1-2011

"Students may also bring a cat or owl or toad and a smartphone with a MM4 certification only for communication purposes, and to be used exclusively on weekends" Harry read out loud as Hagrid guided him through the Alley.

"What is a MM4 certification Hagrid?" Harry asked curiously, finding amusing wizards used normal technology.

"That's very new Harry, only been allowed for a couple of years, means that the smartphones are tuned to be under the radar of muggle companies and hackers and can operate inside magical wards." answered the gentle giant. The words coming from Hagrid´s mouth sounded foreign, proof that the giant hadn't been exposed for long to normal tech.

Harry couldn't judge him though, after all he didn't know what a ward was.

"Harry, mate, my post is smashing it on insta" Ron announced proudly while shoving his phone on harry face.

"What post?" Harry forcefully pushed it away so he could see better. There it was a photo of Ron and him on his quidditch robes smiling brightly, a picture they had taken right outside the changing rooms after winning against Slytherin.

"Oh, didn't know you post it".

"Open an account and I'll happily tag you".

"Says no account under 13" Ron shrugged, and Harry supposed that one of the perks of having older brothers was that those kinds of rules didn't apply to your life because they aged you faster.

Plus, he didn't want even more attention. Maybe next year.

"Snape was trying to save me?"

And as Quirrell monologued about how Snape had tried to interfere all this time with his plans he still was trying to get over the fact that Snape, as coarse and rude and nasty as he was, had been trying to protect Harry all this time.

That was something Harry would always appreciate.

He was recording every bit of that speech anyway if he wanted to replay what Quirrell was saying he would listen to it later. The man really was dumb.

2-2012

Harry's eyes stung and watered as the dreadful potion was forced down his throat.

"What did you expect? Pumpkin-juice?" Madam Pomfrey's acid remark was not appreciated. Harry half expected the mediwitch to turn and go however, she remained stationed at his bedside eying him intently.

"You know Mr. Potter, I was already working here when your parents were students" she casually said, Harry's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his parents.

"James Potter was a pretty tall and large bloke and Lily wasn't short either" she commented more to herself than to him. "I wonder…" she went over a cabinet and fetched her other wand.

"I'll run some scanning spells on you, just to be sure" and before he could say anything he felt her magic wash over him leaving a cool sensation that was wholly unpleasant. Madam Pomfrey took her time, even stopped for a moment to grab a notebook and a quill to scribble down her findings.

Harry's arm, meanwhile, was on fire, almost as if splinters were digging their way through his hand and elbow. He couldn't have said how much time it passed, but the sun was already gone, and dim candlelight was making the shadows wiggle and dance when Madam Pomfrey finished revising her notes and charts. After a sighed she sombrely stared at Harry.

"Mr Potter, just one question" Harry's hair was damped from all the sweat, his clothes sticky and uncomfortable, all he wanted to do was sleep, yet he nodded faintly wanting the day to be over.

"Before coming to Hogwarts, were you often hungry? Or sleepy?"

Hungry? Harry had been starving and he didn't even know it. The first full meal he had in like ever was thanks to Hagrid, back at the pub they were staying when he rescued him from the Dursley's. And after the welcoming feast, he threw everything up a few hours later, clearly not used to eating that much… though he ate considerably less than Ron.

He slowly nodded "Always" he voiced simply.

The mediwitch´s frown would have scared even Professor Snape, certainly was enough to chill Harry's blood. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, when she opened them again there was no anger only concern wearing her features.

"I see, well you are still a boy. There is time, we can fix it" so Harry needed fixing after all, Snape would have been delighted to know he was right and indeed Harry had been defective all this time.

His phone happily chimed, Harry quickly hid it under the sheets; Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes and disappeared behind the storage room door.

Yo mate, how u doing? Harry smiled and texted Ron back with his good hand.

zonked txt you when I wake up.

Sure mate, get better

"Mr Potter, I see those bones are not so bad if you are already on your phone".

"Sorry Madam" Harry smiled sheepishly behind his hooded eyes. She began murmuring against those blasted muggle devices while pouring the content of a pink shimmering potion on a glass.

"One more potion and I'll let you rest" Harry groaned but obeyed nonetheless and allowed himself to be maneuvered.

"Go on, this one taste much better" Madam Pomfrey soothed him as she administered the potion. "You will have one of this every three days for the rest of the year, no excuses" she instructed as Harry gulped it down liking its strawberry flavour. When he sipped the last drop, he let his head collapse on the pillow.

"Your body will recover in no time" she gently whispered; Harry was already asleep.

"Oh, Severus is it Friday already? "Madam Pomfrey exclaimed when she spotted the tall and imposing professor arriving with a trolley full of potions following him closely behind.

No, I'm just stopping by for a cuppa and biscuits. Snape bit down his sarcastic tongue and only nodded. If he had nothing nice to say, which was quite often (always), he would remain silent. A courtesy he granted few.

"Excellent" Madam Pomfrey began inspecting the inventory list taking over Snape's tracking spell on the trolley. When she finished, she led it to the storage room and signed Snape's form.

"If there is nothing else".

"Just a second" she called when the man turned to leave.

"I need another full treatment of supplement potions. A severe case of malnourishment I am afraid." Snape quirked an eyebrow and made a mental note to add the extra ingredients to his supply list.

