That night after dinner, Remus went by Dannie's quarters, "Thought I'd stop in and say goodbye to you and Bria before I left. I should be back by the Solstice celebration."
"You should know by now that Bria will refuse to say 'goodbye' to you, it's too permanent." Remus gave Dannie a puzzled look, "We will see you later though." She smiled.
"I guess then I will definitely see you later." He said as he leaned down to hiss her.
After a few moments Bria came running into the room. "Sick, you two mind not doing that infront of me."
Dannie then broke the kiss and turned completely around facing her daughter and snarled. "So that is where she gets that from." Remus said jokingly into her ear while he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"You snarled at your father?"
"No I didn't snarl at him. I growled."
"Why would you do that?"
"Well he um." Bria stammered.
"I walked in and interrupted her and Harry this morning."
"So that's where she gets her horrible timing from." Dannie said as she leaned back against Remus then asked, "So where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"I was going to visit with Harry before heading back to the dorm."
"You didn't tell her?" Remus asked.
"Not yet."
"Tell me what?" Bria asked.
"Well, due to the attacks yesterday you and Ann will be staying here with your mum while Sirius and I are gone."
"And what about the boys?"
"Since they are all in the same house we figured that it would be best if they stayed there. Dumbledore has asked Mr. Filch to fill in as Head of House until we bring Severus back."
"Filch! You've got to be kidding."
"He's the only one available." Remus stated.
"Remus, are you ready?" Sirius asked as he arrived in the open door with Ann.
"Just give me a moment." Remus then hugged Bria and said, "I'll see you soon alright?" Bria nodded and then he looked at Dannie and gave her a quick kiss "As soon as I get back I need to talk to you."
Sirius also gave Ann one last hug and said "Remember what I told you."
"I know, no pranks, no snogging sessions with Matt, listen to Miss Lightpaws, and absolutely no fun allowed at all."
"Well I didn't say all that but it will work." Sirius stated as he smiled then the two turned and left on their mission.
"Good morning students. First of all I would like to say that I am glad to see that those students that attended the Hogsmeade trip on Saturday are finally all back safely. Unfortunately we are temporarily without Professor Snape so I ask that you show proper respect towards his family during his absence. While he is gone Mr. Filch has agreed to fill in for him as Head of the Slytherin house." Groans were heard loudly from the Slytherin table while some students from other tables snickered at them. Dumbledore then continued. "It has come to my attention that we have a seventh year prefect from Salem visiting with us during the holidays. May I present Mr. Hollander, he has agreed to step in and teach Potions until Professor Snape returns." Ann looked at her boyfriend who was seated at the head table. "I must insist that even though he is young enough to be one of your classmates he is temporarily considered a professor and will be treated as such." Albus stated as he looked at Ann and smiled. "Finally Professors Black and Lupin were injured in the attack so I will be teaching their combined classes. Have a good week."
Just then Bria and Chloe came running into the Great Hall. Bria noticed Harry at the Slytherin table and ran up to sit with him. "I'm glad to see Madame' Pomphrey finally released you."
"Well um, not exactly." Harry replied.
"What do you mean not exactly. Your out of there aren't you?"
"I sort of got tired of being confined to bed so I left."
Just as he finished talking, the mediwich stormed up to his table and grabbed him by the earlobe pulling him out of the room. "I don't believe you. You know how important it is that you stay in the infirmary until you are completely healed. I have no idea who is worse, you and your cousins or your father and uncles."
"Ouch. I'll go back but let go of my ear."
She stopped and looked at the boy. "If your parents didn't pull that trick on me then I might be gullible enough to believe you." She continued to rant all the way back to the hospital wing. Finally when they got there she let go of his ear and motioned for him to get back into bed.
"But Madame' Pomphrey, I haven't' felt anything since yesterday morning." He lied.
"Nothing at all?" Poppy seemed even more worried.
