Severus handed out the rest of the Slytherin schedules by rote: the only significant matter came up when he was doing the Sixth years, as they were first year Newt students who needed to figure out which classes they could actually do. But otherwise, handing out the schedules wasn't a major hassle.

Severus then retreated back to his office, so he could think about what he had learned about Potter from Potter's mind:

It was clear now, that his initial assumption that Potter was trying to play a prank on him was completely wrong: the boy hadn't even known he existed before coming to Hogwarts. Once again, Severus had allowed his hatred and resentment towards James Potter to color his thoughts and actions.

James Potter… just thinking of the man made Severus blood boil… but it was clear that Harry Potter was not his father's son.

Whatever Potter's childish reasons for join Slytherin, Severus's relationship to his father clearly didn't factor into them.

Perhaps… it would be best if he just kept Potter at arms length, and avoided thinking about him when possible… though, that probably would be irresponsible of him as Potter's Head of House.

Still, he found it difficult to think of Potter without thinking of his father…

Severus sat back in his chair. He needed to sort out his thoughts, and gain some level of detachment from the emotions he was experiencing right now.

Yes, an Occlumency session sounded like a good idea right now… it was a good thing that he had a few hours before classes.

With that, Severus relaxed and cleared his mind, before focusing on his recent experiences. Carefully, he sorted through each memory, applying a tag to each and detaching emotion from each of them.

When he found the memory of observing Potter for the first time after the sorting, Severus was careful to detach the righteous anger he had felt at Potter's seeming ability to fit right in with Slytherin House, before carefully examining the memory.

With a start, Severus realized that, because of the changes he had made to his appearance, the young Potter child didn't look anything like his father, anymore. In fact, with the new appearance, Severus found it much easier to separate the two in his mind, and his emotions regarding the younger Potter cooled somewhat.

With that, Severus made a mental note to make sure that the younger Potter always had access to a vial of Sleekeazy's, so he could keep his hair in the Slytherin style. That way, the younger Potter wouldn't awaken Severus's painful emotions regarding his father as easily.

For the rest of the day, Severus did his best to put Potter the younger out of his mind, instead simply focusing on his classes, and avoiding looking at the Slytherin Table when at lunch and dinner.

Potter managed to avoid his attention for the first day, but on the second day, Potter disappeared after lunch.

Severus first learned that Potter had disappeared when Gemma Farley came up to the Staff Table during Dinner. As Severus had been studiously avoiding looking at the Slytherin Table, he didn't notice Farley until she was standing in front of him.

"Professor Snape?" Farley questioned carefully.

"Yes, Ms. Farley, what is it?" Snape asked dully.

"I'm afraid to report that Mr. Potter, one of our first year students, has gone missing," Farley replied carefully.

"What?" Severus blinked. "What do you mean, he's gone missing?"

"He missed his second period Herbology class," Farley reported. "and we couldn't find him in the common room, or his dorm, and he hasn't turned up for dinner."

Severus groaned and rubbed his eyes. What was it with Potters causing problems for him.

"Well, that's unusual," Dumbledore pointed out wryly. "It isn't like you to lose track of your students, Severus. Though I did notice that you seemed to be avoiding looking at your house table. Did you have some kind of altercation with Mr. Potter? I noticed you seemed quite irate when he was sorted into your house."

"I don't want to talk about it," Severus grumbled. "I suppose we'll need to conduct a search of the school-"

Before Severus could finish his sentence, an owl swooped down from the ceiling, dropping a letter in Dumbledore's lap. Dumbledore opened it at once.

"It appears that won't be necessary, Severus," Dumbledore said a moment later. "It seems that Mr. Potter has been spending time with Hagrid."

"What?" Severus asked with surprise. "What is that boy doing down there."

Wordlessly, Dumbledore passed the letter to him, and Severus did his best to read the chicken scratch that was Hagrid's hand writing.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

Found Harry crying down by the lake.

Took him to my place and gave him some tea.

Harry fell asleep, and I forgot that he might have classes.

Thought I'd let you know.

Hagrid.

Severus frowned. Potter had been crying down by the lake? Why?

He then looked at Farley, who was still standing in front of the staff table. "Ms. Farley, how has Potter been fitting in to Slytherin House?"

"Fairly well, for all that he was raised by Muggles," Farley replied carefully. "He's already made a few friends in Mr. Zabini and Ms. Moon, and he seems to be adapting well."

Severus, who was a Slytherin himself, and knew how things worked in Slytherin, translated the message in his head: Potter had already made a pair of allies in Zabini and Moon, and he seemed to be grasping how Slytherin worked fairly quickly.

