Harry hummed to himself as he swept the tinsel with the broom, the open windows allowing a refreshing breeze to sweep into the warm room with the sound of crickets and frogs echoing in the valley. Severus was in cleaning the kitchen while Harry started in the living room, not wanting to leave it all to him.
He glanced over at the present he got from Snape, feeling a strange Hermione-like thrill as he looked at the three books he got. One teaching nature magic, one wandless magic and one on history of magic. Ron nearly fainted as he saw the last one. But it wasn't anything like the boring old battles that Professor Binns always rambled on and on… and on about. This one focused solely on the different kinds of energies that wizards have used and tapped into as far back as has been recorded. Harry had a feeling that he would eventually get bored of it, probably, but for now, the excitement of understanding the energy that he felt buzzing under his skin from time to time made him actually look forward to opening the books in his spare moments.
"I have cleared the kitchen, I will finish here, you may put away the rest of your presents if you so wish." Severus said and Harry shook his head.
"No, it's alright, I'll help here." He said, continuing to sweep. Severus didn't move for a few seconds and Harry wondered if the other would just send him away. Instead, the potions master started pointing his wand around the room, starting to clean and dust the area. Harry noticed a particular similarity between Snape and Petunia Dursley. That their house should remain immaculate at all times. Harry felt an odd ache in his back, remembering the hours he spent cleaning that house as a child.
"…Harry?" Harry looked up to see that Snape was looking at him with mild concern.
"I'm fine… just remembering something." Harry hurried to say.
"Do you wish to discuss it?" He asked. Harry sighed softly, shaking his head.
"No, I'm fine. It's over." Harry looked back down at the pile of dust and tinsel he'd collected with his broom. Severus came cover and got rid of it with a wave of his wand and sitting down on the couch.
"I do want to discuss your redheaded friend." Snape said. Harry looked up at him and sat down slowly, oddly nervous.
"It's ok, we made up." Harry rushed to say.
"…That may be. I know he was your first ever friend Harry,"
"He was." Harry nodded, feeling warm remembering that.
"but that does not mean that you should forgive him everything. Today was all about you… and for some reason he made that little spectacle and rushed off."
"We talked it out… I'm not a kid that needs his d-parent to defend him." Harry said looking down.
"You have not had friends before Potter, and conversations like these have never been had with you. I am not trying to treat you like an infant. I just merely want that conversation to take place late, rather than never." Harry thought about those words and looked down.
"…Ron thought I fancied Hermione. He got jealous because he likes her. He said I screwed up with Cho… and since I'm the one with "secrets", as he put it, there must be something wrong with me…" Harry didn't realise at what moment he tensed up and gripped the fabric of his knees so hard that his white hands were shaking.
"You told mister Weasley?" Severus asked and Harry couldn't look at him, not while his eyes were stinging like this.
"He knew I was hiding something… and friends don't do that. I felt relieved when I told him… and he didn't treat me that differently… but at the back of his mind he must have always thought I was fucked up."
"Language, Potter!" Snape said. Harry looked up at him but his vision just got more blurry and he focused on the floor again.
"I'll never be normal… I'll never find someone to be with… as soon as they know the bad things I did they'll think I'm disgusting." Harry couldn't stay there anymore and stormed off to his room, getting into bed and burying his face into his pillow, trying not to cry. Pressure built up in his chest and his throat ached as he tried not to tear up, but it hurt so much that he allowed himself to cry.
The door opened slowly and he heart Snape's steps getting closer. For once, he couldn't stop crying and buried his face tighter into the pillow. The other's hand gently passed by his hair and Harry pretended he was five years old again, getting that comfort he always dreamed of back then.
"Harry, look at me." But Harry couldn't, all he could do was turn his head to the side, closing his eyes so he wouldn't have to look at him as he sobbed just like he did all those years ago as a child, when he still hadn't learnt that staying quite would earn him less yelling and insults. "Harry, you are not a bad person. You are so much from the light that even the Dark Lord himself could not keep control of you if he so much as stepped out of the same room." Harry felt his chest tighten again.
"He called me a catamite."
"Son of a-" He heard Snape hiss.
"I even disgusted the darkest wizard of all time!" Harry exclaimed, finally looking up at Snape who was staring at a wall, looking furious. Fierce brown eyes met green and Harry had to look away, feeling shame crawling in every fibre of his being.
"Harry. You are not disgusting, or evil, or any of those things. You are just a boy, Harry, and the Dark Lord's words are worth nothing! Do you hear me?" Snape said. "Look at me." Harry did so, this time managing to hold his gaze. "You are… my son. Believe me when I say that you…" It sounded like the words got caught in the potions master's throat for a second. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me."
Harry sobbed. "You're just saying that."
"Do I seem like the kind of person to 'just say' things?" Severus asked with his serious, no-nonsense tone of voice and Harry found himself smiling through the tears and shook his head. "Come here." Harry didn't need to be told twice as the other reached for him and hugged him tightly.
"You're the best thing that happened to me too… dad…" Harry whispered and felt the hug tighten further.
"Take your time to forgive Weasley… as a Slytherin I would have been inclined to never speak to him again." Harry nodded. He was still angry at him. He just hadn't wanted a repeat of fourth year, where he was all by himself.
"I'll take my time…" He finally said.
oOoOoOo
Harry woke up oddly refreshed the next morning. The tinkling of the music box slowed down now that he'd awoken and came to a stop. He definitely had to send the blonde prat a thank you note.
He stretched and yawned, getting out of bed to find that Snape had just finished making breakfast. He didn't have time to feel embarrassed or ashamed about the night before, because there on the table sat a small scroll with the ministry's crest on the wax seal.
Harry's heart raced wildly. "Are those my O.W.L.'s results?" Harry asked.
"Indeed they are." Severus replied as he put down the jug of what smelled to be hot chocolate.
"…did I do badly?" Harry asked as he approached, almost afraid.
"I do not know. It is addressed to you." Severus said calmly as he read the Daily Prophet which had an image of a black quill next to a moving picture of Umbridge getting dragged off in handcuffs from the ministry.
Harry sat down, eyeing the scroll for a long time before gathering up the Gryffindor courage in him and picking it up, opening it. He let out a breath he was holding, staring at his results.
"I… got Outstanding in potions." Harry said, looking up at Snape who smirked and nodded, looking at him with pride. Of course he knew, the teachers always got results for their subject a day before. He looked back at the paper. "Defence, Outstanding; Care of Magical Creatures, E; Astronomy, O; Charms, O; Divination... Dreadful…" He grimaced looking up at Snape.
"Good for you." He said, sneering at the subject. Harry smiled and continued.
"Herbology, E; History of Magic, A; Transfiguration, O." He never would have believed he would have ever gotten five Outstandings in his O.W.L.s on his own. "Thank you, Severus." Harry said softly.
"You put in the hard work, Harry. Now you can relax and enjoy the rest of your holidays."
"But… Greyback is still free, isn't he? What if…?"
"The Aurors will take care of that, Harry. For now, just enjoy your breakfast."
Harry paused but didn't argue. Instead he looked at the food and started eating, gazing out the window from time to time. This was his life now. He had a father that cared for him, a home he was welcome in and food. It was amazing how many people take that last one for granted when they've always had it.
Although he knew there would be bumps in the road, at least he would have Severus there to help him up if he were to trip.
