Disclaimer: See chapter1

Chapter 22: Back to Hogwarts

After hearing about his mother, Harry was proud to be her son. She was everything he wanted to be. After seeing and hearing about some of the things his father had done, it was nice to have someone to be proud of again. He still loved his father, just wasn't proud of the things he had done. He was also more determined now to rid the world of Voldemort. He wanted to ensure that there wouldn't be any more innocent people killed. He threw himself into perfecting his wand-less shields and summoning. He had them down now, although he was still tired out after. Severus, as he now began to think of him, told him that it was normal to tire. He said that was why witches and wizards used wands. That was why he was only teaching Harry to summon his wand and put up shields. He told him it was enough to ensure that he survived long enough to kill Voldemort. Harry didn't really agree with him on this, but didn't feel like arguing with him about it.

Their relationship had changed, too. Now instead of trying to avoid Severus, Harry found himself seeking him out. He could often be found in the dungeons with Severus. Usually Harry was preparing ingredients while Severus was brewing a potion. Harry had found that Severus does have a sense of humor, even if it is a bit twisted. It took some getting used to and it was usually hard to tell when he was serious or joking. Every once in awhile, Harry would catch Severus lost in thought, smiling at whatever he was reliving. Harry could only hope it was memories of his mother. Then there would be times he caught him watching him sadly, as if remembering what he had lost. Harry was enjoying his time getting to know Severus.

It was finally the day that Severus had to return to the school. He had to get things ready before the students arrived. Harry would be returning with him. He would be staying there, and then he was going to meet Ron and Hermione when they got off the train when Hagrid went to meet the first years. Severus had already warned Harry that he would be putting him to work. Harry was dreading what Severus would have him doing. As of right now, Harry was sitting on his trunk by the door, Hedwig's empty cage at his feet, waiting for Severus. They had just got done with dinner, and were going to be going by Port-key to the outskirts of the wards at Hogwarts. He had mixed feelings about returning. He was looking forward to seeing his friends again, but he was not looking forward to the return of the greasy, nasty Potions Master.

Harry was pulled from his thoughts as Severus came out of his office. He had been getting things from his lab that he needed. Without warning, Severus shrunk his trunk from under him, Accio'ing it to him before Harry fell on to it. Harry landed on the floor hard, crying out in surprise. He glared up at Severus. Severus just smirked at him. He shrunk Hedwig's cage and Harry put it in his pocket before getting back to his feet.

"You really do have a sick sense of humor, sir." Harry muttered, more to himself then anything.

Severus walked past Harry without a word, but Harry caught the slight twitch of his lips as he passed. Smiling to himself, Harry followed him out the door. They walked to just outside of the wards before Severus stopped. Harry stopped beside him, watching as Severus reached into a pocket and pulled out a sock. It was a long, multi-colored sock, which Severus sneered at.

"Dumbeldore's?" Harry asked, trying not to laugh at the look on Severus's face.

Before he could reply, his Crow came flying down, landing on his shoulder. Severus reached up and took the letter from it. Harry watched curiously as Severus read it, the Crow looking as if it was reading over his shoulder. He saw Severus's lips thin, in anger or something else he wasn't sure. Harry had his answer as he watched the Crow take flight and Severus close his fist around the paper tightly, then it vanished in a small stream of white smoke billowing from between his clenched fingers.

"Come along, Potter." Severus said tightly, gesturing at the sock.

Harry quickly reached out to grab ahold of the sock, not wanting Severus's anger directed at him. As soon as he touched it, he felt the familiar pull behind his naval.

They landed between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Harry was kept from falling by Severus, who grabbed him by the arm and started dragging him up to the school. Harry had to jog to keep up with Severus's longer, angrier strides. By the time they were halfway to the school, Harry was getting tired. He was concentrating on keeping up that he didn't see the branch on the ground.He tripped over it, stumbled a few steps, then fell. He landed on his knees and one hand. Severus, still having a hold of Harry's other arm, was pulled to a sudden stop.

"Get up." Severus said sharply, glaring down at him.

"I'm tired. Can we slow down, sir?" Harry said, trying to catch his breathe while he could.

"Move." Severus growled, pulling Harry up and dragging him the rest of the way.

After what seemed like hours to Harry, but was actually only a few minutes, they arrived at the castle. As they walked through the silent halls, the only sound that could be heard was the clicking of Severus's shoes on the floor. Before Harry knew it, they were in front of the Gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office.

"Fizzing Wizbee." Severus snapped and the Gargoyle lept aside, showing the moving, spiral staircase.

Severus pushed Harry ahead of him onto the staircase. As soon as they got to the top, Severus pushed Harry into the office.

"Sit." Severus snarled at Harry, then went straight to the Headmaster's desk.

Harry reluctantly went and sat in the chair in front of the desk. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he didn't want to have Severus's anger directed at him. He watched as Severus placed his hands on the desk and leaned in towards the Headmaster before speaking.

"What is the meaning of this? We agreed only until I came back to the Castle. Now you want me to keep him until the start of term? Are you quite mad?" Severus snarled.

"I assure you, Severus, I am quit serious. You are usually the first one back and as of right now you are the only one, besides Argus and myself, here. I am sure you can see that it is not a very good idea for Argus to watch after Harry and as for myself, I am not always in the Castle and will not be available if Harry should need something." Dumbledore said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.

