Hello there!
So I'm finally done with chapter 7. Quite pleased with it, so do tell me what you think!
Things will speed up a bit from here. I can hardly write detailed descriptions of every day...
Enjoy!
Ivy
Severus Snape left his quarters and strode with decisive steps towards the Headmaster's office. He had told the child he had work to do, which wasn't in itself a lie. It just wasn't Potions work. No, he needed to speak to Professor Dumbledore about the future arrangements. As well as the present ones, he supposed as his boots thumped against the stone steps. The day seemed to have dragged on forever. He couldn't believe it was only yesterday he fetched the child.
Being a teacher didn't necessarily mean he knew how to care full time for a child. His job didn't include worrying about a boy's health, or consoling him when he was upset. Of course, he acted as a part time parent for his snakes, in loco parentis, but the relationships were still rather formal. Snape didn't condone in any form of disrespect, and his Slytherins knew this very well. At least now he had put down the rules for the Potter whelp. Not that he really expected him to obey them. If he was like his father in anything but looks, he'd probably have all the staff wrapped around his little finger within the week, and the school on fire within a few days.
Snape snorted and rounded the last corner, seeing the gargoyle that guarded the office of the Headmaster. It irritated him every time he came there how Albus never could settle for an appropriate password. Tightening his jaw, he slowed his pace as he reached the stone monster. It broke into a slight grin at him.
"Well hello, Professor Snape," it greeted in some form of mock politeness. Snape ground his teeth together, but forced himself to remain calm. The Headmaster didn't do anything to help with his polite conversations with the creature. It was made of stone, for Merlin's sake!
"I need to see the Headmaster," he said, as always refusing to give the password. Well, at least until it was, once again, made quite evident that he had to if he wanted to enter at all.
"Oh, but sir, you will need to tell me the password. As state the rules, you know."
"I am quite familiar with the rules of the school, thank you very much. But you know who I am."
"Oh, but what if you are someone disguised as Professor Snape?" the creature sang.
"I…" He pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation, and decided then and there that he would just give up being stubborn (though he would object should anyone ever call him stubborn) and start giving the password right away. Save him lots of time, surely. "Acid pops." Most of the passwords were reoccurring, and it had recently changed to one of the Headmaster's favourites. The gargoyle chuckled evilly and jumped aside, allowing the irate Potions Master to enter and step onto the rotating staircase. He gave a quick knock on the door when he arrived at the top, and it instantly swung open for him. Albus Dumbledore was sitting in a comfortable armchair by his fireplace, a cup of tea on a rickety table at his elbow. He looked up when Severus walked in, and gave him his usual smile with the accompanying twinkle of his blue eyes.
"Severus! What a pleasant surprise." This was often his opening line, and it nagged the Potions Master every time. There wasn't much that surprised the Headmaster, and his calling certainly wasn't one of the things that did.
"Headmaster," Snape nodded in acknowledgement and sat down in the chair Dumbledore offered him.
"Would you care for some tea? The House elves just brought me a splendid pot of raspberry tea. Quite exceptional, I must say."
"No thank you, Albus," he replied as courteously as he could. The Headmaster seemed to import new flavours of tea every week, and Snape generally kept at a safe distance. At least raspberry wasn't quite as flamboyant as his last obsession; lemon, cinnamon and apple. Severus felt positively revolted at the thought.
"Ah, you are missing a good cup, my boy," Albus said, winking at him before taking a well measured sip. "What can I do for you?" he then proceeded to ask, assuming correctly that there was a pressing matter of which Severus wished to speak to him about.
"Albus, I know we have all but signed the adoption papers, but I am still of the opinion that we need to discuss the situation," Snape said matter-of-factly.
"Of course, my boy. There are always aspects of such life-altering decisions that need discussing. Is there any particular part you wish to bring to light? I suspect you have thought about our earlier conversation and already found some objection or other. Usually you do not visit twice in a day…"
"I need to know if this will be permanent."
"As I said, until his ninth-"
"After that, Albus. If I do adopt him, then he's staying. I won't have you sending him anywhere near those filthy Muggles, and you will let me deal with him as I see fit. The wretched boy is already half destroyed but I am hoping that I can coax him into some form of normality in time. His knowledge of respect and obedience is absolutely atrocious." Dumbledore forced away a smile, and Snape gave him a suspicious glare.
"Naturally, Severus. If you adopt him you are his father." Snape ground his teeth together in frustration with such a title. "You will then, of course, be able to 'deal with him as you see fit', as you phrase it." Snape nodded curtly and stared into the fire. "Severus, please…" He snapped his head up and stared quizzically at the Headmaster. "What's bothering you?"
