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Severus Snape stormed into the throne room with an expression twice as vicious as his usual. It was a bit hard for Harry to make out the exact level of viciousness as the entry doors were so dreadfully far from the throne itself where Harry sat. If it hadn't been part of Harry's plan he'd be much more worried about just what that expression meant. However, he knew exactly what it meant and couldn't hide the way his lips twitched at the beginning of a satisfied smirk. His favored advisor hissed audibly at the expression, terrifying those around him and calling to mind the Family of Snakes he came from. A usually cool headed and even keeled man trained in the arts of machinations and clever schemes under the tutelage of Lord Slytherin himself, this reaction was a swift departure from his usual mien to the masses. Harry sat up eagerly to see just what Severus would do next.
"You fool!" The enraged man bit off the words, ignoring outright the scandalized gasps of the court as he stormed through the crowd.
Oh, well, that was certainly a reaction, Harry thought. Usually, Severus was one to keep those comments to when they were in private quarters. Primarily in the discussion of foreign treatise on trading allowances which was not Harry's brightest subject. Harry liked to believe Severus said them with some small level of fondness. He hoped that belief was not unfounded.
Harry had a second to wonder if perhaps this latest action wasn't a tad more impersonal than he'd meant it to be. He'd been certain that his sincere intentions towards his advisor had been clear. Others had made comments for instance. His Captain of the Royal Guard Weasley had been very vocal on his thoughts about Harry's choice. Even his Chief Financial Advisor Granger had spoken up in a meeting. Though she was more of the mind that it wouldn't be the same financial impact, that say, looking into other avenues might. Her final words had been a sniff followed by 'I wish you all the luck with your endeavor, may it be lucrative.' There'd been a glint in her eyes that said she might be laughing at him a little.
But! He knew what he was about! He did. He was Crown Prince and well versed in the proper steps needed to be taken. All he'd had to do was finalize paperwork and give it that extra bit of bravery he was well known for. He'd had it delivered to Severus's quarters just that morning, promptly.
"Severus! You received it!" Harry said, nervous and overly cheery if the way his favored advisor's cheek muscle twitched with gritted teeth was any showing. He sat forward in the throne, excited to hear his advisor's thought. "Have you signed it yet?"
That was the most pertinent question for Harry, truly. He really hoped the man hadn't incinerated all of his hard work. Hours had been spent poring over those parchments to make sure they held just the right set of lines for the occasion. He'd assumed that Severus's curiosity for the document would keep him from destroying it altogether. That and the official seal stamped upon it. Since it was a crime to dispose of Royal Documents without first approval by the Crown itself. Not that criminal activity had always stopped his cunning advisor. Harry rather liked the man's way of working around the rules, it showed initiative and creative problem solving.
"No! I have not and will not sign that blasted thing! This level of mockery is unbecoming of the next king!" Severus said with a snarl.
Harry had no way of stopping just how hard those words had hit. Shoulders slumping at the rejection and insinuation. He knew his smile had slid right off. Never one to be proper and hide his initial reactions despite the years of schooling on how to behave under War Master Dumbledore. Harry just couldn't get his eyes to twinkle the same way. Instead, his frown now was much more reminiscent of Severus's usual furrowed brows.
Severus bodily paused at the sudden shift in Harry's mood. The tall dark robed man hesitating at the base of the dais. He narrowed his eyes and canted his head to the side. It sent his hair falling about his face in a way that Harry had always found fascinating. Harry's hand twitched with the urge to touch.
The time had come and gone for his advisor to take the knee he was required to by law. The courtiers and officials filling the throne room were already whispering about the lack of decorum. Harry knew what they did not and he took the lack of obeisance as the first good sign since Severus had come to him. He tore his gaze from the black eyes staring into him and gestured for his Captain to escort all others from the room. Perhaps, he should have delivered the document in person, he thought with some minor regret as he caught sight of Lady Skeeter lingering.
Schooling his own face to be regal, Harry waved permission for Severus to ascend the steps and speak with him closer. It set off another round of murmurs and gasps from the gossips even as they were sent away. Harry chose to ignore them all for now, focusing his intentions on what he said next, "I did not submit you those documents as a fool's errand."
The doors boomed shut upon his sentence. Only his Captain of the Guard remaining to man the door with a stoic face. Finally, as alone as they could be Harry raised his eyes to his advisor.
"Severus," He said slowly, savoring the usage of the man's first name and the way he visibly softened at Harry's voice, "I meant every word written in that contract."
"You could not have." Severus ground out the words, but he sounded less incensed and more disbelieving.
Harry could work with disbelief.
"You wrote away half of your kingdom!" The man pointed out while looming over him.
Harry shrugged and threw a leg over the arm of his throne, reclining casually as he let a small smile begin anew. The relaxed act made the other growl, the dark sound sending shivers down his spine. A long-fingered hand whipped forward to catch Harry's leg, stalling him in his sprawl. Unexpected, it made Harry laugh with delighted surprise. The sound jolted his advisor and Harry stole the moment to nudge the tip of his caught boot at the other man salaciously. He raised a single brow at him in question, enjoying the way Severus seethed at his playfulness.
Waiting out his opponent had been one of the first things Severus had instilled in him, long before he'd come to regard the man so closely. As was the entertaining lesson on goading your opponent into a response. Both of which came in rather handy just then.
"You wrote away half your crown!" Severus blurted out, indignant even as he tightened his grip on Harry. Pulling at his Prince in a way that would have seen him sent to the gaoler in nearly any other circumstance. However, Severus was afforded a special exception.
With a deep breath Harry lifted his arms from where he'd been reclining back on the throne and plucked his crown free of his curls.
Severus reared back. Eyes widening as he watched the Prince offer up his inheritance. The golden heirloom once worn by Arthur himself held out on both palms with an ease unheard of.
"Actually, I wrote that you'd get your own crown. But if you'd like, I can gift you this one as a betrothal gift alongside the ring I prepared." Harry blinked innocently up at his beloved advisor soon to be beloved Husband if he could just get the man to commit his signature to page. "They wouldn't let me give you this whole kingdom but I know you've a fancy to conquer a few. Perhaps somewhere warm, with a beach? For our honeymoon."
For the first time in all the years he'd known Severus Snape the man had finally been bereft of a response to his Crown Prince's chaotic behavior. Not to worry, though, Harry thought as he spied the blush lifting on pale cheeks. All the man had to say was yes.
^ Them planning just where they'd like to go for their honeymoon. ;P
BONUS ART!
^ If you like coloring pages, this one might be fun to print out at home and give it a color or two <3 I've fitted it to 8.5x11 inches so it should be standard copy printer paper size and print easily.