Title: Wanted: Single, Older Male for a Roommate
Rating: PG-13 (for now, it may change later on depending on how the story progresses)
Pairing: HP/SS, mentions of RW/HG
Summary: Continuation of A Camping We Will Go, Harry and Severus continue their friendship while Harry finishes school and afterwards they move in together as roommates.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. I'll give them back to JK Rowling when I'm done. No money was made from this endeavor.
Feedback: Please read and review, flames are not welcome.
A/N: Please read A Camping We Will Go, this story will try to be stand-alone, but it helps to have read the first one. Thanks go, once more, to Sherdelune, my beta, she has truly been sent from the muses.

Anything between *, denotes a thought.

Wanted: Single, Older Male for a Roommate
Chapter 2: Disasterous Potions

Harry proceeded up the stairs to the seventh year male dorm room and crept in as silently as possible, not wanting to wake his dorm mates. He stored his cloak in his trunk at the foot of his bed, then parted the privacy drapes surrounding his bed and crawled in.

Harry noticed Sliver curled up quietly beside the pillow at the head of the bed. The little snake lay with it's tail tucked underneath it's coiled body. The little snake was quite an attractive little fellow with his white stripes intermixed with the red and black square stripes. Harry wondered if snakes dreamed like humans did. *Oh, well, I can ask more questions about snakes from Sliver tomorrow.*

Harry got under the covers and buried his head into his pillow, willing himself to fall back asleep. The climb up the stairs from the common room to his bed had, unfortunately caused him to wake up, especially as he didn't have a warm Severus Snape to rest against.

Harry knew that he was becoming quite attached to his Potions professor, which was surprising, given that only three days ago he could hardly stand the man. *Three days ago, Severus was a completely different person. * But tonight he had been hoping deep down that Severus would find him in his wanderings. As much as he hated to admit it, he found himself craving the other mans attention. *Severus makes me feel safe and secure, as if his presence is wrapped around me like a warm blanket.* With that thought in Harry's mind, he drifted off into a deep sleep and dreamt of the day when he would graduate and move into a new home with Severus in tow and live as far away from the Dursley's as possible.

Morning came all too soon at the school, especially for Harry. After only getting a few hours of sleep he was sluggish, and Ron had to push and prod him a few times to get up in time for breakfast. Harry was like a walking zombie. *How does Snape do it? He looks so energized in class, after wandering the halls at all hours of the night. I, at least, get the chance to sleep in Binn's History class, also when I was taking Divination with Trelawney.*

Harry rushed through getting ready for the day and before he left the tower, he picked up Sliver and carried his books down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Harry spotted Ron and Hermione sitting at the far end of the Gryffindor table close to the Head table. He took a closer look at the Head table and noticed that Snape was absent. *Heh, maybe Severus slept in this morning. Yeah right, who am I kidding, that man has probably been up for hours preparing for our class this morning.*

Harry sat down next to Hermione with Ron on the other side of her. A plate appeared in front of him and he filled it with sausages and eggs. While he was stuffing his mouth full of the delicious food, Hermione turned to him.

"Good morning, Harry. Did you sleep well? Are you feeling any better?" Hermione asked with a bright but concerned smile on her face.

"Yeah Harry, you okay? I had a hard time getting you out of bed this morning. You probably would have slept right on through the entire morning," Ron said as he leaned back to talk around Hermione's bushy hair.

"I couldn't get to sleep last night, I think it was the nap I had yesterday in the infirmary. Anyway, I went down to the kitchen and got myself a snack." Harry left out the fact that he had shared the time with Severus.

"So are you up to going to Potions class this morning? Not exactly the best way to start off your day after what happened to you this weekend." Ron himself would not have bothered going to Potions if he had a way out of it. He considered the seven years of having Snape for a teacher as permanently going down in his 'history book' as a waste of time and a truly lowering experience. *Perhaps though, with the extra tutoring Snape was providing, learning Potions might not be a total waste after all.*

"I'm fine, just a sore spot here and there, but otherwise I'm alright." Just as Harry finished affirming his physical condition, Sliver poked a head out from beneath his robe sleeve.

