He contemplated asking his father about it – he knew that if anyone could discover its secrets Snape could but sadly Harry recognised that he was unlikely to get an opportunity to ask him about it any time soon. Lamenting over his fathers ever increasing distance he remembered his idea for reconciling Snape with his ex-wife. Would they all live happily ever after if he was reunited with his youngest son? Hermione thought it a terrible idea to meddle with his fathers emotions and refused to have any part in the plan but Ron was enthusiastic to try anything that might encourage the potions professor to lighten up a little – Harry wrote to the twins seeking contact information and advice on how best to approach her but they too were horrified by the idea. They believed Morgana Snape to evil beyond redemption and could see no benefit to reintroducing her to the household, not even with her return being accompanied by that of their baby brother. Harry could not believe she could be as bad as they made out but it made no difference if the twins would not be happy about their reconciliation then Snape could not be happy and therefore the idea was pointless and he gave up on it.
He had been so caught up with his own life; his schoolwork, the mysterious diary, corresponding with the twins, and vying for his fathers' attention that somehow three weeks had passed since he had returned to Hogwarts and he had yet to visit his friend Hagrid.
He had stopped them one evening in the Great Hall and invited them down to his hut for afternoon tea on Saturday. Harry had been looking forward to it all week but had felt so guilty about having neglecting his friend, a guilt that was further compounded when the kindly groundskeeper expressed surprise over the fact that Harry had chosen to return home for the Holidays and enquired with concern as to how he had fared with the Dursleys' for the duration.
Hagrid was the first man to be truly honest with Harry about what he knew of his past, he couldn't bring himself to lie to him but neither could he betray his fathers' confidence so he muttered something non-committal about having received only a toothpick for Christmas.
"Hagrid, did you hear about Nevilles adventures at the Northpole?" Hermione interrupted in an attempt to steer the conversation away from the Dursleys.
Hagrid shook his head intrigued and they launched into the tale. He was captivated and forgot all about Harrys' Christmas at the Durselys' as he professed to having always had a desire to work with magical reindeer. "They can be tricky little blighters sometimes" he advised "but I still think they are absolutely fascinating."
Ron rolled his eyes; Hagrid seemed to have an unnatural fondness for getting involved with difficult creatures.
They spent the rest of the weekend working on assignments in the library and relaxing in Gryffindor tower with their fellow students.
Harry had begun to take a new approach to his homework of late, in the past he would have set an assignment aside as soon as he had fulfilled the requirements and forgotten about it but since his time in Snapes' schoolroom he had begun to see the benefit of taking that little bit of extra time to read over them and make a few changes here and there before carefully copying each one out again in his very best handwriting.
Hermione was impressed with his change in attitude and urged Ron to follow suit but he just stared at them like they were crazy, what did it matter, his homework was done why should he stare at it for another hour? But it did matter and Harrys' results had improved tenfold since he had begun to apply himself just a little bit more to his schoolwork, an achievement he knew his father would be proud of even if he couldn't let on.
Severus was very proud of his eldest son, he had scored a wholly deserved outstanding on his last written assignment but he was growing very concerned that his practical work was starting to deteriorate. Poor young Harry seemed to be finding the distance he had enforced between them increasingly difficult and the boy was struggling to keep his attention on his brewing efforts as he desperately sought recognition from him.
He was going to have to do something to address the situation both before the Slytherins started noticing Potters strange behaviour and before the boy started failing.
He watched as Harry ambled into class on Monday morning behind Ron and Hermione. He frowned, perhaps it was not the secrecy that was distracting him from his work, perhaps it was simply that the boy was no longer afraid of him. Snape drew his robes around himself in an intimidating manner and glared down at the class as he waited for them to submit their assignments to him.
One by one his students stepped forward with trepidation, trembling slightly under his ferocious gaze as they dropped their parchments down onto his desk before scurrying back to their seats without meeting his eye. All that was except Harry, who sauntered up to him, bold as brass with a stupid grin plastered across his face.
"Do you find me amusing Potter?" He reproached
Harry blushed and quickly shook his head stammering "No Sir!"
"Sit" he snarled as the Slytherins struggled to suppress their sniggers.
