In days to come

by evil minded

3rd in the 'days-trilogy' - the house of Wolvenhowl has settled into Hogwarts, and now you can watch how they settle in to life, how they master school and how they grow into young adults that have learned to appreciate life, friendship, and their own accomplishments ... this story is the last in the trilogy, read the other two first, so that it makes sense ...

Title:
In days to come

Sequel to:

Twenty-one days

A few days more

Author:
evil minded

Concerning AI:
This story is not AI generated but was written by myself – so, only I am to be blamed for what is written within ...

Date:
November, 1st 2024

Timeframe:
Fourth year at Hogwarts

Summary:
"In days to come" is the last story in the 'days-trilogy' and the sequel to "Twenty-one days" and "A few days more" – please read and review these two first or you won't understand all that happens in this story.

Everything is fine – perfect, actually – the Triwizard Turnier is cancelled, Hogwarts has a new headmaster, and the fourth-year survivors of the cave-in at Hogwarts have settled into a routine in their new house, they can live with. Yes, everything is fine. Or … is it? How will the teachers handle all the new changes at Hogwarts? Who wants to poison the Potions Master? What has become of the seven Horcruxes? And … what has it to do with those strange letters Harry is getting?

Disclaimer:
Did you see Severus alive at the end of 'The deathly hallows'? no?

Do you think I would have had him died if I had written those books? no?

Then you know that 'Harry Potter' does not belong to me … nor does Severus … regrettably …

But Hereweald Hrothgar does …

Rating:
M – Not suitable for children or teens below the age of 16

Author's Notes:
Uhm … alright … I have to admit … English is not my language by birth … so … please do not kill me while reading … neither for the – perhaps – sad language, nor for the subject of my writing …
Also, this is a story written for NaNo, a story written within thirty days only and even though I go over the chapters before uploading them – I do apologize if it might not have the same quality at one point or another than those stories of mine you are used to by now … thank you …

Warning:
Story contains bad language and swearing.
Don't ever use such, it's neither good manners nor proper use of language and never mind how 'cool' it might sound, it surely isn't a sign of intelligence. It won't get you anywhere and people will think less of you if you are unable articulating properly.
Story contains references to child neglect.
Child neglect is a really, really serious thing, and there are a lot of children in our world that are neglected, children that lack food, clothing, often love, and perhaps even a roof over their head – and closing our eyes, and pretending it does not exist – is no solution …
Story contains references to child abuse.
Child abuse is one of the most evil things, and there are a lot of children in our world that really would need help but have to live without hope – and again, closing our eyes and pretending it does not exist – is no solution … instead show sympathy, and understanding … and handle people, children as well as adults, which are showing any signs – whichever – of once having been abused … with understanding and with help …
What does not mean I am not as evil as I pretend to be … .~ … believe me – I am …

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

Previously in "a few days more"
"No, Pomona!" Poppy yelled, and the headmaster winced again. "He needs to hear all that! Did you know that some of the children in that house might still die? Harry is one of those children! It is a miracle that he is still alive, and his life is still at risk! St. Mungos only allows him to remain at Hogwarts because Severus, as his head of house, is a healer! Draco's life is still at risk, as is Theo's. Emma is still losing weight every other day, and the same goes for Miles and Adrian! How dare you, Albus! There are six children at your school, of which I fear for their lives, and you just ignore the reports I send to you! How dare you, Albus! How dare you calling yourself the headmaster of a school! You are the fucking head of the abusers here!"

"That is enough, Poppy!" Came Severus' soft, but firm voice from the door, and for a moment he wondered why Severus had come back. The young man had left the staff room nearly half an hour ago – perhaps he had forgotten something.
"No, Severus! It is not enough!" Poppy cried, and he groaned in distress. He wanted Poppy to stop. He didn't want to hear all that! Harry was fine! As were the other children – and at the same time, he started to realize that, maybe, he had seen things too optimistic. "That idiot is blaming you for his righteous sacking! But without you he would have seventeen dead children on his hands! He …"

"Enough!" Severus' voice cut through Poppy's voice, and he sighed with relief. "Drink that!"

