Chapter 106

Harry slid into his usual spot between Hermione and Ron at dinner. Ron was busy talking to Neville and Seamus, so Hermione had her chance to speak quietly to Harry.

"Harry, what was the story – the whole story – about speaking to your aunt? You looked upset at lunch about it," she whispered, her concern for her friend evident on her face.

"It was nothing, really, Mione. I saw Aunt Petunia working in the greenhouses when I went with Neville on his rounds during a free period. I just stopped to inquire if she was well. Nothing more. She wasn't nearly as bad as she used to be." Hermione reacted to that with a chuff; "not as bad as she used to be" was not exactly praise given the very low point from which Petunia began, and Harry had to smile in acknowledgement. "She wants to go home, and she asked a few questions about money – would there be a bill, that sort of thing."

"What did you tell her? Did she want anything from you?" Hermione persisted.

"I offered to have someone take her, and Uncle Vernon and Dudley back to Privet Drive, if she wanted to wait out the final month on her own. She wondered how she could get access to her accounts, that sort of thing. I told her I was pretty sure there would not be a charge for her and her family's stay here, but that I'd cover it if there was, and I asked Dobby to bring her some Galleons so she could go into Hogsmeade with some of the women this weekend. Why on earth do you care about all this?"

"Because you looked very stressed all afternoon! If the problem wasn't your aunt, then what was wrong?"

"Oh." As he'd observed to himself many times before, Hermione missed nothing. "That had nothing to do with Aunt Petunia. The ravens are back. I was trying to understand what they were saying, but I couldn't make out the words. I ended up with a headache."

"The ravens, Harry?"

"I told you about them, I'm sure. They came around the time of the Calling, and then I haven't seen them for a while."

"Do Professors Dumbledore or Snape know about this?" Now she was the one who looked worried.

Harry was impressed. This was fast even for Hermione. "I spoke to them about this before dinner." With a mere moment's hesitation, he decided to forge ahead and tell her the whole story. Who knew what Hermione would think of it? "I think you'll find this interesting. They apparently started wondering about all this when I gave Severus my Heart Stone for Valentine's Day, because according to them, my Heart Stone looks like what the Eye of Odin is supposed to look like."

Hermione remembered admiring Harry's Heart Stone, and her efforts to determine what gem it represented. It was certainly unlike anything she'd ever seen before, and nothing in her books suggested what it might be. The Eye of Odin? She'd have to look into that, over the summer.

"First, the ravens came around and began to show me things, tell me things. Then, I started seeing paths before people. Odin's familiars were ravens, and he was able to see the Paths of Destiny. Just like I ended up a Parselmouth when Voldemort got hit with the rebounding Killing Curse, they are now of the opinion that I absorbed some of the magic in the Eye of Odin when it exploded in my hand last June. It appears that I'm a human sponge for unstable magic."

Harry said that with remarkable calmness, given his original distress when the idea was presented to him. Hermione patted his arm, as if she understood how he'd felt originally about all this. "As soon as year-end exams are over, Harry, I'm going to do some research on all of this, and see what I can learn about the Eye of Odin, or if there is anything written about this phenomena of magical transferrence. I should have thought of that years ago, as soon as I heard that you were a Parselmouth!"

Up at the Head Table, Severus had watched Harry and Hermione whispering back and forth while the usual raucous conversations whirled around them at the Gryffindor table. Albus noticed Severus watching, and followed his line of sight. Albus leaned over toward Severus and observed, with a conspiratorial wink, "I suspect that Miss Granger has a whole new research project before her as soon as exams are over, if she can wait that long!"

The squib class that night was not as crowded as many, although Harry sat front and center, proudly in support of his friend Hagrid. He sat with his new friends, the princes. Hagrid paced nervously as he awaited his introduction so he could speak about magical creatures and show off a few prized members of his menagerie, and then he knocked the lectern over as he shuffled up to the front of the room. Severus had to agree with the assessment that Harry shared with him later – it was vintage Hagrid. The Blast-Ended Skrewt nearly escaped, the baby unicorn he held up for all to admire got so upset with all the fussing and cooing directed his way that he piddled all over the front row of attendees, and three squibs fainted at the sight of a five-foot wide hairy spider of some indeterminate breed.

