Disclaimer:
I'm not J.K. Rowling and I don't own anything in the Harry Potter universe.

Chapter 10
"True Colors"

That day a ritual was established on Snape Manor.

At half past eight Harry would go down into the kitchen, where Snape (Priya was never present for some reason) was already sitting at the breakfast table, reading the paper. Upon Harry's entering and after a polite exchange of good mornings, Snape would put the newspaper away, pour them both a cup of coffee and serve breakfast. They would eat in amicable silence and when he was done, Snape would split his paper, hand over one half (sports and comics) to Harry and resume reading the other. They did not talk much, but their silence was never an uncomfortable one, Harry felt. Occasionally, they would discuss an article they had just read or disparage Rita Skeeter in diplomatic unison. Harry was forced to admit that Snape's dry sense of humor could be pretty damn hilarious - if you weren't the one on the receiving end. As it was, he enjoyed it immensely not to be the butt of Snape's sarcasm … too often.

At 9:30 sharp Draco would come waltzing in ('Good morning!') and order Harry to keep him company. Harry would protest exactly twice, which Draco would, of course, ignore.

'I'm bored, let's play chess.'
'I don't like chess.'
'Don't be ridiculous. Let's go.'
'No.'
'Move!'
'Oh, alright.'

…

'I'm bored, let's go and practice charms.'
'We're not allowed to do magic outside of school.'
'Your point?'
'I don't want to.'
'Come on!'
'Oh, alright.'

Before giving in and following the Slytherin out of the kitchen (all the while mumbling in rebellion), Harry would ask Snape if he wanted him to clean the table first, but the teacher would always decline and warn them to be back in time for lunch - or else! -, which usually left Harry stuttering something along the lines of 'yes sir, good-bye sir!' before rushing outside.

By the third day Harry found he was enjoying his new daily routine immensely, although he became more and more convinced that he had indeed entered a parallel universe. How else was it to be explained that the presence of the two people he had once disliked the most, had now become … well … entirely tolerable?

Truth be told, he was having a blast!

Maybe it was the air at Snape Manor, maybe there was something in the water … but both Draco and Snape seemed to be practically sociable during these holidays.

Granted, Malfoy was still as obnoxious as they came, but once you learned not to take him too seriously, he was really rather entertaining. Harry had quickly realized that Draco's bossiness (pretty much like Hermione's, really) was nothing but a habit and usually left room for compromises – if only you were persistent enough. Outside of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy was still a spoiled brat, a snob and nauseatingly competitive, but one thing he was clearly not: malicious.

Harry and Draco would usually roam the grounds of Snape Manor until noon (1 o' clock sharp – or else!), when they would return to the house to have lunch with Priya and Professor Snape. After that Draco would sometimes go home ('See you tomorrow, Potter!' – 'Do you have to?'), but usually the two of them would waste another hour arguing about what to do and where to go next before disappearing outside once more.

But it was the evenings Harry had come to enjoy the most. After dinner Professor Snape, Priya and him would retire into the sitting room (occasionally joined by Yulub, the house-elf), where they usually sat by the fireplace, drank tea and read one of the many books in the library or talk about their days. Harry would never say much, but he could listen to Priya and his Potions teacher for hours, discussing tomorrow's menu, potion ingredients that needed replenishing or what on Merlin's Beard to do with the untamed orchid that was happily wreaking havoc in the greenhouse. Harry loved those peaceful moments!

They made him forget.

While Harry always enjoyed his visits at The Burrow, they were also a constant reminder of the home he didn't have. The parents he didn't have, the brothers and sisters he didn't have … the family he was stuck with instead. He loved the Weasleys dearly, but he couldn't help feeling even more like an outsider when he was with them … and Harry didn't think that had anything to do with the fact that he was the only non-redhead around either.

At Snape Manor things were a little different somehow. He wasn't constantly reminded of what a freak he was, what a sorry orphan, or the hero he was supposed to be.

He was … just Harry.

Nobody was putting on a show to give him "The Nicest Holidays Ever", but he didn't feel as though his existence was merely tolerated either. In fact he didn't even feel much like a guest anymore.

Here at Snape Manor Harry felt like a part of something.

'Professor?'

