...

AN: This is completely Alternate Universe SS/ HP slash. Male/ male. Snape has no preconceptions about Harry. He's meeting him for the first time with no history. Please let me know if it's any good/ worth continuing :)~


...

It wasn't the first time that Harry had ended up at a supermarket checkout without a complete means of payment, and he doubted it would be the last. He felt a familiar red tinge heat the hollow of his cheeks and fumbled through his wallet with hopeless determination.

''I had another note here somewhere,'' he muttered, glancing up at the cashier. He winced under the unsympathetic scrutiny.

''How much was it again?''

''Sir, if you cannot pay then-''

''Hold on a minute.'' Harry counted through his change, ignoring the exasperation of the customers queued behind him.

He could have died from relief when he felt an arm settle across his shoulders and a familiar, inquisitive voice in his ear.

''What's the hold up?'' It didn't take Ron too long to acknowledge the situation and hand over his debit card. ''Meet you in the car?''

Harry took the keys gratefully, grabbed his shopping bags and left the market with an apologetic shrug towards the disapproving bystanders.

''You really should think about getting a job, you know,'' Ron said conversationally, as he joined Harry a moment later. ''You're as thin as a rake, mate. What are you going to do when me and Hermione move to France, eh? I can't always be here to bail you out.''

''Well you could always just stay here? What's there to do in France anyway?'' Harry grumbled, tearing a bag of crisps open and devouring the contents hungrily.

Ron shot him a sideways grimace as he started the car's engine.

''We've talked about this, Harry... You've only got one more year of studying and then you can do what you want.''

Harry rolled his eyes and gazed out of the window, a frown forming on his face.

Ron and Hermione were his best friends. They had been since secondary school. They'd done everything together... Had their first drink... First road trip... Dealt with each others break-ups... And heartaches... Passed and failed exams... Graduated college. They'd even attended the same University.

If Harry hadn't barely failed his end-term exams and been forced into the decision to re-take his final year, he doubted he'd be in his current situation. Hermione had passed her course with top grades, as they'd all predicted. Ron, in a bid to impress her, had scraped by unexpectedly with a sudden spurt of maturity and put Harry to shame.

Never had Harry expected to be the one lagging behind in his academic achievements. And now his friends had upset the whole dynamic of the group and decided their feelings for each other had delved into the romantic realm, and were embarking on an adventure in which Harry could not follow. Hermione was set on pursuing a career over seas and no matter how Harry grumbled, Ron was set on following her.

Harry's student loan had run out and the accommodation they had shared for the last three years was suddenly going to seem very empty without them. Life was changing in ways Harry had not foreseen and he was not at all favourable towards it.

''Promise me you'll find a job and a way to feed yourself,'' Ron pressed awkwardly. ''Its only another year, Harry. And you can come and stay with us on term breaks, you know that.''

''I know, Ron,'' Harry agreed, attempting a smile. ''I'm happy for you guys, I really am. I'll be fine on my own.''

Ron looked highly doubtful. ''You'll get a job?''

''Yes.''

''It's either that or Hermione will force them to give you an extension on your loan... You know how scary she can be-''

''It's fine, Ron.'' Harry tore open a second packet of crisps and forced down the butterflies in his stomach. ''I promise.''

...

Harry helped Ron and Hermione load the last of their belongings into their rented van and hugged them both tightly.

Hermione shook her head sympathetically as she stepped back, wiping at her face before any impeding tears could run down her cheeks. ''If you need anything Harry. Call us ok?''

''Alright, Hermione,'' Harry smiled warmly at her, ''you just look after yourselves. Don't worry about me.''

She looked unconvinced, but she hugged him again and climbed into the van with a half-hearted wave.

''Don't use this as an excuse to bring different men home every night, Harry. Study remember,'' Ron grinned. ''I'll call you when we get there.''

Harry rolled his eyes, shook Ron's hand for a final time with a matching grin and watched them leave. It wasn't until the van had disappeared completely from sight that he realised he was loitering on the pavement unnecessarily. The unavoidable emptiness that would reside within the flat once he went back inside was not inviting.

''Time to stand on your own two feet, Harry,'' he murmured to himself.

Without turning round, he put his hands deep into his pockets and wandered off up the street as a temporary distraction. It was more of a desire to put off going home than any real intention to get a job, but Harry found himself checking the high street stores for vacancies regardless.

He was not against the idea of working, he had just never had the need to before with being in full-time education.

Just when he was beginning to resign himself to the thought of turning back, he noted a sign on the bar across the street asking for staff.

'Le Roux' was not a particularly popular club but as Harry got closer and read the sign, it appeared they were under new management and knew he owed it to his absent friends to at least test his luck.

The door creaked loudly as he pushed it open, nearly knocking a can of paint over in the process.

''Watch it!''

Harry felt himself being pulled forwards and nearly collided with the person in front of him.

''Sorry,'' he muttered apologetically. ''I just saw the sign on the door and thought i'd-''

''Thought you'd what? Wreck the place before we even re-open?''

Harry opened his mouth, and then not trusting himself to speak, closed it again and frowned at the boy in front of him. He couldn't have been any older than he was, but was much leaner and taller than Harry. He had a paint brush in his hand and did not appear to hold a great deal of patience.

