AN: If you read the last chapter, you know the drill with the ~(tildas) and
memories. If you didn't, what the hell are you doing here? Go back and read
it!
All hail my reviewers!
Tabbi: The first scene of this chapter is just for you. ^_~
della luna: sorry, no Diagon Alley today. I blame it on the Muses. It's coming soon
Elektra: (can't be bothered typing ur full name) Sev has.... issues. lol =P
Mikee: *blushes furiously and flaps her hand* stop it, you're embarrassing me. I think I like you. I had fun writing the pensieve memories in particular.
SilverMoon: I can't actually figure out exactly how Sev felt about Harry calling him Daddy....
Lee Lee Potter: I know the feeling. Hence the reason my updates aren't coming as often as I would like....
hermionegranger: so you liked my whole twist thing? Woohoo! Another notch on my wand.
SilverWolf: Oh, I know all about the little vacations my Muses take. *glares into corner of her room where several Muses are lounging around under a sunlamp, drinking cocktails*
Whisper: oh. I always thought peach Melba in particular was just an Australian dessert....
linds: I'm not sure Severus liked being called Daddy but I thought it was funny
Azaelian: Oooo! Lots of praise here! I had a bit of trouble with the memories getting James and Lily in character, cus no one really knows what their character is....
Tantz: umm.... huh? I'm sorry. Very tired atm, and I'm not sure I follow what you're saying.... If you're saying what I think you might be, I hope to explain all in the next chapter, mm-kay?
Tinne: a newbie! I like this species! I hope not to keep you waiting too long for my next chapter...
Ariana Deralte: FOUR reviews from you. Wicked. Sev in the first chapter was fun to write. About the green rooms: I SO didn't want to be cliché. I sat there for almost half an hour trying to figure out what colour it should be tho'. *blushes* My writing is poetic? Really? Thank you!
The next chapter SHOULD be out tomorrow so please don't lynch me!
Chapter Twelve: Open Sesame
Severus scowled blackly at the closed door. Harry's last words still ghosted about the room, taunting him. He didn't know whether to laugh at the boy's impertinence or curse the use of that hated epithet.
In the end he did neither.
Instead he went to a discreet sideboard to one side of the room. Withdrawing his wand from his robe, he spelled open the cupboard beneath. He removed a cloth-wrapped something from within and carried it with him to his armchair.
Settling into the welcoming wings of the chair, he rested the object in his lap. His wand still clutched in one hand, Severus loosed the ties and allowed the chamois cloth to slip down and pool on his thighs. Severus stared down at the object revealed for a long moment.
He lifted a hand and caressed the cool stone of a pensieve. The silver fluid of memories swirled very near the brim of this one. Severus had had it since *he* was fifteen, when his own father had given it to him. It hadn't seen the light of day in almost a decade.
Taking his wand, Severus nudged at the memories eddying about the bowl. The surface cleared and Severus watched as one memory played into another, searching for a particular one.
Then there it was, floating to the surface of the pensieve. Severus dipped one hand into the substance and allowed the pensieve to somersault him into the dark whirlpool.
~ The scene steadied into a familiar room.
~ Although it had been fourteen years since Severus had last stood in this room, it had never faded in his memory, even without the aid of the pensieve. Every detail of this study was still fresh in his memory:
~ The single armchair, overflowing with stuffing, sitting side-on to the empty hearth. The gracious french-doors open to the late summer evening. Through the open door into the hall, the wizard clock with its four golden hands all pointing to "home". The desk that never bore looking at: no matter how hard Severus tried to keep it tidy, it always ended up with open charm and transfiguration books, items from broom care kits and assorted children's toys scattered across its surface.
~ Even the smells drifting past his nose now, Severus had never forgotten. The fresh sweet scent of the wild flowers sitting in a vase on the mantle piece. The warm tang of summer rain just passed. The delicious aroma of something baking. The fragrance of dried herbs and other sweet-smelling potion ingredients stored in a glass-fronted cupboard by the door.
~ Severus took a long moment to simply drink in the essence of the room that had been his sanctum sanctorum in this house, regardless of the fact it was constantly invaded by the other inhabitants.
~ He didn't believe it would ever fade from his memory.
~ Nor this moment captured by the pensieve....
~ Severus hadn't thought of this night in years, blocking it out with every other memory of his time with his family. It wasn't particularly painful, or even significant. It was even debateable if it was one of his favourites....
~ But Harry's words this evening had stirred the memory, and so, for the first time in a decade, Severus had gone to his pensieve.
