Enjoy! I will try and update again soon.
Harry had left the Great Hall quickly, with only a quick promise to his friends that he may be back in the Common Room later but to not wait up for him if it became too late. His focus right then was to beat most of the Slytherins that were heading down to their own common room. His eyes darted over his shoulder, noting that most of the students were taking their time due to the first years.
Releasing a breath, the teenager moved to the stairwell that led down to the dungeons. He hadn't even paid attention to whether Snape had left the hall yet or if he was going to greet the Slytherins first.
It didn't matter.
That woman had been at his hearing and was the one that gave Fudge the idea that he had tampered with his own memory! Moving down the dungeon hall, Harry opened the parlor door and allowed it to shut a bit too heavily behind him with a cringe.
Snape looked up from his position in his armchair as his parlor door closed loudly. "Honestly Harry, is it necessary to slam the door?"
The man had a stack of lesson plans on his lap. His plan had been to spend the evening getting a bit ahead before classes started the following day and he was hopeful that doing so would still be possible.
"I didn't mean it, and I thought you'd be in the Slytherin common room." Harry gave a small grin before it fell away, moving over to the couch as he removed his Gryffindor robe. "That woman. Umbridge." He rested the robe across the arm of the couch before sitting. "She was at my hearing."
Snape raised an eyebrow as he looked over to the boy. "That is not completely surprising. She is employed by the Ministry."
Harry made a face at the words, removing his shoes and pushing them out of the way. "I hate her. It was her that gave Fudge the idea I could have altered my memory and caused him to doubt it." He fell silent for a moment, scowling as he leaned back into the couch. "Why is she here?"
"She said that during your hearing?" The man could hardly help the surprise in his tone. He had been sure that the whole idea of such an absurd thing had come from Cornelius.
"Mentioned it, then Fudge like... hounded on it. I didn't think to mention her because there were like fifty Ministry people in there. She was just one of them." Harry moved to lean against the corner of the couch, pulling his legs up.
Snape frowned at the new information. He sincerely hoped that her being at Hogwarts didn't have something to do with his child. "I am sure that she will not be here for very long." He moved the lesson plans he had been working on to the table beside him before leaning forward and tapping the coffee table, causing two cups of tea and a small plate of biscuits to appear.
"Why is she here at all?" Harry questioned, leaning over to take a biscuit before resting back with a sigh.
"I believe just to observe and report back to the Ministry as to what is happening at Hogwarts." The man gave the teenager a serious look. "It would be wise of you to remember that and refrain from getting into any trouble while she is here."
"I plan on avoiding her the best that I can," Harry replied softly, rolling his eyes as he took a bite of the biscuit. "So don't worry."
"I am not worried at all. I have faith in you." The man leaned forward picking up his cup of tea. "It was a simple reminder."
Sitting up a bit more properly, Harry leaned and picked up his own cup as well as a second biscuit. "What perfect timing to check in on Hogwarts after my hearing. It's never happened before has it?"
"The same thought occurred to me," Snape admitted before taking a sip of his tea. "Though as I said, I am sure she will not be here for long."
He gave a nod, taking a bite of the second biscuit before quickly following it with a swallow of tea. "Can I go ahead and stay down here tonight?"
"You are always welcome to stay down here, you know that." The man set his teacup down before looking back over to his child. "I am surprised that you wouldn't rather be up in your dorm with your friends though."
"I already told them I probably wouldn't be up tonight." He gave a shrug, taking another bite. "I'll be up there tomorrow."
Snape opened his mouth to speak and quickly shut it once more as pain burned across his arm. The man took in a breath as he forced his attention to focus away from the pain and onto his child. He could not go now. "It will be nice to have your company tonight. Did you have a nice time at the Weasleys?"
Harry closed his eyes as he took another sip of the tea before blinking and placing the cup back on the table. "Yeah." He gave a small grin before blinking and allowing a full smile to break across his face. "The twins are pretty happy they're nearly seventeen." He glanced over to the stack of papers Snape had been working on, giving a small nod towards them. "Sorry I interrupted whatever that is."
