Hey all, sorry it's taken me so long to post. It's been a busy week. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please review!

Thanks again to Summer Sunrise for being my beta! She's great...:)

Disclaimer: All credit goes to JK Rowling, not me, thanks though!


Jealousy, Angst, and Bonding

Severus Snape went to bed that night all in a huff. He didn't want to admit it to anyone, not even himself, but over the short period of time he had spent with the boy, he found himself enjoying the company. He had come to build a 'wall' of sorts around his heart. He always prized himself on not being attached to anything or anyone. The only person he even allowed remotely close was the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Albus had saved his life.

When Severus had found out what he had done. He knew he couldn't live with himself knowing that he did nothing to try to save the love of his life and her family.

Severus, after hearing the partial prophecy had gone straight to Voldemort with the information. He hoped that this information would get him higher ranking with in the Dark Lord's inner circle. He was forced to take the mark at a young age. He had hoped that with this information, he would obtain a higher rank, and avoid a few future punishments. He had no clue at the time that he was indeed forcing death upon his beloved Lily and her family. After learning this information, and of when the dark lord was to strike, he immediately set out to form a plan.

Severus left the circle just before the attack and headed for the Potter's residence. He ran into several auror's along the way. He didn't stand much of a chance. He was out numbered with them 10 to one. He begged and pleaded for them to go to the Potter's and told them that the Dark Lord was going to attack to kill the babe. They all laughed at him, and asked if he thought they were stupid. They took him into custody and that is where he stayed, in a holding cell at the ministry, until Albus Dumbledore had learned of his where abouts. He informed him of the death of the Potters, all except for Harry, and had a trial set for Severus.

By this time Severus had already done some spying for the man. Albus knew that Severus had a good heart. That he was just a troubled young man, forced into something he didn't want to do, and felt he had no way out.

Albus vouched for Severus at the trial and had him released on the count that he was in fact spying for the light. He offered the Ex-Death Eater a position at the school as a Potions Professor and Potions Master for the school. Severus, having no where else to go, owing the man for his freedom, and wanting a new life, accepted the position.

So there Severus was, lying in bed, the only person he allowed himself to be even remotely close to was Albus. However there he was, beginning to care for and enjoy the company of a child he could relate with. Only to turn around and have that child discover his family. To be left alone again. He slept fitfully that night. 'Was he not allowed any happiness?' he had thought.

Harry on the other hand, was in a completely opposite mindset. He was so elated, so ecstatic, overjoyed, so joyous. He had family! This was turning out to be the best time of his life. He had been taken from his relatives home, never to return, he hoped. He was getting along with his potions professor. He had been given the best birthday of his life. Now, he had family!

Before Albus and Minerva could leave for the night, Harry had insisted on showing them his room. He had never had his own room before and had never had anyone, especially grandparents to show it to. He showed them all of his most prized possessions. He showed them where he kept his quidditch items such as his broom from Sirius, and the snitches from Severus. He showed them the clothes that Severus had bought him the morning of his party. He then noticed the photo album on his night table, and made them promise to arrange for pictures of the three of them to be added later.

Albus and Minerva had never seen Harry so happy. He bounced around his room from place to place like a three year old in a toy store. Minerva was overjoyed at the room that Severus had given the boy. She would have to remember to thank him later. She knew he was a good man, and she was always able to look through that hard shell and mask he put up and see him as he really was.

Harry fell asleep thinking of how wonderful his life had become. He dreamed that night of what it might have been like to grow up knowing his Gran and Granddad.

The next couple of days Harry had spent with his great grandparents. Harry had noticed that the potions master had become very ill tempered and was always snappish, snarky, and rude. Not to mention that he often glared at Harry and the Headmaster and Minerva.

A day later Harry awoke early as usual. He was excited. His grandparents had offered to start his animagus lessons later that morning. They had both agreed to help him together.

He quickly got up and made his way to the bathroom. He took a quick shower and brushed his teeth. His hair was as messy as always and he just ran his comb quickly through it to get the tangles out. His hair never got any longer. He had only had it cut once in his life...that turned out to be a disaster. His Aunt had tried to cut it and he ended up almost bald. He went to bed in tears that night. When he woke the next morning It was the same length as it was before she cut it. Needless to say he was severely punished for that.

