The Resurrection Stone (SNARRY) {#JustWriteIt #AltEnding}

Chapter 4: Company

Harry had never been very good at flooing places and this was no different. He tumbled out of the fireplace careful to make sure his tumble didn't cause Severus to topple. But the caution didn't matter. Severus fell out of the fireplace less than a second after Harry and fell on top of the younger man.
"Oof" Harry said as his breath was knocked from him, "Severus, you're crushing my wind pipe" Harry breathlessly whimpered. Without a word the Older man rolled himself off Harry and tried to to stand but instead collapsed cringing at the pain. 'Stop it.' He thought to himself 'you've endured the Cruciatus curse, this pain should be nothing' heaving together all his wit he remarked
"You don't exactly make the best cushion, Harry" But using the boys first name made the rest of the sarcastic remark useless. Harry almost giggled but refrained from doing so for fear of being sent away.
"That really didn't have the effect you wanted did it?" Severus just shook his head in response and Harry noticed the surge of pain that seemed to ripple through the older mans body
"Please Severus, let me help you to bed" Harry said already bending down and hoisting them both up.

When Severus was finally nestled under the covers of his four poster and Harry was breathing heavily a comfortable silence hung between the two. Harry cautiously leaned back on the bed slowly progressing to laying down.
"And what, Mr Potter, do you think you're doing?" Severus slowly asked
"Laying down, you're not weightless"
"Weight is the force of gravity upon an object, whilst that is the common terminology I believe the word you wanted to use was 'massless'"
"I- What?"
"Nevermind Potter. I wouldn't expect you to understand the laws of Physics"
"I understand the laws of physics Severus, I just..."
"Just what?"
"Well firstly, weightless is accurate, you're not weightless, nor are you massless so I don't see the difference really; secondly, since when does 'the Evil Potions Master' know about something as muggle as physics"
"It should come as no surprise to you that I too was raised a muggle before coming to Hogwarts-"
"The Half-Blood Prince" Harry said quietly"
"Indeed, though my childhood was not the best my mother cared enough for me to ensure I got a decent education in a muggle school"
"But muggles don't learn about anything other than reading, writing and math until they're same age as Wizards are when come to Hogwarts"
"I was very advanced for my age. Knowing the sciences is part of what helped make me so good at potions when I came to school."
"How?"
"Chemistry for one is sort of the Muggle version of Potions and is also about reactions, formulae and balancing the effects of one thing to another, Physics was all the logic and reasoning that helped and Biology assists me when it comes to growing or procuring the ingredients for potions"
"Okay, That makes sense" Harry said as a smile toyed with his lips
"What. Do you find so amusing Harry?" Severus drawled noticing the boys goofy smile
"Nothing"
"It's not nothing"
"Okay then, something"
"What 'something' do you find to be amusing" Severus said feeling the boys playfulness seeping into his own skin. Harry looked away, he was not about to admit that he'd been picturing Severus as a muggle scientist wearing a white lab coat and goggles that were far too big for his face. Harry shook his head refusing to say anymore.
"Must I use Legilimency to wean the truth from you?" Harry remained quiet
"Or...must I use other means?" Severus lifted himself enough to sidle closer to Harry. He reached out long slender fingers and gently placed them on the boys neck. Harry froze in shock but only had a brief moment for thought before the fingers began tickling him. Harry wriggled and laughed as Severus continued to tickle him mercilessly
"Tell me, Potter. What was so amusing?"
"I- I won- Hahahahaha- Tell- you- haha-" Harry said between laughs,
"Now now, I could play this game for hours but I'm afraid you'd wet the bed laughing" Severus said in a playful tone that made Harry writhe more
"No- No-" Severus continued to tickle Harry's senseless until at last several minutes later Harry gasped out
"F-Fine- I'll- haha- I'll tell- you-" Severus stopped but kept his hands dangerously close to Harry's skin.
"Go ahead Potter, and don't try to lie or I'll resume"
"I was imagining you as a muggle scientist" Harry looked away so as to hide his unjustified blush
"What? That's it!? All of that effort and energy wasted for that? Wow you've really out done yourself this time Harry" Severus was baffled. What was so amusing about him being a muggle scientist. Who knew what went on in teenage boys minds. Well he did, after all he was a boy once and almost all that went through his mind was school and sex. Not that he'd ever admit to having such common desires.
"Severus?" Harry asked quietly, the man was clearly lost in thought
"Pardon?" Severus felt his cheeks warm slightly as he was brought back to reality.
"Nothing, you just, daydreamed I guess..." there was a pause
"...so what do we do now?" Harry continued
"Whatever you'd like to Harry"
"Oh good! I've always wanted to play truth or dare with a teacher. So Severus, Truth or Dare?"
"Neither. I am not engaging in this childish game"
"Okay so you pick truth... um... I've gotta come up with something good..." Harry thought, there were a million questions he'd wanted to ask but now that he thought about it he couldn't find a single one
"Um..." Then a thought struck "What was it like...Dying?" Severus stiffened slightly, what should he say.
"It was...unusual" Severus trailed off
"What happened? Can you remember?"
"My turn Harry"
"Please Severus what happened?" Harry asked worriedly
"I went to this strange place, Albus Dumbledore told me it was 'essentially the in-between' and my 'in-between' reflected my lab, he said you'd been there and then told me it was Smyrna choice whether or not I returned to the land of the living and then a radio appeared and your voice" Severus didn't know how to continue and the memory of Harry saying everything he'd said was replaying loudly in his mind
"Im sorry sir, I was distressed, I-"
"-Don't apologize, I have you to thank for life" Severus said
"It's your turn Professor"
"What?"
"To ask me, truth or dare... I pick truth" Harry said nonchalantly
"Fine, since you so insist on my participation. What was it like to be raised by muggles?" Severus pretended he didn't really care but inside he did want to hear the answer.

