A/N: Sorry for taking so long, everyone! Real life has intruded upon my perfect little world. Have no fear, however. The story continues on!

Disclaimer: Malachi (my wonderful muse) now claims to own all of HP himself. I told him that he's not JKR, and that, in fact, he isn't real. However, he fails to see reason. But I want to convey that no harm is intended with this fic. It is for entertainment only.

Chapter 3

Over the next two weeks, Harry fell into a rather comfortable routine. He would rise early and have breakfast with Snape, then he would spend some time reading or talking with the Potions Master. In the afternoons, Harry would hang out with Draco, or occasionally Ron and Hermione. After a quiet (and pleasant) dinner with his professor, Harry would venture out into London, sometimes going to clubs, sometimes simply going into shops that were open late, or patronizing sidewalk cafes and pubs.

On the fifteenth of August, Harry's reading was interrupted by a visit from the Headmaster. "Good morning, Harry!"

"Good morning, Albus. Is there something I can do for you?"

"I was just hoping you might have time to have a spot of tea with me, and perhaps we could chat?"

Harry glanced across the library at Snape, who simply raised an eyebrow at him. Harry sighed and set his book down, "Certainly, Albus. If you'll head to the sitting room, I'll go get the tea ready." The Headmaster nodded and departed. Harry glanced again at Snape, "Any idea what this is about, sir?"

Snape continued reading as he spoke, "Not a clue, Mr. Potter."

"Alright. I better not keep him waiting long." Harry departed to the kitchen, where he quickly prepared a tea tray with biscuits (and even lemon drops). He took the tray to the sitting room, gently setting it on the coffee table between himself and Dumbledore.

"Wonderful, my boy, thank you." The Headmaster poured them each a cup, then sat back in his chair and took a sip.

Harry also sipped at his tea, simply observing the old man across from him for a moment. "So, Albus, I realize that this isn't simply a social call. What is it you want from me today?"

Dumbledore's features softened, a hint of sadness was present. "Harry, I don't want to re-hash this old argument, please. I simply came by today to explain the birthday present I gave you." He sighed and set his teacup down. "Do you have a bit of time to come with me to Hogwart's?"

"I suppose," Harry regarded him skeptically. "Shall we go now?"

"Of course, my boy. And do remember to bring along that key I gave you."

The empty corridors echoed their every step. Harry committed to memory the path they were taking through the ground floor of the castle. After what seemed like ages, the Headmaster stopped in front of a wall that was devoid of anything save one portrait. A tall man in midnight blue robes that seemed to shimmer silver stood in the portrait. He had long black hair and twinkling blue eyes, which seemed to see into the very soul of the person observing the portrait. "Ah, Albus," said the man in a rich tenor voice, "welcome back, my boy." My boy? Harry looked from the portrait to the Headmaster, Who would call Dumbledore 'my boy'?

"Thank you, Merlin." Dumbledore grinned broadly at Harry's shocked countenance. "I'd like to introduce you to the tower's newest resident, Harry Potter."

Merlin peered down at Harry, "I have heard of you, young Harry. I welcome you to my tower."

Harry stared at the portrait dumbly for a moment before smiling charmingly, "Thank you, sir. It is an honor to meet you."

The portrait chuckled, "I like him, Albus. He is quite welcome to stay with us for as long as he likes."

"Thank you again, Merlin. Now, I'd like to show him to his room."

"Of course, Albus. Password?"

"Heart of Hogwart's." The portrait swung open, and the Headmaster led the way into the tower, and Harry hurried in behind him.

They had walked into a rather luxurious looking common room decorated tastefully in the colors of all four houses. A banner with the crest of each house, as well as a larger banner with the school's crest, hung from the ceiling along the walls in the room. Directly across the common room from the entrance was a single staircase leading up. Harry turned to Dumbledore. "This is the teacher's tower."

"Yes, Harry, it is." The headmaster smiled brightly. "This is our common room. We generally use it to celebrate staff birthdays, or, during the holidays, we hold staff meetings in here instead of in the staff room."

Harry nodded, still not exactly sure as to why he was here (though he had a rather good idea). "I see," was all he could say when Dumbledore turned towards him expectantly.

"This way," Dumbledore gestured, "leads to the teacher's dormitories. They are rather different from what you are accustomed to as a student."

"How so?" Harry followed the headmaster as the old man headed towards the staircase. Dumbledore headed up to the first level and stopped on a landing that branched off from the main stairs.

They stood looking at four doors, two on the right and two on the left. "This is the quad. Each level is like this." He turned towards the first door on the right. 'Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster' was elegantly written in gold on the door. He muttered a password and opened the door, gesturing Harry inside. "Each of the doors in a quad leads to a series of rooms. Every apartment has a sitting room, a small kitchen, a bedroom with connected bathroom, and a study. The studies for each apartment are magically linked to each teacher's respective offices." Dumbledore turned towards Harry and smiled.

Harry nodded. "Okay. So there are quads on every level, and each door leads to a teacher's apartment."

