Guys thank you so much for comments and general love on the story so far! I'm simply thrilled that you are enjoying this already and it just makes so happy!

I'm curious what you guys do for Halloween this year :) Will you dress up as something? Party? Horror movies? Horror games maybe? Summon Crowley the King of Hell and have a drink with him? Please let me know :)

Have a horrifying Halloween!

The Broom

It was still early morning and the sky was cloudless while the cold winter Sun shone brightly in the magical ceiling of the Great Hall. Even though it was a Sunday, Harry had had a very weird dream about Snape and Malfoy both shouting at him and he all but bolted from his bed after waking up. Having all his homework done and his friends still sleeping, he decided he would have an early breakfast and then head out to the Quidditch pitch to fly some. He hadn't ridden his broom for a month now and he missed the feeling.

Spooning into his porridge, he watched the other students oozing slowly into the Great Hall. By the time he had finished eating, many murmuring and yawning children sat at every table, including Luna Lovegood. He waved at her and she smiled back, while tilting her head slightly, making her carrot earrings dangle in her ears. Harry stood up to go to her and have a chat when someone touched his shoulder. Scared but weirdly somehow excited, too he turned around, expecting the tall Headmaster behind him again, but instead, Minerva McGonagall looked down at the Gryffindor Golden Boy.

"Mr. Potter, please take this to the common room," said Professor McGonagall handing Harry a piece of parchment. "I will need the list of the students' names staying here for the holidays by this evening. Tell the others and please bring the parchment back to me by eight tonight."

"Of course, Professor," answered the Gryffindor with a smile.

Minerva smiled at him curtly then went to the main table and sat down next to Snape, engaging him in conversation, while pouring out some tea for herself.

Harry walked to Luna, rolling the parchment between his fingers.

"Hello, Harry," said Luna in her dreamy voice.

"Hello, Luna," smiled Harry. "Would you like to go flying with me?"

"I don't have a broom."

"You can use mine." Harry shrugged. "I have to take this to the common room but after that we could head out to the pitch. What do you think?"

"Sure, Harry. "

Harry smiled at her one last time, then rushed out of the Great Hall. Walking towards the Gryffindor Tower he ran into Malfoy. The blond did not mention the incident though Harry was prepared to give him an explanation. He just greeted the Gryffindor as always.

Harry told him about his plans with Luna, but Malfoy just said he would join them after breakfast, though Harry knew he would not sit on a broom. He had not seen Malfoy fly ever since that fateful night in the Come and Go Room.

Hermione, Neville and Ginny were all in the common room, when Harry climbed through the portrait, waiting for Ron to come down. Harry just hung the piece of parchment on the notice board when Ron appeared, waving a letter.

"Mum and Dad!" He cried running down the stairs. He sat on a couch and his sister rushed there, too, peaking over his shoulders. He opened the letter and read it mumbling slightly. "They say they want to visit Fleur and Bill for Christmas, because-" there was a short pause as his eyes moved on and then he cried up, "What?" He looked around looking slightly shocked, while Ginny giggled behind him.

"What?" Ask Hermione and Harry at the same time.

"Fleur. She's pregnant." Ron grinned.

"Oh but that's wonderful!" said Hermione, gleefully.

Harry couldn't contain the smile on his face as he pinned the parchment onto the notice board. Then, realizing they would be staying here now that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would go the Shell Cottage for Christmas, he swiftly scribbled down their names right on top of it.

With their broom on their shoulder, they rushed down to the Great Hall to tell the news to Luna as well, who reacted with a broad smile and weird tips about how to influence the baby's gender like petting Crups backwards while standing in Thestral poop (to have a wizard boy), and turning a butterfly into a hawk at the first full moon after the conception while shouting a spell in Egyptian (to have a witch girl).

After the late comers had breakfast, too, they all went down to the Quidditch field, while Malfoy stayed to have a few words with the Headmaster before "he would grace this pathetic bunch with his presence", as he had put it.

As soon as they walked through the gates to the field Ron was on his broom, pushing himself away from the ground. Harry, as promised gave his Firebolt to Luna, who following Ginny's advices soon was flying nicely up in the blue sky. Hermione and Harry meanwhile were walking on the ground as the black haired boy talked to his friend about last night in the Headmaster's office.

"Harry, why did you do it?" Cried Hermione when Harry finished the tale.

"I couldn't let Malfoy tell anything to Snape. He would ridicule me the rest of my life, 'Mione."

"But Harry, it was pointless. How do you know Draco's not doing it right now?"

The wizard stopped for a second, frowning. "Shit. I hope he thinks the jinx is permanent. Besides, maybe he doesn't always talk about me with Snape." He looked at the bushy haired girl but her expression told him, his hopes were in vain.

"I think you should apologize, Harry." Hermione said quietly. "You always tell me you don't know why he hates you, but then you do something like this and what's worse you never apologize."

"That's not true," flared Harry but he did not have to look at the girl to realize she was correct.

"Harry, if you want him to treat you fairly, you should show him you're not like your dad."

"But, 'Mione," moaned Harry in a desperate voice, "I'm not like my dad. Am I?"

"Of course not, you're not a bully. But you're... well... I'm sorry Harry, but you're rude." Hermione stopped and looked at Harry so he would know she's serious. "Listening in on other people's conversations? Really? Sneaking in his office? And I'm not even going to mention all the stuff you did before."

