Severus Snape was nervous. He'd faced down the Dark Lord knowing he was going to be killed and he hadn't been nervous, resigned to his fate, definitely, but not nervous. It had been years since he'd felt like he actually had anything to lose, and it wasn't his life he was concerned about, it was…well…maybe it was his family. He hadn't had anyone he could call family since his mother died many, many years ago, and even she hadn't stood up for him like Harry Potter had done in the short time they'd had since putting aside their animosity. He knew he could avoid this, but maybe some of Harry's courage and recklessness had rubbed off on him over the past few months.

Harry was going to be released from the infirmary once Healer Morris gave him one last check over sometime that day. Snape was very surprised Madam Pomfrey had let the St. Mungo's healer have as much leeway in her infirmary as she had, but she had complained vehemently for years to him about her inability to care for magical creatures every time he had her patch him up after a meeting with the Dark Lord. The woman was formidable, but he could appreciate that she also knew the extent of her training and capabilities.

He'd been running through the plan in his head for most of the day. He'd let Harry settle back into their rooms, and he'd ask his roommate to stay and have breakfast with him in the morning instead of going to the Great Hall. That way, there was a time limit since they had to get to class, so he could throw everything out there and Harry would have all day to process away from him. That and he could escape quickly and put some distance between them if there was an immediate negative reaction, which is what he was fully expecting if he were being honest.

It turned out that Healer Morris must have stopped by after his shift at St. Mungo's because it was after dinner before Harry opened the portrait door and stepped back into their little sitting room. "Freedom!" the teen smiled widely and plopped on the floor in front of the couch, already taking Little Bit out of his bag to put into the basket Snape had bought them. "I didn't think they'd ever let me go. I tell you, if Healer Morris and Madam Pomfrey ever teamed up, they could run a prison instead of a hospital. They'd have Azkaban in ship-shape within a week."

Snape put down the potions journal that was little more than a prop since he hadn't read more than a line in the last hour. He actually looked over his roommate more. Harry was wearing some of his more comfortable clothes to leave the infirmary, a pair of soft sweatpants and a green t-shirt that instead of making him look frumpy, made Snape feel the need to wrap his arms around him and sink into that comfort. He shook his head to clear away those thoughts and instead focused on how Harry looked surprisingly well-rested.

"I suppose I should brew more Dreamless Sleep potion? Clearly, Healer Morris must have deviated from your schedule to have you take it the past few days," he remarked, already planning to brew later that evening since Harry would be getting low on his specialty nutrition potions as well.

Harry turned a breathtaking smile on him with his luminescent green eyes shining. "Yeah, thanks! I'm off the potion for the next few days, so no hurry though. You really are brilliant, you know that, right?"

"Indeed," Snape drawled and had to look away before he tossed his plan out the window and just blurted everything out, or maybe just kissed the man…yeah, that wouldn't go over well especially since he was fairly certain Harry preferred women to men for romance.

He cleared his throat. "Since you had plenty of free time, I assume you finished all your homework?"

The teen rolled his eyes and sighed before pulling a ream of parchment out of the bag that Little Bit had been in moments before and set it on their coffee table. "Here's the Arithmancy work you assigned. I'm all caught up on everything except for Tonks's class since they were doing practicals. She said I can stop by her office this next weekend, and she'll catch me up. Well…I'm a bit behind in Astronomy as well, but Percy actually said he would help with that. Professor Laimar is not particularly someone I would like to go to for help."

Snape frowned, wondering what the woman had done to Harry. He knew his own reasons for not liking her, she was insufferable. "Lucinda? Has she done anything concerning?"

"Huh, no, just don't like her," Harry responded, not meeting his eye and turning slightly pink. It was a concerning response, but he let it slide, vowing to pay more attention to the ridiculous woman to see if she was a threat instead of just an annoyance.

His eyes drifted to the shining emerald sitting close enough to the fire that Saanp was occasionally brushing against the shell. "You did spell the basket fire-resistant, didn't you?"

