Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all things Harry Potter. We just like making her characters shag. And if there's anyone who needs a shag after the War, it's Severus Snape. Just sayin'.

A/N: Slight A/U; Snape LIVES (E?WE?) Otherwise cannon compliant (and by cannon-compliant we mean there were many trips to and from the bookshelf). NON CON NECK FONDLING! (eventually.)

"Headmaster Snape" put in an appearance at every meal in the Great Hall though he seldom sat through to the end of them. If he could have it his own way, he'd take most of his meals in the potions dungeon, but . . .. "You can have it your way, idiot,"he pointed out to himself, but that didn't matter. It was only appropriate to join the students for a period of time each day whether he planned to speak to them or not, so he never missed dinner.

He wouldrather take his meals in the dungeon and spend more time brewing. After a brief few moments drinking wine and eating bread, he left the Great Hall and disappeared for some meditative solace. Potions was a thorough distraction from the world, and tonight he needed a distraction. He couldn't quite figure out what it was, but something was very definitely off. Unfortunately, he couldn't find the distraction he was looking for and called it quits without really accomplishing anything.

He got back to his chambers and stopped suddenly, sensing another person. He must have been distracted earlier, because no one should've been able to get past the charms he put on his door. The fact that he must have forgotten to cast them when he left this morning was an unpleasant thought, but there were few people, open door or not, who would let themselves in. All the same, he pulled his wand before entering his sitting room and he found Potter sitting on his couch reading a potions journal.

Severus was unimpressed. "Good evening, Potter. What a delight to see you so comfortable. May I get you a drink?"

"I brought my own." he said, pulling a rather large flask from his pocket. The boy was clearly taking a page out of Moody's book. "You're more than welcome to have some if you'd like."

This sort of challenge was one Severus could readily meet. Potter wouldn't possess the nerve to slip anything in one of my drinks. He nodded his appreciation. "I will, thank you." Severus conjured himself a glass and allowed Harry to pour him a generous helping of clear liquid before taking a seat in his favorite chair. "Your drink, your toast."

Harry raised the flask, "To honest friends." he said before putting the flask to his lips.

Severus drank deeply from his drink, Muggle vodka by the taste of it. He winced. "Not a particular favorite of mine," he remarked just before finishing it off. "In fact, I find it one of the most unpalatable Muggle drinks." He put his glass on the table and leaned back.

"Giving up already?" Harry said putting the flask to his lips again.

Severus raised an eyebrow as he moved to the sofa to sit beside Harry. "Because Muggles don't know how to brew alcohol?" He reached over and took Harry's flask, then drank from it directly. "No."

Harry regarded the Headmaster curiously. "Where did you go during dinner?" Harry took the flask back and put it to his lips once more.

"I was in the dungeons. Brewing. Or trying to," he mumbled, disappointedly. "I felt no inspiration tonight, though. After awhile I was just reorganizing the shelves. So I left."

"Inspiration?"

"Yes, fool, inspiration," he replied, annoyed. "Creativity, vision. Imagination." He cleared his throat and looked down at the floor. "I didn't have it so I left. You're smart enough to figure such things out on your own, Harry."

Harry sat back and regarded him thoughtfully."Where do you normally turn for inspiration?" he finally asked, then added after some hesitation, "Why do you think you lacked it tonight?"

Severus stared at Harry. "No one's ever asked me anything like that before," he replied. He licked his lips and regarded the flask in Harry's hand with a hint of suspicion. "So I don't know . . .." He stared just past Harry's shoulders intensely, certain something was odd about their conversation. It was well beyond typical. "I think the inspiration might just come from the world around me. Sometimes it shuts me out. Then this happens."

"What are you saying?" he thought in frustration. "Just let it go where it will." Two conflicting considerations, provoked by Potter. No surprise there. It didn't help that Potter was looking at him as if this was the most interesting conversation they'd ever had. Harry put the flask back in his hand. He looked down on it. "Is Potter trying to get me dunk as some sort of revenge? Surely even he knows my tolerance far exceeds his own."

He took another drink from the flask and then because he simply could not help himself, "Surely even you know my tolerance far exceeds your own."

"Of course he knows that, idiot." he thought to himself, and then it hit him. "He's given you veritaserum." An excessive quantity of veritaserum, from the feel of it. Annoyed with himself, he took care not to speak and began thinking of a way out other than the obvious move of simply removing Potter from his presence.

