Disclaimer: The characters and this world magical world were created by J.K. Rowlings. I'm just a fan playing with her wonderful characters and a way that I'm not so sure she would approve of, but I sure as hell like it!

A/N: A big thank you to Jade, my beta readers! She helped me out a lot with the smut part! Thank you all for reviewing and supporting this story – and myself. As promised, some sweet love-making just for you!

Warning: This chapter was originally rated NC-17, or whatever crazy system has been developed now by the site... The following chapter is the light version. To read it fully, go to my BIO and click on my yahoo group!

Chap. 38 – REMEMBER I LOVE YOU

Three days later, Draco found himself sitting by the windowsill, cursing and sulking about his bad fate, and hating himself for such a pathetic scene. His eyes seemed to be glued to the sky. He barely noticed Severus' entrance. Draco couldn't keep his eyes away from Harry and Sirius, the pair of them flying in the vast grey sky like there was no tomorrow, having the time of their lives. He nearly bit off all his fingernails and growled with dissatisfaction when he heard Harry's joyful laughter as he went after the Golden Snitch.

"Do you want that scotch now? You look like you need it," said Severus bemusedly, watching Draco very closely.

"Yes, please," Draco answered absent-mindedly. He heard a soft chuckle behind him and he turned around to glare at Severus. His godfather stared back at him, silently saying 'I told you so'. Draco's blood boiled. "What?" he snarled.

Severus poured them each some scotch and handed a full glass to Draco. After taking a sip of his own glass, Severus said, "Oh, nothing really. I was just... thinking about a few things."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Things like...?"

"Things like..." Severus paused a minute and then said with a sneer, "I told you so."

Draco cursed him and gave him a dirty look. He looked up again and watched Harry catching the Snitch and hugging Sirius. In Draco's point of view, Harry looked rather pathetic. He had been behaving as if he were still twelve years old and wanted to impress his father with his skills.

Severus had warned him about that. He had told Draco that, once Harry and Sirius made up, Severus and Draco would come second. Draco had prayed so much for a different outcome, but the fact remained that Severus was correct. Draco felt as if he didn't exist most of the time.

His feelings on the matter were very contradictory. For one thing, he was happy for Harry. For another, he was pissed off. He now wished – quite selfishly and jealously – that Harry hadn't accepted Sirius' apologies at all. In fact, he was quite angry at Harry's lovey-dovey mood towards a man who hadn't even bothered to look for him. Harry had taken things too well, too easily. He should have given Sirius more of a hard time in gaining his trust again.

But instead, Draco was the one sulking alone. Well, not alone. He had Severus' annoying company – and now Johnny Walker's too – to make him feel even more depressed about himself. He leaned his head against the window and sighed heavily.

"I thought you were happy for him," Severus pointed out viciously.

"I am," Draco said dryly. "That doesn't mean I don't feel like choking him to death for putting me aside and completely ignoring me these past few days. I mean, don't they ever get tired? I haven't seen Harry this energetic in a long time."

"You're jealous," stated Severus with a smirk.

"I am jealous," Draco admitted bitterly. "And oddly, you're taking this quite well."

Severus took another sip from his scotch and then made a face. "I'm as angry as you are. The only difference is that I'm used to it. I know I'm not top priority in his life. First there was James, then Lupin, then the Marauders, the Order and now... Harry..." Severus looked sad for a moment, and then the moment was gone. "I can't beat them. What's the use of getting all worked up because of it? I'm old and exhausted. I'm done complaining about things that will never change. Let them enjoy themselves. At least he'll come to me at night..."

"I don't want to come second in his life!" Draco snapped out. "I'm tired of being second! I wasn't even his number one enemy in Hogwarts, dammit! I want to be his number one! I deserve it! I shook him out of his depression, not Black! He was hiding away from Harry while I was out there trying to help him. And what do I get in return? Nothing! Not even at night!"

Severus frowned. "You mean... You two haven't..."

Draco groaned, "No."

"Not even once?" Severus asked sceptically.

"No..." murmured Draco gloomily.