''You want a job then?'' he asked, folding his arms over his chest and eyeing Harry up and down. ''You've worked in a bar before?''

''No, but-''

''Oh great, another student. The boss is going to love this. You must be the thousandth applicant today.''

The boy wandered back towards the bar and Harry followed him with determination, put off by the sudden disregard with which he was being treated.

''I can learn. And i'll work any evening you want me to. I'll be completely flexible.''

The boy turned around with a small smirk, his eyes raking Harry's figure more closely. Harry refrained from rolling his eyes. He struggled to find another gay individual in all of his classes, and now he'd managed to wander into someone with his same preferences without even trying. It was a shame he didn't find him attractive.

''Will you?'' the boy raised an eyebrow.

Harry felt a rumble develop in his stomach and with the reminder of his empty cupboards and his promise to Ron, he nodded.

''Right then,'' the boy smiled. ''Hang on a minute. I'll see what the boss says. I'm Dean by the way.'' He held out a hand and shook Harry's briefly. ''And that's Seamus.'' He pointed to another boy at the far end of the bar. ''We're the only two that have stayed on since the new owners bought the place. Everyone else left. The new manager's a bit...'' He shrugged his shoulders and grimaced. ''... Different. Wait here, I'll be back.''

Harry nodded and perched himself on a stool, swinging round and gazing out of the window with a miserable expression. He wondered how many miles Ron and Hermione had covered by now...

''... He's a student... Black hair... skinny... quite short... glasses...''

Harry rolled his eyes as he listened to Dean converse with his boss. He heard a deep voice answer and grimaced with the lack of appreciation his description was rewarded with.

''Mr. Thomas, you are wasting my time, once again-''

''No, sir, this one seems alright. Normal and all that... A little depressive maybe, but he's older than the others who have applied!''

''Indeed, an extraordinary image you are portraying.''

Harry snorted softly and shook his head, beginning to feel slightly affronted by the man's obvious and complete disinterest in him. He almost felt sorry for Dean. He hadn't exactly given him much to bargain with.

''Sir, please, Seamus and I can't work the bar all by ourselves and we open tomorrow! We could really do with the extra pair of hands.''

''I require competent staff, as hard as you may find that to believe. Not lazy students.''

''At least come and see him?''

Harry heard only silence for a few moments and then the scraping of a chair, and a deep sigh.

''Very well.''

Harry's eyes widened in surprise and he scrambled to his feet. He ran a hand through his hair, barely having time to brush his t-shirt down before two sets of feet rounded the corner.

Dean trailed warily behind a slightly taller man with the most disdainful expression Harry had ever seen. He paused mid-stride, blinking before casting his eyes briefly over Harry's tense figure. He was also possibly the most ugly man Harry had ever seen, in the conventional sense, but at the same time, he was the most striking. He had shoulder length black hair and even darker eyes.

Harry felt his gut clench as the man examined him, a dull flush creeping across his face.

It was a long time before Harry realised that he was openly staring, and he'd yet to even introduce himself. He swallowed uncomfortably and berated himself for failing to provide a more prepared and impressive first impression. He was suddenly all too aware of the dirt on his sleeves and the fact he had not even bothered to brush his hair this morning.

The man still had not spoken, and Harry wished that he could read his expression, but it was almost impossible.

''Sorry what was your name again?'' Dean asked, looking between them with confusion.

Harry cleared his throat and looked away from the man. ''Harry.''

The sound of his voice seemed to propel the man into speech, and he clicked his fingers at Dean.

''Get him a t-shirt. And take that God-forbidden sign off of the door.''

He turned on his heel and without another word, disappeared back the way he came.

Harry blinked. ''What does that mean?'' he asked, confused as Dean rummaged under the bar and threw him a black t-shirt with a red logo.

''It means you have the job. We're opening tomorrow night, so if you come in a few hours before we see the public, i'll teach you the ropes. We'll sort your shifts out then.''

''But I didn't even say anything! How was that an interview? He might hate me.''

''Did it look like he hated you?'' The other boy named Seamus asked, wandering over to join them with an amused expression. He shared a knowing look with Dean and raised his eyebrows at Harry in questioning.

Harry frowned and stared after where the man had just disappeared, with an irrational urge to follow him.

''I dont know,'' he answered truly.

''Then why did he give you the job?'' Dean crossed his arms and eyed Harry curiously. ''Mr. Snape is a lot of things, Harry, but he's not stupid. You wanted the job didnt you?''

''Yeah, but-''

''Well don't complain then. I'll see you tomorrow night. And wear something tighter than those.'' Dean tapped Harry lightly on the arse with a disapproving glance at his baggy jeans, and swung the door shut behind him.

Harry stood out on the doorstep, slightly taken aback but pleased. A smile weaved its way onto his face as he realised, despite everything, that he'd actually got himself a job. It was one step, at least, towards normality.


Classes were incredibly dull without Ron sitting on his left, drawing much needed humour from their seemingly endless lectures. The only positive Harry could derive, was that without the distraction of his friend, it was much easier to concentrate on what his teachers were attempting to explain. He would not allow himself fail his exams again this year.

