Authors Note: Thanks again for the support.

Lost in time

Chapter 13

Once the death eaters are questioned and told the truth about the attack and the reason behind it Sirius also says what he and Harry have found out about Lucius and how Harry had insisted to give the man a chance to redeem himself somewhat because he has a son that is one of Harry's students. It doesn't take long until Lucius is in a holding cell and waiting for a trail. A few days latter Harry is glad that Draco still tries his best to stay friendly with the Gryffindors and to keep his grade up.

Towards the end of that year Harry gets a big surprise though when Draco stays behind after his last class for the year. Draco approaches his desk slowly and then says, "I have a gift for you Professor."

Harry already looks surprised but says, "Thanks, that wouldn't have been necessary."

"I still want to give it to you." Draco insists and holds out a little present. Harry opens it right away since Draco looks at him expectantly and finds a little necklace with a broom on it. He smiles remembering how he saved Draco in his third year.

"Thanks it's very thoughtful of you." Harry replies with a smile.

"I'm glad you like it Professor." Draco grins and then suddenly moves forward to steal a kiss. Harry is to surprised to do anything and just freezes. Draco stops before Harry actually snaps out of it and adds, "Just so you know, I fully intend to become your second Husband."

After that Harry can only stare after the blond boy that leaves the class room. Once Draco is out Harry takes a deep breath and tries to calm his nerves constantly telling himself it must be just a phase, he'll get over it. He probably already has another crush after the summer break.

Sadly for Harry, he finds out during the summer break that Draco is rather persistent sending Harry a letter once per week telling him everything he did during the week and asking what Harry is up to. Harry first ignores the letters and about half way through the break he returns only one stating that he is his Professor for one more year and as such isn't even allowed to date anyone and that he isn't quiet ready to do so either and nicely asks Draco to back off. Sadly Draco just replies that it's perfect that he needs time and is his Professor for another year. That way they have a year to just get to know each other better and then start dating after Draco's last year. And then the weekly letters continue.

Once Draco's last year starts the blond is constantly flirting with Harry and does everything to get his attention including rather obvious compliments during class. After just a few weeks Harry asks Severus what he can do to get the boy of his back and Severus promises to talk to him since he is actually Draco's godfather. Sadly, a week later Severus suggest to find some lover and kiss him in front of the boy since Draco refuses to back off. Apparently he is after his Professor since Harry saved his life during third year and is rather insistent to try his luck.

Harry just whines, "But I don't have a lover and I don't want one at the moment."

"Then ask a friend to pretend." Severus calmly replies and once he notices the begging look Harry throws him adds, "Forget it. I actually have a lover and rather not lose him over this."

"And who would that be?" Harry asks shocked since he thought he knew the other man.

Severus blushes a little and mumbles, "Tom Riddle."

"How on earth?" mumbles Harry, "Since when and why didn't you tell me and how did you get together? I'm so happy for you."

"I'm seeing him occasionally every since he stopped being crazy and was a free man again." Severus replies, "At first we only talked and he asked about things that happened the last few years while he was gone and he occasionally asked about you since he now knows that your his ancestor he's rather curious about you. After about three years of that he suddenly kissed me and, I didn't want to date him at first but he talked me into giving him a chance after about year and that is about two month ago. It's way to fresh to pull a stunt like that."

"What's he doing now?" Harry questions temporarily distracted from his little Draco problem.

"He's working in the ministry on a project he and the minister want to get organized to protect muggle born children better and from a younger age and prevent abuse caused by fear from the magical outburst. They already have a test run with three families where they informed the family as soon as the child had the first bout of accidental magic." Severus replies, "They are hoping that early information can prevent the abuse and if not find out about it sooner and can take the child out of the family. He's also trying to find families that would be willing to take such a child in at short notice so he could get them all out in case he has to but assumes that he at least won't have to remove them all."

"That sounds really interesting you have to tell me when he's over next time I'd love to talk to him again." Harry replies, "Would he let you play along if he knew that it's just pretend? The kiss I mean?"

"No." Severus replies instantly.

"Why not?" Harry questions with a pout. "He'd be warned that it was nothing."

"He won't believe it we're just dating and I didn't want at first so he's rather insecure about it." Severus insists.

"Why not?" Harry wants to know, "I would tell him myself if you want about Draco and all. And I really think one kiss would be enough."

