Hey, I realise that this chapter is a few hours outside the three day wait I said I'd try to update within, but my parents have finally decided to give me computer time, since I'm going away to a farm this weekend, and it doesn't have a computer.

I'll stillwritethenext chappieout for when I'll be back and able to update on Sunday night though, so it wont be outside the three day wait again.

Thanks for all the lovely reviews, its wonderful knowing people are enjoying my story, and feel free to give constructive criticism, it helps me improve. (-.-)

"How'd it go?" McGonagall asked as soon as Snape arrived back.

They were down in the dungeons, and had to hurry, as they were expected at dinner soon. Minerva actually liked it down here, though she would be loathe admitting it. The greens were calming, and after a hectic day of teaching she would hate to put up with the vibrant Gryffindor reds. Though Snape had muffled most colours with black. That, Minerva didn't like.

Snape did one of the most rare things; he openly smiled; though it looked to McGonagall like that of an approaching shark.

"The visit went wonderfully, Minerva. Lily expects you to drop round after classes tomorrow to pick the boy up." He replied. McGonagall eyed him suspiciously

"Oh, and what exactly did you tell them Severus?" she questioned distrustfully

"I mentioned how taken you were with the boy, and mentioned now the war is over, you wouldn't even see him at order meetings. I might also have brought up you thinking he was exceptionally talented. The praise easily won them over." Snape replied, reproachful of her mistrust.

"They think you offered to baby sit." She merely raised her eyebrow, not believing him.

"Minerva, what did you think I'd do? Hex them until they agreed?"

"I had my suspicions" she muttered under her breath. To Snape she replied. "No, I asked you because you're better at coming up with convincing stories, and manipulating people." She'd meant it to tease him, but he simply thanked her for the complement before going on his way.

Just before he was gone, he added, "You better get your rooms as baby friendly as possible." Had it been anyone but Snape, she would have sworn they were smiling.

………………………………………

Harry was annoyed. He'd had a perfect plan for silencing charms, and then Sirius had to come back late from Auror work at the ministry. Maybe Harry, should've blown his cover, said something to stop Sirius, but he didn't and it was too late now. Sirius found him screaming bloody murder in his sleep, silently of course.

Sirius immediately cast a 'finite incantatem', thinking a curse had been put on his godson. Of course, when he found out the only spell was a silencing charm, he picked Harry up.

Harry awoke immediately. It was just a dream, Harry thought when he finally realised he wasn't at the last attack on the ministry.

Closing his mouth, which felt like sandpaper from screaming, Harry quieted down. Wait didn't I have a silencing… Bloody hell!

"It's okay, Pronglet, we'll just go talk to mummy and daddy okay?" Sirius calmed the shaking baby before heading for the master bedroom.

Sirius knocked on the door, but no one answered. Deciding the upcoming discussion couldn't wait until morning, he opened the door, entering, a large room, one side neatly decorated with James' stuff, the other messily strewn with Lily's.

Two figures were waking up, and turned to the new arrival, bleary eyes looking at him confused. James had grabbed his wand of the bedside table, but Lily's wasn't present. They hadn't gotten their bearings yet. James was the first to get his senses, "What do you want Padfoot?" he snapped, clearly annoyed.

James lowered his wand, but didn't put it down. Voldemort may be gone, but his death-eaters were still being rounded up, and polyjuice could disguise them as anyone.

"What do I want! What do you think your doing? Isn't Harry good enough for your attention or something?" Sirius knew he was starting to get hysterical, but, Merlin, they'd put a silencing charm on pronglet.

At his outburst, both sleepy figures snapped to full alert. "What's wrong? Is he okay?" "What happened to my baby?" They responded instantaneously, their concern putting doubt in Sirius' thinking.

"Who put the silencing charm on Harry?" he questioned uncertainly.

James and Lily looked at each other blankly. "We didn't. What are you talking about?"

Sirius sighed. He wished he knew what was going on. "I just got home, and Harry was in his room, screaming his lungs out, and thrashing around in his sleep. But he wasn't making any noise. I thought someone had broken in and cursed him, so I sent a 'finite incantatem' at him, and it turned out he just had a silencing charm."