"Figured it out, have you?" Harry leaned back and smirked at him. Smirked. "Why did you dose me the other night?"

He put his hand over his mouth to keep himself from responding, focusing his mind on the problem at hand. "Occlumency, perhaps?" He'd never considered it before. Of course, he seldom found himself on the receiving end of veritaserum, and never without his knowledge and complete consent. Living life as he had done, sometimes complying with the administration of veritaserum was a necessary inconvenience. He thought about it some more. If he kept his mind clear of thoughts he'd rather keep to himself, then there was no reason to think they would spill out of his mouth. Luckily, Potter had changed the subject, giving him the opportunity to test his new theory with little risk of revealing anything too personal. He thought long and hard before he removed his hand to answer him, smiling as he did so.

"I was in a unique position to alleviate you of some of your burdens."

Harry smirked. "Clever, sir. Now I'll ask you again, why did you dose me?"

"I dosed you, Potter, because I cannot afford to have my Defense Against Dark Arts Professor showing up in class unable to perform a simple disarming spell due to lack of sleep." He replaced his hand quickly before other reasons came out as well.

"You are aware of my reasons for not indulging in such potions?"

"Yes, I am." He paused, concentrated on blocking out those thoughts that he did not wish have come out of his mouth that night (or ever, really). He thought instead on why Potter was so adamant about not taking them, namely the side effects and addictive qualities.

"Why did it last so long?"

"You drank a much larger dose than I'd planned to administer." The words came out slowly as he concentrated on what his response would be if Potter hadn't dosed him. "I hadn't anticipated your enthusiasm for elf made wine. Indeed, I don't believe I've ever seen you so thirsty." Harry had the decency to blush at that remark. "I'm lucky I have any left."

"The potion was in the wine? I didn't taste any potion in the wine."

"You didn't taste it because I designed it to be tasteless." They were beginning to stray into a murky area, but now Severus wanted to see how much longer he could combat the effects of the truth serum. If it became too difficult he could always just cast a silencing charm on himself until the effects wore off or go back to Plan A: toss the whelp out on his ass. He was also pervertedly curious as to where Potter might want to take this if he continued to play along. After all, he knew that anything revealed tonight would be treated as a confidence.

"You designed?"

Severus put his hand on his mouth and nonverbally Accioed his journal and self inking quill. He turned to the next to last page and made a few notations before removing his hand from his mouth. "Yes, I designed. I myself have...sleep...issues and have spent a great deal of time researching a non habit forming sleep potion." He made another note in his journal. Harry looked as if he didn't know which questions he should be asking next. Severus wondered if Harry had ever actually planned on getting any answers at all or if this had been little more than a score evener. If that was the case, who knew where it would to lead? Oh yes. This was going to be fun, indeed.

"You're taking notes?"

"I've a new theory I'm testing out." His efforts were getting easier; answers were coming out short and to the point.

"A new theory?"

"Yes."

"Care to elaborate sir?"

"Not at this time, but you could help me by telling me the ratio of veritaserum to vodka, and the brewer of course." Severus made another note then looked over at Harry expectantly.

Harry considered this for a moment before answering, "Absolut, I think."

"No you dunce, the veritaserum." Apparently Occlumency does not protect you from making smart ass retorts.

"Oh. You want to know who brewed the Veritaserum? I hadn't realized that's what you were asking." Potter's smirk made another appearance. Eyebrow raised, he answered. "You did. As for the ratio . . .." Harry raised his arm to his neck and rubbed it awkwardly. "I didn't really measure and I've put an Un-Detectable Extending charm on the flask, so I don't really know."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Of course you don't."

"Oh, give me a break!" Potter replied in exasperation. "I didn't know this was going to turn into a science experiment!"

"What did you think was going to happen?"

"I don't know!" Potter exclaimed. "I guess I assumed that you'd toss me out on my ass as soon as you'd realized what I'd done."

"Well I didn't and you're not going to get this opportunity again, so I suggest you make the best of it." Severus said before slapping his hand once more across his own mouth. Where in the world that declaration had come from he didn't want to ponder, but he was having fun. Severus waited patiently for another question. Finally it came and it was not what he was expecting, Harry had in fact decided to 'make the best of it'.

"Tell me why you invited me to tea that day."

