Chapter 8

On Friday afternoon, after all his classes were done and before dinner, Severus left Hogwarts. He ignored the curious stares of both staff and students alike as he swept through the gates with his usual scowl. The evening air beyond the castle was cold. Severus walked past the wards and far enough from the castle's Apparition restrictions. He hesitated for only three seconds. The thought of the weekend to come and of him turning around and claiming school obligations flashed only briefly in his mind.

He shook those thoughts away. He wouldn't say he was nervous. Severus Snape was never nervous. He was just unsure of exactly what he'd be walking into this weekend. Finally, with a turn of his heel, he apparated to the front porch of Harry's manor.

Harry was waiting to welcome him when Severus stepped into the foyer. He stood near the archway leading deeper into the manor and was dressed in dark formal robes. And of course Potter's hair was as impossible as ever. Harry's face lit up the moment Severus appeared.

"You are staring," Severus said.

Harry crossed the distance between them. "Yes. How could I not when a handsome man enters my home for the weekend?"

"I thought we had discussed this."

"We have. I remain unrepentant," Harry shot back and then stopped close enough that Severus could feel the warmth of him. "May I?"

Severus arched one brow. "You have not said what you are requesting."

"A kiss."

Severus glanced toward the hallway, causing Harry to chuckle. "Tilly promised to pretend she isn't watching from the kitchen corridor. She won't spy on us as she did last Sunday when I had the pleasure of having you in the gazebo."

Severus blushed while a faint crack sounded somewhere far away, followed by an offended, "Tilly is not watching!"

Harry closed his eyes, but Severus's mouth twitched. "Your elf is a menace." The Potion master muttered.

Severus leaned forward, and Harry met him halfway. Their kiss was brief at first before it became passionate. When they parted, Harry's smile was softer. Then Harry's gaze dropped to the bag.

"You packed," he observed.

"I am not walking back to Hogwarts at midnight because you neglected basic hospitality."

Harry's face brightened at what Severus had implied. "So, you're staying?"

"If it is of no inconvenience."

"None at all, Severus," Harry purred while sliding a hand over his hips. Then Harry stepped back, though reluctantly. "I need to get my coat. You can place your bag down. Tilly will place it in the bedroom."

"Do you need an extra coat as well? It's colder in Paris." Harry then asked.

"What?" Severus stilled.

"I made reservations."

"In Paris," Severus said.

"Yes."

"France."

"That is generally where Paris is located. Though I guess you are right for asking. There's also a Paris in Texas, Tennessee, Ontario, and Kentucky." Harry frowned. "Though if you prefer Texas, we could always have dinner at the ranch I own there."

Severus stared at him, and Harry dared to look pleased with himself. "When you said dinner somewhere private, you failed to mention international travel."

"It's magical Paris. Hardly international in any meaningful sense." Harry stated.

"That is possibly the most obscenely wealthy sentence you have ever spoken."

Harry laughed and offered his arm. Severus took it, and the apparition was smooth. One moment they stood in the foyer, and the next, they emerged beneath a covered archway with Magical Paris spread before them. Beyond the rooftops, the Eiffel Tower glittered in the distance.

Severus stood motionless, taking in the view. He had always wanted to come to Paris, but given his upbringing and his teacher's salary, which was mostly used for his research, he never had the chance to really travel. Of course, he would not tell Harry this.

Meanwhile, Harry watched him. "Too much?" the other asked.

Severus turned his head slowly. "You Apparated me to Paris for dinner."

"Yes."

"As if it were a village pub."

Harry's mouth twitched at that. "The restaurant is across the street," Harry said while pointing.

Severus looked across the street. The restaurant looked discreet. Its sign read L'Étoile Souterraine in elegant gold lettering.

Harry glanced at Severus. "I was thinking, after dinner, would you like to see some of the sights?"

"Yes," Severus said far too quickly.

He then looked away slightly, and instead he adjusted his grip on Harry's arm and allowed himself to be led across the street. L'Étoile Souterraine was more elegant up close. Its windows overlooking the Parisian version of Diagon Alley seemed to be veiled with privacy charms. A tall wizard in midnight-blue robes smiled as they entered.

"Monsieur Potter," he greeted warmly. "Bienvenue. Your table for two is prepared."

"Thank you, Étienne," Harry said.

They were led through a narrow entry hall lit by floating candles and into the main dining room. The restaurant was built below street level, with arched stone walls and a ceiling charmed to show the Parisian night sky above them. Their table sat beside a curved window overlooking a small garden.

Harry pulled out Severus's chair. Severus stared and then sat before the situation grew more absurd. Harry took the seat opposite him, and a pair of menus appeared before them in French, then shifted into English due to the embedded translation spell.

Severus opened his eyes and then froze. He scanned the first page, and his brows might as well have shot to Jupiter itself.

Harry watched him with a smile. "Order whatever you want," he then said.

Severus did not look up. He was still staring at the menu. "I am capable of selecting a meal without instruction."

"I know, but I am instructing you not to choose based on the price." Harry stated, "I want to spoil my boyfriend a little."

Severus went completely still, and Harry seemed to realize what he had said only after he said it.

"I may be getting ahead of myself," Harry said carefully as his confidence faltered.

Severus's fingers tightened around the edge of the menu. 'Boyfriend' was such an ordinary word. He'd had quick flings before, but boyfriend? No one had ever called him that. 'No one had ever wanted to.' Severus thought miserably.

