Enjoy! And once again a big thank you to ethulinda for all her help and inspiration for this chapter! Seriously without her my muse would have never made it through this one :)
Harry looked down at his completed Herbology essay with a small grin. He hated doing homework but today it wasn't so bad. Snape had said that he could work in his study and that alone lifted Harry's spirits. It was silly really, that sitting at Snape's big desk made a difference but it did to Harry. It made him feel more like he was at school. It made his work seem more official in some way.
He rested his head in his left hand as he looked down at his list of other assignments. He debated working on Transfiguration or even studying for his Defense exam. He yawned loudly at the idea of doing either. He knew he didn't really need to study all that much for Defense. Despite the fact that he had barely answered a single question right when Remus had tried to quiz him, he did know the material. He felt his ears burn slightly at the memory of how he had acted with Remus.
His right hand slowly ran across the top of the desk before falling down the side, settling in on playing with the brass handle on the second drawer.
He knew that he should do some more school work but he was further ahead than he had been at this time last week and he had managed to get it all done then. He brought his right hand back up to the top of the desk covering a large yawn with it.
He sat up straight before pushing his chair back a bit. He looked down at the drawer handle that he had been idly playing with.
Snape had never told him to stay out of his desk. It was more of an unspoken rule. Actually the man hadn't given him any rules at all as far as what he could and could not do in his study. Harry had been surprised by it. When he had asked Snape if he could work in there he had expected the man to hand down about five million rules but Snape had just given him permission without hesitation and without a single warning.
Harry glanced up at the clock. There was only half an hour until Snape would be home.
He reached out playing with the brass handle once more. He knew that he shouldn't. Even if Snape hadn't come right out and said it he was sure his guardian wouldn't be happy about it. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what Snape kept in his desk.
Before he could talk himself out of it, he quickly opened the drawer as far as it would go. He peered in for a moment, not touching anything. There was a bunch of parchment with writing on it but nothing that looked of any importance.
Harry's right hand traveled into the drawer, carefully flipping through the edges of the parchment. Halfway through he noticed that there was a photo tucked in between the parchment. However, he had flipped by it too quickly missing his opportunity to pull it out. He began to slowly leaf through the papers once more, stopping this time when he saw the corner of the photo. Carefully he pulled it from its place tucked between the parchment. His breath caught in his throat as he saw the full photo.
He had never seen a photo of her so young but he didn't doubt for a moment that it was his mum. Harry's right finger gently ran down her face. The picture wasn't magical - she was not moving. She was stuck as she was, a small smile gracing her lips.
Harry swallowed hard as a lump began to form in his throat. She was younger than he was now in the photo. At the oldest she was nine or ten.
He leaned back in Snape's large chair, using his foot to push the drawer back shut as he held the photo in his hands. How could Snape have never showed him this?
He stood up, the tears now clinging to his eyelashes as he walked out of the study and towards the parlor. He sat on the couch, curling his legs under him as he continued to look down at his mum, the tears now slowly rolling down his cheeks. He didn't even care if Snape got mad at him for going into his desk. His guardian should have told him...he should have showed it to him.
His left hand moved to his face, brushing the hot tears away as his right hand kept a firm grip on the photo.
A moment later the floo roared to life. Harry's head turned, locking eyes with his guardian as concern immediately swept over the man's face.
Snape quickly moved to the couch. He sat down next to Harry, moving the boy's hand slightly to see exactly what he was looking at. As he realized what the photo was he felt his heart skip a beat, his breath catching in his throat. "Where did you find this?"
"In your desk," Harry answered honestly and without hesitation. "Sorry. I probably shouldn't have been in there."
Snape nearly began scolding the teenager for his actions but he couldn't bring himself to do so. Instead he gently wrapped an arm around the boy and pulled him to his side. "You remind me of her quite often."
Harry glanced up at the man surprised by his actions and the words. He had half expected to be chided and sent to the corner. "H-how?" his breathing hitched softly as he tried to get his tears under control.
"She would put others before herself quite often - a trait that on occasion you take too far."
"I miss her so much," Harry said softly as he continued to clutch the picture. "I didn't even know her and I miss her so much."
Snape looked down at the picture. He found it hard to look at. She was so young - so innocent. "Of course you miss her, she is your mother. It is only natural that you do." He paused for a moment pulling his gaze from Lily's eyes. "She would be quite proud of you."
