Day 10:

Harry awoke the next morning with a huge smile on his face. Snape and him had stayed up all night. When Harry got back up to the dorms, he snuck into his bed and closed the curtains. No one seemed to notice. At least Harry had hoped, until Ron came over and opened the curtains, climbing into the bed, looking into his friends face.. "Is it true?" He asked, biting his lip. "Hermione and I talked late into the night. She may have let slip that you and Snape…" He shivered and looked right at Harry. "Are you his gifter?"

Harry wasn't sure what to expect when Ron confronted him. Let alone that. He let out a deep breath and nodded. "I have been gifting Snape since day one. When he decided not to let his gifter give him gifts,, it hurt because it felt like I was no longer able to participate. And the fact that people were sending him rude things… Why should he be allowed to have a shitty Christmas? And…" Harry took a deep breath and looked at his friend. "I think I like him. I have for over a year."

Ron looked at Harry with a look of betrayal. "Seriously! You're going to sit there like this is normal? What did he give you? Did he use a fucking love potion on you?!" Ron stood up and shook his head. "Get this through your head Harry, we love you. Hermione and I care for you more than that slimy git ever will. Do not sit there and think that he can like you in any way that is good for you. And if he's using you, we will make sure he never gets close to you again!"

Harry faltered, his face showing his own look of betrayal. "If anyone cares for me, it's the one who would care for me no matter what. Snape does. Please give him a chance Ron…"

Ron shook his head and turned to walk out the door and Harry felt as if his warm feelings were turned to ice as his friend left him. Harry curled into his sheets as Neville came over. "Harry, is it true? You like Snape?"

Harry felt tears in his eyes as he nodded, not turning to face Neville. Surprisingly though, Neville said "Aww! I never thought I'd see the day Harry fell in love. You should know that Ron cares about you. He'll come around. You have to do what makes you happy."

Harry felt as if happiness was a distant memory though, despite having not gone to sleep the night before. He wished that he hadn't tried coming back to the dorms. He just nodded, hoping Neville would go. He was nervous what Ron would do, now that he knew his secret. He hoped that it wouldn't be something stupid. But then again, his friend was angry. When he got a note from Dumbledore not too long later, he knew exactly what had happened. What would the Headmaster say to him? Harry found himself walking in a fog. "Chocolate Truffle." He said, stating the password that Dumbledore listed on the note. He made his way up the stairs and knocked.

"Come in dear boy, come in." Dumbledore was obviously expecting him. He made his way into the office and looked at the Headmaster. The older man looked warily at him and frowned. "I heard something today that is not up to the plans we discussed."

"You mean about how I would not be able to date because of my uncertain future?" He asked, scowling some at the idea of Dumbledore trying to control another part of his life. "But I do not understand what my life has to do with you. If I want to take some time and date someone I like, I do not see how it harms you."

"This is not about me, Harry. Think about the future. You are going to be in the next war. There is no avoiding the fact that Voldemort is going to come after you as soon as he can. He's preparing an army, Harry. An army against all the things you love and stand for." Dumbledore walked over and put a hand under Harry's chin, forcing the younger boy to look into his eyes. "Do you really think that there is a chance you will survive? The best we can hope for is that you both kill each other. At this rate, if you allow your heart to distract you, you could be killing us all. Hermione would not survive in a world where Voldemort wins. Snape is already dead in Voldemort's eyes. He's been on his hitlist ever since he knew he was a traitor. A future between you two would never happen. So why would you allow yourself to believe in anything more?"

Harry frowned and looked down. "I don't know. I was hoping that we would be able to overcome Voldemort and the Deatheaters." Harry admitted, feeling ashamed that he was making a fool of himself in front of Dumbledore. "I guess I wanted to have hope."

"Hope, yes. Hope for a better future for the people we care about. But hope in a future that can't exist? It is nonsense to try for something we both know cannot exist." He shook his head, looking at Harry. "Please, tell me that you will think about that and talk to Snape. I believe it is in your best interest to go home come the holidays. You will do much better there."

Harry frowned and nodded. "I believe you are right sir. I'm sorry for disappointing you."

"Harry, you are not disappointing me. You understand my view." Harry nodded and looked at the door. "May I leave?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Of course my dear boy."

Harry found himself walking numbly through the corridors, when he was stopped by a voice he wasn't wanting to hear at that point. "Harry..."

Harry turned around and saw Snape. "Severus." Harry sighed and looked at the man in front of him. No one was around, so he felt safe to speak freely. "We need to talk tonight."

Snape nodded and looked at Harry with worried eyes. "Is something the matter?" He asked, noting the younger man's stress. Harry bit his lip and shrugged. "I don't know."

Snape nodded and frowned. "Well, can I give you my gift before then?"

