In Need

CHAPTER 17

NOTES:

Hello dear readers, and welcome to chapter 17!

I have been battling with this chapter for a couple of weeks, for some reason their dialogue didn't come as easily this time around. But I don't know what else to change.

As always, thank you to each and every one of you who comes back for each chapter. I know some of you gave me suggestions, and some of them will be used in later chapters (chapter 18, for example, will include two of your suggestions!).

For now, here we go with chapter 17.

ENJOY!

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The last days of December went by in the blink of an eye, and too quickly for Harry's taste, the students were back from their winter holidays. The castle reverted to having the ruckus it always had, the corridors full of excited students after being away for a few days. Friends meeting again, couples that were hugging and smooching after spending time with their families... Harry knew all about it, after being with his friends every day for the past months, it was unnerving to suddenly be with your family.

And he couldn't lie to himself. As much as he liked having the entire castle almost to himself during holidays, he also missed the hustle and bustle of school life. Hogwarts was far too big and too empty without students around. He smiled when at the welcoming feast after the holidays, he could see the pupils again in the Great Hall, the tables back in the usual position.

Severus's birthday had been a regular weekday, so they hadn't been able to spend much time together until the evening. But Harry had made sure to take some time to bake Severus's favourite roast chicken for dinner. A happy chance had placed detention right after Severus's last class, so Harry had had time to prepare everything and get it ready for his return.

Besides, at this point, it was common knowledge that they ate together some meals away from the Great Hall. Therefore, nobody batted an eye when they didn't make an appearance for dinner. Even less so Minerva, Dumbledore and Hagrid, the only ones who knew Severus's birthday date.

Harry still remembered Severus's wide eyes and shocked expression when he entered his living quarters and the smell of roast chicken hit his nostrils.

"What's all this?" came his voice from the threshold, still with the door open. Harry only gave him a wide smile.

"Happy birthday, Severus" Harry had said from the kitchenette, clad in one of Severus's aprons.

His hands smelled strongly of onion and garlic, his hair was a mess and his clothes were wrinkled from spending all day up and down the castle corridors. Yet, nothing mattered when Severus seemed to react, crossed the living room in two strides and engulfed him in an emotional hug.

"Thank you..." he'd whispered, resting his head on Harry's shoulder and letting his hair cover half of his face. His voice was choked with emotion, and Harry had answered the hug immediately, happy that his surprise was of Severus's liking.

After that, the month seemed to fly by, week by week, stressful as it had always been.

One evening in late January, Harry was in his and Severus's rooms in the dungeons after dinner. He was on the sofa, a blanket on top of his legs, and was grading some 4th-year papers when he heard the door opening. He looked up the moment a swirl of black crossed the threshold, and he smiled.

"Hello," he said from his spot on the sofa.

Severus focused on him, not having realized he was there in the first place. For a split second, Harry saw his brow furrowing and his eyes hardening, his hand twitching close to his inner pocket, where Harry knew he had his wand. Old habits die hard, he guessed.