Chapter Sixteen: You can freeze but sooner or later you must melt

A/N: It's just my luck to get all better and then suddenly get extremely sick again.. Yup that basically describes my luck.

Anyway I'm glad you all enjoyed the last chapter I put up... Like a month ago... I swear I meant to update sooner but things just came up and I just couldn't update like I wanted to, I'm sorry.

*****For all of you people who were my friends on Myspace for some reason my account was deleted so I tried to make a new one but it wouldn't allow me :( so that little idea of mine didn't work out quite as I planned, but when normally do my plans work out to the way I want them to? Never, so I guess I should be used to this... Sorry!*****

~Severus Addicted

Harry could feel every single set of eyes on him as they slowly made their way down the isle between the tables. When they finally arrived at the Head Table Severus pointed to the chair between his and Minerva's, with a sigh Harry sat down.

"Take a picture it'll last longer.." Harry muttered under his breath when everyone continued to stare.

Severus narrowed his eyes at him then turned to Albus and nodded his head to show they needed to get the attention off Harry.

Albus suddenly clapped his hands and said, "Alright it's time for the announcements of the day." All the professors turned to stare at Albus except Filius, with a sigh Albus said, "Filius these announcements refer to you too, my boy."

Filius turned his head to face Albus and attempted to keep the blush from appearing on his cheeks.

When everyone was staring at him Albus continued, "Now there is only a few more weeks until the student body gets back so we need to start setting up all the papers; Minerva as the Headmistress, like every year, you need to come to my office so we can go over the owls that have brought back the acceptance letters. Everyone else you should start setting up your classrooms and start planning at least the first week of lessons. Any questions?"

Minerva raised her hand to get the attention on her then said, "Severus, what are you planning to do with Harry while you start setting up your classroom and checking the storeroom and everything else you must do?"

Severus sighed and looked down at Harry, "Well either he can help me with getting everything ready or he could help one of you, that's up to you and if you want his help."

'Why do I have to help? What if I don't want to help at all? They managed perfectly fine before now so why the fuck do they want my help?!' Harry narrowed his eyes at his empty plate in front of him.

Severus, not realizing anything was wrong with his innocent suggestion said, "So, Harry, who would you like to help? You could even help one professor one day and another the next if you so wished."

'Wished? Blood hell this man's losing it...' Harry sighed and looked at his guardian, "Oh I don't know how about you choose for me."

Confusion swept over Severus as he stared down at the black haired boy who was slumped in his seat and tapping his fingers on the table as if playing a drum, "What's wrong, Harry?" Severus asked in a hushed tone.

Harry rolled his eyes to the ceiling and said, "Oh nothing, Severus, nothing at all.."

Severus narrowed his eyes at the teen then said in a dangerous tone that held a slight edge to it, "Harry. Look at me." When Harry's emerald eyes slowly came up to meet his he said, "Now; what is wrong, child?"

Harry glared daggers as he snapped, "First of all I'm not a fucking child and secondly I love how I have a choice in the matter of what I do."

A deathly silence fell upon the Head Table as everyone turned to stare at Harry.

Albus cleared his throat in an attempt to take the eyes of a very angry Harry James Potter, "So... Um... Well is there any other questions?"

Severus continued to stare at Harry who refused to even look up at him.

Minerva nodded her head and quickly made up a question to get away from that awkward silence, "Yes I have another question, Albus."

Albus gave her a thankful smile then asked, "And what would that question be my dear?"

Minerva smirked and said, "When are we finally going to eat?"

The professors all laughed at that, except Severus of course.

Albus smiled and shook his head then he slowly raised his hands and the food suddenly appeared on the long table.

Everyone slowly began serving themselves the food that was around them.

Harry continued to stare at his lap in silence.

Minerva looked over at him then quickly looked at Severus who was also staring at Harry, when Severus finally looked at her she gave him a small reassuring smile then grabbed a spoon and put a spoonful of vegetables on Harry's plate.

Harry sighed as he stared at the plate that was no longer empty like he so wished it was, "I'm not hungry."

Minerva shrugged her shoulders then said, "Tell me that when you've finished that plate, young man."

That just made Harry even angrier, "I'm not a child. Merlin just stop acting like I am!"

Severus narrowed his eyes at the disobedient teen that was his ward, "Harry James drop the attitude immediately."

Harry closed his mouth but still refused to touch the plate that Minerva spooned out for him.

Severus sighed in frustration, "Either you drop your attitude and eat the food that's on your plate or we can go back to the rooms and you can be over my lap for a lesson you surely need to learn."

Harry paled at the thought and with a sigh slowly sat up straighter and grabbed his fork to begin the long process of eating the gross vegetables.

Minerva turned to Severus to start up a conversation, "So, Severus, do you have any of your lessons planned out yet?"

Severus allowed the conversation and slowly nodded his head as he scooped himself more food, "You know how much stuff I must get ready before the students get back from break, I would never make the time limit if I only started getting ready now when everyone else is. Remember Minerva? I have to stock up the Infirmary's healing potions and stock up my ingredients for my classes."

