Author's Note: This one is not in order. This is only November after they met.

Quidditch:

Harry sat alone in the Three Broomsticks under his invisibility cloak. Which he was fully aware was a very odd thing to do. But he needed to get out of his flat.

Lately, Harry was torn between happiness and sorrow, wanting to be alone and feeling lonely. So much had happened, so many people had been lost. Yet, the world was free forever from Lord Voldemort.

In public, he still spent so much of his time being asked about the search for horcruxes. It had been a horrible time of living with constant anxiety and dread, feeling helpless and useless at times. There were only a handful of people he felt like he could tolerate for any extended lengths of time. Even going to the Burrow had become difficult. George had moved back in and the usually bustling home was ear shatteringly quiet with the absence of Fred.

He only could endure being around Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Hagrid. However, he knew he could not be with them every minute of the day. Hermione, Ginny, and Hagrid were at Hogwarts. Harry and Ron would spend the most time together, but even so, Ron had obligations to his family, and now to Hermione in ways that did not involve Harry.

Harry often craved quiet and solitude, but the moment he was alone his brain swam with painful memories.

So, he had taken to stealing away in his father's old invisibility cloak. He would often find himself in cafes and pubs, observing others go about their lives. Harry could be completely undisrupted, yet feel like he was not isolated.

Today, Harry found himself in the Three Broomsticks. It was an off time, only a quarter of the place was filled. There was a quidditch match today. Ginny would be playing chaser. Quidditch was a welcome distraction. Harry planned to take refuge in the pub until it was time to go up to the school.

The front door opened, letting in some of the crisp November air.

Harry recognized the newcomer right away as Rose Rosamond, the healer and Professor Snape's…Harry did not even know what to make of that.

She was wearing a deep green cloak over muggle clothing, jeans, boots, and a jumper. Her long dark hair was braided off to one side and draped over one shoulder, little fly away locks of hair hung around the sides of her face and her cheeks were made pink by the cool air. She was very pretty.

Rose looked around the room. When she did not find who or what she was looking for, she moved towards where Harry was sitting. Harry prepared himself to jump up to avoid accidently being sat on. But Rose pick the table beside where Harry was, seemingly away from all the other patrons.

Madame Rosmerta, the curvy landlady of the Three Broomsticks quickly came over to Rose and she ordered two butterbeers.

Harry watched Rose curiously. She removed her cloak and draped it over the back of the chair. She smoothed her hair a few times and she kept looking towards the door. Then her face lit up.

Harry whipped his head around to see Professor Snape enter.

"Severus," Rose called, unnecessarily, for the Three Broomsticks was so empty.

Snape's body seemed to stiffen as attention was drawn towards him. A few people turned in their seats.

Rose seem oblivious of this. She stood and moved in front of the table. Snape moved swiftly towards her. They stood right in front of Harry. It would be impossible for his to get up without being notice.

The pair stood inches apart. Snape was staring down at her with a look of obvious hunger in his eyes that made Harry's stomach churn. The healer looked right back up at Snape, smiling, slightly breathless. They did not embrace hands but allowed their fingers to brush up against each other's. They both had the unmistakable air of two people restraining themselves.

"Aren't you going to kiss me," Rose whispered to him.

Snape's gaze flicked off to the side. Madame Rosmerta was eyeing them from behind the bar.

"Later," he breathed.

Harry felt relieved.

They both sat.

Harry thought if he was extremely careful, he could get up without being noticed. Yet part of him was strangely curious about what was about to unfold. Harry stood slowly, deciding that eavesdropping on Snape was a dangerous business and he was not curious enough to risk it. Besides, Professor Snape had sacrificed so much to help Harry, at the very least Harry own Snape his privacy.

But just as Harry was about to walk off, Snape adjusted his chair a few inches to the left, bringing himself slightly closer to the healer. In doing so, he set the leg of his chair on the hem of the invisibility cloak. Harry was stuck.

"I ordered you a butterbeer," Rose told him.

"Thank you," Snape replied silkily.

"You like butterbeer, right?" Rose asked.

"Yes," he said.

She smiled at him and he gave her a tight-lipped smile back.

"I'm excited to actually be going out on a date," Rose said.

Snape rolled his eyes at her. "Out of all the places we could have gone, you picked an activity that requires us to be where we always are."

"Well I have no resentment about the time we've spent at the school," Rose remarked in such a suggestive way that made Harry's face get extremely hot.

Snape pressed his lips together, amusement playing behind his black eyes.

Harry did not want to imagine how the potions professor and healer were planning to spend their evening.

"I've just never seen a quidditch match before," Rose defended.

Harry let out a sigh of relief and then quickly held his fist to his mouth. Luckily, no one seemed to hear him.

"You are instore for an evening of screaming children," Professor Snape told her roughly.

"At my school," Rose continued as if Snape had not said anything, "we had Quodpot teams. But everyone I've spoken to who is familiar with both games say that Quidditch is definitely the more exciting of the two."

"Since you are set on going," Snape said. "I have something for you." He reached into his cloak and pulled out a faded green and silver scarf. He handed it to her.

She held it in her hands gingerly and then smiled up at him. "Was this yours when you were a student?"

"It was," he replied.

She grinned broader and put the scarf on around her neck.

"It looks good on you," Snape told her.

"What if I was planning on rooting for Gryffindor," she teased.

"You certainly will not," Snape played along. "I expect Slytherin to have your full support."

Two butterbeers flew forth and gently settled on the table in front of them.

"I suppose I should support Ephraim's house," she said.

Harry did not know who Rose was referring to.

