Chapter 29

"So, Mister Weasley," Severus began their Friday night meeting. "Tell me about your career plans."

Ron shrugged defensively. "Not much to say."

"Oh good, it will be an early night for us then." Snape quipped back.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Fine. I want to join the Aurors."

"Your defense skills are excellent, your grades are generally good, although you'll need to keep up the hard work, especially with Potions theory. Still, with your strategic mind set and real-life experience, I see no reason why you wouldn't be accepted onto the Auror training programme."

"Yeah, ok. Good."

Severus sensed something unspoken in the Gryffindor's words. "But...?"

Weasley sighed, "It's going to have to wait a bit, a year maybe."

"What makes you say that?"

"George needs some help with the shop. Plus, you know, mum."

"I'm sure your mother would be very proud of you joining the Aurors."

"Well, yeah, she would." Ron agreed. "But she's not really ready to see another child going off to do something dangerous."

"I understand." Severus sympathized. "Just don't give up on what you truly want because of the needs of your family."

"I won't, but I can afford to wait a year. I'm willing to do that for my family."

Severus nodded. "For what it's worth, I think you have made a very mature decision."

"Er, thanks." Ron rubbed the back of his neck. "So, can I go now?" He asked hopefully.

"Soon." Snape agreed. "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about quickly."

"'Course there is." Ron said lightly. "Go on." He waved a hand encouragingly.

"Harry has been speaking to me about some of his experiences last year." Ron tensed. "He tells me that it was you who encouraged him to talk to someone."

"So?"

"I just wanted to thank you for convincing him to speak with me. I believe it will help him immensely in the long run." Snape said sincerely.

Ron shrugged. "Yeah, well, he needed it."

"Still, I realize you don't exactly like me."

"Harry trusts you, that's enough." Weasley's eyes narrowed. "Just don't become an arsehole again." Severus' jaw clenched but he continued to listen. "He trusts you and respects you. He's starting to see you as a mentor and Merlin knows he needs someone. But if you fuck it up again, you'll have me to answer to."

Severus wouldn't usually allow a student to live after speaking to him like that, but there was a sincerity he couldn't miss in Ronald's passionate defense of his friend.

"I won't let Harry down." He assured.

"You better not. Every adult in Harry's life that he's ever cared about has either disappeared or died on him."

"I know, you and Miss Granger have been his only constant support."

"I haven't. I let him down, but I'll never abandon him again."

Severus' brow furrowed. "When?"

Weasley stared at him a moment and then sighed. "Of course. Bloody Harry." He muttered before explaining. "I guess Harry didn't tell you everything that happened last year; didn't tell you how I left him."

"When did this happen?"

"After we got the locket. We worked out afterwards that wearing the horcrux around our necks like we were was affecting our moods, our thoughts. It's not an excuse, I still shouldn't have left, but I knew as soon as I went that I wanted to go back, only they'd already moved on. That night with the sword in the lake was the first time I actually found them again."

"Why didn't he tell me?"

"I'd have thought you could work that one out, Sir." Ron smirked, knowingly. "Harry's bloody good at forgiveness. It's, like, his thing."

Severus hummed thoughtfully, his finger stroking idly along his bottom lip. "Yes, of that I have first hand experience."

"Exactly." Said Ron earnestly. "So you can't let him down. Everyone always lets him down."

"I won't." Severus promised, and Merlin help him he would do whatever it took to keep that promise.

Harry spent the next week poring over the Auror applications at every opportunity. At lunch he would re-edit his personal statement and between lessons he jotted down notes for his 2000 word essay. By Wednesday morning his hand ached and his lip was already blackened from relentlessly chewing on the end of his quill. His knee bobbed rapidly under the table and his fingers drummed on top of it as Hermione proof-read his most recent draft. Harry tried to perceive what she was thinking but her expression remained inscrutable as she read, giving Harry no indication of her opinion.

"Bloody hell, mate," Ron assessed his friend's anxious twitching. "Take a calming draft or something."

"'Mione?" Harry kept his eyes on the smartest witch in the room, ignoring Ron.

Hermione's eyes twitched left to right as she reached the bottom of the parchment and looked up at the boy-Saviour.

"Well?" He asked, taking in Hermione's subtle frown. "Oh, fuck, it's terrible, isn't it?"

"No! No, it's not terrible." Hermione quickly denied. "It's just…"

"What?"

"You're supposed to sell yourself in a job application; accentuate everything you've done and highlight your best bits." She waved the parchment at him. "This is good, really. It's well-written and you sound really professional."

"But…?" Harry prompted.

"You haven't included half of your achievements. You formed the DA, you won the Triwizard tournament, you defeated Voldemort!"

