Harry headed back to school on the Sunday and he was in a better mood. He had definitely enjoyed Friday he could admit. And lunch with Lucius as well. His dad was happy to see him relaxed and smiling when he returned. Harry had tickets to see Katie and Oliver play later in the week. He had once considered playing professional, and could have played for both a professional team and the national if he chose. He had not been ready after the war, and it was another thing he had lost out on in false mourning. But he loved teaching and he was considering coaching as well.

On Monday Harry was headed down to the hall for dinner after his last class for the day. He noticed Severus who seemed to be headed down to the dungeons and turned to head into the hall. The man didn't seem to be coming for dinner and Harry was not disappointed.

He heard a curse though. "Dam."

Harry almost kept going but he turned around to look towards where the man was. "Damn it."

Severus was on the third stair. "This is ridiculous."

Harry came to his side. "Can you stand?"

Severus grunted. "I am not some invalid."

Harry turned to leave. "Sorry I bothered."

Severus called. "I need my cane."

Harry saw it slid down stairs. "You can't summon it."

Severus grunted. "I took after Lucius in more ways than one."

Harry went and retrieved it. "Wandless?"

Severus watched him. "I can't."

Harry reminded him. "You taught me."

Severus accepted his cane. "I haven't recovered it enough."

Harry offered his arm. "Here."

"I don't…"

"Stop being stubborn and let me help you up."

Severus grunted but he did allow Harry to help him up to his feet. He could admit he was a bit sore from the fall. He was relieved there had been no students around to see his graceful fall down the stairs. His own house would have been good but others he wasn't certain. His reputation had not improved much with the students since the war days. He was no longer a spy but he didn't take it easy on his students either.

Harry had no idea why, but he accompanied the man down to the dungeons. He told himself it was so the fool didn't fall and break his neck. He had no idea why the man insisted on living down here. It was not like the potions class could not be moved to the main floor.

Severus stopped at his painting. "Salazar."

Harry watched it open. "I see you weren't lying."

"And why would I do that?"

"Seems your way now."

"You are coming in?"

Harry grunted. "May as well see you all the way."

Severus sunk into a chair. "And you have."

"You can't do wandless?"

"We have been over this."

"Is that all?"

Severus grunted. "I told you, I was basically a squib."

Harry remembered. "You are getting better?"

"Is that concern I hear?"

Harry turned to leave. "Forget I asked."

He went to leave but he found the painting had closed in his face. He turned to Severus, who had taken his wand from his cane, and closed it. Seemed he couldn't do voiceless either, he had just been quiet when he had uttered the words. Harry had never thought to see him like this. He may have been a potions teacher, but he had the dueling skills and wandless to have allowed him to teach defense or charms.

"Stay for dinner."

"I am not hungry."

"You were headed for dinner."

"Observant as always."

Severus called an elf. "Bring dinner for two."

"I didn't say I would stay."

"Yet you are not leaving."

Harry grunted. "Why live down here? Surely less stairs would be easier."

"Slytherin."

Harry was reminded of his house meetings. "Once a week."

Severus grunted. "One part of my old life…."

"How long before you could walk again?"

Severus grunted. "It took eight months for me to stand."

Harry sat on the edge of a chair. "It must have been rough doing rehab alone."

Severus understood. "You didn't need an invalid."

Harry grunted. "It wasn't like we spent time taking walks."

Severus watched him. "There is one part of me that worked well all the time."

Harry went to leave. "Just when it seemed to be going well."

"I was referring to my mind Harry."

"Potter."

"Harry."

"Nott the part of your body you talked about when you kissed me last weekend."

Severus watched as the food arrived and motioned for Harry to join him. Harry almost left but with a grunt he turned around and took a seat. He assumed since the food had been brought, he could at least stay and have some of it with the man. They didn't talk but he could feel Severus' eyes on him during the meal. Many memories of their dinners in the past crossed his mind as he was sitting there eating with him again.

Severus pulled Harry in and kissed him before he left. "I rushed too quickly for bed. But you do know where your heart is."

