A/N: Not beta'd
Most Evil Plan
Chapter 19
Plans to be Made
"Did you get an answer?" Hermione asked excitedly, noticing Harry's good mood.
"Nope," Harry cheerfully said, "But we are having dinner together."
Hermione looked so excited and happy for him that for a moment Harry feared that she might squeal and clap her hands together in joy.
"That's wonderful, Harry. Maybe he'll give you an answer to your question over dinner."
"Not that we know what the question is," Ron muttered.
"Honestly, Ron," Hermione sighed, "Harry said it was personal-"
"It's okay," Harry interrupted, "I just wanted to know what happened between him and Lily, and how I came to be."
"That's understandable," Hermione responded logically, "But I can also understand why Professor Snape hasn't answered. It is a personal question for him as well, even more so."
Ron's reaction was a little more emotional, "Ew," He sang in disgust, "Why would you want to talk about that while eating?" Before Harry could answer he continued, "Why would you want to talk about that at all?"
Harry snickered, "Don't worry, Ron, we won't be talking about that at dinner or at all. After all, it's not like the answer was going to change anything, and Snape obviously didn't want to tell me about it, at least not now."
"So he asked you to meet him for dinner?" Hermione asked.
"Kind of," Harry said sheepishly. "After I told him that I didn't need him to answer my question and that I was basically willing to start over regarding our relationship, he asked me if I wanted to stay for lunch. I mentioned that I needed to meet you guys instead and started to leave," Harry said pausing to take a breath.
"Then how did you end up eating dinner with him?" Ron asked.
"Before I left I remembered what Neville and Malfoy said and decided to initiate an invitation of my own. I offered to come back and meet him for dinner."
Ron groaned, "Bad idea, mate," he said softly, "Now Snape has advance notice and could easily poison you."
"Ron!" Hermione screeched, "Professor Snape wouldn't do that."
"Besides," Harry interrupted with a grin, "we're going to Hogsmeade for dinner."
"What?!?" Ron and Hermione shrieked in unison.
"We're going to Hogsmeade," Harry repeated slowly not sure why his two friends sounded so upset, "At least we are if the headmaster agrees."
"Oh, good," Hermione said thankfully with a relieved sigh.
"Good?" Ron echoed, "How is that good? This is Snape we're talking about. It's probably a trap or one of his master's tricks," Ron exclaimed.
"Voldemort executing a plan before the end of the year," Harry said with a laugh, "I doubt it."
"It's not funny," Ron argued, "I'm serious about this. That man has hated you for five years and now all of a sudden you want to be best mates with him?"
"Ron, you know that that's not true, but he is my father. I really think that I need to give this a chance, give him a chance. I don't know what will happen, but I need to find out."
"It's probably a trap," Ron reiterated. "He's going to lure you out of the castle and hand you over to You-Know-Who."
"Stop it, Ron. I doubt it's a trap. Professor Dumbledore trusts him, why can't you?"
"The headmaster has been telling you that he trusted him for the last five years, but that didn't help making you trust the greasy git," Ron retorted. "Oh, no," Ron sang, "It takes Malfoy, saying something to convince you. That makes me feel soooooo much better about the situation," he sarcastically added.
"Hermione," Harry pleaded to his unusually silent friend, "Can you please tell him that he's overreacting and that there is no reason why I shouldn't go to Hogsmeade with Snape?"
Hermione's eyes darted between both of her friends before she quietly responded, "I can't."
"HA!" Ron gloated, glad that Hermione had sided with him for a change.
"Not because I believe that it's a trap," She continued with a glare at Ron.
"Then why not?" Harry asked disheartened.
"Because I'm not sure that it would be safe."
"But you just said that you didn't think it was a trap!"
"And it probably isn't, but that doesn't mean that something else couldn't happen."
At Ron and Harry's blank look she continued, "By now everyone is familiar with the situation regarding you, Professor Snape and Voldemort. Anyone in Hogsmeade could take advantage of the opportunity to kidnap the two of you. Not to mention what might happen if a Death Eater is in Hogsmeade or if certain students heard about your plans and forwarded on the information. Any number of horrible things could happen. It isn't wise for you to leave the grounds alone."
