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Severus sighed to himself as he ran his hand through his hair restlessly. Today’s meeting seemed to be going on forever, and it had no signs of being over any time soon. He had a headache building just above his eyes, the likes of which not even a potion would rid him of, and he wanted nothing more than to lie down in a dark room, and sleep the rest of the day away. 

“And poor Odessa will be off for a while longer. Poppy is still unsure about the mutation of Dragon pox that has befallen her, and we’re having a healer brought in from St. Mungo’s to help out. We are very lucky that we’ve managed to find someone to cover her classes on such short notice.” 

“Who’s covering?” Filius asked Dumbledore, his squeaky voice sending a particularly sharp pain through Severus’ skull 

“Mr Potter. I sent him an owl when I heard that he was back in the country, and he graciously agreed to spend the next few weeks with us. Healer Keen is all aflutter at the opportunity to work with him, of course.” 

Severus barely managed to hold his groan inside. Potter . Because that was just what he needed. 

Why the insipid Healer was looking forward to working with him, Severus had no idea. The boy wasn’t exactly a qualified healer. 

Was he? 

“He’ll be here sometime today, ready to begin teaching Odessa’s classes tomorrow.” 

“It’ll be lovely to see him again,” Minerva said, with a small smile. “Receiving letters is never quite the same as having a real conversation with someone, is it?” 

Severus frowned, wincing when it made his headache throb even worse. 

Potter kept in contact with some of his old professors? Why had none of them told him? Surely, after everything that had happened, he had a right to know? 

“I’m sure that he’ll be delighted to see you, Minerva,” Dumbledore replied, smiling softly. His eyes were twinkling cheerfully, likely as pleased as any man could be that the prodigal son was returning to Hogwarts halls. “He certainly seemed to be happy at the chance to come back to Hogwarts for a time, even if it’s only temporary, and of course, we know that he has much to teach our students.” 

Severus rolled his eyes. Sure, the boy had beat Voldemort, but… well. The boy had beat Voldemort. That’s what Dumbledore had to be talking about.  

Shaking his head slightly at his own theatrics, Seevrsu heard the dismissal and stood up, striding out of the room before anyone could attempt to trap him in conversation. 

That dark room he’d been craving sounded like heaven. 

… 

“Harry! My dear boy!”  

Harry smiled at the warm greeting from the Headmaster as he stepped through the fireplace in his office, spelling away the excess dust and grime as he did so. 

“Headmaster,” he returned softly. 

“How many times must I insist that you call me Albus?” Dumbledore reprimanded gently, drawing Harry into a grandfatherly hug. “We’ve missed you very much, Harry. It is fantastic to see you.” 

“It’s good to see you too,” Harry replied, grinning as he unhooked his travelling cloak and draped it across the chair in front of Dumbledore’s desk. 

He sat down in the chair, as Dumbledore sat in his own. 

“How is Professor Gumley?” 

Sighing sadly, Dumbledore shook his head. “The information we’ve gathered from blood tests have helped to narrow her illness down to a mutation of Dragon Pox, but how it mutated, or why she’s the only one suffering from it, we have no idea. 

“To be safe, we’re keeping her in a private room with restricted access, and anyone that does go in or out of the room is using sterilising charms to reduce the chance of it spreading.” 

“I’ll pop in and see Poppy before I settle in for the night. There were a few odd mutations of Dragon Pox in Greece the last time I was there, and one or two in Australia that I became familiar with, too. If it’s the same—or similar—to any of those mutations, I should be able to help the healers come up with a treatment plan.” 

“Thank you for coming, Harry. I hope that I haven’t interrupted anything important.” 

Grinning again, Harry shook his head. “I’ll always help at Hogwarts, Albus, with whatever I’m able. You know that. Besides, there’s nothing particularly pressing right now, and Lavender knows not to accept anything for the time being.” 

“Ah, Miss Brown. She’s grown up to be quite lovely, hasn’t she?” 

Harry snorted. “The woman drives me batty on a daily basis, but she’s absolutely fantastic as an assistant. She’ll be here in a few days to update my diary, and organise me… life.” 

Albus laughed. “Oh, my boy! She has you quite in hand, doesn’t she?” 

Shrugging, Harry smiled and sighed happily. “It really is good to be home. How’s Minnie?” 

“She’ll have her wand to you if you call her that to her face,” Albus warned joyfully, a good natured smile on his face. “But she’s fine. Very happy that you’ll be visiting with us for a while. I do believe that she’d missed you as much as I have.” 

“If she catches me with a stinging hex, I’m sure that I’ll have earned it. How is… his is he ?” 

Without needing clarification on who Harry was talking about, Albus sighed. “Much the same as he has always been. He’s not happy, though I believe that he is no longer miserable with his lot in life. He still refuses any news of you, so for the most part, we’ve stopped attempting to bring you up in his presence.” 

Harry shook his head, and closed his eyes briefly. “I really don’t understand that man. He sent me away. He… he didn’t want me, and I accepted that. I still accept that. I don’t understand why he’s acting like he’s the injured party, though.” 

“Nothing about love makes sense, Harry.” 

Snorting, Harry didn’t reply. 

“Kreacher is handling your luggage?” Albus asked, after a rather pregnant pause. When Harry nodded, Albus stood up. “Come, then, Harry. I’ll walk with you to the Hospital Wing. We shouldn’t deprive Poppy of the chance to devour you with a hug any longer.” 

