A/N: *Glomps all her reviewers* I love you all soooooooo much! LOL Axelia, I admire your dedication. Calling repeatedly at ungodly hours. *sniff* Sacrificing self to let my update be known. ^______^ And to Alexandrei, *big hug* you and your cousin are by far my most consistent reviewers and you give me long reviews too. Thanks! Finally, last one I promise, to I was a blue tomato in my past life, I have to say I am extremely flattered you liked the fic enough to review. It's the highest praise an author could get, to know that their fic has attracted the attention of someone who is not overly interested in the pairing or storyline they choose to write. Thank you for the long review. Also to my other reviewers, I'm not ungrateful, I humbly thank you all for your inspiring reviews. I hope you continue to enjoy this fic.
~Fox
Chapter 3
Harry hurried down the hallway in a frantic rush. He had been held back after Transfigurations class by McGonogall a bit too long as Draco had been nowhere to be seen when he exited the classroom. Luckily, a passing student gave him directions to his next class.
"Oomph!"
"Hey! Watch it!"
Harry blinked and focused his vision realizing he had run straight into someone coming round the corner.
"I'm sorry. I'm late for class and wasn't looking where I was going."
The androgynous boy just nodded in reply, his eyes roving over Harry's figure, a spark of interest growing.
"I'm Blaise Zabini. You are?"
Uncomfortable with the scrutiny, Harry looked down as he answered and missed the look of displeasure which crossed the other boy's face when he heard it.
"I'm Harry Potter."
"Ah, Severus new … student. You must be very good at what you do. He has high expectations."
The sneer in those words were not lost on Harry but he was confused as well. Why would being under the tutelage of Severus cause such derision? The man was good at his chosen fields and it was only natural to expect the same level of competence or higher from his pupils. Nothing to be looked down upon.
The he remembered. Blaise Zabini was the student who had tried to get his mate into trouble. Big trouble. Harry's head came up and his cold emerald eyes met the startled gaze of Blaise. In a quiet tone which sent shivers down the other boy's back, he began to speak.
"Professor Severus Snape is a man of high integrity and talent. I am fortunate and thankful to be accepted by him for private tutoring. It is a disgrace and affront for anyone to speak of him disrespectfully or with less than the regard he deserves. I would thank you not to speak of him in such a tone in my presence again. Good day."
Harry swept by the gaping student, his skirts snapping lightly at the briskness of his walk. He held himself proudly and didn't look back. Thus, as he rounded the corner, he did not see Blaise expression change to one of hate. Nor did he hear him softly whisper to himself as he walked away.
"Just you wait Potter, I'll crush your perfect little world. Your dreams will be nothing but dust and you will be less then nothing."
~*~
/Late. Late. LATE./
Harry stopped in the middle of the corridor, unable to find the classroom which was supposed to be here.
/And so desperately lost…/
"Hey, what are you doing loitering around the corridors? You should be in class. Get, before I give you detention!"
/Saved!/
Harry quickly ran to the man. He was careful not to step on the cat by his feet.
"Please sir, I'm new here and I don't know my way. If you could direct me to Professor Seguchi's class?"
"I'm Filch, the caretaker. So, you're the Potter child everyone has been talking about, eh? Alright, just this once, since you're new and all."
Receiving his directions, Harry thanked the caretaker politely and left as fast as possible. He was already twenty minutes late!
~*~
The clear notes of a flute met his ears as Harry finally made his way to the musical composition classroom. Opening it as quietly as he could, he peeked in to see Draco playing the flute he had heard.
/He's wonderful. I hope he makes the orchestra. He certainly has the talent for it./
"Wonderful, Draco. You have truly improved. Keep it up and you will stand a very good chance for the orchestra. Come in, Mr. Potter. Please do tell me why you are late."
Harry blushed.
"I'm very sorry, Professor. Professor McGonogall held me back to speak to me a moment and then I got lost on my way here. Mr. Filch gave me directions and I finally found my way here."
"Oop! Sorry Harry! I completely forgot you don't know your way around yet!"
"It's ok, Draco. Don't worry about it. Your flute was wonderful by the way."
The blonde looked at his silver flute fondly and grinned his thanks.
The professor seemed to accept his explanation and waved Harry to take a seat.
"Now, Harry. Since you are new, why don't you play something for us? I need to know how well you play and what compositions suit you anyway."
Harry nodded. Taking out his violin, he tuned it and taking his place in front of the class turned to the blonde professor questioningly.
"Oh, just play the hardest piece you know. It will be easier to gauge your level that way."
Settling his violin in place, Harry closed his eyes and took a moment to center himself before calling up the most challenging piece his grandfather had ever taught him and began to play.
