A/N: Minerva meets The-Boy-Who-Lived and two time travelers.

Chapter 4 The Wards of Dumbledore

Later that evening, Harry, Severus and Lily were gathered in their sitting area; Severus had been telling the two of them all he knew about Hogwarts, and his two friends had been listening intently. He was in the middle of telling a story his mother had once told him about an encounter she had with the giant squid when a knock sounded from the door. In unison, the three children glanced towards the clock on the wall, and sure enough, it was already Six Thirty, and thus, time for dinner. Not a moment later, the door swung open, and standing in the frame was Albus Dumbledore. Except he wasn't alone. Just behind him was Professor Snape, and behind him stood a witch that looked vaguely familiar to the two eleven year olds.

"Hello Harry, Lily, Severus. I've brought a guest with me for dinner. She's a dear friend that I believe you, Severus and you, Lily, are already acquainted with," Dumbledore said, smiling.

He stepped aside and sure enough, the woman standing a few paces behind him was none other than Professor McGonagall. Except she looked quite a bit older than when Severus and Lily had last seen her. She was wearing teal-colored robes, a pointed witch's hat, and glasses that sat high on the bridge of her nose. Behind said glasses, her eyes were the same blue-grey shade that made them so distinctive to Lily when the Professor had visited her and her Muggle parents six months ago to deliver her letter of admission. While she had previously sported black hair, it was now somewhat greyed with age, and the lines on her face were just a bit more prominent than they were two decades ago when they had last seen her. She was still Minerva McGonagall, both Severus and Lily could readily ascertain that; but she simply looked older, but then again that shouldn't be a surprise should it?

Snape watched two simultaneous looks of recognition rise on his younger self's and Lily's face as they spied the older woman. He turned his coal, black eyes upon Minerva, and Merlin's Beard! She was smiling! Snape almost rolled his eyes at the sight, was she such a sop

"Hello Lily, and hello to you too Severus," McGonagall said quietly in her age-tempered Scottish Brogue.

"Good evening Professor. I haven't seen you in a while, six or so months it must've been. Although for you I guess it's been longer, hasn't it?" Lily greeted, grinning at the older woman.

McGonagall and her had instantly hit it off the moment her mum had invited the old Scottish witch into their home. Once McGonagall had delivered Lily's letter as well as given Mark Evans, her father, directions to Charing Cross Road which would take them to Diagon Alley, they'd all gathered around the sitting room table for tea. Despite only intending to stay a few minutes, perhaps fifteen at most if the Evanses had more questions for her than usual, she ended up staying for close to three hours discussing all manner of things with the excited Muggleborn witch and her best friend.

They discussed the Transfiguration syllabus first years were expected to learn, and how best to go about preparing for her subject before classes started; they even talked about Gobstones, a game Severus' mother had played and McGonagall had even revealed that she'd played numerous times with then-Eileen Prince during their time in school together. Eileen was a master of the game, and had been an obvious pick for filling the vacant Captaincy of the Gobstones Team in her fifth year. They briefly discussed other areas of the Magical syllabus they'd be learning as first years, Charms, Herbology and of course, Potions as well. Despite McGonagall's disdain for the art of brewing, owing to never having been that great herself, she was happy to indulge the two starry-eyed eleven year olds and their questions on what Potions in the Dungeons was like—and what to expect as first year brewers learning under Horace Slughorn. Talk wasn't just limited to magical things either, Mark and Violet Evans had even inquired into McGonagall's stance on the recent developments in Vietnam, to which the Transfiguration professor used as a spring-board to launch into a ten-minute long soliloquy on the terribleness of the war.

It turned out, McGonagall had lost her grandfather on her father's side to war, the man had died via mustard gas attack in World War 1, and the use of Agent Orange and napalm had horrified the woman to no end when the use of such weapons in the Vietnam War came to light.

"It's been quite a bit longer than six months for me Miss Evans, or should I say, Miss Bergman, but I've missed you too nonetheless, it has been quite some time, as you put it," McGonagall replied, smiling at the young witch.

"And hello to you too Harry, I taught both your parents when they attended school—" Snape made a small, disparaging noise, which McGonagall ignored. "—And they were some of the finest students I'd ever taught. I look forward to you joining them in Gryffindor in the near future young man."

"I'll do my best Professor. But I'd be happy to join any house. They're all one and the same in my eyes," Harry replied.