As the two of them headed down the stairs, Harry tried his best to shake off his mood. “I apologise. I don’t mean to be rude, Albus. I really don’t. Even when he’s not there, it seems that Severus brings out the child in me.” 

“Think nothing of it, Harry.” 

… 

True to Albus’ word, as soon as the two men walked into the Hospital Wing, Poppy descended on him, sweeping Harry into a bone crushing hug. He returned it warmly, holding her close for a few moments, before they each stepped back. 

“It’s wonderful to see you, Harry,” she murmured, a bright smile on her face. “You really must visit with us more often.” 

“I’m sorry, Poppy. I’ll do better, I promise. How are you?” 

“Oh, I’m fine, dear. Tearing my hair out with the lack of progress on poor Odessa, but other than that, I have no complaints.” 

“That’s good. Would you mind if I took a quick look at her file? It’ll be helpful to see if there are any symptoms that I’ve seen before.” 

“It’s already waiting for you on my desk, Harry. Would you like to see her first?” 

“If it’s not too much trouble,” he replied, nodding his head. 

Casting the sterilisation charm on himself, and a descendant of the bubble head charm around his nose and mouth for good measure, Harry followed her into the private room. 

A woman lay in the bed, and Harry winced at the sight of her. The majority of the skin on show was covered with pulsing green boils and welts; uncomfortable at the best of times, but these ones looked truly vicious. 

“Have you been giving her the standard Dragon Pox potion?” 

Poppy nodded. “Three times a day. Severus will be up shortly with the newest batch.” 

Pulling out his wand, Harry conjured three swab sticks, and three small medical bags to store them in. With the first, he took a sample of the puss that was leaking from one of the boils. With the second, he took a swab of saliva from the sleeping woman’s mouth, and then, conjuring a scalpel, he sliced the skin over her heart and took a swab of her blood, before he healed the cut a second later. 

“How long has she been sedated for?” 

“Three days,” Poppy replied, her tone uneasy. “We didn’t have much of a choice. As soon as she wakes up, she starts itching and rubbing at the boils. We didn’t want her to permanently disfigure herself.” 

Harry nodded. “I’ll be able to help with that, at the very least. She should be allowed to remain awake, as long as she wishes to be. When will the potion—” Harry was interrupted by Severus walking into the room, carrying a vial of bright, purple potion. “Well, that answers that question. Hello, Professor.” 

“Potter.” 

Turning back to Poppy, Harry asked, “How long until you wake her up for the potion?” 

She checked her watch. “Four minutes.” 

Harry nodded. “Would you all mind taking a step back from the bed so I have room to walk around it?” 

When the three of them did as he asked, Harry took a breath and held his wand above Odessa’s head. With a string of Latin, her skin started glowing blue where Harry’s wand moved over it. 

It took him a few minutes to encompass her entire body. When he was finished, the boils on her skin looked like they were now covered with a thin layer of cellophane. 

“You managed to cast that spell with such precision, Potter. Don’t tell me that you’ve actually, finally , learned some control?” Severus drawled. 

Harry rolled his eyes. “I should be able to cast it properly, since I invented it. I’ll grab her file from your desk, Poppy, and I’ll be up in the morning before breakfast to reapply the anaesthetic layer on her skin. You shouldn’t need to sedate her now. If there are any problems during the night, just have Kreacher come and get me.” 

“Okay, dear. Save one of your lunches for me this week, okay?” 

He smiled at her. “Of course I will.” He turned to Dumbledore. “Would you mind terribly showing me where my rooms are to be? I’d like to get settled in and read the file before tomorrow.” 

Without looking at Severus again, Harry walked out of the room and cancelled the bubble charm on his face, before he recast the sterilising charm over his whole body. 

He could vaguely hear Poppy berating the Potions Master, but he wasn’t interested in actually listening to it. Her words, like many before her, would undoubtedly fall on deaf ears. She was wasting her breath. 

Picking the file up and making sure that the medical bags holding the swabs were properly sealed, Harry followed Dumbledore out of the Hospital Wing and down the corridor. 

“I thought that this would be the best place for you, Harry,” Dumbledore said, stopping in front of a portrait on the same corridor as the Hospital Wing. “It’s close to the Hospital Wing, but only a floor down from the Defence Classroom. You have an office inside as well, though you can, of course, feel free to use Odessa’s office if you need it.” 

“I’m sure that this one will be fine.” 

Dumbledore smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “The password is Chocolate Frogs, though you may change it if you wish. I’ll see you in the morning, for breakfast?” 

“I’ll be there. Goodnight, Headmaster… Albus.” 

“Goodnight, Harry.” 

… 

Severus sat at the teachers table with his customary scowl on his face, his eyes on the door. Breakfast began fifteen minutes ago, and he was still waiting for a sign of Potter. 

Severus hated the little brat; mostly because he was no longer a little brat. When he’d walked into Odessa’s room the night before, he’d been in no way prepared for a very grown up, very handsome Harry Potter to be there. 

No longer the boy that Severus remembered, he’d tried to cut him down to size with his first sentence, hoping to draw a reaction, though what reaction he was looking for, he wasn’t sure. 

Instead, Potter had been professional, distant, and had given him nothing. That he had been the one to invent the anaesthetic charm was yet another shock to Severus’ system. 

Why hadn’t anyone bothered to tell him that Potter was inventing spells and working on medical cases? 

Ah, but they tried, a sly voice in the back of his mind murmured. You just weren’t interested in listening to any news of Harry. 

