The shout was probably just as loud as every time before but tucked within the hat caused a weird muffling that barely dampened the sound; he flinched. His Sorting was finally over and done with. He quickly pulled the hat off as he slipped from the stool and placed the hat on it. His legs felt strange, wobbly and weak in a way he didn't like, but it barely registered under the enormous relief he felt as he hurried over to Hannah and Susan. It barely registered just like the odd way the hall was full of noise barely registered.
The hat had listened.
For a heart stopping moment, he had thought it wouldn't but the hat - sounding very amused with either itself or the situation - had placed him in Hufflepuff like he'd wanted but hadn't been able to voice.
The whole thing was exhausting and left a weird buzzing beneath his skin. Even his hands were shaking. No, wait; they weren't shaking but it certainly felt like they should be. Before he could do anything with the sensation, though, he wanted to sit down and get away from eyes he was sure were on him.
He moved to sit on Susan's other side only to find her in the seat he was about to take. He stared at her utterly confused until Hannah tugged gently at his wrist, effectively drawing him into the seat between them and out of his sudden confusion.
"Thanks," he muttered, sinking heavily into his seat.
The hall filled with noise as another First Year was Sorted and he flinched from it. He followed the motions of the others at the table but gave up trying to track any of it. He almost started counting seconds between applause, willing it to end soon so that the noise would stop.
"Weasley, Ronald!"
Harry's head whipped around, gaze seeking out the line of First Years. All that remained of the line was a lone Blaise as Ron stepped up to the stool. Ron looked downright queasy and Harry clenched his hands together under the table, hoping Ron got what he wanted like Harry had. A second later, the hat shouted, "Gryffindor!" and the look of relief on Ron's face was reassuring. Harry clapped loudly with the rest of the hall as "Zabini, Blaise!" chased after the echoing applause. Harry caught a glimpse of Ron being greeted by what looked to be his brothers at the other side of the hall as Blaise was sorted into Slytherin. Harry joined the clapping for Blaise as loudly as he had for Ron.
Blaise walked the far side of the other house table Harry was facing. Their eyes met and Blaise gave Harry an easy wave before stopping at the empty seat between Draco and someone Harry didn't know. The two First Years shook hands before Blaise sat down. Briefly Draco met Harry's gaze before focusing on the staff table. Harry followed Draco's gaze to find Professor McGonagall walking off with the Sorting Hat and stool in hand. As she came even with the end of the Slytherin table, the Headmaster stood beaming at the students, arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome!" the Headmaster said, his voice carrying through the hall with apparent ease. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you."
A smile tugged at Harry's lips as the entire hall clapped and cheered. The Headmaster was weird. He joined in the clapping briefly before turning back to the table now laden with food filled dishes. There were many things he recognized immediately - roast chicken, pork chops, sausages, bacon and steak, mashed potatoes, assorted salads, fries, peas, corn, steamed veggies, gravy, ketchup - and quite a number of things he didn't. Hunger gnawed at his stomach but he didn't really want food. Assorted dishes were passed about among the other students as Harry sought out things he knew he would eat even if he wasn't wanting food.
Susan handed Harry a half empty bread basket without a word and he took it. The bread was just-out-of-the-oven fresh, something Harry rarely turned away. Bread was always safe. He took two rolls - and a piece of what smelled like banana bread on a whim - before he passed the basket on to Hannah, gaining a soft, "Thanks," in return. The bowl of mashed potatoes was heavier than Harry expected and he nearly dropped it into the plate of pork chops. Hannah was quick to lean over and assist, though her reach wasn't any better. In the end, it was Susan who managed to get the mashed potatoes on their side of the table. Harry filled the rest of his plate with an assortment of steamed veggies - and a pork chop - before he started eating.
The innumerable conversations happening around him and throughout the hall melded into a din that was just loud enough to become background noise. It cushioned Harry, in a sense, and Harry let himself drift between conversations wrapped in that din.
