It had been three days since Harry had confessed his feelings for Snape. They'd had one more class with him earlier that day, and despite his promise to his friends that he'd hold his head high Harry had walked in with his head bowed in remembered despair. He sat through the class just waiting for Snape to pick on him for slumping in his chair and not taking notes, but the man ignored him.

Now the four friends were walking down the brightly lit corridor from Charms, their last class of the day, animatedly discussing what they would do tomorrow, since it was a Hogsmeade weekend. Harry laughed as Ron and Draco got into a fight over whether to visit Zonko's or Weasley Wizard Wheezes first. He skipped ahead slightly and turned so he was walking backwards in front of them.

"Ron's right, we should visit Zonko's first for posterity. It's our last year, guys, and this is the last Hogsmeade weekend. Fred and George would understand," He said. Draco agreed reluctantly.

"Harry, you're going to run into someone if you keep doing that," Hermione warned.

Harry shrugged. "People will move or be stepped on. As long as I don't run into a wall I'll be fine. So what should we do after we visit the joke shops? I was thinking we should save Honeyduke's for last, so we don't eat too much chocolate."

"Yeah," Ron nodded. "I need to visit Gladrags to get some new shirts, and I remember, 'Mione, you said you wanted to get some socks?"

"Yes, and Harry and Draco both said they wanted new shoes, right?"

The two boys nodded. "I also wanted to look into the new jeweler, see if they've got a nice necklace I can give Luna for her birthday," Harry said. He reached into his pocket. "I already got the chain, but I want to find the perfect pendant to welcome her into adulthood." He showed them a crystal box containing a silver chain inset with small beads of amethyst and rose quartz.

They all looked at the chain with awe, so no one was looking up to warn him that he was about to run into someone that wasn't moving. Harry grunted as his back hit a solid shoulder, and stumbled forward. He pocketed the box quickly and turned, paling as he saw Snape standing there.

"I'm so sorry, sir, I wasn't watching where I was going and…I'm so sorry, sir," Harry repeated lamely. He moved around Snape with a small apologetic nod to McGonagall, who Snape had been talking to, and walked hurriedly along the corridor, his friends jogging to catch up.

"Harry, stop, I'm wearing a skirt," Hermione moaned.

The Gryffindor Golden Boy slowed to a normal pace as his friends caught up. "I'm a fucking walking disaster. The Fates hate me, that's all there is to it. I did something to piss off the universe and now it's getting payback by making me look like an utter fool in front of that gorgeous bastard," Harry mumbled. "What is wrong with me?"

"Potter."

Harry froze and turned as Snape approached them from several feet down the corridor. He managed to keep his eyes level with the man's chest, still refusing to look into the endless pools of black the man called eyes as the man cam closer. When Snape was in front of them he produced the chain Harry had had in the crystal box.

"I believe you dropped this, Potter," Snape said smoothly. Harry nodded and moved to grab it from Snape's open palm, but Snape grabbed his hand in a gentle, albeit firm grip. Without thinking, Harry looked up into the man's eyes. "Potter, I wonder," The Potions Master began softly before pausing. Harry watched the man swallow thickly and glance around the bustling corridor, wondering at the nervousness he sensed. Snape's eyes found his again, and bored into him "Would you care to accompany me to dinner, tonight, in Hogsmeade at 8, to discuss the meaning behind the stones in this necklace?"

Harry stared, wide-eyed, unable to think. He felt Draco jab an elbow into his ribs and blurted out an automatic 'yes'. Snape nodded sharply and left, leaving Harry to wonder what had just happened.

"Did I just get asked out?"

"Yup." Hermione said gleefully.

Harry looked at Draco. "By Snape?"

"Fairly certain, yeah."

"And I said yes?"

Ron snickered. "Well, you more vomited the word than said it, but same principle."

Harry groaned and buried his face in his hands, only then realizing he was clutching Luna's necklace. "I must be out of my mind. I thought we'd agreed to hate him?"

Draco looked down the corridor where they could still see Snape stalking away through the throng of students. "Apparently, your theory about the universe working against you has merit, then, doesn't it?"

Harry smacked the blond. "I have five hours to figure out what I'm going to wear for my first real date. Don't mock me, or I'll tell Pansy to do you as well."

Draco threw his hands up in surrender and looked down the corridor. "Speak of the devil. Pansy!" The girl turned and walked over to them from the window where she'd been chatting with some younger girls. "Guess who needs a makeover for their first date?"

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Well, it's not you, you're not even a virgin anymore, and Ron and I have had our first date already, ages ago." She looked at Hermione expectantly, but the bushy-haired Gryffindor shook her head, pointing to Harry. Pansy squealed. "Oh, fab! I've been dying to dress you up in something proper! Draco, mind if I borrow your wardrobe?"

