to write again.

The rest of the day was in fact, full of studying for Harry. Book after book, Snape made Harry read each and every word. If Harry skipped something, anything, Snape miraculously know and made him go back to read it twice. Somehow, he’d know each time, and each time, Harry resisted the idea to whine about it. It felt exhausting. Studying on his birthday? It wasn’t all that cracked up as Hermione always said it was.

Alas, sitting at the desk next to Mischief the black cat, Harry just sat and read about all the different creatures in Northern Europe or different charms about this and that. He’d already known all of it, of course, but the reminder made him remember much more vividly, easily helping reintroduce some spells that the average duelist would quickly forget. Some good spells to hex or jinx an opponent were available to the average young wizard, and people didn’t even use them often! Such a waste of perfectly easy and useful spells.

After a handful of hours in study, Snape looked down at a wrist watch then got up from his seat at the other desk in Harry’s room. He too, was reading, but he was also writing notes directly into the books as well. He had one of Harry’s books too, making notes of his own in his potions book as well. It made Harry think of the one potions book he’d had of Snape’s in sixth year, and he smiled knowingly. Those would definitely help.

“I believe it is time for dinner. You may put your book down for now.” Snape announced before walking out of the bedroom. The little body of Harry’s scrambled to put a bookmark in between two pages of his book; something about the goblin wars, then got out of his chair as quickly as possible. His little legs jogged swiftly over to Snape, walking swiftly with the taller man.

Snape’s long, black swaying robes were left behind in his chair, now his black button up standing proudly on the professor instead of swimmingly. He had on matching black slacks and shiny black shoes as well. No color whatsoever for the professor, while Harry had muted browns, creams, and what he’s realized was a tiny bit of green with his cuff links and bow tie.

The walk to the kitchen made Harry realize just how hungry he was, his tummy growling viciously at him. Once they made it to their destination, Harry was told to go sit at the table at once. Did Snape know Harry was going to try to help? Did he know how he was treated at the Dursley’s? Even with those thoughts swarming Harry’s head, he didn’t argue and went to go sit as told, taking the same seat from that morning in the beautifully decorated dining room.

The windows above him still reached to the domed ceiling, black chain dangling a beautiful chandelier down from the glass. The chandelier looked like it was melting into the area, crystals and gems glimmering in its lit candle light. It made Harry feel cozy in such a grand place. Outside of the ceiling tall windows was an expanded area of grass and wildflowers growing, eventually meeting the line of trees that made up a forest of tall redwoods trees. The trees were so tall in fact, that Harry could barely see the setting sun behind them.

Harry craned his head over the island in the kitchen to see what Snape was doing, but couldn’t, as the professor had his back turned.

The kitchen and dining room were attached, the kitchen being a whole three steps of stairs higher than the dining room. The concept in the two spaces consisted of the same open space with tall ceilings and big windows as the rest of the house. On the left of Harry was a living room with unused maroon couches, on his right was another space filled with bookshelves and a comfy looking chair to sit and read in. Directly in front of him was the kitchen.

The cooking area had long counters that stretched across the back wall and curved out to make a peninsula. There was a bar on the right with three stools to sit. An island stood in the middle of the space, matching the counter tops with the same polished redwood. The cabinets didn’t reach the ceiling, instead a large window was placed on the wall and covered in the middle by a chandelier.

“Professor Snape? Was this your parents home?” Harry asked, then immediately regretted it. He shouldn’t ask about it, about them, he knew how Snape didn’t care much for his parents.

But to his immediately surprise, Snape just moved to the island with his things, setting out ingredients and using his wand to charm the cookware, cutting something with a knife himself. He didn’t look up at Harry while he talked.

“No, but it was my grandparent’s on my mother’s side. She is where my Prince seat comes from, the one at Gringotts.”

“Oh, I see.” Harry contemplated asking anymore questions, then finally decided on a few. “Did you know my parents?”

“Yes.” Snape rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, then continued.

“Both my mother and father? They were wizards?” Harry’s voice got softer, more tired like.

“Yes, your mother was a witch and your father a wizard.”

“And my father was where my last name comes from? Potter?”

“Yes, he was born a Potter. Your mother’s name used to be Lily Evans, but when she married your father she became Lily Potter.” Snape’s voice was monotone, but not cold to Harry.

“And why did they have to die?” Snape paused at that question. The charmed kitchen tools continued to move, but as Snape hesitated it felt to Harry like everything went silent at once. The kitchen kept busy, which just confused Harry because of the tension that made everything feel stopped or slow.

Snape continued, now cutting something green as well as the tension. “An evil man decided that they needed to die.” Harry couldn’t tell if Snape was talking about Voldemort or Dumbledore. “And someone ratted your parents out in where they were hiding, allowing that bad man to kill your parents, then try to kill you. The scar on your forehead is evidence of that, the mark of an evil curse.” Snape levitated things in and out of his hands while speaking.

Harry looked down to his folded hands in his lap, frowning. “And, why did he want to kill me?” He asked, throat clenching up tightly. Finally, Snape looked up from his working hands, but Harry didn’t catch how the professor’s face softened sadly.

Instead, a piece of paper, a quill, and a bottle of ink came floating over to the table and placed itself in front of Harry. He looked up, but Snape was looking back down and continued prepping food. “Why don’t you write a letter to young Mr. Malfoy? I’m sure he’d be pleased to receive one from you. He’s been talking about the rumors of you attending Hogwarts for months now.”

“Me?”

“Let me explain, then. When the evil wizard came for you, he of course could not kill you. Instead, he vanished, and you were left with a scar imbedded with his dark curse.” Snape turned over to another counter, mixing something and casting another charm. Harry didn’t pay attention to the entirely overcrowded kitchen however, instead looking back down to his parchment. “Ever since that night, you’ve been a famous figure in the wizarding world. Now go on, write to your friend.”

Harry thought that making friends with Malfoy in front of Snape gave him more brownie points, then internally snickered. Maybe being good at potions will make him nicer to Harry like he was now, too.

So, without further delay, Harry held the quill in his hand, dipped it into the black ink, and started on his letter.

—-(means start or stop italics, will use for letters)

Dear Draco Malfoy,

Professor Snape told me more about who you are, and that you’ve been excited to see me! I didn’t know I was famous; the muggle family I had been staying with don’t like magic, so everything is pretty new to me so far. But since Professor Snape and I got back from shopping I’ve been studying up on the school books I got before we met(probably haven’t read more books than you though). I understand your excitement when it comes to Hogwarts, A History, it’s really cool! I also just got an owl and a cat. My owl’s name is Hedwig, and my cat’s name is Mischief. Hedwig is a snowy owl with bright blue eyes! And Mischief is a black cat with green eyes!

Mischief loves all of the places to climb on in my room, but he loves the little nook that juts out of the wall the most. It has windows that reach the ceiling! (I don’t know what it’s called). And Hedwig loves all the perches Professor Snape help me put up around my room! (I think Professor Snape said I could stay with him over holidays and summer instead of the Dursley’s! I’m so happy about that!). I’ve been staying with him since I’ve left the Dursley’s, and will continue to.

How have you been? Have you read any new books since we’ve met? Are we going to ride the train together? Would that be okay or should I see you at school? Do you have any pets? Do you have any books to reccomend for me? Anyways, I hope you have a great rest of your summer and tell your dad I said hi for me please!

Sincerely,

Harry J. Potter :)

—-

It took a while to finish his letter, and once he was done, Harry’s attention was pulled directly away from writing by delicious the smell that quickly stole his senses’s attention. An amazing amount of aroma was coming from the kitchen, and it made Harry look up excitedly, eager at the prospect of food. Apparently good smelling food, as his nose was been telling him now, sending a message to my mouth to water slightly.

Seasonings full of richness and flare swept across Harry, making his stomach grumble further, happily eager to eat. So, following the trail of the tasty smells, Harry got up and walked over to the kitchen, peering over the island at the three dishes set out to cool. He’d quickly forgotten about the letter. The food sat on the counter innocently, waiting for Harry. Snape was just taking out plates when he turned around and found Harry with his tiny fingers on the edge of the counter, looking excitedly at the food. He looked back at the dining room table, then back to Harry.

“Smells good.” Harry said, not moving from staring at the bread, pie, and pasta. Snape let the plates and such float up and over to the dining room, lifting the food as well to follow along. Harry walked alongside the now flying foods, a big smile on his face that was quite contagious.

Once everything was on the table and set, both Harry and Snape slid into their chairs. Through the tall windows, the setting sun out a golden glow on the food to make it seem just that more heavenly. On Harry’s golden skin, it just made him seem like an angel. And it made Snape seem just a bit more human with more color in his face. The scene felt so magical, not unlike Harry’s new, or should he say old, life now.

Right, his life is now his life now. A much more prepared life with unknown experience and talent hidden beneath his raggedy bangs, hiding a cursed scar that Harry knew what to do with now. You see reader, after the whole Hogwarts War and another eighth year at Hogwarts, Harry had set out to learn about Horcruxes and how they worked. It seemed, that to what must have been Dumbledore’s ignorance, there resided a spell to kill a horcrux that laid inside of a human, or to transfer it somewhere else. That was when Harry had started hating his Headmaster at Hogwarts, though he wouldn’t show it now.

Snape continued with his wandless magic, filling Harry’s and his own plate with a slice of savory chicken pie, a scoop of pasta(two for Harry), and a piece of bread. It made Harry so happy, his eyes watered with the overwhelming warmth in his chest.

“What’s wrong?” Snape asked Harry as the little boy just stared at the spread, noticing the butter and sauces set onto a plate he hadn’t seen before. The potions professor had really thought thoroughly about this, it just made Harry’s heart clench harder on it self at the prospect. At he reality of it all.

Harry wiped at his eyes roughly, smiling and hiccuping softly. “It’s- I-.” He paused, taking a shaky deep breath. “I never got to be apart of stuff like this, to- to have someone be so nice. I- thank you. Thank you so much.” His voice cracked, then hiccuped, and Harry wasn’t sure if this really wasn’t all a dream.

Had he really gone back in time? Had he really been saved from the Dursleys by Snape instead of Hagrid? Had Snape really offered to take him in; to never have him see the Dursley’s again? Did he really worry about Harry? Openly? Or at least, as open as he could be? The answers seemed to hate him, because they gave him the silent treatment. His mind didn’t even try to come up with excuses, instead it just kept piling on emotions that clenched his heart and made his throat clog up with snot.

But all that pressure from emotion turned heavy on his shoulders and they shuddered worriedly, then the feeling went to his head and that shuddered too. It felt as though his brain rattled in its skull cage. He didn’t realize the was his entire body was shuddering, all of him shaking vigorously with hurt and worry and fear. Harry’s head hurt, and his eyes felt raw as he just kept rubbing at them, like they betrayed him, utterly and deliberately, like he’d done something wrong but hadn’t. They just hated him, tirelessly hating him.

Because they did, his eyes just wouldn’t stop crying. They hated him, making him show weakness. He’s not supposed to cry, he can’t. Harry thought to himself. So, Harry cried silently in his seat, wishing he’d stop, that he didn’t make it awkward. But that wasn’t the most awkward things yet, was it? No.

Harry looked up to find himself wrapped in Snape’s arms, held tightly, surely in a quiet grasp. The strong grip surprised Harry, but not enough for him to stop crying, still silently. The weeping of Harry still went on, tears kept coming, and eventually, Harry had realized just how hard he’d been holding onto Snape. He let go slowly, now using his hands to rub at his eyes again.

“I- I’m sor-.”

“No need to apologize. It was never your fault.” Snape cut Harry off, rubbing the hair on Harry’s neck. “You’re alright.”

***

Dinner resumed after Harry assured Snape, saying that he was okay and would have no need to be babied. Snape only huffed indignantly at Harry’s remark, but nonetheless let Harry go, returning to his own seat like Harry had asked. The two sat in silence, but there was so much buzzing that still lingered in Harry’s head that it more felt like the silence was the loudest thing possible.

After a while the buzzing feeling went down in Harry’s head, now a low, delicate hum just outside of his ear. Snape continuously reminded Harry to drink his water during their meal, and he did with no qualms against the idea. Crying certainly gives a kid a headache, even when his scar gave him one at least twice a day. The worrying glances Snape kept sending Harry made the boy feel uncomfortable and awkward after a while, so after the two were finally winding down from eating their very delicious food, Harry started talking softly, hesitantly.

“I wrote my letter to Malfoy.” Snape looked over to Harry, raising one eyebrow.

“Oh? And what does it say?” Harry put his fork down gently, then folded his napkin in his lap and setting it on the table before him. Snape did something similar, folding up his things neatly.

“I told him about how many books I’ve read so far, and Mischief and Hedwig. I also asked him for book recommendations and if we could ride the train together. I hope he says yes, he’s fun to talk with.” Harry smiled while talking, happy to have made a friend so early on. Snape smiled as well, just a bit, and it went away as soon as it came, sadly.

