Harry had agreed to his first solo date with Rick on Friday evening. And after the week he had been having, he was looking forward to it. He had managed to get through the week without killing the man, but it took a lot. He thought Draco was lucky; he didn't have to face the man if he chose. He knew he could say no, Lucius couldn't force him to do rehab, but he continued. He had been determined to never let the man win, and he would if he walked away. The man would walk, at least with a cane, and Harry would be proven right. And when he was, Harry could leave his life for good, and move on with his own. He told himself it was like med school, or the war even at times, it was hard and sometimes seemed like he just wanted to quit. But unlike the war, but like med school, though he could have quit he wouldn't. He was determined to see it through.

Rick was collecting him for their date, but at Grimmauld. Harry didn't want his son to be confused by any of it. He had made the mistake of allowing his son to get close to Severus. It wasn't the same, but he wouldn't introduce his son to a date, until they were serious.

Harry had to rescue Rick from Kreacher. "Sorry about that."

Rick laughed. "Haven't had a run down since I was a teen, and usually by a parent."

Harry was amazed at the flowers. "Thank you."

Rick watched as Harry handed them to Kreacher. "I thought Charlie said they were your favorite?"

Harry smiled. "They are. Kreacher won't touch them."

Kreacher bowed. "Put them in water for master."

Harry turned to his date. "What did you have planned?"

Rick led him out. "I thought we'd go muggle."

Harry had a coy smile. "Worried about being seen with me?"

Rick shook his head. "No, I just would like to show you a restaurant I love. But if you'd rather…."

Harry assured him. "I think that sounds great."

Rick apparated them. "It's lucky this place doesn't need you to make reservations too far in advance."

Harry felt bad. "I'm sorry for putting you off so long."

Rick shook his head. "It was worth the wait."

Harry smirked. "Maybe you should wait to see how it goes."

Rick led him inside. "As long as you aren't burping, flirting with other men and falling down drunk, I think we're okay."

Harry teased a bit. "I can promise two out of the three you have no worries."

Rick lifted an eyebrow. "Can I ask which one?"

Harry shook his head. "Where would the fun be in that?"

Harry was of course joking, and Rick knew that. Harry drank very little, and would never on a first date. And he had a hard enough time accepting his first date, without flirting with other men while on it. And any burps he had, well they were not under his control. But as far as he knew, he had no history of burping during dinner. And he usually had pretty good table manners, or so he was told. He hadn't dated a lot, only Ginny in the past, but he hoped he wouldn't be such a disaster his first time. At least if he could keep his mind on the right man.

The restaurant wasn't too fancy, but was a nice little bistro down near the river. Rick had managed to get them a table near the windows, so they had a nice view while they were eating. Harry definitely approved of the location, and the food, when they dug in. And the talk just flowed.

As Rick paid Harry asked. "So how did I do?"

Rick smiled. "Good, but I hope the date isn't over yet."

Harry smiled. "Did you have something in mind?"

Rick nodded. "I thought we'd follow muggle tradition, dinner and a movie."

Harry liked the idea. "I haven't been to a theater in a long time."

Rick led the way and apparated again. "Being a healer and a dad must keep you busy."

Harry shrugged. "Not as busy as I think, my family often says. They think I need to get out more."

Rick had heard from Charlie. "Well maybe I can help with that."

Harry insisted on buying the popcorn. "Oh are you offering to baby-sit?"

Rick shrugged. "I would, but I don't think you'd let me so soon."

Harry confirmed it. "No."

Rick smiled. "So I guess I will just have to settle for you now."

Harry took the popcorn. "I don't know, if I can find the baby-sitter, and pencil in some time….."

Rick threw a piece at him. "You have an army of baby-sitters."

Harry laughed. "They would fight each other to sit, if it meant I'd go out."

Rick got that feeling. "Who got the honors tonight?"

Harry found a seat in the theater. "His grandparents."

Andromeda and Ted had been happy to learn he was going on a date. They had always been encouraging him to have more of a social life. But it had grown since they had learned about Severus. They could see the man had hurt him, and not simply his son. They wished he would talk about it, but they would never push. They hoped a date with a good guy, would help cheer him up at the very least. And as Harry had enjoyed dinner, and now the movie, he could admit they were right. It was good just to laugh and have some fun.

After the movie they went to take a walk before they headed back home. He wasn't expected back at the manor until the following day. The couple insisted he shouldn't rush back from his date. And they knew he'd want to talk to George about it as well.

Rick looked out over the water. "I haven't had such a good time in too long."

Harry agreed. "It was good to laugh."

Rick turned to him. "You seem a bit distracted."

Harry worried. "I'm sorry if I have been a bad date."

Rick assured him. "You haven't been. You just seem to have your mind wander from time to time."

Harry looked back out. "Work I guess."

Rick squeezed his hand. "I know you have had a lot to deal with."

Harry turned back. "But I want to focus on you now."

Rick reached and brushed him with a kiss. "I hope we might have a second date."

Harry agreed. "I promise to try and be less distracted."

Rick eventually took him back to the house. He knew he shouldn't be expecting a second date too soon, but he would be patient. Charlie had warned him that Harry was reluctant to get into dating. He knew he was the first guy, and about Charlie's sister of course as well. Harry felt bad that his distraction had shown at all. He hated that Severus could still get to him like this. The man seemed always there.

George was waiting when he got home, with a smile. "So tell me all about this date."


