A/N: So...I'm guessing this is going to end up being a long fic. I definitely have more direction for where this is going now. If you have things you would like to see, keep letting me know. I'm starting to see a much clearer idea of the plot and story though.


"I can't believe you're still here with Potter," Draco looked around the sitting room where they were having tea with an imperious look that clearly said his surroundings were lacking.

Severus bit his tongue since he'd actually helped in the renovation and decoration of this particular room. Frankly, he thought it looked nice, minimalist, and calming. He also noted that Draco had never once offered the manor for him to stay at, not that he was surprised, especially knowing his creature status now. "My house is still not…comfortable," he instead said dryly. "Besides, Potter has insisted I stay until the term begins, and you are well aware of his stubbornness. However, I find the proposition agreeable."

Draco seemed beyond stunned at that admission and Snape smiled to himself at putting the younger man off balance. It seemed to be much easier to do when his young face already tended to make Draco very uncomfortable. "But…why?" his godson eventually sputtered out.

Snape took a page out of Potter's book and shrugged, causing his godson to stare in surprise even more. If he looked like a teenager, he might as well use it to mess with people…the little joys of life. "I find the company to be interesting," he remarked and sipped his tea.

"Potter…interesting?!" Draco sneered and rolled his eyes. "You should have your healer give your head a diagnostic next time you're in. Maybe those potions you were on all those years caused some lasting damage."

Snape shrugged again, enjoying the confusion the simple gesture was causing. "How are your plans progressing for the new term? Have you had your meeting with the headmistress yet?"

"It was yesterday," the teen looked indignant at something and seemed very put-out. "I requested a single room for safety, but apparently most of the returning eighth years have also done so for various reasons."

"So, no individual room?" Severus asked, now worried. It really wasn't safe for Draco to room with a few people, Ron Weasley being the first that came to mind, Theodore Nott as a second who would be angry that Potter had spoken for the boy at his trial.

"On the contrary, we're all getting individual rooms or have only one roommate we request," Draco said, still looking upset. "Unfortunately, there aren't enough single rooms in the guest wing to accommodate us all, so some of us are being placed in the guest rooms of professors with an added exterior entrance. I've been assigned to the DADA professor's quarters. McGonagall made some comment about it being fitting or appropriate or something…the woman is insinuating I'll attack the school! It's discrimination!"

"That may not be her reasoning," Snape commented, though he figured it was highly likely. Merlin was he worried about the woman finding out what he was! It was going to be a fiasco.

"Do you know who he is? Who is this person that's to be my keeper?" The heir sneered petulantly.

"I don't know Draco. I've not been informed of the recent hires, and Minerva isn't scheduled to come for Potter's visit for another. I doubt I will see her before then."

"It'd better not be some self-righteous Order member!"


Severus didn't think Draco had left in any better temper than when he arrived. Potter was almost glowing though as he flooed in and crashed on the couch with his bag in his lap. "Teddy's getting so big!" He exclaimed with a smile on his face. "He's starting to make H sounds…I think he might get to my name soon!"

In a twist that would probably shock the entire population of Britain, Snape actually liked small children. They were so innocent and unguarded, unlike everyone else he had to deal with in his life. It was only when he had to keep them from blowing up his classroom that they became insufferable. So, he got it, and just nodded in agreement even though he'd never met the Lupin offspring, and the child would clearly be too young to actually be saying words.

"How was your visit with Malfoy?" Harry asked, raising his head slightly from the couch cushions to look at him as he unconsciously stroked his bag, something Severus noticed him doing recently. It was highly concerning.

"The visit was…as expected," meaning awkward and obligatory. "He did remark that all the eighth years are getting private rooms though."

The teen sighed in obvious relief. "I was really hoping the headmistress would do that. Where are they going to put us all though? I know there isn't a whole lot of us returning, but I'd guess it's enough for it to be a problem anyway."

"The guest wing and also some professors' guest rooms," Snape would wager his favorite cauldron that no one would be placed with him. Just as it should be. "Draco said he's assigned to the DADA professor. He's worried it's a kind of discrimination since Minerva mentioned that it'd be 'appropriate.' Personally, I believe he may be correct."