"Except you formed the DA, I didn't actually win the tournament and…well, everyone already knows about Voldemort."

"That's not the point. You have to paint yourself in the best light and talk up the things you've done."

"I don't want to get in because of those things." Harry mumbled.

"I know." Hermione sighed. "But Harry, whether you like it or not, that's a part of your history, part of what makes you you."

Harry shrugged, "Fine." He took the parchment back from Hermione and began re-writing on a fresh sheet.

"Here," Ron passed him some toast. "Take a break, have some breakfast."

"Yeah, alright." He accepted the plate gratefully.

"Don't worry about it, Harry, you've still got time." Hermione reassured.

"Hm." Harry hummed in agreement as he chewed.

He did still have time, but he still needed a reference from one of his professors and he hadn't yet worked out who to ask. Typically the students would ask their Head of House, who for Harry was Charlie Weasley, and while he had no doubt that Charlie would be willing to do it, he hadn't actually been teaching Harry for very long. He supposed he could ask Professor McGonagall, but that would mean a trip to her office and Harry told himself that the Headmistress had more important things she probably had to do. Which left Snape. Even putting aside their past differences, which they seemed to have done, Snape clearly didn't think Harry should become an Auror.

A shift in the air drew Harry's attention to the delivery of the morning post. Absentmindedly, Harry looked for snowy white amongst the flock of brown school owls until he remembered that Hedwig wouldn't be there. At some point, he supposed, he should probably get a new owl, but he couldn't quite bear to replace his old companion just yet. In the meantime, he made do with the school owls. When he wasn't at Hogwarts he had to make do with replying to letters with other people's owls and he had alternative ways of keeping in touch with most of the people he contacted.

A non-descript barn owl circled low around their heads and landed gracefully on the table between them. It plodded over to Harry, stepping gingerly over his cutlery before offering his leg politely. Harry retrieved the brief missive and paid the bird in breakfast scrapes.

"What've you got?" Ron asked curiously.

"Dunno, I haven't read it yet." Harry pushed his friend away affectionately as the boy tried to read over his shoulder.

'Mr Potter,

Please come to my office at your earliest convenience as I have matters with which to discuss."

Kind regards,

Professor M. McGonagall'

Harry read the letter twice and then pushed the rest of his toast away from him, no longer hungry.

"Well?" Ron persisted despite Hermione's scolding for being so nosy.

"It's just from McGonagall." Harry shrugged. "She says she's got something to talk to me about, but it doesn't sound urgent or anything."

"You've got a free period next, haven't you?" Hermione suggested. "You could go before Defence."

Harry stuffed the note down into his bag. "Yeah, maybe."

Severus looked up from his papers as the 8th years filtered in, a welcome break from the foolishness of the younger years. They looked odd in school robes, Severus decided. A bit too tall, a bit too mature and not quite innocent enough to pull them off. Had they thought it through a bit more, Minerva and he might have come up with an alternative, but it was too late for that now, he supposed.

They had reached that catatonic zombie-like state that all NEWT students reached where they were much too close to final exams to relax and yet too far from the end to feel any kind of hope that the continuous work would at some point be finished. Severus wasn't worried about their Defence Against the Dark Arts NEWT. Each of them was at least proficient in the practical spells they would be required to perform, if not far exceeding the expected standard. The theory paper they would be fine with, provided they did the assigned reading. Severus wasn't going to waste their time by slogging through material they already knew. If they had to be here and attend lessons; he might as well teach them something useful.

"The Patronus Charm," He began once they were all present. "Tell me what you know about it." Some theory revision wouldn't hurt.

"It's used to ward off Dementors." Boot offered.

"Basic, but not incorrect." Snape said bluntly. "Tell me more."

"You need a happy memory to fuel the spell." Boot added.

"Hm." Severus nodded. "What else?" He looked around the room, opening the question to everyone. "Anyone?"

Hermione looked around the classroom at her reluctant classmates and raised her hand timidly. Severus looked hopefully at the rest of the students before waving a hand in Granger's direction. "Go ahead, Miss Granger."

"The Patronus Charm can be used in defense of both Dementors and Lethifolds. The charm is considered to be advanced magic since it is linked closely with one's innate magic and personal feelings. As Terry said, one must summon a happy memory in order to be successful with the charm, although," Her eyes flicked to her left, momentarily glancing at Potter. "I've heard of people who imagine a potentially happy scenario instead. Whatever the case, it has to be powerful. Due to the nature of the spell, and its history of being used by noble or 'light' wizards, some people believe that the spell can only be cast by those who are 'pure of heart'."

Severus caught the note of skepticism in her voice. "You don't agree?"

