A/n: Don't own anything

The Boy

Chapter 3

James Potter strolled onto the grounds of Hogwarts followed by his best friend and godfather to his son, Sirius Black. They quickly made their way to the Headmaster's office for a quick meeting before meeting Harry to take him to Hogsmeade for dinner. Soon however, they came across their favorite punching bag, Severus Snape who was glaring at the back of a young Ravenclaw who presumably was in trouble considering that they were following the same path as James and Sirius.

"Well, hello, Snivellus. Fancy seeing you here, mate." Snape slowed his pace and looked back at the pair with a look of utter loathing and continued on his way with his charge.

"Fine then, Snape. Don't talk to us. We'll see you later then." Sirius called as Snape walked faster to get away from them. Sirius and James laughed evilly and continued up to the Headmaster's office to speak with Dumbledore about the upcoming Board of Governors meeting.

After their meeting they met Harry near the entrance to the Great Hall. "Harry!" Sirius greeted the boy who looked up at his father and godfather with a smile. Harry excused himself from Seamus and Ron and walked with them to Hogsmeade. On the way they chatted about this and that, saving more serious conversation for dinner.

"So, son, how are things with Ginny?" James asked Harry as they waited for their food. Harry shifted uncomfortably not knowing what his father had heard.

"They're fine. We're fighting a little right now, but she'll come around. She always does." Harry smirked in a fashion identical to his father.

James laughed "Of course, she will, son. You're a Potter, how could she resist our dashing good looks and deep pockets!" James and Sirius laughed but Harry was slightly taken aback. He had never thought of Ginny only loving him for his money. He knew that the Weasleys were unlike most pureblood families in that they did not have much money, but Harry had never heard his two favorite people talk about the Weasleys like that.

Not knowing what else to do, Harry smiled and let it go for the moment. He would think more about it later and maybe owl his mother about it.

As Harry walked back to Gryffindor Tower alone, he thought about his dinner with his father and godfather. They had been there for him all his life but they were a bit tiresome at times. He saw how the Weasleys were with their children, they weren't overbearing. Of course, with so many of them how could they be? They wanted Harry to continue harassing the Snape kid. He didn't have a problem with that. He usually liked to have a reason for picking on people, but his father said that his existence was reason enough. Harry shrugged and continued his solitary trek up to his common room, unaware of the pair of coal black eyes that glared at him from the shadows.

The next day, Harry cornered Hermione in the library. "I don't have anything to say to you Harry." Hermione made to push by him, but he gently took her arm.

"Please, Hermione. I don't know who else I can talk to. Ron'll yell, Seamus'll laugh, Neville's an idiot... Please just...can I ask you something? I sat up all night thinking and I've got to talk to someone."

Hermione sighed and sat down on the floor and motioned for Harry to follow suit. They had their best talks on the floor. It was how they met on the train first year. "Talk to me, Harry. What's going on with you? You're so different lately."

Harry shook his head and looked around their corner, refusing to meet her eyes. "I just feel like I'm making so many mistakes. I met with Dad and Sirius yesterday and they told me to keep on with the Snape kid. It's wrong what I'm doing, isn't it? That's why you and Gin are so mad." Hermione brought her hand up to Harry's cheek and forced him to look at her.

"Yes, Harry, it's wrong. What's he done to you?" Harry didn't answer. "You don't have an answer because he's done nothing wrong, right?" Harry nodded. "You know what you should do, you're a good person. I'm betting your mum doesn't know anything about this?"

Harry snorted. "Of course not. Mum would go ballistic if she knew I beat up on anyone. Then she'd kill Dad for putting me up to it. I guess I should go talk to him, eh?" Hermione nodded.

"I can go with you if you'd like."

Harry smiled. "Thanks, Hermione. I'd like that. I really have no clue what I'm doing." Harry stood and held out his hand to Hermione who accepted with a smile. The two gathered Hermione's books and went outside to the quidditch pitch where they knew the Slytherins were having team tryouts.

Severus Snape sat down at a nearby table and pondered the conversation he had just overheard. The Potter boy was beating up people, most likely his son. But he's sorry about it? That did not fit with the picture he had of the Potter boy whom he had always thought of as a carbon copy of his father. Perhaps there was hope for that boy, but he was not about to allow Potter to continue harassing his son if the meeting did not go well.

"What made you change your mind, Harry? "

Harry jumped a bit, startled. They hadn't said a word since leaving the library. He sighed. "Well, I guess it was something Dad said about Ginny. I told him we were fighting but that I hoped everything would get worked out. And he said that she wouldn't be able to resist my good looks and money. Do you think that's right, I mean I know it's not, but how could Dad say that?"

Hermione shook her head. "I dunno, Harry. But I want you to remember something. Your dad didn't like me when he first met me. Why do you think that was?"

Harry shook his head. "I dunno. I didn't realize he didn't like you."

"He and Sirius didn't like me because I'm a muggleborn."

"That's not right though. It can't be. My mum's a muggleborn. They're not like that, Hermione."

"Are you sure Harry? Maybe they're not as wonderful as you like to think." Harry thought a moment and sighed. The two didn't speak again until they arrived at the pitch.

Snape quickly left the library and stalked off to the quidditch pitch. Potter wouldn't dare try anything if he were there. The Slytherins would not find it unusual that their Head of House was there, in fact, they may have been surprised that he was not there.

Snape arrived at the pitch just as his students touched down on the ground for a quick break. He took a seat in one of the high sections of the stands, hoping to be unnoticed for the moment.

A/N: I know I haven't said this outright yet, but James and Lily are divorced. I'm not sure what exactly I'm doing with this story yet... we'll see :)