Part 13
After the boys had left the Great Hall to write their letters and the pumpkin juice had been cleaned up, Albus Dumbledore calmly explained to his staff the details of the ancient prophesy.
The old wizard's words calmed all but one. From the floor next to Remus Lupin's chair came the growling and snarling of the disturbingly grim-like dog. The angry canine's eyes were directed at Severus Snape.
The potion Master sneered at the animal and spoke to Remus.
"I suggest you calm your mutt, Lupin. I would not care to undergo rabies potions should it decide to attack."
Albus cleared his throat and diplomatically suggested that the two professors join him in his office. As the Headmaster stood from the table, he bent down and patted the agitated dog on its head.
"You, of course, are welcome to came also, Snuffles." With a chuckle at hearing the whine that followed his comment, Dumbledore walked out of the Great Hall.
Minutes later, he was joined in his office by three men; one scowling as the other two snickered at his irritation.
"Have a seat, gentlemen. It seems we have something to discuss and I must insist that this is the last time for this particularly tiresome conversation."
All three men dutifully took their seats quickly and without question once they saw the serious expression on the normally jovial face of their employer.
Eyeing the three with equal measures, Dumbledore proceeded to give them a dressing down like they'd never had before. He made it abundantly clear to all that the animosity between them would end immediately. Snape, Lupin and Black sat in silence as they were told how utterly disappointed their mentor and friend was in them. It was expressed that never, in his one hundred and fifty-two years, had he met anyone as hardheaded as the three sitting before him. And that included Grindewald and Voldemort!
When he finally finished chastising the younger men, the twinkle reemerged in his eyes.
"That said, you will all spend the remainder of the morning together. Since you will essentially be family before all is said and done, it would do you well to get to know each other better."
Not daring to object, the three men took their leave and walked solemnly into a classroom not far down the hall.
By noon, they had shared stories from their childhoods pre-Hogwarts and experiences while in school. They had discussed the inherent differences and similarities between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
They even shared a laugh over the memory of James Potter's sabotage of Lucius Malfoy's hair growth potion in their fifth year. Oh, the potion performed its duty and lengthened his hair wonderfully. But at the same time changed it to a horrid shade of orange. When the boy washed his hair, the awful color had only changed to another, more hideous, color. It had been more than a month before the effects had worn off.
Sirius, Remus and Severus waited in the Entrance Hall for Harry and Xander for five minutes before deciding the boys had lost track of time, so they proceeded up to Gryffindor Tower to retrieve the tardy youths.
Upon arrival at the boys' dorm, Severus opened the door only to find his son holding an equally amorous Harry Potter on his lap. Still not quite used to the idea of his son snogging The Boy Who Lived, Snape prepared to demand an immediate halt.
Sensing that the potion Master was about to make a huge mistake, Remus gently pulled him back and quietly closed the door.
"What the devil are you doing, Lupin?!" While they had talked through a lot of their problems, the men were far from being close friends and Snape was annoyed by Remus' actions.
"Severus, please listen to me," the werewolf pleaded. "If you go in there and start yelling, you may risk alienating your own son. You know they are soul mates. You also know that means there will be a physical relationship between them. If you forbid Xander from having that type of contact with Harry, you will only force him to hide it from you. You've only just found out that your son is alive after fifteen years. You'd hate yourself if you caused a wall between the two of you now."
Severus rubbed a hand over his face and sighed heavily. "You're right, Remus. It seems we all have so much new information and emotion to process. You both know that Potter was never my favorite student." He smirked at the snort that came from Sirius at that comment. "It is taking me a bit of time to reconcile my ideas of Potter with the actual facts about the boy."
At that, Sirius' eyes widened. "You mean, Harry told you about-"
"Yes. . . He told me about his muggle family and the details of his connection with Voldemort. I can honestly tell you that I wished I had allowed myself to get to know him better during the past five years. I suppose a large portion of the contempt I felt toward him was because he had survived the first reign of the Dark Lord and my son hadn't."
The escaped convict slapped Snape on the back and smiled. "Well, now you have the perfect opportunity! He really is a great kid and happens to be quite smitten by your son. Talk with him. Get to know him. You know the basics, so now get the details. Use the time that Xander is asleep for the next three weeks to learn and understand Harry. I think you'll be surprised.
"Now, what we need is a bit of fun after the morning we've had. Are you both in agreement?"
Remus and Severus both nodded. Albeit the latter was more than a little wary of what the other man had in mind.
