I don't own Harry Potter, just saying.
Harry was thankful that Dumbledore had allowed him to remain on Hogwarts grounds during this summer. He was looking for a place in Wizarding London to live while deciding just what to do with the rest of his life.
Dumbledore had offered the Defense Against the Dark Arts class to Harry, but he turned it down. He had had enough of dealing in the Dark Arts.
He had thought about staying with the Weasley's, had even been offered a room for the summer, but Harry had turned it down. He couldn't leave Hogwarts until he was sure that Airiala was going to be alright. He just couldn't leave her until he knew.
Remembering what she had said on the battlefield and seeing Snape next to her bed each day told Harry all he needed to know about what had been going on with the pair of them. They loved each other, but he was pretty sure that they were unaware of it.
The door to the Gryffindor Common Room opened and Harry looked up in surprise. He was the only student, although he was technically an ex-student now, still in the castle.
His eyes widened as he came face to face with Severus Snape.
"Professor Snape," he said firmly. "What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you," he replied as he walked around the room and took a seat in the chair next to the fireplace. "Little did I know that you would still be on Hogwarts grounds."
"I couldn't leave, not until I was sure that Airiala was alright. How is she?"
"Awake," Severus replied, a hint of anger in his voice. "I have a few questions I want to ask you."
Harry took a deep breath. "Okay, but I don't know what you could want to know from me."
"I want to know what Airiala said to me while I was knocked out on the battlefield."
Harry had an instant reaction. His eyes widened, his breathing quickened, his hands tightened their grip on each other and then he blushed.
To say that the boy's reaction was strange would be putting it mildly. He was reacting as if Airiala had told Severus every sexual conquest she had ever had in great detail, which was was pretty sure wasn't what she had said to him. This just made him more curious.
"What did she say?"
Harry looked away from Severus and took a deep breath. "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Do not lie to me," Severus replied smoothly. "I really am not in the mood." Harry opened his mouth to speak. "I know you are lying, don't even bother trying to cover it up." Harry shut his mouth.
The boy remained silent for a few minutes before he took a deep breath.
"Have you spoken to Airiala since she woke up?"
Severus narrowed his eyes. Harry refused to look at him. "No."
Harry let out a sigh. "Then I can't tell you what she said. It wouldn't be right."
"Why is that?"
Harry turned to Severus then, his green eyes clear and thoughtful. "Basically because it isn't my place to tell you. Airiala said something to you when you were knocked out. I only heard anything because I was right there. Out of respect for Airiala I have kept my mouth shut. What she said was...personal. She wouldn't want me going around telling everyone."
Harry held his ground against Severus. He knew what Airiala had said, but he wasn't going to divulge that information to Severus himself.
Severus looked at Harry. The young boy had grown up into a young man about to embark on a life of his own. He was staying at Hogwarts right now, not with the Weasleys. A sure sign that he was ready to break out and become his own independent person.
Severus respected him.
"It must be hard," Severus said after several minutes of silent, "to be at peace after all these hard years."
Harry blinked, confused at the sudden change of topic. "Yes," Harry replied with a small smile. "I don't know what I'm going to do now that Voldemort is defeated. I'm sure you must be feeling the same."
It surprised Severus to realize that Harry was right. For the past nearly 20 years his entire life had been consumed by the Dark Lord and Dumbledore, playing the double agent. He no longer had to play that double life, no longer had to fear the danger of discovery.
"Indeed," he replied. Severus stood. "If you need someone to talk to, you know where to find me."
Harry nodded. After all these years, it appeared as though the two had finally come to understand each other.
As Severus walked to the door he heard Harry's voice. "Talk to Airiala, you need to hear what she has to say."
Severus didn't reply as he walked out the door of the Gryffindor Common Room, leaving Harry alone again.
Severus headed back to the courtyard where he had last seen the Elementals, only to find Airiala there alone.
She was practicing with the new abilities she had acquired.
Again Severus stood back and watched the woman practice. She was trying to work more than one element at a time, but she didn't seem able to do more than one at a time.
"Damn!" she said firmly as she failed yet again to get the fire and water to work together.
Severus took this moment to approach her from out of the shadows.
"Airiala, you're awake."
She jumped and turned to him. Her gray eyes wide in surprise. Then they focused on Severus and she calmed. "Severus."
"That was the last thing you said before you passed out on the battlefield, and now it is the first thing you say to me when we meet face to face again."
Airiala seemed nervous. Her whole body was fidgeting, her hands were twisting around each other and she didn't seem to be able to stand still. The only part that remained still were her eyes, which remained focused only on him.
"What did you say to me on the battlefield Airiala?"
Like Harry had, Airiala blushed, her whole body stopped their movements. Severus wanted to touch her. Kiss her. Share another passionate night with her. He wanted her.
Airiala licked her lips and opened her mouth to speak. It was then he heard her gasp and felt something press against his neck.
"Now, now, none of that."
Severus didn't have to turn to know who had spoken.
Lucius Malfoy.