Harry groaned as his friends dragged him down to the Slytherin dorms.

The date had started out awkward, with Harry meeting Snape at the front gate of the school, completely unsure and with his stomach in knots. They'd walked most of the way to the restaurant in an uncomfortable silence before Harry decided they were being ridiculous and looped his arm with Snape's, asking after his day. That seemed to make the man relax slightly and they fell into light small talk about their week.

When they'd gotten to the restaurant, Harry was glad he'd had Pansy dress him in something formal (a silk green top with black slacks and Draco's black dragon hide boots), as it was the only restaurant in the village that required a reservation. Over dinner they had moved to more personal topics in their conversation, including Snape giving Harry some suggestions for Luna's necklace.

As they walked slowly back to Hogwarts side-by-side, enjoying the cool March night, Harry felt their hands brush and shivered.

"Are you cold?" Snape asked softly as they reached the old garden wall that surrounded the village.

Harry smiled shyly. "No, but thank you." Gathering his courage, he bit his lip and wrapped his fingers around Snape's. The man glanced at their adjoined hands, but didn't say anything, only curled his fingers around Harry's hand more tightly, and Harry breathed an internal sigh of relief. "I have to ask, Sir…what made you change your mind?"

Snape smirked at him. "What makes you think I did?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Harry chuckled. "Well, it's either that or this is your method of mocking me, and I have to say that this is fairly elaborate, even for you, if that's the case."

Snape stopped walking as the gates came into sight. "Harry, I didn't change my mind, I didn't have to," He admitted. Harry turned to look at the man, confused. Snape stepped slowly forward so their chests were a hairs breadth apart. "I like you, Harry. A lot, apparently, though I didn't openly acknowledge it until you accosted me in class on Tuesday morning."

Harry frowned as he heard his own words echoed back at him. "Then why the run around? I felt terrible after you dismissed me from that detention. You weren't just dismissing me, but my feelings, and it felt like I was having my heart ripped out. Why didn't you just tell me?"

Snape grabbed Harry's other hand and held them both gently. "I couldn't, Harry. I'm not young, I needed time to adjust to these new emotions, and then I was afraid." Harry raised an eyebrow doubtfully. "Yes, Harry, I was scared. You have the power to hurt me. I've only had one or two real relationships in my life and both left me hurt and jaded. I fear that if you hurt me as well, there will be nothing left of me but a bitter old man who really does hate the world, instead of only pretending to. I'm not handsome, or nice, or terribly romantic. I can be a git, you know that better than anyone, and I get jealous easily. I'm possessive. Once I have something, I tend to cling to it. Are you sure this is what you want?"

Harry raised his and Snape's hand to eye level and looked at it. He uncurled his palm and joined their fingers, before looking at the man before him. "I am. I can be cheeky, and insecure, and an all around bonehead sometimes. I fall in love easily, and once I do I hold onto it. I'm stubborn, and I like to goof around with my friends and get into stupid Gryffindor adventures with them. I flirt unintentionally, as everyone has pointed out, and I'm overly protective of everyone I hold dear to me. If you can live with all that, then we'll be fine."

Snape smirked and laid his forehead against Harry's gently. "I can live with it, though I'll have to watch for that flirting."

Harry smiled adoringly. "Good, then I just have one question." Snape looked at him questioningly and Harry pulled his hand away. He waved his wand and soft music filled the air. "Do we have to go back?"

The Potions Master quirked his lips in a small smile and pulled the Gryffindor into a loose embrace. "Not yet," He murmured, guiding the younger wizard into a slow dance. They stood swaying in the moonlight for several minutes before Snape spoke again. "Are we actually committing to this then?" He asked softly.

Harry raised his head from the man's shoulder so their eyes could meet. "I don't know about you, but I'm here for as long as you'll let me be. Dumbledore hinted to me that he expects Professor Davies to leave the Defense position open for next year, so there's nothing to stop us from continuing."

"Your mastery?" Snape asked.

"I'm taking that test instead of my Defense NEWT, and Professor Davies says the outlook is…promising. Think you could date a colleague?" Harry teased.

"Depends on which one," Snape teased back, smirking. Harry grinned as Snape pulled him close again.

After a few more minutes of dancing to the conjured music, they continued on their trek back to the castle. "I hear Hagrid's in the market," Harry remarked casually as they reached the gate.

Snape used their still clasped hands to pull Harry around and cupped his jaw, their breath mingling as they stood terribly close. "Cheeky brat," He murmured against Harry's lips.

"Yeah, but at least now I'm your cheeky brat," Harry replied softly, reaching up to pull the Potions Master into an insistent, soul-searing kiss that promised eternity.

A/N: I know it's a corny ending, but it demanded to be written 'as is'.