Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters and ideas are the whole intellectual property of Ms. J.K. Rowling and are hers alone to sell. I do not receive, nor would I accept any compensation for any of the owned intellectual property of Ms. Rowling (nor that which she has licensed to WB etc.). What follows is just a wacky little ditty I wanted to get out of my brain. It only got there because I so love that which Ms. Rowling created. No copyright infringement is intended.

Holidays and a change of plans

'So let me get this straight,' said Remus, stretching out his feet in front of the fire once the dinner dishes had been cleared away. 'It all started nearly a year ago when you began disobeying by first sneaking out,' Remus began ticking off Harry's 'activities' on his fingers. 'Then eavesdropping on Severus and the headmaster. Then after school started, in spite of many warnings, you kept investigating the protections on the Philosophers Stone… And, in spite of warnings to avoid Quirrell outside of class – and to keep Severus' suspicions secret, you told your friends, and didn't avoid him. And then even though you didn't know who it was, you took it upon yourself to go after whoever was going to steal the Stone – nearly killing yourself and two friends in the process?'

'When you put it like that,' Harry mumbled, picking at his cuffs. 'It sounds much worse…'

'Harry,' Remus sighed, shaking his head. 'You're as bad as your father.'

'Which one…?' he rolled his eyes, slumping dramatically in his chair.

'Both – you're as bad as both of them put together… I wouldn't tell Severus I said he was like James though' Remus chuckled. 'It's not much likely to improve his mood…'

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Severus stared at the parchment, unsure what to say. It was the culmination of many dreams – it was an incredible honour – it would mean three weeks at the International Confederation of Wizards Convention, on a remote and unplottable island somewhere in the North Sea… in the middle of which, would fall Harry's birthday.

'What about Harry?' he finally voiced.

'You are welcome to bring him, of course,' Dumbledore assured him.

'But it's so far – and the security there – he wouldn't even be able to floo his friends right? And owls will have a hard time getting through…'

'True, but do you really think, Harry would wish you to turn this down?'

'No,' Severus snorted, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'Especially not now – with what happened, he'll think he has to make things up – he'll think missing his birthday is like a punishment for what happened… Arrgghh. I'm going to Floo him at Lupins'' With that, he swept out of the headmasters' office and headed down to his nearly completely packed apartment to use the floo there.

'Severus?' Remus regarded the face swirling in his fireplace curiously. 'You're a couple of days early aren't you? Is something wrong?'

'I need to speak with Harry for a minute.' His voice was neither friendly nor antagonistic – merely businesslike. Though the two men had set aside their differences (at Albus' insistence) for Harry's sake, and could now manage to carry on a civil conversation, they still weren't quite what you'd call friendly.

'Well,' Remus sighed. 'You may as well come through. He's just gone in the shower.' Handing him a clothes brush to sweep away the soot that had gotten on his robes when he'd come through the floo, Remus offered Severus a cup of tea while they waited.

'Thank-you. Harry is not known for his quick showers.'

'No,' Remus chuckled, magicking a tray of tea and biscuits onto the kitchen table. 'He really isn't, is he?' After several minutes of silence, Remus turned a concerned look onto his guest. 'Is anything wrong Severus? Because Harry's been perfect…'

'I've been invited to present my findings on my veritaserum to the International Confederation of Wizards conference.'

'Wow, Severus! That's quite an honour! I don't understand though, what…?'

'We'd have to go next week – and stay through the entire conference which ends mid-August. The security there is unbelievable – he wouldn't be able to floo his friends, owls would have a difficult time getting there, and he wouldn't be able to get back for his birthday. He was hoping to have a party with his friends this year…'

'That's alright, Dad.' Remus and Severus both jumped at the sound from the door. Harry walked the rest of the way into the kitchen, his hair still wet from his shower, and sat down at the table with the two men. 'Besides,' he shrugged, trying to look like he didn't care either way. 'Everyone will think it's really cool that I got to go to the ICW conference…'

'It's an incredible honour for him,' Remus said, handing Harry a cup of tea. 'It's very rare for non-members to be invited to speak, or attend.'

'Yeah, I know.'  Harry tried with all his might to hide his disappointment about missing his birthday because he really was happy for his Dad. 'When do we have to go? I mean, do I have to go back now, or can I – I mean, tomorrow we were going to go to the amusement park…'

'Oh, no,' Severus assured him quickly. 'We wouldn't have to leave until next week, so you can finish out your time with Remus. And we'll still do something for your birthday. Albus will be there, and Minerva and Filius…'

'That's ok,' Harry smiled. 'Can I floo Ron before we go? He's invited me to come and stay for a few days sometime during the summer. I want to tell him that I can't so he doesn't think I'm snubbing him or something…'

'Yeah, of course,' Severus said quickly, getting an idea. 'In fact, if it's convenient, and the invitation still stands, I'd be alright with you going to stay for a few days after we get back.'

'Really?' Harry asked, jumping up in excitement. 'Can I floo him now?' he directed this question to both men.

'It's alright with me, Harry,' said Remus. 'You know where the floo-call powder is,' he added when Severus nodded as well.

It was a much relieved Severus who returned to Hogwarts that evening. Remus had insisted he stay for dinner, and he'd agreed, seeing Harry looking at him hopefully. Severus had been reluctant, for many reasons to allow Remus much access to Harry in the beginning. It had only been at Albus' strong recommendation (which amounted to orders) that he'd allowed any contact at all. But over the years, he came to realize that even though Harry loved him as his father – completely – he still craved the connection that Remus offered to the people Harry referred to as his 'first parents'. It had taken years for Severus to completely accept that Harry's attachment to Remus and through him James and Lily, did not diminish Harry's attachment to him at all (though in all honesty, he did still find himself feeling jealous at times… like when Harry was sorted into Gryffindor…).

Harry had arranged with Ron and Mrs. Weasley to stay with them for the last week of the summer holidays (on Severus' condition that his holiday work was done first). The Weasley's would see Harry to the train back to Hogwarts on September first. It was the best possible solution for all concerned, and so it was with a growing sense of excitement that Severus went to Albus and accepted the Confederation's invitation and began hurriedly to prepare his notes on what he would say in front of the Wizarding world's greatest minds.

TBC

A short one – sorry. But this was a good place to stop. Next will be the Convention, and Harry's birthday.