"Which day?" He knew perfectly well which day, but this definitely fell into the category of things he never wanted to talk about.

"The first time you asked me here to tea. Why did you invite me to tea that day?"

"Y..you...you're a Professor in my school," he mustered after some consternation.

"I'd been a Professor in your school for more than two years at that point. Not to mention you rarely have tea with any of the professors. Why did you ask ME to tea THAT day? What changed?"

Severus sat staring at Harry, unable to move for fear of letting slip anything regarding the memory of that day. Occlumency was beginning to fail him, but he still managed to provide an excuse. It only opened up another question, though. "Your performance was impressive."

"My performance?" Harry grinned at him, "Just what performance are you referring to Headmaster?"

Severus looked away. The brat was going to win this little game, he realized, but he wasn't ready to give up just yet. "You punished students adequately . . . excessively, actually – even by my own standards." "Why are you even speaking?" he asked himself. He should be keeping his mouth shut. Instead, he was trying to make up lies. He wasn't just compelled to tell the truth, he was compelled to respond whenever he was spoken to. No torture or coercion for answers that may or may not be true. It was just a simple draught. It was an impressive batch of veritaserum. A really, really impressive batch. A potion like this, he realized, could end war if used appropriately. It could also be used to eliminate privacy, control people, and start wars. He was suddenly very relieved he didn't brew for the Ministry. Their ethical track record was abhorrent. He hoped Potter still had the bottle so he'd know what batch number was used.

"What punishment are you referring to, sir?"

Severus bit his lip and swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. Occlumency be damned, he decided as he took another sip of the vodka. Potter would be merciful. When he grew uncomfortable, they would stop. "You deducted two hundred points from Gryffindor because two teenage boys were picking on someone. You impressed the Slytherin. Which makes up quite a great deal of me, as you know."

"I only did what was right."

"It was right to deduct 200 points from Gryffindor because two teenagers called me names you yourself have repeated probably a hundred times?"

"You deserve the respect you've earned."

"I notice you weren't terribly inclined to dish it out while I was actually earning it."

"I was a git back then."

"Truer words have never been spoken."

"Now, on the other hand..." The young man trailed off, not finishing the sentence.

It hadn't been a question, but once again he found himself speaking before he could help himself. "Now you are an intriguing young man. You've shown greater depths than I imagined you could possibly possess, you prove yourself not only as a teacher, but as a person on an almost daily basis. I am...grateful for your...friendship." Without waiting to see his reaction, Severus looked down and began making copious notes in his journal.

Harry leaned back and watched the man methodically document this "experiment" as it had turned out to be. Not only was he seemingly going to get away with dosing Professor Severus, but the man had given him carte blanche to appease his own curiosity. He also seemed to be terribly amused by the whole thing, happy almost, that this was the tack he had taken. Even after tapping into his inner Slytherin Harry'd still managed to bungle his attempt at revenge. "I really should just stop trying," he thought.

But then he remembered why he'd thought of the little plan in the first place and realized that he still didn't have the answer to the question he'd originally asked. Sure, Severus wanted him alert when surrounded by hormonal teenagers wielding wands and yes, he'd probably been very interested in noting how he would respond to his creation, but Harry couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else. Something he was missing. He decided to press his luck again.

"So why did you dose me the other night?" He said it casually, hoping that he would finally catch Severus completely off balance.

Severus looked up from his journal, lips parted. It took him a moment to answer. "You needed help I could provide." His face was expressionless. "You shouldn't be miserable."

Harry stared at him, trying desperately to read anything in Severus's face. He replayed their conversation in his mind. Severus said he had "issues" too. He knew he would not get a wholly truthful answer but there was one question which he felt needed, indeed had, to be asked. Though he did his best not to dwell on it, it was a question he'd had for a long time.

"Are you miserable?"

Severus let his eyes travel slowly back down to his journal. The silence filled momentarily with the sound of a quill scribbling on parchment. It took forever for him to answer. "You need to go now."

The next month went by business as usual. By mutual unspoken consent the 'potions incident' was not discussed (not that this stopped Harry from thinking about it obsessively) and wasn't long before the two of them fell back into their easy comaraderie. September passed by more quickly than Harry had thought possible and the first week of October brought the first Dueling Club meeting of the year. He and Severus had begun the club the same year Harry had become Deputy Headmaster, ostensibly to train the newer students who hadn't been involved in The Battle of Hogwarts, but really they'd just wanted an excuse to work out their frustrations in a socially acceptable milieu. It got a little bigger every year as did the demonstration he and Severus provided at the first meeting.

