It was a cool day, with clouds blocking the sunlight and a brisk breeze that made Harry shiver slightly as he came out the front door and crossed the stone terrace to the lawn. He briefly considered asking Snape if he could go back for a jacket to wear over his thin T-shirt, but then decided not to. A jacket might be a bit cumbersome if he were dueling, and besides, he'd probably warm up quickly if he were moving around.

Snape was standing on the lawn with a dummy-figure beside him. It was the size and shape of a man, but was covered with burlap. A short thick wand was grasped in its hand.

Harry looked at it curiously as he came over to join Snape and the dummy.

"Harry, this is Toby," Snape's lip curled as he pronounced the name with disdain. "Albus helped me create him years ago and insisted that I name the object...his idea of humour I suppose, though he was a bit taken aback at the name I chose." A slightly malicious grin crossed Snape's face as he looked at the dummy.

It disappeared though when he turned his attention back to Harry. "You realise of course, Harry, that it would be impossible for me to duel with you myself. We have to be very careful that the slavery curse never interprets your actions as an attack against me. So I will instruct and supervise, but Toby will be your actual dueling partner."

Harry felt a small pang at the reminder that he was a slave, as he always did, but quickly pushed it aside and focused on the rest of Snape's words.

"It can duel?" He studied the dummy with interest. "Wow, that's really cool."

Yes, it is, isn't it?" Snape remarked dryly. "I will admit that Toby has been useful over the years. It's helped me to keep my skills sharp in the months that I am here alone. Now, I can adjust Toby's speed and skill to match yours but I need to get an idea of what level you're at, so to begin with, we'll go over the hexes and jinxes you've already learned."

He began walking away from the dummy across the wide expanse of lawn and motioned for Harry to come with him. When they were approximately twenty meters away from ‘Toby', they stopped and Snape nodded to Harry.

"All right, Harry, show me the spells you're familiar with."

"I just aim at him?" Harry asked uncertainly, eyeing the target.

"Yes, don't worry. He's practically indestructible. Cast a Blasting Curse at him," Snape instructed.

Harry hesitated, but then raised his wand and shouted, "Confringo!"

A jet of light shot from his wand and hit the dummy squarely in the chest. It promptly exploded and left only a pile of dust on the ground.

Harry looked at Snape, horrified, but Snape just gave a lazy flick with his own wand and the dust rose, swirling faster and faster in a miniature cyclone, and then re-formed into ‘Toby'.

"There. I told you, practically indestructible." Snape raised an eyebrow at him. "That was a decent Blasting Curse, too."

Had Snape actually just complimented him? Harry felt his face turn red and he looked at the ground. "Thank you, sir."

Snape nodded briskly. "Go on, then."

So Harry spent the next hour running through all the hexes, jinxes, and charms he'd learned in class, and some that he and his friends had learned on their own; the Disarming spell, stinging hexes, reductor curses, stunners, the Shield Charm, and everything else he could think of.

At first Snape just watched in silence, but then he began instructing... showing Harry ways he could distract an opponent, how he could use his body to partially shield wand movements, and having him practice motions over and over to improve his speed. Harry was breathing hard when Snape finally nodded in approval and called a break.

The professor conjured two glasses of cool water and handed one to Harry. "Sit down and rest for a few minutes."

Harry was tired enough to sink gratefully down to the ground, but he was surprised when Snape joined him in sitting cross-legged on the grass. They sipped their water in silence, and Harry reflected that the lesson was going far better than he'd expected. Snape could be a good instructor when he chose, and he hadn't made a single derogatory comment. Harry found that he'd actually been enjoying himself. It gave him a real sense of satisfaction to feel that he was learning and taking steps towards defeating Voldemort.

When they'd finished their water and rested for a little while, Snape turned to Harry and said, "Ready to work with Toby?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, sir."

They stood and Snape walked a distance away from both Harry and the dummy. Harry drew his wand and waited tensely as Snape cast some enchantment over Toby and the dummy seemed to come to life.

It cast a Stunning Spell at Harry, who managed to perform a Shield Charm just in time. He threw a Disarming Spell back at it, but Toby twisted nimbly out of the way while shooting a Tripping Jinx in return.

Harry just barely avoided the jinx and shouted, "Protego!" With his Shield protecting him, he took a deep breath. Toby moved as quickly and spryly as a real person. Harry would need to concentrate and do his best. He grinned a little as he twirled his wand and called out, "Rictusempra!"

Spells flew back and forth, as Harry and Toby circled. Harry was slightly quicker and more agile, but Toby had the advantage of being able to cast silently so Harry didn't know what to expect from him. He managed to avoid most of Toby's hits, but found that he was being forced to become defensive rather than offensive.

As if reading his mind, Snape called, "That's fine, Harry. It takes more energy to fight offensively. Against a live person, it could be to your advantage to fight defensively for a time. Let your opponent tire and then you can attack. You just need one good hit."

Harry watched the dummy with grim determination, waiting for his chance. He dodged another Stunning Spell and then grabbed an opportunity.