Harry shook these memories from his thoughts. Nothing was going to bring him down today! He finished in his bathroom and went to his wardrobe to pick out some clothes. He ended up wearing a pair of his new blue jeans, his gray t-shirt, and his new trainers. He finished getting dressed and exited his room.

He did not find Severus anywhere so he figured he would just wait to order breakfast. He sat at the table and called Dobby. He asked the elf to bring him some apple juice. He didn't mind Belkin but he was more comfortable with Dobby. Belkin was more Severus' elf and Dobby was his so to speak.

Harry was sitting at the table going over last nights events in his head when the Potions Master entered. Harry thought he looked like hell. He had black circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept any.

"What's wrong Potter? Can't even order your own breakfast without somebody to hold your hand?" the man sneered. Harry was unsure of what to do. What was going on? Why was Severus like this to him lately?

"Um y-yes sir I can. I-I just thought I'd wait for you, and..and eat together like we always do." Harry stuttered out. "'m sorry" he apologized, as he looked down at his apple juice.

Snape just eyed the boy. He knew he shouldn't have said it, and that he should apologize. After all the boy was fragile, but after the night he had had, he just didn't feel like it. So in favor of being a git, he just sat and said nothing. After a moment of eying the boy, he called for Belkin and ordered breakfast.

Harry immediately fled to his room after breakfast. Severus was NOT in a good mood again this morning. Harry opted to leave his company and find something to occupy him in his room. He knew what the man could be like when he was cross. Harry didn't think Severus would try to send him back to the Dursley's, and he figured that his grandparents wouldn't let him. Still, he wasn't going to take any chances.

Harry decided to polish his new broomstick and make sure everything about it was in top shape. He went and gathered his broomstick, and his polishing and maintenance kit, and went back to sit on his bed to work.

When he had finished tweaking the the Firebolt to his likes, and was just about finished polishing it, there came a knock at the door. Before he could even say a word, Severus burst through, scowl firmly in place. 'Still in a sour mood I see' Harry thought.

"Potter, your grandparents.." he sneered "have requested that you meet them in the Headmaster's office." Severus was still not in a good mood, he was exhausted from lack of sleep, and he was in a grumpy, empathic mood. In all honesty, he was hoping to piss the boy off. That way he would at least be sure to have a reason to yell at the boy.

Harry didn't understand what was going on with this man but knew better than to try his limits. "Yes sir." He simply stated.

He put away his things and made his way around the potions master and out of his room. Severus shut the door behind the boy and followed him into the sitting room where Harry made his way out of the quarters.

When he reached the gargoyles guarding the office, he realized he didn't know the password. He opened his mouth to begin guessing the latest sweet, when the gargoyle moved aside and his Gran and Granddad appeared from behind it.

"Ahh, Harry my boy! Just in time." His Granddad greeted.

"How are you Harry? Ready to begin your animagus lessons?" His Gran asked.

"I'm fine, and yes, I can't wait!"

Albus laughed and replied "Very good, it's good to see you are eager, however you must be careful, things can go terribly wrong sometimes, but that is why we are here to help! After all we do want to return you to your guardian as a boy and in one piece." Harry lost his smile at that and looked down at his shoes.

Minerva picked up on the sudden changed and inquired "Harry? Don't worry you will be fine. You did great the first time from what I hear." she winked.

Harry looked up at his Gran, "It's not that Gran, it's just...is something wrong with Professor Snape?"

"Ah back to Professor now I see?" Albus said with a wink and a twinkle in his eye as he smiled at his grandson. He had heard Harry almost slip up a couple of times and call the man 'Severus' but pretended not to hear.

"Not that we know of dear, why do you ask?" his Gran asked him. Severus had seemed fine last night after all.

"It's just,...well, we had been getting along lately, even calling each other by our first names. Then all of a sudden lately, it's like he hates me again" Harry looked back down to his shoes. "He's back to calling me 'Potter' and sneering and making sarcastic comments. I don't know what I did though."

Albus and Minerva could tell that this was really upsetting Harry. They looked at each other in silent agreement to speak with the man later. Minerva nodded at Albus, signaling for him to change the subject to animagus lessons. He understood wonderfully.

"So Harry we will find out what we can, in the mean time. Which animal would you like to try to transform into first?" He jovially asked.

As expected Harry perked up a bit at hearing this. "Um...the wolf! That way I can surprise Remus or Sirius when they come to visit!" he excitedly told them.