"Draco wouldn't believe it anyway." Severus grumbles, "You're way out of my league."

"I disagree." Harry states, "You're nice and that all that matters and I'm far from good looking too. I don't even get what some pretty boy like Draco want's with me."

Severus looks at Harry for a moment and then sighs, "I nearly forgot what a dunderhead you can be."

"What did I do now?" Harry wonders.

"Just ask someone else." Severus grumbles.

"Would you mind if I ask Tom?" Harry asks the older man.

"He's even older then me." Severus replies, "And related to you no matter how distant, Draco is never going to fall for it."

Harry muses for a moment before asking, "Would he fall for it if I kissed Hagrid?"

"Not in this life time." Severus sighs. "Don't you have some Weasel you can ask?"

"Charlie maybe." Harry muses, "But he's hardly ever around. Or I ask Sirius if he'd borrow me his boyfriend since Draco is never going to fall for it if I kiss my godfather whom he knows is more like a dad to me."

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Severus grumbles. "Apart from the fact that Draco also wouldn't believe you able to steal your godfathers lover, you can't just borrow someones lover!"

Harry goes over his words in his head and admits "Okay that sounded creepy but you know what I meant."

"He's still not going to like it." Severus growls, "What would you have said if someone had asked you to borrow Salazar for a stunt like that."

"Yeah right." Harry now growls, "He's way to hot to risk that."

"My point." Severus sighs, "Most people do tend to find their lovers attractive enough to be wanted by others and won't like them kissing others not even for a stunt like that because the kiss might change things. No matter if it is just a fake, a kiss could change someones feelings."

Harry sighs, "Yeah but honestly, what are the odds that you'd fall for me? You've hated me for years and my father before me."

"They are probably higher then the odds that you'd fall for me." Severus replies, "Considering that half the school is after your ass."

"Yeah right." Harry chuckles, "Just because Draco got a strange taste doesn't mean anyone else does."

Severus just sighs and shakes his head but doesn't comment again. Salazar had one told him that it had taken a long time for Harry to notice his advances and that if it hadn't been for Godric actually telling the boy, he might never have. They sit for a while with each other and after a while Harry sighs, "I guess that only leaves Charlie. Ron might even have mentioned that he's gay to Draco now that they get along, unlike Sirius who apart from being my godfather used to take whatever he can during school from what I heard. Draco won't give up on me if he thinks my partner could drop me any day."

"I can only confirm that about Sirius considering that while being drunk he even tried me once!" Severus replies in a grumble.

"Really?" Harry questions? "I thought he hated you?"

"He did and he was so drunk that I very much doubt he remembers he tried it." Severus replies, "And apart from the fact that he most certainly didn't get any that night, it was also long after school while your parents were in hiding. He might have had a lack on partners."

"You make it sound like no one could want you otherwise." Harry chides, "Tom really must like you though. He wants to be with you and from what you said he is rather insistent about it."

Severus smiles a little but then sighs, "But I'm not sure if I love him enough. I've been in love with someone for years and later, for a few more years, fell for someone who is so much like her that I feared that I would just replace her if I dared to hit on him which is why I never bothered. Tom is completely different and I do like him. But I still think that if that other person would show any interest in me, I might leave him in a heartbeat. And I think Tom does deserve better that that."

"I don't think you would leave him that thoughtlessly." Harry replies after a moment. "Firstly if that other person never showed an interest, it's unlikely that he'll start now. But most importantly, you're thinking about his feelings already. You don't want to hurt him because you care about him and maybe you're dating him mostly because he wants it but I'm sure you two can be happy and I'm sure you'll soon forget about everyone else."

Severus sighs and replies, "I fear that is as likely as you forgetting about Salazar, but since that first person is dead and I still think that the other is rather a replacement, I might eventually get over him."

"Either way, I hope both of you will be happy in the long run no matter how." Harry replies with a smile and then frowns, "But that still doesn't help me with my problem. How will I get Draco off my back? Charlie still lives in Romania! Draco is never going to give up if my fake boyfriends is hardly ever around."

"Why don't you wait?" Severus asks. "I assume you'll get him off your back eventually."

"Because I want him able to move on and find happiness rather than having him pin after me for ages." Harry explains. "I want him happy now rather then later."

"I thought you of all people knew that you can't force happiness." Severus drawls. "He'll find it eventually."