There was silence for a moment, and then – "Thank you, Severus." Poppy's soft voice said, and again he sighed with relief, knowing that Severus had given the medi witch a calming potion. "I'm …"

"Do not apologize for words that are true and spoken in righteous anger." Severus interrupted Poppy's apology, and he nearly groaned again, knowing that Severus was still angry with him. "I just wanted you to keep yourself from using any more foul language, as that is not your style. I can understand why you did, but that doesn't mean that I wished you using it. You are the most gentle and the most understanding witch I know – see that you remain that way."

"Of course, Severus." Poppy sighed. "You have my apology anyway. You are right, after all. I'm just so angry, that it hurt."

"I know." Severus' soft voice startled him into looking up and at the young man.

Severus had always been a slender and wiry man. He was tall, but there had never been a gram of too much fat on his bones. Instead, he was quick and sure, efficient in his movements, strong in his grip, and he knew that Severus had always swam through the lake in the early morning hours, had run around it in the late evening hours, and with the time even the Mer people had become very good friends with him – even though they, generally, cared for no one. He could easily see Severus as the survivor in any physical combat, something he couldn't say about many wizards. Most relied too much upon their magic and thus lived with as little physical activities as possible. Not so Severus. He had often seen the young man training with a dummy in one of the back yards.

But now – now the man had become skinny, thin and tired looking – and pale, paler than he had been in the past. And suddenly Albus was scared. Could Poppy … had she said the truth? Were they really in danger of dying? He had gotten so used to Severus being back, and those children being free, he had never …

"Severus …" He croaked.

"No, headmaster." The man's baritone cut through him. "Perhaps in a few weeks. But not now! Right now, I am too angry to forgive you."

And suddenly he understood what he had said.

"He has done nothing to deserve that title of being a founder." He had said, so foolishly …

"Is that truly your opinion, headmaster?" Severus had asked, rightfully hurt and disappointed …

And suddenly he understood how much he had hurt his Potions Master – and how wrong his words had been. Perhaps those words had destroyed everything between him and Severus. And perhaps irreversibly even …

He could just hope – and perhaps it was alright if there came a headmaster to Hogwarts that would take better care of his students and of his teachers, too. And perhaps, if he left without a fuss, and made space for Hrothgar, then perhaps Severus would forgive him one day.

"I am sorry anyway." He said, looking over at the man. "I don't ask you to forgive me, I just want you to know that I am sorry."

And thus, he got up from his chair and conjured a paper box …

And Severus inclined his head towards him …

And then he started to pack some of his private belongings into the box …

In days to come

Chapter one – prologue
Or – Christmas holidays …

It was December 15th – and thus the start of the Christmas Holidays.

All over the castle children were packing for going home, looking for lost items, chatting about Christmas presents or the Christmas celebrations at home, the younger children asking the older students for help with their overfilled trunks which wouldn't lock, and the older students asking their teachers about additional reading for the holidays.

Headmaster Hrothgar had made it clear that they were not learning for their teachers' sake – what would only be to their detriment if they were to learn for their teachers only, but that they were to learn for their own sake, for their own future, and for what they wished to make out of their lives. It was not the duty of their teachers to hammer knowledge into their unwilling brains, but it was their own job to gather as much knowledge as possible – the teachers were there to help them with that.

It had been a few hard days, the past two weeks, beginning with Professor Dumbledore resigning his post – even though rumor had it, that the board of governors had dismissed the old headmaster – Professor Hrothgar taking over the post as headmaster of Hogwarts, then the announcement on the board in the entrance hall that Madam Malfoy would be the new deputy after the Christmas holidays – now that had stirred some really interesting reactions, some of the children declaring that they would not come back after the holidays, and some crying, sure that the school would fall into the hands of dark wizards, and some who shook their heads over that nonsense, telling them that they should wait and see what would happen, and that no one really knew if Madam Malfoy was a dark witch.

Ron's older brother had come to take over as head of Slytherin – and that, too, had really been weird – and another source for chatter and rumor … after all, a Weasley being the head of Slytherin, there were many students that wanted to play mouse, and to slip in between the cracks of the castle into the Slytherin common room, just to listen to what they were saying about that, because surely, someone who had never attended Slytherin, could not know how Slytherin worked, could not be a head of that house – and least of all, a Gryffindor!

Many eyes were thus cast over towards the Slytherin table during meals these days, and towards Professor Snape and his new house, too – even though, the children had slowly gotten used to that. Sometimes there was even a large baby wolf laying beside their table, eyeing the children – those from Wolvenhowl as well as the children from the other house s, and most of them did think that the animal was quite cool – or cute, in case of the girls.

