And so it ended up being that Severus and Harry ran into one another often at the pub. They didn't always sit together and talk, but if they saw one another; they'd acknowledge the other calmly. The times they did sit together, it was over drinks and bar food, just chatting about whatever. It was always civil and sometimes with laughter. This went on for months, it was now June 2007. Harry's work seemed to pick up a lot because Severus began seeing him less and less from when they normally met every Friday, sometimes Saturdays too. It was rare during the week, but now and then they'd see one another. Today was one where Severus knew he had to harvest his ingredients he was growing in his backyard, so he headed outside to the warm weather and meandered to his garden to get to work. The potions master ordered most of his ingredients, or would go out to buy them at various places, but there was something relaxing about harvesting the ones he could grow. Severus did his weeding and grabbed the things that were ready to harvest; the man only stopped somewhere in the middle of the hour to wipe his brow of sweat and look around and ended up gazing at his neighbor's yard, still finding it interesting that he didn't know who lived there.
Severus was about to go back to his work when he saw someone walk out the back door of the neighbor's house, but their back was turned from Severus's view, so the potions master still couldn't see who it was. The figure grabbed a couple things, namely a broom, rag, and some cleaning agent before sitting down and getting to work on cleaning the broom and then waxing it. Severus found himself staring, which wasn't something he normally did, but this neighbor had been so elusive and Severus admitted he was curious to know who lived next door to him. Severus watched for a bit, enjoying the view he had of the male. Seemed young, messy black hair, well built body which Severus got a much better view of when the man took his shirt off and was only wearing a pair of dark blue jeans. It was quite the sight and Severus found some attraction in it; the man was a potions master, but not engaged in celibacy. Severus probably got laid for the first time after Lily got married to James, knowing he'd never have a chance with her. Severus got himself drunk and just didn't care. Then there were all the years in between before Voldemort returned when Severus had time away from Hogwarts like during holidays or summer vacation.
Severus had his lays since the dark lord's defeat too, but it was typically with muggle men, and under a glamour. No one needed to know who he was to try and pursue anything. Severus hadn't cared much for relationships. 'Even if I never know who this mysterious neighbor is; he's certainly good looking.' Severus admitted to himself. 'I wouldn't mind a night with him.' He added before preparing to get back to work, but the male started to turn while admiring his broom's cleanliness and Severus realized who he'd been staring at for the last twenty minutes. Who his neighbor actually was.
"Potter?" Severus whispered in surprise. His neighbor was Harry? No, he couldn't be. But he actually could. Harry had said that he moved to Godric's Hollow in January, and that's when Severus got a new neighbor. Oh Merlin, was Harry really the person who had been living next door these past six months? Was Harry the one Severus just admitted to thinking looked good and not minding a night with? Severus paled at the thought. No. Never. It would never happen, no matter how good the man looked. Himself and Harry? No. Severus was the man's teacher for six years. Harry was the boy who lived, who defeated Voldemort. Severus watched this man grow up. It didn't matter how well they got along now, right? Severus was twice Harry's age; they'd never sleep together. Dear God, Lily needed to strike him down, right this moment for even having the thought to sleep with Harry. While dealing with his inner crisis, Severus failed to notice his godson coming up beside him.
"Um? Hello, Earth to Uncle Sev?" Came a voice. It belonged to Draco Malfoy, who was Severus's godson and came to visit quite often. Draco looked at what Severus was staring at, seeing Harry shirtless in his own backyard and working on his broom maintenance. 'Why is he staring at Harry like he's never seen such a good looking person before?' Draco asked himself before the realization hit him that Severus never knew Harry was his neighbor and had probably never seen Harry in this way before. Smirking, Draco decided to have some fun as he walked closer to the fence and leaned on it before giving a wolf-whistle to his friend. "Damn, Potter…Bend a little more, it's a much better angle of your ass in those jeans."
Harry whipped around and saw Draco, but also Severus before smiling. It seemed to snap Severus out of his stupor to stand quickly. Harry walked over to the fence and greeted his friend with a handshake. "Hey, Malfoy," Harry said. "You've seen enough of my ass to last a lifetime. I'm not giving you any more to look at."
