A/N: Here it is, the last piece. This piece is edited with the lemony bit removed because I couldn't decide if the smut scene was too much for and I thought it better to be safe then sorry. But, if you go to my website(via my bio) you'll find the entire story, which includes the whole ending. I'll have to remember to add this nicer version to the site for those that prefer it.

My deepestgratitude to those who have reviewed, to those who have waited for these last two chapters,and to those who have merely read the story. Enjoy.

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Severus Snape was not pouting nor was he pining. He wasn't. He also wasn't hiding or feeling sorry for himself. No he, was merely locking himself in his private lab for that past few days where everyone knew better than to disturb him and staring at an empty cauldron clutching his book of potions from Harry for no reason what-so-ever. Glancing over the spread of ingredients, he sighed before returning to stare at the cauldron.

He ignored the knock at his door, turning to place his Christmas present into a safely warded drawer and began to measure out the ingredients for a potion Madam Pomfrey had requested. Much to his chagrin, the wards on his door fell away and in stepped on e of the many people he didn't want to see at the moment.

"Go away Albus, I'm busy."

"Busy staring at an empty cauldron? I think you can spare a few minutes to speak with me." 'About these past few months' hang unsaid in the air between them.

Snape stiffened, nearly crushing the phial in his hand. "Of course I can spare you a moment, Headmaster. Is there something you require? A potion perhaps? I regret to inform you that due to the large amounts of work I have to catch up on, I'll be unable to take on any students for detention."

Albus sighed. "You do that just to be contrary, don't you?"

"Do what sir?"

"Become so formal with me."

"I am merely treating you with that respect that your position commands."

"Severus, please," Albus said. "I understand that you are distressed, you've gotten used to Harry's presence and now he's gone back to Gryffindor Tower with his friends and left you here."

"Is there a point to your lecture?"

"How do you think we found you and Harry?"

"Excuse me?"

"After the Hogsmeade weekend, how you do think we found you two?"

"I assume you thought about who might have kidnapped us and checked their houses. Or perhaps Draco demanded that his father's dungeon be checked."

"We checked Lucius' dungeons mere hours after you disappeared but we couldn't find you."

"Then how?"

Albus reached forward and uncovered the necklace around his neck. "Harry is an extremely resourceful boy. He placed a very impressive tracing charm onto that necklace, leaving the tracker in Draco's room. Draco happened to stumble upon it in his trunk and read the note, which he immediately brought to me. We contacted the Ministry and got a second search warrant. The note said 'to protect what I care about'. Do you know what that means, my boy?"

"Albus." Dumbledore paused in his speech. "Get the fuck out of my lab. Now."

Surprised at the man's uncharacteristic use of profanity and one-syllable words, Albus decided that it was best to retreat and retreat quickly before the Slytherin decided to test out some new poison on him during an unsuspecting meal. He quietly closed the door behind him.

Severus stared at the tiny bauble before safely tucking it away into his robes as he returned to work. The door suddenly opened again. "Albus, I told you…! Black? Is Harry all right?" Concern laced his tone as he leapt to his feet.

"For the most part, yes."

Snape reverted back to his normal snappish persona. "Then, why, may I ask, are you pestering me?"

"Drop the act," Sirius responded calmly, entering the lab and after glancing around quickly, he returned his attention to the black-haired Slytherin.

"Get. Out," Snape growled.

"I will, after I've said my piece, so sit down, shut up, listen, and then you'll be rid of me."

"Very well, in the interests of you leaving my lab shortly…" He sat.

"I know you and I have never been friends – don't interrupt – and I know we not only do not have a good past but we rarely tolerate one another. But for Harry, I'm will to make an attempt. It reminds me of when James fell for Lily. She'd snap at him, make fun of him, tease him, call him names, stand him up, everything possible to discourage and embarrass him, but he kept going back for more until he made her realize that he cared. A Slytherin and a Gryffindor, that made for some interesting fights. I don't want to see Harry torn up like James was while he was trying to get Lily's attention. He's a good person and while I personally believe he deserves better, I won't stand in his way or make it more difficult for him."

"What are you babbling about?"

"You thick-skulled moron! Harry is in love with you!"

"In love?" Snape asked, surprised.

"With you, yes."

Snape sat speechless on his stool, trying to process the information. Sirius smirked as he stood. "As I said, I'm willing to attempt a truce if you are. There's a room on the fourth floor, behind the black suit of armor. The password is 'Kindred Spirits'. He's planning on spending the afternoon there. I think he'd enjoy some company, especially yours."

The Animagus turned and padded out of the room, nodding to Draco who pulled on an invisibility cloak. A few minutes later, the invisible blonde trailed the elder Slytherin, tapping his mother on the back as they passed. Narcissa hurried up to the Tower. In the Gryffindor dorms, Ron and Hermione were speaking with Harry. Ron spotted Narcissa at the door and discreetly nudged Hermione.

"Hey Harry," Ron began, "Draco's mother told him about this place and he passed it on to us. It's supposed to be Godric Gryffindor's quarters. Let's go look!"

"I don't know…" Harry said.

"Just think how much we could learn! His diaries are probably there! I heard that in his diaries, he mentions a romantic relationship with Salazar Slytherin and that they only fought to keep everyone from intruding on their personal lives," Hermione encouraged.

"And there's supposed to be an original book about Quidditch! With the original rules and the moves that he invented!" Ron said, excitedly. "Besides, you need to get out and break some rules."

"Ron!" Hermione admonished.

"Umm, I meant we should get out and spend some time together. What better way that to explore a new place? It's not like we've had a chance to spend a lot of time together."

"Sorry about that. Sure, why not. Where is it?"

