A/T: Ha! All my wonderful reviewers! I'm sorry I'm late, but school has come upon me like a cloud of really hard Latin! I miss you all! sob

Dedicated: To Shinigami for the heck of it- she gave me the idea for the chapter title! I love it!

Alley of Dreams
Act 6: Two to Tango

Severus woke up to a thud'. A kind of hallow thud, but a thud' nonetheless. His first impulse was to grab his wand and kill the thud, but he remembered- there was no Voldemort, so whatever was causing the thud wasn't a threat.

And then he heard it again.

He groaned aloud as he shuffled out of bed, dreaming up a long and horrible death to whoever had woken him up so ridiculously. Kill the thud.

Thud.

He glanced at the window. Not much light was coming in because of his dark and heavy curtains; but-

He tore the curtains away from the window, attempting to see past the blinding light of the morning sun and focus on whatever the racket was.

Something golden zoomed by his window with a larger object hot on its trail. Curious but wary, he opened his window and looked out.

Suddenly, the gold thing turned straight towards him. He could see little wings and-

"Duck!"

He did just that. He watched overhead from under his windowsill as the gold thing went right through his window and someone right after. It was like one of those ridiculous cartoon battles, only with cursing.

"Come here you piece of- I'll kill Fred and George- I'm really sorry, Sever-Ouch!"

It continued with Harry trying to grab the Snitch and it flitting away at an ungodly speed before he'd grab it and they'd struggle, knocking over Severus's things from his bedside table while Harry battled to keep hold of it.

At glorious last, all was still with the exception of Harry's harsh breathing and his white knuckles, grasping none other than a joke snitch, still trying to struggle out of Harry's hand.

"I'm really gasp sorry, Severus. It must be one of wheeze Fred and George's trick Snitch's- they probably slipped it into my pant bag."

Harry nodded for his broom, which floated through the window. Severus, in turn, searched for his lost dignity as he rose up in nothing but his nightclothes and shut the window.

"'Duck' indeed. I never knew snitches went... thud', I believe is what I heard." Harry blushed and cleared his throat.

"Well, you know Fred and George. I'm really sorry to wake you. It won't happen again."

"One would hope not."

They both stood there rather awkwardly as the fake snitch made little buzzing noises.

"What are you practicing Quidditch for anyway?"

Harry looked startled for a moment, then, "Oliver invited me to play in a championship because the Chudley Cannon's seeker quit. It's in about two days, so I decided if I want to play then I'd better not be rusty. But I haven't played in a long time, so I hope they're not expecting miracles or anything. Two days was kind of a short notice."

"Ah. Is Cedric going with you?"

"Yep. Trust me, when he gets his mind set on something like this, there's no other way but to do what he wants. He really wants to see me play."

"Chip off the old block, I would say."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Compliment taken. Nice P.J.'s, by the way."

Severus was wearing a black nightshirt and long, satin drawstring pants. Harry had to admit (to himself, of course) that Severus could definitely pull off the sexy look in anything.

Severus gave him an annoyed look. "Well, if someone's snitch hadn't decided to wake me up and make my rooms its home, then maybe we'd be on better terms."

Harry chuckled. "If you ask me, I think we're on pretty good terms already. I mean, compared to what we used to be. Even Ron says nice things about you sometimes. Once, he saw Hermione trying to make these French fries and when George said something about the grea-''

"Out, out," ushered Severus, quickly interrupting him. He could tell by Harry's eyes that he was only joking.

Harry grinned. "Cedric and I were just about to go down to breakfast. Care to join us?"

"Might as well," he grumbled. "Seeing as I'm already awake." He took this moment to look at Harry pointedly.

"I'll see you downstairs in a couple minutes, Mister Sunshine," Harry said, sarcastically.

"I don't do sunshine."

Harry looked around the dark room. "So I noticed."

...

"Hello, Mister Snape!" said a cheerful voice. On most occasions, cheerfulness at breakfast would result in a curse towards the speaker. And yet somehow, Severus didn't mind Cedric's carpe diem attitude.