"True that." Draco chuckled.
"Hi, Severus," Harry greeted the man.
"Hello, Harry," Severus replied.
"So what brings you both here?" Harry asked.
"I came to visit my godfather and noticed you next door." Draco smiled.
"Well, yeah…I live here." Harry stated. "Have since January."
"I knew you were moving, I just didn't know where. Love that you ended up Uncle Sev's neighbor." Draco remarked. "Now, I can visit you both at the same time."
"Wait, really?" Harry asked, now looking at Severus. "You live here?" Severus nodded to him. "Huh. I've been wondering who my elusive neighbor is for months now."
"Funny. I was wondering the same thing about you…Well, who my neighbor is. I just learned today it was you." Severus stated.
"So what are you up to today, Potter?" Draco inquired.
"Just doing things that need to get done." Harry replied.
"Well, if you are all done…Why don't you join Uncle Sev and I? Couple drinks?" Draco offered.
"Shouldn't you be checking with your godfather before you go inviting people into your hangout time?" Harry wondered.
"My godson has never asked before doing something, Potter. He just does it," Severus rolled his eyes. "It's fine. It wouldn't be out of our new norm to get together."
"What's all this now?" Draco questioned. "You two get together often?"
"Couple times a month. Usually both end up at the pub, just have a couple drinks and talk about how life has been since the last time we saw one another, which were…The trials?" Harry tried to think back.
"Something like that." Severus nodded. "We initially ran into one another about six months ago at the cemetery, but I didn't know Harry was living here until a couple weeks later over drinks." He added. "Regardless. It's fine, Potter. Join us."
"If you insist," Harry agreed. "Give me an hour or so. I've got a meeting with Robarbs and Kinglsey in ten minutes."
"What for?" Draco asked curiously.
"I don't know, I was just told what time to come and I do what I'm told when my boss and the Minister of Magic tell me to do something." Harry stated.
"That's fine, Harry." Severus nodded. "You can just come over into the backyard, we'll be around the fire."
"Will do. Guess I'll see you in a bit." Harry got off the fence and waved before walking away to grab his things and get back into his house.
"So," Draco began. "Did you forget I was coming tonight, or were you so lost in staring at Potter's ass that you lost track of time?" The blonde smirked. "Don't even try to tell me you weren't, Uncle Sev. I literally stood here for like ten minutes before I made the comment I did." Severus glared at his godson. "It's alright, Uncle Severus. You're not the first one to stare at Potter's ass. It is quite the sight. If I weren't already married, I'd hit it."
"Does he know this?" Severus arched his brow. "Does he even swing that way?"
"Harry's bi, Uncle Sev. Has been since Hogwarts days. And yes, he does know. But again, I'm married…Never gonna happen." Draco shrugged. "Why are you so curious?" The man wondered, grinning. "Interested in him?"
"Draco, please…I'm a good twenty years older than him, and I was his teacher-," Severus rolled his eyes.
"Age has nothing to do with it. And you're not his teacher anymore," Draco reminded. "I could see if you two still hated one another, but it looks like you got over all that if you're actually getting together every couple of weeks to catch up on life." Draco commented. "Come on, Uncle Sev…Live a little."
"Even if I did have interest, Draco, I doubt Potter wants the same. We're civil with one another, that's not the same thing as a relationship." Severus stated firmly.
"Who said anything about dating? You could just fuck as friends or something." Draco said.
"Doesn't seem like Potter's style." Severus mentioned.
"Remember that you don't know him as a man, Uncle Sev. You're still seeing him as a child. A student you taught. He's not his father. His godfather. Not even his uncle figure, the werewolf. You have to see him as himself. Harry is his own person. And Harry's all grown up now. You, dear godfather, haven't been a teacher in years so you can't use it as an excuse." Draco told him. "I'm not telling you want to do, of course…But I felt you should be aware that anything after Harry and you left Hogwarts in 1998 doesn't have bearing now." He added.