Snape was confused as Potter began to laugh. "That's not what she meant, really," he finally got out with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I just learned today that Tonks took the post. It's appropriate because they are first cousins…she literally meant appropriate, in a Tonks is a young, recently widowed woman kind of way, and he's closely related to her unlike Ron or someone…not that Tonks wouldn't hex the balls off anyone that tried to make an unwelcomed move on her regardless."

"Oh," Snape actually smiled at that…Draco on babysitting duty would be a sight to see. "I will write to him and allay his fears." Or increase them…either outcome was welcome to Severus. He loved his godson, but he was also very amusing to mess with.

"I'm just glad the rooms are private. Silencing wards only do so much," the war hero commented, looking tired enough to back up the statement.

Snape had to admit he was concerned about his host's sleep. Occlumency would help the man, but he seemed exceptionally ill suited to the discipline. "I can easily stand now…I will brew you some Dreamless Sleep potion," he said with finality.

"You don't have to do that," Potter protested. "I know it's a fairly involved brew; plus, isn't it addicting?"

"We'll work you out a schedule for days on and off. We can talk to Healer Morris about it," Snape said with a nod, already starting to brew in his mind. "I'm surprised he hasn't already prescribed it."

"Probably since I told him I was sleeping better," Potter said in an unconcerned way. "And I am. Some sleep is better than no sleep."

Snape scoffed and stood. "Don't call me until dinner. I'll start with the ingredient preparation."

"Can I help?" Potter called after him, causing him to pause.

It was a testament to how far they'd come that he didn't immediately say no. Before, Snape would have said no and added a few insults for good measure. Now however, he thought he might actually enjoy the company. "Yes…but if you ruin my ingredients, you'll be replacing them," he finally said with a warning glare.

"Great! I want to go shopping anyway," Potter remarked, not being dissuaded one bit. "I'll need to get my school supplies after my meeting with the headmistress…let's go to Diagon together! You must want to go somewhere besides here and St. Mungo's, and I want to buy everything before the rush right before term starts."

"I'm not sure I'm welcome in Diagon Alley," Severus self-consciously admitted as they both climbed the stairs to his lab in the attic.

"Pssh," Potter waved his concerns off dismissively. "You'll be with me. Who's going to say anything from our side? And if there's a Death Eater, then they'll want me dead more than you. I'll protect you."

Snape rolled his eyes and figured he'd definitely need to go to protect the brat. "I'll attempt some glamours before then…something that gets me close to my human age."

"Suit yourself…you look good as you are though," the brat shrugged like he hadn't just caused Snape to blink after him in shock and confusion.


Brewing went better than he would have imagined with Potter's help. The teen didn't mindlessly chatter at him and silently prepared the ingredients to the specifications given. Surprisingly, it was Severus that broke the silence, hoping to get an answer to one of his many questions. "Slice that a little thinner," he remarked with a look over to the teen's cutting board.

"Yes, sir," Potter nodded and immediately started slicing the roots thinner.

"So, what are you and your elf doing to Regulus's old bedroom? I thought he'd insist you keep his old master's room as a shrine or something," Severus tried to ask conversationally and not like the mystery was killing him.

"Hmm, oh, we're still renovating you know," the boy said enigmatically. "It'll probably be a guestroom."

He lied. Potter steadily looked down and didn't meet his eyes, brushing off the question. He and the elf had spent more time just standing in that room and discussing paint color than they had on any other room they'd already renovated. Even Potter's new room just got a clean and cursory update. The boy hadn't lied to him hardly at all since he'd moved into the house, but the few times he had, it always had something to do with either the bag or something he and his elf were skulking around doing. Severus gave a sigh and went back to stirring. He couldn't call the teen on the lie and not cause a row, and he wasn't quite ready to break their tentative peace.

Severus released Potter from helping to brew the potion as dinner approached so he could eat. Snape had a thermos of blood delivered by the elf he was going to call dinner since he didn't need human food as much as Potter. And now it was the more complicated brewing process from there on out anyway. It felt wonderful to do something he was good at again. He hadn't had much time for brewing during the Dark Lord's reign the year before, and the aftereffects of his coma and the snake bite had left him too weak to stand for long periods up until now. If he didn't have to teach brats who'd rather sabotage each other's potions than learn, then he'd actually be looking forward to taking up the Potions position once more. He had a little smile at the corners of his lips as he bottled the potion, estimating that he'd made enough for several weeks if they spaced out when Potter could take it to keep the addictive effects at bay. Severus took one of the vials to give to the teen to take that night and put the rest in a cabinet that he planned to fill with many potions in the coming days.

