Severus was fuming. After speaking with Harry earlier he has decided it would be necessary to keep an eye on the wolf's interactions with his son, even if that did mean volunteering to help him set up his things. However now, because of Draco's arrogance he was instead stuck in the hospital wing, comforting the snivelling idiot as they waited for his parents to arrive. What the boy was thinking approaching a hippogriff like that Severus really did not know but he was certain that Lucius would find some way of blaming Dumbledore for it and sure enough it wasn't long before he came thundering in demanding heads roll for the accident.

Severus had warned Albus that it was a risk taking Hagrid on as a professor. He knew the subject certainly, but that wasn't the problem! Despite never even graduating himself, the half giant was actually every bit as knowledgeable when it came to magical creatures as any globally esteemed magizoologist. The problem was he didn't seem to fully comprehend how dangerous they could be. Particularly when mixed with the adolescent idiots of the student body – it was an accident waiting to happen.

Eventually though he had managed to smooth things over. It had been relatively easy to convince Lucius that the chance to get one over on Dumbledore wasn't worth the shame of highlighting Draco's impetuousness to the world. Madame Pomfrey could heal him, and it would serve Draco reputation better if the incident could just be forgotten about.

It was Narcissa who had been the hardest to appease. One would think the boy was going to be crippled for life the way she had swept in, face fraught with worry as she rushed to her son's bedside, cossetting him as though he were a mere toddler. It was disgusting, but luckily for him it was clear that Lucius felt the same way and it was he who informed his wife that they would not be taking the matter any further.

She had objected of course but was quickly overruled and had had to content herself with pointedly reminding him that he was Draco's Godfather and that it was to his care that she was entrusting her son, not the schools.

Poppy was seriously offended by that remark but as head of Slytherin House, the care and wellbeing of all the young Snakes was of course his responsibility. It was one he already took very seriously so whether he remembered their special relationship or not made little difference, and so knowing she wouldn't leave without it, he promised to look out for Draco and then finally they left.

Severus sat with him for a few more minutes, gently brushing his platinum hair back from his face as he chastised him once again for his stupidity. Then leaving the boy to spend the night in the hospital wing, he returned to his quarters to try and enjoy what little was left of the evening.

He had considered checking in on Harry on his way down but ultimately decided it was better not to. It would be one thing if he had shown up alongside the other teachers earlier under the guise of wanting to help out a new colleague but they would be nearly finished now. He didn't want to highlight his concern for his newfound son's wellbeing to the other students and he certainly didn't want to give Harry and his friends any more cause than they had already to start wondering what the deal was with him and Lupin.

He was well aware of their penchant for playing detective and any investigation into Lupin's past was bound to dig up Blacks connection to Harry and the Potters and probably prompt Harry into going off and doing something stupid.

It was too risky and besides he knew Lupin couldn't really do anything to Harry, not with McGonagall and the others there with them anyways, so instead he made a quick check on the Slytherins and then summoned a House Elf to bring down some food to make up for the meal he had missed before finally drawing himself a bath and attempted to wash away the stresses of being back at school.


As for Harry, he was actually having a wonderful time; it wasn't like being on detention at all. Lupin was definitely the nicest teacher he had ever had and had even offered him another bar of chocolate despite it being obvious that the poor man had little money to spare.

He and Cormac had been given the task of unpacking the educational materials that professor Lupin had requested the school procure for him and putting it all away.

The crates contained all sorts of fascinating things; sneakoscopes like the one Ron got him from Egypt, amulets, talismans, athames, potions ingredients, different types of candles and most intriguing of all – tiny little models of all manner of dark creatures.

The punishment was in forcing them to work together so that they might reconcile their differences and Harry would have been willing to do so if Cormac had only apologised but he had refused – he wasn't one bit sorry.

Instead he spent the evening weaselling up to the teachers and trying to no avail make Harry look bad. He even kept sticking his feet out as Harry went passed in an attempt to trip him but then Lupin seemed to catch on and sent him over to the other side of the room to put the potions ingredients away in an old cupboard.

