Potions Master Snape approached the apothecary in Diagon Alley and frowned at the crowd gathered outside. His first thought was that Philoc had gotten ahold of some rare ingredient. Only, the few people he recognized were notorious for being terrible at Potions. That was when he heard the whispering.

"Harry Potter's autograph! Can you believe it? He almost never signs autographs!"

Severus scowled, and the sea of people parted as he approached. Potter looked up, a smug smirk gracing his lips. Taking his former student by the elbow, Severus began to lead Potter away from the crowd. A sharp glance behind them prevented the crowd following as they entered the apothecary.

"What do you think you're doing, Potter?" Severus hissed. He was angry, but it was more at himself for being glad to see the young man.

Potter shrugged. "Giving autographs and waiting for you. Philoc said you'd be around sometime today."

"Why-how do you know Philoc?! You're a wreck at Potions!" Severus accused shamelessly.

Potter scoffed. "Come on, Snape, you didn't think my customers kept coming back for the service, did you? Not with servers like Marcus and Kaley. I get some basic ingredients from Phil every few weeks. Magical cilantro, magically treated tomatoes, you know, the basics."

"I dare not ask how you swung feeding Muggles magical food with the Ministry," Severus said distastefully.

"I, uh, know a guy in the magical plant-life office. You might remember him: Neville Longbottom? He heads the department these days, and he got me a permit. S'long as I don't poison anyone, I could serve unicorn," Potter explained.

Severus curled his lip. "That is a detestable thought."

Potter chuckled. "You know, I said the same thing to Neville."

Severus shook his head free of this ridiculous conversation. "Why are you waiting for me?"

"Oh!" Potter actually physically started. "Marcus and Kaley wouldn't quit bugging me. They miss seeing you around the restaurant. Practically begged me to come find you. In fact, half of my day crew has asked me at one point or other what it was I did to drive you away before demanding I fix whatever it was."

Severus furrowed his brow. "Bullshit."

"No, really," Potter claimed. "They like their regulars, and apparently you tip really well."

"Is that all?" Severus asked, half-hoping for more.

Potter appeared to really think about it. Then, finally: "Yep. I've done my part. Come on back to the restaurant. Lunch is on the owner any time, and the coffee is always free."

Severus pursed his lips tightly, crossing his arms over his chest. Potter waited only a hairs-breadth more than a single heartbeat before shrugging and accepting he would get no answer. He walked away into the bright sunlight shining beyond the dark apothecary, apparently unaffected by his former professor's stoicism.

-Break-

Severus returned to the restaurant. He had told himself he wouldn't up until the moment he was being seated. The fact of the matter was, Slytherin though he may be, there was thrice-damned streak of gold and crimson that rousted his courage from where it slept every now and again. As promised, he was brought no check at the end of the meal that took him two hours to finish. Throughout his lunch, he watched Potter from his booth near the back. The young man seemed to take no notice of him, except for a friendly smile when he'd first walked in. Marcus, on the other hand, couldn't stop noticing him long enough to attend his other tables. Potter leant a hand more than once as Marcus fluttered happily around the Potions Master's table, being absolutely certain he had everything he could possibly need and then some.

When Severus did finally get up to leave, realizing he would get nothing from the young man who'd invited him back, he began to hate himself. He had come in the hopes that Potter would reveal his true intentions, but had obviously been wrong. The truth was plain: he had eradicated any chance he might have had when he'd kissed the young man immediately after being accused of trying to turn him into his own personal whore. Potter had come looking for him for the exact reason he'd said, and Severus knew better, now, than to hope.

"I think you might have given Marcus a heart attack if you'd stayed much longer," Potter said, coming up beside him.

Severus fought down the urge to start. "What're you-?"

"Coffee?" Potter interrupted, grinning. "I realize you probably drank your fill back there, two hours is a lot of cups of coffee, but I am absolutely dying for a nice cuppa."

Severus furrowed his brow. What the hell was Potter doing? "Alright," He agreed at last.

Potter's grin widened. "Excellent. I know just the place, not far from here if you don't mind walking a couple blocks."

"I relish the exercise," Severus said sardonically.

Potter chuckled. "That's the spirit! My aunt is doing great, by the way."

Again, Severus fought down an urge, this time to blush with embarrassment at having forgotten to inquire after Petunia in the first place. "The experimental treatment worked, I take it?"

"Huh-uh," Potter answered, still smiling. "Dudley found out -wholly by accident, I swear- that my freaky world had the cure to her disease. He went to the hospital and threw a legendary tantrum until his parents agreed to let me try. She's fully in remission now. The Mediwitch sent her home last week. She's on potions for another few months, because we waited so long, but she's completely on the mend."

Severus smirked. "We may make a Slytherin of you yet, Potter."

Potter chuckled, but Severus noticed he didn't argue. They walked to the coffee shop speaking of worldly things, and Potter's smile never faltered. Severus wondered what had changed that had brought this about. Even Potter couldn't be so scatter-brained as to have forgotten what Severus had done.

-Break-

After coffee, they walked. It wasn't long before Severus looked around and recognized his settings as being Grimmauld Street. He walked Potter to the door of his inherited home, and together they wavered on the stoop. That Gryffindor streak in Severus faltered uncomfortably. Did he dare?

Potter, infinitely more Gryffindor than Severus could ever be, made the choice to close the ebbing distance between them. His lips brushed Severus' hesitantly, and then with slightly more insistence until Severus wrapped his arms around a slim waist, drawing their bodies together. Potter smiled up at him when they pulled away breathlessly.

"Why?" Severus breathed uncertainly.

Potter blushed. "I was embarrassed." He admitted. "I had just accused you of trying to make me into your whore, and then I practically threw myself at your whim when you kissed me. Your turn."

It took Severus a moment to understand that Potter was asking for an explanation of his absence at the restaurant. "I had thought…after you left that night, I thought I had made the most brash mistake. I didn't want you to hate me, so I made myself scarce lest you remember that you should."

Potter actually chuckled. "I think you've proven you're not that man you used to be. Come in? I could ask Dobby to make us dinner…or we could indulge in dessert, first, if you like."

Severus smirked down into the green gaze. "I think, perhaps, not." Potter's face fell. "I would, however, like to take you to dinner this weekend, if you are amenable."

Potter's grin returned. "You are a conundrum of a man, Severus." He placed a light kiss on Severus' lips. "I look forward to finding out how deep that well goes."

With a final kiss, they parted ways. Severus looked back at the door when he reached the concrete path at the bottom of the steps. Potter gave him one last smile before disappearing inside 12 Grimmauld. Severus turned down the street. Who needed fairy stories anyway?