Harry had been up late the night before. He was surprised, as George had twins at home, but Angie had insisted her husband come. Harry wasn't meant to be to the manor to pick up his son until after lunch anyways. Dinner at the Burrow was on Sunday, and he'd talk to Charlie then. He wondered if Rick would talk to him first. But he was reminded they were more colleagues than friends, and neither worked on the weekends. He thought Rick might also just have waited, to allow Harry to tell him. Rick was a good guy, and Harry really wished he could just think about him. He was only a few years older, a vet, smart, sweet and funny. He was everything that the old ass wasn't.

He was surprised when he got home and found the Tonks weren't there. He wasn't thrilled to learn that they were at Malfoy manor for lunch. The note told him though, that Severus would not be joining them. They knew Harry didn't want the man near his son.

Draco was bringing Teddy in from the stables. "Your daddy should be here soon."

Teddy smiled. "I miss Daddy."

Draco kissed his head. "I am sure he misses you too."

A door opened and Severus came out. "Fuck."

Teddy shook his head. "Bad word, Mr. Sev, bad word."

Draco agreed. "Your language around children has changed."

Severus grunted. "I thought he'd be gone."

Teddy opened his arms. "Mr. Sev tell me story."

Draco shook his head. "I don't think so Teddy."

Sev looked at the little boy. "Still wanting snake stories are you?"

Harry's voice came from behind. "Draco has filled in."

Draco looked at Harry. "I'll take him to the den."

Teddy shook his head. "Daddy stay. I want story from Mr. Sev."

Harry kissed his son. "Go with Uncle Draco."

Teddy wasn't happy at all, but he went with Draco down the hall. Draco didn't want his little cousin around the man, any more than Harry did. He too had seen how upset that Teddy had been last time. He thought that his Uncle had been an ass, and had hurt a lot of people. And he had no doubt that Harry and his Uncle were about to have it out again. He refused to speak to the man himself, so he understood. When his Uncle actually apologized, he may consider some contact. But he wasn't going to hold his breath waiting on that apology to come.

Harry looked at the man, and bristled at how close he had been to his son. He knew he couldn't forbid his son from being brought here. Lucius and Draco were Teddy's family, and he loved to come visit here. He would never deny his little boy these visits.

Severus could hear Teddy. "He wants a story."

Harry glared at him. "Since when do you care what he wants?"

Severus smirked. "You were the one who accused me of making him cry."

Harry shook. "Accused you?"

Severus grunted. "A story would not hurt the boy."

Harry agreed. "But getting close and having you walk out again, would."

Severus bit. "I am not going anywhere now."

Harry didn't buy it. "You're so good at running, what keeps you here this time?"

Severus wasn't as calm as once. "I am not a coward."

Harry had called him it. "You hid for two years."

Severus called as he went to leave. "Do you think it was easy? Do you really?"

Harry turned slightly back. "Didn't have to let anyone in? Could brood like you love? Yes, I do."

Severus ground his teeth. "To lie alone. To mourn people I loved. To struggle with what I had become."

Harry asked. "If that was true, you would have come back."

Severus struggled. "I was trying to protect him."

It wasn't easy, no matter what the boy thought. It wasn't easy spending two years alone, with no one but healers. It wasn't easy to wonder about those that he had left behind. To read the papers, and want to be there for Lucius and Draco. To mourn people like Remus and Narcissa, alone. To struggle with being a cripple, and worried he'd never have magic again, those first months. It wasn't the easy way out everyone accused it of being. The easy way out, would have been telling them, and allowing them to take care of him.

Harry didn't buy it. "Then why run when they found you?"

Severus grunted. "I came back."

Harry didn't let him off. "Because I made you feel guilty. And you still planned to leave."

Severus should have known Lucius would tell him. "I knew Lucius would stop me."

Harry didn't let him get away with it. "Bull."

Severus went to leave. "I don't owe you an explanation."

Harry stopped him. "No. But you will not come near my son."

Severus tried to go around. "Fine. It's not like I want to anyways."

Harry got in his way. "The sad thing is, I think you do."

Severus let out a groan. "Fine. I guess he was amusing."

Harry was happy he could admit that much. "And me? Was I a game? Toying with me?"

Severus shook his head. "I don't play games."

Harry didn't back down. "You kissed me. You kissed me more than once."

Severus agreed. "A kiss. I owe you nothing."

Harry admitted. "I agree. I went on a date last night."

Severus was taken back but tried to hide it. "Good for you."

Harry pushed. "He was cute and charming, and everything you're not."

Severus was losing his cool. "I hope you're happy together."

Harry turned to go down the hall. "Stay away from my son."

Severus called. "Neither you or your son are going to forget me so soon."

Harry turned back. "Unfortunately, you're right. But Rick will help with that."

Severus watched as the boy went, and he felt a rush of emotion. He slammed his crutch into the wall, and swore under his breath. He wanted to find this Rick guy and hex him into next week. But he shook away the thought. There was no way that he was jealous of this man. He had kissed Harry but it had been a mistake. He didn't care about the boy and it was obvious the boy didn't either about him. He could admit perhaps he would miss Teddy. Perhaps telling Teddy had reminded him of telling stories to Draco. And perhaps it had reminded him of Remus as well.

Lucius had appeared next to him. "Going to still deny you have a crush? I have never seen you so jealous since we met."

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