As the first strains of the Devil's Trill floated through the air, the whole class fell silent.
Harry did not notice the unnatural stillness which had fallen over the classroom. He was completely absorbed into his playing. It required his utmost attention and a moment of distraction would ruin the flow of the music singing through his veins and disrupt his playing. And so he continued to play, unaware of the awed and envious looks that were directed his way.
~*~
Seguchi Tohma was not a man easily taken by surprise but his newest student had managed to leave him completely flabbergasted. It had been years since anyone had successfully played the Devil's Trill without having to stop or stumble over some part of it.
As he watched and listened, he felt the power behind music flowing out. A subtle and unique form of magic, it reached out swirling around its audience, amplifying the experience, letting them truly hear the music with their soul instead of their ears. He felt it weaving its spell on him as well but fought it, needing to stay clear headed and objective to music.
/Gods, it's hard! I just want to let myself be swept away./
Finally, Harry reached the end and as the last notes echoed in air, the student began to rouse again from the haze of bliss which had encapsulated their beings. Tohma couldn't help but be amused when Harry showed obliviousness at the situation he had caused and instead, turned to him with an anxious expression.
"Was that alright, Professor?"
Exhaling heavily, he pulled himself together and smiled.
"That was wonderful, Harry. It would seem that your problems with compositions is not with being able to play them as I had originally thought. I think you are probably lacking knowledge of more contemporary music which can be adapted to the violin. You may return to your seat now."
Draco was fighting very hard to fidget impatiently as his friend sat beside him and proceeded to treat his amazing feat as nothing.
"Where did you learn to play like that?" he hissed out, burning with curiousity.
Harry sent him a confused look.
"My grandfather."
"How can you grandfather…" Draco paused as an incredible thought occurred to him. "Err… Harry…"
"Yes, Draco?"
"What's your grandfather's name?"
"Tom."
Draco nearly smacked him in frustration.
"His full name!"
"Shh! Not so loud. And his name is Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Draco stood up abruptly and turned to stare at his friend with wide eyed incredulity.
"YOU'RE RIDDLE'S GRANDCHILD?!"
Harry just stared at Draco as if he had turned into a newt and was professing his love to him.
"Um… Yes, that's right."
He looked round at everyone who had frozen and were staring at him in a shell-shocked manner.
"What? He's just my grandfather. It's not a bad thing to be tutored by your grandparent is it?"
~*~
It had been an extremely confusing and tiring day. After everyone had found out about Harry's connection to the legendary musician, everyone had crowded around him asking questions so fast that he didn't even know how to reply.
The news had spread through the student body rapidly and Harry was all too glad to escape the Great Hall and go down to the peace of the dungeons for his potions lesson. He was still unused to being around so many people and it became stifling after awhile.
He reached the classroom and knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Harry entered and leaned against the close door a moment, eyes closed, luxuriating in the quiet around him.
"It would seem you have become quite popular here, Harry."
Harry winced.
"It's horrible."
He opened his eyes just in time to see Severus' lips quirk into a small smile before falling back into his habitual expression.
"Indeed? One would have thought that you might enjoy it. You are related to a famous personage and your own talents are ensuring you your own place in legends."
Harry went to sit in front of his professor and shook his head. He had a rueful smile on his face as he replied.
"You know what's funny? I didn't even know grandfather was famous until today. No one really talks about it at home, and it never occurred to me to ask. It just seemed natural that he was teaching me. I just assumed that most home-schooled students had the same experiences I did."
"But now you find that is not the case."
"That's right. Grandfather has been pushing me very much harder and being home-schooled in this day and age isn't as common as I first believed. I suppose it might have, during grandfather's time since he treats it so normally. I might have subconsciously formed my opinions based on his behaviour and attitude."
"I see. Very well, as interesting as this conversation is, we must begin the lesson. If you are not too tired after, we could continue this conversation then."
Severus wondered when his mouth had become a separate entity from his mind. What on earth was he doing, offering to allow his student to linger after classes with him. Little flashes of what he could do to this delectable person in front of him sent his blood southward. Pulling away from those thoughts before they embarrassed him, he began the lesson.
Harry listened intently but had spared one quick minute to revel in the fact that he had been /invited/ to stay after class.
/Maybe, just maybe, I won't have to try so hard or wait too long for him to take me after all./
And all Harry could think, as he began brewing the Healing Draught, was that the sooner his mate claimed him, the better.
Watching and advising quietly, across the cauldron. Severus imagined himself standing behind Harry instead, one hand around that slim waist while he had his other hand over Harry's guiding him on the proper way to stir the potion even as he gently nibbled an ear and the smooth neck.