"Ah yes, I think that is an excellent idea my boy! Follow us." Albus replied. He led Harry and Minerva to a blank wall.

"What are we doing here sir?" Harry had a look of utter confusion on his face. His Gran on the other hand, had a smirk on hers. Albus had showed her this room earlier. She had thought it was wonderful, but made a mental note to keep an eye on it during the school term. Many students such as the Weasley twins could create lots of mischief with the help of this room.

"This, Harry is what is called the 'Room of Requirement'. It is a magical hidden room within the castle. If I am not mistaken Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw designed it together during the construction of the school. It is designed to appear whenever someone in need of it walks past three times. So if you needed a broom closet, thats what it would become. If you needed sanctuary that is what would appear. However, since we are in need or a room to teach animagus abilities that is what we shall have. Would you like to try?" The old Headmaster asked.

"Um..ok..so all I have to do is walk past three times thinking of what we need?"

"Yes, just concentrate on the need to train and transform" Dumbledore instructed.

Harry looked at the span of wall in front of him. He closed his eyes and began to pace back and forth in front of the door. He wanted to train to be a wolf so he was thinking of the forest. However he was slightly confused too, he knew it should be a room and doubted it could become a forest. Besides he wasn't too thrilled of the thought of having to sit on the ground for a long length of time to learn.

"Excellent job Harry!" he heard from his Gran. He opened his eyes and saw an antique door now replacing the empty stone wall. He reached forward and opened the door. It was slightly dark as they entered. After the last of the three stepped into the room the place lit up brightly on one side.

Harry stood slack jawed and eyes bugged out for a while. He couldn't believe the sight before him. One half of the room was lightly wooded. There was soft bright green grass on the floor of the area. On the other side of the room was a sitting area. There was a navy blue settee, a cream colored love seat, and a oak coffee table. Lining the walls around the sitting room half were bookshelves full of books. Harry noticed some of the titles on the books were of learning to be an animagus. Others were of transfiguration.

"Wonderful my boy! I couldn't of wished for better myself. Now why don't we start by having a seat on this lovely furniture and Minerva here can explain the theory behind becoming an animagus!" Albus motioned for them to retreat to the sitting area.

Albus and Minerva sat on the settee while Harry sat on the love seat. Minerva then began to explain the theory behind animagus transformations.

"Each person has possibility to transform into at least one animal, it requires a good big of magical power though. No one is able to choose which animal's form they will take on it is all a matter of which animal that persona relates to the most. Once a person has learned the type, or types, of animals they relate to, they are required to harness the magic in themselves and preform an outer moliculous transfiguration. This is different from a inner moliculous transfiguration. The outer moliculous, such as changing into an animagus form, only allows the physical molecules of the body to change. To where an inner, such as transfiguring someone into an animal, changes the persons thoughts and personality as well." She lectured

"...when the outer moliculous animagus transfiguration is done properly, a person will harness their inner magic and transform their body only into the animal they most closely relate to. Not all people can become an animagus. Those who can often acquire the physical, and sometimes magical properties of that animal. For example if and when you are able to obtain your wolf form, you will appear as a wolf on the outside, have it's exceptional hearing and smell, however you will still have all of your own personality, thoughts and everything else that does not include looks or senses. While in your griffin or phoenix form, you may also be able to utilize the magical traits of those animals. Do you understand this so far?" She asked returning slightly from 'Professor mode'.

"Yes ma'am" Harry assured her.

She took a few more minutes telling him of the possibilities of things that could go wrong if he was not careful or supervised until they were sure that he could safely transform on his own. After he had promised that he would not practice or try anything without the supervision of either of themselves or Severus (as he was an animagus as well, but they would not tell Harry what he was).

Albus spoke up next. "Now Harry, I would like to try something. It was done with me when I was a few years older than yourself. It is easier for those with an abundant amount of power to learn to transform this way. Others must work very hard at learning how to do this, I am going to guide you through locating the magical energies of your forms. This is the simplest way for you to obtain all three of your forms." Harry was beginning to become very nervous yet excited at the same time.

"Ok my boy, first off, I will need you to relax. I will need to use a bit of legilimens in order to guide you. So you may feel a slight push or tug against your mind and magic. Try not to fight against it. The unease will past after a moment." Dumbledore walked over and sat on the love seat beside Harry placing his hands on his shoulders and looking straight into his eyes as he did so.

