I don't own any of this... you all know the drill.
Thank you for all the reviews. I love reviews. They make my heart happy...hint hint.
Also, I am sorry this is so short. I wanted to get it posted before my air head of a muse decided to skip town again.

Harry sat in his favorite chair facing the warm cheery fire that Hermione had started when she and Ron had first arrived. On the small end table in front of him sat the two way parchment from 'S'. He could hear the minutes on the clock ticking down until he was supposed to start his "date". He had owled the other man that morning, asking if they could have a chat around seven that evening.
He hadn't informed the other man of his plan to include his friends. He wasn't going to let them say anything via the parchment, but he wanted them there when he let 'S' in on what was his mind.

"Harry?" Hermione's voice was nervous. He could tell that she was unsure of the situation. He knew that he had been sitting there silently staring at the parchment for at least five minutes. Trying his best to convince himself that it was a good idea to go through with the plan he had come up with.

"Sorry. Are you sure that this doesn't bother you? I mean, its Snape…" Harry let the question that he had asked at least forty-seven die. The looks on their faces told him all he needed to know.

"Oh shut up. You know we don't care. I'm going to make some tea. You want some?" Ron looked from Harry to Hermione. When neither said anything he shrugged and walked to the kitchen. They could hear him rummaging around in the cupboards until he found the tea he wanted. When the kettle started to whistle Hermione met Harry's eyes.

"I know you're nervous but you really shouldn't be. I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Now get ready, it's just now seven." Even as the words left her mouth, the tidy slanted penmanship that Harry was surprised he hadn't recognized as Snape's the moment he saw it, appeared in front of him.

Lightning?

I'm here.

How was your day? I know that you mentioned in your letter that you had quite a few things to do.

It was great actually. I got a lot done. I'm having a get together for a few friends now that my house is finished. I was out placing orders for all the things I'll need for the party. How are you? How was work?

Harry had to stop himself from asking 'S' how the days classes had gone.

Surprisingly well all things considered. I only had to raise my voice at two people today. When is this party of yours?

In about two weeks. I'm excited. I love having people here. And I haven't seen some of the people I am inviting in ages. Speaking of invitations…

Harry looked from Hermione to Ron, who was sitting at her feet with a mug of tea in his hand.

Yes?

Harry bit his bottom lip nervously. The look on Ron's face made him lean forward and scratch his quill across the parchment.

I was wondering if you are doing anything this weekend?

Sitting on his bed, Severus smiled to himself. He had a feeling that he knew what the younger man was asking, but he wanted to tease him a bit.

Well that depends

What does it depend on?

Your ability to ask that question we both know you are dying to ask

Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow? Here at my place?

Snape smiled at the parchment. He had been meaning to ask Lightning if he wanted to get together for a drink, but the idea of sitting in the younger mans home and having an intimate evening to them selves was much more appealing.

I would be delighted. What time would you like me to arrive? Should I bring anything?

Harry read the conversation aloud to his two companions, leaving out any naughty details that he felt they wouldn't want to know. Slowly, with each word that graced the parchment, his apprehension lessened. He had invited his former Professor to his home for what could only be considered a date. He was planning on making it the best first date either of them had ever had.

~*~*~*~

Severus stood in front of his wardrobe wearing nothing but a towel around his slim hips. The wode swirls on his back moving in time with the beat of the song that was thumping out of the magically powered record player in to corner of the mans room. The desire to look nice for his first meeting with 'Lightning' was something that he refused to stamp down. Looking at the clothing before him he sighed. He knew that the younger man had gone to Hogwarts while he taught there. That in and of its self was a reason for Severus to avoid wearing anything that would remind the younger man of their previous relationship.

He knew that spending an evening in with 'Lightning' would be nothing if not comfortable and relaxing. The desire to look the part himself was almost overwhelming. That is why he reached into the back of tall wooden wardrobe and pulled out a pair of black denim trousers. He had never minded looking like a muggle. Their clothing, though sometimes loud and ridiculous, was usually very comfortable and had more then one advantage. He knew that he drew attention when he was his jeans. That was one of the reasons that he never wore them while he was Hogwarts during the school year. It was all well and good to walk around in the clubs of muggle London showing off his assets in clothing that clung to his form. It was another thing all together to dress like that around his students. The last thing he needed was to have them thinking that he had something in common with them besides the ability to turn oxygen into carbon dioxide.

