To Have a Home

by beksta

With the help of Severus Snape, the Dursleys raise Harry as their son with the knowledge that he is magical. However when, at the age of seven, a magical bond forms between Harry and Hermione Granger life becomes very difficult, especially when he finds himself falling for one of his closest male friends. HP/SF Slash.

21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Harry,

Hello, I did tell you Neville's house was massive, next time you should believe me. I don't think I told you in my last letter, but Aunt Marge has decided she wants to come and stay with us over the summer. Mum said that might not be possible, but she didn't say why. She also said that you and Hermione have got to sign up to come home for the Easter holidays, again I don't know why, but I think something might be going on.

Next time you send an owl, please send it at night. I got in trouble last lesson for Hedwig appearing in the middle of maths, 'Muggles' aren't used to seeing owls during the day, never mind in the middle of a classroom. I didn't have a clue what to do and in the end I just had to say she was your pet and she'd somehow found me, you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to hide Smudge (who is tiny compared to Hedwig) and then Hedwig goes and does that. How could I have told Mr. Sands that she's a magically trained post owl?

How's it going with your search for the Chamber of Secrets? Neville said in his last letter that you'd checked through several decades and found nothing.

I wonder where Sev was on his birthday, I can't believe you and Hermione missed him. It seems really strange. Did you ask him or are you going to do your sneak-around-and-try-to-work-it-out-for-yourself thing?

Anyway, see you at Easter.

From,

Dudley.

Harry folded up his brother's letter and slipped it into the pocket of his robes, wondering if Dudley had sent his letter at such an odd time in revenge. Hedwig nibbled Harry's finger harder than she usually would as he shooed her out of the library, trying to do so as quietly as possible so that Madam Pince wouldn't notice.

Ron sniggered into the copy of the Daily Prophet he was checking as Hedwig squawked and glared reproachfully at Harry before turning and flying out of the library. For what seemed like the hundredth time since Christmas, Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, and Seamus were sitting around a table in the library sifting through back copies of the Daily Prophet.

Not trusting any of the others to help her, Hermione had disappeared off somewhere in the castle with Cedric to attempt to re-brew the polyjuice potion. She was certain that this time it would succeed as she had an older student helping her and she hadn't told Ron, Neville, or Seamus where she was making it as to avoid a repeat of the last time they'd tried to brew it.

"I think I've found it. Look at this." Dean swept the newspapers from the table and laid out the one he'd just picked up. He began reading the article aloud in a hushed, excited voice, "Fifth Year Hogwarts student, Myrtle Maloney, was found dead last Sunday in a girl's bathroom, at Hogwarts, following a series of attacks on the school by the so called 'heir of Slytherin'. Miss. Maloney's parents were informed yesterday evening. It is believed that Miss Maloney has remained at the school as a ghost and that the culprit had been apprehended although no further details can be given at this-"

"Wait, she became a ghost?" Harry cut Dean off and frowned.

"Looks like it." Dean said scanning the page again. "Yeah, it says here 'remained at the school as a ghost'."

"And what did you say her name was?" Ron asked, planting his elbows on the table and leaning forwards.

"Maloney, Myrtle Maloney." Dean said scanning the page one last time. "But there's nothing else. It doesn't say who actually opened the chamber or what Slytherin's monster was."

"We'll have to go find this ghost, then. I bet she's still here." Harry said, trying to keep his voice quiet despite his excitement at having found a new lead. "We can ask one of the ghosts we actually know if they know her."

"Come on, then, what're we waitin' for?" Seamus jumped to his feet and lifted up an armful of newspapers, stuffing them back into the drawers where they'd gotten them from.

Harry nodded in agreement and lifted up another stack, wincing at what he imagined Hermione would say if she could see them cramming the newspapers back into the drawer without bothering to put them in order.

As soon as they'd put the newspapers away, the five boys ran from the library, their school robes billowing wildly behind them as they made their way to the Great Hall where most of the ghosts spent their time. As they neared the end of the third floor corridor, Neville slipped and slid into a first year Ravenclaw, sending her flying across the corridor.

"Are you all right?" Neville tried to scramble to his feet, but slipped on his robes, once again tumbling to the floor.

"I'm fine." The girl clambered from her feet, not bothering to wipe the dust from her robes and looked up at Harry. "You're Harry Potter."

Harry nodded, slightly baffled by her tone of voice. "Yes, I am."

She turned to scrutinize the other boys as they climbed to their feet. "I know who you are." She pointed at Ron. "But I don't know you three." She stared at the three boys, and for once Harry was thankful that everyone seemed to know who he was.

