Chapter 11

Shopping.

The one word that filled the heart of all macho masculine men with dread. Severus Snape was a prime example of such a man. He considered himself to be above the reaches of the detestable female activity.

He was glad that at least Harry was not bringing him clothes shopping. But did the brat have to put furniture shopping on the list? It had the despised word included in that phrase!

So as Severus Snape stirred his potion and chopped and diced ingredients, he mustered all his courage and muttered to himself, "the brat better be thankful that I'm accompanying him, otherwise he would be cheated without even knowing". His diary had the entry: Meet Harry for furniture shopping at Hogwarts Entrance Hall. 10am.

He categorically refused to acknowledge that just maybe, he wanted to tag along because Harry had asked him to.

* * * * * *

Harry stood at the kitchen island of his café kitchen, carefully buttering a circular springform pan. Julian stood beside him, presumably measuring out flour and sugar. The latter had stopped his assigned task, and was eying Harry. His fingers toyed restlessly with the flour bag, occasionally dipping into the flour and then drawing random little patterns on the kitchen island.

"Julian, do you mind not wasting the flour?" Harry spoke without looking up from his careful buttering.

"Honestly Harry, why do you put yourself through all this hard work? It would be so quick and easy just to wave a wand and poof! out pops a cake already made. It would save so much time…and we would have time to ourselves. Y'know what I mean?"

Harry looked up, frowning. "But the cakes taste much better when they're made by hand. I happen to think that cakes taste a bit flat when done entirely by magic. It's better this way. Otherwise, the café business would not be doing as well as it is now."

"But I want to spend some alone time with you, Harry. It seems like the only time we ever see each other is at work. I want to take you out for dinner, a little dancing maybe; that sorta thing, you know?"

Julian went over to Harry and slung an arm around the latter's waist.

Harry irritably twisted, and the arm fell off. He proceeded to pre-heat the oven, and then started to measure the dry ingredients that Julian was supposed to have done.

"Julian, you're kind of getting in my way here. So please say what you want to say. I have plenty of work to do, and very little time to complete it."

"Let's make a date then, Harry. Saturday. You and me. Diagon Alley. We'll go for a nice meal, where we'll try to avoid the subject of work. Then maybe we'll check out some of the cool stores and have a wander around.

"Hmph. Saturday? What time?"

"I'll pick you up from Hogwarts."

"No need, Julian. I'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron around 10am on Saturday."

"It's a date then!" Julian nodded his head in acceptance of the plan, then strolled out of the kitchen whistling a jaunty tune. Harry scowled briefly.

"Thanks for all the help, pal." He quickly layered the cake and popped it into the oven to bake. "At least I'm meeting Sev on Saturday…" Harry suddenly stopped in his tracks, the used baking tools that he was gathering up to clean falling from his hands back onto the kitchen island.

'OH NO. SATURDAY. NOW I'M REALLY DOOMED.'

* * * * * *

The first thing that Harry did after he got off work that day was to floo over to his best friends' flat and look for Hermione. He spotted the familiar bushy head bent over her desk, quill in hand, scribbling something down on a long parchment scroll.

Being the bestest best friend ever, Harry waited for Hermione to put her quill down before he glomped straight over her back, wailing her name as he did so. The aforementioned Hermione got the most understated big shock of her life.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER! WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN'S GOOD EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

"'Mione, I'm in deep shit. I don't think I can even dig myself out. I don't know what I'm going to do? Please tell me, or else I think I'll go mad." He knelt beside her chair, hands clasped together, looking up at her beseechingly with big emerald eyes and pouty lips.

Silence.

More silence.

"Harry, I think I might be of more use to you if you would TELL me what is bothering you so that you're in "deep shit"".

"Saturday."

Hermione closed her eyes and prayed for patience. "And what is it about Saturday that you're such in a panic over?"

"Sev and Julian".

"Hey 'Mione, what's all the racket down here…Harry! What you doing here?" Ron frowned, his foot poised on the second last step down, taking in the scene. "What's going on with Harry?"

Hermione pushed herself to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. She frowned down at the kneeling figure. "I would be able to tell you Ron, if Mr. Potter here would deign to speak in clear complete sentences".

Ron hauled his best friend to his feet and pushed him onto the couch. Then they took places opposite him and waited.

Harry cringed at the combined stares.

"Honestly it's no my fault, guys! OK, maybe it is, a little; but it was a complete pure accident!"

Ron looked at Hermione. "I see what you mean, 'Mione. Harry, why don't you start at the beginning? I believe that's the best place to be now."

Harry ran a hand through his hair. "You guys know that I'm going furniture shopping with Sev (here Ron suppressed a shudder at hearing Snape addressed so familiarly) for my new cottage. Earlier today, I was baking in my café kitchen, and Julian was helping me, of a sorts. He asked me out for dinner on Saturday evening, and I agreed without paying attention! It was only after he'd gone that I realised what I'd done. So now I'm stuck. I have appointments on the same day at the same time with two people. Who should I turn down, and how do I even say it? Oh god, I feel absolutely terrible…"

Hermione thought to herself, 'well, at least he knows he has to reject somebody now'. She looked at the miserable figure on the couch and prepared herself for a long night.

