Chapter 14

Neville Longbottom was thrilled to be back at Hogwarts after the summer. He loved his Gran but she was just so stifling and always seemed disappointed with him.

Returning to Hogwarts always made him a little sad as well. He got to hear what his fellow students and friends had been up to. Potter and the Patils had travelled to India in his first year. Pavarti had spent days in the second year telling stories of showing the English contingent around their homeland. Pansy and the elephants, Harry and his Phoenix, Nicholas getting pranked six ways from Sunday by an irritated Harry.

Now he was hearing tales of Africa. What was worse was that even his own friends had gone. Hermione had sent him regular letters and as much as he appreciated that she remembered him, it still upset him that he was stuck at Longbottom Manor because his Gran didn't trust him not to get hurt.

"Nev!"

The aforementioned boy turned to see Lord Harry James Potter of Slytherin jogging up to him as he approached the Gryffindor Tower.

Potter was a bit of an enigma for Gryffindor. Sure, he was the Boy-Who-Lived, defeater of Voldemort… twice… once right in front of them. But he was also a Slytherin… he was also The Slytherin.

The confusion didn't end there. He had defended a young witch from being claimed as little more than a slave… but he had killed to do it.

He now had three concubines. But he didn't treat them any differently than he treated them before.

It boiled down to this: The Gryffs were grateful for all he had done, but they were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Neville had a bit more exposure due to Hermione's friendship with him.

"My Lord." Neville gave a formal bow.

Harry skidded to a stop. "Huh? Did I do something to annoy you, Nev?" Harry asked curiously.

"I- erm-" That one stumped the Gryffindor. He had thought he was being polite. Neutral, but polite.

Harry seemed to just shrug and grabbed Neville's elbow. "Come on, I've got a surprise!" Harry saw the look of trepidation. "Relax! You'll love it!" Harry grinned.

Neville was dragged by Harry through the halls of the castle. They passed several students who, rather than aid the scared Gryff, chuckled at the antics of the young Lord Slytherin.

"Are you ready for the best news of your, to date, very short life?" That grin was still plastered there.

Harry didn't wait for a response as he opened the large wooden door in front of them and dragged him in.

"Aunt Alice, Uncle Frank, I brought you your present as promised!" Harry called out.

"Wait… what?" Neville asked as he took in the view.

Sitting on a two seater sofa in a bright and airy lounge were his parents.

They had a large book on their laps and they were staring dully at it. At the entrance of the two boys Alice looked up but Frank was still catatonic. Alice had a small smile of curiosity.

"Harry… what is going on?" Neville asked tightly. As much as he wished his parents were well, he could easily see nothing had changed.

Except their clothing and location.

"Well, as you know, I am an orphan." Harry knew he was about to lay it on thick, but considering Neville's expression went from pissed to shame in a split second… he was just going to keep dolloping. "I lived in a cupboard without anyone to love me and take care of me."

If Filius or Minerva or… god forbid, Perenelle, heard him… they'd probably tan his hide for putting Neville through a guilt trip.

"Now I have lots of people to care about me. But! I discovered from Sirius that my mum was your god mother and your mother is my god mother.

"Now, I guess it isn't really your fault that no one told me and introduced me-" Someone up there had to prepping a lightning bolt to smite his devious arse. "-so I decided to introduce myself."

Neville struggled with words as he tried to think of a way to continue this discussion without coming off as an insensitive git.

"But… But why would you kidnap them from the hospital?"

"Why were they in the hospital?" Harry countered with a snort. "They weren't being given medicine to cure them. They weren't meeting with counsellors to help them. They were just dumped in a hospital and left there for someone else to deal with them." Harry had accidentally dropped his 'poor orphan' persona as anger made an appearance.

"But-"

"It's not your fault Nev." Harry assured him. "It is a problem with the wizarding world. If you can't fix it with a spell or potion then it isn't worth your time." He said in disgust. "With Uncle Frank and Aunt Alice here, you and I can see them every day. So can Sirius and the Professors. Poppy will make sure they are healthy and the elves will take care of their needs.

"Maybe, if we actually put the effort in, they might eventually remember themselves."

Neville sighed. He didn't want to argue. He not only agreed with Harry, he dreamed of it constantly. There was just one minor detail he didn't think the young Lord had taken into consideration.

"Gran is going to go… mental."

Harry turned to the boy with an evil grin. "If Regent Longbottom wants to take on the noble houses of Potter, Black, Slytherin, Flamel et al… bring it on!"