"A wise sentiment to have," McGonagall remarked. A conspiratory smirk formed on the Professor's face as she leaned down and whispered in his ear; "but just between you and I, Gryffindor is the best and you'd do well to end up there."

Harry smirked back. "I'll certainly try."

"Well…now that introductions are out of the way, shall we adjourn to our dining area?" Dumbledore suggested, gesturing with a wrinkled hand over to the dining table, which conveniently had six chairs around it.

The six of them wandered over and each claimed a chair, Dumbledore sitting at the head of the table, and McGonagall at the foot. To Dumbledore's right sat Snape, and to Snape's right, sat Lily. Across from Lily was Harry, and next to Harry, to Dumbledore's left, was Severus. "I took the liberty of asking the house elves to prepare a feast for us this evening. School is rather quiet after all at this time of year so they've been dying to exercise their culinary expertise in recent months," Dumbledore remarked with a slight chuckle.

"What's a house elf sir?" Harry asked. His question earned him a sneer from the Potions Master, but Snape kept his words sealed.

"Ah, they are small beings in employment by the school that are responsible for all the up-keeping duties. You see…when you checked your wardrobe this afternoon, you would have seen some new clothes, did you not?" Harry nodded, he'd had three sets of plain, dark blue robes, and a few pairs of trousers, shirts, socks and underwear. "House elves made those clothes for you, as they are responsible for cleaning, cooking, and the general maintenance work that running this castle entails. They make life much easier for us here and are invaluable to the school."

"So how come I've never seen them then? Where are they if they're so useful and supposedly everywhere?" Harry asked.

"Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they're not there," Snape said irritably. "Honestly Potter, are you not done with your incessant questions? I believe we gathered here to eat, not to indulge in your questions about House elves or whatever else tickles your fancy."

"Now, now Severus, the boy is just curious. His relatives weren't too fond of magic so it's only natural that Harry's curiosity is piqued by our world. He never even knew people like us existed until recently," Dumbledore said calmly, hoping it would cool the atmosphere of the table; Harry and Snape were already glowering at each other.

He then clapped his hands once, and as if on cue, several platters of food appeared on the table. The sudden appearance of the rich fare drew surprised gasps from Severus, Harry and Lily. Another clap of his hands caused their goblets to fill with Butterbeer, and the Professors' to fill with wine, eliciting yet more surprised looks from the three children. They were awed with the casual display of magic, and how the house elves could go about their work while completely invisible to the naked eye.

"Now then, as host, it is my duty to serve all of you, so please raise your plates," Dumbledore said.

The three children did as they were asked promptly, Snape did so too, but not before releasing a long-suffering sigh, McGonagall merely smirked at the Headmaster, before doing the same. The Transfiguration Professor was more than familiar with Dumbledore and his eccentricities, the man always insisted on playing a proper host, regardless of whomever his guests were. Dumbledore served Lily first, ladling portions of each dish onto her plate until she requested for him to stop. He then moved onto Harry next, but to his dismay, the child only asked for a few morsels of a handful of dishes; the same was true of Severus whom he served next, only a little bit of grilled trout, a few stir-fried vegetables and barely a spoonful of rice was all the gaunt boy wanted from the Headmaster; Harry's being much the same.

"Wouldn't you boys like more food?" Dumbledore asked, his gaze drifting between the two boys.

Both shook their heads in unison. "'M fine sir, I've got enough as it is," Harry mumbled, not meeting the headmaster's gaze.

"I've got more than enough too. I'll be just fine, sir," Severus added.

Dumbledore nodded slowly, but the concerned looks that were sent his way from his two most-trusted colleagues, as well as of that from Lily silently confirmed his suspicions. "Well if either of you would like more, you need only ask. There's plenty of food to go around," Dumbledore said gently, hoping his tone would coax the boys to have more.

Both Harry and Severus gave unconvincing nods, needless to say they wouldn't be taking the Headmaster up on his offer anytime soon. Dumbledore finished serving the two boys, then moved on to his two esteemed coworkers and filled their plates with food as well. Once they were all served, the six of them began to eat in earnest.

"So how are you enjoying the food?" McGonagall asked, her question being posed to the two eleven year olds, and one soon-to-be eleven year old.

