Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related is the property of J.K. Rowling and anyone else who has claim to a piece of Harry's fame
Disclaimer 2: I own the plot, Saerry Snape, and Aeyr's. Nothing more, nothing less.
Chapter 28
**Back to Class**
Almost two months later Severus was out of the hospital wing (not without several insistences from Madam Pomfrey that he was still suffering from the effects of the Cruciatus Curse) and back to teaching his classes. He spent a good half-hour going on about how his classes had done nothing while he was ill, which was not true as they had made countless potions in his absence under different teachers. Unfortunately Saerry and Remus had suffered during the months, as there had been no one else who could make the Wolfsbane potion.
By that time most of the school had found out Harry Potter was actually Harry Snape and had begun to avoid him. The reason for this was Malfoy, who had told the Slytherins after he had found out. One Slytherin had told a Hufflepuff a month later, who cast the news through the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. The news had only reached Gryffindor a week earlier. Some of the Gryffindors were smarting that they hadn't noticed Harry's scar during all that time.
But the highlight of the two months was when Ron punched Malfoy after the trio found out he had been the one to tell the school. Ron had received a detention but said he'd take a detention any day that he could punch Malfoy in the face.
At the moment it was Potions and Ron was grumbling something under his breath. Harry looked at his friend, catching a few of the words, which were "slimy git" and several other choice words that would have gotten him a detention if Snape had heard. He had found that he wasn't really angry with Ron for calling his father things like that as he had the same demeanor towards Gryffindors that he had had before, although it had improved a little bit.
Snape suddenly said, "Pack it up." Everyone stared as he walked from looking at Malfoy's potion to Harry. Harry jumped as Snape leaned down and whispered, "Stay after class. Saerry wants to ask you something."
When Harry nodded Snape moved on, glaring at a shivering Neville, who had knocked over his cauldron. Neville, like most of the other Gryffindors, had taken to staying out of his way, Neville more than most.
Harry sighed and shook his head then began to put up what he hadn't used, pouring his finished potion into a glass as he went.
As he put a charm on it to keep it from spilling, Ron leaned over and asked, "What'd Snape say?"
Harry replied, "He said Saerry wants to talk to me about something."
"What?"
"He didn't say."
Ron snorted then bolted out of the room as soon as class was over. Hermione lagged behind and asked, "Do you want us to wait for you Harry?"
Harry shook his head and replied, "No, you guys go on. I don't know how long this is going to take."
Hermione smiled and patted his arm before leaving.
Harry watched as the rest of the class slowly left, Malfoy smirking at him and making a slicing motion over his throat. He glared at him and almost said something when . . .
"Mr. Malfoy!"
Draco turned to face Snape, who was glaring coldly at him.
"Sir?"
Snape's dark eyes narrowed and he growled, "If you wish to have any hope of winning the House competition this year I suggest you do not do anything to test my temper."
Draco's gray eyes widened then narrowed as he said, "Yes Professor Snape." As she turned to leave he glared coldly at Harry, who did the same in return.
As the door shut behind Draco, Snape heaved a sigh and muttered, "Like father like son." He looked over at Harry and said loudly, "Let's go."
They left the Potions classroom quickly, Snape turning back to mutter the Locking Charm on the door. As he turned and began to walk down the hall at a fast pace, his robes and cloak billowing out behind him, Harry noticed a silver ring on Snape's right hand that he had never seen before. There was an emblem on it that he couldn't make out but it looked a little like the silver stitching he had seen on the neck of one of Saerry's robes.
Harry followed his father up several flights of stairs and was surprised to find that they were in front of the Fat Lady's portrait.
Snape turned and said, "Get your broom."
Harry blinked then turned to the Fat Lady, who was watching them curiously. She looked at Snape and said, "Severus Snape. Its has been a long time since I've seen you."
Severus nodded. "Over fifteen years."
"Yes. I remember that day well."
Harry looked between the Fat Lady and his father. Both of them had solemn looks on their faces and Snape's eyes had a haunted look in them. He supposed the day they were talking about had been when something had happened between his father and his mother.
After a moment Severus turned away from the Fat Lady's gaze and said, "Go get your broom Harry. I'll wait here."
Harry nodded and muttered the password. As the portrait swung open he dashed up to the fifth year dorm, flung open his trunk, and grabbed his Firebolt. Sprinting back downstairs he heard Snape call, "Get a cloak."
Harry blinked them ran back upstairs and grabbed his cloak, slamming his trunk shut, then quickly heading back downstairs. He pinned the cloak around his neck as he jumped through the portrait hole.
As the portrait swung back into place he and Snape began to walk back down the hall. When they reached the entrance hall, Harry could hear voices spilling out of the Great Hall.
