I Just Wanna Make You Feel Ok

After travelling on the Hogwarts Express for half the day, Severus was happy to see Platform 9 and 3/4. Night had already fallen by this point, and the four boys had long since changed back into muggle clothing. A short witch with greying hair waved to them as the train pulled up to the platform. Severus assumed it was James' mother.

The four collected their luggage and swiftly exited the train. They weaved through the crowd of students and parents to reach Mrs Potter, who was near the entrance of the platform. They wasted no time on pleasantries, Mrs Potter instructed them to follow her straight to the awaiting portkey before the traffic got unbearable.

The quintet found their way into a London alleyway and grabbed the portkey disguised as an old soup can. In a matter of seconds, they found themselves on the front lawn of a moderately sized, double-story house. Hedges lined the iron fences, and a large apple tree was growing in the centre of the garden. Severus couldn't observe much more than that as he was quickly ushered inside.

By this point it was already late, so Mrs Potter retired to her room. Sirius showed Remus to their room, although Remus didn't look like he needed to be shown around, and James guided Severus to his room.

It was quite a cozy room, a desk with an overhead bookshelf was pressed up against the left wall, and behind that was a window which opened to the roof. A king bed lay in the centre of the room, and the closet and door to the ensuite lined the right wall.

Severus watched as James dragged his trunk over to the right side of the bed and bend down on his knees to push it underneath his bed. That word 'hot' ran through Severus' mind again, it was happening more often than he cared to admit.

"You don't mind if I go take a shower right? I'll be back in a few minutes," James stated as he grabbed a change of clothes and left for the ensuite.

Severus flopped onto the bed, resting his hands behind his head. He supposed sharing a bed with James was better than rooming with Sirius and Remus, but he still preferred his privacy. After lying still for a few minutes, Severus sat back up and pulled his trunk onto the bed. He fished out a pair of loose fitting, black sweatpants and a black t-shirt to change into after James was finished in the shower.

No sooner had he shoved his trunk back under his bed had James emerged from behind the door. He was towelling his hair dry and wore nothing besides a pair of dark grey sweatpants.

"Sorry, I'd put a shirt on but I run hot when I sleep, apologies in advance," James said as he gave up on drying his hair. "Besides, it's nothing you haven't seen before, right?"

Severus eyed James' physique once more before answering, "Right."

"Why did you invite me to stay with you over Mary?" Severus asked after James returned from hanging up his towel to dry.

"Mary goes home to her family on the holidays. Besides, my mum would never allow a girl to stay up here with me, doesn't matter what my relationship is with her," James answered. He then turned to Severus and said with a perfect smile, "That's not to say I don't want you here of course. I know Sirius was happy to hear that you were coming with us for the break over Mary, and that's saying something." The two chuckled together.

"Do you mind if I just-" Severus gestured towards the shower as he collected his belongings.

"Yeah, go ahead, feel free to use anything you want in there as well," James said idly. He had picked up his copy of A Guide To Advanced Transfiguration and started flicking through it.

Severus locked the door behind him and turned the silver taps on. He was surprised to find that the assortment of shower gels and washes were lavender scented, not that Severus disliked lavender. He hadn't expected James to go for a floral scent. Regardless, Severus used what was there and let the hot water nearly burn his skin away.

Severus finished and dried himself and his hair as best as he could before dressing and going back out to James. James looked over the top of his book as the door closed.

"Monochrome, what a classic choice. Even your hair matches," James nodded towards his outfit and still-damp tresses.

"Are you seventeen yet?" Severus asked. James raised an eyebrow.

"No, why?"

"I was going to ask you to use a drying charm on my hair, I can't stand it like this, but never mind," Severus explained as he lay down besides James. "And don't pick on my outfit when you're not even wearing a shirt."

"Hey! I wasn't picking on it, I was being genuine. Black is your colour," James defended, placing his book down on his bedside table. He took his glasses off and placed them on top of the book.

"Black is everyones colour," Severus retorted. James couldn't argue with that.

"You don't have any weird sleeping habits I should worry about, right?" James asked as he turned off the light and got under the covers. Severus joined him, sticking to the opposite side of the king bed.

"Other than sudden sleep strangulation? Not that I'm aware of," Severus teased.

"I'll believe it when I see it, I guess," James stated. Severus swore he could already feel how warm James was going to get. They bid each other goodnight, but Severus lay awake, staring at the roof for another half an hour. Eventually James' soft breathing and the weight on his eyelids lulled him into a deep sleep.

***

Severus woke slowly. Sunlight streamed into the room through the sheer curtains, illuminating the room in a soft light. He felt warm. He then noticed the weight of an arm around his waist and the muscular body pressing up against his back. His first instinct was to panic, but the last thing he wanted to do right now was wake James and have him notice the position they're in. Severus tried to slowly move out of his hold, but the firm grip around his waist wasn't budging.

