CHAPTER 28

It was Saturday, 13th February – the day before Valentine's Day. Harry hated it because of its commercialism, as did Snape, who voiced his extremely cynical thoughts on the subject at length.

"Do you remember Lockhart's celebration?" Harry reminded him. Naturally, he knew that this was something Snape would never forget, but he was in a playful mood and keen on teasing his sharp-tempered partner.

"It is hard to forget that dreadful occasion," Snape said with a shudder, making Harry laugh.

"You know, maybe I should organise something similar for tomorrow…There's still time, and I actually quite liked the idea."

Snape looked thunderstruck.

"You…didn't!" he exclaimed.

"I was teasing you," Harry said blandly, wrapping his cloak around his shoulders.

Snape glared at him.

"I am laughing my head off. Where are you going?"

"For a ride on my broom."

Snape gave him a suspicious look.

"More likely for an interview or a secret rendezvous down in Hogsmeade," he snorted.

"Who knows, maybe I'll meet Lucifer or Kim and dance with them," Harry said lightly. Snape approached Harry and stared into his eyes, grinding out from between his teeth:

"If you are ever unfaithful to me, Harry, then I will never ever forgive you."

Harry took Snape's face in his hands.

"Why would I ever be unfaithful to you when I have chosen to be with you?" he asked. "Don't you trust me?"

Snape flushed a little.

"I do," he murmured.

"You are my friend – one of my closest friends besides being the man I'm in love with. I trust you. How can I not do so after all we've been through together?"

Snape bowed his head a little to kiss the young wizard's forehead and then his mouth, sending shivers right down to his toes.

Harry smiled. Physically and mentally, things had been heating up between them – and not only in the privacy of their quarters. Thus, Harry had marched into Snape's classroom after the latter's Duelling class two days ago, very dissatisfied.

"Severus! I believe you took thirty points off Gryffindor in one class?"

"You believe correctly." Cunning black eyes glittering.

"I can't believe that I believe correctly!" Green eyes flashing back.

"I knew that you would storm in here-"

"Storm? I came here with perfect composure."

Snape had raised a sceptical eyebrow.

"Well, maybe I had better profit from the not entirely unexpected pleasure of your company, love."

"Not entirely unexpected? You mean…you pulled this off to get me in here?"

"Good guess, Harry."

They had exchanged a gentle kiss.

"Not bad. Thirty points back to Gryffindor should suffice, what do you think?"

"If our kisses are to be a matter of negotiating house points, then I disagree."

Another kiss.

"Want to duel with me?" Harry had whispered.

Snape had answered by letting his hand wander underneath Harry's robes and caressing his stomach and chest. They had just been locked in a heated kiss with their hands wandering wildly when Peeves had floated outside the classroom.

"POTTER AND SNAPE ARE GROPING EACH OTHER, YA-HEE!" He had buzzed away delightedly, yelling at the top of his voice.

Harry had drawn out his wand, imprisoned the poltergeist inside a suit of armour with a well-aimed hex and turned back to a smirking Snape.

Now, Snape watched Harry wrap himself up warmly and put on his boots.

"Don't fall off your broom, you airy-headed teen," he said coldly. Harry left with a grin on his face. It was Snape's manner of telling him to take care of himself. He was soon soaring in the air on his broom, enjoying the sense of freedom and the wind rushing in his ears. It was very cold, but he felt impervious to it. He had rarely felt so happy, so loved. Snape, contradictory as he was, could be frosty or one moment and burning with passion the next; harsh and rude, yet sweet and caring; his sarcasm could sting at times and caress at others.

Harry flew around until it was pitch dark outside and the heavy clouds began to spill rain upon him. He got off the broom to walk to the castle; his legs were a bit stiff.

He had been walking for two minutes when he saw a light bobbing towards him steadily. He recognised Severus Snape, a lantern in his left hand, hair and robes streaming in the rain.

"Severus?" he exclaimed, happily surprised.

"I was concerned about your whereabouts," Snape said somewhat abruptly.

"In other words: you were worried and came all the way out here."

"Hm."

"Without an umbrella or a water-repelling cloak or charm to keep you dry."

"Hm."