"At least she won't notice until Christmas, unless the Healers tell her." Neville muttered.

Despite Neville's fear and reluctance (of both Harry and his Gran), he managed to visit every day all the way up to Halloween.

Neville rarely had any time alone with them as there were always plenty of people in the tower that Harry had assigned as their living space.

It was off limits to the student body but he made an exception for his family. He asked Tracey, Pansy and Gemma to spend time in the living room so they had more exposure to people.

Halloween turned out the way it inevitably would.

Harry was in a fair amount of danger.

"You arrogant little cur! I have half a mind to take a cane to your bare backside! What do you have to say for yourself?"

Augusta Longbottom had stormed into the Great Hall at dinner time on Halloween and headed straight for the black haired boy at the Slytherin table.

She had then laid into him with a verbal tirade that made the boy struggle very hard to keep his underwear clean. He was pale and shaking and looked ready to throw himself on his own wand to end it.

"Are you finished terrorising my friend Terry or do you need a few more minutes?" Harry said as he stood up from near the staff table. "I could certainly use the time to call the DMLE."

Whilst Augusta was looking between the boy she had been haranguing and the boy who had spoken, a flash of fire erupted from Pansy's shoulder as Ember vanished.

Seconds later she reappeared.

"Merlin's sake, Potter!" Amelia grunted as she landed on the floor.

"Wasn't me! I was going to use the floo!" Harry said defensively. "Are you trying to get me in trouble?" He glared at the hovering bird.

Ember tweeted happily before soaring back to Pansy's shoulder. Ember liked the attention and the people, Hedwig preferred the peace and quiet. Blinky… liked to sleep.

"Ah! Madam Bones!" Augusta turned to the Head of the DMLE triumphantly. "I want this insolent brat arrested for kidnapping."

"Shut up you old hag!" Harry snarled. The occupants of the hall gasped.

"Harry!"

Everyone gasped again as quiet, timid Neville Longbottom stood up angrily and snapped at Harry.

"Sorry Nev, but her behaviour is unacceptable!" Harry shook his head with a scowl. "Amelia, this…'woman', broke into my home, which is filled with innocent and vulnerable children." There were various snorts from around the hall… mainly from the staff table. "She then immediately began to verbally assault Terrence Higgs, a fine and upstanding man who holds both the position of Headboy and Slytherin Quidditch Captain.

"I requested your presence as I want her arrested for trespassing, child endangerment and assault."

"Harry." Neville was a little more plaintive this time.

Harry turned to Pansy and Ember. "Keep him company for me?"

Although he was actually talking to Ember, Pansy decided to take the instructions as hers and stood up and walked around the hall to the Gryffindor boy. It was a testament as to how much the stuck up little pure blood princess had changed.

"Amelia, arrest this boy." Augusta ordered. "He has kidnapped my son and his wife and is holding them hostage."

Amelia couldn't resist the amused look as she slowly turned to Harry. Harry, despite now being thirteen, looked like a seven-year-old caught with his hand in the biscuit tin.

"Harry?"

"Not hostage… it's not like I'm asking for something for their return." Harry said as he shuffled his feet.

"How the devil did you manage to sneak them out of the hospital?" She asked with amused disbelief.

"Have you met my friend, Ember?" He asked cheekily. "Besides, I signed all the papers and had the appropriate witnesses."

"Is this true, Madam Longbottom?" Amelia turned back to the dowager.

"Irrelevant!" She cried indignantly. "I was not consulted and my permission was certainly never given."

"Madam, if the law hasn't been broken then I am currently unable to assist you. If you wish, you can petition the Wizengamut for arbitration in this matter."

"This is an outrage!"

"I agree!"

Amelia tried very hard not to roll her eyes as she turned back to Harry.

"And why do you consider this an outrage, Lord Slytherin?" She asked wearily.

"I was the one who requested your presence due to a danger to my home and its residents. But this… harridan-" "Well I never!" "Well maybe if you did you wouldn't be so stuck up!" Harry retorted.

"Haaarry."

Ok, so maybe he was crossing a line if Sirius was giving him a warning.

"Regardless, I called for you and you have ignored my urgency and worry to placate the very criminal I called you here to protect us from!" Harry was in full 'Lord' mode. It was a good thing Nicholas, Perenelle and Sabeena weren't there, they found him hilarious or adorable, depending on the number of X chromosomes they had. Sabeena still teased her husband for frequently being intimidated by Harry when he pulled rank.