~ Severus moved across the room to the open french doors. He knew standing here would give him the best vantage. He turned his back on the wild gardens, facing into the room. Standing here, he could clearly see the occupant of the armchair.
~ Severus stared at his younger self. He sat with a book resting on his crossed knee, a glass of wine in one hand. Occasionally the free hand would lift and a page would be turned.
~ By the doors, the older Severus folded his hands in his sleeves and silently watched his memory of that night so long ago begin to unfolded.
~ In the armchair, the younger Severus was just lifting the wineglass to his lips when tiny hands grasped his book and pulled it down. Severus's grip had been so lax that the volume slipped from his lap and onto the floor, the small hands still clutching it.
~ Severus stared in surprise at the small figure just now releasing the book. The figure looked up and Severus was gazing into vivid green eyes that sparkled at him from beneath an unruly mop of black hair. The young man glanced from the child to the door.
~ The older Severus looked too, already knowing who would be standing there.
~ James lounged casually against the doorjamb looking as carefree and handsome as he ever had, and something lurched in Severus's throat. There was very little he wouldn't give to go back to this moment for real.
~ James was smiling at the Severus in the armchair.
~ 'It's almost Harry's bedtime. He wanted to say goodnight.'
~ The young Severus was distracted from replying to his husband when pudgy hands settled on his knees. Harry was trying to pull himself into his father's lap.
~ In a childish voice, with words advanced for his age of barely one year, Harry was pleading, 'U' Pata'!'
~ This, both James and Severus knew, translated as "Up Pater!". Severus set his wineglass aside and, slipping his hands beneath Harry's arms, lifted his infant son into his embrace. Harry promptly wrapped his arms about his father's neck and planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek before slipping down to nestle against his chest. Severus smiled and kissed the boy's hair.
~ James crossed the room and settled himself on the arm of the chair next to his husband and son. He draped an arm about Severus's shoulders and Severus allowed his head to incline slightly toward James's shoulder. One of Harry's small hands drifted up to clutch the front of James's robes and James reciprocated the gesture by laying his own hand on the child's back. The three were content to sit there for minutes on end, not moving, and the Severus by the windows was just as content to watch his younger self in this moment with his family again.
~ But such moments never last and this one was broken by Lily appearing in the hall doorway. She wasn't an unwelcome intrusion, just one that broke the moment of its undisturbed peace. She lounged in the doorway much like James had for a long moment, watching her brother and his family.
~ On the other side of the room, the older Severus gazed fondly at his little sister. He was never quite sure what he had done to deserve a family like this.
~ Finally, wiping her hands on the apron she wore, Lily spoke.
~ 'I thought you were putting Harry to bed, James.'
~ James glanced up and smiled at his sister-in-law, 'I was, but Sev waylaid us.'
~ Beneath his arm, the young Severus snorted. In his lap, Harry stirred and yawned tiredly. The green eyes blinked sleepily up at his fathers and both James and Severus smiled. James ruffled the boy's hair and Severus dropped a soft kiss on his - scar-free - forehead.
~ In the doorway, Lily shook her head amusedly, 'Well, just see that he gets there sometime tonight.'
~ James slipped from the chair's arm, 'I'm taking him now. Sheesh. You're his aunt. Aren't you meant to be spoiling him?'
~ Lily smirked in a way very reminiscent of Severus, 'He's got his fathers for that,' She turned from the doorway, 'Dinner's almost ready, by the way.'
~ Severus laid a hand on James's sleeve. He pulled his husband down to him and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He let him go and James straightened, smiling. Severus turned his attention to the child falling asleep in his lap.
~ Gently, Severus nudged Harry awake.
~ 'Harry. You can't sleep here. Wake up a little so your father can take you up to bed.'
~ Harry curled tighter, then stretched himself out on Severus's lap. He pulled himself up on Severus's robes and threw his arms about his father's neck, pressing his cheek to Severus's. Severus rubbed his back, then stood and passed him into James's out-held arms.
~ James left a lingering kiss on Severus's mouth as he turned to carry his precious burden up to bed. Harry was draped over James's neck, his head flopping tiredly on one shoulder, eyes slipping shut. As James reached the door, they widened long enough to focus on Severus for a moment. Harry gave him a sleepy smile.
~ 'G'nigh' Daddy,' he murmured.
~ James chuckled at the name, and Severus smiled ironically, 'Goodnight Harry.'
