�Poor, poor little one�� he whispered, absent mindedly smoothing that mop of black hair. You�ll look just like him when you grow up, he thought with a small smile at the irony � just like James bloody Potter, your father�
He leaned back in the chair, still rocking the child into a deep slumber before he tried to return him to his cot. He didn�t think it was natural for one so young to have so many nightmares� it wasn�t natural for a two and a half year-old to be as quiet and withdrawn as this boy often was either�
Is that the legacy of what you witnessed at the hands of Voldemort? he often silently asked the too reserved child. Or was it those Muggles? He couldn�t begin to understand why the boys� Muggle aunt and uncle had rejected him � even he, Severus Snape, who had hated the boys� father, had fallen hopelessly in love with his son�
Does he fear further rejection? Less than a year and a half with the parents who birthed and loved him, less than a year with his mother�s sister and family who resented him, and now� six and a half months with him. Potions master, teacher, former follower of evil, general all-around bastard, and current guardian of Harry Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived.
He stood up and ever-so gently placed the sleeping boy in his cot, gazing down on him for a long while. It had come as no small surprise to Severus to find himself responsible for this child. It was an even greater shock to find that he not only longed to keep the job, but he did so because, after only a few months, he found he couldn�t love Harry any more than if he�d been his own son.
His own son� he couldn�t hate James anymore. How could he possibly have any hate for a man who had helped create such a beautiful child. How could he find any room in his heart any more for hate? He wasn�t sure if Albus had planned it like this, but loving this child had released him. The burden of guilt over things he�d done in his past wasn�t gone, but it was more manageable now.
He knew that if people knew of his past, they might think that raising Harry was his penance. He knew better. Raising Harry was his reward � a reward he didn�t deserve, but a reward nonetheless � for repenting. �I will earn the right to love you little one,� he whispered, feeling a prickling at the back of his eyes. �I�ll never let you down.�
�Good morning,� he said without preamble, and Harry seemed to search both the sound of his voice and the look on his face before answering in a very small voice.
�Good morning Daddy�� There was an awkward pause as they both seemed to search for what to say next. �I�m sorry�� Harry said finally in a miserable, defeated voice that very nearly broke Severus.
�I�m sorry too,� he said, turning and looking directly at the boy. The look on the child�s face was heart breaking. Severus was sure he was about to burst into tears at any moment, and in truth, Severus felt close to breaking down from nerves himself. �Well,� he said with false cheer. �We have to get you up and ready! Albus will be here any minute to take us to your aunt and uncle�s house.�
�Are we going to get them to signature�?� Harry asked nervously. �Are you still going to��
Severus stared, shocked at Harry, who seemed to be holding his breath, terrified of what the answer might be. Does he really think I�d change my mind and not go through with� �Yes!� he answered as soon as he regained control of his voice. �Of course! Harry,� he moved quickly to the side of the bed and pulled the five-year-old boy to his feet, standing him on the big bed. �Nothing would ever make me change my mind. A herd of rampaging Hippogriffs couldn�t stop me from adopting you today, do you understand?�
�But�� Harry�s voice was filled with awe, and surprise. �Your lab� I� I thought � maybe��
Severus pulled Harry off the bed and into a big hug to reassure him. �Nothing, Harry. Absolutely nothing. There�s not enough trouble in the world you could be in that I wouldn�t still want to adopt you. Ok?� Feeling Harry nod wordlessly into his neck, Severus walked him over to the child-sized wardrobe and shifted him to one hip so he could free his other hand to pull out Harry�s clothes for the day. �What do you think? Blue or purple robes?�
�But don�t we have to dress as Muggles to go see Aunt Petunia?�
�True, true,� Severus agreed, selecting a pair of dark trousers, and a simple shirt and waistcoat. Once he had Harry dressed, and his hair as combed as it would be, he drew him back to the wardrobe. �But for the ministry later, which do you want: blue or purple robes? I will not have you seen at the ministry dressed as a Muggle.�
They were halfway through breakfast when they heard the front Floo activate. �Finish your breakfast, then wash-up and meet us in the front room.� Severus gave Harry a reassuring pat on the head as he hurried through to open the Floo to allow Dumbledore access to their home.
�Ready for the big day Severus?� Dumbledore smiled as he brushed soot off of his robes.
�You�re not wearing that to visit the Muggles?!� Was his only reply.
�Bit nervous are you?� he winked at his young friend. �Don�t worry, I�ll transfigure into something less obvious before we go, but I must confess that I�m not terribly comfortable in trousers � far too constricting for my tastes� Severus � you�re positively green! What are you so worried about?�
�What if they won�t sign?� Severus sat heavily, closing his eyes and leaning into the chair. �What if they decide that they want him back?! I�m only his second cousin, and with my past� if the Muggles put up a fight for him�� he sighed, looking up at his friend and mentor. �I don�t want to lose him��
�Severus,� he interrupted him. �They won�t want him � they didn�t before, and nothing has changed in their opinions of the magical world.� Dumbledore leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. �And if they put up any difficulties� well, you can just suggest to them the kinds of things that a fully-trained wizard such as yourself might do if he were forced to think too much on the condition he was in when we last collected him from them�� He winked, and Severus felt a small smile reaching his eyes as some of his nervousness dissipated.
�And here�s Harry! How are you my boy?�
�I�m fine, sir,� said Harry, shyly shuffling his feet. �How are you?�
�If I were any better, there�d have to be two of me.� Dumbledore answered, shooting a curious look at Severus. Harry was never usually this reserved anymore with the Headmaster.
�Harry, you don�t have to be shy. Yesterday was yesterday. Today is a day to be happy only. Alright?� Severus smiled at him before turning to Dumbledore to explain. �He got in a spot of trouble yesterday in my lab. But we�re not going to dwell on it today. So,� he clapped his hands, indicating that the former subject was closed. �How are we getting there? Ah � portkey. Come along, Harry.�
***************
�� and here� here� and here� and that�s it!�
Severus scowled openly at the Dursleys as Dumbledore uttered a quick spell to dry the ink on the final custody release parchments. He couldn�t have been prouder of Harry. In spite of the nasty comments and looks his closest living relatives had thrown at him, he�d stayed calm and collected. And, though he was sitting on Severus� lap, leaning firmly against his chest and holding his hand, he was still facing the ugly looks of these people. Unflinching. At the sight of their wands, Harry�s cousin �Tubby�, or �Dubby-wubby� or some such thing (his mother seemed to have a never ending stream of �pet� names for the large child) had hidden, bawling behind his mother�s apron and had refused to re-emerge.
�Of course, we�ll have to revisit the matter of the support James and Lily gave you before they died at some later time. Everything that was theirs will be Harry�s when he comes of age.�
The large Muggle purpled and spluttered while his wife attempted to scowl contemptuously at him � amateur, thought Severus, showing her what a real scowl looked like.
�Shall we go Albus? I don�t want to be late at the Ministry. Say goodbye Harry. You won�t have to see these people again for a very long time.�
�Goodbye,� said Harry quietly, jumping down as Severus stood up, though he still wouldn�t release his hand.
