NOW BETAED!
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Thanks for everybody who reviewed it. I'm sorry if it's a little bit boring, I try to do my best. But, at least, it's pretty long (one of the longest I've ever written).
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Chapter 3 - Old and new
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As the first day of the term approached Harry noticed that Severus' behaviour was tending to be more and more nervous. He was tense and snappy, and after a while Harry decided to stay as far away from him as he could during the days. Not that Severus hurt or offended him, he was always friendly with Harry, or at least he tried to be, but Harry could see that his patience was wearing thin and he didn't intend to tempt it. So he usually joined Severus for dinner and they spent the evenings together talking, playing chess or sometimes they went to Hogsmeade to have a glass of butterbeer and some cookies. On these evenings Severus seemed to forget his future tasks and relaxed a little bit.
If Harry hadn't known that Severus didn't like teaching, now he could sense it perfectly, however, the man never mentioned it. So they avoided any topics concerning the school, very cautiously.
There were several staff meetings in the last week, which just made Severus angrier and more tense. Harry didn't dare to ask about them, Severus always told him the things related to him.
"We made a deal with Albus and even the staff accepted it," Severus announced one evening returning from a very long meeting, after he had collapsed into a chair.
"Yes?" Harry lifted his eyes from the book he was reading. It wasn't a schoolbook and - at Severus' surprise - neither a quidditch book, it was a novel Harry had found on the bookshelf. Harry didn't know himself why he had begun to read it really, perhaps because he had seen the name 'Noblestone' written on a page, but he didn't regret. It was a historical book about the goblin riots in the Middle Age, but it was really interesting unlike Professor Binns' monotonous explanations. Its main character was Ulric the Ugly (Harry had never heard his name before), but Urg the Unclean (the leader of the main goblin riot in that century) was mentioned in it too, and Harry noticed surprised that he remembered this name from the previous year's history classes. And there was a Noblestone girl too, who had been involved in the second riot... It was so strange. He heard the name 'Noblestone' just three weeks ago, but since then he had come across it several times.
"I'm glad you like that book," Severus smiled. "It was one of my favourites when I was fifteen. It's a very well-written book and its historical references are precise, so you can learn a lot from it."
Harry frowned. He didn't read the book to learn or memorize it and Severus' remark suddenly made it less interesting.
"Oh," Snape suddenly went on. "About the meeting: Albus managed to convince the staff that you can stay with me during the school year."
"Wow!" Harry jumped on his feet and flung his arms around Severus' neck. "That's cool!" he shouted in joy.
"Hey! Quiet! Don't shout into my ears!" Snape grumbled in mocked annoyance.
"I KNEW it!" Harry's eyes were lit up in anger.
"What?"
"That you would play idiotic games with my name."
"Alright then: shut up," a smirk appeared on his face.
Harry rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"And what about the sorting?" he asked after a while. "Which house do you want me to be sorted into? Slytherin, just to be with you?"
Snape glanced at him seriously.
"It's not a matter of my wish, Quiet. You're a Gryffindor and you will always be. But it would be extremely dangerous to put you back into your house."
"Why?"
"They know you all too well and would recognise you in no time by your manners..."
Harry suddenly sat down as his feet trembled and he couldn't breathe. No... It can't be true! Severus would finally managed to put him in Ravenclaw... or even worse in Slytherin...
"You mean that...?" he didn't dare to finish the question.
"I mean that you won't be sorted," he said simply.
"What?" Harry's jaw fell in disbelief.
"You heard me."
Severus was nervous: he looked at Harry intensely to see his words' effects on him. The boy closed his eyes in thought. So he wouldn't be sorted. Well, it rendered things less complicated. He wouldn't have to pretend amongst the Gryffindors that he was not Harry, that he didn't know anybody, he wouldn't have to change his usual routines. He wouldn't have to face the Slytherins as one of them, and he wouldn't have to spend his free time in the same rooms as Malfoy and his cronies. On the other hand he wouldn't have to suffer in Ravenclaw forcing himself to reach levels too high for him. And last but not least he wouldn't have to be in Cedric's ex-house either.
"How did the staff accepted it?" he asked.
Severus smiled in relief.
"It wasn't too simple. Professor Flitwick, struggled to have you in Ravenclaw and even Minerva seemed to wish that you were in her house..."
"Just you and Professor Sprout sat in silence."
"Well, yes. She was sure that a Snape descendant wouldn't be in Hufflepuff. As for me..." he suddenly turned tired and a strange, distant expression appeared on his face. "I didn't want you in my house knowing your previous experiences with its members. Not to mention that there are Draco and his friends, and I really don't know how they will react after this summer's events."
Severus fell silent. He stretched his legs, leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. His expression didn't change, it remained distant and closed. Harry stared at him intently trying to figure out its meaning. He was sure he had seen it before, perhaps in Nightmare Manor...?
"Severus, is there anything wrong?" he finally asked.
A pair of black eyes locked in his.
"The Headmaster told the staff my story."
Harry didn't understand.
"What story?"
"My Death Eater experiences, Quietus, the spying, and my present situation. It wasn't a comfortable tale for me. I could see their reactions and..." he didn't continue. He didn't want to tell Harry about the disgust, the hatred, the rejection and the fear he had experienced.
"They... they didn't know it...?" Harry stuttered.
"Of course not," he snapped in return. "Except for Minerva. My role was too important to risk it by telling everybody about it."
"I don't think it was too wise to let them know even now... It will be hard enough for you to come to terms with your own house again."
"I don't have to come to terms with them. They are children and I'm the professor. My personal life is not their business, and it never was. Just because you got to know me personally it doesn't mean that they too ever did."
Harry nodded, however, he had other presuppositions. The Potions Master's behaviour and favouritism towards his own house made him believe that he was closer to his house members than McGonagall was to her Gryffindors. When he finally told Severus this he smiled slightly.
"Didn't you notice that even she favours her house?"
"No. Never," Harry answered sincerely.
"And what about her bending the rules to get you on the quidditch team? Or some other incident, which you never got a punishment for? Flying car? Stunning a professor? And what do you think about your past potions' marks?" Severus could see Harry shifting uncomfortably and his smile widened. "But it still doesn't mean that you are on personal terms with her. She was the professor and you were the student."
"And Malfoy?"
"I never let him befriend me in school. Here, we weren't on a first-name basis. Only during the holidays."
"I see..." Harry nodded then suddenly asked. "And what, do you think the staff's reaction will be to your... past?"
Severus' face turned distant again.
"I don't know," he whispered. "I don't think they will be more friendly to me after this. They never liked me, but now..."
"But... they won't do anything against you, will they?"
"No," Severus shook his head. "They won't because Albus won't let them."
Harry looked at the familiar face lined with tiredness and pain and felt sorrow for the man. Really, Severus wasn't over his past and this staff meeting had been too hard for him. To face his colleagues' disgust or rejection... Though, Severus didn't mention it, Harry KNEW by his expression what the effect of Headmaster's tale had been. He stepped to the chair and sat on its arm.
"Severus," he began quietly. "I..."
Snape lifted his head and slight annoyance glittered in his eyes.
"What?" he barked.
"I just wanted to say that I won't let you be hurt. As you are there for me, I am there for you."
The annoyance was suddenly turned into something else, something akin... love? Snape smiled, however his smile was a little bit sad.
"Harry, I can handle their attitude. You don't have to bother with it. But thank you nevertheless."
"No, it's not about bothering. I just wanted to say that you are not alone..." Harry suddenly felt himself ridiculous. Snape had always been able to handle things alone. He certainly didn't need his help to get through it. He lowered his head and could feel his face turning red slightly.
"I know, Harry. And, believe me, I deeply appreciate your offer."
"Really?" Harry mumbled uncertainly.
"Sure. It had to be a kind of remainder of those infamous psychological facts..."
"The happy days..." Harry wondered. "But I'm afraid there are much more remainders of them... The unhappy ones."
"Yes. And we have plenty of them. Painful ropes which bind us to the past. Memories and haunting feelings, which try to confine our lives. We have to come off them. To break free again. I'm sure that we, and especially that you are able to do it."
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The next day when Harry was reading in the living room of Severus' quarters - he read the same book despite Snape's remark about its high educational value - a soft knocking disturbed him. It was the Transfiguration professor.
"I'm here to fix a time-table for you, Mr Snape," she said after the greetings. "Could you come with me to my office?"
"Of course," Harry gulped. "Do... do I have to take exams too?" he asked nervously.
"You mean now?" When Harry nodded she cast a reassuring smile at him.