Harry then realized that she was thinking the worse. "Well not nothing at all but it hasn't been half as bad as it was the other night."
"That should just be because of the potion I gave you for the pain."
"If I promised I would come back as soon as the pain starts again could I at least attend classes?"
Poppy looked over the boy. "Well the potion is suppose to wear off in an hour. If you are still alright at lunch time you can join your classmates."
"Agreed." Harry replied.
Over the years with the Dursleys, Harry had gotten very good at hiding any pain he had when he really wanted to. Needless to say that is what he did so that he could be released and join his friends at lunch.
When he got to the Slytherin table Draco looked at him and said. "Don't tell me you actually had the guts to escape her clutches again."
"For your information, this time I was released."
"Are you sure you are alright?" Jamie asked knowing the truth.
"I said I'm fine." Harry snapped back as the two glared at him.
"Whatever you say cuz. I am keeping an eye on you though." Jamie warned.
"You don't need to worry."
Godric's Hallow
"I can't believe it's been fourteen years since we've been here." Sirius said as he glanced at the structure that use to be his home.
Remus stopped and closed his eyes remembering the old days "I know."
"I told you that the house was destroyed. I really don't think they are here."
"Well, while we are here we might as well check a few things out."
"Fine but..." Sirius paused as he heard children laughing from the deserted neighborhood. "Did you hear that?"
"Yes I did. Come on." Remus led his friend around to the back border of the property.
"Remus, where are you going?"
"There's an entrance to the dungeons about a few kilometers back in the woods."
"I don't remember it. How did you find it and why didn't you tell us?" Sirius asked.
"I'm sure James knew about it but that was the passage I use to use on the nights I needed to be locked up."
"Good afternoon Severus" said his hostess. "Looks like my students have done better than I expected." She just sat there and looked over the mangled professor. "What no Snape-ish come back? Your parents would be highly disappointed if they were still alive. Oh yes, that's right, you were already a disappointment to them, weren't you? Anyway, we're going to let you rest today but don't worry, tomorrow you will be meeting with Voldemort. He was quite pleased to hear that I was able to persuade you to see him again." She then reached inside her robes and pulled out a small vial. "Here, drink up. We want you to at least look like you are at your best even though you and I both know you're not quite feeling like it." She then placed the potion down next to Severus and waited for him to drink it. "Come on now. You of all people should know that it's not going to kill you. Must I call my associates and have them assist you?" Severus slowly reached for the small bottle and quickly drank down the numbing fluid. "Good, now I will leave you to rest up, you will have a big day tomorrow."
"Harry what's wrong?" Bria asked as she noticed him just staring out the hallway window towards the forest.
"I'm not sure." he replied.
"They aren't torturing him again are they?"
"No they finally stopped. I think but I really don't know."
"What do you mean they finally stopped? I thought you told Pomphrey that they did."
"No I told her I wasn't feeling any more pain. I really was but now there's just nothing at all." Bria looked at him as he continued, "Don't worry about it, at least they have stopped."
"Aren't you coming to dinner?" Bria asked.
"No, you go on ahead. I'm not hungry." He said as he sat there and thought the worst of why he all of a sudden didn't sense anything that was happening with his father. Bria looked at him and sighed then turned around and headed onto the hall.
"Remus, are you sure you know where you are going. We've been walking for hours."
"Yes I'm sure. In fact there's the entrance. Come on."
Sirius and Remus entered a cavern at the other edge of the wooded area. As they proceeded the cavern slowly descended and grew darker. "Luminous" they both said casting light with their wands. Finally they reached an underground ravine filled with fresh fish. Sirius looked around and noticed four different passageways. "Do you remember which way the dungeons are?"
"Everything has corroded so much since the last time I was here it's hard to tell. I do believe they are this way though."
"I hope you are right. This is not the time to wind up lost in here." Sirius stated.