Sliver turned to Harry, "Isss there anything here that I can eat? Hungry."

"Sssorry, no ratss or miccce here. Only ssausssages and eggssss. I will talk to my friend Hagrid about feeding you, maybe ordering you some rats. Can you go much longer?" Harry was concerned about his new littlest friend. He didn't want the young snake to perish from starvation.

"Another day, but mussst eat sssoon." Sliver looked around at the Great Hall with interest now that he'd stirred himself from his warm place around Harry's wrist. "Lotsss of young onesss. Are you all from the sssame nessst?" Harry assumed Sliver meant from the same family.

"No, we are from different nesssts. We gather here to learn," Harry spoke quietly, not wanting to draw attention from the other students to himself.

"Learn? What mussst you learn?" Sliver turned his black eyed gaze back to Harry.

"Magic. It isss hard to exxplain." Harry could not find the terms in which describe his world. Sliver however just nodded in understanding.

"Do you wissshh to join me in my classesss today, when I go learn?" Harry asked the snake before he could slither back under the sleeve.

"It isss warm here, I will join you." Sliver turned and curled himself back into the warmth he enjoyed.

Harry looked up directly into the eyes of a curious Ginny. He grinned at her and waved with his free hand at the sleeve in which the snake curled up under. "A friend I picked up on the camping trip." Ginny just nodded as if that was all the explanation needed and turned back to talk to the other Gryffindors beside her at the table.

Neville, who had been sitting on the other side of Ginny, looked at Harry as well. Neville hadn't really had a chance to ask Harry how the trip went from either him, Hermione or Ron. He'd heard a bit from Dean and Parvati, but wanted to hear more from Harry about his accident.

"Harry, how was it? I mean, how was sharing a tent with Pro..Professor Snape and the accident, and well, everything?" Neville stuttered at the thought of being that close to the Potions professor. Even though he was still taking Potions class with the others, and his anxiety of being in the same class with the man had lowered, he still caused accidents at least once a month.


"It was fine, Neville. Really. Se..Snape was actually quite tolerant of the entire group of students and sharing a tent with him wasn't that bad, I mean, as least the man didn't snore. As to the accident, Snape wasn't beastly to me or anything. He stayed with me while Hermione and the others went to get help." Harry quirked a small smile. Neville paled and quivered like a bowl of congealed jelly at the thought of having that much more personal information about the man all the students, except the Slytherins, disliked.

Ron and Hermione had been listening in to his conversation with Neville, and both of them knew that more was going on than Harry was telling. They understood though, the need to not broadcast these things. It would probably shock the entire school body to know that Harry and Severus were on their way to becoming very good friends.

Neville gulped, "I'm glad it wasn't me on the trip then. If it had been any other professor, I might have enjoyed learning more about native plants and stuff, but being around Snape...well, we all know what I'm like around Snape." Neville smiled shyly, fully aware of his own lack of courage. The others just grinned in sympathy and agreement.

"Well, we need to get going, Potions class will be starting soon." Hermione picked up her books and pulled Ron up with her as she started to leave. "Are you coming Harry?"

Harry gulped down his pumpkin juice and rushed after them. "Hey, wait up."

Hermione, Ron and Harry walked down the worn narrow steps to the dungeon. They followed behind a few of the other seventh years taking the NEWT level potions class.

Hermione, always inquisitive, mused aloud. "I wonder what Professor Snape is going to have us do today?"

Harry just shrugged his shoulders, "I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."

They walked in just seconds before class was to start, and noticed that their Professor was standing behind his desk looking anxious.

"Don't dawdle! Get to your seats immediately." Snape snapped at everyone, including his own House. Harry could clearly see the man was not in any mood to be pleasant over today's lesson.