Still, Harry went on rambling about all the things in his books that he’d read and the magic he’s excited to try out. He’d also talked about his worries in the letter, lastly about how he was afraid Malfoy would decline his offer to sit on the train. Snape immediately interjected this however, reassuring him that Malfoy would happily join him on the train and to be friends with Harry, even try his best to encourage it.

“The boy has been excited to meet you. Maybe you could get to know each other better on the train?” Snape suggested as the empty plates and excess food went sailing away from the table and back towards the kitchen, any leftovers stuffing themselves in containers and such. It still amazes Harry, since he never used magic for mundane chores like cooking or just levitating things places.

“Yeah, I’d like that.” And at that moment, before Harry could say much further, a big, stretched out yawn escaped from Harry’s mouth, popping his jaw with a loud crack. He had the urge to stretch his arms above his head, and after he did so, stretched his legs out underneath the table like Mischief had done just that morning. The resemblance Harry had to a cat was uncanny.

“Alright, it’s time for bed now. Come along, let’s get you going now.” Snape got up and Harry followed slowly, the professor slowing down his stride to accommodate the sleepy little boy in his shadow. They walked through the halls again, Snape pointing his wand around to cast charms or spells, Harry didn’t know, he wasn’t really paying much attention to his surroundings. It took all his little body’s brain power to follow along side Snape and to resist the urge to hold onto the professor’s pant leg. He eventually failed in that task, snatching a piece of the fabric and holding on to steady himself.

Once the two made it to Harry’s room, Snape floated a pair of pajamas over to Harry then walked out of the bedroom, leaving the little hand hanging in midair to no longer hold onto his leg. Harry hurried as much as his tired little limbs would let him, then went to go find Snape. The professor was standing outside of the door, the same position as he had been in last time he’d left Harry to change, leaning his back on the wall uncomfortably.

Harry went back into his room now, his soft pajamas making him warm and cozy, again holding onto Snape’s pant leg. This time it was him dragging Snape around, instead of the other way around. Snape followed, helping the boy hop into bed and tucked him in carefully.

“Goodnight.” The professor whispered, stroking his fingers through Harry’s messy and knotted hair once before he was gone, and Harry was asleep with a soft smile on his face.

***

The next few days went by with a newly organized routine, and Harry wouldn’t have had it any other way. The stability definitely made Harry feel better, and the surprisingly good food was certainly a plus to his days.

Every morning, Snape would gently wake Harry up then leave him with an outfit on the end of his bed. Harry would get up, shower, then get dressed in gently fitting clothes that Snape had prepared. Each outfit was something new from the closest, sized down to eventually fit the entire wardrobe to Harry’s size.

Next, Harry would eat breakfast with Snape, then do some reading at the dining room table afterwards. Post breakfast and reading, he’d head to his room to feed Mischief and Hedwig. Then, after some time trying vainly to teach Mischief some tricks, a long self study session would last until lunch, and a break for food would get him to come out of his room at last.

When he wasn’t in the kitchen making the two of them food, Snape was downstairs working on potions and such, leaving Harry to study by himself most of the time. As afternoon approached, he’d knock on Harry’s door then take a seat at one of the other desks on either side of the window nook and stairs up to said nook. Harry usually sat reading in that window nook, sometimes opening a glass pane to feel a light breeze come through and wake him up a bit more.

It surprised Harry a lot for him to feel so at home with Snape’s guardianship, to finally feel safe and warm in the best of ways. Though, maybe what surprised him most was that of Snape’s neutrality towards Harry.

After a comfortable afternoon of reading, Snape made Harry stop for the day and always asked him if he wanted to do something fun. He’d recommended writing, then chess, going outside, a walk, shopping, baking, and basically any hobby Snape could think of. He even suggested archery, but Harry wasn’t interested in that now, he’d been too worried about school to focus on things as insignificant as hobbies.

Though, when Harry asked about Wizarding sports, he was surprised by the firm veto on Quidditch until at least the summer before second year. It was disappointing, but Harry didn’t complain.

So, usually Harry would take a nap at this time, or maybe take a glance out of a fictional book he’d had on hand, but not much else would happen until dinner. When the evening came around, Snape would be ready with the food, always predictably at the same exact time each night. Of course, breakfast and lunch were always around a certain time, but dinner was a strict 5 o’clock each night and never late.

Everything was scheduled perfectly and precisely, but dinner seemed especially important to Snape. They’d eat their food, maybe talk about Snape’s potions or Harry’s homework, then Harry would be ushered to bed quickly and the cycle repeated.

This day, however, is a bit different.

“No, no, put that down. You will do absolutely no studying on the weekends.” Harry set his transfiguration book down, leaning back in his chair at his desk, looking at Snape who now sat in the seat of the second desk.

“Why not, professor Snape?” Harry inquired while opening his second drawer and sliding his school book inside. All of his school books were neatly slotted in the drawers of his desk, some stacked up next to Mischief’s cage. She likes to sit on the small stack of books, like where she is now.

“Because it will be the same for Hogwarts, there are no classes on the weekends. I want to make sure you stick to that. Also, I would like to remind you that you will be taking the train to Hogwarts in six days, and will be packing your things in four.” Snape closed the book he was reading while talking to Harry. As the professor was, Snape spent most of his time these days either working on potions, working in the kitchen, reading, or helping Harry with his homework. “I will also tell you that a letter arrived this morning with your name on it. I believe that it is young Malfoy’s in response to your own letter.”

Harry shot up from his chair, a stupid grin on his face. It seems Snape expected this, he accio’d the letter immediately in response to Harry’s excited reaction. He handed it to Harry quickly before the kid could snatch it out of his hand forcefully.

“When did this arrive?” He asked Snape excitedly while looking at his name in cute, curly handwriting. The name Harry Potter stuck out in dark green ink against a pale white envelope, the ends of his written out name curling in on themselves gently. Malfoy still had good handwriting, even before school, apparently.

“Just this morning; an hour ago, if you want to be precise. Stop staring and open it, boy.” Snape said, gesturing with his hands to the envelope. Harry nodded his head, turning the letter over in his hands once more before taking a mail to the top seal and slicing it open cleanly with a finger nail.

Sitting back down in his chair, Harry carefully took the letter out of the envelope, turning it around and finding the beginning. Harry glanced back up to Snape, who had gone back to his book in peace, then looked back down to the writing to read the words in his head.

Dear Harry Potter,

I don’t know what Uncle Severus told you, but I’m not some fan girl, so don’t go getting ideas. But yes, you are famous, and everyone has been talking about you going to Hogwarts; I am not much different. I’m sorry to hear about your muggle family, but I honestly don’t care for muggles myself. Father says that they are bad and infecting our society, whatever that means. I have never met one though, so I wouldn’t know myself. On other matters, it’s good that you’re studying up for the school year! My father has been having me study since the beginning of summer, so no, you haven’t read more books than me.

I am excited to hear about Mischief and Hedwig, they seem to have a good owner, and Hedwig loved the treats I gave her, so I hope that I am in her good graces. I also do well with cats, so I will soon be friends with Mischief once I get to meet her. I love cats. Will you be taking both Hedwig and Mischief to Hogwarts? And, about the train, if you do not allow me to sit with you on our way to Hogwarts, I will never forgive you until the end of time.

I am doing well, here at home. I played lots of Quittich (it’s a Wizarding sport where you fly around on a broom), and I baked a chocolate cake for my mother just yesterday. I have many pets, but they are mostly outside and I do not see them often. I do have a snake in my room though! Her name is Atlanta, and she is SUPER big! Father says that she’s almost 90cm! She is supposed to be twice the size of my father, and maybe even three times as big!

Anyhow, my father says hello back to you, so tell Uncle Severus that I also said hello to him as well. I will see you on the train, and teach you a game called Exploding Snap. We can talk while we play.

Sincerely,

Draco Malfoy

Harry smiled, his expressions were having a little dance recital on his face while he read, changing often. ‘Ah, so that’s why Malfoy hated me when we were younger.’ Harry thought to himself. ‘He already had it in his mind to meet me on the train.’

“Malfoy says hello, Professor Snape.” Harry told Snape, who only peered over his book with one eyebrow raised. He looked back down to his book slowly, and Harry could swear that the man was hiding a smile behind his book.

“I’ll just have to greet him at school then.” The professor drawled, then going back to his book.

Going back to the letter, Harry went and looked it over again and again, smiling at how disorganized some of it is. Eventually, when he was done, the letter was carefully folded back into the envelope, then set in the bottom drawer of his desk.

Snape looked up at Harry, who had simply leaned back into his chair and started staring out of the window. His eyes softened towards the boy, then a decision came to mind for the man. He shut his book quietly and set it on the desk he sat at. Harry looked over to him, one eye brow raised in question.

“Would you like to learn some useful spells?” Snape asked Harry, getting up then walking out of the room. Harry, stared after him, then jumped up and followed, picking up his wand from the desk to stuff it in a pocket of his slacks, a pocket especially for his wand.

“But I thought kids aren’t allowed to do magic outside of school?” Harry asked while they continued their path out of his room. But they didn’t turn right, which would have lead them to the kitchen. No, they turned left, to the other side of the hallway, filled with doors and small tables with vases filled with flowers. Snape walked while he talked.

“This property has a specific spell placed on it so that no one may find out where it may lie. Only those who have been told where this home lies should know where to find it. The Ministry will also not be able to trace your magic here, so you are able to cast spells and such as much as you’d like here, without detection or consequence. Though, I do advise that you do not cast spells that you are not confident about without me being present.” Snape warned, his stride swift.

The rest of the hallway had only two more doors to pass on each opposing wall, then one last tall set of doors at the end of the corridor. It stood as the tallest set of doors, stretching to the ceiling like the windows around the house, but it wasn’t glass. Dark redwood like the forest beyond the manor stood out in between the dark green walls of the corridor, other dark oak woods doors almost cowering before the grandiose figures of the door. To Harry, it felt almost like a gateway to another world, beautiful and poetic.

As the two got closer to the door, Harry could faintly see the delicate carvings in the woods, giving more detail the closer he got. The two sides of the door had two different ladies carved into it, as if telling two stories for the pair, connected by door knobs.

On the left is a lady wearing a beautifully decorated ball gown, laden with delicate looking roses with her background and frame to match. She looked majestic and rich, as any maiden would want, her gracefulness in one carved frame made even Harry jealous in her standing. But even as the woman was adorned by jewelry and fame, her smile is of woe, and a single tear came from a depressing eye. She despaired on her side of the doors, looking down in tragic sympathy.

The right side is a simple maid, not decorated, merely useful in all of her worth. She, nevertheless, smiled with glee and hope, looking up to the carved sun with spirit and kindness. Compared to her frame that was covered in thorns and intentional blandness, the lady didn’t seem to be unpleased or upset as her surroundings would’ve made Harry. No, she felt right, she felt at home in her rugged attire and bare feet and hurtful environment.

Both ladies were reaching down to the door handles gently, as if that is where they connect their two delicate worlds. Harry immediately thought that the emotion in the carvings could bring him to tears on an emotional day. But today, that would not happen. He is too excited now to cry.

Snape opened the doors, throwing each door away from each other dramatically, splitting the two carved women again. He stepped into the room, and Harry followed while looking around, turning his head side to side in amazement.

The room appeared to be a ballroom, the windows still and tall as any other in the house, from floor to ceiling. Grand pillars filled the space in between the windows instead of walls. They led up to a grand ceiling that had painted plants and flowers covering the sky. The floor is a white marble with gold and black streaks that reminded Harry of the lightning scar stretching over his shoulder and part of his forehead.

He knew that it would grow from the beginning of his upper back and down to his hips, eventually, even engulfing his entire right arm as well, not unlike the pattern on the marble floor.

After a while of walking into the grand room, Snape stopped in the middle where a pattern was painted on the floor. It was a dueling stand in the ground. Harry gaped at it.

“That is a dueling quart, but we won’t get to dueling until next summer, if not longer.” Snape said, pulling his wand out of his sleeve and summoning some things with a wordless accio. “Now, you will start with some simple charms as I tell you about them. I will be using one of your school books to choose the spells from, but I also have a few other books that may be used for your advantage.”

Snape transfigured a table in front of Harry, then levitated a feather in front of the boy. Mentally, Harry smirked.

“Now, I want you to listen very carefully. Wingardium Leviosa.” And the weekend was officially started.

***

“How did you end up doing work when I specifically told you no?” Snape said, half mindlessly to either Harry or himself. Harry couldn’t tell who he was berating, but he was smiling mischievously anyhow.

The two were in the dining room at the table, just finished with lunch and now lost on what to do. Harry had quickly mastered the levitation charm, the softening charm, the fire-making spell, and the wand-lighting charm just that morning. He also had enough magic to be able to lift incredibly heavy things, like the table he accidentally had gotten a hold of. Snape was definitely surprised and muttered that Harry was a prodigy. Harry just responded in a sweet, childish tone that it was ‘just a great teacher’ that made him better, and could’ve sworn that Snape’s ears went pink.

