside you for decades. I can't believe Minerva would ignore...”

 

“Minerva doesn't know. I'm a very private man, Mr. Potter. Only Albus ever badgered me about this matter relentlessly enough to force me into sharing the information. I did so reluctantly, with the understanding that he wouldn't release it into the ears of a third party without my explicit permission”

 

Harry blinked in astonishment.
“Only Albus... You mean you've celebrated your birthday alone every year since he died?”

 

Unfathomable dark eyes confronted him head on:
“This is my private life. What I do, or don't do, regarding my own birthday celebrations is really none of your business, Potter. Why should you even care about it?”

 

Harry flinched visibly on the receiving end of that curt answer. His palms began to sweat, but he wasn't willing to turn around and head back downstairs like some kind of bumbling coward. He'd come here instinctively and something told him that he'll never find a better opening than this one to confess his feelings.
“Maybe I shouldn't, but I do. Care, that is. About you, Headmaster. Er... Severus.”

 

The slytherin became utterly still
“What, exactly, are you trying to say?”

 

“I'm in love with you. I... you don't need to be alone, unless you want to. Not today, at least. Hopefully not ever. I'd like to be your private life, Severus”

 

Dazed dark eyes blinked in surprise and a lovely pink flush spread across those rather harsh cheekbones.
“You're... in love... with me? You want...”

 

“Everything. With you. Yes. ”

 

They looked straight into each other's eyes as the silence grew suffocatingly tense. Harry's nerves were knotted in his throat, his heart was in his eyes as his whole future hung by a thread in the awful silence. He tried to remain very still, lest he spooked the other man with his own unbearable tension. He tried to be patient and wait, but he'd been waiting for so many years already that he felt that he would break, unless he spoke.
“Severus, please, say something...”

 

Ebony-coloured eyelashes fluttered down, breaking off the fragile contact that still linked them in a single, sweeping, motion. That pale face looked down, towards the table, and the Headmaster stared straight into the wavering flame of the single ever-lasting candle still lit atop that small, iced-lemon muffin.
“I don't have all that much to offer, Potter. Err... Harry. Half a muffin isn't exactly...”

 

“It's perfect, I swear. I'd rather have half a muffin with you than a whole banquet with the minister of magic himself. I'm only sorry that I didn't know about your birthday sooner. I would have liked to...”

 

“Don't. I don't think you could have given me a better present than this, Po... Harry. I... I've been harbouring certain feelings towards you for a while, but never dared to dream that you'd look at me twice. I... having you here, hearing you confess that you actually love me, it's a dream come true.”

 

Harry's every worry dissolved at that second. His heart unfroze and his breathing hitched with relieved exhilaration.
“You love me too? You'll let me stay? You'll actually... have... me?”

 

Severus smiled then. The expression in his dark eyes softened and his fingers uncurled slowly, dissolving the tense fist they had formed only a mere minute ago to form a graceful gesture of beckoning.
“Let's agree that I'll have you, if you have me. Is that acceptable enough for you?”

 

Harry laughed and approached him eagerly. Emerald eyes alive with undisguised adoration:
“Yes. It's enough. It's... perfect, Severus. I'm so glad I came to see you and found you here, like this. I'm so glad that it's your birthday and you are not spending it alone anymore... I'm so glad that you've accepted the gift of my love in this day of all days, because I have nothing greater to give you. You've owned my entire heart for a while now and it's a relief to have the freedom of putting it openly in your hands and know it's finally where it belongs”

 

“Harry, we should talk about this...”

 

A golden finger pressed against his lips, silencing him gently.
“Sshh! Don't say another word. Just... accept it with the same grace you showed a second ago. Let us enjoy this moment and leave the future for tomorrow. There'll be plenty of time for negotiations and compromises, but none of that will happen today. Today is all about you, Severus. Only about you. Today is your day. Happy birthday, my love. May we be blessed with the joy of celebrating this day together for many years to come...”

The End.
 

Comments

[fallconsmate]

what a lovely birthday present!!!

someone's whole heart...you cant beat that. beautiful!!

[pekeleke]

True. Someone's heart is truly an unbeatable gift. I'm sure Severus will treasure it always.
I'm glad you found this beautiful. Thank you, as always, for this generous review. :)

[adafrog]

Very sweet, thanks.

[pekeleke]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. :)

[shadownitewolf]

Awww this was so sweet! Loved reading about Severus birthday and how Harry will make sure he never celebrates alone again.

