Albus sighed as he watched Severus come bursting into his office. After hearing what had happened in DADA, both from students, teachers and an irate Agatha Longbottom, he was not surprised to have Severus in his office.

"How can I help you Severus?" Albus asked calmly and motioned for the man to take one of the seats across the desk.

Severus did not sit. "Don't try that on me Albus. You know full well why I have come up here to speak to you. You aren't a fool, don't act like one."

Albus shook his head. "I know that you are concerned about Alastor but I assure you that he is a good teacher and he's the best choice for the position right now."

Severus stopped his pacing. "You call a man who sues the unforgivable curses in a classroom of fourth years, a good teacher? Albus, what are you trying to pull?"

Albus watched as he started pacing again. "Moody made perhaps a bad choice. I think he is just trying to show his students constant vigilance."

Severus glared. "To show fourth years that? The man knew full well that both Harry and Neville were in that class. Does he have no sense of right, at all?"

Albus tried again to get him to sit. "Harry and Neville are strong enough to deal with this Severus. I'm sure you're over reacting just a bit."

Severus smirked. "You're not telling me that the howler I saw you receive at breakfast this morning but muted was not from Agatha?"

Albus paled. "You noticed did you? Well yes, Neville's grandmother was quite irate. It is unfortunate that Neville is still affected so badly by his parents' state."

Severus was shocked. "Affected? Those boys' parents were tortured into insanity. He just watched his professor torture a spider as a demonstration. I'd have been upset."

Albus had to calm the man. "Neville had a talk with Alastor and seems calm. I'm sure Harry is more then capable of dealing with that. He dealt with the dementors."

Severus went rigid. "You think that just because of the dementors, he could handle that? Harry has had night terrors after that class. I assure you, he's shaken."

Albus was surprised. "I had no idea. Harry has always been so strong in dealing with such things. I assume you can help him get over the fear."

Severus again stopped. "I shouldn't have too. My ward should not be facing such things in this school. Moody has gone way over the line here and we both know it."

Albus sighed. "I will keep an eye on him closer. You know with the tournament we can't deal with trying to find a new teacher. I'll keep him under better control."

That made Severus laugh. "Isn't that why the man was fired as an auror? No one could keep him under control? I hope for everyone's sake, you can do just that."

Albus hid a smile as he thought he won the debate. "I will. I assure you he'll be kept in line. When the tournament is done we'll seek a new teacher for next year."

Severus turned to leave. "You do that or I will go to the school governors, the ministry, who ever I have to, to have him removed. He will not continue like this."

Albus paled at the mention of both. "I will see to it. You do not need to bring anyone else in. I assure you, Harry has nothing further to worry about."

"He better not. I promise that do not make any empty threats Albus." Severus said before he stalked out of the office.

Albus watched him leave and sighed. "That man is going to put everything at risk. This is the last thing we need with the tournament going on here this year."

Albus stood and moved around his desk and walked over to the perch where Fawkes was sitting. This tournament was key. It would help to promote outside air for the coming war they all knew was on the horizon. He could not allow Severus' strange growing paternal instinct for Harry, or Moody's irrational behaviour, to ruin it all.

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Harry walked with his friends up to the divination tower for the last class of his day. He had been able to concentrate better in his classes since talking to Severus about what had happened in DADA but he still wasn't in any mood for another class with Trewlaney though that was nothing new for him.

He took a seat with Ron and Seamus at the table. "I wish I had been smart enough like Hermione to drop this class last year when we had the chance."

Ron nodded in agreement as they were passed out tea cups as they were doing tea leaf reading that semester. "Anything has to be better then this. Well almost."

Trewlaney came into the room and asked them to all drink their tea and start looking at the leaves in their cups. "Exchange cups and see what you see in the bottoms."

Harry and Ron exchanged cups and Harry looked at the leaves. "I see something that looks like a sun. That seems to mean wealth in your future Ron."

Ron was looking strangely at what was in the bottom of Harry's cup. "It looks like a horse, or perhaps a donkey. I think that it must be the symbol of a burden."

Trewlaney came over to them. "No, no dear boy that is the symbol of the grim. There is death in your future."

Harry had heard that in nearly every class in the past year he had with the woman. She had been prophesising his death since the first time he had walked into her classroom and he was growing tired of it.

He looked at Ron when she walked off. "That insect always sees my death. I'd be dead ten times over if she ever actually saw something for real."

Ron went white and nodded over Harry's shoulder. "I think she heard you Harry."

Harry turned to see Professor Trewlaney who looked a bit shocked and he knew she had. She came over to him. "I would think you two have more to look at."

Harry was surprised she said nothing; sure he would have received detention. "Yes, Professor. Of course."

When they left class after the session ended Ron and Harry headed to the Great Hall for dinner. Youre lucky. I would have thought you were in for it.

Harry thought he was safe until as they ate dinner Severus came in late and he noticed the look on his face." I don't think I'm getting out of it so easily."

Ron looked over at Snape. "You don't think that Professor Trewlaney told Severus what you said about her in class?'

Harry nodded his head. "Either she did or one of the other students in class let it slip to him. Either way I know I'm in for it."

When they were finished eating Ron turned to Harry. "Come and study with us up in the tower. You can avoid him for a time and maybe he'll calm down."

Harry knew that he wouldn't be so lucky. "No. I need to face this now. If I hold off he'll just be angrier with me then he was before."

Hermione had heard what had happened and nodded. "You should not have said that to her. Perhaps if you had apologized first."

Harry knew there was nothing to save him and he left dinner and headed back down to Snape's apartments and waited for his guardian to come and find him, knowing there was no point avoiding this.