"Oh, no, don't be afraid. I don't have time to check your knowledge now," she explained on their way to the office. "I accept your word and your father's testimony about it, alright?"
Harry couldn't help but grin widely in return.
"Which classes will I attend?"
"It depends on the things you have already learnt."
Later Harry realised that it was pure luck that the professor didn't test him: the mere procedure of questioning him about his studies and fixing the time-table took more than two hours.
"So, that was about the basics," said McGonagall after two hours. It wasn't entirely true that she didn't examine Harry's level of knowledge either, but she asked only basic things just to check Harry's level. At the end she sighed in satisfaction. "Very well. I don't think you will have problems with the fifth year curriculum. But you have to choose two additional classes. Which ones do you want to pick?"
Harry shrugged.
"I don't know what are those additional courses, madam," he answered politely.
"Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies. I don't suggest the last one, it's totally meaningless for you, or Divination either."
Harry couldn't help but grin at this remark.
"I don't think your father would be pleased if you chose them. I think Arithmancy and Ancient Runes would be fine for you."
"Well, madam, I've already learnt a little about magical creatures..." Harry reacted instantly frightened by the two strange-sounding subjects. Hermione used to talk a lot about them but Harry didn't have a clue what they were about.
"Really?" McGonagall smiled in satisfaction. "Then you will have to choose only one subject."
"Divination sounds interesting. Knowing the future is quite useful, isn't it?" Harry challenged.
"I don't think your father would be too pleased to hear that. If you are so interested in knowing the future I'd rather suggest Arithmancy. It's like Divination, but it's more complex and interesting and has considerably more value too. I'm sure Severus will help you if you need or I can arrange for a tutor."
Harry didn't dare resist the stern tone. But what the hell was Arithmancy? He looked at the professor desperately as she scribbled down the details, sometimes casting a glance at the other papers lying on her table.
"So, Mr Snape," she lifted her head finally, "which house's classes do you want to attend?"
"What?" Harry asked in return. "Er... sorry, madam, but I don't understand the question..."
"You won't be sorted, as you surely know," when Harry nodded she went on "but in our school the different house's classes have different time- tables.
"I see..." Harry gulped. "I don't know..."
As he said the last word a very important thing came to mind.
"But, if it's possible not the Ravenclaw, please."
McGonagall sighed.
"I see you have serious aversions to Ravenclaw. Could you tell me your reasons?"
"Nothing special, madam. As I've already told you I'm not talented enough to be there and I think if I attend classes with them every teacher would treat me as one of them."
McGonagall couldn't suppress a sad smile.
"I think they will expect you to study as diligently as your father and uncle did anyway. But I can understand your wish, and naturally we have the opportunity to put you in another class... Very well. I think I will put you with the Gryffindor fifth year then and since I'm the appointed person to monitor your studies it makes my task easier too."
Harry's heart almost stopped in surprise. But, well, he might have known. Even the Hufflepuffs and the Slytherins had common lessons with the Ravenclaws. If he didn't want to be in those classes he would have to be with the Gryffindors.
"However you will have Arithmancy with Ravenclaw, I'm sorry."
Harry didn't mind. He would be with his friends! He would have the chance to befriend them again! He wanted to shout with joy.
"Anyway, if you have problems with your studies or time-table you know where you can find me," with this she handed the time-table to Harry.
"Of course, madam. Thank you."
When Harry told Severus the news he congratulated him.
"However I think you should have meals at the Slytherin table."
"What?" Harry was taken aback.
"Because I'm the head of that house," he said calmly, "and while you were so kind to call my attention to coming to terms with them I suggest to you the same. You are not supposed to be a Gryffindor so it's more natural if you sit at the Slytherin table."
"Yeah, you're right," Harry's good mood darkened a little, "I'll try it."
"I don't know how they will react," Snape put his hand on Harry's shoulder, "but, believe me, they are not as bad as they are considered to be. Please, try not to judge them by their house or by the common stereotype. Give them a chance."
Harry nodded firmly.
"But you know, that even I will need a chance?" he turned to Severus.
"Many of us need..."
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Harry was petrified. He stood next to the first years facing the Great Hall and struggled not to look anywhere. It wasn't too easy so he often lifted his eyes to the bewitched ceiling, which showed a wonderful sunset.
"... and before we begin our well-deserved dinner I want to introduce you a new student who isn't a first-year. He will be in the fifth year, however he is 16 now and I'm sure many of you have already noticed him, and perhaps even his parentage." Dumbledore smiled widely, but as Harry glanced at Snape he could see him fuming and sneering in his usual manner.
"He is new in the wizarding world, so, please help him to find his place in the school, amongst you..."
As the Headmaster reached this point Harry became so nervous that he could barely hear or see. He dreaded the moment when his name would be announced aloud; he dreaded the hatred and rejection it would earn, and most of all he dreaded the moment when he would have to join the students at the Slytherin table: he would be touched at least for some handshakes, and he would have to eat normally as every boy of his age did. He looked at Snape again who in the meantime noticed his nervousness and nodded at him reassuringly.
Suddenly Harry wanted to be over with all this stuff, to sit in Severus' living room reading or rather cuddling to him for a little comfort - but he was ashamed at this thought. He was almost an adult. He couldn't behave like a stupid little child! Anne was stronger than he was!
"His name is Quietus Snape, and he is professor Snape's son - as I think it was obvious to you. He won't be sorted for certain reasons, which are NOT your business," the Headmaster winked at the Weasley twins who just grinned in return, "and he will stay with his father. But now I want to ask Slytherin House's members to allow him to have his meal at their table."
So the worst part of the day arrived. Harry looked at the Slytherins who stared back unsurely. The Great Hall was silent. Most of the students were still under the announcement's effects - the news was pretty interesting. A new boy - but not being eleven, not being sorted and having Snape as his father... Then the whispers began.
"It can't be true..."
"Good lord, another Snape..."
"He looks like him..."
"Why isn't he in Slytherin?"
"Who would have thought that Snape had a child?"
And so on, without an end. Only the Slytherin table was numb. It was just too sudden and strange. Their Head of House having a child - seemingly a half-muggle child as he didn't know the wizarding world... Many glanced at Snape but he wore his usual expressionless mask, as if sneering were not an expression. His face softened a little as he looked at the stumbling Harry. He wanted to help the boy, to take him away from the crowded Hall, he knew precisely how he felt and how he feared this evening. But he couldn't do anything, just as he had been still in Voldemort's hell. Well, this situation was hardly similar to that, however, Snape was sure Harry's feelings were not much better.
Harry stopped at the end of the table looking for a free place. When he looked over it he couldn't see any. Then an excited movement caught his eye. Some of the Slytherin sixth years made room for him and waved at him. He nodded and marched towards them. Before sitting he cast a last glance at Snape, who now smiled at him earning some surprised gasps from the still staring students. Harry smiled back and sat down.
Suddenly the noise level returned to the usual - but this time the topic was him, Harry could hear for a moment. Yes, just for a moment, because in the next instant he had to deal with the excited Slytherins around him.
"Hi, I'm Janus. Janus Moon," was the first sentence, followed by many similar others.
Harry finally couldn't tell how many new names he heard and how many times he repeated his own.
But neither Malfoy nor his followers were among them. Indeed. There was only Nott out of the fifth year boys who introduced himself.
"Ares Nott," he said smiling widely.
Harry was amazed at this. He would have expected only Zabini to do it: as Harry knew Zabini was the only one who didn't have Death Eater relatives.
Nott's father was certainly a Death Eater. And he was grinning at Harry nevertheless. Zabini, on the opposite, was embarrassed as he sat next to him fixing his eyes on his plate, but his ears were red.
"So we will not be together in classes," said Janus who was in the sixth year where Harry was supposed to be too.
"No, and I won't be with the Slytherin fifth years either," Harry added. Janus' eyes widened in surprise.
"Why?"
"Professor McGonagall fixed my time-table to be with the Gryffindors."
For an instant Harry was ashamed. It wasn't entirely true. But the professor didn't owe an explanation to the Slytherins unlike him.
"With the fools?" Janus' expression was shocked this time.
"Fools?" Harry got angry but he tried to suppress this feeling.
"Well, we have a short verse for the four houses," the boy smirked. "It's naturally not the official opinion of the houses, but it's truer, I tell you. It says: 'Hufflepuff for idiots, Gryffindor for fools, Ravenclaw for bigheadeds, Slytherin for cools.'"