With a renewed sense of determination, Harry entered his flat later than he would normally have done after making a reluctant trip to the library. He wolfed some dinner down before shrugging into his new work t-shirt, and jogging through the town for his first shift at 'Le Roux.'

Harry had no idea what to expect. The concept of working behind a bar, and even pulling pints, was an entirely new one. All he hoped was that his new boss, Snape, would be making few appearances. There was something about him that unsettled Harry, and he didn't much feel like being under scrutiny on his first day.

Expecting a great bustle of activity, Harry was surprised to find the bar rather serene as he arrived. It had, however, made an extreme transformation from the previous day.

''Looks good, doesn't it?'' Dean grinned, motioning Harry towards the bar.

Harry nodded. The theme was, typically, black. Harry could not say he was surprised after meeting the new manager, but he had to admit, the place was tasteful. And free from stray paint pots, which could only be a bonus.

''Come on, we haven't got long. I'll show you the basics and we'll pick the rest up as we go along.''

...

Two hours later and Harry felt relatively comfortable in his new environment. Despite his initial impatience, Dean was not entirely unbearable and he did indeed, prove to be a fast learner.

''Doors open in an hour, Harry. Take these down to the cellar for me?''

Harry nearly buckled under the weight of the crate Dean gave him, but he steadied the bottles and edged his way down the stairs.

He kicked open the cellar door with his foot and shuffled inside, forgetting that there was a further step to descend. The miscalculation of his limbs proved fatal to the heavy weight in his arms.

Harry winced as the bottles crashed to the floor, glass scattering in every direction.

''Crap,'' he muttered, rubbing a hand across his face in frustration.

''Indeed.''

Harry jumped, groaning deeply as he noted Snape behind a barrel on the other side of the cellar with a clip board.

He held his breath as the man walked towards him, stepping around shards of glass with a look of undeniable disapproval.

''Wasted stock is wasted money, Mr. Potter. This will be taken out of your wages.''

Harry opened his mouth to argue, but the dark unforgiving look in the man's eyes caused him to hesitate.

Snape paused, eyes narrowing, as though daring, or even tempting him to argue, but Harry forced himself to nod in resigned acceptance. He wasn't prepared to lose his job before he'd finished his first shift.

Snape stared at him a moment longer, before he blinked and waved Harry aside with a flick of his wrist. He handed him the paper in his hand. ''Re-do the stock count before you return upstairs, and preferably before I open tonight.''

He turned back with a wince as his shoes stuck on the sticky liquid covering the floor. ''I assume the misfortunate beings already under my pay roll have at least taught you how to use a broom?''

Harry made a face to the man's retreating back and kicked a barrel in annoyance, swearing again as he stubbed his toe. He was more upset than was rational that it had been Snape to witness his clumsiness, and Harry wished he could blame the disappointment in his gut merely on the fact the man was his employer.

...

Harry's eyes were itchy and tired as he returned to the bar. He did not have time to contemplate the fact that studying all day and then work by night was proving more difficult than he'd imagined.

''Need you to start serving,'' Dean called, and Hary winced as he noted the many customers already filing through the doors.

Snape brushed past him with a raised eyebrow, and Harry closed his eyes briefly as they made contact, a shiver running through his body. He pushed the sensation away with distaste and joined Dean and Seamus.

The next four hours were a blur. It wasn't until midnight that Harry realised they had not had a break, nor a chance to sit down. His feet were aching and the sweat on the back of his neck was starting to stick to his t-shirt. It was with great relief when the level of commotion around the bar began to thin.

''Are we closing?'' he asked hopefully.

Seamus snorted. ''No. Another few hours before the club downstairs shuts... and then we have to tidy up. You weren't expecting to get any sleep tonight were you?''

''But I have class tomorrow! I'm going to be-''

''Knackered, yeah?'' Dean interrupted, clapping him on the shoulder. ''Welcome to our world.''

''But-'' Harry begun, but Dean was already handing him a cloth and pointing at the tables.

''No 'buts.' Your 'flexible', remember?''

Harry sighed miserably and leant against the bar with a weary expression.

''Why do you think Snape doesn't like hiring students?'' Dean added, casting him a rare look of sympathy.

''It is not the only reason,'' came Snape's voice from behind them. He crossed his arms and gave Harry a searching look.

Harry did his best to stand up straight, willing some energy back into his muscles. He had no desire to appear weak, nor was he in the mood to be judged by this man.

''Go home,'' Snape said finally. ''Sleep, Potter.''

''What? No,'' Harry argued, taken aback. He'd expected a lecture, not a dismissal. ''That's not what I meant.''

''Then pray tell, what did you mean?'' Snape asked, raising an eyebrow and waiting for Harry to answer.

''Just... Just moaning really...'' Harry muttered, feeling foolish.

Snape rolled his eyes and snatched the cloth from his hands. ''Home,'' he stated again, and began to walk away.

''I'm fine,'' Harry argued. He already felt like enough of an idiot in front of this man, he had no desire to add to his list of apparent faults. ''I just didn't think this through that's all. The hours, I mean. But I'll be fine. Give me the cloth back?''

