Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, nor the location their are camping in. I'll give them back to JK Rowling when I'm done. I'm making no money from this story.

A/N: I really want to say thank you to those who have read my story and reviewed it. You've been extremely helpful. For those of you who have suggested that Harry and Snape take to snuggling in the tent, that might or might not happen. You will have however find out what does happen their first night together in this chapter.

I'm not sure how many chapters I have left to write as I'm making up this story as I go. So if any of you have any particular scenes you would like to see played out, let me know, of course keep in mind that I want this story to stay at a PG-13 rating. Again, let me know what you think. Thanks.

Anything between two *, indicates a thought.
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A Camping We Will Go

Chapter 6 - Time for Bed

The students didn't last too long into the evening, as their bodies were still on a different time. Some drifted into a light sleep while gazing up in the stars, while others were still caryring on quite conversations, mostly between couples like Hermione and Ron. The only two still fairly wide awake, but quiet were Snape and Harry. Snape seemed to be in a trance from gazing into the fire and lost in his thoughts, of what, Harry didn't know, but he was somewhat curious.

*Was he thinking about the war, his time as a Death Eater? Was he thinking about his future? Would he be leaving school soon, now that it was safe for him to do so?* Millions of possible questions slipped through Harry's mind as he peered up at Snape. Shadows and flickers of light from the fire shifted upon Snape's face, softening the harsh lines.

After gazing up into Snape's face for what seemed like hours, but were only minutes, Harry was startled to realize that he cared about Snape and what the man thought. Harry turned his face away from Snape and looked up once again at the stars. Harry sighed and a look of confusion passed over his features. *Now I know why I've been upset with Snape's continued antagonism, I truly do want his respect and perhaps his friendship.*

When Harry had removed his gaze from the professor, Snape had felt it's absence and looked down at Harry. He saw the look of confusion and finally understanding pass over Harry.

Severus had spent the last few hours contemplating his life. The peace and tranquility, the forest seemed to project, soothed him. He knew that with the fall of the Dark Lord a chapter of his life had closed. He was just uncertain once more, for perhaps the first time in almost 17 years, of what to do. He no longer needed to reside at Hogwarts for safety reasons, and he was honest to himself in admitting that teaching children was not something he enjoyed. Terrorizing, yes -- teaching, no. *To think, I might actually have something in common with these seventh year brats - an unplanned future.*

Harry shifted his gaze once more to Professor Snape and caught the professor looking back at him. Their gazes locked. Harry saw the uncertainty in Snape's eyes and Harry gave a small, tentative smile in response to let Snape know that he understood the feeling. Snape frowned a bit at the smile, but did not sneer or glare in response. Snape's expression changed from uncertainty to puzzled.

"Professor?" Severus heard Potter whisper quietly. Severus shook his head to forestall any questions Potter had. Severus was honest with himself in that he was truly puzzled, not only with Potter's attempts at what appeared to be gestures of friendship, but also with his own less hostile responses.

"I believe it is time that we should all retire," Snape said to Harry as he gestured to the dozing bodies scattered around the outskirts of the fire.

Snape stood up and indicated to the still somewhat alert students that they should wake up their compatriots. It took several minutes to rouse the sleeping individuals. "Just to let you know, your tents were spelled prior to leaving Hogwarts. Only those assigned to the tent may enter it. So if any of you had ideas of trading places, think again." Snape glared at the twosomes that had been snuggling quietly. Muffled groans could be heard from the couples.

Harry saw Ron and Hermione share a speaking glance at one another and he quirked a small smile. *Oh well, if I have to suffer and sleep next to Snape, then they should suffer just a bit as well.* Slowly everyone moved towards their tent with their assigned sleeping partner. Harry went in to the tent he was sharing with Snape and rushed to prepare for bed. He didn't want Snape to watch him change into his pajamas, especially since his pajama's were in the Gryffindor colours. He could just imagine what snide remark Snape would make about that little fact.

Severus stayed outside and stood watch to make sure everyone did as they were told, and it was only once everyone entered their tents and closed the flaps that Severus banked the fire and went into the tent he shared with Potter. It was pitch-dark inside the tent as Severus crawled in on his knees past the entrance and promptly bumped into the lump that was Potter, inside his sleeping bag. Potter grunted in annoyance, "Honestly, watch where you're going."

"I would, Mr. Potter, if I could actually see where I was going, it's pitch-black in here if you haven't noticed."

Severus tried once more to find his things in the dark, and his hands swept along the floor of the tent just above the sleeping bags. They collided with what felt like hair. "Ow! That hurt."

"I'm surprised at that Mr. Potter, since you seem to have such a thick skull. I wouldn't think having an anvil fall on it would cause it any pain, let alone having my hands accidentally brush against you. I would also advise you to keep your voice down. I particularly don't want Mr. Weasley to think that I'm torturing you," grumbled Snape.

"I knew it wouldn't last," sighed Potter.

"What wouldn't last, Mr. Potter?"

"Your being Mr. Congeniality, of course."

Snape smothered a laugh and coughed to cover it. At least what Harry thought passed for a laugh, since he had never heard such a sound from Snape before.

"I have a suggestion to make, sir. Why don't you use your wand. Since you aren't really here as a 'muggle', you aren't exactly bound by the rules the students have to follow."

