AN: A big to thanks to Yen for taking this one on and subtly convincing me the ending needed more. So, it gained about 4K words. ^-^

Overt Help

Ron pushed the salad about on his plate, his eyes never leaving Harry. "Out with it, mate."

Harry sighed and joined his best friend in pushing his own food around. "I think I love Severus. I thought we were just becoming friends, but then it became so much more as we kept meeting up, and now ..."

With a nod, Ron pushed his plate away, the salad forgotten, "I noticed it back when he was helping us make potions. It started then."

Harry blinked, "Really? That long ago?"

Ron sighed, "You need to let Ginny know. I know you two are not a couple anymore, but there are expectations that need to be cleared up. Send an owl to Hogwarts, or meet up at Hogsmeade on a weekend."

"But what should I write?" Harry barely kept the whinge out of his tone. There was no way he could put this off until a Hogsmeade weekend.

"Find some parchment and we'll figure it out."

Harry didn't bother hiding his relief for the help and once it was written, both felt Ginny would understand. Harry read it over one more time before sealing it.

Dear Ginny,

There's something that I have to tell you. I know, we've talked about getting back together. You wanted to wait out the year, finish Hogwarts before we did so. I understood that, it made perfect sense to me. But something has changed. I didn't mean to, but well, he's tall, dark and, well you know how it is.

It's strange to me. I never expected to be attracted to my own side. I certainly didn't expect to be attracted to him. He's not what one would call handsome, but there is something there that holds my eye. While he was holding it, he also stole my heart away.

I do hope you've found someone there for you and that we can still be friends. Ron knows and said he'd write you if you want him to.

Love you like a brother,

Harry

Ron took the letter and patted him on the shoulder. "It's for the best, mate, now I'll get this owled and you let Snape know you're free."

Harry kept his grin plastered on his face while Ron walked out. It fell the second the door closed behind his best mate. 'Just how am I supposed to let Severus know without destroying our current relationship that I'm free and I fancy him?'

Ron had assured him that Severus was just as interested in him as he was in the Potions Master, but Harry felt that he had every right to worry. 'Maybe a letter will do the trick?'

§§§§§

Harry held a bit of floo powder between his thumb and forefinger, contemplating the fireplace. Should he floo over to Severus' place or should he go to the shop in hopes of him being there, or should he just forget it all and hope that Severus would spot his attraction and act on it?

That last one made him cringe, especially when he recalled how courage had helped him defeat Voldemort.

The letter he had written to Severus was in his robe pocket, but he still wasn't sure if he should give it or just speak the words.

Glancing at the mantle, he noted the time on the clock. Severus would have locked the shop by now, so the only option was his house. Harry grimaced at the idea of just flooing into the man's house without an invitation. 'Maybe I should talk to him through the fireplace and pass him the letter. Then I won't have to be there when everything crashes down.'

Knowing it was the coward's way out – he had done far braver things – Harry sank onto the small cushion he kept near the hearth and threw the powder into the red-orange flames. As they turned green, he garnered up his courage, and drew a deep breath before calling out, "Snape's Den." A couple of heartbeats later, he called out, "Severus! Are you home yet?"

He waited, not breathing, hope that the man was there equal to the hope that he wasn't.

The door opened and he spotted Severus cross the room to the fireplace. "What's happened, Harry?"

As soon as he heard the concern in that deep voice, Harry knew the letter wasn't going to work. He had to say this face to face, he had to see it to the horrible end he kept imagining in his mind.

He shrugged, forgetting that it wouldn't be seen. "Nothing, I just … I need to talk to you. Can I come through?"

"Of course," Severus stepped back, granting him room.

Moments later, after Severus cleaned the soot off him, he was in a comfortable front parlour he'd never seen before.

"Refreshments?" Severus' hand rested on the door handle as he waited just inside the room.

Harry gulped and shook his head. "No, this… this might be quicker if we didn't."

An eyebrow rose at his answer, but Harry didn't notice, his eyes darting over the furniture and then to the window, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

"Harry."

Bright green eyes jerked back to Severus, standing just in front of him, concern marking his brow and gleaming in his dark eyes.

"Whatever it is, I assure you, I have heard worse."