"Oh…And the fact you assumed I was referring to starting a relationship with Potter just proves that you absolutely have some kind of interest in him," Draco winked. Severus narrowed his eyes at his godson. "I'm just saying…You came here to start over. Voldemort is gone, you survived…Let go of the past and live for now. You're allowed to be happy too, Uncle Severus. Don't deny yourself the opportunities when they present themselves." The man patted his godfather's shoulder. "Now, come on. Let's go grab a drink and wait for Harry to join us."
Severus nodded as he put away his gardening things and entered his house with Draco. Tonight should be interesting.
. . .
It was more than an hour later when Harry finally returned home, apparating into the backyard of his property. The man was tired, hating how things went.
"Must have been some meeting," Draco commented as Harry looked over to his neighbor's yard, finding Draco sitting with Severus near a fire pit.
"You know how they are." Harry muttered.
"You sound stressed. A couple drinks might fix that. Come on over," Severus invited.
"Uh…Yeah. Sure. Just let me change out of these," Harry was referring to his auror robes.
"Take your time," Draco chuckled.
Harry got inside his house, up to his room and changed into something comfortable. Harry handled a few small things and then returned outside to walk over to the fence and hopped over with ease to join the males. Harry took the open seat and Severus levitated over a glass to him with what Harry assumed was alcohol. The message was clear, take a drink with them. After they all toasted to one another, they drank and sat back to relax.
"So, what did Robarbs and Kingsley want?" Draco inquired.
"Things that could have waited until Monday morning," Harry replied.
"Come on, Harry. You know I work in the auror office, don't you? If it were a basic meeting, you wouldn't have gone in uniform." Draco pushed.
"Meeting and mission." Harry told him.
"Hold up. You were on a mission?" Draco stared. Harry nodded. "For what?"
"Tip came through about someone on our high-priority wanted list." Harry informed.
"Who?" Draco questioned. "And how the hell did you get it done so fast? It takes weeks of investigating, planning, following before a move is made. This tip just came in and that's it? Sent a team out?"
"Rookwood." Harry responded. "Another team was tracking him, but couldn't handle it. Got caught in big explosions, or injured by dueling. Most of them ended up in St. Mungo's. I got handed the case when I arrived at the Ministry and walked into Robarb's office."
"So what did you have to do, check out the tip?" Draco asked.
"Yeah." Harry nodded to him.
"Let me guess, Robarbs is gonna have you take a team in to deal with the capture?" Draco arched his brow. "I know we work well together, happy to assist in taking that guy down."
"No need. Rookwood has already been captured and imprisoned." Harry revealed.
"That was quick. Who did you take?" Draco chuckled.
"No one." Harry confessed.
"No-Harry, are you insane? You went after Augustus Rookwood on your own?!" Draco glared. "What the hell is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish or something? You get handed a case to check a tip on someone who took down a whole team on his own, and you went solo?!"
"I had a chance and I took it." Harry remarked. "It also may have been slightly revenge driven."
"Revenge?" Draco questioned.
"He's the one who killed Fred." Harry said, looking into the fire. "Fred Weasley died in an explosion that Rookwood set off. When I verified the tip, the chance was there to strike. So I did. It was a chase and duel, then I caught him off guard and disarmed him. You know how it goes from there, Draco. Arrest and haul in."
"Did you get hurt?" Severus wondered.
"Hm?" Harry glanced over to the potions master.
"In the fight, did you get injured?" Severus repeated.
"Basic spell damage. Cuts, burns, probably bruising tomorrow morning." Harry shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle."
"Yes, well, Rookwood's whole thing was causing pain." Severus stated as he held his hand out and two things zoomed into his hand as he then held them out to Harry. "Pain Reliever and a general healing paste for cuts, burns, and bruising." He informed. "Just because you can handle it doesn't mean you should force yourself to endure the after effects."
Harry was surprised. "Oh. Well, thank you, Severus." Harry said. "I did have this stuff at home from the department healer."
"It's definitely not as good as mine." Severus took a drink and sat back.
"So Rookwood is dealt with? Who does that leave?" Draco inquired.
"The Carrows, and Macnair. I believe the Lestrange brothers as well." Harry mentioned.
"That was it? You show up to the ministry and they give you this case to take over. No actual meeting?" Draco asked.
"Small meeting, but nothing that was to do with the case. As I said, all things that could have been handled on Monday." Harry sighed.
