October - age 12

Harry walked slowly down to the dungeons after dinner, his stomach twisting as stared down to his feet. Snape was going to be furious at him. There was no doubt about it! His chin quivered a moment, starting to move slightly quicker as he heard the Slytherin students not far behind him. He had done so well on his exams. All but one.

Defense.

His exam has been absolutely awful and nothing at all like he had expected. Harry paused outside the door to the parlor, shoulders slouching in defeat as he slowly pushed the door open.

Stepping into the parlor, Harry slowly lowered his book bag to the floor. There was absolutely no excitement in his actions. How could there be? The plan on spending a day at Hogsmeade if all exams were passed was crushed.

Snape looked up as he heard his parlor door open, his eyes settling on his child. He instantly saw the guilt on the boys face. The sadness in his eyes. The man racked his brain as he tried to figure out what exactly was causing it.

"Harry." Snape watched as the boy lowered his bag onto the floor.

The child swallowed, removing his school robe before looking up towards Snape. "Hi," he spoke softly, draping his cloak over the arm of the couch and looking down towards it. He didn't even want to bring it up. It was going to be terrible overall.

Snape's eyebrow rose slightly at the boys greeting. Snape was more positive than he had been even a moment ago that he heard guilt in Harry's tone. "Is there some reason that you appear as though the world is ending?"

"Cause it is," Harry muttered softly, moving around the couch and sitting down heavily. His shoulders remained slouched down, looking up to the man.

A look of curiosity took over Snape's face as he sat up a bit straighter before he waved his hand, calling his child to him. "What is this all about?"

The child sighed, pushing himself back up and slowly making his way to his guardian. His frown remained as he moved closer, looking down to the man's knee. "You'll just be upset."

Snape reached out and took a gentle hold on his child's hand, pulling him a step closer to him. "Did you get yourself in some sort of trouble?" The man's tone remained gentle.

"Probably," he voiced softly, continuing to stare down to Snape's knee. "Failed my defense exam." Harry closed his eyes, sighing deeply.

A deep sigh passed Snape's lips as he took in the explanation. "I see," he breathed sternly a moment later. "Is this failed exam in your bag?"

"Yeah." Harry pulled away from the man, defeat clear on his face as he moved back to his bag. "So stupid," he whispered softly, pulling out the exam before stepping back over. All his other exams he had done great in! He had truly tried with them.

Snape held a hand out for the exam, his frown remaining on his face. "Did you study for this exam?"

"Yeah. But it was nothing that I studied for!" He placed the parchment in the man's hand.

Snape's eyes moved from his child to the exam in his hand. "Were you informed of what would be on this exam?"

"Yeah but he mentioned himself and I thought he was joking! Ron thought so too... actually a lot of us did pretty bad." Harry shrugged a shoulder, looking back down to his trainers.

Snape's frown deepened as he read over the questions on the exam. The majority of them were about Lockhart and what he had accomplished in his life. As the man read the last of the questions, the majority of which did not have an answer, his eyes moved back to the failing grade at the top of the paper. "Do I often become cross with you when you do your best but do not succeed?" His right hand let go of the paper to firmly tap the boys chin.

Harry slowly released a breath, shaking his head before looking back up. "No... but I didn't pass it either." He shrugged once more. "I had to pass them all."

"Ah," Snape nodded suddenly remembering their agreement. The man had been sure that his child had been fearing a punishment, not missing their day out. "That was our agreement wasn't it?"

The child nodded once, raising his hands to fold his arms over his chest. At least Snape wasn't angry. Still, it didn't erase the deal. "I tried though. Really."

Snape handed the exam back to the child. "I believe our deal was that you needed to pass all of your exams this week. We did not discuss trying but failing to succeed."

Disappointment flooded the child as he took the exam back, the same hand falling to his side. There was no way he could have succeeded with that test. There just wasn't. "Yeah."

"Do you have your Defense book with you?" Snape questioned as he watched his child carefully.

Harry nodded once more, moving back to his school bag and placing the test back within it. In the same motion, he withdrew the text book and moved back over to Snape. "Here." He held it out.

Snape took the book from the child, flipping it open. "What chapter was your exam on?"

