There comes a time in many relationships, friendly, parental, romantic... when there is a realization that you don't see the other person in quite the same light as you had before. Perhaps they've grown or changed, perhaps you have. Maybe nothing at all has changed except your perception.

Harry remembered that moment with Ginny. The first time he laid eyes on her and she was no longer his friend's annoying kid sister, and then the moment he looked at her and saw she was not his future (and perhaps no woman ever would be.) Harry also remembered the moment it dawned on him that Draco had become an actual friend and not an enemy or even just a begrudging ally in the war against the Dark.

It only takes one moment for everything in a relationship to change.

And Harry knew as he entered 12 Grimmauld Place, for the first time in months, and saw Severus Snape.

The heavy, old oak door creaked and groaned loudly as Harry pushed it open. The house was dark, as always, and dust swirled and danced in the rays of light that pooled into the living room. Harry contained the gasp that nearly escaped his lips when he turned his head and realized Severus Snape was sat at the edge of the sofa, his head in his hands, and his long black hair hanging over either side of his face.

Harry closed the door gently, banishing the small bit of sunshine once more then cast a silent Lumos. Snape did not move.

"Erm, hullo... Professor. I- I didn't know you were here. Not that I mind at all! Just... didn't know."

Harry waited a moment. Still, Snape didn't move.

Harry took two tentative steps towards Snape and reached a hand out to him. Just short of touching his shoulder, Snape lifted his head slowly. Snape took a deep breath, dug his thumbs into his eyes briefly then finally faced Harry.

"Utmost apologies for my intrusion, Mr Potter. I shall be on my way shortly "

Years ago, Snape's dark eyes on Harry would have sent chills down his spine. Now Harry couldn't stop himself from searching those dark eyes. Snape was deftly skilled at hiding his every thought and emotion but Harry could swear he saw a flash of something there in those black eyes. Something very akin to sadness, but before Harry could truly assess, it was gone. Still, Harry held Snape's gaze. Something had changed...

And perhaps that is why, without any thought, Harry said, "Don't leave, Professor. I'd actually very much like you to stay."

Harry hadn't been back to Grimmauld Place since the fall of Voldemort. It held too many bitter, painful memories. Harry had traveled instead. Zambia, Australia, Norway, Germany. He'd enjoyed his time abroad, exploring both muggle and wizard facets of each place he'd visited. It'd been just over a year and it just felt time to come home.

Harry had been sure to keep the wards airtight around the home he inherited from Sirius. However, he kept it open for members of the Order. Still, walking up the steps and into the old, dark, dusty home, he'd have never imagined anyone would actually be inside. The war was over. Everyone had a home and family they were eager to get back to, to let things get back to normal. Despite being unexpected, seeing a familiar face there in his home was... nice.

"I do mean that," Harry said earnestly. "I know you've a home of your own but-"

"I do not."

"What?" Harry was startled.

"Just as I said, Mr Potter. I don't have a home... not anymore."

Harry greatly wanted answers but knew Snape well enough to not ever expect answers from him that he was not ready to provide.

"How long have you been here? Again, not that I mind. Just curious is all."

"I..." Snape paused, always being one to choose his words carefully. "I have not left."

"You've been here since... since the end of the war?"

"I'd thought, foolishly, that some members of the Order might still be here and I'd remain in the guest room I'd used previously. However, not a soul was here, obviously. Minerva took over as Headmistress and I'd rather die than remain at Hogwarts, no home of my own and an empty one here so... I stayed. Honestly, Potter, I'd forgotten the home belonged to you. However, I'm quite appreciative of you leaving the wards open to me."

"Yes, yes of course. I'm glad you stayed here if this is where you chose to be. It's a large home, you're more than welcome to stay as long as you'd like it's just..." Harry chewed the inside of his lip.

"Just what? Spit it out, Potter."

"Well, I hope you haven't been sitting here in the dark for a year straight..." Harry grinned.

Snape sighed, "Oh, absolutely, Potter. I've sat here, unmoving, for a year and some months just awaiting your return like an eager lapdog."

"Yes, I'd suspected as much." Harry laughed heartily.

Snape ignored him, "I was simply pondering over a new potion I've been working on. Sometimes the answers are within my own mind, and not a book on a shelf."

"I'm sure that's true, Professor, you've always been very clever."

Harry's voice was devoid of any humor or jest.

Snape nodded and finally stood from the sofa. Harry's eyes were still glued to Snape's, although he now had to look upwards to meet the older man's gaze.

"Will you please stay, Professor? I honestly dread being here alone. I do promise to allow you to work on your potions and not make you insane."

"Thank you for your invitation. I'd actually quite like to stay for just a while. Perhaps I'll finally set out to buy another home soon."

"I'm starved. Dinner?"

Snape bowed his head gently in agreement.

"Great!" Harry smiled a toothy smile and set out towards the kitchen.

