Harry was really nervous—so nervous, in fact, he had not been able to sleep a wink the night before.

What if I don’t catch the snitch? He thought as he played with his bacon and eggs that morning in the Great Hall.

Would Wood and the others chuck him off the team?

Would McGonagall be so disappointed she really would consider punishing him for the ‘broom incident’?

Would—

"Oi, ‘Arry!" Ron waved a hand in front of his face, gaining his attention. "You all right there, mate?"

"You really should try and eat something, Harry," Hermione told him, gently. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, after all. You need all your energy for this afternoon, you know."

"How can I eat, Hermione?" Harry asked her, scowling. "I’m so nervous about the game today—and I’m not even going to get to practice with the team this morning because I’ve to go write a stupid essay for Professor Snape!"

They had been still awake when he returned last night and when asked about the detention that was all he would tell them.

Professor Snape had taken them to the wizard’s hospital to show them an example of what could have happened to them had he not been there to save them. Then, he’d assigned them an essay on what they had learned from the experience.

Wood had not been pleased, not in the least when he’d told him first thing that morning, but he didn’t dare go up against the Potions Master.

Harry had decided to wait a little while longer about telling his friends about Snape being his father…and about Lily, as well.

As selfish as it might have seemed, he liked the idea of having his mother all to himself for a little while…only having to share her with the professor.

Well…there was also Malfoy…but he didn’t really count, he supposed.

He’d better not tell anybody, Harry thought with a scowl.

The professor made it very clear last night before sending them back to their Houses that while Lily was still recuperating it was still ‘absolutely imperative to keep the fiction of her death alive’.

Harry had snickered when he’d said that. It sounded like—what was the word?—like an oxymoron to him.

This hadn’t bothered Harry, as it would give him a chance to really get to know his mother better.

And Snape, too, he thought to himself.

He still wasn’t sure how he felt about the Potions Master being his father yet or not.

It seemed so strange to him that a little over two months ago, when he’d first come to Hogwarts, he’d been an orphan that nobody really cared about.

Now, both his parents were alive and well…and they both seemed to care for him greatly; as did his friends.

So much had happened in such a short amount of time, he could hardly believe it.

His aunt, Petunia, would die of heart failure if she ever found out her ‘freak’ sister was still alive!

Harry chuckled. Uncle Vernon would turn so purple he’d probably explode!

"Wood understands ‘bout things with the professors, mate," Ron told him, smirking. "Fred and George have to miss practice all the time ‘cuz of their detentions…and you don’t see them gettin’ booted off the team, right?"

"Yeah, you’re right," Harry said, draining the last of his pumpkin juice. "We’ll, I’d better go get started on that essay."

"I’ve got some studying to do, too," Hermione told him, smiling. "Right, Ron?"

"Are you kiddin’ me?" the red headed boy snorted. "It’s Saturday! Me and Dean Thomas are plannin’ to play Wizards Chess."

"Fine, then," the bookish girl growled at him. "I’ll just have to discovery who Nicholas Flamel is on my own, then?"

"You go right ahead and do that, then," Ron told her, rolling his eyes at Harry.

Harry shook his head at their bickering, and then got up to head for the dungeons.

He found Snape and Malfoy already there. The blonde haired Slytherin was already working on his essay.

Harry frowned. "How come you weren’t at breakfast?" he asked his cousin—that still sounded so strange to him—curiously.

"I always eat breakfast with Uncle Sev on Saturdays," the Slytherin told him, smirking. "In his quarters…"

"Oh," Harry said, taking out his quill and ink and parchment. He sat down on the stool next to the blonde boy to begin writing.

Why did knowing that the little snake get to spend extra time with the Potions Master bother him so much?

"You’re welcome to start joining us, Harry," Snape spoke up from behind his desk. "I would have mentioned it…but I thought you preferred eating with your friends in the Great Hall."

Harry smiled. Now, why did the man inviting him make him feel so…warm…inside?

"Thank you, Sir," he told the professor. "I might just do that if Ron and Hermione keep bickering the way they are."

"Ooh," Malfoy sneered. "A Gryffindor romance in the making—how positively revolting!"

"That’ll be enough of that, Draco Lucius," Snape told him, firmly. "Keep writing. And I’d get busy, Harry, if I were you. You wish to make it to the game this afternoon, do you not?"

"Yes, Sir," Harry said, and began putting ink to quill and quill to parchment.

As he thought about what he learned last night, remembering the looks of complete and utter nothing in the eyes of Neville’s parents, he bit his bottom lip.

Whoever had done that to them, they were truly evil and depraved.

And that could easily have been you, Harry thought to himself with a shudder.

He wrote his essay, using all three feet of parchment, and then went to hand it to the professor.

Malfoy, he noticed, was still writing—what was he doing? Composing a novel! He’d been at since before he got there, after all.

Snape took it, glanced at it, and nodded. "I’m glad to see you took this seriously," he told him. "Now, I believe you have just enough to make it to the locker room before the game…"

Harry smiled. "Are you going to be there, Sir?" he asked him, curiously.

