Harry slammed his door angrily, not caring who heard. He really shouldn't be mad; he knew Professor Lupin had every reason to be mad at Snape. Harry smirked. He wasn't supposed to be Professor Lupin, but Professor Covial. He strode over to his door, having every intention of telling the Marauder just that to his face. He pulled the door open violently to find his father standing there holding his broomstick and Seeker Kit, looking rather surprised at the rather abrupt motion.
"I retrieved these along with my broom." He thrust the items into the boy's hands and stalked off without another word.
"Professor Snape?" The older wizard stopped and turned slightly. "Thank you for teaching me that game. It was fun," he admitted. He had had fun, and with Snape no less. Ha! Take that Professor.
Snape seemed to take this as an indication that discussion was open and he strode back over to the open door. Harry stood aside, indicating he could enter, and he did. Harry shut the door and watched as the potions master placed an anti-eavesdropping charm on the room.
"Why were you angry, Potter?" Harry carefully laid his broom down on the floor next to his polishing kit, to remind him to do just that later. He put the kit in a drawer and turned back to the professor.
"Professor Lupin just upset me a little, that's all." He looked down sheepishly, and Snape raised an eyebrow.
"Look me in the eye when you speak to me. What did he say?"
Harry raised his head, surprised at the rather…fatherly tone Snape's voice had held in the first sentence. "He just asked if you'd harmed me when you came to get me. He doesn't seem to like you much."
"And this upsets you? Interesting. No, I suppose he's not to keen on me, as I am the one who 'ratted him out' as it were." Harry's head snapped up at the knowing tone. "Yes, I know very well that Wormtail lives and Black is innocent. However, I cannot attest to this, as it will most definitely pinpoint me as a spy." Harry nodded. "Speaking of your godfather…" Snape left the question hanging, but Harry picked up immediately.
"I don't know what to think of him right now. I was thinking about that all last night. I mean, he knew this whole time, and he never told me. Just let me believe, no, rather reinforced, the idea that James Potter was my true father. I know for a fact he hates you, that may have been the drive behind his actions. But that still doesn't make them right!" His voice had risen, and suddenly Harry was thankful for the charms Snape had cast.
"I have a question," Snape's voice held the professor tone, and Harry gulped, nodding for him to continue. "You seem to be taking this rather well. I know you don't exactly like me, and I've never been openly nice to you. So why? Why accept this?"
Harry shrugged, "I don't really understand it myself. I just," he sighed, searching for the right words, "It seems right. Before, I was Harry Potter, son of the Golden Boy of Gryffindor James Potter, Champion Seeker, Head Boy, and Marauder. Even when I didn't know better, it seemed…fake. Now, I'm not James Potter's son, I'm the son of Severus Snape and Lily Evans. I don't know, does that make sense?"
"Perfectly," Snape responded in a soft voice. He hadn't expected the boy to be so…insightful. "However, I do not think you should have taken it out on Lupin."
"But, he's not even supposed to be Lupin, so how is it that Jaren Covial came to hate you?" Damn, he was right again. Snape blinked, shocked at the outburst. Finally, he sighed.
"Very well, I will have a talk with him."
"I don't think that's a good idea. He doesn't know, and he thinks we still hate each other." This simple statement affected Snape more than any other. Potter clearly meant that he didn't hate him anymore, and with a sudden surprise, he realized that the feeling was mutual.
"Then you speak to him, make him see the, er, logic behind your argument. He would do wise to act as Covial from now on, even though no one is here." Harry nodded his agreement and smiled. "Now, have you finished your homework for the holidays?" Harry cringed, realizing he hadn't. "As I thought. Finish it, then come see me tomorrow. We will not waste the summer away when you could work to improve your potions mark." Harry nodded and decided a sarcastic reply was called for.
"Yes Father," he droned, as if an automaton. Snape scowled at his son, who quickly smirked and buried himself in his Herbology text.
"I will see you at dinner." He swept out of the room, uncasting the charm and shutting the door softly behind him.
He was immediately set upon by a very unhappy werewolf. He was slammed up against the wall, and had no doubt Potter had heard the commotion, if not Lupin's yelling.
"What are you doing in there, Snape? Have to torment him during the summer as well?" During his rant, he had slammed the potions master up against the wall a few more times. Slowly, the door opened, revealing a very shocked Gryffindor.
