The bustle of the student-filled village surrounded Hogwarts' Potions Master as he casually made his way through the streets. It was Valentine's Day. Normally, this alone would have put him in a foul mood, and he'd have taken the opportunity to assign as many unearned detentions as possible. Today, however, he found this desire notably absent. Why should he interrupt their youthful joy, just because he had no one with whom to share the holiday?

Severus was about to turn towards The Three Broomsticks when he spotted Potter walking out of Honeydukes. The younger wizard was carrying a bag of sweets, and he was entirely alone. Frowning, Severus made his way across the street to walk beside the young man. Potter smiled brightly upon seeing him.

"Hello, Professor," Potter greeted merrily.

Severus gave a slow nod. "Potter," He said in turn. "Why are you not mooning in a lovesick caricature with your peers?"

Potter chuckled. "I assume you mean 'why am I not with my friends'. The short answer is that I got ditched."

"I'm sorry," Severus empathized.

"Actually, I don't mind…now…" Potter said.

They shared a soft, meaningful look that Severus couldn't comprehend even as he returned the gentle stare. Potter turned back to the street ahead.

"Anyway," Potter continued. "I'm sure you'd agree that watching your best friends make kissy faces at each other is among the least fun ways to spend any day, let alone Valentines."

Severus smirked. "I can only imagine the horror."

Potter laughed again. "Oh, it is truly a worse torture than anything I've ever witnessed," He crooned with feigned misery.

Severus was surprised to hear himself chuckle, something he never did where students might hear. Potter laughed again when he cleared his throat of his laughter.

"I was on my way to The Three Broomsticks for tea," Severus said suggestively. "Perhaps you would join me?"

Potter shook his head. "Tea sounds nice, but I don't think you're going to get a table. I went there before I stopped at Honeydukes, and the place is packed. Standing room only, and barely that."

"That, Mister Potter, is a problem for the students occupying my desired table," Severus remarked with a sadistic smirk.

Potter looked at him with false surprise. "Why, Professor Snape, are you suggesting that you use your powers as a Slytherin to scare students into submission?"

Severus gave a dark chuckle. "I am suggesting nothing of the sort."

Potter smirked as well. "All right. You've convinced me. I must see these powers of persuasion in action. Lead the way, Professor."

And so Severus did. They crossed the street towards the packed tavern together, moving towards the infamous tavern. Once inside, Severus saw that Potter hadn't been exaggerating the lack of space. Each table was packed tightly with students. The Potions Master ignored the playful smirk he received from his companion, who had crossed his arms over his chest and was gesturing to the packed pub challengingly. Squaring his shoulders, Severus met the eye of the proprietor, who looked harried, to say the least. As per, she returned his stare questioningly, and he gave his usual stiff nod, subtly gesturing to the young man beside him. A moment's stark surprise flashed across the witch's plain features, before she gave a shrug and turned towards the bar. Severus began to lead a winding path between the students, who shifted out of his way easily. Potter followed closely as they neared the table Severus had long since claimed as his own.

Upon reaching the smallish table, where a Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were staring adoringly into one another's eyes, Severus cleared his throat audibly. Both students, a Fifth and Sixth Year respectively, looked up at him. A dark glare later, and they quickly evacuated the seats, the Hufflepuff nearly toppling his chair in his hurry. Severus smirked as he took his seat, pushing aside the abandoned butterbeer in front of him. Potter sat opposite him, trying to hide his snickering, and set the Ravenclaw's butterbeer aside as well.

"Now," Potter said, grinning. "Just imagine if you used your powers for good."

Severus smirked, brushing aside invisible crumb on the table. "Where would the fun be in that?"

Sharp onyx met shimmering emeralds across the table's expanse, and the noise of the tavern seemed to dim to a dull roar in Severus' head. He felt a sudden, mercifully brief, urge to reach across the table and capture the grinning lips of his students. Before he could examine this feeling, or the stab of guilt it brought, Rosmerta appeared beside him, setting two cups of tea on the table and sweeping up the abandoned bottles they'd replaced.

"Wish you could do that to the whole pub, Severus," The witch commented, smiling. "I don't mind the business, but the noise…"

Potter smirked. "I think if he tried he might clear all of Hogsmeade."

Severus wrinkled his nose playfully at his student as Rosmerta chuckled appreciatively and moved away. He and Potter sipped at their tea, and Severus purposefully avoiding the younger wizard's gaze, lest the urge from before return. Instead, he swept again at invisible crumbs.

"So," The Potions Master began lightly. "What, may I ask, is the long answer?"

Potter frowned, then shrugged. "I don't really want to talk about my friends. I'm a bit sore at them right now. Let's talk about something else."

"What shall we discuss?"

Potter seemed to give this some consideration. "Let's talk about you," He said boldly. Severus looked up in surprise, drawing a chuckle from the Gryffindor. "I'm serious. We're always talking about me; my nightmares, and my friends, and what I'm doing after Hogwarts. I'm curious about you."

Severus hesitated, but found he could not deny that earnest green gaze. "Very well, Mister Potter, you have swayed me. What, pray tell, would you like to know?"

Potter grinned, and Severus resigned himself to the spark of challenge in the green eyes. It occurred to him, as they began to talk of his days as a student of Hogwarts, that he could at any point refuse, manipulate the conversation back to Potter instead. However, with this realization came the intimate blossom of good-feeling that said he didn't want to. Few people had ever wanted to learn about him simply for the sake of doing so, with no ulterior motive. Potter's interest wasn't one of discovery, or even prying curiosity, it was due solely to the fact of their friendship. Never once did the younger wizard pry where Severus didn't want him to, and only once did he lead the conversation towards dark waters by mentioning his father, which he immediately apologized for. And so, Severus spoke of days gone past, even after they had left the tavern to once again traverse the streets of Hogsmeade side-by-side.