The three First Years sitting directly across from him and his friends were talking Quidditch while Susan talked with the First Year sitting on her other side about something dealing with the Ministry. The Quidditch talk was easy to come in and out of. Whatever Susan and her neighbor were discussing was not but the snippets he did catch tugged at his curiosity. Hannah was talking with the older Year sitting beside her but both were too soft spoken for Harry to make out more than a word here or there. It almost sounded like they were talking about classes. Maybe. At least he wasn't forced to participate in any of the conversations.
It was nice not having to. With how tired he was and how much noise was going on around him, he wasn't sure he would have been able to even keep a string of thoughts together if someone had asked him to.
When it seemed everyone had eaten their fill, the food that remained vanished from the plates leaving them as sparkling clean as before. A moment later desserts filled the serving dishes. There were countless flavors of ice cream, pies, Jell-O, puddings, and so many other things that Harry recognized but couldn't remember the names of. He found the chocolate ice cream and mint chocolate chip, though he had a much smaller scoop of the latter as he mostly wanted chocolate, and got a small plate of Jell-O simply because he could.
The Jell-O was the first to go, followed by the mint chocolate chip, but as he slowly worked his way through the chocolate ice cream savoring every bite, his gaze wandered towards the staff table. Hagrid was drinking deeply from his goblet while Professor McGonagall was talking with the Headmaster. He didn't recognize a good number of the other professors immediately which didn't surprise him and he let his thoughts wander trying to guess which unknown professor taught which subject based on appearance alone. That was until his musings drew his attention to the professor Severus was talking with.
It happened very suddenly. As soon as Harry's gaze landed on the pair, Severus looked over meeting his gaze and a sharp, hot pain shot through his forehead. He hissed as his hand automatically pressed against his scar as if adding pressure would combat the pain.
"You ok, Harry?" Hannah asked.
Harry nodded as he rubbed at his scar. The pain had gone as quickly as it had come. Severus had noticed, Harry realized, but the Potions Master had only tightened his lips before focusing back on the other professor. Confused with an underlying unease skittering across his spine, he looked to the older Year talking with Hannah. The older Year had a confused frown on their face. He asked, "Do you know who the professor is speaking with Professor Snape? The one with the turban?"
The older Year glanced at the staff table briefly. "That would be Professor Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." The older Year's frown was back. "You know Professor Snape?"
Harry shrugged. "He took me to get my school supplies."
Both of the older Year's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Professor Snape escorted you through Diagon Alley. Of his own volition?" Again, Harry shrugged. The older Year sighed heavily. "You First Years are going to be an interesting bunch, that's for sure. Why did you want to know about Professor Quirrell?"
"Professor Snape didn't seem like the type of professor to make small talk," Harry lied easily. It wasn't all that inaccurate; Severus hadn't looked exactly pleased to be talking with Professor Quirrell.
The older Year snorted a laugh. "Well, yeah. Professor Snape doesn't like anyone. He's professional with the other teachers but man he can be an arse in class." Harry kept his face neutral despite not liking the older Year's description. Of course Severus's opinion about children would be low - working with potions was a very dangerous task and children don't often remember that, let alone know it - but for Severus to be nasty because of it didn't sound like Severus at all. The older Year, completely oblivious to Harry's thoughts, kept talking. "The entire school knows that Professor Snape has been trying to get the Dark Arts position since he started here. It wouldn't surprise any of us if he's already threatened Professor Quirrell after failing to obtain the Defense Against the Dark Arts position again."
That was news to Harry. Severus had always seemed rather content teaching potions. Granted, that didn't stop him from ranting about how aggravating it was to teach a bunch of dunderhead children how to brew potions but he had never once mentioned the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. At least, not around Harry and Harry had asked Severus a multitude of questions about Hogwarts over the years. He vaguely remembered overhearing a comment of a potential position change a couple of years back but he couldn't remember if Severus had mentioned what that position change would have been.
The desserts disappeared from the tables and it acted as a signal that the conversation was done for the time being. The hall fell silent as the Headmaster stood once more.
