Telling Secrets

A/N: Here's chapter five!

Thanks to everyone who has left a review, it means a lot to me!

This fic is finally being beta read, so Broom, NSS, and Wolf should be able to relax and enjoy now! ;) The lovely Vaughn has offered her expertise for this fic, and she's a slash beta! Isn't that cool? She told me that she'd "Help me make sure all the willies were in the right place." I'm still snickering about that one! Thanks Vaughn! You rock!!!

Disclaimer: They are not mine; I only take them out to play.

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Stopping abruptly just inside the door, Minerva stood gaping at the cuddling wizards in amazement. Beginning to recover from her shock, Minerva quietly shut the door before regarding the sleeping men seriously. A small smile played for a moment on her lips as she looked at them. They made a pretty picture. Severus' head was resting on Ron's shoulder and his arm was tightly clasped around Ron's waist. Ron was cradling the older wizard protectively and he rested his cheek against the top of Severus' head. Both men slept on with expressions of content on their slightly smiling faces.

In truth, Minerva had never seen her friend look so at peace. It would be easy to assume that anything which made him appear so was a good thing. However, Minerva had never been one to take things at face value. She loved Severus like a son and she would protect the boy with her dying breath. When Minerva had assumed that Severus had killed Albus out of hate and gone gladly back to Voldemort's side, it had nearly broken the witch's heart. When she has seen him in St. Mungo's after he had been vindicated, Minerva had found a man broken in both body and mind. Swearing to herself that for the rest of her life she would do whatever it took to see to her friend's peace and happiness, Minerva had visited him every day. After nearly two months of visits, when Severus had spoken to her for the first time, she had wept out of pure joy. She did so love this cranky, difficult, brave, and brilliant boy; she always had done so. Now her greatest hope was that he would somehow learn to pick up the broken pieces of himself and have a decent life--for perhaps the first time since he had been born.

Covering her mouth, Minerva had to bite back a chuckle. She wasn't ready to wake them yet; she wanted more time to think. It became clear to her exactly why young Weasley had been treating her so rudely. True, he'd been making an effort to be more friendly of late, but it was obviously just that...an effort. Minerva hadn't understood why Ron had been so gruff with her in the first place. Now, seeing the protective way that Ron held her friend, she almost chuckled again at the realization that the young wizard had been jealous. Her expression growing more serious, Minerva thought about the matter.

Was this a good thing? It was true that Ron was a kind young man and he came from a family that Minerva had nothing but respect for. However, she had always considered Ron to be a bit flighty where relationships were concerned. Indeed, she hadn't even been certain that the young man was gay! If he decided on Severus, would he stick to his choice through good and bad? Severus was a strong wizard and a brave one. Now that Albus and You Know Who were dead, Severus was the last wizard on earth that Minerva would want to cross wands with. Love, however, was another matter entirely. Having always suspected that her stand-offish friend would fall hard if ever he fell at all, Minerva now worried over his choice. Severus was indeed a strong man in many ways, but he was nearly as bad as a schoolgirl when it came to matters of the heart. When it came to love, the formidable wizard was rather shy and unsure, almost fragile. Minerva wasn't at all certain that Ronald Weasley would be patient enough, or discerning enough, to make Severus a good match. Unfortunately, the matter wasn't up to her.

Deciding it was time to wake the sleeping beauties, Minerva told herself to wait and watch before she made any sort of judgment on the situation. Sitting down in a nearby chair, Minerva gave a small, muffled cough.

Waking immediately, Ron looked to Severus with concern. Seeing that the man in his arms was still resting peacefully, Ron relaxed. His relief was short lived. Spotting Minerva where she sat quietly in her chair, Ron's eyes widened in surprise. Minerva noted that he did nothing to disturb the man in his arms. Pleased, she gave Ron a small smile as she inwardly congratulated him on not leaping from the bed in shock.

Turning to Severus, Ron gently stroked his hair as he called softly, "Severus? Wake up, love. Minerva's here for a visit." While Ron wasn't at all sure how Severus would react to being caught by Minerva in such an intimate embrace, he remembered all too well how Severus had acted when Harry and Hermione had caught Ron combing Severus' hair. Determined not to give Severus any reason to think that he was ashamed of him, Ron smiled at Severus warmly as the sleepy wizard opened his eyes. "Good morning, sunshine," he said softly.

With a token roll of his eyes, Severus said, "Did you say Minerva?"

"Yes, Severus, he said Minerva," Minerva said dryly. "Do you think you could unwind yourself from that young man long enough for a visit?"

He'd been spy for years as well as a master of Occlumency, but Severus' reaction to the situation he now found himself in was all too transparent. First he blinked at Minerva, blushing slightly. Then he looked at Ron, who was still holding him firmly and smiling at him with obvious affection. The expression on Severus' face could only be described as wonder. True, it was a slightly embarrassed wonder, but wonder nonetheless.

"Would you like to go sit near Minerva, love?" Ron asked gently. "I would be happy to help you."

When Ron used that endearment right in front of God and Minerva McGonagall, Severus' eyes got that same light that had lit them when Ron fussed over him at table. It was then that Ron knew that though Severus was embarrassed, he was also very pleased.

"Yes, Ron, I would like to sit with Minerva. Thank you," Severus said softly.

Giving a small sigh of relief that he had played the situation correctly, Ron helped Severus out of bed and into a chair by Minerva. Ron then pressed his luck by giving Severus a small kiss on the top of his head after he'd been seated. Though Severus rolled his eyes at the blatant sign of affection, it was clear that he was pleased by the attention.

For a while, Minerva sat chatting with Severus as she usually did. All too soon, she asked a question that caused a reaction similar to what would have happened if she'd let a cobra loose into the room.

"So tell me, Ronald," she began innocently as she turned her attention toward Ron, "exactly what are your intentions where Severus is concerned?"

Gaping at the woman in shock, Ron blushed like the red-headed Weasley he was. Still staring at Minerva, Ron desperately tried to think of something to say. Nothing came to mind. All he could think about was that he would no longer have to worry about scaring Severus off because Minerva McGonagall had probably just saved him the effort. Ron's inner quandary was ended by something rather unexpected.

"How dare you!" Severus said, his voice low and cold. Standing up on legs that shook almost imperceptibly, he gave Minerva a look of such fury that Ron was certain the witch was lucky that Severus was without a wand. "How dare you embarrass Ron by asking such a rude, thoughtless question! This is none of your business, Minerva. We are none of your business. Ron has been kinder to me than you could possibly know and I will not allow you to interrogate him."

"You are my business, Severus," Minerva snapped back. "We've known each other since you were eleven and we've been friends for twenty years. I'm the closest thing to family you've got and I'm going to look after you."

"I don't need looking after, Minerva. I'm forty-two years old for fuck's sake!"

"You may be a strong man in many ways, Severus, but you know nothing about relationships!"

"You've told me for years I should get a boyfriend," growled Severus, "and now you have the audacity to question my choice?"

Having been watching the argument like a spectator at a tennis match, Ron gave a sudden start. Boyfriend? Severus actually referred to him as his boyfriend? Bloody brilliant! Ron continued to watch the ongoing fireworks with a rather dopey grin on his face.

"I wasn't questioning your choice, you dolt! I know Ron is a fine young man, but he is rather young. I was merely inquiring into Ron's intentions ..."

"I may not have the vast experience that you gathered in your wicked youth, Ms. Wiggle-arse, but I am hardly a blushing virgin," Severus shouted, "and even I know you don't go babbling on about people's intentions when the relationship in question has only begun two bloody days ago! What are you trying to do, scare the man off?"

Mmmmm... First 'boyfriend' and now 'relationship'. Noting how sexy his boyfriend looked when angry, Ron's dopey grin widened. "Severus?" he asked quietly.

When Severus turned to Ron and saw Ron's adoring expression, the anger fled his face to be replaced with a rather endearing look of puzzlement. "Yes, Ron?" he managed to mutter.

"I don't mind answering Minerva's question," Ron said simply. Turning to Minerva, Ron said, "I haven't a clue what my intentions are. As Severus said, we've only been in a relationship for a brace of days. To be quite honest, I've spent most of that time trying not to cock things up too badly. I have no idea where this is going--I expect that Severus and I will have to work that out together. I can tell you that this isn't a casual fling...at least, it isn't to me."

Turning back to Severus, Ron saw that the older wizard looked stunned. When Ron noticed that Severus' legs were beginning to shake rather badly, he quickly stood, walked over to Severus, and wrapped an arm around his waist.

"Severus, you should sit back down, love."

Severus did not sit back down. Severus twined both hands in Ron's hair and drew him into a short but heated kiss. The kiss ended and Ron helped settle Severus back into his chair. For a short time, Severus looked fidgety and uncomfortable, but Minerva soon had him chatting about less flammable topics. Sitting quietly and listening to their conversation, Ron wondered if the dopey grin he still sported had frozen onto his face.

Minerva's visit eventually ended and this time she gave both wizards a quick smooch before she left. After she had gone, Ron could see how very tired Severus was. The argument, the standing, and the emotion of the past hour had taken its toll. Tired himself, Ron was glad to help Severus into bed and crawl in after him. When Severus snuggled close to him and laid a hand suggestively over Ron's crotch, Ron gently dissuaded him.

"Severus, I think we are both a bit too tired for that tonight. It's been a rather eventful day, love. Sleep now. There's no hurry, after all. We've all the time in the world to have fun together."

"Do we?" Severus asked baldly.

"We do, if that's what you want."

Ron was almost asleep when Severus' soft voice broke the silence of the room.

"Ron...this isn't a casual fling for me either."

"Good," Ron said simply. Pulling Severus tighter into his arms, Ron slipped into sleep, the grin never leaving his face.

When Ron woke the next morning, he found himself in a wonderfully familiar situation. Severus' arm was tight around his waist and one leg was thrown possessively over both of Ron's own. What once was torture was now pure bliss. Seeing that the older wizard still slept deeply, a wicked light sprang to life in Ron's eyes. Severus had been brilliant the night before when he sprung to Ron's defense. He deserved a prize. Gently, oh so gently, Ron rolled the sleeping man onto his back. Though Severus stirred, he did not wake. Slowly, inch by careful inch, Ron drew the blankets off the man lying beside him. Creeping slowly, and pausing dramatically whenever Severus showed signs of stirring, Ron made a careful journey until his head was poised over Severus' conveniently tented nightshirt. It seemed to take a small eternity to carefully slip the hem of Severus' nightshirt up far enough to bare his prize. Finally, Ron lowered his head to take Severus' cock in his mouth. He started slowly, with gentle lips and a tasting tongue. The previous morning, Ron had been too impatient--and too distracted by Severus' hot mouth on his own needy flesh--to take his time. Now he took all the time he wished to explore every delicious inch.

Soon Severus began to stir, though he had not yet awakened. The sleeping man's legs moved restlessly, his back arched, and his mouth let slip small, delightful sounds of pleasure. Speeding up his ministrations slightly, Ron swept his tongue over the sensitive underside of Severus' cock with every bob of his head.

As his hips thrust up off the bed instinctively, Severus' eyes fluttered open. Lifting his head up off the pillow, Severus blinked at Ron in confusion even as another needy groan rumbled from his throat.

"Ron...what are you...what...oh bloody fuck!" Severus muttered almost incoherently, his voice rough both from sleep and desire.

When Ron heard that husky voice, he added the last touch to his ministrations. He hummed. Severus' hips bucked off the bed in reaction.

"Ron...oh sweet Merlin...yessssss...oh yes!"

Ron could feel a tremor pass down Severus' body and then he was distracted by licking and swallowing as his lover gushed into his mouth. When Severus' cock had given all it had to give, Ron gave it a soft kiss before he climbed up Severus' body to look down at his face.

"Good morning, sunshine," he said huskily before lowering his head for a heated kiss. Then, while Severus panted, he rolled to Severus' side to nuzzle at the older wizard's neck while his hand stroked up and down Severus' chest.

When Severus had caught his breath enough to speak, he said, "You certainly know how to wake a man up, you incorrigible boy! But surely there is something I could do to return the favor?"

"I think...If you just..." Words failing him, Ron grabbed Severus' hand and brought it down to slide into his pajama pants. "I'm already so close..."

Rolling until he lay half over Ron, Severus wrapped his hand around Ron's erection and gave it a firm squeeze. "Close are you?" he growled suggestively. "You must have been doing something you enjoy..." Giving Ron a downright wicked grin, Severus lowered his mouth to Ron's and kissed him fiercely as his hand began to pump Ron's cock in long, firm stokes.

Ron hadn't been kidding when he told Severus that he was already close to coming. Giving his still sleeping lover a blow job had been one of the most heated experiences of his life. It didn't take long at all before Ron was moaning Severus' name as he pumped his release into Severus' waiting hand.

When Severus then brought his hand up to his mouth to slowly lick it clean as he stared into Ron's wide eyes, Ron wanted to roll Severus onto his back and do the whole lot all over again.

So he did.