Elephant In The Room

It was five weeks later since Harry split up with his wife and got a job at Ted's restaurant. He had had little contact with his kids once Ginny realised that he wasn't coming home ever again and that he was moving on. James and Albus had complained loudly every night until Ginny gave in and allowed Harry to see them every Saturday and Sunday morning through to midday.

Ted had quickly become a close friend to Harry and they often went back to Ted's place on a Friday night to wind down and talk about their pasts. Apparently Ted had almost as bad childhood as Harry's only he found a school that took him in once they found out about his abusive home life.

Harry was feeling pretty happy here and content that he finally found a friend who didn't see him as the Boy-Who-Lived, but as Harry... Just Harry.

It was a Friday night and Harry turned up for his usual shift at 5pm. He was dressed in a black and white suit that Ted had brought him that first night which Harry quickly found he loved to wear as it fit his body perfectly and showed off every curve and muscle on his body. Tonight was going to be a busy night as they had a table booked for a party at 8pm as well as the rest of the public that decided to dine there.

The night seemed to go pretty quickly and before all the staff knew it, 8pm had arrived as well as the large party that had reserved the large table. Harry was stationed at the counter to greet and sit the guests that walked in. It just so happened that the next time he looked up that the party had arrived. Harry was utterly lost for words as he starred at his old professors standing in front of him arguing about who is shouting them.

Harry laughed and that got the attention of the group.

"Evening Mr Potter," McGonagall greeted him with a smile.

"Evening Professor," Harry smiled looking around at all the familiar faces. "Your table is waiting for you guys, when you are ready please follow me." Harry said as he led the group over to a large table that would fit fourteen people even though the group had a number of twelve people.

"Ted shall be your waiter tonight, he shall be around to take your orders after he finishes with the other guests he is serving currently. Please feel welcomed to look through the menu while you are waiting," Harry said as he bowed to the group before turning and making his way back to the counter where another family had just arrived and were waiting to be seated.

The night dragged on and Harry couldn't help but keep glancing over to the table and starring at the one and only Severus Snape in amazement. News of how he had survived was spread around the next day in the Daily Prophet.

Apparently Severus had been preparing for a snake bite for many years and had trained himself how to heal from one within seconds of being bitten. But it had confused Harry as he had watched his professor pass out. The Daily Prophet never did reveal exactly what method Snape had used.

Harry glanced over at the professor's table once again as he collected dishes and wiped the surface of tables no longer occupied. His eyes stumbled across cold, black eyes staring intently into his own bright, green eyes.

Harry couldn't help but blush a light shade of red and turned around to the work he was being paid to do. Something has always fascinated him about that man, even back in his own school days, he just didn't realise it until those few moments Harry had been beside Snape watching him die.

Business started winding down and the professor were the last ones left in the restaurant. Harry helped clean the tables and stack the chairs, wiping down menus and the counter where he had spent most of his shift.

"Good work tonight, Harry," Ted said, bringing over a bowl of spaghetti bolognese and some cutlery. "Go enjoy yourself before we head off." Ted knew that those were Harry's old professor and wanted to encourage his friend to reconcile some relationships from the past so he wasn't so alone in this world.

Harry nodded his thanks and walked over to the table shyly, sitting down next to the man of mysterious himself, Severus Snape, and begun eating his meal. Most of the professors smiled at him warmly as he joined them and they continued their conversation until he had finished his dinner.

"Well, what a pleasant surprise to find you here, Mr Potter," professor Flitwick squeaked with a large smile on his face. "Last everyone had heard of you, you had run away from home and you were talking nonsense. Ginny spoke to the media about how you weren't in your right mind and that you weren't allowed to see the kids until you were better."

"Oh did she just?" Harry growled out, surprising his professors by his strong reaction. "She's lying. I left her. I left her and my job. I couldn't stand being around her anymore, I just couldn't. But I still see the kids every Saturday and Sunday morning. She's such a bi-"

"Mr Potter! Please, watch your language!" professor McGonagall scolded him, a disappointed look on her face.

