No more lies (To Victory)

CHAPTER 15

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"Pup."

Harry smiled, watching his skittish, disguised godfather approaching Harry’s table.

But Harry would recognise him anywhere.

It's hard to hide the damage Azkaban had done from one's eyes, even if they are borrowing another's appearance.

"Hey, Pads. Come, sit. This booth has privacy charms on it." Ones that Harry reinforced for the conversation he was about to have.

Sirius might look like a teenager, but he was anything but.

Quite frankly, Harry chose such a public place because of what Sirius might do. In case he lashes out.

Harry would have no trouble restraining him if they met in that disgusting cave like Sirius originally wanted to. But that also meant extra risk of Sirius inviting other people along, setting a trap for Harry or just apparating away if he heard something he didn't like.

It was too risky.

Here, Sirius couldn't apparate, couldn't throw a tantrum without bringing attention to himself - something he was desperately trying to avoid.

Plus, his darling slytherins were sitting in the booth across from them. Harry was pretty sure they'd intervene if a fight broke out. Harry may have not given them the details on who he was meeting, but they were smart enough to figure out it's someone important, as well as dangerous. And yet, they didn't bug him for answers, which Harry appreciated more than anything.

Sirius sat down, checking Harry up and down.

"You look good, pup."

Harry offered a wide smile.

"I'd say you do too, but that'd be just weird."

Sirius grinned. "Where did you get polyjuice? Don't tell me you robbed Snivellus stores."

Harry shot a disapproving look. "What are you, Sirius, five? Stop calling him that."

That apparently, was enough to warrant surprise and suspicion from his godfather.

"Did he threaten you?" Sirius asked suddenly. "Because if he did I'll kill him, pup, I swear."

Harry was taken aback. Why such hostility?

"What are you talking about, Sirius?"

"You're different," Sirius said with fever in his eyes that bordered on madness. "You're not acting like yourself. I've seen the articles; I've spoken to- to people and I don't like what I'm hearing, pup."

Harry didn't like what he was hearing either.

"You ditched your friends, you're consorting with slytherins… it's dangerous, Harry. It's not like you either."

It was like Dumbledore himself speaking to him through Sirius.

Harry’s the furthest thing from impressed.

"How do you know how I act when you've sent me one letter, Sirius? One. In all of these months. I haven't heard anything from you, you haven't asked me anything, and instead you wanted to meet with me just because you feel like I'm doing something wrong. Only because of the things you read in the Prophet, and not once have you asked me about how I'm feeling or how I'm doing. If you're just here to accuse me of things I didn't do, Sirius, then kindly piss off."

That seemed to stun his godfather as he dared to gape and look confused at Harry’s very well deserved rant.

"I- Dumbledore said it was too dangerous to send you letters."

"I didn't know you needed his permission, Sirius," Harry said bitterly. "You're no longer actively hunted. My mail is most certainly not monitored and Hedwig would scratch out the eyes of anyone who tried to intercept my letters. You've been on your own all year, broke into Hogwarts several times, and you think now you can't contact me? Excuses, Sirius. That's all I'm hearing."

Sirius clearly didn't come prepared to be argued with logically if that lost, wounded look was anything to go by.

"I want what's best for you, pup."

Harry crossed his arms and glared.

Here was the man, his godfather: a person who was supposed to care for him if his parents died.

Who abandoned Harry for revenge and then never even asked for a fair trial, feeling like he deserved to rot in Azkaban because he felt guilty. Not a thought about Harry, and now he comes in and thinks he has some say in his life?

"I don't think you do, Sirius," Harry said quietly. "I think you want what Dumbledore told you to want for me. Am I wrong?"

Harry didn't think they'd jump on such a heavy topic right away. He was going to ease into it, make Sirius see sense. Maybe.

Who knows?

Maybe the claws of the old man had already sunk in too deep.

"Dumbledore is a great man, Harry. You surely know that."

Harry scoffed.

"I know that he knew you were the secret keeper and left you for dead anyway. He was in the position of power all these years and still failed to give you a fair trial. And you were one of his closest; methinks he should've at least asked you what happened."

Sirius looks like he was slapped.

"He-" Sirius frowned. "He was busy with the war, I'm sure."

Harry’s eyebrows shot up. "Too busy to help one of his loyal followers? Hm. Just like he was too busy to check up on me, I guess. What a coincidence." Merlin, how could Sirius be so wilfully blind? "Well, I guess you see what you want to see, Sirius. Now tell me, where have you been staying?"

Harry’s question took the other by surprise.

"Here and there. Caves mostly. People like cute dogs."

"Why?" Azkaban must've done more damage than Harry originally suspected. "You have a house, Sirius. What's stopping you from living there, like a normal person?"