�Right, then,� smiled Dumbledore. �The Ministry shall we Severus?�
�In a minute,� he replied, pulling his and Harry�s robes from his bag. �We�re portkeying directly from here, and I won�t have he or I being seen at the Ministry dressed like this.�
Dumbledore chuckled softly and transfigured his own clothes back into robes as he watched Severus adjust Harry�s robes. �Ah,� he sighed, winking at Harry. �You should try without the trousers underneath � so much freer.�
The shrieks of shock and outrage of the Dursley�s were the last thing they heard as they touched the portkey before landing in front of the Ministry.
Once inside, Harry very reluctantly allowed himself to be lead away from his father and Dumbledore and into a smaller room. There were two witches in the room � the one behind the desk looked very forbidding and stern (even more than Auntie Minnie, thought Harry), while the one seated on the other side of the desk smiled warmly at him and patted the chair next to her welcomingly. They explained that Madam Legert (behind the desk) would ask him questions about his father, and Madam Liverna (�call me Betty, dear�) would help him to understand everything and make sure he didn�t get too nervous.
�When do I get to be adopted by Daddy?� he asked right away.
�Well, we�re just going to ask a few questions, then we�ll speak with Professor � your Daddy, then Professor Dumbledore, and that�s it � you�ll be all set! Alright?�
Harry nodded nervously and Madam Legert started asking what seemed to Harry to be the weirdest questions he�d ever been asked. �What kinds of foods does he give you to eat?� � �Er, all kinds � the elves at Hogwarts cook lots of stuff.� , �Do you get fed differently during the summer when you�re not living at Hogwarts?� � �Er, well, less hot soup and more cold meats and such, but otherwise, not really.� , �Does he make you wear a scarf when it�s cold?� � �Er, yes. And boots, and a warm cloak and mittens�� , �Has he ever done anything to make you scared of him?� � �Er, no. Not scared.� , �What sorts of punishments has he given you when you�ve misbehaved?� �
It went on, and on, and Harry was thoroughly confused by the end of it until Madam Liverna (Betty!) asked: �Harry, do you want Mr. Snape to be your Daddy from now on?� � �Yes!� this question earned the first smile of the interview.
�What does it mean to you, to be adopted by him?� asked the stern Madam Legert again.
�Well,� Harry thought for a moment. �I guess, that he�ll be my Daddy for ever now, and no one can make him stop being my Daddy.�
�But you do understand that he�s not your real father don�t you?�
�He is too real!� Harry pouted, his eyes misting up.
�Is that what he�s told you?� she demanded. �What has he told you about James Potter and Lily � your parents?�
�Oh, them,� said Harry, calming down a bit. �I know that they were my first parents. But the bad man made them go to heaven even though it wasn�t the right time for them to go. It wasn�t their fault, but they couldn�t stop him. So now I have my new Daddy and he loves me.�
�What does Sna- your new Daddy tell you about your first parents?�
�Well,� Harry seemed to be thinking. �He told me that even though he wasn�t friends with them himself, that they both had lots of other friends � like Uncle Remus � Daddy takes me to see him sometimes and he tells me funny stories about when they were all at school� Um, Daddy says that,� Harry giggled slightly. �That my first Daddy was really smart, and that I look a lot like him, and that he played Quidditch � I hope I can play as good as he did. Um, and that he was Head Boy, and Mummy was Head Girl, and that she was even smarter than first Daddy, and she was pretty, and my eyes are like hers��
�Alright, Harry.� She smiled finally, and leaned forward on her desk. �Do you love him?� Harry nodded, smiling. �Does he tell you that he loves you?� Again, Harry nodded.
�All the time!� he rolled his eyes, grinning.
�Do you want him to be your new Daddy for ever and ever?�
�Oh, yes please!�
***************
Mine, Severus stared alternately from the signed document in his hand to the sleeping boy in front of him. My son, now. Legally, officially, completely. I�m his Daddy now. And not just because he insists on calling me �Daddy� anymore!
He was certain that no one on earth ever knew joy like he knew that day.
The ministry refused to allow him to change Harry�s name, but they had been expecting that. The name Harry Potter meant too much to too many people. It was the name of hope in the Wizarding world that meant that good really could overcome evil. They compromised, and though it wouldn�t be made public, Harry gained a second middle name: Harry James Snape Potter. Not a hyphenated last name. His last name would only ever be Potter, and Severus liked that. He knew only too well how important it is to never forget the past. He didn�t care one whit about the name. It didn�t matter. Harry was his � now and forever, and that was all that mattered.
He didn�t have a preference, still so blissfully certain that everyone liked each other, that he refused, point blank to understand the inter-house rivalry and instead enjoyed his time with everyone. Everyone was so used to the curious Harry climbing around, under chairs and tables, that they hardly paid any attention to him at all, which is part of why it was so easy for him to achieve his goal this particular noontime�
BOOM!!!!! The hall erupted in chaos as the Slytherin table up-ended itself, sending food flying in every direction. Finally, it took several loud bangs from the end of Dumbledore�s wand to restore calm.
�Who did this?� he demanded, taking in the damage.
�Jesus, Mary and Joseph�� exclaimed Patrick Boone quietly, though not quietly enough not to be heard by the teachers. �It�s Harry!�
Without a second thought, Snape vaulted over the staff table, only to stop abruptly in front of the ruined Slytherin table. The students of his own house, along with any nearby Ravenclaws quickly withdrew as they watched the look of worry on the potions masters� face quickly dissolve into undisguised anger. �HARRY!?!�
The dark haired boy stood frozen, in the midst of the destruction, rigid with shock � a wand still in his pudgy hand, unable to say anything as his father�s rage broke. �What the bloody hell did you think you were doing?! You know bloody well that you�re not allowed to touch a wand�� He paused, and closing his eyes, he took a long deep breath to calm himself before turning a cold glare on the now trembling child and snapping his fingers. Instantly, Harry was gone, and Snape bent down to retrieve the wand that had clattered from Harry�s fingers. �Who�s wand is this?� he demanded in a dangerously quiet growl, trying to ignore the gasps of the students as someone whispered Oh my God! He�s killed him� �Don�t be stupid,� he growled at the Slytherin second-year who made the comment as he thrust the wand into the hand of the Ravenclaw who claimed it. �I merely sent him to his room.� And, with a wave of his own wand, he repaired the table and removed all of the food from the walls before stocking out of the hall.
*****
Harry Potter was in BIG trouble and he knew it. He�d tried to take a wand before, but had been caught before he�d had a chance to try anything and told in no uncertain terms that he was not allowed to touch a wand. Daddy had been quite firm about that� But Harry was too curious, and when he saw the wand, just sitting there � sticking out of the Ravenclaw girl�s bag� He wasn�t sure what he�d done, but he was sure that it wasn�t what he�d wanted to do, and then Daddy had come over and yelled at him. That would make Daddy angry too � Harry knew that his Daddy didn�t like the others to see him losing his temper � he always wanted to seem calm and serious in front of people � the people at school most of all�
The look on his Daddy�s face as he stormed into Harry�s room confirmed his worst fears� �How many times have I told you not to touch a wand?!� he demanded, grabbing Harry and sitting down on the overstuffed wing chair that sat beside the boy�s bed. �What did I tell you about taking ANYTHING from a student?! Someone could have been hurt! You could have been hurt! What did I say would happen the next time you tried to steal a wand?� he growled finally, pulling Harry over his knee for a thorough spanking.
