26

Chapter Twenty-Six

68

They were late for breakfast, and Harry was rather grateful that Neville had already left. He was going to tell him, of course, as well as Ron and Hermione, but having some protein and coffee first couldn't hurt. Besides, Severus was holding his hand beneath the table, and Harry kept squirming in his seat, and he wasn't sure he could carry on a conversation at this particular moment.

Which was why when Minerva asked them to accompany her to her office as they finished eating, Harry was less than pleased. The walk to her office was silent, and it wasn't until the three were sitting at her desk did she speak.

"The time has come to stop dancing around this and have a real conversation," Minerva said bluntly. "There is no reason for you not to have a relationship, but certain ground rules must be set, rules you have not been following on your own."

Harry glanced at Severus. He remained impassive, though Harry saw something flash through his eyes.

"What would those be?" Severus asked, voice clipped.

"Displays of affection at the breakfast table are unacceptable," she said. "I understand you must leave the school for—personal time somehow, but again, abstaining from physical contact until you are off campus is paramount. There is no need to lie, but do refrain from being so obvious, would you? It is unprofessional and could put the position of your apprenticeship in jeopardy."

Harry turned to Severus. "Could it?"

Severus shook his head sharply. "Minerva is not on the committee who evaluates impending Potion Masters, and it seems she has forgotten that some can remain objective."

"Severus," she snapped. "I can make this very difficult for you, and if you continue to be so rude, I will take personal joy from doing so."

"Pardon me, Minerva," Severus replied, voice dripping with sarcasm. "If I remember correctly, Professors Frederick Hatfield and Rosalie Rhydderch were more than obvious when I was a student. You did not have a problem with their relationship, nor did Albus."

Minerva's lips tightened. "Are you implying this is an issue of gender?"

"Nothing of the sort, merely remarking upon past circumstance," Severus said lightly, and it was obvious enough he was unconvinced, to put it mildly. "Albus himself was so far in the closet his orientation was not revealed to the public until after his death, and then only through an inflammatory biography."

"And here I thought you were a private man," Minerva replied stiffly. "Do you find it proper to go about flaunting romantic involvement in front of the school?"

"I find it proper to conduct my affairs as I see fitting without any interference, from you or anyone else," Severus said angrily. "By the very nature of my reservation, I would assume you would trust my discretion. As far as this morning was concerned, no one but the staff could possibly see the positioning of anyone's hands beneath the Head Table. While I consider last night to be no one's business but mine and Harry's, if I did need to defend myself, I would say that setting a positive example for the students of what a healthy relationship looks like is beneficial, regardless of gender."

"It is an issue of decorum!" Minerva exclaimed. "I could not care less about your sexual orientation. The students' families and relationships amongst themselves may set examples, there is no need to quite literally parade through the front hall entwined. Harry, sit still!"

Harry flamed red and stopped wiggling.

"Perhaps you are being too hard on them," Dumbledore's portrait spoke up. "Surely there is nothing wrong with young love, and I can think of no two men more deserving of happiness than these fine gentlemen."

Minerva shot a furious glare at him while Severus glowered and Harry focused his energy on keeping still despite the hard wooden chair. "Albus, it is not—" She regained her composure and turned back to Harry and Severus. "I have no problem with your relationship, and once again, I am not asking you to keep it quiet. Just tone it down."

"With all due respect," Harry said quietly, "we've been together since February. If there hasn't been an issue in two months, I think we've been quite discreet. I agree with Severus; he was taking me on a date last night. Dinner, in Paris, and then a walk along the Rhine. Is that not okay?"

"Very romantic, I am sure," Minerva replied tightly. "All I ask is you cease public displays of affection. These are the same standards we hold our students to, and it was you, Severus, who brought up setting a good example. Hypocrisy will turn the rules into a laughingstock."

"And if Harry and I begin making out in the corridors, I assure you we will stop." Severus stood elegantly, and Harry scrambled to his feet. "Now if you will excuse us, Harry is late for his lesson, as am I. You mentioned his Potion Master exam, I am sure you understand. Have a pleasant morning."

"Before you leave, Harry, you should be aware that the bite marks on your neck are well defined and all too visible," Minerva said.

Harry blushed furiously as Severus said, "My mistake, Minerva, not Harry's." He swept away, robes billowing out behind him, and Harry followed. He waited to say anything until they were out of hearing range of the stone gargoyle, and it was only then that he realized he was physically shaking.

"Severus, I don't—do you really think that was the best way to handle the situation?" Harry asked nervously.

Severus took his hand and squeezed, dispelling much of Harry's nerves. "I have a reputation to uphold, and I will not allow you to tarnish it," he replied coolly, and Harry smiled. Jokes were so rare, and even ones as deadpan and theoretically rude as this were welcomed. "I hold Minerva in high regard and I recognize she is trying to do what she believes best for the school, but in this case she is wrong, and I will not back down."

"She won't try to break us up, will she?" Harry asked. Despite the change from Professor McGonagall to Minerva, despite becoming a staff member, she would always be above him, and would never lose the stern imposition that had been his first impression of her.

Severus snorted. "I'd like to see her try." Harry's heart soared, and he nearly tripped and tumbled down the rest of the stairs to the second floor landing. Three small words were irrelevant in the face of statements like that. "But no, she will not. She has more respect for both of us than that. She is choosing a conservative route, and I cannot fault her for that. It is our reputation she is protecting as well as the school's; the Prophet will have a field day. You and I should have discussed the repercussions of our 'parade' last night beforehand, but that is a decision that was ours, and while Minerva's attempts to protect us are well-intentioned, it is none of her business."

"I'm kind of over the papers by now," Harry said. "If I can be a Basilisk and still stay the Golden Boy, I think I can handle the world knowing I'm gay." He paused. "That's not an issue in the wizarding world, is it? No more so than with Muggles?"

"Only amongst pureblood families who are required to produce an heir," Severus replied. "Beyond that, irrelevant." He paused. "I may have been out of line accusing Minerva of using that against us. You need only worry what people will say of the Golden Boy keeping company with a former Death Eater."

Harry squeezed his hand. "I couldn't care less. Assuming you and your reputation don't care that you're with said Golden Boy."

Severus winced slightly. "I will survive." They reached the lab, and Severus sent one of his older potion books over to Harry's station and the pages flipping open to a potion Harry had never heard of. "Work quickly if you do not wish to miss lunch."

Harry leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Severus rolled his eyes. "You will not be thanking me when you read the directions. Focus, Potter."

Harry suppressed a smile. "Yes, sir."