The students were coming the next day, and Severus had become even more busier than before. He`d advised Jen (She`d peruaded him to skip the Professor Reiks out of earshot of the students), he`d advised the Headmaster (who was not inclined to change his mind easily) and he`d worked with the elves who were making Slytherin house ready. His time was limited, and he felt Harry would be alone a lot as soon as semester started. While he was no longer actively teaching, he did sub for the (inept) defence teacher and had several other duties.

Severus felt aggrieved that he had to let others handle Harry such a short time after learning that he was his son, but had to admit to himself that he did have many duties, that demanded much of him, and Harry would be better off spending his days with someone that had more time. In the end Black came to the rescue, with a solution to his predicament. As Black had the time, and he`d mostly bounced back from his ordeal in Azcaban he`d asked if Severus was willing was willing to let him look after Harry. Black to his surprise had also arranged for formal schooling for Harry, this was something Severus would never have been expecting from the mutt.

Severus had to his own surprise grown quite close to Minerva over the latest months, and now Minerva was giving him very sound advice after he`d aired his predicament to her. "You know that Augusta Longbottom is one of my close friends, and she has a grandson who I think could do with company his own age. Why don`t you contact her and ask if you could introduce the two, if they hit it off Harry can spend time with him. This way he will have a friend to spend his free time with and this together with him staying with Sirius Black when you are working will free you up a bit; I know the duties as head of house combined with assistant head will make many demands on your time. This way you will have less of a bad conscience regarding not spending more time with Harry. But as Severus didn`t know madam Longbottom, it was a bit forward to contact her. But he did so anyway, and soon enough he had a positive answer.

As they sat toghether one evening Severus said to Harry "Harry, on the recommendation of Professor McGonagall I have arranged for you to meet someone I hope you will like. Maybe I should have checked this with you beforehand, but I wasn`t sure young Neville would be allowed to socialize with you. The idea was for you to spend your time at Blackˋs place when I am working. Maybe some times you will be spending time here if some of the teachers have time and an interest in helping out. Now however I thought it may be even better if you could be schooled together with Neville if you get on well".

"I think Iˋd like to have someone to take lessons with, being alone with just a tutor even if it is Sirius seems a bit lonely." Harry said eagerly, so this was why was that Severus found himself taking Sirius Black with him when he and Harry went to meet Madam Longbottom and her grandson.