"Well, that's a surprise. Or maybe not. It's Potter we're talking about," Severus said to himself. "Have you tried to seduce him?"

Draco flushed slightly. He couldn't believe he was having this kind of conversation with Severus. "No! Why should I?"

"Have you talked to him about what's bothering you?"

"He should notice on his own!" Draco exclaimed, upset. "What kind of lover is he if he doesn't notice when I'm furiously mad at him?"

Severus' lips curled. "I'm sure you don't want to take advice from a person like myself, because I'm not one to talk, but... He won't know what you feel unless you tell him, Draco. You need to communicate with him if you want a successful relationship. You won't have that if you keep hiding your true feelings from him."

"That's really precious coming from you!" Draco complained.

"As a matter of fact, it is. I'm still new at this relationship thing, Draco, but that's something I've learned. If you don't voice your fears, he'll never know. And I know it's easier said than done..."

"I was thinking more of a 'do what I say, don't do what I do' kind of thing, but that works for me too," Draco sneered.

Severus sighed. "I know it isn't easy. It's even more difficult for me because I'm old and quite set in my ways. But you're still young. There's still time to make things right. If you're mad at him, then say so! You have the right to be angry! He's being a jerk. But then again, he is a Potter after all," Severus said tartly.

Draco kept staring into space for a while, lost in his own thoughts. Suddenly, he gave a soft chuckle. Severus looked at him puzzled and Draco explained, "I was just thinking how convenient it'll be for you if I talk to Harry. It'd save you the trouble going through the same thing with Black. Am I wrong?"

Severus grimaced. "No wonder you're a Malfoy."

Draco raised his glass in the air and winked. "No wonder you're my godfather."

Severus looked at him fondly, but also a little embarrassed about Draco's sharp perception. His godson had seen right through him.

"I also thought you disapproved of me and Harry. Now you're giving me love advice. It's pretty odd, to say the least. Of course, now that I finally understand you, I can't blame you for trying. And it's quite refreshing actually. To think that your love for that man up there is worth more than your pride."

"Not that much," Severus cut him off immediately.

"Right," Draco half-smiled. "Let me rephrase it then. Your love for him isn't bigger than your pride, but it is bigger than your hate for Harry..."

"Not hate," Severus cut him off again. "Hate is a pretty strong word. I actually like the rascal when he isn't being such a spoiled brat, which is very rare..."

"He isn't a rascal! He is a twit, though. And so fucking blind..." Draco looked sideways at Severus. "You know, I'm not sure if I should listen to you. You don't know anything about relationships. You're afraid of doing exactly what you told me to... And you don't bother to sell me out just so you can have Black all to yourself again! Let me ask you something: are you really getting some at night? You sound really desperate now that I think about it. You'd never have this conversation with me if you weren't. You would certainly never throw me at Harry and help me out with our relationship!" Severus made a face and Draco leaned forward with a frown. "You know, sometimes I wonder how wonderful it would be to have a Gryffindor for a godfather. Even better: a Hufflepuff! Come to think of it... Gryffindors are way too emotional and can be sodding cowards sometimes... And Hufflepuffs... They're so needy and... way too nice. They'd pat you on the head even if you did something horrible. I'd rather stick to a good old cold-hearted bastard Slytherin guy like yourself that would do things thinking only about his own interests."

Severus grimaced. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"How could I not?" Draco smirked. "You've just exposed yourself to me. I'm delighted. I'm also a Slytherin. I can't miss an opportunity like this. Really... You almost got me. Almost. I'm glad I'm not a Hufflepuff. I'd have actually believed your good intentions! That would be such a shock!"

Anyone else would have been quite disturbed at this point, but not Severus and Draco. Being Slytherins, they were finding their conversation very amusing. Draco preferred it that way. It made him remember who he was. He wasn't some pathetic cry-baby being. He was a Slytherin, and Slytherins analysed everything from a cold distance. Severus had come up with a plan of his own. Draco should act too.

Severus looked up at his husband and asked Draco with a smirk, "So, what are you going to do now? Pull his hair? Stick gum in it? If you want to, I can make him a special potion..."

