Look Me In The Eyes

The Struggle

Harry and Severus spent Saturday morning having breakfast with everyone in the Great Hall, enjoying the food and good conversation between teachers. Harry was in such a good mood, thinking about his last moments with Severus on Thursday, and his night with Draco on Friday. Nothing could ruin his day.

Severus walked down the hallway with Harry after breakfast was dismissed, on their way to Severus's private quarters.

Harry looked down at Severus's hand as they walked, only a few inches apart from his own fingers. "What should we do this weekend?" He went for it, clasping his hand.

Severus immediately pulled away, smacking Harry's hand. "Stop that! Students are very much around and so are the teachers." He snapped.

Harry rubbed his reddened hand, surprised at Severus's response. "Sorry..."

Severus came to his door after a lengthy walk down the Dungeon hallways, unlocking his door with various taps to his door.

Harry walked in with Severus, wondering why Severus cared if anyone saw. "Why do you care if someone sees us holding hands?" He asked, sitting down on the couch.

Severus took off his heavy cloak, unbuttoning all the layers to reveal just a soft cotton T-shirt underneath. "It is not appropriate to show public displays of affection unless they can be hidden properly." He sat down next to Harry, summoning the whiskey decanter with the matching crystal glasses.

Harry took one as it came to him, frowning slightly. "I told Hagrid." He admitted, watching the whiskey pour itself. "About us...and I told Malfoy."

"I told Horace." Severus followed up by saying, taking a sip of his hefty glass of Fire Whiskey. If he finds out I still speak with Lucius he'd lose it...I mustn't say...

"Are you okay with people knowing?" Harry often wondered how Severus felt, considering he was a very private person.

Severus dipped his finger in his drink, rubbing the liquid around the edge to make a ringing sound. "I am fine with people knowing as long as I know their character, that they are loyal and wouldn't take the information they've received for granted."

Harry remembered that word, how Draco made Harry promise his loyalty. He was curious about what thay truly meant. "Severus?"

"Yes?" Severus hummed.

"When a Slytherin asks someone for their loyalty...what does that mean?" Harry asked.

Severus raised a brow. "Oh? Well then where do I begin?" He took a sip, poking his chin as he pondered a good way to explain. "Loyalty in general of course is to never lie, never betray the other, but a Slytherin asking someone's loyalty is one of the most serious promises one can make."

Harry swallowed hard. "In what way?"

"They ask you to jump, you jump." Severus remembered back to when he was a young teenager, how he had made Lucius swear his loyalty to him. "You do everything and anything to keep the friendship and love sincere."

Harry nervously turned the crystal glass in his fingers.

"You told me previously that Draco made you promise your loyalty is that correct?" Severus asked.