The Fallout

By: YenGirl

Part 2

Death stared at the blazing fire in his hearth, feeling an unaccustomed emptiness inside his chest.

His next client was due to be picked up at noon, after which he would have a few free hours before going out again. He had planned to use that time to do some handiwork, depending on what the two wizards' gifts were. There was still a lot of space on his wall if Harry Pope had carved him a new shelf, and he had recently acquired two new blades if his gift turned out to be a handle. He had also used up the very last bit of scythe polish and was looking forward to a new jar from Severus to shine up some of his more tarnished blades.

Now, he had nothing.

Death sighed and shifted in his leather armchair, knowing he was just prolonging the inevitable. Even if the gift exchange was over, he still owed those two wizards an apology. Firstly, for walking into their house unannounced (or being caught doing so), and secondly, for intruding upon a very private and intimate moment (no matter how good his intentions were).

He had no doubts at all that he had ruined their Christmas morning. He didn't think anyone would be able to continue shagging after being shocked like that. Good thing he hadn't caused their premature deaths and hopefully, hadn't scarred them for life either.

Heaving another sigh, Death stood up and marched to his front door before he could talk himself out of it.

- o -

This time, the trip to Snowball took no time at all.

Death paused at the small gate, skeletal fingers clenching hard on the smooth wood before pushing the gate open. He made his way up the slightly curved path and caught sight of one of the window curtains shifting.

At least one of them were home.

That was a good thing, Death told himself firmly. The last thing he wanted was to loiter outside their front door and wait for Severus and Harry Pope to return from whichever Christmas celebration they had gone to. As he neared the front door, it was pulled open and the two wizards stood there staring at him; one with cold suspicion, the other with puzzled wariness.

Then the shorter wizard nudged the taller one and took a step back.

"Please come in," Harry invited.

Death nodded and stepped inside, closing the door before turning to his hosts. In the awkward silence that followed, both wizards' cheeks turned pink. Death would have blushed too if he could.

"Allow me -" he started, but the taller wizard interrupted him.

"Why in Merlin's name were you spying on us?" Severus snapped. He had his arms tightly folded across his chest and the fingers on his right hand twitched as though itching to go for his wand. "Were you trying to go back on our bargain?"

"Severus, wait!" Harry grabbed Severus' arm. "Let him explain."

Severus just snorted and looked away so Harry nodded at Death.

"You were saying?" he prompted, his green eyes still wary.

Death squared his shoulders.

"Please accept my apologies," he began formally, "for intruding upon your… I mean, for interrupting your... that is to say, for witnessing you two..." he trailed off, mourning his lack of articulacy when Severus snorted again.

"... for walking in on us," Harry said simply.

"Yes. It was never my intention."

Another silence fell. One that was heavy with lingering embarrassment, suspicion and regret.

"And what of walking into our home uninvited?" Severus demanded.

Death drew himself up to his full height, noting that Severus had used 'home' instead of 'house'.

"You have never minded that before," he countered.

When Severus glared at him, Harry looked between the two of them and sighed.

Death turned to him, shoulders sagging a bit beneath his black robes.

"I was about to leave when I heard a sound coming from what I mistakenly thought was your cupboard," he elaborated. "I thought there was an intruder in your home," he decided using the same word wouldn't hurt, "taking the opportunity to rob you while you two were out."

He didn't mention the worrying possibility that the thief might have been waiting for them to come back to surprise them with an attack. Not that the Popes couldn't handle intruders either by themselves or together, but it wasn't something Death wanted to find out.

Harry nodded at his explanation, but Severus just raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"You must have very good hearing if you could hear us in the master bathroom from the living room," he stated.

Death dipped his head a little, skeletal fingers clenching tighter around the polished handle of his scythe.

"I was in your bedroom," he admitted.

Eyes widening, Severus opened his mouth but Harry was faster.

"Why?" he asked, sounding more curious than anything else.

Death would have bitten right through his lower lip if he had one.

"I wanted - wondered - if you were using the blanket I gave you last year," he confessed at last. He felt like sinking through the floor when Harry's frown deepened while Severus' eyebrows shot up.

In the third silence that followed, Death again felt he would have turned red if he could.

Then Harry shook his head slowly, lips quirking in a smile. It widened into a grin when Severus gave him an incredulous look and turned into a chuckle when the look became a scowl.

"This isn't funny, Harry," Severus stated stiffly.

"No, it isn't," Death agreed at once in a similar tone of voice.

Harry quickly sobered up. He gave Severus a wry look before turning to Death.

"I wasn't laughing at you," he explained. "But I understand now."

"Do you?" Death was aware that his voice sounded even more stilted, having noticed the almost mocking glint in Severus' eyes.

"Yes," Harry said firmly. "Of course you want to know how well your gifts are received. I would want to see the same, if I could."

Turning back to Severus, Harry locked gazes with him, a question in his bright green eyes. When Severus sighed before giving a resigned nod, Harry beamed at him and squeezed his hand before turning back to Death.

"If you have a few minutes to spare, do have a cup of tea with us."

Blinking at the unexpected invitation - he rather expected to have his gifts thrust at him before being showed the door - Death stared at him in astonishment before glancing at Severus who smirked at him.

"But first, we will have a proper exchange of gifts," Severus announced, his smirk widening when Death's jaw dropped in surprise.

- o -

The next half hour was surprisingly pleasant. Severus and Harry praised the lap rugs they had received and Death was very pleased to unwrap a new shelf and a large jar of polish.

They had tea in front of the fire with Death occupying Harry's armchair and Harry perched on the arm of Severus' chair. The two wizards updated their unusual guest on the goings on in their lives and in turn, Death recounted some of the more memorable clients he had had. He didn't mention the incident with the tinkling bells though.

After his second cup, Death got to his feet. "I should go now. Thank you for the tea."

He had noticed Severus' hand lingering on Harry's hip and the warm glances they were giving each other. It didn't take a genius to know what was occupying their minds right now and Death wasn't about to make them wait any longer.

With his precious gifts tucked against his side, he walked swiftly to the door.

"Death, wait."

Turning around, he saw the two wizards regarding him, Harry with a smile and Severus with a solemn expression.

"The blanket you gave us last year is very comfortable," Severus said. "Thank you."

This time, Death could see the warmth in those black eyes.

"Thank you," he said with a nod that included Harry.

"You are welcome," Severus replied.

Harry smiled at Death and linked his arm through Severus'.

"Come visit us next Christmas," he invited. "We'll make sure we're at home between breakfast and lunch."

Death stared at them, the emptiness he had felt earlier replaced with a soft warmth. For the first time since he could remember, he had an invitation, a place to go to next year where his presence would be anticipated and welcomed.

"I will see you two then," he promised.

With a nod that was almost a bow, Death swept from the house. He didn't turn back, but lifted a hand in acknowledgment when Harry called out 'Merry Christmas!'

He thought he understood now why these two wizards had managed to obtain a bargain from him.

THE END