Chapter 2

Such a bright light. Harry groaned and rolled onto his stomach to escape the offending light. No such luck. He sighed.

"Harry! Get up! Today's the day!" Ron burst into the room, excited and loud. Harry chuckled and sat up, blinking at the sight of Ron.

"What the bloody hell are you wearing?" Harry asked, taking in the sight of the rather ugly sweater Ron was wearing.

"Oh…Err…Hermione knitted it for me." Ron blushed and looked away. "Get dressed, we're going back to Hogwarts today!" Ron ran out of the room. Harry laughed and got up, dressed only in his boxers. He rummaged in his trunk and pulled out a pair of jeans and a plain shirt and pulled them on. He wondered, while he was changing, if it would be awkward to see Ginny. The last time he saw her, she had kissed him and he couldn't bear to tell her he didn't like her like that.

No, poor Harry didn't like girls in general. Ever since things didn't work with Cho or even Ginny, Harry knew he liked guys. But who could he bring it up to? Ron would freak and think Harry liked him, Hermione would accept him but it would be awkward. Maybe he should ask Sirius and Remus what to do.

Nodding to himself, he pulled his socks and shoes on and headed downstairs, charming his laces to tie themselves. This time, Teddy was happily sitting in his chair, chewing on a plastic spoon. Hermione and Ron were finishing up their breakfast and Remus was sitting down, bent over the newspaper.

"Where's Sirius?" Harry asked, walking to Teddy and ruffling his hair. It was black today. Yesterday it had been his favorite color of blue.

"He's talking to Kingsley and Hestia. Hestia's getting married." Remus said, still browsing the paper. He smiled and set it down.

"What are you so happy about?" Harry asked.

"My sister has been accepted as junior editor." Harry was taken by surprise. He had no idea Remus had a sister.

"You have a sister?" Ron asked, looking over. Harry noticed Hermione was now wearing a gorgeous ring. It was a simple golden band with diamonds woven into it.

"Yes. A year younger than me. You've never met her because she moved to America when she turned eighteen. Her name is Raine." Remus looked at Harry. "Got your trunk packed?"

Harry nodded. "It's upstairs. I can't believe we're going back. I thought for sure I would be dead by now."

Ron laughed. "Well, technically, you did die." He ducked as Hermione made to hit him.

Harry grinned. "True enough. Now, let's be on our way. We have twenty minutes to get there."

The gang gathered Sirius and their trunks, then apparated to King's Cross. Hermione and Ron went ahead, as Harry wanted to talk to his godfather and Remus, who he considered another godfather.

"Guys, umm…How do you know if you like guys and not girls?"

Remus smiled. "Well, it's simple. Do you find it pleasant when either looks at you?"

"Guys. Not so much as girls." Harry mumbled, trying to not think of a wizard who had taken his child to the park the same day as them. He had checked Harry out continuously and even winked when Harry looked at him. It had made Harry feel sort of warm inside.

"Then that's it. Don't over think it. Be with who you feel safe and loved with, no matter the gender." Sirius said. He was holding Teddy and winced when the one-year-old pulled his hair.

"Thanks, guys. I hope I can find someone I can be like you guys with." Harry grinned.

"I don't know if that was an insult or a compliment, but get going." Remus smiled again and ushered Harry towards the train. Harry waved and hopped on as it started moving.

His last view of them was Remus kissing Sirius on the cheek while removing the toddler from his arms. He grinned to himself and went to go find his friends.

Finally, after ducking past Seamus a couple of times, he found Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna sitting in a compartment. Harry entered and sat in between Luna and Ron.

"Hello, Harry." She said in her dreamy voice.

"Hi, Luna." Harry grinned at her.

"Have you talked to Seamus yet? He's been asking for you. It's so annoying and we haven't even left yet." Ron stated, leaning back and pulling Hermione closer to him.

"No, I've been dodging him. I have a fair view of what he wants." Seamus had made it clear in his sixth year that he fancied Harry. Seamus had wished that Ginny and Harry wouldn't work out, and now that the Chosen One was single, he had every intention of perusing Harry.

"He's gay. It's obvious what he wants." Everyone stared at Luna. Harry turned red, wishing sometimes Luna kept things to herself.

"No big deal then, considering Harry's straight." Ron laughed, making Harry's heart drop. Yeah. Straight. He sighed and tuned everyone out, thinking about his rather attractive professor waiting for him.

*Meanwhile*

Severus was pacing again, but this time from uneasiness. How was he going to keep his hands to himself when he was teaching Potter one on one? Thank god for Weasley being there, he would help the older man keep to himself.

He glanced at his watch and sighed. It was nearly ready for the start of term feast. He fixed his robes and swept from his chambers. He made his way upstairs and sat at his usual place, on McGonagall's left. Flitwick sat on her right.

It would only be a matter of minutes now…

Sure enough, soon the voices of many students could be heard coming in. Students filed in and sat at their tables. Severus found himself sweeping over each face, trying to find someone. With a jolt, he found the boy he was looking for.

It had only been two months since he had last seen Harry Potter, but the boy sure has changed in that time. Gone was the boyish features, here was the face of a man. His jaw was covered with light stubble and he walked with a grace that had not been there during his regular years at Hogwarts. With a pain, Severus knew he would not be able to resist this boy-turned-man if he should try anything.

Shifting his robes over his lap to hide his problem, Severus continued to study the young man. He was sitting with Weasley and Granger, both of them had also changed. Though not as drastically. Granger's hair was shorter and less frizzy, Weasley had filled out some, looking less lanky.

Suddenly, Potter's eyes shot up and locked with his. They were filled with so much…desire? Longing? Something else? Whatever the strange emotion was, it made it hard for Severus to continue looking at him. He dropped his gaze.

He heard not a word of McGonagall's speech, nor of the sorting. His mind was filled with those piercing green eyes, the messed up hair, the dark stubble.

Realizing he had been staring again, he flushed and looked away.

This year would be fun… He had to give privet lessons to a student who he was attracted to. He hoped, at least, that he could control himself.

What's this? Another young man walked up to Potter. Severus recognized him as Seamus Finnigan. Finnigan asked Potter something, at which Potter looked lost and scared. He quickly shook his head and faced away from the other boy, who was looking hurt. What had Finnigan asked him? Snape intended to find out. Focusing, not on Finnigan, but on Potter, he dipped into his mind.

Do like boys, not going to tell him that. None of his business. Attracted to someone else. Oh, he's looking again. Severus saw Potter look at him, then quickly pulled back and looked down. So…Potter liked boys? And Seamus was interested.

A sudden feeling swept over Severus. He couldn't name it, only that it made him flustered. He wanted to show Potter that men were better than boys, but knew he had to be professional. He sighed.

Sometimes, it seemed Potter had saved his life, only to slowly kill him all over again.