Severus shook his head. He couldn't believe he'd just agreed to eat something that Potter would be cooking. He'd better brew up something for food poisoning before the young man finished the dinner. Severus heard some cabinets closing with loud bangs. He had to remind himself he couldn't chide the boy for slamming his own cabinet doors. Yes, Severus had been here for a year but this was not his home. It was simply an easy refuge after his house had been burned down by those fools who still thought he'd loyally served Voldemort.

After a moment of more stomping his feet and opening and closing cabinets, Potter emerged, scratching the back of his neck, a sheepish grin painted on.

"Turns out I don't actually know how to cook anything you've got in there- I mean I can cook... just... bugger it, mind if I just order in for us?"

Potter had grown quite a bit taller in the year since Severus had last seen him. His hair was a bit longer, lying in a curly mess atop his head. His glasses were gone and his features were decidedly more angular and less boyish. Potter looked- dare he even think it? -incredibly handsome.

Snape nodded curtly. His mouth was suddenly so dry.

"Yes, that's perfectly acceptable."

Harry's grin grew larger, "Wonderful!"

Severus had been alone for quite a while. He was a solitary man by nature. He did not miss Hogwarts. He'd never dreamed of being a teacher, he was simply there to be easily accessible to Albus and his plans for Severus. He didn't resent Albus. He knew that Albus, while being manipulative, had his reasons for doing the things he did. He owed Albus for helping him escape Voldemort and the Death Eaters. If not for him, Severus would likely have been dead years ago. Now that he was gone, and Voldemort was gone, Severus didn't have to play sides. Severus was on his own side now. Although, after a couple of glasses of scotch, late at night, when Severus was relaxing, if Severus was wanting to be honest with himself... he was maybe, just maybe, a little lonely. There were some nights, the rare nights Severus could admit his loneliness to himself, when he was in the shower under a hot stream of water, that he could admit to himself that he, in fact, did know that this house belonged to Harry Potter and maybe, just maybe, Severus didn't dread the young man's return.

Potter had changed in Severus's eyes long ago. He was no longer the boy hellbent on risking his own life at every turn. He'd grown.

"Severus says their current headquarters are in Lincolnshire. We need reconnaissance there by tomorrow night," Lupin instructed to the members of The Order gathered around the table in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place.

"Kingsley, if you could gather three or four-"

"Harry, you shouldn't be in here," Albus admonished. The group collectively raised their heads and looked towards the door where Harry stood, arms crossed, a determined look on his face. Severus stood up straighter.

"I am the one to kill Voldemort, the prophecy says so! If anyone has a right to be here, to know every detail, it's me."

Severus agreed with Harry. He was barred to an upstairs bedroom with Granger and Weasley while a group of people, some of whom he barely knew, were downstairs determining Harry's entire fate, his every move. Severus looked over Harry's body. Harry was becoming more muscular and toned, his boyish eyes no longer shone with the innocence they had as he sat beneath the sorting hat. He'd lived through more than any of the people around this table could ever imagine. He was becoming a man, a very powerful one, a true force to be reckoned with.

"Harry, you're just not ready. We will tell you everything you need to know. Until then-"

"-No," Severus said, firm but calm. "I'm not sure if any of you have stopped to notice, but Potter has a strong intuition about these things. How many times have we tried to restrain him, in an effort to keep him safe, and despite our efforts, he makes a plan of his own and, without any of our help, he furthers our cause? Hm? Tell me how many times." Severus paused to look into the eyes of every Order member standing around the table, finally stopping to look into Potter's eyes, who now stood directly to his right. Potter looked pleased and offered Severus a grin.

"Right. Potter stays."

For the rest of that meeting, Potter stood beside Severus. Occasionally his hand would brush against Severus's own. And if Severus's breath would hitch at the contact, he only hoped Potter hadn't noticed.

Potter placed his hand on Severus's shoulder, stirring him from his memory.

Severus looked up into the bright green eyes of the man, "Food's here, Professor."

Harry and Severus sat at the table, across from one another in amenable silence.

"Would you care to tell me about your travels, Mr Potter? I'm sure they're exciting."

He looked up to face Harry. His eyes widened excitedly as he finished chewing his bite of food. Harry began to speak animatedly about his time around the world over the past year.

Severus took a bite and listened to his stories, feeling peaceful for the first time in many years.

Harry had enjoyed his travels but he was inexplicably elated to be sitting across from Snape, eating a meal and sharing stories. Harry had so many memories of being gathered around this table with the Order, talking about battle plans, and who had been lost or injured that week. Now, perhaps, this table could hold happier memories of he and Snape sharing this reposeful moment.

Harry placed his back against the table and hoisted himself up to sit on the edge of it.

"There are chairs for a reason, Potter," Snape's voice hummed beside his ear. Harry sighed and rolled his eyes but removed himself from the table and took a seat.

"More Occlumency lessons?" Harry groaned.

"That whining voice does not befit a man who demands a position within the Order. If you do not wish to be treated as a child, do not behave like one."

Harry nodded, thankful to actually be referred to as a man.

"Okay," Harry conceded. "Can I just have a moment to prepare my mind before we start this lesson?"

"Will the Dark Lord be kind enough to give you a moment to prepare?"

