9. THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL
Harry was late for the tryouts and his eyes were still swollen from crying when he saw Sirius coming towards him. He quickly climbed the tribune to where Severus was sitting and buried his head in the Slytherin's heavy black robes.
"Problems?" Severus asked in an indifferent tone and Harry nodded tearfully, though he damned himself for how emotional he was being once again.
"Sirius was mean." Harry sniffed; he was cheered slightly at the thought of how Lucius would have reacted to that declaration, even James might have become a bit protective.
"He's an idiot," Severus spat, cupping Harry's face. "Ignore him. And if it was because of me, trust your own instincts. I'm not a nice person and I'm not a good friend, but if you still want me I'm your friend."
"Of course I want you to be my friend." Harry smiled. "And I like you the way you are."
"Then go out there and show them that you should be Gryffindor's new Seeker," Severus urged him. "Not that you have much competition. See that little figure over there with too much arm and too much leg? Crabbe possesses more grace than he does. And that one, who's just puking up her guts? I've heard of this Muggle sport called bowling; I think she would do very well in that because she constantly flew into the other players, bowling them over. And the one with the spectacles had the snitch fly up his sleeve; he could be real competition with that bit of luck."
"Thank you, Severus." Harry stood up, kissing his cheek. "Wish me luck."
"Harry, are you coming?" James shouted. "Everyone else has already tried out."
Harry quickly descended the stairs until he stood in front of his father; who held out his broom for him. Sirius stood to the side and watched every move he made, setting Harry even more on edge.
"The rules are really easy, Harry," James explained. "I'll let out the snitch, you catch it and I stop the time. After that the team will decide if you get into the next round. The second round consists of the two of us racing once around the stadium. If you win or at least do reasonably well, you are on the short list. I'll hang out the results tomorrow at the latest, okay?"
"Okay." Harry nodded, taking his broom.
"On the count of three." James let out the snitch. "One. Two. Three. Go."
Harry had kept his eyes on the snitch the whole time and had it back in his hand after only two minutes.
"That was great, Harry," James exclaimed, a bit shocked. "I think we all agree that you are in the next round." He looked expectantly at his team and they all nodded. "Patrick, you give the starting signal."
The blond chaser nodded and waited till James had also mounted his broom and was hovering beside Harry with a lopsided grin on his face. Harry carefully adjusted his grip on his broom.
Or rather not his broom. It was not his trusty Nimbus 2000, which had surprised him greatly as he had opened his trunk and looked for it. Instead of his old broom he had found this one, a Comet two-fifty with a short note from Lucius explaining that he couldn't use his Nimbus in the past without attracting suspicions.
A sharp whistle made them both lean over their brooms and speed up. Sooner than Harry would have thought they were flying the bend, James on the outside course falling a bit behind. Harry didn't slow down - this was nothing in comparison to his Nimbus - and James didn't manage to gain more than a few centimetres on Harry before Harry finished the race first.
"Damn," James cursed softly and Harry looked at him fearfully, carefully approaching him and leaning against his chest.
"I'm sorry."
James' arms closed around him and he chuckled lightly. "Never lost before. You're damn good, Harry. Never apologise for that."
"Are you sad?" Harry looked at him. "I didn't mean to make you sad. I don't want you to be sad."
"Nope, not sad," James assured him, smiling. "I'm impressed. Don't worry. Shall I tell you a secret?" He leant down, to whisper into Harry's ear, "Congratulations! You're our new Seeker. I'm sure they all agree with me."
"Really?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Yes, really, Harry." James swirled him around before setting him back on his feet. "Want to celebrate a little?"
"No." Harry shook his head softly. "I'll ask the Slytherins if I can stay with them tonight, James. I don't want to see Sirius."
"Harry..."
"I know, I can't avoid him forever, but I don't want him to make me forgive him. I want to be angry at him for as long as I can," Harry pleaded, unaware that Sirius was listening in on their conversation. "He really hurt me, James. And, I know that he doesn't see that he did something wrong. Let me go?"
"Of course, Harry," James murmured. "But you don't have to flee to Slytherin. We'll throw Sirius out of the dorms; Merlin knows he deserves it for how he treated you today."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'll be fine in Slytherin," Harry replied with a small smile.
"If you're sure, but come to me if you need me, alright?" James said again and Harry felt like all his worries had suddenly grown wings at the warmth and worry in his father's voice; it felt indescribably good to have James as his friend, if not exactly as his father.
"I will, thanks, James. Bye."