The Headmaster cleared his throat. "I have a few more words to say now that we are all fed and watered; a few start-of-term notices to give you, if you will. First Years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils; and a few of our older Years would do well to remember that as well." The Headmaster's twinkling eyes flickered over towards the Gryffindor table. "I have also been asked by the caretaker, Mr. Filch, to remind students that magic is not to be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch try-outs will be held during the second week of term. If anyone is interested in playing for their House team, please contact Madam Hooch." The Headmaster gestured down the table and one of the staff members raised a hand. "And, finally, this year the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Chattering kicked up almost immediately, led by a scattering few students laughing. Harry's stomach clenched at the warning. He sought out Severus but the Potions Master was giving the Headmaster a rather flat, very annoyed look.
"He can't be serious," Susan said, the words strained and sounding higher pitched than normal.
"Must be," someone said. Harry glanced back to see the older Year's neighbor had leaned forward, frowning at Dumbledore. The new person continued with, "What's odd, though, is that he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere. The forest is full of dangerous creatures and untrained magic can cause havoc in the hallways, not to mention causing damages and messes that students don't stay around to clean up. But to not give even the Prefects a heads up about it at least?" The new person turned, calling down the table, "Hey, Sebastian! He tell you anything about that?"
The Headmaster seemed unperturbed by the chatter and waved them all towards the hall doors. "And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
Students began standing before the last of the Headmaster's words had filled the hall, the noise in the hall skyrocketing in the process. Harry scrambled to his feet not wanting to be left behind but when he saw that Hannah and Susan were in no rush, it left him torn between following after the masses and waiting for them. Thankfully, he didn't have to choose.
A new older Year approached Harry and his friends. This one was clearly a few years older and had a silver shield-shaped badge with a large 'P' engraved on the face pinned under their Hufflepuff crest. "I'm going to take you down to our common room and dorms so don't feel rushed. We'll wait until the majority of the crowd's shoved through before we try making our way out after them."
It wasn't a long wait. The student body filed out of the hall slowly but steadily and Harry watched the new older Year and another with the same badge round up the other Hufflepuff First Years. Before introductions could be made, the first badged older Year spoke up. "Alright, First Years. I'm Tiffany and that is Tucker-" the second badged older Year standing behind the cluster of First Year Hufflepuffs gave a cheery wave- "and the both of us are two of six Hufflepuff Prefects. If you ever need anything, be it help finding a class, with homework, or dealing with other kids, come find any one of us and we'll help you out. Most of Hufflepuff House is like that but some people can just be right arses when they want to be." Tiffany turned enough to be able to see the door. "That aside: Tucker and I will take you lot down to the common room and show you your dorms. Don't stress getting lost. Tucker's good at making sure no one gets left behind."
With that, Tiffany turned and started for the double doors. The small cluster of Hufflepuff First Years jumped forward to match her pace, the boundaries of the small cluster shifting as they went. Susan placed herself ahead of Harry as Hannah took his hand and kept at his side. She would occasionally bump against his arm and he took comfort in the inconsistent contact. What lull eating had put him in was gone as they stepped out of what had become a familiar space.
Tiffany led them down a level and took a right at the second corridor. The corridor ended a few minutes later, though it wasn't a deadend. The corridor ended at another corridor that went off to their left and right. Along the opposite wall were regularly placed recesses, most of the ones Harry could see containing wooden frameworks fitted to and filled with barrels. If this was how they got to the Hufflepuff rooms, it was far easier to remember than the twisting and turning Sirius had recounted to get to Gryffindor Tower. Tiffany turned to face them as the small group came to a stop.
"Alright First Years. As a point of reference, that corridor we just passed," Tiffany pointed over everyone's heads towards the corridor behind them on her right, "if you take that turn, you'll find the kitchens. If you go that way," she pointed down the corridor stretching away from her left, "you'll find the potions classroom and the rest of the dungeons as well as another way back to the Entrance Hall. Going the other way," was accompanied by a halfhearted gesture to the right, "will get you to the greenhouses, Professor Sprout's office, the remainder of this level, and at least one exit out onto the grounds. Professor Sprout is our Head of House so if you need anything the Prefects can't handle or you don't feel safe sharing it with any of us, she's who you go to. She's great. Now, for getting into our common room, pay attention. You get this wrong and you get doused in vinegar and are barred until someone gets it right."