Harry gave him a look he imagined was on his own face many times when asked a stupid question. "Of course, I did, Snape."

He couldn't a help a chuckle at the expression. "Just checking…still used to thinking about the safety of your child, I suppose, after egg sitting. Any new thoughts on names?"

Harry's expression dramatically softened at that, and he ran a hand over the egg that would certainly have burned anyone not part phoenix. "Thank you for that. I knew you would protect Little Bit when I couldn't…I owe you so much for that, and for saving them that day in Diagon. I can never repay you…"

Snape cleared his throat and waved away the gratitude, not being able to handle the emotions coming at him. Harry took pity on him and changed the subject after a small smile at the vampire. "As for names…I think I have a few boy name options I'm playing around with. Girl names, I'm completely stumped on though. Is it really a custom to put the father's name as the middle name for the first-born son in wixen culture? Everyone I know has their father's middle name if they are the first-born son."

"It is," Snape nodded, glad to be back in safe territory once again. "Even my mother insisted I have my muggle father's middle name," he couldn't help the sneer added at that. "It is a tradition very rarely deviated from."

Harry just huffed. "You know, you're allowed to change your name. Especially since you killed the man…not judging at all," he added quickly at the end. "I don't know nor need to know what all happened; I know enough to not judge."

"Thank you," Snape breathed out. "I do not enjoy nor wish to discuss the man who abused me and killed my mother…besides, I am not sure what I would even consider changing my name to…"

"I'm sorry," Harry scooted over from where he was sitting on the floor at that to put a hand on Snape's leg comfortingly. "I get it…I only brought it up because…well…" He got really embarrassed for some reason.

"Clearly you can tell me, and I will not judge either," Snape rolled his eyes and gave the teen on the floor a fond smirk.

"Er…well, I don't actually know my first name," he mumbled before scooting back over to the egg.

Snape frowned at that. Everyone knew Harry Potter's name. "I don't understand."

"Well…Harry has to be short for something, right? Am I a Harrison, Harold, Henry, Hardison, Henrick, or something else I haven't thought of yet?" He huffed in frustration. "No one has ever cared enough to tell me. Not even Sirius or Remus thought to mention it, and I didn't think to ask after years of just putting it behind me."

The vampire really wanted to curse Petunia and her husband as well as everyone else that had known Harry as a child and had left him there with those people. Maybe he could turn Albus's hair a sickly brown in his portrait. It wouldn't do more than make him feel better, but he was clearly going to attempt it anyway.

"I believe you had a Henry Potter as an ancestor, though that doesn't necessarily mean you are named after him. Knowing Lily, if James got to pick your middle name, then she would insist on your first, and Henry was a Potter ancestor and not an Evans one," he responded. "I'm sure we can ask the goblins next time we're at the bank. It would have your full name listed on your account."

Harry smiled at the "we" in Snape's response. "I'll do that! Thanks. Then at least I'll have a middle name for a boy…now just girl names and a first name for a boy! Thank Merlin I have until summer to think of them," he chuckled.

"I believe I will shower before bed," Snape stood and headed towards their washroom. "Would you join me for breakfast in our rooms tomorrow morning? Put off joining the rest of the dunderheads for one more meal?"

With a laugh and a promise to call Kreacher and ask him to drop off food in the morning, Harry agreed, and Snape escaped to the safety of the loo. Breathing out a sigh at his plan being put into motion, and more nervous than ever. How would Harry take him feeling more for him than as just a flat mate or friend? Would it change anything in their relationship? Could he convince the man to welcome a haunted and broken vampire hanging around him more indefinitely? All these were questions that just kept swirling around his mind and would not let him rest.

It wasn't the next morning when Snape saw Harry next. It seemed that Harry had forgotten to cast his silencing charm around his room when he went to sleep, probably still tired from coming back to life and having gotten used to taking Dreamless Sleep the past few nights. It was around two in the morning when Snape's vampire hearing shocked him awake with the screams echoing throughout their rooms.