~ The pair disappeared down the hall, and the young Severus turned back to the room. His eyes drifted to the open french doors and his face twisted momentarily into an almost unidentifiable expression.
~ By the doors, the older Severus stiffened. He had forgotten this particular of the memory, and for a moment it was as though his memory self was staring out of the past at him, unbearable sorrow lingering unrecognised in the depths of his eyes.
~ Then the memory stepped forward to close the doors and Severus felt himself lifting out of the moment, into the dark whirlpool that was transition in the pensieve.
Severus carefully wrapped his pensieve in the chamois cloths. He replaced it and secured the cupboard.
Straightening, he moved to the silver tray on the mantle piece and poured himself a hefty shot of scotch. He held the tumbler up to the light, admiring the colour of the drink. He couldn't remember the last time he had drunk so much in one night.
He threw the entire glass back in one swallow.
Monday morning found Harry breakfasting with his friends and contemplating what to do that day.
'I still have to complete my experimentation for the Potions assignment,' he observed idly. He had his head propped on one hand, watching the cereal fall from his tilted spoon back into his bowl.
Ron's face scrunched at the mention of any homework, never mind homework from his least favourite class. He made no comment, instead shovelling more scrambled eggs and bacon into his mouth and chewing stolidly.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she heaved a sigh that sound suspiciously exasperated. Harry immediately focused his eyes on her.
'Don't say it Hermione!'
Ron looked up, grinning, and Hermione gaped at Harry.
'What? I was just going to say....'
'That you'd finished all your homework in your first week home,' chorused Ron and Harry. Ron laughed and Harry smirked before adding:
'Hermione, there's still four weeks of summer left. Its not like I've left it until the last moment,' Harry dropped his spoon into his half-eaten bowl of cereal and pushed them both away, 'Besides, it shouldn't be too hard.'
Ron spluttered into his pumpkin juice, 'Harry, are you crazy? Trying to work what Persian oyster shells do to boomslang skin and then replicating it with our own supplies? That's.... that's....' Ron didn't seem to be able to find a word to suit his sentiments.
'*Peruvian* *urchlid* shells,' corrected Hermione. Ron grimaced at her, but she was looking at Harry.
'But Ron's right Harry.'
'I am?' exclaimed Ron, looking exceedingly surprised and not a little confused. Hermione ignored his interruption.
'I think you might be underestimating the complexity of the assignment.'
Harry waved a hand airily, 'I've already completed the first part with books from the library. It wasn't that hard. Besides,' Harry raised his goblet to his lips, 'Professor Snape said I could use some of his personal store of Peruvian urchlid shell and boomslang skin to observe the reaction first hand.'
Harry smirked into his goblet at his friends' reactions. Ron's eyes goggled and Hermione went positively green with envy.
'*Snape* let you use his *personal* store?'
Harry shrugged.
'I haven't done it yet,' he glanced slyly at Hermione, 'I was thinking I would do it today, after breakfast. You're welcome to join me if you're finished.'
Hermione nodded her head furiously, took a few more bites of her toast, sculled her pumpkin juice and jumped up from the table, knocking her chair over in the process.
'Just let me get my books! I'll meet you in the classroom,' she shouted over her shoulder as she raced from the room.
Ron and Harry fell about laughing at their friend's antics.
When he had managed to regain his breath, Harry drained the last of his juice and stood.
'Are you coming too?' he asked Ron.
'I may as well. I mean, if both you and 'Mione are going to be in there all day, there's not much else for me to do,' he shrugged and began to follow Harry from the hall, 'Who knows. I might even learn something useful.'
The two friends shared a grin and Harry slapped Ron on the back, 'You just might. But I promise I'll still be your friend any way.'
Ron guffawed.
After a brief detour to Harry's room to pick up his books, the two boys headed down to meet Hermione in the potions classroom.
The Gryffindor girl already had her books arranged across the desk when they arrived. She tapped her foot in an excess of impatient as Harry, with Ron's assistance, took his time setting out his ingredients.
''Mione, if you're so impatient to start, why don't you go and get the Peruvian urchlid shell and boomslang skin,' Harry forestalled Hermione from saying something to the effect of 'For Merlin's sake, hurry up!'
Hermione nodded her head sharply and disappeared into Professor Snape's office.
A moment later, her head reappeared around the door.
'Harry, the cupboard's locked. The Professor didn't give you a key did he?'
Harry shook his head, but didn't look up from his potions text, 'He said to touch the panel in the cupboard door and it would open.'