Harry made a face at the very thought of getting doused in vinegar. Why would a House go to such lengths to keep others out? Not to mention any unfortunate soul that was of their House that accidentally got it wrong. He hoped she was joking.
Tiffany faced the rack of barrels and pointed at the left hand most column as if deliberately counting up three and over one. She knocked thck thck thck-thck-thck against the barrel face. There was a click and Tiffany took a good step back as the entire rack seemed to shudder. Then, without another sound, the rack parted at the middle and swung open, revealing an arched, short passageway. Tiffany didn't even spare them a glance before promptly walking through the passageway - she could comfortably lay down in it if she chose to and not touch either end for a few inches - and only stopped once she was a good few paces into the room at the other end. She gestured for them to follow. "Come on. We don't have all night."
One of the other First Years hurried forward, quickly followed by another and Susan. Hannah went after Susan which meant Harry went with Hannah.
Had the sun been up, Harry was certain the common room would have been perfectly lit potentially all day thanks to circular windows high in the walls, no other light sources required. The room itself was round and low-ceilinged with a plethora of plant life hanging from the ceiling and on assorted shelves mounted at varying levels around the room, though most were tucked onto the window sills. There were even some large potted ones tucked into the awkward nooks that counted as corners in the spaces between furniture and curved walls. All the furniture was well varnished wood and anything upholstered was yellow, black, or a patchwork of both. The chairs and couches were overstuffed and a good number of them were already claimed by students, some reading, some chatting, and at least one napping by the fire. A thick rug sat before the large fireplace where one of the larger couches was situated. Over the mantle hung a portrait of a woman in golds and browns smiling brightly, her curly hair a bouncy halo of brown around her head. The walls - except for the brick of the fireplace - were painted a soft yellow and trimmed with unpainted wood along the floor, ceiling, and around door frames. Harry caught sight of a set of stairs that led up to an area tucked into the wall around one of the windows. There was a head resting on the curved window well wall and Harry wondered if there was a window seat up there.
"Welcome to the Hufflepuff common room," Tiffany told them, her voice cadenced lower to only reach the First Years. "You'll get the full spiel about rules and expectations of shared spaces in the morning. For tonight, we'll just show you where your rooms are and you guys can have the rest of the evening to yourself. We do a general lights out at 10pm but the fireplace is kept burning and the hallways always have enough light to see by. Girls, with me. Boys, follow Tucker."
"Alright, my amigos," Tucker said jovially. "Follow me this way."
Hannah gave Harry's hand a quick squeeze before they went separate ways; Harry waved after them before following Tucker.
Tucker led the way through the round door to the group's right, nearly halfway between the fireplace and the entrance to the common room. The hallway curved lazily left as if it would loop back around. "If you keep going that way, you'll end up back in the common room." Tucker came to the first door on their right. "Each door is a different Year's dorm. Boys will be the first seven doors you pass, girls will be the other seven. Don't try opening a girl's dorm door or entering if it is open. You'll be sent sliding away."
"That from experience?" one of the First Years asked.
Tucker only grinned as he opened the door. The room beyond was rather bare compared to the common room. At the center of the circular room was a stove oven surrounded by a low fence to keep students from accidentally bumping up against the hot metal. There were some plush cushions around it on the mismatched rugs but, beyond that, the initial space was stone floor and low-ceilinged like the common room. Around the outer edge, though, were five nooks large enough to fit a full sized four-poster bed, a narrow wardrobe, a small personal desk, and a short set of shelves. Each nook had a window on the far wall showing the castle grounds, the curtain that could be used to obscure it tucked neatly behind a hook on the left hand side next to the bed. On either side of the broad arch entrance to each alcove was a similar hook, only larger, containing one of the two curtains used to create the alcove's door. At the foot of each bed was a different trunk. Harry spotted his at the foot of the bed second on the left.
