Chapter 4

"I have a few potions I have to start preparing this morning," Snape told Harry when Harry finally joined him for breakfast. "Would you like to bring your new position kit down to my lab with me?"

"You like to make potions?" Harry questioned his dad.

"I teach potion making here at Hogwarts," Snape explained to his son.

"Can you teach me to make real potions?" an eager voice came from Harry.

"First you need to practice with the kit we got you yesterday," Snape smiled.

"Kay," Harry answered and began to wolf down his breakfast.

"Harry slow down and eat properly," his dad scowled.

Harry did as he was told and finished at the same time as his dad.

"Go wash up and get dressed and then we'll get your kit and you can come down to my lab with me."

Snape cleared off the table and took the dishes into the kitchen.

Harry was ready to go by the time his dad finished cleaning up from breakfast.

"I could have helped with that," Harry remarked as Snape dried the last of the dishes.

"It will be your turn tomorrow," Snape mentioned as they left the kitchen.

Snape opened the bookcase door and carried Harry's potion kit down to the lab.

Harry noticed several cauldrons lightly bubbling, even though they did not appear to be on any type of heat source. He then noticed a wall full of shelves covered with labelled jar and they all had something in them.

His dad set up his cauldron, the book of instructions and the various ingredients from the kit. He then pulled a sturdy chair over so Harry could climb up and reach his work area.

Snape then went into a cupboard under the counter and pulled out some measuring cup and measuring spoon for Harry to use.

"I want you to try the first potion on your own. Make sure you follow the instruction properly," Snape told the boy. "If you have a problem, call over and I will help you."

Having quickly read over Harry's needed ingredients, Snape placed a small jug of water near Harry. Then proceeded to a nearby counter to start his own work.

At one point in time, Snape glanced over and saw the tip of Harry's tongue sticking out the side of his mouth. The tongue seemed to aid in Harry's ability to measure properly.

With a gentle shake of his head, Snape went back to his own potion making. The next time he looked over, Harry was busy watching the sand go through a timer.

"Is your first batch almost done," Snape asked.

"Yup," Harry grinned without taking his eyes off the timer.

Snape was at a stage in his potion that allowed him to leave it briefly, so he went to Harry.

Harry peered into his cauldron once the last grain of sand slid through the hourglass.

"It's purple, it's purple," Harry screamed jumping up and down on his chair.

Snape caught Harry just before Harry and chair crashed to the floor.

"Oops," Harry exclaimed as the chair tipped over with a loud thud.

Snape's facial expression told Harry he was not happy.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled.

"This is not a room for jumping around and screaming in," Snape snapped while scowling.

"Kay," Harry's meek little voice came out.

Snape stood Harry on the floor: "Pick your chair back up," he ordered.

Harry stood the chair up then climbed up and knelt on the seat, then timidly peeked over at his dad.

"You have to be careful in this room," Snape's tone was softer and calm.

"Um sorry." Tears were welling up in Harry's eyes.

"It's okay, Harry," his dad said and gave him a hug and a little kiss on the top of the head.

"Wanna taste it with me?" Harry mumbled from his dad's chest.

"You think it is safe?" Snare snickered.

"It wouldn't turned purple if I did it wrong," Harry replied.

"Well then," Snape grinned and scooped a spoonful out for Harry and then one for himself.

"On three," Harry said holding his spoon near his mouth.

"What is on three?" Snape questioned.

"I say one, two, three and then we taste it at the same time," Harry explained.

"Okay," Snape answered plainly and held his spoon near his mouth too.

"One...Two...Three," Harry counted and stuck his spoon in his mouth.

"It tastes like bananas," Snape remarked.

"I did the whole thing properly," Harry said, pleased with himself.

"All potions have to be properly measured and the instructions on how to do it must be followed exactly for the potion to work," Snape smiled at his son. "You do understand that you cannot eat or taste the potions I make unless I give it to you, right?"

"Yes sir," Harry said confidently.

