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Harry side stepped a bunch of laughing teenagers as they burst out of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. He smiled as they showed off their new purchases, then pulled the door open and went inside. He had been worried that Fred's death would have put an end to this shop, but it was just as busy as ever as kids loaded up for the start of the new school year.

"Fred would have wanted us to keep going," George had once told Harry. "He'd have wanted to know he was still making people laugh."

Harry could hardly argue with that. Fred would definitely have wanted George to carry on their mission. It had taken some time, but it was now five years after the war, and things were finally starting to feel almost back to normal, at least for Harry. He couldn't speak for George, but he as he looked around the store and found the man smiling behind the counter, explaining how one of his products worked, he felt good knowing George at least seemed capable of being happy sometimes. He just wished he knew how to make him happier more often.

George caught Harry's eye and grinned. He held up a finger to signal that he should wait, and then he rang up the kids' order and stepped out to meet Harry.

"Harry, good to see you!" he said, clapping Harry on the back. "Long time no see."

Harry laughed. He had seen George two weeks ago for a combined birthday party for Ginny and Percy.

"I know you're not selling anything that would keep students away from my classes," said Harry, eying the latest version of the Skiving Snackbox, which was on display next to the counter.

"Now Harry, you know no one would skip your classes," said George. He leaned against the pile of boxes. "These are mostly just to get out of Binns' classes."

Harry laughed. "I'll bet."

He thought he would be annoyed with George's products now that he was a teacher, but he found he really wasn't. It helped that he was familiar with the products and was pretty good at discerning legitimate illnesses from candy-induced ones. He also didn't want to do anything that would take business away from George.

Of course, that line of thinking was not shared by all members of the Hogwarts staff. Filch in particular still hated all Weasley products, and he was pretty sure Severus hated them just as much.

Which was why Harry was shocked when the door opened and in walked Severus Snape, a large case of bottles in his arms.

"Professor Snape!" said George, and Harry was surprised to see his friend smiling. "It's good to see you."

Since when did George consider Severus a friend? Harry looked to the older man and was relieved to see that the same open, smiling look was not on Severus's face, though he didn't look hostile, either. Plus he was here, in the joke shop, and he was holding out the case of bottles to George.

"Mr. Weasley," he said. When George took the case, Severus's gaze turned to Harry. "Potter. I should have known I would see you here right before the start of term. Already planning your sick days, are you?"

There was a time when Harry would have taken Severus's words to heart and gotten mad, but he had worked with Severus for the past two years, and they had become civil and dare he say actual friends in that time. They sat next to each other during meals and made small talk, and he even had drinks in the man's office from time to time so they could discuss their classes or whatever ridiculous proposal the Ministry was currently considering. Harry knew Severus saw how hard he worked, and therefore when he heard the man's remark, he just smiled and said, "Damn, you caught me."

Severus didn't laugh, but there was amusement in his eyes, which Harry had come to take as a sign of victory. Severus then turned back to George and said, "Do you have any special requests this month?"

"No, Professor, just the usual. Thank you."

Severus bowed his head slightly, said, "See you at dinner, Potter," and then left the shop.

Harry waited until he was gone to turn to George, who was looking down at the case of potions in his hands. "What was that?"

"What was what?" asked George. He turned and carried the potions to the back of the shop, and Harry followed him.

"What was Severus doing here?" he asked. "And what did he mean by 'any special requests'?"

"He supplies most of the potions we need to make our products," said George. He put the case down on a shelf and turned to Harry. "Did you not know that?"

Did he not know that the man he had worked with for years, the stern potions professor, made potions for a joke shop he was always complaining about? No, he most certainly did not know that. How could the man not have told him, not have mentioned it even once during all of the time they had been talking? "No, I didn't know. How long has this been going on?"

George shuffled from one foot to the other. Harry couldn't remember ever seeing George look this…awkward. "I don't know. About three years, I guess? He surprised me by coming to Fred's funeral, and then I ran into him in a bar a few years later. It was back when I had my first new idea, but I didn't know how to make it work, and Snape was there, and he was surprisingly helpful. And then he offered to supply what I needed to make it work."

Harry didn't know what to say. That was surprisingly kind of Severus, and while he no longer thought of the man as a completely cold and thoughtless bastard, it still shocked him to find that he was doing something like this for George, even if he was getting paid to do so.

"Severus is helping supply the world with practical jokes," said Harry. "The world is coming to an end."

George grinned. "Yeah. It surprised me at first, too, but he hasn't let me down yet."

"Wow." Harry took that in for a moment and then said, "Is that why you were so happy to see him? Just because he supplies you with the potions you need?"

George blushed, which confirmed Harry's suspicion.

"Oh my god," said Harry, shocked. "Do you like Severus?"

"Of course I like him. He's my potions supplier. It would be odd to still hate him, wouldn't it?"

Harry frowned. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

George sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I mean, I've gotten to know him a bit while he's worked for me, and he doesn't seem like such a bad guy, you know? You must know. You work with him, too."

Harry nodded. He did work with the man, and he knew what George meant. Severus wasn't a bad guy. He had fought for their side even when everyone thought he was a Death Eater. He had nearly died alone in the Shrieking Shack but thankfully had prepared for just such an attack and managed to survive until the next day, when Harry had gone back to get his body and almost had a heart attack when he realized the man was still alive. Harry had rushed him to the hospital wing and had stayed by his side until he knew the man would be okay.

He hadn't seen much of Severus while he was an Auror, but now that they were colleagues, he had gotten to know Severus fairly well. The man was smart and surprisingly funny. His humor was much darker than George's though, so Harry was surprised George liked the man. Then again, he supposed Fred's death might have changed that, as it had changed so many other things. Still…did George really want to be with Severus of all people?

And why did that thought bother him so much?

"You like Severus," said Harry. "Like, you want to date him?"

George blushed again but then said, "Forget it. You wouldn't understand."

"No, I get it," he said, and when George looked at him in surprise, he hurried to add, "I mean, I don't like Severus like that, but I can see why someone would. He's kind of got that tall, dark, and handsome thing going on, if you find big noses attractive. And he's super smart. And funny. And dedicated to his students. And apparently he supports joke shops, which I still don't really understand, but hey. I'm not an expert on the man or anything. But yeah, I can see why you would like him. So, are you going to ask him out?"

Why did he sound worried when he asked that question? What did he possibly have to be worried about? This had nothing to do with him. He was just worried George was chasing after someone who didn't want him, someone who would hurt him. That was it.

George snorted. "Yeah, right. I can see that going over real well. Hey, Professor Snape, I know we don't speak that much, but I wanted to know if you wanted to go on a date with me. Yeah, that would work out great."

George sounded so disappointed that Harry felt his chest tighten. There had to be something he could do to help his friend. "You never know. Maybe he wants the same thing. Or at least maybe he'd be open to it." He thought about the fact that Severus had been in love with his mother and asked, "Um, do you know if he's interested in men like that?"

George nodded. "I saw him kissing some bloke a few months ago. I asked him about it, and he said he wasn't interested in dating. Which is just one more reason I have no shot with him."