The house was silent as the potion master drifted through looking for his host. It didn't take long to find the teen in the sitting room, asleep across one of the couches with a book on magical creatures open on his chest. It didn't look like the sleep was restful since Potter twitched occasionally and sometimes whimpered. Putting the vial down on a table, Severus debated how to wake the young man. If his guess was correct, he would probably react negatively to being surprised, Severus usually did himself with his years of avoiding being attacked by…well…everyone.

In the middle of this debate, Severus realized that the bag was resting on the couch beside Potter's feet and not clutched in his arms like usual. It was too perfect of an opportunity to pass up. He'd just peek inside, being careful not to touch whatever dark artifact was there, and then wake the man who would be none the wiser. He quickly looked around to make sure neither the elf nor the phoenix were anyhere in sight before slowly reaching out and unbuckling the flap on top of the leather satchel.

x

x

x

He was fairly positive he'd been standing…and that he hadn't been hit by a bludger to the back of the head. "No…you do not touch," Harry Potter ordered him in a dark hiss from where he was standing in front of the bag with a hand up. His eyes had taken on a green glow and his entire demeanor screamed danger. Severus had always been certain he'd never find the young savior frightening, but he was decidedly terrified in that moment.

Severus shifted painfully from where he assumed he'd been blasted by magic up against the wall, but Potter wasn't even holding a wand. "Potter…your behavior…"

He never got the rest of the warning out because the man casually flicked his wand that had suddenly appeared in his hand and silenced him. In that moment, Snape realized he hadn't actually paid attention to the wand Potter had been using. Honestly, the man seemed to prefer to do things the muggle way most of the time, but even when he didn't, Severus wasn't looking directly at his wand. Now, in a sense of self-preservation, he wouldn't let that wand out of his sight. And that wand was not Potter's…it looked like Albus's old wand. Why would Potter be using Dumbledore's wand?

Potter picked up the bag and shot a hiss that might have been Parseltongue over at Severus before he left the room, the silencing charm only breaking after he'd left. He had to admit, he let out a breath of relief. Whatever he believed about the bag, trying to touch it was not the right move.


September 1st

Potter hasn't spoken to me for two days. I haven't even seen him. He seems to be either staying in his room or leaving before I wake up in the mornings. I caught a glimpse of him leaving the kitchen yesterday and received a glare for my presence being there. Minerva is stopping by tomorrow for her visit with Potter, and I need to attend at least part of this meeting. I need more information about the new term. I only hope that the boy can keep our personal issues out of the situation. I doubt Minerva needs any more reason to hate me at this time. Mr. Percy Weasley is scheduled to stop by for his mysterious visit in several days as well. How will this tension affect this visit and our living situation?

Observation #16: Potter is using Dumbledore's old wand.

Conclusion #16: I have absolutely no idea…it may explain the phoenix's continued presence.

Observation #17: The elf and the phoenix both are shunning me. The phoenix goes as far as to flash out of any room I enter into. I gave the Dreamless Sleep potion to the elf as a bit of a peace offering to hand to his master. The elf informed me that if it were him, I'd be thrown out of the manor already, but that Potter insisted I be allowed to stay.

Conclusion #17: I think the elf and the phoenix must know what's in the bag. Why else would they also be angry with me? As for why Potter insists I be allowed to stay…I have nothing. He's obviously angry, I don't understand why I'm still allowed in his house.

Observation #18: I miss Potter…I miss the fact that he actually gets my humor. I miss hearing his biting sarcasm in discussing current events in the Prophet over breakfast . I miss hearing about how he thinks his godson is trying to say his name even when it's obvious the baby is just making random noises. I miss our games of wizard's chess in the evenings where he is unfailingly terrible and loses continuously.

Conclusion #18: I should probably ask Healer Morris to do a brain diagnostic like Draco suggested.


