Forgot a Disclaimer in Chapter 1 but I don't own anything! As broke as a college student!! So please don't sue me because I own nothing but a few clothes that I am lucky to own!!
Dances
Let the Games Begin
Severus decided that he would rather see if Harry could actually act on his promises. It had already been a week since the dances and the craziest of rumors were going around. One was that he had actually placed their savior under a spell to like him and dance with him. Oh but the one that he really loved was the one where they thought Harry and he were actually fraternizing with each other.
He was actually going to have fun with the rumors too this time. So there he was walking up to Harry... why am I still calling him that? ...standing in front of him at the Gryffindor table and the emerald eyes look up into the obsidian ones.
"I was wondering if you would like to join my later for dinner so we could discuss the plans we were talking about." Severus said pleasantly. There take that. Let's see the rumors now.
Harry had an idea of where this was going. He could see the glint in his eyes. "Alright Professor. Am I assuming that it's going to be in your personal quarters?"
Severus looked down into the twinkling eyed youth. He knows exactly what I'm doing. All the better. "Please Harry, I think with this relationship we are forming you should call me Severus."
Harry tried to hide the smirk he knew was growing on his face. He knew his Professor could see it too. Have fun while you can.
"Yes, I'll be serving dinner in my quarters. You'll come prepared?" Severus asked as pleasantly as he could.
Harry sighed dramatically to give affect. "Yes Severus, I'll be as ready as I can be in this type of situation. You just make sure that list is ready for me to do. I'll see to all the things I can do personally." Harry made sure that the last word was emphasized. He also raised his eyebrow.
"Alright Harry, I'll see you tonight at seven then." Severus said and turned to leave.
"Seven Severus." Harry turned back to the shocked audience. Dumbledore of course knew it had nothing to do with the rumors that were going around. They were rumors, nothing true about them. Severus must have been enjoying the attention and Harry saw that and played up to it. Clever boys.
Harry was seriously laughing by the time it was time to leave. His friends wanted to know everything to do with Severus... he wondered it he'd still get to call his professor by his first name. Harry wouldn't tell them anything about the potions shop he wanted to start up.
He had thought ahead and pulled out two thousand galleons to start off with for Severus. It really was something he wanted to do for his Professor. Especially this last week.
Harry was standing in front of Severus' chambers. He knew where they were because he had to continue Occulmency lessons the previous year and most of the times were held down here. He raised his hand to knock on the oak door.
Severus had the house elves bring up some of the meal that was being served in the Great Hall. It was going to be an informal event for he had them all set it on his coffee table. That way they could sit on the floor and still discuss the terms to the agreement. He was sure Harry... really, why was he calling the boy by his first name? Was going to be springing something on him. It's what Slytherins do.
When the boy, no not a boy any longer, just a young man... when he entered he immediately saw the coffee table and moved to sit at it. We've never actually done this so it must have been something he picked up naturally.
Harry still couldn't stop laughing from the morning speech. "That was really good this morning. I haven't laughed this hard or long ever. I can't wait to hear all the rumors that are spread around now."
Severus looked at the smiling boy and almost smiled back. He took some of the food onto his plate. "Works for me too. This way I have a good laugh myself and then when they are discussing it I can deduct points from all three houses."
Harry plays shocked. "You mean the great Slytherin house doesn't turn their fair share of rumors. I was sure that there were maybe one... no wait I remember two... wait No they've had their fair share of rumors going around. You don't deduct those?" Harry laughed at the man.
"Theirs are actually funny." Severus said slightly defensively.
Harry quirked an eyebrow at him. He shook his head and bent down to pick out the money for Severus. With the heavy bag in hand he put it on the table. "Here you go Professor. There should be two thousand galleons in there. Should be a start."
Severus was shocked but recovered quickly. "Severus, we've become business partners. Least I could do in return. Just don't go abusing my name everywhere."
Harry smirked. "You don't want to have fun with these rumors anymore? I bet I could do a good job. I mean I am Harry Potter. Rumors will happen around me even if I just sneezed. Bloody useless for a social life but really going to have fun with rumors."
Severus couldn't believe Harry Potter was actually saying that. It was really funny but still. "Yes how I do hate those rumors most of all. Harry Bloody Potter just sneezed and caused a hurricane to happen in the States. Let's all bow to Harry Potter for his show of stupidity."
Harry smiled. "No it would be like, Harry Potter just sneezed and it caused that hurricane but let's not tell him that he has that kind of power until after he's already discovered he has it. Then let's praise him because he just up and showed his power. Dark Lords be damned Harry Potter has just shown that sneezing can cause whirlwinds."
Severus just coughed into his hands. This man really knew what he was talking about. He just went back to eating his cake.
Harry laughed at the attempt to hide the laugh. Maybe he could get the man to laugh some how. "May I see the list? Probably won't know half of what your getting but I can see how much more you might need."
Severus nodded and stood up. He went inside his bedroom and gathered the parchment. He returned to see Harry waiting patiently. Severus handed the paper over and sat down. He was waiting for him to disagree with something on the list and he was prepared to counter it.
Harry scanned the list. As he thought the list was very precise to what he needed but he didn't go over on many of the things he thought one would need for a store. "Very precise." Harry started. "But some of the things you have are wrong."
Yep right where he thought any one would go. Just wait to see where it is and lead it back to what he needs. Severus eyed Harry.