Draco switched his attention to Harry, who was nothing but a dot in the sky so high was he flying, and then said, "I'm going to do what every boyfriend should every now and then. I'm going to kick his ass when he comes down and make him realise just what he's been missing... I'll have my sweet revenge."

Severus smiled wickedly. "I'm sure you will."

Harry and Sirius came back to the house just before dinner, sweaty and happy. Harry didn't miss Severus' strange smirk as he went upstairs to his room. He wondered what the old – but attractive – bat had in mind. Harry knew that Severus and Sirius' relationship hadn't been on very good terms since their discussion three days ago, but he doubted that Severus would do something to hurt Harry while Sirius was watching. He wouldn't dare.

Then again, it was Severus Snape he was talking about, former Death Eater, ex-Head of Slytherin and an all-around pain in everyone's arses. It would be better to watch his back when Severus was around.

Harry was still stunned by the turn of events. He had never expected to meet Sirius and find him married to Severus Snape, his teenage nightmare. He also hadn't expected to forgive Sirius so quickly. He guessed that a part of him had been too eager to have Sirius back to care. He had cried in Sirius' arms more than once. He had thought about never speaking to him again. But what would that have solved? They had already shared their deepest fears and feelings, and talked to their hearts' content. Harry didn't want to waste any more time. Having Sirius near him again was a blessing. It was like life had given them a second – or third – chance. He wouldn't throw it away for anything in the world.

They had had so much time to catch up, yet couldn't get enough of each other's company. But after an exhausting but fun Quidditch match that day – something he hadn't done in a very long time – Sirius had questioned Harry about his relationship with Draco, and Harry hadn't known what to say. In truth, he hadn't paid too much attention to Draco ever since he had made up with Sirius. It wasn't as if he was doing it on purpose, though. Or was it?

Harry frowned as he paused outside the bedroom door. Draco's confession had been too sudden and badly-timed. Harry had had too many things to deal with in a very short period of time. He was grateful for everything Draco had done for him so far, but he needed some time to process things.

He knew that deep down he was just scared of his own feelings and afraid of facing them. It was the same old story. His confession hadn't sounded like one at all. Harry had acted clumsily as he usually did. He had never been good at that stuff. Cho and Ginny were living proof that he always screwed up his relationships.

Besides, it wasn't as if Draco had been warm to him. Lately, the blond had behaved quite coldly towards Harry. Draco's behaviour was so odd that Harry wondered if the blond had lost interest in him. The thought made Harry blue as he turned the knob.

Harry entered his room, determined to follow Sirius' advice and figure out what was going on in Draco's mind. He closed the door and walked towards his trunk to get some clean clothes. The door of the bathroom opened, and a half-naked Draco sauntered out.

The image took Harry's breath away. Draco's hair was wet and slightly messy. A few drops of water were running down his body sensually. The towel hung loosely around his waist, almost revealing what was poorly hidden. Harry's eyes couldn't focus on anything else. His heart started beating like a hammer; the lower part of his body twitched.

Draco looked at him leisurely and their eyes locked. Even though Draco was pretending not to care, Harry caught the fire in his dark grey eyes. Harry bit his lower lip and held back a moan. The devil was purposely seducing him and Harry was falling into his trap.

Draco unwrapped the towel and began to dry his hair with it. His nude body gleamed and made Harry incapable of uttering the simplest words. He just stared, praying that he wasn't drooling all over himself.

"I hope you don't mind that I used your shower. There was no hot water in mine," Draco said. Every word that came out of his mouth sounded like velvet in Harry's ears. It was almost hypnotic and definitely enticing.

"Be my guest," Harry muttered, dazzled. He hated himself for being so weak. He couldn't deny his body's needs, though. His whole being was screaming for Draco. He had missed him.

Draco dropped the towel on the floor and caught up his pants but didn't put them on right away. Instead, he turned to Harry and asked, "Did you have fun today?"

Harry didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Draco... Are you trying to seduce me?"

Draco cocked his head and smiled charmingly. "What do you mean? I'm just asking about your day."

"You're parading naked in my room."

