Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

"How? No way he won't see the three of us." Ron said. "Ahh," He said approvingly when Harry removed his Invisibility Cloak from his bag.

"Harry, no way," Hermione glanced over at Mrs. Weasley. "It's too dangerous. Especially for you."

"We'll be invisible Hermione," Ron said.

Hermione sighed and ducked under the cloak along with Ron and Harry. Luckily, everyone else was too busy in examining Fred and George's products to notice that they had disappeared. The trio squeezed their way through the doorway.

"Where did he go?" Harry asked in frustration, though he kept his voice quiet. Hagrid was standing near the door, humming to himself.

"There he is," Hermione whispered. "He just turned left."

"He's going into Knockturn Alley," Ron said with a gulp.

"I don't think we should go -"

"Hermione, we have to know what he is up to," Harry insisted, ignoring the part of his brain telling him this was a bad idea.

Knockturn Alley was mostly deserted, most of the shops didn't appear to have any customers.

"There he is, in the corner next to Borgin and Burkes and it looks like he's with...oh Merlin," Ron gulped.

"Who is that? He looks familiar," Hermione said, keeping her voice low.

"Fenrir Greyback. You've probably seen his wanted poster in Diagon Alley." Ron said, his voice tense.

Greyback. Harry knew that it was Greyback who had turned Remus into a werewolf when he was only five years old. This man was dangerous and was known for wanting to turn as many people into werewolves as he could. He allied himself with Voldemort, although he was not technically a death eater.

"We should go," Hermione whispered nervously.

"Wait," Harry maneuvered them closer, ignoring the alarmed looks on his friends faces. "We should find out what they are up to."

"So will you help me?" Draco was asking Greyback impatiently.

Fenrir Greyback sneered at the pale, blonde teenager. "Do your mummy and daddy know you are asking me to help you?"

"Of course not," Draco scoffed. "They wouldn't approve of my plan or of my asking the likes of you for help."

"The likes of me?" Greyback growled.

"What a git, doesn't he realize he talking to a very dangerous murderer?" Ron whispered with a shake of his head.

Draco cleared his throat. "I just meant...well, they wouldn't approve of my idea. But it's a perfect plan to prove myself to the Dark Lord so that he will make me a death eater. And you'll be rewarded, of course."

"It's a foolish idea," Greyback said. "The person you are after will see you coming a mile away. As much as I hate to admit it, he is very powerful. You'd do better to leave it to the Dark Lord to make the plans."

"But he's weak right now," Draco said in a whiny voice.

Fenrir Greyback gave a mean laugh. "You're lucky lad, that I am not a real death eater. Otherwise I would take you to him and let him know what you just said."

Draco paled.

"I could find a way to let him know," Greyback mused then chuckled darkly. "But I know how he feels about my kind. The same way your parents do, the same way you do." He leaned forward and bared his teeth. "You think I'm beneath you, but just wait. Someday I will have an army of my own and then, boy, you will bow before my kind."

"You're mental!" Draco drew out his wand as Fenrir took another step toward him. "Try anything and I will hex you! If you don't want to help me, fine. I'll find another way to achieve my goal of proving my worth to the Dark Lord."

Greyback rolled his eyes and yawned. "Run along home little boy. You're boring me." His eyes darkened. "And don't ever try to contact me again. You're nothing Malfoy. Nothing except dinner to the likes of me," He snapped his teeth together, which sent Draco running out of the Alley. Greyback looked around suspiciously, sniffing the air before disappearing into the shadows.

"Oh Merlin, I thought he would sniff us out," Ron said in shaking voice as the trio hurried out of Knockturn Alley.

"I'm surprised he didn't hear my heart pounding," Hermione breathed out.

"We better get back," Harry said. "I wonder what Draco wanted to do to prove his worth to Voldemort?"

"It can't be anything good," Hermione said. "The Order should know, shouldn't they?"

"Uh, how are we going to tell them without telling them we were in Knockturn Alley?" Ron asked sarcastically. "My parents would flip."

"Yeah, so would mine," Harry murmured. He flushed. "I mean, Mum and Severus would flip." He ignored the disgusted look Ron was giving him.