The princes themselves looked a bit shaken by the spider, and seemed relieved when it was pushed back into its box and carried out of the castle by Hagrid. "I had no idea a bug could get so big!" Wills, the older prince, observed.

Harry laughed. "Oh, Hagrid has bigger, and worse! He's never met a creature that he's not willing to believe has a good nature, despite all evidence to the contrary. In my second year here, he actually hatched a dragon egg in his hut, and was quite upset when we had to send Norbert off to a colony."

"Dragons?" the other Harry gasped.

"Actually, there are a number of breeds of dragons. And sphinxes, too. Hagrid had a really interesting half horse/half bird, a creature called a hippogriff, named Buckbeak. The wizarding world is full of really amazing animals, but we're careful to keep them away from muggles. Speaking of which, I understand we're about a month away from muggles waking up. You both still working on how we explain what happened to them?"

"Your Ministry is working on that now. We suggested that Harry and I prepare some public service announcements to run continuously on the television. Muggles will know who we are, so hearing from us right off might ease some fears. They are working on messages now. Are you in touch with the Ministry on the matter of how this is all explained?" Wills asked.

Harry shrugged. "I've been focused on getting ready for my year-end exams here. If they have contacted Severus or the Headmaster, I suspect they are holding the Ministry off until I finish my studies this year. I'll have to ask Severus."

The other Harry leaned in, to speak softly. "There was some talk about having someone from the wizarding world join us in the announcements. I hope you don't mind, but we suggested that they consider using you. Some people in this world, well, they just look a bit strange. We're not sure how your average muggle would react to someone who looked or dressed so different. You, on the other hand, could pass for a muggle in a heartbeat."

Wizard Harry laughed in agreement. He could still remember his first stroll through Diagon Alley with Hagrid; the shops and goods on offer were astonishing, but not less so than some of the people he saw there. "I told you – I lived in the muggle world and didn't even know that I was a wizard until I was eleven. Yeah, there are definitely some people here who look very different, even if you put them in muggle clothes. If the Ministry asks me to join you in taping a message, I'll do it, of course."

The crowd of students who attended the squib class began departing as soon as the program ended, because year-end exams started the next morning. Harry left shortly after his conversation with the princes, and he found Severus waiting for him in the corridor.

"Still quite cozy with those two handsome, young squibs, I see," Severus observed sourly as the two started walking in the direction of the dungeons.

"Oh, please – they are British princes in the muggle world, I've explained all that to you. They told me that they've been working with the Ministry on how we're going to explain all this to the muggles when they awake. The Ministry is going to have them tape a message to run on TV, figuring that the muggles will recognize them and hopefully be accepting of what they say. They suggested that if we want to include a wizard on the message they tape, that the Ministry ask me. Do you know anything about that?"

Severus had his own questions first – "What do you mean by "taping," and what is teevee?"

Harry's barrage came to an abrupt halt. He forgot that Severus might not recognize references to even the standard muggle appliances. "TV is short for television. You've heard of television?" he asked.

"Well, I believe I've heard talk of this in some of my classes, and I know it is a muggle device that has some general entertainment purpose, but beyond that . . ." Severus allowed with an elegant shrug of his shoulders.

This probably needed more technical information than Harry had off the top of his head, but he felt he could take a whack at explaining. "Muggles have technology that enables them to send information and signals through radio waves and over wires and cables. The telephone (Harrys' questioning look as he offered that name was answered with a nod from Severus, indicating he knew what that was) allows muggles to speak with each other over distances, and television is a device that receives both voice and pictures, so muggles can watch and listen to whatever is being broadcast. They have news programs, sporting events, shows, all sorts of things."

"No conversing?"

"No, it's just one-way. You get the picture that you can watch on the TV and you hear the voice, but you can't carry on a conversation with it. Because the technology at one time used some kind of physical tape to capture the picture and voice, when someone records a message or a program or performance, or whatever, it's usually called "taping" it, even though I think they use technology today that doesn't rely on tape. Anyway, the Ministry wants the two princes to record a message that will be broadcast to muggle television sets. Muggles will probably turn on their TVs as soon as they wake up, if they are in their houses, to look for a news program to see what's going on. They'll see the princes, who will start the explanation. My question to you was, has the Ministry spoken to you or the Headmaster about this? Either what the message will be, or whether they'd like me to participate?"