Harry looked into the black eyes.

"Thank you, Severus."

"Where were you?" Snape asked, sounding irritated. "Send me a Patronus next time, you careless brat!"

Harry put his arms around his neck and kissed him.

"I'm sorry, worrywart."

Snape kissed him back passionately, slipped his hand into Harry's and set off for the castle, lantern aloft.

"You do realise how important your safety is to me, especially with Bellatrix and her demented gang on the run? And you go flying around for two hours while I wait in the castle!" Snape continued upbraiding him, but his tone was gentle and fond, as was the expression in his dark eyes.

A warm feeling was glowing inside Harry's chest. A small ride on his broom had sent Snape, he of the immaculate self-control and iron-plated composure, into leaving the comfort of the castle in order to check on Harry.

He put his arm around Snape's waist and caught the smile which softened the older wizard's stern face at his spontaneous gesture.

"You're so sweet, do you know that?" he said.

Snape sniffed disdainfully.

"Now, that is a very unfaithful description of my personality, Harry."

Harry chuckled in return.

Both of them left muddy footprints on the way back to Snape's rooms, sending Filch in a temper tantrum. Since there was nothing he could do when it came to two professors being the culprits, he had to content himself with swearing and hatching out dreadful plans of revenge with Mrs Norris.

In Snape's room, Harry studied Snape thoroughly with his green eyes.

"You look hot when you're all wet like that," he remarked.

Snape flipped his hair over his shoulder, on purposely showering Harry with water.

"I look hot?"

Harry nodded.

"You should teach Potions like that."

"And you, Harry Potter, are going to remove those muddy robes of yours now."

"Only if you remove them for me."

Snape's eyes glinted, and he reached out for Harry.

The next morning, Snape left the bathroom after his shower to the sound of Harry laughing hysterically and a deep, oddly familiar voice singing. Frowning, he strode into the hall, his green housecoat billowing behind him. He discovered Harry lying on the carpet clutching at his sides and an enormous pink card yelling out sappy lyrics.

"Severus, we, uh, have just received a Valentine card from Albus."

The card, on sensing Snape's presence, started singing again for his benefit. Snape stared at it.

The card finished hollering out its wishes and dissolved in a cloud of glittering pink dust which drifted down and settled into their hair.

"That man," Severus sighed. Harry was laughing so hard that there were tears in his eyes. Snape smiled and gave Harry a soft kiss on his temple. He disappeared into the bathroom to change and found it rather difficult to put on his socks as he was shaking all over with silent laughter – an extremely rare phenomenon for him.

During breakfast, Harry and Snape received such a lot of cordial wishes via owl post as to make them forget all about the howlers they had received after the papers had dealt so thoroughly with the topic. Hedwig and Alexander flew up to the wizards together, balancing a very big package between them. There was a note glued to the top. Harry removed and opened it:

Dear Harry,

This is a custom-made Valentine's gift for you and your snarky boyfriend. All you have to do is prod the package deeply with your wand four times. Enjoy.

Messieurs Weasley and Weasley

PS: We strongly recommend that you carry the package outdoors at night before activating it.

Snape rubbed his hooked nose suspiciously.

"Yeah, knowing Fred and George, it's going to be something pretty much combustible," Harry grinned.

"We'll find out tonight, hopefully without losing any limbs," Snape remarked.

Since Valentine's Day happened to fall on a Sunday, Harry and Snape proceeded to enjoy the day as much as they could, going out for a walk, sharing sunflower seeds, exchanging kisses and personal information. Thus, Snape admitted to Harry that he had been completely disillusioned by love.

"I grew up without love. My father despised me and my mother was too afraid to protect me or show any affection for me," Snape said expressionlessly as he sat with Harry underneath a tree. Harry stroked his fingers as he listened quietly. He realised that Snape's trust in him was a very precious gift, not easily given, and something to be treasured.

"Later, when I realised that I preferred men and that I had absolutely no chance of gaining any man's affection, I spat on the mere notion of love. I came to regard it as an obstacle, as a weakness. So when you returned to Hogwarts as a teacher, and I started to feel attracted to you, I was in a big dilemma."

"And now? Are you still in a dilemma?"