For her part, Amelia was unsure on just how serious Harry was. The problem was that she couldn't take the risk he was joking around as if he wasn't, he would want Augusta to see him as respected.

"I apologise my Lord." She said with an incline of her head. "Madam Longbottom, I'm afraid you will have to come with me till I can sort this out."

"Madam! You can not be serious?" Augusta said indignantly.

"I am. Please come quietly or I will have no choice but to restrain you."

"This is outrageous!" Augusta steamed as she began marching out of the hall.

Amelia turned to Harry. "I'll need a copy of all the paperwork." She informed him before following in Augusta's wake.

As the doors to the Great Hall closed Harry turned to the students, and addressed the new first years with a mischievous grin. "Welcome to Hogwarts!"

Amelia had tried to explain to Augusta that she was the one in trouble, but she was so focused on the fact that the Potter boy had kidnapped her son that she refused to listen.

In the end she had walked away from a gobsmacked Augusta Longbottom as she sat in one of the Ministry cells. Amelia just hoped that a night in custody would hammer home the trouble she was in.

The following day she returned to the cell and found an extremely haggard, tired and livid Augusta Longbottom.

"You may consider your job gone and your standing in society destroyed." The Longbottom Matriarch growled.

Amelia just sighed and began to walk away. "And you can stay in that cell for another day." She said clearly as she walked.

"Harry, are you really going to press charges against my Gran?" Neville asked worriedly as they sat in the living room of what was becoming known as 'Longbottom Tower'.

Alice was sitting on the other side of the room as Tracey and Pansy played with her hair. It was weak and lank after years of neglect. She had a small smile on her face, but no other sign of alertness or recognition.

Frank was sitting quietly next to Neville, unmoving, just staring at Neville's hands as he played with his wand.

"Harry?"

Harry looked up suddenly, he had been lost in his own thoughts. "Uh… sorry Nev, I was thinking." He stood up and walked over to the father and son, his face was a mask of concentration, his eyes flickering between Frank's eyes and Neville's wand.

"Neville, give your father the wand." Harry instructed. It was times like this that everyone saw that Harry was far beyond his mere thirteen years. The girls had paused their work on Alice and were quietly paying attention. "Quickly Neville!" Harry pushed.

Neville jumped at the authority in Harry's voice and complied, taking his father's hand and wrapping it around the wand.

"Lumos, Uncle Frank."

"Harry-"

"Not now Nev."

Everyone but Frank, Alice and Harry gasped.

Harry grinned happily as Frank lit the tip of the wand. "Nice work, Uncle Frank. Now, make it flash twice. On-off, on-off."

"Merlin!" Gemma gasped as Frank did just that.

Harry knelt in front of the true Head of the House of Longbottom and looked in is vacant eyes with seriousness. "Uncle Frank, very soon we are going to have long and meaningful conversations." He promised. "For now, one flash for 'yes' and two for 'no'. Do you understand?"

The wand flashed once.

"As an addendum, keep flashing rapidly to get our attention."

The wand flashed once.

"Neville and I have to go. Pansy, get Filius and have him stay with you."

"Harry! Where are we going?" Neville asked as Harry dragged him from the tower.

"I need some books, but they aren't at Hogwarts." Harry explained without slowing down. "We are going to get Aurora to escort us to the muggle world."

"But it's eight in the evening. Won't everywhere be closed?"

This time Harry did pause. Then he shrugged and began dragging his god brother again. "It's open hours somewhere in the world."

Aurora had made the same argument as Neville before Ember took it upon herself to flame the trio straight to Australia. There were a good few hours of shopping left in Sydney.

There had been a few issues with trying to convert pounds to dollars but they managed to find a few people to point them in the direction of the right banks that could do it.

They even managed to find a magical district and were able to return with the books Harry wanted and a new wand for Neville.

All in all it only took them two hours, by which time Neville and Aurora were exhausted. Harry was still on an adrenaline rush and had locked himself in his quarters.

Over the next two days the Healers from St Mungo's were called in to witness and hypothesise on what this new revelation regarding Frank would mean. Could they help him or would he be restricted to flashing his wand for the rest of his life.

There were plenty of new theories now that they were actually able to ask various questions, but as Harry had used both his position as Lord Slytherin and the fact that Alice was his godmother to obtain legal guardianship for them, they weren't able to do anything until he permitted it.