The strange Ravenclaw girl didn't seem to have to blink like normal people, she just stared at Seamus, Dean, and Neville until Seamus finally held out his hand. "Seamus Finnegan." She accepted Seamus's hand and shook gently before turning her gaze to the final two boys. "Those two are Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom. Who're you?"

Harry elbowed his friend in the ribs for his rude tone of voice. The girl didn't seem to find Seamus's question impolite. She turned back to him and cocked her head to the side, her grey eyes widening slightly. It took her several seconds to answer and Harry wondered if she'd forgotten her name.

The girl smiled and then answered Seamus's question. "Luna Lovegood."

"Okay, well it's nice to meet you, but we've gotta be somewhere." Ron turned to leave but Neville held out a hand to stop him.

"Are you sure you're all right, Luna? I hit you quite hard." Neville asked; he looked as though he didn't really want to talk to Luna, but felt he had to because he'd knocked her down.

"You were in a hurry." She noted. "Were you looking for your snake?"

"Snake?" Dean asked.

"Yes. Harry's snake, it tried to eat you."

Harry frowned, only just remembering about Hiss. "He's vanished; I haven't seen him since before Christmas."

"Oh, maybe the Zibberfligs got him, there's a nest of them roosting near the Hospital wing." She informed him in a tone that suggested Harry really should have known this already.

"A Zibberflig?" He asked.

"Oh, yes, they're very sneaky little creatures. They look like small skinless kittens with pixie wings and pig snouts. They'll eat anything so you have to be careful about where you leave your things." She said, nodding. "They have a chemical on their skin which, if comes into contact with human skin, has a similar affect to a confundus charm so not very many people can be certain that they've actually seen one."

"Are you sure they actually exist?" Ron asked. "I mean they don't exactly sound real."

Luna blinked for what could only have been the third time since the beginning of their conversation and said in a mildly exasperated tone. "Of course they exist. How else can you explain the disappearance of Harry's snake?"

Ron's eyebrows furrowed and he opened his mouth to answer but Harry cut him off, smiling politely at Luna. "It was very lovely to meet you, Luna, but we really must be going. We have to find a ghost."

"Oh, really? Any ghost in particular or do you just want a ghost? The Grey Lady passed by just ten minutes ago." Luna said pointing through the wall over the staircase.

"Uh, no we're looking for the ghost of Myrtle Maloney." Harry said.

"Myrtle? I can take you to her, if you'd like; although, I don't know why you'd be looking for her. She's not a very friendly ghost. I could take you to find a nicer one if you want, the Fat Friar is very pleasant."

"We need to find Myrtle." Harry said, wondering if Luna was mocking him or if she really was just a very strange girl.

"Oh, all right then. Follow me." She turned and began skipping down the stairs.

Ron turned to Harry, his eyes narrowed as though he blamed Harry for the strange girl accompanying them. Harry shrugged and mouthed, 'what else could I do?' Ron huffed, his nostrils flaring slightly and began to follow Luna Lovegood down the moving staircase.

As they reached the second floor corridor, Harry and the others found themselves ankle deep in cold water, which had leaked out from under the door of a girl's bathroom just a bit further down the corridor.

Luna continued skipping as though she hadn't noticed the water and the boys, after looking at one another and shrugging, followed after, trying their hardest not to grimace as cold water seeped through their shoes and socks.

As they neared the door Harry could hear moans and wails coming from within the bathroom. With a jolt of surprise Harry suddenly realized which ghost Myrtle Maloney was. "Of course, Moaning Myrtle." Harry whispered to his friends. "How could I have forgotten? Hermione would've known straight away."

"The one who was fighting with that house elf?" Dean asked.

Harry nodded and sped up, ignoring the way that his robes had soaked up water all the way to his knees. Luna pushed the bathroom door open and beckoned for the five boys to follow.

"We can't go in there. It's a girl's bathroom." Ron protested as Seamus forged ahead through the water, causing tiny waves to form and lap at the ankles of the other boys.

"It's outta order, 's not like there's gonna be any girls in there to complain." Seamus said, reaching the door and pushing it open.

Harry followed him through the door and held it open for Ron, Dean, and Neville. Luna was waiting for them inside and had already begun an argument with Myrtle about the existence of what sounded like an imaginary creature.

Ron glanced around the bathroom and grinned lopsidedly at Myrtle. "Did you flood this whole bathroom yourself?" Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the impressed tone of Ron's voice.

"Of course."She huffed crossing her arms and glaring at them. "You shouldn't be here, you're boys!"

Ignoring her comment, Ron frowned and surveyed the bathroom again. "Why?"