"Dumbledore says it's not safe-"

Harry's magic spiked before he could control it, rendering Sirius quiet.

"Oh, for fucks sake, Sirius, do you not have a brain of your own?" he snapped. "No one has any idea where the ancestral Black House is. None. And if they did, well, good luck getting through all of those wards, eh?" He leaned in closer, staring his godfather down. "That's the first place you should've gone to when you got out of that hellhole."

"I barely escaped that place when I was sixteen," Sirius hissed suddenly, his anger throwing Harry off. "It's no better than Azkaban!"

"Oh really? Is it filled with dementors? Are inferi casually strolling down those halls? What?"

"It's a house of dark magic, Harry. And my parents were horrible people-"

"They're dead," Harry snapped. "There's no one in that house. Dark magic is also not the same as evil, Sirius. I thought you'd know that, considering who your parents were and I'm sure they educated you at some point." He offered a pittying look, knowing Sirius would hate it and take it as a challenge. "And if you truly detest that place, fucking renovate it. You have magic; it's not that bloody hard. At least you'd be safe and have a place to stay."

Sirius still looked conflicted and Harry was becoming frustrated. Why was he having to act like the adult in this situation?

"I'll check it out, pup." Sirius agreed eventually. "Renovating doesn't sound too bad… maybe Moony could help me with it. He was always better at Charms."

Huh. Harry completely forgot about his wolfy professor.

Harry was more than slightly weary of Lupin. The man was best friends with his parents and Sirius, and ditched everyone very quickly. Not a peep for over a decade.

He didn't believe Sirius's innocence. But then again, he failed to disclose his animagus status when he still believed that Sirius wanted to murder him.

Didn't tell a soul about the secret passageways or that supposed murderer who had a VIP access to school at any time knew those passages by heart. Not even after the break-in into the Gryffindor Tower. 

That with a fact Harry never even heard of him beforehand just solidified to him that Lupin wasn't someone to be trusted. Clearly, Harry’s safety or wellbeing meant jack shit to the man, so Harry was going to return that favour.

"You do that, Siri."

"Now, what's all this I've been hearing, Harry?" Sirius' face took a serious note. "Albus sounded really worried about you."

Harry feigned nonchalance.

"I've been great, actually," he said, reaching for the butterbeer that appeared on their table. "I've been getting all O's - and yes, even in potions - made new friends, ditched the fake ones, and I'm having an absolute blast. Honesty, as much as I despite being forced to participate in this ridiculous tournament, so far it's been a blessing in disguise."

Sirius looked bewildered.

"What- what do you mean fake friends? I thought you, Ron and Hermione were thick as thieves?"

Harry scowled.

"Oh? Do you also know about the absolute jealous temper tantrums I'd get from Ron about everything? He'd get jealous if I bought myself anything, he was insufferable if anyone paid me any attention - oh, and did you know he stopped other students from talking to me so I wouldn't have any other friends than him?" Which was true, not that it worked out in the end. Harry didn't even realize Ron was doing it behind his back before Neville informed him. "That, and constantly disrupting my studies. He'd literally drag me away from my books and be unreasonable if I got better grades. Hermione was the same, accusing me of cheating every single time I did well. She even got detention for spreading rumours and trying to fail me." Harry continued on. "There's a lot of shit you don't know, Sirius. Quite frankly, I'm better off without them. I don't like having backstabbing traitors as friends - I thought you'd relate to that."

Sirius' flinched.

Clearly even a decade later Pettigrew's betrayal felt raw. Especially with that rat escaping last year - Harry felt vindicated from cursing that snivelling bastard and wished he'd done more.

"Alright, I get it." He relented. "But really, Harry? Slytherins?"

Harry shrugged. "What? They appreciate my humour and I can be myself with them with no judgement. It's freeing, really, not having to bend over backwards for someone who is trying to restrict the real you."

"They're dangerous, Harry. You have no idea-"

"Oh please, I can protect myself." It was true. "Besides, they're too terrified I'll set snakes on them to do anything to me. For belonging to a house of snakes they are unreasonably terrified of them."

The moment Sirius' lips pinched Harry knew he was in for another guilt trip.

"You shouldn't flaunt around such a dark trait, Harry. Some might get the wrong idea."

And there it was.

Harry arched his eyebrow incredulously, hoping that Sirius would get a hint just what sort of idiot Harry believed him to be.

"Dark trait?" He asked. "How is it dark? If it was the language of birds, would you still consider it Dark or is it relegated only for reptiles?"

His godfather clearly didn't expect to be reasoned with and looked visibly confused.

