AN: I'm sorry that this took so long to get out! I've been really busy lately and simply haven't had the time to write much at all. I am happy that this is finally published though. I'm sorry that the chapter is a little short and rushed, but hopefully the story will start to get better after this.
Detention was nearing its end to Harry's disappointment, enjoying the comfortable silence that stretched on. The only noise was the occasional pen marking coming from Severus. The term hadn't even started yet, and it already sounded as if the summer assignments were a disappointment. He would have made a comment about it, but since detention was about to end and he doubted Snape wanted to be around him for longer than intended, he decided to focus on something else.
"Sir?" Harry cleared his throat politely, not wanting to disturb the other too much.
"Yes, Potter?" Severus glanced up from his papers, looking at the green-eyed wizard.
"I have your book with me. The one you wanted back." Harry informed as he rummaged through his bag to get the old copy of Advanced Potion Making, finally getting up and handing it to him. The gleam in Snape's eyes didn't go unnoticed by Harry, who had to hold back a smile.
"Thank you," The man readily accepted the aged book as his fingers brushed along the spine, and along the younger wizard's hand.
"I know it's too late for tonight, but I have my spell-book with me. Maybe we could compare spells next time?" Harry had a slight flush on his cheeks as he suggested that, embarrassed at how excited his tone was. Severus rose an eyebrow at the flush, lips turning upward into a slight smirk.
"I see no issue with it, Potter. I admit that I am curious about the shielding spell the twins spoke of." He was also proud, but he wasn't about to admit that part yet, not until he got a chance to try this spell on his own at least. "It also allows me to focus on another subject of magic that I enjoy." Knowing what he meant, Harry spoke up.
"Did you want to teach defense this year?" He was well aware that Snape had tried in the past and was finally allowed to be a professor for the subject last year, but now he was back to his potions position again.
"I wouldn't have been opposed." Severus went back to grading, still speaking. "There wasn't much choice in the matter. It's less taxing to find a new defense instructor than a potions master." Snape informed, crossing something out in red pen.
Harry could see the reason behind that. From what he had discovered, most potion masters either focused solely on research or owned their own business, such as an apothecary. There weren't many who were willing to teach children, and it was understandable why that was.
"Do you have much hope for the new professor?" Harry asked, only catching a glimpse of the new instructor as Dumbledore introduced her.
"From what I've observed for far, she has the potential to be a suitable instructor. She taught at Durmstrang for a few years before moving here. I expect she will be more…. amenable about teaching darker spells." Harry didn't have an issue with that. He had a strong first for knowledge after all, even if didn't plan on going around and using those darker spells in the future. Having them at your disposal was always on the plus side. Spells were spells at the end of the day, so even a light spell could be used to inflict severe harm onto someone.
The Ministry needed to change its views on certain spells.
Well, they were full of imbeciles anyway, so that wouldn't be in the near future anytime soon.
"That's good. I think refusing to acknowledge the dark arts spells does more harm than good. You were a great instructor." Harry supplied, missing the way Snape paused, secretly surprised by the compliment. "And for what it's worth, I'd rather have you as our potions professor anyway. I learned more from your book than I ever did from Slughorn." Not that he didn't like the former potions professor, but he hated when the man looked at him as 'the boy who lived' and not Harry.
Severus would have made a comment about Harry trying to flatter him (which was working, granted) but he knew the younger wizard wasn't one to say something unless he truly meant it.
"I mean," Harry fumbled, feeling a little guilty at the way he spoke about Slughorn. "He's good and all, but there was so much passion in your book. But, uh he was missing the passion you had…" He still fumbled a bit to Severus' amusement, lips turning into a small smirk.
"Eloquent as ever, Potter," Severus stated, smirking more at the huff. "I shall endeavor to keep you thrilled with potions." Harry snorted at the sarcasm dripping from the professor's tone.
"I'm sure that won't be an issue, sir." Harry teased back, already thinking of the upcoming class. "You have a very commanding presence." He chuckled at the look Severus gave him, wondering if they would be able to converse like this outside of detention. There was no reason a student couldn't be sociable with a teacher, right?
He was probably getting ahead of himself, but he couldn't quite help it. There were very few people that he liked to be around for long, but Severus Snape happened to be one of them. Perhaps the sentiment wasn't returned, but it was looking alright so far.
