.

It was then and there when Severus escorted Harry to the Great Hall for lunch that he was going to go through with his original plan. He knew that it would put the boy in higher spirits and he definitely didn't want him moping about in class for the next couple of hours.

They split off from each other as they entered the hall and Harry spied his friends so he walked over and slumped down beside Ron. Hermione looked over at him cautiously and Ron was muttering something about a girl to Seamus who was sitting on the other side of him. Harry made a quick glance up at the head table to find Severus watching him as he brought his goblet up to his mouth for a sip making Harry's stomach do a little flip.

"Harry, are you - "

"Oi!" Ron said slamming his fist into Harry's shoulder and effectively interrupting Hermione.

Harry turned to Ron rubbing his shoulder and peered over his head to find a single owl soaring through the hall with an obvious package in its mouth. My broom, Harry thought as he watched the owl hurtling towards them. He jumped up when the owl deposited it in front of him and Harry's face lit up with a huge grin spreading across his face before he and Ron started attacking the brown paper it was wrapped up in.

They both stood straight as they looked at it and Harry hadn't even seen the note that had been attached to it until Hermione handed the sealed letter to him. He took a deep breath to calm himself and opened the letter to find Severus's scrawl and it made him smile a little.

Dear Harry,

I was hoping to surprise you tonight however, considering how you are feeling I would surprise you now.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Severus.

Harry hadn't noticed Ron looking over his shoulder until he had finished reading and his face drained of all colour when he saw the pained expression Ron was giving the piece of paper. He tried to hide it but Ron grabbed it out of his hand.

"Blimey, let's hope this one doesn't break. You really went all out on the expenses didn't you?" Ron said almost in awe and Harry snatched the paper back.

"What are you talking about?" He said utterly confused and Hermione took it from his hands and read it out.

"Say's here that you had the wood specially enhanced and there's an extra layer of wax on it." She said and Harry frowned but then realized what Severus had done.

"Oh, yeah you know… I just wanted to be safe about it and seeing as I have the money…" He trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck as he tried with an excuse but it wasn't going too well.

"Well what are you waiting for? Let's try it out!" Ron said excitedly.

"Yeah, Harry let's see how fast it goes." Seamus piped up and Dean went to stand up with the rest of them.

"Uh, yeah okay." Harry said and pocketed the letter before picking it up.

He shot a quick glance up at the head table and smiled at Severus quickly before picking up the broom and high tailing it out of the hall with most of Gryffindor following.

Feeling rather pleased with himself, Severus leaned back in his chair and covered a smirk.

Standing out in the courtyard, Harry mounted the slick red wood and gripped onto the handle tightly before balancing on one foot as the other was placed on the foothold. Taking a deep breath he leaned forward and shot off into the sky with the crowd down below him looking on with excitement, jealousy and intrigue.

As Harry sped towards the sky all he could think about was the immense speed that he was travelling at. Never in all his life had he ever been this fast and he had to admit that long bursts at full speed would take their toll on his muscles just like they were currently so he slowed his speed after doing a lap around the large building, hovering high above the castle. He let out a breath, the best he could with his rapid heart beat and closed his eyes as the wind bristled past him. He felt so free up here and coupled with the fact that he now had possession of his broom he was feeling in good spirits again.

He still didn't really understand Severus's motives around hiding it from him, but he was glad the man had made some sort of effort, he knew that this day wasn't exactly what Severus would associate well with so as he thought about it he decided that he felt ashamed of the way he'd acted the last couple of days.

Thank you, Severus. I think I have some making up to do.

As Harry hovered above the castle, he sent a quick message to the man somewhere down below him and he smiled.

You are welcome. Are you sure you meant making up?

Harry frowned at the reply until he realized what the man was trying to say and both his eyebrows shot up in surprise. Is Severus trying to flirt? He asked himself and he let out a giggle, seeing as no one was up there with him and the others wouldn't be able to hear him he felt no shame in showing his amusement.

I'll be round just before curfew.

