So I know that I should be writing for The Aftermath but I'm really connecting with this story right now so I'm going to try to finish it before the end of the summer. Now this is a long chapter so I shall let you go on with it.

Chapter Ten

Harry had to admit, he had been intrigued when he heard that they were going to have a new potions teacher. There hadn't been much of a change up in teachers since Professor Lupin had started in their third year.

However, it turned out that Professor Snape did not seem to be as excited as the rest of the students.

Harry had been in a relatively good mood when he had walked into Potions that day. Firstly, he had had several wonderful snogs with Ginny since he arrived at the portrait the night before—she had also agreed to meet his mother, after a long discussion about whether or not this violated the terms of their "agreement," it did not—as well as a few more pressed against the door of his dormitory when all other students had been at breakfast. Not to mention, it was his last class of the day, at the end of the week before a Quidditch match.

It couldn't have gotten much better.

Yet, when he walked in he could tell it was different. The room, while in the dungeons, had always been extravagantly lit. However, it was barely lit and almost pitch black.

Normally, the classroom would have an intermediate level of noise. However, there was an absolute silence. His footsteps could be heard amongst the silence of the floor.

Despite, the chilly atmosphere Harry could help but notice that Hermione and Ron were sitting next to each other once again. He smiled involuntarily.

"Hello." He said brightly putting a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Hi Harry." Hermione said smiling brightly. She was happier than he had seen her in weeks. He had a slight distinction that Lavender was no longer in the picture.

"You two are talking again?" He asked.

Ron nodded but didn't meet Harry's eyes. He made a note to himself to make sure to ask Ron about it later.

Suddenly, the door slammed and Hermione sat up straighter.

"Sit down." Professor Snape sneered in his face. Harry walked over cautiously to the empty seat next to Neville while still keeping an eye on Professor Snape, who was glaring at him.

Snape moved to the front of the room and Ron gave Harry a questioning look. Harry shrugged as Snape waved his and a piece of chalk floated to the blackboard. "You will find that your teachings in this class will be shockingly different and more rigorous."

Hermione sat up with an air of determination while Ron looked at her with a small smile.

"Had I been your teacher at the beginning of this semester than I would not have allowed half of you," His eyes flickered specifically towards Harry, Neville and Ron. "Into this course as I do not believe you are well qualified. However, I digress."

"Doesn't sound like digressing to me." Harry mumbled and Neville laughed quietly into his hands.

"Ten points from Gryffindor…each." Snape yelled in their direction. "Can anyone tell me the main ingredients of Dreamless Draught?" The chalk scribbled Dreamless Draught.

Harry picked up a quill from his bag and Hermione raised her hand quickly, practically jumping out of her chair. Ron smiled at her eagerness.

Snape turned and looked at her with a glare. "Yes…I've heard of you Ms…Granger." He walked past her and stopped at Harry and Neville's desk. "What about you, Mr. Potter," He looked at Harry angrily.

Harry shrugged. "No idea."

"Longbottom?" Neville jumped and looked slightly alarmed. He shook his head quickly and looked down at his hands. Harry had never seen Neville looked so…scared.

"Yes, I knew your parents, all of them." Snape said bitterly. "They wouldn't have been able to answer the question either. It's a wonder how they all managed to become aurors." He looked straight at Harry. "Evidently, not very good ones, if what I've read in the papers are correct."

Harry's quill snapped in his hand. Ron and Hermione looked at each other worriedly. Harry's temper was not to be messed with.

"Please sir." Hermione said quickly and worriedly. "The main ingredient is mandrake root and wormwood seeds. Without it, it would be completely useless. The potion should allow the user to sleep perfectly without a dream whatsoever. It's time of effect is dependent on the amount the user takes and it should resemble a dark purple color when made correctly."

"Do you find yourself incapable of holding your tongue or simply enjoy being an insufferable know-it-all?" Snape snapped at her.

She squeaked in embarrassment and looked horrified at her table while the remaining Slytherins—not many had made it to NEWT level Potions—laughed, as well as Lavender Brown who was stashed in the back of the room that no one had noticed she had made it to class until that moment. She had dark circles under her eyes and seemed relatively unhappier than Ron did.

Ron immediately stood up angrily, knocking over his chair, and it was plain to see that he was much taller than Snape by at least a head. "You asked a question sir." He scoffed mockingly. "You wanted it answered correctly didn't you?"