/Merlin, I'm not going to be able to resist this much longer./
~*~
An hour and a half later found them comfortably ensconced in Severus private chambers. Harry had a mug of hot cocoa complete with marshmallows as did Severus.
"You are quite proficient in potions making. I would guess that your awkwardness would be more from lack of actual practical knowledge as opposed to ignorance of the subject altogether. Knowing the company you keep, it's not surprising."
Harry smiled. He couldn't disagree after all, since it was true. His mother was a wonderful cook but she was horrible at potions. The one time she tried to make a Pepper-Up potion, it had come out completely without any magical properties whatsoever and was basically the equivalent of black tar. His father was better and could make simple potions but when his other three friends were over, it was chaos. They would end up creating new potions without any practical purposes except for example, to change a person's hair orange or something similar. His grandfather didn't even bother at all. He had just told Harry to get his parents to teach him.
Thus, he had the theoretical knowledge but he was inexperienced in the actual making of it.
"You know my parents very well, Severus."
Severus let his amusement show.
"I should. Your mother use to come to me for tutoring. It was, I must say, the most… challenging task I had ever undertaken during my school career."
"Oh?"
"You have heard of Neville Longbottom, I assume? He is of age with you."
"Yes, I have. He's in the Pure Magic group, isn't he? Shy and a bit lacking in confidence. I think I saw him during meals."
"Yes, he is the one. While, as you know, I am harsh with the your brothers and was, with the Weasley twins, I am harsh with him because his excessive nervousness and lack of will to /improve/ himself causes many a potions accident. He has at least two in a class. Your mother was like that. Only, she refused to give up and I would hazard an average of say five potions mishaps a lesson. It was a miracle she passed."
Harry muffled his laughter. He had heard about this from Remus and Peter. They had taken great relish in telling him about his mother's ineptitude with this subject, much to Lily's chagrin.
"So tell me Harry, has she gotten any better?"
"Heh, if I had to be honest, I'd say she's worst. We either buy or let Father make the potions. Sometimes, Uncle Remus makes some as well. But they don't work well together."
Severus shuddered at the memory of James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew working together in potions.
"Now that is an understatement. The only time they were allowed to work together in a group, their potion exploded and turned everything it touched neon colours at random. Since they had been adding ingredients without each other knowing, their lists and the order they were put in was all wrong. We had to wait two weeks for it to fade on its own."
"I wish I could have seen that. So, I know that my mother was a Pure Magic student and my father and his friends were In Betweens. What about you and Mr. Malfoy?"
/He's met Lucius. Should be interesting to see what he has to say about Harry. I forgot to owl him! Ah well, I shall do it in the morning then. My, Harry does look enticing in that dress. Stop that, Severus./
"We were the same. You mother was the odd one, being from Pure Magic. But somehow, your father managed to catch her heart. I do believe that was when Lucius met Narcissa , his wife, as well."
"Ah."
A silence fell over them and Harry drank his cocoa while taking the opportunity to ogle the dark haired man near him. He felt his breath quicken and a slight flush in his cheeks as he watched those lips press again the porcelain drinking the warm liquid. His gaze trailed down to the long neck entranced as it worked to swallow. It moved on the pale hands which held the mug gently but firmly and Harry wished to feel those hands on him.
/Oh please, anyone who's listening, please, please let Severus decide to have me soon. My body is going absolutely mad for him./
Severus himself was also indulging in a little secret Harry watching although he was trying not to. But the thoughts in his head wouldn't go away. The way the dress simply seemed to accentuate Harry's body, tempting him. His eyes traced the clean curves of the bare shoulders and greedily drank in the flesh exposed to him. For a moment, his eyes dipped to the laces holding the bodice shut and his dream flooded back into his mind. He felt his blood begin a southward trek in his body.
/Those laces… if I just undid them I could see the wonderful expanse of flesh. I wonder if he really is naked under his dress like in my dream?/
"I think… you should be going, Harry."
Severus voice was a little strained, something Harry noticed immediately. As he rose from his seat, he leaned forward and brushed his hand against a black clad knee. The minute shiver it gleaned sent a wave of satisfaction through Harry.
/Yes! Just another day more! Or a little push and he'll have me! I'm sure of it./
Severus gritted his teeth and quashed the impulse to grab the young man and kiss him senseless. The light brush against his leg could have been innocent except for the sultry look Harry had thrown him right after.
"Good night, Harry."
"Good night, Severus."
As soon as the door swung shut, Severus locked it and stripped. He had a very hard problem to solve at that moment.