"Of course, another first year?" He asked, it wasn't uncommon, even he had needed them when he first arrived. Not everyone had a happy childhood back home.

"No" Madam Pomfrey looked abashed and conflicted about disclosing more, but Severus was of total confidence and after a pregnant silence she said "Harry Potter".

Severus face remain impassive, as a seasoned spy's should. But his innards started churning, oh Petunia, what have you done? The boy was indeed small for his age. He nodded professionally and the two began discussing over Pomfrey's notes the way the treatment should unfold for complete success.

"The headmaster has already been notified" it wasn't a question.

"Of course," answered anyway the woman who for many was a silent angel.

And… Severus mentally prompted.

"He obviously did not share with me his intentions. I hope he will speak with his tutors".

He won't.

The cupboard under the stairs. He hadn't understood why the boy's address was registered on the emergency contact list as such last year but it was obvious really. Those stupid muggles were abusing the boy.

"I'll talk to him" I'll talk to them.

"Oh! thank you Severus" the woman chirped happily.

Harry could barely hide his laugh at Lockheart´s ridiculous strut around the duelling platform. The man was a clown.

"May I present you my assistant" he pointed dramatically at the other side of room "Professor Snape".

Snape had his back leaned casually against the wall with his eyes closed, surely wishing he was death and not contributing to this circus. None had spotted him before, and an excited hush began to spread like wildfire across the room. When he opened his eyes, Snape appeared positively murderous.

The look sent shivers down Harry's spine.

After a rather short and disappointing duelling demonstration where Snape had reaffirmed his clear superiority, Harry and Malfoy were paired together. But everything went to hell when unknowingly he hissed like a snake, and everyone present went bonkers. He barely registered the gobsmacked expression on Snape's face as he was recorded and uploaded in record time by dozens of students present.

Fuck social media.

By noon he had gone totally viral.

3-2013

"Mione, I promise I won't tell" Harry began as they made their way to Hagrid's class, Ron a few steps ahead was happily discussing quidditch matches with Seamus. "How are you managing your schedule? at least two of your classes overlap yet you are never late" Harry inquired nonchalantly.

Hermione began to panic, surprised Harry had noticed when she had been extra careful, but being the clever witch she was she skilfully diverted the conversation.

"How observant, now that you mentioned it Harry, I have noticed your general performance in class has improved drastically over the year! as have your grades! you should be the one telling me your secret!" Harry smiled, obliging, and allowed her to change the topic, she will eventually tell him.

"Yeah, my head is lighter, and my thoughts feel clear, my body is well… rested" Hermione turned her head to him and gave him a full-blown smile.

"That's wonderful, but you never mentioned before you were feeling off"

"That because I didn't know, I thought sleepy and easily distracted was like default setting for everyone" Harry explained "I have been taking, for a year now, a supplement potion" Harry jumped over a fallen tree branch enjoying the new wave of energy he was having.

"I see, it clearly is working, you are taller too" The underlining of having to take a supplement potion did not escaped Hermione, she had suspected Harry was neglected from the day she fixed his broken glasses and felt guilty she hadn't brought it up to Madam Pomfrey herself first.

"Yeah! I think I am catching up; Madam Pomfrey says maybe next month she might be able to perform a healing spell for my eyes"

She felt like shit alright.

"Whoa! That a hippogriff?! fuck mate I forgot my phone, common take a picture for me, will you?" Harry beamed at the creature while fetching his phone.

"No phones in class!" Hagrid scolded but everyone had theirs on hand already recording.

Snape's attempt to defend them against Lupin did not went unnoticed by Harry and he sat tearfully by Ron's bed regretting all their decisions up until that very moment.

I almost kill us.

Snape would have hexed his ass three ways to Sunday, but if he had showed him the name Peter Pettigrew on the map instead of Lupin maybe things would have gone differently. Snape would have caught the rat.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by Hermione's confession that she was indeed cheating time with a time turner and her brilliant plan to use it to fix things as much as they could.

So that was what Dumbledore was referring to.

4- 2014

"Oh fuck! I killed Harry Potter!" Neville panicked when Harry made no attempt to resurface for air but suddenly the bloke leaped 3 meters above the water with a pirouette and everything and his lungs remembered how to function again.

The public cheered.

Snape, meanwhile, began fuming knowing full well now where his lost gillyweed had went. Oh, Potter would hear it badly when all this charade was over. This stupid farce of a tournament where the boy had no place to be.

He was having a very bad feeling about this, but Dumbledore just wouldn't listen and instead he was allowing the boy to participate against the rules just for the sake of discovering who was behind everything. As if their list of suspects was that long.

Yes, and meanwhile Snape was to have mini heart attacks every time Potter faced another mortal challenge. Collateral damage. It was his own fault really, no one told him he had to care for the boy, he only had to made sure he didn't die.

However, and this wouldn't be admitted even under the most painful cruciatus, Potter had begun to catch his attention as of late. He wasn't terrible at potions anymore and seemed as smart as Granger every now and then, with clever questions and properly redacted theory scrolls.

The supplement potions had definitely worked, Snape knew the last one was scheduled next month and that would be it, the boy had recovered the lost time, and his body was growing healthier every day. Madam Pomfrey had fixed his eyesight last January and Snape almost wished she hadn't because that meant there were no glasses between him and the most beautiful eyes he had ever behold. Lily's eyes.