"Why don't we find a new topic? I'm sure Harry would like to get out of work mode." Severus suggested. Harry gave the man a thankful look. Severus noticed Harry's downing mood after the mention of Rookwood being the one responsible for the explosion that killed Fred Weasley. It wasn't unknown that Harry saw the Weasley's like family, and they had all but formally adopted Harry after meeting him.
"So, Malfoy, where is your wife and son this evening? Home?" Harry wondered.
Draco ended with Astoria Greengrass, who had been two years below Draco and Harry's Hogwarts class. Astoria was little sister to Daphne Greengrass, who was in Harry and Draco's year. Astoria graduated in 2000, then at some big event hosted at the Ministry, the two ran into one another and got to talking. From what Harry remembered, Astoria and Draco fell in love rather quickly and married in 2003, despite Lucius and Narcissa not approving the union because Astoria didn't uphold the pureblood views. Draco, after the war, no longer held them either. And then not too long ago in 2005, Astoria and Draco welcomed their son, Scorpius, to the family. It would seem now, Lucius and Narcissa were coming around to the fact not everything was about blood status.
"Weekend trip to France with mother and father. I couldn't get the time off." Draco muttered. "How are your friends?"
"Be specific, you know I have a ton." Harry told him with a smile.
"Granger and Weasley, of course. Who else did you spend all your time with in school?" Draco laughed.
"The Golden Trio, I believe, was the dubbed name of the group among the students." Severus nodded.
"Well, I suppose I can't argue that. During 6th year, after Katie Bell got cursed by that necklace, McGonagall asked Hermione, Ron, and I, Why is it, when something happens, it's always you three. Ron's response was that he'd been asking himself that for six years." Harry shrugged.
"You three did always seem to be at the center of trouble." Severus commented.
"Okay, not all of those instances were because we waltzed into trouble. Some of them, we got dragged into." Harry rolled his eyes. "The Tri-Wizard Tournament was definitely not my doing and I didn't have a choice."
"I will agree that one was not Potter's doing. That was Barty Crouch Jr, poly-juiced as Alastor Moody." Severus stated to Draco.
"So, how are your two partners in crime?" Severus sat back, sipping from his glass.
"They're alright." Harry nodded.
"Weasley ever stop being a prat and tell Granger how much he loved her? Everyone could see it, especially after the Yule Ball." Draco remarked.
"They got together during the battle at Hogwarts. While I was searching for the Diadem, they went to the Chamber of Secrets to destroy the Cup with a Basilisk fang. Apparently, they kissed down there. That's the story I was told." Harry informed. "They're married now, have been since…2004. And have a daughter. My niece, Rose. She was born May 2006. Plus another baby on the way, Hermione said she just found out a couple days ago. I believe she's due for February of next year."
"So, why did Weasley leave the Aurors?" Draco questioned. "He started with you, then just…Left?"
"Yeah, he left two years after we began. Not really sure why. He only told me that he realized it wasn't really something he wanted to do anymore." Harry stated. "I didn't argue with him, it seemed like he was sure. I felt I should just support him. I think it was a lot to do with wanting to be there for George, help him run the joke shop in Diagon Alley. I mean, the whole family and close friends mourned Fred, but it probably hit George the hardest. They did everything together."
"And how are the rest of the Weasley children fairing?" Severus asked.
Harry began to tell them about how all the Weasley brothers had ended up married with kids, except for Charlie, who had remained single thus far. In this, Draco began to speak of his few close friends that he held onto after Hogwarts. It turned into general discussions about how some of the old teachers were doing, Severus remained in contact with Minerva, Filius, Poppy, Pomona. The others were still there, or some, rather. There had been retirements over the years. Harry and Draco told Severus some of their tales in working together, how they took down wanted Death Eaters who escaped the battle. It was a fantastic time, the hours just ticked away while the three of them sat around that fire, chatting like old friends, and drinking. Somehow, the conversation circled back to relationships, not a favorite subject of Harry's given how his kept ending.
About now, it was 11:15 pm or so. Draco seemed drunker than Harry and Severus, but he wasn't acting like a fool, so neither cared.