"Lesson plans." Snape forced the words out as the pain in his arm intensified. Of course there would be a meeting on the first blasted night of the school year. "It is fine. I have plenty of time to complete them."
Harry sat up, cringing slightly as a bolt of pain shot through his scar before it quickly disappeared. It was then he noticed Snape had his sleeves rolled up, eyes catching a quick glimpse of the man's left arm before it was moved.
He was sure of what he saw.
"Snape?"
The man moved his arm as he watched his child's face. He was sure his scar looked inflamed. "Is it your scar? Do you have a headache? I can get you a potion."
"It's fine. Was just... a moment." Harry shook his head, raising his hand up to lightly brush it across his scar before lowering it back to his lap. "Your arm." He may wear glasses, but he certainly wasn't blind.
Snape swallowed heavily, forcing his face to remain neutral. "My arm?" He looked down at his arm that did not have the Dark Mark. "My arm is fine."
"Don't be daft, Snape." He made a motion to the side of his forehead without his scar. "Scar? What scar? You know what I mean." Harry used the same hand to point towards the man's left arm.
"My arm is fine," Snape repeated the words, more firmly. "Do you have a headache? I can get you a pain reliever."
"I'm actually fine. I'd let you know if it hurt that much," Harry muttered, frowning. "Do you have to leave tonight?"
Snape frowned at the words. "I do not have to go anywhere this evening." He had barely finished speaking when his Dark Mark began burning once more.
Harry watched as Snape's expression changed in just the slightest way, something two years ago he probably would have never noticed. Then again. Two years ago Voldemort wasn't really an issue. "You're lying. Just go, I can go to the tower."
"I am not going anywhere." The man gave the child a serious look before moving to roll down his sleeves. "I do not know what you are talking about."
"It's never that dark." He was sure his words were right even though he couldn't remember ever really looking at it closely before. Truthfully he never paid much attention. He blinked, thinking back to when Snape had kicked him out of the Order meeting... right when they were asking Snape about...
"You haven't been to a meeting since the graveyard." It clicked, Harry sat up straighter. Snape had never mentioned them besides saying that they would be starting and talking about how stressful they would be, but Snape hadn't left at all during the summer!
"Do not be ridiculous." Snape forced a bored expression onto his face. "Did you have too much sugar during dessert? You are talking utter nonsense."
"No, it's true! You haven't been to a meeting. You can't tell me He just hasn't been having any for..." the teenager fell silent for a moment, "like five months since he came back."
"Harry," Snape said the boy's name in a warning tone. "Leave it be. The meetings are not your concern."
"Severus!" Harry hissed in a quick response before he took in a breath, leaning back slightly against the couch. "They are," he muttered.
Snape raised an eyebrow at the boy's sudden outburst as well as the use of his first name. "Severus? Hm?"
The teenager folded his arms across his middle as he slouched back. He hadn't even really realized he had said it. "Sorry."
"There is no need to apologize. I believe I told you ages ago that I did not mind it if you wanted to call me by my first name." The man couldn't help but be pleased that the subject has drifted from the meetings.
Harry gave only a slight nod before taking in another breath. "Still. Is that why you had me leave the Order meeting before? Because you haven't gone to any meetings and they were asking about them."
"That is not why." Snape swallowed his frustration. "As I said, leave it be. You do not know what you are talking about."
"Then why? It doesn't make sense. You can't not go. I didn't think it worked that way." He made a slight motion to the man.
"I will do as I see fit both for myself as well as for you." The man gave the child a serious look. "You will leave it be and mind your own business."
Harry clearly ignored the words, eyes settling down towards Snape's left arm for only a brief moment before he looked back up. "How many times have you ignored it?"
"You are wearing my patience thin," the man replied in a bored tone. "I am not going to sit here and be interrogated."
