Hiding Under the Ninth Earth
Book 02 : A Bit Of All Right
by I Got Tired of Waiting

Part I : Severus
Chapter Five : Cease Fire

Friday : 11 June 1999 (Continued)

The class itself was unexceptional. No explosions, no sass, no mistakes. 'Boring actually.'

Potter wouldn't look at him. 'Surprise, surprise,' Snape thought ironically.

He surreptitiously looked at the clock at the back of the classroom. 'Almost time for dismissal,' he thought with some relief. The last word came out of his mouth precisely at the bell. The eight students started gathering their things, eager to escape; this had not been one of his livelier sessions.

"Mr. Potter? A moment of your time, please?" he called out as Harry stood to leave. Harry glanced over to Draco, their eyes meeting and holding. Draco, his whole demeanor possessive, sat back down and waited.

Determined to stop this at the start, Snape called out, "Mr. Malfoy, you have something you wish to see me about?" At Draco's startled look, he continued, "I'll take your question first as I may be some few minutes with Mr. Potter."

"Ah, no sir, I was waiting for Harry," he said without his usual aplomb.

'Nice dissembling, Draco, just the right touch of awkwardness. Well Done. But not in my class.' "Then please take you--and your dilatory manner--elsewhere preferably on the other side of the castle. I seem to recall you had some good deeds to do today? Yes? Mr. Potter will be with you as soon as he is able."

He glared at the young upstart as he leisurely rose and sauntered from the room. "You know where to find me, Harry, when you're finished."

Harry hid his grin from Draco by turning away for a moment. Snape muttered, "Insolent Prat," and noted Harry's small grin of silent approval with some satisfaction.

With the snick of the door, Snape cast warding and silencing charms on it. Harry looked a bit mystified. Snape answered his puzzlement by commenting, "Mr. Malfoy has, in the past, proven himself unable to follow the simplest of directions. This conversation is between the two of us and is not intended for his listening pleasure." He made another pass of his wand, and the wall seemingly disappeared. There, with his ear pressed against the heavy door, was Draco with an intense look of concentration on his feral face.

"I see what you mean. Why would he care?" Harry asked, dryly.

"I can think of several reasons--not one of them good. Suffice it to say, had our positions been reversed, I would've done much the same thing if I thought the conversation involved, in any way, something I felt I needed to know." He chuckled at Harry's resigned sigh, knowing he didn't really understand what he'd just said.

Rather than pursuing it, Harry asked, "You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes indeed, Mr. Potter." He moved over to his desk, opened the drawer, and pulled out the thick pile of papers with the book he'd laid in there earlier. After closing the drawer, he took the stack over to a middle work table and sat down on one of the wooden stools. He held out his hand to Harry, indicating the seat across from him. "Please be seated."

Harry hesitated just a second, his eyes travelling to the desk behind him to the table where he sat, but it was enough for Snape to realise he was wondering why they were at the table and not the desk, like most interviews with Snape. Without the intimidating bulk of the Potion Master's desk between them, this arrangement appeared almost intimate. Harry primly settled on the edge of the stool and waited patiently.

Severus noticed his discomfort with a little chagrin. It had not been his intent to make him uncomfortable; he'd thought the informal setting might make this discussion easier on him.

"I have given some thought to our discourse last evening." Harry's eyes lowered. Snape ignored his uneasiness and continued, "Upon occasion, in the odd case where they're not planning on simply joining the family business, I've the dubious honour of counseling the Slytherins on their future careers. To that end, I keep an up-dated copy of this workbook, which uses OWL and NEWT scores in conjunction with personal preferences and talents to ascertain, at the very least, a starting point in the search for a likely profession for that student."

He studied Harry's impassive face a moment and, sensing the underlying interest, plunged in. "After our talk yestereve, I took the liberty of pulling your scores. If you'll recall, at the time of the OWL's you had several promising choices open to you; however, you chose the special study to become an Auror, so those options were never explored. With the addition of your NEWT scores, the options narrow, but there are still several available." He pulled out one set of papers and set them in front of Harry, upside-down to him, so Harry could easily read them. "To this end, I plugged all your scores into the charts," here he laid out a second, thicker set of papers, "made the calculations," a thinner pile joined the others, "added your articulated, personal preferences of last night," a single sheet was laid on Harry's left, "and tabulated the results." Three sheets were placed right in front of him.

Harry picked up the pieces of parchment, scanning them quickly. They were worth a second look. Severus watched, fascinated, as Harry made some small sense of the data on the pages. He picked up his scores and compared the results. He took his time, the logic of the thing slowly coming together until it was obvious he understood the manipulations of the numbers compared to the results.

