CHAPTER 10 - DIAGON ALLEY

It was already mid-July, getting closer to Harry's birthday, when Harry woke up with a letter on his bedside table. He smiled, he knew what it was without the need to even put on his glasses to see it. He did all the same, sitting on his bed and grabbing the letter. He felt the weight on it, a rush of excitement running through his veins as he realized it would be the last time ever he'd received a letter from Hogwarts.

He opened it, almost reverently, and looked at the already familiar welcoming letter, feeling his stomach jump at the cursive font. This year, though, the letter came with a difference. It said:

"We're pleased to inform you that you have successfully been accepted to your final year at Hogwarts, due to the previous year's unforeseen circumstances. Enclosed within, you shall find a list of books and equipment necessary.

The school year shall begin on September 1st, we will be waiting for your owl's reply."

Harry's heart beat fast as he read the letter, a silly smile plastered on his face. He noticed the letter included a different wording this time around, he probably wasn't the only one who was returning. He wondered who would come back to finish their studies in acceptable conditions this time.

It would be a bit strange, having eight years at Hogwarts. For one, the dorms would have to be modified to accommodate more students, which reminded him, he should ask McGonagall about that. Now that he was pretty much done with the refurbishment work at the Gryffindor Tower, if there was a need for expansion and more dorms, he could do it now. The tables at the Great Hall would have to be elongated, and Harry hoped that didn't mean their days would be longer. Having morning and afternoon lessons was already quite taxing, and the 5th and last year were particularly hard for the OWLs and NEWTs exams.

But Harry was excited to begin.

After what he'd gone through, especially in the last year, being able to return to Hogwarts as a normal guy was everything he wanted. To have his homework, exams and detention be his only troubles; and not a madman chasing him and wanting to kill him, was a welcome change.

Besides, Harry had to admit he was now curious about how his relationship with Snape would go. They were not friends, not exactly. To be honest, he didn't really have a name for what they were. But now at least they were civil with each other. And against all odds, Snape had actually opened up a bit to Harry.

He still marvelled at the little steps the Potions Master was taking. Not only had he admitted to Harry that he found teaching appealing now that he didn't have a role to play. But he had also, perhaps most surprisingly, listened to Harry's advice and had heeded his words. Harry wanted to see how his lessons would be now that he'd promised he'd try to be more patient.

"I got my Hogwarts letter!" Harry exclaimed as he entered the Hospital Wing that morning, holding the letter in his hand.

"As if you hadn't received any Hogwarts letter before," Snape said with sarcasm, though a smirk was on his lips.

Harry stuck out his tongue at him and laughed.

"It's the last one I'll ever receive, excuse me if I'm feeling both a bit happy and emotional," Harry said as he sat down on his customary chair. "Do you…" he was about to ask, but he shut his mouth.

Snape, though, had heard him.

"Do I… what?"

"I was going to ask… do you remember the day you got your first letter?" Harry said, his voice low, "but you don't have to answer, it's… it's alright."

Snape then looked away, through the window. His face covered a part of his face so Harry couldn't see much, but he could see his body relaxed.

"Yes, I remember it as if it were yesterday. I will never forget that day," Snape replied, and his voice sounded soft, deep. His gaze then looked down to his lap, his fingers beginning to play with a thread on his bed sheets.

"Your mother and Petunia had argued and they weren't speaking… that made Lily a bit subdued, but… I couldn't help it. The moment I knew I would leave that shabby place I was bursting with excitement."

"I saw that memory, you gave it to me... are your parents... still alive?" Harry was almost scared to ask.

Snape shook his head.

"Mother died in my fourth year, that summer it was just my father and me. I very nearly ran away from home three times," Snape said, "Father died in my sixth year."

Harry nodded, looking at Snape.

He smiled, tilting his head, and through instinct, he leaned forward. His fingers, still trembling with anticipation, travelled to Snape's face. They played with his hair, brushing it slightly but not uncovering his face, as his thumb brushed Snape's cheekbone.

"I'm glad he's gone and can't hurt you any more," Harry said in a soft voice, "thank you for telling me."