�You stay here,� he growled again, as Harry stood crying loudly in the middle of his room a few minutes later. �I have to go and see if I can get someone to take my class, and then I�ll be back. If you step one foot out of your room,� he glared at his boy, pointing an accusing finger. �I�ll have you over my knee again. Is that understood?� Still crying too much to answer, Harry merely managed a nod through the tears.
****
�What did you do to him?� asked Minerva suspiciously when he�d asked if she would be willing to take his first year classes that afternoon.
�Exactly what I told him I�d do if he tried to touch a wand again Minerva,� he sighed. �Will you take the classes or not?�
�Yes, yes,� she sighed, eyeing him closely. �Just spend the time with him, and remember Severus,� she reached out, touching his arm. �After the sting, comes the honey.�
�Whatever are you blathering about Minerva?� Severus demanded in frustration.
�You have to comfort him, reassure him�� she grabbed his arm again when he rolled his eyes and started to turn away.
�Minerva, this is hardly the first time the boy has had to be punished. I have managed him for nearly four years without traumatizing him ��
�Yes.� Her grip tightened on the potions master�s arm. �But this was certainly the most public � you�ve never yelled at him in front of people like that. I know,� she added quickly when he opened his mouth to protest. �It was also, likely the most serious trouble he�s ever been in, so it was imminently appropriate. But make sure he understands that even though you hate what he did, you don�t hate him. Make him know that you still love him, no matter what.�
Severus knew he should be angry. Minerva was overstepping in telling him how to deal with Harry. He was the boy�s guardian for goodness sake! He already knew perfectly well that he had to talk to the boy rationally now to reassure him of exactly what Minerva was saying, but the fact that she would assume otherwise annoyed him greatly.
�Precisely why I was asking you to take my classes this afternoon, Minerva,� he said coldly. �Now, if you�re still willing, I should be getting back. He�s had long enough to think about it all and calm down a little.� With a nod from Minerva, Severus turned on his heel, heading back toward his and Harry�s apartments. When he arrived back at Harry�s room he found the boy laying across his bed, still crying quietly. �Harry,� he said gently as he approached the bed. The boy tensed slightly, trying to wipe away his tears before rolling over to stand beside the bed, his eyes downcast.
With a sigh, Severus lowered himself into the chair beside the bed, beckoning Harry to come closer. Tears fogged up his glasses as Harry stood staring down at his fathers boots. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, Severus took Harry�s glasses and polished them off before gently wiping all of the tears off of Harry�s face. �That�s better,� he said gently, putting the glasses carefully back on Harry�s nose.
�Do you know why I had to punish you?� he asked, still maintaining a gentle voice.
�Because I�m bad,� Harry replied with a sniff, new tears filling his eyes.
�No,� Severus smiled at him reassuringly, gently lifting his chin to look him in the eyes. �You�re not bad. What you did was bad. What did I tell you before about wands?� His voice was stern, but not threatening as he spoke.
�Not to touch them.� Harry lowered his gaze again, as a few tears spilled down his cheeks.
�And why not?�
�I�m too little.�
�And,� Severus prompted.
�Not allowed.�
�And��
�Someone get hurt.�
�And��
�You said not to,� Harry sniffed again, pushing his glasses up on his forehead to wipe at his eyes with his sleeve.
�Harry,� he said, taking the boy�s hands into his own. �I don�t make up rules just to make you miserable. You�ve got to trust that there�s a reason for all of it, alright?�
�I�m sorry Daddy,� Harry said, nodding miserably.
�I know you are Harry,� Severus said kindly. �But more important than being sorry, is not doing something you know you shouldn�t in the first place. Understood? Come here, lad,� he added kindly when Harry nodded again. Instantly, Harry climbed up, burying his face in his father�s shoulder, fist holding tight to the folds of his robes. �Everyone makes mistakes, Harry. Everyone,� he sighed. �Some are bigger than others, but all have consequences. I know it�s hard for you to understand right now, but I have to punish you for the small mistakes you make now, so maybe you�ll be wiser when you�re older and won�t make the really big mistakes�� he sighed, rocking Harry gently in his arms as he rubbed small, comforting circles on his back. �The kind of mistakes that you can�t fix�� he was whispering now, as much to himself as to Harry.
The rest of the afternoon saw Severus reading to Harry (Henry Mudge : mad Muggle and the Floo of doom), the two talking about further consequences of what he�d done, and a rousing game of Exploding Snap. In what seemed like no time at all, it was time for dinner, and the final consequences of Harry�s actions earlier in the day.
All eyes were suddenly on Harry and Professor Snape as they entered the Great Hall that evening. Nervously, Harry clung to his Daddy�s leg, trying to hide in the folds of his long robes. The students watched in amazement as their dour potions master leaned over and spoke gently to the frightened boy. Even the teachers gaped as he took Harry�s hand and led him part way down the Ravenclaw table. They stopped in front of a pretty blonde second-year who looked at the pair curiously.
Harry was leaning nervously against his father�s legs, twisting the hem of the wizard�s outer robe in his hands. The girl looked between the two as Severus bucked Harry lightly with his knee.
�Um, Sonia?� Harry said quietly, staring at his hands, still twisting the fabric of his father�s hem. Severus reached down and gently angled Harry�s head to face the girl he was speaking to. Swallowing nervously, Harry went on. �I�m um, sorry I took your wand � um, before� um stole your wand�� he took a deep breath and forced himself to look directly into her eyes. �I know I shouldn�t have, and I�m really sorry.�
Sonia looked once from the bright, hopeful eyes of Harry Potter to Professor Snape who was looking determinedly over the heads of the students, before she replied. �Thank-you Harry.� She smiled as a look of relief washed over the child�s face. �I accept your apology. Friends?� She held out her hand, smiling. Harry looked up quickly, and seeing his father nod, he shook her hand heartily, a big smile coming over his face. �Just promise me one thing, Harry,� she said, leaning in and still holding his hand. �Don�t do it again, alright? You might have been hurt.� She wasn�t sure, but she thought, for a moment, that a smile flitted across the professors� face when she said this, but didn�t think about it as Harry promised very seriously to never touch any wands ever again (well at least not until he was old enough).
�If you�ll excuse us Miss Blake?� Professor Snape said, leading Harry away.
�Bye Sonia,� smiled Harry. Both of Sonia�s two best friends leaned in on each side of her to whisper about how cute!! little Harry was.
The hall continued to watch the pair, totally ignoring the food that had arrived, as Professor Snape hoisted Harry up to stand on the edge of the very end of the Slytherin table to apologise to them all for having destroyed their lunch. That completed, Harry leaped into his father�s arms, totally oblivious to the ooh�s and ah�s � or the glare the potions master sent out to those cooing. But Harry blushed, slouching down in his chair between his Daddy and Professor McGonagall when he noticed that the entire hall was still staring at him. Snape and McGonagall both glared around the room, sending all eyes immediately back to their own meals as talk broke out again.
Harry stopped at the sound of an urgent whisper coming from behind a statue on the landing. �Who�s there?� he whispered back.
�Come here.� Fred and George�s red heads appeared from behind the statue, beckoning Harry closer.
�What are you doing?� Harry hissed, checking over his shoulder quickly to make sure no one saw him dart behind the statue. �I�m not supposed to be talking to you two�� he winced, looking once more around the statue for safety. �Dad was none too pleased when he found out that I helped you guys with that prank.�
�Ooh�� it was the twins turn to wince, this time in sympathy.