Severus sighed heavily, tapping his foot on the floor impatiently. Another five minutes passed, and Potter was still nowhere to be seen. 

Why he even wanted to see him, Severus didn’t know. There was something pulling him to the boy—man—though, and he intended to find out what it was. 

“Severus, cease and desist with that infernal tapping, will you?” Minerva said, from her seat beside him. “Who could have possibly angered you so early in the morning?” 

Severus ignored her. He couldn’t very well tell her that he was angered that Potter wasn’t in the hall for breakfast, when, by all rights, he should be thanking the Lord above for such an occurrence. 

Before she could bug him further, the doors opened, and in walked the prodigal son, alongside Poppy. The two of them were laughing about something, though when Potter noticed the hush that came over the hall at his appearance, he rolled his eyes. 

The two of them walked up to the staff table, and as Potter sat down between Poppy and Albus, Albus stood up. 

“You’ve all noticed that we have Mr Potter here as a guest in the castle. He’ll be covering your Defence Against the Dark Arts classes for Professor Gumley, while she recuperates from her illness. I hope that you will all make him feel welcome, while he is here.” 

Potter waved cheerfully to the students before he continued his conversation with Poppy. From where Severus was sitting, he couldn’t hear what they were talking about, and that only irritated him more. 

“You have the schedule for your classes, Harry?” Dumbledore asked, conversationally, as he added butter and jam to his toast. 

Potter nodded. “I do. I don’t envy Odessa her usual Monday schedule. The fifth, sixth and seventh years? My brain will be fried to a crisp by the end of the day, just you watch.” 

“I’m sure that you’ll be fine, dear boy, but I’m sure that Severus will come along and help you with the seventh years.” Dumbledore turned his head to look at Severus. “You have a free period then, do you not, Severus?” 

Meddling old fart. 

Potter shrugged. “I’m sure that I’ll be fine either way, but if Professor Snape wishes to drop in, I have no problem with that.” 

Severus sneered, but he didn’t verbally answer. Oh, he’d ‘drop by’ the class, alright, if only to watch Potter crash and burn with the idiots were claiming to be almost ready for life outside of school.

…

“How did you manage to learn anything, if your years here were interrupted by war?” 

Severus rolled his eyes as he strolled into the classroom five minutes after it started. The seventh years were all in their seats, already enamoured by the boy wonder. Potter pinched at the bridge of his nose. It seemed that teaching was, indeed, taking its toll. 

Severus could barely hide his smirk. 

Potter looked up and nodded at Severus, and then gestured to the chair behind the desk, since Potter himself was sitting on the desk. 

“I… figured something out. The future is unpredictable,” Potter replied, eventually. “While I was a student here, the Defence Against the Dark Arts position was… unstable, at best. We had a new Professor every year, and many of them were… unsuitable for the position. 

“In the six years that I actually studied, I had two decent teachers. One was a man called Remus Lupin. He taught me the Patronus Charm, and by doing so, saved my soul at least a dozen times. The other was Professor Snape. 

“Now, as it happens, we’re supposed to be talking about your time here at Hogwarts, not mine, so, let’s see what you know, shall we?” 

Shocked that he’d been referred to a one of the ‘decent’ professors, Seevrus stood up from his seat and walked over to the window, where he could watch both the students and Potter at the same time. 

“Who can tell me the three Unforgivable Curses? Hands up, who knows all three of them?” 

Three quarters of the class raised their hands, and Potter raised an eyebrow. “My, how times have changed. Alright, who can cast a Corporeal Patronus?” 

“Please, sir,” one of the students said, a little desperately. “Professor Gumley teaches us the things that can be used in duelling. You can’t really use a Patronus in duelling, it’s only purpose is to guard against Dementors, and since there are only a few of them left…” 

Severus watched as Potter’s eyes widened slightly, before he glanced up to meet Severus’ eyes with his own. “Professor Snape, is it possible for me to have a quick word with you outside for just a moment?” 

Severus followed him from the classroom, curious to know what this was about. Closing the door, he wasn’t surprised when Potter cast a privacy bubble around the two of them, to stop the students from earwigging. 

“Has Dumbledore lost his entire fucking mind?” Potter demanded immediately. 

Severus blinked, and then frowned slightly. “I’m not following.” 

“I’ve had three double classes today. The fifth years couldn’t name a single Unforgivable Curse, and they hadn’t even heard of the Patronus. The sixth year students are only just now learning spells that they should have been learning in fourth year, like Diffindo , and they couldn’t understand how the Gemino charm would be of any use in battle, even when I laid it out for them.” 

Potter shook his head and continued. “And now, we have a seventh year class who can’t defend themselves even slightly from Dementors, and only three quarters of them can even name the Unforgivables. So. I ask again. Has Dumbledore lost his entire fucking mind?” 

“I’m sorry, did you just say that Diffindo is being taught as a sixth year spell?” 

Potter looked unimpressed and nodded. “Uh huh. What is Odessa playing at, and why is Dumbledore letting her get away with it? What are the O.W.L and the N.E.W.T scores like?” 

“Not the highest that we’ve had, certainly, but also not the lowest. You are correct,” Severus admitted tiredly, “that the class should be far more advanced than they are. The problem, Potter, is that even though the curse has indeed been lifted, there are not many people who want to take a chance at being the Defence Professor at Hogwarts.” 

Potter rubbed his head again, and Severus’ brow furrowed further. “Have you a headache, Potter?” 