Harry was actually a little nervous about this years demonstration. He knew he could defend himself. What he was less sure about now was whether or not he could attack his friend after the admissions he'd made. He knew Severus had said more than he'd planned or wanted to. The dismissal Severus had given to Harry's final question during the veritaserum incident had been just as much of an answer as anything else that might have come out of his mouth. Not only that, but Harry had had a very odd day. Not bad, just odd. He'd finally received his invitation to Ginny's wedding. He'd known that she'd gotten engaged and was sincerely happy for her, but it only highlighted his own growing sense of not quite belonging anywhere.

Harry was so deep in thought he didn't see Severus walking out of The Great Hall. He ran straight into him. Severus caught him before he could fall, holding him close to his body. They'd only been so close together once before (Harry caught Severus when he slipped on some ice in Hogsmeade). Harry's breath caught in his throat as he realized how much he missed the man's arms. Unfortunately, students were beginning to show up, and Severus let him go and stepped away from him. Harry looked up into his eyes but could discern nothing.

"Have a care about where you're going, Potter." Severus moved to pass him, but Harry prevented this.

"Where are you going Headmaster? The meeting is supposed to begin in five minutes."

"I forgot something." he said looking more than a little uncomfortable. Severus wasn't someone who normally forgot things and Harry couldn't think of anything that Severus might have forgotten that he would need for the meeting.

"What did you forget?"

"What does it matter, Potter? It's something I need for the meeting and I'm going to retrieve it." He tried again to leave, but Harry put his hand out. Severus stopped just shy of contact. "Would you please get out of my way?"

"Not until you tell me what you forgot."

Severus looked down at Harry, grimacing. It pleased Harry endlessly to know he could easily get under the man's skin, as well as he knew him now. "It's really none of your business what I've left behind."

"Maybe I can help you find it," Harry suggested.

Severus's eyes rolled. "Stop acting like a child and let me go, Potter."

"What'd you lose?" Harry badgered.

"I've lost nothing! I merely need to go to my office and retrieve something I need . . .." Severus sighed. "Why am I arguing with you? Get out of my way before I move you myself."

"That wouldn't be very nice, Professor. There are students around. Imagine the example you'll set?"

"I need my wand, Potter." Harry didn't think the man meant to say that as loud as he did, not than anyone else heard him. Still, wands are not something you leave behind, especially if you were Severus Snape.

"How did you forget your wand?" He asked incredulously.

"I was distracted," Severus ground out, trying once more to get around Harry, who simply put his hand up not quite touching Severus's chest.

"Must have been some distraction."

"Indeed, it was."

"Good thing I'm in a unique position to alleviate you of the burden of going back to your office." With a lazy flick of his wand he Accioed Severus's wand and handed it to him with a small bow. "Sir?" He said holding it out. Severus snatched the wand and stormed into The Great Hall. "You're welcome," Harry called after him.

Severus turned around briefly and threw Harry a look that hadn't graced his face since Potter was a student. Harry had thought it funny, but only now was he realizing how foolish he'd been to prick Severus's ego just before a duel. If he hadn't been planning revenge before he almost certainly was now. Unfortunately, Harry had no choice but to march to his fate, whatever that might be.

The Dueling Club was open to sixth and seventh years, and only if they maintained O level marks in all of their classes. This was meant to give students a goal, but also served in keeping the membership down to a reasonable level. Usually only twenty or so students qualified. Even so, it was a miracle that more people didn't get hurt. There was also the strict code of conduct contract that all of the students had to sign. Even under the eyes of two of Britain's most powerful wizards, teenagers will be teenagers (hormonal, reckless, and arrogant) and will try to get away with what ever they can. The two Professors had learned that the hard way, and now no one dared break the rules for fear of having IDIOT written across their face in acne like boils (Hermione had been kind enough to pass the spell along to Harry).

