Severus was definitely concerned about his son. He went to Lucius once again. There had to be some way around these classes. They should not be required of his son. It had never been heard of to force a student to go ahead in his studies. Especially when he had not taken his OWL exams. Harry was the first. He did not like how his son had been suffering dizzy spells so much and the bout of fever he had suffered was bothering him. He had taken samples of his son's blood and tested them for something which he might not have given his son an antidote for but he had found no potions in his system but he had found something odd. He had not had any idea what it was and he needed to find out. He had this sickening feeling that there was more to this. His son had barely recovered in time to convince Severus to allow him to play in the quidditch game on the weekend. Though he groaned when the lions once again trounced his house and said maybe he should have kept his son in bed, he was joking. He was as proud as always to watch his son playing especially when he caught the snitch. He decided as long as Gryffindor won the cup he could be happy with the outcome of the season. But he was happier by the fact that his so had made a recovery.
On Monday he went after his last class to London to speak to Lucius. He had sent the vile of his son's blood to Lucius. Lucius promised to have some experts he knew look into the blood. Severus had been worried about telling too many people but he knew that Lucius would only tell people who they would be able to trust. Lucius swore he would find out if something was being done to his nephew. He had loved Harry from the first moment he had seen the little boy and was over protective of him as he was of his own son. He had always regretted he could not tell Severus Harry was his son earlier then he had. He had known from the stat but he had to wait until he could when it would not risk his own wife and son. Though Severus understood, Lucius still had the guilt.
When he walked into his best friend's office he knew he had been right to be worried. He could always read his brother's moods. And something was wrong. He knew it had nothing to do with work. He was not sure if it was the blood work or the talk with the school governors, but he hoped that it was not both.
Lucius looked at him and motioned for him to sit down. "I have some good news and some bad news. Which ones would you like first?"
Severus was not sure that he liked the sounds of either at the moment. "The good."
Lucius handed him the decision from the governors. It declared that the headmaster had been right. It was actually school policy that if a student was above and beyond his level to a point where he was being held back from achieving his level. It had been in the code for a long time. There were few students in the past who had ever been moved ahead but there was definitely the rule. It only worked it classes that were required, electives like care of magical creatures were not covered by it.
Severus looked up confused. "I thought you said that this was the good news. Does this not say there is no way for me to remove my son from the class?"
Lucius shook his head. "No it says that Harry is required to be moved up to a senior class but not to his own class. It also requires him to take his OWL."
It was decided that if Harry took his OWL exam he would be permitted to do as he had doe the first few weeks and join Filius' and Remus' classes. The school board had said no before for they thought that Harry would not have enough skill to compete with seventh years. They had been worried about his safety. But in allowing Harry to take the class for two weeks before he had started his new classes, the headmaster had basically screwed up his own case. Harry had proven he could hold his own. If Harry passed his OWL he would be required to move up but would be able to take DADA and charms with the seventh years. That would mean he would have Filius ad his godfather as his professors instead of the headmaster. It would definitely lower the influence that the headmaster had over Harry.
Lucius sighed. "I know it is quick but your son would need to take the OWL in a week. He will be given the week off from his classes to study for the exams."
Severus was a bit concerned but he nodded. "He had already read well past that and I am sure Remus and Filius would help him study for the practical side."
If Harry refused to take the exam there was a good chance he would have to continue taking the class. Severus said he would speak to his son about it. If Harry agreed he would be taking the exam next Monday at the ministry. He would have to continue with his classes with Albus for the following week until he got his results. The governors could not get the school board to budge on the subject. But they thought that Harry could handle a week. They just hoped they were right and that he was indeed well enough ahead he could pass the two exams. If he could not Lucius would push to have him returned to his fifth year arguing that it proved he was not ready to be pushed ahead and the headmaster had bee wrong to do so. Without his wand Harry could have passed the practical side when he was seven years old but with a wand he was always filtering his magic through his wand and it limited his powers though he was still stronger then any fifteen year old they new.
Severus shrugged. "Well two less OWLS he will have to worry about in June though I don't get what he does in his last two yeas of school. And the bad news?"
Lucius handed him forms. "Filius and Remus will petition to do apprentice level classes with Harry in his sixth year. These are the reports from the lab I sent the blood to."
Severus paled when he saw what they said. The healers were not sure but they had suspicions that a muggle medication had been used. They would have to send the blood work on to a muggle hospital to be sure which would raise suspicions but it seemed someone had been slipping Harry muggle drugs. Neither man had any doubt who it was but there was no proof that Albus was the one. And they definitely could not accuse a man like Albus without any proof that he was the one.