"Get settled in and respect each other's alcoves," Tucker said, still smiling. "If you need anything, I'll be in the common room for a few more hours." His smile broke out into a cheeky grin. "Got some last minute homework to finish before tomorrow."
With that, the older Year left them to their own devices.
"I think we ought to do introductions," said the First Year whose alcove was second from the right when nothing happened for a few seconds. "Do them right, I mean," he added quickly upon receiving everyone's attention. "I'll start, even. I'm Ernie Macmillan. Happy to be here."
The one with the alcove just right of the door spoke next. "Justin Finch-Fletchley."
"Zacharias Smith," came from the alcove just left of the door before the owner stuck their head back into the common space with a massive grin on their face. "But don't any of you dare call me Zacharias. I only get called that when I'm in trouble. Call me Zack."
Harry nodded as he offered simply, "Harry."
There was a brief pause before the one with the alcove directly across from the door rolled their eyes. It took for them to start talking for Harry to realize that the rest of the dorm had been expecting more from Harry. He wasn't about to fix it; he was tired and they already knew who he was - everyone knew who he was - and he really only wanted to be just Harry, not Harry Potter or the Boy Who Lived or anything else that came with his full name. Except for being Severus, Sirius, and Remus's charge. That was the only good thing about being his full name. "We don't got to be so formal about this. We already know his last name." The speaker was annoyed and, to Harry's surprise, he was pretty sure part of that was on his behalf. Someone started to say something but the speaker snapped, "And it's Roger Malone, before you get butt hurt about it." Silence followed. "We done?" Harry absently nodded, not that he was the one leading. Roger gave a single nod, making it final. "Good. I'm going to bed. Keep it down if you're going to stay up." And, with that, Roger yanked the curtains of his alcove free and was cut off from the common space.
"Well that was rude," drifted across the room, faint but unmistakable.
"Ernie," Justin hissed.
"What? Don't say you hadn't been thinking the same thing."
"Yes but you didn't have to say it. He could still hear you, you know."
The two started arguing but they dropped their voices lower so that it was a heated murmuring at the edge of Harry's hearing.
"That certainly doesn't bode well for all of us getting along," Zack commented and Harry, having drifted to his window, looked over to find the other leaning against the entrance of Harry's alcove watching the two still muttering heatedly. When Harry didn't respond, Zack looked at him. "Sorry. I don't mean anything by it. I was just hoping-"
"Sorry to interrupt." Tucker stepped up behind Zack, placing a hand on Zack's shoulder as he leaned sideways into the opening of Harry's alcove. "Harry, Professor Sprout wants to see you real quick."
Harry's chest tightened as he hurriedly put the curtain he had been absently holding on to back into place. "What for?" Zack asked in his stead.
Tucker shrugged. "Not a clue. She seemed calm, though, so probably nothing serious."
Tucker didn't elaborate even when Zach pushed for more information. Tucker shooed Harry on, winking at him when Harry glanced back. Ernie and Justin were equally caught up trying to pester Tucker instead of following after Harry and Harry ducked out before he could be followed. He wasn't sure if he was grateful or even more anxious that Tucker was keeping Harry's fellow First Years from following after.
Professor Sprout was speaking with a few older Years when Harry pushed open the round door. She didn't say anything as he approached but she did smile at him and gestured him closer. She wrapped up the conversation once he was within arms reach and directed him out of the common room with a hand hovering at his back. It sent invisible spiders skittering across his back from the phantom contact and he lengthened his strides enough to make it to the flat backing of the barrel rack first, pushing it open and looking towards her as if he had merely wanted to open the entrance for her.
Professor Sprout gave him a fond smile and a genuine, "Thank you, Mr. Potter."
"Ah. Mr. Potter." Harry's head whipped around at the sound of the all too familiar voice. "Good. Thank you, Pomona. As discussed, this should only take a few minutes."
