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After finishing up an assignment for class, Harry realized it was almost curfew and he was still in his father's quarters. He might as well as spend the night in his room there as he'd never make it upstairs to the tower before curfew. He organized his work on his desk and prepared himself for bed.

: Off to bed so soon? Sam questioned, stepping into the room.

"Yeah, I'm really tired," Harry said, stretching as he sat down on his bed. "Probably from you tying me up to the twins!"

: I can't imagine what being tied up to those two must be like, Sam smiled slyly, ignoring Harry's glare. I'm off to hunt. Stay out of trouble, will you?

"Don't start sounding like Dad."

"Excuse me?" Severus said, coming into the bedroom. "And what exactly do I sound like?"

"Like . . ." Harry offered an innocent smile, "the most caring, loving father in the world."

: Nice save, Sam commented before misting away. Severus merely rolled his eyes.

"I'm tired," Harry said, laying down, "so I think I'll go to bed early tonight."

"What a surprise," Severus said, sitting on the edge of Harry's bed, "I didn't even have to tell you repeatedly to get in bed. Are you feeling all right?" Severus felt Harry's head and cheeks. "Fever? Nausea? Something you're not telling me?"

"Dad, I'm fine!" Harry smiled. "I feel fine, I'm just tired."

"Okay," Severus smiled, then frowned. "Before you go to sleep, there's something I want to tell you concerning what happened today." Harry sat up in his bed slightly as his father kept talking. "I am still very disappointed in your actions, you and the Weasley boys, but more so that you did nothing to stop the twins when you knew they were taking it a bit too far."

"They would never hurt Sam, though," Harry argued. "They made sure of it. They were just trying to . . ."

"I'm sure they had no ill intentions. But that doesn't negate the fact that they could have hurt Sam. And that you would have allowed it."

Harry looked down, unable to deny what his father was saying.

"I'd like to tell you a story of when I was in Hogwarts," Severus adjusted himself on Harry's bed so he was sitting next to his son, "When your uncles and I became better friends. We were in fifth year. We weren't exactly the best of friends at the time, more like acquaintances. I'd sometimes study with Remus in the library or help with a prank now and then, but we'd usually end up trying to pull something on each other. However, James and Sirius took it a bit too far one day . . ."

"Put that away, will you?" Sirius said, and James made a fine catch of the snitch he had stolen and was playing with, Peter Pettigrew letting out a cheer, "before Wormtail wets himself with excitement."

Peter turned slightly pink, but James grinned and stuffed the snitch away, saying, "If it bothers you."

The four Marauders were outside sitting in the grass, under the shade of a tree. They had just finished an OWL exam.

"I'm bored," Sirius said. "Wish it was the full moon."

"You might," Remus said darkly from behind the book he was reading. "We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored, you can test me. Here." He held the book out.

"I don't need to look at that rubbish," Sirius snorted, "I know it all."

"Then what do you want to do?" James said as Remus turned back to his book.

"Hmm," Sirius looked around, "not sure."

"Look who it is, Padfoot," James said, nodding off in some direction.

Sirius turned his head and his eyes zeroed in on Severus, who was settled on the grass in the dense shadow of a clump of bushes. He was deeply immersed in his OWL paper, a slight frown on his face, completely oblivious of the predatory eyes watching him. Sirius's eyes seemed to light up and a smirk grew across his face.

"What say we pull a little prank on Snape," James said softly, winking at Sirius. "It's been a while since we've had any kind of prank war."

"I think that's an excellent idea," Sirius agreed, standing with James and walking over to Severus. Peter nor Remus moved, Remus engaged I his book, though a tight frown marked his face, and Peter watched on with anticipation. James and Sirius paused near Severus, who hadn't even looked up at them as they neared.

"All right, Severus?" James said loudly to get the teen's attention.

"What do you two want?" Severus said, not even bothering to look up at them.

"Just wondering how the exam went," James smiled.

"I was watching him," Sirius began to joke, "his nose was touching the parchment. There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word."

Severus narrowed his eyes and lifted his wand, and, still not looking up, sent a harmless stinging hex Sirius's way, the hex striking Sirius's leg. He yelped and backed up a step, rubbing at where he'd been hit, glaring at Severus while James smirked.

