Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

AN - Written for the HPFC Writers Tournament. Prompts - Severus Snape, Unforgiving.

The Only Reason I Need

Dear Severus,

I'll start by calling you the idiot you are. When I woke up this morning, cold, because I've grown used to waking up in your arms, with only your letter for company, I was... annoyed. Yes, that sums it up. Then I was sad, and angry, and lonely. Then the annoyance came back with a vengeance, and if you cannot change your robes back to black, it is your own fault.

I look forward to seeing you wearing a bit of colour.

I'm not going to tell you that you're wrong, even though you are. Instead, I'm going to tell you why I choose to ignore what you've said and tell you why I chose to wake up in your bed, why I chose to stay with you, why I love you.

But I'm not writing you a list. You're correct. That was a Hufflepuff-esque move. I'll cherish it forever though, if that helps. My letter won't be half as eloquent as yours, I'm afraid.

At first, I though to answer your letter by going through the points, but if you could see me now, surrounded by scrunched up bits of parchment, you would understand why I'm not going to. I would like to point out one thing though, and that is that I could never hate you. Doubt me all you want, Sev, but never doubt that.

You are so unforgiving, Sev. I always thought that, though until recently, I didn't realise that you were your own worst enemy. Yes, you made mistakes, and yes, you deserved punishment. You've suffered more than most for your crimes, and now, you need to let go. Forgive yourself, Severus. I have.

You tell me to go out into the world, to find what makes me happy. Have you ever contemplated that waking up with you, spending time with you, loving you, was what I wanted to do? Have you considered the possibility that I was already happier than I have ever been?

No. Of course not.

You are the smartest person in the room at any given time, Sev, but sometimes, you can be so bloody irritating. I don't need you to tell me what makes me happy. I don't need you to be a self sacrificing martyr. I need you to be my Severus. That's all I want, and all I could possibly need from you.

You wrote in your letter that I should find a career that I love. You'll be happy, I hope, to know that I have. You see, tonight was supposed to be a celebration for the two of us. I planned it all out, a romantic meal, champagne, you know, a comfy night in. Just for us. I've accepted a contract, one that begins on the first of September.

I hoped, perhaps, that we could spend the summer travelling together. Together, Sev. I had no intentions of leaving you behind. I still don't.

You see, I'm the new Defence Professor. You know, the one the Minerva teased you about yesterday. The one she said she thought you would like.

Was she right? Are you happy?

Of course, the flip side of your letter has opened up all of my own insecurities. Did you write it as a way to get rid of me? Was the letter just you trying to be nice, whilst telling me to bugger off? I don't think so, but the doubts are there now.

I'm sitting in the Defence Office, waiting for you. Don't be long Sev, you might have been patient enough to wait for me, but I've never been the patient sort.

I love you, git that you are. That's the only reason I need.

Harry.

PS - Your laugh. Your eyes. Your loyalty. Your sarcasm. Your biting wit. Your intelligence. But most of all, the side of you that is for my eyes only. The loving, caring, still sarcastic you that I hope will never grow bored of me.

PPS - Yes, that was the reply to your list. We'll be Hufflepuffs together too.