Harry frowned. Severus had been kissing someone in public? Why had he not known the man was seeing anyone? And why did he think he was entitled to that information? Sure, he considered them friends at this point, but it's not like he told Severus about every random person he hooked up with. Not that there had been that many of those, but still. He hadn't thought the man needed to know about those, so it would make sense that the man would think the same about him. Not that that thought made him feel any better. He pushed it aside.

"Maybe you should figure out why he doesn't date?" Harry suggested. "Then you could show him why he was wrong and why he should give you a chance."

"Do you really think he'd ever give me a chance?" asked George.

He sounded so miserable that Harry said, "Of course he would," even though he wasn't actually sure about that at all.

George looked at him hesitantly. "Do you think you could talk to him for me?"

Harry blinked. "What?"

George nodded, looking a bit bolder. "Yeah, you should talk to him for me. I mean, you talk to him all the time anyway, don't you? It would be less weird coming from you. You could ask him why he doesn't date and tell me, and then I could do whatever I had to do to get him to go out with me."

"I don't think that would work," said Harry quickly, backing up so fast he almost knocked over a display. "I mean, I didn't even know that he was working for you, or that he was interested in guys at all. Clearly I'm not the sort of person he wants to have personal conversations with."

He ignored the fact that that stung a lot more than it should have.

"But you at least talk to him," said George desperately. "All he ever says to me is 'here are your potions' and 'do you need any more'? He doesn't even ask for a bill. He just sends an owl to get it. How am I supposed to casually fit in 'oh, by the way, why do not date and do think you could make an exception for me?' It was awkward enough mentioning the guy he was kissing. Didn't exactly invite any follow up questions."

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It was hard to argue with that: it wouldn't really make any sense for George to bring it up. Then again, it wouldn't really make much sense for Harry to bring it up, either. But he could at least bring up the fact that Severus was helping George, and then he could mention that he and George had been talking and George mentioned Severus's "no dating" rule or whatever, and he could ask. Severus might answer. Of course, Severus might also tell him to fuck off and never speak to him again.

But he looked at George's pleading face and knew he had to at least try. He didn't know why George thought knowing why Severus didn't date would help him if he was too afraid to bring up the topic of dating to begin with, but that would be something for George to worry about later. For now, Harry would do what he could to find out the information that George needed. He had been so unhappy since Fred had died, and he had never asked Harry for anything before. How could Harry turn down this request?

"Okay," he said. "I'll ask him."

*~*

Harry stared at Severus all through dinner, trying to understand how this man had been helping George for years and had never mentioned it. Why wouldn't he have told Harry? The man knew he was close to the Weasleys, knew he visited George frequently. How could this not have come up at some point? It wasn't like he and Severus never talked. They had drinks at least once a month, usually more. He also couldn't understand how he hadn't known the man was interested in men. The fact that he had been caught kissing a man out in public like that - that was almost more surprising than the joke shop thing.

It wasn't until the very end of dinner that Harry found the nerve to talk to Severus. He reached out and placed a hand on the man's arm as he got up, removing it once he got the man's attention so he wouldn't risk upsetting him.

"I was wondering if you wanted to have drinks in my rooms tonight," said Harry. "I got a new bottle of firewhiskey with your name on it."

When Severus hesitated, Harry added, "Come on. The students are coming tomorrow. You know you'll be needing to save your own alcohol."

The amusement was back in Severus's eyes as he nodded. "I have a few preparations to make for tomorrow, but then I will come over."

Harry grinned, trying not to think about how pleased he was that he had made the man do the Severus version of laughing out loud or that Severus had agreed to come to his rooms for drinks. He wasn't doing this for himself. He was doing this for George. He had to remember that.

Harry went back to his rooms. He was already prepared for the first week, but he had to do something other than stand around and wait for Severus to show up. He picked up the latest edition of the Daily Prophet and skimmed the articles, looking for anything that he might be able to discuss with Severus. He did indeed find something, though once he read the article, he wished there had been no news instead.

The Ministry had spent the first year after Voldemort's defeat trying to round up the last of the Death Eaters. The year after that, they had seen the search as a waste of time and had instead wanted to put all of their effort into making sure that another dark lord didn't come to power. Harry would have been okay with that had they gone about it in a different way. Instead of trying to teach Muggle-born wizards more about the wizarding world and vice versa, they had tried to track the movements of Slytherins, old and new. Harry had fought against that, insisting that it didn't help and might actually create the dark lord they feared. He had managed to get them to stop their attempts to dismantle the Slytherin house, but now they were apparently discussing cloaks that would change colors when someone did dark magic.

It was the stupidest thing Harry had ever heard of.

Harry threw the paper onto the table in disgust at the same moment that Severus knocked on the door. Harry got up and let the man in. Severus went right to the second seat by the fire, the seat Harry thought of as Severus's chair, and then he accepted the drink Harry gave him. His eyes skimmed over the newspaper.

"You've seen the Ministry's latest attempt to stop evil?" he asked, sipping his drink.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Magic cloaks that tell you if someone's used dark magic. It's ridiculous."

Severus smirked. "There was a time when you would have insisted all Slytherins wear them."

"Yeah, when I was twelve," said Harry, not liking that he was lumped into the group of stupid Ministry people. "I'm not that dumb anymore." When Severus didn't comment, Harry rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine, you think I'm dumb. But I'm not the one who can't see the flaws in this system. Hell, you just have to not be wearing the cloak when you cast the dark spell, and no one will ever know."

Severus snorted and took another drink. "Yes, but do you not see, Potter? If they mandate that everyone wear the cloaks at all times, then the mere fact that you aren't wearing the cloak means you're untrustworthy."

"Or just an argumentative punk," said Harry. "But it's more than that. Do they really think people commit most of their dark magic in public? For most people, they'll do it in private, where they can go without the cloak and it doesn't matter. And those who would commit dark magic while wearing the cloak, well, they're the kind of person who wouldn't need a cloak to tell everyone they were bad news."

Severus hmm'd his agreement. "That's more logic than I would have expected from you."

Harry was both pleased that he had managed to impress the man and annoyed that they had been friends for years and apparently Severus still thought he was a moron up until this moment. "So glad to meet your approval," Harry muttered.

"I would hardly go that far, Potter," said Severus. That comment would normally have made Harry laugh, but given how much he had just learned that he didn't know of the man, he wasn't in the mood to laugh. Severus frowned but then continued talking. "The Ministry also doesn't seem to understand that the very concept of light and dark magic is ridiculous. If you kill someone to spare them an unbearably painful death, does that make you a bad person? If you stun someone underwater and they drown, is that fine simply because you did not use the killing curse?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. Reminds me of when Remus was mad at me for not stunning Stan Shunpike while we were up in the air. It's stupid. Anyone who's smart enough and powerful enough to be someone you need to worry about is also going to be smart enough and powerful enough to get away with not wearing those stupid cloaks."

"Not to mention, cloaks like that are bound to be very expensive, and you know the Ministry will not be funding them. There will be many families who cannot afford the robes, and then you will either have to imprison innocent people because you assume they are not wearing them on purpose, or you will have to start making exceptions, in which case there is no point."

