A/N: Do not own or gain revenue from the characters in the following fanfic.
Thank you ever so much to all my reviewers: the encouragement was amazing. Jack-Quaker thank you for mentioning the OOC of Severus.. I added that warning just for you :) The SS/HP part is going to be later in.. I'm trying to have that develop as naturally as possible.
After lunch, Harry returned to his room to continue his History of Magic essay. It was entirely less tedious then one would expect, the history of the Wizarding World was much more fascinating when Binns had nothing to do with it.
Unfortunately towards the end of his stay in the Hospital Wing Harry was forced to recognize that soon his battle with Voldemort would be part of history. Soon hundreds of Hogwarts students would be subjected to Binns droning on about the conflict, deaths from the war that impacted his life so drastically, would be reduced to numbers. Or, as in the case of Sirius Black, a paragraph explaining the tragic circumstances. It was maddening to know that so little of the actual story would be heard. I bet Hermione could tell the story better then any outside narrator, gods know she read enough of those damn History books. And she knows the people Which is when Harry got his idea, possibly the first idea not planted by Dumbledore or forced by Snape, or even gently suggested by Hermione. There was a way the Wizarding World could know exactly what had happened. It would just take some work. Well, a lot of work if he was going to do it right. He busily went to work writing letters and sending Hedwig out to deliver them. He then pulled out a spare roll of parchment and started scribbling at a rapid pace. When Squeaky the house elf came to retrieve Harry for dinner he was shocked to realize just how long he had been at it.
He once again followed Squeaky into the dining room, hoping that next time he would be able to find the room for himself. That elf was really fucking annoying. He took a deep breath, this was going to be the hardest part of his project.
Fifteen minutes into dinner Harry still hadn't broached the subject, Snape had yet to say a word to him and the silence was more then slightly daunting.
"Er..clears throat …I was wondering…" the hesitancy in his voice irritated even him. " I was wondering if you would help me in a project I'm doing. I was thinking about how ridiculous this whole thing was going to be portrayed in the History book. You know, the war. The focus is going to be all wrong. A bunch of mindless praising of…well..me. We both know that that's not how the war was. It took a whole shit load of people they probably wont even mention that changed the tide of the war in our favor. I can't stand the idea of them being forgotten. So I got the idea, I know wild me an idea, that maybe I could organize something more in depth. A book about how it really happened. So I wrote to Dumbledore to get his input on the idea, a few other members of the Order to see if they would be interested, and of course Ron and Hermione. However you are quite likely the key person I'd like to get in the book. To sum up what is no doubt a poorly worded ramble from your perspective, I'd like you to write your story. As in depth or shallow as you feel comfortable with, but without you the book would be definitely lacking" Harry stopped talking, panting softly from the speed at which he had been talking. That was easier then he thought it was going to be. Then again.. maybe he was being a bit rushed, Snape hadn't responded yet.
"While I agree that yet another woeful tale of Harry Potter is hardly what I want to see in Flourish & Blotts, I'm not inclined to spread my life out for be scrutinized by everyone merely to deepen your pockets. I am under the impression that they are more then adequate already."
"What the fuck Snape, for someone who has spent the last year training me for the war you picked up a surprisingly small amount of my personality. The revenues would be split up amongst the contributors. I'm debating whether or not I should even be included in the book." He replied allowing the frustration to creep into his voice.
Snapes face hardened at the profanity and accusatory way in which Potter spoke to him, how dare he be so impudent. He was after all asking a favor. "Too good to be in a book with the rest of us Potter?"
"NO! I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I WASN'T EVEN ALIVE FOR THE FIRST WAR, I WAS GROWING UP DURING THE REBUILD AND I STUMBLED AROUND LIKE A THOUGHTLESS CHILD WHILE PEOPLE DIED. DIED PROTECTING ME, DIED ENSURING THAT I WOULD LIVE TO FULFILL THE PROPHECY. I WORKED ONE YEAR AT DEFEATING THE DARK LORD AND THE ONLY FUCKING REASON I WAS SUCCESFUL IS THAT YOU HAVE WORKED TWENTY. You, and Dumbledore, and Shacklebot, and the elder Weasleys, and soo many others have put much more into it. How can I deserve to be in the same book? I deserve to be the afterthought, I deserve to be mentioned in passing. Not Dumbledore, and certainly not you."
Severus had to admit to himself that he was once again shell shocked, he felt as if he was recovering from an obliviate and had missed something vital. How could he have missed Potter maturing? When had Potter realized all of this? It had never been hinted that he felt this way when they had been practicing occlumency. Be that as it may.. it would hardly do to encourage these emotional outbursts. "You still haven't learned to control yourself Potter, you just acknowledged that you were thoughtless in your early years, and yet you continue the behavior. Tsk tsk, that's hardly effective persuasive speaking. However, your idea holds merit, I will think on it and get back to you shortly."
Harry slumped at Snapes pointed statements. He has thought he was getting better at this, more reasonable. He really needed to learn to be less explosive if he was to have even a slightly decent summer. Due to the wide variety of Death Eaters on the loose, and the damage sustained to Hogwarts during the two-pronged final battle, Dumbledore had decided to resume school October first. Part of Harry was greatful to have more time away from what would was sure to be an interesting reaction from the rest of the school, but a very very large part was unsure about spending that much time with Snape. Actually unsure was putting it lightly, the idea scared the shit out of him.
"Snape…Sir" Harry corrected himself hastily at Snapes glare "I was wondering if we could go into Diagon Alley tomorrow, the only clothes I have are cast offs from my whale like cousin, I figure I can get my school supplies since McGonnagall gave me my list before we left this morning. Plus I'd like to get in touch with a publisher. Just to see if the idea has potential."
"I suppose that can be arranged" Snape replied reluctantly "but we'd have to leave in the morning, I'll not be dealing with crowds. Seven thirty sharp in the Entrance".
"Yes Sir"