Harry, Hermione and Ron took their seats at the far side of the room away from the Slytherins, especially Malfoy.

"Today's assignment is up on the board. I ask that you not copy this potion down as it is being made in gross for the Ministry -- this potion is a truth serum. You will be working in pairs today. Mr. Longbottom, please work with Ms. Granger. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, I will allow you to work together today, but please, do try to be careful. I will be monitoring each student's progress quite closely as it is being brewed.

Once everyone is done brewing their potions, I will ask that you leave immediately after storing it in the vials that I will be providing. However, before you leave, I have to guarantee that none of you will remember this potion, therefore, I will be casting a memory charm on each of you.

I will not tolerate any misbehaviour while you are working. You will find all ingredients in the cabinets at the side of the room. Begin!"

Snape's temper was frayed. He had gotten less sleep than he needed and what with preparations for this potion production, his nerves were stretched thin. Even the sight of Harry shooting concerned looks in his direction could not alleviate the weight he was feeling on his shoulders. He sighed internally, for he knew that the next two hours were going to be his longest this quarter.

After hearing Severus' speech, something was jogged from Harry's memory about their conversation from last night. Harry recalled Severus mentioning the truth serum, and that it also had an hypnotic agent. That anyone who took the potion, would be compelled to tell their deepest, most hidden secrets. Secrets that even the person revealing such information would not be consciously aware of.

*Now I know why he's on edge.*

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville worked quietly as they gathered their ingredients and began on the potion. Their professor did not stay still the entire time they worked. He did not loom over anyone, but he did guide them carefully. Today was apparently not a day to be concerned with house points and petty house rivalry.

Everyone was close to completing, some sooner than others -- namely Malfoy and Bulstrode, plus Hermione and Neville. Draco, though no longer supported by his two henchmen Crabbe and Goyle, still thought it would be fun to see Potter telling some of his many hidden secrets he was sure the other boy had. So he snuck over behind Potter while Snape had his back turned watching over another students potion, and took a small sample of the potion in a vial with him. He thought that if he surprised Potter quickly, he could toss the potion in the vicinity of his mouth, that some of it might be accidentally ingested. He felt it might be worth it, even if his house lost a few points, though he was sure his Head of House would be lenient when it came to this particular prank. *I'm sure even Snape would love to learn some of the secrets Potty keeps hidden.*

Just as Draco was about to tap on Harry's shoulder and throw the contents of the vial in his face, he felt someone tapping on his. He swung around fast and in the process the contents of the vial went straight into Snapes' face.

Some of which did indeed make it into his mouth. Snape sputtered and tried to spit it out, but it was too late. The other students turned to see what happened. Harry looked astonished but quickly recovered. He knew what would happen, he knew the others had no idea of the additional properties to the serum, the hypnotic agent that was in it. Harry turned to Hermione and Ron, "Quick, one of you get everyone out but keep them all together and the other go fetch the Headmaster. Hurry!"

"What, but why?" Ron asked. Hermione stood stunned for a brief second, but looked like she wanted to echo the same question.

"Just do as I ask. I'll watch over Snape until Dumbledore gets here. But hurry!" Harry guided the professor towards the professor's desk and chair.

Ron just nodded at Harry's insistence and guided the other students out. Malfoy being the only one refusing to leave. Hermione rushed off to the Headmaster's office, being Head Girl, she knew the entrance password.

Malfoy approached Harry as he gently sat their Potion professor down. Snape looked totally spaced out by this time -- his eyes were unfocused and glazed. Harry gently wiped the rest of the potion away from his face.

"Potter, what right do you have to take charge of Snape's class?" Draco demanded.

Harry sighed and turned to glare at Malfoy. "You have no idea what additional properties may have been in the truth serum. You idiot, this wasn't just a simple truth serum, it's also got a hypnotic agent in it. Which means, anyone could ask Professor Snape anything, and he would tell them his deepest, most darkest secrets that even he might not realize existed."

