Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

Draco had walked into the Three Broomsticks with Blaise and Pansy. He stopped at their table while waving to his friends to go find an empty one. He looked at the bags filled with sweets and joke products by Ron. "I'm surprised Weasley. You actually were able to buy some things. Your Father must be doing better at the ministry."

"Shut up you little…" Ron started to rise but was pulled back down by Hermione.

"Ignore him." Hermione told him.

Draco shrugged in response to Harry's glare. "I meant it as a good thing."

"Is there something you want Malfoy?" Harry asked, drumming his fingers on the table.

"Just saying hello. It's called being polite." Draco's eyes drifted to the teenager he didn't recognize. "Who are you?" He asked a little suspiciously.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Andrew Cunningham. And who are you?" He asked in the same snide tone Draco had used with him.

Draco stood a little taller. "Draco Malfoy." He said proudly.

"Malfoy? Are you a pure-blood?" Severus asked, inwardly smirking to himself.

"Of course I am!" Draco narrowed his eyes. "Do you even go to Hogwarts?"

"He's visiting." Hermione cut in smoothly. "The Headmaster asked us to show him around school and join us on our field trip. He may transfer here."

Harry couldn't help but feel mischievous. Don't do it, don't do it… "He'll probably be in Hufflepuff if he does transfer. Right Andrew? Isn't that what you said?" Harry's eyes were bright with mirth. "He's pretty excited about that. He loves badgers!"

Hermione choked on her salad and Ron stared at Harry in horror. Severus turned to his son and glared daggers at him. The little rascal, he seethed to himself. A Hufflepuff indeed!

Draco gave Severus a superior look. "Hmm, you must not be very intelligent or important if Hufflepuff is your goal. If it was me, I wouldn't even bother with Hogwarts if I was going to be a Hufflepuff." He suddenly looked thoughtful. "Or a Gryffindork."

"That's it." Ron picked up what was left of his chicken sandwich and threw it at the blonde Slytherin.

"Ugh!" Draco looked at his shirt that now carried bits of the sandwich. "Disgusting! Were you raised with manners at all?"

"Were you?" Severus asked the Slytherin sternly. As he was supposed to be an older teen, he figured he could be somewhat authoritative without completely blowing his cover.

Draco unknowingly shot his Head of House a dirty look as he brushed off his now soiled shirt. "You'll be lucky if I don't have my Father insist that your family replaces this shirt." He informed Ron.

"Go ahead." Ron shot back but his eyes showed a little worry. His family struggled with money and he was sure Malfoy's shirt cost a lot.

"Malfoy, can't you go bother someone else?" Harry shook his head.

"Fine. See if I'll try and be nice to you again." Draco snapped.

"That's being nice?" Ron looked at Hermione who shrugged in response.

"Look what we have here, Snotter and his little friends." Theo sauntered up to their table. "So Snotter, did you hear the news?"

Harry gritted his teeth. "You're transferring?"

Severus couldn't help but chuckle though he was moments away from assigning another detention to Theodore Nott.

"No." Theo crossed his arms. "My Dad is going to get Buckbeak executed!"

"What? Buckbeak didn't even do anything wrong! You did!" Harry practically shouted.

"Harry, calm down." Severus said quietly, his eyes on Theo. "Giving him a reaction is what he wants."

Draco threw a sneer in Nott's direction. "You mean your Father is trying to get him executed. He has only so much influence in the ministry."

Theo ignored Draco and focused on Severus. "Who do you think you are?"

"Potential new student." Harry mumbled, still angry.

"Then you better learn who is important and who isn't." Theo hissed. "You're sitting here with a blood traitor, a mudblood and an even worse blood traitor whose Father is a coward!"

Severus pulled Harry back down into his chair when he jumped up to attack Nott. "Stop! You, Mr. Nott, are on very thin ice." Severus stood up and whispered. "Perhaps you should be on your way. Now!"

"How dare you talk to me like that you-"

"Nott, shove off! The rest of the Slytherins are ready to hex you if you lose Slytherin any more points or make our House of House look bad." Draco threatened.

Theo gave the group a very ugly look and continued on to his own table.

"He has just added to his detentions!" Severus sat back down, furious at his student. Oh, he would be having a talk with that boy. Suddenly he noticed Draco staring at him.

"Professor Snape?" Draco whispered.

"Yes Mr. Malfoy." Severus sighed. Well, this trip wasn't turning out like he had thought it would. "I would ask that you keep your silence on Andrew's true identity."

"Yes sir." Draco gulped, rapidly trying to think of what he had been saying to his own Head of House. He winced internally when he remembered he had called him unimportant and unintelligent. He cleared his throat. "Why Hufflepuff?"

"Because my son has a cruel sense of humor." Severus responded. He raised an eyebrow when Harry began laughing. "Perhaps cutting up potion ingredients will cure him of it, however."

Harry stopped laughing and made a face. Some of the ingredients that had to be cut up were really disgusting.