And Harry was still locked in his room.

After two days of no sleep and only liquids, Harry burst triumphantly from his room.

"Done!"

He stopped in amusement as he found Aurora, Filius and Sirius standing outside the portrait to his quarters engaged in what could only be, a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors.

"If you are looking for a little privacy for whatever games you are playing, then I can recommend some much more suitable places than here." He said patronisingly.

"What the hell are you playing at, Harry?" Aurora demanded. She was one of the few people who had no issues with losing and displaying her temper with Harry. "You've been locked in your room for more than two days! Have you even eaten?"

"Erm…"

"If you have to think about it then you probably haven't." Filius sighed.

"Merlin, Harry! Are you trying to kill yourself? Gemma! Go get Madam Pomphrey." Sirius called down the stairs to the Common Room.

"Tell her to meet us at Longbottom Tower!" Harry added.

"The only place you are going is bed!" Aurora snarled.

"I've lasted two days, I can last an hour more." Harry shook his head. "Ember!"

Filius and Sirius grimaced as Aurora growled in frustration after Harry and his phoenix vanished.

Despite this being his second time through life, he hadn't learnt that women are not to be trifled with. They wouldn't care if he was Merlin himself… they would rip him to shreds.

The trio made their way to the tower where they found an excited Neville hugging Harry.

Unfortunately, Harry was passed out as exhaustion caught up with him.

Fortunately Poppy was right behind them and portkeyed him to the Hospital Wing.

Harry was asleep for a lot of the response to his invention for Frank. Poppy was shoving sleeping potions down his throat to prevent him from waking up.

Frank was now able to 'talk'.

Regrettably he did so with Harry's pubescent breaking voice… but he had a method of communication.

The device Harry had created was a glove with a sleeve that went up to his elbow. There was a hole in the palm for Frank to hold his wand and there were inscriptions on the sleeve of the glove.

"Harry called it 'Morse Code'. I've heard it was used by muggles." Frank explained as Harry's voice sounded from his unmoving form. "By flashing my wand I can spell out words and they are spoken."

Frank's current level of 'speech' was very slow. It took him time to form a word. Fortunately Harry had created the device so it would save the words Frank wanted and would speak them when he told it to.

All the instructions were on the sleeve with the cheat sheet for Morse Code.

Despite the slow and cumbersome manner of communication, Frank had nothing but praise for it. Harry had given him a way to speak whilst trapped in his body.

Every professor wanted to inspect the device but Filius and Sirius had been adamant that they would have to wait until Harry woke up and explained it.

Two days later, Poppy stopped feeding Harry sleep potions and he woke up.

Harry was pretty peeved.

Unfortunately he was outnumbered by everyone from Pansy to Perenelle.

Even Frank wasn't able to reign the women in… of course, judging by the slight light in his eyes, he probably enjoyed it.

"Look, enough!" Harry stopped them as they sat in the living room of Longbottom Tower. "I couldn't sleep until I had finished. Ask Sirius, if Frank was in Azkaban and you had a way to get him out, would you be able to sleep or would you have to do it straight away and damn the consequences to temporary health?"

Sirius just nodded gravely. He knew Harry was hinting towards his own incarceration at the Dursleys. "I'd hex each and everyone of you out of my path.

"Harry is fine. He is healthy and rested. I suggest we focus on Harry's amazing work and the fact that we have Frank back… sort of."

"Agreed." Came Harry's voice from Frank. His communication was becoming quicker due to his familiarisation with Morse Code.

"Harry, could you provide us with another… translation device, one that we can examine?" Filius asked.

"Yeah, there are three in my quarters."

"Three?" Tracey asked curiously.

"Well, if one breaks it would take a few hours to make a new one. This way, Uncle Frank won't have to worry about not being able to communicate."

Harry stood up and stretched. "Well, if you will all excuse me, I need to contact Albus. Need to ask for a fav-"

Harry vanished in a plume of fire as Ember took him away.

"I think… not certain, mind you, but I think Harry was planning on writing a letter." Sirius said as they all stared at the spot Harry had been standing.

"That bird is far too much like Harry." Aurora scowled.

Harry found himself standing in a restaurant full of people.

Every one of them looking at him in awe.

Albus was seated at a table with a man about his age but clean shaven and a slightly darker skin tone.

"For the love of God! Tell me this is a wizarding restaurant!"

