This date had taken some cunning which Harry had to admit he enjoyed using, the idea had come to him after Severus told him about a healing potion he had been trying to perfect, one that if successful would more than halve a patients recovery time.

The final battle had left so many injured and scarred for life that Severus wanted to give something back and this was a way he could do that. For 3 days Severus had been in his lab both at Grimmauld place and at Hogwarts researching and looking for the answer he coveted. The potion lacked one vital ingredient that the Potions Master needed and was having all manner of trouble laying hands on.

How fortuitous for Harry that his mate locked himself away and asked not to be disturbed therefore giving him the opportunity to go hunting for the elusive flower as it turned out. Tapping into his Elvin instincts (who knew) Harry set off for the miles and miles of woods and forests that surrounded London.

He struck gold in Cornwall, or West Cornwall rather in the Cardinham woods. Along it's many walking trails and underneath hidden canopies Harry found the Black Bluebell, it was the pollen and nectar from the petals that provided the key ingredient to making Severus' potion perfect. Casting a few spells on several of the flowers, Harry went back to Grimmauld place, excited at his find and eager for their next date to arrive.

Two days before their date, Harry took Severus shopping to buy some proper shoes, only telling his mate that they were going on a hike, not where or what they would find on said hike.

Harry loved planning these dates when it was his turn, not that they were the most important part of the process, he also greatly valued their time in between lazing around the house in tracksuits, playing games and eating cakes, or when Severus would read a passage from one of the many classics in the library to Harry while he lay on the settee with his head in the older mans lap, more often than not falling asleep to the sound of his smooth, silky voice.

Leaves and growth crunched under their feet as Harry weaved his way into the forest, Severus walking along side him. The air was cooler among the trees and they swayed with a gentle summer breeze. Harry inhaled all the scents and smiled he certainly had a keener sense of smell since coming into his inheritance, not only that he could determine exactly what it was that he was smelling.

Severus watched with delight as Harry looked around and smiled to himself, the older man loved the way his eyes would crinkle when a smile crossed his lips, the way it reached his eyes, something he had seldom seen during his years teaching his little elf at Hogwarts, but then again there'd rarely been anything to smile about back then.

They were halfway into the forest, when Harry caught a sense of his magic filtering through the air and dancing over his skin, it was a strange feeling, but one he recognized, knowing the flowers weren't far away he picked up his pace, shooting Severus a look that told the Slytherin to keep up. When Severus was 3 feet or so from the first flower Harry had cast a spell on, he blocked his mates view and looked into deep onyx eyes a smirk on his face.

'Close your eyes' Harry whispered as if he was about to disclose a heavily guarded secret that no one else could hear.

Fixing the elf with a suspicious look, Severus complied and closed his eyes; Harry waved his hand in front of his face to make sure he really had his eyes shut. Moving to stand beside Severus, Harry took a slender hand in his own, feeling warmth spread when the older man entwined their fingers.

'Ok you can open them now' Harry said, watching intently for his mate's reaction as his eyes settled on the sight in front of him.

'They're, they're Bl-a' Severus stammered

'Black bluebells' Harry finished for him

'Bu-t h-ow?' Severus gasped

'I thought of all the woods not far from where we are and searched them, my creature instinct helped a lot, when I came in here I knew straight away that I would find them' he said bashfully

'You realize that you've found the key to my potion being flawless?' Severus stated more than asked

'Yeah' Harry murmured 'I know how much it meant to you, so I wanted to help'

Severus tore his gaze away from the flowers and looked at Harry, who was standing there colour high on his cheeks, and something in his heart jumped, taking a furtive glance around him, Severus had Harry pinned against a tree in a matter of seconds, plundering his mouth, tongues dancing over each other, pulling the elf away from the tree just a fraction, he snaked his arms around a slim waist and cupped the globes of Harry's arse, eliciting a moan from the Gryffindor.

Breaking apart flushed and panting, Severus took a few moments to control his breathing before he spoke again. The words he desperately wanted to say danced on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't want to scare Harry with premature declarations.

'You are the most kind and wonderful young man I have ever met, what you have done will change peoples lives Harry' Severus said with fierce reverence.

'Thank you' Harry said lost for anything else to say 'I have some small boxes to put them in, I wasn't sure if you needed the entire flower or not'

'The pollen and nectar are what make the potion successful, but it won't hurt to take the whole thing, it may come in handy for something else down the track' Severus replied 'The important thing is to keep them cool'

'I cast cooling charms on the boxes and the flowers' Harry countered 'they should be right until we get home'

'You are amazing' Severus gleamed, kneeling down and inspecting the flowers closely

Harry took the boxes and a pair of Severus' cutters from his backpack and handed them to him, the older man looking at him with admiration.

The pair continued along the walking trail for a time, then apparated home, Severus going straight to his lab to store the flowers until he was ready to brew the potion.

Coming into the library he found Harry on the settee, a book in his hand. Muttering a charm, soft music played, Severus went to Harry and pulled him up from the sofa

'May I have this dance my elf?' he asked

'I'd be honoured' Harry replied bowing slightly.

Severus led them in a simple waltz around the library floor, keeping Harry close, losing himself in the iridescent green of his eyes.