"Of course," Severus said, snorting. "Albus insists all staff attends the games—plus, I am Head of Slytherin House."

"Oh, right," Harry said, slightly disappointed. He had hoped, just for a moment, he might have been going to watch him play.

Snape gave him a piercing look, then.

"I will be watching you very closely, Harry," he told him, seriously. "So…do be careful. All right?"

Harry smiled at that, hearing the genuine concern in the man’s voice. "I will, Sir," he told him. "I promise."

"We’re gonna mop the floor with you, anyway," Draco bragged, bringing his essay up to the desk.

"In your dreams," Harry shot back, smirking. "You Snakes are going down!"

"Better be careful," Draco told him, smugly. "Snakes bite when they angry."

"Well, Lions roar and bite," Harry informed him, "and their mouths are bigger!"

"But Snake’s are deadlier," Draco retorted. "A runty lion is no match for a full grown snake, Potter."

"Well—" Harry started to say, but Snape interrupted.

"As amusing as watching you two ‘trash talk’ each other is," the Potions Master told them. "I do have better things to do…"

"All right, Sir," Harry said, smiling. "I’m going. See you later!" With that, he turned and ran from the classroom.

He made it to the Gryffindor locker room, changed into his gear, grabbed his borrowed school broom, and then headed for the field.

"Hey, Harry!" Fred or George (he could never tell which was which when they were in the air) called from up above.

"Glad you could make it, mate!" the other Weasley twin called out as well.

"Get on up here, Potter!" Wood called from the goals. "We still have fifteen minutes of practice left!"

Harry smiled, hopped onto his broom, and then kicked off.

The game was scheduled for noon, which meant he had just enough time to 'warm up' before hand.

I hope the professor won't be too disappointed when we wipe the floor with his team, he thought as he began chasing the practice-snitch.

Of course, there was always the chance he wouldn't be the one to catch the snitch...but he had been told not to think that way.

"You gotta always be optimistic," Wood had told him at their first practice. "Otherwise, the other team has already defeated you even before the game's even gotten underway."

Harry took that advice to heart now and brushed his doubts and nerves aside. By the time the practice was over, he was confident he'd get the snitch before the Slytherin Seeker if it was the last thing he did.

The practice ended just as the other team came onto the field and the spectators were getting ready.

It took about fifteen minutes for everybody in the stands to be good and ready, and by then Madame Hooch had called both teams to the center of the field and lectured them on the rules.

"Remember now," she concluded, "I want a nice clean game and good sportsmanship. Understood?"

Both teams nodded an affirmative and she ordered them to mount their broom.

With a blow of her whistle, the two teams launched themselves into the air and the game got underway.

Once the teams were in the air and in position, the four balls were released from their cases.

Harry immediately spotted the snitch, but was prevented from going after it due to one of the bludgers zooming past him.

Fred managed to knock it in the other direction. "You'd best get a bit higher, 'Arry," he advised him and then zoomed after another bludger.

Harry figured he was probably right and eased is broom higher up.

It'll be easier to watch the game and the snitch from here, he thought to himself with a smile.

As he watched, keeping an eye out for the snitch, he [grudgingly] had to admit that the Slytherin team was pretty good.

They did their fair bit of fouling, but then again so did the Weasleys with the bludgers.

Harry glanced down at the stands and found that Ron, Hermione, and Neville were holding a banner with 'Go Gryffindor' and had lion's head that had been enchanted to open and close its mouth...emitting a roaring sound.

"Wicked," Harry muttered, smiling brightly. He gave a little wave and they waved back.

He glanced towards the teachers box, and to his delight found Professor Snape's dark gaze upon him.

Keeping an eye out, eh Professor? Harry thought with a smile. Just like you promised. See? I'm being nice and careful.

Just then, a flash of gold caught his eye and he dove for it. The snitch evaded his hand, however, and flew faster.

Harry increased his speed, stretching out his hand toward it, but was suddenly bumped out of the way by the Slytherin Seeker who'd come up in his blind spot.

"Nice try, Firstie," the Slytherin boy sneered.

"Kiss my arse, you snake, Harry growled inside his head, and raced after the snitch.

Unfortunately, his broom took that moment to start acting funny. It began to shake and wobble; dangerously so, in fact.

Harry heard the spectators gasp as they watched him struggle with the out of control broom, trying very hard to keep upright on it.

He was almost certain he was about to lose his grip and go tumbling to his death below, but then the broom stopped.

As suddenly as it began, the shaking and the wobbling stopped.

Huh, Harry thought frowning, I wonder why?

It didn't really matter, though, as he spotted the snitch again and dove for it. Unfortunately, it was flying lower and lower and just as he reached for it, he pitched too far forward and went tumbling head over rump onto the grass of the field.

Getting back up, he paused and began to wretch...only he didn't. Out of his mouth, into his waiting hands, popped the snitch.

He glanced up and smiled. "I got it!" he cried, waving it about. The applause and cheers that erupted was enough to deafen a herd of elephants.

He'd done it. Gryffindor door had won the first Quidditch match of the year thanks to him.