Harry nodded. They talked about the stupidity of the Ministry of Magic for a while. Then, after they were nearly done with their second drinks, the conversation reached a lull, and Harry realized this was as good a time as any to bring up what he had asked Severus down to discuss. He had been having such a good time talking to the man about the stupid cloaks that he had almost forgotten his promise to George.

"So apparently you've been working for George for years," he said as he finished his drink. He poured himself another as he waited for Severus to answer. When he leaned back with his new drink, he noticed the frown on the man's face.

"This is why you invited me down, is it?" he asked.

Harry shook his head. "No. I wanted to talk to you. I just also wanted to ask about this. I mean, I've known you for two years now, and you never mentioned it."

"You have known me for a lot longer than two years," said Severus.

Harry rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. We've been friends, or at least close to friends, for two years, and you never mentioned that you were helping him. And it's not like it just didn't come up. You complain about his products all the time."

Severus sighed. "It is not something I wish everyone to know. If the potions could be transported magically, I would do so, but they can't, so I have to take them myself. I did not set out to help him. I ran into him once after the war, and he was upset, and he needed help, and I was feeling useless, so I offered to help. And then the pay was decent, and it gave me something to do each month other than teach ungrateful brats, so I continued to do it."

"But then why do you complain about his stuff so much if you're helping him?" Harry asked.

Severus drained the rest of his drink and then said, "I feel sorry for him."

"What?" That had definitely not been the answer he was expecting.

"You heard me," snapped Severus. "A lot of people lost loved ones, but he lost a twin, and that had to be especially hard. He already lost an ear because of me, and now he had lost his brother because I could not reveal my true identity. So many people died in that war that I could have helped, but I couldn't risk revealing my true allegiance. Once it was over, I wanted to do what I could to help, and I wanted to do so in a way that did not lead to my face being plastered all over every paper while people hailed me for being a gift to wizarding kind."

Harry glared at the man, knowing that was a shot at him. "You know what, sometimes it helps to have your face everywhere. If you're going to be famous anyway, you might as well use it to help people, shouldn't you? If putting my name and face on those charities brought in more donations and helped more people, then it was worth it."

"Half of those people only donated in the hopes that you would find out and think more highly of them," said Severus.

"So what? Do you think it matters to the people who need the money why people donated? Do you think money given for selfless reasons is more valuable to someone in need than money given for selfish reasons?"

Severus looked him in the eye for a moment and then said, very quietly, "Point Potter."

Harry blinked and leaned back in his chair, breathing heavily even though all he had done was yell. He shouldn't have gotten so worked up about that, but damn if the man didn't know exactly how to get under his skin.

"Well, I know George appreciates the help," said Harry, knowing he had to bring the conversation back around quickly if he was going to ask what he really needed to ask.

"I had surmised as much," said Severus.

"He said he saw you kissing a man a few months ago," said Harry. Severus frowned at him, and Harry realized that was probably not the smoothest way he could have started that conversation. Maybe the third drink had been a mistake.

"And what of it?" asked Severus angrily. At least Harry would have assumed it was anger, but the more he looked at Severus, the more he realized the man was just defensive. "You are hardly one to judge someone for preferring their own sex."

Harry blinked and laughed. Severus thought Harry had been going to give him grief over that? "No, not judging," said Harry. "Just curious. I thought you were in love with my mother."

"I was, but that was a long time ago," said Severus, no longer looking Harry in the eye. "I loved her back then, and a part of me will always love her as my only friend growing up, but I am no longer in love with her. Although I find it hard to believe, given your reputation, that you believe one must be in love to have sex."

Harry choked on his drink. Severus had just said the word sex, which was oddly a bit sexy on its own. And he had admitted that he followed rumors about Harry.

"No, I know you don't have to be in love," he said. "Is she why you don't date, though? George said you don't date."

"That has nothing to do with your mother," said Severus, rolling his eyes. "I told you, I do not love her in that way any more, nor I have I for quite some time. I simply have no need for relationships. Most of the people I meet are completely shallow and uninterested in anything of substance. They think that because the war is over, everything is sunshine and rainbows, as if the world was a nice place to live before Voldemort ascended to power. They do not think about anything that does not directly concern them, and oftentimes they are even too stupid to do that properly. So no, I do not want a relationship with any of those people."

Harry nodded. It was hard to argue with that kind of logic. "So if you met someone who was interested in you and wasn't all of those things, would you be interested in giving dating a try, or would that still be a no?"

Severus surveyed him quietly, and Harry tried not to squirm or to give anything away. Finally, Severus said, "I suppose, depending on the person, I might be willing to give it a try."

Harry smiled at him. "Good to know."

"What about you, Potter?" asked Severus slowly. "Are you interested in the dating scene? I haven't seen your picture plastered over the tabloids in a while. Have you finally resigned yourself to a life of celibacy?"

Harry snorted. "Hardly. But it's hard to find people who are interested and don't want you because you're famous but also don't avoid you because you're famous, especially when you spend most of your time teaching kids."

"That is one of the drawbacks to teaching," said Severus. "Well, that and the students."

Harry laughed, and then the conversation turned to teaching and why Severus was still doing it if he hated it so much and how Harry would undoubtedly come to view the students the same way Severus did after a few more years, assuming he stayed that long. They talked for a few hours, as it was almost midnight before Severus said that he should call it a night, as he had to make sure he got his beauty rest. Harry laughed out loud was relieved when Severus gave him a small smirk in return. He walked Severus to the door and watched as the man walked back down to his own rooms, a small smile on his face. He really did enjoy his evening chats with Severus.

*~*

Harry waited until the following weekend to go and visit George again, as he had classes and work to grade and corridors to guard. He had a few hours on Saturday, though, so he visited George's shop. The man was reorganizing a display when Harry came in, but he stopped as soon as he saw Harry.

"Harry!" said George. He set the last of the lollipops down on the table and walked over to him. "I'm glad to see you. Tell me you have some good news."

"I do," said Harry, smiling at his friend. "Though we probably shouldn't discuss it in the middle of the shop."

"No, probably not," agreed George. He turned to Lee and told him he was stepping out for a while, and then he led Harry to the back and then up the flight of stairs that led to George's apartment. The stairs opened to the kitchen and living area, which was one giant room.

"Tea?" George asked. "I also have some biscuits Mum sent ever."

"Sure," said Harry. He took a seat at the small table in the middle of the kitchen and helped himself to a biscuit while George made tea. George set the tray on the table and sat down across from Harry. Harry added sugar and a dash of milk to his tea and then stirred it. As he took a sip, he noticed George was staring at him eagerly. Harry blinked and set the cup down. "I suppose you would like to know this instant?"

George laughed at himself and looked down. "Sorry. I've just liked him for a while, and I want to know what he said."

Harry's stomach churned a bit, and he put the tea down. Maybe that hadn't been the greatest idea. "Well, he said that he wasn't interested in dating most people because they were stupid and thoughtless. You know, the usual Severus rant when it comes to dealing with other people. But he did also say that if someone showed an interest in him and wasn't all of those bad things, then he would consider dating them. So I actually think you have a good chance. You just have to show that you're thoughtful and not stupid like most other people. I mean, you already own your own business, so that's a point in your favor. And if Severus hated you, he wouldn't be making potions for you." Harry didn't mention the guilt Severus felt. That seemed too personal to share.