Some even wished to pet the baby wolf, but none of the other children dared to ask.

The twins did, but that wasn't so strange, they were daredevils in the eyes of the entire student body, anyway.

And the prefects from the other houses, and the quidditch captains did, too – but that, too, wasn't so strange, because all of them got along well with that new house, sometimes even sitting with them after they had finished meals, chatting with them, and asking if they needed some help in one thing or another – and they were, of course, persons of respect, it was only natural that they would dare cuddling with that wolf, or playing with it.

Wolvenhowl was rather liked, within the Hogwarts walls – you could see that alone when looking at the large hourglasses from the houses, there was the hourglass from Wolvenhowl, and even though they had started a month late, they had already overtaken Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, and they were even with Gryffindor and Slytherin – so, yes, that house was liked very much, even though there were former Slytherins in that house, and even though the Potions Master was their head – but Professor Snape had changed, too, many of the students noticed.

Not much, of course. Snape was still Snape, that snarky git, and he could have a temper. He was still giving detention if he saw a student misbehaving, and he still took points. But sometimes he just looked at them if they did something wrong, looked down at them along his large nose, thinking, emotionless, and without blinking his eyes – that, was really creepy – and only after what seemed like an hour to the children, did he give them detention – or he didn't. Not often, but once in a while, he just turned, wordlessly, und then walked away. But if he gave detention, then he did in a much calmer way than before … than before that cave in, that was.

However, generally speaking, Professor Snape was much more social than he had been before – and he was sometimes seen walking with Professor McGonagall, or drinking tea with the other heads of houses in the great hall. Once or twice students had even seen him laughing at something Professor Flitwick had told him, and that, too, had been really creepy.

The first time that had happened, one of the first years had run off, screaming with fright – what had caused Snape and Flitwick to laugh even harder.

And sometimes he was seen sitting in the garden with Professor Vector. Well, there were some students who had seen them together before, sometimes nearly every day, and then there had been times where they hadn't met for weeks or months, before sitting together in the gardens for nearly every day, again.

Some students even said, that they had a relationship, that they broke off, and then came together again, before breaking off again – and then coming together again, as they seemed to do lately.

But others said, that that was nonsense. And rumor was, that Professor Vector had been a prisoner of a witch hunter, and that Professor Snape was just helping her. And many of the students had to admit that it did sound believable, after all, Professor Vector had not left Hogwarts for many years now.

Neither had Professor Trelawny, but that was a different story, and everyone knew that the Professor had no other home than Hogwarts.

But other than that, routine in the castle had not suffered since headmaster Dumbledore had left Hogwarts, on the contrary.

Headmaster Hrothgar was much more – looking after the children, for lack of a better description. He was actively watching the children during meals, and he was making it clear that he expected from his heads of houses that they were watching their house, and that they were calling those students, which were missing meals, to their offices, talking to them, and telling them how important meals were – they were not to be so easily dismissed as they had been in the past.

Professor McGonagall, especially, had some trouble with the new headmaster.

Flashback

"I see no reason why I should set a bedtime for my lions!" Minerva McGonagall called out, indignantly. "They are no small children but young witches and wizards, and they have never needed a bedtime!"

"What is the reason as to why they sleep through breakfast instead of partaking in it." Professor Hrothgar said. "And as to why they are tired and cantankerous during their first and second classes of the day. Young witches and wizards need their sleep regardless their age, and I expect you to make sure that they get it – with a bedtime."

"But you cannot expect the children to partake in each meal." The head of Gryffindor said, shaking her head. "Some of the children are no morning persons."

"Actually, I can, and I do." The new headmaster said, calmly, seriously. "In the past, you have allowed your lions a lot of leeway, Professor McGonagall." The man then calmly, but seriously said. "But that will end right now. They will get a bedtime like anyone else, and they are to partake in three meals a day. Added to that, I expect you to visit and inspect their common room once a week, and their dorms on a monthly basis. Not to mention that I expect them to hand in their essays in a timely and orderly fashion."

"Surely you won't accuse them of being …"

"I do, Professor." He calmly said. "I have been teaching your Gryffindors for three months now, if you will remember. And I have seen the work they hand in – often too late, and in a sorry state – I know how tired they are in the morning classes, and how the lack of a healthy breakfast keeps their brains from working sufficiently throughout the day. The rules stand – bedtimes, breakfast, inspections of their common rooms and dorms, and readable essays handed in, in time."

