Most Evil Plan
Chapter 15
Parent/Teacher Relations

Harry ran, he didn't know where he was going, all he knew was that he had to get away. Just listening to his friends and classmates talk made him realize how many questions he had.

He finally came to a stop and leaned against a castle wall, closing his eyes.

"Mr. Po-Snape," Minerva addressed the resting boy.

At the sound of that name Harry shuddered. Somehow he doubted that she was addressing the potion master. Harry slowly opened his eyes to find his Tranfiguration Professor standing in front of him, and no one else in the corridor.

"I noticed that you weren't at dinner. Are you not feeling well? Do you need to see Madam Pomfrey?"

Harry just looked blankly at his professor. He didn't think that he would ever feel better; unfortunately, this didn't seem like the sort of thing the mediwitch could heal.

"Very well, then, follow me," McGonagall continued once she realized that her student wouldn't answer.

"Take a seat," she directed once the two were safely ensconced in her office. "Now I can imagine how difficult this day has been for you."

Harry snorted in disbelief, but refrained from verbally responding.

"But you have been in difficult and challenging situations before and have always risen to the occasion; I expect no less of you in this instance."

"Okay," Harry agreed, not really sure what she meant.

"Good, good," Minerva answered, lightly tapping the top of her desk with her fingertips before continuing. "Now, you are not the first student who had a parent teach at Hogwart's while they were in attendance. As you can imagine, this type of situation can lead to a number of problems. As a result, many years ago, the Board of Hogwarts has established certain rules to follow."

Harry groaned, that was all he needed, more rules, wasn't he the lucky one. "Why?"

At a glance from his professor, Harry continued, "Why do I have to follow more or different rules than every other student, just because my fath-, he's on staff?"

"Oh no," McGonagall corrected, "The rules aren't for you; they're for your father and the other professors."

"Even better," Harry mutterled sarcastically. No doubt Snape was going to love him for that. But that still didn't answer his question, "Why?" he repeated.

"The basic reason is to guarantee that you are given the same rights as other students," Minerva summed up.

"Why wouldn't I?" Harry asked before remembering that the parent in question was Snape, who had been trying to expel him from this school for the last five years.

His professor paused as she thought about the easiest way to explain this. "Do you imagine that we owl a parent every time a student is out after curfew or is late turning in an assignment?"

"I guess not," Harry answered. After all, if that was the case, he was sure that he and Ron would've heard from Mrs. Weasley-most likely in the form of a Howler, every time they had gotten in trouble.

"Do you think that the other professors are aware of when a student has been out after curfew or if they are not performing to standard?"

Harry shrugged, he never really thought about it before. "I guess the Head of House is probably informed."

"They all are," McGonagall answered, trying not to laugh at the shocked expression on Harry's face. "This is not done in a way to complain about the students or to get them in more trouble,"

For Snape it probably was, Harry thought.

"But rather to inform the professors so that they can be on the lookout for other signs that might indicate a larger problem than poor study habits."

"Okay, I guess that makes sense," Harry agreed, "But I still don't understand the need for additional rules."

"Let me share with you a history of why the rules came into place. The first son and daughter pairing occurred a few centuries after the school began. The daughter naturally rebelled at having her father constantly around her,"

If her parent was anything like Snape as a teacher, he could understand the feeling, Harry thought.

"And often pushed her professors to the limit. The professors in turn, would issue her punishments that they deemed appropriate, her father, however, as a professor and her Head of House, often overturned those punishments or had her serve detention with him where they usually spent an evening talking and relaxing."

"Well, it's not like that is going to happen," Harry retorted, especially not with Snape in the picture, if anything his punishments would probably be worse. Oh Merlin, Harry suddenly thought, he would probably never see the light of day if Snape had a say in his punishments.

"Needless to say, the actions of her father created dissention between the staff," his professor continued, ignoring Harry's outburst.

Understandable, Harry thought, after all, if roles were reversed, he would be sure that Snape would be upset that his punishments were overruled or turned into a treat.

"The next parent-child relationship occurred a few decades later. Now the child was often a model student, top of her class, and didn't often cause trouble. However, on the few occasions that she did, the other professors ignored standard protocol and went straight to her mother about the situation. As you can imagine, the professor was being addressed fairly often, regarding everything to being unprepared for class, to late homework, to flagrant disregard for the rules."

Okay, Harry thought, except for the part about being a model student, that sounded more like the situation he might find himself in.

"The girl's mother couldn't understand why her normally capable coworkers were suddenly unable to make decisions or assign punishments when it came to her daughter.

