Day 7:

Snape found himself curious about what Harry had thought of his gift. He wanted to know, but he also wanted to be surprised. Only Dumbledore knew how Harry had responded, but he was sure he would find out on day 12. He closed his eyes and stared up at the top of his bed. He had awoken this morning after a nearly restless sleep. All his days of preparation had excited him and made him nervous. He'd even avoided going to supper. Seeing Harry either enjoy or hate the gift made him nervous. The gift for yesterday was about the past. About memories and the past. About childishness. The gift for today was… more special. It was about the future. The future Snape imagined Harry having. Despite what Dumbledore thought, Snape wanted to see Harry be happy in his future.

He sighed and rolled over staring at the letters at his bedside table. He'd sent out letters to the Bigonville Bombers and the Woollongong Warriors. Two teams that could be amazing with Harry on them. He'd sent memories to them of Harry's games. He'd also sent his personal recommendation as well as those of the other Heads of Houses. That initiated a conversation that had lasted days and in the end both wanted Harry, bad! They'd sent uniforms and asked that he be offered to join either team. Harry could choose which one he wanted. This was a job for McGonnagal though. She would be the one who could offer this to him. However, she was also able to give him the other gifts as well. It actually made for the perfect sidetracking, so that Harry wouldn't know he was the gifter.

He closed his eyes and found himself nervous. No matter which Harry chose, it was also further from the Potion's Master. He groaned and rolled over onto his other side, facing away from the letters. He just wanted Harry's happiness, no matter what the teen chose. However, he did really want Harry for himself. That was something he was going to have to give up. No one would support his attraction for the young man. But Harry was so much more in Snape's eyes. He was growing up to be very brave. A hero. He was also turning to be very sexy, in a grown up way. He was gaining muscles from Quidditch. He was gaining knowledge from his past. He was becoming way more than a kid that everyone else saw him as. He could see the green eyes in his mind's eye when he smiled, the way they twinkled when he was happy.

Yes, Snape knew his infatuation was a mere crush, but a powerful one at that. He was falling more for the boy as he grew older, despite the way he treated him. He always had to keep up appearances. God, how he hated that. He groaned.

Harry found himself looking at the books in his hands. He was about ready to send them off, but he hadn't written a note or an inscription yet. He found himself wondering what the Potion's Master was thinking. He'd already let the Professor know he was attracted to things about him. Dare he go further? Dare he assume the professor would want more? He wasn't sure. Although he knew how he felt. He knew what he wanted. But could he have what he wanted? He frowned and shook his head. But as he looked through the books one more time, he knew what he had to do. He wrote into the one book and put it on the bottom of the stack before tying them together with twine and heading to one of the birds. "Professor Snape." He said and watched it fly out towards a window in the upper towers that likely belonged to Snape himself. Harry sighed. What's done was done and he couldn't take it back now.

Snape heard a small pecking sound and sat up looking at the window. An owl flew outside, but it bobbed from a package beneath it. He walked over and opened the window. The owl flew in and dropped the package before flying off once more. Snape walked over and noted that the package was books. A common gift idea for a professor. Just get them books and it will make them happy. Well, in this case it was actually true. He did enjoy the books, especially since they were all rare potions books. One of them in particular made him wary however. It was about Love potions. He didn't like that someone had gotten him something that could be used against someone. Curse or love potion, it didn't matter. He was sick of the thought that since he was a former death eater he would like that.

He threw it onto the bed, shaking his head. He almost threw the others away as well, because whoever could get him a love potion book he didn't want anything to do with. Hell, it could also be from one of those practical jokers, but with how they got threatened, he thought they had learned. He noticed some scrawling on the first page. Curiosity more than anything else got him to walk over and read it. 'I want to learn to love you since I already like you. But please, make me love you with how you make these, not by using them.' -Santa

Snape raised an eye and actually caught himself smiling. They didn't want him to actually make the love potions. And... those words. He couldn't believe someone wanted to watch him making potions. Who could enjoy it. He found himself pondering on how the person had even come up with these gifts. However they were also saying love. Snape was not even sure he could love, even if he could have a simple crush. The idea of which brought him back to Harry and wondering how the boy would like his 7th day gift.