"Ready, Harry?" Severus asked from a distance and Harry moved to join him. "You weren't too bad."
"Thank you." Harry grinned. "Do you think I can stay in Slytherin tonight?"
"I think so, as long as Lucius agrees. But, don't think I will offer you my bed out of sheer, idiotic chivalry." Severus murmured. "Are you so angry at Black?"
"I wish I was angry." Harry sighed. "But I'm only hurt. I haven't been really angry since I came into my inheritance, which again would make me angry if that was an option, but as it isn't, it only leaves me feeling frustrated."
"Black has that effect on most people who aren't characterised by the complete absence of brain cells," Severus stated.
"Don't say something like that." Harry glared at the older boy before he averted his eyes with a sigh. "Don't. If you do, I'll feel the need to defend him and that's the last thing I want to do right now."
Severus kept silent for a moment before he smirked. "We should go to the library to look for more books for our potions project."
"Severus, is that supposed to cheer me up?" Harry whined. "We have been trying to find a potion for the last two weeks. Can't you just choose one?"
"I could, but I want more than a passing grade," Severus offered, taking the stairs up to the library.
Harry shook his head. "You could probably throw random ingredients in a cauldron and it would still be perfect."
Severus chuckled. "How very flattering, but as I have to let you take part as well, I'd have to make you understand as well... and that could turn out to be rather complicated."
"You're mean." Harry pouted. "Not everyone can be as good with potions as you."
"Too true." Severus gave a long suffering sigh, putting three books in front of Harry. "Read those."
"Yes, Master," Harry mocked him and Severus scowled before sitting down opposite of him with his own four books.
"What about this potion?" Harry asked, already foreboding Severus' answer, and pushed his book towards the older student.
And, as Harry had expected, Severus only briefly glanced at the recipe before turning down Harry's idea. "It's too easy, we could merely mix the two potions together and it would still work."
"Severus..."
"Stop whining," the future Potion's Master growled. "We'll find the right potion."
"Oh, so you still have hope, do you?" Harry scowled. "Because mine flew out of the window after the first ten books."
"I'm the sarcastic one, Harry." Severus smirked. "You are the sweet little, naive boy. We don't want to mix that, so stick to your role."
Harry stuck out his tongue and turned back to his book, though he didn't have the chance to read more than the first three ingredients of the next potion before someone cleared his throat behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know who was standing behind him, even if he hadn't seen Severus tightening the hold on his wand.
"Can I talk to you for a moment, Harry?" Sirius asked gently, shifting a little. "Alone, if it's possible."
"Sure," Harry said without emotion. "I'll be right back, Severus."
He stood up, not meeting Sirius' eyes as he walked over to one of the windows that separated them from where Severus was sitting by a large bookcase. He sat down on the window sill.
"Harry, listen." Sirius tried to capture his gaze, visibly restraining himself from reaching out.
"I hardly have a choice, have I?" Harry returned coldly.
"Harry, I didn't mean-"
"Oh, yes, you did," Harry finally turned towards him in order to glare at him. "You were so unfair, not only to Severus, but to me. You come here and expect me to forgive you, and my whole being is straining to do just that, but I don't want to, because you hurt me and you treated me like shit. You told me what to do as if my opinion didn't matter, as if I didn't even have an opinion."
"Harry-"
"Could you for once let me talk?" Harry asked bitterly. "You promised me that you'd be there for me, that you wouldn't hurt me and that you'd be civil to Severus. Do you even know what a promise is? Because where I come from it means that you should keep it. I don't mind that you fuck with someone else every night, I can bear a little pain and though I really don't like how you treat Severus, I can understand that such a long animosity can't be put aside just because I want it. But if you hadn't wanted this responsibility you shouldn't have said so. I can't stand liars, but even worse is that you indirectly called me a liar. I wish I could hate you or at least be angry at you, but I can't and I wish I didn't need you, because you're a self-centred jerk, but I do."
"Can I say something now, Harry?" Sirius questioned softly and Harry nodded unwillingly. "Everything you said is true and I'm sorry for it. I heard what you told James earlier and I listened to his and Remus' rant about doing this to you. And to Lily's rant, which was even more detailed and furious than Remus' and Jamie's put together and I finally got it. I never should have taken it out on you that I don't like Snape too much. I don't expect you to forgive me and if you want to you can be angry at me or avoid me, but before I leave you alone to do just that, I want you to understand why I flipped out like that. It's true Snape and I don't get along, but I would never have lost my temper like that if that was the only reason. It's also true that I fucked around and didn't have much time for you.