"Similar situations happened during the years that follow. In some situations, the student's complained that they were being penalized twice for the same action; once by their professors and then again by their parents. All the professors agreed that parents had the right to penalize their children as they saw fit, however, the student quickly pointed out that she was penalized for something that happened on school grounds, during school hours, that other parents wouldn't even have been informed of."

The last paragraph really grasped Harry's attention. He hadn't thought about that. Not only could Snape make his school life difficult, but as his parent he might have another type of authority as well.

Interpreting Harry's look of alarm as misunderstanding, Minerva continued, "A few years later there were a number of students whose parents were on staff at Hogwart's. The students recommended a change to the structure to prevent this duplicate punishment, stating that they wanted to be treated like any other student and if it couldn't happen here, then they would either drop out or attend another magical school. As you can imagine, the board did not want that to happen. After much contemplation and many hours of work, these rules were created. The rules are guidelines for your father and the other professors to follow to insure that you and any other child of staff members would be able to keep their home-life and school-life separate." Taking out a pamphlet from her desk, she handed it to Harry. "This is a copy of rules. Please be careful who you share it with, since it also indicates when parents become involved in issues regarding school conduct. Once again, I must inform you that these rules were created to create a balance between educator and parent as well as to insure that you, as a student aren't overly punished for what is considered to be within the school rules of conduct.'

Harry just looked down at the pamphlet before asking, "Anything else?"

"Acutally, Mr. Pot-Snape, yes,"

"Please don't call me that," Harry begged, "My name is Potter."

Minerva inclined her head to show that she heard, but otherwise didn't respond to Harry's plea. "Now, as I mentioned, you are not the first student whose parent teaches at Hogwart's, however, you are the first student whose parent is a head of house that is not your own."

"Oh Merlin," Harry whispered in dread, "Hermione and Malfoy were right."

"Excuse me?" Minerva asked unsure if she heard correctly. "You have discussed this with Mr. Malfoy?"

"No, not really," Harry denied. "Hermione and Malfoy were talking about it when we were brewing one of the potions. Apparently facts like that are in Hogwarts, a History."

"And what conclusion did the three of you come to?" McGonagall asked sternly.

"Um," Harry paused trying to think of a response that either didn't involve him not playing Quidditch in games against Slytherin or one where any points he earned were rewarded to Slytherin. "Um, that Snape would no longer be head of Slytherin?" He answered hopefully.

"Unlikely," the strict transfiguration professor responded, trying to keep the grin on her face from showing.

Harry sighed; well it was a long shot. Of course he didn't understand why they asked for his opinion if they were never going to take it.

"It has been decided at this time that no changes will be made to Professor Snape's role as Head of Slytherin house or your status as a member of Gryffindor."

Harry sighed in relief.

"However, if either you or your father would like a change, you must request one from the Headmaster. At that time, it will be decided by him and the other heads of house whether or not there is legitimate cause for such a change."

"Okay," Harry agreed readily, after all, it wasn't like he was going to request such a change.

"Professor Dumbledore has faith in the sorting hat that it had placed you in Gryffindor for a reason. Besides," Minerva said in a side-whisper to Harry, "we know that parents and their children can be quite different."

Harry coughed to cover his snort of disbelief; after all, no one seemed to think that when they believed that he was the son of James Potter.

"Can I go now?"

"Not quite yet, Mr. Po-Snape."

"I asked you not to call me that," Harry complained loudly.

"Yes, well, that is actually the last item I need to discuss with you. Since it has been proven that are biologically a Snape, you are entitled to use that as your last name."

"No, thank you," Harry said as politely as he could.

"Please do not interrupt me," McGonagall reprimanded. "Now, as I was saying there are many advantages of carrying the honorable name of one's rightful ancestors, not to mention being able to continue the name through your children."

This time Harry didn't bother to disguise he snort of derision. If someone was to ask him, there was nothing honorable about the Snape or Potter name. Hey, he suddenly thought, maybe he should change his name to Evans. After all, that was the one thing that remained true about him. Harry realized that it also had the added benefit that it would probably drive Aunt Petunia mad.

"I'll give you the weekend to decide what name you want to use. If you decide to change it, I can assist you with the paperwork. Please be sure to inform me of your decision on Sunday night.

"Until then, however, I'm sure people will be uncertain how to address you. Please try to be patient, I'm sure that this is as shocking and confusing to them as it is to you."

"Potter," Harry answered, rolling his eyes at hearing how difficult this was for everyone else. "I definitely won't be using Snape."

"I will take your final decision on Sunday night. You might want to use this time to discuss it with your father. I'll also answer any questions you might have about the Parent/Teacher rules of conduct."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry agreed as he stood up, recognizing the dismissal. "See you Sunday, then."

