Chapter 14

By Saturday morning Harry finally relented to Severus and Hermione that it was time to tell the Headmaster about their discovery.

Hermione, always astute, hadn't offered to walk with Harry to Severus's rooms.

"I'll go see if he's ready," Harry had said. Hermione nodded and told him to go.

Harry knocked on Severus's door this time. Although in this part of the castle they were unlikely to be seen, Harry had taken it to heart that they needed to be careful. Rumours about the two of them had begun before anything had even occurred between them. Harry didn't want to risk Severus's career, or worse, have anything get back to Voldemort.

Severus opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Severus's face was blank, but Harry knew the man better than his well-trained facial expressions. He knew he must be worried.

It was not a simple conversation they were about to have.

Severus, a very private, unemotional man would have to tell the Headmaster that he loved Harry and that he was the one who was destined to save him. Harry wanted to hold Severus's hand, let him know that he was by his side in all matters, and especially this one.

The two walked silently until they approached Hermione at the bottom of the stairs to Dumbledore's office.

Hermione smiled kindly at them.

"So you see," Hermione said. "The prophecy didn't mean at all what we believed it did. Harry's life can be spared. I think we need to begin formulating a plan. The dark lord will never expect this. It's an advantage for the light."

"You're absolutely correct, Ms Granger. We shall use this to our advantage." Dumbledore looked to Severus. "We will have to call an Order meeting."

Shit. Harry's stomach developed a pit at the bottom. An Order meeting. Remus and Sirius would be there to hear Severus say. "Oh, and guess what? I happen to love Harry Potter. In fact, I love him more than any of you do. And I will be the one to save him."

Well, he wouldn't say it quite like that- but it is absolutely how Sirius's biased mind would hear it.

Harry looked to Severus and bit his lip in worry. Remus and Sirius knew the Professor was homosexual. With that knowledge, was there any way to convince them it was a platonic love? Harry doubted it. Would they think Severus was a predator of some sort? That this was all very untoward? Highly likely.

He chewed his fingernails to keep himself from reaching for Severus.

Harry pulled himself from his thoughts when he heard Dumbledore dismiss Hermione from the room.

"I need to talk to the gentlemen alone. I'm sure you understand."

Hermione stood wordlessly and left the office with a soft click of the door behind her.

Harry finally lifted his head to look at the Headmaster.

"I'm sure you both know why this needs to stay absolutely quiet outside of the Order."

Both men hummed and nodded in understanding.

"Of course, dear boys, I am elated at this revelation. I'm a bit perplexed that I did not see it myself, but I am elated nonetheless. Still, this changes... well, everything. I expect Order meetings will become quite frequent as we decide how to defeat Voldemort once and for all."

If Dumbledore had any thoughts on the news, outside of strategy planning, he didn't indicate as much.

"Oh," Dumbledore added as Severus and Harry stood. "I suppose the Occlumency lessons are no longer needed. Harry, I need you in your own bed every night by 22:00. Am I... understood?"

Harry'd been careful to keep his mind closed during the meeting. The way Dumbledore just seemed to know everything without even needing legilimency was frustrating. Harry was living out the most confusing time of his life. A little privacy would be lovely.

"I understand, Headmaster."

"Harry, I will see you back here this evening to floo with me to the headquarters. Severus, I will expect to see you there."

Once out of the office, Harry opened his mouth to ask Severus his many questions but Severus shook his head. Severus was telling him it was not the time nor place for them to have this discussion.

Frustrated, Harry turned around to take the long way back to Gryffindor Tower.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in a circle on Harry's bed, as they often did at Grimmauld. Hermione cast a silencing spell around them, though all the other students were in Hogsmeade.

"I don't know how I can attend this meeting. Sirius is going to kill Severus. What do I say to them? Surely there has to be a way..."

"If Sirius acts like... like Sirius, you tell him 'Look, I get to live. Who cares how?' It'll shut him right up, I'm sure."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Ron. I am just now figuring this out for myself. I don't know how to address it to the rest of The Order."

"What's there to figure out? Snape is the 'inside man' who will save you. That's all there is to it, right? Not that complicated."

Hermione and Harry shared a meaningful look. Harry'd asked Hermione to keep Ron in the dark about the "love" part of it. As much as he loved Ron, his friend still loathed Severus nearly as much as Sirius did.

"Don't worry too much, Harry. The Headmaster will direct the meeting and keep everything in control. Right now there are more important things to worry about than a schoolboy rivalry that's been going on for far too long." She placed a calming hand on Harry's knee. "One thing at a time."

He knew what she was trying to say. That now, in the thick of this bitter war, was not the time to begin a relationship- especially with one's Professor. Nor should said relationship be his focus when he had a dark lord to kill.

And Harry knew all of this, he did. But Severus was all Harry could think about. He couldn't help it. Each day, his feelings for the older man grew stronger.

Harry's opinions on the Professor hadn't changed. He wasn't exactly handsome. Nor was he especially charming. He was kind, but only to Harry. He was loving, but only to Harry. He did have a lovely smile, that he only showed Harry.

He made Harry feel special, loved, desired, worthy. He was intelligent. He was interesting. He made Harry laugh.

And he'd rescued Harry in every conceivable way.

It'd been hard for him to admit to himself that he was, in fact, desperately in love with the man. Soon, Harry would be able to claim him for his own.

Step 1- NEWTs

Step 2- Defeat Dark Lord

Step 3- Have Severus.

Easy peasy, as Aunt Petunia used to say. Harry chuckled to himself.

"What's so funny, mate?" Ron asked.

"Nothing. This is all so bizarre."

