.

By the end of the week, there hadn't been any more trouble and Harry was lying on his bed reading through his Potion's text book when Blaise opened the door and caught his attention.

"Meeting in the common room."

Harry followed him out and saw the entire Slytherin common room full of its students. Their Potion's Professor stood in front of the empty fire and their Head of House stood to the side, looking through the students as if he were looking for someone. Harry leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets next to Blaise, then saw Draco appear from somewhere across the room.

"What a great start to the year it has been Slytherins. We are rightfully in the lead with house points which I hope is a reflection on good behaviour in classes. The reason I have called this meeting is that Quidditch will be starting soon, so we will be holding trials next weekend."

At the mention of Quidditch, Harry gave a knowing look to Blaise, who returned his hesitance and then found Draco's eye across the room. The three of them shared a look, an understanding even, about the sport and the brunette had a feeling that neither of the others had touched their brooms since the fire. He wondered how this would work with Blaise being the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, or if he'd given that role to someone else.

"We should have very strong team this year, with our newest member, Harry Potter."

Dear Merlin no, Harry thought and immediately shrunk down the wall with his hand covering his face. This cannot be happening, he could feel the looks surrounding students were giving him and hoped Draco didn't think he was actually going to try out. He was joined on the floor by Blaise seconds later.

"If you wish to sign up for these trials, Blaise Zabini – where are you? If you could put up our sign for the willing Quidditch partakers at the start of the week."

"Surely someone else could do it." Blaise complained as he sat on the floor next to his new classmate. Harry would have laughed it wasn't so tragic for their reasons for not wanting to be involved with Quidditch.

When the meeting was over, Blaise stood and then offered his hand to Harry who took it without a second thought. They were soon joined by Draco who had wound his way quickly through the sea of Slytherins to stand with them and as they stood there, Harry felt something bloom in his chest. Not sure what had caused it, he let it slide and didn't think of it much longer and let his eyes roam the common room. At some point, he found Professor Snape looking in their direction with an odd expression and when he turned to the others they were watching him too.

"Am I missing something." Harry whispered to them, not understanding if there was a reason for the weird situation he was finding himself in.

"He knows about the fire." Draco whispered back and it occurred to Harry that perhaps their Head of House was showing some empathy in his gaze across the room, he was certainly still watching them when Harry looked back.

He wanted to know why the man knew this information, obviously one of the two Slytherin's had said something but context meant everything and if it had been discussed with official matters, it created an anxiety he didn't want to deal with. The teen was going to ask but when he went to address them, Blaise had disappeared and Draco was walking away.

The green was consuming him, and he needed some time to himself, so going to the dormitory he grabbed his invisibility cloak and slipped out of the common room. The darkness of the corridor helped calm him, but he still felt like it was suffocating so climbed the stairs to find an alcove on the ground floor.

So, Professor Snape knew of the fire, knew who had been involved. Harry wondered what else he knew, if he knew what happened in the forest that night, if the man knew that he pined over the memories that he watched before going on that suicide mission. Of course, there was always one way he could find out this information but with his Professor making him nauseous each time they bumped into each other he doubted that was a realistic goal at the moment.

Hearing footsteps coming his way and low voices, he ensured his feet were covered and huddled tighter in his alcove.

" – He would be the best fit and he's done it before." It was Slughorn's voice.

"As you are well aware, Horace, the boys will be leaving at the end of the year and this would be the perfect chance to have someone else take the lead." Harry groaned at the sound of his Head of House's voice that dripped acid-like scathing replies.

"And you expect me not to be excited that Harry Potter will be on our team. I've heard that Draco Malfoy can be unreliable."

"Mr. Malfoy is a competent Seeker who was bested by Mr. Potter on occasion and vice versa. None of these students should be entertaining the idea of signing up this year and I implore you to find other students."

Harry moved from his position and had to see for himself if what he was hearing were true. It sounded as if Severus Snape had just offered him a compliment, even if it was indirectly. Unfortunately, he over extended his arm and tumbled out of his hole just as the two men rounded the corner out of sight and hoped neither of them came back.