Then unexpectedly, Snape flicked at the top of his mug of butterbeer, so that a bit of foam flew across the table at Rose. "Excuse me," he told her.

"Hey," she laughed.

"You will be supporting Slytherin because of me." He was giving her an amused smile.

Harry could hardly believe that this side of Snape existed. Was Snape this way with Harry's mother, facetious, fun?

"Oh right," Rose said mockingly, wiping the butterbeer from her sweater, "you."

There was an obvious easiness about how they spoke to each other. Harry had heard the rumors that Snape had slipped this woman a love potion. Harry knew this couldn't be the case. He had seen the workings of a love potion in full effect on Ron when he had accidently eaten some laced chocolate cauldrons from Romilda Vane to Harry. To Harry's knowledge, Rose had never demonstrated any of the obsessive, disoriented symptoms Ron had. Then of course, there was the matter of the deluminator.

Yet, Harry could not pinpoint why this woman would be interested in Severus Snape. But, as Harry was forced to sit beside the couple, he was beginning to see more to Snape. Harry knew there had to be something there if his mother had been best friends with him; but until this point, Harry was never able to imagine what that something could be.

Was this woman in love with Snape? Harry wondered. Was he in love with her? And where did Lily fit into all of this. Had Snape finally let go of Harry's mother? Harry did not know if he thought that was a good or bad thing.

"What?" Snape said to Rose. Something had clearly occurred to her, she looked off to the side thoughtfully.

"Nothing," she said quickly.

"I can tell you have something on your mind," Snape said. "Will you share?" he wondered sardonically.

"It's nothing important," Rose said. "It's silly."

"Rose, yesterday you told me everything you had to eat for lunch," Snape retorted.

Rose laughed. "I just was thinking that today at the match, we are going to be around many people you know. I was wondering how you would introduce me."

Snape looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "I was thinking by your name," he teased.

"You know that's not what I mean," she returned.

"I know," Snape said completely unhelpfully. He seemed to be enjoying himself.

"I wondered if you would tell people that I'm your girlfriend," Rose said, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

"That's how you introduced yourself to Ephraim," Snape told her.

"I remember," Rose said. "But I can't imagine you saying it. Besides, if I'm your girlfriend then that would make you my boyfriend which seems a bit juvenile for you."

Snape smirked at her. "because I'm old."

"That's not what I'm saying," Rose said with exasperation. "I'm not explaining myself well."

"I thoroughly enjoy watching you try," Snape said. "You seem to have put a great deal of thought into this."

"I don't know," Rose said. "I just don't know how you plan to express to others what I am to you."

Snape leaned across the table to her. "You know what you are to me," he said silkily.

Harry suddenly tried his best to become very interested in a crack in the table, but it was no use.

Snape reached out and played with the end of Rose's braid between his thumb and forefinger. "We needn't worry about explaining ourselves to other people," Snape said in a low hiss. "They couldn't possibly understand it."

Harry thought that is was a bit arrogant of Snape to imply that what he had with the healer was beyond anyone else's comprehension. However, by the steadfast look in Rose Rosamond's eyes, she seemed to believe it to be as true as Snape did.

Snape and Rose continued in conversation. They were undeniably compatible. Their hands rested on the table, their fingertips barely touching.

"I tried what you said," Rose told him, "I added a few extra bay leaves to my febrile tonic."

"And?" Snape said with raised brows.

Rose rolled her eyes. "And, the patient's fever dropped in half the time."

Snape looked smugly at her.

"You better stop being so good," Rose teased. "Or I'm just going to get lazy and have you come make all my potions for me."

They talked about shared books they had read, discussing things that Harry could not follow. Rose was clearly intelligent and very able to keep up with Snape.

"Should we go soon?" Rose asked him, looking at her watch.

Snape groaned. "a few minutes more," he said. He turned his head from side to side and then brought his hand to his neck.

The healer's face became very serious. "Is your neck bothering you again?"

Snape dropped his hand and grimaced. "It's fine," he assured her.

Rose narrowed her eyes at him.

He narrowed his eyes right back. "You know that I don't like you fussing over me," he told her firmly.

"I'm aware," Rose said seriously. "Have you been rubbing the cream I made you onto the scars?"

Snape scowled.

"Severus?"

"My neck is just stiff from looking down over parchment," he explained. "I was grading essays for hours today."

Rose didn't look convinced. "I know you like to pretend that your injuries never happen, but-"

"Well I don't like dwelling on them," Snape shot back. "That time was demeaning."

Rose considered him for a moment. "My concern for you is not that of a healer," she began, "but that of a woman in love with you."

That answered Harry's question. The ease and casualness in which Rose said this told Harry that this was a well-established fact.

Snape could not argue with her now. He was biting his tongue.

"We will stop by your rooms on our way to the match and you will allow me to put cream on your neck," Rose said firmly.

Harry tried to block out the imagery that suddenly began to press against his brain.

Snape was looking very irritable now.

"I love you, Severus," Rose whispered to him. "It bothers me to know that you're in pain."

Snape's softened slightly and he sighed. "I love you too."

"Shall we go?"

Snape nodded and placed a few coins on the table to pay for the drinks.

Harry held tight to the invisibility cloak as Snape stood. Harry did not want the hem trapped under the leg of Snape's chair to pull the cloak from him. He had heard far too much.

Rose got up too and fastened her green cloak around her neck, the Slytherin scarf matching perfectly.

Simultaneously, they reached for each other's hands and walked from the Three Broomsticks together.

Harry would give them a head start. He did not want to intrude on any more of their private conversations on their way up to Hogwarts.