#Onyx Thanatos Theodore Lerins:
Sorry no Snapey kitty cat. Although it did cross my mind.
#DhampirParadox:
Thanks for the feedback. Again, agreed there's less drama. Lupin may crop up in the future, not too sure though :)
"Alright, Potter. Before we start we need to get a few things straight." McGonagall started.
She proceeded to tell him the in's and out's of Animagi transformations and the limitations as well as the dangers. Once he had understood them and signed some official Ministry papers for registration they got down to work. The first day was learning the theory behind the transformations and by the end of the day, missing lunch and dinner in the process and had a five foot essay outlining everything he had learnt.
He was so excited about the whole thing that he hadn't even felt hungry until he got back to Snape's quarters and found a plate full of lasagna that his stomach growled with the lack of food that had been consumed. Snape was sitting in his chair nursing a tumbler of Firewhiskey and regarded Harry as he came into the living area and sat on the couch.
"How is the transformation coming along?" Snape inquired, watching Harry as he spooned some lasagna into his mouth.
Harry looked at him mid chew and swallowed quickly before grinning.
"Fantastic, got through the theory today so hopefully tomorrow I'll be a full Animagi." Harry replied full of enthusiasm and tucked into his dinner.
Snape watched with interest and was secretly delighted that Harry was being so studious, now if only he was like this in other classes, he thought before putting his attention back onto the glass he was holding. He sighed quietly as he contemplated bringing up the fact that Harry would be moving into the Gryffindor Tower tomorrow as the students were arriving. He decided against it for now as the boy looked so happy if not slightly exhausted from his work today so he left Harry to his dinner, staring into the fire.
Soon, his vision of the fire was disrupted as Harry lay down in front of it on the black fur rug. Seemed the boy had suddenly found this a comfortable spot, or perhaps the feline in him was awakening. Whatever the reason, he seemed at home there and he couldn't bring himself to be annoyed at the boy.
An hour or two later and Harry rolled onto his back and stretched before getting to his knees and inspecting the pendant again. He was truly blown away by the man's offering and he couldn't help but smile. It was weird. He sighed and looked at the time, deciding that he'd go to bed as he had another long day tomorrow and he was going to be seeing his school friends as well at dinner. So he stood, and looked to Snape before turning and walking towards his room but he stopped before walking through and turned back to Snape.
"Really, sir. Thank you and for everything else." He smiled and the man looked up at him with a slight tugging at the corners of his mouth for a smile.
"Like I said, think nothing of it. However, you are welcome." He said impassively and nodded before Harry bid him good night and shut the door to his room.
The next morning, Harry woke normal time hearing Snape in the shower, however today he got up and went about packing away his things as no doubt he'd have to be doing it later on anyway. It was a little disheartening having to leave as he'd grown quite fond of the dungeons, more specifically he'd become fond of Snape and his company. It didn't actually take him that long to pack and once he was done and he knew the man was out of the shower he left his room for the shower and took a last long shower. It was infinitely better than the showers that he had in the Gryffindor Tower so he wanted to savor the moment. He still had his necklace on, for some reason he never wanted to take it off, his last and final memory of his time down in the dark dungeons with Snape.
He shut the water off and toweled himself down before his customary cursing at not having brought his clothes into the bathroom with him so wrapped the towel around his waist an exited the bathroom. Snape just had to be walking towards his own bedroom as Harry got stepped out of the bathroom and he faltered mid step before glancing at Harry's upper torso and continuing through into his bedroom. Briefly frowning, Harry quickly stepped into his bedroom and shut the door. Weird, he thought but set about getting dressed for the day. He decided to tap into his inner Slytherin and chucked on his green tee and black jeans for the day.
With his trunk all packed and Hedwigs cage sitting on the floor beside it, he took one last look at the room before stepping out and into the living area. Snape was nowhere to be seen so he called for him.
"Professor?" He called and Snape stuck his head out of his room.
"Uh, I'm heading up for breakfast, you coming?" He continued and the man stepped out of his room before shutting the door and nodding curtly.
It wasn't until they were walking the corridor towards the Great Hall that Snape spoke up.
"So, may I ask what your plans for today were?"
"After breakfast, I'll be working with Professor McGonagall on my Animagus form, sir. Apart from that, nothing else." He was able to keep his voice steady but it was hard because he assumed the man would want to talk about their situation before the students arrived.
Snape cleared his throat, something about the man's auror was giving off a nervous vibe and it not only worried but intrigued Harry.
"Very well. I was wondering if I may have a moment of your time at some stage."
"Straight after breakfast?" Harry offered.
"If that does not interrupt your schedule then yes, that may be acceptable." Snape replied stiffly and Harry nodded.
Like always, Harry's appetite disappeared after this and he sat at the table staring down at his plate. The sooner they got this over with the sooner Harry could try and get a handle on his emotions and feelings towards the man who obviously cared but didn't want to show it. He was almost in tears when McGonagall broke his concentration and asked him when he wanted to start.
