alisanne

Title: From Hungarian Horntails to Horcruxes
Author:

alisanne
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Severus Snape/Harry Potter.
Challenge: Written for

harry100/

harry100's prompt #229: Hungarian Horntail.
Rating: PG
Length: 100 x 9
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.

~

From Hungarian Horntails to Horcruxes

~

Harry growled, tossing aside the book he’d been reading.

Ron sighed. “I warned you, mate.”

“I know, I know.” Harry sighed. “It’s just...How could I not read a book entitled Harry Potter: From Hungarian Horntails to Horcruxes?”

“Well I think you should sue Skeeter,” said Hermione, pouring herself more tea. “It’s pure fabrication.”

“Not all of it,” said Harry. “She’s right that I don’t have a job.”

“You can solve that quickly enough.” Ron grinned. “McGonagall offered you a teaching spot, didn’t she?”

“I’m hardly qualified.”

“You’re more qualified than Umbridge. Or Lockhart. Or--”

Harry smiled. “Fine. I’ll Floo.”

~

“I’m sorry.” Hermione patted Harry’s arm. “But it does make sense that McGonagall had to hire someone quickly.”

“I know.” Harry pursed his lips. “Life would be so much easier if I hadn’t changed my mind about being an Auror.”

“Maybe,” said Ron. “But I don’t think you would’ve been happy.” He clapped Harry on the back. “If you like I can Floo Charlie for you. They always have openings for people to shovel out the Hungarian Horntail pits.”

Harry shook his head. “Thanks, but no thanks. There’s...one more thing I want to try before it comes to that.”

~

“Potter,” Severus greeted when Harry entered his shop. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Harry smiled. He and Severus had come to a truce since the war, and were well on their way to becoming friends. “I need a...favour.”

“Indeed.” Severus raised an eyebrow.

“You know how you’ve mentioned that you’d like to have someone dealing with customers here?”

“I recall my own words, yes.”

Sarcastic bastard. Harry grinned. “I’m applying.”

Severus hummed. “I’m honoured. It’s not every day a famous Hungarian Horntail slayer and Horcrux hunter requests a favour.”

Harry groaned. “You read that.”

Severus smirked. “Indeed.”

~

Harry enjoyed working with Severus. He proved adept at customer service, and Severus’ clientele doubled within a week. “It seems I was wise to hire you,” he said after doing the books a couple weeks in. “Having Harry Potter the Hungarian Horntail slayer here is good for business.”

Harry chuckled. “Hey, at this rate I’ll be able to ask for a pay increase soon, hm?”

Severus snorted. “Don’t push it.”

As he walked away, however, Harry eyed him speculatively. He’d been noticing Severus lately, and liking what he’d noticed. He grinned. Pushing things was exactly what he planned to do.

~

A week later, Ron and Hermione moved out. “I’ll miss you guys,” said Harry.

“It’s been fun,” agreed Ron. Leaning in, he whispered, “Although honestly, we’ve been missing our privacy.”

Harry coughed. “You shared a room here. Surely that was private enough?”

Ron flushed bright red. “Sure, but Hermione--” He licked his lips. “Let’s just say when she gets going, she could give a Hungarian Horntail a run for its money.”

“I didn’t need to know that!”

Ron smirked. “Plus, with your place back, you can have your own...sleepovers.”

Harry hummed. He knew exactly who he wanted to invite.

~

Harry approached Severus the way he would have a Hungarian Horntail. Carefully. He needn’t have worried.

“Dinner? I suppose that’s acceptable since we’re working together.” Severus smirked. “Although I still shan’t be increasing your salary.”

Harry laughed. “I’m not asking.”

Dinner went well, and, as they retired to the living room afterward, things only improved. Harry settled beside Severus on the sofa, and Severus didn’t appear to mind when Harry touched his arm or thigh as they talked.

They were just leaning towards each other when the Floo sounded. “Harry? Are you there?”

Harry frowned. “Headmistress?”

“Harry! Hogwarts needs you!”

~

Harry eyed the dragons overhead. “Hungarian Horntails?”

“You’re probably wondering why I called you and not dragon experts,” said McGonagall.

“We’re both wondering that,” said Severus dryly.

McGonagall hummed. “And I’m wondering how I got both of you.”

Harry coughed. “So...how can I help?”

“These dragons hatched from eggs laid by the dragon you battled during the Triwizard Tournament.”

“Okay.”

“She died. You’re our only chance of calming them. You had contact with them when they were still eggs. We think they may...respond to you.”

Harry’s eyes widened. “You mean they believe I’m their father?”

Minerva smiled. “Possibly.”

~

“Only you,” said Severus when they got back to Harry’s hours later, singed and exhausted, “would manage to have Hungarian Horntails bond to you.”

“At least it worked out and we managed to capture them with a minimum of damage.”

“Indeed. Speak for yourself.” Severus gestured to a burnt spot on his robes.

“You didn’t have to help me.”

Severus snorted. “And lose my shop assistant? Please.”

Harry laughed. “So you were only along to protect your investment?”

“There may have been the matter of wanting to finish what we started earlier,” purred Severus.

Harry grinned. “No argument from me.”

~

Harry’d thought sex with Severus would be awkward the first time, but it wasn’t. Harry kissed him, and when Severus responded, Harry walked him backwards toward his bedroom.

They disrobed slowly, tired from corralling Hungarian Horntails, yet, as Severus straddled him, pressing him into the bed and caressing him, Harry forgot his exhaustion, giving himself up to Severus’ touch and his sensuous kisses.

Afterwards they lay entwined, Harry fighting to stay awake.

“Sleep,” murmured Severus.

“You’ll stay?”

“Indeed.” Severus chuckled. “Someone needs to ensure you get to work tomorrow.”

Harry laughed. “Still protecting your investment?” he whispered, curling closer.

“Always.”

~