Harry didn't look up though, so he didn't see the almost fearful look he was getting. He just continued on. "I think you should double many of these things. Maybe even triple them. It's a great start but you want to continue with the shop too."
Severus was once again taken by surprise. Yes what he had written down was just to start up the business since that's all he thought he would need from the young man. He had some money to keep it going he thought.
"Like the caldrons. That's fine if you want to just do the potions for the shop but I am suspecting that you'll want to experiment too. Which is fine with me. I don't have any problem with you experimenting with your potions. That's how new ones are discovered. Just you have too few listed here for experimenting with. They are going to explode, melt, or whatever a caldron can do." Harry said looking through the caldrons list.
He continued to read through the lists of ingredients too. "Too few ingredients too. It should be at least tripled. That way if there's a big order for something you won't run out the minute you open the store. Of course I'm not sure which ingredients are more common with the typical potions that people will buy but you really need more ingredients."
Harry looked up then and saw his silent Professor. He was probably preparing for me to argue with the whole thing. Harry mentally rolled his eyes.
"Was there anything you left off on the sheet?" He asked smiling. "Or were you seeing how long it would take me to confess that this was some sick joke fabricated by an equally sick teenager?
Severus glared at the student before him. It had come across his mind once or twice. He was about to open his mouth when he was cut off.
"Knowing you it was the second one. But I am terribly sorry to disappoint you but if you want a productive business than your stuck with me till the door first opens for the first time. Like I said at the dance I am an investor. I like investing in people's dreams. I like making people happy. With you I'll have to work overtime but I do intend to keep this promise." Harry looked his Professor in the eyes to tell him he was speaking the truth.
Harry pushed the money closer to his Professor. "Two thousand galleons. Yours to take to make a shop or just to do what ever you want with it. I would like to see you do something you enjoy but I'm not going to tie you down with something stupid."
Severus lightened his gaze. "You're a Gryffindor. You do stupid things. You wouldn't know anything but stupid even if it stood in front of you and hexed you till you were blue."
Harry laughed out loud at the joke. "Exactly, I am a Gryffindor. We take our word seriously. Well I do anyway so there's little to worry about."
Severus sighed. "Alright. No that's everything I would need to start a business. You were right about it not being worth it to continue a shop though. I thought that I could possibly pay for the rest of the things."
Harry nodded. He went over the list again. Harry handed over the list to Severus. "Fix it up and don't worry about the cost. If you feel you want to spend your money that's fine. I don't care either way. The money is there for you. If you notice I'm not demanding a contract either. Any legal things will be in your favor because I have no proof. The money is yours to use however you please."
Harry stood up from the table. Things were going great. Severus knew the money and his offer were to be taken seriously. He walked to the door when suddenly had a great idea. He quickly loosened his tie enough that it was on but to the side. Then he disheveled his clothes and hair. Severus raised an eyebrow at him.
Harry grinned evilly. "If we're going to play the whole rumors out I should look like I got some."
Severus could have burst out laughing but settled on a smirk. "As long as I am favorable."
"You're my teacher who could still take points away. Of course I have to boast about you." Harry said laughing. "If you want to further the shop all I ask is that you fill me in on how it's going. If you need more money just ask."
With that Harry walked out the door. It was still early enough for people to be walking around so when he showed up in the more active sections of the school they instantly turned to look at him. Harry just kept walking in a dreamy type state. When he entered the common room most of the house was there.
Harry trained his features not to show anything. It was hard since he really wanted to laugh. Everyone in the room had turned to look at Harry who was disheveled. Apparently from fraternizing.
He continued walking to the dorms. When he was at the stairs he muttered softly but for everybody to hear, "Wow Severus is good." He continued walking up the stairs then. Many faces had their jaws on the floor that second. As soon as he entered his dorm room he put up a silencing charm and burst out laughing. By the time the boys finally showed up Harry was crying from laughing so hard and long.
The next morning Severus walked into the Hall and could already hear all the talking. For some reason he knew Dumbledore knew they weren't doing anything inappropriate. So he was just sitting down when he looked at Harry.
Harry was waiting for Severus to enter. As soon as he did he trailed his eyes across till he sat. He knew his friends were looking at him then. As soon as the teacher met his gaze Harry gave a big wink and smiled before turning back to his friends.
The hall went silent when that happened. They wanted to see what happened. Was Gryffindor going to lose all their points?
Severus' sides were hurting. The boy had enough courage to wink and smile at him. He couldn't laugh. That would really shock everyone. He just went to eating his food too.
He was in a good mood too. The boy just gave him two thousand galleons. That would probably secure him everything but the building and the assistant. From what he had now he could start a rather medium class business, but from what Harry was saying the boy wanted a big business for him.
Maybe another evening meal next week to go over what he was doing so far? That wouldn't hurt too much. He wasn't going to admit this but he was actually looking forward to the date.
A.N. OMG you guys don't know how good I feel to get so many loving reviews!! Well I hope this chapter meets with your approval. And as ever I will update really soon.
Special thanks to my first reviewers (Winter Scolex, Pure Black, blubb-blubb, idril.tinuviel, Phoenix5, Alia D, ice owl (thanks for the heads up try to look for errors and correct them) and wpd147 (it's a fan fiction wpd, it doesn't always need to be from the book be grateful I didn't say his fav subject was Divination :P) ) and all future reviewers!! Thank you ALL!!