Harry looked around the front room and kitchen in hopefulness of discovering Snape calmed down with a glass of liquor in his hand. If they could just talk about what happened, perhaps nothing would need to change. They could go back to drinking each night and share stories of missing pieces revolving around the war with Voldemort, stories about Lily, his lessons… anything. Ever since staying here he had felt at concord about everything. For once, things had been going good despite the darkness lingering outside.

He stopped looking for Snape once he saw that the light was on in Snape's bedroom behind a shut door. Lifting his hand to knock, Harry swiftly hesitated as a flood of second thoughts occupied his mind. After a moment of standing frozen in the hallway, he retracted his hand with the understanding that any attempt to talk to Snape would end badly based on their record. It would undoubtedly be best if he did not speak to him for some time. After all, this was Professor Snape who disliked him beyond reasoning.

Sighing, he made his way to his room and inaudibly shut the door. Resting his head against the coolness of the entrance, Harry opened his eyes and then noticed an envelope resting on his dresser. It seemed to have been intentionally placed where he would see it, not by an owl, but by Snape.

Taking it into his hands, the desire to rip the paper arose in place where Harry usually stored his frustrations. Letting the agitation from the situation take control, Harry began to rip the envelope until it was completely shed from the letter… from Hermione. The shredded envelope fell to the floor as he promptly began to read the letter.

Dear Harry,

Before I write what I have set out to say, I want to put this on the table before I begin. You should have written Ron or I to let us know everything that has been happening. I cannot imagine how you have been doing. I suppose that this must mean that you have been doing fine, or you would have wrote to let us know about how you have been handling the break up.

Of course she would be writing about the break up… not Kirnap. None of the dealings with Kirnap had been given attention from the Prophet in order to not induce fear among the public. It was intended to be kept quiet. And truthfully, Harry had meant to tell his best friends but had been busy. He also had meant to tell them about the breakup, which led him to wonder how she even knew?

This may come of a shock to you, but I ran into Derrick the other day. He seemed to have been doing fine, but he admitted that he was sad that you two never had any closer. He told us what had happened. Everything, Harry. I'm sorry to say this, but as I friend I will tell you that what you did was a big risk to everyone in the Wizarding World. He has no idea what you tried to do, but I know. What other spell would you of used in order to try and reverse what you told him without actually causing physical harm? Do you even realize what you tried to do?

Well, obviously you did not really want to do it, because it didn't work. He remembers everything Harry. I don't know what's going on, but he says he has not seen you anywhere. He's been to the apartment many times and says that you obviously have not been home for some time. Since you paid most of the bills he didn't feel it was right for him to stay after what he did to cause the fight. He asked us to pass along his words that he would like to see you once more and say his peace.

Since you have not talked to me I don't know how you are feeling, so you will either like or not like what I am about to say. You need to go talk to him. At least talk, and make things absolutely ok again. If not, he could get you in big trouble. Could you imagine the headlines if word got out about what you did? I mean this as a friend Harry.

Please let us know where you have been staying and we will come by to see you as soon as you figure things out with Derrick.

Love always,

Hermione

P.S. Derrick would like to meet you tomorrow at your apartment at 10 a.m.

His hands could hardly grasp the letter by the time he read the last sentence. The acid in his stomach became evident just as the shaking in his knees amplified to the point he had to sit down where he stood. Harry had not eaten all day, but the bile in his gut threatened to make him vomit. The weight of the world was once more bearing itself on his shoulders.

But no matter the feelings waging war upon his body, his brain couldn't forget the words Hermione wrote. "Obviously you really did not mean to do it, because it didn't work." It never worked. This whole time… Derrick remembered what had happened and never once spoke out about it. And what made him most distressed, was that Derrick actually wanted to see him once more… to have closure.

After all this time… after all these attempts at healing…

He ran a hand through his hair which was still damp from the snow. The feeling of the dampness led his thoughts back to Snape.

Snape.

Everything that had happened this evening was beginning to make his world feel lost and unbalanced. Harry shut his eyes and placed his hands over his forehead.

Feeling this out of control of his feelings was maddening. Never in his life had he felt the true feeling of heartbreak. He had lost loved ones before, but not in this manner. Feeling this about Derrick was beyond what he could control at times. He made a note to never let this happen again.

Especially from a Muggle.

But this was an opportunity to find some closure within this mess of madness.

Finding a slip of paper, ink and quill in the bedside drawer, Harry began to write a letter to Williamson, asking for him to aide him home tomorrow. The thought crossed his mind that maybe it was 'meant to be' that all this happened. Maybe he wouldn't have talked to Derrick unless this turn of event happened. If it weren't for the need to stay somewhere else, he might have burned the letter in the fireplace amongst conversation with Snape.

That was it then. His mind was made up that he would get home in time to talk to Derrick.

Snape's eagle-owl had obviously been waiting anxiously for a job to do, for as soon as he opened the window it came soaring down to the ledge. His fingers tried orchestrate a knot around the foot of the bird, which proved to be difficult for it was anxious to get going. The owl nipped at his fingers, insisting for him to hurry.

Once the letter was hooked securely, Harry brushed over its left wing with the back of his hand. The owl hooted in appreciation towards the affection. "Stay warm." He commanded before the black owl took off into the wall of snow flurries.

If Harry had discovered that his hands were both permanently frozen for life, then perhaps his day could have gone worse. Maybe.

If there was one thing in Harry's life which never ceased to his existence, was falling for a lure and being the one wisest fish in the lake to snag the line by the ill-conceived notion that this was the best choice in his life. This bait –so well designed, promised to lead him to a new lake. A lake fresh with bugs each night, no fisherman, no bears to duck and swoop at him. But of course, that's the "catch". He took the bait, and how foolish he looked strung on a line.