"Because, it's a girl's bathroom."

"Oh, I know that, I just told Seamus we shouldn't come in here. I meant why did you flood the bathroom? Did Peeves ask you to?" Ron asked still looking mildly impressed.

"Because, I'm a ghost and ghosts can't cry."

"Why were you crying?" Harry asked wading across the room.

"You boys ask too many questions." Myrtle said sulkily before grinning frighteningly and answering his question with relish. "Well, here I was, minding my own business, sitting in the U-Bend of that toilet there when this book fell straight through my head." She swooped to the ground and pointed accusingly at a small black book on the floor of the bathroom. "Well, you'd understand my outrage; people always think they can poke fun of me because I'm dead. Throwing shoes at me because I can't feel it, dropping dungbombs down my toilet, you living students are all the same."

Harry looked down at the book and took a step forward to retrieve it, but was stopped when Ron flung an arm around his waist to stop him. "Don't, it could be dangerous!"

"Dangerous?" Harry snorted. "That's ridiculous, how could a book be dangerous?"

"You'd be surprised," said Ron, who was looking apprehensively at the book. "Some of the books the Ministry's confiscated Dad's told me — there was one that burned your eyes out. And everyone who read Sonnets of a Sorcerer spoke in limericks for the rest of their lives. And some old witch in Bath had a book that you could never stop reading! You just had to wander around with your nose in it, trying to do everything one-handed."

"It seems strange, but weirdly that little anecdote makes me think about Hermione. I wonder why that could be." Seamus said, pretending to be deep in thought.

"I dunno." Harry shrugged. "Wandering around all the time with your nose stuck in a book, doesn't sound at all like her."

Luna rolled her eyes at the boys and said, looking at Ron. "Don't be silly; what would Ginny be doing with a dangerous diary."

"Ginny?" Ron asked.

"She's your sister." Luna explained.

"I know that." Ron said scowling. "How do you know that's Ginny's diary?"

"She sits with me in the library sometimes. I don't have many friends; most people think I'm rather odd." She shrugged stepping forward and fishing the book out of the water. "I suppose the nargles must have stolen it from her, they do like to steal people's possessions."

Ron mouthed 'nargles' to the other boys and Harry heard Seamus and Dean's muffled laughter from behind him.

Pocketing the book Luna smiled at the boys. "I'll return this to Ginny now; I bet she'll be wondering where it's gone." She then turned to Myrtle. "I'll see you later, Myrtle."

Once Luna had left Ron turned to his four friends with a look of astonishment on his face. "Wow, she really is quite... interesting isn't she?"

Harry snickered at Ron and Myrtle scowled and said. "Interesting isn't the word I'd use. She's loony. Loony loopy Luna Lovegood. Lonely loony Lovegood."

"Loony Lovegood and Moaning Myrtle, you could start a band, 'the weirdo's' or something along those lines." Seamus mused, trying not to smile as Neville elbowed him in the ribs.

Myrtle puffed up her chest and looked just about ready to start crying again. Stepping in front of Seamus, Neville smiled sympathetically at the ghost. "We've come to ask you something Myrtle, but it's on a rather personal topic."

Myrtle tilted her head to the side and floated lower to look closer at the boys. "Really? No one ever asks me personal questions."

Neville blushed but proceeded to ask his question. "We want to know about your death?"

Myrtle beamed widely and floated closer to the boys. "It really is a brilliant story." She floated backwards into a stall and, if possible, her smile grew wider. "I died right here, in this very stall. I hid in here and was crying because Olive Hornby was making fun of my glasses again. Well, I showed her, she came looking for me and found me laying on the floor all dead and stuff. It was excellent, you should've heard her scream, and then I jumped out at her, floated right through her body." Myrtle giggled with cruel delight and floated higher into the air.

Harry rubbed the back of his neck felling uncomfortable and forced himself to smile. "Uh, yeah, it sounds great, Myrtle, but what we really want to know is how you died."

"Oh well, that's not very interesting at all. I heard a voice outside the stall; it was a boy's voice. I opened my door and came out to ask him what he thought he was doing, I saw bright glowing eyes and then I just died." She sighed theatrically. "I didn't even know who did it so I couldn't even haunt him."

"You didn't see who did it?" Dean asked.

Myrtle shook her head. "No, all I saw was bright orange eyes and then I was floating."

"But the Daily Prophet said someone had been caught." Ron protested. "Surely you know who it was."

