Chapter twenty one

Even though Harry remembered everything and he knew he could take care of himself, Severus decided to be right beside him when the students came into the castle. But Severus was not the only one who was going to be close by, Filius Flitwick was going to be near, not too close but close enough to make sure the two red heads did not try to touch Harry or slip him anything.

Harry and Severus walked hand in hand up into the main castle, they stood just outside the great hall ready for the students to return. The moment they heard the carriages, Severus put his arm around Harry, keeping him close.

'I'll be fine babe and I have an advantage, wandless magic.'

'I know but they will see I will not allow them anywhere near you my love.'

Harry smiled up at Severus, since they had gotten to know each other Harry couldn't believe how affectionate and protective Severus could be, but Harry loved every minute of it.

'Harry.'

Harry heard the squeal from Hermione, he braced himself as she flew into his arms, 'I'm back sis.'

'Oh Harry,' Hermione started crying into his arms, 'I never thought you would remember.'

'The moment Severus went into my mind and found a memory of Sirius, it all came back,' Harry let Hermione go, 'I'm back, but I also brought that other Harry with me, the one that won't take shit from anyone.'

'I'm just so happy it's you again,' Hermione turned to Severus, 'Thank you Professor, you gave us back our Harry.'

'You're welcome, but just remember, his my Harry now, you just get to share him.'

'As long as we see him Professor,' Neville grinned then hugged Harry, 'Thank you so much for the gift mate. Gran said I went catatonic for a couple of hours after she showed me.'

'Speaking with all the staff, Hermione and Luna, I got to know exactly what you wanted. But I'm glad you like it Neville.'

'I love it, I really do.'

'I can't believe you got me all those books, some I have always wanted, but they were a bit pricey. You should not have spent so much Harry.'

'You're my friend and sister Hermione,' Harry grinned but he noticed Ron and Ginny glared at Severus as they walked passed. Harry wasn't worried about him, he knew Severus could take care of himself. But he would keep an eye on his love just to be sure.

'Harry Potter.'

'Luna,' Harry grinned then hugged his other friend.

'Thank you for the gift and I used it so I could give you a special gift,' Luna reached into her pocket then un-shrunk a gift wrapped present.

Harry smiled then took the large flat rectangular gift, ripping the paper off, 'Oh Luna, it's perfect, look Sev, it's us.'

'Yes, it is, it's beautiful Miss Lovegood, you are quite talented.'

'Thank you Professor, I did start a sketch of you and Harry last year, but with him gone I just couldn't finish it. Not until I saw Harry's gift, it's a wonderful art room Harry.'

'I used to love watching you drawer, so I knew you would use an art room.'

'We should get in, but we will spend time together now you remember.'

'We will Hermione,' Harry hugged her again then whispered, 'We have a way to catch them, just don't say anything.'

Hermione nodded as she let Harry go, 'Talk to you later.'

Harry watched as the last of the students walked into the great hall before Severus send the picture back to their rooms. Severus took Harry's hand and they walked hand in hand up to the staff table. Harry sat beside Severus but now Poppy was beside him as well. Ever since Harry had accepted the apprenticeship he knew this was the right career choice, so he liked to spend as much time with Poppy as he could.

Once dinner started Minerva leaned forward, 'They don't seem very happy do they Harry?'

'They overheard Hermione, Neville and Luna talking about their gifts, they also saw Sev's arms around me, keeping me close to him. They will not take him on, not with his reputation.'

'They would be foolish to try. Severus may be showing his…softer side, but you would not like to get on his wrong side.'

'I think we've all seen that side of Severus,' Harry grinned making Severus roll his eyes, 'I can't believe you just did that Sev.'

'As I said, you seem to bring out a side of me that I never knew I had.'

'I love every side of you,' Harry raised his eyebrows.

'Not in company Harry.'

'I wasn't going to say anything Sev.'

'Sure you weren't, eat your dinner my love.'

Harry nodded then dished himself up some dinner, but he couldn't help grinning as he stared around the great hall. He realised that he would spend the next four years here, here in his home and here with Severus.

It was the weekend and Harry and Severus were walking hand in hand through the grounds, heading to Hogsmeade when Hermione, Neville and Luna caught up with them.

'George invited us to the shop to show his new line,' Neville said.

'We're going as well.'

'Even Professor Snape?' Hermione asked.

'Yes, the twin's products might cause a few problems but they are quite ingenious.'

'I know they are going to be there, something about George asking for the whole family to join him,' Hermione said but noticed Harry and Snape glance at each other and knew this must be what Harry was talking about.

'Yes, we were told in case we decided to join George for the launch of his new products.'

Hermione gave Harry a nod to let him know she would keep an eye on them, 'Even though you never worried about what people thought of you Professor, this wouldn't look very good, you going into a joke shop when you always confiscate those products.'

'Yes, but it will allow me to see what product I may have to confiscate, but it also tells me which ones could be a problem. Especially like those ones that make a student sick.'

Harry, Hermione, Neville and Luna laughed, 'As Fred and George said, they allow the students an hour to skive off classes,' Harry said.

'Yes, so many students used that, but it made it difficult for Poppy to figure out who might be using one of those products and who might be truly sick.'

'The ones that took the sweat wouldn't go to see her, they just wanted out of classes for a while. But there were a few who couldn't stop being sick long enough to chew on the other end so they did end up seeing Poppy. I tried one, it took every big of concentration just to get that other piece into my mouth. They really have great imaginations, devious in some ways as well,' Harry said.

'Yes, they would have done well in Slytherin.'

'The hat said I would do well in Slytherin, that Slytherin house would help me on the way to greatness.'

'Then why did you not end up with the snakes?'

'I met Malfoy and found out about Voldemort, both were in Slytherin so I told the hat not Slytherin, not Slytherin,' Harry smirked up at Severus, 'It said Gryffindor. But I think I have always had a bit of Slytherin in me, I needed that cunning side over the years.'

Severus leant closer to Harry and whispered, 'You have a Slytherin inside you, but only this Slytherin.'

Harry grinned, 'Only you my Sev,' Harry noticed his friends watching and looking curious, 'You don't want to know.'

'I expect not, especially with the looks you gave each other,' Hermione smiled, 'But I don't care if I had to hear about your sex life, I finally got my brother back.'

'So you just used legilimency Professor and Harry was back?' Neville asked.

'Once I was inside Harry's mind, I realised his memories were all still there, he just couldn't access them. But we believed that if I could see a memory of Hedwig then Harry would remember her. I found one of Hedwig then decided to find a memory of Black and Lupin.'

'The moment Sev pulled out of my mind it was all there. The memory of Sirius was when he was telling me how Dumbledore caught dad and some girl having sex. Sirius had the cloak so he could sneak off with some boy. Remus kept telling Sirius not to go into so much detail, but I loved it. I was laughing so hard that one time I fell off the chair, I had tears falling down my face, but I wasn't sad, they were happy tears. Sirius was giving me a small glimpse into my parent's lives.'

'Black told you stories of your father, I am telling you stories of your mother. Soon you will know enough that you can at least say you do know a bit about them,' Severus tightened his hold on Harry. He might not have liked his father but he did have those memories, Harry didn't, but at least he could hear a bit about the two people that died protecting him. No, Severus will never like James Potter, but he does respect what he did for his son.