His teammate flew down and he suddenly found himself tossed onto the Weasley twins' shoulders.

"Potter! Potter! Potter!" Everybody began chanting and cheering.

Harry glanced up, finding Professor McGonagall all but beaming sunshine down upon him. Professor Dumbledore nodded approvingly, but it was to the dark clad man beside him both that he glanced.

Unfortunately, he wasn't there. Harry tried to hide his disappointment.

"Come on, Potter, let's hit the showers," Wood called to him. "There's going to be a celebration in the common room afterwards!"

Harry nodded and followed his team mates back to locker room. He sighed. Where could the Potions Master have gone?

And why...did his absense bother him so much?

HPHPHPHPHP

Severus was not a happy man at that moment.

If I ever find out who set my robes on fire, he thought savagely, they'll wish to be expelled when I'm through with them!

The same was true of whoever had put that jinx on his son's broom. When Harry's broom began to shake and wobble so dangerously, he had all but had a heart attack right then and there.

Lily would never forgive him if he let anything happen to their son. He had promised to protect him no matter what.

Once he realized that the boy wasn't simply losing concentration or anthing like that, he'd quickly began casting a counter-jinx spell under his breath.

The spell required him to not break eye contact, the same as a jinx spell did, and he hadn't until robe had caught on fire.

He'd been so startled by that, he'd fallen backward and knocked that idiot Quirell off his seat onto his duff, as well.

Miraculously, though, Harry's broom stopped shaking and wobbling and the foolish boy went into a head long dive after the snitch.

He had stayed just long enough to see the boy upchuck the snitch, but then he had to go put some Heal-All Burn salve on his leg.

Now, though, he had to go retrieve his son. They had an appointment with a few of the shops in Diagon Alley.

Reaching the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, he was met by a cold stare from the Pink Lady.

"Yes, something I can help you with?" she asked him, snottily. "We don't appreciate having snakes in this part of the castle, you know."

Don't push it, painting, Severus thought angrily, otherwise you'll find yourself being burnt to crisp by this snake!

"I wish entrance," he informed her, coldly. "I need to discuss something with one of my students."

"Password, please?" the portrait asked, snidely. She, naturally, assumed he wouldn't know the current one.

He smirked. "Godric's Grace," he informed her, unable to keep the smugness out of tone.

The Pink Lady scowled at him. "Oh, drat," she said, and then swung open.

Chuckling to himself, he stepped through the portrait. Just as he figured, a party was underway in celebration of the little lions victory.

However, the moment he stepped into their presence everything stopped. Silence filled the room and every eye was upon him.

He scanned the room, narrowing his eyes as he searched, and then smirked.

"Potter!" he growled. "To me!" He pointed to the floor in front of him.

Harry shoved past the Weasley twins, and came to do as he said. "Sir?" he asked, obviously puzzled by his presence.

Severus glared down at him. Better make this look good, he thought to himself.

"That essay you wrote for me this morning, Potter," he growled at the boy, sternly. "It was abyssmal, to say the least!"

"It was?" Harry frowned, blinking up at him.

Severus gave him a very pointed look.

"Oh!" Harry said, obviously understanding now what he was doing. "It was...well, I'm sorry about that, Professor, I was just so nervous 'bout the game and everything..."

"I want non of your excuses," Severus growled at him. "I allowed you to play this afternoon simply because I did not wish to hear the pathetic meowling of a bunch of half-grown cubs! However, the game is over and you will now come back to the dungeons with me and write that essay over...properly, this time!"

"Oh, all right, Sir," Harry said, a look of disappointment on his face, "but can't I come when the party is over?"

"No, you may not," Severus growled at him, firmly. "I don't negotiate punishments with my students, Mr. Potter, and this idiotic celebration is liable to last until curfew. Come, now."

Harry nodded and started to follow him out of the Tower.

"But, 'Arry," Ron called, wide-eyed. "You can't! He..."

"It's all right, Ron," Harry assured him, "I'll be all right. You and Hermione enjoy have a good time."

Rolling his eyes, Severus pushed open the door and grabbing the boy by the collar yanked him through the portrait hole.

Once outside, he shook his head. "Gryffindors!" he growled, sneering. "Honestly!"

Harry chuckled beside him. "They were just afraid you were gonna make me into potions’ ingredients," he told him, cheekily.

"You’d ruin any potion I’d put you in, I’m sure of it," Severus told him, snorting. "Come along."

Harry followed. "There wasn’t really anything wrong with my essay," he said, hesitantly. "Was it?"

"No, of course," Severus told him, smirking. "It was a rather decent piece of writing…though your handwriting isn’t much to be desired."

"Uh, yeah, I’m still trying to get the knack of writing with a quill," Harry admitted, sheepishly.

"I’ve been telling Albus for years we needed to do an orientation-type class for all Muggleborns," Severus said, shaking his head. "Maybe now that it is his Golden Boy in need of it he might actually listen."

Harry wrinkled his nose. "I’m not, am I?" he asked. "His…pet?"

"He has his reasons for favoring you," Severus told him, "but that is not the point. Your essay was fine. I simply needed an excuse to haul you out of there that sounded legitimate."