He walked in and was surprised by how many students had qualified this year. Severus called the club to order as soon as Harry walked in, slamming the doors shut behind Harry with a wave of his wand. Not expecting it, Harry jumped at the sound. Severus just smirked a little before beginning the speech he recited every year at the first D.C. meeting. Harry knew it by heart so contented himself with joining Severus on the dueling platform and looking suitably serious until the last line; "Now Professor Potter and I will give you a little demonstration." At that they turned to each other and bowed. Harry did not like the glint he saw in Severus's eye before they turned to walk to their respective ends.

Severus took his position with a purpose. "This is going to be delectable," he thought, still angry. Angry at Potter for being such an impertinent, cheeky brat, but also at himself. He'd revealed far more than he'd wanted to that night in his chambers and Harry's interest hadn't helped. The young man had been empathic, something no one had ever shown him before. He'd wanted to tell him more, to spill his guts, to tell Harry everything he really thought of him. He wanted to tell him how important he'd truly become. But he hadn't said any of that, he'd told the young man to leave. He couldn't allow himself to indulge in the fantasy that Harry would treat the admissions as more than a commodity. Not that he was successful in this regard, which only angered him more and caused him to be terribly distracted.

Case in point: forgetting his wand. His wand. Severus never forgot his wand (what self respecting wizard did?) and then the very reason he'd forgotten his wand fell into his arms. He'd held onto him far longer than necessary, to boot, but he simply could not help himself. An opportunity like that would never come his way again. Naturally, Potter would go on to ruin it by teasing him about forgetting the wand in the first place. Teased. Him. Now the Boy-Who-Lived was going to pay and it would be Severus's pleasure to collect the debt.

He turned to face his adversary and bowed once more as etiquette demanded. Then he nailed Harry with an Expelliamus. The look on Harry's face as he watched his wand sail in a graceful arc to Severus's extended hand was all that he had hoped it could be. He desperately wished Dennis Creevy were here to document the moment. For all that Harry relied on the spell himself, he hadn't been expecting it then, and looked as if he'd just been told that Dumbledore was straight. Severus smirked. Tucking Harry's wand into his pocket, he gave a brief explanation on why that would be the most important spell they would ever learn. He then had the returning seventh years pair with the new members to practice, before he began walking around to monitor their progress.

Harry clearly wanted to say something about his unreturned wand, but was wise enough to keep his mouth shut and began moving through the practicing pairs as well. Severus knew this was a spell that would take most of them the night to master, so he let his thoughts roam once more.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Harry, he just didn't have a good track record. In school his friends were people who understood the value of information, (Slytherins, in other words) and future Death Eaters. He'd then joined The Dark Lord, a 'man' who not only invited your confidence, but in his early days was charming enough to encourage it as well. Once you'd revealed your secrets, he would torture you with them both to ensure your cooperation and for his own perverse pleasure. Indeed it had been his experiences with The Dark Lord that had driven him to master Occlumency. He'd seen how others had suffered for their transgressions, a few had gone mad, and he'd vowed he would never give The Dark Lord that type hold over him.

Of course, Occlumency hadn't done him any good at all when he'd turned to Dumbledore and willingly spilled all of his secrets. Sure the old man had listened to him, been sympathetic even, but then he'd held that knowledge over his head for almost seventeen years. The fact that Dumbledore was motivated by 'The Greater Good' had not done much to alleviate the frustration of handing one mad man a weapon Severus had vowed never to hand to another. He'd also, if he were honest with himself, felt betrayed to a certain extent. He'd never trusted The Dark Lord. He had trusted Dumbledore. Regardless, the result was the same; twenty years of living a life that wasn't truly his own. He would not be making that mistake again.

He turned his attention back to the students when he was almost hit in the face with a flying wand. Only a few of them were succeeding, and those that had were becoming a little overzealous in their spell casting. Severus noticed Harry helping a particularly hapless 6th year (who Severus was not entirely sure wasn't a Longbottom) in a corner. He was standing behind him with his hand over the student's, guiding him through the wand movement. Harry then whispered something in his ear and stepped back. Severus watched in wonder, barely fighting a smile, as the student disarmed his partner effortlessly.

Harry picked up the expropriated wand while the other students swarmed the whelp to congratulate him. Harry then looked Severus in the eye and pointed the wand at Severus's chest. Severus reached into his pocket wrapping his fingers around both of the wands he held there. Harry smiled at him and returned the wand to it's owner. Just then the charmed hour glass tolled the hour concluding the meeting. Severus strode purposefully out of the hall leaving Harry to dismiss the students, a tedious task as they always asked to continue or for more demonstrations.