"Perhaps you should join your friends Draco." Severus said smoothly. "And again, your discretion is appreciated."

Draco nodded and went to join Blaise and Pansy.

"Well, that was interesting." Hermione remarked.

"Nott is such a bloody-um…" Ron glanced at Severus.

"Prat?" Severus offered.

Harry, Ron and Hermione glanced at each other and then began giggling. As Ron and Hermione fell into their regular argument about their familiars, Severus turned to his son. "How long has Snotter been going on?" He asked in a hard voice. He remembered all too well what it was like to be picked on and bullied. It made his heart hurt to think of Harry's first year when he had picked on him, before remembering that Harry was his son.

"The day the boggart incident happened in class." Harry admitted reluctantly. "It's no big deal. He and Bulstrode are the only ones that call me that and they don't even do it that much. Actually, Malfoy sort of stuck up for me that day." He added grudgingly.

"It is a big deal." Severus took a deep breath and took another sip of Polyjuice potion. He had to admit he was intrigued by the differences he was seeing and hearing with Draco. He would know more after he spoke with Lucius, which he still needed to arrange. "You don't have to deal with these issues alone Harry. I'm here to help you."

"I know, but I can't come crying to you over everything." Harry pointed out. "The big stuff yeah, but I can handle some name calling."

Severus bit back a sigh. Of course no teenager is going to want to complain to their parent every time they got picked on in school. Severus himself didn't speak up when he got bullied but that was mainly because he figured no Professor would care. He certainly had known that his own father wouldn't. "If it gets to be too much, then you come to me or your Head of House. There is only so much you should have to put up with Harry."

"Okay." Harry said easily. He knew he would try and handle any bullying on his own before ever going to his Dad. His Dad had enough to worry about and besides, Harry could handle Nott. It wasn't like he was alone either; he had his friends to back him up.

HPHPHPHP

After arriving back at the castle, Severus ducked into an empty classroom as the potion began to wear off. Ron and Hermione went ahead to Gryffindor Tower while Harry waited for his Dad.

"Did you have fun today?" Severus asked as he came back out of the room, back to his usual self.

"I had a great day. Thank you for letting me go." Harry said sincerely.

"Even though I went with you?" Severus asked curiously.

"I had fun with you." Harry grinned. "Did you have fun?"

Severus squeezed Harry's shoulder gently. "Yes, I did."

Suddenly they heard shrieking and Severus quickly went towards the shouts, making sure Harry was right by his side. They saw a group of students and Professors' standing at the top of the Gryffindor stairs. The Headmaster was there as well, a frown on his face.

"Move aside." Severus said in a loud voice as he and Harry made their way through the group of students standing on the stairs. "Headmaster?"

"The Fat Lady's portrait has been slashed." Dumbledore answered somberly, gesturing to the cut up portrait. There was no sign of the Fat Lady.

Severus tensed and moved closer to his son. "Where is she?"

"We're looking for her." Dumbledore said, his eyes scanning the walls.

"There!" Mr. Filch shouted and pointed across the stairwell to another portrait. They could see the Fat Lady peeking out at them with frightened eyes.

"My dear, who did this to you?" Dumbledore asked in concern.

"A madman he was! He demanded to be let in yet he did not have the password. He got so angry!" The Fat Lady shuddered. "It was Sirius Black!"

A gasp went through the crowd that had gathered and then the students began murmuring to themselves.

"Harry!" Hermione and Ron rushed over to stand next to their friend, both with wide worried eyes.

"All students are to go directly to their dormitories and await further instructions." Dumbledore announced in a loud voice as he waved his wand over the slashed portrait to open it. The Gryffindor students began filing in.

"Harry, you stay in your tower. No excuses for leaving it unless Professor McGonagall, the Headmaster or I say otherwise all right?" Severus looked seriously into his son's eyes.

"I won't. I promise." Harry assured him, not wanting his Dad to know he was a little scared. He couldn't believe Black had gotten into the castle!

Harry went in with Ron and Hermione.

"How in the world could have Sirius Black have gotten into the castle undetected?" Hermione wondered out loud as the trio took their usual spot by the fireplace.

"No idea. I mean, there are the Dementors and all the adults in the castle are keeping a look out for him." Ron shook his head.

Harry sank back into the sofa and sighed. He remembered telling his Dad that Hogwarts was safe and he didn't need an escort everywhere he went. He had really believed that there was no way Sirius Black could get into the castle and now that he knew different, he felt vulnerable. If Black got in once he could get in again. And it wasn't just his own life he was worried about; he was worried about his Dad and friends. What if Black hurt them to get to him? Suddenly, the threat of Sirius Black finally felt real to Harry and he began to feel the same sense of fear that everyone else had been feeling.

HPHPHPHP

Professor McGonagall returned to the Tower a half hour later with a grim look on her face. "Attention Gryffindors. Tonight you will all be sleeping in the Great Hall along with all the other Houses. The Headmaster wants all the students in one room while the castle is searched."

