I do not no how to write Hagrid's speech so it may not sound as it is supposed to and I am terribly sorry about that.

Part Nine

Into Spring and Summer

After meeting Lucius Malfoy at Malfoy Manor, days since then seemed to go by rapidly for Harry. He and his father had returned to Hogwarts after meeting the Malfoys, the new year began, Snape's birthday was celebrated and January passed by swiftly into February that in turn disappeared into the beginning of March. Having been with his father for almost four months, Harry has slowly gotten used to living with his father.

Not only that but he found himself with more friends than he had previously thought was possible. Fred and George Weasley always knew how to make Harry laugh; Ron Weasley taught him more about Quidditch and the joys of flying; Draco Malfoy, even though he was a bit of a conceited spoiled brat, treated Harry nicely; even Percy Weasley treated Harry nicely but more like a fellow student rather than a friend.

He also got along well with many of the teachers and began to learn exactly what they will be teaching him and the other first years when they start in September. Other than his father, who taught Potions, Harry learned that McGonagall was the Transfigurations teacher, Pomona Sprout taught Herbology and Filius Flitwick taught Charms. There were other subjects that Harry knew he would have to study, such as flying with Madame Hooch, but he was really looking forward to it.

Another friend he had made at Hogwarts in the last nearly four months was Hagrid, who apparently was one of the few people who saw him when he had been a baby. Harry found the giant, although intimidating at first, to be a very gentle and kind person who was terribly sorry when he heard of what happened at the Dursleys. Fang, Hagrid's dog, was also a good friend even if he did slobber all over the place and remind Harry a bit of Aunt Marge's dog who always attacked him.

Today, the third Sunday of March 1991, Harry was looking forward to spending some time with Hagrid. His father had a staff meeting with the other teachers that morning and had reluctantly agreed to let Harry spend the day with Hagrid. The giant, while extremely big, was a very joyous man even if his speech was a bit hard to understand.

"'ello 'arry, wan' some rock cakes?" Hagrid offered as the boy, who was beginning to look more like an actual almost eleven year old boy, walked into the hut.

"No thank you," Harry replied politely using the manners that he had been taught.

"All right 'arry, why don't you take a seat? Fang, mov' your big butt off o' the chair," Hagrid snapped and Fang, barking, leapt off of the chair and Harry sat down in it.

"Wan' some tea then, 'arry?" the giant asked.

"Sure, thank you," Harry replied and Hagrid poured him some tea before placing the cup in front of Harry. The boy used only two teaspoons of sugar before he stirred it and sipped at the hot tea.

"So how are you adjustin' to life at Hogwarts, 'arry?" Hagrid asked.

"It's great," Harry said smiling. "I'm having a good time with Fred and George and Percy and I've learned of everything I'm going to learn when I start here in September. I even learned about the four houses, including the one my dad is the head of."

Hagrid nodded. "Wha' house do you think you'll be in?" he asked curiously.

"I dunno. My mum was a Gryffindor while my dad is a Slytherin so I don't know."

"I sorta see a Slytherin in you, 'arry," Hagrid admitted. "You've a lot of your father in you but also much of your mother."

"So how do you see a Slytherin in me?"

"I don' know honestly, 'arry. I just do. It'll be for the sortin' hat to decide in September," Hagrid replied.

Harry nodded. "I suppose so," he replied. He paused when he heard the sound of howling winds outside slamming into the walls of Hagrid's stone hut. Fang leapt up before growling and barking as Hagrid stood up before walking over to the window.

"The winds ar' gettin' worse, 'arry and the snow's fallin' down faster than before," Hagrid said.

It had been snowing when Harry had left the castle but Harry could now see the snow falling in thick clumps from the white sky above. The howling winds and Fang leapt up before howling and running to the window. Harry laughed as the dog attempted to go outside but Hagrid pat Fang on the head and glanced at Harry.

"Looks like you're goin' to have to stay 'ere, 'arry until the storm passes," Hagrid said and Harry nodded as he turned his gaze away from the falling snow.


"A blizzard," Severus said flatly glaring at the falling clumps of snow. "This'll pin Harry at Hagrid's hut for a while."