"Well… no. But it's snakes, Harry. It's the mark of You-Know-Who!"

"No, I don't know who," the boy snarked. "Parseltongue has been around for centuries and just because the Dark Lord is a descendant of the bloodline that is blessed with this trait, it doesn't make it bad. It's still a gift, just like metamorphosis is in the Black family." Harry paused, glad to see he was making that idiot of a godfather think. "And Dark doesn't equate evil, Siri," he said intently. "Dark is simply a different magical affinity, usually more powerful than the light. And don't even start me on all the 'dark curses' or whatever you were about to say. There are terrible light spells as well. You could tickle someone to death, until they asphyxiate. Just a thought."

Sirius fell silent for a long time.

"I grew up in a house of dark magic practitioners, Harry. They weren't nice people."

He scoffed. "Oh, and people only using light magic are such kind spirits? Drop the prejudice, Sirius: it isn't a good look."

The older man was about to argue, but Harry cut him off:

"Don't even start," he snapped. "I know of your views, Sirius, and they're biassed. Your parents were shitty so now you associate everything bad with what they used to do, that they were the way they were because they practised Dark magic. Well, they were just shitty. Magic has nothing to do with that. Look at muggles: they've got no magic and they're still terrible people."

"What do you mean by that?"

Harry shook his head. He wasn't about to get into it.

"What I mean to say is that our magical affinity has nothing to do with personality of someone. The nastiest people I know call themselves light wizards." Harry paused. "Is that the only reason you wanted to meet, Sirius? To reprimand me?"

Because if that was true, that would change this tentative relationship they had completely. There would be no relationship. 

"Of course not, pup," Sirius said gently. "I needed to see you with my own two eyes. Can't believe everything I read, can I? Because if you're dating Malfoy, I'm afraid I'll have to disown you."

Harry groaned, not expecting this at all.

"No, I'm not. Swear it." Merlin, he and Draco? Not only would that give Lucius a heart attack,but he was pretty sure Draco liked the fairer gender. Besides, they were rivals for years; it would never work. "That article was clearly to get more readers. Plus, Skeeter tends to exaggerate things to get more attention. I've danced with all my friends: she could've put pictures of me with anyone, but she went for the most scandalous ones."

"Thank Merlin," Sirius breathed out with relief, as if Harry dating a Malfoy would be the end of the world. What would Sirius think if he found out who Harry was really dating? "Although I've also heard you snubbed that Weasley girl, Ron's sister?"

Harry scoffed. "So you believed the article about me and Draco, but not the one where Weaslette is stalking me? No-" Harry cut off Sirius before he could utter a word. "Cleary, you only take selective information, so allow me to enlighten you of what's been really happening: she's obsessed with me. And not in a good way, Sirius - in a 'I'm going to stalk you and pour a love potion down your throat' kind of way. I haven't spoken to her in months and she still assumed that she'd be going with me for some reason. She's been blabbering to people how she's the future Lady Potter, which will never fucking happen. Shall I go on more, or is that enough for you to realize that I live having to check my every meal for poison because of her? And that Dumbledore is completely ignoring this situation and is actually pushing for us to be together?"

Sirius' face was pale.

Clearly, as the heir to the House of Black he knew very well what sort of dangers to look out for. Love potions was one of them.

Line theft was a hefty crime in high society, and it was usually followed by an Azkaban sentence.

"But-"

"But what?" Harry snapped, eyes narrowing. "I'm done being pushed around by people who don't give a shit about my wellbeing, Sirius. And if you're one of them - this will be the last time we ever meet on good terms."

His godfather’s expression sobered up. 

"You're my godson, Harry," he said with maturity that rarely made an appearance. "I swore to Jamie I'll take care of you. I'm not giving up on my duties, even if I'm severely late."

He sounded so genuine that Harry’s heart squeezed painfully.

Indeed, Sirius was years too late.

"I can take care of myself, Sirius, but I appreciate your sentiment. If you want to help me, you need to help yourself first."

"What do you mean, pup? I'm fine!"

Harry pinched his lips, giving his best unimpressed expression that Tom so frequently bestowed upon him in the beginning.

"You still haven't healed from exposure to dementors. You haven't taken any potions for it, have you?" He asked and continued without waiting for an answer. "You don't have stability, neither lodgings nor food. You haven't seen a healer, not for your physical health, nor mental. Sirius, I am fine here. I am finally thriving. And I need you to do the same: put yourself first. For once."

Sirius was quiet.

"When have you gotten so mature? I should be the one harping on you to take care of yourself."

