Harry came home the day of the raid in Surrey, tired, filthy, but relieved. He found Severus laying around in the livingroom, in a comfy armchair and feet on the coffee table, reading what looked like at least ten feet of parchment.

"Hey," he said.

Severus looked up. "You're back! Good, I was beginning to get worried. How did it go?"

Harry nodded. "Quite well. We captured two of the four Death Eaters. We had hoped to catch them all, but it was either that or suffer casualties. Ron has suffered a cruciatus curse, but will recover quickly. No one else was hurt."

He sighed and slumped down on the couch, grabbing Severus' goblet of juice and downing it.

"It was tiring though. I'm gonna take a bath in a minute, if I ever manage to get up again. What are you reading, anyway?"

"A letter from Minerva. I told her she could write to me. She got a bit over enthusiastic though, it's five pages long. I think I know every little detail about what goes on at Hogwarts now. She doesn't mention who is teaching Potions, though."

"Bill Weasley," Harry answered, running a tired hand over his face, "He isn't half as good as you, of course, but he does well enough. The kids love him."

Severus nodded. "Bill was quite a good potions student. They could have done worse then to hire him. Who is Head of Slytherin?"

"They're in between Heads right now. Sinistra took over, but she never really liked it. It didn't do the House much good, either. Draco has spent a lot of time at Hogwarts, helping out Madam Hooch, who was injured a few years ago during a mission. The Slytherins turn to Draco more then they do to Sinistra. He is considering quitting his job at the Ministry and taking over the Flight Instructor job, as well as Head of House. It's just that he is such a valuable source of information on the Ministry."

"No doubt. But he doesn't enjoy it?"

Harry shrugged. "He does, to a certain extend. He is a Slytherin and a Malfoy, after all. It is what he does best, gathering information. But I think he is tired of it. There are many prejudiced against him at the Ministry and thanks to his efforts Voldemorts success rates in recruiting Slytherin sixth and seventh years has dropped drastically. In the end, he and I both feel that protecting the children, and stopping the recruiting, has to take priority. We have other spies at the Ministry, albeit less effective."

"I would agree with you. Remus is back at Defense I see."

"Yes. Hermione learned to brew the Wolfsbane Potion for him. Dumbledore asked me, but I told him I was too busy training and all. Actually, I was chasing Lucius, but I didn't tell him that."

"You would have been good at teaching Defense."

"Maybe. Maybe I should reconsider now; Remus is a bit overworked. He is also teaching first through third year Transfiguration so McGonagall could take over some other duties."

He stood up. "I'm gonna take a bath." He groaned and stretched his aching muscles. Severus lazily waved his hand and a potion flew over.

"Here, I've been brewing some muscle relaxant, you look like you could use some."

Harry stared.

"It wasn't difficult to brew," Severus said, wondering what he'd done.

"Erm, thanks…You just summoned that bottle without a wand, without even saying a word!"

Severus suddenly realized what he had done. "I did? I did! Oh that is great, I've been trying for a week now to see if it had come back yet."

He looked at Harry's confused face. "I practised and learned a lot in my first year in Azkaban, Harry, but after a while it all became too difficult. I was actually at the height of my power twelve months after being imprisoned. I learned silent and wandless magic…and doing it at the same time…And I became a True Animagus. Look."

He rapidly changed forms several times, from his human form to a cat, a snake, an owl and a zebra back to his human form.

"I can become any animal I want now."

Harry was stunned. "That is…that is just unbelievable, Severus! I didn't know there were any True Animagi left."

"Very few. There are Animagi with more then one form, but I think there were only three or four True Animagi this past century. Wordwide. So you can imagine I was slightly surprised when I discovered this."

"Absolutely. Useful though. Is that how you followed us to your cell? Because I didn't see a cat there…"

"I was a mouse then."

"Ah. You should have changed into a snake and talked to me, I would've taken you home straight away."

"Suuuuure. No one would have noticed, right?"

"Oh well. Guess you have a point there. Can you teach me the wandless and silent magic thing?"

"I can try. But it's draining at first and I need to build up my old skill again too."

"That's what the training room is for. Just be careful you don't overdo it, or Dobby will be after your blood."

For the first time in his life, Harry saw his Potions Master's face contract in fear and the man actually shuddered.

"I certainly do not wish to risk that. Harry…"

"Yes?"