Staring at him, the thought crossed Harry's mind that perhaps…. perhaps Severus already knew what he was going to say... or the opposite of it. But then again, he might not. 'I trust Ron. Sure, he didn't notice Hermione pining after him, but that was personal. Just like this is personal to me. I knew he and Hermione should just get together, and he knows that Severus and I should.'

Closing his eyes briefly, Harry licked his lips before staring at Severus again. "Don't stop me until I've finished, please."

Severus nodded, closing the door behind him as he fully entered the room. Gesturing to one of the sofas as he sat in his chair, he said, "Perhaps a seat will help?"

Harry shook his head. He needed to be able to run when Severus blew up. "I am going to preface this by saying that I don't want our friendship to be hurt. If what I say is too much, then realize that I still want to remain friends and none of this will interfere with that."

He searched the dark eyes as Severus nodded, spotting the wariness creeping up in them and something else that he couldn't identify. Swinging away from the man, he glanced out the front window, taking in the neat patch of grass bordered by a wild hedge and flower beds. Wondering where precisely they were in Hogsmeade, he realised he'd stayed silent too long when a chair creaked.

Warily turning around, he was relieved the man was still sitting. He'd just settled back, obviously getting comfortable. 'How to say this? The letter … it was too drawn out, too vague. Man up, Harry. You're a Gryffindor. It's time to show it.' Deciding to do what's always worked for him – sometimes poorly, sometimes well – Harry began speaking before he could talk himself out of it.

"I like you. And not just in a friend way." The words flew out, opening the way for the rest that poured off his tongue so fast he knew that only Severus' experience dealing with scared students would let him understand Harry. "I don't know when I began to be attracted to you, but it's there. I don't know where it could go – how far I could become attached, but it feels more real, more solid, more likely to last than anything I've encountered before except my friendship with Ron and Hermione. But it's not like that friendship because I've never wondered about kissing them, or what their hair would feel like between my fingers, or how holding their hand would feel. I know, this could be really bad – you've got years on me, you're attached to my mum …. Oh gosh, that would be so awkward for you! Look, forget it. I'll get over it, ignore it … this wasn't the most thought through thing... uhm…"

He trailed off as Severus' glare increased. It was a glare he knew well, one every prior student knew. 'Stop babbling now' was what is said and Harry was happy to obey. More than happy, actually.

Except that the silence was now deafening. He swallowed.

Severus sat without moving, eyes still resting on Harry. Heaving a sigh, Harry dropped onto the sofa and waved a hand towards him, mumbling, "Your turn."

Severus leant further back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap before he began. "I agree, I do not want our current relationship to become damaged, but as I am also attracted to you, I would like to explore the possibility of changing our relationship into something more."

Harry gaped at him, mouth open in amazement. He knew what it was he had heard, but the calm way Severus said that made it so unbelievable. "You… you don't have to humour me. I can handle us remaining the same."

Severus sighed, looking like he was refraining from doing an eye roll.

"Just because I'm not rattling off words as fast as you doesn't mean I'm not being honest, Harry." Severus snapped, a frown crashing over his brow. "I have had many years to learn to control my reactions and how I express them to others. This situation needs a level head and a bit of caution."

Harry slumped back against the sofa. "Sorry."

Severus leant forward and stretched out his hand, his fingers brushing Harry's knee. His words came out softer than before. "Your apology is unneeded, but is accepted."

Harry let his fingertips touch Severus' where they remained on his knee. "Thanks."

"We both feel an attraction towards the other," Severus continued, pulling his hand back, but not sitting totally back into his chair. "We both think that this can become something strong – possibly permanent. We are both wary of how horribly wrong it can go as well. So, I say we take it slow and with as much care and precision as brewing a tricky potion."

Leaning forward, putting himself closer to Severus, Harry looked into those dark eyes and noticed just how open they appeared. Not closed off or an empty black void, but long tunnels he wanted to follow. "So, true dates, hand holding…?"

"And long conversations about inane things – likes and dislikes, childhood tales, things that make us us. We need time to learn if the other is truly who we think they are." Severus gave a slight smile, "It might hurt, it will be scary," Harry couldn't help a grin that, "but if we go slow enough then we will know when enough is enough, whether it be remaining as good friends or pushing all the way to being intimately connected. Permanently."