"That's correct." He led Harry out of the rooms and back to the quad. Harry glanced at the other doors. The one next to Dumbledore's was labeled 'Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Transfiguration'. Across from McGonagall was an empty room, but next to that was a door labeled 'Remus Lupin, Defense Against the Dark Arts'.

"Remus is going to be teaching again?"

"Yes, Harry. We'll discuss that in a few moments. For now I want you to wander through the levels and pick out a room. I will be waiting for you down in the common room."

Harry nodded as the Headmaster disappeared down the staircase. He glanced at the door next to Lupin's, narrowing his eyes. That was probably the room Dumbledore was expecting him to take. Well, Harry thought, if I have to live in the same tower as that old coot, I'm certainly not going to live in the same quad as him.

He wandered up the stairs to the next level. He found Sprout's, Flitwick's, Hooch's, and Vector's rooms. On the third level Harry found only two occupied rooms – Trelawny apparently did leave her incense filled tower, and apparently only Professor Sinistra was brave enough to share a quad with her.

The fourth level was nearly empty, having only one room occupied. The first door on the right was labeled 'Severus Snape, Potions'. Harry grinned. Apparently no one wanted to live that close to Snape (probably because he projected a rather grouchy personality, even to his colleagues who'd known him for many years). Harry turned to the door opposite Snape's and inserted the key into the keyhole.

Harry watched, fascinated, as the key dissolved into the door, and a golden glow began to spread through the door. With a flash, the light dissipated, and the door now bore the name 'Harry Potter, Defense Against the Dark Arts (N.E.W.T.)'. He lightly turned the handle and pushed the door in.

He glanced around the apartment as he entered, noting that all the furniture was white, and all the wood was left its natural color. Harry figured that the rooms were basically a blank canvas, waiting for him to add his own touch to the place. He closed the door and faced it, waving his hand and murmuring "Slytherin". The door glowed golden again, signaling that the password had been set.

Well, Harry thought, I guess I can decorate a little later. I should probably get back down to the common room before the old man seeks me out. He left his new room and quickly made his way down the stairs, and back to the common room.

"Ah, Harry. Did you find a suitable room?"

"Yes, Albus." Harry flashed the headmaster a bright smile, "I settled on a room on the fourth level."

"The fourth level?" Dumbledore sounded slightly surprised. "If I'm not mistaken, that is the level that Severus seems to have claimed for himself."

"Well, he'll simply have to learn to share the quad with me." Harry cringed internally as the twinkle in the headmaster's pale blue eyes tripled.

"Yes," he smiled, "he'll have to learn to share." Dumbledore clapped his hands together, "Now, my boy. I'm sure you've figured out what all this means."

Harry nodded and sat down in an armchair across from the couch that the headmaster had just settled himself in. "You want me to teach the N.E.W.T. level Defense classes."

"For this year, yes. I have arranged to have you take your N.E.W.T.'s this Christmas while we're on holiday. That means you will not be attending classes with your year mates. Once a week you will meet with one of your teachers and revise for the tests." Dumbledore smiled brightly, "I know you will pass your N.E.W.T.'s with flying colors, Harry, which is why I wanted to have you start teaching now. You will be teaching two classes this year. Remus will be teaching Defense for the first through fifth years, but only for this year. Next year I was hoping that you might be willing to take over all of the Defense classes."

He studied the headmaster for a few moments, thinking. Harry nodded, "Alright, Albus. I will become your Defense teacher." Dumbledore nodded, obviously having expected Harry's acceptance. "And I'm rather glad that I won't have to go to classes anymore."

"I thought you'd be glad. After what you've been through, my boy, no one can dispute the fact that you are an adult in mind, and now, legally, in body. You would be incredibly unhappy to return to classes that are too easy for you."

Harry nodded. They were silent for a few moments before Harry spoke again. "So, will I still be considered a member of Gryffindor house? Will I sit with my house in the Great Hall? Or will I simply sit with the staff from now on?"

"I'm glad you asked, Harry. Until you take your N.E.W.T.'s you will technically still be a student, therefore a member of Gryffindor. However, if you wish to sit at the staff table, you may. After the Christmas holidays, you will no longer be a student, but if you want to continue sitting with your friends in Gryffindor, you may. There are no rules against houses sitting with different houses in the Great Hall, and that also applies to the staff."

"Alright. Thank you for explaining. Now," Harry stood, "if you don't mind, I'm going to go decorate and arrange my rooms. And when I'm done with that, I'll be heading back to Grimmauld Place."

"Of course, Harry. Welcome to the staff, my boy," Dumbledore stood and embraced him. "I'll let you go about your business. If you need anything, I'll be in my office."

"See you later, Albus." The headmaster headed towards the exit of the tower.

"Oh, Harry!" He paused at the exit, "Teachers usually move back in on August 31st. We have a staff meeting in the staff room at 9:00 A.M. on September 1st. I will see you then."

"See you then, Albus." Once the headmaster was gone, Harry quickly headed back upstairs to his new apartment in the teacher's tower.