Severus lowered his wand and stared at the image in his mirror. It was a face that drew a deep frown and almost hatred from his soul now. How had it gotten to where the face that had brought him safety and comfort was now the face that caused him to feel so wrong? The glamour spell he found in an obscure book in the Black library was definitely strong enough to bypass the faint fuzzy outline of most glamours that would be even more noticeable around his face. However, he could only hold the glamour for a couple hours. He would have to either re-cast it, or it would drop at that point. As a solution for the entire academic year, it didn't sound the best. Snape closed the eyes in his 38-year-old face and sighed.

Was it even worth it? Some days (all days) he completely understood Draco and Potter when they said that it was all just too much for them to care anymore. Everything felt too difficult. Merlin, they all needed mind healers. He shook his head, straightened his stiff teaching robes, and left his room as if heading once more into battle. This was the way he was supposed to look, these people were his equals, he had handled much worse in his life, and he didn't need anyone to care or understand him…that's what he told himself anyway.

Severus only got a frown and a raise of an eyebrow from Potter when he made his way into the sitting room after the headmistress flooed in. He was definitely more nervous for this situation than he would have been if he and Potter hadn't currently been in a row. Minerva's lips pursed and her eyes narrowed when he sat in an available armchair and took up one of the cups of tea Kreacher had laid on the coffee table for the meeting. At this point he wasn't sure if he was fearful or hoping that the elf had poisoned it.

"Severus," she remarked tersely.

"Minerva," he nodded back. "I figured this would be a good time to also discuss my role at the school in the new term. It will save you another trip."

"Of course, I had heard a rumor you were staying here as well. I was just explaining to Mr. Potter the position the eighth years are in at the school," she continued, turning her attention back to the war hero. "As I was saying, you will not officially be students. There just isn't a place in the Hogwarts charter for an entire class of eighth years. There have been individuals in the past who have returned for an eighth year, and they have always been given the same rights as a professor. You will take classes and be given grades, but those grades count towards nothing; they will only be a marker of your progress. The only purpose of this year will be to prepare you all for the NEWT exams and your profession of choice. Therefore, none of you will be officially part of a house, have no curfew, and will be able to come and go from the school as you will. We only ask that you do not abuse this privilege, and that it does not harm your schoolwork in any way."

"That means no quidditch," Potter nodded, a look of sadness crossing his face, but strangely also a look of relief that confused Severus.

McGonagall gave him an understanding look. "I'm sure you and your friends can put together some friendly games over the term. We all need a little fun after everything we've been through."

"Could you also get me the list of books used for third through fifth year Arithmancy?" Potter asked as he looked over the parchment that presumably had his course list and supplies on it. "I want to study and see if I can take an OWL for the course to help with getting a job after graduation. I was surprised how many positions needed either Arithmancy or Ancient Runes."

"I thought you wanted to be an auror?" The woman raised an eyebrow and asked. "Arithmancy isn't required, and honestly, they would probably take you even without this last year if you wanted to join…not that I'm suggesting that route, of course."

"I've been thinking this summer, and fighting dark wizards is something I don't want to do the rest of my life," he sighed and rubbed his neck tiredly. Snape hoped he was taking the Dreamless Sleep even if there were currently not getting along.

"I've actually been looking into warding. It helps protect people, has regular hours, and I can use a lot of what I've already learned in DADA and Charms."

Severus was impressed. It sounded like he'd given quite a bit of thought to it. If he could study enough for an Arithmancy OWL, it did seem to fit the teen's skillset well. McGonagall just nodded in thought. "I can send that list along. I think we could assign you a tutor to help…"

"Snape already agreed to tutor me," Potter motioned to him without even looking his direction, actively acknowledging him for the first time since the bag incident. "When he has time that is. I won't take away from any of his other duties."

"I guess that leads into when I will have time and what my job will look like," Severus drawled as he sipped his tea and waited.

She nodded and cleared her throat. "Right, you will be taking your former position of Potions Professor, but there are some restrictions I will be placing on you in this role."

"Restrictions?" Potter asked, surprising Severus. It seemed the teen had thought Severus would be allowed to return to his old position with no changes. In some ways, the war hero was still very naïve.

"Yes, well, we need to talk about housing for the eighth years as well since that is part of it," she explained. "Since you aren't technically students, we are required to give you private rooms. Some of your classmates have requested a roommate, such as the new Abbot-McMillans, and your friends Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger have also requested to room together when we discussed arrangements over their floo call," she pursed her lips in clear disapproval of that situation.