"I don't know who wrote this verse but he wasn't Shakespeare..." Harry shrugged and turned his attention to his plate trying to eat at least some bites. It wasn't easy.
He had to notice that whatever the Slytherins' opinions of him were nobody dared to say it aloud. Harry could see the uncomfortable shifting, feel the unsaid words, but he was left alone and he was very grateful for this. After dinner ended he turned, relieved, towards the dungeons with the Slytherins, but some things happened. The first was Leah Moon, another fifth year from Hufflepuff.
"Hey, Jan," she stepped up to the sixth year Slytherin. "I think mum packed my quills in your trunk and I need them tomorrow. Can you bring them to me at breakfast?"
"Yeah," Janus turned to Harry who was still standing next to him. "She's my sister, Leah," he introduced her to Harry.
"Quietus Snape, nice to meet you," Harry said politely and smiled at her.
Leah blushed violently and, mumbling something under her breath, she turned on her heel and ran away.
"What did you say about the idiots?" Harry turned to Janus who blushed like his sister and couldn't answer a word. Harry was about to add a harsh remark to it when his glance fell to a figure standing in front of him.
He turned his gaze to him.
It was Malfoy. A very evil-looking Malfoy with a disdainful smile on his face.
"So, you're the newest member of the Snape family."
Harry didn't answer just looked at him coldly and wished he had been any other place than that.
"The disgrace of the pureblood families..."
Harry crossed his arms.
"What do you mean, Malfoy?" he hissed angrily.
"Oh, so you know my name," he replied. Harry knocked himself mentally for the unwanted slip of tongue. "I think your father told you of us..."
Harry didn't answer just stood there waiting for the continuation.
"It's a real shame that a half-muggle will be the heir of an old, noble pureblood family."
"What did you say, Malfoy?" Harry leaned forward into the blond boy's face. "A half-muggle is a shame?" he hissed. "What would your father's 'little idol' say if he heard this remark, what do you think?"
Fear crossed Malfoy's face and he stepped back.
"You... you..."
"Be careful, Malfoy, I say you, if you don't want to die too early..."
"How dare you..."
"You're so pathetic, Malfoy. Do you think I will get scared of this little show of yours?"
Their short conversation began to call the attention of the others standing near them. Suddenly Malfoy looked up at the staring people, shrugged and cast a last glance to Harry.
"Don't think this is the last time..."
"I'm REALLY petrified, stupefied by you," Harry said in mock fear. A harsh laugh snapped next to him. Janus was standing there and laughing at the leaving blonde.
"Big-headed asshole..." he said when Malfoy was out of earshot. "He thinks his family has the clearest blood in Britain. And his father is as insupportable as he is. He visited my parents this summer and he behaved like he was Merlin himself..."
"Your parents were Slytherin, weren't they?" Harry asked curiously.
"My mum. My father was a Ravenclaw..."
"And... what about your sister?"
Janus shrugged.
"She is really different from us. She is shy and... well. Different."
"Quietus?"
Snape stepped close to them. Janus turned serious as he greeted the professor. He just bowed in return and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Come. You, Mr Moon go to the common room. It's getting late."
"Yes, professor," Janus said quickly and followed his mates. "Good night."
" 'night," Harry smiled slightly.
"Are you okay?" Snape asked cautiously when they were finally in the living room.
Harry wanted to answer 'yes', when he felt his body trembling and his head turned dizzy. He raised one leg to step to the sofa when the world became black and blurry around him. He fell onto the ground.
"Harry, Harry, what's the problem?" Severus knelt next him and shifted one arm behind Harry's body and folded him into his arms.
Harry in that moment was too weak to answer. He buried his face in Severus' robes and sighed in relief. He felt Severus pick him up and put him on the sofa.
"Did somebody hurt you?"
He just shook his head 'no'. Severus didn't go on with his questions, just tightened his embrace around Harry until his trembling faded.
"I think it was a little bit... too much all at once. The Headmaster's announcement, the glares, the whispers, the Slytherins and most of all that lot of people around me... I was dreading that somebody would touch me or recognise me... I don't think I will have breakfast tomorrow with them."
"Harry, we..."
"Quietus, please. I really appreciate that you call me Harry, but it's too dangerous. Please, call me Quietus, even if I'm having my usual troubles."
"Alright, Quiet. We have to have breakfast in the Great Hall. At least I must."
"I won't. I don't want to go mad at the very beginning of the day."
Severus didn't answer just rubbed Harry's back smoothly.
"I hate my bloody weakness..."
"You aren't weak."
"I'm not supposed to always run and cuddle to you like a baby."
"I don't mind it, Quiet."
"But I do!'
"Then don't. Nobody knows and nobody will know it."
"It's so ridiculous..."
"You need more time to get through everything, which happened this summer. Months. Not days."
"But it's been almost a month!"
"Just ONE month."
Harry didn't answer just shut his eyes. They were sitting in front of the empty fireplace for long hours. When Severus noticed that Harry had fallen asleep he took him to the bed. He went to sleep later. And when he awoke for the third time to Harry's heavy stirring and moaning he picked up his blanket and lay next to the boy. For the last few days he hadn't needed to do this as Harry's sleep became calmer and calmer, but now it seemed that the first days' nights would be difficult again.
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When Harry entered the Transfiguration classroom he suddenly regretted his decision to be with the Gryffindors. He felt simultaneously familiar and strange as he looked at the others' faces. Everybody in the classroom was staring at him as he stood in the doorframe with his books in his hand.
He hadn't known it would be so difficult. So uncomfortable.
"Hi," he said shyly and hated himself for it.
Nobody greeted him in return. They were just staring at him in a hostile manner.
Harry didn't know where to sit so he just stood next to the door and felt himself unbelievably idiotic.
"Er... I think you should sit down," to Harry's surprise it was Neville who said the first words to him. To a Snape!
"Yes," he said but he didn't move. He glanced towards his usual seat and... at Ron. Then Hermione. Then Dean, Seamus, Patil. Hostile glares.
"What are you doing here, Snape?" Ron stepped towards him and crossed his arms. "This is NOT the Slytherin fifth year class! Can't you see?"
Harry looked at his best friend's eyes. He didn't know what to do. His head was dizzy again and as Ron moved closer it turned to a firm nausea.
"I have Transfiguration here. With the fifth year Gryffindors," his voice was hoarse as he struggled not to retch in nervousness.
His announcement earned several gasps from the other occupants of the classroom.
"No. You won't," Ron said and grabbed Harry's arm. It was the worst thing he could have done. In the next moment Harry's books fell to the floor and he jumped back in panic.
"DON'T touch me!" he hissed at the surprised boy angrily just as he regained his composure. His nausea passed and he felt strong. "You have no right to give me orders, Ron."
"I'm not 'Ron' to you, Snape," the red-headed boy spat angrily.
"What's going on here?" snapped McGonagall's voice behind Ron.
"Nothing, madam," Ron stepped back and casting a last glare at Harry he returned to his place.
Harry leaned over to pick up his books from the floor.
"What happened, Mr Snape?" the professor asked him.
"I've just dropped my books..." he straightened up and looked at the woman calmly. "I don't know where to sit, madam."
"There's a free place next to Mr Weasley..."
"No!" Ron said angrily. "That's Harry's..."
Harry lowered his head and sighed.
"Then next to Mr Longbottom I think..." McGonagall ushered Harry to his place and cast a serious glance to her class. "Mr Snape will attend lessons with you. Please help him in adapting to the new situation..."
Harry couldn't hear any more words. Adapting... it wouldn't be easy, just as he had thought.
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Arithmancy... He couldn't help but shudder as he thought of it. All of his free time in the last week he had passed studying the blasted subject to be at least half-competent for the first day. To his immense surprise it was only Hermione out of the Gryffindor fifth years who attended this class. But there was the whole Ravenclaw fifth year, and Nott and Malfoy from Slytherin. Again the same problem: he didn't know where to sit. As he was just standing bewildered Nott waved at him.
"Hey, Quietus! Come here," and he gestured to the empty seat next to him.
Harry nodded and as he got closer to the boy he wondered that he'd never spoken with him before. Never. However, they had been attending mostly the same classes for four year.
"Thanks, Nott..."
"Don't Nott me, mate. Call me Ares or Ari if you like it," he said and looked expectantly at Harry.
"Okay, Ares. Why is it that Malfoy doesn't sit next to you?"
"Why should he...?" Ares asked in surprise.
"Well, you're in the same house..."
"That's not a matter of friendship. I can't stand the spoiled git with his idiot cronies. You certainly saw them: the two fat boys..."