"You really think this could work?" asked George nervously.

Harry nodded. "You just need to show him that you think about things the same way he does and then let him know you're interested. I'm sure he'd agree to go out with you, then."

"But how does he think about things, and how can I show him that I think the same way?" he asked.

Harry thought about what he and Severus had talked about the night before, and that gave him an idea. "I think I know what you should do."

*~*

The next week, Harry found himself standing under his invisibility cloak in the corner of George's shop, waiting for Severus to show up with the potions George had asked for. That was step one of their plan: get Severus to show up sooner than expected so that George had another reason to talk to him while the stupid cloak debates were still going on.

To Harry and Severus's dismay, the Ministry was now mostly in agreement that the cloaks would make the world safer. Harry had started spending more of his free time gathering evidence against this magical cloak idea. He had wanted to invite Severus over that weekend to discuss it more, but he knew now was not the time, as Severus was going to visit George and, if all went well, maybe he would even end up going on a date with George soon.

Harry had wanted to let George do this part completely on his own, having already spent hours going over what he should do and say, but George had begged him to stay so he could go over everything with him after Severus left and so that he was there to help out if it looked like George needed it. Harry wasn't entirely clear how he was supposed to do that, but he would figure something out if he needed to.

He hoped he didn't need to.

He had been standing in the corner for ten minutes, dodging people who seemed to think that behind the display case was a good place to stand, when Severus finally came in. George's face lit up, and he hurried toward Severus.

"Professor Snape," he said, smiling and taking the potions. "Thank you so much for doing this so short notice. I just got a huge order of Exploding Whizz Poppers and didn't have enough Thunderbrew to make it all. You're a life saver."

"Yes, that is my most well known attribute," said Severus. Harry bit his lip to stop from laughing. George smiled, but it didn't seem to be a bigger smile than he already had on.

"I appreciate it. I know how busy you are as it is."

"Yes, well, I can always find time to brew one of the most expensive potions I know how to brew."

George still didn't laugh, which bothered Harry. How could he claim to like Severus if he didn't even appreciate when he was being sarcastic?

"Have you seen the news lately?" George asked, and Harry could see the surprise on Severus's face even from this distance. "All those magic cloaks that are supposed to tell you if someone's used dark magic? I've been thinking of creating my own line of cloaks, only these will let you know if someone's aroused. But they'll look the same. What do you think?"

Severus gave a huff that Harry knew was a laugh, and he felt proud, as that had been his idea. "I think that would cause less harm than the ones the Ministry wants people to wear," said Severus.

George's grin got bigger. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I mean, their way you might think you're safe because the cloak hasn't changed color, and you could walk into a trap. At least with this cloak, it would make dates more interesting."

Severus studied George for a moment. "You don't think the cloaks will make people safer?"

George shook his head. "People would just make sure they saved their dark magic for when they weren't wearing it," he said. "Besides, it's not like you can't do just as much damage with so-called light magic, too. And dark magic can actually help people. So it's just a stupid way to try to make people think they're safer when they're really not. It's ridiculous and dangerous."

Severus looked impressed, and the two of them talked about the cloaks for a bit more. Harry watched as George got more and more excited as he talked, and he felt his stomach tighten uncomfortably. What was his problem? Why was he not happy for George? He hadn't seen him that happy in years, not since before Fred died. He would not have expected Severus Severus to be the one making him smile like that, but as long as his friend was happy, what did it matter? Besides, Severus was his friend, too, and he seemed to be enjoying their conversation, as well, so shouldn't he be happy for his two friends?

And, okay, George had actually liked the sound of the cloaks at first, but then Harry had reminded him that the cloak wouldn't have mattered in a war. He also reminded him that Severus would have been considered guilty of dark magic for having killed Dumbledore, even though he had merely done what the man had asked.

George brought up that point now, and Harry felt his stomach drop when Severus said that he appreciated that someone was using his head for once. George and Severus talked for a bit more, and then Severus said that he had to leave, and George let him go without asking for a date. Harry waited for Severus to leave and walk out of sight before he made his way out from behind the corner and took off the cloak.

"You did a good job," he said.

"I did, didn't I?" asked George, grinning. "I chickened out a bit at the end, but I think it's better this way. I got him thinking of me in a good way. Maybe next time I can ask him out."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. That would be a good idea. Get him to respect you and then ask him out. Excellent plan."

George tilted his head and frowned. "Are you okay?"

Harry swallowed. He was feeling a bit nauseous, actually, and he knew he was doing a terrible job of feeling happy for his friend. "Yeah, I'm fine. I think I just ate too many sweets before I came here, as I'm feeling a bit off."

"Maybe you should lay down," said George, sounding worried.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, maybe I should. I'm sorry. But I'm glad it worked with Severus. I'm sure the two of you will be dating in no time."

George beamed as he imagined that. Harry wanted to throw up.

*~*

Harry managed to make it back to his rooms without being sick. He fell onto his bed and closed his eyes. What the hell was wrong with him? Why did he hate seeing George take credit for his thoughts? Why had he wanted to hit George for not laughing at Severus's jokes? Why had it bothered him, physically bothered him, when he had seen the two of them enjoying talking to each other? Wasn't this what he had wanted? He had wanted to help George and make him happy, and he was going to be happy with Severus, and that was fine with Harry because Harry didn't care. Harry wanted his friends — both of his friends — to be happy.

Didn't he?

Was he actually a horrible person who didn't want anyone to be happy unless he was happy, too? He had never thought that was the case, but it was the only thing that made sense. George liked Severus, and Severus was at least getting closer to liking George. That was a good thing. They had both had hard lives, and they were both good people, and Harry wanted them both to be happy. He really, truly did.

He just didn't want them to be happy together.

*~*

"So, I heard you and George had a nice conversation the other day," Harry said to Severus Monday morning over breakfast. He had avoided the Great Hall until he was sure he had control over his stupid, confusing emotions.

Severus looked surprised, but he nodded. "We did. I had no idea your friend was so insightful. Perhaps it is a good thing that you hang out with him so much. You might learn something from him."

Harry flinched. He could learn something from George? He was the one who had written the script of their last conversation, the one who had told George exactly what to say to make Severus think well of him. And he and Severus had already had a similar conversation the week before. Did that mean nothing to the man? Did he forget that he and Harry had already been on the same page? Maybe he shouldn't have given George things to say that Harry had not said. Now he made George sound smarter than Harry was.

But wait, wasn't that the point? He was supposed to make Severus want to date George, not Harry, so it was good that he was making George look better.

But why did he hate himself so much?

*~*

Harry spend the next several months alternately having drinks with Severus and then telling George everything he should say to impress Severus. Harry argued with Severus over some things they read about in the paper, and then he turned around and told George what to say to show that he agreed with the man. He was always there under his cloak, hiding, as George and Severus talked, and he hated it.