"I saw Umbridge cast a Patronus last year. I wouldn't describe her as 'pure of heart'." Severus saw a collective shudder run through the students before Granger continued. "There are two types of Patronus: a corporeal, whereby the Patronus takes on the form of an animal or creature, or an incorporeal patronus. Audio messages can also be passed through a corporeal patronus, with an addition to the spell."

"Good." Severus praised. "You will not be asked to perform a Patronus in your practical exam but it may come up in the theory paper. Nonetheless, since you are all competent in the syllabus spells, we shall spend time today on the charm." He paused, narrowing his eyes at the room. "Who here is already able to cast a Patronus?"

The Golden Trio raising their hands was unsurprising, but the hands of four other students went up: Longbottom, Finnegan, Thomas and Bones. Severus looked at Harry, who steadfastly avoided eye contact. He had no doubt that the boy was responsible for this phenomenon. That seven of twelve students should be able to cast a spell which was not even taught at NEWT level was astounding.

"All corporeal?" The seven nodded. "Very well, as Miss Granger said, the Patronus can also be used for communication. Mr Weasley." The redhead looked up sharply from his daydreaming. "Perhaps you could demonstrate." He gestured to the front of the class with a sweep of his arm.

"Sir?"

"You are able to communicate through your patronus, I believe?"

Weasley gulped. "Yes, Sir."

"I would like you to show the class how."

Weasley nodded and stood slowly. Severus considered that this was perhaps the first time Ronald had ever been asked to model a spell in class.

At the front the boy swallowed heavily again and then raised his wand. He paused, thinking for a moment and then grinned. "Expecto Patronum." A bounding Jack Russell emerged, tail wagging enthusiastically. "Nuntius Patronum: Seamus," Ron whispered the rest to his canine guardian who bounded off to the Irish wizard and repeated in Ron's confident voice, "Seamus, Dean told us all what you did on Halloween."

Seamus' face turned crimson as the class erupted in laughter and Dean sniggered guiltily. Seamus threw a quill at his traitorous best mate before laughing good-naturedly with the rest of the class. Severus rolled his eyes as the silvery dog returned to his owner and disappeared obediently.

"Indeed." He drawled and indicated that Weasley should return to his seat. "This morning, those of you who have not yet learnt the Patronus Charm shall practice it under my supervision. Weasley, Granger and Potter, you shall teach the rest of the class how to enhance their Patronus with the Nunitius." He waited for their obedient nod. "Begin."

The class worked hard and by the end of the period Abbott and Boot were both achieving a soft mist of the Patronus and Longbottom, who had been tutored by Potter, had successfully sent a message across the room via his ethereal lion. Severus called an end to their practice and dismissed them with a stern reminder to continue their revision.

"Mr Potter, wait behind a moment." He saw Harry sigh and nod, much too used to being held back after class.

"Sir?" Harry approached the Professor's desk as the class emptied.

"You're a good teacher."

Harry seemed pleasantly surprised by the compliment. "Thank you, Sir."

"Have you been to see the Headmistress yet?"

"Er, no." Severus noted the change in the boy curiously. He had been relaxed at the end of the period, happy even. Teaching seemed to bring him a level of satisfaction, pride maybe. Now, however, he was back to tense, closed off and defensive. "Not yet, Sir. I haven't had time."

"Have you not just had a free period?"

"I was studying." Harry defended.

"In my experience it does not do to keep the headmistress waiting." Harry gulped. "Relax, Potter, you are not in trouble. Professor McGonagall merely has some news to share with you."

"Right."

"Go now. The Headmistress will be in her office over lunch, I'm sure she'll feed you there."

"Yes, Sir. Thanks." Harry hurried out into the hall, catching his friends who waited for him.

"Alright?" Ron checked.

"Yeah." Harry answered distractedly. "Let's have lunch in the common room today."

Severus had been so occupied grading the 5th Year Defence essays that he hadn't seen either Minerva or Harry for the rest of the day and, therefore, did not know how the boy had taken the news. Given Harry's visceral reactions to even hearing Umbridge's name, the Headmistress and her Deputy had decided that it would be better that Harry's court summons came via them. Kingsley agreed and had sent the Ministry official owl to Minerva.

Fortuitously, an errand called Severus up to the 8th Year dorms that evening and he hoped to spy a glance at the Boy-Who-Conquered while there.

At the password, the portrait of the girl in a field of flowers admitted his entry and he entered slowly, ensuring the 8th Years had ample warning of his entry. He scanned the room, seeking out Hannah Abbott and taking in the activities of all the students. A few were studying at the table, Finnegan and Thomas were playing Wizard's chess and the Golden Trio were snuggled into the cosy armchairs that ringfenced the fireplace. They looked relaxed and had been chatting casually until Severus entered, at which point they stopped and looked at him curiously.

