Severus' one consolation when supervising study hall was the presence of his lover. Harry usually sat with those friends of his at the far end of the hall, but he would always make some excuse to pass Severus a recklessly passionate love note. Severus would frown, of course, and later tell him to be more careful, but Harry would roll his eyes, knowing how the potions master secretly enjoyed his ill-advised missives.

This time half an hour passed before Harry approached his desk at the front of the classroom. "Here's my essay, Professor," Harry grumbled loudly enough for the first row of students to hear.

Severus gave an impressive glare. "Late as usual mister Potter," he sneered. His heart fluttered - useless organ - as their fingers brushed.

He waited until Harry was back with his friends before her opened the note. What would it be? Harry's letters varied; some weeks they were romantic drivel (but after twenty years of violent and loveless Death Eater orgies Severus felt he was entitled to a little sap), and sometimes they were pornographic. Sometimes they were a few simple sentences like, "I dreamed about you last night. Meet me outside the Great Hall at midnight."

Harry's familiar scrawl greeted his eyes as Severus unfolded the paper, but something was different. The page contained two non-intersecting circles with writing inside of them. Severus read the one on the left first. "People who are dating Harry Potter," it read.

The second circle said, "You."