"But I won't be alone," Harry smirked, "Snape'll be with me."
"Not much help if he's the one that's planning something," Ron muttered.
"I meant without a guard," Hermione sighed. "A few order members shadowing the two of you in case something happened."
"Hermione," Harry said full of exasperation, "That kind of defeats the purpose of going to dinner alone in order to get to know each other better."
"Then you probably shouldn't go," Hermione announced continuing once she saw Harry's look of disbelief. "Unlike some people," she said with a look of disgust at Ron, "I have no qualms about you and your father sharing a meal or getting to know each other better, you just need to stay in the castle."
"And eat where?" Harry snapped, "The Great Hall?"
"Well, no," Hermione quietly admitted, "I admit that wouldn't be conducive to building a strong, healthy relationship. Perhaps his rooms or his office?"
"Or hey, there's always his classroom," Harry added sarcastically, "You know, the room where I was emotionally tortured by him for the last five years."
"Fine," Hermione snapped, "If you don't want my help or don't want to stay safe-"
"Hermione, it's not like that. I just want to spend a few hours with him at a place where I can forget that he's Professor Snape," Harry paused as he looked between his two friends, trying to figure out how the conversation had become so intense. "Besides, I'm not sure why we're even talking about this; it is quite possible that I won't even be able to go. Professor Dumbledore is more protective then you and Mrs. Weasley combined."
"Poor you," Ron muttered while giving a shudder at that thought.
"So if Professor Dumbledore doesn't approve you won't go?"
"Of course not!" Harry responded emphatically.
"Because you always obey the rules," Hermione droned.
Harry grinned, "Well, maybe not for that reason," he admitted. "But if he doesn't allow it, then Snape would be the first to know, and the first to catch me if I sneak out to have dinner with him."
Hermione laughed while Ron shook his head wondering what the world was coming to if Harry was tempted to sneak out to have dinner with Snape.
"So, if he does agree, you won't argue with me anymore about it?" Harry asked.
"I'll advise you on ways to stay safe," Hermione admitted, "But I will abide by the headmaster's decision. And if he doesn't agree, I'll help you find someplace more private to eat than the Great Hall, and more neutral than his office, classroom or quarters."
"If he does agree to let you go," Ron injected, "I'll be here watching the map in case Snape comes back without you."
"Ron!"
"Fine," Ron mumbled, "But I will be hoping that your new found trust in Snape wasn't misplaced."
"If I go, I'm sure everything will be fine," Harry said, grinning and adding, "Who knows maybe I'll be able to convince Snape to stop at Honeyduke's."
"Do you really think you can?" Ron asked, all thoughts of Snape turning his friend over to Voldemort forgotten. "Could you pick me up some chocolate frogs? Do you think he'll let you at Zonko's as well? There's a couple of things there I would like as well."
"Honestly," Hermione muttered with a sigh as she picked up her book and ignored the conversation her two best friends started regarding what Harry would be buying if the headmaster agreed to let him go.
"Albus," Severus began as he entered the headmaster's office.
"Severus," Albus said with surprise, "Twice in one day. Have you learned more about Voldemort's plans to keep the Slytherins from interfering?"
"No," the potions master responded as he took a seat across from the headmaster, "Actually, I would like your permission to leave the castle this evening."
"In need of some potion ingredients, Severus?" The headmaster asked, eyes twinkling.
"No," the potions master honestly answered, "Though now that you mention it, perhaps we could stop by the apothecary."
"We?" Albus inquired curiously, placing a lemon drop in his mouth.
"Yes, we," Severus confirmed. "I wish to include Mr. Potter in this excursion."
Albus sat up quickly and met the professor's eyes. "And why would you like to remove Mr. Potter from the safety of the school grounds?"
"Headmaster," Severus responded sharply, wondering if the headmaster no longer trusted him. "Please refrain from probing my mind. I am as skilled in Occlumency and Legilimency as you, so it would be pointless of you to try."