"I find myself curious, Potter." Severus paused as Harry looked at him to continue. "We got on how the Weasley's have been since the war, moving right along with marrying and having kids. You never mentioned the youngest. What of Miss. Weasley?" Severus inquired.
"Ginny?" Harry wondered as Severus nodded. "As far as I know, Ginny isn't with anyone. She's had plenty of boyfriends before and after me, I think she's enjoying her career with the Holyhead Harpies." Harry remarked.
"Whatever happened to you two?" Draco asked.
"Just wasn't working out. Two different schedules, neither of us had time to actually be a couple between both of us in training for our careers and then beyond that with actually working. She was traveling for games, I was always in different places for missions. When things calmed down for me to more set hours, she was on season break and we realized we wanted different things." Harry said.
"She wanted to get married, you didn't?" Severus wondered.
"I wanted kids, she didn't." Harry admitted. "We got into an argument about it and decided that it wasn't going to work out, so we broke up."
"She didn't want kids at all?" Draco questioned.
"She did, eventually. Just not anytime soon because it would have involved giving up Quidditch for the time she was pregnant, having to miss practice or games if I had a case that would take me away for a couple days, or end up hurt. She wanted to play for a while before retiring, then have kids when she was…In her forties, fifties even." Harry shrugged.
"Well, given our extended aging as wizards and witches, that's really not all uncommon for couples to have children late in life." Draco pointed out.
"Quite true. I believe your father's parents were quite old when they had him." Severus nodded.
"That was because they struggled to conceive a child for many years." Harry corrected. "Besides, that was a time when not much could be done about fertility things. There's potions and whatnot now."
"I concede to that point." Severus shrugged once. "But I am to assume, in this situation with you and Ginerva…You wanted to start a family early on after marriage?" Severus looked at the younger male.
"Can you blame me with how many times I've almost died? As the years passed in Hogwarts, I can't tell you how often I told myself I'm not even going to see graduation because I'll be dead. For the longest time, I didn't even plan for after Hogwarts because I didn't think I'd live long enough to have a future." Harry replied gently. "And along that whole ordeal, I've lost people who were like family to me. Remus, Sirius, Tonks, Fred, my parents. Even Dumbledore. I know I've got the Weasley's, Andromeda and Teddy. Was it so wrong that I wanted to enjoy the future I fought for, enjoy the peace and settle down?"
"No, I don't think it's wrong at all." Severus said. "You lost a fair amount of people you cared about, Harry, and you certainly sacrificed the most to ensure everyone's futures were Voldemort free. If anyone deserves to enjoy what you fought, died, and came back for; it's you."
"So how long ago was this?" Draco wondered. "You and the Weasley girl?"
"Years ago now it seems. Started dating in…June 1999, when she graduated. We broke up about six months later. We'd been talking about moving in together, and I was planning to propose that Christmas with everyone around. Then someone mentioned kids and it went downhill from there. We talked, it turned into a fight and that was the end of it." Harry told him.
"Potter, it's been like…Forget the number, but, years since then. Get back out there, there's probably a line of people waiting to claim Britain's most eligible bachelor, the boy who lived twice and defeated Voldemort, Harry Potter." Draco rolled his eyes.
"You'd be surprised how many relationships I've tried and have failed since that breakup." Harry crossed one leg over the other, and took a drink. "Come on, Dray, I've told you about some. None of my relationships make it past six months, whether they be male or female partners."
"Maybe you just haven't found the one yet. Don't muggles have that whole…True love, happily ever after crap?" Draco snorted.
"Oh, don't you start too." Harry remarked.
"What?" Draco huffed.
"Hermione said the same damn thing last Christmas, when I went to see them after another break up. Hermione says true love will fix everything. Just keep trying." Harry rolled his eyes. "It's exhausting, and it's one of the reasons I moved away to a quiet village. Just to get away from everyone pining after me. They don't want me, they want the fame I have. The only two people I've dated where there were actual feelings involved were Ginny, and Cho Chang, though…She was way back in 5th year. That one also didn't last long, she gave up Dumbledore's Army and it was easy to see that she wasn't over losing Cedric." He mentioned.
"I can see how that would become annoying rather fast, good on you for putting up with it this long." Severus praised.