"Of course I do. Tom Riddle caught Rubeus Hagrid hiding a monster in a dungeon cupboard not long after I died. But I know he didn't do it, everyone in the school knew that Rubeus was keeping an acromantula. I wasn't in Ravenclaw for nothing, you know. Acromantulas can't kill people by just looking at them; even stupid 'act before thinking' Gryffindors know that." She sniffed and floated down. "Rubeus was a Gryffindor half-giant, it shows doesn't it, keeping dangerous creatures in a cupboard without thinking, typical Gryffindor behaviour. Dippet was stupid to think he was the heir of Slytherin. I imagine that's why Dumbledore let Rubeus stay on as grounds keeper."

Harry sighed. "Why is it everyone blames Hagrid? This is just making me feel worse for suspecting him."

"Do you think we should go talk to him?" Neville asked.

Harry shook his head. "No. I wouldn't want him thinking we believe it's him, I bet there's plenty of people blaming him already. We'll have to go down and visit him soon and just act like we don't know how he got expelled."

OOOOO

Harry spotted his aunt and brother waiting at the platform before Hermione did. He ran at them, launching himself into his brother's arms and hugging him tightly around the neck.

He released his brother when Hermione approached and pulled his aunt into a cuddle. "Aunt Tuney."

Petunia bent down and returned Harry's hug with surprising strength for such a thin woman. "Oh, I've missed you. You'd think after last year I'd be used to an empty house, but with you three gone everything is just so quiet."

She kissed Harry on the forehead and let him go, turning to Hermione and pulling her close. "I'll not want to let any of you go back to school after the holidays. Helen and David have been working rather a lot, and since his promotion earlier this year, Vernon's hours have been longer." Aunt Petunia let go of Hermione and picked up Hedwig's cage. "I've been meeting up with Remus in York every now and again and I'm ever so grateful to Augusta Longbottom. We've been meeting for afternoon tea every Monday since the Christmas holidays, she really is a lovely woman. Although, I wonder why none of you thought to warn me about the size of their home." She shot the three children a glare.

Harry grinned sheepishly. "I didn't realize you'd be particularly interested. What did you think of Mrs. Longbottom, she's a bit scary, don't you think? Her brother's quite fun though."

"I suppose she could seem rather formidable, yes. She told me all about Neville's parents; of course, I knew some of the story, but I wasn't expecting their injuries to be quite so severe." She set Hedwig's cage on the floor by the station fireplace and fished around in her handbag for a small box of floo powder.

Dudley and Hermione went first and Harry was just about to drop his handful of powder into the flames when his aunt grabbed him by the arm. "Augusta told me about your visit to the hospital and how you read to Frank." Tears glistened in her eyes and she smiled at him. "You're so much like your mother. I think she is the only person who could possibly have been more proud of you than I was at that moment. You're a very good boy, just like Lily. It really is astounding how much you're like her. Remus, of course, has told me about your father and you're a lot like him too, but you're sweet and caring just like your mother." She pressed another kiss to his head and let go of his hand.

Harry smiled at his aunt and turned to the fire dropping his handful of floo powder, his voice shaking slightly as he called, "The terrace." into the flames. People always liked to compare him to his parents. It was great hearing about how brilliant his parents were, but it meant all the more coming from Aunt Petunia, telling him he was like his mother was the highest praise she could give him.

He pulled his trunk into the flames and clutched it close to him as he began spinning.

OOOOO

"Dudley, Harry, Hermione, would you please come downstairs and set the table?"

Harry folded his Hogwarts option form in half, set it down on the desk and stood up, stretching. Before they'd set off on the Hogwarts Express, Professor McGonagall had given all of the students who were leaving the school for Easter a set of sheets about their options for third year.

Severus had spoken to Harry about it at the start of the holidays and he had received three rather helpful letters from Cedric, Neville's grandmother, and Percy Weasley. In the end, deciding he couldn't be outdone by Hermione, Harry had chosen to take all of the subjects on offer. Even Muggle Studies, despite the fact that he knew he wouldn't actually be learning anything new in that lesson.

Dudley, who had been teaching Hermione to play one of his new video games, turned off his game console and helped Hermione to her feet.

"Okay, Mum, we'll be right down." Dudley bellowed downstairs as they left his bedroom.

The trio headed downstairs to the dining room where they met Aunt Petunia who handed Harry a stack of plates, Hermione a handful of candles, and Dudley a basket of placemats, cutlery, and napkins.

Harry set his plates down on the table and sighed as his aunt left the room. "Why does she never trust us with the candles?"

Hermione sniffed and said sarcastically, "Yes, I wonder."

"Hey, that's not fair. I'm pretty good with fire." Harry protested as he and Dudley began putting place mats around the table.