Harry could admit the dinner had not been the worst in his life. Okay they had not talked but they had been in the same room. And they had talked before. He was shocked to realize how limited Severus was in his magic. The man was stubborn and perhaps he could understand a bit. Severus had always been powerful and never relied on anyone. But Harry was not about to just forget the man had lied to him and left him.

The following weekend was the first game of the season. As always, it was being played between his house and Slytherin. Though he was not coaching officially, he was working with his team a bit. He could admit how much he missed the game at times.

He smiled when he saw George. "Decided to come to the game?"

George shrugged. "Thought the new coach could use a good luck charm."

Harry reminded him. "Not really coach."

"Well new head of house."

Draco agreed. "They haven't won the cup since you graduated."

Harry sighed. "Since our sixth year. No quidditch our last."

George tried to cheer it up. "Well we will wipe the floor with those snakes again."

Draco reminded him. "Excuse me."

Harry reminded him. "Former."

George nodded. "Still not sure I haven't lost my mind."

Draco elbowed him. "You are a former lion yourself."

George shrugged. "But brother of the head of house."

Draco gave in. "Guess you have put me in a hard spot."

"And why is that?"

"Cheering or my old team or your house." Draco pointed out.

Harry laughed. "Well then you should be happy either way."

Draco would have been a choice for the head of house when Horace retired. But the nurse of the school had never filled that positon before. Besides Horace had the right to choose who replaced him as head as well as teacher. And he had given them both to Severus of course. Draco was busy enough as it was. Beyond the school, he worked in town from time to time. Unlike Poppy, he was a full healer, and he could help out in town more than she could. She had as well, with minor illness and delivered the odd baby, as she was also trained as a midwife.

Harry was not sure, but he went to sit in the teacher's box during the game. When he saw Severus was there, he almost changed his mind. He was surprised the man had come up. But he was reminded that Severus had actually been a fan of the game back in the day.

Severus motioned. "Your seat is open."

Harry eyed it. "I will choose my own."

"Tradition."

Harry smirked. "I don't recall."

Minerva actually spoke. "He means us."

Severus agreed. "We always bet on the game."

Draco remembered. "You cost him many a drink."

Harry grunted but he sat. "And what is the bet?"

Severus shrugged. "I can think of something."

Harry saw the look. "I highly doubt that is the kind of bet you and Minerva made."

George nearly choked. "I don't see it."

Severus amended. "Winner buys dinner."

Harry said. "You can have it delivered."

Severus smirked. "Dinner for all the teachers."

Filius voiced up. "We all go after the game."

Harry shrugged. "Better have your pouch ready."

"Cocky as ever I see."

Severus wouldn't mind even if he had to pay for dinner for all of them. He was just happy he got Harry to sit down and interact with him. As he watched the game, he had a feeling that Harry may have been right about that. He could see someone had been working with the lions. And he had no doubt who it was. About two hours later, the Gryffindor seeker had caught the snitch and won the game for the lions.

Severus grunted. "May need to get you to coach the snakes."

Harry smirked. "And why would I do that?"

"Seems only fair."

Harry reminded him. "They are my house."

Minerva said. "I heard Angelina wanted you to coach."

George agreed. "She can't coach all four. Between teaching and her work for the paper."

Harry agreed. "The lions and Hufflepuff."

Severus grunted. "At least my house will only lose to one of those."

Harry smirked. "Worried about having to buy another round?"

"The bet is only on this game."

After Harry went to congratulate his team he turned to the teachers but he spotted Hagrid. "We should invite him."

Severus grunted. "He wasn't at the game."

Draco shrugged. "Meal was for all staff."

Remus added. "Could invite Filch."

Severus grumbled. "Just don't expect me to feed the dog."

"Oh but he enjoyed the steak so much."

No one else understood the comment, but from the look on Severus, they knew he understood what Harry meant. All the teachers, Hagrid included, headed into town for lunch. It usually was just a drink the loser bought, but a meal from time to time. It was actually a nice laugh and Harry kept his distance from Harry left with Draco and George, and went to pick up food for his house, for a victory party. Draco noticed that he bought a lot more than his house would need and Harry admitted he had bought some for Slytherin. It only seemed to be fair.

Harry shrugged. "Since their head of house bought us all lunch, it really only seems fair."