"Good morning," he replied, pleasantly, filling up a cup of coffee. "How'd you sleep?"

"Pretty good. This ghost came in and scared me half to death, though. He threw a water balloon at me while I was asleep!"

"Peeves, our resident poltergeist. Well, you won't guess how I woke up."

Cedric grinned mischievously. "How?"

"Your father was trying to practice some Quidditch when he practically burst through my window in attempt to catch your Uncle Fred and George's joke snitch. Very noisy and almost, but not quite, worse than a water balloon."

The green-eyed boy laughed. "So you've heard of the Quidditch match? It's so exciting! I'm going to watch Dad play! Hey, why don't you come? We're leaving this afternoon and I'm sure it'll be fun to have you."

Cedric turned to Harry, who had currently stopped eating, looking almost sad, nervous, and afraid. "Right Dad? Because-''

Harry cleared his throat, stopping Cedric from speaking. "Well, actually, he was telling me he had a potion to do for his friend. It takes a really long time and you have to watch over it constantly. He must've forgotten. His friend really needs that potion. Right, Severus?"

Ah, the blow lands. He knew it would come sooner or later.

"Right. It takes almost a week, every time. Maybe next match," Severus said, but they all knew there would be no next match.

Cedric frowned. "Oh. Well, who's your friend?"

Severus scanned a quick list of people he knew through his head, frantically trying to pull off a believable lie that he used to be so good at doing. And suddenly, as if God himself had graced them, Sirius and Remus stepped through the Great Hall doors together and the light went on about the darker wizard's head.

"Remus, your God father. He needs one every month or he'll get sick; he's very susceptible to viruses these days. Cold, flu, and it's November now so the bug'll be coming around soon."

Harry felt sick to his stomach; he forgot the eggs he'd been eating and concentrated on his toast and pumpkin juice. He had to wean Cedric off of his friendship with Severus slowly, and he could tell Severus understood that as well. He wondered if it hurt that beautiful man as much as it was hurting him.

Cedric nodded. "Okay," he said, slowly. "What's wrong with him?"

Sirius and Remus sat down next to them and immediately detected the uncomfortable atmosphere. Severus looked at Remus, pleading with his eyes, Please, say something. Make them forget.

And the light haired man, bless him, began talking about everything, Sirius chipping in as soon as possible. But it was obvious that Cedric wasn't about to forgot that he wouldn't see Severus for a long time after they left for the Quidditch game.

But it was better this way.

Severus looked at Cedric, who was looking back with his green eyes, the first thing Severus saw on that somewhat fateful day at Diagon Alley. He could tell what Cedric was thinking. I know what you're trying to do. I'm not stupid.

Really.

It was.

...

Harry folded the last of his clothes and stacking them into his travel cases. He realized with a sad little smile that he was actually folding and organizing his things; Severus was rubbing off on him. He sighed and rubbed his temples.

Who knew this would be so frustrating?

He was leaving Hogwarts today for the Quidditch match. He was bound and determined, and he would not look back.

"Ready, Cedric?" he called, peering past a doorframe to his son.

"Yeah. But have you seen my potions book? Mister Snape gave it to me but I can't find it anywhere." Harry closed his eyes and swallowed, trying to keep the painful ache from overwhelming him.

"I packed it in with our other books. Do you have everything else? The train'll leave in a few minutes. We have a game to win, you know," he said, grinning. Cedric nodded enthusiastically.

"But are you sure-''

"I'm positive Severus can't come with us. Please don't ask me again," Harry begged, exasperated. "It'll drive me mad."

Cedric finally heaved a gigantic sigh and looked his father straight in the eye, turning away from his perfectly packed and organized suitcase. He was naturally well thought-out in what he said and orderly in what he did. How could he and Harry even be related?

"Why don't you like him anymore?" Cedric asked, unable to hide his troubled thoughts. "What did he do?"

Harry looked back. How would he get out it this time?

