Chapter 3
Severus got out of bed a few hours later when his alarm woke him up and began his morning routine, which, contrary to popular belief, did include a shower. 'My hair is very fine not greasy, not that anyone stops to check.' He thought bitterly as he dried his hair. He walked up to the Owlery and looked for Harry's owl Hedwig. She flew down to him when he held out his arm.
"Hello again Hedwig, could you take this to Harry with the morning post for me please?"
She hooted once and held out her leg for the Potions Master to tie his package onto it. It had taken him fifteen minutes and a promise that he was not going to hurt Harry before she had done that the previous day. 'Trust Harry to have his animals protective of him as well.' Severus had though as she regarded him with intelligent yellow eyes. But Severus had earned the familiar's trust with that and she would take his letter to Harry without question and would not give his identity away.
Although deciding to skip breakfast that morning Severus still descended the stairs to the Great Hall. He cast an invisibility spell on himself and went thought the door when a group of Hufflepuff girls opened it. He stood close to the door, ready to made his escape, and made sure that he had a clear view of the Gryffindor table, or more specifically a certain Gryffindor by the name of Harry Potter.
After a minute or so the owls flew in with the post. Severus watched as Harry looked up and smiled when he saw Hedwig. His heart skipped a beat. He watched as his heart's desire frowned, confused, at the book and then as his face lit up with understanding as the note fell out and he read it. Severus had charmed it so that Harry would not be able to recognise the handwriting, he did see it on his Potions essays quite often after all.
Looking up the headmaster locked eyes with his own invisible ones and smiled. Scowling at the headmaster and cursing himself for forgetting that he could see through invisibility charms he left quietly, as quickly as he could. After all he needed someone to open the door for him.
Severus took off the charm and swept down the corridor to the dungeons where he called a house elf and ordered some coffee before sitting down to await his first class, seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins, Harry's class. He had been shocked when he had seen Harry's name on his NEWT Potions class list and astonished to learn that he had gotten an O in his OWL's. The boy in question had proved himself capable of brewing a decent potion however so Severus had rethought some of his preconceptions.
A bell sounded and the class arrived so Severus banished his thoughts and stood up to write the day's potion assignment on the board, Dreamless Sleep, quite a difficult and complicated potion to brew but he had confidence in his class. Or at least in his ability to know if there was going to be an explosion.
The NEWT class filled in, there were only eight students in it, four Slytherins, two Ravenclaw and two Gryffindors. Granger, of course, was one of the Gryffindors with Potter being the other. Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Draco's boyfriend, Parkinson and Bulstrode were the Slytherins. Severus had been relieved when Draco had joined the Light after his mother's murder. He had not wanted his godson to go through what he had but due to his position as a spy he was unable to actively persuade Draco to join the Light. The annoying but undeniably intelligent Justin Finch-Flechley was from Ravenclaw and along with Zacharias Smith that was the whole class.
As it was their final year and they had all achieved an O the Potions Master thought they competent enough to work with some of the more dangerous substances for their potions.
The class set to work and Severus sat down at his desk, keeping an eye on the softly simmering cauldrons. After a minute or two he found his mind wandering. He was discreetly watching Harry out of the corner of his eye. He was slicing shrivelled fig with a look of intense concentration on his face. It made him seem more the man he had become. 'Ever since Black died he had matured greatly. It's just as common to see him with a book than laughing with his friends. He's so much like Lily. He even has her features. How could I have ever thought that he was like James?'
Severus watched as Harry cast a charm that would alert him when his potion was ready and seemed to become lost in thought. Then the unthinkable happened. He looked straight at Severus and smiled. Then a bell rang, Harry shook his head and bottled his potion. The Gryffindor labelled it and set it onto his professor's desk, as he did an small ironic smile played over his lips softly. He didn't look at Snape. The class ended and Harry left, leaving behind a thoughtful Potions Master. 'He smiled at me? What was he thinking about? He couldn't know that it's me. No it couldn't be that. If it was then he could not have smiled. I bet he doesn't even know what I am asking him yet. Tomorrow I will send my letter of intent and he will know.'
Later that night Severus was torn away from his favourite book by a knock on the door. Groaning he marked his page and called, "Come in". He knew who it was. Few people knew where his private quarters were, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Draco Malfoy. Albus didn't bother to knock and Minerva usually fire-called. Only one person knocked, Draco.
"Sure enough in walked Draco.
"Hello Uncle Severus. Are you all right?"
"Yes Draco I'm fine. Can I do anything for you?"
"I just came to talk."
"Well then have a seat."
Draco sat down on the comfy armchair. Severus was on the couch. They began to talk. About mundane things at first, classes, homework but then Draco brought up the topic Severus wasn't sure he wanted to talk about. Who was courting Harry Potter? Draco, of course, had know since the roses that it was a traditional courting ritual. He had been raised in a traditional pureblood family after all.
"So…Harry's got himself a courter. Who do you think it is?" He asked Severus with a smirk.
Severus blinked, "I don't know. Do you have any suspicions?"
Draco looked at his godfather suspiciously. Normally he would at least put forward a few names if only ones like Weasley for a joke. He scrutinised his face and then broke into a full out smirk.
"You know who it is don't you Uncle Severus."
"Perhaps."
"Well? Are you going to tell me or are you going to make me guess?" Draco asked impatiently.
Severus just smirked at his godson and took a sip of the brandy he had poured himself before he settled down with 'The Lord Of The Rings'.
"Is it someone we know?"
"You could say that."
Once again Draco looked at his godfather sharply.
"You?" He asked shocked.
Snape merely nodded his head slowly. Draco burst out laughing. Severus blushed and waited for Draco to stop laughing.
Ten minutes Draco had managed to stop laughing and only a chuckle burst out of him occasionally.
"Why? I thought you hated him?"
"I never really hated him. Up till his sixth year all I saw was his father. My tormentor. After that I started to see the real Harry and I fell for him. I never even saw it coming." He told Draco honestly.
"Well Uncle Severus I think you'd make a wonderful couple. You balance each other perfectly. I wish you all the luck in the world in courting your love." He said sincerely.
"Thank you Draco, you have no idea how much that means to me."
Please read and review. As usual all comments, suggestions and criticisms are welcome. Bye for now.