A thrill flooded through Harry at those last few words. 'Slowly, Harry.'

"But before we start," Severus continued, "we need to confirm our availability. I have no current relationships, but last I heard you were seeing Miss Weasley."

Harry grinned, "Ron pointed out that I needed to make sure she knew not to wait any longer. So, I have no current relationships either."

"Good. And since you are here, would you like to stay for dinner?" Severus asked.

Harry beamed.

Despite that smile, Severus kept all his desires locked up as tightly as he had once kept the truth hidden. They were going to go slow and carefully. "Would you like to help cook?"

"Sure!" Harry bounced off the sofa and headed for the kitchen, full of energy now that the worst was over.

"We need to collect ingredients first," Severus called after him even as his eyes trailed after the lithe figure.

"Oh, okay," Harry sounded puzzled but came back towards him.

Severus opened the front door, "I pick most of my vegetables from my garden."

"That's great! Wait a minute…" Harry stared around, noticing that they didn't need their coats and scarves. "Why is it so warm here? It is freezing near home."

Severus led the way to the back garden. There he pointed at a small spring flowing under his wall, its source from the Forbidden Forest. "The water has magical properties, ones that help my potion ingredients among other things."

"That wall isn't high enough or wide enough to keep the Forest out, Severus," Harry gestured to the three foot tall wall and the small space – less than fifty feet – between it and the Forbidden Forest.

"True, but the spells, wards, and negotiation skills are enough." Harry laughed and Severus soaked in the light hearted sound. "The vegetables are this way."

He offered his hand and Harry accepted it gladly, fingers tightening around the thin ones as they walked to the vegetable patch. He hoped the thrill that ran through him was shared with Severus.

§§§§§

Harry dropped onto the sofa, keeping as close to the fireplace as he could. The cold had seeped into his bones as he paced the small garden at Grimmauld Place. No matter how much he walked he didn't have an idea of what step he should take next – that was why he was at Hermione's.

"Ron convinced me to try," he mumbled to the cup of hot tea placed into his cold hands.

Hermione settled next to him, her own cup in her hands. "He did?"

Ron's voice appeared out of nowhere, just as the redhead sank into the chair across from them, "Yes, I did. Couldn't have him pulling a 'me', now could I?"

Harry chuckled and Hermione rolled her eyes, smiling.

"So, mate, how'd it go?" Ron leant forward, setting his own cup on the table between them and snagging a butter biscuit.

Looking up, Harry beamed, "Wonderful! You were right – Severus is interested too."

Ron nodded, "And the next step?"

"We had dinner at his house that night, and we've had dinner at mine last night, but I don't know what to do now." Harry sighed. "We're taking it slow – real slow - since neither of us wants to damage the relationship we currently have."

Hermione huffed, "How slow? You two would dawdle all your time away if it was up to you."

Ron and Harry chuckled at that.

Harry held out his left hand. "We are holding hands now, isn't that a good start?"

"You need to get a hug in, mate," Ron spoke through the crumbs of his biscuit, making sure they didn't spray everywhere. "At the very least."

"But we've just started to hold hands..." Harry trailed off as Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"You mean to dawdle through this, too, don't you?" She nudged his shoulder carefully so as not to spill his tea. "A quick hug – not a side hug, but a straight on, arms wrapped about the other, chest to chest hug."

Harry felt his cheeks warming at the thought, "But … shouldn't a side hug be a good start point?"

Ron shook his head, "Nope, and you need to take him some place he'd like. Maybe boating on the Thames, though it's a bit cold. Or sightseeing in London. With all his rushing about during his life, he might not have gotten to them."

Sipping his tea, Harry looked at both of his best friends wondering if he should trust them.

"Take him to a Muggle film and then dinner afterwards – some place not too fancy, but nice," Hermione chimed in. "Try to stick to the Muggle world for a while unless you want all the pressure of the paper either breaking you up or forcing you together."

"Sounds like a good plan – both of them," Harry hoped he sounded convincing. They were good plans, he hoped he could pull them off.