"Nothing apart from the fact that I am suddenly stuck with in insufferable eight-year-old for the summer. One that will grow into a loathsome teenager and still be forced upon me."
"Severus…"
"He looks too much like his father for his own good," he spat.
"He has Lily's eyes." Snape clenched his bony hands around the armrests of the chair, refusing to meet Dumbledore's eyes. "Lily would be glad to see that you are caring for her boy," he said softly. "She always quite disliked her sister, and if she knew how they were treating him she would be furious, you know this. She would want Harry to be with you, Severus."
"Meanwhile his father will be turning in his grave."
"James respected you," Albus put in. "You simply didn't have the time to get over your school-day-squabbles." Snape felt like pointing out that it had been more than that, but wasn't really prepared or in the mood to get into a battle of that sort with Albus. However much he said he trusted and respected Snape, he knew that he would always favour his beloved Gryffindors, especially James and Lily. Not that Lily needed defending. She'd always been such a powerful and independent woman. Snape felt a stab of sadness and longing as he thought of her beautiful smiling face, and tried at once to expel the image. It didn't do to dwell on the past, as the Headmaster kept reminding him. Missing and still loving, yes. But not wishing. It was useless.
"About the boy…" Snape continued, ignoring the Headmaster's last statement, "He needs tutoring." Albus nodded. "I won't have him starting Hogwarts without knowing anything of the Wizarding world. Being the 'Boy Who Lived', as well as my ward, he will need to have some form of knowledge before he starts school."
"Naturally," Albus nodded. "What do you propose?"
"Potions, Charms and Herbology. Possibly Defence in a year or so," Snape answered immediately, having given the matter a lot of thought during the day.
"That sounds like a very good idea," Dumbledore replied. "Who will teach him charms and Herbology?"
"I was thinking of asking Filius for the Charms of course. If Pomona has time, she can help me with the Herbology."
"Ah, yes, I seem to recall that you had good marks in Herbology," Albus nodded.
"It was required if I were to be a Potions Master, Albus," Snape drawled with boredom.
"Of course, my boy," he nodded in response. "Though I must mention that Minerva will most likely be disappointed if she does not get to teach him too," he added with a small smile. Severus snorted.
"She will have time to do so later. It is only two years until he will enrol at the school."
"Very true, my dear boy." He paused for a moment breaking eye contact with Snape to stare into the fire for a moment. "In regard of the boy's education, I, too, have a request." Snape's eyes narrowed. The Headmaster's requests were rarely a walk in the park, and would usually require sacrifices, probably from Snape himself.
"What might that be?" he asked as politely as he could muster. Dumbledore took a measured sip of his tea, looking straight into Severus' eyes for a few moments before he replied.
"We are," he began, placing his teacup back on the saucer, "both aware that Voldemort will at some point return. Furthermore, it is to assume that he will come after Harry." Snape clenched his hands tightly around the armrests again, and nodded curtly. "I believe, as you are aware, that what happened that night was more than just a miracle. I am certain of the fact that the two share some kind of bond." Again Severus nodded. Five years ago, almost exactly, Albus had spoken to him of this. This supposed bond between the then three-year-old boy and the darkest wizard of all time. "I think it would be to Harry's benefit if he was taught Occlumency."
"Occlumency? At the age of eight? Are you mad, old man?"
"Not yet, of course," Dumbledore hurried to say, taking care to ensure that Snape had calmed sufficiently before he went on. "Later, when he's a bit older."
"Albus, you know well that Occlumency requires a lot of concentration, and certain strength of mind. Nothing to be found in a child," he spat.
"Harry is quite an amazing child," Dumbledore mused. "The magic that radiates off him can be felt by both you and me." Snape tensed his jaw. "We will wait, of course. But in time, he must be taught."
"Does it never occur to you, Headmaster, that he should be allowed a childhood like everyone else?"
"Ah, but Severus, he isn't everyone else," Dumbledore replied with a sad smile, warming his tea again with a flick of his hand.
"But he is a boy," Severus stressed. "You have to recognise that, I implore you."
"I am fully aware of what he is, Severus," Dumbledore replied. "But it cannot be ignored that he is in an unusual situation."
"Unusual? Unusual? Headmaster, this has not happened before. He is in a unique situation."
"Which is precisely why we must take every precaution possible," Dumbledore asserted firmly.
"You are being purposely impossible!" Snape exploded.