Harry looked at the elder man with his worried eyes. "I am not sure that's a good idea." Harry said, trying to hold back from saying something he would regret.

"Please, let me give you the gift before you decide." Harry felt his heartstrings being tugged and he agreed, consenting despite his worries. Did Snape know what Dumbledore had talked to him about? Did Dumbledore talk to him as well? He wanted to make Severus happy. He wanted to give into Snape, despite knowing better. He nodded. "Yes, I will allow you to give me your gift. But... I worry I cannot give mine to you tonight."

Snape nodded. "That is fine Harry. I do not like you because you can give me things. Nor do I want that to ever be the case. But I want to give you something special to me. Would you come to my room with me? I promise, I will not be inappropriate, but the gift cannot leave my space. It's too important for that."

Harry frowned, not sure what Severus had in mind, but he'd already agreed. He walked behind Severus as the elder man led the way to his office. Harry was confused until the elder man opened a door that was hidden inside the walls of the office. Harry walked into a room that reminded him of a living room. It was obvious Snape had pulled the couch from here into his classroom the night before. Harry shook his head and looked around. He saw stairs that led upstairs and a door beneath it. "Welcome to my humble abode." Snape said, laughing at Harry's reaction. "This is where I live while I am at Hogwarts. It's set up the same as I like my home."

Harry noted the darkness from the low lights and was not too surprised. "So is this my gift? Getting to see more about you?"

"Well, sort of." Snape bit his lip. "It's actually in here."

He opened the door beneath the stairs to reveal a potions room. A cauldron stood in the center and Harry felt drawn towards it. He recognized in instantly as a pensieve. He looked back at Snape. "Are you sure about this?"

Snape looked at him and nodded. "I've been thinking about this for a long time. But there is somethings you don't know about me. If they change your mind, I'd rather it be because I gave you the option. Please accept my memories as my way of opening up to you."

Harry felt weak in the knees. He'd wanted to know more about Snape ever since the previous year when he learned about Snape's past and why it made him the person he was today. He had grown a soft spot for Snape, even though it had felt like Snape had hated him. Apparently he was misreading that situation. He stepped forward.

"You little freak!" A cold-sounding man stood in front of a young black-haired boy. He looked like he was about to hit the boy in front of him. Harry felt as if his stomach dropped as his worst fear remained true. Muggles would always look at boys like him with that fear. Harry felt himself shivering and suddenly felt Snape's arm on his shoulder. "I was so young then." He said, biting his lip. "And I never deserved to be treated like that. Neither did you." He said, hugging Harry close.

Suddenly the scene changed. Harry felt as if his soul was being dragged from his body as a Dementor appeared. Snape was laying in a corner, shivering. Crying. "Please, no... no." He begged. Voldemort stood there laughing. "You really think it's up to you, Severus. You came to me, expecting me to give you something better. You don't deserve to be alive. You have no purpose."

Snape curled up more as the dementor moved closer. Harry moved forward, but Snape held him back. "You know how this ends Harry." He said, with a small frown. Harry nodded and watched as Voldemort raised his wand and forced the Dementor back. He walked over to Snape and pulled him onto his knees, looking in his eyes. "You want happiness? Then you need the feeling of hopelessness gone. Muggles have tried to ruin you. I can save you."

Snape looked at Voldemort with hope. "Yes my lord." He said, bowing before Voldemort. Harry felt a sob escape him that he hadn't realized he was holding. Nor did he realize when Snape wrapped his arms around him. The images around him disappeared and he was still being held by Snape.

"You know, I never expected to share that with anyone Harry. But you deserve to know that despite our pasts, we can choose who we are. We can decide to be the good guy in the end. From one freak to another." He said, biting his lip and looking into Harry's eyes. "I know that I made poor choices, but I was saved. When I went to try to save your mother and found you, I saw a little boy who shouldn't have survived. The reason he did was beyond me, but I think I figured out why. You were there, saved, because one day I would need you. You saved me, Harry."

Harry felt his pulse quicken and he shook his head. "No Snape! Please don't do this to me. I cannot be with you. I'm going to die and you're going to be hurt by that. I can't be the reason you get hurt. Fall for someone better. Someone who is not going to die in this war."

"Harry, I..."

Harry pushed away from Snape and looked him in the eyes. "I plan to go home over Christmas break."

"Harry..." Snape watched as Snape pushed out the doors and sighed heavily. This had not went well at all. He had hoped Harry would see that he had a choice. He was a better person than Snape was and he didn't need to listen to the person claiming to save him. If Dumbledore had this much control on Harry, despite how good his intentions were, that could mean the end of Harry's happiness, which was all Snape wanted for him.

Severus walked out and walked into the kitchen, grabbing some firewhisky and sitting down on the couch. He may have made the biggest mistake of his life.