§§§§§

Harry considered the Tower of London tour, then the Banqueting House tour, and then the Kensington Palace tour. He eventually decided that he would just get two memberships for the Historic Royal Palaces. That way they could go to all six palaces whenever they wanted. There were a few other perks as well, but the part he loved was that Severus could choose which one they'd go to first. He, of course, splurged on the Wizarding memberships – they were more expensive than the Muggle ones – and it would be worth it. Besides, he honestly thought that it was still less than what Severus spent on dinner after the Quidditch match.

Knocking on Severus' front door, Harry waited as he savoured the warmth that permeated the front garden.

Severus opened the door and Harry couldn't help but beam at his puzzled expression. "We've yet to come in the front door. Even last time, we went out it but came back through the kitchen door. I figured I should do it once."

"Ah," Severus stepped out, slipping into a long black overcoat and knotting a Slytherin green scarf about his neck. "So, I should plan to enter your place by the front door sometime soon?"

Harry shook his head quickly, "Not needed. I know it might hold bad memories."

Severus clasped Harry's hand in his, "But those memories might be overwhelmed with happier ones, so I'll give it a try."

Harry's smile widened with a touch of mischief. "I've made us members of Historic Royal Palaces. I'll explain all it comes with later, but where do you want to go today? Hampton Court, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hillsborough Castle, Banqueting House, or Kew Palace?"

Severus' eyes brightened and a small smile curled his lips. "The Banqueting House. I hear the ceiling is a work of art."

Harry blinked, "Really?"

Chuckling, Severus nodded, "It's a Rubens – well worth seeing."

It was. But the ceiling wasn't the only work of art. Over piping hot fish and chips in one of the nearby pubs, they talked about the architecture, the paintings, and the Undercroft. They didn't talk about the area below the Undercroft where there was a small Alchemist workshop and a potions lab. Both were outfitted in the latest 1600 equipment and Severus had taken a long, close look at the potions recipes tucked haphazardly into the shelves near the cauldrons.

They were saying goodnight at Harry's door when Harry decided to take a chance. Still holding Severus' hand, he turned and slowly slipped his arms around the black clad chest. When there was no resistance, he pulled Severus into a loose hug.

"Thank you for a wonderful time," Harry murmured into Severus' shoulder.

His worry about overstepping a line melted when Severus' arms wrapped around him, pulling him even closer, letting him feel a steady heartbeat.

"Thank you, Harry." The words were whispered through his hair, where he could swear Severus had dropped a kiss on before letting him go. "Goodnight."

With that, Severus released him and spun around, striding off before Harry could get his tongue to work again.

§§§§§

Severus set back in his seat – it still amazed him that no one else used it even though he no longer taught at Hogwarts – and watched the others around the staffroom. Minerva was talking with Hooch and Sinistra. Vector had cornered Hagrid about Forest and the animals in it.

Filius sat next to him, enlarging his chair so he was closer to Severus' height. "You and Potter, eh, Severus?"

Severus glanced at the older professor and smirked. "Yes, who would've imagined he'd grow up to be someone worth thinking about."

Pomona laughed as she settled next to Filius, her eyes alight with amusement. "Some of us had a clue."

A raised eyebrow was his entire answer.

"So, what's your next step?" Rolanda had left Sinistra to join in the conversation, making Severus sigh. "I mean, you two have been seen out and about – but nothing that shows you might be considering being together."

"Next step?" Severus tipped his head, refusing to think of the small peck on Harry's head and how his lips burned to press harder on the messy curls.

Filius cut in, "Don't tell her – she is trying to get information to use in the staff betting pool."

"You're betting on Harry's and my relationship?" He shot Filius disbelieving look.

Pomona patted his knee, "Only when the paper finally figures it out – not that you two are just friends, but are more … romantically interested in each other. We already know just how this is going to go, so no one was willing to bet on that part."

Severus glanced around, paying no mind to the tiny warmth blossoming in his chest.

"And everyone here is okay with this? And you knew it was going to happen?"

"Not a given," Minerva said as she handed him a small plate of sandwiches, "but a possibility. The way you two went after each other was … fairly spectacular."

Rolanda chuckled, "You'd either hate each other or you'd love each other."

Severus told himself not to roll his eyes… or let his lips twitch.