"Fine, Severus but for the sake of Slytherin's pride, we should be using these students. If they do not show up, I will ask them myself." It sounded very much like Professor Slughorn being stubborn.

His Professor's almost kind words sat with him for the rest of the weekend and the start of the week until he stepped into the Defence classroom and his confidence took a nosedive. Sitting up the back he was joined by Draco, it seemed the blonde would do this when he had the chance, especially in settings such as this one. Sure, the other two Slytherin's were in this class also but they were already established at the front of the room.

"We worked on shields last time." His new roommate whispered and Harry was thankful he hadn't been there, he was still having issues with duelling and combat, something he hadn't quite covered off with his therapist.

"As with last week, we will start with theory and move on to practical. We covered shielding last week, so I expect you to use those shields when we move on to practising various ways to disarm them."

Harry couldn't think of anything worse than this, shields and disarming, it all seemed so basic even though he knew why it was like this. He scanned the pages they had been told to open and proceeded to zone out for the next hour. Hearing the man dribble on about various applications of disarming only made him think of how he managed to work his way around Voldemort. There were more than just ways with a wand to get through someone's' blocks and so he noted them down in the margins of his text book.

He was so caught up in his own learning that he didn't realise they were going to move on from reading. He stared down at the pages in his book, flicking over to find the next chapter when he heard his name being yelled from a few meters away. Snapping out of his daze he lifted his head to find himself staring down the length of his Professor's thirteen inch wand and immediately his vision distorted. Believing that he was standing in the Great Hall, his wand pointed at his Potion's Professor come Headmaster, he was up and out of his seat immediately, his own wand raised in defence. His heart was racing and his anger was fuelled, ready for an attack standing in his duelling stance.

Out of Harry's mind however, and back in the classroom the students stood around watching. Hermione recognised what was happening and slowly started approaching her friend, having dealt with this regularly over the past few months.

"Harry?" She called his attention in a calm voice and then went to stand in front of him, putting her hand on his wrist to make him lower his wand.

"It's okay, you're in a safe place." She placated him slowly and watched as his gaze came back into focus and he looked at her.

Harry looked around the room and found everyone watching him with either surprised or blank faces. He dared to look at Draco who was deep in thought, his brow softening like it did when the two of them were alone together. His Professor on the other hand seemed to be thinking and Harry found that he didn't want to be under this scrutiny any longer and reached for his bag panicking.

"You're shaking." She commented softly and glanced over her shoulder, silently imploring their Defence Professor to let her leave with him, to which he gave a small nod and she took Harry's elbow.

Severus knew the signs of trauma and whatever his Slytherin thought he'd seen had definitely tricked him into believing he was somewhere else. When the door closed behind the two teenagers, he moved his hand and looked at his wand curiously before addressing the class to find a pair and practice what they had been going over. Whilst they organised themselves, he slipped into his office and found his owl waiting for him on a perch. Penning a quick note, he tied it to the leg of his owl and watched it fly away through the window, it was addressed to the Headmistress.

Out in the corridor, Harry crumbled to the ground and Hermione went with him, looking both ways to ensure they were alone. She wasn't sure what he thought he'd seen but the immediate reaction to having a wand pointed at him, even if it was for instructional purposes, clearly suggested that it threatened him. She wasn't going to ask, she'd learnt early on with these incidents that he wouldn't answer or would get anger so instead she sat with him and rubbed his back.

The Slytherin was on the verge of tears, his heart beat wildly in his chest and his body shook. He didn't know what had come over him, one minute he was deep in thought and the next he was staring at the end of a wand. He wanted to get away, wanted the darkness that weighed on his shoulders to disappear, for the pain to leave.

He was grateful that he had a friend like Hermione, even though her attention was mostly on Ron these days, it was still nice to know that she was there for him. They were all there for each other, but unlike over the break, it didn't fill him with comfort and warmth like it had. He figured it was because his two best friends were now together. But for the moment he was going to hold onto the safe feeling until he felt confident to get up and walk away.

.