He jumped out of his bed and darted from the room, wearing just his sleep pants. It seemed that both Fawkes and Saanp were gone, probably left for the forest together as the ashwinder occasionally would spend time with the warm firebird. So, Snape rushed into Harry's room frantically, wondering what in Merlin's name could be happening and who had killed his friend this time.

What he saw, and should have expected, was a thrashing Harry Potter caught in a violent nightmare. "No! No! You can't! Not now!" He shouted between screams that Snape had only heard from those being tortured.

"Harry!" Snape yelled, but the man just kept thrashing. His egg was safely still tucked into his side with one arm, being protected even in the middle of Harry's torment. "Wake up!" He tried again.

"You can't have them! I claim them!" He yelled out louder, an echoing magic ripple reverberated from what Snape guessed was the ring Harry was wearing for some very strange reason.

He gave up and sat down on the bed beside his friend. "If you punch me, I'll have you cleaning cauldrons," he grumbled before tentatively reaching out a hand to shake the teen while also defending himself.

"Wake up!" He decisively shook Harry's shoulder and yelled at the same time.

"Ow!" Snape groaned from where he assumed Harry's magic had blasted him against the wall. He vaguely wondered if there was a Snape shaped indention now in the stone. "Bloody hell…" he rubbed the back of his head. He'd never met anyone who could attack instinctively as fast as Harry could.

"Oh Merlin, Snape! I'm so sorry!" Harry put down his wand quickly, where it had come from, Snape had absolutely no clue. "I'm so, so sorry! Are you alright?"

"If I were actually 38 and not a vampire, then you'd be taking me to the infirmary now," Snape checked himself over and knew he'd be sore for a couple days but was not severely injured. "I will recover though."

"I must have forgotten my silencing ward. I'm so sorry," he wrung his hands from where he was sitting in a ratty t-shirt and sleep pants, tangled in the rumpled covers of the bed.

"Stop apologizing. I was aware a violent reaction was a possibility," the vampire peeled himself off the ground and stumbled over to the much softer bed and plopped down at Harry's feet. "Good reflexes though. I am impressed. Do you wish to discuss your nightmare?"

"I'd rather get dragon pox," Harry vehemently denied. "Talking about it doesn't help no matter what anyone says."

"I suppose it probably depends on the dream."

"Snape! What if the baby comes and wakes me up sometime?!" Harry's eyes went wide and his mouth fell open in abject terror.

"First of all, it will be a long while before your child will walk, let alone try to wake you up," Snape shook his head to clear the slight ringing in his ears. "By then, we will work to temper the nightmares through potions and also the mind-healer that Healer Morris is trying to find for you. Also, I doubt you would have the same reaction to your child. You were protecting the egg even while you were trapped in your nightmare."

Harry sighed and closed his eyes briefly, pulling the egg closer to him. "I'm a bloody mess, Snape. You shouldn't have to deal with me," he said, looking down at the egg before turning haunted, bright green eyes on the vampire. "I know we haven't really talked about summer or even winter break for that matter, but if you want to escape and get away from my crazy life and Little Bit and all…I won't blame you at all. I'm so sorry…"

"I said to stop apologizing," Snape ran a frustrated hand down his face. It was way too late…or early, for this, and he hadn't had any coffee at all. This was not the plan.

"You don't deserve…"

"Just stop for a minute!" Snape held up a hand, interrupting. He rumpled his long hair that seemed to want to fall directly in his face in frustration. "I was going to talk to you about this tomorrow morning…but, fine, here goes…"

He took a deep breath before finally meeting the sleepy and confused eyes of the other man sitting on the bed. "I don't want to go. I want to stay, with you…and the baby…"

Harry slowly nodded. "I said you could. You're welcome at Grimmauld, but don't feel like you have to or anything. You deserve your own life. You shouldn't feel like you need to take care of me…"

"Bloody hell, you brat, let me finish!" Snape grumbled, negating the fierceness of his words by taking Harry's free hand in both of his.