Harry felt the tug at his mind, just like his Granddad had said. It felt odd at first, like someone was actually trying to get into his body and pulling his mind forward. He made himself relax all of his muscles and tried to think of the place that Severus and he had used for Harry's calming center. He felt an extremely strong tug all of a sudden, and there was a momentary feeling of extreme unease that passed as quickly as it came.

He was suddenly 'seeing' and residing in a meadow. Just standing there, he saw his great grandfather there with him. He spoke to Harry just as he had in the room of requirement a moment ago.

"Now Harry, we are actually in your mind. I apologize for that uncomfortable moment, that technique that you were using to calm yourself was actually a slight form of occulmency to guard against legilimens. I had to hurry and push past that shield before it completely formed to avoid hurting you. Now, if you will stand here beside me, I will guide you to your wolf energy."

Harry walked over and stood beside his Granddad. Albus then placed his hand on his grandsons shoulder just as he had done in person only moments before.

"I need you to close your eyes. Now, concentrate on your reasons for becoming a wolf. Think of the characteristics. Ok, once you see it clearly I need you to open your eyes" he instructed.

Harry thought hard about wanting to become a wolf. He brought up every characteristic he could think of that pertained to being a wolf. When he opened his eyes everything was black. There were several strands of glowing light several feet away. One was gold, one was sliver, one red, and one was bright, almost blinding, white.

"These Harry, are your power cores. The bright white is your magical core. The gold and red are your griffin and phoenix forms, and the silver is your wolf. Now, I want you to imagine that silver line coming to you. Reach in with your mind and grab it. Next, I want you to imagine yourself enveloped with the line."

Harry did, and felt the warm glow of power surround him.

"Hang on to that thought and feeling as we exit back to reality. Then I want you to force that line into your body"

Harry suddenly found himself sitting on the love seat again, Albus and Minerva were watching Harry with excited eyes. He kept the image and feeling of being enveloped by the wolf core. He pictured himself forcing that core into his body and becoming his wolf form.

He felt the same sudden warm tingling sensation, as when he held his wand, and as when he transformed before. Harry felt his body shrinking, his spine elongating for his tail, and his legs change as he felt himself drop to all fours. His hearing and smell heightened as his face changed.

Albus and Minerva knew Harry accomplished his goal as they heard a small popping sound and within a several seconds a beautiful silver wolf stood before them.

Harry opened his eyes and his senses were all heightened in his wolf form. He let out an excited yelp. He had done it!

Albus, in his own head, asked for the wall of the 'sitting room area' to become a mirror. Within seconds of the thought. It appeared.

"Have a look at yourself Harry!" He excitedly told the boy, as he gestured towards the mirror behind Harry.

Harry turned around and looked at himself in the mirror. He as gorgeous. He was on the small side, due to his age, and size in human form. If he was an actual pup, one might guess that he was around six to eight months old. He was not full grown but he was not the size of a small pup either.

His body was covered in beautiful silver fur all except for a spot right between his eyes which was actually in the shape of a small lightening bolt. It was white instead of silver, so it was barely noticeable unless one really looked at it or knew it was there. As expected Harry saw bright emerald green eyes looking back at him in the mirror.

"Yes you do look quite astounding Harry" his Gran told him. "Now I am sure you didn't mean for those woods to be there just for looks, now did you?" She gestured towards the trees. "Just don't go too far in."

As she was cautioning him, Harry took off towards the trees. He thought it would be awkward running on four legs instead of two, but it was like instincts took over and did the work for him. He could smell, and hear so much better in his wolf form. His sight wasn't much different, as it was with his griffin form. He could sense moving things much better, and might could see a tad further. However, as for his vision itself, it was pretty much the same as it was with the use of his glasses.

Before he even entered the woods he could smell the scent of all the trees, flowers and grass. He suddenly caught a scent in his nostrils that he had only smelled a time or two before at the Weasley's, but it was one he would never forget. Lilies.

Harry quickly sniffed out the sweet smell. There they were just sitting nestled beautifully in a patch of bright green grass between the roots of a tree. He sniffed around making a wolf's memory, of where they were. He took off running through the woods. Just back and forth enjoying the exercise and occasionally stopping to locate the source of a scent.