"I know it's not the time to get lost. You don't need to remind me." Remus continued through one of the middle passageways but unfortunately they quickly came to a dead end and had to turn around. "Don't you dare say one word." Remus sighed as he led them down the next passage.
This time they knew they had to be going to right way because there were voices coming from ahead of them. The two men extinguished their wands and sat in the dark along the wall to wait for the voices to pass by.
"I don't see why she's keeping him around. She needs to just let us eliminate him and get it over with."
"Voldemort wants him alive. If we get rid of him before the meeting then she wouldn't advance and this whole project would most likely be terminated."
"Still he's a traitor and doesn't deserve to the right..."
"You know as well as I do that it is the Dark Lord's decision on what is to be done with him."
"It won't be much longer until the decision is made. I hear she is taking him to see Voldemort tomorrow so we shall soon be rid of him."
Sirius and Remus heard the conversation and looked at each other.
"Pretty soon no matter what the decision, at least the children had their practice subject."
Sirius motioned for Remus and together they stepped behind of the two death eaters shouting "Stupefy!" stunning them.
"You do realize that you are too late to help your friend."
"How can that be when you two just stated that he was not to see Voldemort until tomorrow." Sirius replied.
"That may be so but what kind of condition do you expect him to be in by the time you finally find where he is." The Death eater continued. "Surely not well enough to be able to travel tonight."
"Don't you worry about what he'll be able to do or not. Just worry about what's going to happen to you when the ministry gets ahold of you."
"CRUTHIO' was shouted by a small voice behind Sirius causing him to be hit with something just strong enough to grab his attention.
Remus turned around and saw a small child that looked like she wasn't much older than 7 years of age smiling and showing that her two front teeth were obviously too big for the rest of her features like most children this age. "What in the world do you think you are doing teaching these children the unforgivables?"
"We are preparing them for their futures when they shall stand with the Dark Lord."
"But they are children." Sirius stated.
"And by the time they are adults they will be the top leaders and have everything they could ever want."
"Expelliarmus!" Remus said as the little girl's wand came flying out of her hand. "I believe you need to start them with the basics first."
The child then went running off to where she came from. Sirius went running after her and easily caught up. He quickly returned with the child over his shoulder as she was kicking and screaming the whole way. "With all the noise this little one has made I believe they will know about us very soon."
Remus looked at the two Death eaters and nodded to his friend. Sirius then put the child down and he cast a body bind on her to keep her silently with the other as Remus removed the Death Eater robes and masks from their captives. "Now tell me which level your Mistress is holding Snape on."
"You'll have to find him yourself."
Back at Hogwarts Harry couldn't help thinking about what could possibly be going on with his father. The more he thought of it the more he feared the worse. Just about everyone he truly cared about was gone. His mom, James, and now just when he started to get to know his true father, he was taken away from him too. Was this going to be this way with the rest of his newly discovered family and friends? His cousins knew exactly what was troubling him and they too feared the worse but they had different ways of dealing with their pain. Harry decided to go to bed early that night due to pure exhaustion from worrying about everything.
As the hostess escorted one of her students to deliver Severus' dinner to him in his cell she noticed that he had obviously felt better than when she left him earlier that day. Severus was pacing back and forth in his small cell but as she looked closer she noticed that the stone surrounding the bars on the window were dustier than normal.
"What is this Severus? Don't the accommodations that I have provided you with meet with your standards?"
"The accommodations are adequate enough, it's the company that I disapprove of."
"Well since that is your reason I shall provide you with possibly something more to your liking. I have just the perfect place and where you shall not have to worry about any unwanted company. Although your stay in there will only be until the meeting tomorrow." She continued. "Although there will be extreme pain involved upon arriving to your new quarters."