"Yeah," Harry cracked a half-smile. He remembered that he'd never seen Ares sitting with the other Slytherins. He always stayed separated. "They don't seem to be too intelligent..." he went on the conversation.
"Well, they aren't," he said then he asked. "Why weren't you in Charms?"
"I had Transfiguration."
"You don't attend classes with the Slytherins...?"
"No. I attend them with the Gryffindors."
Ares arched an eyebrow.
"Strange."
Harry just shrugged.
"Yeah..."
"Well... at least you don't have to be always with the 'Wonderful Five'."
"You mean?"
"Malfoy's little followers: he, the two cronies and the two girls, Pansy and Millicent."
"And... Zabini?"
"He prefers staying alone. Like me. But while I'm pureblood and Malfoy's troop doesn't dare to tease me, he is muggle-born and they always irritate him. Idiots..."
"Malfoy tried to tease me yesterday."
"'cause you're half-muggle?"
Harry just nodded.
"Yeah, I heard what you answered to him. They kept talking about it in the dormitory for half the night..." his face turned serious. "You should be more cautious with your remarks. It's not too wise to voice comments like that."
Harry was about to answer when the professor entered the classroom.
It was a VERY long lesson. Math and mysticism, difficult, but interesting. During the last week's tutoring, when Snape had tried to explain to him the important parts of this subject he had become thoroughly bored with it and had dreaded the future lessons. But now he was impressed.
His enthusiasm lessened somehow as the teacher, Professor Vector gave them an assignment to write a paper about the prime numbers and their use in a coded text's deciphering. Harry had the suspicion that he would pass his afternoon in the library.
After the lesson he went to the Great Hall with Ares to have lunch then they went together to Hagrid's hut.
Harry suddenly felt something wrong. However, he couldn't say, what. Then his glance fell Hagrid's hound snoring peacefully at the door of Hagrid's hut.
Fang. He smiled. Fang hadn't been at the school in the last few weeks, he must have been with Hagrid. They had arrived just two days ago and Harry hadn't had the opportunity to meet them.
As Harry and Ares stepped closer the dog lifted his eyes and stood up.
Harry knew for sure that something was wrong. But what?
The next moment it became clear.
Fang jumped onto Harry. Harry strumbled into Ares and they all fell onto the ground under the dog's weight.
He felt a wet thing on his face.
Then everything went black.
...
...
"Hey, mate, wake up! Wake up!" Harry could hear Ares' desperate shouting from above. He opened his eyes slowly and saw a very worried Hagrid and a slightly surprised Ares leaning to him.
"I'm alright..." he groaned and sat up. When he saw Hagrid's hand nearing his shoulder to grab it them he winced and moved away. "Please, don't..." he croaked.
Hagrid lowered his hand instantly.
"Hey, mate, do you want a glass of water?" Nott asked and Harry nodded.
"Sorry for Fang's behaviour... He's never behaved like this with strangers... He is generally er... quite cowardly and shy, I don't know why he attacked you..."
"He didn't attack me I guess," Harry sighed. "He just greeted me and licked my face..."
"Really? Strange. I thought..." Hagrid babbled flushing and stood up. He reached his hand to Harry to help him up but he moved away again from him. "I think you should go to the Infirmary..." he said.
"No, I'll be fine," Harry said. "I just... got frightened by the dog, I think." Yes, it was half-true. The dog. And the other half was Nott. The body-contact.
Harry stood up, stepped to the excited dog and caressed his back.
"It's alright."
"So you're professor Snape's son, aren't you?" Hagrid said finally.
"Yes," said Harry shortly. He was sure he would earn a despising look from the half-giant.
"You're like his brother, you know?" Hagrid, however didn't seem to detest him. Just the opposite.
"I know. Everybody says that. Even our names are identical," Harry added the last sentence sarcastically, but Hagrid didn't seem to notice his sarcasm.
"Are you Quiet then too?"
"Quiet? Only Seve... my father uses that nickname for me."
"Sorry, I used to call his brother that."
"Did you know him?" Harry got curious.
"Yes. We were sort of... friends. I already worked here when he started school. He came to me many times. Generally with your father. They loved animals, and animals loved them too... Like they do in your case seemingly."
Harry sighed again and cast a glance at Fang.
No. Fang didn't greet him because he was like his father or Severus. He greeted him because he was Harry Potter and the dog knew it. Harry shuddered as he thought of his godfather. Fortunately Sirius wasn't really a dog. Just an animagus.
But the idea of Severus coming to Hagrid to visit him was just... strange. Harry suddenly remembered when he had attended his first year in Hogwarts and they had suspected that he had been after the philosopher's stone, Hagrid had defended him. Hagrid had always defended him. Somehow Hagrid liked Severus. It was a strange thought though.
"Let's go to the lesson now, Mr Snape," Hagrid said finally.
"Sir, er... I think you can call me Quiet... if you want."
The giant smiled at him.
"Don't sir me. Just Hagrid."
"Alright. Thanks."
As they walked towards the waiting classes talking quietly Harry managed to calm down. But as they got near he instantly realized that he now had to face Ron and Malfoy at the same time for two hours...
"Do you feel better?" Harry heard Ares' voice from behind his back. He turned around and saw him with a glass of water in his hand.
"Yes, much better," Harry smiled at him and drank the offered water.
"Did something happen?" stepped Malfoy to them.
"Nothing that would be your business. Sod off." Harry turned to him.
"Hey, Snape, you can't be so snappie... I saw your little collapsing show just now."
His cronies snickered.
"Leave me alone, Malfoy."
"You are so brave now, Snape. It's because of your father, isn't it? As a teacher he will protect his precious son who runs to him sobbing..."
"What else do you want to say me about my father, Malfoy? Be careful, you're not at home now," he cast a last glare at him and turned around. Their conversation was barely audible and Harry was sure nobody heard it. Certainly Ron, who was now standing face-to-face with him.
"As I see you have found your place, Snape. Why don't you join your house? Daddy's house?"
For a very short instant Harry felt a strong urge to grin widely. Snape as his father was a thought he was now familiar with, but to refer him as 'Daddy'. No. Severus was everything but daddy.
"He is not a Slytherin, didn't you hear the Headmaster, Weasley? He isn't sorted, so you can't refer him as a Slytherin." It was now Ares.
"It's none of your business, Nott. Or are you defending him as your partner- in-crime?"
"Your point is?"
"I know about your fathers' er..." he smiled evilly, "preferences..."
Ares just stood staring obtusely at Ron, Harry, however, got so nervous than he could barely speak.
"How dare you..."
"I saw the proof."
The Infirmary, last year... Yes, but they had thought then that Snape was a spy for the Headmaster and... No. It didn't make sense.
"Your father is working for the Ministry. He surely told you about his... summer experiences."
"He deserved it, Snape. He didn't get anything else but what he deserved."
It was suddenly too difficult to discuss. They were Snape's words too.
Harry clenched his teeth in nervousness. But Ares now managed to open his mouth.
"I really don't understand what you are talking about. What this whole stuff is?"
"And now you pretend that you don't know! Don't be ridiculous, Nott!" Ron yelled and everybody's attention turned to them. Ron blushed and left them alone.
Harry felt that somebody touched his arm. Fighting with the urge to wince he looked at Nott standing still in astonishment.
"Hey, mate what was it? What did he say?"
Harry tried to swallow, his mouth felt dry and his throat tight. Nott didn't know. And... why was it HIS task to enlighten him about his father? Just tell him 'your father is a Death Eater'? Or what?
He sighed and whispered as quietly as he could.
"I think he supposes that all the Slytherins are er... You-Know-Who's followers." He almost said Voldemort's name. "Like your father. And mine."
"Bloody git..."
"He's just grieving," Harry cast a glance at his ex-friend. He was so close physically... only some meters... but he was so far away from him in every other sense. And, perhaps they wouldn't have the chance to rebuild their friendship again.
After class he sat again next to Fang for some moments. He didn't even notice when Hermione sat next to him, just when she began to speak.
"Please, forgive Ron his behaviour. He's just too sad to judge things correctly. I think your father didn't deserve what he got from You-Know- Who..."
"Why do you think this?" Harry asked suddenly.
"I don't know... I saw him at the funeral, and the night before it... He isn't the man we, students generally think he is."
So she noticed something. And it wasn't a miracle that Ron didn't.
Harry sometimes hated Ron for his prejudices and fast-made opinions.
No, it was not about Severus. It was about him. The wall he would never get over.