He hated watching as George made Severus laugh with something Harry had thought up. He hated watching as George laughed at something that wasn't funny but didn't laugh at something that was funny. He hated the way Severus's eyes started to travel up and down George as though finally realizing that he was an attractive man, knowing that Severus would never look at him in that way.

Not that he wanted the man to look at him that way. Or any way. No, they were just friends. He just didn't like when people got credit for stuff they didn't really think. That was all. That was his only problem here. It wasn't that the two of them were starting to talk so much that Severus started mentioning him when he was having drinks with Harry. Harry didn't care about that.

He was glad that his friends were getting along so well.

He was.

Really.

That pain in his chest had nothing to do with the way George looked at Severus when the man left his shop. His stomach always hurt because he was eating junk he shouldn't eat, not because he was fairly certain that Severus was about to fall in love with George just like George was in love with him. He went to bed crying half the time because he didn't have anyone special in his life, not because his special person was really someone else's. He stopped inviting Severus over for drinks because he had to focus on his grading and on his campaign to stop the Ministry from forcing them to wear stupid magic cloaks that were expensive and dangerous, not because he couldn't stand to hear the man talk about how George was so much smarter than he realized.

But Harry couldn't keep lying to himself, not for much longer. He was in love with Severus Snape. He loved the man's voice and his looks and his brain and his sense of humor and his dedication and his passion. He loved that they agreed about so many things and yet he could still walk away from a conversation with the man having learned something new. He loved that the man had a huge heart that he hid underneath layers of anger and sarcasm.

He loved that they could talk for hours and not get bored. He loved the way the man nodded to him in the mornings as he took his seat next to Harry. He loved the way that even though Severus spent so much time complaining about his students, he would stop whatever he was doing to help them if the needed him. He loved that Severus had made a horrible mistake when he was younger and had spent the next twenty years trying to atone for it. He was the bravest man Harry had every known, and he was so smart and sophisticated and sarcastic and sexy and so many other things.

Harry found himself fantasizing about confessing everything, explaining that the "impressive" George Weasley he had been getting to know this whole time had actually been Harry, that he found Harry funny, that he appreciated Harry's thoughts, not George's.

But he couldn't do that. George was clearly in love, and it looked like Severus might soon feel the same way. George hadn't been happy in so long. How could Harry take that away from him?

Not that he could have, of course.

Harry wasn't stupid. He might be in love with Severus, but he knew that Severus wasn't in love with him, nor would he ever be. He might like Harry's mind, as shown by the fact that he liked everything George seemed to say, but that didn't mean that he would like the some things coming from Harry. George was several years older, had more experience when it came to pretty much everything, and he was way more attractive than Harry was. Harry knew he wasn't that attractive, not unless you already liked him and the fact that he was famous, which Severus did not. Besides, he knew how much the man valued his privacy, which meant that Harry's fame was once again hurting him.

Harry sighed and rolled over on his bed, looking up at the ceiling and trying not to think about the fact that George had said he was going to ask Severus out that night. He had been putting it off for months now, but he said he was finally ready. He had spent enough time making sure that Severus got to know him, and he was sure Severus felt the same way about him by now, and Harry hated to admit it, but he was pretty sure George was right.

And that was fine. He wanted George to be right. He wanted his friend to end up with the love of his life, and he wanted them to both be super happy and to be together for the rest of their lives. It didn't matter that seeing them together was going to make him miserable. It didn't matter that everything Severus liked about George was really about Harry. After all, at this point, he was sure George knew what he was talking about, so it didn't really matter that it had started with Harry, did it?

After all, Harry hadn't made George think any way. He had just told him what Severus thought and then George had realized that his old way of thinking was wrong. Harry might have pointed out some arguments and new ways of thinking, but it wasn't as though George wouldn't have come to the same conclusions on his own. Harry just sped things along, so he shouldn't feel bad for helping George trick Severus. Sure, part of him felt like Severus deserved to know the truth, but he was sure George would tell him eventually.

And okay, yes, a small part of Harry was hoping that Severus would learn the truth and realize Harry was the one he actually wanted to be with, but he was ignoring that part of him in favor of the other part of him, the much bigger part, that wanted his two friends to be happy together, especially as George had been so miserable lately. He wanted him to be happy more than he wanted himself to be happy, so he was going to say nothing that might ruin this for him.

He was just going to sit back and watch as everyone else found love and left him behind.

*~*

Harry hadn't had drinks with Severus in a couple of weeks, so he was surprised when there was a knock on the door and he opened it to find the older man standing before him.

"Severus," said Harry, surprised. "What do you want?"

The man raised an eyebrow and held up a bottle of firewhiskey. "You've been busy lately. I thought perhaps you had run out of liquor."

Harry chuckled and stood aside to let the man in, doing his best to ignore the voice in his head screaming Severus missed me!. "How generous of you to correct the problem."

"I thought so." Severus took a seat, and Harry got them glasses and waited as Severus poured. Then Harry took his drink and sat back in the chair. "What are you really doing here? You're never the one to start anything. I'm always asking you for drinks."

Severus shifted and then took a drink and said, "George Weasley asked me out on a date."

Harry almost spit up his drink, which was stupid because it wasn't as though he hadn't known that this was coming. "Oh. Okay. Um, what does that have to do with me?"

Severus looked at him sharply. "You tell me."

Harry blinked and swallowed and refused to meet Severus's eye. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that Mr. Weasley and I have had many conversations over the past few months, and somehow our conversations always mirror the one you and I had a few days before, and what he has to say always matches what I said to you."

Harry gulped. "Well, I mean, you and I discuss current events mostly. It only makes sense that you would discuss the same sort of things with him."

"So it is merely a coincidence?"

He didn't sound like he thought it was a coincidence, but Harry didn't know what else to say. He couldn't tell the truth, couldn't sell George out like that. "What else could it be?"

"Perhaps someone is telling him what to say in order to make me want to spend more time with him," said Severus pointedly.

Harry took another sip of firewhiskey to avoid looking at the man. "Why would someone do that?"

Severus set down his drink and crossed his arms. "You tell me, Potter."

Harry winced. It had been a long time since the man had spat his name out like that. He looked up and saw the anger in those black eyes, and he wanted to curl up into a ball and die. Instead, he stood up and took a step toward the man. "Severus—" he started, but the man cut him off.

"Who gave you permission to use my given name?" demanded Severus, jumping to his feet as well. "The last time I checked, that was reserved for friends, and friends do not spend months trying to humiliate one another."

Harry blinked. "I wasn't trying to humiliate you!"

"No? Then what exactly were you trying to do? Because it looks an awful lot like you have spent the last few months going out of your way to find out my views on a variety of topics just so you could turn around and try to convince me that Mr. Weasley is my soul mate. I want to know what your purpose was. Just to see if I would say yes so you could laugh at me behind my back? To humiliate me when I showed up for the date and no one showed up? What?"

Harry stared at him in shock and horror. Did the man really think he would do something so horrible? He wanted to take his time formulating a sentence that would explain, but for some reason he found himself talking, the words bursting forth before he could stop and think about what he was saying.

