Harry was taken off guard when he returned to his room that night and Severus grabbed him and kissed him gently on the lips for a few seconds. When the man let him go he just stared his face beat red that had been his first kiss. Sirius was gaping like a fish and Remus was just smirking.
"I think that would be Severus thanking you for what you said in the article . " Remus said , restraining a recovered Sirius. Harry blinked at him then finally drew a breath and nodded because Severus had suddenly gone very still like he couldn't believe his own actions. "You made it seem like it was planned out from the start and told them that he wasn't a bad man and not a pedophile. "
Harry nodded he turned to the still stunned Severus and patted his cheek before walking to his room.
"Potter." Severus called, Harry turned, "I expect you to sleep on the bed and not the floor like you did last night. Also I've already received a letter from Madam Longbottom Mr. Longbottom will be Flooing over in ten minuets. "
Harry grinned at them and rushed into his room to take a quick shower. He'd just been out flying.
Harry pulled on a pair of black jean shorts and blue tank top when he got of the shower. He put on his new trainers and brushed his growing hair. He quickly left his room and was soon bouncing around waiting for Neville who appeared moments later. Harry happily hugged him.
"I've only been gone a few days." Neville laughed, hugging Harry back. Augusta Longbottom had come with and was watching them with a thin lipped smile. "Oh, you should have seen my uncle Algernon's face when he read that article. And when you said I was your best friend he almost choked on his tea. Gran seemed really proud. "
Harry pulled out a spiral notebook and wrote.
'She should always be proud of you Nev . You are a great Wizard.'
Neville beamed brightly and Augusta looked slightly taken aback.
"So what do you want to do?"
'Confession, I asked you to come because, yes I miss you, but I also need your help.'
Neville laughed, and again Augusta looked shocked wondering what Neville could help Harry with. With that Harry pulled out a file and opened it to a long list of plants, trees and other things Neville would know about and the information about what he, Harry was trying to do.
"So you're stuck again?" Neville mumbled, Harry nodded desperately, "Well, order some tea, we're going to be here awhile. If you want it as strong as I think you do." Harry quickly snapped his fingers and Dobby appeared making Neville almost jump out of his clothes and end up clutching his heart. "What is with your elf?!"
"Dobby is being a free elf but is loving Harry Potter sir." Dobby explained, "Harry Potter sir is saving and freeing Dobby when he is being in second year. " Dobby tilted his head. "Madame Pure Blood is be binding Dobby to Harry Potter sir?"
Harry nodded just as hyperly as Dobby.
"Very well." Augusta drew her wand. She preformed the ritual. "There you go. " Harry wrote a thank you. "I will be talking to the adults. "
Sirius was in Padfoot form.
"Uhm, Dobby?" Neville said, "Tea please, Harry and I going to be working really hard today."
Dobby quickly vanished and Harry pulled Neville to the couch and got out all of his research material. The two began Neville talking in whispers and Harry writing questions and answers in his spiral notebook.
"Now, is everything as it was stated in that article. " She demanded of Remus and Severus.
"Yes, Madam." Severus stated rather coldly serving tea that Dobby had sent over to their table after serving his Master. He did his best to sound offended. " He did not write it under duress nor was he forced to write it. He surprised all of us by sending it. We didn't even know about it until we read it in the paper."
"Very well, I need to go shopping I will return for Neville around five if that is alright. "
"He's the quieter of the bunch." Severus sneered, "I think I can handle it."
She nodded and told Neville she was leaving. Neville didn't respond so she just left.
"Great I'm being invaded." Severus muttered, "and I thought I hated this marriage before."
"Don't worry, Professor." Neville said , having heard him. "Harry isn't really friends with Ron and Hermione they just follow him around and force him into things. You read that paper Harry was supposed to be in Slytherin. I for one think he should re sort but he just says that it wouldn't go over well." Harry knocked Harry on his head with his notebook, "Okay, I'm focusing."
Harry happily ate dinner that night he and Neville had worked out what he would need for his Nutrient Potion. He just needed to begin experimenting he figured this would actually be easy now that he'd had Neville figure out what plants he would need. He would of course be giving credit where credit was do. He was writing while he sat between Sirius and Remus and ate.
"So you're interested in Arithamancy?" Professor Vector asked. Harry passed her a file of calculations. "Oh dear Merlin you are a brilliant boy!" Harry shrugged, "With work like this I'm sure I can put you in my N.E.W.T class!" Harry shook his head. "Very well, O.W.L class it is."
"How are you with Runes?" Professor Babbling wondered. Harry again passed a file over. She began reading it and her eyes got huge. "Your father was a natural in my class as well but he was never this good! Merlin! Yourself taught?!" Harry nodded, "I agree with Septima. You could be in my N.E.W.T. class." Harry shook his head. "Yes, yes."
They passed the files back to Harry who tucked them away and continued working .
"Making progress?" Poppy asked fondly. Harry nodded, "Good."
Severus watched Harry as they sat in their living room that night. Harry was still working. Severus was beating himself up over kissing Harry this morning. He'd been so happy over what Harry had said in the article . Of course he didn't believe for a second that he wasn't a pedophile because he knew he'd raped Harry that first night.
He sighed to himself.
"Potter, I think you should turn in now." Harry looked up and nodded. " and Potter?" Harry turned back. "Remember what I said, you are to sleep ON your bed from here on out and don't even think about sleeping in your day clothes tonight."
Harry blinked and nodded. He went into his room and showered he then changed in to boxers and a tee. His body was littered with scars. He really needed to work everything out. He knew that he could probably start brewing the Nutrient Potion and the Scar removing bath Potion as soon as tomorrow thanks to Neville, he could even do the new Scar cream. The only one he was going to have trouble with was the Skele-gro . He and Neville hadn't been able to agree on what to do to enhance the properties of the numbing agent.
He sighed as he lay on the bed. It was so soft. He was soon asleep