~*~
Tom wheezed and glared balefully at his daughter who remained completely unaffected. Her exercise regime was killing and Tom wasn't sure he was glad he had diverted her from beating him up. That would have been quick resulting in some bruises but this… this 'training' was going to last months! He groaned and rested his head on the table.
Lily shook her head at her father. It was a good thing she only had to deal with him and James today. The twins were bedridden until their fevers had gone completely.
"Pooh, you're such drama queen, daddy. It's not that bad."
"You're killing me, my dear. Really you are."
"Well at least James didn't add to your punishment. And you know he could've. Like making you test his or Sirius' experimental potions or something."
Tom shuddered in unexaggerated horror.
"Perish the thought."
Lily giggled. Sirius had opened up a joke shop and was always experimenting with new potions for his products. Recently, the Weasley twins Fred and George had approached him about apprenticeships and he had accepted. It had been havoc.
Just then, the door flew open and James, Remus, Sirius, Peter and Lucius came in. All were wearing expressions of 'the cat ate the canary' type.
"Honestly, you guys! Don't you have work to do? You shouldn't be here for another hour at least."
"Hehehehe, you worry too much Lily. Lucius came over to tell us some great news!"
"Since you were planning to take the twins to Hogwarts on the 6th, when they were recovered from their flu, I thought you might like to know. K is coming back to Hogwarts for a visit."
Lily froze as did Tom, eyes wide in shock.
"K? Your cousin? That blonde guy who used to carry /guns/ everywhere?! The one who threatened that third year Pure Music student with one because he wanted to use the sink?"
"Yes, that's the one. I'm glad you remember him so well, Lily."
A green acidic look was sent his way.
"He was the only person in the whole school who managed to bring in Muggle weaponry AND get away with it! Because we could never find where he hid it!"
"Ah yes, I never did discover his secret. He refuses to tell anyone."
"Anyway, we came over to tell you that Remus, Sirius and I have decided to tag along as well. It will be like a reunion!"
The five men were grinning as if Christmas and their birthdays had all come at once.
Tom grimaced before settling for scowling at them.
"It looks like I will be returning to visit Albus, as well. I dare not think what destruction you will create together. The children will be scarred for life."
Lily and James smirked inwardly. The sadistic gleam in Tom's green eyes was not missed. He wasn't going out of concern for the children. He was going to watch and laugh as they were 'traumatized' by his daughter, son-in-law and their friends.
/Hehehehe… This should be fun./
~*~
The next morning, Harry entered the Hall in high spirits. He ignored the whispers around him and shared a conspiratorial smile with Draco. He had told the blonde what had occurred and the Malfoy child was supporting him the whole way.
As the morning post came in, Harry wasn't surprised to receive an owl from home.
"What's it say Harry?"
"It's from my mother. The whole family will be here at the end of the week. They're sending my brothers back and apparently an old friend of theirs, a relation of yours I think, is coming to visit so they'll be staying on for a few days."
"Oh, did they say who this relative is?"
"Well, no but I'm sure your father must have told you in his letter. If you would read it, instead of trying to read mine."
"Oops, hehehe."
Draco opened his letter, reading quickly. His eyes widened in some strange hybrid of horror and anticipation.
"Draco?"
"What? Oh! Yeah, I know who's coming. It's my father's cousin. He attended Hogwarts too. A Pure Music student. Everyone just calls him K."
"Kay?"
"No, K. Like the alphabet. It stands for something, but he doesn't like it so he just tells everyone he's name is K."
Harry couldn't hide his amusement.
"Interesting family you have."
Draco made a face at him.
"You're one to talk. Anyway, eat up quick. You'll want to tell Ron and Hermione about this so that they can prepare."
"Draco, is there something you're not telling me about this relative of yours?"
"Err… not here. I'll tell you guys later. Let's just say, if you're prepared, he's a real laugh to be with but if he catches you unawares, it's an… unforgettable experience."
The moment Draco finished his sentence, Severus Snape stood up abruptly, his chair toppling over with a loud crash which did nothing to drown out the professor's exclamation.
"ALBUS, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS! YOU CAN'T ALLOW THAT BLONDE, MUGGLE-WEAPON TOTING MENACE BACK HERE! AND WITH POTTER NO LESS!"
Albus just smiled and patted the man's hand soothingly.
"It's been years, Severus. He's an adult now. I'm sure he's calmed down by now. Besides, he's a alumni of Hogwarts. I can't bar him from returning to visit."
Severus pursed his lips together and crossed his hands, keeping them out of reach of the headmaster.
"I hope you're right, Albus."
As he left in a swirl of black, he threw a reminder to the genial old man making him choke on his tea.