Snape cleared his throat, looking away.

"You may ask, if you want. I might find it… hard to remember certain things. But I can try to tell you a bit about her," Snape said, "if there is anything I don't wish to disclose I will simply refuse to answer."

Harry's smile widened, touched.

"I don't want to make you remember things you'd rather not," Harry said, "but I really, truly appreciate it. A lot of people told me things about my dad, but not many about my mum besides the fact that she was good and gracious."

Snape snorted, raising his gaze and looking at Harry.

"Yeah, and temperamental, and funny, and incredibly intelligent," Snape said as a lopsided smile slipped through his lips. "You asked me a few days ago if you had her temper or stubbornness. And the answer is definitely yes. She also had a fierce sense of justice, which I am glad to see she's passed on to you."

Harry felt heat rising to his cheeks and cleared his throat.

"I had refused to see anything other than James Potter in you. But now I can see how much of her you truly have," Snape continued, "though I don't know about… her later stages in life, I do know for a fact that she had a good heart."

Harry felt his lips tremble and a lump in his throat, and realised that his eyes were going misty.

"I upset you," Snape said as he looked at him and saw the tears, "I apologise, I didn't…"

"No!" Harry said, sniffling and leaning forward, "No, you didn't upset me. It's just that… I've never heard anyone describing her like that. As a person, as someone other than a good entity that I never could even imagine in my head."

Harry then sighed, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand. His other hand slowly found Snape's, gently holding onto it.

"People talk about my father so much, I knew about his Quidditch skills and his troubles at school. I used to hold onto that like grasping at straws, it was the only thing keeping me tethered to them," Harry explained. "That's why I got so angry when you insulted him. Who should I believe? Everyone who told me how good he was, or you, who had loathed him since your school years?"

Harry paused for a beat, but he felt like the words were flowing out of his mouth, incapable of stopping them now. He had never talked about this before, with anyone.

"But nobody talked about my mum. Remus had told me once she was capable of seeing beauty in everyone, including those who didn't see it themselves. But it felt like she was a spirit, a being, someone just… there. You painted her as human, as a real person that existed, with flaws and all."

"Nobody likes to talk about a dead person's flaws or insult their memory," Snape replied. "I assume that's why you never knew about the late Potter's shortcomings except from me. His friends would not think what they did was serious enough to even mention it and taint his memory."

"They should have," Harry said, "I spent the first years of my life in the Wizarding world believing my dad was some sort of god who could do no wrong. But then I saw that memory in the pensieve… and I started to believe that you might be right about my dad."

"I could have said it in a more enlightened way, too. But the loathing and the personal feud I have with him and with Black blinded me."

"I am sorry for looking into that memory, by the way. I never properly apologised," Harry said, "it was wrong to snoop, and even though it helped me understand certain things later… I shouldn't have done it. You have a right to privacy."

Snape nodded, but he didn't reply. It was obvious that the memory still stung for him, Harry hadn't known it then, but it was the day he lost Lily forever.

"I think it's enough memories for one day," Harry said, attempting to break the sombre countenance that Snape's face had taken. "Thank you for telling me about her, Snape. You don't know just how much I appreciate it."

Snape just nodded, his eyes still had a misty shadow.

"Now, I will be writing to Ron and Hermione to meet at Diagon Alley, perhaps tomorrow or in a couple of days. Do you have the list we talked about?"

Snape nodded again, his eyes soft though still glistening. He seemed grateful for the change of subject.

"Do you have a quill with you?" Snape asked.

Harry shook his head but summoned some parchment and a quill.

"African Sea Salt, Asphodel, Dittany, several rolls of parchment, black, blue and red ink…"

Snape kept enumerating items for a few minutes, Harry had enchanted the quill so that it would write faster than he ever could.

"Okay, is that all?" Harry asked, looking at the list, "That's fair enough, most of these I'll have to buy for myself anyway, parchment and stuff. The Ashwinder eggs are not too big, are they?"

"No, and since they'll be sold to you frozen, you can shrink them for easier transportation. The magic will not affect them," Snape replied, "thank you, Potter."

"No problem," Harry replied with a smile.