"Do you remember that day in Care of Magical Creatures when I said you were cute and patted your hair? How I told you, I didn't understand it myself?" Harry nodded softly and Sirius continued, "I understand it now. I had dreams about you and they... aroused me. That's my explanation for those sex-escapades, crappy as it is, I tried to distract myself because it felt like I was taking advantage of you," Sirius decided that it would be too much information to tell Harry that he had fantasised about his feet, especially since Harry was already sporting a nice blush. "I was jealous when you said you liked Snape, I was jealous almost all the time even if you were only talking with James or Lily or Peter or Remus. It drove me crazy when you were out of my sight. Harry, I didn't realise it before, but you are my mate."
Harry's gaze darkened again and the blush left his cheeks. "Your mate, huh? And I'm just supposed to believe that, am I? Maybe I should just bend over so that we can get it over with? And of course, I'm expected to forgive you and play your little pet from now on. Well, guess what? I. Don't. Want. To. I don't giving a flying shit if you are my mate because as good as you make me feel, you make me just as miserable. I'm my own person, I don't need a mate to define me. I don't need you."
"Harry-"
"Shut up," Harry whispered ferociously. "That was a crappy excuse, those were crappy reasons and unless you can prove to me that you are at least trying to grow up, I don't want you in my life."
"Harry, you have to believe me," Sirius pleaded, crestfallen.
"Oh, I do," Harry said bitterly, though his elf side was cringing. "Just my luck to have an immature bully as my mate. As I see it, we will both feel a lot better if we just ignore the situation. This way you won't have to take responsibility and I don't have to feel, even more, at your mercy."
"But I want to take responsibility, I want you as my mate," Sirius protested, taking Harry's shaking hand in his. "Please, Harry."
Harry bit his lip to stop the pleas for forgiveness from bursting from his mouth and withdrew his hand.
"Let him go," Severus' quiet voice barely registered in Harry's clouded mind; it hurt. "Harry told you what he wants. Anything more wouldn't be Harry's views, they would be the words of a frightened submissive elf. Let him go."
The grey-eyed boy looked horribly lost and Harry closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to see him. He wanted to be alone. He wanted Sirius' arms around him. He wanted out.
Slender, long-fingered hands landed on his shoulders, trying to steer him away. He resisted, but he didn't know why. Something in him was stretched incredibly tight, ready to snap at any moment, waiting for something.
Another hand, rougher, broader, took hold of his and dry lips were pressed to his knuckles. "Give me one day. One day, Harry."
"That's enough, Black," Severus snapped, gently massaging Harry's shoulders. "Leave us be."
"Okay," Harry whispered, locking eyes with Sirius. "I'll give you one day."
Relief flooded Sirius' handsome face and he pressed another kiss to Harry's knuckles. "Thank you. Don't miss dinner tomorrow, okay?"
Harry nodded in resignation, twisting his shaking hands. Bad elf, bad elf. Apologise. He's your mate, don't push him away. Who will want you if not he? He brutally squished those thoughts. He wasn't dependent on a mate. He would be just fine without one. He was getting used to feeling miserable.
"Do you need a mate?" Severus asked him, echoing his thoughts, while still massaging Harry's shoulders. "Do you need Black?"
Harry slumped a little. "All the books say that I will feel so much better once I'm bonded, but I don't want to bond just because my stupid elf side would like that. I mean, I can still make my own decisions. And I'm not wholly unlikable, right? So I might actually find a nice someone who loves me for me and not because his veela or whatever genes tell them that they have to." Harry looked for support up at his future Potion's Master. "Someone told me that I could be happy with a nice dominant who loves me. Of course, he meant in the case of me never finding or being found by my mate, but..."
"I think you're very likable." Suddenly, Severus' hands were cupping Harry's face, potion-stained thumbs rubbing over his cheeks. "And very beautiful."
Harry stared at him in surprise and shock, but before he could come up with something to say to Severus' declaration, the older boy had dropped his hands.
"Let's go back to the common room, yes." The black-eyed boy swivelled around and was already gathering his quills and parchments into his book bag before Harry had fully processed what had just happened between them; if there had been anything.
"Severus?" Harry asked timidly.
"Come on, Harry. I want to finish my Charms homework today." Severus was already halfway to the door. "Please."
"Fine." Harry heaved a deep breath. He had enough thinking to do, without letting Severus' words confuse him even further.