"I'm sure that the fact you know that is part of the reason Aunt Petunia won't give them to you." Hermione said, setting her candles out neatly down the centre of the table.

Dudley narrowed his eyes as they stepped back to admire their handiwork. "Do you know who's in for tea? There's nine plates."

"Well, it's Easter dinner so I would assume that everyone would be here. Uncle Vernon is back already, my parents should be getting home now, and I know for a fact Severus will be here." Hermione said counting names off on her fingers. "Who's the ninth person? Marge isn't coming is she?"

Dudley shook his head. "Not 'till summer."

"What about Moony?" Harry asked.

"No, he wouldn't test the wards like that." Hermione answered, shaking her head.

"Maybe Aunt Petunia just got it wrong." Harry said shrugging.

Dudley shook his head. "No, she doesn't get stuff like that wrong; she likes big dinners to be perfect. You know that, Harry."

"Well, I suppose we will just have to wait until whoever it is gets here. It will most probably be someone who knows about Hogwarts, we haven't been asked to let the owls out or not speak about magic." Hermione said.

Aunt Petunia entered the dining room and inspected the table. "Ah, good, you're done. You'd all best go upstairs and change for dinner. Dudley, Harry, I've put you each a jumper and trousers on your beds. Hermione, dear, I've put a lovely pink dress on the bed in the spare room with the blue walls."

The three children nodded and headed upstairs to change into their dinner clothes. Under normal circumstances, Aunt Petunia wouldn't make them change for dinner; however, for special occasions she always liked to pick out outfits for them.

In his bedroom Harry found a thin burgundy cashmere jumper and a pair of dark jeans, he'd never seen the outfit before and so assumed that his aunt had bought it for him on her trip into town earlier in the week.

Digging a belt out from the bottom of his wardrobe Harry wrapped it around his waist and fastened it. Once dressed, Harry exited his bedroom and ran into Dudley on the landing. Aunt Petunia had dressed Dudley in a similar outfit, although his jumper was a dark green colour, which, in Harry's opinion, made him look particularly caterpillarish.

Harry stifled a laugh and followed his brother downstairs, heading into the kitchen for Aunt Petunia to inspect them.

"Oh, don't you two look handsome." She gushed as she strode over to them, examining their clothes.

Aunt Petunia bent and used a napkin from her pocket to wipe a smudge from Dudley's cheek. She then stepped over to where Harry was standing and pulled a comb from the pocket of her apron. She tugged it through Harry's hair and he tried not to wince as she added water to the comb in an attempt to make Harry's usually unruly hair lay flat.

She only managed to wrestle the comb through Harry's hair six times before giving in, even then all she'd managed to do was give Harry a headache and break several of the teeth from the comb.

Sighing, Aunt Petunia extracted the broken bits of comb from Harry's hair and put it all back in her apron pocket. "I'll have to ask your uncle when he arrives if there are any potions which might help to tame your hair." She sniffed. "You obviously got your hair from your father and that habit of yours doesn't help, running your hand through it every five minutes, as if it isn't messy enough."

Again, Harry had to stifle a laugh. Aunt Petunia really didn't like his hair; she said that the messiness reflected badly on her as though they didn't own a comb. Normally she just ignored his hair, picking out clothes to bring out his eyes so other people wouldn't notice the messiness either. She usually only tried to get him to neaten it around special guests; glancing at his brother, Harry could see that he was thinking the same thing, 'who was this extra guest?'

Just as he was about to voice his question, Hermione skipped into the kitchen. She was wearing a pretty pink party dress which Aunt Petunia must have gotten when she'd bought Harry and Dudley's jumpers. Harry smiled as Aunt Petunia turned to Hermione, fussing over the dress and the matching pink headband she'd used to pull her frizzy hair back with. It was no secret that she saw Hermione as the daughter she'd never had, and despite the fact that Hermione didn't particularly like wearing dresses or pink clothing she humoured her aunt. Even going as far as to accompany Aunt Petunia on her shopping trips to try on all of the outfits Aunt Petunia picked out for her, a feat which neither Harry nor Dudley had ever managed.

Hermione smiled and twirled obligingly on the spot so that Aunt Petunia could see the dress from all directions.

Harry jumped at a loud popping sound outside the front door. Seconds later the front door banged open and Severus swept into the kitchen looking frantic. "Petunia. You're ready, there's not going to be any mishaps is there?" He narrowed his eyes and glanced at Harry and Dudley.

Dudley crossed his arms. "Why did you look at us like that when you said mishaps?"

"I have not yet forgotten your birthday dinner two years ago when you and Harry were sent to your rooms for throwing handfuls of food at one another." Severus said stiffly as he bent to inspect the meat Aunt Petunia had in the oven.

