Chapter 2

It was nearly seven years later when Severus decided to return to England. He had taken his work as far as it could go and was now prepared for a slower pace of working life. He decided to set up his own mail-order potions business and with his exponentially improved reputation he didn't think it would be hard.

He had also, though it galled him to admit it, missed England while he'd been off on his travels. He had seen some of the most beautiful countries in the world and experienced cultures he had never dreamt of but, when it came down it, he found that he was an Englishman at heart.

He missed things that were quintessentially British, both in the wizarding world and the muggle one. By the time he made the decision to return he found that he was even feeling nostalgic for mist and drizzle.

He had amassed a small fortune working for the research company and he still had nearly all of his original nest egg left. He had an array of options at his feet and the freedom that brought with it was enough to make him giddy.

He wanted to buy a property of his own, that much was certain, but until he decided where and what to buy he made arrangements to rent a smart apartment just off Diagon Alley. His first week back in England was appropriately cold and wet, and he spent the time reacquainting himself with all the things he had missed.

When his nostalgia had been properly sated, he decided to register with the estate agents in Diagon Alley. He had no desire to tramp around the country looking for the ideal property and so decided to place the job in some else's capable hands.

One Saturday morning in September, a couple of weeks after he'd arrived back in England, he found himself shaking hands with a very competent woman whom he vaguely remembered had been a 7th year Ravenclaw in his first year of teaching. Feeling confident in appointing her his official property agent, he left the agency with a view to treat himself to a spot of lunch before going back to his flat.

He was making his way leisurely down the street, casually cataloguing all the people he passed. Old habits died hard, he supposed. He may well have left the world of spying several years ago but he had retained all his old instincts. It was for that reason, and that reason alone, that he managed to catch sight of Potter coming out of the book shop.

If he had thought Potter was attractive all those years ago it was nothing compared to the way the man looked now. He looked as though he had stepped off the front cover of a high-end fashion magazine. His hair was as jet-black as it ever had been and slightly longer than he had previously worn it. He was no longer wearing glasses and it seemed to make his face look longer and more sculpted.

He was wearing dark jeans and a pale shirt tucked into the waistband. His body, not exactly shrouded by the outfit, looked toned and lithe. Severus' mouth watered at the sight. He had never imagined that he would be presented with such a delicious home-coming present but he had absolutely no intention of passing up the opportunity. He had managed to get Potter into bed once before, a second time shouldn't be too difficult.

Taking care not to be seen, he crossed the street and walked towards Potter, manoeuvring himself into the man's path. Positioning himself, he let Potter walk straight into him, emitting a feigned noise of surprise as they collided.

"Oh I'm sorry! I wasn't looking where I was – " Potter trailed off as he realised exactly who he'd bumped into, his eyes widening comically as his brain kicked in. "Professor Snape…what…what are – "

"Eloquent as always Mr Potter," Severus said with a smirk. "Do you make a habit of walking into people as they try to go about their daily business?"

"Sorry, I wasn't…What are you doing here?" the man blurted, his surprise still evident on his face.

"Nearly getting knocked over by the wizarding world's hero."

"No, I mean in England. You said you were never coming back."

"My apologies, Mr Potter. I didn't realise you were in charge of England's border control. I came back quite legally I assure you."

"I didn't mean that," Potter said, looking thoroughly flustered. "It's just that the last time I saw you said you had no intention of returning."

"A man can change his mind. I decided there were certain things about England I missed," Severus said, allowing his eyes to travel down Potter's body very pointedly.

Potter coloured and looked over Severus' shoulder with a frown. "Well, I hope you'll settle back into life here. If you'll excuse me I must be getting on."

Potter moved to walk past him, but Severus halted him with a hand to his shoulder. "It's been several years since we last saw each other, have you no more than a minute to spare me?"

"I can't imagine I'm at the top of your list of long-awaited reunions," Potter said, continuing to look around distractedly.

It was beginning to grate on Severus; he wanted the man's full attention and was beginning to feel slighted at the lack of it.

"Don't rate yourself so low. I find myself very pleased to see you again. Why don't we go and get some lunch?"

"Thank you but no, I'm afraid I'm busy," Potter said, attempting to get by him again but Severus blocked his path.

