The rest of the day went somewhat smooth. His three friends and whenever possible the twins had acted like a shield for Harry. Blocking people from getting to close to Harry's personal space and from them asking any questions. There was only one time when Harry was left to fend for himself. Right before potions class.

Hermione and Neville had forgotten their books in the tower and had run up to grab them before class. The twins had gone to their own class just a few minutes before and that had left Harry with just Ron. Ron by his side would have been enough for Harry, but it seemed his best mate was crossing his legs and doing a dance. Just before they arrived at the potion's classroom Ron ran for the nearest bathroom all the while calling to Harry behind him. "Sorry mate, I have to go!"

Harry was slightly amused at his best friend. Shaking his head and muffling a laugh he almost ran right in to Draco Malfoy. Putting on his mask he gave Malfoy an apologetic look. There was no need to start a fight after all, he was in no mood. "I'm sorry Malfoy. I should have been looking where I was going."

Malfoy was taken back a little. Did Potter just apologize to him? Regaining his footing he just about spit at Harry. "That's right Potter. You should be sorry."

Harry just nodded and went to walk around Draco and his goons to the potion's classroom. An outstretched hand stopped him though. Harry looked up to see who the hand belonged to. "Is there something you want Malfoy? I would like to get to class."

Malfoy gave Harry an evil grin. "Yes, there is something I want. I want to know are you staying here for holidays again?"

Harry sighed. He knew Malfoy asked him this every year just so that he could make fun of him for staying. This banter had gotten old, fast. "Yes, I am. May I ask why you want to know?" He would play along for now, humor him.

"It must really hurt to know your family doesn't care enough to want you home for Christmas." Malfoy still had the evil grin on his face and was practically jumping for joy at causing harry pain. Too bad he was in for a shock.

Instead, of Harry's normal practiced retort he just gave Draco a soft look. "You know it does hurt to know that you are not wanted at home. That's ok though. Recently people here have made it clear I am wanted at Hogwarts and that makes up for all the past hurt."

Draco was so shocked by Harry's words that he just stood there and didn't protest when Harry passed him. Almost in the classroom though Draco regained his footing. "Oh yeah, well I bet it doesn't make up for not having parents!"

Harry just shot a gentle smile towards Draco. Even though inside he felt like he was going to break he would not show it here. That comment had really hit him where it hurt. He would not show it here though, he would put up his brave face.

Then a voice came out of the potion's classroom. "Mr. Malfoy that remark was uncalled for. Detention tonight with Filch and ten points from Slytherin. Mr. Potter may I see you in my office for a moment?"

Harry stepped fully inside the classroom and spotted Severus sitting at his desk. "Yes sir."

"Come Potter let's talk in private." Severus led Harry into his office in the front of the classroom and closed the door behind him. Severus then enveloped Harry in a hug. "Are you ok Harry? Do you want to go back to Minerva?"

Tears falling from Harry's face he looked up at his Professor. "If you give me a few moments I think I'll be ok. I really want to finish the school day."

Severus nodded his head. "I have something to talk to about then. I'm going to try as hard as I can to make potions as painless as possible for you Harry, but there are some things I cannot change."

Harry nodded his head. "I know Professor."

"Severus"

Harry looked at his professor confused. "Huh?"

Severus looked at Harry with an amused smile on his lips. "Very eloquently articulated Mr. Potter."

Harry was giving Severus an incredulous look. "Are you...are you teasing me?"

"I'll let you figure that out on your own. Now in private I would like you to call me Severus. If you want that is." Severus looked down at the child who was still in his arms.

Harry gave Severus a small smile. "I would like that."

Severus returned Harry's smile, then his expression grew serious. Severus ushered Harry to sit in a chair by his desk and instead of sitting behind the desk like he normally would have, he sat next to Harry in the other chair. "So Harry, as I said when we're in class I will try to make best for you as I can. I cannot change my actions too much or else both of our lives could be in danger. Just know that any mean comments I throw at you are not true. Know that every time I say mean spirited it is only for show."

Harry nodded. "I understand." He really did understand too. He had to put up his mask in front of others so that he couldn't be hurt and this was just going to be Severus's mask. A mask he would put up not only to protect himself, but to protect Harry as well.

"Are you ok then Harry?" Severus was giving Harry his worried look.

