Harry eyed the silvery potion with excitement. He was amazed at how easily he'd managed to brew it.
Perhaps I'm not so useless at potions as I thought. Maybe it's just Snape's lessons that bring out the worst in me.
Eventually he decided that a potion this useful would be a sin to waste. Dipping a ladle into the brew he realised with a start that the ladle disappeared as soon as it touched the potion.
With some difficulty Harry managed to sip some of the potion.
Looking down at himself Harry grinned.
His feet had gone. But best of all he could no longer see the ugly tattoo adorning his left arm.
***
Sirius finally managed to recover from his fit of laughter and set about looking for his godson.
'Perhaps I shouldn't have left him alone.'
He followed the trail of newly decorated rooms in his quest to find Harry. He began to slow however as he took in some of the changes Harry had made. It truly was quite remarkable.
"I knew Harry was an incredible kid, but who'd have thought he'd have such a talent for this!" He muttered as he viewed a particularly elegant sitting room.
"I don't know if invisible people actually blush, but my cheeks sure feel hot." Said Harry from nowhere.
"Harry! Where are you?" Laughed Sirius searching for the owner of the disembodied voice.
"Now that would be telling wouldn't it!" Teased Harry ducking underneath Sirius' outstretched arm.
"Fine. But make sure you find your way to Snape's study. I wouldn't want you to miss his delight at your masterpiece." Chuckled Sirius letting his hands fall to his sides.
"If you want some there's still some potion left in the dungeon." Replied Harry's voice from the doorway.
"Potion? You mean your not using Prongs' cloak?" Asked Sirius frowning.
There was a silence and Sirius wondered for a moment if Harry had left, but then he heard a strange hiccup of a suppressed sob come from the doorway and he realised what must have happened.
"It's okay Harry. Look, come here." Said Sirius feeling his heart clench at having made his godson cry.
He wanted to pull the boy into a hug, but he heard footsteps go out into the corridor and the door swung shut behind Harry as he left.
***
Snape angrily scrubbed at the last remaining soot on his hands. He cursed Sirius Black for the thousandth time and straightened his clean robes. The ghastly red and gold that greeted him as he went into his study did little to improve his mood.
"That blasted Potter boy. I suppose I should have expected that he'd graffiti my own house with his stupid Gryffindor colours." Muttered the irate potions master.
He fell silent however as he heard a shuffling noise from across the room.
"Potter? Is that you?" He asked, his chair scraping noisily across the floor as he stood up.
"I thought it might cheer us all up if I brightened up the place. It was a dumb idea, I'm sorry I did it… Finite Incantatem!"
There was a sudden glow and all of the warm inviting colours in the room dulled down to their usual dismal green.
Snape was surprised to feel suddenly uncomfortable with the green he'd become so accustomed to so long ago suddenly returned.
"Potter! I…" He began.
"Don't worry I'll get out of your way. I'll be staying in my own room from now on."
Snape frowned.
"I don't think that would be wise Harry…"
"Why not? I can't go around acting like nothing's changed!" Shouted Harry, then his voice dropped. "Besides I don't think…"
"What?"
"I don't think that I can cope with how things have changed." Completed Harry, the bitter note of defeat evident in his voice.
"Locking yourself away won't make things better Harry. I know that for a fact." Said Snape solemnly.
"I'm… not sure I'm brave enough… I'm not sure I can handle everyone's disappointment. I know I'll just crack." Confessed Harry, invisibility failing to mask his emotions.
"Look at how your Godfather's taken it. If Black can forgive you then the other people you care about can hardly be too different." Urged Snape gently.
"You're right. I'm being stupid. I just can't seem to do anything right these days." Said Harry, unaware that he was slowly reappearing.
"Start with Ron and Hermione, and work from there." Suggested Snape looking directly into Harry's eyes.
"Yes, you're right. My friends deserve to know what's happened." Said Harry quietly.
