Chapter 17

The two men approached the large door of Headmistress Mcgonagall and knocked. Almost instantly she opens the door and warmly welcomes the two in.

"Good afternoon to both of you, thank you Severus for bringing Harry. Tea?"

Both Harry and Snape accepted the english breakfast tea that was offered, making themselves comfortable.

"Well, since we don't have too much time left I will get straight to the point. Harry, you have been so modest since the end of the war. Everyone wants to give you something and you have politely declined it or in the case of wealth, had it transferred to Charities in your friends' names but you must understand that sometimes, it's okay to accept gifts, rewards and privileges."

Harry looked at the Headmistress like she had just lost her mind and looked at Professor Snape for reassurance. Professor Snape was calmly sipping on his tea giving no care to the conversation.

"Uh, thanks ma'm but there isn't much I want or need. I have my friends, I have the Weasleys, I have Hogwarts. What else could I possibly want?"

Both professors, though Harry didn't know, were so proud of him. Harry was being humble, grateful and happy.

"Yes, yes Harry and that's lovely of you to say. But you still did a great service to the school and to the world, which is why for doing a great and brave heroic act, the staff of Hogwarts have decided to offer you your own private quarters."

Harry, mid sip of his tea choked hearing the offer, spilling his tea down his shirt, making a mess of himself. The Headmistress laughed and Professor Snape shook his head with unconvincing disapproval, trying to hide a smile.

"Excuse me what?" Harry managed to choke out. Professor Snape flicked his wand and wordlessly cleaned the boy and moved the teacup onto the table beside the two of them.

"Yes Harry, since you saved the school, we decided that it would be best to reward you with something that will benefit you personally. You will of course be allowed to have friends over for a visit. Each quarter offers a small lounging area, a kitchenette, a study space and of course your bedroom and bathroom. There are 3 locations to choose from."

Harry, still aghast from what the Headmistress was offering him had to interrupt her.

"But I wasn't the only one, Neville killed Nagini, Ron and Hermione helped with the Horcruxes, heck, what about Sever-Professor Snape? He almost died! Where's his reward for sacrificing so much?"

Harry was standing and shouting, both confused, fluttered but mostly offended. Professor Snape finished his tea and cleared his throat to get the attention of Harry Potter.

"Well, Mr. Potter if you must know, I personally have been offered certain privileges and gifts and I accepted them. I feel that I can lead by example by doing this as well as benefit."

Headmistress Mcgonagall nodded and added. "And as for your friends, Mr. Longbottom and Miss Granger have been offered private quarters too. Neville will be close to the Hufflepuff dorm since he will be studying very close with Mrs. Sprout and Miss Granger took the room closest to the Library. Which now leaves us with 3 more chambers to choose from. One near the Astronomy Tower, one in the Dungeons and one near the Great Hall. It's your choice which room you would like."

Harry sat back down thinking. He was curious about Severus's rewards and gifts but that can be a question for later. He started thinking about if Ron were to come back to repeat school, he would have likely taken the room closest to the Great Hall seeing how that one would be closest to the main meals. Harry loved spending time in the Astronomy Tower but it is a small hike to and from classes. The Main Hall is very central but would be busy during most hours of the day which unsurprisingly lead him to think about the Dungeons. He would be in a quiet place, close to Professor Snape and it would give Harry a chance to befriend some of the Slytherins too. Harry looked up to both professor and Headmistress and answered.

"Well, if everyone else is getting acknowledgement and getting the same as me, I guess it's okay to get the same gifts as them, right?" Both agreed, happy to see that Harry was finally going to accept a gift of some sort for his bravery over the years.

"Headmistress and Professor Snape, if it's okay may I please have the rooms in the dungeons? I will like the privacy there."

Headmistress Mcgonagall clapped her hands together gleefully and smiled from ear to ear. "It is done, I will have the houseleves move your belongings at once! Professor Snape, do you mind showing Harry to his new living space?"

Snape stood, thanking his peer for the tea and gladly accepted the role of tour guide for Harry Potter.

Harry and Snape reached the dungeons. Harry was looking around Slytherin territory, thinking to himself about what life would have been like for him had he let the Sorting Hat do its job and place him here. They had walked past the common room and made their way down another hallway, towards Snape's main office. Harry recognised his office door but what he hadn't expected was a door that was suddenly directly opposite the office. He looked at his Professor confused.

"That door wasn't there last night, or ever! Was it?" Snape chuckled and looked at the portrait that guarded the door. The portrait was that of a basilisk guarding her nest in the Chamber of Secrets. Harry turned to Snape asking warily "I don't suppose I can change portraits?" remembering how he almost lost Ginny in that place.

"I'm afraid not. The password is Mandrake" Just as soon as the professor spoke the password, the queen of snakes hissed at the professor and the door swung open. Professor Snape opened his arm out to gesture Harry to enter first.

Harry stepped through the door and looked around to what looked like a small apartment. Stone walls and floors, green curtains and rugs and walnut furniture, reminiscent of Harry's undercover time in the Slytherin common rooms.

"I like it." Harry started walking around. To the left was his kitchenette and to the right was his lounging area shared with study. To the back of the room was one door. Harry made his way to the door and opened it. He found inside a large, king sized bed, four poster walnut wood with deep emerald green and ivory white bedsheets with his trunk at the end of the bed. To the left of him was another door, again opening it, he found himself a decent sized bathroom, including a bath built into the floor, large enough for two.

"Your room looks similar to this one, are all teachers quarters like this?" Harry sat down on his bed, commenting on its comfort. Snape followed.

"Just the dungeon rooms are this rectangular in shape. The Astronomy room is smaller but two stories, the Gryffindor chambers are round in shape and from memory the chambers close to the kitchen have a balcony. I personally prefer these rooms over the other rooms as the others seem too cluttered." Harry took in this information and now couldn't wait to see what Hermione and Nevile's rooms looked like.

"I think I like these rooms too Sev. They feel comfy and safe."

Harry and Snape sat beside each other on Harry's new bed. It didn't take too long for Harry to notice this and start uncontrollably remembering the scenarios he had been fantasising about for close to two months now and felt his erection grow hard and fast. Harry began trying to non-discreetly hide himself from his crush but Snape's keen eyes had already seen it all.

"Really Harry?" Snape remarked almost jokingly.

Harry grabbed a pillow, put it in his lap then bent over to hide his face. Snape began laughing loudly and patted Harry on the back. The patting continued well past the friendly comfort gesture and made its way to his head. Severus was patting Harry's head and brushed passed his ears accidentally, instantly sending gooseflesh through Harry. Snape decided that enough had been done and rose from the bed. He took his hand away from the teen and started making his way to the door when he was suddenly stopped. He looked back to see that Harry had grabbed his hand.

"Sev…"

Snape held his breath and looked into the boy's face. He was red and flushed with obvious arousal.

"Harry, we're…"

Just friends Snape wanted to remind him but instead leaned forward and placed a small kiss on his hair covered forehead.
"We're going to be late if we don't prepare ourselves now." Harry smiled and let go of his friend.

"Okay Sev, I'll see you soon then." Severus nodded and ruffled the boy's hair in an attempt to break the tension before leaving. "My quarters are just through the office opposite. Only for emergencies, the password is "Valerian".

Snape then left, gently closing both the bedroom door and the portrait behind himself.