"It's wonderful ma'am, I never knew the house elves were such good cooks!" Lily remarked happily, after quickly swallowing the bite she'd been chewing. She smiled merrily before taking another large bite of the sirloin that sat front and center on her full-plate.

"Ah yes, they do love to exercise their culinary expertise, so to speak; and they are fine chefs if I do say so myself. If you are impressed with the standard of their cooking now however…just wait until the opening feast, they really do pull out all the stops for it," Dumbledore chimed in.

"And how about you boys, are you enjoying the food?"

"'s fine. It's…it's better than I can cook," Harry mumbled, not meeting the professor's gaze.

"Better than you can cook? Well I'd hope so, surely you don't have much experience in the way of cooking yourself, do you?"

Harry gave a small shrug, still not meeting the concerned blue-gray eyes of the Transfiguration Professor.

Ungrateful freaks like you deserve nothing, nothing at all. You should be thanking yourself we even let you eat the food off our table, are you not grateful for our generosity?

"And what about you Severus? Are you enjoying the food?"

"It's great ma'am. Thank you," Severus said quickly, using his long curtain of greasy hair to hide his face. Ungrateful brats like you don't deserve anything! Should've drowned you at birth, is what I should've done, fuckin' heathen. It's what I get for marrying a witch, saddled with a useless, good for nothin' freak like you.

Snape, who had been staring at his younger self, and who had been previously been looking over at Harry, now turned the Headmaster and whispered something in the old man's ear. Dumbledore's piecing blue gaze shifted between the two boys, using a silent, and wandless form of legilimency to read their surface-thoughts. He sighed softly, his own discovery matching what Snape had just gleamed from the periphery of their minds.

"Boys, can you follow me please? We'll be back in just a moment you three; Severus, Harry and I need to have a little chat."

Severus gulped nervously, as did Harry, but the two boys did as they were asked for fear of invoking the Headmaster's ire. Dumbledore pushed back from the table, as did Severus and Harry; and the two boys followed him from the dining area over to the couches and sofas arrayed in front of the fire place. Both Harry and Severus glanced at each other nervously, fear and apprehension written all over their paces as they trailed the Headmaster to the far side of the room. Dumbledore drew his wand, and cast Professor Snape's signature sound-muffling charm that muted out the noise of their conversation from McGonagall, Snape and Lily. With the charm in place, granting them a bubble of silence, Dumbledore pocketed his wand and turned to face the two boys who were sat opposite him on one of the sofas.

"Can you tell me what's bothering you?" Dumbledore asked calmly, his warm blue eyes drifting between the pair of them.

"Nothing's bothering me sir," the two boys responded in unison. Harry's tone was more submissive, and Severus' was more defensive, but both were equally vehement that nothing was troubling them. Dumbledore saw it for the lie it was, and he had to admit both boys were pretty good at lying, but naturally, they couldn't come anywhere close to fooling the venerable Headmaster…

"There is something bothering you, and I'd thank you not to lie to me. So please tell me what it is. It is obvious that something is troubling you and I think it would help you both," Dumbledore said, his voice just a little more firm. "So please…do tell me what it is so we can talk about it and resolve it."

"Well why do you care?" Severus blurted out before he could stop himself. "It's not like…you're not my dad, so why do you care?"

"I'm your guardian Severus, as I am yours, Harry, so it is my business whether you like it or not," Dumbledore bit out, still calm but with a hint of frustration in his tone. He sighed softly, and stared straight into the two children's eyes. "I am not Tobias," he started, drawing a gasp of surprise from Severus, "nor am I Vernon or Petunia," Harry reacted in much the similar way to Severus. "I will not hurt you, nor do I think of you as ungrateful, if anything, I should be the grateful one to have two wonderful children such as yourselves in my care. I am grateful to have you, and you are valued, by me, by Lily, by Severus, and by Minerva, we all value you. So why is it that you view yourselves as ungrateful?"

"'s what my da says—ungrateful and useless; and he says father's are always right, no matter what! Why are you lying to me!" Severus spluttered angrily, his cheeks flushing an embarrassed shade of red and his eyes beginning to glaze with tears.

"Your father is wrong, Severus," Dumbledore said gently, imploring the child to see reason. "Professor Snape and you share the same father, and he's told me all about Tobias. I am not Tobias, and your father is wrong, he is not right about any of his…despicable methods. You are not worthless, nor are you useless; you are valued immensely, Severus, as are you, Harry."

