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Severus Snape stood behind the counter of his apothecary. He watched witches and wizards of all types stroll past his window shop. It was fairly busy for a weekday. Diagon Ally was full of life, a nice change from the postwar years. When the street had been barren with boarded-up shops, and a constant state of fear still lingered in the wizarding world.
He never anticipated surviving past the war.
He'd had nowhere to go and didn't know his place in the world anymore. He'd never dared to allow himself to think past the war.
But, miraculously, he lived, and two years ago, he took a leap. He'd sold his house in Spinners End and taken out the bit of savings that he'd made from Hogwarts and bought one of the abandoned shops.
He'd opened his apothecary, and while he carried the skill set to manage it, it didn't stop murmurs and trailing opinions from following him. His reputation as a Death Eater lingered. His status as a horrible professor didn't help; others' opinions of him soured by how he'd treated people, and in the end, he didn't have anyone to blame but himself.
At the time, his act had felt necessary, but he also never expected to be forced to live through the consequences of his actions.
His saving grace had come in the form of two redheaded hooligans and Boy Wonder.
Potter fought to the bitter end to keep Snape from being charged and hauled off to Azkaban. It had come as a great shock to Severus. He fought against the boy at first. Cursed his name openly, stating he would never owe a life debt to a Potter. He didn't need the brats' help; he'd lived his life just fine without them for forty years.
His spitefulness toward Harry had almost been his downfall. But, despite Severus' crude words and behavior, Harry continued to help him. He'd worked with Minerva and the Ministry to allow him to continue his work as a Professor. Hogwarts, the disaster it had been, was desperate to retain its staff. Severus hated it, but he needed the job at the time. At least Harry had been smart enough to know Severus wouldn't respond well to handouts.
Harry even hired Severus's lawyer and worked with Mrs. Granger-Weasley to arrange all the necessary documents. Harry had done more for him in that year than anyone else besides Dumbledore could claim. Yet, Harry did it with no expectation of receiving anything.
Harry was never intrusive. When they did speak, their conversations were brief, simple, and always to the point. Severus knew it was out of respect, but it took some time before he actually believed it; either way, at the time, he'd considered it a small mercy.
Somewhere along the way, though, he'd grown accustomed to the other man's presence. Used to the random visits to review his court case and the time they spent rehearsing what Severus was to say on the stand. It was a routine that snuck up on him, one where he'd slowly accepted the change until it felt normal. One that went unnoticed, until, it was gone.
So, the day his verdict was announced, when he was officially declared not guilty, the day felt like the greatest and most terrible of his life.
From that day, his contact with Potter ceased to exist. No excuses remained for him to communicate with Harry, and the sudden absence was agony. The weeks that followed were lonely ones that involved lots of drinking.
They hadn't been acquaintances, much less friends, but the care Harry had given him had been a feeling Severus had always longed for. It was close to what Lily had once given, but somehow nothing alike. Maybe it was because Severus had been a far crueler man to Harry than he ever had been to Lily. So for Harry to have helped him and shown him genuine kindness, it had seemed absolute.
Severus decided to leave his job shortly after. Minerva had already anticipated his desire to depart and had quietly lined up a replacement in case her suspicions proved correct. It had been a relief for Severus; he had no wish to abandon his old friend in a moment of need, yet he was more than ready to move on with his life.
It wasn't immediate, but within the first three months, he put the house he owned on Spinner’s End up for sale. He was so happy to be rid of it that he didn't care what he sold it for. He ended up accepting the first cash offer without a fight. The relief of never having to see his childhood home again had been the first step to changing his life for the better.
From there, he worked on opening the apothecary. Every step was an uphill battle: fighting with the Ministry for permits, getting them to accept his loan, proving his money had in fact been his and not stolen, stocking shelves with potions, coaxing wary customers through the door. It would have been all too simple to ask Harry for help again. More than once, the urge struck; he would draft a letter, only to grow cold feet and tear the parchment to pieces before it could be sent. Harry had already done enough. Severus needed to stand on his own.
And so that's what Severus did.
Until, six months after the shop first opened, the Weasley twins showed up at his half-barren store wanting to discuss what they described as a Mutually Strategic Alliance. Severus let them in and listened, something he never would have allowed before, but Severus swore he would be a better man.
Although, that newfound change had been pushed to its limit by two of the most difficult students he had ever encountered.
The twins wanted to expand into selling potions, but from a legal standpoint, neither had the credentials to properly produce potions to be sold. They knew what they wanted and how to create them, but didn't have the license to brew them, and couldn't properly obtain said license due to their lack of completed education.
So instead, they pursued Severus and offered a contract. A 3-year contract where Snape would brew their potions for them. They offered to fully cover the supplies and ingredients needed, while still offering Snape 50/50 shares in profits made from them. In return, they promised to make the association public and help rebuild the reputation of “Severus Snape, Master Potioneer.”
It was an offer too good for Severus to pass up. One, where the past version of himself would have rather perished before accepting. A part of him, a quiet part in the back of his mind, hoped that partnering with the Weasleys might grant him occasional glimpses of Potter. Even if only from time to time, it would be more than his current state.
Now, a year and a half into the contract, he was no longer forced to stare at the never-moving potions that collected dust. People came and went often, and he'd grown close with many of his repeat customers. His profits were steady, and that was more than he could have ever asked for. He still heard the occasional whisper of his past, but it was nothing he couldn't handle.
He was content. One could even argue happy.
The alley was now slowing down. It was 3 pm on a Thursday after all, everyone had done most of their shopping for the day, those who had been out were now heading home to relax for the remaining day. Most of his customers shopped in the morning, and he hardly received customers past 2. Severus decided to take inventory stocks and close up for the day.
The bell above the door chimed aggressively and was met with the door slamming against the wood. Fred and George rushed in excitement, with clear excitement on their faces.
"Oi, Partner Snapy." Fred sang out.
Merlin, how Severus loathed it. It wasn't even creative and sounded absurd. He gave up fighting against it ages ago; fighting it had only caused its use to be more frequent.
"We've done it," George announced. Both men walked up to the counter. Severus stood behind as George set a potion down on the counter.
"Our masterpiece." Fred pretended to wipe a tear away from his eye.
"We're gonna call it Truthful Lies & Lying Truths, really keeps buyers guessing, ain't that right, Fred?"
“Ohhhh yes. Customers always like a good mystery, makes it fun for them."
