Author Notes: Hello, everyone! Thank you once again for all your wonderful reviews and support. Enjoy this final chapter :)

- Chapter Start -

By the time Harry and Al reached London and returned the rented pickup truck, it was almost eleven. They Apparated to The Burrow where they received a warm welcome from Ginny, James, Lily, Arthur and Molly. Molly had a pot of her famous French onion soup simmering on the stove and insisted that Harry stay for lunch.

It was a noisy but cheerful meal with James and Lily hogging the conversation, giving a blow by blow account of the Quidditch match they had seen yesterday. For once, Harry was grateful for their chatter as he was still distracted by the many discoveries he had made last night. Al was his usual quiet self, content to eat his lunch and listen to his siblings' stories.

After the meal, Harry thanked Molly and Ginny, hugged his children and promised to pick them up on Monday morning, and then flooed back to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.

It was just past two in the afternoon. Another four hours to while away if he wanted to have dinner with Severus. Another six if he wanted to eat first and go after.

And no need to wait at all if he went to see the man right now, whispered that little voice inside his head.

Ignoring that last one, Harry set about cleaning his home. It was a far cry from the dark, dreary house it had once been. He and Ginny had removed all the paintings and replaced the rotting drapes and heavy furniture with modern furnishings. The ancient plumbing in the bathrooms and kitchen had been upgraded, and the peeling wallpaper replaced with gleaming tiles.

Harry washed up the few dishes in the sink and vacuumed the rooms, preferring to do the chores by hand instead of magic. It was more an exercise to keep himself occupied than because he needed to. He then settled down with a cup of tea and the latest Quidditch Monthly, but all he could think about was how Severus had looked in the small living room of his cottage, comfortable with the life he had at last. He had looked good too, lean and relaxed with the top buttons of his shirt undone, and one long leg crossed over the other...

With an exasperated sigh, Harry tossed the magazine aside and decided on physical exercise. There was a secluded clearing a block away where he practised flying. Ron and Hermione had given him a magical tent two Christmases ago. The outside looked like a normal camping tent for two when it was set up, but the interior was as large and high as a circus big top, the material charmed to mirror the outdoors, like the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

Harry put up a few wards around the area and spent several minutes warming up before taking off on his broom. He sped around the inside of the tent, practising climbs and dives, twists and turns until he was almost dizzy with exhilaration, and grinning with the sheer joy of flying. Then he reached inside his pocket and tossed a tiny velvet bag in the air, flicking his wand at it. The bag enlarged and twenty exclusive, extra fast Snitches exploded from it.

By the time he caught all of them three times over, he was dripping with sweat, his muscles trembling at the workout they had gotten. But more importantly, it was almost six o'clock and his already accelerated heartbeat went up a notch.

He packed up his gear and hurried home to call his favourite Chinese restaurant in London and order a few dishes for for takeaway. Then he sent his Patronus to Snape with five words - 'I'm bringing dinner at seven' before having a much needed shower.

After dressing in a light green shirt and dark trousers, it was time to Apparate to the restaurant to pick up dinner and then go see Severus.

- o -

The weather was fine in Cardiff. The late evening sun glinted off the windows of the cottage and cast a soft golden light over the plants in the garden. Harry Apparated at the roadside and took a moment to admire the picture perfect view before opening the small gate and stepping through.

When the front door opened, his heart gave a little leap at the sight of the tall figure standing there.

"Severus."

"Good evening, Harry."

Smiling, Harry walked up the path, aware of the dark eyes checking him out and pleased that he had dressed up a bit. Severus was wearing a pristine white shirt and black trousers, his shoulder length hair still damp from a recent shower.

He looked even better than he had last night.

Severus stood aside to let him in before closing the door. For a moment, neither knew what to say and then Harry decided to trust his instincts.

"I've been counting the hours," he admitted and saw the flicker of relief in those dark eyes.

"I've been counting the minutes," Severus confessed with a tiny smile.

Harry grinned and reached up to kiss him, arms going around his waist, one hand still clutching the bag of takeaway food.