Snape had trouble holding the boy's stare now. The guilt was too much.

Potter's already large popularity had rocketed since that day. Who cared he spoke parseltongue? the entire female alumni not. who cared he cheated his way into the triwizard tournament? the journalists obviously not. The boy was blooming into a young man and his fanbase grew by the hour.

Severus hated every bit of it.

Because day after day, Potter was less like James, and more like Harry. Just Harry. With more refined features and a lean body instead of the brute force James had projected. One thing was certain, the scrawny little stupid boy that arrived at Hogwarts was no more.

The ugly black mop of a hair was still there though. 50 points off will suffice, he concluded.

Harry's world was crashing down upon him, he was feeling more and more suffocated by the pressure of hundreds of notifications buzzing inside his pocket.

He dreaded to read them.

He had killed Cedric.

It was him who Voldemort wanted, he didn't know why, but the maniac was just fixated with killing him, fuck he had even taken his blood!

Sitting all by himself on the highest stand, the view from the quidditch pitch was amazing. And amazingly overlooked by Harry, whose entire energy was directed towards wiping his puffed and red eyes.

He cried and cried and when he felt his head was going to explode from the piercing headache he was suffering, he cried even more. He didn't have the right to complain at least he could feel a headache.

Cedric couldn't feel a thing anymore.

So absorbed he was in his own misery that he failed to notice a body seating right next to him. He half expected Hermoine or Ron, but when the feint citric aroma reached his nose, he stopped weeping. He knew that smell, Snape's smell.

The rest of his senses began to catch up, and the pressure of a body next to him became apparent, he slowly wiped the tears from his cheeks and turned his head towards the man.

Snape's gaze was fixed upon the dark forest, his hands crossed over his lap and the moon lighting softly his semblance. He was pointily ignoring Harry's stare.

The man's tranquillity seemed contagious, after a few minutes Harry's hiccups subdue, his body stopped trembling. Snape was faintly projecting calmness through his magic, Harry realized. The young man finally noticed the beautiful summer night they were living on, the fresh air he was breathing and the nightly sounds the rest of the wild was making.

Who knows how much time it passed; he half expected a scolding that never came.

Only peaceful silence.

When he regained control of himself Snape stood and took his broom "Come on, they are expecting you" and with that he took off towards the castle.

Harry's body responded for him, it picked up his firebolt and followed Snape's dark broom immediately. His head still a mess.

The ministry questioned him for 5 sodding hours. Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall never left his side.

5-2015

"No calls, no whats, no DM, fuck not even an owl, nothing" Ron and Hermione had the audacity to look ashamed.

"Dumbledore wouldn't let us Harry, he says that now that You-Know-Who is back all our accounts are being monitored. Even our owls" Harry didn't buy it and so the feeling of betrayal lingered. It was nasty.

"Yeah, Snape checked our phones thoroughly making sure they weren't bugged" that caught Harry's attention. "But we weren't sure about yours".

"Snape?"

"He is in there actually, now that Voldemort is back, they said he'll go back spying for our side." Ron murmured.

They glanced in sync at the closed door.

"I thought he was only Potion Master".

"Well," a small pause "not only".

Harry wondered what other talents the man had under wraps.

"No one tells us anything, mum is set against us having anything to do with the order" Ron whined and for once Hermione didn't scold him for being so childish.

"Yes well, let me talk to Sirius, he'll root for us".

Harry tossed his new phone to the side and glared angrily at the pitch. The memes about him weren't even funny.

A liar.

When they all lay death who would be the liar, then? Stupid daily prophet, with its stupid tweets. His feed consisted entirely of ministry full-of-shit propaganda against him. Haters everywhere. Nightmares had followed him all the way back to Hogwarts and something gloomy within him began to brew.

Add 5 ounces of house mates' accusations,

3 stigs of cyber bullying and stir counterclockwise 6 times,

Finally add a handful of Umbridge's annoying and useless classes. And wait for it to become red.

The mixture was releasing heavy fumes of depression that were making him almost suicidal. Harry dreaded the outcome.

He put on his headphones and played randomly something; Slayer's delusions of a saviors' guitar was the final touch. He snorted at the irony and began walking towards the pitch's gym.

The gym was almost always deserted, and when not, it was mainly muggle-borns who used it. Harry didn't know if wizards simply didn't like to work out or if this particular part of the training grounds was unknown.

Harry himself wasn't very fond of doing something other than flying and playing quidditch but he wouldn't give it a shot since that activity inevitably brought him lots of unwanted attention. He opened the door and the room instantly lit itself.

Deserted.

He didn't know how to use any of the equipment, he supposed there was a technique to it. Fuck he didn't even know how to punch the sack hanging on the corner, he would surely hurt himself. Perfect.

There were some raggy old boxing gloves on the rack and Harry cautiously tried them on after leaving his phone next to the spot they had been resting. The pair magically shrink to his size.

Harry walked over the punching bag and give it a go. Two punches. His headphones fell right off his head, but the music continued playing. Another two punches. The bag didn't even budge. He frowned.

Dudley had begun competing on summer and Harry tried to remember his explanation when he wanted to give it a go on him just to amuse his friends.

First mate you open your stance and starting from the bottom, your heels can touch the ground, but the weight needs to be on the balls of your feet. Harry placed his left foot forward and began adjusting.