Severus wanted to blast Potter for being so sarcastic and so right. He removed his wand from the holster he was using to carry his wand while in muggle clothing.

"Lumos."

A bright spot of light appeared at the tip of his wand. Severus blinked rapidly from the change of dark to light. He looked at Potter, who had his eyes still closed, and his glasses off somewhere to the side. Potter looked so young and fragile in Severus' eyes, yet he knew that the young man was stronger than he appeared. Plus the fact with all that Potter had been through in his 17 years, his soul was older than most, having seen death for more often than the average wizard or witch.

Severus gathered up the items he would need to prepare for bed and found his spot inside the sleeping bag.

"Nox."

The light was extinguished and once again Severus had to readjust to the difference. Severus removed his shoes, socks, shirt, and so on.

While Snape was changing, Harry tried to shut out the sounds the professor was making, for they sounded all too human and too intimate. Which was strange considering he lived in a dorm with 4 other boys and they had made similar noises just about every night for the last seven years and he didn't think of their noises as intimate. *Perhaps it's because it's Snape, who is an adult and my professor.*

Finally, Harry heard Snape grunt and settle into his sleeping bag. Harry turned over to face him. "Professor?"

"What now, Mr. Potter?"

"I just wanted to talk to you, sir."

"About what? What can be so important that you want to talk about it now? Go to sleep, Mr. Potter." Snape sounded exasperated.

Harry sighed and rolled back away from Snape. Harry wasn't all that tired to be truthful. He'd been suffering from insomnia for months now, even before the fall of Voldemort. He knew he couldn't leave the tent or he would disturb Snape. Harry continued to toss and turn for what seemed like hours, lost in his thoughts, trying to figure out what it was he wanted to do with his life. He'd honestly not given much thought to it, since he'd spent the last two years training and preparing for his confrontation with Voldemort.

Harry had tuned out Snape, thinking the man had fallen asleep long ago, when he jumped as a hand touch his shoulder. "Mr. Potter, what is wrong? Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I've not had a full nights sleep in months, Professor. Before the battle, I was so consumed with thoughts of going up against Voldemort and the possibility of not coming out of it alive, and then after the battle, wondering what I was going to do with my life now that I had no foe to fight."

Severus sighed. *Strange how much Potter's thoughts mirror my own. Both of us lost and confused about the direction our lives will take now that we have no enemy.*

Harry thought Snape had gone back to sleep, when no words seemed to come forth from the man for several minutes. "Professor?" he asked quietly.

"If you must know, Mr. Potter, I find myself to be in the same boat, as the old saying goes."

"You are? Aren't you going to continue to teach at Hogwarts?"

"I could, if I thought I would be appreciated in such a role. Potter, I'm no teacher. I never have been, at least not a good one anyway. It was just a position to keep me safe and to make me feel useful. Now that the Ministry has cleared my name on all counts and the Dark Lord is gone, I find myself at loose ends. Too many options."

"Since we both seem to be in a confessing mood, what else is bothering you Potter?

"Too many things, Professor." Harry stopped to think once more of all the things occupying his mind.

"Well, I'm not going to drag them out of you Potter, so speak up, otherwise try to get some sleep."

Harry sighed and started talking one more in a hurry, afraid that if he didn't voice his concerns no, at least those in regard to Snape, he never would. "Do you hate me, Professor?"

"No."

"Professor?"

"You asked a straight forward enough question, Mr. Potter. The simple answer is, no. I don't hate you."

"Oh, okay."

"Was that all, Mr. Potter? That could not have been what has been keeping you awake at night, surely."

"I... I don't hate you either, sir." Harry rushed on, "In fact, I respect you and appreciate all you've done for me."

"And what do you believe I have done for you, Mr. Potter?" asked Snape.

"Saved my life, been my teacher. Plus, you've been one of so few people to try and keep me grounded, to not let what the rest of the wizarding world thinks of me go to my head."

Severus was silent while he absorbed Potter's words. *He really is trying to be friends. With me! I would never have thought it possible, especially with seven years of antagonism, put downs, detentions and truly blatant house point reductions.* Severus was stunned.

Harry continued on when the silence became too heavy and oppressive, "I just want to earn your respect, Professor. I'm just not sure how to go about it. I know it's probably too late really." Harry sounded dejected.

Severus reached out once more to Potter and touched his shoulder. Severus knew that it was time for a change in his relationship with Potter, knew that they could not continue down the same path that had been. He knew that it was wrong to conceal how he felt for the young man.

"I do respect you, Potter. In the last few months, your actions have indeed proved me wrong about who I thought 'Harry Potter' was. I'm sorry for that."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, sir. I know I broke rules and placed my life, as well as others, in danger time and again. That I never asked for help from you or Dumbledore or any of the other professors. But I was hoping... perhaps now, we could start fresh. Begin again."

"It is a possibility, Mr. Potter. Allow me to think on it."

"Yes, Professor. Sleep well, sir."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Perhaps now that some things have been cleared from the air, you will be able to sleep."

"I hope so." Harry closed his eyes, a small smile upon his face and he fell into a deep restful sleep, almost at once.

Severus however had a few new things now to add to his list of concerns, and therefore it was quite some time before he fell asleep.

tbc