"Stop lying to me, I don't believe you!" Severus shouted, pointing his finger accusingly at the Headmaster.

"I am not lying. And your older self could attest to this," Dumbledore said placatingly. "What your father has done, is wrong; and what the Dursleys have done, is wrong. Someone beating their child—" the Headmaster stared right at Severus he spoke, "—or starving them and making them go without food—" he now addressed Harry directly, "—is entirely wrong, and something I, or any reasonable adult would never do. Doing either of those things is wrong, and mistreating a child, especially one's own flesh and blood is one of the worst things one can do. Under my care, whilst you are my wards, neither of you will ever suffer such punishments again. Now I know you may not believe me just yet, but I would never hurt you. Never."

"But you don't understand sir," Harry said quietly, his tone subdued. "Wh—when I drop their food, or—or if I…if I burn their clothes, or when I vanish glass…I am what they say I am. I am a freak, and I deserve it."

Dumbledore looked horrified at the look of resignation on the young boy's face, Harry hung his head low as if in acceptance of the fact that he truly was deserving of all the Dursleys had heaped on his young shoulders. "You do not deserve it, and neither do you Severus. There is absolutely nothing in this world that condones mistreating or striking a child," Dumbledore said softly. "And I want you two to eat more, I want you to eat as much as you'd like. Neglect is also wrong, and there shall never be too little food to go 'round. If there is anything you need, or require, anything at all within reason; you need only ask of it—"

"I don't want charity, and I don't need your charity, sir," Severus said firmly, although his voice trembled ever so slightly. Dumbledore thought he saw tears welling in the small, black orbs of the angrily indignant Severus.

"This isn't charity, child. This is basic human decency, and I am sorry that this is something you and Harry have lacked for so long," Dumbledore replied. He gently reached out with both hands, and grasped Harry's and Severus' hands. "Nothing in this world condones what Tobias and the Dursleys have done to you, that is not how you raise a child, not by striking, or beating, or locking one in a cupboard without food for days on end, none of that is normal. And I will do my best to give you both a childhood that you most definitely deserve."

"Y—you won't hit us?"

"Or take away our food?

"I will never do either of those things," Dumbledore said with a forced sense of calm, Severus could see flickers of anger burning in the old man's eyes. Dumbledore took a deep breath, and that blueish flame of anger seemed to abate, replaced with a sense of warmth and serenity Severus had never seen in Tobias' eyes. "And all that you have experienced before, at the hands of both the Dursleys, Harry—and your father, Severus; none of that will continue with me. Of that I can promise you. What they have done…it is in no way fit to treat a child," he said solemnly, his voice laced with sincerity.

"So. Let us return to the table, and I want to see you both with more food on your plates. It is my duty as your guardian and mentor to ensure that you are both well-fed and well-rested each and every day, and that starts with three full meals a day."

"Three, sir?" Harry asked.

"Yes Harry. Three. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The former two can't be helped at the moment, but I most certainly can help with the latter. Now up you get and back to the table. It's time you two boys eat as you should for a child your age."

"Yes sir," the two boys replied as one.

The two boys made to stand, but just as they got their feet under them, Dumbledore called out one more time; "Oh and one more thing. Tomorrow will be a busy day so do ensure you eat at least double what is on your plates now."

The two boys exchanged a brief look. "Busy, as in we'll have work to do?" Severus asked.

Dumbledore smiled thinly but shook his head. "Not at all. Not unless you consider shopping a chore, that is."

"I thought we're only going shopping next week?"

"For your school supplies, yes, but tomorrow we'll be shopping for clothes," Dumbledore said reasonably, his glittering blue eyes drifting between the boys in anticipation of their reactions.

Suffice to say, they reacted in exactly the way he anticipated. Harry, with balled up fists and a clenched jaw, and Severus…just a little more explosively. "But we don't bloody need new clothes, we've already got enough as it is! I certainly do!" he shouted. For a brief moment, he glowered at the Headmaster, but as the sense of realization set in of what he said and to whom he said it, he clasped his hands to his mouth, his eyes flew wide and he quickly uttered an apology. "I—I didn't mean—"

"Severus I'll thank you not to take that tone with me, that was very disrespectful and I shan't be having that," Dumbledore said sternly, his eyes narrowed slightly on the boy. He didn't lessen his glare until Severus gave a meek nod. "In regard to how Tobias has treated you in time's past, I can safely say that he has not fulfilled his obligations as a parent, you will be receiving new clothes, in addition to the limited sets that House elves have stitched for you. You will be shopping tomorrow, as will you Harry, Professor McGonagall shall be taking you."