"What have I told the two of you about brewing your own potions? You can't make it and put my name on it. I am still on Ministry probation; one hint of unlicensed distribution and they will revoke my brewing credentials. I'd rather not suffer whatever other consequence they would inflict on me.
Fred waved a dismissive hand. "Relax, you don't have to worry about that. This isn't for sale. Yet. This is just the testing version that we need you to try."
"Me?" Severus’s lip curled. "I'm not some lab rat to be tested on."
The twins exchanged a knowing grin.
George cleared his throat, the sound exaggerated. He spelled their contract; it appeared from thin air before spreading across the counter, all one hundred and ten pages. "Actually," George started, tapping a spot near the bottom, "if you refer to page eighty-nine after the sixth paragraph. The one titled 'Conclusion on Why Redheads Hold Superior Genes', you'll see line sixty-four clearly states: 'The undersigned agrees to serve as test subject as reasonably required, such instances may not exceed more than ten durations.'"
Snape sighed in frustration. He'd known the absurd length was a trap when they’d first shoved the monstrosity at him. He'd read it three times over, but each time he tried to read till the end, his eyes would burn with sleep, and he'd pass out. He swore the contract was coaxed with a fatigue charm, but when he'd tried to discharm it, the parchment didn't react.
In the end, he'd signed it without knowing every detail, accepting the faith that awaited him was worth the otherwise generous terms. He'd forgotten all about it until now.
“How thoughtful of you to limit your horrors to a mere ten occasions. My gratitude knows no bounds." The insult left his lip all too easily.
“Anytime,” Fred said cheerfully.
“Indeed.” Severus’s black eyes glittered as they fixed on the vial. “And what, precisely, does this… abomination do?”
The twins leaned in, voices incredibly excited for what was to come.
“Truth or Lies,” George explained. “ The potion randomly assigns the drinker to one mode. Someone asks a few baseline questions, figures out which one of the three or four, and then exploits it. Brilliant for fucking around with family and friends."
"So, a Veritaserum with probability? How creatively mediocre."
Fred snorted. "You won't hold the same opinion when you're reaping from its benefits." He raised both eyebrows up and down in a teasing motion, and Severus couldn't hold back the eyeroll. "Now, we need you to test it so we can check how long it lasts and confirm it's stable enough to sell to the public."
Severus stared at the vial. He wanted nothing to do with this; accepting to brew and create potions for them had already been a stretch of his good faith. But the twins had always been good to him, and unfortunately, he'd signed the contract knowing the risk.
With a flick of his wand, he cast a series of rapid detection spells to confirm there was nothing harmful in it. Normally, George brewed fine, but it wasn't something Severus would bet his life on.
He exhaled through his nose, "Very well, let this end swiftly then."
He grabbed the potion and popped it open. He lifted it to his lips and drank it down without considering the taste. The liquid slid down his throat, the fizzy sensation only a bit concerning as warmth settled in his stomach.
"Now, who, precisely, will be asking me questions?"
Fred’s grin widened. A very concerning sight for Severus. "Don't worry, the second person should arrive soon."
Severus’s eyes narrowed. “Second person? Explain. Now."
George shrugged, "There's someone else who contracts with us. He's one of our main testers, but this test required two subjects. We couldn't do it ourselves, you know, confirmation biases and all."
Severus felt an unease twist in his stomach. Fred and George were bad enough, but they were at least predictable. Someone else wasn't something he wanted to deal with, especially with the twins.
"And this ‘second person’ wouldn't be someone I know would—"
The bell shop interrupted him.
Harry Potter stepped through the door, and Snape wanted to hex himself the moment he realized who the twins' second tester was.
Harry walked further into his shop, and slowly his eyes wandered around the shop as he took in each area of Severus' shop. That was the moment Severus realized this was the first time Harry had set foot in his store.
George was the first person to approach Harry, swinging an arm around his shoulder with the familiarity that you would expect. "You made it right on time, mate."
Harry returned the smile, and Severus would deny he felt the twinge of jealousy from it. "I'm always glad to help, I've told you that," His gaze shifted past George to Severus, gifting him with that soft smile he hadn't seen since the day he'd been freed.
"Hello, Professor. Is it okay if I call you that? I hope I'm not intruding. The twins told me to meet them here."
Severus could feel the potion's warmth in his chest. He opened his mouth ready to say 'Yes' to greet back and have this be moved along, but his jaw felt tight like he couldn't say the words. When he spoke, he said something completely different. "No. Call me, Sev-." He couldn't get the rest of his name past his lips.
He turned to the twins and looked at them when he said it. "Severus."
Both of the twins whipped their heads, staring at him with wide eyes, their mouths slightly hung open.
Harry blinked, then awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, sure. I can do that… Sev-erus."
The name sounded like harmony as it rolled off Harry's tongue. The sound landed somewhere between his mind and heart as he yelled at himself quietly. Why had he said that? That wasn't the truth or a lie. That isn't what he'd wanted to say at all. It hadn't even been a thought; he'd been considering. Unless the potion was reading some deep desire of his? If that was true, this was going to be far worse than Severus could have ever anticipated.
His eyes narrowed on the twins, but they were already whispering amongst themselves.
"First names already," Fred raised an eyebrow, smirking in a way that Snape didn't like. “We’re moving fast.”
George clapped his hands together, rubbing them vigorously. "Okay. Let's get started. Harry, we already gave you an idea of the potion, but in summary, Snape took a potion that will either make him lie or tell the truth, only one or the other. You're going to ask him questions, and he's going to answer. Nothing too simple, this is supposed to be fun. So don't dare ask him what color the sky is. We also have a list prepared with some questions that we want to ask whenever you're ready to get things moving."
Harry nodded, a little uncertain. "Okay."
"Cool, Well Partner Severus," George said, stressing the name, "take us to your personal sex dungeon so we can take a seat and watch."
"What!" Harry yelped. Eyes quickly shifting between all three men.
Severus rolled his eyes. "Ignore them, Potter, follow me."
The group followed Severus through the narrow door at the back of his shop, down a short flight of stone steps that twisted into cool dimness. He had a private workroom that the twins enjoyed calling his 'sex dungeon'. In the corner, he had a comfortable sitting area. Just a table with a few chairs, but it would serve its purpose.
Severus gestured curtly toward the chairs. "Sit. If you must watch this exchange."
