A/N: Not my favorite chapter (too short and all) but I had to write this. There's gonna be some kind of action soon, I promise!

Thanks for the reviews! :)

samusaran101: Your review made my day again! I actually needed to dance alone for a moment after reading it. Like, who does something like that? But thanks so much! :) And ofc I'm a robot! A girl robot maybe but still a robot ;)

Nayannibal: Thanks :) I hope he wouldn't, too! (Like it's not my decision. Haha.)

Sheankelor: Thanks for the review :) I think Albus and Severus may need to have a little conversation about… everything. We'll see. And I promise there'll be some action soon (FINALLY).

So here's the chapter!

Chapter 14: Relief and Disappointment (or in other words: Sorry This Chapter Is Ridiculously Short)

"I think you should return to your dormitory."

"But I just got here," Harry said quietly, not knowing why the thought of leaving felt so bad.

"And we discussed your situation. There is no need for you to stay any longer, is there?"

But I want to, Harry thought and looked at Snape. Hard, impassive eyes and no smirk to be seen. I guess the moment passed, then. Or maybe I'm just… delusional. There's no way he'd like to spend time with me.

"No, sir," Harry said in a harsh tone. "Good night, then."

Snape nodded.

"And… Thank you."

"Potter," Snape said.

Harry looked at him.

"We will not have any Occlumency lessons next week."

"What," Harry asked and didn't even care about the hearable panic in his voice. "But why?"

"Just leave," Snape said and his voice was threateningly low.

"But I…"

"Leave now."

Harry turned around and swallowed the argument that building up. As he walked to the door, he could feel the man's eyes on his back. He wanted to turn around and say… what? You're a horrible git couldn't quite capture this feeling and neither could you're a greasy bat. This new feeling was something Harry couldn't quite describe. Something like… disappointment. No, I'm not gonna think about it, Harry decided. He opened the door, closed it and left.

But yes, it was disappointment.

And it curled in his stomach like a giant snake.

Ron, Hermione and Ginny came back to Hogwarts when there were only two days left of the holiday. Harry was happy to meet them but felt somehow distracted. Speaking with Ginny went quite well, though, as they were both quite content with the breakup.

"I'm sorry I wrote you a letter," she had said and Harry had forgiven her.

So now they were… friends. And it didn't feel half as weird as Harry had expected. There were those moments when he wasn't sure how to react. What was a boyfriend-ish thing to do and what was the good friend -alternative? It was weird but Harry thought he managed quite well. No kissing but a hug was fine from time to time. No I love you's but that was almost too easy. All in all, it went pretty well.

Talking about being gay was another matter entirely.

It had been OK with Ginny as she had only said "I knew it" when Harry had told her she had been right with the gift. Harry had apologized for not understanding sooner and Ginny had laughed and said "don't be". She had been that great person whom Harry loved so deeply. He did love her, he knew. He just wasn't in love with her.

The idea of telling Ron and Hermione had freaked him out the most.

"Um," he had begun. "I should probably tell you something."

Hermione had smiled.

"What is it," Ron had asked.

"The thing is, I'm actually- I mean, I've noticed that I am- Why is this so fucking hard?"

"Just tell us," Hermione had said soothingly.

"OK. So. I am…"

"gay," Ron had said matter-of-factly.

"What," Harry had said.

"Well, aren't you, then," Ron had asked.

"Well, um, sort of," Harry had babbled. "But how do you know it?"

"It was just a feeling, you know," he had said and grinned. "And what's the problem?"

Harry had felt dumbstruck.

"There isn't any," he had asked as he had remembered how to speak again.

"Of course there isn't," Hermione had said. Then she had started speaking about wizarding community's open mindedness and Harry and Ron had rolled their eyes.

It had been normal. Normal, normal, normal and Harry was happy it had went so well. And it was like nothing had changed. They hung out normally, did their homework normally and spoke about everyone normally. Relief washed over Harry like a wave.

On the last evening of the holiday Hermione had asked about the lessons with Snape. Harry had mumbled something like it's been OK and then blushed. The look on Hermione's face had been annoyingly knowing and so Harry had said: "But you know, Snape is a horrible, greasy git!" He hoped Hermione didn't think anything idiotic like that Harry had a crush on Snape or whatever. I would be horrible if she had any such ideas because it was NOT TRUE.

Of course I don't, Harry thought. The idea of Snape makes me… well. Snape is a git. An ugly git.

WHAT THE HELL, was the thought that kept on replaying itself in Severus' head. I am the most irresponsible teacher in the whole Hogwarts. Well, of course not, but what the fuck is wrong with me?

He had invited Potter into his private quarters when he had been drunk.

He had flirted with Potter.

"You were, too," Potter had said.

"Indeed," Severus had said and looked Potter up and down, "I was."

I AM THE BIGGEST FUCKING IMBECILE IN THE WHOLE WIZARDING COMMUNITY.

I cannot think about a seventeen-year-old boy like this. It is not normal to lust after a student. It is repulsing. I command myself to stop this. And for Merlin's sake, Severus, don't act by your sick, perverted thoughts!

Maybe it's good I cancelled the lessons for next week, he thought. I am going to be exceptionally mean to the boy. Cruel, even.

This thought gave him some comfort.