"It's sort of been my whole life," Harry remarked.
"How do you mean?" Severus pushed calmly. "Of course, you don't have to reveal such if you do not desire to."
"It's just like it's always been, with the exception of very few…" Harry paused. "No one sees me for me. I can't be just Harry Potter to anyone. Most everyone sees something else. The Boy Who Lived, Twice. The Chosen One. Exceptional Auror. The One Who Defeated Voldemort. The Hero. The Savior. Famous Harry Potter. Lord Potter. Lord Black. Everyone compares me to my parents. I swear it's the first thing those who know them say. You look so much like your father, but you have your mother's eyes. Like, come on…Yes, I look like them. I'm their son…That doesn't mean I'm them. And I don't want to just…Exist in their shadows."
"The fame of being the boy who lived, as a baby, wasn't even me. It was mum's sacrifice that protected me, I didn't do a damn thing. And the second time, just happened to work out that I ended up the Elder Wand's master, and it refused to kill me. That's it." Harry muttered. "That's why I just stopped trying. I want someone to like me for me. See me as me. Not the titles I've acquired over the years, most of which, incredibly unwelcome and unnecessary. I hate it and nobody even realizes just how much I hate it, but you know…It's frowned upon in this society to tell people to piss off when you're the one everyone praises or whatever it is they do when I make a public appearance." He groaned dramatically.
"Welcome to being popular." Draco told him. "You learn to live with it."
"I didn't want to be popular, just normal." Harry commented. "But apparently, that's too much to ask for. The chances of me getting normal are about as slim as Severus wearing anything but black."
Severus looked affronted at the comparison Harry made, but Draco and Harry both started laughing. Severus held back from saying what he was going to; it wasn't meant to be disrespectful and they were all just relaxing. Severus didn't mind, but he supposed he understood Harry's frustrations. Severus meant what he said, if anyone deserved to reap the benefits of the Voldemort free world they currently lived in; it was Harry. He lost the most. Sacrificed the most. Harry willingly died for it. Severus admitted to himself that his previously conceived notions of Potter were wrong. Harry might look like James, but he was not his father. Harry didn't look for attention, he actively tried to get away from it. The boy, now a man, didn't relish his fame; he hated it entirely.
"Come on, it's not all bad." Draco stated. "It's been, what, like six or seven months since your last relationship, Harry. Taking a break was fine, but you can't give up. That's not your style, never has been. Even when everything was as bad as it could be, you didn't back down."
"That was war, Draco. There was no other choice. It was keep fighting or innocent people die, and even in that…Many did still." Harry commented.
"I do have to agree with Potter," Severus told his godson. "There's a very clear line between giving up relationships to avoid being hurt and used and giving up fighting in a war where if you are the one being looked to as the inspiration. Harry's fate with fighting and defeating Voldemort was sealed before he was even born." The potions master reminded. "Harry didn't have a choice, consider the alternate route if Voldemort had won."
"I'm just saying that there's gotta be someone out there who Harry could date that doesn't care about the fame." Draco stated. "And I think that at the young age of only…How old are you now, twenty-six?" The blonde inquired.
"Twenty-seven at the end of next month." Harry confirmed.
"Okay, young age of late twenties," He paused. "That Harry shouldn't be acting like everyone is out to use him. There are some people, Potter, who don't give a care in the world to any of that." Draco reminded. "You know I don't. Your friends don't. Sev doesn't." Draco stopped, eyes widening. "Oh, Merlin…Why didn't I think of it before? I'm a genius!" He exclaimed.
"You feeling alright, Draco? Last time you were this excited, your son was born and you were showing the picture off at work to everyone." Harry recalled the day Draco rushed into the department announcing that he had a son.
"I feel great. It's so perfect!" Draco informed. "You two should date!" He motioned to Harry and Severus, who rightfully stared at their drinking companion with utter shock.
"Alright, godson…I think you've had a bit too much." Severus composed himself rather quickly.