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Potter admitted quietly. “I’ll take something for it later. I had no idea that I was walking into the kind of clusterfuck when I agreed to help Albus out.” 

Severus nodded slowly. Honestly, even he hadn’t been aware that it was quite so bad in Odessa’s classes. He’d be talking to Dumbledore about it at his earlier convenience. As Potter cancelled the privacy charm around them, Severus had the oddest compulsion to stroke his head, in an attempt to chase away the headache that was plaguing him. 

Shaking his head at his own ridiculousness, he followed Potter back into the classroom. 

Potter picked up the syllabus from Odessa’s desk, and looked at what he was supposed to be teaching them during the lesson. He sniffed in disgust. 

“Okay, so, according to the class notes, today we’re going to be talking about reactions should you be caught up in a bad situation. Of course, all of these will be hypothetical scenarios, since the world we live in these days is entirely safe and darkness free.” 

Severus couldn’t stop the small snort of amusement that escaped him from where he’d perched himself back by the window. 

“So,” Potter began, shuffling himself back on the desk so he could cross his legs in front of him. “You’re shopping in Diagon Alley, and a Dark Wizard decides that he’s feeling Fortescues. Except, when he gets there, they don’t have his favourite triple chocolate delight, and he has a temper tantrum. He starts shooting off his favourite dark curses at unsuspecting passers by. What are you gonna do?” 

Hands raise, and Potter looks around the room before he picks a Ravenclaw, who’s sitting in the back of the class. 

“Run away.” 

“He’s hit you in the back with a curse. You’re dead. Who’s next?” 

Severus actually chuckled at the bored tone Potter spoke in. 

“But, sir, if he’s a Dark Wizard, what am I supposed to do?” 

“Why did you not at the very least use a shielding charm on your back before you ran away? Hush now, dead people can’t talk. Well. Not often, anyway. You,” Potter replied, before he pointed at his next victim. Student. 

“I’d Apparate away.” 

“There are Anti-Apparition spells all over the Alley. You’re splinched. Damn that had to hurt.” 

The students were slowly putting their hands down. 

Potter picked on one of the remaining brave ones—a Slytherin student. Severus waited with baited breath for his students to embarrass himself, and earn a week’s worth of detention. 

“If there was a way to get away quickly, and easily, then I’d do that,” the boy began slowly. “If there wasn’t, then I’d cast a protection bubble around myself, and look for somewhere to hide. If there was nowhere to hide, I’d defend myself as best as I could, until either help arrived, I got a chance to escape, or I died.” 

“That’s a better answer, twenty points to Slytherin,” Potter said, nodding his head. “Thank you for being relatively competent. You can’t always believe that you’ll be able to just run away from danger. If there’s a way to safely get away, then I would absolutely encourage you to take it, but if there isn’t then you need to be able to think on your feet, and keep your eyes, and your senses, sharp.” 

Severus slipped his wand from his robe pocket rapidly, and shot a stinging hex at Potter. 

Potter’s wand was in his hand before any of the class had time to blink, and he conjured a teddy bear to take the hex for him. 

“Can anyone tell me why Professor Potter didn’t just cast a Shield Charm?” Severus asked the class, drawing their attention. 

He could see the expressions of complete horror on a lot of their faces, and he shook his head. Potter had been more right that he knew when he’d said that this was a clusterfuck. 

The Slytherin who had already been awarded points put his hand up. Severus nodded to him. 

“Because if Professor Potter had Shielded, the hex would have likely rebounded and hit one of us.” 

“Good,” Potter said, taking the control back. He nodded at Severus. “Thank you for proving my point, Professor. You’ve all been taught to duel in a controlled environment, but at some point in your lives, you’re going to run into an uncontrolled situation, and for the most part, you’re going to be sitting ducks. 

“I understand that you’re growing up in a more peaceful time than I, or my peers, did, but that is no excuse. For today, you’re excused, because I need to speak to the Headmaster. For homework, you’ve got two tasks.” 

The groan that greeted that statement was met by Potter rolling his eyes. 

“I want a sheet of parchment with every Defensive or Offensive spell that you can cast competently—and I do mean competently, because I’ll be testing—and then, I also want an explanation of how each of them can be used to protect yourself in an uncontrolled situation, like the one that we’ve just discussed. You can all go. I want the homework done by your next class, which I believe is on Wednesday.” 

The class trooped out, and Harry moved around the desk to slump into the chair. “Kreacher.” 

The elf that Severus remembered from Grimmauld Place popped into the room, but he looked nothing like he had done the last time Severus remembered. Groomed, and wearing a pristine white pillow case, he handed a potion to Potter. 

“Master Harry.” 

“Has there been any word from Lavender, Kreacher?” 

“Yes, Master Harry. She tells Kreacher that she’ll be here tomorrow evening, with your books and your schedule.” 

Harry nodded. “Thank you, Kreacher. Has Edward replied to my owl, yet?” 

“Not yet, Master, but it is a long flight for Athena.” 

“I know. I’m… eager to get Odessa well, so that she can take control of her classes again. If the reply comes while I’m out of my quarters, fetch it straight to me, okay?” 

“Yes, Master Harry.” 

“Kay. Go and find Headmaster Dumbledore, and ask him if he’s available for a chat, and then let me know, please. Thank you, Kreacher.” 

As the elf popped away, Potter unstoppered the potion, and drank the entire vial full, wincing slightly at the taste. He glanced at Severus. 