End flashback

Well, that had been that.

The Gryffindors hadn't liked it, but there had been nothing they could have done other than – going to bed earlier than they were used to, appearing at breakfast – and partaking in it, and sufficiently cleaning their common room, and their dorms – and last but not least, making an effort in their studies.

There were, however, a lot of students who had actually welcomed the change.

The Slytherins were some of them.

They did have a bedtime since – always. And Professor Snape had always made it clear in the past, while he had been the head of their house, that they were to partake in three meals a day, or they would get called into his office. Not to mention that Professor Snape had often visited their common room, sitting with them, talking to them, and answering questions. It was normal for them that their head of house was present. And, of course, for them – it was normal that they would hand in adequate essays.

If they had not done so in the past, then they had to visit Professor Snape in his office, and they would hear a lecture that had their ears burning with shame, and after that they had to re-write their essays, of course, never mind the subject, not only in potions, but in other classes, too. Professor Snape had always known when they had handed in a sorry essay – or too late.

The other house that didn't mind the new rules, was Ravenclaw.

They had long ago realized that they did indeed learn for themselves, and not for their teachers, and they easily adapted to the new rules, to bedtimes, and to three meals a day they had to partake in – especially as Professor Flitwick, their head of house, was an advocate of those new rules, being happy, that finally there was someone who brought a system into the castle.

It was a different thing with Hufflepuff.

Not that they would rebel against those new rules, that was not in the nature of a Hufflepuff.

And it wasn't that their head of house, Professor Pomona, would not explain those rules to them, and telling them that they were good rules, either.

No – it was rather … those new rules scared them. Professor Hrothgar and his entirely new system scared them. They weren't used to it, and they didn't know how to take all those new rules, and they didn't know how to take the new headmaster, either. They didn't know their new place – even though Professor Pomona always told them that they didn't have a new place, that the house of Hufflepuff was still that same Hufflepuff as it had been for the past 1000 years. There was just a new headmaster that was a bit more serious and a bit more severe than headmaster Dumbledore had been.

And of course, a headmaster that had not attended Hogwarts – perhaps that was the problem of all of that …

And Wolvenhowl?

Well, that house did have those rules from the very beginning on, and they were not only used to them, but they also needed – and welcomed them, because they gave them not only what they needed to get healthy, but they also gave them some safety.

Well – and all those students, the willing and the unwilling, had soon learned that they better didn't rebel against the new headmaster, but followed his rules, or they were to be called into his office – for a lecture that had their ears burning with shame, and if necessary, with a detention – or a letter home to their parents if there was no other way.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

What had also happened, was something that had many students gathering in the great hall in hopes to witness a show – at least, until headmaster Hereweald had shooed them out and to their classes – everyone but Harry.

It had been during lunchtime on the 5th of December.

On Sunday, the day before, there had been a celebration in Professor Dumbledore's honor – not headmaster Dumbledore, but Professor, because on that day, the headmaster hadn't been the headmaster anymore, but just a simple Professor.

Even though, in the wizarding world, that wasn't really a title only the intelligent and intellectual got, because anyone who would teach a student, was called a professor. You didn't have to study to become a professor – it was just like that: you got hired by someone to teach children, and then you became a professor.

It had also been a celebration in Headmaster Hrothgar's honor – not Professor Hrothgar anymore, but headmaster, because on that day, the professor had taken over the post as the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

However, Professor Dumbledore had stepped down, and Professor Hereweald had taken over, thus becoming Headmaster Hereweald Hrothgar.

The ceremony had been great, and the students had enjoyed the many different kinds of food. There had been roasted chicken, roasted pork, fried sausages, and baked salmon – even though no one ate of that, except for the children at the Wolvenhowl table. Then there was fried vegetables – which were ignored as well, except of Professor Snape's students – and fried potatoes, French fries, rice, and rolls.

And after dinner, there had been pudding – and from that, even the Wolvenhowl students had taken some.

However, that had been on Sunday, and on Monday Hereweald Hrothgar had been the new Headmaster of Hogwarts – and had dismissed Sirius Black and Remus Lupin from the castle.