Harry replied with a smirk and he looked around the grounds before spotting the group that were still on the ground watching him. Realizing that he had to go back and face reality he sighed and angled his broom so he could speed down towards the ground. His friends were waiting eagerly for him when he landed and he found himself stumbling as he unmounted his broom.

"Wow, that was wicked, Harry." Ron said patting him on the back.

Harry hadn't realized how wobbly his legs were until this moment and he had to lean on his friend for a second to regain his equilibrium.

"Give me the afternoon and I'll have this nailed." Harry said and the rest of them cheered with Ginny offering a last minute practice straight after their last class.

Harry agreed, as did the rest of the team that were present before he went to walk towards the tower so he could deposit it there before heading to class. He knew he should have expected it but he didn't realize his friends would be keen to have a go. He frowned at them and shook his head, he told them no and that nothing was going to happen to it before the game, which in the end they all understood but the unhappy faces were evident.

Ron went with him up to the tower and the whole way he talked about different ways to show Malfoy up at the game and how he would relish in the seeing the ferret's face when Slytherin lost the game the next day but Harry wasn't really listening. He was more concentrating on Severus and smirking when he realized he still had Severus's Valentine's gift in his trunk.

When Ron and Harry arrived down in the dungeons, they sidled up next to Hermione and Blaise and began chatting. Blaise was asking Harry about his broom and he once again became excited about it, he almost felt like he was a child and could have easily starting bouncing on the balls of his feet about it, however one look over at the group of Slytherin's and that effectively stopped him.

"He doesn't look happy." Harry muttered to himself and he heard an agreeing hum from next to him where Blaise was standing.

The door was suddenly slammed open and Harry was pleased to see Severus appear, he didn't think Malfoy would do anything stupid with his Head of house present. Feeling an anxious knot in his stomach, Harry kept his head down and with Blaise he went to walk into the classroom but was stopped by Malfoy and Goyle who had blocked the entrance.

"You'll be sorry, Potter. I'll be watching." Malfoy hissed and when they heard Severus's voice float through the door he and Goyle spun round and walked into the classroom.

"I know what they did was wrong, Blaise but I don't know if this was the – "

"Potter, for Merlin's sake, get in here will you." Severus roared and Harry jumped as Blaise pushed him into the classroom and they found seats at the front of the room.

"Honestly, I don't have time for your nonsense, Potter. Unless you fancy a detention on today of all days I suggest you pay attention, and not on Mr. Malfoy." Severus continued once he found his seat.

Harry looked up at him with wide eyes, but as soon as he made eye contact he couldn't see the nastiness he had been used to in previous years. He let out a little breath and looked down at the table to avoid suspicion and this effectively made Severus move on to telling them what they were doing that day.

As it turned out, they were brewing and Harry was happy that he could concentrate on something other than Malfoy's threat. He knew he shouldn't be too unnerved by it, he knew the boy wasn't a great duelist and he was sloppy when it came to confrontation but there was something in his eyes when he'd spoken previously and Harry couldn't seem to get past it.

Harry shouldn't have really been surprised after an hour when his cauldron seemed to suddenly start hissing and boiling furiously before the contents upended onto the desk. He looked over at the other Slytherin's and Goyle was eyeing him up carefully, so Harry, deciding not to make a scene turned away and looked at the green blob that was wobbling on the table top. He heard Blaise voice his disgust in whatever it was and then Harry saw the infamous black robes flit in front of him and he sighed as he made eye contact with Severus.

"And what… Mr. Potter, is this?" He said raising an eyebrow and Harry shrugged.

"A failed potion, sir." Harry said in a monotone and as he watched Severus's face, his eyes narrowed down at him.

"I can see that. Detention, Mr. Potter. You can clean your desk and cauldron then." He snapped before turning away and inspecting the other cauldrons.

Harry glanced back over at the Slytherin's and Malfoy caught his eye, smirking ever so slightly before turning back to his potion. Harry heard Blaise speaking and he turned back to see the boy with a sad look on his face.

"Don't worry about it." Harry said, trying to play it off as no big deal even though he felt annoyed that it had happened.