He finally looked up at Snape, unaware of the time passed in his perusal of the documents. Severus regarded him calmly, captivated by the thoughts flitting across Harry's face as he mastered the system without the instruction guide. 'I may have sorely underestimated him,' he thought with satisfaction. 'Now where did that come from?'

"Why did you elevate the Potions score, deflate the History Score, and omit the Medi-Wizard option?" Harry asked, curious.

"As to the scores--I weighted them. The Potions score was weighted higher because of your performance this past year, after the NEWT's; your technique has improved and now that you're paying attention," he smiled, "you're performing to a much higher standard than before. Truly a pity you didn't before now; you might have rivaled Miss Granger." Harry looked sceptical. Hermione was well on her way to her degree in Potions at Cambridge, where Severus had sponsored her.

"As to the History score, you indicated it was one you perceived you'd done poorly in. This is evidenced in that there is no NEWT score and your OWL's are abysmal. Since you indicated you did not much like History, I added a negative personal preference tally to the average and as a result it was weighted much lower. If I was wrong--"

"No, not wrong--it was a fair assumption," Harry hastily assured him.

"The Medi-Wizard option I discounted because I felt it wouldn't challenge you. While you would be doing 'good'," he almost sneered at the word, "the Healer is a specialist more in keeping with your Sanos abilities. It was a judgement call on my part. If that's truly what you want--"

"I'm not sure what I want. Auror or Healer. Death or Life. What a choice," he mused.

"A bit simplistically put but accurate nonetheless." Severus waited for his reaction.

Harry was speechless. Snape could almost read the thoughts flitting across his open face--he knew he was not known for his generosity of either his time or his consideration. When the young man's brow puckered in puzzlement, he braced himself for the host of questions that never came. "Why would you do this for me?" Harry finally asked, his eyes wide and wondering.

'I'm not sure I know the answer to that myself,' he mused, but out loud he heard himself say, "Contrary to popular opinion I'm neither an ogre, nor am I completely immune to random acts of kindness." He shifted on the stool, uncomfortable. 'I cannot believe I'm having this conversation.'

Harry's incredulity over the matter coloured his voice. "Thank you, sir. May I take these papers to look them over?" he asked. When Snape's hesitated, he added, "If you'd rather I not--"

"No, you may have them. You're the first student, in my experience, to understand them. My hesitancy has nothing to do with you. Rather with a certain Slytherin who is, no doubt, still futilely waiting at the door."

Harry chuckled. "Well, I certainly hope he's not expecting me to rub his back." He grinned, his eyes glinting.

"You've reconciled?" Severus asked with a familiar sinking feeling in his gut.

"Not exactly." Severus brightened, then dimmed at Harry's next words. "He's grovelling. I'm thinking about it. Makes for a pleasant change." His grin turned wicked.

Severus thought about the implications of their time together, of how many of their colleagues, including Potter, could be hurt if it continued. He fought his rising nausea.

Harry watched Snape carefully. "Are you all right, sir?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm fine." He didn't know where to begin. How should he warn Harry--and if possible get him away from Draco--without getting his back up? 'Perhaps he stays with Draco just to prove us all wrong, even if he knows we're right.' Harry's weary tone with his next words confirmed his conjecture.

"Why would you be concerned whether Draco sees these papers or not, if I might ask?"

'Ah, a good lead-in.' He stated as blandly as he could, "I would be concerned about anyone sifting through them. They're yours and yours alone--not necessarily anyone else's business."

"I can see that, but you seemed concerned about Draco in particular," he replied, his eyes narrowing.

'This is precisely what I wanted to avoid.' Severus sighed. "Harry," he began, "I'm sure you have received numerous, shall we say, warnings about being associated with Draco Malfoy." He held up his hand to forestall the inevitable heated comment. "I would not presume to judge your relationship. Draco has his moments, some good, some bad. It's your choice whether you stay with him or not; I'm assuming your own native intelligence and instincts are sufficient for you to make your own decisions. This isn't about him. It's about you."

'Gods help me that I'm right,' Severus thought. Harry raised a brow.

He continued, picking his words with great care, "However, having said that, and having known Draco for the past eighteen or so years, I can say with some assurance that he's quite spoiled and can be manipulative when he wants something. Obviously that something, if you will, right now is you." He paused, gauging Harry's reaction. He seemed calmer. "Draco is drawn to power like a moth to a flame, if you'll excuse a tired old phrase, something you have in abundance. You've apparently chosen to deviate from a course which exploits your power and are now considering newer," he paused trying to find the right word, "more constructive, avenues to pursue. This is a positive thing for you, but not necessarily fulfilling for Mr. Malfoy."