"If all you want is to insult me, I suggest you do it elsewhere and not in my presence," Severus warned.

"Oh, is that a threat?" James raised his eyebrows.

"Look, I need to study for transfiguration . . ."

"What's there for you to study, kitty cat?" Sirius asked. "Obviously, you understand the subject well enough to do more than these other absentminded students."

"There's more to transfiguration than just what it takes to become an animagus, you know. And speaking of that, have any of you registered yourselves, yet?"

"Well . . ." James rubbed the back of his neck.

"What's it to you? Are you going to snitch on us?" Sirius questioned.

"Perhaps I should," Severus said, shoving his paper into his bag and standing up.

"You know what they say," Sirius called to him as Severus walked away. "Snitches get thrown into ditches."

"You'd have to catch the snitch first," Severus retorted.

James pulled out his wand and flicked it at Severus, "Scourgify!"

Pink soap bubbles streamed from Severus's mouth at once; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag and choke.

"You can't snitch if you can't speak," James said.

Severus spun on his feet and pointed his wand at James, ready to throw a jinx back their way, but Sirius quickly said, "Expelliarmus!" Severus's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him.

"Funny, guys," Severus said coldly. He had managed to spit out the majority of the soap suds and glared at Sirius and James, turning to grab his wand. Before he could touch it, there was a flash of white and Severus found himself hanging upside down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny pallid legs and a pair of greying underwear. Sirius and James started roaring with laughter as a crowd started to gather and laugh as well, Peter snickering. Severus's face reddened, and he glared at the two boys.

"This isn't funny, put me down!"

No one listened, just kept laughing. And then a bright blast struck James shoulder, his wand jerking, causing the spell on Severus to end. Severus fell into a crumpled heap on the ground, quickly disentangling himself from his robes. Everyone looked to Remus, who was moving to stand in front of Severus, his wand up and pointed at James and Sirius.

"What's this, Moony?" James asked, frowning, rubbing his shoulder.

"This has gone too far," Remus said.

"We're just joking, Snape knows that," Sirius insisted.

"And when does a joke stop being funny?" Remus said.

"What happened here?" Lily came running over, her thick red hair flowing at her shoulders. She rushed over to Severus, who was still on the ground, and tried to help him, but he pulled away.

"I'm fine," he snapped, still seething from the little "prank" James and Sirius pulled. "I don't need your help." Severus snatched his wand and stood, glaring at Remus as he said, "I don't need anyone's help."

And with that, Severus stormed away.

"Your welcome, Severus!" Remus called out to the man, though his tone sounded bitter.

"Ah, Snape, it was just a joke!" James yelled, Sirius adding his agreement. "Come back!"

"Nice going, Potter!" Lily snapped. "What made you think that that would be okay? That that was a joke? You make me sick."

"We were just looking for some fun, Evans," James said.

"Fun?" Lily looked like she might spit fire. "Fun? You call that fun? How would you feel if I did that to you? You've humiliated him. Some friend you are. You're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter, always showing off with that stupid snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can, just because you're the "chosen one." I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. I hope you can mature enough to apologize and make things right with Severus, but I won't be surprised if he refuses to forgive what you did."

Lily turned on her heel and stormed away.

"Evans!" James called.

"She's right," Remus said. "You and Sirius need to apologize. It's the least you can do for what you did."

James and Sirius looked at each other, shame for once crossing their faces.

Later that same day, Remus found Severus studying in the library. He sat down across from the other student and opened his book, deciding to just get right to work and study in silence. It felt a little awkward, and Remus found it hard to concentrate on his own book.

"Thank you," Severus suddenly spoke after a few intense silent minutes, "for what you did back there."

"Of course," Remus said, glad to take care of the elephant in the room. "They were getting out of control, and it would have been wrong of me to just stand by and let it go on. I had to do something."

Severus stared at him before looking back down at his book and saying, "You'd make a good friend."

"Wait, does that mean we're not already friends and you'd like me to be one?" Remus frowned. "Or that we're not friends period? Or that we're acquaintances and we could be friends. Or that we're friends, and you were just making a statement about how I'd make a good friend to anyone in the school in general?"

Severus blinked. "What?"

"Never mind," Remus waved his hand dismissively. "I lost myself in that."

"I guess," Severus began, "what I should have said is that you are a good friend. What you did was something a good friend would do."