"I need to talk with Professor Snape and then I'll be up." He said trying to achieve a smile, although he felt he failed on that.
"Right, I will see you soon then. I will be waiting in the classroom." She announced and then walked out of the hall.
Harry glanced up at Snape with a sad look on his face and the man glanced back at him but he had to look back down at his empty plate, his stomach knotting and twisting uncomfortably and misery settling in again. Snape was the one to break his stupor this time and Harry followed him down into his quarters and took a seat on the couch. Looking up to Snape the man seemed awkward and was sitting straight looking into the fire. Either Snape didn't want to have this conversation either or he didn't want Harry to leave. Doesn't want me to leave? Pssh dream on.
"I wanted to talk to you about tonight onwards." He started and Harry looked down. He didn't think he could look at the man right now, he felt like he was being kicked out.
"Whilst I have come to grow fond of your company, it was only temporary and tonight the other students will be arriving, therefore – "
"I will be going back to Gryffindor Tower and acting like nothing ever happened." Harry finished for him and Snape looked over at him sadly not that Harry saw it; he was too busy inspecting his knees.
"Yes." Was all Snape replied with but didn't say anything more.
"I understand." Harry said standing and played with the pendant around his neck.
"My trunk is all packed and ready to be moved. I…" He didn't know how to finish. He had begun to feel at home with Snape but he knew this moment was going to come, he just wished it wasn't so soon.
"Harry." Snape said coming to stand in front of him, standing a foot away and Harry looked up to him. They stood, looking at each other for a few seconds and Harry could tell the man was struggling with what to say.
"It… hasn't been the… biggest pain having you live here." He managed to say and Harry had to try hard not to smile. It seemed the man was going to miss him.
"I'll miss you too." He replied and Snape gave him a little smirk before getting serious again.
"I must warn you though and possibly ask that you do not breathe a word of this arrangement to anyone. I realize this places some pressure on you in regards to your friends, however if word were to get out…" Snape trailed off having seen the nod of understanding Harry gave him.
"I understand. But… if there were any… time…" He looked down, not really sure how to broach the subject.
He really wanted to be able to come and see the man every now and then. He knew it wouldn't be appropriate but if he used his Invisibility cloak or even his Animagus form no one would know that he was going down there. He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder and Snape shook his head.
"It would be best if you didn't." As much as it killed him to say it, it had to be said. Harry couldn't come back here, not whilst school was in progress.
"Okay." Harry whispered and fought back the tears.
Consequences be damned, he looked up and Snape before rushing forward and wrapping his arms around the man's waist in a tight hug. They'd only be in this position twice before and that was when Harry was in hysterics, but this time Harry was doing it to say goodbye, as soppy as it was. He felt the man tense at first, but then he felt two arms wrap around his shoulders and he breathed in the man's scent. Snape made the move to break away and Harry thought it best to comply with the man's movements. They stood there again for another few seconds before Harry turned to leave and walked towards the portrait.
"See you later then." Harry said turning as he got to the portrait but Snape didn't say anything.
As soon as the portrait closed behind Harry, Snape spoke even though there was no one to hear him. He sighed, raked a hand through his hair and then went to his lab. He needed a distraction if he was going to survive the day without thinking about the possible loss of being alone again.
Harry was feeling just as miserable, but right now he had to push that to the side and maintain a clear head for learning his transformation. He remembered when McGonagall had mentioned if he was really studious and maintained optimal concentration he would have it mastered by the time they had to meet in the hall for the arrival of the students. That was what he was going to focus on, and the whole way up the stairs he detailed every last piece of fur on his body and the feeling of being in his cat form so he could easily identify what to change into. By the time he was standing in front of McGonagall's desk, he was ready.
"Nearly there, Potter. Just focus on the rest of the body… that's it. Now, repeat after me. Convertendi ad Animalem."
"Convertendi ad Meeeoooow." Harry transformed fully by the last word that came through as a meow and McGonagall went white for a second before composing herself and kneeling in front of Harry, transforming herself so she could talk with him.
"How do you feel, Potter?"
"Fine, it feels like the last time." He replied in cat and the cat feline McGonagall nodded and told him how to change back.
After a few minutes of unsuccessful transformation he changed and ended up a mess on the floor all sprawled out. Going to have to work on that, Harry thought before looking up at the now human Head of House and she was smiling.
"Very good, everything seems in order. Now, I will get you to go through the transformation process a few more times so you get the hang of it, then you're free to explore." She said proudly.
It had only taken Harry all morning and half of the afternoon to complete the transformation and his Head of House had commended him on his level of concentration and dedication. He transformed in front of her and she bent down and fingered the pale green collar that was around his neck and he held his head up so she could read the round tag.
"So he did go with Jade. Interesting." She mused and smiled before standing and walking to her desk, moving piles of paper around and getting her quill.
