AN: Once again, Yen has wrestled this into a better shape. Thanks!

A Long Overdue Conversation

Harry side-alonged Severus this time.

They had rushed out the castle only to be met by Hagrid and called to hold on by Minerva. Hagrid had given them a bag with who knew what in it, and Minerva had given them another one. At least she told them that it contained toiletries, night clothes and a change for the morning just in case. Neither of them asked where she had gotten them from.

Now they were standing in a field of snow just outside the Burrow. Checking the sky, Harry tried to determine if the storm was coming their way. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Severus doing the same thing.

"All clear. Maybe it won't come this way." Severus didn't sound too sure, but he was doing his best to be hopeful. He honestly would rather be stuck at home and it was too far to walk from here.

Harry, who had already started down the hill, glanced back to answer. "Hopefully. Let's get inside. I'm curious what Hagrid sent with us."

As they walked into the front garden, snowballs came flying at them from both sides. Harry was hit with one, but Severus completely escaped. Their welcoming party came out of hiding, each one holding another snowball.

It was Ron who spoke up. "Severus, you aren't supposed to use magic to escape! As punishment, you are ordered to join my team with Harry and defeat Ginny, George and Angelina."

Severus held in his laughter at the expressions on the other team's faces. Deciding to see just how dumbstruck he could make them, he answered. "We need to put these bags down, and then we will join you, Ron. I'm positive Harry can explain the rules as we walk to the porch."

Yes, it was definitely worth it. George looked like he wanted to fall facedown in the snow, Ginny was already swaying and Angelina looked like she just couldn't believe what she had heard. On the walk to the porch, Harry informed him that the only rule was that magic couldn't be actively used. No protecting from thrown balls, no directing snowballs, and no conjuring balls were allowed. Putting the bags down on the porch, they both made a snowball and launched them as they turned about.

Ginny and George were hit in the faces. Ron grinned and got Angelina. That was the beginning of the snowball fight. It soon became obvious that Severus was very good at dodging without magic as well and Harry had a wickedly good aim. What also showed through was Ron's team's ability to work together.

A half hour later, snow started falling and Severus felt the magic in it. With a quick look at Harry and then Ron, he ascertained that they also knew. A simple nod between them all indicated that this had to end. After one last barrage, they called the fight on account of weather, and six wet, cold people came through the front door .

Severus didn't want to hear Molly fuss about the mess on her floor, so he quickly cast a drying charm on everyone.

"Snape! You should know better than to cast a spell in a magical storm. You were barely inside!" Hermione stared at him, aghast at his actions.

"Hermione, I was well inside the door, as were the others. The storm has just started, so there was no chance of a magical backlash." With that, Severus walked past her to find Molly and let her know that they had arrived.

Ron and Harry watched as Hermione's face filled with disbelief.

"Yes, he did call you Hermione." Harry folded his arms and decided that it was about time for a long overdue conversation. "Honestly, do you think that Severus has no clue as to what is going on? That he is completely in the dark about the storms? Did you not listen to a word of the message that Ron gave you from us?" Even as she opened her mouth to reply, Harry cut her off. "No, of course you didn't. You've decided that since I've opted not to put my life in danger, or at least danger from criminals, that I am not worth the time it would take to listen to a word I say."

Harry advanced on her, his green eyes narrowing while Ron kept just behind his left shoulder and off to the side. The other Weasleys drew back against the walls, and Severus turned about at the doorway to watch as well as offer silent support. This was a long time in coming.

Harry stopped a foot in front of her and continued. "Even if you think that I am dumber than the bludgers that I dodge on a regular basis, you have to know that Severus is not. For Merlin's sake, you sat in his class for six years, you've heard the man speak on ideas that would leave others gaping in wonderment. You've seen the results of his plotting, planning and scheming. I am amazed that you would dismiss any idea that he puts forward to you, much less when you are handed data."

Harry flung a hand out towards Severus. "The man lives and breathes data. He is a bleeding Potions Master who is known, worldwide if you didn't know, for his research. That. Is. Data! We aren't even going into the theories and connecting dots and ideas that a Potions Master has to be able to do." Snorting lightly, Harry shook his head. "Honestly, even if you discount me for the rest of your life, never ever do that to Severus. You will lose out."

Severus felt the warmth of happiness curl through him. That description, which could have been said in a derisive tone, had been said with pride. He watched as Harry prepared to back away, his fight done. Well, Harry's might be, but this wasn't over. Someone had to put Hermione straight about respecting Harry's choice. Even as he was about to step forward, Ron did instead.