When Harry voice his reservations about clothes shopping, it was far more reasonable. "But sir, we don't need new clothes, mine are just a bit big. I'll grow into them soon!"

Dumbledore shook his head. "No. They are tattered and worn, and several sizes too big, such that when you're large enough to fill them out, they'll be nothing but rags. As for you Severus, no one should wear their parents clothes, and I was not blind to see precisely what you were wearing earlier before we brought you here to Hogwarts. I don't know how many times I must say this, but I've said it before and I'll say it again 'til I am blue in the face, as the Muggles say, but as your guardian, I am merely fulfilling what should have been done by your previous guardians," Dumbledore said softly, hoping the boys would see reason. "They are not the rule, they are the exception, and a terrible exception at that. Now I believe we've dilly-dallied for long enough, let us rejoin the table." There was an air of finality to his words, and a hint of power bubbling beneath them as well. Neither child voiced any semblance of protest and did as they were asked.

As Dumbledore brought down his silencing charm and stood from his chair, just as the boys stood from the Sofa, Severus turned around and asked; "Is there any way I can pay you back at least? So I'm not indebted to you?"

Dumbledore frowned, old, white brows knitting on his forehead. "I don't know what you mean. How would you be indebted?" he asked curiously.

Severus flushed a dull shade of red in embarrassment. With balled-up fists held at his sides, he raised his gaze to meet that of the venerable Headmaster's. "I don't want to…to be in your debt. I don't want you to…take advantage of me, and—"

"Take advantage of you?" Dumbledore echoed, but his expression of shock and surprise was quickly replaced by that of understanding and sadness. "No Severus you've got it all wrong," he said sadly. "My parents bought me clothes when I was your age, new clothes that would fit me. Good parents, proper parents do that—and I shall do the same for you now, and treat you as you should have been all this time. Your father was not a good man, he was not a good man because good men do their best to take care of those they love, he was—"

"But he never loved me! He always hated me!" He'd spoken a little louder than he should have, since the three heads at the dining table swiveled round to face him, he'd forgotten Dumbledore had already taken his silencing charm down.

"And that's his loss," Dumbledore said sadly. He held his arms open and gestured for Severus to come closer. He did, and the Headmaster enveloped him in his gaudy purple and gold robes. He hugged him lightly, so as not to frighten or scare the boy. "And that's his loss, Severus; for I know just how bright and wonderful you are and can be. Your father was not a good man, because good men care for their family, and love them, not like how he treated you. You, my child, are valued by many, and I am sorry that you were treated so poorly by your father. You will never suffer that again."

Severus allowed himself to be enveloped by the Headmaster, but he only had a limited choice in the matter as his heavy purple and gold robes had effectively encircled him from all sides.

"Sir can you let me go?" he asked, to which the Headmaster responded by releasing him from his hug.

"Come Severus, Harry, let us return to our table," the Headmaster said, guiding the two boys back to the table, both of whom were wearing expressions of shock that none of the table-sitters failed to notice.

Severus hoisted himself back into his seat, and was surprised to find his plate full of food. When he looked across the table, he was surprised to see Lily smiling back at him, happy that he'd noticed her contribution to his plate. "Professor Snape said you needed more Sev," was all she said as way of an explanation. Severus looked to his side, and sure enough Snape gave a discreet nod to lend authenticity to her claim.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Snape muttered back; "don't mention it. Dumbledore doesn't ration food unlike you-know-who."

He spoke just quiet enough so that only Severus could hear him, but the younger of the two Severuses heard his message loud and clear. He was well aware of the discipline that Tobias Snape meted out whenever he'd been a 'stupid brat' or a 'worthless waste o' space', withholding food was one of those things. "Albus doesn't…do the things, that he did—" there was no disguising or hiding the bitterness in the elder Snape's voice when he spoke of their father, and Severus heard the disgust his elder self held for the man loud and clear. "—You can trust him. As I have come to over the past ten years."

"You trust him?" Severus asked quietly, taking care not to alert Lily and McGonagall, who were deep in conversation about something or other, and Harry and Dumbledore, who were discussing their outing tomorrow.