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Severus had been on his way up to the Great Hall from the potions lab for dinner when he had run into the last person in the school he had any desire to speak to, Professor Trewlaney.

"Sybil." He said curtly and moved to go around her, surprised she had come from her tower.

"Severus, I would like to talk to you about you ward." She said.

Severus stopped. "What has Harry done now?"

Sybil gave a strange smile. "He seemed upset about a grim I saw in his cup. He said some quite cruel things to me when I had walked away."

Severus didn't blame Harry for being angry over the woman's omens but he had told the boy about respect. "I will deal with him. I apologize for his behaviour."

For some reason the woman seemed not angry at his words. "Oh, the poor boy, with death always over his shoulder. I am concerned only for how he feels."

Severus shook his head at how calm the woman could take all of this and stalked off to the Great Hall where he spotted his ward sitting among his friends and from the look Harry shot him, he knew Harry was concerned he'd learn. He went to the head table to eat knowing he would have to deal with Harry when he finished. He watched Harry leave with his friends 20 minutes later and wondered if he'd have to track the boy down later.

He was surprised when he entered their sitting room later and found Harry waiting. "I had quite the interesting talk with Professor Trewlaney."

Harry looked up from his hands. "I'm sorry Severus. I was just upset by her grim again. She always sees it. It just bothered me."

Severus sighed. "If she sees it all of the time which doesn't surprise me as she has for years, then it should not upset you so much."

Harry knew he was right. "I don't know why it bothered me so much today but it did. I didn't mean for her to hear me, I really didn't."

Severus sat down across from him. "It doesn't matter. I told you that you were to respect your teachers, even behind their back. Trewlaney is no different."

Harry lowered his head. "I know sir. I shouldn't have let my anger get to me. I will apologize to Professor Trewlaney."

Severus made him look up. "This once your punishment will not be handled by me. I will forgo our usual punishment and you will go to Sybil."

Harry was shocked that he was not getting a spanking. "Sir?"

Severus laid a hand on his arm. "Harry I understand why you were upset. Trewlaney does not seem to upset so I will allow her to give you detention. If she does not give you a proper detention though, I will see to your punishment myself."

Harry was still unsure of if he had heard right. "I will go to her tomorrow after my last class to apologize and to serve the detention."

Severus stood up. "I will expect a full report from her that you have done so. And if there is a next time, I promise you that I will not fore go your usual punishment."

Harry was just relieved he got a reprieve that night. "I promise you that I'll make sure there is not a next time sir."

Severus knew Harry couldn't possibly stay out of trouble forever but he nodded. "If you're done your homework you can join me in the lab."

Harry looked at his bag. "I have a bit more to do but I'd like to come when I am finished."

Severus turned to leave but he turned back. "I spoke to Dumbledore. He will make sure Moody is kept in line. I wish it could have been more."

Harry was just grateful that the man had spoken up for him; it was a change for Harry. "Thank you anyways, Severus."

Harry went to work on the little bit of homework he had that night and felt a strange mixture of relief over not being spanked and questions over whether it had something to do perhaps with Severus' guilt over not being able to do anything about Moody. He tried to push aside both thoughts as he finished his work and later joined his guardian for potions.

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After charms the next day Harry said goodbye to his friends and took off for the divination tower. He knew that he needed to apologize and serve some kind of detention. He had never had detention from Trewlaney and had no idea what to expect.

The woman gave an eerie smile as he entered. "Mr Potter, what can I do for you?"

Harry took a deep breath. "I came to apologize for my rudeness yesterday Professor. You are my teacher and I owe you more respect then that. I'm really sorry.'

Trewlaney just waved her hand. "No need to apologize Harry. It is nothing new for me the things students and even staff say."

Harry felt a slight pang for the woman he had to admit. "Professor, you don't deserve that from anyone. And I hope you'll except my apology."

She nodded. "I do, Mr Potter and thank you for it."

Harry was amazed with the woman. "I am suppose to hand myself over to detention from you Professor, to make up for my lack of respect."

Sybil eyed him up. "I am not one for giving detention Mr Potter. Your apology was enough. You may go."

Harry shook his head. "No, I was out of line and I should be punished. I should do something to help you."

Sybil was amazed at the young man; few would refuse a reprieve from detention. "I could use some help with inventory."

Harry set to work helping the woman do an inventory of her supplies for her classes. It was definitely better then cleaning toilets with Filch or cauldrons with Severus, though he thought he might choke on the heavy perfume in the room. He offered to come back after dinner but she insisted he had served his detention.

When he left she went in search of Severus. He turned to her. "Has my ward made his apologies?"

She nodded. "I tried to let him out of his detention and the young man refused to allow it. He insisted he serve. I must say I am much impressed."

Severus was impressed as well. "I guess the boy has started to learn a bit. Thank you Sybil."

That evening when Harry was done his homework and came into the lab to help Severus with the potion he was working on Severus turned to Harry and decided to broach the subject.

"Sybil told me you apologized and served your detention." Severus said.

Harry looked up from the figs. "I did sir."

"She also said that she offered to let you off detention but even though you could have gotten away with it, you refused." Severus added.

Harry shrugged. "I know I deserved the detention for my disrespect and I didn't think it was right to get out of it."

That made Severus smile a bit. "I must say I'm proud you didn't take the easy way out. You've grown a lot Harry."

Harry was blushing a bit from the praise so Severus let the subject drop for the time and the two of them went to work on the potion that they had chosen to work on that day. Harry wasn't aware that the potions Severus was doing with him he chose specifically for Harry to get him ahead in class.