Shaking himself from his thoughts, he checked the time and sighed. It was five past ten, which meant he had to leave. He didn't want to keep Dean and Seamus waiting much longer, even if he didn't want to leave yet. The fact that Snape hadn't kicked him out made him pause. Perhaps Severus wasn't bothered with his company after all. Still, he didn't want to risk it.
"It's past ten. I guess I should be on my way then. I'll see you tomorrow." Harry held back a sigh as he waved his hand and summoned his things, placing them in his bag. If he were to look up, then he would find dark eyes watching him, something almost soft about them. "Goodnight, sir," Harry called out, a smile on his face that would have been contagious if Snape had less control over his emotions.
"Goodnight, Potter," Severus responded as he watched the Gryffindor leave.
"Finally! We've barely been able to sit still." Dean grinned when Harry entered the common room, which was essentially empty. The younger years were already in their rooms, most likely nervous about their first day of classes tomorrow. Ginny and Ron were nowhere to be seen thankfully, but that either meant Ron was still in detention, or the pair of them had gone to talk to Dumbledore.
Thank Merlin he had the map to keep tabs on these things.
"Sorry it took so long. I lost track of time." Harry shrugged to the surprise of Dean and Seamus.
"What did Snape have you doing tonight, mate? It must have been something if you lost track of time." Seamus would have bolted as soon as the clock struck ten.
"Nothing important. Studying mostly." Harry had to be careful. He didn't want to lie to them, but the two couldn't know the real reason he was in detention. That would be a long story that Harry didn't want to tell at this point. "So," Harry trailed off and smirked, knowing the other two were ready to hear what had transpired between him and the younger Weasley's. "I suppose you're curious as to what's going on with Ron?"
Dean and Seamus wanted to question Harry why Snape had him study instead of doing lines in detention, but at the prospect of hearing the story about Ron, they quickly forgot about detention. They nodded eagerly, causing Harry to chuckle.
"Dumbledore was getting excessive with his demands of me, trying to control my life." Harry started off, rubbing at his neck, not sure how in-depth he wanted to go. "He kept trying to force the notion that I needed to fight Voldemort and defeat him as soon as I could-"
"That's bloody stupid!" Seamus couldn't help but interrupt him, eyes ablaze with raw emotion. Harry wasn't sure what it was, but it wasn't good for Dumbledore. "You haven't even graduated Hogwarts yet! How can he expect you to fight Voldemort when you haven't even finished your education?" Snorting, he gave a small shrug.
"That was part of my issue with it too. I mean, look at me," Harry made a gesture to himself, shaking his head. "Voldemort has years of experience compared to me. He's traveled the world to gain more knowledge, and all I've had is the Hogwarts library." Dean shuddered at all the knowledge Voldemort sought out, which could likely cause unspeakable horror.
"There's more though, isn't there?" Dean spoke up, curious as to how it would play out.
"Yeah…" Harry chuckled nervously, shifting awkwardly. "I may have essentially told Dumbledore to bugger off and that he couldn't control my life anymore. I refused to go back to my loving relatives and ran off to do my own thing. Then when I turned seventeen," He showed off the three rings and the necklace. "I claimed my Lordships."
"Wicked!" Dean and Seamus looked at the heirlooms, surprised at the necklace. "Which one is the necklace?" Seamus questioned, rarely hearing of lordships that weren't worn on a finger.
"Gryffindor," Harry informed, holding back a loud laugh at the look of pure awe that overcame his two friends.
"Gryffindor?! No way!" Dean gasped, becoming more interested by the minute.
"The other three are Potter and Black, obviously. The last one is Peverell." Harry informed, but quickly put his hand down in order to get back on track. "You probably won't like this upcoming part," Harry admitted, looking a bit worried.
"Why not? We're your friends, Harry. You can tell us anything." Harry swallowed at that, already feeling guilty that he was keeping so much from the two of them. He looked down, taking a deep breath. He could do this.
"I told Dumbledore to fight the war on his own- that I wanted no part in it. I let him know how I felt about them trying to force the world's problems on one teenager's shoulders." Green eyes looked up slowly, expecting to find disappointment.
Instead, there were two grins waiting for him.
"Wish we could have been there! We would have loved to see the look on Dumbledore's face when you told him off like that!" Dean outright laughed. "Is this why Ron is so pissed at you? Because you actually have some self-preservation instead of complete recklessness?" Harry joined in on the laughter, giving a nod.
