Every morning after that, Harry met Severus on the steps of the castle. From there, they would walk together hand-in-hand across the grounds of Hogwarts. It was terribly reminiscent of the previous year, except that when they parted again they would now exchange a kiss. Mostly, these kisses were innocence itself, but every once in a while Harry would return to his rooms feeling delightfully frustrated. It was on the first Hogsmeade weekend that Harry learned just how frustrating being with the Potions Master could be.

In spite of the fact that he was meant to be working on research, or helping with his Master's marking, Harry asked his Master if he could spend the day with the students in the village. He knew Severus would be going, and hoped to spend the day with him. It would be the first time they really did anything together in view of others that didn't revolve around work. Master Ailin, ever-diligent with his apprenticeship, quizzed him for nearly an hour before agreeing that he could go.

Harry caught up with Severus just as the man was nearing the village. Most of the students were already in amongst the shops, with only a few stragglers walking sedately ahead of and behind him. As soon as Harry drew even with Severus, he reached for the pale, long-fingered hand. Without looking at him, Severus pulled his hand subtly out of his grasp.

"Don't."

Harry frowned, but shrugged it off and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He had a thing against kissing in front of others; it was perfectly acceptable for Severus to not want to hold hands like school children where the students could see. Even knowing this, however, it did not stop the hurt Harry felt at the slight rejection. A niggling hint of doubt began to burrow at the back of his mind.

As they reached the village and began touring through the streets, Harry's hurt and doubt grew. For the longest time, they walked in stoic silence. Whenever Harry thought to speak, pointing out something in a shop window or something to do with the students, he was met only with a grunt of acknowledgment. Eventually, he quit trying. He couldn't help remembering the Hogsmeade trip where he and Neville had gone on their first date. Specifically, he recalled the easy laugh from Master Ailin as she and Severus had walked the streets, just as he was now. What about Master Ailin had encouraged conversation that he apparently lacked?

When the lunch hour neared, Harry realized that there was little point to his presence. Severus hardly seemed to notice he was there. Spotting Ginny further down the street with Luna, he decided to find company elsewhere. Company that would perhaps acknowledge he existed. He turned to his colleague as they paused in front of a shop.

"Severus, I think I'm gonna go…" He trailed off when he realized the Potions Master was in no way paying him the slightest mind. "Severus? Are you even-?"

"Excuse me, Potter."

With those words, Severus walked away. Harry watched him move in the direction of two quarreling Hufflepuffs across the street. He scowled, and started down the street as Severus began diffusing the situation behind him. Not only was he being dismissed, but they were suddenly back to 'Potter'. The use of his surname was the final blow to the wall around his anger, and Harry felt fury wash through his veins in a tidal wave. He could accept not wanting to hold hands, could even accept that the man was generally taciturn in view of his precious little Snakes. He could not, however, quantify the dismissive use of his surname. For Harry, the act of being cast aside in combination with James Potter's legacy was a dark reminder of the history he and Severus had shared before last summer.

Harry strode down the sidewalk towards The Three Broomsticks, his shoulders hunched angrily. A thunderous storm cloud had settled over his head, reflected in the darkness in his eyes, and students leapt out of his way as quickly as they normally did for the Potions Master. There were a few benefits to being counted amongst the staff of Hogwarts. In this case, the beleaguered respect he'd gained from the students who had been his peers just a few months earlier served the purpose of keeping the students at arm's length.

Once in the familiar tavern, Harry acquired a butterbeer from Rosmerta and took up a table in the furthest, darkest corner. He was so angry that even something as simple as the jauntily dancing flame in the center of his table annoyed him. He'd almost convinced himself to blow the damned thing out when Ginny appeared suddenly with Luna at her side. Without asking, the two Seventh Years sat down across from him with their own drinks.

"Hiya, Harry…I mean, Assistant Professor Potter."

Harry grunted. "Hey, Gin. I'm not really in the mood for company right now."

"Oh, what happened?"

"Nothing," Harry said with a sigh. This wasn't technically a lie, as it had been exactly 'nothing' on Severus' part that had first bothered him. "How was your summer?"

"It was amazing," Ginny said, beaming. "I loved getting to work in Fred and George's shop. I got to play harmless little pranks on the customers, and they taught me so much about pranking, and how to know if you were taking things too far, and…"

Harry stopped listening as movement outside the front windows of the pub caught his eye. He looked up to see Severus stalking angrily past the windows. With a mental shrug, he turned back to his butterbeer. Whatever had been going on with those Hufflepuffs must have gone wrong. Harry could think of no other reason why Severus would suddenly be angry, when he'd been annoyingly emotionless when he'd dismissed Harry.

"He's looking for you." Luna said in her mysterious, misty voice.

Ginny paused in her monologue and frowned at her friend. "Who is?"

"No one," Harry ground out. "And no he isn't."

The Wizarding Savior scowled when Luna only raised a pristine blonde eyebrow doubtfully. Harry got up from the table, leaving his half-finished butterbeer. He threw on his cloak to ward against the chill of the fall air.

"I'm going to head back to the school. I've got research I should be working on for Master Ailin. I'll see you guys at dinner."

Ginny stammered out a quick farewell, still confused. Luna tittered knowingly, which served to make Harry that much angrier as he walked away. He left The Three Broomsticks, stuffing his hands into his pockets, and started towards Hogwarts. It was near the very tree where he'd attacked Malfoy the previous year that Severus caught up to him with his longer stride. The long-fingered hand grabbed his shoulder, and Harry pulled sternly away.

"Don't," He spat.

"Harry…" Severus tried again to grab him, and the Gryffindor rounded on him, stopping their advance towards the gates of the school.

"So, now it's 'Harry'? For that matter, I suddenly exist again after you spent the last three hours ignoring me?"

"I wasn't ignoring you, Harry. I was merely-"

"Merely what, Severus?" Harry demanded. "Saving face in front of your Slytherins? I can buy that you'd prefer discretion. Hell, I prefer a certain level of discretion. That doesn't mean I can stand idle while you pretend that we are what we've always been."

"Harry," Severus began sternly. "I wasn't…" He trailed off, looking away in annoyance as a pair of Sixth Year Slytherin girls approached and passed them, chattering and paying them no mind.

Harry smiled humorlessly. "Well, I guess that answers the question, doesn't it?" He turned to resume his walk back to the castle.

"Harry…"

The call was soft enough that the Slytherin girls couldn't hear it, and Harry took this as further proof that he was disposable. He quickened his pace. Soon, he had passed the two students, and was on the grounds of Hogwarts. He did not turn to see if Severus was following, he didn't have to. He remained near enough to the chattering duo of Snakes to know he wouldn't be stopped again.