The twins dropped into seats with arms resting on the table like they were ready for the show to start. Harry hesitated before perching on the edge of one of the chairs. Severus remained standing, arms folded.
George pulled a folded piece of parchment from his pocket and smoothed it on the workbench. "Right, baseline questions first, as we said. Keep 'em neutral so we can clock the mode. Then we move to the fun ones." He winked at Harry.
Harry cleared his throat, glancing between Severus and the list. "Er… right. How old are you?"
"Forty-five." The answer was accurate. Seemed like his potion's effect was to be truthful.
The twins leaned forward. The question wasn't one anyone in this room knew the answer to, besides maybe Harry, who may have read it in his documents, not really a detail worth remembering, though.
Fred let out an exaggerated groan and flopped back in his chair, throwing his hands up. “Oh, come on, Harry! ‘How old are you?’ Really? That’s your big opener? We said nothing boring like ‘what color is the sky?’ I need juicy details. Get better, or we're giving you the list now."
“Okay, okay,” Harry said quietly, cheeks pinking. “Let’s try this one. Severus… why do you hate Gryffindors so much?”
Severus’s instinct was immediate: Because they were reckless, arrogant, and classless. childish, fools. Because James Potter was one. Because the other houses were always overlooked by them.
He opened his mouth to let the answers flow.
“I don’t hate Gryffindors.” He did, in fact, hate them. Most of them at least. "Well,” he added, almost grudgingly, "I don't hate them all." Okay, maybe that was true. A half-truth counted?
Severus tongue ached in his mouth like it had more to say. The words clawed at him until he spoke. "They're not all so bad. I even care for some." His own answer disgusted him; he hoped that would be enough to satisfy the potion before he embarrassed himself.
"AWEEE!" The twins said in unison.
George leaned forward, batting his lashes. "We care about you, too, Sevvy."
Severus had to clench his fist to stop himself from killing the man.
Harry looked between them, confused. "How do you know that was the truth?"
Fred shrugged, "We don't, but that's the nicest thing he's ever said to us, a man's gotta take what he's given," he said as he pretended to dab away tears from his eyes. “Where's a camera when I need one? We need to add our old man to the family album. I'm sure we can find a spot for him.”
Harry glanced around the room, thinking of what his next question would be. He lifted his gaze to Severus, a light, beautiful flush coated his cheeks.
“Have you ever been in love?”
George reached over, trying to snatch the list, but Harry avoided the oncoming hand."I don't remember that being on there."
"Shush," Harry said.
"Sit down, Gerogie, I want to know the answer," Fred said, pulling his brother back into his seat.
Severus considered the answer; he could feel the potion's effects in the background, but it didn't give the same energy this time. Sine question, he felt compelled to answer fast; this time, the answer tasted bitter.
Finally, Severus spoke, “Yes. Once.”
Then Harry asked, voice softer, almost scared now, “My mum?”
The question hit Severus like a boulder to the chest. "What! No. How absurd." He didn't elaborate, and he counted his short blessings that the potion allowed. He didn't want to explain his short-term relationship with Regelaus Black. These men did not need to know he was gay.
A voice interrupted Severus, though: “I know—ask him if he prefers bedding men or women,” George said, resting his head comfortably in his hand.
Was this man a bloody fucking psychic? Had the potion forged some connection between him and the brewer's mind because this was no mere coincidence!
Harry’s head snapped up. “What?”
George shrugged, "I heard back in school that buddy Severus preferred men. Just wanted to confirm if it's true."
Harry’s face went from pink to scarlet in record time. “You don’t even know if he’s telling the truth yet! We haven’t figured out the mode!”
Fred leaned back, arms crossed, smirking. "We'll know by the end of this either way. Plus, I'm pretty sure he's been telling the truth. You heard how he spoke about us Gryffindors; he was clearly trying to bite back his answer and couldn't."
Harry shot George and Fred a look of disdain. Severus could admit the look was good on Harry; he could get used to the man looking sour at others.
George waggled the question list. “Come on, Harry. One little question. For science.”
"Science my arse." Harry turned his confidence, plowing him forward as he looked at Severus and asked. "What's your sexual preference, women or men?"
This time, Severus didn't fight against the potion; it wasn't an answer he was ashamed of, just one he hadn't wanted. The man he desired to know and two fools who would surely hold such an answer against him. But it wasn't bad enough to try and resist answering, the potion would make him say one way or another. "Men."
Harry turned back to the twins. "There. Happy?"
Fred leaned forward, elbows on knees, frowning like a disappointed judge. “No. He answered too quickly. Way too quick. I thought he’d take longer to admit it. Now I’m not sure. He might actually be lying."
"Deflection is a classic Snape tactic," George said, agreeing. "You gotta ask him something he would never say in control."
"Like what?" Harry questioned.
"Ask him what's the dirtiest thing he's ever done with another man," Fred replied.
Severus throat immediately felt tight. That wasn't something he wanted to share at all. Not only was it completely degrading, but he really didn't want Harry to know those sorts of details.
"No, I'm not answering that. The contract says I only must work with you, not that I have to allow myself to be humiliated."
Fred waved a dismissive hand, unfazed by the slythrin's protest. “Yeah, yeah, we get it. Dignity, pride, blah blah blah. You signed the paper, mate."
Harry recoiled so fast, "Mate, no. Severus is right, this is getting too personal."
Severus stood up, ready to leave. He was not going to stand by and be treated in such a disgusting manner.
George rolled his eyes dramatically. “That’s the bloody point, Harry. We need to push the boundaries to figure out the mode, plus we're all just having fun here. Come on, before I fall asleep from boredom."
Snape was moving toward the door, ready to be done with this nonsense. When suddenly George cast a wall between him and his escape, the impact was jarring enough to make him stagger to the floor. "Well, now you need to ask simply as a punishment. Snapy was about to ditch us."
George offered Harry one more chance, but when Harry said nothing, he added. "Don't forget what happens if you don't fulfill your end of the bargain, Harry."
Harry looked between the twins, then back at Severus.
Harry didn't look great. There was concern etched in every inch of the man's face, but even so, Severus felt worse. At least the man was fighting for Severus' dignity as much as he could; it wasn't an easy task with these two dunderheads. Harry rubbed a hand over his face, pinching his eyebrows. He sighed before he asked, "Severus… what’s the dirtiest thing–" Harry breathed again, struggling to speak the words.