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Thanks for everybody who reviewed it. I'm sorry if it's a little bit boring, I try to do my best. But, at least, it's pretty long (one of the longest I've ever written).
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Chapter 3 - Old and new
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As the first day of the term approached Harry noticed that Severus' behaviour was tending to be more and more nervous. He was tense and snappy, and after a while Harry decided to stay as far away from him as he could during the days. Not that Severus hurt or offended him, he was always friendly with Harry, or at least he tried to be, but Harry could see that his patience was wearing thin and he didn't intend to tempt it. So he usually joined Severus for dinner and they spent the evenings together talking, playing chess or sometimes they went to Hogsmeade to have a glass of butterbeer and some cookies. On these evenings Severus seemed to forget his future tasks and relaxed a little bit.
If Harry hadn't known that Severus didn't like teaching, now he could sense it perfectly, however, the man never mentioned it. So they avoided any topics concerning the school, very cautiously.
There were several staff meetings in the last week, which just made Severus angrier and more tense. Harry didn't dare to ask about them, Severus always told him the things related to him.
"We made a deal with Albus and even the staff accepted it," Severus announced one evening returning from a very long meeting, after he had collapsed into a chair.
"Yes?" Harry lifted his eyes from the book he was reading. It wasn't a schoolbook and - at Severus' surprise - neither a quidditch book, it was a novel Harry had found on the bookshelf. Harry didn't know himself why he had begun to read it really, perhaps because he had seen the name 'Noblestone' written on a page, but he didn't regret. It was a historical book about the goblin riots in the Middle Age, but it was really interesting unlike Professor Binns' monotonous explanations. Its main character was Ulric the Ugly (Harry had never heard his name before), but Urg the Unclean (the leader of the main goblin riot in that century) was mentioned in it too, and Harry noticed surprised that he remembered this name from the previous year's history classes. And there was a Noblestone girl too, who had been involved in the second riot... It was so strange. He heard the name 'Noblestone' just three weeks ago, but since then he had come across it several times.
"I'm glad you like that book," Severus smiled. "It was one of my favourites when I was fifteen. It's a very well-written book and its historical references are precise, so you can learn a lot from it."
Harry frowned. He didn't read the book to learn or memorize it and Severus' remark suddenly made it less interesting.
"Oh," Snape suddenly went on. "About the meeting: Albus managed to convince the staff that you can stay with me during the school year."
"Wow!" Harry jumped on his feet and flung his arms around Severus' neck. "That's cool!" he shouted in joy.
"Hey! Quiet! Don't shout into my ears!" Snape grumbled in mocked annoyance.
"I KNEW it!" Harry's eyes were lit up in anger.
"What?"
"That you would play idiotic games with my name."
"Alright then: shut up," a smirk appeared on his face.
Harry rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"And what about the sorting?" he asked after a while. "Which house do you want me to be sorted into? Slytherin, just to be with you?"
Snape glanced at him seriously.
"It's not a matter of my wish, Quiet. You're a Gryffindor and you will always be. But it would be extremely dangerous to put you back into your house."
"Why?"
"They know you all too well and would recognise you in no time by your manners..."
Harry suddenly sat down as his feet trembled and he couldn't breathe. No... It can't be true! Severus would finally managed to put him in Ravenclaw... or even worse in Slytherin...
"You mean that...?" he didn't dare to finish the question.
"I mean that you won't be sorted," he said simply.
"What?" Harry's jaw fell in disbelief.
"You heard me."
Severus was nervous: he looked at Harry intensely to see his words' effects on him. The boy closed his eyes in thought. So he wouldn't be sorted. Well, it rendered things less complicated. He wouldn't have to pretend amongst the Gryffindors that he was not Harry, that he didn't know anybody, he wouldn't have to change his usual routines. He wouldn't have to face the Slytherins as one of them, and he wouldn't have to spend his free time in the same rooms as Malfoy and his cronies. On the other hand he wouldn't have to suffer in Ravenclaw forcing himself to reach levels too high for him. And last but not least he wouldn't have to be in Cedric's ex-house either.
"How did the staff accepted it?" he asked.
Severus smiled in relief.
"It wasn't too simple. Professor Flitwick, struggled to have you in Ravenclaw and even Minerva seemed to wish that you were in her house..."
"Just you and Professor Sprout sat in silence."
"Well, yes. She was sure that a Snape descendant wouldn't be in Hufflepuff. As for me..." he suddenly turned tired and a strange, distant expression appeared on his face. "I didn't want you in my house knowing your previous experiences with its members. Not to mention that there are Draco and his friends, and I really don't know how they will react after this summer's events."
Severus fell silent. He stretched his legs, leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. His expression didn't change, it remained distant and closed. Harry stared at him intently trying to figure out its meaning. He was sure he had seen it before, perhaps in Nightmare Manor...?
"Severus, is there anything wrong?" he finally asked.
A pair of black eyes locked in his.
"The Headmaster told the staff my story."
Harry didn't understand.
"What story?"
"My Death Eater experiences, Quietus, the spying, and my present situation. It wasn't a comfortable tale for me. I could see their reactions and..." he didn't continue. He didn't want to tell Harry about the disgust, the hatred, the rejection and the fear he had experienced.
"They... they didn't know it...?" Harry stuttered.
"Of course not," he snapped in return. "Except for Minerva. My role was too important to risk it by telling everybody about it."
"I don't think it was too wise to let them know even now... It will be hard enough for you to come to terms with your own house again."
"I don't have to come to terms with them. They are children and I'm the professor. My personal life is not their business, and it never was. Just because you got to know me personally it doesn't mean that they too ever did."
Harry nodded, however, he had other presuppositions. The Potions Master's behaviour and favouritism towards his own house made him believe that he was closer to his house members than McGonagall was to her Gryffindors. When he finally told Severus this he smiled slightly.
"Didn't you notice that even she favours her house?"
"No. Never," Harry answered sincerely.
"And what about her bending the rules to get you on the quidditch team? Or some other incident, which you never got a punishment for? Flying car? Stunning a professor? And what do you think about your past potions' marks?" Severus could see Harry shifting uncomfortably and his smile widened. "But it still doesn't mean that you are on personal terms with her. She was the professor and you were the student."
"And Malfoy?"
"I never let him befriend me in school. Here, we weren't on a first-name basis. Only during the holidays."
"I see..." Harry nodded then suddenly asked. "And what, do you think the staff's reaction will be to your... past?"
Severus' face turned distant again.
"I don't know," he whispered. "I don't think they will be more friendly to me after this. They never liked me, but now..."
"But... they won't do anything against you, will they?"
"No," Severus shook his head. "They won't because Albus won't let them."
Harry looked at the familiar face lined with tiredness and pain and felt sorrow for the man. Really, Severus wasn't over his past and this staff meeting had been too hard for him. To face his colleagues' disgust or rejection... Though, Severus didn't mention it, Harry KNEW by his expression what the effect of Headmaster's tale had been. He stepped to the chair and sat on its arm.
"Severus," he began quietly. "I..."
Snape lifted his head and slight annoyance glittered in his eyes.
"What?" he barked.
"I just wanted to say that I won't let you be hurt. As you are there for me, I am there for you."
The annoyance was suddenly turned into something else, something akin... love? Snape smiled, however his smile was a little bit sad.
"Harry, I can handle their attitude. You don't have to bother with it. But thank you nevertheless."
"No, it's not about bothering. I just wanted to say that you are not alone..." Harry suddenly felt himself ridiculous. Snape had always been able to handle things alone. He certainly didn't need his help to get through it. He lowered his head and could feel his face turning red slightly.
"I know, Harry. And, believe me, I deeply appreciate your offer."
"Really?" Harry mumbled uncertainly.
"Sure. It had to be a kind of remainder of those infamous psychological facts..."
"The happy days..." Harry wondered. "But I'm afraid there are much more remainders of them... The unhappy ones."
"Yes. And we have plenty of them. Painful ropes which bind us to the past. Memories and haunting feelings, which try to confine our lives. We have to come off them. To break free again. I'm sure that we, and especially that you are able to do it."
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The next day when Harry was reading in the living room of Severus' quarters - he read the same book despite Snape's remark about its high educational value - a soft knocking disturbed him. It was the Transfiguration professor.
"I'm here to fix a time-table for you, Mr Snape," she said after the greetings. "Could you come with me to my office?"
"Of course," Harry gulped. "Do... do I have to take exams too?" he asked nervously.
"You mean now?" When Harry nodded she cast a reassuring smile at him.