Flashback

It was lunchtime – actually, lunch was already over, and many students had already left, and most of the others were about to leave for their afternoon classes – when Sirius Black and Remus Lupin entered the great hall through the open double doors, and walked through the isle between the Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw table, towards the head table, Sirius Black looking as if he had just left bed, and Remus Lupin walking behind him in his wake.

It was a normal sight, meanwhile, seeing those two at the castle, but Headmaster Hrothgar scowled and got off his chair, left the head table to meet the two, and then confronted them before they could reach the head table.

"Did you not get my missive, gentlemen?" He asked, politely, but blocking their way.

"Oh, you mean that note your house elf brought this morning?" Sirius Black asked, blinking at the Norway. "He woke me and disturbed my sleep."

"Ah." Headmaster Hrothgar made. "Then you did not understand my missive?"

"Oh, we did." Sirius Black smiled.

"Then perhaps you thought it might have been a joke?" Well, Professor Hrothgar's raised eyebrow seemed to remind Sirius at Severus Snape, because he sneered at the man.

"No." He coldly said. "We just didn't think it important."

"You all, go to your classes!" Headmaster Hrothgar growled, quietly, softly, turning his face over the students that had gathered and were listening intently, clearly waiting for a show, without turning his eyes away from Sirius Black. "Right now!"

And but a moment later there was a murmur of disappointment filling the hall, but the students actually turned, and left the hall, one by one, some of them looking back, but all of them seemed to realize that they had better do as they were told.

Professor Hrothgar had the same aura as did Professor Snape – confidence, and the will to succeed. Neither of them had ever raised their voice, and either of them had the ability to make the students obedient little sheep – and to annoy their opponents.

"Then let me tell you, Mr. Black, that it was neither a joke, nor an unimportant message." He calmly looked at them. "You are to leave the castle. This is a school, and no asylum for ex-convicts – as Professor McGonagall has already told you, if I remember her words correctly."

"You cannot tell me what –"

"I already did, Mr. Black." Headmaster Hrothgar said, noticing out of the corner of his eyes Severus standing at their house table, one hand laying on Harry's shoulder, and he allowed the boy to remain. Perhaps it was important that the child saw it with his own eyes, that Sirius Black was dismissed from the castle.

"You have no say in –"

"Actually, as the headmaster of this school, I have." He seriously said. "And you either leave the castle, right now, or I call in the aurors – which are just waiting outside the door."

"I am a free man." Black sneered. "And thus, I can go wherever I want. This is no more a threat for me."

"You may go wherever you wish to, Mr. Black, outside of this school." Professor Hrothgar said. "As the headmaster, the property rights are in my favor and it lies in my decision who might visit Hogwarts, and who is to leave. And my decision stands – you, Mr. Black, and you, Mr. Lupin, are to leave this castle, right now. This is a school and no place for the homeless – especially as you do have a house, Mr. Black, namely Grimmauld Place, which you inherited from your mother, Madam Walburga Black."

"How dare you …"

"I dare, because I have the right to dismiss you from this school." Headmaster Hrothgar sighed, still patiently and politely, but meanwhile, clearly unnerved. "This is a school, gentlemen, and you are neither a student, nor a professor – not even a parent. And thus, I ask you, once more, to leave."

"I won't leave my godson here with Snape!" Sirius Black growled, taking a threatening step towards Professor Hrothgar, causing him to lift his eyebrow at him, again. "Snape has brainwashed my godson, and I will not leave him here with that …"

"Not one more word against my teachers!" The new headmaster said, waving at the entrance door of the great hall.

Of course, he had talked to Professor Shacklebolt for his options, concerning Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin, and the ex-head of the auror office had immediately contacted Rufus Scrimgeour, the new head of the office – who had come to wait outside of the great hall. Nothing would happen if Mr. Black just left, but they would act and arrest the man, if he wouldn't answer to headmaster Hrothgar's demand.

"Professor Snape is taking perfect care of his son – and his students! You can, of …"

"That snake is …"

"… course, read the reports from Madam Harvest, the social worker from wizarding child welfare, you are …"

"How dare you bringing in official …"

"… perfectly entitled to insist on such a move – it is, however, Professor Snape's prerogative …"

"Prerogative? That stinking snake …"

"… to keep you from his son, if he deems the contact unsafe – and …"

"That Snake is not his father!" Sirius called out, outraged. "And I want to take my godson with me!"