"You seem to have lost your manners since I've been away," Severus said, irritated by Potter's lack of interest.

"My manners are fine, Professor. I simply have very little to say. If you'll excuse me I really must – "

"Dad!"

Potter was interrupted as a small child with a head of dark hair came barrelling into him from one of the side alleys.

"Dad! I won the bet with Uncle Draco and look at the sweets he had to buy me!"

Severus watched as Potter scooped the child, who could be no more than six, up onto his hip, bewildered by what he was looking at.

"Joshua Potter!" came another voice, and Severus turned to see Draco striding down the side alley towards them. "I told you not to go running off," the blond said as he caught up to them. "Just because you wanted to show off to your dad," he said, tickling the child as he squirmed in Potter's arms. "Honestly Harry, we've raised ourselves a scoundrel and – oh!" Draco said in surprise as he caught sight of Severus standing there.

"Draco," Severus said, inclining his head in greeting.

"Severus! Well this is a surprise. We thought to never see you grace these shores again."

"Yes, everyone seems most eager to ensure that England's borders are left unsullied," Severus said, unable to keep the bite from his voice.

His eyes went to the boy in Potter's arms who was watching him with keen dark eyes. Potter seemed to sense his gaze and turned his body slightly so the boy was less in view.

"As I said, Professor, I really must be getting on."

"But Dad, we were going to – "

"We'll do it another day, Josh," Potter said with a placating smile to his offspring. "Drake, I'll see you tomorrow. 10 o'clock ok?"

"Fine. See you tomorrow, Harry. Bye my love," Draco said, planting a wet kiss on the child's cheek, who giggled happily before Potter carted him off down the street.

Severus turned his attention back to Draco, who was looking unusually guarded. It was no surprise to see that the man's friendship with Potter had continued but Severus hadn't thought to see them quite so close.

"So, Potter has…created progeny has he? And is there an unfortunate lady who bore this burden?"

Draco gave him a tight smile and folded his hands behind his back. "Severus, if we are to continue this conversation I must ask you to speak of my godson, indeed the light and joy of my life, in pleasanter terms," he said. Severus felt he had never been told to fuck off quite so politely.

"My apologies," Severus said with an arched eyebrow.

"And no, in answer to your question, there isn't a mother. Harry carried him."

Severus' eyebrow rose this time in shock. "Indeed? How…very typical of Potter to be so singular."

"Well, if you've nothing more to say to me I'll bid you farewell," Draco said, turning on his heel.

"Who's the other father?" Severus asked, and Draco looked over his shoulder with a frown.

"I rather think that's Harry's business, don't you?" he said coolly. "If you've a mind to talk about anything other than Harry's life, please feel free to call on me at your earliest convenience."

With a small nod of his head, Draco turned and wended his way down the street. Severus watched him go feeling as though something had taken place that he didn't understand. He hadn't expected banners and bunting but he had expected more than the cold welcome he had received.

He put it out of his mind and for the next week focused on enjoying himself. There was no point starting his business until he had purchased a new home from which to conduct it so he saw no harm in taking a little time to settle back into life in England.

The only trouble was that enjoying himself became rather boring after a few days. He wasn't an idle man by nature and he had been used to having his days filled in his old job. After he had worked his way through several books he had been meaning to read and had caught up with all the news he had missed during his time abroad he found himself at something of a loose end.

It was for that reason that he decided to take Draco up on the man's rather curt invitation to call on him. He had no idea where he was living these days so he sent him an owl asking if he'd be welcome to visit and if so where he might find him.

An answer came back a day later saying that Draco would be only too happy to welcome him. The letter contained the apparation co-ordinates for a place in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast and two days later Severus found himself apparating there.

He found himself standing outside a beautiful three-storey house poised on a cliff a few miles east of Lulworth Cove. It was not the splendid opulence that Malfoy Manor had boasted but it was more subtle in its elegance.

He was surprised when Draco, not a house elf, answered the door, and as he was led to a beautiful parlour with sea views it seemed there was no domestic help in sight. Draco served them both coffee and settled in the armchair opposite, one leg slung casually over the other one as he regarded Severus. There was a calm, almost regal air to his manner and it grated on Severus' nerves.