Minerva nodded in agreement. "But at least he's inside rather than outside in this blizzard," she commented.

Severus had to agree with the Scottish Lioness before he returned his gaze to the other heads of houses as the staff meeting went on. He was sitting in the shadows of Albus's office while Minerva was at his side; Pomona was at Minvera's side while Filius sat closest to Albus's desk. The other teachers were also there but this staff meeting was primarily a Head of House meeting to discuss the rest of the school year.

"Hagrid shall keep Harry safe, Severus," Albus said soothingly.

Severus resisted the urge to sneer as he nodded curtly in reply and the headmaster glanced at the other teachers before the meeting progressed onward. While the blizzard grew worse outside, the winds and snow thundered against the walls and windows of the castle. Students were confined inside and flying lessons as well as other outdoor classes were canceled until the blizzard passed.

"Is there anything else we need to discuss?" Albus asked.

When no one stepped forward, Albus nodded before the meeting ended. Minerva and Severus walked side by side with each other as they left Albus's office. The blizzard continued to grow worse and Severus hoped that Hagrid was keeping Harry from doing anything stupid. Then again, the boy was nothing like his stepfather even if James had raised him since he was born until James and Lily were killed.

Severus pushed the sad thoughts to the back of his mind even as guilt coursed through him again. He found himself wondering if Harry would hate him if the boy learned that he, Severus, had been responsible for the death of his mother. He said his goodbyes to Minerva near the corridor that would lead to the Gryffindor Tower before he walked over to the dungeons.

The blizzard continued to rage outside for the better part of the day and into the next and Severus found himself thinking about his son. Poppy had said that Harry no longer need the nutrition potion but still needed to eat three square meals a day and Severus wasn't entirely sure if Hagrid was giving him the food he needed.

When the floo flared to life in his quarters, Severus blinked his eyes before watching as Poppy poked her head into the quarters. "May I step through, Severus?" she asked.

"Of course," Severus replied.

Poppy disappeared only to reappear a few moments later. She stood up before dusting herself off and walking over to join Severus. "I'm a bit worried about Harry," she admitted. "I mean, I know Hagrid means well but Harry still needs three square meals a day and I don't know if he's getting that because of this blizzard."

"I will talk to Harry when he returns to the castle after this blizzard passes over," Severus replied.

Poppy nodded. "I'm also afraid that he's going to catch a cold," he said.

"He has his jacket with him and gloves and a scarf. I made sure he was properly dressed before he left the castle," Severus replied.

Poppy sighed. "I suppose that'll have to do for now," she said.

"Besides, if he catches a cold then I'll just brew him the necessary potions needed," Severus said.

Poppy nodded. "I will see you later, Severus," she said. "If you need any help then don't hesitate to contact me." With that, she disappeared into the floo.


There was a brief calm in the storm that Harry noticed a day since the storm started. He pushed himself to his feet before walking to the door to Hagrid's hut as the winds died down and the snow stopped falling. "I think the storm's going away, Hagrid," he said.

"It might start again," Hagrid reminded the small boy.

"I think I can make it back to the castle before the storm starts again," Harry replied.

"I don' know. I don' think you should risk it," said Hagrid worriedly.

"I'll be fine, Hagrid," Harry said before he slipped out of the hut and began making his way toward the castle. He moved as quickly as he possibly could so that he could get through the gates before the storm struck again. The calm died down quickly and the snow began to fall rapidly as the howling winds picked up again.

Harry shivered but managed to make it to the gates and slip into the castle before the blizzard grew worse. Shaking the snow out of his hair, Harry gazed around before beginning to walk toward the dungeons. As he walked onward, he was suddenly aware of someone following him and he gazed around but he couldn't see anyone.

I must be imagining things, or it could be a ghost, Harry thought as he continued walking. He noticed the people in the portraits were watching him curiously but they otherwise stayed silent as the small boy continued to walk to the dungeons.

"What are you doing out here?" the bloody baron's ghost asked curiously.

Harry whirled around before he drew back as he examined the ghost of Slytherin. "I'm just going to join my father," he replied.

The bloody baron nodded. "He was last seen in his office, boy," he replied before he floated off in front of him and Harry, figuring that was who was following him, jogged over to the classroom.