Knees bend, for better stability, and hips a bit turned not straight forward. Harry did so

Your hands up around your cheek level and your elbows in, chin tucked. Harry felt extremely awkward but when he launched his next two punches the sack swung more enthusiastically.

A dry laugh snapped him out of his thoughts, and he quickly turned embarrassed. Snape was leaning on the door frame, a mocking grin tugging on his lips with complete amusement.

"I don't know who is more offended by your total lack of technique, the heavy bag, the gloves, or the sport in general". Snape's acidic smirk angered Harry instantaneously.

"What would you know about it?" he regretted the words before they came out of his mouth.

"Insolent brat. 50 points from Gryffindor" shit his house was going to be pissed. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and squinted his eyes trying to calm himself down.

"Sorry, sir" he murmured and started to take off his gloves.

"You are not, but you will be if I don't see you back at your common room in five minutes" he hastily took off the gloves, practically throwing them on the rack, and picked his headphones up; wanting to be out of Snape's sight ASAP, he ran away.

Forgetting his phone on the rack.

Harry was already at the common room when he noticed it was missing and cursed himself like there was no tomorrow. Ron and the boys were getting ready for bed when he entered their room and collapse dramatically on the sheets.

"What's the matter mate?"

"I forgot my phone on the gym".

"What gym?" Harry just groaned.

"Well go back for it" he couldn't.

"No Snape was there, if he catches me, he will deduct even more points." his voice muffled by the pillow.

"What? More?" He groaned louder.

As soon as curfew was lifted Harry hurried outside, the wind stung on his face but in less than 2 minutes he reached the training grounds. At the entrance he turned left down a narrow staircase and opened the single door on the hallway. He hurried to the rack and searched, he even accioed his phone a couple of times but the device was gone.

Snape. Harry banged his head on the wall and sighed. What was Snape doing down here anyway?

He managed to eat and behave mostly normal at breakfast, some were still giving him a hard time, but most just stared at him. Quite intently. When the prickling sensation on his face was too much, he always looked up to see backs hastily being turned or eyes rapidly diverted to something else. Annoyed he asked those around him.

"Do I have something on my face or what?" Hermione gave him a cheeky smile.

"You may think all are conspiring against you Harry but it's quite the opposite" she replied, not knowing what to make of that he shrugged and continued eating.

"They all find you quite handsome" Ginny commented trying to keep her voiced neutral but the scarlet blush on her neck betrayed any neutrality.

Harry stopped mid bite, fork still inside his mouth and looked up, again many diverted their stares or feign they were looking something past him. Oh. He swallowed.

"I see" how inconvenient this shit is.

He finished his breakfast top speed, gulped his orange juice in less than 5 seconds and announced he would catch them later in class. Harry bolted up not waiting for a response leaving a trail of sighs behind.

Ginny felt guilty "he hates the attention Gin" answered Ron trying to comfort his little sister.

"It was the truth though" Ginny remarked bitterly "everyone is half in love with him" Ginny poked the rest of her scrambled eggs with little enthusiasm.

What they didn't notice was that Snape had left the hall minutes earlier.

Harry was trying to rehearse his words as he sprinted towards the dungeons, but when he arrived at Snape's empty classroom and saw the man sitting casually behind his desk, revising some parchment he had in hand, a lump in his throat forced any words he had in mind to remain there.

"Is there a particular reason I am troubled with your presence this early in the morning Mr. Potter." Snape asked not looking at him.

"Ah- yes, well"

"Eloquent as always" now he was looking at him and Harry's lump just got heavier.

"Sir, did you happen to see my phone at the gym yesterday?"

Snape stared right into his soul, an awkward silence lingered, and Harry got even more nervous. He didn't know why he was so nervous, Snape was Snape, what could he do? Laugh at him. He would do that any way. Snape took a sip of whatever he was having and after an eternity answered by taking something out of the drawer.

"I turned it off, blasted thing kept buzzing every few seconds" yeah, that was his phone alright. Snape tossed it on the desk like it was the nastiest thing he had ever touch.

"Sorry, haven't got the chance to tune my notifications".

"Hmm I suppose it is too much for your simple mind" Harry gave him a not amused stare but remained silent, he didn't want any more points off. He walked to the desk and hurriedly tucked his phone back in his pocket, muttered a small thanks and turned back to the door.

"You go to the gym often?" The question halted him, his hand already on the knob. Green eyes peaked over his shoulder.

"No, but the nightmares are too unbearable, I was hoping the exercise would help me sleep." Harry took a deep breath and prepared himself to be mocked.

"There is logic in that." Snape casually dropped. Harry turned around surprised.

"Pity your punches were so weak, not even you would be tired of throwing them." Harry pursed his lips and tried his best to remain civil.

"Well, I got interrupted before I could get more comfortable with the gloves".

"You were minutes away from curfew, Potter" Snape reminded him.

"You took points anyway, sir".

"Not my fault you can't hold your tongue".

The banter stopped. A tight silence lingered; a butter knife would have cut the tension. After a few more seconds Harry spoke.

"I am holding it now" a pause again "sir."

"Indeed"

And another pause.

"What were you doing there anyway, professor?" Snape's lips quirked.

"None of your business, Potter" Harry conceded.