Hermione continued on as if Harry hadn't said anything strange. "Still, it's important for them to know right? That Draco has been in contact with Fenrir Greyback and is planning something?"

"Maybe we can say we overheard him at Madame Malkin's?" Ron suggested.

Harry was about to agree when the three of them bumped into a wall. Only it wasn't a wall.

"Well now," Hagrid's voice boomed as he tore off the Invisibility Cloak. "We've been lookin' everywhere for you three." His voice was full of disappointment.

"We, uh, just stepped out for some fresh air," Ron said weakly.

"Using the cloak?"

"Well yeah, for protection," Harry tried to smile but had a feeling it came out as more of a grimace. "We wanted fresh air but didn't want to risk any death eaters seeing us."

Hagrid was still looking at them suspiciously. "I was standin' right here. Yeh couldn't have said somethin'?

"We didn't want to bother you or anyone else," Hermione spoke up. "It's really crowded inside the joke shop. We just wanted a moment away."

Hagrid's face softened a bit but before he could say anything else, the door opened and a very worried and angry Mrs. Weasley stepped out. "WHERE have the three of you been? Do you have any idea how worried we were? How dare you leave without one of us with you!"

Harry winced. He had a feeling Mrs. Weasley wouldn't buy their story as easily has Hagrid. He knew for sure his mum and Snape wouldn't.

/

Harry sat at the dining room table with Cora as Mrs. Weasley, his mum and Severus talked in the living room. He sighed.

"Is Young Master in trouble?" Cora asked in concern.

"Probably. I usually am," Harry said with a wry grin. He ran his hand through his hair. "My friends and I did something kind of stupid and even though nothing bad happened, it could have."

Cora wagged a long finger at him. "Young Master needs to take better care of his safety. Cora would be heartbroken if something happened to Master Harry." Tears filled her eyes at the thought.

"So would we," Lily said from the doorway where she stood with Severus. Both their expressions were livid.

"Nothing happened," Harry sighed.

"No? So you didn't draw your wand on Narcissa Malfoy and Draco?" Severus asked, disapproval clear in his voice.

"How did...Hagrid tattled on me?" Harry frowned. Hagrid must have told Mrs. Weasley about that. He must have really upset the gamekeeper for him to do that.

"Maybe Cora should make some tea?" Cora asked, wringing her hands together. The tension in the room was pretty thick.

"Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you Cora," Lily said as she sat down across from her son. She raised an eyebrow at Harry. "Why don't you tell us what happened, starting with Madame Malkin's?"

"We got new robes."

"Do not be cheeky!" Severus snapped. "You know what she is asking about."

Harry slumped in his seat. "There may have been words said, wands drawn. But it was their fault! Draco called Hermione a Mudblood as soon as he saw us and then his mother was saying how Lucius tried to help us at the Ministry and we should be grateful." He shook his head. "She brought up Sirius and how I must feel guilty for getting him killed...she made a threat of meeting with you, Mum. It wasn't an outright threat but..." He shrugged. "What was I supposed to do?" He fiddled with his teacup that suddenly popped onto the table, along with a plate of biscuits.

"Hmm, walk away?" Severus suggested with a touch of sarcasm in his voice as he poured himself and Lily a cup of tea. "Leave the shop and wait until they left before going back in?" Oh, he understood how difficult it would have been for Harry to do those things. But the teenager had to learn to control his temper, otherwise it could cost him his life.

"Those are very hurtful things that the Malfoys said," Lily said quietly. "I understand you and your friends being upset. But Severus is right, you three should have walked away. You of all people know how dangerous they are, especially Narcissa. She is death eater, if she had made a move to attack you, to take you to Voldemort..." Lily took a deep breath. "I couldn't bear it Harry, if something happened to you. It would destroy me." The last sentence was said hoarsely, as she fought back tears at the thought of losing her son again.

Harry felt horrible, guilt settling in his stomach. "She wouldn't have tried anything, not with Lucius trying to act like he's a good guy and all."

"We don't know what she would do if provoked," Severus spoke up. "She is protective of her family and if she thought she could get away with it, no doubt she would take you straight to Voldemort. Anything to put Lucius back in his favor."

