Chapter 11! This one is a bit shorter then the last but it's still pretty good. We have another character now! It's time for some Minerva action. Please remember to review.

Harry had woken up that morning both mortifyingly embarrassed and insanely happy. His mind replayed the last night's events. Snape had come to him when he had had a nightmare. Had comforted him until he woke up from the nightmare. Then he had listened to the dream that had haunted him for years. Then he had not told him he was weak for having them and hating them. Instead he had complimented him told him was brave for speaking about it. Then he had gotten him potions to help him. Then best of all he had stayed.

Harry had never had anyone for him after a nightmare. Memories of trying to keep from crying out in his dark small cupboard surfaced in his mind. Instead Snape had stayed and even let him lay his head on his chest. He comforted him until he fell asleep again. Then he had stayed the entire night. Harry had woken up when Snape had left in the morning. He had blushed madly once the man had left. Then a warmth burst into his heart. Harry felt cared for and he found that it was addicting.

When he walked out to get food he realized he was in his pajamas. Why didn't I get changed? I guess being vulnerable around him doesn't bother me anymore. Harry even sat down next to Snape. His mind whirled around trying to figure out how to tell Snape how wonderful he felt. How grateful he was. Harry knew that if Snape asked him anything he would tell him. Harry was feeling very trusting all of a sudden. It scared him but he couldn't help it. Snape cared.

Snape had told him about the impending visit from the Malfoy Senior. That visit had been interesting. The catalog had been difficult. Harry had never before been given a choice on what to wear and what not to wear. The only clothes he had ever bought for himself were his school uniform which wasn't full of choices. It was an interesting hour trying to decide between the blue shirt and the red one. Harry had decided to just wear school robes since they were the nicest thing he currently owned.

The information he received was rather useful. He could certainly do to learn more but the fact was that he needed to get to Gringotts soon. He went back to his room and finished the catalog work. It was then that Harry realized how he could truly thank Snape for helping him. He could tell Snape a secret something that would show he trusted him a little now. So before he left to go flying he told Snape about his Parselmouth ability. He even let him hold the book Salazar had given him. Not that Snape could read it anyway. Then he had left to go flying.

That was of course when his day had changed. Harry knew Snape wouldn't leave the quarters for some time. The same temptation to go flying down the corridors overtook him again. So before Snape could see him he jumped onto his broom and began to fly down the hallway and up the stairs. It was going fine until he heard the Scottish yells.

"MR. POTTER!" McGonagall yelled. "LAND RIGHT THIS MOMENT!"

Harry's broom screeched to a stop and Harry landed as quickly as he could. He turned to face the angry face of his head of house. Except she wasn't angry, instead she was smiling.

"Mr. Potter I believe you are one of the few students who has ever had the opportunity to fly these corridors."

"Yeah well I figured it was summer and there wouldn't be anyone around."

"What is it like?" She asked with a conspiratorial wink.

Harry smirked at her and handed her the broom.

"Why don't you find out for yourself?"

"I think I might just do that Mr. Potter."

With that Minerva McGonagall jumped onto Harry's broom and with an undignified whoop of joy began to zip through the castle. Harry smiled as he watched her go. He and his head of house both loved the feeling of flight. She had been the one to introduce him to the magic of quidditch, for which he would be forever grateful. She came back in a few minutes with her hair now messed up and falling out of her normally tight bun.

"Mr. Potter let us agree to never speak of this again." She said.

"Agreed." Harry said taking his broom back.

"Would you like to have some tea with me and we can catch up with each other?" She invited.

"Only if there are biscuits too."

"Of course Harry I would never dream of having it any other way."

So they made their way back to Minerva's office making unimportant small talk on the way. Once the tea and cookies were summoned the true conversation began.

"So Harry. I want to apologize for not realizing what your home life was like."

"Don't, please don't apologize. I hid it well and had no intention of telling anyone ever." Harry interjected.

"Please tell me why." Minerva asked quietly.

"I tried to tell a teacher once. When I was younger. I was 8 years old. I liked that teacher he was kind and understanding. I thought maybe he could help me." Harry said. "I told him that my uncle would hit me a lot and that I didn't want to live there, that I was scared of him. He promised to get me help. He went directly to the principal, the headmaster of the school. I didn't know this but the principal was good friends with my uncle. My uncle had told him that I liked to make up stories about him beating me. Needless to say my teacher's objections weren't listened to and my uncle was called."

"I'm so sorry Harry."

"He nearly murdered me that night. It was so bad that I couldn't move for three days. I was stuck in a small cupboard under the stairs just bleeding on the floor and wishing for it to be over." Harry continued. "My uncle promised that if I ever tried to tell anyone again he would kill me. I believed him and I made sure no one ever suspected him again."

"I understand Harry. Have you been alright these past few weeks? I've been trying to find time to talk to you but you're never in Severus' quarters when I come by."

"My physical wounds are healed but I'm still pretty jumpy sometimes. I can forget that I'm not there still and then a loud noise will startle me pretty badly."

"Harry I'm so sorry."

"Please don't be. You weren't the one hitting and threatening me."

"Yes well." She said. "How are things with Professor Snape?"

"It's been really good. He's been really patient with me. I know he wants me to talk about what happened at my relative's house but I don't want to. He doesn't push me which is something I am going to forever be grateful for. I think if he had pushed me I would've never started to feel safe anywhere."

