Harry, wearing a plain white shirt he’d pilfered from Snape’s armoire, a pair of the man’s pants rolled up at the ends and a pair of house slippers he’d also found, waltzed down the halls of Hogwarts in the direction of the Great Hall where breakfast was being served.

Hopefully he would get there before the students arrived, as he did not really want to be seen by hundreds of eager students in his current state of dress.

As a pitiful sort of thanks for housing him for the night, Harry had decided to bring breakfast to the Potion’s master. And, if the day went as planned, maybe he would be doing some negotiating by the end of the day . . .

After some serious thinking earlier that morning, Harry formed a new game plan. He was going to ask. Go ahead and get it over with.

He just had to be ready for the possibility that he would be denied his request . . . although, to be honest, he hadn’t really thought about that until just an hour ago.

I must’ve been dead set on it that I didn’t even think of that! I’ll just cross my fingers for good luck . . .

*~*

Lying awake all night on the couch had left Snape with more than just a backache and a sore, stiff neck. It had given him some time to think . . . about some previously buried, rather unpleasant memories that he hadn’t visited in quite a while.

It was all Potter’s fault. He had created a disturbance in his tranquility, forcing him to go out on that stupid date, taking over the bed the way he had, the comments . . . But it looked as if Potter would be around more often, with the trouble that was (supposedly) starting up. There was no way that Dumbledore would leave his little pet alone and in the cold. No, he would most likely be living somewhere in the castle until things blew over some.

But with me? The WHOLE time?

Why had Dumbledore suggested it anyway? What was that man up to now?

Before he could contemplate Albus’ current devious agenda, the stone wall slid apart and Harry waltzed into the chamber, whistling a Muggle tune underneath his breath, followed by a floating silver tray loaded with two plates of hot steaming breakfast.

"Morning, Professor!" he called as he took the tray in his hands and sat it on the table before the couch. "How does breakfast sound, hmm?"

He glared, then took in Harry’s attire. "Why so chipper this morning, boy? And are those my clothes?"

Harry grinned mischievously. "My clothes were all nasty and wrinkled, so I just borrowed some of yours. I hope you don’t mind- I’ll wash them later, promise."

Severus felt one of his eyebrows twitch. Infernal brat! He’d been in his things? What happened to not touching?

Harry snickered. "Your eyebrow’s jumping, Professor. You . . . might want to have that looked at if it persists."

"You . . . are . . ."

The trays landed on the coffee table loudly, and Harry pranced over and plopped himself on the couch. He lifted a lid and sniffed the air. "Let’s eat, okay? Then we can talk."

Before Severus had even placed his rear in the chair across from Harry, the boy was digging in, wolfing down piles of scrambled eggs and bacon, while managing to get in a sip or two of tea. Snape just wrinkled his nose at the boy’s atrocious eating habits and began eating himself, but at a more civilized pace.

When they were both done, Harry stood up and stretched. "Now, what can I do about some clothes . . .?"

Snape sighed, produced his wand from his cloak and waved it. Harry’s clothes, or rather Snape’s, shrunk perfectly to fit his body. "Keep them," muttered Snape as he retreated to the back of his chambers.

"A gift? Thanks! Hey, where are you going?"

"To get cleaned up. Then we go to see Albus."

*~*

Their search for the Headmaster turned up fruitless, and had taken Snape much longer then he would have liked. But with students stopping Harry every couple of steps or so to get his autograph and to shake his hand, they hadn’t gotten very far. Luckily, along the way, they ran into McGonnagal, who informed them that Albus had taken an impromptu trip into London to have tea with some of his colleagues.

So Harry and Snape returned to the Potions master’s chamber, where Snape ordered Harry to sit quietly while he graded essays.

Harry gazed through the single window in Snape’s living room as he leaned against the windowsill. The usually placid landscape of Hogwarts, now being ruthlessly torn apart by wicked, frigid winds sent chills racing up and down his spine despite the warm blazing fire Snape had started not too longs ago. Harry turned away from the window, listening to the soft pitter pattering of the rain as it struck the roofs of the school.