Lucius took them back. "They suspect it is something that muggles call a date rape drug. It is put in drinks and the people have no memories in the morning."
Severus nodded. "Remus mentioned something when we had our suspicions but it does not explain why my son has been so violently ill from it. Does not fit."
The testers could not be sure but they had their suspicions. It was likely linked to the potions that Severus had bee feeding his son. The potions could not stop the affects of the pills for they were muggle medication and not a potion. Harry must have been having n adverse reaction to the potion interacting with the drugs and eventually his body had just had too much of them both which had caused the fever which he had just recovered from.
Lucius walked with him out. "The headmaster will be contacted today about the changes. I promise that there is nothing that he can do to change the decision."
Severus was relieved. "Now all we have to do is keep the man away from Harry outside of class. And make sure the last week Harry touches absolutely nothing."
He would send water with his son and would make sure that there was nothing Harry came in contact with. Harry had been dealing with the headmaster for years. He just needed to keep the man at bay. When he heard the name of the drug though it made him blanch. He wondered what might have happened to his son. Harry would have no memories of any of it. It scared him to think that his little boy may have been molested or worse, he may have been raped. He knew Harry had some dizzy spells and woken up on the couch. There had bee not much time but the night of the fever they had no idea how long before the headmaster had brought him to the infirmary that Harry had been out. The headmaster admitted he put him to bed at first but noticed later that Harry had a fever.
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Harry was a bit surprised when he was told to come home for dinner. They had meals on the weekends often but usually not during the week. His dad and Dora usually ate in the hall. He knew though that his dad had gone to London to see his Uncle Lucius. When he got to the dungeons he found Dora and to his surprise Remus but his dad had not returned from London yet he was told. He was definitely confused why Remus was there but not his husband and the kids, and even more surprised when his dad returned home and Filius was with him. He noticed that there were five place settings at the table for dinner.
His dad kissed him. "Your Uncle Luc has made some arrangements for you to help but it will include you writing two OWLS a week from today."
Harry blanched at his dad. "I have one week to write two of my exams and my Uncle seems to think that he is helping me? I thought Uncle Luc liked me."
Laughing he motioned Harry to sit. He explained about the rules which did required Harry to move up. And if he did move up he could be able to take the classes with Filius ad Remus. Technically if he failed they could press the governors to allow him to return to his own age but it would not look good on his record if he failed OWL exams, even if they could get permission for him to write them on time. Filius and Remus were both going to be tutoring him to make sure that he could ace the exam next week. Like potions they all knew that he could easily pass the exam right now.
Remus smiled. "We have no doubt you would pass this or we might fight this harder because of your records. You know you can do this."
Filius smiled and nodded. "And with your wand. You left most of my seventh years with bruised ribs in the two weeks that you were in their class."
They spoke to him over dinner and said that if he did this there was a chance that at the end of the year he could go into first year apprenticing and could either take his NEWTS when he was seventeen in the two classes or when he was meant to if he was not ready. Both Filius and Remus would be willing to work with him on his apprentice level areas which would be easier next year when he did not have such a full course load to deal with.
Harry finally gave in and admitted it sounded like a good option for him. "I guess I am not going to see the outside of my room or the library for a week."
Severus laughed. "Well you will have to go work with your godfather and Filius but yes you'll be busy. I'd like you to move home for the week."
Harry knew it made sense. He would have his dad and Tonks to help him study as well. Tonks was of course an auror so she could help him out. He knew his dad was not telling him something. There was more to what was going on. His dad had told him that after he took his exams he would have to return to his classes with the headmaster for a week until he got his results back. It would usually take longer for results but since he was the only one taking the exam they would be able to get them back faster then normal but that was as quick that the ministry was willing to promise them back by. It was the ministry and not the school governors who had the power over that so they were not able to push for things to move any quicker.
Harry looked at his dad. "There is something more you are not telling me. Is the headmaster going to try and stop this or something?"
Severus assured his son Albus was contacted and he would not have a way to contest it. "Your Uncle though had some tests run for me."
Harry was a bit surprised his father had never told him. He was not used to his dad not telling him something like running tests on his blood. He had been delirious when his father had taken some blood from him for the tests. He knew his dad had not wanted to scare him and he understood that. His dad was always trying to protect him and he definitely understood and appreciated that for him. He would have worried about them for days if he had known.
Remus had a feeling. "I was right about the muggle medicine wasn't I? I remembered, Sirius used to keep a muggle television at Grimmauld, actually still does."
