March came and went. April soon followed and the students at Hogwarts were filled with anxiety as finals were just around the corner. The fifth and seventh years became grouchy from lack of sleep.
The teachers were on edge, snapping at their students for no reason and then sinking into their chairs at night. Everyone was exhausted and could not wait for school to finally be over.
But relaxing was far down their list and all continued to study and teach. The only people that felt at ease were first through fourth years and sixth. The only thing on their minds were the finals and figuring out ways to cheat on them without magic being detected or teachers finding answers written on their arms.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry were one of the few that were relaxing in front of the fire in the common room. I didn't say that they didn't study for the finals since Hermione was there to make them study, but hey, even Hermione needs a rest. Instead all three lay back and relaxed. Ron and Harry were playing chess and Hermione was giving helpful hints to Harry, who for once, was actually winning. With a lot of help from Hermione he had only the king and a bishop to wipe out on Ron's side. Hermione was actually quite good at chess and when the boys complimented her on it she blushed and said that she learned it by watching Ron and Harry play all those years. The boys knew it wasn't entirely true, but let it slide.
"Checkmate." Harry said happily as his knight checked the king. He grinned at Ron's shocked look.
"What's wrong, weren't you expecting it?"
Ron scowled at him good naturedly. "Beginner's luck."
Harry laughed. "It would have been if it was my first time, but since it isn't I finally beat Ronald Weasley, King of chess at his own game!"
"Yeah from a lot of help from my girlfriend, who is supposed to be helping me not you, by the way."
Hermione, who sat at Harry's right side smirked at her boyfriend
"So what do we do now?" Harry asked. "Ginny won't be back from her Healing class for another hour."
"We could always review our notes." The boys groaned, but Hermione continued. "The finals are in two weeks."
" 'Mione, didn't you learn anything from last year? We had so much work that we practically collapsed from fatigue." Ron sat up from his comfortable sofa and stretched.
Hermione gave him a scowl, but was ignored.
"We can always go visit Hagrid and Sirius."
"Ron, Hagrid has a class now, we can't just go down there and interrupt."
"Why not? They're only third years and Hagrid wouldn't mind the company." Ron said.
Harry looked from one to the other as they argued. He sighed and without another word to either of them, he stood up and went to the portrait. He was half way down the hall when a door slammed and hurried footsteps came toward him. Harry turned around and smiled.
"It's about ti--" His smiled turned into a scowl and he snapped his mouth shut and left the person he was about to greet.
He hadn't walked a few steps before the person's voice stopped him.
"Potter, I want to talk to you." Harry turned around and scowled at him.
"I don't think we have anything to say to each other outside of class, Professor." Harry said and began walking again.
"Potter, just listen for once and stop being a spoiled brat."
Harry turned around and stalked up to him. "Professor Snape, after all that you found out about me, you still find ways to insult me. What exactly do you want?"
Snape stood in for of his least favorite student and shrugged. He did not even know why he was out of the dungeons talking to the boy, but after all that he had heard from the boy that day in the infirmary brought painful memories from his own childhood.
"I wanted to apologize, Potter." He watched as the boy's head snapped up to meet his eyes and he felt a sudden urge to put up his mental shields, but before he could do so, Potter turned his gaze away.
"An apology Professor, does not erase all what you sad and did. I cannot forgive you for what you said and I probably never will, but I am willing to work on it."
Snape stood stock still as Harry said his piece. He was surprised that Harry hadn't gotten mad, but he was even more surprised when he said he was willing to try to forgive.
(The reason I'm doing this is bcuz I love Harry and Sev and they are my fave characters. I love them so much and I don't want any fights b2ween the two. I'm sorry I had to put them through all this. I know many of you out there do like Sev. Don't deny it! You all love the evil Potions teacher! lol)
"I wanted to apologize for what I did in the infirmary. Ever since that day, I found out that you were not your father, that you were your own person. All these years I blamed you for what your father did and finally that day I had come to my senses."
Now it was Harry's turn to stand still, but he was less composed and his mouth was open in a slight 'O'.
"Potter--Harry. If you follow me to my office, I can explain everything." Snape said and Harry, after a moment of hesitation, followed silently.
Snape led him to the dungeons and into his office. He sat down behind his desk, but Harry stood watching him.
"I should start from the beginning." When Harry nodded he began. "I met James before we even started at Hogwarts. Yours and my family were enemies, mostly because your family was light and mine dark. James attacked me as soon as we got on the train. Since we were both purebloods, we both knew dark and light curses that no one aside purebloods knew them. While James and I flung curse after curse at each other, we didn't notice the crowd we attracted until the Finite Incantatum charm was put on us. We both found out later that your mother was the one who stopped us. From then on I hated your father more then ever and I hated your mother because she stopped the fight.
"I never talked to her, but when I did my anger was released and I lashed out at her. For years while we were at Hogwarts she always protected me, even if I didn't need it. Inside I was grateful, but outside I pushed her away. That proved to be a mistake. She never helped me anymore and was actually encouraging James to hex me.
"At first I felt betrayed, but then I remember that it wasn't Lily's fault, but mine. I made a mistake that year and I'll never forget it. One night during our sixth year, I overheard James and the others were going to sneak in to be with Lupin. I didn't know he was a werewolf, but I also didn't know that the Marauders were planning for me to overhear their conversation.
"I went to the Whomping Willow where they said they would meet, but before I could get too close to the tree, your father came and rescued me before I could....die."
