Author's note: This is an AU, as you might realise from the fact that Fudge is still Minister etc... It's my first story so please don't be too harsh, but constructive criticism is great. =] I'm not entirely happy with the plot so it's fine if you aren't either, XD all I ask is that you take the time to give your opinion in a review. I apologise for any mistakes. Thanks =]

2/11/11 I had to make a small change in this chapter because I realised something conflicted in my plan... Stupid me.

Harry groaned internally as he went over the 'mission plan' in his mind; in his opinion, it wasn't one of Dumbledore's best (not least because of the daring that would be required of Harry if the plan went wrong...). He remembered sinking into his chair in Dumbledore's office, which, although Harry was preparing to leave Hogwarts this year, was still used by the Order for meetings concerning Harry.

"Remember, if Minister Fudge catches you in the act of spying, I will be unable to protect you from the consequences." Well, Harry wasn't about to risk being thrown in Azkaban for this! Surely Dumbledore had thought of a Plan B, an escape...? "If it seems as if you are about to be cornered, I'm relying on you and Professor Snape to think up an adequate diversion. I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something... suitable," Dumbledore announced with a suspicious twinkle in his eye.

"What do you- How... But- Sir! Surely you aren't suggesting-" Harry sputtered. He had thrown a glance at Snape, (oh yeah, another reason why this mission was destined to fail - Dumbledore just HAD to pair him with Snape, the only Order member who seemed to deem him a waste of space) who even managed to SPRAWL malevolently, in an armchair in a corner of the office, whose obvious malcontent at being roped into this mission almost equalled Harry's current horror and shock.

But here he was, creeping along the corridors of the Ministry like he was in a ridiculous parody of a Bond movie, with his Potions Master stalking silently ahead of him (who actually looked more suited to this role than Harry, with his billowing midnight cape and deadly expression).

Footsteps! Snape stopped so suddenly that Harry walked right into him, inadvertently inhaling the scent of... Merlin, what was that? The vibrant scent jangled in his memory, bringing with it a flashback. Harry tried with all his might to stay in the present but he was swallowed up... Shadowy figures... (Harry had a terrible, unstoppable feeling of impending doom) tears... (he felt as if he was being spun in many directions, everything was so confusing, and he felt like crying) a woman's panicked voice (he desperately wanted to help; her voice struck a chord in Harry's soul, he couldn't leave her to face whatever danger there was alone!) Screams! (Harry had the sensation of tumbling backwards, downwards, already the vision was growing weaker as if he should already know how this was going to end...) A flash of green light! (Now the bright lights of the Ministry corridors sucked him upwards, the jaunting light piercing his eyes... the pain brought him a sense of realisation.) ...As he fought down nausea and struggled to regain his balance Harry realised it was the same scent, last scent, he had smelled on his mother as she had hugged him tight one last time, her sweet, spicy perfume. Harry was amazed that he could remember the aroma so well, but he remembered reading somewhere that the scent-memory is the most powerful of all senses. Maybe it was magnified in wizards...

The memories brought tears to his eyes, as luck would have it just as Snape turned to direct him down a corridor. The man's sneer made Harry's blood boil and he resolved to prove his mettle; no matter what orders he was given, he would be quick and ruthless in his carrying them out - Snape would not be able to complain to Dumbledore that Harry wasn't up to the job!

"Pay attention, Potter," Snape whispered silkily, "I'm sure you wouldn't wish to worsen my day more so than you already have, by getting caught and having to be rescued. I know you like to be the only one around with a sense of heroism." Harry hissed, considering this a low blow.

"For your information, I'm not as ungracious and ungrateful as you make me out to be! I know what you've had to do, I DO appreciate it, just don't expect me to go around being all humble about it!" Harry thought he could read a little glint of surprise in Snape's eyes. "Contrary to your perception of me, I don't ENJOY having to risk my life again and again to save the world from an enemy they seem to have no interest in helping me defeat, I don't ENJOY seeing my friends drop dead one by one as I continue to not stand up to the mark and protect everyone as well as I should, and I don't ENJOY having vicious rumours about me being smeared all over the front pages! You seem to think I relish all the 'attention' I get, well I can tell you now that my life ISN'T all sunshine and rainbows, a fact helped along by the way you insist on treating me!" Harry muttered something else, a forced exclamation: "I'm not my Dad."

Snape said nothing. Aaaaaaaaand continued to say nothing. In the intense silence after Harry's outburst, Snape just stared, no, bored into Harry's eyes, giving Harry the uncomfortable sensation of having his mind read. Maybe 'scoured' would be a better word... Harry had to stop himself from squirming under the gaze, he began to regret his rant, and with a sense of despair felt a blush start to rise on his cheeks. He tried mentally beating it back, but to no avail.

After almost a minute of intense scrutiny, Snape simply turned on his heel and continued walking, as if nothing had happened. Harry was almost annoyed. Didn't he even deserve a reaction?

