After the meal was gone the awkwardness settled in. Severus had come over and sat in front of him once more. He sat tense and awkwardly on the chair, Severus just looking down into the fire, also at loss of what else to say.

"Hermione and Ron are getting married. Luna and Malfoy too…" he said gently.

"I see, and that sparked curiosity about children?" He asked leaning back turning towards him. Harry shook his head.

"No… the Daily Prophet just keeps talking rubbish and that was today's topic apparently, they were trying to guess what they would look like and how many we would have and then I wondered how that was even possible." He said simply.

"You're not in a hurry to get married are you, Potter?" He asked. Harry looked up shocked at this.

"O-of course not! I mean… getting engaged at eighteen? It just seems too early… though I guess even my parents did it so maybe it's normal." He mumbled the last part. "Besides… we're hardly… I mean… you and me…" he frowned slightly. "What are we exactly?"

Severus rolled his eyes at the other's question. Though at least he was still sitting there, listening. "What do you want us to be?" He asked simply. Harry opened his mouth but closed it again. Should he say it? He took a deep breath and accumulated the Gryffindor courage needed to speak.

"I want… us to try and see, if maybe one day… maybe… we could see ourselves being together… married… I guess..." He said softly and took another deep breath. "And having a family." He added at the end. He looked up at the other and saw that Snape was as shocked as he was that he had actually said that. But at least it was out there now. It was therefor in Snape's hands to accept his expectations or end this before it got any further.

Severus leaned forward and placed his hand over the one Harry gripping onto the edge of the chair. Harry hadn't realised how tense he'd been until he felt the other's hand over his pale knuckles and relaxed. "I would also like to try."

Harry smiled at that. Severus pulled him towards him gently and Harry came over, sitting on the other's lap as Severus placed a hand on his neck, pulling him into a kiss.

Safely wrapped in the other's arms, between kisses and wandering hands—Though Severus made sure not to wander under his clothes–Harry started getting that same feeling he'd had two days ago when he'd gone too fast and gotten scared.

Severus must have felt his lower lip tremble and stopped the kiss, just pressing their foreheads together, holding him close. Harry smiled as he rested his head against the other's shoulder, both of them comfortable in each other's space, sitting in blissful silence.

Harry didn't expect extroverted dates. Just spending time with the other was enough for him. He didn't care much for the romantic grandeur some people believe dates should have and he was pretty sure that in that sense he and Severus were perfectly matched.

Harry had never had anyone to belong just to him for long, Sirius was the only example. His heart clenched in pain remembering the loss and sighed. At least now he had someone, as soulmates they were meant to be together, even if they didn't work out… Harry knew… that he would always have the other there… and he would always be there for him. Though, Harry wasn't planning on letting go of Severus any time soon.

-o-O-o-

It was the whispers of 'good riddance' and 'about time' that drew Harry's attention. He didn't know what it was about and his friends kept relatively quiet about it. Between lessons people encouraged him and patted him on the back until Harry had enough and turned to his friends. They were in the library all working together. As Ginny and Luna were also here, by addition, Draco and Neville sat on the same round table.

"Alright, what's going on? Everyone keeps congratulating me, what did I do this time?" Harry asked. Ron and Hermione looked at each other. The Gryffindors didn't say anything, Luna watched with a dreamy smile leaving it to the Gryffindors to decide what to say. It was Draco, who couldn't sense the mood—too busy looking at the wedding catalogues his mother had sent—who answered his question.

"Lestrange, Greyback and the other deatheaters are getting the dementors kiss tomorrow." He said flipping through the pages, cakes of every tasteful colour filling this particular catalogue. It was only natural that he missed the glare sent his way by everyone. Only at the silence did he glance up to notice. "What?" He exclaimed frowning.

Harry looked down at the divination book he'd been reading, but his eyes didn't focus.

"Tomorrow…" he whispered. Without looking at his friends he grabbed his things and walked off, rushing to find Severus. They watched him go before turning to glare at Draco once more.

"What? What do you want from me?" He complained. Luna smiled holding his hand.

"Oh Draco, you and tact don't go together." She said sweetly. He stared back at her blankly, not understanding what she meant.

-o-O-o-

Harry went up the spiral staircases. Hearing voices he knocked, waiting for the other to let him in. The voices quieted down. Harry heard the tell-tale sound of someone flooing away and entered as Severus called him in.

"I take it you've heard then." Severus said putting down a letter that bore the crest of the ministry.

"Tomorrow?" He confirmed. Severus nodded.

"I will be gone after lunch, I might come late." He said. Harry came over, going round the desk and sitting on the other's lap once more. Severus held him close as Harry sat there, silent for a couple of minutes.

"I want to go."

"No." Came the immediate response.

"Please Severus… I have to make sure… I have to see them gone." He whispered.

"Don't give me that. I'm not letting you witness that." He said.

"I already witnessed it once, Sirius almost got the dementors' kiss." Harry pointed out. "I want to see it… I want to see them lifeless." He hissed.

"Don't let the anger consume you Harry… those are dark thoughts." He warned him. Harry held onto him tighter, realising he was right. "Very well… tomorrow after lunch you will come with me. I'll let your teachers know you are excused from their lessons." He said. Harry nodded.

"Thank you."