"So, how are you finding being back in England?" Draco asked.

"I'm still taking my time to settle back in," Severus replied, taking in the changes he could see in Draco's face.

The softness of boyhood had been hardened into the lines of manhood, and at 27 Draco looked less like Lucius than he had once done. He was a different kind of handsome to Potter; he had a delicacy to his features that Potter didn't and an overall air of refinement that Severus supposed could only come with such an old bloodline.

"Did things in Croatia not work out the way you'd planned?"

"They worked out fine, I simply took my research as far as it could go and decided that it was time to return to familiar soil."

"Have you found somewhere to live?"

"Not yet, but I have a very able agent on the case. This is a rather lovely part of the world."

Draco smiled and said, "It's always been a favourite of mine. We've been here for about five years now."

"We?" Severus asked, wondering if this was also Potter's residence.

"Bill and me. We were married four years ago, you were sent an invitation."

"I…must have overlooked it," Severus said, trying to remember receiving the thing. He was beyond surprised to find that not only had Draco's relationship with the eldest Weasley survived but that it had progressed to marriage.

"Well, I certainly couldn't have afforded this place on my own, not with my humble healer's salary," Draco said with a faint smirk.

"You completed your training then?" Severus asked. He had never imagined that Draco would ever stick at anything but many things had changed he supposed.

Draco nodded. "I'm currently on the further training programme to specialise in mind healing. I do three days at the hospital and three days studying. You should count yourself very privileged that I'm devoting a morning to your entertainment."

"Oh I do, very much so," Severus returned dryly. "And…your husband?"

Draco's face softened into a sickeningly fond look as he said, "He's well. He's working for a company in Russia at the moment although he always comes home on weekends."

"You've settled happily into domestic bliss with a Weasley, Lucius will be turning in his grave."

"We can only hope," Draco said, his smile fading at the mention of his father.

He sipped delicately at his coffee, a sign, Severus knew, to change the subject. It was no skin off his nose, there were far more interesting topics to discuss anyway.

He cleared his throat and smoothed the fabric of his robes before saying, "I take it from our meeting the other day that you've maintained your friendship with Potter."

Draco's eyes narrowed and Severus knew he would have to tread carefully.

"Yes," Draco said. "We're very close."

"And you're godfather to his son?"

Draco placed his cup and saucer on the elegant side table next to him and said, "I was living with Harry when Josh was born. I was there for the first year of his life. He's my pride and joy."

"I must say I was surprised to find that Potter has a child. Who – "

"If you're about to ask me again who the father is then I'll have to disappoint you. I'm not in the habit of broadcasting my friends' business. You could always ask him yourself of course."

"I rather got the impression that Potter wasn't interested in re-establishing our friendship," Severus said, watching as one of Draco's pale eyebrows rose archly.

"Friendship? Is that what you'd call it?" he asked, and Severus was sure he detected a certain amount of ice in the man's voice.

Deciding to ignore it, Severus continued, "What does he do with himself these days?"

"He's a wand maker," Draco said, leaning back in his chair. "A highly-sought one at that. He's built up an incredible reputation within the trade, he has commissions from all over the world."

"Nothing of course to do with – "

"It has nothing to do with who he is," Draco cut him off. "He's one of the best, plain and simple."

"I never thought I'd see you as his greatest advocate," Severus said, annoyed by Draco's manner.

"And I never thought I'd see him as my greatest friend. Things change."

Somewhere down the corridor Severus heard the front door open and shut. Draco turned his head towards the parlour door and moments later Bill Weasley appeared.

"Hello love," he said with a smile, moving over to Draco's chair and dropping a kiss on the man's forehead. "I decided to take a long weekend and spend some time with my gorgeous husband. Shall we – oh! Professor, I didn't see you there," Bill said as he caught sight of Severus sitting opposite.

"Mr Weasley," Severus said, nodding in greeting. "I understand congratulations are in order."

"Hm? Oh, old news now," Bill said with a grin as he perched on the arm of Draco's chair. "I've been putting up with this one for years."

"Revelling in your good fortune I think you mean," Draco said, leaning into Bill's side.