"Why didn't he attack me? Or at least try to get his wand back?" Severus thought to himself as he made his way to his chambers. The brat had thrown him off guard again. He simply couldn't fathom it. No one ever remained voluntarily wandless around him. No one. He hadn't even asked for it (not that Severus had given him the opportunity). He wrapped his fingers around Harry's wand once more and listened for footsteps behind him. He made it to his quarters having heard none.

Severus had time to remove his robes and pour himself a glass of Mead before a knock on his door finally came. He opened the door and Harry walked past him, heading to the sitting room, removing his robes along the way.

"Please, come in." Severus said closing the door and following Potter who was holding the Mead up to the light by the time he got back to the sitting room.

"Is this safe?"

"Depends on what your definition of 'safe' is," Severus said taking his favorite chair.

"I'll take that as a yes," Harry said, conjuring a glass and pouring himself a healthy measure.

"That's rather brave of you." Severus smirked.

Harry sat down on the couch stretching his legs out a bit. "Nice move tonight, by the way," Harry said, raising his glass in salute before taking a sip. Severus inclined his head, acknowledging the compliment. The evening was becoming odder by the moment. He knew the attack would come soon and that Potter was intelligent enough to stall for the element of surprise, but he couldn't seem to brace himself for it. Beyond any sense of reason, he was a little afraid of what might come next. Perhaps he'd gone too far this time. He'd embarrassed Harry in public . . . in front of students, no less . . .. What if Potter's retaliation was more significant this time?

But what would Harry have to gain from attacking him?

No, it couldn't be that bad. Could it?

"I suspected you would appreciate it." Harry smiled as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the couch. Potter would always be something of a brat, he realized. He wasn't particularly uncomfortable with that probability. It was obnoxiously charming. Very, very obnoxiously charming. "So, Potter. Why are you here?" he asked with a sigh.

"What do you mean?"

"I want to know why you're here," Severus sneered.

Potter look up at him with a puzzled expression on his face. "I had a...weird day and wanted to have a drink with my friend."

Not quite convinced, Severus raised his head arrogantly and looked down on Potter. He was supposed to be angry. He was supposed to retaliate. Instead, he was casually reclining on the couch, his explanation coming across as quite genuine. "I suppose that would be . . . nice," Severus replied tentatively.

"It's good to know you enjoy my company so much," Harry quipped settling himself more comfortably on the couch. "Nice. I'd like to think I at least warrant 'entertaining'."

Severus sighed. "You're as entertaining as any other foolish Gryffindor." He finished off his glass and refilled. "Top you off?" he asked, holding up the bottle. He wanted Harry to stay awhile. Offering more alcohol when Harry's glass was hardly touched, he hoped, would be an adequate way of expressing that.

"Not now, thank you. How was your day?"

His deadpan failed him and a look of utter confusion fell across his face. It was the first time in a few years he'd betrayed an emotion so effortlessly. "How was my day?" He recovered his expression. "That line of questioning is an exercise in futility, Potter. We might as well talk about the weather. Nothing of significance happened to me today. How was your day?" he asked, an eyebrow raised, challenging him to come up with one interesting answer, one event worthy of discussion that he'd experienced that day.

"I received an invitation to Ginny's wedding."

That was, indeed, worthy of discussion. He couldn't discern the tone with which Harry divulged the information. This was unfortunate as he was counting on that to determine how to proceed. "Who is she marrying?"

"Lee Jordan. He and George became very close after the war, so by default became closer to all the Weasleys," he said dispassionately sitting up to look at Severus.

Severus wasn't sure how to respond. He tread as lightly as possible. "Do you regret leaving her?" He realized as soon as he finished speaking that he didn't know the details of his separation. For all he knew she had left him.

"We left each other. And no, there's nothing to regret. What we had was great, but it wasn't forever. For all that we were forced into adult situations, we were kids and had no real understanding of the changes the war would wreak." He stopped to sip his Mead. "As much as I love her, as much as she loves me, we just don't understand each other well enough anymore. We tried, but it wasn't meant to be."

Severus nodded. "I see," he continued hesitantly. "Why, then, is her marriage bothering you?"