After lying still for another moment, Severus realised he didn't exactly want to move. It was nice to be held, even if it was by his overheating, sweaty friend. Severus couldn't remember the last time he was this physical with someone. He wasn't sure if he ever had been. Severus lay there for several minutes with James holding him flush against his chest until the Gryffindor began to rouse from his sleep.

James suddenly jerked awake. He quickly realised he had pulled Severus tight against him at some point during the night. His face was buried in his neck and James couldn't help but notice the smell of lavender that clung to his hair and skin. It was comforting.

James slowly tried to pull away from the slighter man; he didn't want Severus to wake up to James spooning him. Once James props himself up on an elbow and goes to sit up, Severus turns to face him.

"Don't leave, you're so goddamn warm. You really weren't lying when you said you run hot," Severus said, his baritone voice lower than usual. James smiled down at him and ran a hand through his hair, trying to make it look a bit more natural.

"I would stay, but I'm starving," James replied. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stretched his arms above his head. Severus didn't know why he couldn't pull his eyes away from his muscles tensing in his back.

About ten minutes later, Severus was seated at the dining room table while James fried up some bacon for the four of them. James plated up the food just as Sirius and Remus joined them, the latter of which looked like he got no sleep.

"Severus, James, can I switch rooms with one of you? It's damn near impossible to sleep next to Sirius when he elbows you in the face every time he turns over," Remus growled.

"You make a compelling argument. However, I am going to respectfully decline," Severus said.

"Smart decision, who would willingly give up sleeping next to that hunk over there? Meow!" Sirius elbowed James before shoving him out of the kitchen to the table where the other two sat. Sirius took over from what James was doing; plating the food and bringing it over to the wooden table.

"Can it, Pads. I always knew you were jealous of my devastating good looks," James retorted.

"Are you kidding me? Are you forgetting that I'm a beater? Everyone knows that the beaters are always hotter than the chasers," Sirius replied, taking a bite of his toast.

"Yeah, sorry James, Sirius is right on that one," Remus agreed, much to James' dismay. Sirius eyed Remus, clearly not missing the implications of what he said.

"Well at least Severus is on my side, right?" James turned towards Severus and waited for him to back him up. He was leaning forward on the table, chin propped up by his hand. Severus couldn't help but glance at his bicep, and there was that word 'hot' again.

Thankfully, Severus never had to give his answer: James' mother entered the kitchen.

"Merlin, James, put a shirt on when we have guests around," she scowled. She made her way to the kettle to make some tea. As the kettle boiled, she turned around to eye the one guest she didn't exactly know.

"So, Severus, that's a rather unusual name. I don't really know that much about you, unlike Sirius and Remus, is there a girl in your life then?" Mrs Potter asked. James nearly choked on his piece of bacon at the icebreaker his mother had chosen. Of all the things to ask someone when you've just met them...

"Oh, erm, no," Severus stuttered, rather bashful that she outright asked him that. He thought about what she meant when she said that she didn't really know anything about him. Had James really never brought up the guy he's hated the most at Hogwarts for the past six years to his mother before? Apparently not.

"Yeah, but we all saw the way you used to follow Lily around," Sirius teased.

"Please, we're just friends," Severus defended. Mrs Potter had ignored Sirius' comment.

"Snape, that name sounds familiar. I think I've heard it before, but I don't know where," Mrs Potter wondered aloud.

"My mother's Eileen Prince, if that helps," Severus offered. Mrs Potter's eyes lit up.

"Oh! A Prince! Of course, that's a name I haven't heard in a while. So you're Eileen's boy Severus then. She used to be quite the Gobstones player in her youth, if I remember correctly," Mrs Potter mused.

"Wait, you were friends with Severus' mum?" James asked.

"I mean, we were only acquaintances, she was more a friend of a friend. Very sad how her parents treated her after she ran away with your father, if you don't mind me saying. I don't think I've heard from her in, what, over a decade now, how is she these days?" Mrs Potter asked. Severus was afraid that question would come up.

"Oh…she passed away last year," Severus answered softly. Mrs Potter's face fell.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear that. At least she lives on through you dear, you resemble her quite a bit." The four returned to their breakfast as Mrs Potter left the room in an awkward silence, her cup of tea cradled in her hands.

***

Christmas Day was a small affair. James sent a letter to Mary early in the morning, and received one back just after lunch. It was good to hear from her, Mary really looked after James. It was nice to know that she truly cared about him and wasn't just using him for her own image, like other girls had done to James in the past.

It was late in the afternoon when James brought a picnic basket up to his room. A tartan blanket was rolled up under his arm too. Severus sat in the middle of the bed, stroking the Potter's black cat, Sylvia. James almost dropped the basket at the sight.

"How did you do that? She hates everyone outside of the family," James said.

"I don't know, but she's purring," Severus answered quietly, not wanting to disturb the cat.

"She seems to like you, that's saying something," James said as he made his way over to the window. He opened it and stepped through onto the roof, taking the blanket and basket with him. Severus watched the scene unfold, wondering what he was doing.

"Where are you going with that?" Severus asked.