"Ah, it's good that Mr. Potter found new friends so quickly," Dumbledore commented. "I admit, when Mr. Weasley chose to shun him for his choice of house, I was concerned that Mr. Potter might find himself without a social life."

"Yes, sir," Farley nodded carefully.

Slytherin blinked. He had forgotten that Potter had been friends with Weasley before his sorting.

"What do you mean, Potter was raised by muggles?" Severus asked carefully.

"Oh yes, Potter mentioned that at the sorting ceremony," Farley nodded. "Apparently, the muggles kept him in a broom cupboard before he got his letter, then they moved him to his cousins second bedroom. Sounds like a perfectly awful group of people, if you ask me."

Severus blinked. "Potter said that?"

"Petunia kept Harry in a broom cupboard?" Dumbledore asked with shock.

"Petunia? Petunia Evens?" Severus asked with shock. "You sent Potter off to live with Petunia?"

Dumbledore gave him a grave look. "Yes, though her name is Petunia Dursley now. She's married. Severus, we'll need to investigate this. Come to my office tonight, and we'll pay Petunia a visit."

Severus frowned, before turning to Farley. "Thank you, Ms. Farley, you may go."

"Very good, Sir," Farley nodded. "Should I go and retrieve Potter?"

"No, I'll handle that myself," Severus shook his head.

"Very well, sir," Farley nodded, and walked off.

"Obviously, Potter deserves detention for missing his Herbology class," Severus said in a tone that brooked no argument.

"Obviously," Dumbledore nodded, frowning. "I'll see you tonight, Severus."

With that, he got up and swept off.

Well, there was no reason to wait, so Severus gave his unfinished meal a mournful look, before getting up himself and making his way down to Hagrid's hut.

Hagrid was outside of his hut, peeling a bunch of parsnips for dinner.

"Professor Snape," Hagrid said when he spotted him. "Yeh here to get Harry?"

"Yes, as he missed his Herbology class and dinner," Severus replied shortly. "He will receive detention, of course."

"Bu', but, Harry was crying by the lake," Hagrid exclaimed. "He's had a rough go of it these past days… surely he don't deserve punishment for that!"

Severus frowned. "Be that as it may, the boy did still miss his Herbology class, so he'll be serving detention with me this Saturday."

"I wouldn't have called yeh out here if I thought Harry would get in trouble," Hagrid muttered with a booming voice.

"If you didn't want Potter to get in trouble, you should have made sure he'd get to class on time," Severus bit out. "Now, if you don't mind, go and get Potter so I may return him to the common room."

Hagrid glared at him for a long moment, then he got up and opened his door, only to reveal Potter standing behind it. It was obvious that he had been listening to them.

"Mr. Potter," Severus said with as bland a tone he could muster. "Come, it's time for you to return to the common room. Curfew will be in place in a few minutes."

Potter just nodded with a frown, before stepping out of the door and walking up to stand next to Severus. Without another word, Severus turned and swept off towards the castle.

"Good night, Hagrid," Potter called over his shoulder.

"Good night, Harry," Hagrid called back. "See yeh again soon."

Severus remained silent as he led them back to the castle, and when they arrived at the Entrance Hall, Severus stopped and turned to face Potter. "Mr. Potter, as you missed your Herbology Class earlier today, you will be serving detention with me this Saturday. I expect to see you at my office this Saturday at 5 pm sharp. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir," Potter nodded.

"Very well," Severus gave a shallow nod back. "You may go, Potter."

Potter made to do just that, before he paused. "Sir, may I ask… why do you hate my father so much?"

Severus carefully examined Potter. Apparently, he actually had been sleeping, as his hair was mussed up a bit, but not enough to remind him of James Potter. His eyes, still mercifully free of the glasses, were a painfully familiar green, that stared at him expectantly.

How much dare Severus reveal? Every day brought new revelations about Potter: He had been raised by his dreadful Aunt, Petunia, who was apparently called Dursley now, and according to Potter himself, he had lived in a broom cupboard until he got his first letter… it reminded Severus all too much of his own painful childhood… and to think that Lily's child had lived in such horrible conditions… it was too painful to think of.

"Your Father was a bully, Potter." Severus said eventually, keeping his words measured and short. "He and his… 'friends' did their best to torment me, and others, during my time as a student here at Hogwarts. That is all."

With that, Severus turned away, only just barely catching a stricken expression forming on Potters face, but he didn't turn back to look again.

After all, he had a very old… 'friend', to visit tonight.

Hopefully, he would soon learn the truth of Potter's past, whether it be good, or ill.

Severus just hoped he wouldn't find himself sympathizing with the child too much.

It'd probably make him sick to his stomach, to sympathize with James Potter's son.