Snape however, did not even seem remotely effected by Ron or his height. "Detention Mr…"

"Weasley." Ron seethed through his teeth.

He scoffed. "Weasley, and fifty points from Gryffindor. Twenty-five for you and your girlfriend (Lavender let out a sob from the back of the room) each, for…talking out of turn."

Hermione grabbed the back of Ron's robes and pulled him back to his seat, which he noisily picked up from the ground.

"It's all right Ron." She whispered to him as quietly as possible.

He shook his head and she gripped his hand comfortingly as his face flushed with anger. She could see that his fingers were squeezing tightly into a fist to the point they were turning white.

Snape turned without another thought and the chalk quickly scribbled potion directions on the board. "You must finish this potion by the end of class. Make it correctly or the students in the infirmary will have a bad dreamful night."

The room began to move quietly but Harry and Ron stayed in their seats breathing angrily.

"Problem Potter?" Malfoy smirked as he passed in between their tables. "Saw your dad in the paper this morning."

Harry sat up. What was he talking about?

"Oh you didn't see?" Malfoy chuckled darkly to himself and took out a conveniently placed Daily Prophet from the inside of his robe. "Keep it, I asked my father to buy a few copies."

Harry pretended to be disinterested until Malfoy turned around when Ron rushed over to look at the paper. "What does it say?"

Hermione and Neville had drifted over to him looking over his shoulder with interest.

Harry swallowed as his eyes scanned the paper and he heard Hermione—who had no doubt finished it before he had—gasp behind him.

"What?" Ron whispered taking the paper from Harry's hands roughly.

"It says that they think my father and Sirius committed treason against the ministry and that's why they've gone missing." Harry said angrily before shoving his chair away and walking to the cabinet to get his ingredients.

"Harry!" Ginny said as she appeared to be waiting outside of his classroom when he exited potions. She rushed towards him but slowed as Hermione and Ron followed him out. "I just heard."

Harry shrugged and walked towards the Great Hall. "Are you alright?" She whispered.

"Fine." He said bitterly. "Just a bad afternoon, don't worry, I'll be better after practice."

She looked at him worriedly. "What happened in class?" She asked turning to Ron and Hermione.

"We met Professor Snape. Wanker if I've ever seen one." Ron mumbled. "He should've heard what he—well it doesn't matter but stay clear. He clearly has mental issues."

"What does he mean?" Ginny asked turning to Hermione. She just shrugged sadly as they arrived at the doors of the Great Hall.

"How was your class with my mum?" Harry asked quickly changing the subject. Luckily, he hadn't had to see his mother teaching as he was no longer taking astronomy, albeit he was a little concerned of his mother being in such close quarters with his girlfriend—secret or not.

"Fine, she was wonderful. Absolutely brilliant." She said, however she seemed more interested in their previous conversation. "Tell me what happened." She snapped as they sat down at the tables.

"Nothing happened Gin." Ron snapped as he slammed his books down on the table. Her face briefly showed hurt but it was quickly replaced with anger.

"Is your detention today?" Harry asked as he sat down next to Ginny and across from Ron and Hermione.

"Yes." Ron mumbled. "Right after we finish here and until midnight. Don't know what stick he's got up his—hello Mrs. Potter!"

"Hello Mr. Weasley." She said cautiously before slipping into the seat next to Ron. "How was your darling?"

"Fine mum." He mumbled.

"Not fine." Ginny whispered under her breath.

"Would you just shut up about it?" Harry snapped though he instantly regretted it when he saw the anger on her face.

"What happened?" Lily asked concerned.

"We had our first class with Professor Snape." Hermione mumbled quietly, it was the first words she had muttered in hours.

Suddenly, Pansy Parkinson and a few other girls passed by Hermione and giggled. Hermione's face became stoic and she stood up. "Excuse me, I've lost my appetite." She left and Ron sighed.

He looked jealously at the food in front of him. "Sneak me up some food would ya?" He asked sadly and followed after her.

"What happened in class Harry?" His mother asked determined. She was no longer asking rather than demanding.

"Professor Snape made a few remarks in class today that were not well received." He said.

"What do you mean?" She asked and he could see her face harden. He knew that look and it was not a good look.

"He…Hermione answered a question and he called her…I believe it was an insufferable know-it-all." He said quietly and Ginny gasped.

"The prick!" Ginny practically yelled.