Hmm, so he knew about it. She must have told him, he thought and then went back to changing back and forth. He was stopped and hour later by McGonagall who told him to get changed into his school robes ready for the other students arriving and he nodded. He was momentarily confused when he found himself half way to the dungeons and slapped himself on the head before turning around and racing up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Tower. He knew he'd be making that mistake a lot.
Harry sat at the Gryffindor table staring mindlessly down at his plate as he waited for the students to arrive. He was nervous, worried and above all felt like curling up in a small grey ball in his form. He chanced a look at the head table and caught Snape's eye before quickly looking away. He was going to try and forget about the time spent with the man, too much reminiscing would be unhealthy and he'd get himself all worked up again. He closed his eyes briefly as he heard the familiar chatter of the students coming into the entrance hall and finally into the Great Hall.
He looked up in time to see Hermione and Ron running over to him and he stood, plastering a smile on his face as he found himself with an armful of Hermione and a face full of her hair.
"Oh, Harry. We were so worried. You weren't on the train, what happened?"
"Blimey, Hermione let the man breathe." Ron piped up and he exchanged places with Hermione giving Harry a brotherly hug.
"She's right though." He said as they all sat down.
"Yeah, I… Look I'll tell you later okay?" He reasoned and they both nodded.
"Anyway, tell me about your summers. I'm sorry I haven't replied to your letters, Hedwig only found me the other day and I couldn't write back."
"That's alright, Harry. The Dursley's been treating you rough still?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, something like that." Harry said before turning back to his plate.
After Dumbledore made his welcome back speech, the student population got stuck into the marvelous bounty in front of them and Harry was among them. He wasn't hungry per say but he knew he should get stuck in like everyone else, he didn't want to be questioned.
Dinner and dessert seemed to drag on but finally it was over and the trio made their way up to the Tower. Harry settled himself in front of the fire, something he was now doing regularly and the other two sat closely beside him and looking at him eagerly to get the details. Harry raked a hand through his hair, and Hermione caught sight of it and smiled, nodding in her appreciation.
"I got here a couple of days ago. Apparently the Headmaster wanted me here a couple of days before, which was odd but I was grateful."
"Starving you still mate?" Ron asked quietly and Harry nodded knowing he was referring to his relatives.
"Oh, Harry. You should have come to the Burrow. I spent the last week there and Molly never stopped asking about you." Hermione chipped in and rubbed his shoulder to comfort him.
"I like you hair too, by the way." She added and Harry subconsciously ran another hand through it so it stuck up even more.
"Thanks, it was a magical comb I got for my birthday." He lied quietly and not meeting their eye.
"Of course, duh." Hermione said jumping up with Ron and they ran up the stairs making Harry frown.
They came back down with presents, Hermione holding one and Ron holding two, no doubt a horrendous knitted item of clothing from Mrs. Weasely. He was correct, he had received a bright red knitted jersey with a gold 'H' on the front from her, some sweets and chocolate from Ron and a set of self inking quills from Hermione. He thanked and hugged his friends before they settled back down and he was filled in on their holidays. He tried to sit still and listen attentively but he got a little bored halfway through and took to staring into the flames of the fire, much like he had done down in the dungeons. No, don't think about that, he berated himself. He sighed, still keeping up the appearance of listening and then looked around the common room. Everyone looked the same, the new first years looked like they were in a candy shop and hung off every word the prefect was saying as he was showing them around. Without thinking about it, he yawned. It was too late to try and cover it up and Hermione looked at him with worry.
"Perhaps you should get some sleep, Harry. You look exhausted." Hermione soothed, rubbing his arm.
"Yeah, I'm sorry guys."
"Mate, it's alright, hey you know what? I think I might join you." He said with a smile and they trudged upstairs.
Once they were tucked away, Ron looked to him and regarded him carefully.
"You sure you all good mate, I mean, we would have loved to have seen you at the Burrow. Don't know why Dumbledore didn't mention anything."
"Yeah, mate I'm fine. You know how bad it can get at the Dursleys. It was just the same, although this time the Headmaster acted upon it rather than leaving it." Harry shrugged and his friend nodded.
Crisis averted, he thought and he turned to grab his pajamas out of his trunk, only now realizing that if he'd been staying here everything would have been in his drawers, but Ron didn't pick it up and went to the bathroom leaving Harry alone in the dorm. He sighed, and then changed, and by the time Ron made it back into the room he was in bed laying on his back and staring at the ceiling.
"Merlin, I hope we don't get stuck with Potions first thing on Monday's, again." Ron complained as he jumped into his own bed.
"Hmm." Harry said not really paying attention and then said goodnight.
Ron bid him goodnight as well and then Harry rolled over so he was facing away from Ron, his silver pendant in hand as he took a deep breath and thought of what Snape would be doing right about now.
To answer that thought, Snape was sitting in his rooms, nursing a tumbler of Firewhiskey staring at the spot on the floor where Harry had taken to laying each night. His thoughts making him realize he hadn't wanted Harry to leave.