"So you think he was doing the right thing then?"

"I know he was. His patience with me has helped me feel much more comfortable with him if he had pushed me every chance he got. I know the most important thing for me right now is feeling safe and comfortable. I won't be able to talk about it until I do."

"I'm glad to hear it." Minerva said with a weak smile.

They talked for a while after that until it was nearly time for Harry to go back for dinner. Harry jumped up when he realized he was probably going to be late.

"Professor! I've got to go if I want to be on time for dinner. I'm probably going to be late as it is."

"No need Mr. Potter. We can go down together I have some things I wish to discuss with Professor Snape. He'll understand that I was what kept you."

"Professor?" Harry said as they both stood to leave. "Would you like a ride down there? I promise that as the youngest seeker in a century it will be an interesting ride."

"Mr. Potter. I have a better suggestion." She said while using her wand to summon her own broom. "How about a race?"

"First one down to his quarters wins?"

"Of course."

So they stood outside her office in the tall hallways. They both mounted at the same time and shot off. Harry pretended not to hear his proper professor curse at his skill or speed. She wasn't so bad at flying herself. She came neck to neck with him as they flew down the stairs. Once they straightened out however he continued ahead of her.

Harry jumped off of the broom and slammed into the closed door of Snape's quarters a moments before Minerva did. She landed lightly however with a scowl on her face. She held her broom in her hand.

"Mr. Potter next time you will not be so lucky. I am very skilled on the pitch you know."

"Ah yes but where you have experience I have the budding energy of an 11 year old."

"Are you trying to challenge me Mr. Potter? I can assure you I could outfly you any day."

"Name the time and place." Harry said with a smirk.

"As interesting as this is I hardly think it appropriate to be challenging a student to a flying contest." Snape said having opened the door to find out what the ruckus was.

"Stop being so sour Severus." Minerva said. "You're just grumpy because you can't fly without breaking your own face."

Harry had to struggle not to laugh.

"I do not need to fly, I am much more skilled in areas far more important than an asinine game."

"Of course Severus." Minerva said in a tone that made it clear she did not believe him. "Anyway Mr. Potter and I lost track of time catching up and I wanted it to be clear he had no intention of being late for dinner. Harry please go put your broom away."

Harry rolled his eyes at the dismissal. He did as he was told and for the first time in a long time felt no need to spy. Whatever the two professors had to say to each other hardly involved him. He put his broom away and then sat down for dinner. Snape came back into the room with a bemused look on his face.

"Good news?" Harry asked.

"What did you tell her?" Snape asked.

"What did she tell you?" Harry asked in response.

"She told me she was wrong and thanked me for helping you." Snape said in an amazed tone.

"I told her how I felt living with you."

"Which was?"

"A positive review." Harry replied with a smirk. "Why would she feel the need to apologize to you?"

"Minerva and Albus are both of the opinion that I should be pushing you to talk more about your life more than I am." Snape explained. "They both feel I am not making enough progress with you."

"Of course the oh wise Dumbledore knows what I need." Harry said bitterly.

"Have you spoken to him since he was here for dinner last?" Snape asked after a moment of silence.

"No. He hasn't tried to seek me out and I haven't either." Harry answered confused at the change of conversation.

"He visits me every day asking about you." Snape says. "He worries about your mental health and your future."

"Why would he worry about me? He never has before." Harry said in honest confusion.

"Potter when I told him the story of how I found you in your relative's house he was so furious he lost control of his magic. The headmaster cares very much for you."

"Then why didn't he listen to me?" Harry asked voice cracking. "I asked him to let me stay anywhere but there. He told me I was safest there."

"Potter, the headmaster, he often thinks he knows best. It is one of his largest problems. He tries to take everything upon himself and thinks himself wiser than most. He did not listen because he was too proud and did not think deeply enough about it. He regrets his oversight immensely." Snape said in a quiet voice.

"Are you trying to say that I should forgive him?" Harry demanded.

"I think you should at least try." Snape said. "You forgave me for an entire year of cruel words and actions."

"I suppose."

In truth Harry had barely even thought about Dumbledore since he had last seen him. He had been too focused on other things. Snape, the chamber, his parselmagic. There was just no time to stay angry at the man. It was true the man had done him wrong but he hadn't truly attempted to harm Harry in fact. All of his actions had been done to try and protect him as best as possible.

Sure the man was idealistic and it had hurt him terribly. Harry sat silently thinking it over was it really worth being mad at the man? Dumbledore wanted to be there for him and help him. Hell the man had given an eleven year old an invisibility cloak with the advice 'use it well'. The man didn't have the best judgement when it came to certain things. Could Harry truly continue to be angry at the man?

Harry had plenty of moments in his life where the use of logic left him and he used only emotions to make decisions. That had happened when he had flown without supervision against Draco Malfoy. That had happened again with the troll and then again that night with Quirrel. They seemed to happen very often at Hogwarts something about the place made him outrageous and stupid. Or maybe that was because he was happy there?

This was one of those moments so at 6:15 pm Harry using none of the logic he possessed made a decision. He would forgive Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, it would take time to trust him again but he would forgive him. He would let go of his anger towards the man and let the man get close to him. It would be a lot of work on Dumbledore's part to get Harry to trust him but he would forgive at least.