Chapter 3: Last Opportunities

Harry sat miserably in the last potions class of the school year; his final had just been completed. He knew beyond a doubt that somehow he had fallen for Severus Snape and the worse part was that Severus would never think of him as anything but a student, an annoyance. Harry sighed as he looked at Severus, they had barely spoken since the beginning of the school year when Harry had killed Tom and had tried to seduce each other; Harry decided that Severus had tried to seduce him for some reason, and he had tried to seduce Severus because he wanted to have a relationship that was more important then what they presently had.

A little while later, Severus called time. Any incomplete works were to be turned in to see if they were at least on track. Then after collecting all of the finals, Severus dismissed them. "Mr. Potter, a word with you before you scurry off with your friends for a few hours before the leaving feast."

"Of course, Professor," Harry replied; as he always did, politely. After everyone was gone, Harry walked over to Severus and waited patiently for acknowledgement.

"Harry," Severus began, "it's been a complete school year and yet we haven't talked about what happened that… occasion." Severus nodded to the student who had run in to grab one of their books off of their desk. "We really should talk about it."

"Of course, Professor, when would you like to have this meeting?" Harry inquired, "After the train leaves, perhaps?"

Severus nodded. That was right; Harry was staying at Hogwarts again…unless he was invited to spend the holiday with friends and their families. Or with someone who loved him, a voice whispered in his mind, you could give him a summer never to forget. "Yes, Harry, after the train leaves is a good idea. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon then?"

"Of course, Professor."

Harry frowned as he walked into the Great Hall. He knew that the feast wasn't until later but usually there were some students talking and playing chess with friends from other houses gathered. The room was empty. Harry sat down and sighed. Tomorrow he would have to tell Severus that he was in love with him, that he wanted Severus every hour of the day. Tell him that he wanted to be loved for any reason other than being the bloody Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry flinched when a hand rested on his shoulder. He looked up to see Hermione and Draco beside him. He smiled, but they both knew why he was upset. Draco kissed Hermione's cheek and whispered in her ear. She nodded and left. "Harry, who is it that you've been beating yourself over, hum?"

Harry cringed; knowing the shock and hatred that would attack him if he told Draco. "No, I'm fine, really."

"Tell me…"Draco asked softly, "who is it that has hurt you?"

Harry sighed, a tear escaping his eye. "You would kill me if I told you so it's better just to keep my mouth shut."

"I wouldn't hurt you, and I only ask because I know almost everyone in this school… I might be able to help."

Harry smiled; a test, then. "Do you know the teachers as well?"

Draco smiled; "Mostly, who have you fallen for?"

Harry shrugged and sighed. "Severus," he whispered quietly. Draco almost thought that his name was just an additional sigh but then he realized it. Harry loved Severus.

"What's the problem then, huh, Harry? I mean, he's only loved you this entire year. Would it kill you to tell him how you feel so you can get into a real relationship with him?"

Harry smirked. "That's all well and good, Drake; but he's a teacher and I'll be going into seventh year. See a problem?"

Draco sighed. "No, not really… This is the Wizarding World, Harry; teachers and students can be together if they talk to the headmaster about it. With permission it doesn't matter. But you would have to get Severus to understand that you want him, Harry. He's been watching and waiting for you to get a new boy- or girl- friend. So he'd know that you didn't want him.

"Harry you haven't helped Severus any by avoiding him, it made him think you hated him. Severus wanted to love you but now thinks you hate him, like you've always have, and would rather he rot in hell…Or something. Harry, if you want him you'll have to work to get him. Why don't you take the first step and talk to the headmaster yourself. That way, if and when you get Severus to agree to work a relationship out during the summer, you can tell him what Albus said. . . Hopefully, he says you have his blessings but…anyway, it's worth a shot."

Harry smiled. If Draco was right which was most likely, being that they were talking about their Head of House then Harry had nothing to worry about. Severus felt the same as he did. After the leaving feast, Harry left in search of Albus. He found Albus alone in his office. Perfect. "Professor Dumbledore?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something; do you have a few minuets?"

"Sure, Harry, come and sit down." Harry did as told and looked at Albus.

"I wanted to ask you if you'd consent to a teacher/student relationship."

"Perhaps, Harry, with whom?"

"Severus Snape, sir. He doesn't know I'm asking. I know that we fell for each other but we need to talk about it… but a friend told me that it would help to ask you first."

"I normally don't agree with teacher/student relationships, Harry; but I know about you and Severus and you have my blessing. Talk to him straight away tomorrow."

"We decided to have a meeting after the train leaves, so right after noon."

"Good, now go and get some rest. You're going to have a busy day tomorrow."

"Alright, Professor, and thank you," Harry left smiling. God he couldn't wait to talk to Severus… couldn't wait to hug and kiss him. He fell asleep later on happily dreaming about Severus.

The next morning was gloomy and cold, but Harry couldn't be in a better mood. Harry helped Draco get his things together and then walked with him to the platform, where he usually waited for his father's carriage. Today, though, he simply set his things down with everyone else's and smiled as Hermione and Ron walked down with their things.

Surprisingly, Ron had been happy for Hermione when she had told him that she was dating Draco. What's more was that he was thrilled when he had learned that Draco and Hermione were going to be married. Even with all the happiness he radiated, Ron was still sad. All of his friends knew what was wrong too; he was lonely. Most of his friends were either in a serious relationship or else engaged.