Harry shrugged. "When I realised I'm on my own and everyone has ulterior motives." Harry looked at Sirius, wondering how he'll take the next tibid of information. "Do you know when I was entered into the tournament, my magical guardian had a right to pull me out due to the age line? And that until days later I didn't even know what a magical guardian was? And that it was Dumbledore, who stood there silently when I was sentenced to risk my life in this ridiculous fucking thing?" Harry hissed angrily, hoping his godfather would finally fucking understand. He needed for him to realise what a terrible manipulative shithead thr headmaster was.

"You didn't know Albus was your magical guardian?" Sirius asked, confused. "But… I was supposed to be your magical guardian, but then I was incarcerated… Dumbledore had no legal standing to become your guardian. He's not related to you and I know for a fact James and Lily's wills had specific people for that role just in case. A whole list of them, actually. Albus wasn't one of them."

Harry knew and he was salty about it.

"Sirius," he addressed his godfather. "Dumbledore sealed their wills. They were never officially read. And not only that - he appointed himself my guardian and then proceeded to ignore all of his duties. I didn't know about magic until my Hogwarts letter arrived. The first time I saw Dumbledore was during my sorting, and I spoke to the man for the first time during my first year, after he caught me staring at an enchanted mirror. It's… it's my belief he's done this on purpose to keep me ignorant of this world and of my duties." Harry regarded Sirius carefully, pleased that his godfather looked to be thinking for once, even if it looked painful. "He even took away my Gringotts key so I couldn't buy myself anything I needed. The only fucking reason I'm even aware that I'm the heir to the Potter family and have responsibilities, not to mention other things about this world, is because I'm not a complete idiot and I had people help me. And those people were slytherins." Well, one slytherin. Tom. But he couldn't tell Sirius that, could he?

His godfather looked gobsmacked enough as it was. It was obvious he was having a hard time comprehending words slytherin and helpful in one sentence.

"What do you mean you didn't know?" He asked, voice low and dangerous. "It's your birthright," he spat. "You weren't taught anything?"

Harry shook his head.

"That's- that's…" Sirius shook his head, a snarl forming on his lips as Harry’s words started sinking in. "What the hell was he thinking?! You are a target to hundreds of wizards and witches who either want revenge or want to use you, and he kept you oblivious?! It's a wonder how no one has taken advantage of you yet! Merlin’s balls," Sirius took a swing of his own butterbeer, grimacing.

"People have taken advantage of me, Pads. But now I have the power to pushback. The Tri-Wizarding Tournament has been as much as a blessing as it had been a curse. It's dangerous, yes, but I cannot help but be thankful for the freedom it has granted me. And I refuse to be used again."

His godfather was still silently fuming, and it was a sight to see. Maybe not everything was lost.

"I'll- I'll go back," Sirius said suddenly, a weird sort of determined fire entering his eyes. "I'll go back to my childhood home. I'll- I'll get some stuff for you, pup. Jamie isn't here, he- obviously, he didn't tell you. You need to know things." The man looked desperate. "I didn't know things were this bad for you, pup, Iswear I didn't. I thought Albus…" he shook his head, clearly pained by the idea of his idol being a piece of shit. "I'll do better, I swear. My mind is just so foggy sometimes; it gets hard to think."

Harry’s eyes softened.

"You need help, Pads," he insisted. "There are potions to help with dementor exposure and I'm sure Lupin could and would shove chocolate down your throat on hourly basis."

Sirius barked out a laugh, eyes glinting. "Oh, that's just Remus for you. Even at Hogwarts he had a warded drawer full of chocolate goods. Didn't allow anyone near it, and cursed that little rat when caught him trying to break in. Which was a big deal - Remmy was always so prim and proper. He'd rather give you detention than curse you, but for his chocolate? That man's a goner."

Harry noticed. Especially when Lupin kept handing him chocolates left, right and middle. Which made Harry paranoid and suspicious that Lupin was buttering him up to loosen him up, so one day he could feed Harry some poison.

It never happened, but Harry was still salty about Lupin's inaction towards him, but he knew better than to expect things from others. Better than being constantly disappointed.

"I'm serious," Harry tried to get back to the point. "If I find someone to help you, will you take the help?"

Sirius contemplated his answer for a long while, before laughing. "Shouldn't I be the adult, pup? I feel like you're doing all the work here." Harry said nothing and continued staring at his godfather seriously. He needed an answer. Eventually, Sirius sighed petulantly and nodded. "Fine. Yes, I will. But I don't know if you noticed; I'm a bit of a wanted man."

Harry waved his hand dismissively. "Unimportant. Besides, that rat is still out there and his days are numbered. You will be free." Well, unless Sirius takes a stance against Harry and sides with the coot again. If that happens… he and Sirius would be done.

He'll simply murder that ratty bastard himself.