Draco pushed his hair back and shrugged. "I was innocently taking a shower."

"And now you're innocently pretending to get changed in front of me. You're provoking my libido deliberately! I'm sure there's plenty of hot water in your bathroom. Even if that isn't so, you're a wizard. You could have fixed the problem with a flick of your wand. Not that I'm complaining. I actually... like it when you seduce me."

Draco walked towards Harry slowly and stopped only inches away. "I don't know what you're talking about. Why would I bother to seduce you? You made it very clear these past few days that you don't care about me at all. Why would I waste my time on you?"

Harry's eyes were drawn to Draco's lips. "Because you love me. You said so yourself."

"I take it back," Draco said indifferently.

"You can't take it back," Harry stated quite sure of himself. Draco felt like punching him.

"Well, spending some time alone made me rethink a few things..." Draco stared deeply in Harry's eyes before saying, "For example, as I was comparing you to Bill, I realised that..."

Those words triggered something inside Harry that made his blood boil and he abruptly pulled Draco against his body. "Say that again," Harry challenged him. "Compare me to Bill again and let's see where that will take you." Harry rubbed his lips against Draco's, but the blond turned his head away. Harry frowned. "Care to explain what's going on? You come to my room, use my shower giving me a lame excuse, and show up in front of me fully naked, obviously intending to drive me crazy. But when I come closer you start this strange game... Your body and your words are sending me mixed signals." Harry released Draco, who took a step back. "What's wrong?"

Draco crossed his arms and leaned against the nearest wall. "You've been ignoring me."

"You've been ignoring me. You've given me the cold-shoulder ever since Sirius and I..." Draco's grunt interrupted Harry and made him ask curiously, "What?"

"Sirius, Sirius, Sirius!" Draco seemed very irritated now. His cold façade was gone. "He's all you talk about!"

Harry was slightly taken aback. "Well, I..."

"You've spent every minute of every day with him," Draco went on without paying attention to Harry's frowning face. "And then when night comes, you only talk about him and how perfect he is, and blah-blah-blah! I don't want to hear about it! I can't understand why you forgave him so easily. We're talking about a guy who didn't bother to search for you and didn't even let you know he was alive! You may as well have demanded that we left this house at once when he turned up! But instead... you're playing Quidditch with him and behaving as if nothing had happened at all!"

Draco's words upset Harry. "I thought you were supporting me! I thought you wanted me to make up with him. You told me to cherish the moment, remember?"

"Yes, I remember..." Draco said bitterly.

"Then what?" Harry asked. "I don't get it."

"You're so dense, Harry. Can't you see I'm jealous?" Draco shouted, and then immediately hated himself for it.

Harry's eyes widened. So that was why Draco had been treating him so coldly. He should have known better. He shook his head and then smiled. "There's no reason for you to be jealous."

Draco scowled. "Of course there is! Didn't you feel jealous of Bill?"

"Well..." Harry looked away, annoyed. "I was. But it's different!" He glared at Draco and said, "Bill is your boyfriend. The thought of you and him together makes me angry because I keep imagining you two in bed. There's no way the same could apply to Sirius and me!"

"There are all kinds of jealousy! Do you have any idea what it feels like to have just opened up your heart to a person and then watch them treat you like nothing has changed? And worse! You ignored me to be with somebody else. I know you and Sirius have more of a father-son relationship, but it still hurts." Draco breathed deeply. "I don't want to come second in your life. I want to come first."

Harry was stunned by Draco's words. He stared at Draco for a long time, trying to find the right thing to say. "You are so... bloody selfish! You and Snape are the same. This has nothing to do with the two of you! It has nothing to do with us! This is between Sirius and me! For Merlin's sake, Draco! His death triggered every paranoia I had till now. It was traumatic. I spent all these years mourning his death, thinking it was my fault... First I lost him, then I lost Remus... You have no idea what it felt like! You had it easy back then! I had to deal with a lot of things on my own!"

"Fuck you, Harry! You weren't the only one who suffered! You weren't the only one with traumatic experiences! I had my share of those moments, too!" Draco snapped out. "But I didn't push people away. On the contrary, I realised that I needed them. I conquered my fears. I didn't give up on life like you did!"