"Hogsmeade was only three years ago, Albus."
/Oh dear, I had forgotten about that. I'll have to make sure that Severus locks his potion stores and wards them./
Although, the contrary man might just not do it to spite him and prove his point about the collective destructiveness of allowing the Marauders and Malfoys.
Harry laughed wickedly under his breath, and smirked at Draco who smirked right back.
It was going to be very interesting indeed.
~Fox
Chapter 3
Harry hurried down the hallway in a frantic rush. He had been held back after Transfigurations class by McGonogall a bit too long as Draco had been nowhere to be seen when he exited the classroom. Luckily, a passing student gave him directions to his next class.
"Oomph!"
"Hey! Watch it!"
Harry blinked and focused his vision realizing he had run straight into someone coming round the corner.
"I'm sorry. I'm late for class and wasn't looking where I was going."
The androgynous boy just nodded in reply, his eyes roving over Harry's figure, a spark of interest growing.
"I'm Blaise Zabini. You are?"
Uncomfortable with the scrutiny, Harry looked down as he answered and missed the look of displeasure which crossed the other boy's face when he heard it.
"I'm Harry Potter."
"Ah, Severus new … student. You must be very good at what you do. He has high expectations."
The sneer in those words were not lost on Harry but he was confused as well. Why would being under the tutelage of Severus cause such derision? The man was good at his chosen fields and it was only natural to expect the same level of competence or higher from his pupils. Nothing to be looked down upon.
The he remembered. Blaise Zabini was the student who had tried to get his mate into trouble. Big trouble. Harry's head came up and his cold emerald eyes met the startled gaze of Blaise. In a quiet tone which sent shivers down the other boy's back, he began to speak.
"Professor Severus Snape is a man of high integrity and talent. I am fortunate and thankful to be accepted by him for private tutoring. It is a disgrace and affront for anyone to speak of him disrespectfully or with less than the regard he deserves. I would thank you not to speak of him in such a tone in my presence again. Good day."
Harry swept by the gaping student, his skirts snapping lightly at the briskness of his walk. He held himself proudly and didn't look back. Thus, as he rounded the corner, he did not see Blaise expression change to one of hate. Nor did he hear him softly whisper to himself as he walked away.
"Just you wait Potter, I'll crush your perfect little world. Your dreams will be nothing but dust and you will be less then nothing."
~*~
/Late. Late. LATE./
Harry stopped in the middle of the corridor, unable to find the classroom which was supposed to be here.
/And so desperately lost…/
"Hey, what are you doing loitering around the corridors? You should be in class. Get, before I give you detention!"
/Saved!/
Harry quickly ran to the man. He was careful not to step on the cat by his feet.
"Please sir, I'm new here and I don't know my way. If you could direct me to Professor Seguchi's class?"
"I'm Filch, the caretaker. So, you're the Potter child everyone has been talking about, eh? Alright, just this once, since you're new and all."
Receiving his directions, Harry thanked the caretaker politely and left as fast as possible. He was already twenty minutes late!
~*~
The clear notes of a flute met his ears as Harry finally made his way to the musical composition classroom. Opening it as quietly as he could, he peeked in to see Draco playing the flute he had heard.
/He's wonderful. I hope he makes the orchestra. He certainly has the talent for it./
"Wonderful, Draco. You have truly improved. Keep it up and you will stand a very good chance for the orchestra. Come in, Mr. Potter. Please do tell me why you are late."
Harry blushed.
"I'm very sorry, Professor. Professor McGonogall held me back to speak to me a moment and then I got lost on my way here. Mr. Filch gave me directions and I finally found my way here."
"Oop! Sorry Harry! I completely forgot you don't know your way around yet!"
"It's ok, Draco. Don't worry about it. Your flute was wonderful by the way."
The blonde looked at his silver flute fondly and grinned his thanks.
The professor seemed to accept his explanation and waved Harry to take a seat.
"Now, Harry. Since you are new, why don't you play something for us? I need to know how well you play and what compositions suit you anyway."
Harry nodded. Taking out his violin, he tuned it and taking his place in front of the class turned to the blonde professor questioningly.
"Oh, just play the hardest piece you know. It will be easier to gauge your level that way."
Settling his violin in place, Harry closed his eyes and took a moment to center himself before calling up the most challenging piece his grandfather had ever taught him and began to play.
As the first strains of the Devil's Trill floated through the air, the whole class fell silent.
Harry did not notice the unnatural stillness which had fallen over the classroom. He was completely absorbed into his playing. It required his utmost attention and a moment of distraction would ruin the flow of the music singing through his veins and disrupt his playing. And so he continued to play, unaware of the awed and envious looks that were directed his way.