The teenager leaned his head back, sighing loudly at the words as he rested his elbow on the arm of the couch and briefly ran his hand across his scar. "Fine. Fine. I just don't want you to wind up hurt or something again," he replied softly, dropping his hand down as he looked over to the fireplace. "That's all."
"I am fine, Harry. I will be fine. You needn't worry about me." The man allowed his tone to soften slightly.
Harry only shook his head, resting his cheek against his hand. His stomach knotted up at the idea of whatever Voldemort could decide to do. "You're not invincible. No one is."
The man sighed softly at the teenager's words. "I did not say I was invincible, I said I will be fine. I also said that you needn't worry about me."
"Well. Too late now," he replied, laying across the couch once more with a huff breath. The whole idea didn't sit right. They were safe in the castle, he was sure. But what about at home?
"Everything is fine," the man forced the words out as his mark burned once more. "You are thinking far too deeply into this."
"I just remember the night in the graveyard. That's all." Harry shrugged up a shoulder as he rested his cheek against the back of the couch.
"You remember what about that night?" The man sat up a bit straighter as he leaned over and picked up his teacup.
"When you came back that night. Is that why you haven't gone to them? Do you think he'll do something again?" Harry turned his head slightly to look back over to Snape.
The man took a long sip of tea before lowering the teacup to his lap. "I am a busy man, Harry. I have not gone because I have not had the time and have not needed to do so." The last thing he needed was his child to continue to make this an issue. It was likely better to put an end to the questions now.
"So Dumbledore knows you haven't gone too?" He pushed himself up slightly to sit up further before adjusting to resting against the corner of the couch.
"Professor Dumbledore," Snape corrected the child with a stern look. "Albus is a busy man as well. We have not had a moment to discuss it."
"So then what did you say during the Order meeting when he asked about it?" He was sure that had to have been the reason that Snape sent him away.
"You were made to leave for a reason, Harry. I do not want to discuss what you missed." Snape set his teacup back down. "Furthermore, I believe I already told you that I do not intend to sit here and be interrogated."
"Because you're lying," he muttered softly under his breath, looking towards his knees with a slight shrug. He had been made to leave because he knew Snape hadn't gone anywhere. That had to have been the reason.
The man let out an exasperated sigh at the words. "It is not your concern and I think it would be best if you minded your own business."
"I think it is my concern... in some ways," Harry continued, sparing a glance towards the man. "I mean, how do you think it's not?"
"It is my business, not yours." The man gave the teenager a serious look. "And I would appreciate it if the subject was dropped."
The boy gave a small shrug, looking down towards his knees. "Okay. I don't know why you can't trust and be honest with me, but expect it from me."
Snape frowned at the words as his features softened slightly. "I do trust you. I trust you very much. That, however, does not mean that I have to share private and personal things with you."
"You've said yourself when it comes to him finding me, that he'll get to me no matter what. If he wants to get to you? Can't be much different. I don't mind you not going. Wish you never had to." Moving, Harry sat up properly once more and took a third biscuit from the plate.
"I have always said that you are very safe in this castle as well as at home. As well as that regardless of how much you want to know information, if I do not feel as though it should be shared with you, I will not do so." The man's frown remained.
"Fine, just be careful I guess. Does Remus know you're not? Or does anyone?" He took a bite of the biscuit. "Or am I the only one to solve that?"
"You have not solved anything," Snape spoke sternly. "Now I would suggest that you leave it be and pick a new subject to discuss."
Harry fell silent at that, swallowing as he looked over to the fireplace. He had solved it. A small smirk tugged across his face before he quickly schooled it away. The last thing he needed was Snape snapping even further. "I hope that Umbridge woman leaves soon."
"As do I." Snape gave a small nod, pleased that his child had finally changed the subject. "I do not like the idea of someone from the Ministry being here."
"I hate it. I don't trust them," he replied, falling silent for a moment before standing. "I'm going to go change."
