*sticks head around corner*
Is it safe?
*ducks flying objects thrown her way*
Guess not…hey, what can I say? It's been over a month now. Really sorry about that, but honestly, it was out of my control. Being in the military has that drawback. But I'm back on track and prepared to finish Harry's first year in the next couple of chapters.
On a funnier note, my sociology teacher's name is Bill Lockhart. I'm prepared to have a lot of fun this semester.
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"Have you heard who else is staying for Christmas?" Hermione asked at breakfast. Harry shook his head, but Colt looked up from his novel.
"No Ravenclaws, that I know of. Except Harry here, of course. What about in Gryffindor?"
"Ron Weasley's family is going to Romania, so he's staying, along with Fred and George. And I believe a few of the older years are staying." Harry swallowed his eggs and smiled brightly, his voice ringing with Christmas cheer.
"Uncle said none of the Slytherins were staying, so Christmas this year will be enjoyable." Colt elbowed Harry in the ribs sharply, and Harry grinned. "What? Better now than later. Uncle would have had me disemboweling frogs from now till Easter if he'd heard that." Colt's eyes shifted sideways to the figure behind them.
"That's why I elbowed you, Harry," he returned, and Harry groaned inwardly.
"If you cannot enjoy the holidays with a Slytherin in your presence Mr. Potter, then perhaps you should stay in your dormitories for their duration." Harry turned to face his uncle, but the man had turned sharply and stormed out of the hall. Hermione gulped as Harry turned back to his plate, his appetite suddenly gone.
"He didn't seem too angry," Colt offered, hoping to lift his friend's spirits.
"No," Hermione said sadly, "He seemed hurt." Harry stabbed his breakfast with his fork and sighed; Hermione seemed dumbfounded at this. "Aren't you going to go apologize, Harry?"
"Not right now," Harry droned, his Christmas spirit depleted.
"But what about –"
"No!" Harry shot up out of his seat. "You don't understand!" Before they could ask him what he meant, he was gone. The altercation had not gone unnoticed by the faculty however, and Flitwick trotted over.
"What's the problem, Mr. Boot?"
"It's Harry, Professor. He's acting strange."
"I will talk with him, then. Do you happen to know where he would be?" Both students shook their heads. "Very well." The small wizard continued out of the hall and began looking for his pupil. After a few minutes of futile searching, he pulled his wand.
"Evestigatus Harry Potter," he spoke, and a thin blue line shot from his wand. He followed it up the stairs and down the hall. Soon he came upon the Astronomy Tower and pocketed his wand. Climbing the stairs, he was surprised to see his young charge hunched over parchment, glancing at a textbook every now and then.
"Mr. Potter?" he inquired softly, and when the boy did not look up, he scooted closer and tried again. This time, the boy set his quill down and sat up, locking eyes with his Head of House.
"Yes, sir?" he asked, a hint of tears in his voice.
"Might I inquire as to what you are doing in the Astronomy Tower just before you are due in potions?"
"I'm just finishing an extra project for Professor Sinistra. She asked me to have it complete before the holidays started." Flitwick pursed his lips and cleared his throat. "Right then. And of the outburst at breakfast moments ago?" It was clear Harry was not easily forthcoming with information, and the Ravenclaw Head of House was not about to spend hours on end playing a game with a first year student.
"Professor, I lost my temper…it happens. I'll apologize to Hermione and Colt later. I just had to get out and think, you know?" Harry stood and gathered his things, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Goodbye Professor. I'll see you later." Harry glided by the teacher and down the stairs. He came upon the Great Hall just as Colt and Hermione were exiting. They all stopped and looked at one another, wondering who was going to make the first move. Finally, Harry, knowing it was to be him, cleared his throat.
"Sorry, about before I mean. I've got a lot on my mind lately, and it was unfair for me to take it out on you guys." Silence reigned among them as Harry looked at his friends for a sign of forgiveness. Finally, Colt shrugged nonchalantly and clapped him on the shoulder, while Hermione smiled brightly. Harry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and gave them a little smile. Without another word, they set off for their classes, waving as Hermione broke off for Transfiguration. Harry's heart beat heavier as they descended into the dungeons. They entered the classroom together, taking their seats up front. Harry steeled his nerves and placed a mask over his face, just as he'd seen his uncle do many times. He wasn't going to let the man see his distress, and he even smiled a little at Colt's antics with Hannah.
