Two days later, on July 31, which would have been Harry’s eighteenth birthday had he not been de-aged, Severus and Hermione had finally finished the antidote. Harry was barely conscious when his father made him drink the fresh-made Potion. However, a few hours later, the child was as good as new.

While Harry was still asleep under the watchful eyes of Fawkes, Hermione, Poppy, Severus, Minerva, and Tom sat together in the living room, drinking tea. After a month of worrying and researching, it was the first time they could really relax.

“What can we do to ensure that it doesn’t happen again?” Hermione asked, turning the cup in her hand absentmindedly.

Severus sighed. “It’s difficult. I’ve already given Dobby the order to prepare food for Harry, so that he doesn’t have to eat or drink anything the Hogwarts’ elves belonging to the Headmaster place at his place at the table. I would like to see Albus in Azkaban, but unfortunately, we don’t have any proof that it was him, which would be acceptable for the Ministry. Dobby has done some research in the kitchen and has found out that it was an elf named Nina who had been ordered by the Headmaster to put the poison into Harry’s glass. However, the Ministry would never accept a House elf as witness.”

“What!” Tom shouted. “Oh, wait. I’m going to the Ministry anyway as I want to suggest them to conclude a peace treaty between the Ministry and I, which I have prepared during the last months. I also want to have the class of “Dark Magic” re-installed to Hogwarts. Moreover, the treatment of Magical Creatures is a part of the treaty.”

“Tom, let’s go immediately. I know the Minister of Magic very well as we have been friends for sixty years. We’ll be able to talk to him immediately,” Minerva said firmly.

Tom gratefully accepted Minerva’s suggestion, and during the next months, he was busy negotiating with different parts of the Ministry. Shortly before Christmas, the peace treaty was signed by the Minister of Magic and Tom Riddle.

On Harry’s sixth’ birthday, the front page of the Daily Prophet was full of surprises for the Wizarding world:

Ministry of Magic and Tom Riddle A.K.A. Lord Voldemort conclude Peace Treaty – You-Know-Who and Death Eaters innocent? – Dumbledore trying to kill Harry Potter?

After five months of negotiations, Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic, and Tom Riddle, Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts (for his own protection under the alias of Thomas O’Neill) have concluded a peace treaty for the wizarding world. This treaty also includes every type of Magical Creature and ensures them full rights within our world…

The article filled the whole front page, and the next pages were packed with information about different persons like Tom Riddle, Harry Snape (A.K.A. Harry Potter), Albus Dumbledore, and Minerva McGonagall, who had blown her cover for the safety of a small boy.

Unfortunately, although Scrimgeour seemed to believe what Tom and Minerva had told him about Dumbledore, the Ministry was not yet ready for a trial against the Headmaster of their poster school, Hogwarts. However, so far, Dumbledore hadn’t tried anything else against Harry, and it was obvious that the Headmaster was slowly starting to forget what the whole war was about.

-----

This became obvious to all the teachers on Harry’s birthday. The teachers had decided that it should be safe enough for Harry to have a birthday party in the Great Hall because this year many students had remained over the Christmas Holidays and wanted to participate in the party. When Severus and Harry entered the Great Hall, the other teachers and students were already sitting at the round table, which replaced the four House tables during the holidays. Harry, hating the attention, tried to hide in his father’s robes until Hermione walked up to the pair and dragged the birthday boy off his father.

She pulled Harry into a bear hug, ignoring the annoyed trilling of Fawkes, who had been sitting on Harry’s shoulder and left in a huff, making himself comfortable on the back of an empty chair. “Good morning, Harry, and a very Happy Birthday to you!” Hermione proclaimed, pulling Harry’s eyes off his phoenix.

“Thank you, Hermione,” Harry replied shyly.

“Look, Harry, they all want to wish you a Happy Birthday. Do you think you can go around the table and speak to them for a moment?”

Harry slightly shook his head, throwing a pleading glance at the young woman.