"There is clean sleep clothing in your room, Minka made sure of that." Snape picked up his teacup once more. "I'm sure she saw to it that your school uniform is down here as well."
"Thanks Severus." He tested the name for a second time, before forcing a slight grin. "And I won't tell anybody about the meeting thing." The teenager moved towards the hall, picking up his cloak from the couch as he stepped by.
Snape ignored the words about the meeting altogether as the child stepped past him. "I quite like your calling me by my first name. At any rate, it is much harder to whine it."
"It's different. You won't mind if I still call you your last name too, right?" Harry paused just past the couch, looking back over to Snape.
"You may call me by either name." Snape gave a small nod as he set down the teacup and moved his lesson plans back to his lap. "Make sure you hang your robe, do not leave it on the floor in your room."
"I should be insulted," Harry laughed, adjusting the robe over his arm before simply moving down the hall. He was sure he could tell at least Remus about what he learned, but what would that result in? Snape was safe. Especially while they were at Hogwarts.
Snape made his way down the staircase as students quickly moved out of his way. His first class of the new school year had gone well, despite his classroom being full of first years so nervous that they could barely function let alone properly take notes.
The man let out a small sigh of frustration as he stepped onto the main floor. He still had a class of seventh years to teach as well as a dozen lesson plans to complete that evening. He was already looking forward to a nightcap before bed.
His mind wandered to his child as he realized that he had not seen Harry since breakfast hours earlier. He was sure Harry was enjoying his first day back at Hogwarts, he only hoped that the teenager was behaving. The previous evening the man had been sure to make it a point to remind Harry who Dolores Umbridge worked for and how he expected his child to behave in her presence. The last thing Snape needed was for the Ministry to have any reason to bother the relationship he had with his son once more.
Snape turned the hall, his mind set on the idea of making it to his classroom with plenty of time to work on lesson plans prior to teaching his next class.
He paused in his steps, his attention drawn to what appeared to be a very serious conversation going on in a corner. A conversation between his child and Remus.
The man couldn't help but think that the pair looked far too intense to be about school, especially on the first day back. Snape's mind instantly wandered to the conversation his child had attempted to have with him the previous evening about the Death Eater meetings. He felt his annoyance grow as he continued to observe his child and friend.
He watched as the two walked off in the same direction.
"We'll talk more later tonight, after dinner," Remus said before leading the child in his classroom door.
"And you'll talk to Snape?" Harry asked as he paused in his steps.
Snape couldn't deny hearing the worry in his child's voice only further convincing him that they were discussing the meetings.
"I will talk to Severus." Remus gave a firm nod.
Harry moved down the steps that led to the dungeons, sparing a quick glance behind him at the voices of several Slytherins. With a slight face, the teenager sped up his steps and moved to the bottom floor. Dealing with Umbridge that day was bad enough, the last thing he needed was to deal with anyone else.
Moving down the hall, Harry opened up the parlor door and stepped in with a sigh. "I don't like her," he muttered, shutting the door and moving further into the room.
Snape looked up from the small stack of papers on his lap. "You do not like whom?" He was sure that he already knew the answer. Just as he was sure that he had been unable to keep his annoyance with his child out of his tone. He had hoped that the conversion they had the previous evening would stay between them but he was nearly certain that Harry had run off and told Remus the second that he had the chance.
"Umbridge," Harry replied, clearly missing the man's tone as he removed his Gryffindor robe and carefully folded it over the arm of the couch. "It's only been one day too." He sighed softly, moving over and sitting down on the couch. Glancing up, Harry frowned at the sight of Snape. The man was no doubt annoyed. "What's wrong? A first year destroy some supplies or something?"
Snape's lips pressed into a tight line at the words. "When I tell you to leave something be I expect you to listen. Is that understood?"
"What are you talking about?" The teenager blinked at the words, leaning back as he rested his arms across his middle.