"There is a fine line between the two," Filius chimed in, a small smile curling his lips. "And since you have tested the hatred side and are now on the love side, we're confident you won't be going back. Now, we know you took him to the Quidditch match," he paused to briefly smile at Rolanda, "where else are you considering?"

Severus shook his head, his expression showing he wasn't going to tell them a thing.

"Well, I know you like art, Severus," Minerva settled in her seat a slight distance away. "How about taking him to the National Art Gallerie?"

Rolanda's eyes widened, "Aren't they hosting the magical painting exhibit? Nichol Bearman's work is supposed to be prominently featured. She does a lot of paintings about flying – dragons, faeries, birds, hippogriffs. If it takes flight she's probably painted it."

Vector nodded, "Donegal is also supposed to be there. He loves to paint the woods, plants, and creatures found with in."

"Or you could just stay home, cuddle and talk," Filius chimed in as he settled back into his seat and nodded to himself.

Severus gave a silent sigh.

§§§§§

"Who'd have thought that so many Quidditch players would come to an art exhibit?" asked Harry.

Severus drew Harry closer to him while the players pushed through in an attempt to look closer at the large multipanel painting of a Quidditch match by Nichol Bearman.

"There you are, Albert," said one of the smaller players closest to the wall.

Severus yanked Harry right up against him as the burly Beater of the Tutshill Tornados rushed to see where his team's Seeker was pointing, nearly barrelling into Harry. Leaning close to Harry's ear, Severus spoke softly, letting his breath hit the shell with just enough force to be noticed, "Shall we go over to Donegal's side until they leave?"

Harry's shiver and muted gasp caused Severus' blood to move southward and his heart to warm. He leant a little closer, letting his lips brush against Harry's ear, "It looks to be less crowded."

Severus barely kept his moan of pleasure locked inside. The feel of his lips on even that tiny bit of skin made him crave more. Only his well practised control kept his hands on Harry's shoulders and his lips just where they were. 'Does this still count as going slow?'

It was a moot point, what was done was done, and Harry didn't seem to mind. Hands pressed against the front of his thighs, fingers slightly digging in as they stroked towards his hips. It felt as if his blood was being pulled by those hands, but it was pooling elsewhere.

"But … the crowd … it might not thin," Harry gasped out.

Swallowing once, Severus hoped to get his words out. "You're not as small as you were when you became a Seeker," Harry's fervent "Thank Merlin" brought a smirk to his face and a nod of agreement in his head, "but I believe you are capable of getting through that group easily to see what you seek. I'll wait back here."

Harry's hands tightened on his thighs before the younger man let them go and stood reluctantly away from him. A flash of warm green eyes and a smile directed towards him was all he saw before Harry slipped through the crowds as easily as a hot knife through butter or wind flowing through the cracks.

Crossing his arms so that his robes closed in front of his body, he waited. 'I'm glad I opted to wear my robes. If I hadn't there'd be no way the state of my body wouldn't be noticed. Harry had to feel it against him.' He watched as a messy black head slid around Albert and his team mate. He spotted Harry a few minutes later near the middle panel, studying the audience as well as the players. 'He's not going home tonight. I have a spare room and it'll be easy for him to get to work tomorrow – just walk out my shop door and arrive at his. Clothes … he can borrow some of mine. We are going to finish this evening with dinner at my house and then follow Filius' suggestion – cuddle and talk. Then bed.'

Almost ten minutes later, Harry came back towards him, a bright smile on his face. The current Quidditch team examining the work rushed by while leaving, causing him to pull Harry out of their way, once again settling the younger man against him – this time front to front. His lost erection renewed its interest as green eyes stared up into his and the smile still curled those lips he'd dreamed about tasting.

"Even the audience are real people! I spotted McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick and you! All of you were sitting in what I swear is the Hogwarts' section – Dumbledore was in it too along with the other professors."

Severus glanced towards the painting, wanting to see that section but wasn't sure about daring the crowd.

"Come on – it's over on this side," Harry grabbed his hand and pulled him behind the crowd to the far side where less of the Quidditch players were depicted. "Most of you are on the second panel in, but the students in their house robes are also on the last one. You're right here."

Severus looked where Harry was pointing and couldn't help but to be happy that he was painted with just the slightest hint of a smile and was sitting next to Albus and Filius. Minerva was on Albus' other side with Pomona next to her. The artist's skill was extraordinary.