Harry sat down on one of the chairs, but he was quiet, not really knowing what to say to the man who for once in his life was being open to him. He was glad to finally get the truth, even if it was one of the obvious, but he never thought that all the rivalry first started between the two families.
"So what made my father try to save you?"
"To humiliate me, probably, but I never truly found out why he did it. But just for that I hated him. The rest of the year and later I was murderous towards him, especially when he and Lily announced that they were engaged and were to marry after graduation. That hatred for them intensified and forced me to join Voldemort.
"I soon realized my mistake after I met Lily one night on Prefect duties and she found out. Your mother was furious, and the rumor about her good charm skills were definitely were true as she hexed me straight to hell that night. After that I'd rather have face two dark lords at the same time rather then your mum. She was one heck of a fierce witch. The next morning I went to Dumbledore and swore him my alliance."
"God, all that happened because of mom and dad." Harry muttered, but smiled as Snape unconsciously complimented his mother.
"Not all of it. Some of it came from my own family. I didn't exactly have a perfect childhood."
Harry smiled lightly, "It shows."
He snickered as Snape glared at him, but the glare wasn't as intense as his usual scorn he wore.
Harry suddenly choked and looked up sharply at his professor. A thought had just crossed his mind as all the information he got settled down.
"Professor, did you like her?"
Snape stared at him and Harry blushed. He grinned sheepishly at him and turned his red face to the floor.
He heard Snape chuckle slightly, "What gave you the idea?"
"Umm well the fact that you seem to admire her would be one of them. You said so yourself earlier that you were proud of her for sticking up for you. Than your voice changed when you told me about her engagement."
Snape looked at him thoughtfully. "And here I thought you weren't smart. Yes. I liked her. I liked her for her courage to stand up to anyone. I like the ways she protected me and the way she insulted James. I loved everything about her, but I knew I couldn't have her since my family would kill her the instant they knew she was muggle born. That is why I pushed her away in the beginning. When I heard she had a son I was angry, I knew you would look like him. I vowed that no matter how much you look like the git that was your father I would put aside my differences and protect you. When they died and the mutt was thrown into Azkaban, I tried to take you, but Dumbledore refused to give you to me and sent you to the Dursleys. I thought you were going to be spoiled and praised, but when you came to school I wanted to stomp it out of you."
"Is that the reason you picked on me so much?"
"No, I picked on you because you were sorted into Gryffindor and always got in trouble and weaseled your way out. I was mad as you were turning out to be just like him. Getting into fight with Draco and all that."
"Draco and I called truce. We got bored with all the snide remarks we sent at each other and because we finally grew up."
"Or it could be that he saved your butt." Snape said.
Harry grinned. "Yeah that too."
"Well it's good that you two are now friends. I talked to Draco and he said the same thing. You need help in this war and I will be there as well as Draco. He is powerful and from what I've heard, you two are a great team."
"Thanks. I will need all the help I can get."
"I'll try to put the past behind us and try to remember that..."
"I'm not my father." Harry finished. He huffed and threw his hands up in the air as a silent thanks. "Finally somebody gets it."
"Yes, well it might partially be my fault for acting like him, but that's another story."
"Sir would---"
"Harry!" The two jumped out of their chairs and ran towards the shriek.
Ginny stood panting at the entrance. Her face was flushed.
"Gin what is it?" Harry asked her. Ginny collapsed into his arms when he came to her and cried. Harry stood there holding her awkwardly.
When she had gained her composure. "HARRY WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Her Weasley temper flared.
"What'd you mean?" Harry asked puzzled.
Ginny stared at him with her mouth open. "Harry you've been gone for almost four hours. When Ron and Hermione told me that you were supposed to meet them at Hagrid's we got worried when you didn't return nor meet them there. When Ron and Hermione went to Hagrid's and back, we found out that you weren't even out of the castle!"
Snape stepped out of the shadows and came to stand beside Harry.
"That would be my fault, Ms. Weasley. Mr. Potter and I were discussing something and I guess we lost track of time."
Ginny scowled at him, "Harry we better go before they really get to worry and start throwing things around. They've been frantic that you'd run away again."
Harry stared at her. "What do you mean again?"
"You have a tendency of going somewhere without telling anyone, you could've at least shouted down the hall where you were going to be. By the way why are you here?"
"Professor Snape and I came to an agreement about something and we were just discussing it I guess. So why don't we go back up to the tower and I'll apologize for worrying everyone."
Ginny was staring at Snape, but nodded nonetheless. Her thoughtful eyes met his for a moment and understanding flickered in her eyes. "All right Harry, let's go." She went out the door leaving the two alone once again.
"Thanks for finally telling me about, well everything really. And for all the things you said I forgive, but not what you did. I'm still working on it and I'm hoping that we could be friends and not enemies again. It was nice to get to know the real Snape behind the mask. I don't know why you hide, but I'm hoping that when I forgive you and make you stop blaming yourself for my mum's death then maybe you can finally just be the real you."
Snape watched as Harry went out the door and he heard his and Weasley's voices as they walked back up to the tower. He smiled a true smile in a long time.
"I have said it before and I'll say it again, you will be great Harry Potter."
Well thats it! I know its short but hey, what can I do. I owed this story at least one chapter since I already gave about three to IIWI before this one....anyway. There is a clue in this chapter for the ppl who have been keeping track of the mysterious figure that keeps popping up like popcorn once in a while. If you don't remember, go back and find out. The clue isn't really hidden, but there are two of them in the chappy to tell you who the mystery man is.....