"Pain? You my dear are the one that did me a favor by providing me with the potion to numb all my senses. I will not be feeling any pain." he replied
"It was not your pain that I was concerned with earlier. I know what the curse of the Dark Mark does to children of Death-eaters. Think about this idea. What would possibly happen to a young man who grows up on their own only to find out that the person who they believed to despise them more than anything else is their own father. Then after battling their own emotions finally they start to care for the said father only to watch him be taken away, feel them tortured, and then finally feeling absolutely nothing except emptiness. The emptiness of no longer feeling the dreaded curses that are placed upon their beloved father." Severus glared at her as she smirked beneath the hood that still hid her face. "That's right Severus, he is afraid that you are dead and has most likely spent the day mourning you."
"You are wrong there. He still feels nothing more for me other than he would any of his other professors."
"Is that why he chased after you in Hogsmeade calling you Dad? Oh and poor dear Sirius really got an earful from the boy over leaving you alone."
"You lie."
"Why should I lie when the truth is so much more fun?" she replied
"Then tell me who you are."
"You will learn in all due time. Now lets see if that potion is still working." She pulled out her wand and pointed it at him as she yelled "CRUCIO!"
Harry was instantly woken up from the return of the painful curse. Luckily it was late enough so Jamie and Draco were also in the room and sound asleep until Harry's screams woke them up. "You get Dumbledore and I'll get Pomphrey" Jamie said.
As the two boys ran through their common room and tried leaving the dungeons Draco felt someone grab his arm. When he turned around and saw Filch staring at him. "I knew I'd catch you trying to sneak out sooner or later."
"Get your cat butt picking hands off me!" Draco yelled as he squirmed free.
"Um Draco, it's actually." Jamie then stopped himself as Draco glared at him. "Well your version is better." He continued as they ran down through the corridors.
Draco quickly arrived at the Headmaster's office and told him about Harry's condition. Dumbledore then followed him back to the dungeons. As they entered they were immediately greeted by Filch.
"Headmaster, I need to talk to you about this boy and his friend." Filch stated.
"Not now, we have an emergency with one of the other students. Meet me in my office first thing in the morning." Albus stated as he continued to the dorm room.
She finally ended her curse and then instructed the two Death Eaters guarding the cell where to take Severus.
Sirius and Remus finally arrived at the dungeons and were searching everywhere for their friend trying their best not to look suspicious. As they were searching the third level they ran spotted the two that were dragging Severus around. "Where are you taking him?" Sirius asked.
"The Mistress wants us to deposit him into the obliete."
Remus noticed the other Death Eaters that were in the area. "Would you like some help?" he asked.
"No, he is no problem to us in this state."
Sirius and Remus waited a few moments after the two Death Eaters left then quietly followed them without being noticed. Just as Severus was about to be dropped into the hole Sirius and Remus arrived. "Wouldn't it make it more enjoyable if you revived him before you let him fall?" Sirius asked the Death Eaters.
"It would be nice to see his face but I wouldn't want to have to fight him again."
"Well how about if you two revive him and I'll immediately put him in a body bind." Remus stated.
The two Death Eaters agreed and they woke up the unconscious professor. To their surprise it wasn't Severus whom Remus and Sirius had their wands pointed at when they said "Stupefy."
"Well it's about bloody time you two showed up." Severus mumbled.
"It's good to see you too Sev." Remus stated. "Are you up for getting out of here now?"
"Even though I've always been curious about what it was like inside an obliete, I would prefer to leave this place."
"Well then come along we are wasting too much time." Sirius stated.
The three men then left the dungeons surprised to see that the majority of the Death Eaters that were staying there were sound asleep. As they left the place they once called home Severus stopped and knelt down next to a tree that stood alone. He then pulled some weeds from the ground and brushed away the dirt. Remus quietly walked up behind him and picked up the discarded weeds then transfigured them into Night Lilies and handed them back to his friend. Severus then looked up at him to say thank you but Remus immediately said, "I'll leave you two alone.", as he turned and walked ahead to wait with Sirius.