"I am talking about you going directly to Remus in regards to our conversation last night," Snape's tone grew stern. "Which I do not appreciate at all."
Harry stared at Snape for a long moment, thinking back to the whole day. He hadn't talked to Remus about that. The only time he spoke to Remus outside of class was during a free period. And it wasn't about that!
"I didn't tell him anything about that." He had been more than tempted to, but it would do no good besides make Snape angry. "I can talk about other things with him, you know."
"I saw you speaking with him," Snape replied angrily. "I also happen to know that you planned on meeting with him later this evening."
"I talked to him about Umbridge being one of the people at my hearing." Harry glared over to the man, "It's not always about you."
"Tuck that cheek away," Snape warned the teenager in a stern tone. "Before you find yourself in trouble."
"You're mad for no reason," the teenager huffed, fighting the urge to roll his eyes as he stared at the man. "And I'm not being cheeky about it."
"No?" Snape raised an eyebrow. "Your tone is absolutely cheeky and I expect it to end now. If you are unable to do so then you may spend some time in the corner."
Harry slumped back, resting an elbow on the arm of the couch as he stared to Snape in offense. It was only the second night back! He hadn't done anything. "Still. I didn't tell Remus about that."
"My personal business is just that! It is not your place to repeat your wild assumptions about it to anyone. Am I understood?" The sternness on the man's features only grew.
"I didn't say anything! I was talking about Umbridge!" Harry sat up straighter, glaring to the man. "I didn't even mention you!"
"Do not raise your voice to me!" Snape nearly hissed at the child. "You know better!"
"Then you don't," he muttered, continuing to glare at the man before speaking again. "You're not being fair."
"If I ever dared to speak to my father the way that you speak to me..." Snape's words trailed off before his eyes narrowed slightly on the teenager. "Corner. Now."
"No," Harry gave the man a disbelieving stare, mouth opening just slightly. Snape had to be joking. "I haven't done anything wrong."
"You have spoken to me with nothing but cheek," Snape replied with an exasperated sigh. "And if I have to get up and physically put you in the corner I am going to see to it that you have quite the stinging incentive to stay there."
"I regret coming down here at all," Harry breathed, hurt and anger lacing his voice as he stood from the couch. He could handle going to the tower from now on if Snape was going to be like this.
He moved away from the couch, picking up his cloak as he did so. Yet instead of moving to the corner that he was sure Snape expected him to go to, Harry simply started to head to the hall.
Snape nearly yelled after the child to return but he quickly thought better of it. Harry going to his room was just effective as the corner.
Adjusting his hold on the cloak, Harry fought the urge to snap back at the man in some way. But he found himself not even wanting to be in the same room. Stepping into his bedroom, Harry allowed the door to shut a tad too loudly and locked it quickly. Pointless, but it hoped it would serve some sort of purpose.
With a loud huff, the teenager tossed the Gryffindor robe carelessly across his chair before moving over to the window. He should have left the dungeons altogether, but the last thing he wanted was to run into her in the hall.
Snape let out an annoyed huff as he tried to focus on his work once more. He was hardly done reading the first sentence when an envelope flew out of the fireplace and landed on top of his pile. With a sigh, he opened it, instantly recognizing Remus' handwriting.
His eyes gazed over the words as he felt a pit form in his stomach. The man was inquiring about whether Harry had discussed Umbridge with him, making several references to the conversation Remus had with Harry earlier in the day.
Snape sighed softly as he moved his papers to the table beside him and stood, tucking the letter in his pocket. Harry had been being truthful, though Snape was having a hard time remembering why he had been so insistent that he was lying.
Harry closed his eyes, head resting against the stone as he sat in the window sill, tilting his head only slightly as he heard the footsteps down the hall. He was sure Snape wanted to continue their discussion and only hoped the man got the idea when he was met with a locked door. Snape's temper had been short since before his trial, and even with it over the man hadn't gotten much better.