Hermione's head disappeared back into the office again, only to re-emerge followed by the rest of her a moment later. She moved over the desk they had set up on and leant against it.
Ron glanced up, 'Where's the ingredients?'
Hermione shook her head and addressed Harry, 'Harry what did Professor Snape say exactly?'
'Huh? Why?' Harry stopped thumbing through one of the books Hermione had brought with her and looked up.
Hermione shrugged, 'Just what did he say?'
Harry frowned, trying to recall, 'He said.... um.... "Just touch the panel. It should open for you",' Harry rolled his shoulders, 'Or something pretty close to that.'
'Well that's it then,' Hermione grabbed Harry's wrist and dragged him behind her to the professor's office. Ron hurried to follow after.
'What's 'it'?' he wanted to know.
'Why I couldn't open the cupboard,' Hermione answered cryptically.
She drew Harry up beside her in front of the secured ingredients' cupboard. To prove her point, she pressed her palm to the panel in the face of the cupboard, then tried to open the door. It was still firmly locked.
She took Harry's hand and pressed it to the wood. The panel glowed briefly under Harry's palm, and door popped open.
'Only Harry's hand can open it.'
Ron shrugged as Hermione passed him a small box of Peruvian urchlid shells, 'So? Snape probably spelled it so Harry could get in.'
Hermione rolled her eyes as she pushed the package of boomslang skin into Harry's hands and turned to close the cupboard, 'He was still in the infirmary until three days ago and he's still not allowed to do any magic. When do you suppose he would have changed the spells? Certainly not before he was wounded.'
'Hermione,' said Harry warily as he deposited the boomslang skin beside the small cauldron he had set up, 'What are you trying to say?'
'Isn't it obvious?' Ron and Harry just looked at her. She sighed and sat down on one of the stools.
'Even though Professor Snape hadn't told Harry who he was, he knew Harry would be able to open his potions cupboard,' she looked expectantly at Harry and Ron, who looked blankly back.
'What's Snape being my father got to do with it?'
'The ward spells on the professor's personal store are keyed to him. He must have known that Harry's presence would like enough to his own for the spells to yield to him when Harry tried to open the cupboard.'
Comprehension dawned in Harry's eyes, 'You mean the spells recognised me because I'm his son? Or because I have the same blood-magic type as him?'
Hermione shrugged, 'I think it's a combination of both.'
The three jumped when a voice spoke behind them.
'Very good, Miss Granger.'
Severus was standing in the doorway, leaning rather heavily on a cane.
'The ward spells were keyed to my presence *and* my blood-magic type. As Harry is my son and has the same blood-magic type as myself, my wards recognised him as being me,' the black eyes narrowed on the trio, 'Of course, I shall be recasting the wards to make them more sensitive, ensuring that from now on only I can open the cupboard.'
He glared indiscriminately at the three of them and they all flushed. He snorted as though it was no less than he had expected, then hobbled forward to their table, inspecting the ingredients Harry and Ron had laid out to experiment with. He nodded curtly.
'You might try monkshood with the shrivelfigs,' he said off-handedly. Ron and Hermione gaped at him. He ignored their reactions, instead turning to Harry, 'But that will have to wait until later. You are to accompany me to the headmaster's office, Harry.'
With that, Severus turned and, as best one could when hampered by a cane, swept from the room. Hermione and Ron were still gaping after him.
Ron snapped his mouth shut, 'Okay, who was that, and what did he do with the Snape we all know and love to hate?'
Hermione sucked her breath in on a gasp, 'Ron!'
'Its true! He complimented you,' Ron began to tick points off on his fingers, 'He didn't get mad at us for discussing him behind his back,' another finger, 'He called Harry, Harry. And he gave us *advice*!'
Hermione opened and shut her mouth several times, having no response to Ron's points. She looked beseechingly at Harry.
Harry shrugged, 'He told me it was all a façade. I'd better go.'
He hurried out the door after the Potions Master, aware that he had probably left his friends gaping *again*.
TBC
AN: "sanctum sanctorum" means inner sanctum, literally: sanctuary within a sanctuary
Um, there was going to be another chapter up immediately after this one. It's even mostly finished, but I hit Writer's Block just at the end. I shall make a promise of doing my utmost to get it out by tomorrow and the Diagon Alley chapter should be out by Wednesday. Haven't started it, but it shouldn't be too hard to write.
I'm going to go and bang my head against a wall for a while, then I'll sit down with my Muses and see if I can't figure out what's gotten into them.
