The Fire Within Chapter 22 Severus's POV

Hey everyone *waves frantically* I'm still here. I know this chapter is very late, but here it is. I'm so sorry. I love all the readers and reviewers. You guys are always the best! Thank you for everything! I don't know what I'd do without you guys.

This will be boyxboy if you don't like don't read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter that would go to J.K. Rowling.

Severus slammed the door on everything he wanted in the world. He pressed his back against the door, heart pounding furiously as he fought every instinct to call after Harry and demand he stay with Severus. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply then exhaling. He tried to center himself, wanting to regain the calm cool exterior he was famous for.

Harry was going flying with Longbottom? The younger male was probably trying to move on with his life. Which was what Severus should be doing, but wasn't capable of in the least. How could he when he was so in love with Harry? But the decision had been made. Harry was getting on with his life and Severus wasn't capable of that at the moment, but he still had classes he needed to get ready for. There were still things that needed had done.

Severus went to work. His lessons for the rest of the day consisted of him yelling at several students causing a few to burst in to tears. It wasn't like he took joy…much joy in making a student cry, but he was frustrated, worried and plain sick of denying what he wanted more than anything in the world. Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep everything at bay. He made a decision that morning when he woke up with Harry in his bed. There was no way he could keep his hands off the younger man. Harry was absolutely irresistible. Everything about him called to Severus. He was far more gone on the boy than he ever thought possible.

Yes, Severus admitted he was in love with Harry, but the longer he went without the younger man by his side the more he felt it in his soul. Maybe thinking so far in the future wasn't conducive for their relationship. That was all Severus was trying to do, keep an eye out for Harry's future, but by doing that it seemed he was hurting them both. Yes, Harry was the one to tell Severus he didn't want to do tutoring at all, but there had to be something that could bring them together. Severus couldn't…no wouldn't live his life without the person he loved. Not again. This time was going to be different.

The only problem was he how to approach Harry about the subject. And did he really have the right to bring it up to Harry? He wasn't sure. He most certainly knew he wanted to. But someone wise once told him even if it needed to be said that didn't mean it needed to be heard. That amazing person was Lily. Severus wasn't sure how she'd view his relationship with Harry, but her words rang in his mind. Was it meant to be heard? Severus knew he couldn't make light of his next move. The whole thing would be permanent. He really wanted to be reunited with Harry.

As evening rolled around Severus was no closer to making a decision. It didn't help that at dinner Severus was compelled to watch Harry's every move, the way he tilted his head when he was laughing at something Weasley said, the way he smiled when Granger seemed to admonish Weasley for what he said. Severus lost all ability to think when watching Harry be so care free. If they were together could he be that way with Severus? So many questions that couldn't be answered without actually trying a relationship.

It seemed his staring contest with Harry finally caught the younger man's attention. Startling green eyes crashed against Severus's dark gaze, Harry visibly swallowed the longer he stared at Severus. He reluctantly broke eye contact to scan the Great Hall to see if anyone caught on the intense atmosphere surrounding Severus and Harry. Severus found no one paying attention to the two of them, his eyes ticked back to Harry, who was luckily still staring at him. Subtly Severus crooked his finger at Harry and titled his head to the exit. His heart beat wildly as Harry nodded lightly before turning back to his friends. Severus excused himself from the table, not able to stomach anymore food. His stomach did acrobatics as he made his way out the doors and a little ways off, shrouded in the shadows of a staircase, hoping against hope that Harry would follow. After a few minutes Severus started to worry the boy didn't understand or chose not to come, just when he was about to call it quits with a heavy heart, Harry appeared in front of him.

"You called?" Harry grinned widely at him. His hair was messier than usual, probably due to flying at top speed. Severus had to physically stop himself from sweeping some of Harry's more out of control tresses from his face, even hidden in the shadows he didn't dare make a move on Harry. More because once he started touching the person he wanted more than his next breath, he wouldn't be able to stop.

Harry appeared to really be happy to see him, not that Severus was going to complain about Harry's willingness to follow him. Hopefully Harry would be more perceptive to what Severus was about to propose. Severus wasn't even fully aware of what he was going to do or say. He was running on full instinct. Something he normally didn't do, but it felt like the right thing to try. After all Harry was always running on full emotion. It didn't pan out well some of the time then again neither did thinking everything through. This whole venture worth every emotional and mental anguish he was going through if it meant having Harry be back in life. Thinking obviously hadn't helped so far, he prayed this new tactic would work out in the end.

Severus straightened his already pristine robes, clearing his mind of all thoughts as he said in his best authoritative voice that would make any student stand at attention, "Mr. Potter I believe you forgot something in the classroom. It would be best if you got it now, please."

"Yes, Professor." Harry followed Severus without another word. Severus went to his office on a whim. If they went to his quarters that meant he might give in to some of the urges that wanted to take over. Not yet. Not until everything was settled and made sense.

Severus held the door open for Harry when they made it to his office. He locked the door and put up a few more silencing charms just to be safe, this was the territory of his Slytherins after all. Harry sat with his hands clasped in his lap. Instead of sitting on the other side of his desk Severus chose the second chair beside Harry. He sat down stiffly, back rigid as he contemplated how to begin.

Harry waited expectantly, gauging Severus as he thought a little more about if what he was about to say should be heard by the person in front of him. He nodded to himself. It was worth the risk and Harry needed to hear it.

Severus faced Harry, taking his hands with his own. Sparks of pleasure raced down his spine as he gathered his jumbled thoughts. "Harry, there's a lot I want to say, but I'm not sure how to put it in to words. When you broke things off I found it hard to cope with life without you in it. I can't stand to have you not there." Severus knew he was babbling, something which was so out of character for him, he seemed unable to stop his blathering. Harry didn't seem to mind. "What I'm so clumsily trying to say is will you officially be with me? As my boyfriend or whatever you want to call it?" Harry's eyebrows shot to his hairline while Severus waited with bated breath for a promising answer.