Severus pondered the cleverness of muggles in coming up with something like this for a second before replying to Harry. "The Ministry has been in touch. I believe that they wanted the Headmaster, you and me to meet with Arthur Weasley to discuss what he'll be saying next Wednesday and what you plan on saying when you speak to the squibs. I expect that this final squib class will be well-attended, and will likely be covered in the Daily Prophet, as well. If the Ministry said anything about taping a message, it was not said to me nor was it passed along to me by the Headmaster. I'll mention this to him, tomorrow. For now, though, there is a little matter of your preparations for year-end exams. They begin tomorrow, if you recall."

Harry looked up at Severus to gauge the meaning of that jab. It seemed like a good-natured comment, because goodness knows, Harry had been studying for a while now, at least some of the time right here in their rooms. Severus had to realize that he took his schoolwork seriously. While their relationship had been moving toward a place where each was very comfortable with the other, every so often the "professor" in Severus jumped up and left Harry feeling uncertain. As he stood back to allow Severus to give the password to the portrait guarding their rooms and then followed him through to the sitting room, he considered how to reply. Harry decided to assume that the comment was to be received as a good natured attempt at humor; that's what he hoped it was, so he'd proceed on that basis.

He offered a weak elbow into Severus' ribs as he passed him, and commented. "Oh, yes, exams. Starting with Potions, if I recall correctly, Severus. Yes, I'm well aware of the exams. We covered Potions in the study group last week, very thoroughly." The chuckle that escaped Severus' stern visage confirmed that nothing more had been meant.

While Severus no longer rigidly followed his original pattern of allowing Harry privacy in the bedroom while he showered and got ready for bed, he usually did give Harry his space, unless the move into the bedroom was preceded by some intimate activity in the sitting room. Tonight, Severus gave Harry a few minutes' head start, before he followed him into the bedroom, and sat on his side of the bed waiting for Harry to finish his shower and come to bed.

It was a short wait, when Harry appeared, slightly flushed and damp, hair in total disarray, dressed in his preferred muggle pajamas. He gave Severus a questioning look as he got under the covers. Severus did look slightly distressed, so Harry wondered what was wrong. Severus did not leave him wondering for long.

"We heard today from the Ministry on something else, that I wanted to mention to you tonight. Nothing to worry about, but . . . well, I wanted you to know. The Ministry decided that it was not appropriate for me to administer the year-end exam to a class that included my own bondmate, so they have arranged for a member of the Potion Masters Guild to attend to the exam. Normally, the Ministry is involved directly only in OWLs and NEWTs, but someone over there mentioned this concern to Albus. He and I were initially very opposed to this meddling, although once we spoke about it, we decided that we should agree to this. He and I had already discussed the general approach this year's exam would take, so he was meeting this evening with whomever the Guild is sending to be sure that an appropriate exam is administered, whether the one I had prepared, or an alternative."

Harry looked stunned. "Do they not trust you? Or me?" He sounded very upset.

With a sigh, Severus shrugged. "That was my first question, and I was assured, several times, that is not it at all. Albus in particular took great pains to explain that, as unfounded and ridiculous as it all was, there were those who would always suspect something was improper, no matter how above board we both were, and that the better course of action was to cut the critics off before they could hint at anything. Neither of us should take offense, I am told. This will simply assure that our reputations and credibility are beyond any reproach."

Harry had not really considered that his bonding to Severus could result in such an indignity for the man, although he reluctantly recalled his first detention at Severus' hand, served with Professor McGonnagal for presumably the same reason. This was so unfair, although he could not think of a way to protest it. He patted Severus' arm. "They are asses, all of them. You would never, ever, do anything that was unethical."

Severus' expression lifted slightly, with what Harry suspected might be gratitude.

"Go, take your shower. I need my sleep – busy day tomorrow," Harry suggested.

Severus reached into the drawer in the nightstand and located a small vial of Dreamless Sleep, which he presented to Harry. "Not a night you want your sleep disturbed for any reason. Here, take a small dose at least, so you are fresh tomorrow. Sleep well."