The cold weather and his desire to not look like an adolescent had him reaching for a thick green jumper that Dumbledore had given him that Christmas in an attempt to 'add more color' to his life. When he lifted the jumper his eyes were drawn to the shirt sitting beneath it. A smile spread across his face and he added the shirt to the now growing pile of clothing that he planned on wearing.

Forty five minutes later Severus trudged his way through Diagon Alley. He had twenty minutes until he was due at 'Lightning's'. He refused to show up empty handed no matter when the other man had said.

~*~

Hermione stood across the room from Harry, her hands on her rounded hips while her left foot tapped the ground in an irritated rhythm.

"He will be here in less then twenty minutes! I can't believe you don't have a shirt on yet."

Harry just sent a smile her way and picked up another tee shirt. He pulled it on and turned to his friend. "What do you think?"

He watched Hermione mouth the words before shaking her head. "If you really must…" she said with a small smile.

Harry winked and headed out the door toward the kitchen. He had a sauce to stir and pasta that needed to be added to water. Not to mention two friends that, as much as he loved them, he needed to send on their way.

~*~

Severus landed in the front garden of 7 Church Rd. Snow crunched under his dragon skin boots as he turned to take in the cottage before him. It stood well back from the road, two stories high. The shutters and rounded door were painted a deep emerald green while the cottage its self was made of brick. Black smoke wafted out of the chimney causing the air to take on a subtle smell of hickory and peat. A pair of Wellington boots sat on the small porch inside the arched door frame. The mat had the words Wipe your feet, your Mother doesn't live here written on it. Severus lifted his hand to the door with a smile, the light rap of his knuckles announcing his presence to the occupant of the home.

~*~

Ron, being the closest to the door when they heard the knock, turned on his heel in what his mother referred to as 'the foyer' and opened the door. The site that greeted him was one that he would hold in his mind, with pleasure, forever.

~*~

Severus blinked, twice. With a shake of his head and one more blink he opened his eyes and focused on the tall man in front of him.

"No. Not you." His deep voice lacked all of the sarcasm that Ron had come to associate with his least favorite Professor.

"Of course it's not me. I don't fancy blokes and this isn't my house. I was just leaving. C'mon Hermione." With those words he took a step forward, making sure to wrap the red and gold scarf tightly around his neck to hold off the chill in the air.

Snape stepped back out of the way, a stunned look on his face as Hermione Granger followed Ron down the cottages front steps. "Hello Professor." She said in a cheery voice. Turning slightly he watch two thirds of the golden trio walked toward the street, their gloved hands entwined. Dread filled his stomach as the reality of the situation hit him.

He was not a stupid man by any stretch of the imagination. He rarely, if ever, missed the obvious. He heard a soft cough and turned his head. When his black eyes met the green eyes of the Boy Who Lived all the things he had missed in the last month caught up to him.

"Hello S, would you like to come in?" The small shy smile on Harry's face was all that kept Severus from turning on his heel and walking away.

With a slight nod he walked up onto the porch again. The feeling of shock he had had when he first realized where he was had worn off. Now he just wanted answers. ~*~

Severus sat at the table in Harry's kitchen, the wine and flowers he had purchased in Diagon Alley stood in front of him on the scrubbed oak surface. His eyes followed Harry as he moved about, draining the ziti from the boil pot and then adding it to a bowl along with ricotta cheese and his home made sauce. His long golden fingers transferred the pasta mixture to a pan, covered it with mozzarella and slid it into the oven. Whipping his hands he turned to face the man sitting at his table.

"Thank you for the flowers, I really like-."

Severus cut him off before he could explain exactly what he really liked. "To be honest Potter, I don't care. I want to know exactly what you think you are doing here."