From the moment he had arrived at his old apartment, he had regretted the whole journey. Williamson stood outside his door while being both polite and understanding. Derrick had obviously been anxiously waiting, for as soon as Harry opened the door, he had come bounding forward to pull him into a kiss.

There's just some kisses that speak more than words.

"Harry, I am so sorry." Derrick pulled Harry into a hug. His familiar embrace began to fill Harry's mind, warming him as if being shoved from the Arctic and into a warm bath.

"Derrick…"

"Please come home."

Harry walked the path leading into Severus's little home. The path, its cobblestones sinking beneath the earth, never felt so long. Finally, upon reaching the door, he hesitated to knock (Would it be better to just walk in?), but chose the latter and rushed inside. He was slightly shocked to walk inside and find Severus in the front room, clutching his iced whiskey in one hard in front of the bay window. A drunk Severus could mean one of two things. Either they were going to have a night long conversation peaking way into the night close to dawn, or he was going to be someone Harry had not quite met just yet.

Snape turned from the window, and to Harry's surprise, took many slow steps towards him.

Harry swallowed, nervous and unsure of where they stood, but forced the words weighing heavily on his tongue. "Snape I figured it all out. Krinap wanted to separate you and me by convincing Derrick of my wealth. I left this morning to go see Derrick, and it didn't take long for it to all make sense"

"Did you fuck him?"

"Fu- What? What do you mean?"

Snape's fingers rubbed the lip of his glass. "Did you "make love" to him?"

"What? No Snape. No-" his thoughts caught himself in his mind. Why after-all, was it so important? "Snape?"

"Don't you dare lie to me."

Harry looked away again, confused at how Snape was acting. "I'm not... I'm not lying to you."

"Then look at me!"

Some obedient response took over, and Harry's eyes met with Snape's. Harry instantly felt the pang in his brain, then the swirling on memories came bursting through his mind. It was momentary painful- momentary excruciating. But then the flash of memories began. He saw Derrick- kissing his lips, their first time making love: pain, moaning... release. He saw the letter dismissing his love: heartbreak. Crying the floor... vomiting in the toilet from the pain. Kirnap in the woods. Snape tending to his wounds in the kitchen. Snape kissing him in the snow: attraction.

Snape suddenly stopped at the last part, and with eyes wide open, stared in shock at the man before him.

Harry, bent over clutching the side of his head, and growled, "Did you see what you wanted? Did you? I didn't fuck him you prat!"

"I'm-"

"Don't you bloody apologize! Why do you care so much what goes on between us anyways? Why Snape?"

"I don't."

"Yes, you do! Don't lie to me!"

Snape looked away. "Why did you see him?"

"I told you long ago, I needed to say I was sorry. What I did to him? It was awful. Horrible. It didn't work though. And I'm so glad. He remembers it all, even me telling him what I was. And he wants me back."

Snape turned his back to Harry.

"But you know what Snape?"

"Tell someone who cares. Like your friends, who are not around evidently."

That hit a spot. "Why do you try and hurt others around you when things get rough? I'm not going to let you get to me anymore. You know that you care. You constantly lie to yourself because... because I'm hers and his son."

Snape whirled around, "You know nothing!"

"You're right. I don't know much about you. I can't deny that. You did a pretty damned good job at fooling us all that you were someone we could trust, then you had us mislead that you were the perfect one to be Voldemort's mate. And then, well, you deceived us yet again –shockingly we never saw it coming. You are just the master at deceiving those around you and hiding who you really are." Harry took to exit the room.

Snape instantly bounded forward and held out his arm, refusing to let the man leave just yet. He didn't speak or even look at Harry, as if fighting with himself to say what was on the front of his mind.

"What Snape? Come on with it, I have better things to do than stand here all night."

"What did you say?"

"Don't expect me to repeat myself-"

"Are you together with him or not?"

Harry, still as angry as a dog fight taking place within him, let the anger diminish. He took a deep breath before speaking. "No. I told him no, because I thought I had an understanding of something potentially greater. But I am not sure now."

Snape's eyes closed for a brief moment. When he opened them again, he stood straight up and did something Harry did not expect.

Severus leaned forward towards Harry's face. "This doesn't change a thing between us... Potter." His free hand pulled Harry's face towards his and he let his lips leave a soft kiss on Harry's lips.

000ooo000ooo

So I had posted a shorter version of his chapter a week or two ago, but deleted it after a day because I never once felt satisfied with it. I fixed it up quite a bit, and ta-da! Did you guys enjoy the kiss which has been lingering in the summary? ;)

Thanks everyone who has come back to review! You guys honestly have been so kind and great towards suggestions, opinions and overall feelings.

AlexisGray941- I'm sorry to hear about your setbacks at work! I'm hoping everything with your job has resolved itself now, or is headed in a better direction. Lol, I'm so glad you liked the vacuum cleaner part last chapter. I am pretty proud of how that turned out. Thanks a ton for your input! I sometimes worry that the way my story is narrated (by showing the two perspectives) is not appealing, so I am happy you like it. It makes me feel more at ease because I have sorta been waiting for someone to leave a negative comment about it.

Asphodel21- Oooh I'm excited that you reviewed! After a few days had gone by I was worried I had lost your interest with the amount of time it took me to update. Yess Snape is sooo hardened on the inside, and having to deal with kissing Harry is such a burst to his bubble. I am excited to write the future chapters where he has to get over it and choose what to do with his feelings.