"Why?" the boy asked him, curiously.

"Would you have preferred me to waltz in there and say ‘Come with me, Harry, we need to go shopping for you some new clothes’?" Severus asked him, knowingly.

"Uh, no," Harry answered, turning red with embarrassment.

"That is what I thought," Severus said, smirking. "Clothes aren’t the only thing on our agenda…you shall be getting your eyes examined properly and new glasses, as well."

"The glasses would be nice, Sir," Harry told him, "but why do I need new clothes?"

Severus stopped, glancing down at what the boy was wearing.

"Because those," he pointed to the overly large t-shirt and blue jeans, "aren’t clothes. They are tents!"

Harry snickered at that. "Dudley is a bit on the big side, Sir," he told him, honestly.

"I am hardly surprised," Severus snorted. "However, his hand-me-downs aren’t fitting attire for you. We are going to rectify that. For now, though…"

He took out his wand and shrunk the boys shirt and pant until they looked like they weren’t swallowing him whole.

"That will have to do," he said, sighing. "Now, let’s be off. I’d like to get back here before dark."

"Are you going to wear your robes, Sir?" Harry asked him, curiously.

Severus stopped again, glancing down at his own attire. "No, certainly not," he told him. Taking out his wand, he transfigured his teaching robes into a gray turtleneck jumper and long black leather coat.

"Wicked," Harry said, smiling. "I like the coat."

"Thank you," Severus said, tying his hair back. "Now, come." He then led the boy out of the castle towards Hagrid’s hut.

"Are we going to Apparate again, Sir?" Harry asked him, curiously. The look on his face said he didn’t really relish the idea.

Severus shook his head. "Not this time," he informed him, grinning. "We shall be travelling by Floo."

"Um, what’s that Sir?" Harry asked him, curiously.

"Do you remember how I sent you back to Gryffindor Tower the other night?" Severus asked him. "Via my fireplace?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, Sir," he answered.

"That is a variation on the Floo-network," Severus explained. "Every fireplace in Hogwarts is connected one to the other so that if necessary we may go from place to another quickly—as Apparition is not allowed but in certain places on the grounds. Two fireplaces, however, are connected to the outside Floo system…the one in the Headmaster’s office and Hagrid’s."

"Oh," Harry said, seemingly understanding. "We’re gonna use Hagrid’s fireplace, then?"

Severus nodded. "We are," he told him, gently. Reaching the Groundskeeper’s hut, he knocked on the door.

Loud barking was hear, followed by, "Back, Fang! Back, boy, I say!" and then Hagrid opened the door.

He smiled at the sight of them. "Sev’rus! Harry!" he exclaimed happily, but then frowned in confusion. "I wasn’t expectin’ ya, was I?"

"No, Hagrid," Severus told him, "and apologize for dropping in unannounced but we need to use the Floo. May we?"

"Oh, a’course, Sev’rus," Hagrid said, smiling. "Come on in! By the way, Harry, that was a great game you played. You were terrific!"

"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry told the gentle half-giant. "But I just got lucky, that’s all."

"Phaw!" Hagrid scoffed. "Luck my---uh, big toe…you’re a natural, no question about it. Would yaw’ll like some scones. I just gotten out of the oven!"

Severus felt his stomach lurch at the thought. Good friend though he was, Hagrid’s baking skills were less than desirable.

"Uh no, thank you," he told him, "but we really must be going. Young Mister Potter is in need of some things from Diagon Alley and since Minerva is too busy with her Ass. Headmistress duties she asked me to take him…"

Going to the fireplace, Severus took some Floo powder from the earthen-ware jar Hagrid kept it in, and then threw it into the flames.

"The Leaky Cauldron!" he called out, watching as the flames turned green and expanded to form a magical doorway leading into the magical pub.

"You go first, Mr. Potter," Severus told him, gently tapping his head with his wand.

Harry nodded and stepped through, and then he followed him. Once through, he waved his wand and cancelled the spell.

"Afternoon, Professor," Tom, the bar keep of the Cauldron, greeted him. "Doin’ a bit of shopping, are you?"

"Yes, Tom," Severus said, "and I must really get to it. Good day." With that, he ushered Harry through the back and out into the alley.

The boy frowned up at him, seemingly confused about something.

"That was odd," he said, puzzled. "He didn’t even say hi to me like he did before when Hagrid brought me to get my school stuff."

"That is probably because he did not recognize you," Severus told him, seriously. "Before I sent you through the Floo, I put a small glamour charm on you to conceal your true identity."

"Why?" Harry asked, curiously.

"Because," Severus told him, truthfully. "I did not wish to be mobbed by every witch and wizard wanting to shake the hand of the Boy-Who-Lived."

"Oh," Harry said, wincing. "Right. We’d never get anything done that way."

"Precisely," Severus said, "which is why the spell I cast conceals your scar and true eye color. Anybody who asks, I will simply tell them you are one of my Slytherin students in need of a few things. As a Head of House, it is my responsibility to make certain every student in my House has the essentials that they need—that’s why ever First Year’s trunk gets a thorough examining by me at the beginning of the year."