Snape quietly entered the room, rolls of parchment and a silver tray floating before him. They landed safely on the coffee table and Snape sat, preparing himself a cup of tea. Without even looking up, he muttered, "Well? Sit down already." He nodded to the chair across from him.

Harry hesitantly did as he was told.

"Since Dumbledore has taken a . . . convenient little trip to London, I guess . . . you’ll have to . . . to . . ."

Harry grinned. "Stay here?"

"Just until he returns, which, I hope, will be in a day or so, maybe less," Snape added quickly, glaring at the overly exuberant boy over the rim of his teacup. "So don’t get too excited."

Harry leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, a tiny smile on his face. He was surprisingly comfortable sitting near Snape, with the soothing fire licking at his bare toes and the rain drumming out a soft tune. "Ummmmm, this is nice . . . a guy could get used to this . . ."

Snape choked and set down his cup forcefully, a bit of the brown liquid sloshing over the rim and onto the table. "No you don’t! You’ll not get comfortable-"

"Too late, I think."

Harry received no reply, just a murderous glare.

Resting a laugh, Harry wiggled his toes and stretched lazily, ideas whirling in his head. Shooting glances over at Snape, who was marking big red X’s on a poor student’s test, and quite obviously trying to ignore his guest’s presence, Harry realized that he hadn’t been joking before. He could really, really get used to being around Snape. And actually, he already was.

Hmm . . . hmm . . . maybe . . .

Harry straightened up in his chair and cleared his throat. "Ah, Professor . . . that question I’ve been meaning to ask . . . I think I’m ready."

Snape quickly set aside his papers and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. An amused look crossed his face, followed by a smirk. "No need to explain. I already know what you want."

Harry’s eyes widened. "Y-you do? And . . . you’re okay with it?"

"Of course. Although I don’t see why you didn’t ask Albus to do it. He’s much more qualified."

"Er . . . Don’t you think he’s kinda . . . well . . . old?"

Snape glared. "What does age have to do with anything? In fact, I would think his age would be an added bonus to-"

Harry grinned. "Are we on the same page here, Professor?"

"You want me to fill out some sort of recommendation. So that you can adopt a baby," Snape replied simply, waiting for the younger man’s confirmation.

Forcing back giggles, Harry said, "Close, but not quite!"

"Well, what is it damnit?"

Deep breaths, deep breaths . . . here we go! "I was wondering . . . if you’d, ah, like to donate some . . ." Harry, loosing his nerve, drifted off, looking away.

But Snape was a smart man. He’d caught on by now. "ARE YOU INSANE?!!!" he shouted, leaping to his feet. "YOU WANT ME TO-" Snape’s face suddenly went blank as he stopped in mid sentence and just stood there.

After minutes passed with neither of them uttering a single word, Harry dared to speak. "Um, are you okay?" Snape didn’t look okay. His face was paler than usual, his shoulders suddenly slumped over, and his eyes looked lifeless and scary. He’d seen the man in quite a few states, but none like this one.

"Stay. There." And with that, Snape marched out of the dungeons without another word.

Harry sighed and stared into the burning fire. "Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea . . ."

*~*

"He wants to have a baby with me! A BABY!" exclaimed Severus Snape as he paced across Dumbledore’s office. He’d found the older man after roaming the castle for nearly half an hour, snapping at any student who dared to stray across his path along the way. Sensing Snape’s foul mood, Albus led him to his office for tea and a conversation.

"Sit down, Severus," Albus ordered gently. "You’re making me dizzy."

He automatically responded by sitting in a huge chair that sat across from the headmaster’s desk and ran his callused palms over his face several times. "I don’t believe this . . . I don’t believe this . . ."

After pouring himself some tea, the headmaster sat back in his chair and prepared himself for a lengthy conversation. "Now that we’re both comfortable, you can explain to me what had the students running in the other direction when you came down the hall."

"Potter! It’s Potter, as usual!" Severus barked out. "He comes waltzing into my life, taking over everything, and then he has the nerve to ask me if I’d like to make a child with him! A child, Albus!"

A tiny smile played across the headmaster’s lips. "You don’t say?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Severus immediately demanded.