"And?" Sirius' eyes were wide with hope.
"How did you write so many letters?" Harry asked, more to buy himself some time than out of real curiosity.
"James, Remus and Lily helped," Sirius answered. "Remus also helped me to think of this. He said that I would need more than words to convince you."
"He was right," Harry murmured, looking down at his shoes.
"Like most of the time," Sirius agreed softly. "But was it enough, Harry?"
"What about me?" Harry demanded, finally looking up. "So maybe you just demonstrated that you aren't quite as immature as I thought, but what about me?"
"You?" Sirius smiled dreamily, taking a step towards Harry. "You're beautiful, no, you're more than that, you're the epitome of perfection. You're hot chocolate with whipped cream on a cold winter's day, you're the first bird singing in spring, you're the cooling breeze in summer, the shelter from an autumn storm, and I know you think I'm laying on to thick so I'll stop, but you're all that and much more.
"I love your smile because you have the cutest little dimples. I love the sound of your laugh, the light in your eyes as if you knew a secret no one else knows, the way your hair curls around your ears; your skin." He gently traced Harry's cheek. "So soft and smooth like porcelain but warmer, alive. I love your body, fragile but so strong, lithe. The way you played Quidditch yesterday made me want to drop out of the team so that I might be able to only watch you. But Jamie would kill me so I might have to reconsider.
"And I love the fact that every Friday after classes you sit down with every intention to do your homework immediately, but jump at the first chance to postpone it until Sunday evening. I love your sense of humour, though in all honesty, I wished you would laugh at more of my pranks. When you read, your nose crinkles and you gnaw your bottom lip and I love that. I also love that you get up to brush your teeth when you wake in the middle of the night."
Harry blushed brightly. "You heard me?"
"Yes." Sirius grinned. "I love the sound of your feet when you pad to the bathroom."
"I don't like the furry feeling in my mouth. I can't fall asleep again until I have brushed my teeth," Harry mumbled, surprised when Sirius' hand tilted his chin up.
"I think it's endearing."
"Oh," Harry whispered. "Thank you, I guess."
"I actually wasn't finished," Sirius said with more confidence. "Because most of all I love that you're kind to everyone but allow no one to push you around. I admire you for the fact that you talked with Remus, even though you must be scared, and that you stood up to me yesterday."
"Don't you want a submissive, meek little house-wife?" Harry asked bitterly. "A submissive that knows how to behave?"
"No, I want you. You're glorious when you lose your temper and you had every right to do so yesterday because I acted like a complete idiot and I had no right to treat you like that and my only reason is jealousy because, for the rest of my life, I want to be the only one touching you."
Harry didn't know what to do, what to say, what to feel.
"I cannot promise you that I'll change completely, that I'll never hurt you again, but, I can promise you that for every time I hurt you I will hate myself enough for both of us, for Snape and my so-called family; because you're my mate and I want to make you happy and cherish and protect you like you deserve. And you deserve someone much better than me, I know, but I just think that if I can be perfect for anyone it will be you. You're perfect for everyone, I know that, and I'll try to understand if you want to find another dominant."
"Sirius." Harry put a pale hand on the taller boy's arm. "I meant it when I said that you are my dominant. Not James and not Lucius and... well, no one else."
Sirius looked hopefully at him, carefully cupping Harry's face and caressing his cheeks with calloused fingers. "Does that mean that you aren't quite as averse to me being your mate anymore? Will you give me another chance?"
Harry bit his lip lightly. "I want to be friends with Severus."
"Okay," Sirius agreed softly. "Something else?"
"Never... Never treat me like that again," Harry whispered.
"I already spoke with Remus and James about it." Sirius tenderly pulled Harry to his chest. "I won't, they will make sure of that."
"Okay, then I'll give you another chance," Harry whispered and Sirius very, very chastely breathed a kiss on Harry's lips, making the elf shiver.
"Thank you." Sirius chuckled lightly as he noted Harry's dazed expression. "May I then ask you for a date? Next Saturday?"
Harry nodded shyly, feeling a huge weight lift from his chest. Nonetheless, he couldn't completely hide his disappointment.
"What is it? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, it's just..." Harry shifted uncomfortably. "I mean we're mates, right? And you make me feel good, most of the time, and ... It's almost an entire week until then, I thought, you know, if you don't mind and all, that we would do something before that? But I can wait and..."
"But I don't think I could wait." Sirius smiled almost apologetically at the younger man. "If you allow it, I'll be spending every second with you, Harry. But this Saturday I want to show you Hogsmeade. I don't believe you saw much of it last time."