"I never wanted to humiliate you! I didn't even really want to do it, but George asked me to. That day I found out you made his potions, he admitted he liked you and wanted you to like him, but he didn't think he was good enough on his own, so he asked me to find out if you were open to the idea of dating, and you said you were, so I told him what you had told me about not wanting to be with someone stupid. Then I told him something he could say to make you think that he wasn't stupid. It was just supposed to be a one time thing, but then he was afraid to ask you, so I helped him again, and then it got to be this thing where he kept being afraid to ask, and he was so happy that I was helping him, and I couldn't let him down, so I had to keep going."

He frowned as he finished talking, and then he looked at the firewhiskey Severus had brought, which the man had not touched. "You poisoned this." He held up his glass.

"Don't be ridiculous. It's not poisoned," said Severus. "You think I would poison someone I want answers from? It's a truth potion. Weaker than Veritaserum, but also less monitored."

"That's…fair," Harry said, and he frowned. He had meant to say the opposite, but apparently some part of him felt otherwise.

Severus looked triumphant for a moment, but he still looked angry. "Why did Mr. Weasley want me to want to date him?"

"Because he likes you," said Harry. "He honestly wants to date you."

"And you also want me to date Mr. Weasley?" Severus asked, sneering.

Harry tried to bite back his answer, but he couldn't. The potion wouldn't let him. "No, I don't want you to date him."

Severus narrowed his eyes and looked at Harry suspiciously. "Then why did you agree to help him?" asked Severus.

"Because he asked me to, and he's my friend," said Harry, glad the man had asked him something he could answer honestly without giving his feelings away. "He hasn't been happy since Fred died. I couldn't say no, not when he asked me for something that I could actually do."

Severus looked at him levelly, and Harry's answer seemed to calm him somewhat, as he relaxed marginally, looking less like he wanted to bash Harry's head into the wall and more like he simply hoped Harry died sometime soon.

"And did it not occur to you that any relationship Mr. Weasley and I might have had would be based on lies and therefore not a real relationship? If you wanted Mr. Weasley to be happy, why did you not encourage him to talk to me on his own, using his thoughts and opinions rather than yours?"

"It did occur to me, and it bothered me a lot," said Harry. "I hated that you were falling in love with someone who wasn't really who he said he was. But then I figured it wasn't that bad because he actually did believe most of what he was saying. I just told him which things he should bring up around you. So it wasn't that I was telling what to think. I was more just telling him what you thought so he could decide how to act around you."

"You said most of what he had to say was what he already thought," said Severus. "What did he say that was not what he already thought?"

Harry looked down at his drink as he explained that George had been a huge supporter of the cloaks.

"So let me get this straight," said Severus, pacing in angry circles around the room. "The first conversation that he and I had, the one that made me think that maybe he was really worth talking to, was completely a lie?"

Harry winced and said, "Yes."

"He thinks the cloaks are a good idea?" asked Severus.

Harry shrugged and said, "I think so? He at least did when we started the conversation. I think he might have changed his mind as we talked, but I'm not sure."

Severus stopped pacing and glared at him. Then he said, so quietly that Harry almost missed it, "So you were the one who noticed that I would have been branded a murderer even though I had only been carrying out Albus's wishes."

"Yes," whispered Harry. Severus met his gaze, and Harry couldn't read his expression, but he wanted to know what the man was thinking

"I'm sorry I lied to you," said Harry. "I never meant to make you feel stupid, and I certainly never wanted to humiliate you."

Severus looked him in the eye a bit longer, looking like he was trying to decide if he should ask his next question or not. Finally, he asked, "Why did you not want to help him?"

Harry closed his eyes, not wanting to see the man's face as he was forced to answer that question truthfully. "Because I'm in love with you."

Severus said nothing, and Harry kept his eyes closed tight, his whole body tense, waiting for the screaming, the disgust, whatever was sure to follow his announcement.

But nothing came, and after a few moments, Harry opened his eyes and chanced a glance at Severus. The man was staring at him blankly, as if that had been the last answer he had expected.

"You love me?" he asked again, leaning against Harry's couch as though he no longer had the strength to hold himself up. He was now staring blankly ahead, not at Harry.

Harry nodded even though he knew Severus couldn't see it. "Yes. I didn't know at first, when he asked me to help him. I just knew I didn't want you two to get together. But then I realized that I didn't want you to be with him because I wanted you to be with me. But don't worry. I know you don't feel the same. I mean, I knew that even before you found out the truth and hated me like you do now."

Severus looked up him, his face a mixture of disbelief and wonder, which didn't really make any sense. "I don't hate you."

Harry was now the one with the hopeful look on his face. "You don't?"

Severus shook his head, still looking at Harry. "I thought I did when I realized what you and Mr. Weasley were planning. Or what I thought you were planning." He looked down and then back up at Harry. "You love me, but you were just going to let me go off and date someone else without saying a word?"

Harry nodded, but the potion made him answer verbally. "Yes."

"You didn't think I deserved to know how you felt?" asked Severus.

"I didn't think it would really make any difference to you if you knew how I felt. Even if you and George didn't end up together, I knew you wouldn't want me, and I didn't think there was a reason to ruin our friendship over it."

"You didn't think I deserved to know the truth about Mr. Weasley?"

Harry hung his head. "I did think that, but I was worried that if I told you, it would make George upset. I was also worried that if I told you, one or both of you would realize my feelings, and then you would both know, and you would both hate me, and I couldn't stand the thought of that happening. I put my needs first, and I'm so sorry for that. I really never wanted to hurt you. I thought it would work out okay for both of you, that he would tell you the truth when you actually started dating, and then you would forgive him even if you didn't forgive me, and then you two would be happy."

"And as long as we were happy, you would be happy?" asked Severus. "If I told you that I was in love with George Weasley and wanted to marry him, that would make you happy?"

Tears filled Harry's eyes. He set the firewhiskey on the nearest flat surface and said, very quietly, "No. I would not be happy. I would be devastated. But I would be relieved that two people I care about had managed to find love. So I guess part of me would be happy at least, even if I personally would not be happy."

Severus sighed. "And what if I told you that I have no romantic feelings for Mr. Weasley?"

"Part of me would be happy," said Harry, hating himself. "And part of me would be terribly sad for George."

"And what if I told you that I was in love with you, Mr. Potter?" Severus asked quietly.

Harry closed his eyes as if that would block out the pain of that question. He knew Severus didn't love him, knew this was just another theoretical question to humiliate him, and he hated the man for that. "I wouldn't believe you."

"And if you did believe me?"

Harry kept his eyes closed, wishing there was another way out of answering. "I would kiss you and spend the rest of my life making sure you didn't regret taking a chance on me. And I would never be able to talk to George again because he would hate me. But I know you would never actually feel that way, so it doesn't actually matter."

"And what makes you think I couldn't love you?" asked Severus.

Tears formed behind his closed eyes as he fought not to answer the question. As if Severus didn't already know all the reasons. "I'm not good enough for you. I'm not smart enough. I'm not sophisticated. I don't know anything about potions. I'm not attractive. I'm way too short. I'm famous, and if anyone found out that we were together, they would want to focus even more on you, and you value your privacy. There's no way that I would ever be worth all that hassle to anyone, let alone someone as wonderful as you."