"She'd be proud of you too," Harry replied without hesitation.
An amused sound escaped Snape's lips as he looked down at his son. "You think so, hmm?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded brushing the last of the tears from his face. He was thankful that they had finally stopped. "I think she would be happy I am with you...even if you are mean sometimes." Harry couldn't help but add the last words. Though if he was honest with himself, Snape was never mean without good reason.
Snape smirked softly at the words. "She would tell you to watch your cheek." He pulled Harry a bit tighter to his side before releasing his grip slowly. "I miss her too," he confessed in a low voice.
"Is that why you keep her photo away?" Harry asked curiously before he could stop himself. "Does it make you sad?"
The question caused Snape's breath to catch in his throat once more. Surely he couldn't be completely honest with the boy. He couldn't tell him how terrible it made him feel nor how he blamed himself for her death. "Yes," he answered honestly. "Very much so."
Harry glanced up at the man, taking his eyes off the photo for the first time in several long moments. "I'm sorry I brought it out. I didn't mean to make you sad. I just never saw her this young…"
Snape swallowed hard at the words. "We should find a spot for her out here. She deserves to be out. Perhaps on the mantel?"
Harry wanted to nod eagerly at the idea but instead he shook his head. "No, that's okay."
Snape nodded knowingly as his fingers gently tapped the boys knee. "It's okay Harry."
"I don't want you to feel sad all the time...it's not fair to you. I can put it back where I found it." His gaze was no longer on the photo but on the fingertips that were now tapping his left knee.
"I would not have offered it if I was not okay with it," Snape replied. "Place her wherever you wish."
Harry considered the words for a moment before nodding once. "Maybe on the mantel?"
"A fine place for her," Snape decided as his fingertips stopped for all of a moment before tapping the boys knee a bit more firmly. "On a side note - stay out of my desk Harry James."
Harry felt his ears burn at the light scolding. Snape's voice was stern but it didn't exactly sound angry. Still, stern was more than enough for Harry. "Sorry," he offered in a sincere voice. "I was just bored."
Snape raised an eyebrow at the words. "Did you not have school work to occupy your time? Hmm?"
"I finished my Herbology essay," Harry replied hoping his words would impress the man. "And I studied for Defense too." It was a small lie but honestly he didn't have to study. He knew he would pass the exam with ease.
Snape gave an approving hum before clearing his throat. "Boredom does not equal snooping around my study however." Despite his annoyance at the teenager going through his desk he had to admit that he was impressed by how much Harry had accomplished. Perhaps working in the study did help him concentrate more.
"I wasn't really snooping," Harry tried to justify his actions as the heat from his ears moved down to his cheeks. "I only went into one drawer. I swear!"
Snape tapped the boy's knee firmly once more. "Do not let it happen again young man."
Harry instantly nodded in agreement. "I swear I won't. I promise Snape, really."
Silence reigned for several long moments before Snape tapped the boy's knee gently. "Shall we have some lunch then?"
Harry walked over to the kitchen table where his guardian was sitting hunched over a stack of papers. He watched Snape as he graded an exam, his quill making a thick line through an incorrect answer.
"Did you need something Harry?" Snape's eyes did not leave his work.
They had finished dinner only thirty minutes prior. Snape had carried his work into the kitchen the moment that the table was clear instructing Harry to go play.
Harry had refrained from telling the man that he didn't play. Instead he had taken Bane outside for twenty minutes, playing a quick game of catch with his pet. It was getting cold out though and Harry was bored of throwing the ball.
"I'm bored," Harry admitted despite knowing that Snape would just suggest he do more school work.
"I believe you have plenty to do," came the reply as Snape marked another answer incorrect.
Harry made a face at the words. "I already did a ton of school work today."
"Perhaps go tidy your room then," Snape suggested his eyes still on the exam in front of him.
"My room isn't even that bad," Harry replied softly. He watched as Snape wrote a note next to one of the answers. "Can I help you grade?"
Snape raised an eyebrow at the words, his gaze rising from his work for the first time since Harry approached him. He was silent as he considered the request. "Grading papers is not a game Harry James. I happen to take doing so very seriously."