There was a moment's pause before Harry added, with a little uncertainty, "Thankyou Professor… For everything I mean."
Snape blinked but nodded slightly to acknowledge Harry.
Harry got up to leave and just as he made for the door Snape called out.
"By the way… well done with the invisibility potion.
Oh, and you're welcome to carry on with your redecorating Potter, but I would ask that you restrain yourself as far as the red and gold is concerned. You do a good job."
With a look of pure surprise on his face and a ghost of a smile Harry nodded and left the room.
***
Severus sighed and fell into the chair Harry had just vacated.
"That boy will be the death of me." He mumbled rubbing his eyes.
"I sincerely hope so." Growled Sirius from the doorway.
"I see you still haven't learnt how to knock Black." Returned Snape jumping up from the seat
"And you still think that Harry is your responsibility." Replied Sirius with a dark scowl.
"It's obvious that Dumbledore thinks he still requires my help. Why else send you both here?" Pointed out the irritated professor taking a step forward.
"Keep your slimy opinions to yourself. I'll decide what's best for Harry."
"You're jealous! That's what this is all about! You are jealous of me!" Cried Snape as he realised the reason for Sirius' anger.
Sirius himself just looked stunned.
"You're angry that Harry came to me with his problems instead of you. And now you're trying to warn off the one person who can help your precious godson!"
Sirius' face reddened with a mixture of embarrassment and rage.
"Shut up you… you grease ball!"
"Name calling is it? Well Black. I see that with your selfishness, hostility and petulance that you're the perfect role model for a boy who's been through something so personality changing and soul destroying you could never even imagine understanding it!"
Replied Snape, his voice deadly calm, cutting through the hostile air.
Sirius visibly cracked.
"I'm sorry if my years in Azkaban didn't train me for this as well as your treachery! But I am not being selfish… I just want Harry back! I c-can't loose him."
There was a silence as the two enemies refused to acknowledge each other, each knowing that the other was touching on something too personal.
In the end it was Sirius who spoke.
"I understand it now."
"What?"
"Why Dumbledore sent Harry and me here… We have got to work together Severus."
Sirius spoke the name slowly and deliberately but couldn't help but wince.
"For Harry's sake… and for our own. I think you're right for once Sirius." Said Snape holding out his hand.
Sirius shook it firmly. Then he sped from the room, once again in search of Harry.
A/N – Okies! second chapter down! I hope you guys don't mind the depressive mood returning. There will be more humour later on, but things ain't all that rosy right now!
And yes… I am a bit of a Snape fan. He's cool… But don't worry Sirius won't be letting Snape get away with too much, even if they are gonna work together, hehehe.
Thanks to those wonderful peeps who honoured me with reviews…
vmr – I hope it's as interesting as you hoped, hehehe
Errol – I am still plodding through DoR but the pace should pick up now that I'm kinda getting used to my increased work load!
Princess Hedwig – I just couldn't kill Sirius, rest easy, it probably aint gonna happen in the sequel either!
Emylya Aileron – My most adoring fan! Wow! I hope your sanity is still intact!
Scarlet Phoenix – I'm unbelievably sorry for the long wait for both parts! I will get my butt moving on part 3 straight away, I promise!
Raven of Death – Hilarious? Mebbe I should try my hand at humour more often! lol. Thanks!
sweets – *grins* yeah, the floo-part made me laugh when I thought of it!
abbey – don't worry about it! I'm VERY bad at keeping up with fic updates, I certainly don't mind it from other peeps!
Thorgood – (aka Rob… aka 'the boyfriend') hehehe you're biased! But thanks anyway… I'm glad you liked it… it's just as well for your own sake!
Lena – cool word! Gryffindorised! Can I use it????!!!
nagh – thanks!
Jess – no probs! I apologise myself for taking so long to review YOUR fic!
Sandrine Black – Hope you like this as much as LYW.
Gia – I don't have your e-mail addy! Sorry! But I'm glad you liked it!
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