Dinner could not end fast enough for Harry who had every head from Gryffindor staring at him throughout the meal.

"My what a little exhibitionist you are tonight Potter," Snape said eliciting a laugh from a few students, "My office 7pm"

"Yes sir," Harry said he swallowed his mouthful thinking hard. How could he be in trouble with Snape already surely he couldn't be blamed for the way the other students were behaving! Harry sat and looked at what was on his plate in front of him and tried to have a little bit but his stomach was in knots and he pushed it away. He decided to leave and go to the library for a little while and read until the time came to go to Snape's office.

Madam Pince smiled as she walked into the library in the knowledge that Harry would be quietly studious as always. "The library shall be closing in an hour Potter please don't be too long," she said.

"Don't worry I won't be," Harry said as he walked through the door and placed his schoolbag onto the nearest table. He thought now was as good a time as any to get into a little homework maybe look up some books to borrow and read later.

The time flew by and before he knew it he was packing his books back into his bag borrowing the few library books he had chosen on the way out. He slowly made his way down to the dungeons of the castle and Snape's office. Snape was waiting in the doorway for him.

"You're late," he said, slapping his backside as he walked past and into the office Snape closed the door behind him.

He started to question his son on his recent activities, "Word has gotten to my attention that you were spotted showing off in Care of Magical Creatures class today care to explain why?"

"I was NOT showing off Hagrid was using me for a demonstration!" Harry said angrily.

"So then WHY was this adventure over the great lake and why were you not even holding on properly!" Snape asked trying to keep himself calm despite the hormonal teenager in front of him.

Harry was in trouble he knew he was so he did the only thing that he could think of doing at the time….deflect it.

"I was just having a bit of fun! Besides it's not like I was deliberately antagonising the poor thing like Draco was!" Harry said exasperated.

"Harry James Potter I do not CARE what Draco Malfoy was doing!" Snape said enraged "he is NOT my son Harry, YOU are and if you do not start thinking before you act I will have no choice but to turn you over my knee! Just because you are back at school does not make you immune to having a sore backside!" Snape had unknowingly to Harry stored this new information away in his mind to discuss with Lucius at some later point.

"But…"

"SILENCE" Snape said looking down at the boy. Harry wisely shut up. "Now we can talk about something else that I am concerned with young man. I have been informed that you did not obey Professor McGonagall's directions during the detention you had with her the other evening."

"But I couldn't think clearly," Harry said quietly.

"Could be an after effect of the spell, did you inform Professor McGonagall of this fact?" Snape asked calmly.

"No there wasn't time…" Harry said rushed.

"Try that one again young man and think very carefully before you answer," Snape demanded.

"Uh well….I just didn't think of it at the time," Harry said sheepishly.

"Exactly my point son you don't THINK to do what is right sometimes. Now what do you think you should do to rectify the situation?" Snape asked gently.

"I should go and apologise to Professor McGonagall," Harry said.

"Good boy," Snape said, "I think you should write her a letter of apology including the events of that day. It should be at least a foot long parchment and when you're finished you can give it to me to read before giving it to Professor McGonagall. I think tomorrow's transfiguration class should be plenty of time."

Harry carried his bag over to Snape's desk and instructed and started his work. He wanted to make sure that he made a good job of it not just because he feared the possibility of further punishment, which he did, but because he felt honestly ashamed of how he had acted. He didn't know why he didn't behave in the detention but he had other things on his mind that night which seemed more important. As he started his letter he thought of how he wanted his father to be proud of him but he wasn't used to people actually caring about his behaviour or wondering what it was he had been doing. Still having a family who cared for him was an experience that he had learned to love in the past year and he didn't want to do anything which might jeopardise that.

After a while Snape lifted his head from his marking and said "so son, bring it here and show me what you have written," he said gently. Harry obeyed handing his father the letter that he had put so much effort into.

"Very good Harry," Snape said picking up his wand and waving it over Harry's words carefully, "a few spelling errors which I have altered and I don't like your third paragraph very much. Good ideas but I don't think McGonagall needs to know that much about the way that I live my life. Focus more on the events of the day and less on how you worry about how I'd react to it. Although I am deeply touched that you feel that way," he squeezed Harry's shoulder gently and indicated for him to return to his writing. "Let me know when you are finished and I will look it over again son,"

Harry sat back down and fixed the errors that Snape had mentioned reading the letter carefully before giving it back for him to inspect. He smiled when he noticed a few words had been changed here and there to sound slightly better and take out places where he was repeating himself. He noticed that the letter was a little shorter than it was the first time he had written it and so he simply wrote at the bottom.

"you have my deepest apologies for the way I acted in class and during our detention and I will try to behave in a way that puts pride into the Gryffindor house in future."

Snape scowled a little when he read that bit but he had to admit that his boy knew how much the old witch would simply adore to know her little lion was trying to come back into the den.

"That's fine Harry," Snape said, "I must return to my marking the students are expecting their results tomorrow but before I let you return the Gryffindor tower I need to ask you a few things."

Snape looked DEEPLY into his eyes. Harry's heart jumped into his throat. Snape's voice lowered, "Harry...is everything alright lately?"

Harry immediately thought of his strange dream of falling but decided that it would be better not to tell his father about it at this stage in time. "No sir, nothing!" he lied.

Snape did not like the way that answer felt but he decided to ignore it for this moment in time. "and school?" he asked.

"Fine" Harry said happily.

"One final thing before you go. I heard that Sirius Black has been spotted in Hogsmeade. I do not want you going there until it is safe am I understood?" Snape said gently.

"Yes sir," he said sadly. He had been looking forward to going to Hogsmeade.

Snape felt relief at this answer and simply said "If you think of anything later you know where to find me. Ok off you go,"

"Yes sir," Harry said happily and he walked over and opened the door.

"Oh and remember Harry, behave yourself!" Snape said, "Or the next time we meet will not be as pleasant."

Harry cringed as he saw the concern in Snape's eyes. He knew right then, Snape cared for him and had suddenly realised he was not comfortable with lying to him at all. Harry left Snape's room with the biggest smile. The sort of smile you cannot wipe away. Dad loves me and I don't want to lie to him again. EVER!

He wondered why he had been allowed to get away without getting into further trouble but hadn't his father said that he could have an after effect from the spell so maybe it was that? But whatever it was he felt grateful and he only hoped that he could keep himself out of trouble between now and the end of year. Avoiding everybody's attention in Gryffindor tower he claimed he had a headache and went to bed early reading by wandlight. As he put the book down and lay down into his bed he thought about how strange the day had been and of his dream. Yawning he pulled his blankets up around his chin and closed his eyes allowing the tiredness to take him.