Title: The Retreat
Author: Many wonderful writers from the HPRoundRobin@Livejournal, each chapter may be someone different from the one before
Rated: R for upcoming situations
Summary: Corgi's Challenge: Severus and Harry had a relationship during Harry's last year at Hogwarts. After the final battle Severus pushes Harry away thinking that he'll just leave him anyway. Two years later Severus is more miserable than ever and realises that he made a mistake pushing Harry away. He goes after Harry, but Harry's currently in a relationship. Whatever is Severus going to do?
Pairing: SS/HP
Spoilers: None that i know of
Disclaimer: Not mine. No money made. These characters belong to JK Rowling
Feedback: Always welcome

The Retreat
Chapter 1
by Taran

"Severus! Stop moping about!" Albus shouted as Severus paced his office. He stopped and turned his icy glare on the headmaster.

"I am NOT moping! What have I to mope about?"

"You have been pining away ever since Harry left, and that was TWO YEARS AGO!" Albus slammed his hand on the desk in front of him.

"I am NOT pining over him! This has nothing to do with him!" Severus shouted back.

He resumed his pacing. He was restless and bored. He had asked Albus for help, but the old man had only suggested he take a vacation. That was the last thing he wanted to do. It would give him entirely too much time to think. He knew Albus was right, he was pining over Harry. He missed him terribly and felt empty without the young wizard's presence.

"Severus, you need to deal with your feelings for him. You can not continue like this. You've lost so much weight, you're eyes have permanent black circles under them, and you're more snappish than ever. I know you still love him, and why you ever pushed him away is beyond me, but you have to deal with it."

"I didn't push him away," Severus said quietly. "He chose to leave."

"He didn't choose anything. You didn't give him the chance."

Severus sat heavily in the chair in front of Albus' desk and sighed. Albus was right about that, too. He had pushed Harry away. After the final battle, Severus had watched Harry celebrating with his friends, people his own age, and realized that he just didn't fit in the picture. Harry needed his companions and their youth to keep him strong and vibrant. He didn't need an old grumpy lover holding him down.

He knew Harry would realize it eventually, as well, so he pushed Harry away before he could pull himself away. The hardest thing Severus had ever done was tell Harry goodbye. He regretted it every day for the past two years.

Severus sighed again, rubbing his tired face. "All right. I'll take a vacation. Where do you suggest?"

Albus smiled brightly, his blue eyes twinkling merrily. "Someplace sunny and warm. You need a tan!"

Severus glared menacingly at him, which only caused him to smile more. "If you say Hawaii, I'll hex you old man!"

Albus laughed. "No, child. That would be greatly pushing it! As I recall, you used to enjoy fishing. I think I have the perfect place for you. A mountain retreat."

Severus eyed him suspiciously.

"I have a cabin in the north. It's among a small village of sorts. It should be private enough for you. Not many neighbours and those that are there, keep to themselves."

Severus resigned himself to his fate. He knew from the start he'd do as Albus suggested, he just couldn't give in too easily. As soon as the last students left for the summer, Albus had him packed and ready to go. He handed Severus two portkeys, one to get him to the mountain, and one to bring him home at the end of the summer. He was to spend two months fishing, camping and not doing potions. It was going to be a very long two months.

~*~*~*~

Severus arrived at the outskirts of the little fishing village high in the mountains. The air was clean and crisp and warm. Albus had instructed him to wear Muggle clothes as the village, though it was home to many witches and wizards, played host to Muggle campers throughout the summer. So, there he was, in Muggle jeans and t-shirt, with a checkered jacket that Albus called a 'lumberjack' shirt.

Severus took a deep breath, hiked his backpack tighter onto his shoulders and strolled into the village. Albus had told him that his cabin was on the far side, away from the rest of the buildings.

He wandered slowly through the town, admiring the little homes and noting where the general store was. There were few people milling about, talking with old friends and telling stories of the fish they had caught recently.

He found himself smiling as he caught bits of the stories. He looked up at the clear blue sky above and turned in a full circle, admiring the tall trees that surrounded the town housing a wide variety of birds. He started walking again without looking ahead and stepped into something solid.

"Oh, I'm so sor- Harry!" Severus swallowed hard as his eyes went wide and his heart raced. Standing in front of him was none other than the man of his dreams, Harry Potter.

~tbc~