“I always thought that you made potions taste bad because you were a git, but it turns out that it’s a universal problem.” 

“What potion is that?” Severus asked, eyeing the vial. 

“It’s an advanced healing potion. It helps my headaches better. Normal potions don’t really work so well for me these days; I think, since I required so many in my youth, I built something of an immunity for the regular ones.” 

Nodding, Severus stood up straight from where he was leaning against the wall. 

“You said that you’re eager for Odessa to get back to her classes? What happened to Dumbledore losing his mind?” 

Potter snorted. “Oh, I still think that he’s lost his mind, and I intend to tell him so, cheerfully at that, but I haven’t got the energy to try and teach the little snots anything worthwhile, only for her to undo any progress I make as soon as she’s back on her feet. It’s a waste of time, and honestly, pointless.” 

“Why set them such a large amount of homework, then?” 

Potter grinned. “I want to see how many of them actually do it. The Slytherin, the competent one, what’s his name?” 

“Thadius Nott. Theodore Nott was in your year, I believe. It’s his little brother.” 

“That makes sense,” Potter said, nodding his head. “It’s hard to believe that ten years after I leave, the students genuinely don’t seem to understand that there is still danger in the world. Do any of them even know who Voldemort and the Death Eaters were?” 

Severus shrugged. “It’s been added to the History curriculum for the seventh year, I believe. Whether they’ve covered it yet, or not, I have no idea.” 

“These kids though… they were alive during the war. They might have been sheltered from the worst of it because they were kids, but still. They lived it. They should…” 

He shook his head as he trailed off, his frustration evident. Before Severus could reply, a soft crack sounded, announcing Kreacher’s return. 

“Master Harry, Headmaster Dumbledore said that you are most welcome to join him for tea, and a chat.” 

“Thank you, Kreacher.” 

Standing up, Potter cracked his neck before he returned his eyes to Severus. “Coming with?” 

… 

“I’m being serious, Headmaster,” Potter said, forcefully. “I just sat in a room with a bunch of seventeen year olds, and they couldn’t all name the Unforgivable Curses. Not only that, but Professor Gumley has pretty much destroyed any natural reactions that they might have had to begin with. She’s a sodding liability!” 

“I don’t know what to tell you, Harry. Filling the Defence position is notoriously difficult, and she teaches them enough to record mostly positive N.E.W.T results,” Albus replied, tiredly. 

“A’s,” Severus interjected. “Last year, the students mostly got Acceptable in their Defence N.E.W.Ts, which… Well, it isn’t really acceptable at all, as much as it is, technically, a pass. As much as it would usually kill me to agree with Potter, Albus, he’s correct about this. That class was an unmitigated disaster.” 

Albus sighed, taking a sip of his tea. “I’ll start looking for a new Professor for next year, then. If she is as bad as you say, then she’s doing more harm than good. Unless,” his eyes twinkled slightly, “I don’t suppose that you’d be interested in the position, would you, dear boy?” 

Potter almost spat his tea back into the cup when Dumbledore looked at him, a small smile playing around the edges of his lips. 

“Ohh, no. I’m having absolutely no part of that mess. Nuh uh. Do you have any idea what will be required to get the current sixth years ready for their N.E.W.Ts? And as far as the fifth years are concerned, I wouldn’t accept a single one of them into a N.E.W.T class.” 

“I have every faith that you could do it, Harry. At least think about it?” 

“Albus, you know that I have the utmost respect for you, and I love Hogwarts, but… I don’t have the time to be a Professor. I’m due back in Greece when I finish up here, and then I’ve got plans for both Spain, and Portugal, which isn’t to mention that Amelia is on my case about working with the HIT wizards, and St. Mungo’s has been asking me to jump in on a few of their cases.” 

Severus frowned. “Potter… what exactly are you?” 

Potter, clearly taken aback, tilted his head in confusion. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question. What do you mean?” 

“What is your job?” Severus clarified. 

“Oh. I’m… a consultant, I suppose. I picked up a lot of tricks and techniques in the first few years after the war, while I was travelling, and… word spreads, you know?” 

“A consultant on what?” 

“Magic.” 

“You’re a magic consultant?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Do you know how utterly ridiculous that sounds?” Severus asked, frowning. 

“Have you got a better title for what I do?” Potter asked, a little bit of challenge in his tone. 

“Well, what do you do?” 

“I just told you what I do.” 

“You really didn’t.” 

Potter sighed. “Look, I’m not being rude, but if I attempted to explain everything I’ve worked on in the last ten years, we’d be here for the next week. Suffice it to say that I’ve got commitments that mean that I cannot just decide that I want to be a Professor for nine months out of the year.” 

Albus sat watching them, his amusement clear in his expression. 

“I completely understand, Harry,” he said, before Severus could say anything else. “It was just an idea. The students would certainly benefit from your experience, but I won’t push you.” 

Potter looked down at his hands for a moment, before he clenched them slightly, and sighed. 

“Just… give me some time, okay? Lavender will be here tomorrow evening with my schedule, and, hopefully, some kind of time scale for the things that I’ve already agreed to. If—and it’s a huge if—we can sort something out, I’ll let you know.” 

Dumbledore beamed at him. “Thank you, Harry. Take as much time as you need. Now, onto other business. Healer Keen will be here tomorrow morning, to help Poppy, and she’s most looking forward to working with you both. Harry, have you had any thoughts on the notes that Poppy gave you last night?” 