"WhatsTheDirtiestThingYouveEverDoneWithAnotherMan?" Harry said it in one big rush. Quickly turning to hide his face away from Severus after.
Severus was locked in place. Still on the floor—now, grateful he was—as he fought every muscle in his body to remain upright. No. He would not speak. Not about this. Not here. Not in front of the twins.
Not in front of Potter. The man would never look at him the same.
He bit down hard on his tongue until copper flooded his mouth. The sharp sting grounded him. The potion didn't care about what he wanted or how he felt. He felt the ache in his gut and the need to throw up. The flare of pain as it tightened. He was on his knees, keeled over as he slammed his fist to the floor. He'd known pain before he could fight this.
He fought to stand. His head was jerking every few seconds as his body tried to force his mouth open. He couldn't find his balance; he fell back against his workbench, desperate for something to stabilize him. He was inhaling sharply through his nose, but it felt like so little air compared to what he needed. He would fight it off.
He held back for a few minutes until sweat was beading on his neck and the hot pain was demanding that he answer Harry.
He felt like he couldn't breathe. He opened his mouth, desperate to fill his lungs with air. More focused on finding his breath again. But the moment he slipped and allowed his lips to relax, his body surrendered the story up like it was a treasure meant to be given.
“I spent an entire night on my knees worshipping a man twenty years my junior.” his voice was raw as he gasped for air. "I lay his stomach flat across the sheets, pulled his ass in the air, and licked his perfect hole until my jaw ached and my lip went numb. I fucked him on my tongue until he begged me to stop. Until he was overstimulated. Until he was sobbing and couldn't respond. I kept going until saliva and cum soaked the sheets. I didn't fuck him until the boy was barely conscious."
The silence that followed was absolute. The potion finally eased its grip on Severus, and he felt immediate relief, slumping against the very workbench he'd been using to fight for his life against.
Then, Severus' relief to breathe again was replaced with absolute horror at realizing what he had just said.
Harry made a strangled, mortified sound. He dropped back into the chair and slammed both hands over his face, ears burning red.
Fred and George stared for one stunned heartbeat before they exploded with laughter.
George clutched his stomach, tears streaming down his face. "Damn old man, is that your secret talent?"
"Right." Fried doubled over, howling. "The way the girl in school would have been gawking at you constantly if they'd known."
"It would have been insane." George agreed.
George recovered just enough to gasp out the explanation. “By the way, the more you fight it, mate… the harder it forces you to give up more details to satisfy it. Should’ve warned you. The potion loves resistance."
"That disclaimer could have been given before," Snape said, turning and snapping at him.
Fred wiped his eyes, still cackling. "I don't think I've ever laughed so hard from a rimming story. You're lucky, I don't ask who it was."
Snape responded willingly this time. "A muggle."
Fred sighed. "Of course it was. How lame."
Honestly, Snape had done far dirtier things than that. But he supposed “dirty” could mean many things when the boy you're staring at is the boy who looked similar to the Muggle you'd hunted down and pleasure endlessly for an entire night.
Harry was still hiding under his hands, breathing too fast.
Unexpectedly, Harry dropped his hands, eyes still fixed downwards.
“I—I need to use the restroom,” he said, voice hoarse and unsteady. He cleared his throat, tried again. “W—where is it?”
Severus watched him for a beat. The man wouldn’t meet his eyes, and it made Severus feel terrible. His cheeks were still red, Snape couldn't focus on it for two long, the sight already made pleasure coil in his stomach. He'd probably be turned on if he wasn't mortified at what Harry thought of him right now.
“Upstairs, once you make it to the top, you should see a door straight ahead.
Harry nodded before fleeing the room. The door creaked open before clicking shut behind him. Severus waited until the footsteps were out of earshot before he rounded on the twins.
He stormed up to the table before bringing his hands down hard, the smack against the wood echoing in the room. "What in the bloody hell are you two trying to achieve?!"
"Severus," Fred said, the nicknames nowhere in sight as he leaned back in his chair. "I know you don't have the highest opinion of us, but you can't believe we're blind. Your feelings are beyond obvious."
Severus’s lip curled. “Excuse me?”
George interrupted before Fred could answer, "Come on, mate. Did you really think we wouldn't notice? Every time Harry's been in our shop, and I mean literally every time,e you somehow find a way to linger for a little longer. Not to mention you literally can't take your eyes off him. Much less his arse."
Severus went very still before turning away. "I have no idea what you're speaking about."
"You can treat us like we're stupid, but we're not. You're literally nicer when he's around. If that didn't tell us immediately, I don't know what else would. You've been pining for him for years, and that's only from what we've seen. Who knows how far it goes back?" Fred said.
"So, what did you set up this deliberate plan to make me confess and embarrass myself? So he can run away, and I can sulk at my rejection."
George rolled his head to the side like he knew this conversation was going to happen and could find it more boring. "Oh, please, you embarrassed yourself. I didn't make you rim another bloke whom you had to specially specify was twenty years your minor." George gave him a knowing look.
Severus opened his mouth, ready to insult them both, but the door opening again stopped him in his tracks.
Harry stepped back into his workroom, looking a lot better than he had when he left. Harry paused, eyes flicking briefly over the three of them. If he caught the sudden tension in the air, he didn’t acknowledge it. The younger man was still a bit flushed, but it had toned down considerably. His hair was possibly a bit more chaotic, but it was always hard to tell with the man.
Either way, Harry was now full of smiles and overall seemed more relaxed, and it made Severus feel better, like he hadn't fucked up their first interaction in years.
"Sorry about that, I need to take a leak. Who's ready to continue?" He crossed the room and dropped back into his chair.
"I think it would be best if we worked off the questions we have listed," George said, handing the parchment over.
Harry nodded in approval.
Harry flipped the page over, read it, and flipped it back abruptly. He stood the chair screeching back as he stood, and he placed his hands on the table, tossing the pages in front of Fred and George. "Dear Merlin, I can’t—I’m not asking those questions. Are you trying to kill me?
Fred leaned over to peer at the parchment, then whistled low. “Ohhh. Yeah. Those are… advanced. Should be any worse than what you just asked, though?"
George snatched the list back, "Fine, I'll give you two to pick from," he said, scanning the sheet with gleeful horror.
“Question twelve: ‘If you could have one night with anyone in this room, no consequences, who would it be?' Or Question fifteen: ‘On a scale of one to ten, how badly do you want to pin Harry Potter against the nearest wall right now?’ Pick now, Harry, which one you want to ask, or else you're gonna have to do the other favor you swore you would do if you backed out of this one.