Professor Snape burst through the doors with more fervor than usual, and several pairs of eyes turned to Harry. Before he could react, Snape began scribbling ingredients on the board and declared that this would be the end of term exam and there was to be no talking.
"Harry, I really think you should apologize now," Colt whispered after Snape yelled at Hannah for breathing too loudly. "He's treating us like Gryffindors!"
"No," Harry returned evenly. "I'll talk to him later. Now would only anger him more." Colt nodded and began adding shriveled fig to his potion.
As the period ended, Harry gathered his things and walked slowly up to the desk, his face even and his stride purposeful. The potions master merely raised an eyebrow at the boy, and Harry swallowed his pride.
"I'm sorry, Uncle," he said quietly, "What I said was rude, and I didn't really mean it."
"Then why did you say it," the silky voice was low but deadly. Harry's brow furrowed, finally realizing how much his uncle had been hurt by the comment.
"It was a joke, honestly. You've seen the way Malfoy treats us."
"So because of Malfoy, you are going to say that all Slytherins are bad?" Uh oh, Harry thought. Stereotyping Slytherins was the one thing his uncle hated above all things, and Harry had just admitted he'd done it. Unfortunately, his uncle had taken his silence as an affirmation and stood, rising to his full height.
"Mr. Potter, I do believe you should be getting to class. You're professor will be wondering where you are."
"No, Uncle, I didn't mean –" But it was too late. Snape entered his office and closed the door, leaving Harry standing in an empty classroom, staring after his uncle. Dejectedly, he left, walking silently and slowly up to the Charms classroom. Harry took his seat next to Hermione and dropped his bag on the floor, not bothering to grab any parchment or his quill. The tiny wizard noticed his student's distress and after giving the class instructions for the written end of term exam, he called Harry up to his desk.
"Is there something you'd like to talk about, Mr. Potter? You don't seem yourself. Is there a problem between you and your friends?"
"No, Professor. My uncle and I had a row, and I've tried apologizing, but he doesn't want to listen to me." Flitwick nodded and guided the young boy into his office.
"Have a seat, Mr. Potter," he offered, and Harry sank into the armchair. "Now, what is this row about?" Harry sighed, knowing there was no way out.
"He's blowing it way out of proportion! I just joked about no Slytherins being here over Christmas and how enjoyable it would be. I didn't think he'd actually hear me."
"So because he couldn't hear you made it alright to say?"
"Well, no," Harry flustered, "I know I shouldn't have, but after enduring Malfoy for a whole term, it just sort of slipped out."
"You of all people should know that stereotyping Slytherins based on the actions of a few is wrong. Not to mention that Professor Snape hates that above all else." Harry nodded.
"He hates me now, I know it. He told me to stay in the dormitories for Christmas, and he'll probably make me live with Colt during the summer."
"Now, now, no need to be hasty. I'm sure he doesn't hate you, but you need to think about this from his perspective. He is a Slytherin, and very proud of that fact. You saying the holidays are more enjoyable without Slytherins probably made him feel you haven't been happy living with him all these years." Harry's eyes widened as the realization dawned on him.
"No! That's not what I meant!"
"Do you happen to recall your conversation with Mr. Malfoy yesterday?" Flitwick inquired. Harry nodded slowly, going over the exchange in his head.
"So Potter," Harry closed his eyes in exasperation as Malfoy accosted him outside of Quirrel's classroom. "Another Christmas without your parents," he snickered, then sobered up, adopting a mockingly saddened expression. "You must miss them something terrible."
"Watch it, Malfoy," Harry warned, letting the boy know he was in no mood for games.
"I'll bet your uncle throws grand Christmas parties just like my father," the Slytherin continued, not noticing Harry's darkening glare. "They were both in Slytherin you know. And from the same type of family. From what father tells me, they were practically inseparable." Harry, not wanting to hear his uncle be compared to Lucius Malfoy any longer, decided to throw the Slytherin a twist.