"Ok," Potter said slowly, confusion on his face. "How does that lead to Snape being under restrictions?"

Minerva turned a stern expression on Severus, disappointment still in her eyes even after all that she'd learned about his role in the war. "I can't very well place a student in your guestroom Severus, and I cannot justify leaving you in the larger professor's quarters in those circumstances. Therefore, you will be moved to one of the smaller rooms in the guest wing and eighth year students will be placed in your old chambers. Because of that, you will no longer have access to the potions lab in your old quarters, but we can set something up for you in an empty classroom. I also will require you to pass off any detentions to another of the professors to handle and will be stripping you of your role as the Slytherin Head of House."

Severus nodded. It was as he expected…more lenient actually, but she still didn't know he was a vampire, so small mercies. Of all of that, it really only hurt that he would no longer be the Slytherin Head of House. Who else would treat his snakes well after the war they'd just been through? They needed someone who didn't see them as the enemy.

"Of course, Minerva," he responded.

"The hell you will!" Potter stood, indignation in his voice. "I'm ashamed of you Professor McGonagall!"

Snape and McGonagall both looked at the teen in evident surprise, but for vastly different reasons. Snape was very aware the man was still extremely angry at him and had no clue why he was coming to his defense. McGonagall was just shocked at being talked to by one of her students in such a way.

"Excuse me?" She sputtered in matching indignation.

"First of all, who are you going to get to lead Slytherin House?" Potter voiced his own concern. "It's going to be someone who treats them like criminals and doesn't defend them against the rest of the school. Snape is the best and only choice you have on staff. Tonks already told me everyone you've hired, and the only other former Slytherin at the school is Madam Pomfrey who is much too busy to be a head of house. Slughorn didn't return and Sinistra died in the battle. You're setting up an entire house at Hogwarts to be discriminated against and bullied!"

"Really, that's a little over-dramatic…" She began with a scoff.

"It is not! As someone who was systematically bullied for most of my time at that school, I know intimately just how cruel students can be, and that was before they lived through a war! And I know that many alumni of Slytherin House would agree with me," Harry glared. "I'm not above talking to the Board of Governors myself to keep the children under your care safe."

"Potter…" Snape began, wanting to diffuse this situation before he made any threats he couldn't back up. He had a feeling he was seeing a repeat of the scene the man had made at St. Mungo's to get him care. It was actually quite impressive.

"Shush, you. We're still in a row," Potter turned those inhumanly green eyes on him. "Now, as for his quarters," he turned back to McGonagall who now actually looked a little frightened herself. The Savior of the Wizarding World was much more terrifying than the Boy-Who-Lived ever was. "He will keep the quarters he's called home since he started working at Hogwarts and which is set up specifically for a potions master; I'll be moving into his guest room. You will give whatever room you had planned for me and the room in the guest wing to whoever you'd planned on putting in his chambers."

"You can't just dictate my actions, Mr. Potter," McGonagall stood firm.

"No, I cannot," Potter said, but with a dangerous smirk on his face that Snape found himself actually proud of. "However, when I lobby for Snape to receive the Order of Merlin he so rightfully deserves as a war hero, you're going to look extremely prejudiced if you have treated him with less respect than any of your other professors."

"Really…" McGonagall scoffed.

"He saved my life at least three times," Potter stood tall and looked down at her. "Without his actions, Voldemort would still be alive and there wouldn't be a Hogwarts for us to return to. Without the information he provided me with, I can guarantee you, Voldemort would never have been brought down. Yeah, he's an arse, but that doesn't mean he isn't a hero and deserving of respect. It's not his fault he was ordered to teach for another year, something he never wanted to do to begin with, but since he's there anyway, he should be treated the same as any other teacher under your supervision."