"Good night and enjoy your weekend Mr. Po-Sn-Harry," she corrected seeing her student tense.

"Thank you," he called back in relief before exiting from her sight.

"Hey guys," Harry greeted Hermione, Ginny and Neville as he entered the common room. "Dobby's bringing some food to the Room of Requirement for us if you're hungry."

"Harry,"

"Hermione," Harry addressed his friend, holding up a hand to stop her from continuing, "he offered to do it. I didn't ask, in fact, I was going to go back down and pick it up after I came to get you guys, but he wouldn't hear of it, apparently he really wants to see you guys."

"I was going to ask you where you were," she replied in a huff.

Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes as they doubted that statement.

"I'll explain while we eat, now come on," Harry said as he exited the room.

The four walked silently. Once they reached the picture of Barnaby, Harry paced in front of it three times before the door appeared.

They quickly settled themselves comfortably, waiting for the food and for someone to break the silence.

"I just had to get away," Harry quietly admitted. "The conversation made me realize how much I don't know.

"Did they love each other? If not, then how did they get together to conceive me? If they did, why didn't they stay together? And either way, how exactly did James Potter get involved? Did Snape know about me? If not, why didn't my mum tell him? If so, why didn't he tell me or at least treat me differently?

"Then I started to think that maybe she couldn't tell him because she didn't know who my father was," Harry said softly. "Moody told me how bad things were during the first war with Voldemort. He said that people often disappeared. Sometimes they were never found, sometimes just their bodies were recovered, other times they would be found, but in poor condition, often with their memories tampered with.

"It's just kind of funny that he's hated me for the past five years because I was the son of James Potter—never once did he suspect the truth."

"Harry," Hermione said gently, "You have to admit that you do look just like Jam-"

"James Potter," Harry said, "I know, 'except for the eyes, of course'. That's what everyone's told me since I started here. Sometimes I wis-"

"Harry Potter, sir," Dobby exclaimed as he appeared with a pop. "Dobby bring you and your friends food," Dobby stated as he started to elevate plates in front of everyone. "One for Harry Potter, sir; One for his Hermione; One for girl Wheezy; One for Longybottom; and one for his Whee-" Dobby stopped mid-word as he looked around the room. "Where is Harry Potter's Wheezy? Is he ill? Dobby can bring his food to the hospital wing."

Harry's face reddened at the reminder of his best friend's absence.

"Dobby, he's not sick," Harry finally answered.

"Oh, then your Wheezy must be on his way," Dobby concluded with a grin, "Dobby will leave his plate here. Dobby knows how much Wheezy loves his food."

"He's not coming, Dobby. You can take his food back to the kitchen if you want."

"Wheezy not coming to top-secret meeting? Is Mr. Harry Potter sir sure his Wheezy isn't sick?"

Harry sighed before nodding that yes he was sure.

"Is Harry Potter sir mad at his Wheezy?"

"No!" Harry yelled, finally pushed over the edge. "I'm not mad at him, he's mad at me, because of who my father is. Something I have no control over," Harry continues bitterly.

"Dobby is sorry to hear that," Dobby said sorrowfully, before brightening, "Don't worry, Harry Potter sir, Dobby will take care of it," the house elf commented before disappearing with a pop before any of the teenagers could say another word.

"Harry, you know that Ron will come around, he always does," Hermione said comfortingly.

"Yeah, I know," Harry agreed, "But last time it took me almost getting killed before he realized that he was being a prat."

"Well with Dobby helping, I'm sure it won't come to that," Neville said cheerfully.

Harry just groaned as Hermione laughed. At Neville and Ginny's inquiring look, Harry asked, "Did I ever tell you about the first few times Dobby tried to help me?" At the shake of their heads, Harry grinned, glad to talk about something other than his father. "It began the summer before my second year…"

By the time curfew came around and the four friends were re-entering the common room, Harry had told them about Dobby's help during his second year, his conversation with Professor McGonagall about his name and the Parent/Teacher Rules of Conduct.

"Wait a moment, Severus," Minerva called as the younger professor stood up to leave the Great Hall after lunch/dinner on Saturday.

"What is it?" Severus asked. All he wanted was to go back to his rooms and forget about Potter and the Dark Lord.

"I wanted to talk to you about your son."

"Don't call him that," Severus snapped, glaring at his fellow professor.

Minerva unflinchingly met his gaze, "Well that's what he is, isn't he? What else should I call him?"