Severus then placed the flowers on the stone that sat in the ground, closed his eyes, and said. "I don't know exactly why they brought me back here of all places and although I never wanted to come back again I am glad that I am here now. I am so sorry for everything that went wrong with us. The last thing I wanted was to lose you but you know that. I wanted to thank you for Harry, you would be so proud of him love. Although it is still hard on both of us I am still trying. I want to be the father you wanted me to be but I don't think he will ever allow it to happen. You were right when you said that my stubborn attitude must be an inherited curse for he has it as well. I bet you are up there laughing at how we are always bumping heads but don't worry. I will never give up on him. Oh Merlin this is so hard. You know I was never one for the sentimental words, you were the one person I could sit with for hours in my arms and neither one of us had to say a word. I don't know if or when I will be by here again, the memories are too strong. I just wish so much that you could still be here and see the young man he is turning into." As Severus paused to fight back his feelings he felt an icy breeze blow away the hair that had fallen into his face. When he opened his eyes he noticed the flowers were gone. He then looked up and saw a transparent figure before him holding the same flowers. Severus sat there for a moment and finally said "Lily?"
"Yes my love. You don't need to say anything else, I have seen you two together and I do know how hard it's been on both of you. I am also sorry that it had to be this way. Please don't give up on him it will take some time but soon enough it will all be worth it. I am proud of both of you with the progress you have made and I wanted to let you know that I have been and will continue to watch over both of you."
"Sev, I hate to do this to you but the sun is coming up and we really need to leave before they notice you missing." Remus said as he noticed his friend wasn't alone.
"He's right love, you do have to go. Harry may not show it but he needs you more than he will ever be able to admit. I will see you again one day." Lily said as she faded away.
It took a few minutes but Severus finally was able to compose himself once again. He then stood up and walked past his companions. As the three men made their way back to where their families waited for them nobody said another word throughout the whole trip.
"Albus, I don't understand how you could expect anyone to be able to maintain order here if you allow these brats to treat those in charge the way that they do." Filch said as he pointed to Jamie and Draco.
"What is it exactly that has you so upset? If it is because he was leaving their house then that is my doing. These children were under my instruction to contact me if Harry had any more health problems." Albus replied.
"He accused me of...of being a cat butt picker."
Albus tried his best to keep from laughing as he looked at Draco and said "Mr. Malfoy, do you care to explain the accusations you have made?"
Draco was so afraid of laughing at the moment that Jamie quickly spoke up. "Professor Dumbledore sir, Draco has picked up on a few of the Muggle sayings that we have used back home and unfortunately he has a bad habit of getting them wrong over half of the time."
"What kind of saying could he have possibly mixed up to call Mr. Filch a cat butt picker?" Albus asked.
Draco shrugged so Jamie clearly stated. "He didn't exactly call Mr. Filch a cat butt picker. Just instead of saying cotton pickin' hands he said.."
The headmaster quickly understood and interrupted the boy, "No need to say any more. You see Mr. Filch it was just a misunderstanding here. Mr. Malfoy actually meant nothing by it. I am sure that once Professor Snape returns he will be more than willing to proceed with a proper punishment for him. As for you Mr. Malfoy, I suggest before you try any more slang phrases that you are not accustomed to then you learn the correct wording."
Mr. Filch immediately stormed out of the room in a rage. As soon as the door closed Dumbledore looked at the two boys and burst out laughing," I do prefer the version you used better but please be a bit more careful on what you say. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir." Draco replied.
"Good, now you two can go onto breakfast. When Professor Snape returns I will inform him that you will be serving one detention with him in the potions lab."
"Yes sir, thank you. Happy Solstice." The boys replied as they left.
As soon as breakfast was over Bria immediately ran down to the infirmary. "Morning Madame' Pomphrey. Happy Solstice."
"Happy Solstice Bria. I suppose you are here to see my favorite patient?"
"Yes ma'am. Is it alright?"
"Well he hasn't had any problems lately but he hasn't spoken to anyone yet either. Go on in, maybe you can cheer him up."