"… seeing how you have scared the child and threatened his father …"

"SNAPE IS NOT HARRY'S …"

"That is enough, Mr. Black!" Rufus Scrimgeour's voice boomed through the hall. "This is a school, act accordingly instead of scaring the children!"

"What …" Sirius Black stared at the new auror head, shaking his head, clearly not understanding. "Am I …"

"You are not arrested, Mr. Black, not now, at least." Auror Scrimgeour explained. "But you are violating the property rights of Headmaster Hrothgar, and thus I ask you to come with me."

"But he isn't headmaster!" Sirius Black glared at the auror. "Albus is! And Snape is brainwashing my godson! I …"

"I suggest you come with us, right now." Auror Scrimgeour pulled out his wand. "Before I have to use force, what wouldn't look good in your favor, Mr. Black."

"But my godson …"

"I suggest you get counselling, and if you would finally see reason, then I'm sure that Professor Snape might allow you contact to your godson – he hasn't forbidden it from the beginning on, only after you have threatened the child with taking him from his father."

"I'm not seeing a shrink, you …"

"I fear, that, if you wish contact to your godson, then you must." The head auror calmly said. "And now, I ask you to calm down, Mr. Black, and accompany us to the Ministry." Auror Rufus Scrimgeour said.

End flashback

Well, that had been that.

Headmaster Hrothgar hadn't been so stupid to deal with Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin all by himself, even though many of the Slytherins knew that he could have done, if he had wanted to, they knew what their former substitute head of house was capable of, after all, but he had – and wisely so – included the officials.

He had made it clear that – if Mr. Black got counselling, then Professor Snape might think about allowing him contact to his son. Mr. Black had seethed at that, and Mr. Lupin had, like always, stood there and watched, while at the Wolvenhowl table there had been a child that had breathed a sigh of relief – and a father who had inclined his head in thanks towards his old friend.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

However, and now the Christmas holidays had started, and the children were about to board the train – most children, that was. There were few who wouldn't go home during the holidays.

The Weasley terrors, Fred and George Weasley would remain at Hogwarts, studying for their apprenticeship program and brewing potions. Then there was Oliver Wood from Gryffindor and Cederic Diggory from Hufflepuff, which were studying for their N.E.W.T.s, just like Rodger Davis from Ravenclaw, and Derrik Montague and Marcus Flint from Slytherin, and of course nearly all of Wolvenhowl except for Gregory, Vincent, and Draco, which were celebrating Christmas together with Narcissa, and Goyle and Crabbe Senior. And finally, there was Owen Cauldwell from Hufflepuff, a tiny first year, and third year Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw.

"Are all of the teachers staying at Hogwarts, dad?" Harry asked, while Severus refilled his cup with the hot coffee from the pot the house elves had sent up together with the hot chocolate for the children, and the plate with the small scones.

"The Professors Trelawny, McGonagall and Flitwick will remain at the castle, as well as Hereweald, and your brother, Ronald." The Potions Master answered. "And I'm sure they would like to have one meal or another together with us. Other than that, only Septima, Filch, and Hagrid will be on and off during the holidays."

"The Slytherins seem to like Professor Weasley." Draco said. "I've talked to Marcus, and he'd said so."

"That must be strange." Ronald said, shaking his head. "At the beginning of this year, I would have died of shock. But now – I only wonder how that first house-meeting had gone. I would have liked to have been there to watch."

"Many students would like that, Ronald." Severus inclined his head in understanding. He was proud of the boy, and how far he had come. "But I'm sure, it went well. When I asked your brother if I should accompany him to the Slytherin common room for that first meeting, he grinned and declined. I'm sure he has managed it well – after all, he's been working together with Goblins, and surely you won't compare Slytherin to them, do you?"

"Surely not, Severus." Ronald laughed. "But even you cannot deny that it is – weird. And it's the first time that Hogwarts has a headmaster that has never attended Hogwarts, and Slytherin has a head of house, that has never attended Slytherin."

"That is, indeed, true." He huffed.

"Now, that it's the holidays, perhaps we could use the pitch once in a while?" Harry asked, looking at him hopefully, and he considered the child's question for some time before he gave his answer.

"Perhaps." He said. "With some restrictions, and with a teacher to supervise – a teacher aside from Rolanda." He added. "That woman is quidditch driven and would allow you any stunt. I still remember how angry she'd been because she hadn't seen you catching that Remembrall in your first year."