"Well, that's not fair at all. If I remember correctly, which I do, you were the one who hexed both of us." Harry said, adopting Hermione's bossy tone and crossing his arms.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "It was a simple stinging hex and I used it to stop the two of you ruining the dining room. Regardless of this, I implore that the two of you are on your best behaviour today." If Harry didn't know his uncle better, he would have said that he looked nervous.

"What about Hermione? Doesn't she need to be on her best behaviour?" Harry asked.

"Hermione doesn't need to be asked to behave at the dinner table." Severus said, running a finger along the top of one of the work surfaces and inspecting it for dust.

Aunt Petunia glowered at him. "I assure you, Severus; you will not find a single spec of dirt in my kitchen. If you're so desperate to clean something, then you may sort through Harry's school trunk."

Severus cleared his throat, looking slightly abashed. "I'm sorry, Petunia; I just can't help but worry. I want so very much for you to approve."

Aunt Petunia enveloped Severus in a hug. "We're your family, Severus, we'd approve of your decision no matter what." She leaned back and inspected him, smiling slyly. "Anyway, you loved my baby sister. I think we've already proved that your taste in women is rather fine."

"I still do and I didn't think I could love anyone as much as I loved her, I'm still not sure that I can, but... well, Lily really was one of a kind."

Hermione's eyes widened and Harry felt, through the bond, realization of something striking her. He frowned and tried to catch her gaze, but Hermione's attention was focused upon Aunt Petunia and Severus.

"Who is she?" Hermione asked, eyes shining brightly with excitement. "Do we know her? How did you meet her?"

Severus smiled and checked his watch. "You'll find out shortly."

Harry narrowed his eyes and looked between Hermione and his uncle, trying desperately to work out what it was they were speaking about. "Wait." He said hesitantly, realization slowly dawning. "You have a girlfriend?"

"What makes you say 'you' in such a tone?" Severus asked, looking rather threatening as he glowered down at Harry.

"Well you're just so... Severus." Harry pulled a face and shivered slightly. "Everyone finds you frightening and... well- did you use a love potion?" Harry narrowed his eyes at his uncle and adopted Hermione's scholarly voice. "Only last term Professor Lockhart told us all how you are oh so excellent at brewing up love potions, so what did you use? A Montmorency brew? Theia Mania? Or was it Amortentia? I bet you'd be able to do that, I read in 'Moste Potente Potions' that it's pretty difficult, but you are one of the most skilled potions masters in the world."

From the look on his face, Severus appeared to be torn between feeling flattered at Harry's compliment, offended by Harry's assertion that he would need a love potion to get a girlfriend, and impressed by Harry's potions knowledge. His face contorted in a way which Harry found particularly amusing and he cleared his throat. "And how, may I ask, did a book like 'Moste Potente Potions' come to be in your possession?"

"I bought it, I thought you must have read it before, otherwise I'd have offered to lend it to you. I lent it to Hermione so I think it'll be in her trunk if you want to have a look at it."

"Don't tell me you got it from Knockturn Alley." Severus said, rubbing his eyes with the palm of his hand.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, I bought it in a little used book shop in Hogsmeade. Me and Hermione have gotten quite a few books from there, rather good ones I might add too. Some of them are in the restricted section and whilst it's not difficult to go in there and get them ourselves we much prefer owning them."

Hermione silently shook her head in irritation and let out a long breath.

Severus' expression turned pained and he sighed. "Merlin, I knew you were like your father but..." He sighed again. "Because of you I'm going to go prematurely grey, fistfights with Slytherins, sneaking places where you ought not go, and investigating things which are better left alone. I don't suppose I can even blame Finnegan and the Weasleys' influences. Please don't tell me that you've actually tried to make anything from that book, the easiest potions in that book are Owl level and I don't think my NEWT class could successfully brew even half of those potions."

Harry felt Hermione shush him through the bond and he forced a laugh. "Of course not, I only bought it because I'm interested in potions, that's your fault, you know."

"Not necessarily." Severus said shaking his head. "It may be genetic. Your mother was always better than me at potions and if you can believe it, after her I was considered to be the best student at potions since before our professor was at school. Lily had an apprenticeship with Libatius Borage, a rather celebrated potions master. If she hadn't had to go into hiding with you and your father she would be working for the Department of Mysteries now."

Aunt Petunia clapped her hands together and looked up at the clock above the kitchen sink. "Right, well, she'll be here in five minutes. Hermione, do you want to go call your parents to the table? They arrived home whilst you were setting the table." Hermione nodded and left the room and Aunt Petunia turned to the two boys. "Right, Harry, would you get three glasses out of the cupboard for yourself, Dudley, and Hermione. Dudley, please make a jug of juice to go on the table."