"Thank you." Bria entered the room. "Morning Harry." She said but he just turned over putting his back to her. When Bria walked around to the other side of the bed again he again turned and faced the ceiling. In attempt to try to cheer him up she quickly transformed and jumped up and balanced herself onto a small part of the bed next to him resting her head on his chest. Without realizing it Harry then accidentally shoved her off the bed and onto the ground. As she landed she hit her head against the nightstand and changed back.
Pomphrey heard the commotion and quickly entered the room. "What is going on in here?" she said as she looked at Bria on the ground holding her head. Bria quickly stood up and stormed out of the room before the mediwitch could help her.
Madame Pomphrey then gave Harry a questioning look and he said, "Oh shit" as he realized what he had just done.
As Dannie was walking through the main foyer she saw her daughter run straight outside then transform in mid run heading straight for the forest. Dannie quickly followed her doing the same thing. Running as fast as she could Dannie passed her and stopped her just behind Hagrid's hut. As Bria tried to pass, Dannie let out a warning growl towards her. Bria knew the warning from her mom and turned around and headed back to the castle changing back as she entered then headed towards her room in her mom's quarters.
When Dannie entered the castle Harry immediately approached her. "Have you seen Bria?"
"Yes, I just finished chasing her down to keep her from going into the forest. Something has upset her do you know what that is?"
"Yes, it was me. Can I go see her to apologize?"
"I don't know what happened but if you think you can get her to talk to you then you can try. Come on." She said.
As Bria entered the quarters she quickly transfigured a glass of water into an ice pack, placed it on the lump on her head and went into her room to plop down on her bed. When she got in there she noticed Ann was in there reading something. After finishing off the chapter she was on Ann looked at her and asked, "What happened to you?"
"Nothing really. Just fell and hit my head."
"So what time are you and Harry meeting for the dance tonight?"
"We aren't"
"What do you mean you aren't? Don't tell me Poppy is keeping him in the hospital overnight again." Ann said.
"I have no idea if she is or not. I just don't feel like going with him. He's been too moody lately."
"Well that's to be expected."
"I know it's to be expected but I just don't feel like going with someone when I have no idea on what kind of mood they will be in or how long it will last."
"Well your mom made you that dress to wear tonight so why don't you just go with us and that way you don't have to worry about him."
"Let me think about it for a while. I'll let you know." Bria replied.
Just then there was a knock on the bedroom door. "Bria, you have a visitor."
Bria went into the living room only to see Harry standing in the doorway. "What do you want?"
"I came by to see if you're alright and to apologize for earlier." He said as he slowly approached her.
Bria stood her ground as she replied "As you can see I am just fine except for the new lump on the back of my head." Harry reached out and took her hand but she quickly pulled it back and quietly growled "Keep your frilling hands off of me."
Harry was hurt by her response and he quietly said, "I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." But Bria just turned around and went back to her room slamming the door and leaving him standing there. Harry then quietly left and headed back to the Slytherin House.
"Ann, I've decided I'm going afterall."
"Good, we'll really have fun there tonight even without him."
Later that night the guys were gathering in the main foyer awaiting the carriages to take them to where the ball was to be held. As the carriages arrived the girls gradually came down the stairs to be greeted by their escorts at the bottom. As the boys gathered at the base of the staircase Harry stayed back to watch since he no longer had a date but was still obligated to attend it anyway. Ginny who was wearing a medium green backless gown was the first of the group to reach the bottom followed by Hermione in a red spaghetti string dress with sequins outlining the slit on the right side that went to just above her knee. Next was Ann in a baby blue and white strapless and Bria in a sapphire blue satin V neck with a black and pearlized grey beaded belt and a black satin shawl with silver fringe draped over her shoulders whom descended together to be met by Matt whom held out an arm for each of them.
