Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, nor the location their are camping in. I'll give them back to JK Rowling when I'm done. I'm making no money from this story.

I want to say sorry to those who tried accessing chapter 10 earlier in the day, it would seem Fanfiction indicated that the chapter was ready, but had not yet updated. I had posted it about 12 my time and it took over 4 hours before it would appear.

A/N: I really want to say thank you again to those who have read my story and reviewed it, especially xikum, TommieBoy182, Lee Lee Potter, Maximum Poofy-Queen of AU, Arwen Rayne, Corgi1, DxInsider, The Goddess Artemis and so many more.

There will be some more action to come in a later chapter, so I ask that you be patient. As a reminder this is a PRE story and is still rated PG-13. Sorry, just to let you know this will be a shorter chapter than the previous ones, however the next one will be longer.

Anything between two *, indicates a thought.
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A Camping We Will Go

Chapter 10 - Four points of view

After lunch, the students decided once again to go to the thermal spring, as many of them wanted to relax after the long and taxing hike from that morning. Several students could be overheard complaining about sore feet and aching backs.

Hermione, the only dissenting vote amount the students, had really wanted to stay back at camp and study. Ron and Harry convinced her to just bring a book along and find a nice rock to sit on. They also hinted that she could even take breaks and join the others in relaxing.

Snape once more stayed out of the way and watched over the students with his usual glare of disapproval. Harry sat at the edge of the thermal spring facing Severus, so that he could occasionally check up on the professor to see how he was fairing.

Harry would feel Severus' gaze on him, whenever Harry was looking elsewhere. Harry know the look Severus was giving him wasn't his usual glare, to Harry it felt different from all the previous intense looks he'd gotten over the years. These looks felt more contemplative ... wondering.

The looks he was receiving from Severus seemed to override or push out the feeling of any other possible look sent his way, for both Ron and Hermione were casually observing the byplay between Harry and the professor.

Severus was indeed observing Harry, as well as his friends. He studied them to watch closely how they interacted. It had been years, since his own school days, that he had taken even a small interest in the dynamics of others relationships. Within his own house, it had been a power play, to be dominant, to be top dog and feared. With others, like the Marauders, it had been about popularity and acceptance, to be sought after, to also be top dog.

Severus noted the differences and similarities between this Gryffindor trio and the old Gryffindor group. With the Marauders, Potter had been not only the leader, but an arrogant, attention seeking snob. He was condescending to Pettigrew, as if being generous and superior for letting him hang on the outskirts as a lackey to the group, was a great and wonderful thing. Black was just as arrogant, but more in a mean spirited way for he egged Potter on in his exploits of harassment, mainly of me. *What did I ever do to make them think so little of me, to be cruel to me? I avoided them all like the plague, and yet they continually harassed me.* Severus sighed and rubbed his hand down over his face to wipe away the tension, *I must let the pain and hatred go, it's past now, I actually have the possibility of a brighter future ahead of me.*

Then there was Lupin, who was really the odd one in that little group. He was loyal, studious, fairly quiet and he tried to be the balance to the other three. He never quite succeeded.

This group here, was just as tight knit and had many of the same traits, like loyalty and comradery. Their biggest difference was the lack of superiority, arrogance, and the desire for popularity. Neither of the three sought those qualities or exuded them to others, well not much anyway. Ms. Granger did put off an air of superior intellect at times, but then Severus couldn't really cast stones as he had done the same thing while in school. Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger were equals with Harry. Harry did not place himself above the other two, he did lead, however reluctantly and only at the urging of his friends.

*The possibility of being a part of this group of friends is very appealing, but highly unlikely to ever happen. I have warned Harry that his friends would never accept me. I am a professor, an older man over 20 years their senior, what would I ever have to contribute to their group? I do not smile or laugh easily. I do not have fun. So what do I possibly have in common with those three young people?* These thoughts swirled around and around within Severus' mind, he frowned and his eyes projected sadness.

