)O(

The next few weeks passed in a blur for Harry. His new schedule was not nearly as punishing as he had expected but it was still pretty full. Much to his annoyance, he had been two pounds short of Madam Pomfrey's weight target so he had been banned from flying in Gryffindors first game.

Ginny had taken the Seeker spot and done a great job although the Hufflepuff Seeker had beaten her to the snitch by a hairs breath. The scores were close enough for it not to be a complete disaster but it had still been a frustrating start to the season.

The headmaster had approved Neville's plan for the study group and the first Sunday session had been a roaring success with all four houses represented. There had only been thirty students there but that was a good start and Professor Snape had settled near one of the fires with a book and practically ignored them all for which Harry was very grateful.

Neville had done a great job and Seamus, Hermione and Justin Finch Fletchly had looked after the defence practice area. Harry had supervised for a bit and then seeing it was going OK, retreated back to a corner with Ron to do some of his own homework.

Harry had spent the extra free sessions preparing for the classes he was taking with the younger years. That part of his new role would begin on the following Monday and he was really nervous; especially as Professor McGonagall would be supervising his first few classes. He was pretty much following his DA notes, with a few additions that Remus and Severus had suggested to keep things in line with the curriculum.

He had been surprised at the response from the younger years when Remus had explained to them what would be happening. He had been bombarded in the halls by the first years in particular who wanted to know what they should study in advance and how he was going to teach the class. They seemed really excited and it helped calm his nerves somewhat.

His tutorials with Remus had been great and he couldn't believe how much more he was learning now that he was having one to one help. It was also a relief to be able to talk openly about Voldemort and ways that he might protect himself or even defeat the monster. Remus had assigned him lots of extra reading and Harry found that he was constantly carrying an arm full of books with him everywhere.

His weekly tutorial with Severus had been rather different that he expected. His first session, Snape had thrown a heavy coat and scarf at him and matched him out to the edge of the forbidden forest without a word of explanation.

Once there, they had sat silently in the dark whilst Harry tried and failed to 'see' the castles wards. By the end of the two hour session, Harry could feel and describe the buzz of the thick membrane but hadn't been able to visualize it.

There has been a moments excitement when they returned to the castle however. As soon as Harry had stepped into the hallway, he had been overwhelmed by the magical energy surrounding them. His sight had been blinded by yellow light and his knees had buckled beneath him.

When the buzzing in his ears had settled to a dull roar, he realized his professor was frantically calling his name and practically holding him up. He blinked confusedly at the scowling man before muttering.

'M' OK...it's just bright.'

'Bright?' Severus lowered him gently to the floor and knelt beside him.

'The castle is really bright...and loud!' Harry wiggled a finger in his ear and shook his head; the world slowly settling back into normal focus.

Severus gave a small smile. 'I apologize Harry. I mistook your failure to see the wards as a failure to attune. Clearly you attuned rather well. That must have been a bit overwhelming?'

Harry sniggered wryly. 'Just a bit. I think I might be blind'

He heard the man snort beside him. 'Don't exaggerate Potter; you're not a Hufflepuff after all.'

'Harry!' Hurried footsteps came thundering down the main stairwell and Harry looked up, blinking heavily as Remus moved to kneel beside the two prone figures, the headmaster following swiftly behind.

'What happened Severus?' the older man asked quietly and Harry winced slightly. He had managed to avoid every potential meeting with the man and didn't particularly appreciate being caught in such a vulnerable position.

Severus answered with an amused drawl. 'Our first lesson in attunement was a little too successful. I suspect a headache potion is in order.'

'Ah yes,' the headmaster said knowingly. 'She's rather beautiful isn't she? I was warned by Headmaster Dippet that attuning to the castle is a bit like exposing yourself to muggle drugs and should be done sparingly. He seemed to think it might make one a bit...eccentric to be close to her for too long.'

The was a moments pause and then the sound of three distinct sniggers. The headmaster frowned seriously whilst peering over his glasses, but Harry could see the amusement in his eyes.

'I dare say it explains much about me, yes?'

Harry blushed and looked away.

'I think I can stand up now,' he said quietly, allowing Severus and Remus to pull him to his feet where he swayed alarmingly for a moment.

'That was...well, wow.'

'There is still that offer of remedial English lessons Potter,' a dry voice uttered from his left.