"Okay, I didn't think but the things she said-"

"Were meant to be hurtful. Were meant to provoke you," Lily interrupted. "As difficult as it is, you have to ignore it. Words are a powerful weapon and if they know they can get a rise out of you, they will use it just as they use their wands in a fight."

"There is a reason we have been practicing Occlumency," Severus said impatiently. "Occluding would have helped you to not get upset, to control your temper. Did you even think of trying to do that?"

"No," Harry muttered, feeling stupid. Why didn't I do that? He scolded himself. Losing his temper during a fight could be disastrous.

"You will work on it and do better," Severus said firmly.

"I will," Harry promised.

Lily reached across the table and grabbed Harry's hand, giving it a warm squeeze. "We know you will." She leveled him a firm look. "Now, where did you, Ron and Hermione go when you were supposed to stay with an adult?"

"Um,"

"Harry."

"Well,"

"Harry."

"Uh,"

"Harry!"

"You're going to get mad," Harry said unhappily.

"Too late," Severus grumbled.

"Harry, you can tell us anything. If it makes us mad, we'll get through it," Lily said. "What reason could possibly be so important that you would risk your safety?"

Harry bit his lip and drummed his fingers on the table. "Okay, we saw Draco. Through the window of George and Fred's shop. I wanted to know what he up to as he was all alone."

Lily sighed while Severus's eyes darkened. "Where did you follow him to?" He asked in a dangerous voice. He had a pretty good idea where the Malfoy brat would go.

Harry swallowed. "Um, Knockturn Alley? We were under the invisibility cloak!" He added hastily, leaning back when both his mum and Severus's eyes flashed with anger.

"You went there again? I thought we discussed this," Lily said, trying to control her own temper. "I could understand why you would risk it before, you did it for me. But just to follow Draco Malfoy?"

"He's up to something!" Harry insisted. "He met with.." He trailed off, think mentioning who Malfoy had met with would not help the situation.

"Just spit it out." Severus snapped.

"Okay, just let me finish before you kill me okay?" Harry pleaded. "He met with Fenrir Greyback and wanted him to help him with something. Some plan he has to prove his worth to Voldemort so that he can become a death eater sooner. Greyback wouldn't help him but Malfoy has some scheme he wants to accomplish and it can't be anything good!"

Lily just stared at him. "Can I kill you now?"

"Are you insane?" Severus hissed at Harry. "Will you ever learn to take your safety seriously? Do you have any idea what Fenrir Greyback would have done to you and your friends if he had discovered you? He attacks whether he is in wolf form or not!"

Harry winced. That did not give a pretty picture.

"Maybe there is a spell I can create that will give you a good jolt anytime you try to enter Knockturn Alley," Severus mused. "You obviously can't keep away from there."

"Don't you think it's important to know what Draco is up to?"

"It's certainly suspicious and I now wonder what the little twerp is planning," Severus agreed. "Finding out is not worth you life however. Or the lives of your friends. All three of you could have been killed."

"You were told to stay with the adults," Lily said with a shake of her head. "You were told not to go off on your own. I have to admit Harry, I'm.." She hesitated.

"Mad? Furious?" Harry asked glumly. This feeling was awful. Now he understood why Ron and Hermione hated getting scolded by their parents. It was horrible to know he had let them down.

"Disappointed," Lily said softly, her eyes showing the pain that admission caused her. She didn't want to say it but it had to be said. For his own good.

"Oh," Harry could feel tears welling up in his eyes and he abruptly stood up. "I – I should go to my room."

"Harry, sit back down," Severus said, his voice more gentle than it had been during this discussion.

Harry obeyed but avoided making eye contact with either adults.

"I love you Harry, nothing you could ever do changes that," Lily said. "It doesn't change even if I am disappointed with your decision making. I'm still proud of who you are, Harry."

"Right," Harry said, still looking away.

Lily shared an exasperated look with Severus and stood up to go over to her son. She sat down next to him and put her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. "I mean it. I think you are an incredible young man. An impulsive one perhaps," She teased. "But incredible."

"I'd add occasionally foolish to that but all in all, I have to agree," Severus spoke up.

Harry relaxed into his mother's arms. "I'm sorry."

"Still," Severus gave Lily a pointed look.