Kreacher watched from the doorway, feeling the love radiating from both of them, even if they weren't aware of it yet, the old Elf knew it was there.

Leaving his Masters alone, the house elf walked down the hallway, smiling and indulging in a few steps himself to the sound of the music.

Harry opened his eyes and blinked several times, allowing his eyes to adjust to the morning light. Rolling over he noticed that the other side of the bed was empty.

Guessing that Severus was probably in his lab working on the Healing Potion, Harry was just about to get up and shower, when the door creaked open and the man in question walked in carrying a tray laden with two plates and tea things.

'Morning my elf' Severus smiled, sitting the tray on the end of the bed, giving Harry a few minutes to get back into bed and sit up right

'Morning my Sev elf' Harry replied leaning over and meeting Severus halfway for a good morning kiss

'Sev elf?' the older man quirked a brow

'Well you always call me my little elf or my elf, and you are an elf too after all, so I thought I would combine the two' Harry said plainly

'Fair enough' Severus answered 'hope you're hungry'

Sitting the tray over Harry's lap, Severus climbed in beside Harry and poured them both a cup of tea. 'I wanted to do something special as a thank you for finding that flower yesterday' he added

'I was glad that I could help, it's a wonderful thing that you are doing' Harry replied 'thank you for breakfast in bed though'

'You're welcome now eat up' Severus instructed

Harry blinked again for the second time that morning, bleary eyed he looked at the clock and saw that it was after 10, he was so comfortable cuddling with Sev, he must of nodded off again. Getting out of bed he padded to the bathroom and turned the shower on.

Walking into the kitchen, Harry saw Kreacher fussing about in the pantry, sitting at the table; he waited for the house elf to reappear.

'Have you seen Severus this morning?' Harry asked the small creature

'Master Severus be in his lab, Master Harry, he is telling Kreacher to make you cup of tea when you wake, then go down to see him' Kreacher replied

'Ok then' Harry smiled, waiting patiently as the small elf bustled around the kitchen preparing his tea.

'Master Harry be having a good sleep?' Kreacher inquired as he set the teacup on the table

'Yes, thank you Kreacher, I must have been very comfy' Harry grinned

'Some of your favourites' Kreacher announced as he sat a plate of jam filled donuts in front of Harry.

'You're spoiling me Kreacher' Harry mumbled

'Kreacher is happy to be spoiling his Master'

Harry knocked on the door to the lab and waited, he knew that Severus had said to come down when woke up, but Harry didn't want to disturb him all the same. The Potions lab was his mate's domain no matter where he was and Gryffindor wasn't about to encroach on said domain without permission.

'Come in' a distant voice called

He didn't sound annoyed, Harry thought as he opened the door and walked into the room, Severus was at one of the many work benches, gently stirring a cauldron.

'Good Morning my sleeping elf' Severus mused, kissing Harry chastely on the mouth

'Sorry about that, I was so comfy I must have nodded off again' Harry said quietly

'It's absolutely fine my love, you looked so peaceful I thought I would let you rest' Severus countered

'How's the Potion coming?' Harry asked perching himself on one of the stools, keeping safe distance from the cauldron

'Quite well, the Pollen and Nectar need time to settle, so that means intermittent stirring for half an hour or so, before I can add it to the rest of the mixture' Severus explained

'You are a very talented man I am sure the potion will be a huge success' Harry beamed

'Thank you my elf' Severus smiled 'would you get me a vial of that red potion from the shelf please'

'Sure' Harry replied, hopping off the stool and walking over to the shelf Severus was pointing to

'Should be on the middle shelf on the right hand side' Severus told him

'Got it' Harry said, taking the small vial off the shelf, as he did something like chocolate wafted passed him, giving the vial in his hand a cursory sniff he knew it wasn't that, next to it on the shelf was a small jar with a thick cream looking substance inside, taking it with him, Harry went back to the bench and handed Severus the vial of red liquid.

Taking the lid off the jar, Harry inhaled deeply the rich chocolate aroma filling his senses, in all the time he'd known Severus, never had anything they'd ever brewed in Potions class smelt this good. Most of Harry's memories revolved around foul tasting Potions, not one that smelt like this.

'What's this Sev?' Harry asked 'Nothing I have ever made smells this good' he was salivating at the smell, resisting the urge to dip his finger into the pot and scoop up a bit.

'It wouldn't Harry, that is something of my own design' Severus answered

'Oh?' Harry said his interest piqued

'It's lube my elf and it tastes just as it smells' Severus replied in a silky smooth tone

'Well' Harry coughed 'Genius invention'

'Mmm' Severus hummed as he charmed the stirrer to work on its own, he came over to Harry and moved in between his legs. Dipping his finger into the jar he scooped up a small amount. 'Open your mouth love'

Harry complied and Severus let his lube covered finger rest on the tip of Harry's tongue.

The younger man closed his mouth around the digit and sucked the lube from his mate's finger emerald eyes alight.

Cupping either side of Severus' face he plundered his mouth, letting the older man taste the mixture on is tongue, gently moving his own over Severus'

'Delicious' Harry murmured, as they broke apart

'Extremely' Severus whispered