"I do," Snape confirmed with a discreet nod. "And you'd be wise to as well. He isn't Tobias."

"He said as much just now," Severus muttered. He lifted a trout-filled fork to his lips and took his first bite of the rich fare.

"And he wasn't lying," Snape replied, giving his younger self a meaningful look that conveyed his sincerity. You may be an manipulative bastard at times Albus Dumbledore, but I would never stoop so low to call you abusive like my old man. You'd better be good to him. Snape had locked eyes with the headmaster as he voiced his thoughts within the sanctuary of his mind, but he'd allowed his Occlumency to fall just enough for the old man to hear him loud and clear.

Dumbledore, upon hearing Professor Snape's message in regard to his younger self, almost laughed and barely covered up doing so with a hasty fake-cough. I have no intention of failing you or your younger self. Have a little more faith in me, would you please?

To this, Snape snorted, rather loudly at that, which attracted a curious look from McGonagall. "Something you want to share with us Severus?" The old witch asked, a hint of knowingness in her tone.

"No. Nothing at all. Just enjoying present company and the food," Snape said coolly, holding the Deputy Headmistress' gaze.

As Snape turned his attention back to his plate and busied himself with consuming his meal, he felt another presence in his mind; a warm and calming presence that could only be attributed to one man, Albus Dumbledore. If you could speak to him—your younger self, it would help a great deal. Help me gain his trust so this other you shan't make the mistakes that sullied your youth. Help me help him, Severus, and spare him the life you once followed.

Snape looked up once more, and sent his own message back to the Headmaster. Consider it done. I won't let him fail as I did. I'll make sure of it. I'll spare him your machinations old man.

Dumbledore, holding Snape's gaze, had the nerve to chuckle out loud at this. Drawing confused glances from the three Children and McGonagall, but only a steely-eyed gaze of resolve from the man in black. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Satisfied, Snape withdrew his presence from Dumbledore's mind, and the old man reciprocated the favor. The walls that had fallen, rose back up, and his mind was his sanctuary once more.

"Minerva, will you be busy tomorrow by any chance?" Dumbledore asked, his serene blue eyes fixed upon those of his Deputy.

The Transfiguration professor raised a napkin to dab at the corners of her curry-stained lips, then lifted her calming grey-blue gaze to find that of the Headmaster. "Other than reorganizing time tables, no, no I don't think I will be. Why do you ask?"

Dumbledore smiled thinly. "Oh, because I'll need a bit of help managing these youngsters on their shopping excursion, and I couldn't think of anyone better than someone that has a foot in…both worlds, Magical and Mundane."

"Sir what's this about? Is this about the trip to Diagon Alley?" Lily asked confusedly, glancing back and forth between the Headmaster and the Deputy Headmistress. "I thought we're only going next week, not tomorrow, right?"

"Ah but this isn't about shopping for your school supplies, that already has been scheduled for a later date, and I will endeavor to make myself available for it to accompany you," Dumbledore explained. "As it stands, your wardrobe, as well as Harry's and Severus' is rather lackluster, isn't it?"

At his pointed look, Lily gave a sheepish nod, as did Severus and Harry, although theirs was a little more reluctant and forced.

Seemingly mollified, Dumbledore smiled. "Which is why tomorrow, Lily, I am asking if Minerva would be willing to take yourself, Harry and Severus on a little shopping trip, for clothes and other essentials that is. Completely unrelated to your excursion to Diagon Alley next week."

Lily looked over the moon at the prospect, her eyes were wide and shining with happiness as she looked from the Headmaster over to her best friend sitting across from her. "Oh this'll be great, Sev, we'll get to see all the latest fashions and trends—"

"You know I don't care for that sort of stuff, Lily. Any clothes will do," Severus muttered, staring blankly at his plate.

"Yes but that doesn't change the fact that you will need new clothes Severus," Dumbledore explained calmly. "After all, you didn't happen to lug your trunk along with you during your trip to the future did you?"

Severus sighed, pursed his lips together, but still shook his head all the same.

"There, you see? Now as I was saying, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape will be—"

"I most certainly, will not Headmaster," Snape said coldly. On this, it looked like his resolve wouldn't be moved, his face was set and his jaw was clenched. "As I mentioned earlier, I shan't be available tomorrow, find someone else to assist Minerva in babysitting your brood."

