"Yeah, I know. I just – "
"Some time today, if you would, Potter!" Richardson's voice snapped over the sunny field.
"Well, I've got to run. See you later," Harry said, contenting himself with a friendly squeeze to Severus' shoulder.
"Doubtless," Severus drolly replied as Harry raced off to practice.
Harry knew he was acting like a besotted sixth year, but he found himself showing off outrageously during practice for Severus' sake. He'd always been good with a broom, but when he wanted to be, he could be bloody brilliant. Today, he pulled out all stops, turning the simple practice into an aerial ballet.
When they finally landed two hours later, Harry was exhausted to the bone and covered from head to foot with the ever-present mud. He was so filthy the colour of his robes could no longer be distinguished.
A similarly muddied Robbie fell into step beside him as the boisterous group made its way back to their audience.
"That was some mating dance you just flew up there," Robbie said in a low, joking tone. "You should bring Severus more often. With the way you were flying today, we'll beat the Ashbury Aces hollow if he's in the audience next month."
At first, Harry wasn't sure how to take the joking comment. He hadn't thought he'd been that obvious. Realizing that Robbie knew him too well to even try fooling him, Harry grinned and answered, "I'll make sure he's in the front row, in that case."
Robbie came to a stop beside him, glanced around, and softly said with apparent awkwardness, "But, seriously, Harry. It's good to see you happy, mate. It's been a long time."
Harry glanced away from those serious blue eyes to where Severus was waiting at the edge of the team's cheering section, his black robes flapping around him as he stood apart from the rest of the audience. It was strange, but just the sight of the admittedly grim figure waiting there for him sent a warm feeling through him. Turning back to Robbie, he patted his friend's back and admitted, "Try forever. But, you're right. It feels damn good. Thanks for being so – "
Harry wasn't sure what to say. Understanding, loyal, decent . . . homophobia was so rampant in the Wizarding World that any acceptance was a rare gift.
Robbie just flushed and said, "Stuff that. There isn't anything to thank me for. Come on; let's go get some of that hot cocoa Betsy brought."
Thinking that he was the luckiest man on Earth, Harry hurried over to Severus, still unable to believe that he really had someone waiting for him on the sidelines for once.
*~*~*
Six weeks later, Severus was still on the sidelines waiting for him.
Harry hardly knew what to make of their relationship. Even after all this time, they were both still cautious, acting like they expected the whole thing to blow up on them any second. Yet, as he had their first week together, Harry still came to Severus every single night. Only, he didn't leave after the sex now. He spent the night in Severus' bed, left for work from Severus' each morning, and returned there immediately afterwards. For all intents and purposes, he was living at Severus'. Only, neither of them had so much as commented upon it. He wasn't sure how a person could end up living with someone without any type of declaration or even invitation being voiced, but that was precisely what had happened.
And it was good. Better than good. For the first time ever, Harry felt truly happy, and, although Severus hadn't told him so, Harry was fairly certain he felt the same.
Which was why his present dilemma had blindsided Harry. He was virtually living with Severus. They made love every night, slept in the same bed, ate the same meals at the same table. They were incontestably lovers, most probably friends. Yet when Valentine's Day rolled around, Harry hadn't a clue what to do about it.
He'd been waging a silent campaign for the last six weeks to introduce Severus to the romance he'd never known in his life. Hell, Harry had never known it personally, either, so it was new to him, too. So far, Severus had been surprisingly agreeable. Severus never suggested any of their outings, but he'd agreed to each and every one of them. They'd been to both Wizarding and Muggle theatre, Muggle cinema, they ate out regularly, they did all the things people who dated did. Only, they never talked about what they were actually doing. Harry just asked and Severus accepted his invitations.