"Narcissa was more focussed on showing me the shops from the inside," Harry agreed softly.
Sirius laughed. "I figured as much, though her efforts certainly paid off. I love that green shirt you bought. You look very drool-worthy in it."
"Uhm, thanks," Harry blushed. "So you only wanted to make sure that I would go with you to Hogsmeade and not with someone else?"
Sirius nodded in agreement and Harry smiled in relief.
"Oh, good."
"So do you want to come and celebrate Gryffindor's new Seeker now? I heard he's pretty good," Sirius asked hopefully.
"Severus is waiting for me." Harry ducked his head, fearing another temper tantrum.
"Okay," the older boy said instead, kissing Harry on the lips once more. "I hope you won't be too long and that you'll come to Gryffindor tonight because I missed you last night."
"Thank you," Harry hugged him fiercely and then stole another chaste kiss.
He was quickly becoming addicted to Sirius' kisses, the touching of their lips sending tingles through his whole body down to the tips of his toes. It was as if fireworks were exploding in his belly, sparks teasing all the nerve endings in his body. But it wasn't only excitement that made him like them so much, but also the warmth and protection he felt.
"Harry? Would you mind if I kissed you? Really kissed you?" Sirius interrupted his thoughts and Harry was still wondering how kisses could be more real than that, when he already found himself nodding.
One of Sirius hands slipped to his neck while the other snaked around his waist, both pulling him close to the veela's strong body. Harry realised dreamily that it shouldn't feel this good to be held snugly against another boy's body as if he was a girl ready to faint, but all in all he didn't care. Sirius first nipped the right corner of Harry's mouth, then the left, then pulled the elf's bottom lip into his mouth, worrying it carefully between his teeth.
Harry's eyes wanted to flutter close, but at the same time he wanted to keep them open because there was a light in Sirius' eyes that was much too fascinating to miss it. It looked as if a storm was raging in his eyes, passion and love and so many other emotions battling in the grey depths. Swirls of smoke and shadows. But when Sirius finally sealed Harry's lips with his, the green eyes dropped closed so Harry would be able to fully enjoy the kiss.
Sirius' real kisses were different then his short-tempered, happy-go-lucky nature. They were gentle and slow and sensual and deep and thorough and possessive and engaging. Harry could have melted right then and there, spending the rest of his life as a happy puddle of goo. A very embarrassing mewl escaped his throat when Sirius started to tenderly massage the middle of his back and his neck. He could hear the older boy's heartbeat, so close. His own heart was thumping irregularly, every few breaths missing a beat because Sirius' tongue did something that felt indescribably good in his mouth, darting into every corner of Harry's mouth, tipping the elf's tongue in invitation.
The veela drew back much too soon for Harry's liking and his lips followed Sirius', wanting, needing more. Sirius complied with a satisfied, loving smile and another mewl escaped Harry.
"Wow," Harry breathed, touching a finger to his lips in incredulous wonder.
"Same here," Sirius agreed, brushing a strand of hair out of Harry's face. "I might just have to do that again because I don't think I'll ever have enough of your taste."
"Please," Harry whispered.
"I will," Sirius promised, holding Harry as if afraid to break him. "But though I'm exhilaratingly happy that you seem to like my kisses so much, I don't intend to win you over with only them."
"But I think you could," Harry replied, still a bit dazed and Sirius laughed.
"And you, my little elf, don't need to win me over at all because, everything I am and have belongs to you."
"Compliments might also convince me," Harry said, finally regaining his senses. "It's pathetic, isn't it? How susceptible I am to your charm."
"No, it's not," Sirius stated earnestly. "Because I'm just as affected, if not more so, by yours. I was made for you, Harry."
"Thanks," Harry murmured. "I think I should go then."
"Where are you meeting Snape? In the library?" Harry nodded. "Would you mind if I walked you up there?" Harry hesitated briefly. "I'll just bring you to the library, I promise. I won't even come in if you don't want me to."
"Okay then," Harry agreed, feeling a pleasant tingle race up his arm when Sirius took his hand and gentlemanly led him up to the library, taking more than a few supposed short-cuts that turned out to be detours. Harry didn't really mind, especially because Sirius always apologised with at least one kiss. One real kiss that made the thought of having a mate, and having Sirius as his mate, suddenly seem a lot less despicable, maybe even pleasant.
Harry plopped down in the seat opposite of Severus a good five minutes after their agreed meeting time.
