Chapter 16

A month had passed since Harry and Severus had decided to be friends and to Harry's delight and misery, just friends. He was 18 now and it was time for him to start acting more mature. He came into the potions room every evening after meals and helped Professor Snape with cleaning and sorting of potion ingredients and there hadn't been an incident since that cringe worthy night of his birthday.

It took Harry a while but he eventually told his best friends about how he and Snape have started to befriend each other. Hermione was thrilled for Harry, now that the end of the world had passed for him, he can finally have peace and quiet and she was also delighted to hear about how Harry had started taking his studies more seriously in his free time. Ron was confused at first about why on Earth Harry would want to have anything to do with the old greasy git but eventually just accepted it so he could move on to talk about how the Chudley Cannons have been performing as well as how the shop has been.

Harry hadn't spoken to Ginny much, things were awkward. He thought he was in love with her when he thought he was going to die from this war but he has come out of the war realising he prefers men over women, something only Hermione (and Snape) knew.

It was the first of September and the weather was wet and miserable. It rained earlier in the morning and as the day progressed, the clouds had turned darker. Harry sat beside the window in the astronomy tower, looking out to the Black Lake. On the other side was the train station. He stared out to the lake wondering how the first years were going to cope getting across the lake. Harry was so distracted, he hadn't noticed the light footsteps traveling up the stairs and approaching him. The dark, shadowy figure leaned against the wall and looked on at Harry.

"Won't be long before the students arrive Harry." Snape said, looking out the window now with Harry.

"Mmm." Harry returned. The silence between the two was comfortable, accompanied by the rain falling sideways, now heavier.

"Are the first years going to be okay Sev?"

Without looking, Harry knew the man nodded. The potions master put his hand on Harry's shoulder and the two continued to look out. Neither knew what to expect this year.

Since entering the wizarding world, Harry knew there was a monstrous man who wanted him dead and this is the first time since his third year that he would have a Voldemort-free year.

The temperature was gradually dropping and Snape noticed. He had taken his own robe and placed it on Harry. Though this wouldn't be the first time the professor had made this gesture to him, it still surprised Harry each time he did it.

"Come Harry, we should prepare ourselves for the students." Reluctantly, Harry sat up and followed his professor down the stairs, still wearing the robe.

While walking down the hall, Harry had noticed that the two were not headed for either dungeons or Gryffindor tower. Harry looked at Snape questionly and he responded.

"The Headmistress wished to see you before the students arrived." Harry, confused about the summons continued to follow Snape.

Snape was in front of Harry by what appeared to be approximately two classrooms. Harry, still wearing Snape's robe, decided that he would try to make the robe flutter and billow like his beloved professor.

He practiced striding, hobbling, tip-toeing and was caught by Professor Snape practicing his second attempt of striding. Snape had one eyebrow up at his student, watching on as his pupil makes a fool of himself. Harry looked up when he noticed Snape had stopped moving and instantly felt his cheeks burn. He had been caught. Walking normally, he caught up to his professor and resumed the rest of the walk to the Headmistress' office without.