~*~
Seguchi Tohma was not a man easily taken by surprise but his newest student had managed to leave him completely flabbergasted. It had been years since anyone had successfully played the Devil's Trill without having to stop or stumble over some part of it.
As he watched and listened, he felt the power behind music flowing out. A subtle and unique form of magic, it reached out swirling around its audience, amplifying the experience, letting them truly hear the music with their soul instead of their ears. He felt it weaving its spell on him as well but fought it, needing to stay clear headed and objective to music.
/Gods, it's hard! I just want to let myself be swept away./
Finally, Harry reached the end and as the last notes echoed in air, the student began to rouse again from the haze of bliss which had encapsulated their beings. Tohma couldn't help but be amused when Harry showed obliviousness at the situation he had caused and instead, turned to him with an anxious expression.
"Was that alright, Professor?"
Exhaling heavily, he pulled himself together and smiled.
"That was wonderful, Harry. It would seem that your problems with compositions is not with being able to play them as I had originally thought. I think you are probably lacking knowledge of more contemporary music which can be adapted to the violin. You may return to your seat now."
Draco was fighting very hard to fidget impatiently as his friend sat beside him and proceeded to treat his amazing feat as nothing.
"Where did you learn to play like that?" he hissed out, burning with curiousity.
Harry sent him a confused look.
"My grandfather."
"How can you grandfather…" Draco paused as an incredible thought occurred to him. "Err… Harry…"
"Yes, Draco?"
"What's your grandfather's name?"
"Tom."
Draco nearly smacked him in frustration.
"His full name!"
"Shh! Not so loud. And his name is Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Draco stood up abruptly and turned to stare at his friend with wide eyed incredulity.
"YOU'RE RIDDLE'S GRANDCHILD?!"
Harry just stared at Draco as if he had turned into a newt and was professing his love to him.
"Um… Yes, that's right."
He looked round at everyone who had frozen and were staring at him in a shell-shocked manner.
"What? He's just my grandfather. It's not a bad thing to be tutored by your grandparent is it?"
~*~
It had been an extremely confusing and tiring day. After everyone had found out about Harry's connection to the legendary musician, everyone had crowded around him asking questions so fast that he didn't even know how to reply.
The news had spread through the student body rapidly and Harry was all too glad to escape the Great Hall and go down to the peace of the dungeons for his potions lesson. He was still unused to being around so many people and it became stifling after awhile.
He reached the classroom and knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Harry entered and leaned against the close door a moment, eyes closed, luxuriating in the quiet around him.
"It would seem you have become quite popular here, Harry."
Harry winced.
"It's horrible."
He opened his eyes just in time to see Severus' lips quirk into a small smile before falling back into his habitual expression.
"Indeed? One would have thought that you might enjoy it. You are related to a famous personage and your own talents are ensuring you your own place in legends."
Harry went to sit in front of his professor and shook his head. He had a rueful smile on his face as he replied.
"You know what's funny? I didn't even know grandfather was famous until today. No one really talks about it at home, and it never occurred to me to ask. It just seemed natural that he was teaching me. I just assumed that most home-schooled students had the same experiences I did."
"But now you find that is not the case."
"That's right. Grandfather has been pushing me very much harder and being home-schooled in this day and age isn't as common as I first believed. I suppose it might have, during grandfather's time since he treats it so normally. I might have subconsciously formed my opinions based on his behaviour and attitude."
"I see. Very well, as interesting as this conversation is, we must begin the lesson. If you are not too tired after, we could continue this conversation then."
Severus wondered when his mouth had become a separate entity from his mind. What on earth was he doing, offering to allow his student to linger after classes with him. Little flashes of what he could do to this delectable person in front of him sent his blood southward. Pulling away from those thoughts before they embarrassed him, he began the lesson.
Harry listened intently but had spared one quick minute to revel in the fact that he had been /invited/ to stay after class.
/Maybe, just maybe, I won't have to try so hard or wait too long for him to take me after all./
And all Harry could think, as he began brewing the Healing Draught, was that the sooner his mate claimed him, the better.
Watching and advising quietly, across the cauldron. Severus imagined himself standing behind Harry instead, one hand around that slim waist while he had his other hand over Harry's guiding him on the proper way to stir the potion even as he gently nibbled an ear and the smooth neck.
/Merlin, I'm not going to be able to resist this much longer./
~*~
An hour and a half later found them comfortably ensconced in Severus private chambers. Harry had a mug of hot cocoa complete with marshmallows as did Severus.
"You are quite proficient in potions making. I would guess that your awkwardness would be more from lack of actual practical knowledge as opposed to ignorance of the subject altogether. Knowing the company you keep, it's not surprising."
