My Mate

Chapter 30

Packages and Hogwarts starting back up and the new defence teacher

The two days before Hogwarts started were like torture to both Ginny and Harry. They were comforted by the fact that Severus and Draco would be joining them soon. They hadn't gotten any letters from them; Ginny supposed that it was too dangerous now. The plan was in motion they were going to have to be very careful, the fact that they were in it together helped them immensely. They both knew how the other felt, and it made the torture of not seeing their loved ones more bearable. He knew Severus wasn't going to be overly nice but he was so glad that Severus wasn't going to be nasty. Harry didn't think he could do it if Severus was nasty, Severus knew Harry's self esteem was non existent mostly so Severus wasn't going to do anything to ruin the trust his husband had in him. Being around the Weasley's and Hermione though was different now; he hated Ron with a passion and didn't think their friendship would ever be the same. Hermione kept trying to make him open up and talk to her about it. Harry wasn't having any of it though, and ignored the suggestion altogether. He knew they were paid to befriend him, but he had thought they had at least liked him. That was until he realized what true friendship was about, none of his new friends got jealous of him ever not even when he mentioned money. Heck Ginny didn't have money yet she hadn't nearly flown of the handle at him. He was so sick of wearing his hand me downs that he asked Ginny to help him get some decent clothes. Which she had gladly done, Harry had also told her to get some things for herself.

The package came the last morning of peace before school started back up. Harry had grinned like a canary when he saw them, they were beautiful and he went to change immediately. He just ducked into the bathroom instead of going to his dorm, bumping Ginny's package on her before leaving.

"Wow Harry you look great!" grinned Ginny wickedly.

"Thanks" grinned Harry, ignoring Ron's envious looks.

"Where did you get them Harry?" asked Hermione kindly.

"I bought them" said Harry eyebrow raised an 'Are You Stupid' look on his face.

"How did you afford them?" frowned Hermione.

"The Potter's are rich just like the Malfoy's Hermione" stated Harry putting another sausage and hash brown on his plate.

"I see…I thought you had to be a certain age before you get that money" frowned Hermione looking confused.

"Nope I'm the last heir I could and did accept it early, signing my emancipation forms" said Harry smirking in amusement at Hermione's jaw which was lying in her breakfast, well almost such a pity it really wasn't, it would have been a sight to see.

"That's a very stupid thing to do Harry! You will need to pay for your education and everything!" screeched Hermione looking angry.

"So? I would be paying anyway" shrugged Harry obviously not bothered.

Hermione just sat there looking stunned; she couldn't say anything for fear of saying things she shouldn't. Dumbledore was going to be furious was all she could think, eating her breakfast she couldn't eat much. She nibbled on a few bites of toast and was unable to swallow them. She really didn't fancy having to tell Dumbledore about this, but what else could she do? Keep it from him? No way.

"Thank you Harry!" squealed Ginny coming bounding over and hugging him tightly. Squealing and jumping up and down she hadn't had clothes this comfortable in her entire life.

"Welcome" smiled Harry softly; he knew Draco would have gotten her a few things if he had thought about it. Obviously he hadn't, and he didn't seem to notice or care about the way Ginny dressed. He was thankful for that, Ginny deserved happiness, it shouldn't be denied to her just because she didn't have enough money to buy the best clothes.

"You got Ginny clothes?" asked Ron looking at them almost longingly.

"Yeah I hope you don't mind though I just thought she could do with them. Plus it's just a small thank you for being there when we were you know…hurt" murmured Harry looking pale and withdrawn he was far too good at this game.

"It's cool Harry I understand" said Ron his eyes told an entirely different story but Harry didn't care, he had played his part.

"I wonder who the new Defence teacher will be this year" mused Ginny out loud as she drank her juice. Harry had turned his face away, a laugh nearly leaving his lips and Ginny spilled her Pumpkin juice all over the place laughing at his comical face.

That did it Harry couldn't keep it in he laughed uproariously at Ginny the juice had spewed over Hermione's plate. She clenched her fists in disgust, and pushed the food away and sighed.

"I hope he's like Moony" said Ron.

"He was good but I want a teacher that will last more than a year" said Ginny.

"True" murmured Harry.

"His name is Professor Severus Snape" said Hermione smartly.

Two baffled pairs of eyes met his, oh yes; they were playing their part to perfection.

"How is it you know that?" asked Ginny wide eyed.

"Snape huh? Never heard of him…then again I didn't know about the other Defence Teachers do you know him Ron? You knew Moody?" asked Harry curiously.