"Bingo. He called me a traitor to 'abandoning' them." Harry gave a humorless snort. "If me wanting to live my own life makes me a traitor, then so be it. I'm seventeen now. They can't control who I am or who I want to be." Both Dean and Seamus laid their hands on either side of his shoulders, grinning more.
"That's it, Harry! The others can bugger off if your choice upsets them so much." Seamus spoke up, eyes bright. "You're your own person. You get to decide your future and no one else has the right to force you to do something you don't want to." Seamus proclaimed. "Ron's a bloody idiot for thinking you're a traitor,"
"Maybe all the bludgers to the head finally did something to him." Dean shook his head. "He's been a real arse to you, Harry. You don't deserve it, mate."
"Eh, it's alright." Harry chuckled. "Ron's just an arse in general. Nothing to be done about it."
"Not really, besides a nice hex or curse. Especially if he keeps making comments about me and Seamus." Harry paused at that, frowning deeply.
"Comments? What comments?" Had he missed more of Ron's abhorrent behavior?
Seamus and Dean shared a look, turning back to Harry with an awkward smile.
"Harry, we're gay. Been dating for over a year now." Again, Harry was lost.
"Well, yeah. But-" It suddenly hit him, his face becoming dark. "He's been making homophobic remarks?" Harry gathered, getting angry. "Don't worry. I'll make sure that behavior stops." Harry promised, a dark smile on his face.
"Merlin, that's scary." Dean whistled, shaking his head. "Nice of you to offer your help, but it's just some pointless words. Seamus and I can handle it."
"I have no doubt about that, but I'd like a go at him too. If he wants to say something about being gay, he'll have to say it to the three of us." Harry added, seeing their faces dawn with understanding.
"Oi, we had no idea, Harry." Seamus patted him on the back, chuckling. "In that case, you're more than welcome to hex the fuck out of that little shit,"
The next day was busy with the start of classes, but being a seventh year now, Harry was used to the schedule by now. The classes themselves were easy too, now that he was allowing his true knowledge to shine through. Some of the professors looked shocked by the sudden change, but it quickly morphed into pride. Valerie Militsa, the new defense professor even looked surprised at his potential, giving him a nod when he did everything with ease.
When asked how he already knew some of the spells, Harry shrugged and mentioned something about a dark lord 'chasing' him.
The Slytherins snickered, especially the ones who had parents in the inner circle. Many of the Gryffindors were unaware of the joke, but that just made it better.
Then it was time for the last class of the day, which would be another easy one.
After finishing charms with Hufflepuff, Hermione and Harry were gathering their things.
"I didn't know you were so good at charms, Harry." Justin came up to the duo with a smile.
"Might've got it from my mum. This was one of her best subjects." Harry tucked his books inside his bag.
"I'm rubbish at it," Justin admitted with an embarrassed flush. "Do you think you and Hermione could help me later? I know the term hasn't been going on for long, but I wouldn't mind the help later."
"We'd be happy to. Just let either one of us know when you need help. I won't be available from eight until ten all month though." At the curious look, Harry chuckled. "Detention with Professor Snape for a month." Justin's eyes were comically wide.
"A month? Blimey!" The Hufflepuff shook his head. "That's nearly as bad as a month with Filch."
"Hardly. I'd pick Professor Snape over Filch any day." Harry immediately came to Snape's defense. "He's been helping me a lot with my studies." Harry was quick to say, not wanting to linger on the suspicious looks from both Justin and Hermione.
Well, Hermione's look was more of a pondering look than anything else.
"If you say so," Justin shrugged, grabbing his bag. "Do you two have a class before dinner, or is this your last class of the day?"
"I'm done for the day. Hermione isn't." Harry smirked at the look she gave him.
"I've got Arithmancy until dinner." She informed.
"I've got an Astronomy lecture before dinner, then the rest of the class afterward." Justin had his bag in hand, smiling at the two again. "I should get going soon. Don't wanna be late on the first day. I'll see you around?" He was mostly looking at Harry as he spoke, looking rather earnest. The back of his hand was brushing across Harry's slowly like the movements were purposeful.
"Uh-yeah! We'll catch you around, Justin." He smiled back as the Hufflepuff left, forcing down a blush. As soon as he was gone, Hermione was looking at Harry with a pleased grin.
"Would you look at that. You're already becoming a magnet for boys." Hermione teased her friend, enjoying the embarrassed flush that colored his face.
"Merlin…" Harry groaned, hiding his face in his hands.