"I know that," Harry answered. "I didn't think it was a game." He paused for a moment as his guardian continued to stare at him with his eyebrow raised. "Come on Snape please? I've been doing pretty good in Potions and if I don't know if the answer is right I will ask you."
"These are first year's exams Harry," Snape replied in a stern tone. "If you do not know the answer to one of these questions," he motioned down to the stack of exams in front of him, "you will be starting Potions over with the first years when you return to Hogwarts in the fall."
Harry didn't doubt that the man was being serious but he couldn't help but grin. "Does that mean I can help?"
"Against my better judgement you may," Snape nodded. "Go to my desk and get a quill."
Snape watched as the teenager practically ran out of the room. He shook his head in disbelief at his own actions as he took a small amount from his large pile and set them in front of the seat next to his.
"Maybe I can help you more often too?" Harry asked as he returned to the kitchen and quickly slid into the seat next to Snape, quill now in his hand.
"I think we should see how you do tonight before you get ahead of yourself," Snape mused.
Harry looked down at the stack of exams in front of him. "How do I do this?"
"Pay attention to the spelling and grammar," Snape instructed sternly. "Do not write any comments or correct any work. A simple line through an incorrect answer is plenty."
Harry nodded eagerly in reply. "Anything else or is that it?" He didn't want to mess this up. He wanted Snape to trust him to help and he definitely didn't want to get into trouble over this.
"You will take this seriously Harry or so help me you will stand in the corner until I am done with my work," Snape said in a firm tone. "And if you have a question you will ask me instead of guessing. Understood?"
"Understood," Harry answered with a nod. "I already said I would ask you. I promise I will."
Before Snape could respond or change his mind, Harry let his head drop, his attention now on the first exam in his pile. He carefully read over the words.
Snape watched the boy carefully for several long moments before he decided that his son was taking his task seriously enough, his own head dropping as he went back to his grading.
Ten minutes went by before Harry made his first mark, making several more without a word before he moved on to the next exam. He rested his head on his free hand, continuing to work on the papers with no issue. He was actually enjoying it. It was almost soothing in a way. It was an odd feeling.
"Do you enjoy grading?" Harry asked as he moved the first exam in his pile over, setting to work on the next.
Snape's head stayed down at Harry's question. "I enjoy seeing that my students are learning. I enjoy it more so when I do not have to mark many questions wrong." His quill made another harsh line before writing a comment next to it. "Why? Are you enjoying it?"
"I mean..." Harry made a few more marks, making a face at an answer before he continued on. "Yeah I kind of am." It was clear to see, even with the first years, who was much more interested than others. "Do you ever notice if like muggle borns show more interest in doing their work than those raised in wizard families?" He couldn't help but think of Hermione. She had researched so much about Hogwarts before they even entered the school.
Snape hummed softly at the words as his quill continued to move. He paused for a moment considering Harry's question. "I think there is a fair mix of both Muggle borns and Purebloods that excel at their work. The same can be said of those students who are lazy. And then there are students that simply dislike me or Potions and do not try due to that...take yourself for example. You were hardly an ideal student for your first two years." Snape moved the exam he was working on to the finished pile and started on the next.
Harry's quill made a line through an incorrect answer as he shrugged at Snape's words. "I was just taking notes my first day in class and you said I wasn't paying attention. That put a bad taste in my mouth I guess. You didn't exactly treat me fair." He spoke the last words softly.
"Perhaps not," Snape replied as he continued to grade the paper in front of him. "However you were hardly a model student. As I recall you spent most of your time goofing off with Weasley and not taking any of it seriously." Snape moved the exam he was working on to the finished pile and started on the next. "You could have avoided a number of detentions had you just done your work and paid attention."
Harry took a breath, making marks as he moved on at a steady pace. "I've gotten better at least." He offered, glancing up briefly.
"Much," Snape agreed with a nod. "Though you are still a cheeky brat."
Harry was sure he should be offended at the words but he couldn't help but grin before focusing his attention back to the exam in front of him. Snape calling him a cheeky brat had somehow become comforting. A term of endearment in a way.
"When we are done here I want you to tidy your room as I have a potion to work on in my laboratory."
"I can't help with that instead?" Harry frowned at the paper he was marking, making it hard to tell if he was frowning at the words he was hearing or reading.