"No never heard of him" said Ron shaking his head.

"Mione how did you know?" asked Ginny already having an idea but wanting to see how well she would get out of it.

"I heard Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore talking about it" said Hermione a blush fanning her pale face.

"Oh well I guess we will need to wait and see what he's like," sighed Harry sadly "I just hope this one doesn't try to kill me."

"Oh Harry they don't all want to kill you!" protested Ginny, as if she knew that wasn't true.

"I suppose one did want to Obliviate me" murmured Harry thoughtfully.

Ginny had to stop herself from smiling instead she just shook her head.

"I don't know why I stay here…it's supposed to be safe but it's not it never has been" sighed Harry.

"That's not true!" protested Hermione wide eyed, unable to believe what Harry was suggesting and saying.

"Oh please, stone, troll, chamber of secrets, basilisk, spiders, Dementors, escaped convicts, Death Eaters. Let's not forget Voldemort, tournament, dragons, mere people, spiders and Death Eaters and Cedric Diggory" whispered Harry his green eyes glazed as he thought of the school boy. He often thought of what would have become of him if he had graduated Hogwarts. Would he have joined the Order? Or joined his father in the Ministry? Would he have beaten Pettigrew in a fair fight? All questions he wouldn't know the answer too.

"Umbridge, Junior Death Eaters, Death Eaters, Stones and Possession" Harry finished so low the others could barely hear him.

"Oh Harry" sighed Ginny she hadn't heard Harry so depressed before, she hugged him tightly to her and whispered soothing words to him.

"You will be fine" soothed Hermione.

"Yeah mate just don't think so much on it" said Ron looking very awkward trying to comfort his mate.

"Ah, there they are children may I introduce you to your new defence teacher Professor Snape. Severus this is Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter" said Dumbledore, he said the last name with pride, like Harry was his or Harry was only there because of him.

"It's nice to meet you all I look forward to seeing how well you do in my class" said Severus curtly seemingly unbothered about meeting famous Harry Potter.

Dumbledore walked away with the new defence teacher, Harry heard the starting of a conversation before they were too far away.

"How far away were you that you do not recognize Harry Potter? He survived the killing curse you know…."

.X.

"How far away were you that you do not recognize Harry Potter? He survived the killing curse you know at the age of one" said Dumbledore beaming with pride.

"Did he indeed? That's some accomplishment he must be very powerful" commented Severus sitting down in his new chair.

"Indeed he will be, if you are willing you can start training him with us" beamed Dumbledore "Only when the time is right of course, I do want him to have a childhood before thrusting something like this on him" his eyes were no longer twinkling and he looked years older.

"I will see if he's any good before I comment" said Severus looking at the teen before his focus was on Dumbledore once again.

"Don't let that small boy fool you he is extremely powerful" said Dumbledore, he had of course checked Severus Snape for the mark and found the forearms were completely bare. So he felt at least a little bit better sitting talking to him about Harry, hoping against hope this one didn't nearly try and kill the boy.

"We shall see" said Severus nodding his head thoughtfully.

Dumbledore's twinkle disappeared at that he wasn't used to people doing things like that. When he spoke people took it for granted, and didn't see for themselves so that was all new to him.

.X.

It wasn't long before the Hogwarts Express pulled up; Harry and Ginny were waiting for one person in particular. Draco Malfoy the real heir to the Malfoy fortune, Ginny was going to be resorted so he wasn't going to have anyone with him. She had tried to stay but Harry wasn't having any of it, at least she was going to be able to show her love for Draco. He wasn't going to be able to, and who knew when he was going to be able to get away from Ron and Hermione to see Severus?

Sometimes life just wasn't fair.

Needless to say he didn't eat much that night; he didn't dare continue looking up at Severus. He didn't want to put him in danger; Dumbledore would kill him if he suspected Harry was sure of it. Anything to get him under control, mould him to his expectations better. He could have looked at Severus all night, he wasn't used to Severus wearing robes and he looked even more gorgeous Harry noticed his tan was already disappearing.

Oh yes life sucked thought Harry as he was escorted back to Gryffindor tower without Ginny. Ron was too furious, going on and on about how his baby sister had betrayed them all and joined Slytherin. Hermione was trying to calm Ron down while she was furious too.

Will Lucius try and get his son back from Hogwarts? will Severus kill him rather than let that happen? will narcissa genuinely want to get to know her son? glad he got a life away from Voldemort? will harry ever be able to see Severus? with hermione and ron constantly watching him? R&R