''Stubborn...'' Snape murmured softly, and Harry could not tell if he was complimenting or disapproving. He seemed to consider Harry for a further moment and Harry used it to his advantage and pressed his argument.

''I'm new to all this. But it's my first night, and I can do better. I know I haven't done well so far-''

''And how did you come to that assumption?'' Snape asked, cutting across him and Harry immediately fell silent. He was beginning to grow annoyed with the level of submissiveness this man seemed to pull out of him so easily, and rebelled against it.

''Give me the cloth back?'' he asked stubbornly, holding out his hand and raising his eyebrows.

Snape's eyes grew dangerous, an edge of surprise breaking through his calm façade. ''And demanding...'' he murmured again, almost to himself. He smirked slightly when Harry frowned.

''I shall ask you one more time, how did you come to that assumption?'' He cast a glance at Dean and Seamus, who both shrugged their shoulders and after sharing a knowing look, wandered off down the other end of the bar.

Snape eyed the clock on the wall and then took a step closer to Harry.

''I don't know...'' Harry answered, fighting the urge to take a step back. ''I dropped the bottles. And you were angry with me.''

Snape looked genuinely surprised for a moment, tilting his head to the side and narrowing his eyes at Harry. ''I was angry with the fact I had wasted stock to add to my records, Potter. The fact that you caused the incident was merely... a side issue.''

Harry blinked. His mind forced him to re-evaluate the personality of his boss for a moment, and Harry had to admit this man obviously had many layers. He was confusing and already winding him up every time they were in the same room. He was not someone he could work out immediately. The revelation gave him a headache.

The man's hooked nose appeared more prominently close up. But so did his eyes. Harry could barely see any brown in them at all. They were opaque.

He looked away and damned his own unpredictable libido. He could not deny he felt an almost burdensome weight settle in his gut, with his heavy sense of attraction towards the man. Snape was not his normal type by any means. Harry had only ever dated guys his own age, with his own interests and fickle attention span. He had no idea how to deal with such an unwanted dose of lust directed towards a man ten years his senior.

''Technically, I added them to the records...'' he murmured, pushing the growing revelation to the back of his mind and emotionally stamping on it.

He could have sworn an amused expression flitted across Snape's face before he appeared impassive once again.

He threw the cloth to Harry and turned on his heel. ''You leave on closing. No cleaning after hours tonight, Potter. And enough unfounded assumptions.''

Harry breathed a sigh of relief and scrubbed the tables with determination. Seamus and Dean watched him with amusement, nodding and grinning at him with a fresh level of respect as he left the bar with the last of their customers three hours later. Snape was not anywhere in sight as he left, and Harry had no desire to find him.

...

Without much warning, a week had passed and Harry had fallen into a routine. He barely had time to note Ron and Hermione's absence with the little time he spent at the flat. Between work and his classes, he did not have much space to himself. He doubted he would know what to do with himself if he did, and he was too stubborn to vocally complain over fatigue at work again.

It was a sunday night when the bar had barely seen any customers, that Harry finally felt as though he was being allowed a moments respite. Seamus was taking his day off and Harry and Dean had wiped the bar down far more times than was necessary in an attempt to entertain themselves.

''Does he always keep himself locked up in that office?'' Harry asked curiously, dropping onto a stall and frowning at the door that separated them from Snape.

''Pretty much,'' Dean shrugged. ''He's a pretty solitary man, incase you hadn't noticed. But... something tells me you have.''

Harry shot him a forced innocent expression. ''What are you talking about?''

''I've seen the way you look at him.''

''I don't look at him,'' Harry argued, throwing a towel at Dean and pushing a finger to his lips. ''Don't say that so loud, or he'll hear you.''

''Well it's not like you hide it, Harry,'' Dean laughed lightly. He pulled two glasses down from the shelf and poured them both a drink. ''You wear your heart on your sleeve. I can tell.''

Harry snorted. ''No I don't. Not intentionally anyway...''

Dean passed Harry his glass and sat down beside him. ''Well as we're sharing secrets, and as you seem so blissfully unaware, I guess it won't hurt to tell you that he fancies the pants off you.''

Harry choked loudly, and Dean hissed at him to be quiet, slapping him on the back and snatching the glass back. ''Don't tell me you haven't noticed!''

''Stop teasing me,'' Harry moaned, massaging his chest. ''Snape can barely tolerate me. He talks to you and Seamus more than me.''

''I said he fancies you, not that he intended to act on it, Harry,'' Dean continued patiently. ''It's not like he says anything... It's just... I dunno. A hunch. There's something about the way he looks at you.''

Harry felt himself redden and frowned at Dean, gulping down the drink he gave him and shaking his head. ''I don't believe you.''

''Well we'll find out won't we? You owe me one for this. I've never taken a sicky in my life...''

Before Harry could stop him, Dean had jumped over the bar and approached Snape's office. A moment later, he reappeared, grinning at Harry as he shrugged into his jacket.

''Well he's going to be pissed at me for a little while, so you better make this worth it.''

Harry paled. ''What have you said?''

''Nothing,'' Dean reassured him. ''Just that I don't feel well and want to go home.''

Harry dropped his head into his hands and groaned. ''Why?''

