Spring rolled around and brought with it icy puddles and wild flowers. The air was quite warm, too, but up high in the clouds like he was, Nhesher's hot breath was still welcome as it seeped back towards him. The dragon's wings would beat steadily several times, and then they would even out and glide. Harry didn't have to bury his face in the dragon's mane, either; the day was too nice for that. He sat up tall and leaned into the wind, looking straight ahead at the landscape all around.

They flew over cities and towns and forests alike, never having to wonder if someone saw them. He liked it best up here, but still he kept his eyes out for danger. With a dragon under his seat he wasn't too afraid, though.

It was graduation day for the Hogwart's seventh years, and Harry was invited to be there to see James, Sirius, Remus, and Lily off. He'd be seeing Severus, too, and he was looking forward to that. It'd been…too long. He was a little nervous about how he'd feel when he saw him, but he hoped Severus wouldn't hold that kiss against him like he'd done before. It was easy to almost forget it, but he could never quite pull off completely forgetting it. He and Severus Snape had history, after all.

Alastor Moody was a rigorous instructor, but even though today was technically one of the busiest days in the Auror office – preparing for all the new recruits – Harry got the day off to make it to Hogwarts. He could have Flooed, but Nhesher needed a nice long stretch…and he didn't think Hagrid would mind seeing the dragon again. They were almost there – just another few hills.

It did take some getting used to thinking of James as his uncle and not his father, but just being able to look James in the face and call him family was worth it. They were getting along; they'd owl letters back and forth – taking about this and that. Harry liked it when James talked about Lily in those letters. He had found a white barn owl with gray spots to be his. He called it Ronald Granger, though he never explained to anyone why.

Harry and Nhesher aimed for the field just in front of the Great Lake. He told James he'd be there about this time, and to wait for him next to the water. James had kept his word, and he and the other Marauders were there with their hands shielding their eyes from the sun, looking up at the white dragon. Nhesher cast a large shadow over them as it beat its wings for a soft landing.

Harry smiled when he saw them, and waved.

The boys were laughing and jumping with excitement. Harry waited for his dragon to get comfortable with the surroundings enough to finally lower its neck to the ground for him. Their relationship had survived his attack last winter, but it was still trying to get past the language barrier. The unfortunate thing about losing the horcrux within him was that he also lost the ability to understand dragons. It was cumbersome – Nhesher was very confused by it – but they'd worked out a sort of patience between each other.

Besides, not all words, of course, were lost. Harry found many had been committed to memory.

"Thank you," Harry said to Nhesher, sparks and smoke warming his mouth as the growl escaped him.

For a few words, Harry heard only growling, but then he made out the tendrils of something, "…these humans…delicious taste…"

Harry grumbled affectionately and patted Nhesher's neck roughly. He looked behind him at the excited boys, and saw they were walking forward slowly. Harry held up his hand to stop them.

"You better not! It's hungry!" he called to them.

They backed up a few steps. It was one thing to have a dragon as a friend, but it was another to think that dragon would have everyone as its friend. Nhesher, though tame enough, still gorged on meat and bones.

"HARRY!" boomed a great loud voice over from the school.

Harry looked and saw Hagrid making his way quickly over, jogging most of the way, a smile very evident even under his thick beard.

"I thought you'd like a visit!" Harry yelled to him, and then asked Nhesher, "Remember this friend?"

The dragon was affirmative in its reply, so Harry indicated Hagrid come close.

Hagrid didn't hesitate to come right into the white dragon's space and roughly scratch its thick mane of blond hair. He kept one hand out and ready to stop the mouth with the long teeth if it decided to take a nibble, though.

With Nhesher occupied, Harry turned and started towards James, Remus, and Sirius. He was dressed in light gray leather from toe to hood, but now pulled back that hood to feel the sun on his face. He bypassed the greetings and went straight to wrapping each of them up in his arms and nuzzling close. He gave James a heavy kiss on his forehead, which was right at mouth level.

"How's Lily?"

"You always ask that first," James pointed out.

Harry shrugged and said, "I like to know these things."

"She's happy to have the best grades in the school," James said.

Harry was quite proud of her for that. It was easy to see Hermione's spirit in her.

"And you?" He asked. "Still not going to become an Auror?"

James laughed and rolled his eyes, but although Harry understood that having a vast fortune meant you didn't have to work, he knew it didn't mean that you shouldn't at least have a dream. But then again…who was he to complain? He'd be in his parent's wedding photos.