Time was spent chatting. It was still a marvel to Harry how, after years of loathing each other, he could have a normal conversation with Snape while he was sitting on his bed, his neck wrapped in white bandages and his hair a bit more tangled than usual.

It felt as if that was normal, and perhaps that was the most surreal thing of all.

That afternoon, after Harry had dealt with the classroom he was currently repairing, he sent an owl to Hermione but addressed to both her and Ron, and he assumed Ginny too. He was a bit ashamed of having neglected them a bit in the weeks he'd spent in Hogwarts, and it would be great to see them at Diagon Alley.

A part of him felt guilty, almost ashamed, that while he had missed their presence on the first weeks of his stay at Hogwarts, once Snape had woken up, he hadn't as much. It was bad enough that he felt that way, but he hadn't felt the need to check on them or write to them. It felt as though Snape and his recovery absorbed much of his energy, and he wasn't interested in much other than that. He was caught up in the whirlwind of emotions, he'd fallen in Snape's orbit. And he had no desire to move away from that.

The following morning, Harry woke up early and refreshed. The sun was already out but it was pretty early for his morning visit to Snape. He pondered whether he should leave already, but he didn't want to leave without saying something. So he wrote a little note and then, instead of letting the note fly by itself to the Hospital Wing, he walked himself there.

Once inside, it was obvious it was still too early. Even though the sun had been out for hours (thank Scottish summers), the light was still dimmed in the room. Probably the windows were enchanted to let the recovering patients rest a while longer.

Harry tiptoed towards the bed and was surprised to see that Snape was still asleep. Normally Harry went to see him after he'd had breakfast so Snape was already awake and had eaten, but not today. Harry smiled, he looked so peaceful when he slept. His hair was scattered around the pillow and he was breathing deeply, he seemed undisturbed.

He left the note by the bedside table, hoping Snape would see it when he woke up. It was a simple note that he hoped would make him smile, at least today when Harry wouldn't be there.

"What are you doing up so early?" came a voice from the bed, husky and hoarse.

Harry smiled, of course he had noticed he was in the room. He wasn't entirely surprised, after all, Snape had been a double-spy for years. He probably still had some reflexes that were almost second nature to him.

"Shhh go back to sleep, it's still too early," Harry said in a whisper. His hand went to Snape's cheek, stroking gently with the back of his finger. He'd helped him shave the day before, and his skin was soft, "You rest. I'll see you later tonight."

And Snape must've been tired because he did just that, sinking more into the mattress. Soon, his breathing turned deep and evened out.

It was the first morning that Harry wouldn't be with him to take care of his neck wound, and he couldn't deny he felt strange about it. He looked back at Snape, a part of him reluctant to leave, but he had to. He also sent another note to Pomfrey, reminding her of his trip to Diagon Alley and asking her to check on Snape for him.

Then he grabbed his cloak and rubbed at his hair to make sure most of his scar was covered with it, he marched down the marble stairs and onto the Front Gate.

He breathed in as soon as he was out, being so early the air was still cool. To be honest, he dreaded the summer heat of London; when it wasn't raining, it was humid and sticky. But here, in the Scottish Highlands, the air was cool especially so early in the morning. He walked past the Hogwarts grounds, the Quidditch pitch and the practice grounds, as he walked towards the apparition wards.

Once outside, he closed his eyes and breathed out. When he opened them again, he was in a dark alley. He could hear the bustling of the city, cars and buses and taxes, honks, people walking and chatting, a laughter somewhere in the distance.

London.

He walked outside the darkened alley and right into St Martin's Lane, and in just a few dozen meters, he got to the door of Leaky Cauldron. He smiled, he couldn't contain his excitement. The last time he'd been in Diagon Alley he'd flown off riding a dragon, which he hoped he didn't have to do anytime soon.

He opened the door, not at all surprised by the darkened atmosphere that contrasted with the sun and hot weather outside.

"Harry!" a feminine voice said.

And suddenly Harry was wrapped in a hug by a woman with a brown bush of hair. Harry laughed and returned the hug.