"We have not defined anything, and I should not have assumed. I'm sorry," Harry quickly stated.

Severus lowered the menu. "I never had one," he finally said.

"A boyfriend?" Harry asked.

Severus's mouth tightened. "Yes."

Harry's hand moved across the table, slow enough that Severus could refuse. The Potion master looked at it for several seconds before placing his own hand in Harry's.

Then Harry's fingers closed around his. "I would like to be yours," He said quietly. "If you'll have me."

"Very well," Severus said stiffly.

Harry blinked. "Very well?"

"Do not make me repeat myself."

Harry's face lit up, and Severus snapped, "Do not look at me like that."

"I have a boyfriend," Harry said, clearly incapable of sense.

"You have a death wish."

"I have a boyfriend and a death wish."

"Harry."

But Harry only laughed. Severus withdrew his hand before he did something foolish, such as smile.

By the time Étienne returned, Severus had selected the venison with black truffle sauce and a starter involving scallops and charred leek. Harry chose the same, along with a wine he described in French so rapidly that Severus caught only half of it and suspected the other half involved an extravagant year. The first course arrived promptly with an immaculate presentation.

Dinner settled after that into something almost comfortable. Harry spoke of Paris with familiarity. He told Severus which bookshops were worth entering, which were traps for tourists, and which apothecaries were run by competent people.

Halfway through their appetizers, Harry went still. It was subtle, but Severus noticed immediately.

"What?" he asked

"Nothing," Harry said while looking back at him.

"Liar."

Harry exhaled slowly. "Caspian just came in."

"Of course he did." Severus set down his fork.

"We can ignore him." Harry continued.

"I am more than capable of ignoring vain objects."

"Well, well, well," came a familiar voice after a few minutes, "Paris really does offer surprises."

Harry's expression flattened as Caspian stood beside their table in pale blue robes

"Harry," he said.

"Caspian," Harry answered with an edge in his tone.

Severus, meanwhile, picked up his wineglass and took a sip. Caspian's eyes flicked toward him, then away, dismissively.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"That makes two of us." Harry leaned back.

"Oh, don't be like that." Caspian smiled. "I only came to say hello. I've moved on, you'll be pleased to hear."

"I'm overwhelmed with joy," Harry uttered dryly.

"Yes, I imagine that must sting." Caspian tilted his head. "Being replaced."

"Have you come to deliver conversation," Severus asked, "or merely to demonstrate that exile did nothing to improve your manners, boy?"

Harry's lips twitched despite himself at Caspian's displeasure at being called 'boy'.

"I see your passing fancy still has teeth," Caspian grumbled.

Harry started to speak, but Caspian swept on. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You always liked difficult things for a while, Harry. Though I admit, I expected you to grow bored with this one by now."

Harry's chair scraped back, but before he could say anything else, another voice cut through the tension.

"Caspian?" someone said, and all three turned. Draco Malfoy stood several paces away beside the hostess while looking at the scene with confusion.

Caspian brightened with confidence. "Darling," he said while he swept toward Draco and took his arm, "I'm sorry. I just spotted an old lover and came to say hello."

Draco looked from Caspian to Harry, then to Severus, then to the table, and the unmistakable intimacy of it all.

"Potter," Draco said slowly.

"Malfoy," Harry replied.

Caspian smiled and leaned into Draco's side. "At least my lover isn't decrepit."

Draco's face emptied, and he slowly removed Caspian's hand from his arm. Then he took one step back. "What the hell," Draco said in a low and razor-sharp voice, "did you just say about my godfather?"

Caspian blinked. "Your what?"

"My godfather."

Caspian looked at Severus and then at Draco again. "Oh."

"You wandered away from our table to insult my godfather?" Draco's eyes narrowed.

"I didn't know he was your godfather."

"That does not improve your position." Draco shot back.

"Draco, darling..."

"Do not darling me while I am deciding whether to hex you in public."

The host, Étienne, appeared and asked, "Is everything satisfactory, Monsieur Potter? Monsieur Malfoy?"

"No," Draco said finally. "My reservation will need adjustment."

"Draco." Caspian stared.

"I will be dining alone."

"You cannot be serious."

"I assure you, I can, and I am."

"Draco, you are overreacting," Caspian stated.

"My father overreacts," he said. "I am being remarkably restrained."

"Draco..."

"No." Caspian stiffened as the blond turned towards him. "I invited you to dinner because I thought you were charming."

"I am."

"I thought you were witty." Draco continued. "I thought my father was being dramatic when he called you a money-grubbing sea urchin."

"Your father called me what?" Caspian flushed red.

"Repeatedly," Draco stated. "He will be insufferable when he learns he was right."

Étienne stepped forward. "Monsieur, perhaps it would be best if I escorted you out."

Draco's attention snapped to Harry once Caspian had departed. "Potter."

"Malfoy," Harry answered back.

"If you hurt Uncle Sev, I will be first; Father will be second in line, followed by most of the Slytherin house over the decade, who will very likely try to decimate you financially, that is, if Uncle Sev has not hexed you to Neptune."

"I understand." Harry's stated.

"I am serious."

"So am I," Harry replied. Draco studied him, and whatever Draco saw seemed to satisfy him, though only barely.

"Good," Draco then said before walking back to his table.