Albus chuckled at the wide-eyed and harried looking bane of his existence. "You are in a magical Italian restaurant." He confirmed.

"In Italy?"

"Where else would you find an Italian restaurant?" Albus' dining companion asked with a raised eyebrow and heavy Italian accent.

"Everywhere." Harry shrugged. "Well, in the muggle world."

"Take a seat and explain why you felt the need to have Ember bring you here." Albus instructed.

Harry took the seat with a grump. "Wasn't my idea. I was going to write you a letter. Miss Fancy Pants here decided to make it personal." He said as he gently poked Ember in the chest as she perched on his shoulder.

The trill she let out could only be a giggle.

Both older men tried to hide their smirks but Harry saw and glared.

"Armando, meet Harry Potter, Lord of Slytherin." Albus smiled. "Harry, this is Armando Abate, he runs the Italian Education System."

"Nice to meet you sir." Harry held out his hand and Armando smiled and shook it.

"So, Harry, what did you need to talk to me about?" Albus asked as he signalled a waiter.

"All I wanted to do was borrow your pensive." He said as gave Ember another glare.

Albus and Armando frowned. "You wish to review your own memories?" Albus asked.

"Yeah, but also… well, I managed to create a device for Frank Longbottom to communicate with us. Unfortunately the device uses my voice. I wanted to-"

"Forgive me, Harry… did you say Frank Longbottom can talk?" Albus asked, bushy white eyebrows combining with his white hair.

"Yeah… it's a whole thing and everybody is pi- angry at me." Harry said dismissively.

"He has a knack for understatement." Armando chuckled.

"Harry, I'm going to need more than that." Albus said in exasperation. Despite the trouble Harry caused him, he really did love him, he had the fun and easy going side of James but the caring and meticulous attributes of Lily.

Unfortunately for Albus, Harry also had Lily's lack of awe regarding him. James, like most pure bloods, grew up on stories of his deeds. Anyone who doubted his word was a fool.

Harry took that lack of awe and combined it with his father's… mischievousness.

Then he pointed the whole mess at him.

"Frank was trapped in his body. Near catatonic but not quite. I could see his eyes were always on Neville's wand… his old wand. I told Neville to give it to him and told Frank to cast a lumos. It worked, so I created a device based on Morse Code. It takes him a minute or so to create sentences but he can now communicate with us.

"I wanted to borrow your pensive as the device currently uses my voice. I need someone's memory of Frank talking so I can change it to that. I also want to see some of Frank's memories in case I can help him further."

Armando snorted. "I remember, many years ago, Albus was scouring the globe trying to find anyone that could help the Longbottoms. They are almost as famous as you and Albus now."

"Seriously? And no one could help them?" Harry asked incredulously.

"I had everyone from Poppy Pomfrey to the head of International Magical Healer's Council." Albus sighed. "It doesn't matter." He shook his head. "You have done something incredible. Come, Armando and I are finished here, we will get you your own pensive. I will even give you my memories of Frank and Alice as well as my discussions with Healers.

"Augusta Longbottom should have plenty of memories too."

Harry grimaced.

"What did you do?" Albus asked with a resigned sigh.

"Weell-"

"Harry."

"Look, she signed custody over to St Mungo's. Apparently it's the norm for life time patients so that the Healers can make important decisions for them."

"Yes, I signed as the witness." Albus confirmed.

"Right… but I claimed familial privileges and removed them from the hospital. They are living in Longbottom Tower… well, Hogwarts, an empty tower."

"How are they being cared for? What about their potions?" Albus asked worriedly.

Harry was clearly unimpressed with the Headmaster. "You've just heard that I managed to legally gain custody of them and developed a method for Frank to talk… but you still think I haven't thought of the little things?"

Ember began trilling at Albus… nobody doubted she was scolding him.

Armando just laughed as he paid the bill the waiter had brought and stood up. "Come, Harry, I know a Rune Master who will be able to sell you a pensieve."

Albus had a thoughtful look as he walked behind the two males. He had finally managed to put aside his belief that he needed to be responsible for Harry. He certainly didn't need the protection of the blood wards as he had proven himself able to care and defend himself.

But there was still something… he didn't know what… and he didn't have a clue what it might be.

Harry arrived back at Hogwarts in his quarters in the early evening. He stretched before heading down to the common room, it had been nearly a week since he had just relaxed.

Harry was greeted by most of the Slytherins, only a few older pure bloods still wanted him dead.