"Congratulations, then!" Harry shouted angrily. "See? You win. You were able to pick yourself up and start again! I wasn't. You fucking win! Are you happy now?"

"NO!" Draco was breathing hard. He walked towards the bed, caught up the towel on the floor and wrapped it around his waist. Then he sat on the nearest armchair and sighed sadly, cradling his head in his hands. "This conversation isn't going the way I'd planned. I didn't mean to say those things to you... It's just... It's hard for me... To see you so happy and to think that it has nothing to do with me... It hurts to be cast aside just because he's here. I know it's selfish, but that's the way I am. I want you to love me the way I love you. I want to be your everything." The last sentence was whispered in such a low voice that Harry almost didn't hear it.

Harry walked towards Draco slowly and then knelt down in front of him, coaxing his head up. "If it weren't for you coming to my house and dragging me away from my depression, I wouldn't even be here today. You made me smile again. Thanks to you I was able to forgive Sirius in the first place. So I think you're pretty important to me. I'm sorry if I made you feel that you weren't. I was just so happy to see Sirius again. Sirius and Remus are special because they are my last link to my parents. I felt really bad after they were gone. It isn't about coming first or second. Would you stop competing all the time?"

Harry's voice was gentle and warming. It made Draco feel ashamed of himself.

"I was raised this way," Draco said softly. "I was never loved by anyone. My father was only proud of me when I did something he approved of. He loved someone he had invented in his head. He didn't love the real me! He didn't even see me most of the time." Draco paused. The silent tears falling down his cheeks broke Harry's heart. Harry leaned forward and wiped them away with tender kisses. Draco closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Harry hugged him tightly and cradled Draco's head against his shoulder.

"It's ok," Harry muttered softly. "I understand."

"I think I was jealous because seeing you and Sirius together reminded me what I never had with my father," Draco confessed in a whisper. "Among other things, like feeling totally left out..."

Harry stroked his back. "I'm sorry."

"I feel so stupid... I was the one who encouraged you to forgive him in the first place. Now I go and make a fool of myself... Jealousy is such a petty emotion. I guess..." Draco made a pause and then frowned. "You know, if you hadn't ignored me I wouldn't be feeling so bad. It's your bloody fault."

"You didn't exactly try to catch my attention. You should have come to my room naked before," Harry teased, refusing to let himself be dragged down into Draco's bad mood.

"You forgot that I'm leaving in two days. I don't know when we'll see each other again."

Harry's eyes widened. He hadn't been aware of that fact. As the thought of not seeing Draco for a while sunk in, he suddenly felt a pressure around his heart that made it hard to breathe. He was used to having Draco around. He realised, stunned, that Draco had become a big part of his life, a big part of him. He didn't want them to be apart.

"Fuck," he muttered, upset.

"It made me wonder if you'd miss me at all," Draco said, sinking deeper in the armchair.

Harry laced their fingers together and then said with a half-smile, "Strangely enough... I will miss you. We have a routine together... I got used to you."

Draco made a face. "Gee, honey! That's so romantic."

Harry chuckled softly. "Well, I was never good at this... But seriously, Draco, I'm... I don't... Dammit! I don't like the idea of being away from you. You know, I could only relax these days because I knew you were around in case I needed you. You put me at ease."

"I fear that..." Draco rose from the armchair and paced around the room. "When I'm gone, I fear that you'll realise that you don't need me as much as you thought you did. Like you said, you just got used to my company. Once I'm gone, you're going to forget about me. I'm afraid you'll realise you don't really love me. You were just going with the flow... After all, you keep repeating that you have no interest in men."

Harry stood up immediately. Draco's eyes searched his expectantly. Harry sighed and said, "I can't make you any promises."

Draco bit his lower lip hard and tried not to show just how much that line had crushed his heart.