"To search for Sirius Black?" Hermione clarified questionally with a worried glance to Harry.

"He's still in the castle?" Neville squeaked out.

"The Headmaster is sure he is not still in the castle but we want to take every precaution." Professor McGonagall assured her students. "Be ready for bed in ten minutes and I will lead you to the Great Hall. Sleeping bags will be provided."

Harry stayed where he was as everyone began going to their dorms to get ready for the night. He still couldn't believe this was happening. "Mr. Snape?"

Harry looked up and into the concerned eyes of his Head of House. "Yes Professor?"

She nodded towards the stairs. "Best get a move on. We'll be leaving soon." She gave him a sympathetic look. "It will be okay Mr. Snape."

Harry nodded and made his way to the dorms. He noticed Dean and Seamus appeared excited by the way they were talking, Neville looked scared and Ron was glaring at his dorm mates.

"Maybe Black is still in the castle and there will be a duel between him and the professors!" Dean said hopefully.

"That would be awesome!" Seamus agreed enthusiastically.

"Would you two shut up already?" Ron asked irritably. "You really think it would be amusing for a murderer who killed thirteen people at one time to go up against one of our professors?"

Seamus shrugged though Dean looked a little ashamed. Neville, on the other hand, looked like he was going to pass out from fear.

Harry rolled his eyes and quickly changed. "Ready?" He asked Ron. He looked at Neville who was practically shaking. "Coming with us?" He asked kindly.

Neville eagerly followed Harry and Ron, eager to get away from Dean and Seamus for the moment.

"Why are they so upset?" Dean wondered out loud as he and Seamus made their way downstairs.

Seamus shrugged. "Who knows? You'd think Black was after them personally or something."

HPHPHPHP

Harry was in his gold and maroon sleeping bag that had been provided by the Headmaster and was trying to fall asleep but having no luck. His mind wouldn't calm down enough for him to rest. How did Sirius Black get into the castle? And why was getting to Harry apparently worth the risk of getting caught by Dementors? Harry felt chilled to the bone at the thought and shuddered.

"Headmaster, did you find anything?"

Harry pretended to sleep as he heard Percy Weasley address Dumbledore and his Dad. Percy had been helping watch over the students as the Professors had checked the castle.

"No Mr. Weasley. Sirius Black is not in the castle anymore." Dumbledore answered in a weary voice. "Thank you for staying up Percy. You may go to bed now."

Severus waited for Percy to leave before speaking. "Headmaster, if Black got into the castle once he will be able to again. Especially if someone is helping him." He added ominously.

"Severus."

"You are aware that I have had my suspicions." Severus hissed. "How else could Black have broken in if he did not have help? That madman could have easily gotten to Harry!"

"I know that Severus." Dumbledore sighed. "We will be adding more security measures. For now, Sirius is gone. However my boy, I do not believe he has had help from anyone here in the castle." The tone of his voice was kind yet firm.

"Of course you don't." Severus muttered, his eyes falling on his son. He knew how highly Albus thought of the wolf. How highly he had thought of all the marauders, actually. They had been the golden boys in school back in Severus's day. "I'm thinking of moving Harry into our quarters until Black is caught." His perceptive eyes noticed Harry stiffen even as the child still pretended to sleep.

"I doubt that is necessary. As I said, we will increase security around the castle. Plus, Sirius got in and failed to get to Harry. He would also know by now that we are aware of him being here. It is unlikely he would try to break in again." Dumbledore said reasonably.

"You are acting like we are speaking about a sane man here." Severus countered. "Black is unstable and dangerous. My quarters are warded and heavily protected."

"I know. But I also know that you want Harry to have as normal of life as possible." Dumbledore pointed out. "If he gets moved into your quarters, all of his friends will wonder why. Right now, only a few know that Harry is the target of Sirius Black. If he moved out of Gryffindor, then everyone would know."

Severus crossed his arms and sighed heavily. He did want Harry to feel normal but the safety of his son was more important than that. "If there are any more signs that Black is even on the grounds of Hogwarts, I will move him out of the Tower."

Dumbledore nodded with a smile. "Of course Severus."

Harry had been listening to the conversation and had almost shot up at the mention of moving out of the Gryffindor Tower. Despite being nervous about Black finding him, he did not want to draw attention to himself by moving out. There was silence and Harry opened his eyes which immediately locked with the dark eyes of his Dad. Harry bit his lip apprehensively. Now his Dad knew he had been eavesdropping.

Severus gave his son a slightly disapproving look yet his eyes softened when he saw the worry in his son's eyes. He waved his wand and added another blanket over Harry, then giving his child a reassuring smile. "Go to sleep." He mouthed silently.

Harry nodded and closed his eyes, pulling the newly added blanket further over him. He felt warm and safe and was able to finally fall asleep, safe in the knowledge that his Dad was watching over him.

TBC: If you can take a moment to review I would really appreciate it! =)