Lunch was very difficult for Harry that day.

He and Matthew sat down in the midst of a loud conversation, having arrived a bit late. Harry was appreciative of this, as his strange behavior was not noticed.

"—gone! I never thought Peeves would stoop so low—"

"Minerva, I would not go so far as to say Peeves has a low," Dumbledore interrupted cheerfully. Professor McGonagall scowled at her potatoes. "And furthermore, I noticed he taught the armor on the third floor a new Christmas carol."

Ron snickered. "Caught me by surprise, that one did." He opened his mouth as if to start singing, but was cut off.

"Please do us the favor of not repeating it," Hermione replied with a stern look. Ron's mouth snapped shut.

"Thank you," Snape said flatly to the table in general, wearing an expression not so different from Hermione's.

The conversation moved on to different topics, yet Harry still sat quietly, trying his best not to blush. He was going to prove Matthew wrong, because if he blushed a lot around Snape, then the world would end.

Unfortunately, when you try not to do something, your mind tends to wander to certain things that will make you do just that. Images he had created in his mind over the past couple years floated to the surface, intruding into his thoughts like a hobo at a country club. In other words, they were not welcome one bit.

Snape, lain out on a bed, wearing nothing more than a smirk; Snape, positioned over him and breathing shallowly into his neck; Snape, black eyes wide and glazed with lust; Snape, Snape, Snape . . .

"Harry?"

"Eh?" Harry was brought back to earth by Luna's voice.

"You've been staring at the rolls for the last five minutes."

Everyone was looking at him. Harry cleared his throat nervously. "Sorry," he muttered, returning to his food.

"Something the matter, Harry?" Dumbledore asked from across the table, a Slytherin twinkle taking up residence in the blue eyes.

"No, Professor," Harry lied automatically.

"Are you forgetting there are two accomplished Legilimens present, Potter?" Snape drawled in a bored voice. Harry blushed. Matthew snorted.

Something sparked in Dumbledore's features, and his face widened into a bright smile. "Ah. I see. Mr. Green has figured it out for himself, has he not?"

Harry blushed harder, and Matthew was covering his mouth to suppress laughter, though he was shaking slightly nonetheless. Dumbledore smiled even bigger.

Ron was looking between the three of them in confusion, then comprehension dawned on his face. The band knew about Dumbledore knowing, and that Matthew knew Harry was gay, but they hadn't found out about the most recent installment as it had just happened. "Wait, how did Matthew know? Did you tell him?"

Harry shook his head and said, "He's in Ravenclaw for a reason, Ron."

"He was bound to eventually," Hermione said with a sly smile. "Was it the blushing that gave it away?"

Matthew nodded, still fighting amusement. Harry gave them all looks of disbelief. "Why am I never informed of this stuff?! It's slightly important!"

By now, the band members were visibly trying to keep themselves from laughing just as much as Matthew was. All the Professors present, except for Dumbledore, were looking at the seven with 'WTF?' practically written on their faces.

"Albus, what are they talking about?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"That is Harry's business," Dumbledore replied calmly, twinkling without restraint. Snape's brow was furrowed in both confusion and being left out of something so obviously important.

"Can we discuss this elsewhere?" Harry hissed, blushing harder than ever and triggering the outright laughter of the five. Frustration rising, he said, "I can't help it!"

They laughed even louder. Harry fumed silently, blush firmly in place.

x

Harry now had a problem.

Its name was Christmas.

What would he get Snape for Christmas? Should he get Snape something for Christmas? If he did, it would definitely be anonymous . . . or would it?

Harry was confused, so on the eighth day of the holidays, he asked Matthew calmly.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" he howled in distress, pacing around the main room of his quarters. Matthew sat on a couch, scared for his life.

"I think he would appreciate a gift, or at least see that you're not as horrible as he thinks you are, or thought, or something," Matthew said cautiously.

Harry spun around to face him so fast that Matthew jumped back a little. "Come on," Harry said, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him out of the portrait hole.

"Where are we going?" Matthew managed to ask between being pulled around corridors and through several tapestries to the Entrance Hall.

"Hogsmeade," Harry replied, determined and slightly crazed look in his eyes.

They reached the village a short while later, and Harry stopped abruptly in the middle of the main street. "I still have no idea what to get," he said blankly.

It was Harry's turn to be dragged along. "We'll find something," Matthew said, taking hold of Harry's forearm.

They went from store to store for an hour, and Harry had bought presents for everyone but Snape. Matthew protested when Harry said he was buying something for him, but eventually turned his back so Harry could purchase it.

"I have no clue what he'd like," Harry said miserably, dragging his feet down an aisle inside a small book store. He paused, wide-eyed, and turned to a small shelf to his left. Matthew stopped beside him and looked closely at it, then suddenly smiled.

"It's perfect!"

Harry picked up the pewter inkpot and peered at it curiously. It had a design of a snake curling around it, its small pewter head resting on the lipped rim, tiny glowing emeralds for eyes. It was little enough that it could fit in the palm of his hand, and was perfect for a Slytherin.

"Now we just need something from you to Roger," Harry grinned.