A second later they were outside, a cold wind whipping through their hair and cloaks. Another second later Harry realized where they were going.
The Quidditch pitch.
As they got closer Harry saw a dark haired figure in dark green robes and a black hooded cloak standing just inside one of the entranceways into the pitch. The figure waved frantically at them with one hand, the other clutching two dark brooms.
"Harry! Sev!"
Harry smiled, recognizing the figure as Saerry.
Saerry suddenly ran over to them and practically leapt onto her brother, hugging him tightly about the neck. Severus swung her around in a circle, a rare smile on his face, before setting her back on her feet. Grinning, Saerry wrapped an arm about his and Harry's shoulders and said, "C'mon!"
When they stepped onto the grassy pitch Harry asked, "What are we doing?"
Saerry smiled and replied, "I convinced Sev to teach me how to fly. And who better to give us a hand than the Gryffindor Seeker?"
Harry blushed. "I – I . . ."
Severus gave him a little push and said, "Fly. I'll teach Saerry the basics. You can help me explain Quidditch."
Harry nodded and mounted his broom. As he kicked off he turned the Firebolt straight up, feeling the sense of absolute freedom and joy he got whenever he flew. He flew from one end of the field to the other, zooming through the three hoops at either end. As he did a few loops he heard Saerry cheering from below. Waving at her, he zoomed back down the field then back to hover above his father and aunt.
Saerry giggled nervously as Severus showed her where to place her hands on the broom and explained how to get off the ground. She hadn't been on a broom since she was five and that had been a toy broom that had only gone about three feet above the ground.
"Okay, Saer. Give it a go."
Severus smiled at Saerry, who smiled nervously back.
Saerry gripped the broom tightly in both hands and kicked off from the ground. She went up about six or seven feet then tilted the broom handle downwards. Landing neatly, she gave a whoop and hugged her brother about the neck. Grinning widely she yelled, "C'mon! Let's fly!"
Kicking off again, she zoomed upwards and saw Harry hovering a little upwards and to her right. Laughing madly, she shot towards him, slapping his shoulder as she went past.
"You're it!"
Harry spun around and cried, "Hey!"
A second later they were chasing each other around the field, Severus watching them from below, a proud smile on his face. Saerry flew like a pro and had almost the same love for flying as Harry. Severus closed his eyes for a moment and thought Of course, so do I. He reopened his eyes and watching his son dash after his sister. Harry flew in a style that some might mistake for James Potter's if they hadn't seen Severus Snape fly. The two were nearly alike, so much that Severus himself hadn't noticed it during the Quidditch matches except for a few times when he swore he'd seen something that reminded him of himself. Of course, he hadn't flown in years.
Suddenly Saerry zoomed down to him and hovered at eye level. She was grinning wildly, her hair windswept.
"C'mon Sev! I know you can fly!"
"Saer, I haven't flown in fifteen years!"
Saerry looked askance at that then said, "Now's a good time to start! C'mon big brother!"
Severus shook his head. "I'll crash. And I truly do not want to embarrass myself in front of Harry."
Saerry frowned then shot back into the air as Harry dived quickly at her. Severus moved back out of the way and nearly tripped over the other dark broom Saerry had been carrying. Reaching down, he picked it up and nearly dropped it. It was a Nimbus 2002, which was very expensive and just out on the market. But it was hardly a match for Harry's Firebolt, which was still one of the best brooms you could buy. The Nimbus couldn't match it.
Still, he smiled when he saw it then looked up at the two. A smile curved at his thin lips as a plan formed in his mind.
Harry zipped after Saerry as she flew away from him, lying flat across the broom handle. As soon as he was close he tapped her arm then shot away. A second later something black shot in front of him, causing him to turn his Firebolt upwards to avoid a collision. Circling over the field he saw his father laughing at him.
Harry grinned as Saerry moved up behind Severus and tapped his shoulder as she shot past. Severus gaped in shock as she yelled, "You're it!"
Harry laughed madly until a determined look came onto his father's face.
"Uh-oh . . ."
A second later Saerry and Harry were being chased around the Quidditch pitch.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After what seemed like hours Harry, Saerry, and Severus finally left the Quidditch pitch and went back to the Potions classroom. They had lunch in Severus' office, Harry and Severus explaining to Saerry how to play Quidditch through the entire thing.
When they were done Harry said goodbye to the two of them, grabbed his bag from the Potions classroom, then dashed up to the Transfiguration classroom as fast as he could. He was wearing a wide grin for several hours, never explaining to anyone what he was so happy about.
A/N: Ah! I love this chapter! Quidditch is sooo cool! J Unfortunately, my cheeriness cannot last. The dark is coming ladies and gents! Beware. L Next chapter and the next will be fairly gloomy. Why? Oh, you'll see.