It seems like I have some nutty fans. Hehehe. COOL.

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The next morning, in the Great Hall at breakfast the three could be found sitting nervously while eating their breakfast. After a bit, though, Hermione finally cracked.

"Harry, You're not a third wheel!" She blurted, then looked at her food. Ron turned red and stared at his food as it was the most interesting thing in the world.

Harry swallowed some Pumpkin Juice, "I know that, Hermione. Malfoy helped me realize it." He said, calmly.

" *Malfoy*? **Malfoy** helped you?!" She asked, incredulously.

Ron looked up from his plate, stunned.

Harry said hurriedly, "He didn't mean to. He was making fun of me and I came to the realization."

Hermione sighed, "What did he say?"

Harry was silent for a moment before responding, "He said something like 'your **friends** don't want you around anymore.'" Harry put extra emphasis on 'friends.'

Hermione smiled and nodded, comprehending completely. Ron looked utterly confused. "I don't understand." Ron said, stuffing his mouth with food.

Hermione blinked at Ron, then rolled her eyes. Harry continued, "I told him that as long as you're my **friends**, then you'll always want me around." He said, once again putting emphasis on 'friends.'

Hermione smiled more, "And we'll always be your friends, Harry,"

Ron nodded, swallowing his food, "Yeah, Harry."

"I know," said Harry, eating a piece of toast.

"Oh Lookie, it's the Mudblood, Muggle-Lover, and the Unwanted. Tell me, Weasley, how's your girlfriend?" Malfoy said the last part in a nasty tone. Hermione turned red, and Ron's ears turned red as he clenched his fists, he started to say something but Harry spoke first.

"Can't you think of a better insult, Malfoy?" Harry said, Calmly.

"What's this? Sticking up for the people who don't like you? You'd think you learned your lesson, Potty. Or are you afraid you wont be able to make anymore friends?" Draco sneered. Harry looked absolutely livid, but he never got the chance to react.

"That's enough, Draco." Snape said, coolly. Ron, Hermione, and Harry all looked at Snape in surprise. Draco frowned. Snape continued, "You know that it's not hard for Harry to find someone that will hang off him. He is, after all, the Boy-Who-Lived." The surprise wore off the three faces, and Draco grinned, walking back to his seat. Snape sneered at the trio and went back to his own seat, giving no explanation at all.

"That was odd." Hermione said.

"That was bloody freaky!" Ron said, enthusiastically, "You'd think, since he's a teacher, he wouldn't be allowed to insult students."

Harry was silent for a moment, then reached a conclusion. "Snape's been acting odd lately-" He started, but was cut off.

" *Odd*? you call that odd? He's been acting perfectly normal!" Ron said, looking completely surprised at Harry. Hermione looked at Harry suspiciously. Harry decided it best not to tell them.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Harry said, resignedly.

When the end of supper rolled around, Harry was in Snape's office, alone, sitting in a chair. He got here as soon as he could, and when he did he found Snape wasn't here, so he sat quietly in his chair, looking at Snape's pensieve longingly.

"You're early, Potter." A voice said from behind him, and he heard a click as the office door snapped shut, then locked.

"No, sir. You're just late." Harry said, quickly regretting it. He knew Snape would be angry from him speaking to him like that.

But Snape didn't seem to care, he just sauntered over to his desk and sat in his chair, staring at Harry.

Harry took the opportunity to ask Snape a few questions he's been burning to get an answer for. He decided to save the worst for last, afraid Snape would get angry and not answer this question.

"Sir, Why are you being kind to me?" Harry said, slowly, watching Snape for a reaction.

Snape didn't seem to care, and he spoke lazily. "I already told you, Potter. If I could find something to be mean about, I would. Didn't you get my Owl?"

Hary smiled, realizing his Professor seemed to be denying it. Harry decided not to pursue that any further, yet.

"Of course. Professor, I have a personal question to ask you." Harry said, slowly, seeking something along the lines of 'Go Ahead' as he looked at his Professor.

Snape sighed, "I don't see what it would have to do with Occlumency, Potter, but go ahead. If it's appropriate, I might consider answering."

Harry breathed deeply, and looked at his hands, not daring to look at Snape as he said this.

"Come on, Potter, I don't have all night."

Harry looked at him, startled, then he nodded. "The memory I saw in you pensieve," Harry started, looking up at Snape for approval. Snape didn't stop him, but he tensed a bit. Harry breathed deeply in again, feeling Snape's heavy gaze upon him. Harry spoke cautiously, "He didn't... I mean..." Harry stopped, daring another look at his Professor. He looked ... unnerved.

Hary felt a little daring, and he needed the Professor to understand what he was asking, and he didn't want to flat out ask it when he didn't have to. "Did you see what was going on when you pulled me out of your pensieve?"

"Yes, Potter." He said, not wishing to talk about it, but promising himself he'd hear the question first.*Patience, Severus.*

"He didn't actually..." after that, Harry's voice became weak, "Expose you?"

Snape could tell by Harry's face that he didn't actually want an answer, but he needed to know. Snape breathed, looking even more unnerved, and he didn't say anything for several long minutes, which caused Harry to overflow with nervousness.

"I'm sorry Professor, maybe I should-"

"Sit down, Potter." Harry relaxed a tiny bit, but was still on edge. Snape regained some of his composure, but not all of it.

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I stop here, just to annoy you. Ill start the 8th chapter immediately. Yes, I know this chapter is extremely short.