“I haven’t told her yet, because I wanted to double check, but I have a hunch that it’s the same strain that was prevalent a few years ago in Greece. I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up though, so I’m waiting for confirmation. 

“If it’s what I think it is, then there’s a variant of the potion that Professor Snape is currently making that should clear it up in around a week.” 

“That’s fantastic news, Harry! Please, let me know as soon as you have confirmation. If it comes before Healer Keen arrives, I’ll alert the hospital that her presence would be better used there.” 

Harry nodded. “Of course.” 

“Come, then, boys. Let’s get to dinner, shall we?” 

Dumbledore stood up, twinkling happily while both Potter and Severus grimaced at being called boys. They followed him from the office nonetheless. 

“I’m going to run up to the Hospital Wing and check in with Poppy and Odessa before I come to dinner,” Potter said. “I need to recast the Anaesthetic Charm anyway. I’ll be there shortly.” 

Severus watched Potter walk quickly down the corridor. Albus chuckled, gaining his attention. 

“You’re rather taken with this grown up Harry, aren’t you, Severus?” 

Severus scowled. “Of course not.” 

“No? My mistake.” 

Severus followed Albus into the Great Hall, his scowl still firmly fixed on his face. He was not ‘taken’ with Potter. And anyway, even if he was, there was no possible way that the boy—man, definitely a man now—could feel anything for him now, was there? 

Not after what Severus had done to him when Potter was leaving Hogwarts. 

It was a ridiculous thought. Dumbledore was naught but a meddling old coot, and he was a terrible human being for even trying to put such an idea in Severus’ head. 

Wasn’t he? 

Severus was brought out of his dark thoughts when Potter slipped into the seat beside him. Severus glanced down the bench to see that Pomona had taken the seat beside Poppy that Potter had been in that morning. 

“How is the patient?” Severus asked, more to keep his mind occupied than because he actually cared. 

Potter snorted. “I don’t think that she’s very impressed with me, but other than that, as well as can be expected. She certainly hasn’t worsened, in any case.” 

“Oh?” 

“Hmm.” Potter grinned. “She doesn’t share my opinion that she’s destroying the natural, magical instincts of the students in her care. Apparently, I need to, ah, what was it, ‘learn my place’.” 

“This, from a woman that you’re actively trying to cure?” Severus asked, disbelief evident in both his tone, and his expression. 

“Uh huh,” Potter replied, shrugging. “I don’t really care about her opinion of me, in all fairness. It amuses me that she doesn’t realise that I could literally snake her job out from under her, without so much as a ‘sorry for stealing your office’, but… eh. What can you do?” 

Severus chuckled. “She doesn’t care much for me, either.” 

Potter arched his eyebrows. “I’m sorry, is that supposed to surprise me? You’ve never been one to suffer fools easily. Or at all, for that matter.” 

“I taught you for six years, didn’t I? I’m still waiting for that Sainthood for patience in the mail.” 

Potter laughed. “Yeahhh, you just keep on hoping. Patience is just about the last thing you had when you were dealing with me. Though, you did, in fact get the job done and keep me alive against all possible odds, so you must have been doing something right.” 

“Surviving against the odds has always been your special skill, Potter. You can’t give me credit for that.” 

Rolling his eyes, Potter, murmured, “I survived so many times because you saved my ass so many times. I’m not above acknowledging when someone’s saved my life.” 

“Yes, well… you returned the favour, so like I said back then, we’re even.” 

Severus' mind automatically went back to the hours that he’d spent alone in the Shrieking Shack, clinging to his life by the skin of his teeth. If Potter hadn’t returned for him as soon as Voldemort was dead, Severus would have been joining the snake-faced bastard in the bowels of hell. 

Potter shrugged. 

“You said that you invented the Anaesthetic Charm that you’re using on Odessa? How did that come about? I only know about the charm at all because it was in a medical review I got a few months ago.” 

“Oh. I was learning spell development in Spain, and I couldn’t decide which spell to attempt a modification on. Anyway, I eventually decided to see what could be done with a Numbing charm, because it’s so… limited, and finally, I got to the Anaesthetic Charm. The Master that was teaching me told me to get it patented, because it would be useful for healing.” 

Severus shook his head. “I had no idea what you were doing after you left. Albus, Minerva, and even Poppy tried to keep me updated with news on your adventures, but…” 

Potter shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable. 

“I get it,” he murmured. “Really I do. I put you in a really shitty situation back then, and I really am sorry for that. I… I’m not going to apologise for the emotions that I was feeling, but I will apologise for springing it on you the way that I did, and expecting any other reaction than being told to get lost. I was… young, and ridiculously naive about certain things, especially as far as relationships were concerned. 

Severus nodded slowly. “I didn’t have to be as… harsh as I was with you.” 

Laughing, Potter said, “Oh, trust me, that part wasn’t a shock. Honestly, it makes me cringe now, when I think back on it. I was so… anyway, I’m all grown up now, and willing to admit that you were completely right to send me away. 

“I needed the time away from England to really grow up, to settle into a life that wasn’t defined by Voldemort. You… you did the best thing for me. You really did. I’m far more comfortable in my own skin now, and I’ve accepted who, and what, I am. Life is much better now.” 

“I… I’m glad,” Severus replied, and he was surprised to find that he truly meant that. “I… after the war, and all of the battles, it’s hard to get back into the swing of a peaceful life. The transition is hard enough for adults, but you… you grew up with it, and when it was over, it was understandable that you’d develop a… crush on someone who had played an important part in your life before the peace.” 

