Chapter 6
The next day Ron woke Harry up late. They hadn't gone to bed till early morning.
"I thought you were going to meet Anon last night? I wanted to ask you about it last night but Hermione stopped me. She told me not to make a scene. You are in the Daily Prophet enough. So I've waited, spill it!" He said looking furious.
Harry decided that Ron and Hermione deserved an explanation. It was not every day you found out that your best friend was being courted by your most feared and hated professor.
"Ok but wait until I can tell 'Mione as well Ron. I promise I'll explain everything."
"Fine." Ron replied relieved that he'd finally get some answers.
They showered and dressed. It was a Sunday so they wore there muggle clothes. Going down to the Common Room they met Hermione who looked at Harry expectantly. He nodded at her, she would also get her questions answered.
"Ok Harry. We're alone, talk," Hermione demanded as soon as he closed the door of the Room of Requirement, hands on hips, "Why were you dancing with Professor Snape?"
Harry went across the room and sat down on one of the comfy chairs the Room had provided. Ron and Hermione followed him and sat down without moving their eyes from Harry.
"Well…Last night I found out who Anon is." He admitted under their scrutiny.
Hermione's eyes widened, she had figured it out. 'Smart girl 'Mione, I knew you'd figure it out first.' Ron just looked at Harry blankly, "What has that got to do with you dancing with Snape?"
"Professor Snape, Ron." Hermione admonished.
"Whatever." He replied not really listening, they had had this conversation many times before. Ron looked expectantly at Harry waiting.
"Ron, I met Anon last night. I spent the night with him…" He trailed off, hoping that Ron would figure it out and not be angry.
"But you spent the night dancing with Snape…" he said with a frown, then his eyes flew open, "Oh! It is Snape isn't it.
Harry nodded, smiling and biting his bottom lip worriedly.
"But you hate Snape?" Ron stated but it came out like a question.
Harry shook his head, "No Ron, I never hated Professor Snape. I disliked him for the way he treated me but I have always respected him. He had to treat me like that because of Voldemort. He couldn't risk him finding out who the spy was. And to begin with he did only see my father. He thought that I was like him. But I'm not," he reasoned.
"But it's Snape! The Greasy Git! The Bane of Gryffindor! Ron almost shouted confused about just what Harry was trying to tell him.
"Yes it's Snape. But not the man you know. He's not greasy at all his hair is very fine and silky. He doesn't hate Gryffindors. He thinks that they're foolish. Besides did you see him in muggle clothes? Wow, he's got a great body. It's hidden by those bat robes he wears." Harry said with a huge goofy grin spread over his face.
"Harry! Please! When I you told us you were gay I told you. No details! Especially ones about Snape. Oh Merlin! I do not want those mental images." He moaned, covering his eyes.
Harry and Hermione laughed at him shaking their heads.
"Harry are you sure about him? There is a twenty-year age gap. I don't want to see you hurt or unhappy." Hermione asked him suddenly serious and in big sister mode.
"I'm sure 'Mione. He said he loved me. I want to get to know him better. He makes me happy. I think I'm falling in love with him." He admitted to her quietly, blushing faintly.
Hermione squealed and threw her arms around her surrogate brother.
"I'm so happy for you!"
"Are you going out with him again soon, mate?" Ron asked as Hermione sat back down.
"Yeah, Friday night. We're going to a muggle restaurant in London," Harry told them, his blush getting darker, "but we are still going to use the journals during the school week. I know he is twenty years older than me but we are wizards. We live a lot longer than muggles. Twenty years won't mean so much when he's one hundred and twenty and I'm one hundred."
"Awwh. How romantic. So do you think that you will accept him when the courtship is up?" She asked curious as to how he really felt about it.
"I'm not sure. I am very close to being in love with him after all our conversations but there are quite a lot of preconceptions still on both sides. I want to work them out before I make my decision. What do you think guys?" he asked needing to know if his best friends were against the marriage.
"Well…if he makes you happy then I can learn to like him. If you love him then there is no way that I would not like him." Hermione said after a moment of thought.
Ron's reply took longer. He was really thinking it over. "…I agree with Hermione. If he makes you happy then I can learn to live with it. But if he ever hurts you I will kill him and I will make sure to tell him that as well sometime very soon. Teacher or not." Ron said passionately.
Harry's eyes filled up at the show of support and love from the two people he classed as his brother and sister. They saw and went over for a big group hug.
After a while they noticed the time and went down to the Great Hall for evening meal. As Harry sat down he looked over to the teachers table. Severus was there. He smiled at him and received a small smile in return. The man did have a reputation to uphold after all. Ron noticed Harry's smile and looked over to Snape as well. His eyes locked with onyx ones. A message was passed between them 'Hurt Harry and you will have me to deal with', Severus Snape nodded to Ron assuring him that he understood. Then he looked to Harry. Ron saw the look in Snape's eyes. He knew that Snape loved him and wouldn't hurt him. That was all he needed to know. He was happy now.
Looking over to his girlfriend Ron noticed the amused glint in her eyes, which told him that she had seen what had just passed between the two. She was pleased that Severus had understood and accepted it. Gryffindors stuck together. They were not the Golden Trio for nothing.
Harry dug into his meal unaware of everything that had just occurred.
A.N. Once again I hope you all liked the story. Sorry if it's too short for you but I am trying. If you have any ideas please tell me them. Constructive comments andcriticism are welcomed although flamers will only be used to roast marshmallows. (lol I always wanted to write that ;-).)