Chapter Forty Four

Harry looked down at Severus, he was huddling behind a tree outside Hogwarts as the light began to dim.

"Mr Snape?" McGonagall said, striding over, "Where on earth are your robes?"

Harry had wondered the same thing. Severus was sitting, shivering in nothing but an old pair of boxer shorts that were starting to fray at the hem.

Severus glared up at her with hate filled eyes, "I forgot to put them on this morning!" he hissed, "What do you think?"

"Potter and Co. again?" McGonagall sighed.

Severus nodded and wiped his face with the palm of his hand, "They took my robes again."

Professor McGonagall waved her wand, summoning a set of unmarked robes, "Well, at least they left you your underwear this time, be thankful for small mercies. These will get you back to your dorm and you don't seem to have gotten too chilled this time so no trip to the hospital wing. They have your wand?"

Severus nodded again, "It was in my school bag, they took the whole thing."

"I will get it back to you... again." McGonagall sighed, "Have you talked to Professor Slughorn?"

"He says just to ignore them." Severus scoffed.

McGonagall rolled her eyes, "I will have a word there as well. Now off you go, get yourself sorted."

Harry watched as Severus quickly pulled on his borrowed robes before the memory vanished. He was now in McGonagall's office. She was sitting at her desk, glaring at the four boys sitting across from her.

Harry had of course seen pictures of James, but it always struck him how similar they looked. He was sitting in the middle, a young Sirius on one side, a young Remus on the other and a young Pettigrew sitting on the other side of Lupin.

"I do not know what to do with you four!" McGonagall bellowed, "I do not believe in bullying, do you hear me?!"

James and Sirius looked at each other a smirked, Lupin allowed himself a half smile while Pettigrew just looked terrified of being there.

"I don't know what you could be talking about Professor." James snorted.

"Enough!" McGonagall snapped, "How dare you treat a student this way?! What could Mr Snape have done to deserve your latest barrage of ill treatment?!"

James and Sirius lowered their heads, but only so they could keep smiling.

"A week of detentions, including Quidditch nights." McGonagall snapped.

"But Professor we have a match in less than a fortnight!" James snapped.

"And if we lose then we will know who to blame, wont we?" McGonagall countered, "Plus forty points from each of you, fifty from you Lupin, you are a Prefect for heavens sake!"

"Professor!" James and Sirius yelled.

"I said enough." McGonagall said, "Now get out of my sight the lot of you!"

Harry pulled himself from the Pensive, shaking with anger and revulsion at what he'd just seen. The idea of eating anything right now turned his stomach so he sat down. It wasn't long till McGonagall returned.

"Mr Potter, whatever is the matter?" she asked, looking him over, "You are as white as a sheet."

"I don't feel well. I'll see you next week." Harry said quickly, grabbing his bag and rushing for the common room.

Harry rushed into the common room to find it empty of his friends and full of everyone else, he glared ruthlessly at a group of first years who were sitting in his normal set of seats next to the fire before leaving again.

He need to talk to his family, rage boiling at the fact that every single means of communication was now blocked by Umbridge. He'd always known that James, Sirius and Remus had been less than nice to Severus when they were younger, but this wasn't less than nice, this was illegal!

Harry gasped for breath as panic started to overwhelm him. He had to see his dad now, he had to give him a hug and tell him how sorry he was for things that had happened years before he was even born.

Rushing through the corridors, Harry didn't care who he pushed out the way as he made it to Severus's classroom. He hammered on the door but there was no answer so he went to his office. The door was already ajar when Harry burst in.

Umbridge turned and raised an eyebrow dramatically, "You see what I mean? I think we both agree it is for the best. I am glad you have followed my recommendation Mr Snape, unlike some members of staff. I'll leave you to it."

She pushed passed Harry and shut the door behind her.

"What was she doing here?" Harry asked, taking a few steps forward.

Severus gave him a tight smile, "Harry. I was going to come and find you."

"Why?" Harry asked, fearing he already knew the answer.

Severus placed an arm around his shoulder, "Professor Umbridge has made a decision on my continued employment here. She, and the ministry, feel that with my past and my relationship with you, it would be inappropriate for me to continue here."

Harry sunk to the floor, his head pounding with the sound of his beating heart. All of a sudden the room seemed both very far away, and all too close at once.

Severus was saying something but he couldn't hear him, just a muffled voice in the distance. Harry opened his mouth as Severus pushed in a small pill that tasted strangely metallic before quickly changing to taste like strawberries.

"What was that?" Harry said after a moment, pulling himself into a chair.

"You were having a panic attack." Severus said worriedly, "What's going on."

"I… I just wasn't expecting you to leave, and I had this dream, and I'd just come from..." Harry paused, he suddenly didn't want to tell his father he'd seen him in such a vulnerable situation, "from Occlumency lessons, it fried my brain a bit." he said with a forced smile, "Just too much at once. I'm sorry."

Severus waved his hand, "There is no need to apologise, it happens to us all." Severus said, sitting across from him, "I'm so sorry that I have to leave."

"Why did it have to be you?" Harry sighed, "Why couldn't Trelawney have left? She's a far worse teacher, surely even the stupid cow can see that?!"