Harry harrumphed and gave the man a playful swat on the arm, causing both of his colleagues to raise their eyebrows. When Severus responded by snorting with amusement and anchoring his arm around Harry's waist to keep him steady, Albus's eyebrows almost disappeared above his hairline.

'Come on brat. I will walk you back to the tower. I dare say you will trip over your own feet if left unattended.'

The two colleagues watched them leave in awed silence, Remus finally asking quietly.

'Did Harry just hit Severus?'

'He did,' the headmaster answered soberly.

'...and did Severus just laugh in response?'

Albus turned his sparkling gaze to his younger colleague and smiled broadly.

'I believe he did, yes.'

Remus shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

'I think this just turned into one of my favourite days, ...ever.'

The headmaster sighed happily. 'Nightcap Remus?'

Remus nodded and followed his boss in stunned silence. Just when he thought Harry couldn't surprise him any further, the boy did; again.

)O(

Harry was one of the first to breakfast the following morning and the only one at the Gryffindor table. He had come down early deliberately, so that he could spread his lesson plan out on the table and read through it one last time.

He was rather nervous about his first lesson. He would have the first year class of Slytherin and Hufflepuff and would be giving them a practical lesson detecting hexes on objects.

Professor McGonagall would be watching his class from the back and reporting back to Remus which was just plain terrifying. He glanced up as he saw movement from the teachers table and winced as he saw the headmaster heading his way.

'Good morning Harry. You are having an early start today.'

Harry nodded. 'Yes, sir. I have my first defence lesson today.'

The headmaster beamed at him proudly. 'I am sure you will do a wonderful job if last years DA is any indication.'

Harry smiled faintly and tried to look friendly but distant at the same time.

'Harry, I wondered if I might steal a moment of your time this evening? Perhaps after dinner in my office.'

Harry fought not to scowl. 'Of course sir, although I do have a tutorial with Prof...I mean Severus this evening.'

'Of course, of course,' the older man said. 'I will be sure to tell him you will be late.'

Harry glanced away in annoyance. 'I will see you this evening then sir.'

Albus looked sadly at his young student as the boy returned his attention back to the parchment in front of him. He wondered if the child would ever let him back into his confidence again.

Severely rattled at being cornered into a meeting with Dumbledore, Harry stomped off to his first lesson of the day. By the time his afternoon class had arrived, he had calmed down somewhat but it was certainly a distraction he didn't need.

Harry took a deep breath and walked into the Defence classroom, giving his head of house a nervous smile as she settled at the back of the room and made herself comfortable.

The first years trickled in, in twos and threes all chattering excitably. Harry rearranged his papers on the desk and magically cleared the blackboard at the front of the room, mainly to give himself something to do.

Ignoring his churning stomach, he turned to face the class and smiled broadly. To his relief the class immediately went quiet and turned small rapt faces towards him.

He swallowed nervously and launched in to his first ever official lesson.

'Good afternoon everyone, thank you for all being so prompt. As I expect you all know, my name is Harry Potter and I will be covering the practical part of your Defence against the Dark classes for the rest of this term. That means you will continue to have the theory classes with Professor Lupin on a Monday morning.'

Harry paused and took a sip of water before continuing.

'You may all call me Harry as I am not a Professor but I expect you to behave and listen as carefully as you would if Professor Lupin was here, and I should warn you I have been given permission to take points if necessary.'

Several of the young Slytherin's groaned at this and Harry smiled knowing they were expecting him to be biased towards Gryffindor. Well he would soon put that straight.

'Professor McGonagall will be sitting in for the first few lessons and possibly longer if necessary.'

The class fidgeted nervously and glanced towards the back of the class and Harry shared an amused smile with his head of house, remembering how scared he had been of her as a first year.

Harry spent the first ten minutes of the class reviewing the theory that Remus had covered in the previous lesson, being careful to award five points whenever any student answered a question correctly.

He noted the raised eyebrows and shared glances when he gave the first points to a Slytherin; pleased to see how the rest of the students house mates relaxed. Once he was sure that the class understood the two charms they were practising, he split them into groups of four.

'Now I want each group to choose one of the tables at the front of the class and take it in turns to practice each of the charms. No not touch any of the objects on the table unless you want a nasty surprise! The Weasley twins gave me the hex's for this class so you have been warned!'

There were giggles and snickers at this as even this class who had never met the twins had heard of their legendary status within the school.

