AN: As I've been keeping my avid, as if, fans on their toes, here's another chapter as an apology for the five month lapse in updates. The ending is a little sappy, but with chapter 11 and 12 being so dark I thought let there be light. Or something to that effect.

Chapter 14. Dodging The Dumbledore

Severus watched as his lover dodged another attempt of information gathering from the Headmaster. In a way it was amusing to watch the man widely regarded as the most powerful wizard of their time try to pin down a 5'5 foot school boy and extort information of the said waif.

The influence, that Harry yielded was once again working for him, a fact that caused great satisfaction to the power hungry Slytherin living inside Severus. No matter what Harry did it was bound to be spectacular, even if Severus had no idea once again on what was going on. A fact that Harry took no small amount of joy in constantly teasing Severus about. To lose information of such importance, to the heavenly imagines of chocolate, was unforgivable. This was it; he would have to go to… the dreaded Chocoholics Anonymous.

A promise he had made for five years now, and had never kept. Even the horrible event of a Gryffindor finding out of his terrible addiction hadn't been a fate too terrible to make him give up chocolate. A shame really, as that would have been the only threat big enough for him to unbend on the subject. Harry had never mentioned his problem in a negative manner and for that fact alone Severus would have loved the fennsey.

Slytherin common room was crowded as most of the house had noticed the same interest on Dumbledore's part and were now trying to find out what was going on with Harry. Harry remained serene and continued working on his Transfiguration homework dodging questions left and right.

A small smile lightened his face from time to time, frustrating the suspicious minds of their year mates. Many Slytherins were left guessing as the political game Harry played so well, left them without answers and only more questions.

Finally it was time for bed, Severus and Harry shared a room of their own as none of the Slytherins had been willing to deal with Severus' rapid tongue so often in the early mornings. Coffee had been the only thing that made mornings bearable to the others when Severus was woken up too early, a fact well known by now. Harry seemed to be immune to the older boy's venom. A fact that had quickly endeared himself to their fellow Slytherins. None were brave enough to take on Severus without his morning coffee. A task left for Harry alone.

A fact that they had blessed when their relationship became more intimate. A need for privacy for serious talks and some snuggling was very much appreciated by the teens. Love just didn't seem like love when you had to snuggle in a dorm with four other teens.

'-rus…' Harry whispered quietly.

'Mmmph… What?' Severus replied sleepily. He had been having a very nice dream about dancing potions and had been about to be crowned the King of Potionia, something that in his sleepy mind was vital to his well being. Ergo, he needed to sleep some more to achieve that goal.

'What do you think we'll be doing three years from now?' Harry asked in a small voice.

Severus roused himself awake hearing the trace of uncertainty and self doubt in the younger boy's voice.

'Well, I'll be working on my Potions Mastery and you'll be studying at the Magical Institute of Transfiguration for your theses on multi-animanga or something to that effect.' Severus pondered quietly. 'Come to think of it, they hadn't really talked about their future at all. What were they going to do? Share a flat? Or would they rent a house? And where would the living costs come from as neither had much money. Would one of them have to work and support the other? What about the war? Either one of them could be killed in a raid or just be recruited or…' So many thoughts flew through his head that he didn't know were to start. They were going to be adults soon, did this mean that all the freedom and joy from their life would disappear with those old childhood dreams. What would the future bring?

'Oh, its just I've been thinking and all I can figure out is that I want to stay by your side. No matter what happens.' Harrys musing cut effectly through all of Severus' panic.

'Yes, stay together. We'll always stay together. Let's do that.' Severus said slowly. 'Yes that was what the future was all about being with Harry on their own, being happy with the ups and downs of life and just being happy. That is what the future will bring. Nothing is more certain than that we'll be together.' With that thought Severus went back to sleep letting the light snore from Harry lull him into the arms of Morpheus.

TBC…