Once the words were out, he braced for the mocking.

"Oh, Harry."

Harry jerked his head up to look at the man who had just said his name so quietly, with so much regret. The man's eyes met his, and they were full of a warmth that had not been there when this conversation began.

"You are the most infuriating person I have ever met," said Severus, and then he was crossing the room and pressing his lips against Harry's. Harry moaned and opened his mouth so Severus's tongue could explore his mouth, gripping the man's shoulders tight so he couldn't pull away. They kissed and pulled each other close, kissing until they were out of breath and resting their foreheads against each other.

"I am in love with you," said Severus quietly, and Harry pulled his head back.

"No you're not," he said.

Severus gave him a look that was part exasperated, part sad. "Do I have to drink the truth potion to prove it to you?"

Harry opened his mouth to say no, but the truth potion forced him to say, "Yes." He winced and Severus chuckled. "Sorry."

Severus smiled at him and then finished the rest of Harry's drink. "It takes a moment for it to work."

Harry just stared at the man with his mouth hanging open. "You really drank it."

"Yes, I did."

"Why would you do that?" he asked.

"Because it was the only way to prove to you that I am in fact in love with you. I have been for quite some time, but I was sure nothing would ever happen. I helped George Weasley because he was your friend and I knew you would have wanted me to. I was happy when you started working here because it meant that I might get to talk to you, and then you actually did want to talk to me, and you showed how you had grown since you were a student. You were so mature, so thoughtful, so damn sexy."

Harry's eyes shone with happy tears this time as he listened to Severus speak, his heart soaring with every word the other man spoke.

"When you asked me about whether I would ever date, I hoped you meant that you wanted to date me, but then you never asked. When Mr. Weasley started to get more interesting, I tried to shift my feelings to him, as he seemed to reciprocate them, but it didn't work. I felt nothing for him, and any feelings I might have had were only there because he reminded me of you. Then I got suspicious that it was all a joke, and the date request seemed to prove it. I gave you the drink to prove it, but instead you told me everything I had ever wanted to hear. Because of that, I cannot say I'm sorry I did it. I wish we could have had this conversation the way normal people might, and I am sorry that this probably is not the way to go about making someone trust you, but I am not sorry it happened."

"Neither am I," said Harry. He leaned forward and gently kissed Severus again. "I'm sorry I helped George lie to you. I thought it was the best for everyone."

"Except you."

Harry nodded. "Except me."

Severus smiled. "I never thought I would have to accuse you of all people of having low self esteem."

Harry laughed. "I guess I'm just full of surprises."

"Indeed." Severus kissed him again. Then he pulled back and asked, "Would you like to continue this in the bedroom?"

"I'm a bit worried about doing that when you can't lie to protect my feelings, but I do want to have sex with you," Harry said. Then he winced. "Not exactly the way I wanted to say that, but I guess I can't say it's not true."

Severus chuckled. "I cannot imagine that I would have any complaints, but we can wait until the potion wears off if that would make you more comfortable."

"It would," said Harry. "I'm sorry. Does that upset you?"

"It is not what I would have chosen, but I have waited this long for you. I can wait a little longer."

Harry liked the sound of that. He smiled at the man and kissed him some more, and they spent the next hour kissing. Then Severus pulled back and said, "Say something not true."

Harry thought about it, realized that he could think without blurting something out, smiled, and said, "My hair is blue."

Severus arched an eyebrow. "All the lies in the world at your disposal, and that is the one you select?"

Harry shrugged. "It's a lie, isn't it? You say one."

"I have no interest in ever seeing you naked."

Harry winced and then realized what the man meant, and he smiled and kissed him. "In that case, you probably don't want to take this to the bedroom."

"Absolutely not," Severus muttered against his lips.

Harry smiled and led Severus to his bedroom.

*~*

When they were done, Harry cuddled into Severus's side and kissed the man's chest. "I love you."

"I love you, too," said Severus.

Harry drew circles on Severus's chest with his finger and then asked, "What are we going to do about George?"

Severus sighed. "I suppose we will have to tell him the truth."

Harry stopped drawing. "Yeah, I was afraid you'd say that."

"I do not want to hide our relationship," said Severus. "I will let you decide when to tell him, but I don't want to hide this forever."

"I don't want that, either," said Harry. He kissed Severus and tried to focus on that and not the fact that he was going to have to hurt George, which was the very last thing he wanted to do.

*~*

The next day, Harry went to visit George in the shop. One look, and George's face fell, and he jerked his head toward the back room. Harry followed him. When they were alone, George said, "He's not going out with me, is he?"

Harry shook his head.

George nodded, like he had expected this. "Did he say why?"

Harry hesitated. This was the part he was most dreading, but it was also the part that he most needed to say. "He said he's in love with someone else. I'm sorry, George."

George looked gutted. He fell against the wall and hung his head. Harry wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him, but he couldn't, not when he knew what the next question was inevitably going to be. "Did, did he say who it was?"

He lifted his head to look at Harry, and Harry's eyes filled with tears as he nodded. "Me."

George stared at him for a moment before his face twisted in pain. "You? He's in love with you?"

Harry flinched and nodded again. "I'm so sorry, George."

"And you're in love with him?"

Harry wanted to deny it, but he knew that would only make things worse in the long run. So he nodded again. George pushed himself off the wall and angrily paced around the room.

"I'm so sorry!" Harry cried. "I wasn't going to say anything—"

"Then why did you?" George rounded on him and stormed up to him, his hands clenched into fists. "Why the fuck did you say anything to him?"

"He put a truth potion in my drink! He knew you had been having the same conversations with him that I had, and when you asked him out, he thought we were trying to humiliate him. He put the truth potion in my drink so I would confess. While I was explaining to him how I was trying to help you, I also had to tell him how I really felt. I'm so sorry, George. I didn't meant to. It just came out. I would have never said anything to him otherwise. You know I wouldn't have. Why would I have spent so many months trying to help you if I was just going to turn around and tell him how I felt?"

George was still breathing heavily, but he looked slightly less like he wanted to punch Harry in the face.

"How long have you loved him?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't know exactly. I knew from the moment you asked me to find out if he was interested in dating that the idea of you two together bothered me, but I didn't really understand why for a few more months."

"And you expect me to believe that you would just have sat back and let me have him if he hadn't put a potion in your drink?" George asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Harry looked pleadingly at him. "George, you have to know I would never knowingly hurt you. Ever. I would have taken my feelings to my grave if it meant that you would have been happy with him. I swear I would have. I wouldn't even be with now if he didn't also feel the same way. And I swear I still tried to get him to pick you."

George held up his hands and backed away. "I don't need you doing me any more favors, thanks." He dropped his hands and walked back to the store.

Harry followed him. "George, please—"

George turned on him and yelled, "Get out!"

Everyone in the shop stopped and stared at them. Harry wanted to try to talk to him, but he knew that no matter how bad he felt, he was the one with Severus, and George was the one with no one again, and staying was not helping anyone.

"I'm so sorry," Harry whispered, and then he left.

