The Space Between Failing and Falling • Snarry •

Chapter 15: Hope and Headlines

They lunch with Ron and Hermione, and one Saturday when Bill, Fleur and their baby show up at Ron's, Fleur says, "Sev, 'elp me wiz the cakes."

She sets Victoire on the kitchen counter who gurgles, and they watch Severus place cakes onto plates. He awaits the real reason for her request. He likes Fleur; she is forthcoming, competent, and just gets on with things.

"You are nevair going to propose to 'Arry?" she whispers.

Severus stiffens. "I don't see—"

"You love 'im, no? 'E would say yes, of course, zair is no doubt." Fleur's gaze sharpens. "Know this, Meester Snape," she says (Severus notes the change in his address), "'Arry is not a fool. I do not know what ze meaning of zis wait is, but show me that 'e is not wrong."

She picks up her baby, levitates the plates, and flounces into the dining room.

****

He spots the following headline as he's buying his coffee and croissant in the Atrium:

'EXCLUSIVE: HARRY DATING DEATH EATER AND FORMER TEACHER SEVERUS SNAPE'

There are two photos from the Quidditch match. Harry, with Teddy on his shoulders, grabs his hand during a goal. Severus gazes at the photograph of the fingers clutching his. In the five seconds he stares at the paper, he sees a quote from an old schoolmate ("Snape was weird and obsessive") and his heart sinks. He does not buy the newspaper.

He's on edge as he sifts through his Interdepartmental memos, and music doesn't calm him. The eight o'clock news comes on and announces to the whole world that he and Harry are in a relationship. His mouth turns dry, his stomach into lead. He stares unseeingly out the window for a while, and a Thames Clippers river bus passes by.

The door opens and closes and no one is there. A glance at the Foe-Glass shows they are not an enemy.

"Harry?" Severus bets, and before he realises what is going on, he's against the window and Harry's tongue is in his mouth, thigh between his legs, face cradled in strong hands. And by Circe he is so overawed with love and longing that it almost hurts.

Eventually, Harry stops ravishing him to rest his forehead against Severus's.

"You should be at university."

"I thought you'd be unhappy," Harry says, "so I came as soon as I heard."

Severus swallows. He doesn't know the correct answer.

"You can be honest," Harry says. "Being unhappy is allowed."

It is safer to not reply.

Harry steps back. "I don't care about the papers. I want to show you off."

That simply cannot be true.

Yet, his eyes are defiant and he must have seen something in Severus's face, for he says, "I promise I want to be seen with you."

"No."

"I swear it's true. And love keeps its promises, you plonker."

Severus's hands are still full of memos, and he returns to his desk, clears his throat, shuffles his paperwork. Blast, blast it all, where are his reading glasses?

Harry hovers, still waiting for an answer.

"The views of the general public are less than flattering," Severus says at long last.

"So...you're worried about what people think."

Severus looks at Harry as though he is stupid. "You were my student. As headmaster, I enacted a reign of terror. I am a fully signed up Death Eater. You, on the other hand, are our world's favourite celebrity, Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Bachelor Award, et cetera, et cetera."