"Ghouls and hags. Didn't think he'd really ask about the times he went against them and all that... dumb stuff." Harry shifted his feet around before moving to sit on the arm of Snape's chair.

Snape hummed softly at the words. He could see his child's point. The exam questions had been ridiculous at best. "And you studied this chapter is that correct?"

"Yeah." Harry nodded, looking over to the book briefly. "Took notes and everything."

Snape nodded as his right hand moved to tap the boys knee. "Get a piece of parchment and a quill. Sit at the coffee table please."

The child blinked, slowly pushing himself up to stand. "Okay." he tilted his head just slightly before going back over to his school bag. Removing his trainers first, Harry gathered the items needed and moved to the table in front of the couch. Sitting down, he rested his left arm on the table and looked up to the man.

"I want you to write me out ten facts from this chapter whether that be a definition of a term or a spell and its use." He flipped through the pages before looking up at his child. "Exactly ten facts."

"And not ten about Lockhart?" Harry grinned, looking back to the parchment before he started to write with ease. It wasn't a hard task in the slightest!

"Not even one about Professor Lockhart." Snape gave the child a stern look. Regardless of his feelings towards the man he did not want his child disrespecting a fellow Professor. "Mind your spelling and grammar as well please." The man's face relaxed.

"Okay." He focused back on the work, pausing every few words before continuing. "Wish we had to do this in the first place." Harry rolled his eyes as he moved on to the third fact.

Snape hummed softly at the words as he closed the book, setting it on the table beside him. "You just prove to me that you studied and know the material."

Harry's small grin remained as he paused half way down the paper. If only this could of been his actual exam. After a brief pause, he continued on, humming lightly in thought.

"There." Harry rested his quill down after several more minutes, standing up with the parchment and moving over towards Snape.

Snape held a hand out for the parchment. The man was eager to see how much of the material the child had retained.

Placing the parchment in the man's hand, Harry moved over to sit on the arm of the chair once more.

Snape held the parchment out in front of himself. His eyes carefully read over each of the facts. The man found himself quite impressed with his child's work. Each fact was well thought out, despite how quickly Harry had completed the assignment. "Very good." Snape nodded as he leaned forward, placing the parchment on the coffee table. "Very good indeed."

The child smiled before it fell away completely, sighing and looking down to his leg. "Doesn't replace that dumb exam though," he muttered, shrugging a shoulder.

"No," Snape agreed. "It does not." The man's hand moved to gently tap Harry's knee. "Did Professor Lockhart tell you to study what he has accomplished?"

"He always tells us to read all of his books. Dad, he has like five! I can't remember what he's done and stuff from our book too!" A small hint of a whine started to creep into his voice. "That's not fair."

"You are too old to whine." Snape's hand tapped the boys knee once more as his eyebrow rose. "Are you telling me that your Defense class is too hard?"

"It's not... hard. It's just not about, you know..,Defense! I'm taking a class on Lockhart. I'm not taking Defense." Harry paused, clearly trying to think of another way to describe the class. "Like... like let's say you've written books about potions you've done and made and all things in your life. Not teaching us potions, but just things you've done."

"I understand the issue." Snape nodded as his hand tapped gently once more. "You have admitted that Professor Lockhart has told your class to read his books. Have you done so?"

"Dad, he has twelve." Harry stared at the man. Did he really expect him to read them all? And remember them all?!

"Have you read even one?" Snape questioned in a knowing tone.

"I was trying to read one... but dad, they're so terrible!" He felt his shoulders slouching down with each word. Why should he care what the man had done? That didn't help him at all!

"However you have said that it was your assignment to do so?" Snape's eyebrow rose once more as he looked up at his child.

"No. I said he tells us to read them. He never mentions which one exactly will be needed." He shrugged, standing and moving away from Snape's chair. "Doesn't matter."

"Come back over here please. We are not done discussing this." Snape waved a hand calling the boy back to him.

Harry paused a few steps away, sighing as he turned on his heel and moved back over to Snape. He stood off to the side, looking down to the floor.