''And...'' Dean added, far too pleased with himself. ''I told him that as it's raining I'd already promised to take you home, so I asked him if he could do it for me.''

''What did he say?'' Harry asked, wide-eyed.

''Not much,'' Dean shrugged, throwing Harry a wink. ''Does he ever? I'll see you tomorrow. If I'm feeling better.''

Harry shook his head angrily, ''I'll get you back for this.''

''Or you'll thank me,'' Dean smiled, closing the door behind him.

The silence that followed pressed at Harry's ears and he cursed Dean and his interference. Was it that obvious that Snape was an object of fascination for him? He barely knew the man and he'd certainly no desire to be left alone with him.

He could almost hear the pounding of his heart. He glanced at the clock and was relieved to see he only had a few hours left. If Snape stayed in his office for at least one of them he'd be grateful-

''Potter?''

Harry closed his eyes and winced, turning round slowly and facing Snape with a strained smile. ''Yes, sir?''

Snape gave him a strange look and motioned impatiently towards a bottle of brandy.

Harry passed it to him, and without a word of thanks, Snape disappeared back into his office and Harry sank back into his chair with a sigh of relief.

When it came to closing time, Harry steered clear of Snape as he locked up the building. Not that Snape appeared to want any sort of conversation. He did not even seem to notice that Harry was there. His jaw was set and his mind was obviously elsewhere.

Harry slipped on his jacket as Snape turned off the lights and stepped outside behind him. Harry watched warily as Snape set the alarms, noticing, almost with disappointment that the rain had eased off.

''I think I'll walk home, sir,'' he said casually, pushing his hands into his pockets and avoiding looking at Snape's face. He could almost feel the man's gaze burning a hole in his skin.

''As you wish,'' Snape replied, and before Harry could consider saying anything else, had swept off in the opposite direction.

Harry refused to feel put out. He shook his head and almost laughed at himself. Considering the possibility that an intelligent, older man like Snape would look twice at a skinny, awkward student like him was completely irrational.

He'd allowed himself to get worked up for no reason. Still, Harry wandered home slower than usual, his feet kicking at stones a little more aggressively than a typical evening.

...

Harry felt his mind wander all through his classes the next day. He was irritated and frustrated, and more than a little confused, about Snape's behaviour towards him.

Maybe Dean really had imagined the whole thing. Harry could not say why that thought was causing him such a headache.

He almost forgot about the first exams of the year until their dates were written before him, large condemning letters across the white-board that caused a lump in his throat.

He took his study books to work with him that night. If monday night was only going to be marginally busier than sunday, he wanted to make the most of any free time he was given.

He almost dropped his notes when he was interrupted, squatting on a barrel in the cellar and scribbling furiously.

''I believe I asked you to change a barrel, Potter,'' Snape said, stepping inside and eyeing Harry's guilty behaviour with curiosity.

''What are you doing?'' he asked, holding his hand out for Harry's paper.

Feeling very much like a child caught in the act of doing something very silly, Harry pulled his notes to his chest and sighed. ''Sorry, sir. I have exams next week and it's so quiet upstairs, I didn't think it would matter if I just... had a moment.''

''If you are at a lack of work, I can always provide extra chores, Potter. Do not forget that I pay for every minute you are inside this building. You will not turn me out of pocket.''

''Of course not...'' Harry winced and made to step past him.

Snape moved to the side marginally and Harry paused. He held out his hand again and Harry hesitated before handing over his papers.

Snape's eyes narrowed as he read through Harry's untidy scrawl, disapproval evident in the creasing of his eyes.

''Your handwriting is appalling,'' he stated blandly, handing it back.

''Thank you,'' Harry forced a smile, glad at least that Snape did not appear too furious.

Harry made to step forwards again but Snape was staring at him, and the rarely unguarded expression on his face was unhinging.

Harry sniffed, unused to the intense heat that rose to his face each time the man looked at him in that way. It seemed to draw him out of his reverie and his more familiar scowl fell back into place.

''You wish to be a doctor,'' Snape stated, eyes narrowing as he folded his hands behind his back and lightening his gaze.

''What?'' Harry asked blankly, thrown by the sudden change of topic.

''You are studying medicine.''

''Oh,'' Harry cursed himself for his slow-uptake and nodded his head. ''I'm not doing the full course though... I'm finishing this year.''

Snape raised an eyebrow, and Harry took it as an invitation to continue. Self-conscious, he eyed Snape hesitantly as though through fear of being mocked. ''I left college and I wanted to be a doctor. I don't know why. Helping people I suppose.''

He paused, expecting Snape to find the idea dismissive, but he was merely watching Harry, his expression unreadable.

''But my friends only picked shorter courses, and i just figured, when they left, I would too...''

Snape made a small sound of acknowledgement and Harry felt the tentative bubble of calm around him bend to pressure slightly. He'd been very rational about the whole issue of his friends leaving him, but no one had ever asked him about it before, and the fact that Snape was allowing him to speak, was inclining him to release some verbal frustration.