"Here" Snape gently pushed a clear vial to him, Harry walked to desk again and his eyebrows disappeared behind his wild fringe when he recognized the potion, or more importantly whose potion was.

"My draught of peace" he noted and took the vial in his hands.

"You may take 10 drops before sleep" Snape instructed with his professor-ish voice, "and 5 before breakfast till the vial is empty, that should be enough" Snape's eyes bored into him "No more" he finally warned.

Harry's brain took 3 seconds to process that Snape had allowed him to drink his own potion.

The potions master always threatened the students to feed them their own failures when they were an absolute disaster, but never actually did of course. The fact that he had been permitted to consume his was the highest praise that could be received.

As Harry came to the realization an excited smile spread across his face, showing teeth and all. Snape, who had been studying his reaction, huffed and turned back to the scroll he had been trying to read.

"That would be all" Snape dismissed him with a flat tone. Harry assented and left quickly.

A goofy smile adorned his face the entire day. By night he took his 10 drops and felt calm and relaxed.

His draught of peace worked marvellously with normal nightmares. However, sometimes, Harry came to realize, he didn't have normal nightmares. They were visions full of hate and anger, through the fog he could hear screams, some nights there were waves of a pleasure that felt thick and muddy, like being anoint with oil. Sometimes he would walk along a dark hallway with many doors.

He woke up gasping for air, sweaty and awfully tired, the sun was still down, he looked at his phone, 5:00am, curfew was lifted. He gathered his clothes and stuffed them inside his backpack. Harry put on his robe and marched towards the training grounds with a t-shirt and some old joggers.

He briefly considered summoning his broom but decided against it and headed straight to the gym. When he reached the door, he noticed there was light spilling from the slit under.

He opened it anyway. Slowly and quietly.

He peaked inside.

And then close it again.

Fuck, it was Snape. His head shut down and he felt the world shrink around him. He had two options: enter and face the man's wrath, or return and face his own thoughts…

Snape's wrath it is.

Harry opened the door once more and entered, ninja-quietly. Snape was punching savagely the heavy bag with a grace Harry haven't deemed possible. There were a thousand questions that sprouted in his mind like wildflowers.

Why was Snape here?

Why was Snape boxing?

Why was Snape here, boxing?

Why was the man wearing black joggers and a long-sleeve shirt like it was a normal thing? it sure wasn't, not on Harry's book.

Why was Snape doing physical activity at all?

Should he make himself present?

His mental breakdown was interrupted by Snape's own voice.

"Are you going to stand there gaping or did you come here to actually do something useful?" Snape continued to abuse the bag, not bothering to turn.

Did the man have eyes on his back or what?

"I- um- can actually come back later" Harry sort of asked, most discomfited.

A bell rang coming from Snape's phone indicated the round had finished and the man stopped, sweat glistening on his face.

"Come on over" Snape ordered.

Harry obeyed immediately, as if in autopilot, and dropped his bag by the door and moved to stand closer. Snape took off his gloves and grabbed a towel from the rack, he wiped his face and placed it around his shoulders. His black t-shirt was soaked, clinging intimately to the man's surprisingly muscled torso, Harry felt flustered. he diverted his eyes and chose to stare at his trainers.

Harry stood awkwardly by the heavy bag, Snape turned and snorted.

"You are definitely not ready for it" he said while drawing out his wand and pointing at the floor, a long stair ladder like pattern appeared. Harry wondered what spell he was casting, he supposed it was the same one he used for writing instructions on the board.

"You are right-handed, place your left foot inside the square and show me your stance." Snape instructed entering full professor mode.

"Yes, sir." Harry did as instructed, remembering Dudley's words. Snape scrutinized his posture and began criticizing.

"Well, that's a perfect stance for a drunk brawler" Snape moved next to him and took his own stance. His knees were bent but not dramatically so like Harry's, his back was hunched but just a bit. Harry mimicked. "Shoulders loose, don't tense them up just yet" Harry did so, and his arms weren't so stiff anymore.

Snape nodded as he not so gently grabbed his hands.

"Don't fist them so tightly or they'll get cramped, right hand here touching your chin, at the level of your eyes, protecting your face. Left hand a bit forward, ready to strike first." Harry let himself be maneuvered to the right posture, Snape forcefully adjusted the angle of his hips and took a step back. Harry's legs began to complain.

"Well, an improvement."

"My legs are starting to burn" Snape actually chuckled. A deep and dark sound.

"Good boxing is always hard work on the legs." He took his stance again in front of Harry and began to step forward. Harry tried to pay attention to the way his stance remained firmly on place while he moved, it was like hopping.

"First thing you should learn is proper footwork" he said when he reached the end "never lose your stance, your right leg is going to push you forward".

Harry nodded and began practicing Snape continued varying the exercises gradually increasing the difficulty, introducing the jab, cross and hook while moving. Suddenly it was 6:30 am, a little more than an hour had passed, and Harry's legs were on fire, sweat pouring heavily down his face.

"Well now you have something that resembles a boxing stance" he finished,

Harry relaxed and nodded, not feeling quite tired but sore. Snape glanced at his watch and grunted "and it's too late for me to return to my quarters" with that, not even acknowledging Harry, he grabbed his boxing gloves and began unwrapping his own hands, then he swiftly crossed the threshold leading to gym's locker room and showers.