"What? How do you know this?"

"I just know, alright. Leave it at that. Just don't ask Professor Snape any questions. In fact, why don't you just leave for the time being? I'm sure once, the serum has run its course, Snape will have something to say about this, especially to you." Harry turned back to look at Severus. Concern clearly evident in his eyes.

Malfoy looked hesitantly from Harry to Snape and back again. Questions could be seen written all over his face. Malfoy huffed in irritation, but decided discretion was in order, so he left to join the others.

Minutes slowly passed as Harry gazed at Severus. Harry was sorely tempted to ask him questions, but knew that morally it was wrong, so he kept his mouth shut and his questions to himself.

The entrance to the potions lab soon opened and the Headmaster walked in. His face clearly showing worry. "Harry, my boy, what ever is the matter? Ms. Granger didn't give me many details as she escorted me down here." Dumbledore walked over and look closely at Severus.

"We were brewing a hypnotic truth serum for the Ministry, Professor. Unfortunately, Malfoy didn't know about the additional properties of the potion, when he tried to get me to ingest some of it. Professor Snape must have caught him in mid-prank, and accidentally took some of the potion instead. I didn't want the rest of the students getting confused and asking the professor any questions, so I got them all to leave."

"Very wise decision, young man. Hopefully Severus didn't ingest too much of the potion, or he could be in this state for quite a while as there is no counter potion to negate the hypnotic portion of the serum."

"Leave Severus in my care, Harry. Go join your classmates."

"Sir, you'll need to cast a memory charm on all of us. Sse... Snape.. I mean, Professor Snape was going to cast it on us once we were done with the potion so that we wouldn't remember it."

"Ah yes, of course. Well then, I will be out shortly. Make sure all the students are gathered together."

"Yes, sir." Harry left the potions lab and joined the others still standing, waiting in the hallway.

"Dumbledore will be out shortly. He'll be the one casting the memory charm."

"But, Harry, why did you make us all leave?" Ron asked.

"How would you feel if you'd been dosed with truth serum? Anyone could ask you a question, no matter how personal, and you would be compelled to tell the truth. I don't think Snape would have been pleased if a stray personal question had been asked, even in fun."

Ron gulped and acknowledged the truth of Harry's words. Hermione and the others shot concerned looks at one another. They also didn't like the idea of being compelled to tell the truth without prior agreement to it beforehand.

Dumbledore came back out of the hall and directed all the students to look towards him. He raised his wand and obliviated their memories for the past two hours. The students blinked at him questioningly afterwards, wondering why they were all standing out in the hallway.

"Your memories of the last several hours were erased to ensure no one remembered the potion that was brewed today. The reason your Professor did not do this is because there was an accident during class. I will not go into details as to what happened. But rest assured, Professor Snape will be just fine. You may go now."

Many of the students wandered off to the library or to their own common room. Harry stayed behind after telling his two friends he would join them for lunch later.

Harry turned to Dumbledore with a question in his eyes.

"He will be just fine, Harry. Honest. Once the effects from the potion you brewed today wear off, Severus will be none the wiser."

"Um, but sir, how did the accident happen?"

"Mr. Malfoy accidentally slipped and some of the potion ended up on Professor Snape. That is all you should be aware of." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at the concern Harry felt for Severus. *How was it that Harry knew more about the potion, than the others did? Interesting. I must ask Severus a few personal questions.*

"You should join your friends, Harry. Run along now." Dumbledore guided Harry in the direction of the main floor.

Harry trudged up the stairs slowly, not wanting to leave. He turned and looked back briefly at Dumbledore, who was still standing at the entrance of the lab. "Go on, Harry. Everything will be just fine."

Harry left and joined his friends. Dumbledore turned back into the potions lab, with a smile on his face. *Now for some answers.*

~tbc~