HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

"There are no ifs." Ian interrupted him, cupping his face in his hands and pressing his forehead against his. His voice was low. "Listen, Severus Snape, my parents have already started taking care of things and have reinforced the security at home. Leah has even contacted a trusted friend at St. Mungo's."

"We are not unprepared. The Burke family may not be prominent, but we have lived in the shadows for a long time and know how to protect ourselves."

"As for me..." Ian kissed his cool nose. "Wherever you go, I'll go. Potions labs can be set up anywhere. At worst, we can follow Kevin to Northern Europe to see the aurora he talks about, or wander through those ancient libraries Aris mentioned. The world is vast, Severus. There are always places Voldemort's hands can't reach."

"But your home, your parents..."

"They will understand. And believe me, they are better able to protect themselves than we think."

Ian looked at him, his grey eyes shining brightly in the moonlight. "But we won't go that far. We have people in the Ministry of Magic, people in St. Mungo's, people in Knockturn Alley, people within the oldest pure-blood families... We have each other. We are young, but we are not ignorant, nor are we alone."

"We are weaving a web. Severus may be vulnerable now, but it is growing. Horcruxes are his weakness, and time... is not necessarily entirely on his side."

Severus stared at him, at the unwavering certainty in Ian's eyes and the almost reckless courage.

This courage is not the fearlessness of the ignorant, but the determination to hold his hand and move forward even after seeing all the darkness and risks.

He closed his eyes, buried his face in Ian's warm neck, and wrapped his arms tightly around Ian's back.

"Ian."

"Um."

"...Don't let go."

"I'd rather die than let you go."

……

After Slughorn's class, Severus was kept behind by himself.

"Severus, my child," the old professor rubbed his plump hands together, his tone more solemn than ever before, even pleading, "about... the area you were researching before, the topic related to the soul... I know young people have a spirit of exploration, but some fields are like the deepest lakes, seemingly calm, but underneath there are whirlpools that can swallow everything."

He leaned closer, his voice extremely low: "There's a reason why some knowledge is forgotten and forbidden. Getting involved with it is like getting a curse that can never be washed away... Take my advice, let it go completely, focus on the potion. You have a bright future, don't let... unnecessary obsession ruin it."

He spoke cryptically, but the fear was real.

Severus looked into his gleaming eyes and nodded. "I understand, Professor."

"Good, good." Slughorn breathed a sigh of relief, regaining his usual slightly exaggerated enthusiasm. "Go, child. I've read your report on improving the blood-replenishing agent; it's very insightful! Keep it up!"

Leaving the potions office, the corridor was cold. Severus knew that Slughorn's warning was less about concern and more about self-preservation.

He was afraid that someone, especially a student he "favored," would touch that secret and thus drag him into it.

Ian could feel Severus's increasingly tense back when no one was around, the coldness of his fingertips when he woke up in the middle of the night, and the kisses that landed on his lips, filled with unease and reassurance. He returned the kiss with an even tighter embrace and repeated, silent "I'm here."

……

Before Easter, the Malfoys' owl delivered a note, arranging a time and place.

The Three Brooms bar was bustling with noise. Severus and Ian walked close together in the crowd, their shoulders almost touching, but no one noticed their fingers briefly clasped together under their sleeves before quickly separating.

The agreed meeting place was a narrow alley behind the Pig Head Bar, where empty wooden barrels were piled up.

Lucius Malfoy was there, not wearing his conspicuous travel cloak today, but a fine dark gray robe, which still looked out of place in the dilapidated surroundings.

"Severus." Lucius smiled and nodded, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping across the alleyway not far away.

Ian stood there with his back to them, as if waiting for someone, blocking most of the view from the main street.

"How have you decided? Spring is a good time to make a decision."

"Mr. Malfoy," Severus's voice was steady, devoid of any emotion, "Thank you for your and...that sir's appreciation. Exploring the realm of the soul is indeed my interest, and my previous failures have made me realize its...risks and costs."

He paused, his gaze meeting Lucius's. "Mr. Burke's view is that prematurely embarking on an overly... specialized direction before gaining a sufficiently solid foothold may limit future possibilities. He believes that career choices after NEWTs should be weighed more... carefully."

Lucius's smile faded slightly, and a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

"Caution is a wise quality, Severus," he said slowly, "especially in this increasingly dynamic era, where a wrong decision can affect more than just one person."

His gaze drifted almost imperceptibly to Ian's retreating figure at the alley entrance, then returned, his tone becoming gentler, yet even more unsettling.

"However, that man's patience and generosity are limited. He appreciates talent, but he also detests...unwise waste. Mr. Burke's concerns are understandable, but sometimes, relying too much on the perspective of an observer can cause one to miss out on what truly belongs to oneself...opportunities, or even salvation."

He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke with a feigned sincerity.

"I understand your hesitation. After all, you're young and there are many voices around you. But remember, some paths, once you miss the entrance, you can never find them again. And some protections," he paused deliberately, "may not be as reliable as they seem when the real storm comes."

He straightened up, resuming his elegant and aloof demeanor.

"That's all I have to say. You have plenty of time... to think things through. Of course, if you change your mind at any time afterward, I, and the person I represent, will welcome you."

He nodded slightly, said nothing more, turned around, and silently disappeared into the deeper shadows behind the side door of Pig Head Bar, as if he had never been there.

Severus stood there, his nails digging deep into his palms, until the footsteps completely disappeared. Only then did he slowly exhale the breath that had been stuck in his chest, turn around, and walk towards the alley entrance.

Ian turned around the moment he took his first step, his gray eyes quickly scanning his face, catching the lingering pallor and the barely suppressed gloom in his eyes.

He didn't ask immediately, but simply reached out and grasped Severus's cold fingers, squeezed them tightly, and then let go.

"Let's go," Ian said, his voice sounding no different than usual. "Go back. Kevin said he got a sample of Honey Duke's new product that won't be available until next month. If we're late, Aris can write a whole paper analyzing it for him, leaving nothing behind."

The road back to the castle seemed longer than the way there.

The two walked side by side until they passed through the shadow of the Willow Tree and stepped onto the deserted path leading to the side gate of the castle. Only then did Ian speak in a low voice: "What did he say?"

"He wasn't surprised," Severus's voice was a little hoarse, "but... it hinted at the consequences, and also, that opportunity waits for no one."

"The threat has been rephrased."

"Hmm." Severus closed his eyes briefly. "He said... if I change my mind, I can contact him anytime."