Harry smiled. He couldn't disagree after all, since it was true. His mother was a wonderful cook but she was horrible at potions. The one time she tried to make a Pepper-Up potion, it had come out completely without any magical properties whatsoever and was basically the equivalent of black tar. His father was better and could make simple potions but when his other three friends were over, it was chaos. They would end up creating new potions without any practical purposes except for example, to change a person's hair orange or something similar. His grandfather didn't even bother at all. He had just told Harry to get his parents to teach him.
Thus, he had the theoretical knowledge but he was inexperienced in the actual making of it.
"You know my parents very well, Severus."
Severus let his amusement show.
"I should. Your mother use to come to me for tutoring. It was, I must say, the most… challenging task I had ever undertaken during my school career."
"Oh?"
"You have heard of Neville Longbottom, I assume? He is of age with you."
"Yes, I have. He's in the Pure Magic group, isn't he? Shy and a bit lacking in confidence. I think I saw him during meals."
"Yes, he is the one. While, as you know, I am harsh with the your brothers and was, with the Weasley twins, I am harsh with him because his excessive nervousness and lack of will to /improve/ himself causes many a potions accident. He has at least two in a class. Your mother was like that. Only, she refused to give up and I would hazard an average of say five potions mishaps a lesson. It was a miracle she passed."
Harry muffled his laughter. He had heard about this from Remus and Peter. They had taken great relish in telling him about his mother's ineptitude with this subject, much to Lily's chagrin.
"So tell me Harry, has she gotten any better?"
"Heh, if I had to be honest, I'd say she's worst. We either buy or let Father make the potions. Sometimes, Uncle Remus makes some as well. But they don't work well together."
Severus shuddered at the memory of James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew working together in potions.
"Now that is an understatement. The only time they were allowed to work together in a group, their potion exploded and turned everything it touched neon colours at random. Since they had been adding ingredients without each other knowing, their lists and the order they were put in was all wrong. We had to wait two weeks for it to fade on its own."
"I wish I could have seen that. So, I know that my mother was a Pure Magic student and my father and his friends were In Betweens. What about you and Mr. Malfoy?"
/He's met Lucius. Should be interesting to see what he has to say about Harry. I forgot to owl him! Ah well, I shall do it in the morning then. My, Harry does look enticing in that dress. Stop that, Severus./
"We were the same. You mother was the odd one, being from Pure Magic. But somehow, your father managed to catch her heart. I do believe that was when Lucius met Narcissa , his wife, as well."
"Ah."
A silence fell over them and Harry drank his cocoa while taking the opportunity to ogle the dark haired man near him. He felt his breath quicken and a slight flush in his cheeks as he watched those lips press again the porcelain drinking the warm liquid. His gaze trailed down to the long neck entranced as it worked to swallow. It moved on the pale hands which held the mug gently but firmly and Harry wished to feel those hands on him.
/Oh please, anyone who's listening, please, please let Severus decide to have me soon. My body is going absolutely mad for him./
Severus himself was also indulging in a little secret Harry watching although he was trying not to. But the thoughts in his head wouldn't go away. The way the dress simply seemed to accentuate Harry's body, tempting him. His eyes traced the clean curves of the bare shoulders and greedily drank in the flesh exposed to him. For a moment, his eyes dipped to the laces holding the bodice shut and his dream flooded back into his mind. He felt his blood begin a southward trek in his body.
/Those laces… if I just undid them I could see the wonderful expanse of flesh. I wonder if he really is naked under his dress like in my dream?/
"I think… you should be going, Harry."
Severus voice was a little strained, something Harry noticed immediately. As he rose from his seat, he leaned forward and brushed his hand against a black clad knee. The minute shiver it gleaned sent a wave of satisfaction through Harry.
/Yes! Just another day more! Or a little push and he'll have me! I'm sure of it./
Severus gritted his teeth and quashed the impulse to grab the young man and kiss him senseless. The light brush against his leg could have been innocent except for the sultry look Harry had thrown him right after.
"Good night, Harry."
"Good night, Severus."
As soon as the door swung shut, Severus locked it and stripped. He had a very hard problem to solve at that moment.
~*~
Tom wheezed and glared balefully at his daughter who remained completely unaffected. Her exercise regime was killing and Tom wasn't sure he was glad he had diverted her from beating him up. That would have been quick resulting in some bruises but this… this 'training' was going to last months! He groaned and rested his head on the table.
Lily shook her head at her father. It was a good thing she only had to deal with him and James today. The twins were bedridden until their fevers had gone completely.