"Miss Abbott," he located her and called her over to a more secluded area of the common room. "Congratulations, you have made it through the first stage of the application process to train with the Potion Masters' Guild."

He watched her eyes widen as he pulled parchment from his robes. "How do you know, Sir?"

"Because they have asked me from your Potions grades from the last six years and they do not do that unless they are prepared to invite you to the next stage of the process." He narrowed his eyes. "I suggest you start brushing up on your advanced potions."

"Oh my Merlin. Yes, Sir, I will."

"Good. No student of mine has ever failed to get through to at least stage 4. I don't intend for my record to deteriorate now, potions teacher or not."

Whatever the girl may have responded to that Severus didn't find out as the portrait door swung open once more and the Headmistress entered. He saw Minerva talk to Potter and then they both left the room. Severus dismissed Abbott quickly and followed the Gryffindors out into the corridor.

"Sorry, Professor." Potter was saying as Severus approached the pair. "I didn't manage to find time today; I was going to find you tomorrow."

Severus' eyes narrowed in suspicion. Harry glanced at him and then looked quickly away.

"Well, it's of no matter." The Headmistress said briskly, presenting the letter from Kingsley. "We can do this now."

"What's that?" Potter asked, somewhat warily.

"It's a letter, Mr Potter." Minerva answered bluntly and Harry rolled his eyes. "It's a court summons. They have set a date for Umbridge's trial and you have been called as a witness as Kingsley said you would."

Severus said nothing, watching the boy's reaction instead. He saw the tiny, almost imperceptible changes in Harry's expression. The slight clenching of his jaw, the tightening of his lips and then the relaxing of his facial muscles as he brought up his Occlumency shields. Severus had grown used to seeing this change in the Boy-Who-Lived. He grew tired of it. He could not deny the irony of it; that he had spent so many hours, torturous hours, attempting, unsuccessfully to teach the boy Occlumency, and now he hated that Harry had mastered it. Severus still wasn't sure when Harry had acquired the skill, but it aggravated him every time he saw Harry use it to hide what he was feeling.

"Okay," Harry responded, taking the letter but not opening it. "Thanks for letting me know, Professor."

"The court date is a few weeks away." Minerva added. "You'll be released from classes to attend."

"Right. Thanks."

Minerva's face turned sympathetic and her hand reached out hesitantly, unsure, and rested on the side of Potter's arm in a gesture of comfort.

"It will be over before you know it, Potter. Everybody knows what that witch is. You just need to tell them what she did here."

Harry nodded, detached. "There will be a prep session with the Ministry prosecutors, I guess."

"There will." Severus spoke for the first time and Harry's eyes flicked up to him quickly and then away again. "You will come to us if you need any further advice or support." He ordered sternly, waiting until Harry made eye contact again and holding his gaze.

Harry jerked his head in an affirmative nod and looked back at Minerva. "Is that everything, Headmistress?"

She patted his shoulder once and let go. "Yes, Harry, that's all." She turned to her colleague. "Unless you had anything else to add, Professor Snape?"

Severus looked at the young Gryffindor as he answered, "You go on, Headmistress. Potter and I need to have a little chat."

Minerva looked between them, assessing Severus' glare and Harry's nervous gulp. Whatever she saw between them, she clearly decided she should leave it where it was as she cleared her throat and nodded at the pair of them.

"Good night then gentlemen."

Severus didn't speak while Minerva walked the corridor away from them, choosing to keep his steely gaze on Potter instead.

"Sir?" Harry asked nervously.

Severus took a step closer to Harry and hissed at him. "I do not appreciate being lied to."

"Sir, I haven't…"

"I don't believe that I could have made myself any clearer." He interrupted the boy before he could dig himself any deeper.

"Sir?"

"You had ample opportunity to see the Headmistress today and I specifically instructed you to do so at lunchtime. Not only did you ignore me, but I have just heard you lying to the Headmistress about it." Harry said nothing, looking appropriately cowed. "You are hiding something, Mr Potter. You may not want to tell me what it is, but I will find out if you are up to something dangerous or hiding something important."

Harry's nervous expression shifted as a defiance settled over him. His jaw set and he lifted his face in challenge to the Professor. Severus scowled back, aggravated by the boy's resistance. He glanced at the Ministry letter in Harry's hand and sighed. "Remember what I said, Harry, come to me if you want any help with the court case." He waited for Harry to nod, still tense and wary. "Very well. Good night, Mr Potter."

"Night." Harry muttered and stalked back into the 8th Year dorms.

Severus watched him go, shaking his head. Harry Potter had never made helping him very easy, but he would do it until his dying day.