Bill wound an arm around Draco's shoulders in an easy and casual show of affection then said to Severus, "Drake told me you were back in England. How are you finding it?"

"It's more of a shock to the system than I imagined it would be. It will take some getting used to."

"Well in that case would you like to stay for dinner? Harry's coming over, he can help to reacclimatise you to life back here."

"I'm not sure that's – " Draco began with a frown, but Severus cut him off, saying,

"That would be lovely. Thank you for the invitation."

Draco brought his expression under control although Severus didn't miss the look of displeasure on the man's face. He rose from his chair and placed a kiss on Bill's cheek before saying, "I'll just go and fire call Harry. I wouldn't want him caught off-guard."

Severus rather objected to the idea of his presence catching Potter off-guard but said nothing. Draco disappeared and didn't return and soon smells of cooking began wafting through the corridors.

Bill poured Severus a rather exquisite brandy and gave him a tour of the house while they waited for dinner to be ready. It was a beautiful property, understated in its elegance with signs of being lived in rather than treated as a mausoleum.

He wondered what had become of Malfoy Manor. Perhaps it was standing as a relic of the past, a monument to the arrogance and stupidity of one man who had lost everything in his quest for superiority. Perhaps it had been sold and the proceeds given to the victims who had fallen foul of Lucius and his cruelty. Either way, it was obvious that the son and heir had nothing to do with it.

To think of Lucius's son being married to the eldest Weasley was amusing to say the least. Severus might have been convinced that Draco was only doing it to spite his father's memory but for the fact that the man seemed so obviously happy with his husband.

Bill took him out to the balcony that wrapped around the second floor and Severus admired the views over the picturesque coastline. It was unusually mild for late September and Severus sipped at his brandy while he sat at a pretty table and chairs.

He was there when he saw Potter stroll along the cliffs, his arms crossed across as he walked. Bill spotted him too and excused himself to go and let the man in. Severus smirked and tossed back the rest of his drink. Potter wouldn't be able to dismiss him as easily as he had done in Diagon Alley the other day and Severus was determined he would command the man's full attention.

"Ah Mr Potter, good evening," he said as Bill appeared back on the balcony with Potter in tow.

"Professor, good evening," Potter said, his manner stiff.

"Your son isn't with you?" Severus asked and something flitted briefly across Potter's face.

"No, he's at Molly's tonight."

"Harry, I'll go fetch you a drink and give Drake a hand with the dinner."

"I thought he'd told you you were never allowed in his kitchen again," Potter said with a grin. "He hasn't forgotten the fire."

"I still maintain that it started itself," Bill said, returning the smile.

"Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine that stew could go up in flames."

"Then you need to broaden your scope of imagination my friend."

Bill left, as did the smile from Potter's face. The man straightened his shoulders and walked over to the wooden railings of the balcony. He flattened his palms on top of it and looked out towards the sea, giving Severus a good look at the man's striking profile.

"Well, Mr Potter," he said, moving to stand beside the man, "has much changed in the years I've been away?"

Potter turned to look at him, the same guarded expression still in place. "Many things, I'd imagine."

This evasive, coolly polite attitude was starting to get up Severus's prodigious nose. He didn't know what egregious sin he'd committed but Potter's stand-offish behaviour was uncalled for. Still, the man was an absolute sight to behold and Severus wouldn't have said no to another round of horizontal action. He wasn't averse to a little ego-stroking to get what he wanted.

"Draco tells me you've become a very successful wand-maker. Such an incredibly skilled profession, what made you choose it?"

"Circumstance at the time," Potter said, his tone a little less abrasive. "I was looking for something to do after I'd had Josh and Drake mentioned that Ollivander was retiring. I went and spoke to him and he said that if was interested he'd train me. The moment I began learning wand lore I was hooked. It's become more of a passion than a profession."

"I understand you take commissions from all over the world?"

Potter nodded. "I supply the shop in Diagon Alley primarily but I fulfil private orders too."

"A customised wand is an impressive thing."

Potter tilted his head in acknowledgement and said, "They're the ones I enjoy the most. The sense of satisfaction when I finish one is extraordinary. The magic I work with is also very potent and old, it's a privilege to use it."