"I hope there's something I can do," Remus said a bit sadly, still quite worried that he was so ostracized for being a werewolf.

Harry said sternly to him, "You'll always have a job at the Auror office. And maybe we should get Lily to fight for equal rights."

James and Sirius laughed obnoxiously at that, which irked Harry. He grabbed Remus's arm lightly and tugged him away from them, saying, "Just for that, you two won't get to ride on Nhesher!"

"WHAT!" They – all – yelled in unison, and Remus tried to struggle out of Harry's grasp.

Harry grinned at Remus and held tighter, just about dragging him towards the dragon.

"You said it was hungry!" He yelled.

"I want to ride on it!" James declared, grabbing Harry's shoulder and following him very closely towards the dragon; Sirius was right on James's heels.

"Me too! You're not leaving me behind!"

Harry looked at Hagrid and Nhesher still getting acquainted after so many months, and thought Hagrid looked just a little unhappy suddenly. Since now would be a good time to let the boys meet his dragon properly, it might as well be for Hagrid, as well.

He smiled widely and asked, "Want a ride, too, Hagrid?"

Yes…yes he did.

The four of them went up first, and then it was just Hagrid and him. Nhesher had over a hundred-fifty feet wingspan, so a half-giant was no problem.

…

The news spread like a brush fire: Harry Potter was at Hogwarts.

Severus was in the Slytherin common room when the fire got to him, and it burned in his chest. He had been playing a game of chess with a third year worthy of his skills, but the game was decidedly over when both the players rushed out with the rest of the room to go check it out. Them – and just about the rest of the school – piled out or against windows and watched Harry give rides on his dragon to those three Gryffindor boys.

When they landed after a few minutes, the guys rushed to the school and blissfully told everyone about it. Severus didn't take his eyes off the small black dot in the sky that was Harry's head, though.

It was real: Harry was here.

Harry…who had kissed him.

The memory of that coupled with the months of hitting his head against walls for not indicating to Harry that he liked the kiss, forced Severus to hide like a scared little mouse. He went to the library until the Gryffindors gave him the tour. He went to his common room until Slughorn gave him the tour. He went to the gardens, to the courtyards, to the Great Hall, and back to the library, but always – as if following him – Harry and his entourage found him.

He was in hell and just wanted the ceremony to be over and done with so he could finally put this behind him. Harry Potter wasn't following him. Why would he?

Severus was just walking the halls now. He didn't trust stopping anywhere so made a point of not walking anywhere twice. It was nice, really. He never usually got to see so much of the castle. He thought he might even miss the place since things had changed for him after the winter break. Apparently, saving the Wizarding World was what it took to get James Potter and the rest of the people who harassed him to stop. It also got his old friend Lily to start talking to him again; as it was clear he didn't have a future in the Dark Arts now.

He was just wondered without intent, so turning a corner and winding up just feet from Harry Potter and Headmaster Dumbledore was quite unintentional. The two of them looked away from their quiet conversation together and at him. Severus saw a peculiar long wooden staff in Dumbledore's hands. Most peculiar about it was the red jewel at the tip.

Harry smiled at him and said to Dumbledore, "Just use it well, alright? I want to talk to him."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and seemed quite lost for words. Severus thought that was odd, but Dumbledore wasn't upset or anything – he actually looked very joyful about something.

"I'll see you at the ceremony Harry. Mr. Snape," Dumbledore nodded to him in parting.

Severus nodded to him also…and then it was just them. After all his hard work to avoid this moment, here it was.

Harry walked up to Severus and stood before him.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," Harry said quietly, and his eyes never left Severus's face. It made him feel special, even if he didn't like that feeling at all.

"What was that staff?" Severus asked curiously.

"That? It's a gift. Sort of…my way of apologizing for breaking something of his."

The silence that settled wasn't exactly something Severus was comfortable with. He shifted on his feet, and then all at once made to go.

"People are probably gathering for the ceremony –"

"Wait a second!" Harry urged, stopping him with a hand on his hand. Severus pulled his back, and Harry sighed. "I want to ask you something."

That was almost funny. They always seemed to have something to ask the other.

"Go ahead, then…"

Harry took his time to say it, but finally he asked, "Why did you run into the Hospital Ward?"

"Why not run in there?"