"Ms. Weasley," Harry's mother said. "That's five points." She was evidently not concerned with Gryffindor winning the house cup. "Did he say anything to you Harry?"

"Not about me." He said and looked at his hands. "About dad."

She nodded angrily and sighed. She moved comfortably into the table and crossed her arms across her chest. "What exactly?"

"He just insinuated that dad was a bad auror and that it was a surprise for him to have been hired and made some snide remark about the Prophet this morning." He said shaking his head. He was no longer angry but just hopeless—if possible. The Prophet had only reminded him of his father and how much he missed him and Sirius. Where were they? Were they even still alive? Had they really committed treason?

The article had said that an important artifact had gone missing from the Department of Mysteries, the day they left for their mission. It had to be a coincidence. They didn't even work close to that department.

"Professor Snape went to school with your father, Sirius, Remus and I." She said snapping him out of his thoughts. "And Neville's parents as well. He was in Slytherin while we were in Gryffindor. Suffice to say, that they were not the best of friends especially your father and he. Your father…he well, there was one night were Professor Snape was trying to catch your father and your uncles in a bad position and he found himself in danger. Your father, helped and most likely saved his life." She said and Harry looked up.

His dad had done that? He couldn't help but smile at the thought of his noble father. It was possible that the article was wrong.

"Well that was Professor Snape's fault and he shouldn't take it out on Harry!" Ginny cried.

"Of course but school boy rivals don't die easily. Now don't let it worry you but if it does get worse, you will tell mew. Understand?" She said.

Harry nodded.

"Good, and remember I will know if you've lied, I'm your mother. Now, I will see you two in my office later this evening for tea." She said and they nodded as she stood and walked to the staff's table.

"I'm sorry about earlier." Harry said.

Ginny nodded and took his hand under the table. "It's alright."

Hermione sat on the sofa in the common room when Ron walked through the portrait hole. They were the only two there. She sat quietly looking at the fire.

There was a slight chill in the air since November was close. Break would be soon enough.

"Are you all right?" He asked quietly.

She sniffed and wiped her nose. "He's right you know."

"Who is?" Ron asked confused.

"Professor Snape, I am an insufferable know-it-all." She whispered.

"No! You're not." He said forcefully and bounded into the seat next to her.

She turned to him with a sad smile. "You wouldn't even be friends with me if you had had any other friends when we started school Ron."

Ron put a hand to his chest in mock pain. "Ouch. That hurt."

She shoved him with a small smile that he knew meant that she thought he was funny. He liked that she thought that.

Ron sighed. "You are the most brilliant person I know and are worth a hundred of Pansy Parkinson." He scoffed and practically spit her name. "And Professor Snape has no idea what he is talking about."

"I'm sorry you got detention." She whispered guiltily and quickly changing the subject. She tended to do that when someone was complimenting her.

"I'm not. I've never been prouder to have a detention. Also, now I have the most brilliant witch in the world who owes me. That is useful." He smirked.

She looked at him and he could tell that she suddenly had an idea. "I want to give you this." She nodded and reached into her bag and took out a small red box. "It's not much but I was wearing it last year when I took my owls, and I did get ten. And my dad wore it on the day he proposed to my mum so it's sort of a family good luck charm and well I thought you could use it for the match tomorrow. Though, I'm sure you'll do wonderful without it."

He opened the box and it was a long chain with a muggle coin at the end of the chain.

"You don't have to wear I just thought that maybe you'd like to have it." She said.

He shook his head and took the chain putting it around his neck. "It's brilliant. Of course I'll wear it. Thank you, Hermione."

She blushed and stood up slowly as she noticed the time. "You're going to be late for detention."

He nodded and he stood as well. They stood staring at each other for a moment. As if waiting for something but finally the portrait hole opened and Ron moved, leaving her standing there.

Harry waited for Ginny outside the portrait hole, later than he had intended. Their practice had taken longer than he had intended. Ginny had had to play keeper since Ron was in detention and it seemed to take even longer to finish their regular routine.

Dean and Seamus, both of whom were beaters had spent their time fighting with their bats and almost getting Alicia killed. Harry had angrily reprimanded them and told them—in very harsh terms—if they didn't get their heads out of their arses, he didn't care how horrible the others who had auditioned were because they would replace them.