"I do like Severus! He's a wonderful man, but- but-'' But nothing! Cedric wasn't the only one attached and Harry was painfully aware of it.

"You're doing it again," Cedric whispered, his wispy hair falling across his head. "You're lying. You always do that when you lie. I'm not stupid!"

Harry was struck dumb- absolutely speechless. He had no words, which ultimately meant he had no lies. He didn't lie often- not to his own son. But he needed to just this once. He swallowed. What would Severus say? Or Albus? Or Remus or Sirius? What would they say to him?

"Let's just pack, all right? We're already late."

...

The stands were absolutely crammed. Cedric and Harry made their way through the bustle and noise of the crowd, trying not to lose each other in the sea of witches and wizards that stuffed the stands. They treaded down bleachers and up stairs until they finally reached the player's room. Harry dropped his Quidditch bag onto the ground with a sigh.

"Okay. Cedric, I'm going to go find Oliver. Stay here and don't go off with anyone. Understand?"

Cedric sat on the bench, and nodded, his head down. "Okay, Dad. I won't."

Minutes passed. Cedric sat right where he promised, watching players pass him by, waving at him as if he were a child, which, technically, he was. But they still didn't understand. No matter what your age, sometimes you're not a kid inside. He smiled bitterly to himself. He must have picked it up from his dad.

He knew how fast his father had to grow up.

"You must be Potter's son. Who'd of thought?"

He looked up quickly and a man with silver eyes and hair was smiling at him. Or smirking. Whichever it was, the man held out his hand.

"The name's Draco Malfoy. And I'll wager you're Harry Potter's son. The eyes are unforgettable. Where's the git, by the way? We've got a game to win and I won't have him messing about."

Cedric wasn't quite sure what to say to this man. His thoughts were still on his father. He put on a polite face. "I suppose he'll be back in a few minutes. He went to go find the captain."

The man -Draco?- shook his head, a dramatic sigh escaping his lips. "A few minutes are all we have left. Your father was never the organized one of the Trio. No homework, no grace, no skill in almost all his subjects... but rest assured, he'll be here just in time for the game to start. That's how your father works."

"How would you know?"

"I went to school with him. I'll admit I gave him and his friends a relatively hard time but there are no scars to prove it." He grinned and winked. "Can't leave evidence, you know."

Cedric, after the final shock, decided this man wasn't a completely insane. And he knew a bunch about his dad. He dug deeper.

"What else do you know about him?" he asked, the tumbling thoughts of earlier beginning to slip slowly away. Draco wiggled his eyebrows.

"Looking for blackmail material, are you? Well, I'm just the man you need to see. I have the inside scoop. The heroic acts, Ginny's Valentine, his secret journeys through Hogwarts in the middle of the night, the embarrassing Potion moments... come to think of it, he had an awful lot of those."

"So I've heard."

"You've heard about the infamous Professor Snape, have you? He wasn't all that bad, no matter what Harry says. A little unfair to the Gryffindor party, but I'm not the one to complain. After all, I was a Slytherin."

"You were?"

"Absolutely. I loved torturing your dad. But the Weasel was especially fun."

"You don't mean Uncle Ron, do you? You knew him too?"

"'Uncle'? So the bookworm and the Weasel married, did they? Figures."

"'Weasel' isn't a very nice name, you know."

Draco grinned again. "I know. But if your father has told you anything about me, he'd tell you Ron was my favorite victim."

Cedric raised an eyebrow, uncertain. Draco sat next to him.

"But I was only joking back then, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it if I were you. Ron was... nice. I don't know. I'm not good at sentiments. Now your father, he was constantly going out but was never expelled. Wise, of course, because Voldemort would've gotten to him, but he only lost his house points or got a detention. He looked a lot like you. Tall, skinny, kind of pale at first, then he started playing Quidditch."

"How much trouble did he get into?"

"There's a question I'll love to answer. In second year, there was this chamber underneath Hogwarts, but no one knew about until your father started hearing voices while-''

"I don't understand why everyone else likes to tell my son about me. What is it with you Slytherins and your big mouths? You were going to tell him about the Chamber of Secrets, weren't you? Severus already covered Fluffy, the chess set, the Devils Snare, Quirell, the Sorcerer's Stone, my entire first year."

