Chapter 17: Uncomfortable and Interesting Conversations
A week later in the dungeons,
KNOCK KNOCK
"Enter." Snape said as he continued looking over his lesson plans.
The door opened to reveal the last person Snape expected.
"Potter?" Snape asked not revealing his shock
"Hi." Harry said very uncomfortably as he entered shutting the door behind him. "Um. I've been thinking. Not much else to do since Mum grounded me again. But, anyways, I realized I never actually thanked you for helping me out my first year at the Quidditch game."
"Don't mention it." Snape said going back to his lessons. "Ever."
"I…also wanted to thank you for all you've done with the war." Harry continued. "After all, you DID risk your life for us."
"Get to the point." Snape instructed.
"This IS the point." Harry said. "I don't expect anything from you, Dad, Sirius, Remus, or anyone else. If anything, I owe everyone. I never could have done it without everyone's help. Well, I have to go before Ron and Hermione wonder where I went."
Harry started to leave, but stopped just before opening the door
"Professor?" Harry asked. "I do have one request about the way you treat me."
"What is that?" Snape snapped.
"That you treat me as me instead of my Dad's son." Harry said. "After all, I DO have a mother whose blood also runs in my veins."
Harry left on that note.
0000
In the library with Ron and Hermione a few minutes later,
"You were WHERE?" Ron asked.
"I was talking to Professor Snape." Harry repeated.
"About WHAT?" Ron asked in shock. "Your mum looked over our Potions homework. Why have a conversation with HIM?"
""Everyone deserves chances"." Harry quoted his mother.
"We gave him a chance." Ron argued. "He treated you like dirt."
"No. He treated me as my father's son. I have a mother as well, you know." Harry corrected.
"What about me?" Lily's voice came from behind her son.
Harry turned to see Lily standing behind him.
"I just had a word with Professor Snape." Harry told her.
"What did he have to say?" Lily asked interested.
"I did most of the talking." Harry informed her.
"Let us hope it had some effect." Hermione added.
"Okay." James said as he entered with a shocked look on his face. "That was weird. Lily? Did you have a word with Snape?"
"Not lately." Lily answered. "Why?"
"He THANKED me for risking my life to save his." James said extremely confused.
"What did you SAY to him?" Hermione asked Harry.
"I simply thanked him for saving my life in first year and for risking his life in the war. Then I reminded him that I'm more than the son of James Potter." Harry said.
"Anyways." James said snapping out of his shock. "Full moon tonight. Snape gave Moony the Wolfsbane, but we can still go out."
"JAMES!" Lily scolded while pointing to Harry. "He's grounded."
"C'mon Lils." James said. "He saved the wizarding world. We both knew that he'd be risking his neck. Isn't two weeks enough?"
"Fine." Lily sighed. "Have fun."
0000
"What do you mean there was something funny about the potion!?" Sirius asked Remus one minute before the moon was scheduled to rise.
Remus had tasted something off in the Wolfsbane, but only mentioned it to Snape. Snape had merely shrugged and reminded Remus that HE didn't need to take it, so he didn't know if it was off or not. Remus had waited until everyone was gathered in the Shack before admitting it.
"We can talk about it later." Hermione said.
POP
An owl hovered where she had been standing.
"We usually wait until Moony transforms." Sirius informed the kids.
POP
"Oh." Hermione said.
"Here it comes." Harry said.
Remus braced himself.
The moon rose over the horizon and the light hit Remus.
Everyone stood back and watched Remus.
Nothing happened.
Five minutes later, still nothing.
An hour later, still nothing.
Three hours later, nothing still.
"If you need me," Harry said. "I'm going to sleep."
POP
He transformed into a panther and curled up on the bed.
"I think I'll join you." Ron said.
POP
The fox joined the large cat on the bed.
0000
The next morning at dawn,
Harry opened his eyes and noticed that the Marauders were all asleep. Hermione, Sirius, and James were in their animagi forms as well. Remus remained human.
POP
"I…I don't believe this." Harry whispered.
He walked up to the sleeping ex-Professor.
"Pro…Remus." He whispered as he gently shoot his mentor.
"Mmh." Remus groaned as he opened his eyes. "What is it, Harry?"
"Did you transform at ALL?" Harry asked.
"Not to my knowledge." Remus said rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
POP
"That must have been some powerful Wolfsbane." Ron observed as he woke up.
"I don't think it was Wolfsbane." Harry said. "I think…I think it was the cure."
POP
POP
POP
"Snivellus cured Moony?" Sirius asked as he woke up and transformed with James and Hermione.
"Apparently." James said.
Silence
"We might want to stop calling him that." James said after some thought.
"Moony?" Sirius asked.
James gave Sirius a you-know-what-I-mean look.
"Okay." Sirius said reluctantly.
TBC