Harry was surprised that no one came to talk to him about his episode in Defence class over the week. In fact, none of his Professor's really spoke to him until he bumped into Professor Slughorn when he was heading to the Great Hall. The man gave him a knowing smile and blocked his path in the door way, so he stopped and gave the man a no-nonsense expression as he waited for the inevitable.

"You were at the meeting last week, I expect to be seeing you at Quidditch trials. It would be a great personal honour to have you on the team." His positivity didn't faze the Slytherin, and he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Sir, I have no desire to play Quidditch this year whether it be for Gryffindor or Slytherin." At that, he tried to get past the man but found his path blocked once more.

"You know, Regulus Black was – "

"Listen, I'm not interested okay?" He raised his voice and stormed off to sit across from Draco who was alone, he wasn't going to bow to the man for 'collection' this time round.

Draco watched as their Potion's Professor dithered about and seemed to want to say something else but decided not to and made his way to the head table. The blonde sighed and shook his head in disbelieved resignation, he too had been bailed up earlier and had turned the man down. He wondered if Harry's reason was the same as his.

"He asked me also." Draco commented.

"I heard him speaking to Professor Snape, he'll ask Blaise too."

"What were they saying?" The blondes interest was piqued.

"Our Head of House believes that we should be focussing on other aspects of our lives than Quidditch." Harry felt a shudder run down his spine when he said it.

"I see." Draco pushed his food around for a moment before continuing, "What else did he say?" Cautiously, his grey eyes connected with green of his classmate but shrugged off his interest.

"That I bet you on more than one occasion and that you wouldn't stand a chance." He smiled down at his plate waiting for the bite and it came when he felt peas hitting his forehead.

"Tosser." Draco smirked down at his plate and the two shared an amused moment together with Harry picking up the stray peas that rolled across the table.

"Need I even waste breath in telling you I was correct." Severus mused as Horace came to join the table.

"A strapping young lad such as Harry has so much potential. It's a shame to see him waste it by not doing anything constructive." Both the Headmistress and Severus turned to look at the man as if he had lost his mind. They then shared a look between themselves that meant they would be meeting later to discuss some matters however, in the mean time they remained silent.

When dinner was finished, Harry broke off from Draco and headed down a dimly lit corridor, not in the direction of the Slytherin common room. Curious as to where the ex-Gryffindor was going during the day he followed him where they ended up on the seventh floor. Harry had become addicted to sitting in the silence, letting peace wash over him for those brief moments in the day. It was as if the room was still functional and would create this space for him, even though it wasn't hidden, it just knew what he needed and provided tranquillity.

The blonde gave it a few minutes before he went to check the door, he too initially surprised that the doors were no longer hidden when he first saw them but after a beat it made complete sense. This room had been through a lot and yet, something always made his classmate come here. Slowly pushing on the door, he carefully went inside and looked around, only to find Harry sitting on the stone floor staring towards the window.

"So, this is where you've been coming." He said as a way of announcing himself.

"It's peaceful." Harry replied and didn't mind when the Slytherin sat down next to him, facing the same window.

"And you just sit here?"

"No, sometimes I fall asleep in the sun." Harry replied wistfully and fiddled with his shoe lace, "Why are you here?"

"Curiosity."

They were silent for a while, letting time tick by without interruption from anything outside of the space they were in when Harry decided to disclose the real reason he stumbled over the space.

"I actually first came here to see if anything survived the fire."

"And it was like this?" Draco pondered and Harry nodded.

"A friend left something in here… I wanted to see if it would still be around."

"It wasn't?"

"No." Harry closed his eyes and let his head hang, he wanted that book back, anything just to feel something again.

"Can it be replaced?" Draco turned his head to assess his classmate and saw the pained expression behind his bangs.

"No." Harry repeated and slowly lowered himself backwards so he was laying on the floor.

It wasn't cold as he had first thought, it crossed his mind the floor might have been heated for them but he tossed out that idea and went for a logical one such as, the suns warmth still resided in the stone. Out of his peripheral he could see Draco shuck off his robe and roll it up, the teen then joined him on the floor and he focussed his attention on the ceiling. From that point he wasn't sure how long they were there for, but all he knew was that when he rolled over to get away from the light shining on his face he realised that it was morning.