'If the charm is successful you will see a glow surround the object. Make a note of the colour as this will help you identify what hex is on each object. There will be extra points for any group who can correctly identify all of the hexes.'

The class quickly broke into groups and there was an abundance of excited chatter as they practised the charms, broken by a squeal and then laughter as one of the small Slytherin's disappeared in a flash of light. In his place a small purple lizard was trembling on the floor.

Harry quickly made his way over and muttered the counter to the hex, leaving a dishevelled and confused boy sat on the floor.

'Alright, everyone, calm down,' he said with a laugh and then to the small first year. 'Congratulations, Mr Jenkins. You have just experienced first hand one of Fred Weasley's transformation hexes. When I said not to touch the objects I wasn't joking.'

He helped the young boy off the floor and then moved around the class, spending time at each table to correct wand movements and offer advice. By the end of the class all of the students had perfected the charms and two of the tables had correctly identified all of the hexes on their objects.

He awarded the appropriate points and carefully levitated all of the hexed objects into a shielded box so no-one was tempted to 'reallocate' them before dismissing the class.

'Well done everyone. Now you know how to check all of your belongings for hexes. Don't forget that a dark purple or black aura means you are dealing with a curse and would need help from one of the professors or older students. For homework, I would like you all to read the next chapter of your book which will look at removing different types of hex. Professor Lupin will be covering this in your next class so make a list of any questions you have about the chapter.'

The students all piled out and Harry moved to tidy his notes away with a relieved sigh. Professor McGonagall walked quietly past and gave his shoulder a squeeze as she left. Harry grinned. From her, that was practically a gold medal.

)O(

Harry was still grinning when he entered the great hall that night and made his way to his friends.

'Alright mate?' Ron greeted. 'No need to ask how your class went. '

Neville dropped his bag down with a clunk as he moved to sit beside them.

'I heard a couple of the Slytherin's talking in the corridor Harry. They said that they were going to check out the study group on Sunday as you had given forty points to Slytherin this afternoon so couldn't be all bad.'

Harry grinned as Ron scowled at him.

'Traitor,' the redhead muttered grumpily to amused sniggers around him.

'Don't worry Ron, I'm sure the first year Gryffindor's will do equally well tomorrow morning and Professor Snape gave points to us today so maybe it will even out.'

Hermoine said evenly whilst giving Harry an approving nod.

Neville watched Harry load his plate up and smiled gently. He wondered if Harry noticed how much better he was eating? It had always worried Neville that his house mate would nibble on small potions and often not finish his plate. It had not been uncommon for Harry to look a little green at the end of a meal.

A few trips to the library to look at medical books had led Neville to believe that the near starvation inflicted on him by the Dursleys' had probably left Harry unable to digest rich foods. Whatever the problem had been, it was clearly resolved now.

Harry told them about his first class and they all laughed at the little first year who had found himself a lizard for a few moments. Ginny shared about the many pranks Fred and George had played on her over the years and the sheer number of animal transformations involved had Harry howling with laughter.

They planned the next study group over pudding whilst Harry got increasingly nervous about his coming meeting with the headmaster. Ginny patted his knee gently.

'Harry? You zoned out for a moment there.'

He smiled at her. Ginny seemed to be much more relaxed with him this term and he wondered if her blossoming relationship with Dean was helping.

'I'm fine Gin, thanks. I have a meeting with the headmaster this evening and then a tutorial with Severus. I was just wondering what Dumbledore wants to talk to me about?'

'I'm sure he just wants to see how you are. You've had a difficult few months after all.'

Harry pushed his spoon around the pudding bowl, the last bit of chocolate sponge now looking less than appealing. He watched out of the corner of his eye as the headmaster finished his meal and left for his office, no doubt waiting for Harry to follow and sighed heavily.

'Well, I guess I had better get on with it and go see what he wants.'

Harry rose and smiled at his friends before walking slowly down the length of the Gryffindor table. He needed to collect his thoughts and make sure he was calm when he met Dumbledore. He didn't want to do anything stupid again; like destroy half of the man's office.

It seemed to take no time at all to reach the entrance to the tower and the Gargoyle jumped aside before he even had the chance to register that he hadn't been asked for the password.

Harry stood on the rotating stairs with his eyes closed whilst he practised the meditation technique Severus had taught him. He just hoped the man didn't ask him about the Dursleys', he didn't think he could cope with that.

He knocked on the large wooden door, pushing it open to the headmaster's 'Come in Harry.'