Severus went very still.
The potion thrummed low and expectant in his chest, but for once, he welcomed the distraction. No, this is not what Severus had expected. Of course, the twins would make this experience as painful as possible. He fixed Harry with a stare that begged to be freed from this situation. Choose the alternative. Whatever ridiculous, humiliating bargain you struck with these two, choose it.
Harry’s gaze dropped to the parchment crumpled between his fingers. He swallowed hard. Wascrept steadily up his neck.
When he lifted his head, green eyes met black ones,
Harry’s voice came out rough, “Question twelve,” he said. Harry took a step closer, like he needed to move to ground his thoughts. “Severus… if there were no consequences…" He watched Harry swallow, "If you could have one night with anyone in this room… who would it be?"
Severus snarled. It was something safe, something that would put a barrier between them and what he was about to say.
"Potter."
The answer came easily now that he wasn't fighting. He waited a moment, long enough for the compulsion to settle, when he felt the pressure against his chest lighten, and he felt like he understood the potion better. Answer truthfully to its demands, let the words land, then cover what you said with more words.
"Although the options I've been given are inadequate, if I must choose, it would never be a Weasley."
Harry flinched, and Snape shrugged it off as chills.
Fred, however, took immediate offense. "Okay, screw this, he's found a loophole. Harry," Fred said, pointing a finger at him. "You're gonna ask him," he emphasized the word as he turned his finger on Severus. "What would he do to you during sex? If he takes longer than twenty seconds to answer, you need to ask again."
Harry’s flush that had just started to fade roared back to life. He stared at the twins like they’d suggested setting the room on fire.
"Mate, let's skip the fighting this time," George added.
“Severus… what would you do to me during sex?”
"Whatever you wanted," Severus said simply and to the point.
Fred looked at Harry, "Again."
Harry exhaled shakily, rubbing a hand over his face. “Severus… what would you do to me during sex?”
“Whatever you wanted,” he repeated. Then, softer, hoping no one would hear, “And maybe some things you didn’t know you wanted."
Fred threw his hands up. “Again!”
The potion felt hot in his chest, the repeated question having a similar effect as resisting it earlier had. Harry's face was covered with his hands as he sat behind the small cover it provided. If only disappearing were so simple, the twins would pay for this after. Severus would lie in bed tonight, wondering all of the horrible ways he could torment these demons.
"I," Severus breathed a long sigh. There was no point in fighting this. Admitting the twins would win angered him, but preventing this inevitable torture was causing Harry and him to be miserable.
"I would take my time with you. I would kiss and suck at every inch of skin, I would indulge myself in every dip and curve. I'd use my hand to pleasure you, my mouth, and finally my cock. I would take and claim you over and over until you begged me to stop, until the pleasure was so unbearable that you couldn't handle it. Until I was so deeply embedded into your soul that you could never forget what it was like."
The silence that followed his confession was unbearable. Severus waited patiently for Harry to storm out, but as nothing moved, he felt his anxiety grow.
"Oh, Freddie, if you wouldn't look at the time, we should be heading over to mums for supper."
"Ah, yes, we should be heading out then."
The twins scrambled to their feet. George snatched the list of questions off the table and stuffed it into his pocket while Fred gave a head tilt toward Severus and Harry.
Harry stood completely still, his hands had fallen from his face, his eyes wide with shock.
"By the way," Both twins turned back at the edge of the stairs as George spoke. "We lied about the potions' effects. You respond based on what the person asking you wants to hear. If you drink some water, the potion will wash from your tongue."
Severus’s body went rigid, frozen in place at the admission.
"Anywho," Fred sang high-pitched with excitement. "Enjoy our gift."
They rushed up the stairs, and Severus heard their snickers and giggles, followed shortly by the chime of the bell at the opening and closing door.
For the first time since the twins revealed the truth, he turned and found Harry still seated. Hands gripping his strands of hair tightly as he stared off, he was blushing a shade brighter than Severus thought existed on a person.
"Did you know… about the potion?" Severus swallowed the lump in his throat, his heart racing at the implication of what this meant.
Harry, not looking up, gave a small, quick shake.
Severus exhaled through his nose. "I'll admit I was a bit confused by some of my answers,"
Harry swallowed. Severus watched each reaction intensely. He was out of his depths here; he didn't know how to navigate this conversation. Harry Potter liked him. Or at least found him attractive enough to think of him in a sexual manner. The thought should have been absurd. Impossible. Yet here they were, and Harry wasn't denying any of it. His heart lurched from the mere suggestion of it all; this feeling was out of character for him. Where was the cold certainty that had carried him through wars?
"I'm sorry," Harry whispered. Pulling Severus from his thoughts.
Severus's brows furrowed, his fluttering heart turning into a sinking feeling in his stomach in an instant.
Before he could ask why, Harry was already talking again. "I never wanted you to find out. I don't want you to feel like you owe me after everything."
"Since when?" Severus asked, voice low and careful.
"What?" Harry looked up, confused by the question.
"How long have you felt this way?" Severus asked more clearly this time.
Harry turned away, eyes focused on the floor now. “Since I learned who the Half-Blood Prince was at the end of my sixth year," Harry's voice was just above a mere whisper. The embarrassment was clearly plastered all over his face and in his voice.
Severus felt the ground shift beneath him. The words stuck with him. His potions textbook, but how?
"So, when you asked if it was okay to call you professor?"
"I wanted to call you Sev, but would have settled for Severus."
"And when you asked if I'd ever been in love?"
"I always thought you'd loved my mother but hated the idea and never wanted it to be true… Did you love her, actually?"
"No, Potter, it looks like your hopes aligned with my truth."
Severus hesitated before daring to ask, "And the other questions, those were answers you wanted?" he raised an eyebrow.
Harry looked away, "Sort of. The first one… the first one with the oral sex." He said it as the words would burn him. "I was thinking about it, but during the later ones I was… sort of panicking to the point my mind wasn't thinking of anything but the anticipation and excitement of your next answer."
"Looks like those questions may have been the actual truth then."
Unconsciously, Severus moved closer to Harry. The man's face was hidden from view, and right now, Severus needed to see him.
Reaching his hand out, he dipped his fingers under Harry's chin and brought it up. Harry's eyes were downcast as they avoided contact. He could see the unshed tears pricking at the corner of his eyes.