When he became fully conscious, he grumbled and stretched out his body. The clicks and groans were considerably worse after having spent the night on the floor and with one eye blinking rapidly to adjust to the light he noticed he was alone. Draco must have disappeared throughout the night and he was annoyed that he hadn't woken him up.

"I wonder what the time is." He thought aloud and as if the clock tower had heard his question, chimed eight times in succession making him jump up and run to the door.

He was going to be late for class at this rate and even with dodgy ankles shooting pain up his legs, he made it to the second floor in record time. Taking a moment outside the door to compose himself, he took a deep breath and gently pushed on the door only to find an empty room beyond it. He was positive he had Transfiguration first thing and walked in just to make sure everyone weren't hiding from him. They weren't and he backed up, closing the door behind him and looking about.

"Potter, you're up early this morning and may I ask why you are in your school robes?" Professor Flitwick was hobbling down the corridor towards him and immediately Harry questioned what day it was.

"Saturday. Dear me, someone has a case of the sleeps this morning." He chuckled to himself and continued his merry way making Harry toss his head back and search the roof for a plausible reason why he'd forgotten.

If it was just after eight, then he was certainly up early for a Saturday and that meant he would still be in good time for breakfast, however the idea of walking into the hall with his uniform on wasn't the kind of attention he wanted to draw, so decided on a detour to the Dungeons first.

When he did, every possible person he could have done without seeing he managed to walk past which included most of the Slytherin house and majority of Hufflepuff, three Professor's and that wasn't including his own Head of House he almost collided with as he rounded the final corner. He had almost made it without having been ridiculed and the very last person he wanted to see managed to find him. If there was ever a moment he wanted to evaporate into the cracks in the stone floor it was definitely now.

"Potter." Severus acknowledged when he saw the teen, mainly out of surprise at having met the boy in the corridor, not even taking note of his appearance until he started walking away.

"Potter?" He called and they both turned to face each other, ample distance between them to not feel intimidated.

"Yes, sir. I did forget it was Saturday and no, I do not intend to wear my robes all day."

Standing still and not saying a word, Severus watched as his Slytherin spun around and stormed into the common room. He had clearly not been to bed, or if he had slept he hadn't been asleep in his own bed. Judging by the disgusting state of his crumpled uniform he hadn't been sleeping with another person, but then again, he didn't think that in the boy's ill frame of mind that that was something he even considered. Whatever the reason, he felt it prudent to inform the Headmistress as he still didn't feel comfortable approaching the brunette about, quite frankly, anything.

Draco was snacking on some cereal when Harry came to sit in front of him and huffed. Too many people had seen him and the brief encounter with his Head of House had made him irritated and flustered.

"What time did you leave?" Harry growled as he snatched a piece of toast as it floated past.

"About an hour after you fell asleep. You looked too precious to wake." Draco sat there with a smug expression that only irritated Harry further.

"Well, thanks to you not waking me, I forgot it was the weekend, bumped into every person in this place that laughed and pointed out the fact it was Saturday and that I was in my uniform – "

"Well, nothing – "

"I'm not finished. Then the very last person –" He lowered his voice, "– I wanted to see, Professor Snape, has the gaul to give me his you're an idiot glare just as I make the common room."

"Are you done?"

"Yes." Harry sighed, dropped his shoulders and let both arms rest on the table either side of his plate.

"Good, because you have mail and jam on your face." Draco said pointing to the letter beside him.

Frowning and hastily wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his jumper, Harry reached for the letter, took one look at the wax seal and ripped it to shreds all whilst Draco watched with interest. He had seen this happen with two previous letters and he wondered who was trying to contact him that he didn't want to even read what they wrote. It wasn't his business to ask and so he said nothing, instead gave his classmate a raised eyebrow before looking away to show he was interested by wouldn't touch the matter. Instead he changed the subject.

"Quidditch trials are today."

"They are." Harry replied.

