After stopping by the Seventh Floor to drop off Remus's wand with their esteemed Headmaster (who had seemed very upset with the short summary Harry gave him about the night's events), Harry walked back to his quarters, ignoring the whispers from the students he passed. As he walked down the corridor towards his quarters, he had to fight off a shudder as he recalled Ron's actions at Christmas, and Remus' actions at New Years. He didn't really want to be alone with these disturbing memories, but he wanted to see Severus even less while his face was like this. The man would no doubt go hunting Remus, and Harry had left the werewolf completely undefended.
Unfortunately, Harry had forgotten that Severus always seemed to know when he was needed. He walked into his quarters to find the Potions Master reading on his couch. Severus looked up upon his entry and immediately scowled.
"What-?"
"He wasn't drunk this time," Harry answered bitterly. "Coffee?"
As expected, Snape stood and followed him into the kitchenette. "Where is he?" The man demanded.
Harry smirked a little proudly. "Currently? Dangling by his ankle in a tree, most likely regretting this entire evening."
"Are you alright?"
Harry turned to the Potions Master with a grin. "A little shaken, but not stirred."
"Harry-"
"Really, Severus," Harry insisted, his grin slipping. "I'll be okay. I can't go through my life afraid to let things get a little rough. Besides, I handled it, didn't I? And anyway, I'm getting better. I didn't think about Ron at all until I was walking back."
Snape frowned. "Do you want me to heal you?"
"I'd be grateful," Harry said, still trying to smile. He closed his eyes as Snape drew his wand, and when he opened them again the pain in his cheek and eye were gone. "There, good as new."
Snape was still frowning. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Harry turned back to fixing them both coffee and shook his head. "Not really. It happened, and it's over…I'd rather just move on." He pushed past his friend, back into his living area. "We can, however, talk about anything else."
They sat as one on the couch, both nursing their coffee. They did not, in fact, talk about anything for the next several moments. Harry found he could think of nothing to say, and when he looked over, Severus seemed lost in thought. Finally, wanting to say anything, he brought up the one thing he hadn't planned to tell anyone about.
"Charlie asked me out again," He murmured into his cup.
Severus looked at him sharply. "What did you say?"
Harry shrugged, leaning over to set his cup on his coffee table. "I haven't yet, actually. I asked him to let me think about it," He admitted, leaning back against the couch and staring at his hands in his lap. "He was really sweet, though. He apologized for his behavior over Christmas, and told me that he was going to be in town next weekend, asked if we could get together. He even offered to let me pick the place."
"Tell him 'no', Harry," Snape demanded almost pleadingly.
Harry looked at his friend out of the corner of his eye. "Why?" He queried softly. "I have to do something, Severus. The longer I'm single the more I'll have to put up with people fawning over my changed body."
Severus frowned and looked away. "He doesn't deserve you, Harry. You said yourself that he never looked at you twice before you took the potions. Besides, I…" He trailed off and stood. "Nevermind, it's not important. You should do what you think is best."
Harry frowned as the man made to leave. "Severus, wait," He followed the man towards the door. "What were you going to say?"
"I have papers," Snape said dismissively.
"They can wait," Harry growled in frustration. He reached up and grabbed the man's shoulder, forcing him to turn and face him. "Why shouldn't I go out with Charlie?!"
They stared at each other for a long moment, both glaring stubbornly. Suddenly, long-fingered hands reached up to cup Harry's face, drawing him into a firm, chaste kiss. The contact was innocent, an answer to the question and no more, but it set Harry's blood aflame. He leaned into the kiss, gripping the sides of Severus' robes as he inched closer to the firm body. The kiss softened minutely before the Potions Master pulled away enough to look into Harry's green gaze.
"Sorry," Snape breathed against his lips.
Harry smirked. "Yeah, I hated that," He whispered.
His fingers were still tangled in the man's robes, and he used the leverage to pull the man forward into a much less chaste kiss. He moaned lightly as a warm tongue wormed it's way past his parted lips. If the kiss before had been naught but an answer to Harry's question, then this was an answer to everything else. The universe exploded behind Harry's closed eyes, and he slid his hands up to wrap around a slim neck. He pulled Severus closer still as strong arms wrapped around his waist, the curves of their bodies meshing together like two pieces of a puzzle. This was the kiss he had been dreaming of since he'd first wondered if Snape had been flirting with him, the kiss that brought an end to nervous wondering and palpable tension. When they pulled away again, Harry couldn't stop a silly grin that practically split his face in two.
"S'good answer," He murmured.
Severus smirked. "I should hope so. I really do have papers to grade before tomorrow morning, though."
Harry cleared his throat and pulled back. "I actually do, too. Can we work together?"
"Can we?" Severus asked suggestively, pulling Harry forward again.
The Gryffindor chuckled softly. "I think so. As long as we're both willing to show a little restraint."
Snape smiled gently and pulled back as well. "Then I shall see you in my office in a few moments. Perhaps we might even discuss where things go from here."
Harry, still grinning, nodded, and let the man go. As he walked into his office to gather his grading, he glanced at the fire the House Elves had lit in the office's grate. A memory tickled at his mind, and he grabbed at it, drawing it forward. It was of the fight, when Severus had thrown that damning suicide letter into the fire. If possible, Harry's grin widened. They'd both been so stubborn, but even now…especially now…he was grateful for having found and read that note.
