Okay, here's another chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to all who read and reviewed.
The other day the additional training for the trio began. In the morning Minerva and Albus would take changes to teach them different spells for duelling or practice advanced transfigurations with them. Then there would be a lunch break of two hours which was followed by another 4 hours of potions.
Just like the trio, Severus was less than pleased with the idea of seeing them each day of the summer holidays. But he also knew that it was necessary, and he had promised Albus to give Potter another chance and to try to get rid of that grudge against the boy just because he was his father's son.
It had now been three days since the lessons started, and though Harry was quite restless during the lessons he paid close attention to what was said.
"No, Ron, that's not quite right. You have to move your wand in a circle. Not just a line." Minerva repressed the urge to roll her eyes. This was about the twentieth time she corrected Ron's wand movement, and he still didn't get it. Hermione, who was practicing with Harry, looked over to her and gave her a sympathetic grin.
Ron looked quite desperate by now but he tried again, and this time the movement was correct. He let out a sigh of relief.
"Boy, that's definitely way more difficult than anything we've learnt at DADA so far." He looked at Hermione and Harry and then to Minerva.
"Well, that may be because that's way beyond N.E.W.T.'s level. Voldemort isn't going to use easy spells on you, and you know that." Minerva patted Ron's shoulder and then motioned for the other to join them. They were in one of the spare bedrooms which had been redecorated to fit their needs.
"Now that you've mastered the movement, we'll first practice the words and then everything together, okay?" Minerva told them. "So, the spell is patrocinor tecto."
Obediently the three kids said the spell until Minerva was satisfied with their efforts. For their practice Hagrid had built some dummies to try the spells on. Most of the spells were too dangerous to be tested on living being. But this one was just for defence so they could actually duel each other a bit.
"Right, Hermione, you go with Ron for now. I'll practice with Harry first." Minerva got into position and raised her wand to throw a spell at Harry. It was just a binding spell which should bounce off the shield that the new spell would create around Harry.
"Incarcerus!" Minera cried, pointing her wand at Harry who had swished his just in time and yelled the spell that Minerva had just taught them. The ropes that had flown out of Minerva's wand reached Harry and bound him but not as tight as they should have.
Minerva shook her head and vanished them.
"Not quite, Harry. You have to put the emphasis on the ro, okay?" Minerva got back into her position and motioned for Harry to do the same. She hadn't expected him to succeed in the first try but he had to master the charm.
They tried again, and this time it actually worked. Harry looked rather proud. After another round Minerva practiced with Ron and then with Hermione who had the least problems with learning new spells and charms. And, as expected, she mastered that one in her first try too.
"Good. That went really well. I think now we can go and have our well-deserved lunch. If I'm not much mistaken Albus has had Wolky make pizza today," Minerva said with a grin. She knew how much the kids liked pizza. Ron hadn't known it before but Harry and Hermione loved it. And the smell was in the whole house right now.
Since the trio had already disappeared through the door and downstairs, Minerva put away some cushions they had used earlier in their lesson and then left the room. Severus would be here for lunch too, and she wanted a word with him before he stared his lessons for today.
When Minerva arrived in the kitchen, where they usually had lunch, she was greeted by the sight of Albus covered in flour and the largest pizza she had ever seen. Albus had used various topics so there was something for everyone.
"Merlin, Albus, how many people do you expect for lunch? The whole of Hogwarts?" she teased him gently.
Albus chuckled but pointed at the boys and at Severus who had just entered the kitchen.
"No, my dear, merely two growing boys plus our dear Severus."
Ron's jaw dropped nearly to the floor. He had always thought that Severus wasn't too fond of muggles and their way of living but apparently he was mistaken in that one.
"Yes, Ron. While spending quite some time in Italy to recuperate after the war with Voldemort, Severus has developed quite a liking for pizza." The grin on Albus' face grew, when he noticed the frown on Severus'.
Soon everyone was gathered at the large table and tucking in. And if Harry wasn't very much mistaken he even saw the potions master grin at one of the jokes Albus made during luch.
Not much later everyone was sated and a bit sleepy but for the kids the afternoon potions lesson was approaching. Minerva gave Severus a sign to follow her while the trio watched them curiously.
Minerva led Severus to her study which was right next to the master bedroom on the upper floor. She motioned for the young man to sit down while she closed the door.
"Severus, dear, how are you? We haven't had a chance to talk properly for ages." Minerva took a seat next to him on the cosy sofa and looked at him intently.
"Just fine, Minerva." Severus tried to give her a reassuring smile which everyone else would have mistaken as a smirk but Minerva knew Severus well enough. Though she didn't believe him for one second now.
"Severus Snape, you know me better than to lie to me." She gave him a stern look which was usually reserved for misbehaving students. But suddenly Snape felt like one. He knew that look only too well. And he also knew that Minerva had always been able to tell when he was lying.
"It's really nothing, Minerva. Just the stress. You know how it is. The order is rather busy, and then there's Voldemort who wants to see us on a regular basis now." Severus looked away from Minerva.
"And?" she asked gently. She sensed that there was something else.
"For Merlin's sake, Minerva, do you have to be so inquisitive?" Severus jumped up from the sofa and started pacing the room.
"No, I don't have to. But I care about you. And I know that there's something bothering you." Minerva got up and followed Severus who was now standing in front of the large window. He had turned his back to her. Gently, Minerva reached out to him and turned him to face her.
"Tell me what's wrong, love." She looked up and into his face. The boy Severus had certainly grown into a man, but he was still as stubborn as usual where his feelings were concerned. He didn't want anyone to know too much about him… Minerva knew that it was partially fear of being rejected. When Severus' parents had died there had been an aunt who could have taken the boy in but she had refused. The boy was deeply hurt and had created himself kind of a shell to protect himself. But with a lot of patience Minerva had managed to coax him out and get him talking to her.
Sighing, Severus gave in.
"It's Potter," he said simply. Of course he knew that Minerva knew about his dislike towards the boy, and that she didn't really understand it.
"I thought as much. But don't you think you could come to… well… understand each other? You don't have to like him, of course, but I think you should give him a chance. And he should give you a chance. As far as I know you aren't exactly his favourite teacher either But you can't hold him responsible for everything his father did to you. I know James wasn't a saint where you were concerned but that's not Harry's fault. He's really not that bad," Minerva smiled.
The potions master simply nodded. He didn't like the prospect of having to teach the trio but he had given Albus his word, and he intended to keep it. Plus… Well, Minerva did have a point. In a way…
"Okay. You win," Severus gave her a quick peck on the cheek and then left her study. The lesson was about to begin, and he wanted to get over with it. There was still a lot of work to do for the order.