Potter frowned, chewing over the words. “I understand the sentiment, but… it wasn’t a crush. Like I said, I won’t apologise for the emotions, but…” he shook his head. “You know what, it really doesn’t matter any more. It was a long time ago.” He offered Severus a tight smile. “Excuse me.” 

Potter left the table—and the Hall—at a pace that could only just be described as a walk. Severus watched after him, before he glanced at the full plate of food he’d left behind. Albus was looking in the same direction, concern etched into every line on his face. 

Standing himself, Severus left the Hall and made his way back to the safety of his dungeons, where he was quite sure that he’d be indulging in a glass or three of his favourite scotch. 

… 

The following day, Severus barely even caught a glimpse of Potter. 

He heard through Dumbledore that, during the night, Potter had gotten confirmation that it was the strain of Dragon Pox that he’d thought it was, and Severus had received the recipe soon after, from Kreacher. 

They’d at least been saved from the invasion of Healer Keen, from St. Mungo’s. 

Severus had made the appropriate changes to the potion he’d been making for Odessa, and had delivered it to Poppy. Odessa had only received two vials of it so far, but she was already showing signs of improvement. 

Severus wasn’t really sure how he felt about that. On one hand, as soon as Odessa was better, Potter would be gone. On the other hand, as soon as Odessa was better, Potter would be gone. 

Severus’ head was arguing quite dramatically with his heart, and it was driving him insane. 

In his head, he knew that it would be a ridiculous thing to even consider, chasing Potter, chancing that his ‘emotions’ were still there for Severus. 

His heart, on the other hand, was pounding in his chest, demanding that he take the chance, that it might be the best thing he would ever do in his life. 

Dinner time rolled around again, and, finally, he caught sight of Potter. The younger man was sitting at the head table, this time at the end, with Lavender Brown, his assistant. 

Severus sat down beside Potter, shamelessly earwigging on the conversation between them. 

“But… okay, so we can move the consultation with the Ministry to as soon as you finish up here, then go to Spain, then Portugal, and then finish up in Greece, you’ll be free and clear by August, at the latest.  

“That would give you time to sort out lesson plans, and whatever else is it that Professor’s do in the summer, for here. 

“St. Mungo’s are still faffing around about what they actually want or need you to consult on, so your can just see them on weekend consults, once the school year has started. If they don’t like it, well, tough. 

“Amelia will be thrilled that you’re moving up the schedule to work with the HIT squad, so that won’t be a problem. Edward is always happy to see you, so it won’t matter when we go to Greece, and both Spain and Portugal are basically crying out for you to get there as soon as you can, so they’ll be happier with this timeline. 

“I really don’t understand what the problem is here, Harry?” 

“Lavender, you’re giving me a headache.” 

“Awww, poor baby. Have you been taking your potions?” 

“Yes, mother. Kreacher fetches them whenever I need them.” 

“ Mother… you’re a jackass. You want this, Harry, I know you do. You wouldn’t have even asked if it was possible if you didn’t.” 

Potter sighed. “Yeah… but…” 

“But nothing. I’m sure that if anything important comes up, the Headmaster will be as flexible as possible with your weekends.” 

“I know. I know he will. I just… it’s a big commitment, you know? I’m so used to travelling, being in one place for so long is… daunting.” 

“You really do have commitment issues,” Brown muttered, shaking her head. “Also, it’s hardly one place, Harry. With all of the holidays, not to mention the whole of summer, you’ll still be able to travel as you see fit. Besides… I think that Parvati might…” 

“Really?” Potter asked, grinning. “I hope that she doesn’t think I’m giving up my assistant just because she decided to put a rock on your finger?” 

“Parvati loves you, and you know it. She’d never try to take me away from you.” 

“Hmm. As long as it stays that way, because I’d lose my head if I didn’t have you around to keep everything straight. But… I guess that means it would be better for you to be home a bit more, huh?” 

She shrugged, but nodded her head lightly. 

Severus tried to clamp down on the hope that was rising inside of him, but it was stubbornly fighting to make itself known. He couldn’t go there. He couldn’t hope. 

Potter rubbed at his forehead, and then nodded firmly. “Okay. We’ll give it a whirl and see how it goes. Set up with Edward that I won’t be along for a little bit longer than planned, tell Amelia to have the HIT Squad ready for a pacing on Monday morning—and make sure that she warns them to warm up, because I won’t be taking it easy on them—and then, uh, send a message to Healer Casinga, and tell him that we’ll be in Spain in… how long does Amelia want me for?” 

Brown laughed. “How about you don’t worry about it, and let me arrange your schedule, Harry. I’ll have us planning to be back in England by the… tenth of August?” 

Harry nodded. “I’m sure that’ll be fine, but honestly, we can cut Greece shorter if we need to. You know that I’m only going there to see Edward and dote on his sproglets. 

“I’ll speak to Albus after dinner and then… I need to go and check on Odessa. When you’ve arranged my whole life again, have Kreacher bring me the updated organiser? Oh, and do me a favour? Owl Hermione, and tell her that I’ll still be here when she gets back from her honeymoon, if she wants to get dinner. If not, I’ll see her when I get back in August.” 

“You realise that Lord Blondie is going to be fucking insufferable when he realises that you’re coming back for good, don’t you?” Brown muttered. “I’ll be adding Wizengamot duties, and Merlin knows what other political bollocks he insists upon in your diary in no time.” 