By the time class had finished, Harry was up and out of the classroom before anyone else. He wanted to get away from the dungeons very quickly with his destination being the Gryffindor tower so he could get some practice on his broom. Once in the boys dorm, he waited a few minutes before Ron barged in excitedly and changed before they left for the common room to wait for the rest of the Gryffindor team.

As they made their way down to the pitch, Ginny fell into step with Harry and started strategizing but he waved her off and said that he didn't need a plan, not for tomorrow anyway.

"Look, Gin. I appreciate that you want everything to be planned and that, but this is Malfoy we're talking about. I think it's just best if I do my own thing tomorrow." Harry clarified and she nodded before narrowing her eyes in thought.

"Okay… I can work with this actually." She said nodding and smiled before running ahead to catch up with the other beater on the team.

It was a couple of hours before they stopped and Harry was thoroughly spent, his muscles felt weak and he was panting hard. It was a lot of work controlling his new broom but he knew that with the adrenaline from an actual game would see him through, he just hoped the game didn't take all morning like some usually did.

"You look strong up there, mate. We've got this I reckon with your speed and my aiming skills." Ron said proudly as they deposited their brooms before hitting the showers.

"It's hard work though, Ron. I'm aiming for a quick game tomorrow." Harry replied as they walked into the bathrooms with Ron agreeing on the statement

After a quick shower they both dressed and then found themselves in the common room in front of the fire before dinner. Hermione was already relaxing on the couch when they joined her and she asked how the practice went. Harry watched her closely and frowned as he got the feeling something wasn't quite right, but he pushed it to the back of his mind, there was no point in getting paranoid about it.

Dinner was the usual affair with Ron stuffing his face, Hermione scolding him for bad manners and Harry trying his darned hardest not to look up at the head table. However, once dinner was coming to a close he could hear the even strides of someone walking the isle between the two tables and he confirmed it was Severus when the man walked past the three of them.

"That mess won't clean itself, Potter." He said without stopping and Harry sighed as he finished off his dessert.

"Oh, mate that sucks." Ron muttered between mouthfuls as Harry stood.

"Guess I'll see you guys later." Harry said sounding dejected and Hermione gave him a tight smile before he went off in search of his Potions Professor.

Harry followed behind him until they got to the classroom, but the man didn't stop and continued towards his office. Harry hesitated and looked around before transforming into Jade and sprinted on his little legs after Severus.

Coming to his private quarters the door was opened and Harry shot inside and onto his favourite rug in front of the fire. With his improved hearing in this form, he heard Severus move around the room and come to sit on the couch before looking down at the rug with a wry smile on his face. Transforming, Harry got up and went to sit next to the man only to realize he didn't have Severus's Valentine's gift with him.

"Everything okay?" Severus asked as he felt Harry tense.

"Oh, yeah I just forgot something that's all." He said and looked up to Severus.

"Uh huh, and what was that?" The man asked.

"You're Valentine's gift." Harry said, blushing slightly and burying his head in Severus's robes.

The man chuckled lightly and kissed Harry on the top of his head. Harry felt a little stupid, he knew it was a risky gift in the first place but he knew that this was something that the man would never have received before, that he was sure of. Harry felt himself being pushed away from the chest his head was currently nuzzling and when he raised his eyes he met the warm loving eyes of Severus who seemed to be scanning Harry's face.

"I'm sorry about my attitude the last few days." Harry said suddenly as he let himself fall into the depths of Severus's eyes.

"It was understandable, Harry." He replied and Harry gave him a small smile.

"But about this making up?" Severus continued and flashed a dangerous smirk before Harry felt himself being pulled onto his lap.

"Severu – "

He was cut off when Severus leaned forwards and captured Harry's lips with his own. Hands were roaming and Harry found himself leaning forwards so their chests were touching as he melted into the broad chest. Moaning and grinding, Harry was getting worked up and then he suddenly realized where this would be going so he tried pulling away but to no success.

"Where do you think you're going?" Severus purred in his ear before working a spot on Harry's neck and Harry mewled at the pleasure shooting through his body.

