10:00 a.m., Monday,
The Charms Corridor,
Harry and Severus staring at each other from where they were seated in the hallway. A tick was clearly going off under Severus' right eye and Harry was looking agitated. Neville Longbottom was the first to reach the hallway on the way to class and stopped to watch them.
"What are you doing?" Neville asked.
Both boys turned their glares on him and Neville jumped back. They may be three year olds, but his memory of Professor Snape, the Potions Master, were still vividly clear. He wasn't going to risk getting a detention or points taken away even if Professor Snape wasn't in any shape to do such a thing.
"Uh...I'll...just go..." Neville slipped out of the hallway and on to his class.
"It's all your fault." Harry mumbled to the other boy.
"That's the last time I ever bring you breakfast then. Figures that you wouldn't be appreciative, you spoiled brat." Severus growled.
"Spoiled..?! Look who's talking!" Harry hissed.
"I'm 36. I'm far from a spoiled brat." Severus seemed to sober up momentarily before resuming his glare.
"It's not like I asked for you to bring me breakfast!"
"I'm not listening..." Severus murmured before following Neville's path into the Charms classroom.
Harry huffed before following the other boy. Severus had brought him breakfast once again this morning and had obviously brought things Harry didn't like. Harry was sure that he'd done it on purpose and had scolded him for it. Severus got angry at him and they had bickered all the way to the Charms Corridor before settling down in the hallway for a staring contest which Neville had ruined.
Harry sat down next to Severus at their assigned table and began to pull out his Charms book, some paper, ink, and his quill. Severus watched with disinterest. After Harry had everything out on his desk and ready, he glanced up to watch the other students as they filed in. He was in time to see Ron and Hermione whispering and giggling to each other as they entered and took their seats a short ways away. Harry felt an unfamiliar stab of resentment, but pushed it back and turned to stare down at his blank sheets of parchment as he waited for Professor Flitwick.
This hadn't gone unnoticed by Severus. He watched Harry's reaction carefully when his two friends had entered the room. He felt slightly agitated by their inconsideration of their now much younger friend. They hadn't even stopped to say hello to him. Well, that just goes to show that Gryffindors definitely aren't the most thoughtful bunch. He frowned as Harry's gaze focused on the blank sheets of paper and had to resist the urge to nudge him. Luckily, Professor Flitwick arrived before Severus could do anything to further agitate the other boy.
"Ah, it's good to see that everyone's here!" Professor Flitwick squealed after taking role call. He seemed especially pleased to be teaching Severus once again. Harry had to stifle a giggle as Severus grumbled something not so nice under his breath.
Most of the rest of the class seemed to be eyeing the tiny duo dubiously. Of course they all trusted Harry...for the most part, but Snape? No, none of the Gryffindors trusted Snape at all. The newest rumors to spread around made them even more wary. Rumors about Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Of course, most of the students were fairly sure Severus Snape was a Death Eater.
As they began their lesson, shrinking various objects that Flitwick assigned to them and then enlarging them back to their normal size again, Harry noticed that other students seem to be casting glances their way a bit much. "What do you think they're looking at us for?" He whispered to Severus as he leaned close as if to point out something to the other boy.
"Probably whatever rumors there are about us." Snape mused.
Harry looked stunned. "Rumors about *us*? Like...what kind of rumors?"
Severus shrugged. "It's not like they'd actually tell me. Rumors are rarely told to the subjects of them." He smirked.
Harry growled. "Fine, be that way."
Severus turned his attention back to the pocket watch they were supposed to shrink. "A simple shrinking solution would suffice, but no, we have to perform this silly wand waving. There's not even a real reason for me to participate, but that ridiculous old fool..."
"Professor Flitwick." Harry corrected him.
"Yeah. He insists that I do it as well." Severus snarled as his attempt at shrinking the watch once again fails.
"You're terrible." Harry commented as he managed to shrink the watch in one simple flick. "See?" With another flick it was back to normal. "Your turn." He grinned smugly.
Parvati and Lavendar where seated near the back, watching the tiny duo. "I wonder how Harry can get along with him like that." Parvati whispered.