"I may also be enthralled by your presence?” he hesitated before he continued.
Abruptly, Harry's eyes shot to his, wide with shock. Severus didn't leave any room for questioning, though, as he gripped Harry's chin tighter and pressed his lips to the other man's.
The kiss was soft at first, barely a press of their lips. Severus was worried he'd somehow misread the situation, that this was the moment the boy would finally recoil. He would laugh in his face and look at him in disgust.
Instead, Severus felt a hand on the back of his neck, pressing him harder against Harry's lips. Severus exhaled a ragged sound against the mouth on his.
This must have been all the confirmation Harry needed as he stood in one swift motion, chair scraping and toppling to the floor. His free hand fisted in the front of Severus’s robes, he pushed Severus’s back until he collided against the nearest workbench. Severus grabbed blindly for leverage, hands smacking down on wood, the motion causing glass vials to rattle on the counter.
Harry swiped his tongue across the bottom of Severus' lip, encouraging more. Severus opened his mouth and allowed Harry's tongue to enter.
Their tongues met in a slow slide, and Harry tasted sweet and salty. Seveus was starting to question his sanity, the disbelief of what was happening, but Harry's nips and licks made his mind melt in pleasure. His cock was straining against his robes as Harry rubbed the hand that was fisting his robes against his chest. Soft rubs up and down like the younger man couldn't get enough of him.
Harry kissed like he fought; he threw everything he had into it. It felt reckless and all-consuming, and Severus didn't think he could ever get enough of it.
When they finally parted, Severus dropped his head onto Harry's shoulder. He was short of breath. He couldn't recall a time he'd ever been kissed so passionately.
Severus turned his head, his uneven breaths now ghosting against Harry's neck, and he felt a little shiver come from him. His hand tightened around Harry's waist. His thumb was tracing small circles on his hip.
"Wow," Harry whispered.
"An understatement, Mr. Potter." They stood like that for a moment. Harry pressed against him, as they allowed the high of the kiss to dwindle, but desire still thrummed between them.
Severus finally lifted his head, just enough to meet Harry’s eyes. “I think, if this is to continue, then we should move to my rooms." A low groan escaped him as he twisted his hips away from the counter. “My back is going to break if I remain bent against this countertop any longer."
“Yes,” Harry said.
Severus didn’t hesitate. He caught Harry’s hand in his, and he tugged him to the same narrow staircase that took them back to ground level, only this time, he sharply turned 180 on the ground level to continue to the second floor.
They climbed in silence, footsteps quick, the air warmer with the heat of knowing what was to come.
The second floor was small, but Severus found it to be a cosy home. A nice compact apartment conveniently placed. The bedroom stood just several meters from the entrance, but it didn't matter.
The moment the door to the apartment was opened, and they stepped inside, Severus was just as quickly shoved against it. Harry's mouth met him a second time as Harry kissed him with an all-consuming hunger.
Harry’s hands were already tugging at Severus’s robes, fumbling to remove them as quickly as he could.
“Severus,” Harry rasped, voice wrecked. “I’ve wanted this for… so long.”
“Then take it,” he murmured against his neck. “Take whatever you want.”
The way to the bedroom was a stumble; neither man wanted to let go of the other long enough to make the process easier. They staggered each step. Harry pulls off Severus's robes, and Severus lurches for Harry's belt.
By the time they reached the bed, they were both down to briefs and bare skin, skin flushed.
Severus mouth was on Harry's neck as he nipped at the skin, licking his tongue along the creases. There was an attempt to ease Harry down on the mattress, but overcome by need and lust, the motion was a little rougher than he'd intended. Neither man cared though, as their mouths connected again.
He slid his leg between Harry's, one hand against the mattress, holding him up. The man was disheveled, an utter mess under Severus, and it left him hard; he shamelessly rutted his cock against Harry's skin, the need for friction too great to ignore.
Harry arched, moaning as Severus rocked his cock against his clothed hard-on.
Severus dipped his head, kissing along Harry’s collarbone, licking his way lower. He found the man's nipple and sucked it into his mouth. His other hand sneaking its way up to squeeze the neglected nipple between his fingers.
Harry moaned at the sensation.
"Severus more."
"Patient, I refuse to allow this to be rushed."
He switched sides, mouth sucking the new nipple, tongue lapping and teasing, while his hand continued to tease the one he’d left wet and flushed.
Moving down, he was inches from Harry's covered cock. Without looking at it, Severus already knew it was a beautiful one from its shape. Nice and thick, he was excited to claim it. Needily, he licked his tongue across the fabric, the musty scent filling his nostrils. He needed more; he needed to taste Harry.
"Fuck!' Harry gasped, surprised by Severus wicked tongue. He continued to tease the younger man, the fabric wet with saliva, a separate patch of wetness was forming toward the tip of Harry's cock as he leaked precome.
He reached behind the younger man, firmly grabbing both ass cheeks.
Severus paused as he considered something from earlier.
“Earlier,” He lifted his gaze, mouth still sinful against Harry's cloaked cock. "When you asked what the dirtiest thing I’d ever done. I told you rimming because that was what you wanted to hear. Is that something you want me to do to you?"
Color flooded Harry's cheeks, but he felt Harry's cock twitch against his tongue and knew his assumption was correct.
He nodded once, small and jerky. “I’ve… always wanted to try it, but I’ve never had anyone I trusted enough. Not like this.”
Severus’s hand stilled on Harry’s thigh.
“Do you trust me?”
Harry’s eyes never left his.
“Always.”
Severus exhaled slowly, the single word turning him on far more than it should have.
“Then roll over. Bend over for me.”
Harry swallowed. He started to obey, turning onto his stomach, pushing up onto his knees, but froze halfway.
“Wait.” His voice was small but firm. “I can’t just… lie here and do nothing. I want to touch you too. I want to make you feel good.”
Severus arched one brow, a flicker of amusement cutting through the heat.
“It's fine, Harry. This is for you—”
“No.” Harry pushed up, stubborn and determined.
Before Severus could argue, Harry moved quickly, as if he had a plan in mind. He caught Severus by the shoulders and reversed their positions with surprising speed and strength. He wiggled that perfect body out of the remaining fabric and chucked it across the room. Then Harry swung a leg over, straddling Severus’s chest backward. Severus felt the warm cock smack against his chest, and it nearly sent his mind spiralling. That was until Harry was scooting back towards him, and he saw his round arse in all its glory.