�You didn�t get in too much trouble did you?� George asked nervously.
�Let me put it this way,� said Harry, casting yet another quick look around the statue. �I�m surprised you didn�t hear him yelling at me up in your dorm � and I�m restricted. Speaking of which,� he sighed. �I gotta go guys. I�ll catch it for sure if I�m late � especially if he finds out I stopped to talk to you.�
The twins watched in commiseration as, with a quick wave, Harry dashed up the stairs. �Poor bugger,� muttered George.
�Yeah, imagine having Snape as your father� Still, he�s got a great sense of humour for someone who�s lived with that greasy git for seven years. Come on then,� sighed Fred with a shrug. �We�ll show him that thing later. I still say it has to be something good for Filch to have had it in that cabinet � I have a feeling about that parchment, brother of mine.� They both smirked evilly. �Let�s see if we can�t figure it out on our own before we show it to Harry.�
**********
In another part of the castle entirely, Harry Potter approached the door to the teachers� wing. Placing his hand flat on an inconspicuous panel on the door �Agor Harry Potter� he spoke quietly, and rushed up the stairwell on the other side.
�Hiya Harry-lad!� squeaked tiny Professor Flitwick in greeting when Harry burst into the teacher�s common room.
�Hi Uncle Filius,� Harry smiled, looking around � not particularly surprised that his father wasn�t there.
�Just coming back from a lesson?� Filius asked cheerfully.
�Physical fitness.� Harry gave him a slightly lopsided grin. �Actually,� he grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. �Madam Hooch and I just had a snowbattle today as it�s the last class before Christmas � but don�t tell Dad�� Harry winked, and the professor laughed appreciatively.
Harry was well aware of how much most of the teachers and older students loved him, and it was only his deep love and respect for his father that stopped him from taking advantage of the tendencies of those teachers and students whenever they knew he�d been in trouble with the dark-mooded potions master. Still, many of the teachers would sneak him treats when he was restricted, and those who gave him lessons often went really easy on him right after he�d been in trouble. Worst, however, for the unlucky potions master was the fact that, though at the best of times, he was far from most student�s favourite teacher, whenever word got around that Harry�d been in trouble and punished, the surliness in his classes, and even from many of his colleagues went up noticeably.
�Harry?� demanded the low voice of his father, causing Harry to jump guiltily. �There you are. What are you doing? You�re supposed to head straight to your room after your lesson � you know that.�
�Dad!� Harry gulped standing up quickly from the sofa where he�d sat next to Filius. �I was just��
�It�s my fault, Severus,� Flitwick put in quickly shooting Harry a kind wink before standing up on the sofa to turn and face his colleague. �When he came in a bit ago,� he flicked his wand surreptitiously behind his back and Harry felt several chocolate frogs fall into his pockets. Harry tried not to smile at this and the fact that the professor was deliberately vague as to how long ago Harry�d arrived back in the common room. �I asked him to speak for a minute. I was asking about his lessons � you know � making sure he�s attending to them properly. He�ll be a proper Hogwarts student in only two short years and he must be prepared��
�Alright then,� Severus replied, squinting at the charms professor sceptically, but seeming to decide to accept the explanation. �Harry � to your room then, until supper.�
�Yes, Dad,� Harry said, looking at the floor as he passed him, though sending Filius an appreciative smile over his shoulder just before he entered the corridor that lead to his and his father�s apartments.
�Do you have your essay for me then?� Severus asked a few minutes later from Harry�s bedroom door.
�Yeah,� Harry smiled as he presented his father with the parchment essay he�d worked very hard on. Severus sat at Harry�s desk to read it while Harry watched his reaction eagerly from the edge of his bed. He watched nervously as Severus mumbled several �Hmm�s�, nodded occasionally and once or twice raised his eyebrows � whether in curiosity, surprise or condemnation of his argument Harry could only guess as he sat chewing on his fingernails.
�Stop biting your fingers,� Severus said almost as an afterthought when he finally looked up. �Well written,� he said finally to Harry�s relief. �I�m not sure I agree with all of your arguments, but you�ve presented all of them in a well thought-out way, and you�ve offered plenty of evidence to back up your postulations. Good job.� He smiled at Harry�s beaming, proud face. �You�re done for the term. The essay passes.�
Harry couldn�t help himself, he let out a �Whoop!� of joy, jumping off of his bed to punch the air in victory.
�Now,� Severus said, smiling in spite of himself as he held up an envelope and Harry paused mid �whoop!� to look at it. �Let�s see what your other instructors have to say for you.� He didn�t say anything, smiling slightly to himself when Harry�s fingernails found themselves once more between his teeth as Severus opened Harry�s progress report. He tried with all his might to keep his face impassive to try and fake Harry out a bit, but he just couldn�t keep it up and smiling he held it out for Harry to see for himself.
�Outstanding!� Harry cried, looking hopefully at his father for praise.
�Absolutely!� Severus agreed with a real smile. �Come here!� Harry instantly allowed himself to be pulled into a celebratory hug, his father patting him heartily on the back. �Alright,� he stood up tall again, looking down on Harry very seriously. �It may just be the Christmas spirit, or some such rot, or I�m just so amazed and stunned by your �outstanding� results�� he grinned, mussing Harry�s hair. �I still want you to stay away from those Weasley twins for a while, but you�re off restriction.�
�Really?!�
�Yeah, go on quick before I change my mind.�
�Can I show my results to everyone?�
�Just a sec,� Severus said, adding his own report on the sheet before handing it over to an overjoyed Harry.
�Thanks Dad!� Harry practically screamed, grabbing the progress letter and bolting for the door. �Dad?� He paused briefly just outside his room. �What about after Christmas � can I be friends with Fred and George then?�
�Stay out of trouble for a while and we�ll talk.� Was all Severus would allow, and deciding to take what he could get, Harry ran, grinning from their apartments.
Smiling, Severus could hear him screaming �I�m off restriction! Look at my results!� to whomever might be in the teachers common room even before the door to their apartments closed.
**************
As silently as he could, Harry tip-toed into his father�s room and to the foot of his bed where he ever-so gently laid a gaily wrapped parcel. Backing slowly and quietly back out of the room, he bounded back to his own room to his own bed, and the many presents laid on, or around it.
Biting into one of the several apples that were always scattered among his presents, Harry called out to wake his father �Dad! Daddy! Wake-up! It�s Christmas, and Father Christmas found us!� When he�d been younger, Harry�d been worried every year that Father Christmas wouldn�t find him to bring his presents because they sometimes spent Christmas at Hogwarts, and sometimes they spent it here at their house. But every year, without fail, there was a generous pile of gifts for Harry, and every year, he woke his father by shouting that they�d been found for Christmas again.
Hearing a groan from across the hall, Harry happily tore into his presents, waiting eagerly for his father to wake enough to spot the present he�d left. He didn�t have to wait long before Severus was at his door, holding the present in his hands and gaping at Harry in amazement.
�Where�? How�?� Was all he managed.
