Thank you to anyone who has taken interest in my story! I appreciate your time spent reading this and the people who already took an interest in following, I really do!

I meant to say in my last chapter that this story I do not plan to have it jump right into a Harry and Snape romance. If any scenes between them happen it'll be chapters down the road. I have a pretty meticulous relationship plot coming up about them and if you enjoy a good Harry/Sev romance than I think you will be pleased. One thing I always appreciate in HP/SS fics is a slow development between the two. The build up adds so much more tension between their romance which I think is why I enjoy it so much.

I am actually a couple chapters ahead of this but like to go back and edit as much as possible. In fact, I already have their first steamy scene typed up. But, if you are eager to get to it then all I can say is that I am motivated by knowing what I write is being enjoyed, otherwise I will spend ages editing. So, please review and let me know!

Again, thank you for you time :)

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The next morning Severus sat in his usual spot with the mug of coffee on the stand just out of reach. The Daily Prophet had a very peculiar headline on it's cover that forced Snape to forget the coffee in the moment and read the paper instead. It read:

"Harry Potter: Sexual Orientation Exposed"

When Snape had spotted the headline from across the room, he almost spilled the coffee from the urge to rush over in his robe and slippers for a closer look. Surely he read the headline wrong, Potter was a straight man- last he was aware. But according to the Prophet, he was in fact a gay individual. The "source" who leaked the fact had claimed to see Harry in a muggle town with another man. Prophet reporters had followed Potter and sure enough- with meticulous plotting, a picture proved the fact. There in the article picture was Harry Potter, hand in hand with another man while absentmindedly walking down a shopping square.

When questioned, the typical brave Potter did not deny his sexuality and encouraged younger men and women to do the same, 'to not fear what society pressures upon them.'

"Very original... Potter," sneered Snape. Though why did he care so much? After all Potter was nothing more than a pathetic attention-seeking idiot.

From the corner of his eyes he looked to the tall Grand-Father clock. It read 5:45, still too early for the man to run by.

Snape ignored the clock and looked back to the paper. Who was the man in the picture anyways? Perhaps a bloke from school. Weasley? No, the man was a blonde. Snape ceased his investigation on the picture and continued the article instead. Reading further on, the interview with Harry stated that the unknown man was a muggle.

"Oh Potter, how unique. But alas you still amaze the Wizarding world. How typical to want to remain in the spot light." Snape growled.

Though despite his annoyance towards Harry, a pang of envy struck inside him. The pride the young man had was sometimes admirable- even to Snape. If only he had been so brave during his younger years to admit the same, but the times that each faced were by no means symmetrical. Harry was fortunate to come forth in the world he was in today.

5:49. No Potter yet.

The thought sprang into Severus. Yes, perfect for this to arise just in time for him to vent his frustrations. Perfect.

With a sudden scurry he rolled the Prophet under his arm and grabbed the still hot mug from off the table. Stepping out into the nipping cold of the early morning, he made his way over the gate of the fence and waited. Within just a few minutes he spotted the bouncing form at the very end of the road progressing his way towards Snape.

Snape leaned up against the gate just behind the vine-covered arbor and sipped his coffee trying to appear casual. The extra steam let off from the coffee dispersed across Severus's smirking features.

It didn't take long for Harry to get close enough for Snape to make out his appearance as he peeked behind his hiding spot. He wore typical muggle clothing for his runs; shorts, running shoes and a plain gray t-shirt. The real big difference Snape immediately noticed was the absence of his glasses. Sweat covered most of his body which only proved to show his hard work exerted in the cool morning air. Each exhaled breath left temporary clouds of vapor behind him. He seemed to be completely lost in his own world.

Harry didn't seem to notice the man as he continued to run past the yard.

"Couldn't resist the temptation for the spot light, could you?"

Harry's eyes shot to the man and he suddenly skidded to a stop. His expression grew wide at the recognition of who had interrupted his run. "Professor Snape!?"

"Who else could I possibly be? What a moronic question Potter. Though alas I should not be surprised."

Harry's face glistened with sweat. The dark hair was tousled about his head and stuck in random arrangements. His lightning scar shone bright against his sweaty fore-head. Harry took deep gulps of air trying to catch his breath. "I didn't know... you lived... here."

"4 years." He stated this matter-of-factually- a childlike justification that he had indeed 'been here first'.

"Oh, wow, I live..." still out of breath, he waved his hand to indicate down the road.

