Chapter 3

It had taken four hours to outfit Severus' in a brand new wardrobe, complete with twenty silk shirts in deep red, dark blue, and midnight black; fifteen cashmere turtle necks of the same colors; twenty pairs of black slacks; three pairs of high-end, bootleg jeans (at Harry's insistence); five plain black t-shirts (Harry, again); and three t-shirts in red, black, and white with smartass remarks that Harry had discovered in a donation box at the back of the store. Everything that needed to be fitted would be tailored, and Severus would return in a week for the last fitting. When they'd been shooed out of the shop, Harry had dragged Severus to a small café at the end of the block, where they'd enjoyed a late lunch. It was around 2 p.m. when they finally apparated back to Hogwarts gates.

"Do you have plans for the rest of your day, Harry?" Severus asked. He wasn't sure why he was asking, he didn't have a plan for if the other professor were free. He was saved from coming up with one, however, when Harry answered.

"Uh, yeah…it's my workout day. I work out three times a week. Usually it's after dinner, but since we're watching a movie tonight, I moved it up in the time slot. Did you want to do something instead? I could work out after the movie…or whatever…if you had something in mind," The man said.

Severus cleared his throat, easily hiding the twinge of disappoint he'd felt when Harry had said he had plans. "No, that's alright. I have to finish my syllabus for the upcoming term. I…well, I was hoping we could confer on certain defense tactics involving potions and spells, but we could do that over the weekend."

Harry shot him his typical 1000 watt smile. "Sounds great, and I'm sure the students would appreciate it. Maybe we could even start the Dueling Club up again to give the kids a chance to see and practice the techniques first hand? If you wanted, we could discuss it tonight. Just come over an hour earlier than we originally planned and we could talk over dinner."

Severus allowed a smile to grace his face. The younger man wasn't as thick-headed as he used to come off as. "Brilliant idea, Mr. Potter. I'll speak with Albus about the Dueling Club and meet you in your rooms at 7."

"Great! Do you know where my rooms are?" The boy asked. If possible, his smile had gotten even brighter at the compliment. Severus shook his head in answer to the question. "They're in the dungeons. It was the only open faculty chambers that weren't too close to Gryffindor. I loved living in the Tower, but I didn't want to risk the kids coming to me before Minerva, and Albus thought that was best. It's the portrait of Salzaar and Godric a few corridors down from the Slytherin dorms. See ya later?" Severus looked away from the boy and realized they'd already entered the entrance hall.

"Of course, but, if your rooms are in the dungeons, where were you headed last night after the movie?" Severus asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.

Harry blushed and Severus had to squash the thought that he was positively adorable like that. "I was headed to the kitchens. Dobby wanted me to visit."

"Ah, the hyperactive house elf. He does seem quite fond of you," Severus said, smirking.

Harry chuckled, scratching the back of his head nervously. "It's a long story. So, I'll see you for dinner?"

Severus nodded and watched the boy disappear down the steps to the dungeons before he remembered he had to speak with Albus. He groaned at the thought. Why had he volunteered to speak with the Headmaster? The man would be positively glowing when he found out that Harry and himself were not just getting along, but were conferring for classes as well. He only prayed the man didn't know that they'd spent the entire day together so far, or any details about the burgeoning friendship, for that matter. Severus' was pretty sure his esteemed employer would implode with joy if he knew how close he and the brat had gotten, all because of an hour spent in companionable silence watching the last half of a silly American film. What had he gotten himself into?

"Ah, Severus, how may I help you today? You're looking incredibly well-shaven."

Severus groaned again. That blasted twinkle was going full-force, so he at least knew that Minerva had spoken with the Headmaster about what had happened this morning. "Yes, Headmaster, it was brought to my attention how villainous I looked, and I decided it was time for a change. I've come to discuss the possibility of reinstating the Dueling Club, but with a few new provisions."

"Of course, Severus! Harry spoke with me last week about just that, but said he was afraid to approach you with the idea. Seemed convinced he'd wind up in a potion if he asked you personally. I was going to ask you about it tonight at dinner. Do you mind working along-side our resident celebrity for this under-taking?" Albus asked, a knowing look in his eye.