Harry hummed a song to himself as he reached up to the cupboard where Aunt Petunia kept the glasses. Stacking them onto a tea tray he made his way to the dining room, walking slowly so as to avoid dropping the glasses as he'd done on several occasions.

As he was putting the final glass at the place where Hermione usually sat, a sharp rap on the door echoed through the house. Tucking the tray under his arm Harry darted through the pantry and into the kitchen.

Aunt Petunia, who was standing over the stove when he entered, turned to Harry and once again pulled the comb from her seemingly bottomless apron pocket. He managed to duck past her first attempt at pulling the comb through his hair, but his attempt at escape was foiled when he ran into Uncle David who had just walked into the kitchen with Hermione and Aunt Helen.

He felt Aunt Petunia's hand close around his shoulder. Fortunately, at that moment, the entire room fell silent as the front door opened and Severus greeted the person on the doorstep. Aunt Petunia gasped and ushered the three children into the dining room along with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Helen and Uncle Dave.

Harry tried to protest but Aunt Petunia silenced him with a sharp shake of her head. "The poor woman will be nervous enough without us all standing gawping at her. You can wait until Severus brings her in to meet her."

Harry scowled at the floor and shuffled through the pantry and into the dining room, taking his usual seat at the table between Hermione and Uncle Vernon.

The constant buzz of Hermione's excitement, which Harry could feel through the bond, made Harry feel on edge and jumpy and constant tapping of Harry's feet under the table seemed to be annoying Uncle Vernon. For the third time since sitting down at the table, Harry ran a hand through his hair, Hermione nudged him under the table. "Stop it, Aunt Petunia will be furious when she sees you, your hair looks as though you've just gotten off of your broom."

Harry twined his fingers together on his lap and squeezed both hands tightly together trying to stop himself running his hand through his hair again. "It's your fault. You're making me jumpy."

"I'm sorry, I can't help it. Aren't you excited? I wonder who she is."

Harry shrugged. "I suppose I want to know if she really does like him or if he's just confounded her."

Hermione elbowed him in the ribs and glared. "This witch will only know you as Harry Potter and not as the irritating rule breaker that you really are, so don't frighten her."

"It'll be all right if Sev's gone for someone his own age, then she'll know all about my dad and Moony, so she'll be expecting a mini-marauder. In fact, I might actually disappoint her, since if she's expecting a marauder, I don't particularly like attention, I won't be at all what she's expecting. So, Hermione, what you're suggesting is that I should act up instead of behaving like normal Harry."

Hermione's nostrils flared slightly and she kicked him viciously in the side of the leg. "That's not at all funny. You don't need a magical bond to know that Severus is nervous, so behave."

"Sorry, mother." Harry said bending over to rub his leg whilst at the same time trying to keep his head above the table.

Hermione sniffed and shot Harry a warning glare as the dining room door opened and Severus stepped in. A frightened looking woman followed close behind him. Harry sat up straight in his chair and carefully scrutinized the woman. She looked slightly younger than Severus, maybe by three or four years. Her hair was blonde and neatly braided around the front of her head in a way that reminded Harry of a crown. The woman was not thin, nor was she overly large, if Harry had had to have picked a word to describe her he would have said plump.

He tilted his head to the side and watched as she entered the room. He was quite certain he'd seen the woman before but couldn't quite remember where. Her face was rather plain, but her eyes were big and a rather pretty shade of blue. She was definitely a witch, Harry noted as Severus gestured for her to sit in a seat between him and Aunt Petunia. She was wearing purple witch's robes and Harry could see the handle of her wand poking out from one of her pockets.

"Charity, this is my family, Vernon, Dudley, Petunia, David, Helen, Hermione and Harry." Severus said, pointing to each one of them in turn as he said their names. "This is my... girlfriend Charity Burbage."

The woman, Charity smiled politely to them. Harry stood up, and, copying what he had seen Percy Weasley do countless times, he held out his hand and said, "It's lovely to meet you." Severus watched with narrowed as Harry and Charity shook hands. Harry glared at him indignantly and said to Charity, "Have I had the pleasure of meeting you before?"

Hermione sighed in exasperation and through the bond Harry felt her do the mental equivalent of stepping on his foot. She then smiled eagerly at Charity and, leaning over the table, said. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor; I'm very much looking forward to taking your class next year. It'll be ever so interesting to learn about Muggles from the Wizarding perspective."