"Potter, if you drip anything down the back of my trousers-"

"Harry. And it's all packed in sealed containers, don't worry."

"I would feel better if you put that down first."

"After a kiss."

Harry got three before he drew back, satisfied.

"'Fess up, Severus, you were too busy brewing today to give me any thought," he teased, almost giddy at how easily he could that. It shouldn't be this easy... but he wasn't about to complain.

Severus looked down his nose at him, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"As amazing as the notion may seem to you, some people are capable of multi tasking."

Harry chuckled, handing over the bag.

"And you are a master at that," he agreed and followed Severus to the kitchen, admiring how the well cut trousers clung to those lean hips.

- o -

Severus opened a bottle of white wine which went well with the sweet and sour chicken, deep fried wonton, mixed vegetables and fried noodles. Despite the exercise he had gotten though, all Harry could focus on was the muted longing in Severus' eyes as they ate and the glances they stole, his body warming from the wine and the anticipation of what would follow.

Halfway through dinner, he put down his spoon and fork, the resultant clink sounding overly loud in the kitchen.

"Let's finish the rest later," he said abruptly. How ironic when it was he who had balked at the idea of intimacy last night.

Severus paused with a piece of chicken on his fork halfway to his mouth before he nodded and put down his fork.

"Very well."

Draining his wineglass, Harry stood up and held out his hand. Severus cast a quick stasis charm over the uneaten food before standing up. Hand in hand, they left the kitchen.

- o -

The master bedroom looked the same as it had last night, except for the last few rays of the setting sun slanting in the window from the west... and clean sheets on the bed.

"What happened to all of this being too sudden?"

Harry turned from the bed to look at Severus who was regarding him with a puzzled air, their fingers still entwined. He cleared his throat.

"Last night, you said you'd decided the time was right to contact me when you saw the article on Al."

Severus nodded.

"Well, when we left this morning, I decided the time was right too. I realised that I'd been waiting for thirteen years."

Severus exhaled softly in relief, fingers tightening around Harry's to pull him closer.

One kiss flowed into another... and another... all of them seeming both urgent and languid at the same time. Then Harry stepped back and licked his lips, relishing the taste of wine and Severus.

Take off your shirt," he said softly. "Or I will. "

With breaking their gaze, Severus complied, pulling the shirttails free of his trousers before unbuttoning it. His face remained calm, but his eyes were not, glittering with a thousand emotions.

Harry swallowed, awed anew that this man, whom he had heartily disliked for most of his Hogwarts years, only to admire at the end of it right before losing him for so long... was in love with him. And while he didn't know exactly how he felt about Severus right now, he knew he was more than willing to put everything he had into this.

The last button slipped free and the shirt hung open, displaying a rectangle of smooth, pale skin with just a few dark hairs. Harry's fingers tingled with the need to touch and explore. He looked up.

"Take it off," he said, his voice gaining a hoarse note.

Severus gave a jerky nod and obeyed, revealing two flat pink nipples.

Harry's mouth actually watered at the sight. He was moving before he knew it, hands gliding over the smooth shoulders and mouth going for one of the nipples, startling a cry from Severus as the shirt fell to the floor.

- o -

Some time later...

Severus rolled off Harry and sat up only to have a leg thrown over his.

"Don't go."

"I just-"

"No."

With a muttered grumble that sounded anything but annoyed, Severus murmured a soft 'Evanesco', vanishing the sweat and fluids from their bodies.

Harry opened his eyes to see Severus, head propped on one fist, gazing down at a certain part of him that made him raise an eyebrow.

"Ready for round two already?" he teased.

Severus shook his head.

"I'm twenty years older than you, Harry," he reminded and then he paused. "But tomorrow, I would like to... top."

That slight hesitation, together with his solemn expression made Harry smile.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said and pulled Severus down for a kiss.

- Story End -

A/N: Thank you for reading! As this is a pre-Snarry, I've decided to leave it 'T' rated. Please leave a review if you enjoyed it. And if you'd like me to write that missing scene, let me know as well :)