"Of course, I apologize," Albus responded, with a tilt of his head, "Now if you would answer my question."
"I figured we could get something to eat in Hogsmeade and perhaps browse through a shop or two."
"Hogwart's food not to your liking all of a sudden?"
"Albus, you know that the food here is excellent as usual. Hogsmeade, however, would provide a neutral place away from curious students," and provide plenty of distractions so that he wouldn't have to actually talk with the boy, Snape thought.
"But it would be filled with curious townspeople and possibly some dangerous ones as well," Albus responded. "I do not believe that this is the solution. I'm sure that I could arrange for a place where the two of you could have a quiet dinner free from interruptions of curious students."
Please, Severus thought, the two of them would end up staring at each other the entire time not knowing what to say, either that or one would kill the other.
"Perhaps you are forgetting that for all intents and purposes, Potter is now considered to be my son," Severus smirked, "As such, it is my right as a parent to provide him with permission to leave the school grounds."
Albus's eyes narrowed as he looked at the man he had trusted for the last sixteen years, "You would do that? Even if I was against it?"
Snape met the headmaster's eyes and responded, "Unless you can give me a concrete answer on why I shouldn't, yes."
"Mr. Potter, stay after class," McGonagall called out as the class started to gather their books and leave the transfiguration classroom.
"Harry," Hermione hissed, "What did you do now?"
Harry shrugged as he left his friends and approached McGonagall's desk, "Yes, ma'am?"
"Halfway through class I received a note from another professor. Upon opening it, I discovered it was from your father, he requested that I deliver this to you as soon as possible."
Except for the flinch Harry gave at the mention of Snape as his father, he gave no other visible sign of hearing her.
"Well," his professor said impatiently holding out the scroll, "Take it."
"Oh, yeah…um, thank you," Harry mumbled as he took the scroll and met his friends outside the door.
"So what did you do?" Ron asked, "And more importantly, why did you do it without me?"
"As if I could get in trouble without you by my side," Harry said with a grin, while absently fingering the scroll in his hands.
"Too right," Ron agreed, before wondering exactly what his best friend meant by that statement, "Hey!"
"What's that?" Hermione interrupted, automatically guiding the trio to the library to work on homework before dinner.
"A note from Snape," the raven-haired boy quietly answered, his voice filled with confusion. "Somehow McGonagall received it halfway through class."
"Professor McGonagall," Hermione corrected before squealing in excitement, "Oh, it must've been a magical delivery spell. I've read about instances where they are used, but haven't been able to locate the actual spell yet. You will have to ask your father what spell he used. Ask him to teach it to you so that you can show me." Noticing Harry's flinch Hermione shrewdly observed her friend before saying, "Professor Snape is your father."
"You're just figuring that out now?" Ron asked with a shake of his head. "I thought you were supposed to be the smart one?"
"Oh, hush, Ron, and watch this," Hermione pointed her hand towards Harry to show where Ron's attention should be focused and said, "Father."
"He flinched!" Ron exclaimed.
"Huh? What?" Harry asked finally focused on his friends.
"Harry, why did you flinch every time I mentioned your father. See…you did it again. I thought you were accepting the fact that Professor Snape is your father."
"I am!" Harry promised.
"Then why are you flinching?"
"I don't know,"
"Hey, he didn't flinch earlier when he talked about Snape," Ron interrupted, "And he didn't do it just then either."
"Hmm," Hermione commented scrutinizing Harry.
"I'm fine about it," he repeated, "Honestly, I am. I guess it's just weird hearing it from other people. I mean, it's fine if I refer to him as my father, but it just seems so…strange to hear it from someone else."
"Hmmm," Hermione commented again, "Perhaps I can understand that; but you do know that it is something you'll have to get used to hearing."
"Yeah, I know. I guess I just need some time, after all, it's all happening so fast."
"True," Hermione agreed, before saying what was really on her mind. "Did you hear my request about the spell?"