"Look, I don't know what's going to happen. I don't have all the answers," Harry went on. "But what I do know, right now, is that I... I do love you. You're right when you say I'm not interested in men. I'm only interested in you." Harry's voice trembled. Draco felt himself shaking as well. "And I hope that this feeling lasts forever. I want you to wait for me, and I want to come back to you a better person. You deserve someone to love you unconditionally. I want to be this person. I hope to be this person."

Draco looked down, his eyes full of tears. He stood up and walked towards Harry slowly and then kissed him on the lips very softly. "Be this person for me, Harry. Be the one to love me unconditionally," Draco whispered against his mouth. "Love me with your eyes, with your body, with your words..." He placed soft kisses on Harry's cheeks, then the tip of his nose and finally his lips again. "Love me with your mouth... your actions... your touch... Love me with your whole being tonight."

Harry needn't be asked twice. His mouth captured Draco's hungrily and demandingly. His fingertips stroked Draco's face delicately, and then slipped down his neck and chest, stopping midway to play with a pink nipple.

Draco felt shivers down his spine. He let out a soft moan when Harry ran his tongue along his jawline and then nipped it with his teeth. His towel was unwrapped and dropped on the floor. Then he let himself be carried towards the bed where they lay side by side.

"Teach me how to make you feel good," Harry whispered after a deep kiss.

Draco smiled and kissed him. Then he began to undress Harry. He was just about to caress Harry more intimately when the brunet pushed him away and jumped out of bed. Draco had never wanted to choke someone so badly as in that moment. He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Sorry..." Harry said apologetically. "I just realised that I'm all sweaty. I just came from a Quidditch match and... Well... you know... You smell so good, and... I stink. I need a shower first. I'm really sorry. You have no idea how difficult it is for me to stop now..."

Draco chuckled softly as he spotted Harry's hard-on and acknowledged Harry was telling the truth. "I don't mind," Draco said.

"But I do."

Draco got out of bed and stood in front of Harry. "Then let me join you."

"Ok," Harry said with a throaty voice full of desire.

They went to the bathroom and stopped face to face. It was Draco's turn to feel breathless as he watched Harry getting undressed in front of him. Harry's body had recovered rather quickly. Draco felt a little jealous of the sexy slender figure that matched his own. Harry smirked at him, almost as if he had read Draco's thoughts.

If Draco was expecting the same shy Harry from before, he was stunned to find barely any traces of him in Harry anymore. He found a dashing Harry waiting for him, one that didn't mind touching him all over and experiencing new things.

The joined bath lasted a lot longer than they had presumed, and by the time they went to bed there was little left to the imagination. Sleep caught up to them rather quickly, but their hearts – and bodies – were very satisfied. Draco's lips spread wide open as Harry cuddled him and snored very softly. Their love making had put his mind at ease for the time being. A part of him still felt worried about staying apart for an undetermined period of time, but he wanted to believe in them. He had to believe that Harry would come back to him.

"I love you," Draco muttered as he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Severus woke up that Saturday morning as he usually did: in a very bad mood. He had never been a morning person. Sirius, on the other hand, always seemed to be energetic and grinned like the stupid prick he was. Severus grunted as he felt Sirius' arm hook his waist and bring them closer. The heat of Sirius' chest against his back elicited the familiar desire in Severus. He screwed his eyes tightly as if that alone would be enough to make his needs go away. As usual, it was in vain. The moment Sirius' fingers tickled his belly very softly and then travelled down to touch him, Severus knew he was ready to surrender whether he wanted to or not.

It was always a lost battle to resist Sirius' touch. He felt a kiss on his shoulder, and suppressed a moan. It wasn't so hard now to make Severus lose control of his rigid self-control, but no matter how many times they had played that game, he could still find strength to struggle, even if just for a few minutes. Sirius considered his resistance part of the fun.

Severus allowed himself to be touched and kissed. He wanted to possess all of Sirius; he wanted to own his lover's soul. But that wasn't possible – not unless he used a very powerful spell. He had to tolerate the fact that Sirius didn't belong to him alone, and pray that the brat got better soon so he could have Sirius all to himself again.

