Title: The exam
Author: Ligeia
Pairing: HP/SS
Rating: PG [or PG-13, I'm not sure]
Category: attempt at humour, drabble/ficlet
Summary: Snape needs a little explanation. Harry gladly complies.
A/N: Part of the Drabble Challenge issued by Darklady on the SnapexHarryML: 500 words max for the subject: "Hogwarts gets a new rule".
Italian version: L'esame
All characters in the Harry Potter universe belong to JK Rowling. I'm just a devoted fan with an overactive imagination.
"We have to what?"
"Now Severus, I don't see anything strange in that request", Dumbledore said with an indulgent smile, "The Ministry is only asking the Hogwarts teachers to get a Muggle Studies Certificate of Proficiency. I'm quite sure all of you took that course when you were students, revising shouldn't be too much of a problem."
"That's not the point!" Snape huffed. "Why do we need a certificate? And Muggle Studies of all things! The most pointless subject after Divination!"
"Hey!" Harry Potter and Sybil Trelawney perked up in unison in defence of their respective subjects. Snape only snorted.
"The knowledge of Muggle culture is very important for teachers, Severus. A lot of our students are Muggle-born", the headmaster patiently explained. "The exam will take place before Christmas break. I trust you all will get through. Should you need any help, I'm sure Professor Potter will be glad to assist you."
Snape muttered some colourful epithets under his breath, growled something about having 'more serious things to do' and took his leave.
'Well, at least I won't have to worry about Snape, he'd rather die than ask me for help', Harry thought. He only hoped the other teachers weren't as hopeless as Mr Weasley.
+++++
The night before the exam someone knocked on Harry's door. 'Must be a last minute doubt', he thought as he went to open. His jaw dropped as he saw who it was.
"Professor Snape?"
"Not a word, Potter." Snape hissed entering the room and swiftly closed the door. "If you ever tell anyone I came here tonight, I will personally see that you can't use that tongue of yours for a very long time." Harry nodded. "Good. Now, can you tell me what this is all about?"
The young teacher looked down at what Snape was holding. "Err... A comic book?"
"I know what it is, you dunderhead! What I don't understand is why girls seem to go crazy over this shonen ai thing, whatever that means."
"It means 'boy love', it's Japanese."
"I see you're well-informed. So, what's so exciting about this 'boy love' thing? Are Muggle always so perverted?"
"You think that's perverted?"
"How else would you define it?"
"Have you ever tried?"
"Tried what?"
"This." Before Snape could react, Harry had placed a hand on the nape of his neck and brought his face down for a kiss. The Potions master seemed to be too shocked to move and simply stood there, letting his young colleague have his way with him.
After one last gentle lick at Snape's bottom lip, Harry pulled away. "Got it now?"
"Uhm..." Harry had never seen his former professor look so embarrassed. And at a loss for words. "Well... Thank you for your... uhm... explanation. Good night."
"Any time, Severus. Good luck for the exam."
Snape left the room without looking back. Harry sat down in front of the fire with a huge grin on his face.