"Come out and I'll show you," James smiled back. Severus left Sylvia lying in the middle of the bed before cautiously climbing through the window himself. The roof was fairly flat and gave a nice view out over the rest of the town and the hillside. The sun was low, turning the sky a brilliant pink colour.

James spread the blanket out over the roof tiling and sat down, facing towards the setting sun. He was already going through the basket, pulling out grapes, cheese, crackers, and some leftovers from lunch.

"You really went to the trouble of finding a picnic basket for this?" Severus asked, still standing by the open window. James pat the spot next to him, telling Severus to sit down. He got the hint and joined his friend on the blanket.

"You didn't think I'd go all out for this?" James replied as he picked up a grape.

"True, but why bother at all?"

"What do you mean, Sev? This is the best time of the day, and to be sitting up here with some food, some good company, and a great view is the perfect way to spend Christmas evening," James replied.

"Don't call me Sev, only Lily calls me that," Severus complained.

"Make me," James shot back quickly. Severus picked up a grape and pelted it at James' head. It exploded and disappeared from their sight.

"Hey!" James cried out. He picked a grape and went to throw it back to Severus, but he held his hands up.

"Fine! Ok! Use the damn nickname, just don't give me a grape-sized bruise on my cheek," Severus said. James tried to stop the laughter that followed his statement. Soon enough, Severus was chuckling along with him. It quickly dissolved into the pair laughing about nothing in particular. James couldn't help but notice how Severus' whole face lit up when he laughed. Severus tilted his head back when he laughed, exposing the long line of his neck.

James wouldn't describe Severus as classically handsome, but there was an element of unconventionality that made him attractive in his own right. He had certainly grown into his nose over the years, and his skin and hair had lost its greasy appearance that was present in his youth; it looked rather healthy these days. Severus had always been thin, but as he grew taller and matured he looked graceful instead of awkward. His long lashes and delicate, rosy lips added to the grace his body held. And Merlin his voice- James would never shut up if he sounded like that.

"So that's where you two are, thanks for the invite," Sirius said as he climbed through the window. Remus followed directly after him. James jumped a little, he was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the presence of the other Marauders until they spoke up.

"He's only kidding, we didn't want to interrupt your date, but this looks like fun," Remus explained. Sirius leaned over James to grab a turkey sandwich straight out of the basket.

"And you've been hoarding all the food up here too! Shame on you, James," Sirius scolded and took a bite from his sandwich.

"It was peaceful until you two gatecrashed, but seeing that you're here now you can help us finish the food," James said.

Suddenly, James realised this was the perfect opportunity to make Sirius and Severus talk to each other. It was peaceful and no one was in a hostile mood, James couldn't see another moment like this coming up again. He didn't want to spend the rest of the holidays torn between two of his closest friends. He just needed to get them alone.

"Hey Moony, while it's on my mind, can you come with me for a moment? I found something in mum's collection of herbs that's supposed to help with pain around…" James trailed off and gave Remus a knowing look. He got the hint and nodded back.

"Sure, best make it quick though, I want to be back up here to see the sunset," Remus replied.

They disappeared through the window, leaving Sirius and Severus sitting on opposite ends of the blanket. The two sat in silence for a moment or so before Sirius spoke up.

"Listen, I- you're not as bad as I thought you were," Sirius started.

"How eloquent," Severus mocked.

"Shut up, I'm trying to be sincere. You've been alright this trip, and I can see why James and Remus have warmed up to you," Sirius finished.

"Likewise," Severus gave Sirius a small nod before his smirk came back, "although, am I correct in assuming that you want Remus to be more than warm to you?" Sirius turned a brilliant red.

"Not you as well, I knew that James has been filling your head with rot about me," Sirius moaned.

"He hasn't been, I noticed it myself," Severus teased. He laughed at Sirius' crestfallen face.

"Is this how we're destined to be then? You and I taking the piss out of each other, no matter the circumstances?" Sirius asked, reclining on his elbows. Severus noticed how Sirius avoided the question.

"At least we can hold a conversation now without hexing each other. After six years it gets a bit tiring, don't you think?" Severus answered. Sirius nodded in agreement.

"I think we can both agree that there are bigger things to worry about than each other," Sirius said. Severus knew he was talking about the impending war. For the most part, Severus had tried to stay out of discussions about it, but with every passing day that was becoming harder to do. It was clear that Dumbledore expected Severus to stay away from his Slytherin housemates and the Death Eaters, and Severus had no qualms doing that. They were an unpleasant bunch of people and they never made Severus' life easy.

"Yes! We didn't miss it," Remus exclaimed as he clambered back through the window, eyes on the horizon. James followed him moments after. Severus silently thanked their arrival, he didn't want to delve into a discussion of war with Sirius.

James took his place at Severus' side again and the four watched as the Sun disappeared below the horizon. No one spoke as the magenta sky faded to black. Severus watched the colours change and a sense of tranquility washed over him. He would be happy living in this moment forever.