Harry shifted on his stool, no longer sitting on the edge, his eyes thoughtful. Leaning forward, Severus said, "Harry, I asked you a question last night you never answered. Do you know what you want?"

"No," he whispered when he couldn't find his voice, his face to the side. He cleared his throat. Stronger, as if he thought Snape had not heard him, he said again, "No, I don't."

Severus caught and held his eyes for a moment. He used every oratory skill he possessed to make Harry hear his earnest words as he said, "The decision of which career you choose must be solely yours, Mr. Potter. From my own dolorous experiences I have found that any path taken for the sake of anyone else often turns into a bitter road from which one spends the rest of one's life trying to escape. I am concerned Mr. Malfoy will try to convince you his path is your path before you know yourself what you want. And if he's wrong you may make a decision you'll live to regret. This," his hands swept over the papers, "is no small matter. I would counsel you to keep it private, from everyone, until you know your own mind. Perhaps then you could share it with others for further opinion."

He willed Harry to understand. 'Don't make the same mistakes with your Malfoy that I made with mine.'

Harry frowned and threw Snape a sharp glance before turning his face to the only window in the room. He finally murmured, as if talking to himself, "You're right. Damn you, you're right. Draco will push and push until he gets what he wants. I need to think on this. I would like to look through the papers, but it would be easier to not have to hide them, but I want to try some new combinations. Perhaps there are other choices as well?" Realising he'd been talking out loud, he looked startled. "Professor, can you suggest a place I can leave the charts and workbook without having to bother you every time I want to see them?"

Severus let out the breath he'd been unconsciously holding. "How about the library? Madame Pince can hold them for you at the front desk; you could look at them there. I can leave them for you, if you wish."

"That's a good idea, thank you. I'd appreciate it." Severus nodded his head, pleased.

Harry hesitated, obviously uneasy, "And I've been thinking over the last few weeks--and last night. I guess I'm long overdue with some things--between us." Severus raised his brows in surprise and started to reply. Harry raised his hand to forestall him, saying, "Please, let me finish or I may never be able to."

Snape nodded and he began. "I know you once told me we were "odds-even', but I'm not sure anymore that's true." He chuckled, his eyes getting that far-away look one gets when one is remembering. He murmured, "Well, maybe at the time it was." Recalling himself he continued, "However, the past two years have been--difficult, and I realised it was for both of us." He paused and looked around the room. "I know I was a terrible student--I know I didn't pay attention as I should," he met Snape's eyes and grinned, "and I think I know every crack in this floor--I spent enough time on it."

Snape almost smiled and then caught himself and nodded instead.

Harry's face sobered. He mused, "All those years--the hours of extra study, dragging my sorry arse up to the tower every night--usually after getting thoroughly drubbed by you or the Headmaster or both--no life, no time, no friends, no friendly trips to Hogsmeade--most of it was nothing but work and learning. Not that we didn't complain. I swore last year that if I ever heard you say 'Potter!' in that really annoying way you have, I was going to Transfigure you into a new wall sconce."

He quirked a smile and Snape knew he'd not been completely successful at hiding his. "And in the end, maybe it was all worth it--I guess I got it right, even if the form was bad. Afterwards, I even missed it, if you can believe it." His mouth twisted a little at the corners.

"However, I'd never realised, until I saw all the work you went through to help me this afternoon, that you and the Headmaster had to sacrifice as much as I did. It never occurred to me that you were there too, that you were giving up the same amount of time, the same amount of effort as I was, maybe more." His voice trailed off, his thought obviously back in his memories. Snape waited patiently. Eventually he said softly, looking at the floor. "But the truly sad part is that until today, I never once thought to thank you."

"And now this," he pointed to the papers on the table, his voice brisker, "this was--unforeseen. The work, the time you spent putting this together, and your sound advice was more than I'd ever expected or maybe even deserved."

Severus was dumbfounded. His silence spurred Harry on.

He shifted uncomfortably but met Snape's incredulous eyes full on and said quietly, "I guess I'm just as guilty as everyone else in overlooking your better attributes and for that alone I owe you a long, overdue apology. I haven't been very nice to you over the years and gave you less respect than you truly deserved. As to the current situation, you've been nothing but decent about the whole thing and it's time I acknowledge you are actually looking after my best interests. I know you don't approve of me, or my actions at times and abhor my relationship with Draco, but it's been a pleasant surprise to know you aren't going to shove your opinions down my throat."

'Who are you and what did you do with Harry?' he thought, his mental jaw hitting the floor. The feelings from Harry's words were foreign to him and difficult to describe, but they made him feel unaccountably good. 'Now how do I respond to this?'