Bye for now, - Vi
All hail my reviewers!
Tabbi: The first scene of this chapter is just for you. ^_~
della luna: sorry, no Diagon Alley today. I blame it on the Muses. It's coming soon
Elektra: (can't be bothered typing ur full name) Sev has.... issues. lol =P
Mikee: *blushes furiously and flaps her hand* stop it, you're embarrassing me. I think I like you. I had fun writing the pensieve memories in particular.
SilverMoon: I can't actually figure out exactly how Sev felt about Harry calling him Daddy....
Lee Lee Potter: I know the feeling. Hence the reason my updates aren't coming as often as I would like....
hermionegranger: so you liked my whole twist thing? Woohoo! Another notch on my wand.
SilverWolf: Oh, I know all about the little vacations my Muses take. *glares into corner of her room where several Muses are lounging around under a sunlamp, drinking cocktails*
Whisper: oh. I always thought peach Melba in particular was just an Australian dessert....
linds: I'm not sure Severus liked being called Daddy but I thought it was funny
Azaelian: Oooo! Lots of praise here! I had a bit of trouble with the memories getting James and Lily in character, cus no one really knows what their character is....
Tantz: umm.... huh? I'm sorry. Very tired atm, and I'm not sure I follow what you're saying.... If you're saying what I think you might be, I hope to explain all in the next chapter, mm-kay?
Tinne: a newbie! I like this species! I hope not to keep you waiting too long for my next chapter...
Ariana Deralte: FOUR reviews from you. Wicked. Sev in the first chapter was fun to write. About the green rooms: I SO didn't want to be cliché. I sat there for almost half an hour trying to figure out what colour it should be tho'. *blushes* My writing is poetic? Really? Thank you!
The next chapter SHOULD be out tomorrow so please don't lynch me!
Chapter Twelve: Open Sesame
Severus scowled blackly at the closed door. Harry's last words still ghosted about the room, taunting him. He didn't know whether to laugh at the boy's impertinence or curse the use of that hated epithet.
In the end he did neither.
Instead he went to a discreet sideboard to one side of the room. Withdrawing his wand from his robe, he spelled open the cupboard beneath. He removed a cloth-wrapped something from within and carried it with him to his armchair.
Settling into the welcoming wings of the chair, he rested the object in his lap. His wand still clutched in one hand, Severus loosed the ties and allowed the chamois cloth to slip down and pool on his thighs. Severus stared down at the object revealed for a long moment.
He lifted a hand and caressed the cool stone of a pensieve. The silver fluid of memories swirled very near the brim of this one. Severus had had it since *he* was fifteen, when his own father had given it to him. It hadn't seen the light of day in almost a decade.
Taking his wand, Severus nudged at the memories eddying about the bowl. The surface cleared and Severus watched as one memory played into another, searching for a particular one.
Then there it was, floating to the surface of the pensieve. Severus dipped one hand into the substance and allowed the pensieve to somersault him into the dark whirlpool.
~ The scene steadied into a familiar room.
~ Although it had been fourteen years since Severus had last stood in this room, it had never faded in his memory, even without the aid of the pensieve. Every detail of this study was still fresh in his memory:
~ The single armchair, overflowing with stuffing, sitting side-on to the empty hearth. The gracious french-doors open to the late summer evening. Through the open door into the hall, the wizard clock with its four golden hands all pointing to "home". The desk that never bore looking at: no matter how hard Severus tried to keep it tidy, it always ended up with open charm and transfiguration books, items from broom care kits and assorted children's toys scattered across its surface.
~ Even the smells drifting past his nose now, Severus had never forgotten. The fresh sweet scent of the wild flowers sitting in a vase on the mantle piece. The warm tang of summer rain just passed. The delicious aroma of something baking. The fragrance of dried herbs and other sweet-smelling potion ingredients stored in a glass-fronted cupboard by the door.
~ Severus took a long moment to simply drink in the essence of the room that had been his sanctum sanctorum in this house, regardless of the fact it was constantly invaded by the other inhabitants.
~ He didn't believe it would ever fade from his memory.
~ Nor this moment captured by the pensieve....
~ Severus hadn't thought of this night in years, blocking it out with every other memory of his time with his family. It wasn't particularly painful, or even significant. It was even debateable if it was one of his favourites....
~ But Harry's words this evening had stirred the memory, and so, for the first time in a decade, Severus had gone to his pensieve.
