.

Harry felt like he was floating. He smiled as comforting arms were wrapped around him and at this current point in time he had never felt more relaxed, happy or satisfied in his life. He let the smile drift onto his face as he came to from his pleasant dream and realized those arms were in fact wrapped around him and Severus was behind him, spooning his small frame.

"Morning, mischief." Severus spoke softly and Harry's smile turned into a grin.

"Morning, giggles." Harry replied and was rewarded with an unguarded laugh that escaped his Professor's lips.

"Giggles?"

"Yeah… or smiles. I could call you smiles." Harry offered and felt himself being rolled over.

When he looked at Severus's face, he saw that it was completely relaxed, void of any walls that he placed on it during the day and he saw the soft features looking back at him. This sight he decided he liked the look of and he raised a hand to trace the mans' strong jawline with his finger.

"How are you feeling this morning?"

"Fine now." Harry said and cracked a smile at the man who's face was merely inches away from his own.

"Now, Harry…" He suddenly got a little more serious, "Next time… Well, I mean if you wish to go further than that, there is the possibility for more of the same kind of… discomfort." Severus was trying extremely hard not to freak Harry out by this but he seemed to be holding himself well.

"I… I trust you, Severus." Harry said unsurely but then planted a hard kiss on the man's lips to show that he was serious.

"I know." He answered softly and he leaned down for another kiss, this time a little slower and more morning friendly.

Once they were both satisfied, Severus pushed Harry out of bed telling him that he would be needed back in Gryffindor tower. Sighing, Harry knew he was right so he jumped up and had a shower before quickly departing Severus's quarters. It wasn't until he was halfway there when he realized he'd left his bag and homework in the man's lab but he couldn't go back so he continued to trudge up the stars concealed in his cloak and would send Severus a message when he was sure the man was out of the shower.

When he crept into the boy's dorm, everyone was fast asleep and Harry smiled at Ron's position whilst he slept, surely that must be uncomfortable, he thought before ditching his cloak and jumping into a change of clothes. He knew it wouldn't do to be seen in the same clothing he had been wearing the day before and he would have taken a change of clothes if he'd remembered that the man said he could stay the night.

Harry looked up at the time and figured Severus would be out of the shower by now so he sent him a message about his bag but didn't receive a reply so he mentally shrugged before standing and walking out into the common room.

"Well this is a surprise. How come you're so diligent lately?" Hermione's voice came floating down the stairs as Harry sat on the couch in front of the fire.

"Just couldn't sleep." He replied turning round and standing.

She came up to him and gave him a hug before linking arms and walking out of the tower.

"Hmm, you do seem a little peaky. Should we visit Madame Pomfrey before breakfast?" She offered but Harry just shook his head.

"It should be okay. I'll just make sure to eat plenty so I keep my strength up." He lied and she smiled at him encouragingly.

The rest of the walk was a silent one as they walked into the almost empty hall that morning. They found their seats about halfway in the middle and they sat as Harry helped himself to the sizzling bacon in front of him. They were soon joined by some fellow Gryffindor's and this time Blaise came to sit next to Harry.

"Hey." He whispered to Harry and he turned his head sideways to say hello back.

"Morning, Blaise." Ginny said batting her eyelids at the Slytherin and Harry rolled his eyes as Blaise gave her a tight smile.

Ginny seemed to sense that he wasn't interested so turned her attention to Harry asking him about his new broomstick Ron had been talking about that night after dinner.

"Yeah, it's called a Thunderfire, apparently it's the best of the best at the moment so I'm going to look at ordering one this coming week so I get it for the game. It's going to be fast." He said enthusiastically and Blaise snorted beside him.

"Those Slytherin's," he started, "Gotta look out for them." He continued and the others laughed, of course Blaise was one of the Slytherin chasers.

"I promise I won't hurt you… too badly." Ginny piped up and it caused everyone to laugh again.

"Mr. Potter. A word, if you would." McGonagall stiffly said striding up to the group and he frowned before standing and following her to the end of the hall.

It was only then that he realized she was holding his bag and his eyes went wide when he realized where she must have got it.

"Mind explaining to me why, Professor Snape had this in his possession this morning?" She said sternly and his stomach dropped.

His face drained of all blood and he was sure he looked like ghost because he certainly felt that he was going to pass out. He didn't answer for a long time, afraid of what he could say and he hoped like hell that the Headmaster didn't know about his little rendezvous'.