Harry desperately wanted to continue but considering it was a Friday he didn't want to rush this and he knew that his friends would be expecting him back well before curfew. Harry groaned in frustration as he could feel his trousers getting tighter but he made his hands move to Severus's chest and pushed himself away, breaking free from the hold that was on him and jumping off him to stand a couple of feet away.

Severus didn't chase after him, he just sat there watching Harry as he tried to compose himself and smirked. Harry looked over at him and his jaw went slack as he raked his eyes over the black clad body that was currently leaning back into the couch, an arm laying across the back of the couch and the other resting on the arm of it. His legs were parted and he had a smug smirk on his face as Severus looked at him and he could feel himself wanting to pant at the erotic visual image the man was portraying.

"Don't look at me like that, Severus."

"Like what?" He countered putting the palms of his hands facing upwards from their positions on the couch and an eyebrow was lifted.

"I'll be back just on curfew, Severus. I want this too but I don't want to rush it and I have to be back in the common room." Harry tried but he could tell that his voice was going to break from his arousal.

"Sounds fair." Severus started and went to stand making Harry take a step back so he wasn't tempted to pounce on him.

"However," He continued and went to start unbuttoning his black outer robe a couple of buttons, "I do not believe you should return in… such a state."

Severus finished and he was standing right in front of Harry and bringing a hand to rest on the side of the hyped up Gryffindor's neck.

Closing his eyes and sighing, Harry let himself be quickly seduced by Severus as he was laid on the couch with the comforting weight of the man on top of him. Within ten minutes, Severus had Harry thrashing about below him and after a couple of minutes after this Harry let a drawn out moan fill the silent room as he rode out his much needed orgasm.

"I will see you later." Harry heard Severus say as he tried to compose himself and felt the weight and warmth of the man leave him.

Looking over the back of the couch, Harry saw Severus walk into his lab making him roll his eyes at the action. He went to stand up and after taking a few lust filled steps he found his equilibrium and followed the man and leaned on the door frame watching him work.

"Needed something else?" Severus quipped as he quickly glanced over before pulling out a book from one of the shelves.

"Of course there is, no need to be sour about it." Harry teased, making Severus drop the book he was holding and walking over to where Harry was standing.

"Mmm, not sour just highly aroused by your presence, Harry." He said honestly.

Harry had never heard the man speak like that before and it took him by surprise, but in a good way. Smiling shyly back at Severus he found himself being kissed softly and he wound a hand around the back of Severus's neck before the man pulled away.

"I will see you soon. Now go." Severus quietly and Harry nodded before darting out the door.

By the time he was standing outside the tower portrait he was grinning like a mad man and he felt like his insides were all floppy and liquidated. Even though their interactions had been short he hadn't ever seen the man so… romantic? He wondered if that was the right word to use, sure he had been strong for Harry and understanding but never acted in such a romantic sense before.

It was refreshing though, for the man to be in such a mood but now as Harry stood outside the Gryffindor tower he realized that this was not the right mood to be walking in there with. So he looked around to make sure no one was around before he ripped off his hoodie and messed up his hair a little more before putting on a tired face as he muttered the password and walked into the common room.

"Rough time?" Dean said as Harry came to sit with Seamus and Ron.

"By the time I got there, that gloopy mass was solid. Almost had to chisel it off." Harry feigned his exasperation and the boys nodded in sympathy before turning back to their card game.

It wasn't until a while later that Harry realized he hadn't seen Hermione and he asked Ron about it who shrugged and said that she mentioned something about the library. It wasn't unusual for her so Harry ignored the nervous feeling in his stomach and tried to focus on what the boy's were doing.

By the time it was curfew, Hermione still hadn't come back and Harry told the others he was going up to bed. Ron agreed and they both made their way upstairs with Harry falling ungracefully on his bed.

"Are you excited for tomorrow, Harry? Oh I can't wait to wipe that smirk of his face." Ron said, getting extremely passionate in the last bit.