"I guess you're right." Harry grumbles, "But I still want to help him."

"Then ask Charlie and beg to god that he's not going to fall for your kissing expertise." Severus drawls. "because otherwise you'll have the same problem with a different cause."

"That's why I wanted to ask you." Harry grumbles, "There is no bloody way you'd fall for me!"

Severus glares at him for a moment then drawls "And you think that logic isn't going to occur to Draco?"

"Guess you got me there." Harry sighs not knowing how far off the track he was and that he is the one Severus wanted for the last few years. Ever since he started to see the real Harry he started to fall for him. He's still mad at Dumbledore for actually trying to get them together only to have his heart broken knowing that he would never be able to give Harry what he deserved, someone that loved only him and didn't just see his mother in nearly everything he does.

"Maybe I should talk to him myself." Harry musses.

"You're welcome to try but I doubt you'll be more successful then I was." Severus replies. "Why is it so hard to just try and find a lover?"

"Because I don't think I'm ready to date again." Harry sighs "To be absolutely honest, I'm starting to doubt that I'll ever be ready."

"How about you just go out sometime and see how it goes." Severus suggests, "Maybe you get ready if you meet the right person and talk to him."

"Or her." Harry sighs "Which by the way doesn't make it easier. I only ever loved Sal. I never even thought about being gay or not. I didn't even think about dating until Godric tried to hook me up. We'll he talked about it since there was no one around then. I told him that Sal was older and he should get someone first."

"I guess Godric told you that Sal was about as persistent as Tom and refused to give you up?" Severus grins a little.

"That and he taught me about courting." Harry chuckles "Teaching him about dating in return made him look more like a tomato than any of my spells could have."

I take it kissing was a little more frowned upon then now days?"

"A little?" Harry laughs, "Trust me, going with this courting protocol would mean that I would get to touch his hand when no one looks and only the daring might steal a kiss from their lovers cheeks when alone."

"I guess you also taught Salazar the meaning of dating?" Severus grins certain that no modern time teen would go with those restrictions.

"Partly." Harry musses, "I did most certainly steal more than a kiss from his cheek and got him rather used to kissing. But unlike Godric I never mentioned to Sal that being a virgin on the wedding night is most certainly the exception to the rule."

"How did Godric react to that?" Severus grins.

"By blushing like a mad man every time I hinted that I was dating Sal rather than him courting me."

"I never knew that you're that evil." Severus grins and while Harry is remembering some of those times Severus watches him until he suggests "You really should go out."

Harry sighs "And where do you think I should go to?"

Severus is quite for a moment considering it and then says "Leave that to me. Just keep your Saturday after the next one free."

Harry thinks about it for a moment and then says, "At least with you I don't have to worry about the whole thing going over board."

Harry uses the time until then to talk to Draco. He actually asks the young boy to stay behind after class. Already having part of a plan to discourage the boy from pursuing his Professor.

"What can I do for you Professor Slytherin?" Draco asks as soon as everyone else is gone.

Harry smiles. He has noticed for some time that all the Slytherins manage to say his name correct. All the Gryffindors that came to Hogwarts with him still call him Harry while everyone else still calls him Professor Potter, mister Potter or just Potter. Seeing Draco smile in reply to his he sighs and asks "Mister Malfoy, I'm sorry but I don't return your feelings."

Draco frowns for a moment before smiling sadly and saying "I know. But Tom had to try for a year to get my godfather so why should I give up when I might be able to change your mind."

Seeing the determination on Draco's face makes him doubt his chances of success. "Then tell me Mister Malfoy, why do you want me so much?"

"Because I love you." Comes the immediate response.

"But why." Harry questions further and just hopes that the answer is something he can work with.

Draco actually frowns but then explains. "I love the way you always seem to know what's right and encourage everyone. I love how forgiving you are and how safe you make me feel without even trying to. I love the way you smile and move and just everything about you."

"If that is the case than you don't really love me." Harry sees that Draco is about to complain and insists that he does love Harry. "Don't interrupt yet and let me explain." After seeing the rather determined pout Harry goes on, "I do try to make every student safe and I most certainly don't always know the right thing to do. You admire my power and appearance but you don't even really know me. By the time Sal and I got together I knew his favourite food, colour, animal and all his hobbies and Sal knew me enough to get me this." Harry removes the medallion and shows it to him. "Unlike you he wasn't around to remember the events to know that a worm in a book would remind me of one of my friends. He never even knew that phrase in his time. But he knew me. The real me, not just what I choose to let everyone see. He knew my strength and my weaknesses. And he loved them all." Harry looks at the thoughtful look on Draco's face. "You can't truly love someone you don't truly know.

