Severus' last words were ringing through Harry's head, after he had left. Harry was shocked by the man's declaration, though not by his attitude. The man always seemed to think he would get what he wanted. Harry had proved him wrong, when he refused to let him give up on rehab. He had been just as determined as the man, to show him he could be right once and a while. Harry knew it should not be a competition, but he still worried about getting hurt in all of this. He had been through a lot with Ginny, and he had never been in love with her. He could admit he had trust issues, he had learned too often there were people you couldn't trust. He had also sworn he would protect his son from the pain he faced. But watching his son and Severus together, he knew he was a fool. He could see how much Severus adored his son, and Teddy absolutely loved him.

But in the days that followed, the man never mentioned it. It was until Friday, when Harry and Teddy were at the manor, that they spoke. Harry had allowed his son to be part of the rehab now. Rehab no longer was contained into a workout room as before.

Harry marveled at the man with his son and the horses. "Amazing."

Severus smirked. "That the horses aren't bighting me?"

Harry laughed. "That and you don't have your cane in hand."

Severus reminded him. "It's not the first time."

Harry agreed. "But you have Teddy in your arms, and you have moved a bit."

Severus grunted. "I can't bend the knee at all."

Harry came to his side. "But you have weight on it. You could stand at the potions table."

Severus smirked. "Maybe ten minutes or a little more."

Harry reminded him. "With practice it will be longer."

Teddy looked up. "Mr. Toby be able play ball with me."

Harry added. "And go back to teaching."

Severus reminded him. "Classes are at least an hour."

Harry didn't back down. "Horace won't be retiring till next fall."

Severus had an odd look. "I hear Poppy is looking to retire."

Harry smirked. "I don't think a medic would work. Besides your bed side manner leaves something to be desired."

Teddy drew them back to him, and to the horses he was looking at. Severus found some carrots and sugar, and helped the little boy feed them. He had to use the cane now, as he was growing too tired, but he was making such progress. Harry knew the man was stubborn, and didn't want to get his hopes up. Harry knew George would say the same thing about him, and perhaps it was true enough.

Teddy was extremely happy as they headed into the house. Harry had agreed to stay for dinner, Draco and Pansy were back from their honeymoon, but Harry knew Lucius was using it as an excuse. All three Malfoys, Pansy was one now, liked to play matchmaker.

Draco smiled when he saw them. "I was wondering if you had run off."

Harry ignored him and turned to Pansy. "You look happy and rested."

Pansy kissed him on the cheek. "We had a wonderful time in Tahiti."

Draco had an odd smile. "You guys may like it down the line."

Harry smirked. "Nothing but a kiss, not even a date."

Severus reminded him. "There was that lovely dinner."

Pansy raised an eyebrow. "Dinner? Need some details."

Lucius came over with wine. "Don't get up your hopes, it was a family dinner."

Draco smirked. "You got yourself invited to a family dinner?"

Harry corrected him. "He invited himself is more like it."

Teddy piped in. "I invite."

Severus looked at the little boy and back. "What he said."

Harry ground his teeth. "My son doesn't know any better."

Severus went to take Teddy into the dining room. "When someone is at your house, it is good manners to invite them to dinner."

Harry didn't buy it. "Not when they show up uninvited in the first place."

The Malfoys shared a look, as they watched the three go into the dining room. Pansy was thinking the same thing as both her husband and her father in law. They could see the three of them were the perfect family, or could be, but the fools just needed to have some help. As they sat down at the table, they tried to push the three of them to see it. Severus had finally seen it, he admitted to Lucius what had happened the other night. Lucius had wondered where he went off to, and Severus had told him. He was glad that his brother finally acted.

Severus stopped Harry before he left. "I will pick you up tomorrow at 5."

Harry glared at him. "Inviting yourself over again?"

Severus explained. "To take you out for dinner."

Harry smirked. "Did I say I would go out with you?"

Severus shrugged. "I believe you said we had not been out."

Harry grunted. "I didn't mean that as an invitation."

Severus pulled him in close. "5."

Harry didn't let him kiss at first. "I don't have a baby-sitter."

Pansy spoke up. "Draco and I are happy to have him."

Draco scooped up Teddy. "Do you want to have a sleepover tomorrow when Daddy and Uncle Toby go out for dinner?"

Teddy beamed. "Yes, sleepover with Uncle Drake."

Severus kissed Harry tenderly. "5."

Harry let out a breath. "Fine, 5, but don't think this will happen again."

Severus smiled, and kissed him one last time, happy Harry had accepted. He would have shown up, and whisked Harry off, anyways. But this way was easier, and he was sure there would be plenty more to come. Harry wanted to go out with him; he was simply being stubborn about it. The boy didn't want to admit that Severus was right, that the man had got to him. But Severus would break him down soon enough.

He turned to Draco when Harry was gone. "Thank you."