"Yeah, Ron. It will be a good game." He replied distantly before getting up and sifting through his trunk.

"Well, night then." Ron said and then rolled over.

Harry shook his head and snorted at his friends actions, he really was a different sort of person. None the less, Harry grabbed his bag and put Severus's gift inside before pulling out his invisibility cloak and lay on his bed. He had to wait until he could hear the tell tale sounds of snoring before he dared to leave the room but luckily he didn't have to wait long and he pulled the curtains around his bed before covering himself in his cloak and walking out.

He was about halfway to the dungeons where he felt his wrist tingle and he smiled, looking down and seeing Severus's message.

You have a favour to return. What is taking you so long?

Harry was finding this mood Severus was in rather comforting and he decided that the man needed to be more like this, not that he didn't like his normal moods but there was something special about the way he was being treated that he knew would certainly become addictive.

Nearly there, I'm sure you can wait another two minutes.

Harry replied smiling and quickened his pace.

He knocked on the man's door a few minutes later and when it opened, he was roughly pulled inside with his cloak falling off and landing in a pile by the couch. Harry gripped onto his bag tightly as he felt himself being dragged towards the bedroom and he had to smile at what was happening.

He had to stop Severus from picking him up and throwing him onto the bed and held up his hands telling the man to stop.

"You know, Harry as much as I may seem a patient man I find myself lacking today so your games are not helping."

"My apologies, Severus." Harry said sarcastically as he opened his bag with an evil smile.

Before pulling Severus's gift out he looked up at the man who was impatiently tapping his foot with his arms crossed against his chest. Harry pulled the teddy bear out and dropped his bag before jumping over to Severus and holding it out in front of him with both hands.

Severus looked down at the bear that was in a sitting position, holding a red heart shaped pillow that read 'Be My Valentine' and then up Harry in disbelief but Harry wasn't deterred, he knew how Severus would react and it only made the situation more hilarious.

"Uhm," Severus cleared his throat, "Thank you, Harry." He said unsurely and then Harry started laughing.

Severus took it and looked at it for a second before he felt himself being pushed backwards and he sat down when he felt the bed at the backs of his knees. Harry took the bear from him and put it at the end of the bed before straddling the man's legs.

"You don't have to like it, Severus but I guessed that you've never really done the whole Valentine's gifting thing… well not that I have either so I thought you could have something… that maybe reminded you of me?" Harry started losing his confidence towards the end and he looked down at the white shirt Severus was wearing.

"Stunned is probably the word I would use, Harry. I love it." He replied and Harry looked up to smile but found Severus's warm lips covering his own.

"You do?" Harry said miffed after pulling away from the kiss.

"Yes?" Severus countered and then smirked.

"Okay." Harry said before being pulled down to lay on top of the man.

Severus was surprised, he would admit that but the fact that his Harry had done something like that didn't repulse him or make him want to laugh in his face, in fact he felt something inside him that he hadn't felt in a long time, possibly forever. It made him see a different side to Harry and as they kissed he realized how much he'd put the Gryffindor in danger.

It didn't deter him though at this current point in time because he resolved that he didn't want to disappoint the boy, he wanted to make sure he was happy which wouldn't happen if he chucked him out on tonight of all nights.

"Severus, what are you – "

Harry cut himself off as he was flipped over and pinned to the bed so he was underneath his Potion's Professor. Their kisses were getting heated and Harry was feeling a range of different emotions and all of them positive and pleasurable. He bucked his hips as Severus took to his neck, licking and nipping at the skin before going lower.

By this stage, Harry was practically naked and Severus was still wearing his trousers, so Harry reached between them and went to take them off. Severus helped him and ended up getting off the bed to strip them off, as well as Harry's as he lay there.

Severus got back on the bed and pulled Harry's legs either side of him as he lay between them and leaned down to continue kissing Harry. In his moment of clarity he couldn't think of anything other than making Harry feel ever pleasure in the world, mainly, he wanted to have sex with him, he'd never been so sure in all this time.