"Ah yes, I'd forgotten that. Meeting your old friends Lucius and Narcissa, aren't you?"

Snape nodded curtly, although he seemed distinctly more uncomfortable now than he had moments prior. "Indeed, so I shan't be available, I've had my meeting planned months in advance with Lucius. Perhaps Sinistra or someone else shall be available to assist?"

"I appreciate the suggestion Severus, but I can take care of the three of them just fine by myself if you don't wish to accompany me," McGonagall said, her tone defensive.

"And I wasn't suggesting otherwise," Snape said softly, wearing a faint smirk on his face as he glanced over at his colleague. "I merely put out the suggestion that perhaps someone of your advanced age would like, not require, some assistance."

McGonagall glowered back at him, an expression of indignation and mock-outrage rising on her face, but she refused to take his bait. "Thank you for the concern Severus, I can see why you'd think those things, given that a vampire like you would barely last an hour outdoors in this sweltering heat, but I assure you, I'll get on just fine with Severus, Harry and Lily," McGonagall said sweetly—sounding like poisoned honey.

"I'm sure you will," Snape replied evenly, his smirk growing just a little bit more.

Their private dinner wrapped up not too long after, with McGonagall and Snape returning to their homes, neither lived at school over the summer break, but had only returned for this one meal to get to know Dumbledore's wards at the man's expressed request. Snape returned more than a little bit begrudgingly, but he still came back nonetheless and sat through the meal as did Minerva who was all too eager to meet the two time-traveling youngsters as well as the boy-who-lived. On his way out, Snape had been considerate enough to pull his younger self aside and reiterate what he'd said to him earlier about Dumbledore. Snape wasn't truly vindictive enough to condemn his younger self to a life of misery and pain as his had been, and he really did hope that the younger Severus would succeed where he had failed. McGonagall left shortly after that, but not before bidding the three future Hogwarts students goodnight and telling them to get plenty of sleep since they'd have a busy day ahead of them tomorrow. The tall witch then left shortly after Snape leaving the Headmaster and his three wards in peace.

Dumbledore informed the trio that it was time for bed, and so they all set off into their rooms not long after for their showers, and then for sleep. As Severus laid awake in his bed however, one book of many propped up in his lap, he heard a knocking at the door coming from the far side of his room. Sighing, Severus set the book, Most Potente Potions aside, and stood from his bed. he moved past his desk and bookshelf towards the door and pried open just a crack. On the other side, he was greeted with not one, but two pairs of green eyes staring back at him belonging to two wildly different faces.

"Lily? Harry? Is…is something going on? Are you guys alright?"

Lily grinned but shook her head. "Why must something be not alright for me to come visit my best friend?" she asked, biting her lower lip in an innocent, but teasing look.

"Can we come in, Severus?" Harry added, glancing past the tired boy into the room.

Severus sighed, but nodded his head, stepping aside and allowing the two of them in. Lily claimed a seat on his bed, Harry meanwhile sat across from her at the chair by his desk. Severus, stood in-between them, his arms folded across his chest and an impatient look on his face. "Well? I was gonna get some sleep, so what is it?"

"It's about tomorrow," Lily said, glancing between the two boys. "Harry had the…had the idea to, well he wants to explore the castle tomorrow, and we wanted to know if you're keen on it?"

Severus glanced over at Harry, who nodded his head in agreement with Lily's words. "I thought it'd be fun. After we all go shopping, we can spend the day looking around the castle and finding out where everything is—" he shrugged his shoulders, "—d'you wanna join us?"

Severus unfolded his arms, but only just so he could pinch the bridge of his nose between his long fingers while releasing a long sigh. "Well of course I'll have to," he muttered. "Who else'll babysit this one over here?" he jerked his head towards Lily, who was currently sprawled out over his bed stretching every which way like a cat.

"Hey! I don't need you to babysit me, I'll be just fine on my own thank you very much!" she said indignantly, with her arms now folded across her chest just like Severus' had been.

"Yes well, Harry's ability to make sound decisions is still up in the air at the moment—" he ignored Harry's indignant look that seemed all too familiar to the one Lily wore, "—but I for a fact know that you've made several questionable decisions in the past."