Now, Snape finally realized that he resorted to work with Harry instead of finding a hobby, and now he wouldn’t start teaching Harry again until the next day. Snape had also banned Harry from trying out the spells on his own, incase of unsupervised dangerous activity resulting in injury or some reason. Harry understood of course, but still scowled.

“I like learning.” Harry told Snape, who just looked over from his staring outside. The professor didn’t have much more to do with Harry besides teach, and it was a little worrying to the boy that all Snape did was reading, potions, or reading about potions. Did the guy do nothing else?

Snape hummed at Harry’s response, still not quite happy. After a bit, Snape’s eyes popped over to Harry, who was trying to sneak a book to read. “Do you enjoy sports, Potter?” He asked, looking curious as he usually did when asking about Harry’s preferences or personal life.

“Umm, I never really did sports with the Dursleys. Oh! That reminds me!” Harry scrambled out of the cushioned booth in the beautiful window surrounded dining table. “I wrote letters to the Dursley’s before I left and I told Dudley that I would write to him when I got to school, but I could do it now.” Snape’s eyebrows shot up.

“You care that much about the boy?” Harry snorted at the comment, but Snape got up and followed Harry to his room, continuing the conversation.

“Ah, not really. He’s pushed me around all my life, and it probably would’ve gotten worse after them knowing that I’m a wizard. But, he only knows what his parents tell him, and he only does what he does because of how his parents taught him. Like, I only hate the Dursley’s because they were mean and hated me. I never blamed Dudley for that, even if he is a prick. And besides, he’s a year younger than me, and super book smart too, but he just doesn’t show it. Sometimes, when I was struggling with homework and accidentally left it out, Dudley would just do it and say it was his, but it always got turned in with my name on it.” The two found their way to Harry’s room and back to their posts at the two desks. “So either he’s too much of an idiot to erase my name, or he did it because I needed help. And he’d write everything out too, so I could actually understand it.”

Snape still had an incredulous look on his face, but didn’t comment on Dudley’s stupid habits. “So, in turn you write him a letter?”

Harry shrugged, getting out a piece of paper at his desk and sitting down. Snape sat down on the top of the other desk, leaning onto it. “He’s not the greatest, but the letter I left him explained that I wouldn’t blame him, and I won’t. Besides, he’s had some of the same things that happen to me happen to him. Like, this one time, Dudley shoved me away from a snake I was talking to at the zoo, but when he leaned up against the glass, it disappeared and made him fall through! Then, when the snake escaped, it thanked me, by the way, very nice snake, the glass came back and Dudley was stuck!” Now, that’s story got a physical reaction out of Snape as he looked at Harry, his head whipping up violently to see him properly.

“You can talk to snakes.” Snape said as a fact instead of question. Harry nodded slowly, feigning ignorance.

“Yeah, but I swear Dudley could too, cause when Dudley screamed at the snake, it swore back.” Harry chuckled softly, awkwardly. “And then whenever someone other than Petunia would try and pinch his cheeks they would consistently trip left and right for the rest of the day, or their fingers would swell up really big. It’s how Ms. Fig got her sprained ankle, and a lot of our teachers had to be taken to the hospital cause the swelling wouldn’t stop. But Dudley is just a year younger than me, so he’s still my little cousin, and I gotta protect him from other people, even if those people are his parents. If he turns out like me, I don’t want Vernon and Petunia to just throw him out and all.”

When Harry looked up at Snape, the potions professor’s eyes were wide and his face still. It didn’t even correct itself, his pointy features just paused on his face, frozen and unmoving. Harry coughed awkwardly a few times before Snape unfroze his features and gave the desk a stern glare while he thought. “Umm…” Harry mumbled, fidgeting with his thumbs.

The boy looked up at Mischief, who seemed to be watching the whole interaction on his perch. Mischief the cat then slip off of the stack of books, stretched on the desk, then sauntered over to sit on Harry’s lap. Harry lifted his arms to let Mischief sit on his lap, then settled to petting the cat repeatedly as he started dozing off again.

Finally, Snape got out of his stupor, now staring at Harry who stood back, contentedly blank face. The boy almost feared what the professor would say, the stern look of Snape faced the nervous dwelling Harry nursing in his tummy. He waited hesitantly, using Mischief as a rock to not just jump up and run away.

“If you can talk to snakes and they can talk back, that means you are a Parsletongue, and explains why you are the Heir of Slytherin House.” Snape dropped his shoulders from their tense position near his ears.

“Slytherin’s mascot is a snake, and he could talk to them.” Harry’s voice cracked with anxiety.

“Indeed. And your concerns with your cousin is quite well placed, since he has an aunt and cousin for a witch and wizard. I will be informed if he may be available for magical education, but I can not make any promises.” Snape sighed, sinking back in his chair just slightly. “Now, to the matter of the letter to your cousin. I do not think it wise to lead him on into thinking he may be a wizard himself. I advise to simply give him a warning, a very skeptical warning, and check up on him.” Harry nodded.

He was only planning on checking up on Dudley, but he could also probably give him a way of contact. Not that Harry really cared about Dudley, the whiny brat, but he also worried for him. Harry could quite literally feel magic radiating off of Dudley, but couldn’t tell if it was because of his close proximity to another wizard or not.

Dudley wasn’t a wizard in Harry’s known future, so why would he feel different now? Why was Snape different now? Was it because of how he’d seen Petunia treat him? How the Dursley’s treated him? His cupboard? All of those thoughts were haunted by Snape standing up suddenly, and Harry looked up.

“Enough talk on this, you have a letter to write. After you write it, I’ll introduce you to something.” Snape started walking out of Harry’s room, long strides making it to his door quickly. “When you are done, I shall be in the sitting area near the kitchens.” He said before retreating out of the room, leaving Harry alone.

***

“Potions?” Harry asked, peering over a cauldron. After Harry had finished his letter and sent Hedwig off to deliver it to Dudley, Snape had led him down to the basement where around twenty different cauldrons were set up on table after table, all cooking something magical. Other kinds of cauldrons not regularly used stacked in a corner, while the rest of the room was held with rows and rows of shelves carrying ingredients in mass. Dragon scales, troll hair, wyvern saliva, and all the different kinds of odd things of this and that crowded the shelves.

Snape pulled Harry back from the cauldron he’d been peering into, grabbing him by the neck of his scruff, then dragging him over to a stool. He picked Harry up to plop him right down in the seat, and the boy shook in his place. The stool creaked a bit, but didn’t sink or break, just shook a little bit when he moved. There’s a cauldron to his left, a cutting board in front of him, and utensils to his right. All things Harry noticed as he surveyed the display before him.

“Yes, potions.” Snape continued to talk while he walked around the cold room, gathering supplies and ingredients. “I am the potions teacher after all, and will not have you failing the class. In fact, I want you to excel in it. So, I will be teaching you privately until you must go to Hogwarts.” A basket was filling with ingredients and two books while Snape walked around, gathering some simple ingredients Harry’s recognized.

“Do you have to stop teaching me on my own when we get to school?” Harry inquired. He kept his hands in his lap, afraid to touch anything he shouldn’t.

“Of course not, if you’d like I will set up a schedule for your lessons, and young Malfoy should join as well.” Finally, Snape made his way back to Harry, but he was on the other side of the table, setting the supplies out in a neatly fashion and handing Harry one of the books, a quill, and a bottle of ink. “Now, this book here is a textbook that you will be learning from at school, but not all of it is as easy as it could be. So, you will be experimenting with the process and take notes on what works and what does not. Of course, only once you make the potion successfully. Do you understand?” Snape looked up over to Harry, and the boy nodded, eagerly. The chair squeaked under him when he rocked, echoing against the stone walls of the basement.

“Basically just make some changes to see what works and what doesn’t, after making the first one right.” And for once, Snape gave a gentle smile to Harry, that made a warmth swell in Harry’s heart. The moment was so easily gone because the next second Snape was back at his stoic attitude again, all monotone while setting out the items on both sides of the table for the both of them.

“I will be making the same potion that you will so that you may compare mine to yours. Now, open up your book to the first potion, I believe it’s the Cure for Boils.” Harry and Snape opened the books at the same time, flipping pages mindlessly until they both found their way to the Cure for Boils.

“Oh, I found it.” Harry beamed, looking up to Snape.

“Good, now, look through the instructions first then make the potion. You must learn how to properly make the potion first before you start your experiments, remember.” Harry nodded, looking patiently back down at the book, reading. The professor started on his potion while Harry read, preparing ingredients and working.

***

They got through two experimented potions and one success before the two had to stop for dinner. Snape, as per his routine, made another very delicious meal, but before they could get properly seated at the table, the front doorbell of the manor rang out through the kitchen, alerting them both. Harry stopped making notes in his transfiguration book and looked up to Snape, who eyed the short hall to the entrance suspiciously. He then looked down to Harry at the bar in the kitchen, his serious face getting even more serious.

“Stay here.” The order made Harry jittery in his seat, no longer able to focus on his studies, not that his potions professor wanted him to continue anyways.

As Snape walked by, Harry turned to watch him go, worry seemingly seeping from his pores in anxious pressure. When the professor finally exited the kitchen and then the sitting room, the large open space Harry was left in went quiet as the sounds of his footsteps stopped. Sound from the entrance hall could barely be made out from the kitchen counter where Harry sat anxiously, and he could barely hear it when the door opened.

Craning to hear, Harry got to listening in on the conversation with the stranger visitor at the front entrance. He almost thought of getting up to spy, but then reminded himself that his invisiblity cloak was in his bedroom and that he should just listen instead. But he still was leaning outwards in his seat, towards the hall that led to the entrance and this new person.

“Hello, Professor McGonagall, I was not expecting you this evening.” Snape introduced, and Harry’s blood went cold. Professor McGonagall? What was she doing here? Is she here for Harry? To bring him back to the Dursley’s? Was she here to take him away from Snape? Was she on Dumbledore’s orders? Harry was safer here! Harry shivered at the thought of being forced to go back, his chair making a rattling noise as he shifted uncomfortably.

He hated the idea of that place, and hated the idea of not being able to choose.

“Oh no Severus, I have come to see how you have been. I hear that you have taken to shutting yourself in your home, as of late. Professor Dumbledore has been worried, as well. But he is not why I’m here. I too, worry about you Severus. This isn’t like you to lock yourself away, no matter what had happened or whatever potion you were brewing.” There was a shuffling, then the closing of the door, and then footsteps coming closer to Harry’s location. “I have no idea as to why you have been hiding yourself, as you usually take this time before school to go out each day for ingredients for this new year.” The steps got closer slowly.

“Well, Minerva, I’ve been quite busy taking care of someone, and have been owl ordering everything I’ve needed.” Snape responded, a bit of a tone Harry didn’t recognize was hiding in his words.

“Someone? Is a friend sick? My, I wouldn’t want to disturb you if you are busy taking care of someone-.” McGonagall had stopped walking, and so had Snape.

“Oh no, not something quite like that. Actually, I think that my situation now is much better than that.” They continued walking, and just before they came into sight, Harry started back on his book, hunching his back over it as Snape said. “I actually think it will be much of a surprise to you, Minerva. Though, I hope you are not too much of a surprise to him.” Harry could hear a smile in Snape’s words, but didn’t understand why his professor was smiling. What had he said to make him smile? To make him talk with an airy tone? Either way, the two professors were coming closer at a swift pace, and Harry was finally forcing himself into going back to leaning over his transfiguration book, not reading.

As soon as the footsteps were heard as clear as day to Harry, one pair stopping abruptly while the other set kept walking up to Harry. A warm hand was placed on his shoulder, catching his attention so he looked up to Snape. The potions professor gave him a weak smile, then nodded towards the figure behind him with a curious, hopeful expression. Well, as much hope and curiosity that Professor Snape could give himself to show.

Harry turned to face McGonagall, seeing her shocked face brought up a well of emotion in Harry’s throat. He swallowed it down immediately, trying and succeeding in not giving anything away. Instead, Harry just looked slightly nervous at his professor. She still gave off the firm impression of not to be messed with, even with her big shocked eyes and open mouth of surprise clear as a blue sunny day in the summer.

“Mr. Potter, this is Professor McGonagall, your transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. She is also the Head of House Gryffindor. Introduce yourself.” Snape’s hand left Harry’s shoulder as the boy got up and off of his chair, facing his ‘new’ teacher with a shy smile. McGonagall had shut her mouth now and was giving Snape a stern look before she turned to Harry, now smiling softly.

“Hi! I’m Harry, Harry Potter.” He tried an awkward smile, but he just opted to look at the ground instead.

“Good evening, Mr. Potter. I see you have taken up residence with Professor Snape here, am I correct?” Harry nodded, glancing over to Snape, who now is back in the kitchen and getting out another set of dishes.