"The magical delivery spell? Yeah," Harry answered, "If it comes up I'll mention it next time I see him, otherwise I'll be waiting until I know him better."
"Why did he use that anyways?" Ron asked, "What could be so important that he couldn't send it by owl post or wait until tomorrow?"
"Honestly, Ron, it probably contains Professor Dumbledore's decision regarding the excursion Professor Snape requested for himself and Harry this evening."
"Huh?" Ron asked, confusingly questioning Hermione.
"She meant that it's about dinner in Hogsmeade tonight with Snape," Harry explained.
"Well, then, open it," Ron demanded. "I want to know if there's a chance I'll be increasing my chocolate frog supply."
"You'd better read it before we go into the library," Hermione commented.
"Well, what does it say?" Ron asked a few minutes later after Harry opened the parchment.
"Professor Dumbledore didn't agree, did he?" Hermione sympathized. Part of her was glad that the headmaster was smart enough to recognize the dangers of allowing Harry to go, while another part of her was upset to see her friend disappointed.
"Actually no," Harry said in shock, "He agreed, at least according to Snape."
"Oh," Hermione responded, not sure what to say. "He really agreed?"
"Yep," Harry said happily, waving his letter around. "Looks like I'm going to Hogsmeade."
"Well, just make sur-"
"So, Potter," Malfoy drawled as he approached the trio, interrupting Hermione, "What did you do now? Or are you just a prime suspect now that she knows that you have Slytherin roots?"
"She trusts me just as much now as she did before," Harry retorted. "If she believed in me after she found out I spoke parseltongue, I don't think her opinion would change because she discovered that one of my parent's was a Slytherin."
"You'll be amazed at how many people treat you based on who your father is," the blonde Slytherin commented.
"Trust me, I know," Harry drawled, "Or maybe you missed all the comments Snape used to make about James Potter."
Draco just ignored Harry and asked, "What's that?" pointing to the letter in his hands.
"Nothing," Harry said, making sure to keep it out of reach of Malfoy.
"Sure seems to be something to me," Malfoy smirked.
"Yeah, well, it's none of your busines-"
"Well I decided to make it my business," Malfoy announced, "Now hand it over."
"No," Harry said.
"Accio letter," Malfoy incanted.
Luckily for Harry, the Slytherin's spell wasn't strong enough to release the grip Harry had on the letter.
"Harry, just burn it," Hermione ordered.
Malfoy snorted, "Like I couldn't douse the fire."
"I don't know," Harry smirked, "You couldn't summon it away from me."
"Bloody hell," Ron muttered, "All of this over a note from Snape regarding dinner in Ho-"
"Ron!" Hermione yelled while Harry casted a 'silencio' spell on his best friend.
"Snape, huh?" Malfoy echoed before ending the spell on Ron, "Finite Incantatum. Anything else you want to share, Weasel?"
After receiving a glare from Hermione, Ron knew that he didn't dare open his mouth, not even to insult the Slytherin.
"Nothing else to say?" Malfoy smirked, "Don't worry, I'm sure I can figure it out on my own."
"Malfoy, just go," Harry said tiredly.
"Don't worry, I am, I got what I came for," Malfoy stated leaving three bewildered Gryffindors to wonder what he meant.
"Well, it's been fun," Harry announced as he stood up from his chair in the library, "But I have to go meet Snape for dinner."
"So, you're really going?"
"Hermione," Harry sighed, "You said you would stand by Professor Dumbledore's decision."
"And I meant it…then," Hermione clarified, "But that was before Malfoy found out about it."
"Look, I'm sorry," Ron apologized for what seemed like the twentieth time.
"Don't worry about it," Harry said dismissively. "Everything will be fine."
"Harry, you're talking about leaving the safety of Hogwart's."
"Just for a few hours," Harry argued, "and I won't be sneaking out or by myself. In fact, a professor will be with me. What could happen?" And with a small grin and a wave, he picked up his book bag and left the library.
"Come on, Ron," Hermione ordered as she too stood up and began gathering her study materials.
"Where? It's not time for dinner yet, is it?"