"Do you need to be reminded of what happened the last time you helped?" Snape questioned referring to the Wolfsbane incident. "I hardly think either of us want a repeat of that." His voice was at its normal tone but it held an underlying sternness that Snape knew Harry would hear - even if he did not wish him to.
Harry cringed inwardly at the memory, swallowing as he chose his next words carefully. "You know I wouldn't mess up again... I told you I'd be a lot more careful next time."
Snape hummed softly at the words as he went back to his grading. "Finish the task you are working on now and I will think about it."
A fresh grin crept onto Harry's face as he set back to grading. That wasn't a no - not yet at least.
Silenced fell upon them for over an hour. Harry worked intently at grading the papers. He resisted the urge to write the correct answers or any comments next to wrong answers. He made sure his lines through the incorrect answers were perfect. And he didn't have to ask his guardian a single question.
Harry placing the last piece of parchment onto his own finished pile. "Done." He placed the quill on the top of the pile.
"Without asking a single question at that," Snape mused as he moved another exam to the finished pile. "I must say I am impressed Harry James."
Snape moved on to the next exam in his now small pile. He moved the pile slightly guessing that he had roughly seven exams left to grade. "Thank you for your help. You may go tidy up your room."
Harry wanted to argue but instead he choose a different route. "So I can't help you with the potion?" He asked in a soft voice.
Snape glanced up from his work, looking at his son. "I told you I would think about it. I am still finishing my work here and in the meantime you will tidy your room." His eyes went back down to his work as he crossed out an incorrect answer and jotted down a note next to it.
Harry sighed heavily, pushing his chair back before standing. He didn't want to argue and make the man decide right then. He knew he wouldn't let him help if he did. Instead he pushed his chair in and slowly walked out of the kitchen, heading for his bedroom.
Snape continued his grading until his pile was complete. He moved it aside before pulling Harry's pile in front of him and going over the boys work, writing down notes next to incorrect answers as were needed. He couldn't help but admit to himself that he was quite impressed with the teenager's work.
As he finished working on the last exam he slowly stood. He had given great thought to the idea of Harry helping him in his laboratory.
He climbed the staircase hoping that Harry had done as he had asked and cleaned his room. If he hadn't, Snape was sure that he would not be able to hide his displeasure.
Snape walked down the second floor hallway realizing that Harry had left his bedroom door open. He paused in the doorway to see his son placing several of his books back, the rest of the room looking quite clean. Not amazingly perfect- but much better.
Hearing the floor creak slightly, Harry glanced over his shoulder at his guardian. "Hi." He finished placing the books on the shelf above his desk before leaning back on his desk chair.
"You did quite well grading those papers," Snape replied, not moving from the doorway. "Quite well indeed."
"Thanks," Harry beamed. "Does that mean I can help you with the potion?"
Snape nodded in reply before clearing his throat, "You have one chance in the laboratory Harry. I expect you to pay attention and do as I ask. Failure to do so will not end well for you or your backside. Understood?"
"Understood," Harry answered without hesitation. "I promise Snape. I won't mess up."
"Very well then. Come on before I change my mind."
Snape turned and walked out of the room with Harry only a step behind him, unable to keep the smile from his face. He couldn't help but think that Snape's trust in him had grown over the course of the evening.
Snape made his way down the staircase and turned the corner heading down the hall to his laboratory. He opened the door and stepped inside, glancing over his shoulder to see Harry right behind him. "Shut the door so that Bane doesn't end up in here as well."
Snape went to his supply closet pulling several ingredients from the shelves and then walking over to his large work table and putting them down.
Harry shut the door firmly behind him, leaning against it while he watched Snape gather the materials.
Snape silently summoned a stool to move closer to him before tapping it firmly and waving a hand, beckoning Harry over. "Come sit."
Harry pushed himself away from the door and went over to the stool. He peered at all the ingredients, becoming slightly overwhelmed for a moment as he sat down. "What potion are we making?"
"Felix Felicis. I need it as an example for my sixth year class later this week."
Snape moved a large cauldron to the burner and turned it on low. "See that ashwinder egg?" He pointed across the table. "That can go in the cauldron along with three tablespoons of horseradish."
Harry leaned over, carefully picking up the egg and looking it over. It was clearly frozen- bits of ice having formed along the outside. "Sad..." He murmured, placing the egg into the cauldron before he started to measure out the horseradish. "What is Felix Felicis?"