"I assumed so much. Seeing as each morning you disturb my view of the forest." With that he gestured towards the massive trees across the road. They were actually very handsome trees. In the natural wilderness they had never been tampered with by mankind and came to grow massive in girth while blossoming bright flowers against the contrast of the leaves. Just behind the treeline was a meadow in the distance, though not much detail about that could be seen except for the hue of yellow.

Harry almost laughed. "Ah... what a shame. Yes... the view of these trees must be... a breath of fresh air for you. I see... you're out of the dank dungeons finally. Vacation I hear?"

"Yes. Some time away from the nuisance of that place. Though I ache for those dungeons dearly. My time off this year has been quite prolonged, but no duration away from Hogwarts will make me yearn the idiocy of the students." His lip curled at the memory of the vulgar children.

Harry smirked. "Not much has changed... about you- Professor."

"Nor you, arrogant, attention-seeking... Potter."

Harry almost smiled. "What a shame...I was going to say it was good to see you. I have been quite busy... with my auror training lately and have not seen you... around."

"Yes, that brings me to my point. Read the Prophet much?"

Harry shook his head and took a deep managed breath. "Not yet, though on my lunch break at training I likely will."

Snape sneered. "Very well. You maintain to persist in the headlines, even five years later. How characteristic of you."

Harry eyed the man suspiciously before he realized what the middle-aged man was inquiring. "Oh, yes. That." He rolled his eyes. "I figured they would release it sooner or later. At least I had the audacity to come forth rather than keep my sexuality a secret." He glared at Snape from across the fence. Surely their reunions wouldn't always be straight to jumping down each others throats?

Snape deepened his own scowl back at the young man. "Whatever your scant brain thinks it has caught onto, rest assured they are lies," Snape spat the last word as if it in itself were acid.

Harry laughed. "Oh, I know professor. In fact, while you were locked away in Azkaban awaiting trial, I had the opportunity of sort for a 'special trip' during training to your old home. Does the name... oh what was it? Oh yes. Kirnap Crowell have any significance?"

Snape just about lost his temper at the man. His brow furrowed deep lines of agitation and fury. He hadn't expected this turn of events.

"Oh, did that stir some emotions?" Snape's sexuality was a deep hidden secret, and Harry, being who he was, took the opportunity to have the upper hand in their heated discussions for once. He was secured in the fact he wouldn't have to face a detention for his speaking out of the truth. "Oh don't feel worried, most of the letters were never actually released to the public. You can thank me for that, by the way."

"You nosy little brat. What did you do?"

Harry placed his hands upon his hips to rest his aching back from his run. "I burned the letters. Every last one."

"Why?" Snape growled.

Harry took a deep breath and looked into the eyes of the man who no doubt, hated him more than ever before. "Well, I figured so much that you didn't need that sort of attention from the Daily Prophet. I felt if you were to remain innocent, then they needed to focus on the important facts. I knew that they would of wrote about that instead, and no one would of really cared about what happened in the end because the Prophet would of made you sound... bad. A lot of the Prophet is biased and full of prejudice, I came to discover that even after things changed, a lot of it will always remain the same."

Surprised, Snape could only examine the man. He had never for a second conceived that the conversation would be directed towards him when he plotted the attack upon impulse. But more than anything, he was surprised Potter would do such a thing for him. The trials for his freedom had been very stressful for him as not all believed in his innocence. To be quite frank, if it weren't for Harry, he would never have seen daylight outside of Azkaban. Harry had been the only person to vouch for his good intentions and provided the Ministry with the very memories Snape had provided Harry at the time of his perceptible death.

"Well, since you're at a loss of words I think I will be on my way." Harry went to leave but turned back once again, "It's called, "thank you" by the way." He smirked.

Severus finally came to his senses and snapped, "You wretched little twerp? Thank you? Hah! Over my own grave!" He nonchalantly took a drink of the hot coffee.

Harry smirked. Some things would never change. "Well either way, I hope you'll return the favor one day" Harry turned around and began to jog his way down the road. When just feet from the edge of the property, he stopped and shouted, "I fancy your bathrobes!"

Grumbling, Severus turned foot and headed his way back into the security and sanctity of his cottage.

That blasted Potter.

000ooo000ooo

Well there ya go :)

They now acknowledged each others existence and it didn't go half as bad! Though tables will turn and Harry will come in seeking for that favor Snape is in debt to him ;)

Thanks again for your time

:)