After several minutes, he made his way back to the lilies. He reached down with his mouth and carefully pulled the flowers from the ground. He shook his head slightly to shake off the excess dirt. Harry then took off in a trot back to the sitting area where his great grandparents were waiting.

Flowers in his mouth, Harry made his way over to Minerva and laid his head on her knee and deposited the flowers in her lap.

Minerva couldn't help but grin, with the laugh she was fighting. She knew if she laughed though, that Harry would take it the wrong way.

Albus himself, had to hide a chuckle as well. His great-grandson Had just come out of the woods at a trot. Harry had come bouncing up with two lilies in his mouth. He placed them in Minerva's lap and laid his head upon her knee. Now he was sitting there on his back haunches, eyes twinkling, with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, panting.

"Thank you Harry, they are lovely." She acknowledged.

"Are you ready to turn back Harry?" Albus asked. At Harry's nod he continued. "Very good, now, all you have to do is imagine that same line of power. Imagine yourself removing it from your presence and putting it back with the others."

Harry closed his eyes and remained sitting on his haunches. He pictured himself in his wolf form in his head, with a bright silver light engulfing him. He slowly unwound the light from his body and pushed it back over with the others.

He felt his body changing again, and his tail shortening. The fur started to disappear and his legs and arm changed. He opened his eyes to find himself sitting just as he was in his animagus form. Harry blushed.

His blush suddenly disappeared as he realized that he had succeeded. "I did it! I transformed!" He exclaimed as he jumped up from his position on the floor.

"Well done Harry!" Both of his grandparents praised.

Harry jumped up and hugged each of them. He was so happy. He didn't think anything could ruin his day now.

"Very nice my boy, very nice indeed. Now, why don't we go down to the Great Hall for a bit of lunch?" Albus asked.

"Yes, I'm starved. I feel like I could eat a horse!" Harry laughed.

"Well, why don't we meet back here tomorrow at 10 and we will work on your other forms. You must remember to only practice for now with either one of us or Professor Snape however." Minerva reminded him.

"I will, I promise." He replied.

The three of them made there way down for lunch. As they entered the Great Hall they noticed Severus among the other professors at the table. He was listening to the conversation between Professors Sprout and Vector, with his trademark sneer in place.

Harry sat across from Severus and beside Madam Hooch. "Did you enjoy yourself Potter?" he asked, mildly glaring at Harry.

"Yes sir! I did it, I transformed on the first try! It was great, I turned into my wolf form!" Harry started answering the moment Severus finished his question.

"It was a rhetorical question Potter! Or need I explain the concept of that to you? I do not care if you managed your silly little forms or not. You are not the first person to become an animagus you know Potter?" The Professor scolded.

Albus had been listening to Severus' dressing down and immediately knew what was going on with the man. It was something he had not seen in him since he was a boy. Severus Snape was jealous.

"Ah yes, I do seem to remember another young man around your age Harry, that managed his animagus abilities as well." he then turned to Severus. "Yes you did do very well Severus. And without the help of anyone else I might add. Correct?" He smiled at the man, with his eyes twinkling.

Severus did not reply he just sneered and turned his attention to filling his plate. He was still in a sore mood over the sudden change in his social life.

"Potter I believe you have some assignments to finish?" He sneered at the boy once the plates had been cleared.

"No sir, I finished them already" Harry responded barely above a whisper.

"Really? Well, we'll see about that. If your lessons" he sneered at the word "are done for today, then you are to return to my quarters after lunch."

"Yes sir" Harry quietly acknowledged.

After Harry finished his pudding, he waited politely until everyone else was done and chatting amiably, before he excused himself from the table. After leaving he made his way down to 'Severus' quarters'. He had began thinking of them as his own too. 'I guess I was wrong' he sadly thought as he made his way through the dungeons.

He approached the portrait of his great great great grandfather, Lord Kinston. Albus had spoke with the man in the portrait (who happened to be his own great grandfather) and explained the relation with Harry. Lord Kinston was thrilled to have another family member in the castle.

"Harry! How are you today?" He asked almost as cheerfully as the headmaster would.

"I'm fine sir." He plainly said.

"Really? You seem a little down in my book. Care to share your troubles with an old picture of a relative?" the man tried to coax.

"It's nothing, the professor is just acting odd. It's like he hates me again for some reason. I don't know what I did."

