DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of it, JK Rowling and associates own all rights, no infringement intended, no money is being made, unfortunately.

WARNING; HP/SS Slash if you do not like do not read remember you have freedom of choice. Reviews appreciated but no flames, as I will trash them.

Chapter 7

Remus paused on his way into the main entrance to watch Snape and Harry as they walked up the road from the Apparation point. He had thought long and hard about the conversation with Harry, well he amended wryly, the lecture from Harry and he was forced to concede that it was Harry's choice. All he could do for him was to stand by to pick up the pieces if Snape broke his heart. He had come to care for Harry for his own sake and not the fact that he was James and Lily's son. He also knew that Harry was as stubborn as Lily and was quite capable of never talking to him again. Moreover, if that happened he was pretty sure that Lily would find some way of getting even with him despite being dead.

When the couple halted next to him, Remus took a deep breath, "Harry, Severus, I would like to talk to you both if that is okay? Would you join me for a drink?"

Harry looked surprised but after a quick look at Sev nodded and gestured to Remus to lead the way. After they were settled comfortably with drinks in Remus's room a silence fell.

Remus took a deep breath and spoke looking from Harry to Severus, "I thought about what you said Harry and you are right. You are an adult and while Snape is not my choice for you," he held up his hand to stop Harry who was raising to his feet an angry look on his face, "please let me finish." He waited while Harry sank back into his seat next to Snape a look of stubbornness on his face that reminded him of Lily.

"I am not saying that to offend either you or Snape, no parent wants there child to settle for less then the best. I have always considered you a member of my pack and want your life to be rich with the important things in life a home, family, friends, and someone to love. There is a lot of history between Snape and me but I never intended for it to touch you. I will try to keep my opinions to myself and I will not interfere in your lives."

Remus looked at Snape who was watching him with an assessing look on his face, "I am sorry for what I said to you. It is obvious to me that Harry cares deeply for you and I hope that you care as much for him. I would like to put the past behind us since we both care for Harry and I do not want to put him in the middle." At Snape's nod, he turned back to Harry who was watching him with a fond smile on his face. "I do want to be a part of your life. I just do not want you to be hurt and I realize that I cannot prevent that. All I can do is hope that you know what you are doing and be there to pick up the pieces if things go wrong. I can't promise that Snape and I will become friends but we will learn to tolerate each other."

Harry grinned, "I am not asking for you guys to declare your undying love for each other because ugh that's not a good mental picture. I just want you to accept that I know what I want and what I need. I am happy you know; Severus is what I have been waiting for my entire life. So no more match making okay?"

"No more match making."

"Not that you were any good at it anyway, I mean you picked Devons, how could you possibly think I would be interested in him. He is just so, so blond, not only that, he was more interested in Sev then he was in me. Which by the way I nipped in the bud, at least I hope I did because I would hate to have to hurt him."

Severus snorted, "Devons is not interested in me; last thing I heard was that he went out with Draco." Severus noted that Remus seemed a little perturbed at that and filed the information away for later.

"Whatever, as long as everyone knows that your mine and I don't share. So is anyone hungry." At the nods, he summoned a house elf and ordered supper. He could not believe that the day had gone so well. Now he just had to work on Ron and the twins and of course keep Snape from harassing Albus and Draco. Life was good.

Later that week midway through dinner, the robes of all the instructors turned black, not only black but exact copies of Snape's own old-fashioned style of robes. The hall burst into laughter as Draco rose to his feet yelling at the top of his lungs. "Severus Snape how dare you. That was one of my favourite robes; you have no sense of style at all. I don't even look good in black." Turning on his heels, with a brief swirl of his robes he stalked from the room.

Albus leaned over to McGonagall and said in a loud whisper, "Severus does that so much better, perhaps he should offer classes."

Harry turned to Severus who was calmly eating his dinner as if nothing had happened, shaking his finger at him he said loudly "Bad Severus! You must learn to play nicely."

Severus just smirked and glancing around the laughing tables said, "Was something the matter? I am trying to eat here you know, I have several things planned for this evening."

Remus just laughed, "Harry don't provoke him it could have been worse."

"How?"

"He could have had us dressed like Lockhart."

The entire table groaned at that and agreed it most definitely could be worse. Albus looked over at Snape and Harry, "Severus could I see you in two hours in my office. I have some requests from the ministry that I wish to go over with you."

"I have a makeup test to give then I have a detention scheduled. I need someone to cover my detention." Severus looked at Remus with a raised eyebrow.

Remus nodded, "I will be glad to cover for you; I will come to your classroom in about 1 ½ hours."

"That will work fine that will give me time to set up the detention before I head to Albus's office." Severus said ignoring Harry's look of surprise.

"I don't mind covering for you Sev you know that," Harry said a little surprised but pleased that the two were working together.