Severus stared up at the sight in awe. Harry’s strong thighs bracketing his head, the curve of his arse in perfect view. He felt his own cock twitch hard; he felt like the sight could be enough to make a man cum.
Harry glanced back over his shoulder, cheeks flaming but eyes wicked.
“Get your mouth to work, old man.”
Severus’s lips curled into something dangerously close to a smirk. "Brat—" Severus' throat was cut off as he felt Harry's fingers sink into his brief and grasp his straining cock.
Harry leaned forward and took Severus’s cock into his mouth—hot, wet, eager. He wasn't shy at all now that he felt he had control. Harry swirled his tongue around the head, then sank, hollowing his cheeks.
Severus arched a bit off the bed into the hot mouth and realized he needed to distract himself or else he would finish before they'd even started. Hands gripping Harry's hips, he moved Harry's ass closer, until the tight hole was against his mouth, and proceeded to flatten his tongue and stroke it against his ass.
He felt the low vibration of Harry moaning around his cock, which only further encouraged him to lick and suck at the perfect hole presented to him.
Harry no longer sucking as eagerly as he had when he first started, releasing Severus's cock with a pop. He tried to turn and see what was happening, but Severus held onto his hips unrelentingly.
“That’s it. Now eat me as you promised.”
Severus growled against him. He would make this brat lose his words; he would be a whimpering mess by the end of the night. He spread Harry wider with both hands, thumbs holding him open. He didn't hesitate as he speared him on his tongue.
Severus sucked, licked, and fucked his tongue inside of Harry. His cock was in Harry's mouth, but the boy, so lost to pleasure, he was merely sloppily licking at his length. Severus considered it a blessing at that moment, saving him from embarrassing himself.
"Fuck, Sev." Harry moaned. He shoved his arse back harder onto Severus’s mouth, chasing the pressure of the older man's tongue. Reaching between them, Harry gripped his straining cock and began to pull at it frantically. "Pleasee, moreee."
Severus’s hand cracked down hard on the fleshiest part of Harry’s arse, causing Harry to arch his back and hiss in pain.
“You wanted this position,” Severus rasped, voice dark and edged with command. “Now suck me properly. Or I stop.”
Harry whined but obeyed as he released his cock and gripped Severus's tightly, in a spiteful way. Tongue swirling around the head, he began to suck eagerly once more, desperate to get Severus off so he could touch himself.
Severus felt Harry's precum dripping from his cock onto his chest. The boy was attempting to grind down against his chest and was causing the precum to smear.
Blindly, without lifting his mouth from where it was buried, Severus reached sideways toward the bedside table. His fingers fumbled for a moment as he opened the drawer and searched for the needed bottle inside. When his fingers grazed the glass bottle, he knew he'd found it.
He popped the cap with his thumb and, removing his mouth, poured a generous amount between the cleft between Harry's ass cheeks. Taking two fingers, he smeared the liquid around and onto his fingers.
He didn't wait as he teased the slick fingers around the hole and slowly pushed one of the digits in. Harry gasped, back arching, as Severus began to work his finger in.
Harry’s mouth faltered around Severus’s cock again.
Severus shifted beneath him, pushing himself up a bit higher against the headboard. Once settled, Severus reached down with his free hand, fingers threading into Harry’s dark, sweat-damp hair. He tugged firmly, guiding Harry’s head down further, forcing him to take more of Severus’s length until the head of his cock bumped the back of Harry’s throat.
"Deeper, like the filthy thing you are." He thrusted his hip up, causing Harry to gag on reflex, but he couldn't pull away with the hand holding him firmly in place. Severus gave one final tug as his cock slipped from Harry's mouth, a trail of saliva following. "Leaking pre-cum all over me while you suck on my cock. You need this aching space filled, don't you?" Severus didn't wait for an answer as he pushed his finger all the way, curving it on instinct.
Harry's ass is pushing back onto his finger. "For a brat with a mouth, you've sure gone quiet. Do you want me to stop?" His voice teased as he pulled his finger out and rubbed around the hole.
"No, please," Harry rasped breathlessly. "Severus fuck me, please, for the love of Merlin." Harry pushed back, begging to be fingered again.
Severus growled, and he pushed Harry forward, not allowing him to argue this time. He was going to fuck him with his mouth and fingers until he was screaming for his cock. "Harry, watching you thrust on my finger is making my cock burn with jealousy."
A moan escaped the younger man. Harry was bent over, face pressed into the mattress in a perfect arch. His face turned to the side, but his eyes were lost in pleasure. Fuck. This man acted so shy, but he was such a cock slut, and Severus was in love with it.
Severus pushed a second finger in, and Harry wiggled his hips in encouragement as Severus rubbed against his prostate. The younger man's eyes rolled back.
"Fuck, Harry, you look so utterly depraved." Severus smacked his ass, which only encouraged another moan. "You're going to cum from my fingers massaging your prostate, from my tongue licking your hole, and then when you're overstimulated, I'm going to flip you over and fuck you until you're begging me to stop, and then when you cum on my cock, you're going to understand that you're mine." Severus pushed his fingers in as deeply as he could before he started thrusting in and out at a comfortable rhythm.
He rubbed his free hand on the round ass. Bending over, Severus bit the cheek until a mark was left. Harry's moans and screams were bliss to Severus's ears.
Severus pressed his tongue against the stretched hole, licking around his own fingers as they pumped inside.
Harry’s whole body seized.
“Sev—fuck." His voice cracked into a high, desperate whine. Harry met his thrust back, and Severus knew he was beyond desperate. He felt the tightening around his digits and knew Harry was close.
Before Harry could tip over, Severus pulled his fingers free in a quick, fluid motion, a pained whimper escaping Harry as Severus moved forward, positioning his still spit-slicked cock right at Harry's hole. In one long stroke, he slid his cock further inch by inch. Harry's orgasm didn't hesitate as it crashed over him.
Harry's body convulsed, ropes of cum soaking the sheet beneath them, his hole spasmed around Severus's cock as it clenched down painfully around him.
"Fuck, Harry. Take me. All of me." Severus growled, his hips snapping forward to bury himself.
"Coming so hard just from my cock splitting you open. Filthy little slut, milking me like you were made for this.”
Harry dropped forward, his boneless body falling limp against the cum splattered sheets.