The Potions exam was right after breakfast, and the group of sixth years trudged down to the dungeons with fluttering hearts and slow steps. The group waited in the hallway until the massive wood door was thrown open to admit them, although when that finally happened, it wasn't the dour face of Severus Snape glaring out at them with disdain. It was Andre Serrent.

Of course, only Harry recognized him, as his heart sank.

"Welcome to the Potions year-end exam for the sixth years, step in, one person to a table – we've expanded the room to accommodate you all. Get settled quickly. The time you waste here comes off the time you have to brew your potions," he offered in greeting

The students filed in quickly and for once, there was minimal jockeying for location as everyone found a table. Each table already contained a cauldron, an assortment of the tools that would be needed to prepare ingredients with which to brew a potion, and several bowls and dishes covered with cloths, presumably the potion ingredients. Curious looks were directed to the newcomer, even though, under the circumstances, there was little actual chatter speculating about who the tall and striking man was. Andre's eyes sought out the one student in the class he'd met before, and he graced Harry with a most unpleasant smile when he found him, before he addressed the class.

"I am Potion Master Andre Serrent. Given the unusual situation faced by Master Snape, administering a year-end exam to his own bondmate, (a comment that earned Harry several looks of intense sympathy from several of his yearmates) the Ministry suggested that someone else administer the exam at Hogwarts this year, and I was asked to step in. It was, of course, my pleasure to be of assistance. The exam consists of one potion, the recipe for which will appear momentarily. You will find the ingredients and tools on the table before you. Privacy shields will be placed around each of you, so your work, and your technique, will be entirely your own." With an imperious wave of his hand, he added "Begin."

Harry was perched nervously on the edge of the stool before his table, and realized the privacy shield went up when he discovered he could no longer see anyone else in the room. He saw the potion recipe appear on the blackboard at the front of the room. He was still reeling slightly at the discovery of Severus' former lover serving as proctor for this test, and knew he had to calm himself or his brewing would be a disaster. He did some deep-breathing exercises that Hermione had taught him, and tried to clear his mind. Suddenly it came to him. If Andre is in the classroom watching the students take the exam, he couldn't be with Severus! There was actually nothing to worry about. With a suddenly clear head, Harry read the recipe.

Draco had explained to the study group that the sixth-year Potions year-end exam was traditionally focused heavily, sometimes even exclusively, on technique, rather than theory or the ability to memorize a particular recipe. Slytherins tracked exams that way, to pass useful information along to their House mates about what to expect as they prepared for final exams. While Hermione had still insisted that they spend time going over all the other things they'd learned in Potions, Draco's warning had led to one full evening spent reviewing and brushing up on all the techniques they'd been taught over the years.

And it turned out that the Slytherins were right! This was a pretty straightforward potion, with just a few ingredients, but each ingredient had to be prepared in several different ways, and the brewing process itself needed to track the instructions precisely. But if you knew all the techniques, it would be just a matter of careful preparation and close attention to the recipe. Harry silently thanked Slytherin House for always looking for the angle, and finding and sharing this one. He took a deep breath and began.

Harry had learned most of the rudimentary skills in class, but after his discussion with Severus earlier in the year, when Severus had finally explained that the different ways of preparing an ingredient actually mattered to the outcome of a potion, he'd watched Severus' preparations very carefully when they'd been in the lab together. He'd seen the precision with which he used his knife and the total concentration that Severus showed as he worked, and he tried his very best to emulate Severus as he approached this potion. This was not about theory or creativity, just attention to detail. He could do it.

The potion in Harry's cauldron looked blessedly like the description of what was expected at every point as he worked. It turned blue just when the recipe said to expect that, and it became an opaque yellow at the right time, too. It thickened and thinned exactly as predicted. Harry realized, to his quiet amazement, that he was actually having fun doing this, with no caustic comments or worry about sabotage to disrupt his work. He determined that his potion was finished when it came to a final boil, now a pale pink color, and emitted a small burst of stars with each burst bubble, exactly as the recipe predicted. He carefully decanted a small portion of the finished potion into one of the small vials provided for that purpose, and sealed it firmly against any tampering. Just because nothing had happened yet did not mean that it was safe or prudent to let one's guard down.

