Chapter twenty one

The following morning Severus kept his arm around Harry as they walked slowly into the great hall. They saw James and Sirius sitting at the Gryffindor table eating breakfast.

'Some things never change.'

Harry chuckled, 'Reliving memories Sev.'

'More than I wish. So do you want to sit with them?'

'No, I can talk to them after breakfast while you're working.'

'If you wish,' Severus and Harry continued walking up to the staff table where Severus helped Harry into a seat beside Minerva.

'How are you feeling this morning Harry?'

'It's getting there and Severus makes sure I don't overdo it.'

'At least you listen to him.'

Harry scowled, 'I listen to all of you, I'm just not used to be fussed over.'

'No, you're not, but you only listen when it suits you. Now, the minister sent a letter this morning explaining he is organising the trials to start next week. He knows you are still healing, but he does need you there, so Severus can escort you unless you wish someone else to do it.'

Harry glanced at Severus who nodded, 'I would rather Severus be with me.'

'I'll let him know.'

'You know Harry, maybe you could have…James and Sirius attend, they would hear a lot more about what has been going on?'

'Not a bad idea Sev, I'll asked them later.'

'If they wish to go then let the minister know so he can make sure there are seats for them. These trials are going to bring in a lot of spectators.'

'Yeah, they will, let's hope none of them turn up for me and just to see justice done.'

'I'm sure you are part of why some will turn up. Now eat, you are still healing.'

'I'm hungry, so I'll eat,' Harry smirked then started to eat. He saw a familiar owl fly into the great hall with a red envelope in its beak, 'Oh no, sorry Sev.'

'What are you on about Harry?'

Harry pointed as the owl flew straight at Severus, dropped the envelope which instantly started to shout.

'Severus Snape, if you are dating my surrogate son then you will join the family for dinner, Saturday night at six, do not make me come after you. Make sure you treat Harry with love and affection, you have been warned,' the envelope burst into flames as the rest of the staff all tried to hide their laughter.

'I'm sorry, you know what Mrs. Weasley is like,' Harry blushed brightly as he looked down at the table.

Severus had been glaring until he noticed Harry's worried expression which instantly made his glare soften.

'This is not your doing Harry, I do not blame you, but I will be having a word with Molly.'

'You're power might be needed Harry, especially if Molly and Severus start talking about how to care for you,' Minerva said not trying to hide her amusement.

'They can't be as bad as Mrs. Weasley and Sirius, those two looked like they were ready to pull their wand, or Sirius and Severus who actually did pull their wands, with me standing between them.'

'Well, the mutt got on my nerves. But Molly needs to understand that you are not a boy anymore, you can look after yourself and anyone else who needs to be taken care of.'

'Sev, don't call him mutt, he might start on some of those names you do not like and I'll be back standing between you.'

'Harry has a point, so it's best to lose the names,' Minerva knew it would be difficult to stop Severus, James and Sirius from resorting to name calling, she just hoped that since they all care about Harry it might make them think first.

Severus helped Harry towards the Gryffindor table, 'If you want to sit outside for a while, you can keep me company while Sev works on the repairs?'

'We will, so how about we give you a hand so Snape can get to work?' James asked.

'Yes, that's fine,' Severus looked down at Harry who smiled up at him, 'I will join you later.'

'You know where I'll be…babe,' Harry smirked making Severus roll his eyes, 'Did you roll your eyes at me?'

'Yes, I have been called many things in my life Harry but never…babe. This is going to take some getting used to. Now remember, rest.'

'I will, stop fussing,' Harry kissed Severus before watching him leave the great hall.

James slipped his arm around Harry, 'Let's get some sun.'

Sirius and James got Harry comfortable then conjured chairs for themselves, 'So that howler?' Sirius shrugged.

'Mrs. Weasley, she fusses over all her kids but because of my life she always over does it with me. So it looks like all of us have a dinner to go to Saturday night. You two will have a good time, the twins are so much like you, but Charlie also has a playful side, when he's not working with dragons.'

'That's dangerous, so he works here in one of the reserves?' James askes.

'No, in Romania working with the big ones, like Hungarian horntails, the Ukrainian iron belly.'

'So he would have been working the night you faced the horntail?' Sirius asked.

'You read up on that as well,' Harry sighed, 'Yeah, a death eater disguised as Mad-eye Moody slipped my name into the cup. He might have been a death eater but while he was teaching defence we learn loads. He was the one that taught me to throw off the imperius curse, which I used the night Voldemort returned, pissed him right off that did.'

'So he used all three unforgivables on you?' James asked.

'Yeah, the killing curse twice, the cruciatus twice and the imperius once. Have either of you felt the imperius curse?'

'No, we were taught how to fight it off, it was earlier this year, but I admit I couldn't throw it off, most of our class couldn't,' James said.

'I taught the DA to throw it off, only the younger ones couldn't, like Nigel and Dennis, they were twelve and thirteen, but everyone else did, from fourteen up.'

'You must be a good teacher if you were able to teach them that,' Sirius said.

'I was nervous at first, but after a few lessons I really got into it. By the time the bitch found out everyone was able to use advanced spells. So did you read up on when Umbridge sent two dementors after me in Little Whinging?'

'No, we never read that,' James said.

'Because it was me that said Voldemort had returned she wanted to silence me. I ended up saving my fat cousin from having his soul sucked out then I was told I was going to be expelled. The order came to get me and explained that Dumbledore was working on it but I had to face the whole Wizengamot for something as simple as underage magic and I was being tried as an adult. But Fudge was an idiot and refused to believe Dumbledore and me about Voldemort. I got off but everyone was still under the impression I was making it up or I'd had my brain mushed.'

'We read so much Harry and listened to so many stories. But how, how are you sitting here right now and not in St Mungo's?' James asked.

'My friends, their support, when…Sirius died that was the only time I did consider ending it. If it wasn't for Luna I know I would have.'

'Did I hear my name Harry?'

Harry smiled, 'Hey there,' Harry hugged his friend before she sat on the grass beside him, 'How's your dad?'

'Healing, he asked me to tell you how sorry he was.'

'No need, he was trying to save your life Luna, I get that. It's why we worked out that when we escaped the death eaters would see me which meant he was telling the truth. They still destroyed your home though.'

'It will get fixed Harry, we have two rooms we can use until daddy can fix it. But Neville got us a tent so we eat in there, and use the bathroom in the tent but we sleep in the house. Daddy erected strong shields to keep the rest of the walls up. Oh Mr. Ollivander said when you're well he would like you to visit, he is making you another wand, as a thank you gift, he is also making Hermione and Ron wands as well.'

'Hermione will be pleased, she's still using Bellatrix's wand, but I don't need another, I have three now.'

'Yes, but he said this one was a surprise, he just had to make it for you.'

'Strange, I will see him, probably next week since I have to go into Diagon alley. So are you and Neville snogging a lot?'

'Oh yes, then we shagged, it was fun.'

'Everyone is shagging but me, I might have had some fun last night but it wasn't all the way. Oh well, you deserve it Luna, you saved my arse.'

'Your arse needed saving, I'm sure Professor Snape thinks so.'

'Oh he does, he thinks I have a cute arse,' Harry leant over and kissed Luna on the cheek.

James and Sirius might not know what Harry and the girl were talking about, but they still found it interesting and they were learning more about Harry's life.