"Still," Lily agreed. "There are consequences for what you and your friends did. I know Mrs. Weasley is dealing with Ron as well as Hermione since she is staying with them. Despite summer being almost over, they are on restriction and will be doing a lot of chores from what I heard her muttering to herself as she was flooing away."

Harry sighed. "So I'm on restriction as well? I can't see my friends?"

"Not until school starts, which is soon anyway," Lily said, a small smile on her face at the sorrowful look on her son's. "Also no flying."

"And I have plenty of cauldron's that need cleaning," Severus bit back a laugh as Harry's face grew even more despondent. Teenagers, honestly.

"I could use help cleaning and organizing my classroom," Lily added. "We'll be going to Hogwarts a day before school starts."

Harry's face brightened. He loved Hogwarts and didn't mind helping his mum with her classroom at all.

Severus winked at Lily when Harry wasn't looking. "Mr. Filch could probably use some help getting the castle ready for the students."

Harry's mouth dropped open. "What? No way! I'd rather scrub cauldron's and cut up disgusting ingredients for the rest of my life!"

"Duly noted," Severus smirked.

Harry's emerald eyes narrowed. "You're having me on."

"Maybe." Severus took a sip of tea.

/

Harry spent the last days of summer cleaning cauldron's, helping re-organize Severus's lab, and helping his mum plan her classes. Even though he couldn't see his friends or fly, at least he got to spend time with his mum and Severus. They even spent the evenings playing chess and Gobstones. Severus was actually really good at the Gobstones, rarely getting squirted in the face by the putrid liquid. He told Harry that his mother had been Captain of the school Gobstones team during her fifth year.

Finally, it was the day before school started and time to go back to Hogwarts. Harry was so excited, he could hardly sit still at breakfast. He couldn't wait to have the castle almost to himself, and then tomorrow he would see his friends. He had decided not to go on the train ride to school as to avoid the questions and looks he knew he would get. He wanted to put that off as long as possible. But despite knowing he and his mother would be the topic of conversation, he still couldn't wait to see everyone.

"You do remember I will be acting like I usually do in class?" Severus interrupted his thoughts.

"Yeah," Harry said with resignation.

"It's just an act, I won't mean any of it," Severus continued. "Unless I think you aren't paying attention to your work, then I might mean some of it."

Harry mentally rolled his eyes and reached for the pumpkin syrup to pour over his waffles. "Yeah, I figured that."

"I will also have to act like that in the hallways and Great Hall, even today. Not all the professors are Order members." Snape continued. "We can't risk talk of any suspicious behavior getting back to Voldemort."

"How will you be acting around Mum?" Harry asked curiously.

"Indifferent," Snape answered.

"Should be a fun time for all," Lily teased as she joined them for breakfast.

"You look excited," Harry commented.

"I am. I can't wait to set up my classroom," Lily said happily.

"Which I'll be helping you with," Harry grinned.

"I could use some help in my classroom too," Severus smirked.

"I will get to wander the castle before it's full of students won't I?" Harry asked pleadingly. "And maybe fly the in the pitch? I'll have it all to myself."

"No you won't," Lily said.

"No?" Harry's face fell. He supposed the no flying punishment stood until tomorrow.

"I'll be using it too," Lily grinned at him. "A fly in the early evening sounds wonderful."

"Brilliant!" Harry exclaimed. "Can we go now? My trunk is all packed."

"Let us finish our tea and you finish your fruit bowl," Lily pointed her fork at his plate. "It will hopefully counter all the sugar in the syrup you drowned your waffles in."

"Yes Mum," Harry grinned. He couldn't believe how normal this felt, having breakfast with his – well, with his Mum and Severus. He had always imagined his friends having a nice breakfast with their families before leaving for school. He himself had been the one to make breakfast for his Aunt, Uncle and Dudley and was lucky if he got to have any of the leftovers. Of course, he made up for the lack of breakfast on the Hogwarts train, eating from the trolley. But now he got to enjoy a real family breakfast of his own. Only for him it was better because he got to have his Mum and Severus at Hogwarts with him. As for Severus having to pretend to hate him, he was sure he could handle it. After all, it's not like he hadn't had a lot of practice over the years, he thought in amusement.

TBC: