alisanne

Title: Welcoming the New Year
Author:

alisanne
Pairing: Severus Snape/Harry Potter
Rating: PG-13
Challenge: Written for

snape100/

snape100's prompt #515: Happy New Year.
Word Count: 100 x 8
Warnings: None
Betas:

sevfan and

emynn
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.

~

Welcoming the New Year

~

Pouring himself a generous measure of brandy, Severus gazed thoughtfully at the fire. He didn’t spend New Year’s Eve frolicking, he spent it reflecting on the previous year.

Happy New Year indeed. Raising his glass, he sipped, recalling the tumultuous year it’d been. Because of Potter.

His recovery from Nagini’s bite had taken months, as had his Wizengamot trial. That he was alive and free had everything to do with Potter.

But the year had also seen Potter become more than a former student. He’d wanted to court Severus.

Snorting, Severus poured more brandy. I’ll need it for these memories.

~

Hours later, Severus was still contemplating Potter.

At seventeen he’d been beautiful. Too beautiful and too young. When, at eighteen, he’d approached Severus wanting...more, Severus hadn’t needed anyone’s warning to know nothing good could come of it.

Potter, however, had been persistent. Which, while good when fighting Dark wizards, isn’t necessarily good in other circumstances.

Finally, Severus had snapped, “Return when you’re old enough to know your mind!”

Potter had obeyed. Severus occasionally read about him in the paper, but nothing indicating a romance. Severus knew it was only a matter of time, however.

Severus sighed. Happy New Year, Harry.

~

Severus, on his fourth brandy, jumped when someone knocked. Intending to ignore whoever it was, he finally stumbled to his feet as they persisted. Glancing at the clock, he realised it was already the new year. Flinging open the door, he snapped, “What do you--?” He froze.

There, holding a box, stood Harry Potter. “Happy New Year!”

“What are you doing here?” Severus asked.

Potter smiled crookedly. “I’d hoped to usher in the new year with you.”

Severus narrowed his eyes. “You’re offering to be my First Footer?”

“If you’ll have me.” Potter offered the box. “May I come in?”

~

Severus eyed Potter suspiciously. “Why are you really here, Potter?”

Potter extended the box towards Severus as if offering a gift. “I bring coin for your purse, bread for your health, salt to flavour your life, coal to warm you, and drink for your pleasure.”

Severus inclined his head. “Then be welcome at my hearth and home,” he responded automatically.

Potter grinned. “Thank you.”

Severus sighed. It would be churlish to kick him out now-- “Would you like a drink?”

Potter exhaled. “I’d love one.” And, when Severus handed him a snifter, he toasted, “Happy New Year!”

Severus hummed. “Indeed.”

~

Sitting with Potter by his fire was...comfortable. Severus had expected him to be chatty, distracting, but he’d evidently mastered the art of companionable drinking.

When his stomach growled, Severus coughed, embarrassed. “Are you hungry?”

Potter grinned. “I could eat.”

Severus hummed. “At least one thing hasn’t changed,” he murmured, walking to the kitchen. It was the work of mere minutes to put together a couple of sandwiches, and when he returned, Potter had built up the fire.

“Ham all right?” Severus asked, passing him a sandwich.

“Brilliant.” Picking it up, Potter toasted Severus with it. “Happy New Year.”

“Indeed.”

~

As they ate, Severus couldn’t help but admire Potter. He’d always been attractive, but the year had brought a maturity that was mesmerising. “What have you been doing this past year?” he asked. “You’ve managed to stay out of the limelight.”

Potter smiled. “Yes, I’ve been avoiding publicity, getting my Healer certification. I work at St Mungo’s now.”

Severus nodded. “A fitting profession.” He hesitated. “And your...personal life?”

Potter laughed. “What personal life? Healers don’t have those.” His gaze sharpened. “But that’s my New Year’s resolution.”

“Oh?”

“Definitely.” Potter’s stare was challenging. “A happy year with a satisfying relationship.”

~

Severus didn’t know what to say.

“It’s a new year. Say you’ll give me a chance,” murmured Potter.

Severus frowned. “Are you using Legilimency?”

Potter sighed. “No. Healers are trained in reading faces. Yours was rather expressive then.”

Fuck me. Severus raised an eyebrow. “And what’s my face expressing now?”

Potter laughed. “If I thought you were serious--”

“Perhaps I am.” Severus bit his tongue. Damned brandy.

Sobering, Potter leaned forward. “Then I’d say yes. You wanted me old enough.”

“And to know your own mind.”

“I’ve always known my own mind.”

Happy new year indeed. Severus smiled. “Prove it.”

~

With a moan, Potter collapsed atop Severus. Severus caressed Potter’s skin, warm from their exertions.

“Happy New Year,” whispered Potter.

“It does seem to be shaping up rather well,” said Severus. “There’s a belief that what you do after midnight on New year’s Eve is what you’ll do all year.”

Potter hummed, arms tightening around Severus. “Sounds good to me since I’m rather hoping we do a lot more of that.”

“I...would not object.”

Chuckling, Potter nudged Severus onto his back, straddling him. “Good, because we’re just getting started.”

Severus smiled. Perhaps this year will be one to remember.

~