"From the mouth of Severus Snape," Remus shook his head, "hell must be freezing over."

"Ha-ha," Severus commented dryly.

"Hey guys," James voice interrupted, Sirius offering a hello. Peter stood awkwardly off to the side.

Severus glared at them.

"We just wanted to say that we're sorry for what happened earlier," James said.

"Yeah, we're sorry," Sirius added, "we got a little carried away and it was wrong to treat you that way."

"This won't happen again," James said, shaking his head. "We'll try to be fair in what we do from now on."

"And less embarrassing things," Sirius added.

"So, are we cool?" James asked.

Remus looked at Severus, who looked as though he had chewed a lemon. Remus hoped Severus was able to let go of what had occurred and move on. He chewed his inner cheek as he waited for a response. Severus sighed, and his face seemed to soften as he looked down at his book and mumbled, "Fine. We're . . . cool."

"Great! And as a token of our friendship, we shall douse you in pure water to declare you an honorary Gryffindor!" James quickly held up his wand and aimed a strong spray of water at Severus. Remus's eyes widened, but before the water touched Severus, the dark-haired teen flew up and sprayed James and Sirius with his own wand, then slowly flew back down, landing softly on his feet, his chair too soaked to sit down in.

"That's something I'll never agree to," Severus smirked.

James and Sirius stared open mouthed and wide eyed at Severus.

"You can fly?" James asked. "How . . . when . . . you have to teach me! The Chosen One must know how to fly!"

"And we've been more like friends since," Severus ended his story.

"That was kind of mean of James and Uncle Sirius," Harry said.

"Yes, but they were young and foolish. I believe they've all matured quite well, don't you?"

"Did you teach James to fly?" Harry asked curiously.

"No," Severus frowned. "I was going to, but then James realized that it involved dark magic, so he decided against it, though I told him it was all about how one used the magic."

"Oh," Harry reflected on what his father had told him. "It was nice of Uncle Remus to stand up for you. Is that why you get along better with him than with Uncle Sirius?"

"Do you actually notice that?" Severus chuckled. "I do find it easier to talk more openly with Remus than Sirius, but I feel that Sirius and I have come a long way. Especially when you came along."

"I feel bad for not stepping in and stopping the twins," Harry studied the design on his blanket. "I thought about it, too, I just didn't do it. But Sam doesn't seem to care about what happened. I apologized, and he got us back anyway."

"That he did," Severus agreed, "but Sam isn't completely human and doesn't understand some social concepts, and considering what he's been through himself, your antics were child's play to him, and he saw through the twins' bluffs. Regardless, you knew what you should have done, and I do hope you step forward should anything happen in the future with any of your friends."

"Yes, Dad."

Severus kissed Harry's temple and said goodnight. Harry didn't fall asleep right away, his father's story still running through his head.

A few days later, Harry was up at the crack of dawn on the Quidditch field for practice. It was far too early in his opinion, but Oliver Wood didn't seem to think sleep was important. Only winning the Quidditch cup, and he gave the entire team a long speech that gave the sun enough time to sneak out, leaving a slight mist above the grass. When they left the locker room, Harry spotted Hermione and Ron. He frowned, wondering where Draco was. During practices, Draco would usually sit with Hermione and Ron, studying the game and plays the team performed or seemed to favor.

"You guys aren't done yet?" Ron asked.

"Barely started," Harry answered.

"And it looks like you've got more company," Hermione stated, looking off in the distance. Harry followed her gaze and spotted the problem. The entire Slytherin team had arrived, and the two captains seemed to be in a heated debate. Harry rolled his eyes and walked over to the situation, Ron and Hermione following.

"What's going on here?" Harry asked.

"Professor Snape gave us permission to use the field today to train our new seeker," Flint, Captain of the Slytherin team said.

"You've got a new seeker?" Wood asked. "Where?"

Draco stepped out from behind the six larger players, a smirk on his face.

"And," Flint continued, "let me show you the generous gift Draco's father made to the Slytherin team."

All seven of them held out the new broomsticks with the gold lettering Nimbus Two Thousand and One etched into them. Harry frowned, knowing that Uncle Lucius had bought Draco's spot on the team. Perks of being a rich man's son. Draco had wanted nothing more than to play on the team and he surely shared that information with his father. And thus, this was the result. No one on the Gryffindor team could think of anything to say, while Ron just gaped.