"Professor Potter approached me a few moments ago, actually, and I thought we could tie it in with our classes. The curriculum seems to be seriously lacking when it comes to coalition between subjects. I was thinking of adding a few lessons in conjuncture with Professor Potter's defense class, covering the techniques and basics of combining defense spells and potions. I asked him about it and he brought up the idea for Dueling Club so that the children could experience the lessons first hand," Severus told him, only just barely succeeding at smothering the blush threatening to rise as thoughts of the day sped through his mind's eye. Echoes of the catcalls and wolf-whistles Harry had shot in his direction when he'd tried on the jeans, especially, were almost enough for him to give up the act altogether and gossip with his adoptive grandfather. The light chuckle from the old man was what kept him from doing just that. He'd never live it down among the staff if they knew Potter had been a major player in the complete undoing of his solitude and rotten disposition. All in less than 24 hours.

"Well, I see no problem with that. I think I should bring up your idea of inter-class cooperation at the next staff meeting, perhaps the other teachers could work together as well. I don't know why this was never brought up in the past," Albus said, sincerely confused.

"Simple, Albus, teachers have always been more preoccupied with not over-stepping the boundaries of their subject into another, and it never occurred to them to speak with other professor's about working in cahoots. I would have come to you with this idea years ago, myself, had there been a teacher in your employ who had a semblance of dignity and intelligence, someone who could stand up to me without undermining me in the classroom," Severus told him off-handedly.

"Why, Severus, I do believe you just gave young Harry an underhanded compliment," The Headmaster commented with a chuckle. "Is there something you'd like to share?"

Severus couldn't stop the blush this time, Albus would know if he was lying. "Professor Potter and I are…becoming close colleagues," He said, picking invisible lint off his sleeve. It wasn't a lie, per se.

"Severus…"

Damn, he was caught. He stepped further into the office and slumped into the cushy chair before the old man's desk. "Might as well start from the beginning," He muttered. He launched into a brief description of the most recent interactions between him and the brat. "In short, the boy has once again managed to squirm his way beneath the wall around my heart, and I fear he may dissolve the barrier entirely. Despite this, I don't want him to leave…I don't want my solitude back." He finished solemnly.

Albus hummed thoughtfully. "Well, it's good to see the two of you getting along. Do you imagine anything will blossom from this new-found friendship?"

"Albus!" Severus said sharply. "He's 20 years younger than I am!"

"Please, Severus, I know your father was a muggle, but look at me. An age difference that small is hardly something to blink at in the Wizarding World," The older man chastised him lightly.

"He's Lily's son! I was supposed to be his godfather if James hadn't insisted on the mutt!" Severus protested.

"Which means Lily knew you'd play an important part in Harry's life. And, really, my boy, I don't think she, nor James, would mind, so long as you're both happy. Although, should you break the boys heart, I think you'll have some very angry living friends of yours on your back. Remus and Sirius…" Albus trailed off as Severus paled considerably.

"Oh, Merlin, the mutts would have my head if they thought there was anything between Harry and I. We may be arguing less ever since the brat's fifth year, but they wouldn't think twice before killing me in my sleep were there even an inkling of something going on between Harry and myself. And that's another thing, I was his teacher!" Severus was fairly panicking at this point. He stood abruptly and began pacing.

"Severus, calm down!" Albus admonished softly. "None of it matters, child, none of it. Be his friend, that's all you have to do. If something does blossom between you, let him make the first move, let him come to you, alright?"

Severus took a shaky breath and calmed his racing thoughts. "Of course, Albus, you're right, as usual," He murmured, his shoulders slumping.

"Enjoy the friendship for what it is, my boy, let things happen as they will. Fate is never wrong, and your destinies have always been entwined. Now, would you like to stay for tea? I believe I've forgotten to yet offer you a lemon drop…" Albus coaxed.

Severus smiled at the man who had always been like a doting grandfather. "No, thank you, Albus, I have some errands to run in Hogsmeade, and then I have to get some notes together for my dinner with Harry. Rain check?"

Albus nodded indulgently and Severus swept from the room, down the winding staircase.