Ron stopped just in front of Harry, his hands down by his side, fingers loose. This had to stop here. Hermione had to understand today. "No, Harry is not allowed to be discounted, not by you, Hermione. Others, sure, they can dismiss the intelligence and ability hidden in our best friend, but not you. You know better. You used to be one of the first to defend him if someone belittled him. But now, it seems as if you are the first to do so. I don't know why -" He cut her off as she started to answer, her eyes wide. "I don't know if I care. I just know that you – have - to – stop. The moment Harry says he has to talk about something, you tune him out. Your mind is elsewhere, dealing with what you think is more important. He fire-called to talk to you and you ran out the door and left him with me. Then you refused to listen to any of the information that he wanted to tell you."

"I knew!" Hermione finally was able to get a word in edgewise and did her best to keep the momentum. "We already knew that the Muggle world had suffered from the storm. The Minister told us. I don't need someone else telling me what was going on. And you can't read a magical storm. It isn't possible. We've questioned everyone who has ever been out in one, those who cast in it while they were in St. Mungo's. Not one person noticed anything different in the water on the ground and what fell out of the sky. Stop throwing that in my face. I don't dismiss Harry."

The sounds of disbelief that echoed through the room brought her to a stop.

It was Arthur that spoke into the silence. "Hermione, it has been obvious that you don't listen to Harry ever since he told us that he wanted to play professional Quidditch and you couldn't talk him out of it. And it hasn't been obvious to only us, I hear about it in my division in the Ministry, as I walk down Diagon Alley."

Molly rested a hand on Arthur's shoulder as she cut in. "I hear it in the market place."

Ron started back with a gentler tone. "I hear it as well, everywhere I go. Is the Golden Trio broken apart? Is Hermione Granger no longer apart of the group – she doesn't approve or like Harry anymore? Also, you didn't know about Muggle London until you reached work, and all you know is a Muggle's view point of what happened – and it was a scanty report at that. You had a possible advantage, a new angle on the happening, because you could have heard about it from a Wizard's point of view. I listened to them, I heard what they said. I've listened since then, not only to them, but to you. Merlin, Hermione, you don't know half of it. You don't know about the magical energy waves that the cars emitted while they were stalled, you don't know that the gaslight street lamps were working, you don't know that the magic in the houses wore away slowly, that the signal lights went first then the street lamps and finally the cars and trains. You don't know how the electricity went out in stages in some of the larger stores, but in private houses it went out all at one time. You failed to know because you still think that Harry is wasting his life away, and you refuse to listen to him until he is doing what you want."

Hermione stared at Ron for a long moment, before shifting her gaze to Harry. "But you could have been doing so much good. You are capable of so much more..."

Severus stepped away from the door and into the conversation. "He is doing good. He has a wonderful talent, two of them. One for defense and one for Quidditch. He used his talent for defense to keep us alive and free. Now he is using his other talent to make people happy. To see that you can move on, move past the darkness and into the light of hope and joy. The Harry Potter is able to spend his time playing a game so the world is a safe place. Why? Because the Savior has time to play and not hunt down horrible Dark Lords who will kill us in our sleep."

He caught Harry's startled look, and realized at that moment that Harry had thought he had disapproved of his career choice as well. "If Harry had joined the Auror division, if Ron had joined the Auror division, then the Wizarding world would still be tense, waiting for a villain as horrible as the Dark Lord to step out of the shadows. Why else would the Trio, the savior and his partners, still be on guard? But all that aside, Harry deserves a chance to be who and what he wants. He was forced into being the Savior, fate carved that into his life, but now he has a choice. Let him play. Let him work at something that he loves, that has more happy memories associated with it than horrible nightmare inducing ones. Let him do it without your disapproval."

The entire Weasley family stared at the tall man, amazed at his passionate support of Harry. Sure, they knew that they'd been a couple for a year, but that was the first time any of them, but Ron, had heard him speak of Harry in such tones.

Hermione's shoulders drooped as she sighed. Looking at Harry, she tried her best to send a heartfelt apology. "I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to... I mean, I know that I was short with you. But I didn't ..."

Harry pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back as the tears came. "It's okay, Hermione. It is over and done with, right?" He felt her head nod yes on his shoulder. "Then all will be well. Now, I honestly think that we have provided enough entertainment that we don't need all the party games that I am sure that George has planned. I don't know about anyone else, but I am ready to eat."

Molly nodded and caught George's eye. They could play a short one. "Dinner is just about to be placed on the table. I'm sure that you have time for one game."

George grinned and dropped a long garland on the floor. "The objective of this game is not to be touched by the garland. You can use any means possible to stop it."

He looked at everyone gathered before breaking out in a large smile. "Ready? Start!"

The garland came to life and flowed across the floor. The first person it touched was Ginny. It coiled about her, tickling her as it went. Eventually, it dropped off and went in search of its next victim, leaving a breathless Ginny on the floor.