The Lion and The Snake - Scales of Justice

Chapter 3

Hogwarts Starts Back Up

Harry rolled out of his warm bed, cursing at how cold it was, the Dungeon's were freezing in the morning. He'd learned that the first morning after he'd been moved down here. It's why he had his dressing gown and slippers right beside him. He immediately put them on shivering slightly. He wondered briefly how Severus put up with it - it was already driving him insane and he'd only been here a few days. Going into the living room, he immediately sparked the fire up with his wand. The difference between Muggle and Magical fires - it didn't take forever. Harry was warming up already as he stood there trying to warm up. Dobby had taken to wanting to do every little thing for Harry. Not that Harry minded much, since he did belong to him and Severus now.

"You're breakfast Harry sir," said Dobby beaming in happiness, it seemed he loved working with them. Thankfully the house elves were secretive otherwise Dumbledore would already know dobby was bound to him, and not a Hogwarts house elf.

"Thanks Dobby," smiled Harry happily sitting down, grabbing a coffee immediately and gratefully. They didn't serve coffee and tea at the house tables, they only got pumpkin juice. The teachers were luckier, they got tea, coffee, orange juice and of course pumpkin juice.

"Can Dobby get anything else for Harry sir?" asked Dobby his green eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"If you're bored you can get me a new school bag," said Harry, he was running out of things for Dobby to possibly do. He'd sent Dobby on a few errands getting him odds and ends he needed. Books, quills, his diary/timetable and things like that. He'd come across his bag yesterday, and it was rather frayed and just old looking. He'd had it since first year so it was completely understandable. He'd always been afraid to get anything, unaware of his fortune. Now he knew sometimes he worried that Ron would get jealous of him. Unfortunately Harry couldn't spend his life worrying about what his friends would do. He didn't get anything too fancy or noticeable really. He didn't want Dumbledore realizing he had full control of his vault. It was a good job he had to wear school uniform, because Harry would be damned if he went back to wearing his hand me downs from his cousin again.

"Dobby will do that," said the house elf immediately.

"The money pouch is on my desk, it has to be black and similar to the one I already have okay?" asked Harry digging into his breakfast.

"Yes sir," grinned Dobby bouncing away, the tell tale pop gave away that Dobby was no longer in the apartment.

"Why the hell does that thing have to be so cheerful?" grumbled Severus who was finally pulling himself out of bed. He liked getting a lot of sleep when he could, not that he did often during the summer. Since Voldemort liked to make up for lost time, not able to call Severus during the school year. Not that he had to worry about that, since he was no longer a spy. He would still have to get up early during the school year to teach students and Harry. They'd found out that Slughorn was going to be teaching the first years through fourth year. Severus only had to teach the classes that the fifth, sixth and seventh years attended. Thankfully Slughorn wasn't staying at Hogwarts, or that would have made Severus furious.

Harry would have defended Dobby if he didn't know Severus was just being his normal moody self. In all honesty he knew Severus liked Dobby, and was grateful for his presence. After all Dobby had saved Severus' life, when Dobby had noticed his arm going black. Without it Severus would have died in bed that day, in extreme agony. Nobody just walked into your room, it wasn't right, Harry certainly wouldn't have anyway.

"Are you ready for school?" asked Severus after he'd drank his first coffee and ate half his breakfast. Harry was already finished by then, he always ate quickly. A habit he hadn't stopped. Not getting much from the Dursley's, what he did get he scoffed down quickly - afraid they'd take it away from him.

"Yes, I spoke to Professor McGonagall, she wasn't very happy," said Harry wryly.

"Why?" asked Severus surprised, what could have McGonagall unhappy with her favourite golden boy.

"Told her I didn't want to be an Auror and that I was changing my electives, Poppy had space so I can become a healer," Harry said his green eyes twinkling brightly.

"She'll get over it," said Severus stopping his eyes from rolling - barely. Minerva McGonagall could be as immature as she claimed he was. Mostly because he bullied her previous little lion cubs. Well she'd be in for a surprise, since he no longer had to act the part of a Death Eater. He could be a little fairer to all his students, or the ones he would be teaching anyway. Thankfully he wouldn't have to put up with first years this year; he would miss his welcoming speech. It was always hilarious to see them all staring at him wide eyed and fearful.

"Hopefully," said Harry, "I'm sick of them all judging me, it's like I'm the only person to have decided to change what I wanted to do when I grew up. Although I really only did say I wanted to be an Auror to annoy Umbridge. I had no idea what I wanted to be when she asked."

"She's just disappointed you aren't following your father's footsteps." said Severus, "I'm not going to lie to you, and they all probably do expect you to become an Auror. Fortunately it's your life, as long as you are happy you shouldn't give damn what they think."

"A year ago I would have, now not so much anymore." said Harry honestly.

"Indeed," said Severus, he was glad Harry no longer felt the need to be what the world expected off him. If he hadn't seen a whole new side to Harry this summer, he too would have expected Harry to be an Auror. Now that he did know Harry, he was happy he was doing what he wanted, not what was expected.

"How about your friend's do they know what they want to do?" asked Severus.

"I think Ron wants to be an Auror, he saw it in the mirror in first year I think. Prefect, head boy, Auror robes the whole shebang he just wants to be better than his brothers." said Harry thoughtfully, "I'm not too sure about Hermione though, I don't even think she knows what she wasn't to do either. Whatever she does though, I think she will want to make a difference."