�Auntie Minnie taught me how to knit,� Harry beamed. �And I bought the wool with my allowance when she took me with her to Hogsmeade before Hallowe�en. I, uh, saved my allowance for a month for the book, but,� he looked nervously for his father�s reaction before finishing. �It wasn�t quite enough, so Uncle Albus paid the rest � he won�t let me pay him back, so see�� he motioned for him to open the cover of the potions book. �I made it from both of us.�
Indeed, the inscription read: �For Daddy, Christmas, 1989. From Harry J. S. Potter, and Albus Dumbledore� Severus smiled as he read the added comment in the headmaster�s neat script (but mostly from Harry who wanted to get his father something wonderful).
�Harry,� Severus pulled him into a strong hug, sensing how nervous Harry was that his father love the gift. �It�s perfect! All of it. It�s just what I wanted.�
Harry looked like he might just burst with pride at this announcement. �We checked and checked to make sure you didn�t already have that book,� Harry said eagerly. �And the scarf? Is it the right size? I wanted to make it really long so it could wrap �round and �round to keep you really warm. And the card? Fred and George helped me to charm it to glitter � that was before you said I couldn�t talk to them though,� he assured quickly. �They did the same for Charlie�s card.�
One of the reasons why Harry had so easily made friends with Fred and George was the fact that he�d looked up to their brother Charlie for years. Ever since he�d been four (nearly five!), and Charlie had saved him from being hit by a stray bludger when he�d been watching Quidditch practice. The seventh-year Quidditch captain had deliberately flown in front of it to stop it hitting Harry. Though Charlie had gained a broken collarbone for his effort, little Harry had only been a little shook up. He�d followed Charlie and the team, crying the whole time up to the hospital wing, apologizing over and over. When Charlie�d been healed, he�d hugged Harry and told him repeatedly that it wasn�t his fault and that his arm was already fine. He�d even done several silly stunts to prove to Harry that he was fine. Ever since, Harry had looked to Charlie as a sort of big brother. And since he could write, he and Charlie had been sending each other owls, and holiday cards.
�It�s all of it perfect, Harry.� Severus smiled, wrapping the newly knitted black scarf loosely around his neck � twice, and indicating that Harry should dig into his own presents.
After Harry�d opened all of his usual spectacular number of presents � not only from his father, and Father Christmas, but also from most of the staff of Hogwarts, Remus Lupin, and Charlie Weasley (who sent a small model dragon that really flew around!), and they�d had a huge Christmas breakfast, Severus joined Harry in an impressive snowbattle in their back garden.
As usual, they didn�t want it to end, but Albus had invited them to spend Christmas dinner with them all at the school, so they had to clean up, and Harry had to decide which one present he would take with him to show the professors at school (he was only allowed to bring one to Christmas dinner).
�Are you ready Harry?� Severus called from the front room. �We don�t want to be late.�
�Coming, Daddy,� Harry called as he thumped down the stairs. �Ready!� Harry panted, sliding to a halt in front of the floo, and clutching the miniature dragon that Charlie had sent him.
�Alright, go on then.� Severus held out the floo powder for him to take.
Thowing a pinch of powder into the flames Harry stepped into the hearth and called out �Hogwarts, Headmaster�s office. Agor, Harry Potter� and swirled quickly from view.
�Best Christmas ever,� Severus muttered to himself before repeating the procedure, smiling with the knowledge that he said the same thing every Christmas.
�It won�t,� Severus chuckled, handing Harry some toast. It was September 1st. Harry�s first day of school as an official student at Hogwarts.
�But, what if��
�You�d be an asset to any house, you know that.� Severus cut him off, straightening Harry�s collar and fixing the lopsided knot in his son�s tie.
�Will you be angry if I�m not in Slytherin?�
�No, I�ll be proud no matter what house you�re chosen for.� He sighed as he tried unsuccessfully to smooth Harry�s unruly hair.
�What if I�m in Ravenclaw, will you still like me?�
�Yes, you�re certainly smart enough for Ravenclaw.�
�Hufflepuff?�
�Of course, you�re very loyal to those you care about.�
�Ok, here�s the tough one,� Harry turned to look his father in the eye. �Will you still love me if I�m in Gryffindor?�
�Well, I suppose you are brave when the situation calls for it,� Severus smirked, only scowling very slightly. �And your parents were both Gryffindors, so I don�t see why it would be such a surprise if you turned out to be one as well.�
�Yeah, but you�re Slytherin� and you�re the one who raised me� would you be angry if I was chosen for Gryffindor instead � I mean, you�re head of Slytherin, and you�re about the most Slytherin of Slytherin�s since Salazar himself��
�You will be chosen for the house that most suits you, Harry. I have full confidence in that. And I�ll love you no matter what� but you�ll never be chosen if you don�t arrive with the other students and attend the ceremony, so come on, we�ll be late.�
Even though Harry had moved back to the castle with his father nearly two weeks earlier (which was when the teachers who didn�t stay over the summer returned to prepare for the school year), he would still be travelling to Kings Cross, so that he could take the train and arrive with all the other students. Actually, Harry was quite looking forward to taking the Hogwarts express � he�d heard about the fun had by students as they made their way to school on the train for years, and was eager to spend his allowance on the sweets from the lunch-trolley, and meet the new kids who would be starting school with him this year.
************
�Hi Harry!� Several of the second-year and above students greeted Harry cheerfully as he and his father entered platform 9 & � through the barrier from Kings Cross. They had arrived with 15 minutes to spare and Severus glared around at those students brave enough to whisper loud enough for him to hear that they hoped he wouldn�t be taking the train with them.
�None of the other parents take the train,� muttered Harry irritably as he dragged Severus toward the end to find an empty compartment. �So what are they griping about? Did they expect me to come alone?�
As all of his things were already at Hogwarts, Harry didn�t have a trunk to stow away , and his owl also remained behind, so he merely unslung the small shoulder bag he�d been carrying and pulled out his school robes and his new wand (which he still couldn�t believe he actually owned).
�Have fun � but not too much fun,� Severus was saying quietly as he helped Harry into his new robes. Scowling slightly at their wrinkled state from being stuffed in the bag, Severus muttered a quick spell to smooth them out. �Here,� he said somewhat gruffly as he pressed a few coins into Harry�s hand. �For the trolley � but mind you don�t spoil your dinner. Include at least one pasty among the chocolate frogs will you?�
�Thanks Dad!� Harry smiled, giving his father a quick hug.
�You�re welcome, now on the train, before it leaves without you.� Indeed, the whistle had begun to blow, and Harry hopped eagerly onto the train, leaning out his compartment window to wave at his father as the train started to move. �See you at the feast!�
When he�d waved him out of sight, Harry settled excitedly into his seat, watching the scenery pass by his window. He wasn�t alone for long though�
�Heya Harry!� Fred and George came into the compartment, followed by a third boy, a first year like Harry. Harry looked around at him, and the red hair, freckles and general features gave him away as another Weasley.
�Hi guys!� Harry smiled, jumping up to greet the twins. �Is this Ron?� The twins had told him about their brother Ron, who would be in his year, and Harry had been eager to meet another Weasley.
�Yeah, our brother, ickle Ronnikins. You�ll find he�s not quite as interesting as us � yet�� they smirked at their brother�s scowl. �But he�s definitely not like Percy either, so no worries there.� Harry had indeed been most disappointed when he�d met the first Weasley to come to Hogwarts after Charlie. In fact, not long after they�d met, Percy had finked on him and gotten him into trouble for deeking his history lesson with Professor Binns. All in all, he had never been a big fan of Percy, but the twins had restored his faith in the wonderful nature of the Weasley clan.