"Actually, the holidays at our house aren't very festive at all. Pretty much the same old boring stuff that goes on all the time. I imagine you must be as disappointed as I am during the holidays, then." Harry eyed the boy, satisfied at getting the desired reaction. Malfoy scowled, sulking off to his common room, leaving Harry smiling.
"I remember," Harry said, smiling slightly at the vision of a deflated Malfoy.
"You're uncle was quite upset at staff meeting last night, and it took Albus three cups of tea to calm him down enough to explain, in his own way. How could you say something like that, Mr. Potter? Your uncle has tried very hard these last ten years, and I'm very disappointed that you have not realized how much he cares for you."
"He heard?!" Harry leapt out of his seat, replaying the conversation over in his mind, thinking of how it would sound if he had just heard the last part. "I was talking to Malfoy, and he kept comparing Uncle Severus to his father. I couldn't stand it anymore, and I had to say something to wipe the grin off his face."
"Oh dear," the smaller wizard sat back down, a frown evident on his face. "Severus must have only heard…oh my." Harry paced for a while, then sat back down.
"Now I know he hates me. That's why he was so distant when I tried to talk to him after class. And…" Harry's face went slack before he buried his head in his hands. "He asked me why I said it if I didn't mean it. He must have been talking about yesterday, too."
"I believe the two of you need to sit down and have a discussion."
"No, he won't! He's going to release me, and I'll be living in some orphanage until I'm seventeen!" Flitwick stood and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Now, let's not be rash. I'm sure you and Severus are not the first family to have arguments, and you certainly won't be the last. I've seen many students who've had problems with their parents, and it all works out for the better in the end." Harry stood, shrugging the elder wizard off.
"But that's just it, professor! He's not my parent, he's my uncle. I mean, yeah, he's looked out for me and raised me, but…" Harry trailed off, realizing just how much he'd let out. Flitwick sighed and scuttled over to the door.
"Harry, I think this goes beyond the past couple of days, and I suggest you and your uncle have a long sit down. Tell him how you feel and what you're thinking." Harry nodded softly, knowing his uncle wouldn't be responsive to such action. But he kept silent, not wanting to delay himself or his professor any longer. "Good! Now, are you ready for your end of term?" Harry again nodded and followed the Charms professor back into the classroom. He waved off Hermione's concerned smile, and sat down, delving into his exam immediately.
*****
"Was I wrong to take him in at all, Albus?"
The venerable Headmaster of Hogwarts sighed as he sipped his tea, listening to his distraught professor. Of course, anyone other than the Headmaster himself wouldn't have known the normally dower potions master was distraught, but Dumbledore had grown to recognize his charge's moods and mannerisms.
"Come now, Severus. Are you positive you did not misunderstand Harry? Or his intentions?"
"Albus, I heard him in the halls yesterday, practically broadcasting that he'd rather have grown up anywhere but with me. And he was telling his friends at breakfast that he doesn't enjoy the company of Slytherins. I have tried to teach him that being a Slytherin in itself does not make a witch or wizard evil, but the choices of that person." Severus had given up on his tea and was now pacing around the small office. As he passed by the older man's chair, Severus felt a warm, calming hand on his forearm. Immediately, he stopped and sunk back down into the armchair.
"Have you spoken to young Harry since these incidents and asked him what he meant?"
"Of course, Albus! I knew I should have sent the boy off to Beauxbatons, instead of here."
"Severus, you know as well as I that he would have been neither happy nor safe so far away." Albus' voice began to take on a commanding timbre. "Now, as soon as classes are over, you will assist your nephew in moving his belongings down to your quarters, and you will have a long discussion. If you must skip dinner in the hall tonight, do so; I will send an elf with food. But you will get this sorted out." Severus knew when he could argue with the Headmaster, and when he could not. He sighed, nodding his consent, and stood.
"I have classes to teach, good day." Without waiting for a reply, he descended the stairs and stalked to the dungeons, only taking slight satisfaction at the sight of the students scattering to avoid his wrath.
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Well, there you have it. Not a lot of action, but plenty of drama. I wonder what the future will have in store for the potions master and his young nephew? I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Oh, right, I'm the writer. Well in that case, er, I should probably go get cracking huh? TTFN ~ RG