"Hermione, so good to see you!" he said, "how have you been, are your parents alright?"

"Yeah, they're home! They still have some lingering memories here and there we haven't recovered yet, but mostly they're fine," Hermione said as he let him go.

"Glad to hear that," Harry said.

And behind her, Ron was smiling at him. He was looking better than the last time Harry had seen him, and he smiled as Harry wrapped his arms around him.

"Good to see you, mate," Ron whispered in his embrace.

"Same to you, Ron," he answered.

And then, both of them moved and gave way to Ginny. She was looking spectacularly beautiful with her long red flowing hair and her glistening eyes, and Harry smiled, hugging her.

"Where have you been, you oaf?" she asked, and Harry chuckled, a bit self-conscious.

"I've been very busy at Hogwarts!" he said, letting her go.

Harry was expecting more Weasleys to be around, but he found out that Ron and Ginny had come alone.

"Mum has been a bit… overbearing at times," Ginny explained at Harry's eyes searching for more red-haired heads, "understandable, but a bit suffocating. Can't wait to go back to Hogwarts in a few weeks."

"I would ask how she's holding up, but…"

"Not too good, I'm afraid. Dad is a bit better, though I think he carries a lot of it inside," Ron said, "but we're trying to deal with it. We keep George entertained and busy, and I've been helping out at the shop whenever I've been able to."

"It will take time," Harry said, "we could visit him today after we've done our shopping."

All four of them walked to the back door of the Leaky Cauldron, and Hermione touched the bricks in perfect order, opening Diagon Alley for them.

Harry smiled as the brick wall moved away and his eyes darted from shop to shop, his eyes capturing every little detail. Witches and wizards going about their lives, buying this or that. Harry had had so little insight into the lives of regular wizards that he was always amazed at it. And he couldn't forget the first time he had been in contact with the magical world. Hagrid had taken him to Diagon Alley and it had been the most magical experience he had ever lived in his life. Even if he was now living in the magical world and magic was a regular occurrence in his day-to-day.

"I need to buy parchments and quills," Hermione said.

"Buy stuff for me, will you? I don't want to enter this dingy dark place," Ron said as he shrugged his shoulders.

Harry seemed to return from where his thoughts had taken him and shook his head.

"Wait, Herm, I also need to come. I need stuff for myself and Snape," Harry said.

At that, Ron narrowed his eyes.

"Snape?" he asked, "are you buying stuff for… him?"

"I am," Harry said with a smile, "he still can't travel and I offered to bring some stuff for him."

Harry went inside and he turned a blind eye to the obvious puzzled and slightly disgusted face Ron pulled at Harry's words.

Was it really so strange?

But Harry had to remind himself that, while he had been with Snape every single day and felt like a natural progression, nothing to bat an eye about, none of his friends had seen him.

"It's alright, you know what he's like with Snape," Hermione whispered beside him.

Ginny shook her head at her brother while her arms went around his middle, and Harry was surprised for a second at the contact. Her arms, thin but strong, were so different from Snape's. And lately, the only person he had been touching had been the Potions Master.

"Did you miss me a lot?" Ginny asked in a whispered, wicked voice.

Harry giggled as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Terribly," he said in a mock sappy voice.

Though within, he felt something odd, precisely because he hardly felt anything.

The beast that had been growling inside of him, fighting to escape, was no longer trying to escape free. In fact, Harry wondered if the beast was even there. It was maybe dormant. Or it perhaps had left.

Harry shook his head. He was afraid of where this line of thought would take him, and this wasn't the moment to think. There would be plenty of time to do that.

"I'll be out with Ron, who knows what my brother might do on his own," Ginny said with a giggle as she reached for him and placed a kiss on his cheek. Then she was out, her red hair billowing with her movement.

Harry looked at the place she'd left, his eyes still able to see those red locks of hair. He shook his head, he needed to focus.

Fishing out Snape's list from his pocket, he went to the clerk to ask for everything he had. He also added quills, rolls of parchment and ink for himself to last for the entire term. It didn't take them long to pay for everything and get out.