After half an hour of so the pair had decided it was more like 21 questions than truth or dare since neither really wanted to do a dare. They had both asked all the questions they could discuss without digging too far into the others privacy but neither wanted to stop the game. It was Harry's turn and he was stumped as to what to ask the man before him. Harry felt a little more courageous and decided to test the waters with more 'fun' questions
"How many girls have you dated in your whole life?" Harry asked trying to sound as carefree as possible but internally scared he was about to have his head bitten off.
"I- I always thought I loved your Mother and have abstained from dating anyone since I met her" Severus replied honestly
"But weren't you like 9 when you met her? That's like you're whole life"
"My turn Potter" Severus said tauntingly. If Harry was going to bring forth questions like these he decided he'd get Harry with some awkward and personal questions.
"How many women have you snogged?" Harry had to smirk
"Enough"
"Which is how many exactly?"
"Um... Cho and Ginny" Harry said not taking his eyes off the potions master hoping for a reaction but earning none
"Have you ever had sex?" Harry asked in an attempt at payback
"Yes."
"But you said-"
"My turn Harry. What lucky lady are you currently crushing on?" Severus tried to sound bored but wanted an honest answer so he could use it against Harry
"None."
"There must be someone..."
"Well, considering I haven't been interested in women since before the war, there are none whom I desire"
"What do-"
"My turn Severus. Who did you have sex with?"
"I think that's a bit too much to ask Potter"
"I think not, since I know what your next question is and I know that it's very personal"
"Fine. But only after you answer me..."
"I asked first Professor"
"I need to know first Potter."
"Whatever. Ask it then" Harry said and folded his arms behind his head though he was internally panicking
"Are you homosexual Harry?"
"Yes. Yes I am. Now tell me who you had sex with" Harry prompted
"It was Lucious"
"MALFOY??" Harry sat up in shocked and gawked at his Professor,
"As in Draco's father!? Does Draco know? How did it happen? Why?"
"Calm down Potter. I, like yourself am not what you're generation call straight. I loved your mother but later came to realise it was Sister-like love. Lucious was my only friend because you're father and his friends had alienated me. Lucious offered to help me figure out my sexuality and after a... an... experience with him I found I preferred men. Is that a satisfactory answer to all your questions Potter?"
"Almost, does Draco know?"
"I do not know if Lucious ever confided this to his son but I assume not"
"Wow. Okay um..."
"My turn Mr Potter. Since I answered many of your questions I get two turns" Severus said to the still baffled young man
"How did you come across your homosexuality"
"Don't make it sound so complicated Severus, just ask 'how did you find out you're gay?' It makes everyone's lives easier" Harry said unknowingly procrastinating "I didn't enjoy kissing either Ginny or Cho. Then I had a dream about someone... a guy and woke up... um... aroused..."
"Have you ever been with a guy?" Severus asked
"No. I want to, you know just to confirm my suspicions but I can't just say 'what guy wants to kiss me?' Because it'll be in the daily prophet before I even work it out properly, I hate the lack of privacy when it comes to my personal life" Harry said.

The pair continued asking personal but light hearted questions for only a few more minutes before Severus had an elf bring him and Harry a late lunch. After Lunch Severus accioed everything he needed to begin his lesson plans for the fast approaching school year whilst Harry continued his book. Madam Pomfrey brought dinner to the pair that evening and did a quick check up on Severus who was recovering a lot faster than expected. When bed time rolled around Harry made sure Severus was comfortable, had a glass of water on his bedside and had been to the loo before turning to leave the room,
"Where's the spare bedroom?" Harry asked quietly"
"Damn. I completely forgot. I'm sorry Harry but it's not ready, there's no bed or anything... you could sleep in here if you wanted to... or you could have the living room couch but I warn you it's very uncomfortable." Harry walked back the bed and got under the covers. He faced away from Severus and Severus did the same. "What would someone think if they saw us... two gay guys sharing a bed" Harry joked. Something about the idea of being in a relationship with the younger man calmed Severus enough to give him an easy transition to sleep whereas the same thought aroused Harry immensely. Harry considered walking but decided that would be better done in privacy. Harry quietly snuck to the en suite to relieve himself. When he returned he whispered a quiet 'Goodnight' to Severus and fell asleep shortly after.