"Trelawney has been let go as well." Severus said sadly, "Dumbledore however, has granted her permission to stay in the school. She has no where else to go."

"Then why can't you stay?" Harry said quietly.

"I did ask." Severus said, his voice disappointed, "But Dumbledore feels that I would be put to better use else where right now. He has promised me he will keep a close eye on you."

Harry nodded. He felt like this was another secret being kept from him, forcing Severus to leave just didn't make any sense; then it hit him.

"He's going to send you to work with the Death Eaters!" Harry gasped, "Dad, no you can't!"

Severus placed a calming hand on Harry's, "Shh. I must Harry, don't you see? Lucius and Narcissa are struggling to make enough appearances by themselves and we know that the Dark Lord is working on something. We need the information that me being there will get."

Harry shook his head, he would of panicked had the pill Severus had given him not still been working away to keep him calm.

"He's angry all the time right now." Harry pleaded, "Things haven't been going well for him, Avery made a mistake or lied to him or something."

Severus looked at him sharply, "How do you know all of this Harry?"

Harry felt his face flush, "I… I saw it. In a dream I had."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Severus asked, "I know it's been difficult lately but this is important, you should of told me."

Harry felt guilt twist in his stomach, "I'd forgotten about it." He lied, "McGonagall dug it up during the lesson, it's the first time I remembered it."

Severus looked as though he strongly suspected Harry of not telling the whole truth but thankfully didn't push it. Instead he flicked his wand over his shoulder and his office started to pack itself.

"I've already done my private room." Severus sighed, "I heard Trelawney screaming and sobbing and knew that Umbridge would come to me next. It meant there is no chance of her finding anything she shouldn't at least."

Harry knew that Severus was upset, he was fighting not to cry in front of Harry, which, at the time Harry resented but in future years would grow to understand more than he was able to right now.

The latch on Severus's last suitcase had barely closed when the door to the office swung open. Umbridge was standing, smiling broadly at them both, Filch was standing beside her, drawn up to his full height and wearing his grubby old tail coat.

"Time to go Mr Snape." Umbridge sang, "I shall escort you to the exit."

"I am well aware of where the door is, Dolores, I have worked here for quite a while now." Severus drawled.

"I'll be coming with you anyway, just in case." Umbridge said sweetly, the smile never leaving her face, "Mr Filch here has said he will help you with you bags."

"No need." Severus said, he waved his wand gracefully and the three suitcases and one large briefcase floated into line behind him.

Harry followed along as Umbridge triumphantly marched Severus through the school. It was after lessons had finished so many of the students had gathered in the hallways, whispering eagerly to one another about Severus dismissal.

Harry faced forward, not giving them the dignity of a glare. He knew that Severus was not the most popular teacher in the school; he was strict and often harsh when students didn't follow his instructions, but Potions was dangerous, and unlike every other Potions teacher there had been, Severus had no serious accidents on record and there was a reason for that.

Of course being head of Slytherin house didn't help either, Harry thought to himself bitterly as Ron, Lavender and Parvati laughed and looked far too pleased with themselves. Slytherin had been labelled the 'bad' house for years now, it was no wonder people were glad to get rid of one.

Professor Umbridge stood on the steps of castle and straightened her pink cardigan, "Thank you for you cooperation, Mr Snape. You have made a much better impression than some other members of staff."

"Sybill has worked at this school for many years, she has little contact with the outside world, it make sense that she would be distressed at the idea of being forced to leave." Severus said calmly.

"She showed her true colours." Umbridge sighed, heavy with fake sympathy, "She is a harming influence on young, delicate minds. I am sorry that I have had to remove her, but I do feel that it is for the best that she has no more contact with anyone in the school."

"I see." Severus said with a tight smile, "And this has what to do with me?"

Umbridge's smile broadened, "I feel that all removed teachers should have no further contact with students, for their protection."

Severus gritted his teeth, "Harry is my son."

"No, he isn't." Umbridge said, "He is James Potter's son and if I find that you have been breaking these Ministry restrictions, there will be consequences. For you both."

Harry glared at her, he was trembling with anger, not just at her attitude but the fact she was doing it with a large crowd of students around them.

"Mr Filch will be walking you to the gate. Any property you may have left behind will be sent on to you." Umbridge said crisply.

Severus ignored her, turning to face Harry, "I'm so sorry Harry, I will see you soon? It's not long until Easter, maybe we could get a few days off and then there will be the summer."

Harry nodded and forced a smile, "Yeah." he knew it wasn't likely Umbridge would let him have Easter off but it was nice to dream, "And this will be good for Danica, she'll get the chance to see you more. I know she misses you."

"She missed us both." Severus smiled, he put his briefcase down and wrapped Harry in a hug.

"Time to step away, Mr Potter." Umbridge ordered.

Harry revealed in the hug for a moment, ignoring the world around him.

"Now, Mr Potter." Umbridge said, the edge in her voice increasing.

Severus let him go, smiling before stepping back. Harry dragged his feet backwards, so he was standing with the other students, watching Severus walk slowly down the path towards Hogsmead.

"I'm allowed to say goodbye to my Dad." Harry hissed at Umbridge, not waiting for a reply before storming off towards the common room.