"Yes, I noticed he was a little more sour than usual. I'm sure he doesn't hate you, I've known Severus for years. Whatever is wrong it is bound to work out in the end." Lord Kinston tried to sooth.

Harry just nodded his head and excused himself as he placed his hand on the staff and was allowed entrance. He should know better. The man had been a down right mean bully towards him for the previous three years. What right did he have to think the man would change just upon seeing how he had been treated his whole life by his relatives?

He entered the quarters and was surprised to see Severus...no Professor Snape there. No use in getting used to calling the man by his first name. He was sure to jump down Harry's throat for it now. Harry was still shocked at seeing the man though. 'How does he do that?;' he thought. He was sure the man was still at lunch when he left. He figured there must be a secret passage somewhere that he didn't know about. After all he never passed Harry.

"Don't just sit there and gawk, bring me your assignments Potter!" Severus all but shouted.

Severus didn't have much patience for the boy. He knew it was not fair. However the whole thing wasn't fair to him either. Albus had been about the only generous person he had known, for a good majority of his life. He was like a father to him. He was also starting to get along with the boy and enjoy his company. Now, the two found out they were related and had hardly said a word to him since then. The potions master was used to being used and then cast aside, but from these two people, whom he had started to enjoy their company and care for, it hurt.

He knew from experience that it's just best to move on and not dwell on the fact that for a while there, he had two people to care for and to care for him. It was time to move on. Even if that meant being a snarky, evil, bat again. He would just have to be careful not to cross the line this time.

Harry in the meantime, went to his room to retrieve his assignments. He didn't bother to pick up the potions assignment. Snape after all, had checked it over already. He gathered the rest of his work and exited his room. He found the man sitting at his desk in the study.

Harry knew that they were not the best, he was not Hermione after all, but he did have extra time to work on them here at the castle, so they were HIS best.

"Did I not ask you to bring me all of your assignments Potter? Are you truly that inept? Where is your potions essay boy?! " he shouted.

Harry flinched at the tone and the word 'boy'. That was what Vernon usually called him when he wanted Harry to do some menial task or to 'punish' him.

"I didn't bring it sir because you've already corrected it. You said that all I needed to do was add one more effect and I would receive an Exceeds Expectations."

"I don't care Potter! I told you to bring me all of your assignments and that is what I meant. Now go and bring me all of your assignments" Severus told the boy.

Harry went back to the room and retrieved his potions assignment. 'This is not good' he thought. 'He will probably pick it apart now, and probably give me a 'T'.' As he entered the study again, Snape was busy scratching on his assignments in red ink. Harry didn't think his work was that bad. Obviously his professor did though, for now it seemed half of his history of magic essay was covered in red ink.

"Here's my potions assignment sir." He sat it down on top of the pile of unchecked work. Just as he walked over to the bookshelf to find a book to read while he waited Professor Snape snapped at him.

"Do not touch those Potter! If you can't even manage to read well enough to do well on the assignments then obviously you are too illiterate to read at all! I imagine your dear great grandparents would be appalled at the poor extent of these." he snapped as he gestured to the parchments on his desk.

Harry stood there a moment with his back turned to the man trying his best not to let his emotions get the better of him. It was not working. He turned back towards the potions master, seething in anger. "What in the hell is your problem? Lately it's as if you hate me again. I'm sick of it! What did I do to deserve this?" he raged back

"You are nothing but a lazy, stubborn, insolent, little brat, who is incapable of learning! You tromp around this school and these quarters as if you own the place. You have no respect for the feeling of others, and you have no respect for me!" Severus insulted

Harry was so mad by this time he wasn't sure why the room wasn't shaking again with wild magic. Maybe the training had worked. "Well, tell me this then sir, if I am so incapable of learning, then how have I managed to not destroy you or this castle right now? Because I promise you, I can be considered thoroughly pissed right now! If I am that much of a bother to you, maybe I need to just go pack my things. I'm sure my granddad would love to have me. Then you could go back to moping around your quarters like the snarky greasy git you are! And to think I was just starting to think of you as a decent person, maybe even starting to care about you! Well I guess for that you could call me insolent and incapable of learning." He turned to go pack his things when he heard the mans reply.