“Will you be staying for dinner, Professor McGonagall?” Snape inquired, already setting out an extra seat at the table. McGonagall looked confused at Snape, then went back to looking at Harry, as if making a decision. But Harry wasn’t going to be the reason that she left.

“Please?” Asked Harry, turning back to his book then walking over to Professor McGonagall with it. “You’re the transfiguration teacher, aren’t you?” She nodded, a bit unsure about where Harry was going with that until she spotted the book in his hands. She then smiled proudly at it, taking it out of Harry’s hands when he held it out for her.

“Ah, A Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration.” Her glasses slipped down her nose a bit, but she soon pushed them back up onto her face, examining the book with a knowing hand. “I expect you to do good in my class if you are already studying, Mr. Potter.” Harry went pink, putting his hands together to fidget and moving his weight from one foot to another. She gave the book back to Harry, then put a hand on his shoulder to direct him to the dining room table.

“Does this mean you’re staying?” Harry said hopefully, setting the book back onto the counter before following both professors to the set table. Their plates were already full of food, so Harry hurried quickly into his seat with excitement in his stomach.

“Oh of course dear, as long as you allow me.” McGonagall smiled at Harry, but she still held confusion in her eyes. When she looked back to Snape, she had even more questions seemingly pulling at her from behind her eyes and in her head. The questions were not said out loud, but Harry knew that look on McGonagall’s face, and she must be full of confusion at the knowledge of Harry not being at the Dursley’s. But Harry, hoping to not broach the subject, decided not to bring up why he is at Snape’s instead of where she left him. He didn’t yet know how Dumbledore would react to the news.

Once everyone was settled in their comfortably soft seats, small talk was made between Snape and McGonagall, with Harry poking a few questions in here and there. It was interesting to see the two professors interact by themselves, so the questions were few and far between.

After dinner was mostly done, Professor McGonagall now turned her attention to Harry, who had gotten his book back out and was taking notes. “And why, dear boy, have you stayed with Professor Snape? Surely your aunt and uncle must be worried where you are.” Harry scrunched up his face in disgust before he could hide it, then set his quill down to answer as politely as he could. It was a very difficult task for Harry, who remembered the cupboard angrily.

“No, they won’t miss me, and I won’t miss them.” He said distastefully, not looking up at the most likely surprised face of McGonagall. His potions professor simply leaned back in his chair when McGonagall looked over to him, incredulous eyes glaring at him with frustration. The half answers were getting her nowhere, as Harry didn’t want McGonagall to go storming off to Dumbledore in a fury.

“He had not wanted to go back, and I know just how… cruel Petunia can be, so he’ll be staying with me during summer and any holiday he desires. Mr. Potter may stay with me for as long as he likes, of course.” McGonagall’s eyes couldn’t have gotten wider, looking between the two like they were crazy. Harry was just smiling down at his book, feeling the reassurance that Snape provided waft safely over him, like the same feeling he got when draping the invisibility cloak over himself.

Finally, Professor McGonagall decided her attention was better due on Snape, who wasn’t giving her any leverage on what he was feeling either, his face calm and collected. He was soon wishing away the plates wordlessly, still keeping up with McGonagall’s eye contact.

“You know Dumbledore put the boy there for a reason.” She grumbled, as if Snape had done something very irresponsible. But Harry couldn’t disagree with her more on anything. The stability and safety of the Prince Manor and Snape the Potions Professor was more than Harry had expected, but it was all he could have ever wanted now, knowing it was the closest he could get to a home, and probably was his home now. No, it is his home, Snape just confirmed that.

Harry went back to studying his book, not wanting to feel the tension now created in the room between the two professors. Snape was standing his ground, while McGonagall as stubborn as a hard brick wall.

“Is that reason to let him sleep in a cupboard?” Snape responded coolly to McGonagall’s threatening tone, picking up a cup of tea that replaced the grand dinner. McGonagall looked like she’d been slapped in turn, going back to staring at Harry, who had stopped making notes again in his book as he clenched his fist. He was trying to study and get away from this conversation, but that plan was seemingly failing miserably.

“Is this true?” She asked quietly, almost a whisper to Harry. In return, Harry nodded softly, not making eye contact with Professor McGonagall, instead glancing over to Snape and nodding again. “How… how could he not know that.” She asked nobody, looking down in her tea, defeated.

“The letter.” Harry started, not looking up from his book but evidently not reading it anymore. “The letter addressed to me was specific. Mr. H Potter, The Cupboard under the Stairs.” He said, looking up when McGonagall did, meeting her eyes. “Whoever addressed my letter knew I was under the stairs, so Headmaster Dumbledore must have known. But, I wouldn’t know. Not really.” Harry went back to his book, leaving both adults to sit, processing.

“You’ve thought a bit about this.” McGonagall addressed, sounding solemn. Harry nodded, shutting his book and setting in to his side. He now knows that even if he tried, he’d never make it out of the conversation now. “I see.” She paused, obvious in her displeasure. “Well then, you have agreed to stay with Professor Snape then?” Another nod. “Good, good. And you’ve been studying?”

“Yes, but he’s been trying to get me to find hobbies. But I don’t like fantasy books, and I only bake sometimes, and I refuse to make shopping a hobby.” Harry smiled.

The tension that had built in the room subsided easily after that, talking about activities Harry could try, then Snape saying he’d tried most of those things. Harry had been taken by the idea of Quidditch, but Snape had firmly rejected the idea, and told Harry to wait. Apparently, it’s dangerous for children to fly broomsticks fifty meters in the air, even with adult supervision.

After a while of talking, some seconds of tea became thirds, then after a small desert, Professor McGonagall starting to say her goodbyes to the two, and left with a sigh. She must be going home to process things.

Snape quickly led Harry back to bed, the boy now yawning and exhausted from the unexpected social interaction. Once they got to his bedroom, Snape magically transformed Harry’s formal looking clothes into nice and soft pajamas, then lifted Harry up onto his bed, tucking him in with gentle tugs here and there.

Mischief then decided to get up from his seat in the now cold window sill and jump up onto the bed, laying himself out in front of Harry. The boy grabbed Mischief, pulling him closer like a teddy bear. Mischief the cat had no complaints, even curling closer to Harry happily.

“Good night, Potter.” Snape said, brushing the bangs out of Harry’s face. He traced the scar on Harry’s forehead carefully. The boy smiled, leaning into the touch happily. Snape continued for a small bit of time, kindly soothing out the wrinkles on Harry’s forehead.

“Good night, Snape.” The professor didn’t comment on the lack of his professor title, still messing with Harry’s hair until the little one fell softly asleep. Snape gently pulled the glasses off of Harry’s face, setting them on his desk before he quietly left the room, making sure the door made no sound on his way out.

That night, Harry had a nightmare, a same nightmare that had haunted him since before he had first ever went to Hogwarts. A nightmare of his current age.

After Snape had gone that night, Harry had fallen asleep with Mischief in his arms, happy. But only a few hours later, he woke up in a cold sweat, Mischief looking up at him from up by his head, and him crying heavily. He didn’t want to think if he was screaming in his sleep, but the knock on his door and his rough throat was answer enough. Could he tell Snape? What the dream was? It wasn’t something from the future, after all.

This dream, it wasn’t from something he’d thought he’d feared anymore, it was the Dursley’s. It was Vernon, pushing him down to the floor and locking him in his closet. It was Petunia, yelling at him about the garden or in the kitchen, threatening to hurt him. Sometimes, she went through with it, which made him shiver more at the thought.

Snape entered the room, peaking his head through and peering over at Harry. There was blue moonlight drifting through the room , sheer and solid white curtains open to let the scene of the forest and dark sky visit him, the moon lighting everything up clearly outside. The moon was full, which reminded Harry of Lupin, and he just got even more sad at the prospect. He couldn’t see him until third year, which deeply frustrated Harry.

“Potter? I heard screaming, is everything alright?” Snape spoke quietly into the night. There was no way he didn’t hear the quiet, unstoppable sobs from Harry. The boy is now curling his arms around his legs, tightly hugging them to his chest. When Snape stepped further into the room, he immediately made a b-line for Harry, coming close and putting his hands out, but not knowing where to put them. How to comfort a child properly.

But that was all Harry needed to unravel himself from his tight, stressed position and launch himself at the professor, latching onto his waist and sobbing into his pajamas. Snape immediately held onto Harry, adjusting the boy as he sat down on the bed. He held Harry gently, head resting on Harry’s own, humming deeply so the vibrations of his throat could be felt against Harry’s forehead. It was surprisingly calming.

“It’s alright, you are safe. You’re alright.” The mutterings of sweet comfort brought Harry into a tired mess of sobs and shaking and overall overwhelming emotion. Long spindly fingers pet the hair on the back of Harry’s head where Snape’s head wasn’t sitting. He untangled long knots and massaged his scalp, trying his best to calm the boy carefully. Snape was almost cradling the boy, as if trying to protect him from the painful world around them.

They sat there a while, Harry in Snape’s lap while he cried. Both were unwilling to move, Harry’s tight grip on his shirt unwilling to let go making the idea of staying, sitting there, a concrete matter in the night. “You’re alright, it was just a dream. Just a nightmare. It can’t hurt you.” Snape kept on whispering, making Harry feel more and more tired with every word. Heartbeat sounded in Harry’s ear, but now it wasn’t his in his fit, but the sound of Snape’s heartbeat through the ear on his professor’s chest.

After a while, Harry had calmed down to a shallow, shaken breath. He was laying in Snape’s lap, both of his own legs to the side as his hands clutched in Snape’s robes. The professor was so close, Harry could smell the scents of different potions and seasonings on him. He was still in his day clothes. Snape hadn’t yet gone to sleep that night. What was he doing? Potions?

“I- I’m sorry.” Harry stubbles on his words, not really know what to do. The professor just held him with a stronger grip, still gentle and warm. Still protecting and safe, as if a guardian over Harry.

“No, no, no need to apologize boy. I-… I should be the one apologizing, that I could not get you out sooner. It was never your fault, dear boy.” Harry was soon being rocked back and forth in Snape’s lap, calming him further. Mischief the cat and Hedwig the owl both sat on the edge of the bed, Hedwig sat on the perch on the nightstand by Harry’s bed, worriedly hooting at him. He looked at them, both worrying and concerned. It made Harry feel better an extraordinary amount, seeing that so many cared about him.

He finally loosened his grip on Snape’s shirt, but didn’t really let go. The small body stopped shaking, but his throat was still hoarse from the crying and screaming. His childish fear felt so big now, so real. Because it is. The fear Harry felt was always real, he’d just had so much more to worry about that the dreams seemed silly. Insignificant to Voldemort and Death Eaters, now.

“Would you like to talk about it?” Snape moved to sit the two on the bed properly. He moved Mischief the cat, the a pillow to stand up against the headboard. He sat his back up against the headboard, still cradling Harry kindly, safely. “You don’t have to, it sounded very scary.”

Harry rubbed his eyes a bit, finally trying to be gentle with himself. His poor eyes did not deserve this. “It- it was Uncle Vernon first. He- he shoved me down to the floor, then was kicking me, and- and then told me to go to my cupboard.” Harry paused his small voice, a voice quiet and breaking as it spoke. He took another shaky breath, then continued. “Then it was Aunt Petunia, and she had Uncle Vernon’s belt. But it never scared, even if it bled really badly. I guess- I guess it’s cause of my wizard stuff now. Now I know.” Harry sniffled, then grabbed onto Snape tighter, who returned the gesture. The professor was quiet for a long time.

“Did that happen often?” He finally asked, and when Harry nodded in affirmation, Snape slouch in around Harry, further protecting the boy. Harry could have sworn that Snape, Severus Snape, was shaking slightly as he held Harry.

“Snape? What’s wrong?” Harry asked, looking up at Snape’s face. The professor had his eyes squeezed shut, his lip quivering, face screwed up sadly. Then, the shaking suddenly stopped, and Snape’s face went calm instantly. It was like a switch, and Snape was leaning back against the headboard, now leaning down lower so that Harry could just lay on Snape, still listening to the heartbeat in his chest.

“It won’t happen again, I won’t let it.” He said, even quieter than Harry, but much more firm in his belief. He then he turned to Harry, looking him directly in the eyes for contact. Harry just gave him a sad face, then waited for Snape to speak again. “If you ever have a nightmare again, you go straight to me. You are not allowed to go through this alone, not ever.”

Harry nodded, then laid back down on Snape. He wished for things in his mind to add to the moment, thinking about how they would be if they were there. Sirius, who would immediately dog pile them into fits of giggles. Lupin, who would follow Sirius in and shush them all to try and get them to sleep. How Ron might have dog piled them as well, or how Hermione would be right with Lupin on shushing them. Harry’s heart begged for the feeling of them all there, but he would just have to wait, and eventually mend the bond between the much more kind Snape and the currently in Azkaban Sirius.