Harry looked up at Severus and noticed the sadness immediately. Harry looked around him to make sure no one was really watching and he smiled up at him quickly. Severus noticed the smile and took heart. *Perhaps miracles can happen, I just have to be patient. I also wish I knew at times what that boy was thinking. It would help if I had some clue as to what really motivated him into trying so hard to make me care, to make me his friend. Does he really think I'm worth it?*

Severus replayed that last thought through his mind. *Hmm, to know what Harry is thin king ... it would be an invasion of privacy really to listen in on his thoughts, but I'm so curious. I really want to know. Dare I? I don't want to invade his memories, but to know what he truly feels when he looks at me, to know what he really thinks of me beyond the words Harry has already expressed. I know that what is said isn't always what is meant. Could this be the case?*

*No! As much as I want to know if it were true that Harry did want my friendship and he found out that I had invaded his mind, I would lose the very thing I sought, his trust and his care. I must be patient. I must.* Severus rubbed his brow in concern at the direction his thoughts had taken.

Severus thought that perhaps he should have followed Ms. Granger's example and brought a book to focus on, instead of Harry. *Harry, who had been taking up more than his fair share of my thoughts. I am becoming obsessed with the young man. It's not healthy. Well it's not as if I've not been obsessed with the boy before, however before it had been to catch him in wrong doing, to get him expelled, to find James in those eyes, so I could truly hate him for being James' son. Though, finally, I realized he was not James, he was nothing like James at all, beyond the external.*

Severus looked back out over the students and continued to wait patiently while they enjoyed themselves.

Harry, as he watched Severus, who was lost in his own thoughts at that moment, wondered what the man was thinking. *What I wouldn't give to know what went on in that man's mind. Is he happy with our fledgling friendship? Does he really want to be my friend after all? Does he think we have nothing in common? How can I let him know that he has more in common with myself, Hermione and Ron than he realizes. Does he think that he can't enjoy to the same degree the comradery I have with my best friends? I'm sure with time my friends would welcome him, find things to share with him, a commonality. We just have to be patient, to go slowly, it will come in time. I know it will.*

Harry went back to relaxing and chatting with Ron. Harry occasionally glanced up behind him to where Hermione was sitting and waved to her, to let her know that he was thinking about his friend. Hermione glanced up from her book when she caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. She waved back.

Hermione, who had been covertly watching Harry and Professor Snape, while appearing to read her book, was also noticing the frowns and worry the professor had on his face. *Does he regret the changes he's showing to us? Does he dislike acting polite to Ron and myself, is it too much to ask of him? I know that Harry needs Professor Snape for a friend, but do I, does Ron? Can we accept this man for a friend? What do we have in common, after all, with the professor? We will just have to wait and see, I can be patient, but can Ron?* Hermione looked down at Ron, and noticed that he was constantly look back forth at Harry and Professor Snape.

*He's trying so hard to understand what's going on between Harry and the professor, what does he see? Perhaps he sees more than I do. I should have a talk with him later this evening after dinner.*

Ron was indeed trying to figure out what was happening between Harry and Snape. He noticed the smiles and looks they exchanged. Now that it had been brought to his attention, he was more aware of the undercurrents. *Harry seems to be trying so hard to be nice to Snape. Why does he feel the need to make this man his friend? Aren't we enough? I only hope Snape doesn't displace Harry's friendship with me, I'm his mate, his best friend. What am I thinking? I know Harry would never do that, throw our friendship out. So, if Harry does want Snape to be his friend, does he expect 'Mione and I to be Snape's friends too? What do Snape and I even have in common, because up to now, we've just had mutual loathing and hatred.*

Ron looked up at 'Mione, saw her smile at him. He smiled back at her, his look filled with love. *She really is something special and wonderful. I'm just amazed at times that she wants me. She's so smart, so aware of things. Perhaps, I should talk again with her later about Snape and Harry. Until then, I will just have to be patient and continue observing.*

Ron went back to having fun with Harry and the others, Hermione eventually joined her friends in the water. Snape continued to watch silently.

tbc