He hadn't realized Severus had been standing there and for a heart stopping moment, he almost reached out like he would have at home. He quickly shoved his hands into his pockets to negate any accidental reaching, looking to Professor Sprout for guidance. He knew he couldn't reach out, not now. There had been very clear instructions on when they could act familial and not and this was a time to not act familial until Severus proved otherwise.
Professor Sprout nodded, looking pleased. "I have no doubt. Now," she turned to Harry, smiling gently, "you're not in any trouble. Professor Snape has simply asked to speak with you. He may seem scary but he's a good man." Harry caught the eye roll Professor Sprout missed and had to deliberately keep his expression neutral. That was the same eye roll Severus gave when Sirius was doing or saying something foolish yet amusing. "When you are done speaking with him, hurry back to the common room; no dilly-dallying, alright?"
Harry nodded.
Professor Sprout sent Severus a look Harry didn't understand before taking the hallway to her office. Severus watched her leave for a moment before turning towards the dungeons. "Come along, Mr. Potter. Best be quick so that I am able to keep my word on keeping this short."
Harry fell into step beside the man in familiar silence that stayed with them even as they entered the dungeons proper. This way and that they weaved until Harry wasn't sure he knew how to get back to the Hufflepuff common room. As if reading his mind, Severus finally broke the silence. "I will walk you back; I am not expecting you to remember this route after only traveling it once. Unfortunately it lacks the simplicity your trip between the common room and the Great Hall is composed of."
A few minutes later, Severus stopped walking. "Here we are."
The portrait hung before them was regal and appeared to be very old. The figure was still very distinct against the background despite the painting's apparent age. The figure was inside a gazebo standing with their back to the railing. Their hands were taking the body's weight against the top of the railing on either side of the figure's hips. Behind them beyond the gazebo railing was a beautiful, massive lake bordered by forest that bled into mountains.
The figure themself was dressed simply yet still something reminiscent of wixen fashion even if it wasn't. The robe they wore was sleeveless, high collared, and bound at the waist with a wide band of fabric. The fabric was a rich green, almost looking like velvet with gold embroidery along the hems and intricate detailing across the collar, the band of fabric, and at the bottom corners of the lower panels. The long sleeved shirt underneath was black with billowy sleeves that cinched around the wrists in three inch cuffs; the equally billowy pants and the mid calf high laced boots the pants were tucked into were also black.
Beyond their dress, the figure had long, straight black hair that disappeared down their back while an equally straight beard ending at their sternum was carefully trimmed into a point with very straight sides. Dark eyes watched Harry and Severus with curiosity, dark eyes that reminded Harry of Severus.
Severus's voice was cadenced low as he said for both the portrait and Harry's sake, "The current password is Crystallize."
The portrait swung open to reveal a door that Severus approached and pushed open. Harry followed Severus into a room he had never stepped foot into but recognized immediately. The room was nearly the same size as the living room back home. There was a large fireplace on the right hand wall with a plush couch and equally plush chairs framing the rug before it. Other than a small table, some shelves, and a cabinet, the only other significant thing about the room was the four doors leading from it. One was on the left hand wall, closer to the front door than centered, another was in the far corner on the right hand wall on the other side of the fireplace, and the remaining two were evenly spaced on the opposite wall.
Severus closed the door as the portrait swung back into place. "Harry." Harry focused on Severus but Severus's gaze did not meet his as the man started to shrug off his outer school robes. "I am aware that we have already discussed the boundaries for which you and I will conduct ourselves around but I wanted to make sure that one thing was made very clear." Severus, now down to an undershirt and trousers, knelt before Harry. "As much as we expect you to go about your years at Hogwarts as my student, these rooms are just as much for you as they are for myself. While I expect you to spend all of your time anywhere but here, you will always have access to these rooms for a safe and quiet space should you ever require one. Your password will always work no matter how many times I change mine."