"Third floor, behind the black suit of armor," the female Gryffindor answered immediately. "The password is 'Kindred Spirits'. We'd better go one at a time so we don't attract any unwanted attention. You go first. Ron will follow you and I'll follow him."

"Kindred Spirits?" She nodded and the Gryffindor padded silently out of the room.

"We'll be right behind you!" Hermione called out, waiting for a few minutes before pulling on Harry's invisibility cloak and following him. Ron headed in the opposite direction to get Narcissa, Sirius, and Remus.

Ten minutes later, Harry made his way past the suit of armor and into the room. He was shocked by the fact that Severus Snape was in Godric Gryffindor's chambers and watching him with almost a sheepish expression, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "What are you doing here?"

"I…I'll go."

"No, that's not what I meant. I was told this was Godric Gryffindor's chambers. I didn't' think a Slytherin would set foot in here."

"Nonsense. Gryffindor's chambers are on the sixteenth floor where there is no student access via the stairs."

The door closed behind them with a click causing Harry to automatically whip around with his wand out. He felt Severus step up behind him wand drawn in a mirror position, Harry's back pressed against the older man's chest. He swore he could hear muffled laughter. Stepping forward, Harry tugged on the handle, pushed on the door, and tried unlocking spells to no avail. The Gryffindor stepped back to allow the Slytherin his chance to attempt to break the wards on the door.

"You've never been here before?" Severus questioned as he worked.

"No. I just heard about it now."

"Damn it! That lying mangy mutt lied to me."

"Sirius? You two actually held a conversation that didn't involve casualties?"

"Do be quiet."

"Fine." Harry sighed and slumped heavily into the love seat dejectedly. "What did he lie about?"

"None of your business."

"Fine. What were you doing up here?"

"Waiting for you," Severus ground out.

"Why?"

"Because that mutt lied to me."

"About."

"You already asked that."

Harry shook his head. "I'm going to go look around. There might be another way out." A few minutes later Harry returned. "Any luck?"

"No. You?"

"None. At least we won't have to kip on the chairs if they don't let us out. There's a bed in the next room."

"A bed? Anything else?"

"A bedside table. No windows, no mirrors, not even a chest of drawers or a closet."

"It there a bathroom?"

"Yes, off the bedroom. There's a counter with a sink and a bathtub the size of the bed nearly."

"I don't believe it!" Snape nearly laughed. "This is just like that horrible romance novel Draco was telling me about."

"Romance novel? A wizard romance novel? Those things are worse than the Muggle ones."

"Yes. So I realized after the first chapter. Unfortunately, or fortunately, our tastes run different in the area of literature."

"What happened in the book?"

"It's a trashy romance novel. What do you think happened?"

"I meant what happened dealing with our current situation of being locked in a room?"

"The spells cast on the door only could be cancelled when the two locked inside…"

"Yes?"

"Use your imagination!"

"Fucked like rabbits?"

"No! Admitted their feelings," Severus barked out in shock.

"Is that it?" Harry asked through his laughter. "That's easy. I'll go first. Sev, I love you. Your turn."

"You love me?"

"I just said so, didn't I?"

"But you can't love me."

"Why not? They're my feelings, I can feel what I want."

"Because!"

"Oh come on. Let's see the reasons I've already been told. Death Eater, so what? Teacher, not for long and there are no rules against it. Age difference, look at Dumbledore and McGonagall. Gryffindor-Slytherin, use my parents as an example, hell, even Slytherin and Gryffindor were rumored to be fuck-buddies. Your past doesn't matter. You've more than made up for it over the years in my eyes. I'd say you've got an excess of good stored up as well. Trustworthy, I definitely think so. Are there any more reasons you can think of off the top of your head?"

"You love me?" Severus asked again.

"Oh for the love of Merlin!" Harry grumbled, stalking forward. He grabbed both sides of the other man's face and pulled him into a kiss.

The potions master was unresponsive so Harry pulled back, green eyes clouded and down cast. "Oh, that's why I can't love you. All right, I understand. I'm sorry. I'll just go sit over here for a while."

Breaking free of his stupor, Severus reached forward, caught Harry's arm and pulled him into a kiss, which Harry tentatively returned after a minute. Pulling back slightly, Severus briefly licked at Harry's lips before saying, "The feelings are more than mutual."

Harry smiled widely, and pulled the Slytherin down into a soul-searing kiss where both were active participants and thoroughly enjoying it.

"Do you think that qualifies as sharing feelings?" Harry asked breathlessly. "Cause I really want to be in your quarters right now."

Severus reached back and pushed on the door. "Still locked."

"So should we say how we feel again?"

"I love you," Severus said, pulling Harry into a hug.

"And I love you," Harry chuckled, stepping up to his tip-toes to steal a kiss.

There was a soft snick that alerted them to the door unlocking. Harry laughed. "Trashy romance novels aside, you have to give them points for being thorough. He pushed the door open to reveal a hallway full of smiling and blushing faces. Harry's face started to turn pink in embarrassment at all the attention.

Severus wrapped his arms around his lover protectively. "Albus, could you please cover my classes on Monday and possibly Tuesday? If you need us, we'll be in our quarters. Try not to need us." Severus pulled his mate out of the room and down to their rooms. Harry paused briefly to remember what day it was, he smiled as he remembered it was Friday. "Are you going to stand there grinning like an idiot or are you coming?"

"Oh, I'll definitely be coming with you." Harry climbed through the portrait after him, with a lust-filled smile at the blatant sexual innuendos before changing the password and closing the door behind them.

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End

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For those that skipped the A/N, for the unedited version of this chapter, go to my website. For my website addy, see my bio.