These are all short stories written for the Valentine Comment Fest at snape_potter at livejournal. Some of them are in two parts over there because of comment length, but it would be pointless doing that here.

Harry is convinced that Severus is going to ask him to bond on Valentine's Day. Things don't go quite as expected.

"It's going to be tonight, I just know it!" Harry enthused to Ron and Hermione.

His friends exchanged doubtful glances. "Are you sure, Harry?" asked Hermione, finally. "I mean—" Her voice trailed off.

"Snape's not exactly acting all lovey-dovey, is he?" Ron finished, screwing up his face at even the thought.

"That's why it's called a surprise," said Harry, firmly.

"Then how come you're so convinced Snape's going to ask you to bond with him tonight?" asked Ron, folding his arms over his chest.

Harry grinned at them both. "Because Severus asked me to meet him at L'Histoire D'Amour for dinner tonight," he informed them. "Why else would he be inviting me to the newest romantic restaurant in Diagon Alley on Valentine's Day, no less?"

Stumped, Ron and Hermione glanced at each other again. Sure, Harry had been seeing Professor Snape for just over two years now, and obviously knew him better than they did, but they just had this feeling – tonight would not be ending well.

By eight o'clock that night, Harry was a mess of nerves. He had been wanting to bond with Severus for the past six months, and had seriously considered asking Severus himself that night. But when Severus had advised him to keep tonight open for a special dinner, then Harry had known that all his dreams were about to come true.

Arriving at the restaurant, he smoothed down his deep green dress robes. The assistant at Madam Malkin's had assured him that they brought out the colour of his eyes.

"I'm meeting Severus Snape here," he told the maître d'.

"Of course, sir. The Snape party is seated right this way," the imposing French man said, and indicated that Harry should follow him. He led Harry through all the other tables, and finally stopped at a large round booth off to one side. "Please be seated, sir," he said. "I'll be back with your menus once the rest of your party has arrived."

Puzzled, Harry slid into the booth. Why had Severus booked such a large table for the two of them? Unless he had been specifically aiming for their privacy, it seemed rather a waste. Anxiously fiddling with his fork, Harry hoped he wouldn't have to wait too long for Severus to arrive.

He didn't.

However, Severus didn't arrive alone.

Following in the Potions Master's footsteps were three people Harry had never seen before. As they wove their way towards him, Harry felt his heart begin to sink. Severus was not into excessive public demonstrations, so it was not looking likely that he would have brought an audience with him to ask Harry to bond with him.

"Severus . . . ?" he greeted the older wizard. "Who is . . . ?"

"Glad to see you made it on time, Harry," said Severus. He gestured behind him with one hand. "This is Monsieur Renee DeClair, his wife Madam Hortensia, and their daughter, Mademoiselle Guinevere."

"Umm, nice to meet you," Harry stuttered out. Shakily, he shook hands with Monsieur DeClair, and barely remembered in time that he was supposed to kiss the hands of the witches, not shake them.

"Monsieur Snape 'as but recently agreed to a partnership between 'is company and ours," Monsieur DeClair informed Harry as they all slid into the booth. "We persuaded 'im to come out and celebrate with us, and insisted 'e bring 'is paramour, too."

Feeling betrayed, Harry stared at Severus, who merely raised an eyebrow at him. "I see," he murmured, and lowered his gaze.

He barely took part in the conversation going on around him; his heart was too busy breaking. Not only was Severus obviously not going to ask Harry to bond with him, but it didn't even seem like Severus had remembered what day it was! Feeling the lump of the jewellery box in his pocket, Harry wished he hadn't brought that engraved ring now.

"Excuse me, please, I'm afraid I have to leave," Harry suddenly blurted, sure that if he stayed for one minute longer, he was going to disgrace both himself and Severus by bursting into tears.

Ignoring the impassioned entreaties from their companions – but none from Severus, he noticed – Harry squeezed out of the booth and fled the restaurant.

The knocking on his door started at 6am the following morning. He managed to ignore it for an entire two hours, before it suddenly stopped. Warily, Harry eyed his front door.

"Harry, if you do not let me in right now, I shall blast this door in!" Severus' voice threatened from the other side.

"No! Go away!" Harry shouted back.

He'd just turned away when the door exploded behind him. He spun around to see Severus standing in the doorway, wand in hand.

"I warned you," Severus said, stepping over the pile of debris. He then waved his wand again, and the wood floated back together like a large jigsaw puzzle, before reforming itself into a front door again. "I have no idea what happened last night, Harry—"

"I just thought . . ." Harry cut himself off and bit his lip. He didn't want Severus to know just how foolish he had been, how high his hopes had risen.

"You thought it was going to be just us," said Severus, perceptively. "You thought I was going to ask a certain question . . . ?"

Harry felt himself blush from his hairline all the way down to his chest. Obviously he'd read Severus and his intentions completely wrong.

"As it happens," Severus continued, softly, approaching until he was in front of Harry, "I do have a question for you." Harry's eyes shot up to meet Severus'. "Silly brat, surely you realised that I did not want to pander to the expectations of yesterday," Severus said.

"I . . . er . . . oh," was all Harry could say. He wasn't quite sure, but he thought Severus had just said he didn't want to ask a question that was practically expected on that certain date.

Severus reached into a pocket in his robes, and pulled out a small box. Opening it, he tilted it so that Harry could see the entwined white and yellow gold bonding ring. "Harry Potter," he said, his voice gone very deep, "would you do me the incredible honour of agreeing to bond with me?"

Unable to vocalise his answer, Harry just nodded frantically, as his eyes filled with joyful tears. He threw his arms around Severus' neck, all but toppling them both to the floor.

"I take it that is an affirmative answer," Severus' voice rumbled next to his ear.

Harry beamed up at him. "Oh, yes, Severus! Always yes!"