Severus peered over the rim of his morning paper questioningly, but Harry was bent over "his" half of the Prophet attentively and didn't look at him.

'Potter?' Severus voiced his reply.

'What do you think is in that room at the Ministry that they always break in?' Harry wanted to know.

Severus shrugged. 'I have no idea, Potter. But I certainly hope they manage to steal it or destroy it or whatever it is they want to do with it anytime soon to make room for more informative articles again for a change.'

At that Harry looked up at him, his eyebrows raised dubiously.

A few seconds of silence passed.

'Quite the change indeed, mind.' Severus deadpanned and Harry chuckled. 'No kidding.'

He proceeded to read the article on the latest Ministry break-in and Severus went back to read his own with a smile. He relished the feeling of contentment that Harry had begun to radiate in his presence. Although one clearly didn't have to be a Legilimens to see that Harry was doing well.

Sporting a light tan, the Gryffindor looked healthier than Severus could ever remember seeing him. Not only had the boy finally gained a few much-needed pounds courtesy of Priya's excellent cooking, but he had also shed his trademark fidgetiness almost completely. The tense air that usually surrounded him was gone and most times Harry seemed relaxed and at ease with the world. The fact that he hadn't asked Severus even once about when he was supposed to leave this house was indication enough that the youth was enjoying his life at Snape Manor.

Severus suppressed a sigh with difficulty.

He knew that telling Harry would be the right thing to do, but he just didn't have the heart to inform the teenager that he was supposed to leave Snape Manor tomorrow already. In fact Severus didn't even want to acknowledge it himself, although he had always known that these two weeks with Harry was borrowed time only.

A few days earlier.

This was it. The moment of truth.

Sitting in Dumbledore's office, waiting for the Headmaster's arrival, Severus was hit with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. How many times had he been sitting in this office as a Hogwarts student, twisting his hands in his lap impatiently just like he did now, waiting for yet another sermon along the lines of "We shall not use magic to our advantage!" or "The proper use of a Confusing Concoction during Potions Class."

Today, the sermon would be more along the lines of "We shall not steal Harry Potter from his guardians' house without notifying the Order first", obviously.

But this time Severus would stand his ground, yes he would.

This time Severus had done the right thing after all.

But no matter how hard the Slytherin tried to convince himself that disobeying Dumbledore's orders to stay out of Harry Potter's life had been the right thing to do, he couldn't help fearing that standing eye to eye with the Headmaster, would most probably dissolve his newfound resolution to let his and Harry's destiny run its natural course into thin air – as shameful as it was.

For over a decade he had been drilled to not care about Harry James Potter. Hell, he had forgotten to care about himself! For as long as he could remember, Severus had been disciplined to make do with the backseat of life. He would give his life for Harry without a second thought, but he doubted he was man enough to give his whole heart just yet.

But damn him if he didn't try!

A voice ripped Severus Snape from his thoughts. 'Good morning, Severus. Thank you for coming.'

Albus Dumbledore sat down behind his desk in front of him.

Severus nodded in welcome. 'Headmaster,' he acknowledged the old wizard tersely.

'Can I offer you some-'

Severus got up from his chair abruptly.

'Let's cut the niceties, Albus. I'm here because I took Harry from his muggle home without notifying you. I didn't stay true to my word that I would stay out of his life. Guilty as charged! But while I apologize for disappointing you and for breaking my promise to you, I think we both know that I have every intention of continuing to break it, in order to give Harry the life that he deserves - at last! But by all means, say what you have to say.'

Severus raised his arms to his sides in defeat, palms up, until he became aware how ridiculously dramatic this gesture made him look. He quickly dropped his hands again and began pacing the office before reconsidering and sitting back down in his chair. All this time Albus Dumbledore watched him quietly. Then the old wizard asked:

'Is Harry doing well?'

The question and its accompanying lack of reproach startled Severus.

'Of course he's doing well,' he spluttered. 'What do you think I'm doing with him, poison him?'

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. 'I guess not.'

'Rest assured he's better off at Snape Manor than he was at Privet Drive number four. Then again, that's not all that difficult, is it?' Severus spat bitterly. 'Do you have any idea what his so-called family is like?'

Albus looked down at his hands. 'That I do, my dear,' he answered quietly, sounding sad.