It probably had a lot to do with the fact that Dudley was staying in the dungeons with them.

What caught Harry's attention was the fact that Dudley was sitting at one of the tables with Terrence, Pansy and Greg. Nothing unusual there as he often did his homework with others. Terrence had taken Dudley on as a mentor.

No, what caught Harry's eye was the rather guilty look on their faces as they tried to look innocent and continue working.

Harry sighed. He hated being the responsible one. "Alright, what did you lot do?"

"Do? We wouldn't do anything Mi'lord!"

Apparently Pansy lacked the ability to lie to Harry.

"Terrence?"

Terrence gave his own sigh of defeat and nodded to Dudley who put a book on the table.

"Ancient Runes." Harry nodded. "I'm familiar with this book. Care to explain?"

"I- I was reading it." Dudley said with shame.

"And…?"

"Erm… I'm sorry?"

Harry was getting a headache already. He should have stayed in his rooms. "You're sorry for reading a book?"

"He promised not to draw any symbols or anything." Terrence offered. They were becoming more worried as Harry pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Let me get this straight… all you were doing was reading a book? And not even one from the Restricted Section."

"We'd never do that!" Pansy was scandalised.

"Dud, if you want to read a book, then go for it. Learning isn't going to hurt you. As long as you don't go near the Restricted Section you will be fine.

"Trust me, some of the books in there can physically hurt you." Harry shuddered. "Dobby?"

There was a small pop.

"Could you get me my Monster Book of Monsters?"

Dobby looked terrified.

"Never mind… I'll get it." Harry couldn't blame him,

"Dobby is brave and good elf!" Dobby exclaimed before popping away. It was clear he was horrified that his master would have to do his work.

Dobby quickly reappeared.

He was rolling across the floor in a life and death struggle with the book. Harry stepped in and separated book and elf.

"Dobs, all you need to do is stroke the spine." Harry explained. He then showed him how.

"Is still evil." Dobby glared at it before popping away to lick his wounds… and possibly contemplate revenge on the book.

Harry chuckled as he plopped the book on the table. "I give you a book that can physically hurt you." He declared.

"And there are books in the Restricted Section that can do the same?" Pansy asked curiously.

"Sure. They're not all like that but they are dangerous."

"But it's ok for Dudley to read the books we have?" Terrence asked for clarification.

"Yes!" Harry laughed. "Look, there is only one rule for muggles reading wiggle books. If the book has some form of magical ability then a wiggle has to be with them at all times. OK?"

"One thing… what's a 'wiggle'?"

Harry was about to answer Terrence when Professor Snape entered.

"Potter, we need to talk." He ground out.

Now, it was possible that Severus was in a bad mood… but the only time he wasn't in a bad mood was when Shirley was working on him. So… he was probably in a worse mood.

"I'll see you later guys. Dudley, if you get any ideas from the book, write them down and we can try 'em out!" Harry said enthusiastically.

Harry waited patiently as he sat in his arm chair opposite Severus. He had a feeling that his slave actually liked his new attire and style. His hair was no longer long and greasy, Harry had been miffed that he had slept through the weekend and missed a visit to Desmond and Shirley.

Severus was still decked out in wizarding robes, but under that he wore trousers and a shirt. The shirt was always dark like the trousers, but never black. As per Harry's orders.

"You have to let me go back to my previous… style." Severus practically demanded.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"It is causing…problems."

"Explain."

Severus growled in annoyance. Harry had a feeling he was going to enjoy this.

"I am garnering… 'unsavoury' attention."

Harry just raised an eyebrow.

"Many of the female students have been purposely getting detentions and coming to me after class with pitiful excuses for questions. I never had this problem before." Clearly Severus was disturbed by this.

"Sev, I can think of plenty of solutions to your 'problem' and they won't have Shirley demanding an explanation." Harry smirked. "Send the girls to detention with a female Professor. Take your best sixth year students and have them form some sort of support group that younger students can approach for help."

"What about the sixth and seventh years? They are the most… zealous."

Harry tried very hard not to laugh as Severus shuddered. "Post hours when you will be available after classes and then hold those times in the Great Hall or arrange an area in the library with Madam Pince. Or you can talk to Aunt Minnie about arranging to hold the times with her… so you have a chaperone."

Severus glared at him. "You are enjoying this." He accused.

"Yep." Harry grinned unrepentantly.

"I hate you."

"Love you to, Sev."