Continuing to glare down at the class he shuffled the assignments taking care to ensure Harrys stayed at the top – it was the only one he was really interested in reading, and when the tension in the room reached fever pitch he began the lesson by flipping over the chalkboard to reveal the subject of todays lesson.
Having instructed them as to the required ingredients and how to go about preparing them Snape took his seat and began marking the assignments.
Harry looked up from his work station feeling a pinch of apprehension, It was always scary having Snape looking over your work but before he hadn't really cared what the potions professor actually thought as long as he didn't say anything too hurtful but now it mattered to him what his father thought of his work, he wanted to make him proud – he wanted to catch his attention.
And then while he wasn't concentrating he cut his finger on the knife he was using to chop the wormwood.
He dropped the knife, his hand was sore he looked mournfully up at his father willing him to comfort first Harry thought he hadn't noticed but then he met his eye and whispered something under his breath. Harry looked on in amazement as his skin knitted together before his very eyes without so much as one wave of a wand.
Harry was impressed and realised in the excitement of returning to school and everything that had happened over the holidays he had forgotten to keep practicing the wandless magic – he would have to show Ron and Hermione later, then maybe they could all practice together.
He looked across the room at Malfoy and grinned to himself as he imagined the pranks they would be able to play on him if they could master wandless spells but with his mind elsewhere he threw the chopped wormwood tainted with his blood into the cauldron causing some kind of adverse reaction and transforming his potion into a repugnant sludge. The stench drew his attention back to his classwork and he stared into the concoction scratching his head as he wondered what had gone wrong. He peered over at Hermiones, something had definitely gone seriously wrong.
Snape looked up from the assignments. "Mr Malfoy" he intoned silkily, "Please tell the class what colour your potion is at present."
"Violet Sir" he answered cockily.
"Very good, Mr Malfoy, 5 points to Slytherin" he replied with a smirk before rounding on Harry. "What colour is your potion Potter?"
"Green"
"Green what?"
"Green Sir"
"Yes and what colour is it meant to be?"
"Violet"
"Precisely, so why is yours green?"
"I don't know Sir."
Snape waved his wand vanishing the potion. "This is a core potion Potter, you will return at 19:00 tonight to brew it again, now go and wash up that glassware."
Harry turned from his bench struggling to supress a smile; finally he had a chance to see his father outside of class but before he had even reached the glassware a loud bang pierced through the silence. Seamus had succeeded in causing yet another explosion. Snape glanced around the classroom to ensure none of the students had been injured in the blast but aside from the singeing of Finnegans' eyebrows they were unharmed.
He was raging he would have to give Seamus the same opportunity to re-brew his potion as Harry and that meant he wouldn't get a chance to speak to his son about the difficulties he seemed to be having in class.
"That is the ninth explosion you have caused in my class Finnegan, do you suppose this is funny? You are really starting to try my patience."
"No sir, I'm sorry sir," he stammered
"Do you know why your potion exploded?"
Seamus shook his head.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your carelessness. You had best ensure that it does not happen again when you return with Mr Potter at 19:00!"
"Yes Sir" he replied dejectedly.
Severus glanced at Harry. The disappointment was evident on his sons face. He shook his head sadly and swept round the classroom to check on the progress of the other students. Most of the students had been quite successful in their attempts to brew the potion; some would require minor tweaking before they could be used but only Nevilles was unsalvageable. He requested the boy return later with Harry and Seamus to repeat the lesson and set about making the necessary adaptions to the potions before having the students bottle them up. He bestowed 5 points each to Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott and to the classes surprise Parvati Patil for their efforts, by right Hermione too should have been awarded for her potion but to do so would have been most uncharacteristic.
He looked at his pocket watch, the potion was a relatively easy one and there was still another twenty minutes left in class.
He instructed them to take out their textbooks and begin reading chapter 23 as he sat down at his desk to finish correcting the assignments. When all were complete he sat back in the chair glaring down at the class contemplating how best to orchestrate a private conversation with Harry. He could just keep him back after dismissing Seamus and Neville but that would spark curiosity, he would have to ask him to come earlier than them if he wanted to speak to him alone but what excuse could he have? One by one he summoned the students up to his desk to collect their assignments, praising the Slytherins and criticising the Gryffindors until he got to Harrys.