Slughorn was tucked in behind him and Kettleburn was painted sitting in front of Hagrid. Blocking another group from pushing Harry and keeping his hands on the younger man's shoulders, Severus continued to study the others in the painting. He spotted Professors ranging back to his time as a student, and as he looked over the student population, he noticed that the Quidditch teams were in their uniforms. It took him but a moment to spot Harry sitting in the centre of a bunch of redheads – all the Weasleys who'd played – and then he checked the rest of the teams, happy to see that all were equally represented as was the normal student body. Each house had famous and not so famous students – most of which he could name while they were in uniform - painted as if they were enjoying themselves.

The rest of the afternoon and a small chunk of the evening were spent admiring the other paintings. The rest of the evening was spent in Severus' home on the sofa in front of a warm fire, talking about every scary subject they could think of while sitting very closely.

The next morning, Harry barely refrained from snatching a good morning kiss on his way out the door.

§§§§§

"Tonight, Harry," Arthur gave him an 'I am the father, do as I say' look at him through the flames.

"Yes, sir," Harry found himself saying before he'd even considered the words, "I'll be there by six."

"Good, Molly and I will be waiting." The fire went red, leaving Harry to finish getting ready for work.

The day went quickly. He rushed through the last hour and told Ron he'd see him later as he waved by. He understood his best mate's surprised look later.

"Good evening, Dad," Harry greeted Arthur as he stepped out of the floo. A quick spell hit him, cleaning the soot off before Molly hugged him tight. "Good evening, Mum."

Both of them smiled and shooed him off to the kitchen table.

"Where's everyone else?" Harry looked around, expecting to see Bill or George already there. He knew Ron was closing up the shop and Hermione wouldn't be home until almost eight. He finally realised that no one else would be there when Arthur directed them to the table, his face wreathed in the same no-nonsense expression he'd last seen when the man talked to George. It didn't take long before the lone twin was rescinding his plan to stop his counselling months before Healer Loo wanted him too.

"I'll get straight to the point – it did no good to beat around the bush with Charlie, and I am one who can learn a lesson," Arthur dropped into his seat which happened to be right next to Harry's normal one.

"Sir?" Harry searched Arthur's face before glancing at Molly who was busy at the stove, "Did I do something wrong?"

Arthur shook his head, "No, but we need a few answers. Are you homosexual or bisexual?"

Harry blinked and felt his cheeks warming up, "That's rather direct..."

A small smile skirted Arthur's lips before returning to his no-nonsense expression. "As I said, I wasn't repeating the mistakes I made last time."

"Oh..."

"Well?" Arthur prodded, "Are you or aren't you?"

"Yes," Harry decided to stick with a simple reply instead of searching his feelings to determine if he was both or just homosexual. It wasn't something he'd contemplated even while he was dating Ginny and Cho. Both of those times were so wrought with other things he wasn't positive if he was truly attracted to them physically or just mentally.

Arthur nodded once and Harry heard the clink of a tea cup settling next to his arm. Glancing over, he spotted Molly smiling at him.

"Are you contemplating a serious romantic relationship with Severus Snape, or are you working at just a friendly one?" Molly was just as blunt as Arthur.

Harry glanced at the tea and remembered who they were the parents of and opted to drink it later. "Severus and I are attempting to determine which would be better for us, but both of us like the idea of a romantic relationship."

A look passed between the two parents. It was quick, nothing more than a second maybe two, but Harry was positive an entire conversation's worth of information was passed through it. They had years of experience.

Molly flicked her wand and dinner moved to the table from the stove top. Arthur summoned the dishes. Both of them waited until the food was served to continue.

"A serious romantic relationship is a commitment," Molly said, "one that you should never enter with the thought of getting out of."

Harry paused his fork of green beans and mash halfway to his mouth. "True, that is why we are taking our time. Learning more about the other first. We don't want to rush into things."

"He was your teacher for years, Harry," Arthur added as he cut into his pork chop. "You learnt a lot about him then, surely."

Harry set his fork down. "We couldn't truly learn who the other was, just the faces presented at that time. Besides, we've both changed as our circumstances have changed. So, we both have to learn the other again."