�Well,� Fred said after a moment. �We�re heading up further � Lee brought a huge tarantula, and we�re dying to see it. See you later, Ron, Harry.�
�See you guys.�
�So,� Ron asked nervously after a while. �Is it true that the potions master adopted you?�
�Yeah,� Harry replied with a shrug. �Is it true that Fred and George gave you an acid pop when you were seven?�
�Yeah,� Ron winced. �Mum walloped them both with her broom � it was brilliant!�
�You know,� Harry laughed. �Dad gave them detention in the first week of their first year � I think they like being in trouble.�
�With as much trouble as they�re usually in at home, I don�t doubt it!� Ron joined him in laughter. �You�ve gotta watch it though. Just being around them is enough sometimes to get you in trouble as well.�
�Tell me about it!� Harry snorted. �Since their first year, I think most of the times I�ve been in trouble it�s been because of some stupid prank I got involved with them on. And Dad�s forbidden me to spend time with them so many times that I have to ask him every time I want to speak to them to be sure I�m allowed that week!�
�Ha! Wish I could be forbidden from having to spend time with them!�
�Maybe you�ll get into another house � then you wouldn�t have to spend so much time with them.� Harry offered.
�Nah, I�ll probably be in Gryffindor � all my family is � even Mum. And she wasn�t even a Weasley then� Imagine if I weren�t though�� Ron gave a shudder.
�Do you think your family would be angry if you didn�t make it into Gryffindor?�
�Nah,� he answered, looking disgustedly at the lumpy sandwiches his mother had sent with him. �It�d be weird, but they�d probably support me even if I was put into Slytherin! Can you imag-� oops,� he said sheepishly, changing tack very quickly as his face burned. �Sorry. Your � er� the ah, potions master is head of Slytherin, isn�t he?�
�Yeah,� Harry shrugged. �You can call him my Dad � I do. He is legally anyway, even though I wasn�t allowed to change my name�� Harry shrugged again at Ron�s inquisitive look. �I don�t know. The Ministry wouldn�t allow it, if you�d believe it. Something about symbolism� So, how�s Charlie?� he asked cheerfully to change the subject.
They didn�t talk long about Charlie though, before, with a sigh, Harry lifted his fringe to show Ron the scar on his forehead. �Wow,� he muttered, losing track mid-sentence before turning as red as his hair. �Sorry, was I being that obvious?�
�Kinda,� Harry smiled, letting his hair fall again. �Don�t worry. I�m told no one really believes it�s really shaped exactly like a bolt of lightening until they see it in the flesh � or on the flesh of my forehead�� He gave Ron, who was looking very embarrassed, a reassuring smile. �Seriously, it�s alright. At least you were trying to be subtle about it. You�d be surprised how many people just walk up to me and say �Lift your hair so I can see it!� Seriously!�
**********
� not Slytherin, not Slytherin� anything but Slytherin� Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It�s all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness� Yes, I�m sure. I have my reasons, but not Slytherin. Anything but Slytherin� Well, if you�re sure� better be� �Gryffindor!� The hat yelled out, and Harry visibly relaxed.
Taking the hat off, he made his way to the Gryffindor table amid tumultuous applause. It was only after he�d found a seat, and everyone in reach had stopped shaking his hand and patting him on the back, and Professor McGonagall had moved onto the next student, that Harry worked up the courage to look up to the head table for his father�s reaction. Harry shuddered with what he saw. Though he smiled slightly and nodded his head, Harry could tell that the smile seemed forced, worse, his eyes looked almost betrayed. It was almost enough for Harry to run back up and ask to be resorted, this time telling the hat to go ahead and put him in Slytherin. Almost.
In truth, Harry still had nothing against Slytherin house in general. He felt that it attracted just as many annoying students as the other houses � each house had their own brand of annoying types, as Harry knew only too well, having grown up around them all. But last year, before he�d been caught sneaking into the restricted section of the library� (and boy had he been in trouble for that! Potions classes were as surly as they�d ever been and everyone was glaring at his Dad for around two weeks)� he�d read a book about the history of the man who was Voldemort� the man who�d killed his parents.
The book he�d read in the restricted section was spooky. Though there was only sketchy information about who Voldemort had been before he�d decided to go evil and start killing anyone who disagreed with him, there had been only one picture of him from early in his reign of terror, and what was spooky was that they looked kind of alike � with the dark, messy hair, and some of the features Harry imagined he�d have when he was older based on the pictures of his he�d seen of his birth relatives. They were both orphans, they were both half-blood (if this fact was to be believed, for Voldemort�s supporters had vehemently denied it) plus the secret, known only to Harry, his father and Dumbledore, that he was also a parselmouth, not to mention the rather cryptic comment Mr. Ollivander had made when he got his wand � and it was just one too many similarities for Harry � if he were in Slytherin as well� Well, at least that was one variable over which he had a little control, so he�d begged the sorting hat not to put him in Slytherin.
Also, many people had made nasty comments about the irony of the fact that Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the boy who destroyed Voldemort, was being raised by the head of Slytherin house (for Voldemort himself had claimed to have been the heir of Slytherin). And though all the teachers tried to shield him from hearing these things, Harry�d heard nasty rumours about his father (Severus Snape�s) past. Would people again start talking about Severus Snape being a bad influence on him if he�d been sorted into Slytherin? Would it be worth it � would he really care if it made his father happy�?
He was pulled out of his thoughts when Ron was sorted into Gryffindor as well, and the feast began. After several minutes of eating, Harry braved another look up at his father, who was talking with the teacher seated beside him.
�Hey,� Harry said with surprise. �Quirrell�s back! I didn�t see him last week. What�s with the turban? Ah!!� Harry hissed, his hand flying involuntarily up to his forehead.
�What�s wrong Harry?� asked Ron around a mouthful of food.
�Nothing,� Harry replied, distracted. The pain in his scar had dissipated almost as soon as he�d felt it. But it was certainly odd � it had never hurt before. He must just be tired, and over-excited, Harry told himself as he turned back to the meal. �I was just surprised to see Quirrell. He took some time off to work in the field, and I didn�t think he was coming back when I didn�t see him last week. He�s a bit of an odd duck, but basically knows his stuff � looks a bit jumpy though��
�Probably because he�s sat next to Snape,� muttered Lee Jordan. �You�d probably be jumpy too if you were forced to sit next to him�� Lee looked up suddenly into Harry�s glare and stopped, looking uncomfortable. He obviously hadn�t been paying attention to who had said that Quirrell looked jumpy.
�I�ve never been jumpy, sitting next to him.�
�Sorry, Harry.� Lee smiled apologetically. �I know he�s not as bad as we think he is � he can�t be if you like him, can he?�
Harry gave him a smile to tell him he was forgiven before turning to the closest prefect he saw, who as luck would have it turned out to be� �Percy, I see you�ve been made a prefect. Congratulations. What�s the password?�
Percy gave him a sceptical look as if questioning the sincerity of his congratulations (as he should, Harry still didn�t like Percy very much). �You�ll find out with the rest of the first years when I lead you up to the dormitory.� He puffed his chest out importantly and Harry thought that he�d make a wonderful Ministry worker one day (he�d had to hear about the annoying Ministry people all his life from Dumbledore and his Dad).