The older man watched Harry quietly as he entered the office and automatically went to sit opposite him by the fire.

'Good evening Sir, you wanted to speak with me.'

Serious blue eyes regarded the young man for a moment before nodding gently.

'Yes Harry I did. I wish to request your assistance with something.'

Harry noticed how Dumbledore paused, waiting for Harry's reaction and he fought to sit calmly, his hands folded in his lap and a polite but closed expression on his face. Behind the mask his stomach churned nervously.

The headmaster seemed to slump slightly at his lack of response and Harry found himself rattled at the sight of the older man taking off his glasses and wiping them wearily on a cloth. He seemed older, Harry realised. Old and tired. It was rather unsettling.

With a wave of his hand, Dumbledore conjured a pot of tea and two cups and took a moment to pour one for each before continuing. Throughout it all Harry sat calmly and counted to a hundred in his head to keep himself settled.

'Harry, I know that you found it very difficult to be kept in the dark last year and not explaining what was happening proved to be an unwise decision on my part.'

Harry nodded and held his tongue as an imagine of Sirius falling through the veil flashed through his head.

'I am seeking not to repeat that mistake again. What I am about to tell you is highly sensitive and has not been shared with anyone else, other than your new guardians. I must ask that it remains that way and that you resist the temptation to share this with your friends.'

He paused and waited for Harry to nod again, silently agreeing to the terms.

'Harry, have you ever heard of a Horcrux?'

Harry sat and listened in appalled silence as the headmaster shared his suspicions at just how far Voldemort had gone to escape death. By the time the full process of creating such an abomination had been fully explained, he felt sick to his stomach.

'So you think Riddle has made one of these things?' he asked in disgust and Dumbledore sighed heavily.

'More than one Harry. I believe the diary you destroyed in your second year was his first attempt, created with the death of young Mytle.'

Harry shuddered. 'How many times can you split your soul before destroying yourself?'

'That is unclear but it does go some way to explaining Tom's increasing insanity as the years have gone by. I had hoped that an old friend of mine might have some insight in young Tom's initial plans but sadly he was killed in an attempt to recruit him to the death eaters ranks over the christmas break.'

'Master Slughorn?' Harry asked, remembering the piece in the prophet about the retired potions master.

The headmaster nodded sadly. 'I have my suspicions about Tom's snake familiar Nagini as a possible horcrux and I know of several locations that appears to have been permanently changed by magic Tom has done in the area. It is the investigation of these locations in which I wish to ask your assistance.'

Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise as he considered the man's words.

'You want me to come with you?'

'Yes, Harry. I believe it is time that we started accepting that your part in the coming war will be a significant one. I wish I was able to give you more time to be a child but I fear our time is drawing short. It is my belief that if we are able to find and destroy these items then we may once more render Tom mortal.'

Harry nodded.

'When do you want to start looking?'

'I have a possible location and have Severus's permission for you to accompany me. Return here tomorrow evening dressed warmly and we will go and see if we can take one step closer to victory.'

Harry resisted the urge to snort in amusement at the headmasters theatrically worded speech. He knew the man was seeking to appeal to the Gryffindor side of him and he would be damned if he would let the man manipulate him again.

'I will see you tomorrow then Sir.'

Harry made to stand but was stopped by the headmasters sudden start in his chair. For a moment it looked as though he intended to reach out a hand but had thought better of it.

'Harry,' he said softly. 'Harry, are you well?'

There was a pleading edge to the man's voice that put Harry's teeth on edge.

'I'm fine Sir,' he said coldly.

The headmaster nodded sadly. 'Madam Pomfrey says you are almost in a normal weight range?'

Harry stood so abruptly that his chair toppled backwards, falling to the floor with a crash.

'I should go Sir. Severus is expecting me and I have a lot of homework to do.'

Dumbledore peered at him seriously over his spectacles for a moment before nodding softly. Neither man spoke as Harry walked swiftly to the door and almost ran down the spiral staircase to the corridor before, leaving Albus sat quietly in his armchair, a single tear sliding down his weathered face.

)O(

Severus looked up anxiously as the door to his quarters opened softly and his new apprentice padded in. They looked at each other silently for a moment and with a sigh, Severus conjured a pot of tea and a calming potion. There would be little work down tonight.

'I hope you didn't destroy his office again?' he said softly as Harry threw himself down at the kitchen table.