"Next time I hear that you have been caught in the corridors after curfew you will regret the day you ever stepped foot into Hogwarts. Do I make myself clear, Mr. Potter?" She said loudly and he could hear the volume in the hall quieting a little.

"Huh?" Harry said flabbergasted. He thought she had seen it in Severus's private lab, so if not, where did she get it?

"Words, Potter. Use them and try staying out of trouble will you. I suspect you will hear from Professor Snape regarding your detention this week. You may go."

"Oh, uh… ye – yes, Professor. Won't happen again."

"Not holding my breath." She replied testily as she thrust his bag at him and stalked down the isle towards the head table.

Harry let out a breath he'd been holding.

Not a minute later, Severus walked through the door and was met by a very confused Harry who was rooted on the spot, mouth gaping and very pale.

"Shut your mouth, Potter you look ridiculous." He quipped as he passed him and Harry snapped out of his stupor to find the Slytherin's giggling at him.

He narrowed his eyes at one person in particular and gripped his bag tightly before storming back to his spot at the Gryffindor table.

"Mind telling me what she was talking about?" Hermione said hotly but he shook his head just as Ron joined them and congratulated Harry on the scene.

"That was brilliant, so did you find what you were looking for? You must have come back in the early hours mate."

"Yeah..." Harry said distantly.

Hermione was watching him with interest.

"Uh, yes, I did and I think you're going to love it." He said suddenly excited to get revenge.

He just needed to get revenge on a certain Potion's Professor too at some stage during the day for the stunt he just pulled. What was he thinking getting McGonagall into this, and why did she have to word it that way? He grumbled before his attention was pulled to Blaise who was tapping his forearm.

"So what did you have planned for today? Did you want to go for a walk around the grounds?" He asked hopefully and Harry nodded enthusiastically.

"Maybe a long walk would do you good?" Hermione offered, eyes narrowed a little and he agreed which made Blaise question what was wrong with him in the first place but he said he'd explain once they were outside.

Harry and Blaise sat on the edge of the Forbidden Forest overlooking the Black Lake talking about various things. Blaise had also opened up about Malfoy and about his issues in the Slytherin common room lately and it made Harry's heart break to see his friend in such a sad mood but made him determined that he was going to prank Malfoy on Friday.

It was as they sat in silence a few minutes later that Harry remembered his encounter with McGonagall and he gripped his wrist to send a message to Severus.

I thought Professor McGonagall had busted us, Severus. Why did you have to get her involved?

He only waited all but two minutes for a reply and it made him understand the man's motives.

To shift suspicion from your friends. Constantly being in trouble with me would make some suspicious. Your nosy Head of House was suspicious as it was when I approached her this morning.

Harry sent an agreed message back before realizing that Blaise had been speaking and he tuned into the Slytherin's words.

"I mean… I have been with a lot of males, and females for that matter. But sex with a male is just… I don't know, it's different."

What did I miss? Harry thought to himself when he heard the boy talking about sex and then the images of the night before flashed across his mind and he wondered if Blaise could shed any light for him.

"Wait, did you say you've had sex with a guy?" Harry asked and Blaise looked away.

"No I'm serious. Have you?" Harry said a little more confidently and he saw Blaise nod his head.

"What was it like?" Harry asked again and Blaise's head whipped round to lock eyes with him.

Harry too was surprised by the question but he felt no shame in asking his only openly gay friend about this kind of thing.

"I didn't realize you were at that stage, Harry. Are you seeing someone I don't know about?" Blaise asked suspiciously.

"No." Harry answered way too quickly and Blaise narrowed his eyes.

"You are aren't you? That's why Hermione was having a go at you during start of term. Who is it?" He asked excitedly but Harry shook his head, blushing.

Blaise gave him a smoldering sideways look and Harry caved, huffing.

"Okay… if I tell you, you promise not to say anything?"

"Cross my heart." He said leaning forward and Harry sighed.

"He's not a Wizard, before you get excited. It's a Muggle, from the neighbourhood where I live."

Blaise's face never faltered at the mention of a Muggle and Harry was pleased, it meant that he believed the story, which made Harry a little relieved. Blaise then picked up Harry's wrist and he nodded, saying that it was a gift from the boy for Christmas.

"That's quite sweet." Blaise said, almost in a jealous way but he knew it was because Harry was with this other guy and not him.

"Hermione won't believe the story and I don't understand why." Harry continued and Blaise agreed that she was a little intense sometimes.

"Well, to answer your question before?" Blaise started and Harry nodded for him to continue.