Harry released a breath he didn't know was holding and combed his hair with his fingers, feeling lighter without the Professor's harsh gaze over him. His first class started at 7:30 am so he still had plenty of time.

He waited 10 more minutes or so reviewing everything he had learn today by his own, watching himself in the mirror, then went for a shower too. He almost collided against Snape who was exiting the changing rooms fully dressed in black robes with his cape whirling wildly behind him.

Harry was completely ignored and only heard the loud slam of the gym door closing. He never noticed him carrying those robes, Harry wondered if he had them shrink on his pocket and chastised himself for not having thought about it before.

He played some music and began getting ready for the day, his nightmares long forgotten.

For the next two months Harry spent his early mornings coming down to the gym practicing whatever Snape had taught him, sometimes he would find the man already training some others he would find the gym all to himself. It took him two weeks to find the pattern.

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays he would find Snape with his workout clothes on and already practicing. Every single time he would stop training and focus on teaching Harry something new, by the end of each session he would hold the mitts and smack him wildly when he saw an opening. Harry was sure Snape was enjoying that a bit too much.

That day however his cross was particularly shitty. Snape of course noticed.

"Focus, Potter" a smack "you are barely putting any force into that cross!" Harry was breathless, he stopped and panted.

"Sorry sir, it's just, my hand it's bothering me." Snape lowered the mitts and quirked an eyebrow, "did you spring your wrist?" Again. It had happened before after all, and Snape had reminded him how clumsy he was as he couldn't even wrap his hands properly. Yet, he fixed it right away.

"No" Harry recovered his breath and continued "it's just" another pant "stupid toad-face made me write some lines with this strange looking quill."

"You are serving detention with Umbridge?" Harry removed his new gloves and proceeded to unwrap his hands.

"Who isn't? the woman is histrionic" confirmed Harry. He heard Snape's sharp inhale when he saw how bloody his hand was, his wraps here soaked.

"Let me see" Snape hissed as he took his hand, inspecting it, Harry let him know it looked worse than it actually was, "do me the favour of not talking, Potter." was the response he got as Snape read the phrase, I must not tell lies. Harry guessed the boxing had reopened the deep cuts.

For a brief moment Harry thought he saw anger and worry on Snape's face but when the man cracked a nasty murderous grin, he figured he had thought wrong.

What a git. Laughing at his pain.

"We have her" uh? "The bitch should've known better" Snape's uncharacteristic swear took him by surprise, his tone was low and heavy with danger.

"She thinks only because the minister appointed her with an extraordinary decree she can do and say whatever she pleases. Fudge has Dumbledore under probation, but this could be his downfall" Snape cast a bit of light on Harry's musings.

"You will go to Madam Pomfrey right now that it's bleeding again" Snape began "tell her everything, she will go to Dumbledore, and he is oath bound to make an extraordinary inquiry without the council's express permission when a student's been abused." Ah! "The inquisitor will taste her own poison."

And so, Snape's butterfly effect began.

"I recorded her." Harry helpfully added.

"You are smart after all, Potter." Snape released his hand and sat on the workbench behind him. "Let me see" Harry took out his phone and played the video to him. Snape face remained impassive the entire duration of the video.

"Don't show them that yet or they may ask you to give the video up as evidence and it will be lost." he ordered when it finished, Snape hunched forward and rested his chin on his hand "no, you will share this on Gryffindor's group chat as a good intentioned warning, by noon that video will have gone viral" Snape directed, Harry nodded, eager to get back at the ministry.

"Now go"

"Yes, sir" Harry grabbed his stuff and headed to door "see you on Tuesday."

And with that he left, he didn't saw the mild surprise on Snape's eyes or the fidgeting of his fingers when he was watching the video, nor did he stick around to see Snape putting on his gloves again to smash furiously the heavy bag.

Snape's plan had unfolded perfectly, Dumbledore was absolutely incensed. He ordered the head of houses to perform a thorough investigation in search of more cases like his.

It took them 2 hours to uncover 5 cases in total.

3 Gryffindors

1 Ravenclaw

1 Hufflepuff

And an entire number of students heavily traumatized by the odious woman.

It was more than enough to move forward a motion of suspension for Umbridge, however her reputation was thoroughly swept when Harry's video was uploaded on all platforms. Not even the minister was left untouched, and dozens of owls and mails began to storm the headmaster's office demanding justice for the aggravated students.

The parents of said students were summoned at the Ministry for compensation the day after, a Saturday. In Harry's case, Dumbledore, much to Fudge's dismay. They came to an agreement, Umbridge was to be removed from Hogwarts immediately and they wouldn't press charges, plus a considerable amount of hush-money. Rita Skeeter's tweet had Harry portrayed as a martyr who had suffered to protect the students by handling himself the mad woman's wrath. What a lie. But people loved a good fairytale. Thousands of new followers sent their dm's expressing their admiration and respect for the following days.

How fickle their opinion is. Harry thought.

The next morning Harry was catching up with his two best friends by the central gardens, as the school took a breather from the horrendous atmosphere that Umbridge had spread. They listened intently on that lazy Sunday to Harry's tale though, he left his early training sessions with Snape a secret; he would tell them eventually, but not today.

"Common Harry you should post a picture" Ron encouraged him.