That was a wise move, but not for the reason that Harry suspected.

There was a bit of commotion at the back of the room by the door just as the privacy shields were taken down and "time" called to end the exam. Apparently Master Dorester had come to Hogwarts with Andre, and spent the time that Andre was administering the Potions exam visiting with Severus, and the two had just entered the Potions classroom. Harry took his sealed potion vial in his hand, lest an errant sleeve send it flying, and turned around to see the new arrivals as he stood to bring his vial to the front of the room and turn it in. Master Dorester quickly spotted Harry and came over to greet him, very pleased that Harry remembered him as well.

"Mr. Potter, my boy, wonderful to see you again! I have had a most fascinating visit with my former student, Severus, who did me the great honor of allowing me to see some of your original source materials and translations. Such a talent, to read Parseltongue! It's been far too long since we had a trustworthy Parselmouth willing to read and translate some of the old works! It always amazes me, how much was known a thousand years ago, and how much we've managed to forget. And the work on the vampires – truly amazing." Master Dorester saw that Harry was about to say something, and he guessed what that was. "Yes, yes, I know that Severus did a great deal of hard work there – nothing to diminish his most notable contributions, no, nothing at all could do that! But your translation got him started. Such a scourge, and now it's been resolved. Just wonderful work!"

The very genial, if somewhat imposing Potions Master, could not help but notice the shimmering pink fluid in the vial held in Harry's hand. "You've finished the potion, haven't you, Mr. Potter? Wouldn't want to interfere in your completing an exam, after all." He took the vial from Harry's hand and assessed the color. "Well done, young man. Just the right hue. Good attention to technique and detail, just what good potion-making requires."

Singly and in small groups, all the students were now heading to the table at the front of the room to deposit their potion vials into a basket. Most of the potions were some shade of pink, although here and there, a red or purple potion was being handed over, and one poor Hufflepuff had produced a lumpy green substance. Master Dorester walked along with Harry, still holding onto the vial with his potion. When Harry reached the front of the room, he was prevented from turning in the vial he had just taken back from Master Dorester, as Andre suddenly held a vial up with a yellowish liquid and said loudly, "Ah, Mr. Potter, not exactly the potion we had hoped to get today! This color unfortunately suggests at least three lapses in the brewing preparation. Too bad."

Harry saw the set-up too late. If he or Severus protested, it would likely be seen as evidence that there was favoritism afoot. But Andre apparently had not considered that Master Dorester would have sought Harry out as quickly as he did. Master Dorester took the vial from Harry's hands and spoke up immediately. "Andre, there is some terrible confusion here! I took this vial directly from Mr. Potter's hands when I arrived here, as I wished to see what he'd done, and he brewed a perfect, pink potion. It has been in my hands from the moment I spotted him at his worktable until just seconds ago, when he took back this vial of potion to turn in to you. You have made a grievous mistake in identifying that vial in your hands as Mr. Potter's work product."

Andre recognized that his bid to discredit Harry's work with a substitute vial had failed, and he retreated immediately, causing Harry to wonder if he'd tried this before. For his part, Andre had recalled from the time he spent as Severus' companion that Severus had no interest in anyone whose skills and abilities were subpar. He also recalled the more recent experience of seeing Severus' display of affection toward Harry at the Ministry. He and Severus had parted on reasonably amicable terms some time ago, but he was still fascinated by the brilliant man, and harbored a hope that they might rekindle their relationship. This chance to supervise the Potions exam had seemed like an excellent opportunity to drive some sort of wedge between Harry and Severus, at least a chance to show Harry up as an incompetent brewer. Apparently, that was not to be. Andre put the vial he had produced back into his pocket, and accepted the vial from Master Dorester on Harry's behalf without a further word.

Severus had watched this entire exchange, and Harry could tell he was seething. Severus' already dark eyes managed to get even darker when he was furious, and there was emotion and anger just roiling off of Severus right now. As furious as Harry was himself at this ham-handed attempt to make him look bad, he was actually very pleased to see the anger in Severus on his behalf. More than anything, Harry wanted to get out of there before anything was said, and Master Dorester seemed to sense this.