"Sorry, Professor," Harry smiled sheepishly up at her. "But you know I am an adult now, I am allowed to use words like that now."

The professors laughed at Harry, all but one. Harry glanced over to see Snape searching his face with those black eyes. Harry didn't understand what he was doing so he just turned back to the others.

"We were discussing something earlier. Would you like to come back to Hogwarts and become the new Defence Against The Dark Arts Professor?" professor McGonagall asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.

"I'll have to think about it," Harry responded. "But I think the answer will be yes. I'll let you know by tomorrow morning before I go see my kids."

"Alright, we'll be waiting for your response," and with that the professors stood up from the table and walked outside.

All but one.

Harry turned around in his seat to find Snape still searching his face from before, he frowned and stood up as he got to cleaning up his meal and all the other dishes the professors had left behind. He saw Snape grab a few plates and bowls as well and found him following him into the kitchen where he then dumped the plates and bowls into a large sink.

Everyone had gone home, even Ted, Harry had read the note that had been left above the sink. In times like this, Harry was to finish cleaning and then lock up the place, which was almost every Friday as he would be dropping the keys off to Ted at his home.

Harry turned around and found himself stuck where he was, wide eyes staring into black eyes close to his. His breathing came out short and he couldn't help but fidget with his hands nervously.

"Mr Potter," Snape drawled out. "Will you actually please come back to Hogwarts to teach? We need a decent and qualified professor as yourself to teach the art of defence. I don't say please often... So please come back?"

Harry was at a loss for words as he grabbed the plates and bowls Snape held in his hands. He turned around and placed them in the skin before grabbing the edge of the bench and drooping his head and shoulders. He felt so vulnerable right then and there and he didn't like it one bit.

"I wouldn't know where to begin," Harry admitted loudly enough for Snape to hear him. "I-I doubt I could be a good professor anyway."

Harry gasped quietly as he felt large, strong hands starting to massage his shoulders; it had been a long time since he had had this sort of touch. He missed it so much and craved it. Harry leaned back until he was leaning against a strong torso and those hands snaked forwards until the wrapped around Harry's front to hold him against him.

"I can help you," Snape's deep voice whispered in Harry's ear, causing him to shiver. "How about I write up a curriculum for the upcoming year in exchange for you teaching it at Hogwarts?"

Harry dumbly nodded his head as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the shoulder behind him. He breathed deeply to calm himself down and then took a few steps away from Snape.

"I don't know what you're trying to do, but don't do that ever again," Harry said to the floor as he was too shy to look the man in the eyes.

Harry heard a loud pop and looked up to see the man gone. Great he had apparated away with so much as an apology or an explanation.

Harry sighed as he washed up and cleaned anything else down that he had to. Then he stacked the chairs that the professors had occupied before turning off the lights, locking the door and walking two blocks to the right to get to Ted's place.

Knocking at the door, Sandy – Ted's wife – opened it and let him in with a smile on her face, saying that Ted was in the office.

Harry walked into the familiar office and sat down across from his friend whom was neck deep in a bunch of paperwork.

"So what did they want?" Ted asked, not even looking up to know that something was on Harry's mind.

"They want me to go back to Hogwarts to become the Defence Against The Dark Arts professor," Harry sighed. "This means I would have to stop working for you during the school sessions, but I could always come back on my holiday breaks and help out if I take the position."

"Of course you can help out when you are on the holiday breaks!" Ted looked up and smiled as he placed a pen down on top of some paperwork. "Harry, I suggest you think about what you want and what your heart is telling you to do. It isn't a hard decision and to me I know which one you should choose."

Ted and Harry smiled at each other before Harry said his goodbye and left the keys on the desk. He was really tired, not to mention confused about what had happened earlier with Snape, and all he wanted to do was get under the covers of his soft bed and sleep the night away.