"Severus, calm yourself," was the response. The younger man had at this point stood up, and was fighting some repressed teenage impulse to scream at the Headmaster. That would, ultimately, not achieve anything, and he almost flinched at the idea of his losing it. He was a grown man. Breathing deeply, he sat back down, his back rigid as he refused to meet the eyes of his mentor. "You know I have only what will be best for the boy in mind. You must trust me when I say that Occlumency will be vital for his getting out of this." Snape nodded curtly. Dumbledore sighed and banished the tea back to the kitchens. "Shall I contact Pomona for you?"
"No thank you, I will take care of that tomorrow morning. It is getting late."
"Yes, it is. I believe it is time for supper soon. Will you and young Harry be joining us in the Great Hall?" he asked, looking serenely at Severus.
"No, we will be dining in my quarters," he responded. "I suppose we are all done here." Dumbledore nodded, a sad look in his clear blue eyes as he gazed at the Potions Master through his spectacles.
"Yes, of course my boy." Snape turned and started for the door. "Severus?" He turned and looked blankly back at the sitting man. "You can always come here, should you need to talk."
"Yes, Headmaster," he nodded and then exited the room. Closing the door behind him, he sighed deeply and closed his eyes briefly, hand still resting on the door knob. Shaking his head, he straightened and walked down the stairs, his robes billowing behind him as he walked through the castle. As he started down the first flight of stairs, the silver ring with the engraved S began glowing and felt warm on his hand. He growled. So Potter had decided to disobey him and go wandering again? Just like him. Flipping out his wand, Severus performed a quick Point me spell and marched in the direction his wand pointed.
Harry stared, completely baffled, at the man in front of him. He was dressed in very odd clothes, which looked like a very out of date fashion, and there seemed to be a long slit across the man's neck.
"I… W… Who are you?" he eventually managed, in a very high pitched voice. It felt rude to stare at him, but he really couldn't help himself. A person who was see through! And flying! And that you could walk right through!
"Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington," he answered in a posh sort of voice, straightening his collar and looking down his nose at Harry. That's an odd sort of name, Harry thought, wrinkling his nose a bit. "Though most of those rude students call me Nearly-Headless Nick." He snorted, and Harry supposed he didn't much like that name.
"Why… I can see through you," Harry stated, his green eyes still the size of an average saucer.
"Yes, that is an unfortunate trait of a ghost, dear boy," Nicholas answered with a long sigh.
"A ghost!" Harry exclaimed.
"Yes, what did you think?" Nicholas enquired suspiciously.
"Oh… Oh, nothing at all," Harry mumbled, unsure of what to answer. He hadn't really thought anything other than the fact that this man was very strange with his grey appearance and weird clothing. "So you're actually… dead?" Sir Nicholas sniffed a bit.
"Yes I am afraid so."
"How… How long?" Harry asked, still curious.
"Oh, it will be 496 years now," he replied casually. Harry gaped in astonishment. Almost 500 years! It was too long for the young boy to fully comprehend, so he merely nodded weakly. "Now tell me, what are you doing here at Hogwarts? There aren't any students here now, they were all sent home over the weekend to allow the professors to search the castle. And anyway, you look a wee bit small to be here anyway. Say, how old are you? Seven?"
"I'm almost nine," Harry replied indignantly.
"Really? You look terrifically slight for your age, I must say." Harry huffed, feeling very insulted indeed by this remark.
"I'm not that small," he defended himself in a quiet voice. The ghost chuckled.
"Well, I'd best be off. I am planning on visiting the Lady. Though she does not always respond well to visitors…" He sighed, and turned, floating away, his hands clasped on his back. Harry stared after him, in the end quite awed by him. A ghost… Shaking his head, he remembered that he was in a hurry to get back to the dungeons. Getting a move on, he was soon scampering along the hallways towards the Potion Master's quarters. While he was bounding down the stairs, a hand suddenly clamped down on his left shoulder. The surprise of it had him jumping about three feet into the air, and he turned around fully with a bit of encouragement from the hand. Professor Snape looked anything but pleased as he glowered down at his ward.
"Mr Potter," he said silkily. "Decided to break the rules again? And on the same day as well." The Professor shook his head. "Come along." With his hand still firmly on the boy's shoulder, he steered them both back to his rooms, closing the door loudly behind them. "Sit," he said curtly, nodding to the chair in front of his desk. Harry wandered over and sat down on the edge of the stool. Always, always, he thought glumly. I wasn't even gone that long! Snape rounded on him, and leaned on the desk with his arms folded over his chest, quite a common stance for the stern man. Harry squirmed a bit in his seat, apprehensive of the tongue-lashing he felt certain that he would soon receive. Snape's hard eyes never wavered, and the boy found it utterly impossible to look up at him.