"Andre, we should take the vials back to our offices in London so we can get started on grading this work as soon as we can. Severus, it was wonderful to see you again, my boy, and I hope we have the chance to have lunch soon, but Andre and I must leave now. Please tell Albus that I will take him up on an invitation to stay for lunch at some future date. Mr. Potter, a pleasure to see you again." With that, Master Dorester steered Andre, clutching a basket of all the vials from the test, out of the room.

An incensed Hermione walked against the tide of students leaving the classroom to descend on Harry as soon as the door closed behind the two departing Potions Masters. "I saw what that man tried to do, Harry! That was outrageous! He brought that vial with him and tried to pass it off as yours. Why on earth would someone try to do something like that?" Looking up at Severus she added "Can't you or the Headmaster do something about this?"

Severus had to smile, as much as it pained him to do so, at the staunch support that Miss Granger consistently showed to Harry. "Miss Granger, we appreciate your support, but Master Dorester has the matter in hand. He insisted that we get down here before the exam would be over, so I suspect he thought that Serrent had something planned. He made sure that he took Harry's vial from him and held on to it until Harry was ready to turn it in, so he could insist that Andre accept the real vial from Harry. I suspect he will closely supervise the grading of the exam potions, too. He will make certain that Andre has no opportunity for mischief."

Harry was slowing regaining his composure. "Thanks, Mione, for believing in me. It's a real shock to the system when someone tries something like that, you know?" Looking at Severus, he asked "Is this something he's done before?"

It was Severus' turn to feel a sharp pang of guilt, knowing in his heart that this act of treachery was directed toward Harry because he was bound to Severus. His relationship with Andre had ended a number of years before, but the relationship itself lasted a year, and Severus had never imagined that Andre was capable of something like this. Had he missed the signs? Or had Andre developed this horrific deceit in the intervening years?

"I don't profess to know all the things that Master Dorester knows, but it is probably telling that he has never seen fit to recommend Serrent for any teaching positions. He's a brilliant researcher, and usually a job working for the head of the Guild is a stepping stone to a prestigious position in a school or university, or in private industry. Serrent seems not to be going anywhere. There must be qualities that Master Dorester sees that give him pause to recommend him."

Harry saw the guilt in Severus' expression, and despite the fact that they had an audience, he gave Severus a one-armed hug. "I don't hold you responsible for him, Severus. Please, believe that. This is not your fault, and in any case, nothing actually happened. Just tell the Headmaster and make sure that Andre is not ever invited back to Hogwarts as a proctor."

Hermione felt honored that she was allowed to witness a display of affection between her best friend and the imposing Potions Master. She had hoped, for both their happiness, that there was a bond of affection growing between the two, but the proprieties of the wizarding world and the natural tendency of these two to shield their feelings provided others with scant evidence of the nature of their relationship. The ease with which Harry reached out to hug Professor Snape, and the fact that the Professor seemed to welcome the gesture, was a very encouraging development. She wanted Harry to be happy, and there was every reason to believe that he was happy with his bondmate. She wasn't sure why Professor Snape did not return the hug, though. It was very possible that he would not allow himself to do that in her presence just on principle, although she always wondered if he were as connected to Harry as Harry apparently was to him. Perhaps they did not share a reciprocal bond, after all.

X X X X X X X X X X

The rest of Harry's year-end exams happily did not include the drama of his Potions exam, a fact for which he was very grateful. He studied hard with his study group, and was hounded by Hermione to put in some extra time because of the classes he'd missed, and felt he acquitted himself well. This was the first year he actually felt pressure to get good grades. No one said anything to him about it, but he sensed that Severus would be disappointed if he did really poorly, as if Harry's grades somehow reflected on him and his influence.

The only break Harry allowed himself was on Sunday afternoon, when Mr. Weasley joined him and Severus up in the Headmaster's office, to discuss what they'd be saying to the squib class on Wednesday evening. It was a beautiful day, and Harry dearly wanted to spend some of it outside, but he trudged out of the Transfiguration classroom where the study group was meeting and joined Severus on the walk to the Headmaster's office.

The two entered the office to find Albus and Arthur chatting happily in chairs pulled up around one of the tables. Albus gestured for them to take seats in the other chairs at the table, and after greeting Arthur, they sat as well.