Finally everyone was in the carriages; Bria rode with Matt, Ann, Draco, and Ginny while Harry rode with Ron, Susan Vaughn, Hermione, and Jamie in the following carriage. As they were approaching the brightly-lit clearing on the other side of the lake that was of coarse charmed to remain warm so nobody would catch cold Bria noticed 2 figures coming out of the woods. "Ann look, you don't think?"
Ann looked in the direction of the forest and immediately started shouting at the ghostly driver to stop the carriage. Once the carriages slowed down enough the two girls immediately jumped out and sprinted across the snow covered lawn calling out to their fathers. Jamie then heard the commotion and followed them leaving Hermione behind with Harry.
"Harry why aren't you going with Jamie?"
"Why should I?"
"Harry, I know what Professor Black said to you before he left and I'm sure he tried his best. They are your uncles, two of your mum's best friends. Don't you think it's time for this attitude of yours to end?" she stated.
"Fine I'll go but only so that I don't have to listen to your constant nagging about it all night." Harry then exited the carriage and casually walked over to greet his returning uncles.
As he approached them Severus finally exited the woods and Harry instantly froze in his tracks. Severus noticed his son's reaction and held his breath as he continued to walk towards him. Sirius with his arms around the shoulders of each of the twins paused when he reached Harry and said, "I told you I wouldn't come back without him. I never break a promise."
Harry quickly hugged Sirius and whispered "Thank you"
As Sirius and the twins continued onto the carriages Remus stayed back with Bria watching the reunion as Severus finally reached the boy. "I was afra..er, I thought you..." Harry took a deep breath. "I'm glad to see you made it back alright, dad."
Severus sighed and said "Thank you Harry."
Like everyone else who saw what was going on Remus was hoping Harry would have broken down his barriers more and given his father the same welcome that he received from Bria. As the four of them walked into the light from the party on their way to the remaining carriages Remus remembered what that night was. "Isn't tonight the night of the ball? I can't believe you two are messing around with us when you could be over there having fun with the others."
"That's alright dad, I don't mind." she replied
"Well I do. Let me look at you. Turn around."
"Dad!"
"Just do it, it's your first ball and I've had a long trip."
"Fine" Bria huffed as she spun around.
"Your mum did a wonderful job on the dress. Didn't she Harry?" Remus asked.
"Um, yes sir she did."
Just then the two men took notice that their children who are almost always joined together at the hips, hands, or even lips were now standing as far apart from one another as they could get. Severus then asked, "Ok you two what is going on here?"
"Nothing" they replied in unison.
"Well aren't you two going to the ball together?" Remus asked.
"We decided not to." Bria replied.
"Well whatever your reason is I still want you two to go on ahead with your friends at least. Your mum will never forgive me if she found out I made you miss your first one. Besides we'll be over there later and I expect at least one dance from you."
"Yes sir." Bria said as she joined the rest of their friends and headed onto the dance.
"What about you Harry, aren't you going?" Severus asked.
"Well I'd rather not. I'm not one for dances and I'm not really needed since they have plenty of other people already hosting it."
"Well we're headed back to the castle if you would like to come with us." Remus stated and Harry nodded in reply.
When they arrived at the school Pomphrey met the carriage at the door. "I heard you were back. Good now follow me to the infirmary." She told Severus.
"Poppy, I will have you know, I am feeling quite well I do not need to go to the infirmary."
Poppy quickly grabbed him by the earlobe and made him follow her. "Woman, would you so kindly release my ear."
"Not until we reach the infirmary. Your son has already tried that one on me this week."
Harry smiled as he watched Severus get dragged off. He then looked around and quietly followed after them.
TBC - Please Review
Mikee: Yes he needed to suffer abit...it was all in the plan
animegirl-Mika: Thank you
Saavik: Of course he was afraid of who it would be...don't want someone like Filch in charge of the Slytherins do you?
Lady Tavington:Thank you, matter of fact it wasn't really an oversight...it was more the result of looking at my son's well worn and soda stained book that I couldn't make out some of the spelling of words from.