Severus didn't know if he should be irritated or flattered by that tirade. He'd never had anyone come to his defense so vehemently, even if there was an insult in the middle of it. "In addition," it seemed that Potter wasn't done yet. "I'm already bringing up charges against the ministry for holding his trial while he was still in a coma. Obviously, he wasn't able to speak in his own defense or protest his sentencing. I've talked to Andromeda Tonks, a well-known solicitor, and she's assured me that I have cases for charges against the ministry for sentencing Sirius without a trial, Snape's farce of a trial he couldn't attend, my hearing in front of the entire Wizengamut in fifth year, being made to participate in the Triwizard Tournament my fourth year, and defamation of character supported by the ministry my fifth year and last year. I recommend you not get caught in the net she's weaving against the ministry and the Prophet. Hogwarts is only exempt so far because Headmaster Dumbledore is no longer alive to face child endangerment charges. However, as my former head of house and current headmistress, there is room for inclusion."

McGonagall paled dramatically at this. Snape had absolutely no idea Potter had been working on this crusade all summer, but all the visits to the Tonks' residence made more sense now in addition to Potter visiting his godson. It seemed he was ready to lay down a line in the sand though, and it was very clear that he was giving the headmistress a choice to be either with him or against him. If anyone else had done this, Severus was certain they would immediately be denied acceptance to the school, but this was the savior, and someone who currently had clear means to crucify her in the press if he wanted to. It was the most Slytherin thing Snape had ever seen Potter do, and he found himself very embarrassingly aroused at the situation, not that anyone would ever know. Thank Merlin for loose teaching robes!

"So, that's how it's going to be then, Mr. Potter," she pursed her lips and crossed her arms.

"Unfortunately, yes," the man sat down again, never taking his eyes off her though his face softened. "I really like you, Professor McGonagall, but I didn't fight in a war for the ministry to go back to the blatant discrimination and corruption of before. I won't have seen my friends and family killed around me for it all to just continue. I want my future kids and Ron and Hermione's kids to grow up in a society that actually cares for its children, one that doesn't expect children to fight its battles, who doesn't send abused children back to their abusers every summer, and who will stand up and say something's wrong when a child is being bullied by their peers and even the media."

"None of that protection was given to me or several other people I can mention, Professor McGonagall," Potter continued, his voice dripping with emotion. This was the savior, the teen that could rally an army, and Snape was finally seeing him.

"If Tom Riddle had been placed in a safe wizarding home instead of sent back to an abusive orphanage in the middle of the London blitz, then who's to say he might not have become Lord Voldemort. Even Sirius should not have had to run away from home to escape the abuse here by his family, and when he did, someone should have looked into it. Students with good homelives do not request to stay at their school over all holidays and beg to be allowed to stay for the summer. That is not a normal request."

Severus was shaken as much as it seemed McGonagall was. He cleared his throat nervously. "If Severus Snape hadn't been sent back to his abusive father when he asked the headmaster of his school for help, then he would not have originally joined the Death Eaters," Severus added, and had to avoid Potter's eyes where he knew the teen was giving him a look of support.

"We all have much to answer for, don't we?" Minerva sighed. It seemed she'd chosen her side, and Potter smiled at her gratefully. "I wish you luck in your case, and I'll change the housing assignments to place you both in the dungeons."

"What about my snakes?" Severus asked, trying to not be hopeful, when the woman stood to floo back to the school.

She paused and seemed to think for a minute. "Mr. Potter makes a valid point about there not being any former Slytherin faculty besides you and Poppy…I'll reassign you to that position for this year, but I will not remove the mandate for you to pass off detentions. Not because I think you'll do anything untoward…" McGonagall added in quickly to stop both of their protests. "It's because many students will be reminded of their time under the Carrows. I know you tried to help the students as much as possible, but the trauma runs deep. It's best that detentions are handled by someone less associated with last year's atrocities."

"Understood," Snape responded before Potter could say anything else. "That is acceptable."

"I will see you both on October 1st then," she nodded at them, a look of respect crossing her face before she flooed back to her office.

"Are you really suing the ministry?" Snape had to ask the teen now that they were alone. He had to admit that if it had been a bluff, then it was a really good one.

"Of course," Potter raised an eyebrow at him and scoffed. "As I said, I didn't die for everything to go back the way it was before. If my future children or Teddy are treated as I was, I'm absolutely certain I would become the next Dark Lord to defend them," he said, causing Snape's eyes to widen at that admission. "This is just preemptive to keep myself out of Azkaban later," he added with a wry grin at the end and a pat to the bag resting beside him.

"Indeed," Snape answered, not being able to process any other response.

