CHAPTER 31
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
*******************************
Chapter 31 ~ Getting Reacquainted
Harry and Hermione were sitting in the kitchen, talking about how they would announce his return to the land of the living. Harry still hated the limelight, and wanted to do it as quietly as possible. Hermione didn’t think it would work. The return of the wizard who killed Voldemort from a Dementor-induced state was going to be big news, no matter how they tried to tone it down. She and Severus would also be in the limelight.
Harry decided his first appearance would be at Hogwarts. He wanted to see Albus, and had an idea how to do it that Hermione really didn’t approve of…but that didn’t matter. Harry had a right to startle the hell out of Dumbledore if he wanted to…she just hoped the old wizard’s heart could take it. That, plus what Severus had to tell him about Minerva might just put him over the edge. Maybe they should meet him in the Infirmary, just in case.
Suddenly there was the sound of apparition outside. Hermione and Harry looked toward the front door. Severus must have returned. Sure enough, the screen door opened and the wizard strode in. There was someone with him.
The Potions Master made sure he blocked their view of the guest he brought as he billowed through the house, but Hermione saw who it was first, and she scowled darkly.
Ginny.
Hermione hadn’t forgiven Ginny for bailing on Harry after two years of visiting him. She was supposed to have loved him, but stopped coming to see him. She didn’t deserve to be here now.
“I’m back,” Severus said, looking down his nose at Harry, “I brought someone to see you.”
The pale wizard stepped aside and Ginny stood there, her brown eyes glistening. Hermione watched as Harry slowly rose, his eyes locked to the red-headed witch. His last remembrance of Ginny was making love to her the night before the Final Battle, and unlike Ron and Hermione’s first time, he and Ginny connected fully.
Harry had known it was coming, and he wanted to make sure he knew what to do and how to do it, so he went to Remus Lupin and had a candid talk with the werewolf. Remus’ love life was erratic to say the least. His werewolf part was very animalistic and always present in carnal situations, and any witch who tangled with Remus was in for quite a pounding until his first ejaculation. After that, he was able to relate to a witch like a human. When he discovered this, Remus found a way to make love to the witches he wanted by making plans with them beforehand, then going to the brothel first and fucking the shit out of a prostitute, then showering and going to meet the witch he wanted.
This worked well for him until the witches found out…then he was out in the cold again. Not one understood the reason he did this. They only saw that he had fucked a whore first. As a result, Remus had a lot of scorch marks on various parts of his body from pissed off witches. But, he was a very good and considerate lover once the onus of the wolf was off of him and he told Harry exactly how to treat Ginny.
“This is her first time and yours. Stay close to her, kiss her and caress her throughout,” the wizard told Harry, “And take your time, no matter how good it feels. Go slow and be sure to connect with her emotionally as well as physically. Witches need contact and to feel appreciated. Give her that, and she will be very happy. If you are lucky, you will give her more than that.”
Harry loved Ginny, and when they came together, it was awkward at first, but soon became good, with Harry kissing and caressing the young witch the entire time. Ginny responded to him powerfully and their first time had been wonderful and filled with love. Both had been very satisfied.
This was what Harry remembered as he looked at the witch.
“Ginny,” he said hoarsely, walking over to the witch as if under the Imperious Spell, Severus looking on with a very obvious look of satisfaction, and Hermione frowning with disapproval. Harry stopped inches from the witch, looking down at her. Yes, Ginny was older and she had filled out nicely. She was very slender when they were together, but a bit of Molly’s genetics had come into play, and now Ginny had a very curvaceous shape, toned down by her father’s tall, lean build. Ginny was tall…about five foot ten.
“Harry,” Ginny whispered, “Harry…you’re back. I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it, Ginny. I don’t feel as if I’ve been anywhere,” he said softly, his green eyes full of passion.
Ginny swallowed and looked over at Hermione, who was scowling at her. Ginny felt guilt wash over her and looked up at Harry. She could clearly see the love in the wizard’s eyes, and her belly tightened. She had missed him so much. So very much. But still, she had abandoned him in the end.
“Harry…I stopped coming to see you,” she said, “I gave up on you. I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t stand seeing you that way. I wish I had been stronger.”
Hermione harrumphed. Surely Harry wasn’t going to fall for that.
Harry looked down at her and gave her a tender smile.
“To me, we were just together, Ginny. I don’t feel as if you’ve abandoned me. I feel like you love me,” the wizard said, “You do, don’t you?”