"I am not saying that I agree with the way in which Professor Lockhart is teaching your class however, it is not my place to tell him how to do so." Snape looked down at the child. "I also do not want to continue to see failing grades in Defense."

"Well it's not like I do either. I've told you I like Potions and I want to like Defense." He looked up to Snape, his frown remaining.

"Perhaps I need to speak with Albus about the material that is being taught in your class." Snape's hand moved to tap the boys chin. "You may go put your cloak away and wash your hands for supper."

"Okay." Moving away once more, Harry moved over to where he had laid his school robe and picked it up. His shoulders remained drooped as he moved down the hall and to his room. He wouldn't argue against Snape talking to Dumbledore about it. Then maybe he could pass his next exam. Hanging the cloak on the back of his chair, he went over to his wardrobe and pulled out a change of pajamas.

Snape stood as he watched the child go. The man walked into the kitchen, sitting down in his normal seat before he tapped the table causing their meal to appear. The man waved a hand, setting a heating charm on it.

A soft sigh escaped the man as he thought over the deal that he had made with his child. He could not help but feel that the exam Lockhart had given was not fair. Still, he was not sure that going back on their deal would teach Harry anything at all.

Harry stepped into the kitchen several minutes later, releasing a sigh loudly as he moved over to the table. Sitting at his usual seat, he pulled his plate slightly closer to himself.

"I am not cross with you about your grade. As I have said, I understand and you certainly proved to me that you adequately studied the material." Snape picked up his fork. "There is no need to look so sullen."

"But we can't go to Hogsmeade." Harry shrugged slightly as he stared down to his plate.

Snape hummed softly at the words as he ate a bite of his meal. "We did have a deal did we not?"

"I know." Harry picked up his fork, idly pushing around a bite of food before eating slowly. "Just wasn't fair."

"That being said." Snape paused as he took another bite of his food, chewing and swallowing before he continued. "You did prove to me that you did in fact study. Those ten facts you provided were more than adequate proof."

Harry paused after his first bite, lowering his fork down slightly as he stared at Snape. "Soo?" He pushed, clearly sensing that there was more to what Snape wanted to say.

"Perhaps just this once we can bend our deal a bit and go to Hogsmeade tomorrow regardless." Snape looked over at the child. "Just this once."

"Really?" A large grin spread across Harry's face at the words, sitting up slightly more. "You're serious?"

Snape nodded. "Just this once Harry. And if another exam with a failing grade comes to my attention, I am not going to be pleased. Are we clear on that?"

"It won't happen again." Harry shook his head, raising his fork back up and taking a proper bite of his meal. Well. Hopefully it wouldn't. Especially if Snape did tell Dumbledore about the issue.

"See to it that it does not." Snape ate another bite of his meal.

Harry's smile remained as he ate at a much more normal pace, humming after a moment. "You know you could always quiz me on it too."

"If another unsatisfactory grade is received I intend to." Snape gave the child a serious look. "As I said I intend to discuss what you are being tested on with Albus."

"Then I shouldn't get a bad grade again is its' all fixed." Harry nodded, looking down to his meal while taking another bite. "You know I really try... especially in Potions and Defense. And even Transfiguration."

"I know that you try." Snape nodded as he took another bite of his food. "Let me ask you Harry, did any of your friends pass this defense exam?"

" A lot of the girls did." The child rolled his eyes, placing his fork down and taking a large drink of his juice. "Not all of 'em though."

"I see." Snape ate another bite of his meal. "I hope you realize Harry that regardless of whether Albus acts on what I discuss with him and talks to Professor Lockhart or not, you cannot fail another Defense exam."

"But it's impossible to study then if he includes himself." His shoulders slouched down as he ate a much smaller bite. "But I'll do my best."

"You just admitted to me that some of your classmates were able to pass." Snape looked over at the child. "It is not impossible."

"But they're obsessed with him!" Harry scowled at the mere words, pushing his plate away.

"I understand your frustration." Snape ate the last few bites of his meal. "Are you able to ask Professor Lockhart for an extra credit assignment?"

The child shrugged, resting his arms across the table. He tried to limit his interaction with Lockhart the best he could. "I guess I can."