[pekeleke]

I'm thrilled you enjoyed this one. I'm sure Severus will remember this particular birthday with a special fondness ;) Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read and review. You know how much I enjoy hearing from you. :)

[sheankelor]

*peaks in while dodging work* That was sweet. I like how Harry heard it was Severus' birthday. It is so-o-o like him to be somewhere he could over hear the elves fussing. And that the elves were fussing was excellent.

The half a muffin offer was the best part in my opinion. It said so much in such a little bit. It showed that Severus was ready to open up enough to share. Harry was right it was perfect. But I think next year, he might get the elves allowed to make a single layer chocolate cake. ^-^ Maybe a six inch round?

And of course, your Harry is as wonderful as always. You say you like my Harry, but I think I like yours better. He is just so courageous. I don't think I could do what he did. *pats Harry on the shoulder* Severus at least appreciates it as well.

*hugs* I see you when I can steal away again.
Ree

[pekeleke]

Hello there, Ree!

It was wonderful to hear from you again. Things are very quiet around here, now that the madness of the adventdrabbles is over, aren't they?

I'm thrilled that you liked this one, as I wrote it in a rush and kept thinking afterward that the whole piece lacks Severus' usual bout of stubborn resistance, I'm sure you know what I mean...

It's true that Harry is always hoovering around the right kind of places to have overheard the elves' grumbling and it's amazing how you and YenGirl, both, said the same thing about him accepting the chocolate cake offer next year. Obviously great minds think alike and all that ;)

My Harry's courage is only needed to deal with Severus, you know? Yours is constantly fighting the tug of a maturing bond, defying the unspeakables, hoodwinking the aurors and braving Severus himself. Honestly speaking there's no fair way to compare them. Talking about that... When is the new installment of your story coming out? I'm waiting for it with bated breath...

Hugs, as always,

pekeleke

[sheankelor]

Um-m-m tonight? I am just not looking at the very large stack of papers that need my attention and am going to go back through it once more. Then I am posting. ^-^

Yen said the same thing? *laughs* I've got to go read her review... she writes some of the best ones. You, her, and Schattengestalt.

*tips head before pouring her cup of tea* You're right, they aren't all that comparable. Mine though was avoiding Severus, remember? *laughs* And only is there because he has to be. At least at first. ^-^

Off to make a late dinner and then edit. Till later! *squishy hugs* Ree

[sheankelor]

Oh, *passed over hamburgers and macaroni and cheese.* it is a bit quieter. I can actually get caught up on my reading fairly quickly. I wish I could say the same about writing. *sigh* I'm three drabbles behind and just can't seem to find a moment to weave a few hundred words together in a convincing manner. Of course the bunnies in the way are playing a part with that. *sigh*

I'm glad to see your work isn't keeping you out though. ^-^ *hugs again, just because*

[pekeleke]

Hello there again, Ree

I just saw that you posted the new installment of your fic. I'll try to read it tonight, so you should be expecting my thoughts on it tomorrow. Oh, I honestly can't wait to see what you've done with it! ;)

It's true that whenever you are in the process of writing a chaptered fic, it takes over your life until it's done. Everything else takes second place and it feels like your brain doesn't want to allow any other plot bunnies in, doesn't it?

Write whatever you are inspired to write and post it whenever it's done, without worrying too much about being behind with the drabbles. I've posted out-of-date challenge responses for snarry_100s before, without being told off about it, so it's possible to do that. They are really relaxed over there.

Chocolate chip cookies are your favorite? I think my son will like you. :)
I'll talk with you again tomorrow. Have a good night!

Hugs, as always,

pekeleke.

[sheankelor]

Hello there Pekeleke! *gets a hug in early before pouring a cup of tea*

*nods* Yes, the plot bunnies do. And the one for this particular story were vicious. And I've always...always had problems with the last couple of chapters of a story. *sigh* I've finally made it to the final scene and it is like pulling teeth. I think it is because the other plot bunnies get stronger and are staging a take over. ^-^

I hope you like what I did. You are going to get a laugh out of one part (or at least an ah ha moment) and not to many other people reading it will understand. Only those who have read the drabbles. You'll also get to meet Garrick. ^-^

So, can I weave more than one challenge into a multi 100 word series? I've got an idea that is trying to do that. It is brewing just behind this bunny.

*nibbles on the macaroon* So, your little one is a son? My youngest is as well. My eldest is a young lady now. *sigh* They need to stop growing up so quickly.

Until Tomorrow!
Ree