"Would you care to inform me, Mr Potter, why you were gallivanting around the castle when I quite clearly told you to stay here?" he finally asked, his voice impressive in the otherwise silent room. Harry gulped, both audibly and visibly, and bit the inside of his cheek. "Twice in one day have you now defied me," he continued coolly, his stern gaze capturing and holding the child's green eyes. "I thought I made it abundantly clear that I do not accept or condone in any form of disobedience."
"I'm sorry, professor," Harry said eventually, almost in a whisper. "I didn't-"
"Mean to?" Snape cut him off, glaring menacingly. He leaned forward, getting closer to the frightened little face. "Do not lie to me, boy." Harry winced a bit and tipped his chin down to meet his chest. "It was an extremely stupid thing to do, and you should very well be in deep trouble now, young man." Harry fidgeted. "Are you listening to me?"
"Yes, sir," Harry murmured, still not looking at the irate man.
"I am not making you stay here because it amuses me to bore you," Snape said, softening ever so slightly. "The castle is almost empty at the moment, with the students at home for the weekend, and you could so easily get lost, or hurt." Harry's lower lip wobbled a bit and he bit down on it instead of his cheek, hoping to stop its trembling. Those long, cold fingers grabbed his chin and tipped his head back up to meet the professors eyes. "Never again. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Harry whispered.
"Good boy," Snape mumbled, letting go of his face. "Now come. We shall have supper and then you can bath before bed."
The following day went altogether much better. Harry stayed where he was put, and Snape did try to give him things to do. The boy discovered that if he was quiet and did as he was told, his guardian was quite pleasant. Well, all right to be around anyway. That evening, just as they'd finished their supper, Harry was called to the living room. He trotted back out of his room and spotted Snape sitting in his chair.
"Ah, Mr Potter. Come here, please." Harry, having quickly caught on, obeyed wordlessly, and headed over for the professor, sitting down on the couch when asked. "Tomorrow is Monday, as you know, and the students will all be returning this evening. You won't see them now, of course, but tomorrow…" He paused, eyeing the boy. "I have classes to teach, as you know. In five weeks it is summer and they go home again, but until then we need to find out what to do with you." Harry nodded mutely, wondering what he would have to do all days while Snape was working. Probably just sit and read. He couldn't help but let a small sigh escape, and saw one of the Potions Master's eyebrows shoot up. He blushed.
"Shall I read all day, sir?" Harry asked timidly. Snape made no reaction at first, but inside he smirked. Even though he would love to force the child into reading all day, that would hardly work. He would be up to some mischief before lunch.
"No, I don't think so," Snape replied evenly. Harry looked curious and fidgeted a bit.
"Really? Then what will I do? Can I be in one of your classes? Potions seem like fun!" During the day, he had been permitted to watch Snape brew for a few minutes. The boy had been completely taken by the process and had immediately begun whinging about when he could join in again.
"No, Potter, you will not be sitting in on a class. Not yet," he added, too tired for an argument with the energetic boy. In all honesty, he felt almost pleased that Harry seemed interested in Potions. Maybe there was some hope for him, after all. Lily had been ace at the subject, so maybe… Snape mentally shook himself to rid of the thought.
"Oh okay… But then what? Can't I visit Hagrid? He said today I could! He doesn't have classes, does he? So he wouldn't be busy. I could help him with-"
"Potter," Snape growled, and Harry fell silent, looking rather abashed at his outbreak. "Thank you. Now, because all teachers are busy, I have arranged for two of my older students to look after you. When one is in class, the other takes you, and vice versa."
"Oh. What are their names? What House are they in? Can I play with them?"
"Potter!" Snape barked, and Harry blushed profusely. "They are Slytherins, of course, and in their final year, which means they don't have as many classes. You will meet them tomorrow morning right after breakfast." He hadn't given their names, and could see a shadow of a pout on Potter's face. "Go on, have your bath and then get changed for bed." Harry, not being tired at all, dragged his feet along the carpet.
"Do I have to go to bed?" he asked shyly, stopping and turning his head to the dour man.