"You can talk to Andromeda about it later if you want, especially as to what pertains to your terrible excuse for a trial," Potter shrugged and stood, throwing his bag over his shoulder and stretching. "I want to leave for Diagon around 9am tomorrow because we both need to do extensive clothes shopping, and I for one need a haircut desperately. Also, I think I should pick up some more linens if Percy is going to come live here. It'd help Kreacher out if he didn't have to do laundry as much."

Snape raised an eyebrow in agreement with the haircut comment. The man had needed a haircut since first year if Snape's opinion mattered, but now he looked like his hair was trying to stage a revolt and take over the rest of his body. So, he agreed, but he was still confused.

"I thought you were angry at me?" He asked, not really knowing how to deal with a person he actually wanted to get along with being angry with him. Normally, he just didn't care. This was a whole situation he didn't know how to handle. Plus, the insufferable man had just convinced the headmistress to room them together! It was going to be a disaster!

"Of course, I am," Potter rolled his eyes and scoffed. "But I'm well aware you don't respect boundaries. Maybe from being a spy? I don't know, but we're going to have to have a talk if we're sharing a much smaller space when the term starts. You can't just go touching my things or walking into my room. I realize this is rich coming from me when I jumped into your pensieve fifth year, which I'm really very sorry about. Maybe it's something we both need to work on?"

Severus could see an olive branch when it was being extended to him, so he nodded. "I'll be ready at 9am then," he said, getting a tight smile turned towards him before Potter headed out to do whatever he did outside the house all day…probably planning the overthrow of the ministry now that he knew more about the man's plans.

"You'd better have been kidding about trying to get me an Order of Merlin!" He called out when that little nugget of information finally registered in his brain.

Potter laughed as Snape heard the front door open. "Potter! I'm serious! Do NOT try to get me labeled some kind of hero! You hear me?!" The front door just closed in answer, leaving Snape with a glower on his face a few choice swear words about insufferable brats who couldn't leave well enough alone.


"How about a whole new look?" Harry asked Snape with an assessing stare up and down the black robes that covered every inch of the man's person except for his face. Frankly, he'd rather Snape drop the glamour and his actual face be the new look, but he wouldn't out another creature if they weren't ready. Harry himself was nowhere near ready, so he wouldn't ask that of the vampire.

"What's wrong with how I've always looked?" Snape scoffed at him as they wandered around Madam Malkin's while waiting on the woman to finish ringing up the elderly witch at the counter before them. He touched his face, feeling the younger skin below the glamour, reminding himself of how he actually looked.

"Nothing…but it makes you look like twenty years older than you actually are, even with the glamour. Even looking older you still look older than your human age with those clothes," Harry whispered and shrugged towards a different rack of clothes. "If you went with open robes that were maybe in something other than black, you'd actually look late thirties instead of fifties. Plus, those robes really can't be that comfortable."

The vampire shrugged awkwardly. "I started teaching when I was only three years older than some of my students," he explained. "The 'look' as you say was to lend me some authority…maybe compensating for also remaining that age as well, whether anyone could tell or not."

"Well…you're older now and a war hero…you can dress however you want, and your personality commands however much authority you want anyway," Harry laughed. He couldn't imagine anyone trying to talk back to the man no matter what age he looked…besides maybe himself. The sneers just didn't work on him anymore for some reason…at least not as intended. He really, really didn't want to admit that he actually found Snape's sneers a bit arousing. Regardless, he couldn't imagine a little first year not being terrified of their Potions professor even if he wore some of Dumbledore's old garish robes though.

"You may have a point," the man conceded to Harry's surprise. He didn't think he'd actually convince his ornery housemate of anything. "Since I'm basically starting over…maybe some small change is warranted. I'm only teaching for this one year anyway."

"That's the ticket!" Harry grinned at him broadly.

"You will be required to buy clothes that actually fit you if I'm going to update my look though," he pinned Harry with a stern glare that was almost teasing around the edges. He pointedly looked up and down Harry's oversized jeans and ragged hoody.

"Sure," Harry shrugged unconcernedly. "I only ever had these clothes in particular because my relatives wouldn't let me wear anything else. I'll wear whatever now, as long as it's not brightly colored or contains any leather, chains, or mesh…"

"Pray tell…why would that even be considered?" Snape smirked at him with a very interested raise of his eyebrow. There had to be a story there.