"It's the most amazing feeling in the world. Are you top or bottom?"

Harry looked at him confused and Blaise snorted in amusement to the look he received.

"Are you doing the fucking, so to speak, or are you being… you know, fucked." He said awkwardly and Harry's eyes went wide when he realized what he was meaning and he blushed.

"Oh, uh he does the uh… fucking, as you call it."

"Okay so you're bottom. That's alright, it just means you're going to go through a little bit of pain before the pleasure. Does he know what he's doing?"

"Yeah, I think he does." Of course Harry knew that Severus was knowledgeable in this but he didn't want to seem like he knew all the answers straight away.

"That's good, but please make sure that he stretches you properly. I don't know how many times I've heard guys say that they were torn during sex because they weren't prepared properly."

Harry paled at this. Stretched? What does he mean stretched? He was starting to freak out.

"It's not as scary as you think." Blaise said taking Harry's hands and giving them a gentle squeeze.

"Sorry, I guess I should have explained what that meant." Blaise continued and some of the colour came back into Harry's face.

They both tried to laugh it off but now it was in the back of his mind and he couldn't stop thinking about what it all meant. Was Severus going to pull his hole open or… there was no other option that Harry could think of and he guessed he was going to have to asked Blaise… screw having that conversation with Severus, he thought but then he continued by thinking that maybe Severus was the best person to talk to about it all.

He decided to now stay quiet and go away and think about what Blaise had just said. If it was true and Harry was going to be in more pain, he'd rather continue to do what he and Severus did that night with the lubricated finger because even though it hurt just a tiny bit, it wasn't nearly as scary as the prospect of being stretched. He shivered, that word didn't sit well with him.

"So anyway, what's this guy like?" Blaise probed and Harry smiled before describing his boyfriend.

As it happened, Harry detailed what Tony, his two minute wonder sexual initiator, from back in London looked like. Blaise seemed enthralled by the description and it made Harry smirk, he was sure he reacted that way towards the boy when they were laying on the bed that time.

As the morning dragged on, Harry and Blaise started to make their way back up to the castle, it was a nice day outside but Blaise said he had stuff to do and Harry agreed. He had a prank to play on a certain Slytherin boy and it needed time for planning and practicing, he couldn't have it going horribly wrong.

They said their farewells at the main entrance before Blaise disappeared down the stairs and Harry started ascending them. Once he was in the common room, Ron ran over to him and dragged him into the boy's dorm.

"Okay, so Hermione is losing it over our prank."

"You told her? Why would you do that?" Harry said exasperated and pulling his arm free from Ron's iron grip.

"Well..." he started, scratching the back of his neck, "I thought she could help us."

Harry sighed and agreed that yes she would know some good spells but Harry knew Hermione hated these kind of things so that's why he hadn't said anything beforehand.

"Okay, just calm down. We'll stay in here and plan what we're going to do." Harry offered and Ron smiled before they took refuge on Harry's bed.

By the time it was Wednesday, Harry and Ron had their plan all laid out and were just waiting for Valentine's Day on the Friday to implement it. Every time Harry saw Malfoy between classes and in the hall at meal times he smirked, he was pretty sure this would inflict major social embarrassment and he couldn't wait. Of course, Hermione didn't approve but once he reminded her of everything he'd done and what he'd done to Blaise then she loosened up a little and said she wouldn't stop them but she wasn't getting involved. Once Harry mentioned this to Ron he understood.

However right now, they were trudging down towards the Dungeons for their last class of the day, Potions. Harry was feeling rather confident, all his potions over the past few weeks had been perfect. He was starting to appreciate potions a lot too and he was starting to recognize when he'd done something wrong and sometimes how to fix it.

"Get in." A bellowing voice said from in front of them as they approached the Potion's classroom and Harry wondered if they were late.

They weren't late, but the man seemed to be in a bad mood which made Harry a little concerned. It is almost Valentine's Day, he reminded himself and smirked with his head down when he reached his desk.

"Due to recent, events," he started looking at Ron and Harry raised an eyebrow, "The Headmaster has seen fit to show you a simple antidote for love potions." He finished with disgust etched all over his face and it made Harry snort.

"Something funny, Potter?" Severus sneered and Harry looked up to him, his face now blank.

"No, sir."

"He's remembering when Weasley made out with him." Malfoy chipped in from across the room but Severus didn't say anything and swept across the room to the board, pointing at it.