"Can I invite Minerva here?"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Of course. You can invite whoever you like. My house is your house, Severus. Do you need me to be here?"

"I would appreciate."

"Sure. Just let me know."

Three weeks later, the now familiar black and silver owl appeared in front of the Deputy Headmistress.

"Hello Pothos. Another letter from Severus?"

The owl hooted, eyeing her expectantly. She was the only human who ever gave him dead mice instead of owl treats, and he had developed a great fondness for her because of it. He was not disappointed. She picked up a dead field mouse and gave it to him, sitting down to read the letter while he gobbled it up.

"Hello Minerva,

I hope this letter finds you well. It will be rather short, I'm afraid.

You seem to have made Pothos very happy; he is always extremely excited when I send him to you to deliver my letters. You'll have to let me in on your secret some time.

My reason for writing is the following. If it is convenient to you, I would like to invite you to have tea with me on Saturday, at Harry's Manor. He informs me you have never been there before, so I will explain.

Go to the Weasley Twins shop in Hogsmeade. From there, floo to 'Harry Potter Manor'

That will take you to a small guard house. Harry will be waiting for you there, as he has to accompany you through the wards.

Please let me know by return owl if you can make it on Saturday. Please do not inform anyone of where you are going (excluding the Weasley Twins with whom I have already spoken).

Severus."

A very nervous Transfigurations Professor entered the Weasley's shop that Saturday afternoon.

"Hello, Professor," George said, smiling as she walked up to the counter, "if you go through that door, you will find the fire ready. Tell them we said hi, and could you take this?"

He handed her a small bag.

"Their favorite sweets. No, none of them do anything funny. Just regular stuff," he added, when he saw the look on the witch's face.

She nodded and proceeded to the fire. "Harry Potter Manor," she said in a slightly shaky voice, throwing floo powder in the fire.

She emerged, as Severus had said, in a small house. Looking out the window, she appeared to be in the middle of nowhere, all alone.

The fireplace roared, then the flames disappeared. Great. No way out either.

A soft chuckling startled her.

"Forgive me, professor, but I had to make sure you were not followed."

Harry threw off his invisibility cloak.

"We're pleased to have you here. The Manor is about a mile away. Do you wish to walk, or go by broom? I suggest the brooms, if we want to find Severus with his nerves intact."

He got two Nimbus 2001's out of a hidden cupboard. "For future reference, the password is 'the need for speed'."

They sped towards the Manor. McGonagall gasped when she saw the black figure on the top of the steps, robes billowing in the breeze, arms folded over his chest.

"He is nervous," Harry said, "as, I imagine, are you. Don't overwhelm him by being overly emotional, and do not touch him unless he initiates it. He is doing remarkably well, but the simple truth is that he will never be the same again."

Minerva nodded and discreetly wiped a tear from her eye.

They landed next to Severus. He smiled tensely.

"Hello, Minerva."

She sensed he was actually a lot more nervous then she was. She smiled slightly.

"Hello, Severus. I'm glad you invited me."

He turned abruptly. "Shall we go in, then?" he said.

She looked at Harry, wondering if she had done something wrong.

He nodded encouragingly. "Well done. Go on, go in. I'll put the brooms away."

When Harry entered the livingroom minutes later, he was surprised to hear them both chuckling.

As he entered, he saw why. Pothos had flown from his usual perch, excited to see the witch, and hovered around her, hooting and pulling at her hat.

"He never does that for any of us," Severus said, "I said compliment him regularly, not grovel at his talons!"

Pothos glared at him while Minerva blushed fiercely. Harry and Severus looked at her in surprise.

"Oh, well…promise me the two of you will never, ever tell this to anyone!" she insisted.

Duel vows were made, and she sighed.

"I give him mice," she confessed, "I catch mice for him while I'm a cat."

They stared at her open mouthed, and then began to snicker. Laugh. Roar. She tried to look indignant but only managed to blush harder.

Harry, between snickers, noticed that the ice had really broken by this confession and he silently applauded the witch.

"Oh, Minerva," Severus gasped, "That is priceless! I never thought of doing that."

The witch raised an eyebrow. "Thought of doing that…? Are you an Animagus, Severus?"

He stopped laughing and paled, realising he had given himself away.

"You can't tell Albus. You can't!" he pleaded. She looked at him sadly. He had never pleaded. Now that she saw him up close, she noticed how thin he still was, though he was beginning to put up some muscle again.