"I was under the impression that I was making baked ziti, but if you think something else is going on here, feel free to let me know." Harry responded with a slight smirk.

"Don't be an ass. You know exactly what I am talking about here. Is this a joke? Did you think it would be funny to respond to my ad? A nice big joke that you and your snot nosed little friends could play on the big bad Potions Professor?"

Harry looked at Severus as though he had grown another head.

"Does this look like a joke to you?" He gestured toward the oven and counter, indicating the dinner he was preparing. "I had no idea who you were until a week ago. When I saw Heathcliff at the head table. I have to say that I really appreciate the high opinion you have of me and my friends though. Thanks for that."

Harry finished what he was saying while he pulled out the chair across from Severus. Sliding into the chair he looked the older man over and smiled. Having removed his coat, it was easier for Harry to make out the planes of his chest through the form fitting green jumper. He was so used to seeing Severus in his thick woolen teaching robes that hid his frame. "You look good by the way. I like you in green."

Severus just looked at him. He wasn't sure what to say. He remembered the day that Harry was talking about. Heathcliff had landed at the table carrying a note that Harry had written. What had he said when the owl landed at the table? 'He looks similar to an owl a friend of mine has.'

"You called me your friend." The words slipped from his mouth before he realized it.

"Of course I did. What do you think this past month of letters has been? I would consider the man that I wrote to my friend, and I got the impression that you considered Lightning your friend. Was I wrong?"

"No." Severus said with a sigh. "Lightning is my friend. Harry Potter on the other hand, is not."

"Well tough, because the last time I checked I am both Harry Potter and Lightning. If that's going to be an issue for you then I am sorry. Now, I have to make the salad for dinner, would you like to chop the mushrooms for me?"

Severus just looked at Harry. He knew that he had two options. He could do as the other man had asked and help prepare the salad to go with their supper or he could walk to the front door, don the pea coat he had removed when he entered the cottage and leave. Then he could leave Harry Potter and all the headaches that came with him behind. He knew that leaving Harry behind meant leaving Lightning behind as well and that wasn't something that he was willing to do. He enjoyed talking to the younger man who he found funny and insightful at different turns. It didn't hurt the situation any that Lightning was wickedly sexual and more then a bit submissive. The situation was also helped along by the fact that while Potter may have been a pain in Severus's ass, he was quite fit. The clothing he was wearing was just tight enough to show off the hard lines of his body. Though he would never be tall, Harry had filled out since his time at Hogwarts. Severus could see the definition in his chest under the black tee shirt that declared Harry's desire for co-ed naked quidditch. The jeans the younger man had on had clung to his arse and thighs while he had been transferring their supper into its cooking dish. The hair was still as untidy as it had always been, but as Severus's eyes raked over Harry's face he noticed the differences that he had been blocking out after knowing the young man for seven years. His cheeks, though never full and chubby as a child's should be, and thinned to an appealing hollow. His jaw lines had squared off and the golden tint that seemed to radiate from his very skin was still in evidence in early March, even with snow still on the ground.

"Where is the knife I'll be using?" Severus asked as he rose from his chair, causing Harry to grin up at him.

"Just there, on the magnetic strip above the sink. I'm glad you've decided to stay Severus. I've been looking forward to this. Spending the evening with you I mean."

Harry blushed when Severus looked at him, a pink shadow that played along his cheek bones. "So have I. I will admit that it was shocking to find out you are Lightning, but I've come to the conclusion that this could be worse."

The green eyed younger man raised an eyebrow at his companion, "How's that?"

Severus smiled; the first smile Harry had ever witnessed from the man, "It could have been Weasley."

Harry laughed as he leaned toward his former professor. His green eyes sparkled with mirth as his lips came in contact with Severus's right cheek. "I knew this would work out." He whispered just load enough for the other man to hear, his lips moving against the cheek he had just kissed.

Stepping away from Harry, Severus looked at the younger mans face. The blush he expected to see was no where in site. With a nervous breath he leaned forward, letting his lips graze Harry's forehead. "I'm glad I decided to stay as well."

~*~