"Instructions are on the board, you have until the end of the lesson." Severus said and then went to sit behind his desk.

Everyone got to work and twenty minutes later Harry looked at the board frowning at the fourth step as he considered the implications of chopping rather than mincing. He looked up to Severus and found the man looking straight at him expectantly and Harry looked away, not sure if he should say anything. He sighed and thought better of it before sticking his hand up in the air. There was the sound of scraping wood on the stone floor and then a black silhouette coming to loom over him.

"Yes, Potter?" He snapped and Harry met his eye.

"Uh, sir… If I chop the Valerian roots then won't that make the crushed Asphodel toxic and therefore emit a strong odor?" Harry said this so quietly that Severus had to strain to hear it.

Meanwhile the class had gone quiet and were looking at the two of them, most holding their breath. Severus turned and looked at the board, he then flicked his wand and the mistake changed, filling Harry's heart with hope and he felt quite good about himself.

"Seems, Mr. Potter is the only one paying attention today. Ten points from Gryffindor."

"What? You can't them aw – "

"I suggest you don't finish that sentence, Mr. Weasley." Severus said quipping an eyebrow and he squeaked before putting his head down.

There were several sniggers from the Slytherin's and a huff from Hermione before the class got back to work with Harry trying not to smile. Even though he'd had taken points taken from his house for pulling up Severus's mistake it humored him the way he reacted and made him feel confident in his brewing capabilities.

As it turned out, Harry had indeed been right about the mistake as proven by Neville who, by the end of the class managed to cause a mass exodus into the corridor as he had failed to pick up the mistake that had been changed on the board. Severus was fuming and if Harry didn't know him better he would have been afraid like everyone else seemed to be as they stood along the stone cold wall.

"Congratulations, Longbottom. You have successfully managed to put all the students life in danger, including your own and myself because you could not pick up on a simple mistake. Granger, go and get Madame Pomfrey, we will all need to be examined for toxic smoke inhalation." Severus snapped.

Harry watched as Hermione ran off down the corridor and then he heard his name being yelled at.

"Potter! Are you deaf, I said go with her!" Severus bellowed and he nodded, shooting off after Hermione.

He and Hermione ran as fast as they could up the stairs, bumping into Dumbledore as they did and Harry hung back to tell the Headmaster why they were in such a rush.

"Ah, I dare say our Potion's Professor may be a little annoyed then." Dumbledore said winking and Harry smiled.

"I dare say he is furious." Harry replied cheekily and Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder, pulling him in the direction of the Dungeons.

Hermione and Madame Pomfrey came round the corner just as he did so and the four of them quickly made their way down the stairs.

When they arrived, Severus looked warily over at Harry and the Headmaster but Harry gave him a covert reassuring look before going to stand with Ron and Hermione. Madame Pomfrey started fretting over all the students, the only ones that weren't okay were Neville, Dean and Seamus as they had been either side of the Gryffindor when the smoke started pouring out of the cauldron.

"This was all your stupid idea, old fool." Harry heard Severus hissing at Dumbledore.

Harry smirked, as did Ron when they looked at each other but they didn't dare make a sound. However they did turn around when Dumbledore asked for their attention and told them that the rest of class was cancelled. Well he tried to as when he had started to speak there was a loud bang from behind the door and Harry looked over to Severus to see the man pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Alright, everyone you are free to go." Dumbledore then announced and everyone started to shuffle out and down the hall.

"Well that's a real shame about Potions." Ron muttered rather smugly as the trio made their way towards the Tower.

"Honestly, Ronald. Potion's is a pivotal part of Wizarding existence, how else do you expect to be cured one day if you have an illness." Hermione scoffed as she pushed past them to get ahead.

"She's kinda right." Harry said quietly and Ron looked at him with mock disgust.

"Whatever then," Ron started before changing the subject, "oh have you ordered your broom yet?" He asked and Harry stopped dead in his tracks and thought about it.

His heart leaped from his chest but then calmed when he remembered Severus said he was going to sort it.

"Yup, I did it on Sunday morning so hopefully should be here – "

"Sunday? It should be here by now then, Harry. Geez, it's not snail mail." Ron interrupted and Harry frowned.

He thought it was odd he hadn't had it arrived yet and Severus hadn't said anything either. Ron pulled him as he was in the way and they continued up the stairs but as he went, Harry was thinking that he needed to talk with Severus. Perhaps even go and see him that evening or message him. Yeah, I'll message him later, he thought deciding it would be best to let the man cool down before talking with him.