Ginny stared up at him. She had never loved any other wizard than Harry.
Hermione stiffened. Oh good gods. She’d better not say yes.
Severus’ black eyes shifted to Hermione and he smirked. Yes, this was working just the way he thought it would. He’d just…help it along, otherwise Hermione was going to blast the witch and ruin a truly romantic moment.
Before Ginny could answer, the Potions Master cleared his throat.
“Perhaps it would be best if you two talked in private,” he said silkily.
“You could go into the study,” Hermione suggested, trying to head off any more intimate setting. Harry looked at her and was about to agree when Severus cut in again.
“Actually, there is an unused guestroom with a door just down the hall. That would offer you more privacy,” the wizard said.
He was directing them to the bedroom Hermione was supposed to have occupied. The only place they could sit was on the huge four-poster bed. Severus hoped there wouldn’t be much talking.
Harry nodded.
“That sounds good, Professor,” he said, catching Ginny by the hand, “Come on, Ginny.”
Harry led Ginny down the hall and into the guestroom, then closed the door behind them. It clicked.
“I hope they use a silencing charm,” the Potions Master said, looking at Hermione who was red-faced and nearly shaking with rage.
“She has some nerve coming here after abandoning Harry like she did,” the witch seethed, “And look at him. He’s just…just fawning all over her.”
Severus looked at Hermione.
“So, you condemn Miss Weasley because she couldn’t handle the pain of seeing Harry in such a state, Hermione? Not everyone has your threshold for pain. I understand she visited him in his vegetative state for two years before she stopped and moved on with her life. What was she supposed to do? Stop living as well?” the wizard asked the witch. “Become his nursemaid? Cut off her young life when it was just coming into bloom? It is obvious by the way she looked at him that she’s never stopped…loving him.”
Severus made this observation with a bit of a sneer.
Hermione just stared at the wizard.
“Besides, it is obvious Harry still loves her, Hermione. After eight years I believe a bit of trim is in order. It will ground him,” the Potions Master purred.
Hermione looked at the Potions Master shocked.
“You brought her here so Harry would fuck her,” she said to the wizard accusingly.
“Call it ‘rehabilitation,’” Severus responded, smirking at the witch. “You weren’t the only one who missed him, Hermione. And you don’t have a monopoly on the wizard’s time. As a matter of fact, I believe Miss Weasley’s re-introduction into his life will free you up for your other pursuits. She can clue him in to the latest developments in the wizarding world just as well as you can.”
“But I was the one who came to see him over the years,” Hermione complained, looking back at the room. “I was here for him.”
Severus sat down.
“He has no recollection of that, Hermione. At the time of his attack, Miss Weasley was the one closest to him, not you. He loves you as a friend, Hermione…but he loves Ginny as his…shall we say ‘woman.’ She can give him what you can’t. No matter how much time you spent holding his hand over the past eight years, his strongest connection right now is with Miss Weasley,” the wizard said.
Hermione dropped her head. The Professor was right. No matter how she felt about Ginny, Harry still loved her as much as he did eight years ago. If she tried to interfere, most likely he would turn away from her and continue to see the witch. Hermione wasn’t about to let that happen.
“Oh Harry!” Ginny’s voice gasped loudly.
Severus gave a wicked smile as he heard Ginny cast a silencing spell. Hermione’s eyes went as wide as saucers.
“She’s letting him…” she began.
“I believe she is,” Severus purred victoriously.
Well, the problem of Harry and Hermione getting too close was solved nicely.
Hermione stood up.
“Perhaps I should head back to the house,” she said glumly, “There’s not much more I can do here right now. Not with Harry ‘making up’ with Ginny. They might be locked down for days.”
Severus cocked his head at the witch, his eyes sweeping over her. He could think of several interesting things to do.
“I doubt that. Miss Weasley has a job to go to,” Severus said, “Besides, Harry is going to need support when he returns to the wizarding world. As his friend, I would think you’d want to be there for him. Don’t abandon him because Miss Weasley is in his bed. After all you’ve gone through to get him back, it would be a terrible waste.”
Hermione sat back down. Again, Severus was right. She was acting like a petulant child.
“Yes, he does need me. He wants to go to Hogwarts tomorrow and see Albus. I don’t like the way he wants to do it, though,” she said.
Severus looked quite interested.
“And how does he want to do it?” he asked.
“Well, we talked about it and adjusted the plan a bit. We plan to go to Poppy first and…”
Hermione told Severus the plan. The wizard quirked his lip as he listened.