"Oh, no, don't be afraid. I don't have time to check your knowledge now," she explained on their way to the office. "I accept your word and your father's testimony about it, alright?"
Harry couldn't help but grin widely in return.
"Which classes will I attend?"
"It depends on the things you have already learnt."
Later Harry realised that it was pure luck that the professor didn't test him: the mere procedure of questioning him about his studies and fixing the time-table took more than two hours.
"So, that was about the basics," said McGonagall after two hours. It wasn't entirely true that she didn't examine Harry's level of knowledge either, but she asked only basic things just to check Harry's level. At the end she sighed in satisfaction. "Very well. I don't think you will have problems with the fifth year curriculum. But you have to choose two additional classes. Which ones do you want to pick?"
Harry shrugged.
"I don't know what are those additional courses, madam," he answered politely.
"Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies. I don't suggest the last one, it's totally meaningless for you, or Divination either."
Harry couldn't help but grin at this remark.
"I don't think your father would be pleased if you chose them. I think Arithmancy and Ancient Runes would be fine for you."
"Well, madam, I've already learnt a little about magical creatures..." Harry reacted instantly frightened by the two strange-sounding subjects. Hermione used to talk a lot about them but Harry didn't have a clue what they were about.
"Really?" McGonagall smiled in satisfaction. "Then you will have to choose only one subject."
"Divination sounds interesting. Knowing the future is quite useful, isn't it?" Harry challenged.
"I don't think your father would be too pleased to hear that. If you are so interested in knowing the future I'd rather suggest Arithmancy. It's like Divination, but it's more complex and interesting and has considerably more value too. I'm sure Severus will help you if you need or I can arrange for a tutor."
Harry didn't dare resist the stern tone. But what the hell was Arithmancy? He looked at the professor desperately as she scribbled down the details, sometimes casting a glance at the other papers lying on her table.
"So, Mr Snape," she lifted her head finally, "which house's classes do you want to attend?"
"What?" Harry asked in return. "Er... sorry, madam, but I don't understand the question..."
"You won't be sorted, as you surely know," when Harry nodded she went on "but in our school the different house's classes have different time- tables.
"I see..." Harry gulped. "I don't know..."
As he said the last word a very important thing came to mind.
"But, if it's possible not the Ravenclaw, please."
McGonagall sighed.
"I see you have serious aversions to Ravenclaw. Could you tell me your reasons?"
"Nothing special, madam. As I've already told you I'm not talented enough to be there and I think if I attend classes with them every teacher would treat me as one of them."
McGonagall couldn't suppress a sad smile.
"I think they will expect you to study as diligently as your father and uncle did anyway. But I can understand your wish, and naturally we have the opportunity to put you in another class... Very well. I think I will put you with the Gryffindor fifth year then and since I'm the appointed person to monitor your studies it makes my task easier too."
Harry's heart almost stopped in surprise. But, well, he might have known. Even the Hufflepuffs and the Slytherins had common lessons with the Ravenclaws. If he didn't want to be in those classes he would have to be with the Gryffindors.
"However you will have Arithmancy with Ravenclaw, I'm sorry."
Harry didn't mind. He would be with his friends! He would have the chance to befriend them again! He wanted to shout with joy.
"Anyway, if you have problems with your studies or time-table you know where you can find me," with this she handed the time-table to Harry.
"Of course, madam. Thank you."
When Harry told Severus the news he congratulated him.
"However I think you should have meals at the Slytherin table."
"What?" Harry was taken aback.
"Because I'm the head of that house," he said calmly, "and while you were so kind to call my attention to coming to terms with them I suggest to you the same. You are not supposed to be a Gryffindor so it's more natural if you sit at the Slytherin table."
"Yeah, you're right," Harry's good mood darkened a little, "I'll try it."
"I don't know how they will react," Snape put his hand on Harry's shoulder, "but, believe me, they are not as bad as they are considered to be. Please, try not to judge them by their house or by the common stereotype. Give them a chance."
Harry nodded firmly.
"But you know, that even I will need a chance?" he turned to Severus.
"Many of us need..."
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Harry was petrified. He stood next to the first years facing the Great Hall and struggled not to look anywhere. It wasn't too easy so he often lifted his eyes to the bewitched ceiling, which showed a wonderful sunset.
"... and before we begin our well-deserved dinner I want to introduce you a new student who isn't a first-year. He will be in the fifth year, however he is 16 now and I'm sure many of you have already noticed him, and perhaps even his parentage." Dumbledore smiled widely, but as Harry glanced at Snape he could see him fuming and sneering in his usual manner.
"He is new in the wizarding world, so, please help him to find his place in the school, amongst you..."
As the Headmaster reached this point Harry became so nervous that he could barely hear or see. He dreaded the moment when his name would be announced aloud; he dreaded the hatred and rejection it would earn, and most of all he dreaded the moment when he would have to join the students at the Slytherin table: he would be touched at least for some handshakes, and he would have to eat normally as every boy of his age did. He looked at Snape again who in the meantime noticed his nervousness and nodded at him reassuringly.
Suddenly Harry wanted to be over with all this stuff, to sit in Severus' living room reading or rather cuddling to him for a little comfort - but he was ashamed at this thought. He was almost an adult. He couldn't behave like a stupid little child! Anne was stronger than he was!
"His name is Quietus Snape, and he is professor Snape's son - as I think it was obvious to you. He won't be sorted for certain reasons, which are NOT your business," the Headmaster winked at the Weasley twins who just grinned in return, "and he will stay with his father. But now I want to ask Slytherin House's members to allow him to have his meal at their table."
So the worst part of the day arrived. Harry looked at the Slytherins who stared back unsurely. The Great Hall was silent. Most of the students were still under the announcement's effects - the news was pretty interesting. A new boy - but not being eleven, not being sorted and having Snape as his father... Then the whispers began.
"It can't be true..."
"Good lord, another Snape..."
"He looks like him..."
"Why isn't he in Slytherin?"
"Who would have thought that Snape had a child?"
And so on, without an end. Only the Slytherin table was numb. It was just too sudden and strange. Their Head of House having a child - seemingly a half-muggle child as he didn't know the wizarding world... Many glanced at Snape but he wore his usual expressionless mask, as if sneering were not an expression. His face softened a little as he looked at the stumbling Harry. He wanted to help the boy, to take him away from the crowded Hall, he knew precisely how he felt and how he feared this evening. But he couldn't do anything, just as he had been still in Voldemort's hell. Well, this situation was hardly similar to that, however, Snape was sure Harry's feelings were not much better.
Harry stopped at the end of the table looking for a free place. When he looked over it he couldn't see any. Then an excited movement caught his eye. Some of the Slytherin sixth years made room for him and waved at him. He nodded and marched towards them. Before sitting he cast a last glance at Snape, who now smiled at him earning some surprised gasps from the still staring students. Harry smiled back and sat down.
Suddenly the noise level returned to the usual - but this time the topic was him, Harry could hear for a moment. Yes, just for a moment, because in the next instant he had to deal with the excited Slytherins around him.
"Hi, I'm Janus. Janus Moon," was the first sentence, followed by many similar others.
Harry finally couldn't tell how many new names he heard and how many times he repeated his own.
But neither Malfoy nor his followers were among them. Indeed. There was only Nott out of the fifth year boys who introduced himself.
"Ares Nott," he said smiling widely.
Harry was amazed at this. He would have expected only Zabini to do it: as Harry knew Zabini was the only one who didn't have Death Eater relatives.
Nott's father was certainly a Death Eater. And he was grinning at Harry nevertheless. Zabini, on the opposite, was embarrassed as he sat next to him fixing his eyes on his plate, but his ears were red.
"So we will not be together in classes," said Janus who was in the sixth year where Harry was supposed to be too.
"No, and I won't be with the Slytherin fifth years either," Harry added. Janus' eyes widened in surprise.
"Why?"
"Professor McGonagall fixed my time-table to be with the Gryffindors."
For an instant Harry was ashamed. It wasn't entirely true. But the professor didn't owe an explanation to the Slytherins unlike him.
"With the fools?" Janus' expression was shocked this time.
"Fools?" Harry got angry but he tried to suppress this feeling.
"Well, we have a short verse for the four houses," the boy smirked. "It's naturally not the official opinion of the houses, but it's truer, I tell you. It says: 'Hufflepuff for idiots, Gryffindor for fools, Ravenclaw for bigheadeds, Slytherin for cools.'"