"Locomotor Mortis!"

The Leg-Locker hit Toby and caused him to crash to the ground.

"Yes....Ow!"

At the same instant Harry had aimed the Leg-Locker at Toby, the dummy had fired a stinging hex at him and Harry hadn't been able to block it in time. He winced at the sudden sharp pain that lashed the back of his hand and cradled it to his chest for an instant.

"Harry? Are you all right?" Snape came hurrying over to him, and the concern in his voice and his face brought a lump to Harry's throat, for some inexplicable reason.

"Yeah. I mean, yes, sir. It's nothing. It's fine now." Harry said thickly.

"Let me see." With uncharacteristic tenderness, Snape reached for Harry's hand.

"It's really nothing, sir. I'm..." Harry began, feeling completely embarrassed about making a big deal over a simple stinger...it had just caught him by surprise, but he'd certainly endured much worse without complaint. He broke off suddenly, though, because Snape had raised his face and he wore such an expression of cold rage that Harry's voice froze. What in the world could he have done now?

"What is this?" Snape's voice was taut with fury, but his fingers were gentle as they traced the scarred words I must not tell lies on the back of Harry's hand.

"Um...well, last year," Harry stumbled over the words, but there really wasn't anything he could do but tell the truth, or at least he couldn't think of anything else to do at the moment. "Last year, when I had detention with Umbridge, she made me write lines with this quill that wrote the words on my hand instead of parchment."

"Does Albus know about this? Does anyone?" Snape's words were still clipped with anger, but his anger wasn't directed at Harry. Harry almost sagged in relief at that realisation.

"Um, Ron and Hermione know?" It came out sounding more like a question than an answer.

Snape sucked in a long breath and let it out slowly. "And why, in Merlin's name, did you foolish children not tell any adult? Blood Quills are illegal and Umbridge could be sent to Azkaban for using one, especially on a child. Albus would have had fits if he'd known she had one. Minerva could have helped you, or Poppy. Even I would have put a stop to it."

Harry swallowed. "Hermione said we should tell..."

"Miss Granger always was the brains of your group. So why didn't you?"

"You know how it was at Hogwarts last year. Umbridge had all the power. We thought about going to Professor McGonagall or Dumbledore, but we were afraid she'd find a way to get rid of them and we needed them at school." Harry said quietly.

Snape sighed. "You foolish children," he repeated, sounding sad as well as angry. "Umbridge did not have all the power. Albus let her have a great deal simply because he was trying to postpone a confrontation with the Ministry, but he would have drawn the line at her physically abusing students."

He shook his head and then spoke more crisply. "But it may not be too late. Come along, Harry." And he swept off inside Prince Hall with Harry following.

They went to the front parlor and Snape tossed some Floo powder into the fireplace and knelt, firecalling Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts. When he withdrew his head and stood again, he glanced over at Harry and murmured, "I almost forgot. My apologies, Harry."

Then he called more loudly, "Zan!"

There was a pop and the elf appeared. "Yes, Master Severus?"

"Would you please go down to my laboratory and bring a vial of murtlap essence?"

"Of course." Zan disappeared and came back a moment later with a small vial, which he handed to Snape.

"Thank you, Zan. Oh, Professor Dumbledore is coming in a few minutes. Would you or Norie please set an extra place for lunch?"

Zan nodded. "Yes, Master Severus. I hope everything is all right?"

Snape looked rather grim. "Yes. We just have some old business to take care of."

Zan left and Snape motioned for Harry to sit on the sofa. Harry sat down, still feeling terribly embarrassed at all the fuss. Snape sat beside him, took a handkerchief from his pocket and poured the murtlap essence on it.

"Here, rub this across your hand and the stinging hex won't bother you anymore," Snape instructed.

Harry did so, even though the stinging hex had already faded and wasn't really bothering him now, not much anyway.

"Sir? We really don't have to bother Dumbledore with this, do we? I mean, it's all over and Umbridge is gone and..."

"Yes, Harry we do need to bother Albus with this," Snape's voice was fierce. "Umbridge must not be allowed to get away with abusing children. If you have no regard for yourself, then think of other innocents she has surely abused."

He looked at Harry steadily for a long moment before continuing, his voice suddenly much softer. "Harry, you have never had a guardian who had the desire or the ability to see to your welfare. But just because you've never had it doesn't mean that you don't deserve it. You have the same right to be protected and cared for as any other child."

Harry didn't know what to say to that and even if he had wanted to answer, that lump was back in his throat, making speech difficult. He just bowed his head and they were still sitting in silence a short time later when the Floo flared and Dumbledore joined them.

"Severus, Harry, I'm delighted to see you again, but I must confess to being a little surprised to hear from you so soon," Dumbledore paused as Snape stood to meet him, the younger man's face grim and tense. "What's wrong, Severus?"

Snape gestured towards Harry. "Look at Harry's right hand."

Dumbledore came over to sit beside Harry. "May I?"

Harry reluctantly held out his hand so that the headmaster could see the scars.