"You have to get going, Harry." Hermione said as she lifted the silencing ward.

Albus placed his cold, wrinkled hand on Harry's elbow and floo'd them both to number 12 Grimmauld.

Harry had changed into muggle clothing. His student robes would just solidify his young age in the minds of the Order members; He was desperate to be taken seriously tonight. But he wished he'd have thought to put on a jumper. The home was uncharacteristically cold. Seemingly thinking the same, Albus lit the fire in the fireplace they'd just stepped through.

Harry greeted each present member in turn, saving Remus and Sirius for last. He hugged them both tightly.

Severus stood by the entrance to the kitchen alone, his arms folded over his chest. Harry did not greet him, he barely chanced a passing glance in the man's direction.

Harry took a seat between Tonks and Kingsley at the opposite side from Severus. He had to fold his hands in his lap to stop them from shaking.

Once the core members of the order were seated, Dumbledore stood and told them of Hermione's discovery.

"But it says Snape is the one who loves Harry most," Sirius said, his voice dripping with absolute denial that it could be true.

"Yes," The Headmaster said. "He must be the one to stand by Harry. They will face Voldemort together."

Sirius stood quickly, inadvertently pushing the old, heavy table into the chests of those sat opposite him. "But Snape... honestly? You must have it wrong."

"We don't."

Sirius raised a stern finger and pointed it at Severus. "You stay away from my fucking godson! Do you hear me?"

"Sirius!" Dumbledore boomed. "You are focused on the wrong thing here! Harry will be saved!"

"Sirius," Harry said calmly. "I will live. Does it really matter how?"

"But I'm the one who loves you, Harry! How could he love you more than I do? You are a son to me! He's evil! I guarantee he has twisted this all around and manipulated Albus into believing it, too! He's either going to hand deliver you to the dark lord or keep you locked away in some dungeon and do Gods-know-what with you!"

Harry looked to Severus. The man sat calmly, his face impassive as if he was utterly unbothered by the ordeal playing out in front of him.

"I trust him," Harry said, still looking at Severus. "None of you know him the way I do."

Severus lifted his eyes from the table to look at Harry.

"And how do you know him so well?!" Sirius demanded. Remus pulled at Sirius's sleeve, urging him to sit down and be quiet. But Sirius had never been one to be controlled.

Harry lost his composure. "I know him well because he has been the only damned one in this room actually concerned that I was fated to die! Ya know what? If anything, this little meeting has only confirmed the prophecy. Do you hear yourself? Instead of rejoicing that I have the chance to live past eighteen years of age, you're only upset that it is Severus who will save me! So, yes, I do believe he loves me more than you do." Harry stepped away from the table, but stopped and turned back to the others. "Fuck you." He looked around the table. "Fuck all of you. Have fun with your planning. I'm happy to be a pawn for your cause." Harry bowed to them exaggeratedly and took his leave, slamming the door behind him, causing the tchotchke on the shelves in the living room to rattle.

Harry plopped himself into Sirius's chair and snatched up the bottle of vodka on the coffee table and began to drink.

Harry's teeth felt like they were vibrating each time his heart beat. He knew this meeting would end with an upset Sirius. He did not, however, consider that this new information would risk him losing his godfather forever. He loved Sirius dearly, but if loving Severus meant losing his godfather, it was a trade he was willing to make.

Harry took a deep breath. He was anxious to know what was being said in the meeting. It'd been going on for some time, which at least meant Severus and Sirius hadn't murdered one another... yet.

The door opened and Harry snapped his head up. Remus shut the door behind him, then sat on the sofa, close to Harry's chair.

"I couldn't take it anymore, Harry." Remus explained. "I needed to talk to you."

"Save it. If it's anything similar to the lecture I'm sure I will get from Sirius, I don't need to hear it twice."

"You won't be getting a lecture from him. He's been pretty well shut down in there."

"Did Severus say anything after I left?"

"Professor Snape," Remus corrected. "And no. He's not said anything. Harry, I am willing to believe he loves you, and I am willing to believe you love him, too. This has been prophesied since before you were even born. While I can be reasonable and know that nothing has happened between you two when you were underage, I also see that things between you have changed. The prophecy also does not need to mean it is a romantic love. But tell me the truth, Harry. Is it?"

He took a long swallow of the vodka.

Harry shrugged. "I can't imagine life without him. It physically hurts me when he's away from me. And it seems to get worse with time."

Remus looked shocked. "That must be the prophecy pulling you both together, forcing you to fulfill it. But, Harry, you are a student for a few more months and your focus needs to be on the war."

"You sound like Hermione."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Remus grinned.

"We kissed." Harry wanted to blame the vodka for his sudden confession, but knew it wasn't the spirits. He needed to talk to someone about it.

"How do you feel about that?"

"It was... I don't know. I didn't expect it. I'm not sure I realized until then how much I love him."

"While I am pleased that you've found someone you love, I must warn you that you can't allow that to happen again. At least not until you've left Hogwarts. It'll put Severus and Albus into very difficult positions."

Harry snorted. "Yeah. That's what Draco said too. Some of the students have been spreading rumours that Severus is some sort of predator or pervert or something. They started talking days before I even kissed him."

"Children are cruel. I remember well. You two must be extremely careful. You need to sever any ties you have to him, outside of Order meetings."

"I don't know if I can."

"You only have three more months. You'll figure it out."

Severus barged out of the kitchen, fury in his eyes.

"Come, Harry. I'm taking you home."

Sirius came out after him. "Home?! His home is here!"

Harry told Remus goodbye, put his hand in Severus's, and stepped into the fireplace.