He remarked on the unlikeliness of the student who had created the green sludge writing an outstanding essay and accused him of cheating.
Outraged Harry began to defend himself before realising where he father was going. We will discuss this later Potter, I will be here waiting for you at half six.
"Right" Harry replied beaming from ear to ear while still somehow managing to feign sulkiness.
Snape was impressed. Harry put out his hand to take back the assignment but Snape snatched it back warning that he would be checking it for plagiarism and would return it later.
Harry returned to his seat in a huff and was quite vocal about his feelings towards Snape after class, joining wholeheartedly in Seamus and Nevilles complaints about the detention whilst inwardly he was jumping for joy.
It was all he could do not to skip down to the dungeons after dinner.
Is this an actual detention Harry asked sheepishly as he rounded the door.
Severus sighed and shook his head, "You're struggling to maintain a distance between us Harry" His father acknowledged.
Harry nodded solemnly "It's hard because you are here but you are not here."
"I know, have you heard from Lily and Evan since you returned?"
"Yes, they have written a few times, have you?."
Snape smiled at his son, it pleased him greatly that Harry had gotten on so well with the twins "Yes, thank you Harry, you fixed something I hadn't even realised was broken, do you have any suggestions on how I can ease this situation for you?"
Harry shrugged,
"I can understand why you have been so distracted Harry, but I am concerned about your schoolwork, your written work has gone from strength to strength but your lack of concentration in lessons – in my presence – is a problem. Do you know why your potion didn't work out today?"
Harry shook his head.
"What were the ingredients?"
Harry listed them confidently, but unsure where his father was going.
"And what did you add to the cauldron?"
Harry listed the same ingredients again in confusion.
"Think Harry what else did you add?!"
And then it dawned on him he had cut himself, the wormwood had been tainted by human blood. He had added an additional ingredient and that was what had ruined his potion.
Severus smiled. "I trust you will be successful in brewing it this time."
Harry nodded "Thanks for healing me earlier."
"I have a duty of care to all students in my class!"
"Yeah but still!."
Severus took his hand and examined it, "Want Daddy to kiss it better for you?" he joked.
Harry yanked his hand back blushing but Snape grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back in towards him, tickling him.
Harry squirmed around giggling, pleading with him to stop before launching a tickle attack of his own until his father called for a truce.
Severus picked up his essay, asking if he really did write it all by himself.
Harry nodded.
"It's very good I'm genuinely impressed. How have you been getting on in your other classes?"
"Very well, Professor McGonagall even remarked about the improvement of my writing, fell right in with your little rant!"
"I had to come up with something, you wouldn't have believed some of the farfetched situations that were contrived to explain our trip to Diagon Alley - I had to say something to shut down the rumour mill before some inadvertently hit on the truth, my feelings for your mother were very well known."
"Do you think we will be able to reveal our relationship before the summer?"
"I will make sure of it Harry,"
"Do you think people will remember our shopping trip when we do?"
"Probably, that's why we have to remain distant until I can get Dumbledore to agree to a plan to reveal our relationship in a controlled manner."
"So we can act like we only just found out?"
"Exactly! You are exceptionally bright Harry I am glad you have finally started to make more of an effort with your schoolwork, what prompted the change?"
Harry blushed, "You taught me the importance of reading back over my work."
"Is that not something that would have occurred to you before?"
Harry shook his head, no one ever cared before. "I did better than Dudley without even trying and the Dursleys' hated me for it. Life in Little Whinging would have been constant torture If I had actually made an effort.
Snape looked at his son mournfully, a pang of guilt bubbled into anger but he pushed it away, him getting mad wasn't going to help the situation and Harry might think it was his fault. He laid a hand on the boys shoulder and looking into his eyes said gently " I need you to keep your mind on your classwork Harry, stop worrying about me and what I am doing."
"I am trying honestly I am it's just you're here and now that I know you I want to share things with you."
I know and if it's any consolation, It's difficult for me to, we could write to each other if you think that would help? Just don't use Hedwig she is far to recognisable!"