"Granger could do anything she put her mind to," said Severus in reluctant impressiveness in his voice. Granger was smart, she could apply for whatever she wanted and pass with flying colours. Unfortunately she went about it the wrong way, there's a difference between being smart and a teachers pet. Lily had been like that to begin with, eager to show the world what she knew. Severus had slowly but surely managed to stop her going down Grangers road. Lily didn't need to prove to the world that she could fit in; once he'd gotten through to her head she was happier.

"She wasn't always like that, there was one time when she said to me 'we could have died or worse gotten expelled'." said Harry wryly, "I thought after first year she'd change, because she told me that some things were better than books and cleverness - friendship and bravery. She came back for her second year more determined than ever to prove herself. I know she wants to do well…sometimes she just goes overboard. Not everyone wants to spend every second of their life reading books and learning for their exams. Especially not stuff we are going to learn anyway…it would just make the lessons boring."

Severus just smirked wryly; he knew what the boy was talking about.

"Well there's certainly no changing her now," said Harry shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.

"Indeed," said Severus once more.

"Will you be taking me to Gringotts?" asked Harry.

"Yes," said Severus regarding Harry pensively. "I will of course wait outside the room if you should prefer it." wondering if that's what Harry was getting at. Harry was going to be emotional that was pretty much a given. He was always emotional when someone spoke about his parents, especially his mother. He wouldn't want anyone to see him like that, especially a man who up until recently hated the very ground he walked on. Yes, Severus would admit it, he was man enough he had hated Harry. Or rather who he thought Harry was at the end of the day.

"I'd prefer if someone is there," said Harry looking worried.

"Then I shall come in," said Severus as if it put the matter to rest, and of course it did.

"If he left money to the Longbottom's where will it go?" asked Harry warily.

"It will go to Neville Longbottom," said Severus immediately.

"And if they've given something to Pettigrew?" Harry spat the name out as if it was disgusting, much like Severus had spat the 'Potter' name at Harry a million times.

"He wouldn't get a Knut, he's imprisoned it would revert back to your estate," said Severus.

"Oh," said Harry nodding his head in understanding.

Harry flattened out his Gryffindor tie; everyone would be in the Great Hall by now. It was night time, and the train had pulled in around ten minutes ago. Both Harry and Severus were reverting back to their normal personas they assumed at school. Although both of their acting would be toned down. Neither one of them wanted to revert back completely.

"Let's go," said Severus his masks up in place as he regarded Harry.

Harry simply nodded his head and both of them walked out of Severus' quarters and made their way to the Great Hall. They passed a huge load of chests belonging to the students that was currently being popped into the appropriate rooms by the house elves. Only the first year trunks wouldn't be moved, since they were not sorted yet- the house elves wouldn't be able to put them anywhere until after the sorting.

Severus didn't go through the Great Hall doors; he entered through the teacher's entrance. He'd left Harry standing there but thankfully he'd warned him he was doing it. Too many portraits around if Severus was out of character it would blow the whole charade to smithereens. They didn't want to force Dumbledore's had too soon in the game. Yes it was a game to Albus Dumbledore. One that he wouldn't win. Both Severus and Harry were adamant about that anyway.

"Harry!" shouted Hermione looking extremely relieved her best friend was okay. Harry walked over to them, and sat down, he forced himself to look tired and defeated. He knew Dumbledore would be eyeing him tonight. It's the first time the old fool had seen him since he'd been put under Severus' care. As an apprentice of course but still under Severus' care.

"Hey guys," said Harry smiling at them.

"You look exhausted mate…why weren't you on the train? Did something happen?" asked Ron, "You didn't write to me all summer."

"Yeah, I am. In case it escaped your notice you didn't write either Ron." said Harry quietly.

"Sorry, we were told not to, I tried but my mum caught me three times and I got grounded." said Ron grimacing in disgust.

Harry smiled at least Ron had tried that was something, so he could forgive him. "It's okay." he told Ron. Unfortunately Hermione didn't have the same excuse as Ron.

"I couldn't write, I didn't have an owl but it wouldn't have mattered I spent my entire summer in Paris with my parents…we only got back last night." said Hermione hoping Harry didn't go off on one like last year.

"I'm glad you had a good summer Mione," said Harry truthfully.

Hermione smiled and relaxed, it seemed Harry wasn't going to explode on them like last year again.

"But what's going on though mate? Why weren't you on the train?" asked Ron.

"I'll tell you all later, not here." said Harry; the announcement of his apprentice wouldn't be until tomorrow so he had until then at least to tell them. It's only because Slughorn couldn't get here until then.

"Okay," said Ron still frowning a worried look on his face; it vanished though once the food appeared. Nothing had changed there, Ron still thought about food more than anything else. Apparently more than his best friend not being on a train. Harry shook his head in amusement; it seemed some things would never change. You know what? Harry was glad for it.

Will severus be invited to the will reading? will lily have a letter written for him? forgiving him for what happened? and writing that she knew they'd never be friends as they had before becuase of the anomity between james potter and severus? will severus finally let the demons of his past to rest? will that help harry and severus get together? would you like to see lily a bit of a seering and aware of whats going to happen? or is it overdone? yes? R&R PLEASE :D