"No. We're going to see Professor Dumbledore," Hermione clarified. "If anyone can keep Harry in the castle, it's him."
"Where are we going?" Harry asked as he and Snape started out the castle doors.
"Hogsmeade," Severus replied dryly.
Harry sighed in frustration, if this was how Snape was going to act, he should've stayed at Hogwart's. "I meant where are we going to eat. The only places I've been to that serves food are the Three Broomsticks, The Hog's Head, and Madame Puddifoot's."
Snape raised an eyebrow at the last location. "Most students visit The Three Broomsticks and I am familiar with the reason for your foray into the Hog's Head, however, I do not believe I have heard the tale about Madame Puddifoot's."
Harry blushed as he remembered the embarrassing details, "And you won't."
"I thought we were going to get to talk and get to know one another," Snape smirked.
Harry snorted, "Not about this we aren't."
"Tut, tut," his potions master chided, "Putting up walls and barriers already, are we?"
"And you're not?" Harry retaliated, stopping and facing his professor. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me."
Snape raised an eyebrow and commented, "How true that is," silently adding, 'in more ways than one.'
"I mean," Harry continued as if Snape had never spoken, "I asked if you wanted us to eat together tonight; you probably would've continued to ignore me. Ever since the truth was revealed, you've barely said a word to me unless it was in class."
"So, sorry," Severus drawled sarcastically, "I forgot how much you liked the attention."
"I don't," the raven-haired boy denied, "But that doesn't mean I want to be ignored, either, especially since the whole world knows about this."
"Aahhh," Severus smirked, "So it's a matter of pride."
"No, it's a matter of learning to live with the truth. Neither of us can change the truth, nor can we pretend that it isn't true since everyone knows.
"I may not like it or you, but I still think we should give this a chance," Harry continued, "Professor Dumbledore has been saying for years that I didn't know you and that you were worthy of my respect, well, this is your chance to prove it."
"I don't have to prove anything to you, Potter," Severus said in disgust, "Or anyone else."
"I think you mean Snape," Harry remarked dryly.
"I know what I mean," Severus corrected, glaring at Harry before continuing the walk to Hogsmeade.
Harry hurriedly chased after him, "Well, if I'm your son, do you really want to call me Potter?"
"You are the one who decided not to change his name."
"You know about that?" Harry said in surprise.
"Of course," Severus smirked, "Professor McGonagall relayed your conversation from both Friday and Sunday night to me, since I am your father."
"Oh," Harry said in surprise, "Isn't that against the parent-teacher rules?"
"No," Snape answered succinctly, continuing at Harry's glare, "This wasn't a school matter, but rather a personal one, as your father, she felt that I had the right to know that she informed you of your options."
"Oh," Harry repeated faintly before firmly saying, "Well, I stand by my decision."
"I'm not surprised," Severus drawled. "I didn't expect you to change your name to that of your most hated professor."
Harry kept his eyes on the approaching town of Hogsmeade, making sure not to look in his professor's direction.
"So there's nothing you can do to keep them in the castle?" Hermione asked, close to tears.
"Unfortunately, no," Albus responded, "As Professor Snape pointed out, as Harry's father, he is able to give him permission to leave the school grounds."
"So you didn't agree to their plans?" Hermione questioned.
"No, I agreed," The Headmaster contradicted, "After all, I trust Severus. He has saved Harry numerous times in the past, and that was when he professed to hate the boy-"
"He still does!" Ron interrupted the headmaster.
"Perhaps," Albus agreed, eyes brightly twinkling, "But now the world knows Harry as his son. How much more would Severus be willing to lose in order to save his son?"
"I understand," Hermione softly agreed, "But what about Malfoy?"
Albus took a moment to cast a spell before responding to his student. "I sent a message to Professor Snape, hopefully he will realize that the danger outweighs the benefits and return to the castle."
"And if he doesn't?" Hermione asked.
"We will simply have to hope for the best," Albus responded sadly.
END CHAPTER 19
Upcoming:
CHAPTER 20 HOGSMEADE
Sorry this took so long.