Dumbledore had never forgiven him for applying to the Board for the job. A few members have mentioned how well your students have been doing.' I am sure the Board will be impressed with your work. 'I will send you a new contract over the summer. Harry wondered how Hogwarts even managed to remain open. Dumbledore hadn't even opened his letter of resignation or if he did, he elected to ignore it. Harry didn't reply as he realized he had been correct. 'I was telling Minerva how well you have been doing.' 'Very good.' Dumbledore picked up the items and dropped them in his overflowing inbox. My classroom is cleaned so is everything else.' Harry placed the thick stack of parchment and scrolls on Dumbledore's desk. Care to join me?' Dumbledore greeted him. He turned away and headed for the Headmaster's office to drop off his report.

He wondered if his dogfather ever had any original ideas. He saw out of the corner of his eye that his dogfather was now placing his arm around Severus, following Lupin's lead. He could see Remus with his arms around Tonk's shoulder with Teddy riding on her hip. He heard the train whistle and saw it start slowly leaving the station. He wasn't going to prevent Severus from his happiness. Severus earned the right to have someone that made him happy. He didn't want to interfere with Severus' happiness and if his dogfather made him happy, Severus deserved that happiness. He just had to give his final grades and he was free. He was standing at the door, watching the last of the students leaving. He had his bags packed, shrunk, and in his pocket. He even had to get hired by the Board for the Runes position as Dumbledore doubted Harry's Masters. He always knew the man saw him as a pawn. It didn't surprise Harry that Dumbledore basically ignored him except when he needed something. Dumbledore hadn't paid attention to him since he defeated Voldemort. He was a bit surprised that he hadn't heard from Dumbledore about his resignation. The next two weeks passed in agonizing slowness as students finished their NEWTs and OWLs and were now getting ready to leave. He pushed back and quietly left the Great Hall. He laid his fork down, he couldn't eat anymore. It was time, he couldn't keep living like this. He touched the rolled-up piece of parchment in his robes. Harry was thankful this year was over in two weeks. Harry had wanted to throw something at Dumbledore when he would talk about a thin line between hate and love. Dumbledore would start how love is the most powerful of magic lecture. How happy he was that the two finally overcame their mutual hate of each other. He amended that thought, his Dogfather talked to Severus, he touched Severus, and Harry didn't like it.Дumbledore kept saying how happy the two of them looked. Lupin, Tonks, and his Dogfather spent their time talking to Minerva and Dumbledore. Pomona didn't speak to his Dogfather or Lupin. The staff didn't seem as united as it appeared when he attending Hogwarts as a student. Harry always felt Dumbledore did it as a way to secure his own position of power. After the war, Dumbledore had provided those he felt served him best with great positions. Lupin and his wife, Tonks, teaching Defense. He was in his second year of teaching Runes. Maybe he read it wrong? Maybe he was being nicer because of his Dogfather? Maybe he read the whole situation with Severus wrong? He just wished Severus returned his feelings. Granted, Severus still always called him Potter and made references to his father but not nearly as often. He believed he had made progress with Severus. When he discovered the truth he had tried to deny his new found crush but he couldn't. He fell in love with the man not because of his looks but for the man's brains. He knew it was jealousy but he had wanted Severus since he discovered he was the Half-Blood Prince. He had hoped that because Severus was talking to his Dogfather he would talk to him. He didn't understand why Severus could forgive his Dogfather but not him. Severus ignored Lupin yet was willing to allow his Dogfather to touch him. However, his Dogfather got hired by Dumbledore to teach Astronomy and Severus' attention goes to the mutt. He had been trying to get Severus' attention for almost two years. He watched as Black touched his Severus, again.

Love is a battlefield