Sirius paused, looking down at Harry pensively. "He must've been having a really violent nightmare, but he stopped when he woke. He's still really pale and he's shaking." James jumped up; wearing only his snitch covered boxers. Lily got up too, but she was wearing a halfway modest nightie. "That's the forth time this week, maybe he's sick."

"But how'd he get a silencing charm on, if none of us did it?" James paused, muttering something with his wand. A green light appeared at the tip of it. "No one else has entered the wards." An uneasy silence descended.

"Maybe it was accidental magic? The nightmares do seem terrifying." Lily suggested after a moment.

James still looked doubtful. Sure, accidental magic was the best explanation, but it wasn't likely. Accidental magic was to get kids out of their problem, not to hide it. "Yeah, okay. We'll get Professor McGonagall to take Harry for a check up with Pomfrey though; this is the forth time he's woken like this."

…………………………………

Two parents and their baby boy were witting in a large room, decorated with costly mahogany furniture. The press had finally backed off from the Longbottom manor and the family was cherishing their first bit of quiet.

The couple sat at a coffee table, idly watching a bickering chess set though their minds were focused elsewhere.

The baby boy was sleeping peacefully, his hair brushed out of the way, revealing a scar shaped oddly like a lightning bolt.

A ladybug flew in the window, unnoticed by the couple. It fluttered over the baby, who giggled and tried to reach out for it. Seemingly pleased with its find, the ladybug perched on the edge of a nearby bookshelf, before disappearing from view.

Rita Skeeter wanted a story.

…………………………………

McGonagall flooed in at around six that evening. She was most surprised how Snape had managed to secure a day so soon after the offer to baby sit, but was grateful. She was even more surprised by the polite conversation.

"Hello, Minerva dear" Lily welcomed her into the spacious lounge room. "How are you today."

"As good as always thankyou, and yourself?" The others shared a look at McGonagall's words. McGonagall was confused. What is going on?

"Oh, wonderful thankyou dear. Would you like a drink, before you go?"

"I wouldn't want to hold you up, Lily."

"Oh it'd be no problem, Profes- Um, Minerva." James cut in, obviously not comfortable with calling his ex teacher by her first name. "Have a seat."

Now McGonagall was really worried. Everyone was acting strangely, and she had a sinking feeling it had something to do with Snape. He'd seemed too happy, when he told her of his success in convincing them.

I'm going to wring his neck if he's responsible!

"I'm so glad I could help out, James." She said as Lily walked out to the kitchen.

It looked as though James really wanted to say something, but didn't quite know how to begin. Instead, he settled for, "Yes, it was very convenient you offered when you did." McGonagall knew he was lying.

Lily came back, followed by a house elf carrying a tray of tea and biscuits. The three of them sat and talked for a several minutes, in which James and Lily watched McGonagall closely, like she was going to break or something. This only served to make her even more annoyed at Snape. Wait till I see him next!

Finally, Lily went and got Harry, and shot a meaningful glance at James.

"I'll see you there," he replied, as though everything was normal, perfectly normal, yes sir-ree, nothing to worry about here. Yep, it was that fake.

When it was just Lily McGonagall and Harry in the room, Lily held Harry out for McGonagall. As McGonagall adjusted her hold on the baby, Lily handed her a bag. "The nappies are in the front pocket, and there's a bottle for when he gets thirsty. I've also put some toys in and his nap rug in case he gets tired."

"It'll be fine Lily. I'll return him in the morning like we arranged. The students have a trip to hogsmeade, and I'll be able to take Harry and floo over from there."

"What about Dumbledore's office?" Lily asked. "Wouldn't that be easier?"

"Well," McGonagall tried to think up an excuse, but was saved answering.

"Oh Minerva, its nothing to be ashamed about. Snape told us. I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't think any less of you if he found out."

Minerva narrowed her eyes. "Told you what?"

Lily however, looked worried for her. "Your mid-life crisis. Its nothing to be ashamed about, we all get it sooner or later."

Minerva stood, speechless. Snape. Is. Going. To. Die!

"Look, whenever you want to see Harry, you're quite welcome. And the others are more then happy for you to visit whenever you need some support."

"I- I gotta go." Minerva choked out. This was very high on the list of Embarrassing Things to Kill Snape For. Actually this was probably number one.

