At breakfast the next morning, there was no shortage of glances from all around the Great Hall. Harry feared Ron had opened his mouth, but a scathing, "Nice look, Potter", from a random Slytherin made him sigh in relief. Even through the anger his friend was harboring, he had yet to make it known to the school proper that he was their Potions Master's son. He sat in his usual seat and before he could reach for the rashers of bacon he heard a loud grumbling and the slam of a plate on the table just to his left. He chanced a look up and found the angry eyes of Ron glaring at him before the red head got up and stalked to the end of the table. Harry shook his head and took a deep breath, doing his best to not let everything affect him. Hermione bounded in not long after but it only made his shoulders feel heavier. Ron watched Hermione sit by Harry and scowled even harder down the table. He was tearing them apart and he didn't even do anything. Harry was stirring his oatmeal when a thick envelope flopped into his lap. He didn't see the very same owl drop something at the head table.
Harry looked the envelope over, but there were no markings anywhere. He tucked the envelope into his robes, figuring he could look at it when he had more privacy. He wasn't sure when or if Ron would start a confrontation and he didn't want to be immersed in whatever the letter was about. Harry kept his head lowered while he ate, but brought his eyes upon the head table and found Severus holding a similar envelope. Remus was muttering beside him with a formal looking parchment in his hands, but it didn't seem Severus was paying any attention to him. Harry returned to his meal. Hermione tried to make small talk, but he couldn't stop thinking of the envelope he and his father shared. A couple more spoonfuls of oatmeal and Harry couldn't stomach anymore. He stood from the bench and walked out the door to the Entrance Hall and to the safety of the lake. Hermione was beginning to get fed up with her supposed friend and she couldn't hold her tongue any longer. She stood from the bench as well and kicked it hard to get it to go under the table. The act garnered the attention of everyone in the Great Hall, especially the person she was aiming her anger at. She stalked over to the far end of the Gryffindor table and leaned over to the opposite side.
"I cannot believe you are still acting like this. How could you turn your back on him when he needs you the most? He didn't ask for anything to change, and yet here you are acting like he went to Dumbledore and demanded he cause whatever would irritate you the most. Harry never once judged you on who your family is. You would think you could give him the same courtesy! He is no different now than he was a month ago!" Every word she said was whispered so no one else could hear, but her voice carried the anger she felt. She stood over Ron for a few beats and then stalked off to find Harry. She wanted to take her wand out so bad, but knew she was being watched by Remus. She headed outside in search of Harry and found him precisely where she thought, but grew concerned when she saw the look in his face.
Severus finished his coffee in lieu of eating anything. He had watched Harry receive his letter and became confused when one landed just in front of his plate. An additional scroll landing beside Remus made him speculate what it was, but he was ever one to jump to conclusions. Just as he reached forward to grab the envelope from the table, he noticed there was not a single marking on it. As soon as he laid his hand on it, Remus began talking. Severus kept an ear, but his mind was circulating on who the mysterious envelope could be from. He could ignore his friend no longer.
"Severus!" Remus yelled between his teeth. He had been trying to talk to the man for a better part of ten minutes.
"Yes Remus. I am quite aware we all received something, and from the same owl no less." He began to tap the envelope on the top edge with his right index finger. He stared at the envelope until he felt a tap on his leg. He turned his head, but only slightly, toward Remus. The man was holding out the scroll toward him. He looked around the Great Hall and when he was satisfied there were no prying eyes, he took it. He scanned the parchment and had a hard time controlling the thoughts running through his head.
"I am Harry's godfather?" Remus could barely speak for the confusion. He wasn't sure if he was asking or telling and it was clear something happened. Quick like a whip, Severus waved his wand and the morning paper appeared before them. Severus let his eyes roam the pages rapidly, but didn't find what he was looking for.
"Oh Lily, what did you do?" He stood and walked away from the head table, taking the hidden door in the back to get to the dungeons faster. He needed to know what was in that envelope. Remus sat for a second longer and immediately went to the Gryffindor table. Ron was the only person left in the Great Hall save for two lone Hufflepuffs, but he kept his voice low and even.
"Follow me to my office, please." His voice left no room for questioning. Ron began to pile food in his hands since he had hardly started on his breakfast, but the sound of Remus clearing his throat stopped him in mid stack.
"Today, if you would." Ron had a look of surprise on his face, but he threw his legs over the bench and followed their Defense professor from the Great Hall. Ron tried quite hard to keep up with the rapid steps the man was taking, even though Ron was only a head shorter. He wanted to voice his confusion, but settled in for a slight jog to the Defense classroom. With a flourish, Remus waved his wand and the door slammed behind them. Ron was in the process of speaking when Remus sternly pointed his finger at the desk in the front. The red head meagerly walked toward it and sat down, feeling in his pocket for his wand. He was becoming uneasy with the predatory look he was being given, and he couldn't help but remember the fierceness the man was capable of from a few nights before.
Remus stalked around the desk, waving his wand to ensure they were indeed alone and no one could interrupt. When he was satisfied he had the boy's solid attention, he began to speak. His voice was smooth and silky, and Ron thought if he closed his eyes, he could've been in the dungeons in front of Snape.
"We need to discuss your horrid behavior."