"So, are you going to go?" Draco pushed but received a glare.

"Absolutely not."

"Oh, okay." Draco replied ambivalently but Harry wasn't in the mood for mind games and wanted a straight answer.

"Why?" The brunette's voice was exasperated but he was made to wait a few moments as if Draco was trying to work out how best to say it.

"I was going to watch, no try out. Thought you might like to join me if you're not doing anything else."

"Oh," Harry said surprised, "All right then." He gave the teen a small smile and then they both went silent.

The sun had come out by the time the teens made it out to the Quidditch pitch and they went up the stands to find a reasonably secluded area to watch from. There were a group of Slytherin's down below that were huddled around and Professor Slughorn was talking to them animatedly. Harry rolled his eyes and looked off into the distance, not paying attention for now until they started flying.

"What are they doing here?" Draco grumbled and Harry turned to face where Draco was looking, following his eyeline over to the adjacent stand.

There, dressed in red and gold, was a large group of Gryffindor's and he could make out the unmistakable mop of red hair in the middle of them. Hermione was there also standing next to him, looking very uncomfortable and figured that Ron had made her come out with him. Ron hadn't mentioned anything to him about Quidditch this year and he wondered if he would be trying out for the Gryffindor's.

"Where's Blaise?" Harry asked as he thought about other trials and he saw Draco pointing down to the pitch.

"He said he'd only be on the team on a mentoring and coaching capacity. He wouldn't be playing or flying at all."

"And Professor Slughorn agreed?"

"Didn't have much of a choice, he could either take it or leave it. Mainly he's there to guide the fourth-year student who's been named Captain."

It made sense, not that Harry would have offered Gryffindor the same if he was in Blaise's situation. He didn't particularly want anything to do with it at all because he knew that the moment he touched a broom he'd miss it and want to join. But to do that he would need to overcome the fear and anxiety of touching a broom, mounting it and not having flashbacks.

The Slytherin's finally made it to the air, Harry was leaning forward with his elbows propped on his thighs so he could watch and Draco leant back, pulling something from his pocket and rustling it. Harry looked back at the blonde and found him offering an opened white paper bag that was filled with red twisted confectionary. He'd seen these before and not wanting to be rude he took one and took a bite, it was raspberry liquorice with a hint of apple flavoring and tasted delicious.

When Draco snorted, he was looking at the player who had the number seven written across his back and bit back a smile.

"No form." The blonde muttered, popping another piece of liquorice in his mouth, "He looks so rigid, he'll never make the tight turn." He continued and sure enough when the Snitch darted off in the other direction the third year smash straight into the seating.

Harry chewed thoughtfully on the chew and huffed his amusement at the situation he found himself in. He'd always thought that Draco was a poser, someone who was able to get their way because his father had money but the way he was continuing on about broom positioning and body language reminded Harry that he knew a thing or two about Quidditch.

"Why did you really join the Quidditch team in second year?" Harry asked, leaning back so he was in line with his classmate.

"Father wanted me to. He didn't like that you were on the Gryffindor team. Boy, the controversy in our first year when Snape saved you, that was ugly." Draco was relaxed and laid back as he spoke, watching his team fly around them.

"How do you know about that?" Harry sat up and turned to the blonde.

"It was a contentious topic in our family." He shrugged and looked away but Harry wasn't going to let up and Draco rolled his head back in a dramatic sigh.

"You have skeletons, Potter, I have skeletons. How about we leave it at that?"

Harry nodded and they both went back to watching fools fly around the pitch. Hermione made an appearance by them later in the practice but stood off to the side until Harry noticed her and motioned for her to joined them. She looked apprehensive for a moment when Draco looked at her but when he offered her the white bag, she smiled and sat with them, enjoying her favourite candy.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked.

"He's with the Gryffindor's. They've assigned him as Captain."

"I thought he'd want to give Quidditch a miss this year." Harry thought out loud.

"Now that you're not in Gryffindor, a lot of the older year levels are joining because you're not there." She winced when his face turned sad and he sat forward again, looking at his shoes. "You were an amazing Captain, Harry. But a lot of people were intimidated by you." She continued and he closed his eyes, feeling shame spreading through his chest.