"Professor McGonagall doesn’t do that," Harry told him, as he [Severus] tapped the bricks that would let them into Diagon Alley.

"That is because she, like Flitwick and Sprout, are of the opinion that blood equals love and care," Severus told him, guiding into the magical marketplace. "I, however, know differently. Now, come. Our first visit is to the optometrist…"

Harry got is eyes checked using a spell that apparently read the strength and/or weakness of his eyes.

The witch doing the exam, tsked a bit, but then wrote something on a piece of parchment.

"Your new glasses will be ready by the end of the day," she informed him, "would you like to pick out new frames?"

"Sure," Harry told her, smiling.

Severus watched as he took his time to examine each and every frame before making his choice. He finally chose a set of wire-rim frames that had moons and stars twinkling on the ear pieces.

"Do you like them, Sir?" he turned to him and asked, curiously.

"It is not whether I like them that counts," Severus told him, gently. "It only matters that you like them."

"I know," Harry told him, "but do you think they look good on me?" He put the frames on again.

"They look a far cry better than the ones you had before," Severus said, and then smirked. "Why? Trying to impress a special young lady, are we?"

"NO!" Harry said, quickly. "Of course not, Sir!" His face was red with embarrassment.

Severus chuckled. "I was only teasing," he assured him, gently. "No need to fly into hysterics you Gryffindors are famous for."

"Here’s your receipt," the mediwitch informed them. "Simply send the money back with the owl that delivers the glasses."

"Thank you," Severus informed her, pocketing the receipt. "We shall." With that, he ushered Harry from the shop.

"Uh, Sir?" Harry said, hesitantly. "I think we need to go to Gringotts."

"Whatever for, Harry?" Severus asked him, curiously.

"I need to get money from my vault," Harry told him. "How else am I going to pay for my new glasses and clothes and stuff?"

"Simple," Severus told him, "you won’t be. I will."

"But, Sir—" Harry started to protest, but he held up a hand to forestall him.

"I am your father, Harry," Severus told him, quietly. "It is my responsibility to see that you are provided for with clothes and the like. You do not have to worry about using the money in that vault ‘til you come of age. As a matter of fact, technically speaking, the money is no longer yours."

"It isn’t?" Harry asked, frowning.

"Even though you are James Potter’s heir," Severus explained to him, "your mother is his widow—therefore, until you come of age, she is the owner of that vault—now that is awake, that is."

"Oh," Harry said, quietly. "All right then, Sir. Where to now?"

"Now, we—" Severus started to say, but a hand his shoulder stopped him.

"Why, Severus," a silky, familiar voice proclaimed from behind him. "I thought that was you I saw coming out of the ‘Eye Of’ shop!"

Severus spun around to find himself face to face with his older half-brother, Lucius Malfoy.

He resisted the urge to push Harry behind him out of sight. He won’t recognize him, he reminded himself sharply.

"Hello, Lucius," Severus said, placing a neutral expression on his face. "I was not expecting to see you here, either."

"I needed something from Knockturn," Lucius told him, smirking. "But what brings you here in the middle of the school year? And who is this?"

The blonde haired man sneered down his aristocratic nose at Harry, who glared up at him.

"One of my little snakes," Severus explained, simply. "He was in need of getting his eyes re-checked."

"Surely his parents could see to that," Lucius said, "or has that dunering old coot have playing nursemaid now."

"His guardians, for he is an orphan, are currently abroad," Severus lied, simply and smoothly. "As his Head of House, the responsibility fell to me."

"Ah, I see," Lucius said, snidely. "I sometimes wonder how you manage not to strangle all those brats!"

"It takes some effort," Severus told him, feeling his face tensing, "but I manage it."

"Humph," Lucius sniffed. "At any rate, I trust Draco is behaving himself as befits a Malfoy?"

"He is doing well," Severus told him, sincerely.

"And his school work? It is top notch?" Lucius asked, narrowing his eyes. "Draco knows better than to…disappoint…me."

"His marks are acceptable," Severus told him, again honestly.

"I keep telling Narcissa not to send him all those sweets and things," Lucius said, snorting, "that all the coddling she is doing is making him weak. I swear, sometimes I wonder why I even married the empty headed bitch!"

Severus clenched his jaw, tightly.

Narcissa might be a bit vain and self-absorbed at times, he thought angrily to himself, but she is hardly ‘empty headed’, you sniveling bastard!

"Oh, I remember," Lucius continued speaking, snidely, "she was a Black…and her body wasn’t too bad, either." He chuckled, coldly.

"It could have been worse," Severus told him, smirking wickedly. "You could have married Bellatrix."

Lucius snorted.

"Yes, well, luckily she was already married to LeStange," he said, sneering. "Of course, that stupid blood-traitor Andromeda would have been even worse!"

"Indeed," Severus said, through clenched teeth.

You aren’t good enough to kiss Andromeda’s backside, let alone marry her! He thought to himself. Ted is ten times the man you are and then some!

"I understand that he has come to Hogwarts this year," Lucius said, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. "Tell me, how is the little wretch Potter doing these days?"