"Kay," Harry raised an eyebrow and gave the man a twisted smirk before squeezing the hands holding his.

"Right…I am not good with emotions…as you are well aware," Snape pinned him with a look, telling him to not respond to that if he didn't want to be silenced with a spell. Harry just raised his smirk a little more.

"I don't take care of you…you take care of me," he finally rushed out. "I was drowning for years before what happened in the shack, and I can finally breathe again…that's you."

Harry's look of confusion melted and he squeezed the man's hands once more, prompting him to continue. "Look, nothing needs to change. I want to stay, as you offered, at Grimmauld. I will set up my apothecary with what I get from selling my house. I would be honored to help you take care of the child. I am not ill adept with dealing with children…"

"I'm well aware of that. You've helped so much whenever I have Teddy," Harry quickly cut in to make sure Snape knew he did actually know that.

"Thank you," he gave the man a little nod. "Well, like I said, nothing has to change, but I would like to stay…for as long as you will let me…" He took a steeling breath. This is where the anxiety lay. "However, you need to know…I want you to know…I feel…well, I feel things for you. I realize these feelings are not requited, but for our friendship to continue, I need it noted that I am a gay man, and you are a very appealing person, physically and just for who you have grown into and become as a person. I swear I will never push these feelings with you, but if you ever in our long, immortal lives decide that maybe I am not so unappealing…"

"You're wrong!" Harry cut in a bit too enthusiastically.

There was a pause as Harry turned a little pink. "About…?" Snape raised an eyebrow, well aware that Harry hadn't pulled his hand out of his own yet. He didn't want to hope…but the hope was right there.

"Your feelings," Harry turned an even brighter shade of pink. "Erm…they aren't unrequited. I, erm, well, I've liked you for a while, but I didn't think I really had a shot. I mean, you're gorgeous, and I'm younger, even if I don't look it, plus all my baggage, and well, there will always be Weasleys and Hermione around as well as Kreacher, and Fawkes, Saanp, and the baby…"

Snape couldn't stop the relieved and surprised chuckle that escaped his chest. "Merlin, you must be blind, but yes, you have a shot if I have a shot…shall we maybe…give it a chance? Your baggage as you call it, is not baggage that is unwelcome as long as you accept that I'll probably always be my ornery acerbic self with my own baggage as well."

Harry let go of the egg to put both hands in Snape's, giving him a tentative smile. "I wouldn't have you any other way."

The first real smile Snape had felt in a very long time tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Could we maybe…take this all a little slow though…I am unaccustomed to being in a committed relationship. It has been years."

Harry gave a little breathy chuckle that almost made Snape want to take back that suggestion and go the quick route. "Merlin, I went to this school while being continuously attacked throughout my formative years. My only actual relationship was with Ginny, who I apparently never actually knew, and we didn't get past a few awkward snogs. So, yes, please let's take it slow."

"Right, I should go then," Snape reluctantly looked over at the door.

"Yeah…you're a bit too undressed to stay," Harry gave him a smirk and a look at his bare chest that actually had Snape blushing. He didn't think he'd ever blushed in his life!

He groaned and stood to leave. "I have a feeling you will be the death of me," he said over his shoulder but with a smirk.

"All depends on how you define 'death,'" the teen shot back with an insinuating chuckle, laying back in his bed and making Snape blush once more before escaping quickly. Merlin, he had no clue how Harry did that to him with no experience and half-asleep. That brat was definitely going to be the death of him, however one defined the word!

Breakfast was a little awkward as neither seemed to know how to discuss the new change in their relationship. At least Snape had coffee, which he couldn't help smiling at his new…boyfriend?...over the top of. Harry smiled back after he swallowed the bit of porridge he'd eaten.

