January - Harry, age 12
Harry felt nearly guarded as Snape swooped him away from the scene within the corridor, one arm draped around his shoulders. He hoped, no, he KNEW Snape didn't think that he could do any of that! He couldn't petrify people or know who was!
He shivered as they descended down several flights of stairs to lead back to the Dungeons. The twelve year old looked over his shoulder before looking down to his feet to keep a steady pace with his guardian.
"I-I didn't," he breathed, leaning subconsciously into Snape's side once they stepped onto the main floor of the castle. There was not a doubt within his mind of what the whispers would be.
First everyone thought he had wanted the snake to attack Justin. Now the Hufflepuff student was being transported to the hospital wing!
"I know." Snape kept his arm around the child as they approached their parlor door. "No one could believe that you could do such a thing."
Snape waved a hand, causing their parlor door to swing open before he ushered Harry inside, closing it tightly behind them.
"They do though!" Harry argued, swallowing as he finally stepped away from Snape's side and looked over to him. "They already thought I wanted to attack him!"
"Some small minded people may think that but honestly Harry, no one can truly believe that." Snape moved over to the boy, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You are a child. You are not attacking people. The idea is preposterous."
"Everyone thinks I'm the heir, and now that... I was just walking back to the tower!" Tears of frustration burned at his eyes as he moved away from Snape's hold, moving to the couch and sitting down.
"Calm down," Snape's tone was gentle as he moved to sit next to the child. "Your friends will not believe something like that about you."
Harry pulled his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them tightly. His chin rested on his knees, looking over to Snape with a frown. "I dunno what to do."
"I am not sure that there is much that you can do." Snape frowned as he wrapped a gentle arm around the boy, carefully pulling him to his side. "You need to stick with your true friends and ignore what others say."
"Going to be hard to do now," Harry muttered softly, uncurling his legs slightly as Snape pulled him close. He rested his head on the man's shoulder, blinking several times as he stared towards the fire place.
"I have faith that you will be able to do so." Snape's hand gently patted the side of the boys leg. "Your true friends know who you are Harry. They could never believe that you could or would do such a thing."
"But even they seem... off by it," Harry muttered softly, raising his right hand to quickly rub under his glasses before any tears had a chance to fall. He shrugged, sniffing softly.
"Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger do?" Snape questioned in a disbelieving voice as he looked down at the child.
"I mean... I can tell. I don't think they believe it's me." Harry nestled his head closer to Snape's shoulder.
A soft sigh escaped the man. "I'm sure that they don't."
He took in a breath, only shrugging once again. "I was really hoping for a good year... people just started to stop talking about the snake."
"It will be a good year." Snape's hand patted the side of the boys leg once more. "This will all be forgotten in a day or so."
"Right." Harry rolled his eyes, his chin quivering slightly as he moved his head down to Snape's chest.
"It will," Snape insisted with another gentle pat. "Something else will happen and your classmates will forget all about this."
"Whatever you think," Harry muttered softly, shaking his head at the words. Snape didn't understand. He didn't see the looks he got every day. Even if people stopped talking about it, they would remember.
"You need to think more positively." Snape's hand moved, his pointer finger poking Harry's side. "A poor attitude about it will not help your situation."
Harry shifted at the poke before giggling, squirming away from the man. He wanted to believe Snape, that it would go away and the rest of the year would be great! But he had seen the faces of his classmates.
"Are you spending the night down here?" Snape looked over as the child squirmed away from him. "Or are you venturing off to find your friends?"
"Can I stay down here? Please? I just wanna be left alone after... that." Harry shifted back, curling his legs back under him as he leaned into Snape's side.
"You may," Snape nodded. "However you are heading to bed in about an hour. You have a long day of classes tomorrow."
"Can't I stay here tomorrow? Please?" Harry looked up to the man, resting his cheek on his shoulder.
"Are you asking if you may spend the night down here tomorrow night as well?" Snape raised an eyebrow at the child.
"I mean... can I miss classes tomorrow?" Harry's voice fell low, gaze falling to look down to his knees. His ears burned slightly at even his own question. Of course Snape wouldn't say yes, but it never hurt to try.
"You are not missing class tomorrow." Snape shook his head. "That is not how you deal with your problems."
"But it'll be just for a day! Please, dad?" Harry felt his shoulders slouch. "I'll do all my work and everything."
"Missing classes tomorrow will not help your situation at all." Snape shook his head once more. "There is no reason for you to do so."
He raised his hands, rubbing under his glasses before standing. Now he was sure tomorrow would be a terrible day. "I'm going to bed." Harry muttered softly, moving away from Snape and past the couch.
Snape sighed softly. "Come back here please."
"For what?" The child stopped, his hand resting on the back of the couch before he slowly moved back around it. He stopped in front of the man, clearly having no intention of sitting back down.
"Sit." Snape's eyes moved from Harry to the couch and back again.
There was no hiding the look of displeasure before Harry sat back down on the couch. His arms folded over his middle tightly as he looked up at Snape.
"Explain to me why you would like to skip classes tomorrow." Snape's eyes remained on his child.
Harry nearly shrugged in response before quickly thinking better of it. Snape was giving him a chance. "I don't want to see everyone tomorrow or hear then talking about me again. You thought the snake thing would be over in a day or two, but I still hear people talk about it! And now it's going to be even worse."
Snape nodded at the words before he reached down and gently tapped the boys chin. "How will skipping your classes tomorrow make that better?"