"Look...Harry's actually laughing." Lavendar pointed out. "He looks like he actually enjoys being with Professor Snape."
Parvati nodded in agreement. "He hardly ever laughed after last year...seeing him laugh now is a bit of a shock."
"Oh, maybe they're in lo~ve!" Lavendar teased and giggled.
"Oh, don't say such a disgusting thing!" Parvati screwed her face up in disgust. "That's just gross."
"What is?" Ron and Hermione were watching Parvati and Lavendar. "What's so gross?" Hermione asked, but the look on her face showed that she knew what they were talking about and wasn't too pleased about it.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. We didn't mean it as an insult to Harry...really." Parvati apologized and Lavendar nodded.
Hermione nodded. "Okay." She looked away, but Ron kept casting glances at them.
"You finally got it!" Harry grinned to Severus after he finished casting the last spell.
"Yeah, after too many tries." Severus glowered at the watch and Harry laughed.
1:30 p.m., Monday,
The Stands, The Quidditch Pitch,
Severus had managed to conjure up some popcorn after six tries, proving just how bad his charms skills really were. Harry giggled at his companion's frustration. "Well at least I know you're not perfect at everything." That earned him a raised eyebrow and Harry almost fell out of his chair at the look on Severus' face.
Overhead, the Gryffindor team minus the Seeker was practicing for the next match - Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Harry had explained that he would skip today's practice since he was still small. George and Fred easily accepted his excuse and told him that he could watch and give them pointers. Instead, Harry was busy watching Severus' silly antics as he tried to conjure some popcorn for himself. Harry could have helped him, but he found it far too amusing. It was rare to see the Potions Master in such a predicament and he was lucky that they were alone in the Slytherin stands.
"Obviously." Severus replied scathingly then began fussing at Harry for stealing his popcorn. The other boy simply tuned him out and turned his eyes skyward to watch the quidditch practice.
Severus growled when he realized he was being ignored. He hated it whenever Harry did that and recently he'd been doing it a lot and even going so far as managing to close the mind link temporarily. Severus was glad that the mind link didn't entail more than words and vague feelings. He was sure he didn't want to see what junk littered Harry's impossible mind.
"Angelina's having trouble with her new broom." Harry commented softly and Severus followed his gaze to the Gryffindor 7th year. Her broom was jerking every once in a while and Severus realized that her control of it wasn't as good as it should be.
"Perhaps she should borrow a school broom." Severus replied. "She doesn't seem to be able to handle the speed of it."
Harry shook his head. "This is her first time on it. I think she's just nervous." He turned and gave Severus a rare smile. "Weren't you nervous before the game too?"
Severus simply nodded. He wasn't about to say anything even remotely nice to Harry after that fuss he'd made this morning. He was still a spoiled brat and Severus wasn't going to give in just because of one smile.
/I heard that./ Harry grinned.
/Shut up./ Severus frowned and crossed his arms. The mind link had been a bad idea.
"What do we do?" Severus was startled by the slight note of panic in Harry's voice.
"Do? About what?" Severus asked.
"When we change back. We can't just be caught in the middle of the hall...that would be terribly embarrassing." Harry replied.
Severus didn't even want to think of that. "Well, tonight we'll go to Dumbledore. The potion should wear off some time tomorrow afternoon, so it shouldn't be a real problem. We'll know what time it will wear off."
Harry nodded and settled back in his seat, satisfied with Severus' answer.
(TBC. Okay, the next chapter will be the last one and then I'll post the sequel. I have a beta for it, but I'd like to see if anyone else would be willing to volunteer to Beta for it before I post the first chapter. I still don't have a title for the story, so I need help with that (for some horrid reason, my mind keeps drawing a blank). I know the chapters for Purely Coincidental have been short, but I wanted to keep each chapter short and simple (for me, at least, it would become too long and boring.). However, the good news is that the sequel's chapters will definitely be much longer and it *will* be slash. I'm also sorry about the long wait for this chapter. I've been working on the sequel and I've *really* gotten into it. I also have two other unrelated series I'm working on and I've also found it difficult to pull away from the three. I'll try to have the last chapter ready soon enough, I promise!)
