I do not own, I only borrow these wonderful characters.
That night, Harry tucked safely into bed, Snape found himself engrossed in the planning of his next years' curriculum. Though of course he would prefer to teach defense against the dark arts, he wanted to make his potion classes as efficient and engaging as possible.
"Severus, my boy!" he hard Dumbledore call from the floo. "Can I come through?"
"Of course," Severus sighed, putting down his quill. Why couldn't the man make an appointment? What if he wasn't available?
"I heard the party at the Weasley's went well," the headmaster announced, his eyes twinkling.
"It was adequate," Snape told him, his eyes flashing, confirming his suspicions. "It was you that invited the werewolf."
"I suggested to Molly that he might be a good guest," Dumbledore chuckled. "I had talked to him this summer and he had been very eager to meet Harry. I assume he was an affable party companion?"
"Why do I have a feeling that you know he apologized to me?"
"The man was quite desperate for a chance to do so," Dumbledore confirmed. "Especially after he heard that you were taking care of Harry. I thought that you might welcome an apology. Was I wrong?"
"I suppose is was appropriate," Severus sniffed. "But if anyone thinks that I will instantly forgive years of abuse with some short verbal apology . . ."
"No, of course not Severus," Dumbledore assured him. "But it does hearten me that you were civil with the man."
"Unlike others, I am no bully," Snape quipped, causing Dumbledore to smile sadly at the Potions Master.
"Good, then that brings us to the subject of Harry."
"Harry?" Snape asked. "He's doing quite well."
"I suspect that he has enjoyed having you home this summer."
"I believe so," Snape agreed, though could not help smiling internally. They had both enjoyed that time.
"Then have you given thought to what you want to do with him this fall?"
Snape looked away, not wanting the older wizard to see the emotion in his face. He had given it thought, and was torn. He wanted Harry to have the normal family life he could have at Spinner's end, but in reality he needed to be able to spend more time at the school. But leaving the boy home with nothing but a house elf for company was problematic too, surely the child would be bored to tears. But taking Harry to Hogwarts with him was a difficult proposition too, did he really want him meeting and spending time with children so much older than himself? And what would he do with him during the day?
"I can see you see the dilemma," Dumbledore acknowledged. "I have given it a great deal of thought and I think that I have a solution."
Snape looked at him in surprise, not realizing that he would be thinking about it as well.
"I think we should have a class of children at Hogwarts that are day students," Dumbledore explained. "Perhaps ten or fifteen students. It could be a sort of pre-school, and we could teach maths and grammar and all of the boring muggle subjects that we assume children should have a good grasp on by the time they come here. It could even be helpful for older students who come needing some remedial help."
"Would you have students floo in?"
"Yes, we could set up a floo especially in their classroom. Except, of course, for children belonging to professors," his eyes twinkled. "They could stay here with their guardians."
"What about my status as a spy?" he asked, not acknowledging his heart warming at Dumbledore acknowledging that Harry belonged to him.
"I think a skilled double agent could spin doing the headmaster the favor of raising Harry Potter," Dumbledore acknowledged. "If our enemy should return or you believe there would be any such demand that you hand Harry over, I'm sure we can blow your cover enough for me to remove the child."
Snape nodded, realizing how much this made sense. It was perfect, in a way, it would give Harry socialization with wizards, they would be able to live at Hogwarts together, and he would be able to resume his role as head of Slytherin.
"That sounds as if it could be an adequate solution," Snape acknowledged. "Where would we recruit other students?"
"As you know, most wizarding families either home-school or hire tutors," Dumbledore said. "I've been asking around a bit this summer, and there seems to be quite a bit of interest in the preschool idea. I think we should have ten students without much difficulty. And because we don't have to worry about boarding for them, they can pay just enough to cover the teacher's salary and their lunch. In some ways, they are really just pooling money to share a tutor."
"Have you given thought to who could teach?" Snape asked, realizing how much this made sense.
"I have," Dumbledore said nervously, and Snape realized he was hedging.
"Who?" Snape demanded, his eyes narrowing.
"Now Severus, he really has changed . . . And with the new restriction about people suffering from Lycanopathy not being able to be employed, he is quite in need of something . . ."
"Lupin?!" Snape exploded. "I will not have a werewolf teaching my ward!"
"Now, Severus," Dumbledore began.
"Do not think you can talk me into this!" he shrilled. "Surely you see the stupidity of giving a werewolf access to young and vulnerable children!"
"I believe wolfsbane will allay our fears on that matter," Dumbledore told him firmly, but managed to keep his voice gentle. "You're being unreasonable, Severus."
"Me? Unreasonable?" he blazed. "That werewolf almost killed me, or did you forget?"
"I did not forget," Dumbledore assured him. "And that was the fault of another, not Lupin's. I think you will agree that though Lupin did not stop his friends, of the four he was the most disapproving of their antics."
"That is true," Severus admitted.
"Harry will stay safe," Dumbledore told him. "And Hogwarts is the safest place for Him, you know that. For Harry's safety if nothing else, I also think we should not just hire someone willy nilly that we know nothing about. I have asked several people I know to be trustworthy if they were interested in this position, and Lupin was the only reasonable match."
"You should have consulted with me first," Snape sniffed. "I could have saved you a lot of trouble."
"Surely you see how this really is a good solution," Dumbledore assured him. "And I'm sure Lupin will follow whatever safety precautions you feel necessary. Surely someone as clever as you can conquer the problem of a teacher with a disability."
"Disability," Snape sputtered darkly.
"Yes, disability," Dumbledore confirmed. "Through no fault of his own Lupin was infected with a terrible disease. It almost robbed him of a chance for an education, and it certainly has now affected his ability to get a job. The man has no life, Severus, and is living off of a meager inheritance that will shortly run out. He is destitute."
"I suppose I can rouse some sympathy for him," Snape sniffed again, not looking at the headmaster. "And I'm sure we can come up with adequate safeguards. But if for one minute I think that he threatens Harry in the slightest . . ."
"Of course, Severus," Dumbledore agreed. "Of course."
There was one more fear that niggled Snape's mind, so mild that he could hardly find himself admitting it to himself. He was also afraid that Harry might like the ragged Marauder more than he liked himself. "And he will not tell Harry of his relationship with his parents until I feel it is appropriate," Snape intoned.
"Of course," Dumbledore agreed. "So long as you realize that the boy loves you like a father. Lupin will not interfere with that."
Snape had often wondered if Dumbledore had some sort of mind-reading ability that could breach his occlumency shields, and he again had that sensation of being seen. He looked away in chagrin, but managed to answer, "Of course not, I'm not worried in the slightest," he lied to the headmaster, and they both knew what a hollow lie it was. "But maybe Harry has some room in his life for an Uncle."
"Good man, Severus," Dumbledore answered. "I will make the offer to Lupin tonight, and we can begin to develop the curriculum. There are also several minor details to work out - uniforms, location of classroom, and the like. I will begin to work on those with Lupin, I will consult with you as needed."
"It seems a short time to arrange such a class," Snape observed coldly.
"I think it will work," Dumbledore laughed at him. "I do have some experience with this sort of thing."
"I suppose you do," he admitted, trying to sound gracious.