“All right, then we’ll just sit down.” Hermione gave in and pulled Harry over to the seat Fawkes had occupied, just between her and Minerva, opposite of Dumbledore.

Before he could sit down, Minerva pulled him in a hug too and wished him all the best.

“Thank you, Granny,” Harry returned, uncomfortable with all the attention.

“Oh, Minerva, is that your grandson?” Dumbledore asked astonished.

Minerva threw him a piercing glance and answered, “Yes, Albus. He is Severus’ son and my grandson.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” the Headmaster replied. “And your phoenix is beautiful, Harry. I had one of these for a long time but then he suddenly vanished. It’s a pity really.”

Fawkes mumbled something in Harry’s ear, and the boy had to try hard not to laugh at his familiar’s antics. Dumbledore clapped his hands, and breakfast – consisting of a huge birthday cake in the shape of the castle – appeared on the table. Harry stared in awe at the six candles and remembered from last year that he had to blow them out. The others had just finished singing the birthday song for Harry, when the doors to the Great Hall opened and revealed two wizards unknown to Harry.

The two wizards approached the table, and Dumbledore – obviously remembering his manners – conjured two chairs to his sides and invited the men to share a piece of cake with them.

Minerva rose from her seat, extended her hand to greet the men and introduced them as Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister of Magic, and Remus Lupin, a former Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Noticing the curious glance Remus shot at Harry, she said, “We are just celebrating Harry Snape’s sixth birthday. You surely have heard about him, Remus?”

“Yes, Minerva, Molly has told me everything,” Remus replied, eying the piece of cake on his plate. “What’s this? The Gryffindor common room?”

“Look, Mr. Moony, I’ve got the Transfigation Classroom, where Granny teaches,” Harry said excitedly, oblivious to the shocked glance he received from the man.

“Does he remember?” Remus whispered to Severus, who was sitting on his other side.

“No, but he was a baby only two years ago. He probably remembers from that time. I’ve made many tests to see if he remembers anything of the time when he was big, but there seems to be nothing,” Severus whispered back.

When they had finished their cake, the Minister stood up. “I’m very sorry to disturb you here on this fine morning. However, I have an announcement to make. I’m sure you’ve already read the Daily Prophet today, so it shouldn’t come as such a surprise.” Seeing that some of the students shook their heads, he pulled two copies of the newspaper out of his pocket and handed them over to the students.

“From January 1st onwards, the class ‘Dark Magic’ will be re-installed at Hogwarts. Teacher for this class will be Tom Riddle, who has so far been the Professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts under the name of Thomas O’Neill. His place will be taken by Remus Lupin.”

While a few of the students let out loud gasps, all of the teachers gave the Minister a huge round of applause, even Albus clapped his hands, obviously not grasping the level of offence against himself.

“Granny?” Harry whispered to Minerva. “What’s Dawk Mashic?”

Minerva gave Severus a helpless glance, and Severus leaned over to Harry. “Harry, in the magical world, there are spells that are considered as Light Magic, and there are others, which are considered as Dark Magic. But in both types of Magic, there are useful spells and unnecessary spells as well as there are good spells and bad spells. Therefore, wizards and witches should learn both types of Magic in order to be able to tap their full potential doing Magic.”

"Ah, alwight," Harry answered. He hadn‘t understood everything Severus had told him but at least he had an idea. "Thanks, Daddy."

Finally, breakfast was finished and the Minister left the Hall with the Headmaster in tow. Remus, however, remained seated. Hermione stood up in order to pull Harry over to the table that was flowing over with presents.

However, “One moment please.” Severus’ voice stopped the eager young teacher. “I would like to say a few words, before Harry can unwrap his presents.” Seeing that he held everyone’s attention, he continued, “A few weeks ago, I have asked Harry what he wanted for his birthday. Harry, can you tell the others what your wish was?”

Harry’s face turned a deep red colour, and the boy hesitantly said, “Yes. I want to sit in all classes with all teachers. Um, no,” he shook his head. “Not dination or muggle studs, but most classes and not only Potions, although I love Potions very much.”