"It's not really bothering me, it's just...so final. That part of my life is truly and irrevocably over. Ginny being single was one of the few things that was the same. I don't know, I guess I'm just feeling lonely," he said taking another drink.

He stared at Harry for a few seconds then looked down sharply. "I'm just feeling lonely." Severus had literally never heard another soul utter anything quite like it. He felt the same way when he told himself the truth. He didn't, though, more often than not. He couldn't. He'd sworn to himself when he was still a student that he wouldn't get caught up in such inconsequential minutia.

He stared at his hands and mustered a response. "You have friends on staff," he suggested.

Harry smiled wistfully, "True, but only two of them understand me and one of them no longer has the time for me she once did."

Severus frowned and looked up against his will. It wasn't hard to avert eye contact, however, once he remembered how uncomfortable he was even looking away. "If you want company, I don't mind you stopping by more often for a drink." He drained another glass and filled it again. "I won't pretend to understand you, but I'm not opposed to having you here more often."

"Thank you, I appreciate that." He finished his drink and held out his glass for Severus to refill. Severus obliged him before taking a seat at the other end of the couch. Harry had closed his eyes and was leaning back again. Severus hadn't seen him that relaxed in long time.

He stared at Harry for a long time, enjoying a comfortable silence which came out of the blue. His own nervousness had disappeared with Harry's acceptance of the invitation. Now he was just trying to fight the thoughts that acceptance provoked. Part of him imagined Harry might spend considerably more time with him. Perhaps it was possible to . . .. No. It wasn't.

But Potter was still with him, drinking, wandless. Severus couldn't help wondering . . . "Why haven't you asked for your wand back?"

"Because I don't need it right now, but I would appreciate if you gave it back to me before I leave."

Severus nodded. "Of course. In fact," he began as he crossed the room. He found the wand and brought it back to Potter. "Here it is," he finished, holding it out to Harry. "No sucker punches," Severus warned, still unconvinced Harry believed he didn't need revenge.

Harry took the wand back and pocketed it. "Oh, I forgot I had these." he said pulling some candy out. "Would you like one?" He held his hand out allowing Severus to choose a piece first.

Failing to make heads or tails of Harry's offer, he simply accepted, putting his drink down before taking a piece. "Thank you." He unwrapped it and popped in in his mouth when it became evident Potter expected him to do so. He was overtaken by a most peculiar sensation before being turned, however briefly, into some sort of bird.

Harry laughed out loud. "Canary Cream." He popped a piece into his own mouth and was briefly transformed into a macaw.

Severus couldn't help himself; he smiled. "A Weasley product I assume?"

"Whose else?" Harry replied as though it were obvious. "Something told me you'd enjoy that much more than anyone might've expected," he said, grinning. "I'm glad I was right about that." Harry leaned back again, content it seemed in simply being there. "You know Severus, it wouldn't kill you to let people know you have a sense of humor."

"It might. I've seen first hand of what George Weasley is capable." This statement earned him another laugh and Severus felt extremely pleased with himself for being the reason. This night had turned out far better than he could ever have imagined. The two of them settled into a companionable silence. Severus was just about to retrieve the book he'd been reading when Harry spoke up once more.

"Would you go with me?"

"Go with you?" Severus responded not entirely sure what was being asked of him.

"Yeah, to the wedding, I mean." Harry was beginning to mumble, a sure sign he was embarrassed. "I would just rather not go alone. I think it would be less . . . I don't know . . . weird if someone were there with me. There's an open bar and I'm sure people would like to see you again. Who knows? We might even have fun."

"I wonder if it wouldn't be more awkward bringing me along," Severus admitted. "Not that . . .." He stopped and thought it over for a second. Perhaps it would be fun. Perhaps there were people who actually wanted to see him (though this seemed unlikely to him, given his projected image). Whether they wanted to see him or not, he certainly wasn't going to confess to an insecurity so profound. "On second thought, I don't see why not."

"Excellent. It's a month from next Saturday."

Severus nodded, feeling a series of odd palpitations in his chest that momentarily took his breath away. "Am I really this nervous?" he wondered. Indeed, he was, nervous and flattered. He tried to stop himself, though, as his mind was already wandering to further possibilities. They weren't going out in any "official" capacity; Severus was just a friend spending an evening with his friend's friends. He reminded himself how important it was to keep that in mind. "I'll mark it on the calendar."

"It's a date then."