"Yes. It is eight o'clock and you need to bath first. By the time you're done it will be eight-thirty which you know full well is your bedtime. Now off you go." Harry huffed quietly and trudged to his room. Snape sighed deeply, and summoned a tray with a teapot and cup. The boy was frightfully curious, and didn't seem particularly intimidated by his tall and menacing stature. How was it that an eight-year-old felt so comfortable around him, when he could make sixteen-year-olds whimper by just looking at them?
While sipping his tea, he thought of what the coming days would look like. He had owled two of his best students to ask them the favour. They had replied with an agreeing answer. Of course, in return, they would be paid a small sum and allowed in the lab after class hours. As they were both studying Potions at NEWT level, they'd been very enthusiastic about the opportunity. Severus was really more worried that Harry would make life hell for the two. He relied on the students to keep him out of trouble, but if something happened he could hardly hold only them accountable. The small boy was a handful.
He finished his first cup of tea and was just about to poor himself a second when he heard a crash from the bathroom. Jumping to his feet, he was in the room in but a few seconds. There was Harry, dressed in his pyjamas and his hair wet and dripping. He was standing by the bathtub, wringing his hands, and spun around when he heard Snape enter.
"What was that?" he demanded immediately, lowering his wand when he realised there was no danger.
"Erm…"
"Potter."
"I dropped it. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," he hurried to say. Snape peered over the boy and into the tub. The small stone sculpture of a doe that was kept on a shelf was lying on the bottom, thankfully in one piece. There was, however, a dent in the tub.
"How did this end up in there?" he asked sternly, carefully picking the thing up to check for any damage.
"I picked it up," Harry mumbled.
"From the shelf?" The boy nodded. "What on Earth for?" Harry shrugged. "A verbal answer, please," Snape commanded.
"Dunno," he muttered. "It's pretty…" Snape's thumb stroked the object's neck.
"Yes, it is." Regaining composure, he quickly replaced the doe on its shelf and mended the dent in the tub with a flick of his wand. "Don't touch things that don't belong to you."
"Yes, sir," Harry nodded.
"Go on, get into bed," Snape continued, placing a hand on the small back to encourage him along and into his bedroom. When they arrived Harry walked slowly, looking morose, to his bed.
"Do I have to?" he asked, and Snape noticed him stifling a yawn. Suppressing the urge to smirk, he nodded.
"You do indeed have to," he stated as the boy flung aside the covers and got in bed. "I will see you tomorrow. Good night."
"Good night, p'fessor…" Harry mumbled, his eyes half-closed. Rolling his eyes, Snape dimmed the room and walked out, leaving the door open.
It was seven o'clock and the Slytherin Common room was already bustling with activity. It was a general routine that their Head of House came in at seven-thirty to make sure that all of his students were up and dressed and ready for breakfast, as classes started at ten past eight. The seventh year Prefects, Henry Wolff and Joanne White, were sitting on one of the couches, waiting nervously. They had both agreed to watch Professor Snape's ward when they had free time, and were getting quite edgy about it all. Snape had a ward? And he would trust them with him? Of course it was humbling that he thought they were suited for the job, but the thought of infuriating the Professor by not taking care of the child correctly scared them both witless.
At precisely thirty minutes past seven, they heard the door to the Common room open, and both prefects stood up. Severus Snape strode inside, fully dressed in his teaching robes, looking over the students who had all stopped and quieted at his entrance. Giving a curt nod, students started filing out. He then headed for the waiting prefects.
"Mr Wolff, Miss White," he greeted.
"Professor Snape," they said in unison.
"If you would follow me to my office, I will introduce you to my ward before you head to class." They both silently wandered after the professor. Exiting the Common room, they followed the corridor to the door into the Slytherin Head's office. He opened the door and allowed the teenagers to walk in first before he followed and closed the door. Sitting in front of the desk was Harry, who turned around eagerly as he heard them enter. The two NEWT students stopped dead and stared in amazement at the smiling boy.
"Isn't that…"
"It must be…"
"Yes, yes," Snape said impatiently, ushering them to stand by the desk as he rounded it and stood behind it. "This is Harry Potter. Harry, this is Henry Wolff and Joanne White."
"Hello!" he said cheerfully, alternating between gazing at the boy and girl.
"Now I know that you, Miss White, have two free hours until your first class. You needn't be with him all the time, but he is allowed in the Slytherin Common room, so you can bring him in there. Study if you need to, he shouldn't bother you." Here he sent Harry a warning glance, and the boy huffed quietly. Henry bit his lip as to not laugh, and just stood with his back straight, facing Snape. The girl replied with a "Yes, professor" to this. "I will make some sort of schedule by tomorrow, but until then just switch when either of you need to be in class." They chorused a "Yes, sir", and Harry simply sat with his arms folded, fed up with the unfairness of the world. "Potter?" He snapped his head up to meet the eyes of his guardian. "Don't give them any trouble. If you do, I will know." Harry nodded, and the older students winced. "Mr Potter, tell me, have I ever accepted that sort of answer?"