He cleared his throat. "Erm…so, should be maybe discuss a few things…like maybe who to tell and how to act outside of our rooms…"

"That is an excellent idea," Snape put down his coffee cup, impressed at the teen's forethought. "I do suggest that we maybe make no outward shows of affection where others can see us while at the school…I must admit, I am not very comfortable with public shows of affection in general…"

"I assumed as much," Harry nodded quickly, putting his mind at ease. "With the press and all, I'm not very comfortable with it either. We will end up in the press at some point though, will you be ok with that?"

Snape thought about it and nodded. "I will. The inconvenience is worth what this could be, and I am already in the press because of the war. It will be more attention, but it will eventually die down."

Harry snorted and rolled his eyes at the situation. "Maybe in a few decades. I would like to tell Ron and Hermione, if you are ok with that?"

"Of course," he nodded. "I suggest you inform Professor Lupin-Tonks as well. I will talk with Andromeda over the break and speak to Draco as well."

"I'll talk to Percy then," Harry's smile widened at Snape's willingness to loop in his family. "He'll be living with us for the foreseeable future anyway. I'm not going to kick him out."

"As you should not," Snape snorted and picked up his coffee again. "In answer to one of your questions from last night, I will attend winter break at Grimmauld, if you will still have me. As I am only teaching under protest, I see no need for me to remain in the castle over the break full time."

"Merlin, Snape, just assume you're welcome already," Harry chuckled and stood. "Now, I'm going to kiss your cheek, prepare yourself for some of that show of affection that makes you uncomfortable."

"Harry…just assume you are welcome," Snape responded with a smirk, pulling the former Gryffindor over to him and wrapping his arms around the thin but strong frame.

With an unnecessarily noisy kiss to Snape's neck just over the scar from Nagini, Harry was pulling away to finish getting ready with a laugh. "See you in class!" He called back before closing the door to the loo behind him.

Harry finished his gushing explanation to Ron and Hermione while all seated, crammed onto the bed in Hermione's very small room. "So…yeah…" He paused with a wide smile, waiting for their response. "What do you think?"

Ron sighed and took a galleon out of his pocket before handing it over to Hermione who cackled in glee. "In my defense, if Harry didn't die so much, those two idiots probably wouldn't have figured everything out until after Christmas," he protested.

"I'm just that much better at this than you," Hermione cackled again, putting the coin in her pocket.

"Stop betting on my love life!" Harry indignantly protested. "What other bets do you two have going? And why am I not involved?!"

"Well, most of them are about you," Hermione shrugged unrepentantly, but nudged Harry's leg with her foot. "And we didn't peg you as the betting type."

While she was right, Harry still felt a bit left out. "Yeah, well…just seems, icky is all…"

"You and me will come up with a nice bet about Ron then, shall we?" Hermione offered with a mischievous smile. "I even have a few ideas…"

"Oi! That's not how this works!" Ron protested with a wrinkle of his nose at the suggestion.

"Turn about is fair play, Ronnikins," his ex-girlfriend reminded him with a laugh.

"Fine," he grimaced. "Who else knows about you and Snape being official? Can I mention it to Percy, Tonks, or…Malfoy or anyone?"

"Right now, it's just you two," Harry leaned back against the wall and pulled his bag more into his lap. "I'll tell Tonks this weekend and catch Percy after class or over the weekend. Snape is going to tell Andromeda and Draco…I'm not sure when though."

"Well, at least we were first," Hermione nodded decisively. "Now…have you two finished the Charms essay? What did you get at the fourth practical use of the engorgement charm? I'm blanking."

"Making my butterbeer larger," Ron answered.

"Murdering Death Eaters," Harry shrugged.

Both teens looked at Harry sharply. "What? I've died a lot!" He protested. "Make someone's heart larger and that'll stop them coming after you or your defenseless egg!"