Harry groaned. “I’ll deal with Lucius another time. He might be my best friend’s husband now, but it doesn’t mean that I won’t kick his ass if he annoys me too much.” 

Brown snorted. “I’m sure that he’s well aware of that. After last time…” 

Severus frowned. Why didn’t he know that Lucius was friends with Potter? Though, now that he thought about it, he tended to tune Lucius out when he started talking about anything to do with his new wife. 

“Alright, I’m going to head out and deal with the diary. I’ll make sure that Kreacher brings you an update… tomorrow morning, at the latest, depending on when I get confirmation back.” 

Potter nodded, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I’ll speak to you tomorrow at some point anyway. My love to Parvati. Have a good night, darling.” 

Brown returned the kiss to the cheek, and ruffled Potter’s hair. “Later, baby.” 

Potter pushed her away, laughing, and Brown left the hall quickly. Potter leant over slightly, and asked for a meeting with the Headmaster after dinner. 

His eyes twinkling brightly, Albus agreed happily, and Severus immediately knew that he hadn’t been the only one listening in on the conversation between Potter and his assistant. 

“That sounded like a good result for Hogwarts,” Severus said. 

Potter jumped slightly in his seat, before he turned himself around to face Severus. “I guess so. My assistant has spoken, and all being well, it looks like I’ve got an actual job.” 

“You don’t count your consultations as a real job?” 

Potter shrugged. “I go where I’m asked, and I get paid for it, but no, not really. It’s fun, but it can get old, never really having a place to settle down.” 

Severus nodded. He could understand the want to have somewhere to call home. 

“After… when you’re done with your meeting with Dumbledore, would you mind coming down to the dungeons? There’s something that I would like to discuss with you, if you’re amenable?” 

“Um… I’ve got to head back to the Hospital Wing when I’m done with Dumbledore. I shouldn’t be there for too long, but if you don’t want to wait…” 

“I’ll meet you there. We can talk and walk, whilst I do my evening patrol, if you don’t mind.” 

Potter nodded, smiling slightly. “That’s fine.” 

… 

Severus sat in the Hospital Wing, waiting for Potter to finish whatever it was he was doing with Odessa. He’d heard a few heated exchanges, mostly between Odessa and Poppy, but he’d left them to it. 

Honestly, he didn’t have the energy to get between Poppy and Odessa, and Potter was in there anyway. Severus was quite sure he was capable of separating them, if the need was pressing. 

“Bloody Harpy,” Potter muttered, as he stepped out of the private room. 

“Which one?” Severus asked, startling Potter. 

“Sorry, I didn’t realise that you were already waiting. I’m good to go now. Oh, and I was talking about Gumley. She’s got some lungs on her, hasn’t she?” 

“I couldn’t hear exactly what was going on, but she sounded like she was in fine fettle.” 

“Be thankful that you couldn’t hear her,” Potter said. “Trust me, I could have gone my whole entire life without listening to her in rant mode. So. You said you wanted to talk to me?” 

The two men stepped out into the corridor, and Potter fell into step beside him, as he began his usual patrol route. They were heading for the stairs to the Astronomy tower, where Severus usually started out. 

“Yes. Our… conversation yesterday… I…” 

“Did I make you uncomfortable again?” Potter asked, stiffening slightly. 

Severus cursed himself for his lack of courage where his heart was concerned, and shook his head. 

“No. That’s not… Potter, do you still have… those… emotions towards me?” 

“Why does it matter?” Potter asked, a deep sigh following his words. “It’s not like anything has changed, is it?” 

“Actually, we’ve both changed, rather a lot in fact. You, in particular. When… when you came to me the first time, fresh off the war, you were naught but a child. You were confused, and battle hardened, but you were still a child, and you were looking for something familiar. We both know that, and I knew it then as well as I know it now. I look at the man you’ve become, the man you are now, and…” 

They reached the top of the staircase, surprisingly finding no errant students atop the Astronomy tower for a change. 

“And what, Severus?” 

It was the first time Potter had said his name, and Severus swallowed hard as he turned to face him. Potter met his eyes as an equal, sealing Severus’ fate. 

He had to take the leap. 

“I always thought that I was doomed to a lonely existence,” he admitted softly. Even back then, when you came to me all doe eyed and innocent, I was tempted to take what you were offering because it would have meant an end to the loneliness. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. 

“I… I believed my heart to be ruined, dead, and I couldn’t subject anyone to that. Least of all you. Now… Harry, I’m not a nice man. I’m sarcastic, I’m unkind, and I can be downright cruel. I’m not a hearts and flowers kind of man. But…” 

“But what?” 

“But you make me believe in a life where loneliness isn’t the only thing I have to look forward to. I look at you, and I can’t help but wonder what life could be, if I had you to share it with. If I had you to… come home to, as it were. I—” 

No more words were spoken, as Harry interrupted Severus, capturing Severus' lips with his own, in a brief, but still passionate, kiss. 

When he pulled away, Harry smiled up at him, his eyes practically sparkling with happiness. 

“I’ve been dreaming about that for ten years, and my dreams have really never done you any justice.” 

Severus couldn’t suppress the smile that bloomed on his face, though, honestly, he didn’t try very hard. Capturing Harry’s hand in his own, he pulled him closer, and wrapped his arms around him, holding him to his chest. 

“I’m sorry that I made you wait for so long.” 

Harry shook his head, before he buried his face into the crook of Severus’ neck. “I’m not.”