A/N: A much grateful thanks to my lovely Beta, YumeNoTsuzuki, for providing super speed beta-ing so this story would make it for Christmas. ^_^ Sorry for leaving you all hanging in the other chapter, now please enjoy~

Chapter 7

Harry's POV

Harry felt the cold rain mercilessly pound upon his water proof coat as he shifted his motorcycle gear. The temperature had drastically dropped since he went out of the hotel parking lot. He was silently grateful that he remembered to apply the anti-fog to his visor since even with a clear visor he could barely see for more than one meter in front of him.

His shoes were getting wet as the rain seeped inside of them, he was fully aware that he had successfully ruined the only leather shoes he had and was probably freezing his toes off. He almost fell off his motorcycle when he took a turn at the intersection and was forced to lower his speed. It wouldn't do any good if he was to break his neck. No matter how important the matter was.

The trip that usually took only half an hour was extended into one and half hour. Harry had to take shelter for a while when the sky dropped hailstone the size of 20 pence coins. When he finally reached Snape's apartment, he was already completely drenched and cold from head to toes. The raincoat proved to be absolutely useless. The doorman threw him a scandalized look as he walked across the lobby's pristine white floor, dripping a trail of murky water on it, in order to reach the lift.

XxXxX

Harry glared at the closed door. He had already tried pressing the bell and knocked on it but there was no response. Either Snape refused to meet him or the older man wasn't home.

He sniffed then shouted loudly and kicked the door. "Snape, you're an idiot!"

"I beg your pardon?" said a voice icily from behind him.

Harry turned around so quickly that he almost slipped down. A powerful emotion rose in his chest at the sight of Snape, standing there a few feet away from him with a scowl on his face, carrying what seemed to be a mountain of groceries. He could have kissed him right here and now as he felt the rush of relief wash over him. But no, not before that he did what he came to do. He walked closer and delivered a hard punch with a resounding crack to Snape's jaw that made the older man's knees buckle.

"OW!" Harry howled at once, clutching his right knuckles.

"Ah, fuck…!" he muttered, grimacing slightly from the pain while Snape was staring at him with a priceless dumbfounded expression from the floor.

"You bloody well deserved that, you bastard!" he said viciously to Snape.

When Snape didn't get up and kept staring at him like he had grown another head, Harry said sarcastically, "Well, I'm cold and wet, aren't you going to let me in?"

That comment got the older man moving immediately. Snape took out his keys and opened the door while muttering about dunderheads and irresponsible behavior under his breath.

"Go take a bath, Potter," Snape ordered him. "I won't have your death on my conscience."

XxXxX

Harry stepped into the bathroom, shivering badly as he took off his clothes. His teeth were chattering as he stepped into the hot shower. The first touch of hot water stung his skin and it took a while before he began to feel his toes again. He was reaching for the soap when he heard footsteps coming closer.

"Have you lost your bloody mind, Potter? What the hell do you think you were doing in a storm like this?" snapped Snape angrily.

"Don't be fussy," he snapped back from the cubicle. "It's all your fault, Snape."

"How can it be my fault?" said Snape. He could imagine a frown on the older man's face when he said that.

"You—," said Harry but failed to continue because he began to sneeze and kept on sneezing so badly that it felt like he was going to expel his lungs out.

"Potter, finish your bath first, we'll talk later," said Snape in a concerned tone. "I'll leave the towel and clothes on the usual place."

Harry sniffed, seeing no point in arguing with him and replied, "Ok."

XxXxX

"What am I going to do with your shoes?" asked Severus, looking at the offending wet pair with unconcealed disgust.

Harry drew the blanket that Snape had lent him closer to himself and sniffed pitifully, "I dunno, throw them out. I don't care."

"Still cold?" said Severus, throwing an openly worried glance at him. The older man didn't wait for his response and opened his liquor cabinet, pouring a half pint of whiskey into the glass then placed it on the table in front of him.

"I don't like whiskey," said Harry crossly, giving him a pointed look. "You bloody knew that."

"Drink it," Snape said curtly, leaving no room for protest.

Harry sniffed again, picking up the whiskey. He scrunched up his nose as he sipped on it. That liquor tasted just as nasty as he could remember. But he did feel a bit warmer five minutes later after he finished the drink. It felt like the alcohol finally melted the ice in his blood.

"Potter?" called Snape.

"Hmm?" said Harry, slowly nodding himself off to sleep.

"Have you forgotten to explain why you're here?" Snape said sarcastically, narrowing his eyes at him.

"You tell me," Harry leaned back into the seat and countered with a grumble, his eyes half-lidded. "Why didn't you explain to me that nothing happened that night?"

When Snape didn't say anything, he drew his legs up and muttered, "Just because you didn't say anything about it, didn't mean that you didn't lie to me… you could have spared me a great deal of heartache."