"Yes that is exactly what you want isn't it Potter? To go running to your dear old granddad and tell him what the greasy git of the dungeons has done now! For him to run down here with Minerva and yell and lecture me until I drop dead, about how I was so horrible to their dear old grandson. Then you and Albus can go on about your precious perfect lives, and continue to ignore me again! The two of you only care for yourselves Potter. So don't feed me that nonsense about you were starting to care!" Severus snarkily ended. 'What am I saying!? I can't believe I just said that out loud!' He thought.

Harry's eyes almost bugged out of his head, and he had to try really hard to contain in his laughter when he finally realized what was going on. All of his anger faded when he realized that the snarky greasy git of the dungeons, Professor Snape, was jealous! Not only was he jealous, he was worried and upset.

Harry didn't know how he didn't notice it before. Severus was jealous of the time Harry had been spending with Dumbledore. To be honest they had somewhat ignored the man since they found out about their relation, but it wasn't on purpose. They were just busy training and trying to get to know each other. Harry couldn't believe he had been so blind. Severus did care for them both and was upset and jealous, thinking now, that he and his granddad had each other, they wouldn't want to or have enough time to care for him. Was Severus really as insecure as he himself was?

Harry looked the man squarely in his deep black eyes and stated carefully. "Severus, I'm not leaving. I haven't meant to ignore you. I'm sorry, but you really need to get your head out of your arse and realize that just because we're now family, doesn't mean you get pushed aside! I'll still be here, and I know Granddad cares about you. It's almost as if you were his son. I could never take that place with him. No body is going to forget about you, not that we could anyways. I do think I've started to care for you. I'm sorry that we haven't had time for you lately, this is new for me! So please just drop this bastard attitude you've adopted, and give us a day or two and things will be back to normal. I really missed getting along with you. You were hating me again and I couldn't think of anything I had done to upset you. I like spending time and getting along. It's almost as if, during those times, I have a real dad." Harry shyly finished.

Severus felt like a huge pile of cement was lifted up off of his heart at the boys words. For some reason he felt all giddy inside, but would rather die than show it. The boy did care for him, and Albus did as well. Severus knew he had been wrong. They were not pushing him aside to forget, they were just busy at the moment. He was missing the boys company, and for Harry to say that it was almost like 'having a real dad' just made something in light a fire in the mans heart.

"First off Potter, I do not have my head up my arse as you so eloquently put it. Secondly I do not care how much time you spend with your 'family'. Thirdly, if for even one moment I thought I could get away with it, you would pay quite dearly for the insolent words you have here spoken today." He began snidely with his glare firmly in place. "Lastly, I do not care if you care about me or not...however...I do care for the two of you as well...Harry" He finished as he lips slightly quirked up at the corners. The boy looked shell shocked.

Harry stood stock still. He couldn't believe what all had just happened. He had first realized that Severus was jealous and upset at being pushed aside off all things. Then on top of that he couldn't believe he had just told the man to get his head out of his arse. Harry was sure he would have died had he made that suggestion any other time. Not to mention he had just told the man that he cared about him and that spending time with him almost felt like having a real dad! Oh how embarrassing! But the thing that shocked Harry the most was having Severus admit that he cared about Harry too. He stood there a moment, willing for the tears to go away.

He turned his back towards the Professor. He didn't want the man to see him cry. He was trying hard to keep the tears at bay. However this was the first time that anyone besides Albus and Minerva, who where related to him, had ever said they cared about him. His own relatives, the Dursley's, in all of 13 years had never once cared for him. Yet this man, this ex-death eater, who for the past 3 years had been absolutely horrid to him, did. Harry lost the battle as two tears slid down his face, followed by two more, and then two more.

Severus could tell by the light shaking in the boys shoulders that he was crying. It didn't bother him at all. If he had of been allowed to cry when he was that age, he might not have turned out so bad himself. He knew that the boy was getting emotional over being cared for. After all, until the recent introduction of kinship, the boy had never been told he was cared about by anyone. Severus knew what he should do, he wanted too but then again he didn't. His heart and his body won out in the end, as his reputation and pride were flushed down the toilet.

Severus walked over behind the boy, placed his hands firmly on his shoulder and turned him back around. "It's ok to cry Harry, there is nothing wrong with it. Cry until you have had enough." and with that he pulled the boy into a hug, warming at the feeling of the boys arms automatically wrapping around his waist. 'So this is what it's like to care and be cared for' he thought. I could get used to this.

"Harry, would you like to go to see the Quidditch World Cup with the Weasley's and myself?"...


So what did you all think? Let me know...