Things are moving faster than Severus realizes. He's already well and truly hooked and I think you were right about Harry deciding to stay away on purpose, just to show Severus how far their 'seasonal camaraderie' had actually gone. :D

It is true that Severus was extremely brave in this chapter and I'm sure that courage will lead him somewhere wonderful eventually. Thanks, as always, for taking the time to both read and review another chapter of this fic, agnes. Your beautiful words meant the world to me. :)