He stood and climbed up a row before walking off, Draco watching him from over his shoulder and Hermione went to go and follow him but was stopped when she was told not to. Looking to the blonde she asked why but he shook his head and told her to leave it, that it was the last thing he needed was someone trying to smooth things over.

"Just enjoy the show." He finished, pointing to a girl who face planted into the ground and he let an uncharacteristically dark chuckle out.

Harry went to the seventh floor to think things through, slipping into the Room of Requirement slowly and feeling the stress melt away. On top of everything that he had to deal with, he now learns that he restricted people from doing the things they wanted, the things they loved just because of who he was. That seemed unfair and cruel. It made him wonder why no one told him this sooner or why he didn't pick up on it. Disappointment surrounded him and the darkness wrapped around his mind like a snake, blacking out all the good he had done.

He sunk to the floor, looking out of the window as the sun shone through and wondered if these feelings would ever start to fade.

A noise from just beyond the door roused him, there usually wasn't anyone about on the seventh floor, especially not at this time of the day so he stayed still and tried to ignore it. His ears pricked up when he thought he could hear his name and cautiously stood, straining his ears to see if it was a coincidence. When he heard his name again he went to the door and opened it to find no one there and frowned, then dread set in when he thought about the times he'd heard voices as they were never a good sign.

"Over here."

Harry looked at the painting across from the door and saw the Headmaster standing next to a hippo, leaning against it casually. He looked both ways and then crossed the corridor to stand closer, wondering what the Headmaster was doing there.

"Sir?"

"You come here a lot." The man said and Harry narrowed his eyes.

"You've been following me?" Harry asked cautiously.

"No, my friend Harold has been." He patted the fat neck of the hippo and smiled broadly.

"Right." The brunette was unconvinced and was about to walk away, he still had mixed emotions about his ex-Headmaster.

"Why do you come here, Harry? What are you looking for?"

How could Harry verbalise his desires, they all sounded so petty and small. How could he come out and tell the man what he wanted most was memories of the past and happier times? That for once he wished to be able to control some element of his existence? He didn't see a way and it appeared to the Headmaster that he could use some help.

"What brings you happiness?" The man tried again and watched as Harry let the smallest smile tug at his lips.

"Memories, sir." He replied, "But none that I can retrieve." He was now referring to something that didn't necessarily bring him joy but perhaps security.

Glancing up at the picture, the Headmaster had his meddling expression firmly in place and Harry only hoped that it would be to his favour, not that he was expecting anything from his old Headmaster. He was in a portrait after all.

"The Headmistress leaves her office for the night at exactly ten o'clock."

"What?" Harry didn't know what he was referring to.

"The penseive is where it's always hidden."

"Sir, what are you suggesting? That I break into her office and do what? Look at her memories?" Admittedly the Slytherin was shocked and didn't hide it.

"Not hers. His. Professor Snape's." Harry opened and shut his mouth several times, thinking back to the day he was caught viewing memories he shouldn't have, "I know the ones you want, they are still within the penseive. She has not used it."

Harry knew then what memories he was meaning. The ones that his Professor had given him on that fateful night, the one where they both should have died but lived to tell no one about. He saw his mother, his father. He saw happiness and pain. But it was a powerful memory to dredge back up, he wasn't sure if he could even go through with it.

"I will ensure the door is unlocked. Good luck." And just like that the Headmaster wandered out of the portrait to Merlin knows where.

Staring at the hippo, who Harry believed wasn't actually named Harold like the Headmaster told him, he examined the reasons why he should go through with this. If the Headmistress was going to leave each night at the same time, that would allow him to watch the memories, he would keep them on him at all times so he could feel like his mother was a part of him and no one had to know. They would just look like a vial of some silvery substance that he carried on his person, almost like a potion. It could be his secret, something that he could control. Yes, he was going to do this and only for himself, no one else.

When it was dinner time, Harry walked into the hall feeling torn, seeing Hermione and Ron sitting together with a few others and Draco sitting by himself. Something about what Hermione had said to him earlier that day still didn't sit well with him and so he decided that he would join his fellow Slytherin.

He missed the hurt look his Ravenclaw friend showed as he did this, not that he intentionally wanted to hurt her, he just didn't want to be that person who brought the tone down in the group. Draco didn't seem to mind with his joining and even struck up conversation about their new Transfiguration Professor as they ate.

Minerva was sitting at the head table waiting for her colleague to arrive as she had something she wished to discuss but as time ticked on she grew steadily more impatient. It concerned Harry Potter and without wanting to be the person who dealt with the matter, her Defence Professor wasn't making it easy to step back. Whilst it had been talked about in general terms, no one knew exactly what had happened that night between her student and staff member with both parties remaining very tight lipped over it.

Whatever had happened, the two of them refused to come near each other and whilst her predecessor continually reassured her that this was the place both of them needed to be she was finding it difficult to see how. News from outside of Hogwarts concerning Harry however had come as a surprise, which is what she needed to discuss with her deputy. Fed up with waiting, she decided a trip to the man's office was in order and she excused herself quietly.

Severus was sitting back in his chair, staring at the door frame when a knock interrupted him and he sat up straight, expecting it to be a student. When Minerva walked through the door, his face changed and he picked up a quill under the pretence that he was busy but she saw straight through it immediately.

"I know you're not busy, Severus. No need to pretend with me." She poised her lips and gave him a pointed glance

"What can I do for you Headmistress?" He sighed, placing his quill down and pointing to a seat.

"I have come to discuss matters relating to one, Mr. Harry Potter." She replied, taking the offered seat and sitting straight.

"Please, Minerva, can this not wait another," He leaned over to check the time, "Seven hours, it is still the weekend."

"Oh, stop being dramatic, Severus." She snapped, "I am here in regard to the incident that you brought to my attention last week in class."

"Ah, and?"

"I received an owl from a Wizard in London, a Dr. Daniel Fletcher, who expressed his concern for Harry."

"And this Doctor would be?" Severus asked in a bored tone.

"Harry Potter's therapist." She replied seriously, and at this Severus gave her his full attention, "He has been working with Harry for the past five months and was even insistent that he return to Hogwarts this year to deal with some underlying issues. However, upon his request he had asked that they continue their sessions via mail. As you can imagine, the reason I have heard from Dr. Fletcher is because this is not happening."

Severus saw that she had an envelope in her hands, the wax seal intact.

"Harry is ill, Severus and we have a duty to ensure he is safe."

"Minerva, I'm sorry but I cannot help him." Severus stood and placed his hands on the edge of the table.

"What happened to you out there, hmm? The war changed us all but I have never seen you act this distant towards one individual and, yes, I am aware that Harry used to provoke you but now it appears that even a mention of your name sends him into a nauseous wreck."

Severus scoffed to himself, a nauseous wreck seemed a little farfetched but there was no reason for the Headmistress to be lying. He supposed that because he had been so caught up in trying to stay away from the boy himself, he hadn't realised that they were actually doing the same thing. He wasn't going to entertain the Witch about what happened on the night he was supposed to die, that was none of her business and he sure as hell wasn't about to bring up those memories. He and Harry were not meant to see each other after that moment.

"What am I supposed to do then?" He sighed and looked up at her.

"Talk to him. Please, Severus. Just talk." She implored him and toyed with the envelope.

Walking over to the window, Severus looked out over the grounds and caught sight of the whomping willow swatting at some birds. He didn't know even the first thing he could say to the boy and it wasn't as if he was getting into trouble that he could warrant a meeting with him.

"I suppose I could chat to him about what happened the other day." He offered but spoke to the window.

"Considering your class will be based on combat and duelling, I would agree that it would be the best place to begin." Standing she went to leave but thought better of it and addressed her colleague. "This is a letter for Harry, perhaps you could do me a favour and deliver it to him?"

"Leave it on my desk." He replied, still not looking at her and when the door shut he leaned against the wall with his arms folded.