Harry knocked on the door to the Potions lab that night waiting expectedly. He had received a note while he was in the infirmary from the Potions Master that he expected to see Harry after dinner that evening, and Harry eagerly went down as soon as he thought it proper. He was eager to talk about what happened, and even hoped that Snape would say he was proud of how he had followed the plan. And they had gotten her, too, it had made Harry so happy to see her levitated away by Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Enter," Snape welcomed him.
"Did you see her?" Harry eagerly asked. "Did you see the Auror petrify her? It was amazing!"
"Calm yourself," Snape told him. "I can't possibly talk to you with you prattling on so."
"It was pretty amazing, though wasn't it?" Harry asked, grinning widely.
"It was," Snape agreed. "It was a well-thought out plan that worked well. You did your part perfectly."
"It was very hard to tell everyone," Harry admitted, sobered. "But you were right, that was the only thing that would work."
"Was it harder than any of the other subterfuges you've had to participate in?"
"Well, pretending I couldn't sit down comfortably for a day was embarrassing," Harry admitted. "And convincing Mandy to do something to get punished was pretty difficult too. And letting the toad use the quill on me again too was pretty hard. . ."
"I could see that," Snape nodded. "You have done a lot of work to bring this woman down. I hope you're proud of yourself."
Harry blushed and nodded, looking away. "Thanks for, you know, planning all of this."
Snape nodded. "And now with what she admitted in open court, coupled with what she admitted to in private to Professor McGonagall and myself, I think we can safely say she won't be teaching anymore. Would you like to see the article in The Prophet?"
Harry nodded, and Snape handed him the article. Harry squinted his eyes as he read the article, and Snape observed his shoulders hunching and his ears reddening as he read it.
"Did my emerald eyes really glisten with emotion?" Harry asked, embarrassed.
"Of course not," Snape answered firmly. "But that's not what's important."
"What's important?"
Snape sighed. "Didn't you read the article? You are now a sympathetic character, you are no longer being made out to be a liar. Fudge has neatly framed Umbridge for every slight against your character ever suggested, and he's now looking to you for support."
"Support?"
"Of course," Snape told him. "If you come out against him and accuse him of being involved in Umbridge's abuse and smear campaign, he will most likely be ousted from office. So you have to decide what you want to do with him."
"I don't know, I hardly know him," Harry answered, confused. "Did he tell her to use the black quill?"
"Not directly," Snape told him. "The evidence looks like he simply told her to keep you under control, and she invented the methods herself. If there was a direct order there is no evidence of it."
"Will she really go to Azkaban?"
"I think that's most likely," Snape said. "The minister has disavowed her, and is cooperating in the investigation. Other Hogwarts students will be interviewed and identified. You might be required to testify or at least give pensieve memories if it goes to trial."
Harry nodded. "I told and nothing bad happened. I can tell again."
"You can also tell about other things," Snape told him, measuring and softening his voice. "For instance, I have many questions about your aunt and uncle."
"The Dursley's?" Harry snorted. "Why do you want to know about them?"
"Humor me."
"Well, they're not that great," Harry admitted. "They don't like me."
"Do they abuse you?" Snape asked carefully.
Harry blushed and looked away. "Not supposed to talk about it," he said flatly, his voice sounding young.
"I know," Snape told him. "But it's just you and me here."
"Why do you want to know?"
Snape sighed. "Because, despite my best intentions, I am beginning to care about what happens to you. And, though the end of term is still a few months away, I want to know if it's safe to send you home."
"What other option would I have?" Harry asked, incredulous.
"You answer my question and I'll answer yours," he replied firmly.
"At first I didn't know it was abuse," Harry told him. "It felt normal. I didn't realize that other kids didn't sleep in cupboards and be hungry all the time. I mean, Dudley didn't, but I didn't realize that it was unusual to be hated like that."
"I see," Snape nodded.
"And then I started doing what is called accidental magic," Harry admitted, looking away. "That's when things got bad. I mean, they always smacked me and things. But when I started doing accidental magic at six or seven was when the beatings started."
"You seemed unfamiliar with physical discipline when I endeavored to use it on you," Snape observed. "But you were familiar with the strap."
"They never had me bend over for a prescribed amount of smacks to my bum," Harry explained. "It was brutal and frightening. Uncle Vernon would just come at me . . . I would try to run. He would knock me over and then just begin hitting me with the strap . . ."
"I understand," Snape told him, patting his shoulder. "And let me tell you what else I know. You have several breaks that were mended by your magic, not by a doctor. You are undernourished and your growth likely restricted because of it. You don't have to go back."
"But I thought there was something about the blood wards giving me safety . . ."
"I'm sure we can find adequate safety without the 'protection' of your aunt," Snape snarled. "Kingsley Shacklebolt asked about you and your guardianship, I do not think it would out of the realm of possibilities for him to take you."
"I liked him," Harry smiled. "He believed me."
"Indeed," Snape nodded. "The Weasleys could probably take you as well. They are formidable wizards in their own right and should be able to keep you safe. But there is another option that you might want to think about."
"Who is that?"
"Me," Snape answered firmly, hoping his voice sounded normal. "If you wish it, I would be willing to become your guardian."
"You would?" Harry asked, a slow grin creeping over her face. "Really?"
"Really," Snape answered, almost smiling. "I can be a hard person, I know. You will get away with a lot more if Arthur and Molly were your guardians."
"I want you," Harry said firmly. "I've already seen you angry at me, and I want you."
"Then I will make it happen," Snape nodded.
"But is that what, well, what you want?" Harry asked him hesitantly. "I mean, having a ward like me would probably be a lot of bother . . ."
"I want to," Snape answered firmly, in a voice that brooked no opposition. "Your mother was the best friend I've ever had. You know of my . . . differences with your father has caused me to make bad choices about our relationship in the past. But I think we've moved past that now, and I find myself very . . . pleased with the idea of being your guardian."
"Thank you!" Harry practically cheered. "Does that mean I don't have to go back to the Dursleys anymore?"
"Never again," Snape told him. "I could never let you go back there."
"I don't know what to say . . ." Harry said, his eyes beginning to prickle.
"You don't have to say anything," Snape assured him. "Having a reasonable guardian has been something you should have had all along, you do not need to be overly grateful for it. And life with me will be no picnic either."
"More than the Dursleys," Harry smirked, the tears blinked back successfully.
"Good, then, that's settled," Snape told him. "But for now I wanted you to see some memories of your parents that may help offset some of the ones that you saw illicitly. I admit, I have more good memories of your mother than your father, but I did what I could for both."
"Thank you," Harry whispered, his eyes shining. "You have done so much for me." Again, he found himself wishing he could hug the man. He's not sure where the urge came from as he had never been hugged at the Dursleys and rarely since then, but it was nearly overwhelming. He forced himself to remain stoic.
"As it should be," Snape nodded. "Now, would you like to see your mother?"
The End.
AN: It is with reluctance that I end this story, as it has been a very fun one to write. I am kicking around the idea of a sequel, but am unsure. I realize I have left some unresolved hugging tension, but I just thought it was too soon for Snape. I also have a few more stories that I would like to write too, so we'll see where it goes next. As always, thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. And thank you Lilyflower101 for the idea of Snape showing Harry memories of his mom, the more I thought about it the more I felt that was a really good way to end the story. I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming holiday season.
