Drabble: The Spirit of Competition
May. 10th, 2013 06:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: The Spirit of Competition
Author:alisanne
Pairing: Severus Snape/Harry Potter
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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snape100's prompt #481: Competition
Word Count: 100 x 7
Warnings: None.
Beta:lilyseyes. Thanks to dementordelta for title assistance. ;)
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
~
The Spirit of Competition
~
“Congratulations, Severus.” Lucius, newly acquitted, looked pleased with himself. “We’re free men.”
Severus inclined his head. “Thanks to Potter.”
“Ah yes.” Lucius’ gaze shifted towards Potter, who was across the room. “He’s...matured quite nicely, hasn’t he?”
Severus’ eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Indeed.”
Lucius smiled. “I’ve been pondering ways to...show my appreciation for his testimony.”
As have I. “May I suggest not throwing your lot in with another megalomaniac?” Severus deadpanned.
Lucius ignored him. “This requires something...personal.”
“Potter won’t accept it.”
Lucius smirked. “Care to place a wager on that?”
Severus scowled. He wants a competition? Very well.
~
“Severus!” Potter smiled widely. “Come in.”
Severus entered, frowning when he saw several very large and gaudy bouquets of flowers standing about in Potter’s hallway. “Admirers?”
Potter chuckled. “No. They’re from Lucius Malfoy, actually. A thank you.”
“How...nice.” The small bouquet of carefully chosen blooms Severus had sent was nowhere to be seen.
“I love yours.” Potter led the way into his office. There, on his desk, sat Severus’ bouquet. “Thank you.”
“Indeed.” Severus sighed. This is unacceptable. Lucius is winning the competition! “They were nothing.”
Potter’s face fell. “Oh.”
Distracted, Severus left abruptly. Time to raise the bar.
~
Unfortunately, every time Severus thought he’d beat Lucius in their competition, Lucius outdid him. When Severus sent chocolates, Lucius sent truffles, Severus sent wine, Lucius sent elf wine from his private collection, and when Severus delivered fruit, Lucius sent tropical fruit from his estate in Barbados.
I’ve lost. Glumly, Severus watched Potter thanking Lucius. He’d begun loitering about Potter’s flat in the evenings to see what latest idea Lucius had come up with.
He’d thought himself hidden, but when Lucius left, not Severus noted, having been invited in, Potter turned, looked straight at Severus, and beckoned.
Damn. Resigned, Severus approached.
~
Potter’s face was unreadable, though he invited Severus in. They were seated in the kitchen where Potter had put the kettle on. “What’s going on?”
Severus sighed. “I am...attempting to thank you for your testimony on my behalf.” He coughed. “It’s possible Lucius had the same idea and we got a bit...carried away.”
“You think?” Potter gestured around them. There were baskets of fruit, boxes of chocolates, and even some of the better preserved flowers on tables everywhere. “So this was all just some sort of...competition?”
Ashamed, Severus nodded.
Potter’s eyes narrowed. “What’s the prize?”
Severus froze.
~
“Surely you had a prize?” Potter persisted. “What was it?” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Tell me.”
I’m a fool. Severus tried to keep his expression unrevealing. “We never decided--”
Potter snorted. “Of course you did.” He leaned across the table. “Is there scorekeeping in this competition?”
“No.” Severus rose. “I apologise for having bothered you. I shan’t--”
Faster than he could blink, Potter was beside him, clinging to his arm. “Oh no you don’t. I’ve been trying to talk to you for ages now.” Potter looked fierce, determined. “What’s the prize?”
Severus closed his eyes. “You.”
~
“Finally,” Potter breathed. “We’re getting somewhere.”
Severus opened his eyes, staring at Potter in astonishment. “What?”
Potter looked nervous for the first time all evening. “Malfoy asked me out tonight.”
Rage threatened to consume Severus. Only years of spying kept his reaction hidden. “Indeed,” he said coldly.
A genuine smile crossed Potter’s face. “That bothers you.”
“I certainly cannot dictate--”
“I said no.” Potter licked his lips. “Look, Severus. I’m interested in you, so in a competition between you and Malfoy? You will always win.”
Severus blinked, gobsmacked. “Always--?” He dragged Potter close.
Potter grinned, tilting his face up. “Always.”
~
“I’ve been foolish,” Severus whispered into Potter’s hair.
Potter’s arms tightened around him. “My fool,” he said, tone possessive.
Severus smiled. “I should’ve been forthright about my intentions.”
“Did you know your intentions?” Potter asked gently.
Severus blinked. “Perhaps not,” he conceded. “Our ridiculous competition was the catalyst allowing me to acknowledge my feelings for you.”
“Then it worked out.” Potter shifted and Severus realised he was aroused. Again. “Plus, I can’t imagine anyone competing with you in bed.”
“Time for me to prove myself once again?” purred Severus, pressing against Potter.
Potter grinned. “You’ll get no objections from me.”
~
Author:
alisannePairing: Severus Snape/Harry Potter
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for
snape100/snape100/snape100's prompt #481: CompetitionWord Count: 100 x 7
Warnings: None.
