Chapter 21

"Say," Fred said lazily, "Snape's not in his lab right now."

"So?" Harry said.

They were laying around in Harry's room on pillows and bean bags conjured earlier that evening, surrounded by half-eaten trays of muggle and wizard sweets. Harry had been half-asleep listening to Ron and Herminone argue over the best way for Ginny to move chess pieces. Fred's comment had woken him up.

"So," George pushed. "Let's peek!"

"Are you crazy!" Harry said. "He'd murder us.

"Sure," Fred agreed, "but what a way to go."

Hermione, Ginny, and Ron were now listening in on the conversation. Hermione looked concerned, Ron interested, and Ginny curious. Harry couldn't believe they were going for this. It was Snape's private lab. There was no place in the house more forbidden.

"Okay," Harry said," but if we get caught, it was your idea."

"What difference would that make?" Hermione asked.

She had a point.

Harry and the others went downstairs as quietly as possible. He knew this was a silly reason to get in trouble, but he also missed his late-night adventures sneaking around Hogwarts. Part of him was also curious about what Snape did keep in his lap. Fred and George never got caught. If there was ever a time to get into the inner sanctum, this was it.

He felt a tad guilty too, but he pushed that down. Snape couldn't get too mad on Harry's birthday. He wouldn't punish him when his friends were there. It was a get out of jail free card.

When they got to the door, Harry decided he should be the one to do it. He pulled out his wand and whispered the spell. Nothing happened.

"You don't really think it would be that easy, do you?" Fred whispered back.

Harry nodded. Snape had taught him other spells though. It took him three more before he got to one that opened it.

"Wicked, Harry," Ron gasped, "you need to teach us that."

Both of the twins clapped Harry on the back and gave him thumbs up signs.

After he pushed the door open, Harry and the others all slowly walked down the stairs into the basement that was Snape's laboratory. No one said anything. They were still quiet all the way down the steps.

"Whadda you reckon Snape has some kind of alarm here?" Ron asked, as they all looked around the lab.

They were all still standing in a huddle at the foot of the stairs. Harry had to admit that the lab looked creepy shrouded in darkness. There were only faint lights coming from hurricane lamps near the ceiling and a tiny bit of moonlight through the narrow windows.

"You're just asking that now?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know he would," Harry said. "It's just him and me here. Still, maybe." He shrugged.

"Well, then," Fred said. "We better make the most of this."

"Yeah," George said, "Who knows when we will get another chance."

George then produced a small notebook from his pocket and Fred unshrunk it. They proceeded to do the same thing with a tiny cauldron. Harry gaped at them.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Brewing, of course!" they said in unison.

"What?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Where else will we have access to the private ingredient stores of a potions master?" Fred asked simply, as George walked over to the wall of carefully labeled jars.

"Oh, Merlin," Ginny murmured.

"No," Harry said. "I did not agree to this."

"Don't worry, Harry," Fred assured him. "We'll give you a sample of the potions."

"Potions?" Harry said, finding it hard to believe his ears.

He looked to Hermione and Ron for help. Hermione was giving him an 'I told you so' look and Ron just looked intrigued. Ginny was the only one who looked as worried as he was.

"A little help, Harry?" George asked.

Harry decided it was best to help, if for no other reason than to get them out of there faster. Apparently Ginny and Hermione agreed. Since Ron was more of a hazard than a help in the potions lab, they set him as lookout.

They brewed potions for most of the night, and Harry had no idea what most of them were. Hermione was in her element. She helped the twins with ingredients and tutored Harry in preparation. He was so nervous that they were going to be caught that he was next to useless in anything but basics.

"Don't you know the difference between dicing and slicing?" Fred asked.

"Yeah," Harry said numbly. "Snape taught me. Sorry."

Hermione asked a ton of questions, and from Fred and George's reactions they were intelligent ones. Harry was surprised that she wasn't more upset that they were breaking the rules. He had to admit that the twins were great inventors as they described a potion that would make a person's ears grow to the size of a bat's for the purpose of eavesdropping.

"That is so cool," Ron said from the top of the stairs.

"Shut up, Ron," Harry told him. "You're supposed to be listening at the door."

Ron made a face but turned around.

When it was almost dawn, the twins conceded that they should finish. They cleaned up without magic. Harry was glad everyone helped.

They locked the lab door again and snuck back up to Harry's room. He sighed with relief. He knew he wasn't in the clear, but he felt better not being there at least.

"We made a list of what we took," George said. "We're underage and there's no way anyone will sell this stuff to us, but if you get caught, we'll pay for it."

"Did you see the size of this house," Ginny said. "Snape's loaded, I don't think he'll care."

"It's the principal," Fred said, "we're not thieves. Just industrious."

"And if he does find out? Do you really think he doesn't track his stores?" Hermione asked.

"Mice?" Fred suggested.

"I'm pretty sure the dungeon is warded against mice," Harry said.