Severus didn't pull away when Harry reached out and took hold of Severus's hand. Harry knew he was going to be repeating himself but he needed to make sure. He had to make sure. "But the other kids aren't going to have that and I thought we weren't going to give me special treatment. I don't want special treatment."
Severus offered him a gentle, patient smile, a thumb rubbing over Harry's knuckle as if it could sooth everything within Harry. "My office is always a safe space for my Slytherins. My rooms are reserved only for special cases and you, whether we want it or not, are one of those special cases." A glint flickered in Severus's eyes that reminded Harry of Sirius's mischievous side. "And if that is not enough to cast away your concern, do know I take great pride in being able to provide this for you."
"Because of the Headmaster?" Harry asked, unable to recall the rest of that particular argument.
The laugh came out as a snort and Harry found himself smiling in response to Severus's mirth. "At minimum, yes. Many - the Headmaster included - were more than certain you would be sorted into Gryffindor because of your parents. The Headmaster had the additional information of who has been caring for you so he was very confident in his belief. He brushed away any inclination that my involvement would sway you into Slytherin; the other two Houses more so out of the question." Severus's expression lost the mirth, looking almost sad. Harry gave Severus's hand an encouraging squeeze and Severus returned it faintly. "It is an unfortunate bias the Headmaster still holds but had you been Sorted into Gryffindor or Slytherin or even Ravenclaw, I would still be reiterating this to you. You are my charge, my family, and no matter the House, you are my responsibility and I want to make sure you have a safe space with me no matter where we are."
Harry pressed his face into Severus's chest, finally relaxing after everything. Severus's arms wrapped around him and tugged him flush with the man's torso. Harry's arms snaked around to hold onto the back of Severus's shirt as he gave the man all his weight. Unbidding tears burned the back of his throat as his eyes watered. He swallowed thickly, not wanting to cry right now, but he had been suppressing for too long and Severus was still holding him tight and they were alone and safe and-
The sob choked out of him only to be quickly followed by the entire torrent. Severus didn't give him the chance to suppress it, immediately sitting on the floor proper and pulling Harry into his lap, curling around him as he had so many times before. Harry curled up against Severus's chest crying because he was tired, because the day had been far more than he could handle on his own.
He cried because he was so scared that he wasn't going to be able to do this alone. He couldn't do this alone. Not in a strange, new place with people he didn't know and with expectations he was never going to meet. He wasn't Sirius or Remus or Severus. He couldn't handle these things on his own. He didn't want to handle these things on his own.
There was a detached part of him aware of Severus picking him up but it couldn't do anything to influence what was going on. That detached part took in the sensation of Severus sitting on something that wasn't the floor and the sound of shifting fabric that lasted only for a moment. After that, nothing.
When nothing more happened, that detached part of him simply observed himself, waiting. It took in how crying made his breathing stuttered, how his face scrunched and pulled as his anger shaped the way his lips pulled back from his teeth, how his hands and legs were going numb curled as they were. It wasn't until his crying started to subside that the detached part of him registered that Severus was gently rocking him side to side, a hand carding slowly, repetitively, through his hair.
The crying sputtered out in only a few breaths leaving Harry feeling even more tired but less buzzy. Severus stopped the rocking immediately but the hair stroking continued up until Harry pulled back, rubbing at his wet face in discomfort.
"Better?" Severus asked, voice low and calm like it always was.
Harry nodded, accepting the tissue Severus offered him. He blew his nose but that was all the effort he was giving into moving.
"Are you hungry?" Harry frowned, not really sure. He had eaten earlier but- "You ate very little for dinner-" it didn't surprise him Severus had noticed. "and I would feel better knowing you tried to get even a small amount more in you before bed. Would you be willing to try for me?" All he wanted to do was sleep but Severus's request didn't seem unreasonable. The only problem was Harry didn't feel hungry. "Would it be easier if I picked something?"
That made nodding not seem like such an effort and he gave Severus the affirmation. Severus always picked good safe foods and it meant Harry didn't have to try and figure out what to eat when he wasn't hungry.