"I think I'll go with the butterbeer," Hermione shook her head and began to rummage in her bag for her parchment.

"Suit yourself, but Professor Flitwick always gives me an extra point if my charms have a few vicious uses," Harry shrugged and pulled out his own essay.

"We all need mind-healers, even the bloody professors," Ron grumbled, believing Harry fully after living with the Charms professor for over a month now.

"We're going to do a little Christmas just Mum, me, and Teddy, but let's do it up big at your house for Boxing Day, right?" Tonks suggested, more concerned with holiday plans than helping Harry with the spell he was supposed to have learned that week in class, but since it was a shielding spell, he already knew it perfectly anyway.

"Yeah, the Weasley boys are planning on my place for Christmas, and some will be staying for Boxing Day as well. I think Hermione and maybe Draco will be in that day too. Hermione is doing Christmas Day in Australia, but she and her parents have never been close, so she's going to stay with us the rest of break," Harry filled her in, absently shielding against the bean bags magically flying at him from a large pile on the floor.

"We have a plan! I've been wanting to try my hand at making the Christmas pudding!"

Harry winced, not liking their chances of actually getting edible pudding. He resolved to make one to hide away in a cupboard just in case. "Er, there is something I need to tell you…"

"Oh really?" Tonks turned from her marking to focus her entire attention on him with a wide smirk on her face. "Is this about what you are, the bag you carry around, how you saved my life…just pick one and stop me whenever."

Harry laughed and got hit in the face by a bean bag he'd forgotten to shield against. "Merlin, I'm not meaning to keep things from you. I just keep thinking I'll tell you and Andy at once and then just haven't had the best opening…"

"Well, no pressure, but please take some pressure and just tell me something," she gave him puppy dog eyes almost as good as Percy's.

"Right, well, everything on your list I'll explain just as soon as I can get you and Andy together," he shook his head and actually did shield against the next flying bag. "For starters...right now though…well, it's really new, but…I guess, I'm seeing someone."

Tonks raised an eyebrow before turning back to her marking with a huff. "Expected…so who kissed who first? Did some of that Gryffindor bravado rub off on Severus and he finally go for it, or did you stumble blindly into admitting your feelings?"

"You know, just a little surprise from someone would be nice," Harry huffed and dodged the next bean bag instead of shielding it. "For your information, we haven't actually kissed yet…this is just like a couple days going on. We haven't even held hands after we made it official…honestly, nothing much has changed yet besides a few hugs. We're going slow…I just hope not glacially," he pouted slightly.

Tonks looked up and frowned. "Hey…erm, you need someone to talk you through…you know…the physical stuff? I'm not volunteering," she added quickly. "But Mum would definitely be one you could talk to."

Harry winced dramatically at that. "Actually, Sirius took care of that over Christmas in my fifth year. He seemed to get a lot of enjoyment out of having a godfather duty he could actually perform, a bit too enthusiastically in my opinion. It was like Christmas had come again when I mentioned I was bi and he got to explain even more."

"Merlin, I'm glad I missed that," she shook her head at her erratic cousin. "Well, offer still stands. I suppose I could get some practice on you before Teddy is old enough to need to know if you'd rather me than Mum."

"Nah, I'm good," he quickly protested, getting hit once more by a stray bean bag.

Overall, the term was beginning to run much more smoothly now that he was more comfortable teaching and in his own skin, in Percy's opinion. Even so, he was still looking forward to getting away for a bit and seeing his brothers over the break to de-stress some. He hadn't realized just how much emotional labor being a professor brought with it. It wasn't just teaching, marking, and maintaining order. Especially after the war, it was checking in on students who seemed disengaged, checking that no one was falling through the cracks in rebuilding their world, and being an ear to those grieving.

He didn't have an actual list, but he did have several students he kept mental notes to check in on. Dennis seemed to be doing much better and had crossed the divide to even make some new friends in Slytherin. Percy even started a little study hall for some second years that seemed more traumatized than most returning. And he regularly had tea with Neville and Luna now as they settled back into the school they had been tortured in the year before.