"Snape's a Slytherin, Harry," Fred said. "You got in and got out without getting caught."

"So," Harry asked.

"Oh, Harry," George shook his head. "Lad, we have so much to teach you."

"You're not Slytherins," Ron pointed out.

The door opened.

"Awake, I see," Snape said in his characteristic slow drawl. He was dressed in black trousers and a black long-sleeved button-down shirt.

"Yes, Sir," Harry said.

"Harumph. Clean this room. Do not leave this mess for the elves. You might want to take breakfast on the South Patio. There is sun there this morning," he said, then turned on his heel and left.

"Wow," Ron said. "That was Snape."

Harry shrugged. "He didn't say we couldn't use magic. Just not elves."

They cleaned the room in minutes and went downstairs to the South Patio. Harry had barely been out there. It had three white iron tables with intricate designs that were heavily laden with pastries and drinks.

"Alright!" Ron cried.

It was quite a spread, Harry had to admit. He helped himself to a scone and some pumpkin juice. Then he went to sit down and was soon joined by Fred and George, one twin on either side of him.

"See," they said. "What did we say?"

"It doesn't mean anything," Harry said.

After breakfast, they played another pickup Quidditch game. Harry was having so much fun that he forgot to be worried. The Sorting Hat was wrong about him. He didn't belong in Slytherin. He wasn't sneaky enough. If Snape was trying to teach him to be more like him, he had a long way to go.

After the game, they transfigured their clothes into swimsuits and played in the pond for awhile. Harry decided there was nothing better than magic in the summer. Adults just couldn't possibly appreciate this as much. They splashed and raced each other, and Fred and George had a running count of dunking people.

Lunch was inside, as it was getting warmer. They used their wands to dry themselves and returned their clothes to their original form. Harry'd noticed the girls eying him and realized that he had grown in a few ways this summer. He was no longer quite as scrawny. Training had its advantages.

The food was buffet style, and there was more than even a group of hungry teenagers could eat. The elves clearly wanted to make sure there was something for everyone. Snape still made himself scarce, and while Harry was glad of that it also made him a little sad. It was due to Snape's sacrifice that Harry had these advantages for the first time in his life, and the man thought-or knew-that he was not wanted. Their relationship was rocky. Harry was cared for but sometimes he wondered how much he was cared about.

Sometimes the same went for his friends. There were old wounds there that were still healing. Harry had some thinking to do.

As far as first birthday sleepovers go, Harry's turned out well. He had been so angry at his friends in the beginning of the summer. He had been angry at everyone.

When Harry said goodbye to his friends this time, it was with a bittersweet feeling. He was going to miss them. It wasn't just that he missed having someone to talk to. They had been good company, and having them around had made him remember the good times they used to have.

"Harry?"

"Yes, Sir?"

Harry turned around. He was standing in front of the fireplace, still. He wasn't sure how long he'd been there, after his friends had disappeared. Snape probably thought he was barmy.

"Let's have tea."

Harry nodded, and followed Snape to the sitting room. He was partly worried, but if he was in trouble, Snape would have called him into the office and not the sitting room. At least, Harry thought that's what he would do. He still didn't have Snape entirely figured out.

Snape sat on one sofa, so Harry sat across from him. A tea service with biscuits and small sandwiches appeared on the table between them. Neither moved.

"How was your weekend?" Snape asked, once they had both sat down.

Harry took a biscuit, more to have something to do than anything else. He nibbled the edge. It was chocolate and one of his favorites.

"It was good," Harry said, after he swallowed. "Thanks. I never … well, you know."

"Yes," Snape said. "I unfortunately do."

Not sure what to say to that, Harry looked at his shoes. He looked at his jeans, which fit perfectly, and his jumper, which fit perfectly, and his trainers, which fit perfectly. Everything fit.

"Are you cold, Harry?" Snape asked.

"No, Sir," Harry said, he pulled on his sleeve, out of habit since it was no longer necessary. "I was outside, earlier. I can take it off, if you want."

"No, of course not," Snape said. "The house is climate controlled though. If your room is cold, just tell the elves."

"I know," Harry said, not sure what else to say. "You, um, told me that before."

This conversation was so awkward. He could tell that Snape felt uncomfortable and he had no idea why. Snape was usually griping at him or ordering him around. He could handle that, but he had no idea what to do with this Snape.

"Well," Snape said. "I'm glad you enjoyed your party. We will be returning to Hogwarts soon. Some things will be different there, of course. We will continue training. I will work out a schedule for you." He paused. "It will not be an easy year."

"I don't think I've ever had an easy one, Sir," Harry said.

"No," Snape agreed, "No, I don't suppose you have."

They remained that way for a few minutes. Snape served both of them tea and helped himself to a sandwich, so Harry ate one too. The silence was only slightly less awkward.

"I suppose we will continue private tutoring in potions as well," Snape mused.

"Uh, right," Harry said.

"I might as well include the Weasley twins."

Harry almost spit out his tea.