I would like to welcome to the stage Mister Harry Potter. I smiled, I was rather glad Kingsley had become Minister, not that he wouldn't have from lack of votes, but he had been doubtful on giving up the rather simple career of an Auror. My smile widened as I walked to the stage to receive my Order of Merlin.

No one was really sure how I managed to kill the Dark Lord, little did Voldemort, or even Dumbledore, know that I had frequented the wizarding world before and could have beat them both teaming-up… with my eyes close. I had the allies, the power, the cunning, though I admit, I wasn't what one could describe as ruthless. From the very beginning I was plotting. I even told the Hat to put me in Gryffindor, because who would expect the brainless Gryffindor to be so smart? I played my part. I made mistakes, I admit, I accepted Lemon Drops every once in a while, I recently found out they were laced with calming draughts. I also didn't really try to contact Snape, though I knew he was on the Light side. I made one and only one confident in Minerva McGonagell, I didn't know Dumbledore went on a foolish mission to find a Horcrux the night I was informed Malfoy would let the Death Eaters in, and on a more personal matter I didn't realize I was gay, or attracted to Snape until I was forced to admit it, though now I realize why. I always was a bumbling idiot if it came to love or romance. I did have a penchant for killing Dark Lords though. When Snape was exposed as a spy and was as good as gone, Voldiewarts getting ready to have a torture session, I just saw a red haze, and I went in, ripping down the wards, and killed the evil bastard. I shake myself out of my thoughts, and finish up my speech and push my way through the reporters and blinding flashes of lights. Finally getting to an abandoned corridor I felt eyes on me. And then I was against the wall. I tensed ready to fight the person who had me pinned, back to them, and smelt Sandalwood. "Professor Snape" I acknowledged.

"Mister Potter" he said in a way that if I didn't know better would call seductive.

"What are you doing?" I demanded

"How did you know it was me, and once you did, why didn't you hex me?" he sounded honestly curious

"Your smell" I said tersely

"Very acute. You must have very good smell to smell my potions ingredients because I put a scent remover on my robes, but there are many who smell like that-many potioneers- you shouldn't have assu-"

"Get off." I snarled, using a burst of wordless and wandless magic to shrink myself for a millisecond before ducking under his arms and then turning myself back.

"Mmm" he hummed, "You could have asked"

"And you would have given up the chance to taunt me?" he continued before Snape could make a scathing remark though he saw genuine amusement flash from his black occlumency hidden eyes. "And you smell of Sandalwood anyways, you always have.

"And" Snape stated, stalking forward "You've noticed, Harry." It must be illegal how he says though, Harry thought frantically, heat practically radiating off of him. "Don't look so surprised, "You're not my student anymore after all. You may call me Severus, of course, if you like"

The man must be joking with me, he wants to lure me in, to throw me out on my backside. I say his name anyways, just as he wants me too. "S-Severus?" I cant help it though, my voice stutters just slightly, I know he will pick it up, ever observant, too much for his own good.

"Yes, can I help you? Your mouth is open, is there a reason.?"

I was in shock, that was the reason, the bastard Severus Snape, speaking in pleasant tones to me, me- Harry Potter. I was being played like a fool. That wouldn't do, one must always be on guard with this devious professor.

"You never answered my question." I said conversationally.

But Snape, git he was, never forgot anything. "I should, ah, I am looking for an assistant for a dueling club at Hogwarts, and you should have the qualifications."

"And so, you accosted me in the hallways and proceeded to shove me against the wall" I asked dubiously.

"I must make sure you are proficient in all areas, including awareness"

"I am quite capable of anything you should need, including potions, mind you." And so what if I sounded a bit indignant?

"And… Occlumency?" he said slyly, eyes shifting to mine from where they had previously been staring at my… lips? No, he must have been staring at my throat, day-dreaming about throttling me.

"I do not see how that would be relevant at all, but yes. I am."

"Oh?" he seems genuinely surprised. "Who taught you then, it certainly was not me."

"Self-taught."

The older man smirked in satisfaction. "Have you been tested?"

"No."

"A demonstration, then, perhaps, to see if your skills are all you say they are."

And damn him if his Gryffindorish tendencies wouldn't let him back away from a challenge he knew he would surely win. He would, however, name a condition, it was only fair.

"If you don't throw yourself at me anymore." He scowled, it had been rather uncomfortable being pressed into the wall by the rather handsome man.

"Aww, but it was rather enjoyable." And the sarcastic sharp witted professor had the audacity to pout!

Hoping that his former student was distracted by his response, he quickly cast the spell. "Legilimens!"

-And hit a wall. He was bewildered for a moment, but then he rallied trying to find an opening. The shields then deployed weapons and the Potions Master hastily retreated.

"Well, it does seem you are not a complete dunderhead. However was that accomplished?"

"I didn't face the dark lord with pure luck, contrary to what is widely thought. I actually do know what I'm doing, whether you like to idea of it or not."

"Of course, and I must thank you for my former masters downfall." Snape smoothly interjected.

"Hmm" Reaching into his pocket, Harry pulled out a box. "This'll get rid of the last of him, if you like" Snape took it, and when he looked up, the boy was gone. Cursing his lack at not being able to seduce Potter, or get more information on what the boy thought of himself, he cast revealing charms on the box. The readings he got showed a very powerful magic. /interesting/ Opening the box, he marveled at the carving that went into the bottle. It was made of a metal he had never seen and runes were inscribed on every available spot. Knowing that he would be able to tell who's magic was in the gems and runes if he had seen it before, he concentrated on the magical signature.

"It seems Mr. Potter really has been holding out on us" he mused,

He had been teasing Harry because he was honestly enamored with the green-eyed youth. After coming out of his healing coma which he suspected Harry had put him in seeing as how all the nurses had refused to go near the supposed death eater until the man-who-killed-you-know-who had come back from doing whatever he was doing and clear his name. And now it seemed he had some incredibly power potion made by him. Well, first I need to see what the runes mean, Snape decided. Taking the bottle to Sinistra seemed the best course of action for now. He turned on spot, apparating to Hogsmead.

"Aurora, what are these runes" he demanded without any preamble, as was usual for him.

"Hello to you to, Severus." she replied bemusedly, his colleges had known him since he was a child, and no longer took offence to his abrupt manner.

Flitwick, seeing the confrontation glanced over, and his eyes comically widened. "Severus!" he squeaked, hastening over. "Where in the world did you get that?!"

"Mr. Potter." he replied tersely.

"Well I'll be Merlin's great-great grandchild, that, is mithril."

It was the Potions master turn to let his eyes widen, if only for a short moment. "Indeed?" he asked for confirmation.

"Yes, and it rather makes sense that this came from Harry, his magic is that color"

"Pardon?"
"That gem is a pure diamond, and when harvested, the main color of one's magic is infused with it, I know that Harrys magic's base is that emerald green from in class when we practiced a charm for it. These gems are maybe one of the rarest there is, and it's incredible for one to give it to someone if your magic was infused with it. It signifies the utmost trust." Severus stared at the magnificent green gem that topped the plug to the bottle with awe.

"Let me see those runes then." Aurora sounded interested now.

Mutely, he handed it over only to have the astronomy Professor to yell in shock and the bottle race back to his hand.

"Maybe I will look at it while you hold it." She suggested hesitantly

Peering at the runes she looked slightly confused "I've never seen anything like it, but I'd say high elves protection runes of some sort.