When Easter Holiday came, Harry, along with everyone else, was given twice as much homework, reminding him of his First Year Easter week. Much like he had in First Year, he spent the majority of the holiday in the library with Hermione. They would study together until dinner, and then Harry would remove to the Restricted Section to work on his newest research assignment until curfew. This time, Achesan had assigned him to find the earliest reference to Werewolves in Wizarding or Muggle history. Before the holiday, Harry had already exhausted the histories available in the general area of the Library, and was now tracing the references back in much older tomes kept away from the majority of the student populace. It was surprisingly fascinating and difficult work.
The work, as hard as it was, was made easier by illicit cups of coffee each night, accompanied by the silent companionship of the resident Potions Master. It being a holiday, Harry's Seventh Year curfew went late into the night, and Severus would appear within an hour after dinner to sit quietly across from him. As a general rule, they passed nary a word between them, both caught up in whatever they were reading. On the fourth day of the holiday, however, Severus appeared with a bright green basket brimming over with a monstrous pile of silver-wrapped eggs. This was enough to catch Harry's attention, drawing him out of the ancient works he'd been studying.
Harry gave a small, disbelieving chuckle as the basket was set on the table between them. "What is that?"
"I believe it to be Albus' idea of generosity," Severus answered thoughtfully. "I am not un-fond of chocolate, but I can hardly be expected to eat this much. Nor am I prepared to leave it sitting in my rooms for Merlin only knows how long. I thought I might share the wealth, so to speak."
Harry chuckled again and picked up one of the eggs, slightly larger than a chicken egg. "They're all chocolate?"
"Honeydukes Finest," Severus said with a nod, pulling a book from the folds of his robes.
The Gryffindor smiled as he unwrapped the egg, setting the foil back in the basket. He bit off a chunk, only to discover that it was not simply a hollow egg like he'd gotten from Mrs. Weasley. Instead, it was the more expensive chocolate truffles that Honeydukes kept behind the counter. He hummed appreciatively and swallowed.
"You walked through the school with this on your arm, just to help satisfy my yearly chocolate fix?" Harry asked jokingly.
Severus scoffed. "I most certainly did not." He sniffed indignantly. "It was hidden under my cloak."
Harry laughed softly at this and finished off the egg he'd opened. He transfigured a spare bit of parchment into a handkerchief and wiped his hands on the parchment-colored fabric. Madame Pince would wring him ragged if he left chocolate stains of the dusty pages of the books he'd borrowed. He returned to his book, taking another egg as Severus took one of his own, and jumped in his chair when a House Elf popped suddenly into existence near the vicinity of his elbow. The elf tittered a little as it set their usual coffee mugs onto the table before disappearing again with another 'pop'. Harry glowered when Severus smirked laughingly, picking up his mug.
"S'not funny," The Gryffindor mumbled irritably.
"Jumpy, Potter?" Severus teased.
Harry's scowl deepened. "You would be, too, if you'd spent the last week or more reading about the worst sort of werewolf, and their crimes against humanity."
Severus gave a light, rumbling chuckle. "Is that what you've been working so diligently on?"
"Yes," Harry said, gesturing to the large pile of texts sitting off to the side. "Professor Achesan wants me to find the origin of the Werewolf, or at least approximate it's first reference in history from what I have available to me."
"You could inquire about it with Lupin," Severus suggested, turning to his book. "He's done extensive research on his kind."
Harry frowned, looking at the text in front of him. "I don't think I'm supposed to get help with these assignments, except what I get from Madame Pince about where to look."
Severus hummed, nibbling at the half-exposed egg in his hand. "It was merely a suggestion. Although, that doesn't seem like a homework assignment meant for a Seventh Year."
"No, it's…" Harry trailed off and glanced up at the Potions Master to see a knowing smirk stretching the thin lips. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You already know, don't you?"
"Not long after she came to you with the offer," Severus admitted unapologetically, still pretending to read. "I assumed you would tell me when you were ready, perhaps once you'd made a decision."
"Oh…" Harry said uncertainly. "So…you're not going to tell me to take her up on it?"
"I haven't yet, and will not do so now," Severus told him. "It is a difficult decision. It is not just a matter of whether or not you think yourself able to perform, which I might assure you, you would be; it is also a matter of matching apprentice to master. An apprenticeship is a life-altering experience, and not only because of what you will learn. The odds of running into danger, particularly in your chosen field of study, are phenomenal, and you have to be able to trust your Master explicitly. You don't necessarily have to be able to follow orders, although that will be expected of you in certain circumstance, but you do have to trust that your Master won't throw you to the wolves, so to speak. Their life is in your hands as much as yours is in theirs. It is also recommended that you get along with your Master. If you spend all of your time arguing, it would hardly be conducive to a good learning environment."
"I hadn't thought about that," Harry admitted softly. "I was focusing so much on the work; it never occurred to me that the fit of our personalities would matter. Thanks. You've given me a lot to think about."
Severus smirked, picking up his coffee. "It is what I live for, Mister Potter."
Harry smiled appreciatively and turned back to his study of ancient Mesopotamia, and how the Muggles there sometimes worshipped Werewolves as demi-gods.