"Good," Arthur took a bite of his food and the atmosphere relaxed into one of a normal Weasley dinner. "I have some tickets for a speaker coming into town next week. They were giving them away at the Ministry. Michael Bluster is going to be holding a lecture, "Instigating reforms – how to and how not to'. Not something I am terribly interested in. I don't know if you or Severus might be, but I do know that they will have a question and answer/discussion time."

Harry chuckled at the image of Severus discussing the topic. "I'll see if he wants to go."

Picking up his fork, Harry finally got a bite of the delicious dinner Molly had cooked.

The rest of dinner was just as off the wall and informative. Periodically Molly would start listing Severus' favourite dishes – ones that she noticed during Order meetings and had gleaned from conversations with Dumbledore and others. Arthur would get a far off look on his face and then recommend a dance hall or a theatre. On occasions, they would both recommend restaurants and places that afforded one a lot of privacy. Mixed in with it all was a wealth of tried and true relationship advice.

Harry listened and munched and drank it all in.

§§§§§

As Severus sat down, he surveyed the others who'd come to hear the speaker. To his right was Lucius Malfoy with his son and other former and ex-Death Eaters were also sitting near him and Harry. Further examination showed that they weren't all once Voldemort's followers, there was a healthy selection of the Slytherin House there. He recognized a lot of former students, classmates, and others. Another glance showed that, although Slytherin was the highest proportion of the audience, there was a hefty amount of the other houses as well. Reform, it seemed, was an interesting topic.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Severus," Lucius spoke softly, "What with you gallivanting around with the Chosen One, I wouldn't think getting a reform passed through would be difficult for you."

The brief shock and consternation on Lucius' face when Harry leant around him was one Severus alone noticed.

"But I don't want to use my name, and it would be better for all if we all did this the right way, true?" Harry replied just as quietly.

Lucius just nodded his head and focused up front. Severus returned his attention to the room and spotted the speaker making his way to the front.

Michael Bluster was old. Severus knew he worked with and for old people for years, but Bluster had more years than even Albus would have had at this date. Something in the way he carried himself made Severus think of the Flamels. 'Could he also have a Philosopher stone?' Setting that thought aside, he prepared to listen to a man who had the right to talk about how things were way back then and call every single person in the room my boy.

It was during the discussion portion that Severus realised just how much he had learnt from Albus and to an extent, Voldemort. He could read a person's body language and inflexion so well and understood how the minds of men from the age of the Flamel and Albus worked as well as the younger generations, that he felt he could almost control the conversation. With this in mind, he watched and listened, learning far more than if he had participated. Only when he needed more information did he say a word.

Harry watched him, a knowing smile curling his lips. Then the young man started asking the most inane leading questions, stirring previously silent people into speaking up, and leading to topics that garnered Severus even more knowledge. The surprised and impressed look Lucius shot his way didn't hurt either.

It was back in his front parlour later that evening that Severus finally gave in to the desire to kiss Harry for it. Pulling the younger man up against him, he stopped the dark head from leaning against his chest and tipped it up with a finger under his chin.

"Thank you," was all he said before he pressed his lips to the surprised, parted ones below his. Harry tensed up, but before Severus could worry, melted against, arms encircling him and fingers sliding up into his hair, deepening their kiss. A kiss that was sending licks of fire up to Severus' brain and down to his toes.

When it ended, Harry smiled up at him, lips pink and eyes bright. "Well worth it. So, what's the next step?"

Severus couldn't help but laugh, "Not announcing our relationship in the papers yet. Filius has bet it would come out in a month from now and I want him to win the betting pool."

Harry's eyes widened at that before he laughed before pulling him back into another kiss. When that one ended, he flashed Severus a heated grin. "I'll agree. Ron has the same month in the Weasley betting pool. Is there a specific day for Flitwick?"

Severus shook his head, "Just the beginning – they opted not to make it too specific. The Weasleys?"

"Ron chose the second week."

Severus pursed his lips.

"Then we'll go on a full out romantic date in Diagon Alley at the beginning of that week."

Harry beamed and nodded his agreement.

"Full of hand holding, hugs, and snogging?"

Severus nodded and pulled Harry back in for another kiss. They needed to practice after all.