"It is very important that you remember that," Snape said sternly. "Now scrape the rest of your potion into one of the little storage container that came with the kit. Then clean up your work station while I finish what I was working on and then we will go for lunch."

"Yes sir," Harry smiled.

Instead of scraping the mixture into one container, Harry put a spoonful into little paper candy wrappers. He wanted Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick and Hagrid to taste his very first potion.

When Snape saw what Harry was doing, he assumed Harry was making treats for all the new people in his life. A quirk of a smile formed on the corner of his mouth.

Harry was finished cleaning up before his dad had finished his potion. Harry sat quietly waiting.

"Thank you for waiting so quietly," Snape said to Harry as they headed up the stairs.

No one had ever thanked Harry for doing anything before. It made him feel very proud and happy.

Snape helped Harry place the little treats he had made on everyone's plate before they began to arrive in the great hall for lunch.

Professor McGonagall was the first to arrive, she looked at the little candy wrapped on her plate and then saw them on all the plates except Harry and Snape's.

The rest of the staff that was still at the school made their way in and sat down, each of them looking at the treat on their plate.

"I made my first potion today," Harry announced. "And I wanted to share it with everyone."

"Severus?" McGonagall had a look of question on her face.

"It's quite safe. We tasted it first," Snape told her. His face its usual mask of no emotion.

Professor Flitwick popped it in his mouth without hesitation or question: "It tastes like a banana," he grinned at Harry. "Very nice."

The rest of the staff popped Harry's little treat in their mouths.

"Very good. It's quite nice. Thank you Harry," was said by various people.

Professor Flitwick was on Harry's right today and he leaned over and whispered to Harry: "Don't let Professor Snape lock you in the dungeon all summer making potions with him," he snickered louder than he had whispered.

"Dad let me make the candy all by myself," Harry whispered back.

"Dad?!" Professor Flitwick bellowed.

Everyone at the table looked at the little professor. The look said they were wondering what he was on about. Snape, however, was glaring at him.

"Sorry about that," Flitwick grinned. "It was nothing. Carry on with your lunch." His eyes then locked with Snape's.

The others knew that whatever was going on with Flitwick, he wasn't willing to share with them at the moment, so they began to serve themselves lunch.

Snape and Harry were handing back to their place after lunch and Professor Flitwick stopped them before they got far.

"Why is Harry calling you dad?" Flitwick scowled up at Snape.

"Because I am his father," stone face Snape answered.

"How?" Flitwick questioned.

"You are a father, Fillius. I assume you know how you came to be one," Snape's facial expression remained unchanged.

"But James and Lily..."

"Harry was born eight months after their wedding," Snape supplied.

Flitwick shook his head and turned to walk the other way.

"I would prefer this not being broadcast," Snape called after the little man.

"You have my word," Flitwick agreed and continued on his way.

Harry tugged on his dad's arm as Flitwick walked away.

Snape looked down at Harry.

"Is you being my dad a secret?" Harry whispered.

"Just until I get a few things straightened out," Snape told his son. "There are some people out there that would use the information to hurt us."

"Does it have to do with the war thing mum talked about in her letter?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, Harry," his dad admitted. "I have a lot of things I need to discuss with the Headmaster when he returns. Then me being your dad won't have to be a secret anymore." He reached out and pulled Harry close to his side to give him a hug.

"You want me to call you Professor Snape?" Harry inquired.

Snape bend down and picked Harry up, he looked into those beautiful emerald eye's of his son and said: " Harry everything will be fine by the end of next week, I promise. You can still call me dad when it's just you and I alone."

"I won't tell nobody," Harry whispered.

"Anybody," Snape corrected.

"Yes, Professor," a mischievous grin crossed Harry's face as he emphasized the word 'professor'.

"Are you being cheeky?" Snape tried to scowl, but his grin was bigger.

"Muhum," Harry continued to smile.

"Brat," his dad laughed and put Harry back down.