"Harry there is no way that I would leave you unsupervised in my potions classroom." Severus commented with a smirk as the table burst into laughter at Harry's blush. Not to mention he thought silently the student in detention is Perkinson and I do not think it would be a good idea to have the two of you alone anytime soon.

Later that evening Harry was wandering back to the potions classroom figuring that he would go and bug Remus while he was supervising the detention. A student ran up to him, "Professor, can I talk to you in private, its important!" Harry nodded and gestured to a nearby classroom. Entering he took a seat and waved the student across from him. "How can I help you? You're in Ravenclaw wouldn't you prefer to talk to professor Flitwick?"

"No sir, the thing is I have a friend who is not thinking real clearly right now. I don't know how to stop him from making a stupid mistake, a possibly fatal stupid mistake."

Okay this could be bad Harry thought; where is Remus when I need him. He is the one with the wise advice. "What is your friend trying to do?"

"The stupid git is love with someone who is in love with someone else. He has decided that the best action is a love Potion." At the look of shock on Harry's face he nodded, "I know not the brightest of plans but he would not be talked out of it. I know that he purchased it already and plans to use it sometime in the next few days"

Harry spoke grimly, "You know that it is grounds for expulsion using dark potions against another student. Mark my words a love potion definitely qualifies as a dark potion when given to another against their will. If the other parties' family wishes, they can be charged and sent to Azkaban. The only good thing is that most of the love potions on the market are not really love potions at all they are lust potions, their strength varies depending on who brews them. Tell me the students name and I will talk to them or better yet have Professor Lupin talk to them. Maybe we can stop this before it goes too far."

"Sir I will tell you his name if you promise not to do anything drastic to him. He can't help the way he is acting." David Pelfory was not sure if this was the best idea he ever had, but he had to stop what was happening.

Harry was beginning to get a bad feeling about this, "Trying to get someone by using a love potion is not about love it is about control. Who is the student and who is he trying to trap?" If it was whom he thought then heads were going to roll.

Pelfory took a breath and not meeting Harry's eyes, "Only if you promise that you won't kill him."

Harry gritted his teeth all but sure now but trying to stay calm; he understood what it was costing the young man to come to him. "I promise not to kill him. Who is it?"

"Daniel Perkinson, he received the potion by owl at dinner." Pelfory watched, as the professors' face got red he could almost see the smoke coming from his ears, when Harry rose to his feet and headed for the door he hurried to catch up. "Sir..."

Harry did not even pause, "If you find Perkinson before I do send him to the headmasters office. You don't need to tell him why, I am going to see professor Snape."

Pelfory watched as Professor Potter stormed off down the hall, "Perkinson you are more trouble then you're worth."

Daniel Perkinson walked into the potions classroom and not seeing Snape looked around the room. Perfect he thought as he spied the pot of tea gently steaming on the desk. With another quick look around, he hurried over and tipped the vial into the pot, things could not be going more perfect. He had just received the potion at dinner and here he was able to deliver it with no problem, in an hour the whole world would know that Snape had chosen him over Harry Potter. Life was good. He hurried over to his desk and sat down, in a few minutes Snape hurried in.

"Perkinson I want you to organize the potions cupboard and re-label any bottle that needs it. Stay quiet and stay out of the way." Snape sat at his desk and began pouring himself a cup of tea. He watched as the boy swaggered to the cabinet to begin work. He would have to do something about that before Harry did he thought. He looked up as the door opened and Lupin came into the room.

"I thought I would go ahead and come bye since I finished earlier then I thought. I can take over now if you have things to do before the meeting."

Snape nodded and stood, "I appreciate that, the student is reorganizing the potions cupboard when he finishes he can leave. The tea is fresh I just ordered it have not had time to drink any yet. Help yourself!"

"Thanks I think I will." Remus moved to desk and set down his paperwork, "I have a bunch of test to grade and could definitely use a cup. Draco said he was coming by shortly to brew a potion he needed."

"That will be fine why don't the two of you come by later tonight for drinks", thinking that this was the perfect opportunity to see how the reacted together.

Perkinson was frozen in horror as he heard the conversation going on outside the cupboard. What in the hell was he supposed to do now? Oh man, he was so dead.

Harry was heading for the potions classroom when he saw Severus coming towards him. Hurrying over he grabbed his arm, "Sev have you eaten or drank anything since dinner?"

"What are you babbling about Harry?"

"Answer me, it's vitally important that I know if you have eaten or drank anything since dinner." Harry was almost shaking him desperate for an answer.

"No I have not. What is going on, why are you upset, has something happened?" Snape ran a reassuring hand up and down Harry's arm. Something had obviously had him worked up.

Taking a deep grateful breath Harry calmed down, "I will tell you in the headmasters office. I only want to say it once. Let's go!"

Tbc