He returned to Grimmauld Place late in the afternoon. The Potions Master was nowhere to be seen, but Harry knew that the man would surely show up in time for dinner. And so Harry began to cook dinner for the two of them, and pondered whether or not to tell Snape about his being hired as a teacher. He finally decided that he'd give Snape small clues to see whether the man could figure it out on his own.

Harry was just setting the table when his professor strolled into the kitchen. Snape seemed to be rather pleased about something, but said nothing as he sank down into his usual chair at the table. Harry set dinner on the table, and his professor poured two glasses of blush wine. "Well," Harry took a sip of his wine, "you seem to be in a rather good mood. Care to share with the rest of the class, professor?"

Snape smirked (it was Smirk #29 – "I know something you don't know"). "Actually, Mr. Potter... no, I do not 'care to share'."

"As I expected." Harry smirked as well. "I suppose, then, that I won't tell you what Albus wanted when he dropped by earlier."

Now Harry had the man's interest peaked. Black eyes bore down on green ones for a few moments before he leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Alright. If I tell you why I am pleased, then will you tell me what Albus wanted with you?" Harry nodded. Snape sighed again, but then smiled (not smirked, genuinely smiled), "I was out... on a date."

The fire of jealousy flared up in Harry's chest, confusing him, but he masked his emotions quite well. "Oh? What's her name, then?"

Snape arched his eyebrow at Harry, "His name is Malachi."

Now surprise joined jealousy as the emotions coursed through Harry's veins. "Ah, my mistake. Where did you and Malachi go? If you don't mind my asking."

"Well, we apparated to Paris and had afternoon brunch at this little sidewalk café overlooking the Seine." Snape smiled again, "It was very nice. I've not been on a date in many years..." He leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine. "Now, I believe it's your turn to share, Mr. Potter."

Harry kept all his emotions in check, deciding to analyze them later, when he was alone in his room. "Oh, it's not a big deal, really. Albus just decided that with all I've been through that I've earned the right to my own room."

The Potions Master smirked playfully, "More special treatment for the Gryffindor Golden Boy? Why am I not surprised?"

Harry chuckled, "Well, professor, I think that this one time I will enjoy the special treatment. When you kill a Dark Lord, then you can get special treatment, too."

"Indeed."

Later that night, long after the Potions Master had retired to his room, Harry lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was wondering why he'd been blushing lately around Snape, and why he felt so jealous earlier when he'd heard that the man had been out on a date. He was surprised (and rather pleased) to hear that his professor fancied men.

Finally realization dawned on him. Harry had always thought that Snape was a rather attractive man, but at some point in time, Harry must have developed a crush on his teacher. He groaned. He couldn't have a crush on Snape. He was enjoying the man's friendship, and he didn't want to ruin that friendship by lusting after the man.

But are you lusting after him? Or is it something more? Harry mentally glared at the voice in his head. He told it to shut up and leave him alone. He didn't want to think about the fact that he might have substantial feelings for Snape... because there was no way that man could love Harry the same way that Harry loved him. Love? Where did that come from? Harry growled and rolled over on his side. He wouldn't think about it any more tonight. Or tomorrow. Or ever again.

A/N: My most profuse apologies for the delay in getting this chapter out. It was going to be longer, but I rather like where I left it off. Next chapter – The last two weeks of summer, the start of school (in which Snape makes a shocking discovery), and... the kiss! Hehe.

Many many many many thanks go out to all those who reviewed!! Thank yous (and cookies!) go out to – kungzuone,Layce74, Thesparkwingdiamond, Ceris Malfoy (don't worry, I won't tell Sara-chan!), amber-eyez (Malachi thanks you for the plushie), Tazthedevilman (Wow! Thanks Audrey! Don't worry, snogging will come soon enough!), Pilas (you rock), Kalee (Oh, he knows. He knows all, didn't you know?), Oreopet (welcome to the fold, young one!), cdkbasiuk (there will be lots more tingles soon, promise!), Grace James (I am glad you're enjoying it!), CassaAndra (crazy old headmasters and their socks), xikum (You'll hear Pandora's story soon; And you'll see about Draco's part in all of this), killer-the-cat, Prophetess of Hearts, Ekaterin1 (sorry, that mistake has been pointed out already, and I'm going to re-upload the prologue soon), Andromeda's Kitty (hopefully a lot of your questions were answered this chapter! Thanks!), valanthe, novque, Queen Zephora Yami, angel of darkness 4585, Dark Catalyst (thank you so much! I'm flattered!), Snivellus (squee! I love you! Ya made me blush when I got this review! I'm not that great of a writer, but I'm deeply flattered! Thank you!), Cherry0214, LoveHP, lunadea21, darkangelfrmhell, and anna may (thanks!).

Thank you all again so, so much! I really do appreciate the reviews. Of course you do. You're an egomaniac. Hush, Malachi. I am not an egomaniac. I'm just incredibly insecure in my writing abilities. For good reason. If you don't shut up, Malachi, I'm going to change this chapter so that you're not the one Sev goes out on a date with!! ...I'll be good. Of course you will. –Aiko (and Malachi).