The Charms Corridor,
Harry and Severus staring at each other from where they were seated in the hallway. A tick was clearly going off under Severus' right eye and Harry was looking agitated. Neville Longbottom was the first to reach the hallway on the way to class and stopped to watch them.
"What are you doing?" Neville asked.
Both boys turned their glares on him and Neville jumped back. They may be three year olds, but his memory of Professor Snape, the Potions Master, were still vividly clear. He wasn't going to risk getting a detention or points taken away even if Professor Snape wasn't in any shape to do such a thing.
"Uh...I'll...just go..." Neville slipped out of the hallway and on to his class.
"It's all your fault." Harry mumbled to the other boy.
"That's the last time I ever bring you breakfast then. Figures that you wouldn't be appreciative, you spoiled brat." Severus growled.
"Spoiled..?! Look who's talking!" Harry hissed.
"I'm 36. I'm far from a spoiled brat." Severus seemed to sober up momentarily before resuming his glare.
"It's not like I asked for you to bring me breakfast!"
"I'm not listening..." Severus murmured before following Neville's path into the Charms classroom.
Harry huffed before following the other boy. Severus had brought him breakfast once again this morning and had obviously brought things Harry didn't like. Harry was sure that he'd done it on purpose and had scolded him for it. Severus got angry at him and they had bickered all the way to the Charms Corridor before settling down in the hallway for a staring contest which Neville had ruined.
Harry sat down next to Severus at their assigned table and began to pull out his Charms book, some paper, ink, and his quill. Severus watched with disinterest. After Harry had everything out on his desk and ready, he glanced up to watch the other students as they filed in. He was in time to see Ron and Hermione whispering and giggling to each other as they entered and took their seats a short ways away. Harry felt an unfamiliar stab of resentment, but pushed it back and turned to stare down at his blank sheets of parchment as he waited for Professor Flitwick.
This hadn't gone unnoticed by Severus. He watched Harry's reaction carefully when his two friends had entered the room. He felt slightly agitated by their inconsideration of their now much younger friend. They hadn't even stopped to say hello to him. Well, that just goes to show that Gryffindors definitely aren't the most thoughtful bunch. He frowned as Harry's gaze focused on the blank sheets of paper and had to resist the urge to nudge him. Luckily, Professor Flitwick arrived before Severus could do anything to further agitate the other boy.
"Ah, it's good to see that everyone's here!" Professor Flitwick squealed after taking role call. He seemed especially pleased to be teaching Severus once again. Harry had to stifle a giggle as Severus grumbled something not so nice under his breath.
Most of the rest of the class seemed to be eyeing the tiny duo dubiously. Of course they all trusted Harry...for the most part, but Snape? No, none of the Gryffindors trusted Snape at all. The newest rumors to spread around made them even more wary. Rumors about Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Of course, most of the students were fairly sure Severus Snape was a Death Eater.
As they began their lesson, shrinking various objects that Flitwick assigned to them and then enlarging them back to their normal size again, Harry noticed that other students seem to be casting glances their way a bit much. "What do you think they're looking at us for?" He whispered to Severus as he leaned close as if to point out something to the other boy.
"Probably whatever rumors there are about us." Snape mused.
Harry looked stunned. "Rumors about *us*? Like...what kind of rumors?"
Severus shrugged. "It's not like they'd actually tell me. Rumors are rarely told to the subjects of them." He smirked.
Harry growled. "Fine, be that way."
Severus turned his attention back to the pocket watch they were supposed to shrink. "A simple shrinking solution would suffice, but no, we have to perform this silly wand waving. There's not even a real reason for me to participate, but that ridiculous old fool..."
"Professor Flitwick." Harry corrected him.
"Yeah. He insists that I do it as well." Severus snarled as his attempt at shrinking the watch once again fails.
"You're terrible." Harry commented as he managed to shrink the watch in one simple flick. "See?" With another flick it was back to normal. "Your turn." He grinned smugly.
Parvati and Lavendar where seated near the back, watching the tiny duo. "I wonder how Harry can get along with him like that." Parvati whispered.