"Er…I may have went shopping with the Weasley twins a few weeks ago, and I definitely didn't buy anything they wanted me to," Harry shuddered at the memory. Those two were wonderful friends, but absolutely no help at all where clothes were concerned.

Madam Malkin tutted as she hurried over to them. "I carry nothing in this store that fits that description, Mr. Potter," she informed them with a disapproving huff. "Those twins are in desperate need of my sartorial help, every time I see them leave their store…"

She trailed off in mutterings while she herded both of the men to stand where she could begin measuring them. "I distinctly heard you agree to new, more stylish robes, Mr. Snape?" She glared at the man hopefully as her measuring tape magically whirled around them.

He sighed dramatically. "Indeed, you did…though I'm sure I'll regret it."

Harry was grinning broadly as they both walked out of the store with almost entire new wardrobes. Snape had been bullied by Madam Malkin into very tasteful robes, in his opinion anyway. Some were black, but most were either a very dark green, blue, or gray. Dress shirts and trousers rounded out his teaching wardrobe while his casual clothes were closer to the muggle attire he seemed to feel more comfortable in, not needing to maintain his persona with the Death Eaters any longer.

Harry's school robes had to be updated, and they had the standard Hogwarts crest on them now in place of the Gryffindor one since he wasn't officially part of a house. He didn't get very many though since it was only one more year and instead got several more dress robes for things he'd be required to do at the ministry and a lot more casual clothes that were actually quite similar to Snape's.

"Well, that was a success…haircuts next? Please tell me you aren't going to protest an update to your hair now, too?" He asked with a grin towards his shopping companion. "When the glamour is off, your hair should at least look like a nineteen year old would actually be seen in public with the look."

"I want to keep it long," Snape gave him a threatening look.

"Yeah, but maybe a bit more of some kind of shape…" Harry trailed off, not really knowing what he was talking about and waving his hand uselessly towards the man's hair.

"You concern yourself with that mess on top of your head, and I'll take care of mine," the man drawled as they both entered the salon just down the street from the clothing store.

Harry's hair was much shorter than what he normally kept it at when they left the salon. It was actually short enough that most of the messy curl was gone. Frankly, he had only ever kept it long to cover his scar so he wouldn't be as noticeable. That ship had decidedly sailed after the Triwizard Tournament, and the ship probably sank after killing off old Voldy, so it really didn't matter if anyone saw the scar anymore since he was already so well known. Regardless, it had been necessary to cut it that short to even it up from his year of terrible haircuts on the run and to get it manageable. He found that he liked it. He looked different from James Potter now that his hair was so short it was required to lie flat. He felt a little more adult too…something that he thought was a good thing as he shifted the bag carrying his egg in it on his shoulder. Merlin, he was a father!

Snape looked excellent. Harry had found him quite attractive in an unconventional way before…now it was more conventional as well. With a better haircut, his face wasn't hiding behind lanky hair but seemed younger, more dignified, and honestly a bit edgier. Harry couldn't help grinning unashamedly at the man, which he knew was confusing his companion to no end, but he really did look good. He couldn't wait to see him without the glamour…maybe he shouldn't think on that too much though.

"I'll go to the apothecary while you get your books," Snape informed him, as he started to walk away. He didn't get two steps before Harry hurried to catch up to him though. "Potter…I do not need a babysitter," he stopped to glare.

Harry sighed and stood his ground. "We aren't splitting up. So far, everyone's been either nice or indifferent to you, but it's the first time you've really been out. I don't want to leave and you get in trouble because someone holds a grudge from the war."

"You cannot protect me forever," Snape gave him an odd look.

Harry had gotten very good at understanding the man's minute expressions, but he couldn't figure out this one. The fact remained though that Harry really did want to make sure he was safe, for however long that took. "No, but I can at least stay with you on your first trip to the alley," he stubbornly said back.

Snape gave in with a huff. "Fine, but you let me negotiate for my own and your potions ingredients. The apothecary will rob you blind if you don't stand your ground."

Harry hadn't even tried to negotiate over price before, so he just nodded and almost skipped along behind his…friend? What was Snape to him now? Friend…he'd go with friend. He thought with determination.


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