Severus chose his words carefully. "You're welcome. Although I admit I thought the heroics overrated, but since we all saved each other's lives, I believe a certain balance was achieved." He cleared his throat nervously. "Despite my ranting last night I'd always felt we'd each placed equal effort and sacrifice into Voldemort's demise. Having said that, it doesn't come easy for me to thank you as well. It seems we both had some--excess baggage to unload."

At Harry's rueful smile, he continued, "As to the 'effort' of today--I realised this morning you hadn't the advantage I did; I'd my Potions work to return to after the madness was over, something I assiduously protected over the years from vilification. You're too young to own many choices, and it seemed only fair to give you more."

It was Harry's turn to close his mouth.

"You're incorrect in saying I don't approve of your relationship with Draco. My approval or disapproval is irrelevant; it's truly none of my business with whom you sleep. I do believe you're making a mistake being with him; however, I also firmly believe mistakes exist to edify us if we can step away from them and observe them, without prejudice, in hindsight."

He paused, his next words dredged from deep within him. "Of course, there's always the issue of seeing them in the first place. What I truly abhor is dishonesty; I'll not lie to you--even if my beliefs or observations cause discomfort or hurt. I found honest value in our conversation yestereve. If you ever need to--discuss--anything further, you know where to find me." He stared at himself. 'Where's all this coming from? Surely, not from my mouth?'

Harry said with a grin, "So all those nasty, sarcastic insults you showered us students with, all those years, were the truth?" he asked innocently.

Snape gave him a genuine smile, "From my perspective, yes. I think if you look back on it, you'll find I was as right as I was--tactless. But you're mistaken if you think I limit it to just the students. So learn from it."

Harry stood and offered his hand; Severus took it, standing. "Fair enough. As to your offer--I will if you will," he stated with a small smile and released his hand. At Severus' nod, he left for the door which Severus hastily un-warded. Before the door closed he heard him say, "C'mon Draco, let's go."

Severus sat back down on the stool, wondering what had just happened. 'Could we possibly be friends now? Good heavens--I better go outside and make sure the earth is still revolving.' He started laughing while he gathered the papers up. 'On to Madame Pince.'

****

Mid-to-Late June 1999

Harry, by himself, went to the library several times and ran the numbers again and came up with several more options to choose from. While Snape was not infallible, his results were so tight to Harry's, it was amazing he'd hit it so closely.

He spent some hours (much to Draco's displeasure) down in the Potions lab in the evenings while Snape worked, sometimes helping but always asking him questions about the different fields of study he was looking at. He always got unbiased and non-judgmental answers. His talks with Professor McGonagall were also fruitful now he had a direction to follow. Madame Pomfrey, in particular, had surprising advice.

Two weeks later, he met with them all in the Headmaster's office and formally asked them to help him pursue a career as a Healer, to which they readily agreed. A schedule and apprenticeship were set-up and the ensuing, lively discussion on the right schools was everything Harry had hoped for. Since the apprenticeship with Madame Pomfrey determined where he would live, the bulk of his 'classwork' would be done with Owls and brief visits with his academic tutor/advisor, a woman of some renown.

Dumbledore and Snape, in particular were pleased he would remain at Hogwarts; there'd been some ugly episodes and rumours, which made it unlikely Harry would be safe for long outside the walls of the school. Not that they told him this. He never would have agreed to remain had he thought they were protecting him.

While the Head of the Slytherin House was inordinately pleased, another certain Slytherin was not amused.

****

July 1999

So, with Snape's support, Harry changed professions--much to Fudge's overt displeasure. He used his numerous connections to block Harry's applications; it had been quite a behind-the-scenes wrestling match with Dumbledore and Snape pitted against Fudge and the Ministry to get Harry's remote acceptance into a good school passed, let alone noticed.

In the end they were successful but only after Minerva had gone to see Fudge privately at the Ministry. Shortly after her subsequent return to Hogwarts, an insufferably smug smile on her face, word arrived that Fudge had capitulated with nary a whimper. While Snape had been loath to publicly admit anything good about his old nemesis and found her lingering affectation intolerable, he had to privately admit the old bat's almost Slytherin handling of the situation had been most impressive.

Harry was doing exceedingly well and found an almost Hermione-like concentration late in life that made it even easier for him to succeed. Hitting his stride from day one, he did it by himself. His relationship with Draco fell by the wayside as he spent more time in his studies than he did with the other young man.

Draco did nothing to support him and seemed determined to undermine Harry's efforts with subtle insults and esteem-gnawing comments. Given Draco's propensity for annoying and baiting Harry coupled with his rapidly dissolving temper, it had not taken long after he'd started school for Harry's and Severus' cease-fire to turn into something a bit more.