Snape rolled his eyes at the murmuring as he adjusted the heat on the cauldron, watching the child carefully out of the corner on his eye. "It is a potion that makes the drinker lucky for a period of time; during which anything they attempt will be successful." He pointed across the table once more. "Juice that squill bulb and add that please."
"How do you juice it?" He took the item, placing it in front of himself as he glanced up at Snape. He was completely relying on his guardian.
Snape glanced down at the teenager before pointing to the mallet on the table. "Use the mallet and gently extract the juice from it. Try not to make too much of a mess as you do please."
Harry blinked as he grabbed the mallet, gently pressing down on the bulb until a slight crack ran through it. With a grin, he lifted it above the cauldron to allow the juice to drip into the concoction. "There."
"Very good," Snape nodded. "Now stir it for a few moments at a fast pace." He leaned his head down adjusting the heat of the cauldron once more.
Harry picked up the large wooden spoon next to the cauldron and began stirring quickly. He held his breath praying that he was doing it right. He knew if he made a mistake his guardian would have no problem telling him immediately. Still, sometimes it was hard to see the mistake before it happened.
"Very good," Snape said softly. He could practically feel the tension radiating off of his son's body. While he wanted Harry to pay attention, he hardly wanted him to be so nervous that he made a mistake from his nerves alone. "Stir that for another thirty seconds and then you may stop. When you do so you can chop this up." He reached over and picked up a large jar full of what resembled a sea anemone. "Be sure to chop it into small pieces." Snape picked up a sharp knife and placed it next to the jar before giving his son a serious look. "Stir for thirty more seconds."
Harry nodded seriously as he began silently counting to thirty. At exactly thirty seconds he stopped stirring, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
"What is this?" Harry couldn't help but ask as he pulled the jar closer to himself and removed the item within it. He made a face as he started to chop it up into pieces.
"They came from the back of a Murtlap. Not the most pleasant feeling substance but it's very useful." Snape glanced down at Harry's work. "Chop the pieces a bit smaller."
Harry did so, going back to the ones he already sliced up and making them smaller. "The whole thing right?" Harry continued to chop them up, gently nudging the completed pieces further away with the knife.
Snape nodded as he watched Harry's actions carefully. "The whole thing and then you can add it to the cauldron. Once it is all in there you are going to stir it for exactly one minute - exactly one minute Harry." His eyes bore into the teenager, even a second more or less would destroy the entire potion. Snape silently prayed that he hadn't made a colossal mistake by allowing the teenager to help him.
Harry tensed just slightly once more. He could feel Snape's stare on him and he knew the man was serious. "Okay." Harry took a breath as he finished cutting the ingredient and added it to the potion.
Once he did so, Harry kept a mental clock going in his head, counting from one to sixty. His gaze didn't leave the potion as he stirred it.
Snape nodded as Harry stopped at exactly a minute. "Excellent," he praised as he adjusted the heat on the cauldron once more. "You need four teaspoons of thyme and you need to wait twenty seconds in between adding each one." Snape reached out and grabbed the jar of thyme as well as a teaspoon and set them down next to Harry. "You need to breath as well - you are doing just fine. You needn't be so tense."
Harry looked at Snape finally, giving a small smile at the compliment. "Okay." He sighed, quite visibly relaxing as he opened the jar. He added the first teaspoon, waiting the correct amount of time before adding the next.
Snape hummed softly as he watched the teenagers actions carefully. When the last teaspoon was added Snape cleared his throat softly, "Stir it slowly for roughly ten minutes." He glanced up at the clock. "I will let you know when to stop."
Harry nodded at the words, his gaze not raising as he started to stir slowly. He concentrated hard on his stirring. This was exactly where he had messed up before and he was determined not to do so again.
Snape watched the boy, his eyes moving to the clock to check the time every so often. "Do you want to finish it or is it starting to bore you?" He honestly wasn't sure if the teenager was concentrating that hard or if he was bored out of his mind.
"I want to finish it." Harry instantly stated, continuing to stir before he allowed himself to relax slightly once more. "I've gotten this far."
Snape nodded as he reached across the table and picked up the metal grinder placing it next to Harry. "Stir that for another 45 seconds and then you can take the occamy eggshell right there..." he pointed down the table. "And grind it up before adding that as well."