They had gotten sullen and annoyed at that point and he was positive they had purposely hit some bludgers in his direction and accidentally thrown one towards Alicia's broom. Luckily, an annoyed Ginny was able to mend the broom and no one was injured.

Ginny stepped out of the portrait hole and he held his hand out to her. "Shall we?"

She giggled and he raked his eyes up and down her beautiful body.

"Why are you wearing a dress?" He asked looking at her wonderfully short, yet appropriate dress.

She smiled shyly. "I wanted to impress your mother."

"I think you've already managed to impress her the way that you knocked me down this afternoon at dinner." He said with a smile.

"Well, can't let you get a big head can I now?" She said happily. "Now, I know you do this a lot but we are out of bed much later than is permitted. So how do you suggest we get to your mother's office without getting into trouble?"

He smiled and whipped a cloak out of his pocket. "I believe you are familiar with this particular garment."

"I am ever." She smirked. "I believe it has been used to help sneak foods out of the kitchen since I was a…first year?"

"Yes, it has. That was the year that I nicked it from my dad's office. He was ever so proud when he realized that I had taken it to school. My mother however, sent me a howler." He laughed.

"I recall." Ginny said quietly as she placed the cloak over her head and they began to move towards his mother's office.

She also perfectly recalled the day that she had first used the cloak in her first year. It had been late at night and she had been missing her mother more than she had realized she would. She had tried to talk to her brother Percy but she had caught him with that Ravenclaw girl—Penelope Clearwater—and he had gotten angry and shouted at her. At the time, her skin was less thick than it was now. And with the pressures of school, missing her mother, and her brother yelling at her she had ended up crying in the common room—so none of her roommates would hear.

Harry had been sneaking around school, late at night, of course. He walked in—obviously not expecting another student to be there and had been shocked to see her. However, as soon as he saw her clambering to wipe up her tears he had been at her side.

She couldn't help herself but to cry into his arms. That was the moment that had marked them as friends. Despite, their age difference, they ended up sitting next to each other each day at meals. He had been there for her ever since.

In her third year, he had invited her to the Yule Ball saying he knew he wouldn't have fun if she wasn't there and danced with her for most of the night.

It had been on his bathroom break when she had met Michael Corner. Their relationship had been longer than most but she could not make it last past the following Christmas when he had gotten jealous of her and Harry's relationship.

She had told him if he couldn't accept it then he couldn't be her boyfriend and he quickly moved on to someone else. That night she couldn't help but cry where Harry once again held her and they snuck into the kitchens for a snack to make her feel better.

She was sure it was around that time that she had begun to fall for him but she knew that it would've been impossible for him to be her boyfriend—or so she had thought. So, she abandoned the idea as soon as she could and Dean Thomas had been there willing to take Harry's spot.

She suddenly felt guilty, she had yet to talk to Dean though lately, and he seemed to notice their distancing however he was trying double as hard to keep them from falling apart. But she had never envisioned for them what she did with Harry.

With Harry, she could imagine her life and she knew she was young and she knew that it was unlikely for her to marry Harry but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try.

"We're here." Harry murmured and lifted the cloak and opened the office door. They instantly heard what sounded like shouting coming from inside his mother's office.

Harry pressed his ear to the door and Ginny followed suit. He could instantly tell that it was Professor Snape that was yelling as well as his mother and it seemed that Lupin was there as well, and was attempting to buffer.

Ginny reached inside what seemed to be a pocket on her dress and pulled out an extendable ear. "I always have one." She whispered and they pressed closely—to each of their delights—and attempted to listen.

"I don't understand what he is doing here."

"He is to make sure I don't kill you Sev!" Harry was shocked at her candor and seemingly comfortableness with Professor Snape. "I don't care what happened with you and James but you do not take it out on my son!"

"I did nothing of the sort."

"Bullshit!" Harry was positive he had never heard her so angry. "I'm sorry that you had an infatuation with me in school and that I liked James but life isn't always fair!"

"This has nothing to do with a school boy crush I had a decade ago. Your son is an arrogant, self-centered swine! Just like his father!"

"Severus!"

"Shut up you animal!" Harry could only imagine the pained expression on Lupin's face when Snape said that. His fist curled angrily and he felt Ginny's hand cover his. "I just hope your friends do the world a service by never coming back, and maybe you'll follow suit!"

There was a sudden silence and he heard his mother's scariest voice. "Get out." She whispered. Harry shuddered. He had only heard that voice once in his life and he hoped he never had to hear it again.