Sirius smiled evilly and told his old friend and his new non-enemy his idea.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Xander and Harry pulled apart abruptly as Severus Snape came storming into the room. Scared of what his professor might do, Harry jumped off the other boy's lap in an attempt to distance himself from the obviously apoplectic father. Unfortunately, his brain was still numb from the kisses he and Xander had shared so he was unable to gain his balance and tumbled off the bed.
"Harry!" Xander peered over the edge of the bed, worried that his new...well, boyfriend had hit his head. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Just hit my elbow on the floor. I'm fine."
Seeing that the other boy was indeed alright, Xander looked up toward his father. Expecting to see the man growling and scowling, the American was surprised to see the man trying to control his laughter along with Sirius and Remus.
"Hey! That wasn't very nice! Someone could have gotten hurt!" Xander helped Harry off the floor and both boys glared at the three men before them.
"You-you should have seen your faces!" Sirius managed to wheeze out between guffaws. "And, Harry! That was a vision of grace! Were you going for a swan dive?"
Peeved that his godfather was finding so much humor in their discomfort, Harry eyed up the animagus and his chuckling companions. It took him a moment to comprehend what he was actually seeing.
Leaning over in an obvious attempt at not being obvious, the green-eyed boy whispered into Xander's ear, "Do you remember me telling you about the hate/hate relationship between your dad and my godfather?" At the other boy's slow nod, Harry continued, "Well, do you think they're on something? I mean, maybe Dumbledore started lacing his lemon drops or something."
Xander studied his father and the others. "I don't know," he whispered back. "Maybe they're possessed?"
Severus finally had finally regained control and reassured his son that they were not possessed nor had they been drugged. After he managed to convince them, Severus explained how they had spent their morning.
"So, you all are friends now?" Harry asked incredulously.
Sirius put his arm around his godson's shoulder. "Well, Snape's not exactly our best mate but we did work through a lot of the animosity we've held onto for twenty years. And don't think we did it only because Albus practically threatened to hand deliver us to Voldemort. We know that you two are going to be a part of each other's lives for along time. This will just make it easier on everyone involved. Especially you and Xander."
"Well put, Black." Snape nodded at the man. "Now, I believe we should get going. We're a bit behind schedule and I'm sure you boys are more than ready for lunch. Lupin, Black, you are welcome to join us if you'd like."
"I think that is a lovely idea," Sirius said in a mock snooty voice. "What do you think Mister Moony?"
"A fabulous proposal, indeed, Mister Padfoot!" Remus replied in kind. "Let us dine!"
Severus snorted at the antics of the two remaining loyal Marauders. Shaking his head at the thought of finding his former nemeses amusing, the potions Master followed the two sauntering men and two laughing boys out of Gryffindor.
* * * * * * * *
It was time. Xander looked at the group of people surrounding him and thought, not for the first time, how odd everything had gotten since Harry had fallen out of Giles' fireplace. And now it was going to get even stranger.
He smiled nervously as his father hugged him.
"You'll be just fine, son. When this is all over you will wake up with more knowledge than you can even imagine. Then, if you'd like, I'll take you and Mr. Potter away for the remainder of the summer. It will, unfortunately, only be for a few days but I would like the chance to show you our home."
"I'd like that a lot," Xander replied as he fidgeted anxiously. "Thanks."
Snape obligingly backed away to make room for Harry to step forward. The Boy Who Lived smiled brightly at his potions professor and thanked him for the invitation before turning to speak with his soul mate.
"It hardly seems fair that I won't get to talk with you for so long," Harry whined lightly.
"Not to worry!" Xander said with a smile. "We'll have all kinds of time later. Besides," Xander ducked his head and blushed, "if you miss me, you'll want to be with me even more when I wake up."
"I can't imagine wanting you more than I already do," Harry's face flushed as he realized how that sounded. "I-I mean that I want to be with you! Not that I don't want you." Harry panicked and looked at the surrounding adults for assistance but only found that they were all finding his predicament rather amusing.
"Hey, it's okay," Xander reassured him. "I know what you mean. I feel the same way." He leaned forward and kissed the other boy lightly on the cheek. "Will you come visit me while I sleep?"
Harry pulled Xander to him in a tight embrace. "Everyday, Xan. I promise."
It was Dumbledore's voice that finally separated the two teens. "Alexander, I believe that Madam Pomphrey is ready to get you tucked in. Why don't you go ahead and lie down while we all prepare to begin the spell."