Severus’grip on Harry’s shoulder tightened considerably, warning him not to let anything show—no matter what was said.

Forgive me, son, but I will explain once he is gone, he promised his boy silently.

"He is an irresponsible fame-seeker who lives to make my life a living hell," Severus lied, quickly. "He breaks school rules constantly and gets patted on the head instead of smacked across the rear."

"Indeed," Lucius said, smirking. "Sound much like his wretched father to me. I don’t suppose—"

"You know Dumbledore has wards about him," Severus growled, hoping nothing showed on his face. "Nobody can touch the brat!"

"Of course, of course," Lucius said, waving his hand as if it were no consqeunces. "Oh well, the little brat will be dealt with eventually."

Severus felt his heart leap into his throat. "Oh?" he asked him, raising an eyebrow. "How so?"

Lucius smirked. "That I cannot say," he told him, smiling maliciously, "but he will end up just like his Mudblood bitch of a mother, I assure."

It took every once of control Severus had in his body at that moment not to go for his wand and slit the man right down the middle with a good Slicing Charm!

"Well, Severus, it has been nice," Lucius told him, "but I must be going—the Minister can’t last an hour without me there, the stupid fool! But, then, I guess he’s a useful fool… Good day, little brother."

With a salute of his cane, the man turned and walked toward left.

"Uh, Sir?" Harry said, wincing. "You’re, uh, kinda hurting my shoulder!"

Severus let go and glanced at him, apologetically. "I am sorry about that," he told him, rubbing his shoulder gently.

"It’s okay," Harry told him. "So…that’s Malfoy’s dad?"

"It was, indeed," Severus told him, sighing.

"He’s a real bastard, isn’t he?" Harry asked, curiously.

"Language, Harry," Severus chided, gently, "but you are correct. He is indeed that."

Harry shook his head. "I wanted to kick him right in his family jewels for what he said about Mum," he told him, as they continued on their way.

I wanted to cut his family jewels off, Severus thought with a snort, and make him eat them…

"One day," Severus told him, "he will get what’s coming to him. Trust me on that. What goes around comes around, as they say."

Harry nodded. "Where are we going now, Sir?" he asked, curiously.

"The Muggles Apparel shop," Severus told him, "and then…I have a surprise for you."

"Really?" Harry asked, wide-eyed. "What kind of surprise?"

Severus chuckled. "You shall see," he promised, "but only if you behave yourself."

"I will," Harry promised, as he ushered him into the clothing shop.

Thirty-five minutes later, they exited. Harry now had a brand new wardrobe complete with casual, semi-casual, and formal wear.

He also had new underwear, socks, and three pairs of shoes: trainers, boots, and dress shoes.

"Before we go to our final planned destination," Severus told him, "is there anything else you are need of?"

"Well," Harry thought. "Hedwig needs some more owl-treats, and I need some more ink, and…um, well…can we buy Mum something?"

Severus smiled. "An excellent idea," he told him, pleased with the boy’s thoughtfulness. "What should we get her, do you think?"

"I don’t know," Harry said, scrunching his face up in thought. "Maybe, since she’s got to stay in the hospital awhile, maybe some books so she’ll have something to read other than magazines…"

"Your mother has always enjoyed a good book," Severus said, "and we can pick up you more quills and in while we’re in Flourish and Blotts."

Making a quick stop at the pet shop to get Harry’s snowy owl some treats, they then headed for the bookshop.

They got Lily a total of seven books: two on Charms, two on Potions, and two on Defense Spells, and one copy of Grimm’s Fairytales.

"Why that one?" Harry asked him, as the went to get him some more ink and quills.

"The first story in it is ‘Sleeping Beauty’," Severus told him, smirking. "Your mother will appreciate the irony, trust me."

"Oh," Harry said, obviously thinking that he was out of his mind. "If you say so."

"I do," Severus told him, "now let’s get what we need and head to our last stop."

They paid for the books, quills, and ink and then headed across the street to the shop that nearly every boy—and quite a few girls, too—and young man drooled at the window whenever the passed it.

"The Quidditch Shop!" Harry exclaimed, wide-eyed. "What are we doing here?"

Severus chuckled. "You shall see," he told him, smirking. They entered the shop.

"Good afternoon," the sales wizard, a young man Severus vaguely recognized, greeted them. "How can I help you today?"

Severus placed an arm around Harry shoulders. "He is need of a new broom," he told him. "Which would you recommend?"

He ignored the gasp that came from the boy beside him, as well as the awed look in the green eyes that stared up at him wonder.

"That’d be the Nimbus 2000," the young man, whom Severus was certain was a former student, told him. "No better broom in all of Britain!"

"Indeed," Severus said, nodding. He’d heard much the same from others. "May we see one, please?"

"Of course," the young man said, going into the back of the shop and returning with a sleek, well-polished, broom. "Here you go, Sir?"

Severus took the broom, examining it. "It will do," he said, simply. "What do you think?" He glanced down at Harry.

"I think it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever saw!" Harry said, awed. "It’s bloody wicked!"