"What?" Harry hated posted something about himself "why?"

"For your new followers" Ron grinned.

"I agree with Ron" Hermione seconded "but not for your new followers, you should post against the politization of education, the minister's agenda should have nothing to do with the school's affairs" she professed. "Hogwarts being a public school doesn't mean it must me devoid of all autonomy."

"That might get Dumbledore in trouble, Fudge already hates him" Harry countered.

"If he had people like Umbridge at Hogwarts imagine who he has working at the Ministry. Dumbledore should be minister" Hermione had a valid point.

"Maybe I could just post something neutral" he suggested. At the end they managed to reach common ground. They posted a picture of Harry talking amiably with Hagrid by the fire, the golden hour making everything glow.

That post was bound to have lots of reactions, Harry looked drop-dead gorgeous casually opined Luna as she passed them by and peaked at what they were doing. Harry blushed lightly.

Ron was sure some sponsors would send him merch for advertising and Hermione casually redacted something about appreciating Hogwarts return to normality after the Ministry's bad call.

The effect was immediate, flocks of notifications made Harry's phone buzz permanently, he had to turn them all off. More tweets came agreeing that the Ministry was a total fiasco, and some companies contact him and offered to send their merch hoping for a review.

Success everywhere.

By supper the entire school was in a good mood. Even Snape, who hadn't taken points that day.

The good mood was short lived however, at least by Harry. The nightmares-visions returned that night full force. Harry woke up panting and distraught, he grabbed his backpack and went for the gym. He tried to do the amount of push ups Snape had dared him to do, knowing full well he wasn't able to reach that many reps, and ended his session with some shadow boxing feeling blissfully sore by 7:00 am.

At breakfast he was apparently the main course, all eyes were on him. All conversations about him. He considered briefly skipping the meal all together, but Madam Pomfrey had made him promise he would take good care of himself. After all the hard work she had done on him.

He sighed, his hair still damp, headphones hanging around his neck, as always, and began serving himself a plate.

"DADA classes have been suspended temporarily" Hermione announced totally abashed. Harry himself was quite happy about it.

"We have our O..W.L.s in a few months what are we going to do" she wailed.

"Mione, we read all the 5th and 6th year textbooks this summer." Harry reminded her, she had been adamant they read everything in advance to keep their grades sharp. Harry didn't mind, he was a fast reader now and could actually remember what he read.

"Yes, but we never got to practice any of it" Ron arrived looking totally dishevelled.

"Yo, what's up?"

"Mione is having a panic attack" Harry answered with his mouth full.

"What? Why?"

Dumbledore called for attention and began giving a speech about the situation Hogwarts had been in.

"Not to worry, we will have a new teacher by the end of the month, I suggest you visit the library in the meantime, your head of house will provide you the titles of your DADA new reading material" Dumbledore instructed.

"At times like this, is when we must show our resilience and commitment to our academic goals. I am sure, you will find new ways to improve your skills with or without a proper instructor." Dumbledore finished, eye twinkling madly, everyone clapped and cheered. The Umbridge calamity was no more.

Hermione wasn't comforted.

"We must head to library right now; all the good books are going to be taken."

"Let us eat in peace" Ron demanded.

"Ronald, that is why your grades are barely tolerable" Hermione chastised "Harry and I have to make up for your lack of awarded points" Harry continued eating without commenting.

"Harry is it true you can cast a full corporeal patronus?" Luna asked/yelled from the Ravenclaw's table, Harry choke on his orange juice.

All eyes on him.

"He can" Hermoine fortunately answered for him.

"Whoa! Could you teach us mate?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, teach us!" a chorus joined even from the Hufflepuff table.

Harry cleared his throat and cast a quick glance at the professor's table. Snape was watching, clearly entertained. Harry felt incredibly nervous again.

"I can't be as presumptuous enough as to consider myself qualified to teach you anything" some shoulders hunched in disappointment.

"But" they all perked again.

"Maybe we could, you know, open some sort of club for us to practice, like Lockhart had intended" he proposed. Everyone happily agreed that it was a most excellent idea.

"We need to find a proper place for us to do so, and we can open it officially by signing a petition and taking it to McGonagall, today." Hermione proposed taking care of the administrative part of the idea.

"All interested, please sign here." she pulled out a scroll and a pen that were passed throughout the dinner hall.

"As for the space, let's take the day to think about it more thoroughly and we will share our ideas tomorrow" Harry had created a monster. While they were all busy, he sneaked away unnoticed, or so he thought.

"So, you can cast a corporeal patronus, Potter?" Snape voice intercepted his escape, just outside the great hall. The words were curious, but the tone was mocking.

"Professor," Harry inclined his head "all went according to your plan." Harry tried desperately to change the subject; the strange nervousness returned.

"Everything does" he answered smugly as he began walking towards the dungeons, Harry matched his pace. "You haven't answered."

"I can" he replied.

Snape hummed in response.

"Smart and capable, you are full of surprises Potter," Snape began "pity your eloquence still needs some work." Harry blushed profusely, the man would praise him a moment and then smack him the next to keep him grounded. Harry's head spiralled from the whiplash.

He loved it.

The realization surprised him.

When they reached the end of the hallway, they parted ways as Snape turned left to the dungeons. Harry remained rooted on the spot, watching his retreating back.