Beta:
lilyseyes. Thanks to dementordelta for title assistance. ;)Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
~
The Spirit of Competition
~
“Congratulations, Severus.” Lucius, newly acquitted, looked pleased with himself. “We’re free men.”
Severus inclined his head. “Thanks to Potter.”
“Ah yes.” Lucius’ gaze shifted towards Potter, who was across the room. “He’s...matured quite nicely, hasn’t he?”
Severus’ eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Indeed.”
Lucius smiled. “I’ve been pondering ways to...show my appreciation for his testimony.”
As have I. “May I suggest not throwing your lot in with another megalomaniac?” Severus deadpanned.
Lucius ignored him. “This requires something...personal.”
“Potter won’t accept it.”
Lucius smirked. “Care to place a wager on that?”
Severus scowled. He wants a competition? Very well.
~
“Severus!” Potter smiled widely. “Come in.”
Severus entered, frowning when he saw several very large and gaudy bouquets of flowers standing about in Potter’s hallway. “Admirers?”
Potter chuckled. “No. They’re from Lucius Malfoy, actually. A thank you.”
“How...nice.” The small bouquet of carefully chosen blooms Severus had sent was nowhere to be seen.
“I love yours.” Potter led the way into his office. There, on his desk, sat Severus’ bouquet. “Thank you.”
“Indeed.” Severus sighed. This is unacceptable. Lucius is winning the competition! “They were nothing.”
Potter’s face fell. “Oh.”
Distracted, Severus left abruptly. Time to raise the bar.
~
Unfortunately, every time Severus thought he’d beat Lucius in their competition, Lucius outdid him. When Severus sent chocolates, Lucius sent truffles, Severus sent wine, Lucius sent elf wine from his private collection, and when Severus delivered fruit, Lucius sent tropical fruit from his estate in Barbados.
I’ve lost. Glumly, Severus watched Potter thanking Lucius. He’d begun loitering about Potter’s flat in the evenings to see what latest idea Lucius had come up with.
He’d thought himself hidden, but when Lucius left, not Severus noted, having been invited in, Potter turned, looked straight at Severus, and beckoned.
Damn. Resigned, Severus approached.
~
Potter’s face was unreadable, though he invited Severus in. They were seated in the kitchen where Potter had put the kettle on. “What’s going on?”
Severus sighed. “I am...attempting to thank you for your testimony on my behalf.” He coughed. “It’s possible Lucius had the same idea and we got a bit...carried away.”
“You think?” Potter gestured around them. There were baskets of fruit, boxes of chocolates, and even some of the better preserved flowers on tables everywhere. “So this was all just some sort of...competition?”
Ashamed, Severus nodded.
Potter’s eyes narrowed. “What’s the prize?”
Severus froze.
~
“Surely you had a prize?” Potter persisted. “What was it?” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Tell me.”
I’m a fool. Severus tried to keep his expression unrevealing. “We never decided--”
Potter snorted. “Of course you did.” He leaned across the table. “Is there scorekeeping in this competition?”
“No.” Severus rose. “I apologise for having bothered you. I shan’t--”
Faster than he could blink, Potter was beside him, clinging to his arm. “Oh no you don’t. I’ve been trying to talk to you for ages now.” Potter looked fierce, determined. “What’s the prize?”
Severus closed his eyes. “You.”
~
“Finally,” Potter breathed. “We’re getting somewhere.”
Severus opened his eyes, staring at Potter in astonishment. “What?”
Potter looked nervous for the first time all evening. “Malfoy asked me out tonight.”
Rage threatened to consume Severus. Only years of spying kept his reaction hidden. “Indeed,” he said coldly.
A genuine smile crossed Potter’s face. “That bothers you.”
“I certainly cannot dictate--”
“I said no.” Potter licked his lips. “Look, Severus. I’m interested in you, so in a competition between you and Malfoy? You will always win.”
Severus blinked, gobsmacked. “Always--?” He dragged Potter close.
Potter grinned, tilting his face up. “Always.”
~
“I’ve been foolish,” Severus whispered into Potter’s hair.
Potter’s arms tightened around him. “My fool,” he said, tone possessive.
Severus smiled. “I should’ve been forthright about my intentions.”
“Did you know your intentions?” Potter asked gently.
Severus blinked. “Perhaps not,” he conceded. “Our ridiculous competition was the catalyst allowing me to acknowledge my feelings for you.”
“Then it worked out.” Potter shifted and Severus realised he was aroused. Again. “Plus, I can’t imagine anyone competing with you in bed.”
“Time for me to prove myself once again?” purred Severus, pressing against Potter.
Potter grinned. “You’ll get no objections from me.”
~
no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 10:01 am (UTC)I would love to see Lucius face when Harry said no.
The best sentence - "My fool" and Harry's possessive tone.
Well done!
no subject
Date: 2013-05-16 01:38 am (UTC)And yes, poor Lucius would have been rather testy, poor lad. :( Still, I think he'll be okay.
Thanks, my dear!
no subject
Date: 2013-05-11 10:58 pm (UTC)harry won, of course!
no subject
Date: 2013-05-16 01:42 am (UTC)And yes, Harry really did. *g*
Thanks, sweetie!