"That's been my fault, actually." Draco said, looking at Neville. "You'd lost your Remembrall when you'd broken your wrist, and I'd picked it up, went up into the air, and threw it. I'm sorry for that, Neville."

"That's ok." The other boy shrugged – most likely he'd already known that. "I've been really clumsy back then."

"No, it's not ok." Draco shook his head. "I was a real brat, and there are a lot of things I should apologize for. You could have died, following me, Harry. I couldn't have known that you're a natural on a broom, and …"

"Stop, Draco!" Harry growled, and he looked over at the boy. "We all were idiots back then." Harry said. "And we all did things we should be apologizing for. So, stop it, we're friends now, and the past is in the past – leave it there, please."

"How could you forgive such things so easily?" Draco asked, shaking his head at the dark haired boy.

"Why should I not?" Said boy asked back. "If I'd hold a grudge against everyone, I'd have no friends – not to mention … like I said, we all make mistakes."

"Thank you, Harry." Draco said, softly, and the Potions Master smiled at both boys.

"I am proud of you." He then said, leaning back in his old armchair. "Of all of you. Each of you have overcome difficulties during the past few months, and each of you have grown. You have survived our potions mishap, you have formed new friendships, you have fought for your lives, and you have overcome prejudice." Here he looked at Ronald. "You have become strong and responsible young ladies and gentlemen, and I am proud to be your head of house."

"I'll remember that when you give us the next detention, dad." Harry smiled, leaning back in his own armchair.

Breåk· … ·~†~*~*~*~*~*~†~· … ·Łine

It was the day before Christmas eve, and right now they were cleaning the kitchen.

Hermione had asked, if they couldn't bake some cookies, and Ronald had turned around, looking at the girl – and had then asked "who are you? And what have you done with Hermione?"

Hermione and Harry had just laughed, while most of the other children didn't understand Ronald's question.

"Hermione has never asked to buy, make, or eat any kind of sweets." Harry had explained, but soon after they had really baked three baking trays full of cookies – one with chocolate cookies, one with vanilla cookies, and one with cinnamon cookies.

What had made him smile, had been Emma.

The girl had been measuring the flour and the oatmeal for all three sorts of cookies, and Pansy had added the vanilla, the chocolate, and the cinnamon, and both girls really had fun. They had laughed with Hermione, who'd broken the eggs, and with Daphne who'd measured the butter, it had been good to watch them.

Ronald had added the sugar, and he had then shown the children a spell to mix it all together.

In just that moment Minerva had knocked on their door, and he had opened it, allowing the Gryffindor head of house in, and leading her to the kitchen, where the children did have some fun with forming the dough into small coins which they placed on the baking trays, adding chocolate, sprinkles, and nuts to the cookies.

Minerva had then shown them some spells to clean the kitchen, and now they were just wiping down the counters, and the table, while Hermione put the baking trays into the oven.

"We have still that chapter transfiguration." Ronald then said. "We could do it right now, couldn't we? While the cookies are in the oven, and they smell so nice."

"Huh?" Hermione made, and he looked over at the girl, shocked – just before he looked over at the youngest Weasley boy, just as shocked. "Who are you? And what have you done with Ronald Weasley?" The girl then asked.

"Huh?" Ronald made, blinking at the girl. "It's just, we still do have that chapter to read, and the cookies are smelling so nice – we could do it here, together, couldn't we?"

"Of course, you could." The Potions Master said before any more of the children could give away a startled "huh?", and he just summoned the children's books which landed on the now clean table in front of them. "Especially as Professor McGonagall is here to answer any questions you might have." He huffed, while placing a cup of coffee in front of the Transfigurations Professor. "And I am here, too, if you prefer my presence, instead." He then added while pouring a cup of coffee himself, knowing that at least Harry and Adrian were more comfortable with addressing him when it came to any kind of troubles or problems, instead of any other teacher, as were Miles and Emma.

"It is good to see the children being so carefree." Minerva softly said when Severus sat down beside her at the large kitchen table, looking around. "You know, I have never had such a close relationship to my lions as you have to your children here. And somehow, I do regret that. They seem happy in your presence."

"They are children, Minerva." He said, taking a sip of his own coffee and leaning back in his chair. "They need an adult that guides them. They need an adult that leads them into the right direction. Someone they can ask questions if they don't know how to handle their problems, or just someone to look after them, to tell them when to go to bed, when to eat, what to eat, and to do their homework. They need an adult they can cuddle with, and who shows interest in what they are doing."