Or, perhaps, use him as a practice dummy. Live victims were always so much fun.

Sirius smiled sadly. "I wish for that too, pup, but Peter is evasive. I'm sure you noticed his escape antics the last time; it won't be easy to catch him. Plus, we have no idea where he is."

Harry did.

Besides, the only reason the rat escaped was because Harry couldn't show his prowess in wandless casting at that time. But things were different now.

"Well, then. Have some time to think over things you've learned today, Sirius, and send me a message once you've settled in."

"I- don't have an owl?" His godfather said, confused, and slightly put off by such a clinical answer from his godson.

Harry shrugged. "You're a marauder who escaped from Azkaban - I'm sure you'll think of something. If not, Headwig might show up sometime. However…" he leaned in, hoping his addled godfather would grasp the seriousness of what Harry was about to say. "I'll only say this once, Sirius. Albus Dumbledore is a threat to my life and if you keep feeding him information about me, keep consorting with him against my interests… we're done. I know you were young when he got into your head and Azkaban hasn't made anything clearer, but you, as someone who was raised as a Black should know when they're being manipulated. And I'm done with people who keep trying to use and manipulate me, and the moment you turn into one of them… you'll be as good as dead to me, godfather or not."

Sirius sobered up quickly.

He must've sensed Harry’s magic coiling like a snake prepared to strike or he must've awakened the real Sirius behind this damaged mask, but his godfather was listening.

"I've always been on your side, pup. You're the only family I have left."

Harry smiled bitterly, thinking about the cousins Sirius intentionally left out. Did he think Harry was unaware of their existence?

He let it slide.

"Well then, it's best we depart before someone starts thinking you're my third lover or something. There are just so many articles I can take."

His godfather immediately grinned, eyes glinting with mischief. "Lover, huh? So, is that French boy - Pierre, was it? - are you seeing him?"

Harry groaned.

So much for their conversation ending on a serious note.

"No, for Merlin’s sake. I'm just making connections, as is the purpose of this tournament: tomakeconnections."

"You sound like a slytherin," Sirius covered his eyes, feigning a feint. "Where has your marauder spirit had gone to?"

Harry grinned. "Be a good dogfather, Padfood, and I'll introduce you to your legacies."

And if he ever did allow the twins to meet their worshipped idol, their Marauder God? Hell would reign supreme.

It might be a worthy investment, as long as it doesn't turn around and bite him in the ass.

He could tell Sirius was beyond intrigued but Harry kept his secrets.

What was one more to the hundreds he kept locked close to his heart?

"Besides, there are other sort of connections you could make with that boy, also very french connections,  if you catch my drift." Sirius wiggled his brows.

Harry groaned once more, banging his head against the table.

This was not something he wanted to talk about,but he couldn't help and think of Tom. He'd probably enjoy those 'frenchconnections' very much.

"Hey, what are you smiling about?! Indulge your godfather!" Sirius demanded.

"Piss off, Sirius."

"Who's he with?" Hissed Draco, glaring at a seemingly unassuming teenager Harry acted so familial with. "I've never seen him before."

"Your jealousy is showing, Draco darling," Pansy sang, checking out her perfectly manicured nails. "Keep this up and you'll end up painted as a jealous side-kick in the next Prophet edition."

Draco crossed his arms and glared.

That would be a disaster to the Malfoy name and he knew it. Malfoys were never sidekicks.

"Draco is right, though," said Theo, eyes narrowed as he observed whoever Harry was meeting. "I've never seen that boy before. He's not from Beauxbatons or Dursmstrang either."

"Maybe someone from the outside world? I mean, Harry tends to draw attention. I wouldn't be surprised it's someone he never thought to mention to us," Blaise put in his two knuts. "He's secretive as fuck."

"Aren't you late to your date?" Draco snapped at him.

"Mmm… not yet. I still got ten minutes or so before I'm supposed to be picking Miss Lorrey," Blaise drawled, smirking.

"You're disgusting," Theo sneered. "Go drool somewhere else."

"I'm good, thanks."

"Boys! You're civilised wizards, act like it," Pansy said. "Now, Draco darling. You never shared details of the Ball with us! You said it was 'fine', but that really doesn't mean anything. Want to share?"

Draco shifted. "No."

"Oh, now I'm really intrigued," Blaise drawled. "What, did Potter leave you high and dry throughout the whole thing?" Draco was quiet. "He did?!?"

"Keep your bloody voice down," hissed the blond, and then nodded bitterly. "You should've seen him. He left me to 'mingle', and I'm not exaggerating when I say he spoke with bloody everyone. He didn't even need me to introduce anyone- well, most people just approached him - but that's not the point. He somehow managed to impress even the Dark Lord followers! That doesn't make any sense!"