It suddenly dawned on Harry that he was doing everything. Snape had been keeping an eye on the cauldron and its heat but he had been getting the ingredients ready and measuring everything out. A swell of pride rose within Harry as he finished stirring, moving and grabbing the eggshell carefully before he started to grind it up.
Snape adjusted the heat on the burner once more as he watched the teenager carefully. He couldn't help but feel impressed at how well Harry was doing with a potion that was taught to students much older than him.
"Once that eggshell is in there is should start to resemble molten gold. Should it not something was not done correctly." Snape kept his tone at a normal pitch. He hardly wanted to make the boy any more nervous than he already was.
"I think I've done everything right so far," Harry replied as he slowly added the now crushed up shell. He swallowed heavily as he stood up slightly to watch the color as he added the last bit. He had been so careful. He was sure if he messed this up Snape would never let him help again. He was also sure that he would never forgive himself if that happened.
Snape watched the potion, his eyes shifting to his son as it began to change resembling molten gold. "Very impressive Harry James," he said in a soft praise. "You need six tablespoons of powdered common rue. It should be right over there." Snape pointed past Harry to a small collection of jars in front of the teenager and to the right. "Make sure you count out six exactly - one more or one less and it will cause all your work to bubble over and be destroyed."
"How do you have all of this memorized?" Harry couldn't help but ask as he leaned away slightly to grab the needed jar. Pulling it to himself, he sat back down and opened it carefully. Grabbing the tablespoon, the teen carefully counted in a soft whisper as he measured it out.
Snape waited until Harry had counted out all six before answering. He hardly wanted to distract the teenager and be the reason he messed up. "I have been making this potion for a very long time - yearly since I began teaching and on other occasions as well. After so many times it became etched in my mind. I'm sure you know things about Quidditch inside and out that someone not as interested in the sport would not." He peered into the cauldron before adjusting the heat once more.
Harry rested back slightly after he added the ingredient, sighing as hoped it turned out right. "I guess so." He nodded, folding his hands on the table. "I enjoyed this though."
Snape hummed softly at the words. "I am glad that you did. However you are not done, you need to stir it forty times to the right. Exactly forty Harry James...make sure of that."
Harry nodded as he went back into action, starting to stir the potion with a look of concentration once more. His lips moved silently as he counted to himself.
Silence fell upon the room as he did so, finally stopping after just a few minutes. "Forty." He announced the final number as he stopped stirring.
Snape peered into the cauldron before nodding in approval. "Very good. Very good indeed. You should be quite proud of yourself Harry. You just successfully completed a potion that is intended to be taught to students two years older than you. I am quite impressed."
Snape lowered the heat on the cauldron to a simmer.
A wide grin took over Harry's face at the words of praise. "Does that mean I can help you again sometime?"
"As long as I see the dedication to it that you showed today you certainly can." Snape moved across the room picking up a lid and placing it on the cauldron. "A word of caution as well - do not ever attempt to brew this potion unless it is with me or in a classroom setting. It is illegal at Hogwarts for students unless it is given to you by a Professor. Otherwise the student caught with it is expelled. Trust me Harry, you do not want to find out how I will react if you are expelled."
Harry swallowed at the words, eyes falling back to the cauldron. He couldn't imagine making the potion for himself. His lips twitched slightly at the thought. He didn't even like taking potions the idea of purposely doing so, especially after he knew the ingredients, didn't appeal to him at all.
Harry winced as he looked at the clock. It was near midnight. He was supposed to be fast asleep. He likely would be fast asleep too if his scar hadn't started hurting.
He rolled over onto his side, burying his face in Bane's fur as tears clung to his eyelashes.
He felt immature. He felt like a baby. He just felt so damn childish. But he had promised and he wasn't going to go back on that promise - even if he did feel like the world's biggest dolt. And especially not after tonight. Snape had trusted him so much. He couldn't turn around and keep something like this from the man.
Slowly Harry sat up in his bed, his right hand instantly moving up to press down hard on his burning scar.
"Snaaaaaape!" He whined loudly.
A few moments later he heard the man's bedroom door open across the hall. The footsteps were moving quickly causing Harry to feel horrible about bothering the man.
"What is it?" Snape asked as he walked into the teenager's bedroom. "Are you okay?"