"It's not like we haven't eavesdropped on people in the past, Hermione," huffed Harry.

"Those were different times, Harry. This was an absolute personal conversation between them, and you had selfish reasons. You weren't eavesdropping on Death Eaters, but on the Headmaster and his godson."

Harry thought about that for a second and imagined how he would have felt if Snape had listened in on one of his conversations with Sirius. He knew he would have been furious probably. A sickening feeling filled his stomach so he shook his head. "It doesn't matter, besides, as it turns out, I'm actually allowed in his office."

"And that's even worse, Harry." Big brown eyes looked at him, disappointment ringing clear in them. "He trusted you with something and you betrayed his trust."

The "again" in the end of the sentence was unsaid but Harry heard it loud and clear. He leaned against the stand and looked up at the sky, his gaze following Luna as she roamed the endless circles, passing a red ball to the two redheads and Neville up there with her.

"I'm horrible," The Saviour murmured, trying to swallow back the knot, which had formed in his throat.

"You're not horrible, Harry," said Hermione gently patting him on the shoulder. "You're just blinded when it comes to Snape."

Luna landed not much later in front of them and gave Harry back his broom. Harry thanked her, eager to be up there again. But when he attempted to put his leg over the broom something weird had happened. The Firebolt jerked slightly, and Harry felt as it became slightly smaller. He tried again and the effect repeated itself. The broom was now half its original size.

Harry looked around shocked.

"Interesting," said Luna in a dreamy voice. "It worked fine for me."

Harry gave her back the broom, which expanded to its normal size right away. But when he took it back and held it in his hands, it started getting smaller and smaller until it became so tiny, not even a child could ride it. The Gryffindor looked at his friends desperately and Hermione arms in arms with Luna tried to do their best to solve the mystery. The Firebolt worked perfectly for everyone, even Hermione sat on it, but as soon as his owner tried to mount it, it shrank.

Harry looked around many times, certain that he would spot a blond haired wizard somewhere, but Draco Malfoy wasn't anywhere around, or if he was, he was hidden so well, not even spells revealed him.

Ron offered him his broom but Harry politely refused, gave his back to Luna and marched up onto the stands in angry frustration. He dropped down and watched his friends from there. He couldn't help but think this was some sort of divine punishment for what he had done last night.

The Gryffindor heard the approaching footsteps. Though they were quiet, he had no problem identifying to whom they belong to. His suspicion was confirmed when the black clad man sat down next to him.

He tried really hard not flinch away when their knees touched in the small seats. He forced himself to look at Headmaster Snape, but the man was watching the flying students in the air, his black eyes following the zigzagging movements.

"Have you decided whether you will stay here for the holidays, Mr. Potter?"

Harry didn't know what to think of the question so he answered it honestly. "I was supposed to go to Ron's, but he just got a letter from his parents. They are going to visit Bill and Fleur for Christmas; she's pregnant, you see. So it seems, we're staying here." When Snape didn't say anything, Harry added in a quiet voice, "If that's okay with you, sir."

"Where you spend your holidays does not concern me, Mr. Potter," said the long haired man sharply. "I asked because of Draco."

"Oh," murmured Harry, still watching the Headmaster's well-known profile.

"I would rather not have him celebrate Christmas alone this year."

Harry knew Lucius Malfoy made a deal with the Aurors and was promised freedom for the names of the Death Eaters serving Voldemort. However the Aurors weren't willing to let him go until the last of the escaped dark wizards were under arrest. But Draco still had his mother.

"What about-"

"Narcissa Malfoy is fairly motivated to make certain arrangements happen in the near future and is currently busy with that. Draco prefers not to stay around his mother for too long."

"But you're still here for him, aren't you," noted Harry remembering the afternoon teas every Saturday and the regular conversations.

"I... I do not matter," said Snape hesitantly.

"Of course you matter." Harry reacted almost immediately. That made Snape finally turn his head towards the younger wizard. When their gaze connected, the Gryffindor looked away quickly. "I mean..."

"All I can say is you should ask Draco about someone called Astoria Greengrass. If you truly are friends as he says, he will tell you what you need to know and then you will probably understand what I meant." With that, the Headmaster stood up. "Mine- Professor McGonagall will once again connect her fireplace to the Floo Network in case you and your friends wish to visit Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Please give my best to Arthur and Molly, too, if you see them."

"I... Sure, I will, sir." Harry stuttered towards the back of the headmaster, who was walking away with fast steps.

Harry stood up as well. "Sir?" Snape stopped but didn't turn around, and Harry was very grateful for him for not doing so. He probably wouldn't be able to say anything if they stood face to face. Harry took a deep a breath. He could see Snape move one of his legs so he spoke before the older wizard walked away. "I'm sorry, Headmaster Snape." His voice rang clearly between them in the crispy morning air. "I apologize for my behaviour, sir, it was inappropriate and... It won't happen again."

Harry didn't know what kind of response he expected, if he expected anything, but the laughter that erupted from Snape was definitely something not just unexpected and rather astonishing, but the deep, rich laugh sounded quite pleasant and made Harry feel even warmer.

"After all this time and you still manage to surprise me, Potter," said Snape with amusement evident in his tone then he walked down from the stand. Harry, feeling somewhat lightheaded, followed the man's route with his eyes until he disappeared through the gates.

TBC