�Percy,� he said, careful to keep his voice friendly. �I already know where the dormitory is � all I need is the password. I want to talk to my Dad for a quick minute before I go up and I don�t want to be standing there staring at Prissy not knowing the password. I�ll probably even beat you up there.� Because to show how impressive you are, you�ll probably take the longest possible way to get there to show off how well you know the castle, Harry thought to himself as an aside.
�Harry,� Percy said in a long-suffering voice. �The rules say you are to accompany the rest of the first years up at the same time � right after the feast��
�Carrie?� Harry cut him off, turning to the next closest prefect. �I�ll only be a minute �honest!� He gave her his best �I�m a cute boy� smile and she instantly caved � she�d always liked him�
�It�s caput draconis,� she whispered with a smile at Percy�s spluttering. �But don�t be late � you don�t want to be in trouble for breaking curfew on your first day!�
�I won�t,� he smiled grabbing one last biscuit as he left the table.
�Dad?� Harry whispered from the small side door nearest where his father sat at the head table.
�Harry, what are you doing there?� he demanded in a whisper. He cast a quick look back to the table before excusing himself to slip over to Harry, leading him out into the deserted corridor. �You�re supposed to be at your new house table. You�re to be lead up to your dormitory in a minute.�
�I know, but Percy�s the one taking the new students up�� Harry failed to keep the distaste out of his voice, and his father scowled at him briefly. �I already know the way, and I�ll probably beat them up there anyway � Carrie gave me the password so I can get in either way...�
�Harry,� Severus frowned. �Just because you know this castle better than most students doesn�t mean you don�t still have to follow the same rules � you should do the same things as your fellow first years � you�re meant to be bonding with them, not keeping yourself separate from them.�
�I know, Dad,� Harry shrugged guiltily. �I just�� his eyes fell to look at his hands, nervously twisting the fabric of his new robes. �I wanted to make sure you weren�t angry that I� I mean, Gryffindor��
�Well I�m not,� Severus said quickly, and though Harry wanted to believe him, he�d said he wouldn�t be angry this morning, but there was something in the tone of his voice that made Harry suspect that whatever he might say, he really wasn�t pleased. �At any rate,� Severus interrupted his thoughts. �The headmaster has sent the students to bed, and you�d better be on your way.�
Harry looked around him through the door, and saw that indeed, the great hall was beginning to clear. �Alright,� he sighed. �Goodnight, Dad.�
�Harry? Why don�t you come see me in our apartment tomorrow? After classes? Before Dinner? We�ll talk.�
�Alright.� Harry felt cheered slightly as he took the quickest route to the Gryffindor common room. At least he could talk to him tomorrow � convince him that even though he was in Gryffindor (his father�s opposite house) that wouldn�t change anything between them � at least he hoped it wouldn�t.
As he�d thought, even though Percy and the first years had left the great hall before him, Harry beat them to the common room by several minutes and had time to be congratulated again by several of the older students he knew who had also taken a more direct route. When Percy arrived, scowling, Harry joined the group of first years to hear Percy drone on about all the rules he already knew, and to try and hide his scoff at some of the dire warnings Percy gave that Harry knew to be exaggerated.
When they finally made it up to their dorm, Harry lay awake for awhile thinking that this was going to be good. No more speculating as to which house the Harry Potter was put in� He�d explain tomorrow to his Dad about why everything would be fine with him in Gryffindor� Ron, he decided, would be an excellent new friend (this had been cinched when he�d joined Harry in scoffing at Percy)� He had his own wand� and tomorrow, he�d start being able to attend real lessons at Hogwarts instead of having to sneak around between his own boring lessons to hear snippets of what real Hogwarts students got to learn.
Yes, he thought just before he drifted off. This will be good.
He missed arguing with Harry about what time was an appropriate time for a boy his age to go to bed after the opening feast� He had missed Harry sitting beside him at the head table � guessing what house the hat would pick for each student as they approached the front (and getting a great many correct)�
He was worried that Harry wouldn�t get any sleep at all in the blasted dormitories where he, Severus couldn�t yell at him to put the book down and go to sleep already...
But none of that mattered right now, because in spite of what he�d said, he was � what? Angry? No� Upset? A little� Agitated� Hurt� that Harry � his Harry, had gone to Gryffindor. But worse, so much worse was how relieved Harry had seemed when the blasted hat had put him there.
Had the boy, in spite of all appearances grown to believe the propaganda that Slytherin was the house of the evil � the vile � the low and dark segments of wizarding society?
And if he didn�t want to be in Slytherin, why not Ravenclaw? He�d meant it that morning when he�d said that Harry was more than smart enough� Even Hufflepuff! What the child lacked in patience was more than made up for by his hardworking nature and strong sense of loyalty and justice� But Gryffindor! Of all the choices�
�Arrgh!!� Severus let out a frustrated growl, pouring himself a generous glass of wine.
An hour, and an entire bottle of wine later, Severus sat staring into the fire� thinking.
A nearly two-year-old child, filthy, forgotten, locked away� handed over to a tall, dark, angry man who smelled of too many potions ingredients.
�Hi.� The scrawny toddler looked up at the forbidding form of his new guardian, having just heard him lose a rather loud argument against having to take him. �I Harry-boy,� he�d stated in a small, but clear voice.
�I�m Severus,� he�d stood, towering over the child, in all his angry, forbidding glory, certainly not giving the child any hint of welcome.
�Se-� Se-er-oosss?�
�Se-ver-us.�
�Se-er�� The child had frowned, concentrating and trying to work his mouth around the difficult name. �Se-di-usss?�
He�d gathered him up and taken him out of the headmasters� office as quickly as he could to get away from Minerva and Dumbledore�s snickers. It wasn�t long though, before he was hopelessly gone over the child� and by Christmas, �Se-di-usss� had become Daddy�
Where dwell the brave at heart�
What is bravery?
Is it accepting things you have no control over? Seeing the murders of your parents, and the death of the creature who killed them and then tried to kill you � being completely and utterly rejected by the next family you were left with� and then placed with a man who made no secret of how little he wanted you when you first met� all before you were two � yet still learning to adjust? Is that bravery? Or instinct?
Is it a five-year-old boy, facing the family who continued to reject him, straight-backed and unflinching under their glare and harsh words as they signed away their claim?
Is it a six-year-old boy, shouting angrily at seven fourteen-year-old students: �No he�s not! You take that back right now, or else!� When he�d overheard them insulting their least favourite potions master?
.
.
.
Their daring, nerve and chivalry�
Daring�
A seven-year-old boy, slumping down on the sofa in front of the fire with a pout. �I don�t know why you�re yelling at me � it�s not my fault that Sylvia Goyle destroyed two cauldrons in your last class today.�
Oh, yes, Severus chuckled to himself. The boy was daring � not always so wise� but certainly daring�
Nerve�
An eight-year-old boy, surrounded by reporters and gawpers when he�d dawdled on his way into Flourish and Blotts behind his father in Diagon Alley shouting: �Alright! The next person to block me from going into that store gets a hard kick in the shins! And I�m not answering any of your silly �which house, which father does he prefer� questions!�
Oh, yes � the child had nerve� Severus well remembered how quickly the reporters had cleared a path.