Everyone started to laugh, and Severus told his son, “I have spoken to the other teachers, and they have all agreed to let you attend their classes. Moreover, all the teachers have agreed to teach you Primary School knowledge during their free periods. Granny has promised to put a time table together for you.”

“Thank you, Dad, thank you, Granny,” Harry beamed. “That’s the bestest birthday present!”

Everyone laughed, and Hermione told the child, “Come, let’s have a look at what else you got for your birthday.”

Harry received many books and toys for his birthday, but what he loved most were the books, and soon everyone got used to seeing the boy sitting at random places in the castle, with Fawkes on his shoulder, reading a book. One day in the teachers’ staff meeting, Filius Flitwick suggested, “Let’s make a bet! I bet that Harry will be sorted into Ravenclaw this time.”

Everyone laughed, but finally most of the teachers agreed to accept the bet. Tom, Albus, and Hermione, who remembered that the Hat originally had wanted to place Harry into Slytherin, voted for Slytherin. Severus, Poppy, and Filius bet Ravenclaw, and Minerva, Remus, and the rest of the teachers voted for Gryffindor. Only Sibyll Trelawney predicted that Harry would die before his first day of school anyway so that there was no need to bet.

Harry liked his private lessons with the teachers a lot, who taught him maths and other useful subjects, but he just loved attending classes together with the students. And the teachers were in for a huge surprise.

One day in the first week of classes after the holidays, Minerva had just held a geography lesson with Harry in her office during her free period and then took him with her to the Transfiguration classroom. The next class was a mixed class of Slytherin and Gryffindor first years, who had to transfigure a wooden cat into a plush cat. The teachers had agreed to let Harry have his wand during lessons, so that he could actually try to do the same magic like the students, although his magic would probably not be strong enough yet.

“Good morning,” Minerva addressed the class. “Most of you probably know my grandson, Harry Snape. From now on, Harry will sometimes join you in your class as he lives here in the castle and is very eager to learn about magic as much as possible. Please accept him as a younger student to this class.” Then she motioned Harry to sit down in an empty seat between a Gryffindor girl and a Slytherin boy and handed him his wand.

Harry hesitantly took the wand, which warmed up and let out a few sparks as soon as he gripped it. A feeling of happiness streamed through his small body, and Minerva observed how his eyes started to twinkle merrily. Harry was so engrossed in his interaction with his wand that he didn’t hear a word of what Minerva talked about the transfiguration she wanted the class to do. He only heard the last sentence. “Now, take your wooden cat and say the incantation ‘Coacta Transfiguro’ to turn it into a plush cat. Colour and form are up to you for the moment.”

Harry didn’t hesitate for an instant. He threw a glance at his wand, which he still held firmly in his right hand, and pointed it at the wooden cat. “Coacta Transfiguro,” he incanted properly, and on his table sat a black plush cat with sparkling green eyes. Harry threw a happy smile at Minerva and said, “Look, Granny!”

The professor threw a look at Harry’s cat, and her face took on a flabbergasted expression. How could the child do that? Even for the first years, it was very difficult. “Very good, Harry,” she said to the child before she went through the class to help the students. “You can try to change it back,” she told Harry when she returned to his seat.

“I’ve already changed it back a few times,” Harry said and pointed to the green cat in front of him.

Before Minerva could answer, one of the students shouted happily, “I got it!” and she turned around to look for the next plush cat.

After the lesson, Minerva asked Harry to show him his timetable. “I don’t have it with me, Granny, but I have a private lesson with Hermione, and afterwards I’m going to stay in the Potions classroom.”

“All right, Harry, thanks. Would you mind if Hermione practised magic with you, using your wand?”

Harry shook his head. “No, Granny. I love my wand. It’s warming me up, and it makes me happy.”