Draco’s rant was met with silence and looks of contemplation.

"Doesn't it?" Asked Theodore. "We've known for months he's dark. We know that he supports the Dark Lord in some capacity and have stated multiple times that he will rise again. Is it so surprising he'd get along with his followers? Especially if he continued acting like himself and not his previous self."

Other slytherins were nodding. "And.. my grandfather wrote to me. You know he's-" the slytherins nodded, knowing what he meant. "He met and spoke with Harry. Told me to observe him and to be careful. Something happened during the Ball that left my grandfather rattled, but so far, he hasn't answered me what. But I could tell he's intrigued."

"I'll send a letter home as well," said Pansy.

"What, seeing Potter around isn't enough?" Snorted Draco. "My own parents warned me, too. He and my father also had a talk in his study - don't ask me about what, he wouldn't tell, but something is going on. They treat Potter like an adult."

"Did you already forget the status of his ring?" Blaise asked with a raised eyebrow, because he won't be forgetting that any time soon. If he wasn't afraid Potter would actually curse his bollocks off, he would’ve already gossiped about it.

"It's not like he's told anyone." But Theodore won't be forgetting it any time soon. "Grandfather referred to him as heir Potter, so, for some reason he's yet to tell people."

"Will probably release it when it's convenient," Pansy sniffed. "Oh, look. The stranger's leaving. Maybe we should talk to him?"

"And pray that Harry doesn't notice?" Draco scoffed. "No thanks. But you're welcome to."

"Ah, but I need to leave to see my own mademoisell. Maybe I'll chat up this charmer when leaving, hm?" Blaise stood up from his seat, shooting everyone a grin, and took off. 

"If you get yourself cursed I'll laugh at you," Draco stated and turned to watch Harry instead.

It was interesting, watching him interact with a stranger with such ease. He wasn't blind and could tell there was closeness there, but Harry cautious posture convinced Draco that it wasn't an intimate conversation.

Salazar, he was curious, and even more so when Harry walked with the stranger to the door. He exchanged glanced with Theo and stood up to follow, leaving Pansy to save their table.

Knowing Potter, he'll get jumped when walking back.

They stayed respectable distance away, but it was curious how they were going to the outskirts of town rather than the apparition point, or somewhere else.

"There's something off about him," Theo said, squinting.

Draco had no idea what he was talking about and said so.

"I don't know. Maybe a glamour or something."

They stopped when the due in front of them stopped, clearly saying goodbye.

And then the stranger looked at them with such a cold and calculating look in his eyes that Draco immediately felt weary, but held his ground and glared back.

For some reason, this seemed to amuse Harry, especially after the stranger said something to him.

Hopefully Blaise will get to speak with him and get some info out. Draco had a feeling his newest gryffindor friend wouldn't be so forthcoming.

"Didn't realise I needed two knights in shining armour to watch over me." Harry chuckled, clearly referencing to something they weren't privy to. "Or do you prefer to be called bodyguards? How much should I pay you for your service?"

Draco was very tempted to hit him, but he wasn't uncouth.

"You couldn't afford me, Potter." He sniffed instead, making sure to make his glare even more menacing. "Who was that?"

Potter turned to him slowly, like a predator would and regarded him silently with a mockingly raised eyebrow. He refused to gulp or show fear that certainly tingled down his spine.

"I don't recall agreeing to an interrogation, Draco."

"The point of interrogation is to interrogate and answer questions you don't usually want." Theo's smirk widened with Harry’s deadpan stare, and Draxo thought that maybe his friend wasn't as sane as he pretended to be. Why else would he get on with Harry so well?

"True," Harry agreed easily. "Fine, I'll tell you." Harry waited for the two slytherins to lean in closer, almost vibrating with anticipation, before saying: "It was an acquaintance of mine."

A pin dropped.

"You're an insufferable prat, Potter, and I cannot believe I choose to spend my own precious time with you of my own free will!" Draco shrieked, throwing his hands up.

Harry, that utter psychopath, grinned.

"There there, Draco." Harry patted his shoulder. "Do you need a calming draught? Maybe a sippy cup? Some- ouch!"

Harry definitely deserved being kicked, no matter if his mother would call him a muggle.

"You deserved it."

"Stop bullying Draco, Harry, he's sensitive." Theo strategically moved away out of Draco’s reach and grinned. "Come on. I ordered butterbeers before coming here and would really like something to eat. You coming?"

Theo grabbed Harry by his arm and started pulling him back to the Three Broomsticks, shooting a smug grin back at Draco.

Salazar, Draco felt like strangling him, especially as he felt a pang of jealousy at the sight.