"I wonder if you'd consider taking me on as a client?" Severus asked. He couldn't resist the opportunity to get Potter on his own, and, now he considered it, he rather fancied treating himself to a new wand.

"You?" Potter asked, the guarded expression in place again.

"My wand has seen better days and the end was damaged in a potions fire a couple of years ago. I've found it's been functioning quite poorly lately."

It was true, although the wand would certainly last until the end of Severus's life quite serviceably enough. Still, there was no reason why he couldn't have a new one and he was curious to see what Potter was capable of.

"Well…if you're sure…You can send an owl to my assistant and he can book you in for an appointment."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Your assistant? Surely an old friend can make an appointment with you directly?"

"I'm not sure I'd say we were ever friends," Potter said, but Severus didn't have the chance to reply as Bill reappeared, followed by Draco who was neatly levitating plates of food in front of him.

They took their places at the table, the sea providing a pleasant back-drop as they ate. Draco was a far better cook than Severus would have ever credited and he enjoy every bite of his meal.

Potter relaxed a bit more around Draco and the easy back-and-forth of their conversation spoke to how close they were. They teased and jibed one another and it was clear that they were in each other's lives more than they were out of them.

Severus learnt that Potter lived only a few miles down the coast at a place called Ringstead Bay. He lived there alone with his son in the house that he bought before the boy was born and where Draco had initially gone to live with him.

It seemed that the two families were in and out of each other's homes frequently and that Potter's son regarded Draco and Bill as his uncles. He also, of course, had a large extended family in the Weasleys, who had continued to act as a surrogate family to Potter despite Ron's death several years ago.

After dinner they made their way to the other side of the balcony where it was more sheltered from the wind. Severus and Bill shared a particularly fine firewhisky while Potter and Draco curled up on a wicker sofa together, conspiring over cups of tea.

"It doesn't bother you?" Severus asked Bill, and the man turned to look at him questioningly. Severus gestured to Potter and Draco, the two sitting so close that Draco had slung one of his legs over Potter's lap.

"Why would it bother me?" Bill asked.

"Well, to see your husband sitting quite so intimately with another man," Severus said. If he had ever fallen foul of the trappings of a relationship he was sure he wouldn't be so comfortable with such an arrangement.

Bill shook his head and said, "For a start, I trust my husband. He could sit like that with every man in the world and I would still trust him. Secondly, I understood a long time ago that Harry and Drake have a very special relationship. After everything that happened I'm not sure they would have survived without one other. How could I ever begrudge that?"

"Still…their closeness seems very unique for a friendship," Severus said, not entirely sure why he was pushing the issue.

"It isn't a friendship," Bill said simply. "It's something deeper than that. There's a bond between them that I don't think could ever be broken."

"I don't suppose…"

"What?"

"Well…there's no chance that Draco is…the boy's father?"

Laughter wasn't the response Severus had been expecting and yet Bill laughed so loudly that Potter and Draco both looked over at them in surprise.

"Have you seen Josh?" Bill said through his laughter. "He's black-haired and olive-skinned."

"Potter's genes could easily – "

"Not to mention that Drake and Harry have never had that kind of relationship. You don't seem to be able to understand that you can be close to a person without it being sexual. They don't have those sorts of feelings for each other, it's…purer than that."

Severus wanted to scoff at the proclamation but kept himself in check. Pure indeed. There was no such thing as far as he was concerned. Perhaps Potter and Draco hadn't tumbled into bed together but in Severus's experience friendships didn't exist without there being a necessity for them.

The evening wore on and Severus bid them all farewell as 10 o'clock approached. Potter's goodbye was as stunted and polite as Severus had come to expect but Severus already had a plan in mind to change that.

It was only when he arrived home he realised that he hadn't managed to secure an appointment with the man and he was damned if he was going to stoop to contacting Potter's assistant. Potter would come around in time, Severus was sure of that. He would just have to use all the cunning that was so often attributed to his House.

AN: Well, I had such a great response to the first chapter, I hope this next one lived up to your expectations. Please drop me a review and let me know.

If you've never heard of Ringstead Bay, or the Dorset Jurassic Coast, I urge you to google them. It's the most beautiful stretch of coastline and one of my favourite places in the world :)