"Nothing." Dumbledore took a sip of tea, then continued. "Honestly, Severus, I fail to see what the problem is."

Snape stared as if Dumbledore had gone stark raving mad. "Don’t see a problem?! Besides the fact that I’m old enough to be his father-"

"Age is nothing but a number," Albus supplied calmly.

"-that we’ve absolutely hated each other for the years we’ve known each other-"

"Well, it seems that Mr. Potter has had a change of heart . . . can’t you?"

"-that I was his teacher-"

"Was his teacher. Not anymore."

"You’re not helping!" cried Snape.

"Well, what do you want me to say? If Harry seems genuinely interested in creating a child with you, in creating life with you, Severus, and he’s willing to let you be a part of the new life that you make together, then I don’t see a problem." Albus gave Snape a level gaze. "I think that this would be good for you."

" . . . good?"

Albus smiled. "My dear boy, I know about your past. I know that your one chance for happiness was cruelly snatched away from you by the people you believed in . . . Severus, don’t you see?"

Severus just shook his head.

"You’re being given a second chance, in a strange sort of way. You’re being presented with something that everyone wishes they could have, but not all get." Albus mused for a moment. "In fact, I would like a second chance myself. To right a wrong, to be happy . . . Not that I’m not now, of course! But there are some things that I wish I could do over again."

Snape closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. Another chance for happiness? Could that really lie in Potter, of all people?

The world was a cruel, and ironic, place. But that was nothing new to him.

"What are you suggesting, Albus?"

"Let’s see . . . Harry wants to have your child, but I’ll bet that you’re not going to want to miss a day in your baby’s life."

"That’s right."

"It’s simple! Get married!"

"W-WHAT?!" Snape roared. This somehow seemed even more preposterous than Harry’s idea.

"You know, homosexual marriages are becoming more and more common in the wizarding world," Albus said. "You two would make a fine match. I hear that your dates have been quite a success."

"They were not dates! And I can’t believe this!"

Albus held up a hand. "Don’t give in to your initial reaction, Severus. Look at this from all sides. Do you enjoy Harry’s company. Honestly?"

" . . . it’s not that bad, I suppose . . ."

Realizing that that was about as close to a ‘yes’ as Albus was going to get, he continued, "Could you spend the rest of your life with him? A big question, but it is the question, after all."

"I don’t know. But I’m . . ."

"Lonely?"

Snape sighed warily. "You know I don’t like that word, Albus."

"With Harry and a baby, you’ll never be lonely again." Now, here came the simplest question of all. "And do you want a child, Severus?"

"Of course," replied Snape with a tiny hint of desperation in his voice. "You know that."

"So what’s the problem?" Albus asked again, gently. "Harry’s presenting you with a golden opportunity. Take it, or you’ll be sorry."

Snape needed time to digest all of this, to weigh things out, and to make his decision. He slowly got to his feet and gave Albus a nod of thanks. "I’ll . . . go and think this over. If you could send a house elf to him and tell him to give me some time . . ."

No need to ask who ‘he’ was. "Of course."

When Severus was gone, Albus filled his request and grinned to himself. Somehow . . . he knew what Snape’s decision would be.

*~*

A house elf appeared in the living room of Snape’s chambers just as he was about to get up and leave. Harry had made up his mind to ask Dumbledore for alternate accommodations while he was at Hogwarts. He could not live with Snape once the man rejected his offer. There would be to much humiliation.

But the elf’s message gave Harry a little hope. Severus was going to think about it. Maybe he would agree.

Harry, with a jar of powder in his hand, sat in front of the fireplace and tossed a bit of the powder in. "Ron and Hermione Weasely," he directed the fireplace. "Guys, it’s me, Harry."

"Harry, we were getting a little worried!" That was Hermione. "Oliver phoned us, and Sirius, and told us what was up. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I’m fine. I’m in Snape’s chambers, safe and sound."

"Snape’s, huh? Did you ask?"

"U-huh," muttered Harry unhappily.

"And, from the sound of things, it didn’t go to well. Sorry Harry." There was genuine concern in her voice.