The next few hours passed by in a blur of getting in and out of shops and more shops. They entered almost every shop in the Alley, since there was always something one of the four needed to purchase.

Harry was quite surprised to see that, while people around him noticed him, they left him be. Most of them only greeted him, one or two walked up to Harry to thank him for what he'd done and shake his hand. And for once, Harry was grateful for that. He'd debated whether to use a concealment charm on himself, but it would've been more suspicious if his friends were shopping and he wasn't with them. Now he was thankful he hadn't.

At the apothecary, Harry gave the clerk the list of ingredients for him to prepare. He wrinkled his nose, checking him up and down and then, noticing the scar crossing his eye.

"Mr Potter, I see. Do you need all of this for the Potions subject at Hogwarts?" he said, and Harry didn't like his voice.

"No, sir. The matron of the school ordered this, I assume for a restock of potions at the Hospital Wing," Harry lied.

The clerk kept staring at him for a few seconds before he went to the back of the shop. Harry breathed out, he didn't like the man, and he was glad to get out of that dingy, dark old place with Snape's ingredients secure in a shrunk chest in his pocket.

"Let's visit George, shall we?" Harry said after he was done, "Then we can go have lunch. I'm kind of starving."

"I thought you'd never ask!" Ron said with a smile.

They walked down Diagon Alley, checking all the shops. They walked past a pet shop, and Harry was momentarily struck when, from the shop window, a snow-white owl looked at him through piercing green eyes. He smiled sadly and greeted the animal, who hooted in his direction. For a split second he considered buying an owl, but the pang in his heart when he thought of his old, loyal friend Hedwig still stung. He could wait a bit longer.

"Harry? Harry Potter?"

Harry turned around at hearing his name, only for something to collide with his legs. He stumbled back, and looking down, saw a young child, no more than 4 or 5 years old, grabbing at his legs.

"Harry Potter!" the child exclaimed, looking up.

He had beautiful blue eyes, which were misty and wet, but he had a smile on his lips. His cheeks were freckled and wet from tears.

"Hey buddy, are you okay?"

"Michael! What are you doing, running away like that?" came a voice.

Harry raised his eyes and saw a young man, probably only a bit older than him, rushing towards them.

"Michael, how many times do I have to tell you, you can't run off like that!" the man scolded the child, who lowered his head, "Mister Potter, sorry, sir."

"It's fine, don't worry. Michael here appeared out of nowhere," Harry said with a laugh, "now, I think I've got something for this young man here..."

Harry knelt in front of the boy, and with a wide grin, he rummaged in his backpack and grabbed what he wanted: a chocolate frog, which he presented to the boy.

"Now, you have to promise me you won't eat it until your dad gives you permission, alright, Michael?"

The boy nodded, his eyes filling with tears, as he all but threw himself at Harry's neck and hugged him tight. Harry allowed it, a part of him was shocked at the obvious display of affection and admiration for such a young boy. He then let him go and placed a hand on his shoulder as he got up and looked at the man beside them.

"Thank you, Mister Potter. As you can see, you are... someone we admire in our household," Michael's father said, offering his hand, "I'm Tom, by the way. Tom Cooter."

"Nice to meet you, Tom," Harry said as he shook his hand, "I'll let you be on your way. I'll see you around, okay Michael?"

"Thank you, Harry Potter," the boy said with a smile, the chocolate frog tight in his tiny hand.

And with that, they were on their way.

Harry blinked repeatedly, looking for his friends, who were waiting for him a few steps ahead. Harry walked up to them, still feeling out of sorts.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to this, guys," he whispered as he ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.

Hermione and Ginny were smiling, Hermione with a glint in her eye.

"You can't deny, that child was adorable!" she said as she giggled.

Together, still giggling, they walked down Diagon Alley until they could see the gigantic head of a pair of red-haired men. A huge W indicated "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes" shop.

Once inside the shop, they were assaulted by a huge number of smells, noises and sights. Harry had been to the shop before two years ago. In this time, the shop had remained largely the same.

"Hey, guys!" a deep voice came.

Harry turned around when he saw not George, as he was expecting, but Charlie Weasley.