"Potter," Severus drawled, "The-Boy-Wbo-Lived? Then again, there's always Gryffindor's Golden Boy or perha-"

"Mr. Snape or Harry," Minerva supplied her own list. "I believe the student in question prefers the last."

"You know this how?" Snape asked doubtfully. He, of course, figured that Potter was partial to one of his many titles.

"The look on his face told me all I needed to know after I referred to him as Mr. Snape."

Severus groaned, he highly doubted that Minerva did so to annoy Potter, so that must mean that she feels he should use it since it appears to be his 'natural' name.

"Have you seen him lately?" Minerva asked curiously.

"Yesterday," Snape sarcastically replied, "Along with hundreds of other students that ate in the Great Hall at breakfast and lunch."

"I meant in a more private or personal setting," she asked. When Severus merely raised an eyebrow as if to ask 'why would I do that?' she continued, "I suggested he talk to you about changing his name, so don't be surprised if he knocks on your door tonight or tomorrow morning. If he does I expect you to be pleasant."

"Anything else?"

"Actually yes," she replied as she withdrew a pamphlet from her robe and passed it to the potions master, "I talked with him about the Parent/Teacher Rules of Conduct-"

"The what?" Snape questioned, wondering if she had just created those herself, "I've never heard of such things."

"You probably never bothered to pay attention since it only applies when a staff member has a child attending Hogwart's."

Severus inclined his head in agreement, most likely that was true.

"I already gave Harry a copy of the rules but wanted to make sure that you had one as well. Please let me know if you have any questions."

"I'm quite sure that I am able to read and understand this on my own," Severus snarled, "But I do hope that you gave Potter the same directives."

"He knows he can come to me if he has any questions," Minerva confirmed, ignoring the slight on her student's intelligence.

"Very well, if that is all?" At Minerva's nod, the potions master turned around and proceeded down to the dungeons, robes billowing out after him.

Harry soon came to realize that his dorm room wasn't the best hiding place in the castle.

As Harry had planned, he had spent most of the weekend away from the staring eyes and gossiping mouths of his fellow Hogwart's students.

His original plan of staying in his room was quickly changed. Not only was his room pretty boring, but it was also the room for four other boys. Neville, Dean and Seamus he didn't mind too much, since they pretty much left him alone after an initial greeting. The problem was Ron. Every time Ron entered the room it was a reminder of how the two were still at odds.

At least once a day Harry allowed Hermione to talk him into a meal in the Great Hall, Harry's preference was breakfast. Loathe as he was to wake up early on the weekend, it was worth it since it meant that there weren't as many people present. He knew he wouldn't be able to avoid everyone forever, but he hoped that after the weekend, most of his classmates would be over their shock and would leave him alone.

He also found himself in the Room of Requirement studying or finishing homework. He refused to use the library that weekend, since he suspected that it would be filled with fellow students. His excuse to Hermione was that not only would he not be able to study with everyone talking about him, but neither would anyone else. Hermione didn't believe him until he mentioned the events of his second year when everyone was talking about how he was 'Slytherin's Heir'. With her study time in jeopardy, Hermione quickly agreed that the Room of Requirement might be better suited to their needs.

Neville and Ginny made sure that he didn't stay indoors the entire weekend. Neville had him helping out in the greenhouses, while Ginny made sure he spent some time on the pitch flying. Both kept him out of hearing range from the other students. The greenhouse because it was off-limits without a professor present to most students (Neville and some seventh years being the exceptions), and the pitch because Harry was flying too high or too fast to hear what his classmates were saying.

Before Harry knew it, it was early afternoon on Sunday and he would need to inform Professor McGonagall about his decision regarding his name. The only question was, should he discuss this with Professor Snape first as she requested or not?

END CHAPTER 15

What will happen between Harry and Ron?
Should Harry change his name?

As for the parent/teacher Rules of Conduct…well, I always felt bad for Harry in Most Severitus stories, after all, no other child was punished for breaking school rules by having their parent refuse to let them play Quidditch. Especially since it seemed like most of the other parents weren't even informed of the small stuff (detentions & stuff), just flying cars—and even then, were they informed from the school or because everyone knew it was them since they were seen by muggles.

Besides, I had to have some way to keep some control over Snape :)

UPCOMING:
Chapter 16 Communication is the Key
Chapter 17 What I Want to Know (More Questions)
Chapter 18 Explanations

Many thanks to juliedecarson for beta'ing this and previous chapters.

Thanks to everyone who is reading this story. Thanks as well to everyone who has included this (or my other stories) in their favorites or C2's.

Many more thanks to those who take time to review & let me know what they think of this story. I love receiving the feedback & knowing that people are enjoying it.

4/12/2006