"I am going to sit you on the couch so that you can eat while I finish getting out of my work clothes. When you've eaten what you can, you are welcome to look around the rest of the space."
Harry pressed his forehead into Severus's chest not wanting to be set down yet but he still nodded and didn't fight when Severus placed him in the corner of the couch. A beautiful tray was placed over his lap with a bowl of very familiar oatmeal, a plate of grapes, and a glass of ice water with the tiny ice. Immediately he grabbed for a few grapes and shoved them in his mouth as he watched Severus's feet leave the sitting area.
The grapes were decimated before he moved onto the oatmeal. It was warm and sweet and familiar and it was easy to eat without thinking about it. The weird buzzing energy from the afternoon hadn't completely faded with crying. Harry found swaying seemed to keep the weird buzzing feeling from buzzing.
He definitely felt like he could sleep through the entire week.
Harry was brought out of his staring and ice crunching by the sound of Severus returning. He pulled his gaze from wherever it had landed towards Severus as the man appeared in familiar loungewear. Severus's scrutinizing gaze swept over the tray before softening as it took in Harry's face. "Feeling better now?"
He wasn't sure if being as tired as he was was better but the buzzing was less so that probably counted. Harry nodded.
"Good." There was a pause, brief but there, before Severus stated, "A proper tour can wait. You need sleep and I promised your Head of House this would be a brief visit."
Harry pushed the tray to the side and got to his feet. Severus offered Harry his school robe and Harry blinked wide eyed at it before looking down. Sure enough the only thing on was his sweater over his clothes. He took it and quickly tugged it on, not remembering Severus taking it off of him. No, that wasn't quite accurate. He had a vague impression of Severus tugging it off of him after sitting on the couch.
Severus's hand settled on the top of his head and he looked up. "Ready?" Harry nodded. "Then let us be on our way. We will find time during the weekend for you to see these rooms more properly if you want."
A yawn stretched his jaw even as he nodded again.
The walk back to the dorm felt shorter than the walk from it. Harry wasn't complaining. Unconsciously, Harry gave Severus a brief hug - that Severus returned without any of the dishes Harry had expected when he realized what he'd done - before crossing to the right barrel and repeating the knock Tiffany had done earlier. He took two large steps back at the click, the brief panic of possibly getting it wrong making him overly cautious.
"Goodnight, Mr. Potter," Severus said before briskly leaving.
Harry waved after him even if Severus wouldn't see it and stepped back into the Hufflepuff common room. It was surprisingly bustling but no one glanced his way as he went right to the dorms. The only one in the First Year boys dorm seemed to be Roger whose alcove's curtains were still closed. The other alcoves were completely empty. Harry was immensely grateful he didn't have to talk to anyone and made quick work of letting his alcove's curtains down. They made the alcove feel a bit too small but Harry was too tired to care. It was safer; less space for someone to hide in. He tugged the curtain over the window before changing into his pajamas. It took far too long for him to figure out how to get the two small light sources - one on the desk and another on the shelving unit that made the headboard of the four poster - to turn off but once it was blessedly dark in his alcove, he flopped face first into the bed not caring for once that it was a new bed with new - at least to him - bedding and blankets. Thankfully everything felt and smelled fresh and new. There was no additional fragrance to the sheets and the textures were familiar. As soon as he was settled under the covers, he was out.
Harry slept through the night, waking only once and it was so brief, Harry didn't even remember it when he properly woke that morning, let alone the reason why he had woken up. Just before his brief break in sleep, Harry had a very strange dream. In that dream he was wearing Professor Quirrell's turban. It kept talking to him, telling him he had to transfer to Slytherin at once because it was his destiny. Every time Harry told the turban no, it grew heavier and heavier; every time he tried to pull it off, it wouldn't budge. Someone was laughing at him as he struggled, a high and cold laugh, before there was a burst of green light that startled Harry awake, the same sort of startle that happens when something comes flying at your face and you flinch back from it. All it did, though, was wake Harry enough to roll over and fall right back to sleep.