"Oh yes, I remember now. I forgot you had to stock up the infirmary along as your own stock. How far are you on your lessons?" Minerva slowly poured herself more hot tea and looked out of the corner of her eye to make sure Harry was still eating; he was, although he didn't look too happy.

"Well, Minerva, I am already done with my first week of lesson planning; which is as far as we have to plan, correct?" Severus asked softly then slowly looked over at his ward to check on him. He softly shook his head when he saw the deep frown and anger shine in his emerald eyes.

With a nod of her head Minerva said, "Yes, Severus, that's all we have to plan ahead for. So have you started brewing yet?"

Severus slowly poured himself a cup of coffee then said as he stirred it together, "I haven't had much time to brew but I must start soon or else I simply won't have enough time."

'Great it's probably my fault he hasn't had enough time to start...' Harry held in the sigh that threatened to escape.

Finally the plate was empty. Harry slowly began to stand so he could leave and go for a nice, calming walk.

Halfway out of his seat though Severus stopped him by saying, "Where on Earth do you think you are going, ch-Harry?" He almost just called Harry a child again which would not have gone over well seeing how the boy was still obviously fuming from earlier's slip of the tongue.

Harry sighed and replied in a hard tone, "For a walk.... Sir." He snapped the last part and turned to continue on his way.

Severus narrowed his eyes at the retreating back of his ward then suddenly stood and began to follow him.

When they both disappeared from view Minerva sighed and turned to stare at Albus. Albus gave her a small nod and shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'What do you want me to do about it?'

Minerva sighed and muttered under her breath, "Men."

Harry growled in frustration as he saw the tall shadow following behind him come closer and closer. Harry closed his eyes and left the warm air caress his cheeks, when he finally opened his eyes he saw the Black Lake in front of him; the Giant Squid quickly swam away when it saw his presence. With a sad sigh Harry slowly sat down on the boulder overlooking the lake. Not seconds later someone slowly sat down beside him.

Severus followed Harry's gaze to where the Giant Squid was quickly trying to swim away. The wind softly blew and made his hair go in all directions. He looked down at Harry's hair to see if it too was fighting with the wind; it was.

Suddenly Harry opened his mouth and whispered, "Why does it always swim away?"

Severus cautiously slid closer to Harry and replied, "He's afraid, Harry."

Harry snapped his gaze to Severus and looked at him with hurt eyes, "I wouldn't hurt him..."

'I will never understand this child... One minute he can be as temperamental and disobedient as heck and the next minute he can be such a sweet being.. Like Lily...' Severus gave him a small smile and nodded his head, "I know you wouldn't. But the Giant Squid doesn't know that."

Harry slowly gulped and looked at the wet dirt at the edge of the lake, "Oh."

Silence suddenly overcame them and they just sat on the boulder staring out at the blissful lake. Harry slowly picked up a rock and threw it into the lake's surface disturbing it's peace. Slowly the ripples began, one after another they came.

Severus stared at the ripples that were forming on the surface of the glistening lake then asked in a calm voice, "Wanna talk about it?"

Harry shook his head but just as suddenly said, "Why do I have to help? Everyone was doing perfectly fine before I came here..."

"Well it's the polite thing to do... Don't you want to help out?" Severus asked him as another gust of wind came.

Harry thought of his answer as he watched a leaf fly through the air and land in the water, once again ripples began. "You're right it is the polite thing to do but I... I don't like how you just suddenly assumed I would help. That made me angry.."

Severus nodded suddenly realizing the cause of Harry's anger, "I'm sorry that I assumed; I should have asked first."

Slowly the fire that was his anger slowly began to dim down to just coals, "I just... I don't like it when someone assumes I'll do something.."

"I understand, Harry. I'm sorry, next time I will ask before I start assuming, I promise." Severus softly said in almost a whisper. He slowly showed Harry his smallest finger waiting for him to connect with him to finish the pinkie promise.

Harry just stared at the finger. "Promises are just empty words..."

Severus shook his head then replied, "Not when I say them. When I promise you something, Harry, you can guarantee I will forever keep to that promise. My word is my bind, without the bind there would be no truth, no hope for peace in this war crazed world of ours." He slowly put his smallest finger back up to Harry and patiently waited for him to connect with him.

Harry studied Severus' dark eyes searching for something, anything; but all he saw was sincerity and forgiveness.

With a small smile and a slight hesitation Harry slowly reached out and connected his pinkie to Severus'. Severus broke out into a huge grin and pulled Harry into a side hug; both Harry and himself froze in shock at what he just did. In a few seconds they slowly they melted and simply sat side by side overlooking the Black Lake.

A/N: Hey did you like it? I know it's not technically long or anything but I thought that was a cute spot to end this chapter :]

You can definitely look for a faster update then this time, again sorry for that.

~Severus Addicted