Draco smiled at Hermione and kissed her cheek when she and Ron came over. Ron smiled and said, "Hello, Draco, Harry."

Harry smiled at Ron. "Ron, can we talk for a minuet?"

"Sure, Harry, what's up?" Ron asked as they walked away from their friends.

"Do you have any crushes?"

"Trying to play matchmaker again, huh? Only one, but it doesn't matter."

Harry smiled. "Is it me, Hermione, or Draco?"

"No," Ron screeched, "of course not."

"Oh good," Harry paused, "hay, Drake, come here for a minuet." Draco walked over and smiled. "So, Ron, who is it? We can help."

Ron frowned. "Blaise…" his voice faded off. Harry and Draco shared a look and smiled. Blaise had the hots for Ron, too.

"Hey, Blaise, come here a moment," Draco called. Blaise walked over, shoulders hunched in defeat. "Do us all a favour and ask what you want to ask," Draco whispered into Blaise's ear.

He looked up at Ron and shivered. "Uh, Ron…" Blaise froze, panicked, "would you like to…" he paused and Ron just blinked, "to go out to dinner…" Blaise took in an unstable breath, "with me over the summer?" Blaise turned around quickly and tried to make a retreat. Harry and Draco stopped him, though, with a flick of their wands.

Ron gasped, shocked. Blaise had just asked him out of a date. Ron smiled and looked at Blaise trapped in magical bonds. "I would love to Blaise; owl me for a more definite plan."

Blaise blinked. "Really, you want to go out on a date with me?"

Ron smiled and nodded. He walked over to his things and started to load them up. Blaise raced off to his family's carriage and hopped aboard. Draco and Harry rejoined Hermione with twin grins. "So, Draco, where are you headed on the train, huh? Wouldn't your dad send the carriage to take you to the Hall?"

Draco and Hermione smiled. "He's coming to my house to meet my family and to formally ask them for my hand…" Hermione laughed, "Its all rather fun, then I'll travel with him to see our future home."

Harry grinned. "Wouldn't your dad give you the Manor when you two start a family?"

"Yeah, but that won't be anytime soon…at least I hope not." Hermione smiled.

"I don't plan on kids anytime soon, love, so don't even think about it." Draco smirked and then they boarded the train. Harry smiled. They were good together. Harry hugged his friends goodbye and waved as the train left and then started back up to the castle to talk to Severus.

Severus was sitting in his private rooms, next to the black fire—for light not warmth, thinking and waiting. Harry knocked on the door and opened it slightly. "Professor Snape," his voice inquired the same why he had been talking all year.

"Come in, Mr. Potter, have a seat." Harry walked over to the other seat next to the fire and sat down, trying not to be nervous. "It has been quite along time since we had any type of normal conversation, being that our last conversation we had was awkward. Which we do need to talk about…"

Harry took in a breath and smiled softly. It was a smile that Severus hadn't seen, directed at him, since the day before school started. "Severus," Harry's voice warmed and caressed the name, "you know why we haven't had normal conversations, you know why our last one was awkward and you know that things will only get better if we stop with all the courteous formalities."

Severus shivered at the way Harry had said his name. Severus knew that though he had tried he was still in love with his student, and that his student still hated him; though his voice suggested otherwise. "Harry, we stepped onto dangerous grounds last time; we…" Severus stopped knowing that he wanted to be on those grounds again. Albus would never let him.

"Severus, tell me how you feel about me. I need to know because half the time you treat me like when I was a Gryffindor and the other times you treat me like a secret indulgence… What do you want? Do you want me to disappear, or to be with me? Tell me honestly."

Severus knew the answer instantly, but he was afraid to say it. Dumbledore would never allow him and Harry to be together once school started again and Severus knew he wanted a very long-term relationship. Severus sighed. "I want to be with you."

Harry smiled. "I'm glad you can admit it because I want to be with you. We'll have the summer to work it out…" Harry paused, "unless you're going to your Manor this summer…"

"If we're going to be working something out you could always join me…" Severus added without thinking.

"Then by the time school starts everything will be fine and arranged."

"Only it won't be," Severus said bitterly.

"Of course it will… it shouldn't take us more than a few months to get our relationship working."

"That's not what I meant, Harry," Severus corrected, his voice soft in defeat, "Albus will never approve so we won't be able to have a relationship as long as you're in school."

Harry smiled. "Unless, of course, I asked him… I personally think everyone's afraid of me now and will agree to things just to keep me happy."

Severus frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The headmaster has already given us his blessings, I asked him for them after the leaving feast. He agreed with all haste actually."

Severus froze. "You asked him for his blessing before we could even talk! Are you suggesting that there wasn't even the smallest bit of doubt that I would tell you to jump off of a bridge?"

"No, I had my doubts, but someone who knows you rather well said you'd want me so I guessed that since even I knew he knew you so well he was probably telling me the truth; I took a risk."

Severus thought a moment and then smirked. "I'll kill Draco."

"Now, now; if it weren't for Draco I'd be sitting here going," Harry paused making his voice go back to monotone, "Of course, Professor Snape."

Severus smiled. "Fine, I'll just give him a detention for betraying a confidence. He was forbidden to tell you how I feel; I thought you hated me as you did when you were a Gryffindor. I treated you like a Gryffindor, you treated me like when you were a Gryffindor, and it's slightly ironic."

Harry chuckled and stood. "Well, if you're returning to your Manor then I had best get my things packed."

Severus nodded and smiled. "We'll leave in the morning."