''It was always the three of us. And then they decide to shack up and I become the third wheel. And to make it even better, Ron gets brain-washed by all of Hermione's revision programmes and goes and passes his exams when I never expected him to! It sounds awful, but if any one of us was going to fail, I never thought it would be me. And now they've graduated, and buggered off to France to follow her dream, and I'm re-taking the entire year again, just so the last two years of my life haven't been a waste.''

Harry took a deep breath and shook his head. ''And as you just pointed out, I'm not even going to be a doctor. I'm going to be a... a third of a doctor.''

Snape smirked slightly, a briefly amused expression disrupting his frown. ''Forgive me if I am missing the point, Potter... but surely now that your... friends, have turned their attention elsewhere, there is no reason for you not to finish the full course.''

''Isn't there?'' Harry rubbed a hand over his face. ''There is not much rational about what I do... That doesn't mean there's an answer for it.''

''In this case... there is an answer,'' Snape argued softly, tilting his head slightly and folding his arms across his chest.

Harry snorted briefly and shrugged. ''But that's the hard part... Then I have to be an individual. But without one of them on each side of me... I feel like I don't know who I am on my own.''

''Then perhaps you should find out.''

''I'm trying, sir,'' Harry said, an edge of desperation creeping into his tone. ''And I don't think I'm doing a bad job actually. I just like to moan sometimes. And when you encourage me-''

''Encourage?'' Snape narrowed his eyes, though humour was a shadow lightening the darkness of his face.

Harry smiled at him, liking the way a near-smile looked on Snape's face. He wondered what it would take to get a full smile out of the man.

Considering the possibilities, he felt his smile widen. He met Snape's eyes, and almost thought he sensed the man's breath catch. He must have imagined it, for a moment later Snape had pushed himself away from the door-frame and his expression was guarded once again.

''Surely a... girlfriend would provide you with the confidence you are lacking, Potter? There is no need to be lonely.''

Harry was not so naive that he didn't at least suspect the unspoken question into his sexuality was deliberate, but he decided to pity the man, just incase for some insane reason, it would one day work out in his favour.

''I'm not interested in girls,'' he said truthfully. ''And the last time I had a boyfriend was... a little while ago. Can't seem to keep them very long for one reason or another.''

''Indeed?''

Harry watched as some of the tension left Snape's shoulders, and could not allow himself to imagine why it would have been there.

Feeling slightly over-whelmed with the direction their conversation had taken, Harry stuffed his course work back into his pocket and apologised.

''I'll get that barrel done, sir.''

He heard Snape leave and breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere around him seemed to be charged ten-fold whenever the man was anywhere near him. And now Harry had got himself carried away and shared something quite personal with him.

Smiling subconsciously, Harry decided that he didn't mind too much. Snape had deeper emotion than he let on hidden in their somewhere, and even if it did not easily take a natural outward form, its existence was enough to deeply increase his interest in the snarky man.

...

''Do you know what's happening this friday, Harry?'' Seamus asked brightly, dragging Harry out from behind the bar as they finished their shift for the evening.

''No...'' Harry answered, smiling at his enthusiasm. ''What's happening?''

''Snape's got the water people in fixing that dodgy leak in the customer toilets.''

''So?'' Harry frowned. ''What's that got to do with us?''

Seamus tutted and winked at Dean. ''We get the night off, sunshine.''

''Great,'' Harry beamed. Mentally counting the number of hours sleep he could catch up on, Harry faltered when he recognised the mischievous glint in his friend's eye.

''What?'' he asked slowly.

''Well as we've got the night off, how do you fancy drinking the drinks, rather than pouring them? The club downstairs is still open.''

Harry rolled his eyes, forming a million excuses in his mind as to why a night out was not a good idea. But glancing between Seamus and Dean's grinning faces, and with the knowledge of the fact that Snape would probably be upstairs all night, and perhaps even in the club from time to time as it was so close to his own business, Harry felt the nerves pool in his gut and hesitantly agreed.

''What are you three muttering about?'' Snape asked tiredly, as he locked the front door behind them. He appeared barely interested however, casting them an impatient goodnight, his eyes lingering on Harry's face slightly longer than was necessary as the boy threw him a brave smile.

''One day he'll smile back at me...'' he muttered and almost instantly regretted it as he was bombarded with a tirade of boisterous mocking he was confronted with.

...

Harry must have tried on every shirt in his wardrobe before he decided on his favourite. It was nothing to do with Snape, he told himself. It had been a long time since he'd had a decent night out. And Seamus was right, they were always giving out the drinks. It would be nice to be on the receiving end for a change.

It had also been a decent while Harry had been with anyone, anyhow. Male or female. He was not against the idea of a hook-up, especially if it took his mind off the hopeless situation with Snape.

Dean and Seamus met him by the entrance, taking an arm each as they led him into the club. Snape's bar was taped off, but the mere knowledge of where those stairs led had Harry's stomach unsettled.

It was after the third drink that Harry found the confidence to follow the others onto the dance floor. Far from being drunk, his mind was a pleasant haze of reduced activity, and he felt himself relax for what felt like the first time in weeks... or perhaps even longer.

Harry swatted away the first set of hands that snuck around his hips, but with their insistency he gradually gave in and turned to the arms that were encircling him.