Well, as Snape seemed to know where he was going, Harry was left free to stumble blankly behind him and ponder why on earth Snape wore the same scent as his mother. It wasn't an UNPLEASANT smell, on the contrary, it was... exotic... 'Pull yourself together.' Harry straightened up and tried to concentrate on the matter at hand. The footsteps that had alerted them the first time had not grown any quieter... Harry wondered if Snape was aware of this, and decided he must be. Snape picked up the pace and Harry had to hurry to keep up with his long strides. The man knew how to stride, no doubt about that. He was an excellent strider. He could also glower like a professional, and give a look capable of withering steel. His voice could be alternately sardonic, icy, piercing, scathing... And the Potions Master could purr so menacingly that it made the hairs on Harry's arms stand up. It was quite... sexy, there was no other word for it.

Harry was jolted out of his disturbing reverie by that same voice, ordering him to...

"Get the hell over here Potter, we've got a situation!" Harry mentally chuckled, amused by the accidental secret-agent jargon, and ran up the corridor to join him at a point where four passage-ways conjoined.

"What is it?"

Snape glanced around cautiously. "There are people approaching from all directions, get ready to run." Not a second after he had spoken Snape set off, Harry close on his heels. He heard someone give a shout of alarm somewhere behind him. Harry quickly lost all sense of direction, all the signs on the doors they passed were a blur...

Then they hit the dead-end.

A door.

Severus quickly assessed the situation and knew that their only choice was to disapparate. He grabbed Harry's wrist, unknowingly sending tingles all down his arm. But before Severus could even begin the process they felt the air thicken and solidify.

"Dementors?" Harry asked with a note of trepidation in his voice.

"No, merely a spell, but it has the same effect - we cannot disapparate. They suspect that we are intruders," Severus replied, sounding more thoughtful than afraid or worried (though Harry had to admit that he could not remember ever seeing these particular emotions on the Potions Master's face).

Somewhere in the back of his mind Harry heard a little voice reminding him that Snape had not let go of his hand, and perhaps he should press the matter? Harry chose to ignore this voice. Maybe Snape knew another way of disapparating, despite the spell...?

The rapid footsteps were drawing ever nearer. Snape made up his mind.

"Sorry, P- Harry," and with that he used his grip on Harry's arm to yank him closer, leaned down and kissed him. The tension that had been building for the past hour exploded. Every cell in Harry's brain, body and lips seemed to be each clamouring for his attention, and the din inside his head increased in volume when Snape strode foward, still embracing him and pressed him against the wall, Harry's hands pinned behind his back. Behind Severus, the small crowd that had been chasing them rounded the final corner and stopped abrubtly, confronted with the sight of the Boy Who Lived being ardently kissed.

Just before Severus chose to acknowledge the Ministry workers' presence, Harry felt him subtly push his hands behind Harry's back and slip something onto one of Harry's fingers, making it look like part of the heated way Severus was embracing him.

Calmly and slowly, Severus drew away from Harry and spun around to the face the suddenly strangely bashful crowd, some of whom were already trying to melt into the background and disappear. "Can I HELP any of you?" Severus asked cuttingly.

As one, the diminishing crowd spat out the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, to act as its representative. He fidgeted with his robes and licked his lips nervously. "Err, we were, err, merely concerned that there was, possibly, an incident occuring? Or a, uh, problem...? There were some, um, slightly suspicious noises..."

"Yes, I can imagine that the sound of footfall is uncommon in the Ministry of Magic, the largest wizarding organisation in the country, that employs the highest percentage of the wizarding population." Harry choked back a snort."But oh, I forgot, this isn't an workplace, it's hell with artificial lighting." Harry failed to choke back a snort.

"But, we were simply concerned for our employees and, err, clients security, we weren't expecting any visitors in this sector today..." Fudge seemed to rally a little. "Yes, in fact, I must inquire as to what business you have in this department?"

"Are you always this stupid or are you making a special effort today?" Harry gasped, and glimpsed the hint of a smirk on Severus's face before he continued: "It is not our problem that your half-brained secretaries forgot to make a note of our appointment here," Where were they again, exactly? Was Severus just bluffing? The crowd had now shrunk to one person, namely the Minister. "...excuse us, we have... business to attend to."

"Well, I might as well take care of it seeing as I'm, ahem, here; what manner of business do you wish to propose?"

Harry remembered he still didn't know where they were, and turned to look at the plaque on that frustrating door.

Severus began to speak:

"Propose is exactly.."

Harry's eyes widened as he read.

"..the right word.."

His heart stopped.

"..for this occasion."

Harry felt his hand being tugged forward, as he re-read the sign in disbelief:

~Department of Magical Unions and Marriages~

The ring on Harry's finger gleamed.

"We wish to formally arrange our engagement."