~ Severus moved across the room to the open french doors. He knew standing here would give him the best vantage. He turned his back on the wild gardens, facing into the room. Standing here, he could clearly see the occupant of the armchair.
~ Severus stared at his younger self. He sat with a book resting on his crossed knee, a glass of wine in one hand. Occasionally the free hand would lift and a page would be turned.
~ By the doors, the older Severus folded his hands in his sleeves and silently watched his memory of that night so long ago begin to unfolded.
~ In the armchair, the younger Severus was just lifting the wineglass to his lips when tiny hands grasped his book and pulled it down. Severus's grip had been so lax that the volume slipped from his lap and onto the floor, the small hands still clutching it.
~ Severus stared in surprise at the small figure just now releasing the book. The figure looked up and Severus was gazing into vivid green eyes that sparkled at him from beneath an unruly mop of black hair. The young man glanced from the child to the door.
~ The older Severus looked too, already knowing who would be standing there.
~ James lounged casually against the doorjamb looking as carefree and handsome as he ever had, and something lurched in Severus's throat. There was very little he wouldn't give to go back to this moment for real.
~ James was smiling at the Severus in the armchair.
~ 'It's almost Harry's bedtime. He wanted to say goodnight.'
~ The young Severus was distracted from replying to his husband when pudgy hands settled on his knees. Harry was trying to pull himself into his father's lap.
~ In a childish voice, with words advanced for his age of barely one year, Harry was pleading, 'U' Pata'!'
~ This, both James and Severus knew, translated as "Up Pater!". Severus set his wineglass aside and, slipping his hands beneath Harry's arms, lifted his infant son into his embrace. Harry promptly wrapped his arms about his father's neck and planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek before slipping down to nestle against his chest. Severus smiled and kissed the boy's hair.
~ James crossed the room and settled himself on the arm of the chair next to his husband and son. He draped an arm about Severus's shoulders and Severus allowed his head to incline slightly toward James's shoulder. One of Harry's small hands drifted up to clutch the front of James's robes and James reciprocated the gesture by laying his own hand on the child's back. The three were content to sit there for minutes on end, not moving, and the Severus by the windows was just as content to watch his younger self in this moment with his family again.
~ But such moments never last and this one was broken by Lily appearing in the hall doorway. She wasn't an unwelcome intrusion, just one that broke the moment of its undisturbed peace. She lounged in the doorway much like James had for a long moment, watching her brother and his family.
~ On the other side of the room, the older Severus gazed fondly at his little sister. He was never quite sure what he had done to deserve a family like this.
~ Finally, wiping her hands on the apron she wore, Lily spoke.
~ 'I thought you were putting Harry to bed, James.'
~ James glanced up and smiled at his sister-in-law, 'I was, but Sev waylaid us.'
~ Beneath his arm, the young Severus snorted. In his lap, Harry stirred and yawned tiredly. The green eyes blinked sleepily up at his fathers and both James and Severus smiled. James ruffled the boy's hair and Severus dropped a soft kiss on his - scar-free - forehead.
~ In the doorway, Lily shook her head amusedly, 'Well, just see that he gets there sometime tonight.'
~ James slipped from the chair's arm, 'I'm taking him now. Sheesh. You're his aunt. Aren't you meant to be spoiling him?'
~ Lily smirked in a way very reminiscent of Severus, 'He's got his fathers for that,' She turned from the doorway, 'Dinner's almost ready, by the way.'
~ Severus laid a hand on James's sleeve. He pulled his husband down to him and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He let him go and James straightened, smiling. Severus turned his attention to the child falling asleep in his lap.
~ Gently, Severus nudged Harry awake.
~ 'Harry. You can't sleep here. Wake up a little so your father can take you up to bed.'
~ Harry curled tighter, then stretched himself out on Severus's lap. He pulled himself up on Severus's robes and threw his arms about his father's neck, pressing his cheek to Severus's. Severus rubbed his back, then stood and passed him into James's out-held arms.
~ James left a lingering kiss on Severus's mouth as he turned to carry his precious burden up to bed. Harry was draped over James's neck, his head flopping tiredly on one shoulder, eyes slipping shut. As James reached the door, they widened long enough to focus on Severus for a moment. Harry gave him a sleepy smile.
~ 'G'nigh' Daddy,' he murmured.
~ James chuckled at the name, and Severus smiled ironically, 'Goodnight Harry.'
~ The pair disappeared down the hall, and the young Severus turned back to the room. His eyes drifted to the open french doors and his face twisted momentarily into an almost unidentifiable expression.
