Thank you to the beta of this chapter- songofstars
Chapter Thirty Two – Going Back
Severus didn't realize that he was going to be the one to light the fire that lit the fuse when he told Molly that he was going to be taking Harry back to Hogwarts. He expected the woman to yell, perhaps even curse him a little. What he did not expect was for the woman to floo call Albus and Minerva for reinforcements, the one thing he was hoping to avoid. There was a reason as to why he didn't tell Albus he was going to get Harry in the first place. Now, he sat on one of the sofas as he listened to Molly, Arthur, Minerva and Albus fight. He was just thankful enough that Bill didn't happen to inherit the Weasleys' brains and was smart enough to keep Harry distracted.
"I'm still not understanding as to why you decided to come and get Harry without talking to us first?" Minerva spoke as she turned everyone's attention to Severus.
Severus moved his eyes, looking at the four people that stood before him waiting for him to answer. "I got an unwanted visit from Harry's friends after their visit with Harry this morning. They had good reasons that I could not argue with as to why Harry should come back to Hogwarts."
"They're children!" Molly blurted out "They don't know what's best for Harry. They don't know what he's going through."
"Neither do you!" Severus yelled, standing up from the sofa. "And you didn't seem to have a problem with them being children when they decided that Harry should come here! In fact, you jumped onto that plan pretty quickly."
"You proved that you couldn't look after the boy," Arthur jumped in "If he goes back with you, he will end up back in the hospital wing due to another attempt on his life. If it wasn't for Hermione and Ron, Harry would be dead because of you."
"You listen here!" Severus bellowed. "First of all, I could have had a thousand eyes on the boy and Harry would still have found a way because that is what happens when you think your life is over. Your names are not in the paper saying that you were raped! Everyone did not just find out about your deepest secret. Secondly, you called this looking after the boy? Keeping him dosed on calming potions so he can barely hold a conversation without falling asleep?"
"He had an outburst! Poppy placed him on the calming potions," Molly tried to defend herself.
"Because you requested it. In case you haven't noticed, teenagers are prone to having outbursts, especially after going through something traumatic. It doesn't mean feeding them calming potions until they are unable to feel anything. You let the child scream and yell and punch the walls until he is finished. Calming potions is only a bandage to the problem, not a solution."
"Can everyone please calm down?" Albus spoke calmly, holding up his hands as he spoke. "There is no need to raise our voices. Now, we all agreed that Harry going to the Burrow would be best for him. I believe Ms. Granger is the one who said that getting away from Hogwarts would help."
"Yes, she did, but that was before she and Mr. Weasley came to me this morning saying that they made a mistake," Severus argued before he started to explain what they talked about; about how they were making all the directions for Harry and that it wasn't doing him any good. "Harry wants to go back to Hogwarts and his friends believe it to be a good idea and is sure that he will not attempt to take his life again and as much as I hate to admit it, I do trust the girl."
"That is something, coming from you," Molly snapped. "We all know how you hate Gryffindor House. How you bully the students, especially Harry just because you don't like James!"
"EXCUSE ME?!" Snape yelled "I treat all students the same. I am merely strict. So is Minerva! I don't see anyone questioning her skills! Besides, I am not stupid. I know Harry is not James! Fact remains, Ms. Granger judgment needs to be considered here. I believe we should do what she suggests."
"I also trust Ms. Granger. She has proven herself more than once, but we must ask the question. Does Harry really know what is best for him at this moment?" Minerva asked the group, getting back to the topic at hand.
"Don't I get a say in all of this?"
Everyone turned around to see Harry standing with his bag in hand and Hedwig on his shoulder who was in the middle of pruning Harry's hair.
"Harry dear…" Molly started only to be cut off by Harry.
"No...I'm sorry but I don't want to be here….I...I don't feel safe here...I feel safe with Professor Snape," Harry admitted, his cheeks turning red from embarrassment. "I don't care what any of you have to say, I'm going back to Hogwarts...Hermione's right," Harry added before he made his way over to the floo.
Severus looked at the four with a smirk, knowing that his argument had just been won because of Harry, no one was going to take the chance of arguing with the child. "If that's all, I will be taking Harry back to my chambers," Severus spoke before he followed Harry into the floo.