At least Draco had played his part well the other night. He and the brat had locked themselves in Harry's room and hadn't even come down for dinner. Severus let out a moan as a cold tongue met his nipples, and then his lips. All thoughts of Harry and everything else were gone the moment Sirius' tongue slid within his open mouth.

And then from a place very far away he heard an excited shouting from somewhere outside his house. He tried to ignore it and concentrate on Sirius' attentions, but soon enough he heard clean and beautiful laughter cut through the air. Severus cursed aloud as Sirius stopped what he was doing to pay attention to the fuss outside.

"You're crazy!" they heard Draco exclaiming. "You'll catch a cold, you idiot! Come inside!" Although Draco's words seemed to show concern for Harry, his tone was of someone highly amused with something.

Curiosity having gotten the best of them, Sirius and Severus jumped out of bed simultaneously to see what was going on. As they reached the window and stared down to the front of the house, they frowned at the same time. But while Severus gasped quite loudly and scowled in disapproval, Sirius laughed his heart out.

The scene that seemed to cause such contradictory feelings on Severus was of a naked Harry jogging around, grinning like an idiot and inviting his godson to join him in his madness. Severus was deeply disturbed by it.

"He really is a mental case!" Severus exclaimed. He wanted to laugh like Sirius, but he was too shocked to do so. "For Merlin's sake! He's lost it for good this time! Why is he doing this? And why is Draco smiling like a Hufflepuff instead of stopping this foolishness!"

As if Harry had heard his question, Harry said to Draco, "This is only the way to pay for our bet. This isn't my house, but it'll have to do. At least for now."

Severus raised an eyebrow. He wondered what that bet was about.

"But it's frigging cold! I don't want you to die of pneumonia just because of a stupid bet!" Draco complained.

"Oh, come on!' Harry's smile was so sweet that it touched even Severus' heart. "Don't tell me you don't find this entertaining? I know you. You're enjoying this!"

Draco shrugged his shoulders but he wasn't able to conceal a smile. "Just come up here. I'll rather enjoy you naked in bed with me."

Severus made a face. "I really wish I hadn't heard that. They are both fools…"

Sirius looked at Severus with a grin and said, "Fools, yes. But oh, so much in love!" he smirked. "We should join them and run naked in the cold! We'll freeze our arses, but then we can keep each other warm by the fireplace and…"

Severus rolled his eyes. "Don't be an idiot."

"I'm not an idiot, I'm just romantic," Sirius whispered very close to his ear. Severus shivered, the familiar desire overtaking him. "Come on, Sev. Just let yourself go." Sirius kissed his cheek, and then turned his head to the side to kiss him. "Allow me to be romantic, even if foolish, but love you with all of myself."

"Do I really have to listen to this cheap pickup line?" Severus asked with a frown. Deep down his heart was melting all over.

Sirius smiled mischievously, knowing Severus' mood well enough now to disregard his sarcastic comments as a defence mechanism to protect his heart. He just stared at his grumpy lover for a long time, and then dragged him to bed with him. In spite of his protests, Severus gave in to his caresses. Their relationship was far from being perfect, and they were still angry at each other, but that was how things had always worked between them. They couldn't help hurting each other. They couldn't help loving each other.

A lifetime would probably not be enough to solve their issues, but they were working things out day by day. That was enough for Sirius and Severus. As long as they were together, everything else came in second.

While Sirius loved Severus, downstairs a pair of lovers found comfort in each other's arms as well. If Sirius and Severus had watched them just for a little while, they would have witnessed a very touching scene. Draco was wrapping Harry's body in a big black coat and placing a red scarf around his neck, while Harry surprised him with a sweet stolen kiss.

TBC...

A/N: Aww! Come on, that was sweet, wasn't it? And it didn't end in a cliffhanger. I truly enjoyed writing this chapter. Now, the bad news is that I'll have to postpone LMLMN for a little while, because I'm working on Take Me Home again. Please, forgive me. I'll come back to it as soon as possible. And please, review!

By the way, I'm in need of beta readers. My dear friends have been quite busy lately to help me out. Real life is a pain... But I'm happy that their lives are doing great. So, if you kick ass at English grammar, please send me an e-mail.