'Then why in the name of Merlin did you let those people raise Harry?' Severus asked incredulously. 'I never liked the idea of him being raised by ignorant muggles, but I thought they would at least take care of him.'

'They did take care of him, Severus.'

'Did they? They were more than eager to throw him out from what I've heard. They called him a freak, Albus.'

The Headmaster flinched slightly and closed his eyes.

'I could hex myself that I've never bothered to check on the boy sooner, Albus!' Severus went on. 'But when I gave you my word to sever my bond with Harry, I trusted that you would place my mate (he punctuated those two words clearly) with people that would care for him. Care for him for me.'

Dumbledore looked up again. His jaw was set.

'I placed Harry exactly where I knew he would be safe from harm,' he said determinedly. 'All these years Harry was protected by the most effective, most complex ancient charms; the blood of his family!'

'You protected him from Death Eaters, alright!' Severus retorted, refusing to be intimidated by the powerful and now rather angry-looking wizard in front of him. 'I believe I could have done that just as well. You can't argue that the bond between two soulmates is-'

'What if you and Harry had not been soulmates after all? I couldn't take that risk, Severus!'

The two men stared at each other.

'Oh, we are mates, Albus,' Severus said softly after a few seconds, a small smile accompanying his words. 'You can be sure of that.'

'If that is true we are risking the boy's life just the same at this very moment.'

'I might be risking Harry's life simply by separating myself from him, Headmaster,' Severus answered calmly and got up from his chair once more. 'And that is a risk I'm not willing to take any longer. Now if you will excuse me …'

He nodded politely and made his way to the door.

'I expect him at the Order's Headquarters by the end of next week.' Dumbledore called after him. 'Remus Lupin will come and pick him up.'

'Very well, Headmaster,' Severus answered without looking back. Then he left.

His godson's voice snapped Severus out of his reverie.

'Good morning, Professor Snape!' Draco greeted cheerfully. He plopped down on the empty chair besides Harry. 'Morning, you homeless bum.'

Harry hid a smile behind his empty coffee mug only half-heartedly. 'Morning, you pillock.'

'I'm bored, let's go and torture some muggles.'
'You really are a pillock, you know that?'
'Likewise. Let's go.'
'Go away!'
'Manners, Potter. Up!'
'Oh, alright.'

Harry got up from his chair. 'Should I clean the table before I leave, Professor?'

'No. You go, Potter,' Snape said, refilling his own coffee mug. 'But don't think I'll keep up this preferential treatment once we're back at school.'

'But of course not, sir, never!' Harry replied earnestly, looking at him with wide eyes. However, his look of sheer innocence was soon betrayed by a large smile that he didn't even bother to hide anymore.

Severus felt his insides turn into mush as he realized just how much the thin, bespectacled teenager standing there in front of him had begun to resemble the dashing young man he knew to be his husband one day. He allowed a small smile to tug on his lips as he delivered his standard line:

'One o' clock sharp! After that the kitchen is closed to any of you …garden gnomes.'

Harry nodded with an amused twinkle in his emerald eyes, whereas Draco saluted curtly. 'YESSIR!'

He began nudging Harry towards the door, but right before leaving the kitchen, the Gryffindor turned around once more. He tipped his head to the side and looked at his Potions master thoughtfully. 'You know,' he said after a moment, 'I don't know about you or Draco, but 'I'm sure Priya would give me food even after 1 p.m. if I asked her nicely.'

'Potter?'

'Yes, Professor?'

'Vanish.'

Giggling, Harry followed Draco out of the door.

'If you were an ice-cream flavor, what would it be?'

The flat stone skipped across the water merrily before drowning not far from the middle of the lake. Draco turned around to face Harry. 'HA!' he said triumphantly. 'Almost! So … which flavor?'

Harry picked up a stone as well, following Draco's example. 'Ice-cream flavor?' he asked. 'Er ... I don't know. Chocolate?'

He threw the stone into the lake, where plunked into the water pathetically a few feet away from him and disappeared. Draco shook his head dismissively.

'Personally, I think you'd be Stracciatella,' he said after a while.

'Oh?' Harry smirked. 'And what would you be?'

'That's easy, I'd be Vanilla. Simple yet elegant and indecently delicious. WHAT?'

He looked over at Harry indignantly, who pretended to be doubling over in silent laughter.

'Simple?' Harry asked incredulously. 'You're considering yourself simple?'

Draco frowned. 'You're right, simple is not the word I had in mind. More like …' Suddenly his face lit up into an impish grin. 'So you do agree I'm elegant, Potter?'

He nudged his elbow playfully into Harry's side.

Harry nudged the Blonde back fiercely. 'You wish! Just because your clothes are more expensive than mine doesn't mean you're elegant, Malfoy.'

He grinned and Draco nudged him once more. 'You do think I'm elegant, Potter. And you so think I'm indecently delicious!'

'I DO NOT!'

'DO TOO!'

'Do not.'

'Yes, you do.'

'You are so full of yourself, Malfoy, it's not even funny anymore!'

'You think I'm de-li-cious!' Draco sing-songed.

'How old are you again, Malfoy?' Harry nudged Draco again.

'De-li-cious! De-li- …'

Harry gave the Slytherin another push, a little harder this time.

Draco promptly lost his balance. He rowed his arms in windmill motion, attempting to grab hold of the Gryffindor next to him and regain his balance before … landing in the lake with a thud.

'Potter!' he gasped, spitting out some water.

This time Harry doubled over in laughter for real. 'You're kind of melting Vanilla ice-cream now, aren't you?' he joked, but his laughter quickly stopped at the expression on Draco's face. The Blonde was thrashing the water with a look of pure panic. 'Can't swim!' he chocked.

'But … just … it's not deep!' Harry stuttered. 'Just get up!'

Draco swallowed another mouthful of water and started coughing. 'Potter, help me!' he spluttered. 'PLEASE!'

Instantly, Harry waded into the surprisingly cold water of the lake. He took hold of Draco's arm and began pulling him upright. 'Get up, Malfoy! It's not deep! You don't even need to swim.'

But Draco was clinging to him frantically. 'Get me out of here! Get me out!'

'Calm down, Draco!' Harry ordered. 'I will get you out of here, but you need to calm down! OKAY?'

Draco nodded blankly, still clinging to Harry with all his might. Harry began manoeuvring them towards solid ground again, when he felt Draco pulling him back. He turned around. 'Malfoy!' he said sternly. 'I told you I would … oh shit, Malf-!'

Harry barely had time to register how the look of terror on Draco's face twisted into a triumphant grin before he found himself – face first – in the water, held down by Draco Malfoy's hands. 'I should have known,' he thought annoyed with himself. He was released a few seconds later and when Harry's head reappeared above the surface of the lake, the Slytherin quickly dodged out of his range and began wading deeper into the lake.

'Rescue me, Potter!' he wailed merrily and began swimming away from Harry on his back, grinning mischievously. 'I can't swim, oh my God, I can't swim!'

Harry shook his head rapidly in an attempt to get the water out of his ears.

'You are so dead!' he informed the Slytherin before calmly taking of his glasses and wiping them clean with his soaking wet shirt.

'Oh am I?' Draco whooped. 'Seems like you need to get me first, Potter!'

He had almost reached the middle of the lake by now.

'Have you been watching last year's tournaments at all, Malfoy?' Harry asked nonchalantly, before putting his glasses back on and driving both hands through his dripping hair.

'Yeah I have!' Draco called outm completely unconcerned. 'Your point being …?'

'… I'm one hell of a swimmer!'

Their laughter carried across the Entrance Hall, announcing Harry and Draco's arrival long before the boys entered the Dining Room. Severus felt his chest tighten. It had been a long time since he had last heard his godson laugh like this. Harry had to stay! Harry belonged here! Guilt washed over him immediately.

I really ought to have told Harry sooner!

Priya put a hand on his and gave it a quick, assuring squeeze before letting go again.

'I will forever remember your face, Potter! You so thought I was drowning!'

'You definitely deserve an Oscar; that much is for sure!'

Draco pushed open the double door to the Dining room.

'Who's Osc-?' He stopped dead in his tracks. And gaped.

Harry promptly walked into him. Following Draco's frozen stare, he began smiling. 'Professor Lupin! Good to see you!' he exclaimed happily.