After a while of just sitting there in bed, Snape made to get up, trying to slide the boy off of him. But Harry’s firm grip returned, this time latching on like a koala to his abdomen, unrelenting in his attachment. The professor stayed, sinking back into the mattress softly.

“Potter, I must go to bed. I have to leave now.” But the words were useless, even if Harry heard them. He only nuzzled his nose into Snape’s side, holding tighter.

“No, you don’t.” He denied Snape escape with a high mumble. The professor’s muscles relaxed, going back to petting the back of Harry’s hair gently. “You can’t go. You- you have to stay.” The definite crack in Harry’s voice made Snape wince, looking down at Harry, still petting his hair as Harry looked up.

His still red and watery eyes was what broke Snape. Seeing the little boy so vulnerable, so broken. The sight had broken into Snape’s heart and settled with a tight hold on his soul. Or maybe it was the boy who nestled his way into his heart, making it warmer, making himself home in his home.

Snape didn’t, couldn’t say anything as he moved with Harry tightly in his arms. He lay them both down properly, his movement forgiving to the growing headache that Harry was getting from crying while moving little limbs around. Once the two were properly laid down, Harry cuddled up to Snape, pressing his head to Snape’s chest, again to hear the steady heart rate beat in his ear. It was a tender comfort of someone else’s vulnerability.

Mischief soon decided that she needed to be in between the two, sandwiching herself between the two warm bodies. Harry wrapped his arms around her, feeling and hearing her purr kindly. It felt so warm and cozy, lying there. It felt as safe as Harry could be, and talking about his dreams certainly helped.

Harry soon fell asleep, leaning into the feeling of someone running their fingers soothingly through his hair again and the soft purr on his chest. He felt safe, much safer than anything he’d ever felt. Happily, he felt safe, content.

Everything would be fine, and Harry’s plan would work, he knew it would. He’d make sure it would. And everyone he loved, and would love, will be safe.

***

The week had gone on with a certain flow of slowness, like every second was a minute. He’d read books while taking notes in the pages by the morning, then he’d learn extra potions review all afternoon. He basically memorized each potion in his school book already, along with a few handy notes to make it easier to make or make the potion better perform. Snape was a huge help in this, as well as a constant companion to help Harry’s note, having already put in some of his own notes in the book to help.

When evening came around Harry would be forced to do something ‘fun’, or so Snape said. Usually, the fun was doodling in a notebook or just petting Mischief or Hedwig, making plans for his future to come. He’d even wrote some things in a diary, like small notes on his plans for reminders.

His reminders included things like:

1. Meet the basilisk first year and befriend it before Riddle, if it’s unfriendly tell it about Riddle and warn them
2. Make the Quidditch team first year
3. Make friends with Ron and Hermione and Malfoy, this time, interrupt Ron before he laughs at Malfoy’s name, and ask him where it came from (I know it came from a star, but he likes talking)
4. Make friends with Hagrid
5. Approach Sirius before the Knight Bus comes and befriend him - have dog treats or something on hand
6. Mend feud between Remus and Snape and Sirius
7. Save Sirius and Remus and Fred and Tonks and Snape and everyone
8. Make sure Barty Jr. Doesn’t put my name in the Goblet of Fire fourth year
9. Make sure my finances at Gringotts are in order and get help with removing the Horcrux from the goblins
10. Kill professor Quirrell aka Voldemort in first year
11. Take the diary from Ginny in second year

And so on. All these plans made Harry’s little head spin when he got to all of the details, so he often left the book in the secret pouch in his infinitely sized bag to not worry about them. It was kind of like a pensive to him. He hoped to all that loved him that Snape or anyone didn’t find it. Oh, and also.

12. Get Marauder’s map in third year

Eventually, the day to pack had come and left, and then the day for Harry and Snape to leave for school arrived. The potions professor had taken Harry’s trunk, which only had his school clothes and bag, which held everything else like books and pet food for Mischief. Hedwig would have food at the owlery.

Snape had shrunken everything down to a tiny size, pocketing it. As the plan was, Snape would have Hedwig fly to Hogwarts, and Mischief go along with Harry since she would be easier to carry. Of course, she had refused to be put back into a cage, so Harry was using both arms to carry her and tied a separate satchel to his belt to keep his notebook and a sum of money for the trolley on the train. Since his notebook had a bunch of questionable things in it, even with as many charms as he could put and invisible ink on it, he dared not to let it go anywhere he couldn’t assure it was safe.

“Alright now, I have all your things, you have your ticket, and Mischief will try to stay in your hands, yes?” Harry nodded, finishing tying his shoes before picking up the green eyed black cat and stood. Harry was wearing his school robes already, not wanting the hassle of changing on the train.

“He won’t get into any Mischief.” Harry snickered at his own joke, not missing the little quirk of Snape’s lips that indicated a hidden smile. The way Harry looked was much different than his last first experience on his way to Hogwarts. Now, he wore his robes onto the train, held a black cat, and would not be taking any luggage with him. He also held a bit more meat on his bones, having enough filling and healthy meals to finally be considered a healthy amount.

“Good. Also, you will put this over your robes, just in case of the muggles. Now, we mustn’t be late, so we will apparate just outside of the entrance, then pass through. Come now.” Snape held out his arm for Harry, who finished putting a shall around his shoulder, then clenched his stomach before grabbing onto the whirling sensation again. A big pop sounded, then they were in a shaded area surrounded by a sudden bustle of sound. They were just inside of the station. “Stay close, we don’t want you lost now.”

So, Harry followed Snape like his shadow out of the oddly concealed corner, keeping up with the brisk steps easily now, making their way around the station. It seemed a bit confusing to Snape, who wandered around aimlessly for a bit until he looked up at the numbered columns, finally finding a director to where he needed to go.

Once they got to a few platforms before 9 & 3/4, Harry noticed a familiar group of red hair also walking towards the platform. Harry’s eyes lit up, while Snape surveyed them warily. Once they got up to the red haired group, Percy had just gone through the gateway. Snape stood back from the group, waiting patiently, but Harry wasn’t just going to sit there stiffly and wait. He went up to the group, a great big smile shining brightly on his face.

“Hello!” He said, making the group of bright red heads turn his way.

“Hello dear boy! Are you on your way to Hogwarts as well?” Molly replied easily, turning to face him fully while one twin went through the gate. She had recognized his robes under the shall, which only covered his shoulders down to his elbows. It was a maroon color, and Harry didn’t think that Snape would expect it to be given back.

Harry nodded excitedly. “Yes, I am!” Just then, Snape walked up behind Harry, silently acting as a protector. The night of Harry’s nightmare seemed to have given an edge to Snape, who started to fuss over Harry much more now. “Is everyone here going as well?” Harry inquired, spotting the second twin before he ran through the gate, same as his brother. He caught Ron’s eye and smiled.

“Oh yes, all of my kids have gone to Hogwarts. In fact. Four of mine are going this year.” Molly turned, waving Ron over. Ron’s face went as red as his hair, smiling at Harry awkwardly. Harry messed up his hair, trying to hide his scar and straighten his glasses. “It’s Ron’s first time, is it yours?”

“Yes! It is!” Molly smiled kindly, just barely glancing at Snape towering over Harry before looking down at a watch on her wrist. She gasped, then turned back to Ron, ushering him towards the gate.

“My goodness! We’ll be late if we wait any longer now, off you go! I’ll be just after you!” And just as she said, Ron took a running start for the gate, then his mother said goodbye to Harry and went through herself, a silent Ginny following in her shadow.

“Just as they did now.” Snape said, lightly pushing Harry towards the gate himself. “I shall be right behind you.” Harry smiled up at his professor, then turned his attention to the wall, and casually strode towards it until his body felt a cold shiver, and he came out on the other side of the brick wall.

“Woah…” Harry muttered, holding Mischief a bit tighter in his arms. He stood for a moment, just looking at the train before he stepped forward, trying to get a better look. But as soon as he made his first step, an arm slung around his shoulders on one side, then another on his other. It crowded Harry, making him hunch over Mischief in his arms.

“You seeing what I’m seeing, Fred?”

“I think I see what you see, George.”

Ah, the twins. He forgot that they had greeted him at the station his first year like this, crowding and teasing. “Oh, but who do I see?” Harry joked back, shrugging his shoulders. The two laughed, still clinging onto Harry.

“I’m Gred.” Fred said, matching his brother’s wide, mischievous smile.

“I’m Feorge.” Harry snorted, then pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. They continued a little feud over their names, Harry dramatically reenacting a stupid scene where they were forced to swap the first letters of their names because of some tragic accident. The twins responded eagerly, reinforcing the tragic story of their names and dropping onto Harry even more, making him hold their weight.

But just as Harry was about to respond with another retort, Molly called for the twins, and they had slithered off to go greet her, most likely with a joke or prank in their back pocket. They hadn’t left Harry to be alone though, as Snape was suddenly by Harry’s side, now double-checking that he had gotten everything he’d needed for school and such. Harry reassured him that yes, he had his books, his extra robes, and his potions supplies as well.

“Alright, alright. You’re all set. And I don’t want you fraternizing with those boys, they are pranksters and are a large nuisance.” Harry snorted, but tried to hide it as a cough. Snape didn’t seem impressed. “Now, I need to hurry up to the school now, and shall see you at the sorting. You will meet me after the feast so that we may talk and check in.” Harry smiled, his cheeks pink. He had felt so loved in that moment, so cared for for someone to fuss over it he had everything or when they’d see him again.

“Yeah, see you at the sorting.” Harry turned to get on the train, but Snape put a hand on his shoulder, turning him back to him. His face seemed tired, but excepting, like he’d somehow just come to peace. That definitely defined this Snape, who had been a very much relaxed version of his other memories of the man.

“Potter, I want you to know that whatever house you get, it will be yours. You don’t have to have Slytherin because I am their Head of House, and you do not need to be in Ravenclaw to be smart. You do not need Hufflepuff to be loyal, and you do not need Gryffindor to be brave. You don’t need a house to be one thing, no one is ever one thing.” Snape took a shaken breath, then continued softly so that Harry could barely hear it. “I had wished someone would have told me that when I was sorted, so I tell you it now-.”

Snape was cut off by a smashing hug. Mischief had moved to stand on Harry’s shoulders as Harry hugged Snape’s abdomen and waited until he had hugged him back to say. “Thank you.”

After another goodbye, Harry had finally gotten onto the train and easily found his empty compartment from last time, sitting down in his regular seat to wait. Well, what used to be his regular seat. Mischief just then got back down from Harry’s shoulders to sit in his lap, making a ball of himself and purring in the warmth of Harry’s lap. Soon enough, Ron had asked if he could come in, and Harry immediately brightened up, quite literally brightening up as his face got extremely bright and happy.

“I’m Ron by the way, Ron Weasley.” Ron introduced himself, smiling awkwardly. Harry beamed, smiling kindly back at him.

“I’m Harry, Harry Potter.” And oh wow, the reaction on Ron’s face was most definitely worth the wait. His eyes went wide, bright blue and clearer than ever, his mouth hung open before he snapped it closed, now beaming just like Harry. His bright face was more curiosity and amazement than the happiness that Harry had.

“So, so it’s true then? Do you have the… the…” Harry made an O with his mouth, understanding the implications. Before Ron had to say anything more, Harry pulled back his hair to show off his scar to Ron, smiling happily. Ron was amazed by it.

The scar is a pale thin strike of lightning, still growing up and across his face while occasionally branching off. He remembers how it used to be when he was older, the way it skipped past his hair and instead went straight to printing itself all the way down his back and across his ear. It eventually took over his right arm as well, but that was after his back was devoured by the scarring. “Wicked.” Ron responded, leaning back in his seat.

Soon enough, Neville had come by, asking about his toad. Both Ron and Harry said no, then Hermione had dragged him back to the compartment to ask about the toad again, but it still hadn’t appeared. This time on the train, instead of the trolly coming up first to greet Harry and Ron’s compartment, a head of silver blond hair poked into the compartment.

Draco Malfoy had glanced at Ron, then at Harry and immediately beamed, rushing into the compartment by himself. Where was Crab and Goyle? Did he ditched them?

“Took me long enough, but here you are! Finally, I have found you.” Malfoy had been beaming at Harry, so much so that he didn’t quite lose his smile when he turned to Ron, who gave him a suspicious glance over. “Ah, hello. Who are you?” He asked, also glancing Ron over.

“Oh, uhh, Ron. Ron Weasley.” Draco paused, glancing over to Harry, who nodded to Ron friendlily, still smiling happily as Ron and Harry had been talking while waiting. “Right, nice to meet you Weasley. I’m Draco, Draco Malfoy.” And now, Harry interviewed on account of not wanting a feud to last between two of his new friends for the entirety of their years at Hogwarts. Ron did snort, but Harry talked too loud to be able to hear it. He chalked it up to anxiety and excitement.