"I'm not telling Albus anything that is said or written between us, Severus. You have my word on that. But please, I'm curious…you are a cat, too?"

Severus shuffled his feet and stared at the ground. Harry groaned.

"Honestly, Sev, you're not eleven anymore and it's hardly something to be ashamed of."

The Potions Master glared at him, but regained his stance. "I'm a True Animagus, Minerva."

The witch gasped. "Really? When? How? Why?"

Harry snorted. "Why don't you two sit down and catch up some more, and I'll arrange the tea."

For a while, they sat sipping tea in silence. Minerva discreetly observed her young former colleague. Azkaban had changed him. He hadn't recovered completely, that much was clear. He would probably never recover completely. Moodswings, somewhat erratic behavior sometimes, were all to be expected, she knew. But there was also something else. His amiable banter with Harry, and, from what she had heard, with Draco. He had never done that with anyone before. He hadn't mentioned his own manor, but seemed quite relaxed in this one. His nails were dirty like they had always been, from brewing potions.

"Was Albus very angry when Harry sent him back?" Severus suddenly asked.

Minerva shook her head. "He didn't exactly have time to be angry. Besides, he appeared quite upset, but it's hard to tell these days. He has such huge shifts in mood. I begin to fear he is really loosing it. I told him off just as he came back, and he seemed to listen to what I said, but when I tried to explain to him some time later why he shouldn't put so much pressure on you, he became cold. One moment he seems to genuinely care about you, and the next he barely remembers you are proven innocent."

Harry frowned, and Severus shot him a quick glance.

"Does Alastor Moody visit him still?" Harry asked, returning the glance.

"Sometimes, yes, but not very often. He comes unannounced apparently, as I have sometimes seen him come out of Albus' office when he wasn't there."

Severus cleared his throat. "He has free entrance to Albus' office?"

Minerva nodded.

Severus bit his lip. "You were right, Harry, this does bear investigating. Since he is so fond of breaking into my homes, isn't there some way we could get into his office unseen?"

Minerva stared at them. "What are you two thinking of?"

"You can use my invisibility cloak, and I can put some charms on you," Harry said, "and carry you into the school transformed like a snake or something. That way we can communicate and people will be likely to stay away from you."

Minerva caught on. "He is at the Ministry now, and will not be back until after dinner," she offered.

Severus looked at Harry. "Let's do it, just to be sure. I'm going to collect some potions that might come in useful."

Harry nodded. "I'm getting my cloak."

"Sit still, Severus," Harry hissed in parseltongue at the snake around his neck, "You're tickling me!"

"I wouldn't have to move so much if you wouldn't be such a reckless flyer," the transformed Potions Master hissed back.

"I am NOT reckless," Harry exclaimed, forgetting the parseltongue.

"Yes you are," Minerva said from behind him.

"There. See?" the snake sounded decidedly smug.

"Quiet you, or I'll transfigure you into a snakeskin handbag," Harry threatened, "AGGHHH no, Sev, stop TICKLING!"

A little while later they emerged from the floo at the Weasley Twins shops and continued towards Hogwarts. Upon entering the Headmasters office and making absolutely sure no one was there (except the portraits), Severus transformed. They heard gasps from the paintings.

Harry looked at them.

"You see all that goes on in here. We are worried that someone might be feeding some kind of potion to Dumbledore to change his moods. Did you see any evidence of it?"

The portraits shook their heads. All but one. Everard.

"Everard?"

The portrait's face contracted as if in pain and he motioned to his frame. Harry ran his hand over the frame.

"He has been spelled to keep quiet. Were you the only witness?" The portrait tried to nod, but faled, his head jerking in every direction but forward.

Harry raised his wand. "Finite Incantatem," he said, and a powerful spell hit the canvas.

"Wow, Harry, you have learned quite a bit yourself since I was gone," Severus commented, throwing on the invisibility cloak.

The portrait sighed in relief. "That man with the weird eye, Alastor Moody. He was in here a couple of times. I'm not sure what he did, though. Albus has been acting strange these past years."

Severus had started walking around the office, and suddenly halted at the desk. He gasped.

"Harry, give me your dragon hide gloves, quick."

Harry threw them, and Severus put them on, picking up the quill.

"That's the trouble," he said.