“I want to be there,” he said, his eyes glittering. “I have a message for Albus.”
Hermione was glad the wizard offered to accompany them. She didn’t know if she had the nerve to do it with just her, Harry and Dobby. Severus would be a strong presence.
“You’re welcome to come,” she said, relieved.
Severus arched an eyebrow at her, his dark eyes growing a bit hot. Hermione colored.
“I didn’t mean that literally,” she amended.
The Potions Master stood up, walked around the table and grasped the witch by the arm. She had spent over twenty-four hours in his presence without being fucked. Far too long.
“Too late,” he said silkily, helping Hermione to her feet and escorting the witch to the guestroom.
“Invitation accepted.”
****************************************
About four hours later, a very disheveled Ginny Weasley and a smiling, tired Harry Potter emerged from the guest bedroom. Their “talk” had been quite draining. Harry walked Ginny to the door and after kissing her passionately and getting promises that he would see her again soon, let her apparate back to her flat.
He walked back in the house to find Dobby fixing him supper. A big one.
“Master needs nourishment after in-outie,” the elf sang, smiling as he quickly grilled a large steak and fried a pan full of potatoes and onions.
“I’m starved, Dobby,” the wizard said.
Harry was barefoot and dressed in scarlet boxers with an open housecoat over them. He sat down at the table, sniffing appreciatively. After a moment, Severus walked into the kitchen, also barefoot, in black boxers and an open housecoat, his large nose pulsating as he smelled supper. The pale wizard sat down and Dobby quickly put on another steak.
He and Harry looked at each other.
“I imagine your ‘talk’ with Miss Weasley went well,” Severus said, his black eyes washing over the wizard across from him. His torso was visible, and he had indeed filled out.
Harry looked at the Potions Master. He knew the wizard had been fucking Hermione. He still had to come to terms with that. Yet, he was engaged in the same activity with Ginny, and it had been wonderful. He couldn’t get enough of her.
“Yes, it went very well, Professor. Thank you for bringing her,” Harry replied.
Severus nodded as Dobby served Harry his steak with potatoes and a side of salad.
“Yours will be along soon, sir,” Dobby said to Severus, returning to the stove.
Severus watched as Harry tore into his steak. The wizard certainly had an appetite. Dobby turned to look at his Master, then put another steak on the grill. He was quite hungry. It must have been excellent in-outie.
The edge of his hunger sated, Harry looked up at Severus.
“I don’t know how to thank you for what you did, Professor. Bringing me back like you did. Hermione told me how you did it. Amazing,” Harry said to the Potions Master who leveled his eyes on the wizard as Dobby placed his meal in front of him.
“You can thank me, Mr. Potter, by paying the bill I will be sending you shortly,” the Professor replied.
“Bill?” Harry said, staring at the wizard.
Severus cut into his steak.
“Yes, bill Mr. Potter. I rendered you a service just as if I had brewed you an elixir. I am entitled to compensation,” the wizard said coolly, inserting a piece of steak into his mouth and chewing. It was medium rare. Perfect.
“Besides,” the wizard said, “Given our history…I am sure you would rather pay me than feel you owed me for the rest of your life,” Severus said, arching an eyebrow at him. “It would put us back on equal footing. Your gratitude means nothing to me after all, but your galleons…”
Harry nodded. Now this was the Professor Snape he knew. He felt rather relieved. It was a bit difficult to swallow the snarky Potions Master doing him a kindness. Now that money was involved he felt much better.
“How much?” Harry asked him.
Severus took a sip of the ice-cold pumpkin juice Dobby set on the table.
“How much is your repaired soul worth, Mr. Potter?” the wizard responded.
Harry blinked at him.
“I don’t know,” Harry said honestly.
“Well, neither do I. I will have to figure it out…but I assure you, it will be quite expensive,” the Potions Master said as he speared a fried potato with a bit of onion.
Harry had no doubt about that.
The two wizards finished their meal in silence. Severus had Dobby fix another plate of food and carried it back to the guestroom, presumably to re-energize Hermione when she woke up.
Harry returned to the guestroom and crawled under the covers. The bed smelled of Ginny and he snuggled down in it, breathing in her scent deeply. He needed his rest.
Tomorrow, he would return to Hogwarts.
*************************************
A/N: Well, the Potions Master’s plan seemed to work well. Lol on charging Harry for helping him. Please review.