Ginny suddenly stuffed the extendable ear into her pocket and pulled him away from the door as there was another scuffle behind the door but it quickly ended and the door opened.

Snape snarled at them. "What are you doing here?" He scanned them quickly and looked as if he was about to pounce on them. "Never mind! Fifty points! Each!" He thundered.

"They are here to see me." Lily said as she glared at him from inside her office where Lupin was sitting in the corner with his hands covering his face. "You will not take any points from them at all. Now. Go."

He glided away, pushing them apart and she smiled as suddenly as she had been angry. "I'm so sorry. Hogwarts business. Now why don't you two come inside? Why, you look lovely, Ginny."

Harry walked in and put a hand on Lupin's back. Though they did not acknowledge that they had heard the conversation. It was obvious that they had. Lupin looked up and smiled at him. "I'm fine."

Harry nodded and walked over to the tea set that his mother had set up which was already pouring itself where Ginny and she were talking animatedly.

He looked over at the shelf and the amounts of books that she had already put up in the room. He also noticed several pictures of his father. He saw ones with him and his mother as well but immediately noticed that there were several pictures of James alone, smiling at him through the frame.

He picked up the frame and noticed the light amount of dust accumulating on the frame. However, what he realized more was that there were splotches missing where it was evident that she had been crying.

He sighed. He loved his mother and he never wanted to see her in pain. However, it was too late for that. His father was missing and his mother was alone.

Ginny was talking happily when they had exited his mother's office. The tea had gone rather well and she had immediately gotten along with his mother and Lupin. However, he couldn't help but wonder how well she would get along with him if she knew his furry little secret.

He had noticed that Lupin was paler, and sicker. He was worried and knew his mother was as well. He was somewhat glad that she had something else to focus on besides his father and Sirius. Much like he had Ginny.

Yet, he couldn't get that fight his mother had been having with Snape out of his mind. Had he been in love with his mother? Even worse was she even remotely in love with him? The thought made him sick. He loved his mother but he didn't know if he could handle her ending up with Snape if something happened to his father.

He thought he felt a bit of bile in the back of his throat.

He had been so distracted he had not even realized to throw the cloak over them until they had already reached the portrait hole.

"Are you all right Harry?" Ginny asked after she had startled the Fat Lady with the password—who angrily snapped the portrait open.

He looked at her and thought he saw a shadow out of the corner of his eye as they passed inside but ignored it. "I don't know. I'm worried about my mum…and about what we heard earlier."

"I'm sure Professor Snape was just being a prick." She said rubbed his neck reassuringly.

"I know that but what he said about my mum it just got to me…what if she—"

"She would never Harry!" Ginny gasped.

"How do you know?" He asked worriedly.

"Because I could see it in her eyes when she spoke about him tonight." She whispered and placed her forehead against his. "She loves him with everything she has. She could never do anything like that."

Harry nodded and closed his eyes. He believed her. She tentatively touched her lips to his and he pulled away sighing.

He was tired. So tired of so many things. "I want to tell everyone already Ginny. I don't want to waste anymore time. I'm telling Ron tomorrow after the game."

"Harry—"

"And then at supper in the Great Hall, I am going to kiss you. Bet or not. You can win. I just don't want to hide you anymore. Don't want to hide us." He said and pulled her closer to him.

She nodded and kissed him forcefully. She pulled back and smiled at him. "I did win by the way and trust me…" She placed her lips against his ear. "You'll be glad, I did." She kissed him once more on the lips and then swayed happily up to her room.

Harry laughed and glided over to his room and dropped onto his bed without even changing. He closed his eyes and fell asleep to dreams of Ginny.

He only slightly noticed as he fell asleep that it seemed somewhat quieter in his room.

Alright so that's it! I'm also going to give a little bit longer until I start talking about the movie just incase. If you do want to talk about it PM me :D. I will of course be continuing my favorite program! The Review for a Preview! I know that it was super late but I went on a road trip looking at colleges and I had no internet for the majority and when I did it was not in a place where I could send the previews.

Also for the first 5 people who realize why Snape was so angry at Harry and Ginny (besides the obvious reason!) will get a direct secret from the next chapter for example I could say that: Harry and Ginny get married. As well as a longer preview than the others. Now get cracking!

Don't forget REVIEW FOR A PREVIEW!