Severus saw his son's confusion. "You had traces of a muggle drug called a date ape drug in your system Harry. Remus remembered hearing about it."
Gone absolutely pale with the words Harry listened. It was a muggle medicine so the potion his dad gave him did not help. The sickness was also explained. It was a reaction of the two drugs interacting with each other. Since it was muggle neither Severus nor Poppy had known what to look for. They had no way of proving though the headmaster had anything to do with it. How would he have got his hands on muggle medication? It would look more likely that one of the many muggle born students around the school had slipped him something then the headmaster of the school.
Severus squeezed his hand. "You do not drink or eat anything. He insists, you call Lofty and you eat and drink and eat only food Lofty has prepared for you especially."
Harry nodded. "I know your Lofty would never let any other elf touch my food even if it was the headmaster's. I promise Dad."
Lofty was beyond loyal to both Severus and his son. He had served Severus' Aunt before him and before that had served the Prince family. Lofty would watch over him. He even had an affect on Kreacher who showed a slight friendly side for him while he often spat at Sirius. Lucius often laughed. Harry still did not like Dobby. Dobby was the world's friendliest elf, the exact opposite of Kreacher and even could put Lofty to shame but Harry had never since his first stay at the manor been fond of the elf. Lucius passed it off as the reason Harry had been at the manor being when he was hurt and it just brought back bad memories for Harry.
After dessert Severus looked at the door. "I would send Lofty but I am sure you want to tell your boyfriend where you are going. Be home before curfew please."
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Having bee taking meals down with his dad or with Remus and Filius when they were tutoring him Harry did not see the headmaster for the week. He learned from his dad that Albus had definitely tried to have the decision over turned. When that filed he had tried to convince Severus that Harry was not ready for the tests and it could hurt his future if he took them too soon and failed. Remus and Filius had been giving him practice exams and he was not aware but the last ones Harry had been taking were actually old NEWT exams and he had aced the OWL ones and had passed the NEWT ones. They knew that he was going to do fine with the tests and he was starting to feel more and more confidant about it. His only breaks from study were his other classes and quidditch practice.
On Monday he took charms in the morning and DADA in the afternoon. He was exhausted but the testers had been impressed. His dad joked he could do potions. He really could have. Potions had always been his best class after years with his dad in the lab. He considered following in his dad's steps. But he was too exhausted to even think that his dad's joke had been funny. His Uncle Lucius had joined them for lunch and he accompanied them back to school after.
Severus clapped his son on the back. "You just have four days of classes with the headmaster Harry. You will have your results by Monday morning at the latest."
Lucius nodded. "We all know that you aced the exam and just remember the food rule and you will be fine Harry. You can handle a few more days of Albus."
They were both glad that it was only a few days. Other then the headmaster Harry was happy for the end of this. The stress of studying had got to him. He had only seen George for quidditch and when his boyfriend had been able to walk him to classes. He was definitely missing his boyfriend. George had joked that he might need to find a new boyfriend but Severus assured his son they would get back from London earlier enough he could go and see George. Harry said goodbye at the entrance hall to his dad and Lucius and headed for Gryffindor. He would be spending one last night with his dad before he moved back to his prefect room.
He was nearly to Gryffindor when he ran into the headmaster. "How did your exams go Harry? I was sorry to hear you would not be continuing with me."
Harry was not happy to run into him. "It was just too energy draining sir, and my father was worried about me from my fainting spells lately. My tests went well."
Of course that made sense enough. Severus had always been very much mother bearish with his son when it came to him being ill or anything. The headmaster knew that Severus had been worried. He had bee to his office more then once after his son had come to him bothered by another dizzy spell He moved to go past the man but it seemed that the headmaster was not ready to be done with him just yet.
He smiled. "You know on Saturdays we can continue your animagus training if you would like. You were so excited about learning how to do your form."
Harry had talked to his godfather about that already. "My godfather has already offered sir. Especially since he is an animagus and he has practical experience."
The headmaster let him pass after a moment. It looked like the man was going to say something. But the headmaster of course did not want to reveal if he was actually an animagus. He was unregistered if he was which was an issue, they had registered Sirius years ago. He was happy to sink into his boyfriend' arms when he got to Gryffindor and just think about him and returning to normal class finally. He had the morning off the next day to recover before going back to class in the afternoon which is why he was spending one last night in the dungeons.
George kissed him. "Now you can worry about more important things like me, and quidditch ad your father and Dora's ultrasound in a few weeks time."