"I don't know who wrote this verse but he wasn't Shakespeare..." Harry shrugged and turned his attention to his plate trying to eat at least some bites. It wasn't easy.
He had to notice that whatever the Slytherins' opinions of him were nobody dared to say it aloud. Harry could see the uncomfortable shifting, feel the unsaid words, but he was left alone and he was very grateful for this. After dinner ended he turned, relieved, towards the dungeons with the Slytherins, but some things happened. The first was Leah Moon, another fifth year from Hufflepuff.
"Hey, Jan," she stepped up to the sixth year Slytherin. "I think mum packed my quills in your trunk and I need them tomorrow. Can you bring them to me at breakfast?"
"Yeah," Janus turned to Harry who was still standing next to him. "She's my sister, Leah," he introduced her to Harry.
"Quietus Snape, nice to meet you," Harry said politely and smiled at her.
Leah blushed violently and, mumbling something under her breath, she turned on her heel and ran away.
"What did you say about the idiots?" Harry turned to Janus who blushed like his sister and couldn't answer a word. Harry was about to add a harsh remark to it when his glance fell to a figure standing in front of him.
He turned his gaze to him.
It was Malfoy. A very evil-looking Malfoy with a disdainful smile on his face.
"So, you're the newest member of the Snape family."
Harry didn't answer just looked at him coldly and wished he had been any other place than that.
"The disgrace of the pureblood families..."
Harry crossed his arms.
"What do you mean, Malfoy?" he hissed angrily.
"Oh, so you know my name," he replied. Harry knocked himself mentally for the unwanted slip of tongue. "I think your father told you of us..."
Harry didn't answer just stood there waiting for the continuation.
"It's a real shame that a half-muggle will be the heir of an old, noble pureblood family."
"What did you say, Malfoy?" Harry leaned forward into the blond boy's face. "A half-muggle is a shame?" he hissed. "What would your father's 'little idol' say if he heard this remark, what do you think?"
Fear crossed Malfoy's face and he stepped back.
"You... you..."
"Be careful, Malfoy, I say you, if you don't want to die too early..."
"How dare you..."
"You're so pathetic, Malfoy. Do you think I will get scared of this little show of yours?"
Their short conversation began to call the attention of the others standing near them. Suddenly Malfoy looked up at the staring people, shrugged and cast a last glance to Harry.
"Don't think this is the last time..."
"I'm REALLY petrified, stupefied by you," Harry said in mock fear. A harsh laugh snapped next to him. Janus was standing there and laughing at the leaving blonde.
"Big-headed asshole..." he said when Malfoy was out of earshot. "He thinks his family has the clearest blood in Britain. And his father is as insupportable as he is. He visited my parents this summer and he behaved like he was Merlin himself..."
"Your parents were Slytherin, weren't they?" Harry asked curiously.
"My mum. My father was a Ravenclaw..."
"And... what about your sister?"
Janus shrugged.
"She is really different from us. She is shy and... well. Different."
"Quietus?"
Snape stepped close to them. Janus turned serious as he greeted the professor. He just bowed in return and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Come. You, Mr Moon go to the common room. It's getting late."
"Yes, professor," Janus said quickly and followed his mates. "Good night."
" 'night," Harry smiled slightly.
"Are you okay?" Snape asked cautiously when they were finally in the living room.
Harry wanted to answer 'yes', when he felt his body trembling and his head turned dizzy. He raised one leg to step to the sofa when the world became black and blurry around him. He fell onto the ground.
"Harry, Harry, what's the problem?" Severus knelt next him and shifted one arm behind Harry's body and folded him into his arms.
Harry in that moment was too weak to answer. He buried his face in Severus' robes and sighed in relief. He felt Severus pick him up and put him on the sofa.
"Did somebody hurt you?"
He just shook his head 'no'. Severus didn't go on with his questions, just tightened his embrace around Harry until his trembling faded.
"I think it was a little bit... too much all at once. The Headmaster's announcement, the glares, the whispers, the Slytherins and most of all that lot of people around me... I was dreading that somebody would touch me or recognise me... I don't think I will have breakfast tomorrow with them."
"Harry, we..."
"Quietus, please. I really appreciate that you call me Harry, but it's too dangerous. Please, call me Quietus, even if I'm having my usual troubles."
"Alright, Quiet. We have to have breakfast in the Great Hall. At least I must."
"I won't. I don't want to go mad at the very beginning of the day."
Severus didn't answer just rubbed Harry's back smoothly.
"I hate my bloody weakness..."
"You aren't weak."
"I'm not supposed to always run and cuddle to you like a baby."
"I don't mind it, Quiet."
"But I do!'
"Then don't. Nobody knows and nobody will know it."
"It's so ridiculous..."
"You need more time to get through everything, which happened this summer. Months. Not days."
"But it's been almost a month!"
"Just ONE month."
Harry didn't answer just shut his eyes. They were sitting in front of the empty fireplace for long hours. When Severus noticed that Harry had fallen asleep he took him to the bed. He went to sleep later. And when he awoke for the third time to Harry's heavy stirring and moaning he picked up his blanket and lay next to the boy. For the last few days he hadn't needed to do this as Harry's sleep became calmer and calmer, but now it seemed that the first days' nights would be difficult again.
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When Harry entered the Transfiguration classroom he suddenly regretted his decision to be with the Gryffindors. He felt simultaneously familiar and strange as he looked at the others' faces. Everybody in the classroom was staring at him as he stood in the doorframe with his books in his hand.
He hadn't known it would be so difficult. So uncomfortable.
"Hi," he said shyly and hated himself for it.
Nobody greeted him in return. They were just staring at him in a hostile manner.
Harry didn't know where to sit so he just stood next to the door and felt himself unbelievably idiotic.
"Er... I think you should sit down," to Harry's surprise it was Neville who said the first words to him. To a Snape!
"Yes," he said but he didn't move. He glanced towards his usual seat and... at Ron. Then Hermione. Then Dean, Seamus, Patil. Hostile glares.
"What are you doing here, Snape?" Ron stepped towards him and crossed his arms. "This is NOT the Slytherin fifth year class! Can't you see?"
Harry looked at his best friend's eyes. He didn't know what to do. His head was dizzy again and as Ron moved closer it turned to a firm nausea.
"I have Transfiguration here. With the fifth year Gryffindors," his voice was hoarse as he struggled not to retch in nervousness.
His announcement earned several gasps from the other occupants of the classroom.
"No. You won't," Ron said and grabbed Harry's arm. It was the worst thing he could have done. In the next moment Harry's books fell to the floor and he jumped back in panic.
"DON'T touch me!" he hissed at the surprised boy angrily just as he regained his composure. His nausea passed and he felt strong. "You have no right to give me orders, Ron."
"I'm not 'Ron' to you, Snape," the red-headed boy spat angrily.
"What's going on here?" snapped McGonagall's voice behind Ron.
"Nothing, madam," Ron stepped back and casting a last glare at Harry he returned to his place.
Harry leaned over to pick up his books from the floor.
"What happened, Mr Snape?" the professor asked him.
"I've just dropped my books..." he straightened up and looked at the woman calmly. "I don't know where to sit, madam."
"There's a free place next to Mr Weasley..."
"No!" Ron said angrily. "That's Harry's..."
Harry lowered his head and sighed.
"Then next to Mr Longbottom I think..." McGonagall ushered Harry to his place and cast a serious glance to her class. "Mr Snape will attend lessons with you. Please help him in adapting to the new situation..."
Harry couldn't hear any more words. Adapting... it wouldn't be easy, just as he had thought.
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Arithmancy... He couldn't help but shudder as he thought of it. All of his free time in the last week he had passed studying the blasted subject to be at least half-competent for the first day. To his immense surprise it was only Hermione out of the Gryffindor fifth years who attended this class. But there was the whole Ravenclaw fifth year, and Nott and Malfoy from Slytherin. Again the same problem: he didn't know where to sit. As he was just standing bewildered Nott waved at him.
"Hey, Quietus! Come here," and he gestured to the empty seat next to him.
Harry nodded and as he got closer to the boy he wondered that he'd never spoken with him before. Never. However, they had been attending mostly the same classes for four year.
"Thanks, Nott..."
"Don't Nott me, mate. Call me Ares or Ari if you like it," he said and looked expectantly at Harry.
"Okay, Ares. Why is it that Malfoy doesn't sit next to you?"
"Why should he...?" Ares asked in surprise.
"Well, you're in the same house..."
"That's not a matter of friendship. I can't stand the spoiled git with his idiot cronies. You certainly saw them: the two fat boys..."