Dean and Seamus shrugged and took a cautious step back, allowing Harry to dance with the blonde haired stranger. Harry had forgotten how good it felt to have a man's arms around his waist, and stop thinking and just allow himself to feel. Maybe this is what he needed. Something light-hearted and simple. Maybe the intentness that Snape wrought from him was just too much to handle.

Harry allowed the blonde to steer him towards the bar, shaking the dizziness from his head and ordering them both a drink.

Harry glanced around, almost annoyed that he hadn't seen any sign of Snape. Not that he knew if the man had any need or intention to be here.

The next drink did not go down quite so easily, and rather than increasing the blondes average looks, only made him appear less attractive. Harry rubbed at the dark circles around his eyes. Maybe this thing he had for Snape was worse than he thought.

Stumbling slightly, he dodged under his partners' arm and before he could fathom exactly what he was doing, and what he wanted to achieve from it, he had side-stepped under the tape barring his entrance to 'Le Roux.'

He could barely distinguish the voices he heard upstairs, but he knew one of them was Snape's. The man's tones were far too rich and unique to be falsely identified as anyone elses.

Harry burped slightly as he made it to the top of the stairs, pleasantly surprised by just how easy it had been to get up here.

The two figures at the bar halted their speech as Harry shuffled forwards, squinting at them. Harry just about had time to see a man's hand laid on top of Snape's in an unmistakably intimate gesture before Snape stood up sharply.

''Harry?''

''Snape,'' Harry returned, feeling an unjustifiable anger boiling ever so slightly under the surface of his emotions as he stared at the man Snape had been sitting with.

''Is this your boyfriend?'' he asked, and watched the man in question raise his eyebrows.

Snape narrowed his eyes and took a step towards him. ''How much alcohol have you consumed?''

Harry grimaced at him and shrugged. ''Not much,'' he lied. ''I just came up here to see you but... obviously your busy.''

Harry could tell, even in his tipsy state, that his tone was far from neutral. The scowl on his face seemed to have materialized of its own accord and he could not seem to dislodge it.

Snape looked at him for a long moment, before he disappeared from Harry's immediate line of sight. Feeling the muscles in his legs complain slightly, Harry gave in and slipped down to the floor, head resting against the wall behind him with a small sigh.

Harry heard voices but he did not bother to listen. His head was too clouded and he was suddenly very tired. He had a sudden, almost over-whelming urge to ring Ron, but before he could fumble for his phone, Snape's face had swam back into view.

Harry shifted backwards and struggled to make him out.

He heard Snape sigh. ''Up, Potter,'' he instructed, pushing his arm under Harry's elbow and pulling him to his feet.

Harry leaned heavily on Snape and allowed him to lead him forwards without complaint.

''I did not know you would be here tonight,'' Snape muttered and Harry frowned.

''It's my night off,'' he argued defensively.

''Yes, I know,'' Snape answered, nudging Harry and forcing to take back some more of his own weight. ''And I assumed you'd put it to better use.''

Harry felt something cold pressed to his face and realised Snape had managed to sit him at a booth and was pressing a flannel to his face.

''How do I look?'' Harry asked tiredly, wishing he'd thought to look in a mirror before he'd made the impulsive decision to come up here. ''Awful I bet.''

Snape pressed a bottle of water into Harry's palms.

''Do I look awful?'' Harry repeated stubbornly, not quite sure what answer he was searching for.

''No,'' Snape answered irritably. ''You do not look awful.''

''Then what do I look like?''

Harry was not too drunk to see Snape scowl. The man tutted loudly and tilted Harry's head upwards.

''Are you with those other two mischivents?''

When Harry failed to produce an answer, Snape sighed and insisting Harry drunk his water, opened the window above his head, and left the table.

Harry sat for a while and felt his mind begin to clear. The music was a distant vibration from upstairs and the fresh air was cool and welcome on his face. The fogginess of his brain eased slightly and he cringed as he re-evaluated his behaviour.

He had never expected Snape to be with someone... Not intimately. It had not even crossed his mind. Now he considered it, he felt ridiculous for making such an assumption. If Harry found Snape attractive, it was doubtful he was the only one.

He watched warily as Snape re-emerged up the stairs a while later. He glanced at Harry as he passed and shook his head, disappearing into the bathroom. When he returned, Harry felt much more sober.

He winced when Snape sat beside him.

''What possessed you to drink so much?'' Snape asked, disapproval clear from the familiar lack of warmth in his tone.

Harry shrugged. ''Long time since I've been out. I was nervous. Wanted to have a good time. Stupid blonde bloke was buying me drinks...''

Snape tensed beside him. He cleared his throat and rolled up his sleeves, pulling Harry's empty water bottle towards him as Harry ripped irritably at the label.

''Do you not have an exam next week, Potter?''

Harry grimaced and nodded.

''Then should you not be-''

''Revising, yes I know,'' Harry snapped. ''But I'm twenty-two, Snape and I just wanted to have fun for one night.''

''Was it that attitude that had you fail last year?''

Harry scowled and Snape stared plainly back at him.

''Was it fun?'' he asked, leaning back and watching Harry struggle with his embarrassment. ''Your night of luxury... with this blonde. Was it fun?''