Harry smiled at his professor. "Yes Severus, I'm fine."

"Ok then let's get to class then. I bet your friends are having a field day looking for you." Severus shot a smile at Harry and headed his towards the door. Before opening the door and leading him out, Severus bent down and whispered in Harry's ear. "Now remember not to look so happy. We wouldn't want everyone in there to have a heart attack."

Harry laughed and then schooled his features so he looked miserable. Severus opened the door and Harry went to go find his seat in the crowded classroom.

As soon as he sat down Ron came over and sat down next to him. "Blimey mate I leave you for one minute and Snape gets you. You are alright, aren't ya?" Ron looked Harry up and down.

Harry smiled at his friend's concern. "I'm fine Ron. Don't worry about Snape."

"If your sure mate?" Harry nodded. "Ok then, but let me know if you need me to hex him for you." Ron shot Harry a gleeful smile full of mischief.

Just then Severus walked into the room with his robes billowing behind him. "I see everyone is here, let's begin then." Severus turned facing the chalkboard and began to write instructions. "Today we will be brewing Skele-Gro for the hospital wing as they have run low due to the all the injuries in the last quidditch match."Severus sent a glare over to the group of Gryffindors."These are the ingredients you will need and you will find the instructions on page 146 in your book. Begin."

As soon as Severus had barked "begin" half the students jumped up to gather the ingredients they would need. The other half of the class began preparing their cauldron. Ron came back holding the ingredients and Harry opened the book to the required text.

The two diligently brewed their potion to perfect for the next two hours. Severus came by a few times and helped them along without anyone else in the classroom noticing, not even Ron. Pointing to a few words in the text or motioning clockwise instead of counter clockwise with his finger.

At the end of class when the two had brewed a perfect potion Harry shot a grateful lance at his teacher. Unfortunately Severus could not return the look to Harry, he had to play his part. Looking at the bottled potion in front of Harry he grimaced. "To those who did not butcher their potion you receive a full mark for today. Those who ruined a perfectly good potion today will receive a 0. That includes you Potter."

Ron and Hermione jumped up in an outrage. "How can you say their potion is ruined? It's perfect!" Hermione was practically fuming at her teacher. Very unlike her, but she always jumped out of character when her friends had been wronged.

"Ms. Granger, may I ask who the teacher is here?" Severus sent her a deadly look.

"You are sir, but it's not fair!"

Ron then gained his voice back to come to Hermione's aide. "She's right sir. The potion is perfect."

"I will be the judge of what is and what isn't perfect and as the teacher I will decide what's fair. That is final, you two may leave. That is unless you with detention tonight. That goes to the rest of you, class is dismissed."

Everyone then hurried out of the classroom. Ron, Hermione and Neville surrounding Harry. All of then except for Harry were fuming over what had just happened.

Ron was particularity angry. "What a git! I can't believe he did that!"

Harry sighed and set it his goal to calm Ron. For the first time since class ended Harry spoke. "It's ok Ron."

The four had been headed up to the common room to relax, but as soon as Ron heard Harry's nonchalant voice he stopped dead in his tracks. "No it's not Harry. He was picking on us for no reason, we should report this to Dumbledore."

Harry stopped beside his friend. "Let me explain. When Snape had me in his office before class he warned me that he might say and do some horrible things. He told me though that he didn't really mean them, it's just an act." Harry sighed again and prepared for the backlash from his friends. "Severus has been there for me these last few days. He was the one who was able to pull me out of my head when no one else could."

His friends just looked at him though like he had grown an extra head. After a few minutes Harry broke the silence. He waved his hands before all three sets of eyes. "Hello? Anyone home?"

Finally it was Neville who spoke first. "Snape helped you?" His eyes grew wide with shock.

All Harry did was nod.

Ron gulped and closed his eyes for a moment. "When no one else, not even your friends, could reach you it was the greasy git of the dungeons who was able to help you." Ron shook his head in amazement. "You're full of surprises aren't you mate?" Harry just gave him a sheepish smile.

Snapped out of her shock Hermione was the one to ask the most important question. "If he helped you and you two overcame differences, then why is he still treating you so bad?"

Harry looked around him to see if there were any prying ears. Seeing none he continued. "He said that if he changed the way he acted towards me too much he could put his life and mine in danger."