Severus wrapped both arms around Harry’s torso, chest flat against the man's back. He could feel Harry's heart hammering against his skin as he held him tight, pinning him in place. A began to thrust hard, punishing thrusts as skin smacked against skin.
He grabbed Harry's face from behind, lifting his chin. He nibbled on the tip of his ear, licking the outer shell.
His voice was low as he spoke to Harry. "Your hole grips me so tight, begging for me even when you're lost for words. What happened to your moment of control? The strong Harry demanding my tongue go to work on his ass?"
He snapped his hips forward, "I bet you want me to fill you, don't you. This tight hole is tired of being used, your cock begging for rest as it rubs against the soiled sheets."
"Tell me you want to be mine."
Harry's voice was raw and broken as he tried to get the few syllables out, "Y–You–rs Se–v."
Pulling out, he flipped Harry's weakened body onto his back. He hooked Harry's legs over his elbow as he thrust his cock back into the dripping, gaping mess that was Harry's ass.
He began to fuck him again.
"I'm watching you this time. I'm going to burn the image of you cumming into my mind, Harry." His breaths were hard and uneven as he rushed each word out. “Do you want to come a second time?” Severus asked, voice rough, eyes locked on Harry’s face.
Harry’s head thrashed once against the pillow. “Third,” he gasped.
Severus slowed his thrust, unable to stop himself completely. "Third?" He asked.
Harry reached up, wrapping his arms around Severus's neck. "I–I uh, I masturbated in the bathroom–your bathroom. I couldn't–t stop thinking of your tongue."
“You filthy, needy boy,” he murmured, "Hopefully it lived up to your imagination." Harry nodded frantically, and Severus kissed his forehead before offering a deep and passionate kiss.
Sucking on those salty, swollen lips, he felt full of emotion.
The angle changed everything; every thrust slammed against Harry's prostate as he pounded against it without mercy.
Harry’s poor, oversensitive cock bounced half hard against his stomach with each snap of Severus's hips. Severus wrapped his hand around it and began to stroke it hard and fast, matching the pace of his thrust.
It didn't take long for his cock to be hard and full of life again.
“Sev–fuckkk–too much–toooo much–it feelsss so goood it hurttts."
Harry was so fucking tight. He couldn't have never imgined this sort of pleasure existed.
Harry's nerves were screaming. His arms, not knowing what to grab, fisted the sheet tightly. He was biting his lip so hard that the skin broke.
Even when the head of Harry's cock was dark and swollen. When Harry had tears leaking down his cheeks, Severus refused to stop, all he could focus on was the wet noises coming from Harry's debatched asshole and the moans and pleas leaving his lips. Every stroke felt like fire, a burning intensity that he didn't think he would be able to live without again.
"Your poor cock just begging to unload itself."
"Sev–ple–ease–I–I–can’t."
"You will," He growled low, as he thrusted faster and harder into Harry's body. Harry released with a final scream as he came all over his stomach. Severus pushed his body against Harry, kissing him deeply, Harry's cum spreading between both of them as he allowed his own release to crash over him, emptying himself into Harry.
He stayed like that, holding Harry in his hands and kissing him passionately, as if there would never be another opportunity like this again.
Eventually, Severus pulled himself out. He had to ignore Harry's whines and had to look away, or else the sight of his own cum leaking out of Harry was going to result in him being on top of the poor man again.
"Fuck Sev. Where the hell were you when I was discovering gay sex?"
Severus released a low chuckle, and he swore Harry looked at him like he was gonna devour him. "Probably trying to keep snot-nosed kids alive and assigning detentions."
Harry smiles, "If only my detentions had been this monumental."
Severus reached for his wand and spelled their mess away. He went to stand, and Harry grabbed him, pulling him back down into the mattress beside him. "Oh, no. After fucking me like that, you're going to hold me until I pass out and be waiting to greet me in the morning with a warm meal."
"Demanding, aren't we?"
Harry pulled the covers over them, got Severus into the position he wanted, before working himself into the arms. "I didn't see you complaining when you were screwing me, so don't start now."
"I suppose you're right," Severus turned his body until he was spooning Harry, his hand over his waist as he resisted the urge to grab his hip.
"No funny ideas, old man, I'm far too tired, and I don't think my cock would survive another buggering."
Severus nuzzled himself to Harry's back as he spoke, "Sleep, Harry."
The next morning, felt almost more perfect than the day before.
Severus had woken early to make Harry breakfast, just some eggs and toast for them to enjoy with a nice cup of coffee. They talked quietly about mundane things—a recent case Harry had been working on, his apothecary, Hogwarts, and their new staff—Severus enjoyed the domestic aspect to it all.
What had not been perfect was the owl that came flying in through Severus' open window halfway through their meal.
It dropped a gift basket off before flying away.
Inside lay several extremely inappropriate items that left Harry blushing ferociously, and a note. Harry had rushed away as soon as he'd seen the gift. Wanting to go back to his coffee and eggs, leaving Severus to read the note alone by the window.
Severus, dear pal.
Remember this delight we've provided you when it comes to future partnerships. We've left these gifts as a heartfelt apology for any discomfort caused yesterday.
Harry, you're welcome. Sucks we won't be able to use the blackmail anymore to our advantage, but oh well. We're happy you're happy. Enjoy him, and hopefully you find the gifts a delight as well.
Fred & George
"They've been blackmailing you this whole time to work with them?" Severus asked as he discarded the note on the counter and made his way back to the small table Harry was sitting at.
"Mmm, sort of, I mean, I've always been more than happy to help them, but I guess they had it in their back pocket just in case?
"And the blackmail was?" Severus asked, before taking a sip of his own coffee.
Harry smirked. He stood up from his chair. Placing a hand on Severus's shoulder, he rubbed it as he slid his way behind the man. Wrapping his arms around him, he leaned down and whispered in his ear. "Well, that, of course, I'm in love with our former professor Snape."
He turned his head just enough to meet Harry’s gaze sidelong.
“Is that so?” he murmured.
Harry’s grin widened. "Absolute." Placing a kiss against Severus' cheek, he settled his face in the crook of Severus neck, still leaning down, he was enjoying the comfort of holding him.
Severus hated it, but he'd have to find a way to thank the twins.
Severus turned his face towards the warmth and reached a hand behind him, working his fingers through the stands of Harry's hair.
He hoped for this never to end.