-----

After lunch, Hermione took Harry into her office. “Now, Harry, your Granny has told me that you want to learn easy spells with your wand, is that right?” Hermione asked the child. Minerva had talked to her colleagues at lunchtime and Hermione had been asked to check his magic. Although Harry obviously had no memory of his earlier time at Hogwarts, Minerva had the impression that his magic was still as powerful as the sixteen-year-old Harry’s had been.

“All right. Do you know the charm to make light?” Hermione asked.

Harry threw her a confused glance and shook his head. “No.”

“All right. Look. You move your wand like this and say ‘Lumos’.”

Harry complied and the tip of his wand became very bright.

“Very good,” Hermione commended her small friend. “Now can you try to open this door?” Noticing the unsure glance she received she explained, “the incantation is ‘Alohomora’.”

Even this was no problem for Harry. “All right. You’re very good at magic, do you know that? Shall we try some more difficult spells?” At Harry’s enthusiastic nod, she let him try several spells that she was sure had been part of their OWL exams, but Harry could manage everything she asked him. She only had to tell him the incantation. Slowly, the ideas were leaving her, so she asked Harry, “Is there anything special you want to learn?”

“Yes,” Harry replied immediately. “I want to learn to become a phoenix like Fawkes, so that I can go flying with him.”

Hermione laughed. “You want to be an Animagus? Harry, that’s very advanced magic, and only very few wizards are capable of becoming an Animagus. As you’re extremely powerful, I’m sure that you’ll be able to learn it. However, I’m not the right person to teach you as I’m not an Animagus. You should ask your Granny, and she’ll be able to help you.”

“All right, I’ll ask Granny. I’d like that really, really much.”

-----

A few hours later, Harry had dinner at the Head table. “What is the matter?” Severus asked, worried. “Are you feeling unwell?” He knew that when Harry was feeling sick or sad or just unsure about something he tried to stay close to his daddy, his granny, or his godparents.

“No, Daddy, everything is all right. I just want to speak with Granny about something.” He sat down between Minerva and Severus to whom he talked while Hermione filled Minerva in about her lesson with Harry. As soon as Harry noticed that they had finished, he turned to Minerva and asked, “Granny, can you teach me how to become an Animagus?”

His high, childish voice had penetrated to the House tables, and the Hall erupted with laughter. Everyone knew how difficult the Animagus transformation was and that it had to be impossible for a six-year-old to manage such a complicated transformation. Harry threw a confused look over to the House tables, noticing that everyone was looking at him. “Why are they laughing at me, Granny?” he asked innocently.

“They laugh because they cannot do the Animagus transformation and can’t imagine you to be capable of it. But we’ll show them, won’t we? Yes, sweetie, I’m going to teach you. We’ll start tomorrow. Do you already know which animal you’d like to become?”

“Yes!” Harry beamed. “I want to become a phoenix like Fawkes.”

-----

A few days later, Remus took Harry into his office for a maths lesson. Harry was very excited, because the next lesson would be his first Animagus lesson. Although he loved maths very much, he just couldn’t concentrate well today.

“Would you like some pumpkin juice?” Remus asked suddenly, and Harry happily agreed. Remus poured some juice out in a glass for Harry, but before Harry could even lift the glass Fawkes jumped onto the table and greedily drank the contents of the glass before the phoenix suddenly burst into fire.

“Fawkes,” Harry shouted horrified and started to cry.

“It’s all right, Harry,” Remus said calmingly. “Phoenixes do this from time to time. They have their burning day and become re-born as a baby. Look, there he is.” He pointed to a small, naked something, crawling out of the ash. “You just have to take care of him, so that he won’t get cold,” Remus advised his small friend.

“All right, Remus, thank you,” Harry replied, consoled, and took the small phoenix baby onto his lap, carefully wrapping it into his robes.

In the meantime, Remus had poured out another glass of juice for Harry, who absentmindedly took a few sips. Suddenly, Harry’s vision started to fail and he noticed that his head hurt very much. He just managed to say, “I don’t feel well,” before he passed out.