Harry narrowed his eyes at him. ''Hardly what I should be discussing with you, is it?''

Snape raised his eyebrows, the corners of his mouth twitching. ''Yet here we sit. Do I need to remind you, that it was you who interrupted my evening, Potter. Not vice versa.''

''I got lost...'' Harry lied, running a hand through his hair and twisting restlessly against the plastic covering of the seating beneath him. ''I didn't ruin anything too serious, did I?''

Snape snorted softly, but there was no particular malice in his voice when he answered. ''You did not ruin anything.''

''But you were on a date..?'' Harry knew he sounded pathetic, and was giving away far more to Snape than he wanted to at this stage, but his curiosity got the better of him.

Snape stared at him for a long moment before nodding shortly. ''Of sorts.''

Harry nodded, swallowing uncomfortably and hating the way Sape's confirmation made his stomach feel.

''Well I'm sorry. I shouldn't have barged up here. I just didn't think...''

''That...'' Snape murmured, the curiosity in his eyes growing. ''Is obvious.''

They sat in awkward silence for a few moments, and Harry wondered in disbelief just what his alcohol riddled mind had wanted to achieve from this.

''I should go home,'' Harry got to his feet, finding it increasingly difficult to look Snape in the face.

He wished he could see disappointment in Snape's eyes as he made to leave, but the man had reformed to being completely impassive.

''Shall I call you a taxi?''

''I can walk,'' Harry muttered, thankful when he rummaged trough his pockets and found his house key safe.

''And if your blonde friend were to return?'' Snape asked quietly from his elbow as he unlocked the door to let him out.

''I can handle him,'' Harry said defensively, unconcerned in the slightest about what could have happened to his dance partner. He was far more concerned with the embarrassment he felt in the way Snape was dismissing him so willingly.

''Of course you can, Potter,'' he drawled sarcastically.

Harry rolled his eyes. ''I'm a student, Snape. If I want to... go home with him, its well within my right to... explore.''

''Explore away then, Mr. Potter, by all means,'' Snape snapped, waving Harry out of the door impatiently.

He appeared truly angry for the first time that evening, and Harry wondered just as to what the man was really thinking. He wanted to push the situation, but he'd humiliated himself enough for one evening, and the last thing he wanted to do was lose his job if Snape determined that he was a complete joke.

''Goodnight then,'' Harry muttered. A moment later and he heard the door close. He exhaled deeply and turned his gaze towards the stars. It was only when an arm settled around his waist that he realised he'd veered out into the road.

Tensing immediately, Harry spun round and blinked his surprise as Snape rolled his eyes down at him.

''Honestly, Potter...''

''What are you doing?'' Harry asked, fighting down a small thrill as he realised Snape obviously cared a lot more than he was willing to let on.

''Ensuring that I am not a member of staff down tomorrow night due to your drunken antics.''

''I'm not drunk anymore,'' Harry insisted.

''Hm,'' Snape responded vaguely.

Harry was all too aware of the arm that remained round his waist, holding him upright and could not deny that each place Snape was touching him was tingling.

''I don't live far away,'' Harry explained apologetically, heart thumping wildly in his chest as he considered Snape in such close proximity. ''I won't do this ever again. I swear.''

''Do not make promises you cannot keep, Potter,'' Snape muttered from above him and they fell into silence.

They reached Harry's front door far sooner than he would have liked. He pushed it open and kicked off his shoes, undoing the top button on his shirt and exhaling deeply.

Snape leaned against the door frame and watched him with amusement.

''You can get back to your date now,'' Harry said, doing his best to sound completely supportive, or at the least uninterested, but when Snape didn't answer, Harry was forced to look up.

Snape had an almost knowing look on his face. His eyes dropped to Harry's lips and he swallowed.

Harry was almost sure the insinuation was deliberate, but he did not dare to hope. Snape's eyes travelled the length of Harry's body, and for the first time since meeting him, Harry witnessed some colour enter the insistently pale complexion of the man's skin.

''There is no need to concern yourself with who I am dating, Potter,'' he muttered, returning his gaze to Harry's face with a faint almost-smile.

''I know,'' Harry answered immediately. There was no doubt in the way Snape was looking at him now, nor the responding tightness that was occurring in Harry's pants. He had never wanted someone to touch him so much in his life. He willed the man to move forwards, to give him any sort of definitive sign that he was interested, but Snape had not moved any further than the doorstep, and once he appeared satisfied Harry was not a hazard to himself, he turned on his heel.

''Just... keep that heart of yours locked up, alright?'' Harry muttered, slightly irritated by the man's silence. ''I don't want to lose a job because you skip the country with a broken heart or something. Keep it safe.''

''Oh, it's safe,'' Snape murmured, amused. ''Now go to bed, Harry.''

Harry nodded and smiled nervously at Snape, before thanking him again and closing his front door. He climbed the stairs to his bedroom in a mild daze, pressing his face into his pillow and attempting half-heartedly to push the image of pitch black eyes and a half-smiling mouth from his mind.


AN: I've never done an AU fic before because I love the world they're already in, but they've always fascinated me and I wanted to give this a go. Please tell me what you think. Criticism is very welcome