"Yeah," Harry cracked a half-smile. He remembered that he'd never seen Ares sitting with the other Slytherins. He always stayed separated. "They don't seem to be too intelligent..." he went on the conversation.
"Well, they aren't," he said then he asked. "Why weren't you in Charms?"
"I had Transfiguration."
"You don't attend classes with the Slytherins...?"
"No. I attend them with the Gryffindors."
Ares arched an eyebrow.
"Strange."
Harry just shrugged.
"Yeah..."
"Well... at least you don't have to be always with the 'Wonderful Five'."
"You mean?"
"Malfoy's little followers: he, the two cronies and the two girls, Pansy and Millicent."
"And... Zabini?"
"He prefers staying alone. Like me. But while I'm pureblood and Malfoy's troop doesn't dare to tease me, he is muggle-born and they always irritate him. Idiots..."
"Malfoy tried to tease me yesterday."
"'cause you're half-muggle?"
Harry just nodded.
"Yeah, I heard what you answered to him. They kept talking about it in the dormitory for half the night..." his face turned serious. "You should be more cautious with your remarks. It's not too wise to voice comments like that."
Harry was about to answer when the professor entered the classroom.
It was a VERY long lesson. Math and mysticism, difficult, but interesting. During the last week's tutoring, when Snape had tried to explain to him the important parts of this subject he had become thoroughly bored with it and had dreaded the future lessons. But now he was impressed.
His enthusiasm lessened somehow as the teacher, Professor Vector gave them an assignment to write a paper about the prime numbers and their use in a coded text's deciphering. Harry had the suspicion that he would pass his afternoon in the library.
After the lesson he went to the Great Hall with Ares to have lunch then they went together to Hagrid's hut.
Harry suddenly felt something wrong. However, he couldn't say, what. Then his glance fell Hagrid's hound snoring peacefully at the door of Hagrid's hut.
Fang. He smiled. Fang hadn't been at the school in the last few weeks, he must have been with Hagrid. They had arrived just two days ago and Harry hadn't had the opportunity to meet them.
As Harry and Ares stepped closer the dog lifted his eyes and stood up.
Harry knew for sure that something was wrong. But what?
The next moment it became clear.
Fang jumped onto Harry. Harry strumbled into Ares and they all fell onto the ground under the dog's weight.
He felt a wet thing on his face.
Then everything went black.
...
...
"Hey, mate, wake up! Wake up!" Harry could hear Ares' desperate shouting from above. He opened his eyes slowly and saw a very worried Hagrid and a slightly surprised Ares leaning to him.
"I'm alright..." he groaned and sat up. When he saw Hagrid's hand nearing his shoulder to grab it them he winced and moved away. "Please, don't..." he croaked.
Hagrid lowered his hand instantly.
"Hey, mate, do you want a glass of water?" Nott asked and Harry nodded.
"Sorry for Fang's behaviour... He's never behaved like this with strangers... He is generally er... quite cowardly and shy, I don't know why he attacked you..."
"He didn't attack me I guess," Harry sighed. "He just greeted me and licked my face..."
"Really? Strange. I thought..." Hagrid babbled flushing and stood up. He reached his hand to Harry to help him up but he moved away again from him. "I think you should go to the Infirmary..." he said.
"No, I'll be fine," Harry said. "I just... got frightened by the dog, I think." Yes, it was half-true. The dog. And the other half was Nott. The body-contact.
Harry stood up, stepped to the excited dog and caressed his back.
"It's alright."
"So you're professor Snape's son, aren't you?" Hagrid said finally.
"Yes," said Harry shortly. He was sure he would earn a despising look from the half-giant.
"You're like his brother, you know?" Hagrid, however didn't seem to detest him. Just the opposite.
"I know. Everybody says that. Even our names are identical," Harry added the last sentence sarcastically, but Hagrid didn't seem to notice his sarcasm.
"Are you Quiet then too?"
"Quiet? Only Seve... my father uses that nickname for me."
"Sorry, I used to call his brother that."
"Did you know him?" Harry got curious.
"Yes. We were sort of... friends. I already worked here when he started school. He came to me many times. Generally with your father. They loved animals, and animals loved them too... Like they do in your case seemingly."
Harry sighed again and cast a glance at Fang.
No. Fang didn't greet him because he was like his father or Severus. He greeted him because he was Harry Potter and the dog knew it. Harry shuddered as he thought of his godfather. Fortunately Sirius wasn't really a dog. Just an animagus.
But the idea of Severus coming to Hagrid to visit him was just... strange. Harry suddenly remembered when he had attended his first year in Hogwarts and they had suspected that he had been after the philosopher's stone, Hagrid had defended him. Hagrid had always defended him. Somehow Hagrid liked Severus. It was a strange thought though.
"Let's go to the lesson now, Mr Snape," Hagrid said finally.
"Sir, er... I think you can call me Quiet... if you want."
The giant smiled at him.
"Don't sir me. Just Hagrid."
"Alright. Thanks."
As they walked towards the waiting classes talking quietly Harry managed to calm down. But as they got near he instantly realized that he now had to face Ron and Malfoy at the same time for two hours...
"Do you feel better?" Harry heard Ares' voice from behind his back. He turned around and saw him with a glass of water in his hand.
"Yes, much better," Harry smiled at him and drank the offered water.
"Did something happen?" stepped Malfoy to them.
"Nothing that would be your business. Sod off." Harry turned to him.
"Hey, Snape, you can't be so snappie... I saw your little collapsing show just now."
His cronies snickered.
"Leave me alone, Malfoy."
"You are so brave now, Snape. It's because of your father, isn't it? As a teacher he will protect his precious son who runs to him sobbing..."
"What else do you want to say me about my father, Malfoy? Be careful, you're not at home now," he cast a last glare at him and turned around. Their conversation was barely audible and Harry was sure nobody heard it. Certainly Ron, who was now standing face-to-face with him.
"As I see you have found your place, Snape. Why don't you join your house? Daddy's house?"
For a very short instant Harry felt a strong urge to grin widely. Snape as his father was a thought he was now familiar with, but to refer him as 'Daddy'. No. Severus was everything but daddy.
"He is not a Slytherin, didn't you hear the Headmaster, Weasley? He isn't sorted, so you can't refer him as a Slytherin." It was now Ares.
"It's none of your business, Nott. Or are you defending him as your partner- in-crime?"
"Your point is?"
"I know about your fathers' er..." he smiled evilly, "preferences..."
Ares just stood staring obtusely at Ron, Harry, however, got so nervous than he could barely speak.
"How dare you..."
"I saw the proof."
The Infirmary, last year... Yes, but they had thought then that Snape was a spy for the Headmaster and... No. It didn't make sense.
"Your father is working for the Ministry. He surely told you about his... summer experiences."
"He deserved it, Snape. He didn't get anything else but what he deserved."
It was suddenly too difficult to discuss. They were Snape's words too.
Harry clenched his teeth in nervousness. But Ares now managed to open his mouth.
"I really don't understand what you are talking about. What this whole stuff is?"
"And now you pretend that you don't know! Don't be ridiculous, Nott!" Ron yelled and everybody's attention turned to them. Ron blushed and left them alone.
Harry felt that somebody touched his arm. Fighting with the urge to wince he looked at Nott standing still in astonishment.
"Hey, mate what was it? What did he say?"
Harry tried to swallow, his mouth felt dry and his throat tight. Nott didn't know. And... why was it HIS task to enlighten him about his father? Just tell him 'your father is a Death Eater'? Or what?
He sighed and whispered as quietly as he could.
"I think he supposes that all the Slytherins are er... You-Know-Who's followers." He almost said Voldemort's name. "Like your father. And mine."
"Bloody git..."
"He's just grieving," Harry cast a glance at his ex-friend. He was so close physically... only some meters... but he was so far away from him in every other sense. And, perhaps they wouldn't have the chance to rebuild their friendship again.
After class he sat again next to Fang for some moments. He didn't even notice when Hermione sat next to him, just when she began to speak.
"Please, forgive Ron his behaviour. He's just too sad to judge things correctly. I think your father didn't deserve what he got from You-Know- Who..."
"Why do you think this?" Harry asked suddenly.
"I don't know... I saw him at the funeral, and the night before it... He isn't the man we, students generally think he is."
So she noticed something. And it wasn't a miracle that Ron didn't.
Harry sometimes hated Ron for his prejudices and fast-made opinions.
No, it was not about Severus. It was about him. The wall he would never get over.