Snape lifted his wand and, before Harry could react, was in Harry's mind.

Immediately, Snape accessed a memory of Harry leaning forward, about to press his lips to Ginny's. Harry shoved Severus from his mind.

Harry was left panting and sweating immediately.

"That was quick, Potter. But not quick enough."

"AGAIN!" Harry yelled, breathless.

Harry thought he'd blocked his mind in time. He hadn't.

Severus was shown a vision of Harry lying in his bed at Grimmauld Place. His right hand slowly sliding down across his patchy chest hair, down his stomach, and beneath his blanket...

Harry pushed Severus out of his mind once more.

"I suppose you shouldn't have started thinking about Ms Weasley as our lesson began."

"I- I wasn't thinking-"

"Lesson over, Potter."

Harry's face burned hot as Snape left the kitchen.

"Any desires to continue your expeditions?"

Harry smiled warmly, "Not any time soon. I couldn't leave now that I know I have such an important house guest." Harry winked... and immediately groaned inwardly. Ugh, why had he winked?!

Harry could have sworn he saw a smirk flash across Snape's face, amusement in his eyes.

"Erm, what are your plans then?" Harry asked.

"I suppose its time I get around to looking for a home of my own now that you've returned."

"You can have this one."

"Excuse me?"

Harry sat up straighter. "I said you can have this house. It's not much but I'm sure you could make it your own, make it look nicer."

"That's too kind. I could never possibly accept that, but I do appreciate the gesture."

Harry reached across the table and placed his hand on Snape's. Snape startled but didn't move away. Harry searched the older man's eyes.

"Look, you've spent more time here than I have. You've saved my life more times than I can count. Ensuring you always have a home is the least I could do."

Snape jerked his hand away, "I don't need charity, Potter. I have quite a bit stashed away in Gringotts."

Snape stood to leave.

He paused at the doorway, "Thank you for dinner."

Then he was gone.

Harry groaned and laid his head on the table. How did he always manage to bugger everything all up?

Severus pulled his robes off, set them aside, and began to prepare for bed.

He knew that Harry was not trying to be condescending or offer "charity" but something had stirred in Severus that he wasn't prepared to feel, something he needed to keep buried deep inside of him.

A quiet knock sounded against his door.

"Severus? I mean erm, Professor?"

Severus sighed and opened the door slowly.

"Yes, Potter?"

The younger man's eyes scanned his body, and slowly came back up to make eye contact. Severus raised an eyebrow at him, unsure if he was being examined, criticised, or... admired?

Harry coughed.

"Erm... I just... why are you in this small room?" He asked, his eyes assessing Severus's nearly barren room. "You know there are like four or five other rooms in this house."

"Four."

"Yes, well, there are larger, nicer rooms available, ya know."

"This is the one I am accustomed to."

Potter's eyes seemed to scan him once more, resting on Severus's bare chest. He felt his heart begin to beat more rapidly. He swallowed hard, pushing down any iota of hope he was beginning to feel. His eyes on him now coupled with the... flirtation?... from dinner was not doing anything to keep Severus grounded here in reality, where Harry Potter thought nothing more of Severus than a former professor and former Order member.

"What do you want, Potter?" He was aware of how acerbic he sounded.

Potter winced but didn't move.

Potter suddenly became frantic, speaking quickly, his voice cracking, "I wasn't trying to give you charity you crazy git! I was trying to give you a thank you gift for, you know, keeping me alive all these years! And.. and I have another house that my parents left me! I don't have to be in this fucking house! I... I could have left when I saw you were here but... but I didn't! Did you ever stop to think that maybe I like you?! That I admire you, even? No!"

"Potter..."

"No! I'm speaking! Did you stop to think that maybe I wanted to be here only because you were here? That I could use the company? No... no, you didn't! All you think about is how you just want to stay fucking miserable! And... and... for what? To punish yourself? Get over it!"

Severus felt the grin on his face grow. He couldn't contain it. He was oddly proud of the way Potter was defending himself. He crossed his arms.

"Why are you smiling? Merlin, you still love to see me upset, don't you?"

"I do not enjoy seeing you upset."

"You're laughing at me," Harry said quietly, looking embarrassed. A pink tint spread across his cheeks. He looked rather dashing actually, standing in his silk pyjamas beneath the soft yellow glow of the light in Severus's room. The silk clung lightly to the curves of his muscular shoulders and chest.

"I do appreciate the gesture. I apologize for behaving so rudely after you offered me such a kind gift. I shall be a more polite house guest. If what you say is true, I shall stay here. I understand the feeling of being," Severus sighed and shifted his weight. "Of being tired of the solitude. I will stay as long as you wish me to, and when you decide it's time to move on, then I certainly will with no hesitancy."

Potter nodded sheepishly.

"Okay then. I can agree with that. But while I'm still a bit angry with you I'd like to tell you: I wasn't thinking about Ginny that night."

"Excuse me?"

"I was thinking about you, you absolute fucking prat."

Potter immediately spun on his heel and quickly receded back down the stairs.

Severus was left standing in the doorway, utterly confused.