Dumbledore stared at his hand for a moment; then looked up to gaze into Harry's eyes.

"Explain, please." His voice was quiet, but very firm.

Harry ducked his head and stared at the carpet as he slowly told the story. When he'd finished, Snape was pacing around the room. Dumbledore was quiet and Harry finally risked looking up at him. He was surprised at the grief he saw in the headmaster's eyes.

"Harry. I am so sorry, child. I failed you in so many ways last year," Dumbledore said heavily.

"Last year is over. What do we do now?" Snape demanded. "Umbridge should go to Azkaban, at the very least."

"Oh, she will, if I have anything to say about it." Dumbledore sounded as grim as Snape now. He was quiet for a little while, thinking, and then he looked back at Harry.

"Harry, do you know if she used this Blood Quill on any other students, or abused them in any way? Or was it only you?"

Harry thought back to last year. "She used it on Lee Jordan, I think, and maybe this girl from Ravenclaw, Faith Kincade."

"Very well. I'll contact the Jordans and the Kincades and see if perhaps they're willing to press charges. If it's possible, I do think it would be best for now to keep Harry out of it. I'd rather keep him away from the Ministry and out of the public spotlight. But if there is no other way, then we'll make the necessary arrangements. One way or another, Dolores Umbridge will be held accountable."

There was an almost predatory gleam in Snape's eyes. "If you should need anyone to confront her, Albus..."

"I will be sure not to call on you," Dumbledore said dryly. "I prefer to keep you out of Azkaban, Severus."

Snape snorted, but only said, "I believe lunch must be ready by now. Shall we?"

"Harry and I will be along in just a minute," Dumbledore replied.

Snape looked at him; then nodded and left Harry and Dumbledore alone.

"Harry." Dumbledore waited until Harry looked back up at him before continuing in a soft voice. "I do apologise for letting you down last year, and for all the times I've failed you in the past. As I told you at the end of term, I'm far from perfect and I've made many mistakes. I sometimes think I've made more mistakes in the past fifteen years in regards to you than in all the other years of my life put together. I'm just so sorry that you are the one who's suffered because of them."

"I've tried to foster a sense of independence and resourcefulness in you, because I thought you would need it to be successful. But I can see that I've erred again, in letting it go to extremes. I've made you feel that you must face things alone and cannot depend on adults to help you."

"I don't...you didn't..." Harry mumbled, not sure what he was trying to say. It was true, really, but he hated for Dumbledore to feel so sorrowful and guilty.

"If I am not solely to blame, then I have contributed heavily," Dumbledore insisted. He reached over to lay a hand on Harry's knee. "But Harry, I do want you to know that from now on, you do have people you can go to for help and guidance. You may come to me anytime you wish, even if it is for something you think is silly or irrelevant. And Harry," Dumbledore patted his knee and Harry saw a ghost of a twinkle in the old wizard's blue eyes. "I do think you may consider Severus a mentor and friend as well. I would not like to be Dolores Umbridge if she should ever happen to meet up with Severus again."

Harry had to smile a little. "Me, either, sir."

"Well, then, shall we go and see what delicious meal awaits us in the dining room?" Dumbledore stood and ushered Harry ahead of him.

As they ate, Harry thought about what Dumbledore had said. He didn't think he was likely to go to any of them with his problems. It wasn't like Dumbledore or Snape could help him really. They couldn't change the prophecy that said he was the only one who could beat Voldemort. They couldn't bring back his parents or Sirius, and they couldn't undo the slavery spell.

And yet, the idea that he might be able to turn to Snape for help didn't seem as completely ridiculous and impossible as it once would have been.

***

It was late that night when Severus went into Harry's rooms. The boy was sleeping peacefully, thank Merlin. Severus had made sure he took his dreamless sleep potion earlier that evening after dinner. Harry had gone to bed soon afterwards, but Severus had sat up late, reading about techniques for teaching defense.

It was a common misconception that he coveted the DADA position at Hogwarts...as if he would ever give up teaching potions. But he wanted to do his very best for Harry now. The boy's life might depend on it, and Severus realised that he had grown to care very much for Harry in the past weeks. At one time, it would have been enough to know that the boy could defeat Voldemort and win the war. Now that wasn't enough. Harry had to live, too.

The boy had surprised him that morning, in more ways than one. Harry was much more skilled at dueling than Severus had expected. That was an excellent surprise, but it also meant that there was no point in spending the next weeks on basic spells and maneuvers as Severus had originally planned. No, Harry was ready for advanced skills, which meant that Severus needed to re-vamp his plans.

Severus shook his head as he thought about the other shock he'd received that day...finding out about the Blood Quill and the unsettling realisation of how much he'd come to care. He had been shaken by the sheer force of his feelings...the intense protectiveness he'd felt for the boy, and the fury at Umbridge when he'd realised that she had hurt his Harry.

"Never again," he whispered. "You're my child now, and no one will ever hurt you again."

He gently carded his fingers through Harry's hair and tucked the blankets around his shoulders before silently slipping away back to his own rooms.