"Send him to the Weasley's then. I am sure that they would welcome him." Severus said with a sneer.

"I can not do that, Severus. You know my reasons why. I will hear no more about it. You will take Harry to your chambers and let him settle in. I am sure you will find someplace for him to stay." Dumbledore said, sounding final.

Severus stood there and glared at him for a minute before turning and heading out the door. Harry looked at Dumbledore, not sure what he should do. Dumbledore nodded at him before looking at the door that Severus had disappeared behind. Harry got up and reluctantly followed after him. By the time he got to the bottom of the stairs, Severus was already headed down the stairs towards the first floor. Harry had to run to catch up to him. He slowed down and walked beside him.

"That will be five points from Gryffindor, Potter, for running in the halls." Severus said softly.

"That's not fair, sir. School's not even started." Harry said heatedly.

"I'm not in the mood to listen to your whining about what is fair and what is not, Potter." Severus said coldly, not slowing down.

Harry decided it was best not to say anything that might get him in trouble. He didn't think that his anger was directed at him yet. At least he hoped not. He followed him down through the Dungeons, past the Potions classroom and the Slytherin Dormatories. They stopped in front of what looked to be an empty wall. The only noticeable thing on it was that some of the stones looked newer. They were slightly brighter then the rest, not really noticeable unless you looked closely. Harry watched as Severus placed his right hand on the lighter stones. After a few seconds, the wall dissolved, leaving a door in it's place. Severus reached out to turn the handle and pulled the door open. He grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him in, quickly shutting the door behind them. On the other side of the door, an empty wall was all that could be seen.

Harry watched as Severus strode across the room, mumbling something about meddling old fools, and went through a door, slamming it behind him. Harry started looking around the room he was left in. There were candles lit on the walls around the room. On the left there was a bookcase. It was from the floor to the ceiling, full all the way with books. A little further there was a fireplace with two black winged-back chairs and a small table between them. There was a small island directly across from where Harry stood. Next to that there was another bookcase, just as full as the other one. On the wall to the right there were three doors, one of which Severus was in. In the middle of the room stood a dark brown desk. All the furniture was covered in white sheets. The floor was bare cement.

Just as Harry was trying to decide on what he should do, Severus came back out of the room he was in. He walked over to the island and pulled out a glass and a bottle of amber liquid. He poured some into his glass and drank it quickly. Setting both on the top of the island, Severus turned to look at Harry, leaning back against the island.

"Seeing how the Headmaster has decided to present me with your presence, you will have to stay in the storage room. I shall transfigure a bed for you to sleep on. Of course, I don't expect you to stay in there all the time." Severus said with a smirk.

"Of course not, sir." Harry said, trying not to smile.

"Come along, Potter. We have to get your room set up." Severus said, standing and heading to the doors on the right side of the room.

They went to the door in the middle. As they entered, Harry looked around. There were a few candles lighting this room. The walls were covered in shelves that were full of jars and boxes. Harry decided he really didn't want to know what they were after spying a jar full of what looked like eyes. Harry shuddered, thinking of trying to sleep with all these things in here with him. Trying to take his mind off of them, he watched as Severus took an empty crate from the corner and set it in the middle of the room. Severus pulled out his wand as he went to stand next to Harry. Severus aimed his wand at the crate and waved it. There was a flash of light and then a small, single bed appeared were the crate was. It was covered in dark green blankets. His trunk appeared at the end of it.

"Umm….Thank you, sir." Harry said, looking around at the shelves uneasily.

"What is the matter now, Potter?" Severus said, sounding irritated.

"How do you expect me to sleep with all these….things looking at me." Harry said, waving his hand at the jars.

Severus waved his wand at the walls and a sheet fell down in front of them all, blocking them from view.

"Is that better, Potter?" Severus said with a sneer.

"I guess so. Thank you, sir." Harry said, still looking apprehensively.

"Don't sound so gracious." Severus snapped, turning and stalking back into the other room.

Harry sighed and followed. He would never be able to understand Severus's moods.

"The room on your left is the bathroom and the room on the right is my room. Do not touch anything." Severus said, turning and heading towards the bookcase next to the island.

As he got closer, the bookcase started to slide up and into the ceiling. There was another room behind it. The candles lit as he entered, and Harry had a glimpse of what looked like a lab before the bookcase closed. Not having anything else to do, Harry went to his room and got one of his books from his trunk. He took it and went out to sit in one of the chairs by the fireplace. The fire wasn't lit, but it was still a comfortable chair to relax in. He sat back and got comfortable before opening the book and beginning to read.

Severus came back out of the lab a few hours later. He went to check and see if Harry was sleeping in his room. He didn't see him in bed and could only think of one other place he could be. He went over to the fireplace and found Harry fast asleep in one of the chairs. The book he had been reading was laying on the floor next to the chair. Severus smiled to himself, before making Harry more comfortable. He transfigured the chair into something more comfortable and summoned the blanket from Harry's bed. He removed Harry's glasses and shoes before covering Harry with the blanket. Once Harry was set, he headed for his own room, waving the candles all out as he went.

Xoxoxo

I am sooo sorry this took so long. I have had major writers block. Then I read HBP and was trying to keep all of that out of this story. I just hope this was worth the wait for you guys. Thanx for not giving up and for all of you that sent reviews recently. They helped me to keep going on this.

Rhi