In a look that was remarkably McGonagall-esque, Lily pursed her lips into a thin line of disapproval and sent a frown Severus' way. But to her credit, she held her tongue for there was no witty retort she could come up with to counter Severus' claim, she indeed had made several dubious decisions in the past that had either landed herself, or the both of them in heaps of trouble.

"Well," Harry said chuckling slightly, "I think I know where I get my decision-making from. Thanks mum."

Lily smiled sweetly at him—too sweetly to be anywhere near sincere. "No problem dear."

"So then. After we…after McGonagall brings us out tomorrow, you guys want to explore then," Severus said flatly, gazing between the pair of them.

"Yes," Harry and Lily replied in unison.

Severus sighed and shook his head in frustration. "Well I guess I'll come along too then, after all…you two dunderheads will need someone to make sure you don't do something stupid, won't you?"

"Oh hush you, you've done plenty of stupid things in the past just as I have Sev, do don't get all high and mighty on me," Lily said chidingly, playfully whacking the boy on his arm.

"So are you in, or are you out?" Harry asked, his tone hopeful. "You've got the most knowledge about Hogwarts after all, and I'm sure your mum's told you loads about—"

"She's told me a lot about Hogwarts, yes, but not much about the layout or anything like that," Severus muttered, cutting Harry off. "I'll be just as clueless as you and Lily are, but…with a dollop more common sense than her at least," he added, smirking.

Again, Lily huffed tiredly and whacked him on the arm. "You really can't help but suck the fun out of everything, can't you Sev?"

The boy just shrugged, "that's just who I am. Then again, you should know that by now, shouldn't you?"

Despite herself, Lily smiled. "You're so insufferable. And your grouchiness must mean you're in need of your beauty sleep, aren't you Sev?" she teased.

"The same could be said of you and your combativeness Evans," Severus sniped right back. "Now unless you intend to sleep on the floor or on the chair, I suggest you two leave me to my peace and go to bed. I don't know about you Lily, but I'm knackered."

"You're not alone in that Severus. Whatever it is Dumbledore did to me, the apparatating or whatever it's called, really takes a lot out of you," Harry said.

"It's called apparating, and if you think that's bad, just wait 'til you try traveling through time. Lily and I were out for an hour or so before we came 'round," Severus joked.

Harry's eyes turned serious all of a sudden, adopting a gleam that Severus had scarcely seen before. Lily was hardly the serious type and lived life all cheery and carefree; so seeing that look of utter seriousness in a pair of eyes identical to her's but in a face entirely different was rather disconcerting to him. "You're not going back, right?" he asked in a quiet voice, glancing between his two new friends.

"You know my answer," Severus said confidently. "I'd much rather stay here and be away from him."

"Your father you mean?"

Severus nodded once.

"Lily? What about you?" Harry asked, turning his attention to his would-be-mother.

"I'll be staying too," she admitted quietly, both boys could barely make out what she'd just said. "Too much will have…changed, in '71, for Sev and I to return. I realize that now, I hadn't before." She looked up and met Harry's gaze, her eyes firm with as much resolve as she could cobble together. "I'll be staying. Just as Sev is. We're a package deal, he and I."

Harry smiled crookedly, his gaze softening by degrees as he glanced between the pair of old friends, his new friends. "I can see that, but I am happy you've admitted me into your little troupe. Thanks."

"You're still on probation," Severus said quickly, with a hint of teasing in his tone. "As long as you're not an utter idiot—"

"Severus Snape, apologize right now! He's half 'me' isn't he? So how can he be a dunderhead, hmm?"

Severus grinned cheekily at Lily. "That's precisely the half I'm worried about. He is half you, so doesn't that raise his chances of being a dunderhead?"

Lily glowered at him, her pale cheeks flushing a dull red, and her fists clenching at her sides. She stood from his bed in a flash, still glowering at the smirking boy. "You're impossible, is what you are. Come along Harry we're leaving, let's leave this sourpuss to gripe on his own," she grumbled, barging past the still-smirking boy for the door.

Lily stormed right out, Harry following her; but the boy paused in the doorway and turned around to face him. "I think you're cool Severus, but you can be a git at times, you know?"

He let the door shut in his wake and left the room before Severus could utter a word in response.

A/N2: Updates will be slower from here on out, I'm headed back to school so life's gonna get in the way again. I'll strive to update this and my other stories at least on a bi-weekly basis however. Thanks for reading!