“Oh, yeah! Ron, this is Malfoy. Malfoy, this is Ron!” Harry said eagerly to the both of them, using his hands to gesture over Mischief. When he looked over to Malfoy, who had taken a seat beside Ron, the other boy had a frustrated look on his face, scrunching it up unhappily. “What?”

“You may call me Draco.” And Harry’s eyes widened significantly before a big smile stretched across his face.

“Alright, then you can call me Harry. You both can!” And just then, the trolly came along to the compartment, and Harry gulped hesitantly. What if Draco made fun of Ron’s lack of wealth? What if he made a fight with Ron even if they started off better than last time. But what happened next is what surprised him most of all.

Draco had gotten up and went up to the trolley, looking down at everything before turning to the other two. Harry had asked if Ron had wanted anything, but Ron had pulled out his mother’ sandwiches and apparently, a friend of Harry’s was a friend of Draco’s.

“Nonsense Weasley, I’ll get you something. In fact, I believe Harry has not had and Wizarding candy before?” He looked over to Harry, who shook his head negatively. “Alright then, we’ll take the lot.”

After Draco said that, Harry had immediately set Mischief aside stood up and tried to pitch in to pay. “No, you shouldn’t pay for everything. I can at least pay half.”

“Nonsense! I was the one who suggested it, so I should pay. Besides, I need to bring something back to Crab and Goyle. They decided to try and start messing with their wands, so I was going to leave anyways. They’re really bad at it so far. And, I really want some sugar quills.” Before Harry could argue further, Draco had already given the kind witch the money, and started moving all the candy into the compartment. “Come on Weasley, help us move all of this in!”

Ron got to his feet and started helping the other two load their compartment with sweets. “And it’s Ron, by the way.” He said while moving big boxes of Bertie Box Every Flavor Beans to the seats. He looked confused and excited at the same time, giving Draco a curious stare while his back was turned. Ah, the quickest way to Ron’s heart. Food.

Once they had everything settled and seated, Draco had finally caught sight of Mischief, who was chewing on a treat Harry had from in his pocket. The blond’s eyes glowed at the cat, excitedly shifting onto the edge of his seat.

“Ah! Is that Mischief? Oh he’s beautiful! Can I pet him?” Harry nodded, then picked up the cat and stepped over to Draco, setting him on his lap before going back to his seat. Draco started to pet him, then immediately melted when he turned on his back in Draco’s lap, purring loudly.

“He’s beautiful! Where’d you get him?” Ron asked, opening a chocolate frog after checking the card. Draco nodded, still looking down at Mischief with a loving gaze. Alright, so Mischief the cat was the easy way to Draco’s heart. Got it.

“The Magical Menagerie’s in Diagon Alley, and it’s where I got my owl Hedwig as well. Though, she’s flying to Hogwarts.” Ron and Draco nodded, looking down at the adorable little Mischief. Ron started petting him, then frowned.

“Oh yeah, he’s beautiful. I’d love a cat like him.” He then reached into his coat pocket to pull out that dirty, cowardly rat. It took all of Harry’s willpower to not launch himself at the rat right then and there. “All I’ve got is Scabbers, ragged thing he is.” Draco scrunched up his face at the small creature, but Mischief just stretched out a paw to Scabbers, playfully pushing him. Harry hoped Mischief would kill the rat sometime, but not until Ron’s trip to Egypt. “I think Mischief likes him.” Draco still had that disgusted face on, looking down at Scabbers with absolute distaste.

“Remind me to find you a better animal, like an owl or a cat. Merlin, a toad would be better than that thing.” Ron laughed at that, setting Scabbers in his lap.

“I’ll be sure to go to you when he finally passes on, though I don’t know when that might happen. He’s been alive for so long, he used to be my older brother’s when he first went to Hogwarts, and is probably as old as me.” Harry shivered, but no one caught it. No, Peter Pettigrew is much older than either Ron, Draco, or Harry.

The group talked a great deal while they rode the train, sweets passed around the compartment with excited stories from Ron’s siblings and Draco talking about the things he’d heard from his father and mother about Hogwarts. After a while, both Draco and Harry stepped out to let Ron get changed in his robes, then quickly went back to talking about this and that. Only Harry and Draco had come onto the train with their robes already on. Both Ron and Draco had so much to inform their ‘muggle raised’ friend that it kept them both talking until they finally made it to the train station.

Once they got to Hogwarts, Mischief was back on Harry’s shoulders as they walked out of the train and towards the big booming voice directing first years. Now, Harry of course, expected Hagrid, but this time he hadn’t been properly introduced before. Well, now’s as good a time as ever for Harry. He was excited to meet Hagrid, and hopefully would make a good enough impression for him to let Harry meet with him and makes friends.

Harry walked up to Hagrid, who was looking over the crowd and he only saw Harry when the boy gave a small tug on his big brown leather coat. When the half giant looked down, his eyes went wide behind his big black, wire bush hair.

“Hi! I’m Harry!” And Hagrid’s eyes almost welled with tears, smile hidden but recognized under the small of black curly hair. Harry could see the smile through Hagrid’s black beady eyes and how they scrunched up happily.

“Harry Potter? Well, I haven’t seen you since you was a baby! You know, I was supposed to go pick you up from your aunts and uncle’s, but Professor Snape said I would wake up the whole neighborhood if I did that.” Harry smiled at Hagrid, who smiled back. He didn’t even notice the surprised faces on both Ron and Draco until he looked back to smile and put two thumbs up at them like a nerd. Both of them snorted.

Both Hagrid and Harry talked while on their journey to the boats, making friends with each other happily. Harry had promised Hagrid to write to him up at the school, which made Hagrid extremely happy. Eventually, both Draco and Ron got over their shock enough to enter the conversation as well, making Harry happier than ever to see his new friends conversing with each other.

After a bit of walking, they took the boats, this time with Harry, Ron, and Draco in one while Hermione took one with Pansy and Seamus. Harry made sure to keep a close eye on her. Looking for openings for conversation with Hermione would be difficult with Ron around teasing her, but he knew they’d make it through. Just don’t let the troll get to her and they’d be best of friends.

After the boats arrived at the castle, the first years walked around the cave, then through doors and up the stairs going this way and that. Harry knew exactly where they were going, and said hi to the ghosts they had passed by. Draco and Ron both just looked at the floating fluorescent figures in awe.

Harry leaned back to them both to say. “I’ve seen so many weird things today that I don’t even blink twice at it anymore. It’s quite exciting.” All three of them sniggered, even Crab and Goyle behind them snorted. Harry gave them a friendly smile before turning back to walking, stopping when they found Professor McGonagall.

She gave a cursory glance over the class, then her eyes locked on Harry for a bit longer before moving on with her announcement about the sorting. Trevor the toad was at Harry’s feet, and before Neville could spot him, Harry discretely lowered himself down to pick the toad up then lean back to Neville. He handed the toad to him, then with his other hand placing a finger over his lips to silence the boy and not make a fuss. Neville looked at Harry like he was his hero and whispered ‘thank you’, tears welling in his big blue eyes.

After McGonagall’s speech, both Draco and Ron went into another conversation, this time about houses and which one they were going to be in.

“I want to be in Slytherin. All of my family was in it, and I am very clever. I’d fit perfectly.” Draco said, Crab and Goyle nodding their heads behind them. Ron raised an eyebrow, but put it down immediately to sport a look of proudness instead.

“Yeah? Well I wanna be a Gryffindor! All my family is in Gryffindor too, and I am very brave and strong!” Ron announced. Draco made a thinking face, then smiled and shrugged. Both of them now looked over to Harry, who was just smiling merrily as if not a care in the world could harm his day. It was very true, since Harry’s as very excited to enact his plans and make the future for the better.

“Oh, uhh, me?” He pointed to himself, looking over at Mischief who was still on his shoulders. “I don’t know, what do you think Mischief?” The cat meowed, and the group of people around the giggled, including Draco and Ron. “Ah, okay. Well, I’ll just have to let the sorting pick my house. Oh and by the way.” Harry put out one hand on Draco’s shoulder and the other on Ron’s. “Whatever house we get, we do not hate each other. We are friends, and houses don’t change that.” At that, Draco scoffed.

“Why would that change anything? You’re still as much of an annoyance as ever, Harry. And Ron will still be red headed. Our house doesn’t matter unless it’s Quidditch, then you would need to worry, because Slytherin will be taking the cup again this year too!” And that almost started an argument with Ron, but at that moment Professor McGonagall had come back, and the group of first years were smart to hush their voices at her presence. Her commanding presence as strong as ever.

“We are ready for you now.” Professor McGonagall announced. She then started leading the first years towards the Great Hall with her long strides that the first years had to jog to keep up with. As soon as the doors opened, the whisperings of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhhs’ came from the kids, now looking around eagerly at the hall.

The ceiling was still bewitched to look like the night sky as it always was; Harry heard Hermione say so as he started looking up for the staff table. He immediately found Snape, who still wore the same clothes from that morning, and now seeming exhausted but hiding it well. Snape also was looking at the first years, and made eye contact with Harry. He nodded his head, and Harry returned the gesture with a bright smile, then gesturing over to Draco with an excited hand. They seemed to be having a silent conversation in which Snape found out that Draco and Harry made friends, along with Ron.

He’d found Dumbledore at the table as well and decided not to mind him much. The Headmaster did care for Harry, but he didn’t see any other way than to have Harry die. If he had known that Harry would’ve come back, then maybe Harry would forgive him.

He then found Professor Quirrell and held back the urge to run for the professor and just go ahead and kill him, right then and there. But he didn’t plan on visiting Sirius in Azkaban, so he forced himself to play calm by whispering with Ron about the floating candles.

Once all of the first years had gotten to the front of the hall, all eyes were on them as each one was called up to the stool and the hat placed on their heads. Hermione of course got Gryffindor, and Draco got Slytherin like he’d wanted. Harry waved to him as he went over to the Slytherin table, a gleeful smile plastered across his face. Draco waved back excitedly.

Once it got to Harry’s turn, he confidently walked up to the Sorting Hat, turning then sitting on the stool casually as he could, all eyes watching him with hushed voices. Mischief was left in Ron’s arms, who looked excited to see where Harry would go.

“Hello.” Harry said before the hat could start. Surprisingly, that surprised the hat. It seemed to smile, but Harry could see its expression while wearing it. Either way, there was a smile in his voice.

“Oh, why hello. Now, where should I put you, Harry Potter.” The hat paused, then continued. “Ah, you may do great in Slytherin, you may be the greatest, even. But no, that’s not what you want.” The mysterious voice of the hat made Harry smile, waiting patiently for a decision. “Ah, if that is what you want. Better be… GRYFFINDOR!” The hat yelled, then an eruption of screams and cheers came from the Gryffindor table. Harry could even see Draco clapping cheerfully, looking at Harry with so much pride that it confused and warmed his heart. Did Draco expect Harry to go to Gryffindor?

Ron tried clapping hard, but couldn’t with Mischief in the way, so he slapped one of his palms to his thigh instead. “Yes!” Ron said as Harry came over to collect Mischief before heading to the Gryffindor table. “I knew you’d be in Gryffindor!” He said excitedly before handing off Mischief to Harry. “Go on then! Save me a seat, will ya!” Harry nodded excitedly, grinning ear to ear. When he finally got over to his table, people started shaking his hand and clapping him on the back, still screaming in their own excitement.

“We got Potter!” Yelled one of the twins, now starting other people on some chants similar. After a bit, and a stern glare from McGonagall, the Gryffindors settled down, finally letting Harry take a seat and settle Mischief on his lap while the names kept rolling. A few more Gryffindors came along, but Harry made sure to save a seat for Ron. When it was finally his turn and Gryffindor was chosen, Harry and the Weasley’s were clapping the loudest, even Percy joining in gladly.

“Congratulations!” Harry clapped Ron on the back, the red hair now matching his red face.

“Thanks mate! I knew it was Gryffindor, but having the hat actually say it felt really great!” Ron responded, now getting flack from his twin brothers on this and that from the other side of the table. They said something about fighting a troll, and Harry laughed to himself, looking down at Mischief while petting him. Ron had mentioned that on the train just earlier.

Eventually the hall had settled down, and Dumbledore did his speech and the Hogwarts song, then the feast had begun. Surprisingly, two bowls with food and water for Mischief was right on the seat for him. Harry sat her down on the bench between himself and Ron, helping her get to her food. He was delighted by it, almost scarfing it down too fast.

Harry then got to his own food, piling his plate with this and that, then digging in. The food was delicious as always, making Harry want to eat seconds so he did. He often caught Draco or Snape’s eye from across the room, and smiled back to him whenever he did.

After Mischief had finished his food, he laid his body against Harry’s thigh, sitting contentedly next to him. Seamus, who had been sat right next to Harry, leaned around Harry and tried to pet him, and Mischief gladly let him, even leaning into the touch of his hand.