"I suggest that you do." Snape placed down his fork. "It would be beneficial to your grade." The man tapped the table causing their plates to vanish before he tapped it once more causing a plate of chocolate biscuits and two cups of tea to appear.

Harry grinned at the sweets, reaching and grabbing one as soon as they appeared. "Thanks." He breathed, taking a small bite of the biscuit.

"No more than two of those." Snape picked up his teacup. "You do not need too much sugar so late in the day."

"They're not that sweet." He pointed out, placing half the cookie down to take a small sip of his tea.

"Two little boy." Snape gave the child a serious look as he took another sip of his tea. "I am not going to argue about it."

"I wasn't arguing." Harry leaned back into the chair, picking the rest of the biscuit up with a frown. "So we can really go to Hogsmead?"

"We can." Snape nodded as he set down his teacup. "We can go just before lunch tomorrow."

"Good." Harry hummed, reaching and grabbing the second biscuit after taking another sip of his tea. "Thanks Snape." He stretched his arms out above his head before taking a bite. "So I can stay down here tonight too?"

"If you wish." Snape nodded. "Do you have any homework this evening?"

"No. Well. Have to start reading the next chapter for Transfiguration. But it's the weekend.." A hint of a whine entered the child's tone as he finished up the biscuit a moment later.

"When were you told to read it by?" Snape picked up his teacup once more, taking another sip. His eyes remained on his child.

"Monday. I can start tomorrow night." He quickly continued, offering a small smile of hope. "Please."

Snape raised an eyebrow at his child. "You can read a page or two tonight. You have plenty of time before bed to do so."

Harry sighed at the words, having finished the biscuit and looked down to his tea. "Fine." The last thing he wanted was to start any sort of argument. After all, Snape agreed to do their trip and he didn't want that to be snatched away.

Snape nodded before finishing off the last of his tea. He set the teacup down. "Finish your tea and then you may get started on the reading."

"I don't really want the rest." Pushing his chair back, Harry shook his head before entering the parlor. One or two pages wasn't a lot.

Going over to his school bag, he withdrew his Transfiguration textbook and moved to the couch. With a slight huff, he leaned against the back cushion.

Snape tapped the table causing it to clear before he stood and moved towards the parlor as well. "Honestly Harry, reading a little is hardly going to kill you."

"I'll just forget what I read tonight though, especially if it's only like two pages worth." Harry shrugged as he opened his book to the proper chapter, glancing up towards Snape as the man followed.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the words as he sat down in his armchair. "Read the entire chapter then and you may do so again on Sunday night to refresh your memory."

"What? Snape, no. You can't change your mind now." He frowned as he looked back to the book, staring at the first paragraph.

"I certainly can." Snape picked up his own book from the table beside his chair. "Especially if you do not feel as though you will remember the material."

"I will remember," Harry muttered, starting to read over the chapter as he adjusted his legs and laid down slightly.

"Reading the chapter tonight as well as again on Sunday night will only assist you in doing so." Snape's opened his own book. "It will not harm you either."

"Just as good as just reading it on Sunday." Harry frowned, nestling his head into the crook of the back cushion and the arm of the couch. "I just can't wait for tomorrow. I've been wanting a break away for awhile."

Snape refrained from commenting on the boys words and instead focused on their outing the following day. "Any store in particular that you would like to visit tomorrow?"

"Honeydukes for sure." Harry nodded, looking over to the next page. "I'd like to stay out most of the day if we can."

"We can certainly eat lunch out." Snape's eyes drifted down to his book as he opened it. "As well as spend the afternoon in town."

"Thanks." A fresh grin pulled at the child's lips as he flipped to the next page, sighing in content as he fell silent.

Snape's eyes moved back to his child as he watched him carefully. "Are you actually retaining any information or are you just pretending to read in hopes that I won't notice?"

Harry glanced over to Snape at the words, the smile vanishing instantly. How could he know?! His eyes returned to the book, a deep sigh passing. "I'm actually reading."

Snape hummed softly at the words as his eyes moved back down to his book. "Then you will not mind discussing what you are reading more thoroughly when you have finished."

"Snaaape." Harry allowed the book to fall slightly, resting his head back. "You're not being fair now." He turned slightly so his back faced towards the man, closing the book fully.