"Hey, I haven’t given up yet! I got a message saying that he’ll THINK about it! So that’s not-"

Suddenly the flames of the fire leapt and crackled loudly, startling Harry. So, someone else was trying to contact him through the fireplace.

"Hermione, I gotta go. Professor Snape could be trying to contact me," Harry said eagerly.

"Okay. Good luck!" Hermione was gone.

"Hello? Professor Snape, is that you?"

 " . . . THE HELL?!! POTTER?!!"

Harry sat back in disappointment. "Malfoy? How can you be connected to this fireplace?" he asked suspiciously.

Draco snorted. "I’ve been connected to Snape’s fireplace since day one, Potter. He and I have always been very . . . thick."

"Thick, huh?" Harry laughed and grinned. "So why am I the one in his chambers and not you?"

"I don’t know what you’re doing to weasel yourself into his life, but I’ll stop it. You’ll see." Suddenly Draco’s voice changed. "Look, is Severus there? This is very important."

"No, he’s not here . . ." Now Harry was more than a little curious. "I can take a message . . ."

" . . . I suppose so, since it deals with you. I’ve been hearing things. About Death Eaters uprising and coming after you and Snape-"

"Oh. Yeah, I know."

"And you say that as if it were nothing! Snape’s life is in danger, here! They’re serious. The new leader, whoever the hell he is, is even inviting members who changed their tune after Voldemort become nothing more than dust to join in on the fun!"

Harry swallowed. So, this wasn’t just an isolated rumor. There really was something stirring. "What about you? Will they . . .?"

Draco sighed. "I doubt it, but if they do, then I’ll do it. See what I can find out. For Snape!" He added quickly. "Not you, Potter."

"Of course, not me. But thanks, anyway."

"Whatever. Just get your ass out of Snape’s chambers as soon as possible."

If I have my way, I’ll be in here everyday . . . "We’ll see."

The fire diminished as Draco departed the network, leaving Harry to think things over. Snape needed to return, and fast, so that they could discuss their other little problem . . .

*~*

It was getting dark by the time Snape returned to the dungeons. He entered his chambers to find Harry sitting on the living room floor with books piled up next to him, bent over one with a strange writing utensil in his hand. Severus cleared his throat to attract the boy’s attention.

Harry jumped, then smiled hesitantly. "Oh! There you are! We have a lot to discuss!"

Snape nodded and came into the room, surprising Harry by sitting on the floor next to him. He picked up a book and flipped through the pages. "Doing research on babies and pregnancy?"

Harry blushed. "Yeah . . ."

"You’re not going to learn about childrearing from a book, you know. There’s more to it."

"I know, but I don’t want to go into something without knowing the basics," Harry said, glancing down at the piles of books. "If we’re discussing this, does this mean . . ."

Snape didn’t say a word.

Harry grinned and was about to give Snape a hug when a very firm hand on his shoulder stopped him. The older man gave him a ‘don’t you even try it’ look and cleared his throat loudly.

"But there are some conditions. I will not help bring a child into this world, only to not be a part of the baby’s life. I want to raise him too."

"O-kay . . ." That was very understandable.

"If we’re going to do this, then we’re going to do it right. We need to get married."

Harry gapped. Where had this come from? "Married . . ."

"Married. I want to be a father, too," Snape revealed. "If you’re still willing to do this, then . . ."

There was a moment of silence before Harry suddenly grinned. “Married? Let’s do it!” he exclaimed, just like that.

Whether Snape looked taken aback by Harry’s apparent enthusiasm towards his unorthodox suggestion, or by his actual acceptance of it, he could not determine. The sight of the sophisticated man sputtering helplessly in surprise was a very foreign image to the younger man- and he couldn’t help but laugh.

“You weren’t supposed to say yes,” Severus gritted through clenched teeth.

Harry snickered out of amusement. “Then why the hell did you ask?”

“To scare that crazy idea out of your damn mind! We can’t-”

“I was very serious,” protested Harry, “on both accounts.” HE eagerly inched forward across the carpet until her almost lay in the other man’s lap. Snape’s face adopted a look of sheer surprise and mild discomfort at having the young, attractive man in such close proximity to his person. “I can make you happy. Given the chance, I know I could,” Harry said in a voice that caused Snape to internally shiver.