"I mean... it will make me feel better," Harry muttered, lifting his head slightly to stare up at his guardian.
"You think that avoiding class for a day will help with your classmates?" Snape looked down at the boy.
"You don't get it." Harry's eyes fell to his knees as he pulled his legs up, pressing against the back of the couch.
"Answer my question. Explain to me how it will help." Snape's tone was soft. "You can not expect me to understand if you do not explain yourself."
"I know it won't stop them. I just don't want to deal with it tomorrow. Malfoy will say something again and so many Hufflepuffs were already against me." Harry took in a breath, rubbing under his glasses.
Snape was silent for a moment before he tapped the boys chin once more. "You will be in my Potions class tomorrow morning."
"Daaad!" Harry hated the unfairness of it all, and he moved his head away from the touch. He took in a shuddering breath, standing once more. He rubbed at his face, this time ignoring Snape altogether as he moved down the hall rather quickly. There was no point in even trying to talk to the man!
His bedroom door shut rather loudly, yet Harry didn't find himself caring. He moved over to his bed, taking in a breath once more. It was a terrible night!
"Harry!" Snape called after the child. When he heard the boy's bedroom door slam the man stood, moving quickly down the hall. Without knocking, the man pushed the bedroom door open. "Regardless of whether or not you are angry you do not slam doors. Are we clear on that?"
Harry sat pressed against his back pressed against his headboard. He shifted his hand over, grabbing his pillow and holding it tightly to his chest. He pressed his head into his pillow, only nodding faintly when he heard Snape's words.
"Furthermore if you would have behaved like a mature twelve year old and not a blasted six year old, I would have told you that although I expect you to come to Potions class tomorrow morning after that you may take the rest of the day off from your classes." Snape moved across the room giving his child a stern look. "However, after such behavior I am not quite sure you deserve to have the afternoon off."
Harry felt guilt rise within him, rubbing his face into his pillow as his shoulders slacked down. "I'm sorry... really." He rose his head up, resting his chin on his pillow as he looked up to Snape.
"You are sorry for practically throwing a tantrum because you heard something that did not please you?" Snape sat down on the edge of the child's bed.
He frowned at the words, looking down to the top of his bed. Hearing it come from Snape like that felt horrible. "I just didn't think you understood."
"Running off and slamming your door like a child was the correct way to respond to that?" Snape gave the child a stern look.
Harry held his pillow slightly tighter to himself, keeping his gaze on the top of his covers. "No," he whispered, raising his right hand to brush a single tear that had escaped.
"No indeed." Snape reached a hand out, tapping the boys chin firmly. "You know better little boy."
"I'm sorry." The child lifted his head at the tapping, his lips remaining turned down in a frown.
"Now regardless of whether you truly wanted to, you are going to bed as you are being punished." Snape tapped the small chin once more.
Harry felt disappointment rise within him but he forced a slightly nod against Snape's hand. He fell silent for a moment, staring at his guardian before choosing to speak softly. "Can I still come back here after Potions?"
"Are you going to refrain from behaving in such a way in the future?" Snape knew the question was pointless. Harry would have agreed to just about anything in order to miss his afternoon classes the following day.
"Yes." Came the instant reply, the child fixing his features to remain neutral. He couldn't be so hopeful just yet.
"You are quite sure about that?" Snape raised an eyebrow. "Or shall we deal with that tantrum I just saw in the same manner in which tantrums have been dealt with in the past?"
Harry shook his head at the second part, bowing his head down as he did so. "No, I'm sure. Really." He swallowed, tightening his hold around his pillow before slowly looking back up to Snape.
"Get ready for bed." Snape's fingertips tapped the boys chin once more. "You may come back here after my class tomorrow."
Only then did a small smile tug at his lips, a relaxed sigh passing his lips. "Thanks dad." He leaned forward, placing his pillow to his side as he wrapped his arms tightly around Snape's middle.
Snape wrapped his arms around the child for a long moment before his hand moved, his fingertips tapping the boys back. "You will be doing schoolwork tomorrow afternoon. I will make sure your Transfiguration and Charms work is waiting for you in the parlor."
"Okay." He nodded into Snape's shoulder before pulling away with a small grin.
"Now get ready for bed before I decide that you need a much harsher punishment." The man stood from the bed moving towards the door. "I will be back shortly to say goodnight."
Harry stood as Snape did, his grin remaining despite the words. "I will." He moved over to the dresser, watching Snape leave before he withdrew clean pajamas and set to changing. He sighed once more, tossing his school clothing in the hamper before draping his Gryffindor robe over his desk chair. Moving back to his bed, Harry pulled back the covers and slid down.
Snape went to the parlor and quickly wrote out a letter to both Minerva as well as Filius excusing Harry from his afternoon classes the following day and requesting the work that the boy would miss.
After dropping both letters into the fireplace, the man turned on his heel and walked back down the hall and into his child's room. "I hope you realize that had you behaved properly you would still have three quarters of an hour before you would be going to bed."
Harry nestled his cheek down into his pillow at the words, staring at Snape as he entered his room. "Wouldn't of been a good time either way. My night's been ruined."
"Hopefully tomorrow will be better." Snape moved over to the child. He reached down, pulling the blanket up over Harry's shoulder and tucking it tightly under his chin.
"Hope so too." Harry blinked a few times before closing his eyes, sighing loudly. "Thanks."
Snape waved a hand causing the room to darken before he sat on the edge of the bed, his hand moving to gently rub the twelve year olds back. "Goodnight Harry. Sleep well."