Look back, look back, look back. He mentally chanted common, look back. Look back! He was about to give up when Snape paused for a second, right before the stairway, and gave him what he wanted, just a flicker of the eyes, the smallest turn of head, before swiftly disappearing.

Harry could have imagined it, but he was sure he hadn't. A giddy smile spread on his face; a weird sensation made his stomach tighten. He looked down as he felt a wild blush heat his face. He looked back. The thought accompanied him the rest of the day.

Dawn was near and the view from the quidditch's pitch stance was breathtaking, as usual. Yet, Harry didn't pay any attention to it, as usual.

His new DADA book was incredibly interesting, yet, Harry was flipping it mind absently while his mind pondered about his last nightmare.

He had been the snake.

He hadn't realized before because he could hear a voice speaking nonsense but now he was certain. He had been the snake and it was always searching for something.

The dark room was a total mystery but now Harry knew beyond doubt there was some sort of connection, a link, between him and Voldemort's snake. It had happened before actually, a year ago; when he saw Barty Crouch Jr kneel before Voldemort's atrophied body through its slitted eyes.

Harry was at a loss, he didn't know what to do, should he inform Dumbledore? The man was avoiding him, but Harry, after getting over his hurt, concluded the headmaster surely had his reasons. Maybe something to do with the nightmares.

That's it! He closed the book abruptly.

Dumbledore knew about his connection with the snake, he himself had told him about it. The snake was Voldemort's pet and familiar, if he could see through the snake's eyes then… maybe… they could see through his.

A wave of paranoia was shot through his veins making his heart rate go full-speed.

Extremely alarmed he closed his eyes after the terrible revelation and lifted a hand to cover them. Fuck no wonder they wanted him far away from anything order related! He was a menace to their plans, to their existence!

Harry began hyperventilating.

He should tear them off. Take out his own eyes.

Make sure everyone was safe from him. Why did he have the connection, why him? Harry clawed his face and gripped his black hair tightly. Despairing at the prospect of being monitored by Voldemort himself, disgusted he was so utterly interwoven with the mad man.

He could end it. An insidious thought crept in.

He could jump and make sure everyone was safe again.

He should jump.

Harry opened his eyes, what a wonderful night to die on. Just before dawn, stars still out, moon shining beautifully above him. Harry took out his phone and checked the time. 4:37 am.

Nice hour to die.

A pacific feeling descended upon him. His mind set. He walked towards the wooden rail and climbed, he took one final breath and stepped into the nothingness.

Into the end.

Two hands yanked him back so violently he flew a least three meters away from the edge and landed harshly on the floor.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, BOY?" Snape boomed. Harry was shocked for an instant and stood up angrily but the same anguish that had consumed him before took a hold of him immediately.

"NO!" He closed his eyes "GET AWAY FROM ME!" He took a few steps back, Snape gripped him by his arms but Harry resisted clearly distressed. "HE WILL SEE" he implored "YOU ARE NOT SAFE WITH ME, HE WILL SEE YOU!"Harry felt tears falling down his cheek.

"What are you babbling about Potter?" Snape asked softly trying to understand, while Harry wriggled under his firm grip.

"Please" his voice broken, suddenly feeling drained "you are not safe, he will see, I am a danger… to everything… please" the poor boy began sobbing as he collapsed on the floor.

"Hush you bloody fool" Snape let go of his arms and grabbed his face, he wiped the spilled tears from his cheeks with an alien tenderness. "Stop this racket" Harry felt worthless and continued mumbling about him being a monster. Surmised in his own despair he lost track of time but eventually he heard Snape said

"He doesn't know yet" Harry's sobbing subdued a little, trying to make sense of Snape's words.

"What?" He still didn't dare to look.

"He doesn't know yet of your connection with him. He doesn't have visions like you do." How could Snape know?

"Of course I know, Dumbledore has been suspecting this for months" had he said that aloud?

"I have been at the meetings, trying to pick anything related to your visions up, he knows nothing yet." Oh. Harry stopped shaking. Snape was still holding his face.

"I am tainted" he sniffled lamely.

"Stop being overdramatic, you are Harry Potter, the boy who lived. You are blessed" something inside him warmed at the familiar titles. They sounded so sure, so void of disdain like they usually did coming from Snape, they sounded simply, like a fact.

"Harry" it was the first time Snape said his name without the Potter.

"Harry" Snape tried again, nudging him out of the state he was in.

"Look at me" Snape gently commanded and Harry felt compelled to obey immediately. He opened his eyes, his vision blurred, but after a few blinks Snape's face became clear. The man had an expression he had never seen on him before, one he could easily recognize.

Snape was frightened.

"You are safe" an almost imperceptible caress with his thumb "as I am" he comforted him.

The words took a moment to sink in, but he slowly nodded. Snape gaze studied him intently and Harry felt himself being drowned by his obsidian eyes. So dark and mysterious, like the man himself. Harry couldn't tell how much time it passed but Snape eventually let go of his face and stood up, reaching out his hand.

Harry took it, never wanting to let go.

"Let's go to the Headmaster" Snape proposed and went to pick up Harry's stuff. The boy stood there awkwardly suddenly ashamed of his meltdown.

"I am sorry" he pitifully offered. Snape said nothing, instead he placed a hand on his shoulder and it remained there the entire way to Dumbledore's office..