“Oh he is gorgeous Potter, quite the gentleman this one.” Harry laughed quietly, then started some small talk with Seamus, having Ron poke in after a while of the two talking.

Eventually, each kid and adult was finished with their meal, and the plates were cleared and cleaned. Those last few announcements from Dumbledore about the 3rd floor and the Forbidden Forest were put out, then the prefects were leading all the first years to their common rooms.

Snape had caught up with the first years, however, and pulled Harry aside to talk. “The sorting was satisfactory?” Snape asked, walking with Harry on a different path to the Gryffindor tower. Harry nodded sleepily, happily.

“Yeah, sorry I couldn’t be in your house though. The hat said I would do good in Slytherin, but then decided on Gryffindor.” Snape huffed a little laugh, but quickly covered it with clearing his throat.

“I see, well, you’ll do good in Gryffindor anyways, no need to ponder on the thought. Now off you go, the first years just entered the tower.” It seemed that their walk had been longer than Harry thought, his sleepy brain just noticing where they were.

The painting of the Fat Lady was right in front of them, and Snape was saying the password before Harry could say anything else. “Alright now, you go off to bed then.” Snape had lifted Harry up into the portrait hole and gently pushed Harry along. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Professor.” Harry blearily said, waving back at the tower entrance before it closed itself, and Snape was gone. Harry rubbed his eyes before walking over to Ron, who immediately leaned himself on Harry’s shoulder. Mischief the cat now in Harry’s arms leaving a space for Ron.

Once Percy had explained everything for the night, all of kids with full tummies went up to their assigned dormitories and got ready for bed. Finding their own rooms was confusing for some, but Harry helped Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville find theirs, then got settled into the room with a sigh.

Once Harry had his pajamas on, teeth brushed, and Mischief on his other pillow, he slides into his four poster bed and tucked himself in, having already set an alarm on his wand. The wand that sat under his pillow in case of emergencies that he knew wouldn’t come. By now, his old self had made it an unbreakable habit, and he would not let his wand sit anywhere else.

***

The next day at breakfast they all got their schedules. Of course, all of the first years took the same ones, not yet separated by their preferred classes. So, while Harry and Ron discussed what houses they had with others, the topic of Slytherin came up.

“We’ll have Draco for these classes, and this one too.” Harry pointed out, pointing to each class they’d have together.

“Yeah, I bet he’d be really good at potions, too. He knows the potions teacher, right? Professor Snape?” Ron asked Harry, who nodded in return. At that time, the twins decided to but in, leaning into Harry and Ron’s conversation. They were quite literally leaning on them, taking up space on their shoulders.

“Making friends with Slytherins?” Fred asked, his face evidently confused yet still teasing.

“And Professor Snape is super strict, he regularly takes a round fifty points from Gryffindor each class.” George added before taking a bite of toast from his plate. Harry and Ron both shrugged, taking their own time with their food.

“Draco’s cool, and he’s not a snob when he wants to be.” Harry responded coolly, pushing his now empty plate away from him and checking for Mischief at his side, if she had also finished breakfast. The black cat would not let Harry leave her in their dormitory, so he’d taken her with him to breakfast. He looked up from Mischief to catch Draco’s gaze from across the hall, and got up from his seat. “We have some time before classes, so I’m gonna go say hi to Draco. You coming Ron?” And his friend hurried to stuff another large spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth before grabbing a piece of toast and following Harry.

“Have fun with the snake pit!” Fred yelled after them, getting a few giggles from the Gryffindors surrounding them.

“Don’t let ‘em bite your ankles mate!” George shouted just after his brother, both giving little snickers about their joke.

Harry just snorted while not looking back, still walking over towards the Slytherin table. Once he made it there, all eyes were on him, but he didn’t mind and kept walking towards Draco. He had gotten used to the staring after a while, but Ron was looking around anxiously. Harry had noticed this, and gave a big pat onto Ron’s back, pushing him forward while grinning reassuringly. “You’ll be fine.” He said, which made Ron relax a bit before they made it to their friend.

Their blond haired friend was in a fairly interesting conversation with Pansy Parkinson, Crab and Goyle on both of his sides. The conversation’s topic coming up from behind him, quietly slithering up to him to listen in.

“And then he just left, and I almost screamed in frustration! How could he leave me like that?! But he is really nice, and he listens to literally anything I have to say-.” Harry set Mischief on Draco’s shoulders, effectively cutting his little speech off.

“Which happens to be a lot.” Ron snickered, patting Draco on the back. “Morning.” Draco smiled at both of the Gryffindors, going red when he faced Harry, considering the conversation he was just engrossed in.

“Good morning Draco, how’ve you been?” Harry asked, sitting down besides Goyle and looking over the table to see Draco. Ron took a seat next to Harry with a happy little smile on his face. It seemed that seeing Draco had gave Ron a familiar face to comfort him at the Slytherin table.

“Good morning, and I’ve been fine, thanks.” Draco responded, before he handed a piece of butter and jam toast over to Ron. “You look like you need food, Ron, eat.” The boy took it happily, chewing on the toast while trying to talk, but Harry beat him to it.

“What classes doesn’t Slytherin have?” Harry asked excitedly, looking around for the papers on their classes.

“Oh, we have all the same as you, just sometimes at separate times. I believe that we have potions together this morning, then charms tomorrow morning, and I believe we’ll be flying together.” Draco kept looking down at his paper, now absentmindedly petting the cat that had moved onto his lap, happily.

Ron frowned, finishing up his toast quickly. “Fred and George said that Professor Snape, the potions professor, hates Gryffindor.” He said with sorrow, looking down at his lap in defeat. Draco looked at Harry, an eyebrow raised. The Gryffindor smirked, then both boys turned to Ron.

“I don’t think we’ll have a problem with that.” Said Draco, mirroring Harry’s smirk. When Ron looked up, he gave the other two a very wary look, like he knew that they knew something, but Ron didn’t know what.

“Alright…” Ron said hesitantly, going to stand up and patting Draco on the back again. “We should head to class or we’ll be late.” Harry nodded, standing back up. Mischief then jumps up from Draco’s hands and onto the table, then up onto Harry’s shoulders. “That cat really likes you.” Ron offhandedly remarked, and Harry smiled at it as they waited for Draco to get up and collect his bags.

“Can Crab and Goyle come too?” Draco asked, looking over to the two bigger boys, their plates already empty and bags collected.

“Or course!” Exclaimed Harry happily, now waiting for the two other boys to get up.

“I’m coming too!” Announced Pansy Parkinson, now collecting her own bags from the other side of the table.

“The more the merrier! Alright, let’s go then!” Ron smiled, marching the group out of the Great Hall. Just as they got to the entrance, Harry spotted Hermione, already heading towards the potions class but going the wrong way. Harry jogged over to her, the group stopping to wait for him.

“Hi! Are you going to potions? You’re a Gryffindor, aren’t you?” He asked her, and she responded with a nod.

“Oh yes, I was just on my way there.” She said cheerfully, always as excited as ever to start learning. Harry beamed happily.

“Right then! It’s this way, if you wanna join us?” Harry asked, looking back towards the group while they waited. They had started up a conversation already, eager for their first class and some shifting their weight from one foot to another impatiently. Hermione made an O with her mouth, understanding what Harry was trying to convey.

“Oh yes, thank you!” And another was added to their group. The two went back to the group, and Hermione introduced herself along with Crab, Goyle, and Pansy all doing the same. After walking a bit, they also collected and got introduced to Blaise Zabini, then Neville Longbottom, who Harry and Ron both caught from tripping multiple times on their way down to the Dungeons. Once they got there, the door to the classroom was open and waiting, empty except for their Professor Snape sitting at his desk.

When they entered the silent room, any conversations they had paused. Now the kids were focused on looking around in awe at the interesting ingredients and cauldron filled tables. But Harry immediately spotted Snape in the back of the classroom, making a b-line for the professor and greeting him. “Good Morning Professor Snape.” He said cheerfully, his little cheeks puffing out with a bit of baby fat still intact.

“Good morning, Mr. Potter. I suppose you’ve had a good breakfast?” He didn’t look up and continued writing in a notebook, scribbling down words Harry couldn’t see. Ron soon came over to Harry’s side, along with Draco and Hermione following closely behind.

“Good morning, Professor Snape.” Draco said, and Snape responded similarly to Harry, still not looking up. It seemed that the conversation was over, so Harry dragged Ron and Draco over to a table at the front, not wanting to squint when reading the instructions on the board. Hermione stayed behind to try and get more of a conversation out of the professor, who just answered her questions with dull and short words.

Ron immediately turned to Harry, a hushed whisper when he spoke. “You know Professor Snape?! My brothers all have horror stories about that guy! And he’s just- just- polite to you?! I saw him yesterday already giving Fred and George detention because of them throwing off a fire-popper in an empty corridor!” Harry smirked, setting his bag down beside the table and pulling out his potions book, ink, and quill.

Draco sat on Harry’s right, Ron on his left. “Oh please, Uncle Sev only acts mean because he doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. I’ve heard that fire-popper burns sting for days.” Draco also took out his notebook, quill, and ink. Ron sat still for a second, then mirrored the other two with getting out his things.

“Uncle? Jeez, what kind of people did I make friends with?” Ron said sarcastically, seemingly amused with the situation. Harry and Draco both gave a sly smirk, looking over to Ron and almost scaring a squeal out of him.

“You’ve made friends with two very influential people.” Draco said, still smirking.

“Yup.” Harry popped the ‘p’, then went to writing his name into the empty notebook, flipping the page as Hermione sat down next to Ron. “Oh, hey Hermione! What were you talking about with Professor Snape?” At that question, Hermione lit up.

“Oh, well, I wanted to know what we were doing this year, so I asked for the class schedule. But he only said that we would be doing our entire book on Beginners potions, which is even better! I can study up on that book, even if I have already memorized it.” She calmed down, still smiling. Ron snorted, pushing his notebook up on the table, away from him.

“How could you memorize the book already? Hasn’t it only been, what? A month since we got our letters? What, are you just really interested in potions only?” Hermione’s cheeks puffed out defensively.

“Yes, potions is interesting,but I have also memorized almost every one of our school books. They were quite long, to be honest.” She said, taking out her own supplies now as more people flowed into the classroom, taking seats here and there. Ron tried to say something back to Hermione,
but Harry interrupted quickly, not wanting a fight.

“Well, we know who to go to when we need help with our homework, then.” He said, moving to set Mischief down on the table in front of them. Ron seemed to think about the idea while Hermione started beaming, her face lighting up so brightly that Harry had to look away.

“Oh indeed, you seemed the studious type.” Malfoy added, looking around to see more people filtering into the class. “Class should be starting soon.” And soon enough, the door was closed with everyone inside and Snape strode right up to the front of the class, stepping up onto the concrete stage menacingly. Everyone fell silent as he made his speech about what he could do, then he turned to Harry, and in came a full sense of Deja Vu for Harry, having Snape comment on his fame again. Then the questions came, and Harry answered them in perfect execution, Hermione constantly raising and lowering her hand in the process.

“I see that fame, isn’t everything, Mr. Potter.” Snape quirked his lip up, almost smiling then went back to his stone cold facade. This time, that sentence meant something completely different than before. Draco elbowed Harry’s side, smiling excitedly.

“I know that look from Uncle Sev anywhere. He’s proud.” Draco whispered before taking Mischief from his spot up on the desk and into his lap to be pet during class. Harry’s cheeks brightened to a pink, then he turned back to face forwards and try to pay attention. Apparently, the first part of class is about safety measures and supplies, which Snape had drilled into Harry already after he’d blown up a cauldron on a simpler potion.

The class was long, but was soon over with the first years packing up their things quickly to get away from Snape’s class. Sure, he is probably the most strict and mean teachers in Hogwarts, but he is also a great teacher with incredible skill and ability for potions. When Professor Slughorn had come out of retirement and made them use the textbooks instead of personal instructions, the only reason Harry had succeeded was because of the book Snape had written notes in. And that says a lot about how good of a Potions Master Snape is, even if it’s hard for him to teach so many. Or maybe it just showed how Slughorn was a terrible teacher, but Harry went with the first version anyways.

So, when the class ended, Harry went up to Snape. “Hey Professor!” He said, still smiling brightly with Ron, Draco, and now Hermione by his side.

“Mr. Potter, may I help you?” He said, looking up from his book. The professor is again sitting at his desk, looking over some notes. Oh, they were the notes from Harry’s own personal lessons just last week.

“How did I do? Were my notes right?” Harry asked, seeing out of the corner of his eye that Hermione was leaning over Ron to see what Snape was doing. The potions professor almost smiled, then handed Harry the stack of papers. All three of Harry’s friends were leaning on him from all sides, trying their best to see what he was talking about. They crowded Mischief so much that she went to sit on Ron’s shoulders, draping herself around the back of his neck. “Sweet!” Harry said, smiling.

