A/N: Thank you thank you to: Tlcatlady, FallenAngelFromAbove, Twilightfans, Xiaoqing, SkylerKnight, IndieWrites, Elfwyn, marinebrat29 and guests, for all your wonderful thoughtful reviews.

Sorry I didn't get a chapter posted yesterday. This may be TMI but it was the first day of 'that time of the month' and I was too busy doubled over in pain to write. So I'm gonna try to post two ch's today. This one and another before the end of the night. Trust me I'm getting to reall smut soon….

Harry paced back and forth in the living room of Grimmauld Place. With his mornings cup of coffee in hand he thought about the dilemma before him. If the second thread meant Ginny was happy then he would sacrifice his own happiness for hers. He always wanted children and that just didn't seem like a possibility in his thread with Severus. But he couldn't deny that how happy he and the older man looked in the last thread.

He's saved my life so many times; this is like saving his in way. I mean I can't let him kill himself. I supposed he's not that bad looking. I mean apparently I eventually find him quite attractive. He stopped pacing and looked around. Everything about the room was just as it was yesterday. Who am I kidding? Of course it was just a really strange dream. I mean I've spend several years of life under complete stress to suddenly be free of it. Of course I would have some weird dreams.

It was then that a burst of light appeared in the room causing a shock to Harry and making him miss a step as he turned to pace back in the other direction. "Bloody hell!" He cursed as he sloshed coffee of on his shirt. "Can I get a fucking warning when you're going to appear?" He asked Lachesis as she formed before him. "What are you doing back? "

"What? The light's not enough of a warning? And I'm back to reiterate in that thick skull of yours that last night was real. Now bye!"

"Wait! Stop! That's it?"

"Yup. I'll just pop in when I feel its necessary. Take care love." She said before disappearing again.

After cleaning himself up he decided he'd do what he always did; jump into a problem head first.

.HP….

His palms were sweating and he thought he was going to have a panic attack as he knocked on the decaying door of spinners end. He was about to turn around and leave when the door slowly started to open.

"Potter! What are you doing here?" The dark voice bellowed from the gap in the door.

"A simple hello would be nice." Harry responded trying to remain calm.

"Followed by a good bye. Good bye Mr. Potter." Severus answered. However before he could close the door Harry managed to get his foot in the crack and save it from closing.

"Please professor. I brought your favorite brand of fire whisky." He said holding up the bottle he brought with him.

Without a word Severus begrudgingly opened up the door to which Harry entered without waiting for a 'please come in.'

"And what do I owe the honor of this visit?" Severus asked with his signature sneer. Harry took a deep breath as Severus grabbed the bottle from his hand and poured them each a glass.

Surely I can't dive right in with 'you and I are destined to be together' he'd throw me out on my arse. But a business proposal….

"If you instist on standing there lost in your own thoughts, however pathetic they may be, then I'm going to ask you to leave." Severus snarled.

"Well I've been thinking, sir." Harry responded.

"Harry Potter thinking? Merlin help us all! Clearly the world has ended." Severus said with mock amazement. He took a seat with his whiskey in hand and gestured for Harry to do the same.

"Well, I've got a bit of business proposition for you." Harry started.

Severus merely rose one eyebrow. That was certainly not what he had been expecting Harry to say. "Well you see sir, I no longer have any interest in becoming and Auror anymore."

"Ah, I see. The great Harry Potter is too good to chase down bad guys anymore. Not enough spot light for you. Professional Quidditch then?" Severus asked as Harry grit his teeth.

"I know where not exactly friends but I would think that over the last year you would have realized I have no taste for frame. I also have no interest in playing Quidditch professionally." Harry answered.

"Well what is it then? I haven't got all day to hear you bemoan the careers that are no longer up to your caliber." I actually do have all day; Severus thought to himself. I have no job and no manipulative men in my life. I have all day to do absolutely nothing.

"I think we should start a business together." Harry started to say slowly then in a rush, "makingcupkaestogether."

Severus couldn't help but choke on his firewhisky. The burn hurt his throat and it took him a second to get the words out. "Clearly I did not hear you correctly or you have lost your mind. The latter would imply that you had a mind to begin with so it must be the former."

"Think about it. I know you don't want to teach anymore and cooking is kind of like brewing potions in a way. It gives you a chance to try something new, earn a living and maybe have some fun in the meantime." Harry answered, pulling at straws as they came to him.

"Firstly you idiot, I am too old to 'try something new', secondly I do not DO fun." Severus responded coldly. "Thirdly, as much as I am loathe to admit this to you of all people, do not have the funds that would be required to invest in starting a new business."