*~*

Harry went back to Hogwarts and told Severus what happened. Severus offered to go and explain again on Harry's behalf, but Harry shook his head.

"Thank you for the offer, but that might just make things worse," he said. "We should give him some time. Maybe he'll calm down at some point and not hate me anymore."

Severus hugged Harry to him. "I'm sure he doesn't hate you."

Harry wasn't so sure about that, but at least he had Severus there to comfort him, so he knew he wasn't alone. Unlike George, who was all alone in his store.

Harry hated himself.

*~*

He skipped Christmas at the Burrow for the first time. He knew George wouldn't want him around, and he didn't want to take one more thing away from him. He saw Ron and Hermione the day before. Ron was confused why Harry and George were fighting over Snape of all people. Hermione hugged him and said George would get over it eventually, but Harry wasn't sure he agreed with that.

He spent Christmas with Severus. Despite how guilty he felt about George, he actually did have a good day. Severus woke him up with breakfast in bed, which they promptly ignored in favor of other activities. They spent most of the day in each other's arms, ignoring the outside world. That was how they spent most of winter break, actually, and Harry had never been happier.

Except he still felt miserable about George.

"I can speak to him," Severus offered for the fifth day in a row.

Harry shook his head. "I'm sure that would just make it worse."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Severus said. "I wouldn't have dated him even had you not returned my feelings."

"I don't think telling George that would help any." Harry knew it would have made him feel worse if he were in George's spot.

"I'm sure once he finds someone else to date, he'll move past this."

Harry looked down at the Christmas present he had sent George, which had been returned to him, crushed to pieces. "I hope so."

*~*

Over the next few months, Harry spent his free time either with Severus or fighting against the Ministry cloaks. He would also send periodic letters to George. None of them had been returned, but he also hadn't gotten any responses.

Harry continued to ignore family gatherings at the Weasleys', though he saw everyone individually aside from George.

Then in April, two amazing things happened.

The first was that Harry officially won the battle against the cloaks. He and Severus had a private celebration in their rooms.

The second was that he and George had an actual conversation.

It started when he went to Fred's grave. He had avoided it on their birthday, not wanting to intrude if George wanted to be there, but he went the day after and sat on the grass, looking at the grave.

"I'm so sorry I failed him," he whispered. "You'd be so disappointed in me. I never meant to hurt him, Fred."

"I know."

Harry jumped, terrified for a moment that somehow Fred was actually talking to him from beyond the grave.

Then he came to his senses and realized the voice was coming from behind him, and the person was very much alive.

"George."

George walked past Harry and over to the grave. "I don't usually come here. Too hard. I wanted to come yesterday but I just couldn't. You'd think after all these years it'd be easier, but it's not."

Harry didn't know what to say, was too afraid to do anything to make things worse. George was quiet for a moment, but then he looked at Harry. He still looked miserable, but the anger that was in his eyes the last time Harry saw him wasn't there.

"I shouldn't have ignored you all these months," said George.

Harry shook his head. "You had every right to be mad at me. I'm so sorry."

"You're still with him?" George asked.

Harry hesitated but knew he had to be honest. "Yes."

"You're happy together?"

"George—"

"Answer the question."

"Yes." He almost wished he could lie and say they miserable, but that wouldn't solve anything.

"I'm glad someone's happy, at least."

"If I could have made you the happy one, I would have," said Harry. "I swear on my life, I wouldn't have told him if I had had the choice."

George looked him in the eye for a moment before sighing and plopping down next to Harry. "I know you would have, and that would've been stupid. None of us would have been happy then, not really."

Harry felt it would be heartless to agree, so he stayed quiet.

"Fred wouldn't have been mad at you," said George. "Though he'd definitely have helped invent something to turn you into a snake or something."

Harry couldn't help but smile at the thought of the twins working together, though the smile was tinged with sadness. "I can see it now. Serpent Sours."

"Python Pralines."

"Cobra Clusters."

They both chuckled. Harry felt more hopeful than he had in months.

"You realize you've just volunteered to try any of these varieties as soon as they're ready for testing, yes?" George asked, his eyes half teasing, half serious.

Harry smiled. "Seems fair."

George smiled back. "Good. Besides, I'm sure Snape can fix you up if anything goes wrong."

For a moment, Harry feared they were backsliding, but George didn't look upset. "He'd probably appreciate a Gryffindor turned into a snake."

"Maybe that's what we need: House pride sweets. Cheer your Quidditch team on right with Lion Lollies."

"Badger Biscuits."

"Eagle Eclairs."

They laughed again.

"I missed you," said Harry quietly.

George sighed. "I missed you, too. I'm sorry I ignored you for so long."

"I'd probably have done the same thing if our positions were reversed."

"No, you wouldn't have," said George, sounding more serious than he had at any other point in their conversation. "You're the most forgiving person I've ever met. You always put others before yourself. So does Snape. It's good that you both found each other. Really."

Harry's heart felt lighter than it had in months. "Thank you, George."

"You don't have to avoid the house when I'm there," he said. "And you can even bring Snape with you."

"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable—"

"I have to get used to it eventually," he said. "You've been missing enough family functions because of me. You're family. You deserve to be there. And if you're with Snape, he should be there, too."

They talked for a while more, catching up on everything they had missed over the past few months. Harry made plans to visit his shop again soon before he left.

He went straight to Severus's rooms when he returned to the castle, a huge smile on his face as he entered without knocking, having been keyed to Severus's wards months ago.

Severus looked up from the papers he was grading, surprise clear on his face. "You look oddly happy given where you just were."

"George was there!" said Harry, collapsing onto the couch next to Severus. "He's forgiven me!"

Severus's confused look intensified. "You visited him?"

Harry shook his head. "He came while I was talking to Fred. He apologized for cutting me out of his life and said you and I are both welcome to come to any Weasley gathering."

"What brought on the sudden change of heart?"

Harry shrugged. "I guess enough time had passed that he wasn't as upset anymore. He wants us to be happy. Not that I want to flaunt our relationship in his face or anything, but I'm glad he's speaking to me again."

Severus pulled him into a hug. "I'm glad. I know his absence has been hard on you."

"And you," said Harry, snuggling into Severus's side.

"He was your friend."

"But you had to put up with me while he wasn't talking to me." Harry tilted his head up to look at Severus. "I know this wasn't exactly what you were hoping for when we got together."

Severus tilted his head down to kiss Harry. Harry lost himself in the kiss for a moment before Severus pulled back enough to say, "Part of loving someone is being there for them in the difficult times. Besides, I am just as much to blame as you are for hurting Mr. Weasley. More so, in fact. Had I returned his feelings, yours wouldn't have mattered."

"True. Really, this is all your fault."

Severus smiled and kissed Harry again. "I suppose it is."

"Good thing it doesn't matter anymore, then. I get to have you both."

For the first time since they had gotten together, Harry got to enjoy an evening in Severus's rooms without feeling guilty. He knew things would still be awkward between George and Severus for a while, but Harry knew they would get past it.

He decided he’d wait until morning to tell Severus about all the product testing Harry had accidentally volunteered to help with.