TBC
After the boys had left the Great Hall to write their letters and the pumpkin juice had been cleaned up, Albus Dumbledore calmly explained to his staff the details of the ancient prophesy.
The old wizard's words calmed all but one. From the floor next to Remus Lupin's chair came the growling and snarling of the disturbingly grim-like dog. The angry canine's eyes were directed at Severus Snape.
The potion Master sneered at the animal and spoke to Remus.
"I suggest you calm your mutt, Lupin. I would not care to undergo rabies potions should it decide to attack."
Albus cleared his throat and diplomatically suggested that the two professors join him in his office. As the Headmaster stood from the table, he bent down and patted the agitated dog on its head.
"You, of course, are welcome to came also, Snuffles." With a chuckle at hearing the whine that followed his comment, Dumbledore walked out of the Great Hall.
Minutes later, he was joined in his office by three men; one scowling as the other two snickered at his irritation.
"Have a seat, gentlemen. It seems we have something to discuss and I must insist that this is the last time for this particularly tiresome conversation."
All three men dutifully took their seats quickly and without question once they saw the serious expression on the normally jovial face of their employer.
Eyeing the three with equal measures, Dumbledore proceeded to give them a dressing down like they'd never had before. He made it abundantly clear to all that the animosity between them would end immediately. Snape, Lupin and Black sat in silence as they were told how utterly disappointed their mentor and friend was in them. It was expressed that never, in his one hundred and fifty-two years, had he met anyone as hardheaded as the three sitting before him. And that included Grindewald and Voldemort!
When he finally finished chastising the younger men, the twinkle reemerged in his eyes.
"That said, you will all spend the remainder of the morning together. Since you will essentially be family before all is said and done, it would do you well to get to know each other better."
Not daring to object, the three men took their leave and walked solemnly into a classroom not far down the hall.
By noon, they had shared stories from their childhoods pre-Hogwarts and experiences while in school. They had discussed the inherent differences and similarities between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
They even shared a laugh over the memory of James Potter's sabotage of Lucius Malfoy's hair growth potion in their fifth year. Oh, the potion performed its duty and lengthened his hair wonderfully. But at the same time changed it to a horrid shade of orange. When the boy washed his hair, the awful color had only changed to another, more hideous, color. It had been more than a month before the effects had worn off.
Sirius, Remus and Severus waited in the Entrance Hall for Harry and Xander for five minutes before deciding the boys had lost track of time, so they proceeded up to Gryffindor Tower to retrieve the tardy youths.
Upon arrival at the boys' dorm, Severus opened the door only to find his son holding an equally amorous Harry Potter on his lap. Still not quite used to the idea of his son snogging The Boy Who Lived, Snape prepared to demand an immediate halt.
Sensing that the potion Master was about to make a huge mistake, Remus gently pulled him back and quietly closed the door.
"What the devil are you doing, Lupin?!" While they had talked through a lot of their problems, the men were far from being close friends and Snape was annoyed by Remus' actions.
"Severus, please listen to me," the werewolf pleaded. "If you go in there and start yelling, you may risk alienating your own son. You know they are soul mates. You also know that means there will be a physical relationship between them. If you forbid Xander from having that type of contact with Harry, you will only force him to hide it from you. You've only just found out that your son is alive after fifteen years. You'd hate yourself if you caused a wall between the two of you now."
Severus rubbed a hand over his face and sighed heavily. "You're right, Remus. It seems we all have so much new information and emotion to process. You both know that Potter was never my favorite student." He smirked at the snort that came from Sirius at that comment. "It is taking me a bit of time to reconcile my ideas of Potter with the actual facts about the boy."
At that, Sirius' eyes widened. "You mean, Harry told you about-"
"Yes. . . He told me about his muggle family and the details of his connection with Voldemort. I can honestly tell you that I wished I had allowed myself to get to know him better during the past five years. I suppose a large portion of the contempt I felt toward him was because he had survived the first reign of the Dark Lord and my son hadn't."
The escaped convict slapped Snape on the back and smiled. "Well, now you have the perfect opportunity! He really is a great kid and happens to be quite smitten by your son. Talk with him. Get to know him. You know the basics, so now get the details. Use the time that Xander is asleep for the next three weeks to learn and understand Harry. I think you'll be surprised.
"Now, what we need is a bit of fun after the morning we've had. Are you both in agreement?"
Remus and Severus both nodded. Albeit the latter was more than a little wary of what the other man had in mind.