Severus forced his mind to concentrate on the situation at hand, and not on Harry’s deliciously lithe form that was practically draping its self all over him. “What do you see me as?” demanded Snape in the most biting tone that he could muster. “Some sort of challenge, or a conquest?”

Harry looked more than mildly offended. He quickly sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Let’s not confuse me with Draco, okay?” He snapped back. “I am not that kind of person, and you damn well know it!” Forcing himself to calm down, he said softly, “Besides, we’re good together, honestly! We’ve enjoyed each other’s company-”

“Marriage is not all fun and games! Especially with a baby on the way!”

“I know that! And I’m ready to sacrifice the rest of my bachelor years for this. I hate being alone, and dating has never been my thing, so . . .”

“So there’s just me.”

Harry suddenly jabbed Snape in his sensitive spot, causing him to double over in his efforts to remain serious. “Don’t say it that way! You’ve always been first on my list about the baby. But now my agenda has changed . . . no, expanded, to include you in my life.” Harry shrugged his shoulders. “That’s all.”

After recovering from Harry’s brutal attack, Snape pinned a critical look on him. “You know that marriage is forever. I won’t have you crying for a divorce after our first fight. I’m positive that we’ll be having more than a few of those.”

“Of course. I’m in this for life, too. As long as you promise to try, then so will I.”

Snape nodded sharply. “Well then . . .”

“Well? Is there going to be a wedding or not?”

“ . . . are you sure you want to do this?” asked the older man in a pained voice.

“I’m more positive about this than I’ve ever been about anything in my life.”

Things had not gone according to plan for Severus. He had not expected to come away from this with a marriage and plans for a child. However, Albus’ words flashed through his mind, and he decided that it was time for him to take chances again. He was, he could admit, getting old, and not many opportunities to recreate the family he’d lost so long ago would present itself.

Carpe Diem- seize the day.

And that was just what Severus was going to do.

“Fine. I shall go to draw up the paperwork necessary for the marriage,” Snape asserted. “However, paper does not travel quickly in the Ministry, so that should give you ample time to make preparations. Tomorrow we shall begin to move your things into my chambers and will speak to this doctor that you’ve found to perform the operation. Be prepared to wake early- we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Harry gapped like a fish as Snape turned to leave. “Wait!”

He rushed forward and pressed his body against Snape’s. Gripping the man’s face in his hands, Harry stood on the tip of toes and placed his lips over Severus’, then took advantage of his surprise and slipped his tongue into Snape’s mouth. In a flurry of movement, Harry’s tongue brazenly swept over the roof of Snape’s mouth, mingling with the other man’s along the way. After applying one more moment of fierce pressure onto the man’s lips, Harry let go and stepped back.

Well, hell. A day of never-ending surprises.

Gasping for breath, Harry grinned and said sexily, “And that’s just a taste of what you’ll get on our wedding night!”

That left Snape speechless. He quickly exited the room, leaving a laughing Harry behind.

*~*

Things, however, were not going as well for poor Remus as they had been for Harry. Sirius was still skirting around the marriage-baby issue, and Remus felt as if he was about to snap.

At that particular moment, Sirius was feeling a little randy, and was tugging impatiently at his lover’s shirt, making little whiny noises while inching towards the bed.

Remus decided that it was time to take a stand. He pushed Sirius away and crossed his arms over his chest, giving the other man a look that said ‘we need to talk’. Sirius immediately recognized the look and groaned.

“Right NOW, Remus? You want to talk NOW?”

“Yes, NOW! The bedroom seems to be the only place where I can command your attention these days,” grumbled Remus. “I want to talk to you. About us.”

Sirius pouted and looked away.

“You know what I want, Sirius. Please, let’s try to work this out so that we’ll both come out winners.”

“What is there to talk about? I’m not marrying you, and there will be no babies!” snapped Sirius so forcefully that Remus felt as if he’d been slapped.

He didn’t understand. Sirius loved him. He had to. They’d supported each other through out the war, and through Sirius’ trial, through everything. And now he was saying these things . . . these things that sounded like all he wanted to take away from the relationship was the nightly roll in the hay. Remus had never felt so hurt and alone in his life as he did right then

“Why? At least tell me why!” demanded Remus angrily.