He murmured the password before stepping through the portrait into the office. He spotted his father sitting behind his desk a quill pen in his hand and a stack of parchments on his desk. "Hi father," Harry greeted him.

Snape briefly glanced before lowering his head. "Hello Harry. How did you get back to the castle?" he asked marking something on one of the pieces of parchment on the desk.

"There was a calm so I just ran over here," Harry replied sitting down in front of the desk before his stomach began to growl loudly.

Snape smirked as he placed the quill down. "I thought you might be hungry," he said before his wand flicked and a murmured spell was heard. A moment later, a tray of food appeared in front of Harry. Harry gazed at it before he started eating after thanking his father.

Snape snorted. "Your stomach will start hurting if you don't slow down, son," he said.

Harry frowned before nodding and he started to eat slower. "Hagrid gave me what he could while I was there," he said.

Snape nodded. "I figured that. None of us knew of the storm prior to when it struck so it is completely understandable that you had to miss a few meals," he said.

Harry nodded before he continued to eat while Snape watched him. "The bloody baron scared me," he said suddenly.

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yeah, he was following me and I didn't know it but he was there and told me of where you were before going on his way," Harry said. He shivered before adding, "I did feel as though someone was following me when I got back into the castle but I figured it was the bloody baron."

"The ghosts here at Hogwarts do have a way of letting people know when they are following them," Snape admitted narrowing his eyes. "Did you hear anything behind you while you were walking?"

"No," Harry admitted. "I thought I was just imagining things."

"I suppose your sixth sense is what alerted you to the bloody baron's appearance and that is good. Your sixth sense will help you to make sure nothing attacks you from behind," Snape said.

"Why would someone attack me?"

Snape sighed. "Who knows why people do anything?" he muttered and it sounded as though he was speaking from experience. Harry found himself wondering what his father meant by those words but decided not to think about it. He stood up before gazing at his father as he finished eating and Snape banished the tray away.

"I think I'm going to go to my room now," he said. "Unless you need any help, dad."

"No go ahead, Harry," Snape said returning his attention to the stack of parchments on the desk and Harry disappeared deeper into the chambers.


The blizzard ended and things seemed to be going by rapidly as spring came. March ended and April began; April first was a day in which Fred and George Weasley were dealt with a week of detention with Filch. The rest of April went by with nothing interesting going on and May also disappeared rapidly but then June came around.

June was the last month of the school year and so everyone was busy cramming for their finals. Harry had nothing to do so he found himself wandering around the courtyard of the castle. His father was teaching his classes while all the other teachers were either in class, in the library or in their common rooms so Harry was alone.

At least he thought he was alone.

McLaggen walked over to join Harry as the boy continued to walk around letting the sun shine down on him. "Hey there Snape," he called.

Harry glanced at him. "Hi," he greeted him. "Ah shouldn't you be in class?"

McLaggen shrugged. "I decided that since we aren't doing finals until next week that I didn't want to go," he admitted.

"Oh."

"You look bored."

"Everyone else is in class so I really don't have much to do," Harry admitted coming to a stop before facing the first year Gryffindor who had first told him that Slytherin was the house of dark wizard. "By the way, my dad said that Slytherin isn't always the home of dark lords and he was a Slytherin but he's not evil like You-Know-Who."

McLaggen snorted. "My parents told me that Professor Snape had been one of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's biggest and most trusted supporters during the war," he said.

Harry frowned. "He was?" he echoed.

McLaggen nodded. "He didn't tell you that?" he asked looking confused and surprised at the same time. "I would've thought he would. Maybe he thinks you wouldn't under…"

"Mr. McLaggen!" Harry and McLaggen glanced up as Professor McGonagall stalked over to join them. "What are you doing out here? You should be in class."

"Er…I was just going to class now," McLaggen said quickly before he quickly hurried off toward his next class.

Harry watched him go before looking at McGonagall. "Where's my father?" he asked.

"In his office. He doesn't have a class right now. Why do you ask?"

"I just wanna see if what McLaggen told me is true."

"What did he say?"

"That my father was one of the biggest and most trusted supporters of You-Know-Who."