Just as McLaggan opened the door though an enormous demonic looking pig trotted out. Turning white as a ghost, Cormac dropped the crate and began backing away, tears streaming down his face as he alternated between apologising to the creature, begging it for mercy and whimpering for his mother.

Lupin threw himself in front of Harry just as Professor McGonagall stepped between Cormac and the creature casting a spell that proved ineffective but then just as the pig transformed into a carbon copy of Cormac lying corpse like on the ground Lupin rushed forward. He cast another spell that turned corpse Cormac into a bright light and then a balloon that whizzed around the room to a chorus of laughter before it flew back into the cupboard and he closed the door.

Flitwick helped Harry up, dusting him off as Lupin informed them that the creature was a Bogart and the teachers began to debate as to how it might have gotten into the castle.

Embarrassed; Cormac had accused Lupin of playing a nasty trick on him but the Defence against the Dark Arts Professor hadn't even known it was there. Now that they had found it though, he was planning to use it in his next lesson and Harry couldn't wait to learn more about them.

He was also dying to share Cormac's fear of Nogtails and his overly dramatic reaction to the encounter with it but Professor McGonagall had made him promise to keep quiet about it before she escorted a much shaken McLaggen back up to the tower.

Harry would have to finish up on his own. He probably should have been annoyed at Cormac getting off early – it was his fault they were serving detention in the first place, but it was all so fascinating that Harry didn't care.

Picking up on his interest Lupin even took the time to name each curiosity: a jade model of a three headed Snake known as a Hydra, Native American Dreamcatchers, jars of salts, special clay for making Poppets, a rainbow of crystals each with its own protective properties, as Harry passed them out of the crate for him to arrange neatly on the shelves.

One by one the other teachers drifted off to attend to their own tasks but it wasn't until a somewhat disappointed Harry reached into the packing sawdust only to discover there was nothing left to unpack that he realised they were the only two left.

"Well what do you think?" Lupin asked, smiling warmly at him as he patiently waited for Harry's verdict on the rooms transformation.

Harry glanced around, it looked good, great even, but as he took in the jars of potions ingredients something struck him as odd.

"Why do you have so much aconite?" He asked suspiciously, his eyes flitting towards the open door as he remembered his father's warnings.

Lupin flushed slightly, he didn't want to lie to the boy but he couldn't tell him the truth either. "If you know what it is then i am sure you are aware it is used to counter a good many curses. When hoping to defend yourself against the Dark Arts it is prudent to keep some close at hand" He said carefully before reaching out to gently brush back Harry's hair to allow himself a proper look at the boy.

"It is some talent to recognise it at this distance. It should have come to no surprise to anyone that you were the Potion Masters son."

Harry blinked incredulously, did that mean Lupin knew? He was about the ask but then the bell tolled, signalling that it was almost curfew and he found himself hastily guided towards the door, unable to get a word in as the professor thanked him profusely for his help and bade him good night.

Harry climbed the stairs slowly, thinking about what he had said or more so the way he had said it. "Should have come as no surprise to anyone…" It wasn't impossible that some people might have known the truth. But did Lupin?, if so how?, and was this why his father distrusted him so or was there something else?

Harry kept his promise to professor McGonagall – he didn't tell Ron or anyone about McLaggan, despite the snotty remark the idiot made to him as he stepped into the common room but could he keep his promise to his father?

He was determined to learn more about Lupin.


AN: Hey everyone – sorry it's been so long since my last regular update. I have struggled to find time to write since the pandemic hit and found myself without any inspiration for storylines that didn't involve some outbreak of disease ( and i really don't want to go there) but I am hoping to get back into it now.

Just one question; As Harry and Severus settle back into life at Hogwarts, is anyone interested in following the twin's school experience or would you prefer if I continue to focus on Harry and Snape?

Thanks again to all of you who have taken the time to read and follow the story so far and especially to those of you who have left reviews. I do try to reply individually to anyone who leaves comments but I often miss some and also many are left anonymously so if you haven't heard it already, Thank you! Feedback is always very much appreciated.

Until next time,

An tSiog.