"Because," Harry said, "any other place and you'd have been killed. You ran to the one place you wouldn't have been. Don't you think that means something?"

Severus knew about the horcruxes – everyone knew about them. Like Severus, not of all them believed it was the spirit of Merlin that destroyed the horcrux in Harry, but he was glad whatever it was had done it. Because of that spirit, Harry was here. Because of it…Severus got that kiss on the stage.

But did it mean something that that was where he ran to? Of course it didn't…it was luck. He just ran there.

"No," he said.

Harry took a step forward and reached out for him then, slowly. Severus looked at that hand come close – the fingers which were long and nicely kept. Harry touched his cheek softly, his thumb rubbing. Severus swallowed hard and couldn't quite catch his breath. He looked right into Harry's eyes and saw that passion again, but he didn't know where it was coming from.

"I do…Severus. I do…"

He leaned forward, and the hero of the Wizarding World was just an inch from his lips when Severus finally came to his senses again. He'd had months to think this over, and he honestly didn't see any logic to it at all. He turned his face away and pushed Harry away; he was mostly trying to push his fear and his anxiety away, though.

"What?" Harry asked bewilderedly, eyes very bright and intent on him.

"Why?! Why me?!" Severus demanded, stepping back.

That almost trumped Harry. The man was confused and gestured as much.

"Because!" Harry shouted, and that was so like an arrogant Potter that it didn't fool Severus for a second.

"Because isn't an answer! Because is just something people say when there isn't an answer at all!"

Because is what I tell myself when my father really hurts me.

Severus wasn't going to take his head being played with as well as his heart. He turned around and made to leave, but Harry stopped him and flung him around. Harry was something else entirely to look at when he was this passionate. It was those eyes of his…they about glowed.

"I get you, Snape!" Harry said, and then he corrected, "Severus…Severus. I understand you. I trust you!"

"Because I saved your life?"

"Yes!" Harry nodded, then shook his head. "No – because you saved everyone's life…because you're strong! Do you know…" Harry took a moment to find the right words. He continued, "Do you know how many times I've seen someone sacrifice them self for someone else? I've seen a lot of it. But not since…"

Severus swallowed hard. His heart was beating like a drum and his body was almost numb. Harry was still holding onto him. Being this close made the smell of soot very strong, and it muddled his mind.

"Not since what?" he asked, just about appeased.

Harry shook his head. "Not since I was seventeen have I ever known someone who would save people like you did."

Severus shook his head. He thought Harry might cry, so he reached out and held onto his arms over his gray leather jacket. Harry sniffed.

"I'm not very good at Occlumency, but Voldemort was," Harry said, and Severus shivered when he heard that name. Harry then pulled him in.

It was a hug; it had to be. Severus hadn't been hugged since his mother last did it, but he was sure: this was a hug.

"Sorry, Severus. Don't be afraid of that name, okay?"

"Okay…"

"But he's good at reading minds…and he read yours…and I…could hear your thoughts."

Severus swallowed hard, a bit embarrassed.

"You wanted everyone to live…and you were sad, because you thought I was dead. But that didn't stop you from thinking about them. That's…a lot like me."

Severus closed his eyes and breathed in deeply the scent of smoke and soot. He never thought he'd like that smell, but as it turns out he did.

"You were afraid and powerless…but you found a way out. You had that wand on your mind and even though he knew…you still took it. You saved everyone because – like you said – you had to."

Harry pulled away from him enough to see his face, and his hand was warm as it wiped the hair that had fallen into his eyes away, and he kissed him deeply, so that it tingled Severus's whole body. He couldn't help it, either; he kissed back as best he could. It was a little sloppy and not exactly perfect, but it was real. Harry's body pressed against him was real, too. It didn't get far, and at last the kiss found its end. Severus bowed his head and closed his eyes. In his head, he was thinking a lot; never really a good thing.

"What's wrong?" Harry whispered.

Severus shook his head and pulled back. He couldn't meet Harry's eyes when he said, "I know you're going to regret this. You're going to wish you could take it back…"

Of course he would. This was Harry Potter, and he was only Severus Snape. There was no way it would work. Even if Harry thought he knew him – or thought they were alike – it didn't change the fact that they were two completely different people.

Severus turned around and left. He was glad that Harry didn't try to stop him, because then he would have seen the tears in his eyes.

So much for that second chance.