Title: Reexamining Things
Rating: T
Summary: This is a story of Harry Potter shattering what everyone things about him and their first impressions. Based on the First Impressions challenge posted by PyroChilde on Potions and Snitches.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of J.K Rowling's characters and I'm not making any money off of this.
Chapter 56: Return of McGonagall
Harry, Ron, Nott, and Pansy were glad that all the Heir of Slytherin business was finally over. It had all come out that Ginny had been given an enchanted diary and that she had been writing in it all term. They went to the hospital wing and saw Hermione reading a book.
"Hermione, your fine," Harry said, pretending that he hadn't helped in the rescue.
Hermione smiled at him, "I thank Professor Snape for saving me and Ginny," she told him and then accepted the candy and card that Pansy had given her. "Thanks."
"When are you getting out of here?" Ron asked.
"In time for the End-Of-Term-Feast," Hermione answered.
"Are they going to let you stay here during the summer?" Nott asked her.
"McGonagall has returned and she's working on something," Hermione told him.
"I hope they don't make you live somewhere with children," Harry said, "That would be bad."
"I know," Hermione said.
They stayed with Hermione for awhile and then Madam Pomfrey came around and told them that they had to leave.
"See you at the feast," Ron said and they left.
"Can you believe this term is almost over," Pansy said, "It hasn't been without any excitement?"
"I wonder what's going to happen now," Harry asked, "I mean, with Hermione."
"I don't know," Nott said, "She might be allowed to stay here."
"I hope so," Harry said.
"I'm glad that your back Minerva," Snape told Headmistress McGonagall when she got back early that day.
"I'm glad to be back as well," McGonagall said, "You can only take so much of your family before you go insane."
Snape chuckled and then asked, "Is Hagrid coming back?"
"Yes, I had a talk with the Ministry and they've cleared him," McGonagall said, "The fact that Tom Riddle opened the chamber is scary enough."
"I'm glad that all the Horcrux have been destroyed," Snape said, "Now we can work on unlocking Tom's magic."
"Good luck with that," McGonagall said, "And tell him that the position is still open for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"I will," Snape said, "So what have you decided to do about Miss Granger?"
"I was thinking about letting you take care of her, I mean to guard her," McGonagall said, "I heard what happened during the time that I was out and I'm telling you that the poor girl has gone through enough."
"That I'll agree with," Snape said, "I'll take her in but I'm not making her my ward."
"Wouldn't dream of it," McGonagall said and Snape left.
"Did you hear that oaf is coming back," Harry heard Malfoy say to Crabbe and Goyle, "I can't believe it."
"Well McGonagall is back," Zabini said.
"And we know what's going to happen about that," Malfoy said.
"I can't believe that Malfoy is acting like this," Pansy said, "I'm glad that McGonagall is back."
"Weren't you happy with Snape as Headmaster," Hermione asked her.
"I don't know," Pansy said, "I mean, he's still Snape but sometimes he really creeps me out. I mean, I'm not against him but being a vampire is a little too much."
"Well I'm glad that he's back being just a background Professor," Ron said.
"And why's that?" Hermione asked.
"I like Black better," Ron said.
"Yeah, the center of maturity," Harry said, "I mean, he thinks that I'm James or something. And he got all mad when he found out that I was working closely with Snape.
Why can't he get it through his thick skull that I'm Snape's apprentice and I have to do all sorts of things for Snape?"
"Well I'm sure that things will be better during the summer," Ron said, "So what classes are you taking?"
"Muggle Studies," Harry said, "It will leave me with plenty of time to work on my brews. What did you take?"
"Divination and Care of Magical Creatures," Ron said, "I heard that Professor Kettleburn is a really good teacher."
"Well as long as Malfoy doesn't take it then he shouldn't give Kettleburn any problems," Harry said.
"You know I can't believe that Malfoy is acting like this," Hermione said.
"Acting like what," Nott asked.
She pointed to Malfoy and they all turned to see Malfoy getting his feet rubbed by an older Slytherin.
"Now that's sick," Harry commented.
The next day was the End-Of-Term feast and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Pansy, and Nott sat together and watched as Professor McGonagall stood up. Over at the Gryffindor table Harry saw Neville smiling and laughing with his friends. He was glad that Neville was alright.
"Another term…gone," she told them, "I would like to thank Professor Snape for brewing the Mandrake Potion that has allowed all the petrified victims to recover."
The Slytherin's all cheered as he stood up and bowed.
"As a school treat all exams have been canceled," she told them, which caused Hermione to groan.
Everyone else was happy that they had been canceled but Harry saw that Snape wasn't happy about it.
They celebrated all night with Hagrid returning and most students being happy that he was back. Naturally Harry saw that Malfoy wasn't but he didn't care. Everything was back to normal.
"Now that was a good feast," Sirius said, "Even if Snape got credit for helping the victims recover."
"Sirius, aren't you going to let this drop," Remus asked.
"No," Sirius answered.
"Well I'm glad that everyone recovered and that there's no more Heir of Slytherin,"
Remus said, "Though for a moment I thought that Hermione and Ginny weren't going to survive."
"Remus, their Slytherins," Sirius said, "Who cares if they live or die?"
"I do and so do a lot of other people," Remus said to him.
"I don't see them anywhere," Sirius told him and Remus felt the urge to hit him.
"So what are you going to do this summer?" McGonagall asked Snape.
"Be happy that I don't have to put up with students," Snape said, "And help my apprentice continue with his studies. He hardly got anything done this term."
"Well I'm sure that you'll be pushing his nose to the grindstone," McGonagall said, "But I do hope that you'll let us train him this summer."
"Don't worry, I will," Snape said, "I told him that he needed to train anyways."
"I'm glad to hear it," McGonagall said.
"Harry," Hermione called out as they waited for Ron to come down.
She was holding a note and looking excited.
"What's wrong," Harry asked, thinking that something bad had happened.
"I'm living with you and Ron," Hermione said, "The Ministry sent me a letter telling me that I'm sort of adopted by Professor Snape."
"What does that mean, sort of adopted," Harry asked.
"It means that she's only under Snape's guardianship," Nott told him, "Don't worry, if you decide to have a go with her it won't be like dating your sister."
"Please don't say that," Harry said.
"Where's Ron at?" Nott asked.
"He was just finishing packing his trunk," Harry said, "He said that he would be down in a few minutes."
The door to the common room opened and Professor Snape walked in with a man with flaming red hair.
"Who's that?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know," Harry said just as Ron came down with his trunk.
"Ronald," the man yelled.
"Charlie," Ron said and ran over and they both hugged.
"He's staying with Charlie," Snape told them.
"Are you sure that's wise, sir," Harry asked him.
"Don't worry McGonagall checked him out and he had no idea what his father had done," Snape said, "But I'm pleased that you're worried about your friends safety."
"I know that he went through a lot," Harry said.
"Oh by the way, I'll be taking that truth potion from you when we get back to the manor."
Harry stared at him, "You know about that."
"Of course," Snape said, "I'm a vampire."
"You know that's a real cheesy line," Harry commented.
"True, but it's my line," Snape told him.
Harry decided not to argue.
Note: Well Harry's second year is over and it will be several chapters before his third year starts.