"Pooh, you're such drama queen, daddy. It's not that bad."
"You're killing me, my dear. Really you are."
"Well at least James didn't add to your punishment. And you know he could've. Like making you test his or Sirius' experimental potions or something."
Tom shuddered in unexaggerated horror.
"Perish the thought."
Lily giggled. Sirius had opened up a joke shop and was always experimenting with new potions for his products. Recently, the Weasley twins Fred and George had approached him about apprenticeships and he had accepted. It had been havoc.
Just then, the door flew open and James, Remus, Sirius, Peter and Lucius came in. All were wearing expressions of 'the cat ate the canary' type.
"Honestly, you guys! Don't you have work to do? You shouldn't be here for another hour at least."
"Hehehehe, you worry too much Lily. Lucius came over to tell us some great news!"
"Since you were planning to take the twins to Hogwarts on the 6th, when they were recovered from their flu, I thought you might like to know. K is coming back to Hogwarts for a visit."
Lily froze as did Tom, eyes wide in shock.
"K? Your cousin? That blonde guy who used to carry /guns/ everywhere?! The one who threatened that third year Pure Music student with one because he wanted to use the sink?"
"Yes, that's the one. I'm glad you remember him so well, Lily."
A green acidic look was sent his way.
"He was the only person in the whole school who managed to bring in Muggle weaponry AND get away with it! Because we could never find where he hid it!"
"Ah yes, I never did discover his secret. He refuses to tell anyone."
"Anyway, we came over to tell you that Remus, Sirius and I have decided to tag along as well. It will be like a reunion!"
The five men were grinning as if Christmas and their birthdays had all come at once.
Tom grimaced before settling for scowling at them.
"It looks like I will be returning to visit Albus, as well. I dare not think what destruction you will create together. The children will be scarred for life."
Lily and James smirked inwardly. The sadistic gleam in Tom's green eyes was not missed. He wasn't going out of concern for the children. He was going to watch and laugh as they were 'traumatized' by his daughter, son-in-law and their friends.
/Hehehehe… This should be fun./
~*~
The next morning, Harry entered the Hall in high spirits. He ignored the whispers around him and shared a conspiratorial smile with Draco. He had told the blonde what had occurred and the Malfoy child was supporting him the whole way.
As the morning post came in, Harry wasn't surprised to receive an owl from home.
"What's it say Harry?"
"It's from my mother. The whole family will be here at the end of the week. They're sending my brothers back and apparently an old friend of theirs, a relation of yours I think, is coming to visit so they'll be staying on for a few days."
"Oh, did they say who this relative is?"
"Well, no but I'm sure your father must have told you in his letter. If you would read it, instead of trying to read mine."
"Oops, hehehe."
Draco opened his letter, reading quickly. His eyes widened in some strange hybrid of horror and anticipation.
"Draco?"
"What? Oh! Yeah, I know who's coming. It's my father's cousin. He attended Hogwarts too. A Pure Music student. Everyone just calls him K."
"Kay?"
"No, K. Like the alphabet. It stands for something, but he doesn't like it so he just tells everyone he's name is K."
Harry couldn't hide his amusement.
"Interesting family you have."
Draco made a face at him.
"You're one to talk. Anyway, eat up quick. You'll want to tell Ron and Hermione about this so that they can prepare."
"Draco, is there something you're not telling me about this relative of yours?"
"Err… not here. I'll tell you guys later. Let's just say, if you're prepared, he's a real laugh to be with but if he catches you unawares, it's an… unforgettable experience."
The moment Draco finished his sentence, Severus Snape stood up abruptly, his chair toppling over with a loud crash which did nothing to drown out the professor's exclamation.
"ALBUS, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS! YOU CAN'T ALLOW THAT BLONDE, MUGGLE-WEAPON TOTING MENACE BACK HERE! AND WITH POTTER NO LESS!"
Albus just smiled and patted the man's hand soothingly.
"It's been years, Severus. He's an adult now. I'm sure he's calmed down by now. Besides, he's a alumni of Hogwarts. I can't bar him from returning to visit."
Severus pursed his lips together and crossed his hands, keeping them out of reach of the headmaster.
"I hope you're right, Albus."
As he left in a swirl of black, he threw a reminder to the genial old man making him choke on his tea.
"Hogsmeade was only three years ago, Albus."
/Oh dear, I had forgotten about that. I'll have to make sure that Severus locks his potion stores and wards them./
Although, the contrary man might just not do it to spite him and prove his point about the collective destructiveness of allowing the Marauders and Malfoys.
Harry laughed wickedly under his breath, and smirked at Draco who smirked right back.
It was going to be very interesting indeed.