He saw someone else he wanted to check on exiting the library while he was on his way back to his chambers to have tea with Flitwick, Harry, and Snape who had something they wanted to tell him…not that he was really curious as he was almost certain he knew exactly what Harry and Snape's news was going to be. Therefore, he figured he could be a bit late, so he took a moment to stop. "Ms. Patel, I was wanting to talk to you. Do you mind?"

"Professor Weasley?" Padma Patel paused, in the corridor, holding the book on Mesopotamian magical runes she'd just checked out. "Can I help you?"

"No, I just wanted to check in and ask how the term was going," Percy leaned against the wall and gave her a little smile, trying to look as welcoming as possible. "Everyone is struggling more this term, especially you eighth years, and I noticed you haven't had your sister with you like usual. Is everything alright?"

Padma shrugged and leaned against the opposite wall of the corridor. "Parvati is struggling. She's been pulling away from me and our parents more and more since Lavender died," she explained. "She took it very hard…sometimes I wonder if they were a little more than friends, but that's only a guess. She's mad at the world, and I get it, but I don't know how to break in and get through to her."

Percy nodded, seeing what Padma was explaining. "I imagine hanging with my sister and her group cannot be helping. They have let their fear take over…"

"My family is and always have been supportive of creature rights," the woman shook her head in frustration, holding the book closer to her like armor against the world. "I don't know why she would fall in with them…I get her anger with the Death Eaters, and even Slytherins to an extent, though I disagree, but what they've been saying about you…"

Percy just shook his head and waved her off. "Don't worry about me, Ms. Patel. I know I've only been your professor for a few months, but I was a prefect here for much longer. If you need anything, I'm here to talk."

"Thanks…I have Luna though," Padma smiled at him thankfully. "We've gotten closer this year, and Hannah as well."

"Well, I'm here, and I'll see if I can talk to your sister or any of that group without starting something," he sighed, not even knowing where to start with that.

"Maybe wait until after break," Padma turned to walk back towards the guest rooms where she was housed. "Hopefully, our parents can get through to her where I can't."

"Of course, I hope you have a good break," he waved back at her and headed towards his rooms and tea and the very expected news he was hoping was coming.

They were in a secluded section of the castle heading towards Percy's room where they were supposed to be having tea with him and Flitwick, and no one else was around. Harry figured it was as good of a time as any when he bravely stepped closer to Snape and took the calloused, thin fingers in his. Snape look down at their hands and raised an eyebrow, but he didn't pull away. "I thought we were not into public displays," he smirked.

"I see no public, do you?" Harry shook his head and chuckled. "Come on, Snape. It seems everyone already assumed we were going to get together anyway. I don't know how us holding hands will shock anyone."

"True," Snape nodded and continued walking with a little squeeze of the hand holding his.

"How'd Draco take it, by the way?"

"He asked me to pass the sugar," Snape rolled his eyes. "I'd give the brat detention, but he agreed to do Boxing Day with us, so I was feeling generous."

Harry laughed loudly as they turned a corner, both catching a glimpse of another person in the connecting hallway. Harry made to let go, but Snape shrugged and just continued to hold his hand. "Your point stands. Apparently, everyone already knew or at least suspected."

Harry chuckled and stopped when he finally realized the other person in the hallway was Professor Laimar. A wave of veela magic swept over them both forcefully. Harry was certain that he'd be making a complete fool of himself if he wasn't mostly creature at that point, but he tightened his hold on Snape's hand, hoping that vampires had similar immunity to veela magic as he seemed to have. "Professor Laimar…" he acknowledged the woman with a frown.

"Lucinda," Snape raised an eyebrow, to Harry's relief and Laimar's frustration seeming similarly unaffected. "May I ask the purpose of your attempt to bend my and Harry's wills to yours?"