But Valentine's Day was a sticky wicket. Harry really wanted to acknowledge his feelings for Severus on this day devoted to lovers, but he knew Severus would scorn all of the traditional forms of celebration. What was he going to do, buy Severus a friendship ring? Or perhaps one of those stuffed bears holding a heart that said 'Love You'? Just the thought of Severus' reaction to roses or a box of candy was enough to make Harry shudder. And, yet, he still wanted to do something for him. But what? What did you give a man who scorned sentimentality and hated fuss? A man who lived only for his work and the brief time they spent together? Severus loved books, but the house was already overrun with the things, and Harry honestly had no idea which ones Severus already owned. The idea of a gift certificate was simply too cold. He wanted to give something personal, but not so personal as to be embarrassing.
Granted, Severus liked the theatre and he liked to eat out, but they did that regularly, so there really wouldn't be anything special about it.
Sitting at the office, purportedly writing out a report on the arrest Robbie and he had made that morning, Harry racked his brains. Theatre, food, books, potions . . . .
Harry froze. Potions. He couldn't even begin to imagine what ingredients Severus might want that he didn't already have, but he knew that many of the ingredients came from plants. Plants had flowers. Perhaps he could find a plant with an attractive flower that was unusual enough to please Severus. Only, what the hell did he know about plants? He knew if he walked into any florist this week, whether Wizarding or Muggle, that he'd end up with a bunch of singing roses or some other such rubbish. What he needed was some expert advice.
But where was he going to get expert advice on plants?
"Neville!" Harry cried out, jumping to his feet.
"What?" Robbie, who was actually working on his paperwork, asked from the desk across from his.
"I, er, I'm going to take the afternoon off," Harry blurted out.
"Sure thing, Harry. You've got more than a year of leave accumulated. The old man'll be glad to see you actually use some," Robbie said with a grin. "What's up?"
"It's this damn holiday," Harry grumbled. There wasn't another person on the zhaiyuedu.com he'd admit that too, including Severus.
But Robbie just grinned. "Know what you mean, mate. I've been seeing Carol for two months now. Had no idea what to do about tonight. I got her a necklace and a big box of candy, but . . . with all the hype, it never seems enough."
"I don't think a necklace and candy will do it for Severus," Harry lamented.
"What? You don't think Severus would like a necklace that says 'Petal'?" Robbie asked with a laugh.
Not for the first time, Harry thanked his stars that he preferred men. He couldn't imagine buying anything that . . . hideous.
"Would you want to give him a necklace that says 'Petal'?" Harry asked, shivering at the very thought.
"Not me, mate. I like living." Robbie grinned. "Your Severus strikes me as the dangerous sort."
"Well, he's definitely not the 'petal' sort," Harry said.
"What are you going to get him?" Robbie asked.
Harry sighed. "I thought I might get him something that was both practical and beautiful. Maybe something he could use in his work."
"A gold- plated cauldron?" Robbie suggested with a grin.
Harry answered it with one of his own. "Nah, gold plated is a bit on the cheap side, isn't it? If I'm going to do it, might as well go for the solid gold number."
"You're not serious, are you? That'll cost a fortune," Robbie said.
"If I thought he'd like it, I wouldn't mind. But, no. I can't see him liking a gold cauldron any better than your 'petal' necklace. I was thinking I'd get him an exotic plant that he could use as a potion ingredient afterwards."
Robbie appeared impressed. "Sounds good. What are you going to get him?"
Harry shrugged. "Haven't a clue. But I do have a friend who teaches Herbology at Hogwarts. Thought I'd pay him a visit and see if he had any suggestions."
"Well, good luck, mate," Robbie said.
"You, too. Have fun with Petal," Harry grinned.
"Very funny. Go on, get out of here before we end up on another job," Robbie warned.
"Hold down the fort till I get back," Harry said, finally taking his leave.
Hogwarts hadn't changed much in the last sixteen years. In fact, as Harry Apparated outside its gates and walked up to the castle door, it didn't seem to have changed at all. The faces of the students rushing by were different. To Harry, they looked younger than he and his mates had ever been, but on the whole everything was the same. The Whomping Willow, the lake, the ruins up by Hagrid's hut where Hermione had once punched Draco Malfoy on the day Buckbeak was to be executed, everything.
