When Harry made it down to the front doors, he found Severus already waiting. He looked as immaculate as he ever did in his thick, black robes that parted at the waist. Harry nervously adjusted his cloak on his shoulders as he made the trek across the Entrance Hall. Despite his new standing as one of the staff, he glanced around for any sign of Filch out of habit. Severus closed the distance between them as Harry drew closer to the doors.

"Mister Potter," The Potions Master greeted.

Harry blushed. "I think just 'Harry' is fine at this point."

"Then 'Just Harry' it shall be," Severus said with a smirk.

Harry chuckled. "I should really stop giving my name like that. At some point you'd think I'd learn to quit saying 'just'…'Harry' is fine."

Severus gave a slow nod, still smirking. "Indeed. Shall we?" He gestured to the doors.

The Gryffindor hesitated. "I don't know the spell," He admitted, studying the intricate lock on the massive front doors of the school.

"There isn't one," Severus said smoothly, turning to face the doors as well. "You could use 'Alohamora' or any other spell you might know for unlocking things. The point is that the doors unlock only for professors, thus it only requires your magical intent."

Harry shrugged. "Makes sense. I make no promises, though, that it will open. I'm not exactly a professor. I'm more like a research assistant."

Severus continued to smirk as he glanced over. "No promises required…Harry."

The Gryffindor smiled even as his blush rose again. He palmed his wand and pointed it at the grand castle entrance. Master Ailin had been working with him on his silent casting, and he used it now. Someday, he hoped to be good enough to cast silently as well as wandlessly, but for now he still needed his wand. True to Severus' words, the intricate lock on the doors began to disengage.

Harry followed as Severus led the way out to the front steps. As he had every morning the year previous, the Potions Master immediately snapped his fingers. An elf appeared with their coffees, and then disappeared silently, leaving them alone. Harry sipped at the same black mug from the year before, smiling over the rim as they set out onto the grounds. It was all so terribly familiar, he had to remind himself that he wasn't a student any longer.

As they neared the Black Lake, Harry let his hand fall to his side casually. Almost immediately, his fingers brushed against the pale digits of his companion. An involuntary shiver crawled up his spine, and goosebumps rose on his arm. He waited for the Potions Master to re-instigate the innocent contact they'd shared before, but after a time it became clear that the man would do nothing of the sort. Holding his breath, Harry prayed Severus wouldn't pull away. There had, after all, been an entire summer between them, and things changed. Coffee at sunrise was in no way a promise of more.

With his courage gathered like so much wool, Harry turned his hand the next time their fingers brushed, and clasped their palms together. Severus did not pull away. Instead, he sighed and came to a stop. Harry stopped as well, and they faced each other. Harry smiled hopefully at the stoic mask on the Potions Master's face.

"Harry…"

"Too much?" The Gryffindor murmured bashfully. He half-heartedly tried to pull his hand away, but Severus' grip tightened.

"No. You and Longbottom-"

"I left him," Harry interrupted. Severus raised an eyebrow curiously. "Before the summer ever really began, I ended things with Neville. I had to, because it wasn't fair to him to keep things going the way they were."

Severus frowned. "The distance, or your apprenticeship?"

Harry shook his head. "Neither. This wasn't fair to him." He leaned up on the balls of his feet and placed a light kiss on thin, frowning lips. When he pulled away, Severus was still frowning.

"You mean you…felt similarly?"

"I…I didn't know how I felt," Harry admitted. "I spent most of last year asking myself questions I had no answers for. After you…after your farewell, I understood. I wasn't cheating on Neville with you, I was cheating on you with Neville. I had been ever since I agreed to go out with him. I couldn't very well continue the love affair, once I knew it was an affair. I spent the summer trying to pretend I wasn't thinking of you, that I wasn't missing you."

Severus' frown remained. "No new boyfriends, or summer lovers?"

Harry shook his head again. "Huh-uh. I was…I was waiting for you."

Finally, Severus granted Harry the benefit of a small half-smile. Their fingers unlocked, and Harry let himself be drawn forward against the firm chest of the older wizard. He smiled, reaching up to tangle his fingers in the lank black hair as they shared a passionate kiss. It felt as amazing as Harry remembered, the press and glide of their lips. It felt like coming home. It felt like…a promise.

Severus pulled away just slightly. "I waited for you, as well."

A/N: Severus is not saying that he's a virgin, just that he was waiting for Harry to mature a little before instigating any sort of relationship. So don't get your panties in a twist.

From here it gets into the frustrating, complicated Established Relationship stuff. If you don't want to read all that, I wrote this chapter as a primary ending. Feel free to stop here.