"Then you know everything I say is completely true. You're both single, and have gotten over the past and become friends. Don't deny that you have. You get together several times a month to drink and catch up." Draco told them. "Harry, you want a relationship with someone who doesn't care about your fame, right? Severus doesn't. He never has, not since our first Potions class in Hogwarts as first years. Severus has never treated you like anything special, just another student he taught. You've never been any of those titles you listed to him, in fact, he used to give you crap about them. The point is, he treated you normally. No coddling. Never let you get away with anything."
Harry actually kind of had to think about it for a minute. Draco, drunk as he was right now, was completely right. "As true as that may be, Draco…Us getting over the past and catching up over drinks doesn't seem like a valid reason to just…Jump into a relationship." Harry countered. "Typically relationships start because there's mutual feeling in wanting to see if there's more."
"That's not true and you know it. How many random blind dates have you been on that turned into a relationship, no matter how long such may have lasted?" Draco asked. Harry had to pause. "Exactly. There weren't feelings there, it was just decided to see how things went."
"Okay, but those were with strangers. Severus and I know each other, and have, for several years now. And in that situation, friends jumping into more require there to be mutual feelings of wanting more." Harry argued.
"Or you could just stop over analyzing the idea because of the past and just try." Draco smirked. "And you have no excuse either," He pointed to Severus. "You've always looked out for Harry, cared for him, even if it seemed like you hated him. And Harry obviously cares enough about you that he didn't let you die." He paused. "And neither of you get to pull the age nonsense either. Come on, no one cares about age difference as long as there's no underage stuff going on. You're both adults and no longer bound to the teacher/student thing. Harry graduated, and you, Uncle Sev, resigned from being a teacher."
A slight pause. "Plus, Uncle Sev…You've obviously got some interest given how you were staring at Harry's ass earlier before I got his attention." Severus visibly tensed up as Harry looked surprised at the reveal. Harry wasn't going to give the man a hard time, it's clear he didn't want it coming out and his drunk godson had no filter. Harry and Severus both glanced at one another, then off to the side. Draco finished his drink and stood up as they looked at him again. "I'm just saying, I think you should try. Give it a chance, at least. There's enough…Mutual trust, respect, communication, friendship, and caring for one another that it's feasible you two could actually work out as a couple. I just want to see you both be happy, and I think you can be with each other. You kind of balance one another out, and you both deserve to be happy. It's late, I'm going to bed while I can still walk on my own."
"Don't you dare try to floo or apparate, godson. You know you have a room here," Severus warned. Draco just waved with his hand that he understood and vanished into the darkness of the house. "I…Apologize for my godson's forwardness, Harry."
"Don't worry about it. I know he doesn't have a filter when he drinks and he's spent more than enough nights in a spare room or my couch since we squashed the past." Harry responded.
"He was sober enough to say what he did, Harry. I know my godson when he's too drunk because he can't even talk normally." Severus sighed. "He might have started playful, but he got serious towards the end. Formulating complete sentences. He meant every word of what he said."
"That doesn't mean he's going to wake up tomorrow morning and suddenly start trying to push us together, Severus. If he meant what he said, then he meant it entirely when he mentioned wanting us to be happy. And he knows you can't force someone to do what you want, no matter what you believe." Harry responded. "He's only making his beliefs known, but he won't force them on us." The younger male studied his former potions professor now. "Unless the reason you're clarifying that what Draco said wasn't just alcohol talking is because you found something in his words to agree with what he believes?"
"And if I did, what would you say then?" Severus inquired.
"I'd say that you weren't the only one." Harry admitted. "I couldn't disagree that outside of those I see as family and close friends, you are one of the only people I know wouldn't be part of my life just for the fame, titles, even political power." He revealed, his tone calm as he kept eye contact with Severus. "Draco was right, since the first Potions class; you didn't treat me any differently than the other students. I was just another student to you. You never cared about the fame, it didn't have any bearing on you teaching, punishing, or even talking to me. You were always straight with me, and as much as I hated you seemingly targeting me, and comparing me to my father…I trusted you entirely to keep me safe from danger, and you've always had my respect." He paused for a moment. "You were the one person I could count on to treat me like a normal person. You never held back. I'll appreciate that more than you'll ever know."