"Look...Harry's actually laughing." Lavendar pointed out. "He looks like he actually enjoys being with Professor Snape."
Parvati nodded in agreement. "He hardly ever laughed after last year...seeing him laugh now is a bit of a shock."
"Oh, maybe they're in lo~ve!" Lavendar teased and giggled.
"Oh, don't say such a disgusting thing!" Parvati screwed her face up in disgust. "That's just gross."
"What is?" Ron and Hermione were watching Parvati and Lavendar. "What's so gross?" Hermione asked, but the look on her face showed that she knew what they were talking about and wasn't too pleased about it.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. We didn't mean it as an insult to Harry...really." Parvati apologized and Lavendar nodded.
Hermione nodded. "Okay." She looked away, but Ron kept casting glances at them.
"You finally got it!" Harry grinned to Severus after he finished casting the last spell.
"Yeah, after too many tries." Severus glowered at the watch and Harry laughed.
1:30 p.m., Monday,
The Stands, The Quidditch Pitch,
Severus had managed to conjure up some popcorn after six tries, proving just how bad his charms skills really were. Harry giggled at his companion's frustration. "Well at least I know you're not perfect at everything." That earned him a raised eyebrow and Harry almost fell out of his chair at the look on Severus' face.
Overhead, the Gryffindor team minus the Seeker was practicing for the next match - Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Harry had explained that he would skip today's practice since he was still small. George and Fred easily accepted his excuse and told him that he could watch and give them pointers. Instead, Harry was busy watching Severus' silly antics as he tried to conjure some popcorn for himself. Harry could have helped him, but he found it far too amusing. It was rare to see the Potions Master in such a predicament and he was lucky that they were alone in the Slytherin stands.
"Obviously." Severus replied scathingly then began fussing at Harry for stealing his popcorn. The other boy simply tuned him out and turned his eyes skyward to watch the quidditch practice.
Severus growled when he realized he was being ignored. He hated it whenever Harry did that and recently he'd been doing it a lot and even going so far as managing to close the mind link temporarily. Severus was glad that the mind link didn't entail more than words and vague feelings. He was sure he didn't want to see what junk littered Harry's impossible mind.
"Angelina's having trouble with her new broom." Harry commented softly and Severus followed his gaze to the Gryffindor 7th year. Her broom was jerking every once in a while and Severus realized that her control of it wasn't as good as it should be.
"Perhaps she should borrow a school broom." Severus replied. "She doesn't seem to be able to handle the speed of it."
Harry shook his head. "This is her first time on it. I think she's just nervous." He turned and gave Severus a rare smile. "Weren't you nervous before the game too?"
Severus simply nodded. He wasn't about to say anything even remotely nice to Harry after that fuss he'd made this morning. He was still a spoiled brat and Severus wasn't going to give in just because of one smile.
/I heard that./ Harry grinned.
/Shut up./ Severus frowned and crossed his arms. The mind link had been a bad idea.
"What do we do?" Severus was startled by the slight note of panic in Harry's voice.
"Do? About what?" Severus asked.
"When we change back. We can't just be caught in the middle of the hall...that would be terribly embarrassing." Harry replied.
Severus didn't even want to think of that. "Well, tonight we'll go to Dumbledore. The potion should wear off some time tomorrow afternoon, so it shouldn't be a real problem. We'll know what time it will wear off."
Harry nodded and settled back in his seat, satisfied with Severus' answer.
(TBC. Okay, the next chapter will be the last one and then I'll post the sequel. I have a beta for it, but I'd like to see if anyone else would be willing to volunteer to Beta for it before I post the first chapter. I still don't have a title for the story, so I need help with that (for some horrid reason, my mind keeps drawing a blank). I know the chapters for Purely Coincidental have been short, but I wanted to keep each chapter short and simple (for me, at least, it would become too long and boring.). However, the good news is that the sequel's chapters will definitely be much longer and it *will* be slash. I'm also sorry about the long wait for this chapter. I've been working on the sequel and I've *really* gotten into it. I also have two other unrelated series I'm working on and I've also found it difficult to pull away from the three. I'll try to have the last chapter ready soon enough, I promise!)