That evening, Harry appeared at dinner a little late. In an effort to forget Severus, and the traitorous organ in his chest that yearned for the man to offer up some apology so he could forgive him, he had spent the afternoon studying in his rooms. He had actually managed to get through an entire text, though he hardly remembered any of it.
The Gryffindor was busy trying recall if it was Roc's or Stryx that lived at the tops of mountains when he came into the Great Hall through the teacher's entrance. Only when he realized that his usual seat was taken did he pause in his stride. Normally, the seating order went Severus, Master Ailin, him, and then Filius Flitwick. Now, though, his Master had moved a seat closer to Filius, putting him beside the Potions Master.
"Harry, sit," Achesan commanded lightly. "The students are starting to stare."
Harry looked around the Great Hall to see that students were indeed watching the Head Table. He sat heavily in the seat beside Severus, but this did not stop the open stares through the Great Hall. He looked at his Master with a furrowed brow.
"Master Ailin?" The witch turned to him, pausing in her conversation with Flitwick. "Um, why are you in my seat?"
The Defense Master smiled, giving a light chuckle. "Oh, I suppose that is odd. Severus asked me if I could switch seats with you. I didn't see the harm."
Harry frowned. "But why-" He stopped when he realized his Master had turned back to Flitwick and was now paying him no mind. Sighing, he set about filling his plate. Several students were still watching their end of the Head Table raptly, but Harry ignored them as much as he was ignoring the man beside him.
"You were missed at lunch," Severus spoke idly.
"I'm surprised you noticed," Harry bit out angrily. He sighed. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. I was busy studying."
"Anything in particular?" Severus asked, looking at him.
Harry turned as well, eyeing the Potions Master suspiciously. "Actually, yes. I was reading an interesting book about the different varieties of Magical birds. There was a chapter about Wizarding messenger owls that I found really interesting."
Severus grunted. "I can see how that might capture your interest."
Harry frowned as a warm hand covered his on his knee under the table. He glanced around the Great Hall surreptitiously and realized that several of the staring students, especially amidst the Slytherin table, had begun to whisper. There was no way they could see the clasp of their hands, but it was enough that Severus was speaking to him openly, something he rarely did to any of the many professors who'd sat in Harry's place over the years. Harry could only recall the once, during his first Welcoming Feast, when the Potions Master had looked bored while listening to Quirrel stammer about something. It probably looked even stranger to the students that he would not only openly converse with a colleague, but with Harry Potter, his supposed enemy. Harry turned back to Severus with a small smile and curled his hand around the fingers lying against his leg. It wasn't the apology he'd been looking for, but it was somehow better. It was…just like Severus, in fact.
Severus listened to Harry speak about his studies throughout the meal, even going so far as to engage him in friendly debate over a few concepts Harry hadn't fully understood. Eventually, the students stopped watching them. Or, at least, Harry stopped noticing them. The change in the seating order would continue for the rest of term, much to the consternation of the gossips of Hogwarts.