Sirius just stalked into the hallway, but the other man followed him.

“Answer me, damn it!! WHY?!!”

“After a while, Remus,” Sirius said in a strangely calm voice, “all this nonsense Harry’s filled your head with will go away, and we can get back to our normal, working relationship. Until then . . .” He slumped into the spare room across the hall and slammed the door behind him.

“Fine, Sirius Black!” Remus shouted. “You can be a jackass for all I care! But don’t you dare come to me in the middle of the night, wanting to make up! We’ll make up with words, not mindless sex, you here me?!”

He retreated to his own room and lay motionless in the bed, staring at the ceiling. Maybe Sirius was right. His dreams for more than he had were ruining the present. Maybe . . . maybe he would just forget about his dreams. For what were they if they did not include the love of his life?

*~*

Oliver sat in a tiny café in Hogsmeade with his face buried in The Daily Prophet so as not to attract attention while he sipped carefully at his cup of steaming hot tea. Supposedly, this was the place where the former Death Eaters would be meeting in just days, most likely in a hidden back room, and he was eager to scope out the place, to see where all of the exits were and such. He planned on being a spy the night they gathered, collected names that would help put the rebellers behind bars in Azkaban for good.

While he was considering using a cosmetic spell to make sure that he was not recognized that night, to his surprise, Draco Malfoy waltzed into the place as if he owned it, looking quite sharp and attractive, noted Oliver, in his dark slacks and white shirt. He ordered a cup of tea, blinding one of the waitresses with his dazzling smile, then leaned against the counter, his smoke colored eyes running over the place. They rested on Oliver, who sat there, looking like a trapped animal.

An evil look crossed his face and he walked up to Oliver and sat at his table, as if he had every right to. “Well, well, well, isn’t this a small world?”

“Nice to see you too, Malfoy,” Oliver muttered, sounding anything but happy to see him.

“You’ll never guess who I spoke to today, and where he was,” taunted the younger man. “Potter just happened to be in Severus Snape’s chambers, and he sounded as if he’d been there all night.”

Oliver saw what he was trying to do. “Oh, I know. He called me last night and told me. Surely you know what’s going on- Harry just went for precautionary measures, I assure you.”

Draco laughed bitterly. “Precautionary measures? Oh, ho, ho, ho! I sure hope those two taking using precautionary measures, because they’re probably shagging each other as we speak. Potter’s got poor Snape wrapped around his little finger, and he won’t stop until he gets the man.”

Oliver opened his mouth to protest, but found no words.

“I didn’t know that Potter was that good at The Game. He bested me, and no one’s ever done that before. I guess he deserves Snape and all of his glory.”

Besides being momentarily disturbed, Oliver was very upset. “I can’t believe this! Harry wouldn’t . . .”

“Sorry lover boy, but you’ve lost this one,” muttered Draco, eying the other man up and down. Hmm . . . what a fine one Potter let go. Maybe I didn’t come out the winner, but I can always take the consolation prize and go home a VERY happy man . . .

“So, I suppose you’re here because of the thing,” Draco said leisurely.

Not needing to ask what the thing was, Oliver nodded. “I’m going to be here and catch every one of those dirty, lying bastards in the act! They won’t be able to skirt this one.”

“Maybe we can team up then. I’ll be your inside informant.”

Oliver raised a brow. “You mean . . .?”

“Yep. Got a formal invite a little earlier in the day. Apparently the new leader doesn’t give a damn who does the dirty work, as long as it gets done.” Draco snickered. “Idiot. That’ll be his downfall, whoever the asshole is.” He got to his feet and gave Oliver a smile that could have literally knocked the socks off of a person and said, “So, I guess I’ll be seeing you around then. After all, it is quite fitting for the losers to become associated.” With a wink, Draco Malfoy stepped out of the café and was gone.

And let the games begin.

*~*

Next chapter: Harry and Snape make more plans, Harry’s closet friends and family are informed of the decision, Remus struggles to keep his relationship together, and Draco scores a goal in the game of love!