ouai9.cc 
Snape’s hand froze in the act of lowering his glass. Just for a second, but with Snape small things spoke loudly, if you paid attention.
“I have no hope of answering that question, Mr. —”
“Check,” Harry cautioned.
“—Harry. Only you can know why you … like me, as you say. I can only marvel at the idea.”
* * *
Their food arrived quickly and conversation lagged whilst both men made sizeable dents in their pasta. Once hunger was appeased they engaged in surprisingly pleasant discussion about the quality of the food and the ambience.
Harry sipped his water and smiled. He was having such a good time he didn’t mind that it wasn’t wine.
Snape was indulgent enough to prompt him. “Something is amusing, Mr. – ?”
“Check,” Harry murmured.
“—Harry?”
“I was just thinking. It’s amazing, isn’t it,” Harry said, “where a curse can take you?”
“You never did explain how it happened,” Snape said.
“You never asked,” Harry replied.
“And God knows you never volunteer unwanted information,” Snape said. Harry chuckled.
“Okay. We were after the Lestranges. They surfaced in Germany, of all places, and the Ministry sent me and Kingsley. We met with a couple of German Aurors and tracked the Lestranges to a house about 60 miles outside Frankfurt.” Harry shrugged, seeing the vine-covered cottage in his mind, deceptively quiet and cosy.
“They were ready for us,” Harry said. “The two German Aurors were killed. Kingsley got off with a few scorches, but Bellatrix managed to curse me before she and Rodolphus got away.” Harry shook his head. “It was a cock-up from the start. I think someone told them we were coming.”
“Someone from the German Ministry, or ours?” Snape asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t any proof, and I didn’t see anything suspicious. I just can’t think how they can have been prepared for us without knowing.” Harry shook his head again, trying to dismiss futile anger. “Anyway, I was for going after them, but Kingsley recognized the curse she’d used and insisted I come home to be cured.” He smiled.
“Which brought me back to you. And which brings us back here.” He gestured at the restaurant.
Snape lifted his glass. “For which, on behalf of my taste buds, I thank you.”
“Like I said.” Harry swirled the last of his spaghetti. “You never know where a curse will take you.” He shoved it into his mouth unceremoniously. Snape rolled his eyes.
“Ill-mannered brat.” He waved for the waiter to bring him more wine.
Harry swallowed, calling after the departing waiter. “And the dessert menu, please.”
“Bottomless pit,” Snape muttered, almost fondly.
“Growing boy,” Harry countered.
“You’ll start growing sideways if you aren’t careful.”
Harry grinned. “I’ll just have to find some way to work it off.”
And Snape actually blushed. “Idiot.”
* * *
Leaving the restaurant late, they apparated back to Hogwarts and walked to the castle in a comfortable silence. The halls were quiet, the torches dimmed; their footfalls were the only sounds in the corridors.
Harry glanced from time to time at Snape, catching him doing the same thing, but neither of them spoke until they stopped at the junction of corridors where they had to part, each going to his own wing of the castle.
“Thank you for dinner, Mr. Potter,” Snape said.
Harry cursed inwardly to realize he’d lost his bargaining power once he’d paid the check – and that Snape was well aware of it.
“You’re welcome,” he said gamely. “Thanks for playing along.”
“Playing along?”
“You know, acting like you were enjoying yourself.”
“You’re fishing again,” Snape warned.
Harry laughed. “And I caught you, this time.” He was kind enough to not let Snape’s discomfiture last. “Seriously, sir. I had a good time.”
Snape shook his head, evidently bemused.
“Why does that surprise you?” Harry persisted. “I like my own company just fine, and yours was better. Why shouldn’t I have had a good time?”
Snape snorted a laugh, almost a gentle chuckle for him. “Next you’ll be wanting to kiss me good night.” He shook his head again, while Harry stood frozen. He did want to. A lot. He’d been trying since dinner’s end to think of a smooth way of doing so. Easier to think of a smooth way of stealing a dragon’s egg.
“What if I did?” he said quietly.
“Did what?”
“What if I did want to kiss you goodnight?”
“You would be sorely disappointed,” Snape said immediately.
“You’re a bad kisser?” Harry teased, stepping closer. “You could let me be the judge of that.”
Snape rolled his eyes. “Good night, Mr. Potter.” He spun and strode off into the dungeons.
“Oh.” That was what he’d meant about disappointment. “Good night, professor.”
* * *
Unsurprisingly, Harry couldn’t fall asleep. After tossing and turning for an hour, he got up, took a cold shower, then – cursing – took a warm shower to get the chill out of his bones. Then he dressed and took a walk.