"I'd like that, Can I ask you a question? "
"I believe you just did!" Snape mocked
Harry rolled his eyes. "Why are you a teacher?, don't get me wrong like but you don't seem to like it and it's not like you have to work here. You probably wouldn't have to work at all but even if you did I'm sure you would be as well off working as an apothecary or something where you wouldn't have to deal with students misbehaving."
"Many years ago, I made a promise to Dumbledore, he saved me and this job was part of that. Most students are complete dunderheads but with the select few teaching is very rewarding. Plus if I am to be honest I suppose in the past I used it as an escape. The manor can feel very claustrophobic sometimes."
"So you do like teaching?"
"Sometimes."
"But then why are you so mean, Neville is terrified of you, you know, that's why he always messes up his potions, you scare him."
"I scare him? What happened to Gryffindors brave of heart?"
Harry glared at him.
Severus apologised and asked what it was he did that frightened Neville.
"You go out of your way to intimidate him, us, the whole class."
"Discipline is of the utmost importance in a potions lab."
"Yes but sometimes you would get further with kindness."
"I will bear that in mind."
Harry smiled.
"You are going to be the death of my reputation you know!"
They laughed together at the prospect. Snape looked at his watch it was ten to seven. "Anything else you want to discuss before the others get here?"
Harry shook his head
"Very well 5 points to Gryffindor for an outstanding essay" he said winking, if the others ask tell them I was really really mean in making you prove you really wrote it, I'm going back to my quarters for a few minutes, you can wait here for the others to arrive, you can start preparing the ingredients for your potion.
Harry took his place at his workstation and started setting up his cauldron. Seamus and Neville arrived just after five to, knocking timidly on the door before pushing the door open and entering.
He acted relieved to see them.
They looked around. Seamus mouthed wheres' snape?
"I dunno, he disappeared off a while ago haven't seen him since."
"He's probably spying on us from somewhere."
"Probably!" they looked around cautiously.
"How did you get on mate?"
"Okay, it's not fair he wouldn't have made Malfoy or any of the slytherins go out of their way to prove their homework was theirs just because it was good, it's really unfair.
"What did you get?"
"An outstanding!"
"From Snape? Wow!"
"Yeah I know, he must be sickening for something."
They laughed and as if on cue Snape swept back into the classroom.
"What do you think you are doing standing around laughing? Start working on your potions, hurry up I haven't got all night!"
Snape towered over them watching carefully as they prepared their ingredients.
He noticed Seamus was very haphazard, nothing was neat and he didn't seem to care for consistency. It was no wonder his potions were so volatile, he didn't even wipe off his cutting board between ingredients meaning everything was getting all getting mixed up.
"Give me that knife Finnegan." Snape demanded snatching it from his hand.
"Even pieces Finnegan", he lectured as he evened out the chopped wormwood.
Waving the blade threateningly at Seamus for effect he started explaining how it was his carelessness that was causing the explosions.
Neville squeaked in fear and stepped backwards, tripping over a stool and landing on his bum.
Harry let out an objection to his behaviour which he cautioned him over before telling him to help Neville up.
Neville stood sheepishly brushing the dust off his robes.
"What is your problem Longbottom, did you think I was going to attack him?"
Harry and Seamus glared at him as Neville shook his head.
"Your safety is my responsibility Longbottom, I have to ensure your friend here doesn't not cause another explosion like the one earlier. Look at me Longbottom!" he urged, as he stretched out his hand gently cupping it under the boys chin and tilting his face upwards until he was looking into his eyes. "You do not need to fear me, I am not going to hurt you, understand?"
Harry and Seamus looked at each other in surprise. Harry at least had the benefit of knowing where his father was coming from even if he hadn't been expecting it but Seamus must be completely flabbergasted at Snapes behaviour.
Severus stepped back giving Neville some space as he calmly repeated the instructions before turning to Harry and Seamus and barking at them to get back to their work.
When the three of them were finished he had them clean up and then dismissed them, cautioning Seamus about the repercussions of blowing up another cauldron in his class.
Perhaps Harry was right, maybe he should re-evaluate his teaching methods, the three potions they had just brewed for him were the best those three particular students had ever brewed.