"Good, aren't they?" Draco smiled. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. I'm sure a museum will bid on those old Cleansweeps."

"At least no one on the Gryffindor Team had to buy their way in," Hermione said sharply. "They got in on pure talent."

"No one asked for your opinion, Granger," Draco snapped back.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Ron said.

"I'll do as I please," Draco said. "Now we need the field to practice so the team can train their new seeker."

"I booked this field for Gryffindors only," Wood interrupted.

"Dad knew the Gryffindors had the field today," Harry said to Draco as the two captains spoke. "He really signed a note allowing Slytherin team to play today?"

"Yeah," Draco answered. "I was there. He said we could either share the field or wait until the Gryffindor team is done."

"And you all decide to show off the new brooms?" Harry crossed his arms.

"Jealous?" Draco smirked. "I think your team should just let us take the field. No one on your team is new and inexperienced. I need all the practice time I can get."

"Well, Wood wants to start a new training program, so we should get the field and then you can have it."

"That doesn't seem fair. The first game is just a few weeks away, I need more time to practice."

"You and I," Hermione interluded, stepping forward, grabbing everyone's attention, "both know that you don't really need the practice – you played Quidditch quite well at Harry's sleepover. Obviously, you'll catch on quickly to whatever practice is done here, so why don't you tell your team to wait until the Gryffindor team is done and then take the field?"

"You going to allow that girl to talk to you like that?" someone on the Slytherin team said to Draco.

"Who does that girl think she is?" another Slytherin said.

"Is Drakey going to obey his mummy like a good little boy?" someone mocked, laughing.

"Better do what she says," grinned another, "we wouldn't want you to get in trouble."

"Is she your girlfriend, Draco? How romantic!" laughed another.

"Stop it!" Draco snapped at his team, his cheeks reddened from all the teasing. "I don't listen to filthy little mudbloods!"

As soon as the word left Draco's mouth, Draco slapped a hand over his mouth, inhaling sharply and staring wide eyed at Hermione.

"Draco!" Harry admonished.

"How dare you!" Ron yelled, and Flint had to dive in front of Draco to stop Fred and George jumping on him.

Hermione was silent, her eyes watering as she stared intently at Draco, who pulled away from Flint.

"Well," she began, her voice choked slightly, "it's good to know how you really feel about me."

And with that, she turned and stormed back to the school.

"Granger wait!" Draco called to her. "Granger!"

"Hermione!" Harry called as well, wanting to run after her and comfort her. But he wasn't sure if he should, if she would appreciate his presence at the moment.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" Ron pulled out his wand and aimed it at Draco.

"I didn't mean . . ." Draco began, holding up his hands defensively, not even going for his own wand. Harry's hand twitched to slap the wand out of Ron's hand, but he resisted. Whatever Ron did, Draco more than deserved.

A jet of green light shot out of Ron's wand, striking Draco right in the face, sending him reeling backwards in the grass. The Slytherin team surrounded Draco, reaching to help him up when he leaned forward, balancing on all fours, and belched out several slugs into the grass.

A shrill whistle cut through the cold air.

"What is going on here!?" Severus's voice echoed through the stadium.

"Weasley hexed Draco!" Flint explained, glaring at Ron.

Severus kneeled by Draco, watching as the boy threw up more slugs. The man's eyes fell on Ron, who quickly lowered his wand, taking an unconscious step back.

"Detention, Mr. Weasley," Severus spat, "report to Professor McGonagall at once. I suggest you explain to her what happened, or I will and if I have to, the consequences will be . . . severe."

Ron didn't need to be told twice. He turned and ran for the castle. Harry watched as his father's eyes fell on him and he could feel his father's disappoint me radiate off him. Harry gulped as Severus finally looked away and helped Draco to his feet, summoning a bucket and leading Draco to the castle. Harry sighed and followed at a much slower pace.

Harry fell far behind his father's quick pace, and then took his time strolling to his father's quarters, as that had been the direction they were heading in. Harry moved slowly, recalling everything that had happened. He wondered if Hermione was okay, regretting that he didn't follow her to make sure. Ron now had detention, Draco was spewing slugs, and the twins seemed furious with Draco. What a mess he found himself in. Harry blinked back tears of frustration, hating that his eyes were watering when he was more angry than sad.