“I will expect you here after dinner every other day to continue your work, along with you, young Malfoy. It shall start tomorrow.” Snape said, now moving to other papers to work on. Hermione gasped over Harry’s shoulder. Draco looked dignified with his shoulders straightening up and tall.

“Harry! Are you taking private lessons behind our backs?!” She gasped, looking from the test back to Harry in indignation.

“Please Miss Granger, keep your voice down.” Snape said pointedly, giving Hermione a sharp look. Harry nodded, turning to leave with his friends closely behind him.

“Goodbye Professor Snape!” He shouted back before they exited the room, still crowding Harry to look at his test. After studying for most of his time at Snape’s, he’s asked for a test to determine how much he’d retained. Apparently, he wouldn’t need Hermione’s help for most subjects, as he got a ninety eight out of a hundred on most of his subjects, and full marks on his Defense Against the Dark Arts.

As soon as they stepped a few feet away from the potions classroom, the group exploded in shouts and started yelling at Harry, either surprised or happy.

“You got lessons with Snape!?” Ron exclaimed, confused.

“I knew he’d like you! Uncle Sev is a really good teacher, and he’s really a big softie once you get to know him. I should know, he sends me letters and presents for each holiday, not just my birthday or Yule.” Draco said proudly. Hermione just looked betrayed.

“Hermione, you could probably join us if you have time. I could ask Snape if he’d be okay with it. It’s just that he doesn’t know you yet.” Harry tried to reason, setting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Fine. Anyways, what classes do we have next? Does Gryffindor have one with Slytherin again?” She glanced at Draco, who shrugged.

“Slytherin has a double free period, so I could probably join you guys if I wanted.” Harry beamed at the information, taking a right to the DADA class, then frowned. “What? You don’t want me to come?” Harry looked up at Draco, who had a worried face, and shook his hands frantically in opposition.

“Not at all! I just- I heard at breakfast that Professor Quirrell is a bit, uhh, loony is all. And I’ve heard he smells like garlic.” Harry tried to sooth Draco’s worries, picking up Mischief the cat off of Ron and handed him to Draco. The Slytherin boy took the cat happily, fears hopefully running away from his mind.

“No problem mate, we’ve got a free period after this, so we could all hang out for a while before lunch.” Ron added, and soon the three of them were just a few steps away from Quirrell’s classroom.

“Oh I hope he’ll answer my questions on the chapter about Cornish Pixies, I’ve written them all out since the books I bought had barely anything on them. Of course, I could have gone to the library, but I’ll do that later tonight to find out more.” Hermione hummed happily, then entered the class and immediately put on a sour face, the expression soon mirroring on the rest of their group’s faces.

“I don’t think I’m gonna make it through this class without throwing up.” Ron made a lurching sound, which just made them all put their hands over their mouths in fear of throwing up. Even so, Draco stuck with them, sitting right next to Harry and petting Mischief, who had hissed at the smell, then at Professor Quirrell when he arrived.

***

The class soon passed, then their break where the group met up with Crab and Goyle, then lunch, then the rest of the classes seemed to quickly bypass the first years. The next day was the first class of Flying with the Slytherin’s, so let’s skip to that, shall we?

“My father has had me taking flying lessons since I was five, but first years can’t join their house Quidditch team, so I will just have to wait a year.” Draco had been bragging about flying over the summer while they walked behind Professor Hootch, with Ron doing the same.

“I usually ride on my older brother’s brooms when I get the chance. My older brother Charlie used to play for Gryffindor, and they say he was their best player yet! No one has been as good as him since he’s left.” Ron exclaimed, and the conversation continued on this odd topic of who flew their broom more. Soon enough, the whole class was split up into two lines by Madam Hootch, effectively putting a pause on Ron and Draco’s conversation about Quidditch. Draco had offered to teach Harry how to fly, but then got in another argument with Ron about who would teach him first, and Harry didn’t really want to get into that kind of stuff just yet.

“Right now, I want you to put out your right hand, and say up! Go on!” She shouted, making sure that everyone could hear her. The first years immediately started yelling ‘up’ at their brooms, only a few working on the first try. Both Draco and Harry’s had sailed up to their hands, but Ron’s was just doing a little wiggle from side to side in the grass.

“Up!” He commanded, yelling loudly now, but the broom wasn’t having any of Ron’s attitude. It came up quickly, too quickly to catch and only one side of it to smack Ron in the face with its handle. The people around them laughed, but Ron caught the broom on the way back down, and it lifted its back up off of the ground to be held normally. “Shut up, Harry!” He said, though Harry was laughing uncontrollably, and Draco was snickering, trying not to laugh but failing miserably. “It’s not funny!”

Only a few minutes later, everyone had their brooms in hand, Neville being last as his just wouldn’t move. Once everyone was in order, Madam Hootch instructed everyone to mount their brooms, then gave the orders to push off on her whistle.

Of course, as Harry had remembered, Neville was anxious and pushed off too quickly, ending up on an uncontrollable broom and making his rounds above the school until he fell. He’d been taken to the hospital, then the class being warned not to fly on the consequence of expulsion.

While Harry watched Neville be carried off to Madam Pomfry’s, he thought about how he’d prove himself on a broom again without Draco being a snob about the Rememberal. Neville had gotten just that morning; Harry could see it by his feet. Of course, Draco had still picked up the Rememberal, this time examining it and asking whose it was.

“It’s Neville’s, we can give it back to him later. He’d got it from his Gran in the mail, just this morning.” Ron added, still grimacing in remembering the injury the Rememberal’s owner had just gotten. Draco had held it up to his face to examine the glass ball further, but another kid decided to pluck it out of Draco’s hand.

Theodore Nott stood in a straight posture as he decided to start making fun of Neville, while of course imposing his own skills in flight. “That fat lump doesn’t even remember to keep a Rememberal on him, the dunce. And he can’t even fly a broom without falling on his fat face. Of course, I know how to fly perfectly, I beat my father at Quidditch all the time. Maybe I’ll keep this to give to my father next time I win!” Nott told the Slytherin’s, and a few of them snickered, but Harry now noticed some of the Gryffindors do so as well. He was unhappily glaring at them, then turned his attention to Nott.

“Give it here, Nott.” Harry held his hand out, looking to see Draco go to stand behind Harry, backing him up silently. Nott gave a foul look towards Draco, which just made Harry’s stomach churn faster with hot anger, further aggravating his short temper. “Now.” He said again, this time with more emphasis.

Nott just smirked, mirthfully, then mounted his broom sideways. “No, I think I’ll hide it. Maybe throw it on top of the Astronomy Tower?” And Nott took off on his broom, making the other kids get out of the way for him to make a sideways exit up into the sky.

Harry started mounting his broom, then got a stern look from Hermione as she went to stand in front of him. “Harry, you can’t go up there! You heard what Madam Hootch said! You’ll be expelled if you get caught!” But Harry just smirked slyly.

“Then I just won’t get caught.” He said, now changing his joking manner to serious. “I’ll be fine, you should be more worried for Nott.” Then Harry was off, speeding through the air a little unsteadily, but easily prepared and able to get the Rememberal back. “Give it here, Nott or I’ll knock you off that broom!” The broom Harry was on steadied, and soon was safe enough to sit upwards on. The Slytherin boy glared openly, then smirked nastily, like he thought Harry was just joking.

“Yeah, I think the Astronomy Tower is close enough!” Nott yelled, ignoring what Harry had said. Harry sneered at Nott, trying not to smile at his opportunity. This was it, his time to impress Professor McGonagall and get onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Fighting the smile got harder the longer he sat, waiting.

Then Nott was throwing the Rememberal, and Harry was chasing after it like a bird diving for its prey in the air. He was leaning flat down on his broom, his chest touching the old, splintering wood as he tried to gain as much speed as possible. He was soon darting towards the glinting clear ball, reaching his hand out in front of him as far as it would go. He swerved around a pillar, not noticing how fast his surroundings shifted by him as he skated so close to the Rememberal, then, in one last push, he’d caught it.

Suddenly, Harry was too close to a window of the comically tall Astronomy Tower, and pulled back to save himself a crash. His stop was so sudden in fact, it scared the two people directly inside the tower into a loud scream of shock. Or, one scream and one big flinch. The two people just happened to be Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. As soon as Harry recognized them, the two professors recognized Harry and they made eye contact.

“Potter! What are you doing!” Professor McGonagall screamed at him, pushing herself outside the window to glare and point her finger at him closer. Her usually pale face went bright pink, furious. The potions professor behind her, however, had as pale a face than Harry had ever seen. It reminded Harry of the night Snape had died, how drained of color his lifeless, cold body looked. His open black eyes so quickly turning grey as he laid there, bleeding out in the night. Lifeless and dead, his potions professor would have been. Harry’s stomach lurched, and his immediate reaction was to get to the ground.

So, Harry pointed downwards to a small courtyard at McGonagall with one hand, then put that hand to his mouth while he tried his best to glide downwards softly to the ground. The sound of continuous swallowing echoed in his ears as he tried his best to keep himself from painting the Hogwarts grounds in whatever disgusting color his stomach would have mixed up that morning.

It was more of a rush as he landed, stumbling on the grass until he was keeling over, broom left behind and his breakfast half digested now scattering on the floor. The image came back to Harry, and his stomach lurched again, making him spill out the little remains left in his stomach.

When Harry had finally finished flushing out his insides, Professor McGonagall and Snape both were finally at the bottom of the Astronomy tower, running frantically towards Harry in a rush. Snape was almost sprinting, getting to Harry much faster than Professor McGonagall.

“Potter! Are you alright? What were you doing?! What were you thinking, flying so quickly and high up! There’s a reason I haven’t let you on a broom! Damn boy!” Snape flicked his wand at the puddle of partially digested food, disappearing the mess then casting a spell to clean up Harry’s robes and mouth, which now had an odd minty taste.

“Th-thanks, Professor. A-and sorry, I just, Nott threw Neville’s Rememberal, and he got that from his Gran.” Harry stammered out, still breathing heavily from the flight and puking. “I-I didn’t want him to loose it, or break it.” Snape and McGonagall both huffed indignantly, thought the Gryffindor Head looked thoughtful for a moment, then serious again.

“Well, you have good heart then. But that does not mean you get to go gallivanting off on a broom and risking injury. However…” Professor McGonagall eyed the Rememberal in Harry’s hand, still thinking. Snape seemed to know exactly what she was thinking and glared at her while helping Harry to his feet, taking the broom from his trembling hands.

“Professor McGonagall, I don’t know what you’re up to, but this better not involve Potter. He’s a first year, and not allowed to fly a broom just yet.” McGonagall fixed him with a stare that said exactly what Harry wanted. She had already made up her mind about Harry.

“Severus, the boy is a prodigy! It’s clear as day that he is qualified, catching that small glass ball in mid air. Do you really expect me to pass up this opportunity?” She then rounded on Harry, ignoring Snape’s now red and frustrated face. “Now, you’ll come with me. I’d like you to meet someone.” So Harry followed her, Snape trailing along behind them, staying annoyingly close to Harry, as if he was going to fall any minute.

As they walked, Snape posed a question. “You say that Nott was the one who threw the Rememberal? What is his full name?” McGonagall nodded her head, still looking ahead but listening.

“Theodore Nott in first year, Slytherin House. He’d swiped it from Draco Malfoy, Slytherin House, who had found it on the ground.” Harry reported seriously, giving full names and houses like titles in a report. He almost gave them ages too, but first year about summed it up. He’d caught himself right after he’d said it, smiling awkwardly at his old habit. After being an Auror for so long in his adult life, he’d learnt to answer any question with seriousness and without skipping around the bush. As you could guess, Harry was not the life of the party.

But Snape just nodded, not worrying about the strictness of Harry’s answer, then giving a stern look forward. “I shall deal with him, then. Now, Professor McGonagall, I must express my opinion that Mr. Potter should not be apart of any activity not of his age-.” But he was soon cut off by Professor McGonagall, who had held up a hand to the potions professor to silence him.

“If he makes it through Wood’s training, then Wood will be the one to make that decision.” Snape almost rolled his eyes, and Harry had to cough to hide his snicker.

“Please, we both know how obsessed that boy is with Quidditch, as well as how much reason he will put aside just for the game.” But the conversation had ended as they now strode up to a wooden door, Professor McGonagall opening it and stepping inside. Harry glared at Professor Quirrell that was teaching inside, not hiding it when Snape glanced down to him. “You dislike Professor Quirrell.” Snape said in a matter of fact.

Harry huffed, refusing the urge to stomp one of his feet. “I always come out of his class with a headache. My scar always burns when I’m close to him, I think it’s the garlic.” This seemed to interest Snape, as he glanced from Harry to Professor Quirrell quickly. But he couldn’t ask any more as Professor McGonagall came out of the class, now with a brown haired boy with her. She grinned happily, only quickly glancing at Snape with a competitive smirk.

“Wood, I have found you a seeker.” And Oliver Wood’s face broke out in an excited smile.