Sirius smiled evilly and told his old friend and his new non-enemy his idea.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Xander and Harry pulled apart abruptly as Severus Snape came storming into the room. Scared of what his professor might do, Harry jumped off the other boy's lap in an attempt to distance himself from the obviously apoplectic father. Unfortunately, his brain was still numb from the kisses he and Xander had shared so he was unable to gain his balance and tumbled off the bed.
"Harry!" Xander peered over the edge of the bed, worried that his new...well, boyfriend had hit his head. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Just hit my elbow on the floor. I'm fine."
Seeing that the other boy was indeed alright, Xander looked up toward his father. Expecting to see the man growling and scowling, the American was surprised to see the man trying to control his laughter along with Sirius and Remus.
"Hey! That wasn't very nice! Someone could have gotten hurt!" Xander helped Harry off the floor and both boys glared at the three men before them.
"You-you should have seen your faces!" Sirius managed to wheeze out between guffaws. "And, Harry! That was a vision of grace! Were you going for a swan dive?"
Peeved that his godfather was finding so much humor in their discomfort, Harry eyed up the animagus and his chuckling companions. It took him a moment to comprehend what he was actually seeing.
Leaning over in an obvious attempt at not being obvious, the green-eyed boy whispered into Xander's ear, "Do you remember me telling you about the hate/hate relationship between your dad and my godfather?" At the other boy's slow nod, Harry continued, "Well, do you think they're on something? I mean, maybe Dumbledore started lacing his lemon drops or something."
Xander studied his father and the others. "I don't know," he whispered back. "Maybe they're possessed?"
Severus finally had finally regained control and reassured his son that they were not possessed nor had they been drugged. After he managed to convince them, Severus explained how they had spent their morning.
"So, you all are friends now?" Harry asked incredulously.
Sirius put his arm around his godson's shoulder. "Well, Snape's not exactly our best mate but we did work through a lot of the animosity we've held onto for twenty years. And don't think we did it only because Albus practically threatened to hand deliver us to Voldemort. We know that you two are going to be a part of each other's lives for along time. This will just make it easier on everyone involved. Especially you and Xander."
"Well put, Black." Snape nodded at the man. "Now, I believe we should get going. We're a bit behind schedule and I'm sure you boys are more than ready for lunch. Lupin, Black, you are welcome to join us if you'd like."
"I think that is a lovely idea," Sirius said in a mock snooty voice. "What do you think Mister Moony?"
"A fabulous proposal, indeed, Mister Padfoot!" Remus replied in kind. "Let us dine!"
Severus snorted at the antics of the two remaining loyal Marauders. Shaking his head at the thought of finding his former nemeses amusing, the potions Master followed the two sauntering men and two laughing boys out of Gryffindor.
* * * * * * * *
It was time. Xander looked at the group of people surrounding him and thought, not for the first time, how odd everything had gotten since Harry had fallen out of Giles' fireplace. And now it was going to get even stranger.
He smiled nervously as his father hugged him.
"You'll be just fine, son. When this is all over you will wake up with more knowledge than you can even imagine. Then, if you'd like, I'll take you and Mr. Potter away for the remainder of the summer. It will, unfortunately, only be for a few days but I would like the chance to show you our home."
"I'd like that a lot," Xander replied as he fidgeted anxiously. "Thanks."
Snape obligingly backed away to make room for Harry to step forward. The Boy Who Lived smiled brightly at his potions professor and thanked him for the invitation before turning to speak with his soul mate.
"It hardly seems fair that I won't get to talk with you for so long," Harry whined lightly.
"Not to worry!" Xander said with a smile. "We'll have all kinds of time later. Besides," Xander ducked his head and blushed, "if you miss me, you'll want to be with me even more when I wake up."
"I can't imagine wanting you more than I already do," Harry's face flushed as he realized how that sounded. "I-I mean that I want to be with you! Not that I don't want you." Harry panicked and looked at the surrounding adults for assistance but only found that they were all finding his predicament rather amusing.
"Hey, it's okay," Xander reassured him. "I know what you mean. I feel the same way." He leaned forward and kissed the other boy lightly on the cheek. "Will you come visit me while I sleep?"
Harry pulled Xander to him in a tight embrace. "Everyday, Xan. I promise."
It was Dumbledore's voice that finally separated the two teens. "Alexander, I believe that Madam Pomphrey is ready to get you tucked in. Why don't you go ahead and lie down while we all prepare to begin the spell."
TBC