Harry moaned when he felt a hand go into his boxers and grip his erection that was begging for attention and he put his hands on Severus's back to pull him close so their chests were touching and their kissing went deeper.

Severus pulled away from the kisses after a few minutes and made his way slowly down Harry's body until he was in line with his erection before going down on Harry and sliding his boxers off in the process. Harry was muttering incomprehensibly at this stage and had a hand on the man's head, fisting his hair gently and bucking his hips.

He was so lost in the sensations that he hadn't realized Severus hand slid a hand under him and was currently poking at his tight hole. He gasped at the action and Severus looked up at him to see pleasure written over his face. He licked the top of Harry's cock ad then made his way back up so he could whisper to Harry.

"You want to go further?" He asked and Harry looked at him before nodding.

A smile spread across Severus's face and he reached over to his bedside table so he could get the lubricating gel he had used last time. He rolled Harry over so he laying face down before coating a finger in the gel and parting Harry's cheeks as he sat on the backs of the Gryffindor's legs. Harry looked over his shoulder at the man and held his breath, he knew that he wanted to ask the man about the whole stretching idea that Blaise had told him but he didn't think now was the right time. He screwed his eyes closed when he felt Severus's finger at his entrance and buried his head in the pillow then felt a hand on his shoulder and Severus speaking.

"Relax, Harry please. It will hurt less if you relax." Severus was leaning over Harry as he said this and he kissed the back of his neck, then his shoulder and shoulder blade to coax Harry into relaxing his muscles.

Harry eventually did and Severus whispered encouragingly at him once he had. He moved his finger in and out, working Harry's hole and felt his finger run over the sensitive nerves that subsequently made Harry scream out in pleasure. Severus smiled down at his Harry who was in the throws of pleasure and decided to test his luck by adding another finger, after all, Harry had never specified what further meant.

With the entrance slicked, he moved the already immersed finger upwards so he could slide another one in and Harry tensed, not used to the intrusion.

"What are you doing?" Harry said, his head whipping round to look at the man.

"Trialing two fingers, Harry. You want me to stop?" He asked tenderly and leaning forward to kiss Harry on the lips.

"N-No." Harry stuttered, burying his head in the pillows again.

Severus sighed and pulled both fingers out, then flipped Harry over again so they were facing each other and began his torture over Harry's body, this time on the front. Harry looked at him funny but Severus said they would talk about it later. In all honesty, Severus was far too aroused right now to stop and explain anything and Harry sensed this so he took hold of the man's throbbing erection and started to stroke it, just as the man was doing for him.

A few minutes later and they both cried out as their releases hit them and Severus collapsed onto Harry in relief. He took a few deep breaths before rolling off him and Harry turned onto his side so he could look at the man and as always found it refreshing to see his face flushed, it made him look more real and human like rather than the stoic Professor.

Severus lethargically sat up and tried to move himself under the covers with Harry doing the same. As soon as they were both under the covers, Severus wrapped his arms around the boy and spooned him, kissing his shoulder as he did.

"Thank you for today, Harry. Your gift, I feel, will take pride of place on my bed." Severus said with amusement in his voice and Harry giggled tiredly.

"It's no Thunderfire Broomstick, but you're welcome." Harry replied and tried turning in the arms so he could face Severus.

"Please, I want to look at you." Harry pleaded and rolled round when he felt the arms loosen slightly.

When he looked at Severus the man was smirking and he found the man leaning down to kiss him before giving him a gentle squeeze.

"I have no doubt that you need your sleep tonight, Harry. You have a big day tomorrow."

"Aw, please can I stay?" Harry whined and the man shook his head in amusement.

"If you would have let me finish, I was about to say you that you can but you will obviously need to leave early in the morning so your annoying housemates don't wonder where you are." He finished and Harry had the right to look embarrassed.

"Okay." Harry said before kissing the man again and settling down for the night.

Severus was right though, it was going to be an intense day with Quidditch tomorrow.

Wow, okay so that was a long chapter... Found it hard to find the best place to stop.

Dun dun dun, it's Quidditch tomorrow... I wonder who will triumph?