As they walked up the path, McGonagall could see a lone figure waiting at the Hogwarts gates for them. Professor Snape.

"Severus Snape. You and I are going to have a long talk after this." She hissed, reminding Harry of her animagus form.

"Whatever for, Professor?" Snape sneered. "Hello Potter."

"Hello, Swape" Harry bit back a laugh. His mouth hadn't developed enough for some sounds but some of the others were ones he did purely on purpose. Snape obviously didn't know that.

"Call me Severus if you can't pronounce it correctly."

"Okay Sevewus, if you insist." Harry grinned

McGonagall brought back the excuse Snape had given the Potters. Snape had happily reminded her that Sirius had been present at the time, too.

This did not go down well with McGonagall, and harry tried unsuccessfully to block McGonagall's yelling out.

Finally, as they stepped inside the castle, the argument stopped. After all, school was still on and a student might over hear. They headed for the dungeons, as it was closer, and there were fewer chances of students seeing a male and female teacher walking around with a baby. McGonagall said they'd go to the hospital wing then back to her rooms after lights out, as the students weren't allowed out.

Harry complained that the visit to the hospital wing was unnecessary, but McGonagall insisted they had to keep up appearances and that Harry had some explaining to do, casting silencing charms when he was suppose to be pretending to be a baby.

When they reached Snape's rooms, Harry looked around. Snape had a main room, filled with books, a desk, a few other things, and a fireplace. McGonagall had left from here, but thought it would be suspicious if she was heard using Snape's rooms as her return destination.

Obviously is the others thought I was close enough to let Snape know I was having a breakdown, it wont matter. McGonagall had begun to think revenge was needed.

First they discussed what each knew had happened over the past few days, and Harry happily gave Snape's visit in detail.

Snape retorted by asking why did Harry cast silencing charms while sleeping anyway? He was a baby, and babies always screamed. No one would notice.

"Actually Severus, they would notice, babies don't have violent nightmares every night, whatever you might think."

Afterwards, they started planning what to do next. Harry insisted they start in on the wolfsbane, so it could be done by Christmas.

Snape wanted more information, and the others said that Snape was going to invent it later, so he'd just have to pretend he invented it earlier on.

Snape wanted to know exactly what wolfsbane was for. He hadn't taken the hint of the name, as several potions had names that were related only to ingredients in them, not what they were for. This is when the others decided to shut up. Finally, Harry answered.

"Wewll since you're supposed to invewnt it, why don't we make it and then tewll you? Like a suwpwise."

"I don't like surprises." Was Snape's reply. "Tell me or I don't make it."

Harry squirmed, but McGonagall answered. "It's for one of the ex-students when he's unwell."

"Why doesn't he take normal potions?"

"They don't have the same effects." McGonagall carefully sidestepped the question. Snape however caught on.

"What effects does this new potion have"

"Well…" McGonagall started, "Fine, It lets him stay in control of his transformation every month, and makes it less painful."

"What? …Oh! No, Absolutely not!"

After a bit more convincing Snape finally gave in, but only because of the fact that it was a new potion no one had ever made before.

Harry wrote out the ingredients and instruction, and Snape promised it would be ready by December twentieth.

After lights out, Harry and McGonagall made their way to Madam Pomfrey. McGonagall explained what had happened exactly as James and Lily had described. Madam Pomfrey ran a few tests, but couldn't find anything. She suggested warm milk laced with honey, and bed rest.

Finally, the two returned to McGonagall's rooms. They decided for McGonagall to have a few books snuck in, so Harry could continue his studies, but McGonagall said it wouldn't be for at least a year.

Harry was only beginning to learn how to walk again, and couldn't disappear to read. It would have to wait. Most of their plans had to be put on hold until Harry was at least a year or two older.

They spent the rest of the night chatting and reminiscing, until Harry's eyes became to heavy. Finally, morning arrived, and Harry was taken home.

On arriving, he saw Remus, and immediately squealed. McGonagall laughed but handed Harry over, saying her farewells before disappearing into the fire again. Lily came over and cuddled Harry, though James had already left for work.

"Guess what Harry baby, Remus is going to be moving in! Won't that be fun?" Lily cooed to her son.

Harry grinned happily.

Please R&R? Pretty please with a cherry on top?