McGonagall looked startled at that before she nodded slowly and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. In the last nearly seven months, Harry has gotten used to someone placing a hand on his shoulder in a comforting way. He still remembered what he suffered at the hands of the Dursleys but he was slowly starting to put it behind him and his father and the other teachers and students were helping him, some without even knowing it.

"Come on, let's go to his office. I'm sure it'd be best if he explained it to you."

"Explain what?"

"You'll just have to wait and see."


Severus glanced up as a knock sounded at his door; he frowned when he spotted the name being written in script on the piece of parchment beside the door. Recognizing the words as the Head of Gryffindor House, Severus called for her to enter and watched as Minerva and Harry both walked into the office.

"What brings you two here?" Severus asked narrowing his eyes.

"Harry has something he wants to ask you," Minerva replied.

Severus turned his gaze to his son. "What do you need to ask me, son?" he asked placing the quill he had been using to grade a first year essay on his desk.

Harry shuffled his feet, looking worried. "It's something I heard from McLaggen," he admitted quietly. "H…He said that his parents told him you were You-Know-Who's biggest and most trusted supporters d…during the war."

Severus felt the familiar guilt course through his veins and he sighed. "Take a seat, Harry," he said finally.

Harry sat down. "Is what McLaggen said is true?" he asked. "Did you really support You-Know-Who?"

Severus was silent for a long moment. He had been hoping to have this particular conversation with his son when his son was much older but, once again, a loud mouth Gryffindor prevented that from happening. He also knew that being honest was the only way he could go; if he lied to his son then his son may hate him when he discovers the truth from someone else.

"Yes," he said finally. "I was once a supporter of the Dark Lord during the last war."

Harry's eyes went wide but before he could protest, Minerva glanced at him. "Listen to the entire story, Harry, before you say anything," she said.

Harry nodded slowly in reply.

Severus went on, "I never really had a good childhood. My father was a muggle while my mother was pureblood, making me half-blood. My muggle father never really cared for me being a wizard and always took it out on me, in much the same way that your aunt and uncle took your heritage out on you, son. Anyway, that…abuse went into my years at Hogwarts due to pranks and ridicule from my classmates." He paused for a moment to make sure Harry was listening before going on, "That is actually what drove me to the dark lord in the first place; I became one of his most trusted supporters because of my skills with Potions."

"Do you still support You-Know-Who?" Harry asked quietly his eyes big.

Severus shook his head. "No," he replied. "Your mother and I were together during those days but she got angry with me when she discovered that I joined the dark lord. She and I separated ten months before you were born and I went back to the dark lord but this time, I went back as a spy for Dumbledore."

"A spy?"

Severus nodded. "That is something you do not need to know about until you are much older," he said.

"So you don't support You-Know-Who anymore?"

Severus shook his head.

Harry slowly nodded in reply. "I understand, dad," he said.

Severus nodded. "If you have any questions, Harry, then all you have to do is ask," he said.

"I'm going to my room now, dad, unless you need help with anything."

The Potions Professor gazed at his son before shaking his head. "No, I do not need help with anything right now, son," he said.

Harry nodded and Severus watched as his son disappeared into his private chambers before he turned his gaze to Minerva who was watching him. Minerva nodded slightly. "He had the right to know," she said.

The Potions Professor sighed. "I was hoping that kind of question wouldn't come up for a couple more years," he admitted.

Minerva nodded. "At least he knows the truth, Severus, even if he is a bit young to have learned it," she said. She nodded a goodbye before she walked out of the office and Severus, sighing, returned his attention to the essay he was grading while thinking about how calmly Harry had accepted the truth.

At least he didn't associate me being a Death Eater with his mother's death. That is a conversation I hope I never have to have with him but I know I'll have to talk to him about it eventually. I just hope he'll understand, Severus thought as he went back to his work.


A/n what do you think?

Blaze: and that was part nine

Darth: I rather liked it

Blaze: yup

Darth: so what's going to happen in the next chapter?

Blaze: summer break will begin

Darth: ah okay

Blaze: we're only a couple of chapters away from when we'll be entering the events of SS/PS

Darth: cool

Blaze: so please review and I will post part ten as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it'll be anytime soon