"You know, Severus, a few months ago, I would have laughed when imagining you as an adult the children could cuddle with – or as an adult that shows interest in what the students are doing." Minerva said, and he nodded his head, because he knew that he had never shown this side of him outside of the dungeons. "But now – these children here, they are really your children. As have been the Slytherins, haven't they?"

"They have been." He agreed. "The other houses never understood why I would favor them in public, but I punished them in privacy just as I did the other students in public, I outwardly favored them, because no other teacher regarded my Slytherins, and no one knew how many of them I got off the dark path with my ways, while everyone else just saw the mini death eaters in training in them."

"I'm sorry, Severus." Minerva said, and he huffed.

"Just a few days ago, one of my children said – we were all idiots back then, and we all did things we should be apologizing for. So, stop it, we're friends, and the past is in the past, you best leave it there."

"I try to make it better." Minerva sighed, taking another sip of the coffee. "I have started visiting the Gryffindor common room once in a while, now that I have more time. I really need to thank you, Severus. I have so long tried to reason with Albus concerning my post as deputy. It was too much, and I couldn't do justice to my lions. Not really."

"You are an adult, Minerva." He said. "You should have taken action and just resigned the post. Something I expect of my students, to tell me if they are unable to cope, and they are just children. Perhaps that is the only problem. You Gryffindors seem to think that you have to solve every problem alone, and that you have to do every task alone. But that isn't true. Your young lions have learned it meanwhile, to depend on others, and to depend on their head of house, to depend on an adult, on me – and if they could learn it, as stubborn as some of them are, then you can learn it just as well."

"Just as you depend on others when it comes to taking care of these children?" Minerva asked, softly, looking over at him, and he sighed.

"Not only did I already start to depend on others." He answered, seriously. "Namely on you and Filius. But also – do not forget that until a few months ago, I have been a spy. My life has been overly complicated, and more than half of what I did, I had to do secretly. My life hung on my ability to keep things secret, Minerva. To get the children in Slytherin off the dark road, I had to do it secretly and behind the backs of their parents, or not only I would have died, but them, too. Being friendly to anyone, I had to do it secretly, as I had a reputation to uphold, namely the reputation of being a bastard. Every word, and every action, I had to think through before saying it, or doing it. I could not afford a second person by my side for help."

"I'm sorry, Severus." Minerva sighed. "I've never seen it that way. I've never taken in consideration that your post as Albus' spy did affect your post as teacher and head of house, too."

"Of course, you didn't." He huffed. "No one did, and that was a good thing. But the truth is, that it was a dangerous, a difficult, and an invidious job."

"'m glad you don' have t'do it an'more." Came Harry's soft voice from beside him, the child placing his hand on his arm, softly, gently, watching him with his owlishly large eyes as if he were scared, and he huffed.

"As am I, child." He said, lifting his hand to ruffle the boy's messy black mop of hair, and ignoring the flinch the child gave away, like so often lately. "That leaves more time for me to give you detention. Now, the way it smells, I think our cookies are ready to get out of the oven. Why don't you get some glasses and the milk from the fridge, while I get the cookies?"

And but ten minutes later they all sat around the table in the kitchen, having warm cookies and cold milk, while the fire in the fireplace was keeping them warm, while outside the window a mother and her children were draping glowing vines over a coral, decorating the mer city for Christmas, and while they all chatted away the afternoon, making plans for Christmas eve, for boxing day, for new year's eve, and for the remainder of the holidays.

It was a perfectly find afternoon, and despite all the hardships these children had been through, they were able to be happy, to be cheerful, and to enjoy a small snack together.

To be continued

Next time in 'in days to come'
Christmas dinner and the battle of Hogwarts

Added author's note
thank you for reading - and yes, I would be glad if you took the time to review this chapter, thank you
also, of course I have re-installed the house cup – with each review, please state your house, so that your house can get a point. There won't be loss of points, only gains … may the best house with the most reviews win …

House Cup:
At the present time it looks like this:

Slytherin 98
Gryffindor 54
Ravenclaw 27
Hufflepuff 15
Hogwarts 21
Durmstrang 04
Tennessee Institute of Magic & Technomancy 01
Yellowstone Institute 01