"No, sir," he said quietly.
"Indeed. You will do well to remember to always give me a verbal answer."
"Yes, sir." Henry seemed to take pity on the kid and ruffled his hair discreetly. Harry spun around and beamed at him. Snape raised an eyebrow.
"Very well. Head to breakfast and then you can pick Harry up here when you're done, Miss White."
"Yes, sir," she said, and with a wink to Harry, she walked out of the office with Henry in tow.
"They seem nice!" Harry commented enthusiastically.
"Hmm," was Snape's distant reply as he perused a piece of parchment in front of him. Harry stuffed his hands under his thighs.
"Professor?" he asked after a moment, and Snape looked up. "If they need to study, what will I do?" he asked, a thoughtful look on his young face. Snape put down his quill and clasped his hands.
"You can read, if you like, or bring some of your toys to the Common room. If they do study, don't disturb them. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Harry nodded. "But can't they play with me?"
"They might do that, yes. If they have time. Get to know them, first of all, and we'll see what happens in the future." Harry nodded and hopped off the chair, walking around the office. The room was connected with Snape's quarters through a door, and this was his first time in the room. He looked around at all the strange bottled things on shelves around the room. It was very different from Snape's living room. This place felt cold, not at all as welcoming as his quarters. Harry wrinkled his nose, deciding that he didn't like the office.
"What do you look to disgusted about?" He turned to find Snape looking at him with a quizzical expression.
"I don't like this room," he said.
"It is not to be liked by small children," Snape told him.
"Well that's stupid," Harry decided.
"It is not stupid, Potter," Snape sighed. "Come here and sit down now." Huffing, Harry trudged back to his chair and sat down.
"Aren't they coming soon?" he asked, pushing his glasses up on his nose.
"Miss White needs to have breakfast, Potter, then she will come and get you and I will go to work."
"When can I do potions again?" he asked, completely changing the subject. Snape chucked his quill irritably onto the desk, realising he wouldn't get anything done with this child in the same room.
"You don't 'do' potions, Potter," he snapped. "You brew them. And if you keep up this whinging, then you won't see a lab until you start school." Harry folded his arms and banged his heel against the leg of the chair, refusing to look at the professor. "Potter." Snape's voice sounded menacing, and Harry reluctantly looked up. "Check your attitude right now, young man," Snape warned.
"But you're being mean!"
"Unless you wish to spend the day with a sore bottom, I advise you to be silent right now." Harry's mouth closed quickly under such a threat, and he felt his face turning crimson. "You need to watch how you speak to me and other adults, do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir," he answered dutifully.
"Very good." At this point, there was a polite knock on the door, and Snape went to open personally. "Miss White, do come in." Harry stood up hurriedly, and smiled at Joanne when she entered.
"Hello there," she said, giving him a smile in return.
"Hi! My name's Harry," he said, having already forgotten that Snape had somewhat introduced him earlier.
"Yes I know. My name's Joanne," she replied, and held out her hand for him to shake. "Are you ready to go?" she asked kindly. Harry turned to look at Snape.
"Mr Potter just needs to fetch a book or two before you go."
"Oh, okay then," Joanne replied. "Go and fetch what you need and then we'll head to the Common room." Harry nodded enthusiastically and bounded through the door to Snape's personal rooms.
"Thank you for this, Miss White," Snape said in the absence of the boy.
"Oh that's no worry. He seems nice enough. My little brothers are a right pain in the- I mean they're quite a handful, sir," she checked herself, forcing away a blush. Snape allowed a small smirk to creep out.
"I can imagine. Don't let him do what he wants. You're in charge, all right?"
"Yes, sir," she nodded as Harry came back into the room, carrying Tales of Beedle the Bard as well as a small box with three miniature dragons.
"There!" he said proudly.
"All right! I'll see you in class, professor," she said, and opened the door for Harry.
"Behave yourself," Snape directed at the boy who was following Joanne eagerly.
"Yeah, I will!" he answered, and they were both gone before Snape could correct his sloppy way of expressing himself. The man sighed deeply before he gathered his things to head to the Potions Classroom and prepare for the first class of the day: Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw second years. It could be worse, he supposed.