Snape knocked once on the teenager's door before moving to open it. A soft sigh escaped him as he realized it was locked. Waving a hand over the doorknob, he heard the lock click before he gripped the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open. "Harry?"
The teenager blinked his eyes open, starling out into the lake as the door opened. Why bother? "What?" The word came out more harshly than even he expected, inwardly cringing.
Snape swallowed hard, refraining from commenting on the child's cheek. "I wish to apologize to you."
Harry fell silent at the words, glancing down to his knee for a brief moment. There was quite a difference between Snape now and quite literally minutes ago. "Why?" He forced the word to come out much more normal. The last thing he wanted was to start everything over again.
Snape was silent as he moved across the room, sitting down on the boy's bed. "Because I behaved like an arse." The man let out a soft sigh. "I just received a letter from Remus in regards to the conversation the two of you had."
The teenager stood from the window, looking over to Snape as he sat on the other side of the bed to still keep a small amount of distance away. "You always think the worst. Even when I tell the truth, and I've tried to get better about doing that."
"I apologize, Harry. I am under quite a bit of stress at the moment." The man let out a low huff of air. "Not that it is an excuse because it is not."
"Pretty sure I told you I wouldn't tell him about that in the first place," Harry muttered before sighing softly. "I don't get why you're hiding it though."
"It is not your business." Snape fixed the child with a stern look before allowing his features to soften. "However, you are correct. You were telling me the truth and I am sorry that I did not listen."
"Tends to happen." Despite the stern look, Harry offered a faint grin to the man. "Told you before I'll forgive you... but thanks."
Snape waved a hand, calling the child to him. "I am going to work very hard to try and prevent it from occurring again."
Standing from his spot, Harry's grin faded as he moved around the bed to stand in front of Snape. He released a sigh at the words. It wasn't as if he hadn't said that before.
The man reached out and took a gentle hold on the teenager's hand, pulling him a step closer before wrapping his arms tightly around the boy. "I am sorry, Harry," he spoke into his child's ear. "Truly."
Harry's arms rose, wrapping around Snape's shoulders as he closed his eyes. "Git. There, you're forgiven."
Snape smirked softly at the words. "That is fair enough." His hand gently patted the boy's back. "I likely deserve much worse than that."
"Maybe," Harry muttered, sighing as he rested his chin down onto Snape's shoulder. "Why have you been so stressed? Because of the meetings? I thought it was the trial before."
"A bit of everything I suppose," Snape answered honestly as his hand brushed against the boy's back. "The trial, the meetings, Umbridge."
"Well one is over and the other would be solved if you went. Just... why don't you?" Harry pulled away then, frowning down to Snape.
Snape shook his head slightly at the question. "We are not discussing this, Harry."
"Fine. I'm just saying... could be honest with me sometimes too." He pulled away fully, sitting down next to Snape with a shrug. "But I'm not about to go tell Remus or anything."
"It is not about being honest." Snape looked over to the child. "Not everything is your business."
Harry sighed, letting the topic actually drop as he rested his hands at his sides. "Still... that's all."
"What is all?" Snape hummed softly. "What is it that you wanted to tell me about Umbridge when you first came down here?"
"I just mean can still be honest with me too. Oh, and I wasn't coming to tell you much about her. She's sitting in classes going forward apparently. Although funny enough she was in each one of mine." He rolled his eyes. She hadn't been subtle about it at all.
"She was in every one of your classes?" Snape raised an eyebrow. That hardly sounded as though it was a mistake.
Harry sighed, moving slightly to lean against his headboard. "Every one of them and she wasn't quiet either. Had to say something about... anything. Like in Defense! She doesn't feel we should learn anything in there and to 'expect a new curriculum'."
"A new curriculum?" Snape frowned at the words. "Did she happen to say what this new curriculum would entail?"
"Nope." Harry frowned, looking down to his knee. If he didn't say something, he knew Snape would find out real quick. "Got kinda in a...small row against her."
