Author's Note: Thank you for the favs, kudos, and reviews! And so Snape's trials and tribulations continue… in a not-all-that-cohesive and totally one-shot oriented kind of way.

Edit: PWP always meant plot-what-plot when I was "younger." I can see that has changed... _ Thanks guys!

Rosemary Prewitt celebrated her sixth month as a teacher by setting a goal for herself.

She was going to make Severus Snape – little Harry's father – like her. Okay, perhaps that was a bit ambitious. However, she did truly believe she could make him be cordial to her, if nothing else. Yes, that would be enough. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

So, each day when Mister Snape arrived to pick up his son, Rosemary made an effort to speak to him.

"Hello, Mister Snape!"

The man in question turned his narrowed gaze on her. Rosemary stepped forward, hand clasped together in front of her.

"Harry tells me you're a potioneer." She beamed. "That's wonderfully interesting. Could you tell me a little about it? What sort of potions do you make?"

Snape regarded her expressionlessly. "Why do you want to know?"

Rosemary hesitated. "No real reason," she said more softly. "We're only making conversation."

"No," said Snape, taking Harry's hand. "You are making conversation. I am leaving."

And so he did. Rosemary huffed and stomped her foot.

A few days later, she tried again.

"Harry did very well on his test today," she said proudly.

"Of course he did," replied Snape tonelessly. "I didn't raise a half-wit." He scanned the other departing children. "A prodigious feat among parents, it would seem."

And then he left. Rosemary sighed.

One day, though, she had a real reason to catch Snape's attention.

"Mister Snape."

He faced her with a glare.

Rosemary edged away from Harry and the other children. "Mister Snape, I need to ask – why have you been sending Harry to school with no lunch?"

This caught Snape's attention. "I have always sent Harry's lunch," he informed her, looking a bit offended. "Are you implying that he hasn't been eating at school?"

Rosemary's brows furrowed. "I don't think he has, Mister Snape. For the last three days, he's just sat during the lunch hour and done nothing. When I asked him why he wasn't eating, he shrugged and said you'd forgotten it, and that it was alright, because he would eat later."

Snape bristled. "I have done no such thing. Harry always has food." Turning, he investigated the group of children as they left the schoolhouse. "Harry!"

The boy hurried over, smiling, but his expression flickered at Snape's stern look. "Yes?"

"Why have you not been eating your lunch at school?"

Harry's eyes widened, and he looked down, shrugging his shoulders. "I lost it."

"You lost your lunch?"

"Yes."

"Three days in a row?"

Harry paused and then nodded. Snape stooped down low, his expression severe.

"Do. Not. Lie."

Harry bit his lip. "Alright. I didn't lose it." He looked up, green eyes shining with concern behind his rounded glasses. "I gave it to Leonard. He's a boy in my class."

Snape straightened. "Why did you give it to him? Was he bullying you?"

"No, no, Daddy. He just didn't have anything to eat. He said his stomach hurt because he was so hungry, so I gave him mine." Harry looked down at his shoes and turned his toes inward. "I only wanted to help," Harry added in a whisper.

Snape stared for a few seconds, astonished. Rosemary leaned over.

"Oh, Harry, dear. You could have just shared a little of your lunch, or told one of us – "

"Excuse me," said Snape sharply. "You are not a part of this conversation."

Rosemary pulled back with a flush. "Sorry."

Snape looked back at Harry again. "Harry, what you did was foolish. That food was for you, not Leonard. We do not starve ourselves to feed others. That is illogical."

"But Daddy – "

"You cannot put the welfare of others before yourself," interrupted Snape. "That boy is the responsibility of his parents, not you. You are a child."

"But I can eat at home! We always have food!"

Snape opened his mouth to reply, but little Harry cut him off.

"And Leonard's daddy is mean to him!" Harry teared up quite suddenly, sniffling and wiping his face with his sleeve. "They never have food at home. And all his daddy does is yell and hit." Harry looked up at Snape with wide eyes. "He doesn't have a good daddy like I do."

Snape fell quiet.

Rosemary looked at his stunned expression, and for the first time since starting her position, she saw a glimmer of something behind his dark eyes.

Snape cleared his throat. "Regardless, I want you to promise you will never give away your food again. There are other alternatives. Do you understand?"

Harry sniffled and nodded. "Okay," he murmured.

Rosemary cleared her throat. "I will… check on Leonard and his family. I had no idea this was going on."

Snape nodded stiffly, and then he held out a hand to Harry, who took it and descended the steps with him. They began to walk off. As they did, Harry looked up at some other children passing by. Snape followed his gaze.

A young boy a few years older than Harry was walking behind a skinny, sallow looking witch. The child was dressed in ill-fitting, mismatched clothes, and his hair was limp and greasy from a lack of washing. As he trailed behind the witch, he looked up at Harry and Snape. An expression of wonder and envy crossed his face.

Snape looked away, and his grip on Harry's hand tightened some. He shifted it to the back of the boy's head, holding him there. Harry looked up in surprise.

"Would you like to go to the village tomorrow?" asked Snape faintly. "We can go to the bakery for some sweets."

Harry smiled. "Yes, yes!"

Snape nodded. "Good," he said quietly. "You need new socks."