Harry was having a long day already. He'd gone to two classes today. Snape's was practicing for mid-term finals. He had two potions he was going to make them make. One of which Harry was very comfortable making. The other of which Harry was having a bit of issue with. He could very comfortably cut the things needed, but it was taking fairly larger steps to complete. He found himself watching other students do theirs and frowned when he saw them doing steps in the wrong order or cutting the ingredients wrong. He wanted to point them out, but that was not his job. Besides, within seconds of Harry noticing Snape did as well and was telling them off. Harry rolled his eyes.

Harry turned to Hermione. "Can you help me with this step Hermione? I don't want to do it wrong, but I also don't have 3 hands."

Hermione laughed. "I am having the same issue. It helps that we're making the potions one at a time with Snape, but we need to practice with someone first, I swear." She walked over to his cauldron and took the handle and began to stir as Harry added things in at the first turn, the 5th and the 7th. The color of it suddenly changed to a charcoal color and Harry smiled. "We've got it Mione." He said happily. Snape walked over. "So someone finally figured out the trick. How is it that my own house couldn't figure it out before a muggleborn?"

Hermione glared up at this comment, but Harry shook his head. "That was a compliment Mione. Just let it be." He said, to which she nodded. He looked at the Professor, who was looking at him with interest. Harry looked down. Before he knew it class was over and they were the only ones who finished the potion before the class had ended. A perfect potion, which Harry wouldn't have gotten without Hermione's help.

"Mr. Potter." Harry heard from down the hall and he looked and saw Professor McGonnagal. "Mister Potter, I was wondering if I might have a word with you."

"Does it have to be alone professor?" He asked, looking over at Hermione. McGonnagal looked between them and sighed. "I was never told that it had to be, so I will let you decide Mr. Potter. I have your 7th day gift."

"M-McGonnagal?" Harry asked, a nervous tone.

"No no, I am not your gifter Mr. Potter, only a tool used to give you it, like Dumbledore did." Harry let out a sigh of relief. He nodded. "I think Hermione could know as well then."

McGonnagal nodded and motioned for them to follow. She led them out to the Quidditch lockers. She pointed Harry's locker to which Harry looked back at her confused. "Open it Mr. Potter." She said, with an annoyed tone, but a smile on her face. For not being her gifter, she seemed excited by something.

Harry walked over and opened the door and frowned when his broom wasn't in it's spot and was instead replaced by the newest fast broom on the market. In the bottom were the 4 balls, personally inscribed with his name. He then noticed that to either side were uniforms not his own. He ran his fingers over the fabric of one and then looked at the other. He turned around and looked at McGonnagal. She stepped towards him and handed him two letters. "These are your acceptance letters to two teams wanting you to play with them when you finish school. It is my belief that either would be lucky to have you."

Harry found his mouth agape in shock. "S-seriously?"

"Yes Mr. Potter. Your gifter wanted you to have choices for your future and were very wise in a way to go about it. No, they did not pay off the team. They thought you may worry about that." In fact, the thought had crossed his mind. He looked over at Hermione who had a calculating look on her face. He looked at the letters. Two highly respectable teams. Both pretty far away. He actually liked the idea of leaving everything behind and pursuing his dream of flying. Would Hermione respect that? Likely. She wanted what was best for her friend.

Harry walked over to her. "Well, this was unexpected."

Hermione grinned. "Well, at least your gifter knows you well. And whatever decision you make, you know I will always support you. Besides, you still have a year and a half with our team to kick ass before you move onto theirs."

Harry hugged her tight, but the look on his face he hid as he did so was not unnoticed by McGonnagal who shared the same worried thought as he did. If he did not survive this war, then this gift was for nothing.