"Mr Potter," Snape called out, finally having caught the one student that kept evading him at every turn. "A word, please."

The boy looked disgruntled at being caught, but followed him obediently into his office, gracing Severus with an expectant frown.

"As I'm sure you're aware, I asked a healer to come see you during the holidays, and you asked for a secrecy contract. I'd like you to review this and tell me if you'd like something added or retracted." Severus slid a piece of parchment towards the boy, waiting for him to take a seat and read through the basic contract he drafted.

It didn't take long for Potter to summon a quill from somewhere and start crossing things out. It took a few minutes of him writing something and him vibrating in his seat with curiosity, but Severus waited patiently for him to be done.

As far as he was aware, the gryffindor had no experience with any sort of contracts and yet, his quill didn't waver once.

And oh.

The boy added some ironclad clauses, not unlike ones goblins tend to make.

The added clauses shouldn't have surprised him. Complete secrecy. Neither he nor the healer could share any information about Harry or his health with any other being, living or dead, write it down somewhere that could be read, mention it in passing, not even say something to an object like a talking portrait, not unless given express permission by the boy himself.

Harry Potter was thorough. Who was teaching the boy?

"That's exceptionally well worded, Mr Potter," Snape hummed. "Why such secrecy?"

The boy's eyebrows rose with incredulity.

"Seriously? Is your life planted all over the Daily Prophet, professor? Something like this could and would be leaked if I don't take necessary precautions."

The boy had a point.

"And if the healer requires additional help from another specialist?"

"I wasn't aware you were hiring someone incompetent, professor."

Insufferable brat.

"Fine. I'll make sure to add your clauses, but if there is something wrong that requires further help from a specialist from St Mungos, I expect you to comply, Mr Potter."

"Fine," the boy snapped. "Not that it will come to that. When is the healer coming and who is it?"

"Just after New Years and you will meet her then. And you shall behave yourself and act accordingly." It wasn't wasn't a request. There was no way he'd allow the boy to be disrespectful towards Narcissa, although he knew damn well that Cissa could handle herself well in these situations. Rarely the children he brought to her were cooperative.

All of them were living under delusion of being fine, too afraid to show the world something they believed to be shameful.

"Of course, sir," Harry agreed easily, and then started smirking. Severus immediately became suspicious: what was that devil child thinking about doing now? "You know, sir, it could be seen as bribery, sending a student of a different house merchandise with your own house colours. Can you imagine the scandal it would cause if I started wearing them?"

It was Severus' own time to smirk.

"Quite a few of my slytherins insist that you are at least an honorary slytherin yourself, Mr Potter. Who am I to deny them?" Who indeed? "And don't you sit there with faux innocence and try to tell me you wouldn't enjoy the reactions it would cause, Mr Potter. If anything, that's been your favourite past time this year." And wasn't he right. Even months later, every single teacher meeting ended in gossip about Potter and his actions. He would've despised it if the boy acted like his old self, but right now it brought Severus something he rarely experienced before: utter undistinguishable amusement. Despite the influx of students and their work, this year was turning out to be most entertaining, if you put danger aside. Unfortunately for him, Potter was a magnet for trouble.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, professor."

"Oh, I'm sure." Severus regarded him for a long moment. "Now would be a good time to tell you that the headmaster was less than thrilled to learn of your attendance at the Malfoy Yule Ball and might call you into his office to discuss it with you."

Severus didn't miss the flash of hatred in the boy's eyes that was quickly replaced with a scowl.

"There's nothing to discuss. He has no business interfering."

"He may still argue it since you are only fourteen, not to mention other things." Like Albus' obsession with the boy, that was starting to raise his own hackles every time the old man questioned him about Harry.

"Will you accompany me if the ol- if the headmaster calls for me, sir?"

"Of course."

He'd take any chance to dig deeper into why Albus was so keen on controlling the boy's every move. There was an underlying cause for it all, he just couldn't grasp what it was for sure.

One thing Severus was certain of was that Albus was overstepping massively, and ever since the boy stopped portraying Dumbledore’s perfect Light Saviour, something changed.

Drastically.

And whatever it was, it was dangerous. Either to the boy or in general, and Severus would be damned before he betrays his vow to Lily again.

"Thank you, professor. Is there something else you needed me for?"

He snapped back to reality, and nodded.

"Yes, quite a few things. First of all, how advanced are you in your occlumency studies?"

That threw Harry off, even if he tried not to show it, but Severus knew the boy had defences of the mind raised for months now. From the moment he tried reading his mind after the very first fight he witnessed between the Golden Trio, and was met with a wall and a glare.