Harry had no idea why he was doing this. He had never planned to go on a date with the man, and he didn't know why he was. Okay the kisses were good, and he could admit he was attracted to the man. And when he wasn't being obnoxious, he was perhaps funny and smart as well. And he definitely was not someone who would bore Harry like Rick had. But he hated allowing the man to win, and that was what he was doing. He knew it, deep down, that was the dumbest reason not to be with the man. But he just was battling with it all.

He was not surprised somehow, when Draco was not the only one to show up at four. He had come for Teddy, but George and Charlie were both hot on his heels. Harry had not told them about the date, but Draco admitted that he had told them.

George looked at Harry. "He was worried you may back out."

Charlie nodded. "And it seems for good reason."

Harry wasn't happy. "He tricked me into a date."

George laughed. "Not buying it little brother."

Charlie agreed. "You know you are attracted to him."

Harry was led up to his room. "I swear he has brainwashed you all."

Draco had come up stairs with Teddy to say goodbye. "No, we're just not blind."

Teddy smiled. "Daddy have fun on play date."

Harry looked at his son. "Wouldn't you rather I stay home? We could have a movie night?"

Teddy shook his head. "Sleep over with Uncle Drake. You play with Mr. Toby."

Harry kissed his son. "Be good for your Uncle."

Teddy smiled. "Yes daddy."

Charlie picked out a shirt for Harry. "Now time to get you ready."

George agreed. "Your date will be here soon enough."

Harry let them work but tried. "I don't know why you are doing his dirty work. He is just trying to beat me."

Charlie stopped. "This isn't a game Harry. Don't let being stubborn and not wanting to give in to him, cost you this."

George agreed with his brother. "You have a good guy. Let yourself be happy."

They reminded him, that he had never really had a chance. When he broke up with Ginny, it had been his chance to finally move on. He was free of the war, and he could be himself for once. Rick had been a good start, but he needed to take the next step may not have been their first choice, but he made both Harry and Teddy both quite happy. And if Harry stopped fighting it, he would be able to see that too. He was so determined not to let the man win; he wouldn't let himself see it. It wasn't a competition, if Harry stopped fighting, they would both win. And so would Teddy, as he obviously adored the man.

Harry knew his brothers were right, though he was not about to admit it. But he was also not about to take it easy on Severus either. If he wanted to date Harry, and have Teddy, he was going to have to fight for it. His declaration after reading to Teddy, was in his head.

Severus showed up right on time. "You're here."

Harry shook his head. "I live here last I looked."

Severus took something from behind his back. "I thought you may run."

Harry tried to look hurt. "Me run?"

George had come down behind him. "We kept him in line."

Harry realized the man had wild flowers. "Flowers? Didn't expect that from you."

Severus handed them to him. "Lucius' idea."

George took the flowers. "I'll put them in water."

Harry looked at the man. "Did you allow Lucius to plan the entire day?"

Severus led him out. "No."

Harry was surprised when they got off the bus at the Leaky Cauldron. "Maybe we should."

Severus smirked. "I remind you Diagon has grown since the war."

Harry was a bit surprised. "I didn't think you'd had come out since you came back from the dead."

Severus simply said. "I hadn't."

There were a lot of looks, though him coming back from the dead, had been made public some time ago. It had been leaked, and though Harry hated to think it, he had a feeling it may have been Ron. The hospital would have said nothing, and his home was the only place he had gone, except for the manor and the coast. He was known as a spy, and got the order of merlin, but it was still a shock for him to be seen. Severus ignored it, and took him off to one of the new restaurants, down from George's shop on the alley.

Harry was surprised when the man ordered for him. "Presumptuous are you?"

Severus shrugged. "Were you going to order something different?"

Harry grunted. "No. But stop reading my mind."

Severus smirked. "I have seen how you eat often enough."

Harry sipped some water. "You sound a bit like a stalker."

Severus shook his head. "Some men might appreciate when their boyfriend knows their taste."

Harry didn't back off. "Probably found out from Lucius, like the flowers. Besides you're not my boyfriend."

Severus corrected him. "Lucius suggested I bring some, but I picked the kind."

Harry grunted. "You're still not my boyfriend."

Severus shrugged. "It's just a matter of time."

Harry ate some tortellini when it came. "I guess you have good taste. How did you know of this place?"

He shrugged. "I had a lot of time to read the paper over the past two years."

Harry shook his head when Severus offered him a bite of his. "I don't like sea food."

Severus persisted. "Trust me."

Harry gave in and tried a shrimp. "Fine, it's good."

Severus smiled. "See, I know you."

It was a bit odd, but Harry did settle into conversation with the man over dinner. They had never been alone like this before. They had been alone a lot, but when they had been working on rehab. All their meals had included Teddy, or the Malfoys before now. It definitely seemed odd as they had dinner, and some ice cream at Florian's, to be out like this. But Harry could admit perhaps George had been right.

Severus declared as he said goodnight to Harry with a kiss. "You'll need to find a sitter for next Friday. We will go out after rehab."

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