"Charlie, what are you doing here?" Ron said, "I thought you'd be helping dad."

"I was, but I kind of wanted to get out a bit," Charlie said, then his blue eyes focused on Harry, "Harry, nice to see you again."

"Same, Charlie," he said with a smile, "I thought you'd be back in Romania by now."

"Nah, I think I'm going to be coming back home," Charlie said, "I'm tired of the constant back and forth, and maybe some time in here will suit me well."

"And if isn't half the family Weasley in my shop!" said the voice Harry recognised as George coming from the top of the stairs.

Harry looked up, and there he was.

Dressed as he always was, with a colourful suit and tie and one matching earring in the only ear he had left. He smiled at them from the top of the stairs, and Harry looked at him intently, trying to discern whether or not he was he was holding up okay.

Of course, he wouldn't, nobody in his situation would. George had recently lost a twin, a part of himself. And though his eyes didn't sparkle with mischief and amusement as they once did, he seemed to be at least trying, and it was enough for Harry.

They lost themselves in the shop as they checked everything it had.

"Hey, Harry," George said as he walked up to him, right by the puking pastilles, "how are you doing?"

Harry turned around.

"I'm doing well! Looking after Snape and helping rebuild the castle, I'm keeping busy," Harry said.

He didn't know whether to ask. George, however, seemed to know what he was thinking.

"It's alright, you can ask. I'm doing okay," he said in a softer tone, "there are worse days than others, but…"

George then rested his back against the wall, arms crossed against his chest as he looked to his right, where Harry was.

"I guess the worst I'm dealing with is having nobody to talk to because everyone else is also grieving and mourning," George said finally.

Harry then nodded and felt a pang to his chest.

"Lee Jordan lost his father too," George said, "and so we both talk about it, but… our conversations always end up being too painful and sad."

"Understandable," Harry said.

He then sighed, looking down to the floor.

"When Sirius died… I had this anger inside of me; because I thought it was my fault. If I'd tried better if I hadn't been that stupid… I wondered why him, and why me," Harry said, "and it's understandable that you'd be angry or mad that he left you."

George gasped and his eyes fixed on Harry.

"That's… exactly what I thought," he said in a whisper.

"Yeah, I get it," Harry said, "and… it's okay to feel angry. It's okay to feel mad, and sad, and feeling like you can't even get up from bed some days."

"But I can promise you, it gets better. The hot feeling in your chest and the acute pain fade away a bit after a while, and you can breathe. And then you can start doing things while actually being present in them," Harry said in a low, deep voice. "Some days the pain returns, it sort of ebbs and flows, and it can return with the most silly thing in the world. But it does get better."

By the time Harry finished speaking, wondering if maybe he'd said way too much, George's eyes were brimming with tears.

His lips, however, were drawn into a small smile.

"You are the first person that actually gives me hope, Harry," he said, and his voice faltered, "thank you."

Harry smiled, relieved at having been able to help if just a bit, and squeezed George's upper arm.

"Hey, you two! Come down, Ron here is hungry and I'm afraid he'll eat whatever he can get his hands on here," Charlie shouted from down below.

"You'd better keep your paws away, Ronnikins!" George said in a sing-song voice. He winked at Harry, who laughed and followed the older Weasley downstairs.

After visiting Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, George stayed at the shop while Charlie joined them for lunch.

Harry always liked the older Weasley's company. He'd met him for the first time in his first year when he'd come to pick up Norbert from Hagrid, and Harry liked the Weasley sibling from the start.

At first, he'd been more in shock at Bill Weasley's appearance than Charlie's. Mostly because he had imagined someone like Percy, obsessed with rules. But what he'd found was a playful young man with long hair and clothes that would fit in a rock and roll concert. Even for his wedding with Fleur, Bill hadn't cut his hair, much to Mrs Weasley's dismay.

But Charlie had managed to make Harry feel at ease and welcome in the family too, and he was fun to be around. He was shorter and more stocky than his younger siblings, who despite being also strong, were more on the tall and lanky side. Charlie was shorter and more muscular, his big upper arms snuggly hugged by the tight shirt he was wearing. His also longer hair fell onto the sides of his face in gentle curls. His face was almost always sporting a smile, his clear eyes stood out against the freckled and tanned skin. And he seemed to be sporting the shiny burn on his upper right arm with pride.