"Language," Severus scolded him, sternly, "otherwise you might find sitting on it rather uncomfortable."

Harry blushed at that. "Sorry, Sir," he said, "but it really is a great broom. All the guys on the team have been talking about them!"

Severus nodded. "You’ll be the envy of everyone then," he told him, smirking. "We’ll take it."

The young man nodded, winking at Harry. "All your year-mates will be just green," he told him, as he wrapped the broom. "That’ll be 200 Galleons, Sir."

Severus nodded, reaching into his inside pocket and retrieving a small bag of gold coins. "This should cover it," he told him, handing the young man the bag.

The young man quickly did a small ‘add-it-all’ spell to check the amount and nodded. He handed him the wrapped broom.

"Enjoy," he told them, "and come again."

"You bet!" Harry called back over his shoulder as they exited the store.

"I believe that takes care of everything, Harry," Severus told him. "We can now return to the school."

"Sir?" Harry asked, hesitantly. "W-Why did you buy me that broom? I mean, it’s totally the best present I’ve ever gotten…but it just cost so much."

"Do not worry about that," Severus told him. "I brought you this broom for my own piece of mind, as well as for your safety. The next game you play shall be on a broom that no one save you or I has touched. I will place extra anti-jinx spells on it that will ensure nothing like what happened today happens again."

"It really scared you, didn’t it?" Harry asked him, curiously. "Me nearly falling?"

Severus swallowed. "More than you can possibly imagine," he told him, clearing his throat.

Suddenly, he found himself being clung to my an emotional eleven year old who had thrown his arms around him and was trying to squeeze all the air out of him, apparently.

Feeling a lump rise in his throat, Severus gently returned the hug as best he could with the large broomstick in his arms and then patted the boy’s back gently.

"Now then, Harry," he told him, "we really must be getting back to the school…"

The boy nodded, disentangling himself from him. "Yes, Sir," he told him, smiling. "I just wanted to say ‘thanks’."

Severus smiled down at him. "You are quite welcome," he told him, but then gave him a stern look. "But the first time I catch you doing a outrageous aerial stunt like you did before…not only will your hide be mine, but so will this broom. Understand?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, Sir," he told him. "I’ll be careful. I promise."

"Uh huh," Severus said, smirking. "We shall see how long that promise lasts. Come on now, Fledgling, let’s be off."

Harry nodded and the two of them headed back toward the Leaky Cauldron.

Severus, ever so slightly, reached out and placed a hand on Harry’s head as they walked.

For the first time since discovering the truth about him and Harry, this was the first time he actually felt like a father.

What a truly amazing feeling! He couldn’t help but think to himself.

And it was one he never wanted to end.

Ever.

SSSSSSSSSS

Lily smiled as Harry regaled her with the highlights from his first Quidditch match.

"And then, Mum," he told her, his young face completely animated, "I ended up on the grass cuz I over tilted my broom…but guess what? I had already caught the snitch—in my mouth!"

"Yes, the sight of you about to sick up was the absolute highlight of the day," Severus spoke from where he was sitting, rolling his eyes. "It made everybody positively giddy with excitement!"

"Don’t tease him, Sev," Lily told him, smiling at their son. "Harry has every right to feel proud of himself."

"And I am exceedingly proud of him, as well," Severus told her, smirking. "Of course, the Slytherin Seeker this year is a tad bit slower than the ones we’ve had in the past…"

"Oh, c’mon," Harry snorted. "I’m just better than him, that’s all."

"Indeed," Severus said, standing up. Reaching into a trouser pocket, he brought out a handful of Sickles.

"Why don’t you go ask Gretchen to show you to the cafeteria," he told Harry. "I could use a cup of tea and I am sure you must be quite dehydrated after talking nonstop for well over an hour."

"Oh, okay," Harry said, taking the money. "Do you want anything, Mum?"

"Oh, no, Sweetheart," Lily told him, smiling. "But thank you, anyway. The books you brought me were more than enough."

Harry nodded. "All right," he told her, "I’ll be right back." He then turned and raced from the room.

"No running in the corridors!" Severus scolded after him, to no avail. He sighed.

Lily chuckled. "He has a lot of energy, doesn’t he?" she asked him, smirking.

He gave her a pained look. "What eleven year old doesn’t?" he asked her, grinning.

He came back over and sat down on the edge of the bed. He took her hand in his. "How are you?" he asked her, curiously.

"I doing all right," she told him, shrugging. "The potions Gretchen keeps giving me is helping restore my strength—though she says it’ll have to be a slow process at first. I’m beginning to get a little bit of feeling back into my legs, at least. And can lift my arms a bit."

"That’s good," Severus told her, smiling. "I am glad you and Gretchen are getting along so well. I guess I made the right choice in your nurse."

"Yes, you did," Lily told him, and then eyed him shrewdly. "What’s on your mind, Sev?"

He looked up at her, looking sheepish. "Am I that transparent?" he asked her, curiously. "I thought I was better at hiding my feelings than that."

"You are," Lily told him, smirking, "but not to someone who knows you as well as I do. Now, you sent Harry out so I know you want to talk about something in private. What is it?"