"Then I shall keep to how I've always been and tell you straight that I was staring at your backside earlier, before Draco made himself known to you." Severus admitted. "I'd been rather lost in admiring my elusive neighbor who I'd never seen since the house was bought."
"Did the admiration wear off when you realized it was me, or is your truth to what Draco said that you've got interest?" Harry questioned with a slight amused tilt to his lips.
"The truth is that I realized it was you before Draco made you turn around with what he said. And even with knowing it was you, I never took back what I admitted to myself that you looked rather good and I wouldn't mind a night with you. And then I told myself that your mother needed to strike me down for even considering the idea of sleeping with you." Severus confessed.
"So there's still interest?" Harry pushed.
"Don't push it, Potter…I'm still trying to process the fact I'm mildly attracted to a student I taught who is twenty years younger…" Severus told him.
"Well, if it helps process things faster, Draco was right about something else," Harry mentioned as Severus arched a curious brow. "Age doesn't matter, we're both adults. I'm no longer your student, and you're no longer my teacher. There is nothing legally or morally wrong with the idea, or the situation if it becomes more than just the idea of my friend and your godson." Harry informed.
"You'd actually be okay with this, us, dating?" Severus asked.
"I don't see the harm in doing what Draco suggested, which was to try. To give it a chance. It doesn't have to be anything official or referring to ourselves as a couple, but could just…I don't know, go out sometime." Harry shrugged.
"We already do that, several times a month." Severus reminded.
"Yeah, for drinks to talk about how our work days were. I was thinking more along the lines of…Lunch, or dinner date? Under the acknowledgement that we're just seeing how it goes without it being an official relationship. Like a blind date, only we know who we're meeting. Obviously, we know how things were at Hogwarts, but," Harry paused.
"But that was a…Professional relationship given our statuses as teacher and student." Severus finished for him. "You imply the idea that we don't begin an official relationship, and just ease into the idea if things are going well enough to move into that stage. For now, just getting to know one another over a meal or few?"
Harry nodded. "If you're not opposed, of course. These things have to be mutual. I know there's attraction, but you claimed that under your initial idea of having me for a night. If you prefer that, just say so."
"While tempting, and I still find this madder than anything else I've ever done…I am curious to see where it goes, if we can eventually see whatever it is Draco sees that we'd be good together." Severus responded. "I consent to your terms of beginning a non-formal relationship. As long as you can accept mine that we're keeping this…Trial period, quiet. I find it would be pointless to see how it goes if there is…Outside interference. You are, as you've been dubbed by the people, the savior who defeated Voldemort and I, regardless of my cleared status, am a former Death Eater. And it is no secret to those who know you and I from Hogwarts, know that we did not get along. Many would misunderstand."
"I agree that this should be kept quiet until we've mutually decided to continue to enter a full relationship, or that it won't work and we both just go back to how it is now." Harry agreed. "I'm sure that no matter what happens, if we end up dating, there will be people who dislike it. As I've always been, I don't care what people have to say. My life, not theirs. My choices, not theirs." Harry mentioned.
"Then we're in agreement?" Severus wondered.
"We are." Harry nodded and offered his hand to Severus. "Nice to meet you. I'm Harry Potter,"
Severus's lips twisted to a small grin as he shook Harry's hand. "Severus Snape. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
There was a small moment neither of them let go of the other's hand, but finally, they let go.
"Would it be too soon if I can be bold enough to ask you to dinner on Friday at 6 with me?" Harry tried.
"I expect boldness from a Gryffindor," Severus commented. "I also admire it, so I would be most open to joining you for dinner, Harry."
Harry smiled. "Then we'll meet on Friday at the little diner near the pub we always go to?"
"Sounds like a date." Severus agreed. "It is quite late, I should be turning in for the evening. I don't typically do fun, but this was enjoyable and I wouldn't mind repeating the event at another time. Thank you for joining us."
"Thank you for having me, I look forward to doing it again sometime. I'll host. I shall bid you a good evening then. Goodnight, Severus." Harry responded.
"Goodnight, Harry," Severus nodded.
Harry got back to his yard and the two of them waved before going into their respective homes for the evening. It was a good time, and a really unexpected ending from where it began. However, both Severus and Harry had high hopes that their arrangement would end up good for them.