Severus tried to ignore yet another pang in his chest that had nothing much to do with guilt this time. Next to him the werewolf got up from his chair (Draco narrowed his eyes suspiciously) with a smile on his face. 'Good to see you too, Harry. Hello Draco.'

Draco blinked. Then he nodded courteously. 'Professor Lupin.'

Severus found his voice at last. 'What happened to you?' he asked, motioning at the boys' wet clothes and hair. The teenagers exchanged a quick glance.

'Nothing.' Draco shrugged. 'We just ….'

'… kind of …' Harry continued sheepishly.

'… fell into the lake …' they concluded in unison, grinning at each other.

Priya shook her head and got up as well. 'You will get yourself a cold!' she scolded the boys. 'Go and change into some dry clothes quickly!'

'Preeeya!' Draco whined. 'We're wizards!'

'So?' Priya answered, swatting the Blonde affectionately. 'Don't wizards get colds, too?'

'No. Yes. But … we can cast a spell to dry us off.'

'Then why didn't you?'

Draco heaved a sigh. 'Because we're not allowed to do magic outside of school!' he explained with an exasperated look into Harry's direction. Harry nodded in confirmation, completely unperturbed. His eyes met Severus' and he smiled. 'We don't want to get our wands taken away from us after all,' he joked. 'Right, Professor?'

His words were met by an uncomfortable silence.

Harry frowned.

'What?' Draco said, looking around.

Remus was the first to clear his throat. 'That's kind of why I'm here actually, Harry. Your hearing.'

Harry blanched. 'There actually will be a hearing?' he interrupted the werewolf. 'But I thought … But there was … I was just …'

He looked at Severus helplessly. Severus got up and walked over to his godson and his mate. He rapped his wand over their heads briskly and a second later the boys were perfectly dry again, with the exception of the small puddle of lake water that had formed at their feet.

'Don't worry, Potter!' he said curtly. 'It'll just be a formality.'

'When is the hearing?' Harry asked, sounding rather fearful. 'Is it today?'

Remus Lupin shook his head. 'In three days.'

'Then why are you picking me up already today?'

'Not today,' Remus corrected him. 'I only came to tell that I will pick you up tomorrow.'

'Tomorrow? But you said it's only in three days.'

Lupin and Snape looked at each other quickly. Misinterpreting the exchange of glances between the two men, Harry's shoulders slumped. Had Snape called his former DA teacher to get rid of him early?

'I'll go and pack,' he said quietly and turned to leave.

Harry's feeling of sadness and resignation hit Severus with a force so strong, that he grabbed a hold of Draco's shoulder for support. The blonde teenager looked at him in surprise.

Usually the Legilimens managed to "zone out" the steady buzz of emotions from the people around him (a rather necessary ability working in a boarding school filled with teenage wizards, thank you very much) and even though Severus had noticed a long time ago that his reception of Harry's feelings was stronger than the usual one (which figured, of course), it had never been this powerful before - with the exception of his encounters with "Future Harry". But besides said encounters and the obvious lack of hostility that the present day Harry displayed towards him nowadays, this overwhelming transmission of emotions was the first, real 'proof' that their bond was steadily growing stronger.

It took Severus' breath away.

'Potter!' he called out, his voice hoarse.

Harry turned around again. 'Yes?' he asked without looking the older man in the eye.

'Don't be ridiculous, you don't need to pack just yet. Professor Lupin won't come back before tomorrow evening,' he barked.

Harry nodded glumly, still not meeting his eyes. 'kay.'

'I have some errands to run over the next few days, that's why you have to leave tomorrow already,' Professor Snape explained. Remus Lupin cleared his throat uncomfortably and suddenly became very interested in the pictures on the wall.

'kay,' Harry repeated, not sounding any happier and Priya cast Severus a warning look. The expression on the Potions master's face softened. 'Otherwise … you'd be more than welcome to stay, of course,' he added. He could practically feel Draco's eyes widen in astonishment. Not that he blamed the boy. Such hospitality on his behalf was rather uncommon, to put it mildly.

Harry looked up from his feet at last. He studied Snape for a moment as if he was trying to find out whether or not the offer was sincere, and apparently decided that it was, because his face brightened like a Christmas tree.

'Thanks!' he beamed.

Severus nodded.

'Let's eat,' he said.

To be continued