Snape was looking down to the floor and muttered something that he couldn't hear.

"Come again?" asked Harry.

"You deserve someone better than me," Snape repeated it loud and clear.

That chased away his sleepiness. Harry stood up, towering over Snape who was sitting on the armchair opposite of him.

"What the hell? What is this whole 'you don't deserve me'?" growled Harry, feeling sick and angry that everyone kept repeating those words to him – even Snape. "Maybe it was me that didn't deserve you, seeing as you didn't even bother to explain anything to me!"

"It's not—," Snape started but then was abruptly cut off.

"Did you… did you ever love me?" Harry asked tiredly, his eyes rested on Snape.

Snape's mouth set in a hard, firm line, not answering his question.

"Fine… I get it, you never loved me," said Harry, deeply hurt that the love he felt was only his one-sided feeling. It was just his own imagination that Snape actually felt something for him when they were still together. "Just throw away my clothes, will you? I'll leave yours with one of the nurses before I leave St. Mungo's," he continued without looking back as he walked to the front door.

However, he never managed to reach the door as a strong hand caught his arm and pulled him straight into Snape's chest.

"Potter, don't leave…" Snape said in a constricted voice in his ear.

Harry felt his whole body relaxed instantly at hearing Snape's words. Being pressed this close to the older man, he could feel the soft tremor coming from Snape's body. It seemed that the older man wasn't as calm as he looked on the outside. That knowledge make his hurt and anger fade away as fast as it came. Snape had never trembled even when they had met a life and death situation. Yet, the man did today, for him.

Harry took a deep breath then turned to face the older man, staring straight into his onyx eyes, and asked softly, "Do you love me, Severus?"

Not a past tense because this time, he already knew the answer, but he still needed to hear it from the other man.

Snape swallowed hard then said quietly, "Yes, I do love you."

Harry closed his arms around Snape's neck and gave him a long, deep kiss as soon as the man had admitted his love for him.

"I love you too," Harry murmured against his mouth, cupping Snape's face gently in his palms.

"But…" he paused briefly and leaned back, his face turned serious. "This time I want you to prove it to me."

Snape blinked at the unexpected statement then narrowed his eyes in confusion, "What – what do you mean?"

"Let me make love to you," said Harry quietly. "Then I'll believe you."

Harry bit his lips nervously as a flush spread up from Snape's neck to his face. Well, maybe he was asking a bit too much from the older man.

"I just want to be your equal," said Harry slowly. "But if you…" But if you aren't ready, I'll wait for you no matter how long it'll take.

XxXxX

Severus's POV

Severus looked at the man he loved. He knew that he only had to wait for a few seconds for Potter to lose his confidence and take his words back. Still, he asked himself, did his pride really matter more than his lover's happiness?

He was given a second chance that he would only dare to dream of in the darkest hour of the night – it was a crutch for him to hold on to when he was in his weakest state and all hope seemed to be lost. Now against all odds, his wish had come true – again all thanks to one Harry Potter. And the only thing his lover asked from him in return for a chance to love him.

His green-eyed lover didn't say let me fuck you, he actually said let me make love to you. There was significant difference from the first one and the latter. One only spoke of the pleasure of the flesh while the other was entirely different.

Just like he wanted to make love to his lover, it was only natural that his lover also wanted to make love to him. And to be loved was all that he always wanted, it didn't matter who would be on top.

"Yes."

"It's okay, if you…" Potter's mumble stopped halfway and he squeaked in disbelief, "What?"

"You heard me," said Severus, arching his eyebrow challengingly.

Severus felt a bit offended when Potter – instead of asking him to repeat his words – was suddenly burst into laughter. But only for a moment because he soon noticed that his lover was laughing and crying at the same time.

"Potter…" said Severus, eyeing him warily.

Should he apologize? Perhaps he should be more considerate of Potter's feelings. Just because most of the time, his lover was very obtuse to his harsh words, it didn't actually mean that it wouldn't hurt Potter's feelings.

"No, I only…" said Potter in between laughter and a hiccup. "I just feel so happy…"

Severus sighed with relief and pulled him closer, pretending to be irritated, "For heaven's sake, Potter! Laugh or cry, choose one!"

Potter let out a chuckle as a response and pressed his forehead to his shoulder. Severus felt the dampness from his lover's tears on his shirt and disturbingly also from snot which contained – only God knows how many gazillions of bacteria. Still, he thought with a slight, fleeting smile, he wouldn't trade the contentment and happiness that he felt by holding Potter tightly in his arms for anything in this world.

XxXxX

Much thanks for reading this chapter. *huggles* And as I've said in the previous chapter, this is the 2nd part of my presents for you, readers. So please come back to check it again at Christmas for the third presents. See you all there, 'kay~ As usual any review will be welcomed (very) warmly. ^_^