"Welcome, my boys" Albus began. "Such a beautiful day, almost a shame to waste it indoors, but needs must! Arthur was just about to bring me up to date on the Ministry's latest thinking on how we address the awakening muggles, and some of the points he's been asked to make on Wednesday to the squib class. Minister Bones had hoped to join us, but another emergency requires her attention this afternoon. Arthur?"

The red head bobbed in acknowledgement. "As I'm sure you all imagine, it's been a madhouse at the Ministry. We were lucky that we found squibs who know muggle technology and were able to help us work with it. I've been told that it's been much easier to make repairs since the wizards could use magic right out in the open, too – got lots more done that way, in much less time."

Arthur outlined the overall story that the Ministry felt needed to be shared with the squibs. Of course, the expectation was that this story would immediately be shared with the entire magical community as well, and this was the opportunity for the Ministry to outline the much broader communication that would be made to muggles when they awoke. There were some parts that were really part of Harry's story, and he confirmed that he'd cover those things, and a few aspects of the story that were pure Ministry policy, and Arthur assured all that he and Minister Bones would agree on the precise wording that would be used.

The sun was starting to dip below the horizon as the group finally concluded a surprisingly active discussion. All were satisfied that it covered all the things that needed to be explained, and prepared everyone, magical, squib and eventually even muggle, for a very changed reality.

Harry finally thought to ask about the messages being prepared for the waking muggles. "I spoke to the princes at last week's squib class, and they said that the Ministry wanted to tape messages from them that would run on the television during the time that the muggles were waking up, explaining what had happened. They told me that they suggested that I speak, too. Do you know anything about that?"

Arthur nodded, a bit sheepishly. "Yes, Harry, I have heard about that, but was thinking we'd get to that next week; you have enough going on right now. Since you asked, I can tell you that the Ministry Department of Explanations had come up with a plan, and, well, to put it delicately, the squibs were in an absolute uproar over what they proposed. Especially the princes, and once they spoke up, the Minister had to get involved. The planning of our remarks to the squib class here at Hogwarts became the place we got it all sorted out. We'll be telling the story to the squibs that will basically be the story we tell the muggles. We have to be consistent, and we can't expect the squibs to keep two stories straight. So it's one story. And there was more than a little discussion as to how we get the story told. This television stuff was fascinating! Most ingenious, those muggles! Cameras, and digitalis storage, and airwaving – just remarkable, really. Anyway, the princes offered to speak for us, and broached the subject of selecting some witches and wizards to speak as well. You can imagine the conversation about who would speak on behalf of the magical world! The boys were rather insistent that it be you, you know. Let's just say that some magical folks did not like hearing that anyone would think they looked odd, or scary. We'll not begin working on that until school is over for you. We've taken up enough of your time, what with school exams this week."

Severus watched over Harry very carefully the first part of the next week, making sure that he took a small dose of Dreamless Sleep every night before he went to bed, and holding him close as he fell to sleep. He fussed if he thought Harry was not eating enough, and insisted on a brief review of the subject of the next day's test before they retired each night.

On Wednesday morning, as they were getting ready to head off to breakfast, after which Harry's last year-end exam would take place, Harry decided they could be a few minutes late, if necessary. He blocked the door into the hallway for just a moment, and placed his palm against Severus' chest to stop him from proceeding through the door.

"Thank you, Severus. You have really taken care of me this week; I've never gone into exams as well rested and prepared. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated it."

Severus quirked his eyebrow in that very attractive way that he had. Harry half-braced for a snarky reply, almost regretting that he'd probably set himself up for that. To Harry's great surprise, the quirk morphed into a very genuine smile. "It was my pleasure to care for you, Harry. The world will start intruding again in a day or two, but I am glad that I could hold it off for a while, so you could study, and eat and rest, and be a student for a bit longer." He gently lifted Harry's chin and bent to meet his lips with a soft kiss. "Now, good luck with the Charms exam today. There will be too much going on around here today, but how about I cook us dinner again tomorrow night?"

A huge smile lit Harry's face, and he launched himself into Severus' midsection for a hug. "Wicked! I can't wait!"