"Didn't we discuss just last night how important it was to behave? Especially in her presence?" Snape could hardly help the slight sternness that crept into his tone. "What did this row entail?"
"She said there's no reason for us to be taught spells to fight or protect ourselves. Especially by a half blood." Harry stared at Snape for a long moment before carefully continuing. "I don't think anyone picked up on that... but I mentioned Voldemort. But of course he isn't back."
The man took in a breath, mentally willing his temper to remain in check. "Am I right to suspect that there was more to this conversation?"
"I just said we should be taught how to defend ourselves and just reading won't teach us anything." Harry shrugged, kicking off his school shoes before raising his feet up onto his bed.
The man nodded at the words. "What did she say to that?" His hand moved to gently tap the top of the boy's foot.
"I have detention for the week. With her. Not Remus. Even though it was Remus' class." He released a huff breath. "So I guess she can do that too."
Snape let out a huff of breath at the words. He had warned the child. She was from the Ministry. Harry knew better. "Have you any idea the harm she could do if she wanted to?"
"It's stupid. I didn't do anything wrong and I wasn't the only one saying things about it either." Harry couldn't help the glare he casted over to Snape before looking back down to his knees. "A few others were too. But I'm the only one that got detention."
"I told you just last night that you need to behave around here and that includes biting your tongue." Snape's tone remained stern as he reached out and tapped the underside of the boy's chin. "You knew that."
"I didn't even start it. Hermione brought it up first and then I said something." He moved his head away, frowning. "Don't be cross."
"I am to be pleased that you now have detention for a week? I am to be happy that you failed to control your temper?" The man frowned at his own words.
"I wasn't yelling or anything like that. She's the one that started to. I guess she didn't like logic." Harry sighed, resting his head back. "Sorry... I was actually trying to be good. They can't expect us to not learn any spells. This is a school of magic isn't it?"
Snape was silent for a moment as he thought over his child's words. He certainly raised a good point. "I understand your frustration. That being said, I need you to try harder to remain off of her radar."
That went much better than he had been expecting. "Alright, I will."
"If anything else happens regarding her I expect to be informed." The man reached out tapping the boy's chin once more. "Understood?"
"Understood. I don't get how she can assign detentions though. She's not a professor. If anything I should be having detention with Remus or something." Harry rested his chin down against Snape's hand for a brief moment before raising his head back up.
"Nor do I." The man's hand dropped down to his lap. "I will certainly be having a discussion with Albus about it though."
The teenager gave a slight nod, forcing a small grin before allowing it to fade. "Hope she leaves soon. I'm already tired of her."
"In the meantime I need you to keep your temper and behave yourself." The man gently patted the child's leg. "Do not give her reason to single you out."
"Same to you. That means tomorrow she'll probably be haunting your class since potions is tomorrow." Harry rolled his eyes at the thought. He just knew the woman was following his class schedule.
"I am sure that I can handle it." The man gave the teenager a serious look. "And I expect you to do so as well. I do not want a repeat of when Mr. Fudge visited my classroom."
Harry felt his cheeks burn at the memory, pointedly looking away from the man. "It won't be," he muttered under his breath. "Swear it won't."
"Very good." The man's hand patted the child's leg softly. Harry's embarrassment was evident and Snape hoped that was enough to keep the boy from misbehaving. "Are you going upstairs for dinner or would you prefer to eat down here?"
"Upstairs if that's fine." He shifted his legs to rest over the side of the bed before standing.
"That is absolutely fine." Snape gave a small nod. "Go and spend some time with your friends."
A proper grin spread across the teenager's face as he slipped on his shoes once more, quickly moving to the door before pausing within the doorway. He turned to Snape for a brief moment. "Love you. Thanks for not going completely mental."
"I love you too." The man stood with a soft hum. "And you be sure to let me know if anything else happens with her."
Harry nodded at the words, stepping out into the hall with a call of, "I will."
TBC...