"'Severus'? Since when do we call our Potions Master Severus'?" Draco asked, turning to see Harry standing there next to Oliver. Harry rolled his eyes.

"I won't rise to the bait, Draco. If you tell Cedric anything, I'll- I'll-''

"You'll what? Turn me into a frog?"

Oliver shook his head, watching the two over Harry's shoulder. "Almost reminds me of Hogwarts. You two were always at each other's necks. Although I do recall a story about a certain ferret..."

"Tell us about it," said Harry, a sugary sweetness in his voice. He looked so professional in his Quidditch robes that Cedric was filled with pride. He immediately decided he liked Oliver. Oliver had a nice smile and warm eyes. And although Draco was quick and sly, he decided he liked him as well.

"And where have you two been? The game is... now, actually. Tsk, tsk, Oliver. Not keeping us on schedule like an appropriate captain."

Oliver swatted at him but Draco was quicker and had Oliver's hand in his own. He raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Oliver, you naughty thing."

Oliver sighed in defeat and Draco let him go. "I can't win with you!" he complained as they began trudging up towards the field.

"You could if you wanted to," Draco stage whispered and was off before Oliver could respond. Oliver's face began to turn a dark shade of red. Harry made a suggestive noise.

"So. You and Draco, huh? How come you never told me?"

"Harry!" Oliver said, looking scandalized.

Harry laughed, his own face a little pink. "I'm only joking. But seriously, is Draco- I don't know... into you or something? I believe what he just did is called flirting."

"Well, I believe it's called being a nuisance, and if he tries that one again, I'll..."

"Well, you won't kick him off. You're too soft for that."

Oliver sighed. "So he's kind of cute, big deal..."

Harry snorted. "Big deal, indeed." He turned towards Cedric and suddenly his eyes softened and the conversation was forgotten for the moment. He half smiled.

"I'm about to go play. Root for us, okay?" Cedric nodded and Harry's green eyes glowed. He bent down and hugged his son.

His son.

Never forget it.

...

The game had been bloody fantastic. There was no other word for it. It only lasted three and a half hours (a short span of time for a professional Quidditch game) but Cedric had watched, fixated on his father, who ended up winning the game by spinning upside down to catch the snitch.

He had seen his father practice many times, but when you see him really play and everyone is silent as he catches the snitch, it's just... magical. And we're not talking wands and cauldrons, either.

The team walked in, flushed and happy and excited and the first thing Harry did was pick up Cedric and spin him around, introducing him to all the players as he did so. Cedric had never been so happy in his entire life- he was being allowed to be such an involved part of his father's world.

He had only seen his father this happy when he and Severus- Get it out of your head. It won't happen, he thought, just as a stranger was telling him how glad he was to finally meet him.

And he did manage to get it out of his head. For the next ten minutes. Until It happened.

Cedric will always remember that afternoon, even when he's 99 years old and lying on his death bed with white hair and a failing body. He'd remember it past his graduation, wedding, first child, everything. In the back of his mind there was place for the memory- the moment that finally tore his mother away from his life.

The Chudley Cannons were leaving to celebrate at The Leaky Cauldron. They grabbed their bags and were starting to leave, making it through the throngs of people who just couldn't stop asking for autographs and pictures and what not.

And in the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something. He turned. And there she was. Looking right at him, dark hair and eyes and all.

His hands and body went cold and he stopped right in his tracks. The people and the game suddenly didn't matter. He pulled at his father's robes.

"Dad," his whispered. "Dad- look." Only when his father turned around did his own heart stop beating, and only when he stopped did the entire team bring to a halt their progress towards many a bottle of Butter Beer.

"Go on. I'll be right there," Harry said, the magic of the moment having disappeared. And with frowns and glances, they did. But they didn't know whom he was about to face.

Cedric's mother.