It is quiet for a moment and Harry actually starts to hope that he got through to the blond when he asks. "How can I make you see that I do love you anyway if you refuse to give me a chance to truly get to know you?"

"How can you still think that you love me?" Harry questions with a sigh.

"Because I always knew that you keep things from me and the other students. But that doesn't change the way you make me feel." Draco replies, "I can't just give you up."

"I'm sorry but you'll have to eventually." Harry sighs, "Also, you're still a student so please refrain from flirting with me."

"Unless you can think of another way to get your attention." Draco grins, "I'm afraid you'll have to live with the flirting. Because I have no intention to give you up."

Harry once again sighs and then says, "Go on. You'll be late for your next class."

Draco grins and nods. But before he turns he grabs Harry's robe and tries to steal another kiss. Just this time Harry is more weary of him then last time and when Draco moves forward Harry pushes one arm away and grabs the other before spinning the arm on Draco's back forcing the boy to turn in the process. "Since you are keen on getting to know me better how about this information, I hate to be kissed without permission."

"Thanks for the info." Draco grins even though Harry's grip is still slightly painful. "And since your so kind I should let you get to know me too. And I rather like my lovers a little rough."

Harry just groans in despair and pushes the blond towards the door. "Class now!"

"Never knew your commanding voice is so sexy." Draco grins but finally leaves.

Harry sighs in relief and decides to avoid being alone with the blond again at all costs.

The Saturday he meets Severus the dark man leave the castle informing Harry that Dumbledore knows that two of his teachers are going out. Severus Apparates to diagon ally with Harry and goes to a pub further in. Once there Harry is surprised to see Rabastan and Rodolphus already there. "Hi Harry," the younger of the two greets them. "Hi Severus, how are you two?"

"Great." Severus replies and then looks at Harry, Just so you know, "I'm under no delusions and know the odds that I can hook you up with anyone on the first night out are slim to none." Harry rises an eyebrow wondering where Severus is going with this since getting Harry a boyfriend was the whole point of going out. "And due to that you will go out every second Saturday. I wouldn't force you of course but I strongly suggest you do as I say. Me and those two lovely men will join every second time you go and every other you'll be accompanied by Sirius, Tom and Bellatrix. Everyone is allowed to bring one guests but only one that isn't currently dating anyone present. That way you won't be surrounded by happy couples and will always have some people to talk to that you like."

Harry looks surprised but then just grins, "You'll never do anything half arsed do you?"

"Of course not." Severus drawls, "Only a dunderhead does that."

Harry smiles at him and then says, "Thanks for planning it so thorough. I'm still not sure if I'm even ready to date anyone but going out with you guys for a drink regularly does sound rather nice. Maybe Remus can join sometimes, probably better when he does with Siri but I think he is getting to the point of dating Tonks so maybe she can join in too."

"Andromeda's daughter?" Severus asks and sighs, "I guess then those two would have to switch the group considering that Bellatrix is her aunt it might be nice for her to be with that lot occasionally too."

"Thanks Severus." Harry smiles and gives Severus a short hug. "I know you hate him and I know why by now, Siri told me once, to offer that really means a lot to me."

The four of them talk about different things for the rest of the night. Harry asks Rodolphus how his wife is doing after everything she's been through and Rabastan how it is going with Sirius and if he thinks that he can keep him on a leash.

They also talk about potions and defense since both man have a vast knowledge about both topics and Rabastan is particularly interested in talking about Basily since he shares Hagrid's love for dangerous animals.

They stay until the Pub closes before they return and Harry is glad that he went and can hardly wait to go out with Sirius, Tom and Bellatrix in two weeks and wonders if Ron, Hermione and Neville can join once they are out of Hogwarts next year. He wouldn't mind Draco joining if the boy could quit flirting.

Authors Note: The race for Harry's heart starts since he seems to at least consider to date again. But who will win? Will Tom lose his lover to Harry or will Draco get the man? Or will Harry meet someone else while going out with his friends? Will one of them introduce him to the perfect man for him?