Snape smiled.

"No," he said, "not anymore. Not with you here with me."

When darkness fell, Harry reminded Snape of the package Fred and George had sent them.

"Let's take it outside, then," Snape said, lifting it up and striding away, Harry following with a grin. Snape placed the box on the grass in front of the gates and Harry gave the package four strong prods. It immediately began to smoke and crackle in a rather menacing way.

"Stand back!" He grabbed Severus's arm and backed away.

"So much for Gryffindor bravery," Snape murmured.

Harry ignored him, his eyes on the package. A series of deafening explosions erupted and a shower of colourful sparks howled up into the sky, depicting a red lion dancing with a green snake. This vanished with a very convincing growl of a lion and serpent's hiss after a few seconds and was replaced with huge magenta letters spelling:

"HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, HARRY AND SEVERUS!"

Harry burst out laughing and turned to his lover. Snape's lips were parted. He looked utterly overwhelmed. Harry expected him to shower the Weasley twins with curses and rush back to the castle with the aim of sulking in the dungeons. Instead, he took Harry's hand.

"Fine bit of magic," he whispered into his ear, making him shiver.

People rushed to the windows and outside the castle to admire the most explosive Valentine they had ever experienced before. Dumbledore decided that this Valentine's Day was worth stowing away in his Pensieve for future reference and amusement.

The spectacle lasted for a good half-hour, and the smell of gunpowder for even longer. Once the display had finished with three cannon blasts, a glittery scarlet heart of gigantic proportions and the words "GRYFFERIN", "SLYFFINDOR" and "SNARRY", the two wizards strolled around near the lake, laughing and talking softly together, and when they paused during their walk, it was to steal kisses from each other.

Once back in their quarters and ready for bed, Harry proceeded to jinx the bedclothes.

"Will you stop messing around with my bed?" Snape barked.

The young man looked at him innocently.

"May I suggest something, Severus?"

A narrow eyebrow was raised.

"I'm waiting."

"I suggest that we mess around in the bed."

Snape's mouth curved into a smile.

"Detention for your cheek, Harry."

"When?"

"Now. And…" He turned the sheets back to green. Harry, however, changed them so that the sheets were now a striking pattern of green and red stripes.

"Brat," Snape growled.

Harry laughed. Snape approached the bed and flicked his wand. The sheets became completely silver.

"Oh, cool!" Harry said, grinning brightly. Snape shook his head and sat down next to him.

"Give me your hand, Harry."

Harry became serious and obeyed. Snape studied the hand for a few moments, then extracted a small box from his robes. It was a beautiful deep green colour.

"A token of what I feel for you," Snape explained. "As long as you wear this around your neck, I will be with you. Ordered from Tibet – finest jade. It goes with your eyes…apart from the fact that it is the colour of my House. I put charms on it to protect you against curses. It can absorb Unforgivable Curses thrice, but then it will shatter."

He pressed it into Harry's hand, who, amazed, slowly raised the lid. He gasped as he saw the jade disc which lay inside, green as his eyes, beautiful in its round delicate structure. It was attached to a platinum chain.

He wrapped his arms around Snape with a spontaneity and warmth which deeply touched and charmed the Potions Master.

"Thank you, Severus. Thank you so much," he whispered unsteadily, "it is exquisite."

He drew back with tears in his eyes.

"Will you put it on for me, please?" he asked.

Snape fastened the chain around Harry's neck. Harry touched it reverently and raised it to his lips.

"I will never remove this. I, uhm, got you something as well, but it's nothing compared to this." He touched the chain again and, with his wand, summoned a large rectangular package.

"A DVD-player?" Snape said, when he had unpacked it.

"I've seen the covetous looks you've been giving mine, and you complained that the Hogwarts one was an old model. This one is the latest player on the market. Please tell me if you don't like it. I can still exchange it or-"

Snape silenced Harry with a kiss.

"I love it. I've already watched half the DVDs you gave me for Christmas. I'm going to watch the other half on your gift – with your company."

They began to hug and kiss passionately. Snape's fingers touched the healed tattoo on Harry's lower back. At the touch, Harry knew that it was time to take their relationship to a new level.

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