Chivalry�
Not that out-dated rot about protecting women � Harry was not foolish enough to believe that women were in any way inherently weaker than men. Growing up at Hogwarts, Harry�d learned not to judge the strength of a person based on his or her appearance or gender. Witness, Minerva McGonagall � a formidable witch, against whom Severus himself would not want to set himself� Filius Flitwick, smaller in stature than Harry since the boy had been four, but again, a wizard against whom Severus would not wish to test himself in a life-or-death situation� and Rubeus Hagrid � in appearance, a frightening and dangerous figure� in reality, an overgrown child himself�
But that quiet nobility that made strangers want to please him� that sense that made Harry willing to stand up to anyone, when he felt the need to point out an injustice � even Dumbledore � even his father�
God damn your bones James Potter! Severus� mind screamed. You only had him for fifteen months!! He�s been mine for over nine years!!
It�s not bloody fair for him to still be more you than he is me!
He was jealous. That was it. He knew it. And there was enough wine in him now, that he was willing to admit it to himself. Harry was his son now, by God! He should be a Slytherin� Face it Severus, said a smarmy voice from somewhere in the back of his mind. You raised yourself a Gryffindor � you taught him to be what he is � and that�s a Gryffindor. What are you going to do about it now � hate him for daring to learn what you taught him � to be himself?
Stupid conscience. He�d always told himself, whenever Harry got into trouble that there was nothing the boy could do that would make him stop loving him � not even if he became a Gryffindor. Stupid fate with its� stupid sick sense of humour. He�d told Harry he�d be OK with him being in Gryffindor � both of his parents had been in Gryffindor after all (though what that said about the old nature vs. nurture argument he wasn�t sure�).
Damn. He really was OK with Harry being in Gryffindor. Proud even. Happy� Urg.
Stupid Albus � making him take the kid. He probably knew all along that this would happen and that Severus would be too far in love with the child by now to be able to have any kind of problem with it in the end. Stupid old man � the problem with him thinking he knows everything, is the fact that sometimes it seems like he does. Severus decided to open another bottle of wine�
*****************
�There�s this boy in my dorm called Seamus,� Harry said very quickly, almost babbling in his excitement as he described his first day as a �real� Hogwarts student. �His mum�s a witch, but his dad�s a Muggle � he said his mum didn�t tell his dad she was a witch until after they were married! Can you imagine?! How can you get married to someone without telling them something as big as that?! But I guess he got over it, because Seamus says they�re still married. Then there�s this boy Neville. Apparently his family thought he�d be a squib � he lives with his gran � he didn�t say why, but he didn�t seem to want to talk about it so I didn�t ask. Anyway, he said that his family thought he was all Muggle until his uncle accidentally dropped him out a window and he bounced. And Ron! He seems really great. Don�t worry though, I don�t think he�ll be as bad as Fred and George � but definitely, more interesting than Percy��
Severus smiled slightly as Harry kept shifting around on the couch, gesturing wildly as he spoke in his excitement. A small part of his mind wondered if Harry was remembering to breathe in between all the rambling.
�And Percy! He was being so pompous and stuck-up! Still, you�d be proud of me dad,� Harry held up his hands when Severus raised an eyebrow at Harry�s words. �I stood still, with all of the other first years as he gassed on about all the rules and very dire consequences should any one of you break those rules and bring shame to Gryffindor house��� Harry snorted as he affected Percy�s superior tone and Severus was hard pressed to maintain a straight face � he�d done a near perfect imitation.
�Honestly, I�d bet a million Galleon�s that he�ll end up working at the ministry� Anyway�� Harry rolled his eyes. �Those Patil twins � one in Gryffindor, the other in Ravenclaw! Did you see that coming? There�s this Muggle-born girl too � Hermione Granger � she seems really smart, but bossy! Then there was Draco Malfoy�� Harry�s face formed the first scowl he�d worn since entering his father�s apartments nearly half an hour earlier. �Would you believe he actually came right up to Ron and said � �Shabby robes and red hair? You must be a Weasley. Really Potter I�d think you�d know better than to associate with riff-raff like him�� � such a jerk�� Harry finally broke off his excited speech, looking to the fire with a pensive look on his face.
�What is it?� Severus questioned him
�Dad?� Harry sighed after a moment, looking nervously back and forth from his father to his own hands. �You know people always say you favour Slytherin?� He didn�t wait for a response. �And you know � and please don�t be mad, but I used to peek in classes sometimes � between my own lessons, of course�� he blushed slightly. �And� well, I mean�� He took a deep breath and spoke quickly before he lost his nerve. �Are you really OK with me being in Gryffindor?�
Severus had known that Harry had frequently �peeked� in classes � and not just his classes, for years, sometimes instead of going to his own lessons� He�d never done anything about it because Harry still went to more of his lesson�s than he skipped� and as long as he kept up his work, and was discreet, Severus didn�t see why he couldn�t allow Harry this one thrill of sneakery.
And Severus knew what Harry was alluding to by mentioning having peeked at his lessons before, he knew what he would have seen in any Slytherin/Gryffindor classes. More importantly, though he didn�t ask it directly, Severus knew that he was wondering if he�d be as harsh (and if Severus were being completely honest with himself he�d have to add unfair) with him in potions lessons now that he was one of his hated Grffindors.
�Harry,� he said finally. �I did know about your sneaking around to watch classes�� he smiled slightly at Harry�s wide-eyed look. �And there are reasons why I teach the way I do. Three quarters of this school are less fair to Slytherins than the other houses � it�s less overt,� he added quickly. �But nonetheless, it is there � they are first to be suspected, first to lose points� the best motives are never considered for their actions � only the worst� and the opposite is the case for Gryffindors � last suspected, last to lose points, and only the best motives are ever considered for their actions. I � make up for that in my classes�� He sighed, and looked at Harry very seriously. �There is much more to it than that, but the bottom line is that I am very much �OK� with you being in Gryffindor.� Harry looked at him sceptically.
�Last night, I spent some time thinking about it. I was never angry, but at first I admit I was�� he thought for a moment for the best words. �Maybe a little disappointed, maybe a little hurt� I don�t know. But the more I thought about it � the things you�ve done in your life � the boy you are.� Severus looked Harry directly in the eyes. �Despite my best efforts,� he grinned. �I must admit, that you really are more a Gryffindor than a Slytherin. And I�m OK with you � so why wouldn�t I be OK with this part of you too?�
�Thanks Dad.� Harry smiled happily.
�As for class,� Severus went on. �No matter where you went, you know I wasn�t going to give you any special treatment. And that is still the case. I don�t plan to give you any special treatment � either way. Do your work, prepare for your tests, and get your potions correct, and I don�t see us having any problems in class � do you?�
�Guess not,� Harry smiled again. �You�ll see Dad,� he said excitedly. �This�ll be perfect! A Gryffindor who understands Slytherins! We�ll all end up getting along yet!�
Ha! Severus seriously doubted it, but chose not to burst his son�s bubble as he quickly went on to describe his first transfiguration lesson. Soon they would have to rejoin the rest of the school in the Great Hall for tea, but for now, he decided to enjoy his son�s excitement as well as his company � for as long as he could.