"Are you going to stop grinning anytime soon or should I get used to the foolish sight?" Severus sneered with his usual bite.
"Sirius and I made up," Harry exclaimed, not able to contain himself any longer. "He asked me for a date next weekend."
"And what did you say?" Severus didn't seem at all interested.
"I said yes." Harry laughed.
Severus kept absolutely still for a moment before he stood up abruptly. "I found a potion, we are finished here."
"Severus, what...?" The green-eyed boy caught up with the Slytherin before he could disappear completely. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing," Severus spat, trying to free his arm from Harry's grasp. "Let me go."
"If you are going to lie to me you could at least make it believable," Harry reprimanded him. "Tell me what is wrong, please?"
Severus sighed deeply and after making sure that no-one was listening in he snapped, "I had the foolish notion that you were interested in me, so after I have sufficiently embarrassed myself, I would appreciate it if you would let me go so that I can wallow in self-pity."
"Severus." Harry tried to stop him.
"No, Harry, I really don't want to talk about it, I thought you liked me like that, I was wrong and now Black has you. We are back to normal again."
"Severus." Harry carefully stopped him again. "I like you. I really, really like you and my human side may even have fallen in love with you, but my elf side could never feel completely safe with you and I don't think I could live that life. I'm sorry if I made you think that we had a chance. I like you, Severus, and I don't want to lose you as a friend, but I can't give you more."
"I'm not expecting more, Harry." Severus sighed. "Just let me..."
Severus' lips were surprisingly soft, unsure but quickly gaining confidence when Harry didn't push him away. Harry fisted his hands in the collar of Severus' robes, pulling and clutching and not believing that he was kissing his Potion's professor, not believing that no oversized foot emerged above him to stamp him into the ground for defying Mother Nature's divine plan to create a happily ever after with Sirius and Harry in the leading roles.
Severus' kiss was good, but nothing in comparison to Sirius'. Harry's eyes didn't feel the need to flutter close, he didn't feel like only the arms around him were keeping him on his feet, he didn't forget where he was, he didn't feel warm or protected or special. He felt sadness, for his friend, for himself because under other circumstances he may have chosen Severus over Sirius. But there was no choice. There was his mate and a neutral. It was a simple matter of fact. He felt guilty for allowing the kiss, cheating on his mate, and at the same time he had a sense of triumph because it showed him that he could defy Sirius, defy his nature. And when the kiss ended he felt relieved and not like he wanted more.
"I apologise. I'm not expecting more, Harry," Severus repeated. "I understand that you can't give me more, but I do have a crush on you and I need a bit of time to sort out my thoughts and feelings. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"It's fine." Harry hugged him tightly for a moment. "I really think you're great, though, and I'm sure you'll find someone. Someone who'll love you as you deserve."
"Of course," Severus answered sarcastically. "But I won't find someone like you."
"I'm sure in time you'll be grateful for that." Harry chuckled. "I don't envy Sirius for having to put up with me."
"Well, I do," the Slytherin insisted. "But then again, I have this." He triumphantly held up a scroll of parchment. "It might help me over this lovesickness."
"How many pranks can you choose?" Harry asked.
"Black apologised for forty-seven pranks," Severus replied with a smirk. "And I have it black on white that I can choose a prank for every ten pranks he pulled, either of my own creation or from the list." There was a rather evil gleam in his black eyes now. "And I have some potions I always wanted to try out. I only have to choose which four I want him to drink."
"I see you're already feeling better." Harry shook his head lightly. "Please, just don't do anything too gross to him because I still might feel the need to touch him."
"I will consider it," Severus stated. "But I'm Slytherin so don't think I'll squander this opportunity for revenge. Black wanted to impress you, he obviously did that, but it will also mean that he gets a bit of his own medicine. Maybe he'll then realise that some of his pranks weren't even remotely funny."
Harry sighed, but nodded. "Sirius will get pranked a lot in the coming weeks, won't he?"
"Indeed." Severus smirked. "I think he sent everyone the same offer with his apology. All the students at least. I'm not sure what he said to the professors."
"He volunteered for detention," Harry offered. "But Dumbledore intervened on his behalf and said that so much courage and integrity shouldn't be punished."
"Typical." Severus snorted. "Well, there are still the students. I have to work on my potions now."
"Okay." Harry hugged him again. "You haven't found a potion for our project though, have you?"
"No, I haven't." Severus laughed mirthlessly. "We will have to do a bit more research."
Harry groaned.