Harry sat beside Charlie when they went to have lunch, and they all ordered and ate the food in record time.

Ron, who up until lunch had been suggested was in a bad mood, seemed to improve a bit after eating. However, his face turned sombre again when Hermione mentioned the classes she would take this year.

"I was about to request for another time-turner, a year away has made me want to learn so much more than I was doing!" she exclaimed as Harry shook his head and smiled.

"You are one of a kind, Hermione," he said as he laughed, "only one like you would want to return to Hogwarts and take all the electives!"

"What are you taking, then?"

"Besides the regular ones, I've ditched Divination and I'll request ghoul studies. I also want to try alchemy," Harry said. "I spoke to McGonagall about it and she's written my name on the list, but it'll only be done if enough students show interest in it."

"That sounds interesting, I wanted to do it in my sixth year but there weren't enough people interested," Charlie commented.

Ron then cleared his throat in a very inconspicuous way, which made Harry turn his head around. Ron's ears turned light pink as he looked down, pretending to be interested in the light bubbles of his Butterbeer.

"So… Harry, is it true, what you said? You are helping the greasy git?" Ron said.

Harry knew he had been wanting to ask this for a while. He fixed his eyes on him, his expression turning serious.

"Don't call him that, Ron. I think he's earned the respect of all of us with the war and all," he said, his tone serious.

"If you say so. I still think he's evil," Ron answered, looking down at the table.

"I think it's great that you're doing it, Harry," Charlie interjected. "From what Ron and Ginny and the twins told me, Snape was far worse when you were in school than when I was. He was strict, but he never was cruel."

"Didn't he deduct points from Gryffindor just for breathing?" Ginny asked, her voice sardonic and Harry forced himself to not grimace at the tone.

"Not really, not unless there was a reason. He deducted and gave points to all Houses, but he would award more points to Slytherin for the same accomplished tasks," Charlie explained. "I'm telling you, he wasn't the same when I or Bill were at Hogwarts."

"It's likely that you, Harry, brought back traumatic memories," Hermione said, her hands under her chin as she was deep in thought. "And that's why he behaved more erratically with us. We don't know what he was like before we got to Hogwarts."

"Not so on edge, I can tell you that," Charlie said, "I attended a few meetings with the Order and that was not the Snape I remembered."

Harry nodded, happy that at least one person seemed to understand.

"I've been helping him treat his wound, so I've spent a long time with him. He's not bad when you get to know him a little," he explained, "he's funny and sarcastic, and has lots of knowledge."

Harry had his eyes cast down, his nail scratching the surface of the old wooden table.

"If you don't understand it, then at least I'll ask that you respect him," Harry said, "we wouldn't have won if it hadn't been for him."

Harry looked at Hermione, almost pleadingly, knowing she was the most likely of the three to understand him.

"What do you do with him that you've changed so much? A few months ago you loathed the man!" Ron exclaimed, and his eyes were narrowed in confusion.

"It's not what I do, Ron. I simply heal him and we talk. That's the thing," Harry said, "he's opened up to me a bit, and I'm beginning to see the man my mother knew. They were friends since they were kids."

Ron was about to say something, but he closed his mouth at the last second. Thank Merlin that, if he didn't have respect for Snape, at least he did have it for Lily Potter.

"We'd better get used to it, Ron," Harry said, "he's coming back as Potions Master this year, and you need it to become an Auror."

Ron groaned and Charlie chuckled, patting his brother on the back, while Ginny had her brown eyes fixed on Harry.

"Are you taking Potions, then, Harry?" she asked.

Harry nodded a bit too enthusiastically.

"I'm not sure what I'll do next, but I want to cover my basis. And with the Half-Blood Prince's book, I did learn quite a lot that year," Harry said.

"But we returned that," Ginny said, "we left it in the Room of Requirement, remember?"

