A/N: Warnings and other info are contained in the header of Chapter 1!

As Harry woke from his nap, he could feel the comforting weight of his lover on his right shoulder and draped over his midsection. He opened his eyes and smiled at the peaceful look on the other man's face.

He wrapped his right arm around the other man ad let his mind wander to the night he had realized that he, Harry James Potter, was in love with one, Severus Tobias Snape.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry were camped out in the Forest of Dean, on the Horcrux hunt.

As they were chatting amicably, the temperature fell noticeably.

"Dementors?" Ron asked, vigorously rubbing his arms. "What the bloody hell are dementors doing out here?"

"Vold-You-Know-Who has probably given them free reign to roam wherever they want," Harry said, readying his wand. "I'll go get rid of them."

"Be careful, mate," Ron said. "Your patronus is easily the most recognizable in Britain."

"I'll be careful," Harry said, exiting the tent.

He crept as close as he dared, and he readied his wand again.

"Here goes nothing..." he thought.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry cried, and he nearly lost concentration when a snake quickly emerged from his wand.

Despite the change in appearance, his patronus had the desired effect, and the numerous dementors scattered as the great snake slithered toward them.

After he felt the temperature return to normal, Harry realized that he hadn't thought of his parents to cast his patronus. Instead, he had thought about none other than Professor Severus Tobias Snape, the great, snarky Potions professor. That thought alone was enough to stop the 17 year old wizard in his tracks.

"Why the hell would I think about Severus?" he thoguht, thoroughly confused.

After a few minutes, Hermione poked her head out of the tent.

"Are you alright, Harry?" she asked.

"My patronus wasn't a stag," Harry said, shaking his head a bit. "And I didn't think about my parents to cast it..."

"Who did you think about, Harry?" Hermione asked, stepping out of the tent. "Was it Professor Snape?"

"Actually, yes, it was. And I think I've let my feelings finally come out," Harry said. "You remember how scared I was in school last year?"

"Every time Professor Snape looked at you, you had a rather frightened look on your face," she said, moving to stand next to her best friend. "I had wondered why he had suddenly started scaring you that much again."

"I think I'm in love with him, Hermione," Harry said, looking at her with a guarded expression.

"Well, we've got Pig with us, why not send him a message? I can adjust the wards so that Pig can find us again," she said, a secret smile on her face.

Despite his cool demeanor, Harry had been worrying her quite a lot lately. There were obviously other things on his mind, despite the serious nature of the task they had at hand. She had noticed that Harry and Professor Snape were getting on a lot better in the last few months of the school year.

"I think I'll do that, Hermione," Harry said, shaking the young woman from her thoughts.

She smiled as she thought of the happiness Harry would attain by getting Severus as his life partner.

Harry pressed a kiss to the top of Severus' head before he gently unwound himself from the other man and cast a quick Tempus to check the time.

"Eleven thirty," he muttered. "I've got half an hour before lunch starts."

Harry got out of bed and readied himself for his afternoon classes.

"Sev," Harry said, gently shaking the man. "I'm going to teach my afternoon classes, but you're to stay here and rest, okay?

"Can I send a message if I need you?" Severus asked, looking up at Harry groggily.

"Of course, Severus," Harry said, smiling a little. "I'm only a floo call away if you need me."

"Okay," Severus said, pulling the blankets back up around him.

Harry pressed another kiss to Severus' head, as he left the bedroom and headed to the Great Hall.

A/N 2: I know this is a pretty short chapter, but I'm working up to some longer ones in the future. I just have to get into a schedule in my hectic life, and I'll be able to devote more time to writing. Thanks for sticking with me, and please review!