"Professor?" Both Harry and Dudley asked.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Did you even bother to find out about any of the subjects you signed up for?"

Harry crossed his arms in indignation. "Of course, what do you take me for?" In truth, Harry hadn't bothered to find out anything about any of the new subjects he would be taking. And, despite it all being rather helpful, Harry had ignored all of the advice he had been given, instead signing up for every lesson on offer so as not to be outdone by Hermione.

"Of course you did." Hermione said before turning back to Charity. "So did you meet Severus at school, Professor? How romantic, it's almost like in Romeo and Juliet."

"How is it almost like Romeo and Juliet?" Harry asked, not giving Charity a chance to answer Hermione's question.

Aunt Petunia, who had just entered the dining room carrying a plate of roast potatoes glared at him, but Harry, who was staring at Hermione in bemusement, didn't notice.

"Well, they're from opposing groups, aren't they?" Hermione said. Across the table, Severus was shifting uncomfortably in his chair whilst Charity blushed a violent shade of crimson. "Severus is the head of Slytherin and an ex-death eater, and Professor Burbage is the Muggle Studies professor and from what I've read of her books seems to be rather pro-Muggle. The death eaters hate Muggles, like with the Capulets and Montagues"

"And how does that make them like Romeo and Juliet?" Harry asked. "I've read that play and not only is the language really confusing, but its utter nonsense; it's not romantic at all, it's just stupid."

"The play shows how deeply Romeo loved Juliet and how they fought to be together."

"It's just silly, why would anyone kill themselves like he did at the end, they barely knew each other."

"So you'd never give your life for someone you love?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I jumped in front of that cutting hex Voldemort sent at you." Harry said, rolling up his sleeve so Hermione could see the scar that ran the length of his forearm. "I think I would, like my mum did, but I wouldn't do what they did, what good is it both of you being dead?"

"Because they we're so in love that they both felt they couldn't live without the other."

"Yeah, well, that's a load of rubbish too, isn't it? I mean, Romeo said at the start that he loved that Rosie girl, so obviously, he wasn't all that sure what love really was."

Hermione sniffed and added a Yorkshire pudding to the plate her mother had filled for her. "I pity the girl you end up with; you don't have a romantic bone in your body."

"That's not fair at all." Harry protested. "I thought you were supposed to be all clever and a realist, if you look at it objectively, then you can see its nonsense, no one falls in love that quick."

"You're not supposed to look at it objectively, it's a romantic tragedy."

"Yeah, a tragedy, so why are you comparing Severus and Charity's relationship to it?"

"I suppose that is a good point." Hermione conceded, not looking particularly happy about it.

Harry smiled happily at having, for the first time in what felt like years, proved Hermione wrong.

"You two will most certainly be an asset to my class; we spend a whole term studying Muggle literature." Charity said, watching Harry and Hermione bicker with a slightly indulgent smile. "And as I am in a relationship with your uncle, I see no reason for you to call me 'Professor' outside of school."

"You'll soon see that Harry and Hermione are both rather brilliant students, Hermione is the cleverest witch in her year as I'm sure you've heard Filius say in the staff room; I dare say the poor fellow feels rather put out by the fact that she was sorted into Gryffindor. Harry, of course, does just as well as Hermione because he can't bear to let her beat him in any subject." Severus said, beaming proudly at Hermione.

"That and the fact he has Hermione's notes to copy from." Dudley added with a grin as he poured liberal amounts of gravy all over his mashed potatoes.

"I beat Hermione in several subjects last year and that was with Wood forcing me to practice Quidditch every five minutes and Voldemort trying to kill me every other day."

"I'm still struggling to believe Quirrell would do such a thing. He and I both taught muggle studies for several years before he took his year off to travel." Charity shuddered. "To think you-know-who possessed him for a whole year." She shuddered again and then shook her head. "This really isn't a topic for discussion at the dinner table, I'm sorry."

"It's perfectly all right, dear." Aunt Petunia said smiling at Charity. "Dudley and Harry regularly discuss matters such as this at meal times; I'm afraid to say we're all rather used to it by now."

"Oh, I completely forgot. I've brought a couple of bottles of elf made wine to thank you for your hospitality." She pulled out her wand and then blushed. "You don't mind, do you?" She asked Aunt Petunia, nodding at her wand.

"Of course not, in fact I find it rather refreshing that you thought to ask." She shot a pointed look at Severus, who arched an eyebrow and shrugged indifferently, skewering a chunk of lamb on his fork and taking a bite of the meat.

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AN: A very big thanks to my beta, Bitch Goddess and also thanks again to everyone who reviewed and added me to favourites and alerts.