"What are you doing?" he asked incredulously.
"Are you alright, Harry? What did he do to you?" Remus' eyes flashed with anger, but Harry casually leaned up against the doorframe.
"Oh, you know, the usual…" he trailed off, and the murderous glint Snape had only seen in Black before swelled up in the most reasonable of the Marauders. Harry saw this and picked right back up. "Offering to tutor me, inviting me to dinner, returning my broom from our game." Remus, in his surprise stupor, dropped Snape.
"Harry, this is no joking matter."
Harry's face remained deadpanned, "I wasn't joking." He stepped back into the room, silently inviting the other two inside. Remus entered and looked around. Texts were strewn about in a desperate attempt at studying, a brand new Firebolt XS lay in the floor, and Harry sat down on the bed.
"When did you get that?" Remus pointed at the broom.
"Yesterday, in Diagon Alley. I went to get my supplies, so I picked up a new broom. My old one was destroyed by Uncle Vernon along with everything else."
"Everything?"
"The only thing I managed to salvage was this," he pulled the invisibility cloak out of the top drawer of the chest and held it up.
"But what about—?" Lupin gestured to the hallway, indicating the recent conversation.
"Oh, well," he looked at the man standing in the background, and Snape gave an infinitesimal nod. "Professor Snape and I were playing Quidditch before lunch, and were going to resume, when you showed. But it's good that you did, because I have homework to do. Speaking of, professor, but you're not supposed to be Remus Lupin. You're Covial whats-his-face. You can't hate Professor Snape without a solid reason now."
"Very well, Harry, you win for now. Will you agree to talk to me later?"
"Yes."
"I suggest we let Mr. Potter get back to his studies. Merlin knows he needs all the time he can get." When Lupin whirled to glare at the potions master, Harry threw an 'oh so funny' look at his father, but sheepishly nodded and laid back with his Herbology book and began to read, ignoring the two bickering men in his room.
"I don't know what you're playing at Snape," Good question, thought Harry, "But if you hurt him, in any way, I will tell Padfoot." This angered Harry, and it took all of his self-control to leap out of bed and set upon the werewolf, teacher or not, for bringing up such a sore subject. Of course, he thought, Lupin doesn't know it's a sore subject. He settled for a glare at the DADA professor before he stormed out. Snape nodded at Harry and followed, stalking the opposite direction. No doubt, Lupin was headed for Dumbledore at this very moment. Snape smirked to himself and went to set up his first tutoring session with his son.
Albus sat in his office, watching events unfold through his looking pool. He smiled at Fawkes, who was trilling happily behind him. "Things are going well, Fawkes, much better than I expected. I suppose we should prepare ourselves for a maniac Marauder." He smiled to himself at this alliteration, just before he heard the telltale sound of someone storming up the stairs. Merlin knows he'd heard Severus do it too many times not to know what it sounded like. He allowed the new professor entrance, and he came in fuming.
"What is wrong, Remus? I expect such behavior of Sirius, but not you. You have always been the cool-headed one. Really ironic when you think about it." Albus' eyes twinkled merrily, and Remus visibly relaxed.
"I'm sorry, Albus, it's just Snape. He's acting…different lately. Especially around Harry. Do you think it wise to let them live so close to each other?"
"Of course, otherwise I would not have placed Harry there. Do not worry, Remus. Things are going fine, just fine. There are just some things you do not see, that none of us see. You of all people should know not to judge on appearance and past alone, but character and heart. Sadly, not everyone is as wise as we are, so we must hide your appearance. It is more for your sake than others, really." Dumbledore congratulated himself for tactfully moving focus away from uncomfortable topics.
"I'm not worried about that. What I'm worried about is Harry. And don't think I didn't notice you changing the subject." Albus continued merrily, as if unfazed at being caught.
"Harry will be just fine, you'll see. What will happen, will happen. Let it come, don't fight it, and go prepare your lessons for the term." The Headmaster quickly shooed the perplexed professor out of his office and down the stairs. Before he could protest, Remus found himself on the way back to his chambers.
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Yeah, another chapter! Next chapter, Remus owls Sirius about the strange goings-on. Guess what happens? (No, really…guess…I'm serious *ducks to avoid obvious bad pun*)