"I sort of… went back and retrieved it a few weeks ago?" Harry said, shrugging and a bit sheepishly. "I talked with Snape about it and he has given me permission to use it, and he's promised to try better and be more patient this time."

Hermione turned completely to Harry, her eyebrows knit together.

"Harry that's cheating, you can't follow a different set of rules or instructions to the rest of us," she said, but Harry stopped her.

"He'll probably use his improved version anyway, so we will all have the same set of instructions," Harry said. "It's just that in his book there are explanations for the changes he made, and that's why I understand the process better. It's not cheating, it's understanding."

Hermione huffed, annoyed, and Ron was looking away. Ginny's eyes were focused on Hermione and they seemed to be having a silent conversation with their eyes.

Harry sighed and looked at Charlie, who shrugged. Harry knew it would be difficult, but he didn't imagine they would go so poorly.

"Guys," he tried one last time, his voice soft and pleading, "Snape is the only one alive who knew my mother, and the only tie I have left to my old family. And he truly is a good person, once you get to know him."

Three sets of eyes fell on him, and Harry knew why. He rarely spoke in such a voice. But it was important for him that his friends understood where he was and why he was so involved in Snape's healing and recovery.

"I'm not asking you to understand why I don't hate him anymore, it's a process. I've been with him every day for the past weeks and you haven't, so I get it. All I'm asking is that you respect that he's now a part of my life. And to respect him, as a person and for what he's done for the war and for us," he finished.

Ron and Ginny looked away.

Hermione, though, nodded.

"I understand, Harry. It must be hard hearing old stories of your mum," she said, reaching over the table to grab his hand. "It might be strange at first, but I'll try to respect your friendship with Professor Snape. If knowing him and being his friend makes you happy, go for it."

"Thank you, Herm," Harry replied with gratitude.

Ron was decidedly looking away, Harry knew it would take longer for him to even accept it. He focused his eyes on Ginny, who was looking at him through curious eyelashes.

"I can't say I like the idea of you spending time with... him. I can only remember how awful he's always been to us, to you," she said, and then she shrugged, "but... you do you, I guess."

Harry nodded, it was something at least. He felt something tight in his stomach, a feeling of disappointment at not being understood by his friends settling in. But he couldn't do anything else about it, they probably needed time.

Charlie then seemed to have enough of such a sombre conversation and suggested finishing their shopping. He even tagged along with them.

A few hours later, it was already dusk and Harry was feeling tired and sleepy, he couldn't wait to get to the Gryffindor dormitory. It was hard enough to keep his eyes open as his feet trudged along Diagon Alley, his pockets full of shrunken packages of different sizes that included books, robes, quills, parchment, ink, and half a dozen more school supplies.

"Well, I think I'm going to head home, mum must be frantic," Charlie said, "are you coming?"

They all turned to Harry, who was stifling a yawn.

"You should get going, guys. I'm knackered," he said as he stretched his arms.

"Will we be able to visit you for your birthday?" Hermione said, "you know, instead of sending you letters in the middle of the night, hoping our owls are not caught by your aunt and uncle?"

Harry laughed and nodded.

"Sure, I don't suppose McGonagall will have trouble with having visitors," Harry said, "and if she does, we can always go to Hogsmeade."

Ron and Hermione hugged him and disapparated first, saying goodbye with their hands.

Ginny came forward, planting a kiss on Harry's cheek. For one split second, Harry was thankful she hadn't tried to kiss him on the mouth. He wasn't sure he was ready for that yet.

"We'll see you soon, then," she said before she turned around as she disapparated with a crack.

"Charlie, you can also come if you like," Harry added as an afterthought, "you may visit Severus if you want, I'll ask him if he wants any visitors."

"Thanks, Harry! I'll try to come, it would be great to see him," Charlie said, "goodbye!"

And soon, all three Weasleys and Hermione had disapparated, leaving Harry alone. He walked to the apparition point, not really wanting to walk to The Leaky Cauldron and just wanting his bed. Before he disapparated his mind reminded him he'd told Snape he'd be back in the evening, but he was just too tired. He closed his eyes, focusing at least enough to not get splinted, and with a loud crack, disapparated as well.