Besides, considering his sheer magical ability and ironclad control over it, it would be stupid to assume the boy had no defences.

"Far enough," Potter answered vaguely. "Not that it's any of your business. Sir."

Fair enough.

"I just wanted to make sure you're protected, considering who you are and who you mingle with."

"Thank you for your concern, professor, but I've got it covered and no. You cannot check."

Cheeky little brat. Such confidence, such arrogance.

It was dangerous.

"Who taught you?" One does not just come by by occlumency, unless specifically looking for it.

A raised eyebrow was his answer. Figures.

"Someone competent who I will not disclose."

"Very well." He could tell from that stubborn stance that even a detention wouldn't force the boy to speak. "How much do you know about your heritage and most importantly - heir ring."

Boy looked incredulously at him.

"I know enough. Why are you asking?"

Why do you care, went unsaid.

"It's come to my attention that you weren't raised with the knowledge you should've had from the start, and I have no way of knowing what you're missing, what has been hidden from you. And something like your heir ring could and would offer you a semblance of protection."

For a moment Severus could've mistaken the eyes looking at him as Lily's, looking at him with fondness and something warm, before returning to the aloof indifference.

"I'm aware of most things I should know and my rings are where they should be, professor. With me. Some people have tried hiding them from me, but you must understand, professor, that I'm not easily fooled. You needn't worry." He paused. "But thank you."

He'll have to ask Draco if they have taught the boy things that Albus insisted Harry wasn't to concern himself with. He certainly couldn't have learned it from his dormmates, unless Longbottom blabbered.

"Very well. Now, where have you gone after the Malfoy Yule Ball?"

Even with the almost perfect mask Potter was wearing Severus could tell this question made him tense.

Curious. Something happened then.

"To Hogsmead, professor." The boy smiled sheepishly, trying to conceal his worry; even scratched his head! Severus would give an O for the performance alone. "I'm afraid magical means of travel have hated me ever since I stepped foot into this world."

"Indeed," he drawled, waiting, but the boy didn't say anything else. "Curious. If you arrived at Hogsmeade immediately after, how come I found you over half an hour later still at the arrival station? I thought you would've made your way to Hogwarts by then, and not lingered there for such a long time."

Even Potter couldn't have stopped blood draining from his face, even if his face remained impassive. Impressive feat for someone so young.

"Well," the boy chuckled uneasily. "I might've, uh- ended up somewhere else and was a bit lost, but managed to floo back here. Really, nothing happened, professor. Reminded me of the old times."

"Old times?" Severus prodded, completely unconvinced. Potter might suddenly be good at occlumency, but he taught teenagers for a living.

"Yeah… tried flooing to the Leaky Cauldron once and ended up being spit out in the middle of Knockturn Alley. Wasn't a fun experience, but there's nothing I can do to stop it."

Salazar gracious.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. "Has no one taught you how to floo?"

"No?"

He was really going to kill Albus. Potter probably never received the information packages meant for muggleborns.

He gave a quick instruction on how to do it properly, making sure Potter was actually taking it all in and there would be no more incidents like the one a few nights before.

After that, he allowed Potter to leave, having other business to take care of, when the boy stopped at his door, expression shifting and uncertainty taking place.

"I-" he gulped, and Severus nodded, encouraging the boy to speak. "I just wanted to say… thank you."

What?

Did he hear it wrong?

Severus kept quiet and Potter continued:

"For the letters." Ah. "I've never- I'm grateful you decided to share them with me when you didn't have to. I never really knew what my mother was like as a person or at all, so… it meant the world to me. Thank you."

Snape couldn't help but feel touched by the sincerity in the boy's voice; it was rare to get a genuine reaction out of him these days, other than constant scowling. He had doubts when sending the copies as a gift to Harry, but it seems he's done the right thing.

"Think nothing of it, child," he said quietly, determined to preserve the peaceful ambience of the moment, and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, hoping it would rely to the boy that he could be trusted. "You deserve to know who she was as a person and not an icon she's become. And you should know that she'd be very proud of you."

Harry’s eyes watered and he nodded, clearly desperate to get out of his office. Merlin forbid a boy dares to be emotional in the presence of a professor, even though Severus could feel the sentiment himself. There was a reason he avoided emotionally displays at all cost. It was mortifying, for both parties.

"Even if you're bad at flooing," Snape added just because he could and was rewarded with a bright laugh from Harry, his eyes twinkling with mischief when he left his office.

Only later did he realise Harry Potter was a master at avoiding questions he didn't want to share answers to.

He never told Severus where he had gone to after the Ball.

He just hoped it wasn't somewhere dangerous.

What a sneaky, sneaky child.

"Five points to Potter."