Severus sighed, gesturing with his wand to place a silencing charm on the door.

"Why, Lily?" he asked her, staring into her eyes. "Why didn’t you tell me about Harry?"

Lily swallowed, avoiding his intense gaze for a moment. She had been wondering when or even if he’d get around to asking her that.

"After that night," she told him, looking into his eyes once more, "after the battle when they…they told me you were dead. I didn’t want to believe it—no, I didn’t believe it. Even when the Ministry legally declared it."

"But, then why—?" Severus started to interrupt and she stopped him with a look.

"Because, I found out I was expecting Harry," she told him, truthfully. "I knew that if word go out I was pregnant, people would start to wonder who the father was—after all, only a handful of people knew about us. I knew someone, somewhere would dig until they found out the truth and if it was learned that you—a supposed Death Eater—had fathered a child with a Muggleborn witch…"

"My life would have been forfeit," Severus said, nodding.

"I couldn’t let that happen," Lily told him, firmly. "I wouldn’t let that happen. I also had Harry to think about, for you know they would have come for us once they were finished for you."

"Is this where Potter comes in?" Severus asked, only the bariest traces of scorn entering his tone.

Lily nodded. "James had grown up so much by then," she told him, "and he had always cared about me. I told him what was happening and he agreed to help me protect Harry. We agreed to marry—everybody had always thought we’d make the perfect couple, so if was pregnant beforehand then nobody would think much about it…"

"How fortunate," Severus scowled.

"But then," Lily swallowed, "you returned and I was devastate all over again because I still could not tell you the truth. You were still a spy, after all."

"Damn Albus for ever asking me," Severus growled, angrily. "And damn me twice over for agreeing!"

"Somebody had to do it," she reminded him, "and you were the best one for the job—though I hated it at the time and still do."

Severus nodded, kissing her hand. "Go on, love," he told her. "I’m listening."

"James was very kind, Severus," she told him. "He even agreed that once things were safe—absolutely safe—that we’d get out marriage annulled and I’d be free to be with you again."

"Potter actually said that?" Severus asked, looking pained. "Damn him—now I owe him twice!"

"Oh, Sev," Lily said, shaking her head. "Then, Harry was born and James absolutely loved him, Severus, and he was good to him. He made him his heir and gave him his name…"

"A name I suppose he will have to keep," Severus said, quietly. "I can give him that much, for protecting the two of you like he did."

"How about we hyphenate it, instead," Lily suggested, smiling. "Let him be Harry James Potter-Snape."

"Lord, what a mouthful," Severus grinned, "but I like it. We’ll have to wait and see, at any rate."

Lily nodded. "Despite the danger," she went on, "I fully intended to tell you on Harry’s first birthday…but that was the day we got word we were being targeted and we had to go under the Fidelus charm."

"I remember," Severus said, quietly. "Then, came that awful night on Halloween."

"Yes," Lily said, feeling tears sting her eyes. "Oh, Sev, can you ever forgive me?"

Severus looked as if she’d slapped him. "Lily Jane Evans!" he exclaimed, using her full name. "What’s is there to forgive? You did what you had t do to protect our son! How can I fault for that? I’d be the biggest bloody bastard in all of Britain if I did!"

Lily snorted at that, chuckling. "Try saying that again five times fast," she told him.

He smirked, reaching out to touch his cheek. "I’ve missed you beyond word, my Lily," he told her. "All these years, I’ve never stopped loving you."

"Nor I you, Severus," she told him, truthfully. "In my heart, you were always my true husband."

"And very soon," he promised her, "I shall be again." He leaned in close to her and kissed her passionately on the lips.

"Hey, Professor, I got your—" Harry came dashing back in at that moment, stopping in his tracks.

He was blushing from the very tips of his hair to toes, no doubts.

Lily snickered, as she heard Severus snorted. "Kids," she whispered at him. "They have perfect timing."

"Indeed," Severus said, glaring at their son. "It looks like we are going to have to have a talk about knocking rather than barging in."

"Uh," Harry said, "sorry. I brought your tea, Sir."

Severus stood up and took it. "We need to be going, Harry," he told him, gently.

"Ah, but we just got here," Harry complained, poutingly. "And I still have a lot to tell Mum!"

"I’m not going anywhere, Sweetheart," Lily promised him. "At least, not for a while. We’ll have time to talk when you visit again next weekend."

"And you can always write her, too," Severus told him, "but I need to go get things ready for this week’s Potions classes and I know you have homework you haven’t yet finished."

"Oh, yeah," Harry said, sheepishly. "Right. Bye, Mum." He came and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Be good, Sweetie," she told him. "Don’t drive your dad to distaction, all right?"

"I won’t," Harry promised him. "Well, not much…"

Severus groaned at that. "Out of the way, brat," he said, gently pushing the boy aside. "Farewell, love. Listen to Gretchen."

"I will," she promised him, kissing him again. "See you soon."

He nodded. "Soon," he said, and then turned to usher Harry out the door once more.

Lily smiled. Yes, my love, she thought to herself.