~ By the doors, the older Severus stiffened. He had forgotten this particular of the memory, and for a moment it was as though his memory self was staring out of the past at him, unbearable sorrow lingering unrecognised in the depths of his eyes.
~ Then the memory stepped forward to close the doors and Severus felt himself lifting out of the moment, into the dark whirlpool that was transition in the pensieve.
Severus carefully wrapped his pensieve in the chamois cloths. He replaced it and secured the cupboard.
Straightening, he moved to the silver tray on the mantle piece and poured himself a hefty shot of scotch. He held the tumbler up to the light, admiring the colour of the drink. He couldn't remember the last time he had drunk so much in one night.
He threw the entire glass back in one swallow.
Monday morning found Harry breakfasting with his friends and contemplating what to do that day.
'I still have to complete my experimentation for the Potions assignment,' he observed idly. He had his head propped on one hand, watching the cereal fall from his tilted spoon back into his bowl.
Ron's face scrunched at the mention of any homework, never mind homework from his least favourite class. He made no comment, instead shovelling more scrambled eggs and bacon into his mouth and chewing stolidly.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she heaved a sigh that sound suspiciously exasperated. Harry immediately focused his eyes on her.
'Don't say it Hermione!'
Ron looked up, grinning, and Hermione gaped at Harry.
'What? I was just going to say....'
'That you'd finished all your homework in your first week home,' chorused Ron and Harry. Ron laughed and Harry smirked before adding:
'Hermione, there's still four weeks of summer left. Its not like I've left it until the last moment,' Harry dropped his spoon into his half-eaten bowl of cereal and pushed them both away, 'Besides, it shouldn't be too hard.'
Ron spluttered into his pumpkin juice, 'Harry, are you crazy? Trying to work what Persian oyster shells do to boomslang skin and then replicating it with our own supplies? That's.... that's....' Ron didn't seem to be able to find a word to suit his sentiments.
'*Peruvian* *urchlid* shells,' corrected Hermione. Ron grimaced at her, but she was looking at Harry.
'But Ron's right Harry.'
'I am?' exclaimed Ron, looking exceedingly surprised and not a little confused. Hermione ignored his interruption.
'I think you might be underestimating the complexity of the assignment.'
Harry waved a hand airily, 'I've already completed the first part with books from the library. It wasn't that hard. Besides,' Harry raised his goblet to his lips, 'Professor Snape said I could use some of his personal store of Peruvian urchlid shell and boomslang skin to observe the reaction first hand.'
Harry smirked into his goblet at his friends' reactions. Ron's eyes goggled and Hermione went positively green with envy.
'*Snape* let you use his *personal* store?'
Harry shrugged.
'I haven't done it yet,' he glanced slyly at Hermione, 'I was thinking I would do it today, after breakfast. You're welcome to join me if you're finished.'
Hermione nodded her head furiously, took a few more bites of her toast, sculled her pumpkin juice and jumped up from the table, knocking her chair over in the process.
'Just let me get my books! I'll meet you in the classroom,' she shouted over her shoulder as she raced from the room.
Ron and Harry fell about laughing at their friend's antics.
When he had managed to regain his breath, Harry drained the last of his juice and stood.
'Are you coming too?' he asked Ron.
'I may as well. I mean, if both you and 'Mione are going to be in there all day, there's not much else for me to do,' he shrugged and began to follow Harry from the hall, 'Who knows. I might even learn something useful.'
The two friends shared a grin and Harry slapped Ron on the back, 'You just might. But I promise I'll still be your friend any way.'
Ron guffawed.
After a brief detour to Harry's room to pick up his books, the two boys headed down to meet Hermione in the potions classroom.
The Gryffindor girl already had her books arranged across the desk when they arrived. She tapped her foot in an excess of impatient as Harry, with Ron's assistance, took his time setting out his ingredients.
''Mione, if you're so impatient to start, why don't you go and get the Peruvian urchlid shell and boomslang skin,' Harry forestalled Hermione from saying something to the effect of 'For Merlin's sake, hurry up!'
Hermione nodded her head sharply and disappeared into Professor Snape's office.
A moment later, her head reappeared around the door.
'Harry, the cupboard's locked. The Professor didn't give you a key did he?'
Harry shook his head, but didn't look up from his potions text, 'He said to touch the panel in the cupboard door and it would open.'