He finally arrived at his father's quarters and was about to enter when he heard voices.

"I really didn't mean to say it, Uncle," Draco was saying, "it just kind of came out."

"We've had a talk about that word before, young man," Severus said. "Do you need another lesson?"

"No," Draco said with a grimace in his voice, remembering a soap punishment. "I didn't want to call her that. Everyone was just poking fun at me and she was just acting like . . . well, herself, but I shouldn't have said it. I feel terrible. She'll never forgive me and now Harry's going to hate me!"

"He will not. And you need to apologize to Miss Granger. I suggest you find her and do that."

"She won't want to see me."

"You don't know that. How about this: write a letter of apology to her if its easier on you. But you will need to make a formal apology in person at some point."

"Yes, Uncle Sev."

There was silence for a few seconds and then the door opened, and Draco nearly ran right into Harry. Draco frowned.

"You eavesdropper!" Draco snapped. At least he wasn't vomiting slugs anymore.

"Shh!" Harry shushed, hoping his father hadn't heard. "Sorry, but you were talking kind of loud."

"Were not!"

"Were too! And you owe Hermione an apology! How could you say that to her?"

"I don't need to hear this from you," Draco grumbled, roughly shouldering past Harry and stomping away.

Harry frowned at Draco, rubbing his shoulder. He felt more overwhelming frustration and entered his father's quarters, slamming the door. And then a throat cleared loudly behind him. Harry cringed and slowly turned around to face his annoyed father standing behind him, arms crossed.

"Sorry," Harry quickly apologized.

"I understand that today has been upsetting," Severus said, "but slamming the door is unnecessary."

"I know," Harry moved into the living room and sat down on the couch, wrapping his arms around his knees and hiding his face. He heard his father sigh then felt the couch dip as Severus sat next to him.

"Am I a bad person?" Harry asked.

"What do you mean?" Severus frowned. "Of course not, son."

"I am. I had Sam kidnapped, I didn't go after Hermione when she was hurt, I let Ron hex Draco, Draco hates me now. I'm a terrible friend."

"No, you're not," Severus wrapped an arm around Harry, "you were stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's not easy being mediator when your friends turn on each other. You just didn't know what to do."

"But I could have done something! I could have stopped Ron from hexing Draco. I thought about it, but I didn't do it. Just like with Sam! I'll never be a good friend. I'm not like Uncle Remus."

"You're young, Harry. You, Ronald, and the twins, all of you are just young and when you try and act like you know everything, you do things that are . . ."

"Stupid?"

"Immature. That's what happened with Sam, and that's what happened on the field. You kids were trying to impress different groups of people, there was some teasing involved, and then someone got hurt. You acted as you all are – like kids. And with experience, you will learn how to better handle different situations. Today was a learning experience. That doesn't make you a bad person."

"You're my dad, you have to say that."

"Do not. You are not a bad person and I stand by that. Neither are your friends."

"Pretend you're not my dad. Then tell me I'm not a terrible friend."

"Do you want me to pretend to be Sam? Let's see, anata wa – err, happi yama umi ko."

Severus ruffled Harry's hair as he said that, and Harry smirked up at him and said, "I don't think that means what you think."

"Probably not. Let me try Uncle Sirius," Severus began tickling Harry as he said, "You are the best kid in the world! You are my partner in crime and my favorite godson! No one can say otherwise!"

Harry laughed, pushing his father's hands away.

"His only godson," he smiled. Then frowned, "But still, Dad, I should have done something outside."

"As I said, it's a lesson learned. You did nothing, now you know how it makes you feel. Next time, you will do something. I know you will. You learn well from your mistakes. Besides, it wasn't like your friends made it easy for you. They've all learned a lesson today. Whether they know it or not."

"Friendship is hard," Harry said, resting his head on Severus's shoulder.

"If it were easy, everyone would be friends with everyone. But that's just not how the world works."

Harry sighed, but didn't move, finding comfort in his father's one-armed embrace.

Translation: anata wa happi yama umi ko – you are happy mountain sea child ? Rough translation.

For this story, Hermione already knows what mudblood means. Hope you liked it.