All three nodded in understanding and then continued their walk up the stairs. Silence followed the four until Ron asked Harry if he was going to stay in the tower that night of in his new room.

Harry shook his head. "I don't think I'm ready to come back to the dorms just yet. At least not until the trial."

Three heads nodded as Ron asked his next question. "Can we come to your trial? For moral support."

Harry smiled and nodded his head. "I would like that."

Dinner passed smoothly. The twins were there making jokes out of everything making Harry laugh more than he had in a long time. Harry drank his potion without any staring eyes and ate more than he probably should have. He was feeling good though, he knew he had people around him that cared.

The three sets of eyes continued to follow Harry throughout the meal yet again. Just like at breakfast and lunch. What they saw this time pleased the three greatly though. This was the happy child they hadn't had the pleasure of seeing in a while.

Before Minerva or Severus could make a comment to each other, it was Albus who spoke. "I received an interesting floo call today." Two sets of eyes looked in his direction and he shot them both a smile. "How was your day Severus?"

"It was fine. What about your floo call?" Severus could tell that getting the rest of the information out of the headmaster was going to be like pulling teeth.

"Oh I already told you! It was interesting." Albus's eyes were full of sparkles.

Severus sighed. "Who was on the other end of the floo call?"

"Oh yes, it was Mrs. Weasley."

When it seemed that the Headmaster would not reveal anymore Severus pried yet again. "Why did she call?"

"It seems that Ron told his older brothers about what had happened to Harry and the twins wrote a letter to their parents informing them." Albus stopped yet again.

"For Merlin sake Albus, just tell us what happened!" Minerva was exasperated.

"Right, right. As I said the elder Weasleys were concerned for Harry's welfare, especially Mrs. Weasley. She almost demanded that she be able to see him and that they would take him into their home. I told her that he was fine and he was in very capable hands here. I fear though I might not be able to hold her back for long though. So this is your warning Minerva, you might receive a floo call later tonight or tomorrow."

Minerva sighed dramatically and glared at Severus who was grinning. "If I don't have enough Weasley's to deal with. The last thing I need is an upset mother."

Severus tried, but couldn't wipe the grin from his face. "I pity you Minerva, I really do."

Glaring at Severus anew Minerva kicked him under the table. "If we were not in the great hall and I was not stuck in this damn wheelchair you would be hurting right now Severus."

Severus gave a mock hurt look and Albus shook his head in amusement. "Now, now, you two students are watching you."

The two settled for shooting mock glares at each other for the rest of the meal all the while Albus looked on in amusement.

After dinner Harry and his "protection group" headed for their head of house's quarters. As soon as Harry said the password and was inside the group set off for their own beds.

Inside Harry saw Minerva and walked over to her. She was relaxing, reading a book in the living room. Hearing Harry's footsteps approaching her Minerva put her book down. Minerva shot a smile in Harry's direction and patted the comfortable chair next to her. "Come tell me how your day was Harry."

Harry sat down and began to tell Minerva about his day. It was nice for a change to have someone who cared what had gone on in his life.

Minerva listened to every bit of Harry's tale even the part about Draco without interrupting Harry once. Once he was finished she patted the child on the knee and gave him a warm look. "I'm proud of you Harry. You resisted all taunts from Mr. Malfoy and came out the better man."

Harry gave Minerva a small smile. "Thank you."

Minerva smiled and looked up at the clock. It was near ten and almost time for Harry to go to bed. "My, my, look at the time. We talked for over two hours! Why don't you go get ready for bed Harry? I'll come and see you to bed in a few minutes."

Harry nodded and set off for the washroom. He washed up and changed his clothes to pajamas, then set off for his lovely looking bed. He never really realized how much he loved his bed until a long day like this one came around. It was so much better than the wimpy mattress in his small cupboard.

Minerva came in and smiled at him. She then came over and tucked him in the best she could and kissed him gently on the forehead. "Goodnight Harry. If you need anything at all don't hesitate to come and get me." Harry nodded his sleepy head and gave a big yawn. Minerva gave a small laugh and then stroked Harry's hair back. "Sleep well Harry." Harry then closed his eyes and drifted off into the land of nod.

Minerva looked at the child on the bed and smiled. Harry really was healing. She then rolled her chair out of the room and flicked the her wand for the lights to go out as she went.