'Why do you have to be so mean to the boy' Severus's conscious tried to weigh in. 'It's not as if you hate him anymore.' To which Severus responded in his mind 'But do so enjoy making him flustered.' Conscious: 'Hm, I wonder why that is.' Severus: 'Shut Up!'

"Severus! Who's lost in their thoughts now?" Harry smirked. When Severus sneered at him, he knew he had his attention once again. "As I was saying, you don't' need any money. Between the Potter vault and the Black vault I'm sure I have enough to handle the initial cost myself. Come on Snape, you could do something I'm sure you're good at, earn a living and not have to deal with people."

"You have heard of an annoying species called customers have you not? They are a necessity to running a business." Severus answered.

"Yes, well you leave those to me and you just stay in kitchen and bake all day. Or blend frosting." Harry couldn't help the blush spreading across his face from remembering the frosting Severus had licked off of his neck. Severus himself was quite curious what caused such a pretty blush to spread across Harry's face.

Pretty? When was the last time I thought anything was pretty, much less in association with potter? "So I'll be you hired help, nothing more than a cook? I think not!" Severus sputtered.

"Of course not. You're my partner, um business partner." Harry said blushing again. "You would co-own the shop 50/50 and of course split the profits 50/50 and with your practical smarts you would be a tremendous benefit to planning and research. "

Did the boy just complement me? Clearly the world is ending. "Just to clarify the terms of your proposal which you have so inarticulately put forth," Severus started and smirked as he saw harry gritting his teeth. "You want to start a business with me, requiring nothing of me in way of capital investment, you would handle all of the customers but I would still reap half of the profits of the business?"

"Yup. That pretty much sums that up, sir." Severus looked at him through narrow eyes. He must be missing something. Why on earth would potter make him such an offer? He walked over to Harry and pulled out his wand. On instinct Harry pulled out his.

"Do put your wand away. I'm merely running so diagnostic tests to ensure you are not under any spell, curse or potion."

"I'm perfectly fine. Actually, I feel better than I have all week." Harry responded.

When Severus determined that Harry was indeed of sound mind, well as sound as is possible for the boy, he nodded and returned to his seat.

"Do you have a location in mind."

"I have the perfect location! There's even a rather nice loft apartment above the shop." Harry blurted out.

"I have no intention of leaving my home potter just to be closer to the shop. Nor do I Intend on working in a bakery below where you and your girlfriend live. I have no intention of putting up with you and the Weasley girl running around like a bunch of love birds."

"Oh you don't have to worry about that, I promise." Harry murmured to himself. Severus heard him none the less.

"And how can I be so sure of that?" He asked.

"Because I've come to the realization that Ginny and I aren't entirely suited for one another. With all due respect I'd rather not discuss that right now. I can only promise you that you do not have to worry about any girlfriend ever living in the apartment."

Interesting choice of words, Severus thought to himself eying the boy. He bit his cheek to keep his comments to himself. It wouldn't do to push him too much in one day. "Very well. When shall we go see this place."

"See? Oh! Yes, um. I will find out and let you know ASAP, sir." Harry sputtered.

"You haven't spoken to the current owner yet? Have you done any planning?"

"Well not exactly, but I know this will work! Trust me!"

"Every time a potter says trust me, it usually turns out bad for my person; whether mentally or physically. However, it would not surprise me if you're anamagus was a cat, for your shear ability to leap head-first in any situation and still land on your feet. Do your research and come back to me. I will take you're proposal into serious consideration." Severus answered getting up as if to escort Harry out.

Harry couldn't help it. He was just too damn happy and surprised that Severus hadn't kicked him out but rather, in fact, decided to take his proposal seriously. He just couldn't help himself when he lept up and flung his arms around the man. What took him for a bigger surprise was how warm and wonderful the man felt in his arms. He took in a breath and realized the man's robes smelt of earthy rich herbs.

"Unhand me Potter!" Severus yelled. Oh how he wanted to reach up and run his hands through Harry's messy hair. He wanted to lift the boys chin and finally…but he refused to let his thoughts go any further. It was absolutely pointless, if not harmful to allow himself such thoughts.

Harry jumped away from the man as if he had been burnt. Realizing what he had just done, he blushed intensely. "Sorry, sir. I'll, I'm go do more research and get back to you." Harry babbled before quickly taking his leave before embarrassing himself further.

What the hell have I gotten myself into now? What Severus wouldn't admit to what how happy he was to have Harry Potter back in his life again.