"Oh Severus," the woman brushed off the remark, seeming to quickly recover and change tactics. "I'm so sorry, I just lost a little control there is all. I did want to speak with you though. Would you care to help me with some Christmas shopping in Hogsmeade at the beginning of break? You would be ever so helpful to show me around the town." She batted her long, and objectively beautiful eyelashes, causing Harry to roll his eyes at the blatant brashness of the woman. She must not ever actually have to work to flirt with someone when she could just use her powers, thankfully that seemed to be failing her now.

Snape frowned even more sternly with confusion behind his features, his eyes cut to where he was still very clearly holding Harry Potter's hand in full view. Harry met his eyes and gave a bemused shrug, communicating he wasn't sure what her deal was either.

Snape cleared his throat and looked at the new professor. "I want to be very clear as I am not good with or patient enough for subtlety; I am not interested in a romantic relationship with you. I'm both not interested in women and already in a relationship."

The woman frowned. "Surely, Severus…"

"Also," he cut in before she could continue. "I'm very concerned about why you seem set on me for your next conquest. I can fathom only three reasons you may have. First, if it is because I am some kind of war hero, then I would be willing to introduce you to Kingsley Shacklebolt instead. He is single, interested in women, a war hero, and possessed of a much more agreeable personality than I. Second, if it is because I am a vampire, I would suggest you turn your attentions more to the werewolf on staff for the same reasons as Kingsley. However, if it is the third reason, solely that I look 19 years old, then frankly, I am severely concerned about you continuing to work here at a school. Even when I was headmaster under the Dark Lord, I would not have retained a professor with similar proclivities."

"He is 18," Professor Laimar motioned towards Harry with fury in her eyes. "And a student!"

"First, Harry is no longer a student here as an eighth year. Also, I neither chose to return to the school this year, nor plan to remain after this year, and Harry is rather in a class of his own where his age has absolutely nothing to do with why I like him," Snape smirked over at the man beside him who was clearly holding in his laughter.

"I was actually legally marked as an adult at 14 because of that stupid tournament," Harry laughed out, not being able to hold it back anymore. "Not that it helped me any going forward. It'd have been nice to set out on my own a bit early."

Snape snorted a chuckle. "I imagine I would have had to hunt you down over the summer to save your sorry hide if you were on your own."

"Eh, probably," Harry just shrugged. "Excuse us, Professor, we already have a prior commitment with Professor Flitwick."

"See you in the faculty meeting after break," Snape commented to the stunned woman behind them, somehow making that simple statement sound like a threat.

They were almost at Flitwick and Percy's rooms when Harry spoke again. "She does make a good point," he said to Snape's utter confusion. "Should we maybe tell McGonagall about our relationship before she hears from someone else?"

Snape paused at the portrait door. "I do not believe I owe Minerva that courtesy. Her opinion of us and what we do means nothing to me anymore, and it's not like we are breaking any rules."

"Or that she could fire you anyway," Harry chuckled. "I think you might be a bit ungenerous to the headmistress though. So far, she hasn't really done anything, and you are Percy are here teaching…"

"It's more the fact that she has yet to talk with me about what all was said between us after Albus's death," he seemed to shrink in on himself a little. "I realize she probably does not want to talk about it, but things were said that I cannot forget. I can forgive her believing the lie we spread, but some of the things she said about me and to me…going back to when I was a student…it still stings."

Harry patted his hand and let the subject go. "Then we won't tell her. I'm sure Laimar with eventually take care of that for us anyway."

"Merlin, that woman…!" Snape chuckled in bemusement at the situation as they knocked to enter for tea. "What in the world she was thinking even considering the greasy dungeon bat?!"

"Hey! First, bats are cool, and you're gorgeous!" Harry protested vehemently.

"You are clearly blind and biased, but I appreciate it," Snape said just as Flitwick welcomed them in.

Up Next: The Weasleys descend on Grimmauld...