Ron looked like he had just reached an epiphany. "Oi, mate. That's a fairly simple thing to decide: you should go with Snape and tell that Julian bloke to buzz off."

Hermione's head whipped around to stare at her boyfriend.

Harry looked at his best male friend. "But I can't just do that! Isn't that the same as going back on my promise?"

"Look, mate. Who do you really want to go out with on Saturday? I think you know deep inside who you really want to go with, and this excuse of breaking promises is just something for you to hide behind. And 'sides, I don't much like that Julian bloke. He attended Gin's engagement party with Malfoy without an invitation, then treated the party like some kind of business session. He didn't respect my little sister, and I don't think he's gonna respect you much either, if that's anything to go by."

Ron took a deep breath and continued, "And honestly, Har. I know I'm not Snape's biggest fan, but even I can see he holds a lot of respect for you. He helped you find a house, and is even bringing you furniture shopping! He's a good bloke."

Hermione put in her two cents worth. "Take tomorrow to consider your choice carefully, Harry. I know you're considering seeing Julian romantically, but I do think you should keep your appointment with Severus. He did make the appointment with you first; and he's your friend. You should never break a promise to a friend, especially if he's one you like as much as Severus."

If Harry heard the inflections in Hermione's voice at certain words, he made no indication, but leant back on the couch and heaved a big sigh.

'What am I going to do…'

* * * * * *

Friday passed with Harry still being none the wiser about what he was going to do. Julian was the man who had offered him a job in the bookstore and had even made him partners in the business together. It was fun being with Julian; he always had a quip to make him laugh, and he did try his best to offer advice. He was simply a very important man with a lot of business decisions to make. There was that element of excitement with Julian. The man was a blond God in appearance. Harry shivered faintly at the memory of Julian's voice: it had started to get deep and husky when the man was alone with Harry.

But Sev…Sev was his friend. His very very very good friend. Severus was always there for Harry, no matter what, and the potions master put in tons of energy and effort to help, even if it inconvenienced him. Harry didn't want to imagine Severus' anger and hurt if…why, the man would never speak to him again! And Harry Potter did not make his friends sad if he could help it. A faint memory stirred, and Harry recalled the kiss they had shared in the Malfoy gardens, and the way the kiss had sent little tingles and warmth all through his body.

Merlin, just thinking of that kiss now made his cheeks flush.

Harry shoved his ingredients back into the refrigerator, and pulled off his apron. He left the café and went back to his rooms in Hogwarts to sulk.

Correction: to think.

* * * * * *

When Harry awoke on Saturday morning, his mind was foggy with sleep. He felt like he had not slept at all. A knock came at his door.

"Tempus. 10am? Who can it be?"

He stumbled to the door and pulled it open. Severus Snape stood outside, and wonders of wonders, not in his usual bat-like black robes. Harry blinked and rubbed his eyes. He rubbed them again.

"You'll damage your eyes if you keep rubbing them, brat".

"Sev, what are you wearing?"

The potions master was clothed in a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and black slacks. His long black hair was secured in a leather tie at the base of his neck. He looked unruffled at Harry's comment, but Harry could have sworn the older man's eyes froze slightly.

"If my dressing displeases you, Potter, you will just have to deal with it."

"Sev, I didn't mean that! You look great! I never though I'd see you in a colour other than black."

"Hmph. Now that we are done with the pleasantries, it might be courteous to invite your guest in…?"

"Oh, yes, of course!" Harry stood aside to let Severus in, noticing that the black eyes were warm. Severus seated himself on the couch, and Harry brought tea.

"I'll just go and get dressed, then. Call for Dobby if you need anything."

"I believe I can manage for the next half hour, brat. Scoot."

As Harry was about to obediently "scoot", there came another knock on the door. Harry turned around and went to the door, muttering, "who could it be?"

He pulled the door open and was met with a smiling Julian. "Good morning Harry! I thought I'd come by and pick you up instead of having you meet me instead at the Leaky Cauldron."

As he spoke, Julian pushed his way past an open-mouthed Harry into the living room, where he jerked to a halt at the sight of Severus Snape, calmly sipping tea.

Severus caught sight of Julian and placed his tea cup onto the coffee table. He stood up and regarded Julian with a distinctly unfriendly look. Harry made quick introductions, and proceeded to escape to the bathroom.

He locked the door and leant against it. He slid down the door to sit on the floor, burying his face in his hands with a choked laugh and sob.

What am I going to say, and how do I clear up this mess?!

A/N: Hey guys, thanks for waiting so patiently for this chapter. I really wanted to put in the furniture hunting in this chapter, but the scenario with Sev and Julian caught my muse bug and wouldn't let go until I wrote it down. Do enjoy, and I'll try my best to have the next chapter up as soon as possible!

Hugs, anastasia87