Hermione's head disappeared back into the office again, only to re-emerge followed by the rest of her a moment later. She moved over the desk they had set up on and leant against it.
Ron glanced up, 'Where's the ingredients?'
Hermione shook her head and addressed Harry, 'Harry what did Professor Snape say exactly?'
'Huh? Why?' Harry stopped thumbing through one of the books Hermione had brought with her and looked up.
Hermione shrugged, 'Just what did he say?'
Harry frowned, trying to recall, 'He said.... um.... "Just touch the panel. It should open for you",' Harry rolled his shoulders, 'Or something pretty close to that.'
'Well that's it then,' Hermione grabbed Harry's wrist and dragged him behind her to the professor's office. Ron hurried to follow after.
'What's 'it'?' he wanted to know.
'Why I couldn't open the cupboard,' Hermione answered cryptically.
She drew Harry up beside her in front of the secured ingredients' cupboard. To prove her point, she pressed her palm to the panel in the face of the cupboard, then tried to open the door. It was still firmly locked.
She took Harry's hand and pressed it to the wood. The panel glowed briefly under Harry's palm, and door popped open.
'Only Harry's hand can open it.'
Ron shrugged as Hermione passed him a small box of Peruvian urchlid shells, 'So? Snape probably spelled it so Harry could get in.'
Hermione rolled her eyes as she pushed the package of boomslang skin into Harry's hands and turned to close the cupboard, 'He was still in the infirmary until three days ago and he's still not allowed to do any magic. When do you suppose he would have changed the spells? Certainly not before he was wounded.'
'Hermione,' said Harry warily as he deposited the boomslang skin beside the small cauldron he had set up, 'What are you trying to say?'
'Isn't it obvious?' Ron and Harry just looked at her. She sighed and sat down on one of the stools.
'Even though Professor Snape hadn't told Harry who he was, he knew Harry would be able to open his potions cupboard,' she looked expectantly at Harry and Ron, who looked blankly back.
'What's Snape being my father got to do with it?'
'The ward spells on the professor's personal store are keyed to him. He must have known that Harry's presence would like enough to his own for the spells to yield to him when Harry tried to open the cupboard.'
Comprehension dawned in Harry's eyes, 'You mean the spells recognised me because I'm his son? Or because I have the same blood-magic type as him?'
Hermione shrugged, 'I think it's a combination of both.'
The three jumped when a voice spoke behind them.
'Very good, Miss Granger.'
Severus was standing in the doorway, leaning rather heavily on a cane.
'The ward spells were keyed to my presence *and* my blood-magic type. As Harry is my son and has the same blood-magic type as myself, my wards recognised him as being me,' the black eyes narrowed on the trio, 'Of course, I shall be recasting the wards to make them more sensitive, ensuring that from now on only I can open the cupboard.'
He glared indiscriminately at the three of them and they all flushed. He snorted as though it was no less than he had expected, then hobbled forward to their table, inspecting the ingredients Harry and Ron had laid out to experiment with. He nodded curtly.
'You might try monkshood with the shrivelfigs,' he said off-handedly. Ron and Hermione gaped at him. He ignored their reactions, instead turning to Harry, 'But that will have to wait until later. You are to accompany me to the headmaster's office, Harry.'
With that, Severus turned and, as best one could when hampered by a cane, swept from the room. Hermione and Ron were still gaping after him.
Ron snapped his mouth shut, 'Okay, who was that, and what did he do with the Snape we all know and love to hate?'
Hermione sucked her breath in on a gasp, 'Ron!'
'Its true! He complimented you,' Ron began to tick points off on his fingers, 'He didn't get mad at us for discussing him behind his back,' another finger, 'He called Harry, Harry. And he gave us *advice*!'
Hermione opened and shut her mouth several times, having no response to Ron's points. She looked beseechingly at Harry.
Harry shrugged, 'He told me it was all a façade. I'd better go.'
He hurried out the door after the Potions Master, aware that he had probably left his friends gaping *again*.
TBC
AN: "sanctum sanctorum" means inner sanctum, literally: sanctuary within a sanctuary
Um, there was going to be another chapter up immediately after this one. It's even mostly finished, but I hit Writer's Block just at the end. I shall make a promise of doing my utmost to get it out by tomorrow and the Diagon Alley chapter should be out by Wednesday. Haven't started it, but it shouldn't be too hard to write.
I'm going to go and bang my head against a wall for a while, then I'll sit down with my Muses and see if I can't figure out what's gotten into them.
Bye for now, - Vi