"My scar hurts," Harry answered as he swallowed hard in an attempt to keep his tears from falling.
Snape waved a hand causing the lights in the room to slowly illuminate to a dim. He walked over to Harry, carefully removing the boy's hand from his forehead.
Snape frowned as he inspected the scar. His eyes instantly noticing how close Harry was to tears. "I'll be right back."
Harry nodded miserably as his hand immediately went back to his scar. His tears were fighting to fall once more and he blinked rapidly in an attempt to stop them as he watched his guardian go.
He laid back down, his arm wrapping around Bane as he pressed his face into the canine's thick fur. His forehead felt like it was going to split right in half. The tears that had been begging to fall finally won their battle, now streaming down Harry's face.
A moment later Harry felt a gentle tap on his back. He swallowed hard before rolling over, his hands going to his face as he attempted to brush away the tears that had fallen.
"Sit up."
Harry pushed himself into a sitting position giving his guardian a desperate look.
Snape held out a vial. "Drink all of that."
"Snaaaape," Harry whined softly at the very sight of the vial. "I don't want to take a potion."
Snape frowned at the whine as he sat down on Harry's bed. "It is a pain reliever Harry and I did flavor it. Peppermint, as you like."
"I still don't want it," Harry mumbled softly. A particularly sharp pain seared through his scar causing him to wince, a loud hiss escaping from his mouth.
"It will help," Snape tried as he continued to hold out the vial, fighting to keep his temper. He felt bad for his child but the insufferable whining was enough to make him want to demand that the child take the potion.
A soft whine passed Harry's lips as he took the phial from Snape's hand. He brought it to his lips and quickly swallowed the contents. Before handing the now empty vial back to the man.
Snape took the vial out of the boy's hand and slipped it into his pocket before waving a hand beckoning Harry closer to him, a washcloth in his hand.
Despite feeling like an absolute child for doing so Harry wasted no time scurrying across the bed to his guardian's side.
"It's enchanted to stay cool," Snape said softly as he held the washcloth to the boy's scar.
Harry instantly leaned into the washcloth, the soft coolness feeling amazing on his scar.
"Is the potion starting to help?" Snape asked a moment later.
Harry nodded softly. "Thanks."
"Why don't you lie back down. You can keep the washcloth on your head."
Harry instantly obeyed the instructions, climbing back under his quilt as Snape folded the washcloth before leaning over and placing it over his scar.
"Did I wake you up?" Harry asked in a soft tone.
Snape shook his head. "I was reading."
"Oh." Harry sighed softly at the relief he was finally feeling. "Sorry I bothered you."
Snape's hand tapped his thigh lightly. "Do not apologize to me for this. You cannot control that it is hurting you. Furthermore I don't want you to ever apologize to me for calling for me when you do not feel well."
Harry felt the tears well up in his eyes once more at his guardian's words. His hands quickly went to his eyes, rubbing harshly at them in an attempt to make them go away. It never failed to amaze him how kind Snape could be when he was a complete dolt. He had spent so many days of his childhood sick or even upset all by himself without anyone to care and here was Snape in the middle of the night not minding at all that he had bothered him.
"How is your scar now?" Snape questioned.
"Better," Harry answered without hesitation. "It hardly hurts at all."
Relief washed over Snape's face. "You should get some sleep Harry James, it's quite late."
Harry nodded quietly in reply. He wanted to argue that it wasn't that late after all there were nights in his dormitory at Hogwarts where he had stayed up much later. He was kind of tired though and his pillow actually felt amazing.
Snape stood before he reached out and pulled the quilt up over Harry's shoulders. "Do you want something to help you sleep?"
Harry shook his head. The last thing he wanted was another potion. Besides he didn't think he would need any help at all.
"If you need me again just call me," Snape instructed. His right hand reached out and gently ruffled the teenager's hair. "You need a haircut," he mused softly.
"I like it like it is," Harry replied through a yawn.
Snape hummed softly at the words before adjusting the quilt over Harry's shoulders once more. He didn't want to leave the boy. For a moment he considered transfiguring Harry's desk into a bed for himself. He quickly forced the idea out of his mind. It was preposterous at best. Harry wasn't a toddler, he hardly needed to hover over him.
"Night," Harry said softly as he rolled onto his side, his left hand holding the washcloth in place.
"Goodnight Harry James."
TBC...