Safe at Spinner’s End

Snape didn't hear from them for the rest of the week, and when Sunday rolled around again and still no word, he sat alone at his kitchen table, his head cradled in his hands, despairing of ever mending the breach his harsh words had caused.

Thus it was that, the day after the school year ended, he was surprised to hear Harry's frantic voice calling from his Floo around 9 p.m. Rushing into the sitting room, he said, "What's wrong? Are you all right?"

"Can we come through? Please?"

Snape nodded vigorously and stepped back. Harry and Hermione whirled out onto the rug, and they both looked frazzled.

Breathless, Harry said, "Thank you. Are your Anti-Apparition wards still up?"

A frisson of icy fear washed over him as he said, "Of course. Why?"

Hermione murmured, "Block your Floo. Please."

Snape instantly cast the spells, pulse speeding up in response to their contagious fear. "There. We're as secure as we'll ever be. Now, why don't you sit down and tell me what happened."

Harry guided Hermione to sit on the couch and crossed to the hutch where Snape kept his alcohol, pouring shots of Firewhisky for both of them. They knocked them back and coughed, taking deep breaths until they were calmer. Snape wanted to yell, to get them to bloody well talk already, but he was afraid to after how disastrous that had been last time.

In a carefully controlled voice, he said, "What are you afraid of?"

Harry muttered, "Revenge."

Frowning in confusion, Snape urged, "Revenge for what? And from whom?"

Hermione spoke then. "Ron and Ginny. Hell, maybe even the whole Weasley clan by now."

Harry added, "We ended things with them. It went... poorly."

Hermione let loose a bark of hysterical laughter at Harry's understatement. "Poorly? We were dodging hexes at the end there. We really should offer to pay for repairs at the restaurant."

Snape's eyes nearly bugged out. "What on earth happened?"

Harry leant back into the couch cushions and closed his eyes. "Ever since we left here last time, we've been trying to figure out what to do. We tried talking to them and explaining what we wanted to change to make things better. It didn't work. We gave them so many chances. So, we finally realized you were right and that we had to end it, and we knew what we wanted. We set up a meeting at a nice restaurant, figuring they'd be less likely to make a scene in public like that..."

Hermione snorted. "Apparently not."

Snape blinked.

Harry continued, "We explained that we weren't happy and that it was over, but they didn't believe us. They kept trying to convince us that we were just being too sensitive and that we didn't know what we were talking about."

Hermione interjected again. "Fucking infuriating, that was."

"Yeah. So, things got a little heated, and then...well...all hell broke loose. That was my fault, actually."

Hermione rounded on him and said, "No it wasn't! It's not your fault that they're bigots!"

At that, Snape breathed, "You didn't."

They both turned to him and Harry said, "I did. You were right. If they can't accept me for who I really am like you can, then they don't really love me."

Snape's hands rose to rake through his hair and then cover his mouth. His eyes were wide as he stared at them, astonished.

Hermione whispered, "That's when things turned ugly, and Ron got violent. We had to get out of there before Harry got hurt."

Snape rasped, "Of course."

"We Apparated to the Three Broomsticks so we could Floo to Hogwarts since we hadn't moved our stuff home for the summer yet, but when we Flooed to my room, we heard them in the hallway. They had apparently Flooed to Harry's room after going to Grimmauld Place first. Ron was yelling something about Harry fucking Kreacher or something vile like that, and we couldn't think of anywhere else to go that they couldn't find us. That's when we asked if we could come here." Hermione gazed at him with solemn, glassy eyes.

Snape looked at Harry and saw that he was shaking. He shot to his feet, startling them, and hurried to his potions stock, returning with a Calming Draught. He perched on the coffee table in front of Harry and offered the bottle to him. "Here. Drink."

Harry swallowed a large dose and curled forward, arms crossed tight over his middle as he waited for the tremors to stop.

Snape stared at the young man...he hadn't been a boy for a long while...and said, "I'm so sorry you experienced that, but I'm so proud of you, Harry."

Harry looked up with a mournful expression that crumbled as tears welled up. Snape leant forward and gathered Harry into a comforting embrace, looking at Hermione and nodding for her to join them.

They sat there, holding each other, for a long while. Finally, Harry backed away and Summoned a tissue to wipe his face and blow his nose. Snape took that as his cue to return the Calming Draught to his potions cabinet. He dallied for a few minutes, giving Harry and Hermione time and privacy to compose themselves.

When he returned, Hermione was in his kitchen making tea and toast and Harry was sprawled on his couch, watching him thoughtfully. Snape sat in his armchair and said, "Are you all right?"

Harry nodded, the potion and the Firewhisky working to leave him rather mellow. "I'm better, thanks. Do you mind if we kip here tonight? We don't want to have to worry about Ron and Ginny showing up at Grimmauld Place or Hogwarts again until we've had a chance to talk to MLE about protection orders."

Snape swallowed, a thrill chasing through him at the thought of having them in his home overnight. The last person he had ever had stay over was Viktor; there was a throb in his groin at the thought. "I've only got the one spare room, but you're welcome to it."

Harry cast a lopsided grin at him. "Thanks. If I had to pick the safest place to be, it would always be with you."

Snape sucked in a breath and swallowed again, the throb in his groin now joined by another in his chest.

From the doorway, Hermione added, "Harry's right. For the past three years, we've been happiest when we've been here with you." She entered and set the tea tray on the coffee table, smiling at Snape as she murmured, "We missed you last Sunday. We just couldn't come back to you until we had accomplished something."

Something akin to panic crept over Snape, feeling like he was being ganged up on, and he said thickly, "On second thought, perhaps it's better if you don't stay here tonight. You should go find a room at a hotel or an inn. I'll pay for it if necessary. But you should go."

Harry scowled and said, "Oi! That's not on, Severus. We're in very real danger and we need protection. You owe us, remember? Something about a life debt? Well, we're cashing in."

Snape's eyes widened and he sank back in his chair. "Are you serious?"

Hermione affected a reasoning tone and said, "We are. We've never liked having that whole life debt thing hanging over us, always there as a barrier between you and us. This is a perfect opportunity to discharge your obligation, Severus. Honestly, what self-respecting Slytherin wouldn't jump at the chance to get rid of a life debt in such a benign fashion?"

Snape let loose a bark of sardonic laughter. "And what self-respecting Gryffindor would manipulate someone who owes them a life debt like this?"

Harry said, "Bloody hell, Severus, you act like we have you trapped in your own home."

Hermione added, "So, what do you say? We stay for as long as it takes to make sure we're safe from Weasley vengeance, and you've paid your life debt to us. Simple. Now, shall we have some tea to seal the bargain?"

Cold sweat prickled Snape's skin as he looked at the two very determined and triumphant people before him. "Fine. It's a deal."

Both Harry and Hermione beamed at him, eyes alight with satisfaction and something a bit more predatory. Snape's pulse stuttered and raced.

Hermione mixed tea for everyone and handed the cups out. "Here. Just have some tea and relax."

Harry sipped his tea but stared at Snape over the rim of the cup. "Good idea, Hermione, but I know how I'd rather relax."

Hermione affected polite inquiry and said, also watching Snape, "Oh, what's that?"

Harry put down his cup and leant back on the couch, sliding forward, knees spreading. "Something Viktor and I used to do."

Snape's cup dropped onto his saucer with a clatter.

Hermione smiled, setting her cup down as well, and said, "Mmm, I remember how Viktor used to relax me. I wonder if the premise is the same."

Harry deliberately slid his hand over his groin, smirking at Snape. "I dunno. What about you, Severus? How did he relax you?"

Snape's breathing went shallow and rapid, and his hand shook as he put his cup on the table. His voice was rough and rather desperate as he said, "What are you doing? What's got into you two?"

At that, Hermione made a moue of sympathy and rose to cross to his chair. She perched on one arm and caressed Snape's shoulder soothingly. "Severus, in the time since we saw you last, Harry and I did a lot of talking. We realized that you were right on so many counts, and we also realized what we wanted." She lifted her hand to cup his cheek and murmured, "I'm not taken anymore, Severus. And neither is Harry."

Snape's eyes were wide as he looked up at her, and he snapped his gaze to Harry, who was lightly rubbing the growing lump in his trousers. Harry's lips spread in sultry invitation. Snape looked back at Hermione; her pupils were dilated and she had leant very close to him.

Voice strained, Snape said, "Why do you think I wanted you gone? Why put myself through the torment of temptation?"

"Temptation is only torment if there's no follow-through." At the end of her words, Hermione closed the distance between them and kissed him. A noise not unlike a whimper welled up in his throat. On the couch, Harry voiced an appreciative moan.

Snape was frozen in his seat, afraid to respond to Hermione's kiss. She slid off the chair arm and onto his lap, holding him in place with one hand cradling the base of his skull. Gently, her tongue traced his lips, persistent until he gave in and opened his mouth under hers. Her coo of approval was muffled against his lips as her tongue explored him, coaxing him to respond in kind.

Hermione grabbed Snape's hands and guided them around her to caress her back and arse. She nipped at his lower lip, and his hand clamped down on her arse cheek, making her rock against him, moaning at the feel of his burgeoning erection under her cleft. She pressed nibbling kisses along his jaw and back to his ear, leaving him to look over her shoulder at Harry on the couch. Snape exhaled shakily at the sight of Harry watching them with hooded eyes, his trousers open and his hand stroking his cock slowly.

Hermione turned to look and grinned. Her lips brushed Snape's ear as she murmured, "You can do more than just watch, you know. We talked at length about what we hoped for. If you really aren't interested, we'll stop forcing ourselves on you right now. But if you weren't joking before about me and Harry, then we're finally free to take you up on the idea."

Snape jerked back to meet her eyes, his expression still one of wary disbelief. "But... how could you want me?"

Harry spoke up. "Have you any idea how good it feels to know someone loves you for who you are? Completely? You're beautiful, Severus...how could we not want you?"

Shaking his head, Snape rumbled, "No. I don't know what that feels like."

Hermione framed his face in her hands, turning him to meet her fierce gaze. "Well, you're about to find out, if you'll let us show you."

Snape stared at her, hardly daring to hope.

Thumb tracing his lips, Hermione whispered, "You said it yourself, Severus: we fought a war for love. This is what makes us happy."

Snape tore his gaze away from Hermione's and was startled to see that Harry had crossed to them, leaning over the chair arm. Hermione's hands dropped, and Harry gripped Snape's chin, turning him to face Harry.

"Severus, it took a long time for us to realize that the people we were with were not who we loved, and couldn't make us happy. But you... every time we were with you, everything was so perfect. This is just the next step. Let us show you how much we love you. You've done so much to show us how much you love us."

Snape swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing. Eyes locked with Harry's...the vibrant green almost gone, so wide were his pupils...Snape nodded.

Hermione voiced a cry of exultation, beaming, but Harry's expression smouldered and he ducked closer to pin Snape with a searing kiss. Hermione squirmed off Snape's lap and Harry scrambled to straddle him.

Snape finally accepted that it wasn't all some twisted ruse to humiliate him and his hands wound around Harry, pulling him closer and returning the kiss with decided fervour. Harry's knees were wedged tightly between the chair and Snape's legs, but when Snape trailed his hands down to grip Harry's arse, Harry moaned enthusiastically and rocked forward to grind his half-clothed cock against Snape's erection. Pulling away from the kiss, Harry slid one hand into Snape's hair, baring his ear for Harry's purred, "You said something about a spare room. Why don't we go make good use of that bed?"

Hermione hummed in agreement from her vantage point to one side of the armchair. "I think that's a perfect idea, Harry. Of course, you'll have to let Severus up first."

Harry pulled back, rocking in Snape's lap again and eliciting a ragged gasp, and quirked a wicked half-smile. "I'll let you up on one condition."

Voice gravelly, Snape said, "What's that?"

Harry gripped Snape's hair and held him still, making sure Snape met his gaze. "That you don't try to run away or get rid of us again."

Hermione perched on the chair arm and joined Harry in gazing steadily at Snape. "We're here because we want to be. We want you, and from what you've indicated before, you want us too. So there's nothing holding us back now."

Snape nodded slowly, and Harry's smile turned positively sinful. "Actually, make that two conditions."

Snape swallowed and breathed, "And the other?"

Harry ground down on Snape's lap, making Snape's eyes roll back, and whispered, "That, when we get upstairs, you let me do this again, but this time, without so many clothes."

Snape groaned, his hands tightening spastically on Harry's arse. He opened his eyes and pinned Harry with a look that finally let loose the full force of his lust, and both Harry and Hermione reeled, stunned by the ferocity of it. Snape lunged forward and captured Harry's mouth in a vehement kiss, making Hermione hiss and whimper as she watched it.

Finally, when Harry was nearly insensate, Snape backed away enough to growl, "Yes."