"How am I being unfair?" Snape looked up from his book. "I want to make sure that you are studying properly."

The child sighed in response, looking down to the cover of the book before slowly opening it again. "You've already quizzed me once tonight. You don't have to again."

"If you do not wish for me to do so, then read that chapter properly." Snape's tone was knowing as his eyes remained on his book.

"I will." Harry pushed himself back up to an easier position to read, starting over from the start of the chapter.

Snape's eyes moved as he watched the child for a long moment once more before giving a satisfied nod. The man's eyes drifted down to his own reading once more.

The child rested his head against the cushion, pausing in his reading before yawning widely. He turned himself slightly to a better resting position. "What was your least favorite class when you were in school?"

Snape hummed softly at the question as he finished reading the page he was on before turning it. "I never cared for Divination much."

"Don't I have to take that next year?" He paused, looking over to Snape with a frown.

"You do." Snape's eyes remained on his reading. "However, just because I disliked it does not mean that you will. You may find that you enjoy it."

Harry fell silent, looking down to his book before pushing himself up to stand. With his textbook within his arm, he moved over to Snape and sat next to the man's side. He curled up the best he could, clearly inviting himself to the position before opening his textbook once more.

A small smirk formed on Snape's lips as the child sat beside him. "Comfortable?" The man moved his arm to wrap it around the boy.

"Very." Harry turned a page, sighing as he rested his cheek against Snape's side. "And still thanks for tomorrow."

Snape hummed softly at the words. "You are welcome." The man's eyes drifted from his book to Harry's. "Now read that chapter before I change my mind."

Harry stretched out his left arm, focusing back to the textbook. "I am." He nearly huffed, falling silent soon after to concentrate on the words. He adjusted his head back slightly to rest on Snape's shoulder to clearly become much more comfortable.

Snape concentrated on his own reading, thankful that the child was completing his work rather than continuing to talk.

The man's eyes drifted over to the boy several times to make sure that he was still reading as well as still awake.

The child remained that way for quite awhile, turning a page when needed. Yet at one point, the book started to lower slowly. His head turned and tucked into Snape's robes, breathing falling even. At least he had gotten half way through the chapter.

A soft hum passed his lips as he adjusted himself closer to Snape's side, book resting down completely into his lap.

Snape's attention went from his reading to his child as he felt Harry's face tuck into his cloak.

The man sighed softly as he closed his own book. "Harry," he said softly as his hand patted the boys knee gently. "Come now, let's get you into bed."

The child shook his head slightly, either in answer or simple making himself more comfortable. "'M fine here."

Snape frowned at the words as his hand moved to pat the child's hip softly. "You are not spending the night in my chair."

Harry whined softly as Snape continued to bother him, pushing his head up slightly. "But I'm comfortable," he breathed, resting his head back on Snape's shoulder to look up at him.

"You will be just as comfortable in your bed." The man gave the child a serious look. "Go on. I will be there in a moment to tuck you in."

Harry's shoulders slumped down, pushing himself away and standing up with a sigh. Placing his textbook on the table, he moved down the hall with a large yawn. He would of liked to stay at least on the couch, but he had to admit the idea of his bed was more than welcoming as well. Moving into his room, the child stepped over to his bed and crawled under the sheets after placing his glasses upon the side table.

Snape set his own book on top of his child's before standing and moving down the hall to the boys room.

The man moved over to the bed, leaning down and tucking the blankets under the boys chin. He waved a hand causing the room to darken as his other hand gently ruffled Harry's hair. "Would you like me to rub your back or have you already fallen back to sleep?"

Harry shifted his head as the covers were moved up to his chin, only sighing at the words. After a long moment, a soft "Rub please," escaped the child.

Snape smirked softly once more as he sat down on the edge of the bed. He reached out his hand, gently brushing it between the child's shoulder blades. "Sleep well little boy."

" 'ove you," Harry uttered softly, shoulders and back relaxing as sleep quickly over took his mind. A hum rumbled through him in content before his breathing slowly evened out.

"I love you too." Snape's hand moved to rub the small of the boys back.