'I was perfectly polite,' Harry snapped and the older man winced at the cold edge to the boys tone.

Albus would likely be distressed again after that encounter, he thought with a sigh. Maybe the relationship between the two really was past redemption?

'You know he is devastated about what has happened to you, don't you?' Severus asked with an edge of censure in his voice.

Harry reached for the tea, ignoring the question and the reprimand.

'You know we are off soul hunting tomorrow?' Harry asked and Severus inclined his head slightly.

'I trust I don't have to caution you to be careful?'

Harry's expression softened at the worry in his new fathers voice. 'I will be. I'm relieved to be doing something to get rid of him actually. It feels better than just hanging around waiting for the next attempt on my life.'

'Umm,' Severus agreed. 'Waiting for the storm is always the hardest part in any conflict.' He took a sip of his tea and smiled gently at his charge. 'I have been hearing very good things about you first class today. It went well?'

Harry grinned. 'Yeah, really well. One of your Slytherin's got transfigured into a lizard. He was really cute!'

Severus chuckled. 'I heard. He has been telling anyone who would listen. I think he was rather chuffed once the shock wore off. I heard you were very fair handed with the points.'

Harry snorted. 'A lot fairer than you, that's for sure.'

Severus rose a sardonic eyebrow. 'I like my class mad. It makes the day more interesting and keep the Slytherin's complacent. They are less dangerous that way.'

Harry nodded thoughtfully. He didn't think he would ever be able to think the way that Severus did. All that intrigue would give him a headache.

'What did you have in mind for our lesson this evening,' Harry asked reaching for his notebook.

'I want you to finish your tea and work on any homework you have. I think your first day teaching a class is more than enough new material for one day. I want you back in your dorm and tucked in bed by half nine. That will be your new learning for the day. This wonderful thing the rest of us do called sleep!'

Harry blushed and glanced down shyly as Severus stood from the table and wondered off towards his desk, lightly squeezing Harry's shoulder on the way.

A warm glow spread through Harry's stomach as the sense of having a parent settled over him like a blanket. A parent who worried about him and sent him to bed early because he looked tired. A parent who told him off for being a brat to the headmaster but understood his reasons all the same.

He watched as Severus settled at his desk and started working on the small mountain of essays awaiting marking. If it had been Mrs Weasley she would have fussed about how pale he was; had kittens at the thought of him horcrux hunting and would never understand how he could be at odds with the great Albus Dumbledore.

Somehow, he had ended up with the perfect guardian. Harry smiled softly to himself feeling the last of the tension draining away from his shoulders and realizing with annoyance that his tea had been dosed with calming draught.

He pulled out a piece of parchment and his homework ledger and settled down to work.

Severus smiled as a feeling that seemed remarkably like contentment flowed through him. The small dungeon room was quiet and dark, the only light a small lamp on his desk, the candle Harry was working by and the flickering light from the open fire.

The sound of his son's quill scratching against the parchment filled the quiet space and the slight groans as the castles stones settled around them for the night.

He decided to put the worry about the mission Harry and Albus would be embarking on aside for a few hours and enjoy the moment. It was unclear how many of them there would be in the coming months.

Albus's revelation about the Horcrux's had horrified him. As had the concerns the headmaster had about Harry's scar. It was the first time he had felt sorry for the werewolf as Remus had run from the room and vomited in the stairwell at the thought that Harry might have that kind of connection to Riddle.

Severus had stood resolutely behind Remus as the man had calmly informed the headmaster that he would have to kill both of them before he ever harmed a hair on Harry's head. Severus had stood in quiet agreement as the headmaster had quietly whispered that he hoped it never came to that.

Severus chuckled to himself as he recalled the rest of the conversation; Remus's quiet. 'I believe they are always looking for Masters in America Severus; perhaps we should consider a change of scene?'

'Mmm, you may have an idea there Lupin. I have always liked the idea of a more temperate climate.'

The headmaster had sighed softly. 'My boys, this is all theory at the moment. I would never harm Harry, you know that.'

'More than you already have,' Remus stated coldly as the older man flinched.

Glancing back to the young teen working on his homework, Severus shuddered at the thought that a piece of Voldemort might be in the room right now. He was comforted by the fact that Remus was likely to be holed up in the library for the next few months looking for a solution.

At least tonight there was some peace for all of them. He turned back to his essays with a grimace. Work called.

)O(